THE DESTROYER vs. DON LEO JONATHAN

The Destroyer vs. Don Leo Jonathan
ALL JAPAN, The World Open League
Dec. 13 1975 Fukui-shi Taiikukan (Fukui)

At that time The Destroyer was already a historical person. He fought with Rikidozan who was the father of wrestling in Japan, he attacked harshly with Figure Four Leg Lock, and his mask was bloodied by Rikidozan's counterattack. And they also fought immediately before Rikidozan's death. It is almost a legend now that The Destroyer was a terrible monster.

The Destroyer fought with Giant Baba when Baba established ALL JAPAN. I thought he was not a cruel beast, but a rather comical veteran. He lost out to Baba, and he joined in ALL JAPAN as a helper of Japanese wrestlers. And then he appeared in a TV comedy program, and he attacked  the announcer Tokumitsu with Figure Four Leg Lock. The Destroyer got new fans, but we were disappointed in him a little.

His opponent at that night was Don Leo Jonathan. Every time I see Jonathan, I think his body was very wonderful but his fight was tedious. I always wonder why he didn't have a passion for wrestling, and why he didn't wish to be a great wrestler. And in this match he was still a bad mixer, he continued to attack The Destroyer by Head Lock, and he didn't permit his opponent to use Figure Four Leg Lock.

The Destroyer got anger a little, he turned to the offensive, and he attacked by Monkey Flip and Leg Split. But because Jonathan was a speedy and big man, these attacks were hardly effective, and Jonathan counterattacked with Drop Kick. That was a very good kick meaninglessly. (^^; And Jonathan lifted The Destroyer, trying Airplane Spin !! They fell from the ring, and the referee Jerry Murdoch declared at once a draw on count-out. I wish Jonathan had a sense of being caught in Figure Four Leg Lock.