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Shinsuke Nakamura shocked the world in December, 2003, when aged just 23, he upset Hiroyoshi Tenzan to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Title. However, after a tough vale tudo fight on New Year's Eve, then a harrowind match with Yoshihiro Takayama at the Tokyo Dome in January, Nakamura was injured badly and forced to vacate. A month later, a tournament was constructed with seven former champions and one bright upstart, just like Nakamura, in the form of Hiroshi Tanahashi. The tournament was one for the ages, with big matches, and it would be Tenzan who cast aside the shock from December and began his second reign.
IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament (2/15/04)
Round 1: Yuji Nagata beat Tadao Yasuda (4:08) with the Nagata Lock III.
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