UWF Newborn

[Autistic Dragon]

Sayama looks to have a loaded schedule ahead of him, if he can get past Backlund that is.

Hope there's something to that tag title rumor.

[Control21]

Card announcement:

UWF Newborn – “UWF ’90 2^nd”

March 28th, 1990

Osaka, Japan

Osaka-jo Hall

Yusuke Fuke vs Manabu Yamada

Naoyuki Taira vs Masahito Kakihara

Yoji Anjo vs Naoki Sano

Masakatsu Funaki vs Wayne Shamrock

Atsushi Onita vs Naoya Ogawa

Tatsumi Fujinami vs Joe Malenko

Akira Maeda vs Andrei Kopylov

Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Volk Han

Undisputed World Heavyweight Title Match:

Satoru Sayama(c) vs Bob Backlund

 

[Autistic Dragon]

I'm kinda surprised at how excited I am at the thought of Maeda taking on the Pitbull.

[kevinmcfl]

Great video of the Dutchmen.  That was some intense training.

[Control21]

UWF Newborn – “UWF ’90 2^nd”

March 28th, 1990

Osaka, Japan

Osaka-jō Hall

Attendance: 16,000 (sold out)

Broadcast: WOWOW (live)

The UWF theme opens up the live broadcast on WOWOW. The commentators are introduced for the evening, and they break down the lineup for tonight. Finally, the lights dim and Nobuyuki Furuta announces the show's opening. The wrestlers march out to the UWF theme, and as expected, Sayama, Maeda, Fujiwara, Fujinami, and Ogawa all get pretty heavy cheers. Maeda, being the hometown favorite, gets the loudest. Volk Han is also notably becoming more and more of a fan favorite. Sayama, Backlund, Fujinami, and Maeda give the opening remarks. Sayama and Backlund promise a great main event and predict their own victory. 

Yusuke Fuke vs Manabu Yamada

Fuke and Yamada made sure to put on a good opener, and both wrestlers displayed improving technical qualities in a hard-fought and energetic match. Yamada seemed to gain the upper hand at first, catching Fuke with several quick takedowns that opened up opportunities for submission attempts. Fuke’s strategy of quickly going for the ropes to break Yamada’s press paid off, and Fuke grew into the match as Yamada continued to exhaust a good amount of energy to build up an early lead on points. Fuke found ways to counter Yamada’s quick leg takedowns and started to show his opponent that his grappling abilities were just as dangerous. Fuke wasn’t as explosive as Yamada was, but his ability to pinpoint openings gave Yamada a lot of trouble, and eventually, Fuke was able to crawl back into the match with Yamada maintaining a 2-1 lead. Yamada opted to display his striking skills, and this created a new dimension in the match where Fuke wasn’t prepared at first. Yamada caught Fuke with a sharp spinning backfist, which earned him a knockdown and a 3-1 lead. Fuke remained undeterred and found a way to remain in the match despite Yamada regaining the advantage. A breakthrough eventually came when Fuke caught one of Yamada’s high kicks and turned it into a single-leg Boston crab in the center of the ring. Yamada attempted to reach the ropes, but Fuke did well to keep his opponent away by dragging him back towards the middle. Yamada had no choice but to tap. Fuke defeats Yamada via submission (single-leg Boston crab), 10:11

Naoyuki Taira vs Masahito Kakihara

After an impressive start to his career in Sayama’a Shooto gym, Naoyuki Taira has earned a lot of plaudits within the UWF’s dojo system. The young, dynamic grappler has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. On the other hand, Kakihara has earned himself similar rave reviews as a bit of a young prodigy. As expected, the two gave the fans in Osaka-jo Hall their money’s worth early with an excellent match that displayed the strengths of both wrestlers. The fireworks-worthy start saw both slugging at each other with a variety of strikes, and both earned themselves a knockdown in the opening few minutes. Taira further demonstrated his unique skillset by taking down Kakihara with an impressive flying armbar that popped the Osaka crowd, and Kakihara was frustrated by Taira’s quickness with such a maneuver. On the ground, Taira had the advantage with Kakihara not being able to keep up with Taira’s quick transitions. Kakihara wanted this match fought on their feet, and he did everything possible to get it back to that playing field. Kakihara’s quick hands gave him the advantage here, but Taira’s quick proved to be equal trouble in measure. The two pushed each other to the 15:00 time limit, and the crowd was very appreciative of the effort and energy both competitors put into the match. 15:00 draw

Yoji Anjo vs Naoki Sano

Naoki Sano has had a bumpy road in his UWF career so far, but he was looking to secure a vital win tonight against a tough and scrappy opponent. Anjo has had a bumpy road as well, but he has also had more luck than Sano so far. In any case, Anjo was up to the challenge tonight. Sano was agile on his feet and aimed to get the steady Anjo off-balance before going for a takedown, but Anjo adjusted to Sano’s gameplan and entered into a bit of a methodical grappling-based match with Sano. Sano focused on getting Anjo with a double wristlock while Anjo seemed to prefer going for Sano’s legs, particularly with a heel hook or kneebar. Neither seemed to find the upper hand, with both trading a few rope breaks to even the match at 1-1. Anjo attempted to mix things up with some strikes and was partially successful as he drew Sano into an exchange that led to a knockdown for Anjo, giving him a 2-1 lead. Sano responded by countering with a German suplex and started to focus on keeping Anjo grounded a bit more. Sano sensed that he had the advantage here, and this eventually was proven true. Anjo and Sano settled into a patient contest on the mat, and Sano eventually found an opening and secured a double wristlock from side control. Anjo struggled to break loose but eventually tapped out, giving Sano the hard-earned victory. Sano defeats Anjo via submission (double wristlock), 12:19

Masakatsu Funaki vs Wayne Shamrock

These two have become quite familiar with each other over the past few years, having crossed paths several times. Funaki has become the leading young star of UWF, and Wayne Shamrock has been steadily working his way up as someone who poses a legitimate threat to anyone with his growing skillset in catch wrestling and muscular strength. Right from the opening bell, Shamrock took it to Funaki and exerted himself against his opponent. Funaki found himself constantly pressed by Shamrock, who aimed to close the gap as often as he could and utilize his impressive takedown and suplex abilities. Funaki’s defense was pretty solid, and he avoided the worst. Shamrock did manage to take Funaki to the mat with a leg trip and the two had a bit of a mat contest in the opening few minutes. Both were pretty evenly matched and the back-and-forth on rope breaks sort of served as proof positive. Funaki’s striking skills gave Shamrock a bit of trouble when they were on their feet, but Shamrock continued to press his opponent, utilizing his strategy to exercise his advantage in strength. Funaki’s defense was tough to track, but Shamrock’s belly-to-belly suplex was enough to get Funaki back to the mat. Shamrock had the advantage this time, constantly jockeying for position and even surprising Funaki at times with his speed on the mat. Shamrock got another rope break from Funaki after a heel hook attempt, and the match resumed back on their feet, with Shamrock leading 2-1 on points. Funaki was able to score a knockdown after a palm strike combo to tie things up at 2-2. Shamrock beat the ten count and responded quite well. Shamrock delivered a combination of German suplexes on Funaki, dazing his opponent. With the opening, Shamrock opted for a third and bridging German suplex for the pinfall attempt. 1…2….3!!!! Shamrock scored the huge win and he celebrated accordingly. Shamrock defeats Funaki via pinfall, 15:27

