Match: Antonio Inoki & Strong Kobayashi vs. The Mongols (part 1 and part 2).
Federation: New Japan Pro Wrestling, 1976
Gimmicks: Foreign Invaders, Power of the Bearhug, War on Babyfaces
Gear Pat-Down: After stripping out of their beautiful kimonos, the Japanese heroes wear traditional high-waisted, stretchy trunks — Inoki in black and Kobayashi in red.
As the hometown heroes, it makes sense for these Good Guys to embrace tradition, to show pride in Japan with their kimonos and pride in the sport of pro wrestling with their no-nonsense trunks-and-boots look.
The Mongols on the other hand, with their outlandish top-knot hairstyles and goatees, sport identical black singlets and boots. I never really appreciated these form-fitting leotards when they were the basic uniform for wrestling Heels back in the 1970’s, but now I really get off on this look. These foreign bastards look absolutely badass in their tall boots and tight black bodysuits, hiked snugly up under their ball-sacks — totally kinky.
What to Watch For:
- Slow-paced 1970’s-style mat wrestling with long-held submission holds
- About 10 different Bearhugs and variations (standing, laying, front, back) throughout the match, with about 5 in a row applied on Inoki (whose suffering is always epic)
- The relentless smothering, crushing vibe of the Mongols, creating feelings of tension and frustration in the crowd as their Japanese heroes are getting owned in the ring.
Hottest Moves:
- “Strong” Kobayashi loses a long, sweaty Test of Strength, forced to his knees by the more powerful Mongol @ part 1, 5:10
- The first of numerous grinding Mongol Bearhugs on Inoki starting @ part 1, 8:10
- Bearhugging while laying down on the mat together like a pair of lovers in a romantic embrace @ part 2, 1:11
- Revenge Bearhug applied by Strong Kobayashi on a grunting and groaning Mongol @ part 2, 5:03
Psychology 101: This match is all about the hometown heroes defending the honor of their nation against the dirty, sub-human, foreign invaders.
The Mongols under Kublai Khan tried to conquer Japan twice in the 1200’s. You may think after about 800 years, the Japanese people would have gotten over this little spat, but a fear of foreigners persists in the Japanese psyche. This match plays off that xenophobia.
With their bizarre hair styles, the Mongols resemble the fearsome invaders from 800 years ago, further stirring up feelings of resentment and national pride. I’m sure some of the Japanese people in the audience, who are not known to be especially welcoming of foreigners, consider these Mongols to be little more than animals. To see them repeatedly throw their arms around Inoki, crushing and holding him, making him groan in agony (almost like they’re raping or “invading” him), really stirs up some intense emotions.
Eventually, one Mongol runs into the other Mongol’s boot in error, which gives Inoki the opening to apply two quick moves and win the match. This was the standard four-step formula in Japanese wrestling during the post-war era:
- Skillful grappling enables Japanese Heroes to dominate Foreign Bastards
- Foreign Bastards use crude rough-house tactics to gain control
- Japanese Heroes suffer relentless punishment and humiliation
- Japanese Heroes rally in the final seconds and pull off a narrow but oh-so-satisfying victory over the Foreign Bastards.
I don’t really mind these inevitable last-second victories by the Japanese Baby-Face wrestlers — I don’t really care who wins. It is the suffering along the way that I watch for.