fujiwara armbar investigates: Inoki Genome Federation (IGF)

An occasional series in which, in a bid to further my spotty knowledge of Japanese wrestling promotions, I watch a recent event and assess whether or not I'd watch regularly given the time, money and ability to access.

Promotion: Inoki Genome Federation (IGF)

Event watched: Inoki-Bom-Ba-Ye, 31st December 2013, Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo.

What did I know about the promotion going in/what impressions was I led to?: Not a great deal and that which I did know was subject to contradiction, confusion and obfuscation. I knew that IGF was owned by Antonio Inoki and that in his latter days in control of New Japan Pro Wrestling, Inoki-san was more and more overcome with affection for a style of in-ring action with greater degree of verisimilitude vis-a-vis real fighting. No whipping into the ropes and bouncing back; this is more punches, kicks and submissions.

I also assumed that all of the matches were worked/pre-determined: IGF is listed on Wikipedia as a wrestling promotion and its results compiled on Cagematch.

I'd been led to believe by my own prejudices that it would be completely crap. I'm not really a mixed-martial arts (MMA) fan though I have plenty of respect for the competitors, and I do think that the modern presentation of MMA offers something that pro-wrestling could use - and vice-versa. However, there are so many reservations that come with the idea of working a shoot. Let me list them.

• Part of the reason I don't like MMA is that I don't find it that entertaining. That said, the competition is real and the drama human and undeniable. Removing the competition seems to scupper any attraction it could have.
• It seems unnecessary for the workers to have to pay more attention to veracity, thereby increasing the risk of getting genuinely hurt, when there's nothing really at stake. 
• Working a wrestling match is fun because there are so many different ways you could go about it. Fights are generally the same every time. How many variations can you really work in before you really expose the business?
• It seems like there's an element of having your cake and eating it: gaining the corona of 'realness' with the proposed drama of 'falseness'. Something about that doesn't sit right.

My interest was recently piqued in IGF after they announced the signing of Daichi Hashimoto, son of ex-IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinya Hashimoto. It was a move that disappointed many in more puro-inclined circles given the early promise Daichi has shown in Zero-1.  

Don't do it, Daichi (credit: Keeping the Spirit Alive)

What is the history of the promotion?: Antonio Inoki set the promotion up in 2007 after being prised out of office at NJPW by the takeover of games maker Yuke's. Mirroring Inoki's in-ring career in which he faced a variety of legends from all different walks of fighting, the end of his run as an influential figure within NJPW saw a greater emphasis on worked shoot matches, as well as sending his emerging puro talent on excursions to face legitimate MMA opponents, nearly undermining his own empire. IGF has run 43 events since inception and retains an affiliation with the NWA.

What did you think?: We open with four presenters, who I think were the two commentators, a backstage interview guy and the female ring announcer. The presentation here is incredibly professional and classy-looking, with a big-fight spectacle level of production and 9000 fans in attendance. The event that I watched, Inoki-Bom-Ba-Ye 2013 is the most recent event, granting an insight into the sporadic nature of the promotion.

First in the ring was Minowaman vs. Atsushi Sawada. Minowaman won by referee stoppage in the second round. The fighting looked sort of real, not terrifically vicious, though Minowaman's closing flurry did have me questioning. Much like the close of a boxing or MMA fight, the ring filled rapidly with cornermen and flunkies, whilst Sawada, knocked clean on his behind seconds earlier manages to recover sufficiently to cut a promo on Minowaman, who looks irked despite having knocked his opponent way the fuck out. 

Minowaman

Minowaman managed to grab the mic as Sawada was leaving, sufficiently goading Sawada to charge back towards the ring. I'd put a steak dinner on the line if anyone can tell me that this was real and dinner for three to anyone who can point out what was entertaining about it.

The next bout was also contested under 'IGF MMA Rules' (handbook not included with entry) between Russian Ramazan Esenbaev and local chap Satoru Kitaoka. This one looked far more realistic. Esenbaev won by KO early in the second round, the replay showing every shot hit. The 'reality' jury was back out and remained deadlocked during a quick encounter between Shinya Aoki and Toshi, the former winning inside 20 seconds after Toshi's cornerman hurled a towel on seeing his charge getting snapped to bits.

The pretence of reality took the next two bouts to powder its nose. Firstly, New/All Japan Pro Wrestling 'legend' Kendo Kashin pretended to fight Chinese fighter Wang Bin. There was some comedy, where Kashin choked Bin with an audience member's scarf but ultimately this stuff was real hack work. Bin won by pinfall after a body slam and a kick, more-or-less.

Worse was to follow in a tag team encounter between natives Naoya Ogawa and Shinichi Suzukawa against Frenchman Jerome le Banner and New Zealander Ray Sefo. If you image search for le Banner, you'll see a particularly grim photo of his legitimate fights that makes me think that he's much wiser for opting for this safer land.

Ray Sefo

Not that that makes it easier to digest. The gaijin, wearing boxing gloves, took the match by pinfall. This was particularly horrible and incoherent stuff. The crowd were eating it up, suggesting either an angle concluded that I had no idea about or that I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about.

Remember that all of this garbage looks as pristine and professional as it gets. The production even steps up a notch for the main event as IGF Champion and ex-IWGP Heavyweight Champion (and also ruiner of G1 Climax 2005) Kazuyuki Fujita takes on, and loses gracefully to on points to, Satoshi Ishii. Ishii is a gold medallist from the 2008 Olympics in the heavyweight category of judo, proving his judoka credentials against Fujita by not even throwing him or attempting to throw him once. For three rounds they trade jabs and low knee strikes. Yawn.

To close, Inoki gets into the ring and makes a couple of gags and we roll credits to Fujita telling everyone how great Ishii is.

What did you think?: admittedly I went in with a very low bar and the show probably just about cleared it because of the way the show was put together, the enthusiasm of the crowd, the seemingly real glamour of the show (it was New Year's Eve, I guess) and the Esenbaev/Kitaoka fight. 

It occurs that the most likely reality is that some of it is definitely, egregiously, unanimously a work, some of it is in fact real, and those matches which have reputations and money and spectacle on the line are somewhere between. All this version of events does is tar the real fights with the potential of their falseness and makes the more obviously worked matches look completely ridiculous.

And in case any reader thinks that I am impugning the credentials of some of the competitors here, some of whom are massively decorated in their particular fighting sub-field, then think again. There's many good reasons why someone from a fighting world would entertain the prospect of a sideline or the extension of a hard-won career by cashing in in a worked domain. I just wish they'd also entertain the prospect of being entertaining in a worked domain.

Post-event research: Minowaman has fought over 100 fights with a record going in of 53-35-8. Vastly experienced. His opponent, Sawada, was on his first fight. Have to question that. Also, the people in the comment section here are treating much of this with reverence and veracity.

Verdict: weirdly, I think I'm going to have to watch the Hashimoto debut because I've developed a real affinity for the kid. I'm also open to the idea that the matches fought under 'IGF MMA rules' were 100% real, but then have to question what anybody is doing considering IGF a wrestling promotion at all.

In terms of developing a love for the promotion, then that's not going to happen. If the MMA matches are indeed real then there's better and more relevant MMA out there. If the matches are mostly worked then I'd rather watch backyard wrestling.

NEXT: Pro-Wrestling ZERO1