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Posts Tagged ‘StarBuck’

Sanguine Stockholm Showdown

Posted: November 3, 2014 in Professional Wrestling, Travel
Tags: blood, Jimmy Gavroche, Ken Malmsteen, Last Man Standing, Miss Agathe, Pro Wrestling, StarBuck, STHLM Wrestling, Wrestling Stars, WS

What a bloodbath this past weekend in Stockholm, Sweden! STHLM Wrestling’s resident bad boy Ken Malmsteen and I had a vicious Last Man Standing match on Saturday night, in front of about 350 rabid fans at an event dubbed There Will Be Blood III.

Looking to crack Malmsteen in the head but good! (photo: Noomie Hector)

Malmsteen is the clear favorite of STHLM Wrestling’s vice-president Anita, who conned a wrestler named TNT out of the STHLM Wrestling championship in a major swerve prior to my Last Man Standing match. Malmsteen interfered in a title bout between TNT and his adversary Hardcore Hampus, the details of which were lost on me, but in the end, Malmsteen ended up with the title as new champ without even being involved as a competitor in the match. It was obvious to me that Anita had stacked the deck and that I should be prepared for anything as my match with Malmsteen went on as the main event of the card.

Malmsteen chokes me on the ropes (photo: Noomie Hector)

As this was a Last Man Standing match, there were no disqualifications, and that meant that everything was permissible. An old fox like me ain’t gonna be outdone easily, and I more than hammered the cowardly Malmsteen for the majority of the fight. It was a donnybrook all over downtown Stockholm, and the referee just let us go like wild dogs, serving only to administer a 10-count, should one of us not be able to rise to our feet in time.

It was a bloody affair at Göta Källare in Stockholm (photo: Noomie Hector)

I managed to nail Malmsteen with my trademark spike piledriver after I was hit with the title belt, cracking open the epidermis on my forehead. The blood flowed like wine into my eyes and I was loopy, not registering the fact that there were no pinfalls in this match. I was told that Anita threw a cold cup of water into Malmsteen’s face to help revive him, allowing him to blast me in the face a second time with his newly-acquired title belt. I didn’t make it to my feet in time for the 10-count and at that point it was too little too late and Malmsteen was able to gain another tainted victory.

Miss Agathe of Wrestling Stars, France

This coming weekend, I wrestle in France for the first time in five and a half years for the country’s biggest promotion, Wrestling Stars. From what I am told, my match will be a mixed tag, where I team with the sultry Miss Agathe against French ladies’ favorite, Jimmy Gavroche, and his rookie newcomer partner, Sara. This should prove to be an interesting bout, as the last mixed tag that I competed in was in the summer of 2012 in Japan alongside my Synapse teammate Syuri, where were kicked ass and took down names.

Jimmy Gavroche is a main player in French pro wrestling today.

So get ready Dreux, France, because “The Rebel” StarBuck is back to make an impact on Friday, November 7!

There will be Blood

Posted: October 23, 2014 in Entertainment, Professional Wrestling, Travel
Tags: Canadian Rebel, Frank Andersson, Ken Malmsteen, Last Man Standing, Olympics, StarBuck, Stockholm, Sweden

On November 1st in Stockholm, Sweden, STHLM Wrestling is holding their biggest card of the year, called There Will Be Blood III. Where we in Finland have Talvisota (Winter War) as our flagship show of the year and WWE has Wrestlemania, this November 1st showdown in Stockholm is looking to be a sizzler.

I was called up by the promotional end of STHLM Wrestling to tend to some business at their end that has the entire city up in arms. A national hero and former Olympic champion named Frank Andersson was attacked unceremoniously by a younger wrestler named Ken Malmsteen a couple of months back.

Frank Andersson is back after a 20-year absence from the ring.

Frank Andersson used to wrestle for WCW back in 1993 and has even grappled in New Japan Pro Wrestling in the early ’90s. Ken Malmsteen took the liberty of blindsiding Frank and kicking him in the head, but regardless of his actions, he also lost the STHLM Wrestling championship to Andersson on a different occasion just a short spell ago. Frank Andersson, who is now 58-years of age, made his comeback in pro wrestling on September 6th this year, where in Stockholm, in his first bout in 20 years, he became the new STHLM Wrestling titleholder.

