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[Complete Results]
Serving as a bridge between two major Dome conventions, "STRONG ENERGY II 2000" saw the regular April provincial tour, beginning in Kesunnuma, and concluding in Beppu. The main concept of the series was the first Young Lion Cup in four years. Featuring "Super Rookie" Kenzo Suzuki, Shinya Makabe, G-EGGS' Masakazu Fukuda, Katsuyori Shibata, Wataru Inoue, and Hiroshi Tanahashi, several of New Japan's future stars fought it out for early career success. Three of WCW's own future prospects, Dan Devine, Chuck Palumbo, and Rick Cornell, were brought in for the series, all three gaining vital experience. And one of New Japan's longest serving wrestlers, Kuniaki Kobayashi, would call it at day on 4/21 at Tokyo Korakuen Hall, retiring in the mecca. The rush towards the 5/5 Fukuoka Dome was on, and as always the April series would be important for leading into the May super-show.
Foreign participation:
Brian Johnston (G-EGGS): 4/14 to 4/25
Chuck Palumbo (WCW): All shows
Dan Devine (WCW): All shows
Rick Cornell (WCW): All shows
Super J (Team 2000): All shows
Special participation:
Kuniaki Kobayashi: 4/21/00 only
Minoru Tanaka (BattlARTS): 4/14, 4/16 to 4/30
Young Lion Cup 2000 scoring system: Win (2 points), draw (1 point), loss (0 points)
1. Shinya Makabe
2. Masakazu Fukuda
3. Kenzo Suzuki
4. Wataru Inoue
5. Katsuyori Shibata
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi
Points of note:
(4/14) Tragedy struck in the first Young Lion Cup match between G-EGGS' Masakazu Fukuda and Katsuyori Shibata. Fukuda was hit by a flying elbow smash from Shibata. His movement became sluggish, and he eventually collapsed on to the mat in a serious condition. He was rushed to Kessunuma General Hospital, where it was determined that he had internal bleeding of the brain. He would die on 4/19, aged 27 (more), and all of his YLC matches were forfeited.
(4/14) Yutaka Yoshie, after his homecoming at the Tokyo Dome earlier in the month, entered the regular army as a replacement for the now-retired Shinya Hashimoto. Yoshie teamed with G-EGGS allies, Nakanishi and Nagata, and New Japan ace, Kensuke, to defeat Team 2000's Chono, Tenzan, Super J & Hiro. In his first tour match since returning, Yoshie picked up the win himself, using a Canadian backbreaker on Hiro.
(4/15) "Super Rookie" Kenzo Suzuki scored his first win as a pro wrestler in the YLC, pinning another young prospect, Hiroshi Tanahashi.
(4/20) Hidekazu Tanaka wept as he announced to the fans that Fukuda had passed away, and Yoshie stood in the ring with a picture of him, while Nagata rang the bell ten times in his memory.
(4/21) "KUNIAKI KOBAYASHI RETIREMENT SHOW". 44-year-old "Tiger Hunter" Kuniaki Kobayashi ended his 27 year career at Tokyo Korakuen Hall. He faced Jushin Thunder Liger, who debuted at the Tokyo Dome against Kobayashi on 4/24/89. Once again, Liger defeated Kobayashi, pinning him following a brainbuster. Many of Kobayashi's old friends and rivals, including Satoru Sayama (the original Tiger Mask), Animal Hamaguchi, and Great Kabuki, were in attendance for his retirement ceremony. Kobayashi wept as he received the traditional ten count gong, and then formally retired, entering New Japan's newly established administrative division.
(4/22) Kenzo went 3-0 in the YLC and stayed unbeaten, the rookie phenom defeating young junior heavyweight, Wataru Inoue.
(4/23) Like Kenzo, Makabe remained unbeaten in the tournament after pinning Shibata with a German suplex hold. This set up a Makabe vs. Kenzo final at the Fukuoka Dome on 5/5, even though they had yet to meet in their league match.
(4/25) Team 2000 defeated the New Japan/G-EGGS combined army in a grueling 34 minute Elimination Match. Chono, Tenzan, Kojima, Super J & AKIRA were able to overcome Kensuke, Nakanishi, Nagata, Yoshie & Liger, with both Chono and J remaining at the end. Chono pinned Nakanishi to wrap things up, gaining an important win for his army.
(4/30) Days before their Young Lion Cup final, Makabe and Kenzo wrestled the last group stage match to see who would remain unbeaten before the final. It would be Makabe who handed Kenzo his first defeat in the tournament, forcing him to submit to a cross armbreaker, and establishing himself as the favourite going into the Fukuoka Dome convention.
Miscellaneous:
The final standings of the 2000 Young Lion Cup looked as follows,
1. Shinya Makabe [10]
2. Kenzo Suzuki [8]
3. Katsuyori Shibata [6]
4. Hiroshi Tanahashi [4]
5. Wataru Inoue [2]
6. Masakazu Fukuda [0]
Final: Shinya Makabe vs. Kenzo Suzuki (5/5/00 at the Fukuoka Dome)
In memory of Masakazu Fukuda. You will never be forgotten!
Back to: "DOME IMPACT" (4/7/00)
Forward to: "WRESTLING DONTAKU 2000 - EPILOGUE OF DRAGON 1ST" (5/5/00)
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