Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Ric Flair

[8.0] "One of the most satisfying parts of watching through AJPW from the beginning is seeing Jumbo Tsuruta's development in juxtaposition to Ric Flair's across the latter's many tours of Japan. This match is the culmination of that 10-year journey from two young aces, to two behemoths at the top of their respective worlds. While the finish can only be described as very unsatisfying, seeing this clash of two legends at the peak of their powers is entertaining and while the match is cut short, the 15 minutes we do get are quality."

[8.0] "This match seemed to me quite good, and even interesting. I've never seen anything like it, and the folds were lovely. Hill, Rick Flair's attitude was interesting, and the evil Jumbo looked cheerful."

[6.0] "So this is it: the final Jumbo/Flair match, and Jumbo's final chance to win the NWA title. And they don't even get to work Budokan, because HIROSHI WAJIMA GOT THE LAST NWA TITLE SHOT THAT ALL JAPAN EVER BOOKED. * GOD DAMN IT. Anyway, this is fine, but it's among the least of their matches. All of the work from both men is good, and it's absolutely enough to bring this to a *** level, but the finish is such a regression even by the indecisive standards of their work together. Jumbo really looks like he can win this, but he accidentally clotheslines Higuchi and gets disqualified for it. Good riddance; I guess the NWA deserved their fate. *[As a member of the NWA, at least. Originally wrote this matchguide entry on 10/17, but I had to add this correction: yes, I know Ricky Steamboat did that tour in March 1989. But AJPW had seceded from the NWA by then. ]"