In 1995, WCW’s Eric Bischoff set up a promotion with New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Antonio Inoki to hold an event in North Korea, and the event was historic for many reasons as its US is This Day in Wrestling History moment.
This was going to be the first North American wrestling company’s pay-per0view held in the North Korea over a two day period in April that year.
It began when Bischoff wanted to renew a partnership with NJPW that allowed WCW stars to go to Japan and Japanese stars to wrestling in WCW in a cross-promotion.
It was a cool time for fans as we got to see wrestlers and styles we might not have otherwise, and when Inoki approached Bischoff about a peace festival, the idea of wrestling in North Korea was broached.
Some in, some not
Getting stars like Hulk Hogan to agree to go didn’t work out, but Bischoff approached Ric Flair and others, including Mohammad Ali, who were receptive to going.
Darkside of the Ring had a great indepth episode about what they experienced while there, starting with having their passports taken and held.
A couple more included Bischoff going for a morning run and everyone that saw him being terrified of him, and Scott Norton learning not to say anything bad about the country on the phone.
2 Cold Scorpio and Road Warrior Hawk also had a couple of altercations with each other and Hawk was with Flair and Scorpio and Flair had an acrimonious relationship after Scorpio left WCW.
Like a tomb
While the card was impressive, the crowd was silent through most of it, which made sense since the wrestlers were told by their driver they were being forced to attend.
As surreal as it was, the crowd started coming to life when Ric Flair and Antonio Inoki faced off for the main event.
Inoki was a favorite of North Korea as he’d been associated with Rikidōzan allegedly died at the hands of the Yakuza in 1963. When he defeated Flair, the stadium erupted.
Setting records
The event was held over two days, and the total number in attendance totaled 340,000 or more for the largest wrestling audience in history.
Unfortunately, the numbers are in debate and often criticized since the people weren’t paying and were forced to be there.
It doesn’t mean it’s not a historic moment, but there’s always going to be thoughts on way or another on this.
To take something positive from this, Bischoff has said he believes Vince McMahon wasn’t happy because it was a wrestling event bigger than WrestleMania.
It took them until August to release the pay-per-view, and until recently many of us didn’t know what they had to deal with or what the conditions were like.
But in the end, the show went on and everyone was safe. Not a bad way for This Day in Wrestling moment to go, all things considered
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