Weekly Watchlist 118 - An Island Unto Itself

What's the story, evangelists of embellishing eradicating?!

I continue my journey in the rings of Japan this week with, what might possibly be, the strangest match I've ever reviewed on the Wrestling Vault. I say this, knowing full well I've reviewed a match on a Bullet Train as well as a handfull of CHIKARA matches in my day too.  

Despite all that, I think this one has to take the cake. 

Why is that, dear reader? Well, read on and find out! 

NJPW

📖 -  20 minutes

Weekly Roundup

Here's what I watched for the week;

Match	Show	Date
Antonio Inoki vs. Masa Saito - Ganryujima Island Death Match	NJPW	10/04/1987

• • • • •

Antonio Inoki vs. Masa Saito

Waiting for the shark to jump

An epic encounter, allegedly. NJPW

Basic Breakdown

via Miyamoto Musashi's Wikipedia

I’ll be honest folks, I’ve done a lot of reading and research leading into this match. It’s not often I consult multiple blogs, Wikipedia articles, Reddit threads, and the like leading up to a match. But, then again, most matches don’t take place on a remote island. Especially not one with the historical background and lore around it like this match. Let me head back in time, to April 13 1612, to be specific.

So the story goes, two famous swordsmen, Sasaki Kojiro and, arguably the greatest and most famous of the Japanese swordsmen, Miyamoto Musashi, agreed to a duel on Ganryu Island, with Musashi challenging Kojiro. 

There's not a lot that can be said about Ganryu/Ganryu-jima island, it's largely abandoned save some monuments and spots for public gatherings, such as the annual tug-of-war, as well as the west side of the island being used as storage for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for it's ship manufacturing and drydocks, but that aside, this island is pretty desolate. Even moreso in 1612. 

When word got out that there would be a duel on the island, it was quickly filled with onlookers, excited to see one of the most well-known swordsmen have another duel. So the story goes, the onlookers had to wait for the duel to start, with Kojiro showing up on time, but Musashi apparently made his foe wait several hours (allegedly) before arriving to the duel. Apparently, Musashi was famous for making foes wait, using it as a "mind games" tactic to try and win the game mentally before winning physically, believing very strongly in this tactic. While on the boat over for the duel, Musashi carved one of the boat’s oars into a “bokken,” or a wooden training sword. I’ve seen conflicting reports as to how to duel ended, though it’s undisputed that Musashi won the bout. Some reports say it was the bokken that won him the duel, which is curious since Musashi was famous for fighting with two blades. Some reports say he didn't even bring his own blades, using the bokken exclusively to win. I’ve seen others say that Musashi’s men swarmed Kojiro after the bout started and killed him, though that seems to go against everything these duelists would stand for. But what do I know. Regardless, Musashi won the bout and claimed another victory, his final record standing at 62 duels, remaining undefeated. 

Now, let’s fast forward to the 80’s, to Saito and Inoki’s timeline. So the story goes, after Masa Saito was released from prison following an incident at a Wisconsin McDonalds involving denied service, a boulder, a window, and assaulting police officers, Saito moved from the AWA to NJPW, with Inoki deciding that Saito would be a great foe for him to square off against. For years, the rivalry was built, with their March 26th 1987 match ending in a pull-apart bloodbath between the two, with handcuffs being utilized and turnbuckle pads being destroyed in the melee. 

Their match a month later on April 27th was far bloodier than their previous encounter, with the ring ropes being torn down and handcuffs again being utilized to bind the combatants together, with both men ending the bout bloody and beaten. It would take nearly 4 months for this feud to blow off, with Inoki besting Saito in June in a tournament to determine the first IWGP champion, with nothing happening until October of ‘87. 

Both men agreed to end their blood feud in a way that felt all too fitting given how heated things had been in the build. Not wanting a traditional match under traditional settings, they agreed to take things to Ganryu island, with nothing more than a rig set up and some cameras and spectators alongside them. Inoki was more than aware of the islands history, and he wanted his bout with Saito to be seen as a modern equivalent to the Musashi/Kojiro duel over 300 years prior. 

Would this bout live up to the legendary swordsmen duel? Or would it flop in catastrophic fashion?

I think you guys already know where this is going. 

Bell To Bell

I’ll be honest, dear reader, I wasn’t sure how to approach this match. It’s a monstrously long bout and is far from exciting, and I was almost tempted to skip it and find something else to talk about. But, I decided against it, knowing that half the fun comes from reviewing matches of all shapes and sizes. Plus, I wanted to add my voice to the mix of discourse surrounding this legendary bout. 

