Third time lucky? MVP will challenge Team 3D at Sumo Hall next month in an attempt to win back the IWGP Tag Team Title that they dropped to the iconic American tandem at the Tokyo Dome. Not content with a re-challenge, the GBH team want to re-enter Team 3D’s hardcore environment and have demanded the match be held under “Hardcore Rules” (1/16 update: This is now official, another Hardcore Rules match between the teams). Tiger Mask makes his V1 defense of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title against Liger, a big chance for Liger to decorate his 20th anniversary year by winning the belt he hasn’t held since 2000. TNA World Tag Team Champions, James Storm and Robert Roode, hit the New Japan mat in a special non-title tag match against Legend’s Chono & AKIRA.

Other tour notes. Due to his pending exit, Minoru is off both Korakuen shows, but will appear on 1/31 to address the fans and say farewell. AKIRA will replace him in both planned matches. Old favourite El Samurai returns to New Japan for a special appearance on the 2/12 Toyohashi event, teaming with AKIRA against Bernard & Karl Anderson.

NJPW, 2/15/09 (WPW)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Special Singles Match: Mistico vs. Mephisto
2. Special Tag Match - NJPW vs. TNA Augmented Reality: Masahiro Chono & AKIRA vs. James Storm & Robert Roode
3. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Tiger Mask (c) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger
4. Special Singles Match: Giant Bernard vs. Kurt Angle
5. IWGP Tag Team Title - Hardcore Rules: “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon (c) vs. Togi Makabe & Toru Yano
6. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura