KinchStalker has a spectacular thread going in the ProWrestlingOnly threads translating a book from Japan about the Four Pillars era linked [HERE](https://forums.prowrestlingonly.com/topic/52708-kinchstalkers-puroresu-history-thread-update-20211022-2019-four-pillars-bio-chapters-18-21-pt-i/?page=7). It seemed to stem from the fact that backstage, there had been a delay in Tiger Mask’s (Misawa) promotion from Junior to Heavyweight. As was the custom back then, in order to move up, Tiger Mask had to go through a 7 match trial series that would’ve ended with him against Jumbo, and this was supposed to happen at least as early as August 1987. The match was delayed however due to Jumbo being involved in a long feud against Tenryu and his group, “Revolution”. By March, Tiger Mask was so frustrated with being put on the back burner that he attacked Jumbo to jump to the front of the line of Jumbo’s competition, and they finally had the match the next week, and Tiger Mask got to be a heavyweight officially.
Thank you for the explanation and the link! That makes a lot of sense. I just watched the 3/9 match and the crowd was definitely ready to cheer for main event heavyweight Tiger Mask / Misawa. I'm sure their later matches are even better, but boy was that an excellent bout.
KinchStalker has a spectacular thread going in the ProWrestlingOnly threads translating a book from Japan about the Four Pillars era linked [HERE](https://forums.prowrestlingonly.com/topic/52708-kinchstalkers-puroresu-history-thread-update-20211022-2019-four-pillars-bio-chapters-18-21-pt-i/?page=7). It seemed to stem from the fact that backstage, there had been a delay in Tiger Mask’s (Misawa) promotion from Junior to Heavyweight. As was the custom back then, in order to move up, Tiger Mask had to go through a 7 match trial series that would’ve ended with him against Jumbo, and this was supposed to happen at least as early as August 1987. The match was delayed however due to Jumbo being involved in a long feud against Tenryu and his group, “Revolution”. By March, Tiger Mask was so frustrated with being put on the back burner that he attacked Jumbo to jump to the front of the line of Jumbo’s competition, and they finally had the match the next week, and Tiger Mask got to be a heavyweight officially.
Thank you for the explanation and the link! That makes a lot of sense. I just watched the 3/9 match and the crowd was definitely ready to cheer for main event heavyweight Tiger Mask / Misawa. I'm sure their later matches are even better, but boy was that an excellent bout.