PGHW - The Other Beginning

[Scottie]

Now this is a big showdown! Eager to see how Pete fares against the first big gai-jin.

[Willsky]

HOW FAR CAN HE GO?

Sean McFly’s impressive Historical Japan title run was still going. He made it six months at Night of GLORY and showed no signs of slowing down. He boasted wins over contenders of all levels, and he was taking the title to even greater heights.

Now questions were being asked about how far McFly could go in PGHW. He was already a huge achiever in the tag division. Could he go on, like many Historical Japan champions before him, to make it right at the very top? Many thought he could.

And as long as this reign continued, his chances kept on increasing.

 

Night of STRENGTH, June 2001

Takeshi Umehara challenged Sean McFly for the Historical Japan title. It was the first time in just under two years that he had tried to win the belt, with the last occasion being against Yoshimi Mushashibo in 1999.

He was unsuccessful again as McFly hit him with the Delorean Driver and made his eleventh successful defence.

 

Night of WARRIORS, July 2001

Umehara’s tag team partner Fukusaburu Inao tried his chances against the champion Sean McFly. Many considered Inao to be the better singles wrestlers in comparison to Umehara, and this proved to be true as Inao pushed him to the limit.

However, McFly had dealt with plenty of serious contenders and always had something left in the tank when things got rough. He pulled out another Delorean Driver to seize the victory.

 

Night of VICTORY, July 2001

At Night of VICTORY, Chuichi Sanda managed to get himself a Historical Japan title shot. He got it more due to the nature of the belt, open to anyone, rather than any achievement he had made himself.

At one point, Sanda looked like he might break out and become a strong competitor, perhaps winning the Historical Japan title, but against Sean McFly everyone could see how he had failed to push on. Now he was just another body in the pack.

He ate a Delorean Driver for the loss.

 

Night of LEGACY, August 2001

Yasunobu Koiso’s Warriors Cup victory earned him a shot at the Historical Japan title, although few believed he would unseat the champion.

Koiso certainly showed he wasn’t too far away, though, giving McFly plenty to think about. The direct style of Koiso put him on the front foot for over ten minutes, but as fans were used to seeing, McFly survived and roared back, hitting a Delorean Driver for the victory.

 

Night of TOUGHNESS, August 2001

Mamoru Nagahama was next to step up to Sean McFly, although the DREAD Army member wasn’t at 100%. It was perhaps because of this that McFly didn’t have too much difficulty defeating him and making it fifteen defences of the Historical Japan title.

The excitement at the end of the show was not about McFly himself, but about something involving him, a piece of news that set the anticipation for the Elite Tag Series up a notch. That is covered in another chapter of the story: The Pride Rises.

[Willsky]

THE PRIDE RISES

Mito Miwa was no longer Glory Crown champion in PGHW. He was yet another casualty in the unstoppable charge of Pistol Pete Hall, another body flattened by the big man’s incredible rise to the top.

And while everyone was talking about Hall, Mito Miwa had to deal with defeat. He had gone a good nine months with the top prize and had become arguably, the most impressive champion yet, considering the quality of his matches and the new heights the company had reached with him leading the way.

So to come crashing down so suddenly was hard to take. But lions do not crumble. They do not give in and let the world wash them away. Because lions do not hunt alone. They have a pack, with rugged veterans, young lions and old friends.

 

Night of STRENGTH, June 2001

Mito Miwa’s first match after losing the Glory Crown was alongside Hito Ichihara. While it was never an official relationship, Miwa had always been seen as the successor to Ichihara both in terms of position at the top of PGHW and in their similar in-ring styles.

Here they took on Koryusai Kitoaji and Kojiro Harada, two of the most decorated wrestlers of the 90’s. Miwa showed he wasn’t about to fall into a slump and powered his way to victory, pinning Kitoaji after a Pride Bomber.

Harada was less than pleased about the loss and wanted revenge. He challenged Miwa to a singles match at Night of WARRIORS.

Earlier in the show, two matches took place – the first in the new Warriors Cup, a tournament designed to crown the best Young Lion of the year.

Four young men took part in the semi-finals, with the winners moving onto the final at Night of WARRIORS.

The first match saw Akinori Kwakami defeat Michael Howard, a highly-talented latino middleweight who defeated several others wrestlers in SAISHO to earn this spot. Howard seemed destined for a great career in Japan, but on this occasion fell to the superior grappling of Kwakami, who was coached from ringside by Danger Kumasaka.

The second match saw Yasunobu Koiso take on Iwane Okano. Both had been training with legends: Ichihara and Kitoaji respectively and continued to impress on PGHW shows.

On this occasion, Koiso came out on top, hitting the Koiso Kutter to advance to the final against Kwakami.

 

Night of WARRIORS, July 2001

The final of the Warrior Cup opened the show, pitting Yasunobu Koiso against Akinori Kwakami. It wasn’t the greatest match either had taken part in, and showed they both had plenty of room for improvement.

Yasunobu Koiso got the victory with a Koiso Kutter and was crowned the best Young Lion of the year. He celebrated with Hito Ichihara.

Later in the show, Mito Miwa faced Kojiro Harada in singles action. Harada had been in PGHW for almost a year now, but had showed nothing of the incredible form that saw him rule over BHOTWG for two years.

Instead, he looked dispirited and bitter, all the more so when Miwa put him away with a Pride Bomber.

 

Night of VICTORY, July 2001

Hito Ichihara and Koryusai Kitoaji decided to test each other’s Young Lions in singles matches.

First, Kitoaji took on the Warriors Cup winner Yasunobu Koiso and defeated him, although not without some serious difficulty. Koiso proved once again he was destined for stardom.

Then Ichihara got the win over Iwane Okano. Okano arguably had the greater in-ring talent, but was still raw and unrefined, without the same presence that Koiso boasted. Still, he took Ichihara to the limit in this match and proved again he was surely a fine wrestler in the making.

In the main event, Mito Miwa picked up another victory. He teamed with Steve Flash and Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara) to defeat Yoshimi Mushashibo, Kojiro Harada, Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan.

 

Night of LEGACY, August 2001

As a reward for winning the Warriors Cup, Yasunobu Koiso was granted a shot at Sean McFly’s Historical Japan title. He gave McFly a good run for his money, but ultimately he fell to the Delorean Driver.

Hito Ichihara was also in singles action, falling to defeat against Kojiro Harada.

And Mito Miwa continued his winning ways, this time teaming with Steve Flash, Yoshimi Mushashibo and Akinori Kwakami to beat Koryusai Kitoaji, Iwane Okano and BATTERY (Mamoru Nagahama & Raymond Diaz).

Miwa agreed that at Night of TOUGHNESS, he would team with Hito Ichihara and Yasunobu Koiso.

 

Night of TOUGHNESS, August 2001

As promised, Mito Miwa tagged with Hito Ichihara and Yasunobu Koiso to face Koryusai Kitoaji, Iwane Okano and Kojiro Harada.

It was a fierce back-and-forth, with the young lions proving they could mix it up with the more experienced guys. But Mito Miwa was a step above everyone else in the match and made the difference with a Pride Bomber on Okano.

After the match, Miwa made his team stay at ringside to watch the next bout: Sean McFly defeating Mamoru Nagahama for the Historical Japan title.

After McFly’s victory, Miwa got his team in the ring and spoke to the crowd.

Miwa: They call me the Pride Warrior. And I am proud. Proud to have been Glory Crown champion and proud to consider myself one of the best in this company.

But until now I have never had a “Pride”, by which I mean a group of like-minded allies who will fight and hunt together.

That changes tonight. I am officially announcing the arrival of “The Pride” in PGHW, a group consisting of myself, Hito Ichihara and Yasunobu Koiso.

And, if you accept, Sean, you too.

At this, McFly’s face broke into a wide grin.

Not only that, but The Pride will be represented at the Elite Tag Series coming up. Sean, we’ve done it before, how about we do it again?

Again, McFly was happy to accept.

So the Elite Tag Series will see Hito Ichihara and Yasunobu Koiso teaming together, and the return of myself and Sean McFly – Team MYTHOS is back, and we’re here to pick up where we left off – the greatest tag team in PGHW history! The Pride Rises!

[Willsky]

BATTLING ON

Summer was always a tumultuous time in the tag division. With the Elite Tag Series waiting in September, teams were jostling for position and new partnerships formed with the hope of finding that secret ingredient “chemistry” that would lead them to gold.

And it was always a dangerous time for the Glory Tag Crown champions as quite often the titles changed hands before the tournament.

