Leave the memories alone~
WWF/AJPW Summit - 13/04/1990
Tiger Mask vs. Bret Hart
We all know the story. They have no chemistry, Misawa is almost certainly injured coming in. It’s sloppy and dull for 20 minutes, and the crowd hates the draw finish. There is not much more to add. Two of the best wrestlers of the decade lay an egg. *
Randy Savage (w/Sensational Sherri) vs. Genichiro Tenryu
Proof that American style wrestling can work in Japan (wrestling can be done well anywhere, if done well). Savage played the American heel upto 11. He avoided Tenryu’s early attacks by escaping to the outside (Eventually getting his comeuppance when Tenryu chopped the shit out of him), blindsiding Tenryu when his back was turned, and using Sherri as an extra weapon. Tenryu to his credit responds perfectly, working from beneath, selling for Savage before making a hot comeback. They utilised the environment really well - Savage throws Tenryu over an announcers table for heat and blasts Tenryu when he's stuck in the barricades. The crowd is hot for what they are seeing and sadds a lot to the match through their reactions. ****
Stan Hansen vs. Hulk Hogan
The politics of the match are interesting. This was scheduled to be Terry Gordy but Gordy wasn't willing to lose as he's getting a massive push in All Japan, not long away from forming the Miracle Violence Connection and is set to win the Triple Crown Title later in year, so Hansen offered himself up to lose to Hogan and here we are. The match was worth it with Hogan going deep into his repertoire (drop toe holds, arm drags, etc) and began brawling with Hansen. Both bleed which is a delightful surprise and it has a clean finish. The crowd seemed to react negatively whenever a double count out loomed but true to the rumors, Hansen lost clean, at 3.1 of course. ***1/2
AJPW Champion Carnival 1990 - Day 18 - 19/04/1990
Kenta Kobashi & Tiger Mask vs. The Can-Am Express (Danny Kroffat & Doug Furnas)
The airing of this match only showed half of it but the fans were receptive to it from the sounds of it and what is shown is very good as well. Kobashi worked a FIP against the Can Am while Tiger Mask Misawa came in for the hot tag and eventual win. The Can Am had some impressive double team moves and worked as snug as they usually do. The Tiger Driver ends it in one try. ***
AJPW World Tag Team Title Match: Miracle Violence Connection (Steve Williams & Terry Gordy) (c) vs. Danny Spivey & Stan Hansen
This was great in parts, a little awkward and dull in others. Williams was the weak link in the last match but I thought he was tremendous in this one. Williams when he gets going pulls out some great hits one after the other. He does his punching spots, he lifts Spivey over his head with ease, he does his running tackles, all the hits much to the delight of the crowd. Spivey isn't a strong worker but he takes it all very well and cuts off Williams in well timed, important moments. Hansen and Gordy have their brawling exchanges that were awesome. They were so dogged and rough. Neither were interested in making it pretty, which is the best way to go. The down points of the match were the arm work in the middle of the match and the awkward finish where Spivey and Williams are doing the closing stretch before Higuchi realises that Williams isn't the legal man so they have to work a way to brig Hansen and Gordy back in to make Williams the legal man later and it's a bit messy. ***1/2
Triple Crown Title Match: Jumbo Tsuruta (c) vs. Genichiro Tenryu
I'm not sure how much the fans knew about Tenryu leaving - It was a big story after all - but they certainly gave Tenryu a great send off, knowing that this is the last time they'll see him in an All Japan ring for a decade. This is preceded and concluded with a hot angle. Hansen pulled a Dibiase at Wrestlemania 6 by waiting at ringside after his match ended and attacked Tenryu as Tenryu made his way to the ring. The heat is nuclear even before Jumbo comes out to make the save, and in typical Tenry fashion, he slaps Jumbo in response. The match is short compared to what you'd expect from these, only lasting approx 12 minutes. Tenryu is vulnerable after Hansen’s assault so Tenryu is always on the back foot with a now angry Jumbo not taking it easy on him. You always sensed that Tenryu is going to lose, for many reasons, but there are moments of hope and they are electric. Even Tenryu reversing a Backdrop into a body press was able to garner a raucous reaction from the Yokohama crowd. Jumbo is able to put Tenryu away though with the backdrop and Tenryu gets shunted to the side, unfortunately. But right away, Hansen is back and he brawls with Jumbo setting up their title match. Farewell Genichiro Tenryu. We will miss you. ***1/2
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