週刊プロレス Weekly Pro Wrestling No.796 1997 Kenta Kobashi Van Dam TAKA CMLL Mexico

Publication: 週刊プロレス (Weekly Pro Wrestling)

Publisher: ベースボール・マガジン社 (Baseball Magazine Sha)

Issue: No. 796 — 第43号 第25号 通巻1191号

Cover Date: June 10, 1997 (平成9年6月10日発行)

Price at Publication: 460円

Format: Standard weekly issue — "BEST WRESTLING 1997" badge visible

Cover Story

The cover features Kenta Kobashi in his orange ring jacket, looking intensely off-camera. The headline reads:

「健太、三十にして立つ！ さらば、超世代軍」

"Kenta, Standing at Thirty! Farewell, Super Generation Army"

A top banner announces: 「ファンはこの日を待っていた！鈴木みのる復活V」 — "Fans Have Been Waiting for This Day! Minoru Suzuki Returns Victorious!" This is a historically significant issue documenting Kobashi's departure from the Super Generation Army stable — a major All Japan storyline turning point — and Minoru Suzuki's comeback victory.

Inside Content

Minoru Suzuki Comeback — "I'm Back!"

Full-page color spread (p. 6): Multiple sequence photos of Minoru Suzuki standing in the ring with microphone raised, delivering his comeback speech, headlined: 「"ただいま！帰ってきたぜーっ!!"」 — "'I'm Back! I've Returned!'" Suzuki is shown in white trunks at what appears to be a Pancrase-adjacent show, with crowd shots showing enthusiastic fan reaction. A meaningful document for Suzuki fans — his comeback was a significant event in the shoot-style/Pancrase community (p. 6).

NJPW Super Power Series — Rob Van Dam Feature

Full-color spread with Kodak film strip contact sheet photography: 「頭からっぽ 心いっぱい」 — "Empty Head, Full Heart." Features Rob Van Dam in NJPW Super Power Series action at Korakuen Hall (5/8), with large color action photo showing RVD in teal trunks facing off against a Japanese opponent, plus Kodak film strip sequence shots of RVD's Five Star Frog Splash — captioned "MOVING SURPRISE? VAN DAM." Multiple action photos documenting RVD's NJPW appearance. This is significant early documentation of Rob Van Dam in Japan before his ECW peak fame — strong crossover appeal for Western RVD and ECW collectors (p. visible).

Shinya Otani vs. Wagner Jr. — League Match Feature

Color spread (p. 20): 「"大谷晋二郎"へ金本が一瞬の変身 そして光ったワグナーJrの底力！」 — "Kanamoto Transforms Briefly into 'Otani' — And Wagner Jr's True Strength Shines!" Match photography of Shinya Otani and Dr. Wagner Jr. in NJPW league competition, with multiple sequence photos including diving headbutts, stretches, and Driver II finish. Post-match pointing finger pose photo of Otani. Coverage includes Wagner Jr. league record box (p. 20).

TAKA Michinoku — Mexico CMLL Feature

Color spread (p. 126) — photo credit: Cage Nakayama, Special Thanks to EMLL and Mr. José Peañona Medina — headlined: 「先のことは風にでも聞いてくれ インディー王・TAKAの世界行脚」 — "Ask the Wind About the Future — Indie Champion TAKA's World Tour." Documents TAKA Michinoku's May 18 appearance at Mexico City's Pista Revolución venue (attendance 354), with a striking color photo of TAKA posing with title belt alongside two masked Mexican luchadors — CMLL logo prominently displayed. Multiple match action photos showing TAKA's high-flying style in a Mexican ring setting. An excellent document of pre-WWF TAKA in Mexico — significant for collectors tracking his path to the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship (p. 126).

Condition

Visually Very Good. Cover shows light edge wear and minor corner creasing consistent with a 1997 weekly. Spine intact. Interior pages clean with strong color reproduction. No visible tears, writing, or missing pages noted from photos.