Full cards and match order (besides 8/14) for the upcoming “G1 CLIMAX XXI ~THE INVINCIBLE FIGHTER~” have been announced. Two very notable additions for the opening and closing day shows.

On day one in Fukuoka, Kota Ibushi makes his V2 defense of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title against Ryusuke Taguchi. Having taken the belt off Taguchi’s tag partner Devitt, then having defeated Devitt in his first defense, Ibushi must now overcome the other half of Apollo 55.

Then on the tour climax at Sumo Hall, the long-running Apollo 55 vs. Golden Lovers saga continues when Devitt & Taguchi make their V6 defense of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title against Ibushi & Kenny Omega, the team they regained the belts from in January after previously losing them to the DDT tandem.

NJPW, 8/1/11 (WPW/PPV)
Fukuoka International Center

1. G1 Climax – Block B: Wataru Inoue vs. La Sombra
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Giant Bernard vs. Hideo Saito
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Toru Yano vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
4. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Ryusuke Taguchi
6. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. Yujiro Takahashi
7. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Lance Archer
8. G1 Climax – Block B: Satoshi Kojima vs. Minoru Suzuki
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. MVP
10. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yuji Nagata

NJPW, 8/2/11 (Samurai! TV)
Fukuoka International Center

1. G1 Climax – Block B: Karl Anderson vs. La Sombra
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Lance Archer vs. Hideo Saito
3. G1 Climax – Block B: Wataru Inoue vs. Strong Man
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Giant Bernard vs. Yujiro Takahashi
5. Hirooki Goto, Jushin Thunder Liger & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Jado, Gedo & Tomohiro Ishii
6. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Tetsuya Naito
7. G1 Climax – Block B: MVP vs. Minoru Suzuki
8. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Toru Yano
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Satoshi Kojima vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
10. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yoshihiro Takayama

NJPW, 8/5/11 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. G1 Climax – Block B: Strong Man vs. La Sombra
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Yujiro Takahashi vs. Hideo Saito
3. G1 Climax – Block B: Wataru Inoue vs. MVP
4. G1 Climax – Block B: Karl Anderson vs. Minoru Suzuki
5. G1 Climax – Block A: Giant Bernard vs. Lance Archer
6. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Toru Yano
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
8. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Tetsuya Naito
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Satoshi Kojima

NJPW, 8/6/11 (J SPORTS)
Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium

1. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. La Sombra
2. G1 Climax – Block B: Karl Anderson vs. Strong Man
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Yujiro Takahashi
4. G1 Climax – Block B: Wataru Inoue vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
5. Satoshi Kojima & MVP vs. TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
6. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Hideo Saito
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Minoru Suzuki
8. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. Toru Yano
9. G1 Climax – Block A: Giant Bernard vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
10. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Lance Archer

NJPW, 8/7/11 (J SPORTS)
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

1. G1 Climax – Block A: Hideo Saito vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi
3. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Wataru Inoue
4. G1 Climax – Block B: La Sombra vs. Minoru Suzuki
5. Tetsuya Naito & Tomoaki Honma vs. Lance Archer & TAKA Michinoku
6. G1 Climax – Block B: Strong Man vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Karl Anderson
8. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Giant Bernard
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Satoshi Kojima vs. MVP
10. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe

NJPW, 8/8/11 (J SPORTS)
Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium

1. G1 Climax – Block B: Wataru Inoue vs. Karl Anderson
2. G1 Climax – Block B: Satoshi Kojima vs. Strong Man
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Yujiro Takahashi vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. Lance Archer
5. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. MVP
6. G1 Climax – Block B: La Sombra vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
7. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hideo Saito
8. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Minoru Suzuki
9. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Yuji Nagata

NJPW, 8/10/11 (Samurai! TV)
Yoyogi National Stadium Gymnasium #2

1. G1 Climax – Block A: Yujiro Takahashi vs. Lance Archer
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Toru Yano vs. Hideo Saito
3. G1 Climax – Block B: Satoshi Kojima vs. La Sombra
4. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Strong Man
5. G1 Climax – Block B: Wataru Inoue vs. Minoru Suzuki
6. G1 Climax – Block B: Karl Anderson vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. MVP
8. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
9. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Giant Bernard

