Fujiwara v Funaki!

Yoshiaki Fujiwara v Masakatsu Funaki (UWF, 5/4/89)

The king back. This was Fujiwara's first match in UWF 2.0 since jumping over from New Japan, and I guess it's fitting that it was against the shoot style prince. There was something about Funaki around this period. While he didn't necessarily act like a prick, he sort of had that demeanour. You know the kind. He's all cut up, super athletic, good looking, has the incredible 80s metal drummer hair. He's the shit and he knows it. Fujiwara's old and wrinkled, has a buzz cut that he did at home with an egg beater, has worn the same black trunks forever, his white socks have faded more to grey, nothing about him screams box office. But he's as dangerous as they come and every single person in the building knows it. There was some really slick grappling in the first few minutes, which probably made up my favourite stretch of the fight. Then Funaki's temper started to flare and Fujiwara fed off it, as has always been his wont. Funaki would go for a flurry of strikes and Fujiwara would duck and weave and grin like you'll need to try harder than that, young man. It made Funaki almost petulant, especially with how he kicked his way out of a kneebar using the heel of his foot and looking at Fujiwara like how dare he even try and submit the prodigy. There's a strange restart after Fujiwara gets disqualified for headbutting Funaki in the face, and the finish wasn't great, but this had some decent stuff and I really should watch their PWFG bout already.