Hmm, I think this has a chance to make the set. I don't need to waste many words on this one. You had the company's top guys trading huge shots for 25 minutes in front of a supercharged crowd, and they produced a finish that irrevocably established Tenryu as a co-ace. I loved all of the vicious ground-and-pound and Jumbo using a cobra clutch instead of a simple chinlock when he wanted to control Tenryu. I'm not sure I buy the traditional argument that this was the bridge to 1990s All-Japan. Some of the late-decade tags did just as good a job foreshadowing the coming style. But the extended finishing run, with Jumbo failing to put Tenryu away and then kicking out of one powerbomb before succumbing to a second, was the sort of thing we'd later see from Misawa and Kawada. We all know this is likely to finish top 5 with a strong shot at No. 1. And it's one of those sacred cows that doesn't need slaying as we revisit the decade.

 

1989 All-Japan TV Disc 12

#1 Contender

Triple Crown: Jumbo Tsuruta © vs. Genichiro Tenryu (6/5/89)

 

I mean really is there any doubt. This is a walkoff grand slam nomination.