On a new Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast, we take a trip back to the late-90s, specifically 1998.
26 years ago on December 5, 1998, the finals of the All-Japan Pro Wrestling Real World Tag League took place as Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama faced off against Vader & Stan Hansen.
Fumi Saito talks to me about how this wasn’t just one of the best matches of the 90s, but that it symbolized a lot of changes happening around the end of one century and the beginning of another.
Plus, we chat about career of Mighty Inoue, and plenty of other news and notes.
Fumi Saito and I are back with another episode of the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast.
This week, we discuss New Japan Pro Wrestling’s new president Hiroshi Tanahashi, including what he’ll do, his goals, his college background, and the fact that he’s actually the fourth wrestler to carry the title of NJPW president.
Plus, we talk the success of All Japan and why Fumi is not concerned about their new partnership with WWE NXT.
We’re coming up on Wrestle Kingdom next week and we also run down a number of shows running in Tokyo the next several days.
We’re back with nearly 90 minutes of the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast.
Fumi Saito and I talk about what the future may hold for Will Ospreay, Giulia and Okada in 2024 including why WWE may or may not be the best fit for them.
Fumi answers questions on Stardom’s new president and possible changes we could see in the company in 2024.
We also discuss All Japan Pro Wrestling’s comeback year and the three people driving the resurgence and change backstage.
Plus, Wrestle Kingdom, Bruiser Brody, Abdullah The Butcher, The Von Erichs, questions from the YouTube chat and much more.
Fumi Saito talks about doing commentary for the Hana Kimura memorial show and the meaning behind the matches. Plus, The Stardom 5 Star Gran Prix, New Japan’s Best of the Super Juniors, who he’s really enjoying in the tournament, why he doesn’t think All Japan’s foray into women’s wrestling will work, Muto, older wrestlers in Japan, and the infamous Fire Pro Wrestling storyline. Was it really a suicide at the end of the video game’s story mode? Get the answer from the man himself.
The new Omicron variant of COVID-19 that became a major news story this week led to Japan closing its borders.
The announcement was made that as of 11/30, travelers could not come to the country, but it is not what it sounds like.
This will have some effect on the pro wrestling business. Basically wrestlers who have already obtained working visas will be able to return, and it’s been confirmed that Will Ospreay would be working the Tokyo Dome in the main event on 1/5 against the winner of the Shingo Takagi vs. Kazuchika Okada IWGP title match the night before. There was a one day period where New Japan officials were trying to get clearance for this and there was no answer regarding those leaving the country or those not in the country.
Those who have been in Japan over the past year, people like Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa, Jeff Cobb, Aaron Henare, Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, KENTA and announcer Kevin Kelly (who will be staying in Japan from January through March and doing live English broadcasts of all the major shows until the end of the New Japan Cup) will all be allowed to come to Japan or in some cases stay in Japan.
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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
We’ve got two shows up from yesterday. I did the annual Hall of Fame show with Garrett Gonzalez and Pat Laprade on Saturday, as well as a show covering AAA TripleMania, UFC, Smackdown, Rampage and WWE schedule news last night with Bryan Alvarez. Bryan and Lance Storm will be talking about the NXT show tonight.
NXT WarGames tonight. This feels like the least anticipated NXT special to date. Denise Salcedo of this site will be doing the pre-game show.
Roderick Strong vs. Joe Gacy for the cruiserweight title: Gacy isn’t a cruiserweight but it’s still up. If Gacy wins, this turns into the All Inclusive title meaning no weight limit or gender limit. Match should be good given Strong is in it. Gacy can go as well although the nature of the character should be that his wins are flukes. Strong is listed as a -185 favorite to retain at BetOnline.
Fabian Aichner & Marcel Barthel vs. Kyle O’Reilly & Von Wagner for the tag titles. Actually this should be great since O’Reilly is likely selling most of the way and Imperium is super underrated. Imperium is at -200 to retain.
Cameron Grimes vs. Duke Hudson hair vs. hair. Grimes is always entertaining. The odds are -120 each so it’s even odds.
Women’s War Games with Dakota Kai & Mandy Rose & Jayce Jayne & Gigi Dolin vs. Io Shirai & Raquel Gonzalez & Kay Lee Ray & Cora Jade has some inexperienced people in a tornado match that can get messy. No doubt there will be some high risk stuff. The faces have the advantage and are slight favorites at -125.
Men’s War Games with Grayson Waller & Carmelo Hayes & Bron Breakker & Tony D’Angelo vs. Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano & Pete Dunne & LA Knight. Breakker has had 11 matches although he’s one of the best wrestlers at that level of experience you’ll ever see. D’Angelo has had three short matches, so this is asking a lot of him. Still, Ciampa, Gargano and Dunne are three of the best Likely because people expect Gargano to lose,which has made the Breakker team a -200 favorite.
As far as Google searches for the week, Clay Guida was No. 13 coming off his big win last night for today with 20,000 searches. Last night UFC was No. 7 out of all topics, while boxers Gervonta Davis was No. 9 and Devin Haney was No. 11, all at the 200,000 range. There was nothing pro wrestling related that cracked the list.
For today, we’re looking for your thoughts on last night’s AAA TripleMania and today’s NXT War Games shows, you can leave a thumbs up, down or middle, best and worst match to [email protected] We’re also looking for reports on all the major weekend shows, notably tonight’s WWE house show in Corpus Christi, TX.
Regarding Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar as the main event for Day One, this is scheduled to be a multi-match series and this being one of the matches in the series.
For tomorrow night’s Raw, so far announced is Big E vs. Kevin Owens non-title cage match, Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan for the women’s title and Miz TV with Edge.
Elijah Burke, who was injured on last night’s NWA PPV show, was released from the hospital this morning. The belief is that he suffered a concussion.
That was a really classy deal UFC did last night with the video package on the late Suzy Friton, who passed away back in September from cancer. They had already aired a package when she passed away, but did so again partially to push the Stuart Scott Foundation. They also showed footage of Scott training in MMA later in his life and noted that if he was alive, and if ESPN got the UFC deal that he’d have likely been regularly covering it.
GCW from yesterday in Dallas, TX: Joey Janela b ASF, Tony Deppen b Demonic Flamita, Atticus Cogar NC Jordan Oliver, Blake Christian b Jack Cartwheel, AJ Gray & Matthew Justice b Alex Colon & Sadika, Fuego del Sol won scramble match over Drago Kid, Gringo Loco, Nick Wayne and Sam Stackhouse, Mark & Jay Briscoe kept the tag titles over Ninja Mack & Dante Leon, Thunder Rosa b Allie Katch (said to be tremendous with 50/50 crowd and was told it was a ****1/2 match, John Wayne Murdoch b Jimmy Lloyd in a death match. (thanks to Dave Doyle)
WWE
First day for Smackdown at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on 1/28 was 2,721 tickets out.
Tickets for these shows will have a presale on Wednesday:
1/21 Smackdown in Nashville
1/23 house show in Huntington, WV
1/24 Raw in Toledo
2/21 Raw in Columbia, SC
2/25 Smackdown in Hershey, PA
3/4 Smackdown in Miami at the FTX Arena
3/11 Smackdown in Birmingham, AL at the Legacy Arena
3/12 house show in Columbus, GA
3/13 house show in Savannah, GA
3/14 Raw in Jacksonville, FL
3/19 house show in Springfield, IL
3/20 Raw in Moline, IL
AEW
Winter is Coming for 12/15 is now less than 500 tickets from sold out, so it should be a sellout of roughly 6,000 in Garland, TX, which would be the best showing the company has done at the Curtis Culwell Center to date. The show is on that date because the NFL owners meetings are in Dallas. This week’s show at the UBS Arena is at about 8,800. It won’t sell out but obviously will do well ahead of what Raw did in the same building on Monday and easily double the paid attendance.
For the AEW shows on 1/19 and 1/21 in Washington, DC, the first day for Dynamite is at more than 3,000 with 888 left, although with such a small building we thought it could go immediately. Rampage’s first day was 2,400, so it may not sellout.(thanks to William Zdon and Wrestletix)
OTHER NOTES
Kento Miyahara & Yuma Aoyagi won the 45th annual All Japan year-end tag team tournament today at Korakuen Hall beating Koji Doi & Kuma Arashi in the finals.
Naoya Nomura, who has been out of action with a spinal injury said he is leaving All Japan at the end of this year but wanted one last match.
Jake Lee vs. Abdullah Kobayashi will be the annual first week of the year Triple Crown title match on 1/2 at Korakuen Hall.
All Japan also announced a Junior Battle of Glory tag team tournament on 12/26.
Konosuke Takeshita beat Yuki Ueno to win the D-Oh tournament final in DDT earlier today at Korakuen Hall. Minoru Suzuki will be on the 12/26 DDT show at the Yoyogi Gym.
Combate Global next Sunday on Paramount+ and Univision has a $100,000 one-night eight-man tournament from Miami starting at 10 p.m. Eastern. The idea is eight fighters representing eight countries in the bantamweight division. The first round matches are Carlos Briseno (13-2) of Mexico vs. Cristian Barrazza (7-3) from Chile, Frans Miambo (10-5) of Ireland vs. Jose Zarauz (22-8-1) of Peru, Leo Muniz (6-1) of the U.S. vs Pierre Daguzan (6-5) of France and Kevin Cordero (12-2) of Spain vs. Luciano Ramos (8-6) of Argentina.
Ruby Soho vs. Josh Alexander was announced for AAW’s 12/30 show at the Logan Square Arena in Chicago.
Yesterday on CBS announcer Brad Nessler during the Alabama vs. Georgia game said that Ric Flair was his old friend and quoted his “To be the man” quote. (thanks to Barry Werner)
PWA Black Label from Friday night in Sydney, Australia before a sellout 400 fans: Ricky South b Carter Deams, Billy Preston won over Big Fudge, Jimmy Townsend and Rhys Angel, Kingsley & Jack Bonza b Belinda Pierce & Aaron Jake, Shazza McKenzie b Cherry Stephens, Slex & Mitch Waterman & Caveman Ugg b Paris De Silver & Jude London & Matt Diamond (told this was great), Jessica Troy & Unsocial Jordan b Lyrebird Luchi & Matt Rogers, Juan Direction won over Kai Drake and Michael Spencer, Mick Moretti b Sam Osborne to win the PWA title. Next show is 12/19 with a PWA vs. MCW Worlds Collide show from Melbourne (thanks to Paul Robinson)
Great Lakes Wrestling drew a sellout 2,100 fans last night in Waukesha, WI, one of the biggest indie crowds of the year, for the first independent appearance by Adam Scherr, the former Braun Strowman. Xavier Mustafa won Battle Royal, Russ Jones b Koda Jacobs, Joey Avalon b Shannon Moore, Swoggle & Dustin Jackson & Luscious Lawrence & TW 3 b Drew Hernandez & Dark Klouds & Tony Gun, Joe Doering b Cash Flo, Mike Curkov & Austin & Colten Gunn b Kevin Fertig & Jeff Luxon & Ryan Kross, Linda Kay & ODB & Sierra b Serena Deeb & Haley J & Rayvin Reddix, Jessie Godderz b Kal Herro to keep the OVW title, Backwoods Brown b Val Venis to keep the Great Lakes title, Adam Scherr & EC 3 b Jake Something & Rohit Raju
Masato Tanaka has a singles match with Naomichi Marufuji on Tuesday at Korakuen Hall.
Beyond Wrestling’s show this afternoon in IWTV has Alex Shelley defending their world title against Ruby Soho in the main event. Blake Christian, Wheeler Yuta, Kimber Lee, Tracy Williams, Dutch and others are on the show.
Blitzkrieg Pro from last night in Enfield, CT: Jeremy Leary & Perry Von Vicious b Eel O’Neal & Jordan Blade, Scotty Wild b J George, Rachael Ellering d Skylar, 50 Cal won over Jeff Cannonball, CPA, Danger Kid, Kaia McKenna and Armani Kayos,Max Caster b Matt Rehwoldt (Aiden English), Kirby Wackerman b Juba, Bryce Donovan b Mark Sterling (Jade’s manager), Steve Somerset & Stephan Azure b Logan Black & Chris Benne, Travis Huckabee b Carlos Romo, VSK won over Bobby Orlando, Devantes, King Crab and Aaron Rouke in a ladder match (thanks to Nick Mahmood)
NWA USA results from Friday night in Atlanta before 65 fans: Luke Hawx b PJ Hawx, Ariya Daivari b Jay Spade, Marshe Rockett b Anthony Mayweather, Darius Lockhart b Sal Rinauro, Natalia Markova b Kenzie Page-DQ, Kerry Morton b Jamie Stanley, Doug Williams & Nick Aldis, b Thom Latimer & Chris Adonis (Masters), Marshe Rockett b Miguel Robles, Darius Lockhart b Ariya Daivari, Austin Aries b Luke Hawx, Colby Corino b Kerry Morton, Natalia Markova b Kenzie Page, Jay Spade won four-way over Sal Rinauro, CW Anderson and Jamie Stanley, Chris Adonis b Fable Jay, Chris Adonis b Marshe Rockett, Homicide b Alex Taylor, Doug Williams b Jay Bradley, May Valentine NC Natalia Markova, Austin Aries b Ricky Morton.
AJPW has announced the participants for this year’s Champion Carnival tournament.
During this evening’s show at Korakuen Hall, the company announced the ten participants for this year’s tournament:
AJPW Triple Crown Champion Suwama
Zeus
Kento Miyahara
Shuji Ishikawa
Jake Lee
Yuma Aoyagi
Shotaro Ashino
Koji Doi
Kohei Sato
Shinjiro Otani
Zeus won last year’s tournament, pinning Miyahara in the finals. That tournament, originally scheduled to take place last April, was delayed to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s tournament will start on April 9 in Osaka and will conclude on May 3, with the finals taking place at Korakuen Hall. The dates for this year’s tournament are as follows:
With a huge feature on the crazy story of the original Hollywood Blonds tag team with the death of Jerry Brown, we’ve got a double issue this week of the Observer up on the site right now.
Our lead story looks at this year’s G-1 tournament looking at every card, the stories going into the card, the restrictions, the odds, and the new Will Ospreay, start time for every show, complete lineups, comments by Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley regarding this year’s new format.
Also in this issue:
Update on WWE Clash of Champions, with the matches announced, updates on titles not yet announced with matches and keys to the show.
The situation with Matt Riddle and Samantha Tavel.
Daniel Cormier getting COVID and a new UFC product being pushed.
Changes at the USA Network, Sasha Banks with a major acting gig, Update on Jeff Hardy, details behind the Paul Heyman/Roman Reigns pairing, new contracts signed in WWE, wrestler teases gimmick change, Mandy Rose angle, law being talked about reglated to the Sonya Deville incident, Retribution update, this coming week’s WWE television, Randy Orton new business, Ivar injury update, Ronda Rousey update, Next NXT Takeover, weird TV moment, Sports & International ratings, Jimmy Jacobs talks WWE protocol and Vince McMahon, injury update, movie with WWE performers, market value of WWE and the most-watched shows on WWE Network.
This past week’s UFC show with the stories behind the show and match-by-match coverage.
New Japan’s last show this past week before G-1, held at Korakuen Hall, with the matches and angles and what is being pushed.
Our huge feature covers the life and career of Jerry Brown, who teamed with Buddy Roberts to form the Hollywood Blonds, one of the greatest heel tag team acts of all-time. This major feature looks at their beginnings, their heyday in Quebec and Florida, places they went, who they faced, as well as the other territories they went, championships they held, the second version of the Hollywood Blonds people don’t remember, the mentality of the act and some crazy Jerry Brown stories, with lots of comments from Bill Watts, who put the team together.
Ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
We have a number of weekend shows up on the site including Bryan Alvarez with Lance Storm on Friday, Garrett Gonzalez and I with Rich Swann on Friday, and Bryan and I from last night talking G-1, UFC and Smackdown.
Last night’s UFC had 1.1 million searches putting it No. 3 behind the California Earthquake and Boston Celtics. That’s the PPV level having to do with Colby Covington, for better or worse. The key topics were Covington and his phone call from the president, Donald Cerrone and Khamat Chimaev (who finished the day in the top 20 meaning people are seeing him as a star). The only other combat sports thing in the top 20 during the week was Floyd Mayweather on Wednesday at No 13 with 200,000 stemming from rumors of the idea he will do a boxing match with Logan Paul. There is no contract signed for such a match although there have been talks. The idea is preposterous on multi-levels.
All Japan has a show live tonight at 10:30 p.m. Eastern time with Champion Carnival matches from Korakuen Hall of Suwama vs. Zeus, Jake Lee vs. Kuma Arashi, Kento Miyahara vs. Yuma Aoyagi and Shuji Ishikawa vs. Shotaro Ashino. It’s live on All Japan’s streaming service.
Dragon Gate also has a major show at 2 a.m. late tonight Eastern time from the Tokyo Ota Ward Gym. It’s live on the Dragon Gate streaming service with a six-way cage match with a ton of stipulations with Yamato, Big R Shimizu, BxB Hulk, Kai, Eita and Masato Yoshino. There are also multiple title matches:
Kaito Ishida defends the Open the Brave Gate title against Yosuke Santa Maria
Gamma & Ho Ho Lun & Kagetora & Yasushi Kanda vs. Keisuke Okuda & Problem Dragon & Punch Tominga & U-T
Don Fujii & Genki Horiguchi & Ryo Saito vs. Masaaki Mochizuki & Shuji Kondo & Ultimo Dragon
Naruki Doi vs. Kzy
Ben K & Strong Machine J & Dragon Dia defend the Open the Triangle Gate titles against Diamante & Kazma Sakamoto & Takashi Yoshida
Jason Lee & Kota Minoura defend the Open the Twin Gate titles against Dragon Kid & Susumu Yokosuka
Six-way cage match. People enter at different intervals. There are different stips involving winning as well as the last guy left.
There will be a Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions show on Sunday after the Clash of Champions PPV with Kurt Angle as the guest.
WWE
Names announced so far for the Gauntlet Eliminator on Wednesday’s NXT show for a shot at Finn Balor’s title at the 10/4 Takeover are Timothy Thatcher, Cameron Grimes, Kushida and Kyle O’Reilly. I would say any of the four would be a major surprise to be in the main event against Balor of a Takeover show, and all of the four would probably deliver a good match.
MISCELLANEOUS
Mission Pro Wrestling from Friday night in Buda, TX for a show put on by Thunder Rosa: Avery Taylor b Alex Gracia, Killer Kate & Promise Braxton b Jenna Lynn& Vert Vixen, Madi Wrenkowski b Red Velvet, Big Swole b Rosa Negra, Elayna Black b Rachelle Rose, Jenna Cide b Rok-C, Thunder Rosa b Lindsay Snow to retain the NWA women’s title (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
Toa Henare announced that his first show put on by his wrestling school will be on 2/27 in Whanganui, New Zealand. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
Warrior Wrestling from last night in Chicago Heights, IL before about 200 fans. It was really cold last night which held down the crowd, but also showed the difficulty in running weekly in this day and age: Garrison Creed b Jordan Cross, Sam Adonis b Jake Something, Beast Man won over The Sign, Icon Lee, Dani Mo, Jack Griffin and Dan the Dad,Lee Moriarty b Tre Lemar, Ace Austin & Mad Man Fulton b Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku in an Impact vs. MLW match, Kimber Lee b Jordynne Grace, Alex Shelley d Jonathan Gresham with a double pin finish that didn’t seem to work, Luchasaurus & Tay Conti b Chris Bey &Rae Lyn, Trey Miguel won three-way over Dezmond Xavier and Zachary Wentz to earn a title match, Brian Pillman Jr. b Warhorse to keep the Warrior title (thanks to Lance LeVine and Shannon Walsh)
Adam Brooks vs. Havoc headlines to Riot City Wrestling on 10/10 in Adelaide, Australia.
The Pro Wrestling Darwin promotion in Northern Australia is closing because the owners are moving to Perth.
Pro Wrestling Phoenix from Friday night in Omaha: Omar Pachecco b Logan Ocean, K-Dos b Ryan Monroe, Duke Cornell b Moonshine Russell, Pat Powers b Xander McIntosh, Pat Powers b Nicky Scent-COR, Paul Daniels & Joey Daniels b Purule & Mack Riggs, The Carver b Brett Bishop, Branden Juarez b Jack Darling-DQ. Next show is 10/10 at the Waiting Room Lounge in Omaha.
A couple of notes regarding masks. Rich Baker’s family at [email protected] are doing Lucha Libre COVID masks that look really cool. Pro Wrestling Revolution also has Lucha COVID masks that are cool.
Jun Akiyama is heading to the WWE Performance Center in May.
All Japan Pro Wrestling announced on Twitter this morning that Akiyama will travel to the United States to work as a guest coach at the WWE Performance Center from May 12 through the 22nd. The tweet mentioned he would also be meeting with Triple H.
Yahoo Sports in Japan originally reported the story that Akiyama would be meeting with Triple H, reporting that the two met several times last summer during WWE’s tour of the country.
The news comes as speculation about a possible NXT promotion in Japan has continued. It was reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter back in October that WWE had interest in purchasing Pro Wrestling NOAH, but the deal did not work out. NOAH has since been bought by CyberAgent, who has also purchased Dramatic Dream Team.
Akiyama is the former president of All Japan Pro Wrestling, stepping down this past October. He said at the time that he wanted to focus on his in-ring career. He now serves as the general manager of the promotion.
This week on the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast, we talk with co-host Fumi Saito’s good friend Debbie Malenko.
Trained by Professor Boris Malenko, Debbie was talented enough that he allowed her to take the Malenko name. Not long after wrestling school, she was off to Japan to compete for the legendary All Japan Women’s company. She was there at the beginning of the Japanese women’s wrestling boom, so if you want to learn more about Japanese culture and what it was like to continually train and work all over the country, this is the show for you.
Hear about her time and experiences working with Bull Nakano, Akira Hokuto, Kyoko Inoue, Mariko Yoshida, language barriers, and a stern lecture she got for doing the unthinkable: talking with Dave Meltzer.
Somehow, someway, keeping to their word, the original alternate is back after only a few day layoff to present to YOU, the fine purveyor of this website, even more audio activity for your dollar.
This week’s topics on Adam & Mike’s Big Audio Nightmare include:
– Adam’s thoughts on WWE SummerSlam and TakeOver
– MYC Bracketology
– The Curse of Enzo
– STARDOM World
– Ishikawa love
– Thoughts on All Japan’s July 7 show
– Nakajima-Cage
– An impressive looking New Japan Destruction tour, and much more.
And for a lack of a better closing statement, we’ll just recycle the Bossman’s: A fun show as always, so check it out~!
Former All Japan and NOAH mid-level wrestler Ryuma “Jun” Izumida passed away more than one week ago at the age of 51.
The news was released by the NOAH promotion and Naomichi Marufuji on Facebook. No cause of death was released but the death was at the end of January, and he passed away in his home in Kanagawa and he recently had his funeral.
Izumida was a former sumo who worked in the 90s as a regular in the mid-card comedy match that would involve Giant Baba & Rusher Kimura, often as their partner, often against Haruka Eigen, who also recently passed away.
His specialty was head-butts. He wrestled under his real name, and later had modifications including Ryukaku Izumida, Junji Izumida, Izu and Jun Izumida.
He started as a pro wrestler in 1992 in All Japan, and went, with most of the talent, to NOAH in 2000 where he worked full-time through 2009. He was released at that point due to cost cutting measures when NOAH started having financial problems, and did some independent wrestling through 2012.
His only major title win with All Japan came on October 6th, 1998, when he teamed with Tamon Honda, a regular partner, to beat Johnny Smith & Wolf Hawkfield and win the All-Asia tag titles, which they lost in an interpromotional angle to Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki.