For the sake of making this match halfway digestible, I’ve opted to split it up into 10 minute segments. You’ll understand better as we dig into the match, if you haven’t already seen it, but for those that have, you may find this format easier on the brain. Or harder, depending on how medicated you are, I suppose. I know it’s doing something to my head when I honk about the fact that I’ve spent 90 minutes watching this match and then even more time reviewing it. 

Regardless, it is my duty to review all matches I deem worthy! And this bout, or better or for worse, has been deemed worthy. Let’s get into it. 

Editors note: I am using a two part Dailymotion upload smushed into one with several minutes of repeated footage snipped out. This differs from the home VHS release by being longer and containing commentary. 

Time Elapsed: 00:00 minutes

Starting off with Saito and Inoki at their respective tents, Saito marches to the ring first, with Inoki hunched outside his tent. Saito slowly lumbers to the ring, his frame much larger than the lithe and athletic Inoki, staring down his foe and bellowing for him to meet him in the ring. The version I have has Inoki meet his gaze, then return to the tent. We see several angles of the ring, including a wide shot that shows the ring in its entirety, as well as a close up shot of Saito. Apparently, the crew was a good distance away shooting this, which results in some of the footage looking shaky and amateur-ish, making it feel closer to a nature documentary at times than a well produced wrestling match. It's cinematic, sure, but it doesn't always lend to quality viewing. Another issue comes about in the audio, which is remarkably good considering the age of the footage, but the early moments of this are almost totally drowned out by the low flying helicopter that is never very far from the ring. The commentary, despite being Japanese, helps to drone out the helicopter some, but I can imagine it was dreadful to listen to on the home VHS release.

It takes Inoki almost 4 minutes to get into the ring, but he takes his time engaging Saito. And by "takes his time," I of course mean he leaves the ring and stands on the apron. I thought this was a blood feud? (Keep that piece of into in your back pocket, we'll be referencing it several times throughout.) Back inside the ring, they first touch after 5 minutes have elapsed, with Saito going for Inoki's ankle and taking him down to the canvas. 

You ready for some action folks? Well, I was too, but this is all this match is going to be for the next hour. 

From ice cold to luke warm! NJPW

I'm serious. Like, no joke. You wonder why I broke this thing up into 10 minute chapters, it's because it's the only way I could digest this monstrous match.  When Saito takes Inoki down, it's a very, very slow war of attrition. This isn't like a UWF-I match with some ground grappling, with quick transitions and plenty of submission attempts. this is slow, laborious, and often times confusing. I don't clame to be some expert of catch or submission wrestling, but I've watched a good bit of this sport so I feel I should be able to sus out who is in control in a bout. It gets really, really murky at times in this match, with the cameras doing little to help parse anything out. 

Saito looks to be attempting a heel hook of some sort, with Inoki trying to use his free leg to press him off.  The camera moves around showing both men, with Inoki looking as cool and collected as someone trying to get the blankets back after they slipped down to the floor. You'd hardly believe they are fighting, but they are, I can assure you that. At the very least, they are simulating combat. 

Saito tries to get Inoki in a headlock after shifting around, but they break, with Inoki back on his feet and backing himself to the ropes. There's a lot more hesitance in this match than you'd believe, with how heated these two were in the months prior. Did they just forget how much they hated each other? I'll be totally honest, if it wasn't for the research I did leading up to this match, I'd have believed that this was purely an exhibition match between the two, not a heated blowoff. 

Saito tries an armbreaker, but Inoki rolls through and out to the grass, collecting himself before rolling back inside. Saito backs Inoki to the corner, and he slips back outside, tending to his shoulder and stretching using the ring posts.  

Time Elapsed: 10:00 minutes

A front facelock is Inoki's first "offensive" move, catching an advancing Saito in a hold as he takes his back. He rides Saito for a while, squeezing his head and digging his chin into the top of his head, with Saito trying to fight out but Inoki keeps the pressure on. It's during this fracas that Saito's nose looks to be broken, as he's leaking colour with Inoki pressing his elbow into his head viciously. 

We suddenly cut to an onlooker, being questioned by a yellow-shirt clad interviewer. The man in question is brandishing a kendo stick, and will be appearing a few more times before the match ends. I'm not certain who this is, as none of the reading I did was able to reveal his identity. He seems to be here as a "special enforcer," as there is no referee in this match. The ruleset seems to be "no pinfalls, no submissions, win by TKO or surrender," as there are plenty of instances where a man could be counted for a pin or checked for a submission, but neither things happen. Guess it makes sense for this being a "deathmatch."

I'll call him the Stick Man. NJPW

Saito is able to roll free from the chokehold situation, both men resetting on their feet. Inoki looks intense and ready to go, but he keeps staying on the defensive, waiting for Saito to move in and advance on him before acting. Saito gets the facelock this time and rides Inoki, trying for a double wristlock and then a chinlock. We're here for quite a while, with the most exciting things happening when the camera changes and I get to look at the scenery. They're in a seated position now, with Saito giving Inoki the crankerooski. They roll around and kick off the ropes, with Saito staying on top. Inoki is trying to worm his way out, hut he's really not making a crazy effort. You could at least let us believe you are in some sort of peril, pal. 

Inoki is able to stand, the side headlock still held on tight, with Saito hiptossing Inoki back to the canvas to hold on tight. This is much, much different from the recent bout between Yuya Uemura and Ryohei Oiwa, where both men opted to wrestle a more fundamental-based match. They made the small stuff matter, here, these two are exchanging holds with about as much heat and excitement as the glaciers. I doubt a crowd could save this match either, as a near 5 minute side headlock in this match is enough to make me go dig around my cupboards for a snack while I leave the match playing. 

Back from the kitchen, after giving my kitties a treat and grabbing one for myself, Inoki gets vertical and manages to snatch an armbreaker, floating over the ropes and using them for a leverage advantage. Saito could probably climb over to help his face, but this is a simulated fight, remember? Inoki does grab Saito by the back of the head and flip him over the ropes, climbing back inside as Saito tends to his arm ringside. Inoki joins him in the grass but again, is not the aggressor. 

Time Elapsed: 20:00 minutes

We're back inside the ring, with the camera totally botching catching whatever Inoki went for. He looks to have gone for some sort of leg lace out of a roll, but he missed and Saito rushed him on the canvas, only for Inoki to grab a wristlock... I think? This is an instance where the camera really kills the enjoyment for a moment. We do see Inoki holding the arm of Saito eventually, eventually getting a pretty weak chokehold of sorts, eventually transitioning to a body scissors instead. 

Something I'd like to address as we are nearly. third of the way into this match is the whole "deathmatch" stipulation this match carries with it. Some of you may be familiar to deathmatches, if you've ventured outside of the mainstream matches and companies. Maybe you guys are familiar with Japan's "King of the Deathmatch" tournament held by IWA Japan during the 90's where Mick Foley, as Cactus Jack, cut his teeth, as well as his flesh. Maybe the 90's for you were ECW, with their lackadaisical rule set meaning nearly every match they did was a hardcore match. Sure, maybe not a deathmatch by name, but plenty could have been considered as such. 

Maybe we're more familiar with the 2000's, with CZW rising from the ashes of ECW's burial and bringing about even grittier, even crazier hardcore wrestling. Their signature Cage and Tournament of Death matches are the stuff of indie legends, with CoD still going to this day, and a wrestler actually dying in the ToD. Or maybe, the 2010's were our deathmatch bread and butter, with CZW still going, if not to a lesser extent, with GCW rebranding Jersey Championship Wrestling in 2015 and bringing forth a new generation of hardcore wrestling fans. To this day, GCW stands as the largest American indie running, for better or for worse, never afraid to have the craziest matches possible on their card. 

Most fans of deathmatch wrestling can name a few staples of the match type off the top of their head, tables, thumb tacks, fire, glass, light tubes, staples, chairs, barbed wire, just about everything including the kitchen sink. Usually, by this point in a traditional deathmatch, both men are bleeding buckets and the ring looks like an active warzone. So it may come as a culture shock to some of you that this deathmatch is far and away the furthest thing from any of those matches. It's honestly baffling that this match was first advertised as a deathmatch and has remained labelled as a deathmatch for decades since.  

We're standing again, oh joy, with a hiptoss blocked as Inoki continues to pace the ring around Saito. He's able to get Inoki down but totally blows a back take, slipping off and rising back to his feet. The first "strike" thrown in this match, is a slap by Inoki. I'll be honest, this is Inoki's only real bit of offence for nearly an hour. Saito is able to get his foe down and gets him in some sort of body scissors/head and arm triangle. Again, the camera does a poor job of catching this in any meaningful way. 

Time Elapsed: 30:00 minutes

It's at this point in my notes that I noted how I muted the match and started listening to The Lapsed Fan. I've been listening from the very beginning and am just now at the Life and Death of the AWA journey. Which is somewhat fitting, considering Masa Saito was arrested while he was working for the AWA. So the story goes, Saito and Ken Patera went to a McDonalds in Waukesha, Wisconsin on April 6, 1984 around midnight or so. You know how it goes, the matches are over, the venue closes down, it's time to eat! Apparently, they were denied service and threw a 30-pound boulder through the store window (allegedly, Patera maintains a fired teenage employee did it. Here is a picture of Patera from around '84 for no reason in particular).

After this, the pair returned to their hotel room to retire for the night. They'd had a long day wrestling and not getting food! Apparently, the cops show up and find a man matching Patera's description (see image linked above) and try to apprehend him, with Saito, his roomie, not cooperating and starting a scuffle with the badge carrying protectors of the peace. Apparently, Saito and Patera took turns beating up the officers (did they tag in and out? I need to know) until backup arrived and managed to subdue them. Apparently, the charges were just for battery, with the officers apparently less concerned about the damage caused to the window. 

Anyways, back to the match at hand, they're on their feet now and circling each other. Riveting. Inoki keeps slipping from Saito's grasp and slapping him for some reason, now not wanting to engage him. Saito is able to kinda get the back of Inoki, who remains on all fours (which I've learned is called "referee's position" in the amateur world), not acting like anything is happening. A double wristlock is caught on Saito, who calls dead onto Inoki. He seriously looks like a drunk dad who passed out on his linebacker son after he refused to get him another beer from the fridge. 

They continue to exchange holds here, with the balance of "who has the advantage" shifting back and forth. It looks like Saito has him in some sort of leg lace, but Inoki gets his wristlock on again and holds tight. Back on their feet again, they're in a clinch with Saito trying to take Inoki down again, but Inoki maintains his double wristlock. The perspective of this camera angle makes it hard to tell where they are in the ring, with it not until Saito is shoved through the ropes that I realize where they are in space. 

I hope you aren't allergic to grass, pal. NJPW

Spilling to the outside, Inoki chases Saito and grabs a side headlock in the grass, holding him in the dirt for minutes on end. 

Time Elapsed: 40:00 minutes

I present to you this image for no reason whatsoever. Please enjoy it in lieu of me transcribing anything from the next 10 minutes of action. 

How this match is making me feel.

Time Elapsed: 50:00 minutes

You guys ever heard of Inoki-ism? It's Inoki's long held belief that wrestlers should have a degree of legitimacy to them. Whether it's a background in MMA or a legitimate martial art, their gimmick being "they are real," or incorporating elements of shoot fighting into his regular worked matches, Inoki has always believes his wrestlers needed to prove themselves as real fighters. Sometimes, Inoki would even pit his New Japan wrestlers against legitimate fighters, including doing inter-promotional matches with MMA fighters during their prime, like Mirko Cro Cop or Fedor Emelianenko. 

On the one hand, I respect it, wanting to prove that wrestling deserves a similar amount of respect as these legitimate combat sports, but on the other hand(s), it's totally nonsensical. Think about it, most pro wrestlers have only ever done wrestling, and are trained to not be real. Some are trained under shooters and can look after themselves, but the reality is, you're teaching this kid to do algebra and then testing him on the quadratic equation. Sure, it's math, but the skill set doesn't translate 1-to-1. At best, your wrestlers can hold their own, which doesn't happen often, but at worst, they get injured or exposed and their careers are killed. Remember Bart Gunn in the Brawl For All? No? Exactly. Point proven. 

Why do I bring this up here? Well, honestly, I was just looking for something to talk about, but I feel it translates well to this match, with Inoki seemingly insisting on making this match seem and feel as real as possible. I mean, these two spend a fucking hour grappling. This match feels more like a prolonged grappling session than a match, let alone the blowoff to a 8 month long blood feud.  Maybe Inoki felt like doing more "wrestling" would prove something, maybe he wanted to test Saito, maybe it's just an early case of Inoki-ism, with Inoki putting himself in the crosshairs to prove that wrestling a "real" match can wear down a legitimate athlete like the freestyle Olympian Saito. 

Regardless, we're nearly an hour into this match and I'm starting to lose it. This is the point where the first Dailymotion video ends and the second starts, which feels more like a threat than an invitation at this point. This is also around the time where the video loops for a few minutes. I'm not sure why it does that, and honestly, I'd have totally missed the loop if it wasn't for one of the cooler spots of the match happening during the loop (we'll get there, have an ounce of patience here), so if you're watching on Dailymotion and start to suspect something is fishy, it's not just you.

We're finally back inside the ring, with some strikes being thrown before Saito charges in, with Inoki holding the ropes to slow his foe. The two cont- oh hey, we're slowly fading to a shot of the moon. Ok. Cool. I guess you're right, cameraman, the night sky is a whole lot cooler than anything happening in this match.  We slowly pan back to the ring to see... them standing there. Good lord. Saito is on top of Inoki, trying for a double wristlock again and pressing his elbow on his foe's face when he starts to get too squirmy. 

Not missing much here. NJPW

As dusk starts to set in, braziers are lit around the ring by members of the New Japan crew. Honestly, seeing the flames here is probably more exciting than seeing the night sky, as it means there's a chance something could get caught on fire and this would end due to a hazard. Please, oh merciful Lord. 

Alas, back to the outside we go, and this is the point in my initial viewing of this match I realize that Inoki is completely on the defensive here. I mean seriously, you can count the number of times Inoki has gone on the offensive on a disfigured hand. For someone that believes so firmly in the importance of "realism" and "Inoki-ism," he sure is wrestling like a bitch here. Or maybe I just don't understand "tactics," my bad.  

One of Inoki's most "offensive" moves comes when he stands out of a Saito side headlock, shoving his foe into a lit brazier and knocking it down into the dirt.  

Time Elapsed: 60:00 minutes

We're officially an hour in here, and.. we're still wrestling. A knuckle lock gives Saito an arm to take Inoki down with, who does very little except press on the cheekbones of Saito to try and save himself. He gets a headscissors and does little from there for a while, the camera making some nice cinematic fading shots between the ring and the braziers. Suddenly, Inoki fires to his feet and bodyslams Saito! Holy shit! That's the gnarliset bump of this whole match and we are a fucking hour in. 

They struggle for positioning, with Saito trying to pull Inoki down in some sort of crucifix position, only for Inoki to float over and bridge through the hold, saving himself? I suppose? A man operated camera shows that the ring is lit by some massive fucking lights, which makes me wonder why they have these braziers around the ring. To make it look cool, I suppose? I dunno, man. The cameraman runs around the border of the viewing area for some reason, a more stationary camera showing us nothing has changed in the ring. Furthermore, a camera shows the fucking city in the horizon, then a cinematic shot with a brazier lit in the foreground, with Inoki and Saito struggling for something in the ring. This is rough, dawg.

As exciting as it gets! NJPW

Inoki gets control on top and looks like he's about to drive into Saito with a palm strike but he just lets him up! Why?! Sending Saito over the top to the flo- I mean dirt, they brawl a bit now, with Inoki laying into him with headbutts after sending him headfirst into the apron. I can't help but feel these headbutts are counter-intuitive to your own health, but what do I know, honestly.  Saito is busted wide open now as he staggers around in the dirt, Inoki stalking him and headbutting him even more. Saito doesn't sell much here, just sort of wandering around like he forgot where he put his lunchbox. 

Time Elapsed: 70:00 minutes

Both men in the ring, Saito is slow to rise to his feet. And I mean glacially slow. Sure, maybe it's selling, but god is it slow. He wanders around as Inoki lays into him with a single, deliberate punch. Saito continues to wander, feeling he may be getting closer to his lunchbox, with another Inoki punch sending him through the ropes. He continues to wander aimlessly, with Inoki watching as he joins him outside. Another punch, more wandering. Saito even takes a moment to catch his breath, and Inoki allows it! Do you hate him or not?! 

Another punch and, you guessed it, more wandering! But this time, Saito turns around swinging, brandishing a chunk of wood he snatches from a pile next to one of the lit braziers. Hey, question, why didn't we do this an hour ago? This is a deathmatch for Christ sake. Whatever, man, I'm not letting this get to me. I've got bigger fish to fry. 

Get stick'd, idiot. NJPW

With Inoki down at ringside, Saito takes his sweet time attacking him again, sending him head first into the ring post before stomping and headbutting him. Inoki struggles to get in the ring as Saito stands over him, possibly trying to remember where he parked his car on the mainland. More headbutts take Inoki down, and I can finally see Saito's bladejob in full relief, and it's amazing. Blood is streaming down his barrel chest and it makes for a horrific visual, this lumbering bear covered in his own plasma stalking a staggering Inoki. Finally, things are interesting. 

They fight to a brazier, with Inoki looking to clang two pieces of wood off the fire to stun Saito? Either way, it's Inoki who falls, with Saito continuing to lay into him, again sending him into the ringpost. At this point, Inoki is bleeding as well, with the pair exchanging heavy handed shots back and forth, not pulling any punches. Inoki gets control again and sends Saito back inside the ring, taking him up and over with a vertical suplex! Woah! Listen, a vertical suplex is usually pretty pedestrian, but they basically hit a top rope Canadian destroyer here. Insane work. 

Inoki rolls to the outside again for whatever reason, with the crimson Saito bellowing for his foe to return. He eventually follows Inoki outside, who stands next to Saito and just fucking waits to get hit. Seriously, he's right next to Saito as if he's asking him for directions to the liquor store. What the hell. 

Time Elapsed: 80:00 minutes

Laying into Inoki, they're back inside the ring again. Yay! A Saito suplex drills Inoki into the canvas, with the originator of the move struggling to crawl around the ring to take advantage of this opening. Inoki lands his signature enziguri, but Saito comes back with the chunk of wood and brains Inoki! So, at what point do we consider this done? When he can't get up before like, 10? Because a second Saito suplex could have been the killshot, but Inoki is up after like, 10 seconds. Nobody is counting or near the ring, so what's the deciding factor here?

Saito tries for a lariat but Inoki ducks, with a second lariat attempt stopped by an Inoki dropkick. It's pretty weak and barely hits its mark, but it did enough. Rolling back to the outside again, Inoki crawls through the grass, with us getting an over-the-shoulder shot of the Stick Man for a few seconds. Cool. Inoki gets to his feet and wanders around, with Saito up in the ring again. So... who wants to win this, huh? Inoki climbs back inside, 5 miles of spit dribbling down his chin, as he gets in the face of Saito. Saito drills Inoki with headbutts, the third of which taking both men down. Well, that didn't really work out, did it? 

Saito is out on the ground now, wandering away as Inoki rolls to the outside and follows him with renewed vigor. Again, we see the Stick Man as Inoki snatches a rear naked choke on Saito, pulling him down to the dirt and holding him tight. It's almost fitting, as one of the only things you can hear is crickets as Saito fades away, the choke working it's magic. With Saito seemingly out, Inoki rises over the prone corpse of Saito and walks away into the night. Inoki wins? I suppose?

Time to sleep, my dear boy. NJPW

The remaining minutes of footage show Inoki stumbling and rolling around as he leaves his foe behind him, with the Stick Man and members of the New Japan crew tending to Saito, loading him onto a stretcher and carrying him into a tent. Inoki looks like he barely survived, hardly walking away the dominant warrior or valiant fighter. He looks like someone who just managed to scrape by the skin on his teeth here, catching Saito in a moment of weakness. 

 

Match Time: 125:14 (My version was only 95:06)

 

Well, that was certainly a match that happened, wasn't it? God, this match was a chore. For a match advertised as a "deathmatch," it's the furthest thing from it. At best, it's a... well it's.... god, I can't honestly come up with a "at best" argument for this match. What good did this match do going for as long as it did? This was supposed to be the blowoff of 8 months of storytelling, of a massive feud between two huge names, this was meant to be violent, brutal, hate-filled and avert-your-eyes viewing. What happened was a match that was over an hour of nonsensical back and forth wrestling, with Inoki largely looking like a bitch, Saito looking like a monster, and getting his ass beat because he decided to wander off? Like, why did he just walk away? Did someone bring out some fresh trays at the catering table and he lost control? Did he think Inoki was beat? Surely, he couldn't think a triplet of headbutts was enough. The psychology here makes zero sense, nothing about this match is good, save for Saito's willingness to run the razor for the industry. But I can't elevate a match score because someone was willing to do what is right to turn red into green. As it stands, this is probably the worst match I've reviewed on the Wrestling Vault. It's also the longest and, arguably, most interesting match I've ever reviewed as well. 

An incredible mark left in history, so many years later.  

★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆— A Dreadfully Boring Match

• • • • •

Until next week. Be well, stay safe, and love one another.

cliffmorganwstl@gmail.com