UWF Newborn

[Control21]

Card Announcement:

UWF Newborn - "U-COSMOS Grand Prix 1990: Second Round"

September 30th, 1990

Hiroshima, Japan

Hiroshima Prefectural Gym

 

All matches second round tournament matches:

Volk Han vs Salman Hashimikov

Atsushi Onita vs Marco Ruas

Eugenio Tadeu vs Tatsumi Fujinami

Aleksandr Karelin vs Minoru Suzuki

Duane Koslowski vs Nobuhiko Takada

Satoru Sayama vs Dick Vrij

Akira Maeda vs Dennis Koslowski

Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Masakatsu Funaki

[Control21]

UWF Newborn – “U-Cosmos Grand Prix 1990: Second Round”

September 30^th, 1990

Hiroshima, Japan

Hiroshima Prefectural Gymnasium

Attendance: 5,180 (sold out)

Broadcast: WOWOW (live)

The WOWOW broadcast opens with the commentary crew greeting the viewing audience, and they break down the card for the evening. They discuss potential upsets, favorites, and how the bracket looks before going into the second round. Fans finish shuffling into the arena before Nobuyuki Furuta officially opens the event, which is, of course, followed by a light show and fireworks as the UWF theme plays. The wrestlers make their way to the ring one by one for the introductions, with the loudest pops from the crowd reserved for the likes of Akira Maeda, Nobuhiko Takada, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Masakatsu Funaki, Atsushi Onita, Volk Han, Aleksandr Karelin, and Marco Ruas. Takada, Maeda, Fujiwara, and Funaki all give brief speeches welcoming fans to the event. Billy Robinson is also at ringside for some formalities, and we are eventually underway!

Volk Han vs Salman Hashimikov

For the first time, the Soviet dynamos would be meeting each other in the ring. The fans inside the arena were certainly amped up to witness an intriguing clash of styles on paper. The match opened with Hashimikov pressing forward, looking to force a clinch. Han responded by keeping his distance, flicking probing palm strikes, and feinting low kicks to distract.  When Hashimikov finally locked his hands around Han’s waist, he launched a thunderous belly-to-belly suplex that rattled the canvas, drawing a gasp from the audience as Han absorbed the impact.  Hashimikov immediately attempted to smother Volk on the mat, but Volk taunted Hashimikov in the process, signaling him to follow through. This forced Hashimikov to back off warily. This established the theme of the contest. Hashimikov used his power and size to bully Han, but the submission wizard constantly found ways to turn danger into opportunity. At around three minutes, Han baited Hashimikov into another takedown attempt, then spun into a rolling kneebar that nearly finished the bout early, only for Hashimikov to power out and drag himself to the ropes, costing him his first rope escape. The fans applauded Han’s ingenuity, and it rattled Hashimikov. The Chechen began to show urgency, pressing with heavy clinch palm strikes and another booming side suplex that earned him his first knockdown against Han after the Dagestani grappler took his time to get up. Midway through, the match accelerated. Han landed a surprise spinning backfist that staggered the bigger man, then dove low for a kani-basami scissor takedown, wrenching at the ankle and drawing another frantic rope break, tying the match at 1-1 on points. The pattern repeated; every suplex or throw Hashimikov landed looked like it caused serious pain, but Han’s creativity kept him alive. The Dagestani forced his countryman into awkward scrambles and more rope breaks. Volk eventually built up a 3-1 lead on points. At just past the eleven-minute mark, the end came when Hashimikov muscled Han into the corner and attempted a powerful Greco-style throw, only for Han to flow with the motion, rolling through the landing and clamping onto the leg in transition. In an instant, Han had threaded into a devastating cross heel hold, twisting sharply as Hashimikov pounded the mat in pain, unable to reach the ropes this time. Han defeats Hashimikov via submission (cross heel hold), 11:23

Atsushi Onita vs Marco Ruas

Onita has been making some waves recently, with his profile increasing in UWF thanks to a couple of solid wins and his role as an ambassador of sorts with UWF’s Brazilian outreach. Ruas was already familiar with Onita, having trained under him several years ago before Onita returned to wrestling. Ruas was well aware of Onita’s brash approach and would be ready to show that the master was still the master for a reason. Onita charged in at the opening bell, swinging wild palm strikes and mixing in low kicks, immediately forcing Ruas into retreat. The fans roared as the Japanese fighter threw a flurry of body punches before dragging Ruas into the ropes for a clean break. Ruas, ever composed, weathered the storm and began chopping at Onita’s thighs with thudding low kicks, forcing his opponent to wince and stumble with each crack. Onita responded with his typical defiance, slapping his own chest, daring Ruas to hit harder. Onita lunged into a clinch where he tried to muscle a snap suplex, only for Ruas to counter with a hip throw and drop into side control. Onita twisted, trying to roll into a guillotine attempt. Still, Ruas calmly peeled his grip, postured, and dropped hard palm strikes into Onita’s ribs until Onita managed to fight off after a brief struggle on the mat. The pace continued with Onita repeatedly storming forward with looping kicks and reckless palm smashes, even landing a rough belly-to-belly that drew a gasp from the crowd when Ruas was stunned enough for a brief count, giving Onita the first knockdown edge. Yet the Brazilian’s composure held steady. He pressed forward and continued his punishing low kicks aimed at weakening Onita’s stance. By the eight-minute mark, Onita’s base had clearly eroded. Ruas pressed this advantage with precision; low kick after low kick, punctuated by a body kick that echoed through the hall and folded Onita in half, earning a knockdown that evened the score. The final stretch saw Onita press again with his remaining energy, desperate to pull Ruas into a scrap. Onita briefly saw some success on the mat when he managed to bring Ruas down with a guillotine attempt. Onita worked hard but managed to secure a rope break from Ruas. Ruas remained focused on his mission, though, and went straight back at punishing Onita with low kicks. At 13 minutes, Ruas clinched and drilled a series of short knees, then separated and unleashed a savage kick to the stomach that buckled Onita completely, sending him crashing to the mat in agony. The referee counted as Onita attempted to get back up. He collapsed again by nine, giving Ruas the knockout victory. Ruas defeats Onita via KO, 13:56

Eugenio Tadeu vs Tatsumi Fujinami

Tadeu and Fujinami had crossed paths a few months ago, and the two were already familiar with each other. Fujinami was well aware of the danger Tadeu posed and came prepared. The Brazilian was looking for a major upset victory to continue his run. After the bell sounded, Tadeu immediately pressed his opponent, throwing exploratory low kicks. Tadeu was trying to draw Fujinami into overcommitting, but the veteran maintained composure. Soon after, Tadeu landed a sharp step-in knee to Fujinami’s midsection that forced him back toward the ropes, then followed with a spinning kick that connected flush enough to stagger him. Fujinami dropped to one knee, leading to the first knockdown count of the match. The crowd gasped, but Fujinami rose at five, tightening his guard and pressing forward with more urgency. Fujinami caught Tadeu’s next flashy kick and dragged him to the canvas with a quick ankle pick. From there, Fujinami tried to grind, applying a tight half guard ride and looking for openings to isolate a wrist, but Tadeu’s scrambles were lightning quick. Tadeu nearly gained control of Fujinami’s back, which forced Fujinami to the ropes for a clean break. The rhythm continued in this way. Tadeu’s creativity and speed caused danger in bursts, but Fujinami’s positional grappling slowly sapped the Brazilian’s explosiveness. A few more rope breaks came from both men. Around the seven-minute mark, Fujinami landed a heavy German suplex out of a clinch that earned him a knockdown in return, evening the score at 2-2. The audience, sensing a shift, rallied behind Fujinami as he went back to the mat game, weaving between half guard and side control, grinding down on Tadeu with leg locks and armbar attempts. Tadeu nearly caught him with a rolling triangle at around ten minutes, but Fujinami showed his veteran instincts, stacking hard and slipping free, then dragging Tadeu back down with a waistlock trip. Fatigue was beginning to show on the Luta Livre fighter, his flashy strikes losing some of their sting, and Fujinami capitalized, transitioning from a tight bodylock into back control after another scramble. The finishing sequence came when Fujinami patiently sank his hooks in, flattening Tadeu out as the crowd roared, then cinched up a crushing rear-naked choke, cutting off any chance of escape. Tadeu fought desperately, thrashing for the ropes, but Fujinami’s positioning was too precise, and after a few seconds, Tadeu finally tapped. Fujinami defeats Tadeu via submission (rear-naked choke), 12:14

