Choshu and Yatsu really worked over Jumbo early, which worked as a response to the previous week's match. The match picked up around the 10-minute mark when Jumbo and Tenryu began an attack on Choshu's taped ribs. Would the injury lead to a direct fall or leave Choshu unable to offer enough support to Yatsu? Riki did a nice job of keeping those questions alive, selling the pain even when he managed little bursts of offense. The crowd popped big when Tenryu had Choshu in trouble and Choshu stopped the attack with an enzuigiri. I wish the ribs had played a little bigger part in the last few minutes, but the finishing spot was really cool. Tenryu was blocking Yatsu's German suplex attempt by holding the ropes. But the ref grew distracted when Jumbo stepped in to help his partner. That left Choshu an opening to race down the apron and nail Tenryu with a lariat. Yatsu followed with his German for the title win. The crowd treated it as a big moment -- Choshu and Yatsu getting over the hump against a heelish Jumbo. The match lacked the sustained intensity or action of their 1/28 outing but deserves a nomination anyway.

 

1986 All Japan TV Disc 3

Jumbo Tsuruta & Genichiro Tenryu vs. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu, 2/5/86 (TV 3)

- This starts off with Phil’s favorite move.. .the spike piledriver on the floor! The Army then proceed to give Jumbo a spike piledriver inside. Choshu and Yatsu waste no time focusing on Jumbo’s neck with Choshu delivering a lariat and both guys hooking in sleepers. I was enjoying the match up to the point they decided to lock in Sharpshooters. Choshu thankfully goes back to the neck with a head scissors. After Tenryu gets the tag and Jumbo regroups, they start working on Choshu’s ribs. Nothing fancy, just knee strikes, kicks and leg scissors but I am a sucker for focusing on a body part. This is weird seeing Yatsu dominate Tenryu when they square off but a lariat turns the tide. Stretch run has Tenryu and Jumbo trying to put Yatsu away including a double enziguiri. However, as Yatsu is trying to execute a German supplex on Tenryu, the ref is distracted with Jumbo and Choshu uses the opportunity to hit Tenryu with a lariat allowing Yatsu to execute the German and pin Tenryu. Wow, great ending to a really solid match. At some point these matches tend to blur together but this one was pretty awesome. Easy nomination.

NWA International Tag Titles: Genichiro Tenryu & Jumbo Tsuruta © vs. Riki Choshu & Yoshiaki Yatsu (2/5/86)

 

Choshu's ribs are taped from a previous meeting so he & Yatsu decided to work on Jumbo's neck furiously to start the match. Jumbo would fight back with a lariat though and tagged in Tenryu who swung the match back in his team's favor. Jumbo & Tenryu would eventually work over Choshu's taped ribs vigorously before we would get some awesome back and forth action with both teams working hard and pounding each other. I loved Tenryu breaking out the fuckin Texas Cloverleaf on Yatsu and the epic struggle that led to the finish was fucking awesome. This is a slam dunk nomination.