(ALL JAPAN) The Highly Anticipated Tiger vs. Choshu Match: "I'm going all-out against Choshu!" - Kabuki unleashes his "secret weapon"—the poisonous mist—at the last moment.

25th March 1986

Weekly Pro (Issue No 136)

Tiger Mask is suddenly thrust into the spotlight, as a showdown has been set against Riki Choshu—leader of the Japan Army—for the decisive match at Budokan on March 13. For Tiger, it is the opportunity of a lifetime.

Can Tiger—the man in whom All Japan places such high hopes—defeat the formidable heavyweight Great Kabuki and build momentum ahead of his massive showdown with Choshu? 

In their first encounter—the Tokyo showdown on January 28th—Kabuki stood as an imposing heavyweight barrier before Tiger Mask; although the match ended in a no-contest, it is fair to say that Tiger’s movements were completely stifled.

Would he redeem himself from the last encounter? 

Tiger launched himself into the air the moment the bell rang. He went on the offensive immediately, unleashing a body attack, a brainbuster, and a sleeper hold. Then, putting his entire strength into the move, Tiger cinched a headlock tight on Kabuki. Kabuki tried to escape with a backdrop, but Tiger’s headlock was powerful—an attack with a heavyweight intensity unlike anything seen before.

Tiger, pushing the pace at his own rhythm, launched himself from the top turnbuckle. However, Kabuki anticipated the move and swatted him down in mid-air.

The momentum shifted. 

Kabuki landed a thrust kick and a back-drop on Tiger with sharp precision. This style of counter-attack is uniquely Kabuki's own. Then, just as he had done previously, Kabuki set out to immobilize Tiger by targeting his arm, focusing his attack on key locks.

Tiger struggled against the "Devil of the East," who employed a calculated offensive strategy that skilfully blended uppercuts and kicks.

Finally unleashing his wild instincts, Tiger sought a breakthrough through aerial combat. He landed a series of spectacular moves—an airplane spin, an aerial neck-breaker drop, a dropkick, and a back-drop—cleanly on Kabuki, yet failed to secure the three-count.

Tiger knocked Kabuki out of the ring with a double kick and launched into his signature *plancha*. That was the moment. Kabuki spat a cloud of green poisonous mist directly into the face of the airborne Tiger.

Tiger writhed in agony.

Unlike the previous encounter, Tiger had the upper hand for much of the match, but at the very last moment, he fell victim to an unexpected counterattack from Kabuki.

Tiger himself had applied the lessons learned from the January 28th match and had thoroughly studied the tactics required for heavyweight competition; his in-ring strategy had evolved significantly. 

"He must be sparring with guys like Tenryu. Today, for instance, he really put his weight behind his moves effectively. He seems to have gained the composure to watch his opponent, and he's executing his techniques well," Kabuki said, acknowledging Tiger's growth.

However, Kabuki also offered some critical advice regarding Tiger's transition to the heavyweight division: "His moves still lack impact. It might be a tough period for him, but he really ought to be facing heavyweights on a daily basis, besides, with a projectile attack, you're completely defenceless while it's in the air."

The moment Tiger overcomes the flaw Kabuki pointed out, a heavyweight "Tiger Warrior" capable of carrying the All Japan heavyweight division on his shoulders will be born!

Tiger returned to the locker room, and washed the poisonous mist from his face, but...concerns remain about the impact of his match against Choshu. 

Tiger Mask (holding both of his eyes): If today's performance was about 60-70 points compared to the last time, I would rate it about 50 point. I still had plenty of stamina, so it's a shame. 

The match against Choshu? It's a chance, so I'll go all out. I hear that people are saying, that I'm "at a disadvantage", but I am determined to defy that and do my best.

Picture notes

It was an incredible sight, Kabuki countered Tiger's plancha with a poison mist. 

Even just looking at the airplane spin, you can see that Tiger's approach has changed. 

Tiger's aerial spin kick relentlessly strikes Kabuki's body. A devastating move.