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[Complete Results]
"FIGHTING SPIRIT 2003" began the 2003 touring year for New Japan, following up on the traditional January Tokyo Dome super-show. After his big win over Josh Barnett at the Tokyo Dome, Yuji Nagata would once more lead New Japan forward, but a difficult IWGP Heavyweight Title defense against Osamu Nishimura on 2/2 threatened to put his long reign as champion in jeopardy. Speaking of Barnett, the former UFC star would work all but two shows on the series, looking to gain pro wrestling experience in hopes of again challenging for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Yoshihiro Takayama, the new NWF Heavyweight Champion, was another featured outsider on the tour, competing on every show and defending his new prize on 2/16 against the Makai Club's Ryushi Yanagisawa. With Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan continuing to dominate the IWGP Tag Team Title, their reign approaching one year in length, an eight team tournament was determined to decide the next challengers for the tag aces on the tour climax. And the new junior conflict, pitting Heat, Tiger Mask, and friends, against Kanemoto, Liger, and friends, which took off at the Tokyo Dome, would continue to boil on this series, with a major twist and a big Elimination Match on the final day.
Foreign participation:
Jim Steele: All shows
Josh Barnett: 2/2 to 2/16
Mike Barton: All shows
Perry Saturn: All shows
Curry Man (Michinoku Pro): All shows
Super Crazy (CMLL): All shows
Special participation:
Hiroshi Tanahashi: 2/16 only
Kengo Kimura: 1/30, 2/2, 2/6, 2/7 & 2/12
Michiyoshi Ohara: 2/16 only
Yoshihiro Takayama: All shows
AKIRA: 2/9 to 2/16
Minoru Fujita (Kaientai Dojo): 1/30 to 2/7, 2/11, 2/12 & 2/16
Takehiro Murahama (Osaka Pro): 2/2 only
Points of note:
(1/30) One of New Japan's many promising young lions, Ryusuke Taguchi, picked up the first win of his career, defeating rookie rival, Naofumi Yamamoto, in the opening match at Korakuen Hall.
(1/30) After debuting for New Japan at the Tokyo Dome, Makai #5 teamed with Harimao'z partner, Makai #4, against Iizuka & Yano. Makai #5 again appeared very much like the man who injured Iizuka for over a year, Mitsuya Nagai, and a furious Iizuka got himself DQ'd when he attacked the referee for trying to block his rampage.
(1/30) In an entrance match to determine the final team to enter the IWGP Tag Team Title #1 Contender Tournament, Hiro & Goto defeated Makai #1 & Makai #2, Goto pinning #1 after throwing a knee to the vital part region, and covering.
(1/30) The new junior army, led by Heat, was again unable to conquer the elite Kanemoto & Liger army, just like at the Tokyo Dome, with Heat, Kakihara & Tiger Mask losing a close 16 minute match to Kanemoto, Liger & Samurai today. To make things worse for them, Heat himself was beaten, submitting to Samurai's chickenwing armlock.
(1/30) In his first match since an excursion to India, where he studied yoga, Nishimura won a 12 Man New Japan Rumble, a great momentum boost before his IWGP Heavyweight Title challenge in Sapporo. After eliminating Yasuda, Nishimura countered Mike Barton's Barton buster with a backslide, becoming the first man since Nakanishi on 6/6/01 to pin Barton in New Japan, and in doing so winning the battle royal in 35 minutes! The match also saw former IWGP Tag Team Champion and current New Japan youth scout, Kengo Kimura, make his return to action after a long absence.
(1/30) A big main event at Korakuen saw Yoshihiro Takayama team with former WWF, WCW, and ECW star, and New Japan debutant, Perry Saturn, against Nagata & Blue Wolf. This was the first clash between IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Nagata, and NWF Heavyweight Champion, Takayama, since their epic Tokyo Dome meeting last May. The outsiders won a close match when Takayama used his patented "Everest" German suplex hold on Wolf, beginning his first full tour with New Japan since the 2002 G1 Climax with a victory.
(2/1) "Super Rookie" Shinsuke Nakamura made his full tour debut in the Teisen Hall Cup 6 Man Tag Team Tournament, teaming with Hiro & Goto. In an amazing feat, Nakamura's third, fourth, and fifth New Japan matches would result in him, along with Hiro & Goto, winning the one night tournament! They defeated Yanagisawa, Makai #1 & Makai #2 in the first round, Hiro dropping a diving senton on Makai #2. In the semi final round, they again conquered the Makai Club, this time overcoming Murakami, Makai #4 & Makai #5 when the Makai trio were DQ'd for a three person attack on Nakamura. And in the final, they made it three in a row over outside enemies, this time beating Takayama, Makabe (wrestling without a New Japan contract) & Minoru Fujita when Goto used a backdrop suplex on Makabe! The brilliant rookie Nakamura celebrated his first day of touring with an incredible tournament win! And the old guard duo of Hiro & Goto continued their run of form, leading the young phenom to this victory!
(2/2) In the first IWGP Tag Team Title #1 Contender Tournament first round match, Yasuda & Murakami faced two giant native heavyweights, Takayama and the debuting former volleyball star, Hiroshi Nagao. However, after injuring a knee when being displayed by Takayama at Korakuen Hall on 1/30, Nagao was quickly beaten, falling to a Yasuda right hook in 3 minutes.
(2/2) The second and final tournament match of the day saw Barton & Steele continue their tag form, putting away long-time friends, Nakanishi & Yoshie, when Barton pinned Yoshie.
(2/2) Josh Barnett made his tour debut for New Japan, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion looking to find form and experience in pro wrestling after his Tokyo Dome loss to Nagata. He teamed with Saturn, and the two picked up a huge win, defeating IWGP Tag Team Champions, Chono & Tenzan, in a non-title match when Barnett submitted Tenzan with a cross heel hold!
(2/2) Two of New Japan's finest technicians clashed over the IWGP Heavyweight Title, Nagata defending the belt against Nishimura. Although Nagata became weary, attacking Nishimura's flexible body, he managed to succeed in his V8 defense, debuting his new Nagata Lock III for the submission win. Nagata found himself one defense shy of equalling Shinya Hashimoto's defense record of nine wins, and promised to make New Japan history like Antonio Inoki and Riki Choshu did before him.
(2/4) Barnett began a series of singles matches on the tour by KO'ing Makai #2 with a German suplex in 5 minutes.
(2/4) Hiro & Goto continued their riot on the tour, winning their IWGP Tag Team Title #1 Contender Tournament first round match against Makabe & Fujita. Goto continued to trouble Makabe, pinning New Japan's problem child again with his backdrop suplex.
(2/6) The final IWGP Tag Team Title #1 Contender Tournament first round match was part of the first ever wrestling show at Dream Messe Miyagi. It saw Iizuka & Kakihara avenge their Tokyo Dome loss to Harimao'z with a big win, an angry Iizuka choking out Makai #4 with a sleeper hold, and forcing a referee stoppage.
(2/6) Kanemoto continued his run as one of the most dominant IWGP Jr. Heavyweight champions in history, making a successful V5 defense of the belt against K-Dojo's Minoru Fujita. Fujita, who finished last in the 2000 Best of the Super Jr., and had little luck in the heavyweight division last year, showed tremendous growth, pushing Kanemoto in a tough match. Like with his previous four challengers, Kanemoto used an ankle hold to submit Fujita, and expressed interest in facing heavyweights soon. Also, following the match, Kanemoto recruited Fujita into his and Liger's army, a valuable recruit for the already dominating faction.
(2/6) A big main event in Miyagi saw Takayama, Barton & Steele down Chono, Tenzan & Nishimura, Takayama using a German suplex hold on Nishimura for the win.
