Strong Style Spirit ~ Your New Japan resource for over seven years

From 6/24/88 to 3/16/89, Tatsumi Fujinami dominated the IWGP Heavyweight Title, having seven defenses, including the famous 60 minute draw against Antonio Inoki on 8/8/88. On 4/5/89, Fujinami decided to vacate the title to raise it's value, and it was determined that a tournament would decide the new champion on New Japan's first ever Tokyo Dome. Using wrestlers from Japan, America and Russia, the tournament to decide the fourth IWGP Heavyweight Champion took place before 53,600 fans.

IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament (4/24/89)

Round 1: Big Van Vader beat Masahiro Chono (5:52) with a diving body press.
Round 1: Tatsumi Fujinami beat Vladimir Berkovich (4:51) with a triangle choke hold.
Round 1: Victor Zangiev beat Buzz Sawyer (3:56) with a German suplex.
Round 1: Shinya Hashimoto beat Riki Choshu (3:41) with an inside cradle.
Semi Final: Big Van Vader beat Tatsumi Fujinami (14:37) with a body press.
Semi Final: Shinya Hashimoto beat Victor Zangiev (7:28) with a figure-four leglock.
Final: Big Van Vader beat Shinya Hashimoto (9:47) with an inside cradle.