They focused less on Kawada than in the Jan. match between these teams, though he still took a quality ass kicking and responded with some fantastic rallies. This one crackled with a lot more animosity. You had great shit like Tenryu stomping on Yatsu's jaw to break up a hold on Kawada only for Yatsu to respond with four brutal forearms to Kawada's jaw, talking shit to Tenryu as he landed them. Later, Jumbo got tired of beating on a limp Kawada and threw him into Tenryu for a tag. Then he mauled Tenryu before he could get into the ring and stood on his rival's face. Jumbo and Tenryu really wanted a piece of each other in this one, and that set it apart. I can't even remember all the sequences I popped for. The last minutes featured a great run of nearfalls that foreshadowed the All-Japan epics of the '80s. Just a great fucking match and something I could see putting in the top 10. This was a Dominique-Wilkins-windmill-level slam dunk.

 

1989 All Japan TV Disc 5

Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu vs. Genichiro Tenryu & Toshiaki Kawada, AJ TV 2/26/89 (TV5)

- Really hot opening leading to Jumbo giving Tenryu a big knee followed up with a spike piledriver. Yatsu allowing Tenryu to escape but Kawada getting trapped and abused by Jumbo and Yatsu. Wow, I am so used to Kawada getting his ass kicked so when Jumbo takes 2 huge lariats from Kawada to make Jumbo a native in peril, I am impressed. Even more so with Kawada taking it to him with a sleeper. Of course, Jumbo is smarter than Kawada so he grabs his leg and takes control and tags in to Yatsu. Good stuff so far. There are enough twists in the story to make it stand out so far, mainly with Kawada getting the best of Jumbo. I like the idea of Tenryu and Kawada working on Yatsus leg even though it didn’t last long. Yatsu and Jumbo turn it around and start working over Kawada’s leg with gusto with Tenryu trying in vain to make the save. So far, so good. This thing goes to a whole different level the second half. Jumbo lays Kawada out with a big knee only to get popped by Tenryu. They take it outside, Jumbo bleeds so Kawada starts kicking the shit out of the cut. Bonus points!!! I am digging vulnerable Jumbo. Gotta love how when Jumbo takes control, he throws Kawada in the corner and starts attacking Tenryu as a receipt for earlier on. Nice stretch run with dueling Germans, top rope sunset flips, a nod to the Jumbo-Funk 76 match, and some awkward moments as well. Still, this is a nomination. Didn’t have any EPIC moments but it is too good not to make the set. Easy nomination

AJPW World Tag Titles: Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu © vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Genichiro Tenryu (2/23/89)

 

Another fantastic match between these teams with a stretch run that was flat out awesome plus you have a molten hot crowd at Korakuen to boot and this is a slam dunk nomination.