New Japan news

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

New Japan, 7/17/06

 

--> "CIRCUIT 2006 TURBULENCE" <--

29-year-old Hiroshi Tanahashi today became New Japan's bright light after a dark couple of days. Tanahashi outlasted five bigger and older superstars today in the IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament to finally live out his dream of becoming the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. It was a tournament that occupied much of today's four hour show at the Tsukisamu Green Dome, which, in another bright point, was about 70% full, much better than expected after refunds were offered following Lesnar's disappearing act (and 3,955 was New Japan's highest number there since July, 2004). Round one started out with what you could argue was the biggest match of the entire tournament, Tenzan vs. Akebono. Tenzan's condition has been improving a little lately, and today he used a Superfly splash, taught to him by one of his coaches (Gedo), but had trouble handling Akebono's weight. A crushing loss for Tenzan right before the G1 saw him flattened by Akebono's body press, and the "King of Tournaments" exited in round one. He will look to continue his harder training of late and aim towards a better G1 campaign. Nagata fought off Travis Tomko, winning quite convincingly in the end. Nagata avoided Tomko's Swanton bomb, and won with a backdrop hold. The semis started with Bernard vs. Akebono, and not known for his stamina, Akebono couldn't last long with Bernard, who rather than try and take the former Yokozuna off his feet, eventually just cradled him for the win. The other semi was called a very good match between Nagata and Tanahashi, their third of the year. They were 1-1 going into this, and at a disadvantage, Nagata fought really well and controlled large portions of the match. In the end though, Tanahashi's freshness allowed him to advance, as he used the ground Cobra Twist (countering a knee kick), made famous of course by certain New Japan legends, to pin Nagata. So there was no heroic final march for any of the four round one participants, the two semis finalists with free passes advancing safely.

 

The main event was then Tanahashi vs. Bernard, a rematch of their very heated Korakuen war last month. Tsukisamu Green Dome is known for being a tough crowd to please, but they were into much of today's show, and this one more than anything. There were huge "Tanahashi" calls, but also some "Bernard" chants from the crowd. Like last time, the gaijin overpowered the native, but at the same time had to be wary of his trickery. Bernard used an F5 (Verdict) during the match, but it had less effect than expected, I guess sending multiple messages, and Tanahashi also survived several of Bernard's other big moves, such as the Baldo bomb and corner splash. Bernard had help from the outside, Tomko interfering more than once. He was later banished by referee Tiger Hattori, ending a string of boos. Hattori also hit the ground briefly, after Tanahashi had countered the Bernard Driver with his Sling Blade, and no one was present to count when he covered. Tomko returned with a chair, but Tanahashi caught Bernard with a flying forearm, sending the chair into his face and causing bloodshed. Tanahashi then used his new Sling Blade off the top rope, followed by a regular Sling Blade, and covered for three perfect counts and one big gold belt! Tanahashi was in fact given the second generation title (Hashimoto's), because the other one is in America, and its former holder, Brock Lesnar, told Tokyo Sports (through someone else) that he isn't giving it back, because he is the true champion. Many fans rushed to ringside after the match, and the heat was said to have been absolutely incredible (hopefully comes off as well on TV). Tanahashi was interviewed in the ring, and said he'd done his best without giving up, and that the belt is heavier than he expected. Regarding Lesnar's last minute cancellation, Tanahashi again said he is sorry, in response to which many fans shouted "It isn't your fault!". Tanahashi smiled, and said from now on the kindness of fans will be repaid through is matches. He was asked to say something to the fans to end his interview, and Tanahashi replied, "I love you! And I love New Japan Pro-Wrestling!". He wants to make today the dawn of New Japan. Tanahashi will now greet the G1 Climax as the champion, a far cry from last August when he couldn't even beat Yano and lost to most of his seniors. The "future" that we talked about a few years ago may have arrived, and the other young generation ace should be making a move towards returning home soon...

 

A tag team revolution is starting and the reason is Real Wild Child (or HOOOOOO FEAR! as they are nicknamed by the Japanese internet scene). Nakanishi & Omori today added another set of tag belts to their NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Title (which wasn't on the line today, even though Tokyo Sports said it would be the other day), defeating the IWGP Provisional Tag Team Champions, Koshinaka & Makabe. The champions, who have been causing all sorts of problems on the current tour, used rulebreaking tactics, but despite that, Koshinaka was as popular as ever. RWC used some good teamwork, but so did Koshinaka & Makabe, at one point isolating Nakanishi at ringside with a union piledriver, leaving Omori in a terrible position. Makabe nearly had Omori, firing three running lariats at him, but Nakanishi was back by then, and the two hit the Washington Convention (McEnroe/Axe Bomber combination) that won them the NWA belts, and while Omori blew away his former friend Koshinaka with an Axe Bomber, Nakanishi dropped Makabe with the Hercules Cutter for the three count and belts! After a title drought of around six years, Nakanishi is suddenly a double champion. Even though they are not the "real" tag champions, they now hold the old belts, while ChoTen have the new ones. Speaking of ChoTen, Chono was doing commentary for the match (more on him below), and he entered the ring post-match to congratulate the new champions. After feigning a handshake, he KO'd both of them and advertised himself as the "true champion". A collision between ChoTen and Real Wild Child is surely on the horizon now, once Chono returns from injury! Wataru Inoue's attempt to repeat his Super Jr. win over Tiger Mask failed today when he challenged for the NWA Jr. Heavyweight Title. This was said to be a fairly ordinary match, not one of the highlights today. The finish was very nasty and concerning, as Tiger dropped Inoue with a brutal avalanche-style backdrop, then finished him off with a Tiger suplex hold. Wataru, who missed much of last year with two separate concussions, wasn't very responsive after the match and had to be stretchered to the back. Once again, the veteran juniors win when it matters most, despite good efforts from the young generation. Tiger Mask is now returning his focus to Liger, who you may remember accepted Tiger's invitation to challenge for this title after their Super Jr. semi final. Tiger wants to receive Liger's challenge for his V3 defense.

 

Yano & Ishii's sublime teamwork led them to a big win today, over Choshu & Yamamoto. Choshu declined to put himself in the tournament, so replaced Iizuka in this match, and at times treated Yano and his pupil Ishii like children, showing that he still has some of his old strength. Yamamoto's lack of stamina was conspicuous today, something he may want to sort out before the G1, and Yano, who isn't in the G1 despite having pinned Yamamoto regularly in recent months, pinned the young lion with his Oni Koroshi. Today's fourth match was said by some to be the best on the show, although others leaned towards Tanahashi vs. Bernard and Tanahashi vs. Nagata. This was a junior match that did deliver between the Japan/Ireland/Mexico junior connection and CTU, the finish of an exciting bout seeing Kanemoto (who, according to his blog, has remodeled his physique back to how it was during his Team 2000 days) pin Minoru again! Their inevitable title match is surely not too far off, but having originally been expected to take place today, the question is when? Today's opening match was also have said to be very good, much more than most expected from an opener. Team Hokkaido - Uwano, Ishikari & Hirasawa - overcame Iizuka (also from Hokkaido), Yujiro & Naito in a match where the young men showed lots of fire, while Iizuka just kind of stood back. Taichi Ishikari in his first match on the main New Japan brand, made a good impression, but it was Hirasawa who picked up the win, submitting Naito.

 

Antonio Inoki appeared after intermission, hitting the ring for a scheduled interview. There were many cheers and although some tried to boo him, they had no chance. Inoki, who incredibly tried to subtly blame New Japan for the Lesnar incident in today's Tokyo Sports, completely avoided the issue, and talked about how often he flies from New York to Japan. Inoki then announced that all ¥380,000 (US$3,265) seats for his scheduled "INOKI GENOME" show on 9/1 have been sold out (even though tickets are not on sale to the public yet, it seems his acquaintances bought them). Inoki left with a patented "1-2-3-DAA!". Before the tag title match, Chono hit the ring for his long awaited showdown with Simon Inoki. Chono updated the fans on his condition, then went on another anti-Simon tirade, asking where "Simon Kelly" was. It appears that President Inoki is still in America though, busy organizing "INOKI GENOME 2006" while his company has a major show. Chono blamed Simon for certain problems, although didn't go into detail, then left for the commentary booth with an "I AM CHONO!".

 

NJPW, 7/17/06 (WPW/NJ+IWTV Internet)

Tsukisamu Green Dome

3,955 Fans

 

1. Takashi Uwano, Taichi Ishikari & Mitsuhide Hirasawa beat Takashi Iizuka, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (11:37) when Hirasawa used a chickenwing armlock on Naito.

2. IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament - Round 1: Akebono beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan (6:55) with a running body press.

3. IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament - Round 1: Yuji Nagata beat Travis Tomko (7:48) with a backdrop hold.

4. Koji Kanemoto, Negro Casas, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Minoru, Jushin Thunder Liger, Jado & Gedo (10:35) when Kanemoto used a Tiger suplex hold on Minoru.

5. Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii beat Riki Choshu & Naofumi Yamamoto (10:38) when Yano used the Oni Koroshi on Yamamoto.

6. IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament - Semi Final: Giant Bernard beat Akebono (4:45) with a horizontal cradle.

7. IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament - Semi Final: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Yuji Nagata (13:46) with a ground Cobra Twist.

8. NWA Jr. Heavyweight Title: Tiger Mask © beat Wataru Inoue (12:13) with a Tiger suplex hold (2nd defense).

9. IWGP Provisional Tag Team Title: Manabu Nakanishi & Takao Omori ZERO1-MAX beat Shiro Koshinaka & Togi Makabe © (15:17) when Nakanishi used the Hercules Cutter on Makabe to become the new champions.

10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Giant Bernard (17:44) with the Sling Blade to become the 45th champion.

 

Not surprised to see Tanahashi get the belt. New Japan needed to start things afresh, and Tanahashi was the only real choice.

 

G1 combinations announced

 

Block combinations have been determined for this year's G1 and announced. There will be only half as many G1 matches per show as recent years, which some may consider a good thing and some a bad thing (New Japan felt eight matches tired out fans and lessened the impact of each match individually). This is very much going to be a "hard fight through contents", as the star power is significantly down on recent years, not only on the outsider side but on the New Japan side with Chono and Nakamura absent. Each show typically has two big matches and two smaller matches. Because the G1 was cut down from twelve to ten men, each wrestler will also get a day off. Its said that special matches will be constructed on each show, with Akebono (if he's healthy after K-1) and the juniors likely to have some interesting matches, and certain other names (including Takayama) having come up as candidates recently. The biggest test for Kojima back before New Japan fans is likely to be on the final two days of group stage matches, when he faces Tanahashi in Nagoya, then Nakanishi at Sumo Hall. The TV schedule is still not finalized, but I'd guess those current without any tapings listed may run on Samurai! TV.

 

NJPW, 8/6/06 (SXW LIVE)

Niigata City Gymnasium

 

1. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Koji Kanemoto

2. G1 Climax - Block B: Yuji Nagata vs. Naofumi Yamamoto

3. G1 Climax - Block A: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Satoshi Kojima

4. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Manabu Nakanishi

 

NJPW, 8/8/06

Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium

 

1. G1 Climax - Block B: Naofumi Yamamoto vs. Togi Makabe

2. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jushin Thunder Liger

3. G1 Climax - Block A: Giant Bernard vs. Satoshi Kojima

4. G1 Climax - Block B: Yuji Nagata vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan

 

NJPW, 8/9/06

Grand Cube Osaka

 

1. G1 Climax - Block B: Koji Kanemoto vs. Naofumi Yamamoto

2. G1 Climax - Block B: Yuji Nagata vs. Togi Makabe

3. G1 Climax - Block A: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Jushin Thunder Liger

4. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Giant Bernard

 

NJPW, 8/10/06

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium

 

1. G1 Climax - Block B: Togi Makabe vs. Koji Kanemoto

2. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Naofumi Yamamoto

3. G1 Climax - Block A: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Giant Bernard

4. G1 Climax - Block A: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Satoshi Kojima

NJPW, 8/12/06 (SXW LIVE)

Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

 

1. G1 Climax - Block B: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Togi Makabe

2. G1 Climax - Block A: Giant Bernard vs. Jushin Thunder Liger

3. G1 Climax - Block B: Yuji Nagata vs. Koji Kanemoto

4. G1 Climax - Block A: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Satoshi Kojima

 

NJPW, 8/13/06 (PPV)

Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

 

1. G1 Climax - Semi Final: Block A 1st place vs. Block B 2nd place

2. G1 Climax - Semi Final: Block B 1st place vs. Block A 2nd place

 

I see Tanahashi coming out with only one loss, if that, to set up a future title match. I think the final will be Tanahashi avenging his 2004 final loss to Tenzan.

[Smartly Pretty 0]

Hmm. I thought Tenzan would go a little later in the tourney. Shows what I know, I guess.

[JST 0]

... Wait, Tomko can do a swanton!?

[Mecha Mummy 0]

Hmm. I thought Tenzan would go a little later in the tourney. Shows what I know, I guess.

 

Tenzan really hasn't been relevant at all this year outside of teaming with Chono. There's no way he isn't making it past the group stage of the G1, anyway, because the only other top guy in his block is Nagata

(as opposed to, say, Tanahashi, Bernard, Nakanishi and Kojima in Block A).

[Vyce 0]

I think it'll come down to Tanahashi & Nagata, with maybe Nagata going over to set up a title match down the line.

[Dandy 0]

Brock is keeping that beautiful belt? That sucks. I like Brock, but that is a dick move.

 

This almost sounds like a worked shoot where Lesnar will show back up and claim to be the real champion, starting a feud.

 

I know it is not, but it sounds like one.

[World's Worst Man 0]

That's what I thought when I read what Brock said. But given the fragility of NJPW's situation, I can't imagine they'd risk the awful PR of him pulling out of the show on such short notice, just to pull an angle that may or may not make much money for them.

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

Tomko and Bernard seem to have gotten so much better after they weren't being generic WWE big guys anymore.