KINGDOM: Prelude for the World

KINGDOM: Prelude for the World 

(full show posted above)

Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan

9/3/1997 2,300 in Attendance

WE ARE BACK! Sorry for the long wait, I was distracted with watching W*ING and enjoying the trash wrestling stylings of Jason the Terrible and the mystical booking of Victor Quinones. I apologize for this but I am only human. But lets not dilly dally as we have to urgently get back to Takada's KINGDOM of fake mma that is sometimes real (maybe)!

Finally past our initial BIRTH STEPS, Kingdom enters it maturity as PRELUDE FOR THE WORLD comes to us from the incredibly venerable Korakuen Hall. Opened in 1962, this important hall has been the steadfast venue of numerous pro-wrestling organizations since its early history. KINGDOM is no different in this regard as it will find a home here in the later part of the promotion. We are greeted as usual with a training montage of our roster, stretching, grappling, and doing cardio work with one another as a nice little rock diddly plays. I would like to point out that this is a long show, clocking in at 2 hours and 8 minutes. Takada is seen doing some practice in these nice muay thai shorts, unfortunately he never put that interest in muay thai to use in PRIDE (more on THAT in later posts!).

AND SO IT BEGINS with the KINGDOM Pro Wrestling robot voice intro and theme music! The crowd is so hot for this and is packed to the rafters, high fiving the fighters as they come down to the ring in the fighters parade. I would like to note here that Anjo is wearing a shirt with his own portrait on it, and while I used to hate this man, I think I am really beginning to see the appeal.

OUR FIRST FIGHT is between Wayne Haas and the man with a nice goatee, Shunsuke Matsui. I literally cannot find any information on this Haas guy so he is a complete unknown to me and all of you who are reading. Perhaps his history is just lost to shoot style time. Unfortunately I have some bad news for my readers... this match is fucking buns. It is extremely long with long periods of nothing happening. I like a good ground fight but I honestly had serious trouble paying attention to this. This one goes THE FULL TIME (a first in the history of KINGDOM) and Matsui wins on point advantage. I was not into it to say the least, maybe on a third or 4^th watch I will come to appreciate it (probably not lol).

COMING UP NEXT is a battle between Masahito Kakihara and newcomer Masao Orihara. Orihara is the dude who I knew nothing about who gave a speech at the last show. This guy is a journeyman, spending his early career in SWS and WAR, then moving on to KINGDOM, BattlARTS, Michinoku Pro, and most recently appearing in places like Real Japan and GUTS World. I am quite excited for this one as Kakihara has been thouroughly trained in this style from his UWF lineage while Orihara is new to this whole thing. OMG Orihara just did a back flip off the top rope in his entrance. While I wouldn't mind this in other places, this is Takada's KINGDOM and flashy stuff like that is not allowed (my rules buddy). Kakihara comes out very intent with nice music that is different than other times where he came out to the old UWF theme.

As we start out people are screaming both fighters names and I am so into this. Did I mention that this place is PACKED! This attendance number is something you don't see in the modern Korakuen because of changed seating charts and new fire codes. Its always a thrill to see this space so full of dedicated fans. I also want to note I don't think there is commentary on this show and I REALLY like this. OMG Orihara is running the ropes FUCK OFF with that. Kakihara is clearly pissed about that and they scrap a bit. Orihara stuffs a take down then tries an awkward choke and now Kaki is on top. Kakihara is working hard for the leg lock but Orhara manages to grab the rope! The striking here is WILD, Kakihara is just boxing and kicking him to hell and back. Orihara hits the floor and right as the ref calls the down Kakihara SHOOT SOCCER KICKS ORIHARA IN THE HEAD. Orihara tries to get up but falls on his face and the ref calls it off! Kakihara absolutely punished Orihara for mocking this KINGDOM style, and I am a man against moralism, so while what Kaki did may have been harsh it seemed sick as hell. Orihara is stretchered out and Kakihara is jubilant!

KAKI OMG

WOW I know that was a hot one but I have a feeling this one will also be hot. Billy Scott will be facing off against Yoshihiro Takayama. Scott mentions the size difference between these two and how he really needs to avoid Takayama's knees. He talks about how happy he is to perform for these Japanese fans but he hopes he can get more wins (;__;). Takayama in his interview seems less serious and more jokey than usual!

Goddddd I am so pumped for this bout everyone, both these dudes are so good. This is a black trunks vs black trunks affair thus indicating the level of taste potential is high in this. Scott immediately goes for the leg but Takayama is able to get top control and stays with it. WOW the speed on Takayama on the ground in this is amazing, how quickly he has improved at this style in such a short time. Scott is able to dig in a heel hook attempt and forces a rope break! Standing exchanges as we get back up and you can really see the future bout between Takayama and Frye in this. Scott has to grab the rope as he's being choked in a strong side headlock on the ground.

The quality and impact of the striking in KINGDOM might be the strongest of any of the worked shoot promotions, its really a treat to watch and the allowing of closed fist striking really differentiates it from its contemporaries. THOSE TAKAYAMA KNEES start landing but Scott counters with a shoot style DRAGON SCREW and locks in a damn single leg crab! Takayama grabs the ropes to escape the submission. Takayama brings Scott down and begins controlling from the mount but Scott slips out and takes the back (this was done a bit sloppily unfortunately). As Takayama gets the cross arm bar in Scott grabs the rope for a break and he is down to 2 points! Scott is eating knees already and TAPS to an Americana. That was 2 straight barn burners that totally make up for that dud of an opener.

WE HAVE A REMATCH ON OUR HANDS! After the thrilling finale to the One Night Million Yen Tournament at the last event, Hiromitsu Kanehara is trying to revenge his loss to Yuhi Sano. I wonder what Sano spent the million yen on (I assume his rent or some other mundane thing we are forced into by the demands of Capital). The crowd goes silent right before this starts up and the tension is so real. A great exchange of kicks to begin! As we go to the ground, Sano has Kanehara's back and control of one ankle. Shortly after we see a cartwheel to pass the guard from Kanehara, reminiscent of what Sakuraba would deploy a few years down the line in some of his PRIDE bouts. It is so amazing seeing how these techniques were developed among fellow fighters in places like KINGDOM only to be fully expressed later on in the dastardly yet enthralling world of no holds barred fighting.

Kanehara is LANDING strikes all over Sano and is able to score a knockdown on a big punch. Sano returns with combos of his own also scoring a knockdown. You can see as Kanehara stands he is legitimately dazed! Sano is working for a Kimura but Kanehara rolls out. Sano maintains control and Kanehara is forced to lose a point on the rope break. Sano is always looking for a leg lock but in the process Kanehara is able to GET THE WIN WITH AN ARMBAR. I guess this could be called more realistic booking but killing Sano's momentum this shortly after the big tournament win is pretty silly in my book!

UP NEXT we have Keinichi Yamamoto going up against Nicholas Starks who we last saw in a losing effort against Kanehara at BIRTH STEP 3. Starks talks up the KINGDOM style and how unpredictable he is (if I remember correctly he is a sambo guy which makes his cool points go way up despite his record here in KINGDOM). Yamamoto, as usual, just oozes cool in his pre-fight interview. 

Big leg kick from Starks to start but Yamamoto lands some nice punches in return. Yamamoto stuffs a takedown but Starks lifts him straight up and sets him on the ground to a nice Wahhhhhhhh from the crowd. Yamamoto becomes trapped in Starks guard for some time as Yamamoto tries to work some kind of arm lock. After a period of no action, the ref makes them stand. BAM Yamamoto lands a big strike on Starks and they are back on the ground. A leg lock battle ensues and Starks is forced to take a rope break (he can barely stand afterwards). Starks falls as he starts to fight Yamamoto again and he can't get back up!! Keinichi Yamamoto wins as Nicholas Starks' ankle gives out on him. That was a nice fight but nowhere near as entertaining as the last two.

OUR SECOND TO LAST FIGHT is going to be between universal favorite of everyone Kazushi Sakuraba and Moti Horenstein who famously lost to Mark Coleman and Mark Kerr. Horenstein (1-6 in MMA) simply says he's a ground and standing fighter and that he doesn't know who Sakuraba is. Sakuraba is smiling and giggling throughout his pre-fight interview as is expected from the IQ Wrestler. I really love how KINGDOM has become a sort of refuge for forgotten early UFC guys who want to try their hand at a worked style. 

Horeinstein connects with a big kick out the gate but is taken down by Sakuraba as the crowd WAHHHHH's at this moment. Sakuraba is able to get into side control here and is preventing Horenstein from changing position. Sakuraba is able to gain the mount as the ref begins to chant HIT indicating that Sakuraba can punch Horenstein right in the fucking head from this position on the ground. Sakuraba slaps on an armbar but Horenstein is able to escape. Despite my mocking of Horenstein, his trunks have SURVIVAL across the back and that is a pretty cool look.

Sakuraba really is dominating this fight and controlling the ground game well. The ref makes them stand but Sakuraba brings it right back down. Back in side control, Sakuraba is looking for some kind of lock, constantly grabbing at various limbs. Horenstein seems to accidentally rope escape and complains to ref who just says ESCAPE. Sakuraba gains the mount then cranks on another arm lock that leads to a Horenstein rope escape. They continue to battle on the ground with Sakuraba always maintaining control of the situation. Sakuraba sort of tries to slap on a shoot Sharpshooter but decides to just sit on Horenstein's legs instead. The ref demands action until he breaks it up and makes them stand. After some striking exchanges and returning to the ground, Sakuraba is able to get the mount and finish the fight with a straight arm bar! That was a fun bout but it did drag on a bit as Horenstein was not nearly as active as he could have been.

OUR FINAL BATTLE is between Yoji Anjo and Patrick Smith (who also happens to be the one person that Horenstein has a win on but that would not come till 1999 at the Bas Rutten Invintational II). Patrick Smith says he has nothing to say and he has come here to fight (“Im finish!”). Yoji Anjo seems confident as usual in his interview and gets a HUGE pop as he enters Korakuen Hall for this headline match. Smith as he greets Anjo kisses him (oh no) and this one starts off HOT. This crowd is brimming with shoot style anticipation. They get on the ground but they stalemate so the ref brings them back up. Anjo lands some nice kicks and brings Smith down. Smith slaps on a rear naked choke but Anjo escapes and regains top control.

Lots of kicks and they wind up back on the ground but they stalemate in the guard again. The ref brings them back up, and as Smith slips while advancing Anjo slaps on an ankle lock for the quick win. Yoji Anjo seems pissed after the fight so I think Patrick Smith was not playing along with this thing. Smith even picks Anjo up after the fight but Anjo seems uhhhhhh not into it lol. As is custom with Yoji Anjo, he grabs the mic post-win and gives a rousing speech for the crowd and as he leaves the ring greets and high fives many fans. As this tape ends, the tracking gets weird and we get some wonderful images of distorted Anjo.

So that was a weird one, despite the wayyyyy too long opener and the way too short closer, the middle part of this show is packed with some great bouts. This incredibly excited crowd really helped make this show seem so important and it elevated the already great bouts. Before we visit the next event in this wrestling KINGDOM, we will be taking a look at PRIDE 1 to see what has been taking up so much of Nobuhiko Takada's time. I hope it goes well for the guy and I am sure it will be a blast for all!