NJPW “KING OF PRO-WRESTLING”, 10/13/14 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
9,100 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Special 8 Man Tag Match: Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata, Tomoaki Honma & Kota Ibushi beat Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga (7:48) when Ibushi used a Phoenix splash on Tonga.
2. NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Title: Chase Owens (c) beat BUSHI (7:02) with the Package Driver.
3. NWA World Tag Team Title: Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (c) (11:22) when Archer used the Killer bomb on Kojima to become the 76th champions.
4. Special Tag Match: Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba beat Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka (5:30) when Yano used the Akakiri on Iizuka.
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title – 3WAY Match: KUSHIDA & Alex Shelley (c) beat Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson and Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov (18:56) when KUSHIDA used a horizontal cradle on Koslov (3rd defense).
6. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Ryusuke Taguchi (c) beat El Desperado (12:12) with an ankle hold (1st defense).
7. NEVER Openweight Title: Tomohiro Ishii beat Yujiro Takahashi (c) (17:48) with a brainbuster to become the 5th champion.
8. Special Tag Match: Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata beat Shinsuke Nakamura & YOSHI-HASHI (13:49) when Shibata used a PK on YOSHI-HASHI.
9. Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Title #1 Contender Match: Kazuchika Okada beat Tetsuya Naito (19:17) with the Rainmaker.
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat AJ Styles (c) (27:04) with the High Fly Flow to become the 61st champion.

* Hiroshi Tanahashi becomes the first wrestler to ever hold the IWGP Heavyweight Title seven times after beating AJ Styles in today’s main event. He had been tied on 6 reigns with Tatsumi Fujinami and now not only does he have the most successful defenses, but the most reigns. A living legend? Perhaps he may not be given such a status until later in his career, but as a man with so much success and the figurehead of New Japan’s revival, it isn’t a stretch to consider him a legend already.

* Guess who’s back? Naofumi “Yoshi Tatsu” Yamamoto appeared to save Tanahashi from a Jeff Jarrett guitar shot. The New Japan dojo graduate looks to have returned home following his WWE exit some time back. Yamamoto last appeared for New Japan on 11/2/07 at Korakuen Hall, so his return comes after almost 7 years away.

* Tanahashi is set to face old rival Kazuchika Okada in the 1/4 Tokyo Dome main event, after Okada retained his #1 contendership by beating Tetsuya Naito in the semi final. Tanahashi and Okada’s match was confirmed so unless of any unexpected events that will headline the next “WRESTLE KINGDOM”.

* Tomohiro Ishii regained the NEVER Openweight Title from Yujiro Takahashi, the man who took it from him, and so begins his second reign.

* After a tag success today, Katsuyori Shibata challenged Shinsuke Nakamura for a shot at his IWGP Intercontinental Title, a match many would be pleased to see, especially if they save it for the Tokyo Dome.

* Ryusuke Taguchi’s long awaited second reign as IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion avoided the same fate as KUSHIDA’s first, as he bypassed his first challenger, forcing El Desperado to tap out.

* Time Splitters retained the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title for the third time in a 3WAY Match, beating the Young Bucks and Forever Hooligans when KUSHIDA rolled up Koslov.

* The legendary Tenzan & Kojima dropped the NWA World Tag Team Title, won in the same building this April, as their old nemesis’ the Killer Elite Squad returned and took the belts from them. Kojima hit Tenzan with an accidental lariat during the match and there was some tension between the two. Something to keep an eye on in the upcoming tag league…

* BUSHI failed to win the NWA World Jr. Title from Chase Owens and after that match the NWA’s Bruce Tharpe called out the great Jushin Thunder Liger. Liger said he wanted one last run with a title, hinting that perhaps finally retirement is on the mind (NOOOO!), and he could be next to challenge Owens.

NJPW “DESTRUCTION ’11″, 10/10/11 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
6,500 Fans

0. Kyosuke Mikami & Hiromu Takahashi beat King Fale & Takaaki Watanabe (8:47) when Mikami used a crab hold on Watanabe.
1. Schwarz, Weiss, Tiger Mask, KUSHIDA & Killer Rabbit beat Takashi Iizuka, Jado, Gedo, Tomohiro Ishii & Hideo Saito (7:53) when KUSHIDA used the 9469 on Gedo.
2. Yujiro Takahashi beat Tomoaki Honma (8:22) with the Tokyo Pimps.
3. Lance Archer beat Wataru Inoue (7:39) with the Dark Days.
4. Special Tag Match: Hirooki Goto & Tama Tonga beat Shinsuke Nakamura & Ultimo Guerrero (11:03) when Goto used the Shouten Kai on Guerrero.
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Davey Richards & Rocky Romero beat Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi (c) (13:29) when Richards used the Contract Killer on Devitt to become the 29th champions.
6. Satoshi Kojima Return Match: Satoshi Kojima beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan (10:08) with a lariat.
7. Special Singles Match: Yuji Nagata beat Toru Yano (12:08) with a reverse Nagata Lock III.
8. IWGP Intercontinental Title: Masato Tanaka beat MVP (c) (12:30) with the Sliding D to become the 2nd champion.
9. Special Singles Match: Minoru Suzuki beat Togi Makabe (13:15) with a Gotch-style piledriver.
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) beat Tetsuya Naito (29:19) with the High Fly Flow (8th defense).

* Tanahashi edges ever closer to Nagata’s defense record of ten by defeating G1 Climax runner-up Tetsuya Naito in a scintillating half hour main event at Sumo Hall. Naito continued to show he is now a threat to the upper echelon of New Japan but not quite there yet, pushing Tanahashi before succumbing to the High Fly Flow. Nagata himself appeared after the match and issued a challenge that Tanahashi seemed to accept before Yano appeared and hit Tana with a chair before running off with his belt.
* Minoru Suzuki downs Makabe with his patented Gotch-style piledriver and moves into contention for Tana’s IWGP Heavyweight Title. Suzuki’s sworn friend Yoshihiro Takayama showed up after the match and delivered an Everest German suplex to Makabe.
* Former ECW World Heavyweight Champion, Masato Tanaka, adds another international themed belt to his collection by defeating founding IWGP Intercontinental Champion, MVP, to become just the second holder of the recently established title in its history. Tanaka’s long-time rival Hirooki Goto issued a challenge after the match.
* Satoshi Kojima makes his formal return to New Japan as an affiliated wrestler for the first time in nearly a decade and avenges his G1 Climax loss to sworn friend and former tag partner Hiroyoshi Tenzan.
* Apollo 55′s record-breaking third reign as IWGP Jr. Tag Team Champions that lasted close to ten months finally comes to an end as gaijin tandem Davey Richards & Rocky Romero, who failed to lift the belts from Devitt & Taguchi back in May, become the 29th champions. Their win as well as Tanaka’s mean that CHAOS now have two IWGP belts in their custody after a recent title drought for the group. Tiger Mask & KUSHIDA challenged the new champions after the match while TAKA Michinoku wants a shot at Devitt’s IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title.

–> “G1 CLIMAX XXI ~THE INVINCIBLE FIGHTER~” <--

NJPW, 8/14/11 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
11,500 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. G1 Climax – Block A: Hideo Saito [2] beat Yuji Nagata [10] (4:29) with the Caribbean Death Grip.
2. G1 Climax – Block A: Giant Bernard [10] beat Toru Yano [10] (7:29) with the Bernard Driver.
3. G1 Climax – Block A: Lance Archer [8] beat Yoshihiro Takayama [10] (7:19) with the Dark Days.
4. G1 Climax – Block A: Yujiro Takahashi [6] beat Togi Makabe [10] (8:37) with the Tokyo Pimps.
5. G1 Climax – Block A: Tetsuya Naito [12] beat Hiroshi Tanahashi [12] (5:11) with the Polvo de Estrellas.
6. G1 Climax – Block B: Strong Man [4] beat Hirooki Goto [12] (7:27) with a Blockbuster.
7. G1 Climax – Block B: Karl Anderson [8] beat MVP [12] (8:30) with the Gun Stun.
8. G1 Climax – Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan [8] beat Satoshi Kojima [12] (14:10) with the TTD.
9. G1 Climax – Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [14] beat Minoru Suzuki [12] (12:13) with the Boma Ye.
10. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi (c) beat Kota Ibushi & Kenny Omega (15:01) when Devitt pinned Omega after the Black Sunday (6th defense).
11. G1 Climax – Final: Shinsuke Nakamura beat Tetsuya Naito (20:19) with the Boma Ye.

