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One day before the massive "ULTIMATE CRUSH" Tokyo Dome event, a special fan appreciation day for Antonio Inoki titled "ULTIMATE FESTIVAL" was held at the Tokyo Dome to celebrate the 60th birthday of "God". Fans who bought premium tickets for the 5/2 event were allowed to enter for free, and many events were hosted on the show, along with three matches, two of which featured talent from the L.A. Dojo run by Inoki in America. The big feature match saw New Japan legends reunite for a special battle royal.
NJPW "ULTIMATE FESTIVAL", 5/1/03 (WPW)
Tokyo Dome
11,000 Fans
1. Ryusuke Taguchi beat Pinoi Boy (5:23) with a dropkick.
2. AKIRA & Masahito Kakihara beat American Dragon & Rocky Romero (10:13) when Kakihara used an Octopus hold on Romero.
3. Kantaro Hoshino & Kotetsu Yamamoto won a 9 Man New Japan Alumnus Battle Royal (11:53) when Yamamoto pinned Kuniaki Kobayashi. Order of elimination: George Takano, Masashi Aoyagi, Great Kabuki, Kengo Kimura, Osamu Kido, Haruka Eigen & Kuniaki Kobayashi.
Points of note:
300 people took part in a leg wrestling tournament to start the show, and only two remained. They would go on to compete in a playoff later.
New Japan's young lion junior hopeful, Ryusuke Taguchi, picked up an impressive victory, pinning L.A. Dojo youngster, Pinoi Boy, following a dropkick.
American Dragon and one half of the Havana Pitbulls, Rocky Romero, returned to New Japan and took on AKIRA & Kakihara in the second match of the night. Despite a good fight by the L.A. Dojo tandem, they were beaten when Kakihara submitted Rocky with Inoki's famous manjigatame (Octopus hold).
Special New Japan/Inoki slot machines were debuted next, with many people getting a chance to play them. President Fujinami, Nishimura, Yoshie, Barnett, Hiro, Goto, Jado, and Gedo, were some of the wrestlers who took part in this event. A competition was held, and five undefeated players advanced.
A very special New Japan Alumnus Battle Royal took place, featuring stars of yesteryear. Kantaro Hoshino, Osamu Kido, "Tiger Hunter" Kuniaki Kobayashi, Kengo Kimura, George "The Cobra" Takano, Haruka Eigen (now of NOAH), Masashi Aoyagi (also based in NOAH), and Great Kabuki (clad in his traditional attire, with face paint and mist) competed, while Kotetsu Yamamoto and Katsuhisa Shibata acted as referees. Hoshino wore a Makai mask and was seconded by Amazing Kong, the L.A. Dojo import to All Japan Women's. Hoshino was left alone with Kotetsu at the end after Yamamoto pinned Kobayashi. Even though Yamamoto was in there as a referee originally, he ended up as a combatant, and the two stood off. Suddenly, Hoshino tore his mask off and both men raised their arms, declaring joint victory! One of the most famous teams of the 1960's and 1970's, the Yamaha Brothers, stood in victory again! All members of the battle royal returned to the ring, and took part in a commemoration photograph session. The present New Japan theme music played, and as the legends left the ring, it phased into the old New Japan theme. The fans applauded and yelled in delight, delighted by the oldies.
The finals of the leg wrestling and slot machine tournaments finished off the show, and the leg wrestlers got to face Inoki in a direct confrontation!
Back to: "STRONG ENERGY 2003" (4/18/03 to 4/29/03)
Forward to: "ULTIMATE CRUSH" (5/2/03)
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