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[Complete Results]
"SURVIVAL 2001" opened on 10/12 in Ueda and ran for twelve shows, concluding on 10/28 in Fukuoka for a big event, one of several. With Scott Norton, Giant Silva, Giant Singh and Super J all booked for the tour, Team 2000 was in full military power and ready to attack both the New Japan army and TenKoji's rebel forces. On 10/21 at Kobe World Hall, T2000 would clash, with Chono, Norton, Silva & Singh facing Tenzan, Kojima, Hiro & Goto in an important Elimination Match. Also on that day, Koji Kanemoto would return from an injury suffered in March, beginning duties as Team 2000's junior leader after clarifying his future by siding with AKIRA, Jado and Gedo at the Tokyo Dome. And of course, perhaps the most important happening of the series would be the return of Kensuke Sasaki to tours, after six months away from New Japan. Despite a loss to Kazuyuki Fujita at the Tokyo Dome, Kensuke was eager to display his new vale tudo training on a full tour. For the opening two days of the tour, a special Showa theme would grace shows, with stars of the old era, including Dory Funk Jr. and Bob Backlund, competing, adding a refreshingly nostalgic touch to New Japan in these chaotic times.
Foreign participation:
Bob Backlund: 10/12 & 10/13
Brian Blair: 10/12 & 10/13
Dan Devine: 10/17 to 10/28
Dory Funk Jr.: 10/12 & 10/13
Giant Silva (Team 2000): 10/17 to 10/28
Giant Singh (Team 2000): 10/17 to 10/28
Mike Rotundo (All Japan/Team 2000): 10/28 only
Scott Norton (Team 2000): 10/17 to 10/28
Steve Keirn: 10/12 & 10/13
Super J (Team 2000): 10/17 to 10/28
Taiyo Kea (All Japan/BATT): 10/21 & 10/28
Tony St. Clair: 10/12 & 10/13
Chris Candido: 10/17 to 10/28
GOKU-DO (Team 2000): 10/17 to 10/28
Special participation:
Hakushi (Michinoku Pro): 10/23 only
Kazunari Murakami (UFO): 10/28 only
Keiji Muto (BATT): 10/12, 10/19, 10/21 & 10/28
Kensuke Sasaki: 10/17 to 10/28
Kokushi Muso: 10/23 only
Riki Choshu: 10/21, 10/23, 10/26 & 10/28
Tadao Yasuda: 10/28 only
Tatsumi Fujinami: 10/12, 10/13, 10/19, 10/26 to 10/18
Gedo (Team 2000): 10/12 to 10/26
Jado (Team 2000): All shows
Masahito Kakihara: 10/21 & 10/28
Masayuki Naruse: All shows
Points of note:
(10/12) Like at the Tokyo Dome, Fujinami teamed with Bob Backlund, today facing fellow veterans, Steve Keirn & Tony St. Clair. Backlund won the match with an inside cradle, pinning St. Clair.
(10/12) In a generation clash, Muto & Nishimura went up against Dory Funk Jr. & Brian Blair. It would be an important win for Nishimura personally, as he scored his first ever pinfall over his U.S. excursion teacher, Funk, with a Japanese leg roll clutch hold.
(10/12) After a recent slump, including an IWGP Tag Team Title loss, TenKoji started the new series well, teaming with AKIRA to defeat Nagata, Nakanishi & Tanahashi. AKIRA pinned Tanahashi in the young lion's first ever main event.
(10/13) Nishimura continued to one-up the old generation, today using a ground Cobra Twist to put away Tony St. Clair in a technical ground-based match.
(10/13) In a contest lasting almost 23 1/2 minutes, Backlund & Dory defeated Fujinami & Keirn, Funk submitting Keirn with a spinning toehold in perhaps the last match these four men would have together.
(10/13) TenKoji weren't able to sustain their opening day form, today losing to their greatest rivals, Nagata & Nakanishi, when Nakanishi submitted Kojima with an Argentine backbreaker. Worrying signs for Tenzan & Kojima so close to their battle with Chono in Kobe.
(10/17) Kensuke Sasaki finally returned to New Japan tours, wrestling in the opening match by his request. Because of his low placement on the card, he faced a young lion, and it showed, as he destroyed Kenzo in just 8 seconds with a cross armbreaker.
(10/17) Jado & Gedo introduced the newest member of their group, GOKU-DO. GOKU-DO's true character was revealed as Pat Tanaka, who helped train both men during their days in Hamada's UWF, and competed on New Japan shows in the 1980's.
(10/17) Following Chono & Norton's main event win over Nagata & Yoshie, TenKoji raced to the ring. They gave Chono a union Koji Cutter, and declared that from tomorrow, he would be crushed.
(10/18) Tanahashi lasted 34 seconds, but like Kenzo, was destroyed by Kensuke. After hitting a lariat for the win, Sasaki declared that he would crush both Nagata and his confidence in Fukuoka on 10/28.
(10/18) While focusing on taking down Chono, TenKoji also had to be concerned about their shocking lack of tag form, today falling to Nagata & Dan Devine. Devine, brought to Japan by Kensuke, scored the big upset by submitting Tenzan with a sleeper hold!
(10/19) It was Yoshie's turn to feel the power of Kensuke Sasaki, as in the opening match he was submitted in just 55 seconds by Kensuke, who again used the deadly cross armbreaker for victory.
(10/19) In the second match of the night, Devine choked out Takemura in only 39 seconds, mirroring the success of his new mentor.
(10/19) On the final show before the big Elimination Match, TenKoji fell to Norton & Super J, J using a diving lariat to pin Kojima. With their form at an all-time low, Tenzan and Kojima had much to fear going into Kobe...
(10/19) In the main event, Fujinami & Nishimura made a successful V1 defense of the IWGP Tag Team Title, defeating the all-star team of Muto & Liger. The finish came as a big surprise to fans when President Fujinami forced a submission out of Muto, using a figure-four leglock for the win. The Dragon immediately proposed a Fujinami & Nishimura vs. Muto & Taiyo Kea, IWGP Tag Team Title vs. AJPW World Tag Title un on 10/28 in Fukuoka
(10/21) "FOLLOW THE LEGEND IN KOBE". After departing All Japan recently, Masahito Kakihara wrestled in the third match of the night, defeating junior young lion, Inoue, in 5 1/2 minutes with the Kaki Cutter. In doing so he sent a message to his 10/28 opponent, and the man he defeated on 6/6, Minoru Tanaka.
(10/21) Kanemoto made his long awaited return to the ring, teaming with AKIRA, Jado & Gedo to defeat Liger, Samurai, Tanaka & Shibata in a thrilling Elimination Match. The focus was often on Kanemoto vs. Tanaka, their first meeting since Kanemoto betrayed his former friend by siding with T2000. Jado submitted a bold Shibata, making it he and Kanemoto against Tanaka. Kanemoto shot down Minoru, dropping a moonsault press on him for a convincing T2000.
(10/21) Nakanishi and Nishimura locked horns in a singles match, Mr. Unbelievable finding himself troubled by Nishimura's technique. The finish saw Nakanishi apply a brain claw while trapped in a sleeper, and with both men fading, it was a matter of who would hold out the longest. Nakanishi's strength prevailed, as Nishimura called it a day, but left an impression with another strong fight.
(10/21) Sasaki & Devine wrestled their first match as a tag team, defeating Nagata & Tanahashi when Devine put away Tanahashi with a sleeper hold.
(10/21) After he and Kea defeated Choshu & Kenzo, Muto accepted Fujinami's challenge, setting up a historic double title match in Fukuoka!
(10/21) The all-important T2000 vs. T2000 Elimination Match headlined in Kobe World Hall, with Chono, Norton, Silva & Singh tackling the rebelling army of Tenzan, Kojima, Hiro & Goto. Things started horribly for Team TenKoji, when Chono pinned Goto after Norton used a powerslam in 59 seconds. Chono then pinned Hiro after Norton used a powerbomb in just under 4 minutes, leaving Tenzan and Kojima with a huge mountain to climb. They died an honourable death, lasting until after the 22 minute mark against their mighty foe. However, their luck came to an end in a terrible way, when Chono taught them a lesson in humilation. He pinned Kojima after Singh used a chokeslam, and seconds later pinned Tenzan after Silva used a Giant press for the complete, overwhelming victory! Kanemoto and the junior forces arrived at the ring, and Koji shook hands with Chono. However, out of nowhere, he hit Chono from behind with a missile kick, rebelling against his new leader and seemingly joining up with Team TenKoji!
(10/22) Just when they thought it couldn't get any worse, both Tenzan and Kojima lost in separate tags by referee stop. Firstly, Nakanishi & Yoshie downed Kojima & Goto, Nakanishi beating Kojima, and then Tenzan & Goto lost to Kensuke & Devine, Devine again upsetting Tenzan. Once more, complete defeat for the new TenKoji corps.
(10/23) In a special Fighting Spirit V 10th Anniversary Match, Muto brought his new Kokushi Muso persona to New Japan, teaming with Hakushi to defeat Silva & AKIRA in a match taped for a special DVD release.
(10/26) Jado & Gedo made a successful V3 defense of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title before a packed house in Kumamoto, fending off a tough challenge from El Samurai & Tanaka, Jado using the Crossface of JADO to finish off Tanaka after over 20 minutes of action.
(10/28) "FIGHTING DESTINATION IN FUKUOKA". Tanaka avenged his 6/6 Tokyo Nippon Budokan loss to Kakihara, defeating the former UWF-I and All Japan star with a cross armbreaker.
(10/28) UFO's Kazunari Murakami made his only appearance of the tour, facing a spirited Tanahashi. Although Tanahashi showed great heart, he was KO'd by the vicious Murakami in 5 minutes.
(10/28) In the first SKY PerfecTV! Cup semi final, Nagata scored his third win of the year over Tadao Yasuda, defeating the New Japan trueborn with a cross armbreaker to advance.
(10/28) The second semi final saw one of 2000's biggest rivalries revived, when Kensuke met Nakanishi. Unlike their 20 minute range Strong Style wars from then, this one lasted under 6 1/2 minutes, with Sasaki also using a cross armbreaker for the win, setting up a big main event!
(10/28) Kashin made an easy V1 defense of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title, defeating Shibata. After winning the belt in record time at the Tokyo Dome, he also made the shortest defense ever, using a chickenwing facelock to sink the young lion in just 205 seconds.
(10/28) Chono continued to dominate his disciples, when today he teamed with a member of All Japan's T2000 branch and former nWo Japan member, Mike Rotundo, to defeat TenKoji when Chono Yakuza kicked Tenzan for the win. A fitting end to a horrible tour for the former IWGP Tag Team Champions.
(10/28) History was made when both the IWGP Tag Team Title & AJPW World Tag Team Title were on the line, with Fujinami & Nishimura making their V2 defense of the IWGP Tag Title, and Muto & Kea making the V1 defense of their newly won AJPW World Tag Title. With magic in the air, Muto incredibly won his SIXTH title belt when he struck Nishimura with a patented Shining Wizard for the win after close to 24 minutes of combat!
(10/28) In the SKY PerfecTV! Cup final, Kensuke's rampage continued, when he defeated G1 Climax winner, Nagata, with a grounded headlock. Although troubled by Nagata's pace, Sasaki somehow managed to turn a German suplex that he was the victim of into a headlock crank, Nagata tapping out instantly. Sasaki called for blood after the match, shouting for a match with Naoya Ogawa at the Tokyo Dome in January!.
Miscellaneous:
This was easily the least successful tour ever for the incredibly popular Tenzan & Kojima tandem. In regular tags, with the two teaming together, they had a disappointing 1-4 record, and were also on the losing side in many six man tags. Their overall record in matches on the series was 3-11. With the G1 Tag League around the corner too, it was a hellish slump for the team affectionately known as TenKoji.
Meanwhile, Sasaki had opposite success on his return tour. He achieved a flawless 11-0 record, including those opening match slaughters, and of course the two big wins on the same night over Nagata and Nakanishi.
Back to: "INDICATE OF NEXT" (10/8/01)
Forward to: "OSAMU KIDO RETIREMENT SHOW" (11/2/01)
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