NJPW “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY ~ WRESTLING DONTAKU 2012″, 5/3/12 (WPW/PPV)
Fukuoka International Center
6,500 Fans – Super No Vacancy Full House

1. YOSHI-HASHI, Jado & Tomohiro Ishii beat Strong Man, Captain New Japan & Tama Tonga (7:12) when Ishii used a brainbuster on Tonga.
2. TAKA Michinoku & Taichi beat Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA (8:16) when Taichi used a Taichi-style Gedo clutch on KUSHIDA.
3. Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask beat Rocky Romero & Gedo (7:50) when Tiger used a crucifix hold on Gedo.
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Low Ki beat Prince Devitt (c) (21:01) with the Ki Krusher ’99 to become the 63rd champion.
5. IWGP Tag Team Title: Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (c) (16:47) when Yano used the Oni Koroshi on Kojima to become the 59th champions.
6. Special Tag Match: Minoru Suzuki & Yoshihiro Takayama beat Togi Makabe & Yuji Nagata (13:43) when Suzuki used a Gotch-style piledriver on Makabe.
7. Special Singles Match: Shinsuke Nakamura beat Karl Anderson (12:15) with the Boma Ye.
8. Special Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tetsuya Naito beat Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi (13:59) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Takahashi.
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada (c) beat Hirooki Goto (24:55) with the Rainmaker (2nd defense).

* Who can stop the Rainmaker!? New Japan Cup winner and IWGP Intercontinental Champion, Hirooki Goto, remains unable to win the greatest prize available, the IWGP Heavyweight Title, after another near miss at a packed Fukuoka International Center today. It was a match that could have gone either way but the vigor and momentum of Okada carried him over the line as he finished off Goto with the Rainmaker. Tanahashi appeared after the match and challenged Okada to a match which would be a rematch of their February class where Okada shocked everyone by winning the title. And it looks like this match could take place at the very same building as last time, Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, with “DOMINION 6.16″ looming as New Japan’s next big show.

* Tanahashi had just teamed with Naito to defeat Tanaka & Yujiro before his post-main event appearance, pinning Yujiro after his High Fly Flow. There was said to be some issues between Tanahashi and Naito after the match which could be isolated or hint at some bigger problems.

* Shinsuke Nakamura avenged his upset New Japan Cup loss to Karl Anderson, which was one of my personal favourite matches of 2012 (the NJC match). This was a slightly shorter match but was also said to be very exciting with Shinsuke’s Boma Ye making the difference.

* The thorn in TenKoji’s side, CHAOS’ Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka, became a much bigger problem today. After beating TenKoji in a non-title match then Yano recently pinning Kojima in a singles match, the dastardly heels today went one step further by capturing the IWGP Tag Team Title from Tenzan & Kojima. After the Iron Fingers from Hell by Iizuka, Yano dropped Kojima with his Oni Koroshi for the huge win, very momentous for both men. This is Yano’s first title since he and Makabe held the IWGP Tag Title in 2008 while for Iizuka this is his first title since 1996(!) when he and Kazuo Yamazaki held the tag belts.

* Prince Devitt, the absolute ace of New Japan’s junior division for two years now, said going into his match with the “One World Warrior” Low Ki that he may be the underdog given Ki’s track record across the world where he has wrestled in almost every major promotion. Devitt had beaten Ki last year in New York in an IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title defense but today marked Low Ki’s true return to New Japan as he ended Devitt’s half-year reign as champion in an exciting match. Ki spiked Devitt with the Ki Krusher ’99 and finally the Irishman seems to have found his first worthy challenger since Kota Ibushi went down with a long-term injury.

Yano & Iizuka again stole Tenzan & Kojima’s title belts on Sunday at Korakuen after TenKoji had managed to get them back on the previous Korakuen show.

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NJPW “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY ~ WRESTLING DONTAKU 2012″, 5/3/12 (WPW/PPV)
Fukuoka International Center

- IWGP Tag Team Title: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (c) vs. Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka

New Japan has revealed the full card for the major 5/3 show at Fukuoka International Center today, which includes four title matches and three special matches. As confirmed on the heels of his New Japan Cup win yesterday, Hirooki Goto will be Kazuchika Okada’s next challenger for the IWGP Heavyweight Title in the main event. Also confirmed was the much expected TenKoji defense of the IWGP Tag Team Title against CHAOS’ Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka, who defeated Tenzan & Kojima in a non-title match not long ago. The No Remorse Corps, Davey Richards & Rocky Romero, make their V1 defense of the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title against the masked super hero team of Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask, the first time this title has not been NRC vs. Apollo 55 this year. He’s back! “One World Warrior” Low Ki returns to New Japan for his latest stint and instantly challenges Prince Devitt for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title in a rematch from last year in America when Devitt won during New Japan’s tour of the east coast. Of the special matches announced, the standout is a rematch from the New Japan Cup where Shinsuke Nakamura and Karl Anderson blew the roof off Korakuen Hall with an incredible match that the “Machine Gun” won. Shinsuke will look to avoid a similar upset.

Tour matches before and after the Fukuoka show were also announced.

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–> NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ NEW JAPAN BRAVE 2012 <--

NJPW, 4/21/12 (Samurai! TV)
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium #2

1. Tama Tonga vs. Hiromu Takahashi
2. Strong Man & Captain New Japan vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii
3. Prince Devitt, Ryusuke Taguchi, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Low Ki, Rocky Romero, Jado & Gedo
4. Togi Makabe, Wataru Inoue & KUSHIDA vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
5. Special Singles Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Takashi Iizuka
6. Special Singles Match: Satoshi Kojima vs. Toru Yano
7. Special 8 Man Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tetsuya Naito & Karl Anderson vs. Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi

NJPW, 4/24/12
Kaikyo Messe Shimonoseki

1. Wataru Inoue & Takaaki Watanabe vs. KUSHIDA & Tama Tonga
2. Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Low Ki & Gedo
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Rocky Romero & Jado
4. Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & Strong Man vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
5. Karl Anderson & Captain New Japan vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Tetsuya Naito vs. Kazuchika Okada, Yujiro Takahashi & YOSHI-HASHI

NJPW, 4/25/12
Shunan Shinnanyo Gymnasium

1. Wataru Inoue & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Tama Tonga
2. Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Rocky Romero & Jado
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Strong Man vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
4. Tetsuya Naito & Prince Devitt vs. Low Ki & Gedo
5. Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & KUSHIDA vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Karl Anderson & Captain New Japan vs. Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Yujiro Takahashi & YOSHI-HASHI

NJPW, 4/27/12
Kitajima North Park Gymnasium

1. Wataru Inoue & Takaaki Watanabe vs. KUSHIDA & Tama Tonga
2. Strong Man & Prince Devitt vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Low Ki
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Captain New Japan vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Jado
4. Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
5. Tetsuya Naito & Karl Anderson vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Kazuchika Okada, Yujiro Takahashi, Rocky Romero & Gedo

NJPW, 4/28/12
Kochi Sunpia Chres

1. Wataru Inoue & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Tama Tonga
2. Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Rocky Romero & Gedo
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Strong Man vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & YOSHI-HASHI
4. Tetsuya Naito & Prince Devitt vs. Low Ki & Jado
5. Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & KUSHIDA vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Karl Anderson & Captain New Japan vs. Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Yujiro Takahashi & Tomohiro Ishii

NJPW, 4/30/12
Kumamoto City Distribution & Information Hall

1. Wataru Inoue & Takaaki Watanabe vs. KUSHIDA & Tama Tonga
2. Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Low Ki & Jado
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Rocky Romero & Gedo
4. Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & Strong Man vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
5. Tetsuya Naito & Karl Anderson vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & YOSHI-HASHI
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Captain New Japan vs. Kazuchika Okada, Yujiro Takahashi & Tomohiro Ishii

NJPW, 5/1/12
Oita Event Hall

1. Wataru Inoue & Hiromu Takahashi vs. KUSHIDA & Tama Tonga
2. Prince Devitt, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Low Ki, Rocky Romero & Jado
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Captain New Japan vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Gedo
4. Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
5. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tetsuya Naito vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Tomohiro Ishii
6. Hirooki Goto, Karl Anderson & Strong Man vs. Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura & YOSHI-HASHI

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NJPW “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY ~ WRESTLING DONTAKU 2012″, 5/3/12 (WPW/PPV)
Fukuoka International Center

1. Strong Man, Wataru Inoue, Captain New Japan & Tama Tonga vs. YOSHI-HASHI, Jado, Gedo & Tomohiro Ishii
2. Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA vs. TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
3. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Davey Richards & Rocky Romero (c) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Prince Devitt (c) vs. Low Ki
5. IWGP Tag Team Title: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (c) vs. Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka
6. Special Tag Match: Togi Makabe & Yuji Nagata vs. Minoru Suzuki & Yoshihiro Takayama
7. Special Singles Match: Karl Anderson vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
8. Special Tag Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tetsuya Naito vs. Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Hirooki Goto

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–> NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ NEW JAPAN LIVE 2012 <--

NJPW, 5/4/12
Hiroshima Industrial Hall West Exhibition Pavilion

1. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Takaaki Watanabe
2. Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA vs. Davey Richards, Rocky Romero, Jado & Gedo
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Captain New Japan vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
4. Togi Makabe, Strong Man & Wataru Inoue vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
5. Karl Anderson & Tama Tonga vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & YOSHI-HASHI
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto & Tetsuya Naito vs. Kazuchika Okada, Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi

NJPW, 5/5/12
Takamatsu City Gymnasium

1. Hiromu Takahashi vs. Takaaki Watanabe
2. Strong Man, Wataru Inoue, Captain New Japan & Tama Tonga vs. YOSHI-HASHI, Jado, Gedo & Tomohiro Ishii
3. Togi Makabe, Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
4. Special Elimination Match I: Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Davey Richards & Rocky Romero
5. Special Elimination Match II: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tetsuya Naito & Karl Anderson vs. Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi

NJPW, 5/6/12
Okayama Orange Hall

1. Wataru Inoue & Tama Tonga vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Takaaki Watanabe
2. Captain New Japan vs. Yujiro Takahashi
3. Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA vs. Davey Richards, Rocky Romero, Jado & Gedo
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Strong Man vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
5. Togi Makabe & Yuji Nagata vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tetsuya Naito & Karl Anderson vs. Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Masato Tanaka & YOSHI-HASHI