Essential Japanese Wrestling Discussion/News

[Honga Ciganesta]

The classic Observer this week covers the first solo AJPW Dome show, good read. Always blows my mind that Kawada beat Liger in that high school wrestling deal.

The attendance was reported as 53,800, which those live said looked to be accurate. The main event was originally expected to be a strong candidate for match of the year, and live reports giving it ****1/2 indicated it came damn close which was amazing considering the physical condition of one of the participants. And thus, the biggest show in the nearly 26 year history of the All Japan promotion was considered a major success.

Toshiaki Kawada captured the Triple Crown for the second time in his career and defeated long-time rival Mitsuharu Misawa for the first time ever in a straight singles match in the biggest match on the biggest show in the history of one of the most important wrestling promotions of all-time. The two men, who were classmates and national champion amateur wrestlers while in high school, started as pro wrestlers right after graduating, rose to prominence at about the same time frame, and at their physical peaks, which both are a few years past, became huge television rivals and arguably the two best pro wrestlers in the world. And this was the most important performance of each of their careers under less than opportune circumstances. But in all cases, it was always Kawada in the shadows. When Kawada won his high school nationals, he was following in Misawa's footsteps, who had graduated one year earlier and was by that time already being groomed for pro wrestling stardom with All Japan. When Kawada a few years later started showing flashes of big-time potential, Misawa was already a well-known wrestling star as the second Tiger Mask. When Kawada undeniably had surpassed Misawa in the ring by the late 80s, it was Misawa who got the ultimate break when he took off his mask and became the first and only younger wrestler to pin Jumbo Tsuruta in 1990, which was the forerunner of establishing himself as "the man" in Japan, a position he realistically has maintained for almost the entire decade, while Kawada, in many ways just as good and in some ways better, was the perennial No. 2.

The 5/1 Showdown at the Egg at the Tokyo Dome was expected from the very announcement of the show to climax in Kawada finally escaping the life-long shadow and gaining that elusive first win over Misawa in a title match. After numerous draws and wins by Misawa dating back to the early 80s, just a few years after both had captured the high school national championship (Misawa in 1980 at 177 pounds, and ironically enough, Kawada's win in 1981 saw him beat Keiichi Yamada, the current Jushin Liger, in the finals at 165), Kawada had finally pinned Misawa in a short match as part of a triangle match in the finals of the 1997 Champion Carnival tournament at Budokan Hall. But it was immediately after Misawa had just finished a 30:00 draw with Kenta Kobashi while Kawada went into the ring fresh.

Circumstances, basically a series of legitimate injuries to Misawa, may not have tainted the final result from an excuse standpoint since that part was predetermined probably dating back to the day the show was originally finalized, but would have at least served as a very legitimate excuse for the two to fail to reach the lofty heights of some of their previous matches, which have to be considered state-of-the-art classics.

So with two blown knees, a bad back and a bad neck, Misawa sold most of the way and made his comebacks at the proper time before being pinned in 28:15 after two power bombs. Somewhere along the way, Misawa suffered a legitimate concussion and had little remembrance of the finish, and after the match Giant Baba announced that Misawa would be taking a couple of months off to let his various injuries heal.

It was the first time All Japan had ever attempted to book a Tokyo Dome show on its own. On April 13, 1990, Baba was the main promoter of a Dome show called the U.S. and Japan Wrestling Summit, which was a show which combined the efforts of All Japan, New Japan and the World Wrestling Federation and drew 53,742 fans to the same building. Kawada worked the opener on that show, in a six-man tag where his opponents were Doug Furnas & Dan Kroffat & Joe Malenko. Misawa worked a prelim match going to a 20:00 draw with Bret Hart in match that was nowhere as good as one would think it would have been given the levels the two reached years later. On that show, Hulk Hogan was the headliner, but it was Stan Hansen who got the biggest pop. Nearly a decade later and with an entirely different cast of characters, somewhat surprisingly, once again, it was Hansen who got the biggest pop. Showdown at the Egg, as this was billed, was heavily criticized, in particular by its own loyal ticket buying fans, for presenting a weak line-up underneath the expected main event with only one outside superstar brought in from the crew that usually works the company's Budokan Hall shows.

The only major international superstar brought in, Vader, from the WWF, didn't disappoint in his first match in All Japan rings. Vader & Hansen lost in the semifinal to Kobashi & Johnny Ace in 22:12 in what was said to have been a **** match ending when Vader accidentally clocked Hansen and Kobashi pinned Hansen with a small package. Vader & Hansen, the two most dominant big men of the late 80s and early 90s in Japan, teamed together for the first time in this match. The show itself was said to have been a far cry from the New Japan and other group productions in the same building. This show was just wrestling. No light shows. No special effects. No pyro. No elaborate ring entrances. Just four-and-a-half hours of wrestling, some good, and some not so good, described as a Budokan show moved to the larger building.

