Control21

UWF Newborn – “Fighting Arena Sendai” June 29th, 1990 Sendai, Japan Miyagi Sports Center Attendance: 7,000 (sold out) Broadcast: WOWOW (taped) After WOWOW's pre-show advertisements, the viewing audience is greeted by the usual slick production that serves as a preview for the event, covering all the planned matches, as well as taped interviews leading up to the event. The WOWOW commentary team welcomes everyone to tonight's event and breaks down the card. Soon, Nobuyuki Furuta stands in the middle of the ring inside the arena and commences the official opening of the show. The UWF theme plays in the background, and as usual, we get the parade of wrestlers as they line up inside the ring. Maeda, Takada, Onita, Ogawa, Funaki, and Han get the loudest cheers of the evening. Maeda, Funaki, and Takada hype up the audience with some words, and away we go. Mitsuya Nagai vs Yusuke Fuke After spending a lot of time in the UWF dojo, it was finally Nagai’s chance to get some reps in a live ring. The debuting young lion was still quite raw, and Yusuke Fuke exploited this weakness to his advantage. While Nagai had tons of fire and energy, Fuke was able to use his skill and experience to avoid serious damage. Nagai landed some stiff strikes at least, but Yuke was able to take Nagai to the mat almost at will, and Nagai struggled to defend himself on the mat as he seemed a bit overwhelmed at times. Yuke added to Nagai’s frustration by being a bit patient and seemed to enjoy giving Nagai a lesson in grappling. Yuke built up a quick 3-0 lead on points after a knockdown around the 5:00 mark, and this didn’t change as Nagai continued to get hounded by his opponent. After a brief comeback attempt from Nagai, who exhausted his remaining energy with a flurry of palm strikes, Fuke ended the affair by taking down Nagai with a quick German suplex and locking in a full-Boston crab for the submission victory. Fuke defeats Nagai via submission (full-Boston crab), 8:32 Masahito Kakihara vs Naoyuki Taira As the fans would expect with these two in the ring, this was a very dynamic affair with both wrestlers being very eager strikers and capable, evolving grapplers. Taira and Kakihara were both happy to open proceedings on their feet, with both exchanging some hard strikes to the delight of the fans. Taira’s kicks seemed to be an early factor, as he managed to change things up with a variety to throw Kakihara off his game. Kakihara found himself down a point early after Taira caught him with a jumping roundhouse, and beat a ten count from Yuji Shimada quickly. Kakihara found himself on the mat soon after, with Taira continuing his momentum with ground control. Kakihara did well on defense, and he was able to get himself out of a potentially dangerous situation when Taira went for a heel hook in the middle of the ring. Kakihara rolled through and was able to secure one of Taira’s free legs to decrease his opponent’s leverage. Back on their feet, Kakihara was able to even things up after catching Taira with a palm strike combo, with the match now even 1-1 on points. Taira beat the ten count quickly as well and went back to work with little time wasted. The match continued with a relatively frenetic pace, and another exchange of knockdowns increased the score to 2-2 on points. Taira continued to hound Kakihara on the mat and managed to secure another rope break from Kakihara with a rear-naked choke attempt, giving Taira the lead 3-2 on points. The decisive moment in the match came when Taira caught Kakihara with a rolling kneebar near the middle of the ring, which was enough to convince Kakihara to tap. Taira defeats Kakihara via submission (kneebar), 11:51 Peter Senerchia vs Tatsuo Nakano It had been a while since the young American was last seen in UWF, but the explosive Judoka was eager to make a mark in the promotion. He faced a good test tonight against Tatsuo Nakano. Senerchia came into the bout with a clear game plan. He wanted to close the distance, impose his strength, and smother Tatsuo Nakano before Nakano could exploit his vulnerabilities on his feet. The opening minutes reflected that intent as Senerchia pressed forward behind tight palm strikes and heavy body punches in the clinch, eventually muscling Nakano down with a powerful kata guruma that landed clean in the center of the ring. Nakano scrambled to the ropes to avoid being flattened further, costing him his first rope break. Senerchia stayed on him, landing another takedown shortly after and working from top position with pressure and occasional open hand strikes to the midsection. Nakano managed to work his way back to his feet, where he finally found some success with low kicks and short palm strikes to disrupt Senerchia’s forward momentum. But just when he seemed to have regained his footing, Senerchia exploded with a high-angle belly-to-belly suplex that drew a pop from the crowd and earned him the first official knockdown of the bout. Nakano had a rough going, but the damage seemed to light a spark in him. Nakano returned fire with renewed aggression, targeting the body and mixing in quick palm strikes to the head, finally forcing Senerchia to retreat. The fight broke into more of a back-and-forth rhythm, with Senerchia continuing to hunt for takedowns and suplexes while Nakano looked to create chaos with strikes. The match turned when Nakano caught Senerchia leaning in too low during a clinch and tagged him flush with a palm strike across the jaw, followed by a low kick and a second, harder palm strike that knocked Senerchia off balance. Nakano immediately pounced, backing the younger man into the corner with body punches and short strikes to the head. A stiff knee to the ribs stunned Senerchia further, and Nakano uncorked a final wild flurry, body shots, an open-hand slap to the ear, and a full extension palm thrust straight to the face. Senerchia collapsed onto his side, dazed and unable to recover before the ten count. The crowd gave Nakano a strong ovation for the comeback win, as the referee waved off the match. Nakano defeats Senerchia via knockout at 13:22. Dick Vrij vs Yoji Anjo Dick Vrij and Yoji Anjo were both very eager for a win coming into this match. Anjo approached the match conservatively at first, wary of the Dutchman’s power, circling with a lowered stance and probing with kicks to the thigh. Vrij, ever confident on his feet, looked relaxed but dangerous, waiting for his openings and firing off thudding low kicks that visibly staggered Anjo early. The first few exchanges set the tone. Anjo tried to close the distance with flurries of palm strikes or opportunistic clinches, but Vrij kept finding the mark with body kicks and well-timed knees. One particularly loud right kick to the ribs caused Anjo to wince and drop down to a knee, initiating the first ten count of the match. Anjo beat the count quickly and went on the offense. He attempted a reactive takedown midway through the third minute, but Vrij sprawled and powered free before the two ended up in the ropes, prompting a clean break. Vrij began pressing the action more, and his pressure forced Anjo to try his luck at grappling with the Dutchman. After another stiff body kick, Anjo dove for a single-leg, but Vrij landed a sharp downward palm strike to the back and shook him off. Anjo finally managed to catch a kick and bring the fight to the mat briefly, where he tried to lock up an ankle, but Vrij reached the ropes almost immediately, sacrificing his first rope break in exchange for safety. Back on the feet, Vrij’s dominance became more apparent. He battered Anjo’s legs and ribs, with a particularly brutal sequence of a left body kick followed by a knee from the clinch, dropping Anjo for the second knockdown of the match around the 8-minute mark. Anjo recovered but was taking heavy damage. Anjo again tried to mount offense with a few sneaky palm strikes and even got a partial back take during a scramble, but Vrij’s strength allowed him to shake free and get back to his preferred range. The final sequence came when Vrij backed Anjo into a corner and unloaded a brutal series of knees to the body and palm strikes to the head. One knee landed flush to the midsection and folded Anjo over, leading to a delayed collapse. The referee began his count as Anjo clutched his side, clearly in pain. Though he stirred around the count of eight, he could not get fully upright, and the referee waved it off at 13:04. Vrij defeats Anjo via KO, 13:04. Andy Hug vs Yorinaga Nakamura The following match between Hug and Nakamura was a live demonstration of strategy versus power, with Nakamura’s cerebral grappling style tested against Hug’s explosive striking. From the opening bell, Hug imposed his presence, controlling the center with sharp movement and peppering Nakamura’s lead leg with stiff low kicks. Nakamura responded with feints and level changes, looking to create an entry into the clinch or tangle Hug up into a mat exchange, but Hug kept his strikes deliberate. Nakamura managed to clinch briefly and threaten a trip, but Hug framed off and fired a crushing knee to the ribs that dropped Nakamura for the first knockdown at around the three-minute mark. Nakamura recovered and went back to movement, trying to bait Hug into overcommitting, and eventually caught a kick, sweeping Hug’s planted leg to take him down. Nakamura scrambled into a leg entanglement and worked for a heel hook, forcing Hug to scramble toward the ropes, giving up his first rope break but avoiding real danger. The pace slowed a bit, with Nakamura circling and switching levels, but Hug stayed patient and kept chipping away with low kicks, gradually wearing down Nakamura’s mobility. Another takedown attempt followed, but Hug sprawled and spun away before delivering a body kick that visibly staggered Nakamura. Moments later, a head-height left roundhouse from Hug grazed the temple and dropped Nakamura again for another knockdown, as the crowd gasped at the sudden precision. Nakamura, ever the technician, regrouped and went back to work off a clinch, tripping Hug and flowing into a mounted crucifix that transitioned into a shoulder lock. Hug powered out, though, and reached the ropes for his second rope break. With the match nearing the fifteen-minute mark and Hug enjoying a 2-1 lead, Hug sensed momentum turning his way. Nakamura’s movement had slowed, and Hug went back to punishing the legs, now mixing in palm strikes upstairs. After a punishing sequence that forced Nakamura to shell up in the corner, Hug stepped in with a spinning back kick to the liver that crumpled Nakamura instantly. The referee counted him out as Nakamura clutched his side, unable to beat the ten. Hug stood tall, the victor after a methodical dismantling. Hug defeats Nakamura via KO, 15:22. Atsushi Onita vs Naoya Ogawa In front of a passionate Sendai crowd, Naoya Ogawa and Atsushi Onita continued a blossoming rivalry, and both were committed to securing a win. The atmosphere buzzed as Onita made his entrance, his wild, rebellious aura still drawing strong reactions from fans who admired his relentless intensity and unpredictable nature. Ogawa followed, calm and focused, his white judo gi crisp as he carried the quiet confidence of a 22-year-old prodigy ready to prove himself. The match began with Ogawa keeping distance and trying to establish control of the center, while Onita immediately pressed forward with aggressive flurries of palm strikes and body punches. Ogawa’s disciplined defense and footwork allowed him to avoid brawling on Onita’s terms, but the veteran still found success landing a hard kick to Ogawa’s thigh, followed by a clinch palm strike that snapped Ogawa’s head back. Ogawa patiently fought for an inside position, timing a clean kosoto gake to bring Onita down to the mat. From side control, Ogawa briefly applied a scarf hold before Onita powered his way to the ropes, earning his first rope break and a valuable reprieve. By the 8:00 mark, Onita got one back on Ogawa after he caught him with a belly-to-belly suplex that turned into a double wristlock attempt on the mat. Ogawa quickly scrambled for the ropes for his first rope break of the match. Ogawa’s confidence grew as the match progressed, but Onita’s scrappy style remained dangerous. The Sendai crowd roared as Onita taunted Ogawa with slaps to the face, daring the younger man into reckless exchanges. Ogawa resisted, choosing instead to pick his moments carefully. Another key grip exchange saw Ogawa slip under a wild palm strike and launch Onita with a high-impact harai goshi that stunned the veteran. On the mat, Ogawa secured kesa gatame and quickly transitioned to isolate Onita’s arm, but the veteran’s grit earned him a second rope break. With one knockdown scored against him, Onita came back with renewed urgency, landing a body kick and pressing a barrage of palm strikes. Onita caught Ogawa with a single-leg takedown and immediately went to work on the mat, hunting for a leglock. Ogawa scrambled, but Onita was able to finally secure a heel hook attempt that sent Ogawa to the ropes again. With the match tied at 1-1, both men got back on their feet as Ryogaku Wada restarted the match. Onita went for another takedown, but Ogawa fought back and defended well. Onita did not relent, though, and eventually caught Ogawa with a combination of palm strikes that sent Ogawa down to the mat. Onita built up a 2-1 lead on points and seemed to be in control. Onita continued to pressure his opponent and tried to open up Ogawa for another takedown attempt. Ogawa weathered the storm and seized a collar grip, sweeping Onita down with a sasae tsurikomi ashi, establishing dominant top control. Onita tried to fight back from the bottom, but Ogawa trapped an arm and locked in a modified kata-juji choke. The Sendai crowd watched intently as Onita struggled, desperately reaching for the ropes that were out of reach. Ogawa tightened the hold with clinical precision, and after tense moments, Onita’s arm went limp. Referee Masami Soronaka called the match at 15:36, awarding Ogawa a hard-fought submission victory. Ogawa defeats Onita via submission (kata-juji), 15:36 Volk Han vs Kazuo Yamazaki Volk Han scored an impressive victory over Minoru Suzuki last month and was looking to build on that against a very formidable and respected opponent. Kazuo Yamazaki, dressed in his usual black tights and stoic expression, received a polite welcome from the crowd, while Volk Han made his entrance with a confident look, while Jarre’s “Second Rendez-vous” played in the arena. Volk’s growing legion of fans welcomed him. The two men met at the center of the ring while Motoyuki Kitazawa checked both men before calling for the bell. As soon as the bell sounded, Yamazaki threw out a few probing low kicks, testing Han’s reactions. The Dagestani barely flinched, maintaining a relaxed stance as he watched his opponent move. Yamazaki grew bolder and looked to close the distance with a stiff middle kick, but Han caught the leg and executed a smooth inside trip, immediately entering top control. Yamazaki quickly used the ropes to avoid Han’s follow-up attack, costing him one rope break early. Upon the restart, Yamazaki picked up the pace with a sharp palm strike combination that caught Han on the jaw, followed by a quick left high kick that clipped the side of the head and dropped the Soviet for a knockdown. Han got up quickly, brushing himself off, and returned to the center. Yamazaki tried to repeat the sequence, but this time Han ducked under and launched a rolling kneebar attempt that sent both men scrambling. Yamazaki twisted free but left his leg exposed just long enough for Han to slap on a cross heel hold, which forced the Japanese striker to crawl for the ropes, his second rope break and first official point lost. The match was tied 1-1 on points. Yamazaki looked increasingly wary of engaging on the ground, knowing Han could threaten from any position. The match entered a tense middle phase, with both men alternating between sudden flurries and cautious circling. Yamazaki landed a few more hard body kicks and sharp slaps in the clinch, but Han’s composure never broke. At one point, Yamazaki tried to shoot in for a takedown of his own, hoping to surprise Han, but the SAMBO wizard sprawled and floated over into a front headlock before transitioning to a standing switch and throwing Yamazaki over with a beautiful SAMBO-style suplex. Han immediately transitioned into a leg entanglement and tried to isolate the knee, but Yamazaki used his speed to kick free, resulting in a clean break as they both hit the ropes. The action restarted with a feeling of mounting danger. Han was beginning to figure out Yamazaki’s timing. After a few more striking exchanges, Han baited a high kick and countered with a rare kani-basami, slicing into Yamazaki’s legs and bringing him down hard. The Dagestani pounced with another leg lock attempt, forcing a third rope break from Yamazaki. The tide had fully turned now. Yamazaki attempted a flying juji-gatame as a last-ditch response to a clinch, but Han blocked the attempt and stepped through into a straight ankle lock that drew a fourth rope break. Yamazaki showed some signs of frustration as he was now down 2-1 on points. He fired off a spinning back kick that missed, and Han answered with a spinning backfist that clipped him behind the ear and sent him reeling. The referee started another count, and Yamazaki needed some time to gather himself before signaling to the referee. With the match entering its eighteenth minute, the crowd was fully engaged, murmuring with anticipation as both men took a moment to reset. Han was enjoying a 3-1 lead on points and seemed to be in control. Yamazaki, battered but defiant, threw another middle kick, but Han stepped inside and wrapped him up before launching a lightning-fast suplex variation, a double wristlock suplex, that stunned Yamazaki and left him disoriented. Han wasted no time and spun into a mounted position, faking a transition to side control before twisting into a rolling omoplata. The shift was so quick that Yamazaki had no chance to defend. As Han secured the shoulder and torqued the joint with precision, Yamazaki tried to roll through, but Han adjusted, wrapping the free arm and collapsing into a full extension. Trapped with nowhere to go, Yamazaki was forced to submit at 18:02. The referee called for the bell, and Han jumped up, adjusting his wrist wraps while Yamazaki remained seated on the mat, disappointed and seemingly a bit shellshocked as well. Han defeats Yamazaki via submission (rolling omoplata), 18:02 Nobuhiko Takada vs Chris Dolman The Sendai crowd was locked in with anticipation as Nobuhiko Takada entered to a strong ovation. “Training Montage” from Rocky IV thumped through the arena as Takada’s fans chanted his name. Facing him tonight was the imposing Dutchman Chris Dolman, whose judo and SAMBO credentials had made him a feared opponent despite a mixed record. After Soranaka signaled for the bell, both men took a bit of a cautious approach. Takada took the initiative early with probing low kicks to Dolman’s thighs, trying to keep the larger man from closing the distance. Dolman stayed patient and absorbed the damage, eventually timing a clinch after catching a body kick. From there, he powered Takada to the mat with a heavy inside trip and secured a punishing kesa-gatame, applying short palm strikes to the side of the head. Takada wisely rolled near the ropes, using them to escape before Dolman could isolate the arm, giving up his first rope break. After the restart, Takada stayed light on his feet, wary of Dolman’s grip. He peppered the Dutchman with more kicks to the legs and midsection, forcing Dolman to sag defensively. One stiff left roundhouse caught Dolman clean to the ribs and knocked him back. Takada followed with a palm strike flurry that forced Dolman to cover up and stumble to the mat, drawing the first knockdown of the match. Dolman beat the count and resumed with a bit more urgency, charging into a Greco-style clinch and forcing Takada back into the ropes. After a quick clean break, the referee allowed them to continue, and Dolman used the moment to land a hard body punch before dragging Takada down again with a harai goshi. Dolman once again worked his grinding top control, but Takada used a clever hip escape to initiate a scramble and get back to his feet before Dolman could apply pressure. Another reset followed, and the tempo slowed momentarily as both men reset their strategies. The second half of the match saw Takada pull away. Dolman attempted to clinch again, but Takada baited him with a feint and landed a crisp high kick to the left side of the head, stunning the Dutchman and sending him crashing down for a second knockdown. Dolman got back up just in time to beat the count, but was visibly stunned. Takada remained clinical and met Dolman back in the center of the ring with more probing low kicks. From there, Dolman grew more aggressive, but the desperation left him vulnerable. A slow attempt at an uchi mata was countered by Takada sprawling and applying a loose guillotine before transitioning into a leg entanglement that forced Dolman to scramble for the ropes for a break. Takada immediately pressured Dolman again after they got back on their feet, and he took the Dutchman down with a rear waistlock takedown. Dolman quickly scrambled again to escape, and Takada now had a 3-1 on points. Upon the restart, Takada remained in the zone, mixing kicks with feints and angling away from Dolman’s clinch attempts. Another well-timed palm strike caught Dolman flush, followed by a leg kick and a spinning back kick to the body that dropped him to one knee again. The referee began the count, and Dolman barely beat it at nine. Takada was now leading 4-1 on points. Undeniably exhausted and low on gas, Dolman tried to bull forward once more, but Takada side-stepped and landed a sharp liver kick that folded the big man again. The crowd reacted with a roar as Dolman collapsed for the fifth time. Soranaka waved it off at 15:04. Takada jumped on the nearest turnbuckle to celebrate with his adoring fans. Dolman was attended to by fellow countrymen who were acting as his cornermen. It was a decisive victory for Takada, and Dolman would need to go back to the drawing board. Takada defeats Dolman via TKO, 15:04. Akira Maeda vs Masakatsu Funaki Masakatsu Funaki was finally getting a chance against the top dog in the promotion. After two years of cementing himself as perhaps the best young talent in the promotion, Funaki was eager to score a huge upset tonight and make a statement about the future of the promotion. Maeda, as composed and commanding as ever, took his time in the ring, soaking in the atmosphere in Sendai, while Funaki bowed respectfully before pacing to his corner, his eyes locked forward. Masami Soranaka did the opening pre-match checks before calling for the bell. The early stages reflected an early measured approach from both. Funaki opened with a few low kicks that landed cleanly but without full commitment, likely testing Maeda’s reactions. Maeda answered with a heavy inside kick of his own and a straight palm strike that backed Funaki up early. The first significant exchange came around the four-minute mark, when Funaki slipped under a palm thrust and caught Maeda’s hips for a takedown, but Maeda widened his base and used an overhook to block the entry before dragging Funaki into a standing clinch. A capture suplex attempt from Maeda was stuffed, and the crowd responded with polite applause at the evenly matched exchange. Maeda eventually grounded Funaki off a low single and quickly locked on a heel hook, forcing Funaki to stretch for the ropes for his first rope break. A few moments later, Maeda absorbed a hard body kick and returned fire with a thunderous German suplex, drawing the first knockdown of the bout after Funaki took a bit longer than necessary to respond to Soranaka’s ten count. Funaki, now trailing by a point, didn’t let the setback affect him. In fact, it seemed to fire him up. After the reset, he came forward more assertively, landing a clean left palm strike and following with a high kick that partially connected with Maeda’s shoulder. Funaki then tried to close the distance for a throw, but Maeda countered with a short belly-to-belly suplex and floated into side control. Funaki squirmed and found a gap to spin into Maeda’s legs, threatening a kneebar of his own, which Maeda had to defend by scooting toward the ropes, prompting a clean break. The bout continued to escalate as both men exchanged kicks at mid-range, with Funaki now showing less hesitation in the pocket. Maeda tried to slow him down with body punches, but Funaki darted in with a jumping palm strike and landed flush, wobbling Maeda and earning a knockdown of his own. Maeda seemed a bit shocked and quickly got back up to beat the ten count. The Sendai crowd perked up, sensing a shift. With the match tied at 1-1 and past the ten-minute mark, the pace quickened. Funaki surprised Maeda with a waistlock takedown and immediately attacked the arm for a juji-gatame, but Maeda postured up and powered out with his legs before settling into top control. A clever leg entanglement allowed Funaki to scramble back to his feet, and he landed a spinning back kick to the ribs that caused Maeda to take a step back. Funaki pressed forward, but a momentary lapse allowed Maeda to catch him coming in with a sharp palm strike and a quick side suplex that earned a second knockdown. Funaki had to gather himself before responding to Soranaka’s count, but he did not seem to be in imminent danger. Now trailing 2-1 in knockdowns, Funaki still showed no signs of folding. He picked up the urgency and began peppering Maeda with palm strikes to force openings, then tried to shoot in for a low single again. Maeda sprawled and transitioned to a front facelock, but Funaki spun free and nearly trapped Maeda’s leg on the scramble. Maeda escaped, but Funaki stayed on him and managed to score with a flush mid-kick that drew another knockdown, tying the match 2-2. Maeda collapsed to the mat as the Miyagi Sports Center was rocking with thunder. The crowd cheered as Funaki adjusted his wrist tape, looking sharp and locked in. Maeda, meanwhile, appeared slightly frustrated at the young man’s resilience. A stiff exchange of kicks followed, with both men digging deep, but it was Maeda who finally broke the deadlock with another suplex, this time a high-arching German that spiked Funaki hard on his shoulders for the third knockdown. The pace slowed slightly from there as fatigue set in, but Maeda stayed in control. Funaki managed one more strong sequence, catching Maeda with a spinning back kick and diving into a double wristlock attempt, only for Maeda to inch toward the ropes and force a break. With Maeda already exhausting a rope break from earlier, the match was now tied 3-3 on points. On the restart, Maeda landed a hard palm strike and another low kick that forced Funaki to dig in to remain on his feet. Funaki seemed hurt, and Maeda moved in for the kill. The finish came moments later, when Funaki got caught in the clinch, followed by a lightning-quick Capture Suplex. Maeda quickly went for the pinfall attempt, and Masami Soranaka initiated the count. 1…2….3!!!! Despite a very commendable effort from Funaki, Maeda secured the victory and fended off a huge upset. Maeda defeats Funaki via pinfall, 20:19 After the match, Maeda celebrates, but not before counseling Funaki and congratulating him on the hard-fought match. Funaki makes his way back as Maeda is given his moment to shine. The crowd chants for Maeda as the WOWOW commentary crew recaps the events of the evening. Before signing off, they hype up the upcoming Anniversary show, which will take place July 27th at the Yokohama Arena. They also officially announced UWF's debut show in Brazil, which will take place on August 16th at the Ginásio Gilberto Cardoso in Rio de Janeiro. They tell the fans to stay tuned for match announcements next week. They also confirm the opening round of the UWF U-COSMOS tournament will take place on August 30th at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. The commentators sign off, and we get the rolling credits set to highlights from the evening, as Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" plays.

Card Announcement: UWF Newborn - "Fighting Arena Sendai" June 29th, 1990 Sendai, Japan Miyagi Sports Center Mitsuya Nagai vs Yusuke Fuke Masahito Kakihara vs Naoyuki Taira Peter Senerchia vs Tatsuo Nakano Dick Vrij vs Yoji Anjo Andy Hug vs Yorinaga Nakamura Atsushi Onita vs Naoya Ogawa Volk Han vs Kazuo Yamazaki Nobuhiko Takada vs Chris Dolman Akira Maeda vs Masakatsu Funaki

(OOC: Sorry for falling a bit behind, it's crunch time for my LSAT studies since I will be taking the test in August. The June show is in the oven, but it might be a day or two late.)

UWF Newborn – “UWF Fighting Arena” May 30TH, 1990 Fukuoka, Japan Hakata Starlanes Attendance: 4,000 (sold out) Broadcast: WOWOW (taped) The WOWOW broadcast opens with the thumping UWF theme playing over a montage of the wrestlers preparing earlier in the afternoon in the arena, and shots of the various wrestlers on the roster are seen. In particular, we see the eight competitors in the co-main events gathering and talking over strategy. The commentators greet the viewing audience and break down tonight's card. They spend a good amount of time talking up the tag team matches to determine the #1 contenders for the tag team championship in July, Volk Han in action, and how the Brazilian duo of Ruas and Tadeu will take on the team of Sayama and Fujinami. They speculate how personal agendas will factor into the main events tonight, including Fujinami having his eyes on Sayama's title and the dynamics between Onita, Takada, Maeda, and Ogawa. The UWF theme plays again on the taped broadcast, and the parade of wrestlers starts as they enter the ring one by one. Heavy cheers for the usual suspects. Maeda, Takada, Sayama, and Fujinami all give opening remarks, followed by brief comments from Onita and Ogawa. We are soon underway as the fans are quite lively for tonight's major but intimate event at Hakata Starlanes. Yusuke Fuke vs Manabu Yamada The opening match featured two young lions who were going through the grind in the UWF dojo and were eager for a breakout win. Yamada, in particular, was hoping to make his mentor Satoru Sayama proud by securing a victory against a trainee who had been under the guidance of Akira Maeda and Yoshiaki Fujiwara. While Fuke had a lot of weapons, so did Yamada. Yamada was pretty sharp out of the gate and took it to Fuke and gave him all sorts of trouble on the mat with fluid movement and skilled positioning. Fuke had to adjust quickly because he was down a point before he knew it after exhausting two quick rope breaks in succession. Yamada’s energy was winning the crowd over, but Fuke had an answer by catching his opponent with a smooth spinning backfist that knocked Yamada off his feet for the first ten count of the match. Yamada beat the ten count quickly, but Fuke quickly went for a double-leg takedown and established side control to slow the pace down a bit. Fuke enjoyed more moments of success as he managed to settle Yamada down, but Yamada’s ability to fight off holds and counter with his own was a key factor, and Yamada soon held a 2-1 lead after several minutes of grappling on the mat. After a palm strike exchange that led to a knockdown in favor of Yamada, Fuke tried to fight back and get Yamada back to the mat, but Yamada delivered several sharp knee strikes to the head to finish off his opponent. Fuke was down for the count again, this time for good. Yamada defeats Fuke via KO, 9:43 Kiyoshi Tamura vs Erik Paulson Tamura was slowly making a name for himself, and while he wasn’t exactly taking the promotion by storm, people were noticing his rapid improvement in skill. Erik Paulson, the young American, was in a similar boat but had been around longer and was a steady presence in the undercard. The bout started with both wrestlers being a bit more cautious than usual, especially on Tamura’s end. Both spent some time testing the waters and feeling out their respective strategies. Paulson attempted to get control of Tamura’s back, but Tamura rolled through and defended from his back briefly while Paulson hunted for a leg lock. Tamura fended off the attempt and got back on his feet. Both attempted to get the upper hand with a palm strike exchange, but neither could gain the advantage. Paulson took Tamura down the mat with a rolling armbar drag and attempted the cross-armbreaker before Tamura managed to roll through and reverse it into a snappy kneebar attempt. The suddenness of the move was enough to get Paulson to exhaust a rope break. The back and forth continued, with Paulson and Tamura both getting opportunities to finish the match via submission. While Tamura had a lot of natural skill, Paulson had the experience, and this was the decisive factor in his favor. A flying armbar turned into a cross-armbreaker was enough to put Tamura away and give Paulson the victory. Paulson defeats Tamura via submission (cross-armbreaker), 9:29 Ahmed Johnson vs Masashi Aoyagi The next match featured the impressive Ahmed Johnson going up against perhaps his toughest test yet in Masashi Aoyagi, a skilled karateka who could get brutal and dirty if needed. The crowd at Hakata Starlanes was buzzing for this match, with Johnson building up a bit of a fanbase for himself with his approach in the ring. From the outset, Johnson pressed forward with his trademark aggression, closing the distance and digging heavy hooks into Aoyagi’s midsection. Aoyagi, calm under fire, tried to manage the range with sharp kicks to the thighs and body, circling out and planting a few crisp palm strikes as Johnson charged in. The pace was relentless early, with Johnson walking through Aoyagi’s kicks to land a crushing bodylock throw that brought both men to the mat. Aoyagi scrambled for the ropes under threat of a neck crank, giving up his first rope break just under three minutes in. The Fukuoka crowd buzzed with anticipation as Johnson continued to assert control, briefly mounting Aoyagi with heavy palm strikes before the karateka managed to turn into him and tie him up, eventually earning a clean break near the ropes. Knowing he couldn't match Johnson’s physicality, Aoyagi wisely slowed the tempo, frustrating the American with long kicking exchanges and brief flurries. Just past the six-minute mark, Aoyagi caught Johnson with a perfectly timed spinning back kick to the liver, followed by a right high kick that landed flush, sending Johnson crashing to the mat for a knockdown. The crowd roared as Johnson beat the count at nine, visibly winded but still dangerous. Johnson aimed to tie things up on points after closing the distance with his opponent. Aoyagi struggled to break from Johnson’s grasp as the American executed a near-perfect belly-to-belly suplex. Johnson quickly hunted for a keylock, and this was enough to force Aoyagi to go for the ropes again. The match was tied at 1-1, and Johnson seemed to be relishing things so far. Regardless, Aoyagi pushed forward, hoping to end things before his stamina gave out, but his next flurry left him open. Johnson ducked under a roundhouse kick and exploded into a double-leg takedown that shook the canvas. Smelling blood, he transitioned into a waistlock and executed a deadlift German suplex that left Aoyagi motionless on the mat. The referee began the count as the crowd leaned in with bated breath. Aoyagi stirred at eight, but his body gave out before ten. It was Johnson’s power that told the final story in Fukuoka. Johnson defeats Aoyagi via KO, 9:02. Victor Zangiev & Salman Hashimikov vs Wayne Shamrock & Joe Malenko The next match would determine the first qualifier for the chance to compete for the new tag team championship at the anniversary event in July. The Soviet duo of Victor Zangiev and Salman Hashimikov faced off against Joe Malenko and Wayne Shamrock. Zangiev opened against Malenko in a slow-burning exchange rooted in mutual respect and shared influences; both men were technically sharp, conservative in risk, and looking to control the pace. They worked a deliberate tempo in the opening minutes, fighting for control ties, inside wrist pressure, and low-leverage throws that never quite connected. Malenko briefly gained the upper hand with a waistlock trip, grinding Zangiev’s shoulder into the mat before the Ossetian slipped free and worked back to neutral. A clean rope break came after a rolling front headlock battle forced both men too close to the corner pad, and both tagged out, bringing in the stylistic foils of the match: the compact powerhouse Hashimikov and the explosive, unpredictable Shamrock. Where Zangiev and Malenko had played chess, this next phase was a gunfight. Shamrock entered with energy, firing off palm strikes and low kicks, keeping the heavier Hashimikov off balance and circling. But the Chechen veteran had seen enough after the second low kick and surged forward, absorbing a strike to clinch and hurl Shamrock with a punishing side belly-to-belly suplex that drew a reaction from the crowd. The American was dazed and took his time to get up as Ryogaku Wada started a ten count. Shamrock recovered at the count of eight and looked rattled. Hashimikov tried to follow up with a second throw, but Shamrock scrambled mid-air and trapped the leg on the landing, twisting into a rapid-fire kneebar. Hashimikov had to roll violently to the ropes, exhausting his first rope break. Both teams reset with tags after a brief reset in positioning, and again it was Malenko and Zangiev, this time with a more purposeful intensity. Malenko tried to isolate an arm for a hammerlock, but Zangiev reversed with an explosive gutwrench, transitioning beautifully into a grounded cattle mutilation variant. Malenko struggled but managed to rotate his hips into the ropes before the hold could be fully tightened. Malenko opted to remain in the match, but Zangiev continued to press the advantage and despite Malenko’s technical skill, Zangiev used his insistence on wrist control to counter with a hammerlock takedown and quickly went for a toe hold, which again prompted Malenko to scramble to the ropes for another break and his first point loss. The Soviets continued to enjoy building up momentum as both Shamrock and Malenko seemed a step behind their opponents. Malenko did nearly catch Zangiev with a pinfall attempt, but the Ossetian was able to break out by the two count. Back in with Shamrock, Zangiev had to adjust to a far more kinetic opponent, but his ability to neutralize speed with positioning paid off. Shamrock’s shot attempt was stuffed, and Zangiev immediately spun behind into a lift, hitting a clean German suplex that folded Shamrock on his shoulders. With Shamrock stunned again, Wada counted to nine—another knockdown. The crowd came alive as Shamrock stood, clearly showing fatigue, and now down to 1 point. He came forward recklessly and nearly caught Zangiev with a jumping guillotine, but Zangiev adjusted his base and spiked Shamrock down hard. That prompted a final tag to Hashimikov, who wasted no time asserting himself with heavy body pressure and clinch work. After a brief struggle on the ropes, Shamrock tried to roll through into a leg lock, but Hashimikov stuffed it, twisted out, and dropped down into a scarf hold position. He shifted his weight, locked in a strong base, and turned the hold into a side crucifix-style pin. Shamrock kicked his legs in protest, but was trapped. 1…2…3!!! The Soviets were advancing, and the American duo had to embrace disappointment. Zangiev and Hashimikov defeat Malenko and Shamrock via pinfall, 16:21. Dennis Koslowski & Duane Koslowski vs Marty Jones & Dave Taylor After the Koslowskis entered to "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen to a very warm welcome by the fans, the British team entered dressed in fancy tracksuits that resembled the British flag. The Koslowski brothers were a win away from getting the chance to face the Soviets for the right to become the first UWF tag team champions. The former American Olympians took on the tandem of Marty Jones and Dave Taylor in a match that was anticipated for the contrast in styles. Duane Koslowski started opposite Taylor, and the opening exchange was deliberate and mostly contested in collar-and-elbow tie-ups and positional jockeying. Taylor’s catch wrestling fundamentals were apparent; he floated into an underhook and tried to turn it into a rolling wrist control sequence, but Duane kept his base low and fought back to neutral with a Greco-inspired lift-and-dump that earned a brief reaction from the crowd. A short mat struggle followed, with both men exchanging front headlocks, wrist rides, and leg locks, but nothing stuck. After a clean rope break during a scramble, both tagged out to give their partners a go. Dennis Koslowski immediately pressed forward, initiating contact with a short arm drag into a waist control tie. Jones tried to turn out with a hip switch, but Dennis stayed glued to him and dragged him down with a folkstyle-style spiral ride. Jones briefly trapped a leg and looked to roll, but Dennis shifted his weight expertly and floated into a mounted half-nelson position—reminiscent more of Iowa than Wigan. The referee called for a clean rope break as they rolled toward the ropes and the match reset. Back on their feet, Jones tried to change the rhythm with quick palm strikes and a sneaky low kick, but Dennis wasn’t rattled. He stepped in with double underhooks and delivered a high-angle belly-to-belly suplex that stunned Jones—he hit hard and stayed down long enough for Wada to start a ten count and reach eight. One knockdown scored in favor of the Americans. Duane tagged back in and kept the pressure up with aggressive clinch entries and short lifts, wearing down Jones with bodylock throws and a few standing switches that emphasized control. Jones managed to create space and tagged Taylor back in, who slowed things down again and worked his way into a tight double wristlock after ducking under a Koslowski arm drag attempt. Duane struggled as Taylor wrenched the hold and had to fight for the ropes to get a rope break. The technical exchanges continued with methodical pacing. Taylor tried again to isolate an arm, but Duane surprised him with a sudden hip toss, immediately following with a quick transition into an armbar attempt. Taylor resisted well, but Duane got even with his opponent and forced Taylor to grab the ropes for another rope break. Duane tagged in his brother, and Dennis went to work against the British technician. A hammerlock led to a unique pinning position, reminiscent of folkstyle tilt series, but Taylor fought out. Dennis kept waist control and lifted his opponent for a German suplex. Taylor was in trouble as Dennis went for a rear-naked choke. Taylor had no choice but to go for the ropes again, handing the Americans a 2-0 lead on points. But Marty Jones, being tagged in, managed to find a way to press Dennis, and even Duane, for a brief stretch, to get a point back for his team after catching Dennis Koslowski with a double wristlock attempt. The American had to exhaust his second rope break of the night. The closing stretch came as Taylor went up against Duane. Taylor was trying to quicken the pace with a few brisk palm strikes and a tight snap suplex, but Duane responded with a Greco-style over-under throw that put Taylor hard onto the mat. Taylor needed his time to get up, and Wada started another ten count. A 3-1 lead for the Americans was now the story. Duane followed with pressure passing and heavy shoulder rides, frustrating the Brit’s efforts to create scrambles. Taylor rolled into a half-guard and tried to underhook for a sweep, but Duane sprawled, used his hips, and transitioned cleanly into a modified arm triangle from the side. Taylor fought to bridge and turn, but Duane adjusted his weight, shifted to a tighter grip across the throat, and dropped his chest low for maximum pressure. With no path to the ropes and the choke fully cinched, Taylor tapped out, bringing the match to an end. Duane and Dennis Koslowski defeat Jones and Taylor via submission (arm triangle), 17:04. The Koslowskis celebrate on their way to the back, and they seem quite confident and cheerful. Duane Koslowski makes the belt motion around his waist and gives the thumbs up. Andrei Kopylov vs Nikolai Zouev The crowd anticipated the next match-up, which was a compelling matchup between two very dangerous SAMBO stylists. From the moment the opening bell rang, it was clear that this would be a highly technical affair. Zouev opened the match by circling his opponent, occasionally flashing feints with his shoulders or hips to provoke Kopylov into exposing something early. Kopylov didn’t bite. Kopylov stayed patient in the center of the ring, shifting his stance slightly and pawing at Zouev with palm strikes and low kicks. After a brief exchange in the clinch, Zouev dropped low for a leg reap that transitioned into a trip takedown, expertly navigating around Kopylov’s size and strength. The action moved to the canvas, where Zouev tried to create space with a sit-out into a reverse cradle, looking to tie up the legs. Kopylov resisted and clamped down from the top position, nullifying Zouev’s first real submission sequence. Kopylov eventually worked into a modified knee-on-belly and dropped several open-hand strikes to Zouev’s head Zouev kept his composure and, when the timing was right, shifted his hips and threatened a kneebar from the bottom. Kopylov disengaged just in time, and both men returned to their feet. With five minutes gone, the match had already developed a compelling rhythm. Zouev was looking to play artist, flowing from hold to hold, while Kopylov pursued control and wore his wily compatriot down with pressure. Zouev scored the first point when he managed to trap Kopylov in a banana split, forcing Kopylov to the ropes after a painful stretch and exhausting his second rope break of the match. But Kopylov returned the favor shortly after, catching Zouev off a reset with a low single into a straight ankle lock, forcing a rope break of his own. Zouev got back on his feet, but Kopylov immediately pressed again and the two scrambled on the mat again. Kopylov worked for side control and eventually found Zouev’s back as he attempted to roll through. Zouev found himself in a rear-naked choke and quickly went for the ropes again for another break. At 1-1 on points, the pace quickened ever so slightly. Zouev adjusted by becoming more elusive; ducking in and out, and changing angles before diving in to snag another limb. He used the momentum to trip Kopylov to the mat again and chained together a series of holds that began with a leg lace and transitioned into a modified calf crusher. Kopylov was visibly strained and once again had to grab the ropes, conceding a third rope break. Zouev found some more momentum, and after landing several kicks to Kopylov’s midsection, he twisted around his opponent and went for a rear trip that quickly turned into a creative shoot inverted STF variation, which was enough to get Kopylov to panic again for a fourth rope break, giving Zouev the 2-1 lead on points By the 12-minute mark, Kopylov was visibly slower to get up and started to rely more on short-range strikes to disrupt Zouev’s rhythm. He managed to corner Zouev briefly and landed a few body punches and palm strikes to the ribs. Kopylov and Zouev grappled a bit on their feet, and both seemed a bit fatigued Zouev broke free, but Kopylov caught him with a few palm strikes, and that was enough to send his fellow countryman to the mat. Wada initiated the ten count, although Zouev got back up fairly promptly. With the match tied at 2-2, Kopylov tried to catch his breath, but Zouev wisely clinched and used a hip turn to redirect Kopylov’s balance. From there, he went right back to the mat. This time isolating an arm and transitioning between a wristlock and a figure-four shoulder hold. Kopylov resisted valiantly and tried to roll free, but Zouev anticipated it. In one seamless motion, he floated over the top, trapped Kopylov’s free arm with his leg, and twisted the shoulder back into a high-angle wristlock-style submission. Kopylov thrashed for a second, but the torque was too great. Before he risked serious damage, the pretzeled Kopylov was forced to submit. The crowd cheered heavily for both, who had just put on a masterclass in SAMBO grappling. Zouev, in particular, was impressive and had earned a few new fans tonight. Zouev defeats Kopylov via submission (double leg trap wristlock), 15:18 Volk Han vs Minoru Suzuki The next match between Volk Han and Minoru Suzuki opened with an intense sense of anticipation from the crowd in Hakata Starlanes, who were already familiar with Suzuki’s fearlessness and Han’s reputation as a wizard. After the pre-match check from referee Motoyuki Kitazawa, both men wasted little time, with Suzuki showing his usual high-energy approach early. He shot for a single-leg within the first thirty seconds, trying to surprise the Russian. Han calmly sprawled and used a quick switch to take Suzuki’s back momentarily, forcing the young prodigy to scramble free. Suzuki came forward again with tight palm strikes to the body and a low kick that landed flush, but Han’s demeanor never changed, with his eyes staying locked on Suzuki’s hips and feet. The Dagestani grappler answered with a low-line inside kick and a spinning backfist that forced Suzuki to cover up. Suzuki then ducked into the clinch, where he attempted to muscle Han down with a trip, but the Soviet’s balance held. Han countered with a sudden rolling kneebar attempt, twisting from a seemingly innocuous position, which stunned the crowd with its speed. Suzuki desperately reached for the ropes, scoring the first rope break of the match. Volk wasted little time back on his feet, and Suzuki was caught by Volk’s axe kick, which opened the opportunity for Volk to hit some low body punches, followed by a clinch. Suzuki was then sent into the air with a Uranage-esque throw. The light blue-clad Soviet quickly went for a cross-armbreaker, and earned another rope break as Suzuki was happy to get a brief respite from the storm. Volk looked a bit pleased with the 1-0 lead on points. The pace continued without much interruption. Suzuki, undeterred, worked into a high clinch and surprised Han with a clean hip throw, momentarily silencing the crowd. He landed on top and quickly worked for a cross-armbreaker, yanking back on Han’s limb with all his weight. But Han slipped his leg in between, used it as a wedge, and popped his arm free, flowing into a toehold attempt mid-scramble. Suzuki’s athleticism allowed him to back-roll out, and both men returned to their feet. Suzuki was eager to continue his momentum, perhaps a little bit too much for his own good. He was happy to grapple with Volk again, and the Dagestani obliged. Volk snagged a standing double wristlock and almost attempted a double wristlock suplex, but Suzuki was able to escape and nearly caught Volk for a piledriver attempt, but the Soviet was able to trip up Suzuki. The Soviet wizard quickly went for a kneebar attempt, and that was enough to get Suzuki to exhaust another rope break. Back on their feet, Han tried to walk Suzuki down, palm-striking just to create a reaction. Suzuki returned fire with a strong low kick, but overcommitted when he followed with a body punch. Han capitalized, hitting a sharp kani-basami scissor takedown that drew gasps. He immediately transitioned to a cross-heel hold, forcing Suzuki into another rope break to survive. Now up two points, Han grew more methodical, baiting Suzuki into rushing in with aggressive grappling attempts. Suzuki managed to chain together a double wristlock and bodylock takedown, impressively securing side control and trying to isolate an arm, but Han tensed, baited a move, and reversed into an ankle lock in one fluid motion. Suzuki again reached for the ropes. Suzuki was in a hole but showed his fire, scoring a traditional knockdown moments later with a beautiful German suplex after catching a Han kick and countering into a throw. Volk faced a ten count from Kitazawa but wasted no time in clinching his fists in front of him to signal his ability to continue. The crowd was very pleased with Suzuki, and despite being in Han’s corner, they were reminded to cheer for the Japanese native. The crowd started to rally behind Suzuki, who poured forward with urgency, throwing crisp slaps and a knee to Han’s ribs before securing another clinch. But that intensity would be his undoing. As Suzuki looked to drag Han down again, Han posted off his hips and twisted into a standing armbar trap, popping Suzuki’s arm into the air in a sickening fashion and drawing a pop from the crowd. The Dagestani then rolled through and spun underneath, snapping into a tight inverted armbar. Suzuki tried to turn and relieve pressure, but Han adjusted in a blink, releasing the hold and reattaching into a straight cross-armbreaker across the body. Suzuki’s body arched in agony as Han wrenched with perfect leverage. It was too much. Suzuki had no choice but to tap. The crowd roared in admiration for the effort, and the “Command SAMBO” wizard quietly let go, rising with a clinical calm. Han defeats Suzuki via submission (cross-armbreaker), 14:56 Satoru Sayama & Tatsumi Fujinami vs Marco Ruas & Eugenio Tadeu Hakata Starlanes showed no signs of tiring as the fans were vocally excited for the next match that brought together four wildly different but equally skilled fighters. On one side, Tatsumi Fujinami and reigning Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Satoru Sayama, two of Japan’s most revered technicians, molded by Gotchism and, in Sayama’s case, real combat systems. On the other side stood Marco Ruas and Eugenio Tadeu, a dangerous Brazilian duo blending Luta Livre, Muay Thai, and capoeira-infused movement. The bout opened with Satoru Sayama and Eugenio Tadeu testing each other with speed, rhythm, and striking nuance. Sayama set the tone early with tight lateral movement, sharp low kicks, and disciplined distance control, disrupting Tadeu’s capoeira-inflected entries. Tadeu responded with creative footwork and sudden spinning attacks, but Sayama’s economy of motion and discipline neutralized Tadeu’s creativity. A step-in palm strike from Sayama found Tadeu’s chin, and as Tadeu staggered backward, Sayama closed the gap and tripped him to the mat. Tadeu tried to spin out into a leg entanglement, but Sayama calmly floated into side control. The referee called for a clean break as they drifted too close to the ropes. Both corners tagged out, and now it was Fujinami and Ruas, grappler versus grappler. Fujinami pursued a collar tie, but Ruas broke the grip with a clinch knee to the ribs and executed a tight hip throw that grounded Fujinami. The referee, Masami Soranaka, began the count as Fujinami took a moment to rise. Fujinami seemed a bit annoyed and committed himself to getting one back on Ruas. A scramble on the mat saw a stalemate before Fujinami nearly locked in a Gotch toe hold, but Ruas escaped. Fujinami calculated that a tag and a change-up were in order. Sayama returned to face Ruas, and the crowd came alive for a duel between the reigning champion and one of the most dangerous martial artists from the Americas. Ruas tried to close Sayama down in the clinch, favoring knees and body pressure, but Sayama’s movement was tricky to lock down. A stinging low kick from Sayama to the thigh, followed by a palm thrust to the solar plexus, momentarily halted Ruas’ forward march. Sayama ducked under a clinch attempt and latched on for a rear waistlock, trying to off-balance Ruas for a suplex, but the Brazilian widened his base and shucked him off. Ruas stayed in the center and absorbed another body kick, then caught Sayama’s leg on the next attempt and drove him backward with a trip takedown. Sayama immediately scrambled, threatening a triangle as Ruas postured. Ruas was able to find a way out and managed to snag a quick heel hook that forced Sayama to the ropes for the first time in the match. Sayama then caught Ruas with a sharp spinning heel kick and then took advantage of his stunned opponent to lock in a flying armbar. The quick cross-armbreaker attempt quickly forced Ruas to the ropes as well, and both wrestlers got back on their feet. A round of applause from the fans signaled an appreciation of the technical chess between two elite minds. Sayama tagged out after the exchange, and Fujinami stepped in once more. Ruas opted to tag in his partner as well. Fujinami’s methodical approach slowed the tempo, dragging Tadeu into a style of match that limited the Brazilian’s free-flowing rhythm. A clinch from Fujinami led to a clean takedown via an outside trip, and he passed to half-guard, pressuring Tadeu with subtle shoulder pressure and hand fighting. Tadeu threatened a guillotine off a scramble, but Fujinami calmly shut it down and advanced to mount before Tadeu tried to catch his opponent with a sweep. Fujinami resisted and nearly locked in a rear-naked choke, which forced Tadeu to the ropes. Tadeu took his time to get up while evaluating his extremely skilled opponent. When action resumed, Tadeu exploded with a jumping knee and spinning back kick, but Fujinami ducked under the arc of motion and used the momentum against him, grounding him with a rear waistlock takedown. A brief scramble on the mat was followed by Tadeu getting back to his knees, and the two clinched up again on their feet. This time, Tadeu was able to score a point on Fujinami by delivering several knee strikes to Fujinami’s abdomen. Fujinami fell to the mat and needed some time as Soranaka initiated a ten count. After getting back to his feet, Fujinami opted to get his partner back into the match. Sayama tagged back in and worked Tadeu’s body with inside low kicks and a crushing middle kick that buckled the Brazilian briefly. As Tadeu covered up, Sayama attempted a Tiger suplex, but Tadeu turned through and escaped into a seated position near the ropes. A clean break was ordered, and both men got back to their feet. As the match passed the 18-minute mark, Tadeu—having expended a good amount of energy—was visibly slowing, and Fujinami came in for the final stretch. Tadeu tried to bait him with capoeira feints, but Fujinami refused to bite, keeping calm under pressure. He ducked under a wild spinning kick, secured the rear waistlock, and launched Tadeu high with a picture-perfect German suplex—arching into a deep bridge. The referee dropped to the mat and counted the pinfall: 1…2…..3!!!! At 18 minutes and 46 seconds, the match concluded with a huge win for the Japanese team. Sayama & Fujinami defeat Ruas & Tadeu via pinfall, 18:46 After the match, Fujinami rolled off, calm and collected, while Sayama stood with his hands behind his back, nodding slightly in respect in Ruas’ direction. Ruas appeared to return the gesture, and Tadeu seemed a bit disappointed with himself. Meanwhile, Fujinami appeared to glance toward Sayama, perhaps in recognition that a clash between the two was now inevitable. They briefly celebrated, but business loomed. The WOWOW broadcast cameras catch Billy Robinson at ringside, studiously observing the body language. Akira Maeda & Naoya Ogawa vs Atsushi Onita & Nobuhiko Takada The tag team main event saw the two biggest names in UWF teaming with younger, but hungry and dangerous partners. Maeda and Takada’s rivalry has been ongoing throughout UWF Newborn’s short history, and the tension was already palpable between the two as soon as the bell sounded. Ogawa was the youngest competitor in the match and had the most to prove, while Onita, the wildcard of the bout, was chomping at the bit to get his hands on his new rival. The styles of each man promised an unpredictable and volatile contest, and the Fukuoka crowd seemed well aware of the stakes. Maeda and Takada opened the match with a tense feeling-out process, each probing with low kicks and range-finding palm strikes. Maeda looked to impose himself with power, attempting to bait Takada into clinching, while Takada kept his distance and replied with sharp inside kicks and stinging body slaps. Neither man wanted to give the other an early advantage. The result was a careful, measured opening exchange. Eventually, Maeda forced a clinch and landed a thudding knee to the body before attempting a side suplex. Takada blocked and countered with a standing switch, looking to work into a double wristlock. Maeda quickly shifted his hips and drove the action to the ropes, leading the referee, Masami Soranaka, to call for a clean break. Takada made the tag to Onita, who charged in with no hesitation and immediately pressured Maeda with wild palm strike flurries. Maeda covered up and circled, choosing to weather the storm rather than get into a dangerous exchange. Onita’s forward pressure backed Maeda into the ropes, and Maeda countered with a low kick that staggered the Luta Livre brawler. That opening gave Maeda a chance to secure a waistlock and take Onita down hard with a German suplex. Maeda floated into side control and began grinding with shoulder pressure, but Onita squirmed and kicked toward the ropes. Maeda attempted to tie up an arm, but Onita found the rope with his leg, costing his team their first rope break. Onita looked annoyed, but not rattled. Maeda tagged in Ogawa, who entered calmly and circled Onita with a Judo stance, hands lower than usual and hips ready to shoot in. Onita tried to surprise him with a palm strike to the chin, but Ogawa ducked under and secured a beautiful harai goshi that sent Onita crashing to the mat. The crowd responded strongly to the throw. Ogawa immediately followed up with a top-side attack, trying to isolate an arm or work into a scarf hold. Onita defended well enough to stall progress, but Ogawa continued pressuring. Onita eventually trapped a leg and used a scramble to force another rope break, costing his team their first point. It was a slow burn, but Maeda and Ogawa had gained a small foothold. Onita tagged out and Takada returned, now facing Ogawa. Takada looked more deliberate in his movement, clearly respecting the Judo prodigy’s throwing ability. Ogawa tried to tie up from a standing clinch, but Takada used a short knee to the body and then broke the grip, landing a hard middle kick to Ogawa’s ribs. Ogawa stepped back and reset, this time feinting low before rushing in and launching Takada with a lightning-fast uchi mata. Takada hit hard and turtled up. Ogawa tried to hop over for control, but Takada rolled and threatened a heel hook in transition. The sudden counter forced Ogawa to dive for the ropes, giving up a rope break. Takada kept the pressure on, mixing up his kicks now with sharper intent. He peppered Ogawa with outside low kicks and then snuck in a body kick that visibly shook the young Judoka. Sensing a potential opening, Takada went high with a round kick and grazed Ogawa’s temple. Ogawa fell to his side and held the side of his head. Takada didn’t hesitate and closed in, but the referee stepped in and started a count. Ogawa recovered quickly and beat the count at five, but his team had now lost a point, and the match was even at 1-1 for both teams. Maeda looked concerned but didn’t panic, calling for the tag. With fresh legs, Maeda came back in and went straight after Takada with hard palm strikes. The two exchanged furious open-hand blows, and Hakata Starlanes came alive. Chants for Maeda, mixed in some for Takada as well, filled the interior. Maeda backed Takada up with a left body punch and then planted a shin kick into his thigh. Takada fired back with a knee, but Maeda caught it and dumped Takada with a side suplex. Rather than follow on the ground, Maeda allowed Takada to stand, only to punish him again with a thudding low kick. The back-and-forth continued until Maeda ducked a palm strike and launched Takada with his signature Capture Suplex. Takada landed hard and was slow to get up, and the referee began his count. Takada rose at eight, but the impact was clear; Maeda had scored a knockdown, and now his team held the lead at 2-1. Takada was reluctant, but he tagged Onita back in. Onita returned to the ring and wasted no time getting into Maeda’s face. The intensity picked up again as Onita forced a frantic exchange, swinging wide palm strikes and body punches at close range. Maeda absorbed most of it before clinching and tripping Onita down to the canvas. Onita wrapped his legs around Maeda’s waist and threatened a guillotine choke, but Maeda postured out and began punishing Onita with open hand body shots and grinding shoulder pressure. Onita, desperate to create space, tried to explode into a leg entanglement, but Maeda stepped over and flattened him again. Masami Soranaka briefly counted for a pinfall attempt, but Onita reached for the ropes and reached them, giving up another rope break in the process. Now dangerously close to giving up his second point of the match, Onita fought with desperation. Maeda would have none of it, though, and started landing some stiff body shots on Onita. Onita refused to go down and tried to get Maeda with a standing guillotine, but Maeda easily evaded. A bit gassed, Onita decided to tag Takada back in. Takada tried to swing the match back in their favor. He used his footwork to evade Maeda and then caught him with a beautiful roundhouse. Maeda dropped to a knee, and Takada quickly attempted a rear-naked choke. Maeda defended, but Takada’s aggression had returned. Maeda turtled up and went for the ropes to break up Takada’s attack. Chants for Takada were growing louder in the arena. Back on their feet, Takada started to catch Maeda clean with several sharp kicks. Maeda was able to catch one of them and executed a single-leg takedown. After another brief scramble, Maeda was forced to slide backward into the ropes to avoid a heel hook. The score now stood at 2-2. Maeda went for the tag, and Ogawa came in cautiously against Takada. The two exchanged grips for nearly a minute with little activity, both wary of being the one to make the mistake. Ogawa nearly scored with an osoto gari, but Takada landed on his knees and spun through. Ogawa jumped onto his back, but Takada stood and shook him off. The scramble led them to the ropes, and the referee called a clean break, to applause from the crowd. It was tense, with the match past the 22-minute mark and nearing its climax. Ogawa went for another throw, but Takada saw it coming and countered with a slick trip of his own. On the mat, Takada quickly moved to side control and worked toward a double wristlock. Ogawa defended well and tried to sit out, but Takada transitioned beautifully into a kneebar. Ogawa gritted his teeth and barely managed to reach the ropes before the hold could be locked in fully. After being tagged back in, Maeda returned one final time, and Onita met him again with a motivated fury. The crowd erupted as the two traded again in the center of the ring, Maeda landing hard low kicks and Onita swinging wildly. Onita connected with a left palm to Maeda’s jaw and went in for a clinch, but Maeda slipped under and threw him hard with a full-nelson suplex. Onita landed awkwardly and clutched at his back. Maeda quickly pounced and locked in a cross-armbreaker. Onita kicked, thrashed, and tried to roll, but Maeda kept it tight. After several seconds of struggle, Onita had no choice but to tap. The referee called for the bell at 24:38, and Maeda’s hand was raised. Maeda & Ogawa defeat Takada & Onita via submission (cross-armbreaker), 24:38. Maeda and Ogawa celebrate in the ring, and the fans let the streamers fly into the arena. Takada and Onita retreat and stand defeated outside, looking back towards their opponents with disappointment on their faces. Ogawa seems to make some gestures towards Onita, who seems eager to get back into the ring but knows better. Takada and Maeda exchange some looks, as captured by the cameras. In any case, this is Maeda's and Ogawa's night as the fans chant for Maeda in particular. The WOWOW commentators recap the great main event, along with the other matches. They note that the Koslowski twins will be facing the team of Zangiev and Hashimikov for the tag team belts at July's anniversary show. Maeda and Ogawa receive some ceremonial trophies from the Fukuoka mayor as the celebrations continue. Backstage, Takada and Onita give a brief interview, and they leave room for potential future encounters between Maeda and Takada, and Ogawa and Onita. We also get pre-recorded interviews with Sayama and Fujinami, who seem destined for a clash in July for the Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship. Ruas also gets some airtime in a pre-recorded interview, and he does his job to begin hyping up the August event that will take place in Brazil. He seems to suggest he wants a shot at Sayama as well. The commentators finish their recap and sign off for the evening, leading to the rolling credits set to highlights from the evening. "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty plays in the background, and another chapter of UWF Newborn is in the books!

