ALL JAPAN PRO WRESTLING 30

November 16, 1997

1. 1997 Real World Tag League Match: Mitsuharu Misawa & Jun Akiyama vs Wolf Hawkfield & Johnny Smith

Smith top rope dropkicked Akiyama and gave him a lariat for a near fall. Smith gave Akiyama a hammerlock slam and worked on his left arm. Hawkfield gained a near fall on Akiyama and he worked on Akiyama’s arm as well. Akiyama fought back and hit a second rope jumping knee on Hawkfield. Misawa gained a near fall on Wolf with a couple kicks after which he applied a facelock. Misawa and Wolf exchanged elbows and Wolf his a lariat for a near fall. Wolf powerslammed Misawa for a near fall. Wolf and Smith gave Akiyama a double stun gun. Smith powerbombed Misawa and Wolf gave him a top rope splash for a near fall. Misawa fought back with some elbows on Wolf. Wolf gave Akiyama a belly to belly suplex and Smith German suplexed Akiyama for a near fall. Smith applied a cobra clutch on Akiyama and then a crossface chicken wing. Smith went to powerbomb Akiyama but Misawa intervened. Akiyama gained a near fall on Smith with a German suplex and another with an exploder. Akiyama gained a near fall on Smith with a second exploder. Misawa hit Smith with a running elbow and gave him a tiger driver for a heated near fall. Time then expired at 30:00 (11:13 aired). This turned into a really good match as Smith was in during most of the last few minutes. ***

2. 1997 Real World Tag League Match: Stan Hansen & Bobby Duncum Jr. vs Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue

Kawada and Hansen traded strikes early. Kawada gave Hansen a high kick but Hansen responded with a back suplex. Hansen gained a near fall on Kawada with an elbowsmash. Duncum gained a near fall on Kawada with a shoulderbreaker. Kawada fought back with a bunch of kneelifts on Duncum. Duncum was hit with a high kick from both opponents and a dropkick from Taue. Duncum hit a lariat on Taue. Hansen whipped Taue into the barricade at ringside. Hansen suplexed Taue back into the ring for a near fall. Duncum gained a near fall on Taue but Taue fought back with a high kick. Taue gave Duncum an enzuguiri. Taue dropped Duncum neck first on the barricade. Kawada gained a near fall on Duncum with a short lariat. Taue dropped Duncum neck first on the top rope for a near fall. Kawada won a slugfest against Duncum and spin kicked him. Hansen DDTd Kawada and powerbombed him. Hansen won an exchange with Taue and elbowsmashed Kawada. Kawada hit Hansen with a high kick in the corner. Duncum gave Taue a top rope clothesline and a legdrop for a near fall. Duncum gained a near fall on Taue with a second rope elbow. Hansen held Kawada at bay as Taue gave Duncum a nodowa. Taue pinned Duncum at 10:32 after a dynamic bomb. The entire match aired, which was not a wise move since the opener was much better. This was not a good match, and it lacked spot-to-spot momentum and heat. *1/4

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