HANSEN, GORDY vs. BRODY, SNUKA (2)

Stan Hansen, Terry Gordy vs. Bruiser Brody, Jimmy Snuka

ALL JAPAN, The World Tag League '87
Nov 22, 1987 Korakuen Hall (Tokyo)


The highlight of this match was a confrontation between Hansen and Brody, two big stars of ALL JAPAN, but I have to refer to their partners.

Terry Gordy visited to Japan at first as a member of The Free Birds. I remember that they were not popular with Japanese fan. Except by way of some exceptions, nearly always a typical heel doesn't catch on in Japan.

However, Gordy's fight-style and powerful tricks were valued by Baba. He became a main wrestler of ALL JAPAN, and fought against Tsuruta, Tenryu. His nickname in Japan was The Torpedo Man. May be it was a metaphor of his Lariat. (Between ourselves, this nickname suggests the suicide attack of Japanese soldiers.)

Jimmy Snuka won the tag league '81 with Brody, but at that time Hansen broke into the ring, Japanese fan paid attention to Hansen. In the next year Brody teamed up with Hansen, and they created a boom of the team of super monsters.

Snuka formed a new team with Harley Race. Though we expected his hard fights against Brody and Ricky Steamboat, Snuka was injured and Dick Slater was nominated for Race's new partner. Some people say that foreign wrestlers of ALL JAPAN punished Snuka because of the trouble in connection with his contract.

To be continued.

HANSEN, GORDY vs. BRODY, SNUKA

Stan Hansen, Terry Gordy vs. Bruiser Brody, Jimmy Snuka

ALL JAPAN, The World Tag League '87
Nov 22, 1987 Korakuen Hall (Tokyo)


In the history of Japanese wrestling, this must be the most memorable match. I think so keenly, and at least it is true that this was an important fight for us.

Brody had gotten International Championship from Dory Funk Jr. in 1981, in effect he had become the ace of ALL JAPAN's foreigner wrestlers.
Hansen had fought against Inoki harshly, but he suddenly moved to ALL JAPAN.
Brody and Hansen formed a tag team (the team of super monsters), and they conquered the wrestling world of Japan.

Temporally Brody joined NEW JAPAN in 1985, but it was a failure. He returned to ALL JAPAN, and teamed up with Snuka again. In fact, when they formed a team in the tag league '81, Hansen broke into the ring, and he gave a shock to Japanese fan.

At that time, TV commentator Yamada said "Hansen desuyo !!" (That's Hansen !!)
Because I like this dialogue "Hansen desuyo !!", I often say so everyday. (ha-ha)

To be continued.

HARLEY RACE vs. MIL MASCARAS

Harley Race vs. Mil Mascaras

ALL JAPAN, NWA world championship match
Sept 12, 1980 Ichinomiya Sangyou Taiikukan (Aichi)


Mil Mascaras was very popular with children in Japan. I see no reason why he became such a big star. He was smaller than Baba or Tsuruta, and his fight was always tedious. But my friend get angry every time I say so. He is a big fan of Mascaras.

Though Mascaras' theme was a hit song "Sky High", may be it was used in Japan only.

Harley Race had gotten back NWA title from Baba several days before. At that time he won the championship five times, and that was a great record next to Lou Thesz.

Well, Mascaras' attack was mainly Flying Cross Chop. And sometimes he used Body Press. It is the reason that I say his fight was tedious, but in this match his Plancha Suicida was wonderful. About Mascaras, the most unforgettable match was the fight against Tsuruta in1977, and this title match was nice fight, too.

(The result of this match was a draw on double ring-out.)

This is Race's Brain Buster !!
His nickname might be "Handsome Harley" or "The Beautiful Beast", but in Japan he was called "Mr. Pro-Wrestling". I liked his fight style of roughness and technique.

BABA, SAMMARTINO vs. SINGH, UEDA

Giant Baba, Bruno Sammartino vs. Tiger Jeet Singh, Umanosuke Ueda

ALL JAPAN
Oct 9, 1981 Kuramae Kokugikan (Tokyo)


This performance was opened as the tenth anniversary of the establishment of ALL JAPAN.
Giant Baba and Bruno Sammartino, two great wrestlers teamed up.
They were good friends since their rookie days. May be this was the first time that they formed a tag team.