So for Tommy Cornell and Walter Morgan, it was a challenge just to get to September with the belts, something they had proved they were certainly up for, and perhaps, with some momentum behind them, they could go on to become the only team to win the Elite Tag Series while reigning as Glory Tag Crown champs.

 

Night of STRENGTH, June 2001

Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan took part in an eight-man tag match alongside Kumasaka-buntai team mates Danger Kumasaka and Yoshimi Mushashibo.

They faced the more modestly talented group of Dan Stone Jr, Steve Flash and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara). All four were still hoping to take the next step up the ladder, and they achieved it together here.

It was an unlikely result against such star-studded opponents, but Steve Flash was decisive in his grappling ability, managing to manipulate technical master Danger Kumasaka into a pinning predicament from which he got the victory.

The victory prompted Rebel Cell to challenge Cornell & Morgan for the tag titles – the match was made for Night of WARRIORS.

 

Night of WARRIORS, July 2001

Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) were no strangers to failed Glory Tag Crown title shots. But as they took on champions Cornell & Morgan, they hoped to replicate the success of Team MILLENIUM last year, who surprised everyone by winning tag gold ahead of the Elite Tag Series.

They failed to do so. Cornell & Morgan kept battling on, using their superior technical skills to keep Okazawaya & Sarumara at bay, leading to Morgan submitting Sarumara with the Wigan Wrench.

 

Night of VICTORY, July 2001

It was another main event match for young Tommy Cornell as he partnered with Walter Morgan, Yoshimi Mushashibo and Kojiro Harada to take on the thrown-together group of Mito Miwa, Steve Flash and Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara).

It was a close match, but once again, Steve Flash stood out for his excellent grappling skills, going hold-for-hold with none other than Yoshimi Mushashibo.

But the decisive move came from Team MILLENIUM as they hit the Y2K on Walter Morgan, allowing Takeshi Umehara to make the pin.

Team MILLENIUM had pinned one half of the tag champions, so rightly made their challenge for the Glory Tag Crown titles, a match organised for Night of LEGACY.

 

Night of LEGACY, August 2001

Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara) hoped to replicate their success of a year before on this very night when they defeated Team EXPLOSION to win the Glory Tag Crown championships, a huge moment for both men.

They had to get past Cornell & Morgan who had held the belts since March and already defeated them once during that reign.

It was a battle for sure, with Team MILLENIUM coming a split-second away from repeating their heroics. But Cornell & Morgan kept battling on, and Morgan got the victory when he submitted Inao with the Wigan Wrench.

 

Night of TOUGHNESS, August 2001

Night of TOUGHNESS hosted the usual eight-man tag main event with four of the top teams heading into the Elite Tag Series.

Cornell & Morgan partnered Dread and Raymond Diaz to face Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) and Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara).

Interestingly, the only man in the match not to have held tag gold was Dread, with the others either reigning or former Glory Tag Crown champions.

As expected, the match was a wild, brutal affair. A lot of the tension was between Team EXPLOSION and DREAD Army, who continue the hostility that had been going on for months.

Team MILLENIUM hoped to score one back on Cornell & Morgan after their title shot failure, but were unable to do so.

Raymond Diaz got the final pin after he and Dread hit the Too Hot to Handle on Takeshi Umehara.

 

After the match, several teams announced their entry into the Elite Tag Series, and the blocks were confirmed. One notable absence was Dread, who took a back seat, letting Mamoru Nagahama and Raymond Diaz compete as BATTERY, the only team to represent DREAD Army.

 

Block A

BATTERY (Mamoru Nagahama & Raymond Diaz)
Hito Ichihara & Yasunobu Koiso
Koryusai Kitoaji & Iwane Okano
Team Energy (Nobuatsu Tatsuko & Noriyori Sanda)
Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara)
Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly)

 

Block B

Dan Stone Jr & Steve Flash
Danger Kumasaka & Akinori Kwakami
Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara)
Team Dynasty 2000 (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo)
Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu)
Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan

[Willsky]

ELITE TAG SERIES 2001

The lineup for the Elite Tag Series 2001 was an interesting one. There were the usual suspects, Team Dynasty 2000, Team EXPLOSION and Cornell & Morgan, but the return of Team MYTHOS had added an extra layer of expectation.

Combined with that was the entrance of three veteran-young lion teams which nobody thought stood a chance. It was seen as a learning experience for the youngsters alongside wrestlers who had competed for decades in this kind of competition.

And of course, there always remained a possibility of upset victories. Rebel Cell always seemed on the cusp of taking it to the next level, while Team MILLENIUM were hoping to improve on their performance last year. And what about the new partnership of Dan Stone Jr and Steve Flash? Would they be a force to be reckoned with, or just a temporary flop?

 

BLOCK A:

BATTERY (Mamoru Nagahama & Raymond Diaz)
Hito Ichihara & Yasunobu Koiso
Koryusai Kitoaji & Iwane Okano
Team Energy (Nobuatsu Tatsuko & Noriyori Sanda)
Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara)
Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly)

Team MYTHOS were the standout team in Block A. Few could see them failing to advance, despite the fact they hadn’t teamed together in nearly two years. Mito Miwa had ruled as Glory Crown champion for most of the past year, and Sean McFly was still the Historical Japan champion.

Behind them, it would be a scramble between BATTERY, Team Energy and Team MILLENIUM to see who could advance in second position. Team Energy were the unknown quantity. Nobody knew what the relationship between Tatsuko and Sanda stood after the recent months of strife and punishment.

For the veteran-lion teams, it was Ichihara vs. Kitoaji all over again, only this time to see who could scrape the most points together. Ichihara and Koiso were considered slightly stronger, especially given Koiso’s Warriors Cup victory.

 

BLOCK B:

Dan Stone Jr & Steve Flash
Danger Kumasaka & Akinori Kwakami
Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara)
Team Dynasty 2000 (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo)
Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu)
Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan

Block B had a lot more competition for first place. Team Dynasty 2000 were two-time winners of the tournament, with last year’s success still relatively fresh in the mind. Team EXPLOSION were perennial candidates, while Cornell & Morgan had pushed on as Glory Tag Crown champions, hoping to take their reign to the next level.

The other teams had much longer odds. Kumasaka and Kwakami were favourites to finish bottom with zero points, while it would be interesting to see if Rebel Cell or Stone & Flash could cause any upsets.

 

PGHW Elite Tag Series DAY 1

Block A Results

Team Energy def. Kitoaji & Okano
Team MILLENIUM def. BATTERY
Team MYTHOS def. Ichihara & Koiso

Tatsuko and Sanda looked a little tense at the start of their match against Kitoaji & Okano, but Tatsuko let Sanda wrestle for most of the match, in which he overcame Okano to win. Team MILLENIUM started strong against BATTERY, with Nagahama struggling still with a niggling injury.

Then “The Pride” had their first match as a group as an internal affair, the four men facing each other. Unsurprisingly Miwa and McFly came out on top in an amicable bout.

Block B Results

Team Dynasty 2000 and Stone & Flash went to a time limit draw
Rebel Cell def. Kumasaka & Kwakami
Team EXPLOSION def. Cornell & Morgan

There were some big results in Block B on the opening day. Stone & Flash surprised everyone by holding out for a draw against Team Dynasty 2000. Inukai was still a way off top condition, and again Flash frustrated Mushashibo on the mat. Mushashibo’s attempts at cheating were half-hearted and ineffective.

Rebel Cell started the tournament with a win, while Team EXPLOSION scored a massive victory over reigning Glory Tag Crown champions Cornell & Morgan. It was a huge statement of intent from the 1999 tournament winners.

 

PGHW Elite Tag Series DAY 2

Block A Results

BATTERY def. Ichihara & Koiso
Team MYTHOS def. Kitoaji & Okano
Team Energy and Team MILLENIUM went to a time limit draw

BATTERY picked up a solid win over Ichihara and Koiso, while it was a straightforward victory over Kitoaji & Okano for Team MYTHOS. Miwa and McFly had enjoyed a couple of easy matches to start the tournament, but doubts remained if they were still at the level of two years ago.

Team MILLENIUM turned up their performances with an impressive showing against Nobuatsu Tatsuko. They shut him down with some clever tactics, and in the end, it was Sanda who had to keep his team alive, surviving for long enough to earn a draw. After the match, Tatsuko acknowledged the work of his young partner.

Block B Results

Cornell & Morgan def. Kumasaka & Kwakami
Stone & Flash def. Rebel Cell
Team EXPLOSION def. Team Dynasty 2000

Cornell & Morgan bounced back from a first round loss by comfortably beating Kumasaka & Kwakami. Stone & Flash showed they were a force to be reckoned with by getting the W over Rebel Cell.

In the main event, it was another huge win for Team EXPLOSION, defeating long-term rivals Team Dynasty 2000 in a match where Inukai was ineffective due to injury and Mushashibo seemed directionless. A stark contrast from last year’s tournament which saw Team Dynasty 2000 beat Team EXPLOSION in the final.

 

PGHW Elite Tag Series DAY 3

Block A Results

BATTERY def. Kitoaji & Okano
Team MILLENIUM def. Ichihara & Koiso
Team Energy def. Team MYTHOS

BATTERY got their second win, prompting Raymond Diaz to claim they could win the whole tournament, while Team MILLENIUM continued to do well, making it five points from a possible six.

The main event of the show saw a blockbuster match between Team Energy and Team MYTHOS. Miwa and Tatsuko had plenty of history and cancelled each other out. That left Noriyori Sanda to survive the attacks of McFly, which he did. That allowed Tatsuko to tag back in and hit the Tatsuko Driller for the victory. Again, Tatsuko showed his appreciation of Sanda’s contribution.

Block B Results

Team Dynasty 2000 def. Kumasaka & Kwakami
Team EXPLOSION def. Stone & Flash
Cornell & Morgan def. Rebel Cell

Team Dynasty 2000 finally picked up a win, defeating Kumasaka-buntai team mates with relative ease. Stone & Flash showed they weren’t quite at an elite level yet as they fell to a dominant Team EXPLOSION who continued their 100% start.

Cornell & Morgan fended off a very game Rebel Cell looking to avenge their recent title loss. In the end, the tag champions kept their block hopes alive with a good victory thanks to a Guilt Trip from Cornell.

 

Mid-point round-up

Block A Table

5 Team Energy
5 Team MILLENIUM
4 Team MYTHOS
4 BATTERY
0 Ichihara & Koiso
0 Kitoaji & Okano
 

Block B Table

6 Team EXPLOSION
4 Cornell & Morgan
3 Stone & Flash
3 Team Dynasty 2000
2 Rebel Cell
0 Kumasaka & Kwakami
 

 

PGHW Elite Tag Series DAY 4

Block A Results

Team MILLENIUM def. Kitoaji & Okano
Team MYTHOS def. BATTERY
Team Energy def. Ichihara & Koiso

Team MILLENIUM continued their unbeaten start with a good win over Kitoaji & Okano. Team MYTHOS needed a win over BATTERY to stand a chance of qualification, and they got it. Raymond Diaz was raging at the loss which meant they couldn’t advance.

Team Energy’s Noriyori Sanda continued to do well, despite still holding some resentment towards Tatsuko. They managed to get a solid win over Ichihara & Koiso and stay at the top of the table.

 

Block B Results

Stone & Flash def. Kumasaka & Kwakami
Team EXPLOSION and Rebel Cell went to a time-limit draw
Cornell & Morgan and Team Dynasty 2000 went to a time-limit draw

Stone & Flash were the only Block B team to win on Day 5, getting a comfortable victory over Kumasaka & Kwakami. Rebel Cell pulled off a big result by surviving thirty minutes with Hoshino and Kunomasu. Team EXPLOSION’s 100% run was ended, but they still topped the block.

Cornell & Morgan couldn’t be separated from Team Dynasty 2000, either. Mushashibo and Inukai were motivated to get revenge on their Kumasaka-buntai team mates who had taken the Glory Tag Crown titles from them in March, but Cornell & Morgan held them off for a draw.

 

PGHW Elite Tag Series DAY 5

Block A Results

Kitoaji & Okano def. Ichihara & Koiso
Team Energy def. BATTERY
Team MYTHOS def. Team MILLENIUM

In the match to determine who would finish bottom, Kitoaji & Okano avoided the disgrace by beating Ichihara & Koiso. There was plenty of resentment between Okano and Koiso, and it seemed their story was not over.

Team Energy finished top of the block with a victory over BATTERY, while the main event match between Team MYTHOS and Team MILLENIUM determined who would also qualify. In the end, Miwa and McFly edged it, meaning they finished in second place to advance.

Block B Results

Team EXPLOSION def. Kumasaka & Kwakami
Team Dynasty 2000 def. Rebel Cell
Cornell & Morgan def. Stone & Flash

Team EXPLOSION had an easy run out, and secured top spot. Team Dynasty 2000 needed a win to keep alive their slender hopes of qualification, and got the job done against Rebel Cell.

For Mushashibo and Inukai to advance, they needed Cornell & Morgan to draw with Stone & Flash, then it would go down to a tie-breaker. However, Cornell & Morgan avoided this possibility by getting a good win and propelling themselves to second spot and advancement.

 

FINAL STANDINGS

Block A Table

9 Team Energy
8 Team MYTHOS
7 Team MILLENIUM
4 BATTERY
2 Kitoaji & Okano
0 Ichihara & Koiso
 

Block B Table

9 Team EXPLOSION
7 Cornell & Morgan
6 Team Dynasty 2000
5 Stone & Flash
3 Rebel Cell
0 Kumasaka & Kwakami
 

Conclusion

Dan Stone Jr and Steve Flash were the biggest surprise package of the tournament, scoring five points in an intensely competitive Block B. They only just finished behind Team Dynasty 2000, although it must be said that Inukai and Mushashibo were far from their best.

All three of the veteran-young lion teams failed to impress, but nobody expected much from them. Rebel Cell and BATTERY couldn’t push on, while Team MILLENIUM were devastated not to qualify, falling at the last hurdle against Team MYTHOS.

For Team MYTHOS it was a mostly positive return to tag team action. They qualified in second place, although their loss to Team Energy would have surely stung, especially considering Tatsuko and Miwa’s eternal rivalry.

Cornell & Morgan kept alive their hopes of winning the Elite Tag Series while holding the Glory Tag Crown, although they were outshone by Team EXPLOSION, who looked like favourites to win the whole tournament.

Hoshino & Kunomasu would have to beat Team MYTHOS on the way, though. The two teams shared plenty of history including their epic match in the final of the 1999 Elite Series which Team EXPLOSION won.

On the other side of the bracket, Team Energy would have the chance to avenge their Glory Tag Crown title loss to Cornell & Morgan from Night of GLORY, the match that caused Tatsuko to put Sanda through a course of savage beatings.

There was plenty of drama and high quality tag action to come at Night of HONOUR, as well as the news that Pistol Pete Hall had selected Yoshimi Mushashibo as his challenger to the Glory Crown, a mouthwatering prospect to make the show even more unmissable.

[Willsky]

Night of HONOUR, 2001 Match Card

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 1: Team Energy (Nobuatsu Tatsuko & Noriyori Sanda) vs. Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 2: Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) vs. Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly)

Dan Stone Jr, Steve Flash and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) vs. Chuichi Sanda and Kumasaka-buntai (Danger Kumasaka, Akinori Kwakami & Shuji Inukai)

Hito Ichihara & Yasunobu Koiso vs. Koryusai Kitoaji & Iwane Okano

DREAD Army (Dread, Mamoru Nagahama & Raymond Diaz) vs. Kojiro Harada and Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara)

Pistol Pete Hall © vs. Yoshimi Mushashibo for the Glory Crown title

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

[Shmoe II]

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 1: Team Energy (Nobuatsu Tatsuko & Noriyori Sanda) vs. Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 2: Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) vs. Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly)

Dan Stone Jr, Steve Flash and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) vs. Chuichi Sanda and Kumasaka-buntai (Danger Kumasaka, Akinori Kwakami & Shuji Inukai)

Hito Ichihara & Yasunobu Koiso vs. Koryusai Kitoaji & Iwane Okano

DREAD Army (Dread, Mamoru Nagahama & Raymond Diaz) vs. Kojiro Harada and Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara)

Pistol Pete Hall © vs. Yoshimi Mushashibo for the Glory Crown title

Elite Tag Series Final: Team Energy vs. Team EXPLOSION

 - I love your process, I'm sure I've said a bunch of times. The one thing I've been sad about is that Hoshino seems to have fallen quite far behind his peers. This is maybe to do with in-game performance and this is alternate history after all but as such a big figure in canon company history I'm pulling for him to be the deciding factor and claim a major honour.

