[Results] New Japan, 9/13/09

New Japan once again packed the legendary Korakuen Hall today for an eventful show that continued the September tour. TNA Wrestling's Motor City Machine Guns returned to Japan in an attempt to reclaim the belts they lost to Apollo 55 in July, the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title. This was their third meeting of the year after Shelley & Sabin successfully defended the belts earlier in 2009 before Taguchi & Devitt recaptured them for New Japan in July, so this acted as a decider of sorts. And after an exciting 23 1/2 minute war, Apollo 55 again prevailed as Taguchi dropped Sabin with the Dodon to complete their V2 defense. This raised Taguchi & Devitt's stake as a "franchise" tag team even higher after a second win over the internationally renowned MCMG.

Wataru Inoue began a de facto trial series today to assess his standing as a heavyweight after making little impression since graduating from the junior division he had conquered. The land of the heavyweights is a much tougher world than the lightweight class and Wataru has faded into undercard obscurity, this series giving him the chance to win some attention. He suffered a "baptism of fire" by Yuji Nagata today who largely dominated their match and pinned Inoue in his backdrop hold. Nagata told Wataru backstage to progress without fail and make a name for himself.

Tomoaki Honma suffered probably the most embarrassing defeat of his career today and that is covering some ground. He faced the returning TAJIRI who green misted and Buzzsaw kicked the GBH man prior to the bell so that when he covered Honma as the bell rung, he won in three seconds! TAJIRI's continuing presence in New Japan seems to have a purpose and he provoked the injured Hiroshi Tanahashi after the match, a second war between them remaining likely despite Tanahashi's injury.