THE EARLY DAYS OF NEW JAPAN

Sakaguchi and Inoki, The Golden Tag Team

Because I am a believer of ALL JAPAN, I don't know so much about NEW JAPAN. I was only watching the TV program of NEW JAPAN, 'World Pro-Wrestling' on every Friday in my childhood. In a word, NEW JAPAN was short of wrestlers. The ace and the president of the organization was a star wrestler Antonio Inoki, and Seiji Sakaguchi, a former Judo champion joined in. They formed 'the golden tag team', but there were few foreign wrestlers, because Inoki could not joined hands with NWA.

The biggest match in the early days of NEW JAPAN was the fight between Inoki and Strong Kobayashi who had belonged to KOKUSAI (International) PRO-WRESTLING. Because a serious fight among Japanese had not been done for a long time, spectators got excited very much. In this match Inoki defeated Kobayashi with wonderful German Suplex Hold.

Inoki's German Suplex Hold !!

Except Lou Thesz and Karl Gotch, the special guests, the only famous wrestler was Johnny Powers. And talking about other wrestlers, Tiger Jeet Singh, Inoki's new rival was unknown in USA, and the ace of foreigner may have been Killer Karl Krupp. The McGuire brothers, the team of very fat men also appeared, and they offered us funny topics. In 1975, Brute Bernard and Hans Schmidt, old veterans took part in NEW JAPAN, and then famous wrestlers started to join in. Johnny Valentine, Andre The Giant went up to the ring, too. The end of that year Inoki fought with Bill Robinson. At that time, Inoki's party seemed to appear a clear form.

And then Inoki fought against Willem Ruska, a former Judo champion of Olympic games. Inoki began 'the fights with followers of another schools', and the biggest opponent of that was Muhammad Ali.

DORY FUNK JR vs. ABDULLAH THE BUTCHER

Dory Funk Jr. vs. Abdullah The Butcher
ALL JAPAN, The World Open League
Dec. 6 1975 Adachi-ku Taiikukan (Tokyo)

The Butcher became a popular heel in Japan, but I don't know what estimation he is receiving in USA or other countries. He seemed to fight in Canada and in the territories of NWF in his early days. Because afterwards he was elected to the WWE Hall of Fame, probably he showed good fights in USA for a long time. I'm sorry, I only know his terrible cruel fights in Japan. At any rate, The Butcher is one of the most successful foreign wrestlers on the ring of Japan.

And at that night, his opponent was Dory Funk Jr, the former world champion and the top of baby face wrestlers. I don't know which was more popular of them with Japanese children in those days. That was a good card like a dream for us. But when this match started, they showed their prides of the top wrestlers, and the fight was very harsh and rough.

As Dory entered the hall, The Butcher suddenly attacked Dory on an aisle. Dory opposed by Elbow Smash and Brain Buster. But The Butcher was very tough (His physical and mental conditions may have been at the height), and The Butcher used terrible Flying Elbow Drop !! When Dory burned out his energy, The Butcher attacked him with a chair. Dory got anger and took a chair, and he tried to beat The Butcher, but the chair hit the referee Joe Higuchi. After all, Dory lost the match on a foul !!

As a popular heel, may be The Butcher wanted to be a good match for the big star Dory. It was sure that The Butcher became the important wrestler in ALL JAPAN. And then, The Butcher showed very cruel fight against the Funk brothers in 1977, and his popularity as a heel reached the peak.

MY FAVORITE PRO-WRESTLING MANGA

This is my favorite Manga, Pro-Wrestling Superstar Biographies. This work was serialized in Shonen Sunday (boy's Manga magazine) in the 80's, written by Ikki Kajiwara, drawn by Kunichika Harada. In those days, many new stars appeared one after another, for example Hansen, Brody, and Hogan, there was a PURORESU boom in Japan. I was also watching TV every week with excitement, and that was the happiest days for a wrestling fan. Legends were still alive, nobody talked silly things like an 'angle' or 'fixed'. (boorish words !!)

In this Manga, many superstar wrestlers' lives were introduced. The Butcher, Hansen, Mascaras, Singh, the Funks, Andre, Baba, Inoki, Tiger Mask, Hogan, Brody, Kabuki, Flair, and Gotch. Probably most of them are fictional, I guess facts might be less than 10 percent. That's all right. We PURORESU boys were enjoying this Manga with all our hearts, but somehow Kajiwara was arrested (why?), this masterpiece suddenly ended.