Singh and Ueda, both of them were typical heels.
Though Singh had been belonging to NEW JAPAN, Baba took him over to ALL JAPAN.
At that time, the two parties conflicted harshly, it was called 'the war of headhunting'.
Singh and Hansen moved to ALL JAPAN, The Butcher and Bｒody were hired away by NEW JAPAN.

Well, the famous wrestlers met there, but frankly speaking this match was commonplace.
Bruno had been injured by Hansen in 1976, and he was a semi-retired wrestler. But we were satisfied with his Bear Hug !!

ANTONIO INOKI vs. TIGER TOGUCHI

Antonio Inoki vs. Tiger Toguchi

IWGP preliminary match
Sept 23, 1981 Denen Colosseum (Tokyo)


The theme music of Inoki (The Fighter of Fire) sounded in the stadium, Antonio Inoki appeared.
In fact, this music was Ali's theme, and Inoki used it as his own theme in memory of the fight with Ali.

It was an official match of IWGP.
IWGP was proposed by Inoki. It was a big tournament which decide the real world champion. Probably that was a fantasy, but in those days, many good wrestlers joined NEW JAPAN, such as Bob Backlund, Andore The Giant, Stan Hansen, Hulk Hogan, that was an interesting plan.

Tiger Toguchi had fought with BABA. His former name was Kim Duk.
His height was 193cm, He was taller than Inoki.
Toguchi attacked Inoki hard. His Pile Driver, Brain Buster, and Side Suplex beat Inoki.

However, these were Inoki's favorite tactics.
When the attacks of Toguchi ended, Inoki made a counterattack harshly.
Inoki's Enzui Giri (high angle kick for the back of the head) hit Toguchi. The finishing hold was Manji Gatame (Octopus Hold).

Though Toguchi was a strong wrestler, he was not active in NEW JAPAN. I think this was the only good match for him.
May be Inoki didn't like a conservative wrestler.

A HAPPENING OF THE INTERMISSION

NEW JAPAN
Sept 23, 1981 Denen Colosseum (Tokyo)


Before the main event, a little affair happened. That was a very little, but an unforgettable thing for us.

Rusher Kimura and Animal Hamaguchi who belonged to KOKUSAI PRO-WRESTLING stood on the ring.

KOKUSAI had been a rival party of NEW JAPAN. But it had failed a month before, and the wrestlers were looking for their place of fight.

When they appeared, the fans of NEW JAPAN burst out laughing, because KOKUSAI was made a fool of. To tell the truth, NEW JAPAN and ALL JAPAN were first-class parties, but KOKUSAI was unpopular and uncouth.

However, KOKUSAI was a unique party. It had joined hands with AWA, and invited good wrestlers of Europe, such as Bill Robinson, Andore The Giant.

Well, Rusher Kimura took a mike. I thought he would say "Hey, Inoki, I'll kill you !"
But he said softly "Good evening, everyone."
My strength was gone. This was famous 'good evening affair'. (Nonsense !)

Now, Animal Hamaguchi is managing a wrestling school, and his daughter Kyoko is a famous amateur wrestler.

Kimura fought with Inoki as a heel, and joined ALL JAPAN afterwards. Surprisingly, he won popularity on account of his performance with a mike !!

STAN HANSEN VS. ANDRE THE GIANT

Stan Hansen vs. Andre The Giant

NEW JAPAN
Sept 23, 1981 Denen Colosseum (Tokyo)


Probably it was Inoki's idea that Andre should fight a single match with a star wrestler.
In fact, Inoki put the idea into practice, and in USA, Hulk Hogan did it, too.

And that night, an amazing match came true.
It was very impressive fight for us, what is called 'PURORESU' boys.

Hansen became the fifth man who threw Andre with Body Slam.
Incidentally, the four men were Harley Race, Roland Bock, Hulk Hogan, and Antonio Inoki.
Karl Gotch had thrown Andre with German Suplex, but at that time Andre had been comparatively thin. (may be)

The result of this match,
Both of them were out of the ring, and the referee (Mr. Takahashi) declared a draw on count-out.
(I don't know a wrestling term which express this situation, but in Japan, we call it simply 'double ring-out'.)

Hansen and Andre didn't consent this decision, and the match went into extra round.
After that, the highlight was a fighting spirit of Hansen.
Hansen's Western Lariat struck Andre harshly. Andre became frenzied, and attacked Mr.Takahashi.  (It was Takahashi's misfortune.)

Of course, Andre lost on a foul, he saved his honer narrowly, but we were deeply impressed by Hansen's power.