"WRESTLING WORLD 2003" (1/4/03)
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A collision of Muga will kick off the show, as Tatsumi Fujinami and his disciple, Osamu Nishimura, face each other in the opening match. Muga style is used by most of New Japan's young lions, and the two kings of this way will display the charm of this ancient style tomorrow. Nishimura talked about how, in 1993, he went abroad and studied world class wrestling techniques with Hiro Matsuda, Dory Funk Jr., and Tony St. Clair. "Although there will probably be fans of PRIDE and K-1, I want to advertise the wonder of professional wrestling in the opening match". He said that tomorrow, Fujinami will be his enemy, and he wants to defeat his mentor for the first time in singles competition. His 2003 ambition is to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Nishimura re-stated what BATT once preached, that "there is love in professional wrestling".
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Former opening match rivals, Yutaka Yoshie and Shinya Makabe, meet in the first Young Generation Cup semi final. After returning from Germany in April, 2000, Yoshie sped ahead of Makabe, who was then a junior, and to solidify that defeated him at the Osaka Dome last April. However, Makabe is back from his overseas excursion, now a heavyweight with a large upper body and newly acquired strength. Yoshie said that he returned to his parent's house in Maebashi, and consumed rice cakes until he was 287lbs. Yoshie was very direct in his interview, the power fighter exclaiming that he would win the tournament, then would challenge Nagata (assuming Nagata is still champion). Meanwhile, Makabe said he only put 50% effort into his match with Nagata on 12/15, and didn't show half of what he has to offer. He also has hopes of challenging for the IWGP Heavyweight Title.
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The second tournament semi final pits Kenzo Suzuki against the Makai Club's Ryushi Yanagisawa. Kenzo has become the top young lion in New Japan since he debuted, capturing the last two young lion tournaments, the 2000 Young Lion Cup (defeating Makabe in the final), and last March's One Night Young Lion Tournament (defeating Tanahashi in the final). The former rugby phenom has shown remarkable growth in his pro wrestling career, and a third tournament win would give him his first IWGP Heavyweight Title shot. This will be his third anniversary in wrestling, after debuting against Nakanishi on 1/4/00 at the Dome. Standing in his way is a very tough challenge, in the form of Ryushi Yanagisawa. Although only 30, Yanagisawa is an experienced fighter in MMA and kickboxing promotions, and once fought the mighty Mirko Cro Cop. In mixed martial arts competition, Yanagisawa has a very impressive record of 24 wins, 21 losses, and 9 draws. He holds wins over the likes of Semmy Schilt (who destroyed Yoshihiro Takayama in PRIDE) and ZERO-ONE regular, Wataru Sakata. Kenzo plans on using professional wrestling like only he can do to defeat Yanagisawa. He has been learning new tricks from veteran, Hiro Saito, and hopes to display his new knowledge tomorrow. Yanagisawa has big plans, with not only the IWGP throne a possibility, but also the NWF Heavyweight Title. He is interested in taking the sports-combat route and challenging for the revived NWF strap, and is more interested in that belt than the IWGP, because "IWGP" represents New Japan and he is anti-New Japan.
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The very popular old guard of Hiro Saito & Tatsutoshi Goto face off against Dai Majin, the Makai Club's new giant recruit from overseas (pictured
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here), and Makai #1. Goto plans to show the Makai Club what being a heel really means, and also has interest in facing Bob Sapp(!). Goto said, "We will crush them in style. The Makai Club are not heels. WE are heels!". Hiro is very interested in teaming up with Goto's old tag partner, and former Team 2000 ally, Michiyoshi Ohara, soon, to face the Makai Club together.
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New Japan technicians, Takashi Iizuka & Masahito Kakihara, face unfamiliar (or not?) foe in the form of Makai #4 and Makai #5, this new team looking to make an immediate impact. It won't be easy though, because Iizuka and Kakihara are ready to defend New Japan with everything they have. Governor Kantaro Hoshino was very vague once again when asked about what wrestlers are under the mask, but hinted that #4 had wrestled in New Japan before regularly, while #5 hadn't. Hoshino re-affirmed what he said the other week, that he has unofficially arranged to bring in up to Makai #10 this year. His ambition for 2003 is to create Makai titles, and collect worthy challengers. Iizuka has a plan, and that is to take care of Hoshino at ringside tomorrow, and prevent him interfering in the match. Kakihara plans to tear off the new arrivals' masks, and reveal their true faces to the Tokyo Dome. He said, "Although the Makai Club has grown in numbers, few of them are competant". Kakihara hasn't forgotten a recent cheap shot punch thrown at him by Hoshino, and said if he has the chance, he will tear Hoshino's suit off, and kick him into submission.
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New Japan's esteemed junior division begins it's newest era tomorrow, when the new army corps of Kanemoto, Liger & Murahama (aligned with El Samurai and Gedo) face the UWF-style junior corps of Heat, Naruse & Tiger Mask (aligned with Kakihara) in six man tag action. Before their 3/2 challenge of Tsubasa & Black Buffalo's Osaka Pro Tag Team Title, Liger and Murahama get chance to establish some teamwork and cooperation against their new foe in New Japan. Liger also hinted that he may enter NOAH to take the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title with Murahama, Kanemoto or Samurai. Liger said the atmosphere will be intense tomorrow, and said there will be blood. Tiger Mask sent a chilling warning to the titan, saying, "I will crush Liger". He accused Liger of playing dirty recently, and using more cheap tricks in matches. "We are students of Akira Maeda (Naruse), Yoshiaki Fujiwara (Heat), and Satoru Sayama (Tiger Mask), and have inherited their genes".
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The winner of the Young Generation Cup tournament will face Nagata or Barnett at the
10,000 seat Tsukisamu Green Dome on 2/2 for the IWGP Heavyweight Title. So it's not just a meaningless tournament; not one of the wrestlers involved in this one have challenged for wrestling's top title before, and have their chance at the Dome. To get that opportunity though, they must survive and win two matches.
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"Super Rookie" Shinsuke Nakamura makes his return to New Japan after just one pro wrestling match (his debut) previously, teaming with another returning wrestler, Michiyoshi Ohara. They face two of the most hated men in New Japan, Makai Club peers, Tadao Yasuda & Kazunari Murakami. Nakamura plans on avenging his debut loss to Yasuda by defeating him, and will represent New Japan proudly. After a long time away from New Japan to fight in PRIDE, Ohara returns to his old haunt, opposing the fighting style he adapted in 2001. Although he plans to help oust the Makai Club, his own vale tudo training should come in handy against two fighters. Yasuda seemed a little uneasy in his interview, repeatedly saying that he was Makai Club leader, as if feeling his position was starting to be threatened. "The Makai Club is growing in numbers, and I want to protect my post as leader. I am a pro wrestler. I want to reign as leader of Makai". Yasuda also expressed interest in running independent Makai Club shows this year, like Heisei Ishingun used to at Korakuen Hall.
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They were the most dominant IWGP Tag Team Champions in New Japan history, and by the end of their run as a tag team, many considered them the greatest team to ever live. Now, in limited edition form, TenKoji, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima, reunite for one night. All Japan's Kojima returns home, he and Tenzan facing their godfather, Masahiro Chono, and Kojima's former Bull Powers partner, Manabu Nakanishi. Before commenting on the match, Chono revealed information about Hiroshi Tanahashi's 1/3 dojo test. After
studying Tanahashi and
talking to him, Chono was still undecided, saying he will think about it overnight and come to a conclusion on the day. He said his partner won't change, and will still be Nakanishi. His mind is also on the 1/10 NOAH tag where he faces with Mitsuharu Misawa against Kenta Kobashi & Akira Taue. Chono admitted what Tanahashi claimed recently, that the departure of Kojima and others last January was the cause of New Japan's pain in 2002. Chono said that in 2003, New Japan would undergo generation wars, with his generation, Nagata and Tenzan's generation, Kenzo and Tanahashi's generation, and Nakamura's generation. Four generations will fight, and Chono is looking forward to it. Tenzan came up with a solution for the Tanahashi problem, suggesting Tenzan & Kojima vs. Chono, Nakanishi & Tanahashi in a Handicap Match tomorrow, and told Chono to make it happen. Tenzan is excited at teaming with Kojima in New Japan again, saying it'll be "Tenzan of New Japan" and "Kojima of All Japan". Tenzan insisted that TenKoji would not lose their "limited edition" match. Meanwhile, Nakanishi said that Kojima's match tomorrow will be his last. Nakanishi commented on the Tanahashi situation, saying it would be unfair on visitors to change the match anyway, and that Tanahashi should be 120% before wrestling. "That boy needs to withdraw!" shouted Nakanishi. Back to the point of hand, Nakanishi requested an ambulance be brought to the Tokyo Dome for Kojima, so that when he is done with the betrayer, it can take him back to All Japan. He expressed interest again in defeating the Three Muskateers (Chono, Muto & Hashimoto) this year, and may invade All Japan and ZERO-ONE if they don't come to him.
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The "KING OF GLADIATOR" tournament comes to an end in tomorrow's semi final, when Tsuyoshi Kosaka of RINGS fame fights Yoshihiro Takayama to determine the new NWF Heavyweight Champion. Despite being badly hurt against Bob Sapp, Takayama will face Kosaka and aims to win the revived title, made famous by the great Antonio Inoki, who endorsed this tournament. Kosaka said he wouldn't target Takayama's hurting places, and would beat him without exploiting his injuries. Kosaka said he might defend the belt against a man familiar with him from RINGS, Ryushi Yanagisawa, in his V1 defense. Kosaka said he would make this belt mean something again, and raise it's value with good defenses. This will be a physical war, with two very hard-hitters aiming at the same trophy.
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Reigning New Japan ace and IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Yuji Nagata, will make the V7 defense of his belt against the youngest ever UFC Heavyweight Champion, Josh Barnett, in the main event. After recent defeats for pro wrestling, such as Fujita, Yasuda, and Nakamura's on 12/31, many fans are placing hope in Nagata to defend pro wrestling against MMA and beat Barnett. Barnett knows what he's getting into though. A "Japanmaniac", Barnett is a huge pro wrestling, anime, and comic fan, who has watched a lot of Japanese wrestling. A big follower of the famous UWF-I promotion, Barnett has shown the natural ability in his training sessions and promotional appearances to be a very good, charismatic pro wrestler. So impressed was Chono by this man that he has already offered him a full-time contract, even before his first match! Barnett has a chance to start his pro wrestling career in the best way possible, by winning the IWGP Heavyweight Title. He and Nagata got into an argument at the New Japan dojo today, Nagata using some reverse provocation on Barnett. On 12/15, after his match with Makabe, Nagata ran into a front sleeper from Barnett, and was KO'd in about two seconds. Nagata declared that he would KO Barnett in front of the largest audience he (Barnett) has ever fought in front of. Barnett, who was asleep in the dojo after training, had a pillow thrown in his face by Nagata. While many people are tipping Nagata to break Hashimoto's nine defense record of the IWGP Heavyweight Title, Barnett said he would break that record himself after prying the belt from Nagata. Nagata, with complete confidence, said, "The Nagata Lock III has been completed", and said he would use that to submit Barnett, then salute the crowd to round off the Tokyo Dome show. No matter who wins, Nagata or Barnett, he will have little time to rest up, as he will be called to duty on "
FIGHTING SPIRIT 2003", facing the winner of the Young Generation Tournament on 2/2.
