Control21

He would probably be eligible for a foreign exemption, I think

Both would be ineligible, going by the rules

I think Vampiro screwed around as a jobber/trainee in Montreal for a while before heading down to Mexico to start his actual career. IWD and Cagematch don't really show him doing much before that. He didn't wrestle regularly in the US until the late 1990s.

UWF Newborn – “U-COSMOS Grand Prix: First Round” August 26th, 1990 Sapporo, Japan Nakajima Sports Center Attendance: 5,200 (sold out) Broadcast: WOWOW (live) The WOWOW broadcast opens with interviews featuring all 24 wrestlers in this year's tournament. They all hype up their chances and goals. A recap is shown of last year's tournament, and then we get the live commentary crew welcoming everyone to this evening's show in Sapporo. They break down the bracket and tonight's matches. After some previews, we get the parade of wrestlers as usual, with the UWF theme blasting in the arena. Lou Thesz and Akira Maeda give some opening remarks to formally kick off this year's Grand Prix, and Funaki, Backlund, Onita, and Yamazaki make brief comments as well. After a good firework and light show for the crowd, we are underway! Tatsuo Nakano vs Dick Vrij The 1990 U-COSMOS Grand Prix opened with a very interesting match on paper. Nakano had a consistent year in UWF and worked hard, although he didn’t have many big wins under his belt. This would be a good opportunity to change that. Dick Vrij had become a formidable opponent for anyone, with his bodybuilder-esque frame and a style that earned him the nickname “Cyborg.” Vrij opened the match by throwing sharp low and middle kicks that cracked against Nakano’s legs and body, while Nakano charged forward, eating shots to get inside and throw back stiff palm strikes and body shots. The opening minutes saw Nakano bull his way into a clinch, dragging Vrij to the mat with a basic takedown and immediately hunting for an arm, but the Dutchman wasted no time lunging for the ropes, burning his first rope break to escape. Back on his feet, Vrij wasted no time getting back to work, circling and stinging Nakano with heavy kicks, one of which landed flush on the thigh and caused Nakano to stumble to the mat, giving Vrij the first knockdown count. Nakano recovered with his trademark stubbornness, firing back with palm strikes that bloodied Vrij’s lip and kept the Sapporo crowd on edge. Nakano then seized an opening at around the eight-minute mark to trip Vrij into a scramble, nearly wrenching a leglock before Vrij clutched the ropes again to survive. The score was even at 1-1. Vrij’s striking skills were on display once again as he stuffed further takedown attempts and battered Nakano’s body with knees from the Muay Thai clinch. The knees were enough to send Nakano to the mat again for another knockdown, and Vrij now enjoyed a 2-1 lead. Nakano rallied, managing a raw side suplex for a clean takedown that drew cheers, yet he couldn’t hold Vrij down long before Vrij got back on his feet. Vrij remained poised, snapping Nakano’s head back with straight palm strikes and doubling up with kicks to keep him outside his comfort zone. The decisive moment came around the twelve-minute mark. After getting another rope break from Vrij and tying the match at 2-2, Nakano rushed forward, swinging with his palms, only for Vrij to clinch, pin him upright, and drive a crushing knee into his ribs. Nakano was slowing down, but tried to press on. Vrij unleashed a brutal right middle kick followed by a left high kick that cracked across the temple, sending Nakano sprawling to the mat in a heap. The referee dropped to start the count, but it was academic. Nakano was slow to recover and unable to beat Shimada’s count by the end. Vrij defeats Nakano via KO, 12:11 Minoru Suzuki vs Dave Taylor Nothing would do Suzuki more favors than a deep run in this year’s Grand Prix. Suzuki has been steadily improving and making a name for himself as one of the brightest UWF talents on the roster. With Masakatsu Funaki also gaining steam this year, it was quite important for Suzuki to keep pace. Dave Taylor was a new member on the UWF roster, but was quite impressive in his debut and earned a bid as a representative of the British “wing” of the UWF. It didn’t hurt to have Billy Robinson in your corner either. Taylor, schooled in the British catch tradition, immediately grounded the action. Taylor forced Suzuki into wrist control and methodical mat sequences, where he applied grinding pressure through chained submission wrestling that tested his opponent in multiple ways. Suzuki responded by firing short palm strikes to Taylor’s jaw in the clinch and kicking at his legs when space allowed, but the veteran Brit absorbed them and repeatedly funneled the fight back to the canvas, where he preferred to dictate. Early on, Taylor scored the first knockdown by catching Suzuki off a wild strike and dumping him with a German suplex. Suzuki hit the mat hard and was down long enough for Shimada to start the count. Suzuki responded early and quickly went back to work. Suzuki quickened his pace, chaining armlock attempts and leg entanglements in a furious bid to shift the momentum, forcing Taylor into burning his first rope break after a sudden transition into a cross-armbreaker. Suzuki’s aggression seemed to work in his favor. Each time Taylor seemed to establish control, Suzuki would slip free and then swarm into another attack. The two men traded rope breaks. Taylor leaned into them when Suzuki latched on too tightly, and Suzuki, after Taylor locked a deep double wristlock near the mat’s center. With the match now tied 2-2 on points at around the ten-minute mark, the contest evolved into a stalemate. Taylor relied on positional dominance, but Suzuki countered with bursts of submission chaining that kept the veteran on edge. Taylor seemed especially vulnerable to leglocks, and Suzuki worked again to get a heel hook or kneebar. The crowd, sensing the big moment, roared as Suzuki caught Taylor in a rear mount late in the match, raining open-handed strikes before Taylor rolled free and attempted to find a clever pinning combination. But Suzuki escaped Taylor’s bridging pin attempt. He then caught the Brit off guard with a sudden switch into a rolling cradle variation, pinning both shoulders flush to the mat. Shimada slapped the canvas three times, and the audience erupted as the young upstart scored a clean pinfall over the Englishman. Suzuki defeats Taylor via pinfall, 13:46 Ahmed Johnson vs Duane Koslowski Duane Koslowski and Ahmed Johnson were both power-based wrestlers, although Koslowski perhaps had more finesse to his game. Johnson started the match by pressing Koslowski constantly, relying on his explosiveness and heavy body punches to overwhelm the Olympian. Johnson connected with several thudding shots to the midsection that drew reactions from the crowd and forced Koslowski into defensive grappling early. A sudden body lock slam from Johnson earned the first knockdown of the match as Koslowski was slow to recover under the referee’s count, and the momentum stayed with the powerhouse as he attempted to keep the pace frantic. Koslowski steadied himself and forced Johnson into close quarters, sprawling on a double-leg attempt and cinching a front headlock before transitioning into an armbar attempt, which Johnson survived by grabbing the ropes for his first break. The pace stabilized a bit. Johnson continued to throw bursts of punches and tried to muscle Koslowski to the mat, while Koslowski increasingly found ways to close the distance, tie up the upper body, and slow the bout into a wrestling match on his terms. Koslowski displayed his superior skills on the mat and forced Johnson into another rope break after a double wristlock attempt. With the match tied at 1-1, Johnson nearly landed another clean slam but was reversed in the clinch, and Koslowski capitalized with a high-arching belly-to-belly suplex that stunned the crowd and forced a knockdown as Johnson struggled to regroup. Smelling the shift and leading 2-1 on points, Koslowski pressured with deliberate clinch work. Koslowski denied Johnson the space to throw bombs and soon delivered a crushing Greco back suplex that dropped Johnson hard on his shoulders. Johnson somehow quickly got back up and was just barely able to convince the referee to avoid another ten count. Johnson charged back with wild palm strikes and a final burst of body punches, but Koslowski maintained his composure, slipped into double underhooks, and powered Johnson overhead with a German suplex, bridging tightly for the pin. Johnson was stunned and could not muster the energy to kick out. The referee’s hand hit three, giving Koslowski the victory. Koslowski defeats Johnson via pinfall, 14:12 Eugenio Tadeu vs Joe Malenko The next match would be a very intriguing clash of styles, and the fans sensed it as they cheered for both competitors making their way to the ring. Malenko’s catch-as-catch-can foundation would meet Tadeu’s dynamic blend of Luta Livre, Muay Thai, and Capoeira. After the bell sounded, Malenko worked patiently, working for clinches to try and bring Tadeu down to the mat and neutralize his standing skills. Tadeu darted in and out with footwork and feints, throwing probing low kicks and palm strikes. Despite being frustrated early, Malenko weathered the storm and earned the first rope break when Tadeu’s rolling kneebar attempt was stuffed, and Malenko managed to bring him to the mat. Tadeu was able to defend well early, but Malenko continued to test his skills and found a heel hook that forced Tadeu to the ropes. Back on their feet, the Brazilian answered with a stiff kick to the shoulder that staggered Malenko briefly. Another takedown attempt from Malenko drew applause when he muscled Tadeu down with a catch-style double wristlock setup into a front facelock, but the Luta Livre fighter showed his improvisation skills, rolling free into a scramble and diving for a guillotine before Malenko found sanctuary in the ropes. The crowd was quite pleased that Malenko dropped Tadeu with a crisp German suplex that forced the referee’s first knockdown count of the bout. Tadeu got up quickly and established control on his feet, with his evasive movement beginning to frustrate Malenko, who was forced to lunge more aggressively, and that opened up angles for Tadeu’s creative striking that thrilled the Sapporo crowd. A sharp counter-leg kick followed by a sudden flying armbar nearly ended the bout around the ten-minute mark, but Malenko’s patience saved him as he stacked forward and used the ropes for a clean break. The match was tied 1-1 on points. The atmosphere grew tense as Tadeu landed more hard strikes on Malenko. Malenko succeeded in slowing the pace momentarily, pressing Tadeu into a corner and fishing for an armbar. After a brief scramble on the mat that ended with both men getting back on their feet, Tadeu’s explosiveness turned the tide. The Brazilian found Malenko in a clinch and immediately launched piston-like knees to the ribs that folded Malenko over, the sound echoing through the arena as the crowd rose in anticipation. A final crushing knee to the solar plexus dropped Malenko to his knees, gasping and unable to respond to the referee’s count, giving Tadeu the knockout victory. Tadeu defeats Malenko via KO, 13:36 Wayne Shamrock vs Salman Hashimikov Wayne Shamrock perhaps wished for a better draw here. Salman Hashimikov has been on a hot streak recently and looked to cement himself further by making a deep run in the Grand Prix. Shamrock was certainly up to the challenge. From the opening moments, the American tried to impose his speed, darting in with low body punches and sharp palm strikes to draw reactions from the Soviet. Shamrock then went for a quick single-leg, but Hashimikov’s size and balance stifled the attempt. The Chechen answered by muscling Shamrock into the ropes, where a clean break was called. Shamrock pushed the pace again, this time mixing in a quick exchange of body shots before exploding with a double-leg that got the Soviet strongman down. The crowd cheered as Shamrock worked to establish control on the mat. Hashimikov’s heavy hips smothered any chance at a leglock, and Shamrock was forced to work a bit more. Unable to get anything going, Shamrock seemed a bit perplexed, and eventually the referee got both men back on their feet. The next stage of the match started with Shamrock firing off more palm strikes and looking to create more opportunities to scramble. Hashimikov waited patiently to counter and caught Shamrock in a clinch for an impressive belly-to-belly suplex. Hashimikov quickly went for a keylock attempt, and this forced the American to get to the ropes quickly for the first rope break of the match. Hashimikov continued to be patient as Shamrock continued his high-energy approach. The Soviet fought off Shamrock’s striking attempts and found more success when the American overcommitted to a bodylock, allowing Hashimikov to arch back with a thunderous German suplex that brought the crowd to its feet and forced the referee’s first knockdown count against Shamrock. Shamrock, defiant, beat the count and charged back with another beautiful double-leg takedown that got the Soviet off his feet again. Shamrock found more success on the mat and forced Hashimikov to defend as he worked for a cross-armbreaker attempt. Shamrock scared him enough to earn a rope break. Another mat scramble almost immediately after saw Shamrock find similar success, and the match was now tied 1-1 on points. The later stages of the bout saw Hashimikov reassert himself. The Soviet baited Shamrock into another clinch, and Hashimikov scored another belly-to-belly suplex, sending Shamrock back to the mat. Hashimikov followed and crushed him with weight and positional control. The Soviet methodically worked and exhausted his opponent, using his size to grind Shamrock and pressure his defense. At around the twelve-minute mark, Shamrock attempted to use a burst of energy to catch Hashimikov by surprise with some smooth counterwork on the mat, but the Chechen snatched an arm in the scramble. With startling speed for a man his size, he dropped into a cross-armbreaker, fully extending Shamrock’s arm before the American could wriggle free. Shamrock fought hard, twisting and clawing for the ropes, but Hashimikov’s grip was immovable, and within seconds Shamrock tapped. Hashimikov defeats Shamrock via submission (cross-armbreaker), 12:28 Dennis Koslowski vs Victor Zangiev With the rivalry between the Koslowski twins and the Soviet duo of Zangiev and Hashimikov reaching fever pitch this year, resulting in the Koslowskis defeating the Soviets for the tag team title belts at the Anniversary show, these two had something to prove. Zangiev was eager to get one over the American, while Koslowski wanted to show that they would not allow the Soviets to get even with them. After the bell sounded, both wrestlers seemed willing to go to the mat early. Zangiev tried to impose himself, keeping Koslowski down with front headlocks. Koslowski answered with Greco-Roman upper-body control, digging underhooks and working for reversals, forcing Zangiev to adjust. The first big moment came when Zangiev slipped behind with a waistlock and hurled Koslowski into a rolling suplex, a heavy impact that left Koslowski briefly stunned on the mat. The referee seemed ready to start a ten-count, but Koslowski recovered quickly and went straight back to grounding Zangiev with steady mat wrestling. Koslowski went for Zangiev’s back with tight waist control, fishing for arm locks. Zangiev broke free and stood back up. The Soviet escalated the pace, hammering in palm strikes and landing a sudden hip toss into side control, from which he briefly threatened a SAMBO-inspired shoulder lock before Koslowski wriggled to the ropes, costing him his first rope break. The middle stretch was fought with more parity, as Koslowski repeatedly shot for bodylock takedowns while Zangiev countered with throws that tested the American’s balance. Neither could find much control on the mat for an extended period, and eventually both found themselves tied 1-1 on points after several rope breaks. Near the ten-minute mark, Zangiev exploded with a perfectly timed belly-to-belly that dumped Koslowski hard. Zangiev went to establish side control, but Koslowski’s folkstyle instincts allowed him to roll through with a sweeping motion. The Soviet found himself on the other side instead, and was forced to defend as Koslowski went for a straight armlock. Zangiev reached for the ropes again to escape and force a reset. The finish came shortly after another great scramble. Zangiev shot in low, but Koslowski sprawled, spun around to the back, and drove Zangiev flat to the mat. Koslowski immediately worked for a folkstyle-inspired half-nelson cradle. Koslowski trapped Zangiev’s arm and head, rolling him to his shoulders with a tight grip, pinning both shoulders square while grapevining the leg to block any escape. Zangiev bucked wildly, but Koslowski’s leverage and amateur control were not going to relent. The referee counted to three to confirm the pinfall. Koslowski defeats Zangiev via pinfall, 15:14 Kazuo Yamazaki vs Atsushi Onita With a huge win over Yoshiaki Fujiwara in Brazil, Onita was looking to keep his momentum going. A win in the Grand Prix would do just that. Yamazaki, on the other hand, was looking to get a new streak of wins going. Onita was becoming a feared member of the UWF roster, and tonight’s match would not be an easy task. Both wrestlers would leave everything on the table. The opening stretch immediately saw sparks fly. Yamazaki moved with precision, firing off sharp low kicks that cracked against Onita’s thigh and ribcage. Yamazaki used his striking skills to dictate the range and flow of the match early. Onita, true to form, lunged forward with palm strikes to the jaw and body punches in the clinch, throwing his weight into every exchange. Yamazaki stunned him early with a clean middle kick to the sternum, sending Onita stumbling backward for the first knockdown, but Onita responded with urgency and got back up quickly. Yamazaki held an early 1-0 lead, but this did not stop Onita. Onita rushed inside and caught Yamazaki off balance with a sudden belly-to-belly suplex that dropped him hard. Onita followed and attempted to establish control on the mat, but Yamazaki was alert and immediately utilized his defense to neutralize Onita’s quick attempt at a kneebar. Both men traded rope breaks in the grappling sequences that followed. Yamazaki dove into an armbar attempt from guard, forcing Onita into the ropes once, and later, Onita countered a takedown into a heel hook, which Yamazaki wisely broke with a grab of the ropes. After both men got back on their feet, Yamazaki went back to work with crisp kicks, while Onita pressed forward relentlessly, shrugging off punishment to hurl slaps and body shots in bunches. Yamazaki nearly ended it midway, catching Onita flush with a spinning back kick that sent him down for his second knockdown. Onita beat the ten-count with relative ease, but Yamazaki still maintained a 2-0 lead on points. Onita was then caught by a single-leg takedown. Yamazaki followed with a juji-gatame attempt, but Onita’s rope grab saved him. Yamazaki built up his lead to 3-0, but Onita quickly got a point back after he took down Yamazaki with an inside trip and locked in a kneebar, which Yamazaki broke with a rope escape. The bout’s intensity heightened as Yamazaki dug in with leg kicks and knee strikes, while Onita, bruised but undeterred, fired off his own palm strike barrages, even dragging Yamazaki down in a scramble and briefly mounting him with hammering strikes to the chest. The final minutes pushed the contest into a visceral struggle, with the audience rallying behind the underdog performance from Onita. Yamazaki, bleeding slightly from the mouth after absorbing a stiff palm strike, doubled down on his approach, looking to pick apart Onita systematically. He grounded him again with a smooth inside trip and flowed into a keylock, drawing gasps as Onita twisted in pain, but the charismatic brawler found the ropes a second time, costing him yet another rope break. Sensing his margin shrinking, Onita shifted to desperation. With about three minutes left, he baited Yamazaki into a kick exchange, absorbed a heavy low kick, and then surged forward with a clinch, smashing Yamazaki with repeated body punches and a wild palm strike flurry that staggered him down to a knee for his first knockdown. The crowd erupted, and Onita pressed his advantage. Yamazaki tried to reassert control, shooting for a bodylock, but Onita sprawled, spun to his back, and locked his arms tight around the neck. The guillotine choke was wrenched in brutally, Onita pulling guard and arching his back with all the ferocity of a man fighting not just for victory but for pride. Yamazaki kicked his legs, tried to posture, even attempted to roll, but Onita’s grip was suffocating, his forearms biting into the throat. The referee knelt close, checking as Yamazaki’s resistance weakened, and after several seconds of visible struggle, the technician finally tapped. Onita was tonight’s victor, and the crowd loved it. Onita defeats Yamazaki via submission (guillotine choke), 17:31 Masakatsu Fuanki vs Bob Backlund Inside the Nakajima Sports Center, the crowd awaited the main event with anticipation, knowing it would be a classic. Masakatsu Funaki, the young prodigy of the UWF system, against Bob Backlund. This would be a rematch from last year, where Backlund won via disqualification. A lot would be riding on this match. Backlund was looking to re-establish himself in the UWF as a top foreigner, and Funaki wanted to go far in the tournament to truly prove why he is considered one of the best talents in Japanese professional wrestling. The opening minutes saw Funaki test Backlund with probing low kicks and sharp palm strikes. Backlund, with his wide-legged stance and hunched guard, approached like a wrestler stalking for an opening, occasionally lunging with unorthodox feints or suddenly breaking into a grin. Funaki appeared unsettled at first, but this was fleeting. Funaki clipped him early with a pair of heavy kicks to the thigh, drawing audible reactions from the crowd, but Backlund quickly closed the distance with a snap double-leg takedown, driving Funaki to the canvas and immediately shifting into side control. Backlund’s folkstyle instincts shone through as he rode tight, grinding his forearm into Funaki’s face and looking for crossface cranks and half-nelson positions, not with the intent to submit, but to force a rope escape or sap energy. Funaki displayed his skill, twisted his hips, snuck a butterfly hook inside, and swept Backlund back to neutral, drawing cheers for composure. The first ten minutes established the bout’s framework. Funaki pressed Backlund with hard strikes and movement, while Backlund repeatedly dragged him into grappling exchanges where leverage and pressure reigned supreme. Backlund built up an early 1-0 lead on points after forcing Funaki to the ropes twice. Things picked up more when Funaki scored the first official knockdown with a sharp body kick followed by a sudden palm strike flurry that staggered Backlund to a knee, the referee administering a count as the American shook off the cobwebs with a peculiar, almost defiant smile. Backlund rebounded immediately, charging into the clinch and executing a powerful side suplex that rattled Funaki on the mat. Backlund went for the top position and started to pressure Funaki on the mat again. Funaki had no choice but to go for another rope break after Backlund attempted a double wristlock. The two continued to go back and forth on the mat and on their feet. The scoreline evened at 2-2 in knockdowns and rope breaks, and the sense of balance in the match kept the fans on edge. Funaki began to increase his striking volume, targeting the legs and ribs with heavy kicks, but Backlund answered with sheer persistence, at one point hoisting Funaki overhead in a sudden Olympic slam, the landing drawing a loud gasp from the arena. Backlund went down to the mat again to follow and forced Funaki to get back on his feet. Perhaps breaking up a crucial knockdown in the process. The later stages of the bout became a battle of attrition. Funaki relied on his Koppo-inspired palm strikes and calculated leg attacks, landing repeated inside kicks that slowed Backlund’s approach. Yet Backlund surged forward in bursts, dropping into scrambles and chaining takedowns with uncanny stamina. At one point, Funaki sprawled beautifully on a shot, only for Backlund to switch directions mid-motion and dump him with a cradle, the pressure forcing Funaki into the ropes for another rope escape, costing him his third knockdown. With Backlund leading 3-2 on points, the crowd sensed the stakes rising as both men chipped away at one another’s reserves. Funaki scored another knockdown with a stiff middle kick followed by a sudden high kick that caught Backlund’s temple, sending him crashing down for a referee count at around nineteen minutes. Backlund, however, beat the count with his trademark energy, slapping his own chest and charging forward as though the damage had only fueled his resolve. The match was tied again at 3-3. The audience roared at the sight of the veteran’s heart. Funaki, smelling blood, became more aggressive, mixing feints and palm strikes to push Backlund toward the corner. As Backlund ducked into another clinch attempt, Funaki pivoted sharply, landing a flush knee to the body that folded Backlund slightly. He immediately transitioned behind, locking his arms and dragging Backlund to the mat with a quick trip. From there, Funaki wasted no time. Funaki isolated the arm, stepping over and cinching in a textbook cross-armbreaker, the hold executed with the fluidity of years of Gotch and Robinson’s instruction. Backlund resisted initially, bridging and twisting with all his energy, but Funaki’s control was impeccable. The torque on Backlund’s elbow grew unbearable, and after several seconds of visible strain and a brief grimace that betrayed his pain, the American finally tapped out. The crowd erupted, applauding both men for a contest that would surely go down as one of UWF’s best so far this year. Chants for Funaki quickly broke out as he hopped on a turnbuckle and celebrated. Funaki defeats Backlund via submission (cross-armbreaker), 22:42 Funaki continues to celebrate, and the fans are going wild for Funaki's huge win tonight. Backlund takes his time to recover, but eventually approaches Funaki and shakes his hand. Backlund leaves the ring to give Funaki his moment, and he makes his way to the back as the UWF theme plays again. The commentators comment on how Funaki looks sharp and ready to advance farther in the tournament....but how far will he go? He has Yoshiaki Fujiwara next, and that won't be an easy match. They recap the other matches of the evening. They show the updated bracket and advertise the show for the next round, which will take place on September 30th in Hiroshima! Both Backlund and Funaki give taped interview remarks backstage, with Backlund congratulating Funaki on his progress and his victory. Backlund says that some have speculated about his future in UWF.....and while tonight was disappointing, he still has unfinished business and is looking forward to next year. Funaki says that Backlund was a worthy opponent and that he is now looking forward to wrestling Fujiwara. The crew signs off, and we get the rolling credits from WOWOW, with highlights set to Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down."

PCW has had a strong summer so far. Really solid events, and the most recent one is no exception. Ted Dibiase keeps being pushed to the limits, but he knows how to win in the process. The Force of July beating the OWC is a bit of an upset for me, but they've been very consistent, and their time was going to come eventually. Bam Bam seems primed for a big run here eventually. Art Barr vs Too Cold sounded like a tremendous match.

Steiners vs Road Warriors sounds like a tremendous feud. That would be a great match. Lawler is having a great run as champion. I'm not sure if anyone can touch him right now. He seems to be on course for a very long reign as champion. Keep up the great work! USWA continues to deliver a very unique flavor and knows when to push the envelope to advance the product and make the territory a lot more interesting across the board.

Great work with WCW over the past several weeks! You do a great job at managing the roster and keeping the cards fresh and interesting. Scott Hall is primed for a major push, I think, and might be one of the most promising prospects on the WCW roster. Lex Luger has been solid champion as well. It'll be interesting to see if anyone can dethrone him before the new year.

UWF is pleased to announce the bracket for the 1990 U-COSMOS Grand Prix! The event will start on August 26th with the first round in Sapporo. A press conference was held today in Tokyo, and the hype for this year's tournament is in full swing with tickets for the final at the Tokyo Dome on New Year's Eve already on sale. Who will come out on top and become the next Undisputed World Heavyweight champion? Or will Sayama run the gauntlet and defend his title?

Israel is a pretty funny case because UWFi held a show there in 1995, which was a very well attended. UWFi Bushido was also apparently a very popular program on Israeli TV and often drew big ratings in prime time

Wrestle Rock was a fantastic event up and down the card. I really enjoyed reading that. AWA seems to be on a roll right now with a lot of interesting programs and a very experienced roster that appears to deliver every night and gives the fans their money's worth. Ric Flair as AWA's champion is going to open up a lot of interesting doors for the promotion.

Summerslam delivered as expected. The Rougeau Brothers beating The Commonwealth is a bit of an upset for me, but that match still sounded really solid! I was also impressed with Kevin Von Erich getting the win over Jake Roberts. The One Man Gang also came across as a huge threat after dispatching Bad News Brown with ease. Terry Funk also taught Dusty Rhodes a lesson, and I'm sure Dusty won't go away quietly. Looking forward to what comes next!

UWF Newborn –“Brazil Martial Arts Festival” August 16th, 1990 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Ginásio Gilberto Cardoso Attendance: 20,000 (sold out) Broadcast: WOWOW (taped) The WOWOW broadcast team greets the viewing audience, who are there live at ringside in Brazil. They talk about the highly anticipated event and note how it's the first major professional wrestling event in Brazil since the early 1980s. They break down tonight's card and highlight the debut of Giant Silva, Wallid Ismail, and Murilo Bustamante. They also note Aleksandr Karelin vs Naoya Ogawa, Atsushi Onita vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara, and the main event where Sayama will defend his title against Marco Ruas. Karl Gotch, Billy Robinson, and Lou Thesz are also there at the event and are seen at ringside. Various interviews are shown, including with fans who bought tickets to the event. Various wrestlers on tonight's card also give their thoughts, including Akira Maeda, Satoru Sayama, Marco Ruas, and Giant Silva. Karl Gotch is also seen discussing the importance of this event not only for Brazil, but for the world of professional wrestling in general. He views Brazil as a country with a rich history of combat sports, and that the amount of talent in the country is just waiting to be tapped. He shoots on the Gracies as well and calls them cowards for trying to disrupt the event. Lou Thez and Billy Robinson also give their thoughts on the event. The broadcast switches to the official opening of the event, with Nobuyuki Furuta formally commencing the proceedings. The UWF theme plays in the arena, and the crowd goes crazy as the wrestlers make their way to the ring. Akira Maeda, Marco Ruas, Satoru Sayama, Atsushi Onita, and Aleksandr Karelin all give some remarks, which are, of course, translated too. Finally, some notable figures from the world of Luta Livre and Vale Tudo are greeted in the ring and are given some awards by Akira Maeda and other UWF representatives. Akira Maeda says he would like to have a minute of silence for Ivan Gomes, a Brazilian Vale Tudo pioneer who wrestled in Japan during the 1970s. Gomes had unfortunately passed away earlier in March 1990. Maeda also holds up a portrait of Gomes. After a minute, the crowd applauds, and the event is ready to get started. Giant Silva vs Tatsuo Nakano The Ginásio Gilberto Cardoso had eagerly anticipated the opening match, and were ready to go as they greeted the man known as Giant Silva. Silva marched slowly to the ring with a look of confidence. The 7’2 big man was a towering presence, a bit lanky but also with some muscle for balance. Tatsuo Nakano entered next and seemed a bit wary of the big unknown standing in front of him in the ring. Nobuyuki Furuta made the ring introductions, with the translator following afterward. Yuji Shimada made quick checks on both men and called for the bell soon afterward to kick off the historic event. Nakano darted in and out, testing Silva’s reach with low kicks and quick palm strikes to the midsection, but Giant Silva’s sheer size made it difficult to find a safe avenue to approach from. Silva, calm and deliberate, used his long arms to push Nakano back toward the ropes, eventually trapping him in a clinch where heavy knees to the ribs thudded audibly in the arena. With nowhere to go, Nakano felt the full force of Silva’s sharp knees and quickly went down for the first ten count of the match. Nakano got up quickly and didn’t hesitate to go back to work. Silva attempted to go in for another standing clinch, but Nakano managed to slip free, landing a sharp low kick and a couple of body shots before circling out. Giant Silva did not seem bothered and continued to stalk his opponent. Midway through the match, Silva caught him rushing in and wrapped him in a crushing collar tie, forcing him into the corner where more knees and forearm smashes landed. The size disparity became increasingly apparent as Nakano had no answer for Giant Silva’s reach and size. Silva made quick work of Nakano again. Nakano collapsed to the mat, and Shimada initiated another ten-count. Leading 2-0 on points, it was quite apparent that Silva was raw but impressively forceful in his approach. When Nakano tried to shoot for a takedown, Silva sprawled, muscled him upright, and delivered a heavy palm strike to the face that sent the smaller man stumbling to the mat for a third knockdown. The crowd roared as Nakano rose at eight, defiant but visibly shaken. Silva’s palm strike caught him in the nose, and blood started to pour out, much to the delight of the fans sitting near ringside. Silva had a commanding 3-0 lead and seemed to enjoy bossing around his opponent. Silva closed in another clinch, leading to a driving knee that bent Nakano forward. Silva worked in a few body punches for good measure as Nakano went down again for a 4th knockdown. Nakano was getting battered and took his time to get up again before beating the count from Shimada. A final sharp palm strike to the side of the head sent him crumpling to the canvas, the referee immediately stepping in to signal a TKO at the ten-minute mark. The hometown crowd erupted in approval for the Brazilian giant, whose raw power proved too much for Nakano tonight. Perhaps Nakano simply didn’t know what to expect from the former basketball Olympian. Giant Silva defeats Nakano via TKO, 10:04 Murilo Bustamante vs Yoji Anjo Yoji Anjo would be the next UWF wrestler to face quite a bit of an unknown tonight. Murilo Bustamante was a well-rounded Vale Tudo fighter recruited by Marco Ruas. Despite Bustamante’s background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the Brazilian grew closer to Ruas’ orbit after a political fallout with the Gracie family. He had a good opportunity tonight to make a name