Category: Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast
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Pacific Rim: New Japan x Stardom Historic X-Over review
As promised, it’s a second Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast this week as Fumi Saito and I review Saturday’s New Japan Stardom Historic X-Over: a truly historic showcase of men and women from Japan’s two largest pro wrestling companies on the same card. Fumi runs down the card, the results and his thoughts on the…
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Pacific Rim: The career of Jun Akiyama, New Japan x Stardom Historic X-Over preview
On this week’s Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast, Fumi Saito and I preview the New Japan x Stardom Historic X-Over event. Not only is the show a rare mix of male and female talent in Japan, but the women – KAIRI and Mayu for the IWGP Women’s title – will go on last. Fumi and I…
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Pacific Rim: The career of Jun Akiyama, New Japan x Stardom Historic X-Over preview
On this week’s Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast, Fumi Saito and I preview the New Japan x Stardom Historic X-Over event. Not only is the show a rare mix of male and female talent in Japan, but the women – KAIRI and Mayu for the IWGP Women’s title – will go on last. Fumi and I…
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Pacific Rim: Fumi Saito’s version of AWA Tales from the Territories
The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast is back. When he was a teenager, Fumi Saito came to the United States as an exchange student in Minnesota. He covered and photographed the American Wrestling Association (AWA) for a Japanese wrestling magazine. During that time, he became close friends with Adrian Adonis, Road Warrior Hawk, Jumbo Tsuruta,…
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Pacific Rim: Fumi Saito’s version of AWA Tales from the Territories
The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast is back. When he was a teenager, Fumi Saito came to the United States as an exchange student in Minnesota. He covered and photographed the American Wrestling Association (AWA) for a Japanese wrestling magazine. During that time, he became close friends with Adrian Adonis, Road Warrior Hawk, Jumbo Tsuruta,…
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Pacific Rim: Fumi Saito remembers Antonio Inoki
Fumi Saito, the man who literally wrote the book on Antonio Inoki, gives his thoughts and memories of Inoki on this very special episode of Pacific Rim. Fumi and I talk about Inoki’s history and legacy: his creativity, his greatest matches and opponents, his place in history, the story of his WWE title win, why…
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Pacific Rim: Fumi Saito remembers Antonio Inoki
Fumi Saito, the man who literally wrote the book on Antonio Inoki, gives his thoughts and memories of Inoki on this very special episode of Pacific Rim. Fumi and I talk about Inoki’s history and legacy: his creativity, his greatest matches and opponents, his place in history, the story of his WWE title win, why…
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Pacific Rim: The passing of Gene LeBell, a look at the IWGP Women’s Championship
The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast is back. Fumi Saito talks about the late “Judo” Gene LeBell, a legend in combat sports, who also was the referee for the famous Ali/Inoki match in Japan. We go in-depth on the new IWGP Women’s Championship. Whose idea was it and who might be a good first champion? …
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Pacific Rim: The passing of Gene LeBell, a look at the IWGP Women’s Championship
The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast is back. Fumi Saito talks about the late “Judo” Gene LeBell, a legend in combat sports, who also was the referee for the famous Ali/Inoki match in Japan. We go in-depth on the new IWGP Women’s Championship. Whose idea was it and who might be a good first champion? …
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Pacific Rim: Japan’s reaction to Forbidden Door
Pacific Rim is back. Fumi Saito gives his thoughts on AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door, plus the reaction to the show in Japan and where it could lead in the future. He also has observations on Clark Connors, Moxley vs Tanahashi and how he thinks FTR will be received as IWGP Tag Team Champions in Japan. There’s…
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Pacific Rim: Hana Kimura Memorial Show. NJPW Best of the Super Juniors
Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling is back. Fumi Saito talks about doing commentary for the Hana Kimura memorial show and the meaning behind the matches. Plus, The Stardom 5 Star Gran Prix, New Japan’s Best of the Super Juniors, who he’s really enjoying in the tournament, why he doesn’t think All Japan’s foray into women’s wrestling…
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Pacific Rim: Fumi Saito’s new book, thoughts on Kota Ibushi/NJPW situation
Pacific Rim is back with another new episode. Co-host Fumi Saito gives his thoughts on the Kota Ibushi-NJPW situation and also discusses his new book on the relationship and parallels between Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba. Fumi also has the line-up for the next Hana Kimura Memorial Show as he and KAIRI will be doing commentary. Plus,…
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Pacific Rim: Debbie Malenko catches up with Fumi Saito
For the first time since January, Pacific Rim has returned. Debbie Malenko is back wrestling after an injury ended her career nearly 30 years ago. Fumi Saito was one of the key people who helped the then-19-year-old Debbie as she started with All Japan Women. She couldn’t even speak a word of Japanese. Listen to two…
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Pacific Rim: Dave Meltzer on Wrestle Kingdom 16, Americanized booking, Stardom & more
It’s a Pacific Rim tradition when Fumi Saito and Dave Meltzer get together and give their overall thoughts on Wrestle Kingdom. In talking about Wrestle Kingdom 16, we focus specifically on the main events and the Tanahashi-KENTA match. Is NJPW relying too much on Americanized tricks and shortcuts? Is that what the audience wants from…
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Pacific Rim: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 night one review
On a new Pacific Rim, Fumi Saito and I review night one of New Japan Wrestle Kingdom 16. While it wasn’t the best WK card of all time, it did have its moments from a great main event between IWGP Champion Shingo Takagi and Kazuchika Okada to the inspirational return of Katsuyori Shibata. We also…
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Pacific Rim: Mike Kirchner thoughts, Stardom review, Wrestle Kingdom
In this episode of Pacific Rim, Fumi Saito talks about attending Stardom Dream Queensdom 2021 at Sumo Palace, running down the major matches, stories, plans for the future and if he thinks Rossy Ogawa should be considered for the WON Hall of Fame. Fumi was very close friends with the late Mike Kirchner who you…
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Pacific Rim: New Japan 2022, new release opportunities
Image: NJPW Pacific Rim is back. On this episode, Fumi Saito and I talk about NJPW’s plans for the Tokyo Dome. 2022 is also their 50th anniversary so they are bringing back The Golden Series. Fumi discusses the history and whether we might see Antonio Inoki make an appearance in New Japan for the first time in many years. There’s…
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Pacific Rim: Onita, FMW, strength of NJPW, your questions
The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast is back. Fumi Saito and Jim Valley talk about Fumi’s thoughts on The Dark Side of the Ring episode on Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling and Atsushi Onita, including stories and insight not featured in the documentary. Plus, Fumi dispels the myth that New Japan Pro Wrestling is dying or…
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Pacific Rim: Wrestle Grand Slam, Jake Lee, Debbie Malenko, more
Pacific Rim is back! Fumi Saito gives Jim Valley his firsthand account of NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, the matches, the results, crowd reaction, and what non-COVID related situation could affect the upcoming Wrestle Kingdom in Tokyo Dome event in 2022. In addition, Fumi offers his thoughts on Shingo Takagi as NJPW World Heavyweight Champion,…
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Pacific Rim: Hana Kimura tribute show thoughts, Will Ospreay situation
Pacific Rim is back as Fumi Saito and I talk about being him in attendance for the Hana Kimura Memorial ‘Matane’ card at Korakuen Hall: the participants, their relationships with either Hana or Kyoko Kimura, the different companies, how the event came together and if could become an annual event. We also talk about Will Ospreay’s…