NJPW, 8/11/11 (Samurai! TV)
Yoyogi National Stadium Gymnasium #2

1. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. Hideo Saito
2. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. La Sombra
3. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Wataru Inoue
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Toru Yano vs. Lance Archer
5. G1 Climax – Block B: MVP vs. Strong Man
6. G1 Climax – Block B: Karl Anderson vs. Satoshi Kojima
7. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Giant Bernard
8. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yujiro Takahashi
9. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Yoshihiro Takayama

NJPW, 8/13/11 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. G1 Climax – Block B: MVP vs. La Sombra
2. G1 Climax – Block B: Wataru Inoue vs. Satoshi Kojima
3. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Karl Anderson
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Lance Archer
5. G1 Climax – Block B: Strong Man vs. Minoru Suzuki
6. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. Giant Bernard
7. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
8. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
9. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Toru Yano

NJPW, 8/14/11 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi & Kenny Omega
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Lance Archer vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Giant Bernard vs. Toru Yano
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Hideo Saito
5. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Yujiro Takahashi
6. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Karl Anderson vs. MVP
8. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Strong Man
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Satoshi Kojima
10. G1 Climax – Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Minoru Suzuki
11. G1 Climax – Final: Block A 1st place vs. Block B 1st place

Prince Devitt’s attempt to win back the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title from the man who ended his one year reign as champion failed today. Devitt challenged Kota Ibushi on Ibushi’s home soil in a feature match on DDT’s Sumo Hall super-show. The match progressed at a breakneck pace before Ibushi dropped his Phoenix splash on Devitt to complete a successful V1 defense.

DDT “RYOGOKU PETER PAN 2011″, 7/24/11
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
8,660 Fans – Super No Vacancy

- IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Kota Ibushi (c) beat Prince Devitt (13:53) with a Phoenix splash (1st defense).

–> “NEW JAPAN LIVE 2011” <--

NJPW, 7/24/11
Akita Terrsa Hall
1,800 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Tomohiro Ishii beat Kyosuke Mikami (9:07) with a crab hold.
2. Jushin Thunder Liger & Tomoaki Honma beat Tiger Mask & Hiromu Takahashi (9:09) when Honma used the Kokeshi on Takahashi.
3. MVP beat King Fale (8:17) with the TTB.
4. Hirooki Goto, Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA beat Yujiro Takahashi, Jado & Gedo (13:26) when Goto used the Shouten Kai on Gedo.
5. Togi Makabe & Satoshi Kojima beat TAKA Michinoku & Taichi (12:18) when Makabe used a King Kong kneedrop on Taichi.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Hideo Saito (19:38) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Iizuka.

Bad Intentions made a successful V1 defense of their GHC Tag Team Title earlier today at NOAH’s big Osaka event. Bernard & Anderson can clearly be considered easily the top team in Japan nowadays, holding both New Japan and NOAH’s tag belts, and today’s victory came over Takeshi Morishima & Yutaka Yoshie, with Bernard pinning Yoshie after the Magic Killer.

NOAH “GREAT VOYAGE 2011 IN OSAKA”, 07/23/11
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
4,800 Fans – No Vacancy

- GHC Tag Team Title: Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson (c) beat Takeshi Morishima & Yutaka Yoshie (16:27) when Bernard pinned Yoshie after the Magic Killer (1st defense).

