–> “BEST OF THE SUPER JR. XVI ~THE HARD LUCK SOLDIERS~” <--

NJPW, 5/31/09
Mito Citizen Gymnasium
1,500 Fans - No Vacancy

1. Atsushi Aoki beat Nobuo Yoshihashi (6:45) with a cross armbreaker.
2. Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson beat Mitsuhide Hirasawa & Kazuchika Okada (9:00) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on Hirasawa.
3. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Jado beat Black Tiger (11:26) with a horizontal cradle.
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, Wataru Inoue & Tiger Mask beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & YAMATO (16:46) when Iizuka was DQ’d.
5. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Jushin Thunder Liger [2] beat Taichi [0] (11:11) with a brainbuster.
6. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Tsuyoshi Kikuchi [2] beat Koji Kanemoto [2] (9:18) with a cradle.
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata, Milano Collection AT & AKIRA (19:33) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on AKIRA.

–> “BEST OF THE SUPER JR. XVI ~THE HARD LUCK SOLDIERS~” <--
The 2009 Best of the Super Jr. opened today before another packed house at Korakuen Hall. Three of the four tournament matches featured a New Japan vs. outsiders theme, with New Japan stars beating young men from DDT, NOAH, and DRAGON GATE on day one. The main event saw Koji Kanemoto submit Kota Ibushi in the follow-up to the Tanahashi & Kanemoto vs. Morishima & Ibushi tag from the same building earlier this month. Underneath, NOAH's Atsushi Aoki put up a spirited fight against Tiger Mask before expectedly losing, while Ryusuke Taguchi pinned the leader of DRAGON GATE's Real Hazard faction, YAMATO. The only in-house match saw Milano pin Prince Devitt, while the pick of the non-tournament matches served as the first of several build-up bouts for the Nakanishi vs. Tanahashi rematch, the IWGP Heavyweight Champion forcing the emerging Okada to tap out.

NJPW, 5/30/09 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
2,005 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi beat Nobuo Yoshihashi (4:32) with the Fireball bomb.
2. Karl Anderson, Black Tiger & Jado beat Jushin Thunder Liger, AKIRA & Taichi (9:03) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on Taichi.
3. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, Wataru Inoue & Tomoaki Honma (10:50) when Nakamura used the Landslide on Honma.
4. Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata & Mitsuhide Hirasawa beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada (17:18) when Nakanishi used an Argentine backbreaker on Okada.
7. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Milano Collection AT [2] beat Prince Devitt [0] (15:22) with the Victoria Milanese.
5. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi [2] beat YAMATO [0] (13:17) with the Shika Koroshi.
6. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Tiger Mask [2] beat Atsushi Aoki [0] (10:27) with a Tiger suplex hold.
8. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Koji Kanemoto [2] beat Kota Ibushi [0] (14:18) with an ankle hold.

Jushin Thunder Liger will be the eighth opponent in Atsushi Aoki’s “Flash” trial series on NOAH soil on June 22nd. The two are in opposite blocks in the Best of the Super Jr. tournament so this will be a first time meeting.

NOAH, 6/22/09
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- Atsushi Aoki vs. Jushin Thunder Liger

Non-tournament matches for the upcoming Super Jr. tour have been announced, with two real noteworthy trends. Tanahashi and Goto unite in a series of six man tags against Nakanishi and Nagata, a generation war designed to build up the Tanahashi vs. Nakanishi rematch. And in what could be an uneasy alliance, Makabe and Honma unite with the man who was kicked out of GBH by the Makabe-led force, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, in an attempt to crush the sequel to GBH, CHAOS. Chono, Choshu, Bernard, and Omori will not be on this tour.

The Motor City Machine Guns will appear on the 7/5 Korakuen show, which opens the summer tour (not the Super Jr. one). They will face undetermined opposition, possibly in an IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title defense.

