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12/13/98 ARENA REPORT: Super Hyper Visual Fighting "Super Crush Series" VENUE: Hiroshima Sun Plaza Arena CORRESPONDENT: Hideo Demura (PN Magazine) Super Hyper Visual Fighting opened its first tour, the Super Crush Series, tonight before a sellout crowd of near 6,000 at the Sun Plaza Arena in Hiroshima. The show was a TV-Tokyo taping for the debut of SHVF's weekly "Revolution" show and has been sold out since the day tickets went on sale. The 45 minute Revolution show debuts Tuesday night on TV-Tokyo (TV-T). Expectations for the show are high since the fist two SHVF cards, which aired as TV specials, drew tremendous ratings. The original contract between TV-T and SHVF only gave TV-T the rights to air one card per month as a live special. A new deal was signed after the success of Strong Style Evolution giving SHVF a late prime time 45 minute TV slot on Tuesday nights, with live coverage of super cards and the final night of each tour. On the card SHVF debuted a revamped ring with a black canvas with white and red trim on the edges, and the SHVF logo in the middle in white and red. The ring apron is black, red, and white and bears the logos of both SHVF and TV-Tokyo. Before the fights began Head Referee Tajiri Hayashi came out and went over the rules to the crowd. After the playing of the national anthem it was time for the card to begin. The first fight of the evening featured the debut of SHVF's newest fighter, Dean Kauffman Roy. Roy stands 6 feet tall and weights 243 pounds. He's 30 years old and hails from Verdun, Quebec, Canada. Roy is a submission wrestler with a background in judo. Officials within the organization think of Roy as a solid fighter with a lot of potential if he works hard. They must believe he's got a shot of catching on as they gave him the inexperienced, unheralded Brazilian, Reyo Ruas, as his first opponent. Ruas entered first to little fanfare wearing simple black tights and boots. Kauffman Roy followed, making his to the ring to "Head Like A Hole" by Nine Inch Nails. He wore white amateur style wrestling tights with a gray T-shirt underneath, black boots and shinguards. Roy got a polite pop for his first appearance in a SHVF ring. FIGHT #1 - Dean Kauffman Roy versus Reyo Ruas They opened slow, circling one another with both men in a fighting stance. Ruas went for a spinning elbow, buy Roy ducked and caught Ruas with a double leg takedown. Roy floated over and threw a flurry of punches down from the mount. Ruas caught Roy's right arm and drove him down in a Fujiwara arm bar but Roy quickly and easily made the ropes at 1:45. After the stand-up Roy controlled with a quick go behind. Roy attempted a side suplex, but Ruas countered in mid air and took him down with a side headlock. At the 3:01 mark Kauffman Roy got his legs up and locked on a leglock choke for the tapout win. Winner: Dean Kauffman Roy at 3:11 The crowd gave Dean a nice round of applause after the match, seemingly unsure of how to react to the silent but lethal man. Roy's match with Ruas was impressive but not incredible. His true test will come when he begins to compete with the stiffer competition of SHVF as opposed to the undercard cup cakes that debuting fighters are fed. The next two matches on tap were designed as warm-up matches for a future match between #1 and #2, Junji Shirow and Shiro Mayashi. The logic behind Moditian booking them was that they'd provide a warm-up for there big re-matches and be a good draw to get the fans out to the show. A lot of people, myself included, believe that its a bad business move to put marquee fighters in walk through matches where they have nothing to gain and everything to lose. Mayashi's match was up first as he was slated to face Minoru Hidaki. While Hidaki isn't a huge threat to a fighter the caliber of Mayashi, Shiro is young and he will make mistakes. The ramifications of Mayashi (or Shirow) losing to an unheralded challenger could be devastating to their careers. Apparently in Moditian's mind, the gain outweighs the risk. Hidaki entered to "Blue Blaze" by the Tokyo Fire Dragons to a modest crowd pop. Shiro Mayashi followed entering to "Come with Me" by Puff Daddy. His entrance was accompanied by golden fireworks. The crowd gave Mayashi a very warm reception with chants of 'Mayashi, Mayashi'. FIGHT #2 - (2) Shiro Mayashi versus Minoru Hidaki Mayashi opened quickly, charging at the bell and landing a running lariat that took Hidaki to the mat. Hidaki rolled through to his knees and sat up only to be caught by two stiff front kicks to his chest by Mayashi. As Hidaki held his chest, Mayashi charged the opposite side ropes and shot off landing a dropkick to the back of Hidaki's head to a round of applause from the crowd. Hayashi went to check Hidaki but Mayashi grabbed him first, drug him near the center of the ring, reached over and applied a dragon choke hold. Hidaki struggled to a bridge position and was able to use his legs to float over the top of Mayashi and reverse the choke. Mayashi attempted to float over the top but Hidaki blocked it by coming to a standing position. Mayashi was