Hello and good day. An idea pitched to me several months ago by a user, planted the seed for what we will look at today. I wanted to restrict this to five matches so it doesn’t blow out of proportion, and my belief is that I have chosen the best to represent Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka.
For those unaware, ECW featured one of the most intense rivalries in American wrestling history with Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka. For those who never saw the original ECW, you may have only witnessed their last match together at the One Night Stand 2005 PPV. If you’ve never seen any of their matches before?? Well, you’re in for a treat! Although first, it’s important we begin with a little backstory.
Before Extreme
While trained in America, Mike Awesome quickly found his way to Japan early in his career and remained for years as “The Gladiator”. Over the next five years from 1990, he went on to win almost every title Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) had to offer. Meanwhile, Masato Tanaka debuted in 1993 and competed in several deathmatches, which is where he picked up his scars and nickname “Dangan”. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when they first crossed paths, but the earliest I could find was a tag team match at the 6th Anniversary Show in 1995.
Following the short-lived retirement of FMW legend Atsushi Onita, the promotion shifted away from deathmatches and focused on wrestling. The Gladiator stepped in as Hayabusa’s arch rival and by the end of the year, claimed their top prize named the Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship. After picking up an injury he was made to vacate, but was quick to regain it a few months later upon returning in May ’96. He dominated FMW for the rest of the year and became a double champ by defeating Kanemaru at the Year End Spectacular. This is when he & Tanaka’s feud truly began, as they battled over the double championship.
The Gladiator retained in their first bouts and continued dominating. After becoming the longest reigning double champ in FMW history, they worked one more time at the Fall Spectacular: Kawasaki Legend in September ’97. On a card also including Onita, Hayabusa, Terry Funk, Vader and Ken Shamrock, Tanaka was successful in dethroning The Gladiator and claiming the double championship. He lost the title 100 days later to Mr. Gannosuke, but by this time… their rivalry had crossed the Pacific Ocean and found its way to ECW while they continued working for FMW.
ECW Heatwave 98′
Joey Styles refers to Mike Awesome as a ‘monster’. While I cannot find a date, commentary says he lost to Tanaka in ECW not long before this. Styles says their rivalry started back in ’94, but it’s not easy to find anything confirming that. If so, the competition had already been brewing for a few years. The crowd is quiet to begin with, but they soon pop after Awesome calls Tanaka a “motherf**ker”. Awesome has incredible strength and athleticism, while Tanaka is known for his unrelenting toughness.
The first dive of the match from Awesome! Expect a few more in this series. He’s really ahead of his time flying around like that. Tanaka no-sells a release German Suplex and powerslams the big man to get the ball rolling. He introduces a steel chair and takes an extra long run down the entrance way; which Awesome sells awesomely. The ECW fans want tables, but instead, they get chairs and begin a Star Wars-like duel. Tanaka wins this, but soon ends up thrown in to the rowdy audience. Awesome nails a truly insane springboard from the ring to where Tanaka is in the crowd… “Oh My God!”
Back in the ring, an Awesome Bomb only gets two. Tanaka takes three chair shots to the head but refuses to stay down. Running release bomb followed by Awesome setting up a table on the outside. He jumps off the turnbuckle and hits Masato again with a chair but doesn’t pin him. Awesome picks Tanaka up to finish him on the outside twice, but he wriggles free both times. Tanaka picks Awesome up and throws him over the top rope, crashing through the table below! “HOLY S***!” After kicking out, Tanaka hits the Roaring Elbow! He finishes Awesome with a tornado DDT on to steel chairs.
ECW November To Remember ’99
After being away a while, Tanaka returned in the Summer of ’99. Awesome came back in September, quickly claiming the ECW World Championship at Anarchy Rulz in a triple threat against Tanaka and defending champ Taz. Fifteen months after their previous encounter, they would meet again in this title match. They begin with some typical back-and-forth, til Tanaka flies through the air, knocking Awesome down on the outside. Tanaka quickly introduces a chair, but it’s lost among the brawling.
Back in the ring, Awesome throws Masato with a belly-to-belly, then clotheslines him to the outside. Awesome Dive! They repeat the same springboard spot from the previous match, but it’s still impressive. Awesome comes off the top turnbuckle, smashing Tanaka full force in the skull with a chair. Tanaka no-sells it! And another! He isn’t human. Masato gets the chair from Awesome, throws it to him to catch, and hits the chair with the Roaring Elbow! The crowd pop after Tanaka flies through the air and crashes a chair on to another chair, placed conveniently over Awesome’s head.
Tornado DDT on to the chair… but the champ kicks out! Tanaka tries again but gets bombed instead. Awesome hits a strong Alabama Slam. Tanaka fights back and they’re on the ring apron… sitdown Awesome Bomb through the table!! “HOLY S***!” all around. Awesome sets up a table in the ring, but Tanaka gets up and tries to superplex him through. He does it! But it’s only two. He signals for the Roaring Elbow, but he misses and gets a release suplex and a clothesline. Awesome Frog Splash! Still only two. Awesome Bomb from the top turnbuckle!! 1-2-3. And STILL the ECW World Heavyweight Champion.
ECW on TNN – December 17, 1999
I had the full match lined up, but for some reason it was taken down. Here are the highlights for this match which aired on December 24th. The ECW World Championship match was meant to take place the following week, but Cyrus (aka Don Callis) persuaded Paul Heyman to let them go and give the fans what they want to see. They fight hard on the outside of the ring, and the champ uses his power and flying maneuvers to gain the advantage. He delivers an Awesome Bomb through a table, and a Frog Splash, but Tanaka’s still tough enough to kick out!
Masato reverses Awesome and almost German Suplex him through a table in the corner. After a couple more trademarks from Tanaka, he steams forward with a Roaring Elbow but gets nailed very hard by a chair! He falls down, but much to Awesome’s surprise… he gets back up shortly after. Tanaka is impervious to steel chairs! After another Awesome Bomb, Tanaka still kicks out! After making a comeback, Tanaka drills Awesome’s head straight through a table with a Tornado DDT from the turnbuckle… “Oh My God!” But somehow, the champ still kicks out! Tanaka reverses a big boot with the Roaring Elbow! 1-2-3! Masato Tanaka makes history by becoming the first non-American wrestler to claim the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.
Awesome shows him respect by extending the handshake and helping to fit the title around his waist. He holds Tanaka’s arm up high as they soak in the adulation from the crowd. BOOM! He takes down the new champion with a clothesline! Awesome picks up Tanaka and Awesome Bombs him through the table on the outside! The crowd chants “Awesome Sucks!”, and rightly so. What a piece of garbage.
ECW on TNN – December 23rd 1999
Airing on a delay a week later on New Years Eve, the return match took place. Again, you’d probably need the WWE Network or to have your own library to see this fully. Or buy the DVD from highspots.com. As soon as the bell rings, Awesome is all over the champ! He’s furious, and it seems this rivalry has become personal to him at least. Awesome Dive! They brawl on the outside as they typically do. Mike springs over the top rope and splashes on to Tanaka. Awesome gets the steel chair and hits Masato several times, knowing he’s going to fight through it.
Something new! As Awesome jumps from the turnbuckle with the chair, Tanaka dropkicks it in to him! This time it is the champ wrapping a chair around Awesome’s skull, before driving him down with his familiar Tornado DDT. After an exchange of moves, both men are exhausted and lay prone in the ring. Tanaka tries to German Suplex Awesome through a table like their previous encounter, but instead, eats the wood via an Awesome Bomb. After another comeback and DDTing Awesome through a table, Tanaka hits the Roaring Elbow and gets an extremely close near fall. Awesome fights back with a slam, Frog Splash, and a SICK reverse Awesome Bomb from the top turnbuckle!
Mike Awesome claims the title back, making him a two-time ECW Champion! The King Of Extreme. Their rivalry proved popular enough that Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka happened a few more times, with their last match happening in March, supposedly ending in a no contest due to interference from Raven? But don’t take it as fact as it’s not confirmed. Tanaka went on to win the tag team titles with Tommy Dreamer, while Awesome’s future was a little more eventful.
What Happened To Mike Awesome?!
ECW was known for its controversies, but one of the biggest and most damaging of these was the Mike Awesome incident. According to Lance Storm, Awesome debuted on WCW while reigning as the ECW Champion because he was owed money by Paul Heyman. As we know ECW was struggling to pay its wrestlers, we can understand the reasoning; although it’s still quite low to do so without dropping the title first.
A decision was made to have Awesome work one last match against someone outside the company. It was likely done this way because the guys in ECW were pissed at Awesome and wouldn’t work with him professionally, so they had to ask the WWF and Tazz if he could be brought in. Awesome later stated that he would have preferred Rhino as his opponent, as they’d have got a better match out of it. So on April 13th, after arranging it with Vince McMahon, Awesome appeared with WCW security to drop the title to Taz on TV.
Joey Styles tried selling it like Taz had showed up unannounced without WWF knowing about it, but it was definitely planned out beforehand. Taz then dropped it to Tommy Dreamer a week later, who then passed it on to Justin Credible the same night. It was a monumental disaster, and one that some never got over. Below is Mike Awesome’s WCW debut and last ECW Heavyweight Championship match.
ECW One Night Stand 2005
Before The Bell
Joey Styles is noticeably pissed at Mike Awesome, and the fans aren’t too pleased to see him either. He talks about how Awesome had been making good money, six figures, during his first full-time run on American TV. Bischoff and WCW’s money lured him away, yet Awesome still tells Eric where to stick it. The Raw invaders show the ultimate sign of disrespect by turning their backs on him. Joey Styles shoots:
“Let me tell you about this Judas Mike Awesome. He took a $250,000 check up front and a million dollar contract to walk out of ECW and breach his contract as the champion, and the only reason he didn’t throw down our belt on TV was because of a federal injunction. he’s a piece of crap, he’s a sellout, he’s got no loyalty, he’s a judas is what he is, and i hope Masato Tanaka takes his damned head off with a dangan bomb”
Mick Foley jokes this is the second shoot promo of the evening. Meanwhile, the match is already ongoing, and Awesome delivers his trademark dive. Styles calls it a Suicide Dive and well… unashamedly cites that “it’s a shame he didn’t succeed in taking his own life”. Ok, so that remark didn’t age well, considering Awesome died by hanging himself twenty months later. Moving on, this was Mike Awesome’s last-ever wrestling match before becoming a real estate agent in Florida. Masato Tanaka however, continues to wrestle to this day.
The Last Encounter
Out of the invaders, JBL & Orlando Jordan already look impressed. Tanaka backdrops Awesome in to the crowd and runs at him with a chair, clocking him over the head with it. After we settle in, Joey Styles apologizes for losing his cool and being unprofessional. On the ring apron, Awesome picks up Tanaka and drives him through a table with the Awesome Bomb! “Holy S***!” indeed. Awesome Splash gets two.
After a jockeying for position, Awesome gets another bomb and is looking confident. JBL applauds him for getting a chair, but Tanaka has one too. A chair duel begins and… whack! A loud crack over Tanaka’s head. Masato no-sells some of the hardest chair shots you’re ever likely to see or hear. Awesome can’t believe it, and Tanaka kicks the chair away. After jarring Awesome’s neck, Tanaka hits the Tornado DDT on to the chairs! He puts a chair on Awesome’s face and flies through the air with another, driving it down in to his face. Styles shows signs of sympathy for Awesome, and retorts to Foley that he is a human being after all.
After missing the Roaring Elbow, Awesome throws him with a German Suplex, Tanaka rolls through and runs at Awesome… but gets speared! After hitting a falling chair shot on Tanaka from the turnbuckle, Awesome gets a table and JBL is seen totally engrossed in the action. Awesome goes to put Tanaka through it from the buckle, but instead, gets Tornado DDT’d through it! JBL is very much in to this now, and Mick Foley mentions it. Joey Styles still drives it home that Awesome sold ECW out… everyone and their families. They get back on the buckle again, but this time, Awesome hits a reverse Awesome Bomb on to the already smashed table with bits of metal sticking out of it!!
“This Match Rules!”
How ridiculously dangerous… but this is what ECW is all about. Tanaka still finds a way to kick out! The crowd gives them a standing ovation, as the loyal ECW fans chant “EC-DUB!” at the invaders in complete unison. Foley asks if we can get past the whole Awesome sold out thing now? And Styles agrees that yeah… fair enough. The crowd chants “THIS MATCH RULES!” And then suddenly… something many would have missed, is that Awesome had set up a table on the outside earlier.
He Awesome Bombs Tanaka from the ring… all the way down to the floor through that very table! And then he takes his 270 Ib frame and launches it over the top rope to the floor on top of Tanaka! 1-2-3 and Mike Awesome wins! JBL shakes his head in disbelief as hes in shock at how good that was. Awesome attacks the ECW referee for trying to raise his arm during the replays, so they have to do another set of replays to show that. Probably match of the night, on what was certainly an epic PPV.
Chemistry
While on the surface it may seem like Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka matches are too similar, what I see is that they laid a foundation which they built on top of each time. There’s no doubting that there is a pattern to how they work, but much like any wrestling feud, we’re bound to get something similar the more they happen. Yet, while some rivalries can become pedestrian, Awesome & Tanaka adapted their movesets to counter each other’s spots.
The last time they had gone one-on-one before One Night Stand was at MLW Revolution in 2003. So while they had faced each other somewhat recently, they hadn’t worked a string of matches together in over five years. And I think it’s testament to their unparalleled chemistry, that they could be thrown on to a live PPV unannounced, in front of a crowd (who hated Awesome for betraying them) they hadn’t wrestled in front of for half a decade, in a company neither had enjoyed any success with (unless we’re including the Hardcore title?), and still manage to deliver a masterpiece befitting of their careers.
It wasn’t only a perfect example of the ECW mentality, but also the way Japanese wrestling can be when everything clicks. None of their matches needed to go longer than thirty minutes to be epic, and honestly, I think it would have been detrimental if they had. There are only so many chair shots and table spots anyone can take before it starts to gnaw at the minds of fans; who would surely be thinking… c’mon now, this is getting ridiculous!
Conclusion
Awesome & Tanaka knew how far to push it, but by today’s standards, yeah… it’s probably too much. Smashing anyone in the head with a chair as often as they did can’t be good, although Tanaka seems to be doing fine. The same cannot be said for Awesome, although we may never know the true extent of what happened to him.
The thing about Awesome was that he knew what he was worth, but wasn’t given the chance to shine in WWE or WCW because he wasn’t willing to play the political game; although he was the cousin of Horace Hogan who is also related to Hulk Hogan. He’d paid his dues and was ready for the big time, but he wasn’t prepared to be underpaid or to kiss up to anyone.
Masato Tanaka is one of a few Japanese legends who goes under the radar a little bit, but I hold him in as high regard as Tajiri, Asuka, Io Shirai, or Shinsuke Nakamura. He helped to bring Japanese wrestling to the United States in a whole new way, and he probably deserves more credit than he gets. Not as much as someone like The Great Muta of course, but definitely should be recognized for his contributions.
After all, how many Japanese wrestlers got to win a World Heavyweight Championship in the United States during the Attitude Era? Only one, and his name is Masato Tanaka. With that said, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to enjoy this series of matches, and my take on their always intense, competitive rivalry which I’m sure will be remembered for years to come. Which of their encounters was your favorite? Please let us know in the comments. Cheers!
