[9.0] "Incredible and classic match, a lot of psychology in this one specially after the match they had earlier that ended with Tenryu passing out. Jumbo dominated basically the whole match again, and tried everything to put Tenryu down, but he didn't succeed. Tenryu escaping the pin by putting the foot on the rope several times was an amazing catch. This is considered a very important match and had a lot of storytelling and a good variety of moves. The atmosphere was awesome and Tenryu played a great underdog role to win the match, for the delight of the crowd - {****3/4}"
"As Tsuruta's reign comes to a close, I'm conflicted on how I feel about this match, and his short run as champ in general. I think he has a really solid sense of how to put a match together, all of his offense is done super purposefully. But I don't love his drawn out submissions, and that same purposeful offense doesn't look necessarily impactful most of the time. But I could definitely get behind Tenryu, as could the crowd. He looked great here, with a similar knack for match construction as Tsuruta, but with some killer moves to boot. His diving back elbow was like a proto-Coffin Drop, I absolutely loved it. The crowd was ludicrously behind him, even booing Tsuruta pretty much anytime he was on top. The last few minutes were great, and a really enjoyable, action packed closing sequence. It's probably the best Triple Crown match so far, including the 3 unification matches, but had some of the same issues I've had with all of them so far. Curious to see how Tenryu's defenses fare."
[10.0] "A masterclass in ring awareness and fighting spirit by Genichiro Tenryu here. Simultaneously a masterclass in offense by Tsuruta. I think he hit Tenryu with every signature move he learned from Baba as well as all of his own from his, at this point, 17-year All-Japan career. This is a historic match as Kakuryu finally clash (without an accidental knockout) for the Triple Crown. To me, this match is the starting point of King's Road. The fighting spirit that I mentioned, the references to years upon years of in-ring storytelling, the athleticism, and psychology of two of the best in the world at that point in history, and an electric sell-out Budokan eating up any and everything that these two offer. One of the best matches of all time."
[10.0] "This really feels like a big time match with gigantic stakes. Tenryu and Tsuruta have demonstrated tremendous chemistry over the course of their rivalry, and it has all been building to this moment.They do a really excellent job making it feel like there is no chance that Tenryu could possibly pull off the victory. Tsuruta just picks him apart. I love the two massive knee drops that Jumbo lands off the ropes. You can completely feel Tenryu's struggle to overcome the dominant champion and face of the promotion. You can see how effective the match structure was by simply paying attention to the crowd - just take a look at the fans when Jumbo kicks out of that initial powerbomb and listen to the noise in the building. The people seem completely lost in the moment, absolutely desperate for Tenryu to pull off the upset. A fantastic match that is elevated to even greater heights by the genuine emotion that comes with it."
[10.0] "This was shortly after Jumbo won all the singles titles in AJPW to form the triple crown title. Crowd was super hot for Tenryu to dethrone Jumbo here. With the crowd so behind Tenryu, the match was built around Jumbo dominating Tenryu targetting the neck. Jumbo is just fantastic working on top here being equal parts vicious and maticulous in his attack on Tenryu. Jumbo manages to hit his big move, the backdrop driver but Tenryu kicks out. The crowd bites on every nearfall after this as Tenryu makes his comeback managing to counter some of Jumbo's moves and get some of his own big shots in slowly. Love the ending where Jumbo kicks out of Tenryu's powerbomb finish and then Tenryu simply just hits him with another one to win. This match in my opinion is the birth of the King's Road style of matches with storytelling done through stiff strikes, heat segements that is focussed on attacking a body part and big bumps. One of the most important matches in pro wrestling histroy even if Tenryu himself left the company shortly after and wasn't there for the rest of the King's Road era. *****"
[9.0] "Excellent match, the best Triple Crown Championship match at the time by far, and deserving of its praise, a great audience reaction really made it a lot better. The constant action is clearly a way to retreave Tenryu's cred. They succeeded, especially as he got the titles and it feels big. ****1/2."
[6.0] "Idk, maybe I'm just not a fan of this style but I wasn't really into this match. It got really good toward the end, with an incredible kickout from Tsuruta after a powerbomb from Tenryu, but prior to the final 7 or 8 minutes, I was really disinterested, as a majority of the early portions of this match just involved Tsuruta dominating Tenryu with chinlocks and shit for ages, and it got very boring to watch imo. The crowd were hot, and the final 8 mins were pretty great, but this match was largely uninteresting throughout. ***1/4"
[9.0] "I really really love this match. Such a great intensity and big match feel to it, genuinely feels like a real sporting contest between two top athletes. The pop for the false finish at the end was incredible. Great stuff ****1/2"
[10.0] "Jumbo stays one step ahead for most of the bout & Budokan is at a fever pitch rooting for underdog Tenryu. Brutal, hard-fought, riveting stuff with the crowd investment in the near falls raising goosebumps. An all-timer for sure *****"
[8.0] "This is my first approach to AJPW, King's Road, and the oldest Japanese match i've watched. Although I can rationally see the construction of this chess game, from an anachronistic perspective, I just couldn't get into it."
[10.0] "Really, really great stuff. Match is built around that powerbomb that knocked Tenryu out the first time; with Tsuruta targeting Tenryu's neck and upper back the whole time, and Tenryu managing to win after two powerbombs of his own."
[10.0] "Watching King's Road Classics, Part 2: My god, the crowd ate this up during the finishing stretch. Fantastic nearfalls, so different from today's nearfalls as they weren't all from big moves but the selling was so good that any move could have believably ended it. Lots of glimpses of the later King's Road style here as well: side suplexes taken right on neck, brutal knee and elbow drops from Tsuruta and I think the way Tenryu survives it all is a great example of fighting spirit."
[10.0] "This match has a great build, a great ace-making performance for Tenryu. He takes a ton from Jumbo, but despite that he kicks out, with awe from the crowd. Tenryu slowly gains more and more as the match goes on, where the dynamic shifts from Jumbo in control to Tenryu in control. A masterclass in storytelling. The folding powerbomb gets the job done."
[9.0] "Wasn't fully familiar with the build and dynamic in the match, so the first half was nothing more than just good wrestling for me. It wasn't until that second half where the desparation and intensity built, Tenryu wrestled like it was all he had left and finally got two good powerbombs to get the job done and put down the dominant Tsuruta."
[10.0] "It's been years since I've watched this classic for the first time. The redecovery was so sweet. You're feeling the all-time classic atmosphere from the entrances. You got Tenryu, always the second best, who has a second shot to the Triple Crown against his former partner, better rival : Tsuruta. Felt like the early stages of the King's Road style. They destroyed the living shit out of each other for 25 minutes straight. The perfect timing. They know each other by heart and one detail can cost 'em the bout. Nippon Budokan buying everything they did was something as well, both Tsuruta and Tenryu had the crowd in the palm of their hands. Tsuruta was so violent, took his opponent like shit, but that's here, maybe, his error. The crowd shouted for both guys, but they had definitely rooted for Tenryu. An emotional war between two titans of this sport."
"I don't think this is exactly a 10/10 match but this is the most influential match ever. If you've ever liked a match which was worked after 5th June 1989, then you should know that this match is the reason those ones exist."
[10.0] "Lucha excelente de principio a fin, tuvo una construcción compleja, comenzando con llaveo y dominancia de Jumbo Tsuruta, llegando de a poco el momento de Genichiro Tenryu, logrando que sea fluido y con las emociones a flor de pie. Un trabajo impecable de parte de ambos luchadores sin lugar a dudas."
[9.0] "Fantastic matchup between two of the very best in the world at this point with Tenryu finally reaching the top of the mountain, conquering Tsuruta and winning the Triple Crown. The opening stretches of the match are fantastic and the last 5 or 10 minutes are climactic and exciting as Tenryu slowly fights back against the firmly-in-control Tsuruta with longer and longer bursts of energy until he finally puts him away with not one but two powerbombs. Fantastic stuff, 9/10."
