[Results] New Japan, 12/5/09

New Japan's "4 Heroes" lead the company into 2010 after a clean sweep of big matches at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium today. Shinsuke Nakamura ensured that it will be he who headlines the Tokyo Dome on January 4th after making a successful V3 defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Title against Yuji Nagata. It was CHAOS leader vs. Aogi-gun leader and as you would expect a stiff, physical battle, but like in the G1 Climax, Nakamura again showed that perhaps he has bypassed Mr. Saikyo after landing some guh punches to the face, then crushing Nagata with the Boma Ye for the win. Nakamura called for opposition from anywhere and everywhere after the match, specifically saying he'd like to wrestle someone from a "generation above".

Three long-running rivalries were ended or continued underneath today. Hiroshi Tanahashi finally eradicated the nuisance known as TAJIRI, saving President Sugabayashi from an attack from the former WWE star, before dropping the High Fly Flow on him for the victory. Having settled his grudge with TAJIRI, Tanahashi called out Professional Wrestling NOAH after the match. Hirooki Goto avenged his defeat to Masato Tanaka from Sumo Hall, winning what some called the best match of the show by pinning the ZERO1 ace following the Shouten. Having traded victories now, Goto suggested a final conclusion match at the Tokyo Dome on 1/4. And Togi Makabe liquidated his feud with Takashi Iizuka by defeating him for the second Chain Death Match running, by referee stop. Having seen his post-G1 momentum destroyed by Nakamura, Makabe has had to fight Iizuka from further down CHAOS' ranks, but proved himself to be worthy of a higher rank by winning today. Like Tanahashi, Makabe looked ahead to war with NOAH after the match.