Tiger Mask made his wrestling debut in NJPW by defeating Dynamite Kid earlier this year in a big upset, beginning one of the most legendary Junior heavyweight feuds of all time. They would have 7 matches against each other, and this is match #5 for the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. Although it was a WWF sanctioned belt, it was primarily defended in Japan and New Japan Pro Wrestling where the junior style was much more prominent at this point in time. Bret Hart is in Dynamite Kid's corner for this match. Dynamite Kid is announced first and he gets a deafening reaction, I'd say better than even Tiger Mask. A link to the match is below.
(WWF JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP)
New Japan Pro Wrestling (5th August 1982)
They shake hands in the middle of the ring before the bell rings, Dynamite grabs the arm and takes Tiger Mask down, but Tiger Mask kips straight back up and breaks Kid's hold, both men run the ropes and collide with cross bodies,but Tiger Mask again jumps to his feet and he kicks Dynamite Kid out of the ring. Dynamite Kid back in the ring and he tries to catch a running cross body but still goes down, Kid throws Tiger Mask down and Tiger Mask takes a quick breather. Tiger Mask cautiously makes his way back into the ring, they lock up and Tiger Mask grabs a waistlock but Dynamite Kid reverses into a standing hammerlock. Tiger Mask sweeps Kid's leg with a hip throw, sending him to the mat. A collar-elbow tie up again gets Dynamite Kid control of the arm. Tiger Mask reverses it and throws Kid to the mat, but Kid gets back to his feet, socking Tiger Mask with a right hand. A headbutt and a chop send Tiger Mask to the mat, and Dynamite Kid sends TM headfirst into the corner, Tiger Mask sent across the ring and he's sent flipping over with a knee to the gut. Dynamite Kid takes Tiger Mask down with a snapmare and applies a chinlock. Tiger Mask reverses that into a hammerlock, Kid starts rolling out of it so Tiger Mask clasps his hands to keep it locked in tight, Kidd walks to the ropes to break the hold.
Dynamite Kid hits Tiger Mask with a cheap shot and beats him across the ring, Dynamite Kid with an irish whip, both men attempt to knee each other but block each other's shot, Tiger Mask blocks a kick and sweeps Dynamite's other leg. Dynamite Kid avoids an elbow drop and monkey flips Tiger Mask, who flips over to his feet, Tiger Mask blocks a dropkick and Dynamite Kid's a bit faster to his feet. Standing waistlock reversals and Dynamite Kid makes the ropes, Tiger Mask gets a cheap knee in this time before they get back to the middle of the ring, Dynamite Kid get a single-leg takedown and applies an Indian deathlock, Tiger Mask tries to break it as the camera shows us Antonio Inoki on commentary. Dynamite still has it locked in as we cut back, but Tiger Mask quickly gets it broken and rolls himself over, tying up Dynamite Kid's lower leg and reversing the pressure. Dynamite Kid gets to the ropes and the referee breaks the hold. Dynamite Kid is quick to his feet, not taking nearly as much damage to his legs as Tiger Mask. Tiger Mask gets dumped out of the ring and Dynamite follows, hitting a suplex and a leg drop in the really narrow area before getting back in the ring. Tiger Mask in not too long after, and gets a gutwrench suplex for his troubles. Dynamite Kid covers for a nearfall. Dynamite Kid snapmares Tiger Mask down and hits an elbow drop for another quick nearfall.
