Posted June 20, 200916 yr comment_5440957 #94 September 22, 1980 Seiji Sakaguchi vs. Larry Sharpe (WWF North American Title) - Sharpe didn't look like much, but he did a great job working over Sakaguchi's arm with clubbing elbows and knees. He also took some big bumps off Sakaguchi's offense. The match didn't quite kick into a gear that would put it on the set, but I enjoyed it. September 30, 1980 Kengo Kimura vs. Chavo Guerrero (NWA International Junior Title) - I don't know how it compares to their later match that Phil nominated, but this was awesome. Chavo led Kimura through a long and nifty mat section that gradually built into a hot finishing run. Chavo probably had as much offense as anyone in the world at this point, and Kimura was always great at enduring a beating. I didn't mind the double countout in this instance, because it didn't cut the match off at the knees. It fit the story of Chavo being superior but unable to put Kimura away. Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Ron Starr (WWF Junior Title) - More excellent stuff from the 1980s junior scene. They started with some crisp matwork, and Starr gradually started mixing in some heelish touches -- a kick on the break here, a hair pull there. Eventually, he went full heel, knocking Fujinami out of the ring several times and nailing him on the apron every time he tried to climb back. Starr employed fairly simple offense that all looked tight and hurty. Of course, Fujinami eventually rallied, and the closing back and forth was very heated. I'm loving this Fujinami invitational approach to the junior belt. He just worked great match after great match. This is another nomination.