[monrapi3]

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 1: Team Energy (Nobuatsu Tatsuko & Noriyori Sanda) vs. Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 2: Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) vs. Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly)

Dan Stone Jr, Steve Flash and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) vs. Chuichi Sanda and Kumasaka-buntai (Danger Kumasaka, Akinori Kwakami & Shuji Inukai)

Hito Ichihara & Yasunobu Koiso vs. Koryusai Kitoaji & Iwane Okano

DREAD Army (Dread, Mamoru Nagahama & Raymond Diaz) vs. Kojiro Harada and Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara)

Pistol Pete Hall © vs. Yoshimi Mushashibo for the Glory Crown title

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

[StanMiguel]

Night of HONOUR, 2001 Match Card

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 1: Team Energy (Nobuatsu Tatsuko & Noriyori Sanda) 

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 2: Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu)

Dan Stone Jr, Steve Flash and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) 

Hito Ichihara & Yasunobu Koiso 

DREAD Army (Dread, Mamoru Nagahama & Raymond Diaz) 

Yoshimi Mushashibo for the Glory Crown title

Elite Tag Series Final: Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu)

[SomeLazyMagic]

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 1: Team Energy (Nobuatsu Tatsuko & Noriyori Sanda) vs. Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 2: Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) vs. Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly)

Dan Stone Jr, Steve Flash and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) vs. Chuichi Sanda and Kumasaka-buntai (Danger Kumasaka, Akinori Kwakami & Shuji Inukai)

Hito Ichihara & Yasunobu Koiso vs. Koryusai Kitoaji & Iwane Okano

DREAD Army (Dread, Mamoru Nagahama & Raymond Diaz) vs. Kojiro Harada and Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara)

Pistol Pete Hall © vs. Yoshimi Mushashibo for the Glory Crown title

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

[Scottie]

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 1: Team Energy (Nobuatsu Tatsuko & Noriyori Sanda) vs. Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 2: Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) vs. Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly)

Dan Stone Jr, Steve Flash and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) vs. Chuichi Sanda and Kumasaka-buntai (Danger Kumasaka, Akinori Kwakami & Shuji Inukai)

Hito Ichihara & Yasunobu Koiso vs. Koryusai Kitoaji & Iwane Okano

DREAD Army (Dread, Mamoru Nagahama & Raymond Diaz) vs. Kojiro Harada and Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara)

Pistol Pete Hall © vs. Yoshimi Mushashibo for the Glory Crown title

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

[Willsky]

Night of HONOUR, 2001

Night of HONOUR was always a highlight on the PGHW calendar as it saw the culmination of the Elite Tag Series, the definitive and best-known tag tournament in the world.

Previous winners Team EXPLOSION and Team MYTHOS were set to meet in the semi-final, while Team Energy hoped to keep their impressive form going against reigning Glory Tag Crown champions Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan.

Also on the show, a huge encounter between Pistol Pete Hall and Yoshimi Mushashibo with the Glory Crown on the line.

Match Card

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 1: Team Energy (Nobuatsu Tatsuko & Noriyori Sanda) vs. Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan

Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 2: Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) vs. Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly)

Dan Stone Jr, Steve Flash and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) vs. Chuichi Sanda and Kumasaka-buntai (Danger Kumasaka, Akinori Kwakami & Shuji Inukai)

Hito Ichihara & Yasunobu Koiso vs. Koryusai Kitoaji & Iwane Okano

DREAD Army (Dread, Mamoru Nagahama & Raymond Diaz) vs. Kojiro Harada and Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara)

Pistol Pete Hall © vs. Yoshimi Mushashibo for the Glory Crown title

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

 

MATCH 1: Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 1: Team Energy (Nobuatsu Tatsuko & Noriyori Sanda) vs. Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan

At Night of GLORY in June, Cornell & Morgan successfully defended the Glory Tag Crown titles against Team Energy. Nobuatsu Tatsuko was furious at this loss, blaming it, quite rightly, on Noriyori Sanda.

He then proceeded to humiliate and brutalise his partner, Sanda, for five straight shows, causing Sanda to completely lose his “nice guy” outlook and turn into a ferocious beast. Tatsuko’s lessons seemed to have worked.

The fruits of his teaching saw Sanda competing well in the block stage, getting a pinfall win on his own and holding up his side of the team. While the wild ferocity hadn’t been seen since, there was a steeliness about Sanda, and those eyes that adored Tatsuko over the last year were now narrowed and determined.

Cornell & Morgan, meanwhile, were hoping to create history and become the first tag champions to win the Elite Tag Series. Walter Morgan had stepped up his game to align with the incredible rise of Tommy Cornell over the last 12 months, and they were now a major force in the tag division.

However, the Elite Tag Series would elude them this year. Sanda brought his extra level of edge to the match. When Cornell and Morgan had him trapped in their corner, beating him down, instead of just trying to survive, he hit back.

A flash of that wildness flared for a moment and Morgan was on his back, Cornell clutching his jaw.

This allowed Sanda to get to Tatsuko for the tag. A Tatsuko driller later and Team Energy were through to the final!

 

MATCH 2: Elite Tag Series Semi-Final 2: Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) vs. Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly)

Team EXPLOSION and Team MYTHOS set the tag division alight at the tail end of 1999. Team MYTHOS had ruled the tag division for a year until Team EXPLOSION beat them in the Elite Tag Series. While Hoshino & Kunomasu didn’t win the Glory Tag Crown titles straight away, they dethroned Miwa and McFly at Night of WRESTLING.

The three matches they put on then are widely considered three of the best in the division’s history. Mito Miwa and Eisaku Hoshino then stunned PGHW at the end of 2000 by having two of the most exciting singles matches in the company’s history, competing for the Glory Crown.

So there was no lack of excitement, expectation and championship pedigree. All four men had won gold on multiple occasions. They all hoped to add another Elite Tag Series to their collection.

If anything, this match exceeded their previous ones. It was a war of heavy blows, vicious strikes, excruciating holds and untampered passion.

But there could be only one winner. In this case, the freshness of their reunion propelled Team MYTHOS to get the final edge, with Mito Miwa hitting the Pride Bomber on Eisaku Kunomasu.

After the match, Hoshino and Kunomasu were clearly angered by the loss, but paid their respects to Miwa and McFly, who advanced to face Team Energy in the final.

 

MATCH 3: Dan Stone Jr, Steve Flash and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) vs. Chuichi Sanda and Kumasaka-buntai (Danger Kumasaka, Akinori Kwakami & Shuji Inukai)

Dan Stone Jr and Steve Flash continued to impress as a tag act, this time leading their foursome to a good victory over Sanda and Kumasaka-buntai.

Chuichi Sanda was hopeless again, eating the pin and even getting a disdainful look from the young lion Akinori Kwakami.

 

MATCH 4: Hito Ichihara & Yasunobu Koiso vs. Koryusai Kitoaji & Iwane Okano

Yasunobu Koiso may have won the Warriors Cup, earning him the title of best young lion of the year, but he suffered the humiliation of finishing rock bottom of Block A of the Elite Tag Series, with zero points, along with his partner Ichihara.

They lost to Kitoaji and Okano in the final match of the block stage, and they wanted revenge.

They got it. Koiso was able to pin Okano with a Koiso Kutter, earning a smile from Ichihara and a nod of appreciation from Kitoaji. The lad was destined for greatness, everyone could see that.

 

MATCH 5: DREAD Army (Dread, Mamoru Nagahama & Raymond Diaz) vs. Kojiro Harada and Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara)

DREAD Army was having a mixed year. Injuries to Dino Maldini and Mamoru Nagahama weakened them, and lately Raymond Diaz was growing frustrated at their lack of success.

They hoped to pick up some momentum against the cobbled-together team of Harada and Team MILLENIUM.

But instead of doing that, they fell to another defeat, with Harada pinning Nagahama after Team MILLENIUM hit the Y2K.

Raymond Diaz took the loss badly and stormed to the back, ignoring Dread and Nagahama.

 

MATCH 6: Pistol Pete Hall © vs. Yoshimi Mushashibo for the Glory Crown title

Another wrestler who had struggled recently was Yoshimi Mushashibo. His turn towards the dark side a year ago bore the fruits of an Elite Tag Series victory and later, the Glory Tag Crown titles.

But with Inukai still struggling with injury and his underhanded methods receiving more scrutiny from referees, he looked a dejected figure. Team Dynasty 2000 only finished third in Block B, so didn’t qualify for the semi-finals for only the second time.

While some might have questioned why Mushashibo was getting this title shot, Pistol Pete Hall had no qualms in saying that Mushashibo had been one of his toughest opponents yet and knew that the young man was about to turn a new leaf. He wanted to give Mushashibo the opportunity to prove he could wrestle without any sneakiness.

Mushashibo accepted. And he made no attempts to rake the eye or perform any other underhanded tactic. He fought with the courage and the passion fans used to love him for.

And against the might of Pistol Pete Hall, he needed everything he could muster. The transition from Mushashibo’s despicable, dirty reputation to the plucky, talented underdog happened in the space of twenty-five minutes as fans went from booing him to desperately hoping he would win.

He wrapped up Hall in submission move after submission move. He chopped the big redwood down to the mat and tried over and over again to wrench those thick branches away from the trunk. He even managed to hit a Michinoku Driver on Hall at one point, and the arena thought it was all over.

But Hall hung on. He fought with the bison-like intensity and directness that made his year so special and eventually, he hit the Pistol Whip Lariat on Mushashibo to retain the title.

It was an all-time classic bout marked by a return to form for Mushashibo and another incredible display by Pistol Pete Hall.

Another defence, another victory. Because he wasn’t done. There was still one man in PGHW who he had not defeated on this run. The solitary name left on his list. A man he had never defeated in singles competition.

A man who had been injured for a year, a man whose betrayal of Pistol Pete Hall saw his rise to glory in DREAD Army and the capture of the Historical Japan title.

Dino Maldini made his return to PGHW to confront Hall in the ring. It was clear what he wanted. To destroy Hall’s roster-beating rampage, end his winning run… and capture the Glory Crown.

 

MAIN EVENT: Elite Tag Series Final: Team Energy (Nobuatsu Tatsuko & Noriyori Sanda) vs. Team MYTHOS (Mito Miwa & Sean McFly)

Once the excitement of Maldini’s return calmed down, the stage was set for the fifth instalment of the Elite Tag Series. The 1998 winners Team MYTHOS faced the hottest team around in Team Energy.

Both teams looked a bit tired from their matches earlier, but they were all known for their incredible durability and stamina. Tatsuko was the Ironman for a reason, Sanda seemed to have limitless energy, McFly could go for hours, and Miwa had no problem with his conditioning at all.

The physical game wasn’t where the match would be one. It was all about mentality. Miwa and McFly had been champions in singles and tag competition. Tatsuko was one of the greatest Glory Crown champions of all time.

Noriyori Sanda stood out as inexperienced and a potential weak link.

This is what Team MYTHOS hoped to exploit. They targeted Sanda throughout the match, wearing him down in the corner, frustrating Tatsuko who was stuck on the other side of the ring.

Sanda was surviving. He kept in there for as long as he could and then crawled his way over to Tatsuko. It was a heroic effort from Sanda, and now it was time for Tatsuko to come in and blast away the opposition.

But Tatsuko refused the tag. Instead, he slapped Sanda hard on the cheek, the stinging sound causing a hush in the arena. Sanda cowered back until the next slap hit him on the other cheek. He looked confused… a third slap… sent him over the edge.

A feral look came over him, a snarl and a narrowing of the eyes. The ferocious animal Tatsuko knew was inside Sanda came out and the youngster turned back towards Team MYTHOS and charged.

It didn’t matter that he was beat up. It didn’t matter he was out of breath and his muscles were sore. He was a furious ball of wild energy, lashing out at Miwa and McFly, who couldn’t handle him.

Sanda was no longer surviving in the match, he was winning it.

When Tatsuko finally managed to tag in, Miwa and McFly had regrouped somewhat, but were weakened. This allowed Tatsuko to rush at them, delivering his usual barrage of unstoppable offence.

Mito Miwa had been through this many times before. He absorbed the punishment, refusing to let Tatsuko get up enough steam to hit the Tatsuko Driller. Instead, he marshalled McFly well, so the pair shared out the punishment and slowly, Team MYTHOS worked their way back into the match.

Now it was Tatsuko who had to survive. And survive he just about did, himself struggling across the ring to where Noriyori Sanda was waiting.

Sanda raced into the action and blasted away Team MYTHOS, isolating Sean McFly and beating him into the mat, just in time to tag in Tatsuko… Tatsuko Driller! One…Two…

Three! Team Energy won the Elite Tag Series!

It was a colossal achievement for the team, and especially Noriyori Sanda who gained a lot of admirers after his stellar performance.

Tatsuko embraced Sanda, showing affection for his tag partner for the first time. They stood side to side, as equals, sharing the celebration of their victory.

 

Conclusion

The Elite Tag Series ended in a dramatic finale, elevating one of the company’s newest stars. It was a great main event, but slightly overshadowed by the latest contender for match of the year and greatest PGHW match of all time, between Hall and Mushashibo. Plenty of debate raged over whether it was a better match than Hall’s bout against Miwa at Night of GLORY.

Another fantastic match was Team EXPLOSION vs. Team MYTHOS which, for many people, was the best tag match the promotion had put on. A true classic with two of the fans’ favourite teams.

The return of Dino Maldini was another highlight. He looked good, considering he’d been out of action for a full year. He confirmed after the show that he was ready to return to the ring and pick up where he left off, being a champion.

There were a few wrestlers who had their say after the show. The first was Dread.

Dread: No, things have not been good. Having Dino back is great news, although I haven’t seen him tonight. My main concern is Diaz. He doesn’t seem to accept that wrestling has ups and downs. You can’t always be on top. DREAD Army will rise again, soon, now that Dino is back and Mamoru is nearly at 100%. He needs to wait it out and in no time, we’ll be back where we belong. At the top.

Nobuatsu Tatsuko was in high spirits alongside Sanda.

Tatsuko: I knew I was right about Sanda. Kid, you’re going to be special one day. Sure, you need to bulk up and learn a few things, but there’s that raw aggression about you. It was in there. It takes one to know one. And if you can channel that when you need it… you’ll have skipped five years of development that I spent being meek and humble. You’re a monster. Time for us to enact our will on the world.

Finally, Pistol Pete Hall was asked about his feelings on Maldini’s return.

Hall: I’m excited. For him and for me. I know we had our differences, but I got to know the kid over the course of a couple of years and seeing him sidelined for so long hurt. Not as much as it hurt when he joined DREAD Army, but maybe now he sees the mistake he made.

And I’m real looking forward to facing him as soon as possible. Once I beat him, I’ll have done what I set out to do – beat everyone on the roster. The Big Pete Hall Train ain’t done steaming along, and it’s about to hit one mighty big station. Maldini, bring it on!

[Shmoe II]

That was awesome. Such a great pay-off to this major second arc for Team Energy, you had me rooting for Sanda in my minds eye. And it was a nice moment to see Mushashibo try to win beautifully once again. Things just felt like they were important moments in PGHW's history this show!

[Willsky]

20 hours ago, Shmoe II said:

That was awesome. Such a great pay-off to this major second arc for Team Energy, you had me rooting for Sanda in my minds eye. And it was a nice moment to see Mushashibo try to win beautifully once again. Things just felt like they were important moments in PGHW's history this show!

Thanks! It's great getting this deep into the story because you can really enjoy the characters developing and continuing their journeys.

 

I'm going to be posting a bunch in the next few days to get to Night of WRESTLING because I'll be unable to post for a month, starting next week.

[Willsky]

A FULL YEAR?

Holding on to the Historical Japan title for a long time was an impressive feat given the traditional requirement of defending it as often as possible.

Sean McFly had worn the belt for the whole of 2001 and now, heading into October, his sights were set on an impressive year with the title.

However, there were still plenty of contenders, young and old who wanted a piece of history, so he would have to fight hard to keep it all the way to Night of WRESTLING.

 

Night of KINGS, October 2001

Sean McFly was relentless in his defences of the Historical Japan title. Despite his disappointment in the final of the Elite Tag Series, he faced Sotatsu Sarumara with a mood of energy.

Sarumara gave him a good run for his money, but he held firm, hitting a Delorean Driver to get the victory.

At ringside during the match, cameras spotted Victoria Stone, McFly’s wife. She had recently wrestled for 5SSW and made a stop by to watch McFly get a victory.

 

Night of IMPACT, October 2001

In the often-seen pattern of title challengers, Sarumara’s tag partner Harumi Okazawaya was next to challenge Sean McFly for the Historical Japan title.

McFly seemed a little distracted, struggling to keep his attention squarely on the match. Okazawaya tried to take advantage, and nearly scored a huge victory.

McFly just about managed to hold on and keep his mind on the task, finishing the Rebel Cell member with a Delorean Driver.

 

Night of COURAGE, November 2001

November saw the challenge of Hito Ichihara for the Historical Japan title. Realistically, Ichihara didn’t stand much of a chance, given his age and McFly’s form over the year.

But again, McFly’s mind was elsewhere. Hito Ichihara knew McFly well, as they were both part of Mito Miwa’s new group The Pride. He knew there was an opportunity to win gold here, and used his experience and strategy to take control.

Yet the difference in physical condition at this stage of their careers proved too much and McFly hung on to make it another victory with the Delorean Driver.

After the show, Ichihara pulled him up on the issue of his distraction. McFly admitted he had been struggling to keep his mind on wrestling at the moment, as there were other things going on in his life.

However, he promised that he would do his best to keep his focus on the matches to come and vowed to see out the year as Historical Japan champion.

 

Night of ENDURANCE, November 2001

Plenty of speculation bubbled around the nature of Sean McFly’s distractions, but Koryusai Kitoaji didn’t seem to care. He wanted to win the Historical Japan title, a belt he’d never held.

McFly was on the ball this time. His attention was entirely on the match, and he dealt with Kitoaji without much issue at all.

After the match, Noriyori Sanda challenged McFly to a match for the belt at Night of WRESTLING. Sanda’s stock had risen hugely in the company after his Elite Tag Series victory alongside Nobuatsu Tatsuko a couple of months before.

As they had beaten McFly and Miwa in that match, it only seemed right that Sanda get a shot at the Historical Japan title and a chance to enter his own name into the history books.

[Willsky]

DEMANDING DIAZ

It’s fair to say Raymond Diaz wasn’t too happy about his recent success as a member of DREAD Army. For a young man who won the Glory Tag Crown titles twice several years ago, he had achieved scant little since.

Considering his size and talent, this was an aberration. Sure, some of that was down to his immaturity and lack of experience in big moments. And ever since Lee Wright started becoming a liability and was booted out of DREAD Army, Diaz had lacked that wise hand by his side to steer him through.

The idea was that Dread take over that role. But it hadn’t worked. Diaz and Nagahama’s tag team BATTERY had failed to impress, and Diaz himself continued to struggle as a singles competitor.

Now “The Monster” Raymond Diaz wanted more. And if he didn’t get it… well, there’d have to be some changes.

 

Night of KINGS, October 2001

Night of KINGS was a bittersweet show for DREAD Army. They celebrated the return to action of Dino Maldini, their fourth member entering the ring for the first time in over a year.

However, in a trios match, Dread, Mamoru Nagahama and Raymond Diaz fell to another disappointing loss to Yoshimi Mushashibo and Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu).

The loss hurt especially because it was against Team EXPLOSION, long term rivals of Raymond Diaz going back to 1997.

The blame could be put on Nagahama’s continued injury, as he was the one who took the pin, but ultimately the DREAD Army formula that worked the previous year had run out of steam.

Diaz was quiet in his disapproval.

 

Night of IMPACT, October 2001

After Yoshimi Mushashibo defeated Dread in the semi-final of Pistol Pete Hall’s championship contender mini-tournament, BATTERY (Mamoru Nagahama & Raymond Diaz) had a chance of victory in an eight-man tag.

They teamed with Cornell & Morgan, the Glory Tag Crown champions, against Pistol Pete Hall, Noriyori Sanda and Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu).

However, once again, it was Raymond Diaz who found himself on the losing team. The big man was rarely pinned, but he always seemed to be on the wrong side of results.

As he expressed to Dread after the match, the problem seemed to be Nagahama. Ever since he had joined and pushed Diaz’s mentor and tag partner out of the group, things had gone south. Now Nagahama had been pinned again. Injury or no injury, it wasn’t good enough.

Diaz wanted to prove this point by fighting Nagahama himself. Dread disagreed, but Diaz insisted and the match was made for Night of COURAGE.

 

Night of COURAGE, November 2001

DREAD Army tried to figure out their internal issues as Raymond Diaz took on Mamoru Nagahama.

It was a fairly one-sided affair with Nagahama still suffering from his injury and Diaz not in the mood to take prisoners.

But even after hitting the Ray Gun and getting the pin, Diaz wasn’t content. He had proved a point, but it wasn’t exactly the point he wanted to make.

 

Night of ENDURANCE, November 2001

Night of ENDURANCE saw Dread, Raymond Diaz and Mamoru Nagahama back on the same team again. Diaz commented that it was strange how Dino Maldini was in the main event while he was in a midcard ten-man tag.

Their two other team mates were Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara). They took on five members of Kumasaka-buntai: Akinori Kwakami, Tommy Cornell, Walter Morgan, Shuji Inukai and Yoshimi Mushashibo.

For Diaz and Nagahama, it was an opportunity to earn a Glory Tag Crown title match if they beat the team including the champions.

But they lost. Again.

And Diaz lost his temper. He lashed out at Nagahama, then turned to Dread. The two behemoths stared each other down, the leader and mentor trying to will the young stud into obedience.

Violence did not break out. Perhaps a few years ago Diaz would have attacked in rash anger. But he held his temper. And in the post show press conference he struck a savage blow while DREAD Army took questions.

Diaz: There is a problem with DREAD Army. Everyone can see that. And when there is a problem, someone has to take responsibility to fix it.

You would think the leader would take responsibility. After all, they are the main man, the person who takes the credit for success, and so must take ownership of failure.

I do not see that. So there is only one thing for me to do. Take responsibility of the problem myself and attempt to fix it.

The problem is easy to identify. You, Dread.

Have you become weak? You used to be the best big man in the world, the dominant force that nobody could stop. Now you’re playing second fiddle to Pistol Pete Hall.

And perhaps you’ll soon be relegated to third place. Because I’m sick of being a member of DREAD Army. I’m sick of the lack of leadership and aggression that we used to have. I’m sick of dealing with pricks like Nagahama, and I’m sick of being second best.

I want to be best! So at Night of WRESTLING, Dread, I want to face you in singles competition. Eye to eye, man to man, face to face.

If I beat you, DREAD Army is over. The group disbands and we go our separate ways. And if you manage to beat me, then I know how things will go. My life will be hell. So if I lose… I’ll leave PGHW.

Throughout Diaz’s speech (in excellent Japanese) Dread grew more and more agitated and angered. For the first time in over a year, his body tensed and his eyes blazed with the fury and intensity of old.

By the time Diaz had finished speaking, the two stood eye to eye, their massive frames matching each other in bulk.

Dread nodded his agreement to the match and it was set for Night of WRESTLING.

[Willsky]

A NEW SPARK

One of the most surprising duos in the Elite Tag Series was the combination of Dan Stone Jr and Steve Flash. The two gaijin arrived in PGHW at around the same time the year before and had done very little of note, other than work hard and show plenty of talent.

So nobody expected them to come close to qualifying from a very competitive Block B in the tournament. A draw with Team Dynasty 2000 and a couple of good wins garnered them plenty of praise.

After the tournament Stone & Flash decided it would be in both their interests to continue their partnership and seek success in the tag division.

 

Night of KINGS, October 2001

Stone & Flash teamed with Harumi Okazawaya and Mito Miwa in an eight-man tag match. They defeated Kojiro Harada, Chuichi Sanda and Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara).

While fans might have expected Mito Miwa to be the star of the show, it was actually Steve Flash who got the winning pinfall with a Flash Bang on Takeshi Umehara.

After the match, Stone & Flash saw this as an opportunity to get a big win over the former Glory Tag Crown champions Team MILLENIUM. They challenged Inao and Umehara to a straight tag match at Night of IMPACT.

 

Night of IMPACT, October 2001

Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara) may have dipped in form since the highs of the same time the previous year, but they were still a formidable duo.

Stone & Flash had a hard time against them. Inao, especially, refused to relent in his attack. Perhaps Inao and Umehara saw the rise of another team as a threat to their position in the division and were motivated to put it down early.

They failed to do that. This time it was Dan Stone Jr who proved decisive, locking in the Stone Ankle Stretch, the legendary submission made famous by his father.

Most of the Japanese fans missed the significance of the hold, but they certainly saw its effect as Stone & Flash again showed they were a team to be reckoned with.

 

Night of COURAGE, November 2001

Despite Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara) wanting to keep Stone & Flash beneath them in the pecking order, they showed plenty of respect to the gaijin for beating them and went as far as teaming with them at Night of COURAGE.

The four took on Akinori Kwakami, Danger Kumasaka and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara).

It was a fairly one-sided match, with Steve Flash showing he was technically superior to Danger Kumasaka and hitting the Flash Bang on Sotatsu Sarumara.

Rebel Cell became the next team in the sights of Stone & Flash as they challenged them to a tag match at Night of ENDURANCE, aiming to repeat what they had done against Team MILLENIUM.

 

Night of ENDURANCE, November 2001

Stone & Flash aimed to repeat their victory over Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara) from the Elite Tag Series.

This time Okazawaya and Sarumara knew what to expect from the duo, so put up a much stronger defence. Their offence was quite effective, too, with Okazawaya again showing he had the potential to go far in the business.

But now was the time of Stone & Flash. Dan Stone Jr brought out the Stone Ankle Stretch again and the submission received a much bigger reaction than last time. He forced Sarumara to submit.

Another victory for the pair, and they were in high spirits.

After the show, they made a direct challenge to another team they had faced in the Elite Tag Series. This time it was a team they had lost to, and they wanted revenge.

At Night of WRESTLING, they wanted (and got) a match against none other than Team EXPLOSION.

[Willsky]

FULL CIRCLE

Team Energy set PGHW alight with their epic Elite Tag Series victory. While Nobuatsu Tatsuko was the driving force of the team, it was Noriyori Sanda who shone in the final, showing the hidden aggression that Tatsuko had torn out of him by brutal education.

Nobuatsu Tatsuko was on the cusp of becoming the first Quintet champion if he could capture the Glory Tag Crown. He had already held the Historical Japan and Glory Crown titles and had won both the Elite Series and Elite Tag Series.

They weren’t going to waste time cashing in their shot at the Glory Tag Crown titles. They would have to face champions Tommy Cornell and Walter Morgan, who they had defeated in the semi-finals of the tournament.

 

Night of KINGS, October 2001

Team Energy (Nobuatsu Tatsuko & Noriyori Sanda) were in high spirits going into their match against Cornell & Morgan.

Cornell and Morgan had enjoyed a strong reign since beating Kumasaka-buntai mates Team Dynasty 2000 back at Night of PRIDE in March. They had already defeated Team Energy once with the titles on the line, but now Team Energy was a different beast.

Still, Cornell & Morgan knew Sanda couldn’t be treated as an easy target anymore, so they adjusted their strategy.

Sanda, for his part, was a dynamo of wild energy, which transformed into aggression when his back was up against the wall.

And when he took out Morgan and tagged in Tatsuko, it looked like a repeat of the Elite Tag Series final, with Tatsuko able to clean up.

But he couldn’t. Morgan managed to make the tag to Cornell who surged into the match with intensity and spirit that took Tatsuko by surprise. The young Englishman had always shown incredible potential, and now he took that a step further by hitting the Guilt Trip on Tatsuko and scoring a shocking pinfall victory.

Cornell could hardly believe it himself, but it was Tatsuko who was most stunned by the result. Whenever Team Energy had lost before, it was always Sanda who had been pinned. The weak link. But now Tatsuko was the one looking up at the lights.

Tatsuko could hardly look at Sanda as they left the ring.

As for Cornell & Morgan, it was another big defence in what was becoming a memorable reign.

 

Night of IMPACT, October 2001

From the highs of beating Team Energy, Cornell & Morgan quickly found themselves on the end of a defeat.

It was in an eight-man tag match and, to be fair, their partners BATTERY (Mamoru Nagahama & Raymond Diaz) were mostly to blame.

They lost to Pistol Pete Hall, Noriyori Sanda and Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu).

It was a slight taste of revenge for Sanda, but Team EXPLOSION were the ones to use the victory to their advantage, immediately challenging Cornell & Morgan to a Glory Tag Crown match at Night of COURAGE.

 

Night of COURAGE, November 2001

Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) battled for the tag titles for the first time since August 2000, when they dropped the belts to Team MILLENIUM.

They were certainly deserving of a title shot, given they beat current champions Cornell & Morgan in the block stage of the Elite Tag Series.

They gave Cornell & Morgan their toughest test yet. Hoshino and Kunomasu were arguably the best tag team in PGHW over the course of its history. Hoshino was especially savage and Kunomasu was his usual precise, clinical self.

But Walter Morgan had a fine day, applying an assortment of outrageous holds and submissions, while Tommy Cornell continued to be effusive and impactful.

Finally, Cornell hit the Guilt Trip on Kunomasu to get the win, capping off another brilliant Glory Tag Crown match that main evented a show on which Pistol Pete Hall defended the Glory Crown. This showed once again that the tag division in PGHW was on a level with singles competition and could easily surpass it in the not-too-distant future.

 

Night of ENDURANCE, November 2001

Kumasaka-buntai competed in a ten-man tag, with the five young stars of the group wrestling together for the first time ever.

Shuji Inukai looked like he had finally recovered from the debilitating spine injury that had been afflicting him for over a year. Yoshimi Mushashibo was back to his courageous best, with his title match against Pistol Pete hall at Night of HONOUR a turning point that set him back on course.

Of course Cornell & Morgan were flying high as Glory Tag Crown champions, while Akinori Kwakami continued to show signs of an impressive career ahead.

The five dispatched the dysfunctional DREAD Army (Dread, Mamoru Nagahama & Raymond Diaz) who tagged with Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara).

If any of Cornell & Morgan’s opponents had hoped to get one over the tag champs and earn a title shot at Night of WRESTLING, they were disappointed.

Instead, the champions found themselves with very familiar contenders.

Inukai and Mushashibo hadn’t forgotten that Cornell & Morgan beat them for the titles back at Night of PRIDE. Back then, Shuji Inukai was beat up and Mushashibo’s underhanded tactics were beginning to backfire.

Now Team Dynasty 2000 was back to full strength. And they wanted their gold back.

Mushashibo had these words after the show:

Mushashibo: I don’t hold any resentment towards Tommy and Walter. I know me and Tommy had our issues earlier in the year. And I can hold my hands up and admit most of that was my fault.

I have learned plenty over the last year. I am always learning. One thing I have learned is that the missing piece of our success was the disc in Shuji’s back. Even my alternative tactics weren’t enough to ensure real, long-term success.

But that piece has returned. We are whole again. And while I have enjoyed watching Tommy and Walter reign as champions recently, it is time for the Dynasty to rise again.

Shuji Inukai expressed his thoughts rather more concisely.

Inukai: I’m back to full strength. 100%. That’s bad news for everyone, no matter who you are.

[Willsky]

THE BIGGEST MATCH

Dino Maldini’s return to PGHW after a lengthy knee injury created a shockwave through the company. Pistol Pete Hall had beaten everybody else on the roster, and there was only Maldini left.

As Hall held the Glory Crown title, it was only natural to put it on the line as Maldini and Hall went head-to-head for the second time.

Last time out, Maldini beat Hall. To be fair, Maldini had the support of an in-form DREAD Army behind him and Hall was beaten and bruised after months of attacks.

Now Hall hoped to defeat Maldini. And regardless of the winner, eyes would soon turn towards Night of WRESTLING, at which the main event had to be the biggest match of the year. Who would step up as contender?

 

Night of KINGS, October 2001

Pistol Pete Hall defended the Glory Crown title against Dino Maldini. While the occasion was a big one, Maldini struggled to shake off a strong dose of ring rust before getting into his rhythm.

Coupled with the fact the match followed an excellent tag bout, it wasn’t the best showing for either man.

Hall wasn’t quite at his dominant best, but he got the job done with a Pistol Whip Lariat. That win completed his quest – he equalled Dread’s achievement of beating everyone on the roster!

Maldini was angry at the result, realising that during his year out on the shelf, Hall had risen well above his level.

After the show, Pistol Pete Hall was thinking about the future. He made the suggestion that a mini-tournament take place to determine the challenger to the Glory Crown at Night of WRESTLING.

Sadaharu Jimbo agreed with the idea and selected four men to take part: Dread, Mito Miwa, Nobuatsu Tatsuko and Yoshimi Mushashibo.

 

Night of IMPACT, October 2001

Night of IMPACT saw two big-time matches in the semi-final of Hall’s mini contenders’ tournament.

The first pitted Dread against Yoshimi Mushashibo. Long-term fans would remember back to Dread’s winning run in 1998-99 when Mushashibo was the first person in nearly two years to defeat the big man in singles competition.

He repeated that feat with a determined show of courageous wrestling. Mushashibo had shrugged off the malaise of his questionable tactics and thanks to his match with Hall at Night of HONOUR, he had turned back into the formidable force he always promised to be.

Mito Miwa took on Nobuatsu Tatsuko in the main event – the other semi-final. As usual, there was plenty of tension between the two men. And they both had history with Pistol Pete Hall, too. Hall defeated Tatsuko in the Elite Series final on his way to beating Miwa for the Glory Crown.

Their record suggested Tatsuko would come out on top, and indeed that was the case. He hit the Tatsuko Driller to defeat Miwa once again, although they both knew there would be plenty more matches down the line.

Also on the show, Pistol Pete Hall tagged with Noriyori Sanda and Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu) to beat BATTERY (Mamoru Nagahama & Raymond Diaz) and Cornell & Morgan.

While Team EXPLOSION made their tag title intentions clear, Hall offered Noriyori Sanda a shot at the Glory Crown at the next show, Night of COURAGE.

Few thought Sanda would stand a chance, but most agreed he had earned the chance given his recent heroics as one half of Team Energy.

 

Night of COURAGE, November 2001

It was a rare occasion that the Glory Crown wasn’t contested in the main event, but Pistol Pete Hall’s bout against Noriyori Sanda was generally seen as a less important match considering the low likelihood of a title change.

And there was none. Sanda was impressive in defeat, but he ultimately fell to the Pistol Whip Lariat.

The best match on the show came earlier in the night as Nobuatsu Tatsuko took on Yoshimi Mushashibo in the final of Hall’s contenders’ tournament.

Two of the company’s best talents put on a remarkable display of fighting spirit and raw ability. In the end it was Tatsuko who edged it, powering out of the Yoshimi Lock to hit the Tatsuko Driller.

That meant that at Night of WRESTLING, Pistol Pete Hall would defend the Glory Crown against former champion Nobuatsu Tatsuko.

 

Night of ENDURANCE, November 2001

Before their colossal title match at Night of WRESTLING, Pistol Pete Hall and Nobuatsu Tatsuko were on the same team, along with Mito Miwa.

They competed against the trio of Dino Maldini and Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu).

While there was plenty of tension between Hall, Tatsuko and Miwa, they put their differences aside to win the match.

During the bout, Miwa and Maldini got into a heated exchange of words and blows that threatened to throw things off the rails. But Miwa got one over the young American when he delivered the finishing move, the Pride Bomber on Maldini.

Maldini was incensed and demanded a singles match with Miwa at Night of WRESTLING. Miwa accepted.

Then attentions turned to the men who would contest the Glory Crown title match main event at Night of WRESTLING. Hall and Tatsuko stared at each other in the ring, the final showdown before they put it all on the line.

After the show, both men had their say.

Hall: Tatsuko is clearly a serious threat. But I’ve beaten him before. I’ve beaten everyone in this damn company. Just because it’s Night of WRESTLING, doesn’t change anything – I’m number one and the freight train named Pistol Pete ain’t slowing down anytime soon.

Tatsuko: It has been a while since I focused on the Glory Crown. I have become a tag competitor without intending it. But now Team Energy is my second priority. First is to win back the Glory Crown and reign again.

Hall, I respect you. You have been a great champion. But your time ends now. Night of WRESTLING is the Night I rise to the top again!

[Willsky]

Night of WRESTLING 2001 Match Card

Akinori Kwakami & Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara) vs. Mamoru Nagahama and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara)

Dino Maldini vs. Mito Miwa

Chuichi Sanda, Hito Ichihara and Yasunobu Koiso vs. Iwane Okano, Kojiro Harada and Koryusai Kitoaji

Dread vs. Raymond Diaz

Dan Stone Jr & Steve Flash vs. Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu)

Noriyori Sanda vs. Sean McFly © for the Historical Japan title

Team Dynasty 2000 (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) vs. Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan © for the Glory Tag Crown titles

Nobuatsu Tatsuko vs. Pistol Pete Hall © for the Glory Crown title

[Shmoe II]

Night of WRESTLING 2001 Match Card

Akinori Kwakami & Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara) vs. Mamoru Nagahama and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara)

 - I think Nagahama's experience edge over Kwakami is going to make the difference.

Dino Maldini vs. Mito Miwa

 - I can't claim any knowledge on Maldini although I've loved the way you've portrayed him. But he is no Pride Warrior.

Chuichi Sanda, Hito Ichihara and Yasunobu Koiso vs. Iwane Okano, Kojiro Harada and Koryusai Kitoaji

 - Chuichi Sanda usually winds up as a weak link. Although I wouldn't be surprised to see Koiso pick up a huge win over Okano, I just can't see Sanda on the winning side at a big show.

Dread vs. Raymond Diaz

 - it's time for a huge step for young Raymond. maybe Dread Army has gone as far as they can. Unless something with Diaz in regards to leaving the company for real is afoot, I think there's a new monster in town.

Dan Stone Jr & Steve Flash vs. Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu)

 - Stone Jr and Flash have been fun and upset some apple carts but Hoshino and Kunomasu are PGHW pure blood and they're bout to eat.

Noriyori Sanda vs. Sean McFly © for the Historical Japan title

 - I really don't know why. McFly has been incredible for you (and I got to use him in PGHW in an old save of mine and it was just ratings gold) ...but Sanda's recent arc has just been so great and satisfying. Seeing him come into his own, I think he could be due another huge moment here and allows McFly to perhaps move up towards the upper echelon.

Team Dynasty 2000 (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) vs. Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan © for the Glory Tag Crown titles

 - I understand it's Tommy's universe. But in PGHW it's hard to pick against TD2000.

Nobuatsu Tatsuko vs. Pistol Pete Hall © for the Glory Crown title

 - I could absolutely see Tatsuko starting another reign as Hall kind of suffers from a "mission accomplished" lack of focus against the most dangerous foe possible. Then again, Hall has been on absolute fire and I like to think if Sanda wins the Historical Japan and Tatsuko doesn't win his match after his disappointment at becoming "the weak link" in their team previously ...I just like that story beat a whole lot.

 

you are going crazy with it right now man! I know this is because you're dipping for a bit but damn. The storytelling just continues to hit such a great level.

[pentagon]

Night of WRESTLING 2001 Match Card

Akinori Kwakami & Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara) vs. Mamoru Nagahama and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara)

Dino Maldini vs. Mito Miwa

Chuichi Sanda, Hito Ichihara and Yasunobu Koiso vs. Iwane Okano, Kojiro Harada and Koryusai Kitoaji

Dread vs. Raymond Diaz

Dan Stone Jr & Steve Flash vs. Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu)

Noriyori Sanda vs. Sean McFly © for the Historical Japan title

Team Dynasty 2000 (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) vs. Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan © for the Glory Tag Crown titles

Nobuatsu Tatsuko vs. Pistol Pete Hall © for the Glory Crown title

[monrapi3]

Akinori Kwakami & Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara) vs. Mamoru Nagahama and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara)

Dino Maldini vs. Mito Miwa

Chuichi Sanda, Hito Ichihara and Yasunobu Koiso vs. Iwane Okano, Kojiro Harada and Koryusai Kitoaji

Dread vs. Raymond Diaz

Dan Stone Jr & Steve Flash vs. Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu)

Noriyori Sanda vs. Sean McFly © for the Historical Japan title

Team Dynasty 2000 (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) vs. Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan © for the Glory Tag Crown titles

Nobuatsu Tatsuko vs. Pistol Pete Hall © for the Glory Crown title

[SomeLazyMagic]

Night of WRESTLING 2001 Match Card

Akinori Kwakami & Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara) vs. Mamoru Nagahama and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara)

Dino Maldini vs. Mito Miwa

Chuichi Sanda, Hito Ichihara and Yasunobu Koiso vs. Iwane Okano, Kojiro Harada and Koryusai Kitoaji

Dread vs. Raymond Diaz

Dan Stone Jr & Steve Flash vs. Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu)

Noriyori Sanda vs. Sean McFly © for the Historical Japan title

Team Dynasty 2000 (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) vs. Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan © for the Glory Tag Crown titles

Nobuatsu Tatsuko vs. Pistol Pete Hall © for the Glory Crown title

[Scottie]

As always, another great series of shows with some great stories heading into Night of WRESTLING.

Your titles seem to be exclusively held by gai-jin at the moment! Surely it’s time for some Japanese wrestlers to win back. There’s a couple of long title reigns which I think are ready to come to an end - maybe it’ll be whatever the “distractions” are for McFly which will end his run and maybe propel him up the card.

The changing of the guard continues, though it’s still sad to see Ichihara and Kitoaji slumming it in the Historical Japan Title picture. A lot has changed in four years!

Night of WRESTLING 2001 Match Card

Akinori Kwakami & Team MILLENIUM (Fukusaburu Inao & Takeshi Umehara) vs. Mamoru Nagahama and Rebel Cell (Harumi Okazawaya & Sotatsu Sarumara)

Dino Maldini vs. Mito Miwa

Chuichi Sanda, Hito Ichihara and Yasunobu Koiso vs. Iwane Okano, Kojiro Harada and Koryusai Kitoaji

Dread vs. Raymond Diaz

Dan Stone Jr & Steve Flash vs. Team EXPLOSION (Eisaku Hoshino & Eisaku Kunomasu)

Noriyori Sanda vs. Sean McFly © for the Historical Japan title

Team Dynasty 2000 (Shuji Inukai & Yoshimi Mushashibo) vs. Tommy Cornell & Walter Morgan © for the Glory Tag Crown titles

Nobuatsu Tatsuko vs. Pistol Pete Hall © for the Glory Crown title