週刊ゴング Weekly Gong No.622 July 1996 NJPW All Japan Liger Tiger Mask Hashimoto

Publication: 週刊ゴング (Weekly Gong)

Publisher: 日本スポーツ出版社 (Nihon Sports Shuppansha)

Issue: No. 625

Cover Date: August 8, 1996

Price at Publication: 500円 (本体485円)

Format: Standard weekly issue

Cover Story

The cover features Nobuhiko Takada landing a high kick on Tenryu in dynamic action, with the headline 「Uの試し斬りに龍が倒れた!!」 — "The Dragon Fell to U's Test Cut!!" A top banner announces: 「高田先勝！一騎打ちは9・11神宮に決定」 — "Takada Takes the First Win! The Showdown is Set for September 11 at Jingu!" and a side note reads 「手探り状態の初顔合わせ！だが…」 — "A first encounter feeling each other out… but…" This is a key UWF-style shoot/worked shoot era document.

Inside Content

WCW Feature — Sting vs. The Giant (Big Show)

Full-color spread: 「まさに動かざること山の如し 我らがスティングも潰された」 — "Truly Immovable Like a Mountain — Even Our Sting Was Crushed!" Extensive color photography of Sting vs. The Giant (later Big Show) in WCW action, with multiple match sequence photos showing chokeslams, bodyslams, rope work, and Sting's signature Stinger Splash attempts. References WCW Pro-Wrestling coverage with ringside branding visible. Strong crossover appeal for Western WCW collectors (p. visible).

AAA / Lucha Libre Feature — Rey Mysterio Jr. Wins WWA Welterweight Title

Full-color spread: 「ウルトラEを超えた空中戦の応酬を制しミステリオJrがWWA世界ウェルター王座を奪取」 — "Surpassing Ultra-E — Mysterio Jr. Controls the Aerial Exchange and Captures the WWA World Welterweight Title!" Spectacular multi-photo sequence of Rey Mysterio Jr. aerial sequences in Japan, including moonsaults and high-speed swinging DDT variations against Guerrera. Notes this is Mysterio's first title win in Japan. AAA representative photos included. Exceptional collector content — early Rey Mysterio Jr. Japanese documentation (p. visible).

UWF/Rings Coverage — Takada vs. Tenryu Buildup

Feature tied to cover story covering the Nobuhiko Takada vs. Tenryu shoot-style encounter and the announced September 11 Jingu rematch. Covers the growing UWF-style vs. traditional pro wrestling rivalry narrative of mid-1996.

Event Card Advertisement — UWF/RINGS Jingu Shows

Full event card page for August 17 and September 11 Jingu Stadium shows featuring:

Nobuhiko Takada vs. Tenryu Genichiro (Sudden Death singles)

Kensuke Sasaki vs. Shinya Hashimoto (Sudden Death singles — noted as 垣原賢人 vs 佐々木健介 on card)

Tiger Mask vs. Gran Hamada

Yasushi Yamazaki vs. Kimo (UWF-style)

Yellow Magic Namuro / Camacho vs. NWF tag coverage

Full ticket pricing and outlet information (p. 62)

ECW Coverage — Hardcore Chaos in the US

Color spread with multiple match photos from what appears to be ECW hardcore action — visible barbed wire, ringside carnage, and chaotic multi-person brawls. Headline partially readable referencing extreme American wrestling content. Notable for documenting Japanese media coverage of mid-1990s ECW during its peak cult period (p. visible).

Condition

Visually Very Good. Cover shows light wear and minor corner creasing consistent with a 1996 weekly magazine. Spine intact. Interior pages clean with strong color reproduction. No visible tears, writing, or missing pages noted from photos.