All Japan Motherload - Stan Hansen/Crusher Blackwell vs. Terry Funk/Giant Baba - AJPW 9/8/82

ER: Can you think of a more badass team that you don't think about as an actual team? Hansen and Blackwell, just chomping and stamping everything in sight. Blackwell knows how to take Baba offense really well, and I loved Baba's double chops to his throat. Hansen was an as-expected beast in this. He's the guy who always took it to Baba more than anyone, and I always loved the dynamic between them. So you have one of my all time favorite match-ups in Hansen/Funk, a great dynamic in Hansen/Baba, and the wildcard being a big bumping fatso with great right hands. Yes please. One of the great things Hansen does is charge somebody when they tag in. Baba tags in, Hansen starts bearing the shit out of him as he's still in the ropes. Hansen always does this and seeing it always reminds me that every other tag wrestler is a tentative pussy. Hansen and Finlay are the guys who never let guys rest on their laurels in a match, always keep active and always keeps things moving. God if they had ever crossed paths. I love Hansen constantly bringing it to Funk/Baba, but Hansen - like Finlay - is also always super generous if you play along. You take his shit, he'll make your shit look world beating (even though Funk doesn't really need that help). Hansen leans into Baba's big boot, staggers around all over for Funk's flawless jabs, Blackwell flies over the top to the floor to put over Baba's throw strength, ring boys run in at the end to eat right hands (and with their short slicked down parted hair and tank tops/short shorts they all look like little Jerry Lucases) and this was just the best kind of 10 minutes.