New Japan and All Japan today announced that they will hold a joint 40th anniversary show at Sumo Hall on July 1st titled “WE ARE PRO-WRESTLING LOVE”. The presidents of both companies spoke of it today although with it still being quite far off could reveal little besides the concept of sharing their celebrations of 40 years in business. Despite being co-hosts, they did not rule out the possibility of promotion vs. promotion matches so it could be a little more intriguing in that sense than the “ALL TOGETHER” charity shows which were general a set of interpromotional tag matches.

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

Meanwhile, New Japan has also announced that “DOMINION 6.16″ for Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium on June 16th, another big show.

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

The TenKoji tradition is alive and well! The 2008 G1 Tag League champions completed a 2-crown of major tag tournaments today when they won All Japan’s annual tag league by avenging their earlier loss to Suwama & Shuji Kondo. Kojima, who was surprisingly pinned by Kondo in their previous match, lariated the junior heavyweight to win the same tournament TenKoji also captured in their 2006 reunion. Now their eyes will be on both the IWGP Tag and AJPW World Tag titles, and it remains to be seen if they will be given a shot at Makabe & Yano on January 4th, with TNA Wrestling’s Team 3D also waiting for their chance.

AJPW, 12/8/08
Hiroshima Sun Plaza
2,400 Fans

- Real World Tag League - Final: Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Suwama & Shuji Kondo (28:36) when Kojima used a lariat on Kondo.

Jushin Thunder Liger could hold two outside tag titles by the time 2009 comes around. We already knew that he and AKIRA would challenge heavyweights Daisuke Sekimoto & Mammoth Sasaki for the BJW Tag Team Title this month, but he will also now be involved in CIMA’s return match on DRAGON GATE soil, as the two challenge YAMATO & Cyber Kong for the Open The Twin Gate Tag Team Title. This is one new interpromotional match announced involving NJ wrestlers, and here is a list of upcoming ones, including the famous New Japan “bad boy” junior trio reuniting on New Year’s Day…

AJPW “FAN APPRECIATION DAY”, 12/14/08
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- Tiger Mask & Shisa Mask vs. Kiyonari Sanada & Manabu Soya

ZERO1-MAX “ZERO1 DELIGHT 2008″, 12/17/08
Shinjuku FACE

- World Heavyweight Title: Yuji Nagata (c) vs. Tatsuhito Takaiwa

BJW, 12/19/08
Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium

- BJW Tag Team Title: Daisuke Sekimoto & Mammoth Sasaki (c) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA

DRAGON GATE, 12/28/08
Fukuoka International Center

- Open The Twin Gate: YAMATO & Cyber Kong (c) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger & CIMA

ZERO1-MAX “GENESIS 2009″, 1/1/09
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- New Year Special Fight: Shinjiro Otani, Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Koji Kanemoto vs. Masato Tanaka, Jado & Gedo
- New Year Big Fight: Kohei Sato vs. Manabu Nakanishi

LOCK UP, 1/10/09
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- Kazuchika Okada vs. Nobuo Yoshihashi
- Jado & Gedo vs. Masaaki Mochizuki & Tetsuya Naito

The TenKoji revival took a setback today as they failed to capture the AJPW World Tag Team Title at All Japan’s Korakuen Hall show today. In a half hour blockbuster, they fell to reigning champions Taiyo Kea & Minoru Suzuki when Kea pinned Kojima. TenKoji are already looking for revenge, with the idea that they can win the G1 Tag League, possibly the IWGP Tag Team Title, All Japan tag league, and the belts they failed to take today.

AJPW, 10/11/08
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
2,100 Fans - Super No Vacancy

- AJPW World Tag Team Title: Taiyo Kea & Minoru Suzuki (c) beat Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan (32:17) when Kea used the TKO 34th on Kojima (2nd defense).

TenKoji’s attempt at tag domination picks up steam on October 11th, before they enter the G1 Tag League, when they challenge another strong team, Taiyo Kea & Minoru Suzuki, for the AJPW World Tag Team Title. TenKoji did win All Japan’s tag league a couple of years ago so this could be considered their belated shot.

AJPW, 10/11/08
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- AJPW World Tag Team Title: Taiyo Kea & Minoru Suzuki (c) vs. Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Meanwhile, it was announced that Kojima will work all shows on the upcoming G1 Tag League tour, even those where TenKoji don’t have a league match. Full list of outsiders/foreigners/home-based limited participation:

Satoshi Kojima (All Japan): All shows
Yutaka Yoshie (DRADITION): 10/22 to 11/5
Giant Bernard: All shows
Rick Fuller: All shows
Karl Anderson: All shows
Prince Devitt: All shows
Negro Casas (CMLL): All shows
Rocky Romero: All shows
Riki Choshu: 10/22 to 10/29
Masahiro Chono: 10/18 and 10/29 only

Tne TenKoji love affair continued today in All Japan as the two teamed with KAI to beat the GURENTAI trio of Taiyo Kea, Minoru Suzuki & MAZADA, Kojima lariating MAZADA. The big story of the show, though, was Keiji Muto’s alter-ego, Great Muta, ending Suwama’s first Triple Crown reign in the main event. This means, if you consider them the same person in any way, Muto/Muta now holds both the IWGP Heavyweight Title and Triple Crown, four belts in all, somewhat remniscent of his unforgettable 2001 achievement when he was weighed down by titles. This is likely to make Nakamura’s attempt at IWGP recapture next month even more daunting and difficult.

AJPW, 9/28/08
Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium
4,500 Fans - Super No Vacancy

- Satoshi Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & KAI beat Taiyo Kea, Minoru Suzuki & MAZADA (24:20) when Kojima used a lariat on MAZADA.
- Triple Crown: Great Muta beat Suwama (c) (24:52) with a moonsault press to become the 38th champion.