週刊ゴング Weekly Gong No.626 Aug 1996 NJPW G1 WAR Tenryu Hashimoto Kitao StreetDESC

Publication: 週刊ゴング (Weekly Gong)

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

Issue: No. 626

Cover Date: August 15, 1996

Price at Publication: 480円 (本体466円)

Format: Standard weekly issue

Cover Story

The cover features a triumphant Manabu Nakanishi holding a championship belt aloft with both fists raised, bathed in spotlight — a powerful, emotional image. The main headline reads:

「感動をありがとう!! 僕らの熱血王者誕生」

"Thank You for the Emotion!! The Birth of Our Hot-Blooded Champion"

Side text adds: 「一介の練習生からスタートして9年 努力と変わらぬ情熱が実を結んだ！」 — "9 Years from a Simple Trainee — Unwavering Effort and Passion Have Borne Fruit!" A top banner announces: 「地元で堂々復活！馳浩が現役続行宣言」 — "A Grand Comeback in His Hometown! Hase Hiroshi Declares He Will Continue Active Competition!"

Inside Content

NJPW G1 Climax Buildup — Nakanishi & Aratani vs. K越中

Color spread: 「北原＆荒谷、気力充実！越中はG1へ向け一直線」 — "Kitahara & Aratani Full of Fighting Spirit! Koshimichi Heads Straight Toward G1!" Coverage of Nakanishi, Kitahara, Aratani, and Koshimichi in WAR-affiliated match action, with commentary on momentum heading into the G1 Climax tournament. Power bomb finish photography and post-match scene prominently featured (p. visible).

NJPW Tag Match — "This is New Japan Pro Wrestling!"

Multi-photo color spread with the bold English headline 「This is 新日本プロレス！ We are 新日本プロレス!!」 featuring Kensuke Sasaki, Nagata, Choshu, and foreign opponents in tag action. References a match result of 永田 defeating 小島 (Nagata over Kojima) and includes candid post-match celebration photography. Editorial tone celebrates NJPW's in-ring identity (p. visible).

WAR — Tenryu vs. Nakano Tag Dissolution Drama

Black-and-white feature: 「武輝道場マットで天龍VS中野タッグで再会 どうなる!? 注目の冬木軍は一時トリオ解消」 — "Tenryu and Nakano Reunite in a Tag Match on the Buki Dojo Mat — What Will Happen!? The Watched Fuyuki Army Temporarily Dissolves as a Trio!" Covers WAR August series with Tenryu, Nakano, Fujinami, and the Fuyuki Army faction drama, including card announcements for Yamanashi shows (p. visible).

Japan's First Street Fight — Harley Race & Nagasaki

Black-and-white feature: 「日本初のストリート・ファイターが誕生 ハーレーと長崎には私服の戦いが似合う」 — "Japan's First Street Fighter is Born — Harley and Nagasaki Suit a Streetclothes Fight!" Coverage of Harley Race and Nagasaki in Japan's first officially recognized street fight-style match, with table spot photography (「主役は机にあり！」 — "The Star of the Show is the Table!") and commentary on this historically novel match format for Japan (p. visible).

Kitao — "A Win That Brings No Shame"

Color feature: 「北尾、もう恥はかけない勝ちっぷり」 — "Kitao — A Victory That Can No Longer Bring Shame." Grappling match photography of Kitao (Koji Kitao / former sumo Futahaguro) in shoot-style or UFC-adjacent competition, including ground submission sequences against Carlman Jr. References Kitao's UFC/shoot fighting crossover activity and his ongoing image rehabilitation following controversial career events (p. visible).

Condition

Visually Very Good. Cover shows light edge wear and minor corner softening consistent with a 1996 weekly. Spine intact and square. Interior pages clean with good color and black-and-white reproduction. No visible tears, writing, or missing pages noted from photos.