- 3/5 Falls: Jushin Liger, Jado, Gedo, and Takemura vs. Taguchi, Goto, Nakajima, and Ishimori
- El Samurai and Wataru Inoue vs. Yutaka Yoshie and Yujiro
- Super Love Machine and Love Machine Arashi vs. Tatsutoshi Goto and Toru Yano
- Minoru Suzuki and Tiger Mask vs. Osamu Nishimura and James Gibson
- Tag Tournament - Semi Final: Genichiro Tenryu and Kensuke Sasaki vs. Chono and Shibata
- Tag Tournament - Semi Final: Tenzan and Nakamura vs. Kawada and Mitsuya Nagai
- U-30 Openweight Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. American Dragon
- Manabu Nakanishi and Scott Norton vs. Yuji Nagata and Blue Wolf
- IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: Heat vs. Koji Kanemoto
-
Tag Tournament - Final:
Tenzan and Nakamura vs. Masahiro Chono and Katsuyori Shibata
Jushin Liger, Jado, Gedo, and Takemura vs. Taguchi, Hirooki Goto, Nakajima, and Ishimori
First Fall: This is a Three out of Five Falls match. During the match introductions, Liger spits on Taguchi, which Taguchi seemed legitimately surprised at. Finally the match begins with Ishimori and Jado facing off first. Tie-up, and Jado tosses Ishimori to the mat. Ishimori gets a kick in, goes for an Irish whip, but Jado reverses it. Ishimori flips up in the turnbuckle to go up and over Jado, goes off the ropes, and hits a running headscissors which sends Jado out of the ring. Ishimori quickly runs to the side ropes and hits a springboard moonsault from the second rope over the top rope down onto Jado. Crazy brawl begins inside the ring, with New Japan dominating and dropkicking CTU out of the ring all at the same time. Jado rolls back in, Irish whip by Ishimori, reversed, and Jado plants him hard into the mat. Jado tags in Gedo, who kicks Ishimori in the stomach. Punches by Gedo, Ishimori fires back with chops, but Gedo punches him down. Gedo tags in Liger, Irish whip, and he hits a running elbow strike. Scoop slam by Liger and he applies a reverse chinlock. He releases the hold, throws Ishimori into the turnbuckle and tags in Jado. Chops by Jado in the corner and he stomps on Ishimori when he falls to the mat. Backbreaker by Jado and he tags in Takemura. Takemura begins working over Ishimori's knee with a series of stiff kicks, as the turnbuckle cover in CTU's corner *mysteriously* falls off. Takemura Irish whips Ishimori into the exposed corner and tags Liger back in. Elbow strike to the back by Liger, Ishimori tries to fight back, but Liger viciously rakes him in the eyes. Irish whip by Liger to the corner again and Ishimori collapses upon impact. Liger tags in Gedo, and they slam Ishimori's knees into the mat. Gedo rakes on Ishimori's eyes and slams him into the exposed corner yet again. Takemura is tagged in and he stomps Ishimori to the ground. Irish whip, but Ishimori kicks him in the head and hits a bodyscissors into a bulldog. Ishimori tags in Goto, Irish whip to the corner, and he hits an elbow strike in the corner. Back towards the middle of the ring, Goto ducks a clothesline and quickly wraps up Takemura in a jujigatame. Gedo breaks it up before Takemura can tap however, Goto gets Takemura up and hits a backdrop suplex. Goto tags in Taguchi, double Irish whip, and they hit double dropkicks. Taguchi hits a butterfly suplex hold, but Takemura kicks out. Kick to the back by Taguchi, Irish whip, he kicks Taguchi in the face and nails a fisherman's suplex for another two count. Taguchi tags in Nakajima, who immediately kicks Takemura stiffly in the back. More kicks by Nakajima, he goes for a suplex, Takemura reverses it, but when Takemura runs off the ropes he is met with a spinning heel kick by Nakajima. Nakajima picks up Takemura, Irish whip, and he hits a dropkick. Elevated German suplex by Nakajima, but it is broken up by the CTU. Melee ensues, with CTU taking it to the outside while Takemura and Nakajima continue fighting on the inside. Nakajima goes off the ropes, but Takemura catches him and powerslams him down. Takemura goes for his M9, but Nakajima elbows out of it. Nakajima goes of the ropes again, but again he is powerslammed right on his head. Now, Takemura has no problem hitting the M9 and picks up the pinfall victory. First Fall: CTU
Second Fall: No pause, as Takemura immediately goes for another M9 so he can pin Nakajima again. Nakajima elbows out of it however, goes off the ropes, but is caught with a clothesline. Takemura tags in Gedo, cover, but it only gets two. Gedo picks up Nakajima, hits a swinging neckbreaker, another cover, but another two (Gedo is cursing loudly in English with each failed attempt, which for some reason amuses me). Again Nakajima is picked up, Irish whip, Gedo goes for a back bodydrop, but Nakajima jumps over his back and gets a sunset flip for a two count. Nakajima ducks a clothesline and kicks the crap out of Gedo, allowing him to tag in Taguchi. Taguchi comes off the top turnbuckle with a missile dropkick on Gedo and runs over to punch all the members of CTU. Turning back to Gedo, Irish whip by Taguchi to the corner and he hits a dropkick. Snap suplex by Taguchi, he goes out to the apron and comes back in with a missile dropkick. Cover, but it only gets a two count. Taguchi applies a full nelson, then goes for a German suplex, but he gets pushed off. Taguchi goes off the ropes, but Jado kicks him in the back from the apron. Gedo tags in Liger, but Liger misses a shotei and Taguchi dropkicks him to the mat. Taguchi goes to the top turnbuckle, Gedo grabs his legs from the apron, but Goto comes flying across the ring and dropkicks Gedo to the outside. Taguchi misses the missile dropkick on Liger however, Liger motions for Jado and Takemura to take care of Nakajima and Ishimori, so they do. Shotei by Liger on Taguchi, then he hits a Liger Bomb. Cover, but Taguchi kicks out. Liger waits for Taguchi to get back up and goes off the ropes, but Goto grabs he legs from the outside. Liger turns towards him, pissed, allowing Taguchi to come up from behind and roll up Liger for two. Liger has words with the referee, but Taguchi comes up from behind and hits a German suplex for another two count. Crowd is eating this up. Taguchi goes for a suplex, reversed by Liger, Taguchi land on his feet and runs off the ropes, but he has his head taken off with a shotei. Again Liger signals CTU to take care of Taguchi's team mates, he hits a brainbuster on Taguchi, and covers for the three count victory. Second Fall: CTU
Third Fall: Liger tags in Gedo, who kicks Taguchi in the stomach. Complete Shot by Gedo, cover, but it gets a two count. DDT by Gedo, cover, but another two. Goto runs in and kicks Gedo, allowing Taguchi time to come over and tag him in. Goto charges Gedo, but Gedo tosses him into his corner and tags in Jado. Chops by Jado in the corner and he stomps Goto down. Jado tosses Goto from the ring, and Liger takes him up into the crowd to toss him around a bit and hit him with chairs. Liger hits a piledriver on the floor, effectively destroying Goto. Gedo comes down to get Goto and tosses him back in the ring. Jado stomps him upon his return and tosses him back out. Liger then takes Goto up the ramp way and nails a powerbomb. Crowd cheers him because he is Liger, even though he is the evil CTU leader. Takemura seems to be beating up both Nakajima and Ishimori at ringside while all this is taking place. Liger leave Goto, who slowly starts crawling back to the ring. He makes it back in at around 15, and Jado clotheslines him hard to the mat. Cover, but it gets a two count. Jado tosses Goto into the still-exposed turnbuckle and tags in his partner Gedo. Goto is kicked/choked in the corner by CTU while Gedo has the referee busy, but he finally turns back around and they stop. Irish whip by Gedo, Goto tries to kicks him in the face when he goes for a back bodydrop, Gedo catches he leg though and spins him around, Goto misses a clothesline attempt on Gedo, Gedo goes off the ropes, but Goto catches him with a spinning heel kick. Goto manages to make the hot tag to Ishimori as Gedo tags in Jado, and Ishimori comes in the ring with a hurricanrana. Ishimori then goes off the ropes and goes for a bodyscissors, but Jado catches him and hits a suplex. German suplex by Jado, and he rolls straight into a release overhead suplex. Cover, but Nakajima breaks it up. Gedo comes in to take care of Nakajima, as he hear him crash into the guardrail at ringside. Liger takes care of Goto, as Jado takes control of Ishimori in the ring. Irish whip by Jado, Ishimori goes for a handstand springboard elbow, but Jado clubs him in the back. Jado goes for a German suplex but Ishimori lands on his feet. Ishimori hits a drop toehold on Jado, sending him into the second rope. Ishimori then runs off the far ropes and hits the 619, follows up with his Superstar Elbow, and he gets the three count fall. Third Fall: New Japan
