New NWA World Heavyweight Champion Naoya Ogawa; The Prince Hotel; Yokohama Arena
Dory Funk Jr., Marti "Annie Lennox" Funk, and Masanori
Former NWA World Heavyweight champion Dory Funk Jr. and his wife, Marti, were just so very happy to come back to Japan, though their airplane was delayed by snow from the USA to Japan, and it took about two hours from Narita Airport to Shin-Yokohama Prince Hotel, where they would stay and a press conference would be held. They arrived at 10:45 p.m. Dory's very best match in Japan is said to be a match against Antonio Inoki for the NWA title in Osaka on December 2, 1969. This match will be a subject of the greatest match discussions in Japan forever. However, Dory had had only a few opportunities to see Inoki in person because of Dory's strong relationship with the late Shohei "Giant" Baba, so he really would like to see Inoki in this time.
The late Dory Sr., Dory Jr., and Terry Funk had helped a lot for Baba and his All Japan Pro-Wrestling since 1972, when Baba founded his company. Dory had had 49 series (tours) for All Japan in 23 years. However, he had been absent from Japan since "Giant Series '97" (September 28-October 18, 1996). After Baba died, the press in Japan, such as Weekly Pro-Wrestling, Weekly Gong, Weekly Fight, Tokyo Sports, Nikkan Sports, etc., have been hinting that a lot of legendary wrestlers, including Dory & Terry Funk, would be at "Giant Baba's Retirement Show" at the Tokyo Dome on May 2, 1999, but, actually, nobody from the All Japan office had called and asked them to come over. Japanese Funk fans were really afraid that All Japan would just ignore the Funks and MAKE it look like the Funks have not answered All Japan's request.
Masanori and Dory Funk Jr.
The National Wrestling Alliance [NWA] President, Howard T. Brody (NWA Florida Promoter), and The Universal Fighting-arts Organization [UFO] Chairman, Kanji "Antonio" Inoki, announced at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on February 15, 1999 that the two organizations have reached an agreement to work together in both the USA and Japan, and the NWA World Heavyweight champion, Dan "The Beast" Severn, would defend his title against the UFO's Naoya Ogawa at Yokohama Arena (17,000 seats) on March 14, 1999. Ogawa got over (or got heat) in Japan because of a "shoot" (?) with New Japan's Shinya Hashimoto (6:58 No contest) at the Tokyo Dome on January 4, 1999. This would be Severn's fourth NWA title defense in Japan since winning the belt from Chris Candido on a Smoky Mountain Wrestling show in Erlanger, Kentucky on February 24, 1995. Severn's NWA World Heavyweight title matches in Japan were:
8/20/95 Kawasaki Baseball Stadium: Dan Severn beat Tarzan Goto (11:35 referee stop)
9/10/97 Fukui City: Dan Severn beat The Great Kabuki (8:47 Arm lock)
10/28/97 Gifu City: Dan Severn beat Leather Face (3:56 Sleeper hold)
Dory & Marti Funk were notified on March 9, 1999 that they were confirmed to make the trip to Japan. With discussions entering the final stage regarding the rules for the NWA World title match between Severn and Ogawa, Dory would be dispatched to Japan as part of a specially assigned NWA Envoy.
Dan Severn, Masanori, and NWA President Howard Brody
Howard T. Brody and Dan Severn arrived in Narita Airport on Thursday afternoon (March 11). They had a press conference in Yokohama City the next day (March 12). Brody and Antonio Inoki signed the partnership declaration between the NWA and the UFO. However, Naoya Ogawa refused to sign the contract with Severn, because he was unhappy with the rules of the match. After seeing the rules where the NWA rules would be in effect, Ogawa protested, asking to be allowed to wear gloves and also be allowed to punch to the face and head. Then, Ogawa tore up the contract, and at that point, the press conference broke down.
At 10:45 p.m. on Friday night, Dory & Marti Funk arrived, although it had not yet been decided what role Dory would have in the match. Dory prepared Japanese language texts to explain Ogawa and Japanese reporters in Japanese; he can speak and read the Japanese language, and he kept writing and reading until 2:30 a.m. He loves Japan and is always a professional.
Naoya Ogawa and Dory Funk Jr. at the press conference, March 13
Dory negotiated a settlement of the rule dispute between the NWA and the UFO with an agreement being reached just minutes prior to another press conference at 3:00 p.m. at Shin-Yokohama Prince Hotel on Saturday (March 13). He announced that the match would be governed by NWA rules; thus, the only way to win would be by pinfall or submission, but, as a compromise to Ogawa's request, he would be allowed to wear gloves, and while body blows would be allowed, any punching to the head or face would not, and Dory himself would be a special referee for the match.
They left for Yokohama Arena at 12:50 p.m. on Sunday (March 14). Before the show, Dory could meet Inoki in the dressing room. They were deeply moved by their meeting again. Dory and Inoki should have their way to mourn for their long time rival, Giant Baba, by themselves. They know what it is.
(1) No time limit: Tiger Mask #4 (Japan / Michinoku Pro) beat Jean Pierre David (France / Judo) (6:27 Choke sleeper)
(2) No time limit: Taro Obata (Japan / Ju-jitsu) beat Jason Bress (UFO-USA) (6:40 Sleeper hold)
(3) Three minutes-four rounds: Yarsin Loogklongtan (Thailand / Muay Thai) beat Enil Dubar (Holland / Kick boxing) (Won with points, 3-0)
(4) No time limit: Orlando Wiet (Surinam / Muay Thai) beat Sean McCully (USA / Kickboxing) (6:29 Choke Sleeper)
***intermission***
(5) No time limit: Koichiro Kimura (Japan / DDT) beat Richard Roland Loux (France / Judo) (1:53 Arm lock)
(6) No time limit: Alexander Otsuka (Japan / Battlarts) beat Tiger Mask (Sayama) (UFO-Japan) (9:26 Knee lock)
(7) No time limit: Gerard Gordeau (Holland / Karate) drew Kazunari Murakami (Japan / Ju-jitsu) (8:12 No contest)
(8) NWA World Heavyweight championship (One fall/60 minute time limit): Naoya Ogawa (Challenger / UFO) beat Dan "The Beast" Severn (Champion / USA) to become the NEW NWA World Heavyweight champion (7:56 Choke Sleeper)
Before an estimated crowd of 8,000, as Severn went for a leg dive, Ogawa brought his right knee up for protection, and it accidentally caught Severn squarely in the eye. The momentary sting spun Severn around, which allowed Ogawa to execute a kick to the back of Severn's head and then close in for the S.O.S. ("Spinning Octopus-hold Special"), a combination judo choke hold and arm-and-leg grapevine. Once applied, Severn couldn't escape Ogawa's grip, and at the seven minute 56 second mark, Severn tapped out. The special referee, the blue cap & red "Funking T-shirt"-wearing Dory Funk Jr., called for the bell. Dory received a visit from the UFC's Mark Coleman, who will face Nobuhiko Takada on the "PRIDE-5" show at Rainbow Hall in Nagoya on 4/29, before the match. The day when Coleman learns pro wrestling from Dory at the WWF Funking Dojo may come in the near future. Japan's TBS (Channel 6) will televise the show at 2:00 a.m. on March 29, 1999.
"Internet critics" have just kept dumping on the UFO / NWA without attending or watching. It is easy to comment with malice on their effort, and the UFO / NWA may be still insignificant, but I, as a wrestling fan, would like to support them.
Dory Funk Jr. is one of the prime movers for me for letting me become captivated by pro wrestling. I'm still longing for "Dory Funk Jr. vs. Antonio Inoki" again. He will keep coming to Japan as much as possible. Dory wrote on his Funking Message Board: "I officiated the NWA title match with Ogawa and Severn in my opinion was a great match. It was very competitive and both are great athletes. Meeting Antonio Inoki and having my first
conversation with him was also a thrill. It was thirty years ago I first wrestled him. We had one return match. Each went the hour time limit and became famous matches in Japan. I have only seen him twice since. Once at an NWA meeting and once passing in an airport. He is a superstar and charismatic person. He is also a great athlete."
I think there is a huge market for the competitive style of wrestling and martial arts offered by UFO, Inoki's company.
New NWA World Heavyweight champion, Naoya Ogawa (193cm / 115kg = 6'5" / 253lbs), was born in Suginami, Tokyo on March 31, 1968, started Judo in high school, and became the youngest World Cup Open-category Champion in 1987. After graduating from Meiji University (same as New Japan Pro Wrestling President Seiji Sakaguchi), he joined the JRA (Japan Horse Racing Association) office and became a 95 kg-class Silver Medalist at the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992. After leaving JRA in March 1997, he was scouted by New Japan and trained by Antonio Inoki and Original Tiger Mask (Satoru Sayama). He made his pro debut, beating Shinya Hashimoto (9:52 Sleeper hold), at the Tokyo Dome on April 12, 1997, and he lost to Hashimoto in the IWGP Heavyweight title match (10:25 T.K.O) at the Osaka Dome on May 3, 1997.
Former champion Dan Severn is scheduled to wrestle for these NWA shows after his Japan tour: Vinland, New Jersey on March 19 … Richmond, Indiana on March 27 ... Yonkers, New York on March 28 ... Middlesex, New Jersey on March 30 ... Sayerville, New Jersey on April 16 ... Seminars Bridgewater, New Jersey on April 17 ... and "Dangerzone Amateur Combat Wrestling-Freefighting Event" on April 10. He has run his indie shows by himself in Indiana. He is scheduled to work two more UFO shows until summertime. Negotiations are now in the process of bringing Ogawa to the USA to defend the title against Severn.
The NWA President, Howard T. Brody, grew up watching the WWWF in New York and Eddie Graham's NWA in Florida; of course, he is always a big wrestling fan who can understand our minds. I hope that he and the other NWA promoters will use this opportunity very well, because UFO has a very strong money backer.
Howard Brody posts information on the NWA title change on the NWA website
Another key man, Victor Quinones, will stay in Japan from March 17 to March 27, 1999. Yuji Shimada, who is not only a referee of Battlarts but a referee / coordinator for other offices such as New Japan, All Japan, FMW, Michinoku, Big Japan, women wrestling, and also RINGS, PRIDE, and UFO, will have an unique stance for entertaining us.
Please check out more information and pictures at:
Official Home Page of Dory Funk Jr.:
http://www.dory-funk.com/
NWA (National Wrestling Alliance):
http://www.nwa-wrestling.com/
UFO (Universal Fighting-arts Organization):
http://www.ufousa.com/
You may contact Masanori at masa_h@mail.goo.ne.jp
Masanori's Japan Tour Dates List can be found at http://www.sky.net/~dannyp/japandates.html
Visit the American Pro Wrestling Message Board (Japanese language only)
http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~dnak/
For a list of past articles by Masanori, click HERE
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