This was like a prototype for the main-event indy tags of the last decade, with the non-stop action and a bunch of nearfalls. The teams conveyed real dislike for one another, with Kawada and Fuyuki wrestling as underdogs. Takano especially did some nasty shit to his smaller opponents. When Fuyuki caught him in a roll-up after taking huge amounts of punishment to his midsection, it felt like a genuine upset. Easy yes for me.

 

All Japan Classics 170

Ricky Fuyuki/Toshiaki Kawada vs. Shunji Takano/Shinichi Nakano 7/19/88 (AJC 170)

- Takano and Fuyuki giving some dirty looks early on. Doesn’t translate to any real violence early on between the two when they get in the ring. However, when Takano has Kawada in a camel clutch, Fuyuki forces the break and they get into a slapping contest. This is when the match starts to pick up. Takano gets abused by both of Footloose briefly until he hooks Kawada’s leg and they try to work Kawada’s leg. Kawada breaks it up with an enziguiri to Nakano. I had to rewind it but in a very cool spot, fuyuki goes for the Kevin Von Erich body press but lands on Nakano’s knee in a gutbuster. Now it is hunting season on Fuyuki’s ribs with Kawada kicking anyone who hooks him in a submission. They are killing this poor guy (ab stretch, powerslam, torture rack). Kawada finally gets the tag but the Akano’s calmly counter his attack. In a silly move, he tags Fuyuki back in and Fuyuki gets killed again but the offense is high-end enough to keep it fun and Fuyuki reverses a pin for a flash roll-up and the win. I had a blast watching this. Easy nomination.

All-Asia Tag Titles: Footloose (Samson Fuyuki & Toshiaki Kawada) © vs. Shinichi Nakano & Shunji Takano (7/19/88)

 

Takano makes his return to AJ Classics looking like Nobuhiko Takada. The challengers dominate the early part of the match using high impact moves to work over the champs but Footloose would get some offense in as well mainly Fuyuki as Kawada was more taking and selling punishment. Fuyuki got his turn though and Takano especially abused him hitting a big flying lariat for a nearfall then just getting pounded by the challengers both inside and outside the ring while they make quick tags to stay fresh. Takano would miss a running smash into the corner though allowing Fuyuki to get the hot tag and Kawada ran wild with Fuyuki trying to follow but he ate a vicious Superkick by Takano sending him to the floor. This set up a very hot stretch run with Korakuen & Akira Fukuzawa going crazy as both teams were going all out trying to get the win and it was a fluke cradle that would seal the deal for Footloose. This was a pretty great match between the youngsters and this definitely moves forward.