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[Complete Results]
Following up on "BATTLE ZONE 6-7" at Tokyo Nippon Budokan early in June was "SUMMER FIGHT SERIES", a grueling tour spanning exactly a month. With twenty shows, this would be a test of even the strongest wrestlers' endurance, as New Japan travelled nationwide, from Tokyo to the "north mecca", Hokkaido, during this series. Many foreign wrestlers were brought in, most of whom worked certain portions of the tour, with only two staying for it all. The Scott Norton vs. Super J grudge from March was revived, as bitter feelings remained from J's betrayal of Team 2000. Moreover, it was decided that the famous Steiner Brothers would return, teaming up on the Hokkaido double header to close the tour, and getting an IWGP Tag Team Title shot on 7/19. Former UFC star, Bas Rutten, following successive victories over Nakanishi, Tanahashi and Naruse, was granted a shot at Nagata's IWGP Heavyweight Title in the final match of the series. All four IWGP titles were on the line, with the New Japan vs. Team 2000 junior war also boiling, the two sides sides feuding over the IWGP Jr. and Jr. Tag titles. Katsushi Takemura returned from Mexico, where he travelled for an excursion in April, and would have the "Katsushi Takemura Jr. Trial Series" for him to display his newly acquired lucha libre techniques. "Super Beast" Kazuyuki Fujita would also return on the tour climax, after over half a year out due to injury, facing a hungry Masahito Kakihara. And finally, as a prelude to August's G1 Climax, a series of "G1 Special Tag" matches were determined, mixing friends and foes, as well as a "G1 Climax Rumble" (time lag battle royal) featuring all but two of the tournament's participants.
Foreign participation:
Bas Rutten: 7/20
Dan Devine: 6/27 to 7/10
Giant Singh (Team 2000): 7/14 to 7/20
Rick Steiner: 7/7 to 7/20
Rob Rage: All shows
Scott Norton (Team 2000): 6/20 to 7/8
Scott Steiner (7/19 & 7/20)
Super J: 6/20 to 7/8
Dr. Wagner Jr. (CMLL): 7/7 to 7/20
GOKU-DO (Team 2000): All shows
Special participation:
Hiroyoshi Tenzan (Team 2000): 7/4 to 7/20
Masahiro Chono (Team 2000): 6/20, 6/21, 6/23, 7/4 to 7/10, 7/12, 7/16, 7/19 & 7/20
Minoru Fujita (Kaientai Dojo): 7/19 only
Tadao Yasuda: 7/19 & 7/20
Yoshihiro Takayama: 7/20 only
Azteca (KAGEKI): 6/29 only
Points of note:
G1 Special Tag matches on 6/21 Tokyo, 7/4 Hyogo, 7/8 Gifu, 7/19 Hokkaido, and 7/20 Hokkaido.
The returning Katsushi Takemura had a Jr. Trial Series, with matches on 6/21, 6/23, 7/4, 7/8, 7/10, 7/16, and 7/19.
Katsuyori Shibata (injured) and Jado (injured) missed the entire tour. Yasuda, barred by Chono, missed all but the 7/19-7/20 double header.
(6/20) Takemura's first appearance back in New Japan left an instant impression, as the young lion was transformed. Sporting short blond hair, new pants, a brand new cocky attitude, and a new Mexican wrestling style, he barked that he would change the junior division.
(6/20) In a preliminary skirmish before the 7/4 IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title match (Liger & Tanaka vs. Kanemoto & AKIRA), Liger & Tiger Mask and Kanemoto & AKIRA wrestled to a 20 minute draw.
(6/20) Kensuke displayed his new army corps in the main event, comprised of himself and three young lions, Kenzo, Tanahashi, and Blue Wolf. Although nameless, the group fought well against Team 2000, before Wolf was pinned by Norton.
(6/21) In his first trial match, Takemura performed very well, but ultimately submitted to El Samurai's chickenwing armlock.
(6/21) Super J and Scott Norton had their first match since March, where Norton won in 5 minutes, J showing improved strength today when he took the gaijin ace to a 20 minute draw.
(6/21) The first G1 Special Tag, titled "G1 vs. Team 2000", saw old enemies, Chono and Koshinaka, forced to team up against Hiro & Goto. They couldn't get along, but after Chono's attempted betrayal backfired, Koshinaka was able to pin Goto.
(6/21) The Kensuke Army (tentative name) scored a massive win, defeating four established heavyweights, Nagata, Nakanishi, Nishimura & Yoshie! Sasaki led his young disciples to victory in this near-25 minute thriller, pinning Yoshie after a lariat, Northern Light bomb, and a second lariat!
(6/21) In the first IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title match to ever be taped for SXW on ESPN International, Tanaka made a successful V3 defense, taking out another T2000 member, this time AKIRA. The winner of this match was scheduled to defend against Kanemoto on 7/19, meaning Tanaka would have to meet the man who defeated him in the Best of the Super Jr. final again!
(6/23) In his second trial match, Takemura again fell, tapping out to a cross armbreaker from Tiger Mask.
(6/23) The Kensuke Army scored another huge win, today defeating Nakanishi, Koshinaka, Super J & Yoshie, Sasaki again personally winning the match when he Northern Light bombed J.
(6/23) Although the main event was scheduled to be Nagata & Tanaka vs. Chono & Kanemoto, the injured Tenzan, doing commentary for World Pro Wrestling, demanded to be let in. He called for his eternal rival, Nakanishi, who had just wrestled an 18 minute match, but Mr. Unbelievable returned and fought again! The juniors would determine the match, Kanemoto gaining another psychological boost over Tanaka by submitting him with an ankle hold! Despite his early return, Tenzan wouldn't wrestle again after this until his scheduled 7/4 comeback.
(6/28) Following another victory for the Kensuke Army, Sasaki publically named his new army corps, deciding that it would be called "SWING-LOWS". The meaning of this name comes from an old British rugby song, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", and relates to Kenzo's high profile past in rugby.
(6/29) The owner of small Fukuoka-based independent, Pro Wrestling KAGEKI, Azteca, wrestled his first ever match for New Japan, teaming with Liger against El Samurai & Tiger Mask. After close to 14 minutes of combat, Azteca was pinned by Samurai, who cut back a huracanrana for the win.
(7/4) In his third trial match, Takemura was again submitted, but managed to take Naruse 13 minutes before falling.
(7/4) In the second G1 Special Tag, titled "Block A vs. Block B", Kensuke & Koshinaka downed Chono & Fujinami, Koshinaka scoring a big win over President Fujinami, pinning him after Sasaki hit a lariat. Following the match though, Koshinaka attacked his partner and old friend, heating up their upcoming G1 meeting.
(7/4) Tenzan made his full-time return, teaming with Norton to end Nagata & Super J's unbeaten tag run on the tour, when he pinned J.
(7/4) Liger & Tanaka made their V1 defense of the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title, defeating Kanemoto & AKIRA when Liger pinned Kanemoto, a huge blow to Koji's momentum going into his 7/19 challenge of Tanaka.
(7/8) Takemura went 0-4 in his trial series, and it was also his fourth submission defeat, as he tapped out to a single-leg crab hold from Tanaka.
(7/8) In another "Block A vs. Block B" G1 Special tag, the odd team of Tenzan & Tanahashi took former IWGP Tag Team Champions, Nagata & Nakanishi, to a 30 minute draw. Tanahashi was often dominated, but wouldn't stay down and again won the crowd over. Following the match, they called "TANAHASHI", and the possible future ace shook hands with the current ace.
(7/10) In his fifth trial match, Takemura faced a man he was familiar with from Mexico, Dr. Wagner Jr., but once more fell, despite a good effort.
(7/10) Masahito Kakihara, on the day he was determined as Kazuyuki Fujita's return match opponent, returned from a short learning excursion to America, showing that he had mastered the triangle choke hold by taking down Dan Devine with it.
(7/10) Before the seventh match, Kaientai Dojo's Minoru Fujita made another invasion. He was slapped once by Kensuke, who Fujita wanted a match with. Sasaki said that if Fujita could last 10 minutes with Blue Wolf on 7/19, he would grant Fujita a match.
(7/10) In a main event that lasted over 30 minutes, all but two (Fujinami and Takayama) G1 Climax participants competed in a G1 Climax Rumble. Featuring many upset falls, including Nishimura pinning Nagata, Yoshie eliminating Chono, Sasaki AND Nishimura, Tanahashi scored a brilliant win, pinning his new rival, Yoshie, with a German suplex hold!
(7/16) In his sixth trial match, Takemura faced the on-form Kakihara, lasting all of 145 seconds before submitting to a kneelock. Kakihara's march towards Fujita continued...
(7/16) Giant Singh looked for revenge on the man who injured him in April and as a result cancelled Silva vs. Singh on 5/2, Yoshie. However, their match was brief, as they scuffled out of the ring and were both counted out in just under 2 minutes.
(7/19) "SAPPORO TOUKON MEMORIAL DAY 1ST". In his seventh and final trial match, Takemura fell to junior king, Liger, finishing his trial series with a 0-7 record.
(7/19) In his last preparation match before tackling Fujita, Kakihara submitted Goto with a triangle choke hold in only 41 seconds!
(7/19) Minoru Fujita earned a 5 minute time limit match with Kensuke by going to a 10 minute time limit draw with Blue Wolf. Although dominated by the New Japan young lion, Fujita held out, as Sasaki sat and watched at ringside.
(7/19) In a "G1 Climax Block B Exchange Match", Yasuda grasped President Fujinami's spot in the upcoming tournament, bloodying him, then choking him out with a sleeper hold for the dominant victory.
