The Island Death Match between Antonio Inoki and Masa Saito took place October 4, 1987 on Ganryujima, a tiny, uninhabited Japanese island. Journalist Fumi Saito and Wrestling Observer Live host Jim Valley (who also hosts the Pacific Rim Wrestling podcast) recount the circumstances surrounding the match, the events leading up to it, and what to expect if you actually want to check it out for yourself. They share the backstory about Inoki’s New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion and Giant Baba’s All Japan, and their constant battle for talent, TV ratings, and fans. Fumi also knew Maso Saito, and visited him in a Wisconsin jail, after Saito was sentenced for an incident involving McDonald’s and the local police.
