Will, you're crazy. This was a hell of a match. Misawa knew he couldn't go blow-for-blow with Jumbo so he started out trying to control him with the headlock and slipping in bigger shots when he saw openings. But after five minutes or so, Jumbo outgunned him anyway. So Misawa decided to empy his artillery and hope for the best. The ensuing chain of flashy offense looked great and took the crowd heat to another level. Finally, Jumbo got his knees up on a frog splash and said, "Ok, I'm going to bust up this kid's ribs and get the hell out of here." But Misawa proved more resourceful than expected and came back with a bunch of roll-up variations that produced nearfalls. Again, the crowd went nuts for his flurry. Sensing actual vulnerability, Jumbo nailed a violent backdrop suplex for the sure win. Only, Misawa kicked out again and caught Jumbo in another roll-up. Then, the youngster got a little too eager and tried a half-assed cross body that Jumbo turned into a stun gun. He followed up with a second backdrop suplex and finally put the upstart away. I thought they executed a perfect up-and-comer vs. ace story, with a bunch of action and a finishing run that had the crowd going berserk. This isn't the kind of match that requires you to grit your teeth and put it on because it's famous. It was legitimately excellent.

 

All Japan Classics 164

My original thoughts. I'll rewatch it eventually...

 

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Tiger Mask (03/09/88)

- Misawa starts off controlling the match with a headlock but they are doing nothing with the move except establishing that Misawa can keep it locked on when Jumbo wants to push him off. I like matches worked out of headlocks as much as the next guy. I am sure I even nominated a few but this was just weak. I guess it makes the big dives more exciting after ten minutes of headlocks. The last few minutes are exciting with Tiger Mask throwing everything out at Jumbo in an effort to put him away but Jumbo cannot be denied. He puts it away with the back suplex.

Dug the start, as TM controls with a headlock and Jumbo attempts to break a couple times with kneebreakers, TM selling the leg a bit different each time, changing up his headlock. Jumbo lands some knees but TM does an awesome springboard headbutt from the turnbuckles to gain back control. TM maintains control with the headlock for awhile until Jumbo suddenly says “Fuuuuck Thiiiis, I’m stronger than this guy!” and kicks him the back suplex from hell. The crowd goes from interested to molten in seconds. Jumbo follows with a beast of a knee and a great piledriver. He’s in full control and in full dick mode now. TM gets some great flurries with some spin kicks, a baseball slide, a rad springboard somersault, and a nasty dive off the top to the floor. He’s pretty shaken up, though, and does a good job of staying one step ahead of Jumbo, trying to use his speed , knowing all it will take is for Jumbo to catch him just a couple times for it to end (think modern Mysterio matches). Crowd is heating up nicely for this extended comeback, and go notably quiet when Jumbo gets the knees up on the splash. Jumbo’s dickish scowls to the crowd are awesome. TM gets a flash nearfall off a rollup, then gets another with a hurracanrana. Goes to the well again, and Jumbo plants him with the best hotshot EVER. Crowd is fucking jacked right here. TM with more desperate rollups but the crowd is sensing his desperation. One MASSIVE Jumbo backdrop later and we’re done. Great match. NOMINATE!

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Tiger Mask II (3/9/88)

 

Jumbo has foresaken TM for Yatsu as a tag partner so know TM has to show him that he is worthy. TM is very aggressive to start as he works a side headlock and tries to keep Jumbo grounded but working that headlock is just delaying the inevitable as Jumbo just destroys him with a backdrop driver followed up by a high knee and a piledriver. TM would recover though sending Jumbo the floor where he hit a sweet springboard somersault senton to the floor then followed up with a insane plancha from the top rope to the floor where he almost overshot Jumbo. TM then throws out whatever he could getting some really close nearfalls before catching all knees on a missed frog splash. Jumbo goes back on the attack but TM would get some nearfalls on cradle attempts until Jumbo hits him with a Hot Shot as he tried a Thesz Press then nuked him with a backdrop driver but TM kicked out and the fans are going nuts for TM. TM gets an inside cradle for a nearfall then takes yet another backdrop driver that this time put him away. Jumbo picks him up after the match and raises TM's hand in a sign of respect. This was a fantastic match with a great story and this is a slam dunk nomination.

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Tiger Mask, 3/9/88 (AJC 164)

- I initially panned the headlock work as dull but this is a damn sprint compared to the Dory match I watched earlier. Still, it has nothing on Dibiase-Tenryu. I could understand if Jumbo was holding on to the lock to keep the high flying Misawa grounded but it seems like an unusual strategy for Mask to try something different against Jumbo. Eventually, Jumbo just gives the Dangerous Backdrop and takes over, enough of the bullshit. At this point, Mask goes to the offense that makes Tiger Mask work including the dive outside that damaged his knee. The stretch run finally got the dead crowd into the match and the ending was hot. Still, I don’t see what is special about this match at all. I wanted to make sure it got my full attention and it just reinforces my prior opinion. Jumbo wasn’t really vicious and Mask wasn’t really spectacular. I would give this a low-level nomination at best so no vote.