New Japan Pro-Wrestling begans 2009 with the task of pushing a struggling industry forward, and with stars from all over said industry as well as the American industry, put on an acclaimed Tokyo Dome show today that drew the biggest crowd to the building for some time. Superstars from across the globe united for “WRESTLE KINGDOM III IN TOKYO DOME” and put on a show full of colour, variety, and interest. A story many years in the making culminated with the clash of IWGP Heavyweight Champion and teacher, Keiji Muto, battling his talented disciple Hiroshi Tanahashi in his V5 defense of the title. Muto dethroned Tanahashi’s great rival Nakamura for the belt last April and reigned supreme until today when the student finally surpassed the teacher. Half an hour of pure professional wrestling excited the fans, and at times it seemed almost certain Tanahashi was beaten, but he came back and hit two High Fly Flows for the win and title. Tanahashi took the microphone and told the fans he loves them and New Japan. When asked who he wants to be his first challenger, he shouted “Shinsuke!”, saying they have to decide who is the ace of New Japan, as he doesn’t think there is room for two. Nakamura defeated Tanahashi this time last year, then again in March, so Tanahashi clearly wants to undo that with two successive victories of his own. Nakamura confronted Tanahashi backstage and said he’d fight him any time. Muto said backstage that he has passed Tanahashi his sash after doing his best for over half a year to raise the worth of the title, and suggested he will withdraw now and leave New Japan wrestlers to move their company forward.

Shinsuke Nakamura and his cohort Hirooki Goto stood firm and defended the lion mark against NOAH boss Mitsuharu Misawa and his “bodyguard” Takashi Sugiura in a hot match that showed the thrilling nature of interpromotional conflict. This featured many heated moments, including a stage where all four were laid out on the mat after a series of finishers: Goto’s Shouten on Sugiura, Misawa’s Emerald Frosion on Goto, then Nakamura’s Landslide on Misawa. It finished with the two men who lit up the Tokyo Dome most in this match, Nakamura and Sugiura, Nakamura taking Sugiura down with a flying cross armbreaker for the tap out win. Backstage, Nakamura said they had won, plain and simple, and if any NOAH wrestlers have a problem with that, to come and complain - don’t hide. Goto called it a “perfect victory” and said he is looking forward to hearing the excuses of NOAH wrestlers. Misawa said backstage that he hopes New Japan and NOAH can continue working together in both rings this year.

“The World’s Strongest Tag Team” Team 3D, Brother Ray and Brother Devon, grasped the IWGP Tag Team Title out of MVP’s hands today, with Makabe & Yano for the second year running losing a hardcore match to the famous American team. The turning point came when Makabe hit Yano with a chain lariat by accident, leaving him prone to Team 3D, and the Dudley Death Drop finished off Makabe and meant that Team 3D add yet another title to their huge cabinet. The tragic tale of perennial underachiever Manabu Nakanishi continued in the other New Japan vs. NOAH match on the show, when he fell to GHC Heavyweight Title #1 contender, Jun Akiyama, in an entertaining sprint. Nakanishi kicked out of two Exploders at a one count, but then succumbed to the more deadly wrist-clutch variation. Akiyama made it clear that he has no intention of stepping away from New Japan opposition and put his name forward as a candidate for more matches if things are to continue.

ZERO1 ace Masato Tanaka came to the Tokyo Dome with the intention of killing two birds with one stone: avenge his October loss to Yuji Nagata and win back the World Heavyweight Title in the process. He did neither, as again Mr. Saikyo proved too strong in a shorter, but equally exciting fight today. Nagata landed a backdrop, face punch, another backdrop, then a backdrop hold to put away Tanaka for the second time running. Shinjiro Otani, who Nagata did beat in a singles match not too long ago, looked bitterly at Nagata post-match, suggesting that it could be he who challenges next. Nagata said backstage that it would cheapen ZERO1’s title for Otani to face him again so suddenly, and suggested an “out of season” Fire Festival to determine a worthy rival.

Legends of two continents united against GBH, as Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Kurt Angle, and Kevin Nash entered one by one to their theme tunes, presenting a great spectacle to fans. Chono stopped and shook hands with Angle, then Nash joined them and they followed Choshu to the ring. As expected, this was a short and fast paced match that quickly showed the characteristics of each wrestler. Angle scored the win with his ankle lock on Anderson, but right after was laid out by Bernard’s Bernard Driver. Angle said backstage that he wants to half-murder Bernard, and a singles match between the two could be on the cards in New Japan or TNA. Three months ago at Kobe World Hall, a very short IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title reign for Tiger Mask ended when he was surprisingly beaten by Low Ki. He swore revenge immediately after and achieved it today with a decisive victory over the GBH junior. Tiger won what was a very straightforward match with a modified Tiger suplex hold to regain the title for Jr. Sekigun. Tiger said he had come up with this new version of his finisher at the dojo.

The other junior tag title spilled into TNA too, as the Motor City Machine Guns, Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin, ended the dream IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title reign of NO LIMIT. This was an exciting action-packed match that ended when the Americans used their Made in Detroit finisher on Naito to lift the belts. Shelley said backstage that if anyone wants to win the title back, they are going to have to travel to America and do it in TNA. He suggested Jado & Gedo or Minoru & Devitt fly over, but said it’d be a waste of ticket cost, as they won’t win in the “Impact Zone”. Jushin Thunder Liger is no longer a teen! The legend today had his 20th anniversary match by teaming with old rival Takuma “Naoki” Sano against Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto. They pretty much sprinted out of the blocks and went back and forth until Liger busted out his old avalanche-style brainbuster on Kanemoto for the win. All four men raised each others’ arms after the match and Liger suggested taking his team with Sano to the NOAH ring shortly. He is also interested in challenging new IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Tiger Mask, and trying to win the belt he hasn’t held since 2000.

Today’s show opened in style with the Japanese landing of Mexican superstar Mistico at the Tokyo Dome, as he teamed up with New Japan youngsters Taguchi and Devitt against the rudo trio of Averno, Jado & Gedo. Mistico wow’d fans with his dazzling moves and used his spectacular La Mística on countryman Averno for the tap out win. Mistico seemed to say backstage that he will be coming back to New Japan in February and wants the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title.

NJPW “WRESTLE KINGDOM III IN TOKYO DOME”, 1/4/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Dome
40,000 Fans

0. Milano Collection AT, Minoru & Taichi Ishikari beat Mitsuhide Hirasawa, Kazuchika Okada & Nobuo Yoshihashi (6:24) when Milano used a super scrap kick on Yoshihashi.
1. Wrestle Kingdom Grand Opening VIENTO DORADO: Mistico, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Averno, Jado & Gedo (9:50) when Mistico used the La Mística on Averno.
2. Jushin Thunder Liger 20th Anniversary Match: Jushin Thunder Liger & Takuma Sano beat Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto (8:47) when Liger used an avalanche-style brainbuster on Kanemoto.
3. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title ~Tread on!!~: Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin beat Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (c) (13:21) when Sabin pinned Naito after the Made in Detroit to become the 22nd champions.
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title ~Ballistic interception~: Tiger Mask beat Low Ki (c) (8:48) with a modified Tiger suplex hold to become the 56th champion.
5. Fighting Holdings Competition: Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Kurt Angle & Kevin Nash beat Giant Bernard, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson (7:09) when Angle used an ankle lock on Anderson.
6. World Heavyweight Title ~Crusade for Justice~: Yuji Nagata (c) beat Masato Tanaka (11:41) with a backdrop hold (3rd defense).
7. New Japan vs. NOAH Battle Tendencies ~the invasion~: Jun Akiyama beat Manabu Nakanishi (10:27) with a wrist-clutch Exploder.
8. IWGP Tag Team Title - Hardcore Rules: “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon beat Togi Makabe & Toru Yano (c) (15:34) when Ray pinned Makabe after the 3D to become the 52nd champions.
9. New Japan vs. NOAH Battle Tendencies ~the encounter~: Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto beat Mitsuharu Misawa & Takashi Sugiura (15:17) when Nakamura used a flying cross armbreaker on Sugiura.
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Keiji Muto (c) (30:22) with the High Fly Flow to become the 50th champion.

The TenKoji super-revival that has seen them win both New Japan’s G1 Tag League and All Japan’s Real World Tag League has been cut short. Tenzan has suffered a serious eye injury and had an urgent operation on it, forcing him off tomorrow’s Tokyo Dome show. As such, Kojima’s participation has also been shelved so we now have a direct rematch from last year of Makabe & Yano vs. Team 3D, this time for the IWGP Tag Team Title.

I’ll do my best to run live or prompt (near end of show or right after) results tomorrow. I’m a lot busier nowadays so can’t do as much live or detailed coverage as I used to, but for sure there will be a full report of tomorrow’s super-show that is going to be one of the biggest events of recent years in Japanese pro wrestling.

NJPW “WRESTLE KINGDOM III IN TOKYO DOME”, 1/4/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Dome

0. Mitsuhide Hirasawa, Kazuchika Okada & Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. Milano Collection AT, Minoru & Taichi Ishikari
1. Wrestle Kingdom Grand Opening VIENTO DORADO: Mistico, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Averno, Jado & Gedo
2. Jushin Thunder Liger 20th Anniversary Match: Jushin Thunder Liger & Takuma Sano vs. Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto
3. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title ~Tread on!!~: Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title ~Ballistic interception~: Low Ki (c) vs. Tiger Mask
5. Fighting Holdings Competition: Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Kurt Angle & Kevin Nash vs. Giant Bernard, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson
6. World Heavyweight Title ~Crusade for Justice~: Yuji Nagata (c) vs. Masato Tanaka
7. New Japan vs. NOAH Battle Tendencies ~the invasion~: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Jun Akiyama
8. IWGP Tag Team Title - Hardcore Rules: Togi Makabe & Toru Yano (c) vs. “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon
9. New Japan vs. NOAH Battle Tendencies ~the encounter~: Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Takashi Sugiura
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Keiji Muto (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Here’s the final, complete card for the 1/4/09 Tokyo Dome blockbuster, with a dark match added. Nearly all of the most expensive seats have been sold out, with only cheaper ones left in any significant quantities.

NJPW “WRESTLE KINGDOM III IN TOKYO DOME”, 1/4/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Dome

0. Mitsuhide Hirasawa, Kazuchika Okada & Nobuo Yoshihashi vs. Milano Collection AT, Minoru & Taichi Ishikari
1. Wrestle Kingdom Grand Opening VIENTO DORADO: Mistico, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Averno, Jado & Gedo
2. Jushin Thunder Liger 20th Anniversary Match: Jushin Thunder Liger & Takuma Sano vs. Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto
3. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title ~Tread on!!~: Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title ~Ballistic interception~: Low Ki (c) vs. Tiger Mask
5. Fighting Holdings Competition: Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Kurt Angle & Kevin Nash vs. Giant Bernard, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson
6. World Heavyweight Title ~Crusade for Justice~: Yuji Nagata (c) vs. Masato Tanaka
7. New Japan vs. NOAH Battle Tendencies ~the invasion~: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Jun Akiyama
8. IWGP Tag Team Title - 3WAY Hardcore Match ~Three correct answers~: Togi Makabe & Toru Yano (c) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon
9. New Japan vs. NOAH Battle Tendencies ~the encounter~: Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Takashi Sugiura
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Keiji Muto (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

One day later and we now have a complete Tokyo Dome card, jam packed with ten matches in an all-star like event. New Japan Pro-Wrestling vs. Pro Wrestling NOAH resumes at the Tokyo Dome with two matches announced today. The dream confrontation of Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Mitsuharu Misawa takes center stage in the series, but not as a singles match - yet. Nakamura teams with RISE second-in-command Hirooki Goto against Misawa and Takashi Sugiura. The other match is between former amaresu greats Nakanishi and Jun Akiyama, who is the GHC Heavyweight Title #1 contender after recently submitting Takeshi Morishima. Should Nakanishi win, he may invade the “Ark” and challenge old nemesis Kensuke Sasaki. Choshu, Chono, Nagata, Tanahashi, Nakamura, Muto, Misawa, Akiyama, TenKoji, Angle, Nash, Mistico, Team 3D - the “Japanese Wrestlemania” has a cast befitting of its billing.

NJPW “WRESTLE KINGDOM III IN TOKYO DOME”, 1/4/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Dome

1. Wrestle Kingdom Grand Opening VIENTO DORADO: Mistico, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Averno, Jado & Gedo
2. Jushin Thunder Liger 20th Anniversary Match: Jushin Thunder Liger & Takuma Sano vs. Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto
3. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title ~Tread on!!~: Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title ~Ballistic interception~: Low Ki (c) vs. Tiger Mask
5. Fighting Holdings Competition: Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Kurt Angle & Kevin Nash vs. Giant Bernard, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson
6. Crusade for Justice: Yuji Nagata vs. Masato Tanaka
7. New Japan vs. NOAH Battle Tendencies ~the invasion~: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Jun Akiyama
8. IWGP Tag Team Title - 3WAY Match ~Three correct answers~: Togi Makabe & Toru Yano (c) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon
9. New Japan vs. NOAH Battle Tendencies ~the encounter~: Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto vs. Mitsuharu Misawa & Takashi Sugiura
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Keiji Muto (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Eight matches are now official for the January 4th Tokyo Dome show, seven of them added today! The debate on who should challenge Makabe & Yano is settled - why not both candidates? Yes, it will be a 3WAY Match when TenKoji and Team 3D, both famous teams, challenge for GBH’s tag crown in what is sure to be their greatest test yet. Tiger Mask’s promise to win back the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title from the man he lost it to, Low Ki, could become a reality when he challenges the GBH man for the belt. Young lion NO LIMIT face international opposition when they make their V2 defense of the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title against TNA Wrestling’s Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin). Legend and MEM unit! Titans from two continents go to war against GBH, when Choshu, Chono, Kurt Angle, and Kevin Nash do battle with Giant Bernard, Iizuka, Ishii & Anderson.

Masato Tanaka looks for sweet, sweet revenge when he battles World Heavyweight Champion, Yuji Nagata, in a rematch from October. Nagata’s belt is not currently on the line as he has an upcoming defense against Tatsuhito Takaiwa, but should he bypass that, his match against the ZERO1-MAX ace could be a defense. Jushin Thunder Liger celebrates his 20th anniversary year in the guise of Liger when he teams with one of his greatest rivals, Takuma “Naoki” Sano, against Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto. And Mexican sensation Mistico will kick off the show when he teams with Taguchi and Devitt against Averno, Jado & Gedo. Eight matches in all, by no means complete, with probably two more to be added. What will they be? One is likely to be Nakamura & Goto vs. Misawa & X and the other may well be Manabu Nakanishi vs. Jun Akiyama if new rumours have any truth.

NJPW “WRESTLE KINGDOM III IN TOKYO DOME”, 1/4/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Dome

1. Wrestle Kingdom Grand Opening VIENTO DORADO: Mistico, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Averno, Jado & Gedo
2. Jushin Thunder Liger 20th Anniversary Match: Jushin Thunder Liger & Takuma Sano vs. Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto
3. Crusade for Justice: Yuji Nagata vs. Masato Tanaka
4. Fighting Holdings Competition: Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Kurt Angle & Kevin Nash vs. Giant Bernard, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title ~Tread on!!~: Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin
6. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title ~Ballistic interception~: Low Ki (c) vs. Tiger Mask
7. IWGP Tag Team Title - 3WAY Match ~Three correct answers~: Togi Makabe & Toru Yano (c) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon
8. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Keiji Muto (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Mistico has revealed his apparent Tokyo Dome match to the SuperLuchas magazine in Mexico and it involves another luchadore. Barring a change of plans, he will team up with fellow young juniors Taguchi and Devitt against CMLL rival Averno, who teams up with fellow veterans Jado & Gedo. Not exactly the huge match for Mistico that was hinted, but this isn’t completely unexpected given that juniors rarely get big singles matches at the Dome unless a belt is on the line. Thanks to The Cubs Fan for that news!

A gorgeous cast of foreigners will advance on the highest stage of Japanese pro wrestling on January 4th when New Japan hits the Tokyo Dome for “WRESTLE KINGDOM III IN TOKYO DOME”. From TNA Wrestling we will see the return of former IWGP 3rd Belt holder Kurt Angle, nWo co-founder Kevin Nash, the world famous Team 3D (Brother Ray & Brother Devon), and the Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin). From CMLL we will be treated to the first appearance of Mexico’s young icon, “Child of God” Mistico, in his first Japanese appearance.

President Sugabayashi held a press conference in which he held the mask of Mistico up to the media and spoke of these big events. It was Mistico he chose to focus the press conference on, as the luchadore has a lot of hype in Japan and is called a national hero of Mexico. Sugabayashi said he is held in such high esteem in Mexico that he acted as a local reporter in the recent Beijing Olympics. Sugabayashi said nothing but a big match would be suitable for the young revolution fighter.

All of TNA Wrestling’s representatives have experience in Japan. Kurt Angle and Kevin Nash are both members of TNA’s own version of Legend called the Main Event Mafia, and unsurprisingly it looks like they are ready to conspire with Legend in some way, Sugabayashi suggesting that the likes of Chono may be involved with them. Angle defeated Yuji Nagata in a match being considered for Tokyo Sports’ 2008 Best Bout award, before losing the big IWGP unification match to Nakamura in February. He then returned for a couple of tag matches in the G1, pinning Tanahashi in one of them. Nash appeared at the huge Osaka Dome show in 1997 when the nWo was at its peak, but hasn’t been seen in New Japan since, and his return will come over a decade later.

A fax arrived from Team 3D requesting a match at the Tokyo Dome, with particular interest in the IWGP Tag Team Title. On this year’s show they defeated last year’s Japanese Tag MVPs and current IWGP Tag Team Champions, Makabe & Yano, so have already perhaps earned a rematch. Sugabayashi isn’t sure though, because Makabe & Yano still have to defend against Nakanishi & Yoshie on 12/6 in Nagoya. Sugabayashi also noted that TenKoji may be involved in some way, and four teams - Makabe & Yano, Nakanishi & Yoshie, TenKoji, and Team 3D - are on the president’s mind, and it looks like in some way those two teams will be involved in two matches, one for the title and one possibly a contendership match.

The Motor City Machine Guns are one of the top junior tag teams in America, so its only natural they are being linked to an IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title shot. Sugabayashi hinted that it is almost a lock that they will challenge the winners of NO LIMIT vs. Jado & Gedo, set to take place on 12/7 in Osaka.

Hiroshi Tanahashi has answered the wishes of President Sugabayashi and will challenge mentor Keiji Muto for the IWGP Heavyweight Title at the Tokyo Dome on January 4th! Tanahashi and Muto have a storied history, with Tana unable to defeat the man he has looked up to, but earlier this year in the Champion Carnival, battling him to a time limit draw. The next logical step would be to defeat him, but logic doesn’t always work and Muto will look to defy any patterns like he did when he deprived Nakamura of a revenge win in October. The 1/4 show will both be a live PPV and have a TV Asahi special, running for 90 minutes from 1AM hours after the event finishes.

NJPW “WRESTLE KINGDOM III IN TOKYO DOME”, 1/4/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Dome

1. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Keiji Muto (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Tanahashi has cancelled all of his TNA appearances, which is probably for the best given how “well” he was being positioned on cards there. He will compete on all shows on the upcoming “CIRCUIT 2008 NEW JAPAN ALIVE” as the center point, with two big singles matches on the two major shows - against Bernard in Aichi (one year after he defeated the gaijin ace in the same building) and against Makabe in Osaka.

NJPW, 11/22/08 (SXW)
Chichibu Miya Memorial Gymnasium

1. Ryusuke Taguchi & Yujiro vs. Low Ki & Jado
2. Riki Choshu & Masahiro Chono vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Tomoaki Honma
3. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
4. HIGH FLYING STAR come back to FUJISAWA!: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shinsuke Nakamura, Hirooki Goto & Tetsuya Naito vs. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Gedo

NJPW, 11/23/08
Mie Prefectural Sun Arena Sub Arena

1. Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Takashi Iizuka
2. Riki Choshu, Ryusuke Taguchi, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Low Ki, Jado, Gedo & Tomoaki Honma
3. Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto vs. Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii
4. HIGH FLYING STAR come back to ISE!: Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson

NJPW, 11/24/08
Hyogo Prefectural Budokan

1. Kazuchika Okada vs. Takashi Iizuka
2. Riki Choshu, Ryusuke Taguchi, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Low Ki, Jado, Gedo & Tomohiro Ishii
3. Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto vs. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma
4. HIGH FLYING STAR come back to HIMEJI!: Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Toru Yano, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson

NJPW, 11/25/08
Kyoto KBS Hall

1. Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono & AKIRA vs. Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Tomoaki Honma
2. Shinsuke Nakamura, Hirooki Goto & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson & Low Ki
3. HIGH FLYING STAR come back to KYOTO!: Yuji Nagata, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano, Jado & Gedo

NJPW, 11/27/08 (SXW)
Hiroshima Trade Center

1. AKIRA vs. Takashi Iizuka
2. Ryusuke Taguchi, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Low Ki, Jado & Gedo
3. Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
4. HIGH FLYING STAR come back to HIROSHIMA!: Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Yuji Nagata & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Tomoaki Honma

NJPW, 11/28/08
Matsuyama City Community Center

1. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Takashi Iizuka & Tomoaki Honma
2. Riki Choshu & Masahiro Chono vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
3. Shinsuke Nakamura, Hirooki Goto & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Low Ki
4. HIGH FLYING STAR come back to MATSUYAMA!: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Togi Makabe, Jado & Gedo

NJPW, 11/29/08
Tex Port Imabari

1. Wataru Inoue, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Jado, Gedo & Tomohiro Ishii
2. Riki Choshu, Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Takashi Iizuka, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
3. HIGH FLYING STAR come back to IMABARI!: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shinsuke Nakamura, Hirooki Goto & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano, Tomoaki Honma & Low Ki

NJPW, 12/1/08
Tokushima Municipal Gymnasium

1. Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Takashi Iizuka, Tomoaki Honma & Low Ki
3. Shinsuke Nakamura, Hirooki Goto, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson, Jado & Gedo
3. HIGH FLYING STAR come back to TOKUSHIMA!: Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii

NJPW, 12/6/08 (WPW)
Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium

1. Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask & AKIRA vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Tomoaki Honma & Karl Anderson
2. Milano Collection AT & Taichi Ishikari vs. Minoru & Kazuchika Okada
3. Ryusuke Taguchi, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito vs. Low Ki, Jado & Gedo
4. Wataru Inoue vs. Takashi Iizuka
5. Riki Choshu & Masahiro Chono vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto
6. New Japan vs. ZERO1-MAX: Yuji Nagata & Koji Kanemoto vs. Shinjiro Otani & Masato Tanaka
7. IWGP Tag Team Title: Togi Makabe & Toru Yano (c) vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Yutaka Yoshie
8. HIGH FLYING STAR going to TOKYO DOME ~prominence~: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Giant Bernard

NJPW, 12/7/08 (Samurai! TV)
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

1. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. Jado & Gedo
2. Koji Kanemoto, Tiger Mask & Kazuchika Okada vs. Milano Collection AT, Minoru & Taichi Ishikari
3. Riki Choshu, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue vs. Masahiro Chono, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA
4. Manabu Nakanishi & Yutaka Yoshie vs. Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Low Ki (c) vs. Ryusuke Taguchi
6. Wrestle Kingdom Duel for Existence ~tempest~: Hirooki Goto vs. Giant Bernard
7. Wrestle Kingdom Duel for Existence ~sublimation~: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Toru Yano
8. Wrestle Kingdom Duel for Existence ~prominence~: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe

Finally, the Complete Players vs. Ookami Gundan in a battle of reuniting trios has been made official for the 12/26 PREMIUM show at Korakuen Hall.

PREMIUM, 12/26/08 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

- PREMIUM VIANDE ~ Ookami Gundan vs. Complete Players: Masahiro Chono, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Hiro Saito vs. Masato Tanaka , Jado & Gedo