goodhelmet

Love it!

Looks like this is going to be a monthly thing from now on. I am about to go back to work so I can't commit to a bi-weekly schedule. I am also getting less contributions from people compared to the first two issues. Next ep will be either Sep 23rd or 30th depending on my schedule. The good news is hopefully there is enough stuff to talk about to give it a double issue feel. I appreciate all of the feedback but I especially like the feedback from people who aren't even taking part in the project reading and getting a kick out of it.

There are a bunch of guys from Japan who are off for a couple of weeks.

One of the things I am trying with the TV is for it to build from week to week. I think it will be better next tour as I was just getting my feet wet with this first one.

Thanks for paying attention!!! Anyone who heard a Manny interview in 1987 knows this was his interview style.

On theme songs... also gotta give props to "Badstreet USA" which I mentioned on the podcast... best wrestling-centric theme song of all-time and nothing else comes close. I can see resistance to Smothers in the NWO but I think when you look at the people that JR or Dan listed on the show, he doesn't seem like a bad choice in comparison. He would have been a perfect fit for the Rednecks in 1999 beating up Master P's crew.

The recaps are already up in the TV section.

Man... I have to think about that one. We tend not to do Japanese booking on the show so I may have to answer that here on the board.

JR threw me for a loop with the NWO thing. I like Smothers for a few reasons. He had a shitty WWF run which plays into the storyline. He could go in he ring and was much better than someone like Buff Bagwell or Horace Hogan joining. He had a good physique and wouldn't look too much out of place. He could talk on the mic and could even do the shooty promos of the time that the NWO loved. If we are completely re-imagining the NWO, the thing that hurts him is he was never a star anywhere but SMW. As for Valentine, the idea is to rehabilitate his career. The guy could still go. He could still kick ass.

Fucking Perv.

I would link to the F4 board if it wasn't a closed board but there are people there clearly as gimmick posters and there to actually deviate from discussion. Thug Nigga was one by name. There is a racist confederate gimmick there (name escapes me) and any complaints I have sent have been ignored.

I just went to ... https://www.reddit.com/r/WWE/ It didn't seem that negative to me. Just a bunch of posts with few comments. The one Roman Reigns topic complained about his Superman Punch and Spear but nothing that screamed trolling.

A-S-S-H-O-L-E!!!! Too bad this didn't come out around the Attitude era. Could totally be a Motorhead cover for HHH.

I am calling bullshit on this. I preferred when wrestlers came down to the ring to real songs, not in-house theme songs. That was my argument before JR got pissed off about it. These are wrestling theme songs for me... Survivor - Eye of the Tiger ELO- Rock N Roll is King Black Sabbath - Iron Man Queen - Another One Bites the Dust / We Will Rock You Billy Squier - Everybody Wants You George Thorogood- Bad to the Bone ZZ Top - La Grange Willie Nelson - Georgia on My Mind / Midnight Rider I listed all of these on the show and more.

I don't think he is being hostile but it is true. Loss doesn't watch week to week but he gave a great outline in the WWE complaints thread about why the product isn't for him. I save my vitriol for the reaction shows which is the only WWE I watch. Why worry about the rest of the rest ofthe net when we have pwo? Why worry about shitty wwe wrestling when there is awesome wrestling alternatives out there? Same boat.

I have some great Dory promos in the tank. Exciting stuff. For Gordy, I was trying to continue his Blacks and Arabs promo from Ft. Worth.... a true wtf wrestling moment.

I liken it more to Hansen running in when Brody and Snuka beat the Funks. Not huge deviation. When the Machines would run the place in 85, it would become commonplace.

Backing down from what? From you? I don't watch RAW. The show is 3 hours long and I would rather watch about 1000 other wrestling shows at any given time. On the last Reaction show, I even stated that I stopped watching the TV so I could be Johnny Ignorant and enjoy the PPVs. Maybe you forgot about that because you were too busy listening to your own voice.

So what your saying that you refuse to admit when a RAW is good? Hmmm. Interesting. I don't watch Raw or typically criticize it when it is bad. I save my criticism for the Reaction Show.

I'll praise their good shows when you start criticizing the bad ones.

