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[Complete Results]
Prior to the big Tokyo Dome convention on May 2nd, the "30TH ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDATION INOKI ISM - BIG FIGHT SERIES 2002" took place, running through the second half of April. With eleven shows, this was a relatively small series, but wasn't without it's fair share of important matches. The New Japan vs. Team 2000 junior war raged on, as in a continuation from the concept series from March, two more elimination matches took place on this tour. Additionally, the IWGP juniors titles were fought over by the two sides. George "The Cobra" Takano would also make his first appearance in New Japan for many years in a special anniversary match. The brand new IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Yuji Nagata, led New Japan in his first full tour as title holder. And in something few were expecting, Riki Choshu made an abrupt farewell from New Japan with a match in his home town late in the tour.
Foreign participation:
Dan Devine: All shows
Giant Singh (Team 2000): 4/22 to 4/29
Rick Steiner: All shows
Black Tiger (CMLL/Team 2000): All shows
Shane: All shows
Special participation:
George Takano: 4/24 only
Katsuyori Shibata: 4/22 to 4/29
Wataru Inoue: 4/22 to 4/29
Points of note:
Three young lions, Katsuyori Shibata, Wataru Inoue and Katsushi Takemura were absent from shows, as they were on a learning excursion in Mexico. Shibata and Inoue would return on 4/22 and make their second challenge for Jado & Gedo's IWGP Tag Team Title. Takemura would miss the entire series though, his stay in Mexico extended.
(4/16) Shane (Sewell), a veteran of the Canadian and Puerto Rican circuits, made his New Japan debut, falling to an El Samurai la magistral.
(4/16) Team 2000 continued their unbeaten streak in concept matches against New Japan, defeating Liger's army in "New Japan vs. Team 2000 Jr. No. 3 Vol. 2". The 30 minute time limit expired with wrestlers on both sides remaining, but a 15 minute sudden death period was granted. #1 contender for the IWGP Jr. Title, Jado, used his crossface hold to submit champion Tanaka, and win the match for T2000.
(4/16) The Korakuen Hall fans enjoyed a thrilling main event, as the new IWGP Tag Team Champions, Chono & Tenzan, defeated Nakanishi & Yoshie in a 21 1/2 minute non-title match. Tenzan, who TTD'd Yoshie for the win, took the microphone and called for a match with Shinya Hashimoto and Naoya Ogawa at the Tokyo Dome in May.
(4/17) During a tag match, Tanahashi received a low-altitude dropkick to his left knee from Black Tiger, with ligament damage feared. Despite suffering the injury though, he fought on and pinned Tiger for the win. His remaining appearances on the series were cancelled, and his status for the 5/2 Tokyo Dome show was put in jeopardy.
(4/17) The main event saw IWGP Heavyweight and Jr. champions, Nagata & Tanaka, face IWGP Tag Champion, Chono, and Tanaka's arch-rival, Kanemoto, in an all-star main event, Chono Yakuza kicking Minoru for the 3 count.
(4/18) Following Jado & Gedo's win over Liger & Naruse, Shibata & Inoue, returning from their Mexican excursion, intruded and declared war on the IWGP Jr. Tag Champions, promising to take the belts in Hakata.
(4/22) Shibata & Inoue put up a strong fight in their return match, but Jado & Gedo's record-breaking V6 defense of the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title was a successful one, Jado submitting Wataru. However, the young lions took the champions close to 10 minutes longer than in their challenge last year, showing great progress.
(4/22) Kensuke threw his name in the hat for a title match with Nagata, teaming with Rick Steiner to beat Nagata & Nakanishi, Sasaki pinning the new champion following a Northern Light bomb.
(4/23) Former New Japan heel star, Umanosuke Ueda, was a special backstage guest at today's Kumamoto convention. Bound to a wheelchair after suffering spinal damage in a car crash in March, 1996, Ueda chatted with Chono and other wrestlers, and said he would try to return for the October Tokyo Dome event.
(4/24) George Takano made his first New Japan appearance for twelve years, competing in a 30th Anniversary Special Match. He teamed with Chono, the two defeating Nakanishi & Yoshie when Chono pinned Yoshie. Takano, who found success both as a junior and a heavyweight, said he would like to return again in the future.
(4/25) "Power Hall" Riki Choshu made his final appearance for New Japan, after an abrupt resignation from the company. Choshu's glorious and often complex New Japan career came to an end when he teamed with his greatest pupil, Kensuke Sasaki, along with Yoshie, in Choshu's home town of Tokuyama. They defeated T2000's Chono, Tenzan & Goto, Kensuke paying tribute to his mentor by using his famous Scorpion Deathlock (sasorigatame) to submit Goto.
(4/26) Tanaka's V2 defense of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title was a successful one, as he used the Minoru Special to down T2000's Black Tiger. Although he was originally scheduled to face Jado, an injury to Jado in his and Gedo's IWGP Jr. Tag Title defense forced a change, and Tiger replaced him.
(4/26) The new team of Gotch-ism, Nakanishi & Nishimura, took IWGP Tag Team Champions, Chono & Tenzan, to a gripping 30 minute draw in a non-title bout. With both teams unsatisfied by the draw, a 5 minute overtime session was granted, but again time expired, the match a 35 minute stalemate. Nakanishi called for a title match against the champions, saying he and Nishimura wanted to return to the starting point of Strong Style and take the belts.
(4/27) The New Japan vs. Team 2000 junior concept series came to an end with "New Japan vs. Team 2000 Jr. No. 3 Vol. 3". And finally, after going into the match 0-4, New Japan scored a win in this Elimination Match, Liger pinning Kanemoto and Gedo successively to salvage some pride for his army.
(4/27) One day after drawing with the tag champions, Gotch-ism scored a huge win, defeating Nagata & Yasuda, the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion (Nagata) and the man he dethroned (Yasuda). Nakanishi displayed the knowledge taught to him by Karl Gotch, using a German suplex hold to pin big Yasuda for the win.
(4/29) The tour finished with another win for Gotch-ism, as they today defeated Tenzan & Goto. On the day that another old style warrior, the great Lou Thesz, passed away, Nakanishi & Nishimura used simultaneous German suplexes, Nakanishi pinning Goto with his and pushing further for a shot at Chono & Tenzan's belts.
Miscellaneous:
With the complete "New Japan vs. Team 2000 Jr." series over, here is how it turned out in the end, T2000 victorious by 4-1.
(3/10 @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall) Koji Kanemoto, Eddie Guerrero, Black Tiger, Jado & Gedo beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Minoru Tanaka, El Samurai, Masayuki Naruse & Masahiro Kakihara (25:43) in an Elimination Match. Guerrero used a diving body press on Samurai (10:31). Jado used the Crossface of JADO on Naruse (14:48). Gedo used the Gedo clutch on Kakihara (17:40). Tiger used a moonsault press on Liger (25:05). Guerrero used a brainbuster on Tanaka (25:43).
(3/14 @ Kyoto City Gymnasium) Koji Kanemoto, Eddie Guerrero, Black Tiger, Jado & Gedo beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Minoru Tanaka, El Samurai, Masayuki Naruse & Masahiro Kakihara (27:46) in a 2/3 Falls Match. Tanaka used a cross armbreaker on Gedo (0:42). Jado used the Crossface of JADO on Tanaka (21:36). Gedo used a Superfly splash on Tanaka (5:28).
(3/24 @ Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium) Koji Kanemoto, Eddie Guerrero, Black Tiger, Jado & Gedo beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Minoru Tanaka, El Samurai, Masayuki Naruse & Masahito Kakihara (45:40) in a Singles Elimination Match. Liger vs. Jado went to a double countout (9:29). Tiger used a Death Valley bomb on Naruse (7:59). Kakihara used a cross armbreaker on Tiger (3:56). Guerrero used a diving body press on Kakihara (5:12). Guerrero used a diving body press on Samurai (6:28). Tanaka used a cross armbreaker on Guerrero (4:48). Kanemoto used a Tiger suplex hold on Tanaka (7:48).
(4/16 @ Tokyo Korakuen Hall) Koji Kanemoto, Black Tiger, Jado & Gedo beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Minoru Tanaka, Masayuki Naruse & Masahito Kakihara (35:37) in an Elimination Match. Naruse used the Crazy Cyclone on Tiger (9:35). Kanemoto used a moonsault press on Naruse (10:25). Kanemoto used a Tiger suplex hold on Kakihara (14:46). Tanaka used a right high kick on Kanemoto (25:41). Jado used the Crossface of JADO on Tanaka (35:37).
(4/27 @ Beppu B-Con Plaza) Jushin Thunder Liger, Minoru Tanaka & Shane beat Koji Kanemoto, Black Tiger & Gedo (26:02) in an Elimination Match. Shane used a Michinoku Driver II on Tiger (11:37). Kanemoto used a moonsault press on Shane (13:54). Liger used a la magistral on Kanemoto (24:59). Liger used a brainbuster on Gedo (26:02).
Back to: "EXCITING BATTLE IN OKINAWA" (4/13/02)
Forward to: "TOUKON MEMORIAL DAY" (5/2/02)
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