Koji Kitao vs John Tenta 放棄された Shoot 1991 04 01

[@GEM99Show]

After watching the Dark Side of the Ring episode of Earthquake, it's really interesting to look back at this match, knowing that one man became a beloved figure in the locker room while the other man got fired for going off the rails. Seriously, John Tenta looked like an old veteran wrestler who's in his 40's. But he was 28 here and handled it like a pro. That alone should tell you how impressive he was for his age and size. What a legend.

[@rafavelim3051]

John was a good man with a big heart, he knew he was tough and didnt see the need to prove it outside of the ring.

[@brandonallen3808]

4:40 That had to be demoralizing for Kitao to here his fellow countrymen chat his opponents name.

[@mikes.7654]

Good. Kitao was completely useless and it makes me smile whenever I see him get humiliated. Why anyone would screw with Tenta, one of the nicest people on earth, a careful wrestler, and a big cuddly teddy bear of a man that could maim you if he wanted to, I will never understand.

[@KomradeKrusher]

Too many mistake kindness for weakness.

[@BradleyVolk3]

If you enjoy Koji being humiliated, then his UFC fight against 175lb Mark Hall is a MUST SEE. He basically gets his nose broken, stops fighting, and scrambles out of the cage in complete panic and terror. You'd think a 12 year old would have more of a pain tolerance. Some mmartists get their nose broken every fight they're in. Kojis first busted nose brought his cage fighting dreams to a screeching halt!😩😭🤕

[@mikes.7654]

@@BradleyVolk3 Ahahahaha thank you imma look this up. Love seeing this dick get his shit pushed in.

[@kevthegoat8774]

​@@BradleyVolk3Kitao didn't go scrambling out the cage at all, he was actually on top of Mark Hall until they called the fight to check his nose and after it was broken he quit. He was actually very respectful to Hall after the loss bowing to him.

[@BeeHatGuy]

I just saw a documentary on this, and wow, Kitao was a dirty, disrespectful, undeserving bully. Only Yokozuna to never win a tournament on top of that

If you want to see Kitao get his nose completely detroyed you can find his UFC 9 fight against Mark Hall on YT. Might be the bloodiest nose I've ever seen. It's funny watching Kitao having a fit throwing a table all because Tenta used some basic amateur wrestling on him. Tenta was legit. Wrestled for Louisiana State when they still had a wrestling program.

[@ajp069]

I think the most important thing to remember here is that John Tenta was 27 years old when he had this match-turned-shoot 😅

[@1980bwc]

😂😂😂😂

[@hoffjdod3276]

There’s no way he’s only 27 here, he looks 40 years old minimum

[@ajp069]

@@hoffjdod3276 2 months from his 28th birthday 😅😅😅

[@alp21188]

@@ajp069amazing I thought he was still in his early 20’s here

[@mykoniichistorychannel]

That’s a HARD 27.

[@arserobinson7118]

Tenta's speed was amazing for such a big guy

[@CactusJacksEar]

In my opinion Koji Kitao made a complete fool of himself.

[@Bryan8329]

He picked a good day to do it

[@smokeyrameriz478]

Well he thought he was going to go out there and whoop Tenta. Realized he couldn't and threw a fit. Yeah he made a fool of himself

[@JamesTobiasStewart]

​@@smokeyrameriz478 I find it interesting to note that he claimed in the ensuing shoot promo that Tenta would never be able to beat him in a real fight, when all he seemed to have; was shoot kicks, which Tenta mostly dodged or blocked, some slaps and trying to go for Tenta's eyes, which would have been scummy even if had worked, but which Tenta blocked. Then it became clear that he couldn't overpower Tenta, he assaulted the Ref, laid into the crowd, talked about how he could TOTALLY beat Tenta in a real fight and then left without actually doing anything to prove it. Frankly the most impressive physical feat in this match was Tenta deadlifting Kitao and throwing him like halfway across the ring at 3:19 (where notice that Kitao didn't seem to be having an easy time making Tenta let go).

[@Gojirilla]

you're far from alone in that opinion hahaha

[@Liam-lx8xb]

Can we really call it an opinion at this point?

[@dee3824]

こうやって見ると、北尾選手はビガロやベイダー、そしてテンタと、スーパーヘビー級の素晴らしいライバルがいっぱいいたのに、全部自分のエゴでダメにしちゃったんだよなぁ😥😣 実に勿体無かったよ😰

[@robhill4352]

As a proud sumo warrior Koji couldn't accept @3:19. That hurt his feelings

[@garysmith1863]

That’s the turning point. It broke his cool.

[@pauldavis5665]

Tenta made sure to put his D on his A to assert his dominance 😆

[@user-安藤由昭]

途中で「レフェリー、水入りやー」という野次が聞こえるね。関係者か観客か、 いずれにせよ的確な意見だと思います。

[@tdi8914]

北尾にしたら同じサンパチ生まれで自分が横綱昇進した時に快進撃で幕下に上がってきて廃業したのが琴天太。WWFでトップになったテンタに対して「元幕下ごときが、こっちは横綱だぞ」という気持ちがどうしても出てしまうんだな。プロレスの試合としてはあってはいけないことだが。そんな2人も生きていればまだ還暦直前くらいだが、あまりにも早く逝ってしまった。

[@dee3824]

もし上手く融合出来てたら、もしかしたら名物カードに、またはその後に超大型タッグが実現したかもしれなかった。

[@maruhiroya417]

​@@dee3824 WARで仕切り直した時はもうテンタの体調がヤバすぎて酷い試合でした。

[@dai2asakaze]

同じ横綱でも 健気な輪島とエラい違いやったって散々言われたわな

[@menchi0079]

テンタって相撲全勝のまま廃業してるのよね、そのまま相撲してたらどこまでいっただろう？最低でも関取にはなれただろうなぁ

[@ItsAllStorytelling]

I love how this is cut so the finish is Tenta telling Kitao, “This is pro wrestling.”

[@snarkyguy2657]

Legendary match for all the wrong reasons.

[@Bryan8329]

Bret Hart’s book has some interesting backstage perspective on this.

[@attentionaddicts]

8:40 - "who do you think you are?... This is pro wrestling"

[@ericmonaco4509]

*Then later* Kitao:WRESTLING IS FAKE!!

[@evanstore21]

Anybody watching this because of dark side of the ring?

[@djyanno]

I am now on board the John Tenta bandwagon. Such a great man!

[@douglas69ification]

Cornette and flyin' Brian

[@CavangoVulgora]

No, I am here because of "Hulk Hogan's Most DESPICABLE Lie(s)". 💪

[@kowalskivideos6476]

Kitao was an unprofessional coward. He tried to poke his eye and when he realized tenta had his number he knew tenta would destroy him. A huge man with sumo training, yeah even if he was a grand champion tenta would eat him alive. Such an amazing professional and man Earthquake was. Sad he’s no longer with us

[@rjminar1980]

Two big boys that knew how to go!

[@danzena4059]

John Tenta is such a good friend. He put himself at risk to protect Hogan's reputation and the business of pro wrestling. He deserves his flowers for that.

[@drewbog1055]

lmao🤣

[@oRealAlieNo]

U believe hogan😅😅😅😅

[@johntenta7803]

Hogan's memory is pretty wrecked. Kitao was never a big enough draw to go against Hogan. Also Tenta already pinned Kitao in a worked match days before this. According to Bret Hart, Tenta already anticipated the shoot between him and Kitao days before this.

[@UMAMIMAMU]

4:56 "Are you f***ed up in the head?!". Lol.

[@donjohn2695]

Koji tried this 💩with haku in a match and haku nearly killed him with a stiff as hell dropkick

[@ashrafafifi8421]

I saw the match and didnt see any violence or killing attempting it was just girls match So chill out

[@mykoniichistorychannel]

Koji got his bell rung.

[@dorlisamoothery865]

​@ashrafafifi8421 chill out for what because your feelings are hurt 😂😂

[@chrismccoy6481]

​@@ashrafafifi8421 😂 Haku legitimately dropped him with a dropkick to the face. Wtf did you watch? I'd get your brain checked out bud.

