The NWA Worlds Championship Reign of Tatsumi Fujinami

Tatsumi Fujinami a legendary Japanese professional wrestler who made his pro wrestling debut on May 9, 1971 and as of this post, 54 years later is still and active competitor in the ring at 71 years old with a dozen matches so far in 2025.

Among his numerous championships, he is a 6 time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, WWF World Junior Heavyweight Champion, WWF International Heavyweight Championship, 2015 WWE Hall of Fame inductee, and for 59 days in 1991 he was the recognized NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion.

To tell this story though, we need to go back to November 1988 when Ted Turner purchased Jim Crockett Promotions forming WCW: World Championship Wrestling.  JCP was an affiliate of the NWA and recognized the NWA Championships, WCW did the same when they acquired JCP.

In their first steps to withdraw from the NWA, WCW decides to declare their own World Champion. On January 11, 1991 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Ric Flair defeated then NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Sting to not only win the NWA World Title but become the first WCW World Champion.

WCW did not have a physical belt to represent the WCW World Championship, instead doubles the Big Gold Belt as both the NWA and WCW championship.

March 21, 1991 WCW & New Japan Pro Wrestling promote a joint show at the Tokyo Dome where 64,500 fans watch the IWGP World Champion: Tatsumi Fujinami pin the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair in the main event to capture the championship.

Flair's WCW World Championship was never announced as being on the line.  During the closing moments of the match referee Bill Alfonso was knocked out, during that time Fujinami threw Flair over the top rope, a disqualification at the time.  NJPW Referee Tiger Hattori ran in and counted the pinfall and declared Fujinami the champion.

During his post match press conference in the back, Flair barged in, took the physical belt and told Fujinami to come and get it.  In the United States WCW never recognized the title change stating that Fujinami was disqualified and that Flair was still the champion.  In Japan he was recognized at the NWA World Champion.

 

On May 19, 1991 WCW would hold their inaugural SuperBrawl PPV event in St. Petersburg, Florida featuring the rematch of Ric Flair vs. Tatsumi Fujinami.  During the build to the show WCW acknowledge there was controversy from their match in Japan and that at the end of the match we would know who the World Champion was.

During introductions ring announcer Gary Michael Cappetta stated the match was for the WCW World Championship.  Fujinami was announced as the IWGP Champion however he did not come out with the title.  Flair was announced at the WCW World Champion.  No-mention was made of the NWA World Championship.

For this match, Tiger Hattori was the assigned in-ring official while Bill Alphonso would be the official at ringside.  The finish came when Fujinami rolled up Flair in an O'Connor roll and on kick out Fujinami and Hattori collied heads.  Flair then rolled up Fujinami in a school boy and Alphonso jumped in the ring for the 3 count.  Cappetta announced Flair as still the WCW World Champion.  The NWA Officially recognized Flair as the new NWA Worlds Champion.

The NWA & WCW title lineages would separate for good on July 1, 1991 when Flair left WCW and was stripped of the WCW World Championship, they would declare a new champion and physical belt on July 14, 1991 when Lex Luger defeated Barry Windham in a cage at the Great American Bash. 

The NWA would recognize Flair as the NWA World Champion until September 1991 when Flair made his WWF debut with the big gold belt declaring himself the real world's champion.

In the end, we got two outstanding matches between Flair and Fujinami and there appears to be an attempt at creating a good story with a controversial finish.  However, it seems neither side could agree on how they want to tell the story, so in the end we got, what we got. 

However Fujinami is officially recognized as a former NWA Worlds Champion, holding the title for 59 days from March 21, 1991 - May 19, 1991.  He had only 1 defense, when he lost the title back to Flair.

 

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!

America's Most Wanted

TNA Wrestling's launch in 2002 we saw a mix of veterans wrestlers and regional wrestlers that were mostly unknown on the national stage some of which would go on to become TNA's homegrown talent establishing themselves as bona fide wrestling stars.  I think many will agree that AJ Styles is the biggest homegrown wrestler to come out TNA, yes he wrestled before TNA was created, and even was signed with WCW but his TNA run is what established him.

In my opinion the first homegrown tag team to come out of TNA, and one of my all time favorite tag teams is the "Wildcat" Chris Harris and the "Tennessee Cowboy" James Storm collectively known as Americas Most Wanted.

James Storm began his pro wrestling career in 1997 in Tennessee and in 2000 was signed by WCW wrestling as an enhancement talent mostly on WCW Worldwide until the promotion folded and he continued wrestling on the independent circuit.

Chris Harris started his journey in 1995 in Kentucky and in 2000 was signed by WCW where he also wrestled primarily as enhancement talent on WCW Saturday Night and WCW Worldwide.  His highest profile match was a preshow dark match at the 2001 WCW Superbrawl Revenge PPV where he defeated Kid Romeo.

On June 1, 2002 at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Nashville their paths would cross in the ring for the very first time as James Storm would defeat Chris Harris for his USA North American Heavyweight championship at the USA Wrestling Legendsfest card.  This match was a tryout of sorts as Jeff Jarrett was impressed with them enough to invite them to the first set of TNA Tapings on June 19, 2002 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

They would make their debut as a tag team on episode 2 in a storyline that saw the Dupps refuse to wrestle the Rainbow Express: Bruce & Lenny because of their alleged sexuality, nothing you would ever seen doe today.  Cut to NWA Vice President Bill Behrens stopping Storm and Harris in the hallway who appeared to be either just arriving or just leaving the venue sending them to the ring in their street clothes to compete in the match.

Storm and Harris would go on to defeated The Rainbow Express when Chris Harris rolled up Lenny in a schoolboy.  Don West even mentioned on commentary their match against each other earlier in the month.

The following week on Episode 3 they would compete in a tournament four team tournament for the vacant NWA World Tag Team Championships.  The would defeat The Johnsons in their first match, however were attacked backstage before the finals and would be replaced by the team of Jerry Lynn and AJ Styles.

The first time they are referred to as America's Most Wanted was on September 18, 2002 at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds the same date they captured their first of six NWA World Tag Team Championships.  "Primetime" Brian Lee and Chris Harris were the final two competitors in a Tag Team Gauntlet for the Gold Battle Royal, which brought their partners James Storm and Ron Harris back for a traditional tag team match that saw AMW pick up the win in just under 5 minutes.

For the next four years AMW would carry the TNA tag team division on their backs feuding with the Disciples of the New Church, The Harris Brothers, The Hot Shots, Triple X, 3 Live Cru, Team 3D, LAX, and so many more tag teams.

Their feud with Triple X culminated in one of the best Steel Cage tag team matches of all time on December 5, 2004 at the Turning Point PPV in Orlando, Florida.  The night that Elix Skipper walked the top of the cage.  AMW would pick up the win, and as a result Triple X was forced to break up as a team.  This match would also earn the TNA Match of the Year award for 2004.    

In October 2005 Gail Kim would join the duo becoming their manager.  As 2006 began wind down cracks began to show in the partnership of Storm and Harris.  At Turning Point 2006 they lost a Flag Match to LAX when Storm accidentally got glass from a broken beer bottle in Harris eyes.  On the December 14, 2006 episode of Impact! AMW lost a match to LAX after Storm hit Harris with a beer bottle intentionally.  Per the pre-match stipulation the AMW was forced to break up.

The duo with feud with each other culminating in a Texas Death Match on May 13, 2007 at TNA Sacrifice in Orlando, Florida that saw Harris come out on top.

James Storm would go on to form another successful Tag Team in TNA with Robert Roode as Beer Money INC. He would even win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.  In October 2015 he made a surprise appearance in NXT defeating Danny Burch.  He would have one more NXT match, before returning to TNA wrestling.  In recent years he wrestled for New Japan, NOAH, the NWA and numerous independents.

Harris would leave TNA debuting in the WWE in 2008 for only a few matches as Braden Walker.  In 2011 he returned to TNA for 3 matches, teaming with Matt Hardy in losing efforts to Beer Money INC for the tag team championships. Since the 2011 run Harris has only had about 40 matches through June 2025.

In their time together as a team they held the NWA Cyberspace Tag Team Championships for 224 days, the Puerto Rico based WWC Tag Team Championships, and held the NWA World Tag Team Champions for a record 6 times for a combined 517 days.  They were the 2003 & 2004 TNA Tag Team of the year, the 2005 Wrestling Observer Tag Team of the Year, and 2004 PWI Tag Team of  the year. 

America's Most Wanted Reunions

On July 9, 2016 AMW team up for the first time in nearly a decade for USA Championship Wrestling in Gladeville, Tennessee defeated The Naturals: Andy Douglas & Chase Stevens. 

On the March 30, 2021 Harris accompanied James Storm to the ring for his 1,000th match in TNA wrestling as he faced Eric Young.

June 19, 2022 at Slammiversary AMW came to the ring to toast the Good Brothers and the Briscoes after the Good Brothers defeated the Briscoes for the TNA Tag Team Championships

July 1, 2022 at Against All Odds at Center Stage, Atlanta, Georgia, America's Most Wanted reunited teaming with Heath Slater and The Good Brothers: Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson to defeated Honor No More: Eddie Edwards, Kenny King, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, & PCO.

September 9, 2023 at 1,000th episode of TNA Impact Wrestling America's Most Wanted reunited teaming with Team Canada: Eric Young & Scott D'Amore defeating The Design: Deaner & Kon and Kenny King & Sheldon Jean

March 9, 2024 in Chillicothe, OH at WCPBTW The Reunion 3: Calvacade of Legends Matt Riddle & Rob Van Dam teamed to defeated America's Most Wanted

August 5, 2024 in Chillicothe, OH at WCPBTW Showdown at the Fairgrounds Ricky Morton & "Wildfire" Tommy Rich defeated America's Most Wanted to win the vacant Ohio State Tag Team Championships.

In 2004 TNA released a home video, Best of America's Most Wanted, a two DVD set featuring some of their best matches in TNA to date, including a match with the Rock n' Roll Express.

I remember when I bought this, I was at work checking out the Black Friday Deals on the TNA Shop and saw this for $10, never seen it before and I did not hesitate to pick it up.  It's on of the few TNA DVD's in my collection.  It's time for a re-watch, that's for sure.

This card is from the 2004 TNA Pacific Trading card series.  I mailed this AMW and a solo card to Chris Harris to sign in 2008.  

I was able to get James Storm to sign at the only TNA show in Maine today, December 4, 2009 at the then Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland.  After the show almost all of the wrestlers came back out and walked around ringside taking photos and signing for the fans.

Although there tenure together was short, comparatively to some of the all time greats, there were a very formidable team and were the lifeblood of the TNA tag team division.  

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!

Gunther Just Doesn't Lose

Rumors surface in late 2018 that the dominant Austrian wrestler Walter has signed with the WWE.  A powerhouse across Europe since his debut in November 2005 he held numerous championships including a 417 day reign as Progress Wresting World Champion, and a 3 time WXW World Champion for a combined 662 days.

On January 12, 2019 debut at NXT UK Takeover Blackpool confronting NXT United Kingdom Champion Pete Dunne to close out the show.  He made his in ring debut at a TV taping on January 13, 2019 defeating Jack Starz in a match that aired on January 30th.

Since his in ring debut until today, May 13, 2025 he has been in the WWE for 2,313 days and competed in 306 matches suffering only 24 defeats in singles matches.  Gunther also spent 1,795 days as Champion, so far between his reigns as United Kingdom Champion, Intercontinental Champion, and World Heavyweight Champion. 

Those 24 defeats are broken down as follows:

15 by disqualification

1 by count out

2 by submission

4 by pinfall 

essentially 6 defeats in over 6 years where he was pinned or submitted an unbelievable low number.

April 19, 2025 WrestleMania XLI Saturday Paradise, Nevada

submitted by Jey Uso lost the World Heavyweight Championship

November 2, 2024 Crown Jewel, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

pinned by WWE Champion: Cody Rhodes for the vacant Crown Jewel Championship

April 6, 2024 WrestleMania XL Saturday Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

pinned by Sami Zayn lost the Intercontinental Championship

April 5, 2022 NXT 2.0 WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida

pinned NXT Champion: Bron Breaker

August 22, 2021 NXT TakeOver 36, WWE Performance Center, Orlando, Florida

submitted by Ilja Dragunov lost the NXT United Kingdom Championship

November 24, 2019 Survivor Series, Rosemont Horizon, Illinois 

pinned by Drew McIntyre in the Raw vs Smackdown vs. NXT 15 Man Elimination Match 

Although this was not a singles match this was Gunther's first loss of any kind in WWE.  Kinda of shocking he was eliminated first and was pinned rather quickly in the match. 

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!