–> “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ BEST OF THE SUPER JR. XIX ~THE DOOR TO THE GLORY~” <--

NJPW, 5/31/12
Wel Sunpia Tsuruga
500 Fans

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Brian Kendrick [4] beat Hiromu Takahashi [0] (5:50) with the Sliced Bread #2.
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: BUSHI [4] beat Gedo [2] (8:16) with a Firebird splash.
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi [2] beat Jado [0] (9:43) with the Dodon.
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Captain New Japan beat Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii (11:14) when Iizuka was DQ’d.
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Low Ki [6] beat TAKA Michinoku [2] (10:24) with a diving footstomp.
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Rocky Romero [2] beat KUSHIDA [4] (12:15) with a diving double kneedrop.
7. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Angel de Oro [6] beat Jushin Thunder Liger [0] (8:21) with a la magistral.
8. Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura & YOSHI-HASHI beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Tama Tonga (15:30) when Okada used the Rainmaker on Tonga.

-

Block A:
1. Angel de Oro [6]
2. KUSHIDA [4]
- BUSHI [4]
- PAC [4]
5. Prince Devitt [2]
- Gedo [2]
- Taichi [2]
- Rocky Romero [2]
9. Jushin Thunder Liger [0]

Block B:
1. Low Ki [6]
- Alex Kozlov [6]
3. Daisuke Sasaki [4]
- Brian Kendrick [4]
5. Tiger Mask [2]
- Ryusuke Taguchi [2]
- TAKA Michinoku [2]
8. Hiromu Takahashi [0]
- Jado [0]

–> “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ BEST OF THE SUPER JR. XIX ~THE DOOR TO THE GLORY~” <--

NJPW, 5/30/12
Shinshu Sky Park Gymnasium
600 Fans

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Daisuke Sasaki [4] beat Hiromu Takahashi [0] (5:02) with the NOW OR NEVER 2011.
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Alex Kozlov [6] beat Jado [0] (9:57) with the Russian Strike.
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Angel de Oro [4] beat Gedo [2] (8:15) with the Alas de Oro.
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Captain New Japan beat Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & YOSHI-HASHI (10:19) when Iizuka was DQ’d.
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: PAC [4] beat Taichi [2] (10:43) with a 360 Shooting Star Press.
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask [2] beat Ryusuke Taguchi [0] (9:41) with a jackknife hold.
7. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince Devitt [2] beat Rocky Romero [0] (11:15) with the Bloody Sunday.
8. Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Tama Tonga (19:38) when Okada used the Rainmaker on Tonga.

-

Block A:
1. KUSHIDA [4]
- PAC [4]
- Angel de Oro [4]
4. Prince Devitt [2]
- Gedo [2]
- Taichi [2]
- BUSHI [2]
8. Jushin Thunder Liger [0]
- Rocky Romero [0]

Block B:
1. Alex Kozlov [6]
2. Low Ki [4]
3. Daisuke Sasaki [4]
4. Tiger Mask [2]
- TAKA Michinoku [2]
- Brian Kendrick [2]
7. Ryusuke Taguchi [0]
- Hiromu Takahashi [0]
- Jado [0]

–> “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ BEST OF THE SUPER JR. XIX ~THE DOOR TO THE GLORY~” <--

NJPW, 5/28/12
Chiba Port Arena Sub Arena
600 Fans

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Alex Kozlov [4] beat Hiromu Takahashi [0] (6:43) with the Russian Strike.
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: KUSHIDA [4] beat BUSHI [2] (10:51) with the Midnight Express.
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Low Ki [4] beat Daisuke Sasaki [2] (8:03) with the Dragon clutch.
4. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Captain New Japan (12:21) when Yano used the Akakiri on Captain.
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Gedo [2] beat Jushin Thunder Liger [0] (7:43) by pinfall.
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: TAKA Michinoku [2] beat Brian Kendrick [2] (10:51) with the Heavy Killer.
7. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Taichi [2] beat Prince Devitt [0] (10:59) with a Taichi-style Gedo clutch.
8. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Tetsuya Naito beat Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura & YOSHI-HASHI (19:12) when Naito used a Stardust press on YOSHI-HASHI.

