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The first Tokyo Dome event of the 2001 was "WRESTLING WORLD 2001", the annual January 4th event. After his loss to All Japan's Toshiaki Kawada also at the Tokyo Dome last October, ace Kensuke Sasaki vacated the IWGP Heavyweight Title, upset that he fell to All Japan's ace. It was determined that the January Tokyo Dome show would host one of the biggest one night tournaments ever seen, perhaps exceeding the G1 Climax in importance, with six of the world's strongest wrestlers fighting it out for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. With representatives for the New Japan army (Kensuke), Fighting Club G-EGGS (Nagata), Team 2000 (Chono, Tenzan & Kojima), and All Japan (Kawada), the tournament boasted many important wrestlers, all aiming at the same prize, wrestling's highest trophy, the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Additionally, both Keiji Muto and Shinjiro Otani returned from overseas learning excursions, the latter having bulked up to become a heavyweight, the two teaming up to face a tough homecoming challenge from Manabu Nakanishi & Jushin Thunder Liger. And in a major singles confrontation, the man who left New Japan to create his own new movement, Shinya Hashimoto, returned to face New Japan foreman, Riki Choshu, in a physical battle. 62,001 fans packed the Tokyo Dome to witness one of the greatest spectaculars in wrestling history.
Special participation:
Shinya Hashimoto (ZERO-ONE)
Toshiaki Kawada (All Japan)
NJPW "WRESTLING WORLD 2001", 1/4/01 (WPW)
Tokyo Dome
62,001 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House
1. IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament - Round 1: Kensuke Sasaki beat Satoshi Kojima (16:33) with a crab hold.
2. IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament - Round 1: Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Yuji Nagata (16:45) with a moonsault press.
3. Minoru Tanaka & Koji Kanemoto beat Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Shinya Makabe (18:02) when Kanemoto used a heel hold on Makabe.
4. Takashi Iizuka beat Kendo Kashin (6:12) with a sleeper hold.
5. IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament - Semi Final: Kensuke Sasaki beat Masahiro Chono (11:28) with the Strangle Hold Gamma.
6. IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament - Semi Final: Toshiaki Kawada  beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan (10:45) with a powerbomb.
7. Keiji Muto & Shinjiro Otani beat Manabu Nakanishi & Jushin Thunder Liger (5:44) when Otani used a cobra hold on Liger.
8. Riki Choshu vs. Shinya Hashimoto  went to a no contest (15:20).
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kensuke Sasaki beat Toshiaki Kawada (10:30) with a Northern Light bomb to become the 27th champion.
Points of note:
The opening match itself was a main event worthy clash, and did in fact sell out Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium with 9,000 fans in March of 2000. The first IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament first round match saw Kensuke aim at regaining the title he never lost in the ring, facing Kojima. It was a grueling start, the match lasting 16 1/2 minutes, before Sasaki submitted Kojima with a crab hold following two lariats. Kensuke now had to face a man with an advantage, Chono, who received a free pass to the semi final round.
In another tough tournament match, Tenzan won one for Team 2000, beating Nagata in an impressive win. Tenzan put away the G-EGGS founder with a moonsault press to conclude another match lasting well over 16 minutes, setting up a big match for him against Kawada, the other man to receive a free pass to the semi final round.
Kendo Kashin continued his slump provoked by last year's PRIDE loss to Ryan Gracie, this time falling to a heavyweight technician, Iizuka. In the end, Kashin was little match for Iizuka, who put the junior away with a sleeper hold to follow up on his success in 2000 with a good start to the new year.
Having beaten T2000's Kojima, Kensuke climbed even higher, beating a fresh T2000 leader, Chono, in the first semi final! After spiking Chono with a snap piledriver, Sasaki applied the Strangle Hold Gamma, and Chono called it a day, tapping out! Kensuke stepped one step closer to regaining the title, advancing to the final.
In a physical war that took a lot out of both men, an already tired Tenzan fought Kawada, dominating the All Japan ace for much of their match. Tenzan's prior damage in his match with Nagata caught up to him though, Kawada taking control and finishing off bold Tenzan with a powerbomb, setting up a rematch from October. Kensuke vs. Kawada, chapter two!
Keiji Muto, who wrestled in WCW for much of 2000 after losing (as Muta) to Power Warrior at the Fukuoka Dome on 5/5, and Shinjiro Otani, who left Japan in August of 2000 to bulk up and become a heavyweight in Canada and Great Britain, both returned to New Japan. The two teamed up, facing Nakanishi & Liger in their return match. Muto revealed the skinhead he originally showed off on 12/31/00 at Inoki's end-of-year festival, while Otani wore new red tights. The two were able to defeat Nakanishi & Liger in under 6 minutes, surprising them with a sudden attack after the introductions, and taking it to them right away. Although Nakanishi was able to match Otani, Liger wasn't, overwhelmed by his newly acquired heavyweight strength. Muto isolated Nakanishi, leaving Otani to use his patented Spiral bomb on Liger. However, he lifted Liger at the 2 count, then showed off his new cobra hold submission finisher, Liger tapping out! Otani refused to release his grip and had to be pulled off Liger, but not before the junior titan passed out. A very dominant return for Muto and Otani, who left a huge impression on the Tokyo Dome!
ZERO-ONE's Shinya Hashimoto returned to his old haunt, accompanied by another man seemingly gone from New Japan, Tadao Yasuda, and BattlARTS regular, Alexander Otsuka. He faced New Japan foreman, Riki Choshu, in the latest in a chain of brutal, physical wars between the two. This one saw them kick, chop, punch, just pummel each other with immense force, with the fight getting out of hand, seconds rushing into the ring to hold them back. President Fujinami called for the bell, afraid that someone would be seriously hurt, the match ruled a no contest. Fans were outraged, jeering violently, with many leaving the Tokyo Dome in protest.
In a rematch of the near-unanimous 2000 Best Bout, Kensuke Sasaki, ace of New Japan, and Toshiaki Kawada, ace of All Japan, met in the IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament final to determine the 27th champion. Both men were tired, especially Kensuke, who had wrestled close to half an hour previously. They went at it with haste, both looking to win as quickly as possible in a very severe fight. After a running lariat almost sealed the win, Kensuke proved himself the true ace of New Japan, beating a fresher Kawada with a Northern Light bomb to begin his third reign as IWGP Heavyweight Title, and complete a brilliant tournament win! The new champion broke down into tears, overwhelmed by the emotion, having wrestled for close to 40 minutes, and beaten three of the world's toughest heavyweights successively. Sasaki completed two objectives in one night, avenging his loss to Kawada for New Japan, and winning back the title he dominated throughout 2000.
Back to: "DREAM * WIN" (12/23/00)
Forward to: "FIGHTING SPIRIT 2001" (1/31/01 to 2/18/01)
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