QUEBRADA
NEWS ARCHIVE

Zen Nihon Puroresu
All Japan Pro-Wrestling

4/13:

Grand Champion Carnival 4/13 Tokyo Nippon Budokan 16,000 sellout
Tenryu beat Champion Carnival winner Muto to capture the vacant Sankan Heavykyu Senshuken. The finish came at 19:38 when Tenryu used his suichoku rakka shiki no brainbuster.
Kojima lariated Kea at 17:13 to earn the next shot at Tenryu's title.
Arashi & Arai won the vacant Asia Tag Senshuken, defeating Nagai & Okumura when Araya lariated Okumura at 23:37.
Williams & Rotundo & Anjo advanced to the 2nd round of the Baba 6 Man Tag Tournament, defeating Barton & Steele & Cedman when Williams dangerous backdropped Cedman at 16:16.
Kashin captured the vacant Sekai Junior Senshuken forcing Fuchi to submit to his dobitski udehishigigyakujujigatame at 16:54.

4/10:

4/10 Tsukisappu Green Dome 5,800 sellout
Keijo Muto won the 22nd Champion Carnival. You knew Muto couldn't meet Tenryu in the finals because the finals have been devalued by having them before the Budokan series final and then putting a big triple crown match at Budokan, which with the turn of events turned out to be Tenryu vs. Muto. In a bad surprise, marginally talented at best "top" gaijin Mike Barton made the finals by scoring his first singles win over Tenryu with his Barton cutter in just 5:38. Muto beat the much more elevatable Kojima in the other semifinal, forcing him to submit to an udehishigigyakujujigatame at 15:46. Muto then used his moonsault press on Barton in just 9:50. The Carnival supposedly drew well this year with Muto & Kojima added to the Kawada (obviously many tickets sold before he went down), Tenryu, & Kea mix, but with Kawada getting injured o early it turned pretty disinteresting.

4/9:

4/9 Kitama Shiritsu Taiiku Center 2,250 sellout
Champion Carnival league matches:
Muto (shining wizard 5:19) Araya. This gives Muto the #2 spot in B Block, knocking Kea out of the post season.
Kojima (full time draw 30:00) Barton. These two already advanced anyway, so this just preserves Kojima's 1 point win of A Block.
Steele (turbo drop 2 11:56) Nagai

4/8:

4/8 Kushiro Shi Tottori Dome 2,800 sellout
Muto & Kea & Honma beat Kojima & Nagai & Okumura when Kea used his Hawaiian smasher on Okumura at 15:49.

Champion Carnival league matches:
Williams (full time draw 30:00) Hines
Araya (moonsault press 9:19) Rotundo

4/6:

4/6 Hakodate Shimin Taiikukan 2,600
Muto & Kojima & Hayashi beat Anjo & Araya & Hosaka when Muto used his shining wizard on Cedman at 16:02

Champion Carnival league matches:
Tenryu (figure 4 15:17) Kea
Barton (powerbomb 9:55) Arashi
Rotundo (blockbuster 11:23) Hines

4/4:

4/4 Hachinohei Shi Taiikukan 2,700
Muto & Kea & Kashin beat Barton & Rotundo & Cedman when Muto used his shining wizard on Cedman at 16:02

Champion Carnival league matches:
Kojima (lariat 18:25) Anjo
Williams (dangerous backdrop 5:11) Araya
Anjo (ground cross 200 9:45) Arashi

Kojima has clinched 1st in A Block with 10 points. With Kawada's spot being vacated, that leaves either Barton or Nagai to advance. Barton has a 7 pt to 6 pt lead and is the only guy in contention with two matches left, so he's obviously the odds on favorite even though with Kawada out it would be a good time to have a surprise native (especially Kawada's ally) step up. Barton's matches are against Kojima & Arashi, while Nagai has a match he should win against Steele.
Tenryu has clinched 1st in B Block because he has 10 points to Kea's 7 with each having one match left against each other. Muto & Williams are still alive for 2nd place having 6 points and easier matches against Araya & Hines respectively. Obviously Williams is a long shot given the others in contention, and if they want a gaijin to advance Barton makes a lot more sense.

4/3:

4/3 Kesennuma Shi Sogo Taiikukan 1,100 sellout
Muto & Kojima & Hayashi beat Fuchi & Nagai & Okumura when Kojima lariated Okumura at 20:14

Champion Carnival league matches:
Kea (shining wizard 13:54) Williams
Tenryu (suichoku rakka shiki no brainbuster 6:54) Hines
Anjo (ground cross 200 9:45) Arashi

4/2:

4/2 Sendai Miyagi-ken Sports Center 3,100
Champion Carnival league matches:
Muto (shining wizard 24:04) Kea
Barton (full time draw 30:00) Nagai

4/1:

4/1 Nagaoka 3,300 sellout
Champion Carnival league matches:
Tenryu (suichoku rakka shiki no brainbuster 14:15) Muto
Kojima (lariat 13:05) Arashi
Barton (powerbomb 16:51) Steele

3/7:

Kae gave notice that he'd demolish Kawada's right elbow en route to victory when they have their Champion Carnival league match on 4/7.

3/5:

Close to the worse thing that could happen to All Japan talent wise did. Toshiaki Kawada has a right elbow injury and is facing a long range absence. Kawada will wrestle the Champion Carnival series and NJ's Tokyo Dome show injured and then sit out for an undetermined amount of time. As best as I can translate, four bones in the elbow of the arm he broke during the match where he captured the titles from Misawa for the 2nd time have shifted. Kawada hopes to be able to return later this year and have a singles match against Choshu on a Dome show (he'd probably have to be back by October for this to happen). How All Japan is going to draw in his absence is beyond me.

3/4:

3/4 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 1,720
In a non-title match, champion Ito made Toyota submit to a dobitski udehishikgigyakujujigatame at 15:49. Ito had been attacking Toyota's arm throughout the match. I don't disagree that Ito needed to be put over Toyota again if she's going to have a chance as the top face, but since Toyota hasn't recieved a rematch since losing the title to Ito on 9/17, this should have been built up as one of Ito's "big" title defenses. Instead, the show had little fan fare since it came less than a week after the 2/28 major show, and this match was made "at the show by lottery" so it had no chance to affect the attendance, which was a few hundred less than normal.
Mita & Shimoda beat Watanabe & Takahashi when Mita pinned Takahashi at 11:02.
Hotta pinned Momoe at 7:14.
Reggie Bennett, 40, had her retirement exhibition match, a 5:00 draw with Toyota. She'll still be living in Japan because she married musician Kenji Ishihara last September.
Maekawa pinned Wakizawa at 12:47.

3/3:

3/3 Kanagawa Yokohama Bunka Taiikukan 4,500
Tenryu made his first successful defense of the Sankan Heavykyu Senshuken, pinning Kea at 19:39 following a northern lights bomb and two lariats. Kea used some of Muto's moves like the Dragon screw and figure 4.
Williams & Rotundo beat Fujiwara & Fuchi when Williams gave Fuchi an avalanche hold off the 2nd rope at 5:43.
All the Carnival qualifying league placers lost to the guys that are already in it. Nagai, who tied for first with Steele, lost to Kawada in 11:25. Steele was pinned in Barton's high angle powerbomb at 14:11. #3 Hines fell to Johnny Smith's British fall at 15:54. The 4th place team of Araya & Okumura were defeated by Duk & Kroffat when Kroffat used his cobra clutch suplex on Okumura at 11:43.
Vam Dam made Sabu submit to a hizajujigatame at 15:43.
Kimala & TARU & Naniwa beat Kanda & Susumu Mochizuki & Darkness Dragon when Kimala used his body press on Kanda at 14:29.

3/2:

3/2 Osaka Furitsu Taiikukan 2 1,400
Tenryu & Duk beat Kawada & Fuchi when Duk used his tombstone piledriver on Fuchi at 8:20.
Nagai went to a 30:00 draw with Fujiwara.
In the final Carnival qualifying match, Steele (8) pinned Araya (4) with his turbo drop 2 at 12:10. They had a drawing between Nagai & Steele to decide who would face Kawada tomorrow, which Nagai won.
Kimala & Sabu beat Kroffat & Van Dam when Sabu used a diving neckbreaker drop on Kroffat at 10:47.
Kanda & Susumu Mochizuki & Darkness Dragon beat Hirai & TARU & Naniwa when Susumu pinned TARU at 13:30.

3/1:

3/1 Hiroshima Kenritsu Fukuyama Sangyo Koryukan 1,050
Kawada & Tenryu & Fuchi beat Kea & Smith & Aijima when Fuchi backdropped Aijima at 25:44.
In a Carnival qualifying league match, Nagai made Hines submit to a dobitski udehishigigyakujujigatame at 13:11. Nagai & Steele tied for first with Hines finishing third.
Sabu & Van Dam & TARU beat Kanda & Susumu Mochizuki & Darkness Dragon when Van Dam pinned Mochizuki at 13:54.
Araya pinned Naniwa at 8:54 following a lariat.

2/27:

2/27 Hondo Shimin Center 1,800 sellout
Tenryu & Duk & Okumura beat Williams & Rotundo & Hines when Duk gave Hines his tombstone piledriver at 14:45.
Kea & Smith defeated Kawada & Aijima when Smith used his British fall on Aijima at 17:55.
Barton & Steele beat Kroffat & Van Dam when Barton powerbombed Kroffat at 16:08.
In a Carnival qualifying league match, Nagai enzuigiri'd Araya at 7:22.
Kimala & Sabu defeated Aijima & Van Dam when Sabu pinned Aijima in his Arabian press at 15:44.
Hirai made Naniwa submit to a gyakuebigatame at 11:07.

2/26:

2/26 Miyakonjo Shi Taiikukan 2,000 sellout
Tenryu & Kawada & Araya beat Kea & Smith & Okumura when Araya pinned Okumura in his moonsault press at 24:36.
Nagai returned to action, putting over Steele in a Carnival qualifying league match in 10:21.
Kimala & Sabu defeated Aijima & Van Dam when Sabu pinned Aijima in his Arabian press at 15:44.
Hirai made Naniwa submit to a gyakuebigatame at 11:07.

2/24:

2/24 Hakata Starlane 1,500
Taiyo Kea kept his hopes of becoming the youngest 5 crown king alive when he and Johnny Smith made their first successful defense of the Sekai Tag Senshuken. The duo defeated Steve Williams & Mike Rotundo when Smith used his British fall on Rotundo at 20:22. Obviously, the big push for Kea didn't translate into an attendance figure here, but it's still very early into his push and the other guys in the match don't draw much if at all so it's not really surprising.
Tenryu & Araya beat Barton & Yone when Araya used his moonsault press on Yone at 15:17.
In a Champion Carnival qualifying league match, Hines used his Hinesdriver on Okumura at 13:50. This was supposed to be Nagai vs. Hines, but they've pushed that back to 3/1 since Nagai is still hurting.
Kimala & Sabu & Van Dam defeated Kanda & Susumu Mochizuki & Darkness Dragon when Sabu used his Arabian press on Susumu at 14:25.

2/23:

2/23 Sasebo Shi Taiiku Bunkakan 1,400 sellout
Kea & Smith & Yone beat Kawada & Tenryu & Okumura when Kea used his Hawaiian crusher on Okumura at 25:33. Tenryu is looking past his defense against Kea. He's says he can hardly be defeated by such a young/inexperienced challenger and that he'll beat Kea inside of 10 minutes, which would set the record for the shortest win in a Sankan Heavykyu Senshuken match. The record for the shortest is 12:12 for Tenryu over Gordy 9/2/89 & Vader over Misawa 10/30/99. Tenryu wants his future title matches to be against Kawada and "big game players" from other promotions like New Japan.
Kea's left foot was injured today in Tenryu's Dragon screw, but he says Tenryu winning in less than 10 minutes is an impossibility.
Kroffat & Van Dam defeated Kimala & Sabu when Kroffat gave Kimala a nadare shiki no brainbuster at 18:34.
Hirai & Araya beat Kanda & Susumu Mochizuki when Araya pinned Kanda in his moonsault press at 11:29.
Mitsuya Nagai missed the show due to back pain.

2/22:

2/22 Yanai Shi Taiikukan 1,250
Kawada & Fuchi beat Tenryu & Araya when Kawada pinned Araya at 15:46.
Williams & Rotundo & Kroffat defeated Kea & Smith & Nagai when Williams used his dangerous backdrop on Smith at 17:26. Williams 52-year-old sister, Linda, passed away yesterday. It appears he's still planning to stay in Japan and wrestle for the remainder of the series.
In a Champion Carnival qualifying league match, Steele used his turbo drop II to defeat Okumura at 12:16.
Sabu & Van Dam & TARU beat Kanda & Susumu Mochizuki & Darkness Dragon when Van Dam pinned Susumu at 18:15.

2/21:

The rest of the 3/3 card was announced. The #1, 2, & 3 finishers in the champion carnival qualifying tournament will have a singles match with Kawada, Barton, & Smith respectively. Kawada is still interested in fighting Nakanishi on this show, but Nakanishi is wrestling on the NJ show in Niigata that starts the same time so I can't see it happening yet. Unless a couple of the carnival qualifiers are going to beat the guys that are already in to get across the idea that they won't just be filling out the blocks, it's pretty pointless to have them fight the guys in the main league now and then again on the next tour during the actual league.

2/19:

Masahito Kakihara is out for at least the current series with a broken bone around his left eye. This screws up the qualifying league. It's equal for everyone because since he hasn't had any league matches, they all get a free win over him. The booker(s) probably get the "fun" of rebooking the whole tournament though.

2/18:

2/18 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 2,100 sellout
Keiji Muto came with Taiyo Kea to the AJ show after NJ's show was over. He shaved Kea's head so they would have the same look and Kea could actually live up to the stipulation of their 1/28 match (this was the first AJ show since so I guess he lived up to the stip) and was the mystery partner on Kea's team in the main event.
Kea & Smith & Muto beat Tenryu & Fuchi & Duk when Kea made Fuchi submit to the figure 4 (one of Muto's favorite finishers) at 19:54.
Kawada & Aijima defeated Nagai & Yone when Kawada pinned Yone at 13:29 following the stretch plum.
In Champion Carnival qualifying league matches, Hines pinned Steele with his Hinesdriver at 14:00 & Okumura pinned Araya at 4:43.
Sabu & Kimala beat Van Dam & Naniwa when Sabu used a body press on Naniwa at 15:11.

2/17:

Taiyo Kea hasn't cut his hair even though he promised to do so if he lost to Keiji Muto on 1/28.

2/6:

Masa Fuchi asked Keiji Muto to be Taiyo Kea's second for the 3/3 match against Genichiru Tenryu. If Muto shows up, the two will probably also tag at some point. Since Muto is one of the most popular big name wrestlers and Kea still is still struggling for respect, the attempt for glory by association certainly can't hurt.

2/1:

Taiyo Kea will get a chance to become the quickest 5 crown king in All Japan history. In order to do so, he first has to fend of the tag title challenge of Steve Williams & Mike Rotundo on 2/24. Then he has to defeat the legendary Genichiru Tenryu for the Sankan Heavykyu Senshuken on 3/3. Since the 3/3 show that ends the tour isn't at Budokan, Kea is the best choice for Tenryu's opponent because it gets him into the singles title mix without asking him to draw 16,300 fans, which obviously he can't do. I think the title retains enough credibility that they can get the 5,000 or so needed for the sellout on 3/3, and even though Kea will lose, the match should be done in a way where it at least could increase his drawing power for future big matches. The way they've set this up means that Kea & Smith have to successfully defend on 2/24 because otherwise Kea's stock has dropped and the promotion that he could be the quickest guy to hold all 5 belts at once by 5 years (Misawa was 30, he's 25) is out the window. The one problem with putting Kea in a title match is that he just lost a high profile interpromotional match to Muto, so it once again points out that AJ has become the weak sister.
There other main thing on the tour is a singles league where the top three finishers make it into the Champion Carnival. The six wrestlers involved are Araya, Okumura, Kakihara, Nagai, Steele, & Hines. I would have Araya (since he's "biggest name" and the most experienced), Kakihara & Nagai (since they are the two that are the best right now and have the most potential if their shooter gimmick isn't further eroded) come out of this group, but they'll probably go with a no-hoper like Steele.

1/30:

Toshiaki Kawada wasn't satisfied with drawing 58,700 on 1/28 because NJ drew 62,001 when he wrestled in the same building on 1/4. He'll continue to work in both leagues, but AJ reconstruction is obviously his top priority. He wants to have his first match against Riki Choshu in All Japan, I guess because he believes that would outdraw whatever NJ presents in the Tokyo Dome next time.
All Japan's Champion Carnival series starts on 3/23, with the final on 4/14 at Tokyo Nippon Budokan.

1/28:

Odo Shinseiki (New Century Royal Road) 2001 1/28 Tokyo Dome 58,700 "sellout" (papered and exaggerated)
Toshiaki Kawada & Kensuke Sasaki beat Genichiru Tenryu & Hiroshi Hase when Kawada powerbombed Hase at 23:43. This sounded a little one-sided toward Kawada & Sasaki, although I guess that could be expected since Tenryu wasn't 100% and Hase is still working his way back. Kawada & Sasaki got off to the strong start and obviously controlled the finish. This was very stiff, of course. Tons of chops plus Kawada's kicks, resulted in a little blood being spilled and everyone's chest being beat red by the end of the match. Kawada was happy that the show was successfull and he was able to show the tough style of wrestling that Baba promoted and didn't fail to defend Baba's honor. Tenryu wants to defend against Kawada to close the next series. This would make little sense because the next series doesn't have a Budokan show. Sasaki is interested in teaming with Hase now.
Keiji Muto made Taiyo Kea submit to his figure 4 at 18:43. Hansen was Kea's second. Muto showed his and New Japan's "superiority" here. He controlled the match with his knee attack of low altitude dropkicks, Dragon screws, and figure fours. Kea came back with a DDT and Frankenstiener, but couldn't turn the tide. He was resiliant though, whethering Muto's figure fours. Muto used 3 more Dragon screws in a row then applied the figure 4 for the submission. Muto had been critical of Kea in the days leading up to the match, but said Kea gave him a good fight. Since Muto "isn't resigning" with New Japan and the great tradition of All Japan is decaying since Misawa & co. left, Muto is now interested in wrestling in All Japan. Kea said he learned a lot from the match and would beat Muto next time.
Steve Williams pinned Mike Barton at 14:47 following his backdrop.
Stan Hansen had his retirement ceremony. His goods sold out. He said something to the effect that he felt lonely since the key players (from his heyday), Baba, Tsuruta, & Brody, are all dead. The Destroyer was the one famous name from the past that was there as a special guest. Hansen's knees are in such bad shape that he needed one of the youngsters to help him get up the ring steps. Hansen had originally retired from football due to a knee injury, but that was in 1972, before he became a pro wrestler and made 131 tours of Japan plus won titles in the AWA, WCW, etc.
Terry Funk & Atsushi Onita defeated Abdullah The Butcher & Giant Kimala when Funk used a kaiten ashikubigatame (spinning toe hold) on Kimala at 8:26. Abdullah immediately attacked Funk with a beer bottle, bloodying him. He used his fork to cut Funk's left hand, and Onita's head. Funk's shirt was blood stained from the part that says Funk all the way up. Kimala bled from the head. Some of the scar tissue on Abby's head was opened up again as well. They continued fighting outside the ring after the match ended. This match sounds awful, but supposedly it got a strong reaction because they were bleeding and fighting outside the ring.
Jushin Thunder Liger pinned Masa Fuchi in a yoko (side) kaiten ebigatame at 18:04. Fuchi used submissions and the rope for a low blow. Liger came back with shoteis. Outside the ring, Liger gave Fuchi a brainbuster and body attack. Fuchi came back with submissions and 3 backdrops in a row, but I guess he made a mistake that allowed Liger to pin him. Liger was pleased that he was able to win some strike exchanges against a heavyweight. He wants to fight Fuchi again next month on the 2/3 New Japan Sapporo show.
Johnny Smith & Jim Steele & George Hines beat Mike Rotundo & Curt Hennig & Barry Windham when Steele pinned Windham with his turbo drop 2 at 15:22.
Masahito Kakihara & Mitsuya Nagai defeated Alexander Otsuka & Mohammad Yone when Nagai made Yone submit to a dobitski udehishigigyakujujigatame (flying arm bar/jumping takedown into cross arm breaker) at 11:39.
Mil Mascaras & El Hijo Del Santo beat Arkangel De La Muerte & Blue Panther when Santo pinned Panther in a kaiten ebigatame at 13:40. This was Mascaras' first AJ appearance since 6/86. "Everyone" took pictures of him doing is flying cross chop. Mascaras. Mascaras worked the main event of the CMLL Korakuen Hall show earlier in the day. He's not that great anymore and has never been one to put his opponent over in any way, but it's amazing that he's still able to take double bookings at the age of 58 and go out there and fly in and out of the ring. Destroyer came out after the match and the old rivals embraced.
Kim Duk & Shigeo Okumura beat Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Nobutaka Araya in 14:33 when Duk used a tombstome piledriver on Araya.
Dan Kroffat won a 13 man royal rumble style battle royal when he pinned Yuto Aijima at 26:14 following a cobra clutch suplex.

1/26:

Abdullah The Butcher attacked Terry Funk with a weapon outside of Narita airport.

1/24:

Masa Fuchi was angered by Keiji Muto's comment about All Japan not having any merit, so he vowed to make Liger give up on 1/28. He wants a New Japan referee to officiate the match so it will be a "handicap match" and New Japan won't be able to make any excuses when they lose.
Since Terry Funk & Abdullah The Butcher are arriving in Narita airport 1 hour appart on the 26th, they are teasing that they may begin to renew their old rivalry there.
Stan Hansen recieved a Pro Sports Taisho (big award) for Kouro (meritorious services).
Genichiru Tenryu wouldn't comment on the state of his injury, but confirmed that he'd fight on 1/28.

1/23:

Stan Hansen may become a junior high geography (I assume this is supposed to be history/social studies) teacher in the Colorado school that his 13-year-old son attends.

1/22:

Taiyo Kea promised he'd defeat Keiji Muto to return the favor (he brought him to Japan and took him under his wing) of the late Giant Baba. He said he'd attack Muto's bad knee and that Muto's skinhead looked pretty. Since he swore he'd win, Kea made up his own stipulation that he'll shave his head like Muto if he fails to get the job done.

1/21:

1/21 Tokyo Differ Ariake 1,630
Yumiko Hotta & Kumiko Maekawa & Etsuko Mita & Mima Shimoda beat Kaoru Ito & Tomoko Watanabe & Momoe Nakanishi & Nanae Takahashi when Maekawa pinned either Watanabe or Takahashi at either 11:30 or 11:08 depending on which source you believe.
Eagle Sawai pinned Miho Wakizawa at 15:21.
Rumi Kazama & Takako Inoue defeated Manami Toyota & Kayo Noumi when Rumi pinned Noumi in her Tiger suplex hold at 23:01.

1/20:

Genichiru Tenryu badly hurt his left knee on the 18th doing squats with a 300 kg barbell. He can't bend the knee now, so he's got it bandaged up and is going to try resting it until it gets better. Supposedly he could miss the 1/28 Dome show, but, if anything, it'll just be an excuse for him jobbing there.

1/19:

Hiroshi Hase and scouts are looking to discover guys that have potential to be the superstars of the next generation. He's especially interested in amateur wrestlers since that's his background. He'd work out with them when he had the chance, but mainly they'd be training at the dojo of whatever promotion they join/are accepted by, most likely All Japan.

1/17:

Toshiaki Kawada & Kensuke Sasaki shook hands on tv for the first time. Kawada was the one that requested the handshake, so Sasaki went along with it, although he had a "perplexed expression" on his face. The idea was that Sasaki was surprised since Kawada hadn't wanted to team with him. Whether it's just for the angle or not, Kawada has an uncanny knack for taking the right stance on these kind of issues. Unfortunately, no matter who wields the power in All Japan, they seem to always do the opposite of what Kawada "wants" anyway. Kawada still wants another match with Sasaki, but the idea behind him shaking his hand is that they are going to team so they may as well put their grudge aside for the moment and pool their strenghs to win their match.

1/15:

Taiyo Kea nominated Steve Williams & Mike Rotundo as the 1st challengers for the Sekai Tag Senshuken that he won with Johnny Smith yesterday. This would remidy some of the booking goofiness we've seen of late. By that I'm referring to the decision to not have the titles be on the line during the Sekai Saikyo tag league then to hold a decision match for the titles a month later without the winners of that league, Williams & Rotundo, even be one of the two teams in it.

1/14:

1/14 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 2,100 sellout
Taiyo Kea & Johnny Smith became the 43rd holders of the Sekai Tag Senshuken, defeating Toshiaki Kawada & Masa Fuchi in a decision match when Kea used his Hawaiian crusher on Fuchi at 23:54. Kawada broke Smith's nose while they were battling outside the ring. He was taken to the hospital in an ambulance right after the match ended. The titles had been vacated when Akira Taue jumped to NOAH. Today was Fuchi's birthday, but this result wasn't exactly giving him a nice present. Oh well. It seems that they are in no hurry to give Kawada any belts because he's the one wrestler from the old days that means something so he needs them less than any of the other guys.
Genichiru Tenryu made Shigeo Okumura submit to a Texas clover hold (same as the Malenko move called Texas cloverleaf) at 6:39.
Hiroshi Hase & George Hines defeated Masahito Kakihara & Mitsuya Nagai when Hines used his Hinesdriver on Nagai at 22:19.
Yasushi Kanda & Susumu Mochizuki & Darkness Dragon beat Gran Naniwa & Psicosis & Halloween when Susumu used a top rope powerbomb on Halloween at 14:23.

The full lineup for the 1/28 Tokyo Dome show was announced.
Toshiaki Kawada & Kensuke Sasaki vs. Genichiru Tenryu & Hiroshi Hase. It's the first time the current holder of the IWGP Heavykyu Senshuken squares off with the current holder of the Sankan Heavykyu Senshuken, but it's the wrong match at the wrong time with the wrong pairings. Kawada & Sasaki as a team takes so much of the heat of the AJ vs. NJ feud, especially since they aren't begrudgingly joining forces against a common enemy. Tenryu vs. Sasaki has been done and Hase is still Sasaki's friend and was just talking about reforming their old team for one night, so there's just little sense to this matchup. This show will draw, but long term everyone will look back at this match as a big mistake.
Kea vs. Muto
Steve Williams vs. Barton. Since Williams already avenged his bad WWF toughman contest loss to Barton when he returned to All Japan, why to we need another rematch when it would seem Williams has to win again (since he's been given the big tag push) and why is it slotted so highly on the card?
Fuchi vs. Liger. This is an interesting match because of the junior turned heavyweight factor, but Liger works a lot better with athletic opponents since they bring the spectacular spots and bumps to his psychology and stiffness.
Stan Hansen retirement ceremony
Terry Funk & Onita vs. Abdullah & Kimala. 3 extremely washed up legends plus one unskilled, thankfully uncelebrated out of place lardass.
Johnny Smith & Jim Steele & Hines vs. Rotundo & Curt Hennig & Kendall Windham
Kakihara & Nagai vs. Otsuka & Yone. Looks to be the highlight of the undercard, but shouldn't be any better than good.
Mascaras & Hijo Del Santo vs. Arkangel Del Muerte & Blue Panther
Fujiwara & Araya vs. Kim Duk & Okumura
Battle royal.

1/10:

1/10 Osaka Furitsu Taiikukaikan 1,400
Kea & Kakihara & Nagai & Yone upset Kawada & Fuchi & Araya & Okumura 3 falls to 2 in a 4 vs. 4 Survival Tag Match. The way this works is two wrestlers start for each team and have a tag match. The wrestler who loses the fall is replaced by one of the guys that hasn't been in the match yet, with the match ending when one team can only field one wrestler. It started out with Fuchi & Araya beating Nagai & Yone when Araya used his moonsault press on Yone at 14:23. Kakihara was in the match next, and he forced Fuchi to submit to an udehishigigyakujujigatame at 9:04.Okumura replaced Fuchi. Nagai pinned Araya at 3:59. This left Kawada & Okumura. They beat Kakihara & Nagai when Kawada made Nagai submit to his stretch plum at 8:09. However, Kea then came in and used his Hawaiian crusher on Okamura at 8:58 to win it for his team.
Hase & Johnny Smith beat Tenryu & Yuto Aijima when Smith used his British fall on Aijima at 15:03.
Kanda & Susumu Mochizuki & Darkness Dragon beat Psicosis & Damian & Halloween when Dragon pinned Psicosis at 13:02.

See also:
All Japan & New Japan Messages at The Other Arena
New Highspots Bulletin Boards

Contact info
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