AJPW Real World Tag League 1990
Real World Tag League 1990 Match: Miracle Violence Connection (Steve Williams & Terry Gordy) vs. Tsuruta-gun (Akira Taue & Jumbo Tsuruta) - AJPW Real World Tag League 1990 - Day 9 - 25/11/1990
Taue got mauled by the MVC, enough to turn him back face for the match, per the usual business. Taue can only do so much but he is sympathetic in his role. Jumbo is a good equaliser on his own, being capable of taking the MVC by himself at times. I thought the MVC were more lively in this than they are on their usual day, working hard and with a ton of intensity. They win via a powerbomb. ***1/2
Real World Tag League 1990 Match: Super Generation Army (Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada) vs. Tsuruta-gun (Akira Taue & Jumbo Tsuruta) - AJPW Real World Tag League 1990 - Day 18 - 07/12/1990
The roles get reversed in this match. Taue is again on the receiving end of double team offence, only against Misawa and Kawada who absolutely despise him. Taue and Kawada are the two that carry the body part of the match with Misawa and Jumbo raising it a level with their one upmanship. Kawada gets particularly vicious with the kicks, blasting Taue in the face with 3 tap combos and levelling Taue with a lariat. But Taue is able to tough it out to give his team a fighting chance. Like I said, Misawa and Jumbo had their great moments. Mostly calling back to the apron spot and the bomb throwing at the end. Jumbo hit a fucking awesome backdrop to Kawada. Make no mistake; there is a vast difference between one in America and one in Japan. Especially if Jumbo is throwing one. This all climaxes with Kawada powerboming Taue for the three. And the crowd erupts. ****
AJPW World Tag Team Title Real World Tag League 1990 Final Match (vacant): Danny Spivey & Stan Hansen vs. Miracle Violence Connection (Steve Williams & Terry Gordy) - AJPW Real World Tag League 1990 - Day 18 - 07/12/1990
The last fucking second. 29:59. This was much slower than the semi final and had a lesser reaction but this was good all the same. It was more methodical and built on it’s momentum switches than anything else. They built up-to the lasting moments well. It was truly a hail mary by Hansen that failed when Williams scooped him and dropped him for the finish. This had many good moments like that. What a match to end the year. Giftwrap Baba indeed! ***3/4
Year-End Awards
Match Of The Year: Akira Taue, Jumbo Tsuruta & Masanobu Fuchi vs. Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada - 19/10/1990
Some might pick Misawa vs Jumbo but that match never truly got to the level this did despite its legacy. This had great wrestling, great character work and felt the most fulfilling to watch for me
Wrestler Of The Year: Jumbo Tsuruta
Misawa isn’t a bad shout but the mediocrity of the first half of the year puts him out of contention. Jumbo had a bit more to offer. Plus his immaculate character growth during the Misawa feud. He got more intense and violent, leaning to the darkside much more while trying to retain his crown.
Feud Of The Year: Mitsuhara Misawa vs Jumbo Tsuruta
Historically significant. Several quality matches whether it was these two alone or whether it included others. Easy pick
Most Disappointing Match Of The Year: Tiger Mask vs Bret Hart
Another obvious pick. 20 minutes of very mundane wrestling in the Tokyo Dome.
Top Five Matches:
Akira Taue, Jumbo Tsuruta & Masanobu Fuchi vs. Kenta Kobashi, Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada - 19/10/1990
Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mitsuharu Misawa - 08/06/1990
Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Mitsuharu Misawa - 01/09/1990
Randy Savage vs. Genichiro Tenryu - 13/04/1990
Steve Williams & Terry Gordy vs Genichiro Tenryu & Stan Hansen - 06/03/1990
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