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Five days after "TRIATHLON SURVIVOR" came to a close, New Japan ran it's final major event of the 2002. Titled "THE SPIRAL II", the event followed up not only on the tour prior to it, but the October Tokyo Dome convention, "THE SPIRAL". Despite having the same name, the show differed from October's event, with the emphasis off New Japan vs. Foreign Army, the closest to that being two New Japan vs. Makai Club matches. The main focus was on New Japan's home talent, along with wildly popular freelancer, Yoshihiro Takayama, who formed a new team with young lion, Kenzo Suzuki, in the main event against Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Osamu Nishimura. Two other young wrestlers, Shinya Makabe and Blue Wolf, also got big chances, facing Manabu Nakanishi and Yuji Nagata respectively in singles matches. The "King & Queen" team of New Japan, Masahiro Chono & Joanie Laurer, wrestled their first match as a tandem, tackling Makai Club foe. And beneath that, there was plenty of entertaining junior action and more.
Foreign participation:
Joanie Laurer
Special participation:
Yoshihiro Takayama
Minoru Fujita (Kaientai Dojo)
NJPW "THE SPIRAL II", 12/15/02 (WPW)
Nagoya Rainbow Hall
9,500 Fans (Sell Out)
1. Yutaka Yoshie beat Toru Yano (9:13) with a back blow.
2. Takashi Iizuka beat El Samurai (11:15) with a sleeper hold.
3. Ryushi Yanagisawa & Makai #1 beat Masahito Kakihara & Masayuki Naruse (13:02) when Makai #1 used a Makai Windmill suplex hold on Naruse.
4. Koji Kanemoto & Gedo beat Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask 4 (14:11) when Kanemoto used a moonsault press on Tiger.
5. Minoru Fujita  beat Heat (7:21) with a Michinoku Driver II.
6. Masahiro Chono & Joanie Laurer beat Kazunari Murakami & Makai #2 (6:21) when Laurer used an STF on Makai #2.
7. Manabu Nakanishi beat Blue Wolf (10:26) with an Argentine backbreaker.
8. Yuji Nagata beat Shinya Makabe (11:21) with a backdrop suplex hold.
9. Yoshihiro Takayama & Kenzo Suzuki beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Osamu Nishimura (21:10) when Takayama used a knee kick on Nishimura.
Points of note:
Liger & Tiger Mask faced T2000's Kanemoto & Gedo in what appeared to be a regular junior tag match, until Tiger accidentally struck Liger with a dropkick. A furious Liger attacked Tiger, wounding him enough for Kanemoto to quickly finish the match. After two tours worth of discontent, Liger disbanded the current New Japan junior army, and called for reform. He shook hands and aligned with his long-time rival, Kanemoto (along with El Samurai and Gedo), while Kakihara and Naruse aligned with Tiger (along with Heat), a new war seemingly on the horizon!
After being tormented by Kaientai Dojo's Minoru Fujita repeatedly on the last series, Heat finally met the punk in singles action. Fujita mocked Heat by wearing a mask taken from him recently, provoking an attack. Heat continued to struggle for singles form, falling to Fujita's Michinoku Driver II, which is turn gave Fujita his first pinfall win in New Japan.
The "King & Queen" team of New Japan, Chono & Laurer, got off to a winning start when they defeated Murakami & Makai #2. The two showed surprisingly good teamwork, utilizing a TenKoji Cutter and also simultaneous STFs. In fact, it was that very hold, taught to Laurer by Chono, that got the former WWF Intercontinental Champion a submission win over Makai #2.
Following the match, Laurer's fiancee, Syxx-Pac (former WWF star, X-Pac), entered the ring and kissed his wife-to-be. Syxx-Pac demanded a match pitting he and Laurer against Chono & Tenzan at the Tokyo Dome in January. Chono's expression changed, and he rejected the challenge, calling Syxx-Pac a "street boy". Pac, showing jealousy at Chono's friendship with Laurer, attacked Chono, as Laurer looked on in tears, not sure how to act.
Michiyoshi Ohara, who left New Japan in January to focus on MMA fights, appeared at ringside, and shook hands with his former Team 2000 leader, Chono. Ohara said that although he lost to two big name fighters in PRIDE, both matches were decision losses, so were really draws. Ohara announced a comeback to professional wrestling, and said he would defeat the "real foreign enemy".
Nakanishi was given a tougher test than he expected against young phenom, Blue Wolf, being pushed past the 10 minute mark. Nakanishi eventually put Wolf away with an Argentine backbreaker, but admitted that he had been troubled for just a moment, and noted Wolf's growth in strength.
Makabe wrestled in his first singles match since returning from his overseas excursion, facing IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Nagata. Makabe fought well, but in the end was completely defeated by the ace, even after impressing fans with a Frankensteiner -> triangle choke hold combination. Nagata sunk Makabe into the mat with a backdrop suplex hold for the victory.
Nagata's January IWGP Heavyweight Title challenger, former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Josh Barnett, appeared before his match. Barnett targetted Nagata, speaking Japanese to let him understand. Following the match, Barnett offered a handshake to Nagata, but was rejected. Barnett attacked his upcoming opponent, and knocked him out quickly with a front sleeper, sending a grave warning to Nagata!
The tandem thought to be "new Team No Fear", Kenzo and the returning (from injury) Yoshihiro Takayama, teamed for the first time in a big main event against Tenzan & Nishimura. Takayama studied Kenzo's wrestling intently, calling instructions from the corner and acting as a teacher. The two showed remarkable first match teamwork, and were able to beat a strong opposing team when Takayama struck Nishimura with a knee kick. Takayama was impressed by Kenzo backstage, but seemed reluctant to formally declare this new alliance permanent.
Back to: "TRIATHLON SURVIVOR 2002" (11/22/02 to 12/10/02)
Forward to: "DREAM * WIN" (12/23/02)
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