It’s official! New Japan will screen the October 8th Sumo Hall show, “KING OF PRO-WRESTLING”, live on Ustream… and not just to Japan! I can tell you this is the first time a New Japan show has ever been streamed live to English speaking countries… having followed New Japan for many years I’ve waited for this opportunity for us fans. No more rambling, here are the details straight from the horse’s mouth:

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Big NEWS to overseas fans is that: “King of Pro-Wrestling” Ryogoku event on 10/8 will be broadcast through Ustream all over the world !
The hottest 9 matches including all 5 IWGP Championship are there. The air will start at 17:00 on Oct. 8th, J.S.T.
For more in detail, please refer to NJPW Ustream channel / HP etc.
Price: US $25.
Start of sale (plan): Oct. 1, 2012
URL: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/njpw1972

After some confusion over whether New Japan would take part, the company today announced lineups for the joint New Japan/All Japan 40th anniversary shows in Taiwan next month. Compared to the Sumo Hall show in July these are very low key, with New Japan unable to dispatch top stars like Tanahashi, Nakamura, Okada, Goto, Makabe, Naito, and Devitt because the company has a tour going at the same time in Japan. So older heads like Nagata, TenKoji, and Liger have been tasked with leading the company on these shows against near enough All Japan’s entire native roster. Koji Kanemoto, who spends most of his time in All Japan these days but is still a New Japan wrestler, represents New Japan in a series of interesting interpromotional matches including one battle with his Junior Stars friend Minoru Tanaka. Another big junior match pits Liger against Kaz Hayashi, while probably the biggest heavyweight match is the 10/28 main event of Tenzan, Kojima & Wataru vs. Muto, Funaki & Hayashi.

NJPW/AJPW “NJPW & AJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY ~ WE ARE PRO-WRESTLING LOVE IN TAIWAN”, 10/27/12
Taiwan National University Gymnasium

1. Takao Omori, Manabu Soya & Hiroshi Yamato vs. Masakatsu Funaki, Masayuki Kono & Minoru Tanaka
2. New Japan vs. All Japan: Tiger Mask vs. SUSHI
3. New Japan vs. All Japan: Hiromu Takahashi vs. Seiya Sanada
4. New Japan vs. All Japan: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. KENSO & Ryota Hama
5. New Japan vs. All Japan: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Kaz Hayashi
6. New Japan vs. All Japan: Yuji Nagata , Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto vs. Keiji Muto , Suwama & Shuji Kondo

NJPW/AJPW “NJPW & AJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY ~ WE ARE PRO-WRESTLING LOVE IN TAIWAN”, 10/28/12
Taiwan National University Gymnasium

1. Suwama, Takao Omori & Manabu Soya vs. KENSO, Ryota Hama & Seiya Sanada
2. New Japan vs. All Japan: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. SUSHI
3. New Japan vs. All Japan: Koji Kanemoto vs. Minoru Tanaka
4. New Japan vs. All Japan: Tiger Mask & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Shuji Kondo & Hiroshi Yamato
5. New Japan vs. All Japan: Yuji Nagata vs. Masayuki Kono
6. New Japan vs. All Japan: Hiroyoshi Tenzan , Satoshi Kojima & Wataru Inoue vs. Keiji Muto , Masakatsu Funaki & Kaz Hayashi

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Satoshi Kojima’s busy interpromotional schedule also sees him go to NOAH soon where he faces Naomichi Marufuji in a singles match. On the heels of his failure to take the IWGP Heavyweight Title from Tanahashi, Marufuji will be looking to bounce back with a win over the IWGP Tag Team Champion.

NOAH, 9/29/12
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- Naomichi Marufuji vs. Satoshi Kojima

New Japan presents one of its strongest lineups in a long time at “KING OF PRO-WRESTLING”, the new name of New Japan’s October show at Sumo Hall. From top to bottom this is a loaded card with all five IWGP titles being defended, and will be topped by the Tokyo Dome rematch of Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Tanahashi successfully defended the title against Suzuki in January in his previous reign as Okada has of course had a memorable first reign since then, but Suzuki hit back in the G1 Climax by beating Tanahashi. Speaking of Okada, he is willing to risk his number one contendership for the belt which he is contractually entitled to and will put it on the line against the on-fire “Machine Gun” Karl Anderson in a rematch of the 2012 G1 Climax final which Okada won.

