Tag: Fumi Saito

Pacific Rim: Hulk Hogan’s history and legacy in Japan

Posted on by Jim Valley

Fumi Saito knew Hulk Hogan for over 40 years, going back to the AWA when they both lived in Minnesota.

On this episode of Pacific Rim, Fumi talks about Hulk Hogan before WWE, Hogan’s first tour in NJPW, how Stan Hansen and Andre the Giant mentored and helped Terry Bollea better define the image and wrestling style of Hulk Hogan, which match in Japan earned Hogan nearly $250,000 in today’s money, and Fumi’s stories about his friend Terry away from the ring.

It’s nearly two hours of Pacific Rim. Check it.

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Pacific Rim: Fumi Saito remembers his friend Sabu

Posted on by Jim Valley

On a new Pacific Rim with Jim Valley, he and co-host Fumi Saito remembers Sabu, his friend of over 30 years.

Fumi fills in a lot of Sabu’s history going back to his uncle — the “Original” Sheik Ed Farhat — Sabu’s training and upbringing in the business, his real age (not the one widely reported), his three wrestling influences on which he based his in-ring style, an act of kindness Hana Kimura’s mother never forgot, and much more.

Enjoy stories and a side of Sabu you won’t hear anywhere else.

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Pacific Rim: Wrestling on Netflix, Fumi’s new book on Rikidozan

Posted on by Jim Valley

The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast is back!

Fumi Saito talks to me about the success of both Queen of Villains in Japan — the story of wrestling legend Dump Matsumoto — as well as the Mr. McMahon docuseries on Netflix.

Plus, CIMA & Shingo, Davey Boy Smith Jr., Wrestle Kingdom & Wrestle Dynasty take shape, NOAH’s Yoshiki Inamura heads to NXT, Fumi’s new book on Rikidozan, and much more.

We’ve been gone awhile, so we tried to make up a lot of ground.

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Pacific Rim: Okada leaves NJPW, remembering Killer Khan

Posted on by Jim Valley

The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast is back.

I get Fumi Saito’s thoughts on Kazuchika Okada leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling and he offered his insight on the dynamics and relationships behind the scenes in the company and speculates on the future of “The Rainmaker.”

Also, who can step up and fill the void left by his absence? 

We then remember Fumi’s friend Killer Khan. We go from Khan’s start in sumo, how he got his name, breaking Andre The Giant’s leg, his relationships with Hulk Hogan and Riki Choshu, and much more.

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Pacific Rim: Sukeban debut review, Chris Jericho returning to Japan

Posted on by Jim Valley

The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast is back.

Sukeban is the new Japanese women’s promotion that debuted in America last week using some of the best freelancers available but working in new costumes and gimmicks.

Fumi Saito and I cover Sukeban in-depth including the roster, wrestler history, the characters, the matches, the presentation, the announcers, the ring announcer and commissioner Bull Nakano. Given Fumi’s deep knowledge of the history of Japanese women’s wrestling, you will find his observations and opinions interesting.

Plus, Chris Jericho returns to Japan but this time for the DDT promotion. 

Enjoy this always educational and informative look at Japanese wrestling.

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Pacific Rim: Fumi Saito’s version of AWA Tales from the Territories

Posted on by Jim Valley

The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast is back. 

When he was a teenager, Fumi Saito came to the United States as an exchange student in Minnesota. He covered and photographed the American Wrestling Association (AWA) for a Japanese wrestling magazine.

During that time, he became close friends with Adrian Adonis, Road Warrior Hawk, Jumbo Tsuruta, Masa Saito, and others. 

As a result, he has a unique, first-hand perspective on the recent AWA episode of Tales from the Territories. He even visited Mr. Saito while he was incarcerated for his role in the Ken Patera/McDonald’s incident. In this case, being in prison may not be what you imagine. 

This is an interesting show. Check it out.

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Pacific Rim: The passing of Gene LeBell, a look at the IWGP Women’s Championship

Posted on by Jim Valley

The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast is back. 

Fumi Saito talks about the late “Judo” Gene LeBell, a legend in combat sports, who also was the referee for the famous Ali/Inoki match in Japan. 

We go in-depth on the new IWGP Women’s Championship. Whose idea was it and who might be a good first champion? 

Fumi gives his thoughts on Ric Flair’s last match and Flair’s legacy in Japan. How does he compare to other NWA World Champions in Japan?

Plus, it’s tournament time in Japan: the G1, N1, King’s Road, the 5-Start GP and more. 

It’s another packed episode. Check it out below.

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Pacific Rim: Japan’s reaction to Forbidden Door

Posted on by Jim Valley

Pacific Rim is back. 

Fumi Saito gives his thoughts on AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door, plus the reaction to the show in Japan and where it could lead in the future. He also has observations on Clark Connors, Moxley vs Tanahashi and how he thinks FTR will be received as IWGP Tag Team Champions in Japan.

There’s also talk about Stardom “Fight In the Top” and the new PPV business model that seems to be springing up in Japan. TAJIRI has a new book out, “What Pro-Wrestlers Are Showing The Audience”. Available on Amazon, Fumi translated it to English. We talk about Tajiri’s career and philosophies in the book. That and more in this episode of Pacific Rim. 

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Pacific Rim: Fumi Saito’s new book, thoughts on Kota Ibushi/NJPW situation

Posted on by Jim Valley

Pacific Rim is back with another new episode. 

Co-host Fumi Saito gives his thoughts on the Kota Ibushi-NJPW situation and also discusses his new book on the relationship and parallels between Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba.

Fumi also has the line-up for the next Hana Kimura Memorial Show as he and KAIRI will be doing commentary.

Plus, we talk about the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view, the popularity of AEW in Japan, and more.

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Pacific Rim: Debbie Malenko catches up with Fumi Saito

Posted on by Jim Valley

For the first time since January, Pacific Rim has returned.

Debbie Malenko is back wrestling after an injury ended her career nearly 30 years ago.  Fumi Saito was one of the key people who helped the then-19-year-old Debbie as she started with All Japan Women. She couldn’t even speak a word of Japanese.

Listen to two old friends Debbie and Fumi talk about the matches, her opponents, her injury, and why she’s back and wrestling Saturday, May 28 in PODER CUATRO in Las Vegas as part of F4W Convention weekend.

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Pacific Rim: Onita, FMW, strength of NJPW, your questions

Posted on by Jim Valley

The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast is back. Fumi Saito and Jim Valley talk about Fumi’s thoughts on The Dark Side of the Ring episode on Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling and Atsushi Onita, including stories and insight not featured in the documentary. Plus, Fumi dispels the myth that New Japan Pro Wrestling is dying or in trouble. Then we answer your questions on the culture of masked wrestlers in Japan, how would things be different had Misawa not left All Japan and created Pro Wrestling NOAH, should All Japan and NOAH do a super show, an update on Tokyo Dome construction, and much more.

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Hana Kimura memorial show to air on FITE TV

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The Hana Kimura memorial show that will be held later this month will air on FITE TV.

FITE TV has added the show to their site, which will air on May 23. Ring of Honor’s Ian Riccaboni, Fumi Saito, and World Famous CB (Cheeseburger) will be on commentary. The description reads as follows:

On May 23rd live on FITE is Hana Kimura Memorial “MATANE”. The event will honor the one year anniversary of the untimely passing Hana Kimura. The memorial evening features wrestlers such as Super Delfin, HUB, Yuko Miyamoto, Munenori, Sawa, Kaori, Yoneyama, Cherry, Hanako Nakamori, Yuki Miyazaki, VENY(ASUKA), KAGETSU, Mio Momono, Mika Iwata and much more.

The tribute show was announced earlier this year and is scheduled to be held at Korakuen Hall. Kyoko Kimura, Hana’s mother, is organizing the show.

Kimura, 22, passed away on May 23 of last year, taking her own life following cyberbullying and harassment based on her appearances on the Japanese reality show Terrace House.

Pacific Rim: Remembering Road Warrior Hawk’s time in Japan

Posted on by Jim Valley

After watching this week’s Dark Side of the Ring episode on the Road Warriors, co-host Fumi Saito and I remember his friend Road Warrior Hawk on this week’s Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast and give some background not covered in the documentary. 

Fumi goes into detail about when the Road Warriors debuted in Japan, the Hell Raisers team Hawk formed with “Power Warrior” Kensuke Sasaki, and how Fumi met the man behind the paint, Mike Hegstrand.

We also answer a number of your #AskFumi questions on the beginnings of New Japan and All Japan Pro Wrestling including key moments in their early histories, the politics of the 1993 Dream Slam show, the origin of excursions for young lions in Japanese wresting, the most famous sumo wrestlers turned pro wrestlers, why Giant Baba didn’t maintain a working relationship with WCW like he did with the NWA, plus Adrian Adonis, David Schultz in Japan, and much more. 

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WOR: The Dave Meltzer and Fumi Saito Toudoukan Q&A

Posted on by Jim Valley

We are back with a very special and long-awaited episode of Wrestling Observer Radio: the Q&A session prior to Wrestle Kingdom 14 with Dave Meltzer and Fumi Saito.

This was recorded January 4, 2020, at Toudoukan, a combat sports store in Japan with a focus on pro wrestling, MMA, and even some boxing. With two stories of merchandise like figures, rare autographs, ring quality masks, title belts, ring work gear and much more, Dave compares it to Disneyland for pro wrestling fans.

Dave and Fumi spent a little under an hour answering questions about New Japan, AEW, influential foreign stars, WCW, Ring of Honor, and more. You’ll also hear Fumi translate some of the questions and answers in Japanese for some local fans.

It was a great event and we owe a big thanks to Wrestling Travel for putting it on and all of the fans who came out. I know Dave, Fumi and I really enjoyed meeting all of you and hopefully we can do something like this again. 

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Pacific Rim: New Japan vs. UWFI, 24 years later

Posted on by Jim Valley

October 9th is a very special anniversary in Japanese pro wrestling history: the date of the very famous 1995 NJPW vs UWFI card in the Tokyo Dome headlined by Keiji Muto vs. Nobuhiko Takada.

On this week’s Pacific Rim, wrestling journalist and historian Fumi Saito talks about the history behind one of the most famous cards ever.

Following the reaction by fans in the arena to the main event of WWE’s Hell in a Cell, we also look at the history of fan riots in Japan. (You might be surprised to hear that the first one dates back to 1962.)

Last week was big for wrestling in the U.S. so Fumi and I give our thoughts on Raw, AEW, SmackDown, and our difference of opinion on HIAC. We also talk about rumors surrounding NJPW’s Harold Meij and Minoru Suzuki and the reasons those rumors are extremely unlikely. 

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