Strong match, probably the first really great Steamboat singles match I've seen on this comp. I really like the matwork and especially the escapes. Tenryu gets the upper hand in pretty much every exchange and also gets the win in the end. For someone who's used to seeing Steamboat in the babyface role getting the upper hand on headlocks and headscissors-type stuff, it was weird to see him on the losing end of the exchanges. I really liked Steamboat trying to stand on his head to get out of the headscissors, and rushing as fast as he could to put on a headlock, only to end up right back in the move. I also liked Steamboat's desperation figure four because he realized he wasn't winning when he was wrestling Tenryu that close up. Good stuff, probably one of the better matches of '84. Definite nomination.

 

AJ Classics Tenryu Special

Maybe I'm cranky or something, but this bored the shit out of me. The matwork didn't involve anything that looked painful and wasn't real clever to compensate. I mean, so what if Tenryu won exchanges that ended up with him applying a loose headscissors? Steamboat going to the figure four was a good idea, but he ended up selling it more than Tenryu so it felt pointless. I guess the finishing run, which began with a reasonably fierce chop exchange, was decent. Steamboat in All-Japan rarely clicked for me, because his offense was weak and the crowd didn't care a lick about his selling. This match might end up on the set by someone else's hand, but I won't mind if I never see it again.

Yeah, the kid must be keeping you awake. I know the feeling. You start hating shit you shouldn't hate... like your wife!!! ... or good wrestling

OK, I watched it in a fresher state and came away impressed with Tenryu's performance but still a bit frustrated with Steamboat. Tenryu did a great job of one-upping Steamer at the end of every sequence, often with a nasty little knee or punch or chop. I particularly liked it when Steamboat placed Tenryu on the turnbuckle for a clean break and Tenryu blasted him in the face with a forearm. But if you're Steamboat and this guy is showing you up, why do you fight back like such a wuss, with nothing but armdrags and tepid holds? He finally revved it up with the chop exchange that led to a strong last five minutes. But where was that intensity in the first 15? I liked that the finish was another example of Tenryu always remaining a step ahead, and his performance made this a deserving nomination. But if Steamboat had wrestled up to his capabilities, it could have been a great match instead of frustrating my parenting-addled mind.

NWA United National Heavyweight Title: Genichiro Tenryu © vs. Ricky Steamboat (2/23/84)

 

They showed a photo of David Von Erich before the match with flowers as he had died a couple of weeks earlier on tour. This had some damn good wrestling to start the match with both men being fluid in their movements especially Steamer who got an awesome armdrag early. Tenryu would bring the aggression though using a piledriver for a nearfall and fired some big chops before going to the mat for some MUGA style matwork with Steamer doing the Nishimura handstand counters which is always awesome. Steamer would lock on the figure-four that he would take from the ring to the floor before being broken up by Joe Higuchi. Steamer would get a backdrop suplex after they got back in the ring and followed up with chops of his own before Tenryu came back with his own turning this into a chop battle. Both men would then trade nearfalls with that involved some fun counter wrestling before Tenryu landed a big enzuigiri for a nearfall because Steamer got his foot on the rope. Steamer would come back though hitting his big cross body block off the top rope for a nearfall before Tenryu would get a grounded cobra twist to win the match retaining his title. This was a very fun match with both men putting on a good show and this moves forward easily.