–> “NEW JAPAN LIVE 2011” <--

NJPW, 7/23/11
Aomori Industrial Hall
1,500 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Hiromu Takahashi beat Takaaki Watanabe (8:50) with a Fisherman’s suplex hold.
2. Tomohiro Ishii beat King Fale (9:26) with a brainbuster.
3. Yuji Nagata & Jushin Thunder Liger beat Wataru Inoue & Tiger Mask (9:38) when Nagata used a wrist-clutch Exploder on Tiger.
4. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Hideo Saito beat Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Tomoaki Honma (11:29) when Saito used the Caribbean Death Grip on Honma.
5. Satoshi Kojima & MVP beat TAKA Michinoku & Taichi (14:57) when MVP used the TTB on TAKA.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Yujiro Takahashi, Jado & Gedo (20:36) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Gedo.

–> “NEW JAPAN LIVE 2011” <--

NJPW, 7/22/11
Hakodate Citizen Gymnasium
900 Fans

1. King Fale beat Takaaki Watanabe (8:04) with a crab hold.
2. Tiger Mask & Hiromu Takahashi beat Jushin Thunder Liger & Kyosuke Mikami (10:17) when Tiger used a middle kick to the head on Mikami.
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Wataru Inoue, Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Masato Tanaka , Yujiro Takahashi, Jado & Gedo (15:24) when Tenzan used the Anaconda Vice on Gedo.
4. Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii beat Hirooki Goto & KUSHIDA (10:52) when Yano used the Oni Koroshi on KUSHIDA.
5. Togi Makabe, Satoshi Kojima & MVP beat Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi (14:08) when Makabe used a King Kong kneedrop on Taichi.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata & Tomoaki Honma beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Takashi Iizuka & Hideo Saito (15:15) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Iizuka.

–> “NEW JAPAN LIVE 2011” <--

NJPW, 7/19/11
Obihiro City Gymnasium
1,100 Fans

1. Kyosuke Mikami beat Takaaki Watanabe (8:46) with a modified achilles tendon hold.
2. Tomohiro Ishii beat Hiromu Takahashi (6:37) with a powerbomb.
3. Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson, Tomoaki Honma & Tiger Mask beat Masato Tanaka , Yujiro Takahashi, Jado & Gedo (12:59) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on Gedo.
4. Hirooki Goto, Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Jushin Thunder Liger, KUSHIDA & King Fale (8:34) when Goto used the Shouten Kai on Fale.
5. Togi Makabe, Satoshi Kojima & MVP beat Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi (12:06) when Kojima used a lariat on Taichi.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Hideo Saito (15:01) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Iizuka.

NJPW, 7/20/11
Shiranuka Town Gymnasium
1,100 Fans

1. Kyosuke Mikami beat Takaaki Watanabe (7:04) with a modified crab hold.
2. Jado & Gedo beat Tomoaki Honma & Hiromu Takahashi (12:24) when Jado used the Crossface of JADO on Takahashi.
3. MVP, Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson & KUSHIDA (14:25) when MVP used the TTB on KUSHIDA.
4. Takashi Iizuka, Masato Tanaka , Yujiro Takahashi & Hideo Saito beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata, Wataru Inoue & King Fale (12:16) when Saito used the Caribbean Death Grip on Fale.
5. Togi Makabe, Satoshi Kojima & Jushin Thunder Liger beat Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi (12:34) when Makabe used a King Kong kneedrop on Taichi.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Tiger Mask beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii (13:42) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Ishii.

–> “NEW JAPAN SOUL 2011” <--

NJPW, 7/18/11 (WPW/PPV)
Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena
5,800 Fans

1. Masato Tanaka , Yujiro Takahashi, Jado & Gedo beat Strong Man, Tomoaki Honma, Killer Rabbit & Killer Rabbit (9:38) when Takahashi used the Tokyo Pimps on Rabbit.
2. Jushin Thunder Liger beat Hector Garza (7:55) with an air scissors drop.
3. Shinsuke Nakamura, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Wataru Inoue & King Fale (10:28) when Nakamura used the Boma Ye on Fale.
4. Yuji Nagata beat Hideo Saito (9:56) by DQ.
5. Togi Makabe & Tiger Mask beat TAKA Michinoku & Taichi (7:18) when Tiger used a reverse double armbar on Taichi.
6. Prince Devitt, Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA beat Kota Ibushi , Kenny Omega & Daisuke Sasaki (15:29) when Taguchi pinned Sasaki after the Black Sunday.
7. Special Singles Match: Hirooki Goto beat Karl Anderson (10:20) with the Shouten Kai.
8. IWGP Intercontinental Title: MVP (c) beat Toru Yano (12:03) with the TTB (2nd defense).
9. Special Singles Match: Minoru Suzuki beat Satoshi Kojima (13:39) with a Gotch-style piledriver.
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) beat Giant Bernard (27:54) with a Dharma-style German suplex hold (6th defense).

* In the same region where he defeated Giant Bernard in a tournament final to begin his first IWGP Heavyweight Title reign almost five years ago to the day, Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated him in a half hour classic today to prove anew he is Japanese pro wrestling’s top star. Tanahashi heads into the G1 Climax as champion while Bernard fell just short of becoming a 3-crown champion as he of course holds both the IWGP Tag and NOAH’s GHC Tag titles with Karl Anderson.
* In their first singles battle since Suzuki forcibly took over Kojima’s faction, he defeated Cozy in a singles match today. The two meet again however on day one of the G1 Climax, giving Kojima a quick chance for revenge.
* Masato Tanaka attacked MVP after the IWGP Intercontinental Champion again beat Toru Yano to retain his title. As a former ECW World Heavyweight Champion and with much experience overseas, Tanaka will make a fitting next challenger for MVP most likely after the G1 Climax.

–> “NEW JAPAN SOUL 2011” <--

NJPW, 7/16/11
Yakumo Town Gymnasium
1,000 Fans – No Vacancy

1. King Fale beat Takaaki Watanabe (5:18) with a crab hold.
2. Kyosuke Mikami beat Hiromu Takahashi (5:21) with a flying cross armbreaker.
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue beat Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Hideo Saito (13:44) when Saito was DQ’d.
4. MVP, Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Toru Yano, Jado & Gedo (12:54) when MVP used the TTB on Gedo.
5. Shinsuke Nakamura, Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi beat Strong Man, Tomoaki Honma & KUSHIDA (13:00) when Takahashi used the Tokyo Pimps on Honma.
6. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi beat Togi Makabe, Satoshi Kojima & Tiger Mask (12:34) when Suzuki used a Gotch-style piledriver on Tiger.
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Jushin Thunder Liger beat Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson & Hector Garza (16:06) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Garza.

–> “NEW JAPAN SOUL 2011” <--

NJPW, 7/15/11
Muroran City Gymnasium
1,400 Fans

1. Kyosuke Mikami beat Takaaki Watanabe (5:08) with a modified achilles tendon hold.
2. Jado, Gedo & Tomohiro Ishii beat Prince Devitt, Ryusuke Taguchi & Hiromu Takahashi (11:19) when Ishii used a powerbomb on Takahashi.
3. Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi beat Wataru Inoue & King Fale (9:10) when Takahashi used the Tokyo Pimps on Fale.
4. MVP, Strong Man & Jushin Thunder Liger beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano & Hector Garza (13:35) when MVP used the TTB on Garza.
5. Togi Makabe, Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma beat Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi (14:34) when Kojima used a lariat on Taichi.
6. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Yuji Nagata beat Takashi Iizuka & Hideo Saito (12:59) when Saito was DQ’d.
7. Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson & Tiger Mask beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & KUSHIDA (15:42) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on KUSHIDA.

–> “NEW JAPAN SOUL 2011” <--

NJPW, 7/14/11
Asahikawa Local Industry Promotion Center
1,250 Fans

1. Kyosuke Mikami beat Takaaki Watanabe (7:04) with a crab hold.
2. Tomohiro Ishii beat Hiromu Takahashi (8:15) with a lariat.
3. Masato Tanaka , Yujiro Takahashi & Hector Garza beat Strong Man, Jushin Thunder Liger & King Fale (10:31) when Takahashi used the Tokyo Pimps on Fale.
4. MVP, Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Toru Yano, Jado & Gedo (12:36) when MVP used the TTB on Gedo.
5. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Takashi Iizuka & Hideo Saito (12:39) when Iizuka was DQ’d.
6. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi beat Togi Makabe, Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma (13:27) when Suzuki used a Gotch-style piledriver on Honma.
7. Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson & Tiger Mask beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & KUSHIDA (17:21) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on KUSHIDA.

* Apologies in advance for any delays with results in upcoming days, I’m having some computer problems so my online time is limited.

–> “NEW JAPAN SOUL 2011” <--

NJPW, 7/13/11
Sapporo Teisen Hall
1,750 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. KUSHIDA & Takaaki Watanabe beat Kyosuke Mikami & Hiromu Takahashi (7:42) when KUSHIDA used a crab hold on Takahashi.
2. Strong Man & Tomoaki Honma beat Jado & Gedo (7:44) when Strong Man used an Argentine backbreaker on Gedo.
3. Takashi Iizuka & Hideo Saito beat Yuji Nagata & King Fale (9:16) when Saito used the Caribbean Death Grip on Fale.
4. Shinsuke Nakamura, Masato Tanaka , Yujiro Takahashi & Tomohiro Ishii beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Wataru Inoue, Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi (17:03) when Takahashi used the Tokyo Pimps on Taguchi.
5. Toru Yano & Hector Garza beat MVP & Jushin Thunder Liger (8:28) when Garza used a Cancun Tornado on Liger.
6. Togi Makabe, Satoshi Kojima & Tiger Mask beat Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi (13:07) when Kojima used a lariat on TAKA.
7. Special Tag Match: Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson beat Hiroshi Tanahashi & Hirooki Goto (17:00) when Bernard used the Bernard Driver on Tanahashi.

* In a direct rematch from Korakuen, only with the IWGP Tag Team Title not on the line this time, Bad Intentions again bested the all-star team of Tanahashi & Goto. Anderson pinned Goto at Korakuen but today’s finish had more of a bearing on the upcoming IWGP Heavyweight Title match between Tanahashi and Bernard, Bernard spiking Tana with his Bernard Driver for the huge psychological boost heading into the tour climax next Monday.

–> “NEW JAPAN SOUL 2011” <--

NJPW, 7/10/11
Green Dome Maebashi Sub Arena
1,350 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. KUSHIDA beat Kyosuke Mikami (7:27) with a crab hold.
2. Wataru Inoue beat Hiromu Takahashi (5:28) with the Staggerin’ Blow.
3. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Jado & Gedo beat MVP, Prince Devitt, Ryusuke Taguchi & King Fale (12:42) when Nakamura used the Boma Ye on Fale.
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Yuji Nagata beat Takashi Iizuka & Hideo Saito (8:22) when Saito was DQ’d.
5. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi beat Togi Makabe, Satoshi Kojima & Tiger Mask (13:26) when Suzuki used a Gotch-style piledriver on Tiger.
6. Masato Tanaka , Yujiro Takahashi & Tomohiro Ishii beat Strong Man, Yutaka Yoshie & Tomoaki Honma (12:41) when Takahashi used the Tokyo Pimps on Honma.
7. Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson & Hector Garza beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Jushin Thunder Liger (14:30) when Bernard pinned Liger after a union body press.

–> “NEW JAPAN SOUL 2011” <--

NJPW, 7/8/11 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Differ Ariake
730 Fans

1. Jado beat Takaaki Watanabe (6:26) with the Crossface of JADO.
2. Masato Tanaka , Yujiro Takahashi & Hector Garza beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Kyosuke Mikami & Hiromu Takahashi (11:32) when Garza used a Cancun Tornado on Mikami.
3. Prince Devitt, Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA beat Kota Ibushi , Daisuke Sasaki & Madoka (13:34) when Devitt used the Bloody Sunday on Madoka.
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Takashi Iizuka & Hideo Saito (9:09) when Iizuka was DQ’d.
5. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi beat Satoshi Kojima, Tomoaki Honma & Tiger Mask (11:36) when Suzuki used a Gotch-style piledriver on Honma.
6. Togi Makabe & MVP beat Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii (8:56) when Makabe used a King Kong kneedrop on Ishii.
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Strong Man beat Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson & King Fale (15:29) when Strong Man used a back flip on Fale.

The block division for this year’s G1 Climax has been announced on the heels of the 20-man cast being revealed.

Block A:
1. Hiroshi Tanahashi
2. Togi Makabe
3. Yuji Nagata
4. Tetsuya Naito
5. Giant Bernard
6. Toru Yano
7. Yujiro Takahashi
8. Hideo Saito
9. Lance Archer
10. Yoshihiro Takayama

Block B:
1. Hirooki Goto
2. Hiroyoshi Tenzan
3. Wataru Inoue
4. Karl Anderson
5. Shinsuke Nakamura
6. Satoshi Kojima
7. Minoru Suzuki
8. MVP
9. Strong Man
10. La Sombra

And here are the lineups. Match order is undetermined.

NJPW, 8/1/11 (WPW/PPV)
Fukuoka International Center

1. G1 Climax – Block A: Giant Bernard vs. Hideo Saito
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Toru Yano vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Lance Archer
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. Yujiro Takahashi
5. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yuji Nagata
6. G1 Climax – Block B: Wataru Inoue vs. La Sombra
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan
8. G1 Climax – Block B: Satoshi Kojima vs. Minoru Suzuki
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. MVP

NJPW, 8/2/11 (Samurai! TV)
Fukuoka International Center

1. G1 Climax – Block A: Lance Archer vs. Hideo Saito
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Giant Bernard vs. Yujiro Takahashi
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Tetsuya Naito
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Toru Yano
5. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
6. G1 Climax – Block B: Wataru Inoue vs. Strong Man
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Karl Anderson vs. La Sombra
8. G1 Climax – Block B: MVP vs. Minoru Suzuki
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Satoshi Kojima vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

NJPW, 8/5/11 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. G1 Climax – Block A: Yujiro Takahashi vs. Hideo Saito
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Giant Bernard vs. Lance Archer
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Toru Yano
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Tetsuya Naito
5. G1 Climax – Block B: Strong Man vs. La Sombra
6. G1 Climax – Block B: Karl Anderson vs. Minoru Suzuki
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Wataru Inoue vs. MVP
8. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Satoshi Kojima

NJPW, 8/6/11 (J SPORTS)
Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium

1. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. Toru Yano
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Yujiro Takahashi
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Hideo Saito
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Giant Bernard vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
5. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Lance Archer
6. G1 Climax – Block B: Karl Anderson vs. Strong Man
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. La Sombra
8. G1 Climax – Block B: Wataru Inoue vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Minoru Suzuki

NJPW, 8/7/11 (J SPORTS)
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

1. G1 Climax – Block A: Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Hideo Saito vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Giant Bernard
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe
5. G1 Climax – Block B: La Sombra vs. Minoru Suzuki
6. G1 Climax – Block B: Strong Man vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Satoshi Kojima vs. MVP
8. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Wataru Inoue
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Karl Anderson

NJPW, 8/8/11 (J SPORTS)
Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium

1. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. Lance Archer
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Yujiro Takahashi vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hideo Saito
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Yuji Nagata
5. G1 Climax – Block B: La Sombra vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
6. G1 Climax – Block B: Satoshi Kojima vs. Strong Man
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Wataru Inoue vs. Karl Anderson
8. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. MVP
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Minoru Suzuki

NJPW, 8/10/11 (Samurai! TV)
Yoyogi National Stadium Gymnasium #2

1. G1 Climax – Block A: Yujiro Takahashi vs. Lance Archer
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Toru Yano vs. Hideo Saito
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Giant Bernard
5. G1 Climax – Block B: Satoshi Kojima vs. La Sombra
6. G1 Climax – Block B: Karl Anderson vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Wataru Inoue vs. Minoru Suzuki
8. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Strong Man
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. MVP

NJPW, 8/11/11 (Samurai! TV)
Yoyogi National Stadium Gymnasium #2

1. G1 Climax – Block A: Toru Yano vs. Lance Archer
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. Hideo Saito
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Giant Bernard
5. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yujiro Takahashi
6. G1 Climax – Block B: MVP vs. Strong Man
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Karl Anderson vs. Satoshi Kojima
8. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. La Sombra
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Wataru Inoue

NJPW, 8/13/11 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito vs. Giant Bernard
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Lance Archer
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Toru Yano
5. G1 Climax – Block B: Strong Man vs. Minoru Suzuki
6. G1 Climax – Block B: MVP vs. La Sombra
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Wataru Inoue vs. Satoshi Kojima
8. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Karl Anderson
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

NJPW, 8/14/11 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. G1 Climax – Block A: Lance Archer vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Giant Bernard vs. Toru Yano
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Yuji Nagata vs. Hideo Saito
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Yujiro Takahashi
5. G1 Climax – Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito
6. G1 Climax – Block B: Karl Anderson vs. MVP
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Strong Man
8. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Satoshi Kojima
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Minoru Suzuki
10. G1 Climax – Final: Block A 1st place vs. Block B 1st place

Hiroshi Tanahashi will be the next big name New Japan star to head to CMLL in Mexico. He’ll depart after the multipromotional “ALL TOGETHER” show at Budokan on 8/27 and return in the middle of September. Interestingly enough, he will miss several New Japan shows at the time (see below) including probably a big Kobe World Hall show. This would be especially strange if he is still IWGP Heavyweight Champion at that time.

An expanded schedule has been announced up until early October. As mentioned, there is the customary September series with a big show at Kobe World Hall. But the main talking point is that on October 3rd, Hiroyoshi Tenzan will have a 20th anniversary show at Korakuen Hall. The big news? Tenzan wants to revive Ookami Gundan for the show and announced that for the first time since his harmonious exit from New Japan in January ’10, “Mr. G1″ Masahiro Chono will return home! Tenzan also wants to bring back Hiro Saito, who left New Japan in January ’06 with Tatsumi Fujinami, so the trio Tenzan was part of after returning to New Japan from his overseas learning excursion in the mid-90s looks set for an emotional reunion.

- 8/30 “NAGATA PRODUCE ~ BLUE JUSTICE.3″ @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall SAMURAI!

G1 CLIMAX SPECIAL 2011 (9/3/11 to 9/19/11)
- 9/3 @ Yokkaichi Australia Memorial Hall
- 9/4 @ Twin Messe Shizuoka
- 9/8 @ Toyama Techno Hall
- 9/9 @ Chichibu Cultural Sports Center
- 9/10 @ Tokorozawa Citizen Gymnasium #2
- 9/11 @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall SAMURAI!
- 9/15 @ Fukuchiyama Park Gymnasium
- 9/16 @ Hiroshima Green Arena Small Arena
- 9/17 @ Izumo City Gymnasium
- 9/18 @ Okayama Orange Hall
- 9/19 @ Kobe World Hall WPW/PPV

NEW JAPAN LIVE 2011 (9/22/11 to 9/25/11)
- 9/22 @ Niihama Citizen Gymnasium
- 9/23 @ Takamatsu City Gymnasium
- 9/24 @ Yawatahama Citizen Sports Center
- 9/25 @ Tokushima Municipal Gymnasium

- 10/3 “HIROYOSHI TENZAN 20TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW” @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall SAMURAI!

