PGHW - The Other Beginning

[Willsky]

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.

[Willsky]

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.

[Willsky]

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.

 

[Willsky]

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.

[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

[Tiberious]

Night of GLORY Match Card

Eisaku Hoshino © vs. Luis Figo Manico for the Historical Japan title
Manico had a great title reign, but I don't think he's going to just win it back immediately.

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
Tossup undercard tag, but I've got a soft spot for Dino from playing an Australian CV97 game so I'll pick his side.

Eisaku Kunomasu vs. Mito Miwa
50-50 on this, but Miwa beating the Historical champs tag team partner would give him a solid argument for a title shot.

Danger Kumasaka and Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) vs. Pistol Pete Hall, Shimi Komatsuzaki and Yodo Nakane
Pistol Pete Hall is a great addition to your roster, but I don't have a ton of faith in his teammates in this match.

Dread vs. Sean McFly
McFly is destined for greatness, but he's still winning over fans in Japan and I think a strong showing in defeat will elevate him while keeping Dread hot for a main event down the road.

Hito Ichihara & Mamoru Nagahama © vs. Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz) for the Glory Tag Crown titles
Nagahama eats the pin to allow Ichihara to turn his focus to singles competition.

Koryusai Kitoaji © vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko for the Glory Crown title
I think you have to strike while the iron is hot and give Nobuatsu Tatsuko his due here.

 

[Scottie]

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

[siah463]

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

 

Side note: One of my fave diaries that I find myself coming on here to check up on, led to me giving bringing in Manico for my GCG 97' save so yea big ups.

Edited September 30, 2023 by siah463

[Willsky]

Night of GLORY, June 1998

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

 

MATCH 1: Eisaku Hoshino © vs. Luis Figo Manico for the Historical Japan title

Hoshino won the Historical Japan title from Luis Figo Manico at Night of EXCELLENCE a month prior. The victory had come about, in part, due to an ankle injury to Figo.

Hoshino took advantage and won the belt, but promised Figo a rematch as soon as he was fit.

Now Figo was fit. And while he didn’t show it, he would have been annoyed at his eight-month reign coming to an end in such a disappointing way, and he wanted to set the record straight.

Hoshino, however, had no intention of giving the belt back without a serious fight.

The contrast in styles was stark. Figo was a preparer, a student, an analyst. He would have spent days assessing Hoshino’s favourite movements and manoeuvres. Hoshino didn’t care for all that. He was a wild, aggressive fighter who got stuck in straight away.

You can do all the studying you like, but when Eisaku Hoshino charges at you like a honey badger, there’s no formula to react. Figo found this out the hard way, eating a Godzilla Plunge.

That move led to the winning pinfall, and Hoshino’s second successful defence of the belt. This time away from Team EXPLOSION partner Eisaku Kunomasu was going extremely well.

 

MATCH 2: 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

This match was little more than a ten-man filler to get everyone on the card. Kazuo Mitsushi’s curse of always being on the losing team continued as he was pinned by Dino Maldini, who looked pretty good throughout the match.

 

MATCH 3: Eisaku Kunomasu vs. Mito Miwa

This match came about thanks to a heated striking confrontation at Night of EXCELLENCE where Miwa and McFly beat Kunomasu and Maldini.

Kunomasu clearly took exception to the interaction and at the following show, Night of SUCCESS, wanted to show Miwa who was boss.

Over the last few months, Mito Miwa had looked a little directionless. He failed in two title attempts, for the Glory Crown and Historical Japan titles, and, while advancing from Block A in the Elite Series, missed out on success when he lost the semi-final to Tatsuko.

But a smile had returned to his face when he began tagging with Sean McFly. The American’s arrival seemed to light a fire under the Pride Warrior, and that fire burned strong here as he and Kunomasu battered each other with dozens of brutal chops, elbow strikes and headbutts. Finally, Miwa hit the Pride Bomber to get a hard-fought win.

 

MATCH 4: Danger Kumasaka and Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) vs. Pistol Pete Hall, Shimi Komatsuzaki and Yodo Nakane

Team Dynasty went through a rough time in the first half of the year. Their falling out over Inukai’s “unethical” tactics to win the Glory Tag Crown titles had simmered for months, firstly leading to them quickly dropping the belts, then an underlying tension that threatened to drive them apart.

At Night of POWER, they went head-to-head to determine who would get a title shot against Kitoaji. Inukai won, and Mushashibo embraced him. It seemed that Danger Kumasaka had used that moment to galvanise the team, putting the problems of the past behind them.

And it had worked. In this match, the pair were on the same page throughout. They faced tough competition, especially from the recently arrived Pistol Pete Hall, but in the end, Kumasaka applied the Aurora Surfboard Vice to Nakane for the team’s victory.

 

MATCH 5: Dread vs. Sean McFly

Everyone in Japan knew Dread. He had been around for over a decade and had entered a period of total domination, with 22 straight singles victories to his name.

In contrast, fans of PGHW were only just getting to know Sean McFly. The big-money contract, the brilliant matches he’d had against and with Mito Miwa, and the aura of class that oozed out of him told them he was a superstar, but many were yet to believe it.

So, when he challenged Dread with confidence, there were more than a few raised eyebrows.

But if fans didn’t “get” Sean McFly at the start of the match, by the end, they were convinced.

The two Americans put on one of the best Japanese-style matches the country had seen. Dread was a dominant force. McFly was a heartful underdog performing incredible feats of strength and skill to try to fell the monster.

On three, heart-stopping moments, McFly came within millimetres of getting the win. Two pinfalls that Dread barely managed to kick out of, and a submission by McFly which had fans squealing with emotion. But Dread broke free.

For the last year, Dread had dominated opponents, but this time he narrowly got the win by reversing a Delorean Driver into a Dread Bomb.

The big man was exhausted in victory, and McFly became a fan favourite.

 

MATCH 6: Hito Ichihara & Mamoru Nagahama © vs. Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz) for the Glory Tag Crown titles

The lopsided team of Ichihara and Nagahama faced their toughest test yet – two-time Glory Tag Crown champions, Team STRENGTH RUSH.

Wright and Diaz had defeated the champions in trios action at Night of SUCCESS, something Ichihara had criticised Nagahama about. Team STRENGTH RUSH got their title shot right away.

And they were not hanging about. When the titles were on the line, Wright & Diaz always upped their game. However, they had to contend with Ichihara.

Ichihara alone had defeated Rebel Cell, without needing Nagahama to tag in. But against Wright and Diaz, he had to rely on Nagahama.

And it was the younger man who made the difference, tagging in when Ichihara could hold on no longer. He wiped out Diaz, then hit a Head Drop Suplex, Ichihara’s finisher, on Lee Wright to get the pinfall victory to retain.

Ichihara clapped Nagahama on the shoulder after the match and raised his hand in celebration. Nagahama looked delighted.

 

MATCH 7: Koryusai Kitoaji © vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko for the Glory Crown title

Finally. After nine months of waiting, Nobuatsu Tatsuko got his shot at the Glory Crown.

Not only was it his first opportunity to take on Kitoaji for the Crown, it was his first ever time competing for the prize, despite having been a major part of the company since its inception two years ago.

After months of big victories, making statements and showing Kitoaji he was ready, it took an Elite Series win to confirm the title match. And even then, Kitoaji held it off.

But he could delay no more.

At the end of the last show, Kitoaji had criticised Tatsuko’s childish lack of patience. As if in response, Tatsuko came out to this match with a look of calm on his face.

And the match began slow. As the younger, fitter man who was famous for his conditioning, the longer the match went on, the better for Tatsuko. He could outlast the 41-year-old champion.

They grappled and tussled, with a few fierce strikes flying back and forth. Neither man held control for longer than a couple of minutes, as if neither wanted to commit themselves too early.

But as the match went on, Kitoaji’s energy levels dropped ever-so-slightly. He was breathing hard after fifteen minutes, while Tatsuko looked fine.

Yet Kitoaji still resisted going into full attack mode. The choice unsettled the crowd who were used to seeing the champion battering opponents by now.

After twenty minutes, Tatsuko applied a leglock. Kitoaji looked in trouble, and for several minutes he couldn’t escape. But finally, he reached the ropes and Tatsuko had to release him.

A flash of irritation crossed Tatsuko’s face and he kept up the assault. He hit some big moves on Kitoaji, taking control of the match and dealing serious damage.

Kitoaji survived. He kicked out of half a dozen pinfalls, and every time, Tatsuko looked a little more frustrated.

This continued. Tatsuko battered Kitoaji. He threw him around the ring with ferocity, the blood rising to his face. He smashed him with lariats, elbow strikes, powerslams, even a piledriver that nearly got the win.

But Kitoaji kept hanging in there. And every time Tatsuko went for his finisher, the Tatsuko Driller, Kitoaji managed to escape. Tatsuko was hot and bothered now, but still in control.

Then, when Tatsuko caught him with a stiff elbow strike, Kitoaji stood firm, refusing to let it affect him. Then he said out loud: “You’re not ready” and opened himself up for Tatsuko to hit him.

Which he did. The comment enraged Tatsuko whose reddened face turned deep crimson. He saw nothing but rage now, and attacked with wild ferocity. Kitoaji caught a forearm to the nose that bust him open and a crunching knee to the chin that nearly knocked him out.

Tatsuko was a whirlwind of violence.

And after the torrent of strikes, he grabbed Kitoaji, hoisted him up for the Tatsuko Driller and…

Kitoaji reversed it! Kitoaji Braindrop! One…Two…

Three! Koryusai Kitoaji got the victory and retained the Glory Crown!

Tatsuko was stunned. He recovered from the Braindrop faster than Kitoaji recovered from the battering. The youngster still had energy left in him. He had been dominating, going for the kill…

Yet he stood empty-handed in the middle of the ring over the champion who was receiving medical attention for a broken nose.

 

Conclusion

Kitoaji and Tatsuko’s match capped off another strong night of PGHW action. The title match shocked many fans who thought it was Tatsuko’s time. Kitoaji had held the belt for a full year, and Tatsuko seemed like the obvious successor. But Kitoaji remained champion.

The match of the night was Dread vs. McFly. The bout was already being put in the mix for Match of the Year candidate, although most agreed that Ichihara vs. Tatsuko at Night of PRIDE was still the frontrunner.

McFly and Pistol Pete Hall’s arrivals had strengthened the roster, and a couple of new teams were beginning to form. Miwa and McFly announced that they would become an official tag team, with the name Team MYTHOS. Pistol Pete said that he saw potential in Dino Maldini and wanted to see more from him.

In the post-show press conference, the attention was firmly on Tatsuko and Kitoaji. Tatsuko had little to say, other than to express his disappointment. Kitoaji, with a thick icepack on his nose, had these comments:

Kitoaji: I warned him. I said to Tatsuko, didn’t I, at the end of Night of SUCCESS? I told him he needed to be more patient. Was I wrong? No, I was right. Tonight, he showed why he isn’t ready to be champion.

It’s been a full year now. That makes me proud. And looking to the future, I can see some fantastic new challengers. It’s good to have my buddy Komatsuzaki here, as well as Pistol Pete Hall. I think Figo isn’t far off a title shot, and Sean McFly could get there if he keeps up that kind of work.

As for Tatsuko, well if he wants another shot, he’s going to have to knuckle down and earn it.

Another victor on the night, Dread, had his voice heard:

Dread: I have to admit, for the first time in forever I felt worried. Sean McFly, you’re a great competitor. And I reaffirm what I said before the match – I think you’ll be the best in the world in five years. But not now. That’s still me.

And I’m nearly out of opponents. I count only six remaining. Six of the best in PGHW. And one of them holds a nice bit of gold I’ve got my eye on.

[Willsky]

RISKY BUSINESS

As it turned out, that kid I had my eye on was running down his contract in SWF. Sean McFly. I had to do my best to get him. He was destined to be one of the all-time greats and his attitude perfectly matched the project.

It came at a price, though. Over $200,000 a month, if you’re interested. A huge outlay for someone who had little name-value in Japan. I knew it was a risk. But the money was running in and I had to capitalise.

He wasn’t the only expense, either. Pistol Pete Hall’s salary was pretty high, and a whole bunch of contracts needed renewing. I had given most people 2-year contracts upon signing in ’96 and they were all coming to an end. Ichihara, Kitoaji, Dread, all the future pillars – spring and early summer were expensive months.

But worth it. Because as long as we kept up the strong performances and killer shows, we were making enough money to pay for all these stars. If we dropped off, then that might be a problem. For now, I could afford the risk.

Risks had never been my thing before. Taking care of my personal finances had always been a priority, and I repelled the idea of splashing the cash.

Yet business is different. When people spend their money on flash cars or pricey holidays or gawdy watches, that money disappears. The thing about investing in a business is that, if done right, that money pays itself back and then some. That’s exactly what was happening.

I could have taken my initial $2 million out by now and still had plenty in the PGHW coffers to thrive. So can you blame me for doubling down and investing even more? I believed that in another year, we’d be getting triple the revenue.

Assuming everything went well.

[Willsky]

CLOSING IN ON GREATNESS

Nearly a full year had passed since Dread set out on his path to prove his doubters wrong and defeat everyone on the PGHW roster. And, remarkably, he was still going. 23 wrestlers had fallen before him during that time, and only a few remained.

His latest conquest had been Sean McFly, a fellow American, and they had competed in one of the greatest matches of the company’s history.

Mito Miwa, Eisaku Hoshino, Nobuatsu Tatsuko, Danger Kumasaka, and Yoshimi Mushashibo had all been crossed off the list.

Who was next? And with the majority of the remaining competitors being serious players, would he manage to go all the way?

He was closing in on greatness, but some big hurdles lay in his path yet.

 

Night of STRENGTH, June 1998

Compared to Dread’s recent opponents, Shimi Komatsuzaki proved relatively straightforward to defeat. The former BHOTWG wrestler had only recently joined the company, but he still counted as a roster member for Dread to defeat.

The match was surprisingly good, with Komatsuzaki fighting as a spirited underdog, surviving for longer than he had any right to, but ultimately, a Dreadsault put him away.

Shimi Komatsuzaki became number 24.

After the match, Dread was challenged by someone who was new to the company, but no stranger to Dread. Pistol Pete Hall.

 

Night of WARRIORS, July 1998

Pistol Pete Hall and Dread spent a year and a half on the GCG roster in the early 90’s. They were both 37 at the present time, and had seen very different career trajectories – Dread dominating both the USA and Japan, with multiple world titles to his name, while Hall had gained a great reputation despite his lack of gold. Not to mention Hall had been away from the ring for six years.

But Hall was one of the few men in the world who could match Dread for size and force. He had one of the strongest right hands in the business, capable of knocking most people out cold.

But Dread wasn’t most people. He ate the right hand, staggered, then retaliated with a Dread Bomb to win the match.

Pistol Pete Hall became number 25.

 

Night of VICTORY, July 1998

Next in Dread’s sights was Shuji Inukai. Dread had actually defeated Inukai two weeks before starting his path of dominance, so he could have been excused for counting Inukai among the already conquered.

But Dread wanted no asterisks and faced Inukai again. The last time they met, Inukai had impressed Dread with both his offense and spirit.

And as Inukai set himself for the Untouchable Lariat, the fans in Kobe wondered if Inukai might be “the one”, or if he hit the lariat, Dread might be the first person ever to kick out of it.

Neither happened as Inukai never connected with his deadly finisher. Instead, Dread charged into him, knocking him flat near the corner, and hit a Dreadsault to get the victory.

Shuji Inukai became number 26.

 

Night of LEGACY, August 1998

Luis Figo Manico had certainly made an impression since his arrival in PGHW a year ago. He had enjoyed a similar winning run, going all the way to the Elite Series without losing a singles match.

Dread was on a rampage, though, so Figo had his work cut out. It was a fantastic match, with Figo managing to counter many of Dread’s big moves with clever, well-planned sidesteps and shoulder drops.

But Dread only needed to hit a few big moves to deal immense damage. And when he hit the Dread Bomb, there was no way Figo was kicking out.

Luis Figo Manico became number 27.

 

Night of TOUGHNESS, August 1998

In a match made more out of administrative completionism than real wrestling merit, Ryoma Muruyama had the ominous task of facing Dread next.

Muruyama had only recently graduated from SAISHO, the company’s training school, and was a very fresh, very green young lion.

The size difference between him and Dread was just as alarming as the gulf in experience.

To give Muruyama credit, he survived an astonishing ten minutes of brutalisation before succumbing to the Dreadsault, although it must be said that Dread was guilty of playing with his food at times.

Ryoma Muruyama became number 28.

 

With Night of HONOUR mainly focusing on the Elite Tag Series, the remainder of Dread’s potential competitors were unavailable due to their participation in the tournament and so Dread would not face anybody in singles competition on that show.

Not that many opponents remained. In fact, only two members of the PGHW roster were left.

Hito Ichihara and Koryusai Kitoaji.

[Willsky]

RECONCILIATION

For the bulk of 1998, Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino and Eisaku Kunomasu) had stayed well clear of each other. They showed maturity in stepping away from each other’s company and focusing on themselves before their relationship deteriorated beyond repair.

But both had on their mind the possibility of reforming the tag team. With the Elite Tag Series approaching, it made sense for them to reform.

Was it the right time for their partnership, though? Would rushing back together for the tournament be too early? Or had they been apart so long they no longer clicked like they used to?

There was also the fact that Eisaku Hoshino was now the Historical Japan champion with his own honour and duty to live up to.

Would a reconciliation lead to further trouble?

 

Night of STRENGTH, June 1998

In the opening match, Eisaku Kunomasu comfortably dispatched of Kazuo Mitsushi in a rare singles match for the veteran. The younger Kunomasu had the physical and psychological advantage, beating the powerless Mitsushi who at this point, couldn’t buy a win.

Later on, Eisaku Hoshino defended the Historical Japan title against Yodo Nakane, another veteran. It was a similar story – a feisty youngster overcoming the aging veteran. It was more competitive than the previous match, but the result was the same.

After the match, Dino Maldini, accompanied by Pistol Pete Hall, challenged Hoshino. Hall clearly saw potential in Maldini and wanted him to prove himself against the best.

Hoshino accepted, and the match was made for Night of WARRIORS.

 

Night of WARRIORS, July 1998

This time it was Eisaku Kunomasu who defeated Yodo Nakane. Kunomasu may not have enjoyed the great success of singles competition like Hoshino, but he was picking up solid wins over solid competitors, really establishing himself as a threat in this, just his third year of wrestling.

Eisaku Hoshino’s match against Dino Maldini for the Historical Japan title went about as everyone expected. Maldini once again showed he had some spark, some killer instinct, but inexperience was his enemy, and he couldn’t avoid the Godzilla Plunge from Hoshino that retained the title.

 

Night of VICTORY, July 1998

Eisaku Hoshino defended the Historical Japan title again. The tradition of putting the belt on the line at as many major shows as possible continued, and there were plenty of competitors willing to step up. This time it was another gaijin: Walter Morgan.

Morgan was a supremely gifted mat wrestler, with a talent for submissions. But that was about all he could do, so he couldn’t cope with Hoshino’s wild, unorthodox brawling style. The Godzilla Plunge finished him off.

In the main event, Eisaku Kunomasu was on the winning team in an eight-man tag match. While he wasn’t the star of the show, he certainly didn’t look out of place alongside esteemed tag partners in Luis Figo Manico, Danger Kumasaka and Yoshimi Mushashibo.

They defeated an equally star-studded lineup of Nobuatsu Tatsuko, Mito Miwa, Hito Ichihara & Mamoru Nagahama.

And, after that victory, Kunomasu decided it was time. Time for him to have a go at the Historical Japan title. He called out Eisaku Hoshino who appeared to face him in the ring.

The tag partners locked eyes, guarded against what might happen next, but a nod of agreement from both signalled the match was made for Night of LEGACY.

 

Night of LEGACY, August 1998

They say your friends are often the ones you hit hardest. Well, at this point it wasn’t clear if Eisaku Hoshino and Eisaku Kunomasu were friends, but they knocked seven hells out of each other in their Historical Japan title match.

There were no concessions. No favourable treatment from either side. Just two men battering each other with strikes that carried extra weight, either from anger, pride or hope, or even a mixture of all of those things, it didn’t matter.

Kunomasu’s style was precise and crisp. Hoshino’s was wild and ugly. Both were equally effective. And when it looked like the pair might cancel each other out, Hoshino showed why he had become champion in the first place and pulled out the Godzilla Plunge for a massive win.

After the match, Kunomasu looked irritated. But that anger was directed at himself, not his tag partner. He dipped his head and walked away.

Hoshino followed and, after the show, asked Kunomasu if he’d compete alongside him at the Elite Tag Series. He received no answer.

 

Night of TOUGHNESS, August 1998

Eisaku Hoshino got a routine win over Chuichi Sanda as he made his seventh defence of the Historical Japan title. Sanda had been in PGHW for a while and fit the mold of young twenty-something potential star, but so far had struggled to keep up.

Eisaku Kunomasu was in action in another tag match, teaming with Walter Morgan and Yodo Nakane. They suffered defeat against the trio of Danger Kumasaka and Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo).

Perhaps seeing Team Dynasty back on the same page triggered something in Kunomasu. Or perhaps he had made up his mind beforehand. Nobody knew.

But at the end of the show, Kunomasu agreed to reunite Team EXPLOSION to fight for the Elite Tag Series.

The usually stoic Kunomasu had these words:

Kunomasu: I’ve been thinking about this for two weeks. Could I sit on the sidelines and watch the Elite Tag Series without taking part? Or could I find a different tag partner to compete alongside?

The answer to both questions was obviously, no. Hoshino and I have been tag partners since the beginning. It is what defines us most. Maybe we will have our own separate successes, but despite all that comes between us, we will always be a tag team.

 

[Willsky]

THE CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE

Nobody was more disappointed at Night of GLORY than Nobuatsu Tatsuko. After two years of working towards a shot at the Glory Crown, after proving time and time again he was ready to face Koryusai Kitoaji, he came up a fraction short.

Everybody knew that it wouldn’t be his last chance. In fact, he’d probably have many more in the future. But that was little consolation for Tatsuko.

Kitoaji had told him he lacked patience. And in the critical moment of the biggest match of his life, after showing incredible patience for so long, he lost it. Frustration took over and it cost him everything.

How would he react? Would he roar back into contention? Or would he get bogged down in self-pity?

Meanwhile, he wasn’t the only one who had suffered a loss recently. They say the strength of a man is measured not in his victories, but in how he reacts in the face of adversity. Now it was time to be strong.

 

Night of STRENGTH, June 1998

The main event of Night of STRENGTH was an 8-man tag match. On one side was Nobuatsu Tatsuko with Danger Kumasaka and Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushahibo). They faced Luis Figo Manico, Mito Miwa and Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz).

Seeing four of the most highly-rated youngsters in the same match was a rare delight for the PGHW fans, and the rest of the field wasn’t half bad either.

The interactions between Team Dynasty and Team STRENGTH RUSH were fun, but the main talking point was how Luis Figo Manico pinned Nobuatsu Tatsuko to get the victory.

It was a surprising outcome. Tatsuko looked quietly angry at the result, while Figo treated it as if it were perfectly normal.

After the show, Tatsuko wanted to right that particular wrong and challenged Figo to a one-on-one match at the next show, Night of WARRIORS.

 

Night of WARRIORS, July 1998

The show opened with Luis Figo Manico taking on Nobuatsu Tatsuko. Both men had stuttered recently, with titles slipping away from them. So, while there was nothing official on the line, the stakes of gaining momentum to re-enter the title picture were enough to create an intense atmosphere.

And the match was intense. Tatsuko fought relentlessly, like a metronome turned up to eleven. Figo countered with clever moves he had planned in advance.

In the end, Tatsuko managed to hit the Tatsuko Driller and get the victory. After the match, Figo went to shake Tatsuko’s hand, but Tatsuko appeared not to notice the gesture and walked away.

Later, Tatsuko claimed he hadn’t realised what Figo was doing, but the Spaniard seemed sour about the whole thing and unconvinced by Tatsuko’s excuse.

 

Night of VICTORY, July 1998

If Nobuatsu Tatsuko thought he’d dealt with Luis Figo Manico by beating him at the previous show, he was wrong. They met in another 8-man main event. This time, Figo partnered with Danger Kumasaka, Shuji Inukai and Eisaku Kunomasu. Tatsuko’s team mates were Mito Miwa, Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama.

It was another blockbuster match and another big result. It was surprising only in the sense that it had happened again. Figo pinned Tatsuko, using the Madrid Maul to grind him down on the mat.

After the match, Tatsuko offered his hand in respect, but Figo mocked the gesture, looking up, down and around – anywhere but the outstretched hand, then walked childishly out of the ring.

Tatsuko seethed.

 

Night of LEGACY, August 1998

In the show’s opener, Nobuatsu Tatsuko was on the winning side of a big tag-match alongside Team STRENGTH RUSH, Dino Maldini and Danger Kumasaka. They beat Kazuo Mitsushi, Hayate Hasegawa, Fukusaburu Inao, Chuichi Sanda and Walter Morgan.

Tatsuko was imperious in the match, smashing through several of his opponents and getting the pin on Kazuo Mitsushi. (For the record, Kazuo Mitsushi had failed to win a single match on a major show this year, so the curse was still well and truly on him).

Later in the show, Luis Figo Manico took on Dread. Everybody had to do it at some point. And everybody lost. Figo was no different, but at this point, a good performance against the dominant force didn’t result in a victory, just not getting completely destroyed.

Figo, who could count himself moderately proud of his showing, called out Tatsuko after the show, saying if he wanted to shake his hand, he should have done it when he had the chance. However, he suggested a rematch of their Night of WARRIORS match at the next show, Night of TOUGHNESS.

Tatsuko accepted, saying no matter what the result was, he would expect a handshake.

 

Night of TOUGHNESS, August 1998

The profiles of Luis Figo Manico and Nobuatsu Tatsuko had grown to such an extent that their match main-evented Night of TOUGHNESS.

With it being the last show before the Elite Tag Series, many eyes were on the teams preparing for the Block matches. Neither Figo nor Tatsuko intended to take part in the event, so a victory here would carry them through September, while a loss would linger like a bad smell for the whole month.

Having already experienced Tatsuko’s intensity once, Figo came even more prepared. He had an answer to everything. Tatsuko tried to overwhelm him with constant pressure, but the Spaniard evaded it and struck precisely with his own offence.

Tatsuko wouldn’t give up easily, but the frustration was clear on his face. He couldn’t connect with his biggest moves. Still, he managed to maintain a constant level of danger and on several occasions seemed to have the match won.

But, for the third time in the space of two months, Tatsuko found himself in the Madrid Maul, unable to escape, head getting smashed into the mat, until he was turned over and pinned for the three-count.

It was another huge result for Figo. And Tatsuko was enraged. He couldn’t believe he had lost.

Yet, being a man of his word, he extended his hand to shake Figo’s. The Spaniard grasped it with his own, and the pair shook.

Then Tatsuko yanked Figo towards him, swung him up into the Tatsuko Driller and drove his head into the mat.

Figo slumped to the floor. Rage flickered in Tatsuko’s eyes as he stared at the downed body and officials rushed to the ring.

It was rare for any violence to take place outside of the confines of the allotted match time in PGHW. In fact, it was the first time anybody had done any serious physical harm to another competitor in such a way.

And Tatsuko realised it. After a few seconds of looking like a trapped lion, his body softened and his fury crumbled into regret. He departed the ring in a hurry, head down, muttering to himself.

 

After the show, he did not appear to speak to the press. Figo, having recovered, did, and he had these words:

Figo: What is it with this guy? I get it, he lost his chance at the Glory Crown. That sucks. But he’s not the only one to suffer defeat. Kitoaji has beaten loads of guys. I only just lost the Historical Japan title and couldn’t win it back. That hurt. A lot. But I dealt with it.

First he pulls the stunt with the handshake and now this. It’s immature. If he can’t live with the consequences of his failure, then he’s got a thing or two to learn before he could ever be champion.

And I’m willing to teach him. At Night of HONOUR. We’ve got one win apiece, let’s blow it off, as they say. Complete the trilogy. If he beats me, fine, I accept that. But I intend on mauling him again, and he’d better behave like an adult when I do.

[Willsky]

LONG MAY HE REIGN

When Koryusai Kitoaji defeated Nobuatsu Tatsuko to retain the Glory Crown at Night of GLORY 1998, he achieved the impressive feat of holding the belt for a full year. It was at the same show in 1997 that he defeated Hito Ichihara to start this, his second reign.

He had already passed the record reign length months ago, but considering only it was only the third reign in the title’s history, that feat wasn’t so spectacular. Reaching the year milestone cemented his position at the top of PGHW.

And with Tatsuko’s failure, a vacancy in the contender’s spot opened.

Despite all the criticism, Kitoaji continued insisting he was the one who should pick the contenders, and he would do so until one of them defeated him.

But would any of his handpicked challengers have enough to overthrow him? Many top names had tried, and they had all failed. In fact, Kitoaji had only ever lost to one man in singles competition – Hito Ichihara.

If not Tatsuko, then who?

 

Night of STRENGTH, June 1998

Koryusai Kitoaji took a rare break away from the main event scene and tagged with the modest combination of Chuichi Sanda and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara). He led his team to victory over Hayate Hasegawa, Fukusaburu Inao and Boundary 97 (Go Matsunaga & Takeshi Umehara).

If Kitoaji was looking for the next contender to the Glory Crown, he didn’t find it in this match.

Later in the show, though, Sean McFly got a good win over Walter Morgan.

Kitoaji offered McFly a title shot at the next show, Night of WARRIORS.

 

Night of WARRIORS, July 1998

Fans of Nobuatsu Tatsuko were frustrated at Kitoaji’s behaviour. After denying the worthy Tatsuko for months, he had now handed an opportunity at the Glory Crown to someone who had only recently joined the company.

Yes, Sean McFly had impressed since his arrival earlier in the year, but so far he was yet to get any major wins. Fans could see his potential, but to walk into a Glory Crown main event so soon left a sour taste in the mouth.

And, as many predicted, Koryusai Kitoaji defeated Sean McFly in the main event. The match was good, with McFly once again proving his class. However, the atmosphere was hampered by a murmuring discontent directed at Kitoaji.

 

Night of VICTORY, July 1998

Koryusai Kitoaji returned down the card to team with Dino Maldini and Pistol Pete Hall in a successful outing against Chuichi Sanda, Hayate Hasegawa and Fukusaburu Inao.

Pistol Pete Hall had taken a liking to Maldini, taking him under his wing for some experienced guidance. And Maldini did well alongside two elite competitors.

But Kitoaji was more interested in Pistol Pete Hall himself. After the show, he struck back at critics who questioned his picks, and challenged them to doubt the ability and credentials of Pistol Pete Hall who he had chosen to face him at Night of LEGACY.

The problem was, Hall was also a new arrival in PGHW and, while he was highly respected, had yet to set the company alight.

Once again, Kitoaji’s criteria for determining who should get a title shot was put under serious scrutiny.

 

Night of LEGACY, August 1998

In the main event of Night of LEGACY, Koryusai Kitoaji defended the Glory Crown against Pistol Pete Hall. It was a rugged match, with striking the main feature.

Hall’s heavy blows went up against Kitoaji’s crunching strikes, and by the end of the match, both men were peppered with red welts and swellings.

In the end, Kitoaji got the win with the Kitoaji Braindrop. Again, a good match was undermined by a rumbling of discontent within the arena.

After the show, Kitoaji announced that he would be taking part in the Elite Tag Series alongside his old buddy and partner in BHOTWG, Shimi Komatsuzaki.

Komatsuzaki hadn’t impressed since joining PGHW. He looked off the pace and a little out of shape, yet when he and Kitoaji were together, they were always a threat.

Still, plenty of fans wondered how long it would be until Kitoaji handed a title shot to his friend rather than facing someone who deserved it more.

“Long may he reign” was a comment heard more than once from sarcastic voices.

 

Night of TOUGHNESS, August 1998

In the final show before the Elite Tag Series, Koryusai Kitoaji teamed with Shimi Komatsuzaki and Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz) against Hito Ichihara & Mamoru Nagahama and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara).

It was the first time since Night of WRESTLING in December last year that Ichihara and Kitoaji shared the same ring. It had been a while. The fans got excited when the two found themselves across the ring as the legal men, and their brief interactions called back some of their classic moments.

But in an eight-man match, those moments are shortlived. The match was won with other competitors, with Raymond Diaz pinning Sotatsu Sarumara after he and Wright hit the Too Hot to Handle.

For both Team STRENGTH RUSH and Kitoaji & Komatsuzaki, the victory over the Glory Tag Crown champions was a great way to head into the Elite Tag Series.

[Willsky]

TAG TEAM FEVER

When the dust had settled on Night of GLORY, for many, attention turned to the next big milestone of the year. The Elite Tag Series. It was the second year of the tournament’s existence and once again it would take place in September, culminating at Night of HONOUR.

In that first year, only eight teams had entered, but in 1998, it was announced that 12 teams would take part, with two blocks of six teams each.

This was widely seen as a positive thing. However, at this point in June, there were far from enough teams to fill out every spot.

Last year’s winners Team Dynasty looked to have put aside their differences and would be favourites again, while Glory Tag Crown holders Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama would certainly take part, although whether they were still champions by then, it remained to be seen.

Boundary 97, Rebel Cell and Hasegawa & Inao would be there as outside bets. And of course, Team STRENGTH RUSH were always a threat.

That made six teams. Where would the other six come from and who would be at the head of the pack going into to the Elite Tag Series?

 

Night of STRENGTH, June 1998

At Night of STRENGTH, Glory Tag Crown champions Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama put their titles on the line against the pairing of Pistol Pete Hall and Dino Maldini.

It was the first time Hall and Maldini had teamed together, but Hall’s reputation was enough for the champions to accept the challenge.

While Hall wasn’t the only one to have seen Maldini’s potential, he might not have appreciated how much work the youngster still had to do. He struggled with decision-making above all. His excellent range of martial arts skills was negated by poor choices and timing.

Ichihara got the victory over Maldini with a Head Drop Suplex. After the match, Pistol Pete Hall didn’t look too upset – he’d had a chance to assess Maldini first hand.

 

Night of WARRIORS, July 1998

Another new tag team got a Glory Tag Crown shot. This time it was Shimi Komatsuzaki and Chuichi Sanda taking on Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama.

Komatsuzaki was well known for his tag proficiency, notably alongside Koryusai Kitoaji in BHOTWG. However, he didn’t blend well with Chuichi Sanda, who ultimately ate a Head Drop Suplex to lose.

Nagahama and Ichihara continued to look strong, and Nagahama contributed more and more, so the lopsided nature of their team started to balance out a little.

Elsewhere on the show, Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) teamed with Danger Kumasaka to defeat Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz) and Kazuo Mitsushi. The result was almost predicted from the start – the mere presence of Mitsushi usually meant defeat, and this time was no different.

This year, there was no question that Inukai and Mushashibo would be the duo entering the Elite Tag Series together, which left Danger Kumasaka without a partner for the event. He made it clear that he would have his eye out on anyone with the skill and courage to team with him.

 

Night of VICTORY, July 1998

Not a single two-on-two tag match featured on the Night of VICTORY card, but there were two trios matches of interest.

First was Sean McFly and Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz) beating Kazuo Mitsushi and Boundary 97. The notable events came after the show when Sean McFly made it clear he wished to compete in the Elite Tag Series alongside Mito Miwa.

The second match saw Koryusai Kitoaji team with Pistol Pete Hall and Dino Maldini. They defeated Chuichi Sanda, Hayate Hasegawa and Fukusaburu Inao. The latter two announced their official entry into the Elite Tag Series.

And so did Hall and Maldini. Pistol Pete said that he and his new project would from now on be known as Strike Force due to them both relying on strike-based offence and aiming to be a major force in the tag division.

In the main event, an 8-man tag match saw Shuji Inukai and Yoshimi Mushashibo of Team Dynasty getting a victory over Glory Tag Crown champions Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama. While neither Inukai nor Mushashibo got the pinfall win, they made it clear they should get a title shot at Night of LEGACY.

 

Night of LEGACY, August 1998

Mito Miwa teamed up with Sean McFly (as well as Yodo Nakane and Shimi Komatsuzaki) to beat Boundary 97 (Go Matsunaga & Takeshi Umehara) and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara).

Miwa and McFly made it official that they would be in the Elite Tag Series and announced their team name as Team MYTHOS. Despite being a very new pairing, many were considering them dark horses for the tournament.

Later in the show, Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama put their Glory Tag Crown titles on the line against the team they won the belts off back in February: Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo).

It was a fierce match and one of the best tag bouts in PGHW history. Ultimately, the champions retained, with Ichihara’s Head Drop Suplex on Mushashibo proving decisive, although it must be said that Mamoru Nagahama’s determination and endurance played a big part.

After the show, Inukai and Mushashibo were on good terms, but affirmed that they needed to work hard if they were going to win the Elite Tag Series for a second year running.

 

Night of TOUGHNESS, August 1998

Night of TOUGHNESS was the last show before the Elite Tag Series kicked off. The card featured two eight-man tag matches consisting of many of the major players in the division.

The first match saw two newly formed teams. Strike Force (Dino Maldini & Pistol Pete Hall) teamed alongside Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly). They got a good win over Hasegawa & Inao and Boundary 97 (Go Matsunaga & Takeshi Umehara).

Strike Force and Team MYTHOS could both be considered contenders to qualify from the block stage, but neither was a firm favourite to win the whole tournament.

The other eight-man match saw some of the top names in action. Glory Tag Crown holders Ichihara & Nagahama teamed up with Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) to take on the reunited pair of Koryusai Kitoaji & Shimi Komatsuzaki and Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz).

Ichihara and Kitoaji’s time in the ring together was brief but enjoyable, harking back to their huge rivalry from last year.

And it was Kitoaji’s team who got the win courtesy of a Too Hot to Handle from Team STRENGTH RUSH, putting the former two-time Glory Tag Crown winners at the front of the pack for the tournament.

Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) were also in action, teaming with Danger Kumasaka to defeated Yodo Nakane, Walter Morgan and Eisaku Kunomasu.

Walter Morgan impressed Danger Kumasaka enough for the veteran to offer the young Brit the chance to tag alongside him. Morgan was happy to accept, seeing that he could develop his technical skills alongside a master of the craft.

A last-minute entry to the tournament was the pair of Yodo Nakane and Chuichi Sanda. Both had struggled recently and were hoping their combined skills could set them back on track.

After the show, the twelve teams entering the Elite Tag Series were put in their blocks.

BLOCK A:

Boundary 97 (Matsunaga & Umehara)
Kitoaji & Komatsuzaki
Kumasaka & Morgan
Nakane & Sanda
Team Dynasty (Inukai & Mushashibo)
Team STRENGTH RUSH (Wright & Diaz)

BLOCK B:

Hasegawa & Inao
Ichihara & Nagahama
Rebel Cell (Okazawaya & Sarumara)
Strike Force (Maldini & Hall)
Team EXPLOSION (Hoshino & Kunomasu)
Team MYTHOS (Miwa & McFly)

[Willsky]

ELITE TAG SERIES 1998

Twelve teams would contest the second installation of the Elite Tag Series, with plenty of big names to look out for.

Block A contained two of the most well-known teams in PGHW: Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz) and Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo). The two teams had history as, when Team Dynasty won last year’s Elite Tag Series, they earned a shot at the Glory Tag Crown that Team STRENGTH RUSH held.

Koryusai Kitoaji’s presence in the group put him in immediate contention. Although his tag partner Shimi Komatsuzaki had not begun life in PGHW particularly well, the pair of them together had a good shot of qualification.

Danger Kumasaka offered Walter Morgan the chance to team with him after Night of TOUGHNESS, and Yodo Nakane’s pairing with Chuichi Sanda was an equally recent addition.

And the block was rounded out by Boundary 97 who, despite tagging for nearly two years now, had yet to achieve anything.

BLOCK A:

Boundary 97 (Matsunaga & Umehara)
Kitoaji & Komatsuzaki
Kumasaka & Morgan
Nakane & Sanda
Team Dynasty (Inukai & Mushashibo)
Team STRENGTH RUSH (Wright & Diaz)

Block B may not have boasted as many former Glory Tag Crown reigns as Block A, but it contained the current holders, Hito Ichihara & Mamoru Nagamaha as well as recently reunited former champions Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu).

Two teams were very unlikely to advance. Those were Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) and the pair of Hayate Hasegawa & Fukusaburu Inao. Just finishing off the bottom would be an achievement for them.

Then there were the two unknowns, the potential dark horses. Strike Force consisted of the big, dominant Pistol Pete Hall and his project, Dino Maldini. And Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly) had shown real promise and could compete for qualification spots.

BLOCK B:

Hasegawa & Inao
Ichihara & Nagahama
Rebel Cell (Okazawaya & Sarumara)
Strike Force (Maldini & Hall)
Team EXPLOSION (Hoshino & Kunomasu)
Team MYTHOS (Miwa & McFly)

 

PGHW Elite Tag Series DAY 1

Block A Results

Kumasaka & Morgan def. Nakane & Sanda
Team STRENGTH RUSH def. Boundary 97
Team Dynasty def. Kitoaji & Komatsuzaki

Kumasaka & Morgan picked up a good win in their first match against the struggling pair of Nakane and Sanda. Team STRENGTH RUSH also saw an expected victory over Boundary 97.

The battle between Team Dynasty and Kitoaji & Komatsuzaki was a lot closer, but in the end, Shuji Inukai’s Untouchable Lariat on Komatsuzaki got the pinfall win.

Block B Results

Strike Force def. Hasegawa & Inao
Ichihara & Nagahama def. Rebel Cell
Team EXPLOSION and Team MYTHOS went to a time-limit draw

Ichihara & Nagahama had no problems in dispatching Rebel Cell, while Dino Maldini looked good alongside Hall as they got a win in their first tournament match.

In Team EXPLOSION’s first match together since January, there was nothing to separate them from Team MYTHOS, and a fantastic match ended in a draw.

 

PGHW Elite Tag Series DAY 2

Block A Results

Boundary 97 def. Nakane & Sanda
Kitoaji & Komatsuzaki and Kumasaka & Morgan went to a time-limit draw
Team STRENGTH RUSH def. Team Dynasty

Boundary 97 got their first win of the tournament, while thirty minutes ran out in a match where Kitoaji was the biggest name.

But the match everybody was interested in was Team STRENGTH RUSH defeated Team Dynasty. It was a disappointing loss for last year’s winners, and it reminded everyone that Wright and Diaz were specialists at tag wrestling.

Block B Results

Hasegawa & Inao def. Rebel Cell
Team MYTHOS def. Strike Force
Team EXPLOSION def. Ichihara & Nagahama

Hasegawa & Inao got a rare victory against the weaker team of Rebel Cell. Team MYTHOS showed they were the superior “new” team by putting away Pistol Pete Hall and Dino Maldini.

And in the main event of the show, Team EXPLOSION got back to their glorious best with a monumental win over Glory Tag Crown champions Ichihara & Nagahama.

 

PGHW Elite Tag Series DAY 3

Block A Results

Kitoaji & Komatsuzaki def. Boundary 97
Team STRENGTH RUSH def. Nakane & Sanda
Team Dynasty def. Kumasaka & Morgan

Team STRENGTH RUSH made it three wins out of three in simple fashion, while Kitoaji & Komatsuzaki got their first win of the tournament against point-less Nakane & Sanda.

Yoshimi Mushashibo defeated his mentor and friend Danger Kumasaka as Team Dynasty got back to winning ways in the main event.

Block B Results

Team MYTHOS def. Rebel Cell
Ichihara & Nagahama def. Hasegawa & Inao
Team EXPLOSION def. Strike Force

Rebel Cell suffered another defeat, this time at the hands of Miwa and McFly. After their loss in the last round, Ichihara & Nagahama bounced back by battering Hasegawa & Inao

Team EXPLOSION continued their good form with another win, targeting the weak link of Strike Force, Dino Maldini, and hitting him with the Eisaku Explosion.

 

Mid-point round-up

Block A Table

6 Team STRENGTH RUSH
4 Team Dynasty
3 Kumasaka & Morgan
3 Kitoaji & Komatsuzaki
2 Boundary 97
0 Nakane & Sanda
 

Block B Table

5 Team EXPLOSION
5 Team MYTHOS
4 Ichihara & Nagahama
2 Strike Force
2 Hasegawa & Inao
0 Rebel Cell
 

 

PGHW Elite Tag Series DAY 4

Block A Results

Team Dynasty def. Nakane & Sanda
Kumasaka & Morgan def. Boundary 97
Team STRENGTH RUSH def. Kitoaji & Komatsuzaki

Team Dynasty’s win and Kumasaka & Morgan’s victory put both teams in serious contention for qualification with only one round to go.

Neither would catch Team STRENGTH RUSH, however, as they defeated Kitoaji & Komatsuzaki to stay two points clear at the top where they would stay courtesy of having defeated Team Dynasty already.

For Kitoaji & Komatsuzaki, the next match was vital – they had to win and hope Kumasaka & Morgan slipped up against Team STRENGTH RUSH.

Block B Results

Rebel Cell def. Strike Force
Team EXPLOSION def. Hasegawa & Inao
Ichihara & Nagahama def. Team MYTHOS

Rebel Cell pulled off a surprising win, their first of the tournament, by targeting Dino Maldini who couldn’t get his experienced partner Pistol Pete Hall involved.

Team EXPLOSION continued their great form with a routine win over Hasegawa & Inao and pulled clear at the top when Ichihara & Nagahama defeated Team MYTHOS to supplant them in second place.

 

PGHW Elite Tag Series DAY 5

Block A Results

Team Dynasty def. Boundary 97
Kitoaji & Komatsuzaki def. Nakane & Sanda
Kumasaka & Morgan def. Team STRENGTH RUSH

Team Dynasty’s victory over Boundary 97 was crucial. That win ensured their qualification despite Kitoaji and Komatsuzaki’s victory and a valiant performance by Kumasaka & Morgan who spoiled Team STRENGTH RUSH’s party.

However, in the end, Team STRENGTH RUSH did finish top of the group based on their head-to-head record with Team Dynasty, who also qualified.

Block B Results

Team EXPLOSION def. Rebel Cell
Team MYTHOS def. Hasegawa & Inao
Strike Force def. Ichihara & Nagahama

Team EXPLOSION’s victory ensured they topped Block B – a near perfect display.

Team MYTHOS had to beat Hasegawa & Inao to stand a chance of progressing, and they did so. Then, Strike Force did them a huge favour when Pistol Pete Hall pinned Mamoru Nagahama, meaning the Glory Tag Crown champions slipped into third place and did not qualify.

Instead, the newly formed Team MYTHOS made it to the semi-final stage.

 

FINAL STANDINGS

Block A Table

8 Team STRENGTH RUSH
8 Team Dynasty
7 Kumasaka & Morgan
5 Kitoaji & Komatsuzaki
2 Boundary 97
0 Nakane & Sanda
 

Block B Table

9 Team EXPLOSION
7 Team MYTHOS
6 Ichihara & Nagahama
4 Strike Force
2 Hasegawa & Inao
2 Rebel Cell
 

Conclusion

Nakane & Sanda didn’t expect much going into the tournament, but even so, zero points was embarrassing. Even Boundary 97 did better than that. As did Hasegawa & Inao and Rebel Cell, who both scored a single win.

Koryusai Kitoaji would have been disappointed to be three points off qualification, and it seemed his tag team with Komatsuzaki, while historically successful, might not last long in PGHW.

Strike Force also failed to deliver, but there were signs of a good partnership, and Pistol Pete Hall was invested in his project, Dino Maldini.

Glory Tag Crown holders didn’t qualify – a big upset, and they were joined in the “narrowly missing out” spots by a surprisingly effective Kumasaka & Morgan partnership.

Team STRENGTH RUSH finished top of Block A only on head-to-head record, but there’s no doubt they were big favourites to win the tournament. They would face Team MYTHOS in the semi-final. Miwa and McFly scraped through in the last round and would have a tough task against Wright & Diaz.

Team EXPLOSION dominated Block B, only dropping one point over the five matches. Their time away from each other had done wonders, as they reunited with ferocity and efficiency. They would meet Team Dynasty in the other semi-final – a mouthwatering prospect and a rematch of last year’s Elite Tag Series final.

[Willsky]

Predictions Card for Night of HONOUR, September 1998

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 1: Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) vs. Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo)

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 2: Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly) vs. Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz)

Boundary 97 (Go Matsunaga & Takeshi Umehara) and Hayate Hasegawa & Fukusaburu Inao vs. Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) and Strike Force (Dino Maldini & Pistol Pete Hall)

Luis Figo Manico vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko

Chuichi Sanda, Koryusai Kitoaji, Shimi Komatsuzaki and Yodo Nakane vs. Danger Kumasaka, Dread, Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama

Elite Tag Series FINAL: Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner of Semi-Final 2

[siah463]

Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu)

Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz)

Boundary 97 (Go Matsunaga & Takeshi Umehara) and Hayate Hasegawa & Fukusaburu Inao

Nobuatsu Tatsuko

Danger Kumasaka, Dread, Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama

Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu)

[Tiberious]

Predictions Card for Night of HONOUR, September 1998

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 1: Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) vs. Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo)

Team EXPLOSION avenge their loss in the finals last year.

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 2: Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly) vs. Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz)

I think Team MYTHOS gets a big upset here.

Boundary 97 (Go Matsunaga & Takeshi Umehara) and Hayate Hasegawa & Fukusaburu Inao vs. Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) and Strike Force (Dino Maldini & Pistol Pete Hall)

I'm a Dino fan and Pistol Pete seems to be a much bigger name than anyone on the opposite team.

Luis Figo Manico vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko

Tatsuko seems to be leaning into a more heelish aggressive persona and I think he takes it here.

Chuichi Sanda, Koryusai Kitoaji, Shimi Komatsuzaki and Yodo Nakane vs. Danger Kumasaka, Dread, Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama

Dread and Ichihara on the same team is hard to bet against.

Elite Tag Series Finals: Team EXPOSION vs Team MYTHOS

I think Team EXPLOSION take it here.

Edited October 16, 2023 by Tiberious

[Scottie]

Predictions Card for Night of HONOUR, September 1998

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 1: Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) vs. Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo)

Their story surely continued into the final!

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 2: Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly) vs. Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz)

This could go either way, but I'm backing the experienced duo.

Boundary 97 (Go Matsunaga & Takeshi Umehara) and Hayate Hasegawa & Fukusaburu Inao vs. Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) and Strike Force (Dino Maldini & Pistol Pete Hall)

Dino/Pete are a good team and I back them in here.

Luis Figo Manico vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko

Manico is good, but Tatsuko is the big upcoming star.

Chuichi Sanda, Koryusai Kitoaji, Shimi Komatsuzaki and Yodo Nakane vs. Danger Kumasaka, Dread, Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama

Lopsided on paper. Chance of an upset if there's dissension in the ranks.

Elite Tag Series FINAL: Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner of Semi-Final 2

[monrapi3]

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 1: Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) vs. Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo)

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 2: Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly) vs. Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz)

Boundary 97 (Go Matsunaga & Takeshi Umehara) and Hayate Hasegawa & Fukusaburu Inao vs. Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) and Strike Force (Dino Maldini & Pistol Pete Hall)

Luis Figo Manico vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko

Chuichi Sanda, Koryusai Kitoaji, Shimi Komatsuzaki and Yodo Nakane vs. Danger Kumasaka, Dread, Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama

Elite Tag Series FINAL: Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner of Semi-Final 2

[Willsky]

Night of HONOUR, September 1998

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 1: Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) vs. Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo)

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 2: Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly) vs. Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz)

Boundary 97 (Go Matsunaga & Takeshi Umehara) and Hayate Hasegawa & Fukusaburu Inao vs. Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) and Strike Force (Dino Maldini & Pistol Pete Hall)

Luis Figo Manico vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko

Chuichi Sanda, Koryusai Kitoaji, Shimi Komatsuzaki and Yodo Nakane vs. Danger Kumasaka, Dread, Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama

Elite Tag Series FINAL: Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner of Semi-Final 2

 

As usual, the spotlight was on the culmination of the Elite Tag Series at Night of HONOUR. The block stage had established the four best teams over the last month, and now they would compete to become the second ever Elite Tag Series champions.

Team Dynasty were marginal favourites, having one the tournament last year. However, they would have to face Team EXPLOSION who were in resurgent form. Team MYTHOS were still dark horses, but more and more people believed they could upset Team STRENGTH RUSH.

Aside from the tag action, Night of HONOUR would also see the third match between Luis Figo Manico and Nobuatsu Tatsuko – a rivalry that had grown tense over the last few months, with both men getting a win apiece. This match was billed as the “rubber”.

 

MATCH 1: Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 1: Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) vs. Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo)

In a repeat of last year’s Elite Tag Series final, two teams who had suffered their own internal disputes now went head-to-head.

Hoshino and Kunomasu began in ferocious style, targeting the more graceful and languid Mushashibo, but when Inukai got involved, he countered with similar aggression.

The story of the match was an onslaught from Team EXPLOSION, with Mushashibo hanging in there to struggle to his own corner and tag in his partner. Inukai repeatedly went for his devastating Untouchable Lariat, missing it on two occasions.

Finally, though, he connected with the move on Hoshino and that spelled the end of the match – Team Dynasty got the victory and advanced to the final!

 

MATCH 2: Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 2: Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly) vs. Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz)

Team STRENGTH RUSH looked strong in the block stage, while Team MYTHOS barely scraped through on the final day. Wright and Diaz had been teaming for over two years, and had strong chemistry together. Miwa and McFly, in contrast, had only been a team for a couple of months.

It was no surprise that Wright and Diaz controlled a lot of the match. They worked over Sean McFly for long periods, slowing the pace and battering the young American.

But McFly once again showed his heart and talent, surviving the beatdown and getting across the ring to tag in Mito Miwa. The Pride Warrior ran wild and ended up hitting Lee Wright with a Pride Bomber to get the win.

It may have been considered an upset, but Team MYTHOS won the match and went on to face Team Dynasty in the final!

 

MATCH 3: Boundary 97 (Go Matsunaga & Takeshi Umehara) and Hayate Hasegawa & Fukusaburu Inao vs. Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) and Strike Force (Dino Maldini & Pistol Pete Hall)

Four of the unsuccessful block-stage teams competed in an eight-man tag, with some level of pride on the line. Rebel Cell and Strike Force got the win thanks to Pistol Pete Hall’s Pistol Whip Lariat on Umehara.

 

MATCH 4: Luis Figo Manico vs. Nobuatsu Tatsuko

When Nobuatsu Tatsuko didn’t shake Figo’s hand after their first singles match (which Tatsuko won), a seemingly small gesture exploded into something much larger, something that showed the real pressure that comes as a consequence of high-profile failure.

Tatsuko claimed he hadn’t noticed Figo’s outstretched hand. Few believed him. It seemed more likely that he was still hurting from his loss to Koryusai Kitoaji for the Glory Crown – the biggest match of his life.

In their second match, which main-evented Night of TOUGHNESS, Figo got the victory. Tatsuko had promised to shake Figo’s hand, no matter the result. And he did. Then he attacked Figo, hitting him with the Tatsuko Driller.

Tatsuko was suspended for two weeks unpaid, but since it was Elite Tag Series season, that didn’t affect him much.

Now, with one win apiece, it was time to find a true winner.

The match started with a lot of posturing and trash talk – something rare in PGHW, where competitors usually got straight into the business of wrestling.

And after a few minutes, Figo and Tatsuko did get into it, with plenty of tension and aggression.

Tatsuko was intense and direct. Figo was meticulous and cerebral. When Tatsuko struck, he struck hard, but when he missed, Figo had an effective, calculated counter.

The pace didn’t let up. But finally, Figo got Tatsuko into the Madrid Maul – a move he had used to pin Tatsuko three times in the last couple of months.

But now Tatsuko had an answer. He had prepared for this very moment, and slipped out of the Maul and into a submission of his own – a triangle choke. Figo struggled, nearly passed out, then wriggled his way free.

Only to walk straight into a Tatsuko Driller which got the win.

After the match, Tatsuko stood over his fallen opponent with a look of darkness in his eyes. Yet he would not repeat last month’s violent attack. Instead, he hauled Figo to his feet, shook the dazed man’s hand, and headed to the back.

 

MATCH 5: Chuichi Sanda, Koryusai Kitoaji, Shimi Komatsuzaki and Yodo Nakane vs. Danger Kumasaka, Dread, Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama

A palette-cleanser after the intensity of Figo and Tatsuko, some of the bigger names on the roster (plus a few smaller ones) competed in an eight-man tag.

For Dread, it was the first non-singles match in over a year, and he was dominant. Whenever he was in the ring, there was a sense of foreboding, and for a brief moment, he and Glory Crown holder Koryusai Kitoaji were the legal men.

Fans rumbled with excitement at that. Dread had only two men left on his roster rampage, and Kitoaji was one of them.

 

MATCH 6: Elite Tag Series FINAL: Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) vs. Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly)

Few had predicted Team MYTHOS would make it this far. Meanwhile, Team Dynasty had been favourites from the very start. Interestingly, neither team had won their respective blocks, both finishing in second place.

Inukai’s Untouchable Lariat was once again a massive part of Team Dynasty’s strategy. It seemed to be Mushashibo’s job to weaken the opponents with torturous holds and suffocating grappling, then Inukai would pounce with violence, going for the deadly lariat.

The problem with their strategy was that they were up against two of the most enduring and spirited wrestlers on the roster. Sean McFly, especially, took a serious amount of punishment, but refused to give up. His legs were worn down by Mushashibo, yet he kept hanging in there.

And Mito Miwa had sensed the prospect of gold. His pride wouldn’t let him suffer defeat. When McFly finally escaped the clutches of Team Dynasty and tagged in Miwa, it was full speed ahead for the Pride Warrior. He barrelled through Inukai and hit Mushashibo with the Pride Bomber. One…Two…

Mushashibo kicked out! Miwa was just as stunned as everyone else in the arena. Mushashibo rallied and tagged in Shuji Inukai. Inukai took advantage of the moment and smashed Miwa with the Untouchable Lariat.

Inukai went for the pin, but the referee didn’t start the count. That was because right before Inukai hit the lariat, McFly had made a blind tag and was now the legal man. McFly came hurtling through the ropes and hit Inukai with the Delorean Driver. One…Two…

Three! Team MYTHOS won the Elite Tag Series!

It was a monumental victory for a team who weren’t expected to even reach the semi-final stage. It reflected the individual talents of both Miwa and McFly, who had quickly developed a great partnership.

They celebrated with the Elite Tag Series trophies, knowing they would get a shot at the Glory Tag Crown very soon.

 

Conclusion

Team MYTHOS’s win capped off a very good show, although match of the night was widely considered the semi-final between Team Dynasty and Team EXPLOSION.

This instance of the Elite Tag Series showed how far the tag division had evolved since the same point last year, with the addition of several strong teams. It still hadn’t quite reached the prestige of the Elite Series, but with more tournaments like this one, it was certainly catching up.

After the show, Mito Miwa displayed his team’s mood in the press conference.

Miwa: Nobody thought we’d do this. I’m not sure if we even thought we’d do this when we put our names in the hat. But over the last month, I’ve come to know Sean McFly very well. I’ve seen first hand what he’s capable of. And let me tell you, he’s going to be huge. We’re going to be huge.

Because while we will spend some time enjoying this victory, we know that in two weeks’ time, it’s Night of KINGS. And we want our coronation. We’re the Elite Tag Series champions, but it’s time we got ourselves some crowns.

Dread also had a few words to say:

Dread: Only two remain. Hito Ichihara and Koryusai Kitoaji. None of you ever believed me, but here we are. Here I am. Closing in on greatness.

At Night of KINGS, I want a match. Ichihara will be unavailable, defending the Glory Tag Crown. But as far as I can see, Koryusai Kitoaji doesn’t have a challenger for the Glory Crown.

And Kitoaji, I don’t care about how you like to do things. I’m not going to wait for you to pluck up the courage to give me a title shot. I demand one. I’ve beaten everyone else on this roster.

So like it or not, I am inevitable. And you are going to be number 29.

[Willsky]

UNSTOPPABLE FORCE

Heading into October 1998, Koryusai Kitoaji had held the Glory Crown for sixteen months. It was an incredible achievement despite the rumblings of discontent that he often avoided the most dangerous challengers with his insistence on picking contenders he deemed worthy.

For almost exactly the same amount of time, Dread had been ruling over PGHW in his own way. A self-imposed challenge to spite those who thought he was over the hill became one of the most dominant and terrifying winning streaks in modern history.

He had set out to defeat everyone on the roster. And for nearly a year and a half, he had done that. Twenty-eight wrestlers had fallen to him, including many top-tier talent like Yoshimi Mushashibo, Mito Miwa, Nobuatsu Tatsuko, Shuji Inukai, Luis Figo Manico and Danger Kumasaka.

Only two remained. The two men upon whose shoulders PGHW was founded. Hito Ichihara and Koryusai Kitoaji. And with Ichihara busy defending the Glory Tag Crown titles, Dread’s attention was firmly fixed on the Glory Crown holder, one of the forefathers of strong style, Koryusai Kitoaji.

 

Night of KINGS, October 1998

Those who accused Koryusai Kitoaji of ducking threatening opponents were silent when he accepted Dread as his challenger at Night of KINGS. Dread had broken Kitoaji’s rule of waiting for the champion to pick a contender, but he could hardly turn down Dread’s request. Who else could he pick?

Fans went into Night of KINGS knowing something historic would come to an end. Either Kitoaji’s huge title run or Dread’s unbelievable winning streak. Anticipating filled the air as the main event got underway.

Kitoaji was at his ferocious best, striking hard, fast and without pause. But Dread soaked it all up. Kitoaji’s sequences of attacks were punctuated by massive moves from Dread that stopped the champion in his tracks.

Dread was a machine, an unstoppable force, like his body was made of steel. He hadn’t defeated 28 other men to lose tonight. He hit a Dreadsault. Kitoaji kicked out to a raucous fan reaction.

But the champion couldn’t kick out of the subsequent Dread Bomb, and the referee counted to three.

Dread became the new Glory Crown champion! The big man towered over the crumpled Kitoaji and raised the belt high.

Koryusai Kitoaji became number 29.

 

Night of IMPACT, October 1998

Dread teamed with Nobuatsu Tatsuko and Yoshimi Mushashibo in a trios victory over Luis Figo Manico, Koryusai Kitoaji and Shimi Komatsuzaki.

Kitoaji still looked shaken by the loss at Night of KINGS, while Dread was once again dominant.

Yet a post-show press conference comment by Dread was the main talking point. He said there was only one man left to face to complete his promise of defeating everyone.

Hito Ichihara.

Ichihara had lost the Glory Tag Crown at Night of KINGS, so had no reason not to compete in singles competition.

Dread suggested that he would like to reach number 30 at Night of WRESTLING, the biggest show of the year.

 

Night of COURAGE, November 1998

In an eight-man tag match, Dread partnered with Hito Ichihara, Mamoru Nagahama and Koryusai Kitoaji. It was a spectacle to see the three men who had ever held the Glory Crown on the same team together.

They defeated Nobuatsu Tatsuko, Danger Kumasaka, Shuji Inukai and Yoshimi Mushashibo in a classic match – the best on the show.

After the match, Hito Ichihara turned to his partner for the night, Dread, and accepted his offer of a match at Night of WRESTLING. With the Glory Crown on the line, he vowed to end Dread’s streak and become two-time champion.

 

Night of ENDURANCE, November 1998

Dread again competed in a large tag match, this time teaming with Nobuatsu Tatsuko and Mamoru Nagahama to defeated Koryusai Kitoaji and Team STRENGTH RUSH (Lee Wright & Raymond Diaz).

Dread got the decisive pinfall, with a Dreadsault to Lee Wright, and the Glory Crown champion looked unstoppable going into Night of WRESTLING.

Moments later, Hito Ichihara took on Eisaku Kunomasu in a bid to build some momentum in singles competition. Ichihara had focused on his tag team with Nagahama for much of 1998 and wanted a victory to build confidence.

He got that win, despite Kunomasu’s best efforts. The Head Drop Suplex was once again effective.

After the show, Ichihara had words about their upcoming clash.

Ichihara: I was probably one of the ones who underestimated Dread eighteen months ago. He had everything he needed to be at the very top, but lacked the right motivation. Unfortunately for the rest of us, he found that. And now he’s an unstoppable force.

Or is he? You may remember the last time I faced him in singles competition. I had the Glory Crown at that time. You know the result. I remained champion. This time it’s him holding the belt, but I see no reason why I can’t defeat him again.

And I have to. For PGHW. For everyone on the roster, Dread must be stopped. He must be thrown off his newly-won seat, because the longer he sits in it, I fear the harder it will be to remove him.

I’m the only one left. Number 30, he says. But that just motivates me to defeat him even more. To be the fly in his ointment, the one he couldn’t steamroller. So come Night of WRESTLING, I end the streak.

[Willsky]

MYTHS AND LEGENDS

At Night of HONOUR, Team MYTHOS stunned PGHW by winning the Elite Tag Series. They had only formed a few months before the tournament and were outside bets to even qualify from the block stage.

But a victory over Team STRENGTH RUSH in the semi-final and a hard-fought win over Team Dynasty in the final saw them become the second winners of the already esteemed prize.

This occasion, plus the surge in high quality tag teams over the last months meant the division was reaching the heights everybody expected of it.

And Glory Tag Crown champions Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama had plenty of challengers.

 

Night of KINGS, October 1998

Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly) immediately took up the opportunity to challenge Hito Ichihara and Mamoru Nagahama for the Glory Tag Crown titles.

The champions had enjoyed a strong reign since February and were hoping to surpass Team STRENGTH RUSH’s record reign of nine months.

However, Team MYTHOS were flying from their Elite Tag Series win and showed no sign of slowing down.

Sean McFly was instrumental in the match, providing a constant menace to Ichihara. But it was Mito Miwa who made the decisive move, a Pride Bomber, on Mamoru Nagahama to get the victory.

Team MYTHOS became new Glory Tag Crown champions!

They were the fifth team to win the belts, and they put an end to Ichihara and Nagahama’s reign of eight months.

 

Night of IMPACT, October 1998

Another new team that impressed at the Elite Tag Series, despite not qualifying from Block A, was the pair of Danger Kumasaka and Walter Morgan. It was against them that Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly) made their first defence of the Glory Tag Crown.

Kumasaka and Morgan were technical specialists and aimed to slow the pace. But Miwa and McFly had enough skill to avoid the worst holds and retaliated with some high energy offence and impactful attacks that eventually resulted in McFly pinning Morgan with a Delorean Driver.

 

Night of COURAGE, November 1998

During the Elite Series, Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly) drew in the block stage against Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu).

While Hoshino was still reigning Historical Japan champion, he found the time to team up with Kunomasu for a shot at the Glory Tag Crown.

He nearly ended up double champion, too, as an Eisaku Explosion put Miwa down, but McFly saved the day by making the tag to his dazed partner and hitting a Delorean Driver on Kunomasu for the pinfall victory.

 

Night of ENDURANCE, November 1998

The main event of Night of ENDURANCE saw Danger Kumasaka and Team Dynasty (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) take on Luis Figo Manico and Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly).

It was the final show before Night of WRESTLING, and the Glory Tag Crown champions were looking for serious contenders.

They found them. Team Dynasty fought with fire and fury, Shuji Inukai particularly showing his worth, getting a decisive pinfall win after hitting the Untouchable Lariat on Sean McFly.

The win set up Team Dynasty as clear contenders for Night of WRESTLING, and the match was made. A hotly-anticipated rematch of the Elite Tag Series final.

Mito Miwa had some words in the post-show press conference.

Miwa: We’ll take on anyone. Obviously, Team Dynasty is a great team – they’ve won the Glory Tag Crown titles before, and the Elite Tag Series.

But they did all that before we met. Before Team MYTHOS was born. And don’t forget we defeated them in the Elite Tag Series final this year, meaning we’re the best tag team in the company right now. That doesn’t change at Night of WRESTLING.

Yoshimi Mushashibo was thoughtful in Team Dynasty’s interview.

Mushashibo: In our previous encounter, perhaps we made the mistake of underestimating Team MYTHOS. Or there lies the possibility that novelty overcame us – we had not fought them before.

I like their name. MYTHOS. It gives a sense of something more than reality. More than mundanity. That aligns with my ambitions. Our ambitions, right Shuji?

To create something greater than the norm, to transcend the boundaries of mere sport and reach an almost ethereal nature beyond immediate reality.

Good. If they call themselves myths, then we could be considered legends.

Myths and legends. Like Emperor Jinmu and Momotaru. At night of WRESTLING. I’m very much looking forward to it.

[Scottie]

Great to see Dread finally ascend! Excited to see whether you'll pull the trigger on #30 - I hope you do.