Sekai chi kawaii no wa? [Who is the cutest in the world?] Itoh-chan! Last week I wrote about the uniqueness of Rina Yamashita. This week we take a look at another extremely unique character in professional wrestling and somebody who just celebrated a birthday (July 22). Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling’s Maki Itoh. Itoh was an idol singer (a type of […]
After Hogan and the NWO I had to break the scope back open again. Rina Yamashita is a name unknown to many, even amongst a lot of western joshi fans. Rina is (as of writing) one of the top freelancers in Japan and one of the most unique wrestlers in her field. She has competed in many smaller promotions with […]
Note: This article was written in 2017. 2006: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Katsuyori ShibataToukon Shidou Chapter 1 (attendance: 31,000)http://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00167_1_8 We took a look at Shinsuke Nakamura for the 2004 event and in 2006 we meet the other two ‘New Musketeers’. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Katsuyori Shibata. Both graduates of the NJPW Dojo (alongside Nakamura), New Japan planned to build the future around […]
Note: This article was written in 2017 2004: Shinsuke Nakamura © vs Yoshihiro Takayama © – IWGP Heavyweight and NWF Heavyweight title unification matchWrestling World 2004 (attendance: 40,000)http://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00164_1_15 After re-establishing the NWF Heavyweight title a year ago, here we are back in the Tokyo Dome to unify it with the IWGP Heavyweight title. After defeating Tsuyoshi Kohsaka last year, Yoshihiro […]
Note: This article was written in 2017 2003: Yoshihiro Takayama vs Tsuyoshi Kohsaka – vacant NWF Heavyweight titleWrestling World 2003 (attendance: 30,000)http://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00162_1_10 Who? Tsuyoshi Kohsaka is a mixed martial artist who as of this writing has a record of 29-19 which includes losses to Mark Hunt, Randy Couture, Bas Rutten and Frank Shamrock (among others). Brought in to NJPW as […]
Born: May 7, 1965 | Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta, CanadaDied: May 23, 1999 (Blunt Force Trauma)Billed Weight: 227 lbsOther Aliases: “Cowboy” Owen Hart, Blue Angel, Blue Blazer, The Rocket, The King of Harts Owen was the youngest of twelve children to Stu and Helen Hart. He was an amateur wrestler in high school, where he also met his future wife, Martha. Naturally, […]
1992: Tatsumi Fujinami © vs Riki Choshu © – IWGP Heavyweight & Greatest 18 title unification Super Warriors in Tokyo Dome (attendance 50,000) http://njpwworld.com/p/s_series_00104_1_12 The feud that netted New Japan two of its biggest stars (not named Inoki) in the 1980s, Riki Choshu and Tatsumi Fujinami put on a number of classics over the years. Fitting that as we start […]
Born: October 6, 1935 (Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino) | Birthplace: Pizzoferrato, Abruzzi, ItalyDied: April 18, 2018 (Multiple Organ Failure)Billed Hometown: Abruzzi, Italy / Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Billed Weight: 265 lbs Bruno Sammartino was born in 1935, in the small village of Pizzoferrato, Abruzzi, Italy. The youngest of seven children, only he, a brother and a sister were still alive when World […]
Born: May 19, 1946 (André René Roussimoff) | Birthplace: Coulommiers, Seine-et-Marne, FranceDied: January 27, 1993 (Heart Failure)Billed Hometown: Grenoble, French Alps | Billed Weight: 400-520 lbs. | Billed Height: 7 ft. 4 in.Other Aliases: Géant Jean Ferré, Monster Roussimoff, The Polish Giant, Giant Machine, André el GiganteNotable Feuds: Hulk Hogan, Don Leo Jonathan, Killer Khan, Strong Kobayashi, Heenan Family Much of […]
