NWA World Title In Japan DVD Set Disk Three
Nov 7, 2016 23:43:41 GMT -5
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Post by Shatter Machine on Nov 7, 2016 23:43:41 GMT -5
This one is really good if you like Harley Race Vs Giant Baba. Because that's basically all it is. It's really good, though.
1979.10.31 AJPW at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Harley Race (Champion)
Vs
Giant Baba
This is one fall, as the 2 of 3 falls matches kind of died out, except as a special attraction or a way to continue a feud over the title. Baba works a headlock for a while, and my copy of this match has no sound, so I have no idea if the crowd is reacting. I would guess so, because it’s Baba. Race breaks out and goes for a piledriver, but Baba backdrops out and stomps him for 2. Slam by Baba, and he goes back to the headlock. Race lifts him for a suplex, but Baba falls on him, and suddenly I have sound. Baba controls with slams, then more headlocking. This is insanely boring, as they aren’t even really trying to tell a story. Baba is basically controlling the God damned world champion in an extended resthold. Race comes out and hits a neckbreaker and a piledriver for 2. He pounds on Baba, getting a front facelock. They go into the ropes, and Race shoulderblocks him on the break, then he buries a knee. Gut-wrench suplex for 2 by Race. Baba blocks and counters a second one for 2. He hits some weak-looking chops, but Race does his best to make him look like a million bucks by bumping over the top on a whip to the corner. They brawl to the floor, where Race tries a piledriver, but Baba backdrops him. More weak chops, but Race is in the ropes. Race dodges a Braun Strowman-level dropkick, and starts dropping knees. Baba bails out, so Race follows him and starts punching. Back in, and Race gets the suplex and headbutt. Baba rolls out AGAIN. Baba posts him and climbs back in. Race blades a GUSHER, and we’re back in, where Baba flattens him with a double ax. Double chop to the head, and Race barely gets up, another, and Race gets his foot on the rope at 2. I think Baba might be busted open as well. Race takes him down and goes to the top. Baba slams him off, and hits the leaping lariat for the pin. The crowd goes APE SHIT for him. Started slow, but built and built to a decent match, despite Baba’s limitations. (*** 18:29)
1979.11.07 AJPW at City Gymnasium in Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan
Giant Baba (Champion)
Vs
Harley Race
This is the rematch, one week later. Race hits a backbreaker and drops a series of knees for 2. He gets a chinlock, and talks to him a bit. Baba armdrags him, but Race punches him in the face. Snapmare, and Race goes back to the chinlock. They show Race’s family in the audience, and all I can think about is how many cigarettes he smoked. Baba with a big backdrop, followed by a slam. He takes Race over with a headlock, and they roll around on the mat a bit. Baba slams him and gets the headlock again. I can’t imagine it hurts very much, since Baba’s arms are like cooked noodles. How did this guy ever throw a baseball? He’s essentially all ribcage. Race buries knees and goes for a suplex, but Baba floats over and backdrop suplexes him for 2. Slam, and Baba takes him down in the headlock again. He gets several near-falls from that, but Race fights up and hits an atomic drop that Baba no-sells and hits one of his own. Slam back in by Baba, and he gets some weak stomps for 2. Headlock again, because it’s been 45 seconds without one. There’s the rest of this and two more matches between these two. I don’t know how many more times I can type “Baba takes Race over with a headlock and gets several near-falls out of it” before my head explodes. I should do a macro. (Can I still do that?) Baba chops him to the floor, where Race pulls him out, and in another repeated spot from the first match, Baba backdrops out of a piledriver attempt. Back in, and Baba hits a piledriver for 2, but Race is in the ropes. He was good at doing that dramatically. Race headbutts him in the gut, then knocks him down with one to the chin and one to the head. Kneedrop gets 2. Race goes for a suplex, but Baba falls on top for 2. Baba starts the chopping and gets 2. Gut-wrench by Race for 2. Piledriver gets 2. More knees by Race, and