Atsushi Onita vs Naoya Ogawa

The “young punks” of UWF were bound to meet eventually, and this match certainly had quite a bit of buzz heading into it. Ogawa’s pedigree as a Judo prodigy is hard to ignore, but Onita’s ability to reinvent himself as a Luta Livre specialist over the past few years is also quite noteworthy. The fans were the loudest they had been all evening once the opening bell sounded, and Onita landed a few stiff palm strikes on Ogawa to open the match. Ogawa was forced to recalibrate quickly, with Onita attempting to catch his opponent by surprise. Ogawa attempted to close the distance, but Onita caught him with a stiff kick to his abdomen. Ogawa keeled over, giving Onita an opening to grapple with his opponent for a takedown attempt. After a brief struggle, Onita took Ogawa down with a single-leg takedown and quickly established a superior position over Ogawa. Ogawa seemed overwhelmed, even a bit nervous. Onita quickly got his first rope break of the match after a kneebar attempt. Ogawa eventually settled into the match and started to give Onita more trouble with a defensive approach. Ogawa’s ability to counter on his feet allowed him to score a few Judo throws on Onita before attempting several submission holds. Both wrestlers secured a point after another scramble on the mat, and Ogawa seemed a bit more dangerous now. Onita didn’t change his strategy though, and kept mixing things up with strikes and takedown attempts to throw Ogawa off his game. This seemed to be more successful as the match matured, with Onita landing more strikes and softening up his budding rival in the process. Ogawa had been impressive in UWF thus far, but tonight he found his neutralizer in Onita, who had a great strategy. Ogawa’s ability to defend and launch strikes was questionable outside of his ability to catch and reverse one into a throw. Onita found an advantage and continued to follow up on it. In the end, a series of palm strikes and kicks was enough to get Ogawa down. Onita immediately jumped on his opponent and finished him off with a knee scissors for the submission victory. Ogawa was very frustrated and stormed off as Onita celebrated his win. Onita defeats Ogawa via submission (knee scissors), 13:34

Tatsumi Fujinami vs Joe Malenko

After his huge win over Akira Maeda in January, Fujinami was looking to keep up the momentum. Joe Malenko would be a tough challenge due to his technical ability and similar skillset to Fujinami. Both being students of Karl Gotch, they were quite familiar with each other. The familiarity proved key to the match as they both engaged in a methodical affair, with Fujinami relying on some clever tricks and entry techniques to try and catch Malenko by surprise, who relied on a more patient and conservative approach. Rope breaks were few and far between at first in a mostly grappling-based contest. The fans were treated to a scientific display of wrestling though, and they enjoyed the clash in approaches. Malenko finally scored a breakthrough when he captured Fujinami with a headlock takedown, turning it into an armbar. Fujinami felt trapped and had to fight for the ropes to escape Malenko’s grasp. Fujinami found more luck in the next phase of the match and found ways to predict Malenko’s movements. Malenko settled into a more defensive stance, which allowed Fujinami to build up some momentum. Malenko attempted to reverse a double wristlock attempt from Fujinami, but Fujinami found a way to grab Malenko’s leg for a takedown and turned the scramble into a kneebar attempt, which forced Malenko to the ropes for the first time. After another nice exchange from both on the mat, Fujinami scored the first point of the match by forcing Malenko to the ropes again. The American was finding himself in a bit of a hole, but he managed to climb his way back into the match after catching Fujinami with a side suplex, and then going for a cross-armbreaker attempt. The match remained 1-1 on points for another good while before Fujinami caught Malenko with a surprise pinning combination on the mat. Malenko’s shoulders were held down long enough for Fujinami to secure the victory. Fujinami defeats Malenko via pinfall, 17:02 

Akira Maeda vs Andrei Kopylov

Coming off his loss against Tatsumi Fujinami, Akira Maeda was looking to get hot again. Andrei Kopylov was a formidable opponent. A SAMBO heavyweight, Kopylov lacked Volk Han’s flash but had the same ability to pull holds from out of nowhere. Maeda had faced Volk Han twice already and was familiar with how the SAMBO specialists approached their bouts in UWF. Regardless, Kopylov proved to be a tough opponent out of the gate as he neutralized Maeda’s grappling and gave him a ton of trouble with a variety of takedowns, and even a few creative suplex throws mixed in. Maeda, being the hometown favorite, had the crowd behind him early and they were of course quite thunderous in offering motivation. Kopylov continued to go to work on his opponent and got a rope break from Maeda fairly early on in the match after catching Maeda by surprise with a heel hook attempt. Maeda had to re-adjust his gameplan and attempt to keep Kopylov at more of a distance with his striking skills. Kopylov wasn’t as strong as Maeda in this regard, but he did offer some powerful kicks and body strikes designed to throw his opponents off-balance. Maeda gained some momentum as Kopylov kept taking some hits to his legs and abdomen from Maeda’s kicks. Kopylov attempted to close the distance but Maeda was more prepared this time and managed to wrestle Kopylov to the mat and gain a dominant position on his opponent. Kopylov attempted to work from the bottom but didn’t find much success against Maeda, who used his size to his advantage. Both found themselves back on their feet again, and Maeda scored the first point of the match with a high kick to Kopylov’s head. Kopylov responded quickly to the ten count but got a taste of what made Maeda dangerous. Maeda got Kopylov to the mat again and worked for a cross-armbreaker attempt near the ropes, but a clean break was eventually forced after they got too close to the ropes. Kopylov settled into the bout a bit more, and he found success in blocking Maeda’s kicks and turning them into takedown opportunities, including a beautiful double-leg. The next few minutes saw Kopylov and Maeda engage in a battle of wits and leglocks, with Kopylov attempting to find the winning combination. Kopylov eventually gained a point back after forcing Maeda to the ropes again, tying the match at 1-1. A similar pattern followed in the next exchange, and eventually Maeda and Kopylov found themselves tied at 2-2 heading into the 15:00 mark. Kopylov continued to pose more of a threat to Maeda on the ground, but Maeda was able to pick his spots with his striking and the Russian Sambist’s momentum slowed. Maeda caught Kopylov with a Capture Suplex down the finishing stretch and quickly locked in a kneebar which forced the Russian to tap. Despite Kopylov’s best efforts, Maeda came away as the victory. Maeda defeats Kopylov via submission (kneebar), 20:05

Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Volk Han

Styles make fights, or so the saying goes. While this would normally apply to something like a striker vs a grappler, it could easily apply to a match where a catch wrestling demon like Yoshiaki Fujiwara encounters a SAMBO wizard for the first time. Osaka-jo Hall was buzzing for this match. Both wrestlers were well received by the crowd upon making their entrances, and they quickly went to business as soon as the bell sounded. Volk Han baited Fujiwara with a cheeky offer of a handshake, only to quickly turn it into a kami-basami takedown, and the crowd roared immediately as Fujiwara scrambled to get to the ropes to avoid Volk’s early heel hook attempt. Fujiwara had to quickly adjust to Volk Han’s explosiveness, who surprised his opponent again with a standing armbar attempt that was turned into a double wristlock suplex, but Fujiwara was able to defend just in time and prevented the devastating move from being executed. Fujiwara was able to escape the hold and show off his takedown maneuvers by getting the Soviet with a double leg. Fujiwara returned the favor from earlier by trying a heel hook of his own, which forced Volk to the ropes to even things up. As expected, this turned into a grappling contest with Fujiwara using his calculated approach to nullify Volk’s trickery and explosiveness. Regardless, Volk remained very adept at finding angles to attack Fujiwara’s limbs. Fujiwara’s defensive expertise was the key factor though, and his counterwork was enough to get another rope break from the Dagestani to establish a 1-0 lead on points. Back on their feet, Volk nearly caught Fujiwara with a spinning backfist, but Fujiwara managed to grab Volk’s hand out of thin air and turned it into a ripcord headbutt that totally caught the Osaka crowd in awe. Fujiwara displayed that he was capable of creating magic out of thin air as well, and Volk Han was down for a ten count. With a 2-0 lead, Fujiwara appeared to be in the driver’s seat. Volk managed to beat the ten count just in time and had to adjust his gameplan a bit. Instead of trying to catch Fujiwara by surprise, Volk tried to beat Fujiwara at his own game with a more cautious approach and managed to take things to the mat again after catching Fujiwara with an uranage. The Soviet SAMBO wizard managed to get a point back on more familiar territory, forcing a rope break from Fujiwara after he managed to lock in a cross-armbreaker. Fujiwara didn’t waste any time to reassert himself into the match and softened up his opponent with a series of body punches that knocked Volk to the mat again for another ten count. At 3-1, Fujiwara was in the driver’s seat. Volk fought back and managed to get back a point from Fujiwara after a few more minutes of mat-based warfare. Fujiwara caught Volk with a side suplex, followed by a German suplex. This was enough to create an opening for a Fujiwara armbar. Locked near the middle of the ring, the Soviet chose to tap out. It was a great effort from Volk Han, but Fujiwara was just a little better. Fujiwara defeats Volk Han via submission (Fujiwara armbar), 16:22

Satoru Sayama vs Bob Backlund

The big main event for the evening finally arrived, and the Osaka crowd was the loudest they had been all evening, perhaps besides Maeda’s entrance earlier. Satoru Sayama received a hero’s welcome in any case, and the Undisputed World Champion proudly wore his belt as he made his entrance into the arena. Sayama seemed to be in the best shape of his UWF career and walked with an aura of confidence. Bob Backlund walked in with a similar display of confidence, but perhaps this was out of necessity as he knew the challenge that was laid before him. Billy Robinson entered the ring and held up the title for the crowd, with both men in their respective corners awaiting the opening bell. That came soon after the in-ring introductions and Masami Soranaka doing his check on both men to see if they were ready. Sayama opened the proceedings by delivering a series of kicks to Backlund, forcing the American to go on the back foot. The reigning champion dictated the match in the opening few minutes, and it seemed like Backlund could not do anything to close the distance. While Backlund appeared to have worked on his striking game a bit, offering up a few low kicks of his own, he was clearly not at the level Sayama was in this regard. Sayama continued to press the issue until he managed to score an early knockdown on Backlund after a series of kicks to his thigh and abdomen. Backlund beat the ten count quickly and immediately went for a sweeping takedown on Sayama to get his opponent to the mat. Sayama’s defense was solid, and Backlund struggled at first, but the Connecticut native finally managed to get his opponent to the mat and he immediately established side control as he attempted to work a double wristlock. Sayama was tricky to deal with on the mat and didn’t give up anything easy. His counterwork frustrated Backlund, but the American finally secured a cross-armbreaker attempt, which gave Sayama enough to think about going for a rope break. The match continued to carry a similar theme, with Sayama controlling the match with his striking, which forced Backlund to go for takedown attempts and suplexes more often. Backlund was successful to a degree as he used his improved quickness and natural strength to catch his opponent with well-timed attempts, but Sayama was no slouch on the mat. Sayama was quicker and seemed to have a sense of when and how to counter certain grappling techniques from Backlund. Backlund worked hard though, and managed to stay in the match with pure grit.

After a double underhook suplex on his opponent, Backlund managed to score a knockdown on Sayama, which took the crowd by surprise a bit. The match now stood 2-2 on points, and Sayama didn’t waste any time in going back to work. The champion returned the favor with a high-angle German suplex, which appeared to stun Backlund. Sayama enjoyed a brief reprieve while Backlund had to beat another ten count. Fighting through more strikes again, Backlund wrestled Sayama back to the mat with a waistlock takedown. Sayama reversed Backlund’s attempt to work for a double wristlock and managed to secure a rear-naked choke, which forced Backlund to reach for the ropes with his legs. Back on their feet, Backlund charged at Sayama as soon as he could and cornered him into the turnbuckle as he unleashed a series of body punches as if he were a professional boxer. Sayama answered back with a few sharp kicks, but Backlund got the better of Sayama again and did enough to secure another knockdown. Sayama appeared to be a bit gassed, with Backlund’s punches perhaps taking a lot out of him. With the match tied 3-3 on points, the crowd was captivated by the hard-fought match. The 20:00 mark had passed, and there was a palpable sense of urgency. The score of 3-3 eventually turned into a score of 4-4 after both men exchanged more rope breaks on the mat, perhaps trying to buy time and conserve energy with a more cautious approach.

After Backlund caught Sayama with a heel hook after a high kick attempt, Sayama went for the ropes quickly to get back on his feet and launch even more strikes. Backlund, surely battered and bruised by now, worked through another series of kicks from Sayama and closed the distance again. This time, Backlund started to work for an Olympic slam with the time limit approaching, but Sayama caught him by surprise with a flying triangle. As Nobuyuki Furuta announced that one more minute was remaining, Backlund was caught in no man’s land by Sayama’s triangle choke. He was refusing to tap. Perhaps trying to secure a draw and a more inconclusive result, Backlund remained reluctant as the crowd was deafening. Time was ticking. 30 seconds left! Backlund was starting to fade, and the Soranaka had just enough time to check on Backlund. He was out cold. Soranaka called for the bell and Sayama celebrated an epic victory. Sayama defeats Backlund via TKO, 29:47

After the great main event, Backlund slowly recovers from being put to sleep. At first, he appears quite angry, but anger eventually gives way to admiration and respect for Satoru Sayama as he offers a handshake. Sayama accepts, and they both raise their arms in the air for the crowd. There is even an embrace as well. Backlund leaves the ring to give Sayama his moment. Billy Robinson and Lou Thesz enter the ring to award Sayama his belt and officially validate his second defense as Undisputed World Heavyweight champion. The crowd chants "Say-ama!" as he bows in all four directions. The commentators recap the evening and sign off as Sayama continues to celebrate in the ring. UWF's next show will be on April 27th in Kanegawa, Japan! The show will feature Tatsumi Fujinami vs Nobuhiko Takada and Akira Maeda vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara! Renowned British grappler Dave Taylor will also make his debut. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' "I Won't Back Down" plays as the credits and highlights roll. 

[Autistic Dragon]

Shamrock gets a milestone win.

Onita wins the Battle of the bad boys.

Fujinami's rise continues.

Maeda & Fujiwara both build up steam ahead of next month's clash.

Sayama retains in a nail biter.

[spaldoni]

Fuke made sure Yamada wasn't getting out of that submission hold

Taira and Kakihara take it to the limit

Sano gets that vital win he was looking for 

Shamrock is devastating with his suplexes 

Onita gets the win and Ogawa is pissed 

Malenko gives Tatsumi a real test, but Tatsumi passes

Maeda's back on the winning track after defeating a game Kopylov

Fujiwara edges pass Han 

That was one hell of a main event. Sayama retains with under a minute left. Just as important, he earns Backlund's respect.

Excellent write ups and match descriptions. Great job! 

[kevinmcfl]

Great details to your matches.  I will admit that I was rooting for Backlund in that last match.  Was wondering your background as I am not sure I would even be able to think of the moves and counter-moves but it just seems to flow for you.

[Control21]

3 hours ago, kevinmcfl said:

Great details to your matches.  I will admit that I was rooting for Backlund in that last match.  Was wondering your background as I am not sure I would even be able to think of the moves and counter-moves but it just seems to flow for you.

I don't do any grappling myself or anything (although I hope to change that soon). I just try to recall things I've seen in shoot-style, MMA, or competitive sports like Judo.

[Control21]

Card Announcement:

UWF Newborn - "UWF Road"

April 27th, 1990

Kanegawa, Japan

Minamiashigara Sports Center

Billy Scott vs Masahito Kakihara

Kiyoshi Tamura vs Naoyuki Taira

Jerry Flynn vs Ahmed Johnson

Joe Malenko vs Dave Taylor

Victor Zangiev & Salman Hashimikov vs Minoru Suzuki & Masakatsu Funaki

Dennis Koslowski & Duane Koslowski vs Yoji Anjo & Tatsuo Nakano

Naoya Ogawa vs Kazuo Yamazaki

Nobuhiko Takada vs Tatsumi Fujinami

Akira Maeda vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara

[Autistic Dragon]

Nice card showing off all the foreign talent the UWF has on tap.

[Control21]

UWF Newborn – “UWF Road”

April 27^th, 1990

Kanegawa, Japan

Minamiashigara Sports Center

Attendance: 4,500 (sold out)

Broadcast: WOWOW (taped)

After a well-crafted promo package from WOWOW hypes up the show and the top matches, the TV viewers are introduced by the commentary team, who do their usual introductions and formal breakdown of the card. After that, we get a decent show of pyro and lights as the UWF theme plays. The parade of wrestlers starts, and the building is thunderous for Maeda, Takada, Fujinami, and Fujiwara in particular. Dave Taylor also gets a warm welcome being a new debutant. Maeda and Fujiwara both hype up their encounter, and they each promise a victory tonight for the fans. Takada and Fujinami also get to offer a few words to the crowd. The wrestlers throw some t-shirts into the crowd, and we are soon underway!

Billy Scott vs Masahito Kakihara

Scott and Kakihara were each very eager to get a win tonight. Both being young, prodigious, and a bit green, they put the pedal to the metal and worked out the kinks in the process. Kakihara got the early momentum after knocking down Scott for a ten count with several vicious palm strikes. Scott responded with a well-timed belly-to-belly suplex and was able to reverse his fortunes a bit on the mat, where Kakihara was mostly on the defensive. Scott’s catch wrestling abilities were promising, but Kakihara wasn’t exactly going to give up points easily. After some struggle, Scott was finally able to lock in a double wristlock from side control, forcing a rope break from Kakihara. The match became a bit more even with both finding some luck further on the mat. Kakihara retained the striking advantage, though, and this was perhaps decisive. With both tied 2-2 on points, Kakihara was able to land a series of kicks to Scott’s abdomen. One of Kakihara’s sharp kicks landed right on Scott’s kidney, and this was enough to put Scott down for the ten count. Kakihara defeats Scott via KO, 9:51

Kiyoshi Tamura vs Naoyuki Taira

With both wrestlers being tailored for each other in terms of skill and size, this was bound to be a hyper-competitive match, and indeed it was. Taira and Tamura had the arena rocking and fully invested in the opening few minutes, with both showing off their tenacious energy and rapidly improving skills. Taira constantly put pressure on Tamura, giving him almost no room or space to breathe with his strategy. Tamura had to be on the top of his game with his striking and grappling. While both were very capable strikers, the highlights of this match were on the mat, with Taira and Tamura showing off their great counterwork abilities and lightning-quick transitions. The two exchanged rope breaks back and forth. With Tamura leading 2-1 on points, Taira attempted to get the better of Tamura with some very nice kicks. Tamura’s defense was tough to track, but Taira eventually got his point back after catching his opponent with a jumping roundhouse. What was 2-2 quickly turned into 3-3 in just a few minutes, and the frenetic pace of the match showed no signs of slowing down. Tamura was able to get Taira to the mat in the closing few minutes and attempted to hunt for the submission victory but Taira did not relent. Eventually, the 15:00 bell sounded and the match was declared a draw. 15:00 draw

Jerry Flynn vs Ahmed Johnson

Two highly touted North American prospects were crossing paths for the first time. Flynn was eager to prove why the UWF scouts were so high on him, while Johnson was looking to build off his impressive debut just a few months ago. Flynn, with his height and reach at 6’4, had the clear striking advantage while Johnson looked to close the distance as much as possible. Johnson’s immense strength was the key factor, and his ability to withstand Flynn’s striking flurries paid dividends as he took down the more lanky Flynn with ease several times in the opening stretch. Luckily for Flynn, Johnson’s grappling abilities were still in the developmental phase. Flynn had enough defensive skills to escape trouble and did his best to keep the match on his feet. Johnson eventually succumbed to Flynn’s powerful kicks, giving the latter a 1-0 lead on points. Johnson wanted to keep the match on his feet as well but for different reasons. His powerful suplex and throwing abilities were soon on display again, as he took Flynn for a few rides to impress the crowd. Flynn seemed a bit more shellshocked each time Johnson was able to toss him backward, and a high-angle German suplex sent Flynn straight on his head, which was enough for a knockdown. Johnson continued building up his momentum, this time sending Flynn back down to the mat with some body punches. Flynn tried his best to fight back after getting back on his feet, but a full-nelson suplex was enough to send Flynn back to the mat, this time for good. Johnson defeats Flynn via KO, 10:09

Joe Malenko vs Dave Taylor

In a stylistic clash that could’ve easily doubled as a grappling clinic, Dave Taylor and Joe Malenko met in what turned out to be a masterfully paced, highly technical encounter rooted in the traditions of classic catch wrestling. Both men came into the bout with nearly mirror-image philosophies -- deliberate, precise, and deeply grounded in the fundamentals of mat-based grappling. Their differing lineages gave the match a distinct flavor. Malenko, schooled by the likes of Karl Gotch and Boris Malenko, brought a grinding, suffocating style, looking to slowly chip away at Taylor’s defenses by tying up limbs and capitalizing on small positional mistakes. Taylor, by contrast, carried the influence of the Wigan Snake Pit, influenced by men like Billy Robinson, Billy Riley, and Billy Joyce, relying on fluid transitions, a focus on leverage and wrist control, and a cagey approach that turned every exchange into a battle of wits. The match began cautiously, with neither wrestler eager to overcommit. Malenko scored the first knockdown around the six-minute mark after catching Taylor with a low single-leg and shifting into a top wristlock that forced Taylor to inch toward the ropes to avoid deeper danger. Taylor answered back minutes later after baiting Malenko into overreaching on a clinch, spinning behind, and dumping him with a bodylock takedown that nearly ended in a pin before Malenko escaped to the ropes. Both men stayed methodical from there, neither giving an inch without earning it. Malenko stuck to what he knew, pressuring forward with tight waist control, hunting armbars and crossfaces, always looking to isolate a limb. Taylor looked to disrupt rhythm, using underhooks and wrist control to transition into sudden cradles or leverage-based pins. Each man picked up another knockdown through rope breaks by the 15-minute mark, and the tension slowly ratcheted up as fatigue set in and the margin for error grew thinner. Malenko managed to take Taylor’s back in the final stretch and worked to flatten him out for a rear naked choke, but Taylor remained calm, rolled through, and countered into a pin attempt that forced Malenko to give up another point with another rope break. The final sequence came after Malenko went for a mounted armbar, only for Taylor to roll through, trap both arms, and catch Malenko in a crucifix-style pinning hold right in the center of the ring. Malenko fought to escape, but Taylor had the leverage and positioning locked in perfectly. The referee counted the three at 20:18, giving Taylor the victory in a brilliantly fought tactical battle. Taylor defeats Malenko via pinfall at 20:18.

Victor Zangiev/Salman Hashimikov vs Minoru Suzuki/Masakatsu Funaki

Soviet wrestling strength against technical finesse. The Soviet tandem of Salman Hashimikov and Victor Zangiev squared off against the young, dynamic duo of Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. The opening moments set the tone for a disciplined contest, with Zangiev and Suzuki beginning cautiously, each man working from a low stance, hands open, searching for an opening. Suzuki peppered Zangiev with probing palm strikes and a few sharp kicks to the legs, but Zangiev absorbed them well and eventually caught a low kick to deliver a thunderous belly-to-belly suplex that sent Suzuki skidding across the canvas. Suzuki, stunned, had little time to prepare as Zangiev immediately hunted for a kneebar, forcing an early rope break from Suzuki. After a reset and tag, Funaki entered with greater urgency, using his striking acumen to pick at Hashimikov’s base. A spinning palm strike from Funaki connected cleanly to Hashimikov’s jaw, staggering the big man and drawing gasps from the crowd. Funaki looked to capitalize with a quick takedown, but Hashimikov regained his footing and forced Funaki to the mat with a belly-to-belly suplex. Hashimikov got the better of Funaki here, giving the young prodigy little room to breathe. Later, Suzuki returned and caught Zangiev off a failed suplex attempt with a clever trip, rolling straight into a kneebar that left Zangiev little choice but to crawl to the ropes, tying the match on points.

The pace remained steady and deliberate throughout, each exchange rooted in a test of whether or not the Funaki and Suzuki could outwit the sheer strength of the Soviets. Suzuki found some rhythm midway through the bout, scoring another knockdown after catching Zangiev’s leg mid-step and transitioning into a tight armlock. Zangiev showed resilience, making the ropes again, but the momentum briefly shifted toward the Japanese team. Funaki and Suzuki, rotating tags smartly, tried to isolate Zangiev on the mat, but Zangiev’s base and scrambling ability helped him escape several near-disasters. The Russians didn’t panic and stuck to their gameplan. Hashimikov eventually turned the tide again with a sudden overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Suzuki, delivered with such force that Suzuki remained on the mat for a knockdown count. Suzuki responded, but just barely. With the score even once again, the final sequence came after Funaki re-entered and attempted to strike his way into control. Zangiev closed the distance, secured a waistlock from behind, and launched Funaki with a picture-perfect German suplex. Without wasting motion, Zangiev floated over and applied a cattle mutilation hold. Funaki had no path to the ropes and was forced to submit. Hashimikov and Zangiev defeat Funaki and Suzuki via submission (cattle mutilation), 20:24.

Dennis Koslowski/Duane Koslowski vs Yoji Anjo/Tatsuo Nakano

The next match featured the Koslowski twins and the tenacious pairing of Yoji Anjo and Tatsuo Nakano. Proceedings began with Dennis Koslowski and Yoji Anjo feeling each other out, both men engaging with measured patience. Anjo attempted to use his quickness to cut angles and land palm strikes to the body, but Dennis closed the gap early with a tight waistlock. From there, he methodically worked Anjo down to the mat, maintaining tight control and keeping pressure through his hips. Anjo scrambled but couldn’t shake him. Dennis floated into a front headlock and used it to steer Anjo toward the ropes. A clean break was issued as both men remained entangled near the apron, drawing applause from the crowd for the discipline shown.

The tone remained deliberate and tactical. Duane tagged in and immediately looked to impose his strength. He overpowered Anjo in the clinch and hurled him overhead with a high-arching gutwrench suplex that rattled the canvas. Anjo got to his knees but looked dazed, and after a brief pause, the referee began counting, costing his team their first knockdown. Nakano entered with his usual fire, swinging sharp palm strikes to Duane’s body and following with a thudding mid-kick, but Duane weathered the storm and bull-rushed him into a corner tie-up. A Greco-style body lock followed, and Duane turned Nakano down to the mat with a twisting trip. The brothers remained focused on controlling the pace, grinding the fight down, and forcing their opponents to wrestle from underneath. Nakano managed to escape one tight position and clipped Dennis with a standing knee to the midsection upon re-entry, but the elder Koslowski answered by using a beautiful arm drag into a grounded crucifix attempt. Nakano had to escape the pinfall quickly. Dennis was not interested in having an easy break and quickly took Nakano down with a snap suplex. Nakano had to ward off a cross-armbreaker attempt by going for the ropes and exhausted another knockdown, making it 2-0 in favor of the Americans.

With the crowd urging them on, Anjo and Nakano attempted a rally. Anjo connected with a clean kick to Duane’s ribs and followed it with a pair of palm strikes, stunning him long enough to land a low double-leg and scramble into a side position. Duane, to his credit, didn’t panic. He calmly trapped Anjo’s near arm and spun into top position, dragging him backward before applying pressure with a shoulder choke attempt. Anjo reached the ropes again, giving the Koslowskis a commanding 3-0 advantage in knockdowns. Still game, Nakano tagged in and came forward with wild energy, landing a pair of slaps that bloodied Duane’s lip. But the aggression worked against him—Duane ducked under the third strike and countered with a sudden belly-to-back suplex that dropped Nakano right on the base of his neck. The final stretch saw Dennis return and slowly break Nakano down. After fending off a desperation guillotine attempt, Dennis locked in a tight arm triangle choke while riding Nakano’s hips to keep him grounded. Nakano thrashed for the ropes, but Dennis cinched the choke tighter and rolled slightly to the side, applying even more pressure. With no path to escape and Anjo unable to tag back in under UWF rules, Nakano had no choice but to tap out in the center of the ring. The American twin brothers celebrated, and Duane made a belting motion around his waist as the cameras followed them to the back. Dennis and Duane Koslowski defeat Anjo and Nakano via submission (arm triangle choke), 17:04.

Naoya Ogawa  vs Kazuo Yamazaki

Naoya Ogawa had finally hit a speed bump last month, losing to Atsushi Onita after an impressive start in his UWF career. Despite the setback, Ogawa entered the arena with a brash confidence that contrasted well with the calm, calculated demeanor of his opponent. Yamazaki looked to impose his striking and submission skills against Ogawa’s elite throwing game. The early exchanges were moderately paced, with both men showing respect for the other’s strengths. Yamazaki probed with low kicks and tested Ogawa’s reactions with palm strikes, while Ogawa kept his posture upright and hands high, trying to bait Yamazaki into clinch range. Ogawa scored the first big moment of the match around the four-minute mark, countering a missed middle kick by catching the leg and executing a clean seoi-nage, planting Yamazaki on the canvas. He followed with a brief kesa-gatame hold before Yamazaki slipped out and made it to the ropes—earning Ogawa his first knockdown after Yamazaki’s second use of a rope break. Yamazaki responded with urgency, striking more assertively and landing several stiff body kicks. A glancing high kick forced Ogawa down to the mat and initiated a ten count from Motoyuki Kitazawa, evening the score at 1-1. Ogawa’s ability to absorb and stay composed under fire was impressive, and he nearly caught Yamazaki off guard with a lightning-fast osoto-gari into a mounted position. Yamazaki, ever calm, tied up the wrists and forced a clean break near the ropes.

The middle phase of the match saw both men finding success. Yamazaki began to target the legs more effectively and scored his second knockdown after a rapid series of low kicks forced Ogawa to the mat for another ten count. Ogawa returned fire with a well-timed hip toss that sent Yamazaki tumbling. This time, Ogawa transitioned into a judo-style arm triangle, but Yamazaki used his hips to create space and escape, though not before being forced to the ropes once more, tying the score at 2-2. The pace quickened in the final stretch, with Yamazaki landing flush palm strikes that rattled Ogawa, who showed some fatigue but still pushed forward with grit. A kneebar from Yamazaki after catching Ogawa off a missed grip attempt forced another rope break -- 3-2 Yamazaki. After another stretch on the mat, Ogawa hit one last explosive throw, a textbook uchi mata, but couldn’t keep Yamazaki down, and the ensuing scramble ended with Yamazaki slipping behind and dragging Ogawa into a cross-armbreaker that nearly finished the bout. Ogawa desperately reached the ropes again, now trailing 4-2. Ogawa fought back and managed to get Yamazaki to the mat after a desperate double-leg takedown. Ogawa was able to secure another point after he managed to nearly catch Yamazaki with a shoulder lock attempt. An additional rope break from Yamazaki cost him another point. Back on their feet, Yamazaki continued to target the body, and a spinning back kick to the ribs late in the match stunned Ogawa enough to send him backpedaling into the ropes and down to the mat for his final point loss. Final score: 5-3 in favor of Yamazaki. Yamazaki celebrated as Ogawa seemed visibly frustrated with himself. Yamazaki defeats Ogawa via TKO, 16:12.

Nobuhiko Takada vs Tatsumi Fujinami

Tatsumi Fujinami was looking to keep his winning streak and strong arrival going. Nobuhiko Takada would be no pushover, who wanted to keep pace with Akira Maeda as the year continued, especially with Sayama needing a new challenger for his belt. The early stages saw both wrestlers test the waters with short bursts of offense. Takada flicked out low kicks and palm strikes, trying to create reactions, while Fujinami stayed tight in his stance, parrying strikes and circling for clinch entries. Takada’s first big moment came around the five-minute mark when he timed a middle kick perfectly, catching Fujinami off balance and landing a clean palm strike to the jaw that sent Fujinami down to the mat. Masami Soranaka began a count, but Fujinami rose by six, and this exhausted his first knockdown. In response, Fujinami slowed the pace further, luring Takada into a grappling exchange after ducking under a palm strike and securing a waistlock. He brought Takada down with a classic Greco-style trip, then transitioned into a grounded front headlock. Takada tried to scramble out, but Fujinami latched onto an arm and forced him toward the ropes with a smooth rolling hammerlock, earning a point after a second rope break and evening the score at 1-1.

The match became more gripping in its second half as both men traded narrow escapes and subtle shifts in control. Fujinami avoided another knockdown after Takada stunned him with a spinning heel kick, but he managed to stay on his feet and wave the referee off. Fujinami regrouped and began working to neutralize Takada’s legs, aiming to limit his striking output. A beautifully timed single-leg pick created a chain of mat wrestling where Fujinami hunted for the crossface, only for Takada to twist free and counter into a heel hook that forced Fujinami to the ropes. Takada took Fujinami down again with a wrist takedown and quickly went for a cross-armbreaker that forced Fujinami to the ropes again, giving him a 2-1 advantage. The turning point came after Fujinami baited Takada into throwing a body kick, caught it mid-motion, and spun him down with a clever inside trip. From there, Fujinami applied pressure from the top with chest-to-chest positioning, and after a failed armbar attempt, he transitioned into a kneebar that sent Takada scrambling for the ropes again, and he found success with a similar hold a few minutes later, making the match even at 2-2. As time wore on, Takada’s kicks became more urgent, and one connected flush to Fujinami’s ribs, forcing Takada’s opponent to keel over in pain. But Takada’s offense became predictable, and Fujinami began slipping under kicks with increasing success. With about two minutes remaining, Fujinami struck gold. Ducking a high palm strike, he shot in low, sweeping Takada’s legs with a low double-leg that caught him off guard. In the scramble, Fujinami floated over into side control, and in one fluid motion, he bridged back and hooked Takada’s legs in a surprise cradle variation. Soranaka dropped for the count, and Takada’s shoulders were held long enough for the three count. Fujinami’s calm adaptability and tactical flair won the day. Fujinami defeats Takada via pinfall, 16:55.

Akira Maeda vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara

The Minamiashigara Sports Center was still buzzing from the last bout, but the atmosphere only grew more intense as the bell rang for the night’s main event. A matchup steeped in familiarity and pride, this was the top man of the promotion versus perhaps one of the most dangerous wrestlers in the world in Fujiwara. A victory for Fujiwara tonight would be huge for him, as he was looking to build some momentum in the title chase. Maeda entered with his usual stoic intensity, fists clenched and eyes fixed forward, while Fujiwara, calm and composed as ever, gave only the slightest nod during introductions, conserving energy as he always had. Once the match began, Maeda immediately tested the waters with his strikes, offering up stiff low kicks that forced Fujiwara to adjust his stance. With chants for Maeda filling the arena, the first few minutes were spent mostly upright, with Maeda peppering in body punches and testing Fujiwara’s defenses. Fujiwara absorbed the attacks well, offering a few well-timed counters in the clinch and refusing to give Maeda a clean angle for one of his suplexes. Eventually, Fujiwara slipped under a palm strike and brought Maeda down with a leg pick, initiating the first mat exchange of the match. The crowd, knowledgeable as ever, roared with anticipation. Maeda fought off a crossface and worked his way back to his feet, but Fujiwara’s message was clear: he would not be bullied.

As the match progressed, the tempo took on a deliberate, grinding rhythm, one Maeda was usually comfortable dictating, but Fujiwara seemed content to match him step for step. Around the nine-minute mark, Maeda finally broke through with a crisp side suplex after drawing Fujiwara into an inside clinch, and the veteran looked momentarily stunned. A follow-up heel hook attempt forced Fujiwara to grab the ropes again for his first point deduction, making the match 1-0 in favor of Maeda. Maeda pressed the advantage by staying aggressive, firing more kicks at Fujiwara’s thighs and ribs. Fujiwara adjusted his entries, looking to create scrambles rather than absorbing more damage. His efforts bore fruit when he reversed a Capture Suplex attempt by counter-hooking Maeda’s leg and dragging him into a grounded position. There, Fujiwara began to apply his trademark pressure: slow, relentless positional advances, inching toward Maeda’s arms. Maeda escaped the first attempt at the Fujiwara Armbar, but the escape came at the cost of a second rope break, making the bout even at 1-1. The battle continued in a similar fashion, with Maeda showcasing explosive bursts of offense. Another knockdown came at the 15-minute mark after a brutal spinning back kick to Fujiwara’s body. Fujiwara was knocked off his feet and faced a swift ten count from Soranaka, but Fujiwara's resilience kept the match within reach. Maeda grew visibly frustrated, failing to land his desired suplexes cleanly as Fujiwara found clever counters each time, either slipping behind or anchoring his hips.

By the time the 20-minute mark passed, the match had become an attritional war. Both men were slick with sweat, breathing heavily, but Fujiwara remained deceptively dangerous. Maeda had the edge in points, leading 3-2, but he had begun to labor slightly with each movement, the effects of Fujiwara’s clinch work and subtle pressure taking their toll. Fujiwara sensed Maeda’s growing fatigue and took the opportunity to execute a beautiful German suplex. Maeda had to quickly defend himself from Fujiwara’s submission wrestling. After a brief striking exchange, Fujiwara baited Maeda into committing to a high roundhouse kick. He caught it expertly and took Maeda down with a sweeping inside trip. The crowd rose in anticipation as Fujiwara floated into side control and immediately secured a crossface grip, working to isolate Maeda’s head and arm. Maeda bucked hard to escape, but Fujiwara adjusted with veteran precision, locking in the scarf chokehold with the textbook shoulder pressure he had perfected over decades. Maeda struggled, legs kicking wildly, but Fujiwara had the choke deep. With no clear route to the ropes and Maeda’s face turning crimson, referee Masami Soronaka leaned in. Moments later, Maeda’s arm went limp, and the referee waved it off to the surprise of the crowd. Maeda had his fans in the arena, but there were still a large number of cheers for Fujiwara, who had taken his opportunity tonight to score a huge win over the lead man of the promotion. Maeda would have to take this one in stride and figure out where things went wrong. He didn't waste any time in heading to the back, perhaps to give Fujiwara his moment as he celebrated in the ring some more. Fujiwara defeats Maeda via submission (scarf chokehold), 24:38.