Hirooki Goto is given chance to win back the IWGP Intercontinental Title against the man who took it from him, Shinsuke Nakamura, in the semi final while Sakuraba & Shibata face a tougher level of opposition this time with no young lion to bully as Makabe leads Wataru Inoue into war against the duo. NO LIMIT collide again as the former tag partners continue their endless grudge after Yujiro attacked Naito’s injured knee yesterday, leading to a big singles match between them at Sumo Hall. TenKoji finally make their V1 defense of the IWGP Tag Team Title after regaining them in July, taking on Suzuki Gun’s Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr., the latter being Harry Smith who has decided to rename himself in tribute of his late father.

And of course the juniors can’t be forgotten as the junior dream match is repeated, Kota Ibushi making his V3 defense of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title against the man he won the belt from Low Ki. Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov make their V2 defense of the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title against the Japan-USA alliance of KUSHIDA & Alex Shelley. And what better way to start the show than with the return of the hugely popular Manabu Nakanishi? Nakanishi finally returns to action and teams with old friend Yuji Nagata and 2010 Tokyo Sports Tag Team of the Year partner Strong Man, who of course formed Muscle Orchestra with Nakanishi.

NJPW “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY ~ KING OF PRO-WRESTLING”, 10/8/12 (WPW/PPV/iPPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Manabu Nakanishi Return Match: Manabu Nakanishi, Yuji Nagata & Strong Man vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
2. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov (c) vs. KUSHIDA & Alex Shelley
3. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Low Ki
4. IWGP Tag Team Title: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (c) vs. Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.
5. Tetsuya Naito vs. Yujiro Takahashi
6. Togi Makabe & Wataru Inoue vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & Katsuyori Shibata
7. Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Title #1 Contender Match: Karl Anderson vs. Kazuchika Okada
8. IWGP Intercontinental Title: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Hirooki Goto
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Minoru Suzuki

Before then…

NJPW “THE MEMORY MEETING OF KASABOKO SUMMIT IN NIIGATA ON NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR”, 10/6/12
Niigata Nishikawa Sports Center

1. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Takaaki Watanabe
2. Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Captain New Japan & BUSHI
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Jado
4. Togi Makabe & Wataru Inoue vs. Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI
5. Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Minoru Suzuki
6. Hirooki Goto & Tetsuya Naito vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Yujiro Takahashi
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi & KUSHIDA vs. Kazuchika Okada & Gedo

NJPW “DESTRUCTION ’12″, 9/23/12 (WPW/PPV)
Kobe World Hall
8,000 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii beat Captain New Japan & Tama Tonga (9:16) when Ishii used a brainbuster on Captain.
2. KUSHIDA, Alex Shelley & BUSHI beat Rocky Romero, Alex Koslov & Gedo (9:37) when Shelley used the I-94 on Koslov.
3. Low Ki beat Daisuke Sasaki (8:45) with a diving footstomp.
4. Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer & Harry Smith beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata (12:02) when Suzuki used a Gotch-style piledriver on Nagata.
5. Togi Makabe beat Kengo Mashimo (9:02) with a King Kong kneedrop.
6. Kazushi Sakuraba & Katsuyori Shibata beat Wataru Inoue & Hiromu Takahashi (3:03) when Shibata used a PK on Takahashi.
7. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Kota Ibushi (c) beat Ryusuke Taguchi (17:06) with a Phoenix splash (2nd defense).
8. Hirooki Goto, Tetsuya Naito & Karl Anderson beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & Yujiro Takahashi (15:08) when Goto used the Shouten Kai on Okada.
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) beat Naomichi Marufuji (23:35) with the High Fly Flow (3rd defense).

* Tanahashi overcame a stiff V3 defense of his IWGP Heavyweight Title in the main event of today’s sold out Kobe show, beating the man who upset him in the G1 Climax, NOAH’s Naomichi Marufuji. Tanahashi had little time to recover before Minoru Suzuki was in the ring challenging him for a title match, which would be a rematch of this January’s Tokyo Dome show and also another G1 rematch, as Suzuki was one of three men (the others being Marufuji and Anderson) who beat Tana in that tournament.

* Kota Ibushi’s second run as IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion continues to impress as today he survived the challenge of Taguchi in another difficult defense. Like Tanahashi, Ibushi was greeted by his probable next challenger right after winning as the man he defeated to win the title, Low Ki, made his presence felt and demanded another match with the high-flying champion.

* Kazushi Sakuraba and Katsuyori Shibata are finally here! The invading duo ran through Wataru Inoue and young lion Hiromu Takahashi in just 3 minutes to advertise their re-arrival in New Japan. Togi Makabe, who earlier had beaten Suzuki Gun’s newest member Kengo Mashimo, appeared after the match to challenge the two, and Makabe & Inoue vs. Sakuraba & Shibata has already been determined for October’s Sumo Hall show.

