Tenryu Needs a Shot of Holy Water. He Needs it to Chase Down His Demons and Burn 'em Just a Little Bit Hotter

Genichiro Tenryu v Doug Furnas (All Japan, 4/18/89) - FUN

Mostly forgettable, though a decent enough offensive showcase. Doug Furnas really did have a spectacular dropkick. He threw a goodly amount of them in this, maybe a couple too many, but every one of them looked gorgeous so how much can you really complain? Tenryu mostly let Furnas shine and stuck to throwing a chop here and there, one of which catching Furnas under the chin that he was none too pleased about. Tenryu's enziguri also looked awesome, the way Furnas almost tried to spear him only to be caught flush in the face. Usually Tenryu will hit that enziguri to the back or side of the head, but this one was head on and Furnas took it like a trooper. It reminded me of how Finlay would always take Rey's 619 with no hands and it'd land right on the forehead. There were no half measures with Furnas, he knew that shin bone across his nose was going to hurt like a bastard but he leaned into it anyway. The lariat at the end was appropriately ugly.


Genichiro Tenryu v Stan Hansen (All Japan, 10/21/00) - GREAT

In a just world this match would've happened six thousand times. It would've meant either Tenryu never left All Japan and we'd have been robbed of WAR v New Japan, or Hansen would've gone with him and that would've robbed us of old man Hansen tearing up the Pillars, but I like to think the trade off would've kept us happy (well it would've kept ME happy and to hell with everybody else). By 2000 Hansen was a shot fighter, broken down and at the foot of retirement. Tenryu was fifty, though clearly had no intention of hanging up his own boots. Like any pro wrestler worth their salt these two embraced their impending decrepitude by making up for whatever they'd lost in athleticism with a dose of old bastarditis. And these were some of my favourite ever Hansen v Tenryu exchanges, starting right from Hansen's entrance as Tenryu wiped him with a surprise tope. Hansen's lumbago was obviously giving him grief so of course Tenryu booted him in the spine many times. Many other times he punched him in the jaw. Hansen would sort of look at him in astonishment, like he couldn't quite believe his old tag partner was treating him like he'd have treated any lumpy undercarder, so he punched him back really hard. Tenryu's sell of a couple jawbreakers was unreal, the way he'd hobble on jelly legs after biting off more than he'd usually be able to chew against those lumpy undercarders. Hansen would also stagger around at points with this total "why am I even doing this to myself?" look. He's a man who knew the end of the road was near, but why he was seeing out that home stretch getting punted in the kidneys was anybody's guess. Maybe this was the match where it all clicked and, if he didn't before, he knew it was time to just call it a day. One more lariat for the road. His last ever singles match and he went out swinging. Like he'd have it any other way.


Complete & Accurate Tenryu