Dynamite Kid grabs a headscissors on the mat and the referee makes sure there's no choking. Tiger Mask rolls to his front and is able to flip out of the move, kicking away at Dynamite Kid before sending him across the ring. Tiger Mask hits a spinning kick and suplexes Dynamite Kid over the top rope, ouch. That really looked rough, Tiger Mask tumbles over the top rope too, but lands on his feet and sends Dynamite Kid into the guard rail before getting back in the ring, Dynamite in the ring at 15. Tiger Mask hits him with a DDT but the commentators shout Tiger Driver, and it gets Tiger Mask a nearfall. gutwrench suplex gets a second nearfall for Tiger Mask before he grabs the arm before deciding instead on a headscissors. Dynamite Kid rolls to his front and tries to handstand out, but Tiger Mask drives his head into the mat. Dynamite Kid rolls to the ropes instead, forcing the break. Tiger Mask hits a couple of knee drops and an elbow drop before bringing Dynamite Kid to his feet for a jumping piledriver! 1, 2, no! Tiger Mask grabs the arm again, bringing Dynamite Kid to his feet, side headlock by Tiger Mask but Dynamite Kid pushes him off the ropes, Tiger Mask knocks Kid down, but Kid's quick to his feet, Dynamite with a hip toss and he dropkicks Tiger Mask into the ropes. Dynamite Kid charges but gets sent over the top to the floor. Dynamite Kid back on the apron, he avoids a running cross body and gets back in the ring, hitting Tiger Mask with a knee drop. Dynamite Kid sends Tiger Mask into the corner, and Tiger Mask rebounds back. Dynamite Kid setting up for some sort of powerbomb but drops Tiger Mask, Dynamite Kid hits an elbow drop for a nearfall.
Dynamite Kid applies a chinlock on the mat and transitions it into a headscissors. Tiger Mask rolls over and headstands but Kid doesn't release it, Tiger Mask rolls to his back and bridges out, locking up Dynamite Kid's legs. Dynamite refuses to give up so Tiger Mask transitions into a bow and arrow lock! Dynamite still not quitting whilst Tiger Mask basically controls him on the mat, ending in a cover, but by which time Dynamite had his foot on the bottom rope. Tiger Mask kicks at Kid's left leg before backing away. Dynamite Kid limps to his feet and Tiger Mask keeps kicking at his new target. Tiger Mask sends Dynamite Kid across the ring, but Dynamite able to change course and avoid running into a leg kick. They lock up again and Tiger Mask shoots straight for the left leg, Dynamite Kid falls to the ropes and Tiger Mask gives a clean break. Dynamite Kid using the ropes for assistance standing right now, and Tiger Mask is able to bait him out of the corner, again Tiger Mask shoots for the left leg, this time grounding Dynamite Kid. Tiger Mask rolls him over into a half boston crab but Dynamite still refuses to give up. Remember this is still Tiger Mask's rookie year. Tiger Mask rolls Dynamite Kid back over, kicking at his knee before dropping on to it. Tiger Mask ties up Kid's legs on the mat, but Dynamite Kid again able to get himself to the ropes, forcing the referee to break the hold.
Dynamite again all over Tiger Mask and he beats him with strikes as they get to their feet. Dynamite Kid sets up for a piledriver, but Tiger Mask sends him overhead. Tiger Mask gets really good height on a jumping legdrop and hits a beautiful somersault senton for a nearfall. Tiger Mask sends Dynamite Kid across the ring, but again he just strolls away from a running cross body, Dynamite Kid brings Tiger Mask to his feet. Tombstone by Dynamite Kid and he climbs to the top rope, diving headbutt connects! 1, 2, NO! Dynamite Kid's sat up in disbelief. He hits Tiger Mask with a right hand and sends him across the ring. Tiger Mask grabs the ropes, so Dynamite Kid charges, but gets sent over to the floor. Tiger Mask hits a leaping cross body over the top! Tiger Mask gets himself in the ring, and waits for Dynamite Kid. Dynamite Kid gets to the apron and Tiger Mask lifts him with a gutwrench! Tiger Mask walks Kid to the middle of the ring and drops down to a piledriver, the referee checks Dynamite's alive whilst Tiger Mask climbs to the top rope. Moonsault, 1, 2, 3.
WINNER: TIGERMASK (STILL WWF JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION)
This match was unbelievable for its time. They went 15 minutes and didn't waste a second of it, both men looked even with their different styles of striking (Dynamite more of a brawler, Tiger Mask's martial arts kicks) and Dynamite knew he had to try and keep Tiger Mask from getting any speed up and keeping him grounded. Similarly, Tiger Mask knows Dynamite needs his legs for the suplexes and piledriver, so that gave a reason for his limb work. Tiger Mask was also happy taking the countout for the champions' advantage, helping tease and pace the match. I'd rate it a solid 8.8/10.
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