Hey Yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,
I applied for my first patent! Taylor goes political! Nelle Benson returns to General Hospital this week! So much going on! But the most exciting thing that happened was Pro Wrestling Love turned someone onto great wrestling. His excitement over Ric Flair vs Randy Savage, Great American Bash 1995 is why I do this! Here's to many more!
Pro Wrestling Love vol. 15:
The Best of Original UWF 1984-1985
Objective: Break up the Greatest Match Ever Project
(hosted at gwe.freeforums.project.net) into more manageable chunks to help me
build my Top 100 List for the project.
Motivation:
Contribute to the discussion around these matches to enrich my own understanding
of pro wrestling and give a fresh perspective for old matches and even
hopefully discover great pro wrestling matches that have been hidden by the
sands of time.
Subject: This fifteenth
volume of Pro Wrestling Love is the Top 6 countdown of the best matches to take
place in the Original Universal Wrestling Federation which lasted from
1984-1985. Integral to the foundation of Mixed Martial Arts as a sport, it is
one of the most important promotions in the history of pro wrestling. In 1984,
there was a mass departure from New Japan Pro Wrestling to found a new
wrestling promotion under the guise of being a legitimate shoot promotion. In
1984, all pro wrestling promotions were presented themselves as legitimate
sporting leagues to the public. The UWF strove to change that claiming that
bouts contested under New Japan Pro Wrestling were less than on the up &
up. However, they were true pro wrestling and that would be their hook for new
fans. That’s how the first shoot-style promotion was established under the head
of Satoru Sayama (Tiger Mask, Super Tiger). Joining him was the three biggest
stars in Japanese shoot-style history: Yoshiaki Fujiwara (future head of PWFG,
which would in turn birth Pancrase), Akira Maeda (shoot-kick cheapshot artist
and future founder of Fighting Network RINGS) and Nobuhiko Takada (future
founder of UWFi and PRIDE FC). The promotion collapsed in 1985 when Maeda
shoot-kicked Super Tiger in a worked match. Consequently, Maeda & Co.
returned back to New Japan to do an invasion angle. There is a rumor I read
that Inoki actually orchestrated this departure and promotion in order to set
up his own invasion angle. You can revisit past Pro Wrestling Love Volumes at
ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com. You can check out the full version of these
reviews in ProWrestlingOnly.com by going to the forums and finding the folders
associated with the date of the match.
Contact Info: @superstarsleeze
on Twitter & ProWrestlingOnly.com.
 |
| The Shoot-Style GOAT |
Honorable Mentions
Super Tiger vs Akira
Maeda – UWF 9/11/84
Akira Maeda has never done much for me in the ring. He made
his name off taking cheap shots in worked matches against Andre The Giant, Riki
Choshu and Tiger Mask. I find him incredibly bland in the ring. This is more of
an honorable mention because this is well-regarded by others who love
shoot-style rather than something I liked. I came to really love Super Tiger
and not just in those great Fujiwara matches. He is really interesting to watch
and he is really great at kicking.
Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs
Kazuo Yamazaki – UWF 1/7/85
This is a match I really should re-watch because it is very
well-regarded. This is the last match out for me, but with a rewatch and a new
keen eye to shoot-style could increase my regard for this match. Fujiwara is
such a compelling and gripping pro wrestler. It is hard to keep your eyes off
him and it hard for his opponent not to be completely outshone by Fujiwara. I
described this as “poor man’s version of Fujiwara vs Super Tiger”. Yamazaki
tried to use home run kicks to the head to create in-roads, but didn’t have
good enough kicks to put Fujiwara down. Yamazaki lacked the killer instinct and
Fujiwara was just too overwhelming for him. A poor man’s version of maybe the
greatest series ever is still a great match.
Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs
Akira Maeda – UWF 3/2/85
Can Fujiwara do the impossible and carry Maeda to a great
match? The answer is yes and when you perform miracles like that he should be
considered for canonization. There was a lot of downtime because it was Maeda,
but that finish was explosive. Fujiwara is so spectacular and so exciting to
watch.
Nobuhiko Takada vs
Kazuo Yamazaki – UWF 9/11/85
In my opinion, this is the most conventional shoot-style
match to come out of the Original UWF and it happened on their last show. The
first half is pretty brutally boring, but once the first twelve minutes is over
the match really picks up in a big way and it is worth a watch. It was Yamazaki
the home run slugging aggressor against the lightning quick, counterwrestler,
Nobuhiko Takada. They weave a great story using these two different strategies
to create a dramatic finish. To me the
back half was truly amazing, but I just cant rate something where the first
half was so boring that highly.
Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Super Tiger - UWF 7/17/85
The fifth match of the series I watched (the other four make the top six) it is still totally awesome and should be checked out in context of the series. It is on the outside looking in because it is clipped.
#6. Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Super Tiger - UWF 9/11/85
The final match of the final show of the Original UWF features its greatest rivalry: Super Tiger vs Yoshiaki Fujiwara. Sayama is without his mask, which he stopped wearing in February of 1985. I agree with the general consensus that this match is more reminiscent of the first match in that it is more pro-style. Still there are no Irish Whips, moonsaults or Tombstones, but does not feel as shoot-y as the previous matches. It is more of a Greatest Hits sendoff match. Lots of great callbacks. Fujiwara catching Sayama's kicks into a kneebar which was the finish of the May or June match. Then there was Sayama catching Fujiwara with a lightning roundhouse to the midsection and then Sayama following up with a ton of jumping enziguiris. Those head rocking kicks were reminiscent of the December 1984 match. Sayama had more success on the mat here, but it was Fujiwara working his usual magic going for armbars, wristlocks and chokes. There was a very pro style sequence worked around headbutts. Sayama would get another riveting flurry of kicks before the match kicked into the finish run. Fujiwara is trying to wrestle him to the ground for his signature armbar when Sayama hits a mule kick to the head that rocks Fujiwara. Sayama looks for the German to finish but Fujiwara grabs the arm and applies his Fujiwara armbar for the submission victory. I was expecting Sayama to go over in the last show, but great flash submission finish. These two couldnt have a bad match against each other if they tried.
#5. Super Tiger & Nobuhiko Takada vs. Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Akira Maeda - UWF 7/17/84
It is hard to call anything that features a tombstone piledriver, diving top rope headbutt and somersault from a guy wearing Tiger Mask shoot-style, but we all gotta start somewhere. Really enjoyable match! All these guys are from New Japan so not so shockingly this feels like a New Japan match. All Japan was always the bomb-heavy more American pro style promotion. Much like the New Japan I have seen this is focused on grappling with the highspots being more along the lines of flashy karate or amateur throws. I can already tell that Fujiwara was a huge omission to my list. His headbutts were fucking nasty. I loved his general dickishness. He was the first to throw a strike, an open hand slap to Super Tiger. I loved his bridge/snapmare sequence with Takada. He was great on the mat and really kicked some Takada ass.
The story of the match was that Super Tiger would build up an advantage through his karate kicks and high spots. Then he would tag out to Takada. Takada was totally game and he really tried his best, but he would be overwhelmed by his more experienced opponents. As much as Fujiwara kicked ass in this match and as much as Super Tiger wowed with this highspots, I thought Takada was the MVP of this match. He was a perfect, wet behind the ears white meat babyface. He was just a notch below Fujiwara and Maeda in kayfabe, but he never shied away from the moment. He was going to try his hardest. I loved the finish stretch because after all that grueling action it looked like all of Takada's hard work was going to pay off and he was score a massive upset over Fujiwara. Missile dropkick! Belly to Belly! Fujiwara is able to wrangle him into a German suplex bridge (not really a throw, more of a pinning combination, wonder if the Tanahashi haters will bash him for that) to put Takada down. So close, but yet so far away.
Just a quick word on Maeda, did not show me much. He just seemed there. Inoffensive. Really entertaining match. Thought three of the four really contributed different elements and it told a great story.
#4. Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Super Tiger - UWF 5/31/85 or 6/24/85
Just a quick word on the date as there is some confusion. The DVDVR Other Japan project had this match listed as 6/24/85 as does a Segunda Caida review. However, neither Cagematch nor ProWrestlingHistory.com have a card for 6/24/85 for the UWF. They do have a Fujiwara victory on 5/31/85 where Sayama is not wearing his Tiger Mask. So it seems likely that 5/31/85 is the correct date.
Holy Shit. Holy SHIT! This is supposedly the worst match of their five match series in the Original UWF and I freaking LOVED IT! These two can do no wrong together. Six months after their ground breaking five star classic in December of 84 they come back with a totally different match that rules. Sayama no longer has the mask, which bums me out, but these two deliver the goods.
Totally different dynamic in this match. In September, Fujiwara felt like the favorite being bigger and stronger but Super Tiger pulled out the win. December was all about Tiger proving it was no fluke with a spectacular knockout of Fujiwara. Two victories, now Tiger is the favorite and it shows. Fujiwara flinches at the mere flick of Tiger's foot love it. Fujiwara is way more cautious. He is letting Tiger come at him and catch the kick then trying to convert that into offense. I love how the matches are building and telling a greater story. Fujiwara has shifted from offense to defense. Tiger is taking Fujiwara down now and that never happened in the first match. Some really nice double underhook bridging takedowns. Nothing has really changed on the mat, Fujiwara is still the man. There are two big NEAR MISSES where Tiger almost connects with the kick. Loved Fujiwara's sell, like he knows how close he was to doom. Then he catches Tiger's foot and BOOM! eats a big one in the mush and he falls out of the ring. Fujiwara's selling makes the match. Fujiwara follows up by punching Sayama right in the face. Sayama is not very good at selling, which is why shoot style fits him better. They go on the mat, bundle of leg locks lame. Sayama gets a single leg crab. Then as they coming up from a tangle on the mat he connects with a WICKED KICK to the face. Shades of December! It feels like the match is over from how Fujiwara is selling. Sayama misses with a kick to head, but connects with kick to the leg. He is cornering Fujiwara, but has not gotten him off his feet. Fujiwara with a desperation takedown and leg lock...middle of the ring...nowhere to go...SUPER TIGER TAPS OUT! WOW!
Fujiwara needed win and he pulled that one out from the jaws of defeat. Also that is Sayama's first loss in UWF. Great booking. Another Sayama knockout would have killed the series, but teasing the knockout then having Fujiwara get the submission victory. Really looking forward to the July match now.
#3. Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Nobuhiko Takada - UWF 10/22/84
The best non-Fujiwara vs Super Tiger features the young up and coming Nobuhiko Takada.
Takada came out to So Happy Together and Fujiwara Ride of Valkyries. God Bless Japan!
Why the fuck did I wait so long to get into Fujiwara! He is the best at coming up with completely plausible way to hit pro wrestling moves in a match. His backbreaker was tight. I really like these two together. Takada has so much to prove against Fujiwara, who is as confident as he was against Super Tiger. I loved the early grappling. It was quick without lacking the grit and struggle. Takada had some nice early gymnastics and Fujiwara/Takada did their bridge/snapmare sequence. It was grappling with highspots. The ultimate highspot was Fujiwara's escape from the Boston Crab that needs to be seen to be believed!
At about the ten minute mark, Takada gets fed up starts throwing strikes at Fujiwara this seems like a bad idea at first because Fujiwara gets him in a corner and belts him. However, Takada actually wins the stand up and moves into a chinlock. Takada does not wrestle his control from a position of strength. His control feels tenuous at best and he wants to end it quickly because he knows he could lose any second. Fujiwara does come roaring back with some vicious strikes. He tries for the Crossface Chickenwing, but settle for a wicked piledriver. There is a cut due to bad video and next thing you know Takada is coming flying off the top and crashing and burning. My one complaint down the stretch is that sometimes Takada would pop up and start to go back on offense with kicks. It just seemed too sudden even for this pro-shoot-style mix. Fujiwara is killing Takada with butterfly suplexes and huge headbutts and then it is just here comes Takada. I think there could have been a better transition for Takada to have one last gasp. I LOVE the finish with Takada going for the crossface chickenwing only for them to snapmare each other over with Fujiwara coming out with the Crossface Chickenwing and the win.
Highly entertaining shoot-style match. Loved the story of Takada as the underdog trying to match Fujiwara. Fujiwara is fucking awesome. Silent badass demeanor. Strong as all get out, great on the mat, cool highspots, great logical set ups, crazy awesome strikes. Excellent match!
#2. Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Super Tiger - UWF 9/7/84
Fujiwara is such a gritty badass and I love that you can hear him snarling throughout this match. Coming off the tag match, I fully expected Super Tiger to control the majority of the match. He seemed to have no problem gaining an advantage and the match felt like a star making vehicle for him. Instead, he was totally gobbled up by the stronger, bigger Fujiwara. Fujiwara threw Super Tiger around at will and was countering him on the mat like it was nothing. At first, I could not make sense of Super Tiger's strategy from a kayfabe standpoint. Fujiwara was murdering him on the mat with wristlocks, triangle chokes and cross armbreakers. Tiger was playing right into it. He needed to use his karate kicks to establish some sort of game, but trying to fight Fujiwara on the mat was silly. He gets a big slap, but again plays into Fujiwara's head. Then he gets a WICKED kick to the head. Fujiwara sells it perfectly. Shocked, rattled and falls to one knee. Again, Tiger tries for a double wristlock, but once Fujiwara regains his wits he easily counters to a position of strength. Somewhere in here, Fujiwara counters a Triangle with a fucking piledriver. Mark Out City! Third time is a charm as Tiger strings a combination of kicks then a Tombstone Piledriver. One of the best Tombstones ever! He goes for a top rope kneedrop, but misses. Fujiwara pissed about the Tombstone nails his own piledriver. It has now morphed into a standard New Japan, which I am totally fine with. Tiger makes for a great underdog and Fujiwara is an excellent no-nonsense shooter. Pele by Tiger and misses the moonsault. Fujiwara does not fuck around and goes after the knee viciously with single leg crabs and figure-4s. I love how everything he does has struggle to it. The struggle over the German was excellent. Super Tiger fighting with everything he had to avoid was great. Fujiwara looks to finish him off and Super Tiger hits a roundhouse kick to the face. Nasty. Then knocks his head off before applying a Crossface Chickenwing for the Upset, come from behind victory.
