Hulk Hogan vs. Stan Hansen (WWF/AJPW 4/13/1990) Review

Hulk Hogan vs. Stan Hansen (WWF/AJPW 4/13/1990)

You know what? I have never seen this match before :o Of course I knew about it, but just never got around to actually watching it, so here it goes. This was of course in All Japan but was a cross promotion event with the WWF and took place just over a week after Wrestlemania 6. This was supposed to be Hogan/Gordy, but Gordy refused to do the job (could have been because Hogan lost the WWF title just a week prior, and Gordy didn't want to put Hogan over after that – irony for Mr.Hulk, here). So Hansen stepped in his place. Savage/Tenryu, Warrior/DiBiase and Bret/Tiger Mask also took place on this card.

This is what Hansen said in his book about this;

"The day before the show, Gordy decided he wasn't going to "do business" with Hogan. He knew he was in line for a top spot with the company, and he didn't think it would be a good career move. Finding himself in a tough spot without a top talent for Hogan, Baba called my home in Mississippi and asked my dad if he knew how to get in touch with me. I was enjoying time off at my wife's house in Japan. Baba got the necessary information from my dad and called me.....He explained that Terry had backed out and asked if I would take the spot. Baba said he was in a bad position since Gordy was one of the boys, and it made him look bad to both New Japan and the WWF. I was happy to take the match."

So, let's get started.

First of all, they show Hogan backstage by a monitor warming up and getting ready for the battle.

Hansen is out next and starts thrashing away at fans with the bullrope on his way to the ring, and gives the camera a volley too for good measure.

Oh, big Stan is not finished there, he gets in the ring and POLAXES the poor announcer to the mat and whips him too

'Real American' hits the stereo so it must mean Hogan is on his way down and gets a good pop from the crowd. Oh God, just realised good 'ol Earl Hebner is the ref; Stan even gives him a sly whack with the rope, too. Cheers, Stan.

You can already feel this has got 'big match feel' to it before they even get started. They both start tentatively as they share brief lock ups, before Hogan puts on arm bar. Hansen breaks this off and they both shove each other in a 'yeah, what you got' way. Hulk gives Hansen a drop toe hold before applying a front face lock (remember, this is Japan Hogan). Stan shoves Hogan into the corner to break the hold and shouts something at him (hopefully it was something like “That all you got, boy?”). Hogan again goes for the drop toe hold (tad sloppy) and reapplies the front face lock.

Hansen quickly breaks out of this and they're back to even stevens. Hansen gives Hogan a chop and Hulk replies with a big punch to the head of Stan, as if to say “Well if that's what you want to do, bring it”. They then end up trading chops/punches and eye rakes (which they both no sell), before Hansen just has enough of this shit and dumps Hogan through the ropes and onto the outside. He goes right after Hogan ans tries sending his head off the post, but Hulk blocks it and Hansen ends up head first into it. Hulk briefly gets back in the ring to break the count out, before going back after Hansen with some punches before planting his face over the guardrail and onto a desk.

Yup, the Hulkster isn't messing around, here.

He continues to pound on Hansen's head and Stan is now 

BUSTED OPEN

Both back in the ring and Hulk picks Stan up for a back body drop and gets the first 2 count of the match. He then goes right after the open wound as he continues to close punch Hansen's head and gets another 2 count. Hogan is pretty relentless here as he sees the vulnerable part of Hansen and just goes onto to exploit it with more punches to the head before kicking at it as Hansen stumbles onto the outside. Hulk makes sure as he gives Hansen a big kick to send him down onto the mat.

Man, Hogan really in control here.

He throws Hansen right back into the ring and quickly applies a abdominal stretch as Stan is literally red in the face.

Stan manages to break out of this with a hip toss to Hogan. Hulk though, goes right back after Stan and gets him in the corner and starts hitting him with some BIIIIIIIIIIG CHOPS to the chest and punches to that open wound, before Hansen again decides to roll to the outside. Both on the outside again now as Hogan again gibes Stan a hard right, which sends him over the guardrail and into the announcers table. Hulk then picks him up and dumps him through the table with a powerslam

Hansen at this point is dead on the floor and bleeding like the proverbial stuffed pig. Hogan picks him back up and sends his head right back into the same post he busted it open, on.

Now that's just fucking mean, Hogan.

Hogan puts him back into the ring and covers for another 2 count. Hulk still in control as he sends Hansen into the corner and follows it up with a clothesline and some kicks to the face. Both still in the corner and Hogan is just punishing Stan at this point (well, that sounds weird), with some more chops. He whips Hansen into the opposite corner and runs at him, but is met by a BIG BOOT TO THE FACE from Stan.

This could be the comeback.

Stan follows this up by running at Hogan with a shoulder tackle that sends them both down to the mat. Phew, time for a short breather perhaps. Hansen quickly tries for a cover, but only gets a 2 count of his own. Now it's Stan's turn to stick it to Hogan, as he sends him to the outside and over the guardrail and into the same table area where he was just put through. He literally shoves a poor bloke off his chair and picks that up and whacks Hogan over the head with it.

He then gives Hogan a sly dig of the knee to his face and gets back into the ring. He goes right back after Hulk by jumping over the rail onto him and shoeing some fans away in just brilliant style

:lol I love this bloke

Back in the ring, and Hansen stiffs Hogan with one of his infamous knees before getting s 2 count. But what is this?

DOUBLE JUICE

HOGAN IS BUST OPEN NOW, TOO

Hansen is now showing no mercy and he's inflicting some of his own revenge by potatoing Hulk with some strikes and clubs to the freshly opened wound, which sends Hogan down to the mat for another 2 count. Hogan bails to the outside, but is immediately followed by Hansen. Hulk picks up the rope and tries to strangle Hansen with it, but is quickly shoved off and gets a whip to the back for his troubles.

Hansen is now firmly in the 'No fucks given' mode, as he continues to used closed fist punches to Hogan's head, before planting his knee right down on his chest. Hogan gets whipped off the ropes, but comes back and hits Hansen with a forearm and has a 'Hulk Up' moment, He then tries for the BIG LEG DROP, but Hansen moves out the way and tries to score a quick win, but only gets a 2 count. He again whips Hogan off the ropes, but is again caught by Hulk coming back, this time with a crossbody, and Hulk gets a 2 count.

Then Hogan blocks Stan by the ropes and hits him with a BIG BOOT, before hitting him with the AXE BOMBER for the WIN. Well, that come out of nowhere, TBH.

Hansen gets his rope and leaves immediately as Hogan is left alone to gloat up the victory in the ring.

Well, that was certainly a big match that felt like a big match. They both bought out an aggressive side that further intensified the match, esp when they both juiced. You have to remember there are pretty much two Hogan's in wrestling rings; Japan Hulk and American Hulk and this match is another example of that. He was as aggressive as Hansen here in exploiting the open wound and taking that apart. The finish did come out of pretty much nowhere though TBH, and not something I was quite ready for. But other than that, this is an excellent match that built and built with both guys getting their big shit it.

Hansen was just tremendous in how dickish he was to the crowd and was a joy to watch, again.

Recommended.

Ric Flair (w/Woman) vs. Lex Luger (World Heavyweight Title) (WCW WrestleWar 1990) Review

Ric Flair (w/Woman) vs. Lex Luger (World Heavyweight Title)

Of course this was meant to be Flair/Sting, but Sting injured his knee at COTC and Luger was quickly turned babyface and put with Ric for this.

Oh and it's Ric's birthday

Luger is first up with a pre match promo. Says he ready and what's good for him is very bad for Flair. Flair meanwhile is with Woman by his side for his promo. Says that when you have been champion of the world 6 times, you fear no man.

Yup, we're ready.

The man that everybody wants there and back is STING, and he comes out on his crutches

Damn straight mate.

Luger is next out, followed by the world champion, the man, Ric Flair, accompanied by Woman

YEAH THIS IS BIG AND HERE WE GO

Hot crowd for this as you'd expect. They square off and start jawing at each other to get them going. They start off with some head and arm locks then Luger just says fuck this, and pushes Flair to the floor with great effect. Funk on commentary already putting the match over as it's going to be one of the greats.

Luger again uses his power advantage and Flair isn't happy about this and gets flustered. I sense that is indeed how the match will play out. Luger continues with the power game and Flair bails to get a rest-bite.

This happens again and this time, Flair is like 'Fuck this shit, i'm outta here', and starts to walk the isle, before Lex runs over 'Nope', picks him up, and  carries him back to the ring. I just fucking love Luger's power game and how he uses it against Flair.

It's all Lex so far. Ric tries a cheap shot, but Luger is having none of it, and Gorilla presses Ric again to show his current dominance. Flair chops him, but again Lex is like 'Nope', which Ric does a great 'Oh for fuck sake' reaction to and once again, Lex gives him another Gorilla Press Slam and puts on a bear hug/pin attempt, which was good, then Ric does the old thumb in the eye trick, but Luger gets him into the corner for the old ten punches and Flair does his apron face flop. It's still all Luger, here.

But he hip tosses Flair, then goes for a big ariel splash, but Flair moves and it send Lex flying to the outside. This could be a turning point for Ric.

Indeed it is, as he begins to take over and sends Luger into the guardrail. He gets him back in the ring, gives him a big chop, then just dumps him back to the outside. Ric then cleverly asks Woman to get on the apron, to distract the ref no doubt, so he can get to Luger and bounce his head of the guardrail again.

I heard Flair say "Get off you ass and do something". Who was that to? :lol

Ric in full control at the moment. He keeps letting Lex get back up to the apron, then he keeps dumping him back off it again. Back in the ring and Flair continues to take over with knees to the face. Lex kicks out emphatically at the  count of 2 and tries to mount a comeback, but he misses a corner spot and is sent running, shoulder first, into the corner, allowing Flair to take over again and work on the arm, using the rope as leverage. Naughty.

Flair tells the crowd to "Shut up, as they are giving him some stick. He then uses the ropes again, and again berates the crowd

"Sit down fat boy and keep your mouth shut" :lmao

Luger looks like he's coming back but Flair pokes him in the eye again and Woman gets involved and pokes him in the eye too for good measure. This continues as Flair swats him down again onto the ropes, and Woman starts pulling at Lex's hair.

It's still all Flair and he works on the arm of Luger and continues to cheat by using the ropes on a pin attempt. Lex then snaps as he grabs Flair and throws him into the corner, and he does his backflip onto the outside. Lex isn't selling shit now and goes after Ric, who is begging Luger to leave off.

Luger gets Ric in a sleeper. Flair counters this by back body dropping Lex and they are both down on the mat, fucked i'd imagine the pace they have kept up.

Ric gets on the apron to try and suplex Luger to the outside, but he reverses in and gives Ric a big suplex back into the ring. He then goes after the leg by ramming it into the post. He tries to put on the figure four, which looked somewhat sloppy, but Flair wriggles out of it.

Flair knocks Luger down, tries again but Luger reverses it into a big power slam for a 2.9 count. Luger is having none of Flair's chops and Flair bails and they take it once again to the outside. Ric with another fucking thumb in the eye of Lex. i'm surprised he can see at this point.

Back in the ring and Luger gets another nearfall before Ric give him an atomic drop and Lex's leg is hurting. this allows Ric to take over again and gets a nearfall. Lovely  double arm suplex by Flair follows this into another nearfall. He jumps on Luger to apply a sleeper hold.

Luger tries to fight back and knocks Flair on his ass for another nearfall before Luger misses an elbow and they're both down. Ric gets up and starts working over Luger's knee.

FIGURE FOUR LOCKED IN Using the ropes again, Ric.

Crowd go nuts as STING comes hobbling out to ringside and starts shouting encouragement towards Luger. I fucking LOVE, LOVE this bit

Sting is basically telling Lex to get back in the game. Luger uses this to no sell Flair's shit and runs after him, gets him in the ring, and gives him a Gorilla Press Slam.

CROWD GOING BANANAS as Luger is powering up and starts to finally take his frustrations out on Ric with some big clotheslines and a big vertical suplex for a nearfall. Another big powerslam and Luger signals it's time for THE RACK.

But Luger tries to grab Woman, who slaps Luger, who has his back to Flair, who flies into him with a big knee, knocking the ref down in the process.

REF BUMP

Luger continues to wail on Flair and gives him a super-plex off the top rope. Oh fuck here comes Arn and Ole. Lex swats them out the ring, no nonsense style. Luger has Flair in the TORTURE RACK, but the ref is still down.

Arn grabs Sting as Ole hits with his crutches. This prompts Luger to run out and clobber Ole and Arn. Fuck yeah. Whilst he's doing that, the ref is counting him out, 7,8,9..........10.

Oh fuck. The Horsemen then pound on Luger as a helpless Sting is forced to watch on. The Steiners come running out and the Horsemen bail. Where the fuck were you 2 minutes ago, Rick/Scott????

Anybody ask me why Ric Flair was great, i'll point them to this, because this is one hell of a fucking match. Pace never lets up, and as good as Luger is here, and he is trust me, Ric is just supreme and i'm not saying he carries Lex, but he puts on one hell of a performance to help him through this. It was the perfect balance of Luger the powerhouse, versus Ric, the wily, experienced general, who will wrestle and cheat his way through anything.

FUCK THIS WAS GREAT. LEGIT GREAT