The Middle W
This isn’t a reference to everyone’s favorite ex-President, but rather the Wrestling in World Wrestling Entertainment. Jim Cornette once said “Wrestling fans tune into a wrestling show to watch wrestlers wrestle.” For me, at the very least, this is certainly the case and I watch a ton of wrestling from all around the world. Every so often, I’ll be attempting to broaden WWE fans horizons with a review of a great match they might not have ever seen or even heard of.
Be sure to check this Primer to Strong Style and King Road before you read this match.
At this point in All Japan history, Jumbo Tsuruta is the undisputed king and Ace. Here his partner is a pure rookie, Kenta Kobashi, who goes on to be quite the legend in his own right, but here is a fiery underdog. Across the ring from them are the top Gaijin, the brutal Stan “The Lariat” Hansen, and the top Japanese challenger, the ever grumpy Tenryu, who was formerly Jumbo’s second-in-command in Jumbo’s battles against Rikki Choshu, but has since turned on his former leader in desire to be the Ace.
7/29/93
Stan Hansen and Genchiro Tenryu vs. Jumbo Tsuruta and Kenta Kobashi
Unsurprisingly, the heels assault the second the bell rings and beat the champ and his protégé around ringside. I love that Hansen basically did that all the time and no one could be bothered to be ready for it. Here, he beats the love out of poor Kobashi, while Jumbo fares far better against Tenryu.
Jumbo actually manages to be so badass that he fights off both opponents, to precisely no one’s surprise, but the crowd’s incredible joy, while managing to take control of Tenryu and then tag Kobashi in. Ooops, the crowd got too happy for Kobashi and frustrated Tenryu. He chopped the crap out of Kobashi, who quickly collapsed. He then picks Kobashi up and delivers one of the sickest enziguiri’s I’ve ever witnessed. General rule of thumb: if you’re young, don’t make Tenryu angry. Just beg the crowd to keep quiet so he doesn’t kill your face.
Next is the Lariat’s turn to beat on the rookie, but he makes a mistake early and tosses Kobashi to the floor near Jumbo, who takes this opportunity to remind Hansen that he’ll be in the ring soon, and delivers a quick beating. Back in and Kobashi is continually wrecked by his opponents, while the crowd tries desperately to get him to rally. Tenryu takes his eye off the ball, taking a shot at Jumbo, but in the process allows a Kobashi recovery for a leg lariat and a tag to the man.
Jumbo beats on both of his opponents, but Hansen manages to take him down, so Kobashi jumps on his back, just trying to slow the Gaijin vet so that Jumbo can recover. Jumbo does, but goes after Tenryu, beating him, so that when Hansen escapes Kobashi, Jumbo is flattened. Both he and Tenryu are left down.
Jumbo ends up in control and begins working in holds to wear down his opponent. He weakens Tenryu, then tags Kobashi, but Tenryu is still strong enough to just grab Kobashi and walk to his corner for the tag. Kobashi is sick of being a whipping boy and hits a fiery elbow, which sends Hansen to the floor. Kobashi then stupidly follows, and gets tossed back in the ring at a disadvantage again.
Tenryu brings more awesome, throwing casual knees at Kobashi during his beatdown, then Kobashi has the nerve, the sheer temerity to chop back once, so Tenryu knees him furiously till he hits the ground. Hansen is in and Kobashi has had about enough, essentially running away to tag Jumbo, who gets mauled by Hansen coming in. Way to get your mentor wrecked, kid.
With Jumbo finally at a disadvantage, the heels make sure to double team him to keep him down, before Tenryu nails a lariat. He tries for another, but Jumbo is having none of this, as he kicks Tenryu in the face, hurting his knee in the process of delivering a major blow and reclaiming advantage. Jumbo reminds Tenryu who he is with some huge strikes, but is only getting two counts for his trouble.
Kobashi is tagged in and you can see how hard he’s trying to keep control, locking in a half crab, but Hansen walks in and kicks him in the face, so there goes that idea. You can really see why Kobashi had such a rivalry with Hansen later, as Stan is such an awesome veteran jerk to Kobashi that Kenta really has to get revenge when he improves. Tenryu then gets up and MAN SLAPS Kobashi across the face. The heels follow this with, you’ll never guess it, more kicking the crap out of Kobashi.
Tenryu goes for a powerbomb finish, but Jumbo walks into the ring and runs him off in a really cool, badass spot. Stan Hansen doesn’t do scared and comes in to beat on Kobashi, but Kobashi has had time to recover and tags Jumbo.
Jumbo is the king of awesomeness as he comes in and immediately attacks Stan’s lariat arm. Jumbo controls the arm, keeping it hurt, then tags in Kobashi to keep it going and, finally, Kobashi succeeds!
Hansen slowly drags Kobashi, who’s got a cross armbreaker on Stan, to his corner to tag Tenryu. Tenryu casually comes in and chops Kobashi, but Kobashi having tasted success is having none of it! He chops the love out of the vet, forcing him back and taking him down with a dropkick! He stops to celebrate with Jumbo quickly, then nails another huge dropkick for a near fall! He pulls the prone Tenryu (Really!? The prone Tenryu?!) to the corner and tags in Jumbo!
Jumbo is in and now he busts out a huge dropkick. Tenryu is in huge trouble here. Jumbo works in a big headlock (seriously looks painful) and works Tenryu to the mat. Kobashi comes back in with a top rope cross body for another near fall and the crowd loves it. Kobashi works in a sleeper, causing Tenryu to fade. He goes for a leg lock from there, but Tenryu is awake enough to prevent it, so he nails a leg drop instead. He slaps and chops Tenryu in the corner again, but this time Tenryu gets mad, slaps him back and delivers some more brutal knees, before making the much needed tag to Hansen.
Kobashi dodges Stan in the corner and immediately runs to Jumbo again. They trade blows, before Jumbo quickly goes to the arm, then nails a jumping knee and locks in the abdominal stretch. Kobashi tags back in and somehow manages a suplex on Hansen, ever so barely. He chops Hansen, who’s barely being kept back from killing him, then runs in for a dropkick, but is booted away. Hansen wants more of Jumbo, however, and actually takes Kobashi to tag his partner as soon as he has advantage!
Hansen, for the first time all match, controls Jumbo one on one, but doesn’t push it and tags Tenryu, who chops and slaps Jumbo, who is getting more and more upset, ducks a chop and suddenly a backdrop driver! Hansen breaks up the pin and it looks like we’re going home as Kobashi is in to attack Stan.
Kobashi tries to powerbomb Tenryu, to no avail, but ties him up for long enough that Jumbo comes in and knees him in the face. Jumbo goes for the big powerbomb, but Hansen is in and suddenly hits the ropes, coming off with a huge lariat. Jumbo retains just enough sense to fall backwards, making the tag as he goes down.
Hansen keeps going after Jumbo, tossing him to the floor, not thinking Kobashi can finish Tenryu, so Kobashi leaps with a missile dropkick to Tenryu and nails a fisherman’s suplex for two! Tenryu gets up and exactly replays the match’s opening with two chops and an enziguiri. Tenryu folds Kobashi in half with a powerbomb and this match is over!
Tenryu and Hansen defeat Jumbo Tsuruta and Kenta Kobashi (*****)
That was just awesome. Tenryu and Hansen really targeted and tortured Kobashi, who showed amazing fire, but kept making mistakes allowing the heels to regain control. Jumbo meanwhile, ruled the ring, trying to support Kobashi, while bullying Tenryu and going head on with Hansen. Tenryu eventually stood up to Jumbo, being dumped on his head for his troubles, but it was in fact Hansen’s constant bullish charging that took Jumbo out of the match for long enough that Tenryu finished the rookie, however barely.
For more info: Check this review of Stan Hansen vs. Kenta Kobashi from 1993.
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