(2/7) In their first match as a trio, Kanemoto, Liger & Fujita defeated Heat, Kakihara & Curry Man, Fujita using a Michinoku Driver II on Curry for the win. Fujita, having given up on the heavyweight division to return to his junior routes, looked at home and cooperated well with his new friends.
(2/7) Barnett's second singles match of the tour saw him destroy an on-form Goto, the match lasting just 132 seconds before Goto tapped out to Josh's cross heel hold.
(2/9) AKIRA made his first in-ring appearance since 7/20/02, defeating El Samurai in a singles match. After the next match, which saw Kanemoto, Liger, Jado & Gedo beat Heat, Tiger Mask, Super Crazy & Curry Man (Kanemoto pinning Heat), AKIRA intruded and sided with Heat's army, officially ending his friendship with Kanemoto, Jado, and Gedo, and promising to guide Heat's struggling army.
(2/9) Barton & Steele became the first team to reach the IWGP Tag Team Title #1 Contender Tournament, putting an end to Hiro & Goto's rampage when Barton used his Barton buster on Hiro.
(2/9) The second tournament semi final saw Yasuda & Murakami defeat Iizuka & Kakihara, Yasuda pinning Iizuka following a straight right punch to set up a Makai Club vs. gaijin tournament final in Gifu.
(2/9) After expelling Makabe from New Japan, then allowing him back on shows, Chono tackled the problem head on, he and Nagata facing Takayama & Makabe in a big main event. Chono punished the arrogant youngster with a merciless beating, creating a blood festival in Osaka that saw Makabe bleed massively. Nagata put Makabe out of his misery with a backdrop hold, the man now an outsider to New Japan crushed as the hands of the IWGP and G1 Climax champions.
(2/11) Even with AKIRA at the helm, Heat and Tiger Mask continued to fall at the hands of Kanemoto and Liger, the new threesome losing to Kanemoto, Liger & Samurai in AKIRA's first match as part of the group.
(2/11) Barnett, a big fan of the former UWF-I, defeated one of UWF-I's former prospects, Kakihara, in his latest singles match, again using a cross heel hold for the win.
(2/11) Barton & Steele became the top contenders for Chono & Tenzan's IWGP Tag Team Title, defeating Yasuda & Murakami in the tournament final. However, it was an unsatisfying conclusion, Murakami getting Yasuda DQ'd in under 5 minutes after one of his wild rampages.
(2/11) In another thrilling main event, Chono & Tenzan faced Nagata & Nakamura. A high profile match for the young rookie, he managed to survive with Nagata for over 15 minutes, before succumbing to Tenzan's TTD in a courageous effort.
(2/12) Barnett's form continued, when he rolled over another veteran of the squared circle, Hiro Saito. Barnett finished Hiro off in under 4 minutes, knocking him out with a jumping knee kick, and forcing a referee stoppage.
(2/12) In a preliminary skirmish to the planned IWGP Tag Team Title match, Barton & Steele bested Tenzan & Nishimura, Barton surprisingly pinning Tenzan to heat things up further. However, major problems arose, with both Tenzan and Steele being stretchered out after the match. Tenzan lost much feeling in his body after taking the decisive Barton buster from Barton, the injury relating to his concussion from last September. As for Steele, the injury was far more serious, as he damaged ligaments in his right leg, the complete recovery date announced as six months. This cancelled the IWGP Tag Team Title match, and the runner-up team, Yasuda & Murakami, would replace Barton & Steele, meaning double duty for the Makai Club stars in Tokyo.
(2/15) In his toughest singles match of the tour to date, Barnett faced Yoshie. Yoshie fought well, but even he was ultimately little match for Josh, who forced a referee stoppage after a brutal German suplex.
(2/15) The Shinnichi pair of Chono & Nakanishi scored a big main event win, overcoming two undefeated men on the tour, Barton & Saturn. Barton would remain personally undefeated, with Saturn losing the fall when he tapped out to Chono's STF.
