More About Me

Since the, "About Me" section of this blog is limited to a specific amount of characters, I decided to write a post that discusses more about what I have done in the pro-wrestling industry, beginning with when I first started in it and leading up to now.

Technically, I started back in the 1990's, contributing to, "Pro Wrestling Illustrated" and then, "Pro Wrestling Torch". In 1997, I contributed to The Official Website of the NWO. That same year, I briefly published my own newsletter, "The Wrestling Express".

In 1998, I taught myself how to design websites, and served as a consultant for various independent promotions. That next year, I worked as a website designer/maintainer for Dylan Summers (Necro Butcher) who was running the Texas-based Power Pro Wrestling Federation, and later was involved with Texas Outlaw Promotions.

During the period of 2000-2002, I was involved in many different projects at once. I was working as a website designer/publicist for talent, contributing to WCW.com, writing columns for independent promotions and the website of former WCW star The Stro, and writing for a variety of pro-wrestling media sites (including WrestlingObserver.com and PWTorch.com). In 2003, I began running my own website, World Wrestling Optimum, which consisted of news, articles, and interviews.

In 2004, I started working for the Michigan-based Ultimate Championship Wrestling as a publicist/columnist. They were an affiliate of AWA Wrestling Superstars Live, and I soon became the publicist/columnist of the main governing body of AWA Wrestling Superstars Live as well. During my time working for UCW, I played a major role in bringing in new talent, due to over the years my having had come into contact with many talents being underused and going unnoticed in the industry.

In 2005, I started doing a column for 3PW. With DVDs sold nationwide, they had the potential to become much bigger than they already were at the time, and were very open to my ideas. I pushed for many changes behind-the-scenes. I had encouraged management to improve the production quality of their DVDs, which led to them dealing with a different production company. 3PW management had planned on waiting for it's fan base to increase before getting TV for 3PW. I explained how getting TV for 3PW is what would increase it's fan base, and I was then given the green light to find networks that were interested. Two networks were very interested, and I encouraged 3PW management to meet with them as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the owner of the company instead opted to shut 3PW down, due to losing interest. Working for 3PW put me in connection with the UK-based 1PW, who I worked as a columnist for.

After 3PW shut down, I began working as a publicist for independent promotions, including CHIKARA. I also worked as a columnist for CZW. Interestingly though, it was 2006 at this point yet I'm still most recognized for the work that I had done for 3PW and AWA/UCW.

In 2007 I started working as a columnist for XCW, a promotion that was seen nationally on MAVTV, had a national DVD deal, and also had PPV events. Working for a promotion of national status was my biggest achievement at that point, and two years later I reached a bigger achievement- Big Japan Pro-Wrestling. Along with working for them as a columnist and an Administrator for their Facebook page, I helped bring Big Japan Pro Wrestling together with Combat Zone Wrestling to form a working relationship after a previous working relationship between the two promotions had fallen apart. This new working relationship has led to Big Japan Pro Wrestling having their first event in the United States.

In October 2009 I assisted publicity & promotions company MGM Management with the HULKAMANIA- Let the Battle Begin tour by distributing their press release to pro-wrestling news sites that are popular with Australian fans, and conducting an interview with Solofa Fatu Jr. (better known as, "Rikishi"). Also, in 2012 I wrote a number of columns for Women Superstars Uncensored.

Recently, I have done social media for Great North Wrestling.

I am currently blogging for Michinoku Pro Wrestling. Since the time that I began blogging for them, Michinoku Pro had a sellout, standing room only event on December 13, 2019 at the Korakuen Hall. The Korakuen Hall is known as a place where many historical moments in the Japanese pro-wrestling scene have occurred. It's to Japan what Madison Square Garden is to the pro-wrestling scene in the United States. The event had an attendance of 1,890. That was the highest reported attendance at the Korakuen Hall to date for a pro-wrestling event since April 2015.

[Michinoku Pro][PREVIEW] 2020 Tokyo Conference Vol. 1 2/15/20

Join Michinoku Pro on Saturday, February 15th at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring in Tokyo, for 2020 Tokyo Conference Vol. 1! Michinoku Pro is an Iwate-based promotion that has existed since 1993, and primarily has events in the Tōhoku region. However, they also occasionally have events in Tokyo, and when they do, they also present the Kantō region with a roster of talent that consists of names that fans in that region know, as well as ones they SHOULD know. The card will be as follows:

Taira Ogasawara
vs.
Tatsuya Hanami from 2AW

The Great Sasuke (former Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Champion)
vs.
HAPPY-MAN

Kengo (former Tohoku Tag Team Champion)
Nogyo Boy Raito
vs.
Brahman Shu (former Tohoku Tag Team Champion)
Brahman Kei (former Tohoku Tag Team Champion)

Yasutaka Oosera
vs.
Masa Takanashi (DDT Extreme Champion)

MUSASHI
Taro Nohashi
Rasse (former Chiba Six Man Tag Team Champion)
vs.
Rui Hyūgaji
Yapperman 1 (former Chiba Six Man Tag Team Champion)
Yapperman 2 (former Chiba Six Man Tag Team Champion)

Don't miss this event! Tickets are available at Lawson Ticket, Tickets Pia, e+, Korakuen Hall 5F office- 03 (5800) 9999, Champion- 03 (3221) 6237, and by Michinoku Pro ticket reservation- 019 (687) 2431.

Reserved seats are 5,000 yen (5,500 yen on the day). All other seats are 4,000 yen (4,500 yen on the day).

[Michinoku Pro] Michinoku Pro's National Reach In Japan

Michinoku Pro is an Iwate-based promotion and primarily has events in the Tōhoku region, and occasionally in other places including the Kanto region (the largest region in Japan). However, their reach extends across Japan nationally via DVDs. An example is Pure Sound Nipponbashi, a pro-wrestling goods shop located in Osaka, which is located in the Kansai region (the second largest region in Japan).

There are many sections of the store that are dedicated to Michinoku Pro and their DVDs.

Even though the Kansai region is not an area that Michinoku Pro frequently has shows in, there apparently is much interest in the Michinoku Pro product in this part of Japan as well. If you are ever in Osaka and looking for DVDs of a promotion that has legendary names as well as names that you don't know of but SHOULD know, check out Pure Sound for Michinoku Pro DVDs. They are located at
3 Chome-6-2 Nipponbashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0005

[Michinoku Pro][RESULTS] Tokyo Conference Vol. 7 12/13/19

Michinoku Pro returned to the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on December 13 for pro-wrestling action, highlighted by Kenbai competing in his final match for Michinoku Pro after wrestling for the promotion for many years, and costumed chaos in the 14th edition of "Space War", Michinoku Pro's annual year-end special match. The Korakuen Hall is known as a place where many historical moments in the Japanese pro-wrestling scene have occurred. It's to Japan what Madison Square Garden is to the pro-wrestling scene in the United States. And another historical moment took place on December 13, as this event was a sellout, standing room only.

The event had an attendance of 1,890. That is the highest reported attendance at the Korakuen Hall for a pro-wrestling event since April 2015.

In the first match, Fujita "Jr." Hayato faced Kengo. This was a very significant match for Hayato, being that he had not been in the ring since 2017 when he suffered a knee injury, and in 2018 Hayato announced that he was battling cancer, a tumor on Hayato's spine being malignant. A former Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Champion, he is one of the most popular young wrestlers on the Michinoku Pro roster, and is also a recognizable face outside of the promotion, NJPW, DDT, Dragon Gate, BJW, WAVE, and ZERO1 being some of the other promotions Hayato has been seen in.

Even though Kengo is a former UWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, it is a rare opportunity to see him in singles action these days. Usually he is competing on the tag team scene, where he has also had success, becoming a Tohoku Tag Team Champion and UWA World Tag Team Champion. I recently wrote about the history and value of the Tohoku & UWA World Tag Team Championship.

They showed respect for each other before the match.

They both attempted to go the technical wrestling route in the beginning.

That didn't last long however, as the match quickly became much more physical, which included Kengo targeting Fujita "Jr." Hayato's back.

As the match went on, Fujita "Jr." Hayato's two years away from the ring appeared to take its toll, as he began to easily fall down to the mat after taking elbow shots to the jaw from Kengo, and had a more difficult time standing back up each time.