ALL JAPAN ON NTV – 2 Hour Special!!! August 13, 1983 TV (Taped on 8/4, Tokyo) Opening Montage Footage is shown of Misawa & Kawada’s recent trip to the United States. Footage is shown of Bruiser Brody and Stan Hansen attacking the natives and beating them to a bloody pulp. The announcers make a big deal of Hansen & Brody coming over for future tours this year! Mighty Inoue & Ashura Hara © vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Mitsuharu Misawa – All Asia Tag Title Hara and Kawada start off and Hara quickly gains control after nailing Kawada with his patented headbutts. Hara hooks Kawada and elbows the back of his head. He quickly tags in to Inoue who nails his European uppercuts and hits Kawada with a judo throw to take him to the mat. He hooks in a head scissors and Kawada attempts his headstands to escape. Eventually, Kawada escapes and anisla standing dropkick to the face of Inoue and is able to tag in Misawa. Misawa comes flying in with a flying clothesline. He hits the ropes and executes a flying body press on Inoue for a two count. Snap Suplex from Misawa sets up a flying elbow drop from the 2nd rope for another nearfall. Misawa stretches Inoue on the ground with a knee in the back and his arms tied around his neck. Inoue eventually is able to stand and escapes with a judo throw. He tags in Hara who hits Misawa with his headbutts. In the corner, Hara and Inoue double team Misawa and the youngster can’t protect himself from the onslaught of strikes. Inoue holds Misawa’s arms and Hara charges with a Lariat but he nails Inoue who crashes to the ground. Misawa runs to tag Kawada who charge Hara with a running face kick to the corner. Kawada hears it from the crowd and he goes up top and comes down with a flying headbutt. He gets a two count. He whips Hara to the ropes and attempts his spinning heel kick but Hara holds on to the ropes and Kawada crashes to the mat. Hara picks Kawada up and nails him with an enziguiri. Inoue is recovered and he runs and knocks Misawa off the apron as Hara winds up and hits his running Lariat for the pin. WINNERS: Mighty Inoue & Ashura Hara in 14:21 after Hara hit Kawada with a Running Lariat +++ Shiro Koshinaka vs. Umanoseke Ueda Ueda immediately starts choking Koshinaka after taking advantage of a low blow. Ueda uses the middle rope to choke Koshinaka even more. After using the rope, Ueda has Kosh’s head dangling over the apron and sticks his foot on Koshinaka’s throat. The referee is trying to get control but Ueda is ignoring him. Koshinaka tumbles outside and Ueda looks for fan support that isn’t there. Outside, Ueda chokes Kosh on the barricade. He takes some rope and is trying t hang him over the ring ropes. Koshinaka is dangling there and Ueda is dangerously close to lynching a man. The referee gets the rope away from Ueda. When Ueda retrieves Koshinaka on the outside, Koshinaka whips him into the barricade. He charges and spikes Ueda with the running hip attack. Koshinaka is trying to recover while Ueda lays on the ground. When Ueda is able to stand, Koshinaka flies from the apron and nails him with another hip attack and tosses Ueda into the ring. Koshinaka bodyslams Ueda to the mat and is able to hit the Whoopie Cushion from the top rope for a nearfall. Koshinaka stomps on Ueda telling him to stay down. Koshinaka attempts a running leg drop but Ueda moves. Tiger Jeet Singh, Ueda’s partner runs down to the ring and distracts the referee. Ueda reaches down and ignites a fireball but Koshinaka ducks and kicks Ueda with a throat thrust. Koshinaka digs into his tights, lights a fireball and throws it into Ueda’s face. Koshinaka rolls him up with an Oklahoma Roll. Singh, seeing the fireball, stops distracting the referee who counts to three, giving Koshinaka his victory. WINNER: Shiro Koshinaka in 10:10 via fireball +++ Yoshihiro Momota & Mitsuo Momota vs. Jerry Oates & Gerry Morrow Oates begins the match with Mitsuo. Mitsuo uses his speed to keep Oates off balance and eventually gets the big man down with a head scissors and controls him on the mat in a head scissors. Morrow eventually comes in and hits a big splash on Mitsuo to break the hold. Oates grabs Mitsuo and hits a Piledriver and tags in Morrow. Morrow lifts him up and drops him with a Gorilla Press Slam. He pins him for a two count. After an Irish Whip, Morrow hooks him in a bearhug. Mitsuo is about to pass out but Yoshihiro runs in and tackles Morrow. All four men are in the ring and Yoshihiro is fighting both foreigners off as Mitsuo is a crumpled mess on the mat. Eventually, they overpower Yoshihiro and Morrow throws him out of the ring. Oates goes to the top of the turnbuckle as Morrow is holding Mitsuo. Oates leaps for a flying clothesline but hits Morrow instead of Mitsuo. Momota gets a two count. He reaches his corner and tries to tag Yoshihiro but he is outside on the floor. Mitsuo turns around and Morrow nails him with a football tackle. He tags in Oates who hooks the spinning toe hold flip