NJPW, 5/30/09 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
2. Jushin Thunder Liger, AKIRA & Taichi vs. Karl Anderson, Black Tiger & Jado
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, Wataru Inoue & Tomoaki Honma vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
4. Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada
5. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. YAMATO
6. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Atsushi Aoki
7. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Milano Collection AT vs. Prince Devitt
8. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Koji Kanemoto vs. Kota Ibushi

NJPW, 5/31/09
Mito Citizen Gymnasium

1. Mitsuhide Hirasawa & Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson
2. Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. Atsushi Aoki
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, Wataru Inoue & Tiger Mask vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & YAMATO
4. Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata, Milano Collection AT & AKIRA vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt
5. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Black Tiger vs. Jado
6. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Taichi
7. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Koji Kanemoto vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi

NJPW, 6/3/09 (SXW)
Tokorozawa Citizen Gymnasium #2

1. Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. YAMATO
2. Koji Kanemoto & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Atsushi Aoki
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, Wataru Inoue, Tomoaki Honma & Kazuchika Okada vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson
4. Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata, Jushin Thunder Liger & Milano Collection AT vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi
5. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Taichi vs. Kota Ibushi
6. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Prince Devitt vs. Jado
7. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: AKIRA vs. Black Tiger

NJPW, 6/5/09
Yonago Industrial Gymnasium

1. Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. Atsushi Aoki
2. Tiger Mask & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Black Tiger & YAMATO
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, Super Strong Machine, Wataru Inoue & Tomoaki Honma vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson
4. Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata, Koji Kanemoto & Milano Collection AT vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Prince Devitt & Kazuchika Okada
5. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: AKIRA vs. Jado
6. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Taichi vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
7. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Ryusuke Taguchi

NJPW, 6/6/09
Shinji Lake Park

1. Tiger Mask & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Kazuchika Okada & Nobuo Yoshihashi
2. Super Strong Machine & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, Wataru Inoue & Tomoaki Honma vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Jado
4. Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata, Koji Kanemoto & Taichi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt
5. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: AKIRA vs. Atsushi Aoki
6. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. YAMATO
7. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Milano Collection AT vs. Black Tiger

NJPW, 6/7/09
Akashi Municipal Industrial Exchange Center

1. Kazuchika Okada & Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. Karl Anderson & Jado
2. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, Wataru Inoue & Tomoaki Honma vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
3. Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata & Milano Collection AT vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Ryusuke Taguchi
4. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Taichi vs. YAMATO
5. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Black Tiger vs. Atsushi Aoki
6. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Tiger Mask vs. Prince Devitt
7. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Koji Kanemoto

NJPW, 6/8/09
Fukui City Gymnasium

1. Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. Atsushi Aoki
2. Ryusuke Taguchi, Mitsuhide Hirasawa & Kazuchika Okada vs. Karl Anderson, Jado & YAMATO
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, Wataru Inoue, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tomoaki Honma vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Black Tiger
4. Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata & Milano Collection AT vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Prince Devitt
5. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Koji Kanemoto vs. Taichi
6. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Kota Ibushi
7. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Tiger Mask vs. AKIRA

NJPW, 6/9/09
Gifu Mount Ace

1. AKIRA & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Tomohiro Ishii & YAMATO
2. Koji Kanemoto & Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. Kota Ibushi & Atsushi Aoki
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, Wataru Inoue & Tomoaki Honma vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Karl Anderson
4. Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata, Jushin Thunder Liger & Taichi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tiger Mask & Kazuchika Okada
5. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Milano Collection AT vs. Jado
6. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Prince Devitt vs. Black Tiger
7. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi

NJPW, 6/11/09
Mie Yume Dome Ueno #2

1. Kazuchika Okada & Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Kota Ibushi
2. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, Wataru Inoue, Tomoaki Honma & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson
3. Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Prince Devitt
4. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Taichi
5. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Koji Kanemoto vs. YAMATO
6. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Tiger Mask vs. Jado
7. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: AKIRA vs. Milano Collection AT

