5. Dan Kroffat / Doug Furnas v. Masa Fuchi/Kenta Kobashi (10/28/89) - This started more on the ground than most Can-Am matches. Kroffat and Furnas turned in some focused work on Fuchi's leg, and Fuchi did a a good job of working a step slower the erst of the match. They picked it up at the 10-minute mark when Kobashi hit his dive on Furnas and Kroffat followed with a tope suicida on Kobashi. After that, it was all about Kobashi trying to survive with a a gimpy Fuchi helping where he could. Sounds great in theory but it lacked the crispness you might expect from the Can-Ams and the Kobashi. The dead crowd didn't help either. I don't know; I thought this was headed for a nomination, but it didn't quite click for me in the end. We'll have at least five or six Can-Am matches from '89 so this can stay on the shelf.

 

6. Stan Hansen/Tenyru v. Jumbo Tsuruta/Yatsu (12/06/89) - Yatsu started hot with a barrage of headbutts on Tenryu. He then faked out Tenryu and Hansen on a double lariat to send Tenryu careening to the outside and set up the first control section of the match. Eventually, Tenryu blocked a Yatsu suplex and tagged Hansen, who immediately ripped off Yatsu's head gear. Tenryu and Hansen were not the opponents you wanted to face with a head injury and they went to town for about 10 minutes. Whenever Jumbo showed signs of trying to help, Tenryu slapped him or knocked him off the apron. Great shit. Yatsu finally made the hot tag and Jumbo just destroyed Tenryu and Hansen for a few minutes. But his partner was out of commission so the sharks finally swarmed him. Meanwhile, the seconds taped Yatsu's headgear back on and he stumbled back in looking like a wounded Revolutionary War soldier or some shit. But he threw caution to the wind and bailed Jumbo out with a crazy flurry of headbutts. Too much action to describe down the stretch, but I loved all of Yatsu's counters to the western lariat. In the end, however, Hansen was Hansen, the fucking Terminator. And he put an end to the proceedings with his big gun. Great fucking match with crazy action but also a lot of attention to little moments, transitions and such. This is a slam dunk and should make a great end to the set.

The Can-Am Express (Doug Furnas & Dan Kroffat) vs. Masa Fuchi & Kenta Kobashi (10/28/89)

 

Damn was this crowd lifeless for most of this match. This was a good match technically but you want a more dynamic match between these guys since they have some really good ones already nominated but this doesn't make the cut.

 

Real World Tag League - Finals: Stan "The Lariat" Hansen & Genichiro Tenryu vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu (12/6/89)

 

Yatsu is still wearing the headgear here. Hansen & Tenryu really was a pretty great shortlived team and they doubled up on Yatsu's head big time here. This had some really solid action to start with both teams looking strong until the beatings of Yatsu's head started and lasted for quite awhile. They would rip the headgear off and Tenryu was a great prick here slapping and kicking Jumbo when he tried to help. Yatsu would hit a desperation German Suplex allowing him to get the hot tag to Jumbo who went nuclear on the heels for a while until the numbers game caught up to him and as this was happening Yatsu was getting his headgear taped back on. Yatsu came in looking like he just had brain surgery and went wild even hitting a bulldog on Hansen on the floor. The stretch run for this was all kinds of violent with everyone just beating ass leading to an insane finish. This was so fucking awesome and a grand slam nomination.