Tag: pacific rim pro wrestling

Pacific Rim: Keiji Muto’s other choices for his final opponent

Posted on by Jim Valley

The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast is back with myself and Fumi Saito.

Fumi was live at Yokohama Arena for the Great Muta Final Bye-Bye event. This week, he shares his thoughts on Muta, Sting, Darby Allin, Hakushi and the crowd that night.

With that, the Keiji Muto Grand Final Card has been announced. Tetsuya Naito will be Muto’s final opponent, but before he issued his challenge, Muto considered a few different people before choosing Naito. You won’t believe who Muto talked with to be his last opponent.

Plus, we talk about Jake Lee and also NOAH and NJPW going forward.

This is a very newsworthy show so hear it for yourself and don’t wait to read about it later.

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Pacific Rim: The career of Jun Akiyama, New Japan x Stardom Historic X-Over preview

Posted on by Jim Valley

On this week’s Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast, Fumi Saito and I preview the New Japan x Stardom Historic X-Over event.

Not only is the show a rare mix of male and female talent in Japan, but the women – KAIRI and Mayu for the IWGP Women’s title – will go on last. 

Fumi and I also talk about the career of the legendary Jun Akiyama. From his rookie year to All-Japan, Pro Wrestling NOAH and DDT, we talk about where he ranks in the pantheon of Japanese pro wrestling ahead of his AEW debut Friday.

Plus, we talk tag team tournament time in Japan, JONAH’s decision on returning to WWE or staying with NJPW, and more.

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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: Mike Kirchner thoughts, Stardom review, Wrestle Kingdom

Posted on by Jim Valley

In this episode of Pacific Rim, Fumi Saito talks about attending Stardom Dream Queensdom 2021 at Sumo Palace, running down the major matches, stories, plans for the future and if he thinks Rossy Ogawa should be considered for the WON Hall of Fame.

Fumi was very close friends with the late Mike Kirchner who you know better as Corporal Kirchner or Super Leather. He talks about Kirchner’s career, his (at least) 55 tours of Japan and why Fumi thinks he was very misunderstood.

We talk about Wrestle Kingdom, NOAH, live wrestling in Tokyo during the New Year’s holiday, Jake Lee’s injury and the potential for Toni Storm to return to Japan.

Also, don’t forget to wish Fumi and happy birthday on January 1st. 

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Pacific Rim: Sam Adonis, pro wrestling world traveler

Posted on by Jim Valley

While many are contracting with just one company, Sam Adonis is traveling the world as a professional wrestler, working in the U.S., Mexico, Japan and more.

On this episode of the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast, Adonis talks about his start in wrestling, headlining at Arena Mexico, how social media is affecting careers, and where he sees his own career going.

Perhaps best known for his pro-Donald Trump heel persona on lucha libre shows, he also talks about the pros and cons of the gimmick and how he’s moving forward as his own person and persona.

He’s shared locker rooms and rings with everyone from Negro Casas to Jerry Lawler to Kento Miyahara and has a very interesting perspective on audiences and the overall health of the wrestling business. If you are student of the wrestling business, you will want to listen to this interview available only on F4Wonline.com.

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Pacific Rim Podcast: The life and wrestling times of Mr. Saito

Posted on by Jim Valley

In 2018, the wrestling world lost legendary wrestler Masa Saito, better known to wrestling fans as Mr. Saito.

On a special edition of the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast on F4W, co-host Fumi Saito (no relation) and I remember the man he calls his godfather in the business.

Fumi talks about what Mr. Saito taught him, his career in San Francisco, Florida, the WWF and the AWA, the Midwest incident at McDonald’s with Ken Patera, Saito’s arrest, what it was like visiting Mr. Saito in prison, the AWA title win over Larry Zbyskzo, and the famous jungle match with Antonio Inoki.

As a matter of fact, Mr. Saito was so popular that he even had a drink named after him in bars in Minnesota, so listen to the show to learn the recipe!

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Pacific Rim: Fumi Saito & Jim Valley’s first Observer episode

Posted on by Jim Valley

It’s a brand new show for WON/F4W — Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling.

Fumi Saito is Japan’s leading pro wrestling journalist, historian, and author. During each show, Fumi and Jim Valley will provide context, history, and perspective in the world of Japanese pro wrestling. Other shows give you match results, Pacific Rim explains the cultural reasons why things happen or don’t happen in Japan.

This week, learn Fumi’s history, his relationship with Dave Meltzer, some early Japanese wrestling history, and how you can get your questions answered on the show.

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