Control21

UWF with '90 2nd (2/9/1990) Johnny Barrett vs Tatsuo Nakano Meh, this could have been better. It started off promising, but there was too much focus on matwork when it should have been about two hosses engaging in a standing fight. It's a bit disappointing to see Nakano paired with Johnny Barrett after the Fujiwara match, where he was outstanding. Nothing against Barrett, but he seems like a fish out of water for the UWF format, and it shows. **3/4 Minoru Suzuki vs Shigeo Miyato Decent match overall. They kinda struggled to initiate some momentum, but when they did, things picked up, and both wrestlers got a chance to shine. Suzuki continues to look promising as he begins to develop more into the killer that we come to expect, although he still uses some pro-style moves. That is not a bad thing, but it is an interesting feature during his developmental stages in shoot-style. I enjoyed the finish, with Miyato using a real defense technique used in grappling when someone crosses their legs during a rear-naked choke. Just hook their leg around their ankles, and use it to reverse the choke into a heel hook. ***1/4 Wellington Wilkins Jr. vs Yoji Anjo Another decent showing for Wilkins, who had to deal with a feisty Yoji Anjo, who was determined to get a win after losing to Yamazaki. They kept things short and sweet, with Wilkins showing off some efficient submission grappling. Anjo had the better strikes, and this allowed him to eventually wear down his opponent. Anjo gets a cool-looking submission at the end, turning a banana split into a calf-crusher of sorts. Shades of Volk Han. *** Kazuo Yamazaki vs Nobuhiko Takada It took a few minutes for Takada and Yamazaki to get things going, but when they did, this match really blossomed. Yamazaki and Takada are at their best when they trade vicious strikes and knockdowns with each other, and this was delivered on that front. It almost seemed like both wanted to dispense with the formalities of testing each other on the mat and just go straight for the brawl. I liked how Yamazaki attempted to use a Fujiwara-style headbutt to gain the upper hand, but he couldn't deliver, and Takada eventually gave him a taste of his own medicine. Fun match. **** Akira Maeda vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara Fujiwara was great defensively in this match, and it seems like they played off their earlier encounters in NJPW, where Fujiwara utilized a more defensive strategy to snag an opening he liked to counter Maeda's offense. Maeda seemed a bit more cautious and wasn't willing to play Fujiwara's game after realizing what his opponent was trying to accomplish. Maeda opted to take the match to the mat, where he tried wearing down Fujiwara physically and mentally by grinding him with methodical grappling. Fujiwara managed to hold his own here, which forced Maeda back to the standing game. Fujiwara took advantage and countered Maeda's kicks a few more times with takedowns. Maeda appeared to be flustered. Fujiwara snagged another kick and turned it into a leg takedown that led to a toe hold, but Maeda countered this cleverly with a rear-naked choke. This was a nice finish, as Maeda and Fujiwara battled to see who could get the submission first, and Maeda used one of his legs to decrease Fujiwara's leverage. As Fujiwara started to fade out from the choke, blood started to gurgle from his mouth. One of the best finishes I've seen in UWF Newborn so far. These two always have great chemistry, and they told another solid combat narrative here that centered around Maeda waking up to Fujiwara's tricks and knowing when to exploit his own openings. ****1/4

