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

After Keiji Muto made his historic jump to All Japan with Satoshi Kojima and Kendo Kashin at the beginning of 2002, the IWGP Tag Team Title, previously held by he and Taiyo Kea, was vacated. With Kojima also leaving, his famous team with Hiroyoshi Tenzan was split, causing the loss of perhaps New Japan's greatest tag team ever. For the tournament to crown new champions, which was held throughout the "HYPER BATTLE 2002" tour in March, Tenzan reunited with his former partner and long-time mentor, Masahiro Chono, the two gunning for their fourth reign. In addition to that, a mixture of young and old New Japan talent was on display, and the tournament would conclude with an epic final.

IWGP Tag Team Title Tournament (3/8/02 to 3/24/02)

Round 1: Kenzo Suzuki & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Osamu Nishimura & Jushin Thunder Liger (13:47) when Suzuki used a backdrop suplex on Nishimura.
Round 1: Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi beat Tadao Yasuda & Dan Devine (13:20) when Nagata used a backdrop hold on Devine.
Round 1: Giant Silva & Giant Singh beat Scott Norton & Super J (6:43) when Singh used a chokeslam on J.
Round 1: Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Kensuke Sasaki & Hiroshi Tanahashi* (18:57) when Tenzan used the TTD on Tanahashi.
Semi Final: Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi beat Giant Silva & Giant Singh (9:23) when Nakanishi used a German suplex hold on Singh.
Final: Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi (23:16) when Tenzan used a moonsault press on Nagata.

* Both Koshinaka (Sasaki's partner) and Suzuki (Tanahashi's partner) were injured, so Sasaki and Tanahashi teamed up to remain in the tournament.