(2/16) After his much publicized stabbing in December, Hiroshi Tanahashi, with a new hairstyle and costume (long red pants), returned to action, facing his new mentor, Nakanishi, in a special opening match. Nakanishi controlled Tanahashi in a very physical match, before pinning him with a German suplex hold. They clasped hands following the match, and Nakanishi told Tanahashi that together they should "activate New Japan", a new union created.
(2/16) Iizuka & Yoshie defeated Harimao'z in tag action, Yoshie winning a tough match when he dropped a diving body press on Makai #4. Iizuka provoked Makai #5 following the match, leading to #5 unmasking and confirming everyone's suspicions... Mitsuya Nagai revealed! Nagai suggested a direct confrontation with Iizuka on the next series, and Iizuka promised to put Nagai in hospital.
(2/16) In his first of two matches on the night, Murakami faced the brilliant rookie, Nakamura. Murakami was able to avoid defeat from "Super Rookie", unlike Yasuda, winning an intense fight by referee stop.
(2/16) Yasuda's first of two matches saw little activity. He teamed with Makai #1 and Makai #2 against the Crazy Dogs, Hiro, Goto, and the returning Michiyoshi Ohara. Makai #1 was DQ'd in just 54 seconds though, the brawl getting out of hand. The secret weapon of the Crazy Dogs was revealed after the match, popular MMA star, Enson Inoue, running in and choking out Kantaro Hoshino with a sleeper hold. The Makai Club backer was then thrown into a doghouse, completely humiliated by the new army! The Makai Club vs. Crazy Dogs feud was intensified by this act, complete warfare on the next series becoming a major possibility.
(2/16) After losing virtually every important match on the tour, the junior army of AKIRA, Heat, Tiger Mask, Super Crazy & Curry Man scored a miraculous victory over Kanemoto, Liger, Samurai, Gedo & Fujita in a thrilling Elimination Match. Following nearly 20 minutes of action and many eliminations, the match came down to Kanemoto & Liger vs. AKIRA & Heat. AKIRA pinned Liger first, dropping a Musasabi press on him! And after all the torment by Kanemoto to Heat, the children's hero finally downed Kanemoto, pinning the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion following a Fisherman buster to complete a huge win! Quickly after this conclusion, an IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title match between champions, Kanemoto & Liger, and challengers, AKIRA & Heat, was determined for the March series, the new junior confrontation really heating up.
(2/16) Barnett was defeated for the first time on the tour, albeit indirectly. He and Saturn suffered a shock loss to Nagata & Blue Wolf, when Wolf surprised everyone by pinning Saturn in front of his brothers (Dolgorsuren Sumiyabazar and sumo superstar, Blue Dragon/Asashoryu)! Wolf pinned the American veteran after hitting his patented Mongol slam, and celebrated his most high profile win to date with his brothers and Nagata following the match.
(2/16) Chono & Tenzan made a successful V5 defense of their IWGP Tag Team Title, defeating Yasuda and a weary Murakami in a 20+ minute desperate struggle. Tenzan fought through half of his body being numb, surviving diabolical sneak attacks from the Makai Club at ringside. In the end, following a miscommunication from the challengers, Tenzan repeated his feat from December's title defense against Yasuda & Yanagisawa. He once more pinned Yasuda following a blood-stained diving headbutt, risking his body and health to keep the belts in New Japan's possession! Tenzan defended the title to the death with his wedding reception on 2/23 so close at hand, showing the heart of many New Japan legends.
(2/16) After having problems with Yanagisawa in various tag matches throughout the tour, Takayama defeated the Makai Club invader in his V1 defense of the NWF Heavyweight Title. The two traded strikes in a very physical match, before Takayama threw a knee kick, then hit a German suplex hold for a successful defense of the legendary belt in the final match of a very eventful series.
Back to: "WRESTLING WORLD 2003" (1/4/03)
Forward to: "HYPER BATTLE 2003" (3/6/03 to 3/23/03)
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