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"DREAM * WIN" returned for it's 2000 installment at the mecca of pro wrestling, Tokyo Korakuen Hall. Unlike other years, there was no special theme for the show, but there was still plenty of vintage New Japan wrestling on display. Kenzo Suzuki approached the end of his first year as a wrestler, facing one of his original opponents, Yuji Nagata. In a heavyweight vs. junior tag confrontation, Kensuke Sasaki & Takashi Iizuka faced Jushin Thunder Liger & Tatsuhito Takaiwa. And in a non-title match, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima faced the odd team of Manabu Nakanishi & Kendo Kashin. Could Mr. No Problem (Nakanishi) and Mr. Problem (Kashin) cooperate to defeat the tag aces?
NJPW "DREAM * WIN", 12/23/00 (SXW)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,805 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House
1. Yutaka Yoshie beat Michiyoshi Ohara (6:48) with a crab hold.
2. Minoru Tanaka & Koji Kanemoto beat Katsuyori Shibata & Wataru Inoue (15:33) when Kanemoto used a heel hold on Inoue.
3. Shiro Koshinaka & Super Strong Machine beat Hiro Saito & T2000 Machine (10:07) when Strong Machine used a Devil Windmill suplex hold on Hiro.
4. Yuji Nagata beat Kenzo Suzuki (12:00) with a backdrop hold.
5. Masahiro Chono beat Tadao Yasuda (8:41) with an STF.
6. Kensuke Sasaki & Takashi Iizuka beat Jushin Thunder Liger & Tatsuhito Takaiwa (14:21) when Sasaki used a Northern Light bomb on Takaiwa.
7. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima beat Manabu Nakanishi & Kendo Kashin (11:28) when Tenzan used a diving headbutt on Kashin.
Points of note:
Yoshie capped off a great year for himself, which saw him return from his overseas learning excursion to Germany, and make much progress, pinning many top stars. He defeated T2000's Ohara in the opening match with a crab hold.
IWGP Jr. Tag Team Champions, Tanaka & Kanemoto, were given a surprisingly tough challenge from spirited young lions, Shibata & Inoue. The two youngsters, just into their second year as wrestlers, pushed the junior tag aces past 15 minutes, before Wataru tapped out.
In a rematch from Kenzo's trial series in February, he again faced Nagata in singles action. Although the rookie phenom lost once more, he lasted over three minutes longer against the G-EGGS leader than in February, showing his growth since then.
Liger & Takaiwa tried to improve on a poor win-loss record for juniors over heavyweights in 2000, facing Kensuke & Iizuka. The two showed great courage and really pushed the heavyweights, but Kensuke's Northern Light bomb sunk Takaiwa into the mat, the size and strength of the heavyweights again the deciding factor.
Kashin had a chance to break out of his form slump when he teamed with Nakanishi against TenKoji. It wasn't to be though, as the Nakanishi & Kashin team was a nightmare from the start, completely unable to get along. After much arguing, Nakanishi simply left Kashin to be pinned by Tenzan. A successful end to a great year for the IWGP Tag Team Champions.
Miscellaneous:
The official annual New Japan awards were presented at the show, Kensuke Sasaki capping off such a dominant year by winning two top awards.
MVP: Kensuke Sasaki
Singles Best Bout: Kensuke Sasaki vs. Toshiaki Kawada (10/9)
Tag Team Best Bout: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Yuji Nagata (10/9)
Technique Award: Takashi Iizuka
Fighting Spirit Award: Manabu Nakanishi
Outstanding Performance Award: Jushin Thunder Liger
New Wave Award: Yutaka Yoshie
Stuart's 2000 Awards:
Heavyweight MVP: Kensuke Sasaki
Junior Heavyweight MVP: Minoru Tanaka
Tag Team MVP: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima
Singles Best Bout: Kensuke Sasaki vs. Toshiaki Kawada (10/9)
Tag Team Best Bout: Takashi Iizuka & Yuji Nagata vs. Toshiaki Kawada & Masanobu Fuchi (12/14)
Technique Award: Takashi Iizuka
Fighting Spirit Award: Satoshi Kojima
Young Lion Award: Shinya Makabe
Back to: "THE 2ND JUDGEMENT!" (12/14/00)
Forward to: "WRESTLING WORLD 2001" (1/4/01)
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