March 1988 - 03/03 - 05/03 (Chono vs George, Inoki vs Pirates, IWGP Tag Team Match & Hansen and Tenryu in a tag brawl)

WWA - 03/03/1988

WWA World Heavyweight Title Match: Masa Chono (c) vs. Mike George

I was pleasantly surprised by this match as I’ve never seen Mike Geogre in any featured match as far as I’m aware. I only sought out this match because it was a lengthy Chono excursion match. And it was a really well crafted 70s style main event with great holds that escalated from traditional combat, with Chono out-matching Geroge, to George doing some cheap tricks, throwing his knees into Chono’s pelvis to gain an advantage. George then worked Chono’s leg. Chono escalated also throwing punches and chops but George was able to clock him on to put an end to that. And just as the match was reaching its dramatic climax, they cut off the match, saying “see you next week”. Fuck you. What was the point in not showing this in full? Who does that benefit? Your territory is dying. I doubt you’ve got a strong TV viewership. Surely they would benefit from putting on a quality main event calibre match on their TV to create buzz and excitement about this dead down. No one is coming to your shows and the finish was a DQ anyway. What’s the harm in showing the finish? It’s so annoying because the match was good. This is classic territory mentality. Stuck in their old ways and is one of the reasons they never stood a chance. This is 1988, not 1978. Come on. My rating would be higher if they ended it where they did instead of cutting away. ***1/2

NJPW Big Fight Series 1988 - Day 3 - 03/03/1988

Keiichi Yamada & Masakatsu Funaki vs. Kazuo Yamazaki & Yoji Anjo

This is a fun underground match that’s almost shot with UWF level production. They begin the match with a mini brawl on the floor and move into standard pro wrestling.It’s funny seeing Anjo wrestle a pro style with his faux-Maeda image that he would shed in the shoot style environment. Funaki and Yamada are nasty with their kicks and are more adept at controlling the match, isolating Anjo particularly. Eventually they are able to submit Anjo with a half crab. But the match spills over after it's all over and requires breaking up. ***

NJPW Big Fight Series 1988 - Day 4 - 04/03/1988

Billy Gaspar vs. Antonio Inoki

The Pirates have invaded New Japan. This is so stupid but they were trying gimmicky things like Vader and now the Gaspar angles. Billy Gaspar is, in fact, Bob Orton Jr. He is sort of losing it at a worker but this is work the gimmick territory so the selling was grossly over the top, he has no moves, Gully Gaspar on the floor interferes, attacking Inoki and Dick Murdoch. Not very good wrestling whatsoever but the fans cheer for their hero anyways. A bloody Murdoch kicking ass at the end is the best part. *1/2

IWGP Tag Team Title Match: Kengo Kimura & Tatsumi Fujinami (c) vs. Masa Saito & Riki Choshu

Apparently this match had some editing but I really couldn’t see that. The editing must have been excellent if the match times are correct. The match was good and heated but didn’t totally deliver on its potential though. The heat section wasn’t as good as it could’ve been, but it was fine and serviced its purpose in creating heat. Kimura and Fujinami continue being a fun team though and are always a treat to watch. The finish comes when Choshu and Saito snap and brutalise the champs and then the ref which causes the DQ. ***1/4

AJPW Excite Series 1988 - Day 12 - 05/03/1988

Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy vs. Ashura Hara & Genichiro Tenryu

This is pretty kick ass. I always forget how big Hansen is because he makes Tenryu look small and Tenryu is humongous. Hansen and Tenryu are a perfect pairing though because Hansen will beat the heck out of him and Tenryu is outstanding in the bumping role. Hara and Gordy are solid in supporting roles and suit the match’s tone in their own ways. But this was all Tenryu and Hansen. The match erupts into an incredible brawl. Manic.***1/2