(JAPAN PRO) Top class in the US - Carnera's opinion of Rikidozan
15th August 1955
Human Typhoon
On the first day of the Tokyo event, Rikidozan and Azumafuji faced Carnera and Kruskamp in a tag team match. Rikidozan's team won 2-1, but Carnera frequently used aggressive headlocks and body scissors to put Rikidozan and Azumafuji in some tight corners. His signature single punch attack, even left Rikidozan groggy at times.
Rikidozan's defenses are flawless
After the match, I tried to answer the same question with Carnera, who had retired to the waiting room.
Q: What about Japanese wrestlers?
CARNERA: It's said that I've faced Rikidozan before, but in fact today was the first time. Rikidozan is certainly a wrestler with speed and excellent technique. In particular, when I attacked him with head scissors and put him in a tight spot, he escaped with a bridge. I've never seen this technique escaped from so easily. This how strong his neck is. To become as good as Rikidozan at the top level, one must first master advanced techniques as a wrestler, which is quite difficult to do. He is the leading figure in Japan, but he is also top-class in the United States. Azumafuji may not seem like he has much speed at first glance, but he impressed me with his strength in his performance. American wrestler #1 has a developed upper body, so he has speed, but a weak lower body. There aren't many wrestlers like Azumafuji, so I was a little flustered at first. His good balance is probably the result of his sumo training. If he can further hone his skills in addition to his strength, he will be quite promising.
Q: Kruskamp appeared almost exclusively in today's match...
CARNERA: I'm not very good at tag matches. Tag matches are quite difficult in terms of control. I'm better at singles matches, so my lack of tag experience may have contributed to the fact that Rikidozan completely dominated me today.
Q: I'm pretty sure that Kruskamp used his signature punch almost every time in today's match.
CARNERA: Given my career, I guess it's a nostalgia for boxing, where I never felt like I'd stepped into the ring unless I'd used it at least once. However, Rikidozan's karate chops are powerful, and those who face me don't dare attack me for fear of my punches and wouldn't even try...but I was really impressed by his aggressiveness.
Q: How are the Japanese fans?
CARNERA: It's so refined that it's almost too demure. In the US, at its worst, beautiful ladies will run into the ring with their hair flying, and when the match is over, they'll even break out into a brawl once the winner is decided.
Q: What has been the most enjoyable thing about coming to Japan?
CARNERA: When I arrived at Haneda Airport, I was surprised to see someone taller than me. He's Rashomon, a disciple of Rikidozan, and is about an inch taller than me. He's still young, so depending on how hard he works, he could become famous. I was also blessed with the opportunity to see "The Penniless Commoners*", a film I starred in, in Japan. I played a villain that people hated, but after watching the film, I was relieved to see that I had made a fine comic relief. I became good friends with Jonathan Ashmore during the filming, but I don't feel very good after playing a role that bullies such a cute boy. Anyway, my wish is to give it my all and put on a good fight for the people of Japan.
What to learn from them
Meanwhile, Rikidozan, who teamed up with his teammate Azumafuji to record one win that day, had the following to say about his opponent Carnera:
"Today's match was a little disappointing because Carnera didn't really show off his special skills. Like anyone, he can't show them unless he initiates them. After Kruskamp first broke the rules, he got angry and started talking to me about punches, but he often countered with his signature straight punches. This isn't exactly ferocious wrestling, but after being hit in an instant, it's hard to complain. Even in the US, his punches are feared for their power, but since he used to get punched in the face during his boxing days, my karate chops might be less effective than normal ones. He's so muscular, my hands hurt more than his. I don't want to end a match with a fistfight, but he tends to take it to the mat, I think it's a good way to engage in flashy wrestling. With the addition of Azumafuji, Japanese professional wrestling is gradually getting on track, so I would like to show off the true flavor of wrestling by competing against top wrestlers such as Carnera. Carnera has a serious personality, so his fighting style is almost too straightfoward, but we Japanese wrestlers have a lot to learn from his powerful techniques."
Notes
Rashomon: Niitakayama, Taiwan's first professional wrestler. He was so alike Baba, he was often mistaken for him, and at sometimes even introduced as him!
The Penniless Commoners: Known in Europe as "A Kid For Two Farthings"
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