[1988-08-30-AJPW] Genichiro Tenryu & Ashura Hara vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu

[G. Badger]

This is the perfection of the Bruiser Brody memorial match on 8-29-88. Holy cow is this match some closed fisted, sweat swapping wrestling. People don't talk a lot about Yoshiaki Yatsu or Ashura Hara yet they are total skull crushers. Yatsu is a real top talent and is worthy of a spotlight review because I know he's a tag master! This match is just another fine example that our chubby cheeked friend will smash his elbows into your skull and eat your brain!! Maybe not so much on the second part. So, Ashura Hara is equally vicious especially his Crowbar Lariat. I can't remember where I heard it called that but, shit! Its about as stiff as one. Love it and his jehri curl. Tenryu rocks one as well and everyone loves Tenryu. I am really glad that I have this match because it is a true classic and maybe a forgotten one at that. I never hear it batted around as one of the "all time never forget this date" classic AJPW matches. I think people get confused with the finish. I have no idea why though. This bout becomes a whirlwind of legs, arms and bodies by the finish. And it ends perfectly for me. Go see the Tenryu-Jumbo singles matches, and see this match because it's just as essential as any of those:P Classic Match

[Superstar Sleeze]

AJPW World Tag Team Champions Genichiro Tenryu & Ashura Hara vs Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu - AJPW 8/30/88

The immediate next day rematch after Jumbo/Yatsu dropped the Double Cup to Tenryu & Hara. Yatsu is coming sporting quite the shiner and mouse around his right eye.

First 15 Minutes: Much better start to this match than the match the day prior. More organized violence and chaos which I dig. They start with the junior partners but Tenryu tags in and makes sure the first order of business is to slap Jumbo on the apron. Jumbo is not one to take this lying down. Jumbo slaps the piss out of him. Big dropkick. Nice Tenryu slink & slump sell which he was using the day before, but it didnt making sense then. Tenryu comes back in and dump Jumbo with a back suplex. Tenryu stars attacking the bad leg of Jumbo which was established the day before. Jumbo is able to tag out to Yatsu, I believe after a High Knee on Hara. This is just an interlude to the first big segment which is when Jumbo get backs in and Tenryu gets his receipt for Jumbo's receipt and SLAPS Jumbo down and then hits an Enziguiri. They really work the leg with leg-bars and single leg crabs. Nice Tenryu catch of Jumbo's high knee into Single Leg Crab which was one of the better spots from the previous match so I am glad they recycled that. The best part is Tenryu throws a Table at Jumbo's bad leg though he catches him more in the hip. Then Hara holds the knee up while he smashes it with the table. Great shit! This already much better than the previous match. Jumbo OUT TRUCKS HARA ON LARIAT! Here comes Yatsu! Yatsu goes full offensive dynamo on Hara! Spike Piledriver! Suplexes! Bulldogs! Powerslams! My memory is kinda jumble but there was at least one meaty Hara clubbing lariat in this match. Yatsu beats Hara up on the outside as we close in on 15 minutes. Two strong control segments with lots of great selling and violent offense is a huge improvement on the previous match lets hope they can close this bad boy out on a high note! 

Last Ten Minutes: Hara wicked clubbing right! Tags out to Tenryu! Powerbomb! 1-2-NO! Jumbo High Knee! Yatsu Scorpion Deathlock but Hara saves and Butterfly Suplex follows. Tenryu backdrops out of a powerbomb or piledriver. Hara stomps the back lets see if that becomes a focus. Headbutts to the back. Yatsu is in the ropes on the pin. Hara dumps Yatsu to the floor and Tenryu whips him into the railing. BIG MACK TRUCK LARIAT FROM HARA! Always love to see that plume of sweat! Hara wants a receipt on the bulldog but Yatsu back suplexes out. Jumbo goes crazy! Jumbo has SNAPPED~! He destroys Tenryu on the apron with sledges. Beats him over the railing and hits him with a trunk! Back in the ring they hit simultaneous lariats, which felt like a misstep. The heat was ratcheting up thanks to Jumbo and that took the wind out of the sails of tthe match. Hara in with a big lariat on Jumbo as we are at the 20 minute mark. Headbutts from Hara and vertical suplex on Jumbo for two. Jumbo avoids the Hara Lariat but eats the Tenryu one! LARIAT SANDWICH~! Tenryu German for two! Hara Lariat but Yatsu saves. I love all the lariats. Jumbo is taking a shit kicking. Big Time Tenryu Powerbomb. Yatsu dropkicks Hara into Tenryu to break up the pin. A cute spot but a fun one! Hara takes care of Yatsu on the outside. Jumbo Death Lariat on Tenryu but Hara  saves. Didnt love this. Wheres the transition? Why is Jumbo kicking ass again! Jumbo bowls him over with a lunging torpedo shoulder tackle. High Knee by Jumbo on Tenryu! Top Rope High Knee by Jumbo on Tenryu but no cover! Not loving this as a highspot feels hate spots where the the opponent has to get up, get in the right position and then eat the move. Big Lariat again by Jumbo. Back Drop Driver! Hara saves. Yatsu gives Tenryu a run for his money with a shitty powerbomb on Hara. Back Drop Driver but Hara saves. Yatsu Back Drop Driver on Hara. Back Drop Driver and Hara drapes his body over Tenryu. 6/9/95 this is not. Jumbo covers both to win the match! 

A marked improvement over the match from the day prior. I am shocked this match finished below the match from the day prior. This finished at #47. Some great control segments and big bombs down the stretch. It was still a little clunky and they have not worked out the kinks of the Kings Road formula but they are getting closer. ****