for himself against Yoji Anjo. After the introductions and checks were made, Shimada called for the bell to commence the match. The Brazilian maintained an upright stance while Anjo circled and flicked probing low kicks. Bustamante answered with sharp, straight palm strikes to the body, using his boxing background to keep Anjo from closing in. Anjo managed to slip inside for a quick clinch, landing short knees before breaking away, but Bustamante immediately reasserted control with a clean double jab to the midsection followed by a level change into a smooth inside trip. The takedown drew applause, but Anjo scrambled well, using his agility to reach to scramble out of Bustamante’s grip and roll towards the ropes for a clean break. Resetting in the center ring, Anjo tried to increase tempo with flurries of palm strikes to the head, forcing Bustamante to cover and counter with a stiff body punch that made Anjo recoil. Bustamante started to get a better feel for his opponent, and Anjo seemed to be a bit outclassed when Bustamante got the opportunity to take his opponent to the mat. Bustamante’s positional sense was top-tier, and Anjo struggled as he attempted to defend Bustamante’s timing at picking limbs and angles to attack. Bustamante was especially formidable with his counterwork, and Anjo could get little going. After exhausting a few rope breaks, Anjo was down 2-0 on points by the five-minute mark and seemed a bit desperate as time moved forward. Smelling an opportunity, Bustamante pressured forward, clinching against the ropes and hitting another crisp takedown into side control. This time, he locked his weight down, his hips pinning Anjo’s escape attempts. As Anjo attempted to defend from his back, Bustamante slid his arm under the neck, transitioning fluidly into an arm-triangle choke. Anjo kicked his legs and shifted to relieve the pressure, but Bustamante’s positioning was textbook. The crowd cheered with anticipation as the choke deepened; Anjo’s resistance slowed, his movements weakened until Shimada saw enough and intervented, calling for the bell in the process. Bustamante lept up and celebrated by jumping on the nearest turnbuckle while Anjo remained on the canvas almost motionless before slowly recovering. Bustamante defeats Anjo via submission (arm triangle choke), 9:42 Wallid Ismail vs Eugenio Tadeu The next match saw two hometown heroes facing off for bragging rights, with a potential for a violent match quite high between two Vale Tudo specialists. Neither wasted much time once the bell rang to begin the contest. Ismail forward instantly, closing the gap before Tadeu could set his rhythm. They locked in a tight clinch. Ismail peppered in short palm strikes to the head and body before hitting a well-timed inside trip. He landed in side control, driving his shoulder into Tadeu’s jaw and threatening with an arm-triangle choke. The crowd gasped as Tadeu twisted desperately, eventually reaching the ropes for the first rope break of the match. Resetting in the center ring, Tadeu’s capoeira-inflected footwork became more pronounced, weaving side-to-side with feints and light kicks to probe Ismail’s defenses. Ismail, undeterred, cut him off and secured another takedown, this time into half guard, where he worked for a keylock. Tadeu’s hips shifted suddenly, and in a slick reversal, he swept to top position. Rather than engage with Ismail’s highly respected grappling defense, Tadeu popped back to his feet and taunted Ismail to get back up. Ismail smiled and obliged. Tadeu used swift lateral movement to try and get Ismail off his preferred stance. Tadeu landed some sharp low kicks, which seemed to slightly bother Ismail despite his attempts to hide it. Tadeu attempted to clinch for a flying armbar setup, but Ismail defended well and seemed to know what Tadeu was trying to do. Ismail twisted around to gain control of Tadeu’s back and went for an inside trip to establish back control on the canvas. The crowd cheered as Tadeu was forced to go for another rope break to ward off a rear-naked choke attempt. Leading 1-0 on points, the first seven minutes belonged largely to Ismail. Although after the reset, Tadeu seemed to establish more of a rhythm as he landed more hard strikes on his opponent, and managed to secure a single-leg takedown that established an opportunity for Tadeu to try for a heel hook, forcing Ismail to the ropes for his first rope break. The tide turned sharply just past the ten-minute mark. Tadeu feinted a low kick, drawing Ismail forward, then exploded upward with a switch knee that cracked flush against the jaw. Ismail went down in a heap. Yuji Shimada counted to seven before he found his feet, clearly shaken. The crowd, sensing blood, erupted as Tadeu paced back and forth. Back on his feet, Ismaill tried to re-establish a clinch to buy more time, but Tadeu sprawled hard, stuffing the entry and firing knees into the ribs before breaking away. Now fully in control, Tadeu attacked in bursts, landing a stinging palm strike to the face followed by a quick step-off angle kick to the body. Ismail staggered but pressed forward stubbornly, only to eat a perfectly timed spinning back kick to the midsection that dropped him to his knees for the second knockdown. Tadeu was now leading 2-1 on points. The referee’s count reached six before Ismail stood, but his legs were unsteady. Tadeu closed the distance with the confidence of a man who knew the finish was at hand. A short exchange in the pocket ended with Tadeu slipping a wild palm strike and countering with a brutal high kick to the temple. Ismaill crumpled backward, and Shimada initiated the final ten-count as Ismail was unable to get up before it finished. The crowd cheered wildly as Tadeu’s hand was raised. Tadeu defeats Ismail via KO, 12:19 Casemiro “Rei Zulu” Martins vs Salman Hashimikov The crowd continued to be invested as the next match featured two international stars whose approaches to wrestling could not have been more different. Salman Hashimikov was a Soviet wrestling champion, trained in freestyle wrestling. The powerful Chechen was burly and a bit of an exotic sight for the Brazilian fans in attendance. Casemiro Martins was a Vale Tudo champion who had made a name for himself in the 1980s through a feud with Rickson Gracie. Martins was a powerful man himself who had blended indigenous techniques with traditional wrestling and street fighting. This would be a true “styles makes fights” bout. Zulu was the first to advance, bouncing lightly on his feet in a Capoeira rhythm, throwing off Hashimikov’s early attempts to measure distance. A series of darting feints drew the Soviet into reaching for a clinch, only for Zulu to pivot and fire a sharp body punch to the ribs that drove Hashimikov a step back. The crowd cheered as Martins taunted his opponent. The early minutes saw Martins continue playing to the crowd, swaying and shifting as if to dance, then lunging forward with wild palm strikes to force Hashimikov into defensive ties. A sudden bodylock takedown from Martins sent the Soviet to the mat, and Martins maintained his grip as he threw Hashimikov back with a raw Vale Tudo throw. The impact was enough to stun Hashimikov and keep him down for the first ten count of the match, but the Soviet quickly got back on his feet. Hashimikov responded by tightening his stance, smothering space, and forcing Zulu into a grueling upper-body battle. A clean rope break came after a prolonged tie-up near the corner. The tempo changed soon after as Hashimikov timed Martin’s entry perfectly, exploding with a belly-to-belly suplex that brought the Brazilian down hard for his first knockdown. The crowd gasped as Hashimikov displayed his brute strength against a man who might be among the few to claim they could match Hashimikov’s power. With the match tied 1-1, Martins got up quickly, but the impact had slowed his footwork just enough for Hashimikov to begin closing the distance with more authority. When Martins attempted another rushing clinch, Hashimikov shifted his hips and delivered a thudding uranage that forced a second knockdown on the Brazilian. This time, Martins seemed a bit shellshocked as Hashimikov returned the favor and taunted his opponent, with the crowd inside the arena at a fever pitch. Martins beat Ryogaku Wada’s ten count by the count of five and got signaled he was ready to continue. From here, the match settled into a bit of back and forth. Martins still had moments of control, using short knees and palm strikes inside the clinch to open space for another powerful body tackle. Martins established control on the mat and made Hashimikov work as he attempted to gain control of his back for a rear-naked choke. Hashimikov managed to fend him off and roll to the ropes for a clean break. The crowd roared each time Martins surged forward, but Hashimikov did not relent. A third knockdown for Martins came when Hashimikov caught him in mid-spin and launched him with a high-angle German suplex, the Brazilian landing hard and taking a seven-count to recover. Hashimikov took command with a 3-1 on points, and fatigue was now evident in Martin’s movements. His earlier looseness was replaced by heavier steps. Hashimikov resumed his advance on Martins, dumping him again with a side suplex before dragging him into the center for a grinding half-nelson ride. Martins fought the grip, but his arms were weak, and Hashimikov methodically transitioned into a neck crank before rolling into a seated arm-triangle choke. The pressure forced Martins flat, and the Soviet’s weight kept him pinned and gasping for air. Martin’s hand tapped the canvas, giving Hashimikov the submission victory in hostile territory. While the crowd showed disappointment at their hero’s defeat, they also acknowledged Hashimikov’s impressive display of athletic skill. Hashimikov defeats Martins via submission (arm triangle choke), 12:04 Aleksandr Karelin vs Naoya Ogawa The heavily publicized debut of Aleksandr Karelin in Brazil created a lot of buzz before the event, with Brazilian fans anxious to get their first glimpse of the 1988 Olympic gold medalist. Karelin was greeted by loud cheers from the fans as he made his way towards the ring. Naoya Ogawa had a lower profile, but there was still a ton of curiosity about his status as one of the most promising young Judokas in the world. After the referee made his checks and called for the bell, Karelin and Ogawa squared off, the size of the Soviet wrestler contrasting with the gi-clad frame of the young Judoka. The opening stretch saw both men measure each other out to gain a feel for their respective strategies. Ogawa probed Karelin’s arms in search of an opening to turn his balance. Karelin remained immovable, content to stalk forward and corral Ogawa into clinches where his Greco-Roman tie-ups began to smother the youngster’s mobility. Ogawa responded with sharp palm strikes to the chest, stinging shots meant to back the Russian off, before darting into an attempted harai-goshi. Karelin’s balance proved otherworldly, the attempt ending with him muscling Ogawa across the ring into the ropes, where a clean break was called. Karelin seemed unbreakable, but Ogawa still searched for an opening. Perhaps a bit too confident, Karelin relaxed his defense, which allowed Ogawa to establish some momentum as he launched a few palm strikes to get his opponent off his game. The Judo prodigy managed the first significant moment when he baited Karelin forward and snapped into a lightning-quick seoi-nage, dumping the Olympic gold medalist hard to the canvas. The building erupted, recognizing the danger posed by Ogawa’s explosiveness and in awe of Karelin being thrown to the canvas. Karelin got up quickly, shaking out his shoulders, and resumed his inexorable pressure. The next exchange saw him clamp a bodylock and lift Ogawa into the air with a monstrous belly-to-belly suplex, the impact knocking the air from the young Judoka and forcing his first knockdown at the seven-minute mark. Karelin grabbed the lead at 1-0 on points. Ogawa beat the ten-count quickly, but seemed a bit shaken. From that point, the contest took on a more suffocating tenor. Karelin forced Ogawa into increasingly desperate throws while refusing to yield an inch. Ogawa managed another flash moment when he ducked under and snapped Karelin over with a hip throw, but the Soviet rolled instantly through the landing, avoiding a potential knockdown, and snarling into a clinch that shut down Ogawa’s momentum. Karelin’s methodical progression became more pronounced. The Soviet wrestler threw heavy palms to the chest, short body punches, and then a relentless series of tie-ups that drained Ogawa’s energy. Another suplex, this time a crushing side suplex, earned Karelin a second knockdown on the young Japanese prodigy, who staggered up at nine with his gi disheveled. By the twelve-minute mark, Ogawa’s explosiveness had faded, and Karelin seized his moment. Snatching a gutwrench from the mat, he executed his signature Karelin Lift, hoisting Ogawa violently before slamming him headfirst into the canvas. The Brazilian fans gasped. Ogawa barely survived the referee’s next count, and Karelin immediately pounced with suffocating top control. Using his background in SAMBO, he locked in a brutal head-and-arm choke, his vice-like frame crushing down until Ogawa’s struggles slowed. Ogawa submitted after the pressure became too much. The Brazilian fans certainly got what they anticipated with Karelin, but they also gained an appreciation for Ogawa and his courage against the Soviet Olympian. Karelin once again proved the aura of invincibility that surrounded him was very real. Karelin defeats Ogawa via submission (head-and-arm choke), 13:06 After the match, Karelin is honored by the Brazilian amateur wrestling delegation and poses for pictures in the ring. Nobuhiko Takada vs Kazuo Yamazaki The energy inside the building remained steady, and the opponents in the next match would not disappoint. Both Takada and Yamazaki would have something to prove tonight in front of the Brazilian fans. Yamazaki began the match on the front foot, circling and firing off sharp, low kicks meant to sting Takada’s legs and force him into movement. Takada answered in kind, his kicks landing with deeper thuds, snapping Yamazaki’s stance back to a more defensive one. The early exchanges were defined by a striking duel as each man sought an opening. Yamazaki seized the first big moment at the five-minute mark, slipping a kick and countering with a lightning palm strike to Takada’s jaw that buckled him to one knee, earning the first knockdown of the match. Takada got back up to his feet without much issue. The Brazilian crowd responded positively, sensing the upset potential. Takada immediately slowed the pace, shifting the fight toward grappling engagements where his methodical nature could come into play. After an extended mat contest that saw a few rope breaks exchanged, Yamazaki got back on his feet and lunged with another kick. Takada caught the leg and took him down, working deliberately into half guard. Yamazaki threatened with a juji-gatame attempt, but Takada’s defense was tight, keeping his arms close as he pried free and pressed his weight down. With the score tied at 1-1 now, this rhythm held for several minutes. Takada gradually imposed himself with positional control, but Yamazaki’s quickness on the mat meant no prolonged dominance. The two wrestlers eventually saw a score tied at 2-2 after another exchange of rope breaks. The contest turned heavier in the final stretch, with Takada and Yamazaki exchanging more hard strikes as the flow of the contest shifted to a striking-based affair. At around the eleven-minute mark, Yamazaki struck with a sharp high kick that snapped Takada’s head back. The crowd was a bit shocked as the UWF superstar staggered into the ropes. Yamazaki pounced, peppering him with palm strikes and shooting for a double-leg, but Takada sprawled expertly. Takada shifted the weight onto his opponent before countering with a vicious knee strike to the body. The impact folded Yamazaki, earning a knockdown that gave Takada a 3-2 lead on points. Yamazaki had to take his time to catch his breath again, but beat the count by eight. Now emboldened, Takada became more deliberate in cutting off space, walking Yamazaki down with his heavy low kicks and forcing him into reactive strikes. Another exchange of palm thrusts ended with Takada slipping inside, locking a clinch, and hurling Yamazaki to the mat with a tight suplex. From there, Takada showcased his effective catch wrestling skills, inching into side control, isolating an arm, and fighting through Yamazaki’s resistance. Takada cinched in a double wristlock, applying steady torque until Yamazaki was unable to resist. With nowhere to go and his arm extended dangerously, Yamazaki tapped, giving Takada the hard-earned submission. The Brazilian crowd applauded the effort from both men, and they seemed to be quite enthralled with Takada’s undeniable ring presence. Takada defeats Yamazaki via submission (double wristlock), 15:34 Atsushi Onita vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara For the Brazilian crowd, the next bout had intrigue. Onita had trained in the country years earlier and had made a name for himself as an undercarder on the Vale Tudo circuit. Meanwhile, Fujiwara represented the respected tradition of catch wrestling, which had influenced Luta Livre. The opening few minutes highlighted the difference in styles. Onita pressed aggressively, whipping palm strikes at Fujiwara’s guard and hacking kicks into his ribs, trying to force a firefight from the outset. Fujiwara was stone-faced and unhurried, catching one of Onita’s kicks and tripping him into half guard. From there, Fujiwara methodically worked to trap an arm. Onita had solid counterwork and worked to defend, slapping at Fujiwara’s body and twisting into a scramble until he reached the ropes. With both men near the bottom rope, the referee ruled it a clean break. Onita sprang back up to press forward again. Fujiwara answered with short body punches in the clinch and a sudden headbutt that staggered Onita, dropping him to one knee for the first knockdown at just under six minutes. The count reached five before Onita rose, grinning through the haze and gesturing defiantly at Fujiwara. The veteran stayed calm and seemed almost amused, but Onita’s determination began to make the fight messier. He charged in with palm flurries, backed Fujiwara into the corner, and hammered away until the referee pulled them apart, much to the chagrin of the crowd. Another exchange saw Onita lift Fujiwara and slam him with a rough belly-to-belly throw, a moment that drew a surprised roar from the crowd as Fujiwara rolled to the ropes to steady himself. Fujiwara got back on his feet quickly to avoid initiating a ten-count from the referee. Fujiwara remained in the lead on points at 1-0. As the contest entered its tenth minute, Fujiwara sought to slow the pace, especially on the mat, while Onita worked to draw Fujiwara into a more chaotic match. Onita attempted to bait Fujiwara into scrambles with his relentless forward pressure. Fujiwara nearly closed the match when he countered a desperate Onita palm strike flurry with a takedown into the Fujiwara armbar, wrenching back on the limb as the audience gasped. Onita barely managed to inch to the ropes. It became clear that Fujiwara had the advantage on the mat and seemed to have Onita’s number whenever the two found themselves in a grappling exchange. Eventually, Fujiwara built up a 2-0 lead through another rope break from Onita during a heel hook attempt. Onita’s urgency heightened. At the fourteen-minute mark, he turned the tide explosively. He caught Fujiwara low with a thudding body kick, then charged in with a flying palm strike that knocked the veteran flat to the mat for the first knockdown in Onita’s favor. Fujiwara rose at six. However, Onita was already on him, diving into a guillotine choke as they tumbled to the mat. He cinched the choke deep, wrapping his legs tight around Fujiwara’s midsection, wrenching upward until the veteran, caught with no route to the ropes, tapped. The Brazilian crowd erupted, recognizing the importance of Onita’s victory. The young sensation trained in Brazil a win secured a big win against one of Japan’s most revered technicians. Fujiwara bowed slightly to acknowledge Onita’s heart and grit. Onita defeats Fujiwara via submission (guillotine choke), 14:49 Onita continues to celebrate his win and calls for a microphone....he says the Gracies can storm all the dojos and buildings they want, but they can never lead a movement like this. That comment earns a huge pop from the crowd. Akira Maeda vs Dick Vrij Maeda, dressed in his familiar black trunks, cut a stoic figure; his reputation as the UWF’s ace was well-advertised in Brazil, and the fans received him warmly. Vrij, by contrast, looked loose and confident, aware that his striking could trouble anyone if he kept the fight on the feet. He was more of an unknown quantity for the Brazil fans, but his muscular build and wild, colored hair made him look like a bit of a character. The opening exchanges were based around both wrestlers attempting to exert their rhythm. Vrij opened with a stinging middle kick that drew a sharp slap from Maeda’s midsection, but Maeda returned fire with a crushing low kick that made the crowd wince. Vrij kept his hands high and answered with hard palm strikes, one catching Maeda clean and forcing him back a step. A clinch soon followed, where Vrij used his Muay Thai skills to dig in a pair of knees before Maeda muscled him into the ropes. After a bit of a stalemate, the referee forced a reset. The flow of the fight became clear as Vrij tried to catch Maeda with strikes. Maeda had a good defensive stance and looked for his chance to drag things to the mat or hammer away with his own powerful kicks. The first knockdown came at six minutes when Maeda ducked under a Vrij palm strike and countered with a brutal roundhouse to the body, folding the Dutchman briefly before he rose at a count of six. The knockdown did little to temper Vrij’s offense. He came forward harder, ripping palm strikes to Maeda’s guard and sneaking in a clean knee from the clinch that staggered Maeda. Maeda managed to stay on his feet and grappled with Vrij in an attempt to slow his opponent down. Vrij held his ground and attempted to create some distance with his knees, but Maeda blocked and caught him for a side suplex, planting Vrij squarely in the center of the mat. Vrij scrambled and had trouble finding his feet as the referee initiated another ten-count. Vrij managed to beat the count quickly again, but he did seem a bit shellshocked. As Vrij continued to hunt for a killer blow on Maeda, Maeda was able to wrestle Vrij down to the mat several times, and each time, Vrij was quick to use a rope break if needed to cut any grappling exchange short. By the ten-minute mark, Vrij had already given up three points. Still, his striking remained dangerous. A violent high kick late in the sequence caught Maeda on the shoulder and glanced off his jaw, nearly flooring him. The crowd stirred, sensing that Vrij had forced Maeda on the back foot. Maeda attempted to defend, but another striking combo from Vrij managed to knock him off his feet to give Vrij his first point of the match. Maeda got back up quickly, but Vrij now had some momentum. The finishing stretch did not disappoint the fans in the audience, as the two pushed each other to the limit. The two engaged in another extended striking exchange, with neither giving ground. Vrij managed to stay on his feet despite some sharp high kicks from Maeda, and Maeda ate some punishment as well after Vrij delivered a series of sharp knee strikes from a clinch. At the twelve-minute mark, Maeda again cornered Vrij, eating a few palm strikes to close the distance before unleashing a German suplex that landed Vrij hard on his back. The referee’s count reached seven before Vrij rose, now visibly weary as he knew he was down to his last point. Maeda wasted no time, blasting him with a left body kick that opened him up for a clinch from Maeda. Vrij tried to stand his ground bravely. Maeda stepped in and hooked Vrij’s leg before launching him through the air with a Capture Suplex. Vrij landed hard on his back again and was too slow to get up as the referee called for another knockdown and the final bell, awarding Maeda the TKO victory as Vrij’s five points were exhausted. The Brazilian crowd made their appreciation known for the contrast of styles and Maeda’s convincing victory. Maeda defeats Vrij via TKO, 15:02 Before the main event, Lou Thesz, Billy Robinson, and Karl Gotch are all welcomed into the ring by Brazilian dignitaries. They are given separate awards, and Lou Thesz formally presents the Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship belt before the audience. Lou Thesz also gives a brief speech that is translated. He praises Satoru Sayama for choosing to defend the belt on foreign soil, and that Marco Ruas was a worthy opponent with an incredible pedigree. "May the best man win!" Satoru Sayama vs Marco Ruas After the pre-match ceremonies, both wrestlers made their entrances. Marco Ruas was met with a thunderous ovation as he marched to the ring in his black Vale Tudo trunks, absent anything else, including kickpads. Satoru Sayama entered the arena in black long tights trimmed with gold. Sayama, despite his status as champion, remained a bit of a mystery to the Brazilian fans, but they were informed about his reputation as one of the most accomplished wrestlers on the UWF roster and someone who had legitimate combat skills. Masami Soranaka presented the belt one final time in front of the audience, as Nobuyuki Furuta made the ring introductions. Both competitors were checked before the bell sounded, and the anticipation was palpable. The Ginásio Gilberto Cardoso was charged with energy; the fans were eager to see their countryman take on the reigning champion. The bell finally sounded, and the main event was underway. The opening minutes saw both fighters testing each other’s range. The crowd was buzzing at every strike thrown. Sayama worked behind his speed, cutting angles and tagging Ruas with quick low kicks and palm strikes. Ruas checked a kick and returned fire with a heavy low kick that made Sayama wince, and then followed him toward the ropes. Both men continued at a similar pace, and neither seemed interested in showing any signs of weakness. At the five-minute mark, Ruas closed the distance, forcing Sayama into a clinch where he ripped a knee to the body and executed a sharp hip throw into side control. Sayama, unwilling to give up position, twisted and slid toward the ropes, grabbing them to force the break. Back on his feet, Sayama adjusted. The champion answered back with a crisp middle kick followed by a palm strike combination that briefly stunned Ruas and set the tone that he could not be bullied outright. Sayama continued to remain clinical. He stayed light on his feet and used sudden flurries to keep Ruas from walking him down. At nine minutes, he caught Ruas stepping forward and drilled a head-level roundhouse kick that dropped the Brazilian to the mat, forcing the referee to administer the ten count. The sudden blast rocked the jam-packed arena, and the fans were immediately urging Ruas to get back up. Ruas, grimacing but defiant, rose back up at six. The champion pressed his advantage with rapid kicks to the thigh and midsection, but when he attempted to follow with another spinning kick, Ruas absorbed it and countered with a body lock, dragging Sayama to the ground. From half guard, Ruas worked deliberately to isolate Sayama’s leg, forcing the champion to stretch desperately for the ropes to avoid a kneebar. The crowd roared as the referee waved it off as a rope escape; the score was now tied 1-1 on points. Ruas enjoyed a good stretch of momentum afterward, as he was able to keep close to Sayama and prevent the champion from unleashing his powerful strikes. Ruas snagged a double-leg takedown and the two engaged in an extended contest on the mat. After a few more minutes of impressive grappling, Ruas secured a third and eventually fourth rope break from Sayama after he threatened him twice with another series of submission attempts. Ruas was now leading 2-1 on points. The middle of the bout saw Sayama enjoy more success as he tagged Ruas a bit more with kicks. Sayama relied on clever feints to throw Ruas off his defensive stance. At fourteen minutes, Sayama landed another sharp high kick, knocking Ruas off balance and forcing the referee’s second knockdown count against the Brazilian, tying the match at 2–2. Ruas was quick to get up again, but the crowd seemed to sense that Ruas felt he was in trouble. The champion followed with a flurry of palm strikes, but Ruas weathered the storm and turned the tide again with the backing of the fans. Ruas caught Sayama with a brutal inside low kick that buckled him. Sayama dropped to the mat, holding his thigh. Soranaka initiated the ten count, but Sayama got up, signaling to Soranaka that he was ready to go again. Ruas recognized that he was now leading 3-2 on points. The fans realized it as well, and they erupted, sensing Sayama’s movement was slowing. But the champion’s composure held. He retained his ability to change levels unexpectedly, slipping under a Ruas palm strike to drive through to attempt a German suplex, but Ruas defended well and shrugged off the attempt. Sayama tagged Ruas a few more times with sharp low kicks in an attempt to slowly weaken the formidable Brazilian. It seemed like Sayama recognized this was becoming a war of attrition. The final ten minutes saw both men dig deep. Sayama’s legs received a fair share of punishment from Ruas’ low kicks, and he seemed to be slowing down a bit more. Ruas stayed calculated, picking his moments to unleash more heavy body kicks and looking to clinch whenever Sayama’s back neared the ropes. The two found themselves on the mat again, but neither found an advantage as Sayama nullified Ruas on the canvas and prevented him from establishing top control. Ruas seemed flustered by Sayama’s grappling counterwork at times. At twenty-five minutes, Ruas finally forced Sayama into another dangerous scramble, nearly sinking in a heel hook before the champion barely rolled through and got free without touching the ropes. The crowd gasped at the narrow escape. Back on his feet, Sayama responded in kind with one of his best sequences of the night. After feinting low and landing a flush palm strike to Ruas’s jaw, Sayama slipped around him for a well-executed Tiger Suplex that sent Ruas crashing hard onto his shoulders. Ruas was stunned, and so was the crowd. The Luta Livre icon was slow to get up as Soranaka administered a count. Ruas finally found his feet at the count of eight. Both men were tied 3-3 on points. The final stretch played out with pure determination as the time limit neared. Ruas charged in, throwing a last desperate clinch knee that Sayama blocked with his forearm, while the champion answered with sharp counters to keep space. At twenty-nine minutes, Sayama slipped another body kick and fired a spinning back kick that drove Ruas into the ropes. Ruas stumbled but maintained his footing, perhaps due to the energy the fans were giving him. The two circled with exhaustion in the closing seconds, trading one last set of palm strikes before the bell rang at thirty minutes. With the score tied at 3-3, the judges were called upon. After what seemed like an eternity for the fans, the decision was announced for Sayama. The Brazilian fans, as expected, were livid. A good number of jeers could be heard as Furuta made the announcement. Those closest to the arena were on their feet and calling for extra time. Sayama defeats Ruas via judges’ decision, 30:00 Marco Ruas is quick to call for a microphone, and he attempts to calm the fans down by saying he believed it was a fair fight and that the judges arrived at their decision objectively. He raises Sayama's hand in the process, and this seems to help a bit, although there is still a bit of tension in the air. Marco Ruas shakes Sayama's hand, and they both bow to each other, drawing some applause from the fans as things seem a bit calmer eventually. Ruas gets on the microphone again and thanks the fans for attending, saying that he believes the UWF philosophy is an honorable one, and one that will show the world what real wrestling looks like. Sayama and Ruas embrace again as the UWF theme plays in the arena. Ruas steps aside as he lets Sayama have his moment to celebrate. The commentators recap the events of the evening and promote the first round of the UWF U-COSMOS Grand Prix, which will be held later this month, on August 26th, in Sapporo! Sayama is shown being interviewed backstage, giving his thoughts on the match. Ruas gives some brief remarks as well and says the Brazilian fans are passionate, but they understand the result. Some other wrestlers are shown being interviewed, including Maeda. The rolling credits for WOWOW's broadcast hit, and another successful international event for UWF is in the books.

They finally killed NJPW. This will be the first G1 final I will not bother watching. This is just totally inexcusable. That company needs surgery to remove a deep cancer.

Card Announcement: UWF Newborn - "Brazil Martial Arts Festival" August 16th, 1990 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Ginásio Gilberto Cardoso Giant Silva vs Tatsuo Nakano Murilo Bustamante vs Yoji Anjo Wallid Ismail vs Eugenio Tadeu Casemiro "Rei Zulu" Martins vs Salman Hashimikov Aleksandr Karelin vs Naoya Ogawa Nobuhiko Takada vs Kazuo Yamazaki Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Atsushi Onita Akira Maeda vs Dick Vrij Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship: Satoru Sayama(c) vs Marco Ruas