Loved the grappling early that really exploited the styles difference and weight difference. I think the pro-style finish run complemented it perfectly. Super Tiger could have sold the moments better. Selling the fact that he was overwhelmed, then he on top being pumped and then knee selling could have been better. He just kinda did he standard, nothing is wrong floating on his feet routine. He felt very hollow. Fujiwara was excellent. Classic match.
#1. Yoshiaki Fujiwara vs Super Tiger - UWF 12/05/84
Perhaps the greatest and most influential match of all time.
First Half: Fujiwara throws his flowers into the crowd. He is pissed he lost in September and came to play. They establish the story early. Tiger is going for knockout head shots and Fujiwara is looking to counterpunch with takedowns and grappling. The key for Tiger is not to overrotate on his kicks. The very first kick he does and misses. Fujiwara gobbles him up and applies a double wristlock. Tiger safely makes the ropes. You see Tiger rifle some kicks but he is much more control of his body does not leave himself as open to the counterattack. He goes for a headshot and clips the head. The crowd "Oooohs and Aaaaahs", but it was a glancing blow and Tiger overrotated and Fujiwara pounces. Sayama digs in his heels to block and actually gets a double wristlock of his own. This morphs into the second story of the match whenever Sayama starts with control on the mat he ends up losing control. After a couple instances of this, you believe he has to win by KO, Fujiwara is just too good on the mat. Tiger makes his first major in roads when a check kick to the leg crumples Fujiwara. He got him just right. Fujiwara goes into traditional pro wrestling selling as Tiger pounces on the leg with wicked kicks. After needing the ropes on several occasions to force a break, this is Tiger's first big break, but he cant capitalize on the mat. Fujiwara retaliates with a flurry of wicked body shots in the corner. Sayama desperate starts throwing knees and one catches Fujiwara pretty good in the head. Tiger unleashes one wicked kick to the head and then drops down with a knee drop. Wow what a sequence! Again, Sayama loses control on the mat. He just does not have the ground acumen of the crafty Fujiwara. Then comes my favorite sequence of the whole match. Fujiwara grabs a rear naked choke and YANKS Tiger into the middle of the ring. Tiger is coughing and struggling to breathe. It really builds the drama and tension. You can hear the coughing subtly at the beginning of the match, but he goes full bore here. I also love that when Fujiwara goes for the armbar how desperately Tiger scrambles for the ropes. It really puts over the danger of the hold. Then Sayama keeps selling the choke with more coughing! Fantastic! There needs to be more coughing in wrestling. Fujiwara wants to apply a Crossface Chickenwing the same hold he submitted to in September, but Tiger makes the ropes and as the first half closes Tiger is trying for the same hold on Fujiwara. Sayama settles for a side mount triangle choke, which Fujiwara alleviates the pressure by bearhugging his own knee. God Bless Fujiwara, he is a boss. Absolutely thrilling first half where they established the key offensive strategies of both wrestlers and completely hooked you into the fight.
Second Half: In typical Tiger fashion, he loses control of the Triangle Choke and falls prey to a Triangle Choke, but gets to the ropes. Fujiwara is pissed and tries to keep attacking, but the ref points out Sayama is still under the rope. Fujiwara throws him with a butterfly suplex to restart the submission game. Tiger makes the ropes on a double wristlock and then throws a German suplex. He goes for a cross armbreaker, but again loses control on the ground. Then it happens when they stand back up. The roundhouse kick to the solarplexus that changes the match. Fujiwara has the wind knocked out of him by the lightning kick. From then it is a relentless barrage of kicks by Sayama to the head of the fallen Fujiwara. Fujiwara desperately tries to cling to the kicks of Super Tiger to create offense, but he is too weak. When he does stand, Tiger nearly kicks Fujiwara's head off to the great excitement of the crowd. Sayama then drops brutal knees using the top rope for added leverage on the prone head of Fujiwara. I love that one camera angle where it is on Fujiwara standing reeling and all of sudden Sayama with just flash onto the screen whacking Fujiwara. Fujiwara has one last flurry punctuated by a big headbutt, but knocks himself loopy. He is easy pickins' for Super Tiger that continues his brutal onslaught with furious kicks to the head. Eventually, Fujiwara is left in a heap knocked out by Super Tiger.
No Irish Whips. No Moonsaults. No Tombstone Piledrivers. Just close contact grappling and swift kicks. On this day, Mixed Martial Arts was born to a man in a tiger mask.
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