pin and gets the win. WINNERS: Jerry Oates and Gerry Morrow in 11:01 when Oates pinned Mitsuo Momota with a Spinning Toe Hold Flip Pin +++ Tiger Jeet Singh vs. Alexis Smirnoff Smirnoff enters the ring first and insists that they play the Russian National Anthem. In the middle of the Anthem, Singh comes charging out from the back, chasing fans with his sword, turning chairs over. Smirnoff gets out of the ring and they brawl throughout the crowd. Inside the ring, Smirnoff charges at Singh in the corner but hits the turnbuckle. Singh hooks on the nerve hold and holds it on Smirnoff for about 4 minutes. Smirnoff shouts in pain but is paralyzed by the vice grip of Singh. Singh starts biting Smirnoff but Smirnoff is able to lift Singh up and bodyslam him. Smirnoff hooks Singh in a chinlock and holds it for about 3 minutes. He releases the chinlock and irsh whips Singh into the ropes, misses a Russian Sickle and Singh nails Smirnoff with a high knee lift. Singh goes outside and grabs a chair. Smirnoff rolls outside and attacks Singh. Singh ignores Smirnoff’s attack and smashes him with a chair. The referee tries to get control but gets knocked down during the fight. Singh grabs his sword ans as Smirnoff enters the ring, Singh jabs the sword into Smirnoff’s face and blood goes flying as Smirnoff goes down grabbing his bloody face. Singh rolls Smirnoff up and the referee counts to three. WINNER: Tiger Jeet Singh in 9:44 after stabbing Smirnoff in the face with his sword +++ We come back from commercial break with an in depth promotion look at the next tour… SUPER POWER SERIES!!! Clips are shown of the following wrestlers… Ricky Steamboat Brad Rheingans Buzz Tyler Tor Kamata Masa Fuchi Chavo Guerrero Ricky Harris Stan Hansen Manny Fernandez Gerry Morrow Terry Funk Dory Funk Jr. Terry Gordy Pre-recorded interview with several wrestlers are shown… Ricky Steamboat: All Japan… I can’t wait to see all of the fans in the Land of the Rising Sun! I hope you cheer me on as I fight the best that Japan has to offer. I want to thank Baba-san for the opportunity and I can’t wait to prove myself when I get in the ring with the best wrestlers in the world. Ricky Harris: My daddy always said that if you want to be a man, you have to fight men, not little boys. My daddy started whipping me when I was two and by the time I was 12, I was whipping my daddy’s butt. When I get to Japan, you best believe I will be whipping somebody’s butt. Get ready for a whipping, you yellow cowards. Manny Fernandez: All Japan… there’s no one like you baby, and I can’t wait for the night with you daddy. I know Japanese wrestlers like to hit hard but nobody hits harder than me when I go flying through the air and my forearm connects with your face. When I hit you it is going to hurt so good. Sometimes it don’t feel like it should but you will be rocked! And if you think the Ragin’ Bull is going to lay down, you’ve got another thing coming because out there is a fortune waiting to be had and if you think I’ll let it go, you’re mad! The Ragin’ Bull is coming daddy and I am going to Rock This Town, rock it inside out…. YEAH! Dory Funk Jr. (in a high pitched monotone): Giant Baba is a good friend of mine. (Long Pause) Baba welcomed me and my brother to Japan and I want to thank him for having us. (Long pause, Dory gives a blank stare and suddenly snaps out of his stupor) I will fight hard and I will wrestle matches. (Long Pause) I like to wrestle and I like wrestling with my brother. (Awkward pause as the camera fades) Terry Gordy: If there’s one thing I can’t stand more than the blacks and the A-rabs, it’s the Japs. Boy, I don’t like me no yellow skinned scaredy cat, crazy Japs. I hate your food, I hate your eyes, I hate your face boy. Freebird Fantasia is coming to Japan and ya’ll don’t deserve it because ya’ll are no good rotten Japs. +++ We have a pre-recorded interview with Genichiro Tenryu discussing his obsession with creating new moves…. Interviewer: あなたは最近、二つの新しい武器...デス·ドロップトラップとハリケーン·ホイップデビュー。他にどのような武器は、あなたが私たちを表示するために必要がありますか？ Tenryu: これらの動きは、負傷して相手に衝撃を与えるように設計されています。私は理由もなく新たな武器を作成しないでください。私は試合に勝つために、それらを作成します。私は別のものを作成した場合、それはそう、私は私の相手を倒すことができますです。 Interviewer: あなたの次の対戦相手は、テリーファンクです。どのようにファンクのような伝説の準備をしますか？ Tenryu: 私はテリー·ファンクのための多くの尊敬しています。私はまた伝説であることができることを証明しなければなりません。それは彼の首をホイップしたり、彼の顔を壊し意味ならば、それは私が何をするかです。彼は私が誰を忘れてはなりません。私は彼が私についての悪夢を持っている点に彼を傷つけなければなりません。 