Control21

Of course you would!

Are they going to vote in Yoshiaki Fujiwara this year, or nah? Voting in ZSJ before Fujiwara would be another example of how funky this actually works.

Bossman defeating Jerry Lawler is huge! That will do wonders to put him over as one of the top stars in the country. I also like how you are using Steve Austin. Even around this time, his talent was undeniable, and he seems set for a great run here. I think Memphis is a perfect fit for him. Also, the Rock N' Roll Express is back on top of the tag-team mountain. They'll have Memphis in the palm of their hands again.

UWF Newborn – “U-Cosmos Grand Prix 1990: Second Round” September 30th, 1990 Hiroshima, Japan Hiroshima Prefectural Gymnasium Attendance: 5,180 (sold out) Broadcast: WOWOW (live) The WOWOW broadcast opens with the commentary crew greeting the viewing audience, and they break down the card for the evening. They discuss potential upsets, favorites, and how the bracket looks before going into the second round. Fans finish shuffling into the arena before Nobuyuki Furuta officially opens the event, which is, of course, followed by a light show and fireworks as the UWF theme plays. The wrestlers make their way to the ring one by one for the introductions, with the loudest pops from the crowd reserved for the likes of Akira Maeda, Nobuhiko Takada, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Masakatsu Funaki, Atsushi Onita, Volk Han, Aleksandr Karelin, and Marco Ruas. Takada, Maeda, Fujiwara, and Funaki all give brief speeches welcoming fans to the event. Billy Robinson is also at ringside for some formalities, and we are eventually underway! Volk Han vs Salman Hashimikov For the first time, the Soviet dynamos would be meeting each other in the ring. The fans inside the arena were certainly amped up to witness an intriguing clash of styles on paper. The match opened with Hashimikov pressing forward, looking to force a clinch. Han responded by keeping his distance, flicking probing palm strikes, and feinting low kicks to distract. When Hashimikov finally locked his hands around Han’s waist, he launched a thunderous belly-to-belly suplex that rattled the canvas, drawing a gasp from the audience as Han absorbed the impact. Hashimikov immediately attempted to smother Volk on the mat, but Volk taunted Hashimikov in the process, signaling him to follow through. This forced Hashimikov to back off warily. This established the theme of the contest. Hashimikov used his power and size to bully Han, but the submission wizard constantly found ways to turn danger into opportunity. At around three minutes, Han baited Hashimikov into another takedown attempt, then spun into a rolling kneebar that nearly finished the bout early, only for Hashimikov to power out and drag himself to the ropes, costing him his first rope escape. The fans applauded Han’s ingenuity, and it rattled Hashimikov. The Chechen began to show urgency, pressing with heavy clinch palm strikes and another booming side suplex that earned him his first knockdown against Han after the Dagestani grappler took his time to get up. Midway through, the match accelerated. Han landed a surprise spinning backfist that staggered the bigger man, then dove low for a kani-basami scissor takedown, wrenching at the ankle and drawing another frantic rope break, tying the match at 1-1 on points. The pattern repeated; every suplex or throw Hashimikov landed looked like it caused serious pain, but Han’s creativity kept him alive. The Dagestani forced his countryman into awkward scrambles and more rope breaks. Volk eventually built up a 3-1 lead on points. At just past the eleven-minute mark, the end came when Hashimikov muscled Han into the corner and attempted a powerful Greco-style throw, only for Han to flow with the motion, rolling through the landing and clamping onto the leg in transition. In an instant, Han had threaded into a devastating cross heel hold, twisting sharply as Hashimikov pounded the mat in pain, unable to reach the ropes this time. Han defeats Hashimikov via submission (cross heel hold), 11:23 Atsushi Onita vs Marco Ruas Onita has been making some waves recently, with his profile increasing in UWF thanks to a couple of solid wins and his role as an ambassador of sorts with UWF’s Brazilian outreach. Ruas was already familiar with Onita, having trained under him several years ago before Onita returned to wrestling. Ruas was well aware of Onita’s brash approach and would be ready to show that the master was still the master for a reason. Onita charged in at the opening bell, swinging wild palm strikes and mixing in low kicks, immediately forcing Ruas into retreat. The fans roared as the Japanese fighter threw a flurry of body punches before dragging Ruas into the ropes for a clean break. Ruas, ever composed, weathered the storm and began chopping at Onita’s thighs with thudding low kicks, forcing his opponent to wince and stumble with each crack. Onita responded with his typical defiance, slapping his own chest, daring Ruas to hit harder. Onita lunged into a clinch where he tried to muscle a snap suplex, only for Ruas to counter with a hip throw and drop into side control. Onita twisted, trying to roll into a guillotine attempt. Still, Ruas calmly peeled his grip, postured, and dropped hard palm strikes into Onita’s ribs until Onita managed to fight off after a brief struggle on the mat. The pace continued with Onita repeatedly storming forward with looping kicks and reckless palm smashes, even landing a rough belly-to-belly that drew a gasp from the crowd when Ruas was stunned enough for a brief count, giving Onita the first knockdown edge. Yet the Brazilian’s composure held steady. He pressed forward and continued his punishing low kicks aimed at weakening Onita’s stance. By the eight-minute mark, Onita’s base had clearly eroded. Ruas pressed this advantage with precision; low kick after low kick, punctuated by a body kick that echoed through the hall and folded Onita in half, earning a knockdown that evened the score. The final stretch saw Onita press again with his remaining energy, desperate to pull Ruas into a scrap. Onita briefly saw some success on the mat when he managed to bring Ruas down with a guillotine attempt. Onita worked hard but managed to secure a rope break from Ruas. Ruas remained focused on his mission, though, and went straight back at punishing Onita with low kicks. At 13 minutes, Ruas clinched and drilled a series of short knees, then separated and unleashed a savage kick to the stomach that buckled Onita completely, sending him crashing to the mat in agony. The referee counted as Onita attempted to get back up. He collapsed again by nine, giving Ruas the knockout victory. Ruas defeats Onita via KO, 13:56 Eugenio Tadeu vs Tatsumi Fujinami Tadeu and Fujinami had crossed paths a few months ago, and the two were already familiar with each other. Fujinami was well aware of the danger Tadeu posed and came prepared. The Brazilian was looking for a major upset victory to continue his run. After the bell sounded, Tadeu immediately pressed his opponent, throwing exploratory low kicks. Tadeu was trying to draw Fujinami into overcommitting, but the veteran maintained composure. Soon after, Tadeu landed a sharp step-in knee to Fujinami’s midsection that forced him back toward the ropes, then followed with a spinning kick that connected flush enough to stagger him. Fujinami dropped to one knee, leading to the first knockdown count of the match. The crowd gasped, but Fujinami rose at five, tightening his guard and pressing forward with more urgency. Fujinami caught Tadeu’s next flashy kick and dragged him to the canvas with a quick ankle pick. From there, Fujinami tried to grind, applying a tight half guard ride and looking for openings to isolate a wrist, but Tadeu’s scrambles were lightning quick. Tadeu nearly gained control of Fujinami’s back, which forced Fujinami to the ropes for a clean break. The rhythm continued in this way. Tadeu’s creativity and speed caused danger in bursts, but Fujinami’s positional grappling slowly sapped the Brazilian’s explosiveness. A few more rope breaks came from both men. Around the seven-minute mark, Fujinami landed a heavy German suplex out of a clinch that earned him a knockdown in return, evening the score at 2-2. The audience, sensing a shift, rallied behind Fujinami as he went back to the mat game, weaving between half guard and side control, grinding down on Tadeu with leg locks and armbar attempts. Tadeu nearly caught him with a rolling triangle at around ten minutes, but Fujinami showed his veteran instincts, stacking hard and slipping free, then dragging Tadeu back down with a waistlock trip. Fatigue was beginning to show on the Luta Livre fighter, his flashy strikes losing some of their sting, and Fujinami capitalized, transitioning from a tight bodylock into back control after another scramble. The finishing sequence came when Fujinami patiently sank his hooks in, flattening Tadeu out as the crowd roared, then cinched up a crushing rear-naked choke, cutting off any chance of escape. Tadeu fought desperately, thrashing for the ropes, but Fujinami’s positioning was too precise, and after a few seconds, Tadeu finally tapped. Fujinami defeats Tadeu via submission (rear-naked choke), 12:14 Aleksandr Karelin vs Minoru Suzuki On paper, this was a mismatch. Suzuki was young, talented, and fearless, but Karelin was the dominant force in UWF, and it would take a lot to beat him. After the opening bell, Suzuki attacked with urgency, peppering Karelin’s legs with sharp, low kicks and darting in with palm strikes to the body. Karelin absorbed the strikes with his usual stoic calm, stalking forward with a heavy guard, and soon locked his hands around Suzuki in a crushing clinch. Suzuki desperately fired knees to Karelin’s midsection. Still, Karelin’s bear-like grip muffled each before the Olympian launched Suzuki overhead with a thunderous belly-to-belly suplex, sending him skidding across the canvas to a roar from the crowd and forcing a referee count. Suzuki answered at six and immediately dove into a grappling exchange. Suzuki somehow managed to catch Karelin by surprise with a flying armbar attempt. Suzuki latched onto Karelin’s arm in a flash for a cross-armbreaker attempt, wrenching with all his strength. The crowd cheered loudly as Karelin grimaced, but the Soviet gold medalist’s composure never faltered. He rolled to his hips, stood up, and stacked Suzuki onto his shoulders. Suzuki continued to hold on tight, and Karelin used a rare rope break to break the hold out of annoyance. After the reset, Suzuki pressed forward again and attempted to corner Karelin, but Karelin’s raw strength and positional mastery gave him the advantage. Karelin took control with an upper-body Greco-Roman lock and tossed his opponent to the mat. Karelin immediately established control from the top, grinding Suzuki into the mat with suffocating pressure. Karelin managed to force a rope break from Suzuki after a scarf choke attempt. Midway through, Suzuki’s persistence earned him a moment of triumph when he rattled Karelin with a flurry of body punches. But Suzuki’s assault only seemed to wake Karelin, who returned to his base strategy. Karelin closed the distance, clinched, and tossed Suzuki like a ragdoll with back-arching Germans and snapping overhead throws that drained the young fighter’s energy. By the nine-minute mark, Suzuki was visibly slowing down from the damage. Yet, he still fired defiant strikes whenever an opening appeared. Karelin, unmoved, corralled him one last time in a gutwrench position, the fans sensing the end. With terrifying power, Karelin hoisted Suzuki high and delivered the Karelin Lift, driving him brutally into the mat head-and-shoulders first. Suzuki lay flat, unresponsive, as the referee counted to ten. Karelin defeats Suzuki via KO, 10:11 Duane Koslowski vs Nobuhiko Takada While Takada was a clear favorite to advance deep in the tournament, Duane Koslowski was looking to make a statement tonight and defeat one of UWF’s leading wrestlers. His task wouldn’t be easy, though. The early moments were defined by Koslowski’s commitment to force the bout into his comfort zone, closing distance to smother Takada’s kicks before locking him into tight upper-body clinches. His strength was evident as he muscled Takada into the ropes and launched him with a thudding side suplex, drawing murmurs from the audience as Takada hit the canvas. On the mat, Koslowski immediately looked for a choke variation, forcing Takada to edge toward the ropes and take his first escape. Takada responded by approaching more cautiously, striking Koslowski’s legs with low kicks that snapped against the Olympian’s thighs. Each strike chipped away at Koslowski’s defense, though he managed to time one kick for a sudden counter throw, snapping Takada down into a headlock and grinding pressure across his jaw. Takada struggled but worked methodically, freeing himself with palm strikes to the body before forcing a scramble that ended near the ropes for a clean break. Koslowski pressed forward relentlessly, again shrugging off a strike to grab a bodylock and unleash a German suplex that stunned Takada long enough for a referee’s count of six, costing him his first knockdown. The crowd buzzed with unease as Koslowski’s plan began to pay dividends for a 1-0 lead on points, but Takada, visibly annoyed at the pace, reset his strategy, relying on feints and heavy leg kicks to erode Koslowski’s explosiveness slowly. The middle stretch of the match saw Takada finally seize momentum, using his striking to open Koslowski up for grappling counters. After one particularly sharp low kick buckled Koslowski’s stance, Takada followed with a double-leg takedown and a heel hook attempt that forced Koslowski to the ropes. Wanting to reassert control, Koslowski lunged into another clinch, but Takada used his opponent’s forward drive to trip him and land on top, immediately hunting for a double wristlock. Koslowski displayed his grappling pedigree by rolling out and reversing into a side ride, momentarily threatening a neck crank before Takada again scrambled out. Takada started to hunt for a rear-naked choke, which again forced Koslowski to the ropes. With the match tied 2-2 on points, the pace quickened as Takada began to blend his kicks more fluidly with his grappling. Takada landed a harsh mid-kick that staggered Koslowski, then pounced with an armlock attempt when the American shot in. Koslowski fought valiantly, gritting through palm strikes to hoist Takada into yet another suplex variation. Unfortunately for the American, the toll of sustained punishment became evident. Around the fourteen-minute mark, Koslowski tried to muscle into another throw from the clinch, but Takada sprawled, quickly transitioned into an arm entanglement, and snapped into a cross-armbreaker. Koslowski thrashed, trying to clasp his hands, but Takada extended with precision, forcing the tapout. Takada defeats Koslowski via submission (cross-armbreaker), 14:35 Satoru Sayama vs Dick Vrij Dick Vrij was heading into the next round with a fair amount of confidence. The Dutchman had scored a couple of key wins over the last several months and defeated Tatsuo Nakano without much issue in the opening round. Standing before him tonight would be the reigning Undisputed World Heavyweight champion and heavy favorite to repeat as champion. The crowd was amped up for the match. The opening minute was electric. Vrij immediately pressed Sayama with heavy low kicks and palm strikes that thudded against Sayama’s guard, driving him backward toward the ropes. Sayama circled and snapped off quick middle kicks to test Vrij’s timing, drawing loud responses from the crowd when one landed flush across the ribs. Vrij tried to pin him down with the clinch, firing knees into the midsection, but Sayama slipped free, countering with a stiff palm strike to the jaw that forced Vrij to his knees for the referee’s first count. The Dutchman beat the count quickly before the count of five. Vrij pressured his opponent again, hammering Sayama’s lead leg with punishing kicks and briefly stunning him with a palm strike to the nose, but Sayama’s counter timing kept him from sustaining momentum. When Vrij closed the distance again, Sayama ducked under, surprising the Dutchman with a takedown into a quick armbar attempt that forced Vrij to scramble desperately for the ropes, burning his first rope escape. Back on their feet, Sayama increased the pace, mixing snapping body kicks with high kicks that repeatedly beat Vrij’s slower guard, forcing him into his second knockdown after a crisp right high kick landed on the temple. Vrij beat the count again and did not seem ready to relent. The next stage of the match saw Vrij grow visibly frustrated, relying more heavily on the clinch to land knees, but Sayama punished each entry with sharp inside kicks and counter strikes, eventually flooring Vrij a third time after a lightning-fast body kick that landed right near the kidneys. The referee initiated another count, and Sayama held a 3-0 lead on points. Though visibly wobbled, Vrij fought on, returning fire with a furious combination of low kicks and body strikes that backed Sayama into the corner, but his lack of grappling defense was exposed when Sayama countered another clinch by tripping him down and attacking for a triangle choke, which Vrij barely escaped with a another rope break that cost him another point. Vrij managed to get one back when he caught Sayama with a desperate high kick that knocked Sayama off his feet, but the reigning champion was quick to beat the surprise count. The key moment came just past the eleven-minute mark, as Sayama feinted low, drew Vrij’s guard downward, and unleashed a clean spinning palm heel strike followed by a mid-kick that crumpled the Dutchman to the canvas for the fifth and final knockdown. The referee waved off the match, awarding Sayama a TKO victory. Sayama defeats Vrij via TKO, 12:06 Akira Maeda vs Dennis Koslowski After his brother’s elimination from the tournament earlier in the evening, Dennis Koslowski was looking to ensure at least one American would advance to the next round. He faced a difficult task, however, as Akira Maeda was determined not to suffer an early exit. From the opening exchange, Maeda tried to establish his authority with sharp body kicks. Koslowski, cautious not to be drawn into a striking battle, absorbed the blows with a guarded posture and used his Greco instincts to close the distance, seeking a clinch. On the first tie-up, Maeda dug in with palm strikes to the side of the head and ribs, only for Koslowski to muscle through with an upper-body lock and a heavy Greco-style throw that drove Maeda down. The fans rumbled as Koslowski clamped down, pressing his weight and searching for control on the mat, but Maeda’s grappling skills were nothing to thumb your nose at. He shifted his hips, constantly working toward a leg, and while Koslowski tried to tie up the upper body with rides and pressure, Maeda dragged the action toward his wheelhouse. A brief kneebar attempt forced Koslowski to edge toward the ropes, earning his first rope escape, and in the process, established that Koslowski could not simply grapple with Maeda without paying a price. With both back on their feet, Maeda went back to his striking, thudding kicks into Koslowski’s body and thighs, while Koslowski responded by keeping his hands active with body shots of his own, less damaging but enough to break rhythm. The next stage of the match was a grind, with Koslowski using his Greco-Roman skills to draw Maeda into more mat-based skirmishes, but Maeda’s defense was on point tonight. Regardless, Koslowski was able to get two rope breaks from Maeda during the process. Maeda answered back, though, with a beautiful leg sweep takedown that turned into a cross-armbreaker attempt. Koslowski was forced to go for the ropes again. With the match tied at 1-1, both men began to realize that this would be an increasingly grueling match. Twice, Koslowski managed to elevate Maeda with explosive suplexes, once a Greco back-arch that stunned the crowd with its height, and later a variation on a belly-to-belly that left Maeda briefly shaken. Maeda was on the mat long enough for the referee to initiate a ten-count in Koslowski’s favor. Maeda was quick to get back up, though. Slowing the pace, Maeda began forcing Koslowski into more patient grappling he was less comfortable with, and gradually took control of the tempo. A taut sequence saw Koslowski attempt to pin Maeda’s shoulders in a folkstyle-inspired ride, pressing hard across the chest, only for Maeda to slip into a cross-armbreaker attempt that sent Koslowski scrambling for the ropes again. The match was tied at 2-2 on points, and Maeda’s striking advantage became increasingly significant. Around the fifteen-minute mark, a crushing low kick from Maeda buckled Koslowski’s defense and set up another desperate clinch, where Maeda nearly trapped him in a heel hook before Koslowski dragged himself to safety with another rope break. Sensing the momentum shifting, Maeda pressed harder in the closing stretch. His strikes took on greater intensity, slamming into Koslowski’s ribs and legs until the Olympian was visibly laboring. Koslowski still had flashes of power, at one point driving Maeda down with a high-amplitude Greco throw, but the follow-through was waning. He could not maintain control without risking another rope escape or submission scare. Near the twenty-minute mark, Maeda found his breakthrough. After peppering Koslowski with a stiff left palm strike and a thudding kick to the midsection, he snapped into a clinch, hooked the leg, and executed his signature Capture Suplex. The crowd erupted as Koslowski crashed hard onto the mat. Maeda immediately went for the cover….the referee slid into position and completed the three-count as Koslowski was left staring at the lights. Maeda defeats Koslowski via pinfall, 20:02 Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Masakatsu Funaki The main event had arrived, and if Masakatsu Funaki was looking for a defining moment in his career, this would be it. Yoshiaki Fujiwara was his senpai since the days in the NJPW Noge dojo, and had remained his senior in UWF despite making a name for himself. Fujiwara would not be willing to let Funaki surpass him easily, and some would say that a Funaki victory tonight wouldn’t necessarily mean he was now better than his old dojo instructor. As Masami Soranaka made his final checks, both wrestlers were very focused on the task at hand. After the bell sounded, Funaki’s lively footwork kept Fujiwara busy. Funaki targeted the thighs and midsection, while crisp palm strikes tested the older man’s reflexes. Fujiwara, never one to rush, absorbed the early offense, using subtle angles to smother Funaki’s striking rhythm and close the distance. On the first grappling exchange, Funaki attempted to capitalize on a level change, shooting in with speed, but Fujiwara calmly caught his arm in transition, forcing a scramble toward the ropes. Funaki escaped without penalty on the first clean break, but Fujiwara had already sent a message. Every aggressive burst came with danger attached. Resetting in the center, Funaki snapped out a flurry of low kicks and body shots, forcing Fujiwara to cover up, and the first true momentum shift arrived when Funaki connected with a sharp mid-level roundhouse that staggered Fujiwara and earned the opening knockdown. The crowd roared as the referee counted. Fujiwara beat the count before Soranaka reached the count of four. Fujiwara’s methodical strategy took over in the next phase, dragging Funaki into his world of slow pressure and positional traps. A clinch in the corner saw Fujiwara dig hard into the body with punches, smothering Funaki’s attempt to break free and dropping his weight to sap the younger man’s energy. He transitioned to the mat with a smooth trip, locking down half guard and forcing Funaki to carry his frame. Each Funaki attempt at a scramble was met with Fujiwara’s mastery of control, cutting off escapes and teasing submission setups. Fujiwara attempted to execute his trademark Fujiwara armbar early in the match. Funaki, aware of the danger, used a quick bridge to create daylight and edged to the ropes, taking his first official rope break. Back to their feet, Fujiwara continued to stalk, now peppering the body with compact strikes. When Funaki lashed out with a fast roundhouse, Fujiwara snatched the leg and tripped him into a heel hook attempt, drawing another rope break. The match was now tied at 1-1 on points, and by the ten-minute mark, both men seemed to be playing a strategic game of chess. The third phase of the bout was fought at a higher tempo. Funaki shifted the flow of the match with sharper combinations. He landed a snapping palm strike that visibly rattled Fujiwara, then followed with a flurry of low and middle kicks that backed the veteran toward the ropes. Sensing urgency, Funaki accelerated, dropping Fujiwara with a sudden high kick that clipped the side of his head, earning a second knockdown. Fujiwara quickly got back up again, but Funaki didn’t give Fujiwara much time to recover and pressed hard for a finish, but Fujiwara’s defensive instincts held. The veteran ducked under wild strikes and clinched to slow the pace. Fujiwara was successful in dragging the contest into close-quarters grappling, where his methodical mat work again tested Funaki’s composure. Fujiwara nearly stole the match at the seventeen-minute mark, countering a Funaki kick by dragging him down to the mat and following up with a deep Fujiwara armbar, wrenching back as the crowd rose in anticipation of a submission. Funaki writhed in agony, but with a sudden burst of energy, twisted his hips and managed to lunge toward the ropes, forcing another rope break and escaping what could have been the end. The crowd applauded the resilience. The balance of the match leaned heavily on Funaki’s ability to survive Fujiwara’s traps while still finding the strikes to keep himself ahead. With both men visibly fatigued, the exchanges grew rawer. Funaki pushed the pace with palms and knee strikes, but Fujiwara managed to slow things down again with more clinch work. Funaki found himself on the mat once again, but managed to fight his former senpai to a stalemate in another grappling exchange. The final stretch of the match continued on a similar note. Neither Funaki nor Fujiwara could find a significant breakthrough, and both men were now tied 3-3 on points after a couple more rope breaks from each competitor. Near the twenty-four minute mark, Funaki sensed he could no longer allow Fujiwara to dictate the engagements. After a tense scramble on the canvas that ended in a clean break, Funaki came out firing, unleashing a vicious body kick followed by a searing palm strike to the jaw that staggered Fujiwara once again. Smelling blood, Funaki darted in with a knee to the midsection, collapsing Fujiwara to the mat before immediately securing position. Instead of pursuing a submission, Funaki displayed maturity beyond his years, shifting his weight and hooking the leg into a tight cover, pinning Fujiwara’s shoulders to the mat with precision. The clever pinning combination from Funaki caught his mentor by surprise. The referee’s count reached three as the crowd erupted. Masakatsu Funaki had achieved the moment he wanted, and would advance to the quarter-finals as one of the new tournament favorites. Fujiwara remained on his knees in a state of shock as Funaki celebrated on a turnbuckle. Funaki defeats Fujiwara via pinfall, 24:03 Fujiwara takes a moment to collect himself, and Funaki soaks in the moment as the fans continue to go wild and chant Funaki's name. The two eventually shake hands and embrace in the middle of the ring, with Fujiwara raising Funaki's hand. Afterward, the commentary crew recaps the main event before moving on to the other matches, and they put over Funaki's win as a major turning point for the young star. They note that he has a challenging path ahead, with Takada waiting in the next round, followed by Fujinami or Maeda. Still, the sky is the limit. They also seem to be pretty keen on the idea that Karelin will be the man to beat in the final rounds, as he looks practically unstoppable. Backstage, interviews are shown with Funaki and Fujiwara, who both have very kind words for each other. Fujiwara, in particular, puts over Funaki but says, with a slight grin, that he still hasn't made him submit in the ring. The commentary crew hype up the next show, which will be at Tokyo's NK Hall on October 30th. The updated bracket is shown, and we get the usual WOWOW sign-off with rolling credits set to Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down."

Card Announcement: UWF Newborn - "U-COSMOS Grand Prix 1990: Second Round" September 30th, 1990 Hiroshima, Japan Hiroshima Prefectural Gym All matches second round tournament matches: Volk Han vs Salman Hashimikov Atsushi Onita vs Marco Ruas Eugenio Tadeu vs Tatsumi Fujinami Aleksandr Karelin vs Minoru Suzuki Duane Koslowski vs Nobuhiko Takada Satoru Sayama vs Dick Vrij Akira Maeda vs Dennis Koslowski Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Masakatsu Funaki

Looking forward to Halloween Havoc. The Rockers/Freebirds sounds like a tremendous feud, and Michaels always makes things interesting, especially if he has his eyes set on bigger things....

Ted Dibiase vs Steven Regal is an interesting match on paper. I'm sure those two gave the fans their money's worth. Martel vs Kawada is a really cool pairing as well.

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?