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"SUPER-FORCE GROUP DECLARATION 2001" was a very important event, as it saw all-out war between super powers, New Japan and All Japan, in the form of a 5 vs. 5 singles match series. Held at All Japan's holy palace, Tokyo Nippon Budokan, it featured some of the top stars from each company, including New Japan's Manabu Nakanishi and All Japan's Toshiaki Kawada. The concept was the first of two interpromotional series' in Budokan over two days, the other hosted by All Japan on June 8th. Despite the grandeur of this, it was not the lead attraction, with the main event seeing PRIDE star and reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuyuki Fujita, defend the title against an on-form Yuji Nagata, who sought to bring the belt back to it's base. Additionally, Keiji Muto faced a mystery opponent ("X"), leaving the wrestling community guessing at his opponent.
Foreign participation:
Mike Barton (All Japan)
Taiyo Kea (All Japan/BATT)
Special participation:
Hiroshi Hase (BATT)
Jinsei Shinzaki (Michinoku Pro/BATT)
Kazuyuki Fujita
Masahito Kakihara (All Japan)
Masanobu Fuchi (All Japan)
Mitsuya Nagai (All Japan)
Toshiaki Kawada (All Japan)
NJPW "SUPER-FORCE GROUP DECLARATION 2001", 6/6/01 (PPV/WPW)
Tokyo Nippon Budokan
13,200 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House
1. Shinya Makabe & Katsuyori Shibata beat Kenzo Suzuki & Hiroshi Tanahashi (8:14) when Makabe used a German suplex hold on Suzuki.
2. New Japan vs. All Japan: Masanobu Fuchi  beat El Samurai  (9:32) with a backdrop suplex.
3. New Japan vs. All Japan: Masahito Kakihara beat Minoru Tanaka (6:21) with the Kaki Cutter.
4. New Japan vs. All Japan: Mitsuya Nagai beat Takashi Iizuka (8:00) by referee stop.
5. New Japan vs. All Japan: Manabu Nakanishi beat Mike Barton (4:42) with a bulldog headlock.
6. New Japan vs. All Japan: Toshiaki Kawada beat Satoshi Kojima (15:16) with a jumping high kick.
7. Jushin Thunder Liger, Taiyo Kea & Jinsei Shinzaki  beat Masahiro Chono, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & AKIRA (16:51) when Shinzaki used the Gokuraku Gatame on AKIRA.
8. Keiji Muto beat Hiroshi Hase (39:08) with the Shining Wizard.
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuyuki Fujita (c) beat Yuji Nagata (10:57) by referee stop (1st defense).
Points of note:
The first New Japan vs. All Japan match was between two junior heavyweight veterans, El Samurai and Masanobu Fuchi. Fuchi put All Japan in the lead, after decimating Samurai with a huge flurry of deadly low-altitude backdrop suplexes.
In a massive upset, All Japan's Masahito Kakihara defeated IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Minoru Tanaka. A fast paced UWF-style match came to a close when Kakihara dropped Tanaka with the Kaki Cutter, cementing a huge win.
All Japan sealed the series in just the third match, when in another shocker, Mitsuya Nagai defeated Iizuka by referee stop. Nagai overwhelmed Iizuka with knees and kicks, one strike catching Iizuka full on in the face. Iizuka had to be helped to the back, and was ruled out of action long-term with a serious concussion.
New Japan finally got a win in the series, when Nakanishi defeated All Japan gaijin star, Mike Barton, in under 5 minutes with a bulldog headlock. The two wasted no time, going at it from the offset, and Mr. Unbelievable showed himself to be the superior with an impressive victory.
Toshiaki Kawada sealed a 4-1 win for All Japan, when he defeated Team 2000 star, Kojima, in the last match of the series. Kawada was trouble heavily by Kojima, who pushed the All Japan ace for over 15 minutes, but eventually fell to a jumping high kick.
Liger led BATT members, Taiyo Kea and Jinsei Shinzaki, to somewhat of an upset win over Team 2000's Chono, Tenzan & AKIRA. Despite being without BATT leader, Muto, and facing T2000's top members, Chono and Tenzan, the odd trio came out victorious, Shinzaki using his Gokuraku Gatame on AKIRA for the submission win. Liger shook hands with Kea backstage, but told him that he wouldn't join BATT as a full-time member.
Muto's mystery opponent appeared to be Tadao Yasuda when he walked to the ring, but Yasuda took a place at ringside, and the real "X" appeared as Hiroshi Hase! Muto and Hase, a once noted tag team and close friends, had a match that preached the BATT motto of "Pro Wrestling LOVE", wrestling for close to 40 minutes in an old style technical match. Muto won the match with a Shining Wizard, and New Japan's longest match in many years came to an end.
During his entrance in the main event, Nagata shook hands with NOAH ace and GHC Heavyweight Champion, Jun Akiyama, in a historic moment. Nagata made a bold challenge for Kazuyuki Fujita's IWGP Heavyweight Title, in one of the most severe, intense title matches ever. Both men wore open finger MMA gloves and wrestled a PRIDE-style match, which eventually worked in Fujita's favour. Fujita was able to take Nagata down, then shower him with knee kicks, forcing a referee stoppage and completing a successful V1 defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Fujita shook hands with Nagata post-match, respecting a tough challenge.
Miscellaneous:
New Japan was convincingly defeated by All Japan, losing by 1-4, with only Nakanishi able to win for the home team. Although New Japan would also lose the 6/8 series in All Japan, they would take from All Japan far more than All Japan had managed to take from New Japan, when Keiji Muto captured the Triple Crown from Genichiro Tenryu.
Back to: "BEST OF THE SUPER Jr. VIII" (5/18/01 to 6/4/01)
Forward to: "SUMMER STRUGGLE 2001" (6/22/01 to 7/16/01)
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