another near-fall. Falling headbutt misses. Baba nails him with the weak shots for 2. Big boot by Baba for 2. More chops, and Race is opened up. Another boot, but Race is in the ropes at 1 this time. In the corner, Race hits him low and goes up, and of course, Baba slams him off. Splash gets knees. Race with another piledriver, but Baba is out at 2. Baba gets a neckbreaker, that gets 2. Baba with a Thesz press for 2, and then HE goes up! They totally botch the finish, as Race was supposed to roll through a top-rope cross-body, but he just squirms out and covers him for the anti-climactic pin. About the same level as the first one, with an awfully finish tacked on. (** ½ 20:58)
1980.09.04 AJPW at Saga Sports Center in Saga, Japan
Harley Race (Champion)
Vs
Giant Baba
Time once again for the annual Giant Baba week long title run. Before watching, I’m guessing it will start with Baba using a headlock a lot, Race coming back and missing a headbutt, and Baba getting a pin that makes him look strong. Of course, Baba works his headlock, Race gut-wrenches out, and Baba slams him off the top. This is like an abbreviated version of their previous two matches. Huge chop, and Baba gets 2. They change things up a bit, as RACE works the headlock, then nails Baba with a forearm. Baba whips him to the floor. Back in, and Race can’t mount an offense, as Baba cuts him off and knocks him over the top with a double chop again. Race finally manages an offensive move on the floor, as he suplexes Baba there. Race tries to suplex him back in, but Baba falls on him for 2. Backdropper by Baba for 2. Race goes for a piledriver, but Baba backdrops out of it for 1. Chops by Baba, then a neckbreaker for 2. Russian Leg Sweep by Baba for 2. Piledriver by Baba, but Race is in the ropes. Chops by Baba, and another neckbreaker gets 2. I think he knew about five moves: Neckbreaker, piledriver, leg sweep, chop, and headlock. He threw an occasional dropkick I guess. Race with a piledriver, but he misses the falling headbutt. Really bad dropkick by Baba for 2. He hits the leaping lariat for the dramatic pin and his third (and final) NWA World Title. Not a technical marvel, again because Baba was so limited in what he could do, but the fans were into it, and that’s what matters in the end. (** ½ 14:05)
1980.09.10 Otsu Park Gymnasium in Otsu, Shiga, Japan
Giant Baba (Champion)
Vs
Harley Race
Well, Race is headed back stateside, so they need to do the title switch. I must say that he looks amazing with the brown perm, lambchops, and goatee. Race knees him in the gut on the handshake and hits a piledriver, then just starts dropping knees to Baba’s head. That gets 2. Heel Harley is so cool, and sooooo much better than tweener travelling NWA Champion Harley. He’s just such a bastard. Race works a chinlock so Baba can recover from the initial onslaught. More knees, and Race goes to the second rope on the inside, hitting a headbutt. Second one misses, because of course it does. Baba stomps away, then chops get 2, with Race in the ropes, of course. Baba whips him over the top in the corner, and they brawl on the floor. Baba hits him with a chair, but they go back in. Race punches him in the belly and gets backdropped out of a piledriver. Baba with a neckbreaker for 2. Baba with a backdropper for 2. Chops to the head by Baba, and he stomps Race again. Race fires back, but gets slammed off the top again, as usual. That gets 2. Baba chops him down and hits the leg sweep for 2. He covers a couple more times, but Race keeps kicking out and finally just rakes his face. Suplex by Race, but it only gets 2. Baba falls on him on a suplex attempt for 2. Baba grabs a headlock and they go to the ropes, Race gets his own, and they butt heads, with Race taking a bump over the top to the floor. Baba runs him into a table, then to the ringpost. He climbs back in, and Race has bladed again. Baba hits a chop, then the boot, but Race is in the ropes. Leaping lariat gets 2, but Race is in the ropes again. At this point, it’s Baba’s own goddamn fault. Move him to the middle of the ring. Baba piledriver gets 2. He goes up, but Race crotches him in the turnbuckle for the pin. This one was wall-to-wall action and probably the best of the four Baba-Race title switches because it was so short. (*** ¾ 11:58)
