I haven't seen any of their other matches, but I dug the fuck out of this, both guys ripping off the turnbuckle pads, Choshu doing a really dickish enzigiri, a bloody Inoki choking him out outside the ropes. This may be the most fired up I have seen Inoki and I think this should make the set.

 

1988 DVD 19

Hot finish here as a bloody, enraged Inoki choked Choshu down on the apron and refused to break no matter how hard the ref tugged. Overall, however, the match felt smaller than their best efforts. I liked it but not quite enough.

 

Just to reiterate, I dug this match, just not as much as three or four others between the two. I won't be sad if it makes the set.

10/19/88 Riki Choshu vs. Antonio Inoki

- A little slow to start off. They do the extended version of matwork (killing time) and I was disappointed because it was a little sloppy in execution: Inoki not able to hook the Indian Lock on so he hops to a sleeper, the legs clearly under the ropes but the ref not breaking it. However, after Inoki lifted his legs up like scissors and locked onto Choshu’s head, I started to enjoy this immensely… the scissors lock, the slam escape into the sleeper outside the ropes, the sharpshooter struggle. I see Choshu grabbing his forearm but I don’t know where he hurt it. Choshu busting Inoki up outside was unexpected and a pleasant surprise. Inoki looks as bloody as I have ever seen him and the ending was fitting for the violent turn that the match took midway through. Nomination.