Post by Chuckie Finster on Jan 3, 2008 11:33:54 GMT -5
Thus is the time of the year where New Japan presents it's biggest show of the year, and the biggest show in all Japan. Barring any crazy promotional stunt, this will be the only Tokyo Dome show of the year by any wrestling promotion.
Of course this features many TNA vs NJPW matches, but also taking part are wrestlers from Muga Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling amd Zero-1 Pro Wrestling
Here's the lineup
Minoru still has issues with Petey, who double-crossed him at the World X Cup back in 2006. AJ has already promised victory to the Japanese press. Can the TNA side come up with the huge win against the rising New Japan juniors in what's sure to be a fast paced opener?
Christopher Daniels is no stranger to a New Japan ring. Having spent many tours in New Japan as "Curry Man" and even has held the IWGP Jr Tag Team titles with Bryan Danielson in 2004, he has battled all the New Japan junior heavyweights before and came up with a victory along with Senshi over Minoru and Prince Devitt. Inoue has only been champion less than a month. Will Daniels claim New Japan gold again in Inoue's first defense?
A battle of the big men as New Japan's strongest wrestler, the 287 pound Nakanishi, takes on the 330 pound Abyss. Nakanishi has promised to not only lift Abyss, but to put the big man down. Needless to say this is the biggest test of Nakanishi's career. Can the former 3-time IWGP Tag Champion take down the former NWA Champion?
Apparently this one started with words between Tanaka and New Japan in which Tanaka spoke harshly on New Japan and praised ZERO-1, his home promotion. This did not sit kindly with New Japan and thus formed this team to combat the ZERO-1/Muga World team which Tanaka assembled. Muga, which just recently changed names to "DRADITION", is a company composed of guys who left New Japan in 2006 so issues are still prevalent there. Each side has seen action on each others turf but now is the big one. Will New Japan defend it's turf or will the unwanted guests claim a big win in the Tokyo Dome?
In the 3rd TNA vs New Japn bout of the evening, the most decorated tag team in wrestling history, Team 3D, take on Makabe and Yano, part of the GBH (Great Bash Heel) stable in New Japan. Makabe is known for his bloody and violent style of wrestling, along the lines of the Great Muta when he was in New Japan and Yano has a legendary sinister side, holding the longest DQ streak in New Japan history, courtesy of his bamboo stick. 3D are legendary brawlers so in a hardcore match, wrestling can be thrown out the window and blood can be expected by the buckets here. Will the 20-time tag team champions and 2006 All Japan Real World Tag League champs claim victory against the former WEW Heavyweight Champions and 2007 Tokyo Sports Tag Team of the Year?
In an all-star 10-man match, New Japan legends team up to take on the one-night-only heel alliance of GBH and the Voodoo Murderers of All Japan. What makes this more interesting is that Fujinami, a member of Muga World/DRADITION, was placed into this match late along his most hated enemy Choshu. Will these two be able to put their hate aside and vanquish this super heel alliance or will "VBH" be able to take down the legends of New Japan?
For the first time since 2002, the Great Muta is stepping in an New Japan ring. Muta's representative, Mutoh, wrestled at the Tokyo Dome show last year and liked it so much that he convinced Muta to try it. His opponent, Goto, is a up and comer in New Japan. Ever since his excursion to Mexico, Goto has bulked up immensely and staked his claim as the future of New Japan, battling Tanahashi for the IWGP in a classic back in November. Can the Pearl of the Orient use his devious ways to take down this heavyweight threat of will Goto notch a huge win and get back in the IWGP Title hunt?
In the second title match of the evening, the monstrous team of Bernard and Tomko take on former IWGP Tag Champs, the Steiner Brothers. Bernard and Tomko have wreaked havoc on the New Japan tag division over the last several months. The TNA affiliated Steiner Brothers have also held tag gold in the NWA, WWF and WCW over the last two decades. Can the historic brothers duo take down the current champs or will the monsters crush the former champs?
In the most controversial match of the night in the semi main event, the IWGP 3rd Belt, the official world title of the IGF, Antonio Inoki's new promotion, will be defended by TNA World Champion Kurt Angle against former IWGP Champion Yuji Nagata. Angle insists that his belt is the real IWGP Title (that he won from Brock Lesnar at the IGF's debut event) and Nagata doesn't have a chance and will beat him in 15 minutes. Angle and Nagata teamed in Angle's New Japan debut back in February 2007 against Tomko and Bernard, but things have changed since then. Will Nagata claim this controversial title and bring it back to New Japan or will Angle retain and then pursue IWGP Title match winner?
The main event, featuring two of the newer generation New Japan fighters. Tanahashi is in his second reign as IWGP Champion, having fought off Goto, faces Nakamura, who defeated Makabe to earn this match. New Japan Legends, as well as the press has said the winner here will lead New Japan into the next generation. Nakamura is a former IWGP Champion who has headlined the Tokyo Dome before twice, but relinquished the title due to injury. These two are former IWGP Tag Team Champions so they know each other very well. Nakamura is also the leader of the relatively new RISE faction in Japan. Will Tanahashi's second reign be shorter than his first and Nakamura reclaim the title he never lost or will Tanahashi stamp his name as the leader of the next generation of New Japan?
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The show starts at 5 pm JST, or 3 am EST, or 8 am GST for those who are up at the time, make sure to stay tuned into www.puroresufan.com/ for the event updates.
Of course this features many TNA vs NJPW matches, but also taking part are wrestlers from Muga Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling amd Zero-1 Pro Wrestling
Here's the lineup
1. THIS IS WAR! ~NONSTOP RISING~: Milano Collection AT, Minoru & Prince Devitt vs. Christian Cage , AJ Styles & Petey Williams
Minoru still has issues with Petey, who double-crossed him at the World X Cup back in 2006. AJ has already promised victory to the Japanese press. Can the TNA side come up with the huge win against the rising New Japan juniors in what's sure to be a fast paced opener?
2. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Wataru Inoue (c) vs. Christopher Daniels
Christopher Daniels is no stranger to a New Japan ring. Having spent many tours in New Japan as "Curry Man" and even has held the IWGP Jr Tag Team titles with Bryan Danielson in 2004, he has battled all the New Japan junior heavyweights before and came up with a victory along with Senshi over Minoru and Prince Devitt. Inoue has only been champion less than a month. Will Daniels claim New Japan gold again in Inoue's first defense?
3. Japanese Muscle Monster vs. The American Monster: Manabu Nakanishi vs. Abyss
A battle of the big men as New Japan's strongest wrestler, the 287 pound Nakanishi, takes on the 330 pound Abyss. Nakanishi has promised to not only lift Abyss, but to put the big man down. Needless to say this is the biggest test of Nakanishi's career. Can the former 3-time IWGP Tag Champion take down the former NWA Champion?
4. NEW JAPAN vs. The Alliance GROUND ZERO: Takashi Iizuka, Koji Kanemoto, Tiger Mask & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Masato Tanaka, Tatsuhito Takaiwa , Yutaka Yoshie & Katsushi Takemura
Apparently this one started with words between Tanaka and New Japan in which Tanaka spoke harshly on New Japan and praised ZERO-1, his home promotion. This did not sit kindly with New Japan and thus formed this team to combat the ZERO-1/Muga World team which Tanaka assembled. Muga, which just recently changed names to "DRADITION", is a company composed of guys who left New Japan in 2006 so issues are still prevalent there. Each side has seen action on each others turf but now is the big one. Will New Japan defend it's turf or will the unwanted guests claim a big win in the Tokyo Dome?
5. GET THE TABLE! GET THE HIGHEST! - Hardcore Match: Togi Makabe & Toru Yano vs. "Team 3D" Brother Ray & Brother Devon
In the 3rd TNA vs New Japn bout of the evening, the most decorated tag team in wrestling history, Team 3D, take on Makabe and Yano, part of the GBH (Great Bash Heel) stable in New Japan. Makabe is known for his bloody and violent style of wrestling, along the lines of the Great Muta when he was in New Japan and Yano has a legendary sinister side, holding the longest DQ streak in New Japan history, courtesy of his bamboo stick. 3D are legendary brawlers so in a hardcore match, wrestling can be thrown out the window and blood can be expected by the buckets here. Will the 20-time tag team champions and 2006 All Japan Real World Tag League champs claim victory against the former WEW Heavyweight Champions and 2007 Tokyo Sports Tag Team of the Year?
6. ONE NIGHT STAND ~LEGEND vs. VBH~: Tatsumi Fujinami, Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA vs. Jado, Gedo, TARU, Shuji Kondo & "brother" YASSHI
In an all-star 10-man match, New Japan legends team up to take on the one-night-only heel alliance of GBH and the Voodoo Murderers of All Japan. What makes this more interesting is that Fujinami, a member of Muga World/DRADITION, was placed into this match late along his most hated enemy Choshu. Will these two be able to put their hate aside and vanquish this super heel alliance or will "VBH" be able to take down the legends of New Japan?
7. Generation of Chaos: Hirooki Goto vs. Great Muta
For the first time since 2002, the Great Muta is stepping in an New Japan ring. Muta's representative, Mutoh, wrestled at the Tokyo Dome show last year and liked it so much that he convinced Muta to try it. His opponent, Goto, is a up and comer in New Japan. Ever since his excursion to Mexico, Goto has bulked up immensely and staked his claim as the future of New Japan, battling Tanahashi for the IWGP in a classic back in November. Can the Pearl of the Orient use his devious ways to take down this heavyweight threat of will Goto notch a huge win and get back in the IWGP Title hunt?
8. IWGP Tag Team Title: Giant Bernard & Travis Tomko (c) vs. Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner
In the second title match of the evening, the monstrous team of Bernard and Tomko take on former IWGP Tag Champs, the Steiner Brothers. Bernard and Tomko have wreaked havoc on the New Japan tag division over the last several months. The TNA affiliated Steiner Brothers have also held tag gold in the NWA, WWF and WCW over the last two decades. Can the historic brothers duo take down the current champs or will the monsters crush the former champs?
9. Final Resolution~REAL vs. Justice~IWGP 3rd Belt: Kurt Angle (c) vs. Yuji Nagata
In the most controversial match of the night in the semi main event, the IWGP 3rd Belt, the official world title of the IGF, Antonio Inoki's new promotion, will be defended by TNA World Champion Kurt Angle against former IWGP Champion Yuji Nagata. Angle insists that his belt is the real IWGP Title (that he won from Brock Lesnar at the IGF's debut event) and Nagata doesn't have a chance and will beat him in 15 minutes. Angle and Nagata teamed in Angle's New Japan debut back in February 2007 against Tomko and Bernard, but things have changed since then. Will Nagata claim this controversial title and bring it back to New Japan or will Angle retain and then pursue IWGP Title match winner?
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
The main event, featuring two of the newer generation New Japan fighters. Tanahashi is in his second reign as IWGP Champion, having fought off Goto, faces Nakamura, who defeated Makabe to earn this match. New Japan Legends, as well as the press has said the winner here will lead New Japan into the next generation. Nakamura is a former IWGP Champion who has headlined the Tokyo Dome before twice, but relinquished the title due to injury. These two are former IWGP Tag Team Champions so they know each other very well. Nakamura is also the leader of the relatively new RISE faction in Japan. Will Tanahashi's second reign be shorter than his first and Nakamura reclaim the title he never lost or will Tanahashi stamp his name as the leader of the next generation of New Japan?
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The show starts at 5 pm JST, or 3 am EST, or 8 am GST for those who are up at the time, make sure to stay tuned into www.puroresufan.com/ for the event updates.
