170. It’s the total number of matches that The Gladiator/Pro/Mike Awesome and Masato Tanaka either stood against the ring from one another or stood alongside with one another.
Their paths first began during their time in Atsushi Onita’s Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling in Japan. The renegade Japanese promotion pushed the envelope. From their first encounter to their last, Tanaka and Awesome created magic in the ring with one another.
Mike Awesome and Masato Tanaka –
The Artistry in Their Violent Chemistry
The first time Mike Awesome and Masato Tanaka crossed paths inside the squared circle, the chemistry was undeniable. The sparks flew as they engaged in a brutal, hard-hitting battle that would become a harbinger of things to come.
Their rivalry was founded on mutual respect and a shared commitment to pushing the limits of hardcore wrestling. The feud grew organically as they continued to collide, each match becoming more brutal and unforgettable than the last.
But before details of their last match together are shared, it is important to share details of their earlier times against one another. Their first documented match against one another was as part of a six-man tag match for FMW during their Haisuinojin – Tag 6 event on April 23rd, 1994.
The Origins of Their Rivalry in Japan
Eastern wrestling fans will their battles in promotions such as Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling among other places. Their first recorded in-ring encounter would be on April 23rd, 1994.
While competing for FMW at their Haisuinojin – Tag 6 event, Big Titan, Dr. Luther, and The Gladiator (Mike Awesome) would face Choden Senshi Battle Ranger Z, Masato Tanaka, and Mr. Gannosuke in about twelve and a half minutes.
At this point in their careers, Awesome was already a five-year pro, while Tanaka was only in his second year of competition. So, while Tanaka had a few years less of experience behind it he would make up for it with the sheer quantity of matches he had at that point of their first meeting.
Tanaka had wrestled an astounding 108 matches in less than two years of active competition before he and Awesome first stood across the ring from one another. Even though Awesome had more than double the amount of in-ring matches than Tanaka, it didn’t matter.
While Tanaka is known for his battles with others, including the late Hayabusa, it was his dance with Mike Awesome that proved to have the most value. But before the two could develop that chemistry, they first would face one another as part of a multi-man tag match for Atsushi Onita’s Frontier Martial Arts of Wrestling promotion.
On April 23rd, 1994, as part of a six-man tag, Masato Tanaka, along with FMW’s own Atsushi Onita and Mr. Gannasuke, would battle Mr. Pogo, Hideki Hosaka, and The Gladiator. It was The Gladiator that would later compete as Mike Awesome.
But on August 25th, 1995, more than a year after the first time, the two stood in the ring across from each other ‘The Gladiator’ (Mike Awesome) and Masato Tanaka would face each other in one-on-one action for the first time.
At FMW’s Super Dynamism ’95, as part of the FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Title tournament, The Gladiator would defeat Tanaka to advance in the tournament. A tournament that was later won by The Gladiator.
The Violence They Faced in FMW
With any FMW match, the battles were always to the extreme. The two men would essentially bludgeon each other from the opening bell. But what made their matches so special was that with each strike, kick, or punch, it was more vicious than the last one.
Whether it be Street Fight’s, No Ropes Barbed Wire Street Fight Tornado Tag matches or Penalty Box No Ropes matches, Tanaka and ‘The Gladiator’ would throw everything at each other, including the kitchen sink, all to cement themselves as the most dominant.
The next logical step was for the two to take their battles to a North American audience in a place that would be akin to Onita’s FMW in Japan, Paul E Dangerously’s Extreme Championship Wrestling.
Bringing Their Artistry and Violence to Extreme Championship Wrestling
By 1998 the two would begin to face each other with the matches raising in intensity and with the stakes becoming greater. It would be over the Summer of 1998 when Mike Awesome and Masato Tanaka would face each other 9 times over two months.
So in the Fall of 1998, Awesome and Tanaka would battle for the ECW World Heavyweight title and into the new millennium.
Once their time in ECW came to an end, they would battle in Major League Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling before ending their time against one another, once again tearing down the house in ECW.
Extreme Championship Wrestling’s One Night Stand 2006 saw the most intense and fierce 10-minute bout in quite some time. Mike Awesome and Masato Tanaka treated fans who were unaware of their history with one another to a whole new level of violence. Their matches spoke to fans without saying a word.
The impact of ECW on Tanaka and Awesome’s styles ECW left an indelible mark on both Tanaka and Awesome. Tanaka’s already physical style meshed seamlessly with the ECW atmosphere, allowing him to showcase his tenacity and technical prowess.
On the other hand, Awesome’s time in ECW allowed him to further hone his high-flying and power-based arsenal. This fusion of styles added depth to their rivalry, resulting in matches that were not only brutal but also technically captivating.
This would be the final time the two men would face one another. Their battles had little to do with epic promo battles between these two massive men.
It was a straight-ahead battle between two men who threw things at one another and hit each other from anywhere and everywhere. But what also remained remarkable was that for as violent their matches were with one another, there was a sense of chemistry these two had that would define their careers.
The harder they hit each other, the more they appeared to move forward and through the pain, through the suffering, and through the suffering.
A defining aspect of Tanaka and Awesome’s rivalry was their willingness to embrace innovative match stipulations. They didn’t just fight each other; they fought in unique environments.
Stipulations like “Barbed Wire Deathmatches” and “Taipei Deathmatches” added an extra layer of excitement and danger to their encounters. These stipulations became synonymous with their rivalry and helped it stand out in the world of professional wrestling.
Within these stipulated matches were moments that etched themselves into wrestling history. Images of Mike Awesome and Masato Tanaka being thrown through tables, wrapped in barbed wire, or enduring chair shots became iconic. These moments showcased their unwavering commitment to their craft and the lengths they were willing to go to entertain their fans.
The weapons were not just props; they were tools for storytelling, conveying the brutality and determination of both wrestlers.
This begins to paint a vivid picture of the unique and intense nature of the rivalry between Masato Tanaka and Mike Awesome and how their journeys through ECW and Japan’s wrestling scene shaped this legendary conflict.
Their battles crossed continents, oceans, and promotions. With the passing of Mike Awesome, sadly, the chances of the two battling once again also came to an end. But the two knew how each other thought.
They knew the moves of the other time and time again. The chemistry between Mike Awesome and Masato Tanaka was unparalleled, and the artistry in the violent matches were legendary.
