Strong Style Spirit

"CROSS ROAD" was a unique event, because it was produced by former New Japan wrestler turned PRIDE star, Kazuyuki Fujita. Fujita announced on July 29th that the main event of "CROSS ROAD" at Tokyo Nippon Budokan would see the start of a tournament to determine a new NWF Heavyweight Champion, titled "KING OF GLADIATOR". That belt was immortalized by Fujita's senpai, Antonio Inoki, and retired in April, 1981. Fujita's idea was to oppose New Japan's prestigious IWGP Heavyweight Title by reviving Inoki's title, and the first semi final would take place at "CROSS ROAD" between himself and Yoshihiro Takayama, with Tadao Yasuda and Tsuyoshi Kosaka facing each other in October at the Tokyo Dome in the other. The winners would then meet in a decision match at the Tokyo Dome on 1/4/03. Due to Fujita being appointed as producer of this convention, most of New Japan's heavyweights boycotted the event, including Chono, Nagata, Tenzan and Nakanishi. Nishimura competed in NOAH on the same day, fighting to a 30 minute draw with Kentaro Shiga, and Kensuke Sasaki was the only New Japan native heavyweight to wrestle on the show. As a result, the junior division was given chance to bloom, with the card dominated by their matches. With juniors from NOAH, Michinoku Pro, Osaka Pro and Kaientai Dojo, a lot of fresh faces to New Japan fans were displayed. The main junior clash was New Japan vs. NOAH in a three match series, which included an IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title match between the two major powers. Additionally, Giant Silva and Giant Singh finally had their much hyped match, after it was cancelled from the 5/2 Tokyo Dome convention due to Singh suffering an injury. And although Nagata and Nakanishi didn't wrestle, they presented "Super Rookie" Shinsuke Nakamura, who made his debut in the spotlight against Yasuda. To add to the occasion, Fujita invited PRIDE's American female announcer to introduce wrestlers to the ring.

Foreign participation:
Giant Silva (CMLL/Team 2000)
Giant Singh (Team 2000)

Special participation:
Kazuyuki Fujita
Yoshihiro Takayama
Yoshinobu Kanemaru (NOAH)
Tsuyoshi Kikuchi (NOAH)
Makoto Hashi (NOAH)
KENTA (NOAH)
Takehiro Murahama (Osaka Pro)
Ikuto Hidaka (Michinoku Pro)
Curry Man (Michinoku Pro)
Minoru Fujita (Kaientai Dojo)
Hi69 (Kaientai Dojo)
PABLO (Kaientai Dojo)

NJPW "CROSS ROAD", 8/29/02 (WPW)
Tokyo Nippon Budokan
9,000 Fans - No Vacancy

1. El Samurai & Tiger Mask beat PABLO & Hi69 (9:07) when Tiger used a Tiger suplex hold on PABLO.
2. Jado & Gedo beat Ikuto Hidaka & Curry Man (13:27) when Jado pinned Curry after a super powerbomb.
3. Wataru Inoue beat KENTA (9:56) with an Octopus hold.
4. Koji Kanemoto beat Makoto Hashi (15:41) with a kneel kick.
5. Masayuki Naruse vs. Takehiro Murahama went to a draw (20:00) when the time limit expired.
6. Giant Silva beat Giant Singh (10:30) with a Giant press.
7. Tadao Yasuda beat Shinsuke Nakamura (debut) (4:26) with a front sleeper.
8. Kensuke Sasaki beat Minoru Fujita (1:12) by KO.
9. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi beat Jushin Thunder Liger & Minoru Tanaka (c) (22:16) when Kikuchi used the Fireball bomb on Liger to become the 9th champions.
10. NWF Heavyweight Title Tournament - Semi Final: Yoshihiro Takayama beat Kazuyuki Fujita (8:28) with a knee kick.

Points of note:

In a battle of young lion juniors from New Japan and NOAH, Wataru Inoue defeated the new look KENTA in a very good and spirited match, submitting him with an Octopus hold.

NOAH's Makoto Hashi gave IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Koji Kanemoto, a great challenge before falling to a kneel kick. So impressed was Kanemoto that he offered Hashi a place in Team 2000. Kanemoto also made a challenge to Toryumon Japan ace, Masaaki Mochizuki, for a match.

Following Naruse vs. Murahama, Takashi Iizuka gave a speech, announcing he would soon return to the ring after a lengthy injury. The new masked junior heavyweight, Heat, was also displayed. Based on a video game character, the concept of Heat is a children's hero, who gives them dreams and courage.

Giant Silva proved himself to be the stronger giant, defeating Giant Singh in a battle billed as "Large Giant Tradition". Following the match, Heat raced to the ring, kicking Silva to the outside. Silva was so shaken up from the attack that he was stretchered out.

Flanked by Osamu Kido, Nagata and Nakanishi, "Super Rookie" Shinsuke Nakamura wrestled his first match against Tadao Yasuda. Nakamura fought brilliantly and had the complete support of Budokan, who called his name, but he eventually fell to a front sleeper.

Minoru Fujita, after drawing with Blue Wolf in July, finally got his chance against Kensuke Sasaki. And he lasted all of 72 seconds before Kensuke KO'd him with a lariat for the effortless victory.

NOAH scored a massive win when Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi treaded on enemy turf and pried the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title from Jushin Thunder Liger & Minoru Tanaka, Kikuchi pinning Liger after his Fireball bomb to crown brand new champions. An angry Liger vowed that New Japan would take the belts back quickly.

In a physical war, resembling their memorable PRIDE fight from 2001 in many ways, Yoshihiro Takayama handed Kazuyuki Fujita his first loss since turning to a fighting route, pinning his good friend after a knee kick to advance in the NWF Heavyweight Title Tournament. Following the match, there was a big scuffle between New Japan heavyweights at ringside and Fujita's army, leading towards a confrontation at the Tokyo Dome in October.

Miscellaneous:

New Japan won the junior series with NOAH by 2-1, but lost the most important match, with NOAH grasping the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title. Overall on the night, New Japan/Team 2000's juniors held a very positive win-loss record against outsiders, finishing 4-1-1.

Back to: "G1 CLIMAX 2002" (8/3/02 to 8/11/02)
Forward to: "G1 WORLD 2002" (9/6/02 to 9/22/02)