Willsky

Night of GLORY Match Card Eisaku Hoshino © vs. Luis Figo Manico for the Historical Japan title Chuichi Sanda, Dino Maldini, Fukusaburu Inao, Hayate Hasegawa and Walter Morgan vs. Boundary 97 (Go Matsunaga & Takeshi Umehara), Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) and Kazuo Mitsushi Eisaku Kunomasu vs. Mito Miwa Danger Kumasaka and Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) vs. Pistol Pete Hall, Shimi Komatsuzaki and Yodo Nakane Dread vs. Sean McFly Hito Ichihara & Mamoru Nagahama © vs. Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz) for the Glory Tag Crown titles Koryusai Kitoaji © vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko for the Glory Crown title

Nice intro! Looking forward to this one.

THE LONG ROAD TO GLORY Nobuatsu Tatsuko had done it. After months of hoping Koryusai Kitoaji might offer him a shot at the Glory Crown, Tatsuko had given up waiting and won the Elite Series, guaranteeing him a title opportunity. He had been rewarded for his patience. Kitoaji, meanwhile, still claimed the moral high ground, despite what his detractors said. However, the more he denied Tatsuko, the more suspicious his motives looked. Nagahama, Furuhata, Miwa and Hoshino had all received title shots before Tatsuko. And while the merits of each challenger could be debated, there was no doubt that Tatsuko should have been among them. Was Kitoaji afraid? He wasn’t known for avoiding a challenge. In fact, he prided himself on facing the best of the best. But was there something he saw in Tatsuko that concerned him? They had faced off before. In the semi-final of a contender’s tournament a year ago. The tournament Kitoaji won on the way to defeating Hito Ichihara for the Glory Crown. Tatsuko had impressed in that match, but didn’t have enough to win. The confusion only served to infuriate Tatsuko and those who supported him. But now he had his guaranteed title shot, Kitoaji couldn’t avoid him any longer. Night of FORTITUDE, April 1998 Tatsuko was eager to challenge for the Glory Crown at Night of FORTITUDE, but the match wasn’t made. Instead, Nobuatsu Tatsuko teamed with Shimi Komatsuzaku and Eisaku Kunomasu to face Koryusai Kitoaji and Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo). Inukai and Mushashibo were still finding it difficult to get along, but rather than damaging their performance, it made them better. They tried to outdo each other in both ferocity and skill. When Kitoaji got in the ring, he took it to an even higher level, dominating the opposition. The result was Kitoaji pinning his former tag partner in BHOTWG, Komatsuzaku, with a Kitoaji Braindrop. Tatsuko looked annoyed at the defeat, but held his temper and requested in the post-match conference that his Glory Crown title match take place at the next show, Night of POWER. Kitoaji had other ideas. He said this: Kitoaji: Tonight showed me that Tatsuko is not ready. If he cannot defeat me in trios action, what hope does he have one-on-one? Just having a Glory Crown title shot does not give you the right to demand when the match will take place. Be patient. I was more impressed with my partners tonight, Inukai and Mushashibo. The pair have clear talent as individuals and a team. Both of them potentially deserve a title shot, too. So at Night of POWER, if they agree, they will go head-to-head, with the winner facing me for the Glory Crown at Night of EXCELLENCE. Night of POWER, April 1998 Nobuatsu Tatsuko could hardly contain his anger during his match against Shimi Komatsuzaku. Not only had his Glory Crown shot been postponed, but either Inukai or Mushashibo would jump ahead of him in the line. Komatsuzaku was Kitoaji’s old tag partner in BHOTWG and, whether he was to blame or not, Komatsuzaku bore the brunt of Tatsuko’s fury, suffering a brutal Tatsuko Driller that ended the match. Then, in the main event of the show, Shuji Inukai took on Yoshimi Mushashibo for the chance to face Kitoaji at Night of EXCELLENCE. The last time the pair had met was at Night of GLORY almost a year ago, with Mushashibo coming out on top. That match reaffirmed their friendship, but since then, they had not seen eye to eye over the nature of their Glory Tag Crown victory. That was all put aside, though, as the prospect of a title shot was at stake. They fought hard and with heart – Mushashibo’s smooth brilliance versus Inukai’s direct viciousness. In the end, Inukai hit the Untouchable Lariat – a move which nobody had ever kicked out of – and got the victory. Mushashibo embraced his partner after the match and wished him luck against Kitoaji. Night of EXCELLENCE, May 1998 Nobuatsu Tatsuko once again found himself in the midcard, this time in a victory over Yodo Nakane. The veteran didn’t stand a chance against the irate youngster. Frustration laced every strike and strengthened every throw and slam, ending with another hard Tatsuko Driller. In the main event, Koryusai Kitoaji defended the Glory Crown against Shuji Inukai. This was the third meeting between them, and the second time with the title on the line. On both previous occasions, Kitoaji had won. And this was no different. While Inukai again proved his toughness and talent, he couldn’t quite get the job done. The Untouchable Lariat nearly connected on a few occasions, but, like in their last match, Kitoaji always found a way to avoid it. A Kitoaji Braindrop put an end to proceedings. Night of SUCCESS, May 1998 Night of SUCCESS was never meant to be the biggest show of the year, but it contained plenty of matches with serious consequences. Most notably, a huge trios match. This match stood out for two reasons. First, the return to wrestling of Pistol Pete Hall after six years away. Hall was a big name in Japanese wrestling in the late 80’s and early 90’s competing on the GCG roster, but took time off to deal with a knee injury and focus on the Piledriver Wrestling School. It’s rumoured that Dread, who had been at GCG at the same time, was the one who convinced Hall to join the PGHW project. Now, with much acclaim, he made his debut alongside Nobuatsu Tatsuko and Eisaku Kunomasu. They took on Koryusai Kitoaji, Shuji Inukai and Danger Kumasaka. But while the story going in had been about Hall, by the end, everyone was talking about Nobuatsu Tatsuko and Koryusai Kitoaji. In the brief moments they were legal men in the ring together, the action was violent. Tatsuko clearly wanted to make a point. Kitoaji defended himself, but it was clear the champion was getting overwhelmed. He found safety by tagging out. On one of these occasions, he tagged in Danger Kumasaka who ran straight into a Tatsuko Driller that ended the match there and then. Tatsuko wanted to make sure Kitoaji had received his message when he spoke in the post-show press conference. Tatsuko: I will wait no longer. Forget about your idea of the champion challenging the contenders, I’m officially calling you out, Kitoaji. You’ve avoided this for too long. Don’t tell me I’m not ready. I proved tonight I can defeat you. But I’m not talking to you anymore, Kitoaji, I’m talking to Sadaharu Jimbo. You’ve seen this going on for months, yet you’ve let Kitoaji do what he wants. Does it seem honourable to you? If you really believe in what you say, you’ll “do the right thing” and make it Nobuatsu Tatsuko against Koryusai Kitoaji for the Glory Crown in the main event of Night of GLORY. Tatsuko’s face had turned red by the end of his rant. Later, Kitoaji responded. Kitoaji: I’ve held this title for nearly a full year. It was Night of GLORY 1997 that I regained it. That kind of durability and consistency requires patience. Something Nobuatsu Tatsuko doesn’t have. It’s funny, I was fully prepared to make the challenge tonight, for Night of GLORY. To give Tatsuko what he deserves. But that childish speech earlier makes me want to take it away from him… No. I won’t. The match will take place. He has earned the right, after all. But Tatsuko, remember that anger does not create success. You need to be patient.

Predictions DinoKea: 2/4 Leeds Trophy 1978 Predictions DinoKea: 20/28 Old School Fan: 12/20 The Blonde Bomber: 6/8 Next Time Chris Alpha vs. Kenny Maynard (loser leaves WWL) Mikel de Sota vs. Morris Wright (relegation playoff) Jacques Strapp & T.B.D. vs. Leo King & Wesley Bobish Angus McCloud vs. William Riley (Leeds Trophy)

NOTHING LASTS FOREVER Since September 1997, Luis Figo Manico had reigned as Historical Japan champion and, by all accounts, had done credit to his own name and the reputation of Europeans in Japan. His popularity had grown, but his ego had not. He maintained his discipline and studious attitude, always willing to go the extra mile in preparation to get an edge in his matches. But he would be the first to admit that nothing lasts forever. His reign would end at some point. But when? And who would be the one to get their name in the history books by defeating him? Night of FORTITUDE, April 1998 After their well-received tie in the Elite Series, Luis Figo Manico suggested that he and Danger Kumasaka do battle again, only this time with the Historical Japan title on the line. Despite having slipped a little down the ranks recently, Danger Kumasaka was still one of the most proficient technical wrestlers and a tough challenge for Figo. This time their match didn’t reach the 30-minute mark, but ended just shy of 25, when Figo, clearly having studied one of Kumasaka’s favourite transitions, reversed said transition and applied the Madrid Maul. Kumasaka couldn’t get free and had to tap out. After the match, Mito Miwa made an appearance. He said that, since he had also drawn with Figo at the Elite Series, he deserved a shot at the title which the Spaniard had taken off him back in September. Figo was happy to accept. Night of POWER, April 1998 The show’s opener saw Mito Miwa challenge Luis Figo Manico for the Historical Japan title. When Miwa lost the belt to Figo at Night of HONOUR the previous year, he admitted himself that he had been guilty of underestimating “The Pain from Spain”. He had not done his homework and had paid the price. This time he would not make the same mistake again. Miwa tended not to study extensively before the match, but analyse his opponent during the match and adapt accordingly. So the match became a battle of minds. Figo recalling strategies he had planned, and Miwa reacting to them on the fly. The result was the best match on the show. Miwa looked to have regained his title on several occasions, but Figo hung in there until he could apply the Madrid Maul to win. Miwa begrudgingly accepted defeat and showed respect to his opponent. Night of EXCELLENCE, May 1998 Luis Figo Manico put the Historical Japan title on the line against Eisaku Hoshino. Hoshino had enjoyed a successful Elite Series, qualifying from Block B and only falling short against Hito Ichihara in the semi-final round. His singles run away from Team EXPLOSION tag partner Eisaku Kunomasu seemed to be going well. At the previous show he had suffered a narrow defeat to Dread, but then everyone lost to Dread, so it was no real embarrassment. And things got much better for Hoshino in this match as Figo suffered and ankle injury in the first ten minutes. It wasn’t serious enough to stop the match, but it slowed the Spaniard. Despite Figo battling fiercely, Hoshino pressed home the advantage and hit the Godzilla Plunge to get the victory. Eisaku Hoshino won the Historical Japan title! After the match, Hoshino expressed his regret at having won against an injured man, and said Figo would get a rematch as soon as he had recovered. Night of SUCCESS, May 1998 Luis Figo Manico got over the worst of his ankle injury by Night of SUCCESS, but wasn’t at 100%. He teamed with Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz) to defeat Yodo Nakane, Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama. Later in the show, Eisaku Hoshino defended the Historical Japan title for the first time, against Shimi Komatsuzaki. The veteran gave Hoshino a tough fight, but a Godzilla Plunge got the job done. After the show, Figo claimed he was ready for his rematch at Night of GLORY. Figo: Nothing lasts forever. Sooner or later we all suffer misfortune, and it was the same for me and my ankle. But I was enjoying being Historical Japan champion. I don’t begrudge Hoshino for winning. I would have beaten an injured man for a title. But at Night of GLORY, we’ll have a fair and square match, which I will win. Hoshino replied. Hoshino: Bring it on. Be sure you’re in top condition because I want no excuses.

TAG TRIUMPH Mamoru Nagahama must have been counting his blessings ever since the day Hito Ichihara agreed to reunite their tag efforts. Their first run together at the tail end of 1997 had been brief, with Ichihara abandoning Nagahama to focus on Koryusai Kitoaji’s Glory Crown. But when he lost that match, Ichihara wanted tag gold. And, with Nagahama by his side, he achieved just that. He became the first man to win both the Glory Crown and the Glory Tag Crown. However, since winning the titles at Night of BATTLE, the new champions had not yet defended the Glory Tag Crown belts, as they had both participated in the Elite Series. In fact, they had been in the same Block. Ichihara, unsurprisingly, beat Nagahama in their encounter. But once again, their focus turned to the tag division. There were few other teams to really worry about. Team EXPLOSION were not actively teaming and Team Dynasty were unreliable at best. Team STRENGTH RUSH always posed a threat, while other teams like Boundary 97 and Rebel Cell would hope to capitalise on a tag title opportunity. Night of FORTITUDE, April 1998 In their first defence of the Glory Tag Crown titles, Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama faced the pair of Hayate Hasegawa and Fukusaburu Inao. The challengers had been teaming for a while, but ahead of this match they announced they were an official tag team now. Not that it helped them. From the beginning of PGHW, Hito Ichihara had been a cut above the rest, and he showed that again here. Nagahama was more of a passenger than anything, happy to let his senior partner run through the opponents and win with a Head Drop Suplex. After the match, Rebel Cell stepped up to challenge the champions at Night of POWER. Night of POWER, April 1998 Nobody expected Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) to defeat Ichihara and Nagahama. The youngsters had only recently graduated from Young Lion status. They were a slick pair, though, with good chemistry and communication. But, again, they were up against Hito Ichihara. Nagahama took part in the match, there’s no doubt about that, but his effectiveness was dwarfed by Ichihara who nailed Okazawaya with a Head Drop Suplex to win. Night of EXCELLENCE, May 1998 The next team to face Ichihara and Nagahama was the duo of Go Matsunaga and Takeshi Umehara, known as Boundary 97. It wasn’t the first title shot Boundary 97 had been granted, and they had lost all their previous attempts. In quite a remarkable performance, Hito Ichihara started and finished the match without once tagging in his partner Nagahama, who looked perplexed, but happy to get the win. Ichihara was all smiles. He couldn’t be accused of deliberately taking the spotlight away from his partner, but that was the result of his actions. Night of SUCCESS, May 1998 At Night of SUCCESS, the Glory Tag Crown titles were not put on the line. Instead, Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama teamed up with veteran Yodo Nakane to face the gaijin combination of Luis Figo Manico and Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz). It was a tough, back-and-forth battle. Ichihara did a lot of the work, but needed to rely on both his partners to face the three heavy-hitters on the other side of the ring. Unfortunately, this reliance on others cost him. Mamoru Nagahama got caught in a Too Hot to Handle from Team STRENGTH RUSH, leading to Raymond Diaz getting the pin. Ichihara looked annoyed at his tag partner’s failure. But his attention was drawn by Lee Wright and Raymond Diaz getting in his face and demanding a shot at the Glory Tag Crown titles at Night of GLORY. Ichihara accepted. After the match, Ichihara had some stern words for Nagahama. Ichihara: That cannot happen again. Listen, I know you are still developing and you’ll make mistakes, but there are titles on the line. I need you, as my partner, to be ready for anything. To be stronger, faster, smarter and tougher than them. Nagahama narrowed his eyes when Ichihara said “I need you, as my partner…” but held his tongue. Despite the inequality in the team, it seemed he was happy to put up with it while the Glory Tag Crown rested on his shoulder.

Predictions DinoKea: 1/4 Old School Fan: 1/4 Leeds Trophy 1978 Predictions DinoKea: 18/24 Old School Fan: 12/20 The Blonde Bomber: 6/8 Next Time Jacques Strapp vs. Kenny Maynard Angus McCloud vs. Morris Wright Chris Alpha vs. Mikel de Sota Leo King vs. William Riley

ELITE SERIES PREDICTION CONTEST 2022 Elite Series Winner: Chojiro Kitoaji I was tempted to go with Ugaki, but I think Kitoaji gets his return to the top here and a rematch to win his title back? 2022 Elite Series Runner-Up: Masaru Ugaki Most Points (Group Stage): Masaru Ugaki Will any wrestler end up with zero points?: (Bonus point: If so, who?). No. Biggest Surprise Package: Tetsunori Yasuda Biggest Upset: Someone unexpected beats Masuno. Could be Kwakami or Satou. I´ll go with Satou. Still loving the diary Scottie!

DREAD RISES AGAIN Somewhat controversially, Dread had missed the Elite Series due to injury. Plenty of people suspected him of ducking the tournament in order to keep his winning streak in-tact, but others came to his defence, saying if he wasn’t fit, the gruelling schedule could result in a long-term injury. Either way, after Night of PRIDE, he announced he would return to the ring at Night of FORTITUDE to continue his domination. And domination was the right word. Eighteen opponents had fallen before him since May 1997. Many of those were youngsters or veterans, but they also included Nobuatsu Tatsuko, Mito Miwa and Eisaku Kunomasu. There weren’t many more wrestlers left in the company for him to beat. Even with a few additions to the roster, less than a dozen competitors remained. But unfortunately for Dread, all had the potential to end his run early. Night of FORTITUDE, April 1998 The last man to face Dread had been Raymond Diaz. It was in that match that Dread suffered the injury that put him out of the Elite Series. Now, Dread faced Diaz’s tag partner, Lee Wright. The pair had met before, when Dread was at GCG and BHOTWG, with Lee Wright working as a freelancer on tours with both companies. So Wright would have known what Dread was capable of. That didn’t help him much, though, as he battered Wright to a pulp and hit him with a Dread Bomb to win. It was an impressive return to action for the big man. After the match, several wrestlers put themselves forward to be the next to face Dread. Eisaku Hoshino, Danger Kumasaka and Yoshimi Mushashibo all wanted their shot, with Hoshino getting himself a match at Night of POWER. Night of POWER, April 1998 Eisaku Hoshino’s recent singles form combined with his tenacious, never-say-die spirit, made him a strong contender to defeat Dread. The size difference was considerable, but that had never stopped Hoshino before. And the pair put on a real treat, with Dread’s dominance punctuated by flurries of fury from Hoshino. But ultimately, Dread hit a Dreadsault for the win after Hoshino couldn’t quite get him up for the Godzilla Plunge. Night of EXCELLENCE, May 1998 Dread faced Danger Kumasaka next. Matches against high-profile opponents were coming thick and fast for Dread, but he looked fresh – that break over the Elite Series had done him wonders and he had an extra burst of energy compared to Kumasaka, whose age and recent schedule had caught up to him. The veteran managed to get Dread in a few dangerous looking holds, but the muscles of the big man overpowered him, and a Dread Bomb finished the bout. Night of SUCCESS, May 1998 Yoshimi Mushashibo, having seen his mentor Danger Kumasaka achieve some success on the mat, hoped he could do one better when he faced Dread. The match main-evented the show in front of 44,000 fans in Osaka. And after twenty-minutes of graceful technique, many of them believed Mushashibo was going to be the man to do it. To finally defeat Dread. And when he applied the Yoshimi Lock, Dread was in real trouble. The submission had finished many opponents over Mushashibo’s career. Dread survived. His sheer bulk and power got him out of the submission and the tide turned. He ate up Mushashibo with some massive moves, capped with a Dread Bomb that ended in a three count. After the match, Dread opened his arms wide as if to ask who was next. He was immediately answered. Sean McFly rushed to the ring. The 24-year-old was a recent addition to PGHW and came with plenty of hype. While he was a relative unknown in Japan, he was one of the biggest names in the world, having burst onto the scene in SWF. It was reported that PGHW had offered him a company-record contract to travel across the Pacific. He got in Dread’s face. Or more accurately, his chest, as the size difference was enormous. But the message was clear. McFly thought he was the man to break the streak and defeat Dread at Night of GLORY. After the show, McFly had these words in the press conference. McFly: You’ve all seen me over the last couple of months. Mito Miwa saw what I was capable of when I faced him, and he trusts me alongside him in tag action. But he doesn’t know the half of it yet. I know, I know, some of you hardly know my name. But let me tell you this, you WILL know it. Everyone will know it. When I beat Dread at Night of GLORY, you’ll all realise that Sean McFly is destined for greatness. Dread also spoke. Dread: I know exactly who Sean McFly is. He’s one of the best in the world. In five years, he may well be THE best in the world. And I respect his decision to come here and test himself against the best. But if he thinks he’ll beat me, then he’s as deluded as everyone who thought I was washed up a year ago. Because right now, I am the best in the world. Twenty-two straight wins. And when I make it 23 at Night of GLORY, that’ll be a full year of victories. Sean McFly isn’t the man to stop that.