able to drive Hidaki back to the ropes and was about to get the break when Hidaki turned around and brought Mayashi back towards the middle of the ring. As Hidaki stepped backwards Mayashi was able to spring up and float over the top of Hidaki, on to his shoulder, broke the hold, and floated off his shoulder to the mat. Mayashi landed on his feet and ran to the ropes. Mayashi shot off the ropes and caught Hidaki just as he was turning around with a back elbow attempt but Hidaki ducked under and charged to the ropes. Mayashi landed on the mat, but rolled through to his feet. Hidaki caught him just as he was getting up with a Lou Thesz press. Hidaki threw several forearms down at Mayashi's head before locking on a juji gatame armbar. Mayashi was with-in reach of the ropes but instead of forcing the rope break rolled to his feet with Hidaki's legs still around his left arm, broke the hold, grabbed a leg and locked on a reverse knee bar. Hidaki, however, quickly made the ropes to force the break and prevent any damage. The opening minutes of this match illustrate exactly why shoot promotions shouldn't put there rising or top stars in matches with nothing to gain and everything to lose. Mayashi opened aggressively after the stand-up landing a hard side kick to Hidaki's right shoulder that backed him towards the ropes. Hidaki gathered his thoughts and worked to loosen his shoulder up before charging with a double leg takedown attempt. Mayashi was able to stay on his feet and back peddle into the ropes, holding onto Hidaki's head. Hidaki powered Mayashi off his feet and spun around looking to complete the takedown but Mayashi got his feet planted and locked down on Hidaki with a front face lock. Hidaki landed several punches to Mayashi's ribs, attempting to break the face lock, which left his neck unguarded and allowed Mayashi to slip into a guillotine choke hold. Mayashi fought unsuccessfully, first to take Hidaki to the mat and then to pull him to center ring, but Hidaki stepped through the ropes to force the break. After the break both men came back to center ring in fighting stances. Mayashi faked a side kick to Hidaki's chest, prompting Hidaki to drop his arms in preparation to block or catch the foot, and then landed a devastating spinning back-fist squarely on Hidaki's jaw, sending him to the mat. Hidaki answered Hayashi's standing ten count at 8 looking rather groggy. Hayashi checked Hidaki's out and ruled him fit to continue. Both men came back to center ring with Mayashi landing a high side kick to Hidaki's right shoulder almost immediately. Mayashi followed up with a forearm to Hidaki's head that staggered him. As Hidaki stumbled backwards towards the corner Mayashi landed a second spinning back-fist that landed partially on Hidaki's chin. Hidaki fell into the corner and Mayashi followed him in landing a spectacular looking axe kick to Hidaki's right shoulder that drew an 'ah' from the crowd. Before Hayashi had a chance to check Hidaki, Mayashi pulled him out of the corner and mounted his right shoulder followed by a beautiful rolling arm bar for the submission victory. The finish drew an 'oh' followed by a round of applause from the crowd. Winner - Shiro Mayashi at 5:33 After the match Mayashi shook hands with Hidaki as the crowd chanted gave both men a standing ovation. After the show I had a chance to speak with Hadi Moditian and to ask him whether or not the Mayashi/Hidaki match had swayed his views on making fights between established fighters and unheralded ones. He said "I know that a lot of people are of the opinion that its a dangerous practice to put rising or established stars in matches where they have quote unquote 'nothing to gain and everything to lose' but I believe in the matches and the Mayashi/Hidaki match only strengthens my views. I see the matches as opportunities for young, unestablished fighters such as Hidaki to improve there skills, impress people, and if they win, make a name for themselves. The already established fighters get an opportunity to tune up their skills and perhaps try things they wouldn't feel comfortable trying in a big fight. I think its a win, win situation." The next fight pitted the number one contender to Fukada's World Title, Junji Shirow against Mexico's Manuel Salazar. This was Salazar's debut in Japan and very little was known about him coming in to the fight. In most everyone's view, this was a very dangerous match for Shirow since as in the Mayashi match he had nothing to gain, everything to lose, but even more so because he was facing an unknown quantity. Salazar entered to the National anthem of Mexico, wearing long tights in the design of the Mexican flag with black boots and pads. The crowd gave him a better reaction than one would expect for a foreign newcomer, probably due to the excitement and charisma he portrayed on his way to the ring. Shirow entered to no music, but to a standing ovation with a strong chant of 'Junji, Junji'. Shirow wore green tights with yellow trim along with yellow boots, knee and elbow pads. FIGHT #3 - (1) Junji Shirow versus Manuel Salazar They came to center ring and locked-up collar and elbow. Shirow controlled with wrist lock. Salazar didn't try and make the ropes instead he reversed the hold and but only momentarily as Shirow quickly neutralized his advantage by turning the hold into a top wrist lock. Shirow used the added leverage from his three inch height advantage to drive Salazar to the mat in a bridge position with only his head and feet touching the mat. Shirow put all his weight on his knees in Salazar's bridged stomach trying to force his back and shoulders to the mat, but Salazar wouldn't go down. After bearing Shirow's weight for several seconds to the 'ahs' of the crowd, Salazar displayed his strength by allowing his back to come to the mat and then pushing himself back up creating enough force, and surprising Shirow, to spring his opponent off him and back to his feet. With Shirow still hanging onto the wrist lock, Salazar came back to his feet and tried to gain control of the wrist lock and drive Shirow to the mat. Shirow kept control of the wrist lock with a back heel trip that took Salazar back to the mat but the Mexican gained control quickly on the mat by rolling through, escaping the wrist lock, and applying a front face lock/hammer lock combination. The crowd gave both men very appreciative round of applause of their work. Shirow struggled towards to the ropes and grabbed them to force the break at 2:31. After the break, both men came to center ring. Shirow attempted to go for another lock-up for Salazar ducked under and charged the ropes. Salazar shot off, ducked a lariat attempt, and went for a float over DDT, but Shirow blocked it and hit and overhead judo throw as the crowd 'ahed'. Salazar made it back to his feet quickly, holding his back, and charged but Shirow caught him with a Yakuza kick that staggered Salazar back into the ropes. Salazar collected his thoughts for a second and charged again but Shirow caught him again, this time with a high side kick to the base of the neck, followed by a double arm Greco Roman side throw to a big crowd pop. 3:40 As Salazar slowly sits up holding the base of his neck, Shirow approaches and lands three hard side kicks to the base of Salazar's neck and back. Shirow quickly follows up by applying the stretch plum to a big crowd pop. After wrenching on Salazar's already weakened back for around half a minute with the stretch plum, Shirow gained the submission victory to a standing round of applause. Winner - Junji Shirow at 4:36 After the match the fans gave both men a standing ovation. Shirow looked good in this match and showed his versatility, as well as demonstrating that he doesn't have to concentrate on the arm to pick up victories. Salazar looked pretty good for a young fighter but more importantly showed a lot of charisma and showmanship. If his in-ring ability catches up to his personality he could be a major drawing card. Next, it was time for the final match of the evening, the main event, pitting heated rivals Ed Dean and Eiji Miyazaki against one another. Considering the result of their first match at Strong Style Evolution, in which both men spilled out of the ring and brawled on the floor resulting in a double DQ, this match promised to be an intense encounter. While the ugly American has the size advantage, Miyazaki had the hand speed and stamina edge. Miyazaki entered a smoke filled entrance way to "Painkiller" by Angra as the lights dimmed, accompanied by the Old Man. Miyazaki is one of the most popular fighters in SHVF and got a tremendous pop as he made his way to the ring. Miyazki wore a black doublet with a white skull on the front along with black boots, elbowpads & shinguards. Dean entered to no ring music (even if he did you couldn't have heard it for the deafening jeers from the crowd and chants of 'Miyazki') and walked to the ring very focused, ignoring the crowds boos. Dean wore a red singlet, blue Asics, red kneepads and shinguards, with white tape on his wrists. After the Hayashi went over the rules with both men it was time for the fight to begin. MAIN EVENT - (5) Ed Dean versus (5) Eiji Miyazaki Both men came to center ring and awaited the bell. Miyazaki wasted no time in getting things started, attacking at the bell with a lariat that surprised Dean and sent him to the mat to a big crowd pop. Miyazaki leaned on the ropes, waited until Dean came back to his feet and shot off with a flying shoulder tackle into mount position. From the mount Miyazaki through a quick session of forearms and punches down into Deans face, blooding Dean's nose and prompting the ref to stop the action to check him out. Hayashi had to pry Miyazaki off before being able to check Dean. Despite the blood streaming from Dean's nose he was vehement about continuing the match and seemed to become enraged when he saw his own blood. Miyazaki fired Dean up even more by raising his blood covered fist in the air to the roaring approval of the crowd. Dean made it to the feet and charged Miyazaki before Hayashi had officially restarted the match but Eiji caught him coming in with a drop toe hold and flowed quickly into an ankle lock submission hold at 1:25 to the deafening cheers of the crowd. Dean clutched his face in pain as he struggled to reach out and grab the ropes. Dean finally made the ropes to the disapproval of the crowd at 1:40. Dean made it to his feet and showed no noticeable signs of damage to his ankle from the hold as Miyazaki encouraged the crowd to make more noise (if that's possible). 2:05 The action resumed quickly with both men coming to center ring. Miyazaki motioned for a lock-up but caught Dean coming in with a Y palm strike. As Dean was feeling the affects of the blow, Miyazaki took him off his feet with an iron broom leg sweep to an 'ah' from the crowd. Miyazaki followed up quickly with a single leg Boston crab on Dean's right leg to chants of 'Miyazaki' at 2:36. The crowd came to there feet anticipating the finish, but Dean was able to make the ropes at 3:45 to the disdain of the crowd. Before Hayashi could order the stand-up, Miyazaki released the hold, pulled Dean to center ring, stomped on the back of his right knee forcing it hard to the canvas. Miyazaki then helped a groggy Dean to his feet with Dean favoring his right knee and ankle as the crowd roared. Miyazaki followed up with a thrust kick that caught Dean square in the stomach, knocking the breath from him. Dean stumbled into the corner gasping for breath and nursing his knee. Miyazaki kept Dean in the corner, covered up, by throwing kicks not connecting but stopping Dean from advancing. Miyazaki then presented an opening which Dean attempted to capitalize on but Miyazaki was only baiting him in to set up a Thai knee strike to Dean's weakened knee. The strike sent Dean crumbling to the mat clutching his knee. Hayashi prevented Miyazaki from advancing on Dean so that he could make administer a standing ten count to the bloody American. Dean answered the count at 8 with the help of the ropes, heavily favoring his right leg. After the stand-up, Miyazaki came to center ring while Dean stayed near the ropes to support his bad leg. Miyazaki went in for the kill on the prone Dean moving in on him and landing a hard front thrust kick to Dean's chest sending him back into the corner to a pop from the crowd. 6:25 Miyazaki quickly grabbed Dean's right leg and pulled him out of the corner to the delight of the crowd. Miyazaki landed a couple of palms strikes to the knee before hitting a dragon screw leg whip, wrenching Dean's knees. Miyazaki hung onto to the knee and came back to his feet quickly bringing Dean with him and hitting another dragon screw leg whip. Miyazaki rolled to his feet and slowly pulled Dean to his feet by the right leg and hair and setup him up for another leg whip. But just as Miyazaki prepared to execute the move, the bloody and exhausted Dean hit a desperation enzuigiri that landed hard to the back of Miyazaki's head to the 'ahs' of the crowd. Miyazaki staggered backwards and collapsed over the top rope facing the crowd as Dean rested on his knees on the mat facing the Miyazaki. The crowd began to chant 'Miyazaki' and Eiji slowly recovered at the encouragement of the old man and the crowd and turned around towards Dean. Miyazaki leaned back on the ropes and shot of to attack the prone Dean, but Dean saw him coming and lunged at him hitting a vicious headbutt into his lower stomach (some say the blow landed low but Hayashi ruled it a legal hit and from my vantage point it looked like it was too close to call unless you were in the ring). Miyazaki stumbled backwards into the ropes and clutched his stomach. Miyazaki gathered himself against, as Dean made it to his feet, doubled over trying to catch his breath, with the crowd going wild in the background. Miyazaki stepped away from the ropes and threw a hard jumping round house kick, but Dean stepped back and caught Miyazaki in mid air, at chest level. Dean's knee nearly gave way but Dean managed to drop Miyazaki backwards in a release German suplex, dropping Eiji directly on top of his head at a sick angle. The crowd went silent as if the air had been let out of them looking at the sick bump Miyazaki had just taken. Dean lay on the mat holding his knee and breathing hard as Hayashi checked Miyazaki. Miyazaki was out cold and motionless prompting Hayashi to call for the bell and the medics. Winner - Ed Dean at 8:17 The crowd was in stunned disbelief out of concern for Miyazaki. The ringside trainers attended to Miyazaki as well as Dean after the match for several minutes. After a few minutes they were able to bring Miyazaki to resulting in a polite round of applause from the crowd. The crowd's cheers quickly turned to boos as Dean was announced as the winner. Dean was pelted with trash as he made his way to the dressing room surrounded by security. This rivalry is certainly far from over. As nasty and bloody as its been this far, one wonders where they'll go from here. Overall this was a short, but solid, card for Super Hyper Visual Fighting. The TV show should draw a big rating for TV-Tokyo as not only will it feature quality fights on the undercard, but no doubt the main event will be the talk of all those in attendance tomorrow morning in the papers and the work place. 
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