Fourth Fall: The referee reminds them there is no break, as both lay tired on the mat. Goto comes in, Irish whip on Jado, and he hits an elbow strike in the corner. Goto then gets down on all fours, and Taguchi launches off his back with a dropkick on Jado. Taguchi puts Jado on the top turnbuckle and Nakajima nails him with a spinning heel kick. Taguchi and Goto pescado out of the ring, while Ishimori botches a hurricanrana to Jado, who was still sitting on the top turnbuckle (and the crowd laughs at him... poor Ishimori.). Ishimori goes off the ropes, but Jado elbows him to the mat. Irish whip by Jado, but Ishimori hits a handstand springboard elbow. Ishimori goes for a quebrada, but Jado gets his knees up in time. Crossface of JADO is applied while Liger holds back Goto, but Goto manages to break it up anyway. Liger throws Goto from the ring while all of CTU get back in it. Irish whip by Jado on Ishimori to the corner and he hits a running elbow strike. Gedo follows with a clothesline, and then Takemura with a jumping elbow attack. They then Irish whip Ishimori to Liger, who hits a Shotei (they are clearly speaking English to each other, which is a little confusing, but interesting to note). Jado gets on the top turnbuckle, Liger and Gedo give Ishimori to him, and he hits a powerbomb from the top. The Crossface of JADO is applied again, and this time Ishimori taps out before a team mate can save him. Your winners of the Fourth Fall and the match: The Control Terrorism Unit
Match Thoughts: Forget Kazarian. Taguchi is the future... and the future looks good. A really fun match that showcased how great CTU is as well as allowing some of the younger stars to get valuable experience in a long match. As I mentioned, Taguchi looked great here, hitting all his spots and really getting the crowd behind him. As soon as he gets back from Mexico, look for him to quickly pass his former dojo mates on his way to the top of the card. I can understand why they have not signed Ishimori yet. He was a lot of natural abilities and can hit many cool spots, but he still needs a little fine tuning before he will be ready for a push in a major promotion. Liger... well what can you say about Liger? His exchange with Taguchi had the crowd roaring, as they really thought the young wrestler just might pull off a pinfall against the legend. Liger is simply in a class of his own. The other CTU members were solid as well, and the match was entertaining all around. A nice way to open up the stacked card. Score: 7.0
El Samurai and Wataru Inoue vs. Yutaka Yoshie and Yujiro
Inoue and Yujiro start things off. Tie-up, waistlock by Inoue, quickly reversed by Yujiro, they struggle for position on the mat, but neither man gets the upperhand and they are back on their feet. Fireman's carry takedown by Yujiro and he applies an arm submission. Inoue rolls out of it, arm wrench by Yujiro, but Inoue takes him down and applies a leg submission. Yujiro gets out of it with a headscissors, but Inoue reverses it and clubs Yujiro in the back. Yujiro punches back, snapmare, and he applies a reverse chinlock. Inoue struggles back to his feet and Yujiro tags in Yoshie. Inoue strikes Yoshie in the face and goes off the ropes, but Yoshie knocks him down with a shoulderblock. A little scared, Inoue tags in El Samurai. Tie-up, kick to the gut by El Samurai, but Yoshie scoop slams him down. El Samurai hits a series of strikes and goes for a scoop slam, but he can't get Yoshie up and Yoshie clubs him in the back. Splash by Yoshie to the legs of El Samurai and he applies a leg submission. Yoshie tags in Yujiro, who applies a leg submission of his own. El Samurai makes it to the ropes, but Yujiro kicks him in the leg. El Samurai fires back with knee strikes and he tags in Inoue. Chops by Inoue in the corner and he throws Yujiro into the corner. Shoulder tackles by Inoue, and he kicks Yujiro in the back. Inoue goes off the ropes and kicks Yujiro again, knocking him to the mat. Yujiro fires back, but Inoue slaps him back down. El Samurai is tagged back in and he knees Yujiro in the face. Neckbreaker by El Samurai, cover, but it only gets a two count. Punch to the face by El Samurai, he picks Yujiro up, snapmare, and he rakes Yujiro in the eyes. El Samurai tags Inoue back in and Inoue hits a side slam. Cover, but Yujiro kicks out. A camel clutch is applied by Inoue, and El Samurai runs in to dropkick Yujiro in the face while he is in the hold. Inoue kicks Yujiro in the arm while he is down and goes off the ropes, but Yujiro catches him with an overhead suplex. This allows Yujiro time to tag in Yoshie, who hits a clothesline on Inoue and El Samurai. Back to Inoue, scoop slam by Yoshie, then he goes over and gives El Samurai a scoop slam as well. Irish whip by Yoshie on Inoue to the corner and he hits a running body smash. El Samurai hits Yoshie from behind, but Yoshie turns around and throws El Samurai into the same corner. Another body smash by Yoshie in the corner, he throws El Samurai out of the way and hits a butt thump on Inoue in the corner followed by a running butt smash. Scoop slam by Yoshie on Inoue, cover, but it gets a two count. After smashing Inoue some more, Yoshie tags Yujiro back into the match. Yujiro quickly hits a trapping belly to belly overhead suplex on Inoue and follows up with his horizontal gutwrench overhead drop (Karelin Throw). Cover, but Inoue kicks out at two. Yujiro applies a Boston crab, but Inoue makes it to the ropes. Kick to the back by Yujiro and the two exchange slaps. Yujiro gets the better of it and goes off the ropes, but Inoue catches him with a spinning heel kick. Cover, but it gets two. Inoue picks up Yujiro and hits a Samoan drop and applies a single leg crab. El Samurai protects him, and Yujiro taps out! Your winners: El Samurai and Inoue
Match Thoughts: This is a much more typical match to open a major event: teaming a veteran with a young wrestler against another veteran and a young wrestler with least experienced wrestler taking the loss. Yoshie was clearly the leader of the match, doing the most damage while taking the least amount of punishment. When he tagged in Yujiro at the end, you knew that he could have finished off Inoue himself but wanted to give Yujiro the chance to do it. Yujiro looked pretty good here and the crowd was behind him. I wouldn't be surprised if he turns into at least an upper mid-carder in a few years, but it is too early to tell at this point. Nothing wrong with the match at all, but nothing that will excite you or blow you away. It is nice to still see El Samurai still working though. Score: 5.5
Super Love Machine and Love Machine Arashi vs. Tatsutoshi Goto and Toru Yano
Before the match Yano passes out cups to the audience and gives them Sake. In America that would instantly make him a face if he did that. Goto and Arashi charge the Love Machines to start the match, as Super Love Machine is beat down in the ring. Goto tosses Super Love Machine into the turnbuckle and rakes on his eyes. Irish whip by Goto, but Super Love Machine hits a DDT. Super Love Machine tags in Arashi, who hits a shoulderblock on Goto. Goto tags in Yano, Yano goes off the ropes, but he is shoulderblocked down as well. Dropkick by Arashi, and Yano rolls out of the ring. After pretending over and over to get back in the ring without doing so, Arashi gets tired of waiting and comes out after him. Yano naturally runs, but Super Love Machine greets him and Yano is trapped. Yano quickly rolls back in the ring, and both Love Machines follow. Yano is clubbed to the mat, Irish whip by Arashi, and he elbows Yano down. Uranage by Arashi, cover, but it gets a two count. Arashi tags in Super Love Machine and he tosses Yano into the corner. Irish whip, and Super Love Machine hits a running clothesline. Another Irish whip, another running clothesline and Super Love Machine nails a senton after Yano falls to the mat. Cover, but it only gets two. Super Love Machine applies a hammerlock, Goto runs in to help, but he gets tossed out of the ring for his troubles. Super Love Machine goes off the ropes, but he is hit from the outside with an umbrella and Yano spears him to the mat. Goto is tagged in, Irish whip by Goto and he hits a running clothesline. Cover, but it only gets a two count. Goto throws Super Love Machine out of the ring and he is attacked by Yano on the outside with a sandal. Yano then pours Sake on Super Love Machine before tossing him back in. Yano gets in the ring as well, Irish whip from the corner, and he hits a running forearm shot. Goto follows with a clothesline, cover, but Super Love Machine kicks out. Goto holds Super Love Machine for Yano, but when Yano throws the powder Super Love Machine ducks and Goto gets hit with it. Super Love Machine clotheslines Yano, Arashi comes in the ring, and both Love Machines hit a Devil Windmill suplex hold for the three count victory. Your winners: Super Love Machine and Love Machine Arashi
Match Thoughts: On a somewhat related note, I had Sake for the first time last weekend and it is quite good. This was actually the debut of Super Love Machine, who is Junji Hirata under a mask. Lots of stalling in this match and very little in the way of in-ring wrestling, making it hard to really get into it. Yano has a good connection with the crowd and they were really into his antics. He was the only bright spot though as Goto was just "there" and the Love Machines didn't have time to do that much before the match was over. But since the point was to debut a "new" talent and let Yano interact with the crowd, it wasn't a total waste, as they accomplished those two goals in the five minute match. Score: 4.0
Minoru Suzuki and Tiger Mask vs. Osamu Nishimura and James Gibson
Tiger Mask and Gibson start things off. Tie-up, Tiger Mask gets Gibson in the ropes, Gibson reverses positions with him though and gives a clean break. Tie-up again, waistlock by Tiger Mask, Gibson reverses it into an armbar, but Tiger Mask trips him up and goes for a leg submission. He can't lock it in though, and Gibson goes for an STF. Tiger Mask reverses that into a hammerlock, reverted into a side headlock, but Gibson reverses it into a key lock. Tiger Mask gets out of it though with a headscissors, Gibson gets out of it briefly, but Tiger Mask re-applies the hold. Gibson eventually does get out of it and goes for a Cloverleaf, but Tiger Mask kicks him off and both men get back to their feet. Tie-up, side headlock by Gibson, Tiger Mask Irish whips out of it, but Gibson shoulderblocks him down. Gibson goes off the ropes, flips out of the backbreaker attempt, ducks a spinning heel kick and dropkicks Tiger Mask out of the ring. Gibson goes for a pescado, Tiger Mask moves, but Gibson lands on the apron and jumps to the outside. Clothesline by Gibson, and he rolls back in the ring while taunting Tiger Mask. Tiger Mask gets back on the apron, but Gibson hits a shoulderblock between the ropes. Gibson goes for a suplex, Tiger Mask lands on his feet, but Gibson goes off the ropes and hits a jumping knee attack. Gibson goes off the ropes again, but this time Tiger Mask catches him with a spinning backbreaker. Cover, but it only gets a two count. Tiger Mask goes for a Tiger Driver, but Gibson back bodydrops out of it. Both men go for elbow drops in succession with neither hitting, then both hit dropkicks at the same time with equal success. Crowd claps in appreciation. Both wrestlers switch partners, as Suzuki faces off with Nishimura. Tie-up, hammerlock by Suzuki, Nishimura reverses it and the two go to the mat. Suzuki gets back up to his feet and armdrags Nishimura down, but Nishimura quickly applies a headscissors. Suzuki gets out of it though and both men are back on their feet. Waistlock by Nishimura, but Suzuki reverses it into an armbar. Suzuki yanks on Nishimura's arm, but Nishimura gets to the ropes. Side headlock by Suzuki, Nishimura gets Suzuki in the corner, and he gives a clean break. Back in the middle of the ring, side headlock takedown by Suzuki, but Nishimura reverses it into a headscissors. Suzuki gets out of it and goes for a side headlock, Nishimura reverses it, but Suzuki slaps on a headscissors of his own. Nishimura tries to bridge out of it but eventually does it the conventional way (handstand) and again gives a clean break to Suzuki. Back up, hammerlock by Suzuki, Nishimura makes it to the ropes though and Suzuki tags in Tiger Mask. Kicks to the stomach by Tiger Mask and he goes for a single leg crab. Unable to get it, he tags Suzuki back in and they both yank on Nishimura's legs. Gibson comes over to help, but the referee gets him back. Suzuki applies a side headlock and gets Nishimura into the corner, he feigns a clean break, but instead slaps Nishimura in the face and stomps him down in the corner. Snapmare by Suzuki, and he kicks Nishimura hard in the back. Suzuki tags in Tiger Mask, Irish whip by Tiger Mask and he nails a dropkick. Cover, but it barely gets two. Snapmare by Tiger Mask, but Nishimura quickly applies an armbar. Tiger Mask struggles back to his feet, but Nishimura tags in Gibson. Punches to the face by Gibson and he hits a backbreaker. Cover, but it only gets a two count. Gibson applies a back submission, but Tiger Mask flip kicks out of it. Tiger Mask goes for another kick, but Gibson catches his leg and hits a dragon screw leg whip. Gibson tags in Nishimura, who applies the spinning toe hold. Figure four by Nishimura, but Tiger Mask makes it to the bottom rope. Suzuki distracts Nishimura for a moment from the apron, but Nishimura goes back to Tiger Mask and applies a hammerlock. Tiger Mask snapmares out of it though, but Nishimura applies an abdominal stretch. Back to the hammerlock, Tiger Mask tries to snapmare out of it again, but this time Nishimura holds on and applies the Cobra Twist. Gibson runs over to deal with Suzuki, Nishimura gets the Cobra Twist roll-up, but Suzuki gets free in time and breaks up the pinfall attempt. Suzuki kicks Nishimura hard in the back, but Nishimura gets back to his feet and hits a series of European uppercuts on Tiger Mask. Nishimura tags Gibson back in, Irish whip, and Gibson hits a powerslam. Cover, but Tiger Mask kicks out at two. Tiger Bomb attempt by Gibson, but Tiger Mask won't go over. Gibson goes off the ropes, but Tiger Mask spins him around and nails a tombstone piledriver. Tiger Mask tags in Suzuki, who knees Gibson in the stomach. Gibson fights back, goes off the ropes, but Suzuki avoids the jumping knee (you can actually hear Suzuki laugh while he is doing this) and slaps Gibson in the face. Rear choke by Suzuki, but Nishimura clubs him in the back. Tiger Mask comes in and knocks Nishimura out of the ring, but Nishimura avoids the Tiger Mask pescado. Nishimura gets back in the ring and applies a rear choke to Suzuki. Tiger Mask gets back on the apron, reaches in the ring, and gets Nishimura in a sleeperhold. Suzuki then re-applies the hold to Gibson, he reverts it into an Octopus hold (at the same time Tiger Mask has Nishimura in a Cobra Twist), and Gibson has no choice but to submit! Your winners: Tiger Mask and Minoru Suzuki
