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WWE's forgotten Japanese super shows: photos
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In the early ’90s, WWE presented three massive events in Japan’s Tokyo Dome.
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Wrestling Summit in 1990 and 1991’s WrestleFest and SuperWrestle saw WWE Superstars take on some of Japan’s best.
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More than 64,000 fans came to the Tokyo Dome on March 30, 1991, to experience WrestleFest.( Z' d/ O* t6 t& y# d
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7 `$ s: X, A& T6 L) u# {WrestleFest’s main event featured Hulk Hogan teaming with Japanese legend Genichiro Tenryu to battle Legion of Doom.8 ~& p9 j. g3 t" r! n/ N! b
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Randy Savage battled Japan’s George Takano in another major matchup.3 Z" k+ _4 r* i
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6 r9 J9 D4 Y0 E; K/ }There were also marquee WWE matches, including Ultimate Warrior battling Sgt. Slaughter.
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7 A2 W( a' w; d* ^" ^# l, z- q( KWWE Superstars like Jimmy Snuka were able to experience the local culture during WWE’s Japanese tours.. X9 z7 K6 }3 N5 R) _& U; L
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Earthquake and Koji Kitao were involved in an infamous match in Japan.
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The WrestleFest event was presented in conjunction with an upstart promotion called Super World of Sports.
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0 Y* f7 @$ G- w% R m; fGenichiro Tenryu, formerly of All Japan Pro Wrestling, was the company’s star.# K& P( v) y" t; m3 p
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2 c8 k& ?4 F1 @' u5 d# i7 wSWS was bankrolled by a Japanese eyeglass manufacturer called Megane Super." ~9 J, ]. l9 ?; l( L
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Although an upstart promotion, they were able to attract top Japanese stars and cultivate a relationship with WWE.% R6 C- C* `+ A; f) V# d$ S4 g
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& c' V* i9 ]: L. t1 _" C! C. }# xWrestleFest was a hugely successful venture for both WWE and SWS.' o: h( w) X4 a- K6 ?0 b# [3 _
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WWE's first major event at the Tokyo Dome occurred on April 13, 1990.6 Z) G4 T2 i. Q4 Z0 M% }, t
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Dubbed the Wrestling Summit, the historic event featured a showdown between Bret Hart and Tiger Mask II.
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After dropping the Tiger Mask II persona, the late Mitsuharu Misawa became one of Japan’s most respected performers.
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; G s* W* b+ w' Z$ W* f3 nAndre the Giant teamed with Japanese icon Giant Baba at the event to beat Demolition.0 c( p, S6 b+ W9 ^, n& R
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The Wrestling Summit was presented in conjunction with All Japan Pro Wrestling, one of Japan’s two big promotions.& L4 w% N# ^2 V: X
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4 q5 F' z; q7 V9 Y1 tRandy Savage lost to Genichiro Tenryu at the event.
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X& S0 U% ?/ t; \Haku teamed with powerhouse Jumbo Tsuruta to battle Mr. Perfect & Rick Martel.
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" G1 u4 z2 s( `" z5 L5 p7 P" U0 _In the show’s main event, Hulk Hogan brawled with the dangerous Stan Hansen.2 } v! [ y+ x4 f+ \! C/ `+ M
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Hansen’s brutality made him one of the top American stars in Japan.
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- y6 j4 T4 {1 z! y* dUltimate Warrior defended his WWE Title against The Million Dollar Man at the Wrestling Summit./ D |& K `2 N+ I; J# z0 s* g+ g
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WWE’s third big Tokyo Dome show, SuperWrestle, happened on Dec. 12, 1991.% @6 s; Q; j4 T% Y) P
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$ M) `3 s/ l7 E3 EThe show was headlined by a match pitting Hulk Hogan against Genichiro Tenryu.6 \/ N: n8 A& B/ O
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SuperWrestle was also co-promoted by SWS.
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More than 40,000 fans turned out for the event.
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* z5 o& I2 N: [Rick Martel competed for the vacant SWS Light Heavyweight Title at the show.
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The Rockers came up short against brother George & Shunji Takano.
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发表于 2013-3-21 13:42
发表于 2013-3-21 14:37
