DID FRED BLASSIE KILL OLD MEN ?

Rikidozan created a pro-wrestling boom in the mid-50's, but many people criticized it as a low-grade show. And then, that matter happened. It was the most sensational scandal in the early days of Japanese pro-wrestling. When some old men were watching the TV program of pro-wrestling, they died of shock.

In 1962, Rikidozan wrested WWA Championship from Fred Blassie in Los Angeles, and Blassie challenged Rikidozan in Tokyo. Fred bit the champion, and the close-up of Riki's bloody face was put on the air. Many Japanese people was deeply shocked, and some old men died. Some people say that the opponent was The Great Togo.


Well, It seems that WWA was a doubtful and a questionable organization. May be Rikidozan wanted to challenge Lou Thesz and wished to get NWA Championship, but he helplessly joined hands with WWA, because the pro-wrestling world of Japan was still too young. Rikidozan and his successor Toyonobori got the WWA belt, but they were often troubled with the mystery of Los Angeles.

Fred Blassie was called 'The Vampire' in Japan, but as a matter of fact, he was a gentleman and he liked Japan very much. Afterwards he married with Japanese woman. As a wrestler, he fought against Baba in 1972, and he moved to NEW JAPAN in 1974. And he was known by Japanese fans as a manager of Muhammad Ali, Stan Hansen, and Hulk Hogan.

PRO-WRESTLING OF JAPAN TOPICS, SUMMER 2013

ANTONIO INOKI RETURNED TO THE DIET

Antonio Inoki, the superstar of PURORESU, won the election in Jul. 2013, and he became a member of the House of councilors again.

Inoki had been elected in 1989, and he said "I want to try Octopus Hold on the Diet." Nobody understood what he said, but that statement drew laughter from Japanese people. Inoki worked for 6 years as a member of the House of councilors. In his term, he was troubled with many scandals.

And now, Inoki went back to the Diet after an interval of 18 years. Can he display his full talent this time ?


KEIJI MUTO WITHDREW FROM ALL JAPAN

Keiji Muto (The Great Muta) held a different opinion from the office, and he withdrew from ALL JAPAN in Jul. 2013.

ALL JAPAN was established by Giant Baba in 1972, but when Baba died and Mrs. Baba got a leadership in 1999, Mitsuharu Misawa (Tiger Mask 2) and many wrestlers withdrew from the organization. Before long ALL JAPAN turned in financial difficulties.

In 2002, Muto took up the president of ALL JAPAN. Wrestling fans were very surprised it, because Muto had been a pupil of Antonio Inoki and a top wrestler of NEW JAPAN. Muto did his best as the president and a wrestler, but he resigned from the president on account of some troubles in 2011.

Muto wished to get back the stocks of ALL JAPAN, but he failed it and left the company.


A BEST SELLER BOOK OF A GREAT JUDO MAN

A unique book of non-fiction is a best seller in Japan. Its title is 'Why didn't Masahiko Kimura kill Rikidozan ?', the author is Toshiya Masuda, published by Sinchousya.

Now, Masahiko Kimura's name is a legend. He was a judo champion in the 40's, and he was called the god of judo. After the World War 2, Kimura became a pro-wrestler and he formed a tag team with Rikidozan. But Kimura had to act a part of a defeated. Because he was dissatisfied it, he challenged Rikidozan in 1954.

Rikidozan defeated Kimura at that match and he established his post of the leader of wrestling world. But they say that was a very mysterious match. Some people says that was a fixed match, but Rikidozan broke his promise and he suddenly lynched Kimura.

The author Masuda is well disposed to Kimura. This is an another history of PURORESU.

THE GREAT KABUKI, THE ORIENTAL MYSTERY

Probably the most famous Japanese wrestler in USA is 'The Oriental Mystery' The Great Kabuki. I want to introduce Kabuki's fights, but in fact I hardly saw his matches in his best days. I know his unpainted face and his fights in his youth. Kabuki's real name is Akihisa Takachiho. He was a middle-rank wrestler in ALL JAPAN. Because he became a wrestler after Rikidozan's death, he didn't learn wrestling from the father of the wrestling of Japan. In short, Takachiho belonged to a young generation. He was comparatively small and his fight-style was steady but quiet. There were big wrestlers in ALL JAPAN like Baba, Tsuruta, and Tenryu, and Takachiho could not become a star wrestler.

When Takachiho was active in USA in the early 80's, his manager Gary Hart thought out the gimmick of 'The Oriental Mystery'. The Great Kabuki became a big star in USA, and he returned in triumph to Japan in 1983. At last I could see Kabuki's fights of only a few matches. The most impressive match was the fight with Tiger Jeet Singh, which was named the special dreamy match. Kabuki was a heel in USA, but he had to play a role of a baby face in Japan. But his special trick The Asian Mist was clearly a foul. I remember that Japanese fans were bewildered a little.

One of Kabuki's special features was the nunchaku performance. Nunchaku is an weapon of Okinawa Karate, and it became very famous when Bruce Lee used it in his films. But 'Kabuki' is the traditional dramatic performance in Japan, and it's not relation to Okinawa Karate. And though his style was like a Ninja, he often showed a performance of samurai sword. I wondered what his gimmick was, but probably there isn't much meaning in saying these things.

At that time Kabuki fought only a few matches in Japan, but his popularity was very good, and they say other wrestlers in ALL JAPAN were jealous of him. Afterwards he formally returned to Japan and belonged to ALL JAPAN again, but the relationship between Baba and Kabuki seemed to be not good. Kabuki wasn't treated as a star, and his pay was rather low. And then he went away from ALL JAPAN, and he was active in several parties as a veteran. They say Kabuki is operating a restaurant in Tokyo and sometimes he coaches young wrestlers.

WHAT IS BRAIN BUSTER ?

Murdocｈ's Brain Buster

The best expert of Brain Buster was Killer Karl Kox, may be everyone admits this fact. His Brain Buster was a very cruel move that he lifted up his enemy and dropped down vertically. Kox often took a fall with this special move from Baba. The successor of Kox-style Brain Buster was Dick Murdoch. He fought on the ring of Japan for a long time, and they said he would be the NWA World Champion. But I thought he looked like not a champion, but a bad uncle. Their Brain Buster was so dangerous that it was forbidden to use in USA. And wrestlers began to use the new move which attacked an opponent's back. That's what is called Vertical Suplex.

However, in Japan we don't distinguish Vertical Suplex from Brain Buster. In short, we call these all moves 'Brain Buster'. (We sometimes call Kox-style 'Vertical Brain Buster.') Antonio Inoki often used Front Neck Chancery, it was like a Kox-style. Afterwards Inoki began to use ordinary Brain Buster, but somehow it wasn't powerful, and it was not good-looking. Baba and Sakaguchi also used this move in their youth, but then they stopped it. May be when a big wrestler uses it, a damage of his own is not small. In Japanese wrestlers, the expert of Brain Buster is Riki Chosyu. Chosyu lifts up his opponent, and he jumps (!!). A terrible crash sounds in the hall.

Race's Brain Buster

To tell again, I am mentioning Vertical Suplex, and ordinarily we call it 'Brain Buster' in Japan. When I think about this move, the first person who comes into my mind is Harley Race. His Brain Buster was very stable and strong. He often defeated Baba, Tsuruta and Dory with that special move in big matches. He prided himself on the power of his moves, and he often said to young wrestlers "Don't use Brain Buster and Diving Head Butt !!". They say Dynamite Kid, who were good at these moves, was in a difficult to fight. orz

JUMBO TSURUTA AND BACK DROP

Tsuruta wrested the AWA belt from Nick !! (1984)

Everyone recognized that Jumbo Tsuruta would be the successor to throne of ALL JAPAN. But there was a something weakness within him (that was rather a fascination of him for me), most of wrestling fans grew impatient. Tsuruta's special moves were Suplex, Jumping Knee Attack, Flying Body Scissors Drop, and others. Giant Baba thought that Tsuruta needed to have a stronger move of specialty, and he invited Lou Thesz to Japan in the end of 1982. Thesz taught Tsuruta his Back Drop with a beautiful bridge. And after that, Tsuruta began to use Back Drop as the finishing move in his big matches.

