80s Europe #9

 

Marty Jones vs. Dynamite Kid, WoS 1/19/1983

Kid sure has got on the good stuff while abroad. Even Walton couldn‘t help but point it out. This match had some nice wrestling, but they soon got to business: Kid deciding he doesn‘t give a damn about the british rules anymore and just deciding to beat the shit out of Jones. It just turns into a super heated slugfest with both guys dropping bombs and stiffing each other. Jones going berserk at the sight of his own blood was great and Kids turnbuckle bumps shocked the audience. Dug all the brutal looking knee drop. They may have gotten a bit carried away bending the rules but what the hell, it was a great match.

Terry Rudge vs. Pete Roberts (WoS 3/21/83)

Nifty bout that was worked without rounds and just 2/3 falls. Rudge fucking rules sneaking in headbutts and working the cravate. His selling of the little things, like putting a random arm whip over by having his shoulder go limb and stumbling over in pain is so good. This had a nice mix of wrestling and niggle. Rudge never unleashed his full ass kicking tendencies, but they worked a breathless pace. Roberts looked good. The match had two cool finishes and some really nice nearfalls in the 3rd. Good shit.

Steve Grey vs. Steve Speed (1/25/84)

Here‘s the rarest creature in the world: A World of Sport sprint. You know it‘s gonna be good when a guy named Steve Speed is in it. Speed was really lean and could go hard. Chock full of great exchanges, and I loved how competitive they made this. Most workers would just go from one spot to another, but they took the time to work the holds and pins. Speed gets a nosebleed and as soon as Grey notices he elbows him in the fucking nose and stomps on his face. Grey could be a right prick when he wanted. Speed went hard hitting surprise dropkicks but in the end the champ was too much. Pretty great under 10 minute match.

 

80s Euro Master List

Even More Rare Assorted NJPW TV

 Tatsumi Fujinami vs. Kengo Kimura, NJPW 12/10/1986

Very good, competitive feeling match up. Fujinami controls the initial going by hanging onto Kimuras arm and they go through a few complex reversals before Kengo bitchslaps Fujinami in the middle of a sunset flip. Fujinami takes offense, but finds himself eating some bare knuckle punches from Kimura. After some more back and forth Fujinami eats a nasty leg lariat to the face from Kimura and we get some hot and unpredictable 80s nearfalls. This could’ve gone longer but it was quality shit.

Seiji Sakaguchi vs. Antonio Inoki, NJPW 5/25/1987

I am digging these Sakaguchi matches showing up. This was like Sakaguchi having one last go at his old rival. In the 70s these guys would do hold for hold matches, but this was a real exercise in pacing. They would do some grappling, and then they would do something to heat things up. Inoki tries rushing Sakaguchi at the start, but Sakaguchi blows him off. Then Sakaguchi lands a big atomic drop outside the ring. Suddenly Inoki goes for an enzuigiri, then both guys start throwing hands and Sakaguchi is downed by a huge slap. Sakaguchi really puts Inoki through the ringer with armlocks on the ground, before reversing a back suplex attempt into a Russian Leg Sweep in a great spot. I thought this was building to a classic, but then a weird transition happens where Sakaguchi seems to blow himself out hitting a big Atomic Drop and Inoki just blasts him away with enzuigiris. Still, a great lesson in how to create tension in wrestling matches.

Andre the Giant & Terry Rudge vs. Seiji Sakaguchi & Osamu Kido, NJPW 10/4/1976

Andre and Rudge! That alone makes this a gem. Match was fun too. We JIP to Andre and Rudge working over Kido with painful neck wrenches. Andre is so imposing even working basic holds. Then Andre misses a big splash, Kido makes the hot tag and we get lots of fun Andre stooging. It's a bit weird how the giant is the guy on the team taking the big bumps but it's fun to watch Andre fling himself over the top rope etc. Sakaguchi and Kido don't really sell on the level you want from a babyface team but they have some good teamwork spots. There was also a cool moment in the second fall where Rudge made Kido fly to the outside in a well timed spot. Rudge is one of the all time great asskicking wrestlers, he did kick ass a bit here but it was like 5/10 when it comes to Rudge material. Otherwise this was solid 70s action.