FMW Story of the F Vol. 3: Best Bouts

Running Time: 2 hours 30 minutes*

I’ve decided to just review the second half of Story of the F Vol. 3 because the first half, while enjoyable, contains mostly very brief highlights and recaps which would not be practical for me to review. Most matches in the Best Bouts portion are shown in their entirety and the other matches are nearly complete, making this one of the best tapes if not the best in FMW history. Most of the matches are very good, and at least two are excellent. The first 7 months of 1998 were full of great material from FMW. Masato Tanaka & Mr. Gannosuke had reached their working peaks at this time. W*ING Kanemura was still a very good worker. Workers like Hayabusa and Gladiator Mike Awesome were approaching their peaks and starting to minimize some of their flaws. Another successful piece of the puzzle was Jinsei Shinzaki, who while still a methodical and sometimes uninspired worker, was adjusting well to the FMW style and really starting to hit his stride again as a worker. For overall match quality, this is the best FMW tape ever, and a must for FMW collectors. Actually, most wrestling fans could enjoy the work on this tape as well.

1. 1/6/98: WWA Brass Knux & World Independent Titles: Masato Tanaka (c) vs Mr. Gannosuke

They had an intense exchange of chops and slaps early. Tanaka clotheslined Gannosuke off the apron and hit a tope suicida. Tanaka dominated a brawl outside the ring and hit Gannosuke in the corner with a running chairshot back in the ring. Tanaka attempted a tornado DDT but Gannosuke countered with a low knee. Gannosuke hit a lariat and knocked Tanaka off the apron with a second lariat. Gannosuke took the action outside the ring and into the crowd. He even gave Tanaka a prayer powerbomb onto a broken table in the crowd. Gannosuke repeatedly stabbed Tanaka’s right arm with a stick and drew blood, although Tanaka was already bleeding heavily from his head. Gannosuke hit a top rope dropkick and applied an armbar on Tanaka’s bloodied arm. Tanaka fought back and smashed a piece of the table over Gannosuke’s head. Gannosuke hit a released German suplex but Tanaka responded with a lariat for a near fall. Tanaka gained a near fall with a DDT at 10:27 and another near fall with a powerbomb. Gannosuke ducked a lariat and applied a Fujiwara armbar on Tanaka’s weakened right arm. Gannosuke hit a modified falcon arrow and a lariat for a near fall. He gained a near fall with a powerbomb and another with somewhat of a slingshot Ace crusher. Gannosuke also gained a near fall with a Rikishi driver. Tanaka fought back and superplexed Gannosuke. Tanaka gained a near fall with a Death Valley driver and another with a powerbomb. Tanaka went for a top rope splash but crashed onto Gannosuke’s knees. Gannosuke gained a near fall with a rollup and another with a powerbomb. Tanaka gained a heated near fall with a roaring elbow. Gannosuke countered Tanaka’s roaring elbow and pinned him with one of the most unique cradles I’ve seen at 17:18 to win the titles. A super match. Except for the drawing of blood with the stick, everything they did ranged from good to fantastic. Consistently good heat as well. ****

2. 4/21/98: Jinsei Shinzaki vs Mr. Gannosuke (w/W*ING Kanemura)

Shinzaki went to the back and brawled with Gannosuke to the ring. Gannosuke got the better of Shinzaki and gave him a wicked prayer powerbomb off the apron through a table at ringside. Gannosuke assaulted Shinzaki with a piece of the table as Shinzaki began to bleed from the back of his head. Gannosuke continued to dominate Shinzaki as the pace slowed. Shinzaki tried to fight back but Gannosuke scored with an enzuguiri. Shinzaki tried to suplex Gannosuke out of the ring but Gannosuke held on and they both tumbled to the floor. Gannosuke aborted Shinzaki’s comeback with a low blow and gave him a prayer powerbomb for a near fall. Shinzaki fought back with a low mule kick of his own and hit his backflip dropkick on Gannosuke. Shinzaki did something of a Vader bomb (splash) into a foot stomp for a pop and gained a near fall with a top rope shouldertackle. Gannosuke countered a prayer powerbomb with his aforementioned unique cradle for a great near fall. Shinzaki gave Gannosuke an inverted dragon screw and gained a near fall with a prayer powerbomb. Gannosuke fought back and knocked Shinzaki off the apron through a ringside table. Shinzaki hit a great springboard dropkick for a near fall. Shinzaki missed a top rope headbutt and Gannosuke gave him a Rikishi driver for a near fall. Gannosuke gained a near fall after three lariats. Gannosuke hit a top rope missile dropkick but only gained a 1 count. Gannosuke gained a near fall with a modified falcon arrow. Shinzaki countered a prayer powerbomb but Gannosuke recovered and powerbombed Shinzaki for a near fall at 14:30. Shinzaki applied his cross-arm choke on Gannosuke. Shinzaki hit another backflip dropkick and gained a near fall with a powerbomb. Shinzaki pinned Gannosuke at 16:43 after a prayer powerbomb. A bit slow at times in the first half, but a hot start and a very strong second half. Shinzaki and Gannosuke displayed good chemistry against each other. ***1/2

