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The biggest show of the half year, "FIGHTING SPIRIT MEMORIAL DAY", was a commemoration of New Japan's 30th year in business, and was the second Tokyo Dome convention of the year. Unlike the first, it drew a super sell out crowd, as fans flocked to celebrate thirty glorious years, and watch an eleven match card, including a dream match main event, as New Japan legend, Masahiro Chono, met All Japan turned NOAH legend, Mitsuharu Misawa. Additionally, Yuji Nagata would make his first defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Title against Yoshihiro Takayama, who made his first New Japan in-ring appearance since the New Japan vs. UWF-I rivalry. Many other big matches were on offer, including one that saw Shinya Hashimoto return to his old haunt, and many New Japan stars of old were on hand for this important event.
Foreign participation:
Bas Rutten
Don Frye
Rick Steiner
Scott Steiner
Black Tiger (CMLL/Team 2000)
Special participation:
Daisuke Sekimoto (Big Japan)
Yoshihiro Takayama
Mitsuharu Misawa (NOAH)
Naoya Ogawa (UFO)
Kintaro Kanemura (WEW, representing Big Japan)
Shinya Hashimoto (ZERO-ONE)
Tiger Mask (Michinoku Pro)
Manami Toyota (All Japan Women's)
Yumiko Hotta (All Japan Women's)
Kaoru Ito (All Japan Women's)
Momoe Nakanishi (All Japan Women's)
NJPW "FIGHTING SPIRIT MEMORIAL DAY", 5/2/02 (WPW)
Tokyo Dome
57,500 Fans - Super No Vacancy
1. Kintaro Kanemura  beat Daisuke Sekimoto (8:03) with a diving senton.
2. Katsuyori Shibata beat Wataru Inoue (6:26) with a sleeper hold.
3. Tiger Mask III (Koji Kanemoto) & Tiger Mask IV  beat Black Tiger & El Samurai (12:54) when Tiger Mask III used a Tiger suplex hold on Samurai.
4. Kaoru Ito  & Momoe Nakanishi beat Manami Toyota & Yumiko Hotta (12:16) when Nakanishi used a reverse Momo*Latch on Toyota.
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Jushin Thunder Liger & Minoru Tanaka beat Jado & Gedo (c) (17:44) when Liger used a brainbuster on Gedo to become the 8th champions.
6. Shinya Hashimoto  & Naoya Ogawa  beat Scott Norton & Hiroyoshi Tenzan (12:02) when Hashimoto pinned Norton after the Oregotokarire.
7. Bas Rutten beat Manabu Nakanishi (6:00) with a triangle choke hold.
8. Don Frye beat Tadao Yasuda (1:51) with a figure-four achilles tendon hold.
9. Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner beat Kensuke Sasaki & Hiroshi Tanahashi (14:38) when Scott used a Steiner Screwdriver on Tanahashi.
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Yuji Nagata (c) beat Yoshihiro Takayama (15:36) with a high kick (1st defense).
11. Masahiro Chono vs. Mitsuharu Misawa  went to a draw (30:00) when the time limit expired.
Points of note:
Before the show, many New Japan alumnus took part in a 30th anniversary ceremony, including Inoki and Fujinami. Despite being advertised, Riki Choshu was nowhere to be found, deciding against attending following his resignation from New Japan in April.
Big Japan's offer match opened the show, with Daisuke Sekimoto and Kintaro Kanemura representing the company. Although not fought under the Death Match style that Big Japan is known for, Kanemura introduced a table to the match, and defeated Big Japan's young hope with a diving senton.
In a special junior tag match, Tiger Mask IV teamed up with Tiger Mask III, Koji Kanemoto wearing the mask once again. Together, they defeated the team of Black Tiger & El Samurai, Mask 3 fittingly using a Tiger suplex hold for the victory.
All Japan Women's (Zenjo) had it's offer match too, and left a very big impression. Kaoru Ito & Momoe Nakanishi upset Manami Toyota & Yumiko Hotta, Momoe scoring the biggest win of her career when she pinned the legend Toyota. The Tokyo Dome crowd was charmed by the energy and spirit of the outsiders, and gave them a big response.
Jado & Gedo's record-breaking reign as IWGP Tag Team Champions came to an end when the all-star team of Liger & Tanaka dethroned them to become the 8th champions. With NOAH's juniors watching from ringside, the worn and torn Jado & Gedo, still hurting after injuries picked up on the April series, had their ten month reign as champions ended, Liger pinning Gedo. New Japan and T2000 juniors scuffled with the NOAH juniors following the match, the situation reaching boiling point.
To kick off the live TV broadcast, OH Gun made their first appearance as a team in New Japan, Shinya Hashimoto returning to his old haunt for the first time since 4/9/01, and teaming with his old rival, Naoya Ogawa. Together, the two defeated Team 2000's Norton & Tenzan, Hashimoto pinning Norton after OH Gun's Oregotokarire combination technique.
Former UFC and Pancrase star, Bas Rutten, made his New Japan debut, facing Nakanishi. Although Nakanishi used bold moves such as the Argentine backbreaker and a Lou Thesz press, he was troubled by the outsider's technique. The citadel of Rutten was strong, and he made Nakanishi submit to a triangle choke hold for the win, before doing his famous Rutten jump to express his joy at winning. Former RINGS fighter, Naruse, challenged Bas to a match, and Rutten consented it readily.
Although Yasuda and Frye were supposed to meet before Nakanishi and Rutten, Frye launched a surprise attack, hurting Yasuda and forcing the match up the card. When they did finally meet, Frye made short work of the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, making him submit in just 111 seconds.
The legendary Steiner Brothers made their first tag appearance in New Japan since 5/3/97, teaming up to face one of their old rivals, Kensuke, and his young disciple, Tanahashi. The referee for the match was former WWE female star, Joanie "Chyna" Laurer, who involved herself more than once. The Steiners made a dominant return, controlling Tanahashi for much of the match, before Scott unleashed his deadly Steiner Screwdriver for the win.
Nagata made a successful V1 defense of his recently won IWGP Heavyweight Title, fending off a strong challenge from Yoshihiro Takayama. Despite a vigorous assault from Takayama, Nagata wouldn't stay down and kept fighting back. His victory came after he struck his larger opponent with two high kicks, and covered for the win. Following the match, Kazuyuki Fujita made his first appearance since January, bodyslamming Nagata and putting his name in the hat for a title match after his return from injury.
History was made when two of wrestling's biggest icons, Chono and Misawa, met for the first time in the main event. The two wrestled a traditional old style match, which included signature moves of former stars, including Inoki's Octopus hold (manjigatame). Despite both men waging a desperate struggle and trying to break each other down, it ended up a stalemate, with the 30 minute time limit expiring.
Miscellaneous:
Prior to the event, a poll was taken to determine New Japan's greatest gaijin (foreigners). The awards were handed out on the show, with the winners as follows,
Junior section: Dynamite Kid
Grapple section: Don Frye
Heel section: Tiger Jeet Singh
Best Bout section: Billy Robinson vs. Antonio Inoki
MVP: Scott Norton
Tiger Jeet Singh sent a fax to New Japan, thanking the fans for their votes. Singh said there was a problem with him attending the ceremony though, and that was the presence of his hated rival, Inoki. Singh claimed to this very day he still despises Inoki, and said he wouldn't shake his hand. Singh made an intrusion on the show, attempting to attack Inoki, but Joanie Laurer was able to force him back.
Back to: "BIG FIGHT SERIES 2002" (4/16/02 to 4/27/02)
Forward to: "BEST OF THE SUPER JR. IX" (5/18/02 to 6/5/02)
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