Because Tsuruta had learned pro-wrestling from the Funk brothers, he had been using a Funk-style Back Drop. That was the style of taking an enemy's leg, and it was not good-looking. In Japan, the only wrestler who had used the Thesz-style Back Drop was Antonio Inoki. And Tsuruta passed Inoki, became the best expert of Back Drop. His weakness went away from him, and he defeated Brody to take the belt of International Championship in August 1983. And at last, Tsuruta wrested AWA World Championship from Nick in February 1984. The last fight with Brody in 1988, he used Back Drop as the finishing move.

Tsuruta became the International Champion. (1983)

Tsuruta often used Back Drop Hold. That was his special move that he threw an opponent and instantly took a fall like a German Suplex Hold. It was very impressive that he defended United National Championship from Tommy Rich with that move in 1983. And when he took the AWA belt, he defeated Nick by this special hold, too. I have never seen an expert of Back Drop Hold except for Tsuruta. In the 80's, when everyone was using Back Drop easily (?), Tsuruta recovered its authority as the special move of pro-wrestling. And in the 90's, Tsuruta was called the perfect champion. Though sometimes I felt lonesome that his weakness had gone away, it might have been my selfishness.

SAKAGUCHI, THE DEAR OLD WRESTLING

Seiji Sakaguchi

I seem to adhere to pro-wrestling of the 70's. There were still legends and gods of a myth. It may be a nostalgia, but since in the 80's, wrestlers emphasized what is called a reality, and wrestling of Japan lost a fantastic pleasure. And I often recollect the fights of Seiji Sakaguchi. He was Inoki's right-hand man and the vice-president of NEW JAPAN, and he was also one of the great wrestlers in the history of wrestling in Japan.

He had won the All Japan Judo Championship in 1965. He always showed a quiet and a steady wrestling as the best partner of Inoki. And always he was attacked harshly by Tiger Jeet Singh or Umanosuke Ueda. I remember his bloody face even now. Sakaguchi's special moves were Reverse Boston Crab, Atomic Drop, Neck Hanging Tree, Bear Hug, and others, in short he was a typical powerful fighter. Now most of wrestlers won't use these classical moves. (^^; And in the 80's, Fujinami became a new star of NEW JAPAN while Sakaguchi's fights gradually faded out from the TV program. That was the end of old and fantastic pro-wrestling.


In 1990, Sakaguchi and Inoki formed a tag team again after a long time, and they fought against young wrestlers. They old veterans were punched and kicked harshly, and their faces were swollen cruelly. At that time the TV announcer said "NEW JAPAN is the only company that young members are praised to give a punch and a kick to the president and the vice-president !!" That was right, and it's very funny.

MEMORIES OF BRUISER BRODY

the team of super monsters

I am tracing the Brody's career in USA, but I am often depressed to meet bad episodes. He seemed to have a complex personality and a severe pride. In Japan, he is regarded as one of the most successful wrestlers. When he came to Japan for the first time in 1979, he showed a hard fight against Giant Baba, and instantly he became the ace of foreign wrestlers of ALL JAPAN. Though his gimmick was 'King Kong', we forgot it at once, and we admired his powerful fight-style and wonderful Drop Kick. A gimmick is meaningless on the ring of Japan.

In the early 80's, as the top wrestler in Japan, Brody contended for International Championship with Dory and Tsuruta. Especially Tsuruta was the biggest rival of Brody. In 1983, Brody was taken the belt by Tsuruta, but I was deeply impressed with Brody's power and stamina. It must not be forgotten that his friend Stan Hansen moved to ALL JAPAN and they formed a tag team. They 'the team of super monsters' created a big boom in Japan.

Brody's last glory (1988)

Brody suddenly moved to NEW JAPAN in 1985, and this affair was reported in the TV news program. We expected him to fight hard against Antonio Inoki, but at that time Inoki was already an old-timer, and Brody was too proud to accept a loss, their fights were not good. Inoki lost to his pupils, Singh, Hansen, Hogan, and Vader, but he could not be defeated by Brody, because Brody was the rival of Baba and Tsuruta. After all, his movement to NEW JAPAN was a failure. After a lot of troubles, he returned to ALL JAPAN in 1987.