Even though the Vader appearance was said to be a huge success, Baba downplayed it after the show talking to reporters. Baba said he thought Vader's performance was so-so, politically making sure in Baba's own pecking order he would be rated below the company's regular foreigners like Steve Williams (who gave notice to Baba and is expected to have his final match with the promotion on 6/12 at Budokan Hall and is expected to sign perhaps this week with the WWF and move from Maui back to Shreveport, LA), Ace, Hansen and Gary Albright. He also downplayed a potential long-term business relationship with the WWF (who were represented at the show by Wally Yamaguchi, Victor Quinones and Taka Michinoku), saying that he wasn't interested in it, and that if he needed outside talent for big shows, he could use the Japanese independent wrestlers. However, at a press conference the next day, Baba praised Vader and said that he would like to work with the WWF to bring him back for the tag team tournament. He also said that with the success of the first show, he will try and book the Tokyo Dome next year on 5/1.

 

[JohnB]

"Upcoming Puroresu Title Matches - 6/26/2015 Update
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◆MichiPro Sanctioned Title Matches◆

Michinoku Pro-Wrestling “Kishotenketsu ~ The Premium Match”, 6/27/2015 @ Yahaba Chomin Sogo Taiikukan in Iwate

(-) Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship: [19th Champion] Numajiro Kesen vs. [Challenger] The Great Sasuke ~ 1st title defense.

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◆DDT Sanctioned Title Matches◆

DDT, 6/28/2015 [Sun] 12:00 @ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo

(-) King of Dark: [3rd Champion] Gota Ihashi vs. [Challenger] DJ Nira vs. [Challenger] Kota Umeda ~ 1st title defense.

http://keepingthespiritalive.tumblr.com/tagged/wrestle-1

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◆Doutonbori Sanctioned Title Matches◆

Doutonbori, 6/28/2015 [Sun] @ Oyodo Community Center in Osaka

(-) WDW Tag Championship: [2nd Champions] TORU & Real Inunakin vs. [Challengers] HUB & Orochi ~ 1st title defense.

http://keepingthespiritalive.tumblr.com/tagged/wrestle-1

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◆W-1 Sanctioned Title Matches◆

WRESTLE-1 TOUR 2015 SYMBOL, 7/4/2015 [Sat] 18:00 @ Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo

(-) WRESTLE-1 Cruiserweight Championship: [1st Champion] Minoru Tanaka vs. [Challenger] Seiki Yoshioka ~ 4th title defense.

WRESTLE-1 TOUR 2015 SYMBOL, 7/12/2015 [Sun] 12:00 @ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo

(-) WRESTLE-1 Tag Championship: [1st Champions] Kaz Hayashi & Shuji Kondo vs. [Challengers] Manabu Soya & Jun Kasai (FREEDOMS) ~ 8th title defense.
(-) WRESTLE-1 Championship: [3rd Champion] Hideki Suzuki (FREE) vs. [Challenger] KAI ~ 3rd title defense.

http://keepingthespiritalive.tumblr.com/tagged/wrestle-1

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◆IR Sanctioned Title Matches◆

Ice Ribbon, 7/4/42015 [Sat] @ Yokohama Radiant Hall in Kanagawa

(-) International Ribbon Tag Championship: [Champions] Mio Shirai & Tsukushi vs. Aoi Kidzuki & Kayako Haruyama

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◆NJPW Sanctioned Title Matches◆

NJPW “DOMINION 7.5 in OSAKA-JO HALL”, 7/5/2015 [Sun] 16:00 @ Osaka-Jo Hall

(-) IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: [70th Champion] Kenny Omega vs. [Challenger] Winner of BOSJ XXII~ 4th title defense.

(-) IWGP Tag Championship: [67th Champions] Mike Bennett & Matt Taven vs. [Challengers] Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows ~ 1st title defense.

(-) NEVER Openweight Championship: [8th Champion] Togi Makabe vs. [Challenger] Tomohiro Ishii ~ 1st title defense.

(-) IWGP Intercontinental Championship: [11th Champion] Hirooki Goto vs. [Challenger] Shinsuke Nakamura ~ 1st title defense.

(-) IWGP Heavyweight Championship: [62nd Champion] AJ Styles vs. [Challenger] Kazuchika Okada ~ 2nd title defense.

http://newjapankingdom.tumblr.com/

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◆AJPW Sanctioned Title Matches◆

All Japan Pro-Wrestling “2015 Summer Action Series”, 7/8/2015 [Wed] 19:00 @ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo

(-) GAORA TV Championship: [6th Champion] SUSHI vs. [Challenger] Takeshi Minamino ~ 1st title defense.
(-) World Junior Heavyweight Championship: [38th Champion] Kotaro Suzuki vs. [Challenger] Yoshinobu Kanemaru ~ 3rd title defense.

http://keepingthespiritalive.tumblr.com/tagged/ajpw

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◆JWP Sanctioned Title Matches◆

JWP, 7/11/2015 [Sat] 19:00 @ Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo

(-) JWP Tag Championship: [25th Champions] Leon & Ray vs. [Challengers] Rabbit Miyu & Rydeen Hagane
(-) JWP Openweight Championship: [24th Champion] Kayoko Haruyama vs. [Challenger] Command Bolshoi ~ 1st title defense.

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◆K-DOJO Sanctioned Title Matches◆

K-DOJO “CLUB-K SUPER in Blue Field”, 7/12/2015 [Sun] 12:00 @ Blue Field in Chiba

(-) UWA World Middleweight Championship: [61st Champion] Yuki Sato vs. [Challenger] Ayumu Honda ~ 2nd title defense.

(-) STRONGEST-K TAG Championship: [28th Champions] Kaji Tomato & Shiori Asahi vs. [Challengers] TAKA Michinoku & MEN’S Teioh ~ 7th title defense.

(-) CHAMPION OF STRONGEST-K: [19th Champion] Yuji Hino vs. [Challenger] Hiro Tonai ~ 2nd title defense.

http://keepingthespiritalive.tumblr.com/K-DOJO

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◆TOKYO GURENTAI Sanctioned Title Matches◆
TOKYO GURENTAI “TOKYO LOVE 5”, 7/15/2015 [Wed] 19:00 @ Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo(-) Tokyo Intercontinental Tag Championship: [2nd Champions] Masaaki Mochizuki & Hikaru Sato vs. [Challengers] Mitsuo Momota & Chikara ~ 3rd title defense.
(-) Tokyo World Heavyweight Championship: [4th Champion] MAZADA vs. [Challenger] NOSAWA Rongai ~ 1st title defense.

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◆NOAH Sanctioned Title Matches◆

Pro Wrestling NOAH “Summer Navigation 2015 ~ NOAH Raising an Army 15th Anniversary Convention vol.1”, 7/18/2015 [Sat] 18:30 @ Korakuen Hall in Tokyo

(-) GHC Heavyweight Championship: [23rd Champion] Minoru Suzuki vs. [Challenger] Yoshihiro Takayama ~ 3rd title defense.

http://keepingthespiritalive.tumblr.com/tagged/noah

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◆UNION Sanctioned Title Matches◆

UNION, 7/18/2015 [Sat] @ Yokohama Radiant Hall in Kanagawa

(-) Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: [22nd Champion] Isami Kodaka vs. [Challenger] Madoka ~ 3rd title defense.

http://keepingthespiritalive.tumblr.com/tagged/union

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◆GUTS World Sanctioned Title Matches◆

GUTS World, 7/19/2015 [Sun] @ Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo

(-) GWC Single Championship: [Champion] Daisuke vs. [Challenger] Mr. Gannosuke ~ 2nd title defense.

http://keepingthespiritalive.tumblr.com/tagged/guts-world

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◆OZ Sanctioned Title Matches◆

(-) OZ Academy Tag Championship: [Champions] Kagetsu & Kaho Kobayashi vs. [Challengers] Mayumi Ozaki & Mio Shirai

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◆BJW Sanctioned Title Matches◆

BJW, 7/20/2015 [Mon] @ Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo

(-) BJW Tag Championship: [39th Champions] “Twin Towers” Shuji Ishikawa & Kohei Sato vs. [Challengers] “Yankee NichoKenju” Yuko Miyamoto & Isami Kodaka ~ 7th title defense.

(-) BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Championship: [31st Champion] Abdullah Kobayashi vs. [Challenger] Ryuji Ito ~ 1st title defense.

(-) BJW World Strong Heavyweight Championship: [6th Champion] Daisuke Sekimoto vs. [Challenger] Yuji Okabayashi ~ 2nd title defense.

http://keepingthespiritalive.tumblr.com/BJW

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◆DG Sanctioned Title Matches◆

Dragon Gate, 7/20/2015 [Mon] 19:00 @ Kobe World Memorial Hall

(-) Open The Brave Gate: [27th Champion] Akira Tozawa vs. [Challenger] Eita ~ 5th title defense.
(-) Open The Dream Gate: [21st Champion] Masato Yoshino vs. [Challenger] T-Hawk ~ 1st title defense."

http://keepingthespiritalive.tumblr.com/

 

[trick]

From http://enuhito.com/eng/?p=47

[NEWS]
Breaking:Japanese Wrestling TV broadcasting company Samurai TV will start Internet Streaming Service

Japanese Wrestling TV broadcasting company “Samurai TV” will start Internet streaming service called “Fighting TV Samurai On-Demand”.

It will start on July 1st.

Samurai TV is prowrestling only broadcasting company in Japan.

They air most of major Japanese promotion live events like NJPW,NOAH,AJPW,DDT,BJW,ZERO1 and so on.

Samurai TV was available only on Cable TV, Satellite TV, and IP-TV in Japan.

They will start internet streaming service, which is free for those who pay Samuria TV on Cable TV, Satellite TV and IP-TV.

And for those who do not pay Samurai TV, it will be available for price of 1,944 yen per month.

And they has also announced that they will release iPhone and Android app so that you can watch Samurai TV on your smartphone.

I don’t know it will be region free. But if so, people who live outside of Japan can watch Samurai TV on your PC,Smart Phone and Tablet!!

They said it includes live event, taped show and wrestling news called “Battlemen”. “You can watch those programs on-demand at one month after the programs aired.”

Samurai TV airs at least 3-5 live events like NJPW, AJPW, NOAH and DDT.

They said “You can watch anytime, anywhere with your PC, Smartphone and Tablet!”

$20 a month for Samurai TV

I'd love to subscribe to this, but it's pretty damn expensive

 

[Jmare007]

yeah, way too much money. Would be cool to have it though.

 

[Honga Ciganesta]

PWInsider.com reports that beginning with tomorrow’s “Road to Dominion” show, New Japan Pro Wrestling will have a total of 11 live events broadcasting through the month of July.

The “Road to Dominion” shows will be broadcast live on June 28th and July 3rd at 6:30pm Japan time while “Dominion”, which takes place on July 5th will be live at 4:00pm.

On July 12th “New Japan Alive” from Fukushima will be live at 3:00pm while the G1 Climax 25 Shows (7 in total) will also be live on New Japan World.

Those shows will take place on the following dates (all times are Japan Standard Time):

-July 20th at 3:00 PM

-July 23rd at 6:30 PM

-July 24th at 6:30 PM

-July 25th at 6:00 PM

-July 26th at 6:00 PM

-July 28th at 6:30 PM

-July 29th at 6:30 PM

If you want to check out these events then New Japan World is available for 999 Yen per month which works out at around $8.

 

[Honga Ciganesta]

We need to get back into the water brehs

 

[Jmare007]

Liger da GAWD

 

[Evil genius Jay]

Liger da GAWD

What year and what event too?

 

[Jmare007]

What year and what event too?

I think it's the one Ditch has.

Choshu, Kengo Kimura & Liger vs Vader, Manny Fernandez & Buzz Sawyer, New Japan 8/3/89

 

[Honga Ciganesta]

I think it's the one Ditch has.

Choshu, Kengo Kimura & Liger vs Vader, Manny Fernandez & Buzz Sawyer, New Japan 8/3/89

Here's the match from the gif (though Liger may have done the same thing in the match you linked ). Tom Pritchard and Tony St Clair teaming with Vader


By the way have you heard anything about Ditch breh? Dude hasn't updated his site in months, I have a nightmare where I go to the AJPW section and everything is gone

 

[Jmare007]

Here's the match from the gif (though Liger may have done the same thing in the match you linked ). Tom Pritchard and Tony St Clair teaming with Vader


By the way have you heard anything about Ditch breh? Dude hasn't updated his site in months, I have a nightmare where I go to the AJPW section and everything is gone

Gotta look back to check but I think I remember reading him in DVDVR or some other place that he had either gotten a new job or something that was going to take most of his time. He didn't say anything about his sites but he did gave up his work on DVDVR lists and things of that nature. He still posts from time to time in PWO so he's still alive at least

 

[TrueEpic08]

Liger da GAWD

Seriously one of my favorite gifs ever. dikkhead Liger is amazing.

 

[trick]

We need to get back into the water brehs

I wish FMW footage existed in HD quality

 

[Evil genius Jay]

I wish FMW footage existed in HD quality

I never saw a FMW show... did i miss out fmw fukkery

 

[Adam3000]

We need to get back into the water brehs

Brehs, I bought this match on VHS from a vendor at the Mall of America in the 90's


Breh had a whole booth of japanese tapes, bootlegs and mixes and shyt

The first time I ever saw Misawa/Kawada/Kobashi clip was at his booth. shyt had me like

I still remember seeing one of them dudes get suxplexed on their head on the outside floor, im like i aint never seen anything like that before

I wish I would have walked away with more than just 2 deathmatch mixes. I was a young ECW lover though, I didnt know any better