週刊プロレス Weekly Pro Wrestling No.803 1997 Naoya Ogawa Ken Shamrock FMW W*ING WCW

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. 803 — 第43号 第22号 通巻1198号

Cover Date: July 22, 1997 (平成9年7月22日発行)

Price at Publication: 460円

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

Cover Story

The cover features a dramatic grappling action photo of Naoya Ogawa in his white judo gi controlling an opponent on the mat. The headline reads:

「"プロレスラー"小川直也の胎動！」

"The Stirring of 'Pro Wrestler' Naoya Ogawa!"

A top banner announces: 「あのシャムロックがFMW9・28川崎大会に参戦！」 — "That Shamrock Joins FMW's September 28 Kawasaki Show!" — documenting Ken Shamrock's FMW appearance announcement. This is a key crossover document: Ogawa was Japan's Olympic judo silver medalist making his pro wrestling transition, and Shamrock was simultaneously at his UFC/WWF peak.

Inside Content

Naoya Ogawa vs. Yamazaki — STO Feature

Full-color spread (p. 6): 「逆転の切り札！地響きのSTO」 — "The Trump Card of Reversal! The Earth-Shaking STO!" Extensive match photography of Naoya Ogawa executing his signature STO (Space Tornado Ogawa) throw — dramatic mid-air action shot showing Ogawa in judo gi hurling his opponent to the canvas. Multiple sequence photos including ground submissions, triangle choke escape sequences, and Yamazaki's bridge pin attempts. Detailed technical match analysis. This is early documentation of Ogawa's STO development — significant for NJPW and shoot-style history collectors (p. 6).

Ken Shamrock / FMW — HOT NEWS Page

Full event card page (p. 162): 「シャムロック、9・28川崎球場参戦決定!!」 — "Shamrock Confirmed for September 28 Kawasaki Stadium!!" Headline-style news page with full FMW★ING HOT NEWS banner, featuring a large color photo of Ken Shamrock at a microphone/press appearance. Full event cards for three upcoming shows — 新生W★ING 3rd, 汐留伝説'97, and ファイティングクリエーション II'97 — with complete match listings including Hayabusa vs. Otani, W. Kanehara vs. Tanaka, Mr. Pogo appearances, and the Shamrock addition. A key FMW/MMA crossover document from Shamrock's 1997 peak period (p. 162).

FMW / W★ING — Puerto Rico Tour Feature

Color spread (p. 138) — photo credit: Cage Nakayama — headlined: 「初のプエルトリコは"暑いのおー"！大矢、旧友・鳥中と異国で再会」 — "First Time in Puerto Rico — It's Hottt! Oya Reunites with Old Friend Torinaka in a Foreign Land!" Vivid color documentation of FMW's Puerto Rico tour including shots of Great Sensei (painted face/heel character) posing with Puerto Rican wrestlers, beach candid photos of wrestlers playing in the ocean, and arena match photos at Bayamón's Cancha Bautista (attendance 1,200). A charming and rare document of Japanese deathmatch wrestlers on tour in Puerto Rico (p. 138).

All Japan — Taue & First Tag Partner Feature

Color spread (p. 34): 「田上と、気持ちのいい"初タッグ！"」 — "A Satisfying 'First Tag!' with Taue!" Coverage of Akira Taue in All Japan tag action with a new partner, with multiple match photos and post-match handshake. Spine binding visible on this page — slight curve but content fully readable (p. 34).

Condition

Good to Very Good. Cover shows moderate edge wear and light corner creasing consistent with a stored 1997 weekly. Spine shows light stress but is intact. Interior pages appear clean with good color reproduction. Note: some pages toward the center show slight spine curve in photos but no tears or missing pages noted.