Match Thoughts: A great ground-based match, and Suzuki is really starting to grow on me. I didn't like him at first, but after seeing more of his matches I have come to realize that he is one of the better heels in the business. His "fake" clean break probably got the biggest crowd reaction of the match and it was set up perfectly by Nishimura earlier. Gibson did not look out of place here, which was my concern going in since he was not as familiar with the wrestlers as the others were with each other. No one looked bad, but Suzuki/Nishimura really enhanced the match with the way they interacted, making this a very entertaining match. I was a little surprised that the match was completely void of "high spots" since Tiger Mask was in it, but obviously they chose to go in a different direction and it worked out very well. Score: 7.0
Genichiro Tenryu and Kensuke Sasaki vs. Masahiro Chono and Katsuyori Shibata
This is a semi-final match in the tag team tournament. Sasaki and Shibata start things off. Tie-up, waistlock by Shibata, roll-up, and Shibata applies a leg submission. Sasaki gets out of it and goes for a single leg Boston crab, but Shibata rolls out of it. Tie-up again, Sasaki gets Shibata in the ropes and he gives a clean break. Rapid fire kicks by Shibata, but Sasaki knees Shibata in the mid-section and clubs him in the back. Another knee by Sasaki and he hits a vertical suplex. Sasaki tags in Tenryu, tie-up, Tenryu gets Shibata to the mat, but Shibata applies a headscissors while lying on his back. Tenryu reverses that into a leg submission hold, but Shibata makes it to the ropes. Tie-up, waistlock by Shibata, Shibata gets in the mount position and kicks Tenryu in the chest. Tenryu gets back to his feet quickly and the two trade blows. Chono tags Shibata, and Tenryu tags in Sasaki. Chono and Tenryu begin to slug it out, allowing Sasaki to hit him from behind. Sasaki tosses Chono out of the ring and both he and Tenryu chop Chono on the outside. Sasaki throws Chono into the guardrail and Tenryu finally tosses Chono back in the ring. Elbow to the back of the head by Sasaki and he stomps Chono in the chest. Neckbreaker by Sasaki and he tags in Tenryu. Enzigieri by Tenryu and he stomps Chono in the face. Tenryu clubs Chono in the corner, tags in Sasaki, Irish whip by Tenryu, and Sasaki hits a clothesline. Sasaki applies Strangle Hold Gamma, but Shibata comes in to break it up with a series of kicks to Sasaki's chest. Chop to the back of the head by Sasaki and he motions for Tenryu to come in the ring. Tenryu chokes Chono, tosses him in the corner and hits a few chops. Irish whip, and Tenryu clotheslines Chono in the corner. Chono comes back with an eye rake though and kicks Tenryu hard in the head. Chono stomps Tenryu in the back of the head and pounds on him as he is kneeling on the mat. Cover by Chono, but it gets a two count. Chono knees Tenryu low and tags in Shibata. Shibata continues kicking on Tenryu and applies a dragon sleeper. Sasaki comes in and breaks it up, and Shibata gets up quickly to fire shots back at Sasaki. Shibata tosses Sasaki from the ring, he rolls back in, but the referee gets him back out. Meanwhile, Shibata hits a running bulldog on Tenryu, cover, but it only gets a one count. Shibata then hits an STO, cover, and this time he gets two. Kick to the back by Shibata, cover, but again Tenryu kicks out. Shibata tags in Chono, who stomps down Tenryu in the corner. Kick to the face by Chono, cover, but it only gets a two count. Chono runs over to knock Sasaki off the apron, cover on Tenryu, but it gets a two again.
More kicks by Chono and he tags in Shibata. Knee to the chest by Shibata and he chokes Tenryu while he is lying on the mat. Shibata applies a sleeperhold and kicks Tenryu in the back. Cover, but it gets a two count. Shibata tosses Tenryu out of the ring so that Chono can work him over on the outside. Sasaki eventually comes over to help, but isn't able to do much and Shibata throws Tenryu back in. Shibata tags in Chono and they pull Tenryu's legs in different directions. Chono applies a Scorpion Deathlock, but Sasaki breaks it up. STF by Chono, but again Sasaki helps his partner. Chono goes for an abdominal stretch, Tenryu reverses it into a Cobra Twist, Shibata comes in to help Chono, but Tenryu sees him coming and chops him down. Tenryu goes for a German suplex, but Chono kicks him low. Sasaki gets him back by clubbing Chono from the apron, and this gives Tenryu enough time to tag him in. Chops by Sasaki on Chono, Irish whip from the corner and he hits a (sloppy) bulldog. Sasaki goes off the ropes, but Chono catches him with a Yakuza Kick. Now it is Chono that goes off the ropes, but Sasaki hits a powerslam. Cover by Sasaki but Chono kicks out. Irish whip by Sasaki, reversed, and Chono hits an atomic drop. Shibata is tagged in and he hits a jumping knee strike. Cover, but it only gets two. Back up, the two trade blows, Irish whip by Sasaki and he knees Shibata in the back. Judo throw by Sasaki, cover, but it gets a two count. Sasaki goes off the ropes, but Shibata catches him with a spinning back kick followed by a front kick. The second kick knocks Sasaki back into his corner, and the referee calls that since Sasaki's back hit Tenryu, Tenryu is the legal man. While Sasaki argues, Chono runs across the ring to hit a Yakuza Kick on Tenryu, cover by Shibata, but Tenryu kicks out. Shibata hits a series of kicks on Tenryu, cover, but it gets one. Kick to the back by Shibata and he tags in Chono. Double Irish whip on Tenryu and they hit dual elbow strikes. Chono goes up top and hits a flying shouldertackle. Cover, but Sasaki breaks it up. Shibata comes in to take care of Sasaki, Chono goes for a vertical suplex on Tenryu, but Tenryu reverses it into a short brainbuster. Chono tags in Shibata, he gives Tenryu a few slaps, Tenryu fires back, but Chono comes in and Tenryu is overwhelmed. Double Irish whip to Tenryu from the corner, but Tenryu chops Shibata and knocks down Chono with a guh punch. Murakami interferes from the apron though, knocking Tenryu to the mat. Chono takes advantage with a knee to the chest, Shibata hits a FK, cover, but Tenryu kicks out. Chono holds Tenryu for Shibata, Shibata hits another FK, and this time he gets the three count pinfall! Your winners: Masahiro Chono and Katsuyori Shibata
Match Thoughts: Not a bad match, but a little slower then I would have liked and a little too much punch/kick then I would have preferred. Shibata's strikes I don't mind at all, since that is his specialty and he does them very convincingly. But most the offense in this match from all four of the wrestlers was random brawling with little in the way of psychology. A natural downside when you have Chono and Tenryu in a match is that they won't be able to keep up the speed and intensity that Sasaki and Shibata might be able to. That being said, I thought the interaction between the wrestlers was fun to watch and most the moves were hit well. It's a shame that Shibata left New Japan, his strikes are dead-on and he picked up a big pinfall victory here. Score: 5.5
Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kawada and Mitsuya Nagai
