Hiroshi Tanahashi’s evolution continued today as the brilliant young superstar of the Japanese wrestling industry shone brightly and fended off the challenge of global superstar Kurt Angle today at Sumo Hall. The man who has helped bring so much back to the IWGP Heavyweight Title followed up on his Tokyo Dome victory over Keiji Muto and successful V1 defense over rival Shinsuke Nakamura by facing the former IWGP 3rd Belt holder, Angle, in an electric main event full of drama and great crowd heat. Tanahashi endured Angle’s ankle locks and bombs, winning cleanly and decisively with two High Fly Flows to further cement his status as the ace. Tanahashi, who will next defend against NJC winner Hirooki Goto in Fukuoka just under a month from now, declared that his evolution hasn’t finished yet.

Nakamura has been trying to keep up with Tanahashi since failing to lift the belt off him in February but a loss to Goto in the New Japan Cup didn’t help matter. Today, he risked losing to the other of the four men who top the new generation, Togi Makabe, who sought revenge for his NJC round one loss to Nakamura. Perhaps Makabe might have beaten Nakamura had not his GBH ally Toru Yano suddenly betrayed him with a chairshot, leading to Nakamura hitting the Landslide for the win. There was much confusion over Yano’s status after the match but the general question was is Yano about to join Nakamura in the fight against GBH? Yano himself fell to the on-fire Goto earlier in the show but only after a difficult challenge against the #1 contender for Tanahashi’s title.

Former tag partners and once upon a time trusted friends, Yuji Nagata and Takashi Iizuka, went to war in a Chain Death Match today, the first of its kind since Iizuka put Tenzan to sleep in the same building last October. Blood was shed, more of Iizuka’s than Nagata’s but the dangerous Iizuka again proved to be a handful as he hanged Nagata over the ropes with his chain until Nagata blacked out, forcing the referee stoppage. With this victory over Nagata and not a single fall defeat since last July, Iizuka can surely stake a claim for a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Title — if that is even in his plans.

Wild Child’s reunion went completely wrong! The long awaited revival of Manabu Nakanishi & Takao Omori, former IWGP Tag Team Champions, took place and with them facing Bernard and Anderson, the latter a young undercarder still learning the ropes, pretty much everyone expected a straightforward victory for the Japanese big men. And yet somehow, Omori blundered and was pinned not by Bernard but Anderson, leaving the reunion in tatters. Nakanishi raged after the match, unable to believe they had lost and now handed a dilemma - whether to choose Omori or Yutaka Yoshie as his regular tag partner.

Tiger Mask risked his IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title against Black Tiger’s mask today in the decisive battle between the two old rivals - and as it turned out, this was the same Black Tiger that Tiger Mask feuded with several years back. The first stage of the match ended inconclusively as both were counted out, leading to huge boos from the fans. But with the stipulation demanding an outcome it was restarted and Tiger Mask made short work of his challenger, pinning him with his new Destroy suplex hold. The fourth generation of Black Tiger then unmasked, revealing Rocky Romero at last and he shook hands with Tiger. And then came the twist - as the same Black Tiger in black who attacked Tiger Mask at the last Sumo Hall show, again appeared and laid out Tiger Mask with a Death Valley bomb, then unmasked him. So Black Tiger Romero seemed to be a front to a new threat in the life of Tiger Mask.

The Motor City Machine Guns, after fending off NO LIMIT on home soil in TNA, today faced “Apollo 55″ Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt in what was described as a very exciting match. This lasted much longer than the four minute NO LIMIT challenge for MCMG’s IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title and ended with Devitt falling to the Made in Detroit. Shelley and Sabin both expressed their will to keep defending the belts in both countries.

Hiroyoshi Tenzan appeared during the show to speak to the fans, his long absence nearing its end. Tenzan announced that both he and his famous tandem with Satoshi Kojima, TenKoji, will return on 5/3 when New Japan runs the Fukuoka International Center. The two will be targetting Team 3D’s IWGP Tag Team Title and with Wild Child’s reunion failing, could quickly be granted a shot at the TNA Wrestling duo.

NJPW “RESOLUTION ‘09″, 4/5/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
8,000 Fans

1. Koji Kanemoto beat Kazuchika Okada (8:27) by referee stop.
2. Tomohiro Ishii, Jado & Tomoaki Honma beat Wataru Inoue, Milano Collection AT & Taichi Ishikari (8:52) when Honma used a diving headbutt on Ishikari.
3. Resolution ‘09 Special 6 Man Tag Match - NJPW Greatest Heritage: Masahiro Chono, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA beat Riki Choshu, Super Strong Machine & El Samurai (8:19) when AKIRA used a Musasabi press on Samurai.
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin (c) beat Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt (12:54) when Shelley pinned Devitt after the Made in Detroit (2nd defense).
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title - Belt Contra Mascara: Tiger Mask (c) vs. Black Tiger went to a double countout (6:47).
5a. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title - Belt Contra Mascara: Tiger Mask (c) beat Black Tiger (4:49) with a Destroy suplex hold (2nd defense).
6. Resolution ‘09 Special Tag Match - Big Comeback WILD HEART: Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson beat Manabu Nakanishi & Takao Omori (15:50) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on Omori.
7. Resolution ‘09 Special Singles Match - HUGE RIOT: Hirooki Goto beat Toru Yano (16:10) with a modified armlock.
8. Resolution ‘09 Special Singles Match - Bolt from the blue - Chain Death Match: Takashi Iizuka beat Yuji Nagata (21:58) by referee stop.
9. Resolution ‘09 Special Singles Match - The end of discord: Shinsuke Nakamura beat Togi Makabe (12:42) with the Landslide.
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title - WHICH IS GENIUS?: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) beat Kurt Angle (15:11) with the High Fly Flow (2nd defense).

NO LIMIT’s excursion to America ended in failure as they couldn’t do what they set out to — regain the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title from the Motor City Machine Guns. It started well for Yujiro and Naito when they defeated the TNA stars in a non-title match but their biggest match ended in defeat and its back to the drawing board for the young lions.

This confirms that the MCMG will make their next defense against Taguchi & Devitt on Sunday at Sumo Hall. Coincidentally (or not), the two today announced a new double team move that they plan to debut called the “Apollo 55″.

NJPW “RESOLUTION ‘09″, 4/5/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

- IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin (c) vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt

Sunday’s Sumo Hall show just got some added spice. After his tag match in Okinawa, Nagata was sneak attacked by former friend Iizuka, who beat Mr. Saikyo bloody and caused him to be stretchered out. Nagata demanded a card change and now the Nagata & Goto vs. Yano & Iizuka tag has been dissolved into two singles matches - Nagata vs. Iizuka and Goto vs. Yano! The twist to Nagata vs. Iizuka is that it will be a Chain Death Match, the same concept that Tenzan vs. Iizuka was last October when Iizuka put Tenzan to sleep. Goto vs. Yano will be a normal singles match but important for Goto to try and build more momentum leading into his IWGP Heavyweight Title challenge against Sunday’s main event winner.

NJPW “RESOLUTION ‘09″, 4/5/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Koji Kanemoto vs. Kazuchika Okada
2. Wataru Inoue, Milano Collection AT & Taichi Ishikari vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Jado & Tomoaki Honma
3. Resolution ‘09 Special 6 Man Tag Match - NJPW Greatest Heritage: Riki Choshu, Super Strong Machine & El Samurai vs. Masahiro Chono, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Winner of Motor City Machine Guns/NO LIMIT (c) vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title - Belt Contra Mascara: Tiger Mask (c) vs. Black Tiger
6. Resolution ‘09 Special Tag Match - Big Comeback WILD HEART: Manabu Nakanishi & Takao Omori vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
7. Resolution ‘09 Special Singles Match - HUGE RIOT: Hirooki Goto vs. Toru Yano
8. Resolution ‘09 Special Singles Match - Bolt from the blue - Chain Death Match: Yuji Nagata vs. Takashi Iizuka
9. Resolution ‘09 Special Singles Match - The end of discord: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Togi Makabe
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title - WHICH IS GENIUS: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kurt Angle

All nine matches have been announced for “RESOLUTION ‘09″, New Japan’s second advance of 2009 on Sumo Hall. In addition to what we already know, there are some interesting additions. Attempting to maintain his vigor leading into Fukuoka, where he will challenge the main event winner, NJC winner Hirooki Goto teams with rival Nagata against GBH’s strong man team, Yano & Iizuka. Wild Child, a fan favourite team when they held the IWGP Tag Team Title, reunite against the foreign combination of Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson! This will be Omori’s return to pro wrestling, now a freelancer. Taguchi & Devitt will challenge for the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title but exactly who they will face isn’t clear yet, as NO LIMIT will first challenge the Motor City Machine Guns in Orlando at the end of the month. The young lions have already bested the champions in a non-title match and seem to be faring quite well in America. Six company legends compete in a match titled “NJPW Greatest Heritage”, celebrating the amazing history of the Japanese pro wrestling leader, as Choshu, Super Strong Machine & El Samurai battle Chono, Liger & AKIRA. This marks another return for El Samurai, who appeared on a house show also recently.

NJPW “RESOLUTION ‘09″, 4/5/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Koji Kanemoto vs. Kazuchika Okada
2. Wataru Inoue, Milano Collection AT & Taichi Ishikari vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Jado & Tomoaki Honma
3. Resolution ‘09 Special 6 Man Tag Match - NJPW Greatest Heritage: Riki Choshu, Super Strong Machine & El Samurai vs. Masahiro Chono, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Winner of Motor City Machine Guns/NO LIMIT (c) vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title - Belt Contra Mascara: Tiger Mask (c) vs. Black Tiger
6. Resolution ‘09 Special Tag Match - Big Comeback WILD HEART: Manabu Nakanishi & Takao Omori vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
7. Yuji Nagata & Hirooki Goto vs. Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka
8. Resolution ‘09 Special Singles Match - The end of discord: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Togi Makabe
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title - WHICH IS GENIUS: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kurt Angle

Foreign and special participation have been announced for the “CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN BRAVE” tour that runs from 4/11 to 5/1 and bridges Sumo Hall and Fukuoka.

- Masahiro Chono (4/11, 4/29, 4/30, 5/1)
- Riki Choshu (all shows)
- AKIRA (all shows)
- Giant Bernard (all shows)
- Karl Anderson (all shows)
- Prince Devitt (all shows)

LOCK UP begins its next phase with a loaded show supported heavily by New Japan (who no longer sponsors the shows - Choshu’s Riki Pro does) with some very enticing matches including an attempt to liquidate the Ishii vs. Wataru grudge and also the “dream team” of Tiger Mask Sayama and Liger facing Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Daisuke Sekimoto.

LOCK UP “CHAPTER 2 ~ COME BACK”, 4/12/09
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- Kuniyoshi Wada & Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. Shito Ueda & Ken Saito
- Jado vs. Kazuchika Okada
- Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Dick Togo & Ikuto Hidaka
- Tiger Mask 1 & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Daisuke Sekimoto
- Tomohiro Ishii vs. Wataru Inoue
- Riki Choshu & Tatsumi Fujinami vs. X & X

He defeated Keiji Muto to win the IWGP Heavyweight Title then officially became the ace of New Japan Pro-Wrestling with his successful V1 defense against Shinsuke Nakamura yesterday, but Hiroshi Tanahashi wants to prove himself to be “global standard” and now has the chance. Tanahashi will make his V2 defense of the belt back at Sumo Hall on April 5th when New Japan runs “RESOLUTION ‘09″. This comes shortly after the New Japan Cup and the winner of that will then challenge the victor of Tanahashi vs. Angle on May 3rd at the Fukuoka International Center!

NJPW “RESOLUTION ‘09″, 4/5/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kurt Angle

NJPW “WRESTLING DONTAKU 2009″, 5/3/09
Fukuoka International Center

1. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Winner of Tanahashi/Angle (c) vs. New Japan Cup 2009 winner