* Shinsuke Nakamura again rampaged through the G1 Climax group stage. Only this time he didn’t stumble at the final hurdle as he ended his wait of winning the prestigious G1 Climax at last! Nakamura faced an unlikely opponent in the final, the tournament’s young comeback king Tetsuya Naito, who scored a massive upset over Tanahashi earlier in the day to win Block B after other results made this match a playoff for the final. Nakamura fought much later in the show so even had he lost the final could have claimed tiredness, as he sunk Minoru Suzuki with his TTD after a string of upsets, including Tenzan showing signs of his old self by beating Kojima, also made this a playoff for the final. Nakamura then went on to win a memorable final in which Naito moved to another level in New Japan, one final Boma Ye ending Naito’s dreams of the G1. Nakamura becomes number one contender for the IWGP Heavyweight Title, a showdown with his eternal rival Tanahashi on the horizon.
* After having both suffered defeats to IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Kota Ibushi, lately, Devitt and Taguchi scored a little revenge today as Apollo 55 made a successful V6 defense of their IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title over the Golden Lovers, with whom their long-running rivalry continues.

-

Final standings.

Block A:
1. Tetsuya Naito [12]
2. Hiroshi Tanahashi [12]
3. Togi Makabe [10]
- Yuji Nagata [10]
- Toru Yano [10]
- Giant Bernard [10]
- Yoshihiro Takayama [10]
8. Lance Archer [8]
9. Yujiro Takahashi [6]
10. Hideo Saito [2]

Block B:
1. Shinsuke Nakamura [14]
2. Hirooki Goto [12]
- Satoshi Kojima [12]
- MVP [12]
- Minoru Suzuki [12]
6. Karl Anderson [8]
7. Hiroyoshi Tenzan [8]
8. La Sombra [4]
9. Wataru Inoue [4]
10. Strong Man [4]

NJPW “DESTRUCTION ‘10″, 10/11/10 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
8,800 Fans - No Vacancy

1. Manabu Nakanishi beat Tama Tonga (6:11) with an Argentine backbreaker.
2. Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson & Tiger Mask beat Takashi Iizuka, Yujiro Takahashi & Tomohiro Ishii (11:32) when Ishii was DQ’d.
3. Jushin Thunder Liger Return Match: Masato Tanaka , Jado & Gedo beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Wataru Inoue & Tomoaki Honma (9:55) when Tanaka used the Sliding D on Honma.
4. Special Singles Match: TAJIRI beat Toru Yano (6:48) with a small package hold.
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Kota Ibushi & Kenny Omega beat Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi (c) (15:05) when Ibushi used a Phoenix splash on Devitt to become the 27th champions.
6. NJPW vs. NOAH Special Tag Match: Yuji Nagata & Koji Kanemoto beat Go Shiozaki & Atsushi Aoki (17:14) when Nagata used a backdrop hold on Aoki.
7. Special Singles Match: Hirooki Goto beat Shinsuke Nakamura (16:08) with the Shouten Kai.
8. Special Singles Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Tetsuya Naito (19:59) with a Texas Cloverleaf hold.
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Satoshi Kojima beat Togi Makabe (c) (19:12) with a lariat to become the 55th champion.