This is a semi-final match in the tag team tournament. Kawada and Tenzan start things off. Tie-up, Tenzan gets Kawada into the ropes and gives a clean break. Tie-up again, this time Kawada gets Tenzan into the ropes and he gives a clean break as well. Kick to the stomach by Kawada, Tenzan fires back with a forearm and the two trade shots. Irish whip by Kawada, he hits a shoulderblock, but Tenzan doesn't go down. Chop by Kawada, Tenzan chops back, and they trade blows back and forth. Tenzan gets the advantage with a series of Mongolian Chops and knocks down Kawada with a shoulderblock. Kawada gets up quickly however and kicks Tenzan in the face, sending him to the mat. Another kick to the face by Kawada and Tenzan is slow to recover. Finally back on his feet, tie-up, waistlock by Kawada, but Tenzan tags in Nakamura. Tenzan continues attacking Kawada but eventually goes to the apron. Tie-up between Nakamura and Kawada, single leg by Kawada, Nakamura tries to roll out of it, but Kawada gets in the mount position. Nakamura manages to reverse position with Kawada and goes for the cross armbreaker, but he can't lock it on and Kawada tags in Nagai. Nakamura applies a waistlock, but Nagai reverses it into a key lock. Nagai goes for a cross armbreaker, but Nakamura rolls through it and gets back to his feet. With the advantage now, Nakamura yanks on Nagai's leg and drops an elbow on it. Nakamura slaps on the single leg Boston crab, but Nagai reverses it into an ankle lock. Nakamura makes it to the ropes though and Nagai breaks the hold. Test of Strength between Nakamura and Nagai, arm wrench by Nakamura into a hammerlock, but Nagai reverses it and tags in Kawada. Chops by Kawada in the corner, Nakamura fires back with forearm shots and the two face off. Hard slaps by both wrestlers and Kawada kicks Nakamura to the mat. Kawada tags Nagai back in, who clubs Nakamura in the back. Kick to the chest by Nagai, snapmare, and he applies a reverse chinlock. Leg drop by Nagai, cover, but it barely gets one. Nagai tags in Kawada, who kicks Nakamura in the corner. Kick to the chest by Kawada and he elbows Nakamura in the back of the head. Kawada goes for a vertical suplex, but Nakamura pushes him back into his own corner and tags in Tenzan. Tenzan kicks Kawada in the corner and hits a headbutt. Kawada takes the first few, staggers, and kicks Tenzan hard in the face. Tenzan roars back with a stiff clothesline, sending Kawada to one knee. More headbutts by Tenzan, he gets Kawada in the corner, he goes for a snapmare, but Kawada forearms him in the head. Kawada tags in Nagai, who clubs Tenzan in the back. Forearm shots by Nagai, but Tenzan responds with a Mongolian Chop and scoop slams him down. Falling headbutt by Tenzan, he picks up Nagai and tags in Nakamura. Vertical suplex by Nakamura, cover, but Nagai kicks out. Nagai takes down Nakamura with a single leg and tags in his partner Kawada. Tenzan suddenly runs in the ring to attack Kawada, and Nakamura makes a comeback as he dropkicks Kawada. Kawada gets up quickly, however, and knocks down Nakamura with a running kick. Kawada stomps Nakamura hard while he is on the mat, knocking him out of the ring. This brings Tenzan back in, so we have Nagai kicking Nakamura on the outside while Tenzan and Kawada battle on the inside. The referee gets Tenzan back out, Nagai stands Nakamura up on the apron, and Kawada hits a running boot to the face to Nakamura. Nagai tosses Nakamura back in the ring and Kawada applies a single leg Boston crab. Nagai protects Kawada from Tenzan, but Nakamura makes it to the ropes. Kawada tags in Nagai, and Nagai continues working on Nakamura's leg.
Back up, capture suplex by Nagai, cover, but it only gets a two count. Nagai drags Nakamura to his feet, vertical suplex, another cover, but another two. Nagai tags in Kawada, Nakamura manages to fight back with slaps and kicks, but Kawada knees him in the stomach, sending Nakamura to his knees. Kawada then suddenly turns around and kicks Tenzan off the apron onto the floor. Back to Nakamura, kicks to the chest by Kawada, but Nakamura catches his leg and hits a powerbomb. Nakamura makes the hot tag to Tenzan, who clotheslines Kawada down. Tenzan gives Nagai a clothesline as well before hitting Kawada with his Mongolian Chops. Kawada returns with forearm strikes, but Tenzan headbutts him in the stomach. Kawada goes for a boot to the face, but Tenzan ducks it and finally knocks down Kawada with a spinning heel kick. Cover by Tenzan, but Kawada kicks out. Back on their feet, they trade shots again and Kawada staggers Tenzan. Knees to the midsection by Kawada, he goes off the ropes, but Tenzan hits a mountain bomb. Cover by Tenzan, but it gets a two count. Headbutt by Tenzan, Mongolian chops, he goes for a German suplex, but Kawada whips around and hits an enzigieri. Kawada goes off the ropes and kicks Tenzan in the face, Tenzan stubbornly won't go down, so Kawada hits a gamengiri. Tenzan is still on his feet, but Kawada nails a backdrop suplex. Cover, but Tenzan manages to kick out at two. Running front kick by Kawada, cover, but Nakamura runs in to break up the fall. Both men are slow to their feet, but Kawada makes the tag first and Nagai kicks Tenzan in the head. He kicked him too hard though, for Tenzan lands by his corner and he tags in Nakamura. Dropkick by Nakamura on Nagai, Irish whip, and he applies the sleeper. Nagai flips Nakamura to get out of it though and then gives Nakamura one of the most vicious knees I've ever seen. The referee checks on Nakamura, Nagai picks him up though, Irish whip from the corner and he hits a Hyper Knee Kuga. A butterfly suplex by Nagai follows, cover, but it only gets a two count. Next comes a Makai Driver by Nagai, cover again, but Tenzan breaks it up. Kawada comes in to throw Tenzan from the ring, Nagai holds Nakamura around the waist, and they hit a combination front kick/German suplex on Nakamura. Cover, but somehow Nakamura kicks out of it. Nagai applies an arm arrangement front sleeper to Nakamura while Kawada applies the Stretch Plum to Tenzan. Nakamura manages to get to the ropes, as the referee gets Kawada out of the ring. Irish whip attempt by Nagai, but Nakamura grabs his arm and applies a standing cross armbreaker. Kawada breaks it up with a knee to the face, Nakamura gets up quickly and he trades blows with Kawada. Kawada hits a series of kicks to Nakamura to knock him down, and Nakamura is rolled up for two by Nagai while Tenzan runs in to hit a backdrop suplex on Kawada. Tenzan goes over to kick on Nagai, Irish whip from the corner, Tenzan hits a clothesline and Nakamura hits a spear. Cover by Nakamura, but Nagai kicks out. Tenzan holds Nagai up for Nakamura, Nakamura comes off the top turnbuckle with a DDT, cover, but Kawada is back in time and breaks up the pinfall. Tenzan runs to Kawada and struggles with him while Nakamura ducks a Nagai kick and applies the standing cross armbreaker. Tenzan has Kawada busy in the corner, and Nagai has no choice but to tap out! Your winners: Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Shinsuke Nakamura
Match Thoughts: A great hard-hitting match and much better then the last one. All these guys don't hold anything back when it comes to strikes, and I am sure they will all be sore in the morning. Nagai's knees were just sick and I am glad that no body was injured from the way they were hitting each other. All four men really held there own here, and the face-offs between Kawada and Tenzan were classic. Nakamura played a good rag doll, which really set up Tenzan to be the match-saving force that helped his team pick up the win. I am looking forward to seeing Nakamura/Tenzan again in another hour. Score: 8.0
(c) Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. American Dragon
