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[Complete Results]
"AMAZING" was a special mini-series following up on a G1 Climax dominated by IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kensuke Sasaki, who secured an IWGP & G1 monopoly with his tournament victory. Spanning eight shows, "AMAZING" began with a memoral event for the late Masakazu Fukuda in his home town, before moving across the country, including a stop in Aichi for a big convention on 9/16. The main feature of the tour saw Manabu Nakanishi attempt to bounce back from his G1 Climax final loss, by wrestling a "Problem" series against seven New Japan heavyweights of different backgrounds. With the fateful "DO JUDGE!!" Tokyo Dome summit coming up, this tour would serve as an important bridge leading into the show.
Foreign participation:
Brian Johnston (G-EGGS): All shows
Don Frye (Team 2000): All shows
Super J (Team 2000): All shows
Taiyo Kea (All Japan): 9/16 only
Special participation:
Masanobu Fuchi (All Japan): 9/16 only
Points of note:
(9/9) "MASAKAZU FUKUDA MEMORIAL SHOW". Two of Masakazu Fukuda's friends from G-EGGS, Nakanishi and Yoshie, locked horns in Nakanishi's 1st Problem. With much emotion in the air, the two waged a 16 1/2 minute war, Nakanishi coming out on top when he racked Yoshie with an Argentine backbreaker.
(9/9) In the main event, Kensuke Sasaki, Takashi Iizuka & G-EGGS leader Nagata defeated Team 2000's Masahiro Chono, Don Frye & Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Sasaki lariated Tenzan to follow up on his G1 Climax victory with more success.
(9/9) Following the final match of the show, Fukuda's family and the New Japan army entered the ring. A ten count was sounded, and Fukuda was formally farewelled. President Fujinami said emotionally, "Do not forget what a splended wrestler Fukuda was".
(9/10) IWGP Tag Team Champions, Tenzan & Kojima, suffered an upset non-title loss against Iizuka & Yoshie. Kojima was spiked by a half-nelson suplex from Yoshie, and promptly pinned.
(9/10) Nakanishi went 2-0 in his Problem series, today putting away Yasuda. Mr. Unbelievable showed his uncanny strength, lifting Yasuda's big frame into an Argentine backbreaker for another submission win.
(9/11) Kenzo faced the man he debuted against in January, Nakanishi, in the 3rd Problem. Once again, the young lion was ultimately no match for Nakanishi, and like Yoshie and Yasuda fell to an Argentine backbreaker.
(9/12) New Japan's new Strong Style eXtreme Wrestling (SXW) show on ESPN International had it's first taping, and the Korakuen Hall fans were treated to Nakanishi's fourth win in his trial series, Mr. Unbelievable this time racking veteran Koshinaka.
(9/12) The first ever SXW main event was a special match, with the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title on the line. Kanemoto & Tanaka made a successful V1 defense of their belts, fending off a hard 20+ minute struggle from Liger & Makabe. Despite a spirited effort from young lion Makabe, he fell to Tanaka's Minoru Special, the champions retaining.
(9/13) Nakanishi faced perhaps his toughest Problem yet, when Takashi Iizuka opposed him in Miyagi. Although troubled by Iizuka's sleeper hold, Nakanishi managed to overcome Submission Master, lariating him for the pinfall victory.
(9/13) In his first feature match since losing to Ryan Gracie in PRIDE, Kendo Kashin challenged Takaiwa for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title. Takaiwa put Kashin away in under 12 minutes, using his own cross armbreaker to make a successful V1 defense.
(9/15) Nakanishi's 6th Problem was G-EGGS friend and former UFC fighter, Brian Johnston. Johnston was the latest victim, as Nakanishi's amazing run of form continued.
(9/16) Following Kensuke's match, All Japan ace, Toshiaki Kawada, entered a New Japan ring for the first time! Kawada declared that Kensuke would be crushed in the Tokyo Dome, inciting the New Japan ace who watched from ringside.
(9/16) Nakanishi's 7th Problem was another tough one, as he faced generation rival, Kojima. He exploited a rib injury though, attacking the area with repeated spears. Eventually, he covered after one, and Kojima became the latest name on Nakanishi's list of wins.
(9/16) All Japan's Taiyo Kea and Masanobu Fuchi entered the New Japan ring to a hostile response, history made when they headlined before a full house in Aichi. Their opponents were Chono & Goto, representing Team 2000 in it's developing war with All Japan. The match would shockingly last just 138 seconds though, as Kea dropped Goto with his patented Hawaiian Smasher for the impressive win!
(9/17) Nakanishi secured complete victory in a brilliant performance, overcoming his final Problem, Ohara. Nakanishi tackled Ohara, and pinned him for the victory, to cement an 8-0 flawless record! He called for a match against the winner of Kensuke vs. Kawada, wanting to defeat the winner of the upcoming Tokyo Dome clash.
(9/17) Chono celebrated his 37th birthday in style, teaming with Tenzan in the final match of the series to overcome the technician team of Iizuka & Nagata. Chono won the fall for his team, Yakuza kicking Iizuka.
Miscellaneous:
Eight problems were conquered by Nakanishi, who found himself very close to the top rung in New Japan after defeating a broad range of opponents. With a record of 8-0, it couldn't get any better for Mr. Unbelievable. Complete records of his success in chronological order,
- Manabu Nakanishi beat Yutaka Yoshie (16:37) with an Argentine backbreaker.
- Manabu Nakanishi beat Tadao Yasuda (9:48) with an Argentine backbreaker.
- Manabu Nakanishi beat Kenzo Suzuki (10:20) with an Argentine backbreaker.
- Manabu Nakanishi beat Shiro Koshinaka (12:24) with an Argentine backbreaker.
- Manabu Nakanishi beat Takashi Iizuka (15:17) with a lariat.
- Manabu Nakanishi beat Brian Johnston (8:53) with a lariat.
- Manabu Nakanishi beat Satoshi Kojima (17:45) with a spear.
- Manabu Nakanishi beat Michiyoshi Ohara (7:28) with a tackle.
Back to: "G1 CLIMAX 2000" (8/7/00 to 8/13/00)
Forward to: "DO JUDGE!!" (10/9/00)
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