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Rating: 
Summary: Fine Announcing & Good, Complete Matches!
Review: I think Tokyopop's FMW Wrestling series has gotten better, as far as the announcing and production values go, and this release, "Rule The Asylum", is a fine example of the improvements.I disagree with another review I read here that said that the announcers don't know what they're talking about. The FMW announcers are "Straight Up" John Watanabe and Dan "The Mouth" Lovranski. For people who have followed their other work, both men have a lot of knowledge when it comes to wrestling history (both American and Japanese wrestling). John Watanabe has done a credible job announcing for the Urban Wrestling Alliance on UPN, and his new partner, Dan "The Mouth", has his following on Live Audio Wrestling. The announcing on these newer FMW releases are way, way improved compared to the old FMW tapes with John's old partner and the way they were reading off of Hollywood scriptwriters' bad scripts. Plus, wrestling fans like us can criticize all we want, but I don't think we would be able to do an ounce better! As far as the actual in-ring action goes, I think "Rule The Asylum" displays a solid mix of not just bloody, "hardcore"-style brawling (which FMW is famous for, which led to FMW influencing ECW, WCW and WWF), but you'll also see some nice flying moves, ring psychology and solid mat work. Wrestling isn't just about high risk hardcore or lucha libre-based "high spots"--those of us who have followed wrestling going back to the '60s and '70s will appreciate some of the true traditional elements of WRESTLING that FMW wrestlers like Fuyuki, Hayabusa, Awesome, Tanaka and Ganosuke use to entertain the fans. Sure, I like seeing chairs, tables and blood, but I like seeing real WRESTLING holds in the mix, too (so-called "rest holds" can build a match). The "match clipping" on some of the other FMW releases is a mystery and at times can disappoint some hardcore fans (then again, seeing "highlights" of some undercard matches isn't always a bad thing, either). At least the main event matches on all FMW tapes, for the most part, are shown in their entirety. However, on "Rule The Asylum", all five matches are not only for FMW's Double Title (Independent World Title and Brass Knucks Title), but from what I can tell, they are all shown in complete form, not clipped! "Rule The Asylum", along with "The Enforcer" and "International Slaughterhouse" (despite the clipping on that one), is among the best in this FMW Wrestling home entertainment series.
Rating: 
Summary: FMW at its most reasonable
Review: one thing annoyed me and that was the commentary, it was [bad]. The guys just don't have a clue what they're on about and also this is dubbed over the crowd and weapon shots which really take away the atmosphere. They sell every move like it was foley going off the cell at KOTR 98. Luckily the main 5 matches are in their entirity. There are 2 bonus matches in highlight form without the commentary and a neat photo gallery which leads to biographies on the wrestlers Match 1: Mike Awesome Vs WING Kanamure ***
Decent enough but is a slow started because of awesome getting his knee caught in the ropes. Some decent table and chair spots.
Match 2: Mike Awesome Vs Masato Tanaka ****
Great match with all the usual table smashing and chair bits.
Match 3: Masato Tanaka Vs Mr Ganosuke ***
Decent match with alot of stabbing using a broom handle.
Match 4: Mr Ganosuke Vs Hayabusa **1/2
Nice aerial spots but not much violence.
Match 5: Hayabusa Vs Kodo Fuyuki *
I didnt enjoy this match at all. Too many submission holds. When Hayabusa was in control it picked up a bit but nothing to get excitied about.
bonus matches
Hayabusa vs. Hisakatsu Ooya
Masato Tanaka vs. Kintaro Kanemura
still worth getting for the decent matches
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST FMW DVD EVER MADE!
Review: THE BEST FMW DVD EVER MADE! The matches were full length, they included some of FMW's best wrestlers, and they were full of action. Mike "Gladiator" Awesome VS Kintaro (Yukihiro) Kanemura: 3 1/2 *
This match was the worst on the disc, which makes it not bad. It was slow near the beginning when Awesome goes for a tope suicida (he gets caught in the ropes). Awesome wins w/ an Awesome Bomb to Kanemura for the 1,2,3. Mike "Gladiator" Awesome VS Masato Tanaka: 4 3/4 *
2nd best on the disc. Sweet action (Awesome actually hits the tope suicida this time). Tanaka wins w/ a Roaring Elbow. Masato Tanaka VS Mr. Gannosuke (Masashi Honda): 4 1/2 *
Good match. Lots of blood. Sweet power moves (mostly powerbombs). Gannosuke wins w/ a Gannosuke Clutch (an armbar w/ waistlock into front rolling cradle w/ leg hook). Sweet pin. Mr. Gannosuke VS Hayabusa (Eiji Ezaki): 5 *
The best match I ever saw. Well fought and well thought out. Hayabusa wins w/ a Phoenix Splash (Twisting Senton into 450 splash). Hayabusa VS Kodo (Hiromuchi) Fuyuki: 3 3/4 *
Fuyuki wins w/ a stiff Lariat. Not the best match in the world. The extras are pretty good too. I didn't really watch Masato Tanaka VS Kanemura 'cuz it didn't sound very good. The Hayabusa VS Hisakatsu Oya match was OK.
Overall, this DVD was great. A must buy.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely one of FMW's BEST!
Review: The word about the horrible announcing on other FMW tapes , they are actually good this time and Lovranski doesn't look like such a hippie any more and there is not that many stupid replays as other tapes , anyways down to the matches: 1. Wing Kanemura vs. Mike Awesome (Title for title match)- This is a title unification match of Brass Knux title and Independent title. The beginning was pretty slow where mike gets his foot stuck in ropes and win beats on him and leg rest holds but later is where the real action starts, bloody,brutal,tables,chairs what a war. Great match 2. Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka-Amazing! if youve seen their matches in ECW like Heatwave 98 or N2R 99' in my opinion this one blows it away! Even crazier spots with tables in this one. 3. Masato Tanaka vs. Mr. Ganosuke- WOW, a bloody sickening war where Ganosuke at one point takes the jagged part of a broom stick starts stabbing Tanaka in the arm to make him bleed. Exciting match in all . 4. Mr. Ganosuke vs. Hayabusa- I thought it would be better by the buildup of old best college friends , anyways pretty nice moves here.
5. Hayabusa vs. Kodo Fuyuki- Worst match on the tape , too many rest holds, Hayabusa pulls off some nice aerial moves to give the match some stars and Kodo almost kills Hayabusa with huge impact moves but what a horrible ending. anyways Overall a great compilation but they should have put a bonus match anyways great FMW action. Highly recommended to anyone!
Rating:
Summary: buy this dvd
Review: this is the best wrestling action i have ever seen every match from the beginning to end deserves 5* well except for the first one where mike awesome gets his leg stuck in the ropes. Definatly worth the money everymatch is 5* quality
Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST FMW TAPES EVER!
Review: You'll want to enter the asylum all over again after watching "FMW: Rule the Asylum"! This blood-curdling collection of 5 complete matches follows the brutal history of the FMW Double Championship, which includes the Independent World Title and the Brass Knux Title. While the announcing team is very uninspiring, the action in the matches will keep you on your feet. 1. Wing Kanemura vs. Mike Awesome (Title for title match)- This match started out slowly, because Awesome got stuck in the ropes for what felt like an hour. Afterwards, though, the match explodes with flying bits of tables, collapsing chairs and spine-cracking power bombs echoing across the arena. Awesome's not that awesome here, since he does little of his famous aerial maneuvers. Still, we're off to a good start. ****1/2 2. Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka- Oh, oh. If you've bought the FMW compilation "The Enforcer", then you already have seen this match before. For those of you who haven't, this is easily the most memorable display of chair/table bumps in FMW's history by far. Awesome once again lays a hellacious beating on Tanaka that has chair seats flying off of Tanaka's head and a power bomb that sends Tanaka through two tables. Tanaka, though, shows off his godlike endurance by coming back, smashing Awesome through a table outside the ring, and sending the man out to dry with potent clotheslines! *****+ for newbies, "Enforcers" fans, press fast forward. 3. Masato Tanaka vs. Mr. Ganosuke- WHOA! I am amazed all the way by this match. As Dan Lovranski properly puts it, these two men are gladiators! Ganosuke does some excruciatingly mean stuff on Tanaka, busting the champ's head wide open, throwing him through a table from a second story, even stabbing his arm with a pointed broom stick! Tanaka still doesn't disappoint with his endurance and skillful mat wrestling, but it IS Ganosuke who is the real star of this match. That perfectionist of sadism will be a cult legend in the world of FMW! This match is my personal favorite in the tape. *****+ 4. Mr. Ganosuke vs. Hayabusa- One of the favorite matches among FMW fans, this puts the sadistic champ against his old friend, the beautifully skilled aerial artist known best as Hayabusa, "The Falcon". While Ganosuke does practice his infamous wear-downs and pile-drivers, Hayabusa fights back with moonsaults, Firebird splashes and the legendary Phoenix Splashes (a hybrid of Tumbleweed Moonsault and 455-Splash). Hayabusa practices so many air moves here, you'd think he can fly. Well, maybe he doesn't, but this match is still wrestling heaven. ***** 5. Hayabusa vs. Kodo Fuyuki- The weakest and last match on the tape chronicles the end of the Double Championship in FMW. The aerial Hayabusa takes to the air against a hulking juggernaut named Fuyuki. While Hayabusa once again leaps off the Falcon's Nest to plant punishment on Fuyuki, the burly challenger is to too strong, if not too clever, to fall for those tricks again. The match's primary weak point is its uneven pace, but it has more decent wrestling than any other match on the tape. This is still a recommended match. **** Want proof of how great FMW is? Then get this tape and see how tough it is to "Rule the Asylum", and be glad you're only watching it at that!
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