Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 20: George Takano vs. Stan Lane (7/24/81)

Had this match been picked out of 1981 and plotted into today’s wrestling, especially WWE or TNA, I’d be in love with it and herald it as a great little compact match. As it stands in the context of early 80s New Japan, it’s a mat based match in a sea of juniors mat work on this set. That doesn’t nullify or discredit it’s effectiveness, but it doesn’t help it in my overall standing.

Takano was fun, and a very capable worker I’m more than willing to see more of. Lane was very surprising in this ground-based war, and more than kept up. Most of the time I thought he led. The mat work, holds, and transitions were great. I actually didn’t like when Lane eventually transitioned into punching and kicking. I liked Takano’s head spear to the gut. It’s a simple ten minute match with Lane going over clean, and a perfectly fine little match, but it will get lost in the shuffle for me. 3 and 6/10.