1/4 THIS DAY IN HISTORY: BRET HART RETURNS TO WWE, A LOT OF TOKYO DOME EVENTS AND MUCH MORE

By Mike Johnson on 2015-01-04 08:00:00

January 4th

On this day in history in ....

1923 - Charlie Rentrop defeats Clarence Eklund for the World Light Heavyweight Title in Sheridan, Wyoming, ending Eklund's second reign.

1929 - Gus Sonnenberg defeats Ed "Strangler" Lewis to win the World Heavyweight Title in Boston, Massachusetts, ending Lewis' fifth reign. The National Wrestling Association would later withdraw its recognition of Sonnenberg in favor of Dick Shikat, based on Sonnenberg not facing "real contenders".

1945 - Frankie Talaber defeats The Great Mephisto for the Midwest Wrestling Association World Junior Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Ohio. This began Talaber's fourth reign and ended Mephisto's third.

1951 - Jackie Nichols ends Frankie Talaber's seventh MWA World Junior Heavyweight Title in Columbus, Ohio.

1955 - Lee Fields and Herb Welch defeat Mario Galento and Red Roberts in a tournament final to become the first holders of the Gulf Coast version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Title.

1957 - Chief Big Heart defeats Jerry Graham in Atlanta, Georgia, to win the Georgia version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Title.

1958 - James Manley, better known in the WWF and WCW as Jim Powers, is born in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

1961 - Nick Bockwinkel and Edouard Carpentier defeat Stan Holek and The Preacher for the World Wrestling Association International Television Tag Team Title in Los Angeles, California, ending Holek and Preacher's second reign.

1962 - Chris and John Tolos win the Toronto version of the NWA International Tag Team Title for the second time, defeating Whipper Billy Watson and Yukon Eric.

1966 - Johnny Barend and Ripper Collins defeat Luther Lindsay and Bearcat Wright for the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title in Honolulu, Hawaii.

1970 - Chris Klucsaritis, better known as Mortis and Kanyon in the WCW and WWF, is born in Sunnyside, New York.

1971 - The Infernos defeat JosÃ© Lothario and Danny Miller to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Title in Orlando, Florida.

1972 - Bobby Shane defeats Bob Roop for the NWA Florida Television Title in Tampa, Florida.

1974 - Dick Dunn defeats Duke Miller for the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title in Dothan, Alabama, beginning his third reign.

1975 - Jackie Fargo defeats Don Kent to win the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

1980 - Rimi Yokota defeats Chino Sato to become the first AJW Junior Champion in Tokyo, Japan.

1981 - Former World Light Heavyweight Champion Clarence Eklund dies at age 93.

1981 - Tomoko Kitamura (Lioness Asuka) defeats Noriko Kawakami for the AJW Junior Title in Tokyo, Japan. Rimi Yokota vacated the title in August 1980.

1983 - Bryce Remsberg, one of the top referees on the independent scene in the Northeast for CHIKARA, ROH and many other promotions, is born.

1986 - Arn Anderson defeats Wahoo McDaniel in a tournament final to win the vacant NWA World Television Title in Greensboro, North Carolina. The title was stripped from Dusty Rhodes on October 19 due to Rhodes having his leg broken by Ric Flair and Ole and Arn Anderson on September 29.

1986 - Condor Saito defeats Kazue Nagahori to win the vacant AJW Junior Title in Tokyo, Japan. Yumi Ogura vacated the title on December 12.

1988 - In Dallas, Texas, The Freebirds (Terry Gordy, King Parsons and Buddy Roberts) defeat Chris Adams, Matt Borne (subbing for Kevin Von Erich) and Steve Simpson to win the World Class Six-Man Tag Team Title.

1989 - Eric Embry defeats Cactus Jack for the World Class Light Heavyweight Title for the fifth time. Embry would be the final champion. The title was vacated in May after he won the World Class Texas Heavyweight Title on April 7, and abandoned in August when World Class became the USWA.

1989 - Madusa Miceli wins the IWA Japan Women's Title from Chigusa Nagayo in Tokyo, Japan.

1990 - Bull Nakano defeats Mitsuko Nishiwaki in a tournament final for the vacant WWWA World Singles Title in Tokyo, Japan. The title was vacated by Lioness Asuka on July 19, 1989 when she retired.

1992 - At New Japan Pro Wrestling's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Starrcade 1992 in Tokyo Dome", Riki ChÅshÅ« defeats Tatsumi Fujinami to retain his Greatest 18 Title and win the IWGP World Heavyweight Title. This ended Fujinami's fourth reign and began ChÅshÅ«'s third.

1993 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Fantastic Story in Tokyo Dome", IWGP World Heavyweight Champion The Great Muta defeats Masahiro Chono to win Chono's NWA World Title. Also, Jushin Liger defeats Ultimo Dragon for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title, beginning Liger's sixth reign.

1994 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Battlefield", The Hell Raisers (Hawk Warrior (Road Warrior Hawk) and Power Warrior (Kensuke Sasaki)) defeat The Jurassic Powers (Hercules Hernandez and Scott Norton) to win the IWGP World Tag Team Title, beginning their second reign.

1995 - Memphis promoter John Regus dies at age 78.

1995 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Battle 7", Antonio Inoki defeats Sting in the finals of the Final Countdown BVD Tournament.

1996 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Wrestling World 1996", Nobuhiko Takada defeats Keiji Muto to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Title, ending Muto's second reign. Also, Jushin Liger defeats Koji Kanemoto for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title. This began Liger's seventh reign and ended Kanemoto's second.

1997 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Wrestling World 1997", Tatsumi Fujinami and Kengo Kimura defeat Masahiro Chono and Hiroyoshi Tenzan to win the IWGP World Tag Team Title. This began Fujinami and Kimura's fourth reign and ended Chono and Tenzan's second. Also, Jushin Liger defeats Ultimo Dragon for the eight J-Crown titles.

1998 - Riki ChÅshÅ« wrestled what was then to be his final five career matches, consecutively, at New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Final Power Hall in Tokyo Dome". The series of matches was called the "Riki Road Final Message 5". ChÅshÅ« pinned Kazuyuki Fujita and Yutaka Yoshie after lariats, made Tatsuhito Takaiwa submit to the Sasori-Gatame (ChÅshÅ«'s own finishing move), and was defeated by Takashi Iizuka by submission with an ankle lock. In his final match, ChÅshÅ« pinned Jushin Liger after a lariat.

1999 - The Monday Night War continued, and featured two very infamous moments, both occurring on WCW Monday Nitro. WWF RAW is WAR's show, taped December 28 in Worcester, Massachusetts at the Centrum, won the night with a 5.7 rating. That rating was contributed to by Tony Schiavone's comment that Mankind would win the WWF World Title on RAW and "put a lot of butts in the seats", during Nitro. Nitro was live from WCW's homebase, Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia Dome, and featured "The Fingerpoke of Doom", when Hollywood Hulk Hogan simply poked WCW World Champion Kevin Nash in the chest as the two faced off, causing him to fall to the mat. Hogan pinned Nash, won his fifth WCW World Title, and the nWo was reformed. The crowd at the Georgia Dome was stunned at the "main event" as it had been set up as Hogan and Nash having a grudge match. Nitro came in second with a 5.0 rating.

1999 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Wrestling World 1999", Keiji Muto defeats Scott Norton to win his third IWGP World Heavyweight Title. Also, Kendo Kashin and Dr. Wagner, Jr. defeat Shinjiro Otani and Tatsuhito Takaiwa for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title.

2000 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Wrestling World 2000", Kensuke Sasaki pinned Genichiro Tenryu for his second IWGP World Heavyweight Title.

2000 - In Osaka, Japan, Super Delfin defeats Dick Togo to become the first Osaka Pro Wrestling Singles Champion, and Kuishimbo Kamen defeats Ebessan to become the first Osaka Pro World's Best Attraction Champion.

2000 - Manami Toyota wins her third WWWA World Singles Title, ending the third reign of Yumiko Hotta in Tokyo, Japan. At the same event, Rumi Kazama, Carol Midori and Eagle Sawai defeat Keiko Aono, Noriyo Tateno and Harley Saito for the Ladies' Legend Pro Wrestling Six-Woman Tag Team Title.

2001 - JosÃ© de Jesus DÃaz Mendoza, better known as Villano I, dies at age 54.

2001 - New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Wrestling World 2001", featured a six-man tournament for the vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Title, which was vacated on October 9 when then-champion Kensuke Sasaki lost a non-title match to Toshiaki Kawada. Kawada and Masahiro Chono received first-round byes in the tournament. 62,001 fans attended the event. The results:
- In a tournament quarterfinal match, Kensuke Sasaki defeated Satoshi Kojima by submission with a Boston crab.
- In a tournament quarterfinal match, IWGP World Tag Team Champion Hiroyoshi Tenzan pinned Yuji Nagata after a moonsault.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Koji Kanemoto and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Minoru Tanaka defeated Shinya Makabe and Tatsuhito Takaiwa, when Kanemoto made Makabe submit with an ankle lock.
- Takashi Iizuka defeated Kendo Kashin with a sleeper hold.
- In a tournament semifinal match, Kensuke Sasaki defeated Masahiro Chono by submission with the Strangle Hold γ.
- In a tournament semifinal match, Toshiaki Kawada pinned IWGP World Tag Team Champion Hiroyoshi Tenzan after a powerbomb.
- Keiji Muto and Shinjiro Otani defeated Jushin Liger and Manabu Nakanishi, when Otani made Liger submit with a cobra twist.
- Riki ChÅshÅ« and Shinya Hashimoto fought to a no contest.
- Kensuke Sasaki pinned Toshiaki Kawada after a Northern Lights bomb to win the tournament and the vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Title, beginning his third reign.

2002 - Kayo Noumi defeats Kayoko Haruyama for the AJW World Singles Title in Tokyo, Japan, beginning her second reign.

2002 - Brett Bonz defeats John Allen to win the NWA Southwest Television Title in North Richland Hills, Texas.

2003 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Wrestling World 2003", Yoshihiro Takayama defeats Tsuyoshi Kosaka to win the NWF Heavyweight Title, revived after 22 years of inactivity. Also, the Young Generation Cup four-man tournament took place, with Ryushi Yanagisawa defeating Yutaka Yoshie in the finals.

2003 - Mika Nishio defeats Kaori Yoneyama to win the AJW World Singles Title in Tokyo, Japan.

2003 - Kevin Northcutt defeats Rip Steele for the NWA Mississippi Heavyweight Title in Magee, Mississippi.

2003 - Justin Idol defeats Scottie Gash in a tournament final to win the vacant NWA East Three Rivers Title in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.

2003 - Superstar Steve defeats Takao Omori in Neosho, Missouri for the World League Wrestling Heavyweight Title.

2004 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Wrestling World 2004", IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shinsuke Nakamura defeats NWF Heavyweight Champion Yoshihiro Takayama in Tokyo, Japan to unify the titles. The NWF title dates back to 1970 and Pedro Martinez's National Wrestling Federation, which was initially an NWA office, and was mainly defended in the Buffalo, New York, Cleveland, Ohio and Toronto, Ontario areas, until then-champion Johnny Powers took it with him on a tour of Japan. Powers lost the NWF title to Antonio Inoki in 1973, and the title remained a New Japan-promoted title until it was retired in 1981. In 2003, the title was revived by NJPW, but was again retired when Nakamura defeated Takayama. Also at the show, Jushin Liger defeats Takashi Sugiura for the Pro Wrestling NOAH GHC Junior Heavyweight Title.

2004 - Amazing Kong defeats Ayako Hamada to win the WWWA World Singles Title in Tokyo, Japan. At the same show, Saki Maemura and Kaori Yoneyama defeat Hikaru and Haruka Matsuo for the vacant WWWA World Tag Team Title.

2004 - Caprice Coleman defeats Rainman for the NWA Wildside Television Title in Cornelia, Georgia, ending Rainman's second reign.

2005 - At New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome show, "Toukon Festival: Wrestling World 2005", Tiger Mask defeated HEAT (Minoru Tanaka) for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title, beginning Tiger Mask's second reign and ending Tanaka's third. Also, Shinsuke Nakamura defeats Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the IWGP U-30 Title, and Ron Waterman won an eight-man MMA-style (worked) tournament, defeating Yuji Nagata in the final match.

2005 - Brian Beech defeats Deuce to win the Heartland Wrestling Association Television Title in Cincinnati, Ohio.

2006 - Aaron Stevens defeats CM Punk for the OVW Television Title in Louisville, Kentucky.

2007 - WWE signed their first third generation Diva, Nattie Neidhart, who would debut on the main roster as Natalya. Neidhart is the granddaughter of Stu Hart.

2007 - Two-time NWA World Midgets' Champion Harold "Cowboy" Lang dies at age 56 in Portland, Oregon.

2007 - Kaio wins his third Italian Championship Wrestling Italian Heavyweight Title in Aosta, Italy, defeating Andres Diamond.

2008 - New Japan held their annual Tokyo Dome event. CJ sent the following results:

Thanks to CJ at www.thewrestlingarchive.net for sending along the following:

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom II (4th January 2008 - Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, JAPAN)

RISE (Milano Collection AT, Minoru & Prince Devitt) Vs. 'The Phenomenal' A.J. Styles, 'The Instant Classic' Christian Cage & Petey Williams

Winners: A.J. Styles, Christian Cage & Petey Williams (10:25)Â

NJPW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: Wataru Inoue (Champion) Vs. 'The Fallen Angel' Christopher Daniels
Winner: Wataru Inoue (10:17)Â

Abyss Vs. Manabu Nakanishi

Winner: Manabu Nakanishi (6:00)Â

Katsushi Takemura, Masato Tanaka, Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Yutaka Yoshie Vs. Koji Kanemoto, Ryusuke Taguchi, Takashi Iizuka & Tiger Mask IV

Winners: Katsushi Takemura, Masato Tanaka, Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Yutaka Yoshie (8:36)Â

Hardcore Match: Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe & Toru Yano) Vs. Team 3D (Brother Devon & Brother Ray)

Winners: Team 3D (13:12)Â

Legend (Jushin 'Thunder' Liger, Masahiro Chono, Riki Choshu & Tatsumi Fujinami) Vs. Voodoo Murders (Shuji Kondo, TARU & 'brother' YASSHI), Gedo & Jado

Winners: Legend (7:18)Â

Hirooki Goto Vs. The Great Muta

Winner: The Great Muta (13:04)Â

NJPW IWGP Tag Team Championship Match: Giant Bernard & Travis Tomko (Champions) Vs. The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner)

Winners: Giant Bernard & Travis Tomko (12:50)Â

IGF IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match: Kurt Angle (Champion) Vs. Yuji Nagata

Winner: Kurt Angle (18:29)Â

NJPW IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi (Champion) Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura (New Champion) (23:08)

2008 - WWE's Raw brand ran the Westchester County Center in White Plains. Billy Krotchsen filed the following report:

*Brian Kendrick pinned Vladimir Kozlov.

*Ashley Massaro came out and told the crowd that she missed them while being away and was happy to be back.

*Atlas DaBone pinned Charlie Haas and left with Ashley.

*In a Royal Rumble Qualifying match, Snitsky pinned Drew McIntyre.

*Nick Nemeth (Nicky of Spirit Squad fame with longer hair aka the future Dolph Ziggler) pinned Super Crazy.

*WWE Women's champion Beth Phoenix pinned Maria.

*WWE Tag Team champions Cody Rhodes & Hardcore Holly defeated Santino Marella & Trevor Murdoch.

*They announced Raw would be held at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ on 4/28 (Day after Backlash PPV) with tickets going on sale 1/19.

*Jillian Hall comes out and begins singing. Ricky Steamboat comes out and tells her to leave. He tells the crowd that he still works for WWE helping with younger talent. He calls out DH Smith and tells him that he has big shoes to fill, being the son of Davey Boy Smith. JBL comes out and rips on the crowd and Smith, leading to....

*JBL pinned DH Smith with the clothesline from hell.

*Triple H pinned Ken Kennedy. William Regal tried to interfere but failed. After the match, Triple H said he wanted to pay tribute to a legend from White Plains. He pointed out Betty Skaaland, the wife of the late WWE Hall of Famer Arnold Skaaland in the crowd and asked everyone to show respect for Skaaland, who promoted the venue for years.

