WAR Wrestle Association-R – The One Day Special 05/26/96
By Maffew Gregg on 25 August 2024
Wrestle Association-R
Yokohama Bunka Taiikukan
Attendance: 4,200
Tenryu returned to Being Awesome after several months of taking it easy to take on Fujinami in a staggeringly brutal match at NJPW’s Battle Formation Tokyo Dome show, with Fujinami needing medical attention after having his nose so badly broken.
Speaking of brutal, Kitao tried to make up for losing easily in Vale Tudo by going to UFC:
Mark Hall (3-1) beat Koji Kitao (0-1) in a fluke. Kitao’s corner man was pro wrestler Koki Kitahara from the WAR promotion. Hall got a punch which appeared to break Kitao’s nose because it was like his nose exploded with blood everywhere. Kitao slammed Hall down and had him in a bad position when the ref saw all the blood and pulled Kitao off. Kitao didn’t seem like he wanted to continue and when the doctor checked the nose, he thought it was broken (as it turns out, reports we get were that it actually wasn’t broken) and stopped the fight in :47. Hall got a huge ovation from the pro wrestling type crowd that hated foreigners and liked the idea of a 189 pound American beating a 390 pound Japanese giant. Hall asked his girlfriend to marry him on TV after the match. In next day Japanese newspaper reports, they said Hall should have been disqualified since closed fist punches were against the rules and Kitao’s nose was broken by an illegal punch.
“Illegal punch” yeah sure buddy. This loss coupled with the Vale Tudo one earlier in the year devastated Kitao’s image to the point he was never taken seriously as a main eventer again.
Not a good week to be a Japanese nose.
Tonight, Fuyuki has vowed to soak his face in eggs to be as disgusting as possible for Anjo, which is why the tape opens with this insane image:
Battle Ranger vs. Takashi Okamura
Oh they’re keeping Battle Ranger around. He was supposed to be FMW’s high flyer until Hayabusa showed up, causing BR to hold a Salieri-esque grudge against him. Okamura kicks Ranger in the head and holds his leg up in the air, showing his DDP Yoga versatility. Liger Bomb wins a heavily clipped 8:49 as clearly Hayabusa was the only thing holding BR back.
So after feuding with NJPW and FMW, WAR’s next beef is naturally with…Wrestle Yume Factory!
…who were lucky if they were drawing 1,000 for their shows. So a bit of a comedown for WAR but also a sign of the ever-changing times. To make it slightly more interesting, the next four matches are taking place back-to-back with the participants surrounding the ring like in King Of Fighters ’95.
WAR vs. Wrestle Yume Factory Vol. 1
Osamu Tachihikari vs. Masayoshi Motegi
There’s brawling and chair shots on the outside from the WYF lads already. The crowd’s not reacting much because Osamu is crap. Motegi allows himself to be slapped rather hard across the face but Osamu misses most of the rest of his follow-up shots, despite Motegi being stationary and standing directly in front of him. We clip ahead to Osamu taking a chair-shot from one of the WYF guys while the ref is distracted as the crowd groan at having watched 8:33 of that.
WYF 1 WAR 0
WAR vs. Wrestle Yume Factory Vol. 2
Nobutaku Araya vs. Hirofumi Miura
JIP to Miura using his nun-chucks, but in the same way HHH would “use a sledgehammer” by making sure his hand was over the hard bit. Miura lands the least graceful moonsault this side of Lita before Araya powerbombs him to show how dusty the ring is. The impact made it look like they were competing on Matt Riddle’s mirror. Arya lands another powerbomb and a proper moonsault to finish off his average opponent, before twirling Miura’s nun-chucks out the ring at 9:33. At least it was better than the first match.
WYF 1 WAR 1
WAR vs. Wrestle Yume Factory Vol. 3
Arashi vs. Kamikaze
Kamikaze manages an Asai Moonsault before landing a Sasuke Special because neither of those wrestlers are booked. Man, Kamikaze doesn’t care at all. Which makes sense given his name. At least he’s doing these moves on a blob like Arashi so he can’t miss. A crazy spinning press off the top crushes Arashi’s face. Arashi doesn’t appreciate that so a TIGHT Liger Bomb follows but is kicked out of for the first thing approaching crowd heat in this whole series. Fat Frog (Toad?) Splash follows to end a decently edited 10:21.