This match is for the U-30 Openweight Championship. Tie-up to start, American Dragon gets Tanahashi into the ropes and gives a clean break. Tie-up again, arm wrench by Tanahashi, American Dragon rolls out of it and applies one of his own, reversed into a hammerlock by Tanahashi, they trade hammerlocks with American Dragon getting the advantage, but Tanahashi pushes American Dragon into the turnbuckle. American Dragon releases Tanahashi, but instead of backing away, Tanahashi elbows American Dragon in the face and hits a back flip kick. American Dragon charges Tanahashi, but Tanahashi gets him down with an armdrag. American Dragon struggles to his feet, but Tanahashi armdrags him to the mat again. Back up, arm wrench by Tanahashi, but American Dragon reverses it with a quick suplex. American Dragon rakes his knee over Tanahashi's arm and applies a submission hold. Roll-up by American Dragon, but it only gets a two count. American Dragon goes to work on Tanahashi's leg, but Tanahashi rolls out of it and gets back to his feet. Tie-up, side headlock by Tanahashi, but American Dragon reverses it and applies a modified crossface. American Dragon changes to an arm submission hold, he rolls Tanahashi up, but Tanahashi easily gets out of it. Back up again, kick to the stomach by Tanahashi and he tries to apply a crab. American Dragon flips him down though, but Tanahashi rolls him up for a two count. American Dragon gains the advantage and begins working over Tanahashi's left arm. Tanahashi reverses it into a leg submission hold, but American Dragon grabs his neck and applies a modified abdominal stretch. He quickly changes positions and applies a side headlock, but Tanahashi reverses it into a full nelson. Headscissors by Tanahashi, and he clubs on American Dragon while he is on the mat. Side headlock by Tanahashi, but American Dragon gets out of it and dropkicks Tanahashi to the mat. Tanahashi rolls out of the ring, and American Dragon follows him out with a tope that probably did more damage to him since his side hit hard against the metal guardrail. American Dragon still manages to get up first and rolls back into the ring. Tanahashi gets up to the apron, American Dragon tries to suplex him into the ring over the top rope, Tanahashi fights it though and reverses it, sending American Dragon to the outside. Tanahashi tosses American Dragon into the ring, cover, but it gets a two count. Kicks to the head by Tanahashi and he forearms American Dragon in the face. Irish whip from the corner by Tanahashi and he nails a dropkick. Half-hatch suplex by Tanahashi, but it gets another two count. Tanahashi applies a single-leg Boston crab, but American Dragon makes it to the bottom rope. Knee to the ribs by Tanahashi, Irish whip, and he applies the sleeperhold. Tanahashi gets the Dragon Sleeper, but American Dragon quickly makes it to the ropes. Irish whip by Tanahashi to the corner, but American Dragon gets his foot up when he charges and hits a forearm shot from the top turnbuckle. European uppercut by American Dragon, Irish whip, and he hits a running forearm in the corner. Irish whip by American Dragon to the corner, reversed, but American Dragon goes through Tanahashi's legs and hits a dragon screw leg whip. American Dragon applies a modified figure four with a bridge, but Tanahashi makes it to the bottom rope. Tanahashi manages to kick American Dragon down, the two trade shots, Irish whip by Tanahashi and he hits a flying forearm. Elbow drop by Tanahashi, senton, cover, but American Dragon kicks out. Tanahashi goes to the top turnbuckle, but American Dragon gets up and pushes him down so that he is straddling the top. American Dragon then climbs up and goes for a superplex, but Tanahashi pushes him off. American Dragon quickly comes back with a dropkick, climbs up again, and this time he nails the superplex. American Dragon ascends the top turnbuckle, flying headbutt, cover, but it gets a two count. American Dragon goes for a leglock suplex hold, but Tanahashi elbows out of it. Tanahashi then goes for a German suplex, American Dragon makes it to the ropes, but Tanahashi rolls him up and applies the Dragon Sleeper. American Dragon knees him in the head to get out of the hold. Running enzigieri by Tanahashi, he quickly cradles American Dragon, but American Dragon reverses it into his own cradle for two. Irish whip by Tanahashi, but American Dragon dropkicks him to the mat. American Dragon picks up Tanahashi and puts him up on the top turnbuckle. American Dragon goes for a back suplex from the top, Tanahashi twists in the air and lands on top of him for a two count, but American Dragon reverses positions with him and gets a two count of his own. Forearm by Tanahashi, American Dragon hits European uppercuts, goes off the ropes, but Tanahashi hits another enzigieri. Tanahashi goes for the dragon suplex, but American Dragon ducks down and rolls up Tanahashi for a two count. Tanahashi quickly gets up and hits a Shining Wizard, dragon suplex hold by Tanahashi, and he gets the three count pinfall. Your winner and still champion: Hiroshi Tanahashi
Match Thoughts: It started slow with the overly complicated and somewhat meaningless matwork, but built itself up into a pretty decent mach. I enjoy chain wrestling as much as the next guy, but they went a little overboard with the reversals which made it look more planned and less realistic then what we saw between Tiger Mask and Gibson earlier. At one point in particular I noticed American Dragon bridged for absolutely no reason. But the match did pick up as they started wrestling more logically after the nasty tope by AmDrag. The ending seemed somewhat sudden, since American Dragon never had a close fall from a finishing-type move besides the diving headbutt earlier on. Still, a solid match between the two that wasn't flawless but still entertaining. Score: 6.5
Manabu Nakanishi and Scott Norton (Jurassic Powers) vs. Yuji Nagata and Blue Wolf
Blue Wolf and Nakanishi start things off. Tie-up, waistlock by Nakanishi, reversed into an arm wrench by Blue Wolf, but Nakanishi rolls through it and applies a hammerlock. Blue Wolf makes it to the ropes though and Nakanishi gives a clean break. A waistlock by Blue Wolf is applied and he gets Nakanishi down to the mat. Side headlock by Blue Wolf, Nakanishi slowly gets back to his feet, Irish whip by Nakanishi, but they collide with neither budging. Nakanishi goes off the ropes, but again neither man goes down. They trade strikes and chops, and after a full minute of it Nakanishi gets the advantage and tags in Norton. Irish whip by Blue Wolf on Norton, but Norton shoulderblocks him to the mat. Blue Wolf tags in Nagata, tie-up, arm wrench by Nagata, but Norton punches him in the stomach and pushes him into the corner. Irish whip, and Norton hits a running splash in the corner. Nagata goes for an exploder, but Norton gets out of it. Strikes by Nagata, he goes off the ropes, but Norton catches him when he goes for the spinning heel kick and tosses him to the mat. Norton tags in Nakanishi, who headbutts Nagata in the back. More headbutts by Nakanishi and he hits a Mongolian Chop. After swinging Nagata around (literally), Nakanishi chops Nagata in the chest while he lays on the mat. Another chop by Nakanishi, but Nagata finally fights back and knocks down Nakanishi with a flurry of kicks. Nagata tags in Blue Wolf, double Irish whip, and a double shoulderblock. Blue Wolf hits a scoop slam on Nakanishi and applies a modified Boston crab. Club to the back by Blue Wolf, but Nakanishi pops up and clubs him back. Snapmare by Nakanishi and he throws Blue Wolf out of the ring. Norton chops Blue Wolf on the outside, Nagata comes to help, but Norton chops him down as well. More chops by Norton to Blue Wolf, but Blue Wolf ducks one and Norton chops the steel ring post hard. Blue Wolf kicks Norton, but Norton chops him in return and rolls him back in the ring. Chop by Nakanishi inside the ring, scoop slam, and he hits a jumping knee drop. Cover, but it barely gets one. Nakanishi chokes Blue Wolf while he is draped across the second rope and Norton chops him at the same time, until Nagata comes in and breaks it up. While the referee tends to him, Norton continues clubbing on Blue Wolf. Blue Wolf suddenly fires back on Nakanishi with chops, but Nakanishi knocks him to the mat and hits a series of kicks to the chest. Nakanishi tags in Norton, double Irish whip, and they hit a double shoulderblock. Norton pushes Blue Wolf in the corner and knees him in the chest. Chop by Norton (who is talking trash to Blue Wolf while he is doing this), Irish whip, and he hits a running splash in the corner.
Front guillotine choke by Norton, but Nagata breaks it up. One handed cover by Norton, but Blue Wolf pushes him off. Norton tags in Nakanishi, he goes up top and hits a chop. Club to the back by Nakanishi and he hits a trapping belly to belly suplex. Cover, but Nagata breaks it up. Nakanishi tags Norton back in, who promptly throws Blue Wolf out to the floor. Norton rams Blue Wolf's back into the apron and gets back in the ring to wait for Blue Wolf. Blue Wolf eventually gets up to the apron, but Norton headbutts him back off. Blue Wolf again gets to the apron, but this time Norton knocks him off with a chop. A third time Blue Wolf gets to the apron, Norton goes for a vertical suplex, but Blue Wolf lands on his feet and throws Norton to the mat. Elbow drop by Blue Wolf and he tags in Nagata. Kicks to the chest by Nagata, Irish whip, reversed, but Nagata hits an enzigieri. After knocking Nakanishi off the apron, Nagata comes back to Norton and hits a Northern Lights suplex, but Norton kicks out. Nagata applies the Nagata Lock II, but Nakanishi breaks it up. After tossing Nakanishi from the ring, Nagata goes off the ropes, but Norton catches him with a powerslam. Cover, but it gets a two count. Norton goes for a powerbomb, but Nagata gets out of it and hits an exploder. Cover, but Norton kicks out. Nagata tags in Blue Wolf, double Irish whip, but Norton floors them both with a double clothesline. Norton tags in Nakanishi, who hits a spear on Blue Wolf. Irish whip on Nagata, and Nakanishi hits a jumping knee to the face. Blue Wolf is back up and tries his luck, but Nakanishi slams him to the mat. Nakanishi does his foot stomping and hits a clothesline on Blue Wolf. Cover, but it gets a two count. Nakanishi gets Blue Wolf up on his shoulders in an Argentine Backbreaker, Nagata comes in the ring to break it up, so Nakanishi throws Blue Wolf onto Nagata. Nakanishi throws Nagata from the ring, puts Blue Wolf on his shoulders, tosses him to Norton, who hits a backbreaker (Dinosaur Catch). Cover by Nakanishi, but Blue Wolf kicks out. Blue Wolf slowly gets to his feet and is hit by lariats on both sides by Norton and Nakanishi. Cover, but Nagata breaks it up. Norton chops Nagata in the corner, Nakanishi joins him, Irish whip, but Nagata avoids the splash from Norton and hits a spinning heel kick on Nakanishi. Brainbuster by Nagata, and he kicks Norton off of the apron. Simultaneous kick/lariat from Blue Wolf and Nagata to Nakanishi, Blue Wolf hits Nakanishi with another lariat and he gets the three count pinfall. Your winners: Yuji Nagata and Blue Wolf
Match Thoughts: Norton is one of my guilty pleasures, I just love watching him throw people around. Other then that this was your standard big-man power match, which is not to say that it was bad, but there really wasn't anything special about it. A few moves here and there were not hit very crisply, which looks particularly bad in a match that is mostly about power moves. Norton and Nakanishi interacted well together though and it is a shame that the tag team was later broken up. Nagata looked good as always, as he is one of the most consistent workers on the New Japan roster. Score: 6.0
(c) Heat vs. Koji Kanemoto
This match is for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship. Heat almost immediately takes his mask off since he doesn't like to wrestle in it, but has to wear it to the ring since he won the title as "Heat" and thus must defend it as such. Kanemoto won't shake Heat's hand, and the match begins. Heat rolls out of the ring to discuss strategy with CTU, but does get back in once Kanemoto turns his back and kicks him from behind. Side headlock by Heat, Kanemoto Irish whips out of it, and they collide with neither man budging. Again they collide with no result, and a third time, but finally Heat dropkicks Kanemoto in the knee and throws him out of the ring. On the outside all of CTU stomps on Kanemoto while Heat holds down the referee so that he can't see it. Kanemoto manages to roll back into the ring and Heat elbows him in the leg. Kanemoto tries to fight back, but he gets kicked back to the mat and stomped in the leg again. Heat drops a knee on Kanemoto's injured leg and kicks it some more. Back up, single leg by Heat and he applies a single leg Boston crab. Heat continues working on the leg and kicks Kanemoto in the chest. He picks up Kanemoto, Kanemoto hits a few slaps, but Heat kicks him in the knee and nails a dragon screw leg whip. Another dragon screw leg whip by Heat and Kanemoto rolls out of the ring. Heat joins him outside, tries to Irish whip him into the ring post, but it gets reversed. Mounted punches by Kanemoto on the outside and he tosses Heat back in. Kanemoto slams Kanemoto into the corner and knees him hard in the face. Corner boot scrapes by Kanemoto, he picks up Heat and throws him into the other corner, where he does the boot scrapes again. Kanemoto picks up Heat again, scoop slam, and he hits a second turnbuckle corkscrew senton. Cover, but it only gets two. Kanemoto hits Heat with a flurry of mounted punches and kicks him in the chest. Heat gets back to his feet, absorbing the blows, and the two trade shots. Kanemoto begins to get the better of it, goes off the ropes, but Jado trips him from the outside and Kanemoto dropkicks him in the face. Heat goes up top and is handed a chair, but Kanemoto ducks when he chucks it at him and Kanemoto kicks Heat in the chest when he jumps off. Kanemoto then grabs the chair, but CTU has let the referee come back and the referee stops Kanemoto from using it. While Kanemoto is arguing with the referee, he is holding the chair at his side, and Heat runs up and dropkicks the chair into Kanemoto's injured knee. Roll-up by Heat, but it only gets two, and Heat applies a leg lock with a grapevine. Kanemoto finally manages to get to the ropes, Heat goes to suplex him over the top rope to the floor, but Kanemoto blocks it. Determined, Heat kicks him in the stomach and hits the move anyway. On the outside now, Heat takes Kanemoto up the ramp and goes for a dragon screw leg whip, but Kanemoto reverses it and nails a falcon arrow. Kanemoto slowly limps and rolls back into the ring, making it at around 10. CTU goes to revive Heat, who makes it back at 19. Punches by Kanemoto and a cover, but it only gets two. Another cover, but again it gets two. Kanemoto applies the ankle lock, but Heat reverses it into an ankle lock of his own. Heat goes for a German suplex, Kanemoto reverses it into an ankle lock with a grapevine, but Heat makes it to the bottom rope. Kanemoto goes for a tiger suplex, Heat stomps him in the foot to get out of it, but Kanemoto nails him with a kick to the head. Falcon arrow by Kanemoto, cover, but Heat manages to kick out. Kanemoto picks up Heat, scoop slam, he goes up top and goes for a moonsault, Heat rolls out of the way, Kanemoto does manage to land on his feet but his bad leg buckles on him and he falls to the mat. Kanemoto still gets up first, but Heat punches him in the knee and they trade shots in a kneeling position. Heat dropkicks Kanemoto in the knee, goes for the chair again, Kanemoto tries to sneak in a dropkick, but he accidentally dropkicks the referee. Heat tosses Kanemoto the chair and again he dropkicks the chair into the injured knee. Heat pretends to be out cold and the referee wakes up confused. Kick to the knee by Heat, he goes off the ropes, but is caught with an overhead suplex. Kanemoto hits the falcon arrow, but Heat kicks out at one and hits a release dragon suplex. Cover, but it barely gets one. Back up, they trade slaps and simultaneously kick each other in the head. Both men slowly get up, scoop slam by Kanemoto, he goes up top and hits the moonsault. Cover, but it only gets a two count. Both men get up slow again and both go for spinning heel kicks, colliding in the air. Neither man can answer the 10 count, and the match is declared a draw by way of double knockout. Heat retains the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship
Match Thoughts: I am torn about this match, since there were some things about it I really liked and other things that I wasn't overly impressed with. I did like Kanemoto's selling of the knee, as he never forgot about his injury. Even after he hit the moonsault he was holding the leg, since obviously it hits the mat pretty hard during the move. Both men were very crisp and fluid as well and the action looked solid throughout. The problem with the 10 count ending is that they had to set it up by making them barely meet the 10 count a few times prior. So while most puroresu matches end with a bang, this one sort of limped its way out. Similar to the ending of the Edge/Michaels Last Man Standing match, the last 45 seconds or so had little in the way of action since they were selling that they were too injured to get up in time (Kanemoto's knee and Heat's head). It worked well with the ending, but it is not one I'd like to see too often since I prefer for matches to end leaving me excited, not realizing that the best action had passed several minutes prior. As I said though, that is just a natural consequence when you have to book a match around the double knockout ending. But it was still a very entertaining match all things considered, and the falcon arrow on the ramp was quite the spot. Score: 6.5
Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Masahiro Chono and Katsuyori Shibata
This is the final in the tag team tournament. Nakamura and Shibata start off, Nakamura gets Shibata to the mat, but Shibata hits a double leg takedown and goes for the cross armbreaker. He can't lock it on, they struggle to their feet, Nakamura applies the standing cross armbreaker, but Chono immediately breaks it up. Side headlock by Shibata, but Tenzan runs in and hits Shibata. A leg lock by Shibata is applied and Chono comes in to stomp on Nakamura. This brings in Tenzan, who stomps on Shibata and breaks the hold. Shibata tosses Nakamura into his corner and both wrestlers tag out. Chono gets down Tenzan with a single leg and applies the STF, but Nakamura quickly breaks it up. Club to the back by Tenzan and he locks in the Anaconda Vice, but Shibata comes in help Chono out of it. Tenzan pushes Chono into the corner, but Chono hits a headbutt. They trade blows, which Chono wins with an elbow to the back of the head. Chono rakes Tenzan in the eyes and tags in Shibata. Kicks to the chest by Shibata, cover, but it gets two. Nakamura applies a sleeperhold and Chono comes in to throw Tenzan out of the ring. Chono follows him out and attacks Tenzan on the outside, but Tenzan fights back with a Mongolian Chop. Shibata joins Chono outside and tosses Tenzan back in the ring. Snapmare by Shibata and he applies a reverse chinlock. Single leg takedown by Shibata and he applies the figure four leglock. Tenzan makes it to the ropes and Shibata knees him in the leg. Chono is tagged in, while Shibata rams Nakamura into the ring post outside the ring and kicks him over the guardrail. Back in the ring, Chono stomps on Tenzan, cover, but it gets a two count. Chono knees Tenzan in the leg and kicks him to the mat. Cover by Chono but again it gets two. Chono picks up Tenzan, rakes him in the eyes and knees him in the leg again. Kick to the back of the head by Chono, Tenzan fights back, but Chono knees him hard in the head. Chono applies a reverse chinlock and knees Tenzan in the leg again before pulling back on it. Meanwhile, Shibata is again kicking around Nakamura on the outside and throws him into the ring post again. In the ring Chono goes for a suplex, but Tenzan reverses it into a suplex of his own. Chono knees Tenzan in the leg as he tries to crawl away though and applies the figure four. Nakamura tries to help, but Shibata runs in and tosses him out of the ring. Shibata then knees Tenzan in the chest while he is still in the hold, when Nakanishi comes out of nowhere and attacks Nakamura on the outside. This brings out New Japan and the CTU, and a wild brawl takes place outside the ring. Up the rampway, Nakanishi puts Nakamura into the Argentine Backbreaker, but Nagata runs out of the back to his aid. In the ring, Chono has Tenzan in a crossface as the brawl subsides on the outside. Chono tags in Shibata, who hits a series of headbutts on Tenzan.
Shibata hits a Mongolian chop, but Tenzan fires back with one of his own. The two trade chops, but Shibata kicks him in the leg. Chono comes in the help and they hit a double vertical suplex. Tenzan bounces right up though and clotheslines them both to the mat. This gives him time to tag in Nakamura, who hits a spear on Shibata and knocks Tenzan off the apron. Knee to the stomach by Nakamura and he hits a side Russian leg sweep. Scoop slam by Nakamura in front of the corner and he goes for El Nino, but Shibata rolls out of the way and slaps him to the mat. Shibata tags in Chono, cover by Chono, but it gets two. He runs over to knock Tenzan off the apron, Irish whip on Nakamura, reversed, and Nakamura applies the standing cross armbreaker. Shibata breaks it up, but Tenzan comes in and punches Shibata to the mat. Nakamura manages to re-apply the hold while Tenzan has Shibata in a buffalo sleeper, but Chono makes it to the ropes with a little help from the CTU/Black Hole. Nakamura tags in Tenzan, Irish whip from the corner and he hits a clothesline. Another Irish whip by Tenzan, Nakamura hits a spear, cover, but it gets a two count. Nakamura holds Chono for Tenzan, but he gets tripped up when he goes off the ropes. Chono tags in Shibata, and Shibata hits the STO into a grounded headlock on Nakamura. Chono has Tenzan in an STF at the same time (New Japan seems to have re-gained control of the outside), but Nakamura finally makes it to the ropes. Chono and Tenzan stay in the ring, Chono goes off the ropes but Tenzan hits a spinning heel kick. TTD by Tenzan, he goes up top and hits a diving headbutt. Cover, but it only gets a two count. Shibata comes out of nowhere and kicks down Tenzan, but Nakamura comes in and hits him with an enzigieri. Dropkick to the face by Chono on Nakamura, Tenzan clotheslines Chono, cover by Tenzan, but it gets a two count. Tenzan hits Chono with a chop and hits a neck-grip side slam. Anaconda Vice by Tenzan, but Shibata gets in the ring and kicks him in the back of the head. Nakamura nails a German suplex on Shibata and Tenzan scoop slams Chono in front of the turnbuckle. El Nino on Chono by Nakamura, Tenzan Irish whips Chono into the corner and hits a clothesline. Tenzan holds up Chono, Nakamura comes off the top turnbuckle with a DDT (this move is called a Ten-Naka Satsu), cover by Tenzan, and he gets the three count pinfall! Your winners of the match and the tag team tournament: Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Shinsuke Nakamura
Match Thoughts: Considering that these wrestlers already had wrestled a long match earlier in the evening, this match was better then I thought it would be. They covered well that the wrestlers needed breaks by having interference and wild brawls that caused a distraction without seriously impacting the match itself. Even though the middle of the match was a little slow, they really picked things up for the final few minutes. Good effort by all four men and a good way to close out the event. Score: 7.5
Final Thoughts:
Another solid effort by New Japan, as they follow the same formula they usually do: lots of good matches, no real bad matches, but no must-see matches. The action here is as good as you will find anywhere in Japan top to bottom as the New Japan roster is very deep in talent. While it was probably hard for a handful of them to wrestle twice considering the physical style of puroresu, they did so well and were not noticeably lagging too much. Overall an event I would recommend, as there was a lot of solid wrestling on the card and nothing that you will want to fast forward through.
Recommended
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