Guest ManKinnd Posted June 25, 2003 Report Posted June 25, 2003 So I heard Stan Hansen was quite the wrestler. Then I saw him in action. Against guys like Kawada and Kobashi, sure, the matches were steller, but Stan just looks like a doofus in there. Maybe I need to be more "educated" in his style, but it seems like he just lets the opponent totally carry the pacing of the match and then swing wildly during his "comebacks." He's stiff as hell, and sure his lariot is pretty good, but is he really a great wrestler? Again I could just be missing something here, and I'd be glad to know what it is. Thoughts?
Guest wildpegasus Posted June 25, 2003 Report Posted June 25, 2003 Hanson's pretty good. He's had a lot of good matches against a variety of different opponents. Andre the Giant, Kawada, Kobashi, Taue, Vader. The one match where I was really impressed with him though was when he went against Hulk Hogan. This was by far the best match I've seen Hogan in. I also like his selling. In a match against Kobashi in 94 Hanson dove at Kobashi who was outside the ring. However, Kobahi got out of the way and Hanson hit the guard rail injuring his ribs which played a key part in the match. The selling of the ribs was just stellar and even later on in a match against Taue he was still selling the ribs. I would say this was as realistic selling as I've ever seen. Hanson also has a real good grip of what's going on in the ring.I've never seen him lost in the ring yet. I'd say only thing bad about him is that his body caught up to him eventually(which wasn't his fault) and the fact that he has a reputation for being stiff in the ring because he can't see well.
Guest Monday Night Jericho Posted June 25, 2003 Report Posted June 25, 2003 Hansen was a great worker. His selling/pacing/brain was a beauty to watch and he has had some of the greatest singles matches ever - and he wasn't carried either.
Guest Tim Cooke Posted June 25, 2003 Report Posted June 25, 2003 9/23/81 v Andre 2/4/82 v Baba 2/28/93 v Kawada 4/16/93 v Kobashi 5/21/93 v Misawa 7/29/93 v Kobashi 11/30/93 w/ Baba v Misawa/Kobashi See these and you will get a good understanding on the great work that is Stan Hanson. Tim
Guest NoSelfWorth Posted June 25, 2003 Report Posted June 25, 2003 Hansen still had it as late as 1996. His September Triple Crown match with Kenta Kobashi was awesome. Granted, Kobashi probably deserves most of the credit, but Hansen definitely contributed his fair share to the match.
Guest ManKinnd Posted June 25, 2003 Report Posted June 25, 2003 Ok, thanks to everyone who replied. I'm gonna try to get a hold of his earlier stuff, maybe I caught him after his body deteriorated.
Guest J*ingus Posted June 26, 2003 Report Posted June 26, 2003 You gotta remember that by the 90's, when Hansen had his most well-known matches, he was well into middle age and legally blind without his glasses, so of course he couldn't go at the exact same pace and style as the rest of the younger, healthier AJPW crew. But he was still a hell of a brawler who could bump and sell his fat ass off, with much better cardio than you'd expect from a guy of his age and shape. He's one of my all-time favorites.
Guest TheZsaszHorsemen Posted June 28, 2003 Report Posted June 28, 2003 To add to what the guys said, he has the most disgustingly awesome lariat I've ever seen.
Guest Trivia247 Posted July 13, 2003 Report Posted July 13, 2003 Its why Hanson is one of the better long standing gaijins in Japan. and why he has had a better career in Japan than in the states.
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