Now, I’ve been here and there, and just about everywhere, wrestling all kinds of matches under various circumstances in my 20 years in the wrestling business. On November 1 in Stockholm, this Last Man Standing match be something that I’ll be heartily looking forward to. Young upstarts like Malmsteen, who have not yet seen the world and the realities of the pro wrestling business, need to be taught serious lessons. At There Will Be Blood III, I’m looking at beating Malmsteen from pillar to post, battering him into a crimson pulp, for what he did to a legend from his own country. Kids like this have to be taught the hard way, and I’ll be more than happy to show him the workings of the meat grinder of correction.

Ken Malmsteen should be looking into his personal insurance policy beforehand, because on November 1st, he will be subjected to a world of hurt in the main event of the evening! Frank Andersson should be smiling when all is said and done after this.

The Musasabi Warrior and King of Pancrase

Posted: October 14, 2014 in Entertainment, Life, Professional Wrestling, Travel
Tags: Akira Nogami, anniversary, Japan, legend, Masahiro Chono, Masakatsu Funaki, MMA, Pancrase, Pro Wrestling, puroresu, StarBuck, Syuri Kondou

I had the honor of participating in my old tag team partner Akira Nogami’s 30th pro wrestling anniversary show in Tokyo this past Friday, October 10. I wrestled the main event of the evening, a triple threat match between myself, Akira and Masakatsu Funaki. It was memorable, let me assure you!

My former Synapse teammates — Syuri congratulates Akira on 30 years in the game.

As anyone out there worth their stock in Puroresu and MMA knowledge knows, Masa Funaki is one of the founders of Pancrase, along with Minoru Suzuki. The man is a fighting sport legend in his own lifetime, and one of the hardest, if not THE single most hardest kicker that I have been in the ring with in the last 20 years.

In our match, I found myself fighting an overwhelming 2-on-1 attack from both Akira and Funaki for the first half of the match, before things between them became strained and they turned their focus on fighting each other.

Something incredible happened during the match that I have never encountered before in all my years: I spike piledrove Funaki to cut off the 2-on-1 assault I was under, and moments later, he just popped back up and began lacing into me with knees and kicks! It was downright scary. The man is almost not human, and most definitely is one of the toughest opponents I have ever been in the ring with.

Finally, after several altercations with both opponents, I was able to capitalize on a fortunate intervention by Akira’s and my former Synapse teammate Syuri, who saved Akira from near-defeat by Funaki. As Masa Funaki’s attention was diverted at ringside on Syuri, I was able to hit my trademark spike piledriver in the ring to score the elusive win.

It was surreal, as the understanding of StarBuck defeating Akira sank in on my esteemed opponent’s 30th anniversary card. I am sure this outcome was also a shock to many in the media on hand, as well as the rabid fans on hand at Shinjuku Face arena that night. As wrestling legend Masahiro Chono got in the ring and raised my hand in victory, I realized once again, these are the grand moments that we live for in this business. Moments that live on vividly in our memories, that one day we tell our grandchildren about.

At the end of it all, everyone that wrestled on the card got into the ring to pay homage to our great brother-in-arms, Akira. All of my respect to the man, who is one of the kindest individuals and kindred warrior spirits that I have gotten to know in this tumultuous game we call professional wrestling.

In closing, I dedicate this video to my brother and friend, Akira Nogami, the Musasabi Warrior! Live long and prosper!

Dirty deeds done dirt cheap

Posted: September 16, 2014 in Entertainment, Professional Wrestling
Tags: Boogie Mustonen, FCF Wrestling, feud, Finland, Helsinki, Pro Wrestling, Ricky Vendetta, StarBuck, Syyskuun Selkäsauna

What a noteworthy event Syyskuun Selkäsauna was for FCF Wrestling this past Saturday in Helsinki! First and foremost, the MMA barrier in Finland has been breached and busted now with the arrival of Tuomas “Unbeatable” Simola. For anyone who doesn’t know, this guy has an astounding MMA record of 77-0-1. Now, he has stormed the gates of FCF Wrestling, issuing an open challenge to anyone in the FCF locker room to take him on. Take a look at this video from the event to see it all go down:

We had the new Class of 2014 make their debut at the show. Actually, five out of seven students made their debut, of which only one – Julia Kyy – was able to claim a victory. Nonetheless, this new group of students showed heart and good fighting spirit, which is a good case to build on, heading into the next FCF event upcoming on November 15 in Helsinki.

Syyskuun Selkäsauna also saw the departures of both Aurora Flame and El Excentrico, who are moving out of Finland to try their luck abroad in the wrestling world.

Yet, amidst all of the hulabaloo (as the people in Finland say), the one thing that left a bitter aftertaste was the underhanded chicanery of Ricky Vendetta, who assaulted me with a monkey wrench during my introduction of the Class of 2014 to the live audience, causing a hairline fracture in my ribs. I had to get taped up for my match against Vendetta that night, and I am lucky that my physiotherapist friend Tuija Pelkonen from Lihashuoltamo was on hand in the audience. I had asked her to come, since we were filming some things with my cornerman for the evening, former 7-time Finnish bodybuilding champion, Boogie Mustonen, and I needed Tuija’s expert advice on some of Boogie’s medical operations, since Boogie wants to return to pro wrestling next year.

Ricky Vendetta really did a damned dirty thing, attacking me in his orchestrated manner. There was no way that I was backing out of my match against Vendetta. Not after he has spent all spring and summer this year boasting about pinning me twice in tag team matches, after other opponents have offered him timely assists in making those wins come about over myself. Syyskuun Selkäsauna was supposed to me the moment of retribution for Ricky Vendetta as far as I was concerned, but he managed to thwart my plans by injuring my ribs before the match ever took place.

In the match, Vendetta assaulted me straight from the opening bell, blindsiding me and laying it on heavy. I had to literally fight for my life, looking for every opportunity and small opening to make a comeback, and finally, I was able to catch him out at one critical moment of the match, turning the tide for a short spell. Vendetta however assaulted my ribs with knees and kicks again and again, and soon, I was back down trying to find air. I managed to trap Vendetta in a crossface submission, which I will now purpose to take as my hold of choice in my quest to make Ricky boy tap out, as I have promised to do. Heck, I’ll even christen my version of the hold and call it the Canadian Crossface, or the Rebel Lock! How about that, Ricky Vendetta? Put that in your pipe and smoke it, as you think of the inevitable hour when StarBuck clamps that Rebel Lock on you and makes you wish you were back in your mother’s arms, nursing like a baby!

Vendetta’s cornerman and tag partner Stark Adder ran interference at the most crucial moment of the match, just when I had Vendetta tapping out to the crossface! Luckily, my cornerman, Boogie Mustonen, saw to it that Adder was eliminated from the equasion, but not before Vendetta was able to jab me with a shoulderblock to my damaged ribs and sneak in an illegal leverage pin, which, for the life of me, I cannot understand how the referee did not see. Even the fans at Hotel Presidentti were howling disparagingly at the official for the crappy call, and rightfully so. How the ref could have been so ignorant of Vendetta’s feet on the ropes as illegal leverage in making the pinfall is beyond me!

I have to admit that Vendetta is determined, at any cost, to try and make me a stepping stone in his wrestling career. Yet, after this past weekend, he is going to have hell to pay for choosing this latest route of indiscretion. I will not stop until I have beaten this young, belligerent bald-headed punk within an inch of his life. It’s one thing to aspire to greatness. It’s another thing altogether to miscalculate the cost of getting there.

Ricky Vendetta has now posted a check that his body cannot afford to cash.

Countdown to a showdown

Posted: September 1, 2014 in Entertainment, Life, Life coaching, Professional Wrestling, Social commentary
Tags: FCF Wrestling, feud, mentorship, Pro Wrestling, Ricky Vendetta, StarBuck, Syyskuun Selkäsauna

It’s been brewing for quite awhile now. Since April of this year, a young, brash (albeit beligerant) wrestler by the name of Ricky Vendetta here in Finland has been boasting high and mighty about how he managed to pin a 3-time European wrestling champion in myself.

