01/04/10 New Japan Results

NJPW “WRESTLE KINGDOM IV IN TOKYO DOME”,
January 4, 2010 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan
41,500 Fans

Nakamura remains the strongest with a decisive victory over Takayama. NJ and NOAH share the spoils with Sugiura besting Goto to keep his title, NJ ace Tanahashi defeating NOAH ace Shiozaki in an alleged 2010 Best Bout candidate, Marufuji dethroning Tiger Mask in a spectacular match, and Makabe making short work of Yone. NO LIMIT returned and made an incredible impact, beating the two gaijin teams to lift the IWGP Tag Team Title – TenKoji comparisons arise as the two cocky youngsters look to become a franchise team for New Japan. Full report to follow of what was called a “god performance”, one of the best Dome shows in years.

1. New Japan Pro-Wrestling 2010 Beginning: Super Strong Machine, Wataru Inoue & Mitsuhide Hirasawa beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Koji Kanemoto & Kazuchika Okada (4:59) when Inoue used the Triangle Lancer on Okada.

2. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title ~Amistad combativa~: Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt (c) beat Ultimo Guerrero & Averno (9:07) when Taguchi pinned Averno after the Black Hole Vacation (4th defense).

3. IWGP Tag Team Title – 3WAY Hardcore Rules Match ~Victim and Greed~: Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito beat “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon (c) and Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson (13:28) when Yujiro pinned Anderson after the Limitless Emotion to become the 55th champions.

4. Wrestle Kingdom Special Tag Match ~Blood Stream Blue~: TAJIRI & Masato Tanaka beat Yuji Nagata & Akebono (9:37) when TAJIRI used a Buzzsaw kick on Nagata.

5. Wrestle Kingdom Special 8 Man Tag Match ~The legend never rots~: Terry Funk, Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono & Manabu Nakanishi beat Abdullah The Butcher, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii (8:52) when Nakanishi used an Argentine backbreaker on Iizuka.

6. NJPW vs. NOAH Battle Effusions ~Wilderness~: Togi Makabe beat Mohammed Yone (5:39) with a top rope King Kong kneedrop.

7. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title ~Highest sky~: Naomichi Marufuji beat Tiger Mask (c) (14:14) with the Tiger Frosion to become the 59th champion.

8. NJPW vs. NOAH Battle Effusions ~Radiance~: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Go Shiozaki (19:04) with the High Fly Flow.

9. GHC Heavyweight Title – NJPW vs. NOAH Battle Effusions ~Blast~: Takashi Sugiura (c) beat Hirooki Goto (20:54) with an ankle hold (1st defense).

10. IWGP Heavyweight Title – The newest, The strongest: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) beat Yoshihiro Takayama (15:51) with the Boma Ye (4th defense).

Courtesy of http://www.puroresufan.com

Is the NWA Sanctioning Zero One or Hawaii Championship Wrestling?

As of right now, there is nothing indicating that. There hasn’t been any news reported that the NWA is now sanctioning Zero One or Hawaii Championship Wrestling, let alone, either member joining the Alliance. Furthermore, I haven’t heard of New Japan sanctioning either Z1 or HCW. However, from the Hawaii Championship Wrestling board they are claiming just that. Sandy Beach aka Micah recently won the NWA United Nation Heavyweight Title. The title was established back in early 2004. At that point, Zero One was yet to establish its own NWA Championship. So it took a page out of the NWA History and created a new championship, which shared its name with of 1/3 of the All Japan Triple Crown. The title lost some of its importance when Zero One left the NWA to join the AWA, the championship became a secondary title.

In January 66% of the readers of this blog voted for the NWA to begin the recruitment of Zero One. Is this a sign of things to come? Is New Japan sanctioning NWA matches for Z1 and HCW? Is this BLOG the pulse of NWA? Only time will tell, but nothing has been announced yet.

Main Event announced for "Inoki Memorial 65"

Inoki’s Genome Federation has released the main event for it’s 3rd show, which is being title “Inoki Memorial 65.” Former NWA World Champion Naoya Ogawa takes on Josh Barnett. Ogawa regularly competes for HUSTLE. Prior to that, Ogawa competed for Zero One and before that New Japan. Barnett too battled in New Japan and also competed in MMA fighting in Pride and UFC. It was announced on Puroresupower.com that either Stan Hansen or Antonio Inoki could be the special referee for this match.

The show will also feature Booker T., Yoshiki Takahashi, Michiyoshi Ohara, Taka Kunou, Eric Paulson, Montanha Silva, Danny Iguazu, and Atsushi Sawada.

Sayonara AWA! President Nakamura Comments!

Sayonara AWA! President Nakamura Comments!
December 12th, 2007

As many wrestling fans have been made aware, ZERO1-MAX and the AWA have severed ties. This situation has been compounded by various reports on the internet and one very disingenuous press release put out by the AWA. While ZERO1-MAX was ready to make the split amicable, AWA ownership felt it was necessary to release blatant falsehoods in a sad attempt to spin the situation and to bash Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX.

It is under these circumstances that Pro-Wrestling ZERO1-MAX President Yoshiyuki Nakamura felt compelled to release the following statement:

“I know Dale Gagne personally, but I don’t believe he is who he says he is anymore. Is he a “real” Gagne? I think he should show all Pro Wrestling fans his birth certificate to prove it. He told me when ZERO1-MAX became AWA affiliates, ‘I will run AWA shows in San Francisco’s Cow Palace.’ Did he run shows there? I haven’t heard that he has. What about the AWA Pay-Per-View show he promised me he would develop? When did this happen? Did I miss it?”

“Why did ZERO1-MAX leave the AWA? We believe that Gagne (if that’s his real name) cannot build the AWA any bigger than it currently is. I had a dream of a ‘reborn AWA.’ Yet all the wrestlers were always laughing at Dale, the fans were always laughing at him. CEO? President? Dale is not a “Gagne!”

“I love the AWA history, so I stayed with the AWA for almost three full years. ZERO1-MAX did more for the AWA then they ever did for us. Of course I will always respect all former AWA champions, and I hope the AWA gets its act together.
I wish them luck in the future.”

Yoshiyuki Nakamura
ZERO1-MAX/Japan

Credit: ZeroOneUSA.com

As I previously stated, it was more likely that Zero One MAX had canceled its membership with the AWA instead of the story Ganger was selling. I truly hope that an agreement can be worked out with Zero One to re-join the Alliance. I don’t usually advocate the NWA to just add anybody, but the sentiment that I feel is that Zero One only helps the Alliance. Strengthening the brand in Japan. And adding another list of reputable wrestlers to showcase.

Could there be a new NWA member in Japan?

JAPAN TAKES A DOUBLE BLOW
Zero-1 MAX Terminated from the AWA;
Masato Tanka stripped of the World Title.
credit: AWAStars.com

AWA Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. has officially terminated it’s sanctioning and relationship with Zero-1 MAX / Hustle / First on Stage. “The professional wrestling industry in Japan has changed dramatically over the last few years and is in economic turmoil, with only a few promoters succeeding at capturing an audience to an overexposed business”, stated AWA President & CEO Dale R. Gagne. “Zero-1 MAX has become a mere shadow of it’s former self with diminishing audiences,
income and lack of touring talent”. Gagne stated the decision was well thought out and difficult however, “we gave them every opportunity to succeed by becoming a part of our company and brand. The audience in Japan simply won’t continue supporting a business unwilling to change”. The AWA has subsequently been in negotiations with a high-profile, nostalgic concert promoter to produce arena events in Japan and other markets in Europe.

“Laughable has been the internet rumors that Zero-1 “owns” the AWA World Championship”, continued Gagne. “Although they own a replica version of the title belt, no one owns or controls the title except for the AWA itself”. The AWA has served notice to Zero-1 MAX promoter Yoshi Nakamura and has warned him not to disrespect his wrestlers by referring to them as fake Champions. They have been advised to remove the AWA name from their entire promotion as to not confuse fans with future major AWA events in Japan. Gagne was very specific when commenting on Zero-1 being associated again with the NWA. “If the NWA wants to be affiliated with a sinking ship, that’s their decision to make”, stated Gagne. “Our relationship with Zero-1 was being accommodated by Steve Corino, who recently quit the promotion. Watch for Zero-1 to become involved again with the NWA at their match on December 13th. Who would blame them? They have no where else to go”. Keep visiting http://www.awastars.com for the developing story.

First off, my take on the AWA discontinuing their sanctioning is probably a legal precaution. And in reality, the 3 strongest members of the AWA; Mid-Atlantic, Hawaii, and Zero One all offer a greater product then anything else being produced by the AWA. However, there has been a lot of interest in the National Wrestling Alliance fan forums about this opportunity.

Zero One is a former member, under Antonio Inoki. Inoki transfered his membership twice in the past decade, once from Zero One, to New Japan and now from New Japan to Inoki Genome Federation. A source of mine told me that there is some interest in a few of the former AWA territories.