–> “NEW JAPAN SOUL 2011” <--

NJPW, 7/3/11 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,950 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. Jado & Gedo beat Jushin Thunder Liger & Kyosuke Mikami (8:51) when Jado used the Crossface of JADO on Mikami.
2. Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi beat KUSHIDA & Hiromu Takahashi (10:02) when Devitt used a diving footstomp on Takahashi.
3. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Hideo Saito beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata, Wataru Inoue & King Fale (12:57) when Nakamura used the Boma Ye on Fale.
4. Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi beat Strong Man & Tomoaki Honma (10:27) when Takahashi used the Tokyo Pimps on Honma.
5. MVP beat Tomohiro Ishii (12:10) with the TTB.
6. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi beat Togi Makabe, Satoshi Kojima & Tiger Mask (12:11) when Taichi pinned Tiger after Suzuki used a Gotch-style piledriver.
7. IWGP Tag Team Title: Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson (c) beat Hiroshi Tanahashi & Hirooki Goto (17:12) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on Goto (9th defense).

* Bad Intentions’ record-breaking IWGP Tag Team Title reign continued with a successful V9 defense over the all-star team of Tanahashi & Goto. Much of the attention was on Tanahashi vs. Bernard ahead of their tour-ending battle for Tana’s IWGP Heavyweight Title, but it was Anderson’s Gun Stun on Goto that decided the match and ensured yet another victory for the team that has reigned since June 19th, 2010.
* Hideo Saito (Mitsuhide Hirasawa) made his in-ring return, back from Puerto Rico, along with his new CHAOS leader Nakamura, back from Mexico with some a new haircut and some new attire. Saito was a man transformed from the clumsy, obedient young lion that left for his overseas excursion, a wild bearded man who seems to have lost much of his sanity. He targetted his former mentor Yuji Nagata, who he meets in a singles match on the tour climax.

* All participants for the 2011 edition of professional wrestling’s biggest tournament, “G1 CLIMAX XXI ~THE INVINCIBLE FIGHTER~“, were announced with a staggering 20 wrestlers involved in what will be a huge tournament! Yoshihiro Takayama and Minoru Suzuki are big outside inclusions, while it will be G1 debuts for Hideo Saito, MVP, Lance Archer, and La Sombra. Blocks and match schedule will be announced in the near future.

- Hiroshi Tanahashi (IWGP Heavyweight Champion / 2007 winner)
- Togi Makabe (2009 winner)
- Hirooki Goto (2008 winner)
- Hiroyoshi Tenzan (2003, 2004, 2006 winner)
- Yuji Nagata (2001 winner)
- Wataru Inoue
- Tetsuya Naito
- Shinsuke Nakamura
- Toru Yano
- Yujiro Takahashi
- Hideo Saito
- Giant Bernard (IWGP Tag Team Champion)
- Karl Anderson (IWGP Tag Team Champion)
- MVP (IWGP Intercontinental Champion)
- Lance Archer (free)
- Strong Man (CMLL)
- La Sombra (CMLL)
- Satoshi Kojima (free / 2010 winner)
- Minoru Suzuki (Pancrase MISSION)
- Yoshihiro Takayama (Takayama-do)

Dick Togo wrestled his last ever match in Japan earlier against CHAOS’ Gedo in the main event of DDT’s Korakuen Hall show. Togo, one of the most underrated junior workers for many years now and a personal favourite of mine since I started watching Michinoku Pro in 1998, is a close friend of Jado & Gedo’s and has a long history with them. Unsurprisingly, when Togo offered a handshake before the match, Gedo said “no” and Togo grinned knowingly. The two had a 25 minute match full of action and rulebreaking before Togo dropped his diving senton on Gedo to win his last bout on Japanese soil. The two embraced after the match before the likes of The Great Sasuke, Super Delfin, and Tiger Mask appeared to give Togo a send-off. Togo will embark on a lengthy overseas tour before calling it a day once and for all.

DDT “DICK TOGO LOCAL RETIREMENT SHOW ~IKIZAMA~”, 6/30/11
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,721 Fans – Super No Vacancy

- The Great Sasuke & TAKA Michinoku beat Jado & Antonio Honda (16:59) when Sasuke used the Sasuke Special X ver10.2 Segway on Honda.
- Dick Togo Japanese Retirement Match: Dick Togo beat Gedo (25:23) with a diving senton.