Tag: pacific rim

We’re back for another episode of the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast.

Fumi talks about his night out with Keiji Muto and others. In addition, we talk about Becky Lynch, the road to WrestleMania, Jim’s observations attending SmackDown in Everett, Kendo Kashin at the WWE Performance Center, Giant Baba’s “MMA” match with Raja Lion, the in-ring fight between Andre the Giant and Akira Maeda, the future of Pro Wrestling NOAH and the changes that are coming under new ownership, debunking rumors surrounding the Onita vs. Invader I Jose Gonzalez angle, and the IWGP championship title belts.

If you have a question you’d like answered on Pacific Rim, be sure to use #AskFumi. That makes it easier to find your question and use it on the show. 

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This year marks the 30th anniversary of Jushin Thunder Liger. And on this episode of the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast, Fumi and I look at the legendary career of Keiichi Yamada, from his beginnings in 1984, to becoming Liger in ’89 and beyond.

Fumi talks about the origins of the Liger character, great opponents like Chris Benoit and Eddy Guerrero, his accomplishments, championships, and where Fumi ranks Liger among the greatest masked wrestlers and cruiserweights of all time.

In addition, Fumi reacts to the news that Hideo Itami is leaving WWE and speculates where KENTA will go next. He also offers his thoughts on how KENTA’s WWE career affects his legacy.

Plus, our thoughts on the Royal Rumble, Becky Lynch, Nia Jax, and your #AskFumi questions on Inoki and Pak Song in Korea, Vader and Inoki causing a riot in Sumo Hall, DDT, and the end of the Heisei Era. 

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Jumbo Tsuruta is one of the greatest wrestlers and biggest legends in the history of professional wrestling. On this edition of Pacific Rim, Fumi Saito and I go in-depth on the life, career, and legacy of Tsuruta.

From the Munich Olympics, to The Funks, All Japan, the AWA, and helping to build and establish Mitsuharu Misawa, learn all about Tsuruta’s Hall of Fame career. Believe it or not, even with all of his accomplishments and incredible matches, Jumbo wasn’t always completely accepted by the fans. Fumi talks about why and what happened to change that perception.

In addition, we look towards the Royal Rumble. We offer some predictions and talk about the Rumble’s influence in Japan. In the past, did Japanese participants like Tenryu and Kabuki get any publicity back home for being in the Rumble? How did Nakamura and Asuka winning last year affect their perceptions from Japanese fans? 

Also, we need ideas on how to give away Fumi’s vintage wrestling T-shirts.

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Photo credit: Toshi Kuramori

It’s another packed episode of the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast. Fumi Saito and I talk about Kenny Omega. Fumi offers his thoughts on why he thinks the odds are good that Omega will work for both NJPW and AEW in 2019. Plus, the winners of the Tokyo Sports Pro Wrestling Awards and some interesting phrasing Omega used when accepting his award that Fumi thinks is a clue about Omega’s future.

In addition, the Tokyo Sports Rookie of the Year, Utami Hayashishita, now holds four championships in Stardom. We talk about her potential, and we talk about who is leaving Stardom and who can be the future stars for the all-female company. 

We discuss Chris Jericho’s new deal that allows him to work for NJPW, Rush possibly working more regularly for New Japan, AEW’s potential in Japan, new All Japan World Tag Team Champions, and answer your #AskFumi questions. Plus, we have some cool, vintage T-shirts to give away.

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It’s a special episode of the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast as Fumi Saito catches up with his long-time friend Paul Lazenby.

Fumi and Paul first met when Paul was a gaijin in the Pancrase dojo. Paul recounts how Fumi introduced himself and told Lazenby that he had a lot of potential. There is also an incredible story about the time Minoru Suzuki requested to test Paul on the mat, the punishment Lazenby took, how he realized it was a test, and how his relationship with Suzuki changed afterwards.

The interview covers Paul’s early days, kickboxing, fighting, his pro wrestling career, acting, stunt work, and how he became the stunt double for Stone Cold Steve Austin. 

Paul has two books out: “When We Were Bouncers” and “When We Were Bouncers 2” and another on the way. You can follow Paul on Instagram @famousbouncers and on Twitter @MaulerMMA. 

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From Tokyo, Japan, less than a mile away from the Tokyo Dome, home of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 13, it’s the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast.

Fumi Saito and Jim Valley talk about all of their wrestling-related activities this week. Jim and Fumi describe Korakuen Hall and talk about its history. They go in-depth on the effective wrestling and booking of All Japan Pro Wrestling and discuss Akiyama, Fuchi, Kento Miyahara, Zeus, and more.

After two nights of Stardom women’s wrestling, they discuss some of the top talent like Kagetsu and Jungle Kyona — as well as promising rookies like Utami. In addition, they walk you through the incredible Giant Baba exhibit that includes all three original Triple Crown Championship title belts, World League trophies, All Japan posters, Giant Baba’s boots, robe, and love letters to his wife. On top of that, Jim describes his shopping experience at the official New Japan store.  

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From Tokyo, Japan, a very special episode of the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast.

Fumi Saito and Jim Valley welcome Dave Meltzer to the show. After months of trying, Dave and Fumi are finally together on a podcast. Over an hour of discussion on Japanese wrestling history between two of the most respected journalists in pro wrestling. Topics include the January 2 Stardom show in Shinkiba, New Japan Pro Wrestling, All Elite Wrestling, All Japan Women, Bull Nakano, Riki Choshu, Giant Baba, Antonio Inoki, and more.

Plus your questions on Kota Ibushi, All Japan and New Japan working together, Inoki and Baba teaming together, Riki Choshu jumping back to New Japan, Bruiser and Crusher in Japan, and what match both Dave and Fumi would like to see again. Each week Pacific Rim covers news in Japan and Japanese history exclusively on WON/F4W. 

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This week, the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast goes in depth on one of the members of the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame Class of 2018: Yuji Nagata.

Fumi Saito and Jim Valley talk about Nagata’s career, his amateur background, getting recruited by Hiroshi Hase, his time as IWGP Champion, his MMA career, Fedor, and Nagata’s current time with NJPW and the dojo.

Plus, the story behind the picture from 1993 of Hulk Hogan and Fumi in Florida while filming “Thunder in Paradise,” Fumi’s work on Fire Pro Wrestling, the end of WWE on DA ZONE in Japan, the year 2018 in Japanese wrestling, Akebono’s current health situation, PAC, and what independent wrestlers can make wrestling in Japan.

Be sure to follow Fumi and Jim on Twitter @fumihikodayo and @jimvalley, as next week the show will originate from Tokyo. Follow their adventures together in Japan and see the shows they attend.

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Fumi Saito and Jim Valley are back with a new Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast.

This week, they look at Asuka winning the SmackDown Women’s Championship at the WWE TLC PPV, how it’s being received in Japan, and what it can mean for the future. Plus, how companies in Japan remembered Dynamite Kid following his death and why the company that honored him first was maybe the most appropriate.

Chris Jericho was in Japan this past week. Fumi met with him and even recorded an upcoming episode of “Talk is Jericho.” Fumi touches on some of the topics they talked about. In addition, Fumi and Jim discuss Will Ospreay, Kota Ibushi, the Japanese stigma of puroresu fans, English commentary, the legacy of Frontier Martial Arts, should All Japan expand internationally, the history of throwing streamers at matches, and shoot style pro wrestling in the early 90s. 

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Dynamite Kid made an impression everywhere he wrestled: England, Calgary, Portland, and the WWF. But he arguably had his most famous matches and greatest historical impact in Japan.

On this special episode of the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast, Jim Valley and Fumi Saito look at the Japanese career of the Dynamite Kid, including the match that caught the attention of Japanese promoters, his matches against Tatsumi Fujinami, his influential matches against original Tiger Mask, Satoru Sayama, and then later against Mitsuhara Misawa as Tiger Mask in All Japan.

But Dynamite Kid’s legacy is more than just great matches. He also influenced many wrestlers in Japan. Those wrestlers, in turn, started companies based on a high-flying, fast, hard-hitting style. Had Dynamite Kid not gone to Japan, the entire wrestling landscape would look completely different.

Fumi and Jim look at the career and lasting influence of Dynamite Kid Tom Billington.

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Fumi Saito and Jim Valley are back and cover a lot of topics on this new episode of The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast. They include: Fumi’s annual quest for turkey and Thanksgiving dinner in Japan, The Nosawa Rongai show featuring The Jung Dragons, Shannon Moore, the return of Dory Funk Jr., plus the viability of NXT Japan, the Japanese dojo system, and looking back at Hayabusa on what would have been his 50th birthday.

Plus, your #AskFumi questions on wrestlers running for political offices, Hulk Hogan vs. Chono in 2003, Osamu Kido and his relationship with Karl Gotch, Giant Baba’s injury and his peak physical years, the history of IWE, the most popular eras of WWF/WWE in Japan, and more.

Follow us on Twitter @fumihikodayo and @jimvalley so you can #AskFumi questions. We’ll answer them on each episode of the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast, exclusively on WrestlingObserver.com and F4Wonline.com.

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This time of the year means one thing: it’s tag league season in Japan.

Fumi Saito and Jim Valley cover the history of both tag league tournaments: Real World Tag League in All Japan and the World Tag League in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Tracing back to Rikidozan, they also talk about the Madison Square Garden tournaments in Japan, the IWGP tournament, and Antonio Inoki’s WWF title win and how it created problems.

They also look at the Killer Elite Squad and other teams who could win this year’s World Tag League. Plus, more answers to #AskFumi questions on 1990’s Wrestling Summit card with Vince McMahon, Giant Baba, Ultimate Warrior, Ted DiBiase, and Hulk Hogan and where Kenny Omega rates among the biggest North American stars in Japanese history like Dick Beyer, Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen, and more.

Follow Fumi Saito on Twitter @fumihikodayo and Jim Valley at @jimvalley.

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