FMW Neo PPV 05/19/98 DirecTV PPV

Korakuen Hall
Attendance 2,150

Previously In FMW…

The second PPV of the DirecTV era, now with no Shinzaki (gone back to M-Pro), Gannosuke (injured) or Onita (couldn’t be arsed showing up).

Earlier this month, AJPW held their 25th Anniversary Show at the Tokyo Dome which featured FMW’s Jado & Gedo losing to Wolf Hawkfield and Johnny Smith, and ZEN (Hideki Hosaka, Tetsuhiro Kuroda & The Gladiator) losing to Akira Taue, Masao Inoue & Takao Omori. It wasn’t all losses though, as Hayabusa had the honour of teaming up with Giant Baba in a victorious six-man tag.

Hayabusa would be getting ready to go out when he would hear Giant Baba’s theme begin to play. He would head to the dug out where he would be coming out of to see Giant Baba was already walking to the ring and way ahead of him. Hayabusa wanted to catch up with him but was so far behind and his Hayabusa character could never run to catch up so he began taking large steps to make catch up with Baba. Hayabusa would face off against Shinzaki during the match but it would be Izumida that he would end up getting the win over with the Fire Bird Splash for the win. After everyone would walk away from the ring, Hayabusa and Shinzaki would stay in the ring and stare at each other. Shinzaki would eventually shake Hayabusa’s hand to a good ovation from the crowd as the two would walk off together although their tag team would be put on hiatus until the following year. Hayabusa would get backstage and apologize to Giant Baba about being late during his entrance. Baba would laugh and tell Hayabusa that he left early on purpose to stress Hayabusa out.

Ah that wacky Baba. No wonder he was such a funny elephant.

Ricky Fuji vs. Hideki Hosaka (ZEN)

Fuji keeps things basic because it’s the only way he knows how to wrestle. Moxley-style tope wipes out Hosaka out on the outside so the big man responds with a much riskier tope suicida. Rest of the match is the type of affair undercard wrestlers do when a headliner is stuck in traffic and they’re doing stuff to stretch it out until he gets to the arena. Hosaka busts out his cool offence like the top rope Frankensteiner until he undoes all the good work by completely messing up the match-ending Brainbuster, forcing Fuji to do it again at 11:08. Hosaka looks more and more messed up every time we see him.

Flying Kid Ichihara & Mr. Pogo #2 vs. Yoshinori Sasaki & Naohiko Yamazaki

A match with young boys is happening after the Hosaka match? That’s an offensive wake up call. Sasaki wastes no time chopping Pogo #2 as hard as possible before it goes back to the same ol’ learning-on-the-job match that I’m worried we’re going to be getting more of now that FMW has longer times to fill on their monthly PPV shows. Kid wins with a moonsault at 12:54.

Bull Rope Match

Shark Tsuchiya vs. Crusher Maedomari

These two have had very brief matches over the last few shows, fingers crossed for something approaching watchable. The rope is massive, with both wrestlers being able to be in the opposite corner of the ring with it still being slack.

There’s much teasing to begin until we get the CHAIR DUEL which is won by no-one as both take shots from the other. Lariats are ignored by Shark who is still acting like a big shot. Meanwhile the crowd is utterly dead for this, even as Crusher yells in pain as her leg is beaten with a barbed wire stick. Crowd finally react to Crusher getting her revenge but Shark declines to sell and goes back to working the leg for another few minutes so the crowd quiets again. Eventually Shark decides to start throwing lariats and backdrop drivers in Crusher’s direction. She keeps kicking out and the crowd are looking forward to her comeback, until Shark chokes Crusher and the match is called at 8:40 to complete silence. Oh wow.

A completely heatless and dull affair compared to their fast and furious brawls earlier in the year. This was both woman’s last match for FMW which ended up being the pillow over the face to an already dying division.

Jado & Gedo (Team No Respect) vs. Super Leather & Hido (Team No Respect)

Hido and Jado start off before Leather tags in to show he can do a leg scissors and a kip-up. Crowd do not care. Hell, the crowd haven’t cared about anything tonight, they really have showed up to be quiet. This match continues at a tepid pace as as I wonder if they knew this was being recorded. Leather busts out a drop toe hold into a set-up chair for two as Gedo nearly couldn’t be bothered to kick out. Gedo gets worked over for a bit but then Hido gets worked over for a bit.

Yeah, still no reaction from the crowd. None of these TNR vs. TNR matches have been good as the crowd recognise them for the filler they are. Hido eventually tags in Leather but the ref doesn’t spot it so it’s time for more alleged heat before Leather makes the tag for real. Leather bumbles around as Gedo and Jado look a bit unsure about what he’s about to do because they know he’s not exactly Karl Gotch. Hido starts yelling to get the crowd to react and it works as he starts popping off Ace Crushers left and right. So he accidentally lands a spinning leg kick on Leather leading to him running into a giant fuck-off lariat from Jado at 14:12.

OK that was a decent minute of action at the end, shame it had thirteen minutes of nothing before it.

Kodo Fuyuki & Yukihiro Kanemura (Team No Respect) vs. Koji Nakagawa & Tetsuhiro Kuroda (ZEN)

Tag team match with the FMW Tag Team Champions but it’s not for the titles. OK. Kanemura shows up first, makes his entrance before heading to the back to walk out with Fuyuki, giving me my first moment of enjoyment tonight.

Kanemura offers a handshake to start which both ZEN members decline as the crowd laughs. Kuroda and Kanemura exchange holds on the mat with Kanemura able to escape and tag in Fuyuki who instantly starts yelling and chopping. Kuroda responds with a low dropkick to down him and allow Nakagawa to apply ankle locks until Kanemura kicks him away. Nakagawa is still taped up over his shoulder which is a plot point for much later, but right now is something to be targeted. Kanemura armbars and Fuyuki chair shots while Nakagawa moans like a good little twink. Even when his opponent is staying stationary, Kanemura insists on landing jumping Tree of Woes and big back sentons to keep the match interesting.

Fuyuki folds Nakagawa in half with a powerbomb but Kuroda saves to a big pop as he instantly low blows Kanemura and sends both fat lads flying with lariats. Northern Lights gets two but the crowd is so fired up they don’t care. Diving elbow gets two so Kuroda tags Nakagawa back in which I’m pretty sure the commentators mock him for. Yeah, why would he tag this injured idiot back in? Kuroda misses a lariat leading to TNR landing a Superbomb leading to a Stretch Plumb submission hold which he’s somehow able to escape out of. Double stalling suplex on Kanemura gets two but then Kuroda accidentally lariats Nakagawa. I blame Nakagawa. Kanemura places his briefs over Kuroda’s head and the smell allows Fuyuki to lariat him for the win at 11:17

Post-match, Kuroda is mocked for having pants shoved over him so he attacks all of TNR who go “hey fair enough” and leave him to it. Ha! First proper thing on the show so far.

The Gladiator Mike Awesome (ZEN) vs. Hisakatsu Oya (ZEN)

ZEN vs. ZEN because Horace left with little notice.

Awesome immediately attempts a headlock which Oya turns into a backdrop driver. Hell yeah. Awesome heads outside after his opponent shockingly hit his trademark move. Awesome decides to punch him up instead, grounding Oya with a short-arm clothesline so he can’t hit any more backdrops. Oya reminds him he’s really good on the mat as he blocks a chinlock, leading to Awesome again dealing with the issue via punching. Running spear keeps Oya on the mat before Awesome decides to Torture Rack him. I appreciate Awesome doing everything he can to prevent Oya from doing anything he’s good at. It can’t prevent Oya from ankle locking Awesome as he yells “oh shit OH SHIT” once he realises. Oya keeps holds locked in but Gladiator is very animated so it isn’t dull. Awesome is able to turn a Figure Four into an Indian Deathlock which is impressive for a dude the size of him. His STF looks like crap though, with Cena levels of stress unapplied.

Boston Crab can’t submit Oya but he’s been beaten up enough for Awesome to land a quick powerbomb and prepare a table outside. Oya turns a running Awesome Bomb into a backslide in another lovely counter before sticking Awesome in an Octopus Stretch…which he’s able to easily power out of. Awesome sets up the table in the corner instead, only to charge and miss and take another Backdrop Driver. Oya lands a vicious knee off the top before going back to the Octopus again, which Awesome counters again but Oya knows it’s coming and counters THAT into a Sunset Flip. OK match good. Awesome blocks another Backdrop Driver by splatting Oya in mid-air, only to land an Awesome Bomb for two. Crowd very much into this now. Awesome Splash enables Mike to set up the table and we get a big fat running Awesome Bomb through it to end a fun contest at 15:28.

After the match, The Gladiator drags Ricky Fuji into the ring to translate to the crowd that he’s a free agent now that ZEN is dead. A fan yells “don’t go back to America!” so Awesome yells back “shut your fucking mouth” which gets a weak “sorry”. Gladiator explained he’s not been getting the push from FMW he deserves and calls out a bunch of headliners (including Shinzaki who he refers to as “Hakushi”). Awesome says Horace Boulder ran away to join WCW to hide behind his uncle Hulk Hogan, and he’ll kick his ass if he sees him again. That’s not true, they joined New Blood together. Fucking liar.

FMW Double Titles Match

Hayabusa vs. Masato Tanaka

Hayabusa’s first defence of his Double Titles against one of the men he defeated to earn the shot. Meanwhile, Tanaka’s doubting himself after the loss to Bigelow at the big PPV and really needs a win here.

Tanaka starts off fast and heavy with the shots and take down attempts with Hayabusa absorbing them and matching the alleged other Ace on the mat easily. Rolling armbar on Tanaka is smartly turned into a pin attempt with Tanaka holding on and rotating until his opponent’s shoulders are on the mat, and when Hayabusa kicks out he lifts him up into a powerbomb. It’s tremendous already and the crowd are far louder for this match than anything else tonight. Must have saved their energy for the main event. Tanaka lands a low dropkick at Hayabusa’s knee in a spot which causes the crowd to panic as that’s how Gannosuke got injured at the PPV, but Tanaka doesn’t hesitate to send Hayabusa outside and into the front row with a tope. Crowd yell his name when he’s near (because they believe in Tanaka) so he continues abusing Hayabusa’s lower leg. Tanaka locks in a Figure Four with Hayabusa valiantly trying to roll it upside down but Tanaka keeps on rolling it back into position until Hayabusa is able to grab the ropes.

Mexican Surfboard further worsens Hayabusa until he attacks Tanaka’s constantly-injured elbow. Seriously if Tanaka was a boss in a video game, his elbow would be flashing red with a giant yellow arrow pointing at it at all times. Tanaka shrugs off an armbreaker to deck Hayabusa in the back of the head but the champ is in no mood and shrugs THAT off to continue stretching his limb. Tanaka’s screams of pain indicate he is actually human, something I’ve wondered after watching his matches with Awesome. Hayabusa’s Kimura locks would be enough to stop Kurt Angle but not Masato. Hayabusa thinks he’s done enough to step it up but he springboards directly into a powerslam. Tanaka bangs him with a running elbow but a second runs directly into a Frankensteiner, setting up a German Suplex which is ignored by ol’ Iron Neck who lariats his opponent before collapsing. Crowd are into this now. Tanaka lands a springboard Diamond Dust before landing his tight Tornado DDT for two. Hayabusa comes back with an overhead belly to back before taking Tanaka out with a sweet quebrada to the outside. Fisherman’s Buster really gets Tanaka crying but not enough to get pinned. Butterfly Suplex, Twisting Senton, Michinoku Driver all fail at stopping Tanaka but were enough to get the match onto the front cover of Weekly Pro Wrestling:

Tanaka prevents Hayabusa from diving off the top with a Superplex as the crowd have reached “constant moaning” stage of love-making. High angled Powerbomb gets them squealing but Hayabusa kicks the follow-up lariat. Dragon Suplex predictably gets kicked out of so does a 450 Splash. The more Tanaka kicks out of, the louder the moans so he makes sure to kick out of a Fire Thunder Powerbomb as well (FUCK ONITA). Hayabusa takes too long going to the top rope so Tanaka decides to really fuck his friend up with a devastating Reverse Suplex off the middle rope.

Crowd sound very worried, even more so when Tanaka lands a running DVD. Hayabusa kicks out and Tanaka has a look of disgust and exhaustion. Fire Thunder Powerbomb to Hayabusa (FUCK ONITA RETURNS) can’t end it so Tanaka tries again, with Hayabusa slipping out and Frankenste-NO Tanaka powerbombs Hayabusa for another close two. Tanaka lands a second running DVD with annoyance visible on his face. Even more so when Hayabusa kicks him and lands another horrible German Suplex, one that even Tanaka can’t no-sell. Falcon Arrow somehow gets two as fans sound like they’re watching Faces Of Death on a big screen. Tanaka’s out on his feet but still won’t sell for Hayabusa’s kicks, causing him to ram a rolling elbow into Hayabusa’s face and then yell “shit” when Hayabusa kicks out. Fire Thunder Powerbomb (FUCK ONITA FOREVER) is kicked out by Hayabusa as Tanaka’s running elbow does nothing to Hayabusa who kicks him into the corner…causing Tanaka to charge Hayabusa with a much meatier elbow for another dangerously close two count. Crowd sound like they’re in the middle of a Great White concert. Hayabusa armdrags out of another Fire Thunder Powerbomb (FUCK ONITA & ROBIN) to deliver a shotei, but he’s pretty knackered and needs to rest. His pause enables Tanaka to counter a Falcon Arrow into a suplex-into-stunner which astonishes the crowd. It doesn’t end the match so Tanaka removes his elbow pad and tries to finish Hayabusa dry. Rolling elbow is turned into a horrible looking Tiger Driver ’91 which Hayabusa knows won’t be enough to slay the beast so he finishes with the Falcon Arrow immediately after at 26:07.

Gott im Himmel, what a war. Tanaka was a lot more measured here than he was during their last battle but it made for a battle of equals this time around with both men firing their arsenal at one another until someone ran out of ammo. Crowd absolutely made this a must-see match and easily one of the best matches of the year, if not in company history. Get it in you.

Overall: An utterly woeful show redeemed by one of the best FMW matches of this year or any year. Sounds about right for FMW 1998.

Next Week: Tanaka says “I’m going to Philly!”

I’ve been Maffew