Malta will be my 17th country in the professional wrestling industry, come April 16.  IWS will be promoting the event, and I have been both an IWS Heavyweight Champion (2006-2008) in addition to IWS Intercontinental Champion (2005).

This past week, Japan’s red-hot SMASH promotion released a surprising main event for their one-year anniversary show, SMASH.15 at the legendary Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on March 18.

The top of the bill at SMASH.15 will feature my Japanese FCF protege Hajime Ohara, who will go up against the departing KUSHIDA, who is bound for New Japan Pro Wrestling from April onward.

The bad blood between Ohara and KUSHIDA started back at SMASH.1 in March 2010, and has been building steadily over the course of the latter half of 2010 on through the beginning of 2011.  Both Ohara and KUSHIDA have been touted as the future of SMASH, and now that KUSHIDA is moving on to another promotion, this is Ohara’s last ditch opportunity to bury the hatchet with his adversary.

The ill feelings between Ohara and KUSHIDA really came to the fore when Ohara jumped ship from under allegiance to TAJIRI over to my side with FCF at SummerSmash 2010 last August in Helsinki, Finland.

In September 2010 at SMASH.8, Ohara teamed with FCF’s Jessica Love and Kagemanguro to face TAJIRI, Akira Shoji and KUSHIDA.  During that bout, the action between Ohara and KUSHIDA got out of hand, as both men tried to tear each other apart.  Due to the six-man nature of the match, the issue was left unresolved, as TAJIRI went on to pin Kagemanguro.

At SMASH.9 in October 2010, Ohara beat the living daylights out of KUSHIDA after his match with then-OVW Champion Mike Mondo, making a very personal statement thereby.  Ohara would go on to team with Jessica Love and former FCF Champion Heimo Ukonselkä at SMASH.10 to face ex-ECW/WWE star Super Crazy, Isami Kodaka and KUSHIDA in a hardcore six-man match.  KUSHIDA would end up pinning Love, once again leaving the issue at hand with Ohara unresolved.

At SMASH.13 in January 2011, Ohara teamed up with Jessica Love once again to do battle with KUSHIDA and Canada’s masked marvel, Mentallo.  In this tag team encounter, Ohara blasted KUSHIDA with his charging forearm dive strike, gaining the pin in the process.  Arguably, KUSHIDA was not happy with the way things ended in this match, and so SMASH booked another tag team match at February 2010’s SMASH.14 event, where Ohara teamed with FCF’s hottest rookie in Finnish history, Kristian Kurki, against KUSHIDA and Japanese rookie Yuji Kito.  Ohara would prove his dominance over newcomer Kito, pinning him in convincing fashion with his diving forearm strike once again, leaving KUSHIDA with his bitter taste of defeat from SMASH.13.

At SMASH.14, KUSHIDA shocked SMASH and his mentor TAJIRI by telling that he had been offered a contract with New Japan, and he had decided to jump ship.  Thus, at SMASH.15, the company’s 1st anniversary event at Korakuen Hall on March 18th, SMASH made the call to book KUSHIDA against Ohara in their long-awaited singles showdown.

This time, everyone can be guaranteed that there will be a definitive winner, mano y mano – no ands, ifs or buts about it – and you can be damn sure I will be pulling for my esteemed protege Hajime Ohara all the way in this one.

KUSHIDA and Ohara have come full-circle since SMASH.1, and one year later at SMASH.15 all the questions will be answered.

For more infos go to: www.smashxsmash.jp

For the first time in Finnish wrestling history, the central city of Kuopio will host FCF Wrestling at Hotel Rauhalahti on Sunday, April 3, 2011.

I personally am waiting with great anticipation for this card, as I will be head-to-head for the first time in a long time against Finnish wrestling veteran, Stark Adder.  Hailing from Talaskangas in the Savo province of Finland which Kuopio also belongs to, Adder is a former Finnish Champion himself and for all intents and purposes has served as the main instructor at FCF’s wrestling school for the past few years.  Adder is adept at the technical aspects of the game, and he and I have waged some incredible matches in the annals of Finnish wrestling history over the years.

