The Best of Stan Hansen

If you are a Stan Hansen fan these are must see tapes. This tape series follows Hansen from the beginning of his career to his latter days in All Japan with all the big matches in between. All comments are from Michael LoStocco, the man who made these tapes. Entire series is $50, individual tapes are $12 each.

Volume 1: The Birth of a Legend

-Stan Hansen v. Bruno Sammartino: WWWF Title Steel Cage Match 11/6/76
Hansen had gained noteriety by breaking Bruno Sammartino's neck in match that took place a few months before this cage grudge match. I wasn't able to obtain footage of the first match, but the story goes that a body-slam gone awry breaks Sammartino's neck. The match continues, and Hansen loses by DQ. After the match, Sammartino's broken neck is attributed to the Western Lariat... just the beginning of 20+ year reign of terror! This match is shown pretty much clipped on 8mm film that has been transfered to VHS. It's not very nice to watch, but the picture is as good as you can get for this match and what is shown is pretty short.

-Stan Hansen v. Antonio Inoki: NWF Title Match 2/8/80
Hansen was brought into New Japan Pro-Wrestling as a major heel to feud with Inoki over the NWF Title. He had been facing Inoki on and off since 1977, but this match is significant because it is the one and only time Hansen actually beat Inoki for it. Keep in mind that titles could change hands on count outs here. The match itself is typical 80s: An excellent builder with tons of heat at the end.

-Stan Hansen v. Bob Backlund: WWWF Title Match 9-30-80
These two work surprisingly well together. Backlund steps and brawls with Hansen, and Hansen does his best to keep up with Backlund on the mat. This one gets pretty stiff at times, and like most 80s matches it builds very well and gets better as time passes. I really don't know how to rate a match

-Stan Hansen v. Andre the Giant: 9/23/81
Some would ask why I've included this match. I've done so for the simple reason that it is probably Andre's best in-ring performance that was ever caught on camera. Because he was huge and very agile at this point in his career he was a very serious candidate to play pro-football for the Redskins. To truly appreciate this legend you need to see him in matches around this period. Hansen's selling and brawling style allows him to carry this to much more than just two big men loafing around the ring.

-Stan Hansen/Bruiser Brody v. Giant Baba/Jumbo Tsuruta: 2/3 Falls NWA International Tag Team Title Match 4/20/82
Not long after Hansen left New Japan, he appeared in All Japan Pro-Wrestling at the 1981 Real World Tag League Finals. With his help, Jimmy Snuka and Bruiser Brody were able to defeat the Funk Brothers. After that match Baba and Tsuruta came to save the Funks from the three heels and what emerged was a feud that would linger into the early 90s. In this bout, the NWA Int'l Tag Champs, who had held the belts for close to 2 1/2 years face what might have been their biggest challenge ever in Hansen and Brody. This match defines the climate in All Japan in the early 80s: Wild, bloody brawling that was way ahead of it's time.

-Stan Hansen v. Terry Funk: 9/11/82
The saga continues: A fantastic match between two of the best workers of the 80s. Both of them can brawl, both of them can sell, and this, not surprisingly gets ****+ from me.

-Stan Hansen v. Jumbo Tsuruta: 12/7/82
A special match that took place during the annual Tag Tournament. More classic stuff from one of the hottest feuds ever.

-Stan Hansen & Brusier Brody v. Dory and Terry Funk: 1982 Real World Tag League Final 12/13/82
This is just about as climactic as it gets. After feuding for close to a year, "The World Stongest Tag Team" meets the superface Funk Brothers in the finals of one of the most important annual tournaments in wrestling history. There is more on the line in this match than ever before, and just hearing the crowd will let you know that. This is an excellent brawl with great emotion and drama. An absolute classic performance by all 4 men.

-Stan Hansen v. Giant Baba: PWF Title 9/3/83
Hansen was probably best opponent ever. Hansen was able to do what most wrestlers could not do: Make Baba look GOOD. Baba's best matches have taken place opposite Hansen. Because they were in the midst of a bloody feud, all of their matches are high paced sprints with a lot of brawling and Stan doing some of the best selling of his career. Stan comes away with the PWF in this bout, just one of countless championships to come.

-Stan Hansen v. Austin Idol: Texas Bullrope Match & Bunkhouse Match 11/83
Hansen worked the Memphis territory at this point in his career in between All Japan tours. Memphis was one of the rougher US Territories, so as you'd imagine Stan fits in pretty well. Both are wild, crazy brawls, including Stan beating the referee with a tire iron!

Volume 2: Brusier Brody and the AWA Title Heist

-Stan Hansen & Brusier Brody v. Jumbo Tsuruta Gen'ichiro Tenryu: Real World Tag League Final 12-12-83
This match has a very important feel to it. The top native faces collide with the most feared gaijins ever. Watching this match will show you that AJPW had a style that stood out above all others even in 1983; it will also show you that Tenryu's neck must've been screwed on very tightly for it to be attached to his body after this match.

-Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody v. Giant Baba & Dory Funk Jr: PWF Tag Team Titles 4/25/84
Hansen and Brody become the first champions. Terry Funk was gone, and Tsuruta was teaming with Tenryu, leaving the weaker members of their respective tag teams to create a tag team of their own. Don't get me wrong, Baba commands a lot of heat from the fans when he's in, and Funk Jr. can go on the mat like no one else, but this is just not as exciting as a lot of the tag matches for the time. Stan Hansen would hold the PWF Tag Titles for 3 years uninterrupted with 3 different tag partners.

-Stan Hansen v. Giant Baba: PWF Title 7/30/85
The same comments about the match against Baba on the first tape would apply here. Stan takes the PWF Title here as well. He would go on to lose it to Riki Chosu, regain it, and ultimately bring it to the table against Gen'ichiro Tenryu & Jumbo Tsuruta in the matches leading up to Triple Crown title unification match which takes place on the next tape.

-Stan Hansen & Bruiser Brody v. Ishingun: Riki Chosu & Yoshiaki Yatsu: 1985 Real World Tag League Final 12/12/85
A 30:00 draw with it all! Grat brawling, mat work, psychology and heat. Chosu is about as over as any native ever was (Meltzer believes that he's right behind Rikidozan, Baba and Inoki in that respect) which gives this match a special feel. The draw allows the gaijin team to take the tag league.

-Stan Hansen v. Rick Martel: AWA Title 9/26/85 Comiskey Park

-Stan Hansen v. Rick Martel: AWA Title 12/29/85 Meadowlands
This is a pretty solid match, but the fans were not very into it. The storyline made perfect sense, and Stan actually wins this by submission instead of the more obvious Western Lariat. I think this match would've went over ten times better in Japan. On a sidenote, this match is not complete. The beginning is shown, then you see the rest of the match joined 5 minutes in. I'm told however, that even in this form it it MUCH more than what was ever on TV in the US. Stan's AWA title win is very significant because after walking out on the promotion in a match where he was slated to lose the title to Nick Bockwinkle on 6/28/86, he continued to defend the belt on cards in Japan, and is said to still own the title.

-Stan Hansen v. David Sammartino: AWA Title ?/?/86

-Stan Hansen v. Jumbo Tsuruta: AWA Title v. NWA Int'l Title 7/31/86
Stan wins the NWA International Title.

-Stan Hansen v. Riki Chosu: NWA Int'l Title v. PWF Title 9/9/86

Volume 3: Gen'ichiro Tenryu: Friend & Foe on the Road to Triple Crown

-Stan Hansen & Ted DiBiase v. Jumbo Tsuruta & Gen'ichiro Tenryu: 1986 Real World Tag League Final 12/12/86
Ted DiBiase will always be on of the most under rated workers of the 80s. He can brawl, go on the mat, and sell very well. Stan hits Tenryu with the Lariat before the bell and they destroy him all through the match. The ending is by countout, but it's probably one of the best finishing sequences of that nature that you'll find.

-Stan Hansen & Ted DiBiase v. Tiger Mask & Jumbo Tsuruta: PWF Tag Titles 7/3/87
Tsuruta and Tiger Mask take the belts when Tiger beats DiBiase by countout. This comes off feeling like a bit of a fluke. Thus, a rematch is in order:
-Stan Hansen & Ted DiBiase v. Tiger Mask Jumbo Tsuruta: PWF Tag Titles 7/11/87
Hansen & DiBiase reclaim the gold when Hansen beats Tiger Mask.

-Stan Hansen & Terry Gordy v. Bruiser Brody & Jimmy Snuka: RWTL bout 11/22/87
Brody and Hansen on opposite teams?!?! This may be the only time this has ever happened. They tease Hansen v. Brody really well here and it gets over huge. It's awesome when they go against each other, but it's a shame that the match ends the way it does. I firmly believe that bigger plans for a Hansen v. Brody feud is what kept this match limited in terms of the amount of time the former partners spend in the ring with each other.

-Stan Hansen v. Gen'ichiro Tenryu: PWF/UN Titles 3/27/88
Tenryu defeated Stan in a PWF/UN title unification match on 3/9/88. This re-match goes to a double countout, but the body of the match is on the level of pretty much any All Japan main event in terms of psychology, stiffness and heat. Tenryu takes quite a beating and this is more lopsided than most main events that would follow, but the body of the match is probably worth ****.

-Stan Hansen v. Gen'ichiro Tenryu: PWF/UN Titles 7/27/88
Hansen attacks Tenryu before the match while he's on his way to the ring and bloodies him pretty good. If this match had the body of the last match and the ending of this one, it'd be *****. Still a very solid match.

-Stan Hansen v. Jumbo Tsuruta: Triple Crown Title unification match 4/18/89
They tried unsuccessfully on 10/17/88 to unify all three titles but ended up going to a double countout. This may be one of the most important matches in the history of Japanese wrestling. Three titles, all with some of the richest histories in the world are brought together creating the Triple Crown. The matches that have gone into creating this title, and the matches that have taken place since it's creation are absolutely legendary. This is an incredible moment to see on camera. The match itself is pretty solid, albeit deliberate in a way. I've seen star ratings on this range from *1/2 to ****. I'd suggest you judge it for yourself.

-Stan Hansen & Gen'ichiro Tenryu v. Jumbo Tsuruta & Kenta Kobashi: 8/?/89 Tenryu and Hansen became a team in April of 1989. They formed a stable with Toshiaki Kawada called the "Revolution" and went on to hold the unified PWF/NWA Int'l Tag team titles 3 times. This match takes place 2 months after Tenryu took the Triple Crown from Tsuruta in what is called by many as the greatest match of the 80s.

-Stan Hansen & Gen'ichiro Tenryu & Toshiaki Kawada v. Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu & The Great Kabuki: 7/28/89
This is a match I haven't yet seen, and one that I'm definitely looking forward to!

Volume 4: Monster Gaijins Collide for Gold & Glory

-Stan Hansen & Gen'ichiro Tenryu v. Jumbo Tsuruta & Yoshiaki Yatsu: 1989 Real World Tag League 12-12-89
This is really a fantastic match. Tenryu and Hansen take the World Tag Titles in what would be Stan's final Real World Tag League victory. ****1/2

-Stan Hansen v. Big Van Vader: IWGP Title 2/10/90
This is the DREAM match that you've heard SO much about! The top American representatives of All Japan and New Japan collide in what I believe to be the stiffest brawl of all time. Vader is quoted in saying that he and Stan had to "be careful not to legitimately knock each other out" because they were scheduled to go to a double countout. The opening sequence here is incredible, highlighted by a brutal palm blow which knocks Vader's eye out of it'socket! Vader has to remove the mask, and you can see him pushing it back into the socket! ***** AWESOME, must see match.

-Stan Hansen & Gen'ichiro Tenryu v. Steve Williams & Terry Gordy: World Tag Titles 3/6/90
Williams and Gordy, the new dominant tag team in All Japan defeat Tenryu and Hansen here in a great, heated bout. Tenryu gets beaten down by Hansen for giving up post match, thus ending their tag team. ****

-Stan Hansen v. Hulk Hogan: "Dream Match" 4/13/90
All Japan was just so hot back in 1990. They sold out the Dome with New Japan in February, and did the same in April with the WWF. Hansen, not totally surprisingly carries Hogan to a watchable and even enjoyable match. Hogan works 10 times harder here than he's ever worked in the US, and even hits a nice blade job.

-Stan Hansen v. Van Vader: IWGP Title 6/2/90 (jip)
The little known IWGP Title rematch from the Fukuoka Dome. This match is a lot like their earlier meeting, but not quite as ridiculously stiff. Don't get me wrong, these guys definitely maul each other but the "Dream Match" aura is decreased somewhat. The DQ finish is not the greatest either.

-Stan Hansen v. Terry Gordy: Triple Crown Title 6/8/90
Hansen makes history by challenging for 2 major World Titles in a span of 6 days! (There may be another case where it took place, and if you know, TELL ME) After 8 years of fighting in matches to create the Triple Crown, Hansen relieves Gordy of it in a very stiff match with one downfall. Both Hansen and Gordy were excellent workers at this time, but they both look much better going against people who can take big bumps for them. ***1/2

-Stan Hansen v. Terry Gordy: Triple Crown Title 7/17/90
Gordy reclaims the Triple Crown

-Stan Hansen v. Mitsuharu Misawa: Triple Crown Title 7/27/90
Just days after Gordy won the Triple Crown, he fell ill and somewhere during the course of his illness was actually considered "dead" for a few minutes. Unable to defend the belt, he was stripped and Misawa and Hansen were named number one contenders. Stan Hansen takes the title here, but it is only one of two times that the would ever defeat Misawa when the crown was on the line. ***1/2

Volume 5: Hansen does Battle with the Over Generation Army

The VQ is a little wavy or snowy on a few of the 1992 matches. EVERYTHING IS VERY WATCHABLE THOUGH. The 92-93 time period seems rough as far as finding Japan TV in VG/EX quality. Keep in mind all of this stuff is from Lynch, and that most other dealers don't have this footage at all.

-Stan Hansen & Dan Spivey v. Steve Williams & Terry Gordy: World Tag Titles 4/18/91 ****1/4
Williams floors a fan with a jab pre-match. This is a real stiff bout with Hansen playing the rare role face.

-Stan Hansen & Dan Spivey v. Mitsuharu Misawa & Toshiaki Kawada: World Tag Titles 6/7/91 ***3/4
This is probably the closest you'll come to seeing Kawada and Misawa in brawling mode. Kawada has a really fire inside him here and it adds a lot to the match. He and Hansen work exceptionally well together.

-Stan Hansen v. Mitsuharu Misawa: Triple Crown Title 3/4/92 ***1/4

-Stan Hansen v. Kenta Kobashi: Champions Carnival Bout 3/27/92 ****
These two just CAN't have a bad match together. Maybe its the fact that Kobashi is such an awesome worker and that Hansen is such a mean stiff heel, but whatever the reason, I've never been dissappointed by any singles match they've had.

-Stan Hansen v. Toshiaki Kawada: Champions Carnival Bout 4/19/92 ****

-Stan Hansen v. Mitsuharu Misawa: 1992 Champions Carnival Final ****

-Stan Hansen v. Toshiaki Kawada: Triple Crown Title 6/5/92 ***3/4
This match is more of a slugfest than anything else, but it encompases a great story as well. Kawada has a hard time slugging it out with the much larger Hansen at first, but when he starts getting his licks in it gets over very well. The finish is the typically dramatic AJPW style finish that we all love so much.

-Stan Hansen & Johnny Ace v. Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi: 7/17/92 ****

Volume 6: Hansen's Biggest (and best) Singles Matches against All Japan's Finest

-Stan Hansen v. Kenta Kobashi: (Non-Title) 7/19/92 ***3/4

-Stan Hansen v. Mitsuharu Misawa: Triple Crown Title 8/22/92 **** Awesome finish reminiscent of Misawa making Jumbo submit. Hansen doesn't submit but its close.

-1993 Heavyweight Battle Royal: The Battle Royals from this era were a lot shorter and better than the ones today. Only here because it sets up the next match. Hansen comes out to brawl with Kawada and Misawa. Besides throwing Kawada onto tables and beating him over the head with a TV monitor, Hansen levels him with a chair shot that causes hardway juice.

-Stan Hansen v. Toshiaki Kawada: 2/28/93 *****
It's a shame that every time these met it wasn't this good. This match is a far cry from a technical master piece, but it's definitely one of the stiffest matches ever. The punches and kicks are stiffer than you can imagine.

-Stan Hansen v. Mitsuharu Misawa: Champions Carnival Bout 3/30/93 ***3/4

-Stan Hansen v. Akira Taue: Champions Carnival Bout (broadcast date) 4/25/93 ****

-Stan Hansen v. Mitsuharu Misawa: 1993 Champions Carnival Final 4/21/93
Not known as a great match, but important because it is the second straight time Hansen has won a Champions Carnival by beating Misawa, and it sets the stage for the next match on the tape.

-Stan Hansen v. Mitsuharu Misawa: Triple Crown Title 5/21/93 ****1/2
Their best singles meeting ever.

Volume 7: Coming down the Home Stretch

-Mitsuharu Misawa/Stan Hansen/Kenta Kobashi v. Giant Baba/Toshiaki Kawada/Akira Taue: 4/95 60:00 ****1/2

-Abdullah the Butcher & Masa Fuchi & Giant Baba & Toshiaki Kawada v. Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori & Kenta Kobashi & Stan Hansen: Survival Tag Series 9/10/95 ****
This match is very similar to the 4/18/92 Elimination tag bout. Baba is celebrating his 35th anniversary as a wrestler this entire month so this is a special match for him. Its average to poor until the final tag team pairings, at which point it gets great.

-Stan Hansen & Gary Albright v. Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue: World Tag Titles 1/24/96
Hansen and Albright win the titles. This is Hansen's last title win. :-(

  -Vader & Stan Hansen v. Jun Akiyama & Kenta Kobashi: 1998 Real World Tag League Final ***1/2

-Stan Hansen v. Kenta Kobashi: 7/29/93 ***** MOTY Candidate