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[Complete Results]
"EXCITING BATTLE IN NAEBA 2002" saw New Japan return to the Prince Hotel Event Hall in the popular ski resort of Naeba. Although the wrestlers enjoyed skiing while there, they also produced two pro wrestling shows before visitors to the area. Following up on last year's mini-series in Naeba, the second Naeba Cup Tag Tournament took place, again with a heavyweight/junior vs. heavyweight/junior theme.
Points of note:
(3/29) In a rematch from last year's G1 Climax, Liger and Nishimura fought to a draw. Unlike last year, where they hit 30 minutes, today's match lasted 15, with the two again deadlocked.
(3/29) The Naeba Cup Tag Tournament first round bouts saw Nakanishi & Naruse defeat Goto & Gedo, Chono & Jado down Yoshie & Shibata, Tenzan & Kanemoto beat Sasaki & Inoue, and Nagata & Tanaka best Yasuda & Kakihara. Nagata was anxious and impatient for his IWGP Heavyweight Title match with Yasuda on 4/5, fighting hard with him.
(3/30) The tournament wrapped up with both the semi finals and final on the last day. Tenzan & Kanemoto beat Nakanishi & Naruse, while Nagata & Tanaka downed Chono & Jado, setting up a final of Nagata & Tanaka vs. Tenzan & Kanemoto in the main event. Nagata failed to win his second Naeba tournament in a row, as he and Tanaka were defeated, Kanemoto using a Tiger suplex hold to down his arch-rival Minoru.
Miscellaneous:
Following the 3/29 show, the fans and wrestlers held an exchange party. Nine wrestlers were up for grabs, with fans paying 3,500 yen (US$30) to meet with them individually. The wrestlers were Nishimura, Yoshie, Naruse, Kakihara, Tanahashi, Shibata, Inoue, Takemura, and new dojo entrant, Toru Yano. On the 3/30 show, Hidekazu Tanaka sat down with Chono and Tenzan in the ring, interviewing them for New Japan's Strong Style show on Samurai! TV.
Back to: "HYPER BATTLE 2002" (3/8/02 to 3/24/02)
Forward to: "FIGHTING SPIRIT SPECIAL" (4/5/02)
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