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.