3. WWA Brass Knux & World Independent Titles: Hayabusa (c) vs Masato Tanaka

They opened with a solid, fast exchange of offense. The heat in the early minutes was almost scarily non-existent. Hayabusa dominated Tanaka early on the mat. Tanaka fought back with a dropkick to Hayabusa’s left knee. Tanaka hit a second rope clothesline that knocked Hayabusa off the apron to the floor. Tanaka hit a tope suicida at 3:50. He worked on Hayabusa’s left knee for a while, using moves such as a figure 4 leglock. Tanaka also applied a Romero special and bent Hayabusa backwards with a rear chinlock. Hayabusa fought back by attacking Tanaka’s right arm. Hayabusa applied a Fujiwara armbar and continued to attack Tanaka’s right arm. Hayabusa jumped off the top rope but Tanaka caught him with a powerslam. Hayabusa hit a released German suplex but Tanaka responded with a lariat for a near fall. Hayabusa missed a corner splash and Tanaka gave him an acid drop/Dudley dog. Tanaka gained a near fall with a tornado DDT. Hayabusa belly to belly superplexed Tanaka and hit a somersault plancha. Hayabusa gained a near fall with a slingshot legdrop and another with a fisherman buster. He also gained near falls on Tanaka with a tiger driver and a corkscrew senton. Hayabusa then gained a near fall with a falcon arrow. Tanaka recovered and gave Hayabusa a top rope superplex for a near fall. Tanaka gained a near fall with a powerbomb. Hayabusa fought back with a roundhouse kick and tiger suplexed Tanaka for a near fall. Hayabusa gained a near fall with a firebird splash and another with a powerbomb. Tanaka nearly dropped Hayabusa on his head with an inverted superplex. Tanaka gained a near fall with a Death Valley driver as the heat reached a fever pitch. Tanaka also gained a heated near fall with a powerbomb. Tanaka countered a huracanrana attempt by Hayabusa with another powerbomb for a near fall. Tanaka gave Hayabusa another Death Valley driver for a near fall. Hayabusa fought back with a dragon suplex and gave Tanaka a falcon arrow for a near fall. Tanaka gained a near fall with a roaring elbow and another with a powerbomb. Hayabusa fought back with a 360 spin kick but Tanaka responded with a running elbow for a near fall. Hayabusa countered a powerbomb with an armdrag and hit a lariat after a series of counters. Tanaka went for a brainbuster but Hayabusa fell back and it turned into something like a stunner for a near fall for Tanaka. Hayabusa hit a tiger driver and a falcon arrow for the pin at 26:03 to retain the titles. This match was definitely laid out in a way conducive to it being a classic. It was an excellent match with super work, especially given that 26 minutes was such a long singles match for these two. However, the lack of fan heat took away as much as 1/2* from the match’s potential rating. The fan heat was much weaker than it should have been for such a match. Perhaps that was because fans didn’t expect a slow build from two wrestlers that, while technically proficient, were adept at fast-paced, hardcore brawls. Still one of the best matches in FMW history and a tape collector’s must. ****1/4

4. 5/5/98: Masato Tanaka & Hayabusa vs Gedo & Jado

Good work early with Tanaka and Gedo exchanging offense at a quick pace. Tanaka and then Hayabusa got the better of Jado. Gedo dominated Hayabusa briefly as the pace slowed. Tanaka and Hayabusa double teamed Gedo in impressive fashion. Tanaka legdropped Gedo for a near fall but appeared to hurt his knee in the process. Gedo hit Hayabusa with a chair at ringside and he and Jado powerbombed Hayabusa at ringside. Gedo back suplexed Tanaka twice for a near fall. Jado gave Tanaka a lariat in the corner and a top rope superplex for a near fall. Jado superbombed Tanaka for a near fall. Tanaka fought back with a double DDT on Gedo and Jado. Hayabusa gave Jado a springboard lariat and a superkick. Hayabusa hit an Asai moonsault, a springboard somersault senton, and a moonsault on Jado for a near fall. Hayabusa gained a near fall on Jado with a tiger driver. Hayabusa gave Jado a huracanrana and Tanaka hit a running lariat on Gedo for a near fall. Tanaka gained a near fall on Gedo with a tornado DDT. Tanaka won an exchange of lariats with Jado. Hayabusa gained a near fall on Jado with a fisherman buster and another with a firebird splash. Jado gained a near fall on Hayabusa with a powerbomb and another with a lariat. Jado also gave Hayabusa a brainbuster for a near fall. Gedo top rope splashed Hayabusa for a near fall. Tanaka gained a near fall on Gedo with a powerbomb as Hayabusa hit a tope on Jado. Tanaka went for a roaring elbow but Gedo rolled him up for a near fall. Tanaka pinned Gedo at 18:31 with a roaring elbow (14:24 aired). This turned into a very good match as all four contributed and had strong heat. ***1/2

5. 5/27/98: Masato Tanaka & Hayabusa vs W*ING Kanemura & Kodo Fuyuki

Tanaka and Kanemura had a feel-out stage and exchanged basic offense. Tanaka knocked Kanemura off the apron with a second rope clothesline. Kanemura gave Tanaka a slingshot splash. Tanaka and Kanemura no-sold stiff kicks from each other. Tanaka got the better of Fuyuki. Kanemura gave Hayabusa a roundhouse kick and an elbow for a near fall at 5:11. Kanemura dominated Tanaka for a minute. Tanaka and Fuyuki exchanged chops after which Fuyuki gained the advantage with a low blow. Fuyuki hit Hayabusa with a chair as they brawled in the crowd. Kanemura sliced open Tanaka with a piece of a broken table. Kanemura gained a near fall on Tanaka with a lariat. Fuyuki and Kanemura dominated Tanaka for a while, including Kanemura hitting him with a chair at ringside. Kanemura dropped a table on Tanaka and gained a near fall. Fuyuki gained a near fall on Tanaka after a modified double team Thesz press and another with a cradle suplex. Kanemura gained a near fall on Tanaka with a lariat and another with a springboard kneedrop. Fuyuki hit a flying bodypress but Tanaka reversed his momentum for a near fall. Fuyuki gained a near fall on Tanaka with a German suplex as heat picked up. He gained a near fall on Tanaka after a superbomb after which he applied a stretch plum. Tanaka powerbombed Kanemura and Hayabusa gave him a springboard elbow strike. Hayabusa gave Fuyuki a huracanrana and a somersault plancha. Hayabusa hit a springboard somersault senton on Fuyuki but crashed onto his knees when attempting a lionsault at 15:20. Hayabusa gave Fuyuki a springboard lariat and Tanaka followed with a top rope dropkick. Tanaka powerslammed Kanemura and gave him a running lariat for a near fall. Tanaka hit a running chairshot on Kanemura and a tornado DDT for a near fall. Tanaka gave Kanemura a suplex into a stunner for a near fall. Hayabusa gained a near fall on Kanemura with a released dragon suplex. Hayabusa hit a corkscrew senton and a firebird splash on Kanemura for a near fall. Fuyuki gave Tanaka two lariats for a heated near fall. Fuyuki powerbombed Tanaka and Kanemura gave him a top rope elbow for a near fall. Tanaka gained a near fall on Kanemura with a roaring elbow. Fuyuki gave Tanaka a lariat for a near fall. Kanemura pinned Tanaka at 19:39 after a top rope senton. A weak first half, but it turned into a very good match down the stretch. ***1/4

6. 5/27/98: FMW Independent Jr. Title: Gedo (c) vs Ricky Fuji

They had a wild brawl in the crowd at the start. Fuji slammed Gedo onto a pile of chairs. Gedo attacked Fuji with the title belt and took the fight into the crowd. Gedo hit Fuji with a chair back in the ring and dominated him for a while. Gedo applied a sleeper about five minutes into the match. Gedo gained a near fall with a top rope dropkick and another with a top rope elbow. Fuji finally fought back and back suplexed Gedo for a near fall. Fuji gained a near fall with a DDT. He hit a tope suicida at 8:27 and rammed Gedo into a wall in the arena. Fuji gained a near fall with a flying bodypress and another with a rolling slam. Fuji also gained near falls on Gedo with a brainbuster and a lariat. Gedo kicked Fuji low and dropkicked him out of the ring. Gedo blocked a sunset flip attempt. Gedo superkicked Fuji and pinned him at 12:05 after a frog splash to retain the title. The second half was fine, but I wouldn’t call it a good match. Aside from the brawling at the start, they lacked chemistry early, in part because both men are usually best when carried by better working opponents. **

7. 6/19/98: Masato Tanaka vs Tetsuhiro Kuroda

They did some amateur style exchanges early. Tanaka got the better of Kuroda and knocked him off the apron with a second rope clothesline. Tanaka hit a tope suicida and brawled with Kuroda throughout the crowd. Kuroda countered a piledriver with a backdrop in the crowd and hit a windsprint jumping knee. Kuroda clotheslined Tanaka three times against the ringpost but missed him on the fourth attempt. Tanaka hit a running chairshot in the corner but Kuroda responded with a lariat. Tanaka hit a spin kick and worked on Kuroda’s left arm. Kuroda fought back with a cross armbreaker. Tanaka scored with a running elbow and a lariat for a near fall. Tanaka gained a near fall with a suplex into a stunner and another with a top rope splash. Kuroda hit a released German suplex and a lariat for a near fall as heat picked up. Kuroda gained a near fall with a top rope elbow. Tanaka hit a cross between an acid drop and a stunner and gained a near fall with a tornado DDT. Kuroda rammed Tanaka’s neck onto the top rope and hit a lariat for a near fall. Kuroda hit a released German suplex and a lariat but Tanaka responded with an elbow for a near fall. Tanaka gained a near fall with a Death Valley driver and another with a powerbomb. Kuroda hit three dragon suplexes for a near fall and gained another near fall with a lariat. Kuroda gained a near fall with a half-nelson/half-chicken wing German suplex. Tanaka gained a near fall with a roaring elbow and another with a Death Valley driver. Tanaka hit another suplex/stunner combo and pinned Kuroda after a running elbow at 17:30 (15:24 aired). Little heat early, but turned into a good match due to Tanaka’s fire. Kuroda was entirely solid in his work, but rather bland and colorless, at least in mid-1998. ***

8. 7/10/98: Mike Awesome vs W*ING Kanemura

They exchanged blows early. Awesome hit a belly to belly suplex but Kanemura sidestepped a slingshot tackle. Kanemura gave Awesome a Cactus clothesline to the floor. Awesome hit a springboard plancha for a pop and hit Kanemura with a chair. Awesome hit a slingshot splash and a running top rope elbow. He gave Kanemura a top rope clothesline and a big splash for an early near fall. Kanemura fought back and attacked Awesome’s leg with a chair. Awesome hit Kanemura with a table in the ring. Awesome launched off a chair but Kanemura moved and Awesome crashed into the upright table in the corner. Kanemura gained a near fall with a top rope senton and another with a sunset flip. Kanemura gained a near fall with a cradle suplex but Awesome fought back with a spear. Awesome gave Kanemura a top rope kneedrop as his neck was draped on the second rope. Awesome gave Kanemura an Awesome bomb off the apron through a table at ringside. He gained a near fall on Kanemura with a top rope splash. Kanemura gained a near fall with a backslide after which he back suplexed Awesome. Awesome German suplexed Kanemura into the top turnbuckle. Kanemura fought back but Awesome recovered and pinned Kanemura at 12:49 after a top rope Awesome bomb. A good match, but lacking the presence of a Tanaka or Hayabusa to make it great. Not as good as the Awesome-Kanemura match from 12/11/96, which definitely exceeded expectations. **3/4

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