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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.3 p; n# }# z0 }
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9 T+ e5 r5 A" x# A# Q; RWrestleFest’s main event featured Hulk Hogan teaming with Japanese legend Genichiro Tenryu to battle Legion of Doom.
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, f5 b; \) x# l8 _Randy Savage battled Japan’s George Takano in another major matchup.
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There were also marquee WWE matches, including Ultimate Warrior battling Sgt. Slaughter.
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WWE Superstars like Jimmy Snuka were able to experience the local culture during WWE’s Japanese tours.& M: {6 D% U& f' g. \" p3 I
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1 |$ l o0 }; P1 u+ ?# QEarthquake and Koji Kitao were involved in an infamous match in Japan.; n: u1 o; F1 J" T* X
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The WrestleFest event was presented in conjunction with an upstart promotion called Super World of Sports.; k& J. P3 t) b% ~% t- u4 K
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Genichiro Tenryu, formerly of All Japan Pro Wrestling, was the company’s star./ a( |5 [: }+ c' x
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SWS was bankrolled by a Japanese eyeglass manufacturer called Megane Super.3 M; s8 c# q. M6 Z
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Although an upstart promotion, they were able to attract top Japanese stars and cultivate a relationship with WWE.# ?. A# k: u+ }, m! Q+ ]' j Y
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WrestleFest was a hugely successful venture for both WWE and SWS.2 ~- |# P ]" i+ P$ O
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WWE's first major event at the Tokyo Dome occurred on April 13, 1990.
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8 f/ s# Z$ |# }5 ~' x% nDubbed the Wrestling Summit, the historic event featured a showdown between Bret Hart and Tiger Mask II.. {$ l, T) x' u" L. |
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4 d# P% S+ f' n7 M2 m. \After dropping the Tiger Mask II persona, the late Mitsuharu Misawa became one of Japan’s most respected performers., }- }* Y5 X6 @+ _+ f0 W
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Andre the Giant teamed with Japanese icon Giant Baba at the event to beat Demolition.! G7 `+ K4 f; y- w/ X+ }- f" y' v( ~
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The Wrestling Summit was presented in conjunction with All Japan Pro Wrestling, one of Japan’s two big promotions.& H, u+ ^ V: @
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Randy Savage lost to Genichiro Tenryu at the event.
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Haku teamed with powerhouse Jumbo Tsuruta to battle Mr. Perfect & Rick Martel.
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In the show’s main event, Hulk Hogan brawled with the dangerous Stan Hansen.
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1 u/ D0 \9 ~" N* g1 \' v; jHansen’s brutality made him one of the top American stars in Japan.
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h1 k' x, T9 i8 t/ @Ultimate Warrior defended his WWE Title against The Million Dollar Man at the Wrestling Summit.) R" G- k) Z8 H. K
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WWE’s third big Tokyo Dome show, SuperWrestle, happened on Dec. 12, 1991.
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7 ^. ?- y+ p [The show was headlined by a match pitting Hulk Hogan against Genichiro Tenryu.
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SuperWrestle was also co-promoted by SWS.) X6 p# A: }1 K' \5 U, |( T K
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5 K2 X2 x/ Y7 ?) qMore than 40,000 fans turned out for the event.
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+ C; _% |0 m y" }# E" YRick 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.$ k& f% T- s: a- C* l
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发表于 2013-3-21 13:42
发表于 2013-3-21 14:37
