MOTW #10: Kawada vs Don Frye
"Chris Things M.O.T.W. #10: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Don Frye" - ink & digital illustration
We’ve officially made it to WEEK 10 of my “Match of the Week" art series & to commemorate this milestone I’ve found a delightfully weird yet wonderful, MANLY match.
Taking place a little over 20 years ago on October 26, 2003, at All Japan Pro Wrestling’s “Road To Re-Birth x Re-Verse 2003 - Day 11 ~ 31st Anniversary” event in the legendary Budokan Hall. Fresh off of the greatest fight in MMA history against one of my all-time fave’s Yoshihiro Takayama the year prior, (Pride FC forever!). The stars aligned & DON FRYE is somehow now challenging for Toshiaki Kawada’s Triple Crown in All Japan. WHAT WORLD IS THIS?!
I’ll admit, I knew that I was going to love this one before I even saw it based on how much I adore both of these dudes. And then I was pleasantly surprised that this was EXACTLY what I was expecting. Just two gruff, manly buggers beating the absolute snot out of one another. As a lover of both All Japan 'King’s Road' as well as 'Shoot-Style' wrestling, this was just so my cup of tea! Lots of great big ol' punches, big kicks & actually some quite nice grappling thrown in there too. A tale of punishment, resilience & general badass-ery. This instantly became my favourite thing that I watched this week.
Artists’ note; I always love Kawada’s total badass, seemingly apathetic stares off into the void after he hits a massive awesome Gamengiri or what-have-you, so the moment pictured was both an ode to that, as well as to Frye’s glorious moustache. MANLY SHIT!
ENJOY!!
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