|
|
 
"DOME IMPACT", New Japan's second Tokyo Dome event of 2000, was a historic event that would help shape the future of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Two men, who's fates had collided since 1997, wrestling in their final encounter. The man titled in the past, Mr. Strong Style, Shinya Hashimoto, against the outsider, Antonio Inoki's ultimate hybrid fighter, UFO's Naoya Ogawa. With a negative win-loss record against Ogawa, Hashimoto placed so much on the line for this match. He vowed that if he were to lose, he would retire from wrestling. Below the clash of the titans was a new concept spawned by Jushin Thunder Liger's push into the heavyweight division since January. Four of New Japan's top heavyweights faced four of the top junior heavyweights in singles clashes, as the juniors looked to prove their equality. The main match of this series saw IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kensuke Sasaki, face IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Jushin Thunder Liger, in a battle of division aces. Additionally, after snatching nWo Japan away from Keiji Muto and merging it into Team 2000, Masahiro Chono faced Muto's deadly Great Muta persona. Two of wrestling's strongest men, Manabu Nakanishi and Scott Norton, would lock horns in a battle of brutes. And after leaving last year to practice overseas, Yutaka Yoshie returned to New Japan, facing Hiroyoshi Tenzan on the highest stage, the Tokyo Dome.
Foreign participation:
Don Frye (Team 2000)
Scott Norton (Team 2000)
Special participation:
Kazunari Murakami (UFO)
Naoya Ogawa (UFO)
NJPW "DOME IMPACT", 4/7/00 (WPW)
Tokyo Dome
60,000 Fans - Super No Vacancy
1. Yuji Nagata beat Kendo Kashin (12:16) with the Nagata Lock II.
2. Manabu Nakanishi beat Scott Norton (11:07) by pinfall after an Argentine backbreaker.
3. Don Frye beat Koji Kanemoto (9:59) with a heel hold.
4. Yutaka Yoshie Return Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Yutaka Yoshie (12:34) with a diving headbutt.
5. Satoshi Kojima beat Shinjiro Otani (10:06) with a lariat.
6. Takashi Iizuka beat Kazunari Murakami  (11:26) with a sleeper hold.
7. Masahiro Chono beat Great Muta (16:21) by DQ.
8. Kensuke Sasaki beat Jushin Thunder Liger (7:40) with a Northern Light bomb.
9. Naoya Ogawa beat Shinya Hashimoto (15:09) by KO.
Points of note:
The first heavyweight vs. junior match saw the top technical wrestlers of each division square off. Nagata faced former young lion rival, Kendo Kashin, and defeated him after 12 minutes of mat-based action with the Nagata Lock II, putting the heavyweights in front.
G1 Climax 1999 Champion, Nakanishi, added another big win to his collection, finally overcoming gaijin ace, Scott Norton, in a physical clash. Nakanishi used an Argentine backbreaker on Norton, before dropping him to the mat and covering for the win.
The second heavyweight vs. junior match saw the top "sports-combat" (vale tudo style) combatants of each division go at it. Once again, the heavyweights were victorious, Don Frye putting away Kanemoto after largely dominating him, a heel hold securing the win.
Yutaka Yoshie made a triumphant homecoming return, sporting a new look, including much more bulk than before he left, and a unique haircut. Yoshie, one of New Japan's longest serving young lions, graduated at the Tokyo Dome when he faced Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Although Yoshie lost, he showed improved strength from before he left, and was able to match up to Tenzan.
The third heavyweight vs. junior match saw the top Hamaguchi Dojo graduates of each division clash. Kojima and Otani, both former trainees in Animal Hamaguchi's dojo, squared off in an exciting match. Once again, the heavyweight vigor would be too much though, Kojima lariating Otani for the victory.
The first of two New Japan vs. UFO matches saw Hashimoto and Ogawa allies, Iizuka and Kazunari Murakami respectively, square off in an intense fight. Although troubled by Murakami's reckless attack, Iizuka sent the terrorist into a temporary daze with a sleeper hold for the big win.
Keiji Muto revived the Great Muta persona in an attempt to conquer his eternal rival, Chono, in an important singles confrontation. Muto was assisted by WCW female star, Miss Mona, but Chono had the entire Team 2000 on his side. In the end, Muta was forced to use a patented mist attack against Chono, and was DQ'd.
The final heavyweight vs. junior match saw the aces and champions of each weight class face each other. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Liger, attempted to salvage some pride for his division when he faced IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kensuke Sasaki. It wasn't to be though, as Kensuke's superior strength prevailed, the heavyweight star making short and quite easy work of Liger to cement a complete and convincing victory for the heavyweight side.
Finally, it came down to the match all wanted to see, Shinya Hashimoto vs. Naoya Ogawa, a clash that drew an immense 24.0 rating on live TV. With a negative 1-2 record against Ogawa, a lighter Hashimoto put his glorious career on the line, gambling everything. Antonio Inoki watched as they waged an epic war, one that had the Tokyo Dome screaming in support of their hero, Hashimoto. But it just wasn't to be, Ogawa's technique simply too strong for Hashimoto. He survived many of Ogawa's deadly STOs, but finally stayed down after one for the 10 count KO defeat. An emotional Hashimoto thanked the fans, and left, intent on retiring from wrestling. Meanwhile, Ogawa continued his rampage, seemingly unstoppable.
Back to: "EXCITING BATTLE IN NAEBA 2000" (3/24/00 to 3/25/00)
Forward to: "STRONG ENERGY II 2000" (4/14/00 to 4/30/00)
|