A NEW FORCE Fans of wrestling around the world were shocked by PGHW’s big-money signing of Sean McFly. At just 24, he had shown signs of becoming one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, already winning the SWF World Heavyweight title twice, and putting on classics against the likes of Sam Keith and Christian Faith. He seemed destined to be SWF’s prized asset. But Sadaharu Jimbo swooped in, splashing a serious amount of cash, to contract his services. However, the reception in Japan was muted. The fact was, at this time, SWF hadn’t broken through to most of the Japanese audience and, while a few had heard of him, not many knew quite what they were getting. And at a reported monthly wage that exceeded that of even Kitoaji and Ichihara, there was definitely some concern about the decision. Sean McFly couldn’t ride on his previous stardom. He would have to earn his place on the card in PGHW and prove in the ring why Jimbo believed he deserved such a lucractive contract. Night of FORTITUDE, April 1998 Sean McFly debuted in PGHW in a singles match against Mito Miwa. Miwa was certainly a strong opponent to begin with, but the newcomer would have to prove himself quickly if he was going to be a success in the company. From the moment the bell rang, the fans saw what McFly was all about. Speed and energy. He stopped short of taking to the skies (something nobody ever did in PGHW), but he whizzed around the ring with the agility and pace of a junior combined with the force and brutality of a heavyweight. Despite his rapid style, McFly was not a small man. He matched Miwa both in height and weight. And Miwa had a hard time keeping up with him. But eventually, the Pride Warrior figured out the American and countered a Delorean Driver into a Pride Bomber to get the win. Although he had lost, McFly received a round of applause from the crowd, and a show of respect from Miwa. In fact, Miwa went so far as to request McFly join him in tag action in the near future. Night of POWER, April 1998 McFly and Miwa’s partnership would have to wait, as Mito Miwa took on Luis Figo Manico for the Historical Japan title. Miwa couldn’t get the win in that match, so reaffirmed his desire to collaborate with the company’s new signing. Speaking of which, Sean McFly got his first victory in PGHW against Chuichi Sanda. It was a fairly quick affair that didn’t set the world on fire, but the crowd enjoyed getting another glimpse of the man who promised so much. Night of EXCELLENCE, May 1998 Night of EXCELLENCE saw the first match with Mito Miwa and Sean McFly on the same team. They took on the thrown-together pair of Dino Maldini and Eisaku Kunomasu. McFly and Miwa had unbelievable chemistry together. To many, it seemed like they had been tagging together for a decade as they both knew exactly where the other would be at all times. Kunomasu and Maldini fought hard, with Kunomasu getting into a heated striking exchange with Miwa, but a Delorean Driver from McFly to Maldini got the victory. Both men looked delighted with their victory and agreed to team again at the next show. Night of SUCCESS, May 1998 Mito Miwa and Sean McFly took on Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) in a short match, where the new team once again impressed. McFly hit the Dolorean Driver on Sarumara for the victory. But it was the post-match events that really stood out. First of all, Sean McFly challenged Dread to a match at Night of GLORY. He claimed it was his destiny to reach the top, and defeating Dread would prove that. In the “Dread Rises Again” story, the details of the post-match press conference are elaborated. It seemed, then, that Mito Miwa would be without a match. But an irate Eisaku Kunomasu got in Miwa’s face and said they had unfinished business. Their striking battle at Night of EXCELLENCE had clearly irked Kunomasu, who was usually ice cold. Miwa suggested a match at Night of GLORY, and it was confirmed moments later.

Night of PRIDE, 1998 SEMI FINAL 1: Eisaku Hoshino vs. Hito Ichihara SEMI FINAL 2: Mito Miwa vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko Chuichi Sanda and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) vs. Go Matsunaga, Hayate Hasegawa & Mamoru Nagahama Lee Wright vs. Luis Figo Manico © for the Historical Japan title Danger Kumasaka, Yodo Nakane and Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) vs. Eisaku Kunomasu, Koryusai Kitoaji, Raymond Diaz & Shimi Komatsuzaki Winner of SEMI FINAL 1 vs. SEMI FINAL 2 for the Elite Series tournament title The second Elite Series came to a head at Night of Pride in March 1998 after a gruelling month of block matches. The Glory Crown champion, Koryusai Kitoaji had watched the tournament from the sidelines with interest, wondering who would be the next wrestler to step up to the plate. Four men remained in contention. The semi-finals pitted Eisaku Hoshino against Hito Ichihara and Mito Miwa against Nobuatsu Tatsuko, with the winners of those matches meeting in the main event final. MATCH 1: SEMI FINAL 1: Eisaku Hoshino vs. Hito Ichihara Hito Ichihara was the clear favourite in this match. He was one of only two men to hold the Glory Crown title and was widely considered one of the top two wrestlers in the company. His fans hoped the Elite Series would springboard him back into contention for the Glory Crown and another massive match with Kitoaji. Hoshino, meanwhile, had surprised quite a lot of people by getting out of the block stage. It was a step up for him, having spent most of his time in tag competition so far. And he showed he was ready to step up here. His relentless tenacity contrasted with Ichihara’s cerebral style. Ichihara usually adjusted his approach according to the needs of the match, something he often did to great success. He always though a couple of steps ahead, anticipating the logical next move. Hoshino wasn’t interested in logic. His aggression and unorthodox style threw Ichihara off his game for much of this match, and it was a real challenge for the former champion to find a pattern to exploit. But find a pattern he did. It was quite a clear pattern – Hoshino will attack from all angles at all times. Ichihara used that to set up some lures, a few which failed, but the last one which led to a Brain Drop Suplex to finish the match. Ichihara advanced to the final. MATCH 2: SEMI FINAL 2: Mito Miwa vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko Tatsuko won Block B while Mito Miwa came runner up to Ichihara in Block A. As soon as this match was announced, fans expressed their excitement at seeing the pair go head to head again. The last time they met was at Night of FORTITUDE, nearly a full year ago. Tatsuko was on the verge of breaking the longest-reign record with the Historical Japan belt, but Miwa took it off him mere days before he could make history. In fact, their rivalry went back further than that. It predated the inception of PGHW itself, as Tatsuko had beaten Miwa on the independent scene to win the Historical Japan title two years prior. And when they met, it was always an occasion. This time the stakes were even higher. A spot in the Elite Series final would elevate their stock no end. Tatsuko was gaining serious credit for his intense durability. He had already acquired the nickname “Ironman” for his ability to endure for long periods without running out of gas. And his strong-style offence was reminiscent of Koryusai Kitoaji. Miwa, on the other hand, was more of the Ichihara mold. He used his strategy and adaptability to react to his opponent’s gameplan and manipulate it in his favour. But sometimes the opponent’s gameplan is too strong and the foe in such a determined mood that no clever tactic can hold him back. This proved to be the case here, as Tatsuko kept coming. He refused to slow a rapid pace, and while Miwa kept him at bay for a long time, eventually the tide broke through and Tatsuko hit the Tatsuko Driller to get the win. Tatsuko advanced to face Hito Ichihara in the Elite Series final. MATCH 3: Chuichi Sanda and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) vs. Go Matsunaga, Hayate Hasegawa & Mamoru Nagahama The Elite Series competitors needed a substantial break before facing off in the final. And in that time, a few others got to show their stuff on the card. Nagahama was the only one to really look good in this tame match, pinning Sarumara for the win. MATCH 4: Lee Wright vs. Luis Figo Manico © for the Historical Japan title Former Historical Japan champion Lee Wright challenged the current holder Luis Figo Manico. Wright’s age and experience gave him some advantage against the younger Figo. And now Figo’s 100% singles record had been broken by Hito Ichihara, Wright may have hoped the Spaniard would be fragile. He was not. If anything, he was even more ferocious. The weight of the streak was off his shoulders and he seemed to enjoy duking it out with the veteran. There was a smile on his face when he applied the Madrid Maul to get the win. His impressive reign continued. MATCH 5: Danger Kumasaka, Yodo Nakane and Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) vs. Eisaku Kunomasu, Koryusai Kitoaji, Raymond Diaz & Shimi Komatsuzaki Another filler match, but one that contained much more star power than the last. It also saw the debut of Shimi Komatsuzaki. He had joined the company a month ago, but had struggled the shake off the last effects of an injury. He teamed with Block B rivals Kunomasu and Raymond Diaz as well as Glory Crown Champion (in action for the first time in a month) Koryusai Kitoaji. Unfortunately, his team came up short against Danger Kumasaka, Yodo Nakane and the pair of Inukai and Mushashibo, who seemed to have shaken off the tension between them during the Elite Series, where both had narrowly missed out on qualifying from their blocks. MATCH 6: Hito Ichihara vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko for the Elite Series title With last year’s winner Koryusai Kitoaji watching from the skybox, Ichihara and Tatsuko fought for the 1998 installation of the Elite Series. Winning the tournament would be a hugely prestigious achievement for both men. But they both had designs on the Glory Crown in mind, something that motivated them even further, and raised the excitement in the crowd. Ichihara’s rivalry with Kitoaji was legendary. And he wanted to get another shot at the belt and set the record straight. Tatsuko, though, had reason to feel unfairly treated by Kitoaji. The champion had consistently overlooked him as a potential challenger, despite his strong record of late. So, the competitors held no ill-will against each other, but they would not let the other stand in their way. The match began slowly. This was the first encounter between the pair, and neither wanted to rush in and make a mistake. Tatsuko took the initiative at times, but refused to commit himself fully. There was too much on the line to make mistakes now. Plus, Tatsuko could go all night. He may have had an exhausting battle with Miwa earlier, but his energy levels would outlast Ichihara’s, who had struggled to get past Hoshino. But Ichihara would also benefit from the slow pace, as he could figure his opponent out and find weak spots. That’s not to say the match bored the fans. Far from it. They absorbed the early chess-game with keen intrigue and exploded when things kicked up a gear. Tatsuko had run out of patience. He went for Ichihara and battered him for a while, until Ichihara figured out a way to stop him and countered with some slick wrestling. The match went on like this, with Tatsuko on the attack but unable to maintain significant stretches of control as Ichihara would find a weakness to exploit. Then things went to the next level. Ichihara got Tatsuko in the Ichihara Armbar, and things looked over for the youngster. He couldn’t find a way out. But he refused to tap, and his body held out. For over four minutes he struggled in the hold, battling against exhaustion and pain. Four minutes of his arm being wrenched out of place, twisted and mangled in a vice-like grip. But remarkably, Ichihara was the one to give in first. Keeping the hold on for so long had tired him out, and by this stage of the match, the 41-year-old was out of breath. Tatsuko hurt too much to take advantage, though. He and Ichihara gasped for breath before resorting to sheer force of will. Gone was the technique and strategy. With their minds clouded by fatigue, base emotions took over. They clubbed each other. Again and again. Over and over. Until Ichihara fell. The veteran had nothing left. Tatsuko struggled to get him up in the Tatsuko Driller. One… Two… Three! Tatsuko got the pinfall and won the Elite Series! The crowd loved it. It was a crowning moment in many ways for Tatsuko, who had surely established himself as a serious player in the title picture, and one of the best competitors in Japan. After a long period of recovery, Ichihara paid his respects to Tatsuko and left. Tatsuko celebrated while Kitoaji watched on from the skybox. Conclusion Tatsuko and Ichihara’s main event instantly became one of the highest-rated bouts in PGHW history. It was up there with Ichihara and Kitoaji’s Night of WRESTLING classic, and many already thought it might get match of the year. The show itself was by far the most critically acclaimed of the year, too. The three Elite Series matches had all been stunning, and fans went home delighted. The main eventers had their say after the show. Hito Ichihara: I’m very happy for Nobuatsu. He deserves his success, even if it comes at my expense. I have suffered some failures in the last year, but many triumphs, too. I am Glory Tag Crown champion, and for now, that’s where my focus will remain, alongside Nagahama, who has a bright future. Tatsuko: I have been patient. I have waited. I have swallowed my tongue when others would have used it to lash out. For months, no… more than that… nearly two years, I have watched others get their chance to fight for the Glory Crown. Yet I have never been granted an opportunity. Now that changes. And for the first time, I truly believe I can defeat anyone. Ichihara, Kitoaji, you are my equals now. Because over the last few months, I have transformed. Kitoaji refused to see it. He denied me. But now, I have become undeniable.

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it. It's definitely a lot easier to keep track of the stories one by one than trying to write them all at the same time.

Predictions DinoKea: 4/4 Old School Fan: 4/4 Leeds Trophy 1978 Predictions DinoKea: 17/20 Old School Fan: 11/16 The Blonde Bomber: 6/8 Next Time Chris Alpha vs. Jacques Strapp Kenny Maynard vs. William Riley Mikel de Sota vs. Morris Wright Angus McCloud vs. Leo King

Predictions DinoKea: 2/4 Old School Fan: 2/4 Leeds Trophy 1978 Predictions DinoKea: 13/16 Old School Fan: 7/12 The Blonde Bomber: 6/8 Next Time Chris Alpha vs. William Riley Jacques Strapp vs. Morris Wright Angus McCloud vs. Mikel de Sota Leo King vs. Kenny Maynard A quick heads up that the next show won't be posted for a few weeks because I'm on holiday for a while and away from my PC. So don't worry - the diary isn't going to disappear!

THE ELITE SERIES 1998 (part 2) So far the Elite Series had produced some fantastic matches, with some wrestlers taking an early lead. There was already a split between the top four and the bottom four in both blocks, with only four real contenders to qualify in each. There were some massive bouts still to come, particularly on Day 7, with some crucial last round matches. Block A Table 8 Hito Ichihara 8 Mito Miwa 6 Shuji Inukai 5 Luis Figo Manico 3 Danger Kumasaka 2 Yodo Nakane 0 Akihiro Ishikawa 0 Mamoru Nagahama Block B Table 8 Eisaku Hoshino 8 Nobuatsu Tatsuko 6 Eisaku Kunomasu 6 Yoshimi Mushashibo 2 Raymond Diaz 2 Hayate Hasegawa 0 Chuichi Sanda 0 Walter Morgan PGHW Elite Series: DAY 5 Block A Results Danger Kumasaka went to a time-limit draw with Shuji Inukai Luis Figo Manico went to a time-limit draw with Mito Miwa Mamoru Nagahama def. Yodo Nakane Hito Ichihara def. Akihiro Ishikawa In the previous round, Kumasaka and Figo had drawn, now they both got the same result against different opponents. Kumasaka might have been pleased with his result if it didn’t mean it was impossible for him to qualify from Block A. Figo still had a chance, but there was a long way to go to catch up with Mito Miwa and he’d have to rely on Miwa slipping up. Mamoru Nagahama got his first win, finally, while his tag team champion partner, Hito Ichihara, made it five from five. 10 Hito Ichihara 9 Mito Miwa 7 Shuji Inukai 6 Luis Figo Manico 4 Danger Kumasaka 2 Mamoru Nagahama 2 Yodo Nakane 0 Akihiro Ishikawa Block B Results Eisaku Kunomasu def. Raymond Diaz Chuichi Sanda def. Walter Morgan Eisaku Hoshino def. Hayate Hasegawa Nobuatsu Tatsuko went to a time-limit draw with Yoshimi Mushashibo It was a round full of draws. Tatsuko and Mushashibo cancelled each other out, but would have both been content with a single point. Meanwhile, Hoshino took the lead, making it five wins from five by beating Hasegawa. Kunomasu earned a big win, too, putting him in serious contention just behind Tatsuko, with the top two qualifying spots still up for grabs. 10 Eisaku Hoshino 9 Nobuatsu Tatsuko 8 Eisaku Kunomasu 7 Yoshimi Mushashibo 2 Raymond Diaz 2 Hayate Hasegawa 2 Chuichi Sanda 0 Walter Morgan PGHW Elite Series: DAY 6 Block A Results Danger Kumasaka def. Mamoru Nagahama Luis Figo Manico def. Akihiro Ishikawa Mito Miwa def. Yodo Nakane Hito Ichihara def. Shuji Inukai With all competitors suffering the effects of a gruelling schedule, things went down to the wire. Despite Figo defeating Ishikawa, he learned he would not qualify this year, as Mito Miwa beat Yodo Nakane, meaning that Figo was three points behind with just a single match to go. The same was true for Shuji Inukai who desperately needed a win against Ichihara to rise above Miwa, but could only get a draw. That draw meant that Miwa and Ichihara would go into the final round equal on points. They would face each other in that match to determine who finished top of the block. 11 Hito Ichihara 11 Mito Miwa 8 Luis Figo Manico 8 Shuji Inukai 6 Danger Kumasaka 2 Mamoru Nagahama 2 Yodo Nakane 0 Akihiro Ishikawa Block B Results Yoshimi Mushashibo def. Hayate Hasegawa Raymond Diaz def. Walter Morgan Eisaku Hoshino def. Eisaku Kunomasu Nobuatsu Tatsuko def. Chuichi Sanda Yoshimi Mushashibo needed two points to stand a chance of qualifying. He got them against Hayate Hasegawa. However, Tatsuko also won, making Mushashibo’s chances a lot slimmer. The crucial match was Hoshino vs. Kunomasu. The two hadn’t shared the ring since the start of the year, as tag partners in Team EXPLOSION, and while they began on good terms, they certainly didn’t finish that way. During the match, some heavy strikes were thrown and the two looked to take out their frustrations on each other. Hoshino got the win when Kunomasu lost his cool and charged, only to get countered with a Godzilla Plunge. The win meant Hoshino would qualify from the block, while Kunomasu could not mathematically advance. The next round would see Hoshino take on Tatsuko. A win for Tatsuko would see him top the group, while a loss might see Mushashibo oust him from second spot. 12 Eisaku Hoshino 11 Nobuatsu Tatsuko 9 Yoshimi Mushashibo 8 Eisaku Kunomasu 4 Raymond Diaz 2 Hayate Hasegawa 2 Chuichi Sanda 0 Walter Morgan PGHW Elite Series: DAY 7 Block A Results Danger Kumasaka def. Yodo Nakane Luis Figo Manico def. Shuji Inukai Mamoru Nagahama def. Akihiro Ishikawa Hito Ichihara def. Mito Miwa For most, there was not much to play for in Block A on the final day, except pride. Kumasaka’s win got him to a respectable 8 points, while Luis Figo Manico would have counted himself unlucky not to qualify after defeating Inukai. The Spaniard only lost one match in the whole tournament, but two draws cost him dearly. The highest stakes were in the main event, with top spot on the line. The match was spectacular. Ichihara and Miwa put on the match of the tournament so far. The pair showed their similarities in style, but differences in experience as Ichihara had just a few more tricks up his sleeve than the younger man and got the win. Block A Final Standings 13 Hito Ichihara 11 Mito Miwa 10 Luis Figo Manico 8 Shuji Inukai 8 Danger Kumasaka 4 Mamoru Nagahama 2 Yodo Nakane 0 Akihiro Ishikawa Akihiro returned to BHOTWG with his tail between his legs. It was a disappointing tournament for Yodo Nakane and Mamoru Nagahama, the latter of which failed to shine. Kumasaka, Inukai and Figo did well, but weren’t quite at the required level to advance. Ichihara’s success was never in doubt, but Mito Miwa exceeded expectations by getting into the semi-finals. Block B Results Raymond Diaz def. Chuichi Sanda Walter Morgan def. Hayate Hasegawa Yoshimi Mushashibo def. Eisaku Kunomasu Nobuatsu Tatsuko def. Eisaku Hoshino Diaz and Morgan both got wins to make their performance look slightly better, but neither man would have been happy with their overall standing. Yoshimi Mushashibo fought hard to defeat Kunomasu, and got a good win. To qualify, though, he needed Hoshino to defeat Tatsuko, but in the end, Tatsuko got the victory, confirming his place at the top of the Block. 13 Nobuatsu Tatsuko 12 Eisaku Hoshino 11 Yoshimi Mushashibo 8 Eisaku Kunomasu 6 Raymond Diaz 2 Chuichi Sanda 2 Hayate Hasegawa 2 Walter Morgan Morgan, Sanda and Hasegawa struggled, predictably. Raymond Diaz did okay, but those hoping he would challenge the frontrunners were disappointed. Kunomasu showed he wasn’t quite on the level of his peers yet, but still a formidable threat that would surely challenge in the future. 11 points proved insufficient for Mushashibo to advance in a very competitive group – just a single loss and one draw, yet he still couldn’t get past Hoshino or Tatsuko. Speaking of the top two, Tatsuko’s victory over Hoshino meant he finished top and would face the second placed competitor from Block A, Mito Miwa. Eisaku Hoshino would go on to compete against Hito Ichihara in the other side of the draw. Both matches were set to take place at Night of PRIDE, with the final main-eventing that show. Night of PRIDE, 1998 Predictions SEMI FINAL 1: Eisaku Hoshino vs. Hito Ichihara SEMI FINAL 2: Mito Miwa vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko Chuichi Sanda and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) vs. Go Matsunaga, Hayate Hasegawa & Mamoru Nagahama Lee Wright vs. Luis Figo Manico © for the Historical Japan title Danger Kumasaka, Yodo Nakane and Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) vs. Eisaku Kunomasu, Koryusai Kitoaji, Raymond Diaz & Shimi Komatsuzaki Winner of SEMI FINAL 1 vs. Winner of SEMI FINAL 2 for the Elite Series tournament title The next show will be posted in a few weeks after I'm back from being away.

THE ELITE SERIES 1998 1997 saw the first Elite Series, an excellent tournament won by Koryusai Kitoaji. The semi-finals and final came to screens as part of Night of PRIDE, but many of the block matches, which were highly rated by those in attendance, were not broadcast anywhere. In 1998, with PGHW’s new network deal, every single tournament match would be shown on PPV Japan as part of a month-long extravaganza. And there was plenty of hype going into the tournament. Despite two big names not entering (Dread and Koryusai Kitoaji), the anticipation to see young stars in high-profile action was irresistible. Everybody had their own pick, but nobody stood out as a clear favourite. Block A consisted of: Akihiro Ishikawa Danger Kumasaka Hito Ichihara Luis Figo Manico Mamoru Nagahama Mito Miwa Shuji Inukai Yodo Nakane By far the biggest name was Hito Ichihara. The former Glory Crown champion was a strong pick to get out of the block, and many expected him to win the tournament and go on to avenge his Night of WRESTLING loss to Koryusai Kitoaji. Mito Miwa and Shuji Inukai both had a good chance of qualification. The two youngsters spent 1997 showing that they were destined for the top, and this could be their breakout year. Danger Kumasaka and Yodo Nakane were the veterans of the group. Nakane had clearly slowed down over the last year, so his chances were perceived as slim. Kumasaka, too, wasn’t quite at his peak. But he had reached the semi-final of the tournament last year, and that experience may get him over the line. Luis Figo Manico and Mamoru Nagahama were the dark horses. Figo had proven his talents, but was yet to test his quality against true high-level opponents. Nagahama may have been a few years away from really breaking through, but competitions like the Elite Series can really fast-track progress. And then there was the wildcard, Akihiro Ishikawa. Nobody knew what to expect from him, although his performances since joining at the start of the year hadn’t set the world on fire. Block B consisted of: Chuichi Sanda Eisaku Hoshino Eisaku Kunomasu Hayate Hasegawa Nobuatsu Tatsuko Raymond Diaz Walter Morgan Yoshimi Mushashibo Some might argue that Block B was less competitive than Block A. And sure, there was no megastar there, but there were plenty of wrestlers not far away from the level. Nobuatsu Tatsuko had been close to becoming a true main eventer for some time now, and Yoshimi Mushashibo was one of the best performers in the entire company. Those two topped the betting odds. Not far behind was Eisaku Hoshino, who had done well in singles competition since temporarily splitting from his tag partner Eisaku Kunomasu. Speaking of which, Kunomasu had developed quite a lot of support, with fans wondering if this was his time to shine. Raymond Diaz was the hardest to predict. On his day, he could beat near enough anyone, but without Lee Wright directing him, he was prone to rash mistakes. Chuichi Sanda, Hayate Hasegawa and Walter Morgan were outside bets. Nobody really expected them to compete at the top, but they could all raise their stock with a few upset victories, or a top-half finish. PGHW Elite Series: DAY 1 Block A Results Luis Figo Manico def. Yodo Nakane Danger Kumasaka def. Akihiro Ishikawa Hito Ichihara def. Mamoru Nagahama Mito Miwa def. Shuji Inukai Miwa defeating Inukai was by far the most important result. With both men competing for a qualification spot, Miwa gained an early two points. The other results were as expected, with Akihiro Ishikawa offering little challenge to Kumasaka. Block B Results Yoshimi Mushashibo def. Chuichi Sanda Nobuatsu Tatsuko def. Eisaku Kunomasu Raymond Diaz def. Hayate Hasegawa Eisaku Hoshino def. Walter Morgan Raymond Diaz started the tournament well, defeating the veteran Hasegawa. Tatsuko and Kunomasu had a fierce battle, with Tatsuko picking up the points. The other results were straightforward wins for Hoshino and Mushashibo. PGHW Elite Series: DAY 2 Block A Results Mito Miwa def. Akihiro Ishikawa Luis Figo Manico def. Mamoru Nagahama Shuji Inukai def. Yodo Nakane Hito Ichihara def. Danger Kumasaka Luis Figo Manico’s victory over Nagahama was a repeat of their Night of WRESTLING match, and put the Spaniard on 4 points. Miwa and Inukai picked up good wins, while Ichihara bested Danger Kumasaka. Block B Results Yoshimi Mushashibo def. Walter Morgan Eisaku Kunomasu def. Chuichi Sanda Nobuatsu Tatsuko def. Hayate Hasegawa Eisaku Hoshino def. Raymond Diaz With comfortable wins for Mushashibo, Kunomasu and Tatsuko, the standout match was Hoshino facing long-time rival in the tag division, Raymond Diaz. It was the first time they had competed in singles action, and Hoshino came out on top, meaning he was two wins from two. PGHW Elite Series: DAY 3 Block A Results Mito Miwa def. Danger Kumasaka Yodo Nakane def. Akihiro Ishikawa Shuji Inukai def. Mamoru Nagahama Hito Ichihara def. Luis Figo Manico Miwa’s victory over Kumasaka sent a strong message. Kumasaka reached the semi-final last year, but it seemed the youngsters like Miwa had now overtaken him. Nakane got his first win, with Ishikawa looking like he’d rather be elsewhere, while Inukai got another victory. Ichihara and Figo put on the best match of the tournament so far, with Figo battling to keep his 100% singles record intact. Unfortunately for him, Ichihara managed to hit the Head Drop Suplex and end the streak. Block B Results Hayate Hasegawa def. Chuichi Sanda Eisaku Kunomasu def. Walter Morgan Eisaku Hoshino def. Yoshimi Mushashibo Nobuatsu Tatsuko def. Raymond Diaz Eisaku Hoshino scored a huge win over Yoshimi Mushashibo. It was a fantastic match in which Mushashibo’s artistic grace fell to Hoshino’s rugged aggression. Hoshino had made a great start to the tournament. Kunomasu and Tatsuko picked up solid wins, while Hayate Hasegawa got his first points, defeating Chuichi Sanda in a poor match. PGHW Elite Series: DAY 4 Block A Results Mito Miwa def. Mamoru Nagahama Danger Kumasaka went to a time limit draw with Luis Figo Manico Shuji Inukai def. Akihiro Ishikawa Hito Ichihara def. Yodo Nakane Solid wins for Miwa, Inukai and Ichihara were to be expected, but fans revelled in the first 30-minute time-limit draw between Figo and Kumasaka. After the match, Kumasaka was full of praise for the Spaniard, who said Kumasaka was welcome to a rematch sometime soon, with the Historical Japan title on the line. Block B Results Yoshimi Mushashibo def. Raymond Diaz Eisaku Hoshino def. Chuichi Sanda Nobuatsu Tatsuko def. Walter Morgan Eisaku Kunomasu def. Hayate Hasegawa Those hoping for an upset victory were disappointed as the top four defeated the bottom four. Raymond Diaz came closest, almost getting the better of Mushashibo with pure strength alone, but his focus failed him for a moment, allowing Mushashibo to pounce. Mid-point round-up Block A Table 8 Hito Ichihara 8 Mito Miwa 6 Shuji Inukai 5 Luis Figo Manico 3 Danger Kumasaka 2 Yodo Nakane 0 Akihiro Ishikawa 0 Mamoru Nagahama Block B Table 8 Eisaku Hoshino 8 Nobuatsu Tatsuko 6 Eisaku Kunomasu 6 Yoshimi Mushashibo 2 Raymond Diaz 2 Hayate Hasegawa 0 Chuichi Sanda 0 Walter Morgan Mamoru Nagahama was a huge disappointment at this stage. He had lost every single match. Admittedly, competition was tough and he’d have opportunities to pick up easier points, but the block didn’t look good. It wasn’t ideal for Raymond Diaz, either. His lack of experience and guidance had cost him against the top competitors. The worst, though, was Akihiro Ishikawa. Not only had he failed to score a single point, but he’d not even come close. It was a dismal performance so far, and most fans would have been happy to see him go straight back to BHOTWG. Incidentally, at this point, that very company contacted him with an offer to return, which he accepted. He would finish the Elite Series and then head off. Block A’s Ichihara and Miwa made fantastic starts, winning all four of their matches. The same was true in Block B for Hoshino and Tatsuko. The four had set themselves out as favourites to qualify, but they were under pressure from those close behind. And the final positions would determine who they faced in the semi-final.

