Jumbo Tsuruta/Yoshiaki Yatsu vs. Genichiro Tenryu/Ashura Hara (17:52/30:00)

 

This is a really awesome sprint and just tons of hard clotheslines, big knees, near falls and too much fun. Hara is a real revelation to me, and all the others are really fun here as well, doing their usual thing. Jumbo takes the kneepad down to hit some big knees, Tenryu lariats people in the neck, this is rad. NOMINATE!

 

(AJTV 12/5 & 12/12/87)

The complete version is on Classics and the date is 12/4/87. The way they worked screamed draw from early in the match. The wrestling was fine, but I felt they were filling time and getting their stuff in rather than working for a win. I did like Tenryu refusing to engage Jumbo unless he had an obvious advantage, but they didn't really go anywhere with that idea. Eventually, Yatsu and Jumbo worked a long control section on a bloody Tenryu, but nothing about it stood out nor did anything about Tenryu's rally. Another disappointing match in a disappointing RWTL. No vote.

 

All Japan Classics 160

Jumbo Tsuruta/Yoshiaki Yatsu vs. Genichiro Tenryu/Ashura Hara, 12/5/87 (AJC 160)

- Jumbo pairs up with Hara to start but he really wants Tenryu to come in the ring. Ha! After goading Tenryu to enter, he tags out to Yatsu. When Yatsu tags in Jumbo, Tenryu takes his breather and it is Jumbo-Hara again. So far, not much work of note but the story is intriguing. Finally, the two clash and we get the usual good stuff between the two former partners. Damn, one lariat in particular looked real nasty with Tenryu giving no quarter to Jumbo’s neck. After a few sequences, you realize that you could have subbed Yatsu and Hara for any subordinate. This is the Jumbo-Tenryu show. You then have to ask the question… should they have just done a singles match? Then again, we have Kobashi and Kawada tag matches where those guys drew the story away from the aces. Jumbo really takes over on the outside where he delivers a jumping knee and levels Tenryu. Inside, Yatsu continues the assault. With Tenryu as Native in Peril, Hara looks on helplessly. When he does get in, he drills Jumbo with a lariat. However, he doesn’t fare too much better than Tenryu. Anyway, this is a solid nomination but the lower guys don’t distract from the match but you watch this for the Jumbo-Tenryu show.

Real World Tag League: Revolution (Genichiro Tenryu & Yoshiaki Yatsu) vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu (12/4/87)

 

Jumbo & Hara start off chopping each other then Jumbo goes over and paintbrushes Tenryu who looks at him like What the Fuck then looks at his chest shrugging it off and that was awesome. Jumbo then does it again and Tenryu just stands there stoic as hell like John Entwinstle playing bass for The Who before he tags in so of course Jumbo goes over and tags Yatsu with Tenryu giving him this cocksucker look. Jumbo would tag in eventually so Tenryu decides to tag in Hara so we will have to wait a little longer but it was entertaining to watch Jumbo & Hara just tee off on each other. Tenryu would get his revenge on Jumbo's chops as when he ran the ropes, Tenryu opened up the ropes and Jumbo tumbled to the floor before tagging in Hara and the war started. We got high knees from Jumbo and an enzuigiri sending him to the floor then Tenryu just slapped the piss out of Jumbo when he returned to the ring. Yatsu then came in and got worked over with Tenryu slyly going over and paintbrushing Jumbo across the chest with a chop. Jumbo would tag in and went over to clubber Tenryu but Hara would catch him with a lariat before Jumbo nearly took his head off with his own lariat. Tenryu would then tag in and hit a stiff lariat of his own before hitting a backdrop suplex for a nearfall. Jumbo taking down his kneepad before nailing Tenryu with a high knee into the corner then following up with another one on the floor which brought out the juice was great. Jumbo & Yatsu would then viciously work over the cut and Tenryu in general until Tenryu would get a tag after a desperation inside cradle for a nearfall. Hara then came in firing huge blows giving Tenryu a chance to rest as they work over Yatsu until Jumbo comes back in for another huge lariat on Hara then a double lariat on Tenryu taking them both down. The action was hot and heavy as the time was being counted down and Yatsu would hit a German Suplex at the bell making this a draw. This was an awesome match and a slam dunk nomination. Such hard hitting violence.