(7/19) Kanemoto repeated his feat from the 2002 Best of the Super Jr. final, ending his arch-rival Tanaka's five month reign as IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion in Hokkaido. Kanemoto became the 43rd champion, his fourth reign starting after Tanaka again submitted to an ankle hold. Following the match, Tiger Mask (fourth generation) provoked Kanemoto (the third generation of Tiger Mask), and Koji nominated him for the first shot, promising to take his mask in the process.
(7/19) Chono & Tenzan made their V2 defense of the IWGP Tag Team Title, defeating former champions, the legendary Steiner Brothers. Although troubled by the Steiners' overwhelming power, Chono used Tenzan as a stepping stone (literally) to level Rick with a Shining Yakuza kick for the 3 count. Nakanishi & Yoshie attacked the champions following the match, but were abruptly assaulted by the Steiners. The Steiners shook hands with Chono & Tenzan, becoming Team 2000's newest allies!
(7/20) "SAPPORO TOUKON MEMORIAL DAY 2ND". After his opening match loss to Wataru, Takemura declared he would return to Mexico indefinitely and self-train until he was ready to return. Takemura said, "I want to find my heel image, one different to Team 2000's".
(7/20) Kyoko Inoue's NEO Ladies became the latest promotion to have an offer match in New Japan. Kyoko, Yoshiko Tamura & Misae Genki downed Mima Shimoda, Etsuko Mita & Chaparita ASARI in the third match of the night.
(7/20) Nakanishi & Koshinaka vs. Yasuda & Yoshie didn't go as planned, as Yasuda showed up late again. Yoshie was forced to fight alone, and shortly after Yasuda arrived, Yoshie attacked him for his lack of honour. Yasuda was forced out of the building and declared war on New Japan.
(7/20) After his re-training and run of form leading into the match, Kakihara was no match for "Wild Beast" Kazuyuki Fujita, who made his first appearance since injuring himself in late 2001, and vacating the IWGP Heavyweight Title as a result. Fujita escaped Kakihara's triangle choke by simply lifting and dropping him. He pulled Kakihara off the mat, and choked him out with a sleeper hold, the difference in power crystal clear. Kakihara submitted after 69 seconds, and Fujita sent a message to everyone with such a dominant victory.
(7/20) In the final G1 Special Tag, an all-star affair saw Chono & Nishimura tackle Takayama & Tenzan in a highly technical match lasting close to half an hour. While Chono & Nishimura cooperated rather well, Takayama & Tenzan couldn't get along. The finish saw a big shock, when with time running out, Nishimura surprised Tenzan with a ground Cobra Twist for the 3 count!
(7/20) After wrestling the entire tour, nineteen shows prior to the conclusion, Nagata protected New Japan from the foreign enemy once more, making his V3 defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Although troubled by Rutten's vicious kicks, Nagata forced the former UFC star to submit to the Nagata Lock II to wrap up a massive tour.
Miscellaneous:
One of the most grueling tours in a long time for the New Japan roster, who had very little time off before this series. With the summer heat and general wear and tear, they fought very hard for a month to entertain the fans.
Complete "G1 Special Tag" record in chronological order,
- Masahiro Chono & Shiro Koshinaka beat Hiro Saito & Tatsutoshi Goto (10:52) when Koshinaka used a powerbomb on Goto.
- Kensuke Sasaki & Shiro Koshinaka beat Masahiro Chono & Tatsumi Fujinami (10:05) when Koshinaka pinned Fujinami after Sasaki used a lariat.
- Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Hiroshi Tanahashi went to a draw (30:00) when the time limit expired.
- Kensuke Sasaki & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Yuji Nagata & Kenzo Suzuki (16:16) when Sasaki used a Northern Light bomb on Suzuki.
- Masahiro Chono & Osamu Nishimura beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Yoshihiro Takayama (28:40) when Nishimura used a ground Cobra Twist on Tenzan.
Complete "Katsushi Takemura Jr. Trial Series" record in chronological order,
- El Samurai beat Katsushi Takemura (7:52) with a chickenwing armlock.
- Tiger Mask beat Katsushi Takemura (6:05) with a cross armbreaker.
- Masayuki Naruse beat Katsushi Takemura (12:58) with a cross armbreaker.
- Minoru Tanaka beat Katsushi Takemura (10:08) with a single-leg crab hold.
- Dr. Wagner Jr. beat Katsushi Takemura (9:44) with the Doctor Driver.
- Masahito Kakihara beat Katsushi Takemura (2:25) with a kneelock.
- Jushin Thunder Liger beat Katsushi Takemura (7:18) with a brainbuster.
Back to: "BATTLE ZONE 6-7" (6/7/02)
Forward to: "G1 CLIMAX 2002" (8/3/02 to 8/11/02)