In just over a week, I will be fighting for the first time in my career in a barbed wire grudge match in Japan for Wrestling New Classic. My trio with AKIRA and Syuri will face the vengeance-hungry team of TAJIRI, Mikey Whipwreck and Kana, and there it is guaranteed that there will be blood. It all comes down on August 30th at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
From there, my team will do battle against TAJIRI’s trio on August 31st in Osaka and on September 1st in Toyohashi, and these encounters will also be barbed wire matches. You can be sure that none of us will be the same after the dust settles next week across Japan! My team is undaunted however, and we will show once again how we dominate, just as we did on our last tour of Japan.
First however, I will be gunning for my fifth FCF Championship title reign at DOMination 5 in Helsinki, Finland on August 24&25th, as over a two-day period a tournament will be held to crown a new titleholder. It was 2010 last that I held the FCF crown, defeating TAJIRI in Tokyo on July 24 that year, before losing it back to TAJIRI on November 22, 2010 in Tokyo also.
In round one on Friday, August 24th, I will fight in the main event in a triple threat match against King Kong Karhula and “Wildman” Heimo Ukonselkä. The winner of that match goes on the next night to advance to the semi-finals, and should they be victorious, the finals on the same night.
I write this blog following my double-countout match against the Dominican Republic’s El Dinamico last night at an IWS Wrestling event in Cavour, Italy, as we close down on FCF Wrestling’s DOMination 4 event on Thursday, June 28 in Helsinki, Finland.
A lot of people have been waiting for an awfully long time to see the next chapter in the Finland vs. Sweden wrestling rivalry that started on July 1, 2011 back at DOMination 2 in Helsinki. It was then, that Sweden’s top gun in the wrestling game, Killer Karlsson, arrived in Finland to tangle with Yours Truly. This coinicentally was also hot on the heels of Swedenìs crushing loss to Finland in the 2011 World Ice Hockey Championships. The Swedes were more than bitter, whereas the Finns were more than elated to get a one-up in the sporting world over their former masters. Karlsson had much of this same bad blood in his veins, as he landed at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in preparation for our first match last year.
So it was at DOMination 2 on July 1, 2011, that Killer Karlsson and StarBuck waged a war for the ages. With the rabid Helsinki crowd as hot as the summer weather that sweltering night, the fans on hand witnessed Karlsson stoop to all-time lows in his attempt to upset the “Lord of FCF”, as I have been coined in Japan. Karlsson not only assaulted me with his metal flagpole, which he brought to the ring, waving his country’s flag, he also assaulted our female FCF timekeeper at ringside, as you can witness in the following video (off of my “Finnish Fight Collection 2” StarBuck DVD, available at all FCF Wrestling events):
Killer Karlsson went back to Sweden with his head held high – albeit questionably high, I would say – to live to fight another day. I am sure that Karlsson realized and knew that his actions would have repercussions, and in so saying, he would have to pay the proverbial piper somewhere down the line. That eventual reckoning day has now come, and it is signed, sealed and soon to be delivered at DOMination 4 on June 28 in Helsinki.
Killer Karlsson sent FCF Wrestling a video message about his upcoming No-Holds-Barred match with me on June 28. He chose to be so belligerent that out of spite, he recorded his speel in Swedish (not that I understand a single word):
In kind, I thought it would be more applicable to send my message directly to Karlsson in English, so as to not leave any stone unturned:
To wrap things up, I would be taking out health insurance if I were Killer Karlsson, because when he lands in Helsinki for his No-Holds-Barred match against me at DOMination 4, there’s a high and likely chance that he won’t be walking out of DOM Discotheque on his own when the dust settles.
I blogged a couple weeks back about the amazing experience I had wrestling in front of the Swedish fans in Malmö, Sweden at SWS Wrestling‘s Wrestlingpalatset show. Well, here is a video piece with clips of that match, plus an interview with Yours Truly (in English)…
Also a brief reminder, that this Friday night, April 20 in Helsinki, Finland, I will be challenging “Wildman” Heimo Ukonselkä for the prestigious FCF Championship at Jatkosota 2012. There is a slight possibility that a few tickets might be available at the door on the night of the event (start time 20:00), if you have not scored your tickets in advance through http://www.wrestling.fi as of yet.