[10.0] "This was a classic that set the tone for all the AJPW classics of the 90s. The crowd is electric from the start and only gets more energized each time Tenryu barely manages to survive with a rope break. By the end, the crowd is in full nuclear mode as Tsuruta puts over Tenryu for the Triple Crown. It was supposed to be a changing of the guard moment, but it turns out the AJPW changing of the guard wouldn't start until a year later. This is still a classic of the 80s though. ****3/4-*****"
[10.0] "Just watched this again recently, and it still holds up. The crowd, the intensity from both men, and the hatred that only Tenryu can bring elevates this match into the stratosphere. A preview of what was to come in the 1990s from All Japan. Everyone should watch this."
[10.0] "Regarded by many as the first classic in the King's Road style of wrestling, there are quite a few factors to consider here. For one, the influence of this match is comparable to almost any other bout in professional wrestling history. King's Road may not be the dominant style today, but its fingerprints are all over what we see today from storytelling and even pure wrestling perspectives. A second point to consider is that 1989 was one of the definitive years in professional wrestling history. It produced legendary matches and moments, many of which would go on to change the way wrestling was presented and viewed on mainstream levels across multiple continents. As such, it truly says something when a match from that year is separated from the pack and designated a true classic. That applies here. The third factor to consider is that Jumbo Tsuruta had been the Ace of All Japan for the better part of a decade. He ushered in the post-NWA era of AJPW and helped establish its independence as the inaugural Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion. On the other end, Genichiro Tenryu represented the future of a company that would go on to define the 1990s and decades to come with its undeniable influence. And then you get to a match that offers master-level storytelling. Tsuruta wrestling a glorious heel match that was built on an uncommon trait in this beautifully artistic sport: Insecurity. Tenryu telling the story of a rising star who will simply endure as he looks to take down the top star in the company, if not all of Japan. And with every passing moment, both of those stories are told separately and simultaneously until they finally converge. A magnificent moment in time that set professional wrestling down an entirely new path. As easy a rating as it gets. 5 stars, 10 out of 10."
[10.0] "Pro wrestling perfection. This is just outrageously good. The atmosphere is electric and the crowd are living and dying with Tenryu on every near fall. An all time classic and will always stand the test of time *****"
[10.0] "A transcendent piece of wrestling. This match is just as good now as it was in 1989. Tsuruta's cobra clutch looks absolutely devastating, and Tenryu's selling, while slightly subdued, is impeccable. Jumbo is a perfect bitter ace figure trying to keep the rising star down, landing nasty blows to wear Tenryu down. Tenryu's heel hook is locked on for incredibly long, and Jumbo's less pronounced leg selling is perfect for somebody of his stature. He doesn't want the crowd to know how much that heel hold took out of him, only limping occasionally during his continued beatdown. Tenryu refuses to stay down for absolutely everything thrown his way, slowly inching his way up towards the victory. I adore this match for its small, subtle nuances that require repeated viewing. Each guy weaves so many little narratives into the match that somehow all come into play during the ending. *****."
[10.0] "Two great wrestlers presented a historic bout. Tsuruta's heel play was absolutely top class and Tenryu made a fabulous comeback. Closing to the end of this match, every finisher every nearfall made me almost jumped up from chair, say nothing of those live audiences, they were totally blown out of their mind by the match. (*****1/2)"
[10.0] "One of the great underdog overcoming the unbeatable champion to finally take the belt moments. An all-time great crowd, fantastic work on top from Jumbo and electric moments from Tenryu this is an absolute classic. Easily 5 stars"
[10.0] "Very important match to precede the King's Road era of All Japan, with an electric crowd waiting in anticipation. They don't have to wait long though, as the match quickly gets underway with a flurry of strikes. Tsuruta misses his signature knee strike before Tenryu lands a bridging German Suplex for a 2 count. Tenryu draws first blood, causing Tsuruta to look toward the crowd for reassurance as the Triple Crown champion. This is a prevalent theme throughout the match; Tsuruta controls most of the action, essentially beating the hell out of Tenryu, who would occasionally respond with an explosive hope spot that unfortunately doesn't last long. But each time, Tsuruta would lose more of the crowd's favor to the sentimental favourite fighting from below. He fails twice to hit a Backdrop Suplex, eventually opting to just bomb the hell out of Tenryu with lariats, knee drops and signature Thesz Press. But they can't put Tenryu away. He endures the damage done, gradually fighting back and inching closer to overtaking Tsuruta. The aforementioned theme plays another role here, giving Tenryu enough time to recuperate while the champion panders to launch his counterattack. The fans are on their feet with each Enzuigiri and Folding Powerbomb that lands as Tenryu finally gets a close three-count to claim the title. Incredibly satisfying story that holds up to this day. *****"
[10.0] "An absolute masterclass on how to wrestle as a heel by Jumbo. He stiffs Tenryu and takes a few liberties here and there, but it's never over the top. It's always subtle and feeds fuel to Tenryu's comeback. Tenryu sneaks in a quick German for a two count early into this, but it's mostly Jumbo taking control after that. Watching the faces in the crowd looking more and more shocked every time Tenryu kicked out made me realize I was watching something truly special. This blew me away when I watched it for the first time and it gets even better with age. This is where King's Road began."
[10.0] "Alright, after this I'm really beginning to see the hype behind these older AJPW matches. This was an absolutely amazing match and fully lived up to it's classic status. Tenryu had a great start, but eventually Tsuruta took control and began to dominate and wear down his challenger. Tenryu put on a great underdog performance, gradually leading the split crowd to cheer for him. Eventually Tenryu's resilience pays off, allowing him to take control. After a hard fought war, Tsuruta is finally pinned after 2 consecutive powerbombs, still kicking out on instinct but just after the count of 3. Tenryu wins his first Triple Crown Title in a very memorable match. What made this match so great (and this seems to be the case with most of these older AJPW matches) is that every single move had meaning. There was absolutely no wasted motion. Every move seemed like it could be the end of the match, such as Tsuruta's jumping knees from the corner, and the crowd went wild for every nearfall which greatly added to the intensity. I think this is a perfect starting point for anyone interested in binging AJPW in it's glory days. For me, it helped me find a new appreciation for what wrestling was like back in the day. Not every move has to be flashy, spotty or awe-inspiring to make a match great (although that can be fun too). What matters is that every move has meaning, and this match is a damn near perfect example of that. *****"
[8.0] "Crowd is red hot during the entier match, it's crazy. The match is really good, but was lacking in stroy telling on my end (or i missed it, not knowing very well either of them), i didn't felt any investisment in it, except watching great, intense wrestling."
[9.0] "Rundum ein wirklich starkes Match, wo so ziemlich alles gestimmt. Das Wrestling war super, die Dramatik stieg von Minute zu Minute und die Crowd sorgt für eine unfassbare Atmosphäre. Die Schlussphase war genial aufgebaut, mit den 2 Powerbombs zum Finish und den knappen Kickouts. Kann sich jeder mal angucken wenn er Lust dazu hat(****1/2)."
[10.0] "BATTLE OF THE ACES! This was two grown-ass men throwing BOMBS at each other for the duration of 30 minutes. In wrestling, there are some matches which are beautiful to look at. Those matches attract people's attention by eye-catching technical work, the smooth sequences of maneuvers, the fluidity of the transition of moves, the set-pieces, etc (For example, check Flair-Steamboat). Not this match. This was ugly AF. No particular sequence or set-piece, no technical work, and some moves were downright sloppy! But that's the beauty of it! In a real fight, you can't except every move to look smooth. No. Most of your attacks would look raw and sloppy and it'll get ugly and messy sooner rather than later. That's what makes this match so unique! It was two top guys of the promotion trying to murder each other over the Triple Crown Championship. The finish with the powerbomb was a nice callback to their previous match. And considering that's how Tenryu got injured last time, sweet, SWEET revenge! *****"
[10.0] "An absolute masterclass in psychology and storytelling. Hot crowd (seriously, that reaction to the body press kickout is one of the loudest I've heard) really added to the atmosphere. Absolutely incredible."
