They did a good job of making the early trading of holds seem more than perfunctory. Martel sold the hell out of Choshu's signature offense and had the crowd in the palm of his hand as he kept escaping down the stretch. With a 15-minute time limit, a draw seemed the obvious conclusion. But it never felt like they were working to that mark. It felt like both guys were trying to win and simply ran out of time. Not a high-end match but something you guys should take a look at.

 

Ginnetty 1985 TV Disc 24

Riki Choshu vs. Rick Martel, 10/19/85 (G+81)

- Choshu works the arm early on and they work in and out of an armbar. Once Martel shows signs of life (still selling the arm), Choshu grabs the leg and goes for the Sharshooter but Martel decide he would rather work on CHoshu’s leg and weaken the possibility of applying a Sharpshooter. It was all for naught because after Martel misses a dive from the 2nd rope, Choshu grabs the weakened Martel and locks in the death lock anyway. Martel escapes but he is damaged. He even has to shake his leg after a suplex to sell the damage but not after he hits a backbreaker. Martel hits some big moves in the end but lands on Choshu’s knees after a slingshot splash. This sets up Choshu’s lariat that sends Martel out as the time expired. Really fun match and a unique matchup to boot. Choshu has better matches on the set and there were some things that bothered me like the selling the leg one move but not the next. I also thought this could have used the clean finish as Martel had to roll an awfully long way to get out of the ring. Overall, a solid nomination though.

Rick Martel vs. Riki Choshu (10/19/85)

 

This is a non-title match since they are at Korakuen so it has a 15 minute time limit. Korakuen is hot for this one but they simmer down as they work a slow pace to start with Choshu really working over the left arm. Martel fights through the pain to get some offense while selling the arm like a champ before going to work on Choshu's left leg but Choshu would turn that around locking on the sasorigatame which he held for quite a while. Martel would fight back but would sell the leg so he was the anti-Choshu here and the fans were being worked into a frenzy here as Choshu nailed Martel with a lariat sending him rolling to the floor. Choshu would bring him back in and tried to finish him off again with the sasorigatame but yet again Martel found a way out leading to him getting nearfalls on Choshu before Choshu put him down with a backdrop suplex for 2 7/8's as time expired. Martel was awesome here and he made this match a nomination on his own here with his great selling and fiery comebacks. Easy nomination.