NJPW, 6/12/09
Toyohashi City Gymnasium #2

1. Tiger Mask & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Karl Anderson & Black Tiger
2. Koji Kanemoto & Milano Collection AT vs. Kazuchika Okada & Nobuo Yoshihashi
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, Wataru Inoue & Tomoaki Honma vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
4. Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata & Taichi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Ryusuke Taguchi
5. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Jado vs. Atsushi Aoki
6. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Kota Ibushi vs. YAMATO
7. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: AKIRA vs. Prince Devitt
8. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi

NJPW, 6/13/09
Kyoto KBS Hall

1. Taichi, Mitsuhide Hirasawa & Kazuchika Okada vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Karl Anderson & Jado
2. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, Wataru Inoue & Tomoaki Honma vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & YAMATO
3. Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata & AKIRA vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Prince Devitt
4. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Milano Collection AT vs. Atsushi Aoki
5. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Kota Ibushi
6. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Koji Kanemoto vs. Ryusuke Taguchi
7. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Tiger Mask vs. Black Tiger

NJPW, 6/14/09 (SXW)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. - Semi Final: Block A 1st Place vs. Block B 2nd Place
2. Best of the Super Jr. - Semi Final: Block B 1st Place vs. Block A 2nd Place
3. Best of the Super Jr. - Final:

New Japan has a busy July, with the schedule having been announced. It is largely Hokkaido-based with the traditional summer tour, then a small two day mini-tour to follow. The big show is on July 20th at the Tsukisamu Alpha Court Dome (formerly named Tsukisamu Green Dome) where we could see an IWGP Heavyweight Title defense if the chain of big title matches at big shows continues.

CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN SOUL
- 7/5 @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
- 7/10 @ Chiba Port Arena Sub Arena
- 7/12 @ Green Dome Maebashi Sub Arena
- 7/14 @ Fukushima City Gymnasium
- 7/15 @ Miyako City Gymnasium Sea Arena
- 7/16 @ TONYAMACHI Big Sight
- 7/18 @ Muroran City Gymnasium
- 7/20 @ Tsukisamu Alpha Court Dome

NEW JAPAN LIVE 2DAYS ~2NIGHT’S THE NIGHT~
- 7/22 @ Asahikawa Local Industry Promotion Center
- 7/23 @ Hakodate Citizen Gymnasium

Some quick interpromotional notes.

Nagata made an appearance at a “Corazon Pro Wrestling” show at the Mizuno Futsal Plaza which is adjoined to the Ajinomoto Stadium. He had been in the stadium itself as a special guest before the FC Tokyo vs. Kyoto Sangha FC football game in the J LEAGUE began. At the latter event Nagata wrestled Kazuhiro Tamura of STYLE-E and defeated him but had a lot of praise for the young man, calling him strong.

Corazon Pro Wrestling, 5/9/09
Mizuno Futsal Plaza

- Yuji Nagata beat Kazuhiro Tamura (10:31) with a crab hold.

Masahiro Chono and Tiger Mask will both be making special appearances soon. Chono will be appearing on the Real Japan show of original Tiger Mask, Satoru Sayama, on June 17th in an undetermined match, but most likely one featuring Ganso Tiger Mask. The current Tiger Mask will appear in Michinoku Pro, teaming with two men he has long history with, Jinsei Shinzaki and Dick Togo.

Michinoku Pro, 6/19/09
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- Jinsei Shinzaki, Tiger Mask & Dick Togo vs. Shinjitsu Nohashi, Shu Sato & Kei Sato

New Japan vs. NOAH continues with two interesting singles matches in Osaka next month, both added today. Kazuchika Okada has emerged from the opening match to try and make a name for himself in the NOAH feud, with two appearances in tags against NOAH opposition recently. Next month he faces NOAH’s top ace candidate Go Shiozaki in a match that gives both men a chance to show something. And the feud between Hirooki Goto and Takashi Sugiura could be settled as the two go to war in a battle of men pushing towards the top of their respective promotions right now.

NJPW “DOMINION 6.20″, 6/20/09
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

1. Special Singles Match - NJPW vs. NOAH Battle Diffusions I: Kazuchika Okada vs. Go Shiozaki
2. Special Singles Match - NJPW vs. NOAH Battle Diffusions II: Hirooki Goto vs. Takashi Sugiura
3. IWGP Tag Team Title: “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon (c) vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
4. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Manabu Nakanishi (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

He asked for it and he got it. Hiroshi Tanahashi has an instant chance to win back the IWGP Heavyweight Title without losing too much of his momentum. Manabu Nakanishi’s V1 defense of the belt will take place at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium next month against the man he defeated yesterday. Also announced for “DOMINION 6.20″ was Team 3D’s next defense of the IWGP Tag Team Title against the team that downed both Wild Child and TenKoji to earn a shot, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson.

NJPW “DOMINION 6.20″, 6/20/09
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

1. IWGP Tag Team Title: “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon (c) vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
2. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Manabu Nakanishi (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Junior lineups for the Super Jr. tour have been announced with some very interesting matches as expected. Heavyweight matches will be announced another day.

NJPW, 5/30/09 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. YAMATO
2. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Atsushi Aoki
3. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Milano Collection AT vs. Prince Devitt
4. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Koji Kanemoto vs. Kota Ibushi

NJPW, 5/31/09
Mito Citizen Gymnasium

1. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Black Tiger vs. Jado
2. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Taichi
3. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Koji Kanemoto vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi

NJPW, 6/3/09 (SXW)
Tokorozawa Citizen Gymnasium #2

1. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Taichi vs. Kota Ibushi
2. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Prince Devitt vs. Jado
3. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: AKIRA vs. Black Tiger

NJPW, 6/5/09
Yonago Industrial Gymnasium

1. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: AKIRA vs. Jado
2. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Taichi vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
3. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Ryusuke Taguchi

NJPW, 6/6/09
Shinji Lake Park

1. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: AKIRA vs. Atsushi Aoki
2. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. YAMATO
3. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Milano Collection AT vs. Black Tiger

NJPW, 6/7/09
Akashi Municipal Industrial Exchange Center

1. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Taichi vs. YAMATO
2. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Black Tiger vs. Atsushi Aoki
3. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Tiger Mask vs. Prince Devitt
4. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Koji Kanemoto

NJPW, 6/8/09
Fukui City Gymnasium

1. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Koji Kanemoto vs. Taichi
2. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Kota Ibushi
3. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Tiger Mask vs. AKIRA

NJPW, 6/9/09
Gifu Mount Ace

1. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Milano Collection AT vs. Jado
2. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Prince Devitt vs. Black Tiger
3. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi

NJPW, 6/11/09
Mie Yume Dome Ueno #2

1. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Taichi
2. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Koji Kanemoto vs. YAMATO
3. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Tiger Mask vs. Jado
4. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: AKIRA vs. Milano Collection AT

NJPW, 6/12/09
Toyohashi City Gymnasium #2

1. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Jado vs. Atsushi Aoki
2. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Kota Ibushi vs. YAMATO
3. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: AKIRA vs. Prince Devitt
4. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Tsuyoshi Kikuchi

NJPW, 6/13/09
Kyoto KBS Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Milano Collection AT vs. Atsushi Aoki
2. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Kota Ibushi
3. Best of the Super Jr. - Block B: Koji Kanemoto vs. Ryusuke Taguchi
4. Best of the Super Jr. - Block A: Tiger Mask vs. Black Tiger

NJPW, 6/14/09 (SXW)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. - Semi Final: Block A 1st Place vs. Block B 2nd Place
2. Best of the Super Jr. - Semi Final: Block B 1st Place vs. Block A 2nd Place
3. Best of the Super Jr. - Final: