Control21

Aaron Wolf vs Yoshi-Hashi might be one of my favorite NJPW matches of the year so far. Despite a slow start, Aaron was excellent in this match. It's nice to see him out of the HoT shit vortex and wrestling quality opponents for once. It's clear he's improving rapidly, and he is more than ready for the G1 despite some people expressing doubts about that. Yoshi-Hashi excelled at playing to Aaron's strength and feeding off it, while making Aaron work at the same time.

Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers II (10/14/1993) Katsuomi Inagaki vs Joop van de Ven We are off with our first match of this card, featuring Katsuomi Inagaki and a mysterious fellow called Joop van de Ven. My good friend, Squill (you might know him as the man behind the excellent Wrestling With The Narrative channel), considers Dutch a fake language. I wouldn’t go that far, but they do sometimes come up with cool names, even if they are hard to remember. This Joop van de Ven fellow arrives at the ring looking like someone you would meet at a biker bar in the middle of Fresno, California. Seriously, it’s like he transported himself from a 1980s movie about biker gang warfare. Almost immediately, Joop levels Inagaki with a hard palm strike. I guess this man is legit after all! Inagaki tries getting back up, but Joop blasts him again with another hard palm strike. Whatever game plan Inagaki had is probably out the window at this point. Inagaki manages to find his way back to his feet and ends up tying up Joop near the ropes after taking him down to the mat to force a clean break. After this, the match becomes quite an entertaining striking-based contest with Inagaki giving Joop a taste of his own medicine. Inagaki seems to realize that Joop doesn’t have much of a gas tank, so he pressures him constantly and takes him down to the mat whenever he gets the chance. This is probably a smart strategy, even if Joop does have a grappling background. In the process, Inagaki targets Joop’s legs and scores a knockdown after catching him with a wicked palm strike of his own….AND THAT’S IT, Joop is down for the count! After a promising start, Inagaki regained control of the match by using his quickness and agility to constantly apply pressure, and I think that’s where Joop realized this wasn’t another casual beer-inused sparring session back home in Amsterdam. I say that in a very loving way, of course! That was a very fun match. It almost seemed like something you would see in RINGS around this time, with a similar level of stiffness and unpredictability you would get from the RINGS Holland lot. Inagaki came out of this looking a lot stronger than he did against Suzuki, but who doesn’t look completely out of their depth against PRIME Minoru Suzuki? ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: ***3/4 Bas Rutten vs Yusuke Fuke Both of these legit badasses were quite impressive on their debuts. What do they have in store for us this time? I’m sure Fuke has a solid game plan against Bas Rutten after witnessing his comrade, Ryushi Yanagisawa, get destroyed. Rutten was a bit of an unknown at this point, and how much did Fuke really know about him? I guess you can only do so much with the information you have available, but Rutten’s debut was a lot of information, if not unpleasant. Fuke is dressed once again in his brilliant red gear (Kiyoshi Tamura might have been wondering about gimmick infringement here), and Bas Rutten is back in his white kickpads and baggy purple shorts. After the bell rings, Fuke sizes up Rutten and touches hands with him, but Rutten immediately throws a hard kick, forcing Fuke to attempt a takedown. Rutten then locks him in a guillotine choke to counter. The two end up on the mat in the process, and Fuke manages to work his way out after a brief struggle. Fuke establishes side control, hunting for a good angle to attack. He does find his way to an armbar attempt, and in echoes of the Vernon White match from the last show, Fuke snags one in from a bit of an inverted angle, while Bas Rutten digs his head into the mat, while not doing a full headstand as Vernon did. This pays off for Rutten as he manages to crawl his way to the ropes for a rope break. Back on their feet, Fuke immediately shoots for another takedown, and like last time, Rutten counters with a guillotine hold. Fuke establishes side control again on the mat, and works his way out of Rutten’s guillotine hold once again, and looks for another armbar attempt. But Bas Rutten slithers out! Rutten quickly gets on his feet and immediately troubles Fuke by launching a wicked knee strike right to his face. This causes Fuke to recoil quickly. Rutten takes advantage and locks him in another guillotine hold. As Fuke struggles to get out, Rutten launches a knee right to Fuke’s side! That might have been it….yup, Fuke is unable to beat the ten count and looks to be in a lot of pain. That wasn’t quite the infamous liver shot, but it did look pretty gnarly! Like our previous encounter with Rutten, this match had a certain ferocity to it that makes it stand out quite a bit. That’s not to say that the other Pancrase matches we’ve seen lacked a similar feeling, but with these two Rutten matches so far, it is apparent that the Dutchman is not here to play at all. Rutten famously claims that he refused to work for RINGS because they were doing pro wrestling, so he never joined the promotion despite being from Chris Dolman’s gym at the time. The story goes that when Funaki and Suzuki visited the gym during a scouting trip, Rutten beat the “RINGS champion” at the time in a sparring session by knocking him out. Rutten wanted something real, and real is what he got in Pancrase. He didn’t waste any time in establishing his lethal nature from the start. With the other Pancrase matches we’ve seen, there has been a sense that there is some element of balance in how things might play out. With Bas Rutten, though, you are just counting down the seconds to see how fast he can destroy his opponent. It doesn’t feel like “pro wrestling” with Rutten, because he’s not from that tradition of sparring in shoot-style dojos endlessly. He’s from the tradition of annihilating his opponent as quickly as he can. That makes his bouts ridiculously thrilling. As for Fuke, he had a good game plan after all. He knew he could beat Rutten on the ground, and exploited that as much as possible, but Rutten’s defense was better than probably anticipated, and Rutten exploited Fuke’s naivety when he could, and when Rutten strikes….well, good luck, I suppose! ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: **** Masakatsu Funaki vs Ryushi Yanagisawa Immediately, Funaki presses Yanagisawa with a brilliant striking pattern that I’m sure most of us normally associate with Funaki by now. He hits Yanagisawa with a hard middle kick right to the abdomen, and Yanagisawa goes down early for a ten count, costing him a point. Yanagisawa is quick to get back up to beat the count, but Funaki keeps up the pace. After another quick combo, Funaki picks Yanagisawa’s ankle for a quick takedown, and he immediately hunts for Yanagisawa’s leg. He doesn’t waste much time securing it, and Yanagisawa appears a bit shellshocked by this point as Funaki secures a heel hook, and Yanagisawa is lucky to be near the ropes as he frantically grabs one to break the hold. With two points lost quickly, Yanagisawa is in a world of trouble. Funaki has no trouble taking down Yanagisawa again after getting back on their feet, this time with an upper body takedown. Funaki searches for an armbar angle at first, but then sees Yanagisawa is once again lazy with his leg defense, and takes control of one for a sharp kneebar. Yanagisawa feels the pain, and I felt the pain from that one, too! Yanagisawa taps without hesitation, and Funaki is your winner! A quick, impressive victory for Funaki. This match was definitely one-sided, and it appears Yanagisawa could not keep the pace with Funaki’s speed, especially in terms of striking. When it came to grappling, Funaki’s killer instinct was just too much to contend with. These were the types of bouts that probably served as the clearest indication that Pancrase was not pro wrestling in the sense that the guys were working cooperatively, as they were in UWF, UWFi, PWFG, or RINGS. Funaki was just that much better than Yanagisawa, and he had no hesitation in proving that here. I do wonder whether or not Funaki would have given Yanagisawa more “breathing room” here if he had beaten Shamrock. Funaki needed the win, though, and he wasted no time in making sure everyone knew he was still the top dog for the native Pancrase crew. Funaki does seem to share some encouragement with Yanagisawa afterward, which is nice of him! ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: ***1/2 Minrou Suzuki vs Vernon "Tiger" White Suzuki isn't here to play, and I kinda feel sorry for Vernon already. With the match underway, Suzuki immediately makes his presence known by checking Vernon with a hard kick. Vernon attempts to land one of his own, but Suzuki catches it and takes Vernon down with a single-leg. Vernon is near the ropes, though, and escapes quickly after Suzuki attempts to set something up. Vernon shows off his Taekwondo skills and presents a bit of a threat with his striking, but Suzuki closes the distance again and takes Vernon down to the mat with ease after securing a waist lock. Suzuki immediately hunts for a cross armbar from the top, but to Vernon’s credit, he defends quite well, and Suzuki has to switch positions to a side mount as he attempts to figure out Vernon’s resilient defense. He seems to be looking for a key lock here, but Vernon is wise to grab the ropes quickly again. Vernon continues to look dangerous with his striking, but he doesn’t really land anything, and Suzuki makes him expend more energy by toying with him a bit. After Vernon attempts a roundhouse, Suzuki executes another takedown, and back to the canvas they go. Suzuki works for the cross armbar from side control again, but as Vernon defends again, Suzuki switches to a clever headscissors instead! That’s pretty cool, and definitely pro wrestling-inspired if I dare say so. A headscissors is a real submission move in competitive grappling, of course, but a pro wrestler doing this? You have to give brownie points for that. This looks pretty tight, and the referee is there as Vernon White realizes he should keep his neck and taps out. Suzuki lets out a big scream as he celebrates. I don’t think Suzuki had to work too hard there to earn the victory, even if Vernon did put up some resistance in the end. ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: ***3/4 Wayne Shamrock vs Yoshiki Takahashi As soon as the bell sounds, Takahashi goes into attack mode. He is certainly eager to prove a point here, and he takes Shamrock down impressively after lifting him with a single-leg. This gets a pop from the crowd, and Takahashi quickly tries to secure the leg, but Shamrock is wise to the move and gains control by taking Takahashi’s side. It’s a bit of a repeat from the Funaki match as Shamrock’s strength clearly gives him an advantage on the mat, and Takahashi has to do his best to try and wait things out as Shamrock is right on him despite an attempt to scramble out. Shamrock attempts to lock in an arm triangle, but Takahashi reaches the ropes next to him to break the hold. Takahashi continues to look mightily impressive, and he secures Shamrock’s legs again and lifts him, this time with an awesome double-leg takedown. Shamrock is slammed into the mat, and Takahashi is more energetic on the mat here, keeping up his energy to retain control of Shamrock. We then get a glimpse of Shamrock’s nose, which appears to have a cut on it. Takahashi continues to work from side control, and in a trademark shoot-style dojo move, he hunts for a Gotch toehold while Shamrock defends in a turtle position. Very familiar scene here! Takahashi gradually works from Shamrock’s legs and hunts for a good angle to secure a submission, but Shamrock rolls through and forces a clean break near the ropes. Back on their feet, we get an awesome striking exchange. Takahashi and Shamrock are both bringing the heat! Shamrock hits Takahashi with a palm strike, which causes Takahashi to deliver a wicked palm strike combo of his own. Good stuff! Things settle down a bit as they measure each other up and trade feints. Takahashi manages to close the distance with Shamrock, and they tangle up near the ropes, as Shamrock attempts to hunt for Takahashi’s leg, but this allows Takahashi to dive for Shamrock’s legs in the process. With both on the canvas, Takahashi attempts to secure a submission, but they are close enough to the ropes to cause the referee to call for a clean break. Time is flying here, as we are past the five-minute mark. Shamrock and Takahashi trade kicks and more feints, and it appears they are settling into a defensive rhythm before Takahashi secures another double-leg takedown! Takahashi looks great in this bout, and he is giving Shamrock a ton of things to think about. Takahashi gains control of Shamrock’s back on the mat and works for a rear-naked choke, but Shamrock defends well. Shamrock manages to slither out, but Takahashi dives for Shamrock’s legs again and attempts to gain control of his right leg. Shamrock remains calm and doesn’t seem too concerned yet. Takahashi comes quite close to securing a sharp heel hook, and the crowd is ready to explode, but Shamrock manages to fend it off by decreasing Takahashi’s leverage with positioning. Takahashi is a bit sloppy as he looks for a good angle for a double wristlock, which allows Shamrock to work from underneath and reverse his position by sweeping Takahashi with an arm triangle! GREAT COUNTER-GRAPPLING. That is locked in TIGHT, and while Takahashi does manage to put his foot on the ropes to break the hold, he is OUT. This looks like a bit of a pro wrestling-inspired FALSE FINISH, as the referee frantically gets Shamrock to break the hold. Is it over? NOPE. The referee claims “ESCAPE!” and tries to wake up Takahashi, which he does. I bit on that one. For PRO WRESTLING fans, that is awesome. For MMA fans, I can see why the early Pancrase rules seem a bit foreign now, but Takahashi did break the hold by using the ropes! He remains in the match, and rightfully so. The referee seems a bit reluctant, but he shows Shamrock a RED CARD! Our first red card in Pancrase history! This causes Shamrock to lose a point. Or is it a yellow card? This is confusing. The referee pulls out both cards. Perhaps he got both a RED and a YELLOW? This is quite something, and I don’t see any point loss graphics, so I remain confused. Perhaps the referee changed his mind? The bout resumes in any case, and Takahashi is a bit more cautious now. He isn’t afraid to close the distance with Shamrock, but his tepid nature allows Shamrock to take Takahashi to the mat easily while gaining back control. Shamrock works for another arm triangle from the mount, but Takahashi senses he is near the ropes, and breaks the hold again. Takahashi is down three points now…but he is quickly down a fourth point after Shamrock delivers a MEAN palm strike that knocks Takahashi right on his ass. We’re getting some pro wrestling DRAMA here as Takahashi is now working with one point remaining, which was usually a sign for HEAT in a shoot-style context. And this match certainly has plenty of HEAT now. Takahashi is a bit more urgent now and trades a couple of strikes with Shamrock, but they don’t do any real damage. Takahashi charges into Shamrock and attempts to deliver close-range knees, but Shamrock defends well and delivers a sharp palm strike uppercut of sorts. Takahashi falls to the mat, and the referee briefly contemplates calling for the final down, but he allows the match to continue as Takahashi still shows signs of life. Shamrock gains side control on the mat and perhaps overzealously attempts a quick cross armbar, but this allows Takahashi to bravely dive for Shamrock’s legs again. THE CROWD IS LOVING THIS. I don’t think Shamrock is any real danger here, but Takahashi is working hard for the upset. Takahashi continues to look for a heel hook, and Shamrock obliges by hunting for his own. We have a classic SHOOT-STYLE LEG LOCK EXCHANGE here! I’m loving this too. They are near the ropes, so the referee should be calling for a clean break, and he does. We are in standing and pacing mode here, as the crowd is now fully invested in this amazing contest. Shamrock is ready to end this match, and he moves in on Takahashi to deliver several sharp palm strikes and THREE sharp knees from the clinch, but Takahashi stays on his feet, and the crowd roars in approval. Shamrock continues to fire off palm strikes, including one to Takahashi’s abdomen, but Takahashi wrestles Shamrock down to the mat. Takahashi is gassed, though, and Shamrock easily takes the top mount. After a brief pause, Shamrock shoots for Takahashi’s legs. While Takahashi does try to defend at first, Shamrock quickly digs DEEP on a heel hook attempt, and locks it in despite Takahashi attempting to decrease the leverage with his positoning. Takahashi, unfortunately, has no choice but to tap. I felt this match was informed by pro wrestling, even if it was unintentional. We had the false finish, the attempt at a comeback with one point left, a leg lock exchange, and excellent performances from both wrestlers. I also feel that Shamrock and Takahashi were happy to play off each other to some degree, and this felt like a sparring session from the PWFG dojo taken to a much higher level. While a lot of shoot-style matches, particularly in RINGS, were inspired by a similar approach, this was actual shooting, and RINGS didn’t go that far. Still, it did feel like there was some give and take that, from what we have already discussed previously, was common in some Pancrase matches for the purposes of increasing crowd engagement, and yes, entertainment value. ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: ****3/4

News and Notes (6/22-6/26/1991) UWF Newborn ran the "Battle Dimension: Fukuoka" show on 6/21 at Hakata Starlanes before a sellout 4,000, which was taped for WOWOW. The undercard was fine, but lacked anything that you would call essential. Koji Kanemoto beat Steve Nelson via KO off a German suplex at 9:58, Billy Scott looked good against Mitsuya Nagai, winning with a straight armlock submission over Mitsuya Nagai at 8:11, and Chris Benoit had a tougher time than expected with Grom Zaza before getting the heel hook win at 12:18. In the "New Generation" tournament rounds, Wayne Shamrock continued looking like the scariest guy in the promotion right now, beating Yusuke Fuke with a kneebar at 10:42, and Suzuki-Ogawa was as good as expected, Suzuki taking it via rolling guillotine at 14:51. In the other "New Generation" tournament rounds, Tamura and Kakihara had a fast, well-built match that ended with Tamura's flying cross-armbreaker at 15:33, and Funaki won his match as expected, breaking down Manabu Yamada for a heel hook win at 11:27. Sayama, back from his layoff, beat Gerard Gordeau with a single-leg Boston crab at 13:09 in a fine striker-grappler match. Maeda-Han closed the show with another UWF match of the year contender. Han was hunting for submissions from any angle you would imagine, all match, before Maeda finally got him with a cross-armbreaker at 18:46. (Wrestling Observer, 6/25/1991) Vader's deal with UWF is now official after this week's press conference following the Fukuoka show, and the match with Akira Maeda is confirmed for next month's anniversary show in Yokohama on July 30th. The WCW-UWF paperwork went through with surprisingly little friction, given the politics at play. Vader remains under WCW contract, but will be working a series of dates with UWF starting next month. The rematch comes highly anticipated, as Akira Maeda previously defeated Vader at the first U-COSMOS tournament in 1989, where Maeda defeated Vader in the semi-finals. You would expect Maeda to win again, but anything can happen in wrestling. Vader adapted to the UWF style quite well in his previous run in the promotion, and there are no concerns there about stylistic fit. Whatever the in-ring result, the buzz around the announcement alone has been significant, and ticket interest for Yokohama is said to be off the charts already off the strength of the Vader news, with Karelin's expected appearance adding even more juice to what's shaping up to be one of UWF's biggest cards of the year. (Wrestling Observer, 6/25/1991) Meltzer's star ratings: Chris Benoit defeated Grom Zaza at 12:18 via submission with a heel hook. Zaza's unique style made this more interesting than expected, and his scrambling and leverage gave Benoit real problems early, including forcing the first rope break of the match off a reversed double-leg. Benoit's frustration giving way to patience was well told, and his conditioning and mat fundamentals winning out as the match wore on made for a satisfying arc. Zaza having no answer for the second heel hook attempt after evening the score was a clean finish to a pleasantly unpredictable match. ***1/4 Wayne Shamrock defeated Yusuke Fuke at 10:42 via submission with a kneebar. Fuke showed good composure for his experience level, and that early ankle pick forcing a rope break out of Shamrock got a nice reaction from the crowd. But this was always going to come down to Shamrock's strength advantage, and once he started smothering Fuke's scrambling and grinding him down with top control, the finish felt like a matter of time. ***1/2 Minoru Suzuki defeated Naoya Ogawa at 14:51 via submission with a rolling guillotine choke. Good clash of styles, with Suzuki's movement and leg kicks consistently frustrating Ogawa's attempts to get a clean grip in tight. The hip toss that forced a Suzuki rope break was a nice moment for Ogawa, but Suzuki's persistence and quickness were the deciding factors throughout, and the way he ducked the clinch attempt into the rolling guillotine was smoothly executed. Ogawa's size advantage never really mattered here. ***1/2 Kiyoshi Tamura defeated Masahito Kakihara at 15:33 via submission with a flying cross-armbreaker. Excellent pace from the bell between two of the promotion's best young talents. Kakihara's palm strikes found their mark a few times, but Tamura's footwork and timing were a level above, and his growing technical command on the mat was on full display. The exchange where both scored knockdowns in succession kept this tense and the crowd fully engaged, and Kakihara nearly turned the match with a sharp kick combination before Tamura weathered it and dragged things back to the mat. The flying cross-armbreaker finish, after softening Kakihara up with an earlier attempt, was the high point. Tamura keeps looking like one of the best young workers anywhere. **** Masakatsu Funaki defeated Manabu Yamada at 11:27 via submission with a heel hook. Funaki is operating on another level right now, and this was a methodical, smothering performance from start to finish. Yamada flashed some promise while scrambling with Funaki, but he never had the tools to keep Funaki off him for long, and the kneebar-forced rope break early set the tone. The closing heel hook off a tired Yamada shoot-in makes Funaki look genuinely dangerous as a submission specialist. Good showcase. ***1/4 Satoru Sayama defeated Gerard Gordeau at 13:09 via submission with a single-leg Boston crab. Fun striker-grappler story marking Sayama's return to the promotion after a bit of a layoff. Gordeau's reach and power were legitimately troublesome early, and the counter strike that put Sayama on defense for several minutes was a good scare. But Sayama's patience and craft eventually won out, and the way he mixed feints and takedown attempts to draw Gordeau toward the mat was smart, veteran work. The roundhouse kick into the Boston crab finish was well sequenced. ***1/4 Akira Maeda defeated Volk Han at 18:46 via submission with a cross-armbreaker. Excellent main event between two of the promotion's most respected names. Maeda's conservative approach was the right call against a wrestler as dangerous from any position like Han, and the heel hook scare off the caught leg kick was a great moment that showed how thin the margin for error really was. Maeda sharpening his striking afterward and using it to visibly wear Han down over the second half was well constructed, and the finishing combination into the cross-armbreaker felt earned rather than abrupt. I am running out of words to describe Volk Han, but he is quickly becoming one of the best wrestlers in Japan, if not the world. His creativity and sense of timing are off the charts. It is evident he has great chemistry with Maeda, and this match was truly one of the better ones I've seen all year. It is hard to compare it with some of the better North American matches due to the huge difference in style, but I'd dare anyone to find a pairing as good as Han and Maeda right now. ****3/4 ----- UWF's Brazil announcement is now official, confirmed at the press conference in Tokyo following the Fukuoka show. The promotion will return to Brazil in early August, with a card being put together that's expected to lean heavily on Brazilian talent like last year. Marco Ruas's camp has reportedly been in contact with UWF for weeks now, and while nothing is signed, the belief among those close to the promotion is that Ruas will end up across the ring from either Sayama or Fujinami. Sources close to the deal say Sayama is the more likely opponent given his history with Marco Ruas and the controversial draw that ended the show last year, though nothing is locked in yet. (Tokyo Sports, 6/24/1991) There's growing belief in the office that the Fujinami-Sayama match being floated for the Yokohama anniversary show is more than just speculation at this point, with both men reportedly amenable to the idea given their history and the box office potential of putting two of the promotion's biggest domestic names across from each other. Karelin's status remains the most interesting subplot of the whole August/Yokohama planning process. There is a feeling in the promotion that they want a big match to mark Karelin's return, and some names are being floated around. With UWF's contacts in North American wrestling circles after the blockbuster amateur wrestling deal now quite strong, there is talk that the UWF is working on a deal with Tom Erikson, who won the World Cup for the 130kg freestyle division in Moscow last year, although it is hard to get further details at this time. (Weekly Pro Wrestling, 6/25/1991) The mood around the Fukuoka show and subsequent press conference has been described as the most upbeat the UWF has been in all year, with the Maeda-Han match from the show itself generating considerable buzz on top of the Vader and Brazil news. There's chatter that UWF could expand its international footprint even further beyond Brazil if the August shows do the business they're expecting, with Lou Thesz still pushing for the idea of North American shows, especially in light of the deal struck with the collegiate wrestling stars. The two August dates, with Kobe now confirmed as the second show, are shaping up to be a notably ambitious stretch for the company, and there's some internal expectation that ticket demand for both will be strong off the momentum building right now. (Gong, 6/26/1991)

I just started a Pancrase watchthrough blog, which will be covering every Pancrase show up until September 1999 (when Pancrase more or less stops using their old rules), and probably some other things on the side, like Shamrock's UFC adventures. I will be doing this through the lens of a broader definition of professional wrestling. I will be sharing my thoughts on the matches specifically in this thread, but feel free to read along on the blog itself! I'd highly encourage everyone to read my introductory essay at the very least. Show reviews: https://pancrasespirit.wordpress.com/2026/06/20/pancrase-yes-we-are-hybrid-wrestlers-9-21-1993/ https://pancrasespirit.wordpress.com/2026/06/27/pancrase-yes-we-are-hybrid-wrestlers-ii-10-14-1993/ Introductory essay: https://pancrasespirit.wordpress.com/2026/06/17/nature-and-being-of-pancrase/ Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers (9/21/1993) Minoru Suzuki vs Katsuomi Inagaki Immediately, the urgency in this match is off the charts. Both Suzuki and Inagaki are moving like this LIVE in the sense that we are, yes, SHOOTING. Live rounds and all. Suzuki immediately snatches Inagaki’s left leg and goes for a nice single-leg takedown. Suzuki is clearly very confident as he works from top control and doesn’t give Inagaki much room to breathe. Inagaki does manage to trip Suzuki while he hunts for a leg, and the two end up in a bit of a leglock tangle on the mat. Suzuki keeps cool and snatches Inagaki’s leg for a heel hook attempt almost immediately. Inagaki fights out, and the two scramble for a bit on the mat as the intensity is still quite impressive. Back on their feet, Inagaki tries to throw Suzuki off him in a clinch, but Suzuki stays on him. It does seem like Suzuki never loses control of this bout. Inagaki and Suzuki trade palm strikes before Suzuki lunges in for another single-leg takedown from the waist. Inagaki scrambles out again to his credit, but Suzuki just doesn’t relent. Suzuki gains control of Inagaki’s back in the process, and oh no….Suzuki is hunting for the rear-naked choke. It doesn’t take long for him to secure it, and Inagaki knows he is in deep shit. Inagaki is caught in no-man’s land and eventually taps. Suzuki lets out a primal scream after the bell, and he approaches All Japan Kickboxing’s president at ringside. In a bit of a famous scene, Suzuki requests a match against Maurice Smith. Will he get one? I guess we will find out soon! In any case, this was a very impressive performance from Suzuki. Inagaki, to his credit, put up a spirited fight, but Suzuki was just too good. For the fans watching in attendance, the first match must have been a bit of a surprise. It was only three minutes, and the finish came a bit suddenly. Yet….it also didn’t seem quite different from anything else they saw. Except for the pre-determined finish and cooperation. That was very fun, I think! ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: ***3/4 Bas Rutten vs Ryushi Yanagisawa Bas Rutten doesn’t seem too bothered by the occasion, and Ryushi Yanagisawa looks fairly confident. The bell rings, and the two trade quick kicks. Bas Rutten’s kick has a noticeable thud to it…and…yeah, he means business. He catches Yanagisawa with a devastating high kick, followed by a vicious palm strike. Yanagisawa is sent to the mat, but he manages to beat the ten count just in time. I have a bad feeling about this. After the match resumes, Bas Rutten comes rushing in with another palm strike and a nasty kick to Yanagisawa’s abdomen. That’s enough as Yanagisawa collapses to the mat in a stunned daze. The referee counts to ten, and Bas Rutten celebrates with his trademark jumping taunt for the first time. Wow, Bas Rutten made a statement there. Yanagisawa was just totally blitzed in 43 seconds. This was probably a more shocking finish than the first one we saw. The crowd seemed to agree! I’m sure they were thinking, “Is this for real?” Yes, it was quite real. Was it professional wrestling, though? We have a lot more questions to answer in this show, but if anything didn’t feel like pro wrestling on this show, it was this match. ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: **** Vernon "Tiger" White vs Yusuke Fuke The match has a quick start with Vernon testing Fuke with palm strikes before Vernon manages to get Fuke to the mat with a front guillotine, but Fuke manages to work his way out of it pretty quickly. Fuke establishes side control in the process and works both sides. Fuke is clearly hunting for a submission here, and he finds one with a Pillow V armlock, which looks quite painful! Vernon is in trouble, and he struggles quite a bit to break the hold. Fuke loses some leverage in the process, which helps relieve the pressure enough. Vernon tries to wiggle his way free, but Fuke stays on top of him and secures a cross armbar setup in the process. Vernon tries to headstand his way out of trouble, but Fuke increases the pressure in the process, and that’s enough to get Vernon to tap. Another quick finish! Both guys brought a ton of energy into the match, so credit to them for a good display of grappling. The crowd seems more prepared for a quick finish, and they seem to be understanding now that this is indeed different. It’s not as shocking as Bas Rutten annihilating Ryushi Yanagaisawa, but the brevity is still a bit breathtaking to anyone watching at the time. Still, there’s definitely a sense of pro wrestling here. The speed at which both Vernon and Fuke were grappling here is a treat. I don’t think they were going for entertainment straight out of the gate, but they allowed the quickness to take them where they wanted to go in terms of securing a legitimate submission. At least with Fuke, the fluidity comes naturally to him, especially as he transitions from a Pillow V to a cross armbar. No doubt this was something he picked up from his time in the UWF and PWFG dojos, and what they were doing there was a setup for what they would apply in a shoot-style setting. There’s a big common element here, I think! ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: **** Yoshiki Takahashi vs George Weingeroff The next bout is a bit of an interesting one. We have Yoshiki Takahashi, also of the PWFG dojo, against George Weingeroff. Weingeroff was a bit of a journeyman in the territory days, wrestling under nicknames like “Abdul Hassan” and “The Sheik.” He was also apparently an accomplished high school and collegiate wrestler in Tennessee. He’s also legally blind, and how he got to Pancrase is a bit of an unknown to me, but apparently, he made connections with Funaki during Funaki’s time in Florida during his PWFG stint, and Funaki figured he might be up to the challenge for a match on Pancrase’s debut show? I’m not entirely sure, but it’s an interesting combination nonetheless! Weingeroff would be roughly 41 years old here, so it’s certainly a bold and brave step for him. Yoshiki Takahashi arrives in his neon green trunks, while Weingeroff chooses to wear a black singlet. The bell sounds, and away we go! Weingeroff immediately pressures Takahashi into a corner, and perhaps this would be a smart strategy on most days, but Takahashi positions himself well and manages to fight out by creating enough distance to launch a knee. This forces Weingeroff to back off, and Takahashi moves a bit too quickly for Weingeroff on his feet. Takahashi delivers a sharp kick right to Weingeroff’s head, and he goes down fairly quickly. The referee starts a ten count, and Weingeroff manages to respond by the count of eight. The crowd applauds politely, and Weingeroff attempts to apply pressure again, but Takahashi immediately starts throwing strikes and delivers another sharp kick near the same area he landed one before. That’s enough to put Weingeroff down for good! Another very short match at 1:23, and by this point, I imagine most people in Tokyo NK Hall had accepted they were seeing real, legitimate SHOOTING. I feel a bit bad for Weingeroff. I don’t think he really knew what he was getting into, but perhaps he was! It’s a good showing for Takahashi in any case, and this type of bout wouldn’t have been a stranger in the UWF or PWFG undercards if they came up with the same idea. Very one-sided match, though, and I don’t think Weingeroff ever gave Takahashi much to think about. ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: *** Masakatsu Funaki vs Wayne Shamrock The bell sounds, and our fantastic main event is underway. Shamrock opens with a hard kick to Funaki’s abdomen, and Funaki responds by creating distance and attempting one of his own, but Shamrock dodges and throws another one, leading Funaki to check it this time. They briefly tangle up, but they move quite quick, and they end up darting across the ring, exchanging strikes and testing each other with feints. Shamrock looks supremely confident here, and his confidence pays off as he manages to tie up Funaki and gain control of his back. It’s clear to me that Shamrock has the strength and explosiveness advantage. Funaki doesn’t appear to have the same cutting edge here, and I think Shamrock senses this. On the mat, Shamrock stays on Funaki with his rear control, and doesn’t look too fussed by Funaki’s attempts to change position. Shamrock attempts to set up a rear-naked choke, but lets go for some reason as he rolls through and regains control of Funaki’s back as he escapes. I would like to note at this point that Robert Wu makes a similar observation in his commentary on the IATV version, and even asks Josh Barnett why Shamrock would let go there. Josh Barnett responds by saying that perhaps Shamrock felt he didn’t have the leverage he needed. Was this one of those moments where Shamrock allowed Funaki to remain in the contest to keep the match going longer? Hard to say! It’s not the strangest thing I’ve seen, but it gives food for thought. Back on the mat, Shamrock works from the rear as he attempts to gain an angle, but Funaki manages to roll over and attempts to neutralize Shamrock’s position by locking his arms around his waist, and then tries to create distance using his arms. Shamrock remains calm, and yeah, his strength might be too much for Funaki here. Shamrock forces his arm into Funaki’s neck, and this forces Funaki to roll over again. Shamrock is in total control here, and he is just casually giving Funaki a ton to think about. It doesn’t seem Shamrock is happy with the angles he has, so he keeps hunting, and this allows Funaki to escape and free up his legs. Shamrock is happy to allow this and picks one for a heel hook attempt, and the two engage in a bit of a leg lock battle near the ropes. This forces the referee to stand both back up eventually. This is a classic shoot-style spot! They were just applying what they knew to a real setting. On their feet again, Shamrock measures up Funaki and delivers another sharp kick. Funaki clinches with Shamrock, and Shamrock muscles him down to the mat again while establishing top control. Funaki attempts to create distance again, but Shamrock applies more pressure with his forearms. Shamrock seems to be looking for an arm triangle here, and he gets it! Funaki is in trouble and seemingly out of ideas. Shamrock leans into the hold, increasing the pressure while finding an ideal angle. I think he has it…and YEAH, FUNAKI TAPS! Shamrock lets go and immediately starts celebrating while screaming. He is a happy camper! And why shouldn’t he be? That’s a well-deserved victory! I must say that the audience seems fairly shocked that Funaki lost that match, and never really seemed to be giving Shamrock much trouble. How often did the top guy lose their first match at the first major show in Japan? Not very often! Especially not in a match that only goes 6:15! Despite the way Shamrock controlled the match and the way Funaki never threatened Shamrock with a submission, this was still a very exciting match to watch. I’m not sure if Shamrock letting go of that rear-naked choke setup was an attempt to keep the match going longer, but I do feel that Shamrock probably wanted to keep things going a little bit longer when he went for the arm triangle, but he sensed that Funaki was out of ideas and went for the kill. Is this something that a pro wrestler would do in a real fight? I’d say so. Both Funaki and Shamrock brought a ton of energy into the match regardless, in line with the theme that defined most of the show earlier. In the same way that Fuke allowed his dojo training to guide him to the cross armbar against Vernon White, I think both Shamrock and Funaki allowed themselves to be guided by their shoot-style knowledge, and only lifted the barriers that existed in shoot-style to fully engage in a pure shoot. Pro wrestling without limits, in other words, and pro wrestling defined by legitimacy at the center, with the entertainment aspects more as periphery elements. In other words, this match was the clearest signal yet that Pancrase was taking pro wrestling back to its roots. ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: ****1/2

UWF Newborn – “Battle Dimension: Fukuoka” June 21st, 1991 Fukuoka, Japan Hakata Starlanes Attendance: 4,000 (sold out) Broadcast: WOWOW (taped) Koji Kanemoto vs Steve Nelson Steve Nelson was looking to get some momentum going in his fledgling UWF career, but Koji Kanemoto had other ideas. The two young lions were hungry, and they both brought a ton of energy into the early stages of the match. Kanemoto launched a seemingly endless number of kicks, while Steve Nelson played defense smartly and managed to score several takedowns by going for Kanemoto’s legs. On the mat, Nelson scored points early by forcing Kanemoto to exhaust a couple of rope breaks, but Kanemoto settled into his rhythm and defended himself better against Nelson’s grappling as time went on. Nelson’s weaknesses against striking were also exposed as the match continued, and Kanemoto took advantage of this with harder kicks and combos, resulting in two quick knockdowns almost back-to-back. In the end, Kanemoto delivered a sharp German suplex, which was enough to put away the American for the ten count. Kanemoto defeats Nelson via KO, 9:58 Mitsuya Nagai vs Billy Scott In another bout featuring two UWF trainees, Billy Scott took control early and never really let up against Nagai, especially in terms of dictating affairs on the mat. Nagai was spirited, but his rawness was still evident, and Billy Scott used his grappling finesse to exploit Nagai’s openings. It wasn’t total domination, but it seemed like Nagia never really settled into a good strategy, and Scott racked up points early with rope breaks and knockdown after a strong side suplex. Later in the second half, Nagai attempted a comeback after successfully hitting Scott with a strong combo that led to a knockdown, but Scott recovered quickly and went straight back to work, frustrating Nagai further. Nagai couldn’t get outside of his own head, and Scott caught him with a rolling double-wristlock takedown that he turned into a straight armlock. Nagai struggled to break the hold, but Scott applied enough pressure to force the tapout. Scott defeats Nagai via submission (straight armlock), 8:11 Grom Zaza vs Chris Benoit Zaza brought an unfamiliar, Eastern European grappling pedigree into the ring, and Benoit was determined not to let that unpredictability throw off his usual approach. Benoit stuck to his strengths early, looking to chain together takedowns and pressure Zaza's positional awareness. Zaza proved surprisingly slippery, using leverage and an unorthodox sense of timing to scramble out of trouble more than once. Benoit's frustration grew as a clean double-leg attempt was reversed into a tight front headlock that forced his first rope break of the match. Settling back in, Benoit became more patient, choosing his entries more carefully and chipping away with palm strikes to slow Zaza's movement. Zaza answered back with a stiff knockdown off a counter strike that briefly swung momentum his way, but Benoit's superior conditioning and mat fundamentals began to show as the match progressed, and he started controlling longer stretches on the canvas. After evening the points with a takedown of his own, Benoit set up a snug heel hook that Zaza couldn't quite escape this time, and the Georgian had no choice but to submit. Benoit defeats Zaza via submission (heel hook), 12:18 Yusuke Fuke vs Wayne Shamrock Fuke faced a difficult task in the powerful and increasingly polished Shamrock. Shamrock wasted little time pressing his physical advantages, looking to bully Fuke into bad positions with strength rather than finesse. Fuke, however, showed real composure for a young wrestler of his experience, using quickness and flexibility to avoid Shamrock's heavier shots and find brief openings of his own on the mat. A sharp ankle pick from Fuke even forced an early rope break out of Shamrock, much to the crowd's surprise. But Shamrock's superior strength eventually became the deciding factor, as he began to smother Fuke's scrambling attempts and wear him down with sustained top control. Fuke's resistance bought him a couple of additional rope breaks, but Shamrock's pressure never let up, and after stuffing one last desperate escape attempt, Shamrock transitioned smoothly into a tight kneebar that left Fuke no room to maneuver. Shamrock defeats Fuke via submission (kneebar), 10:42 Minoru Suzuki vs Naoya Ogawa This was a clash of styles as much as personalities. Suzuki’s agility and refined catch wrestling skills went up against Ogawa’s strength and judo-honed throws. Ogawa wanted this fight in tight quarters from the outset, looking to use his superior size to control collar-and-elbow exchanges and set up his trademark throws. Suzuki, characteristically unwilling to simply absorb that kind of pressure, fired off hard leg kicks and slipped to the outside whenever Ogawa closed the distance, frustrating Ogawa's attempts to find a clean grip. A sudden Ogawa hip toss briefly put Suzuki on the back foot, forcing a rope break as Ogawa hunted for a quick follow-up submission, but Suzuki recovered well and returned to peppering Ogawa with strikes and quick takedown attempts. The two traded knockdowns in a tense midsection of the match, with neither man willing to cede control for long. Suzuki's persistence eventually paid off as he ducked through a clinch attempt and locked in a tight guillotine choke from the front and rolled through to lock in the hold on the mat. Despite Ogawa's strength advantage, there was no escaping the position in time. Suzuki defeats Ogawa via submission (rolling guillotine choke), 14:51 Kiyoshi Tamura vs Masahito Kakihara Two of the promotion's most dynamic young talents met here, and the pace was electric from the bell. Both men were eager to establish their presence early, trading sharp exchanges that drew appreciative reactions from the crowd. Kakihara's hard palm strikes found a home a few times, but Tamura's superior footwork and timing allowed him to avoid the worst of it and counter with quick combinations of his own. The two also tested each other extensively on the mat, with Tamura's growing reputation as a complete technician evident as he took control of the match in this aspect of the bout. Kakihara’s energy was muted by Tamura’s technical superiority, resulting in a few rope breaks and a 1-0 lead for Tamura. A later spirited exchange saw both men score knockdowns in quick succession, keeping the points close and the crowd fully invested. Kakihara's aggression nearly paid off when he rocked Tamura with a sharp kick combination, but Tamura weathered it and used the resulting scramble to drag Kakihara to the mat, where his technical skills came in handy again. After forcing another rope break with a cross-armbreaker attempt, Tamura finally secured the hold fully through a flying cross-armbreaker attempt, and the submission was unavoidable. Tamura defeats Kakihara via submission (cross-armbreaker), 15:33 Masakatsu Funaki vs Manabu Yamada Yamada faced a stern early test against Funaki, who was increasingly one of the most dangerous members of the UWF roster. Funaki controlled the pace from the outset, using sharp leg kicks to keep Yamada at range before closing the distance and forcing the action to the mat on his terms. Yamada showed flashes of promise, particularly in his ability to scramble back to his feet when Funaki threatened to settle into a dominant position, but his inferiority showed, giving Funaki several angles to attack a limb. Funaki forced an early rope break with a snug kneebar attempt, and Yamada's response was to fight even harder for distance on the feet, looking to land something clean before Funaki could drag him back down. That strategy yielded little success, however, as Funaki's striking was just as sharp as his grappling, and a stiff combination sent Yamada briefly to the canvas for a knockdown. With the match well in hand on points, Funaki eventually closed the show by catching a tired Yamada shooting in and rolling him directly into a tight heel hook. Funaki defeats Yamada via submission (heel hook), 11:27 Satoru Sayama vs Gerard Gordeau Gordeau's karate background made for a great pairing with Sayama, who was eager to get back into winning form after a relatively lengthy break from the promotion. Gordeau looked to use his reach advantage early, throwing hard, probing kicks that kept Sayama at a distance. Sayama, never one to be rushed, studied Gordeau's rhythm patiently before darting in with a sudden low kick that briefly disrupted Gordeau's stance. Gordeau answered with a powerful counter strike that forced Sayama into playing defense for a few minutes. Gordeau looked dangerous and started to land sharp blows on Sayama. Undeterred, Sayama shifted his strategy and began mixing in feints and takedown attempts to draw Gordeau toward the mat, neutralizing Gordeau’s danger and giving Sayama a chance to take control of the bout. Gordeau defended, using his strength to muscle back to his feet on several occasions, but Sayama's persistence and craft began to wear on him. After evening the score with a sweeping roundhouse kick that briefly stunned the Dutchman, Sayama seized the opportunity to lock in a swift single-leg Boston crab before Gordeau could react in any meaningful way. Gordeau strained for the ropes but couldn't quite reach in time and was forced to tap. Sayama defeats Gordeau via submission (single-leg Boston crab), 13:09 Akira Maeda vs Volk Han Two of the most respected names in the promotion collided in a highly anticipated championship bout. Maeda, wary of Han's ability to conjure submissions from out of nowhere, kept his engagements deliberately conservative, preferring to control range with kicks rather than commit fully to the mat. Han, in turn, seemed content to let Maeda dictate the pace early, patiently waiting for any small opening to spring one of his trademark entanglements. That patience nearly paid off when Han caught a Maeda leg kick and spun directly into a heel hook attempt, forcing Maeda to scramble desperately for the ropes. Maeda regrouped and became noticeably sharper with his striking afterward, landing a series of stiff kicks that started to visibly affect Han's movement. The match found a tense equilibrium from there, with Han threatening constantly from unconventional angles while Maeda relied on his superior striking power to keep the Russian honest. After the match saw both content to battle evenly on points, Maeda finally found the opening he needed, catching a fatigued Han with a hard combination that sent him reeling, and following up immediately with a cross-armbreaker that Han had no time to escape. Maeda defeats Han via submission (cross-armbreaker), 18:46 News and Notes (6/15-6/19/1991) It appears Vader's return to the UWF will be finalized next week at UWF's press conference after the Fukuoka show. Paperwork is being signed between WCW and UWF, and things are set for a formal announcement of the Akira Maeda vs Vader match at next month's anniversary show in Yokohama. (Wrestling Observer, 6/18/1991) UWF is planning on officially announcing its return to Brazil in early August at their post-Fukuoka press conference in Tokyo. There's a lot of excitement in the roster about the opportunity to wrestle in front of Brazilian fans again. A major match between Marco Ruas and either Satoru Sayama or Tatsumi Fujinami is rumored. In fact, Fujinami and Sayama might be facing each other at the anniversary event. Aleksandr Karelin is also expected to return for the big show in Yokohama, with several rumored names floating around. UWF plans on holding two events in August, with a show in Kobe slated later in the month. (Tokyo Sports, 6/15/1991)

Card Announcement: UWF Newborn - "Battle Dimension: Fukuoka" June 21st, 1991 Fukuoka, Japan Hakata Starlanes Koji Kanemoto vs Steve Nelson Mitsuya Nagai vs Billy Scott Grom Zaza vs Chrs Benoit New Generation Tournament: First Round Yusuke Fuke vs Wayne Shamrock Minoru Suzuki vs Naoya Ogawa Kiyoshi Tamura vs Masahito Kakihara Masakatsu Funaki vs Manabu Yamada Satoru Sayama vs Gerard Gordeau Undisputed World Heavyweight Title: Akira Maeda(c) vs Volk Han

Who are you to doubt Orange Cassidy? All joking aside, I think Joseph put out a very good list, and a nicely balanced one at that.

News and Notes (6/1-6/5/1991) UWF Newborn ran their "Battle Dimension: Nagoya" show on 5/29 at the Tsuyuhashi Sports Center in Nagoya before a sold-out crowd of 5,000, taped for WOWOW. The undercard was largely what you'd expect from this group, with Billy Scott and Steve Nelson opening in a decent enough young lion match, Scott getting the submission win at 8:57. Koji Kanemoto looked improved against Koichiro Kimura, taking the win via Boston crab at 11:21. Chris Benoit had another strong outing against Tatsuo Nakano, picking up the win with a pinfall off a German suplex-to-choke transition that was creative as hell. Masahito Kakihara handled Eric Edelenbos from the Dolman gym in Amsterdam by KO at 12:03 in a decent match. The Tamura and Yamazaki tag against Joe Malenko and Erik Paulson was probably one of the most fun tag matches this promotion has done, with Tamura in particular looking like a star in the making. Yamazaki closed it out with a cross-armbreaker at 15:17. The top four matches are really where this show delivered. Wayne Shamrock pulling off the upset over Yoshiaki Fujiwara with a bridging Dragon suplex was a genuine shock, and the Nagoya crowd lost their minds for it. Shamrock fighting out of a double wristlock that Fujiwara trapped him with was incredible, and this was probably Shamrock's best performance in the company to date. Sayama and Onita against Ogawa and Fujinami was a solid tag match, with Onita tapping Fujinami with a guillotine at 15:01. The Takada-Han match was everything you'd want it to be, with Han delivering one of his trademark breathtaking sequences, turning a potential cross-armbreaker into a cross heel hold for the submission win over Takada at 16:46. The main event saw Maeda take a beating from Dick Vrij before gutting out the rear-naked choke win at 18:55. Vrij looked legitimately dangerous and Maeda's comeback from a rough middle stretch made for a compelling main event. Strong show overall, probably one of the better shows UWF Newborn has had this year. (Wrestling Observer, 6/4/1991) ----- Bonus! Dave Meltzer's Star Ratings! Chris Benoit defeated Tatsuo Nakano at 13:44 via pinfall. This was a good match. Nakano's palm strikes are legitimate, and Benoit had to adjust his entire game plan early after getting rocked. The story of Benoit figuring out how to duck under the strikes and attack the legs was well told, and the finishing sequence with the German suplex transitioning into the rear-naked choke that Nakano survived before getting caught in the pinning combination was creative and unexpected. Benoit continues to impress every time out in this promotion and is clearly one of the better workers they have brought in from the outside. *** Kiyoshi Tamura and Kazuo Yamazaki defeated Joe Malenko and Erik Paulson at 15:17 when Yamazaki submitted Malenko with a cross-armbreaker. This was the best tag match this promotion has done and one of the better matches on the show. The dynamic of Tamura and Yamazaki using speed and striking to counter the more methodical submission work of Malenko and Paulson was well conceived and well executed. Tamura in particular was exceptional here. There is a sequence where he knocks down both Paulson and Malenko in succession that got an enormous reaction and was completely deserved. Yamazaki's counter-grappling was sharp whenever Malenko or Paulson tried to slow things down. Tamura, at this point, looks like one of the best young workers in the world, and every performance reinforces that. ***½ Wayne Shamrock defeated Yoshiaki Fujiwara at 16:22 via pinfall with a bridging Dragon suplex. This was a genuinely great match, and the result was a legitimate shock. Fujiwara is one of the best ever at this style, and Shamrock came in aggressive, which was the right call, but Fujiwara, being Fujiwara, was patient and waited for the opening and got the first rope break with an arm entanglement off a rushed single leg attempt. Shamrock recalibrated and the match got very good from there with both men fighting for position on the mat. The spot where Shamrock fought out of the double wristlock was incredible, and the crowd completely turned for him at that point. For Shamrock to then immediately come back and catch Fujiwara with the bridging Dragon suplex for the pin was as good a finishing sequence as you will see. Fujiwara losing clean to Shamrock here is a big deal and is a significant rub for the American. ****1/4 Volk Han defeated Nobuhiko Takada at 16:46 via submission with a cross heel hold. This was everything you would expect from these two and then some. Han is simply one of the most creative submission wrestlers on the planet right now, and the range of holds he attempted from positions that should not allow for any offense at all is something that has to be seen to be believed. Takada was characteristically disciplined and smart, using his kicks to keep distance and refusing to engage on the mat unless he was confident in his position, which is the correct approach against Han. The finish was the highlight of the entire show. Takada going for a cross-armbreaker and Han rolling through and converting it into a cross heel hold in one motion was breathtaking and the crowd reacted accordingly. Takada tapping to Han is not a small thing and Han continues to look like one of the best workers in the world every single time out. Match of the night by a comfortable margin. ****½ Akira Maeda defeated Dick Vrij at 18:55 via submission with a rear-naked choke. Good main event. Vrij's kickboxing is as legitimate as it gets, and Maeda had no interest in letting this become a stand-up fight, which was the smart call. Vrij's takedown defense was much better than expected in the early going, and he was landing body kicks that were visibly hurting Maeda. The head kick midway through that dropped Maeda was the most dramatic moment of the match, and Maeda was genuinely fortunate to beat the count. What followed was a very good stretch of Maeda using ring intelligence and clinch work to survive before slowly reasserting himself as Vrij tired. Once Maeda started hitting takedowns and hunting submissions consistently, Vrij was in trouble, and the rope breaks piled up quickly. The rear-naked choke finish was decisive. Maeda looked genuinely vulnerable in a way that was good for business, and Vrij looked like a legitimate threat throughout, even in defeat. Strong main event to close out a very good show. **** ----- Vader is apparently close to returning to UWF Newborn in what would be a working arrangement between the promotion and World Championship Wrestling. The deal is not finalized, but sources indicate Vader is genuinely interested in renewing his relationship with UWF, and the feeling appears to be mutual. The natural direction if this comes together is a match with Akira Maeda at the anniversary show in July, which would make obvious sense given the unfinished business between the two from Vader's previous run with the promotion. Maeda is the current world champion and needs a credible big match opponent for what figures to be the promotion's most important show of the year, and there are very few names on the planet that fit that bill better than Vader at this point. The WCW working arrangement angle is worth watching closely. WCW has been increasingly aggressive about exploring working deals with Japanese promotions, and this would not be the first arrangement of this kind. Vader is one of the rare western wrestlers who has demonstrated he can operate credibly in a shoot-style environment, which is precisely why this pairing makes sense in a way it simply wouldn't with most WCW talents. If this gets finalized and Maeda vs. Vader happens at the anniversary show, it would be a genuinely big match and one of the more anticipated bouts the promotion has put together in some time. More on this as it develops. (Wrestling Observer, 6/4/1991) UWF Newborn officially announced their "New Generation" eight-man tournament at a press conference ahead of the Nagoya show, with first round matches set as Masakatsu Funaki vs. Manabu Yamada, Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Masahito Kakihara, Minoru Suzuki vs. Naoya Ogawa, and Wayne Shamrock vs. Yusuke Fuke. The tournament will begin in June, and the winner receives a cash bonus along with a significant bump in the UWF rankings, which, given how seriously this promotion treats its ranking system, is not a trivial incentive. The bracket is strong, and this is a genuinely interesting collection of young talent. The tournament concept is smart booking for UWF at this stage. Shamrock's recent upset win over Fujiwara has given him real momentum, and a deep run here would go a long way toward cementing him as a legitimate player in the promotion rather than just an impressive foreigner who got lucky on one big night. Funaki and Tamura are probably the two favorites on paper, and a potential final between them would be a very big deal. Suzuki vs. Ogawa is a fascinating stylistic clash and could be the sleeper match of the first round. The winner of this tournament is not going to be handed a world title shot immediately, given where the rankings stand, but a strong performance throughout could absolutely accelerate someone's trajectory in a significant way. Brackets and scheduled dates for the remaining rounds are expected to be announced shortly. (Wrestling Observer, 6/4/1991) ----- Now for the big story of the week.... After months of speculation and careful maneuvering behind the scenes, UWF Newborn has finalized deals with five American collegiate wrestling stars in what has to be considered one of the most significant recruitment efforts in the history of the promotion. The signings, which were brokered largely through the tireless efforts of Lou Thesz, represent a major statement of intent from UWF regarding the direction of their American roster. The news was announced at the UWF post-event press conference on Monday afternoon. The five wrestlers signed are Mark Kerr, Mark Coleman, Kurt Angle, Kevin Randleman, and Randy Couture. All five are legitimate amateur standouts, and the caliber of this group is genuinely exceptional. This is not a case of UWF scraping the barrel for any available American body with a wrestling background. These are serious, decorated amateur competitors, and the acquisition of all five in one swoop is a remarkable achievement for the promotion. The story began earlier this year when Tokyo Sports reported that Thesz would be making a scouting trip to the United States with the NCAA Wrestling Championships as his primary destination. Thesz attended the championships, held from March 14th through March 16th, and subsequently made visits to several additional American wrestling events being held to determine qualifiers for the 1991 World Championships. Upon returning to Japan, Thesz met with UWF officials and, by all accounts, was very enthusiastic about what he had found. Sources close to the promotion were keeping details extremely tight at that stage, with the fear being that American promotions could potentially interfere with recruitment efforts if word got out too early. As we noted at the time, there was legitimate skepticism from some corners about how successful this effort would actually be. With the 1992 Olympics on the horizon, convincing decorated American amateur wrestlers to bypass their Olympic dreams in favor of transitioning to professional wrestling in Japan was always going to be a difficult sell. One source familiar with American amateur wrestling circles told us flatly that most young wrestlers at that level have no interest in turning professional before chasing the Olympics, and that the transition from collegiate amateur wrestling to pro wrestling straight out of college remains exceedingly rare regardless of financial incentive. The success of Duane and Dennis Koslowski in UWF had not gone unnoticed in American circles, and Thesz's legendary status in the amateur world gave UWF a credibility that most Japanese promotions simply would not have had, but the Olympic factor was always the central obstacle. Thesz made multiple trips back to the United States to continue negotiations after his initial scouting run. A significant round of talks was held in Virginia, and it was following that meeting that sources close to the situation indicated deals were imminent. The contracts are described as financially very competitive, which clearly played a role in getting this across the finish line. It was also confirmed that the agreements include provisions addressing the Olympic question, with sources indicating that Olympic participation clauses and compensation structures for wrestlers who might withdraw from Olympic qualifying were among the details being ironed out in the final stages of negotiation. The specifics of those clauses have not been made available. The plan for all five is not an immediate debut but rather an assignment to the UWF dojo, where they will undergo several months of training before being introduced. Thesz was reportedly insistent on this point, wanting the recruits properly prepared for the UWF style before they were put in front of a crowd. Given the promotion's reputation for working a credible, shoot-style product, this makes obvious sense. Raw athletic talent is one thing, but the UWF style demands a specific kind of preparation that even the most accomplished amateur wrestlers will need time to absorb. The success of the Koslowskis suggests the model works when given proper time, and UWF appears committed to taking the same patient approach here rather than rushing anyone out for a quick publicity pop. The depth of talent in this group is worth emphasizing. Without getting too deeply into the background of each individual, this is a collection of wrestlers who collectively represent some of the best American amateur wrestling has produced in recent years. If even two or three of them translate effectively to the UWF style, this could prove to be one of the most important roster moves the promotion has ever made. The obvious comparison point remains the Koslowskis, but the sheer volume of signings here suggests UWF is making a much more aggressive and sustained commitment to building an American presence than anything they have done previously. There will be plenty of questions going forward. How long the dojo period actually runs before any of these five see action remains to be seen. How the Olympic clauses are structured and whether any of them ultimately decide the Olympic dream outweighs the financial opportunity will be something to monitor. And of course, translating elite amateur credentials into compelling professional performances in the UWF style is far from automatic. But as a statement of ambition and organizational reach, this is a genuinely impressive development, and Thesz deserves enormous credit for pulling it off. More details as they become available. (Wrestling Observer, 6/4/1991)

