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[Complete Results]
"G1 WORLD 2002" opened on September 6th at Ishikawa Industrial Exhibition Hall #3, and closed on September 22nd at Osaka Namihaya Dome, with a special Japanese-only show. Although the original plan was to follow up on "G1 WORLD 2001" with a tournament to determine the strongest foreigner, the contents were changed. Former WWF female star, Joanie "Chyna" Laurer, made her in-ring debut, competing on the entire series of 11 shows. Laurer, who made a name for herself in the WWF and defeated Jeff Jarrett for the WWF Intercontinental Title in October, 1999, clashed with New Japan's top stars, Nagata and Chono, and left the series with a good win-loss record. Teaming with her were representatives of New Japan's L.A. Dojo, Justin McCully (the dojo head trainer) and the returning Shane. The second emphasis of the tour was the new "Makai Club" army corps, which first appeared in Hiroshima on 8/8, attacking Chono. Backed by it's president, former New Japan wrestler, Kantaro Hoshino, the group was comprised of four individuals coming into the series. Tadao Yasuda, the leader of the group, much despised by New Japan fans for his recent devious antics. Ryushi Yanagisawa, former Pancrase star with a positive win-loss record in fighting competitions. And the mysterious masked men, Makai #1 and Makai #2, their identity veiled by imposing hoods. Additionally, a chain of singles matches not realized in the G1 Climax were set up, featuring Block A and Block B wrestlers from the competition. Titled "G1 Special", the matches displayed New Japan ISM, with the top native heavyweights locking horns.
Foreign participation:
GREAT MUTA: 9/16 only
Joanie Laurer (L.A. Dojo): All shows except 9/22
Justin McCully (L.A. Dojo): All shows except 9/22
Shane (L.A. Dojo): All shows except 9/22
Special participation:
Ebessan (Osaka Pro): 9/17 only
Takehiro Murahama (Osaka Pro): 9/17 only
Points of note:
G1 Special matches on 9/6 Ishikawa, 9/7 Niigata, 9/8 Shizuoka, 9/11 Yonezawa, 9/12 Hachinohe, 9/13 Miyagi, 9/14 Sagamihara, 9/15 Mito, 9/16 Aichi, and 9/17 Tokyo. Due to a right leg injury suffered on 9/7, Kensuke Sasaki missed his scheduled G1 Special matches (9/11 vs. Kenzo, 9/13 vs. Nagata, 9/16 vs. Nakanishi, and 9/22 vs. Nishimura) and was replaced in each.
President Fujinami missed all of his scheduled appearances due to a nasal bone fracture.
(9/6) Tenzan and Nishimura fought to a grueling 30 minute draw. An overtime session was determined, but Tenzan landed vertically on his head when trying a moonsault press. Nishimura quickly won, and Tenzan was rushed to hospital, ruled out until 9/12.
(9/6) The Makai Club debuted with impact, Yasuda & Yanagisawa defeating Chono & Nakanishi in under 6 minutes, Yasuda taking the direct fall from Chono!
(9/6) Laurer's first New Japan match was a win, with her team defeating ace Nagata's team! However, Nagata avoided direct confrontation with Laurer, fearful of striking a female.
(9/7) Laurer scored her first direct victory in New Japan, pinning Gedo with a horizontal cradle after a vital part attack.
(9/13) Eternal rivals, Tenzan and Nakanishi, headlined against each other, with Nakanishi winning in 10 minutes. Tenzan said he was only 80% in the match, because of his injury, and a rematch was determined for 9/16 Aichi! Following their match, the lights went out, and the new Great Muta appeared, silently declaring war on New Japan.
(9/14) During an impromptu New Japan vs. Makai Club eight man brawl, another man disguised by a Makai mask removed his veil, revealing Makai's newest member, "Terrorist of Heisei" Kazunari Murakami!
(9/16) The new Great Muta, named GREAT MUTA (capitalized English), debuted with Laurer as his manager, teaming with Shane to convincingly defeat Liger & Tanaka.
(9/16) "100%" Tenzan defeated Nakanishi in their rematch, using the move that gave him a "near death experience", the moonsault press, for the victory.
(9/16) Chono defeated Makai Club leader, Yasuda, in the main event, avenging two tag losses during the tour.
(9/17) IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title #1 contenders, El Samurai & Naruse, defeated Osaka Pro's Murahama & Ebessan in a match that entertained the heated Korakuen crowd.
(9/22) "G1 WORLD 2002 SPECIAL". The former Tiger Mask, Koji Kanemoto, made a successful V1 defense of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title against the present Tiger Mask.
(9/22) In a Singles Elimination Match, the Makai Club defeated New Japan after Yasuda eliminated ace Nagata! However, an instant rematch saw Nagata pin Makai #2 following a wrist-clutch Exploder. The true identity of Makai #1 was hinted at, when he used a "Makai Windmill suplex hold", the same move as Junji Hirata's "Devil Windmill suplex hold".
Miscellaneous:
The Makai Club dominated New Japan on the tour, with a 13-3 record. However, their three losses were critical ones, with Yasuda losing to Chono, Yanagisawa losing by DQ to Nagata, and the entire army losing the final match of the tour to New Japan.
Complete "G1 Special" record in chronological order,
- Osamu Nishimura beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan (31:50) with a figure-four leglock.
- Yuji Nagata beat Hiroshi Tanahashi (19:02) with a backdrop hold.
- Masahiro Chono beat Shiro Koshinaka (11:54) with a Yakuza kick.
- Manabu Nakanishi beat Kenzo Suzuki (9:01) with an Argentine backbreaker.
- Manabu Nakanishi beat Yutaka Yoshie (13:10) with an Argentine backbreaker.
- Yuji Nagata beat Yutaka Yoshie (15:00) with a backdrop hold.
- Manabu Nakanishi beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan (10:38) with an Argentine backbreaker.
- Tadao Yasuda beat Hiroshi Tanahashi (0:38) with a Tiger Driver.
- Yutaka Yoshie beat Kenzo Suzuki (12:14) with a back blow.
- Osamu Nishimura beat Hiroshi Tanahashi (19:04) with a cradle.
- Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Manabu Nakanishi (14:36) with a moonsault press.
- Kenzo Suzuki beat Hiroshi Tanahashi (15:45) with a jumping knee attack.
Complete victory for Chono (1-0), Nagata (2-0), and Nishimura (2-0)!
Back to: "CROSS ROAD" (8/29/02)
Forward to: "FIGHTING SPIRIT SERIES 2002 PROLOGUE" (10/6/02 to 10/12/02)
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