* Ishii tried to tear off Tiger’s mask, leading the DQ, and it appears these two have a feud going.
* TAJIRI misted Yano before rolling him up for the win.
* The IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title match was said to be off the charts, with some going as far to label it the best match of 2010 and worth the PPV price alone. Definitely look out for this one soon! Devitt’s 2-crown reign comes to an end after he is pinned by his BOSJ final opponent, Ibushi, and the belts enter DDT custody!
* The G1 Tag League 2010 tandems were announced after the fifth match.
- Block A: Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma, Hirooki Goto & Tama Tonga, Manabu Nakanishi & Strong Man, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue, Super Strong Machine & King Fale, Masato Tanaka & Tomohiro Ishii.
- Block B: Hiroshi Tanahashi & TAJIRI, Bad Intentions (Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson), Shinsuke Nakamura & Daniel Puder, Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka, NO LIMIT (Yujiro Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito), El Terrible & El Texano Jr.
* The New Japan vs. NOAH tag match was another excellent battle with Shiozaki just falling short of his target of avenging his G1 loss to Nagata.
* Goto scored a big win over Nakamura in what was described as yet another great match. Goto’s credentials for a title match went up with this victory.
* Tanahashi defeated Naito in yes, you guessed it, another fantastic match between two of New Japan’s most gifted wrestlers. Naito struggled in a Texas Cloverleaf hold for a while before giving up. The impression from this match was that Naito is going to go right to the top sooner or later.
* Makabe’s first IWGP Heavyweight Title reign went wrong in his V3 defense! G1 Climax 2010 winner Satoshi Kojima began his second reign as champion after an epic war which saw him counter lariat Makabe for a very hard fought victory.
* Despite Nakamura’s loss to Goto, Kojima nominated him as his V1 defense, as Shinsuke beat Kojima during the G1 making him a worthy challenger.
* The show was said to have been one to remember with each of the last five matches worth going out of your way to see.

–> “G1 CLIMAX XX ~20TH YEARS ANNIVERSARY~” <--

NJPW, 8/15/10 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
11,000 Fans - Super No Vacancy

1. G1 Climax - Block B: Yujiro Takahashi [4] beat Yuji Nagata [8] (5:28) with a moonsault press.
2. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [9] vs. Go Shiozaki [9] went to a draw (30:00) when the time limit expired.
3. G1 Climax - Block B: Satoshi Kojima [10] beat Hirooki Goto [8] (12:09) with a lariat.
4. G1 Climax - Block A: Toru Yano [8] beat Prince Devitt [8] (7:26) with the Kagamiwari.
5. G1 Climax - Block A: Tetsuya Naito [7] beat Manabu Nakanishi [8] (10:52) with a front cradle.
6. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi [9] beat Togi Makabe [8] (11:58) with a Japanese leg roll clutch hold.
7. Special Tag Match: Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson beat Strong Man & Wataru Inoue (8:20) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on Strong Man.
8. G1 Climax Special 6 Man Tag Match: Genichiro Tenryu, Toshiaki Kawada & Tiger Mask beat Riki Choshu, Super Strong Machine & AKIRA (8:17) when Tiger used a flying cradle on AKIRA.
9. G1 Climax - Final: Satoshi Kojima beat Hiroshi Tanahashi (21:25) with a lariat.

* Freelancer Satoshi Kojima becomes the first outsider in history to win the G1 Climax in its 20th year. Though not an outsider in the same sense as say a Yoshihiro Takayama, because he was trained and raised in New Japan with frequent returns, this adds freshness to the G1 by ending the common formula of an outsider losing in the final that has been done so much.
* Kojima said he will now chase the IWGP Heavyweight Title and should appear in New Japan regularly, though whether he tours or not isn’t known yet.
* “Mr. G1″ Masahiro Chono appeared before the main event as a special ring announcer.
* Masato Tanaka reappeared after the sixth match, attacking Makabe and challenging him to an IWGP Heavyweight Title match! How this will be handled with Kojima’s newfound contendership remains to be seen.
* Nakamura vs. Shiozaki was said to be an excellent match with the time limit preventing Nakamura from reaching the final. A win and he would have but Shiozaki wouldn’t have due to his loss to Kojima in the group stage. A rematch has already been booked for NOAH’s 8/22 super-show with no time limit!

-

Block A:
1. Hiroshi Tanahashi [9]
2. Togi Makabe [8]
- Manabu Nakanishi [8]
- Prince Devitt [8]
- Toru Yano [8]
6. Tetsuya Naito [7]
7. Strong Man [4]
8. Karl Anderson [4]

Block B:
1. Satoshi Kojima [10]
2. Shinsuke Nakamura [9]
- Go Shiozaki [9]
4. Hirooki Goto [8]
5. Yuji Nagata [8]
6. Giant Bernard [6]
7. Yujiro Takahashi [4]
8. Wataru Inoue [2]

–> “G1 CLIMAX XX ~20TH YEARS ANNIVERSARY~” <--

NJPW, 8/14/10 (J SPORTS)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
6,500 Fans

1. Special 6 Man Tag Match: Koji Kanemoto, Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Taiji Ishimori , Ricky Marvin & Atsushi Aoki went to a draw (15:00) when the time limit expired.
2. G1 Climax - Block A: Strong Man [4] beat Tetsuya Naito [5] (7:55) with a powerbomb.
3. G1 Climax - Block B: Yuji Nagata [8] beat Wataru Inoue [2] (10:18) with a backdrop hold.
4. G1 Climax - Block B: Yujiro Takahashi [2] beat Giant Bernard [6] (8:03) with a crucifix hold.
5. G1 Climax - Block A: Karl Anderson [4] beat Toru Yano [6] (9:16) with the Gun Stun.
6. G1 Climax - Block B: Go Shiozaki [8] beat Hirooki Goto [8] (17:52) with the Go Flasher.
7. G1 Climax - Block A: Togi Makabe [8] beat Manabu Nakanishi [8] (10:52) with a King Kong kneedrop.
8. G1 Climax - Block A: Prince Devitt [8] beat Hiroshi Tanahashi [7] (11:35) by pinfall.
9. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura [8] beat Satoshi Kojima [8] (16:45) with the Boma Ye.

* Nakamura defeats Kojima in a rematch five years in the making after their 60 minute draw in the same building some years ago.
* Shiozaki’s win over Goto in an exciting match makes tomorrow’s Nakamura vs. Shiozaki super-battle even more mouthwatering.
* Nakamura now shares 8 points with Nagata, Goto, Kojima, and Shiozaki heading into an exciting final day.
* Devitt scores a massive upset win over Tanahashi to stay well in contention for a spot in the final, doing the junior division proud as IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion!
* Makabe’s win over Nakanishi means that those two, Tanahashi, and Devitt are really the only ones in with a shot of reaching the final from Block A tomorrow.
* Yujiro finally gets off the mark with a cradle win over Bernard, eliminating the gaijin ace from final contention.

-

Block A:
1. Togi Makabe [8]
2. Manabu Nakanishi [8]
3. Prince Devitt [8]
4. Hiroshi Tanahashi [7]
5. Toru Yano [6]
6. Tetsuya Naito [5]
7. Strong Man [4]
8. Karl Anderson [4]

Block B:
1. Yuji Nagata [8]
- Hirooki Goto [8]
- Shinsuke Nakamura [8]
- Satoshi Kojima [8]
- Go Shiozaki [8]
6. Giant Bernard [6]
7. Wataru Inoue [2]
8. Yujiro Takahashi [2]

-

NJPW, 8/15/10 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. G1 Climax - Block B: Yuji Nagata vs. Yujiro Takahashi
2. G1 Climax - Block B: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Go Shiozaki
3. G1 Climax - Block B: Hirooki Goto vs. Satoshi Kojima
4. G1 Climax - Block A: Toru Yano vs. Prince Devitt
5. G1 Climax - Block A: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Tetsuya Naito
6. G1 Climax - Block A: Togi Makabe vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
7. Special Tag Match: Strong Man & Wataru Inoue vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
8. G1 Climax Special 6 Man Tag Match: Riki Choshu, Super Strong Machine & AKIRA vs. Genichiro Tenryu, Toshiaki Kawada & Tiger Mask
9. G1 Climax - Final:

All nine matches for the 2/14 Sumo Hall show were finalized today, with one under review. That is Apollo 55’s IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title defense against Jado & Gedo, which is in significant doubt after Jado’s injury yesterday. Matches added today include Tanahashi vs. Yano, one of Yano’s biggest singles opportunities to date. Meanwhile, Goto vs. Tanaka has been made into a Hardcore Rules match which would seem to work against Hirooki given that Tanaka is something of a hardcore legend in wrestling from his time in FMW and ECW.

There is also a special opening match, with three of New Japan’s junior veterans facing three of the brightest young talents from the indie scene. The event has also been announced as a SKYPerfecTV! PPV. Meanwhile, New Japan has confirmed that the next IWGP Heavyweight Title match after this will be on 4/4 at Korakuen Hall, the main event of “NEW DIMENSION”. The winner of the 2010 New Japan Cup is likely to challenge the victor of Nakamura vs. Nakanishi there.

NJPW, 2/14/10 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Special Opening Match: Jushin Thunder Liger, Koji Kanemoto & Tiger Mask vs. Kota Ibushi , Fujita “Jr.” Hayato & GENTARO
2. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt (c) vs. Jado & Gedo
3. Riki Choshu & Wataru Inoue vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
4. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
5. Special Singles Match: Yuji Nagata vs. TAJIRI
6. IWGP Tag Team Title: Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. El Terrible & El Texano Jr.
7. Special Singles Match - Hardcore Rules: Hirooki Goto vs. Masato Tanaka
8. Special Singles Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Toru Yano
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Manabu Nakanishi

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).

Two big matches have been officially added to the big 4/5 Sumo Hall show, finally giving us a look at what to expect besides Tanahashi vs. Angle. Tiger Mask risks his belt against old nemesis Black Tiger’s mask in what has become a mask vs. title match that could settle this renewed rivalry very quickly. And Makabe’s demand for a rematch against Nakamura has been accepted as the GBH leader looks to avenge his NJC round one loss to the RISE leader, who has losses to both Tanahashi and Goto to try and bounce back from.

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

1. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title - Belt Contra Mascara: Tiger Mask (c) vs. Black Tiger
2. Special Singles Match: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Togi Makabe
3. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kurt Angle

–> “CIRCUIT 2009 NEW JAPAN ISM” <--
New Japan's momentum continued today with a sold out super-show at the hallowed Sumo Hall in Tokyo to follow up on the most successful Tokyo Dome show in some time. Hiroshi Tanahashi is the ace of New Japan Pro-Wrestling and this can no longer be debated after he today won the "ace determination" match against generation rival Shinsuke Nakamura. It was Tanahashi's V1 defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Title he ripped from Keiji Muto's hands at the Tokyo Dome, and it was a match that was described as immense and epic, showing that what was once the "future of New Japan" has now seamlessly transitioned into the "present New Japan". The two top young stars of Japanese wrestling put on an exciting back and forth match, but Tanahashi has incredible momentum right now and pulled through with his High Fly Flow. Tanahashi called himself the "ace of the universe", almost a challenge for a global superstar to appear, and one did as Kurt Angle appeared and issued a challenge for Tanahashi's belt. Tanahashi accepted but with the New Japan Cup coming up a three-way battle (not a three way match... one hopes) could be about to take place over the IWGP Heavyweight Title. For Nakamura, well, this was his third loss in a row in an IWGP Heavyweight Title match but he does seem to have "awoken" this year, performance-wise at least. Can he find the form to follow? Look for an invasion of the "green ring" shortly from the Supernova.

The world famous Team 3D also made a successful V1 defense of the IWGP Tag Team Title, again beating Makabe & Yano in a bloody hardcore match. Many picked MVP to finally get the better of Team 3D today but they seem unable to beat the decorated American tag team in this hardcore environment. Once more it was team leader Makabe who fell to the 3D. Having decisively pushed aside the threat of New Japan's strongest tag team of late, Team 3D now seem invincible, unless a new tandem or an all-star team emerges... or perhaps when (or if) TenKoji return when Tenzan returns in May. Kurt Angle's challenge to Tanahashi wasn't unjustified. He defeated New Japan gaijin ace Giant Bernard earlier in the show with his ankle hold a year after he lost the IWGP unification match to Nakamura in the same building. Since then, Angle has been successful in all of his New Japan appearances though, and hopes to win the "real" IWGP belt that he wasn't able to take from Shinsuke a year ago.

Mexican sensation Mistico successfully defended his CMLL World Welterwight Title against rival Mephisto in a match that show lucha libre to Japan. Mistico's victory wasn't unexpected and it is the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title he has his eyes on. Were he to challenge for that soon, it looks like Tiger Mask would be his opponent, after the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion also defended his belt with success, pinning Liger with his new Dangerous suplex hold. But while Mistico wants a shot at the gold, Tiger has another new rival to worry about - the fifth generation Black Tiger, who jumped him after his victory. Many believe a returning trueborn is under the mask as he showed similar characteristics - Tatsuhito Takaiwa, who recently quit ZERO1-MAX and could now be on his way home. The "wall" that is Yuji Nagata is still strong and he seems like the only member of the third generation who the new generation can't fully get ahead of. Mr. Saikyo today warded off the challenge of one of the new "Big 3", Hirooki Goto, pinning him with a backdrop hold. Nagata has a defense of his ZERO1 World Heavyweight Title coming up shortly against Shinjiro Otani, so this win gave him added momentum.

TNA World Tag Team Champions, Beer Money Inc. (James Storm & Robert Roode) made their first New Japan landing, beating Legend's Masahiro Chono & AKIRA when Roode pinned AKIRA. New Japan teams just can't seem to get the better of TNA teams right now, but NO LIMIT intend to change that. After dropping the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title to the Motor City Machine Guns on January 4th, they today won the right to challenge the TNA duo by winning a four way contendership match today, Naito dropping a Stardust press on Ishikari for the win. The young lions now look set to invade TNA in a quest to win back the belts they let go at the Tokyo Dome.

Naysayers predicted the demise of New Japan for years in what has been a difficult decade for sure but now the company has done what it always promised, got back on its feet and even in the current economic crisis that is hurting many promotions, is in the best position it has been for years. Today's show was the first of five Sumo Hall events planned for this year and April 5th will see the second, with Tanahashi vs. Kurt Angle likely to headline. Also officially announced today was the revival of large-scale wrestling shows in Fukuoka by New Japan, with the old "WRESTLING DONTAKU" set to take place at the Fukuoka International Center on May 3rd.

NJPW, 2/15/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
9,300 Fans - Super No Vacancy

0. Special Tag Match: Koji Kanemoto & OKUMURA beat Kazuchika Okada & Nobuo Yoshihashi (6:22) when Kanemoto used an ankle hold on Yoshihashi.
1. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title #1 Contender 4WAY Tag: Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito beat Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt, Jado & Gedo and Milano Collection AT & Taichi Ishikari (9:04) when Naito used a Stardust press on Ishikari.
2. Riki Choshu, Manabu Nakanishi, Wataru Inoue & Mitsuhide Hirasawa beat Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii, Karl Anderson & Tomoaki Honma (7:17) when Inoue used the Oracion Flame on Honma.
3. Special Tag Match - NJPW vs. TNA Augmented Reality: James Storm & Robert Roode beat Masahiro Chono & AKIRA (9:22) when Roode used the DWI on AKIRA.
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Tiger Mask (c) beat Jushin Thunder Liger (11:22) with a Destroy suplex hold (1st defense).
5. Special Singles Match - Burn the Debt: Yuji Nagata beat Hirooki Goto (16:57) with a backdrop hold.
6. CMLL World Welterweight Title - Lucha Libre Globalization: Mistico (c) beat Mephisto (12:01) with the La Mistica.
7. Special Singles Match - Wrestle-incident DIE OR BREED: Kurt Angle beat Giant Bernard (14:19) with an ankle lock.
8. IWGP Tag Team Title - Hardcore Rules: “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon (c) beat Togi Makabe & Toru Yano (17:50) when Devon pinned Makabe after the 3D (1st defense).
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) beat Shinsuke Nakamura (24:26) with the High Fly Flow (1st defense).

New Japan will run its second youth-centered “LEONIS” show on March 19th back at Osaka World Hall. Although a small building, tickets for the first sold out very quickly and the event was a big success, so the series is being continued.

New Japan also returns to Sumo Hall for a super-show oddly enough in April, on 4/5. This is a sign of the company’s rebirth that they have enough confidence to restore a second early year Sumo Hall show, and this one, titled “RESOLUTION ‘09″, will be a PPV as well as a national TV taping.

And finally, here it is, the complete card for the upcoming Sumo Hall show with some big additions. Yuji Nagata and Hirooki Goto attempt to decide who the better man is in a special singles match. Four teams have been arguing over who should be next to challenge IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin, and why not a 4WAY match? It’ll be NO LIMIT vs. Taguchi & Devitt vs. Jado & Gedo vs. Milano & Ishikari to determine who challenges next - possibly in America. OKUMURA, better known in Japan as Shigeo Okumura, returns to his native homeland after a long time, appearing in a dark match along with a man he was associated with in Mexico, Kazuchika Okada, opposite Hirasawa & Yoshihashi. OKUMURA has made a name for himself in CMLL so perhaps this appearance will lead to more in New Japan.

NJPW, 2/15/09 (WPW)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

0. Special Tag Match: Mitsuhide Hirasawa & Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. OKUMURA & Kazuchika Okada
1. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title #1 Contender 4WAY Tag: Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Jado & Gedo vs. Milano Collection AT & Taichi Ishikari
2. Riki Choshu, Manabu Nakanishi, Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto vs. Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii, Karl Anderson & Tomoaki Honma
3. Special Tag Match - NJPW vs. TNA Augmented Reality: Masahiro Chono & AKIRA vs. James Storm & Robert Roode
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Tiger Mask (c) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger
5. Special Singles Match - Burn the Debt: Yuji Nagata vs. Hirooki Goto
6. CMLL World Welterweight Title - Lucha Libre Globalization: Mistico (c) vs. Mephisto
7. Special Singles Match - Wrestle-incident DIE OR BREED: Giant Bernard vs. Kurt Angle
8. IWGP Tag Team Title - Hardcore Rules: “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon (c) vs. Togi Makabe & Toru Yano
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Mexican superstar Mistico will now defend his CMLL World Welterweight Title at Sumo Hall again rival Mephisto. This is the fourth title match on the card now. Lots of names remain unbooked and given the delay, you have to wonder if events at Korakuen Hall tomorrow may help shape the card.

NJPW, 2/15/09 (WPW)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. CMLL World Welterweight Title - Lucha Libre Globalization: Mistico (c) vs. Mephisto
2. Special Tag Match - NJPW vs. TNA Augmented Reality: Masahiro Chono & AKIRA vs. James Storm & Robert Roode
3. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Tiger Mask (c) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger
4. Special Singles Match - Wrestle-incident DIE OR BREED: Giant Bernard vs. Kurt Angle
5. IWGP Tag Team Title - Hardcore Rules: “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon (c) vs. Togi Makabe & Toru Yano
6. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Third time lucky? MVP will challenge Team 3D at Sumo Hall next month in an attempt to win back the IWGP Tag Team Title that they dropped to the iconic American tandem at the Tokyo Dome. Not content with a re-challenge, the GBH team want to re-enter Team 3D’s hardcore environment and have demanded the match be held under “Hardcore Rules” (1/16 update: This is now official, another Hardcore Rules match between the teams). Tiger Mask makes his V1 defense of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title against Liger, a big chance for Liger to decorate his 20th anniversary year by winning the belt he hasn’t held since 2000. TNA World Tag Team Champions, James Storm and Robert Roode, hit the New Japan mat in a special non-title tag match against Legend’s Chono & AKIRA.

Other tour notes. Due to his pending exit, Minoru is off both Korakuen shows, but will appear on 1/31 to address the fans and say farewell. AKIRA will replace him in both planned matches. Old favourite El Samurai returns to New Japan for a special appearance on the 2/12 Toyohashi event, teaming with AKIRA against Bernard & Karl Anderson.

NJPW, 2/15/09 (WPW)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Special Singles Match: Mistico vs. Mephisto
2. Special Tag Match - NJPW vs. TNA Augmented Reality: Masahiro Chono & AKIRA vs. James Storm & Robert Roode
3. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Tiger Mask (c) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger
4. Special Singles Match: Giant Bernard vs. Kurt Angle
5. IWGP Tag Team Title - Hardcore Rules: “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon (c) vs. Togi Makabe & Toru Yano
6. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Eternal rivals Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura collide again next month at Sumo Hall when new IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Tanahashi, faces the man who held the title this time last year. Nakamura scored back to back victories over Tanahashi in early 2008, both in title matches, so Tanahashi has the chance to do the same here. After laying out Kurt Angle following the Legend/MEM vs. GBH eight man tag yesterday, Giant Bernard looks to take the American icon’s scalp in a singles match when they collide. And another of Mistico’s great rivals, Mephisto, hits the New Japan ring to take on the pride of Mexican wrestling in a special singles match that will look to spread lucha libre to the fans of Japan.

NJPW, 1/30/09 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Yuji Nagata vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto

NJPW, 1/31/09 (SXW)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt

NJPW, 2/15/09 (WPW)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Special Singles Match: Mistico vs. Mephisto
2. Special Singles Match: Giant Bernard vs. Kurt Angle
3. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura