via sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp

Shining Road reports that one of the greatest pro wrestlers and founders of Japanese Mixed Martial Arts, Masakatsu Funaki has signed a one year deal with All Japan Pro Wrestling. Funaki is best known as the co-founder of Pancrase with fellow All Japan member Minoru Suzuki and has legit wins over the Shamrocks, Guy Metzger,  Bas Rutten and Minoru Suzuki. Suzuki and Funaki will face off at the end of the month.

This fight is definitely built up for nostalgic purposes. No doubt about it. All Japan has been kinda struggling this year under the shadow of New Japan and YUKES and they need all the help they can get. Funaki might not be the cavalry, but he's at least a locked and loaded sherman tank ready to do as much damage as possible.

There is also more value in a Suzuki/Funaki matchup in All Japan then it would have had in a FEG event. There is no way in hell this would have any selling power if Tanegawa would have booked it for Dynamite or even a DREAM event for that matter. The matchup would have swept under bigger matchups. Tanegawa would have booked Suzuki to a warm up freak show which wouldn't add anything at all in the match up. At least in All Japan, there would be decent build up for the both of them with hot up and comers and established talent.

With that all being said, I'm giddy as a school girl.