In the end, Fujita "Jr." Hayato could no longer continue, and the referee ruled the match a KO victory by Kengo.

Next was Rui Hyūgaji going against Tatsuya Hanami.

Rui Hyūgaji is another wrestler who usually sees tag team action on Michinoku Pro shows, likely due to in part to his success as a tag wrestler who has had reigns as a Tohoku Tag Team Champion and UWA World Tag Team Championship, but also has seen singles success with two reigns as Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Champion.

Rui Hyūgaji is considered by many to be one of the top talents in Michinoku Pro, and in this match he displayed why, showing off his technical ability and strength, even holding Tatsuya Hanami in a stalling suplex for over a minute. On a side note, Hyūgaji is a product of the Michinoku Pro Dojo.

With the ever-present fighting spirit that Tatsuya Hanami displays every time he is in a Michinoku Pro ring, Hanami made sure that it was not an easy night for Rui Hyūgaji.

But in the end, Rui Hyūgaji's 12 years of experience won out, as he defeated Tatsuya Hanami after delivering a diving elbow drop.

In the next match Jinsei Shinzaki, HAPPY-MAN, and HAYATE went against Dick Togo, Ultimo Dragon, and Rasse. This match was filled to the brim with legends:

Jinsei Shinzaki, has wrestled for companies all over the world, including ECW, FMW, AJPW, NJPW, and WWE.

Dick Togo, has wrestled for ECW (where he was a member of the Blue World Order faction), ROH, ZERO1 (where he was a ZERO1 International Junior Heavyweight Champion), DDT (where he has been DDT Iron Man Heavy Metal Champion and KO-D Openweight Champion), NJPW (where he was an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion), and WWE. Was a member of the original Kai En Tai (Kai En Tai DX), which was created in Michinoku Pro. Also was one of the first co-holders of the NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship.

Ultimo Dragon, has wrestled for AJPW (where he was an AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Champion and All Asia Tag Team Champion), NJPW (where he was an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion), WCW (where he was a WCW World Cruiserweight Champion and WCW World Television Champion), and WWE. Also held the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship, NWA World Middleweight Championship, and the NWA World Welterweight Championship. Currently is the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Champion in his second reign, and is the longest-reigning NWA International Junior Heavyweight Champion in history.

Add HAPPY-MAN, HAYATE, and Rasse into the mix, and you have what is sure to be a match with a lot of action.

The fans were treated to many interesting highlights during this match.

In the end, HAPPY MAN gained the win for his team with a pinfall victory over Rasse.

Both teams showed respect for each other after the match.

Next it was time for Kenbai's final match in Michinoku Pro. He has been a Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Champion and Tohoku Tag Team Champion in the promotion.

Kenbai's opponent in his final match for Michinoku Pro was MUSASHI, who he has history with- MUSASHI is the current Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Champion, and Kenbai was the man who he defeated for the title.

Both competitors went all out in this match.

In the end, MUSASHI showed why he's the Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Champion after hitting Kenbai with a Falcon Arrow and picking up the win.

After the match, Kenbai gave a farewell to the fans.

In the main event, it was the annual year-end special Michinoku Pro match, "Space War". Michinoku Pro fans have come to expect Space Wars to be filled with costumes, chaos, weapons, the ring being taken apart, and The Great Sasuke putting his life on the line while being inside of a barrel. And the fans were not disappointed.

Wrestlers eventually made their way into the crowd.

The Great Sasuke took a dangerous barrel dive.

The Great Sasuke was also dumped through the ring.

After eventually recovering from the barrel dive and being dumped through the ring, The Great Sasuke delivered a Senton Atomico with a ladder around his neck to pick up the win for his team.

Michinoku Pro will return to Tokyo at Shinkiba First Ring on Saturday, February 15 (7:00 PM start time)! Tickets are available at Lawson Ticket, Tickets Pia, e+, Korakuen Hall 5F office- 03 (5800) 9999, Champion- 03 (3221) 6237, and by Michinoku Pro ticket reservation- 019 (687) 2431.

Reserved seats are 5,000 yen (5,500 yen on the day). All other seats are 4,000 yen (4,500 yen on the day).