WYF 1 WAR 2
WAR vs. Wrestle Yume Factory Vol. 4
Koki Kitahara vs. Shinichi Nakano
Well these two had a woeful match last time so I’m not exactly throbbing at the idea of a rematch. Kitahara needs to be restrained from hurting Nakano because he’s so intense they call him Coffee Kitahara. Nakano locks in an emergency sleeper but all the good work is gone as we hit the emergency CROWD BRAWL early on. Back in the ring it gets better as Nakano brings the energy to counter-act Nakano’s dull, bored expression as he runs up the ropes to land a Superplex before spaffing Kitahara in the face. Koki kicks out as the crowd are revved up now it’s getting interesting. Kitahara nonchalantly kicks Nakano in the face but the WYF lad refuses to fall and demands more, so Kitahara applies the Crossface Chickenwing for the 10:32 tap-out instead.
Much better than last time as Kitahara is OK when he’s got a guy to emote for him.
WYF 1 WAR 3
Genichiro Tenryu vs. Tatsuo Nakano
Hey it’s UWF-i’s very own Tatsuo Nakano making his WAR debut! God he looks fantastic. Dirty mullet, dirtier moustache, mobster gut and absolutely no fucks to give.
Tenryu takes a sumo stance as Nakano circles him with the crowd electric already. Tenryu was so great at listening to the crowd and working to their volume. He must have been an amazing shag. Sumo strikes are unleashed on Nakano, sending him into the turnbuckle but he flies back with a flurry of low kicks, slaps and knees. You know that guy that doesn’t know how to do the moves in a fighting game so he mashes the pad and hopes for the best? That’s Nakano. Tenryu is down and he’s moaning to the ref so he’s already mad. Tenryu takes a striking pose so Nakano attempts a takedown. Tenryu sees it and applies a front facelock, trying to turn it into a suplex. However, Nakano lands behind Tenryu and applies a choke while HEADBUTTING TENRYU IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD before brutally German Suplexing him directly onto his fluffy hair. Nakano attempts a Fujiwara as the crowd sweats on behalf of Mr. Wrestling but he’s able to escape. Tenryu stands up and is muttering insults, before Nakano strikes him causing Tenryu to complain some more. Tenryu tries to retaliate with chops but Nakano high kicks them out of the air like plates. Tenryu bounces back up to take a big ol’ punch to the chin. From a downed position Tenryu is able to kick low, with Nakano trying Tenryu’s tactic of mouthing at the ref to get a few seconds to recover. Nakano throws every strike he knows at Tenryu with Metal Balls absorbing them until he locks in a snap Single Crab to end it suddenly at 4:58.
HELL YEAH. Fantastically stiff and intense match that didn’t need to go on any longer than it did, with Tenryu showing he’s ready for the UWF-i style as that feud is about to dominate WAR’s landscape for the next few months. Get this match in you.
There’s plenty of post-match interviews on this tape and I’m skipping them because I don’t speak Japanese, but it’s worth mentioning Nakano is shown being taped up with red sores from the strikes he sustained whereas Tenryu is shown looking the same as he always does.
International Junior Heavyweight Tag Title Match
Lance Storm & Yuji Yasuraoka vs. Ultimo Dragon & Masaaki Mochizuki
Storm starts off by landing the smooth-yet-weak-looking handspring into an avalanche. Landing a Plancha, Yuji takes over by landing a high-angle crossbody springboard. This match is heavily edited which is surprising considering the crap that’s already been featured. Masaaki springboard dropkicks Yuji’s mullet to tag in Ultimo in a presumed hot-tag as his silky smooth offence sees him dispose of both opponents with Frankensteiners and have enough time to SEXY DANCE. Lance isn’t a fan of sexiness so he clotheslines him with the power of ace. Lance attempts an enziguri but somehow hits his own guy. Eh, Yuji was asking for it. Lance retaliates with a Double Powerbomb, holding on for a third but Ultimo Frankensteiners out of it. You’re tempting fate putting yourself in that position around Ultimo. Lance is able to scoop slam Ultimo for a near-fall with more clipping taking us to Ultimo landing his own Asai Moonsault to spite Kamikaze.
More clipping takes us to Ultimo ignoring a Top Rope Frankensteiner to kick Yuji in the head. Ultimo is really feeling it tonight. Storm German Suplexes Masaaki onto his head before landing a nifty double-team Powerbomb-dropkick combo with Yuji. It’s still Yuji though so Masaaki kicks out. Yuji lands a naff Tombstone before smashing Masaaki with a Double Jump Moonsault while travelling very fast to retain at 18:46.
What we got here was beautiful to the point where I wanted MORE. But then I remembered Yuji was in it so it was likely cut for a reason, so good job for fixing it in the edit like Star Wars.
WAR World 6 Man Tag Titles
Golden Cups (Yoshihiro Takayama & Yoji Anjo & Kenichi Yamamoto) vs. Fuyuki-gun (Kodo Fuyuki & Jado & Gedo)
NJPW, FMW, WYF and now UWF-i: No company is safe from Fuyuki’s yelling.
Yamamoto is isolated and busted open immediately. Big Takayama eventually tags in to apply holds while Anjo attempts to sneak attack directly in front of the ref, causing much crowd laughter. Fuyuki complains resulting in more heel tactics as this feels very American so far. Anjo tags in to stomp Gedo’s toes because he’s an evil man. Jado tags in to take similar triple-teaming but sadly Yamamoto dropkicks him directly into Fuyuki’s tag. The big man comes in and while Takayama is messing with him attempting to do a Test of Strength that’s too high up, Anjo PEARL HARBOURS Fuyuki and drags him outside. So far this has been best when both teams have been trying to out-dick the other.
Anjo’s kicks only make Fuyuki yell louder which the crowd approves of. Anjo gets isolated but tries to make a heroic comeback, only to get instantly shut down by an eye rake. Anjo is part comedy but luckily his team-mates are all serious with their big knees and triple-teaming behind the ref’s back. Anjo tries an O’Connor Roll but Fuyuki lariats from the apron as Anjo bounces off in a lovely counter. That’s then ignored so Gedo can continue taking a beating from a still-bloody Yamamoto. The silly antics are fun but when they’re not doing that the offence is just kinda there. Yamamoto’s German Suplexes are vicious however, with Gedo needing to go low to escape them. Yamamoto finds himself outside in the dimly lit crowd as Fuyuki absolutely brains him with a chair. Good God.
Yamamoto plays UFC Middleweight Champion in peril, taking a pasting from an unusually-motivated Gedo who levels him with a powerbomb. Triple-teaming kicks in with the apron getting cleaned so Yamamoto can take the Superbomb and a brutal running lariat from Fuyuki. Takayama makes the save but the Guns stop them from saving their friend from the Stretch Plumb. The Cups surge through and send Fuyuki outside, leaving Gedo to take some HIGH angled Germans. Fuyuki has to save Gedo before Anjo can lock in the Figure Four, using A BOX OF EGGS to attack Anjo.
After an eggsellent pounding from the Gooners, a sticky Anjo barely kicks out of a fat crossbody from Fuyuki and a follow-up Powerbomb. After taking a load of lariats, the Guns assume he’s ready to be pinned so they isolate the Cups outside and let Gedo try a Missile Dropkick. However, Anjo grabs the foot and converts into a Figure Four with The Cups holding the Guns at bay and using their tactics against them to win the titles at 20:04.
This was more about the strategy from two similar teams and it made for a very interesting and often silly match based around tactics from two commanders who read How To Be A Complete Bastard every night. Anjo and Fuyuki are two of the best to work this very unique style, so if you enjoy early Shield matches and wondered what it would be like with a bit more silliness then do I have a scramble(d egg) for you.
The proud Golden Cups spray the Guns with bottles of water to end the tape on a wet note.
Overall: The WYF stuff is boring but Fuyuki-Gun keeps things interesting with some absurd ideas. Tenryu’s match only goes five minutes but feels twice that length due to the sheer amount of violence both men shoved into it. WAR is still interesting in 1996, which is better than being dead like PWFG or dying like PWC.