May 26, 2006 - Stark Adder defeated me to become the Finnish Champion (photo http://www.metalphotos.com)

It was Adder who defeated me back on May 26, 2006 to begin his reign as Finnish Champion, which ended one year later to the day, when he lost the title to Erik Isaksen of Norway.  Many fans in Finland remember the incredible set of matches that I had with Adder in 2005-2006, which also elevated Adder to becoming a main player in Finland.  Those matches also gave Adder viability in the European wrestling scene, and he went on to wrestle in countries like Italy, Estonia, Sweden, Norway, UK and even Japan.

Wrestling fans in and around Kuopio, Finland can get ready for another classic once Savon Selkäsauna rolls around on April 3rd!

In just over two weeks time, I will be heading back to the promised land of pro wrestling in Japan to face former ECW World Heavyweight Champion, Tommy Dreamer in the main event of SMASH.15, which is the first anniversary milestone for the company.

Two nights ago, I had dinner with SMASH president Mr. Sakai in Tokyo, where he told how SMASH has become the fastest growing company in Japanese wrestling.  This is obvious, from the media and fan response, in addition to myself being voted by the fans nationwide as the fifth most popular foreign wrestler in the country over 2010 amongst all promotions.  Considering the fact that workers like Prince Devitt and Giant Bernard, who have been in Japan for several years, beat me in the poll for top gaijin, I can only be honored by the fact that the Japanese fans took note of me within a half a year after my debut for a new company, voting me into the top five.

SMASH.15 will be held at Korakuen Hall, one of the oldest venues for pro wrestling in the country.  This Spring 2011 season, SMASH will also be expanding across Japan, holding cards in places like Nagoya and Osaka as regular stops on the touring route.

Last night at SMASH.14 at Shinjuku FACE arena in Tokyo, I downed former AWA World Champion Takao Omori in an ultra-physical match in 16:33.

After Omori tried to do me away with a backdrop piledriver, I blocked his attempts several times in order to finally capitalize on his wounded left ankle and knee, allowing me to drill Omori into the canvas with my own spike piledriver for the fatal pinfall.

StarBuck's piledriver finishes off the Japanese big man, Takao Omori

Omori chopped my chest raw and put up one hell of a fight, for which I can only applaud him.  He gave it his all, but in the end, the lord and master of FCF Wrestling stood tall once again to rapturous applause in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Next month at SMASH.15, I will face former ECW World Champion Tommy Dreamer on the top of the card, but can Dreamer survive StarBuck’s piledriver?

For more infos go to www.smashxsmash.jp

Today I leave for the hallowed wrestling land of Japan to face one of my toughest challenges to date in SMASH, Takao Omori.

Omori started his pro wrestling career under Giant Baba in All-Japan Pro Wrestling back in 1992.   He is a multi-time champion in Japan with AJPW and NOAH, and in addition he has held the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, defeating my old rival Steve Corino for the honors back in 2005.  Omori even participated in the WWF Royal Rumble of 1996, showcasing him as an international name and talent.

I first saw Omori when I was still a rookie wrestler myself, watching an AJPW tag team match from 1995.  He was pitted in a tag team match with Jun Akiyama against one of my all time favorites, Dan Kroffat and his partner Doug Furnas.  Omori was still pretty green back then, but hey, so was I.

Now, on February 25, 2011 at Shinjuku FACE arena in Tokyo at SMASH.14, I will collide with Omori, and I must say that I really don’t know what to expect.  I have no idea if our styles will mesh or clash, but that said I am certain that it will be a heated match.  Simply judging from the response that Omori and I got from the fans at SMASH.13 in January as we faced off, the people are anticipating this showdown big time.

I should also mention that I am taking FCF Wrestling’s hottest rookie sensation in company history, Kristian Kurki, with me to SMASH.14, where he will tag up with my protege Hajime Ohara against Kushida and newcomer Yuji Kito.  This will be Kurki’s trial by fire, literally, as he has only three matches under his belt to date.  I personally believe in Kurki and his prowess, and I expect the young man to perform to the utmost of his abilities in Tokyo this coming Friday night.

Soudesune!

Back in 2007, Finnish wrestling fans across the country voted my Street Fight match against a then-rookie Heimo Ukonselkä as the match of the year in Finland.  For years, fans have been clamoring and reminiscing about this encounter, and during the past few years Ukonselkä has become a force to be reckoned with in the world of pro wrestling.  He has already won the PWF German Championship twice in addition to briefly holding the Finnish Wrestling Title for two and a half months in 2010, and has beaten some of the best that Japan has had to offer in the fast-rising SMASH promotion.

Fans in Finland have taken to Ukonselkä like a fish to water over the past year.  His popularity has grown by leaps and bounds, and he is becoming a more honed and complete talent in the ring.  Perhaps his Kalevala (Finnish folklore mythology)-like presence mixed with his Turisas (Finnish folklore battle metal band)-like appearance make him the dynamic personality that he has become.  Regardless, Finnish fans can’t get enough of Ukonselkä these days, and he works hard at his piece of personal business to make it work.

An assortment of photos from my Sept. 2007 Street Fight against Ukonselkä

Fans in the central part of Finland will now be able to see a true clash of the titans in the modern era, when Ukonselkä and I face off once again for a chance to vye for the Finnish Wrestling Championship, now held by Michael Kovac of Austria.  FCF Wrestling is in heated negotiations to get Kovac booked in Finland in the coming months, and the competition is heating up to see who gets the Title shot.  I will personally be gunning for an opportunity to score my fifth FCF Championship to date, whereas Ukonselkä is looking for his second.

You can bet your last penny that when Ukonselkä and myself step into that ring at JYVÄSKYLÄN JYSÄRI II on Saturday, February 19 in the city of Jyväskylä itself, everything will be laid on the line as only one man can walk out of that ring the victor and go on to challenge Kovac for the FCF Championship.

This match will be a war for the ages.  Ukonselkä is young and hungry, and I am the time-tested warhorse that has led the charge time in and time out.

Don’t miss this one.  You will regret it deeply if you do.

Believe me.

Last night in Tampere, Finland, I put a young and hungry Luchadore-style grappler named El Excentrico to the test in a one-on-one match.  I feel compelled to write about the bout, as I was rather impressed by Excentrico’s effort.

Oftentimes, as is par for the course in professional wrestling, an experienced grappler will test the mettle of a young upstart to see what he is made of.  A veteran will push the boundaries of a young talent to see if they have what it takes, if they can hang in there even.  And yes, at times, a veteran can get ornery with a youngster, making them pay some extra dues in the process, but that is just the way the business is.

I have to say that El Excentrico, who has an admirable attitude and great respect for the business, hung in there every step of the way.  I was there in the beginning when Excentrico started out, coaching him over 2008, and he didn’t show the kind of promise back then that he now holds.  I honestly can say that I hope Excentrico stays injury-free, as his knees have given him all kinds of bad luck, and have withheld his career from really taking off.

Tampereen Turmio, the FCF Wrestling event at which I faced Excentrico yesterday, was a proving ground for Excentrico.  I took him to school a bit, and he survived, even if he fell to the master after a piledriver.  And believe me when I say that losing to a top wrestler and still hanging in there is no case for shame.

I predict a bright future for this kid, if he can stay healthy and keep his head together.  That said, you will have the opportunity to see us both wrestle – this time against different opponents however – this coming Saturday, February 19 at Aalto-Sali in Jyväskylä in central Finland.

(Photos by Esa Kemppainen)

I wanted to post a tremendous piece on Ric Flair, speaking from a very human point of view on his life in wrestling.  Flair was one of my biggest idols in the 1980’s when I was a young fan, and later would go on to impact much of what I have become as a professional wrestler myself.

This is just an incredible, emotional look at one of the most respected veterans and World Champions ever in the mat game from CBS News.

Check it out: