Also in a non-tournament bout, Rey Mysterio Jr. wrestled Pyschosis. While I am sure these men need no introduction, Mysterio currently wrestles in the WWE, and Pyschosis still wrestles in Mexico. In the mid to upper 1990's, Mysterio and Pyschosis fought each other all over the world.

On to the first round matches:

Damien 666 vs. Gran Naniwa
Match begins with Damien 666 leaving the ring, in order to pose for the crowd and strut his stuff. Gran Naniwa then leaves the ring and does the same. Back in the ring, Damien does a few Hulk Hogan poses, with Gran Naniwa doing the same, as the crowd applauds. Finally, the match starts. Chops by Damien 666, followed by an Irish whip. Damien yells out "Choshu" (an on-going theme I will explain later) as he nails the lariat on Naniwa. Sharpshooter by Damien, but Naniwa reaches the ropes. Chops in the corner by Damien, pin attempt, but only a two count. Irish whip and a butt bump by Damien (as he yells out a wrestlers name I didn't understand), and then some Muta posing by Damien. Back up, another Irish whip, and another butt bump. Pin attempt, but another two count. Headlock applied by Damien, but Naniwa muscles his way out of it. Back up again, Irish whip by Damien into the turnbuckle is reversed, as Naniwa sends him in. Damien catches himself, they together turn about-face, whistle, and head back the other way (don't ask, I don't know). As they return to the center of the ring, Damien and Naniwa go through a comical and poor excuse for martial arts moves. Getting the advantage, Damien yells out "Hakushi," climbs the turnbuckle, and walks 3/8s of the way around the ring on the top rope (ala Undertaker, but much farther), and nails the arm drag take down. More Muta-esque posing by Damien, followed by a plancha onto Naniwa on the outside. From the apron, Naniwa catches Damien for a sunset flip for a two count. Naniwa Irish whips Damien into the corner, jumps as if to flip him back over his head, but instead raises his arms over his head and woots, as Damien turns him around and puts him on the top turnbuckle. Bulldog by Naniwa, followed by an Irish whip/leap frog/kick to the head by Naniwa. Damien calls out another wrestlers name whom I don't know, and charges Naniwa, but Naniwa flips him over the top rope onto the floor. Naniwa then ascends the top rope, and jumps onto Damien. Damien eventually makes it back into the ring, hits Naniwa with a few chops, and follows up with a clothesline. Pin attempt, two count. Damien picks Naniwa up, slams him down, and calls out "Muta." Damien climbs to the top rope and attempts a moonsault, but Naniwa gets out of the way. Naniwa quickly nails a hurricanrana for the three count. Your winner: Gran Naniwa (after the match, Damien 666 stays in the ring and does Hogan and Onita impersonations)

Match Thoughts: I am not even sure where to begin with this match. Apparently the theme with Damien 666, at least in this match, is that he imitates other wrestlers throughout the match. This match was mostly comical, to get the crowd excited and ready for the tournament. Personally, I found it pretty humorous, even though I couldn't understand some of the names he was calling out. So since this was an opening match, and not the main event, I won't be too harsh on it, since it did achieve its goal, which was to get the tournament off to a positive start. Score: 5.8

Shinjiro Ohtani vs Masaki Mockizuki
Match begins with a flying heel kick by Masaki Mockizuki, followed by knee strikes to the head while Ohtani is trapped in the corner. Ohtani is down, but slowly works his way back up. Leg sweep takedown by Mockizuki, as Mockizuki begins to work on the leg of Ohtani. Kicks to the chest by Mockizuki, but Ohtani reverses it with a leg sweep. The two trade stiff chops and kicks, but Ohtani wins the battle as a kick to the chest floors Mockizuki. Ohtani begins to work on the left leg of Mockizuki. Mockizuki fights his way back up, and nails the German suplex for a two count. Ohtani attempts to stand up, as Mockizuki delivers stiff kick after kick to Ohtani. Finally Ohtani makes it back to his feet, and reverses a punch into an armbar on Mockizuki. Mockizuki gets out of it, and delivers a heel kick to the back of the head, followed by a spring board dropkick to the back of the head of Ohtani. Pin attempt, but only a two count. Ohtani gets back to his feet, as Mockizuki hits him with a heel kick. Ohtani bounces back with a drop kick to the left leg of Mockizuki, nails another drop kick to the left knee as he springboards off the top rope, and finally applies a leg submission for the give-up victory. Your winner: Shinjiro Ohtani

Match Thoughts: This match was too short to score too high. I understand it’s a tournament, but still a four minute match is not long enough to showcase the talent, which should be an important goal in the first round. Still though, the four minutes were intense, as Mockizuki's shoot style added a lot to the match, as well as Ohtani's ability to stay one step ahead. Short but entertaining match, wish it could have gone just a few minutes longer. Score: 4.2

Shochoi Funaki vs Ultimo Dragon
Match starts out with a takedown by Dragon, followed by an irish whip and an armbar. Funaki reverses the armbar into a leg lock, and Dragon rolls to the outside. Funaki feigns a jump over the top rope, then decides to do it anyway, landing the tope onto Dragon. Dragon makes his way back into the right, and is immediately dropkicked in the leg by Funaki. Now the mat wrestling begins. Funaki applies a leg submission hold, which Dragon eventually counters. Both men standing again, stiff chops by Funaki, followed by a snapmare headlock, which Dragon reverses into a head scissors reverted to an armbar, which is then reversed by Funaki into a leg lock. Dragon gives Funaki a stiff kick to the head, but Funaki keeps the hold applied. Funaki continues to work on the left leg of Dragon. Irish whip by Funaki, but Dragon reverses it into a sloppy hurricanrana (with Funaki landing on his head). Funaki struggles back to his feet, but Dragon nails a springboard moonsault for a two count. Dragon then Irish whips Funaki, but Funaki reverses it into a roll-up for a two count. Back up again, Funaki backdrops Dragon, then nails the fisherman brainbuster for another two count. Dragon regains control, and delivers a fisherman brainbuster of his own to Funaki. Dragon places Funaki on the top rope for a hurricanrana, gives Funaki a DDT, does a moonsault off the top turnbuckle, and then rolls up Funaki with the la majastral for the three count. Your winner: Ultimo Dragon

Match Thoughts: There was nothing really wrong with this match, it was fundamentally sound. A lot of the match was mat wrestling, with very few high impact moves until the flurry at the end by Ultimo Dragon. Both of these wrestlers are great competitors, but I wasn't really feeling any intensity in this match, and the flow suffered at times. Not a bad showing, but not as good as I would have hoped considering the competitors. Score: 5.8

Gedo vs Masayoshi Motegi
Motegi starts the match with a headlock, which is reversed by Gedo into an Irish whip. Motegi shoulder blocks Gedo down, another Irish whip by Gedo, with Motegi eventually getting the upper hand as he kicks Gedo to the outside of the ring. As Gedo stands on the outside dazed, Motegi sails through the top and middle rope with a plancha onto Gedo. Motegi heelishly hits Gedo repeatedly in the shoulder with a belt, then jams his shoulder repeatedly into the ring post. Back in the ring, Motegi continues to work on the left shoulder of Gedo. Arm wrench by Motegi has Gedo squealing like a pig, but Gedo eventually escapes with a chokehold. Elbows by Gedo, followed by a series of headbutts. Motegi quickly retaliates by hitting Gedo on the injured shoulder, before dropkicking him in the corner. Arm breaker by Motegi, reversed by Gedo, but Motegi flips out. Irish whip by Motegi, reversed by Gedo, but Motegi still gets the flying head scissors on Gedo. Gedo rolls out of the ring, as Motegi follows him with a tope over the top rope (I think I understand now where the name "tope" came from). Both wrestlers return to the ring, but Gedo was going too slow, so Motegi suplexes him back in. Cover by Motegi, but only a two count. Brainbuster by Motegi, but only a two count again. Irish whip into the corner by Motegi, but Gedo puts his foot up when Motegi charges, followed by a dropkick. Gedo ascends the top rope, but misses the flying headbutt. Motegi hits three rolling suplexes on Gedo, but he only gets a two count. Tombstone piledriver by Motegi, but he misses the headbutt off the top rope. Attempted hurricanrana by Motegi is reversed, as Gedo gets his submission hold on Motegi. Motegi eventually submits from the overwhelming pain. Your winner: Gedo

Match Thoughts: Oddly enough, I enjoyed this match, even though Gedo was in it. Must have been because he got beat up most the time. Seriously though, it seems like Gedo has improved a little in the last year, and took his bumps well in this match. Gedo sold the shoulder through most the match, which is good ring psychology. It is hard to rate matches under 10 minutes real well, but it was a good match for what it was. Score: 6.6

Dos Caras vs El Samurai
Match starts with a tie-up, which Dos Caras wins. Takedown by Caras, as he applies pressure to the legs. El Samurai reaches the ropes, and applies an armbar on Caras. Caras flips out, Irish whips El Samurai, and nails the flying forearm smash. Pin attempt, but only a one count. Caras then applies a submission I can't explain, but it didn't look pleasant for El Samurai. El Samurai eventually gets out of it, and hits a suplex on Caras. Back up, Caras takes El Samurai down, and applies an armlock/headscissors submission move. El Samurai reaches the ropes, so Caras lets go and applies a Mexican surfboard. El Samurai again reaches the ropes, and goes outside the ring to catch his breath. Back in again, El Samurai gets a few kicks in, before being hit hard by another flying forearm smash. El Samurai rolls to the outside, and Caras takes the opportunity to dive through the top and middle rope onto a standing El Samurai. Caras and El Samurai both make their way back into the ring, as Caras applies another unique submission move. El Samurai gets out of it, and gives Caras a piledriver. Cover for a two count. Irish whip by El Samurai reversed by Caras for a backslide pin, but he only gets a two count. Caras attempts another pin, but again only gets a two count. El Samurai knocks Caras down, then picks him up and powerbombs him to the mat. Dropkick by El Samurai in the corner, then he places Caras on the top rope and proceeds to hurricanrana Caras off the top rope. Scoop slam by El Samurai, but he misses the flying headbutt. Caras then goes to the top rope, and nails the flying crossbody for the three count. Your winner: Dos Caras

Match Thoughts: Another decent match, seems to be the theme of the first round. Dos Caras was considerably older then most the other wrestlers in the tournament, but he holds his own well and gives a different style that the other wrestlers don't have. I am not sure where some of his moves came from, but they were unique if nothing else. Nothing real exciting, but a sound match. Score: 5.4

Hanzoh Nakajima vs Chris Jericho
Match begins with a jockeying for position entanglement, which Jericho eventually wins with an armdrag takedown. Both wrestlers back up, Jericho takes Nakajima down again, picks him up, and hits the stalled suplex. Nakajima counters Jericho's attempt to lift him off the mat, and applies a leg submission hold. Jericho escapes, and nails the clothesline in the corner. Nakajima recovers though, and armdrags Jericho, followed by a quick running somersault flip. As Jericho stands back up, Nakajima hits him with the springboard moonsault off the ropes for a two count. Nakajima runs into the corner and does a handstand on the top turnbuckle until Jericho charges, and Nakajima brings his legs back down to apply the flying headscissors. But Jericho rebounds quickly, and brings Nakajima down with a clothesline. Nakajima sells the move for the next few minutes, as Jericho continues to wear him down. Just as Jericho was gaining momentum, Nakajima suddenly hits the hurricanrana pin attempt for a two count. Nakajima kicks Jericho up and over the top rope, then baseball slides Jericho to the ground outside. Nakajima follows with a plancha to the outside, flooring both men. Back in the ring, as both men struggle for position on the top rope, Jericho dropkicks Nakajima to the outside. Jericho then performs his springboard forearm dive from the inside of the ring to the outside. Jericho celebrates in the ring, as Nakajima slowly gets his way back in. Nakajima regains control, and hits the flying crossbody off the top rope. Jericho rolls through the crossbody, and gets a two count on Nakajima. Jericho then delivers a crushing fisherman brainbuster, followed by a Lionsault for the three count. Your winner: Chris Jericho

Match Thoughts: I admit I had never seen Nakajima before this match, but he impressed me. He sells moves very well, and hit his spots. Jericho as always was on the top of his game, as he hit two moves (the springboard forearm smash and the Lionsault) that become part of this arsenal in WCW and WWE. Hopefully the final short match (under seven minutes), as the first round concludes. Strong match to end the first round. Score: 6.9

Quarter-finals begin

Jushin Liger vs Gran Naniwa
(yyyaayyy, Liger!) Match begins very quickly, as Naniwa dropkicks Liger as Liger is on the top turnbuckle making his entrance, and quickly slaps a hurricanrana on Liger to help him down to the mat. Flustered, Liger rolls to the outside to regain his composure. Naniwa will not allow Liger to rest, as he jumps off the top turnbuckle onto an unsuspected Liger. Naniwa throws Liger back into the ring, and nails the missile dropkick to the back of Liger's head (this is the opposite of how every other match so far has started). Naniwa finally takes off his jacket, and hits a twisting sit-down powerbomb pin for a two count. Abdominal stretch applied by Naniwa, but Liger reaches the ropes. Back breaker by Naniwa, as he goes to the top rope you perform the crabwalk elbow drop. This is hilarious, and must be seen. Anyway, as Naniwa goes down the ropes, Liger rolls farther away as Naniwa approaches. So Naniwa stops, and continues inching down the ropes. The crowd is in stitches at this point. Finally Naniwa does attempt the elbow drop, but Liger rolls out of the way and it misses. Liger mocks Naniwa's crabwalk, and then stomps on Naniwa a few times. Liger picks up Naniwa to Irish whip him, but Naniwa reverses it into a hurricanrana pin for a two count. Naniwa tries for another one, but Liger powerbombs Naniwa, and proceeds to continue to make fun of Naniwa's crabwalk. Liger picks up Naniwa, and performs a killer release german suplex. After a few kicks, Liger sets up Naniwa for a submission, but Naniwa gets out of it and applies a bow and arrow of his own. Liger gets out of it, and applies a painful looking camel clutch on Naniwa. Liger releases the hold, and as he gets up, Liger gives Naniwa the palm strike to the face. Naniwa returns with a slap of his own, and splashes Liger in the apron, followed by a quick DDT. Headscissors applied by Naniwa, but Liger escapes and slaps on the trusted headlock. Naniwa struggles to his feet, irish whips Liger, and clotheslined him down. Naniwa then dropkicked Liger out of the ring, and followed with a running somersault drop off the apron. Back in the ring again, Naniwa slams Liger down, goes to the top rope, and frog splashes Liger. Pin attempt, but only a two count. Naniwa places Liger on the top turnbuckle, and hurricanranas him back off for a two count. Naniwa picks up Liger again, performs another twisting sit-down powerbomb, but only gets a two count. Naniwa attempts another, but Liger reverses it and gives Naniwa the Liger Kick. Into the corner, Naniwa is the recipient of another Liger Kick, and Naniwa rolls to the outside. Liger ascends the top rope, but Naniwa from the outside joins him up on top, but Liger smacks him back into the ring. Alone on the top rope now, Liger hits the elbow drop for a two count. Liger picks Naniwa up for the powerbomb, but Naniwa reverses it for a two count hurricanrana pin. Liger then nails the fisherman brainbuster for the three count. Your winner: Jushin Liger

Match Thoughts: Well if you didn't know yet, I should tell you, Liger is my favorite wrestler not only in Japan, but anywhere, and it is matches like this that show why. Naniwa was at the top of his game also, as the match went through periods where he tore up Liger. The humor in the match was well placed, since it came toward the beginning of the match. Liger does a great cocky heel, as he did in the last tournament. Not much mat wrestling, but since most the matches up to this point have been, it was a good change of pace. Great match, enjoyed it thoroughly. Score: 8.3

Wild Pegasus vs Chris Jericho
Pegasus starts the match with an armdrag takedown, as Jericho follows with one of his own as he yells something I can't put on pwinsider.com, but instantly elevated this tape to PG-13. Jericho breaks up the wrist lock by reaching the ropes, but Pegasus returns with a series of submission moves. Jericho rolls through, and both men are back on their feet. Test of Strength begins, with Pegasus winning. Sunset flip by Jericho, but Pegasus rolls into the ropes, and both men are up again. Kick to the gut by Jericho, followed by a stalled suplex. Headlock applied by Jericho, followed by a scoop slam proceeded with a splash from the top rope for a two count. Another headlock by Jericho, but Pegasus rolls out of it and backdrops Jericho. Snap suplex by Pegasus, followed by a vicious clothesline. Cover, but only a two count. Pegasus hits the back breaker, then holds it for a few seconds before applying the Lion Tamer (the correct way, not the way Jericho does it in WWE today). Back up again, Pegasus Irish whips Jericho, but Jericho holds on to the ropes as Pegasus misses the dropkick. Running senton splash by Jericho, two count. Irish whip and clothesline by Jericho, Pegasus is hurting. Irish whip by Jericho into the corner, followed by a dropkick and repeated chops. Pegasus reverses things and Irish whips Pegasus back to the other corner, but Jericho jumps onto the second rope and backflips to attempt to nail Pegasus. Pegasus moves though, and Jericho meets the mat face first. Irish whip again by Pegasus, as he catches him with the kitchen sink. Pegasus then suplexes Jericho so he is laying over the top rope, and kicks him onto the apron. Pegasus attempts to suplex Jericho back in, but Jericho reverses it and suplexes Pegasus over the top rope onto the apron, as Pegasus had done to him. Jericho springboards off the side ropes, and dropkicks Pegasus off the apron onto the floor. Springboard somersault plancha follows, and Pegasus is officially hurting in this match. Pegasus makes his way back in, but Jericho catches him on the top rope, and attempts to back-drop him to the mat. Pegasus reverses it though and lands on Jericho, for the two count. Pegasus picks up Jericho and delivers a tough powerbomb for another two count. Jericho rolls through the attempted German suplex, but Pegasus is stubborn and hits the German suplex anyway for a two count. Back up again, Pegasus scoop slams Jericho, but misses the flying headbutt. Cover, but only a two count. Butterfly powerbomb by Jericho, but only a two count. Jericho attempts to suplex Pegasus, but Pegasus lands on the apron, and backdrops Jericho from the inside of the ring to the floor. Pegasus follows with a standard plancha, but overshoots Jericho a little and lands just as hard as Jericho did. As both men make it back to the ring, Pegasus attempts the powerbomb, but Jericho reverses it into a tiger suplex for a two count. Jericho nails the fisherman brainbuster, but misses the Lionsault (lands on his feet though). Hurricanrana pin attempt by Jericho, but only a two count. Heel kick, and a successful Lionsault, but only a two count on the roll-up pin. Jericho puts Pegasus on the top rope, but Pegasus reverses Jericho's intentions, and hits a tombstone/powerslam off the top rope for the three count. Your winner: Wild Pegasus

Match Thoughts: Any time that Jericho and Benoit hook up, it's going to be a good match. Benoit was intense as he ever is, and Jericho played to the crowd throughout the match. It was interesting that Benoit did the Lion Tamer, but Jericho did not use it. A good mixture of mat wrestling and spots, you could tell these two had wrestled before, the flow as smooth. Almost 15 minutes long, which was beyond the expected for a quarter-final match. No particular outstanding moment, but the whole match fit very well. Great job by both wrestlers. Score: 8.0

Ultimo Dragon vs Shinjiro Otani
Dragon begins the match with a headlock, but Otani reverses it into an Irish whip, and Otani goes down from the shoulder block from Dragon. Quickly back up, Otani kicks Dragon before sending him for a ride, but Dragon rolls up and over Otani's attempt at a back drop, and nails the spinning heel kick. Otani rolls to the outside floor, and Dragon follows with a fake dive, then a real plancha which Otani steps out of the way of. Otani gets back up on the apron, and delivers a brutal dropkick back down to the floor. Not satisfied yet, Otani gets back into the ring and comes off the top rope with a pescado onto Dragon, who had finally gotten up off the floor. Dragon gets back in the ring first, and Otani springboards off the top rope and hits a spinning heel kick to the back of Dragon's head. Scoop slam by Otani, but as he climbs the top rope from the apron, Dragon springs up and dropkicks him to the floor outside. Dragon hits a beautiful Asai Moonsault (for those not in the know, Dragon's real first name is Asai, the move is named after him), and both men are on the floor. They make it back into the ring, and Dragon hits the clothesline for a two count. Headlock by Dragon, reverted into a headscissors. Otani reverses the headscissors into an armbar, which in turn is reversed by Dragon into a leg lock. Otani turns the tide as he gets the leg submission applied, and delivers a nice dropkick. Snapmare into a headlock by Otani, reverted into an armbar. Dragon eventually breaks out of it, and applies a leg lock of his own. Otani gets out, but gets kneed in the face for his trouble. Kicks ensue, but Otani reverses an attempted leg lock into a leg lock of his own. Dragon reaches the ropes, and a Test of Strength is begun. Dragon quickly gets out of the move, and applies a headlock to Otani. Otani gets out of it, suplexes Dragon, and grinds his forearm into Dragon's face. Otani tombstones Dragon, but Dragon doesn't sell it, and kicks Otani in the face. Dragon doe a tombstone, but Otani doesn't sell it either. Otani does another tombstone, once again Dragon doesn't sell it. Another tombstone by Dragon, once again not sold (must be some significance for this). Otani attempts a springboard crossbody, but Dragon dropkicks him in mid-air. This, Otani sold. Cover, but only a two count. Dragon places Otani on the top rope, and hurricanranas him to the mat for a two count. Otani reverses an attempted powerbomb into a hurricanrana pin attempt for a two count. Otani places Dragon on the top rope, and delivers his own hurricanrana for another two count. Back up again, Dragon suplexes Otani so that he is standing on the apron. Otani attempts a springboard dropkick, but Dragon moves out of the way. Dragon attempts la majastral, but only gets a two count. Dragon kicks Otani in the head and Irish whips him into the corner, but Otani returns with a kick to the face, knocking Dragon to the ground. When Dragon gets back up, Otani nails him in the back of the head with a springboard dropkick. Otani locks on the German suplex, but only gets a two count. Otani attempts for a second, but Dragon grabs the ropes. Irish whip, but Dragon catches Otani with a sit-down powerbomb for a two count. Fisherman brainbuster by Dragon, but only for a two count pin attempt. Both men miss a spinning heel kick, and are back on the mat again. Dragon scoop slams Otani, goes to the top rope for a twisting splash, and hooks on the la majastral for the three count. Your winner: Ultimo Dragon

Match Thoughts: Another good quarter-final match. I do have one complaint though, that I need to get off my chest. In this event, we have seen a lot of hurricanranas off the top rope, and fisherman brainbusters. So from now on (since wrestlers can see the moves other wrestlers are using), I might take off if those moves keep popping up. Back to this match, it was right on par with the Liger and the Pegasus match. Dragon was his usual self, and Otani was intense as always. The high spots were blended in nicely, and it was an exciting ending that really had the crowd pumped up. No real complaints here. Score: 7.6

Dos Caras vs Gedo
Takedown by Caras to start the match, Gedo wiggles his way out of it, both men back up. Armbar by Caras, Gedo flips out and applies an armbar of his own, Caras reverses that, and applies an arm submission on the mat. Gedo gets free, and slaps on a headlock. Caras gets out of it, and applies a wrist luck. Gedo gets out of it, both men up again. Caras puts on odd submission hold number three, as Gedo squeals in pain. Gedo finally gets out of it, and nails the flying forearm smash. Back bodydrop by Caras, followed by a version of the Indian death lock. Lots of time passes. Finally, Gedo gets out of it by reaching the ropes. Snapmare by Caras, followed by odd submission hold number four. I don't know where he gets these moves. Bodyslam by Caras, but Gedo gets the upper hand and begins to untie Caras's mask from the back. He finally gets it untied, but is unable to get the mask off. Flying forearm by Caras, followed by another hit that sends Gedo outside the ring. Simple tope by Caras over the top rope on Gedo. Back in the ring, Caras hits a powerbomb, but only gets a two count. Elbow drop to the back, followed by a spinning back breaker for another two count. Chops by Caras in the corner, Gedo reverses the Irish whip, but Caras catches him with another twisting back breaker. Caras ascends the top rope and hits the flying crossbody, but only for a two count. Low blow by Gedo changes the tide, followed by a DDT. Pin attempt by Gedo, and it succeeds. Your winner: Gedo

Match Thoughts: Shorter then the last few matches, but I am not complaining. Just seeing the quarter-final matches on paper, one could assume this would be the worst one. I don't understand why Gedo was trying to take off Caras's mask, since Gedo was the crowd favorite, and such actions are usually done by the heel. Gedo really only had a few moves in this match, literally. Caras is good, but I don't see how it made sense to have him dominate, only to lose to a low blow/DDT/pin combination. Pretty unspecial, but not too terrible. Score: 4.0

Semi-finals begin

Ultimo Dragon vs Jushin Liger
Match begins with a Test of Strength, which Dragon wins, but Liger applies the headscissors takedown, and holds onto the move for a headscissors submission. Whoever wins the Test of Strength, rarely ends up with the advantage it seems. Anyway, Dragon gets out of it and applies a headlock, but Liger reverses it into a wristlock. Dragon kicks his way out of it, and both men are back on their feet. Dragon then begins working on the left leg with a variety of submission holds and kicks. Liger eventually reverses a move into an armbar, but Dragon gets out of it, only to get put into a headscissors by Liger. Dragon kip-ups out of the headscissors, and both men are back on their feet again. Modified surfboard by Liger, but Dragon gets out of it, Irish whips Liger, and delivers a twisting backbreaker. Liger gets back to his feet, Irish whips Dragon, and does a twisting backbreaker of his own. Headscissors applied by Liger, reverted into a modified bow and arrow submission. Liger picks Dragon up, but Dragon Irish whips Liger, and goes for the abdominal stretch. Liger reverses it, and applies a headlock. Liger picks Dragon up, Irish whips him, and attempts a back body drop, but Dragon flips over and kicks Liger. Now Dragon attempts the Irish whip, and Liger reverses it. The two men jockey for an advantage, but in the end both men are back on their feet. Kick to the gut by Liger, followed by an Irish whip and a dropkick to the knee. Liger picks Dragon up, and dropkicks his knee a second time. Liger picks up Dragon again, and once again dropkicks him in the leg. Release German suplex by Liger, followed by a figure four leg lock. Liger switches to another leg submission, but Dragon reverses it into a half crab, which he reverts into a Muta lock. Dragon releases the hold, Irish whips Liger into the corner, and nails the cartwheel elbow smash in the corner. Figure four applied by Dragon until Liger reaches the ropes. Both men are limping now, as Dragon hits the backflip forearm to send Liger to the outside. Dragon feigns the plancha, before diving through the ropes onto Liger on the floor. Dragon rushes back in the ring, only to come back out with a somersault plancha off the top turnbuckle onto Liger. Dragon gets back up first, followed by Liger, and they make it back to the ring. Powerbomb by Dragon, but he only gets a two count. Tiger suplex by Dragon, but again only a two count. Dragon applies the abdominal stretch, then Irish whips Liger, but Liger reverses it into a catapult, and flings Dragon over the top rope to the floor. Liger then goes out to the apron, and performs a running somersault plancha onto Dragon. As Dragon gets back into the ring, he is met with a powerbomb for a two count. Liger then tries a brainbuster, nails it, but again only gets a two count. Tombstone piledriver by Liger, followed by a headbutt off the top rope. Cover, but only a two count for Liger. Dragon gets a roll-up, but only for a two count. Both wrestlers back up again, Dragon hits the Northern lights suplex, again for a two count. Irish whip by Dragon to the turnbuckle is reversed by Liger, and Liger gives Dragon a Liger Kick to the head. Liger attempts to set up Dragon for a fisherman brainbuster off the top rope, but Dragon reverses it and lands on his feet. La majastral by Dragon, but only for a two count. Springboard moonsault off the second rope by Dragon, and Dragon climbs to the top rope to attempt a moonsault on the downed Liger. Dragon misses though, and when he hits the ground he grabs his injured knee as he writhes in pain. Liger takes the opportunity to hit a sit down powerbomb, but only gets a two count. Liger attempts a move off the ropes, but Dragon reverses it into la majastral... but Liger reverses la majastral into a pin for the three count. Your winner: Jushin Liger

Match Thoughts: This was a fantastic match…. I almost wish that this was the final match, since I can't imagine anything can top this. Mat wrestling at the beginning was well done, and both wrestlers sold their respective leg injuries the rest of the match. Such psychology is rarely seen. Also, the match got plenty of time (around 17 minutes) for a semi-final match. Dragon and Liger were both in their primes in 1995, and you could tell in this match-up. Nearly flawless, I can't think of anything about it I didn't like. But, there is no such thing as a perfect match. Score: 8.9

Wild Pegasus vs Gedo
Stomps and kicks by Pegasus to start, followed by a back body drop and a stiff chop. Leg drop by Pegasus, then he picks Gedo up for a snap suplex. Again he picks Gedo up, and clotheslines him back down. Scoop slam by Pegasus, and the Lion Tamer. Gedo gets to the ropes, breaking up the submission hold. More chops by Pegasus, followed by a snapmare takedown and another submission hold. Gedo breaks it up, so Pegasus applies the STF. Pegasus breaks it up, places Gedo on the top rope, and superplexes Gedo down to the mat. Pin attempt, but only a two count. Gedo gets on the offense now, nailing a German suplex for a two count. Gedo quickly comes back and applies his submission move, but Pegasus breaks it up with a jawbreaker. Irish whip into the corner by Gedo is reversed, but Gedo gets a knee up to hit the charging Pegasus, and with a hurricanrana off the top rope sends Pegasus to the mat. Gedo quickly follows Pegasus with a dive through the ropes, and both men are down on the floor. Pegasus gets up first, and slams Gedo onto the table outside. Pegasus throws Gedo back into the ring, sets him up on the top rope, and hurricanranas him off. Cover, but only a two count. German suplex by Pegasus, but again only a two count, so Pegasus tries another one only to get the same results. Pegasus attempts a tombstone piledriver, but Gedo reverses it and slams Pegasus to the mat. Gedo ascends the top rope, but Pegasus catches him up there. Gedo knocks Pegasus back down, attempts a splash off the top rope, but Pegasus gets his knees up. Vicious clothesline by Pegasus, but he only gets a two count on the cover. Powerbomb by Pegasus, but again only a two count. Pegasus picks Gedo up and nails the dragon suplex, for the third time gets a two count. Pegasus misses the flying headbutt, but still gets up before Gedo and attempts a powerbomb, but Gedo reverses it with a hurricanrana pin for a two count. Brainbuster attempt by Gedo, but Gedo reverses it and does one of his own. Flying headbutt by Gedo off the top rope, cover, and the three count. Your winner: Gedo

Match Thoughts: Eh, Gedo won? Once I got over this shock, the match itself wasn't bad. Once again Gedo was dominated, but won. I guess he is the Shawn Michaels of Japanese wrestling, except fatter. If this was his "thing," then I can't really complain, even though each match it seems like he deserves to lose. The action was fast paced, and Benoit hit all his spots. The submission holds were brief, which might explain why they weren't selling injuries at all during the match. Score: 6.7

End of Semi-finals

Special Attraction Match: There is no way Gedo would be ready, so just for entertainment purposes Mysterio and Pyschosis had a match. I will not attempt to keep up completely, since these two can do 10 moves in 5 seconds. I will do my best though.

Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Psychosis
Match begins with a tie-up, which Pyschosis wins with a drop-toe hold. Mysterio reverses it into a wristlock, but Psychosis rolls though and applies a wristlock of his own. Mysterio wiggles free, gets Irish whipped by Psychosis, but Mysterio does a spinning slam. Irish whip by Psychosis, and he meets Mysterio in the corner with a splash. Back up again, Pyschosis applies a wristlock, but Mysterio flips him over. Irish whip by Pyschosis, followed by a lucha libre combination that lands Pyschosis on the floor. Rey follows with a somersault plancha, and both men are down. Back in the ring, Pyschosis dropkicks Mysterio in the knee. After another classic combination, Pyschosis gets kicked out to the floor. Mysterio ascends the top rope, and hits the hurricanrana from the top rope, to the floor. The crowd is impressed. Finally back in the ring again, Pyschosis nails the spinning heel kick, putting Mysterio on the floor. Psychosis follows with a tope. Pyschosis gets back in first, but Mysterio dropkicks him to the floor. Mysterio sails over the ropes with a somersault, and both men are down again. Psychosis gets back in first, and Mysterio hits a perfect West Coast Pop (springboard hurricanrana from the top rope) for a two count. Mysterio knocks Psychosis outside the ring again, and does a Asai Moonsault. Back in the ring, Psychosis regains control. After a kick, Pyschosis nails the leg drop off the top rope, but only gets a two count. Powerbomb by Psychosis, but he misses the twisting moonsault off the top rope. Heel kick my Mysterio sends Pyschosis to the top rope. Mysterio attempts the hurricanrana, but Pyschosis knocks him off. Mysterio comes charging back though, and completes the hurricanrana off the top rope. Mysterio then performs another hurricanrana, and gets the three count. Your winner: Rey Mysterio

Match Thoughts: In essence, all this match entailed was a spot fest and the lucha libre moves that are in every single Mysterio/Pyschosis match. Not that I am complaining, I enjoy watching these matches, and since it was put on as more of an exhibition then a match that really meant something, I had no problem with it mostly being spot after spot. That said, I can't rate it as high as I would if it was the same moves, but with a purpose and with emotion. I did have a good time watching the match though. Score: 7.2

Gedo vs. Jushin Liger
Tie-up to start the match, with Gedo getting the early advantage. Liger gets control, and wrenches on the arm of Gedo. Liger continues to work on the left arm of Gedo for a few minutes, with various submission moves and kicks. Included in that is a spot where Liger knees Gedo's shoulder and arm no less then 16 times. Gedo finally reaches the ropes, but Liger continues his attack with an armbreaker. Another armbreaker on Gedo, followed by a dropkick to the arm. A third armbreaker, as Gedo screams in pain. More kicks to the shoulder, and yet another armbreaker. On the mat now, Liger applies the cross-face chicken wing, but Gedo reaches the ropes. Liger replies by sinking in the cross armbar, but again Gedo reaches the ropes. Liger hits a weak tombstone, then attempts a cross-face chicken wing, but Gedo kicks him in the nuts. Gedo in control now, as he clotheslines Liger out of the ring. Gedo then hits the quebrada off the second rope to the floor, and Liger is down. Gedo back in the ring first, Liger soon follows. Powerbomb by Gedo, then Gedo goes to the top rope and nails the flying headbutt. Cover, but only a two count. Gedo applies his submission hold (see video from earlier match), but Liger gets to the ropes eventually. Irish whip by Gedo into the turnbuckle, but Liger reverses it and nails the Liger Kick in the corner. Liger sets Gedo up in the corner as Goldust did for Shattered Dreams, and hits another Liger Kick. Gedo gets kicked out of the ring, and Liger follows with a tope off the top turnbuckle, but Gedo catches him in mid-air with a dropkick. Back in the ring, armbreaker by Liger, then an Irish whip which ends with both wrestlers knocking each other out with a double clothesline. Liger hits the German release suplex, but Gedo semi lands on his feet and does a hurricanrana for a two count. Kick to the gut by Liger, followed by a fisherman brainbuster for a two count. Ligerbomb by Liger, but again only a two count. Liger goes to the top rope, but Gedo gets up quickly and nails Liger. Gedo joins Liger on the top turnbuckle, attempts the superplex, but Liger throws him off. Liger goes for the missile dropkick off the top rope, but Gedo side-steps it. Gedo hits the brainbuster and roll-up, but only gets a two count. Suplex attempt by Gedo, but Liger reverses it into a suplex of his own. Pin attempt, but only a two count. Liger goes to the top rope, but once again Gedo runs over before Liger can do anything, and throws him off. Now Gedo goes to the top rope but Liger joins him, and hits the fisherman brainbuster from the top rope for the three count. Your winner: Jushin Thunder Liger

Match Thoughts: Definitely a good match, but I have to give Liger most the credit. While Liger hit all his big moves (the Liger Kick and fisherman suplex off the top were incredible), Gedo never sold his arm injury the entire match, even though Liger worked on his arm intensely in the first 5 minutes of the match. Even though it was the final, it was still my least favorite Liger match on the card, I don't think that Gedo was mentally ready to have this many matches in one night. Score: 7.4

Final Thoughts:

Another high quality Japanese tournament, just as the Super J Cup 1994 was. I am sure the fact Gedo got so far effected the ratings, I don't put him on the same level as Benoit, Jericho, Ultimo Dragon, or Jushin Liger. But he did hold his own, and allowed his opponent to carry the match. Jericho, Dragon, and Benoit all became regulars in WCW soon after this, and all three still wrestle in the WWE today. Liger is thought of as one of the best wrestlers in Japan of the 1990's, and this tournament victory is among the highlights of his career.  A great display of the light heavyweight style, and a definite buy if you are a fan of the Japanese style of wrestling.

Highly Recommended

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