[@ashrafafifi8421]

@@chrismccoy6481 and you believe that

[@carwars-i9g]

北尾は本物の横綱になったレスラー WWFにも「ヨコヅナ」というレスラーがいたが、北尾は本物だった 横綱時代も、自分の力士部屋の不正を告発したり、ちゃんこ代を北尾のポケットマネーで肩代わりしていた 北尾は良くも悪くも素直すぎた だからこそ利用され、バカにされた ただこの試合で一つ言えるのは、ジョン・テンタがよく対応したということ

[@bricepaul80]

The immortal Hulk Hogan brought me here

[@1980Triumph]

me too, about an hour after your post

[@bricepaul80]

@@1980Triumph Saw it on a KZbin short interview...

[@1980Triumph]

@@bricepaul80 lol, me too and came looking for the match and saw your comment

[@bricepaul80]

@@1980Triumph I'm not sure if this is the match he was referring to or not...

[@1980Triumph]

@@bricepaul80 me either because of the lack of actual combat but it does seem that Koji went to hook the eye and EQ got pissed and started cussing at him,

[@Murcury108]

when John put his hands out at 3:43 i can only imagine that he's saying to Kitao " what the fuck are you doing"

[@longfootbuddy]

i think tenta was scared.. scared of what would happen after he splattered kitaos guts all over the ring

[@jamesblevins7115]

John Tenta is a Mount Rushmore figure in wrestling

[@KRISSLEE-t1o]

Earthquake are big, man, Tojo is huge too

[@BisonBriggs-nj6xf]

John wasn't playing ball,he tried to make it a shoot. If you know pro wrestling you would see this.

[@kato12241224]

・・この状態 ( 興行としての理解度 ) で、リングに上がっていることが凄いです。 アマのケンカか なにか、サッパリ分かりません w

[@joeloxig6872]

Kitao knew what he was doing … that's why he's an asshole.

[@wingerfan1]

John Tenta hands-down would've took him in a fight any day of the week. Not somebody you want to mess with despite being a nice guy.

[@stevejamieson8468]

A lot of people are unaware that John was a D1 wrestler at LSU before the school scrapped its program.

[@hideki8398]

空気を読めないことと恐ろしいまでの自己評価の高さゆえに生まれたモンスター

[@KokoandFooFoo]

Hogan was supposed to wrestle Kitao in this match but Tenta said no because of Kitao's rep. Tenta offered to wrestle Kitao because Tenta is a former sumo and could handle Kitao who is also a former sumo.

[@WisteriaNerium]

Oh brother. If you believe Hogan on anything he says I got a bridge to sell you

[@サンタ郎トナカイ]

「持ちつ持たれつ」。　北尾には理解出来なかった。

[@shin.training-channel]

4:30 起点

[@halriggs9328]

Kitao did more then that at WrestleMania 7

[@jipsumies3435]

Didn't he also wrestle in Wrestlemania 3 against Demolition?

[@IrishKyokushin]

​@@jipsumies3435that was Wrestlemania 7, where he teamed with Tenryu to face Demolition.

[@k.k.7160]

北尾が悪いように言われるが改めて観るとテンタも悪いような、、、最初に北尾がロックアップしようとしてるのにテンタが組み合わず、次に北尾が手四つで力比べを演出しようとしてるのに途中で胸元へ頭突きをやって壊したり、テンタがバックへ周り、北尾が抜けようとしたり腕を取り返そうとしたりしてるのに、唐突に持ち上げてグランド移行したり。北尾ばかり悪者に出来ないようにも私には見えました。次の再度の手四つで逆にローキックしてしまったり、テンタが腕を取らせてるのにマジで脇固めしようとしてからは北尾が悪いですし、もっと我慢してればこの後の手四つからプロレスが成立したかもしれないですね。

[@要中山]

北尾が最初から変。 試合後の問題発言は有名だが、いきなり極端な行動に出ず、自身の考えや要望を筋道通して訴えて行けば要らぬトラブルを招かずに済んだはずだ。

[@kato12241224]

目が自己中 w

[@maruhiroya417]

​@@kato12241224 そもそも「極息子」でしたからね、生家は四日市、松阪界隈では有名な893だったらしいです。

[@solsticelacer]

Kitao was a bully who met someone he couldn't bully

[@davidsenatore1880]

John was only 27 here

[@nk2282]