Terry Funk vs. Genichiro Tenryu The match begins at a slow pace as both men feel each other out. Eventually, Funk starts to unload on Tenryu with his Texas jabs. Funk whips him to the ropes and ducks to nail him with a backdrop but Tenryu hooks Terry’s head under his arm and drops him with a Death Drop Trap. Funk bounces off the mat and rolls outside the ring. Tenryu raises his arms in victory as Funk struggles to regain his bearings. He barely beats the twenty count and Tenryu unloads big move after big move trying to put Funk away early. Funk is damaged and Tenryu’s attack is relentless. Tenryu sumo slaps Funk to the corner, whips him to the ropes and as he tries to hit a backdrop, Funk counters and hits Tenryu with a desperate Piledriver. Tenryu rolls out of the ring this time and Funk falls back into the corner to regroup. Now, both men are damaged and Funk grounds Tenryu and tries to apply a spinning toe hold. Tenryu fights the hold off and they struggle for a couple of minutes and Funk finally spins as Tenryu flings himself wildly to escape but he is hooked, After the third spin, Tenryu hooks Funk into a small package for a nearfall. Tenryu reverses a whip into the corner and he nails Funk with a running clothesline in the corner. Funk kicks Tenryu in the knee and Tenryu falls to the ground. Funk decodes he is going to climb the turnbuckle but Tenryu falls on the ropes and Funk is crotched on the top turnbuckle. Tenryu fallows with a straight punch to Funk’s jaw and Funk nearly falls backward onto the floor from the top. Tenryu gathers energy and nails Funk with the Hurricane Whip and nearly gets the pinfall. Tenryu pounds the mat in frustration and gets Funk up and nearly hits his Brainbuster but Funk blocks and hits a Suplex. Funk hooks on a figure four and Tenryu is in pain. After almost getting pinned, Tenryu fights through the pain and turns over and reverses the figure four. Funk now frantically reaches for the ropes and after the break, both men lay on the ground beaten and battered. Tenryu tries for another Brainbuster but his leg gives out on him. Funk tries to hit another Piledriver but Tenryu flips him over and gets a two count. Tenryu tries for another Brainbuster but his leg won’t let him lift Funk. Funk counters with a small package and gets the three count. Funk helps Tenryu up and raises his hand. Both men hug after the match and the legend has defeated the pupil a second week in a row. WINNER: Terry Funk in 19:39 with a small package ++++ Before the main event, the announcers discuss the title change from last week when Robinson & Bockwinkel defeated the former champions. They show clips of the title switch and the celebration after the match. Finally, they show Giant Baba’s challenge that ended last week’s show… Billy Robinson & Nick Bockwinkel © vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Giant Baba - NWA International Tag Title Match All four men start off as the natives charge the new champions. Bockwinkel and Baba exchange blows and Bock wobbles as the full force of Baba’s monster hands come crashing down. Jumbo slaps Billy who responds with European uppercuts. Baba whips Bock into the rope inadvertently crashing into Billy and the gaigin regroup outside the ring. Back in the ring, Jumbo and Bockwinkel lock up and Bock gets bodyslammed for his effort. He stand sand gets slammed again and then Jumbo hooks him in a back breaker hold and forces Bock over his knee. Bock tries to escape, whipping Jumbo to the ropes and they fight over an abdominal stretch and Jumbo hooks it in. Bock reaches out for Billy but he is too far away. Jumbo pulls him over and Baba tags in with a big kick to the ribs. Baba whips Bock to the ropes but Billy tags in as Baba connects with the Big Boot on Bock. He pins Bock but Billy smashes him from behind and hooks on a sitting hammerlock. Billy works over Baba’s arm, keeping the giant grounded. Billy lifts Baba up and comes down with a back breaker. He pins Baba for a one count but quickly hooks his arms and starts sending knees to Baba’s arms. Billy tags in Bock who continues dropping knees on his arms and Bock hooks Baba into a standing armbar. Baba tries to fight out but Bock has a counter for everything. Eventually Baba gets loose and as Bock charges at him, both men throw simultaneous clotheslines and knock each other out. The referee counts but both Billy and Jumbo tag in and start fighting. Billy connects with a shoulder breaker but when he tries a back breaker lift, Jumbo slams him into the corner and connects with a jumping knee. Jumbo tries a running knee drop but Billy dodges and nails Jumbo with a running forearm. Jumbo springs back and hits Billy with another running knee for a near two count. Bockwinkel comes in to break the pin but Baba also runs in. Bockwinkel hits Jumbo with an elbow smash but gets knocked out of the ring by a Baba Big Boot. Billy tries to connect a swinging neck breaker on Jumbo but Baba bounces off the ropes and nails Billy with another Big Boot. Billy staggers and this gives Jumbo enough time to hook Billy from behind for the Backdrop Driver and the three count. Baba and Jumbo have regained the NWA International Tag Titles. Bockwinkel and Robinson are pissed. They storm off as Baba and Jumbo raise their titles. WINNERS: Jumbo Tsuruta & Giant Baba in 20:04 after Jumbo executed a Backdrop Driver on Robinson The All Japan theme music plays as clips are shown of the different matches that have been shown during the Grand Champion Carnival. The end shot has Baba and Jumbo raising the tag titles in victory +++

