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New Japan became the first professional wrestling company to hire the Sapporo Dome, running "DOME QUAKE" in the 42,000 seat facility on July 20th, 2001. 7/20 served as New Japan's fourth Dome performance of the year, after events at the Tokyo Dome, Osaka Dome, and Fukuoka Dome previously. Like the others, it was an important show, with many Inoki Army members involved, including reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuyuki Fujita. Fujita, a PRIDE star, defended his belt against another famous MMA fighter, Don Frye, in the main event. Two of the famous "Three Musketeers", Keiji Muto and Masahiro Chono, had their first singles match in over a year, while followers of both men, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (representing Chono's Team 2000) defended the IWGP Tag Team Title against All Japan's Taiyo Kea & Michinoku Pro's Jinsei Shinzaki (representing Muto's BATT). Additionally, two of New Japan's biggest hopes, Yuji Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi, faced PRIDE stars, Mark Coleman and Gary Goodridge, respectively. Former RINGS fighter, Masayuki Naruse, had a high profile New Japan debut, challenging Minoru Tanaka for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion. And long-standing veteran, Osamu Kido, wrestled his final match in Sapporo, teaming with two fellow Showa stars against three young prospects. In a tumultuous 2001, "DOME QUAKE" hosted a severe earthquake on the mat community.
Foreign participation:
Don Frye (BATT)
Gary Goodridge (PRIDE)
Mark Coleman (PRIDE)
Taiyo Kea (All Japan/BATT)
Special participation:
Hiroshi Hase (BATT)
Jinsei Shinzaki (Michinoku Pro/BATT)
Kazuyuki Fujita
Masayuki Naruse
Tadao Yasuda
Gedo (Team 2000)
Jado (Team 2000)
NJPW "DOME QUAKE", 7/20/01 (WPW)
Sapporo Dome
28,000 Fans
1. Hiro Saito, Tatsutoshi Goto & AKIRA beat Shiro Koshinaka, Osamu Nishimura & Yutaka Yoshie (13:52) when Hiro used a senton bomb on Yoshie.
2. Tadao Yasuda beat Michiyoshi Ohara (6:14) with a front sleeper.
3. Riki Choshu, Tatsumi Fujinami & Osamu Kido beat Shinya Makabe, Kenzo Suzuki & Hiroshi Tanahashi (10:43) when Kido used a wakigatame on Tanahashi.
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Jado & Gedo beat Jushin Thunder Liger & El Samurai (c) (19:06) when Jado used the Crossface of JADO on Samurai to become the 7th champions.
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Masayuki Naruse beat Minoru Tanaka (c) (11:27) with a backhand blow to become the 40th champion.
6. Gary Goodridge beat Manabu Nakanishi (6:06) by referee stop.
7. Mark Coleman beat Yuji Nagata (7:59) with a grounded headlock.
8. IWGP Tag Team Title: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (c) beat Taiyo Kea  & Jinsei Shinzaki  (16:28) when Tenzan used a moonsault press on Shinzaki (6th defense).
9. Masahiro Chono beat Keiji Muto (16:09) with an STF.
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuyuki Fujita (c) beat Don Frye (7:22) with a front neck lock (2nd defense).
Points of note:
Ohara was the first man to fall to a PRIDE fighter, losing to New Japan trueborn, Tadao Yasuda, in the second match. Although he was able to take Yasuda over 6 minutes by utilizing his recently acquired vale tudo techniques, Ohara was trapped in a front sleeper and submitted.
Osamu Kido wrestled his final match in the Sapporo region, teaming with fellow veterans, Choshu and Fujinami, against three young lions, Makabe, Kenzo & Tanahashi. The young lions were outmatched by their peers, but lasted over 10 minutes before Tanahashi submitted to Kido's wakigatame.
New Japan lost the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title, when freelance Team 2000 allies, Jado & Gedo, continued their rampage in New Japan by defeating Liger & El Samurai to become the 7th champions. Liger & Samurai, champions since March, saw their V2 defense go wrong when Jado took Samurai down into the Crossface of JADO for the submission!
New Japan fell again, when IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Minoru Tanaka, failed in his V3 defenses of the title, losing to former RINGS fighter and New Japan debutant, Masayuki Naruse. Naruse struck Tanaka withg a backhand blow to the head, and covered for the win, becoming the second outsider to take New Japan gold on the day.
The misery continued for New Japan when Nakanishi fell to PRIDE star, Gary Goodridge, in the sixth match. Goodridge caught Nakanishi with an uppercut, then threw mounted punches for the referee stoppage, sealing another outsider win.
PRIDE GP Champion, Mark Coleman, continued the destruction, becoming the second PRIDE fighter in one and a half months to defeat Nagata (the other being Fujita). Nagata showed considerable strength and was able to trouble Coleman, but was eventually thrown down and trapped in a grounded headlock. With no escape in sight, Nagata submitted to the same move Coleman used to defeat him on 12/31/00.
Team 2000's Tenzan & Kojima finally won a match for New Japan, defeating BATT's Taiyo Kea & Jinsei Shinzaki in their record-equaling V6 defense of the IWGP Tag Team Title. TenKoji were given a good fight by the outsiders, but their elite teamwork was just too much, Tenzan dropping a moonsault press on Shinzaki for the win.
In their first singles match since 4/7/00, when Muto wore the paint as Muta, eternal rivals and bitter enemies, Chono and Muto, met in the Sapporo Dome semi final. A long technical match came to a close when Chono avoided a Shining Wizard and locked on his patented STF. Muto's stamina was broken down, and he didn't fight it for long, the Triple Crown Champion tapping out!
In a meeting of big name MMA fighters, Kazuyuki Fujita made a successful V2 defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Title, defeating former UFC star, Don Frye. The two waged a physical battle, before Frye ran straight into a front neck lock and was quickly defeated. Fujita's tight grip on New Japan's top title continued with another strong victory.
Miscellaneous:
It was a humiliating day for New Japan, the King of Sports almost completely defeated. Against outsiders, New Japan lost five matches, and won just one, with TenKoji salvaging some pride. Counting Frye as a New Japan representative, given his regular appearances on tours, the final score was 6-1 to the outsiders, including two title changes and one successful defense. Following the 4/9 fiasco, in which New Japan also suffered crushing losses to outsiders, the company continued to slump against athletes from the Inoki Army/PRIDE.
Back to: "SUMMER STRUGGLE 2001" (6/22/01 to 7/16/01)
Forward to: "G1 CLIMAX 2001" (8/4/01 to 8/12/01)
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