Match of the Day - Johnny Saint's retirement match

Johnny Saint vs. Naohiro Hoshikawa - Johnny Saint's retirement match - Michinoku Pro's These Days (1996)

While not a household name here in the States, Johnny Saint is a super icon in the UK where he performed for the World of Sport-era wrestling company, Big Time Wrestling. Saint is well known for his superb realist approach to the sport of professional wrestling and his uncanny reversals. He may not look like much, especially for American wrestling, "bigger is better" standards, but Saint is one hell of showmen with the mat skills to back it up. 

In 1996, Saint took on Naohiro Hoshikawa in his first ever match in Japan at Michinoku Pro Wrestling's event known as These Days. Along with his debut in Japan this would also be his last match for about 10 years. Saint would not return to in-ring action again until 2007 when he competed against another World of Sport-era wrestler, Johnny Kid in the British wrestling company, LDN.

Johnny Saint also wrestled for the first time in the States in 2009, teaming up with Jorge "Skayde" Rivera and Mike Quackenbush at Chikara's 2009 King of Trios Tournament. 

Take a look at this match and many others by Johnny Saint. They are usually a bit longer and contested under World of Sport rules with rounds and little breathers to give the matches a more sport-like feel. Because, you know, wrestling was/is a sport.