Two big developments tonight with Fujinami and Fujiwara both getting huge wins to earn some well-deserved momentum heading into the middle part of the year. The commentators break down the results and discuss how this may change the title picture for Sayama, especially with Fujinami now undefeated at 3-0 with wins over Takada and Maeda. They tie that into the breakdown for next month's card, which will feature Satoru Sayama and Tatsumi Fujinami teaming up to take on the Brazilian duo of Marco Ruas and Eugenio Tadeu! A bit of a surprising development there as fans will be wondering if Sayama and Fujinami can put their ambitions aside. Akira Maeda and Naoya Ogawa will also be teaming up against Nobuhiko Takada and Atsushi Onita! The commentators also announced that the UWF will be formally introducing new tag team title belts next month. Both the Koslowski brothers and the team of Zangiev and Hashimikov will be in action once again as they look to cement themselves as the top contenders. The commentators sign off as the rolling credits hit to Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down", with a closing shot of Fujiwara celebrating with fans.

 

 

[rainmakerrtv]

Malenko vs. Taylor would be a match I would pay money for, but Fujinami vs. Takada and Maeda vs. Fujiwara sound like absolute MOTYCs.

[Autistic Dragon]

Fujinami is on a major roll but Fujiwara tapping out Maeda can't be overlooked.

UWF-N is going all in on tag team wrestling starting next month.

[spaldoni]

The first two bouts really set the tone for tonight's action. 

Johnson seems like he was born to be here. I couldn't imagine taking that Full Nelson suplex 

Malenko vs. Taylor is indeed a clinic. That was a masterpiece of technical work. 

I would pay big money to watch the Russians and Koslowski's go at it for the tag belts

Yamazaki frustrates Ogawa with that last minute spin kick. Beautiful timing. 

Fujinami has taken the UWF by storm 

Damn, Fujiwara making Maeda submit is huge. 

The title picture is so interesting right now with Fujinami and Fujiwara having legit claims for a shot. I also wouldn't mind seeing Taylor get a shot. 

Your detail and description continue to amaze me. 

 

[Control21]

Quote

May 14th, 1990

The UWF made their regional debut at the Minamiashigara Sports Center in Kanegawa, Japan, for a card that was well-received by the fans, as expected. While the show was held in a smaller arena compared to some of their bigger shows from the previous month, the arena was at full capacity. The event was sold out weeks in advance, with the UWF continuing its hot streak with no signs of slowing down heading into the summer. The most notable outcomes of the night involved Yoshiaki Fujiwara scoring a huge win over Akira Maeda with a submission victory. Fujiwara’s triumph will likely solidify his place in the upper half of the card. It will remind fans that he is inarguably one of the best wrestlers on the roster despite a relatively quiet 1989. Nobuhiko Takada also suffered a defeat, losing to Tatsumi Fujinami via pinfall. Fujinami’s winning streak continues, and at 3-0, he may be the next in line to face Satoru Sayama. Another highly notable match involved Joe Malenko and Dave Taylor in a pure technical clinic that has received widespread acclaim in the Japanese press. Some call it a potential match of the year contender. Ahmed Johnson also continued his impressive performances in UWF with a victory over Jerry Flynn via knockout.

Word from the UWF dojo is that Johnson has fully committed to the UWF’s training culture, reportedly arriving early and staying late for conditioning drills, sparring, and mat-based technique refinement. Coaches have praised his progress and dedication, with some noting that his work ethic is top-notch despite his reputation going into the company last year. Though still inexperienced in the style, Johnson’s willingness to learn may make him a dark horse in the promotion’s heavyweight division by the end of the year.

Perhaps the most significant news emerging from the event was the official announcement of the World Tag Team Championship. This move adds structure and competitive stakes to a loosely organized set of occasional tag bouts. UWF officials confirmed that qualifying matches would begin on the next card, with the first champions crowned at the anniversary event in July. The qualifying matches announced feature some exciting names and strong teams. Soviet duo Victor Zangiev and Salman Hashimikov will face the pairing of Wayne Shamrock and Joe Malenko, while the Koslowski brothers square off with the British team of Marty Jones and Dave Taylor. Both matches offer contrasting styles and international prestige, setting the stage for a highly competitive tournament.

The next UWF card is already shaping up as a significant event in its own right. In addition to the two tag team qualifiers, the top half of the card will feature two high-profile tag matches that could have major implications for UWF's summer plans. Satoru Sayama will team with Tatsumi Fujinami to face the Brazilian duo of Marco Ruas and Eugenio Tadeu. This is Sayama’s first tag match in months, and the inclusion of Fujinami has raised questions on whether the reigning champion and a top contender for a title shot can work together against the Brazilian duo. There is a growing belief that this match may be a prelude to a Sayama vs. Fujinami title clash later this summer. On the other side, Ruas—already being whispered about as a possible challenger for the Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship—is rumored to be a centerpiece for UWF’s first-ever event in Brazil, tentatively targeted for August.

The second co-main event features Akira Maeda and Naoya Ogawa taking on Atsushi Onita and Nobuhiko Takada in what looks to be a volatile match. Maeda and Takada, despite taking some losses recently, clearly remain among the top draws in the promotion and are probably the most important figures in UWF. Their presence on opposite sides of this bout brings with it a degree of intensity and history that cannot be ignored. Ogawa continues to develop as a UWF wrestler, and his transition from judo to the squared circle has been a success so far.  Onita has developed a bit of a feud with Ogawa, and the two seem to be vying for a position on the card that would determine the best up-and-coming  “outsider” in the promotion, at least from the Japanese perspective. His pairing with Takada may test the cohesion of Maeda's team, which will bring a level of unpredictability to the match.

 

[Autistic Dragon]

I always like these behind the scenes style posts. Good way to generate hype considering the gap between shows.

[LowBlowPodcast]

I really appreciate the specialty that your shows have. You have a great writing style and the detail really tells the story. I continue to stick with the guys I know but appreciate the input you have and the stuff you put out there. 

[kevinmcfl]

The Ahmed Johnson is a move that nobody gets up from!!!

Was surprised at the Maeda submission!

Again, awesome description in each of your matchs... you pay such attention to details that it paints a clear picture in your mind!  Great job.  Thanks for all the work you put into this.

[Control21]

Card Announcement:

UWF Newborn - "UWF Fighting Arena"

May 30th, 1990

Fukuoka, Japan

Hakata Starlanes

Yusuke Fuke vs Manabu Yamada

Kiyoshi Tamura vs Erik Paulson

Ahmed Johnson vs Masashi Aoyagi

Victor Zangiev & Salman Hashimikov Wayne Shamrock & Joe Malenko

Dennis Koslowski & Duane Koslowski vs Marty Jones & Dave Taylor

Andrei Kopylov vs Nikolai Zouev

Volk Han vs Minoru Suzuki

Satoru Sayama & Tatsumi Fujinami vs Marco Ruas & Eugenio Tadeu

Akira Maeda & Naoya Ogawa vs Nobuhiko Takada & Atsushi Onita