Into 1990 for UWF, and the first show is a blast. One of the best UWF shows so far. UWF with '90 1st (1/16/1990) Kevin Kastelle vs Shigeo Miyato Kastelle is sort of an early version of Bitsadze Tariel. A big, lumbering striker that is both awkward and dangerous at the same time. Not too bad, with some decent action from both. *** Minoru Suzuki vs Wellington Wilkins Jr. Pretty entertaining match all-in-all. Wellington Wilkins Jr. looked good here, and Suzuki took advantage of the hot atmosphere inside the Budokan to put in a good performance of his own. Wellington seemed to get the better of Suzuki at times on the mat, but Suzuki had more intangibles, including his striking. Suzuki found success in wearing down Wellington on his feet before figuring out Wellington's wrestling strategy on the mat. Wellington comes across as a very credible opponent for Suzuki, and the crowd really buys in when Suzuki manages to get the submission win. ***3/4 Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Tatsuo Nakano Talk about sick. This was a great sub-15-minute slugfest that saw Nakano almost give himself CTE trying to break Fujiwara's skull open. It seemed like Nakano wanted to prove he had a thicker skull! Fujiwara's veteran experience paid off, though, and he managed to give Nakano a beating of his own with some hard-ass body punches and a few headbutts of his own. This was just a really gritty, grueling, slobberknocker full of sounds of people hocking spit in their mouths while they trade blows with each other. Things slow down towards the end, when Fujiwara manages to get Nakano on the mat and eventually sets him up for the standing single-leg heel hook. This is a really underrated gem in UWF's library. ****1/2 Kazuo Yamazaki vs Yoji Anjo Another banger! This match surprised me quite a bit. There's a bit of chippiness with Anjo, and he seems to enjoy getting under Yamazaki's skin. The match is a bit sporting at first, but turns into a gritty slugfest as Yamazaki responds in kind, and starts going a bit crazy after Anjo pisses him off with some stiff strikes. Yamazaki even seems a bit psychotic, and things get a bit frantic as Anjo starts digging deeper to find a way to win. Yamazaki is taken to the limit, but he finds a way to win. Yamazaki even seems exasperated at the end. ****1/4 Nobuhiko Takada vs Akira Maeda As expected, this match delivered. They probably went a little bit too long, and it seemed like they stalled for time at certain points, but for about 90% of the match, they managed to keep things interesting and heated. Both Maeda and Takada were willing to trade blows in the opening minutes, before Maeda decided to try and slow Takada down and keep things on the mat to avoid a more dangerous striking contest where Takada seemed to be sharper. Takada gives up a few rope breaks here, but manages to find a way to get things on his feet again to give Maeda more trouble. Maeda is in control for most of the match points-wise, and this gives him confidence as the match reaches its zenith. Takada pops Maeda right in the eye with a palm strike, which causes a brief stoppage. Takada then takes advantage of this situation to shift the momentum, leading Maeda to throw a few misguided kicks. Takada catches one of these and turns it into a heel hook for the win, and the crowd goes absolutely wild for this spot. The crowd was very engaged throughout the match, which added to the atmosphere, and they were rewarded with a bit of an upset win for Takada. I know "psychology" and "storytelling" get thrown around a lot, but Maeda and Takada are amazing at telling a compelling narrative in the confines of shoot-style. The understanding and chemistry these two have led to great match psychology, which is based on both pushing each other to the absolute limits. Takada knew he still had to catch up to Maeda, and did his job here to set the tone for 1990. ****3/4

Incredible. Just a straight fight between two guys who obviously don't like each other very much. Gives off archaic Vale Tudo vibes with the stiff headbutts, kicks to grounded opponents, and just some really stiff strikes. There's a big keruffle outside the ring as well with the two different factions duking it out before Ohara gets busted open in the process. Things really heat up after this, and the crowd is absolutely going crazy as Saito continues to beat the shit out of Ohara, with his white gi turning into a mess in the process. One of the best "Different Style" matches I've seen. Just totally raw and violent. ****1/2

Good stuff so far. I like the direction you are going with this.

I think Ric Flair and Jerry Lawler both see relatively sizeable drops compared to 2016. The top three will probably have Danielson, Funk, and Kobashi in some form.

