Terry and Dory Funk, with Bruiser Brody's boots
(Photo by Masanori Horie)
The Millennium is just around the corner. How can we generalize "Pro Wrestling 1990s"? The 1990s is the decade when pro wrestling has transfigured dramatically. Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk brought the late Bruiser Brody's black jersey and boots in front of us. Brody couldn't observe the 1990s, but his spirit will have to be handed down from generation to generation.
(Photo by Masanori Horie)
FMW (Frontier Martial-arts Wrestling) had their 10th Anniversary Show, "Entertainment Wrestling Special Live," at Yokohama Arena, Shin-yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 23, 1999 (Japanese "Labor Thanksgiving Day"). They announced that they drew a crowd of 14,500 at the 17,000-seat capacity Arena. The show was televised live on Pay-Per-View on DirecTV in Japan (800 yen / about seven dollars). Match quality was so-so. Their American-style productions and angles, which they are conscious of for new fans, is a new approach to regular Japanese fans. They are planning to have their next big show on Friday, May 5, 2000 (a Japanese public holiday, Children's Day).
Victor Quinones and Masanori
Victor Quinones is one of the most important key persons, not only for this show, but also for the Japanese wrestling business today. Victor is working as the WWF's representative in Japan, and he is also the bridge between FMW and ECW. He has brought gaijin (foreign) wrestlers for FMW, Michinoku, and Battlarts in Japan, and for AAA (Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion) in Mexico recently. He has sent Taka Michinoku (Takao Yoshida), Dick Togo (Shigeki Sato), Shoichi Funaki, and Yoshihiro Tajiri, Masato Tanaka, Ikuto Hidaka to the WWF and ECW. He is planning to introduce Cima Nobunaga (Nobuhiko Ohshima) of Ultimo Dragon's Toryumon to the U.S.A. Cima is a 22-year-old new Japanese sensation who has huge future potential.
DSE (Dream Stage Entertainment) group, which runs PRIDE (shoot fighting) series, is planning to have the WWF show at Tokyo Dome in Japan in June and October in 2000 with Victor's help. Victor will promote the "WWF Christmas in Puerto Rico" at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 15, and at Coliseo Edwin Puruco Nolasco in Coamo, Puerto Rico at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 16. One of the greatest Luchadors, Negro Casas of EMLL (Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre), called Victor "Mr. Relations." Victor is a warm and soft-hearted man who has helped a lot of wrestlers for years.
(8) Main Event / "Countdown Millennium" (1 fall / 60 minutes)
"H" (Eiji Ezaki) beat Hayabusa (Masashi Honda / Mr. Gannosuke) (18:21 Phoenix Splash)
"Heart Break Kid" Shawn Michaels (Michael Hickenbottom) came to Japan as a special referee for this match after an absence of seven years and 10 months. Shawn runs The Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy and TWA (Texas Wrestling Alliance) in San Antonio, Texas now. In 1985, Shawn and Paul Diamond (Tom Boric / Max Moon / Kato), as "American Force," had a feud with a Japanese tag team of Fuyuki (Hiromichi Fuyuki) and Kawada (Toshiaki Kawada) for the Texas All Star Tag Team title in Fred Behrend's Texas All Star Wrestling in San Antonio, Texas. Fuyuki is now a booker for FMW, and Kawada became one of the biggest stars in All Japan Pro. Two of Shawn's pupils, American Dragon, 18 years old, 5'11" and 200 lbs., and Lance Cade, 18 years old, 6'1" and 264 lbs., will be sent to FMW's next tour from Wednesday, December 1 to Sunday, December 12. Shawn is a nice guy. He will never forget about his hard days. He told me about his TV matches against Billy Jack and One Man Gang in the World Class area in Dallas, Texas in 1984.
(7) WEW (World Entertainment Wrestling) Single title match / 15,000-volt Current Cage Thunderbolt Death / Loser Leaves FMW (1 Fall / No Time Limit)
Masato Tanaka beat Kodo Fuyuki (Hiromichi Fuyuki) (16:14 "Dangan" Elbow)---Tanaka became the second champion, and Fuyuki was carried out by a garbage truck driven by Tanaka.
(6) WEW Tag Team title match (1 Fall / 60 minutes)
Hisakatsu Oya & Tetsuhiro Kuroda, with Tomomi Tanimoto, beat Tommy Dreamer (Thomas Laughlin) & Raven (Scott Levy), with Francine (Francine Fournier) (11:13 Kuroda beat Dreamer by Lariat)---Oya & Kuroda kept the title on Kuroda's 28th birthday.
Raven, Masanori, Shawn Michaels, and Tommy Dreamer
ECW will send Axl Rotten (Brian Knighton) & Balls Mahoney (John Rickner / Abbudah Singh / Boo Bradley), TAJIRI (Yoshihiro Tajiri), and Super Crazy (Francisco Islas) for FMW's two night shows at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on Saturday, December 11 and Sunday, December 12. It is expected that the FMW - ECW relationship will become steadier and steadier in 2000.
Malia Hosaka, Balls Mahoney, Jazz, Tommy Dreamer, Masanori, and Francine
(5) WEW Hard Core title match (1 Fall / 60 minutes)
Kintaro Kanemura (Yukihiro "W*ING" Kanemura) beat Balls Mahoney (12:34)---Kanemura kept the title. This match was the best match in this show for me. Balls is a very friendly man. Terry Funk kidded him that Balls could be the real "Socko" with big white hood.
(4) "Wrestling Initiation" Tag Team match (1 Fall / 60 minutes)
Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk, with Adam Windsor, beat Yoshinori Sasaki & Naohiko Yamazaki (15:13 Dory beat Yamazaki by Spinning Toe Hold)
Dory Funk Jr., Masanori, Adam Windsor, and Marti Funk
Dory & Marti Funk will have their next wrestling training camp, "Christmas Funking Conservatory" (Pro Wrestling School of Hard Knocks), from Monday, December 20 to Saturday, December 25. Dory's pupil, Adam Windsor, 18 years old, 5'10" and 165 lbs., from Coventry, England, had his first Japan tour. One day, he will remember this experience as a second for The Funks. He will debut on their "Christmas Revolution" show on Christmas Day. Another of Dory's pupils, Angelica (Miss Congeniality in ECW), 23 years old, 5' 8" and 135 lbs., from Atlanta, Georgia, will debut in the WWF in 2000.
The Funks left Narita airport on Wednesday afternoon (11/24). One of their biggest rivals, Abdullah the Butcher, arrived in the same airport for Big Japan Pro Wednesday evening. Maybe this parallel line will join in the near future.
Terry Funk, Masanori, and Dory Funk Jr.
(3) Kakutougi (martial-arts) Karate Jacket match (3 minutes x 10 Rounds)
Willy Williams beat Hido (Hideo Takayama / husband of Megumi Kudo) (2nd Round 2:34 Knock Out)
Antonio Inoki vs. Willy Williams at Kuramae Kokugikan (old Sumo Hall) in Tokyo on February 27, 1980 (4th Round 1:24 double doctor stop) is one of the legendary matches in Inoki's history.
(2) Women Handicap Tag Team match (1 Fall / 60 minutes)
Kaori Nakayama and Emi Motokawa beat Miss Mongol (Aki Kambayashi), Jazz, and Malia Hosaka (9:59 Nakayama beat Hosaka by "Diamond Bust"[Diamond Cutter])
Mongol will go over to Puerto Rico and will have a series of matches against the WWF's Malia Hosaka in December. Then, Mongol will debut in ECW in 2000. Nakayama is a big fan of Sabu and used an Arabian costume. Jazz is a very good woman wrestler.
Masanori and Miss Mongol
(1) WEW Six-Man Tag Team title match / Snatching Ladder match (1 Fall / 60 minutes)
Ricky Fuji (Masanori Morimura), Flyingkid Ichihara (Akihito Ichihara), & Chocoball Mukai, with Miss Sena Wakana, beat Koji Nakagawa, Jado (Shoji Akiyoshi), & Gedo (Keiji Takayama), with Miss Kaoruko Arai (14:54 Fuji captured the belt over the ladder)---Fuji, Ichihara, & Mukai became the third champions
Chocoball and Miss Sena were legitimate very popular "X-rated Video" actor and actress. She is very cute and good as a wrestling valet, too.
You may contact Masanori at masa_h@mail.goo.ne.jp
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