Vendetta’s hunger to rise to the top in his chosen field cannot be slighted. I was once his age, in the same situation as he finds himself now: hungry and determined, willing to take any risk, regardless of its price tag, to achieve greatness. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m actually honored. Honored to have this young doberman pup come after me, as the oldest dog in the yard, looking to take my mantle. I welcome his challenge, and I will take great personal pride in ripping him apart, as I re-establish to Ricky boy who exactly he has chosen to meddle with.

The thing about young men is this: they become blinded by their ambition. Life has not yet taught them the hardest lessons of all. They are in the learning phase, the educational phase of what it takes to really be called a Man. During this rite of passage, from youth to full adulthood, a young man takes unwitting risks, the kind that will ultimately cost him dearly. I should know. At 41-years of age, I can look back on my own life and see these same lessons scattered about. In hindsight, I can clearly assess what each and every step cost me, what battle scars they left on my being in their wake.

Ricky Vendetta has a world of talent. He has the kind of burning heart for the pro wrestling business that I have seen few exhibit here in Finland, where I am the founding father and pioneer of our grappling game. Over the past 11 years, all the way back to 2003, I can count on one hand the other Finnish contemporaries that have tunnelvisioned and set themselves to succeed and achieve like young Mr. Vendetta. That’s saying alot.

I believe it becomes a literal obligation for mature men to pass down the life lessons that they have learned along this path of mortality to those who are following behind them. It’s called mentorship, and the lack of such in today’s self-serving society is all too obvious. All too many young men, and even grown men, don’t have a damn clue. They wander about aimlessly, not sure of their masculinity, their power, their calling or their talents. It’s sad, really. In this light, those who “have it” are morally obligated to pass it on and educate those who are still searching for their personal pot of gold, potential, or what have you.

Ricky Vendetta is going to learn the hard way what it is like to earn your stripes in this game of life. That lesson will be afforded to him inside of our sacred squared circle, the testing ground of guts and intenstinal fortitude. It’s a place where men are broken, where boys find themselves missing their mothers. It’s a ruthless stage, where the wheat is mercilessly separated from the chaff.

On September 13 in Helsinki at FCF Wrestling’s Syyskuun Selkäsauna event, Ricky Vendetta’s shallow boasts about going over not once, but twice, on the patriarch of Finnish professional wrestling, “The Rebel” StarBuck, will come to an abrupt end. I will not only punish young Ricky, as a father would his son, I will make him submit and scream for his life. This is a personal vendetta.

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V is for Vendetta

Posted: August 28, 2014 in Entertainment, Professional Wrestling
Tags: bodybuilding, Boogie Mustonen, champion, FCF Wrestling, Helsinki, Pro Wrestling, Ricky Vendetta, StarBuck, Stark Adder, Syyskuun Selkäsauna

Me personally, I’m really waiting for this coming September 13th in Helsinki, when I finally get my hands on one Ricky Vendetta, mano y mano.

Since April of this year, young, brash Vendetta has been boasting about gaining a couple of tainted victories over Yours Truly. Victories that were afforded him by third parties. Firstly, his initial pinfall team win over me came at the assist of Heimo Ukonselkä back in April in a six-man main event at FCF Wrestling’s Jatkosota 2014. Then, at Snacky Slam! this past July in another six-man encounter, Vendetta scored another pin on my via the timely interference of his partner, Stark Adder.

Now, were I Ricky Vendetta, I would probably be pretty stoked after gaining the biggest pinfall wins of my three-year career so far. I’d also be an excited young pup, reveling in the feeling of getting the upper hand on a time-tested veteran and multi-time pro wrestling champion around the world. Yeah, it would be a big ego boost.

But were I Ricky Vendetta, I would also consider the truth that I never actually defeated my esteemed opponent by my own merits. No, I’d consider that I had a huge helping hand, one that saved my hide at the most critical moment of the match, just as I was about to go down. Someone else afforded me a break. I’d be thankful, were I Ricky Vendetta. I’d also be very concerned.

Ricky Vendetta would like to believe he’s going to have the upper hand again come September 13.

At FCF Wrestling’s Syyskuun Selkäsauna on September 13th at Hotel Presidentti in downtown Helsinki, Ricky Vendetta is going be in for a reality check. He is going to hurt. Oh yes, Ricky Vendetta will be facing the grim face of reality, the cold hand of truth. This will be his reckoning day, when the bells will toll. Plus, this time, to ensure that Ricky Vendetta doesn’t have any of his pals like Stark Adder messing with our match, I will have former Finnish and European bodybuilding champion and legend, Boogie Mustonen, in my corner. Oh yes, Ricky Vendetta, prepare to pay the piper on September 13th!

Bodybuilding legend Boogie Mustonen will be my cornerman at Syyskuun Selkäsauna

Syyskuun Selkäsauna start time 18:00 on Saturday, September 13 at Hotel Presidentti in Helsinki — DON’T MISS IT!

StarBuck’s Sport & Spa hotel TV advert

Posted: August 26, 2014 in Entertainment, Odds and Ends, Travel
Tags: commercial, Leppävirta, Sport & Spa, StarBuck, television, Vesileppis

At the end of last month, I traveled to Vesileppis Sport & Spa Hotel in Leppävirta, Finland, where I was filmed with the Vesileppis mascot for a funny set of commercials promoting the establishment and its services. These commercials have now been released, and can be seen below:

Teemu Selänne and StarBuck

Posted: August 23, 2014 in Entertainment, Life, Odds and Ends
Tags: Anaheim Ducks, commercial, Finland, ice hockey, milk, NHL, Ottawa Senators, Stanley Cup, StarBuck, Teemu Selänne, television, TV, Valio

Just a few days ago, Finland’s leading dairy manufacturer, Valio Ltd., released their latest television ad campaign, featuring the most celebrated NHL hockey player ever out of Finland, the legendary Teemu Selänne. Teemu lives nowadays in California with his family, and is retired from the sport of ice hockey. He made a name for himself as a Stanley Cup champion (2006-2007) with the Anaheim Ducks (defeating the Ottawa Senators) and nowadays owns and runs a steakhouse out in California.

I was chosen to play one of the roles in the new Valio advert, which you can view below:

It was a pleasure getting to know Teemu, who was very down-to-earth and a good guy, his success not having gone to his head at all.

NHL legend Teemu Selänne and Yours Truly

StarBuck set to return to Japan

Posted: August 21, 2014 in Life, Professional Wrestling, Travel
Tags: AKIRA, Akira Nogami, Great Muta, Japan, Jushin Liger, Keiji Muto, NJPW, NWA, Pro Wrestling, puroresu, StarBuck, Syuri Kondou, Tajiri, WCW, WNC, Wrestle-1

On October 10, my good friend Akira Nogami celebrates 30 years of active competition in the wrestling business with a special card dedicated to his imprint on our grappling industry, to be held in Tokyo at Shinjuku Face Arena. A literal plethora of who’s who from the world of Japanese Puroresu will be on hand to honor our brother-in-arms, and I am stoked to be taking a part in this special evening of in-ring combat, by direct invitation of Akira himself.

Akira Nogami in 2010 (photo: SMASH)

Akira and I have a storied history together, both as adversaries and as tag team partners in our business. If I could hand-pick my opponents, Akira would easily make the top five of that list on any given day. He is smooth, flowing like water and moving like a panther inside of that ring. I have often likened him to the legendary former NWA World and WWF Intercontinental champion, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, in terms of his fluid wrestling style.

Some of my best memories from Japan have been shared with my brother, Akira. We have fought some amazing battles. We melded like clockwork in a team called Synapse, alongside female standout, Syuri Kondou (a multi-time women’s wrestling and kickboxing champion). Upon our inception in the summer of 2012, our trio was passionately compared to the classic 1996 nWo unit with Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall in the belated World Championship Wrestling (WCW) organization. We were cool baddies. We kicked ass and took names, downing the competition all across Japan for much of 2012-2013. In February of this year, on the same card where I won the WNC (Wrestling New Classic) championship from “The Japanese Buzzsaw” Tajiri, we disbanded our Synapse team, all going our separate ways.

Akira, StarBuck, Syuri (photo: Kazuhiko Kato)

Akira started his legendary career in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), famous for hosting and organizing the world-famous 1976 wrestler vs. boxer match-up between Antonio Inoki and Muhammed Ali. Akira was part of the same class of ’84 that saw the launch of Keiji Muto (aka The Great Muta), Shinya Hashimoto, Masahiro Chono and Masakatsu Funaki. Nowadays, Akira grapples for Keiji Muto’s Wrestle-1 office in Japan.

My first encounter against AKIRA, from SMASH.8 in September 2010 in Tokyo (photo: SMASH)

Akira first notable title win was the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight championship, defeating Jushin Liger in August 1991. Since then, he has been a journeyman wrestler, both in Europe, the USA and Japan. Akira took part in the NWA world tag team tournament in 1992, held under the Bill Watts regime as the head of WCW, teaming with Hiroshi Hase in the opening round. Akira was injured, and could not compete a month later in the second round alongside Hase, so he was replaced by Shinya Hashimoto (Hase and Hashimoto would lose to Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes in the semi-finals of the tournament). Akira is also a former IWGP Jr. Heavyweight tag team champion, alongside old foe Jushin Liger, and the first ever WNC champion from 2012, defeating Tajiri in the WNC title tournament finals.

http://dai.ly/xdwp6c

I am proud to be taking part in this big card on October 10 in Tokyo to pay tribute to the career of Akira Nogami, a real friend and brother in this hard, dog-eat-dog business called professional wrestling. He is someone who has always had my back, whether we have been against each other, or if we have teamed together. We share a mutual respect and a bond of friendship, a warrior’s bond. This is truly rare in any walk of life.

Akira-san, I salute you! KAMPAI!!!

Bringing the south to the north

Posted: August 20, 2014 in Entertainment, Music, Travel
Tags: Crossfyre, Ivalo, Lapland, Rovaniemi, Saariselkä, Santa's Village, southern rock, StarBuck, tour

We had a couple of fantastic gigs once again up in Lapland this past weekend, complete with driving over 3400km in total to bring our specific flavor of southern rock to the Arctic Circle.

On Friday night in Saariselkä, we played the annual Jänkhällä Jytisee biker bash at Santa’s Hotel. With about an estimated 500-plus folks on hand out of a weekend attendance of 2500, filling out the hotel nightclub, we worked the bikers into a fevered frenzy. People wore wide smiles, beamed with good vibes and danced the night away to Crossfyre’s originals and select cover songs. Our hotel suite was indeed sweet, with three rooms and a living room, complete with sauna and kitchen quarters. There’s something to be said also for northern hospitality, with several meals on the house for the band while we were there.

Arriving in Rovaniemi with our bassist Dan to get picked up for the tour

Jänhällä Jytisee saw some pretty awesome bike stunts like this one (photo: Juha Kauppinen)

This photo captures the great atmosphere of our Friday night gig (photo: Juha Kauppinen)

Our second Lapland gig in Ivalo, just 30km north of Saariselkä, offered fantastic food and excellent accommodations, also. Ravintola Kultahippu is Ivalo’s premiere pub and live music establishment and the folks up there really appreciate good, live entertainment. We had this bar and pub rocking, drawing all manner of younger and older clientelle to the dance floor to shake their blues away to Crossfyre’s music. I have to say that Ivalo reminded me a lot of Mänttä, where I used to live when I first moved to Finland. It’s pretty barren and ascetic, with little in the way of window dressing and frills.

Rämö is an old friend of the band from up North, as StarBuck clowns around

The Crossfyre Crossmobile signals the arrival of the band in Ivalo

Stopping off at the world-famous Santa’s Village in Rovaniemi

Next up: the City of Porvoo’s Moonriver 2014 summer festival on Friday, August 29, with our set starting on stage at 22:00. For this gig, our second founding member and second guitarist,Jay Jay Asikainen, will be coming in from Florida. Be sure to come out and see this great spectacular!

Ain’t no place the like the Arctic Circle!

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