ALL JAPAN ON NTV August 6, 1983 TV (Taped on 8/1, Tokyo) Opening Montage Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada (Highlights Only) Kawada nails Misawa with his spinning heel kick but Misawa kicks out at two. We cut to Misawa nailing a plancha to the outside sending Kawada into the rail. We cut to Kawada hooking in a Dragon Sleeper but Misawa flips up and over Kawada, hooks him with a German Suplex for a close two count. We cut to Kawada charging for a big running kick but hitting the turnbuckle when Misawa moves. Misawa leaps up to the top and flies down with a Flying Splash for the three ocunt Winner: Mitsuharu Misawa after a Flying Body Splash Tiger Jeet Singh vs. Alexis Smirnoff Smirnoff and Singh brawl through the crowd for several minutes before the belle rings. Inside, Singh chokes Smirnoff for a few minutes before hooking a nerve hold for another couple of minutes. Smirnoff fights back with some weak kicks and slaps. He attempts a Russian Sickle but Singh ducks and pokes him in the eyes. Singh has Ueda distract the referee as he hits Smirnoff with his sword and then pins him in a horrible match. WINNER: Tiger Jeet Singh in 6:33 after hitting Smirnoff with a sword +++ Terry Funk vs. Genichiro Tenryu Funk and Tenryu trade blows early on and Funk stuns Tenryu with his Texas jabs. Tenryu staggers and Funk takes him down to the mat and they work a long headlock segment. Tenryu attempts to escape and counter but Funk uses his experience to prevent Tenryu from escaping. After several minutes, Tenryu is able to lift himself to his feet and take Funk out with a backdrop Suplex. Both men are down and eventually Tenryu gets up and hits Funk with a running knee to the head. Tenryu nails Funk with some patented straight punches that drop Terry on his ass. Tenryu picks Terry up and hits an enziguiri. Terry is ripe for the picking but Tenryu only gets a two count. Tenryu hoists Funk over his shoulder and begins to carry him to the turnbuckle but Funk slides out and sunset pins Tenryu for a nearfall. Tenryu is pissed and busts Terry in the head with some nasty kicks and another running knee. Terry is damaged and Tenryu is finally able to put Funk on the turnbuckle. Tenryu climbs the rope, and in a move never before seen, he leaps up, hooks Funk’s head with his feet while upside down and flips Funk off of the turnbuckle. The crowd roars in approval, seeing a move that might never be duplicated. Tenryu stays hooked on the turnbuckle, climbs up and falls back with a devastating back elbow drop. He get a two count because Funk had the awareness to drape his foot over the bottom rope. Tenryu is enraged. He picks Funk up and throws him out of the ring. When Funk stands up, Tenryu tries a suicide dive out of the ring but Funk moves and Tenryu goes crashing into the barrier. Funk rolls into the ring to recover. As Tenryu makes his way into the ring, Funk grabs Tenryu and nails him with his Piledriver. He grabs him a second time and hooks a second Piledriver for good measure. Funk survives the assault from his former pupil but is a damaged man. WINNER: Terry Funk in 16:55 after Funk executes a Piledriver on Tenryu +++ Billy Robinson & Nick Bockwinkel vs. Jumbo Tsuruta & Giant Baba © - NWA International Tag Title Match Jumbo and Robinson square off and they both take their time, feeling out the opponent. After some back and forth holds, they both tag out and Baba faces off with Bock. Bock tries to take Baba down but Baba fight shim off. Eventually Baba hooks Bock in a headlock and holds Bock stationary on the mat. Eventually, after several minutes of working in and out of the headlock, Bock gets Baba up, shoot shim off the ropes and a shoulder block knocks Bock down. Bock tries another shoulder block and he gets knocked on his ass. Bock is pissed. He goes to regroup with Billy and is able to get Baba down with a leg takedown. Bock works a leglock on Baba and eventually hooks on a figure four. Baba is struggling to make the ropes, Jumbo gets upset and just stomps Bock in the face to get the hold to break. Billy tags in and he continues to keep Baba grounded. After working over the leg, Billy springs of fthe ropes for a running knee drop but Baba moves. Billy is holding his knee in pain. Jumbo tags in and starts lifting Billy up for several shin breakers. Jumbo nails a Suplex and he hooks a figure four on Billy. Bock comes in to stomp Jumbo’s face but Jumbo grabs Bock’s foot. Baba comes in and hits the running Big Boot to bock’s face. Jumbo breaks the figure four and is able to connect with a bodyslam and knee drop for a pin attempt. Jumbo goes for a backdrop Suplex but Billy flips out of it and on one leg, tags Bock as he falls into the corner. Bock and Jumbo start punching each other and Bock throws Jumbo out of the ring and rams him into the ring post. Jumbo is bleeding but Bock gets him in the ring and hooks on a sleeper. Jubmo fights out and nails the Backdrop Driver as both men are down. Baba and Billy tag in and they start wailing away… Huge Chops from Baba and European Uppercuts from Billy. Both men aren’t backing down and Billy gets Baba in his corner. Bock tags in and he hooks a sleeper on Baba. Baba fights out and shoots Bock to the ropes. Bock ducks the Big Boot but Baba nails him with a back bodydrop. Baba tags Jumbo in and he starts punching Bock furiously. Bock escapes with a poke in the eyes and hits a running knee to Jumbo, shooting him into the corner. Bock charges and Jumbo dodges, allowing Jumbo to schoolboy pin Bock for a nearfall. After reversing an Irish Whip, Billy nails Jumbo in the back of the head from the outside, Bock hooks a small package on the dazed Jumbo and we have new NWA International Tag Team Champions! Billy and Bock celebrate as Baba and Jumbo just shake their heads. WINNERS: Nick Bockwinkel & Billy Robinson win the NWA International Tag Titles in 19:35 after Bockwinkel pinned Jumbo with a small package Baba gets on the microphone and makes an announcement… Giant Baba: 氏Bockwinkel 、氏ロビンソンは、チャンピオンシップで快適得ることはありません。来週は、我々が再戦を持っており、雷が二回打つことができるかどうかを確認します。 The crowd roars in approval as Baba drops the microphone +++

NEW JAPAN ON ASAHI August 26, 1983 TV (Taped on 8/4, Tokyo) Opening Montage There is a big announcement coming later regarding the future of Tiger Mask as well as interviews with Nobuhiko Takada and Kuniaki Kobayashi regarding the WWF Jr. Heavyweight Title. Isamu Teranishi vs. Akira Maeda Maeda comes out kicking and striking with precision and Teranishi just covers up trying to shield himself from the onslaught of the attack. On the outside of the ring, Toshiaki Fujiwara is encouraging his young protégé. On Teranishi’s side, he has Animal Hamaguchi and Kuniaki Kobayashi. Maeda tries to hook in an arm breaker but Teranishi escapes. Maeda charges at Teranishi but Teranishi hooks him in a drop toe hold and leaps on his back. He hooks on a sleeper with his legs locked tight around the waist of Maeda. Maeda is fading. He knows the hold is cutting off the circulation of his blood. He fights the sleep. He comes out of the hold and charges again, this time ramming his knee into the side of Teranishi. Hamaguchi jumps up on the apron but Fujiwara runs to the other side to confront him. The referee runs outside to break them apart. This allows Kobayashi to leap into the ring, kick Maeda in the face, stunning him enough for Teranishi to knock Maeda out with a Water Wheel Slam and the pin. WINNER: Isamu Teranishi in 7:58 after a Water Wheel Slam +++ Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch vs. Kengo Kimura & Seiji Sakaguchi Murdoch and Sakaguchi tie up in a collar and elbow lock. Sakaguchi pushes Murdoch to the ropes and they break. Again, but this time Murdoch hooks in a hammerlock and drives Sak to the ground head first with the lock in place. For several minutes, Murdoch uses his patented arm work to immobilize Sakaguchi. Murdoch tags out to Adonis and Adonis continues working on the arm. Murdoch and Aodnis continue on the arm, tagging in and out for seveKimura tag sin and nails Adonis with his strikes and whips across the ring and hits the Lightning Leg Lariat sending Adonis into the ropes, where his arms are captured in the ropes, helpless. Kimura unloads on the trapped Adonis. Kimura tags Sakaguchi in and he attacks the helpless Adonis. He runs and goes for his patented Jumping Knee and nails Adonis in the face. He runs and goes for a second one but Murdoch had been able to untie Adonis and Sak crotches himself on the middle rope. Adonis struggles to tag Murdoch who unloads with his bionic elbows and left jabs. Sakaguchi tries to tag Kimura but Adonis has pulled him off the apron and fights the young man outside. After failing to lift Murdoch into his Argentine Backbreaker, Murdoch counters and nails Sakaguchi with his standing Brainbuster for the pin. WINNERS: Dick Murdoch & Adrian Adonis in 19:58 when Murdoch pinned Sakaguchi after a Brainbuster +++ Big Announcement: Tiger Mask aka Satoru Sayama has left New Japan Pro Wrestling! After being defeated by the young lion Nobuhiko Takada, Sayama will no longer compete in the squared circle. Takada has taken his title and Kobayashi has taken his identity. Clips are shown of Tiger Mask losing the WWF Jr. Heavyweight Title and the post-match attack from Ishin-Gundan. A close up of a bloody Sayama is shown as Kobayashi tears the Tiger Mask apart. We cut to a pre-recorded interview of Takada in the locker room… Interviewer: あなたの勝利おめでとうございます。 Takada: ありがとう。これは夢です。 Interviewer: 私たちは、タイガーマスクは、もはや新日本プロレスに参戦しないだろうという情報を受け取っています。誰あなたはに対してタイトルを守るのだろうか？ Takada: 私はタイガーマスクが会社を離れたことを悲しく思います。しかし、先に待ち受け課題がたくさんあります。星野。荒川。後藤。山崎。はい、小林。 Interviewer: 維新-軍団は、タイガーマスクの伝説を破壊することによって自分自身を恥。どのように維新-軍団から身を扱うのだろうか？ Takada: 私は、彼らがオフにリッピングすることができますマスクを持っていません。血が私の顔を下に実行したとき、私は私の敵から実行しないでください。私は維新-軍団と戦うお手伝いさせていただきます友人がいます。藤原。前田。木村。我々は、すべての犬のパック、維新-軍団と戦うために団結します。 Next we go to a pre-recorded interview with Kuniaki Kobayashi and members of Ishin-Gundan at a hotel. Kobayashi is wearing the torn pieces of the Tiger mask on his head. Interviewer: タイガーマスクは、長い時間のためのチャンピオンになりました。あなたは彼が達成したためいや敬意を持っていますか？ Kobayashi: 尊重？どのように私は臆病者だった人を尊重することができますか？どのように私は離れてより強力なライバルから実行する人を尊重することができますか？タイガーマスクは敬意に値するありません。このマスクを見てください！一晩では、私は彼のキャリアを終えました。一晩では、私は彼のアイデンティティを台無しにしました。一晩では、私は伝説を殺しました。 Interviewer: あなたは維新-軍団のメンバーから助けを持っていました！ Animal Hamaguchi (Interrupting): 私たちは無力な人を攻撃しませんでした。私たちは詐欺を停止しました。私たちはもはや広がる可能性があり、この詐欺は日本国民にあることを確認しました。我々は、世界に好意をしました！ Kobayashi: 創傷は治癒すると、血液が乾燥します。マスクは一緒に戻って播種することができます。彼は臆病者だったので、タイガーマスクは存在しません。我々は競争する彼の意志を破壊しました。彼は臆病者なので、彼が離れて滞在することを選択します。彼は臆病者なので、彼は彼の母親に家に実行され、スリープ状態に自分自身を叫びます。 Interviewer: 高田は新しいジュニアチャンピオンです。彼はあなたの次のターゲットになりますか？ Kobayashi: 高田は若い獅子ではありません。彼はプッシーキャットです。私は彼を破壊し、彼は彼の母親に家に実行されます。彼は私を回避しようとするだけで、別の臆病者です。彼は私に直面する必要があります。彼は失われます。 +++ *Riki Choshu © vs. Tatsumi Fujinami - WWF International Heavyweight Title Match The bitter rivals work the mat to begin the match and trade hold for hold for several minutes. Choshu locks Fujinami in a head-scissors and Fujinami is stuck in the hold for what feels like an eternity. Both men are working up a sweat escaping and locking in basic holds but neither is giving up an inch. After about 12 minutes, the pace picks up and Choshu is able to lock in the Scorpion hold and Fujinami reverses it for a Scorpion of his own. Each man trades big bombs, fighting to take the other man out. Suplexes, slams, running elbow drops… both men go tit for tat in a game of wrestling chess. Fujinami ends up getting his leg tangled in the ropes and Choshu has it made. However, his hatred and arrogance won’t allow him to leave the fallen opponent alone and Fujinami is able to nail Choshu with a desperation headbutt sending Choshu outside. Outside the ring, Fujinami rams Choshu into the ringpost, nails an enziguiri and a Suplex on the floor and crawls back into the ring. Choshu barely gets into the ring before the count out and Fujinami lifts him up, slaps him in the face, flips him around and hits the Dragon Suplex for the pin. One… two… three… Fujinami is the new WWF International Heavyweight Champion. WINNER: Tatsumi Fujinami in 21:13 after pinning Choshu with the Dragon Suplex to win the WWF International Heavyweight Title Match +++

NEW JAPAN ON ASAHI August 19, 1983 TV (Taped on 8/4, Tokyo) Brian Blair, Pete Roberts & Dave Finlay vs. Kazuo Yamazaki, Makoto Arakawa & Tatsutoshi Goto Each man pairs off with an opponent, showing off their offensive talents. Eventually, Roberts and Yamazaki are paired off and Roberts begins twisting and torturing Yamazaki with his European submissions and hooks. Yamazaki escapes an arm submission and counters with his patented Cross Arm Breaker. Roberts reaches the ropes near his corner and Finlay tags in. Finlay lays the boots to Yamazaki and stretches the young lion while elbowing him in the face. Arakawa comes in and breaks the hold. All six men enter and the action spills in and out of the ring capped by a dive from Goto onto the other five men. Arakawa comes in and judo throws Blair and Roberts out of the ring. He nails Finlay with a German Suplex for two. Roberts comes in and charges but is met with a European uppercut. Blair and Goto come in and end up fighting outside. Arakawa, with a weakened Finlay on his knees, tags in Yamazaki. Yamazaki lifts Finlay up into a brain buster and immediately spins him into a Cross Arm Breaker. Finlay taps and the natives are victorious. WINNERS: Kazuo Yamazaki, Makoto Arakawa & Tatsutoshi Goto in 11:14 when Yamazaki made Finlay submit to a Cross Arm Breaker +++ Hamaguchi vs. Kimura Feud Video Package: The video begins with clips of Kimura and Hamaguchi as tag team partners. They show Hamaguchi joining Ishin-Gundan and attacking Kimura in the ring. The finish of their 7/7 match is shown when a bloody Hamaguchi covered Kimura for the pin. They show the 7/20 finish when Rusher gave Hamaguchi a Piledriver and pinned him. Finally, clips are shown of the two men brawling during the 7/26 Ten Man Elimination Match. Now, this tour will end for both men with a Texas Death Match! Animal Hamaguchi vs. Rusher Kimura – Texas Death Match First fall: After about seven matches of two pitbulls beating the shit out of each other, Animal catches Kimura in a Samoan Drop, knocks the wind out of him and gets the pin. Animal is able to stand before the ten count and the fight resumes Second fall: At the ten minute mark, after Animal had worked Kimura over, he hits a second rope leg drop and gets the second pin. Animal beats the ten count again. Third fall: This fall spilled out of the ring and both men ended up bloody messes after being rammed into the barricades and ring posts. Hamaguchi headbutts Kimura repeatedly, busting both men up even more. Animal tosses Kimura in the ring. However, when Animal gets on the apron and enters the ring, Kimura catches him with a Running Knee Lift and as he stands, hits the Rusher Lariat and pin for the next fall. Animal beats the ten count but he is a bloody mess after fifteen minutes of hell. Fourth fall: About 19 minutes into the match with both men throwing haymakers and throwing the rulebook out of the window, Animal tags Rusher with a Running neck Breaker for his 3rd count of the match but Kimura still won’t stay down and the match continues. Fifth fall: Both men are drained. A headbutt battle ensues. When both men are wobbling, they chop the shit out of each other. Neither man will go down. Haymaker exchanges stagger both but neither go down. After Animal misses a left hook, Kimura kicks him in the gut and hits the Rusher Suplex. He doesn’t pin him. He picks him up, hold shim by the hair, kicks him in the face and nails another Rusher Suplex. He pulls him up one more time, Animal barely able to stand, kicks him in the face again with blood flying off of his boot, one more Rusher Suplex and Animal cannot stand. Rusher wins but both men have been damaged. WINNER: Rusher Kimura in 26:13 when Animal fails to answer the 10 count after the 5th pinfall +++ Tiger Mask © vs. Nobuhiko Takada – WWF Jr. Heavyweight Title Tiger Mask comes out fast and furious, confusing Takada with his dazzling display of aerial prowess and unmatched speed. After a couple of minutes of Tiger Mask highlights, the innovative masked man misses a springboard splash from the 2nd rope and Takada immediately jumps to hook on a Cross Arm Breaker. Tiger Mask makes the ropes and is able to regain control with some of the fastest spinning back kicks you will ever see from a wrestler. Takada goes to one knee and Tiger Mask grabs the arm, spins around and hooks Takada in a pinning combo for two. Tiger kicks Takada some more and leaps off the 2nd turnbuckle for another two count. Takada responds by running full force and nailing Tiger Mask with a lariat. He goes for the Cross Arm Breaker but Tiger catches him, flips him over and gets another pin attempt. Tiger then slows down the action, well as slow as Tiger Mask can move which is faster than 90% of the population, and takes Takada down and hooks a hammerlock. Up to their feet, Tiger Mask lifts Takada up in the hammerlock and does a flipping dropkick on to the arm sending Takada crashing into the ropes. Tiger Mask charges Takada who grabs Tiger Mask’s arm, uses the ropes and jumps down with full force to damage the arm further. Tiger Mask is grabbing his arm in pain and Takada nails him with a missile dropkick form the top rope for a two count. Takada hooks on the Cross Arm breaker again and Tiger Mask, near defeat, reaches the ropes to break the hold. Takada smells victory so he tries to hook Takada in a Tiger Suplex and wants to defeat the masked legend with his own move. Tiger Mask nails another flipping back dropkick sending Takada away. Tiger Mask is able to hook his own Tiger Suplex but Takada kicks out at two! Tiger Mask is in shock. As he waits for Takada to stand up, Kuniaki Kobayashi runs down to the ring. Tiger Mask and Kobayashi engage in a shouting match. This distraction allows Takada to grab Tiger Mask from behind, hit the Tiger Suplex and get the most shocking three count of the year. Nobuhiko Takada is the NEW WWF Jr. Heavyweight Champion. WINNER: Nobuhiko Takada in 12:45 with a Tiger Suplex After the match, Tiger Mask raises Takada’s hand and puts the title around his waist. Takada is crying with joy. By this time, most of Ishin-Gundan has surrounded the ring and Takada’s celebration turns into a fight as Takada and Tiger Mask are attacked from all sides. Animal Hamaguchi and Tiger Toguchi quickly dispose of Takada and toss him out of the ring. Toguchi keeps Takada on the outside as Hamaguchi, Kobayashi and Teranishi beat Tiger Mask to a bloody mess. In one of the most disgusting and unprofessional displays ever in a wrestling ring, Kobayashi rips the mask off and tears it into shreds. The man, Satoru Sayama, is barely conscious as Hamaguchi repeatedly headbutts him from behind to keep him incapacitated. Kobayashi lifts Sayama’s head to the audience and slaps him. Ishin-Gundan drop Tiger Mask face first, stand on the conquered foe and pose for the audience. The crowd is upset. The announcers are upset. The wrestling world is upset. +++

NEW JAPAN ON ASAHI August 12, 1983 TV (Taped on 8/1, Gifu) Opening Montage Kantaro Hoshino & Nobuhiko Takada vs. Pete Roberts & Dave Finlay Roberts starts off with Hoshino. Roberts executes some of his European twists and turns, frustrating Hoshino who can’t keep up with the dazzling display of British matwork. However, Roberts gets frustrated with Hoshino’s comedic antics making Roberts look like a fool when Hoshino escapes Roberts’ moves and playing to the crowd. Takada and Finlay both tag in and they have a kicking war with both men kicking the shit out of each other’s legs. Neither man gives I nuntil Takada starts to wobble. Finlay goes in for the kill and attempts a stretch muffler submission but his leg gives way from the damage inflicted. Takada uses a headscissors vice but Finlay escapes and hooks a headlock to reset the action. Finlay, shaking off the leg, tags in Roberts who gives Takada a leg whip forcing Takada to the ground. Roberts locks in a leg grapevine and Takada struggles to break the move. Hoshino comes off the top rope with a diving headbutt on Roberts and that forces the break. Takada limps to the corner and Hoshino cleans house. He hits Roberts with a body press for two. He nails a few headbutts and attempts a sunset flip but gets knuckled right between the eyes. Finlay is tagged in and starts hooking Hoshino with left hooks and uppercuts. Hoshino escapes with an enziguiri and tags in Takada. Takada goes abck to the leg and uses a spinning leg breaker to set up a Reverse leglock for the submission. After the match, Takada and Hoshino celebrate with the fans. WINNERS: Kantaro Hoshino & Nobuhiko Takada in 13:31 when Takada forces Finlay to submit. +++ Adrian Adonis vs. Brian Blair This is a rematch from a televised match earlier in the tour. Both men use their signature spots and are at a standstill until Blair tries a running shoulder block in the corner. Adonis moves and Blair rams his shoulder into the ringpost. Adonis tries to capitalize with a shoulder breaker for a two count. Adonis hooks on an armbar, towering over Blair, putting all of his weight and leverage on the shoulder. Blair fights to stand up and starts kicking Adonis in the gut. This breaks the hold and Adnois goes to grab Blair but Blair ducks, bounces off the rope and hits his dropkick. However, Blair lands hard on his injured shoulder. Adonis regroups and climbs the top turnbuckle. Blair stands and Adonis flies through the air, crushing Blair with his 300 lbs and Adonis gets the pin after his Flying Body Splash. WINNER: Adrian Adonis in 8:18 with his Flying Body Splash +++ Dick Murdoch vs. Rusher Kimura Murdoch is still bandaged up from his bloody war with Abdullah the Butcher. Rusher tries to capitalize and works in headbutts on Murdoch. Murdoch fights back with his patented punches and bionic elbows. Both men are going at a swift pace, nailing each other with hard strikes. After both men run the ropes, Rusher nails a Rusher Lariat on Murdoch and Murdoch is down. He hooks on the Butterfly Suplex but Murdoch staggers back and escapes out to the outer apron. Rusher breaks but tries to knock Murdoch off the mat but Murdoch hodls the ropes and kicks Rusher in the head. Inside, Murdoch climbs the 2nd rope and nails Rusher with an axe handle. Rusher staggers back to the ropes and Murdoch runs and nails a Lifting Knee Strike. With Rusher on the mat, Murdoch drops a Big elbow for a two count. As he pulls Rusher up, Rusher fights back with headbutts and actually stuns him long enough to execute a Piledriver. He gets a two count but Murdoch’s foot is under the ropes. Rusher then lifte Murdoch for the Butterfly Suplex but Murdoch won’t lift. Instead, Murdoch hits Rusher with a back body drop and as Rusher stands up, Murdoch hooks him under the arm, Brain Buster, and a three count. WINNER: Dick Murdoch in 7:54 with a Brainbuster +++ Riki Choshu & Animal Hamaguchi vs. Tatsumi Fujinami & Seiji Sakaguchi Choshu slaps Fujinami before the match starts but Sakaguchi holds him back to prevent a disqualification. Animal and Sak begin with some strong strikes before Animal hooks in a sitting headlock. They work their way back to strike exchanges before Animal tags into Choshu. Choshu fights to hook in the Scorpion on a prone Sakaguchi. However, when he is in the lock, Fujinami runs in and kicks Choshu in the face. Choshu is bleeding from the mouth. He goes to tag Animal but Fujinami also gets the tag. Fujinami runs in and dropkicks Animal out of the ring. He gathers speed and nails a Dragon Rocket to the outside, forcing Animal into the barricade. He rams Animal into the ring post, hops up on the apron and nails Choshu with a forearm, sending him to the ground. Another Dragon Rocket sends Choshu against the barricade. Choshu is already bleeding from the mouth from the kick and now he has blood trickling down his chin. Inside, Fujinami and Sakaguchi wait for Ishin-Gundan to come back into the ring. All four men begin brawling inside the ring, eventually Sakaguchi and Animal make their way out. Choshu and Fujinami go toe to toe and after missing a dropkick, Choshu nails Fujinami with a Lariat. Choshu tags animal in. Fujinami has a chance to tag Sak in but feels he can handle Animal himself. Unfortunately, his hubris catches up with him the same way Maeda felt over-confident and Animal puts the stunned Fujinami away with a backbreaker and a running neck breaker. The crowd is shocked that Animal pinned Fujinami. Animal gets his revenge for last week when Fujinami won the elimination match. WINNERS: Riki Choshu & Animal Hamaguchi in 15:12 after Hamaguchi pinned Fujinami +++