UWF Newborn – “Battle Dimension: Hiroshima” April 26th, 1991 Hiroshima, Japan Hiroshima Prefectural Gymnasium Attendance: 8,500 (sold out) Broadcast: WOWOW (live) Koji Kanemoto vs Mitsuya Nagai In another spirited contest between the two highly rated young lions, Kanemoto and Nagai pushed each other to a time limit draw once again. Kanemoto gained control of the match early, forcing Nagai to the ropes several times. Nagai then responded with a quick knockdown of his own. The pace settled down, and the two wrestlers engaged in a war of attrition. Neither could find a breakthrough, but both displayed a ton of promise once again. 15:00 draw Willie Peeters vs Grom Zaza The highly touted Georgian representative of UWF's Soviet branch debuted in shiny red trunks and blue boots, and he immediately took the Dutchman in a colorful singlet to task by throwing his opponent's defenses off with wild entries and unorthodox striking patterns. The Georgian showed off his throwing abilities by catching Peeters with several Chidaoba-inspired moves that wowed the fans in attendance. Peeters managed to get back into the match by being more selective in his striking, eventually getting Zaza down for a knockdown. Peeters, realizing Zaza was the better grappler on the mat, opted to try and keep things standing, and eventually built up a 2-1 lead on points through another knockdown after several sharp kicks to Zaza's abdomen. The Georgian responded by gaining a sense of Peeter's timing, which eventually led to a shoot variant of a backbody drop suplex and an inverted STF for a submission victory. Zaza defeats Peeters via submission (inverted STF), 10:09 Chris Benoit vs Shigeo Miyato Benoit's highly anticipated return to the UWF was a success, with the Canadian grappler showcasing why exactly he is one of the pure submission wrestlers of his generation in North America. Benoit did not appear troubled by Miyato's desire to take the match to the mat at first, and was right at home in utilizing counterwork and defensive wrestling to ward off Miyato's activity in hunting for submissions early. When Miyato realized that Benoit needed to be tested with striking, Benoit defended well and showcased improved striking defense compared to his earlier UWF run a year and a half ago. Miyato eventually found success, but Benoit had already built up a 2-1 lead on points through energetic takedowns and smart mat wrestling that led to several ropebreaks. Miyato settled into his own strategy on the mat, but Benoit had a desire to win tonight that couldn't be denied. After Miyato attempted a high kick, Benoit blocked it and turned it into a sharp heel hook for the finish. Benoit defeats Miyato via submission (heel hook), 11:11 Wayne Shamrock vs Dave Taylor Wayne Shamrock was looking to build up a nice win streak against Dave Taylor, who proved to be a formidable opponent for the stronger Shamrock by using unorthodox catch wrestling skills to unbalance the American and bring him down to the mat. Shamrock took his time to adjust, but once he did, it seemed inevitable that he would come out as the winner. Shamrock's strength advantage led to several punishing suplexes that seemed to throw Taylor off his game, with one of them leading to a knockdown count by the referee. The 1-0 lead on points that Taylor built up through rope breaks earlier in the match was eliminated, and Shamrock eventually found himself cruising with a 3-1 lead on points. Taylor did his best to keep pace with the American, but Shamrock's suplex ability was the key factor as he did enough to wear down the creative British wrestler. A bridging Dragon Suplex was enough to put Taylor away with a pinfall. Shamrock defeats Taylor via pinfall, 11:04 Manabu Yamada & Yusuke Fuke vs Masahito Kakihara & Masaaki Satake This match was somewhat of a style clash, with the team of Yamada and Fuke excelling in grappling while Kakihara and Satake were more interested in showing off their striking skills. Satake, in particular, was impressive in the early stages of the match, scoring knockdowns on both Fuke and Yamada. Kakihara was also sharp and managed to threaten a third successive knockdown before Fuke reversed a flurry of kicks into a clever heel takedown, followed by a rear-naked choke attempt. Kakihara escaped by grabbing the ropes, but Yamada and his partner continued to apply more pressure whenever Kakihara was in the ring, knowing Satake was the more dangerous striker. Fuke and Yamada were cautious in dealing with him, preferring to weather the storm instead of trying to press and create openings. It was enough, as Yamada managed to get another point off Kakihara later in the match. Satake continued to be dangerous, but his effectiveness decreased over time. By picking their spots, Fuke and Yamada utilized an effective strategy. By the 15:00 mark, Kakihara was being picked on by a rapid tag strategy, and Yamada scored a spinning backfist that caught Kakihara by surprise, resulting in a knockdown that Kakihara couldn't recover from in time. Fuke & Yamada defeat Kakihara & Satake via KO, 15:23 Oleg Taktarov vs Andrei Kopylov After an interesting debut in Amsterdam, Taktarov was ready for the big time and was anxious to prove it against his compatriot, Andrei Kopylov. Kopylov was more familiar with the UWF setting, and this was apparent early as Taktarov struggled with his timing, with his Soviet partner effectively controlling the match. Taktarov grew into things as time went on, but Kopylov was more active and confident, leading to more rope breaks in his favor. Taktarov's advantages came from his relentlessness, and his pressure eventually created more openings as he exchanged SAMBO-flavored takedowns with Kopylov. Eventually, the match picked up the pace as both wrestlers demonstrated their high-level grappling abilities and SAMBO knowledge with beautiful mat wrestling and creative throws. Kopylov was seemingly more agile despite the relative similarities in size and build, but this didn't deter Taktarov from using a few clever counters to get his way. Both men were eventually tied 2-2 on points, and Taktarov looked more dangerous towards the end. However, Kopylov used his veteran experience in UWF to navigate the increasing pressure of live combat more effectively. A lazy, mistimed leg kick check from Taktarov gave Kopylov the ability to snag a takedown, and he used it to lock in a painful kneebar. Taktarov was nowhere near the ropes and had to tap. Despite the loss, Taktarov did gain a few new fans and looked dangerous. He will have another opportunity soon. Kopylov defeats Taktarov via submission (kneebar), 12:17 Kazuo Yamazaki & Kiyoshi Tamura vs Victor Zangiev & Salman Hashimikov Both teams were evenly matched, with the wrestling ability of the Soviet duo being countered by the striking and agility of Tamura and Yamazaki. The youthful Tamura was particularly impressive here in all aspects, and Yamazaki showcased both intelligence and wit that gave the Soviets fits at times. Hashimikov was growing more frustrated and tired the longer the match went, and Zangiev started to have some trouble with defending the relentless striking from Tamura and Yamazaki. With both teams tied 2-2 on points, Yamazaki impressed the fans by reversing a Zangiev clinch attempt into a beautiful German suplex. The Soviet wrestler was stunned, and Yamazaki applied a cross-armbreaker for the submission victory. Another frustrating defeat for Hashimikov and Zangiev, and they slip down the tag rankings as Tamura and Yamazaki rise. Tamura & Yamazaki defeat Hashimikov & Zangiev via submission (cross-armbreaker), 14:53 Masakatsu Funaki vs Minoru Suzuki While these two wrestled together in a few tag team matches over the past year, the rivalry between the two was always apparent. Sporting alliances can only paper over the cracks of personal differences. With a semi-main event billing as well, both wrestlers were even more determined to make a statement tonight. This match was frantic and full of energy from the start. Funaki and Suzuki traded wild opening strikes and engaged in energetic mat wrestling that constantly kept the crowd vocally engaged. With a few lulls to reset the pace and catch their breath with patient mat wrestling, the two constantly kept their foot on the gas pedal. Funaki seemed more dangerous at first, but Suzuki caught his opponent by surprise a few times with violent suplexes and submission wrestling that bordered on psychotic. Suzuki forced Funaki to the ropes a few times with unexpected counterwork and targeted submissions that caught him and the crowd by surprise. Funaki had to reset quickly and caught his opponent with a furious palm strike combo that resulted in a knockdown to even things up again. Neither Suzuki nor Funaki was willing to give an inch, even if it meant taking a beating. The two continued to trade striking combos and mat takedowns. What seemed like a sub-10-minute sprint turned into a 20-minute slugfest in no time, and the quality or energy levels did not change one bit. With both tied 3-3 on points, Funaki blocked a palm strike from Suzuki and countered with a clinched knee strike that caught Suzuki dead in the face, resulting in some blood coming from his mouth. Suzuki somehow managed to beat the ten-count, though, and found a way to close the distance with Funaki. Suzuki attempted to work for a German suplex, but Funaki countered and cradled Suzuki into the mat for a sudden pinning combination. Suzuki was caught by surprise and couldn't kick out in time. The fans in the arena went crazy as Funaki scored the victory in an incredible match. Suzuki might have lost tonight, but it also could be a turning point for him. Funaki defeats Suzuki via pinfall, 22:04 Akira Maeda vs Maurice Smith With the Undisputed World Heavyweight title on the line, Maeda was in top form. Maurice Smith chose to forego his kickboxing gloves and opted to fight Maeda mano-a-mano, perhaps to show that he was becoming a full-blown UWF wrestler who didn't need kickboxing gear to win a match. Maeda was happy to oblige, and the two traded some thunderous kicks in the opening minutes to set the tone. Maeda knew his American foe was still lacking grappling skills despite some improvement, and he chose to exploit this weakness by luring Maurice Smith to throw more strikes, which he countered to create more takedown opportunities. Maurice Smith defended well at first on the mat, but Maeda was clearly the superior grappler and quickly built up a 1-0 lead after two quick forced ropebreaks. Smith tried to score a quick knockdown afterward, but Maeda showcased his own dangerous kicking skills to send Smith to the mat again, this time with a knockdown. While any other opponent might have started to slide here, Smith demonstrated his grit and skill by remaining in the match. Still dangerous, Smith caught Maeda with a sudden palm strike that he used to unload a kicking combo that finally sent Maeda to the mat for the first time. After beating the ten-count, Maeda continued to face renewed pressure from Smith. Smith would find more luck in trying to counter Maeda's timing, and soon scored another knockdown to even things up at 2-2 on points. Smith was growing in confidence and appeared more dangerous, but Maeda went back to his game plan instead of trying to engage in an extended striking battle with Smith. Maeda picked his spots more cautiously and found ways to get the American to the mat again. Smith continued to attempt to defend himself on the canvas. Maeda remained patient and started to wear down his opponent by forcing him to spend more time defending and moving on the mat. This proved to be punishing for the American, and it wore down his defense as the match continued. Smith found a moment of luck when he caught Maeda with a high kick that seemed to stun the defending champion, but Maeda found a way to stay on his feet. He caught Smith's next kick and turned it into a Capture Suplex. Maeda took Smith's back afterward and secured a rear-naked choke. Smith would have no escape this time. Maeda defeats Smtih via submission (rear-naked choke), 16:39 News and Notes - Antonio Inoki sent intermediaries to Tatsumi Fujinami's camp to inquire about a return to New Japan, but this proposal was swiftly turned down. (Gong Magazine, 4/20/1991) UWF sold 8,500 tickets for their event in Hiroshima. This exceeds their previous total of 5,180 at the same venue last year. The city has recently expanded the arena's capacity, allowing UWF to sell more tickets. (Gong Magazine, 4/20/1991) UWF officials are discussing a "Next Generation" 8-man tournament this summer. The goal is reportedly to showcase younger talents and give them a launching pad to gain momentum. The tournament could start in June and end in August, but nothing is set yet. (Tokyo Sports, 4/22/1991) Chris Benoit is expected to return to the UWF at Hiroshima this week to begin his excursion for the rest of the year from the WWF. Benoit is said to be very excited about coming back, as he is a big fan of the UWF style and wants to improve his ability as a submission wrestler even more. (Wrestling Observer, 4/23/1991) The declining political situation in the Soviet Union is making a return to the country increasingly unlikely this summer, and UWF officials are looking closer at a return to Brazil instead. Nothing is set yet, although UWF officials want to continue their trend of summer international shows to further their international expansion. (Wrestling Observer, 4/23/1991) We haven't been able to get any further information on Lou Thesz's recruitment efforts in the United States since the last update. He flew back to the United States to resume talks with some of his contacts before returning to Japan to be present at this week's event. (Wrestling Observer, 4/23/1991) UWF will hold its next event in Nagoya on May 29th. Several names are being discussed for Maeda's next opponent, including Volk Han. (Wrestling Observer, 4/23/1991)

Callis on commentary makes sense to me.

Card Announcement: UWF Newborn – “Battle Dimension: Hiroshima” April 26th, 1991 Hiroshima, Japan Hiroshima Prefectural Gymnasium Koji Kanemoto vs Mitsuya Nagai Willie Peeters vs Grom Zaza Chris Benoit vs Shigeo Miyato Wayne Shamrock vs Dave Taylor Manabu Yamada/Yusuke Fuke vs Masahito Kakihara/Masaaki Satake Oleg Taktarov vs Andrei Kopylov Kazuo Yamazaki/Kiyoshi Tamura vs Victor Zangiev/Salman Hashimikov Masakatsu Funaki vs Minoru Suzuki Undisputed World Heavyweight Title: Akira Maeda(c) vs Maurice Smith

He was in the last 20 or so before the cut for me. I actually felt bad for leaving him out. Great wrestler for sure.

Now, for one of my favorite shows in wrestling history, and a historic event that really started the explosion in the rapid evolution of Kakutogi throughout the rest of the decade. This was basically an early prototype of what PRIDE would eventually become in the 1990s, and there are some interesting matches on here. They won't blow you away, but the uniqueness definitely helps. This show was also the first time a pro wrestling company legitimately sold out the Tokyo Dome, and they did it within minutes of the tickets going on sale. UWF U-Cosmos (11/29/1989) Tatsuo Nakano vs Shigeo Miyato Fun match that saw both go nearly all out to get the win. Nakano was especially willing to go toe to toe, knowing that Miyato didn't have the same power he did. Miyato's kicks were better, but they were not enough to deter the pitbull-ish Nakano. Miyato also had the edge on the mat, but Nakano was a tough nut to crack. Miyato gets rocked towards the end, and Nakano catches him with a rear choke. A good tonesetter for a historic event in the Tokyo Dome. ***1/4 Changpuek Kiatsongrit vs Yoji Anjo Somewhat underwhelming, although the sight of a dangerous Muay Thai fighter working with Yoji Anjo is pretty interesting. It is obvious that Changpuek was holding back here, and the story was Anjo struggling to muster up the courage to close the distance and take his opponent down. The last round was probably the most interesting part here. *** Maurice Smith vs Minoru Suzuki A lot better than the previous match, with Maurice Smith not afraid to spar with Suzuki. Suzuki is pretty active here, too, and he is more willing to try to take Maurice down to the mat. Smith has very few grappling skills, especially with boxing gloves on, but he manages to survive while taking the match back to his feet. Smith chips away at Suzuki before finally finishing him off in the 4th round. ***1/4 Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Dick Vrij The debut of Dick Vrij! Dick Vrij isn't quite the murderous Cyborg that he would become in RINGS, but he is still quite intimidating. He throws some basic strikes that don't look too dangerous, but they give Fujiwara something to think about. The last two matches built up to this one, with Fujiwara managing to take Vrij down and submit him in the second round. It was pretty cool to see Fujiwara wear boxing shorts in this match. It was also interesting to note that Vrij already had a good mind for pro wrestling at this stage in his career. Fujiwara held on to the ankle lock longer than necessary, leading to Vrij's cornerman charging the ring and shoving Fujiwara off. This added a ton of heat to the finish, and it was a pattern we would see in some of Vrij's matches, too. This guy had an underrated understanding of the business. No wonder why he was such a good shoot style heel. *** Chris Dolman vs Kazuo Yamazaki Nothing too exciting here. Dolman looked decent, and the match seemed to be centered around his superior strength and throwing techniques against Yamazaki, who was a bit overly timid, and the match suffered on the urgency front as a result. I was distracted by the fact that Boris Malenko was the referee here for some reason. This is skippable, as much as I like both wrestlers. **3/4 Nobuhiko Takada vs Duane Koslowski The best match on the card. Duane Koslowski looked great here, and although he seemed a bit unsure at times, this was a very solid debut. Takada was a good dance partner and allowed Koslowski to play to his strengths in Greco-Roman wrestling and suplexes. Takada, of course, was a much better striker, and the match was structured with Duane trying to work around that and close the distance. Duane didn't seem very comfortable with submission wrestling, but he did manage to work in some basic holds while giving Takada some fits. There seemed to be some confusion at times with Larry Malenko unsure if he should count or not with Takada's back on that, and this led to a moment where Malenko counted to two despite one of Takada's shoulders being up. This resulted in Takada verbally reminding the referee that his shoulder wasn't down. The crowd seemed to enjoy Duane Koslowski here, and he came across as a credible threat, which added the most in-ring urgency of the event. Good showing for both. **** Akira Maeda vs Willy Wilhelm All things considered, this was a decent main event. Willy Wilhelm was a credible opponent for Maeda and acted like one. He was dangerous on the mat and actually seemed to get the better of Maeda in the first round. Maeda's kicks were a factor, but Wilhelm had the upper hand. In the second round, Maeda was more prepared and softened up Wilhelm before going for a kani-basami entry to get the kneebar for the victory. This wasn't the best match on the card by any means, but for a show like this, it was a nice moment, especially for Maeda in front of a jam-packed Tokyo Dome. ***1/4

UWF Fighting Art (10/25/1989) Mark Rush vs Shigeo Miyato Pretty decent for a 30-minute opener. Both wrestlers were active and kept the momentum going, never stalling for too long or doing anything that would lose your interest. Rush looked impressive and seemed to be in better shape than in his previous outings. *** Minoru Suzuki vs Yoji Anjo Pretty good match that got better as time went on. Both Suzuki and Anjo seemed pretty even, and neither found much of a breakthrough as they chipped away at each other through rope breaks. Decent grappling throughout, like the last match, they didn't stall too much and did enough to keep the momentum going on the mat. They kept things interesting enough as they built the drama around the point system, with both wrestlers pushing each other to the final down by the last three minutes or so. The crowd got really into it by this point, and both tried to get the win before the time expired. **** Kazuo Yamazaki vs Tatsuo Nakano After two straight 30-minute draws (which were decent, don't get me wrong), this was a nice change of pace. Nakano seemed more interested in getting Yamazaki down to the mat and throwing his weight around, while Yamazaki wanted to take things to the stand-up. Nakano didn't mind this either, but Yamazaki seemed much more confident and in control. At some points, Yamazaki seems annoyed with Nakano's antics and kinda acts like the bully to Nakano's underdog. Yamazaki gets a suplex on Nakano before going for the cross-armbreaker for the finish. Not bad. ***1/2 Akira Maeda vs Kiyoshi Tamura Very enjoyable for the time that it lasted. Tamura wanted to take it to Maeda, but he was immediately punished for his transgressions with some brutal knee strikes from the clinch. Maeda famously busted Tamura's face on accident here, which would cause Tamura to miss the rest of 1989 and most of 1990 as a result. ***1/4 Nobuhiko Takada vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara This was a very enjoyable match. Fujiwara knows he is outgunned in the striking department against Takada, so he tries to lure Takada into a more technical chess match at first. This works to some degree as Fujiwara manages to slow Takada's offense down and get him to the mat more often than not. Takada can hold his own on the grappling side, but Fujiwara is clearly more cerebral and dangerous. Takada slowly gets the better of Fujiwara when they do stand up, and this leads to Takada holding his own on points for most of the match while Fujiwara catches up. Fujiwara figures out he can beat up on Takada as well, and uses a variety of punches and headbutts down the stretch to catch his opponent off guard, making a comeback of sorts. Takada is relentless, though, and finally manages to finish the job. This is somewhat similar to the Yamazaki vs Fujiwara match from earlier in the year, although probably lacking the depth that match had. ****1/4

UWF Force Korakuen - Two Days (Day 1) (9/30/1989) Kiyoshi Tamura vs Yoji Anjo A decent outing from both wrestlers. Kiyoshi Tamura looked very sharp and already seems to be the Kiyoshi Tamura we know and love, although with a few green spots that need working out. Anjo made for a good dance partner, and things got heated several times during the bout, serving as a preview for things to come between the two. This was very solid from a technical standpoint and probably could have benefited from a few extra minutes. ***1/2 Norman Smiley vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara Disappointing match to some degree. Both wrestlers lacked urgency for most of the match, which was pretty short, and the finish was a little unexpected. Not the most thrilling Fujiwara or Smiley match, but serviceable. *** Nobuhiko Takada vs Tatsuo Nakano A fun bout between two guys that can bring the heat when called upon. Nakano played up to the underdog role here, and Takada was mostly working on top for most of the match, which allowed Nakano to thrive with a few comeback spots and get the crowd excited when he managed to get Takada on the back foot. The two played off each other quite well, and the match structure made a ton of sense and didn't overstay its welcome either. Good stuff all around. ***3/4 UWF Force Korakuen - Two Days (Day 2) (10/1/1989) Minoru Suzuki vs Johnny Barrett A bit better than I expected. I wasn't really impressed with Johnny Barrett in his previous outings, but he worked quite well with Suzuki in this match. Suzuki also looked pretty good, and at this point, it's clear he's on his way to greatness. Decent matwork here, and Barrett plays the big man role well. ***1/2 Bart Vale vs Kazuo Yamazaki Not very impressed with this match, outside of a few moments, this was really slow, and it's evident Bart Vale can't go a full match. He's not out of shape; he just has trouble grasping the match structure throughout and seems to rely on Yamazaki to guide him through it. Meh. **3/4 Akira Maeda vs Shigeo Miyato A decent main event, but also a bit shorter than I expected. Shigeo Miyato has a nice moment towards the end of the match where he catches Maeda with a spinning heel kick, and Maeda is on the ropes. The crowd immediately gets behind Miyato, but of course, Maeda gets the win anyway. A solid outing from both. ***1/4

UWF Fighting Base Nagano (9/7/1989) Shigeo Miyato vs Kiyoshi Tamura Another solid performance from a young Tamura, and he shows plenty of promise against Miyato, who doesn't have much trouble putting Tamura away but gives enough to make sure the young rookie gets some shine. ***1/2 Kazuo Yamazaki vs Minoru Suzuki Suzuki looked very crisp here, showing off the quickness and timing that would later make him a competitor in Pancrase. He also resorts to simple moves to get one over Yamazaki, like headbutts and jumping knee drops. Yamazaki probably has a better game plan to counter these things and quickly teaches the young Suzuki a lesson. It never felt like Yamazaki was in complete control, but it also never felt like Suzuki gained the most momentum either. Overall, a fine match that might have been better if they had gone a few extra minutes. ***3/4 Nobuhiko Takada vs Yoji Anjo Anjo takes it to Takada in this match and even manages to get a full mount on him in the first few minutes, landing several sharp elbows. Takada seems to be fighting an uphill battle as Anjo throws everything he has at Takada. It makes for a nice dynamic as Anjo comes across as a credible threat despite being a lower-ranking wrestler than Takada. Takada wakes up towards the end and lands the strikes he needs to soften up Anjo, which leads to Takada taking control of Anjo's back for the rear-naked choke and the submission victory. A fun 8-minute match. ***3/4 Akira Maeda vs Johnny Barrett Nothing special here. Johnny Barrett is a decent wrestler, but he doesn't excite me, and Maeda was never in danger. Barrett does get some offense in, but this was all about Maeda and thus not particularly exciting. ***1/4 Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Masakatsu Funaki This match had a very exhibition-esque feel to it, and the urgency was lacking. The striking wasn't that great either. Things don't pick up until the last few minutes when Fujiwara starts looking for a heel hook. Disappointing main event in a lot of ways after the hot 1989 summer for the promotion. Oh well, can't win all of them. Mechanically, it was decent, which saves this from being scored lower. ***3/4

UWF Midsummer Creation - The Professional Bout Yokohama (8/13/1989) Shigeo Miyato vs Kiyoshi Tamura This was a pretty good opener, and Tamura had a chance to show why he would grow into a great wrestler in the coming years. Miyato seemed a bit troubled by Tamura's grappling skills at first, and Tamura even got a flying armbar on him, which would become somewhat of a trademark move for him. Miyato hit Tamura with hard strikes, though, and Tamura never seemed to recover as Miyato finished things off with a TKO after five knockdowns. ***3/4 Minoru Suzuki vs Tatsuo Nakano Minoru Suzuki had a good performance here, almost a breakout one if you don't count his match with Fujiwara a few months earlier. Nakano brought the heat, and Suzuki had more intensity in his approach compared to his earlier bouts with UWF. The result was a very good match with plenty of action. Both draw a bit of blood, and Nakano eventually wears down Suzuki with his strikes before finishing him off with a suplex and submission. Suzuki even performs a Gotch-style piledriver here, which might be the earliest I've seen him do the move. Good stuff all around. **** Kazuo Yamazaki vs Yoji Anjo This was solid, although I felt it never really went into the extra gear that it needed to. Perhaps it deserves a rewatch. Anjo puts up a bit of a fight, but Yamazaki responds in kind and even plays a bit dirty to get under Anjo's skin. Anjo doesn't relent, though, and it seems most of the match is about Anjo's underdog spirit clashing against an annoyed Yamazaki. Yamazaki shows off his skill at the end by putting away Anjo with a slick submission. ***1/2 Nobuhiko Takada vs Masakatsu Funaki Both Funaki and Takada delivered here as expected. Funaki looked quite strong, scoring a series of early knockdowns on Takada and showing off for the crowd. Takada gradually came back, though, demonstrating why he is a dangerous striker. They both pushed each other to four knockdowns each before Takada finished off Funaki with a gorgeous side suplex, followed by a Camel Clutch. Plenty of heat in this match, and Funaki adds another notch to his belt in a very strong year for him. ****1/4 Akira Maeda vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara Fujiwara and Maeda usually deliver strong matches, and this was no exception. Fujiwara was aggressive and clever, and Maeda had to dig deep to keep the pace. They were both even when it came to striking, which is a bit of a surprise considering Fujiwara usually isn't known for that approach, but he really displayed his techniques here. Maeda's kicks were harder, though, and gave him the advantage when trying to counter Fujiwara's defense. Maeda at one point even goaded Fujiwara into a grappling exchange on the mat, a bit like Antonio Inoki at times. Maeda's kicks come into play at the end, where Fujiwara seems to have the wind knocked out of him by the kicks repeatedly targeting his ribs, and Fujiwara can't recover as Maeda finishes him off via TKO. As others have noted, this wasn't particularly convoluted, but it was effective in conveying a good amount of struggle while keeping things relatively simple. Another high-end UWF match. ****1/2

Not sure about the logical part, but I would agree on the rest.