You DO NOT want to miss this one!
See you at the matches and for more wrestling news go here!
This past Wednesday night – March 14, 2012 – a somber mood set over Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, as Japan’s SMASH organization held its final show, closing its doors forever.
The capacity crowd on hand at Korakuen Hall watches the main event of SMASH.FINAL
Many people are both asking and wondering what has led to the closing down of the promotion, considering SMASH rose in its two-year run to become one of the leading puroresu organizations in Japan. SMASH started from zero in March of 2010 and rose like a phoenix amongst both fans and media alike over the next couple of years. Their events in Japan drew great houses and showcased some of the finest pro wrestling to be seen anywhere. So what exactly is at the root of the demise of SMASH?
Starting the match off against Tajiri in classic wrestling fashion
Very simply, the answer lies in the divergent visions of SMASH president Mr. Sakai and SMASH creative director Tajiri for the company and its future. As Mr. Sakai owns the SMASH name and its respective title belts, this rift and separation proved to be a fatal blow to the company. Without the creative genius of Tajiri, SMASH would simply not exist. Tajiri was truly the soul and heartbeat of SMASH, and for Sakai to continue without him would have been foolhardy and a questionable risk. Thus, at SMASH.FINAL on March 14th when all was said and done after the main event, Mr. Sakai announced publicly that there will be no SMASH v.2 post-Tajiri. SMASH is now finished.
Tajiri clamps a chinlock on Yours Truly
The video below narrates (in English) the meat of the matter rather well.
I am greatly honored to have taken part in the SMASH.FINAL main event alongside FCF Wrestling teammate Hajime Ohara against the team of Tajiri and Akira Nogami. I think it would be safe to say that SMASH was built largely on the four of us and our contributions to the promotion, so having this tag team main event headline the final SMASH show in history is truly prolific.
Double-teaming Akira Nogami, I plant the elbow into the upper back as Ohara stays the course
I really couldn’t think of a better way to go out on a high note. Being in the ring with three of my best friends in this often cold, dog-eat-dog business on a night that enveloped so much emotion and weightiness meant a lot to me. We fought tooth and nail for 25:50 of a wrestling classic before Akira was able to nail Ohara with his Musasabi Press splash off the top rope to end the epic encounter.
Akira has me in the Old Boy submission as Ohara tries to make the save
The night prior to the SMASH.FINAL, I was able to be part of Akira’s birthday party at the world- famous Ribera Steak House. Although we knew that the next night we would be facing each other in the fight of our lives, only the sense of mutual respect, admiration and friendship was present at our table.
At Ribera Steak House, toasting Akira's birthday with Josh O'Brien and Tajiri
Knowing that I have fought so many times in the same ring against esteemed opponents the calibre of Akira and Tajiri only heightens and strengthens the comraderie between us. The quality of our matches has always been top-notch, and being able to bring out the best in each other, regardless of the outcome, is definitely a key element that spawns great friendships in our trade.
Akira eats a nasty spike piledriver from Yours Truly
I can only hope that Tajiri starts up a new wrestling company in Japan following the demise of SMASH, as the man is one of the smartest minds in our business, and if anyone can do it, Tajiri most definitely can. Tajiri definitely knows what classic wrestling should be all about, and I will most certainly support him in whatever his future endeavors are.
Akira pins Ohara following a huge Musasabi Press in 25:50 of a wrestling classic
After the main event was said and done at SMASH.FINAL, SMASH Diva Champion Syuri also vacated her title, as the wrestlers came to the ring to bow out and say goodbye to all of their supporters and fans over the past two years.
A real sweetheart of a girl, Syuri was the last SMASH Diva Champion
The last SMASH Champion Dave “Fit” Finlay vacated his title last month at SMASH.25 after defeating Tajiri in a fantastic match.
The wrestlers pay their respects to the company and the audience at the end of SMASH.FINAL
I would also like to thank all of the SMASH fans personally this one, last time for allowing me to become a star in their country. As I said at the SMASH.FINAL afterparty, Japan is the #1 country in the world for pro wrestling, and it has been a dream come true for me to become a household name and celebrity in Japan through my pro wrestling adventures in the Land of the Rising Sun.
The Finnish Embassy in Japan came out to see SMASH.FINAL
FCF Wrestling just announced a huge match-up for Punishment in Porvoo 2 on Sunday, March 11 in Porvoo, Finland: StarBuck vs. Jessica Love for the #1 contendership to the FCF Championship, currently held by “Wildman” Heimo Ukonselkä.
Gender bending fan favorite Jessica Love and myself could not be further apart as polar opposites. Jessica embodies the alternative lifestyle of the modern age that is being pushed hard in the media and everywhere, whereas I represent the old school right down to the man being the head of the house and women wanting it that way. Jessica is a high-flying risk-taker, I stick to the basics to get the job done as efficiently and simply as possible.
As much as we have traveled together to Japan to wrestle on multiple occasions, Jessica and I have never really gotten along. We have more or less tolerated each other, for the sake of the business that we are in. I know Jessica Love has never really cared for StarBuck, nor have I ever really cared for Jessica Love. Perhaps you could say that in this respect, we are natural enemies.
Now, in one week’s time at Punishment in Porvoo 2, Jessica Love and myself vye for the #1 contender status as it relates to the FCF Championship. I have held that title belt four times to date. Jessica is still looking for that elusive first time to wear the FCF Championship.
Jessica Love will have to bring the damnedest fight that he/she has within him/her on Sunday, March 11th. Anything less will spell 100% sure defeat for the gender bender, because Jessica Love knows that StarBuck shows no remorse and gives no quarter.
Jessica Love has quickly risen in popularity in FCF Wrestling and in Japan with the SMASH organization over the past two years. I am sure Jessica would love to rise above StarBuck and cement a personal legacy in professional wrestling by one day becoming the FCF Champion – a title that has changed hands on two continents and has been held by five different nationalities since its inception, making it one of the most sought-after titles in the world of European professional wrestling.
There’s only one problem though. That problem is named StarBuck.
Jessica Love will need more than Lady Luck to topple this veteran in Porvoo on March 11th. Jessica is going to need a miracle.
Last night at FCF Wrestling’s flagship show of the year – Talvisota VI (Winter War VI) in Helsinki – the fans on hand witnessed a truly memorable event that will undoubtedly go down as one of the best cards in Finnish pro wrestling history.
With a capacity audience on hand at the Helsinki Sports Hall, human tank Ibo Ten and gender bending fan favorite Jessica Love fought a wicked Tables, Ladders & Chairs match, which was stellar and absolutely breathtaking on every level. In addition, it was dangerous beyond description and a very high risk affair, but the bad blood between those two finally came to ahead last night and Jessica Love walked away victorious.
In one of the most insane moments that I have ever witnessed live, Jessica leaped off of the scaffolding that was set up for the lighting around the ring onto a prone Ibo Ten lying on a table in the ring. After the crash, the three-count was merely a formality, ending the war in 23:08.
I waged my personal vendetta against Mikko “Finnhammer” Halme at Talvisota VI, a match that was a tight brawl from start to finish. Finnhammer really fought like he had a point to prove, and that very well may have been the case, but in the end it was all for nought, as I spiked Finnhammer with my trademark piledriver for the winning pinfall in 17:53.
New FCF General Manager Robert Holmström went out of his way to pour some salt into Finnhammer’s wound of loss, firing him from FCF Wrestling after the match. Me personally, I think my old friend Herr Holmström is having a hard time wielding the scepter of power, as he has gone a on a few tangents and powertrips as of late. If this continues, Robert is going to need more backup than his new bodyguard Murskaaja Mieto can afford him. Just saying…
I was also just recently approached by SWS Wrestling out of Malmö, Sweden, and I will be making my in-ring debut with their company on March 24. I hear a lot of good things about SWS drawing very good houses and rabid audiences in Malmö, so it will be very interesting to see what the wrestling business over there is like at the end of this month.
On a sadder note, I will be wrestling with SMASH for the last time on March 14 in Tokyo at Korakuen Hall in the main event alongside FCF Wrestling teammate Hajime Ohara against Yoshihiro Tajiri and Akira Nogami at SMASH.26. The company is closing down due to directional differences between SMASH President Sakai and creative director Tajiri. Having been with SMASH since its onset, I can only say that I am honored to be in this main event match with three of my good friends in the wrestling business, and we will give it our all on March 14 when the curtain closes for the final time.
Also coming up in two weeks time, FCF Wrestling’s Porvoo Punishment in the town of Porvoo, 40km east of Helsinki. This card will feature international guest star El Generico in action, so get your tickets early!
I just arrived back home from Tokyo a few, scant hours ago. Yesterday, I took part in the gigantic SMASH.25 event at TDC Hall in Tokyo, teaming with FCF wrestlers Hajime Ohara and Jessica Love to face the ZERO1 trio of Masato Tanaka, Shinjiro Otani and Ikuto Hidaka. In a fast and furious match, Tanaka scored the pinfall over Jessica Love with his sliding elbow strike in 12:40. In the main event of the card, hard-nosed ring veteran Dave “Fit” Finlay retained the SMASH Championship (which he won from me on Nov. 24, 2011) defeating “The Japanese Buzzsaw” Tajiri in one of the most credible and awesome professional wrestling matches that I have EVER seen live in my life. Also, Syuri finally defeated Kana for the SMASH Diva Championship in another absolutely stellar ladies match, that has to be seen to be believed.
Ohara also took Jessica and myself to eat at NOAH & PRIDE wrestler Yoshihiro Takayama‘s yakitori (chicken) Stomach Hold restaurant, which I must say has a brilliant name when you consider the fact that it is owned by a wrestler. I had the pleasure of meeting the boss himself, who was a very friendly big man, along with his wife Natsuko, who helps run the place. For anyone traveling to Tokyo, be sure to check out Stomach Hold, you will love the food there!
Hajime Ohara, Yoshihiro Takayama and StarBuck (photo: Satomi Kanau)
I also visited the world-famous Ribera Steak House in Tokyo with my Japanese friend Mr. Terasaki, and was pleasantly surprised to see my photo posted on their wall of fame alongside wrestling greats such as Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen, The Funks, Dick Murdoch, Hulk Hogan and a slew of others. All I can say is that it was a very humbling experience to join such esteemed company, knowing the significance of Ribera in the wrestling world. The boss of Ribera even gave me a new black Ribera jacket as a present on this visit, and every wrestler worth his weight knows that those jackets are given like medals of honor to those who wear them.
Me with Veneno from Mexico at the SMASH.25 afterparty (photo: Shinobu Tanaka)
At the SMASH.25 afterparty, I was once again presented with gifts from the Japanese fans. Among the items I received were seven DVD album box set releases, given to me my my superfan Mayumi, and a stunning framed portrait of my SMASH Championship win from October 2011, given by superfan Masa. I must say that there is absolutely no other place on Earth that I am aware of, where the fans make the wrestlers feel like larger-than-life icons through their actions, such as noted above. Just one more reason why Japan is indeed the #1 country for pro wrestling in the world, bar none, in my humble opinion.
Pointing to my photo on the wall of Ribera
I was also pleasantly surprised to see Finnish press from STT (www.stt.fi), who were at ringside shooting the FCF vs. ZERO1 match for Finnish media coverage. This came totally out of the blue, as I received an email upon landing in Japan from the STT people, claiming they had seen the article on me in Finnair‘s Blue Wings magazine, and of course SMASH.25 was plugged in that piece. They got in contact with the SMASH office, received accreditation, and were part of the official press crew at the event. In addition, members of the Finnish Embassy in Japan were on hand, rooting for FCF Wrestling, which was very cool indeed.
Next up, Winter War VI (Talvisota VI) on Saturday, Feb. 25 in Helsinki, where I face Finnhammer Halme as part of a huge card. Talisota VI will be topped off by the first-ever TLC (Tables, Ladders & Chairs match) in Finnish history between gender bending fan favorite Jessica Love and the huge human tank Ibo Ten, and FCF Champion “Wildman” Heimo Ukonselkä defends his title against bad boy and media darling Johnny McMetal. Eight matches altogether at Talvisota VI on Feb. 25, so be a part of the biggest show of the year in Finland this coming Saturday!
I am very happy to announce that this week I will be returning to Japan for the first time since losing the SMASH Championship to Dave Finlay back at the end of November 2011.
On Sunday, February 19 at TDC Hall in Tokyo, I will team up with FCF Wrestling representatives Jessica Love and Hajime Ohara to take on the Zero1 contingent of Masato Tanaka, Shinjiro Otani and Ikuto Hidaka in a huge six-person showdown at SMASH.25.
It will be a great honor for me to step into the ring with especially Tanaka and Otani, who are two of the most revered pros in the game worldwide. Many will remember Masato Tanaka’s match against Mike Awesome on the WWE version of ECW’s One Night Stand pay-per-view from 2005, while Otani was a legendary junior heavyweight in the early and mid-’90s with New Japan Pro Wrestling, holding both the WCW Cruiserweight Championship (beating the legendary Chris Benoit) and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in addition to a slew of others.
Today, FCF Wrestling announced StarBuck vs. Finnhammer Halme for the biggest wrestling card of the year, Talvisota VI (Winter War VI) on Saturday, Feb. 25 in Helsinki, Finland. The event will be held at the Helsinki Sports Hall in the Kallio area of Helsinki, and word is that eight matches are slated for the card at this point.
Finnhammer has a world of hurt coming to him for costing me my shot at Heimo Ukonselkä’s FCF Championship back in December 2011 at the Kallio Rumble event. Were it not for Finnhammer’s meddling in the conclusion of the over-the-top-rope battle royale, I very well might be sporting the FCF title for the fifth time in my career at this point.
Get your tickets early for this big event, which will also feature the first-ever Tables, Ladders & Chairs match in Finnish history between the massive Ibo Ten and gender bending fan favorite Jessica Love; plus FCF Champ Heimo Ukonselkä defends his strap against bad boy Johnny McMetal, and much more!
This coming Saturday evening, Dec. 17 in Espoo, Finland at the brand new Ringside Gym – run by my buddy, former European Middleweight Boxing Champion, Amin Asikainen, and his manager Pekka Mäki – I will be grappling with FCF sophomore sensation Kristian Kurki in a special chain wrestling challenge match.
The event starts at 18:00 and is entitled Ringside Fight Night, featuring four pro boxing matches in addition to myself against Kurki and FCF Wrestling’s human tank Ibo Ten against former 4-time FCF Champion, Valentine, in another chain wrestling challenge match. The event is set to be streamed via the Internet, so keep your eyes peeled if you are not able to be with us in person at the show.
In the boxing portion of the card, it will be Finland’s Jarkko Putkonen (1-0) vs. Stanislavs Leonovs of Latvia (2-2-2), Finland’s Niko Jokinen (15-0-5) vs. Sergej Drob of Lithuania (1-1), Arne Ernstsen of Norway debuting vs. Maksims Semjonovs of Latvia (0-3) and Andreas Evensen of Norway (14-2, 6 KOs) vs. Sergio Prado of Spain (5-3-1, 1 KO).
Also on the same evening of Saturday, Dec. 17th, Kallio Rumble will take place in Helsinki starting at 19:00 with a Royal Rumble-style battle royale topping the card, where FCF Champion “Wildman” Heimo Ukonselkä must start the match and every two minutes a new man enters, until the man left standing at the end who has not been eliminated over the top rope then walks away with the FCF Championship title.
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