HANS SCHMIDT DIED

Hans Schmidt is a very memorable wrestler for my generation. However, Schmidt was active in the 50's in fact, and I'm so young that I don't know his best days. Why do I remember him ? The reason is in a confusion of Japanese pro-wrestling in those days.

In 1971, Antonio Inoki was banished from JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING, and he established NEW JAPAN. But because JAPAN PRO had already joined hands with NWA, Inoki could not invite American wrestlers. He noticed Canada and small territories in USA. And then Tiger Jeet Singh, Johnny Powers, and some other wrestlers fought against Inoki.

Then Hans Schmidt visited to Japan with Brute Bernard in 1975. They were the first famous wrestlers who joined in NEW JAPAN. To tell the truth, both of them were past their prime, but Inoki treated them as the aces of foreign wrestlers. In fact, their fighting spirits were very good.

Hans Schmidt was good at Back Breaker Drop, Japanese fans think that was created by Schmidt, and we call it Schmidt-style Back Breaker. In Japan, his nickname was the cook in hell, it might be from his cruel atmosphere and the gimmick of the Nazis.

JUMBO TSURUTA vs. TIGER JEET SINGH

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Tiger Jeet Singh
ALL JAPAN
Mar. 1983 Korakuen Hall (Tokyo)

Who is the strongest wrestler in the history of Japanese pro-wrestling ? Perhaps this question is meaningless, but if I answer "Jumbo Tsuruta is", I think many people don't deny it.

Tsuruta was a truly genius wrestler, he took part in the Olympics at Munich, and then joined in ALL JAPAN. He learned skill of wrestling from The Funk brothers. As a wonderful rookie, Tsuruta (with Baba) won International Tag Championship, and got United National title. In those days he was good at many kinds of Suplex and Drop Kick from the top of a corner post.

Tsuruta was active as an amazing new star, but after a while he ran up against a wall. Though he challenged the world champions, Harley Race, Ric Flair, and Nick Bockwinkle, he could not get a title. He showed nice fights, but he could not win, and he was called a good fight maker by wrestling fan.

At that time, Tiger Jeet Singh, the cruelest heel moved to ALL JAPAN from NEW JAPAN. Baba made Tsuruta fight against Singh. Because Singh had been a rival of Inoki, Baba needed to regard Singh as a lower rank wrestler. As a result, this was a good fortune for Tsuruta.

To be continued.

GIANT BABA vs. UMANOSUKE UEDA (2)

Giant Baba vs. Umanosuke Ueda
Mar. 1983 Korakuen Hall (Tokyo)

In the early 80's, Ueda joined in ALL JAPAN, and formed a tag team with Tiger Jeet Singh again. They often broke into the ring meaninglessly, interrupted the other wrestlers' matches. These actions made some grudge matches, especially Tenryu got angry with Ueda very much.

It was very impressive that Tenryu fought against Ueda with a lumberjack death match. In those days Tenryu could not be a champion, and he was having a hard time of making his own fight-style. After all, Ueda helped Tenryu to become a good wrestler.

Ueda didn't stop his bad acts, at last Giant Baba, the big boss of ALL JAPAN, made up his mind to punish Ueda. Of course that was on a scenario, and Ueda was receiving a salary from Baba. (ha-ha) I was anxious about this match. Because Baba and Ueda, both of them were already veteran wrestlers, there was a risk of showing a tedious fight.

However, this match was a cruel struggle. As if Baba needed to impress a punishment, he fired shots of ARM BREAKER at Ueda successively. Ueda dislocated his left shoulder, and a referee Joe Higuchi declared that Baba was the winner.

SUMO, A HISTORY-MAKING MATCH

HAKUHOU vs. KISENOSATO

Nov. 15 2010 The Kyushu Tournament


Hakuhou is the top-ranker of the sumo world. He won 63 successive victories, that was the second record in the history of sumo. The best record is 69 by Futabayama, the god of sumo in the 40's. This was a noteworthy match that a young star Kisenosato challenged the strongest man.

Hakuhou is good at a right hold, in short he wanted to put in his right arm into Kisenosato's armpit. And at first it succeeded. But when Kisenosato slapped, Hakuhou lost his head, and he grappled with a left hold. It was Kisenosato's favorite style.

Kisenosato continued to attack Hakuhou, and at last he pushed the opponent out of the ring. This amazing result was reported in a news program. In those days, sumo was an unpopular sport because of some troubles, and spectators were very few. It was regrettable for me.

SUMO THE SUMMER TOURNAMENT

 The other day Sumo The Summer Tournament finished. Kyokutenhou, a veteran rikishi (wrestler) won the championship, and it was very unusual that a common rikishi (a wrestler who doesn't have a degree) became a winner. Kyokutenhou was born in Mongolia, and some years before he was naturalized in Japan. Now many Mongolian rikishi are active in the sumo world, he is a pioneer of them.

In the sumo world, a severe ranking is formed, about a thousand rikishi are belonging it. The first degree is Yokozuna, the master of sumo. Yokozuna and Ozeki the second degree are special rank, only a great rikishi who is recommended can become them. The present top-ranker is Yokozuna Hakuhou (this picture), he is a Mongolian, too.

In the year before last, Hakuhou was in the best condition. He won 63 successive victories, that was the second record in the history of sumo. Kisenosato (the left upper of this picture) stopped this great record, he is a very expected Japanese rikishi. Last year he rose in Ozeki, and he is my favorite rikishi.

In The Summer Tournament, Kisenosato contested the title to the end. But he lost at the closing day, and he could not advanced to play off. His nickname is a betrayer, because he often lose important matches. And that is his fascination, too !!

GIANT BABA vs. UMANOSUKE UEDA

Giant Baba vs. Umanosuke Ueda

ALL JAPAN
Mar. 1983 Korakuen Hall (Tokyo)


JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING was established by Rikidozan and it prospered as the biggest party in Japan, but in the last of 60's it was in financial difficulties on account of indiscreet leaders. Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki tried to unite in fighting disorderly management. However, they were informed secretly, and the plan failed.

Inoki was banished from the organization as a ringleader, and then Baba was disappointed and left the party. JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING lost two superstars at a time. After a few month it failed. And they say that the informer was Umanosuke Ueda. (Nobody knows the truth.)

Ueda joined NEW JAPAN (Inoki's party) and formed a tag team with Tiger Jeet Singh. Every week they attacked Seiji Sakaguchi and Strong Kobayashi (NWF North American Tag champion team) harshly. Ueda and Singh infringed the rules many times over, Sakaguchi and Kobayashi received it like nonresistant. That became a specialty of NEW JAPAN. What wonderful champions they were !!

To be continued.

THE GREAT KABUKI vs. MIKE DAVIS

The Great Kabuki vs. Mike Davis

ALL JAPAN
Mar. 1983 Korakuen Hall (Tokyo)

It became dark in the hall, Japanese traditional music sounded, The Great Kabuki appeared. He stood on the ring calmly, then he showed nunchaku performance and blew a splay.

Spectators cried "Kabuki !! Kabuki !!", young Mike Davis became impatient and got angry. TV announcer Kuramochi admired Kabuki's activity in USA. Kabuki succeeded in a foreign country, and returned to Japan for a while.

Of course we knew his unpainted face. He was Akihisa Takachiho, a middle-level wrestler of ALL JAPAN, comparatively small and quiet man. When he had visited to America, he had created a mysterious style and won popularity in USA. In short, he caught a 'Japanese dream', but it was not quite convincing for us, because an oriental gimmick and karate performance are common things in Japan.

Afterwards Kabuki was active as a side role in many parties in Japan. I rather had deep impression on his such attitude.

Well, in this match Kabuki took a fall from Davis with Flying Cross Chop. I knew just now, Mike Davis died in 2001. It seems that he could not catch an American dream.

HULK HOGAN vs. STAN HANSEN

Hulk Hogan vs. Stan Hansen

ALL JAPAN, NEW JAPAN, and WWF, The Wrestling Summit
Apr 13, 1990 Tokyo Dome (Tokyo)


The main event of this 'all star game' was a drawing card. As the ace of ALL JAPAN, Stan Hansen challenged Hulk Hogan, the Emperor of New York.


Both of them had belonged to NEW JAPAN in the early 80's. Both of them had had powerful fight-style, but they had been awkward. They had learned technique of wrestling from Antonio Inoki, and had grown up to be great wrestlers.


And now, Hogan was a superstar of WWF, and Hansen was a representative of Japan.

Japanese fan don't like a gimmick. They don't value unskillful wrestling. Hogan and Hansen understood it very much. They ran against each other, like a street fight. In the first half, Hogan's power overwhelmed Hansen. Though Hansen was bloodied cruelly out of the ring, he was cheered up by spectators, counterattacked hard.


Hansen tried Western Lariat, but Hogan's Shoulder Tackle hit. Hogan kicked Hansen, and he caught this chance, used Ax Bomber !! But this Ax Bomber was imperfect, like an ill-shaped Lariat. As a result, Hogan saved his honor narrowly. And Hansen's fighting spirit was conspicuous. I was glad that they fought in the Japanese fight-style, and showed power of American wrestlers.

BABA, ANDRE vs. DEMOLITION

Giant Baba, Andre The Giant vs. Demolition (Ax and Smash)

ALL JAPAN, NEW JAPAN, and WWF, The Wrestling Summit
Apr 13, 1990 Tokyo Dome (Tokyo)


Giant Baba was one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of Japanese pro-wrestling. He had established ALL JAPAN, and had won NWA world championship three times. At that time he had semi-retired from the front, but he was still showing us his mysterious wrestling.


Even now, in Japan the name of Baba san (Mr. Baba) is a synonym of a tall man. Well, It was a surprising affair that Baba formed a tag team with Andre. Exactly that was the team of Giants. When they entered, I was moved to tears !! That's an overstatement a little. (^_^;

Andre had joined KOKUSAI and NEW JAPAN, but it was the first experience for him to fight with a wrestler of ALL JAPAN. He had been injured on his knee, I thought he only just stood on the ring, but his powerful attack beat Demolition tremendously. Baba's 16 mon-kick (mon is an old measure in Japan) hit, and Andre used Elbow Drop. TV announcer Kuramochi said " It's all up with him !!".


Though Andre's activity in ALL JAPAN was very short, he gave us a deep impression with his fight and personality.

ULTIMATE WARRIOR vs. TED DIBIASE

Ultimate Warrior vs. Ted DiBiase
WWF Heavyweight Championship Match


ALL JAPAN, NEW JAPAN, and WWF, The Wrestling Summit
Apr 13, 1990 Tokyo Dome (Tokyo)



About WWF title match I remember a series of fights between Antonio Inoki and Bob Backlund, but it was unusual that the big title was contested in Japan by two American wrestlers.

Ultimate Warrior had wrested the belt from Hulk Hogan, and visited to Japan for the first time. As a matter of course, I saw him first. I had read about him in a magazine, they said that he had an only fight style of violent rush. At the first match in Japan, that was certainly right. He ran, used Flying Elbow, Ultimate Splash (Body Press for the back), and won. The end !! (ha-ha)

Ted DiBiase is a famous wrestler in Japan. In his youth, we thought he was a strong rival of Tsuruta and he would become the world champion. In 1985, when Brody moved to NEW JAPAN, DiBiase was nominated for Hansen's partner, they won PWF tag title and The World Tag League'85.

In this match, he didn't use the gimmick of the million dollar man, and showed his former fight style in Japan. Though he lost, we felt kindly to him as a good wrestler again.