* Manabu Nakanishi is back! Or almost. After well over a year out of action with a serious injury, the big man announced in the ring today that he will return to action at Sumo Hall. Kobe responded with a loud “Nakanishi!” chant.

* As things stand the 10/8 Sumo Hall show is looking likely to have Tanahashi vs. Suzuki (IWGP Heavyweight), Ibushi vs. Low Ki (IWGP Jr. Heavyweight), Sakuraba & Shibata vs. Makabe & Inoue, and Nakanishi’s return. There are also whispers of a Nakamura vs. Goto rematch for the IWGP Intercontinental Title after Goto impressively pinned Okada today in a six man tag match.

–> “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ ROAD TO DESTRUCTION” <--

NJPW, 9/22/12
Takamatsu City Gymnasium
1,350 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Wataru Inoue beat Hiromu Takahashi (7:57) with a German suplex hold.
2. Captain New Japan beat Takashi Iizuka (8:09) by DQ.
3. Low Ki, Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov beat KUSHIDA, Alex Shelley & BUSHI (13:32) when Romero used the Contract Killer on BUSHI.
4. Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata & Tama Tonga beat Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer, Harry Smith, TAKA Michinoku & Kengo Mashimo (14:17) when Makabe used a King Kong kneedrop on TAKA.
5. Tetsuya Naito & Karl Anderson beat Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii (13:43) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on Ishii.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Yujiro Takahashi & Gedo (15:06) when Taguchi used the Dodon on Gedo.

–> “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ ROAD TO DESTRUCTION” <--

NJPW, 9/21/12
Niihama Citizen Gymnasium
1,250 Fans

1. Wataru Inoue beat Takaaki Watanabe (6:48) with a German suplex hold.
2. Captain New Japan beat Gedo (10:44) with the Caribbean Death Grip.
3. Low Ki, Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov beat KUSHIDA, Alex Shelley & BUSHI (14:08) when Koslov used the Contract Killer on BUSHI.
4. Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer, Harry Smith, TAKA Michinoku & Kengo Mashimo (15:25) when Kojima used a lariat on TAKA.
5. Hirooki Goto & Tetsuya Naito beat Shinsuke Nakamura & Takashi Iizuka (10:40) when Goto used the Shouten Kai on Iizuka.
6. Kazuchika Okada, Yujiro Takahashi & Tomohiro Ishii beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, Karl Anderson & Tama Tonga (15:37) when Okada used the Rainmaker on Tonga.

–> “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ ROAD TO DESTRUCTION” <--

NJPW, 9/17/12 (Samurai! TV)
Saitama Kusunoki Hall
1,150 Fans – Super No Vacancy

1. Hiromu Takahashi beat Takaaki Watanabe (6:52) with a Fisherman’s suplex hold.
2. Ryusuke Taguchi, KUSHIDA & Alex Shelley beat Rocky Romero, Alex Koslov & Gedo (11:22) when Shelley used the I-94 on Gedo.
3. Low Ki, Jado & Averno beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask & Mascara Dorada (10:12) when Averno used an avalanche-style Devil’s Wings on Dorada.
4. Lance Archer, Harry Smith, TAKA Michinoku & Kengo Mashimo beat Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & BUSHI (12:11) when Smith used the Killer bomb on Kojima.
5. Tetsuya Naito, Wataru Inoue & Captain New Japan beat Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & YOSHI-HASHI (12:20) when Inoue used a German suplex hold on YOSHI-HASHI.
6. Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada, Yujiro Takahashi & Tomohiro Ishii beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Karl Anderson & Tama Tonga (16:54) when Takahashi used a Bukko Nuki German suplex hold on Tanahashi.

* A huge main event win for Yujiro on today’s televised show as he pins Tanahashi with his Bukki Nuki (deadlift) German suplex hold! Could his first IWGP Heavyweight Title challenge be on the horizon?

NJPW “CAMP ZAMA SLAMFEST VI”, 9/16/12
Kanagawa Camp Zama

1. Mascara Dorada beat Averno (6:17) with a modified flying front cradle.
2. Wataru Inoue & Hiromu Takahashi beat BUSHI & Takaaki Watanabe (5:48) when Inoue used a German suplex hold on Watanabe.
3. Ryusuke Taguchi, KUSHIDA & Alex Shelley beat Low Ki, Rocky Romero & Jado (16:06) when Shelley used the I-94 on Jado.
4. Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask beat Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo (8:23) when Tiger used a crucifix hold on Gedo.
5. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka beat Hirooki Goto, Tetsuya Naito & Captain New Japan (9:43) when Nakamura used the Boma Ye on Captain.
6. Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata beat Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer, Harry Smith & TAKA Michinoku (11:20) when Makabe used a King Kong kneedrop on TAKA.
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Karl Anderson & Tama Tonga beat Kazuchika Okada, Yujiro Takahashi & YOSHI-HASHI (13:25) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on YOSHI-HASHI.

* No attendance announced again for the latest “CAMP ZAMA SLAMFEST” but once more it was called a big success with several thousand fans including American troops stationed at the camp.

–> “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ ROAD TO DESTRUCTION” <--

NJPW, 9/15/12
Matsusaka City Gymnasium
1,500 Fans – No Vacancy

1. Hiromu Takahashi beat Takaaki Watanabe (7:00) with a Fisherman’s suplex hold.
2. Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask, KUSHIDA & Alex Shelley beat Rocky Romero, Alex Koslov, Jado & Gedo (14:58) when Shelley used the I-94 on Gedo.
3. Low Ki & Averno beat BUSHI & Mascara Dorada (10:25) when Averno used the Devil’s Wings on Dorada.
4. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii beat Tetsuya Naito, Wataru Inoue & Captain New Japan (12:30) when Yano used the Oni Koroshi on Captain.
5. Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer, Harry Smith, TAKA Michinoku & Kengo Mashimo (14:03) when Kojima used a lariat on TAKA.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Karl Anderson & Tama Tonga beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada, Yujiro Takahashi & YOSHI-HASHI (18:25) when Goto used the Shouten Kai on YOSHI-HASHI.

New Japan runs the “WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2012” from 11/20 to 12/2 which is part of Bushiroad’s rebranding of well known concept names (the New Japan Cup will become the World War League in 2013 unless plans change). This of course replaces the G1 Tag League which was itself renamed from the Super Grade Tag League in 1999. There is no word yet on whether there will be any change to the format and style but the schedule has been announced. Notably it begins with a double header at the 3,100 seat Tokyo Dome City Hall, formerly known as Tokyo JCB Hall, which was supposed to become the “new Korakuen” when it opened but didn’t for a variety of reasons including rental cost. These will be New Japan’s second and third shows in the building after running the “SUPER J TAG TOURNAMENT” there a couple of years ago. The tour ends with a big show at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium where the final will be held.

NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2012
- 11/20 @ Tokyo Dome City Hall
- 11/21 @ Tokyo Dome City Hall
- 11/23 @ Okayama Orange Hall
- 11/24 @ Kyoto KBS Hall
- 11/25 @ Hiroshima Green Arena Small Arena
- 11/28 @ Ibaraki Prefectural Sports Center
- 12/1 @ Ishikawa Industrial Exhibition Hall #2
- 12/2 @ Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium

New Japan will present some matches at the upcoming TOKYO GAME SHOW that will mean wrestlers missing shows on the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. The CMLL stars on tour are also competing on these shows. The events on the 21st and 22nd see Tomoaki Honma interact with New Japan wrestlers for the first time since he was fired from the company earlier this year. Not sure if “Super Strong Azteca Machine” is the rarely seen Super Strong Machine, especially as he is teaming with CHAOS members and was a Seigi Gun member last time we saw him in New Japan.

TOKYO GAME SHOW, 9/20/12
Makuhari Messe

(Morning Show)
- Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask, KUSHIDA, Alex Shelley & BUSHI vs. Low Ki, Rocky Romero, Alex Koslov, Jado & Gedo

(Afternoon Show)
- Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue vs. Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer, Harry Smith & TAKA Michinoku
- Togi Makabe, Hirooki Goto & Tetsuya Naito vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI

TOKYO GAME SHOW, 9/21/12
Makuhari Messe

(Afternoon Show)
- Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask, Tomoaki Honma, Mascara Dorada & Felino vs. Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI, Jado, Super Strong Azteca Machine & Averno

TOKYO GAME SHOW, 9/22/12
Makuhari Messe

(Afternoon Show)
- Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask, Tomoaki Honma, Mascara Dorada & Felino vs. Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI, Jado, Super Strong Azteca Machine & Averno

TOKYO GAME SHOW, 9/23/12
Makuhari Messe

(Morning Show)
- Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask & Mascara Dorada vs. Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI & Averno