Volk Han vs Bryan Danielson Volk Han vs Blue Panther Volk Han vs Vader Volk Han vs Genichiro Tenryu Kiyoshi Tamura vs Samoa Joe Kiyoshi Tamura vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara Yuki Ishikawa vs Vader Yuki Ishikawa vs William Regal Daisuke Ikeda vs Kota Ibushi

Big thanks to @Grimmas and everyone else involved in running this project. This was a massive behemoth, and seeing it through despite the difficulties that come up with something like this is very commendable. I'm very happy with how this list turned out. I would take it over 2016's list any day of the week. I thought Danielson would take the #1 spot, but I guess I underestimated the depth and universality of Funker's appeal. No complaints though!

King of the Ring was an excellent tournament and seemed like a major success for WWF. Flair vs Santana is a tasty matchup on paper, and I would be surprised if those two didn't deliver at SummerSlam.

The last month or so has been really good for WCW. Several pieces are coming together in a big way, and I think Clash of Champions is setting up to be one of the best shows of the year. Tenryu in WCW is going to be blockbuster.

Well, that's my "Complete and Accurate" of UWF Newborn in the books. I would say 1990 was the promotion's strongest year by far. 1989 wasn't too bad either, but things felt very flat during the stretch between July and November. The ceiling is definitely raised when Fujiwara, Suzuki, and Funaki arrive in the promotion, and it feels like everyone is pushing each other to get better at that point. It would have been interesting to see UWF get more international talent. The Dutch guys definitely added some flavor (Dick Vrij especially), and some of the American wrestlers like Wayne Shamrock and Mark Rush added depth. It's also a shame that Kiyoshi Tamura was injured for most of 1990. We were robbed of potential classics like Tamura vs Funaki or Tamura vs Fujiwara. Another thing I noticed is that Takada is involved with a lot of high-level stuff in UWF Newborn. I think he's a much better wrestler than people give him credit for, and while he definitely has moments where he checks out, he steps up to the plate when the moment demands it. My Top 10 UWF Newborn matches: 1. Nobuhiko Takada vs Akira Maeda (6/21/1990) 2. Masakatsu Funaki vs Tatsuo Nakano (7/24/1989) 3. Nobuhiko Takada vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara (10/25/1990) 4. Kazuo Yamazaki vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara (7/24/1989) 5. Nobuhiko Takada vs Akira Maeda (11/10/1988) 6. Nobuhiko Takada vs Akira Maeda (1/10/1989) 7. Nobuhiko Takada vs Akira Maeda (1/16/1990) 8. Bob Backlund vs Nobuhiko Takada (12/22/1988) 9. Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Tatsuo Nakano (1/16/1990) 10. Akira Maeda vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara (7/20/1990) Honorable mentions: Masakatsu Funaki vs Yoji Anjo (6/14/1989) Nobuhiko Takada vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara (2/27/1990) Akira Maeda vs Masakatsu Funaki (10/25/1990) Masakatsu Funaki vs Wayne Shamrock (12/1/1990) Minoru Suzuki vs Masakatsu Funaki (4/15/1990)

UWF Energy (12/1/1990) Kiyoshi Tamura vs Masahito Kakihara I expected these two to deliver, and they did. While Tamura looked impressive in his previous UWF outings, I think this match is really the start of the Kiyoshi Tamura we would eventually fall in love with in UWFi and RINGS. He is sharp, and despite his size, he is quite a physical presence. Kakihara is still a little raw, but Tamura plays off this well, and the stiff, tense nature of this match is the result of these two recognizing how to play the music, so to speak. Tamura is still vulnerable despite his rapid improvement, and Kakihara picks him off with well-timed strikes, but Tamura is just better, and he knows how to get under Kakihara's skin. Kakihara exhausts a lot of rope breaks as a result and is increasingly vulnerable to Tamura's striking. The two are pretty much even on points down the stretch, and both are down to their last out. Kakihara actually gets back into the match with some well-timed counters, but Tamura keeps pressing, and Kakihara burns all of his rope breaks. Tamura looks a bit upset after the match. He's aware that he couldn't get Kakihara to tap, and knows the victory isn't quite decisive. Mechanically, this is a very impressive match, a great example of what made Kakihara and Tamura so good, even this early in their careers. ****1/4 Yoji Anjo vs Minoru Suzuki Mechanically, this was a very solid match. Both Anjo and Suzuki demonstrated good technique and pushed each other on the mat with some very nice grappling mixed in with stand-up exchanges as well. This probably went a little longer than it should have, but it didn't really have any slow points, and they kept up a solid pace to give the bout a nice flow. There's a very creative finish at the end, which I enjoyed quite a bit. **** Bart Vale vs Kazuo Yamazaki Nothing particular exciting here, I'm not the biggest fan of Bart Vale, and it is painful to see him try to work the mat when he should be sticking to being a ferocious striker. Still, this isn't as bad as I expected, and Yamazaki does a good job of keeping the match on track. I admit, this match kinda just "happened" for me. *** Shigeo Miyato vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara This was decent enough. Miyato doesn't pose much of a threat until the last minute or so, so this is all about Fujiwara dictating his junior around the ring, although this isn't the most spirited Fujiwara performance you'll find either. The technical quality wasn't bad or anything, but I felt this match could have benefited from Miyato posing more of a threat and gunning for the upset over Fujiwara. ***1/2 Nobuhiko Takada vs Tatsuo Nakano This is a frustrating match to some degree. It's not terrible, but I got the feeling these two were approaching things in a way that was counterproductive. They went a little longer than they should have, and I felt that they missed an opportunity to have more stand-up exchanges, which would have allowed them to ramp things up and take the match to another level. The grappling work was fine, but it's obviously not Nakano's strength, and when Takada isn't feeling motivated, there's a very noticeable lack of urgency in his grappling. Nakano can't really make up for this, so they overstay their welcome with some sequences. Mechanically, the matwork is good....it's just not where it should be, and I think these two could have played to their strengths more. ***3/4 Masakatsu Funaki vs Wayne Shamrock I suppose having Masakatsu Funaki vs Wayne Shamrock as the main event of the final UWF show is very fitting. Of course, they didn't know it would be the final show, but these two represented the future of Kakutogi, and the fact that they served as the final sendoff for the promotion is quite poetic in retrospect. Both stepped up to the occasion, and the result was a technically sound match, with both displaying their grappling skills in the first half, before they decided to ratchet things up with some intense striking and suplex exchanges. It's not quite a preview of Pancrase in the same way Funaki vs Suzuki was earlier in 1990, but we still see glimpses of the technical craft that would define 90s shoot-style throughout promotions like UWFi, RINGS, and PWFG. Funaki finds his match in Shamrock, and it's the beginning of what would be a beautiful rivalry for years to come. Shamrock isn't a pushover on the mat, and Funaki has to work extra hard to exploit any openings, because Shamrock is both strong and quick. Funaki can't use his speed against Shamrock as he did against Maeda and Fujiwara; he has to resort to a more methodical, scientific wrestling to keep control of the pace. Shamrock's calling card is his striking and suplexes, and he uses this as an advantage to force Funaki out of his comfort zone. Funaki finds his rhythm in the process and delivers one heck of a performance in the second half of the match. Shamrock is a prodigy like his opponent, but Funaki's confidence and zeal are just too much to handle in the end. It's not quite a full-blown classic, but it's a great, if not low-key, finish to one of the greatest promotions in wrestling history. A burning, bright star dies, but several more are waiting to be born. One of them will retain the elements that Shamrock and Funaki brought to the table, and in the process, a whole new solar system will be born. ****1/2

UWF Atlantis (10/25/1990) Masahito Kakihara vs Yusuke Fuke Another good showing for these two. This match had a really hot start after Kakihara took a swing at Fuke right before the bell, and they exchanged stiff strikes afterwards. The action wasn't as constant as in their previous two matches, but the quality was still way above what you would expect. They spend a little more time stalling with matwork, but the striking exchanges are still pretty good. Neither guy really has the advantage, so they just keep going back and forth until they both start running low on gas. The nice thing about both guys is that they look like legitimate threats, and the idea of either of them going toe-to-toe with another roster member like Tamura or Miyato isn't entirely far-fetched. **** Shigeo Miyato vs Minoru Suzuki Nothing too bad here. There was a nice pace to this match, and both Suzuki and Miyato pushed each other enough that they didn't lose the main thread, so to speak. Suzuki kept a good control of things, and it didn't really feel like Miyato was a real threat until the last few minutes or so. This did cause the match to get stuck in a certain gear. Certain mechanical aspects of this match were quite impressive, including how Suzuki remained fluid and kept hunting for submissions even when Miyato attempted to slow the match down. Miyato wasn't a passenger, but it felt like this was the Suzuki show. ***3/4 Wellington Wilkins Jr vs Tatsuo Nakano A short match. Wellington Wilkins Jr seemed totally lost and/or lazy here. Nakano carries most of the match, and Wilkins doesn't seem interested at all. **3/4 Wayne Shamrock vs Yoji Anjo This was a good debut for Shamrock. Anjo gave Shamrock plenty of room to breathe, which allowed him to showcase his athletic abilities and natural grappling skills. The fact that Shamrock already looks like a credible threat to any member on the roster is a feather in both caps. Anjo's ability to play off the strengths of other wrestlers is quite underrated. Shamrock knows how to transition from hold to hold and hunt for submissions, and the fluid dynamism that already defines his approach to this style of wrestling is notable already. Shamrock seems to be able to dictate things on the mat, but Anjo's calling card is his striking, which gives Shamrock trouble at first. Anjo makes the mistake of taking things to the mat again, which allows Shamrock to exploit an opening to secure a rear choke variation for the submission. Good stuff. **** Nobuhiko Takada vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara Fujiwara's performance in this match is one of the most cerebral I've seen in any style of wrestling, let alone shoot-style. Fujiwara knows he can get inside Takada's head, as we saw from the February 1990 match, and he tries the same tactic here, especially as he uses his facial expressions to try to throw his opponent off his game. Fujiwara is overconfident here, and Takada resists the same tricks and mind games that cost him earlier in the year. Instead, Takada waits Fujiwara out, rolling with Fujiwara's approach without giving an inch. It's a great display of Takada's development; he is wiser and knows he can't beat Fujiwara by sheer force. He needs to be patient and take his opportunities when they come. Fujwiara works harder as a result and is drawn into a position he is less comfortable with. He doesn't mind playing long chess games, but he is more vulnerable when he doesn't have control of them. Takada isn't afraid to use rope breaks when he needs them, unlike Fujiwara, who chooses to risk himself rather than opt for a reset. While Takada doesn't get Fujiwara in any real dangerous moments, he does wear him down. This makes his task easier, as Fujiwara is increasingly exhausted, leaving himself open to Takada's striking. Takada's strategic approach starts paying off. He doesn't get baited this time; you could even say that he is the one who is baiting Fujiwara in the end, especially as he lures Fujiwara into his favorite defensive spot near the turnbuckle, only to use the close distance to fire several knee strikes into Fujiwara's body. It's a huge victory for Takada because he doesn't just beat Fujiwara; he beats Fujiwara in one of the greatest wrestling chess matches of all time. ***** Akira Maeda vs Masakatsu Funaki This was a solid card, top to bottom. The only real disappointment was Nakano vs Wellington Wilkins Jr. Other than that, we had several good to great matches, including the debut of Wayne Shamrock. Shamrock looked very solid in his match with Anjo, and Takada vs Fujiwara was a bona fide classic, with a great psychological performance from Fujiwara. Maeda vs Funaki wasn't as good, but it was quite spectacular in its own way. Fuke vs Kakihara (****) - Probably not as action-packed compared to their previous two matches, but still entertaining, and it's fun to see these two continue their little feud. Miyato vs Suzuki (***3/4) - Solid if not a little restrained performance from both. I didn't feel like this match hit the level that it needed to, or that it should have reached, but it was mechanically very solid. Suzuki continues to improve. Wilkins Jr vs Nakano (**3/4) - Wilkins Jr is a lazy jerk in this match, and doesn't do much. He almost seems like he is forcing Nakano to carry the match because his head isn't in it. Disappointing. Shamrock vs Anjo (****) - A very impressive debut for Shamrock, who is already showing a ton of potential as a wrestling prodigy. Anjo gives Shamrock plenty of room to shine, and Shamrock returns the favor, which creates a very good dynamic. Fujiwara vs Takada (*****) - Read my full review for this match, but it is incredible, and Fujiwara delivers one of the most compelling psychological performances you will ever see in the wrestling ring. Takada ain't bad either. Maeda vs Funaki (****1/2) - A fantastic main event, with Maeda frustrating Funaki's hopes and dreams as Funaki realizes he doesn't quite have enough at the moment to overcome the UWF frontman.

I think it's a combination of people not knowing where to start and the footage quality generally being a bit worse compared to what is available with Japanese wrestling.

I think I see something similar when I look back at the first two wrestlers I fell in love with as a kid....Bret Hart and Blue Panther.

AWA has been on a roll lately. I really enjoyed the Puerto Rico event! That territory has always been one of my major blind spots, but everything I've seen from it was really solid, and I think you did the spirit of that particular strand of wrestling a lot of justice with that show.

Really enjoyable episode of SMW. I think this promotion is giving space for a lot of guys to shine, including Ahmed Johnson and Steve Austin. Looking forward to the future is always a smart play, regardless of promotion size.

I don't think the top 10 signifies a conservative list. It just signifies that the English-speaking wrestling fanbase consistently ranks 10-12 guys as the greatest of all time. I think the 2026 list has been much more balanced overall than 2016, which was the most conservative and American-centric of the three GWE rankings, if you ask me. Obviously, certain styles like Lucha and World of Sport suffered, but you always risk having things get overlooked when you open balloting up to the wider public. I expected the list to be way worse, though.

UWF Newborn – “Battle Dimension: Nagoya” May 29th, 1991 Nagoya, Japan Tsuyuhashi Sports Center Attendance: 5,000 (sold out) Broadcast: WOWOW (taped) Steve Nelson vs Billy Scott The two American young lions met once again, and although Steve Nelson got a bit more offense in than usual, Billy Scott held his ground and showcased his defensive wrestling abilities. Scott never lost control of the match despite an impressive effort from Nelson. Nelson, in particular, was very dangerous when it came to his suplexes, but Scott did well to survive the initial efforts before figuring out how to reverse one into a double wristlock. Nelson was caught by surprise and had to tap with no ropes in sight. Scott defeats Nelson via submission (double wristlock), 8:57 Koji Kanemoto vs Koichiro Kimura Koji Kanemoto is still quite raw, but the improvement he has made since his debut has been noticeable. Kimura was very conservative in his approach during the match, and this enabled Kanemoto to take some risks offensively. Kimura seemingly preferred to wrestle on the counter, and Kanemoto was happy to oblige. By controlling the tempo, Kanemoto found his comfort zone more easily than Kimura did, especially as he softened up his opponent with low kicks that frustrated Kimura more and more. While Kimura hoped to recover some momentum on the mat, Kanemoto was quite game and knew how to navigate Kimura’s attempts at more methodical grappling, and even found ways to quicken the pace by energetically moving from hold to hold. Kimura had plenty to think about in this match, and Kanemoto seemingly wanted to make a statement against a young lion with a similar skillset level. With a comfortable 3-1 lead on points after two quick knockdowns, Kanemoto caught Kimura with a rolling kick and quickly went for a Boston crab to secure the victory. Kanemoto defeats Kimura via submission (Boston crab), 11:21 Chris Benoit vs Tatsuo Nakano Benoit wanted to continue his impressive streak in UWF, and Nakano would be no slouch. The Canadian grappler had to contend with Nakano’s powerful striking, and had to adapt early after realizing his takedown-centered strategy would have no bearing if he couldn’t defend against Nakano’s relentless palm strikes. Benoit fired some back on his own, but Nakano didn’t seem too bothered. Eventually, Benoit learned a quick lesson after being caught on the counter by one nasty hit from Nakano. Benoit beat the ten-count after being sent to the mat and started gaining a better sense of Nakano’s approach. As a result, Benoit found more luck securing leg takedowns after ducking more palm strikes and started to find success on the mat by attacking Nakano’s legs. Nakano had to burn a few rope breaks to even the match, and a similar theme would continue as Nakano attempted to neutralize Benoit before he could utilize his strengths more and more. While Nakano wasn’t clueless on the canvas, Benoit clearly had the advantage, and his increasing knowledge of catch-as-catch-can paid dividends. After they found themselves tied 2-2 on points, Benoit hit Nakano with a powerful German suplex that he turned into a rear-naked choke. Nakano did well to leverage himself and prevent Benoit from getting all of it, but Benoit was quick and transitioned into a clever pinning combination that kept Nakano’s shoulders on the mat for the three count. Benoit defeats Nakano via pinfall, 13:44 Masahito Kakihara vs Eric Edelenbos Eric Edelenbos, coming from Chris Dolman’s Amsterdam gym, was a competent striker with decent submission skills, and he would be no pushover for Kakihara. Kakihara learned quickly that the Dutchman was not afraid to go toe-to-toe and offered a similar danger when it came to hard, fast palm strikes. Kakihara had to adjust quickly after suffering an early knockdown and attempted to change the pace of the match by attacking the Dutchman’s legs and going for takedowns. On the mat, Edelenbos was able to handle himself, but Kakihara dictated the tempo and was much better at finding gaps to exploit. Kakihata evened the match up on points after securing several rope breaks from Edelenbos. Back on their feet, Kakihara gained a better read on Edelenbos and started to threaten the Dutchman more with a variety of kicks and counter palm strikes. The two would trade one more point each after more knockdowns and rope breaks, but Kakihara would eventually find a way to put Edelenbos away for good with a high kick combo that was enough to cause Edelenbos to lose track of where he was, resulting in a full ten count and a KO. Kakihara defeats Edelenbos via KO, 12:03 Kiyoshi Tamura & Kazuo Yamazaki vs Joe Malenko & Erik Paulson With Tamura and Yamazaki pushing for a tag team title shot, a win here seemed critical. While Malenko and Paulson were not recent UWF regulars, they were still a formidable catch-based duo that presented plenty of danger on the mat. In a sense, this tag team bout turned into a clash between the striking skills of both Yamazaki and Tamura, and the submission-based wrestling of Paulson and Malenko. That is not to say Tamura and Yamazaki lacked abilities on the mat, of course not, but Tamura and Yamazaki knew that the most effective counter to the more methodical grappling of their opponents was to force the tempo with speed and precision. Tamura, in particular, presented a whole bunch of problems as Malenko, and to a lesser extent, Paulson could not effectively counter Tamura’s urgency early on. Yamazaki offered a slight deviation in his ability to frustrate their opponents on the mat with intelligent counter-grappling whenever Malenko or Paulson attempted to slow things down. While Malenko and Paulson managed to secure two points off Tamura and Yamazaki through rope breaks, the Japanese duo never seemed to be in real danger, and they controlled most of the match. A furious stretch from Tamura saw the young sensation knock down both Paulson and Malenko consecutively, and this secured a roaring pop from the audience. Eventually, Yamazaki delivered a powerful side suplex on Joe Malenko and promptly hunted for and secured a cross-armbreaker for the submission victory. Yamazaki & Tamura defeat Malenko & Paulson via submission (cross-armbreaker), 15:17 Satoru Sayama & Atsushi Onita vs Naoya Ogawa & Tatsumi Fujinami After a bit of a hiatus, Sayama had finally returned to UWF and was hungry to start a new climb to the top. Sayama and Onita's chemistry as a team was an open question heading into this bout. Ogawa and Fujinami were wise to the potential unpredictability of the two, and they worked in fluid tandem to neutralize Sayama whenever he attempted to quicken the pace. Onita’s grappling added a different dimension to his team's offensive game, and this occasionally caught Fujinami off guard when the two shared the mat. Ogawa was the standout performer on his side, using his considerable size and explosive wrestling instincts to give Onita trouble during their exchanges and limit the damage Onita could do with his Luta Livre skills. Sayama, for his part, was at his sharpest when targeting Fujinami's legs, and he managed to force two rope breaks in succession during a particularly sharp stretch of mat wrestling that energized the crowd. Onita's toughness kept his team in contention whenever Ogawa threatened to overwhelm him, absorbing punishment and wearing down the Judo prodigy that prevented Ogawa from ever fully establishing control. With the match tied on points, Sayama and Onita continued to gain momentum with smart tagging that kept both wrestlers fresh. Fujinami was targeted more, and this resulted in Onita gaining the advantage on the mat for the final time. After Fujinami attempted a dragon screw, Onita countered with a guillotine choke. Fujinami was trapped, and any escape seemed impossible. After some reluctance, Fujinami tapped. Onita defeats Fujinami via submission (guillotine choke), 15:01 Wayne Shamrock vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara Fujiwara's reputation preceded him, and Shamrock knew better than to be drawn into a patient, methodical chess match on the veteran's terms. Shamrock was aggressive from the opening exchange, attempting to use his athleticism and explosive takedowns to prevent Fujiwara from ever settling into a comfortable rhythm. Fujiwara, ever the craftsman, absorbed the early energy with quiet patience, happy to concede the tempo and wait for Shamrock to overcommit. That moment came sooner than Shamrock would have liked, as a rushed single-leg attempt gave Fujiwara the opening he needed to pounce on a wrist and drag Shamrock into a painful arm entanglement that forced the first rope break of the match. Shamrock recalibrated and became notably more measured in his approach, and the match entered a tighter, more competitive phase as both men fought for positional control on the mat. Shamrock's strength and physical gifts made him a genuine handful whenever he secured top position, and he forced rope breaks of his own by threatening Fujiwara with a rear waistlock that he looked to convert into a choke on two separate occasions. But Fujiwara's mat intelligence was always lurking, and the veteran seemed to study every movement Shamrock made with quiet calculation. After a knockdown from a sharp Fujiwara headbutt evened the points at two apiece, Fujiwara baited Shamrock into another aggressive scramble, and this time had a kimura waiting for him. Shamrock seemed trapped, but his athletic abilities and natural strength allowed him to fight out of it. This surprised the crowd quite a bit and got them behind the American as an underdog. Shamrock pulled off the impossible when he captured Fujiwara with a bridging Dragon suplex that suddenly pinned Fujiwara to the mat for a full three count from the referee. The arena exploded as Shamrock secured a stunning upset. The American celebrated by jumping up on the nearest turnbuckle and taking in the raucous ovation. Shamrock defeats Fujiwara via pinfall, 16:22 Nobuhiko Takada vs Volk Han The crowd was buzzing in anticipation, and the match delivered on every expectation. Han's reputation as one of the most creative submission wrestlers in the world was well established, and Takada had every reason to be wary of the Dagestani’s ability to conjure holds from seemingly impossible positions. Takada's approach was characteristically disciplined. He used measured kicks to establish distance, probing takedown feints to test Han's reactions, and refused to engage on the mat unless the position was clearly in his favor. Han was unhurried and almost hypnotic in the early going, inviting Takada to engage while carefully constructing his own angles. The match's first genuine moment of danger came when Han caught a Takada kick and converted it into a spinning heel hook in one breathtaking motion, forcing Takada to the ropes immediately. From that point on, Takada's striking became more conservative and deliberate, unwilling to offer Han any further invitations. The rope breaks accumulated in both directions as the match found more of a rhythm. Han threatened with an almost endless variety of arm, leg, and neck attacks from improbable positions, while Takada countered with his sharp combination striking whenever he created enough separation to unload. On the mat, Takada used his veteran knowledge to exploit any undisciplined openings Han left waiting. Two knockdowns apiece brought the match to its peak tension, with the crowd hanging on every scramble. Takada eventually manufactured enough space to land a thunderous high kick that visibly buckled Han, and he rushed in immediately to secure a cross-armbreaker before Han could clear his head. Han was prepared, though, and immediately rolled through, creating momentum to get Takada on his back. In one swift magisterial move, Han turned a potential cross-armbreaker into a cross heel hold that caught Takada completely by surprise. Unable to reach the ropes, Takada chose to tap and concede the victory to an impressive Volk Han. Han defeats Takada via submission (cross heel hold), 16:46 Akira Maeda vs Dick Vrij The main event brought two of UWF's most physically imposing figures into direct conflict, and the atmosphere in Nagoya was electric. Vrij's elite kickboxing pedigree made him a dangerous striker, and Maeda had no illusions about the punishment he could absorb if he allowed the match to become a pure stand-up exchange. Maeda's early strategy was sensible. He used his grappling range to smother Vrij's kicking game and drag the match toward the mat whenever possible. Vrij, however, was prepared for this approach and displayed impressive takedown defense in the opening minutes, shrugging off Maeda's collar ties and creating enough separation to pepper him with body kicks that started to take a visible toll. Maeda was rocked badly by a clean head kick midway through the match and was fortunate to beat the ten-count, spending the next several minutes in pure survival mode as Vrij smelled blood and pushed the pressure. To his enormous credit, Maeda weathered the storm with grit and ring intelligence, clinching at every opportunity and disrupting Vrij's timing enough to keep himself in the match. As the late rounds wore on and Vrij's output inevitably slowed, Maeda began to reassert himself, shooting for takedowns with more conviction and beginning to find the mat time he had been denied earlier. Vrij was forced to burn rope breaks in quick succession as Maeda hunted for submissions constantly. Vrij was just trying to survive, even if it meant giving up points easily. Eventually, Maeda had built up a 3-1 lead on points. Vrij was still dangerous, but Maeda was clearly in control. With Vrij visibly fatigued and no longer able to generate the same explosive kicking power, Maeda threw a sharp combination and followed a stumbling Vrij directly to the mat, wrapping him up in a rear-naked choke. Vrij struggled powerfully, but the position was locked, and he had no choice but to submit. Maeda defeats Vrij via submission (rear-naked choke), 18:55 News and Notes (5/25-5/29-1991) - UWF is getting closer to signing several "high-profile" collegiate American wrestling stars after a round of talks led by Lou Thesz in Virginia. Details are still being kept very close to the vest, but one source mentioned that the deals could be finalized and announced as soon as next month. The contracts will be very financially competitive, and the wrestlers will be assigned to the UWF dojo to begin several months of training before their debut. Some details are still being ironed out, including any potential Olympic clauses and compensation if they choose to withdraw from Olympic qualifying. (Wrestling Observer, 5/28/1991) The "New Generation" eight-man tournament will begin in June. The brackets were announced at a press conference before the upcoming UWF event in Nagoya. First round matches include Masakatsu Funaki vs Manabu Yamada, Kiyoshi Tamura vs Masahito Kakihara, Minoru Suzuki vs Naoya Ogawa, and Wayne Shamrock vs Yusuke Fuke. The winner will receive a cash bonus and a significant boost in the UWF rankings. (Tokyo Sports, 5/24/1991) Vader could be making his return to the UWF in the near future, as he is interested in renewing his relationship with the promotion in a working arrangement with World Championship Wrestling. With his unfinished business with Akira Maeda, he would seem like a natural opponent for the current world champion at the upcoming anniversary show in July. (Weekly Pro Wrestling, 5/25/1991)

Ehh...I don't think so. I ranked him #1, so I might be biased, but not many wrestlers had the same run he had from 1991-1997, and even the stuff before that was pretty good.

I expected these two to deliver, and they did. While Tamura looked impressive in his previous UWF outings, I think this match is really the start of the Kiyoshi Tamura we would eventually fall in love with in UWFi and RINGS. He is sharp, and despite his size, he is quite a physical presence. Kakihara is still a little raw, but Tamura plays off this well, and the stiff, tense nature of this match is the result of these two recognizing how to play the music, so to speak. Tamura is still vulnerable despite his rapid improvement, and Kakihara picks him off with well-timed strikes, but Tamura is just better, and he knows how to get under Kakihara's skin. Kakihara exhausts a lot of rope breaks as a result and is increasingly vulnerable to Tamura's striking. The two are pretty much even on points down the stretch, and both are down to their last out. Kakihara actually gets back into the match with some well-timed counters, but Tamura keeps pressing, and Kakihara burns all of his rope breaks. Tamura looks a bit upset after the match. He's aware that he couldn't get Kakihara to tap, and knows the victory isn't quite decisive. Mechanically, this is a very impressive match, a great example of what made Kakihara and Tamura so good, even this early in their careers. ****1/4

Aja missing out on the Top 10 is a bummer. I should have ranked her higher

Masakatsu Funaki is a phenom, but of course, Akira Maeda is a master of his craft who used to be a phenom himself. He knows everything that is on Funaki's mind. He was in Funaki's position before as a young gun who wanted to prove himself. A dangerous striker with a chip on his shoulder....sounds familiar, right? Maeda knows he can't keep up with Funaki in a straight shootout, so he attempts to exert control over Funaki by using a more methodical strategy. He gets Funaki to engage in a grinding mat battle at times, and this definitely has an impact as Funaki doesn't get too many chances to overwhelm Maeda on his feet. When Funaki gets that chance, though, he looks absolutely incredible. Maeda has little answer for Funaki here, and can only cover up and attempt to get the young sensation on the canvas again. Funaki exhausts a lot of rope breaks as Maeda's submission holds begin to take a toll. Maeda knows he doesn't need to go for a match ender every time; he just needs to apply enough pressure and pain to get Funaki to exert more energy and wear his body down. While Funaki is happy to go for the ropes and get a clean reset, he knows it is a losing battle every time. Funaki isn't afraid to go toe-to-toe with Maeda and fires off strikes whenever he gets a chance. He even bloodies Maeda's nose in the process. Maeda is just resilient, though, and has no problem taking the punishment because he knows he can outlast Funaki as long as the match remains on his terms. What strikes me as a key moment in the match is in the later stages, where Funaki appears to get a little frustrated and even begins to appear as if he is resigned to the inevitable. As good as he is, he isn't Akira Maeda yet, and Akira Maeda gets his way. This is specifically noticeable when Funaki attempts to go for a side suplex, but he doesn't get all of it, and Maeda lands right on top of him. I think this is where Funaki loses his edge, and Maeda realizes this. He just needs to add the finishing touches to crush Funaki's hopes for good. These two had a huge task following Takada and Fujiwara, and they succeeded. ****1/2