New Japan "Wrestle Kingdom 8"

[Warner2BruceTD]

NJPW “WRESTLE KINGDOM 8 IN TOKYO DOME”, 1/4/14 (WPW/PPV/iPPV)
Tokyo Dome

1. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title – 4WAY Match: Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson (c) vs. KUSHIDA & Alex Shelley vs. TAKA Michinoku Kaientai Dojo & Taichi vs. Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov
2. IWGP Tag Team Title: Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. (c) vs. Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows
3. NWA World Heavyweight Title: Rob Conway NWA (c) vs. Satoshi Kojima
4. Special Tag Match: Yuji Nagata & Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Daniel Gracie & Rolles Gracie
5. Special Tag Match: Minoru Suzuki & Shelton Benjamin vs. Toru Yano & X
6. King of Destroyer Match: Togi Makabe vs. King Fale
7. Special Singles Match – Hirooki Goto Return Match: Hirooki Goto vs. Katsuyori Shibata
8. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Prince Devitt (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
9. Double Main Event I – IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito
10. Double Main Event II – IWGP Intercontinental Title: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Tanahashi vs Nakamura dominated the fan poll to win the main event slot. No Ishii, Tenzan, Honma, Tanaka, Yujiro, Nakanishi, Liger, Tiger Mask, Gedo, Jado, YOSHI-HASHI, Cpt New Japan, BUSHI, Iizuka, Tama Tonga, Jax Dane (who will be in town for the next night). Expect a 4 vs 4 preshow match with a bunch of these guys.

Tenzan is a shocking snub based on seniority. No Ishii is unacceptable, and really, disappointing. Same for Honma & Yujiro.

[Warner2BruceTD]

The two year end Korakuen shows, with 12/21 announced as a $15 iPPV:

NJPW, 12/21/13 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi, KUSHIDA & BUSHI
3. Togi Makabe & Kota Ibushi vs. Takashi Iizuka & Yujiro Takahashi
4. Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Jado vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku Kaientai Dojo & Taichi
5. Road to TOKYO DOME I: Tetsuya Naito vs. Gedo
6. Road to TOKYO DOME II: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. YOSHI-HASHI
7. Road to TOKYO DOME III: Captain New Japan vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
8. Road to TOKYO DOME IV: Tomoaki Honma vs. Kazuchika Okada


NJPW, 12/23/13 (TV Asahi ch2)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Sho Tanaka vs. Yohei Komatsu
2. Super Jr. 3WAY Tag Match: KUSHIDA & BUSHI vs. TAKA Michinoku Kaientai Dojo & Taichi vs. Jado & Gedo
3. Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka
4. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Captain New Japan vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & Tomoaki Honma
5. Togi Makabe & Kota Ibushi vs. Tomohiro Ishii & Yujiro Takahashi
6. YOSHI-HASHI vs. Minoru Suzuki
7. Road to TOKYO DOME FINAL: Tetsuya Naito & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada & Shinsuke Nakamura

I think Okada vs Honma could be a sneaky great match, much like Honma vs Tanaka was in the same under the radar spot in 2011.

Not much else here, aside from the two Tanaka vs Komatsu openers before a likely excursion for each, and the big tag main event on the second show.

[Warner2BruceTD]

The day after Dome:

Who is El Desperado?

One day after the 1/4 Tokyo Dome show, New Japan will debut a new masked man by the name of El Desperado. A logical choice might be Kyosuke Mikami, who has been away in CMLL for almost two years as Namajague. But that isn’t definite.

Also on the show, one day after Kojima challenges Rob Conway for the NWA World Heavyweight Title at the Dome, TenKoji challenge Conway & Jax Dane for the NWA World Tag Team Title.

NJPW “NEW YEAR DASH!!”, 1/5/14 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. El Desperado (debut) vs. X
2. NWA World Tag Team Title: Rob Conway NWA & Jax Dane NWA (c) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima



Also, Okada wins the Tokyo Sports MVP Award again:

"For the second year in a row, Kazuchika Okada has been named Tokyo Sports MVP (Most Valuable Player). Only Antonio Inoki, Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu have achieved that before. Is Okada a legend in the making?

The IWGP Heavyweight Champion has become the leader of New Japan this year, his legendary win over Hiroshi Tanahashi at Sumo Hall in October seen as a transition of leadership.

And also for the second year running, a New Japan bout won Match of the Year, with Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi from the G1 Climax being named Best Bout."

Interesting pick for Match of the Year. Keep in mind, the Tokyo Sports Awards like to spread the awards around. But it really was a great match.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

The only thing I question about Okada is can that motherfucker save money? Dude spends money like he's Ric Flair.

[Warner2BruceTD]

This won't be the first time Tanahashi & Nakamura headline a 1/4 Dome show with a secondary title:

NJPW "TOUKON FESTIVAL ~ WRESTLING WORLD 2005", 1/4/05 (WPW/NJ+IWTV Internet)
Tokyo Dome
46,000 Fans

1. Wataru Inoue & Katsushi Takemura vs. Jado & Gedo went to a draw (15:00) when the time limit expired.
2. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title #1 Contender Match: Jushin Thunder Liger beat Koji Kanemoto (10:30) with a cradle.
3. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Tiger Mask beat Heat (c) (14:17) with a Tiger suplex hold to become the 47th champion.
4. Amaresu Exhibition Match: Yuji Nagata beat Katsuhiko Nagata (5:00) by 15-11.
5. Minoru Suzuki Pancrase beat Takashi Iizuka (9:45) with a sleeper hold.
6. Satoshi Kojima All Japan beat Osamu Nishimura (19:26) with a lariat.
7. Ron Waterman won an 8 Man Ultimate Royal (21:55). Participants: Yuji Nagata, Blue Wolf, Masayuki Naruse, Toru Yano, Manabu Nakanishi, Mitsuya Nagai, Ron Waterman & Dolgorsuren Sumiyabazar
- Round 1: Ron Waterman beat Masayuki Naruse (2:35) by referee stop.
- Round 1: Manabu Nakanishi beat Toru Yano (3:09) with an armlock.
- Round 1: Dolgorsuren Sumiyabazar beat Mitsuya Nagai (5:46) with a shoulder hold.
- Round 1: Yuji Nagata beat Blue Wolf (5:49) with a heel hold.
- Semi Final: Ron Waterman beat Manabu Nakanishi (1:02) with a front neck lock.
- Semi Final: Yuji Nagata beat Dolgorsuren Sumiyabazar (1:53) by referee stop.
- Final: Ron Waterman beat Yuji Nagata (1:41) with a V1 armlock.
8. Dogfight: Masahiro Chono beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Riki Choshu (18:07).
- Masahiro Chono beat Riki Choshu (6:34) with a sliding Yakuza kick.
- Masahiro Chono beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan (11:33) with an FTS.
9. IWGP U-30 Openweight Title: Shinsuke Nakamura beat Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) (24:45) with a cross armbreaker to become the 2nd champion.

lol @ 46,000 fans. Yeah, ok.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Suzuki shattering kayfabe here: