–> YOSHINOYA PRESENTS KIZUNA ROAD 2013 <--

NJPW, 7/5/13 (Samurai! TV/iPPV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
2,015 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Super Strong Machine beat Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Jado (9:08) when Iizuka was DQ’d.
2. Togi Makabe, Manabu Nakanishi, Tiger Mask & KUSHIDA beat Yuji Nagata, Hirooki Goto, Captain New Japan & Takaaki Watanabe (11:02) when KUSHIDA used a reverse cross armbreaker on Watanabe.
3. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi beat Tomohiro Ishii, Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov (11:38) when Taichi used the Low Fly Flow on Koslov.
4. Shinsuke Nakamura, Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi beat Tetsuya Naito, Tomoaki Honma & La Sombra (12:52) when Takahashi used the Tokyo Pimps on Honma.
5. Karl Anderson & Bad Luck Fale beat Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI (9:22) when Fale used the Grenade on YOSHI-HASHI.
6. CMLL World Tag Team Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Jushin Thunder Liger beat El Terrible & Tama Tonga (c) (12:12) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Terrible to become the 34th champions.
7. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Prince Devitt (c) beat Gedo (18:11) with the Bloody Sunday (4th defense).

* Prince Devitt had a peculiar task tonight of defending his IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title just 2 weeks before he challenges for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. As stipulated when Okada accepted his challenge, Devitt first had to make his V4 defense of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title against Okada’s sidekick Gedo. Gedo was hugely popular at Korakuen against Devitt, who has gone from heroic junior ace to one of the most despised wrestlers in the company since his betray of Taguchi and formation of the BULLET CLUB. But great fan support couldn’t carry him to the title as Devitt dropped him with the Bloody Sunday to complete another successful defense. Next target: Okada.

* You can’t keep Hiroshi Tanahashi away from gold for too long! Tanahashi and the legendary Jushin Thunder Liger today ended the 8 month reign of El Terrible & Tama Tonga to become the new CMLL World Tag Team Champions. Tanahashi pinned Terrible with the High Fly Flow to add yet another trophy to his bulging cabinet. They rarely team up but if they head to CMLL to defend these belts, Tanahashi & Liger will make an instantly recognizable team of New Japan stars. This is the third CMLL title Liger, now 48, has held in his career and yet another accolade for this living legend.

* G1 Climax 2013 participants and blocks have been announced! Take a look at Block A! The only ‘surprise’ names this year are Shibata and Ibushi but New Japan has so many stars these days that outsiders aren’t needed as much as they once were. Plus, after some great performances this year Ishii is rewarded with a place in the big one.

Block A:
- Hiroshi Tanahashi
- Togi Makabe
- Hirooki Goto
- Satoshi Kojima
- Kazuchika Okada
- Tomohiro Ishii
- Lance Archer
- Davey Boy Smith Jr.
- Prince Devitt
- Katsuyori Shibata

Block B:
- Hiroyoshi Tenzan
- Yuji Nagata
- Tetsuya Naito
- Shinsuke Nakamura
- Toru Yano
- Yujiro Takahashi
- Minoru Suzuki
- Shelton Benjamin
- Karl Anderson
- Kota Ibushi

Prince Devitt will challenge Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Title in the main event of New Japan’s last big show before the G1 Climax on 7/20. Okada’s V3 defense of the title will be unlike his others and he may have more than just the Irishman to face, with the BULLET CLUB becoming renowned already for their outside inteference. Laughter7 return to New Japan once again with Kazushi Sakuraba returning from injury to face Yuji Nagata in a long awaited singles match, while old classmates Katsuyori Shibata and Hirooki Goto have their third singles match on successive big shows with Goto searching for his first win after a defeat and draw. La Sombra faces Shinsuke Nakamura in a Special Singles Match and if Sombra overcomes his upcoming V1 defense of the IWGP Intercontinental Title in Mexico against Volador Jr., you would think this would become a title match with Shinsuke given chance to reclaim the belt he dropped to Sombra in Mexico.

The newly returned Tetsuya Naito challenges Masato Tanaka for the NEVER Openweight Title, Naito having originally been the poster boy of the tournament to determine the first NEVER champion before pulling out due to injury. IWGP Tag Team Champions face GHC Tag Team Champions as Tenzan & Kojima make their V2 defense of the IWGP belts against Yano & Iizuka. The NOAH belts are not on the line and the CHAOS team may not even hold them by that point as they defend against Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls on NOAH’s major 7/7 show at Tokyo Ariake Colosseum. After their heated exchanges in a tag match yesterday, Minoru Suzuki and Tomohiro Ishii go to war in a Special Singles Match and Suzuki Gun will also have the chance to win the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title when TAKA & Taichi challenge Forever Hooligans in the second match.

Before the big 7/20 show, there will be two title matches on 7/5 at Korakuen plus the announcement of G1 Climax participants. Before he challenges Gedo’s friend Okada for the big one, Devitt makes his V4 defense of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title against Gedo himself. Meanwhile, fan favourites Tanahashi and Liger unite to challenge El Terrible & Tama Tonga for the CMLL World Tag Team Title. New Japan will be going head-to-head with the WWE’s Sumo Hall show in Tokyo when they run Korakuen on 7/5.

NJPW, 7/5/13 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Super Strong Machine vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Jado
2. Togi Makabe, Manabu Nakanishi, Tiger Mask & KUSHIDA vs. Yuji Nagata, Hirooki Goto, Captain New Japan & Takaaki Watanabe
3. Tomohiro Ishii, Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
4. Tetsuya Naito, Tomoaki Honma & La Sombra vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi
5. Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Karl Anderson & Bad Luck Fale
6. CMLL World Tag Team Title: El Terrible & Tama Tonga (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Jushin Thunder Liger
7. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Prince Devitt (c) vs. Gedo

NJPW, 7/7/13
New Sunpia Takasaki

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Manabu Nakanishi & Tiger Mask vs. Captain New Japan & KUSHIDA
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Yuji Nagata & Takaaki Watanabe
4. Tomohiro Ishii, Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
5. Hirooki Goto, Tetsuya Naito, Tomoaki Honma & La Sombra vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Yujiro Takahashi, YOSHI-HASHI & Jado
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Karl Anderson, El Terrible & Tama Tonga
7. Kazuchika Okada & Gedo vs. Prince Devitt & Bad Luck Fale

NJPW, 7/9/13
Tsuruga Castle Gymnasium

1. KUSHIDA & Takaaki Watanabe vs. Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu
2. Yuji Nagata & Hirooki Goto vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Captain New Japan
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Tiger Mask vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Gedo
4. Tomohiro Ishii, Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
5. Togi Makabe, Tetsuya Naito & La Sombra vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Yujiro Takahashi & YOSHI-HASHI
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomoaki Honma & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Karl Anderson, El Terrible & Tama Tonga
7. Kazuchika Okada & Jado vs. Prince Devitt & Bad Luck Fale

NJPW, 7/10/13
Yamagata City Sports Center #2

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Yuji Nagata, Hirooki Goto & Takaaki Watanabe vs. Manabu Nakanishi, Captain New Japan & KUSHIDA
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Tiger Mask vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Jado
4. Tomohiro Ishii, Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
5. Tetsuya Naito, Jushin Thunder Liger & La Sombra vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Yujiro Takahashi & Gedo
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Karl Anderson, El Terrible & Tama Tonga
7. Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Prince Devitt & Bad Luck Fale

NJPW, 7/13/13 (Samurai! TV)
Sapporo Teisen Hall

1. Tiger Mask & KUSHIDA vs. Takaaki Watanabe & Sho Tanaka
2. Yuji Nagata & Hirooki Goto vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Tomoaki Honma
3. Rocky Romero vs. Taichi
4. Tomohiro Ishii & Alex Koslov vs. Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku
5. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jushin Thunder Liger & Captain New Japan vs. Karl Anderson, El Terrible & Tama Tonga
6. Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Prince Devitt & Bad Luck Fale
7. New Japan & CMLL vs. CHAOS Elimination Match: Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Tetsuya Naito & La Sombra vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi

NJPW, 7/14/13 (Samurai! TV)
Sapporo Teisen Hall

1. Takaaki Watanabe vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Tiger Mask & KUSHIDA vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Jado & Gedo
3. Alex Koslov vs. TAKA Michinoku
4. Tomohiro Ishii & Rocky Romero vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi
5. Yuji Nagata & Hirooki Goto vs. Yujiro Takahashi & YOSHI-HASHI
6. Tetsuya Naito, Tomoaki Honma & La Sombra vs. Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura & Masato Tanaka
7. New Japan vs. BULLET CLUB Elimination Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Manabu Nakanishi, Jushin Thunder Liger & Captain New Japan vs. Prince Devitt, Karl Anderson, El Terrible, Tama Tonga & Bad Luck Fale

NJPW, 7/15/13 (Samurai! TV)
Sapporo Teisen Hall

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Takaaki Watanabe vs. Rocky Romero
3. Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & KUSHIDA vs. Manabu Nakanishi, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask
4. Tomohiro Ishii & Alex Koslov vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi
5. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Tetsuya Naito & La Sombra vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Masato Tanaka
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Captain New Japan vs. Yuji Nagata & Hirooki Goto
7. CHAOS vs. BULLET CLUB Elimination Match: Kazuchika Okada, Yujiro Takahashi, YOSHI-HASHI, Jado & Gedo vs. Prince Devitt, Karl Anderson, El Terrible, Tama Tonga & Bad Luck Fale

NJPW, 7/17/13
Obihiro City Gymnasium

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Manabu Nakanishi, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Captain New Japan, KUSHIDA & Takaaki Watanabe
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & YOSHI-HASHI
4. Tomohiro Ishii, Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
5. Tetsuya Naito, Tomoaki Honma & La Sombra vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Yujiro Takahashi & Jado
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe & Hirooki Goto vs. Karl Anderson, El Terrible & Tama Tonga
7. Kazuchika Okada & Gedo vs. Prince Devitt & Bad Luck Fale

NJPW, 7/20/13 (WPW/PPV)
Akita Municipal Gymnasium

1. Manabu Nakanishi, Tomoaki Honma, Tiger Mask & KUSHIDA vs. Yujiro Takahashi, YOSHI-HASHI, Jado & Gedo
2. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov (c) vs. TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
3. Special Singles Match: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Minoru Suzuki
4. IWGP Tag Team Title: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (c) vs. Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka
5. NEVER Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito
6. Special Singles Match: La Sombra vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
7. Special 8 Man Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Jushin Thunder Liger & Captain New Japan vs. Karl Anderson, El Terrible, Tama Tonga & Bad Luck Fale
8. Special Singles Match: Hirooki Goto vs. Katsuyori Shibata
9. Kazushi Sakuraba Return Match: Yuji Nagata vs. Kazushi Sakuraba
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Prince Devitt

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NJPW “NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING IN MIYAKO FISH MARKET II”, 7/21/13
Miyako Fish Market

1. Yuji Nagata vs. Takaaki Watanabe
2. Tomohiro Ishii, Jado & Gedo vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi
3. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Hirooki Goto & Tetsuya Naito vs. Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Yujiro Takahashi & YOSHI-HASHI

Seven titles will be defended across two shows as New Japan presents “INVASION ATTACK” on 4/7 at Sumo Hall and “ROAD TO INVASION ATTACK” two days earlier at Korakuen Hall. At Korakuen, the Killer Elite Squad will make their V4 defense of the IWGP Tag Team Title against Nakamura & Ishii after accepting a challenge from the CHAOS team yesterday. Prince Devitt makes his V3 defense of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title against Alex Shelley and like the tag match this also leads into another title match two days later. Another match of note at Korakuen is GHC Tag Team Champions, Yano & Iizuka, facing the all-star Suzuki & Takayama duo (non-title).

On to Sumo Hall and there will be a triple main event featuring three title matches! Of course the biggest of them all sees Hiroshi Tanahashi make his V8 defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Title against New Japan Cup winner Kazuchika Okada. Tanahashi’s previous reign lasted from 1/4/11 to 2/12/12 before Okada took the belt off him. But Tanahashi then won it back on 6/16/12 and has held it since, and looks to continue his domination of Japan’s most prestigious title in April. Nakamura makes his V7 defense of the IWGP Intercontinental Title against Davey Boy Smith Jr. in a direct sequel to the IWGP Tag Team Title match two days earlier, and of course he beat Smith’s tag partner Lance Archer in his previous defense. The NWA invasion begins with Rob Conway defending the historic NWA World Heavyweight Title against Satoshi Kojima, Kojima’s most high profile match for a while.

Nagata once again locks horns with Sakuraba but not in the singles match he requested, instead another tag as he and Goto face Saku & Shibata. In a rematch from the New Japan Cup second round, Minoru Suzuki looks to avenge his defeat to Toru Yano, while Tomoaki Honma makes his formal return by teaming with Makabe against Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi. The CMLL World Tag Team Title will be on the line as New Japan’s Tama Tonga and his partner El Terrible defend the belts against La Mascara & Valiente. Akebono and Bob Sapp return for the first time since 1/4 in another New Japan vs. CHAOS eight man tag, and the show opens with TIME SPLITTERS’ V3 defense of the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title against 4-time champions Apollo 55. This show should be on iPPV like most other important New Japan events these days, but nothing announced just yet.

NJPW “ROAD TO INVASION ATTACK”, 4/5/13 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Road to INVASION ATTACK I: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. KUSHIDA
2. Road to INVASION ATTACK II: Yuji Nagata & Hirooki Goto vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Captain New Japan
3. Road to INVASION ATTACK III: Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Yujiro Takahashi, YOSHI-HASHI & Jado
4. Road to INVASION ATTACK IV: Minoru Suzuki & Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka
5. Road to INVASION ATTACK V: Hiroshi Tanahashi & BUSHI vs. Kazuchika Okada & Gedo
6. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Prince Devitt (c) vs. Alex Shelley
7. IWGP Tag Team Title: Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii

NJPW “INVASION ATTACK”, 4/7/13 (WPW)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: KUSHIDA & Alex Shelley (c) vs. Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi
2. Special 8 Man Tag Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi, Super Strong Machine & Akebono vs. Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Bob Sapp
3. CMLL World Tag Team Title: El Terrible & Tama Tonga (c) vs. La Mascara & Valiente
4. Special Tag Match: Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi
5. Special Singles Match: Toru Yano vs. Minoru Suzuki
6. Special Tag Match: Yuji Nagata & Hirooki Goto vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & Katsuyori Shibata
7. Triple Main Event I – NWA World Heavyweight Title: Ron Conway (c) vs. Satoshi Kojima
8. Triple Main Event II – IWGP Intercontinental Title: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
9. Triple Main Event III – IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada