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Asia Tag Senshuken: Toshiaki Kawada & Samson Fuyuki vs. Shinichi Nakano & Shunji Takano From AJ Chogei Selection #170 3/4/00 Taped 7/19/88 Tokyo Korakuen Hall |
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These were four of the most promising young wrestlers in All Japan at the time, and this match made you think they would go on to wrestle many classics. Unfortunately, that was only true for the wrestler who didn't sell out to the glass company, Kawada. Fuyuki, of course, gained 100 pounds and became an "entertainer" whose matches were anything but, while Takano became a Zebra that was only Great by name, and those who still know Nakano wrestles probably think free refers to his booking fee. But, we're talking about 1988, and at this point these guys were busting their ass to have exciting title matches. The effort went a long way because this wasn't a match that was outstanding in any one area. There wasn't a lot of spectacular moves, but everything was credible and it went back and forth the whole way with the crowd popping for just about everything. Fuyuki didn't even look like the same guy since he was skinny, in shape, and totally serious. Due to the long hair, he kind of looked like Hiroshi Hase minus the mustache. Right off the bat you could tell he didn't wrestle like the same guy either because instead of his lariat being a comedy move where he screeches as he "gets his momentum up," he practically decapitated poor Nakano with it for a near fall. Another thing you would never see from today's Fuyuki, and with this result you can't blame him, is he tried to do a reverse diving body attack, but Nakano stuck his knee out so Fuyuki stomachbreakered himself. Kawada was different as well because he didn't really have the barrel chest and he used some fake athletic moves including a lame handspring elbow. Tag teams worked together better during the 80's than they do today, and these two were no exception. They made quick tags, double teamed, and didn't wait until their partner was near dead to start making saves. When Nakano had Fuyuki up in the Argentine backbreaker, the ref turned to Kawada to make sure he didn't make the save. Realizing the ref had his back turned, Takano went right up to the top rope and came down onto Fuyuki with two fists before the ref turned around. The match really picked up with all kinds of counters and near falls
when Kawada made the hot tag at 12:30. It was always a simple match,
but you were into it because so many moves backfired that you never
knew what was going to happen next. The finish was cool for something
of a flash pin because the "only reason" that Fuyuki survived
Takano's German suplex hold was that Kawada made the save. Nakano came
in to take care of Kawada while Takano set up the winning German suplex
hold. Out of nowhere, Fuyuki dropped to his back, hooked Tanako's arms,
and brought him over for the 1-2-3. This never would have worked if
Nakano was in his corner, but as had happened so many times in the match,
what the offensive team intended didn't come to pass. 15:43
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