–> “CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN BRAVE” <--

NJPW, 4/26/09
Oita Daihatsu Arena
1,200 Fans - No Vacancy

1. Koji Kanemoto beat Mitsuhide Hirasawa (8:58) with an ankle hold.
2. Riki Choshu, Jushin Thunder Liger & Prince Devitt beat Milano Collection AT, Taichi & Nobuo Yoshihashi (9:31) when Devitt used a brainbuster on Yoshihashi.
3. Tomohiro Ishii, Karl Anderson, Black Tiger & Jado beat Manabu Nakanishi, Takao Omori, Wataru Inoue & Tiger Mask (15:24) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on Omori.
4. Handicap Match: Togi Makabe beat Toru Yano & Giant Bernard (6:23) when Yano was DQ’d.
5. Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka beat Yuji Nagata & Kazuchika Okada (13:54) when Nakamura used the Landslide on Okada.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Hirooki Goto & AKIRA (15:15) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on AKIRA.

–> “CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN BRAVE” <--

NJPW, 4/24/09
Shunan Sports Center
1,300 Fans - No Vacancy

1. Mitsuhide Hirasawa beat Nobuo Yoshihashi (8:38) with the Hira Bottom.
2. Koji Kanemoto, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Milano Collection AT, Taichi & Kazuchika Okada (14:14) when Devitt used a brainbuster on Okada.
3. Jushin Thunder Liger 20th Anniversary Special Tag Match: Tiger Mask & Jushin Thunder Liger beat Black Tiger & Jado (11:48) when Tiger Mask used a diving headbutt on Jado.
4. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi, Takao Omori & Wataru Inoue beat Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson (17:06) when Omori used an Axe Bomber on Anderson.
5. Handicap Match: Togi Makabe vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Giant Bernard went to a no contest (1:36).
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Riki Choshu beat Hirooki Goto & AKIRA (13:12) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on AKIRA.

–> “CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN BRAVE” <--
Toru Yano announced the name of the new group led by he and Nakamura today as CHAOS. This seems to kill off GBH, unless Makabe retains the name, with Yano saying he'd "give" the GBH name to the "two idiots" (Makabe and Honma) who continue to persist. So CHAOS appears to be GBH minus Makabe and Honma, plus Nakamura. Shinsuke seems to have fully turned to the dark side, although his ultimate motivation besides hurting Makabe doesn't seem clear.

NJPW, 4/23/09
Zentsuji Citizen Gymnasium
800 Fans - No Vacancy

1. Koji Kanemoto & Mitsuhide Hirasawa beat Jushin Thunder Liger & Kazuchika Okada (12:50) when Kanemoto used an ankle hold on Okada.
2. Milano Collection AT & Taichi beat Ryusuke Taguchi & Nobuo Yoshihashi (11:58) when Taichi pinned Yoshihashi after a super scrap kick.
3. Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson & Black Tiger beat Manabu Nakanishi, Takao Omori & Tiger Mask (14:42) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on Omori.
4. Riki Choshu, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue beat Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii (12:13) when Iizuka was DQ’d.
5. Shinsuke Nakamura & Jado beat Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (12:34) when Nakamura used the Landslide on Honma.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Prince Devitt beat Hirooki Goto & AKIRA (15:25) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on AKIRA.

-

New Japan announced the full cards for the big Fukuoka International Center show and Korakuen double header that follows up on it. The only notable addition to Fukuoka is legends Choshu & Chono facing Wild Child. OKUMURA (Shigeo Okumura) has been added to the Korakuen double header as part of the CMLL party, while another Tiger Mask vs. Black Tiger (fifth generation) singles match has been set up for the 5/6 show - this time for Tiger’s IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title in what will be his third defense!

NJPW “WRESTLING DONTAKU 2009″, 5/3/09 (WPW/PPV)
Fukuoka International Center

1. Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Milano Collection AT & Taichi
2. Wataru Inoue, AKIRA & Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Black Tiger & Jado
3. Riki Choshu & Masahiro Chono vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Takao Omori
4. Wrestling Dontaku 2009 Special Tag Match - TENJIN Deadline: Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Toru Yano
5. Wrestling Dontaku 2009 Special Tag Match - HAKATA Cross Fire: Tiger Mask & Koji Kanemoto vs. Jushin Thunder Liger & CIMA
6. Justice Revenge in FUKUOKA - Dog Collar Chain Death Match: Yuji Nagata vs. Takashi Iizuka
7. TenKoji Return - IWGP Tag Team Title #1 Contender Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
8. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Hirooki Goto

NJPW “DIVERGENCE”, 5/5/09 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. OKUMURA
2. Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Milano Collection AT & Taichi
3. Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA vs. Takashi Iizuka & Karl Anderson
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Manabu Nakanishi, Takao Omori & Koji Kanemoto
5. Special Tag Match - NJPW vs. NOAH Battle Intentions: Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada vs. Takashi Sugiura & Atsushi Aoki
6. Togi Makabe, Wataru Inoue & Tomoaki Honma vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii
7. Special 6 Man Tag Match - Mistico 3rd Impact!!!: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tiger Mask & Mistico vs. Giant Bernard, Black Tiger & Misterioso Jr.

NJPW “DISSIDENCE”, 5/6/09 (SXW)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Jushin Thunder Liger, Koji Kanemoto & AKIRA vs. OKUMURA, Kazuchika Okada & Nobuo Yoshihashi
2. Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Milano Collection AT & Taichi
3. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & Takao Omori vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Jado
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Tiger Mask (c) vs. Black Tiger
6. Falls Count Anywhere Match: Wataru Inoue vs. Tomohiro Ishii
7. Special Tag Match - Mistico 3rd Impact!!!: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Mistico vs. Hirooki Goto & Misterioso Jr.

–> “CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN BRAVE” <--
The two young generation stars who will battle over the IWGP Heavyweight Title on May 3rd faced older, more experienced opposition today and both showed why their generation now leads New Japan. IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Hiroshi Tanahashi, fought off a good non-title challenge from Takao Omori in the main event, while Hirooki Goto submitted big senior Nakanishi right before it. Earlier in the show, Tiger Mask bested Black Tiger by DQ, getting his mask torn again, and it looks like a singles match is forthcoming over the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title, so soon after Tiger Mask ended the fourth generation Black Tiger's stint under the hood.

NJPW, 4/22/09 (SXW)
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium #2
1,777 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Jushin Thunder Liger, Milano Collection AT, Taichi & Kazuchika Okada beat Koji Kanemoto, Ryusuke Taguchi, Prince Devitt & Nobuo Yoshihashi (10:15) when Taichi used the Black Mephisto on Yoshihashi.
2. Tomohiro Ishii & Jado beat Wataru Inoue & AKIRA (15:31) when Ishii used a brainbuster on AKIRA.
3. Takashi Iizuka, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson beat Riki Choshu, Yuji Nagata & Mitsuhide Hirasawa (10:56) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on Hirasawa.
4. Tiger Mask beat Black Tiger (8:04) by DQ.
5. Shinsuke Nakamura & Toru Yano beat Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (9:58) when Nakamura used the Landslide on Honma.
6. Hirooki Goto beat Manabu Nakanishi (14:38) with a modified armlock.
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Takao Omori (16:27) with the High Fly Flow.

–> “CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN BRAVE” <--
Togi Makabe stormed back into the New Japan ring today and finally made his presence felt after Toru Yano's betrayal at Sumo Hall and the subsequent GBH-minus-Honma and Nakamura alliance to rid the wrestling business of Makabe. It happened after Honma had been pinned by Ishii in a singles match and was receiving a GBH beatdown. Makabe hit the ring and ran off Yano to huge "Makabe!" chants. Makabe announced that from tomorrow on the second half of the Osaka double header, he would return to cooperate with Honma, possibly calling a halt to Honma's singles match series that he seems destined to lose each match of. But Makabe wasn't the only one to help Honma as Wataru Inoue -- feuding with Ishii for a long time now -- also hit the ring and helped out. Wataru seems to have common ground with Makabe and it looks like he could cooperate with Makabe and Honma against the Nakamura/GBH alliance.

Wild Child hit form today with instant revenge over the tandem that defeated them at Sumo Hall, as they defeated the team who will face TenKoji in a #1 contendership match for Team 3D's IWGP Tag Team Title, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson. Omori, who suffered the humiliation of being pinned by the upcoming Anderson at Sumo Hall, struck down the American with an Axe Bomber.

NJPW, 4/21/09 (SXW)
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium #2
1,400 Fans

1. Koji Kanemoto beat Kazuchika Okada (8:33) with an ankle hold.
2. Super Strong Machine, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA beat Prince Devitt, Mitsuhide Hirasawa & Nobuo Yoshihashi (9:07) when AKIRA used a Musasabi press on Yoshihashi.
3. Black Tiger & Jado beat Tiger Mask & Taichi (12:50) when Jado used the Crossface of JADO on Taichi.
4. Tomohiro Ishii beat Tomoaki Honma (10:29) with a brainbuster.
5. Manabu Nakanishi & Takao Omori beat Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson (13:05) when Omori used an Axe Bomber on Anderson.
6. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka beat Riki Choshu, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue (11:05) when Nakamura used the Landslide on Inoue.
7. Hirooki Goto & Milano Collection AT beat Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi (17:35) when Goto used the Shouten on Taguchi.

Hiroyoshi Tenzan is about to return with a bang, firstly in the TenKoji reunion and today announced a showdown with the legendary Kenta Kobashi! Tenzan is one of several New Japan wrestlers who will appear on Pro Wrestling NOAH’s May 6th Tokyo Nippon Budokan show. He will take promising young lion Kazuchika Okada with him and the two will face Kobashi and NOAH youngster Atsushi Ito. Once they were nicknamed “The Unbeatables”, Jushin Thunder Liger & Koji Kanemoto being the team that entered NOAH to bring home the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title in 2003. They re-board the Ark on the same show as they face Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Genba Hirayanagi in response to provocation from the team aimed at the New Japan legends. By the way, this show is on the same day as the second half of NJ’s Korakuen double header, the first half of which sees Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada vs. Takashi Sugiura & Atsushi Aoki in another NJ vs. NOAH bout.

NOAH “GLOBAL TAG LEAGUE ‘09″, 5/6/09
Tokyo Nippon Budokan

- Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Genba Hirayanagi vs. Jushin Thunder Liger & Koji Kanemoto
- Kenta Kobashi & Atsushi Ito vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Kazuchika Okada

Both IWGP Tag titles were successfully defended at TNA’s “LOCKDOWN” PPV on the 19th. Team 3D went to war with Beer Money Inc. in an IWGP Tag vs. TNA Tag double title match and the world famous tandem came out on top, Brother Ray pinning Robert Roode after a 3D through the table. Meanwhile, NO LIMIT again failed to recapture the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title, this time in a 3WAY cage match as champions, the Motor City Machine Guns, defeated both them and Homicide and the 285lbs (yeah…) Shawn Hernandez. Both matches were officially sanctioned IWGP defenses unlike various others held in America in the past. The task remains for teams from New Japan to beat Team 3D and the MCMG.

TNA “LOCKDOWN”, 4/19/09 (PPV)
Philadelphia Liacouras Center

- 3WAY Tornado Six Sides of Steel Cage Match - IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley (c) beat Homicide & Shawn Hernandez and Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (11:53) when Sabin pinned Naito after the Made in Detroit (3rd defense).
- Philadelphia Street Fight - IWGP Tag Team Title & TNA World Tag Team Title: “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon (c) beat James Storm & Robert Roode (c) (13:57) when Ray pinned Roode after a 3D through a table (2nd defense) to become the 11th TNA World Tag Team Champions.

–> “CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN BRAVE” <--

NJPW, 4/19/09
Iwade Municipal Townsman Gymnasium
1,000 Fans

1. Tiger Mask & Koji Kanemoto beat Black Tiger & Jado (11:05) when Kanemoto used an ankle hold on Jado.
2. Super Strong Machine, Milano Collection AT & Taichi beat Riki Choshu, Kazuchika Okada & Nobuo Yoshihashi (9:59) when Taichi used the Black Mephisto on Yoshihashi.
3. Giant Bernard beat Tomoaki Honma (4:22) with the Bernard Driver.
4. Manabu Nakanishi, Takao Omori & Wataru Inoue vs. Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson went to a draw (13:17) when Inoue & Ishii were counted out.
5. Shinsuke Nakamura & Takashi Iizuka beat Yuji Nagata & Mitsuhide Hirasawa (13:38) when Nakamura used a flying cross armbreaker on Hirasawa.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Hirooki Goto, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA (16:49) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on AKIRA.

–> “CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN BRAVE” <--

NJPW, 4/18/09
Kuwana City Gymnasium
1,400 Fans - No Vacancy

1. AKIRA beat Mitsuhide Hirasawa (9:02) with a Musasabi press.
2. Jushin Thunder Liger, Milano Collection AT & Taichi beat Koji Kanemoto, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt (11:45) when Milano used a jackknife hold on Taguchi.
3. Toru Yano beat Tomoaki Honma (9:51) with the Oni Koroshi.
4. Yuji Nagata, Wataru Inoue & Tiger Mask beat Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Black Tiger (13:23) when Iizuka was DQ’d.
5. Shinsuke Nakamura, Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson & Jado beat Riki Choshu, Manabu Nakanishi, Takao Omori & Super Strong Machine (12:05) when Nakamura used a flying cross armbreaker on Machine.
6. Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada beat Hiroshi Tanahashi & Nobuo Yoshihashi (15:26) when Goto used the Shouten on Yoshihashi.

Card updates galore for April and May, starting with the biggest…

Revenge! Yuji Nagata and Takashi Iizuka go to war again at the Fukuoka International Center in a rematch of their recent Chain Death Match, with Nagata out for revenge after being choked out and humiliated by Iizuka at Sumo Hall.

NJPW “WRESTLING DONTAKU 2009″, 5/3/09 (WPW/PPV)
Fukuoka International Center

1. Wrestling Dontaku 2009 Special Tag Match: Tiger Mask & Koji Kanemoto vs. Jushin Thunder Liger & CIMA
2. TenKoji Return - IWGP Tag Team Title #1 Contender Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
3. Justice Revenge in FUKUOKA - Chain Death Match: Yuji Nagata vs. Takashi Iizuka
4. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Hirooki Goto

Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Takashi Sugiura lives up to his promise with a New Japan invasion on the first of the May Korakuen double header, bringing youngster Atsushi Aoki with him to battle Hirooki Goto and young lion Kazuchika Okada. This will come two days after Goto’s IWGP challenge, so he could be wearing the title by then. After another inconclusive finisher in the LOCK UP main event, Wataru Inoue and Tomohiro Ishii have their third and possibly decisive singles match in a Falls Count Anywhere Match where the bout can finish anywhere in Korakuen!

NJPW “DIVERGENCE”, 5/5/09 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Special Tag Match - NJPW vs. NOAH Battle Intentions: Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada vs. Takashi Sugiura & Atsushi Aoki
2. Special 6 Man Tag Match - Mistico 3rd Impact!!!: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tiger Mask & Mistico vs. Giant Bernard, Black Tiger & Misterioso Jr.

NJPW “DISSIDENCE”, 5/6/09 (SXW)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Falls Count Anywhere Match: Wataru Inoue vs. Tomohiro Ishii
2. Special Tag Match - Mistico 3rd Impact!!!: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Mistico vs. Hirooki Goto & Misterioso Jr.

Due to the conspiracy between Nakamura and Yano, cards have been updated for the ongoing tour with Nakamura teaming with GBH members, which seems to suggest Nakamura is in GBH but with Goto being preoccupied, who knows for sure. A series of matches between the ousted Tomoaki Honma and GBH members have also been set up.

NJPW, 4/18/09
Kuwana City Gymnasium

1. Tomoaki Honma vs. Toru Yano
2. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada
3. Riki Choshu, Manabu Nakanishi, Takao Omori & Super Strong Machine vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson & Jado

NJPW, 4/19/09
Iwade Municipal Townsman Gymnasium

1. Tomoaki Honma vs. Giant Bernard
2. Yuji Nagata & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Takashi Iizuka
3. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Hirooki Goto, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA

NJPW, 4/21/09 (SXW)
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium #2

1. Tomoaki Honma vs. Tomohiro Ishii
2. Manabu Nakanishi & Takao Omori vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
3. Riki Choshu, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka
4. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Hirooki Goto & Milano Collection AT

NJPW, 4/22/09 (SXW)
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium #2

1. Tomoaki Honma vs. Karl Anderson
2. Riki Choshu, Yuji Nagata & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka
3. Tiger Mask vs. Black Tiger
4. Manabu Nakanishi vs. Hirooki Goto
5. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Takao Omori

NJPW, 4/23/09
Zentsuji Citizen Gymnasium

1. Tomoaki Honma vs. Black Tiger
2. Riki Choshu, Yuji Nagata, Wataru Inoue & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
3. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Prince Devitt vs. Hirooki Goto & AKIRA

NJPW, 4/24/09
Shunan Sports Center

1. Jushin Thunder Liger 20th Anniversary Special Tag Match: Tiger Mask & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Black Tiger & Jado
2. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi, Takao Omori & Wataru Inoue vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
3. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Riki Choshu vs. Hirooki Goto & AKIRA

NJPW, 4/26/09
Oita Daihatsu Arena

1. Tomoaki Honma vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
2. Yuji Nagata & Kazuchika Okada vs. Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka
3. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Hirooki Goto & AKIRA

NJPW, 4/27/09
Nagasaki Prefectural Gymnasium

1. Tomoaki Honma vs. Jado
2. Manabu Nakanishi, Takao Omori & Tiger Mask vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano & Black Tiger
3. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Hirooki Goto & Jushin Thunder Liger

NJPW, 4/29/09
Hiroshima Trade Center West Pavillion

1. Tomoaki Honma vs. Toru Yano
2. Yuji Nagata, Wataru Inoue & AKIRA vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
3. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Prince Devitt vs. Hirooki Goto & Jushin Thunder Liger

NJPW, 4/30/09
Oita Event Hall

1. Tomoaki Honma vs. Giant Bernard
2. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi, Takao Omori & Koji Kanemoto vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Jado
3. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Prince Devitt vs. Hirooki Goto & Milano Collection AT

NJPW, 5/1/09
Kagoshima Citizen Gymnasium

1. Tomoaki Honma vs. Tomohiro Ishii
2. Masahiro Chono, Yuji Nagata & Super Strong Machine vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka
3. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Koji Kanemoto vs. Hirooki Goto & Jushin Thunder Liger

Wataru Inoue and Tomohiro Ishii’s ongoing grudge continued earlier at LOCK UP’s return to Korakuen Hall. It was a long match but again a little inconclusive as Ishii was counted out. There was plenty of other New Japan participation on the show and some interesting pairings.

LOCK UP “CHAPTER 2 ~ COME BACK”, 4/12/09
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- Shito Ueda & Ken Saito beat Kuniyoshi Wada & Nobuo Yoshihashi (9:55) when Ueda used a crab hold on Wada.
- Jado beat Kazuchika Okada (11:23) with the Crossface of JADO.
- Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Dick Togo & Ikuto Hidaka went to a draw (20:00) when the time limit expired.
- Tiger Mask 1 & Jushin Thunder Liger beat Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Daisuke Sekimoto (12:57) when Tiger used a Tiger suplex hold on Takaiwa.
- Wataru Inoue beat Tomohiro Ishii (22:52) by countout.
- Riki Choshu & Tatsumi Fujinami beat Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Takao Omori when Choshu used a Scorpion Deathlock on Fujiwara.

–> “CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN BRAVE <--
Shinsuke Nakamura and Toru Yano, both former amateur wrestling superstars during their university days, have something else in common now - they both want Togi Makabe out of wrestling for good. The two announced a joint struggle today which does not seem to affect RISE or GBH too much yet (although Nakamura has yet to appear on any cards this tour teaming with Goto, who is focused on his feud with Tanahashi), both inviting members of their factions to join them in their quest. Things got interesting after Nakamura crushed Honma today and when Honma declared he is loyal to Makabe afterwards, he was beaten down by Nakamura, Yano, and the rest of GBH with the possible exception of Iizuka (who wasn't mentioned in the report I read, so may or may not have been part of it). With a week between today's show and the next, further answers may have to wait.

Pro Wrestling NOAH's Takashi Sugiura, at war with New Japan, today announced his plan to invade the company soon. Sugiura wants to fight everyone in singles and suggested going as far as touring to achieve that need.

NJPW, 4/11/09 (SXW)
Twin Messe Shizuoka
1,100 Fans - No Vacancy

1. Koji Kanemoto beat Nobuo Yoshihashi (7:34) with an ankle hold.
2. Black Tiger & Jado beat Tiger Mask & Kazuchika Okada (9:37) when Black Tiger used a Death Valley bomb on Okada.
3. Manabu Nakanishi & Takao Omori beat Riki Choshu & Mitsuhide Hirasawa (7:21) when Nakanishi used an Argentine backbreaker on Hirasawa.
4. Toru Yano, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson beat Masahiro Chono, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA (9:26) when Yano used the Oni Koroshi on AKIRA.
5. Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii beat Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue (14:45) when Nagata was DQ’d.
6. Shinsuke Nakamura beat Tomoaki Honma (6:51) with the Landslide.
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Hirooki Goto, Milano Collection AT & Taichi (Taichi Ishikari) (15:23) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Taichi.

2009 is turning out to be a year of many big shows for New Japan but this is a surprising one. We know New Japan is running Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium #2 (1,500 seats) twice on the upcoming April tour and then the main Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium (6,500 seats) twice in the G1 Climax. Well, adding today is ANOTHER show at the main Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium between the double headers. New Japan officially announced “DOMINION 6.20″ for June 20th today, taking place about a week after the Super Jr. tour ends. Expect more big matches at this event including possibly Team 3D (if they don’t lose the belts in TNA before then) vs. the winners of TenKoji vs. Bernard & Anderson for the IWGP Tag Team Title.

New Japan presents its “WRESTLING DONTAKU 2009″ super-show at the Fukuoka International Center on May 3rd and two more matches have been announced. Tanahashi vs. Goto is of course official after yesterday’s main event result but after their unlikely win over Wild Child, Bernard & Anderson have the task of facing TenKoji, the winner of which will challenge Team 3D for the IWGP Tag Team Title some time soon. And after many years, the face of DRAGON GATE, CIMA, returns to New Japan as part of a special tag match in which he and Liger face Tiger Mask and Kanemoto. CIMA appeared in New Japan as a young boy along with other (then) Toryumon wrestlers but after Kanemoto was a bit too abusive in the ring, relations were cut off. The Fukuoka show has also been announced as another live PPV.

NJPW “WRESTLING DONTAKU 2009″, 5/3/09 (WPW/PPV)
Fukuoka International Center

1. Wrestling Dontaku 2009 Special Tag Match: Tiger Mask & Koji Kanemoto vs. Jushin Thunder Liger & CIMA
2. TenKoji Return - IWGP Tag Team Title #1 Contender Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
3. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Hirooki Goto

One name not on the Fukuoka card as yet that was scheduled is that of Mexican superstar Mistico. However, the Mexican “Child of God” has been confirmed for the Korakuen Hall double header that follows Fukuoka, on 5/5 and 5/6. He will be joined by fellow luchadore Misterioso Jr. in some interesting multicultural matches.

NJPW “DIVERGENCE”, 5/5/09 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Special 6 Man Tag Match - Mistico 3rd Impact!!!: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tiger Mask & Mistico vs. Giant Bernard, Black Tiger & Misterioso Jr.

NJPW “DISSIDENCE”, 5/6/09 (SXW)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Special Tag Match - Mistico 3rd Impact!!!: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Mistico vs. Hirooki Goto & Misterioso Jr.

Main matches have been announced for the upcoming “CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN BRAVE“, which begins on April 11th, so these are pretty late. Wild Child persist! Takao Omori appears on all shows and will team with Nakanishi in an attempt to get their reunion on track after yesterday’s false start. On 4/21 in Osaka they have a rematch against Bernard & Anderson. The following day in the same building Omori faces Tanahashi in a huge singles match, a show that also features Tiger Mask vs. the NEW Black Tiger who is on the tour, as well as Nakanishi vs. Hirooki Goto. Makabe is off the tour due to a neck injury suffered when Yano laid him out and judging by the opening day card Yano is still in GBH. The only other news is that Taichi Ishikari is renaming himself to simply Taichi.

NJPW, 4/11/09 (SXW)
Twin Messe Shizuoka

1. Koji Kanemoto vs. Nobuo Yoshihashi
2. Tiger Mask & Kazuchika Okada vs. Black Tiger & Jado
3. Riki Choshu & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Takao Omori
4. Masahiro Chono, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA vs. Toru Yano, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
5. Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue vs. Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
6. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Tomoaki Honma
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Hirooki Goto, Milano Collection AT & Taichi (Taichi Ishikari)

NJPW, 4/18/09
Kuwana City Gymnasium

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada

NJPW, 4/19/09
Iwade Municipal Townsman Gymnasium

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Hirooki Goto, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA

NJPW, 4/21/09 (SXW)
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium #2

1. Manabu Nakanishi & Takao Omori vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
2. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Hirooki Goto & Milano Collection AT

NJPW, 4/22/09 (SXW)
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium #2

1. Tiger Mask vs. Black Tiger
2. Manabu Nakanishi vs. Hirooki Goto
3. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Takao Omori

NJPW, 4/23/09
Zentsuji Citizen Gymnasium

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Prince Devitt vs. Hirooki Goto & AKIRA

NJPW, 4/24/09
Shunan Sports Center

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Riki Choshu vs. Hirooki Goto & AKIRA

NJPW, 4/26/09
Oita Daihatsu Arena

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Hirooki Goto & AKIRA

NJPW, 4/27/09
Nagasaki Prefectural Gymnasium

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Hirooki Goto & Jushin Thunder Liger

NJPW, 4/29/09
Hiroshima Trade Center West Pavillion

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Prince Devitt vs. Hirooki Goto & Jushin Thunder Liger

NJPW, 4/30/09
Oita Event Hall

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Prince Devitt vs. Hirooki Goto & Milano Collection AT

NJPW, 5/1/09
Kagoshima Citizen Gymnasium

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Koji Kanemoto vs. Hirooki Goto & Jushin Thunder Liger

Who will be the strongest of midsummer? The schedule for the “G1 CLIMAX 2009 ~NEW LORDS, NEW LAWS~” tour has been announced with eight shows in all, one more than last year. It begins in Hiroshima before another double header in Osaka. Then its on to Yokohama before the standard “small” show of the tour at Korakuen, then Aichi, and finally the Sumo Hall double header.

G1 CLIMAX 2009 ~NEW LORDS, NEW LAWS~
- 8/7 @ Hiroshima Sun Plaza
- 8/8 @ Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
- 8/9 @ Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
- 8/10 @ Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium
- 8/11 @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
- 8/13 @ Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium
- 8/15 @ Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
- 8/16 @ Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

Hiroshi Tanahashi’s evolution continued today as the brilliant young superstar of the Japanese wrestling industry shone brightly and fended off the challenge of global superstar Kurt Angle today at Sumo Hall. The man who has helped bring so much back to the IWGP Heavyweight Title followed up on his Tokyo Dome victory over Keiji Muto and successful V1 defense over rival Shinsuke Nakamura by facing the former IWGP 3rd Belt holder, Angle, in an electric main event full of drama and great crowd heat. Tanahashi endured Angle’s ankle locks and bombs, winning cleanly and decisively with two High Fly Flows to further cement his status as the ace. Tanahashi, who will next defend against NJC winner Hirooki Goto in Fukuoka just under a month from now, declared that his evolution hasn’t finished yet.

Nakamura has been trying to keep up with Tanahashi since failing to lift the belt off him in February but a loss to Goto in the New Japan Cup didn’t help matter. Today, he risked losing to the other of the four men who top the new generation, Togi Makabe, who sought revenge for his NJC round one loss to Nakamura. Perhaps Makabe might have beaten Nakamura had not his GBH ally Toru Yano suddenly betrayed him with a chairshot, leading to Nakamura hitting the Landslide for the win. There was much confusion over Yano’s status after the match but the general question was is Yano about to join Nakamura in the fight against GBH? Yano himself fell to the on-fire Goto earlier in the show but only after a difficult challenge against the #1 contender for Tanahashi’s title.

Former tag partners and once upon a time trusted friends, Yuji Nagata and Takashi Iizuka, went to war in a Chain Death Match today, the first of its kind since Iizuka put Tenzan to sleep in the same building last October. Blood was shed, more of Iizuka’s than Nagata’s but the dangerous Iizuka again proved to be a handful as he hanged Nagata over the ropes with his chain until Nagata blacked out, forcing the referee stoppage. With this victory over Nagata and not a single fall defeat since last July, Iizuka can surely stake a claim for a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Title — if that is even in his plans.

Wild Child’s reunion went completely wrong! The long awaited revival of Manabu Nakanishi & Takao Omori, former IWGP Tag Team Champions, took place and with them facing Bernard and Anderson, the latter a young undercarder still learning the ropes, pretty much everyone expected a straightforward victory for the Japanese big men. And yet somehow, Omori blundered and was pinned not by Bernard but Anderson, leaving the reunion in tatters. Nakanishi raged after the match, unable to believe they had lost and now handed a dilemma - whether to choose Omori or Yutaka Yoshie as his regular tag partner.

Tiger Mask risked his IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title against Black Tiger’s mask today in the decisive battle between the two old rivals - and as it turned out, this was the same Black Tiger that Tiger Mask feuded with several years back. The first stage of the match ended inconclusively as both were counted out, leading to huge boos from the fans. But with the stipulation demanding an outcome it was restarted and Tiger Mask made short work of his challenger, pinning him with his new Destroy suplex hold. The fourth generation of Black Tiger then unmasked, revealing Rocky Romero at last and he shook hands with Tiger. And then came the twist - as the same Black Tiger in black who attacked Tiger Mask at the last Sumo Hall show, again appeared and laid out Tiger Mask with a Death Valley bomb, then unmasked him. So Black Tiger Romero seemed to be a front to a new threat in the life of Tiger Mask.

The Motor City Machine Guns, after fending off NO LIMIT on home soil in TNA, today faced “Apollo 55″ Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt in what was described as a very exciting match. This lasted much longer than the four minute NO LIMIT challenge for MCMG’s IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title and ended with Devitt falling to the Made in Detroit. Shelley and Sabin both expressed their will to keep defending the belts in both countries.

Hiroyoshi Tenzan appeared during the show to speak to the fans, his long absence nearing its end. Tenzan announced that both he and his famous tandem with Satoshi Kojima, TenKoji, will return on 5/3 when New Japan runs the Fukuoka International Center. The two will be targetting Team 3D’s IWGP Tag Team Title and with Wild Child’s reunion failing, could quickly be granted a shot at the TNA Wrestling duo.

NJPW “RESOLUTION ‘09″, 4/5/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
8,000 Fans

1. Koji Kanemoto beat Kazuchika Okada (8:27) by referee stop.
2. Tomohiro Ishii, Jado & Tomoaki Honma beat Wataru Inoue, Milano Collection AT & Taichi Ishikari (8:52) when Honma used a diving headbutt on Ishikari.
3. Resolution ‘09 Special 6 Man Tag Match - NJPW Greatest Heritage: Masahiro Chono, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA beat Riki Choshu, Super Strong Machine & El Samurai (8:19) when AKIRA used a Musasabi press on Samurai.
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin (c) beat Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt (12:54) when Shelley pinned Devitt after the Made in Detroit (2nd defense).
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title - Belt Contra Mascara: Tiger Mask (c) vs. Black Tiger went to a double countout (6:47).
5a. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title - Belt Contra Mascara: Tiger Mask (c) beat Black Tiger (4:49) with a Destroy suplex hold (2nd defense).
6. Resolution ‘09 Special Tag Match - Big Comeback WILD HEART: Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson beat Manabu Nakanishi & Takao Omori (15:50) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on Omori.
7. Resolution ‘09 Special Singles Match - HUGE RIOT: Hirooki Goto beat Toru Yano (16:10) with a modified armlock.
8. Resolution ‘09 Special Singles Match - Bolt from the blue - Chain Death Match: Takashi Iizuka beat Yuji Nagata (21:58) by referee stop.
9. Resolution ‘09 Special Singles Match - The end of discord: Shinsuke Nakamura beat Togi Makabe (12:42) with the Landslide.
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title - WHICH IS GENIUS?: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) beat Kurt Angle (15:11) with the High Fly Flow (2nd defense).

NO LIMIT’s excursion to America ended in failure as they couldn’t do what they set out to — regain the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title from the Motor City Machine Guns. It started well for Yujiro and Naito when they defeated the TNA stars in a non-title match but their biggest match ended in defeat and its back to the drawing board for the young lions.

This confirms that the MCMG will make their next defense against Taguchi & Devitt on Sunday at Sumo Hall. Coincidentally (or not), the two today announced a new double team move that they plan to debut called the “Apollo 55″.

NJPW “RESOLUTION ‘09″, 4/5/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

- IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin (c) vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt