Tag: Fumi Saito
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Pacific Rim: Okada leaves NJPW, remembering Killer Khan
Fumi Saito/Jim Valley The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast is back. I get Fumi Saito’s thoughts on Kazuchika Okada leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling and he offered his insight on the dynamics and relationships behind the scenes in the company and speculates on the future of “The Rainmaker.” Also, who can step up and fill…
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Pacific Rim: Sukeban debut review, Chris Jericho returning to Japan
The Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling Podcast is back. Sukeban is the new Japanese women’s promotion that debuted in America last week using some of the best freelancers available but working in new costumes and gimmicks. Fumi Saito and I cover Sukeban in-depth including the roster, wrestler history, the characters, the matches, the presentation, the announcers,…
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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: 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: 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: 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: Remembering Road Warrior Hawk’s time in Japan
After watching this week’s Dark Side of the Ring episode on the Road Warriors, co-host Fumi Saito and I remember his friend Road Warrior Hawk on this week’s Pacific Rim Pro Wrestling podcast and give some background not covered in the documentary. Fumi goes into detail about when the Road Warriors debuted in Japan, the Hell…
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WOR: The Dave Meltzer and Fumi Saito Toudoukan Q&A
We are back with a very special and long-awaited episode of Wrestling Observer Radio: the Q&A session prior to Wrestle Kingdom 14 with Dave Meltzer and Fumi Saito. This was recorded January 4, 2020, at Toudoukan, a combat sports store in Japan with a focus on pro wrestling, MMA, and even some boxing. With two stories of…
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Pacific Rim: New Japan vs. UWFI, 24 years later
October 9th is a very special anniversary in Japanese pro wrestling history: the date of the very famous 1995 NJPW vs UWFI card in the Tokyo Dome headlined by Keiji Muto vs. Nobuhiko Takada. On this week’s Pacific Rim, wrestling journalist and historian Fumi Saito talks about the history behind one of the most famous…
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WOR: New Japan Wrestle Kingdom 13 recap from Tokyo
On a special edition of Wrestling Observer Radio from Tokyo, Japan, Dave Meltzer, Fumi Saito, and Jim Valley recap Wrestle Kingdom 13, an epic show with incredible matches, and talk about the future for New Japan, AEW, ROH and key pro wrestlers. The show featured seven title changes and incredible performances up and down the…