Hey Yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,
The Unholy Month of Rocktober begins today and I feel like I
need to make a music recommendation. I highly recommend Mercyful Fate’s Time
Album from 1994. Like most heavy metal from the 90s, it is unsung and under the
radar. It is the perfect soundtrack for Halloween! Will you heed the Master’s
Call? Hail Satan! :P
Pro Wrestling Love vol. 12:
The Greatest Matches of All Japan Pro Wrestling 1980-1984
Objective: Break up the Greatest Match Ever Project
(hosted at gwe.freeforums.project.net) into more manageable chunks to help me
build my Top 100 List for the project.
Motivation:
Contribute to the discussion around these matches to enrich my own
understanding of pro wrestling and give a fresh perspective for old matches and
even hopefully discover great pro wrestling matches that have been hidden by
the sands of time.
Subject: This twelfth
volume of Pro Wrestling Love ends the Top 12 countdown of the best matches to
take place in All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1980-1984. The ending date makes
sense as that was the last year All Japan used their booking paradigm of
bringing in gaijin World Champions from the NWA & AWA to defend against
their major stars (i.e. Jumbo Tsuruta, Giant Baba and Genichiro Tenryu). In
1985, there was a paradigm shift to native vs native feuds with the invasion of
New Japan pro wrestler, Riki Choshu. This was also in part necessitated by
American World Champions not making the trip over to Japan as frequently
(Crockett needed Flair for their national expansion and AWA was in its downward
spiral). The beginning date is more out of convenience as it is both the beginning
of the decade and the start of DVDVR All Japan 80s project. That project was
used as a source of recommendations for the matches I watched to determine the
best matches to take place in All Japan between 1980-1984. You can
revisit past Pro Wrestling Love Volumes at ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com.
You can check out the full version of these reviews in ProWrestlingOnly.com by
going to the forums and finding the folders associated with the date of the
match.
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| I'm Telling You I Would Pick The Revenant Bear |
It actually makes good sense to look at All Japan between 1980-1984 because in 1985 the booking paradigm shifts once Choshu invades and the gaijin talent dries up. The booking from 1980-84 focused around two major things.
1. Foreign world champions coming overseas to defend their championships. This would be Ric Flair & Harley Race from the NWA and Nick Bockwinkel & Rick Martel from the AWA. They would usually defend against AJPW Ace Jumbo Tsuruta and occasionally Genichiro Tenryu.
2. Stan Hansen. The resident monster gaijin that jumped from New Japan to All Japan in a shocking angle in late 1981 was positioned against the top two babyfaces of All Japan those being Giant Baba and Terry Funk.
Who were the main characters of All Japan 1980-84:
1. Giant Baba - Founder, Owner and booker of All Japan. He was the historic top star of the promotion but by 1980 was getting up there in years. He was the PWF World Heavyweight Champion during this time, the top singles title in All Japan. He fought feature bouts against the top monster gaijin, Stan Hansen. He is a weird looking dude with really skinny arms, a very boxy torso, a Giant head and is really tall. Somehow he makes it all work.
2. Jumbo Tsuruta - Baba's understudy in the 70s blossomed into the Ace of All Japan in the early 80s. He started taking the World Championship Title Challenges from Baba as Baba was winding down. He started the decade as the United National Champion (tertiary title) but was promoted to International Heavyweight Champion as Dory Funk Jr was winding down. He has an amateur background. He is strong on the mat and an excellent bomb thrower down the stretch (suplexes, an excellent bodyslam, High Knee and Boston Crab). He can be dry at times, but when he raises his arm, the crowd in Budokan goes wild. Jumbo has a one of the greatest victories in All Japan history when he defeats Nick Bockwinkel for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship and successfully ends the tour as the Champion.
3. Genichiro Tenryu - Jumbo's understudy. You don't see too much of him during this time period. When Jumbo graduates to International Champion, Tenryu picks up the United National Belt. He does have an excellent match with Ted DiBiase around this timeframe for that title. Tenryu does not really make a splash until the Choshu feud in 1985. He has a sumo background. He is stoic badass that can become really violent. He is raw and hard hitting. No one has a better contemptuous stare than Tenryu.
