(ALL JAPAN) Lucha Libre Latest News! Misawa challenges middleweight champion Satanico for the first time, but narrowly loses

Weekly Pro

8th May 1984 (Issue No.40)

(A later article, August 1984, mentions in passing that Misawa was going by the name "Kamikaze Misawa" )

 On April 8th (local time) at the Arena Mexico event, All Japan Pro wrestler, Mitsuharu Misawa, made his long awaited first challenge for the title. The title he challenged for was the NWA World Middleweight Championship held by El Satanico. The fact that Misawa challenged for the world title just one month into his tour, is proof that the EMLL brass highly valued Misawa's ability. Although he lost the match 2-1, Misawa's gutsy tries and barrage of planchas with his own unique twists thrilled the fans at Arena Mexico*.

 Meanwhile, Shiro Koshinaka has yet to challenge for a title, but he has become increasingly popular thanks to the aerial techniques he unleashes from his pure white Kung Fu style pantaloons. It won't be long before he overcomes the barrier of being a fellow face, and challenges Ringo Mendoza for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship. Lutteroth III (representative of EMLL), who was very pleased with the All Japan duo's success, said "I would also like to consider negotiating with UWA to have him challenge for Fishman's UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship." "Masked Monster Fish" Fishman won the title against Villano III in El Toreo on April 1st (local time). Prior to that, the title was held by EMLL ace Sangre Chicana (who had to relinquish the title due to illness). The EMLL side believes that it is only natural that wrestlers belonging to the same promotion should be given priority in challenging. Either way, it will be interesting to see how Koshinaka and Misawa will incorporate Lucha Libre into their own styles. 

 A tournament will be held with ten or more wrestlers to decide the new champion of the UWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship, from which El Signo was deprived. The previous champion, El Solitario, "The Lone Wolf Mask," is eager to return. "Signo is a tag specialist. He's no match for me in singles," he said, but after suffering a defeat, Solitario's stock has dropped, so he wants to come back to the championship at all costs. 

 At first glance, the Mexican mat seems to have a lot of titles, but in this class filled with strong competitors, the only titles that UWA wrestlers can aim for are the UWA World Light Heavyweight and Junit Light Heavyweight titles, and Pero Aguayo's WWF Light Heavyweight title. When you fall into a slump like Solitario, it's very difficult to bounce back, so we'd like to see the veterans step up...

Notes

*Misawa's planchas: Years later Naomichi Marufuji was to remark that Misawa had loved being a junior wrestler.