Damn, this one stings. Hashimikov was a pioneer who helped bridge the divide between the Soviet Union and the rest of the world in the realm of pro wrestling. He was very skilled in the ring as well, and always seemed to have at least a decent match with anyone. Inoki had a lot of great ideas, and a lot of bad ones, and his decision to bring in the Soviets to NJPW was one of his great ideas. RIP.

AWA Title Night delivered, and Hansen vs Hogan was as good as advertised. Ric Flair vs Austin Idol made for an enjoyable read as well. Hogan has another big match coming up, and it's against Ric Flair. That's going to be huge. Don Muraco vs Jumbo Tsuruta is another very tasty match. I'm looking forward to Wrestle Rock. AWA always delivers with the big events.

Looking forward to The Rockers vs The Samoans! Ricky Steamboat is back in WCW, and that's as a perfect fit as you can ask for. Pairing up Chono with Heyman is a great idea too.

Really enjoying SMW so far! I was wondering when Smoky Mountain would make its debut in Dawn of War. It's going to be fun having a more indie-inspired promotion with a different booking philosophy compared to some of the bigger names. Without LastStop around, that void needed to be filled. Great job!

Card Announcement: UWF Newborn - "UWF Fighting Arena" May 30th, 1990 Fukuoka, Japan Hakata Starlanes Yusuke Fuke vs Manabu Yamada Kiyoshi Tamura vs Erik Paulson Ahmed Johnson vs Masashi Aoyagi Victor Zangiev & Salman Hashimikov Wayne Shamrock & Joe Malenko Dennis Koslowski & Duane Koslowski vs Marty Jones & Dave Taylor Andrei Kopylov vs Nikolai Zouev Volk Han vs Minoru Suzuki Satoru Sayama & Tatsumi Fujinami vs Marco Ruas & Eugenio Tadeu Akira Maeda & Naoya Ogawa vs Nobuhiko Takada & Atsushi Onita

Kosei Fujita vs. Kushida from today's BOSJ show was EXCELLENT. It was one of the best matches of the year. Up until the last few minutes, it was basically a RINGS match without the points system. A total breath of fresh air, because these two put on a clinic. It's depressing to think that NJPW has a bunch of guys who could work this style (Uemura, Oiwa, ZSJ, O-Khan, Boltin, KUSHIDA, Fujita, etc) and yet we rarely see it.

Seattle Showdown looks like a great card. Ted DiBiase is the new champion, and I think he might even top Ricky Steamboat's reign. Certainly, a lot to keep an eye on in the coming months.

El Canek vs Bundy sounded like a really good match. I think the fans got their money's worth there. Can't wait for Hansen/Hogan in the cage!

Steamboat and El Gigante arrive in WCW! Big debuts there, and they will certainly add a lot to the promotion. Davey Boy and Owen looked good in their win. I think El Gigante could become a star if things line up for him!

If I had been around longer, I would have certainly pushed for more consistency. That's probably for the best going forward

Yes, this was my thinking. Rey didn't wrestle in the US regularly until mid-93, so by my calculations, he would not be eligible until then. Rey's debut has always been hard to pin down for wrestling websites because he started really young. Although it seems like he's been around forever, he wasn't on the US radar until 1993, when AAA expanded its operations here.

Right now, my #100 guy is Frank Shamrock. Bas Rutten sits at #99

The problem is that he didn't start doing regular US dates until 1993-ish

Rey Mysterio was 14 in he debuted in 1989, but he didn't start wrestling on a regular basis until late 1991/1992

UWF Newborn – “UWF Road” April 27th, 1990 Kanegawa, Japan Minamiashigara Sports Center Attendance: 4,500 (sold out) Broadcast: WOWOW (taped) After a well-crafted promo package from WOWOW hypes up the show and the top matches, the TV viewers are introduced by the commentary team, who do their usual introductions and formal breakdown of the card. After that, we get a decent show of pyro and lights as the UWF theme plays. The parade of wrestlers starts, and the building is thunderous for Maeda, Takada, Fujinami, and Fujiwara in particular. Dave Taylor also gets a warm welcome being a new debutant. Maeda and Fujiwara both hype up their encounter, and they each promise a victory tonight for the fans. Takada and Fujinami also get to offer a few words to the crowd. The wrestlers throw some t-shirts into the crowd, and we are soon underway! Billy Scott vs Masahito Kakihara Scott and Kakihara were each very eager to get a win tonight. Both being young, prodigious, and a bit green, they put the pedal to the metal and worked out the kinks in the process. Kakihara got the early momentum after knocking down Scott for a ten count with several vicious palm strikes. Scott responded with a well-timed belly-to-belly suplex and was able to reverse his fortunes a bit on the mat, where Kakihara was mostly on the defensive. Scott’s catch wrestling abilities were promising, but Kakihara wasn’t exactly going to give up points easily. After some struggle, Scott was finally able to lock in a double wristlock from side control, forcing a rope break from Kakihara. The match became a bit more even with both finding some luck further on the mat. Kakihara retained the striking advantage, though, and this was perhaps decisive. With both tied 2-2 on points, Kakihara was able to land a series of kicks to Scott’s abdomen. One of Kakihara’s sharp kicks landed right on Scott’s kidney, and this was enough to put Scott down for the ten count. Kakihara defeats Scott via KO, 9:51 Kiyoshi Tamura vs Naoyuki Taira With both wrestlers being tailored for each other in terms of skill and size, this was bound to be a hyper-competitive match, and indeed it was. Taira and Tamura had the arena rocking and fully invested in the opening few minutes, with both showing off their tenacious energy and rapidly improving skills. Taira constantly put pressure on Tamura, giving him almost no room or space to breathe with his strategy. Tamura had to be on the top of his game with his striking and grappling. While both were very capable strikers, the highlights of this match were on the mat, with Taira and Tamura showing off their great counterwork abilities and lightning-quick transitions. The two exchanged rope breaks back and forth. With Tamura leading 2-1 on points, Taira attempted to get the better of Tamura with some very nice kicks. Tamura’s defense was tough to track, but Taira eventually got his point back after catching his opponent with a jumping roundhouse. What was 2-2 quickly turned into 3-3 in just a few minutes, and the frenetic pace of the match showed no signs of slowing down. Tamura was able to get Taira to the mat in the closing few minutes and attempted to hunt for the submission victory but Taira did not relent. Eventually, the 15:00 bell sounded and the match was declared a draw. 15:00 draw Jerry Flynn vs Ahmed Johnson Two highly touted North American prospects were crossing paths for the first time. Flynn was eager to prove why the UWF scouts were so high on him, while Johnson was looking to build off his impressive debut just a few months ago. Flynn, with his height and reach at 6’4, had the clear striking advantage while Johnson looked to close the distance as much as possible. Johnson’s immense strength was the key factor, and his ability to withstand Flynn’s striking flurries paid dividends as he took down the more lanky Flynn with ease several times in the opening stretch. Luckily for Flynn, Johnson’s grappling abilities were still in the developmental phase. Flynn had enough defensive skills to escape trouble and did his best to keep the match on his feet. Johnson eventually succumbed to Flynn’s powerful kicks, giving the latter a 1-0 lead on points. Johnson wanted to keep the match on his feet as well but for different reasons. His powerful suplex and throwing abilities were soon on display again, as he took Flynn for a few rides to impress the crowd. Flynn seemed a bit more shellshocked each time Johnson was able to toss him backward, and a high-angle German suplex sent Flynn straight on his head, which was enough for a knockdown. Johnson continued building up his momentum, this time sending Flynn back down to the mat with some body punches. Flynn tried his best to fight back after getting back on his feet, but a full-nelson suplex was enough to send Flynn back to the mat, this time for good. Johnson defeats Flynn via KO, 10:09 Joe Malenko vs Dave Taylor In a stylistic clash that could’ve easily doubled as a grappling clinic, Dave Taylor and Joe Malenko met in what turned out to be a masterfully paced, highly technical encounter rooted in the traditions of classic catch wrestling. Both men came into the bout with nearly mirror-image philosophies -- deliberate, precise, and deeply grounded in the fundamentals of mat-based grappling. Their differing lineages gave the match a distinct flavor. Malenko, schooled by the likes of Karl Gotch and Boris Malenko, brought a grinding, suffocating style, looking to slowly chip away at Taylor’s defenses by tying up limbs and capitalizing on small positional mistakes. Taylor, by contrast, carried the influence of the Wigan Snake Pit, influenced by men like Billy Robinson, Billy Riley, and Billy Joyce, relying on fluid transitions, a focus on leverage and wrist control, and a cagey approach that turned every exchange into a battle of wits. The match began cautiously, with neither wrestler eager to overcommit. Malenko scored the first knockdown around the six-minute mark after catching Taylor with a low single-leg and shifting into a top wristlock that forced Taylor to inch toward the ropes to avoid deeper danger. Taylor answered back minutes later after baiting Malenko into overreaching on a clinch, spinning behind, and dumping him with a bodylock takedown that nearly ended in a pin before Malenko escaped to the ropes. Both men stayed methodical from there, neither giving an inch without earning it. Malenko stuck to what he knew, pressuring forward with tight waist control, hunting armbars and crossfaces, always looking to isolate a limb. Taylor looked to disrupt rhythm, using underhooks and wrist control to transition into sudden cradles or leverage-based pins. Each man picked up another knockdown through rope breaks by the 15-minute mark, and the tension slowly ratcheted up as fatigue set in and the margin for error grew thinner. Malenko managed to take Taylor’s back in the final stretch and worked to flatten him out for a rear naked choke, but Taylor remained calm, rolled through, and countered into a pin attempt that forced Malenko to give up another point with another rope break. The final sequence came after Malenko went for a mounted armbar, only for Taylor to roll through, trap both arms, and catch Malenko in a crucifix-style pinning hold right in the center of the ring. Malenko fought to escape, but Taylor had the leverage and positioning locked in perfectly. The referee counted the three at 20:18, giving Taylor the victory in a brilliantly fought tactical battle. Taylor defeats Malenko via pinfall at 20:18. Victor Zangiev/Salman Hashimikov vs Minoru Suzuki/Masakatsu Funaki Soviet wrestling strength against technical finesse. The Soviet tandem of Salman Hashimikov and Victor Zangiev squared off against the young, dynamic duo of Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. The opening moments set the tone for a disciplined contest, with Zangiev and Suzuki beginning cautiously, each man working from a low stance, hands open, searching for an opening. Suzuki peppered Zangiev with probing palm strikes and a few sharp kicks to the legs, but Zangiev absorbed them well and eventually caught a low kick to deliver a thunderous belly-to-belly suplex that sent Suzuki skidding across the canvas. Suzuki, stunned, had little time to prepare as Zangiev immediately hunted for a kneebar, forcing an early rope break from Suzuki. After a reset and tag, Funaki entered with greater urgency, using his striking acumen to pick at Hashimikov’s base. A spinning palm strike from Funaki connected cleanly to Hashimikov’s jaw, staggering the big man and drawing gasps from the crowd. Funaki looked to capitalize with a quick takedown, but Hashimikov regained his footing and forced Funaki to the mat with a belly-to-belly suplex. Hashimikov got the better of Funaki here, giving the young prodigy little room to breathe. Later, Suzuki returned and caught Zangiev off a failed suplex attempt with a clever trip, rolling straight into a kneebar that left Zangiev little choice but to crawl to the ropes, tying the match on points. The pace remained steady and deliberate throughout, each exchange rooted in a test of whether or not the Funaki and Suzuki could outwit the sheer strength of the Soviets. Suzuki found some rhythm midway through the bout, scoring another knockdown after catching Zangiev’s leg mid-step and transitioning into a tight armlock. Zangiev showed resilience, making the ropes again, but the momentum briefly shifted toward the Japanese team. Funaki and Suzuki, rotating tags smartly, tried to isolate Zangiev on the mat, but Zangiev’s base and scrambling ability helped him escape several near-disasters. The Russians didn’t panic and stuck to their gameplan. Hashimikov eventually turned the tide again with a sudden overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Suzuki, delivered with such force that Suzuki remained on the mat for a knockdown count. Suzuki responded, but just barely. With the score even once again, the final sequence came after Funaki re-entered and attempted to strike his way into control. Zangiev closed the distance, secured a waistlock from behind, and launched Funaki with a picture-perfect German suplex. Without wasting motion, Zangiev floated over and applied a cattle mutilation hold. Funaki had no path to the ropes and was forced to submit. Hashimikov and Zangiev defeat Funaki and Suzuki via submission (cattle mutilation), 20:24. Dennis Koslowski/Duane Koslowski vs Yoji Anjo/Tatsuo Nakano The next match featured the Koslowski twins and the tenacious pairing of Yoji Anjo and Tatsuo Nakano. Proceedings began with Dennis Koslowski and Yoji Anjo feeling each other out, both men engaging with measured patience. Anjo attempted to use his quickness to cut angles and land palm strikes to the body, but Dennis closed the gap early with a tight waistlock. From there, he methodically worked Anjo down to the mat, maintaining tight control and keeping pressure through his hips. Anjo scrambled but couldn’t shake him. Dennis floated into a front headlock and used it to steer Anjo toward the ropes. A clean break was issued as both men remained entangled near the apron, drawing applause from the crowd for the discipline shown. The tone remained deliberate and tactical. Duane tagged in and immediately looked to impose his strength. He overpowered Anjo in the clinch and hurled him overhead with a high-arching gutwrench suplex that rattled the canvas. Anjo got to his knees but looked dazed, and after a brief pause, the referee began counting, costing his team their first knockdown. Nakano entered with his usual fire, swinging sharp palm strikes to Duane’s body and following with a thudding mid-kick, but Duane weathered the storm and bull-rushed him into a corner tie-up. A Greco-style body lock followed, and Duane turned Nakano down to the mat with a twisting trip. The brothers remained focused on controlling the pace, grinding the fight down, and forcing their opponents to wrestle from underneath. Nakano managed to escape one tight position and clipped Dennis with a standing knee to the midsection upon re-entry, but the elder Koslowski answered by using a beautiful arm drag into a grounded crucifix attempt. Nakano had to escape the pinfall quickly. Dennis was not interested in having an easy break and quickly took Nakano down with a snap suplex. Nakano had to ward off a cross-armbreaker attempt by going for the ropes and exhausted another knockdown, making it 2-0 in favor of the Americans. With the crowd urging them on, Anjo and Nakano attempted a rally. Anjo connected with a clean kick to Duane’s ribs and followed it with a pair of palm strikes, stunning him long enough to land a low double-leg and scramble into a side position. Duane, to his credit, didn’t panic. He calmly trapped Anjo’s near arm and spun into top position, dragging him backward before applying pressure with a shoulder choke attempt. Anjo reached the ropes again, giving the Koslowskis a commanding 3-0 advantage in knockdowns. Still game, Nakano tagged in and came forward with wild energy, landing a pair of slaps that bloodied Duane’s lip. But the aggression worked against him—Duane ducked under the third strike and countered with a sudden belly-to-back suplex that dropped Nakano right on the base of his neck. The final stretch saw Dennis return and slowly break Nakano down. After fending off a desperation guillotine attempt, Dennis locked in a tight arm triangle choke while riding Nakano’s hips to keep him grounded. Nakano thrashed for the ropes, but Dennis cinched the choke tighter and rolled slightly to the side, applying even more pressure. With no path to escape and Anjo unable to tag back in under UWF rules, Nakano had no choice but to tap out in the center of the ring. The American twin brothers celebrated, and Duane made a belting motion around his waist as the cameras followed them to the back. Dennis and Duane Koslowski defeat Anjo and Nakano via submission (arm triangle choke), 17:04. Naoya Ogawa vs Kazuo Yamazaki Naoya Ogawa had finally hit a speed bump last month, losing to Atsushi Onita after an impressive start in his UWF career. Despite the setback, Ogawa entered the arena with a brash confidence that contrasted well with the calm, calculated demeanor of his opponent. Yamazaki looked to impose his striking and submission skills against Ogawa’s elite throwing game. The early exchanges were moderately paced, with both men showing respect for the other’s strengths. Yamazaki probed with low kicks and tested Ogawa’s reactions with palm strikes, while Ogawa kept his posture upright and hands high, trying to bait Yamazaki into clinch range. Ogawa scored the first big moment of the match around the four-minute mark, countering a missed middle kick by catching the leg and executing a clean seoi-nage, planting Yamazaki on the canvas. He followed with a brief kesa-gatame hold before Yamazaki slipped out and made it to the ropes—earning Ogawa his first knockdown after Yamazaki’s second use of a rope break. Yamazaki responded with urgency, striking more assertively and landing several stiff body kicks. A glancing high kick forced Ogawa down to the mat and initiated a ten count from Motoyuki Kitazawa, evening the score at 1-1. Ogawa’s ability to absorb and stay composed under fire was impressive, and he nearly caught Yamazaki off guard with a lightning-fast osoto-gari into a mounted position. Yamazaki, ever calm, tied up the wrists and forced a clean break near the ropes. The middle phase of the match saw both men finding success. Yamazaki began to target the legs more effectively and scored his second knockdown after a rapid series of low kicks forced Ogawa to the mat for another ten count. Ogawa returned fire with a well-timed hip toss that sent Yamazaki tumbling. This time, Ogawa transitioned into a judo-style arm triangle, but Yamazaki used his hips to create space and escape, though not before being forced to the ropes once more, tying the score at 2-2. The pace quickened in the final stretch, with Yamazaki landing flush palm strikes that rattled Ogawa, who showed some fatigue but still pushed forward with grit. A kneebar from Yamazaki after catching Ogawa off a missed grip attempt forced another rope break -- 3-2 Yamazaki. After another stretch on the mat, Ogawa hit one last explosive throw, a textbook uchi mata, but couldn’t keep Yamazaki down, and the ensuing scramble ended with Yamazaki slipping behind and dragging Ogawa into a cross-armbreaker that nearly finished the bout. Ogawa desperately reached the ropes again, now trailing 4-2. Ogawa fought back and managed to get Yamazaki to the mat after a desperate double-leg takedown. Ogawa was able to secure another point after he managed to nearly catch Yamazaki with a shoulder lock attempt. An additional rope break from Yamazaki cost him another point. Back on their feet, Yamazaki continued to target the body, and a spinning back kick to the ribs late in the match stunned Ogawa enough to send him backpedaling into the ropes and down to the mat for his final point loss. Final score: 5-3 in favor of Yamazaki. Yamazaki celebrated as Ogawa seemed visibly frustrated with himself. Yamazaki defeats Ogawa via TKO, 16:12. Nobuhiko Takada vs Tatsumi Fujinami Tatsumi Fujinami was looking to keep his winning streak and strong arrival going. Nobuhiko Takada would be no pushover, who wanted to keep pace with Akira Maeda as the year continued, especially with Sayama needing a new challenger for his belt. The early stages saw both wrestlers test the waters with short bursts of offense. Takada flicked out low kicks and palm strikes, trying to create reactions, while Fujinami stayed tight in his stance, parrying strikes and circling for clinch entries. Takada’s first big moment came around the five-minute mark when he timed a middle kick perfectly, catching Fujinami off balance and landing a clean palm strike to the jaw that sent Fujinami down to the mat. Masami Soranaka began a count, but Fujinami rose by six, and this exhausted his first knockdown. In response, Fujinami slowed the pace further, luring Takada into a grappling exchange after ducking under a palm strike and securing a waistlock. He brought Takada down with a classic Greco-style trip, then transitioned into a grounded front headlock. Takada tried to scramble out, but Fujinami latched onto an arm and forced him toward the ropes with a smooth rolling hammerlock, earning a point after a second rope break and evening the score at 1-1. The match became more gripping in its second half as both men traded narrow escapes and subtle shifts in control. Fujinami avoided another knockdown after Takada stunned him with a spinning heel kick, but he managed to stay on his feet and wave the referee off. Fujinami regrouped and began working to neutralize Takada’s legs, aiming to limit his striking output. A beautifully timed single-leg pick created a chain of mat wrestling where Fujinami hunted for the crossface, only for Takada to twist free and counter into a heel hook that forced Fujinami to the ropes. Takada took Fujinami down again with a wrist takedown and quickly went for a cross-armbreaker that forced Fujinami to the ropes again, giving him a 2-1 advantage. The turning point came after Fujinami baited Takada into throwing a body kick, caught it mid-motion, and spun him down with a clever inside trip. From there, Fujinami applied pressure from the top with chest-to-chest positioning, and after a failed armbar attempt, he transitioned into a kneebar that sent Takada scrambling for the ropes again, and he found success with a similar hold a few minutes later, making the match even at 2-2. As time wore on, Takada’s kicks became more urgent, and one connected flush to Fujinami’s ribs, forcing Takada’s opponent to keel over in pain. But Takada’s offense became predictable, and Fujinami began slipping under kicks with increasing success. With about two minutes remaining, Fujinami struck gold. Ducking a high palm strike, he shot in low, sweeping Takada’s legs with a low double-leg that caught him off guard. In the scramble, Fujinami floated over into side control, and in one fluid motion, he bridged back and hooked Takada’s legs in a surprise cradle variation. Soranaka dropped for the count, and Takada’s shoulders were held long enough for the three count. Fujinami’s calm adaptability and tactical flair won the day. Fujinami defeats Takada via pinfall, 16:55. Akira Maeda vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara The Minamiashigara Sports Center was still buzzing from the last bout, but the atmosphere only grew more intense as the bell rang for the night’s main event. A matchup steeped in familiarity and pride, this was the top man of the promotion versus perhaps one of the most dangerous wrestlers in the world in Fujiwara. A victory for Fujiwara tonight would be huge for him, as he was looking to build some momentum in the title chase. Maeda entered with his usual stoic intensity, fists clenched and eyes fixed forward, while Fujiwara, calm and composed as ever, gave only the slightest nod during introductions, conserving energy as he always had. Once the match began, Maeda immediately tested the waters with his strikes, offering up stiff low kicks that forced Fujiwara to adjust his stance. With chants for Maeda filling the arena, the first few minutes were spent mostly upright, with Maeda peppering in body punches and testing Fujiwara’s defenses. Fujiwara absorbed the attacks well, offering a few well-timed counters in the clinch and refusing to give Maeda a clean angle for one of his suplexes. Eventually, Fujiwara slipped under a palm strike and brought Maeda down with a leg pick, initiating the first mat exchange of the match. The crowd, knowledgeable as ever, roared with anticipation. Maeda fought off a crossface and worked his way back to his feet, but Fujiwara’s message was clear: he would not be bullied. As the match progressed, the tempo took on a deliberate, grinding rhythm, one Maeda was usually comfortable dictating, but Fujiwara seemed content to match him step for step. Around the nine-minute mark, Maeda finally broke through with a crisp side suplex after drawing Fujiwara into an inside clinch, and the veteran looked momentarily stunned. A follow-up heel hook attempt forced Fujiwara to grab the ropes again for his first point deduction, making the match 1-0 in favor of Maeda. Maeda pressed the advantage by staying aggressive, firing more kicks at Fujiwara’s thighs and ribs. Fujiwara adjusted his entries, looking to create scrambles rather than absorbing more damage. His efforts bore fruit when he reversed a Capture Suplex attempt by counter-hooking Maeda’s leg and dragging him into a grounded position. There, Fujiwara began to apply his trademark pressure: slow, relentless positional advances, inching toward Maeda’s arms. Maeda escaped the first attempt at the Fujiwara Armbar, but the escape came at the cost of a second rope break, making the bout even at 1-1. The battle continued in a similar fashion, with Maeda showcasing explosive bursts of offense. Another knockdown came at the 15-minute mark after a brutal spinning back kick to Fujiwara’s body. Fujiwara was knocked off his feet and faced a swift ten count from Soranaka, but Fujiwara's resilience kept the match within reach. Maeda grew visibly frustrated, failing to land his desired suplexes cleanly as Fujiwara found clever counters each time, either slipping behind or anchoring his hips. By the time the 20-minute mark passed, the match had become an attritional war. Both men were slick with sweat, breathing heavily, but Fujiwara remained deceptively dangerous. Maeda had the edge in points, leading 3-2, but he had begun to labor slightly with each movement, the effects of Fujiwara’s clinch work and subtle pressure taking their toll. Fujiwara sensed Maeda’s growing fatigue and took the opportunity to execute a beautiful German suplex. Maeda had to quickly defend himself from Fujiwara’s submission wrestling. After a brief striking exchange, Fujiwara baited Maeda into committing to a high roundhouse kick. He caught it expertly and took Maeda down with a sweeping inside trip. The crowd rose in anticipation as Fujiwara floated into side control and immediately secured a crossface grip, working to isolate Maeda’s head and arm. Maeda bucked hard to escape, but Fujiwara adjusted with veteran precision, locking in the scarf chokehold with the textbook shoulder pressure he had perfected over decades. Maeda struggled, legs kicking wildly, but Fujiwara had the choke deep. With no clear route to the ropes and Maeda’s face turning crimson, referee Masami Soronaka leaned in. Moments later, Maeda’s arm went limp, and the referee waved it off to the surprise of the crowd. Maeda had his fans in the arena, but there were still a large number of cheers for Fujiwara, who had taken his opportunity tonight to score a huge win over the lead man of the promotion. Maeda would have to take this one in stride and figure out where things went wrong. He didn't waste any time in heading to the back, perhaps to give Fujiwara his moment as he celebrated in the ring some more. Fujiwara defeats Maeda via submission (scarf chokehold), 24:38. Two big developments tonight with Fujinami and Fujiwara both getting huge wins to earn some well-deserved momentum heading into the middle part of the year. The commentators break down the results and discuss how this may change the title picture for Sayama, especially with Fujinami now undefeated at 3-0 with wins over Takada and Maeda. They tie that into the breakdown for next month's card, which will feature Satoru Sayama and Tatsumi Fujinami teaming up to take on the Brazilian duo of Marco Ruas and Eugenio Tadeu! A bit of a surprising development there as fans will be wondering if Sayama and Fujinami can put their ambitions aside. Akira Maeda and Naoya Ogawa will also be teaming up against Nobuhiko Takada and Atsushi Onita! The commentators also announced that the UWF will be formally introducing new tag team title belts next month. Both the Koslowski brothers and the team of Zangiev and Hashimikov will be in action once again as they look to cement themselves as the top contenders. The commentators sign off as the rolling credits hit to Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down", with a closing shot of Fujiwara celebrating with fans.

I'm loving the feud between Hansen and Hogan so far. Great job with Hansen's promo to ratchet up the intensity a bit. Been a very interesting month for AWA. Can't wait to see what is coming in May!

WCW appears to have been very busy recently! Lots of good stuff happening. Muta is the rightful champion in my books

Great job with WrestleMania VI! I had a lot of fun reading that. Vader/Bad News could be a very fun feud.

Card Announcement: UWF Newborn - "UWF Road" April 27th, 1990 Kanegawa, Japan Minamiashigara Sports Center Billy Scott vs Masahito Kakihara Kiyoshi Tamura vs Naoyuki Taira Jerry Flynn vs Ahmed Johnson Joe Malenko vs Dave Taylor Victor Zangiev & Salman Hashimikov vs Minoru Suzuki & Masakatsu Funaki Dennis Koslowski & Duane Koslowski vs Yoji Anjo & Tatsuo Nakano Naoya Ogawa vs Kazuo Yamazaki Nobuhiko Takada vs Tatsumi Fujinami Akira Maeda vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara