[Results] New Japan, 10/12/09

The legendary Masahiro Chono today celebrated his 25th anniversary as a pro wrestler before a packed house at the building where he began the G1 Climax tradition, Sumo Hall. Teaming with fellow legends Keiji Muto and Kenta Kobashi in the first ever New Japan/All Japan/NOAH vs. New Japan/All Japan/NOAH match, the three bested the third generation trio of Manabu Nakanishi, Satoshi Kojima & Jun Akiyama. Chono entered to a remix of his various entrance themes and showed all of his classic moves in an entertaining match. Chop battles between Nakanishi and Kobashi also impressed fans in what was a “festival” second main event, all three legends having to use signature moves to keep down Nakanishi, Chono pinning him after a Shining Yakuza kick. Much like in recent years, the third generation again found themselves overshadowed by their charismatic seniors, even in the year 2009. Chono posed with his wife and children after the match, soaking in the cheers of fans.

The first main event was more of a traditional hard fought wrestling match as IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Shinsuke Nakamura, received the challenge of ZERO1 boss Shinjiro Otani in his V1 defense. Otani, who “succeeded the soul” of former IWGP king Shinya Hashimoto, threw everything at the young CHAOS leader in an attempt to match him and had his moments but the momentum of Shinsuke was too much and he sunk Otani with the deadly Boma Ye. Hiroshi Tanahashi made an appearance after the match, getting into a staredown with Nakamura and speaking to him, promising a return soon and the next stage of their ideology feud. Nakamura tried to brush Tanahashi off, again naming Antonio Inoki and casting his eyes towards the original IWGP Heavyweight Title. Nakamura, along with Yano, was spotted talking to another Strong Style legend, Akira Maeda, recently, according to Tokyo Sports.

One of Hashimoto’s final pupils, ZERO1’s Kohei Sato, appeared in the sixth match to team with Nagata against CHAOS’ Yano & Iizuka. It was a successful first attempt as a tag team for the two kickers as Nagata sunk Iizuka with a backdrop hold. A festive undercard also saw the original Tiger Mask, Satoru Sayama, return to his old haunt to team with his pupil Tiger Mask IV and the Tiger Mask-like Kota Ibushi to defeat Choshu, Liger & AKIRA when Tiger Mask IV dropped AKIRA with his Destroy suplex hold. Mammoths collided in a “Body Slam Match” where the winner would be the first to slam one of the other two participants. Not too surprisingly, it was the gigantic Akebono who won this over the significantly lighter Bernard and Yoshie by slamming Bernard. Togi Makabe pulled out of the opening match battle royal after being knocked out by Iizuka two days ago and stretchered from the ring. The battle royal, sporting a mixture of veterans, legends, and young lions, was surprisingly won by Kazuchika Okada, who actually pinning Super Strong Machine.

New Japan belatedly but formally announced that it will return to the Tokyo Dome on January 4th for “WRESTLE KINGDOM IV IN TOKYO DOME”, the biggest event on the Japanese pro wrestling calendar. The build for the Tokyo Dome is very much underway and in the coming month or two the lineup should start to reveal itself.



NJPW “MASAHIRO CHONO 25TH ANNIVERSARY - ARISTRIST IN RYOGOKU KOKUGIKAN”, 10/12/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
11,000 Fans - Super No Vacancy Full House



1. Kazuchika Okada won a 13 Man Time-lag Battle Royal (19:58) when he used a missile kick on Super Strong Machine. Participants: Super Strong Machine, Koji Kanemoto, Taichi, Tomoaki Honma, Mitsuhide Hirasawa, Kazuchika Okada, Nobuo Yoshihashi, Great Kojika , Tiger Toguchi, Gran Hamada, Don Arakawa, Yoshiaki Fujiwara & Kuniaki Kobayashi.
2. Takao Omori beat Karl Anderson (6:31) with an Axe Bomber.
3. Hirooki Goto, Wataru Inoue, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Masato Tanaka , Tomohiro Ishii, Jado & Gedo (13:35) when Goto used the Shouten on Gedo.
4. 3WAY Body Slam Match: Akebono beat Giant Bernard & Yutaka Yoshie (6:00) by body slamming Bernard.
5. Original Tiger Mask, Tiger Mask & Kota Ibushi beat Riki Choshu, Jushin Thunder Liger & AKIRA (8:52) when Tiger Mask used a Destroy suplex hold on AKIRA.
6. Yuji Nagata & Kohei Sato beat Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka (14:46) when Nagata used a backdrop hold on Iizuka.
7. Double Main Event I - IWGP Heavyweight Title: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) beat Shinjiro Otani (19:19) with the Boma Ye (1st defense).
8. Double Main Event II - Masahiro Chono 25th Anniversary Match: Masahiro Chono, Keiji Muto & Kenta Kobashi beat Manabu Nakanishi, Satoshi Kojima & Jun Akiyama (23:59) when Chono used a Shining Yakuza kick on Nakanishi.