Japan Archives - Page 2 of 3

Mat Matters: WWE firing blanks with (Bullet) Club

Posted by John Powell | Sep 28, 2016 | Opinion

Back in 2002, the New World Order debuted in the WWE. Having purchased WCW’s video library...

Hall of fame a family affair for Tessa Blanchard

Posted by Kari Williams | Aug 17, 2016 | Interviews

Wrestler and promoter Joe Blanchard’s career was recognized last month in Waterloo, Iowa, as...

Canadians Elgin vs Omega made history in Japan

Posted by Pat Laprade | May 27, 2016 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

A month ago, when Kenny Omega and Michael Elgin wrestled each other in the main event of a New...

Japan earns an MVP nod; TNA not so much

Posted by Darren Wood | Apr 11, 2016 | Interviews

If you ask many wrestlers what their ultimate achievement would be they would say to work in World...

Influential high flyer Hayabusa dies at 47

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 4, 2016 | Interviews, Obituaries

Eiji Ezaki, better known to the wrestling world as Hayabusa, has died. He was 47 years old. His...

Santana Garrett checks off Japan, Chile, and now … Sister Abigail?

Posted by Kari Williams | Jan 11, 2016 | Interviews

Santana Garrett wrestled Charlotte on WWE’s NXT in 2013. Shortly thereafter, she was...

Starbuck’s world travels continue in Japan

Posted by Blaine Van Der Griend | Aug 5, 2015 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

They say that a lot can happen in a year, but what about six years? Since he last spoke with SLAM!...

WWE Beast in the East live recap: The Prince returns home

Posted by Matthew Asher | Jul 4, 2015 | TV Reports

It’s early in the morning here in North America, but late afternoon in Japan as the WWE...

Tales from the NWA President: Blizzards and meeting Jushin Liger

Posted by BRUCE THARPE | Feb 8, 2015 | Opinion

The first time I met the legend Jushin “Thunder” Liger was in 2013 in Kobe, Japan....

Tales from the NWA President: Our first trip to Japan

Posted by BRUCE THARPE | Dec 5, 2014 | Opinion

We were apprehensive on that first trip to Japan. Even though we had met with New Japan Pro...

Why Tyson Dux is the Godfather of Ontario wrestling

Posted by Caleb Smith | Sep 11, 2014 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

Tyson Dux is the Godfather of the Ontario independent wrestling scene. He is revered by his peers,...

Nakanoue learning his character in Atlantic Grand Prix

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 29, 2014 | Interviews

WRESTLE-1’s Yasufumi Nakanoue is currently on his first North American tour, working for...

Mat Matters: A last goodbye and thanks to Shuhei Aoki

Posted by Pat Laprade | Jul 6, 2014 | Obituaries, Opinion

The deaths that you less expect are usually the ones that will shock you the most. That is...

Mat Matters: Shuhei Aoki was a super fan — and a super friend

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 1, 2014 | Obituaries, Opinion

There are Japanese superfans who travel the globe to see pro wrestling, but I only had one...

Long road brings Kellie Skater back to SHIMMER

Posted by Slam Wrestling | Apr 10, 2014 | Interviews

If Japanese, American and Canadian women wrestlers have a strong reputation, Australian women have...

Jessica James’ travel journal: A joshi from Texas

Posted by Dan Murphy | Mar 27, 2014 | Interviews

In early March, Jessica James embarked on her second tour of Japan. We asked her to provide...

Billy Robinson dead at 74

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 3, 2014 | Interviews, Obituaries

Billy Robinson, one of the toughest men to ever lace up wrestling boots, has died. He was 74. His...

René Dupre stayed loyal to Mutoh, Wrestle-1

Posted by Greg Oliver | Nov 21, 2013 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

In June 2013, Keiji Mutoh — the Great Muta — resigned from All Japan Pro Wrestling and...

The wild year of BC’s Kenny Lush

Posted by Matthew Byer | Sep 22, 2013 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

Normally, within a 12-month period, a professional wrestler may have one or two significant...

Seiya Sanada a Japanese delicacy for Maritimes

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 30, 2013 | Interviews

It’s a rare treat for fans of pureosu to see Japanese wrestlers in person, especially in...

T.J. Perkins still has a lot to do, masked or not

Posted by Blaine Van Der Griend | May 23, 2013 | Interviews

Whether it’s Japan, Mexico, Canada or the United States, it seems like the entire world has...

Winnipeg’s Mentallo has traveled the world

Posted by Matthew Byer | Mar 3, 2013 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

Many might think that leading the life of a masked wrestling superhero would be simple; however...

Nicole Matthews keeps soaring higher

Posted by Matthew Byer | Jun 20, 2012 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

A lot can happen in three years. When SLAM! Wrestling last spoke with Nicole Matthews, she was a...

CIMA leads Dragon Gate into Mania weekend

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 26, 2012 | Interviews

As a star of Dragon Gate in Japan and the United States, CIMA sees the upcoming shows and iPPVs...

Doug Furnas dies in his sleep

Posted by Greg Oliver | Mar 4, 2012 | Interviews, Obituaries

Doug Furnas, a standout football player and powerlifter turned pro wrestler, died in his sleep on...

Tiger Jeet Singh remembers Umanosuke Ueda

Posted by Greg Oliver | Dec 23, 2011 | Interviews, Obituaries

Tiger Jeet Singh’s tag team partnership and friendship with Umanosuke Ueda, who died...

Umanosuke Ueda – Professor Ito – dies at 71

Posted by Greg Oliver | Dec 21, 2011 | Interviews, Obituaries

Umanosuke Ueda, who worked in North American as Professor Ito and Mr. Ito, has died at the age of...

After 20 years, Dick Togo calling it quits

Posted by Darren Wood | Nov 16, 2011 | Interviews

Unlike in North America, in Japan retirements are treated as a very big deal and it is usual for a...

Positive thinking keeping Danny Duggan going

Posted by Greg Oliver | Nov 27, 2010 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

At most Ring of Honor shows, there is a pre-show match which acts as a tryout of sorts for...

Rene Dupre’s passion lies in Japan, Europe

Posted by Greg Oliver | Aug 17, 2010 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

Having recently gotten married to a Japanese woman and moved up to the All Japan roster, Rene...

A verbose Stan Hansen highlight of Hall of Fame induction

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jun 5, 2010 | Interviews, PWHF

AMSTERDAM, NY — Who knew? Who knew that the grumpy, ornery “Bad Man from Borger,...

“Master of the Steel Cage” Rusher Kimura dead at the age of 68

Posted by Chris Schramm | May 24, 2010 | Obituaries

Masao Kimura, who was known in Japan as Rusher Kimura and in North America as The Great Kimura or...

Awesome Kong believes in herself

Posted by Greg Oliver | May 3, 2010 | CAC, Interviews

Kia Stevens is nothing like her intimidating Awesome Kong character, and that’s a good thing...

Mr. Hito remembered as a wrestler and trainer

Posted by Greg Oliver | Apr 23, 2010 | Interviews, Obituaries

Colleagues of Katsuji Adachi, who wrestled as Mr. Hito and died Tuesday in Japan, spoke very...

Phil Lafon returns to the ring

Posted by SEAN COOPER | Apr 7, 2010 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

This past March, after a five-year absence from the ring, veteran Phil Lafon made his return to...

A rare interview with Jushin ‘Thunder’ Lyger

Posted by Jason Clevett | Mar 4, 2010 | Interviews

If you took a poll at this years WrestleReunion at who people wanted to see the most, two names...

‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams dead at 49

Posted by Chris Schramm | Dec 30, 2009 | Obituaries

“God has a plan for me,” Steve Williams wrote friends after entering the hospital to...

Funk Jr. & Dibiase remember Misawa as a trainee, foe and friend

Posted by Chris Schramm | Jun 21, 2009 | Interviews, Obituaries

In the wake of the death of Mitsuharu Misawa on June 13, 2009, the topic of safety in the ring has...

ShockWave the Robot stands out from Austin/Cena wannabes

Posted by Richard Kamchen | Apr 22, 2009 | Interviews

Are you tired of seeing the same bald, jacked up, tattooed dudes in the ring every week? Aching...

Oliver John ‘Old School’ and proud of it

Posted by Greg Oliver | Aug 27, 2008 | Interviews

“Old School” Oliver John has been around the California independent wrestling scene...

The Americanization of Go Shiozaki

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 22, 2008 | Interviews

The Americanization of Go Shiozaki has been a slow process. After beginning his career in Japan,...

Japan’s Great Kusatsu dead at 66

Posted by Chris Schramm | Jun 21, 2008 | Obituaries

Great Kusatsu would often become a side note to wrestling historians when discussing Wahoo...

Big Vito takes aim at Japan

Posted by Richard Kamchen | Apr 17, 2008 | Interviews

Vito LoGrasso is a man of many hats, so to speak, having wrestled as an evil foreigner, Mafia-type...

Mat Matters: Bob Kapur’s Journal from Japan

Posted by Bob Kapur | Jan 16, 2008 | Opinion

Boarding the plane for Japan last week, I couldn’t help but ask myself a few questions? Am I...

Karl Gotch: Worshiped or despised?

Posted by Greg Oliver | Jul 31, 2007 | Interviews, Obituaries

Karl Gotch, who died July 28, 2007, at the age of 82, was not someone who could be dismissed...

Legacy of ‘God of Wrestling’ Gotch may be forever

Posted by Chris Schramm | Jun 29, 2007 | Interviews, Obituaries

His influence in wrestling will be felt for decades to come. His knowledge of submission style...

Scott Norton gives promoting a try

Posted by Greg Oliver | Oct 30, 2006 | Interviews

Scott Norton is on a break from professional wrestling, his first in 17 years. But that...

Corino happily busier than ever

Posted by Bob Kapur | Sep 28, 2006 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

Even though Steve Corino hasn’t been part of a major North American company for the past few...

Shinya Hashimoto dies suddenly

Posted by Slam Wrestling | Jul 11, 2005 | Obituaries

Japanese wrestling star Shinya Hashimoto died suddenly Monday morning in Yokohama, Japan. He was...

Stampede Bulldogs going international

Posted by Jason Clevett | Jan 18, 2005 | Canadian Hall of Fame, Interviews

CALGARY — The weekend of January 15th, 2005 marked the start of a new journey in the careers...

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