[1993-08-13-UWFi-Fight of Champions] Vader vs Kazuo Yamazaki

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Short, but they really made the most of the time. Super fun. Yamazaki taking Vader off his feet got a ridiculous reaction. Vader's punches looked brutal. This was a great show. The post-match angle with Yamazaki putting over the beating takes it to the next level.

[Zenjo]

A fitting way to round off a fabulous UWFI show at Da Budokan. Three matches on the Yearbook and the rest of the show was enjoyable too.

 

You wouldn't have to be a shoot style fan to enjoy this. It was done with the emphasis on psychology and entertainment. Strikes all the way as the monster dominates early, before the underdog comes firing back. Yamazaki gave Vader a test, but the American still went over strong to build him up as the unstoppable force. Only 6m but super heated and plenty of fun.

[Kevin Ridge]

I like Yamazaki having the guts to attack Vader early on with a flurry of kicks. He had Vader off balance there for a few. Vader stops it with a well times right hand to knock down Yamazaki. Pro wrestling heavy sequence with Yamazaki breaking a chokehold with elbows and a snap mare. Vader squashes him good with a chokeslam to finish it. Vader as a monster. The way he should be booked.

[PeteF3]

Vader with the Pure Sports Build pre-match interview. This is very similar to Vader/Nakano except Yamazaki actually gets him on the ropes at one point (figuratively and literally). Vader comes back and murders Yamazaki for the chokeslam and the match is stopped, with Yamazaki selling like he's been paralyzed. Good climax to a great UWFI show.

[soup23]

What a show. Yamzaki has been my man in 1996 currently so it was great to see him here throw his all at Vader and look effective but also make Vader look like a complete beast in the fact that he takes all of that offense and fends it off to gain the victory in just over 6 minutes.

[cactus]

Unlike Sano, Yamazaki actually has a fight chance against Vader albeit a small one. Vader gets himself in a sticky situation when he eats some stiff kicks and the crowd go apeshit for it all. There's a great spot where both guys go over the top rope, which is very rare for a shoot-style match. Vader pulls a new trick out his bag and puts Yamazaki away with a chokeslam when his open handed shots aren't doing the job. The match serves the purpose of feeding Vader some more momentum and to establish a new finishing move into his arsenal and it does this very well. Vader still looks like a million bucks, whilst Yamazaki doesn't look like a complete pushover.

 

★★★¾

[garretta]

A lot happened here for only six minutes. Yamazaki was fine as long as he stayed away from Vader and used his feet, but once the big man got him in close quarters, it was all over but the shouting.

 

I loved Vader's selling of the kicks; he doesn't always sell like he should in WCW, but he sure put Yamazaki over as a threat here. Speaking of whom, he really showed his toughness by being able to walk away after the match, even with help. After Vader hit the chokeslam, he looked half-dead, which is why they brought the stretcher into the ring in the first place.

 

I'm struck by how respectful Vader- or maybe I should say Leon- is during his interviews. There's absolutely no hint whatsoever of "Who's the man?" or "It's Vader time!". He conducts himself like a true sportsman, and that goes for before and after the matches themselves as well. He put Yamazaki over beautifully here, even though he had every right to be satisfied with the way he'd almost wiped him (Yamazaki) off the planet.

 

I'd like to see a little bit of that promo style in WCW, although I realize that the day of the humble, soft-spoken World champion is long past, if it ever came at all. One thing's for sure, though: whatever their arrangement may be outside the ring, he doesn't need Harley as a mouthpiece anymore. He can talk just as well as guys like Flair or Sting, and he runs circles around Davey Boy. The only upcoming opponent he has in WCW that he probably can't outtalk is Mick Foley.

[Superstar Sleeze]

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Vader vs Kazuo Yamazaki - UWFi 8/13/93

 

Vader gets shoot-style so well. He knows how to be himself and still be compelling in the style. Totally night and day from WWF where he lost his confidence and was constantly second guessing himself. Really amazing six minute war. It told the David vs Goliath story as they build towards Vader vs Takada. Yamazaki has the puncher's chance in this case, kicker's chance. At first Vader catches the kicks and just sends Yamazaki on his ass. I love Vader hitting the palm strike and making sure the ref knows it. Or when the Yamazaki kick when it gets close to the groin he calls for it. Vader reigns the punches in the corner. Yamazaki comes in with some kicks and sends the big man reeling. Vader is so incredible at showing vulnerability. The way he sells is great. Howling for the ref to back Yamazaki off is perfect. Yamazaki catches him with the spinning kick and then way his ass goes through the ropes is a perfect way to put this over. I love how they topple over the top rope. No shoot fight would this ever happen. It is just more credible pro wrestling. You aren't waiting for your opponent, no Irish Whips, no gymnastics. I dig it. Yamazaki firing off those kicks to the head and the Kodiak Bear is reeling but throws a wild bear paw and gets him. Vader goes for the German but gets a rear naked choke. YES! Snapmare into the cross armbreaker is nice by Yamazaki and Vader treats it with respect immediately clasping hands. WICKED SHOTEI!!! Vader smoked him. CHOKESLAMS HIM TO HELL!! Yamazaki sells this like death. Vader is wicked respectful. Vader is awesome with the pure athlete promo. Explaining he fights fair because everything is an open palm or forearm and then puts over the UWFi style.

 

WHOS DA MAN? VADER IS DA MAN! ****

[superkix]

Yamazaki knows his best chance of winning is knocking Vader off his feet with kicks. Unfortunately, Vader's on top of it and counters most of Yamazaki's early kicks, slamming or clubbing him down as a result. Or he corners him like a dog and hammers him to the ground. Yamazaki's able to take him down and kicks away at the leg, which Vader sells well here. He follows up with a big spinning heel kick into the ropes . They both tumble to the floor but back inside, Yamazaki continues the assault with some head kicks but Vader won't go down. He's able to block the German and counter out of the sleeper attempt, trying to snag an armbar, but Vader breaks away and blasts Yamazaki with palm strikes, finally chokeslamming him for the TKO. This was a lot of fun, and Yamazaki made Vader look even more dominant while still giving him a fight.