4. Terry & Dory Funk - Terry Funk did the impossible he became a beloved babyface in Japan. Since the 1950s, Americans were brought in as evil foreigners for the native Japanese to vanquish. Terry Funk started that way but ended becoming a hero to the Japanese people. Crowds had huge banners for Terry Funk and he even had cheerleaders! Whereas Jumbo was positioned a top, technical challenger for the championship, Terry Funk was the heart & soul of All Japan. He was where the emotion was. This led to many violent, brutal masterpieces with the top monster heel of All Japan, Stan Hansen. Terry Funk was an extraordinary babyface seller in All Japan and a great brawler.
5. Stan Hansen - The man who made All Japan run. A violent tour de force. A bull in the China Shop. In one of my reviews below, I state in a choice between fighting Stan Hansen and the Bear in the Revenant, I may just pick the Bear. Stan Hansen is a terrorizing, overwhelming monster. He is underrated seller. When Stan Hansen sells for you, it means something.
6. "Nature Boy" Ric Flair - Flair wins his first championship in 1981 from Dusty Rhodes. Most fans are familiar with his title victory against Harley Race at the first Starrcade in November of 1983. Most of what we know of Flair's first title reign comes from his matches in Japan. He has a excellent trilogy with Jumbo Tsuruta. Flair is very over in Japan and is definitely treated as a major special attraction. Flair is more understated in Japan than he is America. There are still a smattering of Woos and a strut here and there, but he is much more focused on amateur style wrestling, which he is good at and then those classic hot finish stretches that Ric Flair is known for.
Below you will find the matches that I think are sixteenth to eleventh best matches that took place in All Japan between 1980-1984. If you think I missed a match, let me know. I watched 31 matches from this era. So I may not have liked a certain as much as you and we can discuss or maybe I overlooked a match.
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| Happy Halloween! |
The Best All Japan Matches from 1980-1984
#6. Nick Bockwinkel vs Billy Robinson - AJPW 12/11/80
#6. Nick Bockwinkel vs Billy Robinson - AJPW 12/11/80
All Japan Match of the Year, 1980
Verne Gagne is AWA World Champion at this time so no titles on the line that I know of. There is a clip. The beginning is some of the best 70s/80s American style matwork (I usually call this NWA Champion-style, but with both working for AWA that seemed wrong) you will ever see. To me American style matwork is your headlocks, wristlocks, armbars, short arm scissors, hammerlocks, chickenwings, toeholds, figure-4s, and crabs and these two just work it beautifully. We clip to Bock with a standing reverse top wristlock. He just has this evil, sadistic grin on his face that no one else can replicate. He is taking immense joy in wrenching Robinson's arm. The struggle is real for Robinson to buck Bock. First gets a headscissors (this is when the ankles are crossed), but when he tries to put Bock in motion, Bock converts an armdrag into a kneeling reverse top wristlock with him kneeling on Robinson's face, so now he is in a worse predicament. Robinson is able to get his leg over Bock's head and gets a double underhook, but Bock does a beautiful job blocking by grapevining the leg. Lock-up and Robinson grabs a tight and I mean DOUBLE TIGHT headlock. They work in out of that headlock, but Bock has lost control. Until one criss cross where he gets a marvelous drop toehold and rolls up right into a figure-4 of the left calf (this when one leg is straight and other is tucked behind the knee of the straight leg making a "4" with your leg). The commitment of the drop toehold was great because Robinson did not just go with it Bock got it tight and you really felt Robinson trip because of it. The match winds up once they get standing. Bock slaps Robinson hard. Robinson is incensed and goes to clobber Bockwinkel, but Bock ducks sending poor Billy crashing over the top rope out onto the floor.
Bock gives chase, which was unexpected, I thought we would get King of Mountain. Robinson ends up bodyslamming him on the floor. Should have sticked to the script, Nick. Robinson comes charging in again for a punch and Bock back drops him out. Robinson really wants to wipe that smirk off Bock's face. Bock waits for Robinson to come to him this time and bodyslams him into the ring. Bock's heat segment is pretty damn good. Piledrivers, whip into the buckles and just generally kicking ass. Bock throws some serious bows and this wakes Billy up who starts blocking and then roaring back. Neckbreaker, back suplex ROBINSON BACKBREAKER!!! Only getting two. Hits a second Robinson Backbreaker, but hurts his plant leg. Bock POUNCES on this! Robinson shakes him off. Bock scrambles from outside back into the ring. Applies Figure-4 tons of drama. Robinson makes the ropes. The time calls get closer together. Fire fight to end it and they call it off as a draw.
Pretty incredible match from the tight matwork to the hot finish run. Besides Lawler, I don't think there are two people that can get more out of so little in regards to highspots. You really see Bock in full display here. The opening matwork, then trying to incense his opponent and then pouncing on a weakness. Just great selling and pacing. Robinson is so great at offense, but I thought he sold really well for Bock with those two big bumps to the floor and then his knee. ****1/2
#5. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Jumbo Tsuruta
AJPW 6/8/83 2 Out of 3 Falls
Exactly six years before I was born. Seen this twice or thrice before, loved it, lets see how it holds up.
First 20 minutes: Jumbo is a wrestler who tries to control his own destiny but so many things end up out of his control. He always takes it to his opponent; it is that challenger mentality. But he always gets hosed by a DDQ or Countout finish, but goddamnit he tries to win it, but somehow things awry. It is all Jumbo in the first ten minutes. I thought this was a good demonstration of Flair's commitment to selling especially verbally. Good work on the arm, liked the Irish whip into buckles great bump and then holler by Flair. The best attribute of Flair is he never stops trying to win so he makes his opponent work for it. Flair tries to create something off a criss cross ends up in an ab stretch. From there we transition to back psychology and Jumbo really never relents for the rest of the twenty minutes except when he is on defense. Flair is not throwing as many short knees or chops, but does land a couple after a bearhug. He misses the elbow and sells his back! Nice! Jumbo pounces. The weakest part of the first twenty minutes was definitely the transition to Flair's first heat segment. Flair takes a stroll to break Jumbo's momentum, but comes back and just takes over like it is his turn. So pretty weak. Great arm work though. Punches to the armpit, tight hammerlocks, short arm scissors using the ropes. Jumbo uses a drop toehold to hold Flair why getting his arm rejuvenated. Then it's right back to the Boston Crab. Never lets go of the ankle, but is able to get back on the back of Flair. Good wrestling. Flair breaks the hold and tries to go for the arm. Stump puller and Jumbo right back to the Boston Crab. Flair makes the ropes. He is grabbing his back and Jumbo is feeling it. Now Jumbo is ready to throw some bombs. Atomic drop. Flair HOLLERS and Flair Flop! BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Only a two! Flair is feeling the heat, big chop and chucks Jumbo outside.
Besides the transition, very solid opening twenty minutes. The challenger, Jumbo has picked a body part used holds to finally build towards bombs that will yield a pin. Flair is using momentum breaking tactics and focused on arm. Thought Flair's selling and movement were great. Jumbo has had most of the highspots in the match thus far and is wrestling soundly.
Second Twenty Minutes:
Flair is selling inside the ring so well. Huffing and puffing, grabbing his back, not going after Jumbo. The turning point for Flair seems to be a back suplex. It rang Jumbo's bell and Flair was able to put him in a surfboard. "Cmon Jumbo!" yells Flair. I love tests of strength especially in this context. With the first fall on the line about 25 minutes gone by, feels like do or die time. Some weird botches in this match. Like the crossbody and Jumbo ducking a punch ending up in the piledriver position just to reverse it. Flair begs for Jumbo to chop him over the top. Great bump by Flair, feels like a great fist-pumping moment for Jumbo fans. Flair is so good. Flair grabs the leg from the outside! Yanks it across the apron! Desperation Flair! Here we go! Flair big time suplex back in, inside cradle off the figure-4 though. Flair has the foot, ENZIGUIRI! HIGH KNEE!!! MUTHA OF ALL BACK DROPDRIVERS! JUMBO TAKES THE FALL! 1-0!
Pretty incredible first fall. Really sound opening twenty minutes followed by a red hot last five. The in between five was marred by weird botches and awkwardness.
After losing the first fall, Flair clearly needs to come out cooking, but also look Jumbo to press the advantage. Flair has an interesting strategy to start. He comes in firing at Jumbo with heavy hands and at first Jumbo is able to overwhelm him. Flair now down 1-0 just keeps firing. He tries an atomic drop, but it is reversed, he blocks. He gets a suplex and then a piledriver. What's interesting is Flair is trying to win with bombs. Then we see a strategy more up Flair's alley. The front facelock. He locks that in. Saps Jumbo's energy, totally grinds his momentum to a halt, gives time for Flair to recover and the biggest thing of all he basically wastes ten minutes off the clock here. He is still going for pinfalls, but he is killing time. This is boring as hell and the match rating is gonna suffer, but you cant deny it is smart. He throws Jumbo out. Jumbo takes a couple tries and yanks him out. He throws him into the post and busts Flair open.