UNDENIABLE One of the big controversies at the tail end of 1997 was how Koryusai Kitoaji overlooked Nobuatsu Tatsuko as a challenger to the Glory Crown. It all began when Kitoaji challenged Mamoru Nagahama. The champion had imposed his will on the nature of challenging and challengers, enforcing the idea that the champion should select challengers and everyone else should do their best to earn his attention. In many people’s eyes, Nagahama hadn’t done nearly enough to merit a title shot at Night of HONOUR. But the match took place and, as expected, Kitoaji won. In the following two shows, Kitoaji and Nobuatsu Tatsuko were on the same winning team in two multi-man main events. Tatsuko impressed in both. Yet it was another team mate, Roka Furuhata, who teamed alongside them in the second match who got the title shot at Night of ENDURANCE. All the while, Tatsuko looked irritated, but did nothing. So after Night of ENDURANCE, he stood up to Kitoaji, expecting the champion to accept him as a challenger. But Kitoaji declined. He instead opted to face Hito Ichihara at Night of WRESTLING. Ichihara was Kitoaji’s biggest rival and the only other man to hold the Glory Crown, so it was hardly a case of Kitoaji picking an easy ride. And the two capped off their story with an epic match. But this gave small consolation to Tatsuko who felt overlooked and undervalued. Now in 1998, with Kitoaji still champion, it was only a matter of time before Tatsuko got his way. Wasn’t it? Night of RESPECT, January 1998 The first show of the year saw Koryusai Kitoaji choose Mito Miwa as the challenger for the Glory Crown. There was no doubt Miwa was a worthy wrestler, but fans of Tatsuko (one of Miwa’s long-time rivals) were incensed at yet another insult. Kitoaji won a hard-fought match that went over 35 minutes. In many ways, Miwa resembled Hito Ichihara with his tactical, adaptable approach, and he sprang a few surprises for the champion. But Kitoaji hid harder and in more volume, retaining his title. Earlier in the same show, Nobuatsu Tatsuko was on the winning team alongside Danger Kumasaka and Boundary 97 (Go Matsunaga & Takeshi Umehara) as they beat Fukusaburu Inao, Hayate Hasegawa, Yodo Nakane and new signing Akihiro Ishikawa. Tatsuko got the pin and remained stoic after the bell. Everybody knew what was going through his mind; he didn’t need to say anything. Night of ENERGY, January 1998 Night of ENERGY saw several singles matches take place. Most notable among them was Eisaku Hoshino defeating the veteran Yodo Nakane and a later match with Nobuatsu Tatsuko winning against Eisaku Kunomasu. Earlier in the night, Kitoaji had been part of a winning 8-man tag alongside Lee Wright, Fukusaburu Inao and Hayate Hasegawa against Akihiro Ishikawa, Chuichi Sanda, Dino Maldini and Walter Morgan. But it was his post-show comments that attracted greater interest. He said he had been highly impressed with Eisaku Hoshino’s victory over such a highly-respected competitor like Yodo Nakane. He extended his offer of a title challenge to Hoshino. The match was made for Night of DESTINY. Night of DESTINY, February 1998 Nobuatsu Tatsuko had to settle for competing in the opener again, when he thought he should be in the main event. He teamed with Mito Miwa and Yodo Nakane to beat Danger Kumasaka, Akihiro Ishikawa and Walter Morgan. Throughout the match, Tatsuko was in a sour mood. Not only did he have to suffer the humiliation of another rejection, but he was tagging with Mito Miwa. While the two respected each other, they weren’t exactly friends, even less now that Miwa had got the title shot at Night of RESPECT. Tatsuko was known for being quite calm and collected. His intensity was extreme, yes, but he never lost control of his emotions. Now, though, that resolve was being tested. In the main event, Koryusai Kitoaji defeated Eisaku Hoshino in another great title match. Hoshino showed his tenacity and rugged spirit. He and Kitoaji spent good periods of the match furiously attacking each other with little thought of defence or regard for their own safety. A Kitoaji Braindrop got the job done. Immediately after the match, word got out that Tatsuko had challenged Hoshino to a match at Night of BATTLE. The speculation was that he wanted to defeat Hoshino to show Kitoaji that, once again, he had picked the wrong challenger. Night of BATTLE, February 1998 In another opening match, Nobuatsu Tatsuko faced Eisaku Hoshino. The stakes were high for Tatsuko, because a loss here would foil his plans to show up Kitoaji. There was also the anticipation of the Elite Series beginning the next week and a win for either man would give them confidence going into the gruelling month of matches. Hoshino fought well, but Tatsuko was a man on a mission. In 27 minutes, Tatsuko got the win with a Tatsuko Driller. Later on, Koryusai Kitoaji teamed with Mito Miwa, Eisaku Kunomasu and Danger Kumasaka to defeat Walter Morgan, Lee Wright, Akihiro Ishikawa and Yodo Nakane. Once again, it was Kitoaji’s press conference comments that made the headlines. Kitoaji: I’m looking forward to the Elite Series. I’m sure fans around the world are, too. But I’m reluctant to announce that I won’t be taking part in the tournament this year. Firstly, my body needs some time to heal. I’ve been a fighting champion for nearly 9 months now, and that takes a toll. And I know better than anyone what it takes, both physically and mentally, to win the tournament. It’s tough. But I’m excited to find out who my next challenger will be. This time I do not have to make the decision – the results will do that for me. And such a tournament always results in the winner having EARNED their title shot. You can’t fluke it. So good luck to everyone, and I’ll see the winner when it’s all over. Later, Nobuatsu Tatsuko made his voice heard. Tatsuko: I will not disrespect anyone. I will not speak out of turn because that is not who I am. But know this. I will win the Elite Series. And when I do, nobody can overlook me. Nobody can disregard me as unworthy. Because it will be my right to challenge for the Glory Crown. I will be undeniable.

Predictions DinoKea: 4/4 Leeds Trophy 1978 Predictions DinoKea: 11/12 The Blonde Bomber: 6/8 Old School Fan: 5/8 Next Time Morris Wright vs. William Riley Chris Alpha vs. Kenny Maynard Leo King vs. Mikel de Sota Angus McCloud vs. Jacques Strapp

THE RIGHT THING At Night of WRESTLING in December 1997, Team Dynasty walked away as new Glory Tag Crown champions. They had won the Elite Tag Series in September and finally got their hands on the gold. Their delight was contagious. They had become one of the fans’ favourite teams, and beating the perennial villains Team STRENGTH RUSH only reinforced that perception. However, the nature of their victory was somewhat controversial. Having complained about Team STRENGTH RUSH’s bending of the rules in a previous title match, in which Lee Wright entered the action despite not being the legal man, Shuji Inukai did a similar thing at Night of WRESTLING. Mushashibo, especially, had criticised Wright on that occasion. He said it was against Sadaharu Jimbo’s motto of “do the right thing”. On the night, Mushashibo hadn’t realised what Inukai had done. So after the show he was in good spirits. Yet he would have watched the match back and seen how his tag partner entered the ring without having tagged in, and was instrumental in their team’s victory. How Mushashibo would react to the hypocrisy of his victory and the actions of Inukai remained to be seen. It could have a serious impact on the future of Team Dynasty, especially given how hard it had been to convince Mushashibo to focus on the tag division. Meanwhile, the tag division was steadily evolving. Following Hito Ichihara’s loss to Kitoaji at Night of WRESTLING, he offered Mamoru Nagahama another chance at tag success. Team EXPLOSION were going through their own journey, and there always loomed the threat of the two-time Glory Tag Crown champions, Team STRENGTH RUSH. Night of RESPECT, January 1998 Three important tag matches took place at Night of RESPECT. The first was for the Glory Tag Crown titles as Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) faced the young team of Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara). Nobody expected Rebel Cell to win, but they provided good opposition in the new champions’ first defence of the belt. Mushashibo seemed quiet and withdrawn. He was effective in his actions, but seemed like he was going through the motions. Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama renewed their position as a tag team with a victory over the unusual pairing of Kazuo Mitsushi and Walter Morgan. It seemed that Mitsushi’s rare win at Night of WRESTLING might have been an exception to the rule as, once again, he was on the end of a loss. Nagahama and Ichihara showed a good understanding. Nagahama submitted Mitsushi with a Guillotine. The third match saw Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) lose to Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz). It was an eventful match, especially for Team EXPLOSION, but that is a story best told in “EXPLOSION Implosion”. Night of ENERGY, January 1998 At Night of ENERGY, Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama picked up another victory, this time over Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) who had failed in their title shot at the last show. It was another comfortable win, with Nagahama using the Guillotine to choke out Sarumara. Later in the show, the Glory Crown titles were on the line again as Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) defended against Boundary 97 (Go Matsunaga & Takeshi Umehara). The challengers hoped 1998 would bring more success than their titular founding year. Unfortunately for them, it didn’t start that way, as they lost the match. Like at Night of RESPECT, Mushashibo’s heart wasn’t in it. He and Inukai communicated little. The word “sulking” might be a little strong to describe Mushashibo’s behaviour, but he was certainly not pleased. Danger Kumasaka was present at ringside and he tried to act as intermediary, but he failed to make a difference. Night of DESTINY, February 1998 Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz) took on Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama with the expectation that the winner of the match would go on to face Team Dynasty at the next show, Night of BATTLE. It was Ichihara and Nagahama’s toughest test yet. It was against Wright and Diaz that they had lost their first match together when they challenged for the Glory Tag Crown titles at Night of COURAGE in December. That loss annoyed Ichihara, who abandoned the team and pursued the Glory Crown against Kitoaji. Now, with their renewed partnership, they hoped to put the ghosts of the past behind them. And they did so in style. Ichihara looked extremely motivated, and he coached Nagahama into another impressive performance, this time submitting Lee Wright with the Guillotine. Things were looking up for the pair, and they would get their Glory Crown title shot at Night of BATTLE. Their opponents for that match would be the victor of the match later in the show between Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) and the semi-permanent duo of Hayate Hasegawa and Fukusaburu Inao. Mushashibo and Inukai hardly spoke. They communicated enough to organise themselves in the match, which they won, but their celebrations were muted. Things were not well in the Dynasty. Night of BATTLE, February 1998 In the main event of Night of BATTLE, Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) put their titles on the line against Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama. It marked the first time in PGHW history that the Glory Tag Crown titles headlined a major show. That was credit to the popularity and ability of the champions and, indeed, the challengers. The contrast in mood between the two teams was striking. Ichihara and Nagahama were bouncing with their recent success, and the veteran Ichihara had plenty of guidance, tips and even jokes for his young partner. On the other side of the ring, a chill hung between the champions. Clearly Mushashibo wasn’t happy with how his team had won the belts, and any attempts to reconcile him had fallen on deaf ears. And against serious challengers, a lack of cohesion proves costly, as it did here. Ichihara had been around long enough to deal with any situation and he played a smart, tactical game. He instructed Nagahama about when to press on and when to lay off and let the opponents stew in their discomfort. And when the time was right, Ichihara pounced, hitting a Head Drop Suplex on Inukai to get the win. Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama won the Glory Tag Crown titles!! They celebrated with plenty of cheer after the match, with Ichihara praising his team mate after the show. Team Dynasty’s title reign had been brief – just two months. In the post-show press conference, both men made their voices heard. Mushashibo: I’m disappointed we lost. But, if I’m honest, our reign was tainted from the start. I’m still struggling to process how things transpired at Night of WRESTLING and wondering whether it’s right for me to feel this way. Inukai: We won. That’s what we wanted. Team STRENGTH RUSH would have done exactly the same. In fact, they did. In the same match. But I made sure their tactics didn’t go unpunished. Mushashibo: Two wrongs don’t make a right. In that match, you stepped away from the idea of “do the right thing”. I would have preferred we lost instead of— Inukai: Preferred we lost? What’s wrong with you? I just levelled the playing field, made it a fair fight. But you would rather we were handicapped and came out losers again, just to satisfy your conscience? Forget that. I’m proud we won the titles. Mushashibo: Shuji, let’s not do this anymore. Inukai: What? Mushashibo: I don’t mean we shouldn’t tag anymore. I mean let’s not sulk and act cold towards each other. I’m tired of it. And maybe now that we don’t have the weight of tainted gold on our shoulders, we can push on, doing the right thing. Inukai: Fine. But we differ on what that means. I believe in fairness. I did the right thing at Night of WRESTLING by making it a fair fight. Mushashibo: I know you tried to do the right thing. But it was wrong. I forgive you for that, because you’re my friend. But next time we tag together, remember that immediate success isn’t always the goal. We’re Team Dynasty. That means we will always have success. But more importantly, we will have Pride, Glory and Honour on our side.

GLORY CROWN
 Kozue Kawashima (c) vs. Magnum Kobe CHAMPIONS VS. CHAMPIONS - GLORY TAG CROWN ON THE LINE
 Kazushige Matsuki & Tetsunori Yasuda (c) vs. KITA & SATO STABLE WARFARE - SIX-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH
 Crimson Tigers (Bussho Makiguchi, Chojiro Kitoaji & Hirobumi Takimoto) vs. RONIN VII (Akinori Kwakami, Noriyori Sanda & Seiji Jimbo) CHAMPION VS. CHAMPION - HISTORICAL JAPAN TITLE & INTERNATIONAL TITLE ON THE LINE
 Avalanche Takano (c) vs. Joshua Taylor (c) SINGLES MATCH - ULTIMATE GRUDGE RE-MATCH
 Masaru Ugaki vs. Yasunobu Masuno EIGHT-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH
 Coyote Club (BISON Yano, Brute Kikuchi & Hirokazu Yamanoue) & Gonnohyoe Kada vs. The American Cobras (Marvel Molloy & Storm Spillane), Canadian Dragon & Hitomaro Suzuki EIGHT-MAN TAG TEAM MATCH
 AKIMA, Tsurayuki Kamachi & The Ivanoff Brothers (Igor Ivanoff & Ivan Ivanoff) vs. The Front (Michio Gensai & Mutant) & The Lions of Japan (Shinji Mihara & Shozo Furata) TAG TEAM MATCH
 REBEL (Hirotsugu Satou & Motoyuke Miyake) vs. Goro Sakamoto & Sanjiro Sasaki SINGLES MATCH - LOSER LEAVES RONIN VII
 Haranobu Kobayashi vs. Suguru Emoto Some huges matches I'm very much looking forward to. I'm annoyed at myself for missing the Elite Tag Series predictions, but enjoyed reading the tournament. You continue to do a fantastic job with this diary!

INFALLIBLE FIGO Luis Figo Manico had ended all doubts around his talent and durability. He remained undefeated in singles competition since his arrival in the company six months ago. He had established himself as a good modern champion, frequently defending the Historical Japan title and upholding the tradition and legacy that belt brought with it. For a gaijin, he was already very well respected. And as always, he had a queue of challengers hoping to take the belt off him. The Historical Japan title was always open for business. Unlike the Glory Crown, where challengers had to prove they were worthy of the highest honour, Figo’s contenders simply put their name in the hat and, sooner or later, they’d get a shot. Indeed, that was how Figo earned his opportunity. He was ready to offer the same favour to anyone who was brave enough to face him. But at some point he would slip up. Wouldn’t he? Night of RESPECT, January 1998 Dino Maldini had been meandering through PGHW ever since his tag partner, Java, left. He had clear talent, but still needed experience in the ring to convert those MMA skills into wrestling acumen. He got his chance against Figo, and in doing so exposed the fact he was still some way off. Figo used the Madrid Maul to get the win. Night of ENERGY, January 1998 Raymond Diaz took a rare break from tag action to challenge Figo for the Historical Japan title, a belt which his tag partner Lee Wright had held years ago. For Diaz, a win would change the trajectory of his career. All his success had come alongside Wright, but this would mark a successful foray into singles action that may spell the end of Team STRENGTH RUSH. Fortunately for fans of the tag team, Diaz fell to the Madrid Maul, although his good performance suggested he may have a good future in singles competition, if not quite yet. Night of DESTINY, February 1998 One half of Boundary 97, Go Matsunaga was next in line for a shot at Figo. Nobody expected Matsunaga to pose a real challenge. But he did much better than people predicted. He pushed Figo to the limit and, if it hadn’t been for the Spaniard’s diligence in researching and analysing all his opponents, the fans might have seen an upset similar to the one Figo put on Mito Miwa when he won the belt in the first place. In the end, the Madrid Maul was once again the deciding factor. Night of BATTLE, February 1998 In the final show before the Elite Series, Hayate Hasegawa took on Figo. Hasegawa had wrestled for QUEST when the Historical Japan title was in its early days, but never got his hands on the belt. He had always had more success in the tag division. And some may say that’s where he should have stayed, at least on this occasion, as Figo defeated him with relative ease, finishing him off with a Full Nelson. After the match, Figo spoke about the upcoming Elite Series. Figo: I will be in the Elite Series. I understand what it entails, and I appreciate that my 100% singles record will come under serious threat. But preserving it would mean missing out on the biggest tournament of my lifetime. A league system really shows where people are. I have been facing good competitors for a while, but now I wish to go up against the best. I believe I can win the tournament, even with the likes of Ichihara, Kumasaka, Tatsuko and Miwa taking part. But win or lose, I will not miss it.

FINDING "THE ONE" Having defeated over half the roster in singles competition in the last six months, the talk around Dread focused on the idea of “The One”. The One who would end his winning streak. Nobuatsu Tatsuko had tried. Yodo Nakane had tried. Mito Miwa had tried. Over a dozen wrestlers had entered the ring with the big man hoping to ruin the point he had been trying to prove for months. Dread dismissed the idea of there being such thing as “The One”, but his rejection of the term only gave it more intrigue. Media outlets in the Osaka area had picked up on it, and plenty of wrestling magazines in USA had caught on. Whoever defeated Dread was someone to look out for. So 1998 began with a raft of opponents. But would any of them prove tough enough to do what so many had failed at? Night of RESPECT, January 1998 Chuichi Sanda had officially finished his commitments with BHOTWG and was hoping to improve his standing in PGHW. He took on Dread knowing that a win would change his life. But Dread wasn’t the charitable sort. While Sanda fought hard, it was ultimately fruitless as he suffered a Dread Bomb to end the match. Credit to Sanda for lasting longer than most, but it wasn’t the breakout performance he had dreamed of. Night of ENERGY, January 1998 Many saw Kazuo Mitsushi’s challenge as more of a box-ticking exercise as Dread had to defeat everyone on the roster. Mitsushi had only recently broken his loser’s curse. He had become infamous for being on the losing team in all tag matches he participated in for 8 whole months. With that curse now broken, he hoped his fortunes would turn about face. But they ran into Dread, who dashed that fantasy on the canvas. A Dreadsault got the job done. Night of DESTINY, February 1998 Eisaku Kunomasu may have only been wrestling for little over a year, but he’d already picked up gold in PGHW, alongside Eisaku Hoshino as Team EXPLOSION won the Glory Tag Crown titles last year. However, the team had gone through hard times of late and, with singles action the focus at this time, Kunomasu wondered if he may be able to become “The One” by beating Dread. He certainly did a good job of trying. The young man brought intensity and precision which had the big man in trouble at times. But Dread wouldn’t be felled easily, and he retaliated with a Dread Bomb to get the three count. Night of BATTLE, February 1998 In a battle of true heavyweights, Dread faced the man who many saw as a younger version of him, “The Monster” Raymond Diaz. Diaz was just 21 and had already won tag gold twice alongside Lee Wright. The future certainly looked bright for him, but at this time it seemed blocked out by the bulk of Dread. It was a match many had been looking forward to, and it lived up to expectations, already being talked about in the upper echelons of PGHW matches. No, it wouldn’t win Match of the Year, but it was certainly memorable. The two big men smacked seven shades of the proverbial out of each other, with Diaz desperate to prove he was on the same level. A devastating powerbomb (which few men could even think about doing to Dread) saw Diaz gain control. Dread came out of the move with serious pain in his back. Inexperience cost Diaz as he failed to capitalise. Instead of following up, he paraded in front of the fans, giving Dread time to recover enough to hit a Dread Bomb and get the win. That made it 18 wins for Dread, around two-thirds of the full-time roster. Nearly everyone remaining would pose a serious threat. Dread’s Injury After the match, Dread announced that he would not be competing in the Elite Series tournament. He claimed the back injury suffered in the match with Diaz would keep him on the sidelines for a month or two, and after the tournament he would return to his dominant run. More cynical fans wondered if this was some kind of ploy. The Elite Series was a gruelling tournament with so many matches that defeat was likely at some point. Avoiding that risk would keep Dread’s winning run in tact. Some wondered if the injury was just “unfortunate” or if it was tactical.

Predictions DinoKea: 4/4 The Blonde Bomber: 3/4 Old School Fan: 3/4 Leeds Trophy 1978 Predictions DinoKea: 7/8 The Blonde Bomber: 6/8 Old School Fan: 5/8 Next Time Chris Alpha vs. Leo King Jacques Strapp vs. Mikel de Sota Kenny Maynard vs. Morris Wright Angus McCloud vs. William Riley

EXPLOSION Implosion Overall, 1997 had been a fine year for Team EXPLOSION. Eisaku Hoshino and Eisaku Kunomasu were young, highly-rated wrestlers who had teamed up to great success. They had beaten Team STRENGTH RUSH to become the second ever Glory Tag Crown champions, and had reached the final of the Elite Tag Series. Considering Kunomasu was still in his first year of wrestling, that was quite an achievement. Until Team Dynasty turned their attention to the tag division, Team EXPLOSION were one of the best two tag teams in the company. But that’s when things started going wrong. They lost the Glory Tag Crown titles back to Team STRENGTH RUSH, then suffered defeat to Team Dynasty in the Elite Tag Series final. Since then, they tried to get back into title contention, but a loss to Hito Ichihara & Mamoru Nagahama in October slowed them down, then another defeat to Team Dynasty in November had them really struggling. At Night of WRESTLING, they once again suffered defeat, this time in trios action alongside Walter Morgan. After the match, the pair exchanged heated words. Cool heads prevailed, though, and they seemed to put aside whatever issue had arisen. In 1998, they would hope for success to fill in the cracks that had started to form. Night of RESPECT, January 1998 To kick the year off, Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) took on former 2-time Glory Tag Crown holders and their biggest rivals throughout 1997, Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz). Hoshino and Kunomasu looked like their normal cohesive selves at the start of the match, and took the fight to Wright and Diaz. But a few things went wrong. A miscommunication saw them fail to make a proper tag, and a stray elbow from Kunomasu collided with Hoshino’s jaw. At this level of wrestling, the finest margins make the difference, and Team STRENGTH RUSH took advantage. They hit the Too Hot to Handle on Eisaku Hoshino to get the win. After the match, Kunomasu was visibly angry. He shouted at Hoshino, gesticulating furiously and complaining about another loss they had suffered. Hoshino was never one to back down from being criticised. He got into Kunomasu’s face and told him that maybe he was to blame for their failure. Shoving ensued. Tempers flared. Finally, it was Kunomasu who raised his hands and walked away, shaking his head. Hoshino shouted after him, but didn’t press the issue. After the match, they both individually announced that they would be taking a short break from tag action in order to explore other pursuits and cool off the tension between them. For such young and prideful men, they handled the situation with maturity, each admitting they were partly to blame, and hoping that the time away would heal their relationship. Night of ENERGY, January 1998 Both members of Team EXPLOSION competed in singles action, with serious stakes. Eisaku Hoshino defeated Yodo Nakane in a match that impressed Glory Crown champion Koryusai Kitoaji enough for him to offer Hoshino a title opportunity at the next show, Night of DESTINY. Meanwhile, Eisaku Kunomasu battled against Nobuatsu Tatsuko. The match was closer than some might have expected, but in the end Tatsuko got the win with a Tatsuko Driller. Night of DESTINY, February 1998 Eisaku Kunomasu continued to face high-profile opponents as he became the latest person to try to spoil Dread’s rampage through the roster. Once again, Kunomasu proved he was a strong competitor away from Hoshino, and there was no shame in his loss. Eisaku Hoshino also gave a good account of himself. In front of over 35,000 fans in Osaka, he battled with Koryusai Kitoaji for the Glory Crown. The arena loved watching the pair go at each other without worrying about protecting themselves, purely intent on hitting the other harder. Few people hit harder than Kitoaji, and Hoshino wasn’t one of them. But in defeat, Hoshino elevated his stock significantly. Nobuatsu Tatsuko challenged Hoshino after the show and the match was set for Night of BATTLE. Night of BATTLE, February 1998 In the opening match, Eisaku Hoshino took on Nobuatsu Tatsuko. With the Elite Series beginning in less than a week, both men hoped to get a momentum-giving win before a month of brutal matches. Tatsuko was on another planet, though, and defeated Hoshino. Eisaku Kunomasu got his first win of the year. He competed alongside Koryusai Kitoaji, Mito Miwa and Danger Kumasaka to defeat Walter Morgan, Lee Wright, Akihiro Ishikawa and Yodo Nakane. Both Hoshino and Kunomasu announced their participation in the Elite Series and, to many people’s delight and to others’ concern, they were both drawn in Block A. So, like it or not, Team EXPLOSION would reunite, only this time on the opposite side of the ring.

TURNING POINT Trust is a powerful thing. In the middle of 1997, I decided to trust my roster. I relied upon them to deliver, knowing they had the talent, the spirit and the determination. Finances were looking shaky at best. And they pulled through. It was not easy, mind, but ultimately the quality of our product shone through to enough people to make the endeavour profitable. And shining through to important people was vital. We signed a much-improved deal to broadcast our major shows on PPV Japan, bringing in enough money to balance the books, and sufficient viewers to expand our reach. With an attendance of 33,141 at Night of WRESTLING, the gate alone was enough to raise us well out of debt. I was yet to claw back my initial investment, but the future was looking extremely bright. Doubts lingered over the Night of WRESTLING main event. Part of me wanted to go with Tatsuko as he had improved so much and could have worked brilliantly with Kitoaji. But I couldn’t overlook Ichihara. He had been our number one performer in the ring and his rivalry with Kitoaji had reached legendary heights. In the end, it was a simple choice, but one that hurt. Tatsuko would have his moment soon enough. And the decision panned out well. Kitoaji and Ichihara put on one of the best matches I’ve seen in a long time, and by far PGHW’s most acclaimed bout. To think I even considered parting ways with one, or both of them. The roster would remain fairly stable going into the new year. A few minor names came in to support the midcard. The young stars were growing into their roles and, aside from an amazing opportunity opening up to sign a megastar, there was no need to add any more names. Speaking of megastars, there was one man on my radar. Over in SWF, a lad aged just 24 but already on top of the world and with his contract expiring soon. It would be challenging to snatch him away from the American giant. Yet he was a perfect match. That one would have to wait and see. As for heading into 1998, things were looking positive. Everyone was pulling in the same direction, and I believed the year would not only have success in-ring, but also on the balance sheet.