Yasushi Sato

[Grimmas]

Jetlag said: 

The case of Yasushi Sato is even more mysterious than Watanabe. From what I know he only started wrestling in the mid-2000s, at a pretty old age, and barely ever making tape. But when he does, this guy looks like a wrestling genius. He is incredibly efficient working technical matches built around his leg grapevine moves. He also has a neck for unique amateur spots and cradles, a bit like a smaller Tamon Honda. I wouldn't hesitate to call his match against Masamune a match of the decade contender, and for someone who shows up on tape so little his hit rate of great matches is incredibly high. Definitely someone everyone should check out.

Recommended matches:

vs. Masamune (Mumejuku 6/3/2018)

vs. Hiroshi Watanabe, Mumejuku 4/17/2019

w Konaka Pale One vs. Hiroshi Watanabe & Hideya Iso, Mumejuku 2/5/2017

[Jetlag]

So recently I learned that SPORTIVA (which was the home promotion of Yasushi Sato and a few other guys like Shigehiro Irie) used to livestream matches on a service called USTREAM every wednesday 10 years ago. Unfortunately that streaming service is no more but it's still archived here, sadly the videos don't work anymore but you can still look at the thumbnails and video lengths

https://web.archive.org/web/20130925165112/http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sportiva-ch

At the very least this confirms some of those matches were filmed and I hope they can surface again. It's too bad nobody including me knew what the fuck SPORTIVA was in 2013 because they ran some absolutely mouth watering match ups like a 60 minute Yasushi Sato vs. Konaka ironman match which is definitely a holy grail for me

 

Couple more Sato matches have surfaced on the internet since that last post

 

vs. Dekai Ichimotsu, ?? 12/15/2013

Satos opponent here isn't even a pro wrestler but it's still a really good match. Feels like a good example of Satos signature match, lots of matwork, nifty spots and suplexes, some great counters etc. Dig the crazy amateur throw he busted out.

w Hiroshi Watanabe vs. Manabu Hara & Raito Shimizu, 1/13/2020

Great tag with two wily technicians facing a pair of shooters. Sato vs. Hara is just magical and surprisingly stiff. Again Sato looked like the best guy in a match with a bunch of really good guys in it.

vs. Taro Yamada, 10/26/2014

Another great match, Yamada is a pretty game grappler himself. Really good grappling, neat psychology and some amazing counters as always.

vs. Shinichiro Wakita, 8/12/2019

Just a short match against a rookie but Sato does pretty well for himself here. The rolling legbar into the figure 4 is nothing short of genius

 

There's also some highlights on the Sportiva channel, like check out the highlights of this match against Konaka, absolutely sick looking stuff. Right now every Yasushi Sato match I came across is a total gem and totally worth seeking out, he's also had some amazing matches against the likes of Hiroyuki Kondo, Hakaru Imai and GENTARO which aren't online at the moment but you should totally purchase if you come across them in somebodies tape listing. If some of those Sportiva archive matches start popping up I could see Yasushi Sato doing insanely well on my list because he's totally my kind of pro wrestler. The guy made me believe in a Russian Leg sweep and if that is not the sign of a great worker then I don't know what is.

 

[Jetlag]

Recently @itako18jp on Twitter started selling videos which really helps the case of guys like Yasushi Sato. I suggest you get a twitter and contact them, it's super chill to buy from them and the footage is well worth the price. We have gotten a few more Yasushi Sato singles matches out of it all of which are great. So far I've watched Sato vs. Konaka, vs. Hideya Iso and vs. GENTARO, all of which are awesome and pretty different. He's also really good in the big Unicorn Road match from 2018. The Konaka match is really unique, I watched it on the same day I re-watched Negro Casas vs. Santo from 1992 and while both are on the same level Konaka/Sato is clearly better. They also got the Yasushi Sato vs. Masamune match which I recommended 2 years ago in case you didn't watch it. GENTARO match is also really unique and great, two guys grappling and trying to score weird pins for 20 minutes, and Sato vs. Iso is completely awesome too. At this point Sato is definitely a lock for my list, the guy can do no wrong. There's a lots of early career Yasushi Sato against awesome looking opponents that we don't have yet, there are more Konaka matches including a 60 minute match, another GENTARO match, a match against Michio Kageyama who was a reckless karate kicker at the time, a match against Kengo Takai which looks insanely stiff from the highlights. If more of that stuff surfaces at some point I could see Yasushi Sato being in my Top 10.

 

They also put this match on YouTube: Sato & Yuiga vs. Taro Yamada and Aki Shizuki . Naturally they go 30 minutes with no ring but it's really good, Yasushi Sato/Taro Yamada stuff is great and maestro-ish, there was also a crazy stiff headbutt exchange at one point. The women are bit wonky, but Sato vs. Shizuki is pretty good also, Shizuki is so big that the intergender factor barely matters and they just have some good exchanges. When you can have a match this good with no ring you are definitely something special

 

 

 

[Jetlag]

You know I'm the #1 Yasushi Sato supporter. The man rules, and even in the last 2 years with his progressing age I've thought he was clearly among the best wrestlers in the world, down to having a quaint little great match that was done in the fucking greco roman style things last year. Only Yasushi Sato can really do things like that, and that's why he's special I'm still griefing the fact there seems to be no way to watch his old Ustream.tv matches that he was having every week for years, but what can you do, maybe a data hoarding superfan from Nagoya will show up and make Yasushi Satos #1 case crystal clear in the next 10 years. 

Eitherways, here's a deep dive of great Yasushi Sato matches:

 

vs. Akito (Sportiva 11/30/2011)

A crazy grappling match in that iconic Japanese sportsbar, this was like if Tamon Honda fought Alexander Otsuka in U-Style or something. I'm in shambles that this seems to be only surviving match of Sato from the Sportiva era but what can you do, it's  a really great, unique piece of wrestling.

vs. Nori da Funky Shibaresasu, Imaike Pro 10/13/2013

The only match between Nori and Sato that I was able to find, again it's extremely regrettable since these two have had a ton of chemistry. Nori is quite the spectacular Taue-like gangly odd heavyweight wrestler who will kick you in the neck and Sato builds a sweet match around him.

vs. Dekai Ichimotsu, 12/15/2013

It's kind of a dream match as Yasushi Sato faces one of the most unique and talented guys from the amateur-pro wrestling scene. Pretty much a great signature Yasushi Sato match, cool matwork, nifty counters and suplexes, Dekai is really good and far from carried in this etc.

w Yuiga vs Aki Shizuku & Taro Yamada, Mutoha 7/13/2014

Totally sick intergender match that works with some spectacular matwork and sick headbutts between Sato and Yamada.

vs. Akito, Sportiva 8/3/2014

This had those 2 count ironman rules so it's another unique and crafty match. Not quite as shootstyle as their 2011 match but good in it's own way so whichever you prefer is up to you.

vs. Taro Yamada, 10/26/2014

I think their first encounter, these two are an amazing match up and this is a straight up great match in their signature style. Lots of matwork, some amazing counters, bla bla it's exactly what you expect and it's a pretty great match.

vs. Hiroshi Watanabe (European Rounds) Mutoha 9/21/2015

A masterful rounds match between two of the greatest technical wrestlers of the modern era.

vs. Oga Nozaki, JWA Tokai 7/24/2016

Nifty match as Yasushi Sato comes in as an outsider to take on the eternal ace of JWA Tokai. Nozaki has been working big matches on this small niche stage for 15 years and he wrestles a bit like a worshipper of 90s New Japan, he's another cool opponent for Sato to build his signature excellent match around and heeling it up a bit on the locals.

vs. Hakaru, 3-2-1 Count Rules Jishidan 11/27/2016

Hakaru is a guy who adds a bit of a more gritty vibe to mat wrestling. This also has the rule that it's a 2/3 falls match with the 1st fall having 3 counts, 2nd 2 counts, and 3rd 1 count rules so it's just the kind of experimental chess match grappling that Yasushi Sato lives and thrives by.

w Konaka vs. Hiroshi Watanabe & Hideya Iso, Mutoha 2/5/2017

A really cool showcase tag from Mutoha, pretty much 4 great matworkers hitting the mat for 15 minutes and doing their thing, Yasushi Sato is right at home here and his build to his unique submission finisher is really great.

vs. Hideya Iso, Mutoha 5/21/2017

I love Iso to death and he's another great match up for the unstoppable force that is Yasushi Sato.

vs. Idea, Bukotsu 6/11/2017

Any idea who Idea is? I don't, and neither has Sato because he just eats this guy up. Almost a Fit Finlay/Regal ish performance from Yasushi as he stretches this guy and builds a quite entertaining match around someone who brings very little to the table.

vs. Super Taira, JWA Tokai 6/18/2017

These two are a great match up and this is a great match that would look good even next to your 90s junior classics. Tairas mixture of lucharesu and shootstyle is really cool and clearly these two have a blast grappling it out.

vs. Shunsuke Sayama, Mutoha 1/14/2018

A great 10 minute war against Sayama who kicks really hard. The way Sato adapts his usual style to more hard hitting, vicious opponent is wonderful.

vs. Taro Yamada, No Rope Escape 4/21/2018

Another great match against Yamada, this time more experimental and with some sick headbutts.

vs. Masamune, Mutoha 6/3/2018

The match that enlightened me to the greatness of Yasushi Sato. It's pretty fucking great. Masamune is a guy who also has legit amateur credentials and this provides a real challenge.

vs. Konaka, AWG/JAST 6/24/2018 
vs. Konaka 2 Count Ironman Match, Mutoha 7/21/2018

Yasushi Sato and Konaka had a 60 minute ironman match in 2013 which is probably my ultimate holy grail in wrestling. At least we have these two matches to make up for it. The AWG/JAST match is just an insanely fun 10 minute match with two slick technicians doing cool stuff and impressing with basic things like Yasushi Sato hitting the most perfect kneedrop, while the 2 count ironman is more of a sicko grappling chess match and there's also some insanely great stuff.

vs. Hiroyuki Kondo, BRAVES 9/24/2018

Kondo is another obscure indy guy who is secretly really good and has a lot of nifty tricks in his bag, so just a perfect opponent for Sato to go at it. More great inventive work here.
vs. Hiroshi Watanabe, Mutoha 4/27/2019

It's another rounds match between them and while it's not as good as their match in 2015 it's still damn good pro wrestling in the classic vein.
w Hiroshi Watanabe vs. Manabu Hara & Raito Shimizu, Mutoha 1/13/2020

Mutoha guys facing some shootstylists. It's really good and Yasushi Sato rules here, throwing punches and crazy headbutts like he should've been a BattlARTS guy.

vs. Kenichiro Arai, Mutoha 11/3/2020

Another great chess match. Sato may be Arais best opponent besides GENTARO, nobody quite matches him like Sato does. As such this is probably my 2nd favourite Arai match next to the GENTARO bout too, it's damn good and Sato is great here.

vs. GENTARO, Mutoha 3/19/2022

These two had a match in 2009, which unfortunately we will probably never see. Thankfully we have this match in which they basically have a great MUGA style match with maximum resistance and intrigue to every hold they do.

vs. S.T., 8/13/2023

S.T. is Super Taira who was going through a bit of a phase at the time going through various name changes. This also has the 'no rope breaks' rule. It's pretty much a great maestros match with both guys hitting the mat, busting out crazy holds and using the no rope breaks rule to the full effect.

vs. Super Shisa, 11/4/2023

Another experimental rules match. It's pretty great, too. Listen, I can only say this stuff so often, but Yasushi Sato really cames out like the most intelligent wrestler in these, just making the most out of everything. Oh and this is probably the best Super Shisa match I've seen too.

vs. Takafumi Ito, Mutoha 7/7/2024

Yasushi Sato takes on an ex-Pancrase guy. Pretty great outmatched Sato performance, as he really doesn't want Ito to KO him, and he really has to try to seize even the slightest advantage.

vs. Kenichiro Arai, Mutoha 12/1/2024

Their 2020 felt almost like 80s New Japan in how straightforward it was. This is a bit more like if Tracy Smothers and Dick Murdoch were told to have a 20 minute scientific match on an IWA MS show. I think I prefer the 2020 match but this is another class in getting the most out of every movement.

 vs Shoji Ohno, Mutoha 2/16/2025

Shoji Ohno fucking rules and it's another great performance in Yasushi Satos resume as this one is a bit more about how if the challenger can topple the champion.

w Taro Yamada vs. Akira Jo & Hideya Iso, Yoshino Aid 6/22/2025

4 oddball technical wresters having one of the best matches of the year and looking spry as hell despite being old as hell.

Yasushi Sato vs Super Taira, Greco Roman Rules Match, JWA Tokai 4/20/2025 

It's a fucking greco roman rules match. They totally make it work though and basically have a 15 minute clinic of extremely believable and intrigueing grappling, the kind that won't see in any other match post the 1930s. 

So yeah, here's ~25 great Yasushi Sato matches. If you And since you know I have tried to watch as much Yasushi Sato as humanly possible it's almost every Yasushi Sato on tape too. He's also great in those Unicorn 3 vs. 3 matches that I didn't include and there's some extra stuff from JWA Tokai that I haven't seen yet but I will definitely try to unearth at some point. Either way, Yasushi Sato rules.