子供の時に見ていたから意識していなかったけれど、今改めて見ると北尾選手は日本人としてはでかいね… 凄く恵まれた体格 メガネスーパーのご夫妻共々、北尾選手に良い意味で、プロレスとは～と、入団前にレクチャーする人がいなかったのが残念… まぁ、北尾選手は子供の時からのエリート意識や性格があるから聴かなかったであろうけれど… ん～当時から今までアンチばかり(まぁね…)でも、今でも気になってしまうのは、やっぱり彼にはスター性があったんじゃないかな…

[@岡山雄三]

テンタでかい

[@tarou_etou]

船木さんのチャンネルの、裏話オススメ

[@marcvolkamer133]

Saved Hogan that night. Hogan was slated to wrestle that guy. Tenta stepped in

[@青田-i8c]

北尾はプロレスに徹していれば、違った人生歩んでいたかも！立派な体なのに、宝の持ち腐れになったな

[@まさぽむ-w7b]

相撲にも同じことが言えますね

[@青田-i8c]

@@まさぽむ-w7b プロレス道は相手の技を受けるなど暗黙の了解が有りますからね！毎日真剣勝負じゃ怪我人続出で興行が成り立たない！相撲は巡業場所は花相撲です、本場所が真剣勝負です！

[@32rodrick]

Match Courtesy of TOKYO CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING Sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance

[@michaelmclaren1333]

What does tenta say at 7:00?

[@Murcury108]

"you wanna fucking try that shit with me"

[@nick56677]

"We'll fuggin get dirty then!"

[@adampickert2963]

I figured it out, Tenta yells out in full: "you wanna get dirty? We'll fucking get dirty then!"

[@doctordemon5076]

Bro,why no sub...? 😢

[@Dog77769]

Yokozuna to wrestling .... yikes

[@josephbraus4836]

Wm 7 tenryu and kitao vs smash and crush worst match in history of wrestlemanias.

[@neb3757]

06:45 whoa. Looked real

[@JamesTobiasStewart]

It was, by that point this match had gone completely off script, due to Kitao shooting on Tenta. Kitao was legitimately going for Tenta's eyes by that point and Tenta was understandably pissed about it and threw a very real kick in response. If you watch the throw earlier in the match, you'll see the lack of cooperation. Normally with Wrestling throws, the guy being thrown jumps subtly to aid in executing the move. Kitao meanwhile not only didn't jump, he was physically trying to pry Tenta's hands off, meaning Tenta had to deadlift him and execute the throw the hard way (which kind of shows why it was considered unwise to screw with John Tenta, despite his nice guy rep).

[@neb3757]

​@JamesTobiasStewart yeah it turned pretty much into a type of mma match.

[@JamesTobiasStewart]

@@neb3757 Yep, especially when Kitao tried to put Tenta in an armbar (though that crap with going for Tenta's eyes would still see Kitao disqualified in any reputable MMA organisation), like he was trying to legitimately do a submission hold.

[@user-hideyoshi]

伝説のYOKOZUNA（故人）

[@DavidMorgan-d6p]

Tenta threw the first slap and also seemed more aggressive in the beginning. I feel like Tenta had a reason he didn’t like dude

[@peterp2153]

If you’re talking about the slap at 4:30, it’s because Kitao tried to legit wrench Earthquake’s arm with that hold. Though yes, I think there was trouble brewing with Kitao going into the match.

[@ashrafafifi8421]

The japanesse plays the sumo guy in the movie name the quest with Jean claud vandame

[@greenlanterncantake]

Great movie! And soundrack

[@尚則淡路]

北尾は八百長野郎と罵りクビになった！

[@snerffy]

Tenta seemed intent on embarrassing him from the outset. no one likes public humiliation. after Tenta manhandled Kitao at 3:18 and Kitao twisted his arm at 4:28, this match was effectively over.

[@jkgoet01]

wasn't Kitao supposed to wrestle Hulk Hogan, but they found out before the match that Kitao was actually going to fight him, so Tenta stepped in because he used to Sumo so Hogan didn't get hurt? Just heard that on the Theo Von/Hogan podcast

[@tomsnowden6201]

It’s pro wrestling bro

[@snerffy]

you’re right, jkgoet

[@snerffy]

pro wrestling has kayfabe and shoot incidents. you oughta know, bro.

[@donjohn2695]

John was freinds with Hogan and knew that kitao was going to shoot on Hogan in there match so John stepped in and said he'll wrestle kitao so if kitao shoots tenta can handle it and John was right

[@salty4562]

北尾にはキングハクをあてれば良かったかも。恐らくフルボッコで大変な目に合わされただろう。 北尾が。

[@たつやかねこ-t4l]

そこは地方会場でやっておけばよかったよね。片耳ちぎるとか、目玉くり抜くとか、そこまで含めて。だってハクもそんなに強いかね？（笑）ハクでも北尾には通用しないかもよ？力道山やプロディ刺殺したような「ルールと秩序は守れよな」は必要だと思うよ。

[@spartybrearly7221]

Tenta was ultra-professional and particularly disliked the disrespect Kitao was showing pro-wrestling. Kitao was rightly sacked after this disgraceful behaviour.

[@user-fk6hv3np4i]

リング上でガチの目潰ししたの北尾とゴルドーくらいだろうな…

[@grungydiver]

北尾がテーブルを投げたのは、昔ベイダーが北尾に投げたのを真似ているだけ。

[@究極のかに]

カブキのマッチメイクが悪い

[@マック-t6p]

つまんない試合

[@セリーようちゃん]

テンタは脇固めもローキックも拒否❗北尾も目潰しはよくない。もっとローをガンガン蹴ってもよかったのでは。

[@たつやかねこ-t4l]

ゴルドーと試合組めば良かったんだよね。ＳＷＳは北尾っていうスターを作りたかったんだろうけど、そりゃ人間性悪過ぎて無理だよな。だからゴルドーに任せれば良かった、気地外格闘家だからね。身長は北尾と同じレベル。空手の王者なのに「裏技、反則」何の躊躇もなく目の前の相手をグチャグチャに殺せる悪魔。日本の大きな格闘技イベントでも用心棒として来てたよ。いざとなったらリングに上がって敵をバラバラに殺してくれるからって。だから、北尾にも一同、早いうちにゴルドー戦を経験させときゃ、よかったんだろうな、 泣きながらリングから逃げてくような試合を。勿論セカンドには何十人も並ばせて、北尾の内臓噛み砕かれるとか、目玉くり抜かれるとか、両耳食いちぎられるとか、ダウンしてる顔を粉々になるまで膝蹴りされるとか、人道違反映像に（ゴルドーは熱くなると平気でやるし、やめないからね。）ならないように直ぐ止めれる状況作らなきゃダメだけど。

[@daikon3793]

お互い過去の相撲時代やWWFトップとしてのプライドもあったんだろうけど、プロが大試合でやっちゃいかん事やってるのよ。 そもそもプロレス下手どころかできてもいない上に、自分達の感情を優先してプロとしての仕事を放棄してるんだから、プロ失格以外の何者でもない。

[@toshia-mp7wb]

レフリーが力不足すぎる。

[@小嶋達也-w8e]

緊張感あっていい試合。

[@高橋直之-w5k]

これが閣下に作ってもらった曲か😊もったいない

[@pescariacomotiojonh5311]

Luta de Marina gostei nada 👎

[@diegoass1978]

カブキが悪い。 それだけ。

[@kato12241224]

・・煽ったんか ? w

[@vamostokyo2008]

@@kato12241224 WWF側からの北尾2連敗ブックを飲んだからです。

[@diegoass1978]

詳しくはアポロチャンネルへ

[@maruhiroya417]

​@@kato12241224 煽ったのはDンA川さん😅

[@めにきち]

メガネスーパーの社長はプロレスを真剣勝負と思っていたなんて....

[@太郎山田-m2r]

つまらない人間だったな。

[@yossywaka2390]

ダメだ… 北尾氏がデカイ安倍晋三氏に見えてしまう…

[@michaelmcgillicutty639]

What a boring match

[@JohnDoe-gk7ok]

Well yeah. Kitao decided midway through the match that he wasn’t going to cooperate and sandbagged Tenta every spot that he called. So it turned into two guys just poking and mad dogging one another, instead of an actual match.

[@murasame_games1307]

これが北尾の「八百長野郎この野郎！」が生まれたこの試合か

[@大峰雅光]

あの発言を聞かせて欲しかった。

[@maruhiroya417]

オーノォ、ヨコヅナ、ソレイッタラアカン!!@テンタ😂😂😂

[@yasuyasuchan]

ま​@@maruhiroya417