–> “CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN ISM” <--
Tanahashi vs. Nakamura continued to heat up at today's second show of the Korakuen double header, with Tanahashi's upcoming challenger again getting the better of him. It was a main event of two rivalries - Tanahashi vs. Nakamura over the IWGP Heavyweight Title and Taguchi & Devitt vs. NO LIMIT as both teams aim for IWGP Jr. Tag Title contendership - and a 25 minute battle ended when Nakamura pinned Yujiro. Nakamura declared war on Tanahashi after the match, promising to put his body and soul into winning back the belt. The semi final again saw two rivalries played out in tag form - Nagata vs. Goto and Tiger vs. Liger - with Liger scoring a big cradle pin over the man he will challenge for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title at Sumo Hall. Worringly, Goto had to be helped out with a knee injury after the match and may have to cancel some appearances.

Minoru made his expected appearance to greet fans before the show. He said after ten years as a New Japan junior he is becoming a freelancer, but wants fans to continue supporting New Japan juniors, who he considers the world's strongest. He thanked the fans and now takes a new path, but to where remains a mystery...

NJPW, 1/31/09 (SXW)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,600 Fans - No Vacancy

1. AKIRA beat Nobuo Yoshihashi (9:34) with a Musasabi press.
2. Jado & Gedo beat Milano Collection AT & Taichi Ishikari (11:40) when Gedo pinned Ishikari.
3. Takashi Iizuka, Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson & Tomoaki Honma beat Manabu Nakanishi, Koji Kanemoto, Mitsuhide Hirasawa & Kazuchika Okada (15:25) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on Okada.
4. Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono & Wataru Inoue beat Togi Makabe, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii (12:02) when Ishii was DQ’d.
5. Hirooki Goto & Jushin Thunder Liger beat Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask (11:50) when Liger used a cradle on Tiger.
6. Shinsuke Nakamura, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (25:25) when Nakamura used the Landslide on Yujiro.