NWA Championship: Ricky Steamboat (c) vs. Tiger Mask II

[HymieItsu]

I don't care for Steamboat that much, but it was still a darn good match.

[Bravesrtops]

I love that you say this, as Misawa is wearing a furry mask in the ring. So who's the clown? Spare me the mask argument, I get it but it is sports entertainment that sells not wrestling.

[mkl62]

Ricky Steamboat was the NWA World's Heavyweight Champion for 2 and a half months in 1989.

[21richkid]

Talk about talent exchange match? Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Shelton Benjamin, Toru Yano vs Kane, or Kenji Mutoh vs John Morrison. Those matches would be great, but Vince McMahon won't let WWE and NJPW work an agreement.

[Bravesrtops]

@21richkid Morrison would just be horrible in Japan. He is one of the worst strikers i've ever seen and that seems to be a big thing in Japanese wrestling, the strong strikes. He also does not work a ground game or anything like that. He does do nice spots, but i think Japan is the very last place that Morrison could go and get over. I would bank on it.

[raymondcesar1]

great match

[shizeninho]

headlock,headlock, chop, headlock, chop, headlock, knee kick, headlock.

[TheAgeOfRunefire187]

I just found out today that this match existed.

One of my favorite wrestlers of all time, Ricky Steamboat

versus my favorite Japanese wrestler of all time, Mitsuharu Misawa.

This is a dream match come true.

[spoodyface]

Mamamatsu, Japan - March 3, 1989

NWA World Champion Ricky Steamboat pinned Shunji Takano with a crossbody off the top

[BrAmuck]

It's to bad the United States doesn't exchange change talent with Japan like they used to. I'd love to see Triple H versus Kenta Kobashi or Rey Mysterio versus Tiger Mask IV.

[Ryvander]

@BrAmuck yeah but only as Kobashi is now...if it'd happened in past, Kobashi would have to refine his skill soo much that this match wouldn't make sense, excluding in promoting Japanese wrestling. Anyway, we had Mutoh- Hogan.

[blabla86117]

rhe broadcaster alway say ''ricky steamboto'' haha xD

[RobbDoggg69]

Tiger Mask out wrestled the crap outta Steamboat, idk why they let him win...but eh it was a decent match

[TheLeroyMoon]

@RobbDoggg69 The idea behind having a travelling NWA world champ was so you could send him to various territories and countries for the sole purpose of making local heroes look good. If the champ has enough time to stay in Japan for a match/rematch cycle, he may even drop the belt for a short while to help the local talent before bringing it back home. If there isn't enough time, you let the local rough you up a bit; when you leave town, the local will then draw more ticket sales, in theory.

[Bravesrtops]

@RobbDoggg69 . . . because he was the NWA champion.

[batmanjwo]

I have to disagree with what is wrong with the state of pro wrestling. The foundation itself is wrong. This video is a prime example. Here is the NWA World Champion defending his belt against a star in Japan. WCW used to hold PPVs from Japan and the place would be packed with 70,000 people. Japan stars vs WCW stars. The WWE is so lost within itself that it doesn't realize that just some great wrestling will work. Why? It is now different from their product.

[iknowme]

I don't see what was disappointing about the finish...good match.

[styx4ever1963]

All Japan Had Some Alltime Classic Matches! Great Post!

[mkl62]

From 1989. I hope that there are more posts of RS in '89 because I was out of the country for most of the year and didn't get to see too much wrestling (Navy). As for the comments on Steamboat going heel, he wanted to, but George Scott talked him out of it. He told him that he could go out with a chainsaw on his opponent and the fans would still cheer him. I live in South Carolina and followed his career on Mid-Atlantic (1977-1985). One of the all-time greats.

[anfclwin05]

So sad there will never going to happen a Tiger Mask II vs. Black Tiger II... :(

Great match between Steamboat and Misawa. Is this the last NWA World Heavyweight Championship defense ever made in All Japan?

[hardtime3000]

yes it was cause new japan took the NWA title

[ebonyroundass]

man, this match is incredible, it makes me wanna see ricky versus shawn michael at the next wwe main event.

(If this ever happen, we'll see shawn michael being heel again....!)

Anyway, in this match, is tiger mask supposed to be a heel?

[siesmicsweatpants]

The greatest American worker against the greatest Japanese worker, you gotta be kidding me this is holy.

[alcorderyjr]

I tell every1 Rick Steamboat is the greatest "face" ever, he never turned heel. I read an nterview with Steamboat n The Wrestler where he was going 2 try 2 turn heel, but Pat Patterson told him "u can't turn on Hogan Rick ... because if u did, every1 would feel he deserved it (meaning Hogan)" . Steamboat made every1 he wrestled look great! Terrible news concerning Misawa's death, just awful 4 him 2 die after his match.

[Staatsfeind1989]

Rest in Peace

[duddits2k7]

R.I.P.

[horrorgirl64]

I cannot believe you are saying that you like it that Jericho won!!!! U all are nuts. Steamboat has more talent in the tip of his little finger than Jericho will ever have!

[BURNINGHAMMER76]

i actually like jericho more man but steamboat did the right thing by putting jericho over not that he isnt already over. It is basically the same thing that foley did by losing to orton

[slydewinder]

True, but that's not the way it's done. If Jericho had lost, his charicter would have lost all credibility.Remimber what happened to Bam Bam Bigellow(sp?) after he jobbed to Lawence Taylor? No one else does either.

[TheLuscious]

That is the truth. Don't compare Jericho to Steamboat. That's an insult to Steamboat. Anyone trying to needs to go back to '89 and watch the 3 classics that he had with Flair. Steamboat pushing the PWI Wrestler of the Decade to the brink in each match.

[Bravesrtops]

@TheLuscious Not being a dick but different time period, different breed of wrestling fan, and the wrestling style has changed dramatically. I'm sure this will garner me a lot of heat, but i don't think the matches stand the test of time, especially after repeated viewing.

[CadillacL]

You said it!

[kingshisaa]

Wow, those headlock spots were waaaaaaaay to long in the beginning and Misawa's lack of desire to actually look like he wanted to win brought this match way down.

[EGarrett01]

I agree. He holds him in headlocks for the first 8 minutes of the match.

[Sanguiluna]

Why can't WWE and TNA be like this?

[miggs09]

O....M....F....G...!!!! great match...

[guitar8890]

Damn, that was a pretty good match. I grinned wildly at Steamboat and Misawa, of all people, getting into a CHOP BATTLE. Those two need to wrestle again, with Misawa as himself. I don't care how old they are, I'd still be excited for it. :D

[miggy25]

Although Tiger Mask III was my personal favorite, I liked Misawa's Tiger Mask too....he had a little more size to him yet was still agile....Steamboat is my favorite wrestler of all-time....no wonder so many greats say he was their favorite to work with

[destronia123]

That was Honky Tonk under that mask!

;)

[getodachoppa1]

I believe he's 56

[goldwatch2008]

You don't know how old he is. Bullshit. Any wrestler's age is only a Google search away.

[subfighter316]

Arguably the greatest wrestler in Japans history(though I like Kobashi better) vs. the best wrestler in North American History.

[kevmoney2make]

beautiful frog splash by tiger mask

[kevmoney2make]

Steamboat was a great wrestler, no doubt. But he didn't have the mic skills to hold the world title very long. He was like Benoit in that he was really good for the chase but not as champion.

[azarazar007]

That's exactly what's wrong with American Pro Wrestling. No only you have to be a good wrestler, but you must be a clown also. Japanese Pro Wrestling is not like that and that's why I LOVE IT!

[matt4lyfe]

Exactly! Why does someone have to have good mic skills to hold a world title? Besides, Benoit held that title for a good 5 months. That's actually pretty long considering how title changes usually are in WWE nowadays.

[BURNINGHAMMER76]

@matt4lyfe U kno y they need good mic skills, it is because most fans are more taken in by storylines and good mic work as opposed to good wrestling. I think it sux but it is just the truth.

[oramikleepunk]

I agree with you....Cena would never fit in with JPW.

[EmeraldFlowsion62]

@azarazar007 true...except in DDT :D

[TheLeroyMoon]

@azarazar007 So why is the Japanese wrestler the one wearing the silly mask? :) Just kidding...I understand your point, as well as the cultural significance of masks. I just had to rag your comment; it lay there, so wide open for ridicule. :)

[metallistxace]

I strongly disagree. One of the most well known faces in the WWE, Undertaker. Up until late, he has rarely spoken at all, and yet he has held the title on multiple occasions, and has an unprecedented 17-0 streak at Wrestlemania as of tonight.

[kevmoney2make]

Yeah taker hardly ever speaks. But his character is different and it's worth exploring. Ricky Steamboat was like the athletic guy your mom went to church with. And in truth he didn't have to be a world champion to be a great wrestler.. And as of last night, he's still a great wrestler.

[metallistxace]

Yes he most certainly is. I went insane when he did that scoop slam on Jericho. I was like he's 60 and he can still work a great match! But when I saw Snuka, I knew he wasn't gonna do much for that match at all. I figured he'd be out first. I'm glad Jericho won though. That's my favorite.

[kevmoney2make]

Yeah I was glad to see steamboat wrestle at mania. He looked good. He should work some matches and show them how it's done. Rowdy Piper looked good too. Snuka looks luckey to be alive after years of steroid abuse.

[metallistxace]

Piper looked decent. That leg is going to go out on him soon though.

[goldwatch2008]

Steamboat isn't 60. He's 56.

[metallistxace]

1. I was estimating.

2. Round up.

3. I was pretty damn close considering I don't know how old he is.

[Sanguiluna]

Agreed. As much as I cheered for the legends at WrestleMania, it just wouldn't have made sense to let Jericho lose to them; even for the WWE that's pushing the boundaries of realism. :p

I agree with you about the Undertaker. What makes him unique is the fact that most of the technically sound American wrestlers are either of average build or lightweights or high-flyers. But Taker is the only super heavyweight I've seen who can actually wrestle well, unlike Kane, Khali, and the like.

[Spunkalish]

What about Mike Awesome?

[destronia123]

Tiger mask got robbed! His shoulder was off the mat before the 3-count.

[destronia123]

Steamboat looks flabby here.

[seddrock]

I believe Steamboat held the title longer than anyone during the flair championship era

[DVROFFMAN]

I think Harley Race held the title from June -November 1983 which would have been 2 or 3 months longer but not 100% sure.

[SirPromenade]

Little known fact about this match. During one of the headlock sequences, Misawa askes Steamboat "What's your finish?" and Steamboat responds "A Cross Body". Misawa says "that's it?!" and Steamboat responds "Yes Sir". Misawa tells him "Lay it on me" and Steamboat does it. This was still when it was dictated to Misawa to learn/speak english when working with Gaijins. He's the boss so he won't do it at all now.

[THEartixt16]

5:22, HOLY SHIT! This is a great match. 5/5

[SlimmArmstrong]

BAM!

or 8:38..Steamboat sold that standing dropkick like he was DEAD..then the crowd was like "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH..he kicked out..HE KICKED OUT!" LOL

5 stars for sure!

[y2jbrock]

steamboats the best ever

[loverockit]

Awesome to see 2 of the best pro wrestlers in history together, really works well.

[mets2128]

now was this a match that involving a working relationship between the NWA and AJPW or NJPW or something

[goth801220002]

tiger mask had several 'finishers' that were all shared by all the tigers and black tigers...(Tiger Splash, Tiger Bomb, Tiger Suplex, Tiger Driver, Tiger feint Kick(619), ect.) of course what made these interesting is all the tigers/black tigers had their own personal variations.

[jakeisecw4life]

i cant remember, isnt tiger mask's finisher the frog splash

[KroniK1987]

great match, I put steamboat up there with the best of them, I loved his style.

[Empawk]

At 5:22 Tiger Mask II performed Street Fighter's Sagat's Tiger Knee attack. That's awesome. I wonder if Tiger Mask II calls it the same thing.

[GiffHoyt]

No, it's just the "Jumping Knee". Off the ropes or turnbuckle is the "Hyper Knee Cougar" or as a Japanese announcer might say, "HYPAH KNEE COUGAH"

[runfatboyrun]

old school nwa matches were the best, always a fan of tiger mask

[KiranTaker270]

This Match Took Place The Year After I Was Born

[EdgeRatedR14]

who cares?

[melbz1266]

n.w.a had better lookin title belts than wwe.

[taichi29]

They always had better belts and good championship divisions.

[armandroh666]

not to mention the AWA, NWA, & American WCCW titles actualy meant something..unlike the wwFe's

[hokutodude]

Steamboat never turned heel at all, His real name Ric

hard Blood sounds heel.

I would put Steamboat as one of the greatest babyfaces

in wrestling at #3 under Dusty Rhodes and Hulk Hogan.

[taichi29]

I put Steamboat at #1.

[kevinhardy]

great match

[stsdasnowman]

Damn, what a great match

[omonteshashimoto]

Very good match between two great wrestlers of all times. A clean match between a Japanese and a Nikkeijin. Each one showed respect to the other one.

[pkrcaliber03]

Good match.

[ArmandECW666]

I have this match on a 8 Hr vhs my friend made for me via request, good match to

[hitmanmike]

what did that big trophy at the end represent?

[gizmo21478]

usually they give a trophy as a reward in a championship match to the winner. it gives the whole thing a more sporting feel (like hoisting the stanley cup)

[goonbots]

Phenom is right alot of ajpw matches ended up in dqs like early tiger mask vs dynamite kid matches, this was the time alot of foreigners invading ajpw. So the matches were rough to call and end result.

[AAFB]

good match.

nice seing the early days of misawa and ricky is awesome as always.

[litjourney]

That match was awesome. Exciting from beginning to end. Those Japanese crowds REALLY get into it. I find it interesting how they stomp their feet whenever the ref does a 2 & 1/2 count. Good stuff!

[WrestlingFollower]

The finish was great within the context of the match. At the end they tried to start outdoing each other. The NWA World Champion at the time got the best out of it. Steamboat didn't play a heel either. ***3/4

[PhenomAJ]

there was NOTHING disappointing about the finish. It's weird seeing Steamboat wrestle in the heel's role. However, they built up to the final spots superbly. And the finish was great for an 89, pre-4 Lords of Heaven match-up. Keep in mind, most major title matches in AJ 89 ended in DQ's, THIS ended in a clean pin.

[kevinhardy]

good match