[1990-03-17-ICW-TV] Interview: Tony Atlas

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Tony Atlas hypes his upcoming match with "martial arts expert" Atsushi Onita. No one told him about this. He will take the challenge, but he feels like he should have been part of the decision-making process to bring him in. I don't think that's too unreasonable. He thinks there is some type of conspiracy going on. "IIII DOOOONNNNN'TTTTTT LIIIIIKE IIIIIIITTTTT"

[PeteF3]

The cool, calm, and collected Tony Atlas is gone, replaced by a paranoid maniac who's being forced into the ring with the "Frontier Martial Arts expert" and most dangerous man in wrestling. Despite not knowing his name this is a really effective way by Atlas of getting Onita over.

[soup23]

Tony does have a point about being sort of blindsighted with this defense but damn it he is a fighting champion. I liked this fired up Atlas promo.

[Kevin Ridge]

Onita on his way to challenge Atlas. Tony talks up Onita being a martial artist and one of the most dangerous men. Atlas is not happy about it. He don’t like this! Good job of selling Onita as being a serious challenger.

[Cox]

Another solid Tony Atlas promo that makes me geeked up to watch Atlas vs Onita. To find out that the match not only made tape, but is the next match on the Yearbook made my night.

[garretta]

From one extreme to the other, as Tony's seriously angry about having to put the title on the line against Onita without his consent. The calm and cool from last week is long gone. Yet another home run promo.

 

Can't wait to watch this match later!

[drew wardlaw]

This is awesome, Tony isn't cool and collected any more. Who booked the match without asking him?! I can't wait for this Onita match. How bizarre.

[GSR]

The interviewer says how Tony Atlas now has perhaps his toughest challenge, a newcomer to the ICW, the Japanese Frontier Martial Arts expert, Atsushi Onita. Atlas says that no-one talked anything over with him then all of a sudden he receives a phone call saying he’s got to wrestle this guy? He’s a Martial Arts expert, he’s supposed to be a champion in Japan and now he’s coming over here to attack him? It’s not fair, but because he is the champion, he is going to face him. As champion, he feels that when they discussed his title, the challenger, he should have been there. He should now more about this man who he is going to step in the ring with. He knows nothing about Karate, he is a wrestler and this man is the most dangerous thing in professional wrestling today! Everyone thinks it’s funny, they think they’ve got him upset, that Onita is going to get the title. He doesn’t like it one bit and if he finds out who signed him to this match…

 

Another strong Atlas interview. I’m imagining that Onita is pretty much an unknown at this stage, but Atlas gets the point across that he is both a dangerous man and a credible threat to his title. I also like how he sticks to his character (‘because he’s the man, he’ll face anybody’) even if the thinks someone is trying to screw him over. No trying to pussy foot out of the match like some heel champions would try to do.