Posted May 23, 201015 yr comment_5451165 All Japan Pro Wrestling (January 22 & Janauary 29 1989) 1. Giant Baba & Rusher Kimura vs Mike Miller & Leo Burke - I was amused when Burke tried to put a sleeper on Baba but couldn't reach high enough. Overall, this wasn't anything noteworthy. 2. Yoshiaki Yatsu & Jumbo Tsuruta vs Toshiaki Kawada & Genichiro Tenryu - If you like watching Kawada get his ass kicked, this is the match for you. It was a long, punishing affair built around hierarchy. Jumbo and Yatsu knew their best plan was to isolate Kawada, and Kawada's absolute determination to prove he could play on the same level fed right into their hands. The beatdown segments dragged a little, but overall, Kawada mixed in enough hope spots and actual comebacks to keep the match compelling. He was already great at unloading his kicks. Tenryu was a supporting player, but he really kicked the shit out of Yatsu when Kawada managed to tag out around the 25-minute mark. We got the punts to the back, the multiple enzuigiris, even a powerbomb for a nearfall. Eventually, the match came down to Jumbo vs. Kawada and the fundamental storyline of grumpy ace shaking off fiery youngster. They did that about as well as anyone. This deserves a nomination, even if it lacked the ball-out action to be a classic. 3. Dan Spivey & Brian Adams vs John Tenta & Osao Takagi - Some fun collisions of mass here, but it wasn't memorable. 4. Masa Fuchi vs Joe Malenko - Already reviewed on Classics. 5. Dynamite Kid & Davey Boy Smith vs. Tiger Mask & Shunichi Nakano - This was pretty fun when Nakano and Misawa were on offense, hitting Davey with a bunch of dives. But the Bulldogs didn't do a lot of note. I did like their finisher, with Davey holding Misawa on his shoulders and Dynamite jumping from the turnbuckle onto Misawa and then directly into the headbutt on Nakano. No vote.
