New Japan Pro-Wrestling begans 2009 with the task of pushing a struggling industry forward, and with stars from all over said industry as well as the American industry, put on an acclaimed Tokyo Dome show today that drew the biggest crowd to the building for some time. Superstars from across the globe united for “WRESTLE KINGDOM III IN TOKYO DOME” and put on a show full of colour, variety, and interest. A story many years in the making culminated with the clash of IWGP Heavyweight Champion and teacher, Keiji Muto, battling his talented disciple Hiroshi Tanahashi in his V5 defense of the title. Muto dethroned Tanahashi’s great rival Nakamura for the belt last April and reigned supreme until today when the student finally surpassed the teacher. Half an hour of pure professional wrestling excited the fans, and at times it seemed almost certain Tanahashi was beaten, but he came back and hit two High Fly Flows for the win and title. Tanahashi took the microphone and told the fans he loves them and New Japan. When asked who he wants to be his first challenger, he shouted “Shinsuke!”, saying they have to decide who is the ace of New Japan, as he doesn’t think there is room for two. Nakamura defeated Tanahashi this time last year, then again in March, so Tanahashi clearly wants to undo that with two successive victories of his own. Nakamura confronted Tanahashi backstage and said he’d fight him any time. Muto said backstage that he has passed Tanahashi his sash after doing his best for over half a year to raise the worth of the title, and suggested he will withdraw now and leave New Japan wrestlers to move their company forward.

Shinsuke Nakamura and his cohort Hirooki Goto stood firm and defended the lion mark against NOAH boss Mitsuharu Misawa and his “bodyguard” Takashi Sugiura in a hot match that showed the thrilling nature of interpromotional conflict. This featured many heated moments, including a stage where all four were laid out on the mat after a series of finishers: Goto’s Shouten on Sugiura, Misawa’s Emerald Frosion on Goto, then Nakamura’s Landslide on Misawa. It finished with the two men who lit up the Tokyo Dome most in this match, Nakamura and Sugiura, Nakamura taking Sugiura down with a flying cross armbreaker for the tap out win. Backstage, Nakamura said they had won, plain and simple, and if any NOAH wrestlers have a problem with that, to come and complain - don’t hide. Goto called it a “perfect victory” and said he is looking forward to hearing the excuses of NOAH wrestlers. Misawa said backstage that he hopes New Japan and NOAH can continue working together in both rings this year.

“The World’s Strongest Tag Team” Team 3D, Brother Ray and Brother Devon, grasped the IWGP Tag Team Title out of MVP’s hands today, with Makabe & Yano for the second year running losing a hardcore match to the famous American team. The turning point came when Makabe hit Yano with a chain lariat by accident, leaving him prone to Team 3D, and the Dudley Death Drop finished off Makabe and meant that Team 3D add yet another title to their huge cabinet. The tragic tale of perennial underachiever Manabu Nakanishi continued in the other New Japan vs. NOAH match on the show, when he fell to GHC Heavyweight Title #1 contender, Jun Akiyama, in an entertaining sprint. Nakanishi kicked out of two Exploders at a one count, but then succumbed to the more deadly wrist-clutch variation. Akiyama made it clear that he has no intention of stepping away from New Japan opposition and put his name forward as a candidate for more matches if things are to continue.

ZERO1 ace Masato Tanaka came to the Tokyo Dome with the intention of killing two birds with one stone: avenge his October loss to Yuji Nagata and win back the World Heavyweight Title in the process. He did neither, as again Mr. Saikyo proved too strong in a shorter, but equally exciting fight today. Nagata landed a backdrop, face punch, another backdrop, then a backdrop hold to put away Tanaka for the second time running. Shinjiro Otani, who Nagata did beat in a singles match not too long ago, looked bitterly at Nagata post-match, suggesting that it could be he who challenges next. Nagata said backstage that it would cheapen ZERO1’s title for Otani to face him again so suddenly, and suggested an “out of season” Fire Festival to determine a worthy rival.

Legends of two continents united against GBH, as Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Kurt Angle, and Kevin Nash entered one by one to their theme tunes, presenting a great spectacle to fans. Chono stopped and shook hands with Angle, then Nash joined them and they followed Choshu to the ring. As expected, this was a short and fast paced match that quickly showed the characteristics of each wrestler. Angle scored the win with his ankle lock on Anderson, but right after was laid out by Bernard’s Bernard Driver. Angle said backstage that he wants to half-murder Bernard, and a singles match between the two could be on the cards in New Japan or TNA. Three months ago at Kobe World Hall, a very short IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title reign for Tiger Mask ended when he was surprisingly beaten by Low Ki. He swore revenge immediately after and achieved it today with a decisive victory over the GBH junior. Tiger won what was a very straightforward match with a modified Tiger suplex hold to regain the title for Jr. Sekigun. Tiger said he had come up with this new version of his finisher at the dojo.

The other junior tag title spilled into TNA too, as the Motor City Machine Guns, Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin, ended the dream IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title reign of NO LIMIT. This was an exciting action-packed match that ended when the Americans used their Made in Detroit finisher on Naito to lift the belts. Shelley said backstage that if anyone wants to win the title back, they are going to have to travel to America and do it in TNA. He suggested Jado & Gedo or Minoru & Devitt fly over, but said it’d be a waste of ticket cost, as they won’t win in the “Impact Zone”. Jushin Thunder Liger is no longer a teen! The legend today had his 20th anniversary match by teaming with old rival Takuma “Naoki” Sano against Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto. They pretty much sprinted out of the blocks and went back and forth until Liger busted out his old avalanche-style brainbuster on Kanemoto for the win. All four men raised each others’ arms after the match and Liger suggested taking his team with Sano to the NOAH ring shortly. He is also interested in challenging new IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Tiger Mask, and trying to win the belt he hasn’t held since 2000.

Today’s show opened in style with the Japanese landing of Mexican superstar Mistico at the Tokyo Dome, as he teamed up with New Japan youngsters Taguchi and Devitt against the rudo trio of Averno, Jado & Gedo. Mistico wow’d fans with his dazzling moves and used his spectacular La Mística on countryman Averno for the tap out win. Mistico seemed to say backstage that he will be coming back to New Japan in February and wants the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title.

NJPW “WRESTLE KINGDOM III IN TOKYO DOME”, 1/4/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Dome
40,000 Fans

0. Milano Collection AT, Minoru & Taichi Ishikari beat Mitsuhide Hirasawa, Kazuchika Okada & Nobuo Yoshihashi (6:24) when Milano used a super scrap kick on Yoshihashi.
1. Wrestle Kingdom Grand Opening VIENTO DORADO: Mistico, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Averno, Jado & Gedo (9:50) when Mistico used the La Mística on Averno.
2. Jushin Thunder Liger 20th Anniversary Match: Jushin Thunder Liger & Takuma Sano beat Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto (8:47) when Liger used an avalanche-style brainbuster on Kanemoto.
3. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title ~Tread on!!~: Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin beat Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (c) (13:21) when Sabin pinned Naito after the Made in Detroit to become the 22nd champions.
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title ~Ballistic interception~: Tiger Mask beat Low Ki (c) (8:48) with a modified Tiger suplex hold to become the 56th champion.
5. Fighting Holdings Competition: Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Kurt Angle & Kevin Nash beat Giant Bernard, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson (7:09) when Angle used an ankle lock on Anderson.
6. World Heavyweight Title ~Crusade for Justice~: Yuji Nagata (c) beat Masato Tanaka (11:41) with a backdrop hold (3rd defense).
7. New Japan vs. NOAH Battle Tendencies ~the invasion~: Jun Akiyama beat Manabu Nakanishi (10:27) with a wrist-clutch Exploder.
8. IWGP Tag Team Title - Hardcore Rules: “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon beat Togi Makabe & Toru Yano (c) (15:34) when Ray pinned Makabe after the 3D to become the 52nd champions.
9. New Japan vs. NOAH Battle Tendencies ~the encounter~: Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto beat Mitsuharu Misawa & Takashi Sugiura (15:17) when Nakamura used a flying cross armbreaker on Sugiura.
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Keiji Muto (c) (30:22) with the High Fly Flow to become the 50th champion.