Andre/Jumbo/Gordy vs. Baba/Hansen/Dory (AJPW 10/21/1992)
Apr 12, 2024 2:13:53 GMT -5
Post by fxnj on Apr 12, 2024 2:13:53 GMT -5
I'm definitely higher than most others on matches like this, such as old man Undertaker matches or late era Misawa, that put a spotlight on the ephemeral nature of the careers of even the most legendary athletes. Maybe the reason I've grown so high on Andre's AJPW run is that basically every match he's in can be viewed as falling into that genre. I really like this one since it somehow feels like a really uplifting entry into that genre despite horrible tragedy befalling every member of Jumbo's team over the following year. For one night in the Budokan, all was right in the world.
We start off with a pretty good strike exchange between Hansen and Gordy that really drives home how Gordy was getting prepped to be Hansen's heir. Pretty much every pairing after that involves someone with questionable execution, whether it be Baba's classic awkwardness, Dory looking old as hell, and Andre being immobile, but it weirdly works. Andre might have been on death's door and hardly able to move but god damnit was he determined to do his classic spot of tying himself in the ropes regardless. He can barely raise his legs, to the point that he just ends up low blowing Hansen instead of doing anything resembling a big boot, but it works. Still, although the match delivered on the Andre/Hansen and Andre/Baba pairings that I'd wanted, including a magnificent Baba/Andre lock-up sequence that had the crowd going wild, I felt like Dory stole the show here. He really won me over with his persistence at going at Andre and his very clear reluctance when it was clear he had no choice but to tag out.
Besides Andre's stuff, it was also great to see Jumbo working serious exchanges one last time with Baba, Hansen, and Dory. The Jumbo/Baba pairing was especially treated as a massive deal and Jumbo finally getting a pin on Dory was an awesome feel good moment to end things. A little sad seeing the post-match text where Jumbo mentions his regret at not closing things out doing his "O" pose with Baba, but at least he'd get some more opportunities to tag with Baba post-hepatitis.
We start off with a pretty good strike exchange between Hansen and Gordy that really drives home how Gordy was getting prepped to be Hansen's heir. Pretty much every pairing after that involves someone with questionable execution, whether it be Baba's classic awkwardness, Dory looking old as hell, and Andre being immobile, but it weirdly works. Andre might have been on death's door and hardly able to move but god damnit was he determined to do his classic spot of tying himself in the ropes regardless. He can barely raise his legs, to the point that he just ends up low blowing Hansen instead of doing anything resembling a big boot, but it works. Still, although the match delivered on the Andre/Hansen and Andre/Baba pairings that I'd wanted, including a magnificent Baba/Andre lock-up sequence that had the crowd going wild, I felt like Dory stole the show here. He really won me over with his persistence at going at Andre and his very clear reluctance when it was clear he had no choice but to tag out.
Besides Andre's stuff, it was also great to see Jumbo working serious exchanges one last time with Baba, Hansen, and Dory. The Jumbo/Baba pairing was especially treated as a massive deal and Jumbo finally getting a pin on Dory was an awesome feel good moment to end things. A little sad seeing the post-match text where Jumbo mentions his regret at not closing things out doing his "O" pose with Baba, but at least he'd get some more opportunities to tag with Baba post-hepatitis.