Aleksandr Karelin vs Minoru Suzuki

On paper, this was a mismatch. Suzuki was young, talented, and fearless, but Karelin was the dominant force in UWF, and it would take a lot to beat him. After the opening bell, Suzuki attacked with urgency, peppering Karelin’s legs with sharp, low kicks and darting in with palm strikes to the body. Karelin absorbed the strikes with his usual stoic calm, stalking forward with a heavy guard, and soon locked his hands around Suzuki in a crushing clinch. Suzuki desperately fired knees to Karelin’s midsection. Still, Karelin’s bear-like grip muffled each before the Olympian launched Suzuki overhead with a thunderous belly-to-belly suplex, sending him skidding across the canvas to a roar from the crowd and forcing a referee count. Suzuki answered at six and immediately dove into a grappling exchange. Suzuki somehow managed to catch Karelin by surprise with a flying armbar attempt. Suzuki latched onto Karelin’s arm in a flash for a cross-armbreaker attempt, wrenching with all his strength. The crowd cheered loudly as Karelin grimaced, but the Soviet gold medalist’s composure never faltered. He rolled to his hips, stood up, and stacked Suzuki onto his shoulders. Suzuki continued to hold on tight, and Karelin used a rare rope break to break the hold out of annoyance. After the reset, Suzuki pressed forward again and attempted to corner Karelin, but Karelin’s raw strength and positional mastery gave him the advantage. Karelin took control with an upper-body Greco-Roman lock and tossed his opponent to the mat. Karelin immediately established control from the top, grinding Suzuki into the mat with suffocating pressure. Karelin managed to force a rope break from Suzuki after a scarf choke attempt. Midway through, Suzuki’s persistence earned him a moment of triumph when he rattled Karelin with a flurry of body punches. But Suzuki’s assault only seemed to wake Karelin, who returned to his base strategy. Karelin closed the distance, clinched, and tossed Suzuki like a ragdoll with back-arching Germans and snapping overhead throws that drained the young fighter’s energy. By the nine-minute mark, Suzuki was visibly slowing down from the damage. Yet, he still fired defiant strikes whenever an opening appeared. Karelin, unmoved, corralled him one last time in a gutwrench position, the fans sensing the end. With terrifying power, Karelin hoisted Suzuki high and delivered the Karelin Lift, driving him brutally into the mat head-and-shoulders first. Suzuki lay flat, unresponsive, as the referee counted to ten. Karelin defeats Suzuki via KO, 10:11

Duane Koslowski vs Nobuhiko Takada

While Takada was a clear favorite to advance deep in the tournament, Duane Koslowski was looking to make a statement tonight and defeat one of UWF’s leading wrestlers. His task wouldn’t be easy, though. The early moments were defined by Koslowski’s commitment to force the bout into his comfort zone, closing distance to smother Takada’s kicks before locking him into tight upper-body clinches. His strength was evident as he muscled Takada into the ropes and launched him with a thudding side suplex, drawing murmurs from the audience as Takada hit the canvas. On the mat, Koslowski immediately looked for a choke variation, forcing Takada to edge toward the ropes and take his first escape. Takada responded by approaching more cautiously, striking Koslowski’s legs with low kicks that snapped against the Olympian’s thighs. Each strike chipped away at Koslowski’s defense, though he managed to time one kick for a sudden counter throw, snapping Takada down into a headlock and grinding pressure across his jaw. Takada struggled but worked methodically, freeing himself with palm strikes to the body before forcing a scramble that ended near the ropes for a clean break. Koslowski pressed forward relentlessly, again shrugging off a strike to grab a bodylock and unleash a German suplex that stunned Takada long enough for a referee’s count of six, costing him his first knockdown. The crowd buzzed with unease as Koslowski’s plan began to pay dividends for a 1-0 lead on points, but Takada, visibly annoyed at the pace, reset his strategy, relying on feints and heavy leg kicks to erode Koslowski’s explosiveness slowly.

The middle stretch of the match saw Takada finally seize momentum, using his striking to open Koslowski up for grappling counters. After one particularly sharp low kick buckled Koslowski’s stance, Takada followed with a double-leg takedown and a heel hook attempt that forced Koslowski to the ropes. Wanting to reassert control, Koslowski lunged into another clinch, but Takada used his opponent’s forward drive to trip him and land on top, immediately hunting for a double wristlock. Koslowski displayed his grappling pedigree by rolling out and reversing into a side ride, momentarily threatening a neck crank before Takada again scrambled out. Takada started to hunt for a rear-naked choke, which again forced Koslowski to the ropes. With the match tied 2-2 on points, the pace quickened as Takada began to blend his kicks more fluidly with his grappling. Takada landed a harsh mid-kick that staggered Koslowski, then pounced with an armlock attempt when the American shot in. Koslowski fought valiantly, gritting through palm strikes to hoist Takada into yet another suplex variation. Unfortunately for the American, the toll of sustained punishment became evident. Around the fourteen-minute mark, Koslowski tried to muscle into another throw from the clinch, but Takada sprawled, quickly transitioned into an arm entanglement, and snapped into a cross-armbreaker. Koslowski thrashed, trying to clasp his hands, but Takada extended with precision, forcing the tapout. Takada defeats Koslowski via submission (cross-armbreaker), 14:35

Satoru Sayama vs Dick Vrij

Dick Vrij was heading into the next round with a fair amount of confidence. The Dutchman had scored a couple of key wins over the last several months and defeated Tatsuo Nakano without much issue in the opening round. Standing before him tonight would be the reigning Undisputed World Heavyweight champion and heavy favorite to repeat as champion. The crowd was amped up for the match. The opening minute was electric. Vrij immediately pressed Sayama with heavy low kicks and palm strikes that thudded against Sayama’s guard, driving him backward toward the ropes. Sayama circled and snapped off quick middle kicks to test Vrij’s timing, drawing loud responses from the crowd when one landed flush across the ribs. Vrij tried to pin him down with the clinch, firing knees into the midsection, but Sayama slipped free, countering with a stiff palm strike to the jaw that forced Vrij to his knees for the referee’s first count. The Dutchman beat the count quickly before the count of five. Vrij pressured his opponent again, hammering Sayama’s lead leg with punishing kicks and briefly stunning him with a palm strike to the nose, but Sayama’s counter timing kept him from sustaining momentum. When Vrij closed the distance again, Sayama ducked under, surprising the Dutchman with a takedown into a quick armbar attempt that forced Vrij to scramble desperately for the ropes, burning his first rope escape. Back on their feet, Sayama increased the pace, mixing snapping body kicks with high kicks that repeatedly beat Vrij’s slower guard, forcing him into his second knockdown after a crisp right high kick landed on the temple. Vrij beat the count again and did not seem ready to relent. The next stage of the match saw Vrij grow visibly frustrated, relying more heavily on the clinch to land knees, but Sayama punished each entry with sharp inside kicks and counter strikes, eventually flooring Vrij a third time after a lightning-fast body kick that landed right near the kidneys. The referee initiated another count, and Sayama held a 3-0 lead on points. Though visibly wobbled, Vrij fought on, returning fire with a furious combination of low kicks and body strikes that backed Sayama into the corner, but his lack of grappling defense was exposed when Sayama countered another clinch by tripping him down and attacking for a triangle choke, which Vrij barely escaped with a another rope break that cost him another point. Vrij managed to get one back when he caught Sayama with a desperate high kick that knocked Sayama off his feet, but the reigning champion was quick to beat the surprise count. The key moment came just past the eleven-minute mark, as Sayama feinted low, drew Vrij’s guard downward, and unleashed a clean spinning palm heel strike followed by a mid-kick that crumpled the Dutchman to the canvas for the fifth and final knockdown. The referee waved off the match, awarding Sayama a TKO victory. Sayama defeats Vrij via TKO, 12:06

Akira Maeda vs Dennis Koslowski

After his brother’s elimination from the tournament earlier in the evening, Dennis Koslowski was looking to ensure at least one American would advance to the next round. He faced a difficult task, however, as Akira Maeda was determined not to suffer an early exit. From the opening exchange, Maeda tried to establish his authority with sharp body kicks. Koslowski, cautious not to be drawn into a striking battle, absorbed the blows with a guarded posture and used his Greco instincts to close the distance, seeking a clinch. On the first tie-up, Maeda dug in with palm strikes to the side of the head and ribs, only for Koslowski to muscle through with an upper-body lock and a heavy Greco-style throw that drove Maeda down. The fans rumbled as Koslowski clamped down, pressing his weight and searching for control on the mat, but Maeda’s grappling skills were nothing to thumb your nose at. He shifted his hips, constantly working toward a leg, and while Koslowski tried to tie up the upper body with rides and pressure, Maeda dragged the action toward his wheelhouse. A brief kneebar attempt forced Koslowski to edge toward the ropes, earning his first rope escape, and in the process, established that Koslowski could not simply grapple with Maeda without paying a price. With both back on their feet, Maeda went back to his striking, thudding kicks into Koslowski’s body and thighs, while Koslowski responded by keeping his hands active with body shots of his own, less damaging but enough to break rhythm.

The next stage of the match was a grind, with Koslowski using his Greco-Roman skills to draw Maeda into more mat-based skirmishes, but Maeda’s defense was on point tonight. Regardless, Koslowski was able to get two rope breaks from Maeda during the process. Maeda answered back, though, with a beautiful leg sweep takedown that turned into a cross-armbreaker attempt. Koslowski was forced to go for the ropes again. With the match tied at 1-1, both men began to realize that this would be an increasingly grueling match. Twice, Koslowski managed to elevate Maeda with explosive suplexes, once a Greco back-arch that stunned the crowd with its height, and later a variation on a belly-to-belly that left Maeda briefly shaken. Maeda was on the mat long enough for the referee to initiate a ten-count in Koslowski’s favor. Maeda was quick to get back up, though. Slowing the pace, Maeda began forcing Koslowski into more patient grappling he was less comfortable with, and gradually took control of the tempo. A taut sequence saw Koslowski attempt to pin Maeda’s shoulders in a folkstyle-inspired ride, pressing hard across the chest, only for Maeda to slip into a cross-armbreaker attempt that sent Koslowski scrambling for the ropes again. The match was tied at 2-2 on points, and Maeda’s striking advantage became increasingly significant. Around the fifteen-minute mark, a crushing low kick from Maeda buckled Koslowski’s defense and set up another desperate clinch, where Maeda nearly trapped him in a heel hook before Koslowski dragged himself to safety with another rope break.

Sensing the momentum shifting, Maeda pressed harder in the closing stretch. His strikes took on greater intensity, slamming into Koslowski’s ribs and legs until the Olympian was visibly laboring. Koslowski still had flashes of power, at one point driving Maeda down with a high-amplitude Greco throw, but the follow-through was waning. He could not maintain control without risking another rope escape or submission scare. Near the twenty-minute mark, Maeda found his breakthrough. After peppering Koslowski with a stiff left palm strike and a thudding kick to the midsection, he snapped into a clinch, hooked the leg, and executed his signature Capture Suplex. The crowd erupted as Koslowski crashed hard onto the mat. Maeda immediately went for the cover….the referee slid into position and completed the three-count as Koslowski was left staring at the lights. Maeda defeats Koslowski via pinfall, 20:02

Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Masakatsu Funaki

The main event had arrived, and if Masakatsu Funaki was looking for a defining moment in his career, this would be it. Yoshiaki Fujiwara was his senpai since the days in the NJPW Noge dojo, and had remained his senior in UWF despite making a name for himself. Fujiwara would not be willing to let Funaki surpass him easily, and some would say that a Funaki victory tonight wouldn’t necessarily mean he was now better than his old dojo instructor. As Masami Soranaka made his final checks, both wrestlers were very focused on the task at hand. After the bell sounded, Funaki’s lively footwork kept Fujiwara busy. Funaki targeted the thighs and midsection, while crisp palm strikes tested the older man’s reflexes. Fujiwara, never one to rush, absorbed the early offense, using subtle angles to smother Funaki’s striking rhythm and close the distance. On the first grappling exchange, Funaki attempted to capitalize on a level change, shooting in with speed, but Fujiwara calmly caught his arm in transition, forcing a scramble toward the ropes. Funaki escaped without penalty on the first clean break, but Fujiwara had already sent a message. Every aggressive burst came with danger attached. Resetting in the center, Funaki snapped out a flurry of low kicks and body shots, forcing Fujiwara to cover up, and the first true momentum shift arrived when Funaki connected with a sharp mid-level roundhouse that staggered Fujiwara and earned the opening knockdown. The crowd roared as the referee counted. Fujiwara beat the count before Soranaka reached the count of four.

Fujiwara’s methodical strategy took over in the next phase, dragging Funaki into his world of slow pressure and positional traps. A clinch in the corner saw Fujiwara dig hard into the body with punches, smothering Funaki’s attempt to break free and dropping his weight to sap the younger man’s energy. He transitioned to the mat with a smooth trip, locking down half guard and forcing Funaki to carry his frame. Each Funaki attempt at a scramble was met with Fujiwara’s mastery of control, cutting off escapes and teasing submission setups. Fujiwara attempted to execute his trademark Fujiwara armbar early in the match. Funaki, aware of the danger, used a quick bridge to create daylight and edged to the ropes, taking his first official rope break. Back to their feet, Fujiwara continued to stalk, now peppering the body with compact strikes. When Funaki lashed out with a fast roundhouse, Fujiwara snatched the leg and tripped him into a heel hook attempt, drawing another rope break. The match was now tied at 1-1 on points, and by the ten-minute mark, both men seemed to be playing a strategic game of chess.

The third phase of the bout was fought at a higher tempo. Funaki shifted the flow of the match with sharper combinations. He landed a snapping palm strike that visibly rattled Fujiwara, then followed with a flurry of low and middle kicks that backed the veteran toward the ropes. Sensing urgency, Funaki accelerated, dropping Fujiwara with a sudden high kick that clipped the side of his head, earning a second knockdown. Fujiwara quickly got back up again, but Funaki didn’t give Fujiwara much time to recover and pressed hard for a finish, but Fujiwara’s defensive instincts held. The veteran ducked under wild strikes and clinched to slow the pace. Fujiwara was successful in dragging the contest into close-quarters grappling, where his methodical mat work again tested Funaki’s composure. Fujiwara nearly stole the match at the seventeen-minute mark, countering a Funaki kick by dragging him down to the mat and following up with a deep Fujiwara armbar, wrenching back as the crowd rose in anticipation of a submission. Funaki writhed in agony, but with a sudden burst of energy, twisted his hips and managed to lunge toward the ropes, forcing another rope break and escaping what could have been the end. The crowd applauded the resilience. The balance of the match leaned heavily on Funaki’s ability to survive Fujiwara’s traps while still finding the strikes to keep himself ahead. With both men visibly fatigued, the exchanges grew rawer. Funaki pushed the pace with palms and knee strikes, but Fujiwara managed to slow things down again with more clinch work. Funaki found himself on the mat once again, but managed to fight his former senpai to a stalemate in another grappling exchange.

The final stretch of the match continued on a similar note. Neither Funaki nor Fujiwara could find a significant breakthrough, and both men were now tied 3-3 on points after a couple more rope breaks from each competitor. Near the twenty-four minute mark, Funaki sensed he could no longer allow Fujiwara to dictate the engagements. After a tense scramble on the canvas that ended in a clean break, Funaki came out firing, unleashing a vicious body kick followed by a searing palm strike to the jaw that staggered Fujiwara once again. Smelling blood, Funaki darted in with a knee to the midsection, collapsing Fujiwara to the mat before immediately securing position. Instead of pursuing a submission, Funaki displayed maturity beyond his years, shifting his weight and hooking the leg into a tight cover, pinning Fujiwara’s shoulders to the mat with precision. The clever pinning combination from Funaki caught his mentor by surprise. The referee’s count reached three as the crowd erupted. Masakatsu Funaki had achieved the moment he wanted, and would advance to the quarter-finals as one of the new tournament favorites. Fujiwara remained on his knees in a state of shock as Funaki celebrated on a turnbuckle. Funaki defeats Fujiwara via pinfall, 24:03

Fujiwara takes a moment to collect himself, and Funaki soaks in the moment as the fans continue to go wild and chant Funaki's name. The two eventually shake hands and embrace in the middle of the ring, with Fujiwara raising Funaki's hand. Afterward, the commentary crew recaps the main event before moving on to the other matches, and they put over Funaki's win as a major turning point for the young star. They note that he has a challenging path ahead, with Takada waiting in the next round, followed by Fujinami or Maeda. Still, the sky is the limit. They also seem to be pretty keen on the idea that Karelin will be the man to beat in the final rounds, as he looks practically unstoppable. Backstage, interviews are shown with Funaki and Fujiwara, who both have very kind words for each other. Fujiwara, in particular, puts over Funaki but says, with a slight grin, that he still hasn't made him submit in the ring. The commentary crew hype up the next show, which will be at Tokyo's NK Hall on October 30th. The updated bracket is shown, and we get the usual WOWOW sign-off with rolling credits set to Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down."

[ErictheDragon]

Han wins the battle of the Soviets.

Ruas halts Onita's momentum.

The Dragon soars into the quarterfinals.

Karelin puts down a spirited Suzuki.

Sayama really hammered Vrij.

Sad night in the Koslowski household.

Funaki with the biggest win of his career.

Quarterfinals look amazing, especially Maede v Fujinami.