Jumbo up 1-0 & Flair is bleeding. Can he pull out the championship victory with twenty minutes left.
Last Twenty Minutes: These two are athletic freaks. They wrestle a grueling 40 minutes and now they decide to have a fireworks show. I loved Jumbo pounding on the cut and Flair throwing those wild punches. Flair was killing it in the selling department. Collapsing and hollering as Jumbo was kicking ass. Jumbo feels like an ass kicker. There was some really great fist fights. HIGH KNEE! I was urging to Jumbo to cover and I already know he wont win that's how good that spot was. Flair Flip. Flair headbutts down low! Great spot! Jumbo reverses a suplex attempt into a back drop driver attempt, but Flair blocks by grapevining the leg. Jumbo grabs a sleeper. There is a HUGE nearfall, 1-2-Foot on ropes! I marked out for it. Flair throws him out and Jumbo comes back covered with streamers with a MISSILE DROPKICK off the top! Awesome visual.
I think I figured it out Flair just cant take a Thesz Press. Jumbo GOES FLYING over the ropes in an insane bump when Flair ducks the High knee. NOW We Go To School! Jumbo earns his keep in selling here. Flair is relentless on the leg and Jumbo is great selling in the confines of the figure-4. Flair runs the clock out with really compelling leg work and a figure-4. Jumbo was selling so well and the drama was high. Jumbo does not submit, but the clock runs out on him and winning the NWA Championship.
The first fall is an incredible, basic strategic wrestling match. The last twenty minute is this insanely dramatic action-packed match with blood, bombs, bumps and drama down the stretch. Two things keep this from classic status the beginning ten minutes of second fall are pretty damn boring. Even if it makes sense, it was boring. During the finish run, it felt incomplete. It was missing that big Jumbo run. It would be like a tag match without a hot tag. It just did not feel right. Flair was awesome at selling and really timed the match out well. Jumbo killed it offensively and then in the end came through in the selling of the leg. Just an awesome NWA Championship and one of the best Broadways ever. ****1/2
#4. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Kerry Von Erich vs Jumbo Tsuruta
AJPW 5/22/84 Two Out Of Three Falls
AJPW 5/22/84 Two Out Of Three Falls
All Japan Match of the Year, 1984
Nothing puts a big smile on my face quite like typing 'NWA World Heavyweight Champion Kerry Von Erich". Seen this match twice before and loved it. Lets watch this one again. I love that classic NWA Championship build with the collar-elbow tieups, the circling, the caution, the tests of strength. It allows you to settle into the match and really get into it. Jumbo is not shy about throwing bombs in a championship. He made it to the promised land in February against Bock so he has that monkey off his back. He is free to go for broke. I love little things like the struggle over the Irish whip with Jumbo kicking Kerry in the gut and after lots of struggle hoisting him in the air for the butterfly suplex. Kerry's response to immediately retreat to the ropes. Kerry's reactions to everything in the first fall was pitch perfect. Kerry tries to make in roads on the arm but instead eats a cross body for two. Jumbo shoots in with ease and gets an ab stretch. Kerry is used to Dallas where is an overwhelming favorite. Now he is in Japan where everyone loves Jumbo. Kerry needs to fire up because Jumbo is dictating this match. Banana split rollup. Kerry forms the Claw hand. I get excited. The struggle over the claw was AWESOME! Both sold the drama of it so well and the crowd was right there with a Tsuruta chant. Kerry gets the stomach claw. Kerry is able to pick Jumbo up and seat him on the top rope. Something Jumbo did to him earlier to show him up. Now things get chippy! Pride is on the line. The handshake that started the match has been replaced by shoving. It is Jumbo that comes out the winner with TWO big high knees. Kerry's sell of the second one is so damn good. Kerry is left on the outside, but gets a sunset flip back in for two. ENZIGUIRI BY JUMBO! BACK DROP DRIVERRRRRRRR! 1-2-3! Jumbo up 1-0.
Jumbo looked great in the first fall besides the Claw, Kerry looked lost what to do with a firing on all cylinders Jumbo Tsuruta. Things got worse for Kerry before they got better. Jumbo pressed his advantage. He was taking no prisoners. He just starts pounding on Kerry's head with fists until it literally starts bleeding. Kerry's selling in this match is fucking awesome. Some of the best I have ever seen. He looks down and out being held up by the turnbuckles, but has just enough fight left in him. He gets a sleeper, which stops the bleeding figuratively because literally his face is now a crimson mask, but Jumbo gets out. Jumbo risks DQ by pounding on Kerry some more in the corner. This is a brutal Jumbo. Even the crowd that wants Jumbo to win does not seem happy with these tactics. The ref does not want to DQ the Japanese hero, but backs him up. Jumbo needs to get Kerry off his feet because Kerry is doing the smart thing by standing in the corner. Jumbo gets him out hits a suplex and then a piledriver. Miraculously Kerry kicks out twice. I was actually thinking to myself after the piledriver. Kerry needs to be thinking Discus Punch/Claw. He needs a home run. Lo and behold, Kerry starts firing off those big, looping Texan rights. SPINS AROUND CLOCKS JUMBO WITH THE DISCUS PUNCH! Jumbo bounces off the ropes CLAW~! Jumbo goes down, fights it off, back to his feet, Kerry with all his Texan might drives Jumbo's head back into the mat for three count. Incredible second fall. Totally believeable way to get Kerry back into the match. Tied 1-1.
I liked how they have taken advantage of the fact that Jumbo will be over no matter what to have him play the roughhousing heel and Kerry do what he does best play sympathetic babyface. 1. Because it is more natural for both 2. It is unexpected. You would expect in Japan to play Kerry to play subtle heel. So it is a nice wrinkle. Kerry refuses to let go of Jumbo with the claw. There is a great visual of Jumbo being attended by all the young boys while Kerry stands alone in the corner bleeding. They comes out. Jumbo is still selling the effects of the claw as Kerry looks spry floating around like Muhammad Ali just tagging Jumbo with rights. He goes for the kill with the CLAW! Jumbo resists. Kerry runs into a knee. Jumbo says enough of this fucking claw and just DESTROYS Kerry's hand. This is the hook of the match. This is what everyone remembers. Jumbo's utter decimation of Kerry's right hand. Just watch it. It is beautiful pro wrestling. Kerry is awesome selling it and even throws a punch then grabs his hand. Kerry is able to get a suplex out of an armbreaker then a piledriver, but misses a reverse elbow from the top which bother his bad hand. Jumbo wastes no time and hits a Big Time Jumping Knee and immediately applies the Boston Crab. Kerry flexes all his muscles and powers out of it. They end up on the outside and Kerry applies the CLAW, but Jumbo hits a backdrop driver. It is a moot point as the ref counts to ten. Double Countout. Jumbo raises Kerry's hand.
Incredible offensive performance from Jumbo. He did not care about being a dick. He wanted to be World Champion again. All is fair in love and war. Kerry was in his element selling his ass off. The blood added a lot as Kerry really did look overwhelmed. He survived long enough to win the stand up war with some nice punches and the claw. When it came time for Jumbo to sell, he did a great job too. The hand work is all-time great stuff. I want to give this ***** so badly, but the finish just does not do it for me. I don't mind the double countout, but want something more chaotic. Still up until that, they absolutely killed it. Two of the all-time greats putting on one helluva championship wrestling match. ****3/4
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| Modern Day Warrior |
#3. Stan Hansen vs Terry Funk - AJPW 4/14/83
Insane violent spectacle! Funk's selling of this brutal beatdown is transcendent. You first realize that Funk is deeply lacerated, not from looking at his face, but rather from his blood pooling on Hansen's stomach. Then when he was being back into the ring by the crazed sadist, he looked like a bloody dog tangled in streamers beaten to a pulp. The look on his face as he was being hung, with the rope in his mouth, bleeding profusely was unsettling and horrifying. Dory, who apparently is the world's toughest nerd, is able to save his baby brother. As he was being tended to by his brother, he was a sickly bloody mess. It was gruesome and maybe the nastiest wrestling has ever looked.
