Former NWA World Champion Harley Race...he had 20 NWA World title matches in Japan
In this week's View From The Rising Sun, you will find complete records of the NWA World Heavyweight title matches which were held in Japan from October 7, 1957 to March 14, 1999. It's sad that the world titles have been impaired in value year after year. I know I have to keep pace with the times, but I really sigh for the good old days to return.
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October 7, 1957---Korakuen Baseball Stadium, Tokyo (Nippon Pro-Wrestling)
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Lou Thesz drew Rikidozan (60 minutes time up)
October 13, 1957---Ougi-machi Swimming Pool, Osaka
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Lou Thesz (1-1) Rikidozan
(1) Thesz (15:00) Rikidozan
(2) Rikidozan (10:40) Thesz
(3) 6:53 double counted out of the ring
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Masa between two former NWA World champions, Chris Candido and Dory Funk Jr.
December 2, 1969 ---Osaka Furitsu Gym
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Dory Funk Jr. drew Antonio Inoki (60 minutes time up)
December 3, 1969---Tokyo Metropolitan Gym
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Dory Funk Jr. (1-1) Giant Baba
(1) Baba (21:07) Dory
(2) Dory (3:47) Baba
(3) 60 minutes time up
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August 2, 1970---Fukuoka Sports Center
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Dory Funk Jr. (1-1) Antonio Inoki
(1) Dory (30:38) Inoki
(2) Inoki (7:04) Dory
(3) 60 minutes time up
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December 9, 1971---Osaka Furitsu Gym
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Dory Funk Jr. (2-1) Seiji Sakaguchi
(1) Sakaguchi (17:17) Dory
(2) Dory (4:21) Sakaguchi
(3) Dory (2:15) Sakaguchi
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January 23, 1974---Nagasaki International Gym (All Japan Pro-Wrestling)
NWA World / PWF Heavyweight title match
Jack Brisco (1-1) Giant Baba
(1) Baba (11:05) Brisco
(2) Brisco (9:16) Baba
(3) 3:40 double counted out of the ring
January 24, 1974---Hiroshima Prefectural Gym
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Jack Brisco (1-1) Harley Race
(1) Race (23:55) Brisco
(2) Brisco (8:56) Race
(3) 60 minutes time up
January 28, 1974---Aichi Prefectural Gym, Nagoya
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Jack Brisco (1-1) The Destroyer (Dick Beyer)
(1) Destroyer (10:29) Brisco
(2) Brisco (7:32) Destroyer
(3) 9:26 double counted out of the ring
January 29, 1974---Higashi-yodogawa Gym, Osaka
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Jack Brisco (1-1) Dory Funk Jr.
(1) Dory (43:10) Brisco
(2) Brisco (10:16) Dory
(3) 60 minutes time up
January 30, 1974---Nichidai Kodo (Nippon University Hall), Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Jack Brisco (2-1) Jumbo Tsuruta
(1) Brisco (12:55) Tsuruta
(2) Tsuruta (7:32) Brisco
(3) Brisco (8:58) Tsuruta
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December 2, 1974---Kagoshima Prefectural Gym
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Giant Baba (2-1) Jack Brisco
(1) Baba (11:47) Brisco
(2) Brisco (5:39) Baba
(3) Baba (3:20) Brisco
Baba became the 49th champion
December 5, 1974---Nichidai Kodo (Nippon University Hall), Tokyo
NWA World / PWF Heavyweight title match
Giant Baba (2-1) Jack Brisco
(1) Brisco (13:53) Baba
(2) Baba (3:53) Brisco
(3) Baba (4:50) Brisco
December 8, 1974---Toyohashi City Gym, Aichi
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Jack Brisco (2-1) Giant Baba
(1) Baba (13:47) Brisco
(2) Brisco (3:30) Baba
(3) Brisco (2:34) Baba
Brisco became the 50th champion
December 12, 1974---Kawasaki City Gym, Kanagawa
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Jack Brisco (2-1) Jumbo Tsuruta
(1) Brisco (14:30) Tsuruta
(2) Tsuruta (2:15) Brisco
(3) Brisco (5:11) Tsuruta
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March 9, 1975---Hakodate Civic Gym, Hokkaido
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Jack Brisco (1-1) Giant Baba
(1) Baba (10:50) Brisco
(2) Brisco (4:20) Baba
(3) 4:07 double counted out of the ring
March 11, 1975---Aichi Prefectural Gym, Nagoya
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Jack Brisco (2-1) Jumbo Tsuruta
(1) Tsuruta (11:36) Brisco
(2) Brisco (4:25) Tsuruta
(3) Brisco (7:19) Tsuruta
March 12, 1975---Fuji-no-miya City Gym, Shizuoka
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Jack Brisco (2-1) The Destroyer (Dick Beyer)
(1) Brisco (10:08) Destroyer
(2) Destroyer (3:40) Brisco
(3) Brisco (7:53) Destroyer
March 13, 1975---Nichidai Kodo (Nippon University Hall), Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Jack Brisco (2-1) Bobo Brazil
(1) Brazil (0:39) Brisco
(2) Brisco (6:36) Brazil
(3) Brisco (6:49 DQ) Brazil---Rufus R. Jones interfered
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Terry Funk and Masanori
June 11, 1976---Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Terry Funk (2-1) Jumbo Tsuruta
(1) Tsuruta (15:50) Terry
(2) Terry (6:05) Tsuruta
(3) Terry (5:12) Tsuruta
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June 11, 1977---Setagaya-Ward Gym, Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Harley Race (2-1) Jumbo Tsuruta
(1) Tsuruta (8:26) Race
(2) Race (8:08) Tsuruta
(3) Race (5:24) Tsuruta
June 14, 1977---Matsudo City Sports Center, Chiba
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Harley Race (1-1) Giant Baba
(1) Baba (24:23) Race
(2) Race (17:55) Baba
(3) 60 minutes time up
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January 18, 1978---Sapporo Nakajima Sports Center, Hokkaido
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Giant Baba (2-1) Harley Race
(1) Baba (14:54) Race
(2) Race (5:40) Baba
(3) Baba (11:26 DQ) Race
January 20, 1978---Obihiro Gym, Hokkaido
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Harley Race (1-1) Jumbo Tsuruta
(1) Race (28:09) Tsuruta
(2) Tsuruta (16:30) Race
(3) 60 minutes time up
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May 7, 1979---Osaka Furitsu Gym
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Harley Race (1-1) Jumbo Tsuruta
(1) Race (20:17) Tsuruta
(2) Tsuruta (2:50) Race
(3) 6:10 double counted out of the ring
May 8, 1979---Chiba Prefectural Gym
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Harley Race (1-1) Dick Murdoch
(1) Murdoch (14:45) Race
(2) Race (20:46) Murdoch
(3) 60 minutes time up
May 9, 1979---Miyagi Prefectural Sports Center, Sendai
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Harley Race (1-1) Giant Baba
(1) Baba (32:50) Race
(2) Race (14:45) Baba
(3) 60 minutes time up
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October 26, 1979---Matsumoto City Gym, Nagano
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Harley Race drew Jumbo Tsuruta (30:29 double counted out of the ring)
October 31, 1979---Aichi Prefectural Gym, Aichi
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Giant Baba (18:29) Harley Race
Baba became the 55th champion
November 5, 1979---Kushima City Gym, Miyazaki
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Giant Baba (20:38) Harley Race
November 7, 1979---Amagasaki, Hyogo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Harley Race (20:58) Giant Baba
Harley Race became the 56th champion
November 8, 1979---Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Harley Race drew Abdullah the Butcher (5:08 double counted out of the ring)
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May 27, 1980---Akita Prefectural Gym
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Harley Race (2-1) Tiger Toguchi (Kim Duk / Tiger Chang Lee)
(1) Race (11:59) Toguchi
(2) Toguchi (8:50) Race
(3) Race (5:30) Toguchi
May 28, 1980---Sapporo Nakajima Sports Center
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Harley Race (1-1) Jumbo Tsuruta
(1) Tsuruta (30:05) Race
(2) Race (17:10) Tsuruta
(3) 60 minutes time up
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September 1, 1980---Kanoya City Gym, Kagoshima
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Harley Race drew Jumbo Tsuruta (15:35 double counted out of the ring)
September 4, 1980---Saga Sports Center
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Giant Baba (14:05) Harley Race
Baba became the 57th champion
September 10, 1980---Ohji-ga-oka Park Gym, Ohtsu, Shiga
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Harley Race (11:58) Giant Baba
Race became the 58th champion
September 12, 1980---Ichinomiya Industrial Gym, Aichi
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Harley Race drew Mil Mascaras (14:45 double counted out of the ring)
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February 15, 1981---Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Giant Baba (2-1) Harley Race
(1) Baba (9:39) Race
(2) Race (3:36) Baba
(3) Baba (6:28 DQ) Race
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Masanori with "Nature Boy" Ric Flair--"To BE the Man, you've got to BEAT the Man! WHOOOOO!!!"
October 6, 1981---Miyagi Prefectural Sports Center, Sendai
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Ric Flair (2-1) Gen-ichiro Tenryu
(1) Flair (22:59) Tenryu
(2) Tenryu (5:50) Flair
(3) Flair (3:40) Tenryu
October 7, 1981---Yokohama Bunka Gym, Kanagawa
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Ric Flair (1-1) Terry Funk
(1) Flair (11:24) Terry
(2) Terry (3:07) Flair
(3) 3:42 double counted out of the ring
October 9, 1981---Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Ric Flair (2-1) Jumbo Tsuruta
(1) Tsuruta (17:43) Flair
(2) Flair (5:26) Tsuruta
(3) Flair (5:46) Tsuruta
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June 4, 1982---Nagaoka Welfare Hall, Niigata
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Ric Flair (16:21) Ricky Steamboat
June 8, 1982---Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Ric Flair drew Jumbo Tsuruta (29:11 double pinfall)
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June 8, 1983---Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Jumbo Tsuruta (1-0) Ric Flair
(1) Tsuruta (29:39) Flair
(2) 60 minutes time up
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December 12, 1983---Kuramae Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Ric Flair (24:24 DQ) The Great Kabuki
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May 22, 1984---Den-en Coliseum, Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Kerry Von Erich (1-1) Jumbo Tsuruta
(1) Tsuruta (13:05) Kerry
(2) Kerry (6:37) Tsuruta
(3) 7:56 double counted out of the ring
May 24, 1984---Yokosuka City Gym, Kanagawa
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Ric Flair (2-1) Kerry Von Erich
(1) Kerry (15:51) Flair
(2) Flair (3:24) Kerry
(3) Flair (7:19) Kerry
Flair became the 66th champion
May 25, 1984---Funabashi Civic Gym, Chiba
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Ric Flair (1-1) Harley Race
(1) Race (16:06) Flair
(2) Flair (6:31) Race
(3) 10:46 double DQ
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September 12, 1984---Mito Civic Gym, Ibaraki
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Gen-ichiro Tenryu (2-1) Ric Flair
(1) Tenryu (13:44) Flair
(2) Flair (8:16) Tenryu
(3) Tenryu (5:38 DQ)
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April 23, 1985---Sagamihara City Gym, Kanagawa
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Ric Flair drew Riki Choshu (21:04 double counted out of the ring)
April 24, 1985---Yokohama Bunka Gym, Kanagawa
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Ric Flair drew Jumbo Tsuruta (26:01 double counted out of the ring)
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October 21, 1985---Ryogoku Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
NWA / AWA World Heavyweight title match
Ric Flair drew Rick Martel (34:03 double counted out of the ring)
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March 7, 1987---Akita Prefectural Gym
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Ric Flair drew Yoshiaki Yatsu (17:08 double counted out of the ring)
March 10, 1987---Koriyama Gym, Fukushiama
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Ric Flair (17:29 DQ) Jumbo Tsuruta
March 12, 1987---Nippon Budokan, Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Ric Flair (18:29) Hiroshi Wajima
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March 8, 1989---Nippon Budokan, Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Ricky Steamboat (13:47) Tiger Mask (Mitsuharu Misawa)
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March 21, 1991---Tokyo Dome (New Japan Pro-Wrestling)
NWA World / IWGP Heavyweight title match
Tatsumi Fujinami (23:06) Ric Flair
***The result was dropped from the official record***
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NWA World Heavyweight Championship Tournament
August 6, 1992---Shizuoka Industrial Hall
Masahiro Chono (12:20) Tony Halme (Ludvig Borga)
Keiji Mutoh (10:17) Barry Windham
Scott Norton (8:16) Crusher Bam Bam Bigelow
Steve Austin (Stone Cold) (8:58) Arn Anderson
August 7, 1992---Aichi Prefectural Gym, Nagoya
Terry Taylor got a bye, because of Hiroshi Hase's injury
Kensuke Sasaki (8:20) Jim Neidhart
Shinya Hashimoto (11:29) The Barbarian
Rick Rude (11:54) Super Strong Machine (Junji Hirata)
August 10, 1992---Ryogoku Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
Masahiro Chono (10:48) Scott Norton
Keiji Mutoh (17:05) Steve Austin (Stone Cold)
Rick Rude (13:52) Shinya Hashimoto
Kensuke Sasaki (9:35) Terry Taylor
August 11, 1992---Ryogoku Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
Tournament Semi-finals
Masahiro Chono (26:07) Keiji Mutoh
Rick Rude (19:29) Kensuke Sasaki
August 12, 1992---Ryogoku Kokugikan (Sumo Hall)
Tournament final
Masahiro Chono (29:44) Rick Rude
Chono became the 75th champion
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September 23, 1992---Yokohama Arena, Kanagawa
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Masahiro Chono (17:08) Steve Austin (Stone Cold)
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November 23, 1992---Ryogoku Kokugikan (Sumo Hall), Tokyo
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Masahiro Chono (19:54) Scott Steiner
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January 4, 1993---Tokyo Dome
NWA World / IWGP Heavyweight title match
The Great Muta (Keiji Mutoh) (19:48) Masahiro Chono
Muta became the 76th NWA champion
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August 20, 1995---Kawasaki Baseball Stadium, Kanagawa (IWA)
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Dan Severn (11:35) Tarzan Gotoh
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September 10, 1997---Fukui City Gym
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Dan Severn (8:17) The Great Kabuki
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October 28, 1997---Gifu Industrial Hall
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Dan Severn (3:56) Leather Face
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March 14, 1999---Yokohama Arena, Kanagawa (Universal Fighting Organization)
NWA World Heavyweight title match
Naoya Ogawa (7:56) Dan Severn
Ogawa became the 81st champion
You may contact Masanori at masa_h@mail.goo.ne.jp
Masanori's Japan Tour Dates List can be found at http://www.sky.net/~dannyp/japandates.html
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http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~dnak/
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