Now, there are some people who are crazy fan of this Manga (I am one of them, too), and they are talking among them with unique words of this work. That's a funny sight, but they may be very serious. I think they are very crazy !!

DON LEO JONATHAN vs. ANTON GEESINK

Don Leo Jonathan vs. Anton Geesink
ALL JAPAN, The World Open League
Dec 6 1975 Adachi-Ku Taiikukan (Tokyo)

Anton Geesink was a former Judo Champion, and he defeated a Japanese as a foreigner for the first time in the Olympic games in Tokyo. In short, he is a hateful enemy for us, but he joined in ALL JAPAN as a strong helper for Japanese wrestlers. Baba expected him very much, because there were few famous Japanese wrestlers in the early days of ALL JAPAN.

However !! Geesink was a good-for-nothing fellow. He didn't understand pro-wrestling, and I thought he might be making a fool of PURORESU. After all, he could not succeed as a wrestler, and he returned to the Netherlands to become a big boss of Judo world. He introduced colored jackets in Judo to anger Japanese again. orz

And Don Leo Jonathan. Watching his wonderful body, I am sighing now. He was a very, very talented wrestler, powerful and tough, but he didn't have a volition. There was nothing of willingness in him to be a great wrestler. I wonder why he always showed such a tedious fights. Probably he was not hard pressed for money.

That was a sad fight of these good-for-nothing fellows. They didn't use any tricks. In a few minutes after a starting bell, they went out of the ring, and Jonathan got back somehow to be a winner on  count-out. That's a fraud !!

TITLES OF ALL JAPAN

Since ALL JAPAN was established, PWF Championship was the most important title of the organization. That was what is called the flag ship title, and big boss of ALL JAPAN, Giant Baba was keeping it for a long time. The wrestlers who got the title from Baba were Killer Tor Kamata, Harley Race, and Stan Hansen. The Butcher and Bill Robinson also put the belt on their waists.

United National Championship was a title for a young star wrestler. That was the symbol of Jumbo Tsuruta. It was very impressive that Jumbo defended the title from Mill Mascaras in 1977, in Denen Colosseum, Tokyo. And the team of master and pupil, Baba and Tsuruta kept International Tag Championship.

I think it was very simple and good days that wrestlers were contending for these three titles in the end of 70's. In 1981, Baba re-established International Championship that Rikidozan had wrested from Lou Thesz and the symbolic title of the ace of Japan. But at that time Baba was too old, Tsuruta was too young, and Dory and Brody fought hard for the belt. And then in the 80's, Baba created a new title, PWF Tag Championship. To tell the truth, I didn't understand of meaning of that title.

This is my later thoughts, because NWA grew weak, may be Baba had to make his own authority, and he made many titles one after another. Afterwards these titles were unified, but simple and good days had gone, I may have lost my passion for wrestling a little.

WOMEN'S WRESTLING IN JAPAN

Women's wrestling in Japan has a unique and a strange history. It had been an inferior show, but in the 70's, a very talented girl Mach Fumiake appeared, and suddenly it changed to a wonderful entertainment. Wrestlers fight to do their best, and spectators (very young girls) sympathize with their desperate movements. And many girls wish to become a wrestler !!

In this way, women's wrestling created wrestling booms several times in Japan. Beauty Pair in the 70's, and Crush Gals in the 80's, cute and strong tag teams won popularity. They created hit songs as idol singers.

In the 90's, women's wrestling in Japan advanced technically. Wrestlers were no longer idols of girls but very surprising athletes. Wrestling fans of men gave attention to their fights. And then, the last boom of women's wrestling come, big and showy 'All Star Games' were held many times.

However !! The biggest organization ALL JAPAN WOMEN'S PRO-WRESTLING failed in the end of 90's, and my favorite TV program of women's wrestling ended in 2002. Practically, women's wrestling in Japan was ruined. orz

Watching my dear videos, I will introduce wonderful fights of marvelous girls.

THE WORLD OPEN LEAGUE

Talking of a league series, the most famous one might be The World League which was held by Rikidozan since 1959. But I don't know about it well, because I had not been born at that time. Afterwards NEW JAPAN held The World Big League, but ALL JAPAN did not opened a league series for a long time. May be Baba was careful with fights among Japanese wrestlers.

However, ALL JAPAN suddenly held a surprising league series in 1975. That was The World Open League, and many famous wrestlers took part in that league. I am introducing them, but even writing down their names is a very hard work.

Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta, Kintaro Ohki (ALL JAPAN)
Rusher Kimura, Great Kusatsu, Mighty Inoue (KOKUSAI)
Hiro Matsuda (free lance)

They are Japanese wrestlers. The wrestlers of KOKUSAI (International) took part in the event, that was enough to surprise us, and moreover, foreigner wrestlers were very marvelous members.

Dory Funk Jr, Abdullah The Butcher, Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, Baron Von Raschke, Horst Hoffman, The Destroyer, Dick Murdoch, Don Leo Jonathan, Pat O'Conner, Mr. wrestling, Ken Mantel, and Anton Geesink !!

What's this ? That was exceeding the limit. Baba gathered that unbelievable members with great joy, but in contrast to this, Inoki was having a hard time, because he could not join hands with NWA, and he could not invite a famous wrestler. Of course, I was a believer of ALL JAPAN, and I was enjoying Baba's unlimited luxurious pro-wrestling !!

ANTONIO INOKI vs. TIGER JEET SINGH (2)

Antonio Inoki vs. Tiger Jeet Singh
NEW JAPAN, NWF World Championship Match
Jun 26 1975 Kuramae Kokugikan (Tokyo)

As the greatest rival of Inoki, Singh continued to challenge Inoki persistently, and their fights gradually increased cruelty. In 1974, Singh blew a fire to Inoki, on the contrary, Inoki dislocated Singh's arm. And in the next year, Singh suddenly changed to a serious wrestler, and he defeated Inoki by Brain Buster to get the championship in Hiroshima.

Singh defended his title in Montreal, and Inoki desperately challenged Singh again in Tokyo. Because their physical conditions were nearly best, this title match was very harsh and hard. In the first round, Inoki carefully attacked Singh, and he took a fall with a wonderful trick, Leg Roll Clutch Hold.

However, surprising performances of Singh didn't end. He suddenly used his secret weapon, Argentine Back Breaker !! (Singh was active in Canada, but he didn't use Canadian Back Breaker, why ?) Inoki had no choice but to surrender. For Singh's Back Breaker was very shocking, perhaps many wrestling fans still remember it.

And the last round. Inoki's physical strength hardly remained, Singh rushed Inoki with a terrible Brain Buster. Inoki stood up somehow, and shot Drop Kicks continuously. Though Inoki's consciousness dimmed, he used Back Drop frantically.

At last Inoki got back NWF World Championship. But we have to admire the strength and the fighting spirit of Singh. The wrestlers who took the belt from Inoki were only Singh and Hansen. And probably this title match was the best fight in the early days of NEW JAPAN.

A PERFORMANCE OF RUSHER KIMURA

In the 80's, Rusher Kimura, a veteran wrestler was pleasing us to talk funny topics always. That was an unexpected pleasure. Naturally, Kimura was a quiet and awkward man. He had belonged to KOKUSAI PRO-WRESTLING, and he had been known as an expert of a cage death match. When KOKUSAI failed, he stood on the ring of NEW JAPAN, and he said softly "Good evening, everyone", that was the good evening affair. In short, talking was a weak point of him.

However, when he joined in ALL JAPAN, suddenly he started talking funny things. At first, his position was a Baba's enemy. As a matter of course, he said "Hey, Baba, I'll defeat you !", but that was only at first time. He began to say "Baba, I like you !", or "I have great respect for you !", and at last "Baba, you are my brother !"

These odd talkings were called the Kimura's mike performances by wrestling fans. And surprisingly, Kimura formed a tag team with Baba, named the team of brothers !! (Hey, you are not a brother of Baba !!) I didn't understand what was happening, it might be a nonsense comedy. But unexpectedly Kimura showed good fights, and in Baba's last years, surely Kimura was the best partner of Baba.

ANTONIO INOKI vs. TIGER JEET SINGH

Antonio Inoki vs. Tiger Jeet Singh
NEW JAPAN, NWF World Championship Match
Jun 26 1975 Kuramae Kokugikan (Tokyo)

Antonio Inoki established NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING in 1972, but he could not join hands with NWA or AWA, and he could not invite famous American wrestlers. Somehow he cooperated with a local organization NWF, he fought with unknown young wrestlers to make new stars. That way was Inoki's favorite tactics, in this way Singh, Hansen, Hogan, and Vader became popular wrestlers in Japan.

I was surprised to hear that Singh was a famous baby face wrestler in Toronto. In Japan he is known as the cruelest heel, and we were thinking that he might be a madman. When Inoki and his wife (a famous actress) were shopping in Tokyo, suddenly Singh attacked them !! Of course that was on a scenario, Singh did it and received a salary from Inoki. (ha-ha)

It is a truth that Inoki is a genius for making stories. In 1974, suddenly (again !) Singh changed to a serious wrestler, and he defeated Inoki with a wonderful Brain Buster. Surprisingly he became the NWF world champion, defended the title from Inoki in Montreal. At that time Inoki was like a heel comparatively.

And then they fought in Kuramae Kokugikan, Tokyo. Their strength and physical conditions reached peak, they showed us very hard wrestling. Singh in this match may have been the strongest in his wrestler life.

To be continued.

NWF AND JOHNNY POWERS

Now, the name of NWF may not have any meaning for almost people, but a part of Japanese remember the name with their dear memories. Because when Antonio Inoki established NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING, he joined hands with NWF, and somehow he could step forward as a great wrestler.

NWF was only a local organization which was made by Pedro Martinez and Johnny Powers against NWA, but it recognized the world champion. That was good fortune for Inoki. He could not invite American wrestlers, and he could not do a title match. NWF gave Inoki both of them at a time.

Inoki defeated Powers and got NWF World Championship, but they say Powers sold the belt to Inoki. In fact, the best days of Powers may have been in the middle of 60's. At any rate, Johnny was the only famous wrestler in early days of NEW JAPAN, and a series of fights between Inoki and Powers was the only good card.

After all, Johnny Powers was taken his all titles, NWF by Inoki, North American Tag by Inoki and Sakaguchi, and North American single (What's that ?) by Sakaguchi. After that, Powers could not fight on rings of USA, because he had sided with notorious Pedro and had resisted NWA. That is a common opinion, but when he sold the championship to Inoki, he might lose his passion for pro-wrestling.

WHAT IS PWF ?

I often refer to PWF or PWF Championship, many people may think "what's that ?", and I don't know well, too. (Hey, you !)

In short, PWF is a management company of ALL JAPAN's titles, Baba established it in Hawaii in 1972, and the first president was Lord Blears. I remember that Blears often visited to Japan and read a declaration of a title match, but did he do any work as the president ? He may have enjoyed a sight-seeing in Japan.

PWF Championship was established in 1973, and very famous wrestlers participated in the championship tournament. Giant Baba, Bruno Sammartino, Terry Funk, Bobo Brazil, The Destroyer, Abdullah The Butcher, Pat O'Conner, Don Leo Jonathan, and Wilbur Snyder. Very marvelous members, don't you think so ? And Giant Baba won the championship.

PWF champion's belt is the same belt of Rikidozan's International (and WWA) title. Because Rikidozon was smaller than Baba, it was pretty tight for Baba. (Look the picture !!)

The special feature of PWF Championship is that it can move by a result on a foul. Because of it, Baba was taken the title by Killer Tor Kamata. Fighting against Race, Hansen, Dory, and other first-class wrestlers, Baba kept this belt for over ten years. literally PWF Championship was symbolic of Giant Baba.

GIANT BABA vs. VERNE GAGNE

Giant Baba vs. Verne Gagne
ALL JAPAN, PWF and AWA Double Championship Match
Jan. 18 1981 Korakuen Hall (Tokyo)

That was the memorial match of Baba's continuously appearance on 3000 fights. His opponent of the anniversary was the emperor of AWA, Verne Gagne. To our surprise, that was the first fight between them. Because Baba's party ALL JAPAN (PWF) was a subsidiary organization of NWA, Baba had not been able to invite this great wrestler. Ironically, KOKUSAI PRO-WRESTLING which had joined hands with AWA failed in that year, this big card came true.

Korakuen is comparatively a small hall, but here is the hometown of ALL JAPAN. It was a quiet and solemn day that all wrestling fans celebrated Baba's wonderful record. It became dark in the hall, the theme music of Star Wars sounded, and Verne Gagne appeared. And then in spectators' cheers, Giant Baba entered. His theme music was the theme of sports programs of Nihon TV. That was matched him well.

That was an old-fashioned wrestling like in the 60's. It is not a term of abuse. In short, good old days' pro-wrestling was surely in there. Gange took the first round by Sleeper Hold, Baba defeated Gange with 16-mon Kick at the second round, and in the last round they dropped from the ring, the referee Joe Higuchi declared a draw on double count-out. A very good finish !!

ABDULLAH THE BUTCHER vs. THE SHEIK

Abdullah The Butcher vs. The Sheik
ALL JAPAN
May 2 1980 Korakuen Hall (Tokyo)

The Butcher formed a tag team with a veteran The Sheik (the cruelest team of the world), and they fought against the Funk brothers harshly. In The Open Tag League '77 they stabbed Terry's arm many times with a fork. At that time, their bloody wrestling reached the peak.

However, after that The Butcher became a popular wrestler in Japan. As a single player, He won The Champion Carnival twice, and a Manga which was suggested by his character was published. The Sheik might be jealous of The Butcher, he blew a fire to his partner in The World Tag League '79, and the cruelest team of the world ended.

The wrestlers were fighting out of the ring, and cameramen were working on the ring. (ha-ha)

The Sheik suddenly visited to Japan, and he fought against The Butcher on a death-match. They stabbed with nails and strangled each other, and made a pool of blood. And then they attacked the TV announcer Kuramochi (why ?). The Butcher's punch hit the forehead of Kuramochi, and the announcer was bloodied. That was an unheard-of scene.

Because of cruelty, Nihon TV (channel 4) didn't broadcast this match, and afterwards it went on air in the 90's at last.

BABA, TSURUTA vs. RACE, SLATER

Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Harley Race, Dick Slater
ALL JAPAN, The World Tag League '82
Dec. 13 1982 Kuramae Kokugikan (Tokyo)

It was the closing day of The World Tag League '82, very exciting and sensational event. The tag of Race and Slater was a extempore team, but they showed good fights unexpectedly, and they still had a little possibility to win the championship. Then their last opponents were Baba and Tsuruta, the team of master and pupil. The Japanese team had to win that match, too.

That was a semi-final match, and in the main event the Funk brothers and the team of super monsters would appear, in short, either one or the other team of them might be the champion. (Why is a winner always decided at a last match ?)

The referee was Lou Thesz !! This match was substantially unrelated to the championship (why?), these four wrestlers displayed their full talents, and showed many tricks of their specialty. Race's Diving Head Butt from the top of a corner, Baba's Deadly Drive and 16-mon Kick, Slater's Figure of Four Leg Lock and Boxing-style Punch like Terry, and Jumbo used Jumping Knee Attack.

As if there was a scenario (!?), a very good semi-final match. Some people may think it nonsense, I love such a commonplace fight. At a result of that match, Baba defeated Slater with Kawazu-otoshi (Russian Leg Sweep), and spectators were satisfied very much, everything was all right !!

STAN HANSEN vs. TERRY FUNK

Stan Hansen vs. Terry Funk
ALL JAPAN
Sept. 1982 Korakuen Hall (Tokyo)

Stan Hansen knocked out Terry Funk with Western Lariat in The World Tag League '81. After that, their relationship went worse, Hansen said to the Funk brothers "You are fossils of Texas !!", and Terry cried to Hansen "You are a betrayer !!" And then, this noteworthy grudge match was held in Korakuen Hall.

Before this fight, Terry told the media that if he was taken a fall, he would retire instantly. In fact Terry was injured on his knees, and in the next year he formally gave notice to retire. Because of it, wrestling fans in Japan were uproarious.

Though Terry's morale was very good, Hansen overwhelmed Terry by his wonderful power. To be exact, that was Hansen's one-side match. Accidentally Hansen knocked down the referee Joe Higuchi, and he beat another referee Mr. Hayashi with Western Lariat (!!). Then his friend Ron Bass broke into the ring, and he shot a terrible Lariat at Terry with all his power.

Joe Higuchi declared that Hansen won on count-out, but Terry and spectators could not agree it. Baba and Tsuruta also appeared on the ring, a horrible confusion occurred. In this way, the conflict of Terry and Hansen continued until Terry's last match in the next year.

THE INTRODUCTION TO PRO-WRESTLING

This is my dear book, The Introduction to Pro-wrestling. It explains the wrestling-world to children, and I bought it in 1975 when I was a elementary school student. This is the fifth edition, and the first edition was published in 1971. At that time Baba and Inoki were belonging to JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING. At the end of that year  Inoki was banished from the company. And in the next year Baba became independent, and JAPAN PRO failed. Because of it, descriptions about Japanese wrestlers are confusing a little.

Basically this book is written about Baba and his party, but in photograph pages Inoki, Sakaguchi, and the other wrestlers of NEW JAPAN are also introduced. However, KOKUSAI (a small party) is perfectly disregarded. (ha-ha)

In these pages the world affairs of wrestling are explained. The NWA champion is Dory Funk Jr.,  the AWA title holder is Verne Gagne, and the emperor of WWWF Pedro Morales is in there, too !!

HANSEN, BRODY vs. BABA, TSURUTA

Stan Hansen, Bruiser Brody vs. Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta
ALL JAPAN, The World Tag League '82
Dec. 9 1982 Sapporo Nakajima Taiiku Center (Sapporo)

Hansen and Brody, very popular and strong wrestlers formed a tag team (the team of super monsters), there was a wrestling boom in Japan. To tell the truth, the wrestling world of Japan had been pretty confused. The Butcher moved to NEW JAPAN, conversely Singh and Hansen joined in ALL JAPAN, these movements were called the headhunting wars. The activity of the team of super monsters was wiping off the bad atmosphere.

Baba and Tsuruta, the team of master and pupil, had to win this match to become the champion of this league. But it seemed very difficult to take a fall from Hansen or Brody. Before the fight, Baba said to Tsuruta "Think a way to get points !!"

The team of super monsters showed their wonderful powers, and the master and pupil team opposed by their brains. In fact, the relay play of Baba and Tsuruta was very speedy, and as a whole the Japanese team was rather superior.

But the theory of wrestling did not stand up in this match. Suddenly Hansen's Western Lariat knocked out Baba, and Hansen beat Tsuruta at the apron with Lariat, too. Then Brody took a fall from Baba with terrible Knee Drop. The TV announcer Kuramochi cried "Everything has happened in an instant !!"

THE WORLD TAG LEAGUE '82

The World Tag League, to be exact, the league to decide the strongest tag team in the world, started in 1977, its former name was The Open Tag League. That was opened at the end of every years, we wrestling fan were enjoying fights of many famous wrestlers.

I think that The World Tag League '82 was the most exciting event in the history of ALL JAPAN. Today I introduce the participating teams.


Dory Funk Jr., Terry Funk (The Funks)

Everybody knows them, the former world champions. They won the championship of this league in '77 and '79. Because Terry gave notice to retire, there was a Terry boom in Japan.

Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta

The team of master and pupil, the strongest team of ALL JAPAN. They became champions in '78 and '80. Their special features were Baba's brains and Tsuruta's youthfulness.

Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen

The team of super monsters. Brody won the league '81 with Jimmy Snuka, but at that time Hansen broke into the ring, and he knocked out Terry with Western Lariat. They said to the Funk brothers "You are fossils in Texas !!"

Harley Race, Dick Slater

At first, Race formed a team with Snuka, but Because Snuka was injured (they say he punished by other foreign wrestlers), Slater was nominated to the partner of Race. Dick was popular with Japanese fan as a young and vivid wrestler.

Ricky Steamboat, Jay Youngblood

The young and handsome boys. Though they were rather lightweight, they showed good fights with their speed and fighting spirits.

Genichiro Tenryu, Asura Hara

An unique team of a sumo wrestler and a Rugby player. They could not be active in this league, but they formed the party of Tenryu in 1987, made a boom of wrestling revolution.

Umanosuke Ueda, Super Destroyer

The team of heels. They didn't want to win, and their purpose was making confusions in ALL JAPAN. Goro Tsurumi, a friend of Ueda, often broke into the ring, and many matches were spoiled.

GIANT BABA vs. HARLEY RACE

Giant Baba vs. Harley Race
PWF Championship Match
Feb. 1983 Checker Dome (St. Luis)


Baba fought against Race many times. He got NWA title from Race twice. For Race, Baba might be the biggest difficulty, and Race couldn't attack effectively very tall Baba. In contrast to that, Baba used calmly Chop, Kick, Deadly Drive, and the other tricks.

At any rate, in those days Race was a marvelous title collector. Though he was taken the NWA belt by Dusty Rhodes, he wrested the States of Missouri title, United National Championship from Jumbo Tsuruta, and PWF from Baba. And then he got back NWA title from Ric Flair in June of that year (that's the 7th win !!).

This is Baba's Kawazu-otoshi (Russian Leg Sweep). The origin was a sumo trick, and Rikidozan used it to defend from Back Drop of Lou Thesz. This trick is in Judo, too, but it is forbidden now. In this return match, Baba defeated Race with wonderful Running Neck Breaker Drop. In spite of the enemy's territory, Baba was not treated as a heel, and wrestling fan of St. Luis were cheering Baba. That was a good semi-final match.

Incidentally, the main event of that night was NWA Championship Match, contested by Flair and Brody. Finally Flair defended his title in a draw.

JUMBO TSURUTA vs. TOMMY RICH

Jumbo Tsuruta vs. Tommy Rich
ALL JAPAN, United National Championship Match
Feb. 1983 Aichi-ken Taiikukan (Nagoya)

Watching old videos of pro-wrestling, I remember various things. Yesterday I found a dear image of 'The Wild Fire' Tommy Rich after a long time. In those days I was a high-school student, and I was enjoying ALL JAPAN's wrestling with all my heart. In the early 80's, many good wrestlers were belonging to ALL JAPAN, for example Brody, Hansen, the Funk brothers, Race, Nick, and it might be the most exciting days of wrestling of Japan.

Of course we had few information of American wrestling, but I knew the name of Tommy Rich. Magazines said he had got NWA world championship from Race temporally (only three days !!). He was what is called a mystery strong man. (When we see the real, we are often disappointed, but that is also a pleasure of wrestling !)

Well, then The Wild Fire visited to Japan for the first time, and challenged a young star Jumbo Tsuruta. Frankly speaking, that was a very good fight. Tommy showed nice Brain Buster and Flying Body Scissors Drop (like Lou Thesz). At the end Tsuruta defended his title with Back Drop Hold, but Tommy fought bravely as a former world champion.

I think that was the best fight of Rich in Japan. After that, he fought on the ring of ALL JAPAN several times, but he was quite lack vividness, and he looked like another man. I don't know why. At any rate, Tommy Rich in this match, a mystery strong man and The Wild Fire, is my dear wrestler.

JUMBO TSURUTA vs. TIGER JEET SINGH (2)

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

There were two parts in the wrestler life of Jumbo Tsuruta. The first half was that as a thin young boy, a spirited good fight maker. And in the second half, Jumbo became an ace of ALL JAPAN, and he was called the perfect champion. In that series Tsuruta fought against Singh twice. I think these matches were opportunities for Tsuruta to change a strong wrestler.

At the first match, Singh won an easy victory proving his class as a rival of Inoki. Singh had a firm style of rough and technique, and he was the only wrestler who got NWF title from Inoki, except Stan Hansen. Though Tsuruta lost on count-out by hanging from the rope, I was rather interested in Baba's decision that made Tsuruta fight so cruel match.

In the second fight, Singh attacked the referee Joe Higuchi, and he lost on a foul. At that time Tsuruta's fighting spirit exceeded Singh's. May be It was necessary for Tsuruta to fight these two matches, for going over the great wrestlers, Baba and Inoki.

And then Tsuruta wrested International Championship from Brody in August of that year, and He became the AWA world champion in the next year.

SUMO, THE MOST MEMORABLE MATCH

Takanohana (the first) vs. Kitanoumi
Apr. 1975 Osaka, The Spring Tournament

I often think what match is the most memorable for Japanese in the history of sumo. This play-off of the spring tournament '75 was truly one of them. At that time I was a student of a elementary school, I remember that most of Japanese people was watching this match on TV in excitement.

Takanohana was a younger brother of Wakanohana, the great Yokozuna in the 50's. He was a lean and handsome rikishi (sumo wrestler), and very popular with sumo fan as the Prince of sumo world. But because of his lightweight, he had not be able to win a championship. This match was the biggest chance for him.

Kitanoumi was a genius rikishi, became Yokozuna when he was 21 years old, and that is the record of the youngest Yokozuna in the history of sumo. He was very heavy and strong, and a natural result, almost of sumo fan wished Takanohana's victory.

Kitanoumi's Uwatenage (throwing with his arm) was an impossible trick, and it made Takanohana turn to his advantage. When Takanohana pushed Kitanoumi out of the ring, spectators threw cushions, the whole hall was in a uproar. At last, Takanohana got a championship !!