FMW Kawasaki Legend TV Version
Taped May 5, 1996
Note: This event was covered in two different TV blocks, which explains the fact that the matches aired out of order.
1. Chigusa Nagayo vs Shark Tsuchiya
Nagayo confronted Tsuchiya on the mic, but Tsuchiya attacked her with a flaming barbed wire pole before the bell. Tsuchiya then attacked Nagayo with her sickle as her FMW teammates interfered as well. Tsuchiya went to blow a fireball in Nagayo’s face but Nagayo kicked the lighter fluid out of her hands. Tsuchiya took the fight out of the ring where Nagayo fought back and rammed her into the barricade. Nagayo rammed Tsuchiya into a ringside table. Nagayo hit Tsuchiya with a chair and piledrove her through the table. Nagayo landed a weak chairshot and headbutted Tsuchiya. A bloody Nagayo limped back towards the ring but Tsuchiya attacked her with the sickle before she could reenter the ring. Back in the ring Nagayo fought back with a spin kick and attacked Tsuchiya with a thick rope. Tsuchiya slashed the rope out of Nagayo’s hands with her sickle. One of Nagayo’s GAEA teammates tried to restrain Tsuchiya from using her sickle but oddly Nagayo made her back off. Tsuchiya attacked Nagayo with the sickle again, further bloodying her back. Tsuchiya then sliced open Nagayo’s head with the sickle in another “athletic” display. Nagayo tried to fight back but Tsuchiya threw her out of the ring. Tsuchiya’s cronies attacked Nagayo at ringside. Nagayo fought back and choked Tsuchiya. Nagayo applied a sleeper on Tsuchiya. Tsuchiya blocked a urunage but Nagayo then applied an armlock similar to a Nagata lock. Tsuchiya appeared to pass out from the pain and Nagayo won at 13:02 (11:00 aired). Well, on this latest viewing I can see why people hated this match. Tsuchiya was little more than Pogo with better legs while Nagayo just phoned in her effort. For the most part it wasn’t dull, but that’s the only compliment I can pay this match. 1/2*
2. Shoji Nakamaki, Toryu & Miguel Perez Jr. vs Mitsuhiro Matsunaga, Hido & Hideki Hosaka
A 6 way fight erupted before the bell. Matsunaga dominated Toryu at ringside with kicks while Perez attacked Hosaka with a chair. Nakamaki gave Hido a lariat but missed a second and Hido spin kicked him. Toryu fought back against Matsunaga while Hido hit a plancha on Nakamaki. Matsunaga gave Toryu more kicks as Nakamaki no-sold a chairshot from Hido. Nakamaki gave Hido a couple headbutts as Perez dropkicked Hosaka in the ring. Hosaka then dropkicked Perez but Perez flipped out of a snapmare and clotheslined him. Hido hit a tope suicida on Perez as Hido rammed Toryu into the barricade. Perez got the better of Matsunaga, who was triple teamed. Toryu suplexed Matsunaga for a near fall and piledrove him for another near fall. Matsunaga gave Toryu a couple roundhouse kicks. Hido tried to rip and remove Toryu’s mask as he dominated him. Hido attacked Toryu’s left arm. Toryu sunset flipped Hosaka for a near fall and dropkicked him for another near fall. Toryu belly to belly suplexed Hosaka for a near fall. Perez gave Hosaka a running lariat in the corner and a standing moonsault for a near fall. Nakamaki rammed Hosaka into the barricade and headbutted him. Perez slammed Hosaka and gave him a power legdrop. Nakamaki clotheslined Hosaka and DDTd him for a near fall. Toryu gave Hosaka a fisherman buster for a near fall. Toryu German suplexed Hosaka for a near fall and gained another near fall with a Liger bomb. Hosaka gave Toryu a spinebuster. Hido kicked and headbutted Toryu’s crotch and applied an STF. Matsunaga gave Toryu an ax kick and a couple roundhouse kicks. Matsunaga applied a sleeper on Toryu but Toryu caught his leg when attempting a kick and gave Matsunaga a low blow. Toryu headbutted Matsunaga’s crotch. Matsunaga no-sold a chairshot from Nakamaki and broke a chair over his head, but Nakamaki no-sold that too. They traded and no-sold chairshots again but Matsunaga scored with a roundhouse kick. Nakamaki recovered and clotheslined Hosaka. Nakamaki powerbombed Hosaka for a near fall. Perez hit a second rope corkscrew senton on Hosaka and then a cartwheel into a standing moonsault for a near fall. Toryu slammed Hosaka and moonsaulted him for a near fall. Toryu gave Hosaka a dragon suplex. Hido caught Toryu on the top rope and Hosaka gave him a top rope huracanrana. Hido spin kicked Toryu for a near fall and piledrove him for another near fall. Matsunaga gave Toryu a rocker dropper for a near fall. Matsunaga superbombed Toryu with help from his teammates for a near fall and another 6 way fight broke out. Perez dropkicked Hosaka out of the ring and hit a space flying tiger press. Matsunaga powerbombed Toryu for the pin at 13:18. The entire match aired, and it was never boring. The work was often indyish and somewhat unfocused, but overall solid to very good. The main focus was getting heat on the youngster/lower ranked Toryu, and it worked because he was a solid worker. Perez was a really fun worker to watch and picked his spots well. The rest varied in their level of involvement, but generally worked hard. Overall a good match. **1/2
3. Jason The Terrible vs Hayato Nanjyo
Hayato attacked Jason early and gave him a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Hayato spin kicked Jason out of the ring and hit a somersault tope suicida. He then hit an Asai moonsault on Jason. Jason fought back with a spinning kick in the ring. Jason threw Hayato out of the ring but Hayato jumped to the top rope and hit a top rope dropkick for a near fall. Hayato gave Jason a few roundhouse kicks and an enzuguiri for a near fall before applying a hammerlock. Hayato gave Jason a second enzuguiri and a split legged moonsault for a near fall. Hayato gave Jason a mule kick and a DDT and hit a moonsault for a near fall. Hayato missed a skytwister press and Jason gained a near fall. Jason slammed Hayato and legdropped him for a near fall. Jason hit a lariat and powerslammed Hayato for a near fall. Jason powerbombed Hayato for a near fall but Hayato countered a second powerbomb with a huracanrana for a near fall. Jason easily countered a German suplex attempt with a released German suplex for a near fall. Jason then gave Hayato a powerbomb but pulled him up before the count of three. Jason lifted Hayato but Hayato rolled him up for a near fall. Jason landed a spinning kick and a lariat before pinning Hayato at 8:20 after a northern lights bomb (6:11 aired). This was a good, fun match with an indy feel, but with solid execution and much better fan heat than one might expect. Hayato worked really hard and fans were into his spots. Jason worked well in this match as a base for the smaller Hayato’s offense. **1/2
4. Rock N Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) & Ricky Fuji vs Freddy Krueger, Boogie Man & Cryptkeeper
Cryptkeeper and Fuji traded armringers early. Cryptkeeper slammed Morton but Morton fought back against Freddy. Fuji clotheslined and armdragged Freddy before applying an armbar. Gibson and Fuji elbowed Freddy and Gibson gained a near fall. Fuji gave Boogie Man a tombstone for a near fall and then gave him a rolling fireman’s carry slam. A 6 way brawl broke out. Fuji dropkicked Boogie Man into a double clothesline from Morton and Gibson. Morton gained a near fall on Boogie. Fuji DDTd Boogie and he and Gibson did the rocket launcher splash with Morton, who pinned Boogie at 9:09 (3:57 aired). This was a very lackluster match compared to the first three matches. They kept it moving but the work simply wasn’t impressive enough to engage the crowd much. Looked like maybe *.
5. Ryuma Go & Samurai Max vs Ichu Majin & Silver X
Go broke a chair over Majin’s head and also hit X with it. Go gave X two lariats in the ring and a DDT. Go applied what looked like a dragon sleeper on X. Go landed some lame kicks to X’s leg and applied a figure 4 leglock. Majin intervened with a big splash on Go. X and Majin gave Go a double team powerbomb and X gained a near fall. Go countered a second powerbomb with a huracanrana on X for a near fall. Majin and X clotheslined Go but Go ducked a second one and clotheslined them both. Max spin kicked X and Majin. Max gave Majin some roundhouse kicks and an enzuguiri. Majin gave Max a corner splash and gained a near fall. Majin and X back suplexed Max but Majin was unable to apply a cross armbreaker on Max. X applied a Boston crab on Max but Go intervened. Majin spin kicked Max for a near fall and hit a lariat for another near fall. Go intervened with a clothesline on Majin and slammed X off the top rope. Go gave Majin a short clothesline but X then clotheslined Go. X missed a clothesline and Go applied a Fujiwara armbar. Majin attacked Go but Go countered a piledriver from X with a backdrop. Go applied a dragon sleeper on X but Majin broke the hold with a lariat. Go hit three lariats on X and back suplexed him. Go rolled up X and pinned him at 15:33 (7:35 aired). This was a crappy match although it had a few entertaining moments. Majin and X’s idea of brawling, though, is absolutely horrendous, which prevented this match from being decent. *
6. FMW World Independent Jr. Title: Koji Nakagawa (c) vs Taka Michinoku
Taka won a test of strength early but Nakagawa turned things around and overpowered Taka. They traded wristlocks after which Taka took Nakagawa down. Taka attacked Nakagawa’s leg with a toehold. Nakagawa landed a chop but Taka slapped him in response and gave him a snapmare and dropkick. Taka applied a half crab on Nakagawa. Taka gave Nakagawa a drop toehold and applied a modified STF. Taka then applied a camel clutch but Nakagawa escaped and countered with a modified STF of his own. Nakagawa applied an over-the-knees surfboard but Taka fell on top of him for a one count. Taka kicked Nakagawa and dropkicked him out of the ring. Taka teased a springboard plancha but flipped back into the ring. Taka won an exchange of strikes with Nakagawa but Nakagawa backdropped him out of the ring when he ran towards him. Nakagawa hit a tope on Taka and rammed him into the ringpost. Taka repeatedly prevented Nakagawa from reentering the ring and tried to fight back but Nakagawa held his ground. They then returned to the ring simultaneously in a cool twist. Taka dropkicked Nakagawa out of the ring but missed a great springboard plancha and sold a knee injury immediately. Back in the ring Nakagawa attacked Taka’s left knee. Nakagawa rammed Taka’s leg into the ringpost twice, then trapped his leg around the bottom rope and stood on it. Nakagawa stomped Taka’s knee and applied a sharpshooter. Taka reached the ropes but Nakagawa reapplied the sharpshooter in the middle of the ring. Nakagawa went to apply the hold a third time but Taka rolled him up for a near fall. Taka then gained a near fall with la magistral. Taka hit a huracanrana but Nakagawa rolled through and gained a near fall. Nakagawa slammed Taka and jumped off the top rope but Taka dropkicked him in mid-air. Taka whipped Nakagawa into the corner gave him a jumping knee but Nakagawa sidestepped a springboard dropkick. Taka caught Nakagawa with a belly to belly suplex but Nakagawa fought back with a dragon suplex for a near fall. Nakagawa powerbombed Taka twice for a near fall and gave him a tiger suplex for another near fall. Nakagawa slammed Taka but Taka caught him on the top rope. Nakagawa countered a splash mountain but ran into an elbow and Taka gave him a Michinoku driver for a near fall. Taka charged but Nakagawa moved and Taka crashed to the apron. Taka recovered and hit a great springboard missile dropkick. Taka gave Nakagawa two Michinoku drivers and pinned him at 15:39 to win the title (14:27 aired). This was very close to being a great match, but I was really happy with this match. Nakagawa turned in a very solid performance while Taka added all the flare, which was a good thing because Nakagawa tends to be colorless. Taka was the star of this match though with his spectacular offense and fans were really into his spots. Good heat for the near falls down the stretch and they did a nice job with the knee injury storyline after Taka’s missed springboard plancha. ***1/2
7. Electrified Barbed Wire Land Mine Double Hell Time Bomb Death Match: Hayabusa & Masato Tanaka vs Terry Funk & Mr. Pogo
Again not much action early on except for the teasing of explosion spots. Tanaka DDTd Funk for an early near fall. Funk gave Tanaka a spinning toehold as Pogo applied a cross armbreaker on Hayabusa. Pogo moved out of the way and Tanaka crashed into a side of barbed wire for the first explosion at 5:58. Pogo used a jagged sickle to carve up both Hayabusa and Tanaka. Funk attacked Hayabusa with a chair. Pogo then sliced Tanaka’s back with a machete. All four men were bleeding by the 8 minute mark. Hayabusa fought back and hit Funk with a chair. He and Tanaka hit simultaneous DDTs on their opponents. They slingshot Funk onto the barbed wire side for the second explosion at 9:27. Hayabusa moonsaulted Pogo off the barbed wire for a near fall as a siren began to sound warning wrestlers of the time bomb explosion at the 15 minute mark. Funk hit Tanaka with his branding iron. Pogo went to throw a fireball at Tanaka but Hayabusa dropkicked him. Hayabusa and Pogo fell onto the barbed wire and explosives at ringside for an explosion at 11:30. Tanaka gave Funk a spinning toehold. Hayabusa cleared the landmines with a spectacular dive onto Pogo at ringside. Hayabusa gave Pogo a falcon arrow for a near fall. Tanaka gave Funk a tornado DDT for a near fall. Hayabusa powerbombed Funk with Tanaka’s help. Funk and Tanaka fell onto one side of exploding barbed wire landmines and Pogo threw Hayabusa into a side of explosive barbed wire. The time bomb then detonated at 15:00 with everyone selling like they were shot. Funk piledrove Hayabusa for a near fall twice. Pogo brought in a flaming chair and gave Hayabusa a bulldog onto the chair for a near fall. Pogo torched Tanaka with a fireball. He and Funk threw simultaneous fireballs at Hayabusa. Funk pinned Hayabusa at 19:01 after a double team powerbomb. While some of the work was lackluster, the explosions were spectacular. Tanaka and Hayabusa were both great, but the death match setup limited what they could do. Funk worked hard and carried most of the action for his team while Pogo did little more than slice and dice. Tanaka, Hayabusa and Funk contributed enough to make this a good match. ***
8. FMW World 6 Man Tag Team Title: Headhunters (A & B) & Super Leather vs Gladiator, Hisakatsu Oya & Horace Boulder
A 6 way fight broke out before the bell and quickly spread outside the ring. Gladiator and co. dominated their opponents early as the fight spread into the crowd. Oya rammed one of the Headhunters into the ringpost. Boulder hit one of the Headhunter A with a table as Gladiator rammed Leather into a scaffold. Gladiator and Leather climbed opposite sides of the scaffold and exchanged blows at the top. Gladiator won the exchange and Leather barely made it down the scaffold without falling. HH-A hit Boulder with a piece of a table and Gladiator hit Leather with another table piece repeatedly. Boulder clotheslined a Headhunter in an aisle as Gladiator hit Leather with one of the title belts in the ring. Oya fought back against HH-A but HH-A tackled him. Oya rolled up HH-A for a near fall but HH-A steamrolled through him. HH-A chopped Oya but missed a corner splash and Oya dropkicked him. Oya back suplexed HH-A for a pop and a near fall and hit another back suplex for a near fall. HH-A no-sold some shots from Gladiator and HH-B landed a couple chops. HH-B corner splashed Gladiator but missed a second corner splash and Gladiator German suplexed him. Gladiator clotheslined HH-B and spin kicked him out of the ring before hitting his amazing over the top rope tope suicida. Boulder hit a tope on Leather and Oya threw HH-A out of the ring so everyone was out of the ring. Oya landed some weak kicks on HH-A while Gladiator hit HH-B with the remnants of a table. Leather gave Boulder several punches but missed a cross bodyblock and crashed over the barricade. Boulder landed some chairshots on Leather but Leather hit him with a water bottle. Boulder then hit Leather with a bottle and whipped him into a chairshot from Gladiator. HH-A repeatedly hit Oya with a chair. Boulder gave HH-B a couple high kicks and clotheslined him out of the ring before hitting a tope suicida. The Headhunters gave Oya a weak flapjack slam and then a more spectacular legdrop/big splash combo. HH-A lifted Oya and Leather clotheslined him. Leather kneedropped Oya and elbowsmashed him for a near fall. Oya surprised Leather with a backslide for a near fall. Oya countered a powerbomb attempt but Leather gave him a neckbreaker for a near fall. Leather legdropped Oya and hit a second rope splash for a near fall. Oya countered a suplex attempt with a Fujiwara armbar on Leather. HH-A slammed Oya and hit a huge (like 400 lbs) top rope elbowsmash for a near fall. Oya fought back with an impressive back suplex on HH-A. Boulder gave HH-A three clotheslines for a near fall. Boulder DDTd HH-A and legdropped him for a near fall. Gladiator gave HH-A a top rope clothesline but Leather got the better of him and attacked his left leg, which had a large knee brace on it. Leather continually attacked Gladiator’s knee and then vertical suplexed him for a near fall. Gladiator countered a powerbomb attempt and hit an Awesome bomb for a near fall. Gladiator top rope splashed Leather for a near fall. Gladiator went to the top rope but Leather fought back. Leather went for a top rope superplex but Gladiator fought back. Gladiator attempted a top rope Awesome bomb but a Headhunter hit him with a chair. Another 6 way fight broke out. HH-A whipped Oya into the barricade as Boulder attacked HH-B in the ring. Boulder gave HH-B a high kick but HH-A attacked him from behind. HH-A superbombed Boulder for a heated near fall. HH-B and Leather placed Boulder on a table and HH-B moonsaulted Boulder, nearly killing him since the table didn’t budge, but sparing him by nearly overshooting his target. Leather then top rope splashed Boulder through the table for a near fall. Leather powerbombed Boulder for a near fall and gave him a brainbuster for the pin at 20:28 (they said 19:19, but from bell to bell it was longer). Was this good or was this bad? Well, to me it was both, and sometimes both at once. The Headhunters were still spectacular when doing their stationary high spots, but when it came time to move it was obvious their mobility had sharply declined in the past year, which hurt much of their brawling in and out of the ring. Gladiator was a bit sloppy in spots, but also his usual spectacular self on offense. Boulder and Leather weren’t good, but definitely worked as hard as they could given their limitations and I was satisfied with their work. Oya was really solid as usual and the best worker of the match, but it’s hard to see that because he doesn’t do many outrageous spots characteristic of the other five. Much of the out-of-ring brawling wasn’t good at all, but fans enjoyed it. When it came time to do their spots and near falls, things got really good. I think most FMW fans could enjoy this match at least somewhat, although this was one of those matches that was probably much more enjoyable live than on video, especially during the brawling. Overall, I’d call this match barely good, but many spots and segments were much more enjoyable than the rating would indicate. **1/4
9. King of Death Matches Title; Barbed Wire Barricade Spider Net Glass Death Match: Cactus Jack (c) vs W*ING Kanemura
They teased using the Caribbean-style barbed wire strewn throughout the ropes. Cactus gained the early advantage and kicked Kanemura in the corner. Cactus hit a running knee to Kanemura’s head in the corner. Cactus forced Kanemura’s head into the barbed wire but Kanemura fought back and rammed him into the wire. Kanemura raked Cactus’s face along the top rope. Cactus knocked Kanemura out of the ring and nearly onto a barbed wire spider net. Kanemura fought back and rammed Cactus onto a ringside table. Kanemura hit Cactus with the table and drove him through the table at ringside with a top rope splash. Kanemura attacked Cactus with a piece of the table and whipped him into the table propped against the ring. Kanemura attempted to suplex Cactus onto the barbed wire spider net but Cactus countered and suplex him into the barbed wire. Cactus then gave Kanemura an elbowsmash off the apron with a chair in hand while Kanemura was still in the barbed wire. Cactus rammed a bloody Kanemura into the barbed wire spider net and stomped him. Back in the ring Cactus sliced Kanemura’s head open further with the barbed wire along the ropes. Cactus choked Kanemura in the ropes and pounced on him. Cactus kicked Kanemura out of the ring and onto the previously-used barbed wire spider net. Cactus kicked Kanemura’s head and legdropped him on the apron. Cactus placed Kanemura upside down in the corner and hit a running elbow. Cactus gave Kanemura a swinging neckbreaker for a near fall and piledrove him for another near fall. Cactus jumped off the top rope with a piece of a table but Kanemura dropkicked it into Cactus’s face in mid-air. Kanemura hit Cactus with the table piece and smashed it over his head. Kanemura hit a flying forearm for a near fall. He gave Cactus a couple elbows but missed a running elbow and Cactus backdropped him out of the ring. Kanemura landed on the apron, landed an elbow and attempted to suplex Cactus over the top rope onto a barbed wire spider net but Cactus landed on the apron too. Kanemura hit a dropkick but Cactus remained on the apron. Kanemura hit a top rope clothesline and finally knocked Cactus onto the barbed wire spider net with a baseball slide kick. Kanemura kicked a bloody Cactus and made him fall off the apron into the barbed wire again. Kanemura whipped Cactus over the barricade and into the crowd. Kanemura knocked Cactus into the barbed wire net again with a tope. Cactus caught Kanemura on the top rope and slammed him down and through a plate of glass. Cactus hit a second rope elbowsmash for a near fall. Cactus landed several punches to Kanemura’s bloody head. Kanemura fought back and belly to belly suplexed Cactus onto a second pane of glass. Kanemura missed a second rope moonsault but Cactus missed a clothesline and Kanemura rolled him up for a near fall. Kanemura small packaged Cactus for a near fall. Cactus caught Kanemura and gave him a stun gun onto the top rope and barbed wire. Cactus DDTd Kanemura on a barbed wire board for a near fall. Cactus threw some broken glass into the ring but Kanemura fought back and broke a wood stick over him. Cactus recovered and DDTd Kanemura on a barbed wire board for the pin at 16:49 to retain the King of Death Matches “title”. A somewhat anti-climactic finish, but overall a super death match, especially in 1996. Both men, especially Cactus, incorporated some clever and spectacular spots by 1996 death match standards into this match and worked to their potential. This was probably 4 stars in 1996, but doesn’t age too well because death match spots have become so much crazier since then. ***1/2
10. Kamikaze, Wild Shooter & Katsutoshi Niyama vs Daisuke Ikeda, Shoichi Funaki & Tetsuhiro Kuroda
Niyama dominated Ikeda as footage began. Kamikaze and co. all hit running lariats or elbows on Ikeda in the corner. Kamikaze belly to belly suplexed Ikeda and his team “clubbered” Ikeda (nice Dusty Rhodes tribute, eh). Shooter kicked Ikeda and went for a moonsault bodyblock but it turned into a flying headbutt when Ikeda was too close, but he still gained a near fall. Ikeda tripped up Shooter and applied a camel clutch as Funaki dropkicked Shooter’s head. Funaki attacked Shooter’s leg. Shooter gave Funaki a roundhouse kick, missed a second but hit an enzuguiri. Shooter missed a spin kick and Funaki rolled him up, then applied a leglock but Shooter quickly reached the ropes. Ikdea gave Kamikaze a roundhouse kick and a gut wrench suplex. Ikeda tombstoned Kamikaze and kneedropped him for a near fall. Ikeda slammed Kamikaze and Funaki choked him. Kamikaze gave Funaki a brainbuster and dropkicked him out of the ring. Shooter hit an Orihara moonsault on Funaki and Kamikaze followed with a tope. Funaki fought back with a springboard dropkick to both Kamikaze and Shooter. Ikeda slammed Kamikaze for a near fall and slammed him again. Kuroda hit a top rope kneedrop on Kamikaze for a near fall. Kuroda dropkicked Kamikaze in the corner. He attempted a German suplex but Kamikaze mule kicked him low and gave him a huracanrana. Niyama powerslammed Kuroda for a near fall. Kuroda countered a urunage and gave Niyama a lariat for a near fall. Niyama caught Kuroda on the top rope and gave him a top rope urunage for a near fall. Niyama gave Kuroda a lariat for a near fall and a urunage for the pin at 14:39 (6:56 aired). The work was generally solid, but also very indyish in terms of transitions and flow. Lack of heat also hurt and showed that although less than half aired, it was clear this wasn’t good. Actually a mild disappointment. *1/4
11. Yumi Fukawa & Chapparita Asari vs Aki Kanbayashi & Kaori Nakayama
Asari had a bodyscissors on Nakayama as footage began. Nakayama countered with some punches from the mount. They exchanged blows and Nakayama snapmared Asari. Asari fought back and tagged Fukawa, who gave Nakayama two second rope dropkicks for a near fall. Fukawa gave Nakayama a hairmare but Nakayama rolled her up for a near fall. Kanbayashi cross bodyblocked Fukawa for a near fall but missed a corner splash and Fukawa sunset flipped her for a near fall. Fukawa dropkicked Kanbayashi but missed a second rope dropkick and Kanbayashi gave her a corner splash. Kanbayashi gave Fukawa some Mongolian chops and dropkicked her. Kanbayashi tackled Fukawa for a near fall and gave her a backbreaker. Kanbayashi lifted Fukawa in a torture rack position and gave her a running slam. Kanbayashi slammed Fukawa but Fukawa kicked Nakayama as she went for a handspring elbow. Nakayama gave Fukawa two facedrops for a near fall and a bulldog for another near fall. Nakayama gave Fukawa a flying bodypress for a near fall but Fukawa responded with a backslide for a near fall. Asari gave Nakayama her double flip dropkick in the corner and a second one in the opposite corner. Asari slammed Nakayama but Nakayama caught her on the top rope. Nakayama slammed Asari and the FMW women botched a double team spot with only Nakayama hitting her dropkick. Nakayama gave Asari a standing moonsault for a near fall and top rope moonsaulted her for another near fall. Asari flipped out of a catapult attempt and cross bodyblocked Kanbayashi for a near fall. Nakayama and Kanbayashi dropkicked their opponents but Nakayama hit a plancha on Kanbayashi when their partners moved. Asari hit a plancha on both opponents and gave Kanbayashi a skytwister press for the pin at 12:08 (6:48 aired). This wasn’t good either, but didn’t have the potential of the previous match. Fukawa was a far cry from her Arsion self, Kanbayashi was never any good, and Nakayama was good but still a rookie and only 18 years old. Asari wasn’t in often enough to shine. *1/4
12. Electrified Barbed Wire Death Match/WWA & Independent Women’s Titles: Combat Toyoda (c) vs Megumi Kudo
This was Toyoda’s retirement match. Toyoda won a stiff exchange of blows. They teased sending each other into the barbed wire explosives and did a good job at it. Kudo relied on skill to dominate Toyoda early although Toyoda used her power to nearly send Kudo into the barbed wire. Kudo nearly sent Toyoda into the barbed wire with a series of kicks. Toyoda powerslammed Kudo for an early near fall. Toyoda dropkicked Kudo into the barbed wire causing en explosion that drew a huge reaction. Kudo sold the damage like she was dead. Toyoda slammed Kudo for a near fall as heat increased. Toyoda turned a torture rack into an airplane spin and gained a near fall. Toyoda applied a Romero special on Kudo in a spot uncharacteristic of Toyoda. Kudo fought back, ducked a clothesline, and Toyoda crashed into the barbed wire explosives at 10:00. Toyoda began to bleed from the arm and Kudo’s left arm was also bleeding. Kudo locked a choke sleeper on Toyoda. Kudo hit an enzuguiri and applied a dragon sleeper. Kudo went to whip Toyoda into the barbed wire but Toyoda simply collapsed. Kudo fell into non-exploding barbed wire (it had already detonated) when Toyoda gave her a lariat. Toyoda German suplexed Kudo for a heated near fall. Toyoda went for a powerbomb but Kudo countered with a DDT for a near fall. Kudo gained another near fall on Toyoda with a northern lights suplex. Toyoda gave Kudo almost a backdrop driver for a near fall and gained another near fall with a dynamic bomb. Toyoda gave Kudo two Niagara driver-like powerbombs for two heated near falls. Toyoda attempted another powerbomb but Kudo countered with a sunset flip for a near fall. Kudo gave Toyoda a hip attack but they both fell backward into the barbed wire for another explosion. After a lengthy period of selling the damage, Kudo gave Toyoda a tiger driver for a great near fall. Kudo powerbombed Toyoda, dropping her almost like a tiger driver ’91 on her head, for a dramatic near fall. Kudo then gave Toyoda her reverse Gori special suplex and pinned her at 21:26 to win the titles. Given the extreme limitations of the barbed wire explosives this was a super match. The last eight minutes were awesome and dramatic. One of the best matches of both women’s careers and the best explosion death match ever. A great way for Toyoda to end her career, even in defeat. ****1/4
I don’t usually comment much in my TV reviews, but this is a must-see tape for anyone seeking FMW tapes. In this show you had everything: from spectacular death matches to wild FMW-style streetfight action to high flying to indy sleaze and low-rent women’s action this was probably the most diverse in-ring show in FMW history. Whether it was the best in-ring show in FMW history is debatable, because there were several lackluster matches, but also many good ones. Both explosion matches delivered quality-wise, and in fact Kudo-Toyoda really exceeded expectations and was something special as far as death matches go. Taka-Nakagawa and Cactus-Kanemura were also very close to being great. Any show with a several ***+ matches along with several **-range albeit enjoyable matches is good, but especially in an FMW setting. Overall a very fun show to watch because of the variety. Get the TV blocks instead of the commercial tape, because on TV there’s much less clipping of matches and you can pretty much tell the quality of each match.
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