1980.09.12 AJPW at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Harley Race (Champion)
Vs
Mil Mascaras
Fuck. I hate Mascaras. He might have been a big star around the world, but I can’t stand watching him. This is the last night of the tour, near as I can tell. Mascaras with a leaping chop right away for 2, and Race backs off. Mascaras takes him down, working a leglock, then a neck vise, but Race muscles him into the corner. Suplex by Race for 2. Race takes the over the top bump to the floor, and Mascaras teases a tope, but jumps back into the ring. Slam by Mascaras, and he goes to the top, hitting a cross-body for 2. Leaping double chop gets 2. Race knees him in the gut and tosses him to the floor. They brawl into the crowd, where Race drags him toward the back and they beat each other with a chair. Mascaras makes it back to the ring and hits a PLANCHA! To Race on the floor. Suplex by Mascaras for 2. Race gets a low blow and drops a knee. Elbow gets 2. The crowd is chanting like CRAZY for Mascaras. They go to the floor, and he runs Race to the post. The photographers scurry away as Mascaras sends him to another post. Race throws a table into the ring, and they fight over that, with Race running him into it. Piledriver by Race, but he misses the headbutt. Mascaras blocks and counters a gut-wrench. They fight in the corner, and Mascaras hip tosses him and hits a dropkick. Half-crab, but Race makes the ropes for the break. He headbutts Mascaras in the gut, then works a brief chinlock. Backdrop suplex by Race, but when he goes up, Mascaras slams him off. Mascaras badly misses a dive off the top and Race drops a knee for 2. Huge delayed suplex by Race for a long 2. Mascaras reverses a second one for 2. They butt heads, and Race takes his obligatory nonsensical bump to the floor. Mascaras posts him and hits a tope suicida, but Race hits him with the bell. Suplex on the floor, and the referee calls for the bell, and I have no idea what the decision is. I’m thinking a double DQ or DCOR. Excellent match. (**** 14:32) They continue brawling after the bell, and it turns into a gigantic clusterfuck.
Race would drop the title to Tommy Rich on 4/27/1981, regain it on 5/1/1981, then lose it to Dusty Rhodes again on 6/21/1981. Rhodes would lose it to Ric Flair on 9/17/1981
1979.10.31 AJPW at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Harley Race (Champion)
Vs
Giant Baba
This is one fall, as the 2 of 3 falls matches kind of died out, except as a special attraction or a way to continue a feud over the title. Baba works a headlock for a while, and my copy of this match has no sound, so I have no idea if the crowd is reacting. I would guess so, because it’s Baba. Race breaks out and goes for a piledriver, but Baba backdrops out and stomps him for 2. Slam by Baba, and he goes back to the headlock. Race lifts him for a suplex, but Baba falls on him, and suddenly I have sound. Baba controls with slams, then more headlocking. This is insanely boring, as they aren’t even really trying to tell a story. Baba is basically controlling the God damned world champion in an extended resthold. Race comes out and hits a neckbreaker and a piledriver for 2. He pounds on Baba, getting a front facelock. They go into the ropes, and Race shoulderblocks him on the break, then he buries a knee. Gut-wrench suplex for 2 by Race. Baba blocks and counters a second one for 2. He hits some weak-looking chops, but Race does his best to make him look like a million bucks by bumping over the top on a whip to the corner. They brawl to the floor, where Race tries a piledriver, but Baba backdrops him. More weak chops, but Race is in the ropes. Race dodges a Braun Strowman-level dropkick, and starts dropping knees. Baba bails out, so Race follows him and starts punching. Back in, and Race gets the suplex and headbutt. Baba rolls out AGAIN. Baba posts him and climbs back in. Race blades a GUSHER, and we’re back in, where Baba flattens him with a double ax. Double chop to the head, and Race barely gets up, another, and Race gets his foot on the rope at 2. I think Baba might be busted open as well. Race takes him down and goes to the top. Baba slams him off, and hits the leaping lariat for the pin. The crowd goes APE SHIT for him. Started slow, but built and built to a decent match, despite Baba’s limitations. (*** 18:29)
1979.11.07 AJPW at City Gymnasium in Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan
Giant Baba (Champion)
Vs
Harley Race
This is the rematch, one week later. Race hits a backbreaker and drops a series of knees for 2. He gets a chinlock, and talks to him a bit. Baba armdrags him, but Race punches him in the face. Snapmare, and Race goes back to the chinlock. They show Race’s family in the audience, and all I can think about is how many cigarettes he smoked. Baba with a big backdrop, followed by a slam. He takes Race over with a headlock, and they roll around on the mat a bit. Baba slams him and gets the headlock again. I can’t imagine it hurts very much, since Baba’s arms are like cooked noodles. How did this guy ever throw a baseball? He’s essentially all ribcage. Race buries knees and goes for a suplex, but Baba floats over and backdrop suplexes him for 2. Slam, and Baba takes him down in the headlock again. He gets several near-falls from that, but Race fights up and hits an atomic drop that Baba no-sells and hits one of his own. Slam back in by Baba, and he gets some weak stomps for 2. Headlock again, because it’s been 45 seconds without one. There’s the rest of this and two more matches between these two. I don’t know how many more times I can type “Baba takes Race over with a headlock and gets several near-falls out of it” before my head explodes. I should do a macro. (Can I still do that?) Baba chops him to the floor, where Race pulls him out, and in another repeated spot from the first match, Baba backdrops out of a piledriver attempt. Back in, and Baba hits a piledriver for 2, but Race is in the ropes. He was good at doing that dramatically. Race headbutts him in the gut, then knocks him down with one to the chin and one to the head. Kneedrop gets 2. Race goes for a suplex, but Baba falls on top for 2. Baba starts the chopping and gets 2. Gut-wrench by Race for 2. Piledriver gets 2. More knees by Race, and another near-fall. Falling headbutt misses. Baba nails him with the weak shots for 2. Big boot by Baba for 2. More chops, and Race is opened up. Another boot, but Race is in the ropes at 1 this time. In the corner, Race hits him low and goes up, and of course, Baba slams him off. Splash gets knees. Race with another piledriver, but Baba is out at 2. Baba gets a neckbreaker, that gets 2. Baba with a Thesz press for 2, and then HE goes up! They totally botch the finish, as Race was supposed to roll through a top-rope cross-body, but he just squirms out and covers him for the anti-climactic pin. About the same level as the first one, with an awfully finish tacked on. (** ½ 20:58)
1980.09.04 AJPW at Saga Sports Center in Saga, Japan
Harley Race (Champion)
Vs
Giant Baba
Time once again for the annual Giant Baba week long title run. Before watching, I’m guessing it will start with Baba using a headlock a lot, Race coming back and missing a headbutt, and Baba getting a pin that makes him look strong. Of course, Baba works his headlock, Race gut-wrenches out, and Baba slams him off the top. This is like an abbreviated version of their previous two matches. Huge chop, and Baba gets 2. They change things up a bit, as RACE works the headlock, then nails Baba with a forearm. Baba whips him to the floor. Back in, and Race can’t mount an offense, as Baba cuts him off and knocks him over the top with a double chop again. Race finally manages an offensive move on the floor, as he suplexes Baba there. Race tries to suplex him back in, but Baba falls on him for 2. Backdropper by Baba for 2. Race goes for a piledriver, but Baba backdrops out of it for 1. Chops by Baba, then a neckbreaker for 2. Russian Leg Sweep by Baba for 2. Piledriver by Baba, but Race is in the ropes. Chops by Baba, and another neckbreaker gets 2. I think he knew about five moves: Neckbreaker, piledriver, leg sweep, chop, and headlock. He threw an occasional dropkick I guess. Race with a piledriver, but he misses the falling headbutt. Really bad dropkick by Baba for 2. He hits the leaping lariat for the dramatic pin and his third (and final) NWA World Title. Not a technical marvel, again because Baba was so limited in what he could do, but the fans were into it, and that’s what matters in the end. (** ½ 14:05)
1980.09.10 Otsu Park Gymnasium in Otsu, Shiga, Japan
Giant Baba (Champion)
Vs
Harley Race
Well, Race is headed back stateside, so they need to do the title switch. I must say that he looks amazing with the brown perm, lambchops, and goatee. Race knees him in the gut on the handshake and hits a piledriver, then just starts dropping knees to Baba’s head. That gets 2. Heel Harley is so cool, and sooooo much better than tweener travelling NWA Champion Harley. He’s just such a bastard. Race works a chinlock so Baba can recover from the initial onslaught. More knees, and Race goes to the second rope on the inside, hitting a headbutt. Second one misses, because of course it does. Baba stomps away, then chops get 2, with Race in the ropes, of course. Baba whips him over the top in the corner, and they brawl on the floor. Baba hits him with a chair, but they go back in. Race punches him in the belly and gets backdropped out of a piledriver. Baba with a neckbreaker for 2. Baba with a backdropper for 2. Chops to the head by Baba, and he stomps Race again. Race fires back, but gets slammed off the top again, as usual. That gets 2. Baba chops him down and hits the leg sweep for 2. He covers a couple more times, but Race keeps kicking out and finally just rakes his face. Suplex by Race, but it only gets 2. Baba falls on him on a suplex attempt for 2. Baba grabs a headlock and they go to the ropes, Race gets his own, and they butt heads, with Race taking a bump over the top to the floor. Baba runs him into a table, then to the ringpost. He climbs back in, and Race has bladed again. Baba hits a chop, then the boot, but Race is in the ropes. Leaping lariat gets 2, but Race is in the ropes again. At this point, it’s Baba’s own goddamn fault. Move him to the middle of the ring. Baba piledriver gets 2. He goes up, but Race crotches him in the turnbuckle for the pin. This one was wall-to-wall action and probably the best of the four Baba-Race title switches because it was so short. (*** ¾ 11:58)
1980.09.12 AJPW at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Harley Race (Champion)
Vs
Mil Mascaras
Fuck. I hate Mascaras. He might have been a big star around the world, but I can’t stand watching him. This is the last night of the tour, near as I can tell. Mascaras with a leaping chop right away for 2, and Race backs off. Mascaras takes him down, working a leglock, then a neck vise, but Race muscles him into the corner. Suplex by Race for 2. Race takes the over the top bump to the floor, and Mascaras teases a tope, but jumps back into the ring. Slam by Mascaras, and he goes to the top, hitting a cross-body for 2. Leaping double chop gets 2. Race knees him in the gut and tosses him to the floor. They brawl into the crowd, where Race drags him toward the back and they beat each other with a chair. Mascaras makes it back to the ring and hits a PLANCHA! To Race on the floor. Suplex by Mascaras for 2. Race gets a low blow and drops a knee. Elbow gets 2. The crowd is chanting like CRAZY for Mascaras. They go to the floor, and he runs Race to the post. The photographers scurry away as Mascaras sends him to another post. Race throws a table into the ring, and they fight over that, with Race running him into it. Piledriver by Race, but he misses the headbutt. Mascaras blocks and counters a gut-wrench. They fight in the corner, and Mascaras hip tosses him and hits a dropkick. Half-crab, but Race makes the ropes for the break. He headbutts Mascaras in the gut, then works a brief chinlock. Backdrop suplex by Race, but when he goes up, Mascaras slams him off. Mascaras badly misses a dive off the top and Race drops a knee for 2. Huge delayed suplex by Race for a long 2. Mascaras reverses a second one for 2. They butt heads, and Race takes his obligatory nonsensical bump to the floor. Mascaras posts him and hits a tope suicida, but Race hits him with the bell. Suplex on the floor, and the referee calls for the bell, and I have no idea what the decision is. I’m thinking a double DQ or DCOR. Excellent match. (**** 14:32) They continue brawling after the bell, and it turns into a gigantic clusterfuck.
Race would drop the title to Tommy Rich on 4/27/1981, regain it on 5/1/1981, then lose it to Dusty Rhodes again on 6/21/1981. Rhodes would lose it to Ric Flair on 9/17/1981
