Kento Miyahara vs. Naoya Nomura (AJPW, 4/16/16)

A fun, competitive pairing of Miyahara's energetic aggression and Nomura's spirited won't die attitude. You can see it from the outset as he rushes headlong into a boot from Miyahara, who promptly dispatches him out of the ring as if he can't be bothered. So Nomura rethinks his strategy. After he ties Miyahara in the ropes, he pops off a nasty elbow as if to say...you will be bothered, bitch. The action spills out of the ring, where we get flying elbow butts and floor scoop slams. Miyahara bullies him awhile back inside, and when Nomura shows retaliation, Miyahara responds with a backbreaker and the dreaded crab hold. Even when Nomura gets a little spurt of offense, Miyahara does a good job of neutralizing the situation, putting him back in the crab hold with a little added punishment before cranking in the single leg crab (all day). I loved Nomura's roll-through spear and a second spear gets him a nearfall. He shows a lot of fight during the finishing stretch, and we see the champ sort of snap and elbow him repeatedly. Miyahara stalks him for the running knee to the back of the head, hits a follow-up brainbuster but Nomura survives it! But another running knee is enough to put him away for good. I enjoyed this more than the Sekimoto/Akiyama match from the same show. 

Stan Hansen vs. Toshiaki Kawada (AJPW, 4/6/92)

I think I prefer the 6/5 Triple Crown match to this, but then again, there's not much to complain about here. Stiff as hell right from the bat, with Kawada coming at Hansen with machine gun slaps and Hansen kneeing him and tossing him out of the ring to cool off. Hansen always sells so great for Kawada's kicks, and his selling of the legwork was top notch here. Kawada chops out Hansen's legs with kicks and uses a single leg crab (all day) to wear him down. I love that even when Hansen is falling from the bum leg, he still manages to strike Kawada. Awesome leglock spot with Hansen kicking at Kawada's face to get out of the submission hold. Of course, the big desperation powerbomb on the outside was big turning point in the match but the scoop slam onto the guardrail looked even more painful. Loved Hansen's back bodydrop into the elbow drop spot. 

 Kawada's kicks are pretty hellacious and he catches Hansen with a shot to the chin, staggering the bull and turning the tide in favor of Kawada. Hansen keeps missing the elbow drop which ultimately leads to Kawada hitting the elbow drop from the apron the floor. He once again chops out the legs of Hansen, blasts him with an enzui lariat and locks in the sleeperhold. During the finishing stretch, Hansen calls for the lariat but Kawada counters with a jumping high kick. This only pisses Hansen off so he powerbombs him and puts him the Brazos Valley Backbreaker. In frustration, Hansen refuses to break the hold, and you can tell he's ready to end this. Great elbow by Kawada and collapse into the pin but the boss hoss ultimately hits the lariato and it's game over. Another fun, stiff brawl, with a little more substance and structure than the 2/28/93 match. 

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Masanobu Fuchi (AJPW, 4/6/92)

A fun little build to the backdrop but nothing too exciting in the only singles match between these two legends. A slower start, with Jumbo cheap shotting Fuchi against the ropes. Fuchi gives Jumbo a taste of his own medicine with some low kicks to the knees, smartly retreating before Jumbo can retaliate. Fuchi continues to counter Jumbo's backdrop attempts with submissions, working him on the mat. I like when Fuchi keeps grabbing Jumbo's arm to prevent him from using a rope break. For awhile, Jumbo wears down Fuchi with abdominal stretches and sleeper holds. When Jumbo finally hits the backdrop, he can't immediately capitalize and Fuchi kicks out at two. But Jumbo hits a second one and that's all she wrote. Great selling from both men, and fun build, but a simple and safe tournament match.