* Two upset defeats in a row for Devitt to start the tournament, a bad start for the man who has dominated the junior division in the last few years.

-

Block A:
1. KUSHIDA [4]
2. Gedo [2]
- Taichi [2]
- BUSHI [2]
- PAC [2]
- Angel de Oro [2]
7. Prince Devitt [0]
- Jushin Thunder Liger [0]
- Rocky Romero [0]

Block B:
1. Low Ki [4]
- Alex Kozlov [4]
3. TAKA Michinoku [2]
- Daisuke Sasaki [2]
- Brian Kendrick [2]
6. Tiger Mask [0]
- Ryusuke Taguchi
- Hiromu Takahashi [0]
- Jado [0]

–> “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ BEST OF THE SUPER JR. XIX ~THE DOOR TO THE GLORY~” <--

NJPW, 5/27/12 (Asahi Newstar)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,950 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: BUSHI [2] beat Rocky Romero [0] (5:23) with the Bushi Roll.
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Daisuke Sasaki [2] beat Jado [0] (8:57) with a Sasaki-style huracanrana.
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Alex Kozlov [2] beat TAKA Michinoku [0] (8:22) with the Russian Strike.
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Brian Kendrick [2] beat Tiger Mask [0] (6:34) with the Sliced Bread #2.
5. Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tetsuya Naito & Tama Tonga (15:51) when Okada used the Rainmaker on Tonga.
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Angel de Oro [2] beat Taichi [0] (9:28) with the Alas de Oro.
7. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: PAC [2] beat Jushin Thunder Liger [0] (10:20) with a 360 Shooting Star Press.
8. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Low Ki [2] beat Ryusuke Taguchi [0] (14:10) with a diving footstomp.
9. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: KUSHIDA [2] beat Prince Devitt [0] (12:56) with the Midnight Express.

* Big wins for all of the special guests on day one of the Super Jr. as PAC, de Oro, Kendrick, Kozlov, Sasaki, and BUSHI record wins over familiar names. But the big surprise saw KUSHIDA pin long standing junior ace Prince Devitt in the main event to kick off his campaign with a huge victory.

* New Japan today announced the schedule for this year’s G1 Climax which promises to be a big one…

- 8/1 @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall Asahi Newstar
- 8/3 @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall SAMURAI!
- 8/4 @ Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium J SPORTS
- 8/5 @ Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium WPW
- 8/7 @ Sendai Sun Plaza Hall SAMURAI!
- 8/8 @ Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium SAMURAI!
- 8/10 @ Niigata City Gymnasium J SPORTS
- 8/11 @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall
- 8/12 @ Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan WPW/PPV

Impressive young lion Hiromu Takahashi appeared at today’s pre-Best of the Super Jr. press conference and appealed for the last spot made vacant by Black Tiger. President Sugabayashi was a little hesitant but Takahashi’s enthusiasm won him over and so the youngster enters Block B in the tournament which starts tomorrow.

The new Black Tiger, who won the junior tournament on the NEVER brand shows to win a place in the Best of the Super Jr. tournament, has become the second wrestler to exit the tournament before it even starts. Although New Japan has not printed an official reason, the man under the mask (NOSAWA Rongai) was caught trying to smuggle weed out of Mexico and into Japan the other day and was arrested.

New Japan will announce a replacement soon. Davey Richards has already been forced to pull out of the tournament due to health concerns and was replaced by Brian Kendrick, but who will replace Black Tiger?

NJPW “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY ~ NEW JAPAN LIVE”, 5/20/12 (J SPORTS)
Matsushita IMP Hall
857 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA beat Hiromu Takahashi & Takaaki Watanabe (8:37) when Taguchi used the La Atatata on Watanabe.
2. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask beat Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Jado & Gedo (11:21) when Tenzan used a diving headbutt on Gedo.
3. Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue beat Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi (13:10) when Inoue used the Spear of Justice on TAKA.
4. Shinsuke Nakamura beat Tama Tonga (9:05) with the Boma Ye.
5. Kazuchika Okada, Masato Tanaka & YOSHI-HASHI beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito & Captain New Japan (16:19) when Okada used the Rainmaker on Captain.
6. IWGP Intercontinental Title: Hirooki Goto (c) beat Tomohiro Ishii (18:14) with the Shouten Kai (2nd defense).

Brian Kendrick, also known as Spanky, will enter his first Best of the Super Jr. tournament as the replacement for Davey Richards in Block B. Kendrick made a brief cameo in New Japan last June as a surprise member of CHAOS and ally of Jado & Gedo, and his achievements include being a former WWE Tag Team Champion.

As feared, Davey Richards has been removed from the Best of the Super Jr. tournament after failing to overcome all of his injuries following a traffic accident.

New Japan is currently sorting out a replacement for Richards who will be announced shortly.

The first match has been announced for the joint New Japan and All Japan 40th anniversary show at Sumo Hall on July 1st. It doesn’t involve a New Japan wrestler so is very much from the All Japan side, as All Japan trueborn and Pro Wrestling NOAH star Jun Akiyama defends his Triple Crown against newly crowned Champion Carnival winner Taiyo Kea.

NJPW/AJPW “NJPW & AJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY ~ WE ARE PRO-WRESTLING LOVE!”, 7/1/12
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Triple Crown: Jun Akiyama (c) vs. Taiyo Kea

“Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada makes his V3 defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Title on 6/16 at the same building where he won it and against the very man he won it from, ace Hiroshi Tanahashi. This super-battle could spell the end of Okada’s reign if the record-breaking previous IWGP Heavyweight Champion can avenge his February loss. Another rematch set sees Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka make their first defense of the IWGP Tag Team Title against TenKoji, with Tenzan & Kojima granted a quick rematch after dropping the belts to the CHAOS tandem in Fukuoka days ago. And still another rematch sees the ongoing feud between Togi Makabe and Minoru Suzuki continue as they collide in singles action. Also revealed for this show are the return of DDT’s former IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Kota Ibushi, the return of Shelton Benjamin, and MVP’s involvement.

Before the big Osaka show is a smaller one later this month and a title match has been announced for that too, as Hirooki Goto makes his V2 defense of the IWGP Intercontinental Title against CHAOS member Tomohiro Ishii. These had quite an entertaining feud several years ago and this should be a good match, with Goto hoping to get back on track after coming just short of winning the IWGP Heavyweight Title from Okada in Fukuoka.

Finally, block division and match schedule for the upcoming Best of the Super Jr. has been announced, with lots of enticing matches set. New Japan has warned that Davey Richards is not 100% certain to be in the tournament after his recent car accident and his involvement is pending a medical check. This tournament also marks the start of BUSHI’s one year loan from All Japan.

-

NJPW “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY ~ NEW JAPAN LIVE”, 5/20/12 (J SPORTS)
Matsushita IMP Hall

1. Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Takaaki Watanabe
2. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Jado & Gedo
3. Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
4. Tama Tonga vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
5. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito & Captain New Japan vs. Kazuchika Okada, Masato Tanaka & YOSHI-HASHI
6. IWGP Intercontinental Title: Hirooki Goto (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii

-

NJPW, 5/27/12 (Asahi Newstar)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Jado vs. Daisuke Sasaki
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Alex Kozlov vs. TAKA Michinoku
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Low Ki
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Davey Richards
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Angel de Oro vs. Taichi
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: BUSHI vs. Rocky Romero
7. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince Devitt vs. KUSHIDA
8. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Pac

NJPW, 5/28/12
Chiba Port Arena Sub Arena

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Alex Kozlov vs. Black Tiger
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Low Ki vs. Daisuke Sasaki
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: TAKA Michinoku vs. Davey Richards
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: KUSHIDA vs. BUSHI
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Gedo
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince Devitt vs. Taichi

NJPW, 5/30/12
Shinshu Sky Park Gymnasium

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Jado vs. Alex Kozlov
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Daisuke Sasaki vs. Black Tiger
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Ryusuke Taguchi
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Gedo vs. Angel de Oro
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Taichi vs. Pac
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince Devitt vs. Rocky Romero

NJPW, 5/31/12
Wel Sunpia Tsuruga

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Davey Richards vs. Black Tiger
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Jado
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Low Ki vs. TAKA Michinoku
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: BUSHI vs. Gedo
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: KUSHIDA vs. Rocky Romero
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Angel de Oro

NJPW, 6/1/12
Iwade Municipal Citizen Gymnasium

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Jado vs. Black Tiger
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Alex Kozlov
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Daisuke Sasaki
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Pac vs. Angel de Oro
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Taichi
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince Devitt vs. BUSHI

NJPW, 6/2/12 (J SPORTS)
Kyoto KBS Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Alex Kozlov vs. Davey Richards
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Low Ki vs. Black Tiger
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. TAKA Michinoku
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: KUSHIDA vs. Pac
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince Devitt vs. Gedo
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Rocky Romero

NJPW, 6/3/12 (Samurai! TV)
Akashi Municipal Industrial Exchange Center

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: TAKA Michinoku vs. Jado
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Daisuke Sasaki
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Low Ki
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Gedo vs. Pac
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince Devitt vs. Angel de Oro
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. KUSHIDA

NJPW, 6/5/12
Kasukabe Convention Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Daisuke Sasaki vs. Davey Richards
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Low Ki vs. Jado
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Black Tiger
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Pac vs. Rocky Romero
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Taichi vs. Gedo
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: BUSHI vs. Angel de Oro

NJPW, 6/6/12 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Daisuke Sasaki vs. Alex Kozlov
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Low Ki vs. Davey Richards
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. TAKA Michinoku
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Black Tiger
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Angel de Oro vs. Rocky Romero
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: KUSHIDA vs. Taichi
7. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. BUSHI
8. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince DEvitt vs. Pac

NJPW, 6/7/12
Tochigi Bunka Center Sub Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Daisuke Sasaki vs. TAKA Michinoku
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Davey Richards vs. Jado
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Alex Kozlov
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Rocky Romero vs. Gedo
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: BUSHI vs. Taichi
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: KUSHIDA vs. Angel de Oro

NJPW, 6/9/12
Nagoya International Conference Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: TAKA Michinoku vs. Black Tiger
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Alex Kozlov vs. Low Ki
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Jado
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Davey Richards
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Rocky Romero vs. Taichi
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: BUSHI vs. Pac
7. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: KUSHIDA vs. Gedo
8. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince Devitt vs. Jushin Thunder Liger

NJPW, 6/10/12 (Samurai! TV)
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:

-

NJPW “DOMINION 6.16″, 6/16/12
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

1. IWGP Tag Team Title: Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka (c) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima
2. Togi Makabe vs. Minoru Suzuki
3. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

–> NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ NEW JAPAN LIVE 2012 <--

NJPW, 5/6/12 (Samurai! TV)
Okayama Orange Hall
1,450 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Ryusuke Taguchi & Tama Tonga beat Wataru Inoue & Takaaki Watanabe (9:13) when Tonga used the Headshrinker on Watanabe.
2. Yujiro Takahashi beat Captain New Japan (7:54) with the Tokyo Pimps.
3. Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask & KUSHIDA beat Rocky Romero, Jado & Gedo (13:36) when Tiger used a crucifix hold on Jado.
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Strong Man beat Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii (12:49) when Iizuka was DQ’d.
5. Togi Makabe & Yuji Nagata beat Minoru Suzuki & Taichi (12:27) when Nagata used the Thunder Death Driver on Taichi.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tetsuya Naito & Karl Anderson beat Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Masato Tanaka & YOSHI-HASHI (17:08) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on YOSHI-HASHI.

–> NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ NEW JAPAN LIVE 2012 <--

NJPW, 5/5/12 (Samurai! TV)
Takamatsu City Gymnasium
1,350 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Wataru Inoue beat Hiromu Takahashi (8:07) with a German suplex hold.
2. YOSHI-HASHI, Jado & Tomohiro Ishii beat Strong Man, Captain New Japan & Tama Tonga (15:16) when Ishii used a brainbuster on Tonga.
3. Togi Makabe, Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA beat Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi (12:42) when Makabe used a King Kong kneedrop on Taichi.
4. Special Elimination Match I: Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask beat Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Rocky Romero & Gedo (19:13). Romero used a small package hold on Tiger (9:46). Yano used the Akakiri on Liger (11:33). Tenzan threw Yano over the top rope (11:54). Tenzan and Iizuka were counted out (16:14). Kojima threw Romero over the top rope (16:29). Kojima used a lariat on Gedo (19:13).
5. Special Elimination Match II: Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tetsuya Naito & Karl Anderson (21:48). Nakamura threw Goto over the top rope (8:42). Anderson used the Gun Stun on Takahashi (14:20). Okada threw Naito over the top rope (15:43). Tanahashi threw Tanaka over the top rope (17:53). Okada threw Tanahashi over the top rope (18:17). Okada used the Rainmaker on Anderson (21:48).

–> NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ NEW JAPAN LIVE 2012 <--

NJPW, 5/4/12 (Samurai! TV)
Hiroshima Industrial Hall West Exhibition Pavilion
1,500 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. KUSHIDA beat Takaaki Watanabe (8:30) with the 9469.
2. Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Rocky Romero, Jado & Gedo (12:06) when Tiger used a crucifix hold on Gedo.
3. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Captain New Japan (12:08) when Ishii used a brainbuster on Captain.
4. Togi Makabe, Strong Man & Wataru Inoue beat Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi (14:59) when Makabe used a King Kong kneedrop on Taichi.
5. Shinsuke Nakamura & YOSHI-HASHI beat Karl Anderson & Tama Tonga (12:51) when Nakamura used the Boma Ye on Tonga.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Tetsuya Naito beat Kazuchika Okada, Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi (16:30) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Takahashi.

NJPW “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY ~ WRESTLING DONTAKU 2012″, 5/3/12 (WPW/PPV)
Fukuoka International Center
6,500 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. YOSHI-HASHI, Jado & Tomohiro Ishii beat Strong Man, Captain New Japan & Tama Tonga (7:12) when Ishii used a brainbuster on Tonga.
2. TAKA Michinoku & Taichi beat Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA (8:16) when Taichi used a Taichi-style Gedo clutch on KUSHIDA.
3. Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask beat Rocky Romero & Gedo (7:50) when Tiger used a crucifix hold on Gedo.
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Low Ki beat Prince Devitt (c) (21:01) with the Ki Krusher ’99 to become the 63rd champion.
5. IWGP Tag Team Title: Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (c) (16:47) when Yano used the Oni Koroshi on Kojima to become the 59th champions.
6. Special Tag Match: Minoru Suzuki & Yoshihiro Takayama beat Togi Makabe & Yuji Nagata (13:43) when Suzuki used a Gotch-style piledriver on Makabe.
7. Special Singles Match: Shinsuke Nakamura beat Karl Anderson (12:15) with the Boma Ye.
8. Special Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tetsuya Naito beat Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi (13:59) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Takahashi.
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada (c) beat Hirooki Goto (24:55) with the Rainmaker (2nd defense).

* Who can stop the Rainmaker!? New Japan Cup winner and IWGP Intercontinental Champion, Hirooki Goto, remains unable to win the greatest prize available, the IWGP Heavyweight Title, after another near miss at a packed Fukuoka International Center today. It was a match that could have gone either way but the vigor and momentum of Okada carried him over the line as he finished off Goto with the Rainmaker. Tanahashi appeared after the match and challenged Okada to a match which would be a rematch of their February class where Okada shocked everyone by winning the title. And it looks like this match could take place at the very same building as last time, Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, with “DOMINION 6.16″ looming as New Japan’s next big show.

* Tanahashi had just teamed with Naito to defeat Tanaka & Yujiro before his post-main event appearance, pinning Yujiro after his High Fly Flow. There was said to be some issues between Tanahashi and Naito after the match which could be isolated or hint at some bigger problems.

* Shinsuke Nakamura avenged his upset New Japan Cup loss to Karl Anderson, which was one of my personal favourite matches of 2012 (the NJC match). This was a slightly shorter match but was also said to be very exciting with Shinsuke’s Boma Ye making the difference.

* The thorn in TenKoji’s side, CHAOS’ Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka, became a much bigger problem today. After beating TenKoji in a non-title match then Yano recently pinning Kojima in a singles match, the dastardly heels today went one step further by capturing the IWGP Tag Team Title from Tenzan & Kojima. After the Iron Fingers from Hell by Iizuka, Yano dropped Kojima with his Oni Koroshi for the huge win, very momentous for both men. This is Yano’s first title since he and Makabe held the IWGP Tag Title in 2008 while for Iizuka this is his first title since 1996(!) when he and Kazuo Yamazaki held the tag belts.

* Prince Devitt, the absolute ace of New Japan’s junior division for two years now, said going into his match with the “One World Warrior” Low Ki that he may be the underdog given Ki’s track record across the world where he has wrestled in almost every major promotion. Devitt had beaten Ki last year in New York in an IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title defense but today marked Low Ki’s true return to New Japan as he ended Devitt’s half-year reign as champion in an exciting match. Ki spiked Devitt with the Ki Krusher ’99 and finally the Irishman seems to have found his first worthy challenger since Kota Ibushi went down with a long-term injury.

“No Remorse Corps” Davey Richards & Rocky Romero have been forced to vacate the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title after Richards was involved in a traffic accident that has made his trip to Japan impossible. He is off upcoming shows and as mentioned the title is vacant but it won’t be decided tomorrow, with the undercard being adjusted to have normal matches instead. New Japan will announce a playoff for the vacant belts at a later date.

NJPW “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY ~ WRESTLING DONTAKU 2012″, 5/3/12 (WPW/PPV)
Fukuoka International Center

1. Strong Man, Captain New Japan & Tama Tonga vs. YOSHI-HASHI, Jado & Tomohiro Ishii
2. Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA vs. TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
3. Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Rocky Romero & Gedo
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Prince Devitt (c) vs. Low Ki
5. IWGP Tag Team Title: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (c) vs. Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka
6. Special Tag Match: Togi Makabe & Yuji Nagata vs. Minoru Suzuki & Yoshihiro Takayama
7. Special Singles Match: Karl Anderson vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
8. Special Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tetsuya Naito vs. Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Hirooki Goto

–> NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ NEW JAPAN BRAVE 2012 <--

NJPW, 5/1/12
Oita Event Hall
1,050 Fans – No Vacancy

1. KUSHIDA & Tama Tonga beat Wataru Inoue & Hiromu Takahashi (10:00) when KUSHIDA used the Midnight Express on Takahashi.
2. Prince Devitt, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask beat Low Ki, Rocky Romero & Jado (10:04) when Tiger used a crucifix hold on Jado.
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Captain New Japan beat Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Gedo (11:22) when Kojima used a lariat on Gedo.
4. Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi (9:51) when Makabe used a King Kong kneedrop on TAKA.
5. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tetsuya Naito beat Yujiro Takahashi & Tomohiro Ishii (14:25) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Ishii.
6. Hirooki Goto, Karl Anderson & Strong Man beat Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura & YOSHI-HASHI (17:22) when Goto used the Shouten Kai on YOSHI-HASHI.