04/18/1989: Jumbo Tsuruta def. Stan Hansen to win the AJPW Triple Crown in 17:52: If you know me, you know I love my ‘90s Japanese wrestling, and the Triple Crown is sacred ground to me. Why not watch the first Triple Crown match between two of my favorites again? Their matwork was good early on because there was almost constant movement, and each was trying to improve position. Things became realistic quickly when Hansen grabbed Jumbo’s face to get him to break a hold. Both men let their shots fucking fly, as you’d expect. I started wondering how much of the superb selling was just that or these guys truly wincing in agony. But then Stan Hansen sold an abdominal stretch better than anyone in recorded history. He screamed in pain. He had to powder when the hold was broken. He was hurting so bad; then he almost started walking to the back while holding his ribs the whole time. Fucking awesome! Hansen began mauling Junbo when the two were outside and walloped him with a chair in the back and then in the head, prompting Tsuruta to gig. Hansen continued beating on Jumbo until he went for the lariat, missed, and Jumbo made the cover for three. As a finish to build to other matches, that was excellent with Tsuruta barely escaping the big Texan. So was Hansen continuing to beat on the new champion after the match. A bloody Jumbo still did an in-ring interview after with all three belts in a big fuck you to Hansen. ****1/2