–> G1 CLIMAX 24 (7/21/14 to 8/10/14) <--

NJPW, 8/10/14 (WPW/Sukachan/iPPV)
Seibu Dome
18,000 Fans

1. Special 8 Man Tag Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Lance Archer, Davey Boy Smith Jr., TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado (6:15) when Taguchi used the Dodon on TAKA.
2. Special 6 Man Tag Match: Bad Luck Fale, Doc Gallows & Yujiro Takahashi beat Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI (8:23) when Takahashi used the Miami Shine on BUSHI.
3. Special 8 Man Tag Match: Toru Yano, Kazushi Sakuraba & YOSHI-HASHI beat Minoru Suzuki, Takashi Iizuka & Shelton Benjamin (9:42) when Suzuki was DQ’d.
4. Special Tag Match: Adam Cole & Michael Bennett beat Jushin Thunder Liger & Captain New Japan (10:56) when Bennett used a piledriver on Captain.
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: KUSHIDA & Alex Shelley (c) beat Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish (14:21) when KUSHIDA used the Hoverboard Lock on O’Reilly (1st defense).
6. G1 Climax Special Singles Match: Tetsuya Naito beat Tomoaki Honma (8:56) with a Stardust press.
7. G1 Climax Special Singles Match: Karl Anderson beat Tomohiro Ishii (9:39) with the Gun Stun.
8. G1 Climax Special Singles Match: Katsuyori Shibata beat Hirooki Goto (11:16) with a PK.
9. G1 Climax Special Singles Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat AJ Styles (16:24) with a cradle.
10. G1 Climax – Final: Kazuchika Okada beat Shinsuke Nakamura (23:18) with the Rainmaker.

* The golden boy of New Japan, Kazuchika Okada, won his second G1 Climax in three years today before the biggest crowd to ever attend a G1 Climax final, 18,000 fans turned up at the Seibu Dome to watch the ‘forbidden’ confrontation between CHAOS top two Shinsuke Nakamura and Kazuchika Okada in the G1 Climax final. It was an epic match that showed the world class standard of New Japan and saw Okada have to used an unprecedented three Rainmakers to finish off Shinsuke. Okada told AJ Styles he’s “next” but plans to wait until the 1/4/15 Tokyo Dome show (announced today) to cash in his title shot for AJ’s IWGP Heavyweight Title. He (and Gedo) also praised Shinsuke for a good fight and suggested they do it again in future.

* Hiroshi Tanahashi showed he is still a major player in the G1 3rd place match, pinning IWGP Heavyweight Champion, AJ Styles. AJ lost to Okada, Naito and Tanahashi in the tournament to show he isn’t unbeatable, but remains champion.

* New Japan signed a formal agreement to work with Jeff Jarrett’s new GFW promotion during the show. Then later on Jarrett revealed himself as a Bullet Club member after hitting Tanahashi with a guitar. Scott D’Amore also joined the Bullet Club, which continues to expand.

For the second year in a row, Kazuchika Okada has been named Tokyo Sports MVP (Most Valuable Player). Only Antonio Inoki, Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu have achieved that before. Is Okada a legend in the making?

The IWGP Heavyweight Champion has become the leader of New Japan this year, his legendary win over Hiroshi Tanahashi at Sumo Hall in October seen as a transition of leadership.

And also for the second year running, a New Japan bout won Match of the Year, with Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi from the G1 Climax being named Best Bout.

Who is El Desperado?

One day after the 1/4 Tokyo Dome show, New Japan will debut a new masked man by the name of El Desperado. A logical choice might be Kyosuke Mikami, who has been away in CMLL for almost two years as Namajague. But that isn’t definite.

Also on the show, one day after Kojima challenges Rob Conway for the NWA World Heavyweight Title at the Dome, TenKoji challenge Conway & Jax Dane for the NWA World Tag Team Title.

NJPW “NEW YEAR DASH!!”, 1/5/14 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. El Desperado (debut) vs. X
2. NWA World Tag Team Title: Rob Conway & Jax Dane (c) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima

Before the Dome show comes a low key tour to close out 2013, building up matches. A rare tour without a single foreign wrestler, that will conclude with the two 1/4 Tokyo Dome main events played out in tag form.

NJPW, 12/11/13
Yamagata Sports Center #2

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. KUSHIDA vs. Takashi Iizuka
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Tiger Mask vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI
4. Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi
5. Togi Makabe & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Jado
6. Elimination Match: Tetsuya Naito, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomoaki Honma & Captain New Japan vs. Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, YOSHI-HASHI & Gedo

NJPW, 12/12/13
Yamagata Sports Center #2

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Tiger Mask vs. Takashi Iizuka
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Tiger Mask vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI
4. Togi Makabe & KUSHIDA vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Jado
5. Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Captain New Japan vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii
7. Tetsuya Naito & Tomoaki Honma vs. Kazuchika Okada & Gedo

NJPW, 12/14/13
Akita Terrsa Hall

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Takashi Iizuka
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Captain New Japan vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI
4. Togi Makabe & Tiger Mask vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Jado
5. Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & YOSHI-HASHI
7. Tetsuya Naito & KUSHIDA vs. Kazuchika Okada & Gedo

NJPW, 12/15/13
Shizukuishi Sports Park Gymnasium

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Captain New Japan vs. Takashi Iizuka
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Tiger Mask vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & KUSHIDA
4. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Yujiro Takahashi
5. Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Jado
7. Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI vs. Kazuchika Okada & Gedo

NJPW, 12/21/13 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi, KUSHIDA & BUSHI
3. Togi Makabe & Kota Ibushi vs. Takashi Iizuka & Yujiro Takahashi
4. Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Jado vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
5. Road to TOKYO DOME I: Tetsuya Naito vs. Gedo
6. Road to TOKYO DOME II: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. YOSHI-HASHI
7. Road to TOKYO DOME III: Captain New Japan vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
8. Road to TOKYO DOME IV: Tomoaki Honma vs. Kazuchika Okada

NJPW, 12/23/13 (TV Asahi ch2)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Super Jr. 3WAY Tag Match: KUSHIDA & BUSHI vs. TAKA Michinoku & Taichi vs. Jado & Gedo
3. Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Captain New Japan vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & Tomoaki Honma
5. Togi Makabe & Kota Ibushi vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Yujiro Takahashi
6. YOSHI-HASHI vs. Minoru Suzuki
7. Road to TOKYO DOME FINAL: Tetsuya Naito & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada & Shinsuke Nakamura

An excellent video by forum regular Danny Milk aka kyotanahashi on YouTube, a good look at Kazuchika Okada’s in his massive breakout year (2012).

Kazuchika Okada has rejected the chance to join the WWE and pledged himself to New Japan by signing a new contract with the company. Okada wasn’t happy with all the rumours circulating that had many fans worried, so told Tokyo Sports he is going nowhere and has renewed his New Japan contract! This is great news for New Japan and the Japanese industry in general as its biggest breakout star in years is sticking around and will hopefully be around to lead the Japanese industry for many years.

New Japan has revealed extended lineups for the upcoming “ROAD TO THE NEW BEGINNING” tour. The main focus of the tour is on building up the Tanahashi vs. Anderson, Archer & Smith Jr. vs. TenKoji, and Devitt vs. Taguchi title matches set for the Hiroshima show. However there are also a series of six man tags based around Nakamura & Okada vs. Suzuki & Kengo Mashimo that might hint at an as yet unannounced tag match in Hiroshima or possibly even singles matches.

Bushiroad chief Takaaki Kidani held a talk show several days ago and gave no indication that he has resigned his post in New Japan/Bushiroad yet as has been strongly rumoured. Several wrestlers were there including Tanahashi, Makabe, and Taguchi. Kidani announced that New Japan will run Sumo Hall in April which is very unusual and for the first time in quite a while there will be two Sumo Hall shows in this year’s G1 Climax as New Japan starts to upscale again after a fantastic business year in 2012 and an impressive paid attendance for this month’s Tokyo Dome show.

Mistico (second generation) has unfortunately had to withdraw from the upcoming New Japan/CMLL shows because of a shoulder dislocation. In his place comes 50-year-old Mexican legend Atlantis so below are the revised cards for the first post-Tokyo Dome shows of 2013. This will be Atlantis’ first New Japan appearance since the 1/4/12 Tokyo Dome show when he was in a six man tag on the undercard.

NJPW/CMLL, 1/18/13 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Tama Tonga & Titan vs. Euphoria & OKUMURA
2. Ryusuke Taguchi, BUSHI & Diamante vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & Rey Escorpion
3. Rush vs. YOSHI-HASHI
4. La Mascara, Mascara Dorada & Maximo vs. Volador Jr., TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
5. Special 6 Man Tag Match: Atlantis, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Mephisto, Jado & Gedo
6. Special Singles Match: Prince Devitt vs. Dragon Rojo Jr.
7. Special Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi & La Sombra vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Misterioso Jr.

NJPW/CMLL, 1/19/13 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Tama Tonga & Maximo vs. TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
2. Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask & Titan vs. Jado, Gedo & Misterioso Jr.
3. Mascara Dorada & Diamante vs. Mephisto & OKUMURA
4. Prince Devitt, Ryusuke Taguchi & BUSHI vs. Dragon Rojo Jr., Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI
5. Special Singles Match: Atlantis vs. Euforia
6. Special 6 Man Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, La Mascara & Rush vs. Kazuchika Okada, Volador Jr. & Rey Escorpion
7. IWGP Intercontinental Title: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. La Sombra

NJPW/CMLL, 1/20/13 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Special Singles Match: Maximo vs. Taichi
2. 6 vs. 6 Torneo Cibernetico: Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask, Mascara Dorada, Diamante, Titan & BUSHI vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Jado, Gedo, Misterioso Jr., OKUMURA & YOSHI-HASHI
3. Special Singles Match: Rush vs. Rey Escorpion
4. NWA World Historic Welterweight Title: Dragon Rojo Jr. (c) vs. La Sombra
5. Mexican National Light Heavyweight Title: La Mascara (c) vs. Volador Jr.
6. Special 6 Man Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Prince Devitt & Atlantis vs. Kazuchika Okada, Mephisto & Euforia

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NJPW, 2/2/13
Gifu Industrial Hall

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Takaaki Watanabe
3. KUSHIDA, Alex Shelley & BUSHI vs. Rocky Romero, Alex Koslov & Jado
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Captain New Japan vs. Lance Archer, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & TAKA Michinoku
5. Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & Wataru Inoue vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Yujiro Takahashi & YOSHI-HASHI
6. Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Minoru Suzuki, Kengo Mashimo & Taichi
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Karl Anderson, Prince Devitt & Tama Tonga

NJPW, 2/3/13 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask & BUSHI vs. Tama Tonga, Hiromu Takahashi & Takaaki Watanabe
2. Hirooki Goto, Wataru Inoue, KUSHIDA & Alex Shelley vs. YOSHI-HASHI, Rocky Romero, Alex Koslov & Jado
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Captain New Japan vs. Lance Archer, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & TAKA Michinoku
4. Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Yujiro Takahashi
5. Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & Gedo vs. Minoru Suzuki, Kengo Mashimo & Taichi
6. Special Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Karl Anderson & Prince Devitt
7. NEVER Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii

NJPW, 2/5/13
Koga City Gymnasium

1. BUSHI & Yohei Komatsu vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Takaaki Watanabe
2. KUSHIDA, Alex Shelley & Tiger Mask vs. Rocky Romero, Alex Koslov & Jado
3. Manabu Nakanishi, Hirooki Goto & Captain New Japan vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Lance Archer, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Taichi
5. Togi Makabe & Wataru Inoue vs. Yujiro Takahashi & YOSHI-HASHI
6. Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & Gedo vs. Minoru Suzuki, Kengo Mashimo & TAKA Michinoku
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Karl Anderson, Prince Devitt & Tama Tonga

NJPW, 2/6/13
Chino Citizen Pavilion Multi-Hall

1. BUSHI & Sho Tanaka vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Takaaki Watanabe
2. KUSHIDA, Alex Shelley & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Rocky Romero, Alex Koslov & Gedo
3. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & Wataru Inoue vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Tiger Mask vs. Lance Archer, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Taichi
5. Togi Makabe & Hirooki Goto vs. Yujiro Takahashi & YOSHI-HASHI
6. Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & Jado vs. Minoru Suzuki, Kengo Mashimo & TAKA Michinoku
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Karl Anderson, Prince Devitt & Tama Tonga

NJPW, 2/7/13
New Sunpia Tochigi

1. BUSHI & Yohei Komatsu vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Takaaki Watanabe
2. KUSHIDA, Alex Shelley & Tiger Mask vs. Rocky romero, Alex Koslov & Jado
3. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & Captain New Japan vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Lance Archer, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & TAKA Michinoku
5. Togi Makabe & Wataru Inoue vs. Yujiro Takahashi & YOSHI-HASHI
6. Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & Gedo vs. Minoru Suzuki, Kengo Mashimo & Taichi
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Karl Anderson, Prince Devitt & Tama Tonga

Kazuchika Okada, one of Japanese pro wrestling’s biggest breakout stars in years, dominated the 2012 Tokyo Sports awards. Not only did he become the MVP aged just 25 but his memorable match with Tanahashi on June 16th, when Tanahashi won the IWGP Heavyweight Title back from Okada, was named Best Bout. Along with these two awards, Shinsuke Nakamura added a third for New Japan by winning the Technique Prize while New Japan legend Seiji Sakaguchi picked up a Lifetime Achievement Prize.

Tokyo Sports 2012 MVP: Kazuchika Okada
Tokyo Sports 2012 Best Bout: Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (6/16 @ Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium)
Tokyo Sports 2012 Technique Award: Shinsuke Nakamura

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Satoshi Kojima failed in his attempt to win the GHC Heavyweight Title in the main event of NOAH’s Sumo Hall show on which the legendary Kenta Kobashi announced he is retiring from pro wrestling. NOAH has been struggling more and more since the death of Misawa but was able to draw a reasonable attendance of 7,500 (if real) for the show.

NOAH “GREAT VOYAGE 2012 IN RYOGOKU VOL. 2″, 12/9/12
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
7,500 Fans

- GHC Heavyweight Title: Takeshi Morishima (c) beat Satoshi Kojima (20:17) with a backdrop suplex (8th defense).

The returning Nobuo Yoshihashi, now known as YOSHI-HASHI, let his plans and affiliation be known in an interview yesterday. YOSHI-HASHI will face another former young lion who is returning, Kazuchika Okada, and announced firstly that he will no longer be a junior. Predicted by some to help bolster the junior division, YOSHI-HASHI will instead enter the heavyweight division. The other important thing he announced is that he will be entering CHAOS as a heel, after falling in love with the rudo/heel ways during his very long stay in CMLL.

Okada on the other hand will not be joining CHAOS but was coy on his affiliation, saying he was a loner in the USA and for now will be a loner back home in New Japan. One interesting thing that he did say is that having seen the world, he will not stand out in the “confines of Japan” like Tanahashi, but will be a bigger star with global appeal.

An already young New Japan roster will get even more firepower with the return of these two promising young men who collide on January 4th at the Tokyo Dome.

Two of New Japan’s young warriors are heading overseas in an attempt to transform themselves. Kazuchika Okada, one of the better heavyweight prospects in many years, is leaving indefinitely for TNA Wrestling, while Taichi is off to CMLL. President Sugabayashi said he is giving Okada as long as he needs to transform himself into what New Japan knows he can be, not even ruling out a 2-3 year stay in America if Okada needs that long. He will have a special send-off match on 1/31 against Tanahashi. With the retirement of his tag partner Milano, Taichi now seeks new direction and where better for an upcoming junior than CMLL in Mexico…

New Japan also announced today that Tamon Honda and Kentaro Shiga, who recently left NOAH as part of the company’s downsizing, will appear specially on the 1/31 Differ Ariake show. The two will face Makabe & Honma in a tag match and Sugabayashi was complimentary of Honda, saying he had been a “symbol of strength” for NOAH after his surprising “boom” several years ago where he took many big scalps and won the GHC Tag Team Title. Also announced for the Differ show was El Samurai in another special appearance.

Masahiro Chono, however, has cancelled his appearance for an interesting reason. Chono is undertaking long-term “body remodeling”. Chono has just signed a new contract with the company but will be away for up to half a year and should return around summer (G1?). Could this mean one last run at the top for Chono, with so much effort going into improving his condition?