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[Complete Results]
Following "THE SPIRAL" at the Tokyo Dome on 10/14, "TOUKON SERIES 2002" kicked off, beginning in Nagasaki on 10/19 and concluding in Makuhari on 11/4. After the series between New Japan and the Foreign Army was tied at the Tokyo Dome, the bitter feud continued to boil on this tour, in the form of New Japan vs. Makai Club. A three match 5 vs. 5 series was set up over three big shows (10/26 Fukuoka, 10/27 Kobe, and 11/4 Makuhari), each with a different concept, with much on the line. If the Makai Club were to win, they would gain the right to name challengers for the IWGP titles, but if New Japan won, it could mean the end of Kantaro Hoshino's invading force. The first wave of New Japan's L.A. Dojo wrestlers were brought in for the entire series, four men looking to prove themselves. The new "Triathlon Survivor" concept was also featured for the first time, with four junior heavyweight trios competing in an experimental version of the tournament, which would serve as a test run for the heavyweight installment later in the year.
Foreign participation:
Bas Rutten: 10/26 only
GREAT MUTA: 10/26 & 10/27
Joanie Laurer (L.A. Dojo): 10/26 & 10/27
Scott Norton: All shows
American Dragon (L.A. Dojo): All shows
Jack The Bull (L.A. Dojo): All shows
The Havana Pitbulls (Rocky Romero & Ricky Reyes) (L.A. Dojo): All shows
Special participation:
Kazunari Murakami (Makai Club): 10/26, 10/27 & 11/4
Minoru Fujita (Kaientai Dojo): 10/26, 10/27 & 11/4
Yuji Nagata: 10/24 to 11/4
Shinya Makabe: 10/26, 10/27 & 11/4
Azteca (KAGEKI): 10/21 only
Diablo (KAGEKI): 10/21 only
Points of note:
Jr. Triathlon Survivor matches on 10/26 Fukuoka, 10/27 Kobe, and 11/4 Makuhari.
The first ever Triathlon Survivor matches were best out of three falls, the first a singles match, the second a tag team match, and the third a six man tag team match. The wrestlers in the singles match could not be in the tag match and vice versa, but all three members would compete in the six man tag match (if it was necessary). If the time limit expired during any fall, a sudden death six man tag match would take place, with the next fall winning the match. The junior version of the tournament was done under elimination format.
Kensuke Sasaki cancelled all of his scheduled appearances due to his resignation from New Japan shortly before the series.
(10/19) Kenzo & Tanahashi took the Team 2000 old guard, Hiro & Goto, to a 20 minute draw in the fourth match of the show.
(10/19) After winning the semi final tag match, Norton called out his long-time T2000 leader, Chono. Norton was angry at T2000's union with the New Japan army, feeling betrayed, and returned the favour by powerbombing Chono, and declaring he was now aligned with the L.A. Dojo corps!
(10/19) In a short main event, lasting slightly under 5 1/2 minutes, the Makai Club drew first blood, Yasuda, Yanagisawa and Makai #1 defeating Chono, Tenzan & Nakanishi when Yanagisawa took advantage of Chono's injured state and pinned him after a right high kick!
(10/20) In a rematch from the Tokyo Dome, Koshinaka & Iizuka defeated Hiro & Goto, Iizuka putting Hiro to sleep. This was Iizuka's first win since returning from injury, and a major step in his quest to regain the form that almost won him the IWGP Heavyweight Title in 2000. Such was his delight that he jumped on the turnbuckles and celebrated.
(10/20) Tanaken once more wrestled to a 20 minute draw, this time hitting the time limit against Yoshie & Blue Wolf.
(10/20) New Japan fought back against the Makai Club in today's main event, when Chono & Nakanishi defeated Yasuda & Makai #1. Chono submitted Makai #1 with a traditional New Japan hold, the Cobra Twist.
(10/21) After debuting on 5/18 and losing 37 singles matches, Toru Yano finally won his first singles match, pinning recent debutant, Naofumi Yamamoto, following a front suplex. This was one of the first major steps in the former amaresu king's slow ascent.
(10/21) After competing on the 8/7 Fukuoka International Center show, Pro Wrestling KAGEKI returned to New Japan, with company founder, Azteca, and Diablo, facing Liger & Heat. The new masked man, Heat, still disappointed after his loss to Kanemoto at the Tokyo Dome, took the fall, pinning Diablo. Following the match, Liger announced that he would face Azteca on KAGEKI's 11/10 Hakata convention in singles action.
(10/21) In the semi final, the latest member of the Makai Club, Makai #3, debuted, winning an eight man tag match for the invaders. The man wrestled very similar to the new GREAT MUTA, taking the fall with MUTA's tornado clothesline.
(10/21) After two draws (35 minutes on 4/26 and 60 minutes on 6/5), Chono & Tenzan and Nakanishi & Nishimura met again in tag form, this time on a smaller show, but this time with, finally, a conclusive outcome. After almost 115 minutes of accumulated match time, Tenzan used one of Nishimura's own techniques, a running front cradle ("sunset flip"), to pin Mr. Muga in close to 19 minutes. The IWGP Tag Team Champions, even in a non-title match, further declared themselves as kings of the tag division with an impressive win.
(10/22) Amazingly, Kenzo & Tanahashi wrestled to their THIRD draw of the series, this time taking the old Heisei Ishingun duo, Koshinaka & Goto, to a 20 minute stalemate.
(10/24) Following his brilliant victory over Kazuyuki Fujita at the Tokyo Dome, company ace and IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Nagata, returned to action following a severe case of lumbago suffered at "THE SPIRAL". He teamed with Liger and Tiger Mask to defeat Norton & The Havana Pitbulls, Nagata submitting Reyes with his deadly Nagata Lock II.
(10/26) "FUKUOKA FIGHTING SPIRIT MEMORIAL DAY". Shinya Makabe made his first New Japan tour appearance since leaving for an overseas excursion last August. Makabe's newly found heavyweight strength was evident, as he teamed with K-Dojo's Minoru Fujita, a man with a negative win-loss record in New Japan, and dominantly defeated Kakihara & Naruse, Makabe lariating Kakihara in just 4 minutes for the win.
(10/26) The first Jr. Triathlon Survivor semi final took place at Fukuoka International Center, with Liger, Heat & Tiger Mask defeating the L.A. dojo trio of American Dragon & The Havana Pitbulls. Heat pinned Dragon in the opening singles match, before Romero & Reyes picked up a big tag win over Liger & Tiger, Romero pinning Tiger. However, Tiger scored immediate revenge in the decisive six man tag match, finishing off Romero with a Tiger suplex hold at the 15 minute mark.
(10/26) Kenzo & Tanahashi's good form on the series continued, when they defeated tomorrow's IWGP Tag Team Title challengers, the returning Joanie Laurer & GREAT MUTA. The finish came suddenly, when MUTA twisted his right knee, suffering severe damage to it, and was counted out. This put the IWGP Tag Team Title match in grave doubt, but Laurer said she would nominate a new partner on the day.
(10/26) Kanemoto made a very impressive V3 defense of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title, upsetting former UFC and Pancrase star, Bas Rutten. Just months after challenging Nagata for the IWGP Heavyweight Title, Rutten stepped into the junior domain, but was beaten at his own style by the brilliant Kanemoto, who won by submission with an ankle hold.
(10/26) New Japan vs. Makai Club 5 vs. 5 Series Vol. 1 was a heated, intense Singles Elimination Match, lasting around 24 minutes in total, and featuring many quick falls. It came down to Nishimura opposite both Yasuda and Murakami, but he managed to pin Yasuda with a ground Cobra Twist! Murakami viciously attacked from behind though, and finished Nishimura off half a minute later with a sleeper hold to give the Makai Club a 1-0 lead in the three match series!
(10/26) In a clash of New Japan's two top names, ace Nagata made a successful V5 defense of his IWGP Heavyweight Title against G1 winner, Chono. However, he didn't beat Chono, as the two waged a memorable Strong Style epic for the ages, wrestling to a 60 minute draw! The two wrestled a very strategical match early on, trying to break down each other's stamina. Later on, it turned into a severe fight, with both men going for the win, but they proved to be just too equal, as the time limit expired, making this the first 60 minute IWGP Heavyweight Title match since the classic Inoki vs. Fujinami bout on 8/8/88.
(10/27) "FIGHTING SPIRIT MEMORIAL DAY IN KOBE". The second Jr. Triathlon Survivor semi final saw the T2000 trio of Kanemoto, Jado & Gedo fend off a tough challenge from El Samurai, Kakihara & Naruse. It wasn't all bad for the home army though, as Kakihara put his name into contention for a title match when pinned Kanemoto in the first fall, his second singles victory over the IWGP Jr. Champion this year. Jado & Gedo tied it up, downing Samurai & Naruse, before the T2000 trio won the final fall, Kanemoto pinning Samurai to positively end a troubling day for him.
(10/27) Makabe & Fujita were again victorious, this time against heavyweight foe, as they downed Yoshie & Blue Wolf when Makabe used a Dragon suplex hold on Wolf. Hiro & Goto attacked Makabe, and a match was set up between the teams for 11/4 in Makuhari.
(10/27) In a rematch from their disappointly short meeting on 9/22, Liger and Nishimura met in a hurriedly determined European Catch Rules Match (ten 3 minute rounds). Nishimura was again victorious in a technical battle, but the match was much longer this time, Mr. Muga using a Japanese leg roll clutch hold to pin Liger in the third round (16:36 in total).
(10/27) The series was tied when the home army won the New Japan vs. Makai Club 5 vs. 5 Series Vol. 2 match, this one a 5 vs. 5 Singles Series. Once more, the falls were short, but intense, and it finished 3-2 to New Japan. Yanagisawa KO'd Tanahashi, Kenzo pinned Makai #2, Nagata downed Makai #1 by DQ, Yasuda pinned Iizuka after the interfering Yanagisawa used a right high kick, and Nakanishi won today's battle by pinning Murakami after an Argentine backbreaker in the final singles contest!
(10/27) The main event saw Chono & Tenzan make their V3 defense of the IWGP Tag Team Title, defeating Laurer & Great Kabuki. The retired Kabuki, acting as a mentor to MUTA, stepped in for his injured disciple, and the odd couple worked hard to try and upset the champions. However, it wasn't to be, and Chono submitted Kabuki with his patented STF. Laurer accepted complete defeat to Chono, and directly petitioned to join the New Japan army. Chono accepted, and Laurer shook hands with New Japan army members.
(11/2) In one of the biggest shockers of 2002, the young lion foursome of Kenzo, Tanahashi, Wolf & Yano defeated the Makai Club. What was even more shocking is that Yano, so soon after winning his first match, submitted Makai #2 with a Canadian backbreaker!
(11/4) Makabe & Fujita were taught a tough lesson by Hiro & Goto today, as the old guard cut open Makabe's forehead, and he bled heavily. They were eventually DQ'd for a ruthless assault, and Norton ran in to save Makabe, hinting at a new union beginning on the next series.
(11/4) The final of the first ever Jr. Triathlon Survivor saw bitter enemies collide, as Liger's army met Team 2000 in a gripping finale. The order of falls were switched around, with the six man tag first, followed by the regular tag, then the singles match, with the winners and losers of each tag stepping out, until just two men were left. Liger, Heat & Tiger Mask won the six man tag, Liger spiking Jado with a brainbuster. T2000 fought back quickly, Kanemoto & Gedo defeating Heat & Tiger Mask when Gedo dropped a Superfly splash on Tiger. This left Heat and Kanemoto, clashing again in singles competition so soon after their Tokyo Dome meeting. Once more, Kanemoto proved to have Heat's number, as he pinned the masked man following a Falcon Arrow, the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion adding another throne to his cabinet by winning the tournament for his team!
(11/4) So much was on the line in New Japan vs. Makai Club Vol. 3, which was a 2/3 Falls Match. Things started well for New Japan when Nakanishi hit Makai #2 with a German suplex hold to capture the first fall. However, Chono was DQ'd in the second fall for tearing at Makai #1's hood, evening things up. The decisive fall saw a shocker, as "Terrorist of Heisei" Murakami surprised Nagata with a flurry of mounted punches, and pinned him for the series victory! A critical loss for New Japan, with the Makai Club edging closer to dominance!
Miscellaneous:
The Makai Club dominated New Japan again, with another positive record and a 2-1 series victory, giving Hoshino the right to name IWGP challengers. The full series record was as follows,
-- Tadao Yasuda, Kazunari Murakami, Ryushi Yanagisawa, Makai #1 & Makai #2 beat Takashi Iizuka, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi, Osamu Nishimura & Yutaka Yoshie (23:48) in a Singles Elimination Match. Iizuka used a sleeper hold on Makai #2 (1:02). Makai #1 used a Makai Windmill suplex hold on Iizuka (3:40). Nakanishi used an Argentine backbreaker on Makai #1 (2:27). Yanagisawa used a right high kick on Nakanishi (3:56). Tenzan used the TTD on Yanagisawa (1:47). Yasuda used a front sleeper on Tenzan (4:04). Yasuda pinned Yoshie after Murakami used a knee kick (3:25). Nishimura used a ground Cobra Twist on Yasuda (2:54). Murakami used a sleeper hold on Nishimura (0:33).
-- Yuji Nagata, Takashi Iizuka, Manabu Nakanishi, Kenzo Suzuki & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Tadao Yasuda, Kazunari Murakami, Ryushi Yanagisawa, Makai #1 & Makai #2 in a 5 vs. 5 Singles Series by 3-2.
- Ryushi Yanagisawa beat Hiroshi Tanahashi (6:20) by KO.
- Kenzo Suzuki beat Makai #2 (3:47) with the Hagakure.
- Yuji Nagata beat Makai #1 (6:04) by DQ.
- Tadao Yasuda beat Takashi Iizuka (6:31) by pinfall after Yanagisawa used a right high kick.
- Manabu Nakanishi beat Kazunari Murakami (4:41) by pinfall after an Argentine backbreaker.
-- Tadao Yasuda, Kazunari Murakami, Ryushi Yanagisawa, Makai #1 & Makai #2 beat Masahiro Chono, Yuji Nagata, Takashi Iizuka, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Manabu Nakanishi (25:15) in a 2/3 Falls Match. Nakanishi used a German suplex hold on Makai #2 (9:50). Chono was DQ'd (7:25). Murakami used mounted punches on Nagata (8:00).
The purpose of the Jr. Triathlon Survivor was mainly to perfect the concept in time for the much larger heavyweight installment taking place in November and December. Officials clearly weren't happy with the original set up, so switched things around for the final, and that system is the one decided on for the round-robin heavyweight version.
Back to: "THE SPIRAL" (10/14/02)
Forward to: "TRIATHLON SURVIVOR 2002" (11/22/02 to 12/10/02)
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