Category: Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast
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Free Show! Pacific Rim: Chris Jericho’s early career in Japan
On this episode of the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast, Fumi Saito looks at Chris Jericho’s early career from 1991 to 1997 in Japan. We take you from his first two tours with the IWA to Tenryu’s WAR promotion to his debut for NJPW as Super Liger. Fumi met Chris in the early 90s. Hear Fumi talk about…
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Pacific Rim: Takayamamania, Joey Janela and Santino Marella in Tokyo
Fumi Saito went to two shows this week in Tokyo. The first was Jun Kasai’s Freedoms, a deathmatch-style show in Shinkiba which featured Joey Janela tagging with an invisible partner against Kikutaro and an invisible partner. Fumi also went to a standing-room-only Korakuen Hall for the second Takayamamania, a fundraiser for the legendary Yoshihiro Takayama who suffered…
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Pacific Rim: Sam Adonis, pro wrestling world traveler
While many are contracting with just one company, Sam Adonis is traveling the world as a professional wrestler, working in the U.S., Mexico, Japan and more. On this episode of the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast, Adonis talks about his start in wrestling, headlining at Arena Mexico, how social media is affecting careers, and where he…
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Pacific Rim: Jim and Fumi recap the G1 finals
Fans were so emotional at Shibata’s attack on KENTA that they were literally crying. That’s according to our Fumi Saito who was there live at Budokan Hall for the finals of the G1 Climax and talks about the experience on this week’s Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast. We talk about the fans’ reaction to Kota…
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Pacific Rim: Debbie Malenko on life in All Japan Women’s Wrestling
This week on the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast, we talk with co-host Fumi Saito’s good friend Debbie Malenko. Trained by Professor Boris Malenko, Debbie was talented enough that he allowed her to take the Malenko name. Not long after wrestling school, she was off to Japan to compete for the legendary All Japan Women’s…
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Pacific Rim: Could Stardom or NJPW work with AEW?
AEW roster member and joshi star Riho announced this week that she has joined Stardom. There’s also a report from Dave Meltzer about WWE officials meeting with Stardom officials. With this news, Fumi Saito and I talk about the likelihood of possible working agreements between Stardom, AEW, and NJPW. In addition, we talk about AEW’s television deal, Jon…
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Pacific Rim: G1 Climax, Jon Moxley and Shota Umino
Fumi Saito has an in-person account of night five of the G1 Climax from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. His thoughts on Will Ospreay vs. Kota Ibushi, how Lance Archer appears to be gaining respect and momentum, the crowd’s reaction to KENTA, and why his favorite match of the night was Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. ZSJ. Plus, we go in-depth on…
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Pacific Rim: Perro Aguayo and the relationship between Mexico-Japan
Perro Aguayo Sr. made many tours of Japan and even won the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship there. On this episode of Pacific Rim, Fumi Saito and I talk about Aguayo’s history in Japan. After that, we segue into the long relationship between Japan and Mexico: from the many young wrestlers sent on excursions to those who left…
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FREE SHOW! Pacific Rim: G1 Climax preview, predictions, and history
Fumi Saito and Jim Valley talk about Raw and compare Monday night’s AJ Styles to his time in New Japan. Fumi was at Sumo Hall for both nights of the WWE Tokyo tour. Hear his thoughts on Triple H, Shinsuke Nakamura, The Kabuki Warriors, the fans in attendance, and the wrestling they saw. Plus, an…
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Pacific Rim: Sean ‘X-Pac’ Waltman
Fumi Saito and Sean “X-Pac” Waltman have known each other for nearly 30 years. In this special episode of the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast, these two long-time friends reminisce about how they met, times in Japan, spending Christmas together in Minnesota, and key moments in Waltman’s career. We talk about Sean’s first tour of Japan, his later…
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Pacific Rim: Has Will Ospreay replaced Kenny Omega?
Fumi Saito was in Ryugoku for New Japan’s Best of the Super Juniors finals. After seeing Will Ospreay’s victory, he wonders if Ospreay has taken Kenny Omega’s place in the hearts and minds of New Japan fans. Fumi also has thoughts on the crowd’s reaction to Jon Moxley. Before the show, Fumi did an interview with…
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Pacific Rim: Owen Hart’s Japanese wrestling legacy
Editor’s Note: This is a free edition of the podcast. Please share! On a packed edition of the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast, Fumi Saito and I talk about the late Owen Hart’s time in New Japan Pro Wrestling in the late 80s and early 90s, his friendship with Hiroshi Hase, winning the Junior Heavyweight title and…
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Pacific Rim: Tom Magee in Japan
Fumi Saito and I are back with a whole host of topics on this week’s episode of the Pacific Rim podcast. Before he wrestled Bret Hart in WWE, Tom Magee worked in All Japan Pro Wrestling. Fumi gives his first-hand account of the impression Magee left on him, plus Magee’s matches against Wajima and Chosu.…
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Pacific Rim: Fumi & Jim discuss Great Sasuke
This edition of Pacific Rim looks at the career and legacy of The Great Sasuke. Fumi Saito and I look at not just his championships and biggest victories, but also his business model and strategy that was very unique for its time and is still used by some pro wrestling companies today. Great Sasuke was also a politician…
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Pacific Rim: Cauliflower Alley, Jon Moxley, Miyahara, Stardom
Just back from the Cauliflower Alley Club Reunion in Las Vegas, Fumi Saito and I run down the highlights and surprises of this year’s event, including meeting Mike Tenay, The Dirty White Boys (Len Denton & Tony Anthony), Conrad Thompson, Tony Schiavone, Mike McGuirk, and much more. In addition, we talk about Dean Ambrose’s transition into…
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Pacific Rim: 30 years of wrestling at the Tokyo Dome
30 years ago on April 24, 1989, the first-ever pro wrestling card was held at Tokyo Dome. On that historic card, we got the debut of Jushin “Thunder” Liger. On this episode of Pacific Rim, Fumi Saito and I look back at that show and talk about Liger’s career. With the theme of Japan vs. USA…
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Pacific Rim: A wrap on WrestleMania weekend
Fumi Saito and I are finally back home but only slightly rested from last weekend in New York City. But, that means we can finally deliver on our promised review of WrestleMania 35. We talk about what it was like for us watching the matches from the press area and in the presence of young WWE talent (including…
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Pacific Rim: The ROH-NJPW G1 Supercard post show
On a new Pacific Rim, Fumi Saito and I offer up our first-person accounts and perspectives of Saturday’s ROH-NJPW G1 Supercard from Madison Square Garden. We run down the results, give our thoughts on all of the matches, and talk about the booking and historical significance of the show. Where does ROH go from here?…
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Pacific Rim: Stardom recap and NJPW-ROH Supercard preview
Image: Stardom Live (actually recorded) from New York, it’s the Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast! From our hotel across the street from Madison Square Garden, Fumi Saito and I recap Friday’s Stardom American Dream 2019 iPPV and preview Saturday”s NJPW/ROH G-1 Supercard from Madison Square Garden. While they have been to the U.S. before, Friday was the…
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Pacific Rim: History of Japanese women’s wrestling
In honor of the first-ever women’s main event at WrestleMania, it’s a women’s wrestling-centric episode of Pacific Rim. Fumi Saito and I talk about Asuka’s future. Will she team with Io Shirai & Kairi Sane on the main roster? Plus, the controversy between Bea Priestley and Manami Toyota over the use of the Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex. Fumi…