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[Complete Results]
"HYPER BATTLE 2000" began in Shizuoka, running for eleven shows before reaching Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium for a big close to the series. The focus was very much on the war between New Japan and the newly bolstered Team 2000, after Chono absorbed nWo Japan into his unit in February. This bitter conflict would result in two title matches on successive shows, with New Japan ace, Kensuke Sasaki, defending his IWGP Heavyweight Title against Satoshi Kojima on 3/19, and IWGP Tag Team Champions, Manabu Nakanishi & Yuji Nagata, defending their IWGP Tag Team Title against former champions, Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan, on 3/20. Additionally, Jushin Thunder Liger's IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title would be on the line, the titan facing old friend, El Samurai, early in the series.
Foreign participation:
Brian Johnston: 3/10 to 3/20
Don Frye (Team 2000): 3/10 to 3/20
Mike Enos: All shows
Scott Norton (Team 2000): 3/10 to 3/20
Dr. Wagner Jr. (CMLL): All shows
Negro Casas (CMLL): All shows
Perro Aguayo Jr. (CMLL): 3/7 only
Points of note:
(3/7) The series started with a DQ finish in the opening day main event, Chono & Kojima losing to Sasaki & Nakanishi when Goto intruded.
(3/10) Liger's sudden rampage in the junior division continued, when he defeated one of his greatest rivals, El Samurai, in just 8 minutes. Liger, clad in his ominous black costume, spiked Samurai with a brainbuster for the successful V3 defense of his IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title.
(3/10) The six men involved in title matches at the end of the tour competed in six man tag form. It was the challengers, Chono, Tenzan & Kojima, who defeated Kensuke, Nakanishi & Nagata, when Tenzan submitted Nagata with his Buffalo sleeper.
(3/16) In a preliminary skirmish to the upcoming IWGP Tag Team Title match, champions, Nakanishi & Nagata, defeated one of their challengers, Chono, and Goto. Following the match, Nakanishi and Nagata provoked Chono and Tenzan, leading to an unofficial extra match. However, it soon erupted into a brawl, as tempers flared between the two armies.
(3/19) Another of Liger's great rivals, Otani, fell to the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion quickly in non-title action. Liger pinned Otani in under 9 minutes following a powerbomb.
(3/19) Kensuke Sasaki made a successful V2 defense of his IWGP Heavyweight Title, fending off a very tough challenge from Team 2000's Kojima. Kojima controlled a desperate struggle by attacking Kensuke's knee, but the champion fought through the pain, and after 25 minutes lariated Kojima for the victory.
(3/20) In a trial match to see if Liger would be worthy enough to challenge Kensuke for an IWGP Heavyweight Title shot at the Tokyo Dome in April, he was KO'd by Don Frye. After dominating junior foe, Liger found himself in a similar situation while in the heavyweight division, one straight right punch putting him to sleep.
(3/20) New Japan completed a successful 2-0 record over Team 2000 in title matches on the series, when Nakanishi & Nagata made a successful V3 defense of the IWGP Tag Team Title. Like Kensuke though, the regular army representatives faced very difficult competition, their match with Chono & Tenzan lasting 24 1/2 minutes before Tenzan tapped out to Nakanishi's Argentine backbreaker.
Back to: "ADIOS PERRO EN JAPON" (3/3/00 to 3/6/00)
Forward to: "EXCITING BATTLE IN NAEBA 2000" (3/24/00 to 3/25/00)
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