Funk tried to stay away from Hansen early avoiding being corner with speed and his jab. Hansen slapped him and when Funk went for a bodyslam it was all over. Hansen threw him down and began to unload. Bullying him at every turn and just using his elbows, knees and fists as weapons. I loved Funk just wailing away on Hansen knee out of desperation or throwing a dropkick outside. The struggle over the spinning toehold is one of the most poignant moments in wrestling. You just hope against hope that Funk can cause enough to pain make Hansen submit. Hansen like a ferocious, wounded animal keeps kicking him off and punching him hard in the face until he is bleeding. It was titanic. At every stage, Funk would dive for the leg and attempt to submit him knowing full well he was going to be blasted in the head and his cut be further opened up. I think Hansen not selling the leg is a curious choice. It adds to his monster dynamic that he can't be harmed and that Terry Funk will eventually be a tragic hero left for dead by the ultimate bully. Hansen drops Funk on his balls on the top rope and thus commences the gruesome scene above.
It is hard to say this is even a match. It feels like something so much more. I would say at the very least one of the top 5 most violent matches in a way that is really unsettling from the sense you really feel for Terry Funk. It is definitely something everybody should watch at some point. ****3/4
#2. Terry & Dory Funk vs Brusier Brody & Jimmy Snuka - AJPW 12/13/81
All Japan Match of the Year, 1981
Loved this match the first time I saw it and love it even more now. Total stone cold classic. Stan Hansen showing up in All Japan was just massive on par with the NWO invasion. The announcer loses his shit and Baba (I think it is Baba) is all like what the fuck. Well I don't speak Japanese, but that was his tone suggested to me. The crowd is BATSHIT! The match follows is crazy awesome. Easily the best thing, I have ever seen Brody and Snuka apart of. They are just the perfect monster heels to go up against the lovable Funk brothers.
Snuka looks fucking stacked here. Wow! Terry tries to antagonize Snuka. He runs him over and Snuka just brushes it off with a kip up. He is like an athletic Creature from the Black Lagoon. The Funk have to double up on Snuka, who takes a Flair Flop. Someone has been working Mid-Atlantic. Love the three tries before Junior gets him over on the butterfly suplex. Kick out at one because he is a coked-out monster! HUSS! HUSS! Here comes Brody! Big dropkick by Brody and Junior kicks out at one. Two can play at that game says, Dory. Terry has the dropkick scouted now and hooks on to the ropes. Love that spot! Terry bumps huge for Brody making him look like a mountain. Great one arm slam by Brody! Terry gets the tag and Dory is rocking it, but Brody refuses to bump. This is the opposite of a Harley Race match.
Great sequence as Snuka looks to leapfrog, but Junior catches him mid-air and turns into a Spinning Toehold. That's their equalizer against these monsters. Brody chops the hell out of Dory and Terry is pissed. Nice headlock work by the heels. Terry clubs Brody in the back of the head when he walks too close to their side of town. Brody distracted and Dory unloads with Euro Uppercuts, awesome psychology. Terry creating the distraction for his older brother. Double suplex on Brody, everything has to be doubled up on the heels. Brody sends him for the ride and Terry takes the Flair Flip and is selling his ass off for Brody. Funk throws Snuka out of the ring in desperation. Like the Creature of the Black Lagoon, he rises again to hit a springboard splash in 1981!!! HOLY SHIT! Dory has enough and throws Snuka out. So Terry not to be outdone hurls his body from the top rope to the floor on SNUKA!!! HOLY SHIT!!! Talk about upping the ante and fighting fire with fire. Brody does some arena brawling with Terry that just adds to the chaos.
Dory looks to have Snuka beat multiple times, but Brody saves or Snuka is too close to the ropes. Terry gets in and he wants Brody. Off come the pads! It is on like Donkey Kong! They throw haymakers at each other and when Terry gets trapped in their corner he ballshots Snuka. Awesome! Awesome! The Funks work over the leg in spectacular fashion to set up a Double Spinning Toe Hold spot!!!! Brody and Terry end up outside. You knew it was going to happen and then it does. Brody feeds him to the Lion. LARIAOOOOOTOOOOOO!!!! Terry is fucking dead. Dory looks to have Snuka beat and then realizes his brother might have just been decapitated. He checks to see he is still alive and then does the manliest thing ever and goes it alone with the Creature from the Black Lagoon and Frankenstein. Dory is ripshit and blasts his way through Snuka. Tag to Brody and Dory attacks him as he is coming through the ropes. THIS IS WAR! Dory has Brody's mane and is just teeing off on him! Finally the numbers game catches up to him. Snuka hits a diving headbutt. 1-2-NO! HUGE POP! Brody suplex and Dory presses him off!!! He is HULKING UP! That would be hilarious if Dory started to do the Hulk Up routine. Snuka splash eats knees! Dory kneecrusher on Snuka's bad leg. DO YOU BELIVE IN MIRACLES???? SPINNING TOEHOLD! TAP! TAP! TAP! Brody clubbing blow to the head and a King Kong Kneedrop puts Dory out of his misery. Alas.
Hansen celebrates with the Axis of Evil. Dory keeps fighting so Hansen beats the shit out of him. JUMBO TSURUTA AND GIANT FUCKING BABA SAVE!!!! HOLY SHIT! CROWD IS SO LOUD! HANSEN VS BABA...MONEY!!!
Awesome, awesome, awesome match and angle!!! Snuka and Brody are like old school movie monsters. The Funks are great selling and doubling up their offense. Loved Terry flying off the top rope not to be outdone by Snuka. Then when they finally look like they have the monsters down each with a Spinning Toehold, the new big badass rips off Terry's head and Dory has to go it alone. One of the all-time best tag matches, yes, I am going all the way for this one. *****
#1. Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy vs Dory & Terry Funk
AJPW 8/31/83 Terry Funk Retirement Match
All Japan Match of the Year, 1983
Terry Funk kills any chance of running for public office in America by proclaiming that "Japan is Number 1 forever, forever, forever, forever, forever, forever". Guess America is just playing for second place.
The crowd loves the Funks like this has to be one of the most over babyface acts of all time. The dichotomy between the brothers is on display here as Dory gives one of the more uninspired face in peril segments in the way of selling compared to Terry basically giving the performance of a lifetime. In Dory's defense, I loved how much he was struggling to get out every armbar and how much fire he had, but could have used some more selling. Stan Hansen is a Terry Funk seeking missile to start and wants to re-open a cut above his eye. Dory is fucking useless trying to save his brother. Love the chaos in the midst of all the streamers. Terry tags out to big brother and they look to double team Hansen, who is wiser than he looks. Hansen grabs Dory by the arm and bullies him over to his corner. This is one of the best Gordy appearances I have ever seen. He was in lockstep with Hansen in terms of strategy, but presented a more vulnerable side. Dory may have not sold well, but he was firing those forearms off with all he had. Loved the heels always grabbing that arm and pulling him back to their corner to prevent the tag. This crowd is going apeshit for Dory Fucking Funk! Terry starts to get pissed about the constant double teaming and says two can play at that game. I love Dory forearming through a Hansen kick. That's what makes pro wrestling look great. This has been nothing, but balls to the wall action. Hot tag to Terry, who is bleeding, but he does not give a fuck as he FINALLY levels Hansen with a series of punches to a huge pop. Unfortunately Gordy cheapshots him and Terry cant press his advantage. This leads to Hansen kicking Terry's leg really fucking hard like really fucking hard. The leg work that ensues is amazing. The heels are vicious and dicks about it. Gordy was constantly holding Terry from the outside by the foot while Hansen would stomp and drop his weight on the knee. You just felt like poor Terry was helpless against these animals and his face showed all the pain. Gordy even went as far to use the Spinning Toehold against him! Terry blasts him in the head and then headbutt. Hot tag to Junior! Melee ensues leaving Terry and Terry in the ring. Gordy belly flops and Funk sunset flips from the middle rope to win his retirement match! Hansen ever the sore loser attacks Terry's leg and murders a young boy with a lariat before being restrained by a school of young boys.
I have always loved this match and again it was a total energetic tour de force. The heels dominate the match and beat the shit out of the Funks, but the Funks are not going down without a fight. I wish Terry got the win over Stan, but Hansen was staying not Terry. At least Terry finally got to knock him off his feet. Still it is a great feel-good moment and balls to the wall action. One of the best tag team matches ever! *****
All Japan is such a great wrestling promotion and I would even go so far as to say the best promotion in wrestling history. I want to make sure that I explore the most popular and famous promotion, World Wrestling Federation and looking at arguably their biggest boom period: The Attitude Era!
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