This Blogger's One Time Seeing Yoshitatsu

Hello everyone!

 

When learning of a legendary wrestler, Yoshitatsu, coming to the Philippines in March, the reaction was "Oh My God!"

 

For those of you who bought tickets for the Dexcon Wrestlestorm 2 show in March, you are in for the show of the ages!  Speaking of the show, it take place on Saturday, March 16th at the Brawl Pit Bulusan.  General admission tickets for the show are SOLD OUT but tickets remain.  Please visit the Dexcon Facebook page for more information.

 

This blogger's experience watching Yoshitatsu was definitely a very memorable one.  It was my first independent show in California.  The wrestling promotion was All Pro Wrestling based out of Daly City, near San Francisco.  It was in 2016.

 

The show featured some memorable names that you may have heard of.  From memory, they were a young Jeff Cobb, Marty Janetty (the Rockers), MVP and a local product, a favorite by the name of Matt Carlos.  When finding out that Yoshitatsu was appearing, a ticket was quickly purchased.  This fan knew of his days in WWE around 2010-2011.  I remembered a house show that he appeared in down in San Jose but was unable to attend.

 

The show was called Friday The 13th at the Pacelli Event Center (will find the photo later) in May.

 

With several hundred fans in attendance, Yoshitatsu faced Joey Ryan in a singles match. He won with a koji clutch.  That was one to remember.

 

Hopefully, fans in the Philippines and throughout Southeast Asia will get a chance to see Yoshitatsu at least once live in their lives.  He is definitely a must see!

 

Just ask the fans who were in Thailand regarding a legend that they saw in Naomichi Marafuji last Saturday night at a SETUP Thailand show!   

Two Venues

This blogger has been asked often regarding a first wrestling show and a first Southeast Asia show due to the blog.  I'll divide this quickly into two portions and two venues.

 

My first wrestling show, after beginning to follow pro wrestling in 1968, was at the Cow Palace in Daly City (about 12 km. from downtown San Francisco).  I took in an event on 11 July 1970 before around 15,000 fans.

 

The five match wrestling card had some known names such as Pedro Morales (former WWWF Champion), Freddie Blassie, Haystacks Calhoun and Peter Maivia, the late godfather of WWE superstar, The Rock.

 

The main event was a between bitter rivals, Pat Patterson (c) vs. Ray Stevens.  Today, it would be called a match that would go on until a wrestler could not continue.  Stevens had forfeited the United States Regional Title about a year before because of injury.  Patterson, his scheduled opponent at the time of the mishap, defeated Pedro Morales and became champion.

 

The match went five falls and was one of the most grueling matches ever.  Stevens won when Patterson could not respond by the count of 10.

 

Stevens and Patterson carried pro wrestling in the Bay Area during the era.  They were great singles wrestlers and were also a tag team, perhaps the best in the Territory Era.

 

Over 50 years later, it was a new adventure for this fan.  In December 2022, this blogger went to his first pro wrestling show in Southeast Asia.

 

Pictured above is the Peta Theater Center in Quezon City, Philippines.  It was home for, at the time, the Manila Wrestling Federation.

 

That night with a great gathering of around 300 fans, MWF provided the fans with 10 matches including two title encounters.  The fans were knowledgeable, were really into the action, and were well behaved, something that is great to see.

 

Being from America, one didn't know what to expect that afternoon and evening.  However, it was every bit as enjoyable as the one at the Cow Palace.  To this day, I'm grateful for the support and everything that happened that night.  It was definitely a day not to forget and to appreciate!

 

Since then, I've been to several more shows in the Philippines at Circuit Makati and at the Brawl Pit Bulusan.  The venues have been electric and enjoyable.

 

This year, the plan is to expand traveling in the region.  Since Thailand is the furthest from where I live, will definitely make the journey.  The country has always been exciting with the views, culture and the food.  There are three wrestling promotions there and the hope is to see all of them (at least two!).

 

Since I have running and wrestling fans in the Philippines, yes, I will be back this year as well.  Please be patient though!