50 years of puroresu!!!

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

From my Puroresu History section:

1951
09/16
The Zainichi Torii Osasis Shriner's Club of Tokyo invites former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Joe Louis and seven wrestlers to appear on a show to entertain U.S. servicemen. The wrestlers include Bobby Bruns(U.S.), Andre Adoree (France), Ovira Asselin(Canada), Casey Parker(Berger? U.S.), Gino Vagnone(Italy), Harold Sakata(U.S.), and Dr. Len Hall(U.S.).
09/30
The Shriner's Club promotes the card at Ryogoku Memorial Hall in Tokyo. Sponsored by the Japanese Red Cross.
10/15
Rikidozan joins with pro-judokas Masahiko Kimura, Toshio Yamaguchi, and Koukichi Endo in announcing their desire to become professional wrestlers. They begin training at the Shriner's Club.
10/23
A legendary judoka Masahiko Kimura defeats Helio Gracie by TKO in Brazil with the President and Vice-President of Brazil in attendance.
10/28
Rikidozan has his first match as a pro-wrestler against Bobby Bruns to a ten minute time limit draw.

On 10/08/2001, New Japan has a special match at Tokyo Dome celebrating the 50th anniversary of puroresu (as well as 30th anniversary of Tatsumi Fujinami's career): Tatsumi Fujinami & Bob Backlund vs. Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk

Tatsumi Fujinami
Current president of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. As a former WWF Jr. Heavyweight champion, he made the division popular in Japan. The guys famous for their "strong style" such as Fujiwara, Maeda, Takada, Sayama, etc. all have their roots in Antonio Inoki and New Japan. Fujinami was the first student of Inoki's.

Bob Backlund
Former WWF Heavyweight champion, who is another good mat wrestler who symbolizes the strong style of old New Japan.

Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk
Long time business/wrestling partners of Giant Baba in All Japan Pro-Wrestling. Believe or not, while New Japan was popular with its strong style, All Japan, an important member of NWA, was famous for the American style until late '80s. It featured a lot of famous American guys from both NWA and AWA.

For many longtime fans, this is certainly a match between New Japan and All Japan.

[Peru-Yakuza]

So, Hisa, what do you think of the Dream Tag Match, Akiyama & Nagata vs. Muta & Hase?