週刊ゴング Weekly Gong No.623 July 1996 Mutoh G1 Kobashi Obright Moolah Bull Nakano

Publication: 週刊ゴング (Weekly Gong)

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

Issue: No. 623

Cover Date: July 25, 1996

Price at Publication: 460円 (本体447円)

Format: Standard weekly issue

Cover Story

The cover features a candid waterfront portrait of Keiji Mutoh in a red polo shirt, relaxed and looking directly into the camera. The headline reads:

「なぜ横浜でプッツンしたのか… 今、その理由を話しましょう！」

"Why Did I Snap in Yokohama?… Let Me Tell You the Reason Now!"

A top banner announces: 「G1 2連覇を公約!! 武藤が語った60分」 — "Pledging Back-to-Back G1 Victories!! 60 Minutes with Mutoh." This is a major exclusive interview issue built around Mutoh's controversial behavior at a Yokohama event and his G1 Climax ambitions — a key document for Mutoh collectors.

Inside Content

Keiji Mutoh — Exclusive 60-Minute Interview

The anchor content of this issue. Keiji Mutoh speaks at length about why he "snapped" (プッツン) at the Yokohama event, addressing the incident directly and discussing his ambitions for back-to-back G1 Climax victories. The cover portrait is a high-quality candid waterfront photo, giving the issue a distinctly personal, magazine-style feel unusual for a weekly wrestling publication. Essential reading for Mutoh/Great Muta collectors and NJPW mid-1990s historians.

NJPW Color Match Coverage — Ultimate Warrior & Foreign Heel Team

Full-color spread featuring The Ultimate Warrior in NJPW action — visible in colorful face paint and tasseled gear — alongside large foreign opponents including what appears to be a masked heel. The sidebar text references 「今の荒井さんは、火が燃え尽きる前の…」 — "The current Arai is like a flame before it burns out…" Multiple action photos including a large American wrestler applying a Boston Crab-style submission. This is a notable document of Ultimate Warrior's late-career Japan appearances — strong crossover collector appeal (p. visible).

All Japan — Kobashi & Obright Tag Team Feature

Color spread: 「やはり強かった小橋＆オブライト、しかしチームとしての魅力には疑問符が…」 — "Kobashi & Obright Were Indeed Strong — But a Question Mark Hangs Over Their Appeal as a Team…" Extensive match photography of Kenta Kobashi and Johnny Ace (John Laurinaitis) / Steve Obright in All Japan tag action, with editorial analysis of their chemistry as a unit. References matches against Akiyama, Kawada, and others. Strong draw for All Japan and Kobashi collectors (p. visible).

Joshi Wrestling — Bull Nakano & Hokuto at US Women's Convention

Full-color spread: 「世界の大御所に会えてチョー感激 ムーラ、ヤングのエキスいただき」 — "So Thrilled to Meet the World's Grand Masters — Receiving the Essence of Moolah and Young!" Documents Bull Nakano and Hokuto Akira at a US women's wrestling convention, meeting The Fabulous Moolah and Mae Young — candid group photos and match action. Caption notes Nakano received the CL/IWA Japanese championship belt as a surprise gift. Exceptional crossover appeal: Moolah and Mae Young are major draws for Western women's wrestling collectors, and this documents a rare US/Japan crossover meeting (p. visible).

All Japan Women — 6-Woman Tag League Finals

Color spread: 「6人タッグ・リーグ戦は熱戦でフィナーレ 京子＆渡辺＆レジーがぶっち切りの全勝優勝」 — "The 6-Woman Tag League Concludes in a Hot Final — Kyoko & Watanabe & Reggie Win All Matches for Dominant Victory!" Coverage of Kyoko Inoue, Watanabe, and Reggie Bennett winning the All Japan Women's 6-woman tag league, with extensive match photography including Freedom Force (フリーダム・フォース) in losing action. Trophy presentation photography included (p. visible).

Condition

Visually Very Good. Cover shows light edge 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.