Seven classic pro wrestling world title matches

4. Mike Awesome (C) vs. Masato Tanaka

Gladiator Mike Awesome and Masato Tanaka enjoyed an international rivalry

The Time: November 7, 1999 - ECW's November to Remember

The Title: ECW World Heavyweight Championship

The contenders: Mike Awesome and Masato Tanaka

Mike Awesome built his career primarily wrestling in Japan for the FMW promotion (Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling). FMW was sort of like a far east ECW, in that the matches featured a great deal of hardcore elements and sheer brutality that would make modern wrestling fans blanch.

After years in the far east, Awesome finally came to an American promotion, ECW. When he was asked by ECW chairman Paul Heyman who he would like to defend his title against, one name was at the top of the list: Masato Tanaka.

Nearly as big and powerful as Awesome himself, Tanaka was one of the few men who could stand up to the brutality the Gladiator brought to bear. Highlights include cringe inducing chairshots, smashed announce tables, and an amazingly resilient Tanaka.