The second ALL JAPAN days of Brody was very short, but there was a splendid glory. He fought against his friend Hansen for the first time in a tag match, and that was the memorable scene for wrestling fans. He defeated his rival Tsuruta in March 1988, and he wrested the belt of International Championship after a long time. At the same time as it, he cried with joy, and he hugged the president Lord Blears and spectators in the hall.

POWER OF BACK DROP (2)

Inoki's Back Drop

There is a view that the origin of Back Drop was a judo trick 'Uranage' (throwing backward). If that is true, it is reasonable that Japanese wrestlers are good at this move. To tell in historical, of course the best specialist of Back Drop is Lou Thesz, and in Japan, the first person who come into my mind is Antonio Inoki. Inoki's special moves in his youth had been Cobra Twist, Octopus Hold, and Front Neck Chancery. Since he established NEW JAPAN, he often used Back Drop in big matches as the finishing move. Inoki got back NWF Championship from Singh with this move in 1975. And he defeated Willem Ruska, the former judo champion, by a succession of Back Drop in 1976.

Inoki's Back Drop drew a beautiful bridge, and in the sense of it, Inoki was a successor to Lou Thesz. Tatsumi Fujinami who is a pupil of Inoki used beautiful and speedy Back Drop. They were orthodox specialists, but Riki Chosyu, the rival of Fujinami, used very hard Back Drop which was different from Thesz's. Chosyu added a twist at landing. It may had been suggested by his senior Masa Saito's move. Saito was active in USA for a long time as a free-lancer.

Baba's Back Drop

Surprisingly, Giant Baba also often used Back Drop in the 70's. Because he could not draw a bridge, he took opponent's leg and fell down backward. It was a disaster for an opponent, for Baba was a very tall man. Baba defended the NWA belt from Race with that terrible move.

Naturally, that take-a-leg-style Back Drop was the favorite move of the Funk brothers. Because of it, that was used by many wrestlers of ALL JAPAN, and that became the orthodox style of Back Drop of ALL JAPAN. Especially the wrestlers of what is called the Funk family were showing it. Harley Race, Stan Hansen, Ted DiBiase, Dick Slater, Jumbo Tsuruta, to say nothing Dory and Terry. That Funk-style was comparatively easy without making a bridge, but it was not good-looking. In 1983, Baba invited Thesz to Japan, and Thesz taught Tsuruta his classical-style Back Drop.

POWER OF BACK DROP

Inoki defeated Ruska with Back Drop (1976)

I will mention Back Drop, but at the beginning, I don't know whether this name of move is right. I'm sorry, but I can't understand English at all, (^^; and I have to go ahead timidly. At any rate, I want to tell about the special trick of Lou Thesz 'Back Drop', at least we call it in that name in Japan. Someone taught me it is called 'Belly to Back', but I think that means German Suplex Hold. In Japan, Thesz's Back Drop and Karl Gotch's German Suplex are regarded as the two greatest special moves of pro-wrestling.

Because I am too young (in fact I'm not so young), I could not see the best days of Lou Thesz. However, I watched the wonderful veteran Thesz several times. When Antonio Inoki established NEW JAPAN, Thesz visited to Japan and formed a tag team with Gotch. They, what is called the team of gods, fought against Inoki and Sakaguchi in 1973. And as a single player, Thesz fought with Inoki in 1975. At that time Lou Thesz was over 50 years old, probably nearly 60, but these fights were very impressive for me, an elementary school student.

They say Thesz's Back Drop made a beautiful bridge, and I think so, too. And I remember that Thesz often used another Back Drop which was very low and speedy. That speedy Back Drop was not striking comparatively, but I thought it was more powerful, and Thesz may have aimed at knock out with that trick. Every time Thesz used the low and speedy Back Drop, I felt my spine go cold.

THEME TUNES OF WRESTLERS

Tsuruta vs. Mascaras (1977)

When wrestlers appear in the hall and go to the ring, now it is usual that there are a loud music and showy special effects which stir up spectator's excitement. But in old days these things were nothing at all, wrestlers appeared aimlessly, and we watched them with breathless interest. I rather liked that strange tension before a starting bell without any music.

I think that wrestlers' theme tunes at going to the ring began in Japan. I don't know when it started, but the first impressive match of it was the fight of Jumbo Tsuruta and Mil Mascaras in 1977, in Denen Colosseum, the dear open air stadium. At that time the theme of Mascaras 'Sky High' and Jumbo's theme 'Chinese Kung-fu' sounded in the stadium, and we were surprised at that fresh atmosphere.

After that, almost wrestlers became to have their own theme tunes, and music became an important part of wrestling. Inoki's theme 'The Fighter of Fire' (Ali The Greatest), Riki Chosyu's 'Power Hall', Hansen's 'Rising Sun' and so on, there were many impressive tunes. And my favorite was the theme of the Funk brothers 'Spinning Toe Hold', performed by Creation. Every time I hear this tune, I go back to my childhood.

About the theme music, Giant Baba was very unique. His theme was the theme of the TV program of ALL JAPAN, and that was also the theme of sports programs of Nihon TV. In short, Baba may have thought nothing about music, but somehow that theme tune became him very well. Hearing this music, I recollect Baba's hard fights with Hansen and my pleasing high-school days. Afterwards Baba changed his theme, but absolutely the former tune was better !!

THE FASCINATION OF FUJINAMI

Fujinami's Dragon Sleeper Hold

Though I am a crazy fan of ALL JAPAN, it is not fair that I don't mention the wrestlers of NEW JAPAN. Today I introduce Tatsumi Fujinami who was a star wrestler of NEW JAPAN in the 80's. Fujinami was a pupil of Antonio Inoki. He fought with Canek in Mexico many times, and grew up to a unique technician. When he came back to Japan, he developed the new field of the wrestling world in Japan, that was the hard fights of Jr. heavy weight wrestlers.

Fujinami kept WWF International Jr. Championship, and fought with Chavo Guerrero, Dynamite Kid, and other strong enemies. His fight-style was like a 'small Inoki', but moreover, he used unique special tricks and holds. He transported Tope Suisida into Japan for the first time, that was the shocking Dragon Rocket. Because 'Tatsu' in his name means an oriental dragon, his tricks were named Dragon something.

Fujinami took a fall from Inoki with Dragon Suplex Hold

Fujinami's special hold which surprised us extremely was Dragon Suplex Hold. That is a very violent and an acrobatic trick that he throw back an opponent from Full Nelson. Using this special hold, he took a fall from the master Antonio Inoki in 1985. Afterwards Gary Albright often used it as Full Nelson Suplex, and that was very destructive, but I like Fijinami's speedy and elegant Suplex.

Since in the middle of 80's, Fujinami turned to a heavyweight wrestler, and showed good fights with Inoki, Hogan, Vader, and his rival Riki Chosyu. But because his weight was comparatively light, he was injured his waist by attacks of terrible big wrestlers. Though he was active for a long time as a veteran, I thought he lost his vividness of in his youth. It was very impressive that he wrested NWA Championship from Ric Flair, but at that time NWA was nearly ruined, it might be not recorded officially.

PURORESU AND PRO-WRESTLING

Antonio Inoki vs. Lou Thesz (1975)

In Japan pro-wrestling is called PURORESU, that is Japanese-style pronunciation of 'pro-wres'. PURORESU is different from pro-wrestling in USA, there is no gimmick, and there are few heel wrestlers. The wrestlers of PURORESU show their technique and strength like an amateur wrestling or a judo match, and they express their emotions within it. That might be influenced by the fight-style of Lou Thesz or Dory Funk Jr. Moreover, because Japan is not a multiracial nation, a racial gimmick is not understood. So that the unique style of PURORESU developed.

There was a typical pattern in the 60's and 70's. An unknown wrestler (what is called a mystery strong man) visits to Japan, and Japanese hero Baba or Inoki intercepts him. He may be a good wrestler or a fake, we don't know it until we see the real. But this pattern broke down when Hansen and Brody appeared. Since they fought with Baba, Inoki, and Tsuruta, we became to wish hard fights which are on a high level. For example, there is an innocent wrestler who is a local hero in USA, and his special trick is a simple Fist Drop. If he accidentally visits to Japan, he should be booed harshly.

Baba got NWA title from Brisco (1974)

The popular heel wrestlers in Japan were only two, Tiger Jeet Singh and Abdollah The Butcher. They pierced to act the cruelest heels like madmen, and they had technique and strength of wrestling, too. Singh defeated Inoki with terrible Brain Buster, and The Butcher won The Champion Carnival twice. But since in the 80's, they (especially The Butcher) seemed to aim at being lovable heels. But I don't know what is that. (^^;

It was the special feature of PURORESU that there were the authorities of big organizations in USA. Baba did his best to get the NWA belt, and he accomplished it three times. Inoki also wrested WWF Championship from Bob Backlund. But in the early 80's, NWA and other organizations in USA started to grow weak, Baba and Inoki began to made their own titles. I think that our good days of PURORESU ended at that time.

OHNITA AND DEATH MATCH

Atsushi Ohnita

In the 70's and 80's, there were two big organizations in the wrestling world of Japan, Giant Baba's ALL JAPAN and Antonio Inoki's NEW JAPAN. In other words, a wrestler who was fired by Baba or Inoki could not fight in Japan as a rule.

Atsushi Ohnita was a young wrestler of ALL JAPAN, and he was popular with wrestling fans as a vivid new star. He was often compared with Tiger Mask of NEW JAPAN, but Ohnita didn't use flying attacks, and he was comparatively rough and awkward. Ohnita got NWA International Jr. Championship from Chavo Guerrero, but when he fought with Hector Guerrero, he was injured his knee, and Baba advised him to retire.

Though Ohnita had not a penny (not an yen ?), he established his own organization FMW. There was Megumi Kudou, a popular woman wrestler, but most of the wrestlers were persons out of employment, to tell the truth FMW was a third-class party.

the barbed wire and electric bomb death match

After a while Ohnita found a way out of the difficulty, that was a death match. And then he thought of a new epoch-making style, the barbed wire and electric bomb death match !! (You don't think about it deeply.) Because of it, FMW suddenly became a popular party. As a result of the success of FMW, there were so many independent organizations in the 90's. That was a very strange scene.

And Ohnita repeated retiring and returning like Terry Funk (ha-ha), he was active as a wrestler and a TV personality, at last somehow he became a member of the Diet. I couldn't understand what had happened !!

WHICH TIGER DO YOU LIKE ?

Tiger Mask the first (Satoru Sayama)

Do you know there were two Tiger Mask in the wrestling world of Japan ? In fact there were more other tigers, but I need to refer the two Tiger Mask, the first and the second. Well, Tiger Mask was a famous Manga character in the 60's, and when the new Anime was created in the 80's, a young wrestler who was a pupil of Inoki, Satoru Sayama put on a mask of tiger. At first we made a fool of that plan, but when Tiger Mask appeared, we were surprised at his unbelievable movements.

Tiger Mask the first fought with Dynamite Kid, Kuniaki Kobayashi, and other Jr. heavy weight wrestlers, and he instantly made a big boom in Japan. Tiger kept WWF International Jr. Championship, and he wrested NWA World Jr. title from Les Thornton. But after that Thornton  was still fighting title matches as a champion in USA. (Why ?) However, Tiger Mask suddenly retired in 1983. They say there was a coup d'etat in NEW JAPAN and Tiger lost his passion for wrestling.

Tiger Mask the second (Mitsuharu Misawa)

In 1984, NEW JAPAN traded the mask of tiger to ALL JAPAN. A young wrestler Mitsuharu Misawa put on the mask, and Tiger Mask the second was born. The second was bigger than the first, and he could not jump like Sayama, but he used powerful Suplex and Elbow Butt as a heavy weight wrestler. It was very difficult that Tiger the second kept his tension getting much attention of fans of the first, but I think he was doing his best fights.

Tiger Mask the second challenged Kurt Henning, AWA World Champion, and he defeated Kurt on a count-out. (The title didn't move.) And he got PWF Tag Championship with Jumbo Tsuruta. He was active as a middle-level wrestler for six years, but in 1990 many wrestlers withdrew from the organization. ALL JAPAN had to make a new star, and Tiger Mask the second took off his mask on the ring. That was a shocking scene. And then, Mitsuharu Misawa fought against Jumbo Tsuruta many times, and Afterwards Misawa became the main prop of ALL JAPAN.

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.

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 !!

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.

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.

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.