[9.0] "Excellent match. Still very close to an all-time classic. May be i am still not 100% familiar with the old school style so I still can't feel full about the in-ring psychology. The story was simple. Jumbo worked on top and Tenryu was the fan-favorite as he got cheered over Jumbo. Even at times, Jumbo got booed. Crowd badly wanted Tenryu to get the W and he eventually did it. Really wish it could last about 5 more minutes then it would have been truly a classic. I will revisit the match and I may change my mind."
[7.0] "Interesting relentless aggression from tsuruta, who gets nice boos ; the opening sequence was great. But tenryu's comebacks were always cut so short, i didnt feel like tsuruta was really impacted by them. I think i must have gotten a bit bored by the middle of the match; i didnt feel emotionally invested and there wasnt much emotions on display (i thought). Then tenryu hits two powerbombs and that's it, which felt underwhelming..."
[10.0] "Incredible. Would set the template for the main event style the All Japan and NOAH would use for the next twenty years. On top of that, the atmosphere was electric, and Tenryu's babyface performance is legendary. Fantastic stuff. (*****+)"
[10.0] "Incredible match, I must say. Jumbo vs Tenryu was always going to be good but this was above that, this was a special match. The crowd was red hot for this. Great psychology with Jumbo dominating the younger and smaller Tenryu, targeting the neck and legs with cobra clutches and various submissions, allowing the crowd to get behind Tenryu. Tenryu sold all the offence very well and gave a tremendous performance. The finishing stretch was great and really well done with the well timed false finish with the folding bomb only getting a two count first. Hot crowd, very stiff, great storytelling, pretty good selling from Tenryu. This match was a turning point of history in many ways but not way that you would think as Tenryu left All Japan a few months after this but it still holds up today. (*****)"
[9.0] "Oh my god that finish. Tenryu played a great underdog and sold for a large part of the match to Tsuruta's offence. A lot of this match was Tsuruta putting holds on Tenryu and getting the hell booed out of him with the crowd behind Tenryu the entire time. The first powerbomb led to a nearfall and the last one from Tenryu finally put down Tsuruta even with Tsuruta kicking out just after it, we don't see that much nowadays so this was almost refreshing. The dominant champion losing to a valiant underdog babyface, a classic story but told very well here. (****1/2)"
[9.0] "A match that is great, as well as historic. Tenryu is the obvious crowd favourite, as he plays the valiant underdog to the ruthless champion Tsuruta. While they start off competitively, Jumbo quickly gains the upper hand and starts his relentless attack on Tenryu. He remains on top for the bulk of the contest, as he keeps cutting off and beating down Tenryu, who barely manages to stay in the match. In the end, Tenryu manages to catch up to him, which leads to an electric, back and forth closing stretch. An amazing match, with great psychology, that is often credited with cementing the Kings Road style. ****1/2"
[7.0] "Very good match, though not deserving of a five star rating in my opinion. The heel-face dynamic was easily portrayed by the way Jumbo was so relentless in working Tenryu over. I never found his heel work itself to be particularly interesting, but the crowd didn't like how aggressive he was being and Tenryu sold his work well, so it all worked out in the end. Tenryu was forced into the underdog role as Jumbo was so dominant for most of the match, and this made for a nice match narrative of Tenryu admirably surviving Jumbo's hundreds of pin attempts, out smarting Jumbo, and putting him away with his powerbombs after suitably shifting the balance of control. While Jumbo and Tenryu had awkward chemistry for maybe half of the match they did do a good job with their power moves and strikes. What they did a great job was building up Tenryu's defeat to look inevitable, as Jumbo consistently beat him down and went for pin after pin after pin. This made it very easy to cheer Tenryu on as he looked very resilient in surviving all of this, and when he narrowly got the victory it was quite satisfying and felt hard earned and deserved. Not the 5 star classic it is billed as but very good for the story it told and the absolutely hot crowd. ***3/4"
[10.0] "An important match in wrestling history. This was the match where Tenryu defeated Jumbo to become the second ever triple crown champion and the point in which Tenryu was supposed to become the new Ace of AJPW. However Tenryu ended leaving the company the following year and but this match was so good it was used as the blueprint for AJPW main events moving forward and it is recognized as the match where kings road style was invented. Jumbo was just amazing here focusing on Tenryu's neck the entire match, some of those knee drops were the most vicious I have ever seen. Tenryu had just enough hope spots that made his eventual come back and win believable, my favorite part of the match was Jumbo kicking out of Tenryu's powerbomb finisher only for Tenryu to pick him back up and power bomb him again for the win. Best non- Flair/Steamboat match of '89. *****"
[10.0] "The match that cemented stone the building blocks for the future of AJPW and its style throughout the 90s. This is a phenomenal match that steers away from the tradition of the early years. Jumbo played the aggressive heel perfectly against his former partner Tenryu, who had the sympathy of the fans behind him. The pace of this match for its time was insane, and while it might not be as athletic an effort as what you might see now and days it had something most of those don't and that's a big fight feel. It wasn't just some exhibition, it was personal and the fans absolutely loved it. This match would be an easy four and a half just based on its importance to the overall landscape of wrestling, but that its as damn good as it is I can't help but give it five stars."
[9.0] "Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Genichiro Tenryu: Hansen’s full-garb at ringside. GT is just brutal w/ Jumbo; everything is done with intent to harm, and he threw-in some acrobatics tonight running over the SE ropes and then somersaulting onto Jumbo towards the NE side. The crowd jeered at Jumbo when he applied an Abdominal Stretch, and was throwing on(to) Tenryu so certainly the people are behind the calm enigma. Then again, a singles re-match coming just a few months after a Tsuruta victory explains why the crowd is so pro GT. A 2nd rope knee from the SE had excellent placement but GT’s too close to the ropes. He does another at the NE. Thesz press gets 2. Jumbo’s backdrop suplex is not Morishima-worthy. GT’s not out yet, guillotining JS on the N ropes for a nice near-fall. Awkward jump by JT at the SE post, followed by GT running from a boot NW to hitting an enzuguiri and cradle for a near-fall. GT’s 1st powerbomb attempt is reversed into a foldover plex by Jumbo for a 2. They’re both exhausted as a belly-to-belly by JT is a failure. GT fails to capture momentum by missing a top rope NW elbow. Crowd booing a JT half-hearted ‘Ho’ chant…he misses a rush to the W ropes, falls down, lariat, enzuig by GT, powerbomb, 2 ½ and the crowd is Sh*tting on itself. 2nd, milder, powerbomb gets the job done. The crowd, and the half-a-decade long story between these two Baba stalwarts, elevated this into greatness."
[10.0] "Tenryu Genichiro! Hier kann wohl schon den Grund ahnen warum man Tenryu, “ Mr. Puroresu“ nennt. Mich stört das Tempo so wie die Länge überhaupt nicht, wenn man ein spannendes Duell aufbauen will ist es von nöten Zeit zu investieren. Man sollte bedenken in welchen Jahr das Match war und das beide Heavyweights sind, dann kann ich doch nur vor diesen zeitlosen Klassiker verbeugen und Tsurtua und Tenryu dafür danken. Hinzu kommt das die Crowd dem Match ein großartige Atmosphäre verleiht. Historisch absolut wertvoll und noch heute absolut empfehlenswert. Edit:24. 12. 2016: Es bleibt dabei 10 Punkte sind 10 Punkte egal wie alt das Match ist."
[10.0] "Fantastic match although it's not quite 5 stars for me. Jumbo was really great in working on top and Tenryu fight from underneath was quite the struggle as well. The crowd was pro Tenryu all the way and this was just a match I really enjoyed as well and it's definitely a classic though. (****3/4)"
[10.0] "Match of the year 1989. Both guys control the crowd like no other. Jumbo absolutely dominates Tenryu here, and Tenryu his underdog performance is amazing with his facial expressions and such. Easily one of the best matches of all time. Easily ***** stars"
[10.0] "Awesome match. The psychology was simple with Jumbo dominating the younger Tenryu for most of the match, and Tenryu had to dig really deep to get those hope spots in. Tenryu beating Jumbo felt like a big deal, and this match helps with that, as you can feel the man's struggle. Great stuff. ****1/2"
[10.0] "Fantastic match, these two really try to tear each other apart. I love Jumbo's amazing knee based attacks, he's got a ton of them and they all look great. He really knows how to use his size and weight to maximum advantage, all his strikes frankly look wonderful. Tenryu holds up his end well, his final powerbombs to Jumbo are awesome."
[10.0] "Tsuruta is more stiff than usual, what it's so logical. Tenryu did a dive to ringside once again, and it seems like a regular move in his arsenal for the great matches now. The crowd being behind Tsuruta here is at odds with me, because he was being the heel for their entire feud. Jumbo goes for the Folding Powerbomb again, but Tenryu fights for his life(literally) and avoids it. Then, Tsuruta starts to be booed, this is more usual to me. Now I understand the pop after Tenryu avoided the Thesz Press and made Jumbo fall against the ropes, because the very champion did the same thing to win the unify the championships. The final sequence is PRICELESS."
[10.0] "One of the prototypes for 90's All Japan matches. What these two men did on that night was innovative. Today we praise matches such as Misawa/Kawada and Misawa/Kobashi and rightfully but neither of those would have been possible had Tsuruta and Tenryu not gone out there on that night and perfect what Baba and Robinson tried to show in 77 - how to go all out for a long period of time and give the people a strong finish. Robinson/Baba helped make it so both men could come out looking better than they did going in due to their skill and effort and Tsututa/Tenryu's match was the final nail in the coffin."
[9.0] "Hammer-Match zwischen den beiden damaligen Topstars der Company. Die letzten 10-15 Minuten sind ein einziger genialer Finishing-Stretch wo beide nochmal all ihre schweren Geschütze auffahren und die Dramatik mit vielen Nearfalls und Kontern in die Höhe schrauben. Die Fans verlieren beim Kickout aus Tenryus erster Powerbomb fast den Verstand. Leider war in der ersten Hälfte ein bisschen zuviel Leerlauf für mich als dass ich diesem Match die volle Punktzahl geben könnte, aber ich muss gestehen ich war an dem Tag auch nicht ganz so fit und konzentriert, daher kann sich diese Meinung nach nochmaligem schauen nochmal nach oben ändern. Aber ganz davon abgesehen setzte dieses Match hier den Standart für epische Schlachten um die Triple Crown für die kommenden Jahre und half ganz gewaltig diesem Titel sein Prestige zu geben."
[10.0] "Probably the match of the decade. Both guys control the crowd like no one, the drama constantly rises during the match. If you can, take a look at the crowd behind the ring and their reactions during the match - everyone seemed fully invested in the action. When 2 guys can control several thousand people like that, they reach the pinnacle of wrestling. At the end of the match both guys transformed in my eyes from men to titans. Genichiro and Jumbo, thank you for this experience. *****"
[8.0] "Ein starker Kampf der eingerahmt wird in eine tolle Atmosphäre, kratzt für mich fast an den neun Punkten, eine absolute Empfehlung auf jeden Fall."
[8.0] "Sehr verbissener Kampf. Leider gefällt mir Tenryu hier nicht wirklich. Lange Zeit dominiert Tsuruta, was für mich persönlich nur geringe Längen hatte. Tenryu gefällt mir in dieser Phase als aussichtsloser Herausforderer nicht sonderlich gut. Die Crowd ist aber verdammt stark und schreit Tenryu mehrfach nach vorne. Alles in Allem ein durchaus starker Kampf, von dem ich mir aufgrund des Observer-Ratings etwas mehr versprochen hatte."
[9.0] "Starkes Match, dass leider einige wenige Längen hatte. Trotzdem ein sehr sehenswerter Kampf. Sehr starke Crowd, die vor allem beim Finish völlig ausrastet. Das Ganze war sicher kein Highspeed Wrestling, für die Masse der beiden Worker allerdings doch ziemlich rasant."
[8.0] "8/10 von mir. Man sieht zwar viele Dives, und es ist für diese Zeit des Wrestlings sehr fortschrittlich, aber manchmal doch in die Länge gezogen, deshalb nicht die volle Punktzahl, so einfach ist das."
