–> “CIRCUIT 2010 NEW JAPAN ISM” <--

NJPW, 2/8/10
Ota City Nitta Gymnasium Ex Arena
1,000 Fans

1. Taichi beat Mitsuhide Hirasawa (8:51) with a Frankensteiner.
2. Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask beat Koji Kanemoto & Nobuo Yoshihashi (11:06) when Tiger used a chickenwing armlock on Yoshihashi.
3. Takashi Iizuka & Karl Anderson beat Yuji Nagata & Hirooki Goto (14:03) when Goto was DQ’d.
4. Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito beat Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (12:04) when Naito pinned Honma after the Limitless Explosion.
5. Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt (13:06) when Yano used the Oni Koroshi on Taguchi.
6. Shinsuke Nakamura & Giant Bernard beat Manabu Nakanishi & Wataru Inoue (15:35) when Nakamura used the Boma Ye on Inoue.

–> “CIRCUIT 2010 NEW JAPAN ISM” <--

NJPW, 2/7/10
New Sunpia Tochigi
711 Fans - No Vacancy

1. Wataru Inoue beat Nobuo Yoshihashi (8:21) with the Triangle Lancer.
2. Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Takashi Iizuka & Gedo (11:59) when Gedo was DQ’d.
3. Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask beat Koji Kanemoto & Taichi (10:31) when Tiger used a front cradle on Taichi.
4. Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito beat Yuji Nagata & Mitsuhide Hirasawa (13:08) when Yujiro pinned Hirasawa after the Limitless Explosion.
5. Toru Yano, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson beat Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (14:47) when Yano used the Oni Koroshi on Honma.
6. Manabu Nakanishi & Hirooki Goto beat Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii (12:39) when Nakanishi used an Argentine backbreaker on Ishii.

–> “CIRCUIT 2010 NEW JAPAN ISM” <--

NJPW, 2/6/10
Kasukabe City Gymnasium
1,300 Fans

1. Gedo beat Nobuo Yoshihashi (9:12) with the Gedo clutch.
2. Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Koji Kanemoto & Taichi (15:52) when Tiger used a chickenwing armlock on Taichi.
3. Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito beat Wataru Inoue & Mitsuhide Hirasawa (11:08) when Yujiro pinned Hirasawa after the Limitless Explosion.
4. Giant Bernard & Takashi Iizuka beat Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (17:02) when Bernard used a corner press on Honma.
5. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Hirooki Goto beat Toru Yano & Karl Anderson (15:02) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Anderson.
6. Manabu Nakanishi & Yuji Nagata beat Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii (13:34) when Nakanishi used an Argentine backbreaker on Ishii.

With Jado now off the tour injured, Gedo is promising to bring a mystery partner to team with him against Apollo 55 at Sumo Hall. Apparently this is someone significant in Gedo’s past, which could be quite a few names, with a few obvious ones (Ultimo Dragon, Super Delfin). Since this is an IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title match it can’t be a heavyweight, although the most significant heavyweight in Gedo’s past, Kodo Fuyuki, passed away in 2003.

NJPW, 2/14/10 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Special Opening Match: Jushin Thunder Liger, Koji Kanemoto & Tiger Mask vs. Kota Ibushi , Fujita “Jr.” Hayato & GENTARO
2. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt (c) vs. Gedo & X
3. Riki Choshu & Wataru Inoue vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
4. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
5. Special Singles Match: Yuji Nagata vs. TAJIRI
6. IWGP Tag Team Title: Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. El Terrible & El Texano Jr.
7. Special Singles Match - Hardcore Rules: Hirooki Goto vs. Masato Tanaka
8. Special Singles Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Toru Yano
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Manabu Nakanishi

–> “CIRCUIT 2010 NEW JAPAN ISM” <--

NJPW, 2/3/10
Ueda Creation Hall
915 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Taichi beat Nobuo Yoshihashi (8:56) with the Black Mephisto.
2. Koji Kanemoto beat Mitsuhide Hirasawa (9:46) with an ankle hold.
3. Yuji Nagata & Super Strong Machine beat Riki Choshu & Jushin Thunder Liger (7:59) when Nagata used a backdrop hold on Liger.
4. Toru Yano, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson beat Wataru Inoue, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (12:59) when Yano used the Uragasumi on Inoue.
5. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Hirooki Goto beat Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (15:20) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Honma.
6. Manabu Nakanishi, Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo (17:35) when Nakanishi used an Argentine backbreaker on Gedo.

All nine matches for the 2/14 Sumo Hall show were finalized today, with one under review. That is Apollo 55’s IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title defense against Jado & Gedo, which is in significant doubt after Jado’s injury yesterday. Matches added today include Tanahashi vs. Yano, one of Yano’s biggest singles opportunities to date. Meanwhile, Goto vs. Tanaka has been made into a Hardcore Rules match which would seem to work against Hirooki given that Tanaka is something of a hardcore legend in wrestling from his time in FMW and ECW.

There is also a special opening match, with three of New Japan’s junior veterans facing three of the brightest young talents from the indie scene. The event has also been announced as a SKYPerfecTV! PPV. Meanwhile, New Japan has confirmed that the next IWGP Heavyweight Title match after this will be on 4/4 at Korakuen Hall, the main event of “NEW DIMENSION”. The winner of the 2010 New Japan Cup is likely to challenge the victor of Nakamura vs. Nakanishi there.

NJPW, 2/14/10 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Special Opening Match: Jushin Thunder Liger, Koji Kanemoto & Tiger Mask vs. Kota Ibushi , Fujita “Jr.” Hayato & GENTARO
2. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt (c) vs. Jado & Gedo
3. Riki Choshu & Wataru Inoue vs. Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson
4. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii
5. Special Singles Match: Yuji Nagata vs. TAJIRI
6. IWGP Tag Team Title: Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (c) vs. El Terrible & El Texano Jr.
7. Special Singles Match - Hardcore Rules: Hirooki Goto vs. Masato Tanaka
8. Special Singles Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Toru Yano
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Manabu Nakanishi

–> “CIRCUIT 2010 NEW JAPAN ISM” <--
Both the upcoming IWGP Heavyweight Title match between Nakamura and Nakanishi and the decisive battle between Hirooki Goto and Masato Tanaka gained steam today as New Japan returned to Tokyo Differ Ariake for the first time since 2001, drawing it's second packed house in successive days in Tokyo. The main event saw Tanaka gain a big advantage over Goto as he pinned him in the big tag main event following the Sliding D and provoked Goto on the microphone post-match. Kazuchika Okada said farewell to New Japan as he embarks on an indefinite overseas learning excursion to TNA Wrestling. He fought MVP Tanahashi and actually did quite well, lasting 13 1/2 minutes before succumbing to the High Fly Flow. Okada said he would change professional wrestling when he comes back and become the center of New Japan.

Jado & Gedo's challenge for Apollo 55's IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title was thrown into major doubt today as Jado suffered what seems to be a severe neck injury in their match against DDT's Kota Ibushi & Kenny Omega, having to be stretchered out after the referee quickly stopped the match. The two haven't been back together long after Gedo had a lengthy layoff last year and now Jado seems to be sidelined long-term. Tamon Honda and Kentaro Shiga were on familiar ground today, the two freelancers of NOAH fame entering New Japan to face Makabe & Honma in another unique match today. GBH picked up the win as Makabe pinned Shiga ahead of his upcoming GHC Heavyweight Title challenge.

NJPW, 1/31/10 (SXW)
Tokyo Differ Ariake
1,800 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Super Strong Machine, Tiger Mask & El Samurai beat Koji Kanemoto, Taichi & Nobuo Yoshihashi (9:26) when Samurai used a chickenwing armlock on Yoshihashi.
2. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma beat Tamon Honda & Kentaro Shiga (9:14) when Makabe used a top rope King Kong kneedrop on Shiga.
3. Special Tag Match: TAJIRI & Takashi Iizuka beat Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue (9:32) when Nagata was DQ’d.
4. Special Tag Match: Kota Ibushi & Kenny Omega beat Jado & Gedo (10:43) by referee stop (Omega beat Jado).
5. Yujiro, Tetsuya Naito, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Toru Yano, Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson & Tomohiro Ishii (12:00) when Taguchi pinned Anderson.
6. Kazuchika Okada Farewell Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Kazuchika Okada (13:26) with the High Fly Flow.
7. Special Tag Match: Shinsuke Nakamura & Masato Tanaka beat Manabu Nakanishi & Hirooki Goto (17:25) when Tanaka used the Sliding D on Goto.

New Japan has been renowned in the past decade for it’s development of young wrestlers. Even during it’s darkest times, there was always a cast of dojo boys and young lions that presented hope for a brighter future, and that future has become now with Tanahashi, Nakamura, and others leading the company safely of late.

Lately though there have been less debutants, probably due to a mixture of the recession (having to balance roster size) and other factors. Kazuchika Okada, originally a Toryumon trainee who re-trained and re-debuted for New Japan, appears to be the one to keep an eye on, as personally I think he could be just as successful as Nakamura and Tanahashi. Hirasawa and Yoshihashi show less right now but both also have potential.

Someone on the forums dug up some information on three of the newer dojo boys who look set to debut in the near future. Hopefully, if all make it to the ring, these can add some new freshness to lineups.

(Left to right)
- Simi Taitoko Fale (28-years-old) (former rugby player for the Fukuoka Sanix Blues)
- Koyume Takahashi (19-years-old)
- Kyosuke Mikami (25-years-old)

–> “CIRCUIT 2010 NEW JAPAN ISM” <--
Prince Devitt's immense growth in the past year was still not enough as he again found himself "that" close to glory in a rematch of the SUPER J-CUP final today. New IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Naomichi Marufuji, made a successful V1 defense of the belt against the young Irishman in another closely contested bout. The experience of Marufuji was again enough to give him the edge though as he dropped Devitt with his Tiger Frosion for the win. His next challenger may be an even proposition though as veteran Koji Kanemoto appeared after the match and challenged Marufuji. Marufuji responded rudely to the junior legend, calling him a "deteriorated version of KENTA", heating up what should be a spectacular match in the near future.

CHAOS' Toru Yano took one of his biggest scalps lately in the semi final, a tag match designed more to build up Nakamura vs. Nakanishi, as Nakamura & Yano battled Nakanishi & Tanahashi. But it was the brewing rivalry between Tanahashi and a fellow young generation man typically placed a few notches below the "4 Heroes", Yano, that took center stage as Yano blocked the High Fly Flow with both knees and cradled Tanahashi for the flash three count. A singles match between the two is a possibility for the 2/14 Sumo Hall show, where neither is yet booked.

NJPW, 1/30/10 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
2,005 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House

1. Tomoaki Honma beat Nobuo Yoshihashi (4:47) with the Shalimarti.
2. Black Cat Memorial Match: Koji Kanemoto, Tiger Mask & El Samurai beat Super Strong Machine, Wataru Inoue & Mitsuhide Hirasawa (10:25) when Kanemoto used an ankle hold on Hirasawa.
3. Hirooki Goto beat Kazuchika Okada (9:46) with the Shouten.
4. Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii, Jado & Gedo beat Riki Choshu, Togi Makabe, Ryusuke Taguchi & Taichi (8:28) when Gedo used the Gedo clutch on Taichi.
5. Special 6 Man Tag Match: Yuji Nagata, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito beat TAJIRI, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson (13:30) when TAJIRI was DQ’d.
6. Special Tag Match: Shinsuke Nakamura & Toru Yano beat Manabu Nakanishi & Hiroshi Tanahashi (16:49) when Yano pinned Tanahashi.
7. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Naomichi Marufuji (c) beat Prince Devitt (20:19) with the Tiger Frosion (1st defense).

–> “CIRCUIT 2010 NEW JAPAN ISM” <--

NJPW, 1/29/10
Shirakawa City Central Gymnasium
1,000 Fans

1. Koji Kanemoto beat Mitsuhide Hirasawa (9:50) with an ankle hold.
2. Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii beat Tiger Mask & Taichi (13:51) when Ishii used a lariat on Taichi.
3. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma beat Riki Choshu & Nobuo Yoshihashi (8:28) when Honma used the Shalimarti on Yoshihashi.
4. Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue beat Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada (14:08) when Nagata used a backdrop hold on Okada.
5. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Toru Yano, Jado & Gedo (14:25) when Tanahashi used the High Fly Flow on Gedo.
6. Manabu Nakanishi, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson (18:02) when Naito pinned Anderson after the Limitless Explosion.

–> “CIRCUIT 2010 NEW JAPAN ISM” <--

NJPW, 1/27/10 (Samurai! TV)
Chiba Port Arena Sub Arena
900 Fans

1. Koji Kanemoto beat Taichi (8:31) with an ankle hold.
2. Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii beat Tiger Mask & Mitsuhide Hirasawa (13:45) when Ishii used a brainbuster on Hirasawa.
3. Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue beat Riki Choshu & Nobuo Yoshihashi (13:33) when Inoue used the Staggerin’ Blow on Yoshihashi.
4. Toru Yano, Jado & Gedo beat Hirooki Goto, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt (15:03) when Yano used the Oni Koroshi on Taguchi.
5. Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito beat Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada (14:10) when Naito pinned Okada after the Limitless Explosion.
6. Manabu Nakanishi, Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson (16:23) when Nakanishi used the Dai*Nakanishi German on Nakamura.

NJPW “EXCITING BATTLE IN OKINAWA 2010″, 1/22/10
Okinawa Prefectural Budokan
2,750 Fans - No Vacancy

1. Jushin Thunder Liger, Super Delfin , Kaijin Habu Otoko & Golden Pine beat Ryusuke Taguchi, Shisaou , Mil Mongoose & Menso~re Oyaji (12:06) when Otoko used the Moudoku Habu Kuubaku on Oyaji.
2. Yuji Nagata & Mitsuhide Hirasawa beat Riki Choshu & Kazuchika Okada (9:52) when Nagata used a backdrop hold on Okada.
3. Masahiro Chono & Koji Kanemoto beat Super Strong Machine & Tiger Mask (10:25) when Chono used a Shining Yakuza kick on Machine.
4. Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka beat Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (11:47) when Yano used the Oni Koroshi on Honma.
5. Manabu Nakanishi, Hirooki Goto & Wataru Inoue beat Shinsuke Nakamura, Jado & Gedo (15:34) when Nakanishi used an Argentine backbreaker on Gedo.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Tomohiro Ishii (14:14) with the High Fly Flow.

Masahiro Chono will leave New Japan in February after spending his entire career in the company. It is a harmonious departure that contradicts President Sugabayashi’s statement the other day that his contract was all but signed and that he planned a six month “body remodeling” excursion. Chono refuses to call it a “resignation” and prefers to label it a “graduation” as he believes he no longer has a major role in New Japan so by becoming free will be able to explore whatever options he wants. As mentioned, it is a very peaceful separation and the likelihood is that Chono will continue to make special appearances, which is basically what he has been doing for a long time now. This decision seems to have come after Sugabayashi could offer Chono no concrete guarantee on his future role in New Japan.

Chono is the only “Musketeer” who stuck with New Japan in the dark days, when Muto, Hashimoto, and other key names like Kensuke Sasaki and Riki Choshu left the promotion. However, a clear shift in priorities in recent years has led to the successful transition into a youth-based company, with Nakamura and Tanahashi at the top, supported by other upcoming names and a few younger (than Chono) veterans like Nagata and Nakanishi. This has led to Chono being something of a novelty act along with Choshu and the nWo Japan founder probably feels he still has a bit more to offer the pro wrestling community at large.

Chono has always been an advocate of the “no fences” ideal where wrestlers can travel between promotions easily, which you could see on his “PREMIUM” shows a lot. So there is a possibility he may promote shows under the ARISTRIST banner of a similar style. No word as yet on whether his disciple, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, will follow him or remain with New Japan. Tenzan remains a long-term absentee due to all of his injuries and hasn’t been seen since the G1 Climax.

Three or four years ago, Chono leaving New Japan would have set off alarm bells and been a huge blow for the company but all the hard work in stabilizing the company and creating new stars means he can now “graduate” knowing New Japan is in a good state.

NJPW, 1/31/10 (SXW)
Tokyo Differ Ariake

1. Super Strong Machine, Tiger Mask & El Samurai vs. Koji Kanemoto, Taichi & Nobuo Yoshihashi
2. Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Tamon Honda & Kentaro Shiga
3. Special Tag Match: Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue vs. TAJIRI & Takashi Iizuka
4. Special Tag Match: Jado & Gedo vs. Kota Ibushi & Kenny Omega
5. Yujiro, Tetsuya Naito, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt vs. Toru Yano, Giant Bernard, Karl Anderson & Tomohiro Ishii
6. Kazuchika Okada Farewell Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
7. Special Tag Match: Manabu Nakanishi & Hirooki Goto vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Masato Tanaka

Takao Omori held an interview at New Japan offices earlier to announce that he is changing his career from “pro wrestler” to “pro wrestler who manages an inn”. You may have noticed that Omori, who has been a freelancer based in New Japan for quite a while now, isn’t booked on the next tour. That’s because he has decided to focus on managing a family inn in Kanazawa.

However, he isn’t finished as a pro wrestler. Don’t expect to see Omori too often but he has no plans to fully retire and said he will appear occasionally. He isn’t sure exactly what the future holds but wants to maintain strong relations with New Japan, who offered him a big chance to restore his career after a lengthy break following his departure from ZERO1.

40-year-old Omori goes into semi-activity with many honours behind him as a former IWGP Tag Team Champion, GHC Tag Team Champion, AJPW World Tag Team Champion, All Asia Tag Team Champion, AWA Heavyweight Champion, NWA United National Heavyweight Champion, NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Champion, and WLW Heavyweight Champion.