WWK TV 7-30-88 Tenryu vs Fujinami for the King's Crown!
Aug 1, 2022 15:18:46 GMT
Post by Chitohausen on Aug 1, 2022 15:18:46 GMT
World Wrestling Kingdom, Lord James Blears; Chairman
Airs across Japan on Saturday, July 30, 1988 on:
Taped on July 18, 1988 at Shiga Prefectural Gymnasium in Otsu, Shiga, Japan
Announcers: Kenji Wakabayashi, Kotetsu Yamamoto and Giant Baba
Ring Announcer: Takashi Yamada
Referees: Tiger Hattori, Joe Higuchi, Kyohei Wada
KENJI WAKABAYASHI and KOTETSU YAMAMOTO open the show.
They welcome us to this week’s episode of the World Wrestling Kingdom!
Wakabayashi says that they’re joined by a very special guest this week . . . the legend himself, GIANT BABA!
The camera pans out to reveal Baba sitting at the announce table with Wakabayashi and Yamamoto.
Baba says that it’s a pleasure to be here, calling the great WWK action with them.
This week, we’ve got four big matches scheduled!
Shinya Hashimoto and Toshiaki Kawada, who last week were announced as members of Genichiro Tenryu’s Ishin-gundan, will face the Young Gunns, Shane Douglas and Johnny Gunn!
Stan Hansen meets Mighty Inoue!
Jumbo Tsuruta joins up with Mitsuharu Misawa, to battle the British duo of Mark Rocco and Fit Finlay!
And, the huge main event . . . Genichiro Tenryu makes the first defence of his King’s Crown title against the Dragon, Tatsumi Fujinami!
Baba says that they received some very sad news, on July 17, the day before this show was taped, Bruiser Brody passed away. He says that fans might not have agreed with Brody’s tactics inside the ring, but the fans, and the other wrestlers, all respected him as one of the toughest men in this sport. He was also a devoted family man. He says that wrestling lost one of it’s brightest stars on July 17.
Wakabayashi, Yamamoto and Baba then send their condolescenses to Brody’s family.
In the ring, WWK Chairman Lord James Blears asks for a moment of silence, while they sound a 10-bell salute in honour of Bruiser Brody.
TOSHIAKI KAWADA & SHINYA HASHIMOTO (w/ Masa Saito) defeat THE YOUNG GUNNS: SHANE DOUGLAS & JOHNNY GUNN. The match is pretty even for the most part, and the momentum shifts back and forth, but in the end, Hashimoto drops Gunn on his head with a DDT for the 1, 2, 3!
STAN “THE LARIAT” HANSEN (w/ Genichiro Tenryu & Masa Saito) defeats MIGHTY INOUE. For some reason, Genichiro Tenryu and Masa Saito are out with Hansen for this match! The match lasts about 5 minutes, as Hansen attacks Inoue as soon as the bell sounds, and spends the rest of the time beating him to a pulp! Hansen probably could’ve ended the match within the first minute or two, but he seemed to be enjoying hurting Inoue! Hansen finally ends things after hitting Inoue with a devastating Western Lariat for the 1, 2, 3!
After the match, Genichiro Tenryu takes the house mic from Takashi Yamada, and announces that he and Saito have reached an agreement with Stan Hansen, and Hansen is now a member of Ishin-gundan!
Wakabayashi mentions that last week, Tenryu said the purpose of Ishin-gundan was to watch his back and protect the King’s Crown title. He says that if that’s your goal, there’s probably no one better for that job than Hansen!
Baba notes that it also potentially removes Hansen as a challenger for the title!
VTR: Two Weeks Ago on World Wrestling Kingdom TV:
In the end, Fujinami gets a hard-fought win after catching Saito with the Dragon Suplex for the 1, 2, 3!
Afterwards, Tenryu attacks Fujinami, dropping him with a Lariat to the back of the head, then Tenryu puts the boots to him! Tenryu pulls the barely-conscious Fujinami up into a sitting position, then bashes him in the face with the King’s Crown title belt!
While this is going on, Toshiaki Kawada and Shinya Hashimoto have come out to the ring, and they join Saito in pummeling Jumbo Tsuruta, keeping him from helping his friend.
This brings Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi and Dory Funk Jr to the ring, and they even things up!
Tsuruta is able to get into the ring, and he chases Tenryu off before checking on Fujinami. While he’s doing that, Misawa, Kobashi and Funk get the upper hand on Saito, Kawada and Hashimoto, and run them off.
The show ends with Tsuruta and Misawa each taking an arm, and helping the bloodied Fujinami to the locker room.
END VTR
Wakabayashi, Yamamoto and Baba send us to pre-recorded comments from the Dragon, Tatsumi Fujinami.
We join Tatsumi Fujinami backstage.
Fujinami says that he’s 100% today, and he’s as ready as he’s ever been for a match! He says that Genichiro Tenryu’s reign as King’s Crown champion is going to be a short one, because he’s going to take the title from Tenryu right here today!
JUMBO TSURUTA & MITSUHARU MISAWA defeat MARK ROCCO & FIT FINLAY. We’re treated to an outstanding scientific match here, with some brawling and underhanded tactics from Rocco and Finlay thrown in for good measure. After more than 15 minutes of back and forth action, Jumbo hits Finlay with the Backdrop Suplex for the 1, 2, 3!
Before the start of the main event, Genichiro Tenryu and Masa Saito enter the ring. Saito is holding something, but it’s covered by a bag.
Tenryu says that he’s been thinking, and he’s not sure that this title belt really conveys what the King’s Crown championship is all about! He removes the King’s Crown title belt from around his waist, and takes it over to WWK Chairman Lord James Blears, who is sitting at the timekeeper’s table.
Tenryu then says that he had something made, that he feels is much more representative of him and the King’s Crown title.
He pulls the bag off the object that Saito’s holding . . . and reveals a big crown!
Tenryu puts the crown on his head, and says that this is much better! He says that from now on, this beautiful crown will represent the King’s Crown championship!
KING’S CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP:
GENICHIRO TENRYU (champion) (1st Defence) (w/ Ishin-gundan) defeats “THE DRAGON” TATSUMI FUJINAMI (w/ the People’s Army). Fujinami is like a man possessed, not only does he want the King’s Crown title, but he’s out for revenge after the attack he suffered at the hands of Tenryu two weeks ago. Early on, it’s all Fujinami, but Tenryu is tenacious, and he keeps fighting back.
On commentary, they put over the fact that while Tenryu does some pretty bad stuff, there’s no denying his toughness or his wrestling ability.
Throughout the match, there are skirmishes between Ishin-gundan and the People’s Army on the outside.
In the end, Tenryu gains the advantage, and after stunning Fujinami with an enziguri, he hoists Fuji up, and drives him into the mat with the Folding Powerbomb for the 1, 2, 3!
Wakabayashi, Yamamoto and Baba wrap things up, and hype next week’s show.
Credits Roll
© 1988, World Wrestling Kingdom
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