*WWE champion Randy Orton pinned WWE Intercontinental champion Jeff Hardy.

2008 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

We begin tonight's show with a look back at two weeks ago when Edge gave his acceptance speech as the new champion. We see Batista and Edge meet in the ring in a three-on-one handicap match. We see Batista appear to win the title but he is told by Vickie that he needed to pin Edge to win the title.

We are live on tape from Richmond, Virginia and your announcers are Jonathan Coachman and Michael Cole.

Vickie Guerrero is wheeled out by Teddy Long and she welcomes everyone and wishes them a Happy New Year. She welcomes everyone to the first Smackdown of 2008. Vickie tells Taker and Batista that if they lay a finger on Edge, their chances of regaining the championship will go up in smoke. Vickie says that she has been consulting with the love of her life and in the spirit of competition, she has brought us the Beat the Clock Challenge. The winner of the challenge tonight will face Edge at the Royal Rumble. Participating tonight will be Finlay, Rey Mysterio, Batista, and the Undertaker. Vickie introduces a man of extraordinary credentials and a man of fairness and oratory skills par excellence. She brings out the newest color commentator, Jonathan Coachman.

We see footage from last week's Raw of William Regal getting ready to hit Hornswoggle with the brass knuckles only to chicken out. We see Vince slap and berate Regal for failing him.

Match Number One: Fit Finlay with Hornswoggle versus Montel Vontavious Porter in a Beat the Clock Challenge Match

Porter goes for Finlay's leg and Finlay gets out of the hold after a take down. Finlay with a take down but Porter escapes the hold. Finlay with a drop toe hold into a cover. Finlay with another leg take down into a cover but he cannot get a count. Finlay slaps Porter, but Porter slaps back. Porter and Finlay both with reversals. Porter with a kick to Finlay and then Finlay with a head butt that sends Porter out of the ring. Porter punches Finlay on the floor and then Hornswoggle distracts Porter but Porter keeps his eyes on the prize and hits a clothesline on Finlay. We go to commercial

We are back and Finlay is working on Porterâ€™s leg as Porter tries to escape the hold. Porter with forearms to get out of the hold and Finlay with a near fall. Finlay with a body scissors but Porter with a cover. Porter lifts Finlay up while Finlay still has the body scissors and he hits a slam for a near fall. Porter with a cravate on Finlay. Finlay gets Porter into the corner and Porter with a boot to Finlayâ€™s head and Porter gets a near fall. Porter returns to the cravate and then he connects with elbows to the head. Finlay with a hammer lock and arm bar with his knee on Porter's head. Finlay with a boot to Porterâ€™s head followed by an Irish whip and he misses a charge into the corner. Porter with the running boot into the corner but Finlay gets his foot on the rope to stop the count. Hornswoggle throws a shillelagh into the ring. Porter takes the shillelagh but the referee takes it away from Porter. Finlay hits Porter with another shillelagh and gets the three count.

Winner: Fit Finlay (in 9:46)

After the match, Vince McMahon comes to the ring and he celebrates with his son. We go to commercial.

We are back with the Smack of the Night: Jamie Noble's date with Michelle I never pause between words McCool.

Match Number Two: Chuck Pulambo Palumbo and Michelle Loving Life McCool versus Kenny Dykstra and Victoria

Kenny and Chuck start things off and Chuck with a side head lock take down for a near fall. Chuck with a shoulder in the corner and he tries to break but Dykstra punches Palumbo. Chuck with a back elbow and Kenny tags in Victoria. Victoria climbs on Chuckâ€™s back and Chuck with a snap mare followed by a drop kick from Michelle. Michelle with an arm wringer and arm bar. Victoria with a reversal. Michelle uses the ropes to escape and she connects with an arm drag. Victoria sends Michelle into the ring post and then pulls her into the ring for a near fall. Victoria with an arm wringer take down followed by a leg drop to the arm into an arm bar. Michelle with an arm drag followed by a belly-to-belly suplex and both women are down. Kenny and Chuck are in and Chuck punches Kenny followed by an Irish whip but he charges into an elbow. Palumbo with an overhead belly-to-belly followed by a Bossman slam for a two count. Palumbo misses a big boot in the corner and Dykstra with forearms to the back followed by a neck breaker for a two count. Dykstra goes to the turnbuckles but Palumbo with a punch followed by a superplex and both men are down. Victoria and Michelle tag in and Michelle hits a cross body from the top followed by a clothesline. Michelle hits a drop kick after avoiding a clothesline. Kenny grabs Michelle but Michelle kicks Kenny. That allows Victoria to hit the Widowâ€™s Peak for the three count.

Winner: Kenny Dykstra and Victoria

After the match, while Kenny and Victoria celebrate at ringside; Chuck attacks the turnbuckles. Michelle apologizes to Chuck but Chuck says that he is sick of her and she canâ€™t do nuttin right. Chuck tells Michelle to stay in the ring while he rides to the back.

Vickie tells Teddy Long that she wants more cream in her coffee and sends Teddy away. Chavo Guerrero enters the office and he wants to know if she is aware of what she is doing to the Guerrero family. The relationship is tearing the family apart. Vickie says that Chavo is just angry that he is not in the Beat the Clock Challenge. Chavo says that he wants to roll back the hands of time. He wants something that he cannot have. We go to commercial.

We are back and we are reminded of Finlayâ€™s time in the Beat the Clock Challenge.

Match Number Three: Chavo Guerrero versus Funaki in a Beat the Clock Challenge Match
They lock up and Funaki with a side head lock but Chavo with a boot and Latino uppercut for a near fall. Chavo with a snap mare and near fall. Chavo slams Funaki and gets a one count. Chavo with a hard Irish whip and inside cradle for a near fall. Chavo with another Latino uppercut for a two count. Chavo tries for a belly-to-back suplex but Funaki counters with a cross body. Funaki with a tilt-a-whirl head scissors. Chavo with a tilt-a-whirl slam for a near fall. Chavo with a forearm to the back followed by a Latino uppercut for another near fall. Funaki with an inside cradle for a near fall. Chavo with a near fall. Chavo with a Saito suplex to Funaki for a two count. Chavo with a kick to the back and a near fall. Funaki with a chop but he misses a drop kick and Chavo with a cover and bridge for a near fall. Chavo kicks Funaki around the ring and then he tries for a La Magistral for a two count. Funaki with a rollup for a two count but Chavo gets to the ropes. Chavo with kicks to Funakiâ€™s back. Chavo tries for another Latino uppercut but Funaki with a back slide. Funaki with an enzuigiri for a near fall. Funaki jumps around and then he is put on the top turnbuckle. Funaki with a slap followed by a cross body for a near fall. Funaki with a back kick but Chavo with an Irish whip. Funaki moves and tries for a rollup but Chavo holds on to the ropes. Chavo with the Gory Bomb for the three count.

Winner: Chavo Guerrero (in 6:02)

We see Batista walking in the back as we go to commercial.

Vickie Guerrero appears on the Fist-O-Tron and she says that Teddy Long has an announcement. Teddy says that Batista will also be facing Zack Ryder as well in a handicap match.

Match Number Four: Batista versus Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder in a Beat the Clock Challenge Match
Batista with a kick and punches to Zack and Curt. Batista runs Curt into the corner and connects with shoulders. Batista tries for a Batista Bomb on Curt but Zack charges at Batista and gets a back body drop. Batista catches Hawkins out of the corner and sets for the Batista Bomb but they low bridge Batista and get a few near falls. Hawkins and Ryder with kicks to Batistaâ€™s back. They connect with a hard Irish whip. They kick Batista out of the ring and then they go out after Batista. Batista punches Ryder and Hawkins on the floor. Ryder with a leg drop followed by a leap frog neck breaker by Hawkins for a near fall. Hawkins with a knee drop followed by a splash from Ryder for a near fall. Ryder and Hawkins try for a double Impact DDT and they hit it. They try for a second one and Batista with a back body drop. Batista with a double spear. Batista with an Irish whip and running clothesline into the corner. Batista with a power slam to Ryder and a spinebuster to Hawkins. Batista is unable to hit the Batista Bomb as time runs out.

No Contest

After the match, Batista punches the mat in frustration. We go to commercial.

We are back with the Raw Rebound and a look at Ric Flairâ€™s match with Triple H.

Montel Vontavious Porter is on the phone and he is angry at the loss of his match. He says that he is better than Finlay and the Beat the Clock Challenge. He says that he needs everyone to see how great he is. He is going to shatter the glass ceiling. He is going to make his mark on the industry. He is going to do what Triple H couldnâ€™t do and he is going to retire Ric Flair.

Cole and Coach talk about Porter's desire to beat Ric Flair.

Cole interviews Rey Mysterio and asks how he prepares for an opponent he does not know. Rey says that beating the clock is unlike any challenge. Rey says that he likes to study his opponent but he does not know who his opponent will be. In order to win his match, he needs to be fast and he needs to be furious. That is his style. Rey says that he has won the title once and he will not stop to win it again. We go to commercial.

We are back and we see footage of Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Mooreâ€™s success against WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison and Mike Mizanin.

Match Number Five: Deuce and Domino with Cherry versus Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore
Deuce and Yang start things off and he connects with a forearm and knee to Yang. Deuce with a rollup for a near fall. Yang gets out of a hip toss and connects with a series of kicks and a drop kick. Yang is sent out of the ring and Cherry is knocked down. Yang helps Cherry up and Domino hits Yang. Deuce goes out after Yang and hot shots him on the apron. Deuce with a near fall. Deuce with a front face lock and then he puts Yang on the top rope before Domino with a forearm to the back. Domino kicks Yang and then he applies a Cobra Clutch. Yang with a jawbreaker to get out of the hold and then Domino knocks Moore down to prevent the tag by Yang. Yang with a rana and then he tags in Moore who hits a clothesline and spinning heel kick for a near fall. Domino sends Moore into the corner but Moore with an elbow and cross body. Deuce throws Yang over the top rope to the floor. Domino gets Moore up for the Rockerplex but Moore sends Domino into Deuce and then Moore with a rollup for the three count.

Winner: Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore

We are back and Matt Striker is introduced as the opponent for the Undertaker, but he comes out and says that Vickie Guerrero named him guest referee and says that Mark Henry is the opponent for Undertaker. We see footage from three weeks ago when Taker was attacked by Big Daddy V and Mark Henry after their match.

Match Number Six: Undertaker versus Mark Henry with guest referee Matt Striker in a Beat the Clock Challenge Match

Taker with a punch and side head lock to Henry. Henry with a shoulder tackle and Taker pops back up. Taker with punches to Henry and then he slams Henryâ€™s head into the turnbuckles. Henry punches back and he works over Taker in the corner. Henry with an Irish whip but Taker with a big boot. Henry with a shoulder tackle for a near fall. Henry punches Taker and Taker goes through the ropes to the floor. Henry goes out after Taker and Taker punches Henry on the floor. Taker Irish whips Henry into the ring steps. Taker hangs Henry over the apron and Taker with a boot to Henryâ€™s head. Taker gets on the apron and he connects with the leg drop to Henry. Taker with a head butt to Henry followed by punches. Taker works on Henryâ€™s shoulder and arm. Taker works on the arm and it is time to go Old School but Henry with a punch before Taker can enter the school house. Henry with an Irish whip and body block for a near fall. Taker kicks Henry but Henry kicks back. Taker with a DDT and both men are down. Taker goes Old School as time continues to run but Henry catches Taker in a bear hug. Taker gets out of the hold and he punches Henry. Henry punches back. Taker hits the choke slam on Henry but Matt Striker cannot make the three count. The time runs out as Taker chases Striker from the ring.
No Contest

After the match, Taker with a slam to Mark Henry and then he hits a leg drop of doom. We go to commercial.

We are back with a Moments Ago Moment of Matt Striker getting a muscle spasm when Matt Striker was refereeing the match between the Undertaker and Mark Henry.

We are told that there is a new member of announce team and it is Diva Search contestant Lena. Lena is with Matt Striker and Matt says that the Undertaker failed to beat the clock. The Undertaker failed to beat Mark Henry in the time allotted. The Undertaker threatened to put his hands on Matt Striker and Matt says that he will single handedly beat him into oblivion. Matt says that Big Daddy V will do it as well.

We run through the card for the Royal Rumble.

We also see footage of Chavo Guerrero defeating Funaki to become the current leader in the Beat the Clock Challenge. We go to commercial.

Match Number Seven: Rey Mysterio versus Edge with the Edge Rmy in a Beat the Clock Challenge Match

Edge goes into the ropes as the bell rings to avoid Rey and Edge laughs at Rey. Edge goes out of the ring and Rey gets frustrated. Edge returns to the ring and then he goes back to the floor again. Rey with a rana to Edge and then he hits a drop kick that sends Edge into the corner. Rey with a head scissors that sends Edge into the turnbuckles. Rey with a springboard seated senton for a near fall. Edge with a big boot to Reyâ€™s face. Edge throws Rey out of the ring and the Rmy attacks Rey on the floor. Edge kicks Rey as he returns to the ring. Edge with a hard Irish whip to Rey. Batista comes to the ring and he clotheslines the Rmy and gets rid of them. Edge gets distracted and he is drop kicked into the ropes for the 619 but Edge ducks. Rey with a rollup for a near fall followed by a springboard crossbody for a near fall. Edge with a wheelbarrow into a hot shot in the corner. Edge with kicks to Rey. The Undertaker comes out and he stares at Edge and then he summons a bell and the lights go out.

The lights go back on and Edge is in the ropes. Rey hits the 619 and springboard splash for the three count.

Winner: Rey Mysterio

2009 - New Japan held their annual Tokyo Dome event. Lee Relph penned the following....The day came at last where the pupil finally surpassed the teacher, as Hiroshi Tanahashi today defeated Keiji Muto to bring home the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Tanahashi and Nakamura, the latter of whom defended the New Japan ring against Pro Wrestling NOAH, are in the lead going into the New Year, and it was Nakamura who Tanahashi nominated as his first defence opponent. New Japan Pro-Wrestling is a company with a history of massive inter-promotional warfare though, and the return of both its greatest prize as well as the junior title was soured by the outflow of both tag belts into the custody of TNA Wrestling. 2009 promises to be a fascinating year.

NJPW “WRESTLE KINGDOM III IN TOKYO DOME”, 1/4/09 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Dome
40,000 Fans

0. Milano Collection AT, Minoru & Taichi Ishikari beat Mitsuhide Hirasawa, Kazuchika Okada & Nobuo Yoshihashi (6:24) when Milano used a super scrap kick on Yoshihashi.
1. Wrestle Kingdom Grand Opening VIENTO DORADO: Mistico, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Averno, Jado & Gedo (9:50) when Mistico used the La Mística on Averno.
2. Jushin Thunder Liger 20th Anniversary Match: Jushin Thunder Liger & Takuma Sano beat Wataru Inoue & Koji Kanemoto (8:47) when Liger used an avalanche-style brainbuster on Kanemoto.
3. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title ~Tread on!!~: Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin beat Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (c) (13:21) when Sabin used the Made in Detroit on Naito to become the 22nd champions.
4. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title ~Ballistic interception~: Tiger Mask beat Low Ki (c) (8:48) with a modified Tiger suplex hold to become the 56th champion.
5. Fighting Holdings Competition: Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono, Kurt Angle & Kevin Nash beat Giant Bernard, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii & Karl Anderson (7:09) when Angle used an ankle lock on Anderson.
6. World Heavyweight Title ~Crusade for Justice~: Yuji Nagata (c) beat Masato Tanaka (11:41) with a backdrop hold (3rd defense).
7. New Japan vs. NOAH Battle Tendencies ~the invasion~: Jun Akiyama Pro Wrestling NOAH beat Manabu Nakanishi (10:27) with a wrist-clutch Exploder.
8. IWGP Tag Team Title - Hardcore Rules: Team 3D beat Togi Makabe & Toru Yano (c) (15:34) when Ray pinned Makabe after the 3D to become the 52nd champions.
9. New Japan vs. NOAH Battle Tendencies ~the encounter~: Shinsuke Nakamura & Hirooki Goto beat Mitsuharu Misawa & Takashi Sugiura (15:17) when Nakamura used a flying cross armbreaker on Sugiura.
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Keiji Muto (c) (30:22) with the High Fly Flow to become the 50th champion.

2010 - Bret Hart returned to WWE, more than a decade after the infamous 1997 Montreal Screwjob, during an edition of Raw in Ohio. Hart appeared on Raw and buried the hatchet with Shawn Michaels. This was followed by an angle with Vince McMahon where McMahon kicked Hart in the groin, starting the build towards their Wrestlemania 26 match, which Hart would win.

Ed Sherriffs filed the following TV report:

Because even Richard Trionfo can't cover two shows at once, I am bringing you the live coverage of Monday Night Raw from Dayton, OH. TNA has already brought out Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Scott Hall, Sean Waltman and Jeff Hardy while WWE *only* has Bret Hart lined up as a big debut tonight. Also set for Raw, Triple H and HBK take on JeriShow with Chris Jericho's future on Raw at stake and Randy Orton is set to wrestle Kofi Kingston. On TNA at 9PM, Hulk Hogan is in the ring. On Raw, we have a package for Bret Hart's history. Last week, Shawn Michaels was the one to convince Vince McMahon to allow Bret to return.

WWE gets right down to brass tacks as Justin Roberts introduces Bret Hart in front of a live WWE event for the first time in over twelve years. Hitman comes out to his old theme music, just a little jazzed up. It is as surreal as you thought it would be. Bret takes the mic and says hell froze over. He knows people are wondering why now. He's had a long time to think things over and it's an amazing feeling to be back. He says every time he tried to come back, Vince McMahon made it impossible. He's happy to be back and able to talk to the WWE Universe as the crowd gives him a hearty 'Welcome Back' chant. Bret thanks the fans for not letting him be forgotten. Bret reminisces about winning the King of the Ring in Dayton.

He's ready to get to the point, though. He asks Shawn Michaels to come out to the ring first. HBK obliges and comes down to the ring, the first time they've been together since November of 1997. Bret wants to call a truce. HBK says that before Bret gets his closure, he's been waiting 12 years to say something to the Hitman. He deserved what happened to him in Montreal, saying Bret disrespected Shawn and the business. The crowd starts a 'You Screwed Bret' chant. Shawn says a part of him doesn't regret a bit of it. Another part knows that a lot of things have changed. Shawn always respected Bret, but he never thought Bret respected him. They couldn't stand the sight of each other. But when Shawn thinks of Bret Hart, he thinks of the Iron Man Match at WrestleMania XII, not Montreal. He says Bret isn't the only one ready to move on or bury the hatchet. Shawn asks if Bret is sure and if he is ready.

Bret says Shawn wasn't the easiest one to love, but their careers shouldn't be tagged by Montreal. It's as good a time as any to take this moment and say they can be friends. Bret offers his hand and Shawn takes it. Shawn goes to leave, but before he does, he goes back to hug Bret. Bret says there is one more thing he wants to ask, one more person to come down. Bret wants Vince next. Vince doesn't come out, unfortunately. Commercial.

Back from the break, Vince is informed that Bret called him out. Vince says he was in a meeting, but he plans to call Bret out later on in the evening.

First Round Match for the WWE Diva's Championship: Maryse vs. Brie Bella w/ Nikki Bella

I guess Bret Hart doesn't need gratuitous escorts tonight? Both Bellas are in their gear tonight. Lock up goes to the ropes and is broken up. Maryse stalls on the apron. Brie pulls her back in the ring and throws her into the corner. Brie tosses Maryse to the mat. Snapmare by Brie, followed by a dropkick. Maryse bails, but Nikki throws her on the announcers' table. Back in the ring, Brie covers for two. Maryse ducks a clothesline and covers Brie for two. Maryse slams Brie's head to the mat. Nikki shoves Brie out and the pull the old switcheroo. Maryse kicks Nikki then plants her with a French Kiss for the win. Most incompetent switcheroo of all time.

Your winner, Maryse!

As Maryse goes to the back, Miz comes out and congratulates her. Maybe if Maryse wins, Miz will call her back. Miz says he's heard she is saying 2010 is the year of Maryse. Miz says the year, and the decade, belong to Miz. Al Franken wants his bit back. Miz is out to watch who will become the number one contender to his United States Championship.

Jack Swagger vs. MVP vs. Carlito vs. Mark Henry

Back from the break, Swagger and Carlito are in charge. Henry was pushed into the ringpost on the floor. Carlito with shots to Swagger and MVP. Swagger slams Carlito and pins him for two. Swagger with a belly to belly on MVP for two as Carlito breaks it up. Swagger throws MVP into Carlito and charges. MVP gets out of the way, but Carlito is hit. Henry back in the ring to attack Swagger. MVP goes after his partner Henry, but he is thrown out of the ring. MVP swings Carlito into Swagger and applies a bear hug on Carlito. Swagger hits Henry from behind. Henry lifts Swagger up, for what looks like a Torture Rack, but was really a Fireman's Carry. MVP kicks Henry and Henry is dumped from the ring. MVP knocks Carlito out, then hits the Playmaker on Swagger to become the number one contender for Miz's title.

Your winner, MVP!

In the back, Jericho has a plan and he has a deal for Bret Hart. Commercial.

Chris Jericho comes to Bret's office and reminisces. Jericho talks about training in the Dungeon and tapping Keith out. He knows Bret really despises Shawn Michaels and would like for Bret to be the special guest referee in the tag title match tonight. Bret's blunt and says he wants nothing to do with Montreal anymore. He's not a hypocrite and wants peace. He doesn't want to be like Jericho. If Jericho wants to stay on Raw, he'd better do it by himself. Oh, and Bret says that Jericho was the one who screamed louder than anyone and scared the cats.

Hornswoggle is with HHH looking at the new Mattel WWE action figures. Shawn wants to know why he talks to Horny like a child. HHH says he is a child. Shawn points out he has a beard, but Trips points out all leprechauns are born with facial hair. Shawn wants to know what this has to do with their title match and HHH brings out Santino doing a Jericho impersonation. Horny attacks the faux-Jericho. Commercial. During the break, their is actually a TNA commercial telling people that Hulk is back right now. Clever. When I briefly switch to TNA, Bubba the Love Sponge is on my screen. Pass.

WWE Unified Tag Team Championship Match: DeGeneration X (c) vs. Chris Jericho & Big Show

Hornswoggle goes under the ring. Show and Michaels start off. Michaels uses his quickness to avoid Show, but is caught with a head butt. HHH tags in, but Show is able to suplex both DX members at once. Commercial.

Back from the break, JeriShow is in charge. H with a facebuster, but he is caught in a sidewalk slam from Show. Leg Drop from Show on HHH for two. TBS punches HHH. Jericho tags in and showboats before kicking Trips. Chinlock to Triple H. Hunter fights out and catches Jericho with a Spinebuster. Both men are down.

Jericho makes the tag to Show and he prevents HHH from making the tag. Scoop slam by Show and he goes to the middle rope. HHH rolls out of the way of a splash. HHH makes his way to Michaels, who tags in. Shawn with chops to Show. Flying forearms to Show. Low dropkicks take Show down. Michaels goes to the top rope. Jericho crotches him. Horny gets in and jumps on Show. Shawn covers for two.

Shawn tunes up the band. Show catches him with a chokeslam, but he can't capitalize right away and Michaels kicks out at two. Jericho with a Lionsault. Michaels counters that and a Walls of Jericho. HHH tags in and gives Jericho a Pedigree for two when Big Show breaks the pin up. Show takes a Pedigree from HHH and HBK, but he rolls out of the ring. Jericho with a roll up to HHH for two. Codebreaker to HHH, but both men are down. Jericho finally covers, but Shawn breaks the pin up. Horny back in to tune up the band. Jericho kicks him. HHH goes for a Pedigree, but Jericho counters. HBK hits Sweet Chin Music on Jericho and HHH covers for the win.

Your winners, DeGeneration X!

After the match, DX reminds Jericho that he's done on Raw. Show walks off in disgust, as he remains on Raw. HHH tries to get the Hey Hey Hey chant going to give Jericho a goodbye, but it doesn't really catch on. Jericho meekly walks to the back.

In the back, Vince hears a knock at his door. It's Randy Orton. Orton says it's a business call. In the spirit of putting the past behind him, Orton has an offer. Mercifully, Vince remembers what Orton did to his family. Orton wants a chance at legend killing Bret Hart. Orton kicks Bret and he gets the thirtieth spot in the Rumble. Vince replies that he has his own security and tells Orton not to confront him again. Orton walks off. Legacy meet him and thank him for the threats last week. They inspired them and want to return the favor. They'll be sitting at ringside, and if Randy doesn't beat Kofi, Orton is kicked out of Legacy. Heh.

WWE announces what PWInsider already broke...Mike Tyson will be hosting Raw next week. We also get a replay of last week's lame finish for the WWE Championship match, where Sheamus got disqualified.

Sheamus comes to the ring and says the last image of 2009 was himself standing over Cena, still WWE Champion. At the Royal Rumble, he will not be defending the title against John Cena. He wants a new challenge. He says he is the best there is and the best there ever will be. Evan Bourne interrupts Sheamus' promo. He takes the mic from Sheamus and slides out of the ring. Sheamus has the title because he was given the opportunity. Bourne wants the same opportunity right now. Sheamus accepts.

Sheamus vs. Lil' Evan Bourne

This is a non title match. If Bourne wins, he gets a shot at the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. Bourne with kicks to Sheamus' legs. Kick to Sheamus' back and head. Bourne hits a Shooting Star Press, but it only gets two. Bourne back to the top, but Sheamus catches him and throws him. Club to Bourne's head. Knees to Bourne. Sheamus with the Celtic Cross for the win.

Your winner, Sheamus!

Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler take a moment to remember Dr. Death Steve Williams, who passed away last week at the age of 49. They mention that he was a close friend of JR. RIP Doc.

Kofi Kingston vs. Randy Orton

The two lock up. Kofi with a clothesline out of the corner. Orton knocks Kingston down to the mat with a shoulderblock. Back elbow from Kofi. Stinger Splash from Kofi. He clotheslines Randy out of the ring, then hits a baseball slide. He rolls Orton back in the ring, but Orton meets him and goes for a DDT. Kofi counters by dumping Orton out of the ring in front of Legacy, who don't budge from their seats. Commercial.

Back from the break, Orton has Kofi in the dreaded chinlock. He got the advantage by shoving Kofi off the top and to the floor during the commercials. Kofi tries to fight back, but he is clotheslined by Orton. Orton stomps Kofi in the gut. Orton shows off and is kicked by Kofi. Orton throws Kingston into the corner. Orton punches and kicks Kofi in the corner. Orton slingshots Kofi into the bottom rope for two.

Orton applies another chinlock. Kofi gets up to his feet and fights out. Kofi and Orton crash into each other and both men are down. Kofi with some punches to Orton. He kicks Orton into the corner and hits five punches, follwed by a European Uppercut. Boom Drop by Kofi and he gets ready for Thunder in Paradise. Orton bails, but Kofi dives after him. Orton is put back in the ring. Kofi with a crossbody off the top for two. Kofi blocks an RKO and hits the SOS for two. Kofi blocks an RKO, but Orton blocks Trouble in Paradise and hits an RKO for the win. Rhodes and DiBiase don't look too happy that he won.

Your winner, Randy Orton!

In the back, Vince is heading to the ring to confront Bret Hart. Commercial.

Vince makes his way to the ring. He wishes the crowd a happy New Year, then says he has no reason to call Bret Hart out since Bret has already hugged Shawn. Vince proclaims the Montreal incident over, thanking Hitman for his services before putting over Iron Mike Tyson.

Bret comes down to the ring anyways. Vince goes on and on before Bret says too much. Vince personally nominates Stu Hart for induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. Bret appreciates it. Vince thanks Bret for all his contributions to WWE. He thanks Bret for being Bret, and for being the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be. Vince offers his hand and Bret takes it. Vince raises Bret's hand in the middle of the ring. They pose for the crowd and Vince kicks Bret in the nuts. Bret is left laying in the ring as Vince walks to the back. Bret recovers fairly quickly and stares at Vince to end the show.

2010 - TNA holds a live edition of Impact on SpikeTV opposite Raw, featuring the return of Jeff Hardy, who had left WWE several months earlier.

Richard Trionfo filed the following live report:

Tonight is the night that no man will forget if they are a fan of professional wrestling, until the next time that something is really hyped.

We begin with a video package from the first TNA pay per view in June 2002. Then we move ahead to Sting’s debut. We then see the cavalcade of former WWE and WCW stars who came into TNA and took care of the TNA stars. Tonight, Hulk Hogan makes his US debut on a TNA program.

We are live from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and your announcers are Mike ‘Brother’ Tenay and Taz.

Taz and Tenay are in the new position and they talk about the biggest night in TNA history because of Hulk Hogan. We see fans with their Hulkamania shirts in the crowd.

It is time to run through the card. There will be an eight man Steel Asylum match; ODB faces Tara for the Knockouts Title; Rhino faces Abyss in a Barbed Wire Massacre Match; British Invasion faces Beer Money in a Full Metal Mayhem Match.

We go to footage from yesterday at Margaritaville with Bubba the Love Sponge interviewing fans talking about what they wanted to see from Hogan.

Match Number One: Steel Asylum Match featuring Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, Homicide, Kiyoshi, Amazing Red, Suicide, Jay Lethal, and Consequences Creed

The match starts and they go after each other while Suicide tries to climb the cage to escape. Red fights with him on the ropes and Creed pulls Suicide off. Red and Lethal work over Sabin with some double team moves. Shelley climbs the cage while all that happens. Creed blocks for Lethal’s escape. Kiyoshi stops Lethal while Suicide hits a side Russian leg sweep variation. Shelley is on top of the cage while everyone continues to battle in the ring. Sabin with a tornado DDT on Kiyoshi. Lethal stops Shelley and they are down the cage and Lethal kicks Shelley in the back.

Homicide starts to climb the cage and then Shelley chops Lethal. Suicide hits the Suicide Solution on Red. Lethal with a sunset flip but Sabin with a kick after rolling through. Creed with a gut buster to Kiyoshi. Red with a tornado DDT to Homicide. Suicide climbs the cage and he is making the turn but Red stops him. Red comes off the cage and hits a rana on Sabin. Kiyoshi holds Red and Homicide hits Red with a baton. Homicide hits Kiyoshi with it and then he hits Lethal, Suicide, and Shelley.

No Contest

After the match, Homicide climbs to the top of the cage. Everyone else in the cage recovers while Homicide cannot get out of the cage. Homicide goes to the mat and he is attacked by Creed.

Music plays and it is Jeff Hardy coming through the crowd and he waits for the word to climb over the rail. Homicide attacks Hardy but Hardy sends Homicide into the cage and the guardrail. Hardy drills Homicide in the head with a chair and then hits a Twist of Fate on Homicide on the ramp. Hardy climbs to the top of the cage.

We go to commercial.

We are back and we have a Moments Ago Moment of Jeff Hardy’s return to TNA.

We see Hardy walking in the back and Shannon Moore applauds his performance. They walk away.

We go outside and there is a police escort for Hulk Hogan’s arrival at the Impact Zone.

Christy Hemme is with Hogan’s BFF Kevin Nash and Nash says that his demeanor has been different over the last few weeks. He says that it is a great and epic night for TNA. Nash says that he is looking forward to seeing an old friend. Nash shows that he is humble when he talks about being the smartest guy in wrestling. Nash mentions that Hulk was his mentor. He talks about how Hogan has always been with the number one company. Nash says that it will mean more money. Nash says that he talked to Hogan and Hogan is on his way and he is not alone.

Match Number Two: Tara versus ODB for the Knockouts Title

ODB kicks Tara and chokes her with Tara’s shirt. ODB with a chop and forearm but she runs into an elbow from Tara and then into Tara’s boots. Tara with a clothesline and ODB tries to get her bearing back. Tara and ODB exchange punches with Tara getting the advantage and then she adds some kicks and an enzuigiri. Tara with a slam and a standing moonsault for a near fall. ODB with an Irish whip and then Tara puts ODB in a tarantula before she has to release the hold. Tara with a slingshot leg drop for a near fall. ODB runs Tara into the turnbuckles and then gets her up for a TKO but Tara escapes and she gets ODB up for a Widow’s Peak but ODB rolls through and ODB gets the three count with a rollup and a handful of tights.
Winner: ODB

After the match, Tara attacks ODB and hits the Widow’s Peak. Tara gets Poison and she lets her get some air and relax on ODB.

We go to the back and there is a limo and James Storm is waiting outside. Ric Flair emerges and he shakes everyone’s hands. We go to commercial.

We are back and Taz talks about Ric Flair’s arrival and entry into A.J. Styles’ dressing room.

We go to footage from earlier today with Christy Hemme interviewing people about Hogan’s debut in TNA. We see Mick Foley trying to go into the Impact Zone. Christy asks Mick about the memo that says that he was banned from the Impact Zone. Mick has a response. He says that he understands why people wouldn’t want him on the show because he might be a disruptive influence. Mick says that he will be on his best behavior tonight.

Mick is stopped by TNA security so he is not being allowed in.

Bobby Lashley comes to the ring with his wife Kristal. Kristal says that tonight is the biggest night in TNA history. She says that Bobby has a personal message for Mr. Hulk Hogan. Kristal says that Bobby is a star in wrestling as well as mixed martial arts. Nobody in either sport can match his potential or strength. Wrestling is filled with a bunch of toothless inbred degenerates while good and honorable men like Bobby have to fight for things. Kristal says that Bobby wants his immediate release from his TNA contract because Bobby has better things to do. Kristal drops the mic and they leave the ring.

We see Velvet Sky in the back and she wants the camera man to follow her since we are going to get Beautiful People Poker. They talk about how poker is so popular, they are going to do one and it will be live . . . without a net. Since they don’t have chips, Lacey removes her jacket. Velvet says that they will be playing strip poker all night.

We go to commercial.

We are back and the motorcade continues as the Hogan limo continues to approach the Impact Zone.

We are back and Scott Hall and Sean Waltman are outside the Impact Zone. They are kept outside by security so Hall attacks one of them.

Hogan is in the home stretch as he approaches Universal Studios. Hogan will be here after this commercial break.

We are back and a car tries to pass the limo and the door opens. Someone enters the white limo and the black limo drives away. The white limo drives onto Universal property.

Sean Waltman and Scott Hall enter the Impact Zone.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Scott Hall and Sean Waltman are taking photos with a cell phone as they wait for Hogan to arrive since it is almost 9:00.

We are back and it is time for Hulk Hogan to almost arrive. Waltman and Hall have their seats in the Impact Zone.

The music plays for Hogan and Hulk Hogan comes out to his old nWo music. Hogan walks to the ring at an Orton-like pace. Hogan’s shirt is bedazzled while Hall and Waltman point like giddy school girls.

We see Brooke in the crowd along with Hogan’s fiancée.

Hogan waits for 9:00 to start his comments. Hogan says hello to the TNAManiacs. He says that TNA and the Maniacs are making history tonight in TNA’s ring. Hogan says that he has been in the back all day and he talks about the young talent. Hogan says that there are some old guys in the back as well. Hogan says that TNA is going to be the number one company in the world. Hogan says that he was listening to everyone in the back and walking to the ring, he was happy to feel the power. He talks about the new TNA faces and familiar faces.

Waltman and Hall try to go over the rail, but they are stopped by security. Hogan tells security to let them talk. Hall and Waltman re-enter the TNA ring and they do the nWo hand deal. Hall lets out a ‘Hey Yo’. Hogan says that he is about the party but if they have something to say, they should say it right now. Hall says that when they heard that Bischoff and Hogan were going to be here and that Nash was here already it is time for big paychecks, sold out arenas, and big parties. Hogan says that it isn’t like that here. Waltman says that it is the same people so it is the same thing and they are ready to party. Hogan says that it will be different this time. Hall wants to make sure he hears things right. He wants to know if Hogan is going to try to change the business. Hall says that things are changing at TNA. Hogan stops Hall and he says that it is time that they all grow up and do the right thing for the business. Hall says that Hogan paved the way and allowed him to make millions. Things have changed and Hall says that they will change with him or without him.

Kevin Nash comes to the ring and he tells Scott and Sean to let Hogan play his role tonight. Hogan says that this is not a role. Hogan says that he gave Dixie his word and they will change things for the better. Nash reminds Hogan about their conversations before and that wasn’t the tone of what they were talking about. Nash wants to know when Hogan became so corporate. Hogan says that it is not about turning corporate. He says that they are his brothers 4 life, but they need to do it 4 real.

Before things break down, Eric Bischoff comes to the ring. Eric says that it has been a while and it brings back some memories. Bischoff says that the people in the ring revolutionized the business. They changed the business forever. Eric says that he hopes they are a little smarter (and we see Dixie’s reaction in the crowd). Eric says that he learned it is all about communication. He says that there has been some serious miscommunication. Sean wants Eric to explain it to him. Eric says that everybody has to earn their position in this company. Nash says that he hears Eric loud and clear and they will see him later. Hall, Nash, and Waltman leave the ring.

Hogan says that everybody has to earn their spot in TNA. He doesn’t care about the past and who thinks they are on a roll. The game changes now. Eric says that the team of Hogan and Bischoff have done it before and they will do it in TNA. Eric says that there is a lot of talent in the back, but things will change. He doesn’t care who you are, everybody will be under a microscope. The change starts tonight. They started shuffling the deck and things will change until they are the number one sports entertainment company (Dixie shows some disdain and then she is shown applauding the announcement). Eric wants to see a producer and get the format sheet. Eric says that this was what they thought was going to happen tonight. Eric says they get an A for effort, but Eric rips things up and they are starting things over. Eric gives them the new format sheet. Eric says the company is being turned upside down right now.

Hogan says that for every TNAManiac, if you can’t talk or wrestle, it is time to go up north. Hogan says that they are checking everyone out.

We pan up to the rafters and Sting is in the rafters.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Dave Penzer welcomes us back but we probably weren’t supposed to hear that.

We go to a Moments Ago Moment of Sting in the rafters.

We are told by Mike Tenay that Kurt Angle will face A.J. Styles at Genesis, which is news unless you saw it reported on PWInsider.com or the TNA site.

Match Number Three: Awesome Kong and Hamada versus Taylor Wilde and Sarita for the Knockouts Tag Titles

Hamada and Sarita start off and they lock up. Hamada with an arm drag but Sarita with an arm drag of her own. Sarita with another arm drag and a bulldog. Wilde tags in and she goes up top and hits an arm drag. Taylor with a forearm but Hamada with a knee. Hamda with a double arm drag.

We go to the back and see Shelley and Sabin laid out.

Back to the ring and Kong with a Samoan drop to Sarita after a kick to Taylor. Taylor with a kick to Hamada followed by two drop kicks to Kong and she stays on her feet. Sarita and Taylor with a double drop kick and Kong goes to the floor. Taylor goes up top for a cross body while Sarita hits a suicide dive and we go to commercial.

We are back and Hamada with a drop kick to Taylor. We see highlights from the commercial break. Back to live action and Hamada gets a near fall. Taylor with forearms but Hamada with a kick and head butt. Hamada with another chop and head butt. Hamada with another chop as she keeps Taylor from making the tag. Kong tags in and she connects with a forearm to the back. Kong gets Taylor up but Taylor with a version of a codebreaker that staggers Kong and Sarita tags in and hits a springboard drop kick. Hamada with a kick to Sarita but Hamada is limping. Sarita tries for a cross body but Kong and Hamada catch her. Taylor with a rana to Hamada but Kong catches Sarita. Kong drops down on a sunset flip attempt and Kong gets a two count. Sarita with a near fall. Kong with a spinning back fist to the leg and then we see Hamada sending Taylor into the ring post. Kong gets Sarita up and Hamada goes up top for a missile drop kick as Kong hits a power bomb for the three count.
Winners: Hamada and Awesome Kong

We go from the new tag champions and we see the strip poker game continue and they are interrupted by Sean Morley because he can’t be called Val Venis. Sean says that he is here to bring them some ratings. He points out that if he loses one hand it is all over for them.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Mick Foley is trying to get in and he is stopped by security. Mick says that he was already escorted off once. Foley tries to plead his cause but he says that he has another plan.

We see The Nasty Boys trying to enter but they are stopped at the door. The TNA doormen tell Knobbs and Sags to go to the security gate. They decide to leave.

Match Number Four: Raven and Dr. Stevie with Daffney versus Matt Morgan and Hernandez

Raven and Hernandez start things off and Raven with a knee and elbow to the head but Hernandez with a shoulder tackle. Raven rolls to the apron and tags in Stevie. Morgan tags in and Stevie kicks Morgan. Morgan with the carbon footprint for the three count.
Winners: Matt Morgan and Hernandez

We go to the back with D’Angelo Dinero and Christy Hemme says that he is one of the wrestlers Hogan wants to see in the ring. She mentions that he will be facing Desmond Wolfe tonight. Dinero says that he is not surprised that Hogan wants to see him in the ring. He tells Desmond to bring his best tonight. He is interrupted by Orlando Jordan who says that he is a big fan of Christy’s. He says that he is a fan of The Pope as well. He asks where Hulk Hogan is because he was invited. Dinero tells Orlando to get stepping. Orlando wishes Pope luck and says that he is looking forward to seeing him tonight.

Match Number Five: Desmond Wolfe versus D’Angelo Dinero

Wolfe works on the arm and then he tries to send Dinero into the turnbuckles but Dinero blocks it and hits a kick followed by a flying shoulder tackle. Wolfe with a hammer lock divorce court and then he sends Dinero shoulder first into the turnbuckles. Dinero tries for a sunset flip but Wolfe avoids it and sends Dinero’s arm into the mat. Wolfe with a knee drop to the arm and then he continues to work on the arm. Wolfe with a kick to the arm when Dinero tries to escape. Dinero avoids a running elbow and then Dinero with a hesitation elbow drop in the corner. Wolfe returns to the arm and puts Dinero on the top turnbuckle but Dinero escapes the Tower of London. Dinero with an inside cradle for the three count.
Winner: D’Angelo Dinero

Jeff Jarrett is walking in the back and he gives a thumbs up as we go to commercial.

We are back and Jeff Jarrett is standing in the back by some electrical equipment. We go back to commercial.

We are back and Rhino is down and Jeremy Borash is interrupted by Bubba the Love Sponge. He says that he is going to get to the bottom of things before we go back to Taz and Tenay.

We have a Moments Ago Moment as we relive the debut of Hulk Hogan which took place about an hour ago.

Jeff Jarrett is still walking and we go to commercial.

We are back and Jeremy Borash is with A.J. Styles in his dressing room and Jeremy talks about the first night as well as tonight. A.J. says that he is excited to see what Hogan does next. Jeremy mentions A.J.’s match against Kurt Angle at Genesis. A.J. says that he cannot hold the belt with pride until he beats Kurt Angle. At Genesis, the world will find out who the best is. Eric applauds A.J.’s comments. Eric says that he has heard so much about A.J. and that he is the future of the company. Eric has some good news and bad news tonight. Eric says that A.J. will not be defending the title at Genesis. Eric says that they will find out tonight because A.J. Styles will meet Kurt Angle for the title in the main event.

Jeff Jarrett comes to the ring and he does not have the guitar that he hit Hogan with all those years ago in Japan.

Jarrett says that it feels great to be back home in the Impact Zone (but Dixie does not look too happy). Jeff reminds us that he founded TNA seven years ago after busting his butt in the ring for fifteen years. He used his own money to found this company. Jeff says that they wouldn’t last six weeks or six months, but he is standing in the six sided ring on a Monday night on the greatest night in company history. Jeff says that he is damn proud to be here. Jeff says that he has been trying to convince Hulk to be a part of TNA for years. Now the timing is right. Jeff said that he has done some good things and some not so good things. The most rewarding thing he did was to give young guys the opportunity and chance to stand in the ring. Guys like Beer Money, the Motor City Machine Guns, Daniels, Samoa Joe, and A.J. Styles. He says that you ain’t seen nothing yet because with Hulk Hogan partnering with Dixie Carter and him working side by side, anything can and will happen in T . . . N. . . A.

Hulk Hogan gets on the mic and he says that it is time to finish with the gaga. He says that if he hears ‘I’ one more time, he was going to have Jarrett escorted from the building by security. Hogan says that Jarrett founded the company, but Jarrett ran the company into the ground. Hogan says that it was Dixie Carter who saved Jarrett. Hogan tells Jarrett that they restructured the company and he is Dixie’s partner. Hogan says the young guys are going to get the chance and the push. Hogan says that nobody cares about Jarrett’s past. Hogan tells Jarrett that he has no stroke and he needs to prove himself.

Christy is in the back with Daniels but he says that he is not worried because he will show Hogan. Jeremy interrupts Christy and wants to try to get Mick Foley in. Foley enters the Impact Zone but Jeremy tries to stop him. He won’t hear it from Jeremy and he says that he will find Hogan.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Jeff Hardy is painting and Shannon Moore says he likes his work. It is time to meet with the big man.

Match Number Six: Abyss versus Samoa Joe in a Barbed Wire Massacre Match with 100% less barbed wire than expected

Joe punches Abyss as the bell rings and it is rapid fire punches. Abyss with an Irish whip but he misses a charge. Joe with an enzuigiri and it is time for the face wash but Abyss with a big boot and Joe goes to the floor. Abyss follows and Joe with a kick. Joe with a chair but he misses abyss. Abyss punches Joe and sends him into the ring steps. Abyss with punches to Joe’s head but Joe with a kick and chops. Joe with a reverse atomic drop and a running boot and a back senton for a near fall.

We see sting watching the action or standing somewhere in the back.

We go back to the action in the ring. Abyss with a clothesline and splash in the corner followed by a side slam for a near fall. Abyss sets for the Happy Run in the corner but Joe with an elbow and a boot to the head. Joe with a Yakuza kick from the turnbuckles for a near fall. Joe with a forearm but Abyss does not go down. Abyss poses and yells and that allows Joe to kick Abyss. Joe goes to the turnbuckles and he is caught by Abyss and hits a choke slam for a near fall. Joe goes to the floor and the referee pulls Abyss away. Joe gets the chair and hits Abyss in the head and the ref might have heard it but he didn’t see it so he doesn’t do anything about it. Joe chokes out Abyss and Abyss tries to get the ropes but he has to tap out.
Winner: Samoa Joe

Eric Bischoff tells a producer that they need to change the format. Kristal wants to know if Eric is going to give Bobby his release like he asked for earlier. Eric wants to know what it has to do with him. Kristal demands a meeting with Hulk Hogan. Eric tells Kristal to get a number and get in line to meet with Hogan. He tells Kristal to watch her attitude if she meets with Hogan. Kristal says that Bobby won’t like that.

We see James Storm and Robert Roode on the ground and Bubba the Love Sponge is there to check on them. He thinks he knows who is doing this and we go to commercial.

We are back and the Nasty Boys are still trying to get in. Bubba the Love Sponge stops by and says that they must be on the list. Bubba wants to know who is in charge and the doorman says that Hogan is in charge. Bubba talks about their past with Hogan and then Bubba sneaks them in.

Jeremy Borash is with Kurt Angle to talk about his title match tonight. Kurt says that since he lost his title in September, A.J. Styles won it. However, since there were two others in the match, A.J. never beat him. Kurt says that he knew he would get his match against A.J. A lot has happened since September but Angle says that A.J. cannot beat him. A.J. has had a good run as champion but it is his time to get his title back.

Jeff and Shannon are leaving the Impact Zone and he says that they got what they wanted. They are stopped by three girls and Jeff gives them his painting and they run away. Jeff and Shannon get into Jeff’s car and we go to commercial.

We are back and the Nasty Boys are walking in the back and they go into the Team 3D locker room. They mention that Team 3D is in Japan. They apologize for keeping The Nasty Boys out of the building so long and they try for a peace offering with a dozen donuts. They wreck Team 3D’s locker room.

Match Number Seven: Kurt Angle versus A.J. Styles for the TNA Heavyweight Title

They lock up and Styles with a side head lock and Angle with a Saito suplex but Styles holds on to the side head lock. Angle with a top wrist lock into a hammer lock and side head lock. Styles with a hesitation before hitting the Phenomenal drop kick. Styles avoids Angle on the floor and then he hit the flip plancha onto Angle. They return to the ring and the masked man attacks A.J. but Angle with a clothesline that sends him over the top rope. Security comes out.

Angle shakes A.J.’s hand and the referee lets the match continue. Styles with an Irish whip and clothesline into the corner. Angle with a kick and then he hits a turnbuckle power bomb as we go to commercial.

We are back and Angle with a head lock and Styles with a head butt and Angle with a belly-to-belly suplex. Nice tease because we go back to commercial.

We are back and Angle with a reverse chin lock and A.J. with an arm drag followed by punches. Styles with running forearms and a punch. Styles with an Irish whip and Styles runs into a boot but Styles with a Death Valley neck breaker. Styles goes to the apron and Angle stops the phenomenal forearm and hits an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Styles with a discus clothesline for a near fall. Styles sets for the Styles Clash but Angle counters and sends Styles into the turnbuckles. Angle gives Styles the Three Rivers German suplex combination. Styles avoids the Olympic Slam but Styles misses the pele kick and Angle with an ankle lock. Styles with a rollup for a near fall. Styles gets a two count after a pele kick. Angle with a back body drop but Styles with an Irish whip but he misses the forearm in the corner. Angle with an Olympic Slam and he gets a near fall. Angle with an uppercut. Angle sends Styles to the apron and then Styles hits the phenomenal forearm. Styles goes back to the apron and then he goes up top. Angle gets up and he hits a belly-to-belly suplex from the turnbuckles for a near fall. Angle goes up top for a frog splash but he misses when A.J. rolls out of the way. Styles sets for the Styles Clash and hits it but he takes too long to roll Angle over and Angle kicks out. Styles puts Angle on the turnbuckles but Angle pushes him off. Styles goes back to the turnbuckles for a superplex but Angle punches Styles off and Angle hits a frog splash for a two count. Angle tries for an Olympic Slam but Styles counters with a DDT for a two count. Styles tries for a Styles Clash but Angle with a back body drop and he puts Styles in the ankle lock. Styles rolls through to escape. Angle with a suplex for a near fall. Styles with an elbow to Angle and then he hits the moonsault into an inverted DDT for a near fall. Styles goes to the turnbuckles again but Angle trips Styles. Styles and Angle with punches and Angle tries for a superplex but Styles blocks it but Angle hits a super Olympic Slam for a two count. Angle returns to the ankle lock. Styles rolls through and sends Angle into the turnbuckles. Styles with an enzuigiri and then he gets Angle up for the Styles Clash and hits it again. Styles can only get a two count. Styles sets for another Styles Clash and Angle is able to counter into an ankle lock and the leg is grapevined. Styles is about to tap.

Ric Flair comes out to watch the match and Angle releases the hold. Styles moves and Angle goes into the turnbuckles. Styles with a belly-to-back suplex. Styles with a springboard 450 for a two count.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Flair is still watching the match. Angle has A.J. in a submission. Styles tries for another Styles Clash but Angle is back in the ankle lock. Styles kicks away. Flair leaves while we see Styles hit the Styles Clash one more time. Styles cannot roll Angle over so Styles goes to the apron. Styles with the springboard 450 for the three count.
Winner: A.J. Styles

Angle shakes A.J.’s hand after the match and Angle raises Styles’ hand.

Hulk Hogan comes out. Hogan says that those are the two greatest wrestlers in the business today. Hogan says that they have nothing but respect for Kurt Angle. He says that A.J. raised the TNA bar to another level. Hogan says that this situation will go on and on. Hogan says that the TNA fans made history tonight. Hogan says that this is the start of the greatest rise. Someone whispers something into Hogan’s ear and he goes to the back. Mick Foley is walking in the back and he walks in on the poker game. Not Val Venis wants to know where Hogan is and he tells Foley that he is not intimidated.

Foley leaves and he walks into Hogan’s office and Eric Bischoff is at the desk. Bischoff tells Foley that he has no influence, power, or control in the company. He tells Foley to get in line with everyone else. Foley says that he would never work for Eric Bischoff again and he says that he wants a reason to get fired again. Foley is stopped by Nash, Hall, and Waltman. Hogan stops in and he stares into the camera as we go to credits.

2010 - New Japan Pro Wrestling held their traditional Tokyo Dome Show event. For American fans, the most noteworthy events were Team 3D losing their IWGP Tag Team championships to Yujiro and Tetsuya Naito and Terry Funk, at 65 years old, returning to a Japanese ring after his knee replacement surgery last year in a Legends bout that also featured old nemesis Abdullah the Butcher. Former ECW regulars Yoshihiro Tajiri and Masato Tanaka teamed on the undercard as well.

Complete results, courtesy the great Japanese news website www.puroresufan.com, saw:

NJPW “WRESTLE KINGDOM IV IN TOKYO DOME”, 1/4/10 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Dome
41,500 Fans
1. New Japan Pro-Wrestling 2010 Beginning: Super Strong Machine, Wataru Inoue & Mitsuhide Hirasawa beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Koji Kanemoto & Kazuchika Okada (4:59) when Inoue used the Triangle Lancer on Okada.
2. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title ~Amistad combativa~: Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt (c) beat Ultimo Guerrero & Averno (9:07) when Taguchi pinned Averno after the Black Hole Vacation (4th defense).
3. IWGP Tag Team Title - 3WAY Hardcore Rules Match ~Victim and Greed~: Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito beat “Team 3D” Brother Ray & Brother Devon (c) and Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson (13:28) when Yujiro pinned Anderson after the Limitless Emotion to become the 55th champions.
4. Wrestle Kingdom Special Tag Match ~Blood Stream Blue~: TAJIRI & Masato Tanaka beat Yuji Nagata & Akebono (9:37) when TAJIRI used a Buzzsaw kick on Nagata.
5. Wrestle Kingdom Special 8 Man Tag Match ~The legend never rots~: Terry Funk, Riki Choshu, Masahiro Chono & Manabu Nakanishi beat Abdullah The Butcher, Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Tomohiro Ishii (8:52) when Nakanishi used an Argentine backbreaker on Iizuka.
6. NJPW vs. NOAH Battle Effusions ~Wilderness~: Togi Makabe beat Mohammed Yone (5:39) with a top rope King Kong kneedrop.
7. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title ~Highest sky~: Naomichi Marufuji beat Tiger Mask (c) (14:14) with the Tiger Frosion to become the 59th champion.
8. NJPW vs. NOAH Battle Effusions ~Radiance~: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Go Shiozaki (19:04) with the High Fly Flow.
9. GHC Heavyweight Title - NJPW vs. NOAH Battle Effusions ~Blast~: Takashi Sugiura (c) beat Hirooki Goto (20:54) with an ankle hold (1st defense).
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title - The newest, The strongest: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) beat Yoshihiro Takayama (15:51) with the Boma Ye (4th defense).

2011 - The Kings of Wrestling, Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli, become the longest reigning ROH Tag Team champions, breaking the Briscoes' record, holding the belts for 275 days. The team would hold the belts until March 2011 with their record still standing.

2011 - Verne Langdon, who owned the Slammer's Wrestling Gym in California that spawned a number of careers, including WWF, WCW and TNA Creative team member Ed Ferrara, passed away at the age of 69. Langdon had an extremely colorful career in the entertainment industry as a musician and composer for a number of albums and shows that ran for Universal Studios Hollywood as well as a creator for the Don Post Costume company, which have become a sought after item by collectors in recent years.
Langdon did some wrestling but was more famous for owning the Slammer's Gym, which was well known during its time. A lot of the roots for the current West Coast scene can all be traced back to that school. I believe Langdon had been living in the Arizona area in recent years.

2011 - New Japan Pro Wrestling held their annual Tokyo Dome event with a number of TNA talents appearing on the show. Complete results, courtesy www.PuroresuFan.com saw:

*World Wrestling Interpromotional Match: Wataru Inoue, Tiger Mask, Tomoaki Honma & Tama Tonga beat Yujiro Takahashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Jado & Gedo (7:33) when Inoue used the Spear of Justice on Gedo.

*Koji Kanemoto & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Kenny Omega & Taichi (8:04) when Taguchi pinned Taichi.

*IWGP Tag Team champions Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson beat James Storm & Robert Roode and Manabu Nakanishi & Strong Man (8:36) when Anderson used the Gun Stun on Roode (4th defense).

*La Sombra & Mascara Dorada beat Jushin Thunder Liger & Hector Garza (7:42) when Sombra pinned Liger.

*Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Takashi Iizuka (11:13) with the Anaconda Cross.

*Rob Van Dam beat Toru Yano (11:28) with the Five Star frog splash.

*Yuji Nagata beat Minoru Suzuki (16:15) with a backdrop hold.

*IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion Prince Devitt beat Kota Ibushi (16:22) with an avalanche-style Bloody Sunday (

*Takashi Sugiura & Yoshihiro Takayama beat Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada (12:08) when Takayama used an Everest German on Okada.

*TNA champion Jeff Hardy beat Tetsuya Naito (11:04) with a Swanton bomb.

*Shinsuke Nakamura beat Go Shiozaki (14:17) with the Boma Ye.

*Togi Makabe beat Masato Tanaka (12:46) with a King Kong kneedrop.

*Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Satoshi Kojima (21:57) with the High Fly Flow to become the 56th IWGP champion.

2011 - WWE broadcast NXT. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

Tonight marks the first episode of NXT for the new year as well as the first elimination for this season’s rookies. Who will get immunity and will it be necessary to save their spot on the show? We start off with some highlights from the first few weeks of this season of NXT.

We are live on tape on the internet and your announcers are Josh ‘Happy Anniversary to the Greatest Night in Wrestling History’ Mathews and Todd ‘Who gets to go to Carousel tonight’ Grisham. Your host is Matt ‘Remember to vote in the PWInsider.com Year End Polls because they wait until the end of the year’ Striker.

Matt is on the stage with the rookies and pros. Matt reminds everyone that one rookie will be eliminated tonight. He says that the winner of NXT will wrestle for the WWE Tag Titles. The rookie will team with their pro in that match. The pros will have a challenge as well. It will be an over the top rope battle royal. The winner of the battle royal has the opportunity to trade their rookie away if they want.

Ricardo Rodriguez comes out and he wants to show Alberto how to do it and take his spot in the match. Alberto thinks about it and he agrees to let Ricardo participate in the match.

Match Number One: Pro Battle Royal Challenge

MO< The match starts and Bryan puts Rodriguez in an airplane spin for about a half minute while everyone else watches this take place. Truth punches Rodriguez and throws him over the top rope to eliminate him. Ziggler and Bryan battle while Truth helps Bryan. Masters tries to eliminate DiBiase. Bryan with a European uppercut to Masters and Masters chops back. Ted with a chop. Masters tries to eliminate DiBiase again while Bryan deals with Truth and Ziggler goes to a corner to rest.

DiBiase with a kick to Bryan and then he kicks him in the corner and tries to eliminate Bryan. Masters holds Ziggler and Truth punches Ziggler. Bryan kicks Ted to get back into he ring. Truth sends Ziggler over the top rope but he stays on the apron. Masters tries to eliminate Bryan but Daniel gets back to his feet. Bryan with a kick and then Ziggler eliminates Bryan.

Masters chops Ziggler after Ziggler says something to Bryan. Masters sends Ziggler into the turnbuckles. Truth kicks DiBiase while Masters continues to punch Ziggler. Ziggler with a rake of the eyes to stay in the match. Truth charges at DiBiase but Ted drops down and Truth is eliminated. DiBiase stops Masters from applying the Master Lock. Ziggler takes a powder while Masters tries to eliminate DiBiase. Ziggler comes from behind to eliminate both men and win the match.

Winner: Dolph Ziggler

After the match, Ziggler gets on the mic and he says that he won it fair and square so he wants a round of applause from the fans. Ziggler tells Jacob that he never liked him. He says that Jacob is terrible, he doesn’t have it and is only a blazer from Express. Ziggler says that he wants to train a winner. He chooses Byron Saxton.

Novak goes to the ring but Striker stops Jacob to tell him that he will be facing Byron Saxton next.

We go to commercial.

Match Number Two: Jacob Novak with Chris Masters versus Byron Saxton with Dolph Ziggler

They lock up and Novak with a knee and forearm to the back. Novak with punches to Saxton and then he connects with an elbow in the corner. Saxton avoids a punch from Novak and he connects with punches in the corner. Novak with an Irish whip but Saxton with a float over. Novak with kicks to Saxton and he gets a near fall while Ziggler wonders where this was from Novak in the competition.

Novak with a slam and a leg drop for a near fall. Novak with a forearm to Saxton followed by an Irish whip and splash into the corner. Novak with a kick to the chest followed by an elbow drop and he gets another near fall. Novak with a reverse chin lock as Bryon gets to his feet. Saxton with punches to Novak followed by a back elbow and he gets a near fall.

Novak with a kick to the head and Saxton goes to the mat. Novak sends Saxton into the turnbuckles and connects with forearms to the back. Novak sends Saxton into the turnbuckles and he punches Saxton. Novak with an Irish whip and a side slam for a near fall. Novak returns to the chin lock and then he sends Byron to the mat. Novak misses an elbow drop. Saxton with punches and then he catapults Novak into the turnbuckles and then tries for a sunset flip.

Novak misses a charge and Saxton with a series of clotheslines. Saxton with a modified bulldog for a near fall. Novak gets his boot up when Saxton charges into the corner. Novak with a shoulder tackle and then he sets for a suplex but Saxton escapes and hits a modified Side Effect for the three count.

Winner: Byron Saxton

After the match, Ziggler celebrates with his new rookie.

Johnny Curtis says that he was upset last week when talking to R Truth. Truth says that he doesn’t want to hear it but he says that he was kidding. Truth says that Johnny will have to deal with a lot of people so he can find out who he is. They could be the new Tag Team Champions. Johnny talks about being a wolfpack through the deserts of Arizona and then they wonder what they are talking about.

We go to commercial.

We are back with the Raw Rebound.

Josh and Todd talk about how Randy Orton is going to the WWE Title Match at Royal Rumble while

Derrick Bateman was seen earlier today with Daniel Bryan trying to learn submission holds. Daniel was proud of Derrick. Derrick says that Daniel is the wind beneath his wing. Derrick says that he is willing to help out with the situation involving the Bellas. Derrick says that he was known as Doctor Love, but Bryan doubts it. Derrick then admits that he was home schooled. Derrick says that they should have a double date with the Bellas and Bryan likes that idea. Derrick says that they aren’t just about wrestling, they are about chicks and America.

Byron talks about his big win under his new pro. Saxton talks about the thought of being tag champions. Dolph says that he wouldn’t mind having more gold. Dolph tells Byron to stay away from his girlfriend. Byron says that they have a Battle of the Mic Competition and he will say something to Jacob.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Did You Know that WWE programming airs in a lot of countries in a lot of languages.

It is time for the Battle of the Mic Challenge and all of the rookies are in the ring. Matt reminds them about the immunity standings. Here are the current standings

Johnny Curtis: 5 Points
Derrick Bateman: 3 Points
Jacob Novak: 1 Point
Byron Saxton: 1 Point
Brodus Clay: 0 Points
Conor O’Brian: 0 Points

Johnny Curtis goes first and he will be ‘battling’ with Brodus Clay. Brodus tells Johnny that when he looks at him, all he can think of is the sounds that Johnny made when he got thrown through a table. Brodus says that was hilarious.

Johnny responds and says that he was thinking about how funny it was when he punched Brodus in the mouth and Johnny slugs Brodus in the mouth. Brodus has to be held back by the rookies.

The winner, according to the WWE Universe in the building is Johnny Curtis.

The next challenge is Derrick Bateman and Byron Saxton.

Bateman goes first and he introduces everyone to the voice that single handedly destroyed ECW. He talks about the love child of Carlton Banks and an uglier shorter Carlton Banks.

Byron Saxton says that the reality is that when you look in the mirror, he is always better than Derrick.

The winner of this round is Derrick Bateman.

Jacob Novak and Conor O’Brian are the final pairing.

Jacob says that Conor thinks he is a rat. He says that Conor is ugly, scares the girls, and stinks.

Conor responds by commenting on Jacob’s nose. He says that Novak will need two entrances, one for him and one for his nose.

The winner of this round is Conor O’Brian.

It is time for them to insult the other two finalists.

Johnny Curtis says that he likes Derrick but he disses himself by walking out with that haircut. He says that Derrick spends $250 per week on his perm. Johnny tells Conor that he has nothing bad to say about him because he likes rats.

Derrick Bateman is next and he tells Johnny that he likes his moves and style, but thinks that he is a mustache away from being on To Catch a Predator. He says that Conor has a lot in common with Conan O’Brien but he is not popular or funny.

Conor goes last and he tells Yo Mama jokes to Derrick. He tells Johnny that he is so stupid that he sits on the tv to watch the couch.

The winner of this challenge and four points is Conor O’Brian.

The current standings are: Johnny Curtis: 5 Points
Conor O’Brian: 4 Points
Derrick Bateman: 3 Points
Jacob Novak: 1 Point
Byron Saxton: 1 Point
Brodus Clay: 0 Points

That means that Johnny Curtis has immunity from elimination.

Match Number Three: Johnny Curtis with R Truth versus Brodus Clay with Ted DiBiase and Maryse

Curtis with a kick to Clay but Clay with a shoulder tackle but Curtis with punches and Clay is forced to the floor. Clay shows his frustration and Ted tries to calm him down while Maryse stands around and talks in French. Curtis with forearms to Clay and he tries for a cross body and Clay catches him and then hits a t-bone suplex. Clay with an elbow drop and he gets a near fall. Clay with shots to the shoulder and then he stomps on the chest.

Clay with punches to Curtis followed by a series of back fists. Clay with a snap mare and then he applies a nerve hold. Curtis gets back to his feet and connects with a series of European uppercuts. Curtis with a drop kick to the knee and he gets a near fall. Curtis goes to the turnbuckles and hits a clothesline and gets a near fall.

Curtis goes after DiBiase and that allows Clay to apply a nerve hold and choke slam for the three count.

Winner: Brodus Clay

Brodus is asked by Matt what motivates his aggression. He says that it is years of being held back and pushed aside. He says that he will go through all of these bums that he is going to win NXT.

We go to commercial.

We are back and it is time for Matt Striker to tell us which of the five rookies who do not have immunity will be eliminated.

Matt asks Johnny who should go home and Johnny says that the big bag of stink should go home. He asks Brodus how his jaw is.

We go to the random WWE NXT’limination Generator. The unlucky rookie is Jacob Novak.

Matt asks Jacob for his final thoughts. Jacob says that it is a crushing blow. This was an opportunity for him to change his own life. He says that he always wanted to stand in front of the WWE Universe because they share the same passion. He says that it has been the experience of his life.

Matt tells us that the next elimination will take place in two weeks.

Dolph tells Masters that his rookie is gone and Dolph says that he is a genius. Masters tries to give Ziggler a Master Lock and Dolph goes to the back.

Johnny wants to go after Brodus again but Derrick Bateman holds him back.

2012 -

New Japan Pro Wrestling ran their annual Tokyo Dome event today. Here are the full results, courtesy www.strongstylespirit.com:

NJPW “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ WRESTLE KINGDOM VI IN TOKYO DOME”, 1/4/12 (WPW/PPV)
Tokyo Dome
43,000 Fans

0. Captain New Japan & Tama Tonga beat Tomoaki Honma & Kyosuke Mikami (8:47) when Tonga used the Headshrinker on Mikami.
1. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Davey Richards & Rocky Romero (c) (12:44) when Taguchi used a front cradle on Richards to become the 30th champions.
2. AERIAL KINGDOM feat. CMLL SUPER ESTRELLAS: Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask, KUSHIDA & Mascara Dorada beat Atlantis, Valiente, TAKA Michinoku Kaientai Dojo & Taichi (10:18) when Liger used a brainbuster on Valiente.
3. NEW JAPAN RESPIRATION – Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI Return Match: Kazuchika Okada beat YOSHI-HASHI (Nobuo Yoshihashi) (4:37) with the Rainmaker.
4. BLUE JUSTICE NEVER DIE: Masakatsu Funaki All Japan & Masayuki Kono All Japan beat Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue (6:34) when Funaki used a left kick on Inoue.
5. TOKYO MONSTER WAR: MVP & Shelton Benjamin beat Masato Tanaka ZERO1 & Yujiro Takahashi (9:41) when MVP used the Irreversible Crisis on Takahashi.
6. IWGP Tag Team Title: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima beat Giant Bernard & Karl Anderson (c) (12:40) when Tenzan used a moonsault press on Bernard to become the 58th champions.
7. NJPW vs. NOAH BATTLE CONCENTRATION I: Hirooki Goto beat Takashi Sugiura Pro Wrestling NOAH (12:35) with the Shouten Kai.
8. FIGHTING WITHOUT HONOR OR HUMANITY: Togi Makabe beat Yoshihiro Takayama (9:15) with a King Kong kneedrop.
9. NJPW vs. NOAH BATTLE CONCENTRATION II: Go Shiozaki Pro Wrestling NOAH & Naomichi Marufuji Pro Wrestling NOAH beat Shinsuke Nakamura & Toru Yano (15:10) when Shiozaki used the Go Flasher on Yano.
10. GENIUS FACES GENIUS: Keiji Muto All Japan beat Tetsuya Naito (22:35) with a moonsault press.
11. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) beat Minoru Suzuki (25:59) with the High Fly Flow (11th defense).

* New Japan’s biggest announced Tokyo Dome since 2006 (also 43,000) witnessed a spectacular show as the leader of the Japanese professional wrestling industry began its 40th anniversary year in style.

* Hiroshi Tanahashi, the iconic figure of the modern era in Japan, smashed Yuji Nagata’s IWGP Heavyweight Title defense record and became the most successful IWGP Heavyweight Champion of all time with the joint-most reigns and of course this defense record. Minoru Suzuki presented a difficult challenge in a 26 minute main event that could have gone either way before Tana landed his High Fly Flow to ensure a year to the day after winning back the belt, he begins 2012 with a firm grip on it. Kazuchika Okada stormed into the ring after the match and challenged Tanahashi to a title shot next.

2012 - Kevin Nash challenged the Ultimate Warrior to fight him in a shoot Wrestlemania weekend in Miami.

It all began on 1/3 when Warrior responded to a fan asking why he didn't "dye the hair" and "pull a Kevin Nash return" on Twitter, responding, "I'm not a d***head who thrives on stealing the limelight from young guys."

Nash was made aware of that comment earlier tonight, writing on his own Twitter account, "Never realized I had a problem with Jim (Warrior). Seemed to get along fine in Scottsdale. Come on my clown, turn that frown upside down. A true warrior never turns down a challenge. Put up a 100K. I'll do the same. 3 rounds. mma rules. winner take all. I'm talking shoot, not sports entertainment. Jim Hellwig needs to put up or shut the f**k up. Day before Mania in Miami area. Warrior will have to pass all hiv and hep a b and c tests. I'll do the same. I'm tired of this guy talking sh** about the boys & me. When they stop it or you tap, i'll quit, or you can apologize like the c**t you are."

Wisconsin independent promoter Dave Herro of Great Lakes Championship Wrestling responded that he'd like to help make the fight happen and Nash responded, telling Herro to do it and added, "I'm not bullsh***ing!"

2013 - New Japan held their annual Tokyo Dome event. Stuart from PuroresuFan.com issued the following report:

The “Wrestlemania of Japan”, New Japan’s annual January 4th Tokyo Dome super-show, lived up to its hype and then some more. For the first time ever a 1/4 show aired live for all of us outside of Japan on New Japan’s USTREAM channel and while the price was up from the other iPPVs at $35, it was full value for money. The PPV was about 4 1/2 hours long not including the dark matches.

Bushiroad owned New Japan really turned up the spectacle for this show with several pop culture tie-ins including musical acts and special entrances that I will go into a little more detail about below. If this was a glimpse of the New Japan to come, mixing a reasonable but not excessive amount of entertainment with the great wrestling and characters we’re used to, then I have no complaints.

New Japan claimed 29,000 paid for this show with an emphasis on “paid” which seemed to be a new standard of announcing an attendance, whether for just this show or not remains to be seen. Without doubt this looked to be the best Tokyo Dome attendance in years even though the listed attendance gave an almost opposite impression. I would guess under normal standards they would have claimed 50,000 if not more for this show. Next year 1/4 falls on a Saturday so if New Japan has another strong year it’s possible the company could edge closer to selling out the Dome again.

I missed the dark matches if they were screened at all but the show opened with an eight man tag. 9 years ago Bob Sapp vs. Akebono was watched by about 40% of Japan and was one of the biggest fights in history as Akebono the sumo legend was going up against Sapp the pop culture icon who had been a sensation that year not just as a K-1 fighter but as a celebrity in general. “Sapp Time” couldn’t be avoided, it was everywhere you looked. But many years later their star has faded, Sapp little more than a novelty act and Akebono a respectable pro wrestler who has kept his career going. They were added on to what looked a generic New Japan vs. CHAOS match to give it a little more of a “Tokyo Dome” feel. The match was lighthearted and entertaining enough for an opener. Sapp did hardly anything except take offense, he was a far cry from the invincible beast who held the IWGP Heavyweight Title many years ago and almost a self-parody. Nakanishi racked Iizuka with his Argentine backbreaker for the win.

The only major disappointment of the show was Masato Tanaka vs. Shelton Benjamin for the recently established NEVER Openweight Title. With the IWGP Intercontinental Title having an unexpected rise in status that would be accelerated further on this show, the NEVER title from New Japan’s sub-brand could be seen as a replacement for that. But what promised to be something of an ECW throwback was a basic sprint with no real excitement. A couple of nice moments but it was short and didn’t really feel like a title match. Tanaka won with his Sliding D to successfully defend the new title for the first time.

Thing started to pick up when the Killer Elite Squad defended their IWGP Tag Team Title against Goto & Anderson in a rematch of the 2012 World Tag League final. The Killer Elite Squad, comprised of Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr., appeared out of nowhere as a team late last year and won the belts off the famous Tenzan & Kojima duo before beating them again to really establish themselves. Today was their first post-TenKoji challenge against two more prolific singles wrestlers. Archer entered on a motorbike and along with his partner wore a cool mask to the ring. Goto & Anderson had a gimmicked entrance of their own as Anderson shot what looked to be t-shirts or something out of several bazookas along the Tokyo Dome rampway. The match turned out to be a good display of traditional tag wrestling with the KES coming out on top after two Killer bombs on Goto. So the Killer Elite Squad seem to have replaced Bad Intentions as the dominant foreign tag team of New Japan.

Yuji Nagata and Minoru Suzuki had their third New Japan Tokyo Dome match. It could be seen as overkill but some rivalries in pro wrestling never get old. We saw TAJIRI vs. Super Crazy what felt like 100 times on ECW TV and PPVs back in the day and never got bored of them. These two wrestle as such a high level that you’re always guaranteed something good and this was very, very good. Once again we were treated to spectacle as Ayumi Nakamura performed Suzuki’s famous “Kaze ni Nare” entrance music live on stage. The match will be remembered mostly for some entertaining slapfest where they just delivered slap after slap, Nagata occasionally interupting them to throw some stiff kicks. They were 1-1 on Dome shows before this and I’d hazard a guess that this was the decider as it probably won’t happen again at the Dome. And it was Nagata who picked up the win with his backdrop hold and continued to be relevant long after the younger generation have taken over leadership in New Japan.

New Japan has rarely ever done a good 3WAY match in my memory. The Chono vs. Fujita vs. Lesnar one from the Dome in 2005 stands out as particularly bad. So I was a little worried that today’s IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title 3WAY match between three of the world’s most exciting juniors Prince Devitt, Low Ki, and Kota Ibushi would disappoint. My worries were unfounded as they put on one of the smoothest, slickest, and high quality junior matches I’ve seen in a long time. It was under 15 minutes long but wrestled at a great pace with many exciting moments including a couple of great dives, Ibushi’s the pick of them. Towards the end you just couldn’t guess who was winning but Devitt hit a Bloody Sunday off the top rope on Ibushi to successfully defend his title for the first time. The junior title has lacked stability since Devitt’s previous reign having gone from him to Ki to Ibushi and back to Devitt within 6 months but I get the feeling this Devitt reign may last a while again.

New Japan’s most famous tag team of the last 15 years, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima, squared off against the legendary Keiji Muto & Shinjiro Otani in a special tag match. All four are New Japan dojo trained wrestlers with Tenzan, Kojima, and Otani from the same era, but only Tenzan and Kojima belong to New Japan now so it was a reunion. Initially designed to showcase the son of the late, great Shinya Hashimoto, Daichi, it had to be altered when Daichi broke his arm and Otani stepped in. In a match full of nostalgia and goosebump-inducing moments, Otani entered to Hashimoto’s old theme, now used by his son Daichi who seconded him. Then Muto entered to one of his famous New Japan themes and the crowd was really excited and emotional. TenKoji then entered to their remixed theme and the match began. It wasn’t one of the better matches on the show but the quality of the event was so high that it was still good with Otani showing he still has much to offer. Years pass but like Liger, Keiji Muto somehow keeps going strong despite his knees having been shot since the 90s. Despite the individual brilliance of Muto & Otani, the teamwork of Tenzan & Kojima was the difference maker as Otani succumbed to Kojima’s lariat followed by Tenzan’s moonsault. Daichi Hashimoto was irate after the match and got into a little scuffle with the winning team but it was brief and didn’t lead to anything. Hashimoto’s New Japan debut will have to wait but will definitely happen when he is healthy again.

Laughter7′s invasion of New Japan has been a great highlight of recent months. Laughter7 is comprised of Kazushi Sakuraba the pro wrestler who became a legend in MMA with his “Gracie Hunter” persona and his protégé Katsuyori Shibata, a New Japan trueborn who walked out on the company years ago just as they were pushing him to superstardom with Tanahashi and Nakamura. He embarked on a thoroughly mediocre MMA career and was largely forgotten by pro wrestling fans before his sudden return last year. The two had dominated every match for months leading to this show with Shibata the man in focus but today would be Sakuraba’s turn in the main spotlight as Shibata was placed just outside of the main event against one of New Japan’s “enforcers” Togi Makabe. This was a fight from the start and entertaining but not quite as intense as I expected. They traded offense in a good brawl but the finish was quite surprising as Makabe beat Shibata in rather dominating fashion with his King Kong kneedrop. I had expected Shibata to beat Makabe and Nakamura to beat Sakuraba to set up the big Nakamura vs. Shibata reunion match, but was wrong. My feeling that may or may not be right was that this was belated punishment for Shibata’s betrayal of a company that put so much faith in him. I really hope he sticks around as there is so much he could offer, feuds with Tanahashi, Nakamura, and Goto – all of whom he has history with – haven’t even been explored yet.

The first of the “double main event” saw Shinsuke Nakamura defend the IWGP Intercontinental Title against Kazushi Sakuraba. Nakamura is such a character who oozes charisma, style, and likeability. Even as the co-leader of New Japan’s top heel group he is just impossible to hate. After their recent awkwardness in a tag match together, there was a legitimate fear this could be a disaster though. Sakuraba has very little recent pro wrestling experience and Shibata had been doing much of the work in tags. What a surprise then this was. In the USTREAM chat people were going nuts over this match and for good reason, it is one I will remember for years and already a frontrunner for my 2013 match of the year. There was a tense and special atmosphere as they faced off just like the old New Japan vs. shoot-style outsider matches during the New Japan vs. UWF, New Japan vs. UWFi, and New Japan vs. UFO feuds. In the 2000s we had the shoot-style outsiders but it was ugly and awkward most of the time with the exception of some good matches (mostly featuring Kazuyuki Fujita), this was the opposite of that and was “shoot-style pro wrestling” rather than “a messy clusterf*ck of pro wrestling and MMA”. I was disappointed when they shook hands at the start because I thought it could lead to a boring “polite” match. After a feeling out process, Nakamura slapped Sakuraba in the face and BOOM we had lift-off. It turned into a pro wrestling masterclass with Sakuraba finally stepping out of Shibata’s shadow in this New Japan stint and coming across as a lethal, dangerous fighter who Nakamura struggled to compete with. The match had one of the most brutal knees to the face I’ve ever seen which replays showed caught Nakamura full force. I could feel my heart racing as I watched this, willing Nakamura to win but sensing it was Sakuraba’s for several reasons – Shibata having already lost, Nakamura missing the Boma Ye, and how dangerous Saku’s arm submissions came across as. The drama was immense. Nakamura escaped the chickenwing armlock but a while later was back in it, which convinced me it was game over. But somehow he escaped it and also survived a cross armbreaker and won with his Boma Ye to an enormous Tokyo Dome pop. They shook hands and hugged afterwards, showing great respect to each other. I felt this match elevated Nakamura even more than he already has been. There are almost no “New Japan vs. outsider” matches that could do this anymore but this did, while at the same time his IWGP Intercontinental Title also moved much further away from the midcard belt it originally seemed to be. An absolutely amazing match, a throwback to old times and a style Bushiroad boss Kidani seems to love and will hopefully ask to see more of in New Japan. 30 minute classics are great as we’d find out right after this but the true feel of Strong Style is in matches like Nakamura vs. Sakuraba.

New Japan went back a year to show Okada’s abysmal return from TNA Wrestling on the 1/4/12 show where he and YOSHI-HASHI (in a dark match today that highlighted their contrasting fortunes) had a real dud of a match. Okada later challenged Tanahashi to a title match and was largely laughed at or booed as no one took him seriously. What would follow would stun the Japanese wrestling scene as within a year Okada became one of the industry’s biggest stars and won the Tokyo Sports MVP award. His title reign so soon after returning could have bombed hard but he turned himself into a star with the IWGP Heavyweight Title. Since losing the title back to Tanahashi in June the build to the big rematch has been great with the two clocking up important wins as the time drew near for their clash of destiny. J-Pop band BREAKERZ performed live on the stage just before the main event as New Japan continued to crank up the spectacle value and implement pop culture into the product, which is one way of trying to get pro wrestling back into the mainstream consciousness. The band would accompany Tanahashi to the ring shortly after but Okada’s entrance was the best of the lot as he slowly descended on an elevator looking like the perfect bad boy, a new Tokyo Dome remix of his theme playing. As he hit the ring money rained down on the crowd, signalling the arrival of the new superstar, the “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada. The match began slowly as you could tell it was going to be long but was never anything less than great. With a double main event you expect both matches to offer something different and these were complete opposites. This was modern pro wrestling at its best and a match worthy of its hype. The last 15 or so minutes were out of this world and the Tokyo Dome crowd was red hot as you just couldn’t guess who was winning. Okada kicked out of the first High Fly Flow and survived Tana’s Texas Cloverleaf hold despite his hand flapping and coming so close to tapping out. Okada fought back but could never hit the Rainmaker, not even once, and always seemed one step behind Tanahashi to me. Tanahashi eventually won with a perfectly executed High Fly Flow and proved yet again he is the king of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. The match was almost 35 minutes long but was not boring at all. I was really disappointed Okada didn’t win, I was expecting it to catapult him to new levels, but you just can’t deny what a great champion Tanahashi is. Time and time again he delivers in these matches and wins over the crowd. And while I wanted Okada to win, I do think Tanahashi was the better performer on the day and showed his greatness. He is about 11 years older than Okada and this match established that he still has the edge but unless the rumours of Okada going to WWE are true (which I hope they are not, New Japan will cultivate his potential far better than WWE possibly could), he will be the star of New Japan in years to come.

The big surprise after the main event is that no new challenger showed his face and Tanahashi did his routine air guitar performance to send everyone home happy. No titles changed hands on the entire show and it felt much like closure for 2012. Perhaps “THE NEW BEGINNING”, New Japan’s next big show in February, is where new things may happen. Despite the lack of shake-ups this was a January 4th show for the ages and certainly one of the best I have ever seen. New Japan had a fantastic 2012 and 2013 has started even better as this year’s 1/4 show was much better than its equivalent last year. The event is available on VOD (video on demand) until 1/11 5pm JST if you want to watch it on New Japan’s USTREAM channel.

NJPW “WRESTLE KINGDOM 7 ~EVOLUTION~ IN TOKYO DOME”, 1/4/13 (WPW/PPV/iPPV)
Tokyo Dome
29,000 Fans

0-1. Wataru Inoue, Tama Tonga & Captain New Japan beat Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Jado (5:58) when Tonga used the Headshrinker on Jado.
0-2. Ryusuke Taguchi, KUSHIDA & BUSHI beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask & Hiromu Takahashi (7:12) when BUSHI used a Firebird splash on Takahashi.
1. Special 8 Man Tag Match: Manabu Nakanishi, MVP, Strong Man & Akebono beat Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Yujiro Takahashi & Bob Sapp (7:53) when Nakanishi used an Argentine backbreaker on Iizuka.
2. NEVER Openweight Title: Masato Tanaka (c) beat Shelton Benjamin (6:41) with the Sliding D (1st defense).
3. IWGP Tag Team Title: Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. (c) beat Hirooki Goto & Karl Anderson (10:52) when Smith used the Killer bomb on Goto (2nd defense).
4. Special Singles Match: Yuji Nagata beat Minoru Suzuki (17:03) with a backdrop hold.
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title – 3WAY Match: Prince Devitt (c) beat Low Ki & Kota Ibushi (14:45) with an avalanche-style Bloody Sunday on Ibushi (1st defense).
6. Special Tag Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima beat Keiji Muto & Shinjiro Otani (15:36) when Tenzan used a moonsault press on Otani.
7. Special Singles Match: Togi Makabe beat Katsuyori Shibata (8:37) with a King Kong kneedrop.
8. Double Main Event I – IWGP Intercontinental Title: Shinsuke Nakamura (c) beat Kazushi Sakuraba (11:12) with the Boma Ye (4th defense).
9. Double Main Event II – IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) beat Kazuchika Okada (33:34) with the High Fly Flow (6th defense).

2013 - WWE broadcast Smackdown. Richard Trionfo filed the following TV report:

Previously, The Shield attacked Randy Orton. Tonight, Randy Orton and his voices return to Smackdown. Last week, Big Show punched Ricardo Rodriguez and Booker T could not believe what happened. Ricardo had a shot on Monday, but Alberto Del Rio came to his aid.

This week, we are in Richmond, Virginia and your announcers are Josh ‘Merry New Year’ Mathews and John ‘Auld Lang Syne’ Layfield.

Randy Orton comes to the ring and he is very deliberate in his travails to the ring. Randy says that since tonight is the first Smackdown of 2013, and since it is the in thing to . . . declare your New Year’s Resolution, he will make this short and sweet. Randy says that he wants to be World Champion. Not too long ago, Smackdown was his show.

Lately that doesn’t really seem to be the case. There is a way to change that. Randy says that he is officially announcing his entry into the 2013 Royal Rumble.

Sheamus’ music plays and he makes his way to the ring . . . fella.

Sheamus apologizes for interrupting. He says that he is not going to steal Randy’s thunder, but he is going to do the same thing. He will be in the 2013 Royal Rumble match. Sheamus says that is not the only reason he is out here. He wants to thank Randy for his help with the Shield.

Randy says that he was not helping Sheamus. The Shield attacked him last month and he did it for himself.

At the Royal Rumble, it is every man for himself.

Sheamus reminds Orton that he won last year.

Orton says that it will mean more when he eliminates the former Royal Rumble winner.

Sheamus asks if he Brogue Kicks Orton’s head over the top rope but his body stays in the ring, does that count as an elimination?

Big Show’s music plays and he goes to the stage. Show says that he was listening to them yapping about being in the Royal Rumble and winning the World Championship. Show says that if one of them survives the Royal Rumble, all they will get a shot at is his fist. Show tells Sheamus that his 2013 will end like his 2012 with him knocking Sheamus out.

Show tells Orton that he will step on the snake with his size eighteen boots and grind him into the ground.

Show says that he is the most dominant champion.

Antonio Cesaro’s music plays and he says that this is typical American talking about who is going to beat up whom.

Sheamus reminds Heidi that he is from Ireland.

Cesaro says that is worse. He does not talk, he takes action. He has been talking about soft, lazy, grotesquely obese Americans. It is something you should realize by looking in the mirror.

Orton tells Cesaro that this soft, lazy, and fat American go up there and RKO both of them.

That threat gets Booker T on the stage and he is gonna stop this before it gets out of hand. Since these four men don’t like each other, Show and Cesaro are going to have to get along. They will face Randy Orton and Sheamus in a tag match tonight.

We go to commercial.

Match Number One: Miz versus Heath Slater (with Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal)

They lock up and Slater with a waist lock. Miz with a wrist lock and hammer lock. Slater with an elbow to the head but Miz with a drop kick. Miz with a side head lock take down. Slater with a rollup for a near fall. Miz with a shoulder tackle and side head lock take down.

Slater backs Miz into the corner and Slater punches Miz in the midsection. Slater with a punch but Miz with a kick and punches. Miz with a hip toss and side head lock take down. Slater with a reversal but Miz pulls Slater to the mat by the hair. Mahal gets on the apron and distracts the referee. Miz with a thumb to the eye and then he takes Slater to the mat with a side head lock take down.

Miz with a shoulder tackle but he blocks a hip toss and hits a hip toss. Miz with a running knee lift but Drew trips Miz. Miz with a drop kick to Drew while he celebrates what he does. Miz sends Mahal to the floor and then Slater hits Miz from behind.

The referee has sent Mahal and McIntyre to the back for their interference.

Drew warns Slater about Miz coming from behind and he gets a near fall with a rollup. Slater goes to the floor as we go to commercial.

We are back and Slater punches Miz and then he kicks Miz but the referee pulls Slater out of the corner. Miz with a double leg take down and he punches Slater. Miz with a clothesline and then Slater goes to the floor. Miz with a clothesline while Slater does not realize that Miz has gone to the floor.

Miz hot shots Slater on the ringside barrier and then he sends Slater back into the ring. Slater tries to escape but Miz keeps him back in the ring. Slater with a kick to the leg and then he sends Miz shoulder first into the ring post.

Slater with knees to the arm and shoulder. Miz punches Slater but Slater punches back. Slater puts Miz’ arm in the ropes and then connects with an elbow. Slater with a hammer lock. Miz with elbows and a kick. Slater wrings the injured arm and he gets a near fall.

Slater with a key lock. Miz punches Slater but Slater punches back. Miz with a sunset flip for a near fall. Slater with a leaping leg lariat for a near fall. Miz rolls to the apron and then he punches Miz. Slater hyperextends the arm and uses the ropes until the referee stop Slater.

Miz with a shoulder and he slides into the ring and gets a near fall with a rollup. Slater with a clothesline for a near fall. Slater dances and does some air guitar before returning to the injured arm. Miz with a knee to the midsection and then he hits a running boot to the head and gets a near fall.

Slater sends Miz shoulder first into the post again and then he chokes Miz with his boot. Slater wraps the injured arm around the ring post. Slater with a key lock to the injured arm. Miz with a punch and a belly-to-back suplex, but Miz holds his arm and he cannot capitalize.

Slater and Miz exchange punches. Miz with a kick and punches. Slater with a kick to the shoulder but Miz with a back elbow and clothesline. Miz with a back body drop and he tries for the Reality Check but he can only hit the first neck breaker. Slater sends Miz into the corner and hits a neck breaker for a near fall.

Slater misses a charge into the corner and Miz with the Awesome Clothesline and then Miz goes up top for the double sledge. Miz gets ready for the Skull Crushing Finale and he hits it and gets the three count.

Winner: Miz

We go to commercial.

We are back and it is time to take a look back at Raw when Kofi Kingston lost the Intercontinental Title to Wade Barrett.

Matt Striker is with the leader of the Barrett Barrage and the Intercontinental Champion. Matt wants to talk about Main Event. Barrett says that he is the new Intercontinental Champion. That must not be good enough for the media types because they want scandal to try to tear him down. If Matt wants some scandal, look at the real Kofi Kingston. Kofi attacked him from behind after he beat three men. Wade vows to defeat Kofi and he will be out of options and chances. When he defeats Kofi tonight, he will walk away and remain the Intercontinental Champion.

Match Number Two: Hornswoggle, Great Khali, and Natalya versus Rosa Mendes, Epico, and Primo

The women start off and Rosa pie faces Natalya. Natalya with a kick and she sends Rosa to the mat and she slams Rosa’s head into the mat. Natalya with a snap mare and drop kick to the back of the head and Natalya gets a near fall. Rosa slaps Natalya to get out of an attempted Sharpshooter.

Epico tags in and Khali is tagged in as well. Epico tags Primo in before locking up and Khali hip tosses Primo back into the ring. Khali with a clothesline to the top of the head and sends Primo into the corner for a chop. Hornswoggle wants to tag in and Khali agrees.

Hornswoggle with a chop to Primo and then he kicks him in the leg and hits a Stunner. Horsnwoggle does the same to Epico. Primo with a back elbow and then he stomps on Hornswoggle. Primo rakes the eyes with his boot and Epico tags back in. Epico with a drop kick when Hornswoggle is Irish whipped at him.

Epico puts his hand on Hornswoggle’s head to keep him from hitting him. Hornswoggle with a head butt and punches. Khali tags in and he pushes Epico away. Khali with a punch to the head and then he chops Epico. Khali with another chop and then he connects with an elbow. Primo misses a splash and hits Epico. Khali sends Primo to the floor and then Epico misses a lungblower. Khali with a chop to the top of the head for the three count.

Winners: Great Khali, Hornswoggle, and Natalya

We go to Matt Striker in the back and he is with Kofi Kingston. Matt asks Kofi about losing the title on Monday but pinning Wade on Wednesday. Kofi says that this has nothing to do with momentum. It was the moment that he saw Wade holding his Intercontinental Title over his head.

Kofi says that this might be his last shot. This isn’t anything new because he has had his back against the wall his entire life. He will fight to get the Intercontinental Title. Wade will be running into Trouble in Paradise tonight.

We go to commercial.

Match Number Three: Kofi Kingston versus Wade Barrett for the Intercontinental Championship

They lock up and Barrett backs Kofi into the corner but Kofi switches positions and he gives Barrett a clean break. Kofi with a waist lock but Barrett with a hip lock take down. Kofi with a head scissors and Barrett escapes. Barrett with a kick to the midsection and he punches Kofi. Barrett with another punch but Kofi with a back heel kick and forearms. Kofi with a kick to the chest and back.

Kofi with an arm bar and he gets a near fall. Kofi returns to the arm bar. Barrett with a shoulder tackle and flying shoulder tackle and drop kick. Barrett goes to the floor to slow down the pace. Kofi goes to the floor and he hits Barrett from behind. Kofi sends Barrett’s head into the ring steps and then he sends Barrett back into the ring. Kofi with a springboard clothesline for a near fall.

Kofi with a chin lock on Barrett and turns it into an arm bar. Barrett with a punch to Kofi but Kofi with a kick and forearm. Barrett with a hard Irish whip and Kofi goes down. Barrett with knees to the midsection followed by punches to the ribs. Barrett with a short arm clothesline for a near fall.

Barrett with a chin lock but Kofi with elbows and a forearm. Kofi with a back slide for a near fall. Kofi with a kick and sunset flip for a near fall. Kofi with an inside cradle for a near fall. Barrett with a back heel kick but he charges at Kofi and Kofi drops down. Barrett goes over the top rope to the floor.

Kofi with a pescado onto Barrett but Barrett sends Kofi into the apron and they return to the ring. Barrett tells Kofi to count him out but Kofi goes to the floor and kicks Barrett. They return to the ring and Kofi gets a near fall with a rollup. Kofi tells Barrett that he came close to winning.

We are back and Barrett with a punch and reverse chin lock. Kofi with a kick and punches. Barrett returns to the midsection with a knee. Barrett with boots to Kofi’s ribs and abdomen. Barrett goes to the turnbuckles and hits an elbow drop and gets a near fall. Barrett with knees to Kofi while Kofi is in the ropes and Barrett with a boot to the head and Kofi goes to the floor.

Kofi struggles to get back into the ring and Barrett wants the referee to count faster but Kofi gets back in at nine. Barrett punches Kofi and sends him into the turnbuckles. Barrett puts Kofi on the turnbuckles and he punches Kofi and connects with an elbow. Barrett sets for a superplex but Kofi blocks it.

Kofi punches Barrett and knocks him to the mat with a head butt. Kofi with a cross body and he hits it but Barrett kicks out. Both men hold their ribs. Barrett punches Kofi but Kofi punches back. Barrett with a kick to gain control. Kofi with the pendulum kick and Kofi misses a springboard move. Kofi blocks a kick and then hits the SOS for a near fall. Kofi with a running kick to the head and then he hits the Boom drop.

Kofi says that it is over and he sets for Trouble in Paradise. Barrett ducks Trouble in Paradise. Kofi counters the Blackpool Slam with a sunset flip for a near fall. Barrett hits the Blackpool Slam and gets a near fall. Barrett misses a punch but Kofi hits Trouble in Paradise, but the force of the kick sends Barrett to the floor.

Kofi tries to get Barrett back into the ring since he cannot win the title by count out. Kofi with a cover but Barrett grabs the rope with his hand. Kofi runs into boots from Barrett. Barrett gets the arm ready for the Bull Hammer but Kofi avoids it. He goes to the turnbuckles for a springboard move but Barrett with the Bull Hammer and he gets the three count.

Winner: Wade Barrett

We go to commercial.

Match Number Four: Layla El versus Tamina Snuka

They lock up and Tamina with a clean break when they get into the ropes. Tamina stares at Layla. Tamina pushes Layla through the ropes and to the floor. Tamina sends Layla into the ringside barrier and then back into the ring. Layla with an inside cradle for a near fall.

Tamina with a clothesline and she gets a near fall. Tamina rubs Layla’s face into the mat. Tamina with a reverse chin lock and she puts Layla face first on the mat while Layla is doing a split. Layla with elbows but Tamina with forearms.

Tamina gets a near fall but Layla escapes. Layla with kicks and a drop kick to the head. Layla takes Tamina down by the hair and then she kicks Tamina and tries for the triple jump cross body but Tamina catches her and then gets Layla on her shoulders for a Samoan drop.

Tamina pulls Layla into position and hits the Superfly splash for the three count.

Winner: Tamina Snuka

We go to commercial.

We are back with the Raw Rebound. Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee catch a lot of crap from John Cena.

We go to commercial.

Match Number Five: Big Show and Antonio Cesaro versus Randy Orton and Sheamus

Cesaro and Sheamus start things off and they lock up. Cesaro with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Sheamus backs into the corner to rethink his strategy. They lock up again and Sheamus with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Sheamus with another shoulder tackle and he tags in Orton.

Orton with a kick and European uppercut. Orton with a suplex and he gets a near fall. Orton with punches in the corner but Cesaro puts Orton in the corner and he punches and kicks Orton. Orton with a kick and Cesaro with an Irish whip into the corner and Orton with a clothesline. Sheamus tags back in and he kicks Cesaro and sends him into the turnbuckles.

Sheamus runs into an elbow and Cesaro with a clothesline. Cesaro with a punch but Sheamus with a punch. Cesaro with an Irish whip but Sheamus with a clothesline. Orton tags back in and he punches Cesaro. Orton punches Cesaro in the corner and then he connects with a European uppercut. Sheamus tags back in and he tries to suplex Cesaro but Cesaro with knees.

Show tags in and he punches Sheamus. Show with head butts to Sheamus. Show swings at Orton on the apron but Orton moves. Sheamus and Orton send Show over the top rope to the floor.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Cesaro with an Irish whip but Cesaro is sent to the apron. Sheamus with forearms across the chest and then he suplexes Cesaro back into the ring. Sheamus gets a near fall. Cesaro with a jaw breaker and Show makes the blind tag. Sheamus with a back elbow to Cesaro but he turns around into a spear from Show.

Show with a hard Irish whip. The referee sees Cesaro trying to sneak into the corner to attack Sheamus so Cesaro backs up. Show with a head butt and then he slams Sheamus. Show with an elbow drop to the chest and he gets a near fall. Show with a head butt to Sheamus and it sends Sheamus into the corner. Show with punches to the midsection. Show pulls Sheamus out of the corner but Sheamus with punches. Show sends Sheamus into the corner but he misses a running butt splash. Sheamus with a kick and Show grabs Sheamus and hits a choke slam but Sheamus kicks out at two.

Show signals for the punch but Sheamus avoids him. Sheamus with a Brogue Kick and both men are down. Cesaro tags in and Orton does too. Orton with two clotheslines and he avoids a clothesline from Cesaro and he hits a power slam. Orton sends Cesaro to the apron for the IEDDT but Cesaro escapes and sends Orton to the apron. Sheamus tags in and Sheamus with two running double sledges followed by a shoulder in the corner and a knee lift. Sheamus with White Noise.

Sheamus looks around and he gets in the zone for the Brogue Kick, but Orton is not a fan of the imitation of the set for the RKO so Orton comes in and hits an RKO on Cesaro while Sheamus pounds his chest.

Orton leaves the ring and tells Sheamus to finish off Cesaro. Sheamus gets the three count.

Winners: Sheamus and Randy Orton

After the match, Orton and Sheamus have some words as Orton walks up the ramp to the stage.

We go to credits.

2014 - New Japan Pro Wrestling ran the Tokyo Dome. Courtesy of PuroresuFan.com, here is a complete report.

NJPW “WRESTLE KINGDOM 8 IN TOKYO DOME”, 1/4/14 (WPW/PPV/iPPV)
Tokyo Dome
35,000 Fans – No Vacancy

0. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Tomoaki Honma, Captain New Japan & BUSHI beat Manabu Nakanishi, Super Strong Machine, Jushin Thunder Liger & Yohei Komatsu (8:11) when Tenzan used a modified crab hold on Komatsu.
1. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title – 4WAY Match: Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson (c) beat KUSHIDA & Alex Shelley, TAKA Michinoku Kaientai Dojo & Taichi and Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov (10:35) when Matt pinned Taichi after the More Bang For Your Buck (1st defense).
2. IWGP Tag Team Title: Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows beat Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr. (c) (10:27) when Anderson pinned Archer after the Magic Killer to become the 64th champions.
3. NWA World Heavyweight Title: Satoshi Kojima beat Rob Conway NWA (c) (8:27) with a lariat to become the 85th champion.
4. Special Tag Match: Yuji Nagata & Kazushi Sakuraba beat Daniel Gracie & Rolles Gracie (9:50) when Daniel was DQ’d.
5. Special Tag Match: Great Muta WRESTLE-1 & Toru Yano beat Minoru Suzuki & Shelton Benjamin (4:12) when Yano used the Uragasumi on Suzuki.
6. King of Destroyer Match: Togi Makabe beat King Fale (5:15) by KO.
7. Special Singles Match – Hirooki Goto Return Match: Hirooki Goto beat Katsuyori Shibata (15:33) with the Shouten Kai.
8. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Kota Ibushi beat Prince Devitt (c) (16:22) with a Phoenix splash to become the 67th champion.
9. Double Main Event I – IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada (c) beat Tetsuya Naito (30:58) with the Rainmaker (7th defense).
10. Double Main Event II – IWGP Intercontinental Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Shinsuke Nakamura (c) (23:24) with the High Fly Flow to become the 7th champion.

* 35,000 fans (real number) watched Japanese pro wrestling’s biggest event of the year today, up 6,000 from this time last year and another big success.

* For the fourth year running, Hiroshi Tanahashi won the 1/4 main event as he and eternal rival Shinsuke Nakamura collided in what fans voted to be the last match of the show. This was their third Tokyo Dome main event with Nakamura winning the previous two, so it was a huge win for Tanahashi (who was played out to the ring by former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman). After dropping the High Fly Flow on Shinsuke, Tanahashi added yet another achievement to his prolific career by winning the IWGP Intercontinental Title for the first time. This could free Nakamura up for a long awaited return to the IWGP Heavyweight Title scene…

* The new generation leader of New Japan, Kazuchika Okada, made a successful V7 defense of his IWGP Heavyweight Title in a blockbuster match against G1 Climax 2013 winner Tetsuya Naito. In an exciting battle lasting 30 minutes, Okada came close to losing the title he has held since last April, but prevailed after hitting his Rainmaker. Who will be next to try and take the belt away from the Rainmaker?

* A new era looks to have begun in the junior division after Kota Ibushi, who became a New Japan affiliated wrestler several months ago, ended the lengthy IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title reign of Prince Devitt at the Tokyo Dome. The Bullet Club leader had just about run out of competition in the division, but Ibushi was more than a match and dropped his Phoenix splash to become the 67th champion. A mysterious masked man (El Desperado, who debuts tomorrow) appeared after the match, congratulating and challenging Ibushi.

* Hirooki Goto made a triumphant return from an injury suffered during the G1, ending his win drought against old rival Katsuyori Shibata. Goto hadn’t beaten Shibata in their series, but returned with a bang today and boosted his chances of a big 2014 by winning with the Shouten Kai. Goto helped Shibata to the back afterwards, hinting that their series is over and a possible alliance could follow.

* The Gracie invasion turned out to be something of a dud, with their tag match against the veteran team of Nagata & Saku ending in a DQ and failing to impress many fans.

* Satoshi Kojima ended Rob Conway’s unbeaten singles run in New Japan and in doing so won the historic NWA World Heavyweight Title! Kojima had previously failed in an attempt to win the belt, but after a long time is a singles champion again now.

* World Tag League winners, Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows, pulled off something of an upset by dethroning the Killer Elite Squad to become the 85th IWGP Tag Team Champions. The recently formed duo have been on a roll and continued that when Anderson pinned Archer following the Magic Killer.

* The Young Bucks retained their IWGP Jr. Tag Team Title in difficult circumstances, facing THREE other teams in a 4WAY Match. Matt Jackson pinned Taichi to ensure the belts remain with the Bullet Club team.

* New Japan announced that the 2014 G1 Climax final show will be held at the 30,000 seat Seibu Dome. This is unprecedented and huge venue to book for the G1 final in a year where New Japan are trying to upscale.

2014 - WWE ran Hampton, VA. Thomas Platner filed the following live report:

I went to the WWE house show tonight in Hampton, VA. The big story of the show was that we got the first look at Daniel Bryan as a member of the Wyatt Family and well, he looked like Duke "The Dumpster" Drose, coming out in the same style overalls that Harper and Rowan wear. He was announced as "Daniel Wyatt." The live crowd seemed really mixed about it and there were a lot of "No" chants.

They had a steel cage match with Daniel and Bray Wyatt. Wyatt did mic work acting as if the match wasn't going to happen and that Bryan would give up the match but that didn't happen. He instead let Bray beat him down. Bray hit Sister Abagail and pinned him, then they carried him unconscious to the back.

I don't think the live crowd really knew what to make of this.

Other results from the show:

*CM Punk beat The Shield in a handicap match. Pretty much what we saw at TLC.

*Intercontinental champ Big E. Langston defeated Damien Sandow. All I see is people writing about how good these guys are but I thought this was a snoozer.

*One of the Usos defeated Erick Rowan.

*R-Truth defeated Bo Dallas.

*The Prime Time Players defeated 3MB.

*The Miz defeated Fandango. Summer Rae is awesome at ringside.

*Emma and Natalya defeated WWE Divas champ AJ Lee & Tamina.

*Bad News Barrett beat Justin Gabriel.

2014 - Ohio Valley Wrestling kicked off 2014 with a Saturday Night Special in Louisville, KY at the Davis Arena. Brian Cannon filed the following live report:

This is the OVW Saturday Night Special Report for Saturday, January 4, 2014.

Tonight in the main event, Jamin Olivencia defended the OVW Heavyweight Title against Marcus Anthony. Also, the Bodyguy defended the Women's Title against the Assassin, Michael Hayes & Mohamad Ali Vaez defended the Southern Tag Team Titles against the VIP Club, Trailer Park Trash & Flash Flanagan teamed up against the Marauders, Ryan Howe faced Jay Bradley in a No DQ Street Fight, plus much more! It was a packed house, and the announcers for the evening were Dean Hill and Gilbert Corsey.

Without further ado:

Here we go...

The night starts off with a special intro video showing all the events that led up to tonight's OVW Heavyweight Title match between Jamin Olivencia & Marcus Anthony.

OVW SOUTHERN TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: "The VIP Club": J. Best & Robo De Luna vs. Michael Hayes & Mohamad Ali Vaez (c).
The VIP Club attacked Ali from behind, but that was the only offense they got in. Ali struck back, and flipped Best to the outside. Michael hit Best and rolled him back in. Ali hit a double elbow drop on both of them. Michael gets back in and they hit a double suplex on Best and a double shoulder tackle on Robo to knock him from the ring. Michael then hits the kneebuster to the face of Best and Ali finishes him off with the neckbreaker for the 3.
WINNERS: HAYES & ALI by pinfall.

Dylan Bostic (w/Ray Lyn) vs. Eddie F. Diamond.

Bostic controls most of the match and hits the Backstabber, but EFD kicks out! Dylan gets frustrated and tells Ray Lyn to get a chair. She grabs one, but sits in it. She doesn't understand he wants it in the ring. EFD gets back up and rolls Bostic up with a crucifix pin for the 3.
WINNER: EFD by pinfall.

OVW TELEVISION TITLE: 4M: "Mister Marvelous" Melvin Maximus vs. Paredyse (c).
Paredyse has 4M off his game early, slapping and pinching his butt. Paredyse runs into 4M twice, but 4M doesn't move. Paredyse fires away with rights and lefts and dropkicks 4M twice. He goes up top and hits the seated senton, but 4M kicks out. He goes up top again, but is caught in a bearhug. He tries to get out, but 4M powerslams him and gets the 3!
WINNER and NEW OVW TELEVISION CHAMPION: 4M by pinfall.

NO DQ STREET FIGHT: Jay Bradley vs. Ryan Howe.
Jay and Howe go back and forth early as they try to go out after the weapons at ringside. Jay takes control after shoving referee Josh Ashcraft into Howe. He uses the bullrope to tie Howe's hands up and tie the other end around the turnbuckle. He uses a chain and a crutch to work over Howe. He gets Josh up and tries to pin Howe, but Howe kicks out.
Howe starts to get a second wind and strikes back. He grabs a pair of salad tongs and pinches Jay below the belt. He then grabs a bowling ball and rolls a strike between Jay's legs. Howe hits the Chart Topper and then wraps the bullrope around Jay's neck and puts him in a modified surfboard with the bullrope for the tapout.
WINNER: HOWE by submission.

OVW WOMEN'S TITLE: The Bodyguy (w/4M) (c) vs. The Assassin.
The Bodyguy says he has had enough and just wants to end this misery and lay down for the Assassin. The Assassin comes out, but it doesn't look like the same Assassin as usual. The Assassin tries to get in the ring, but Bodyguy kicks the ropes and clubs the Assassin. He then says he is going to take off his robe. As he is doing so, the real Assassin rolls out from under the ring and gets in the ring behind the Bodyguy. Bodyguy turns around and comes face to face with the real Assassin. The real Assassin points behind the Bodyguy and the other Assassin grabs the Bodyguy with a Tongan Death Grip and hits the TKO for the 3! The other Assassin pulls her mask off and it's Lei'd Tapa!
WINNER and NEW OVW WOMEN'S CHAMPION: TAPA by pinfall.

HANDICAP GRUDGE MATCH: "The Marauders": Raul LaMotta, Nick Dumeyer, & the Masked Marauder vs. Flash Flanagan & Trailer Park Trash.
Shiloh Jonze & Clint Poe were M.I.A. Trash & Flash go to town on Raul and then Dumeyer with vicious chops to the chest. The referee gets distracted and the Marauders triple team Trash. They work over him until he can get the hot tag to Flash. Flash comes in and fires away on all of them. He tags Trash back in, slams a Marauder, and Trash hits a flying legdrop for the 3.
WINNERS: FLASH & TRASH by pinfall.

After the match, the Marauders attack Flash & Trash, knocking Flash from the ring. Flash gets back in with a double kendo stick and goes to town on the Marauders. Trash gets a kendo stick and goes to town also. They grab a mic and say that felt good, but they think they should do this one more time this Wednesday night and make sure all 5 Marauders are there.

OVW HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE: Marcus Anthony (w/Timmy Danger) vs. Jamin Olivencia.
Jamin tries some quick strikes early. He hits a running knee off the apron after knocking Marcus to the outside. Marcus gets back up and runs at Jamin, but Jamin sidesteps him and Marcus runs into the steel steps. Back in the ring, Jamin goes for the Standing O, but Marcus catches him and slams him. Marcus powers Jamin around, grabbing him up by the bandages around Jamin's ribs and throwing him down. He throws Jamin shoulder first into the steel ringpost. He puts him on the top turnbuckle and delivers a superplex, but lands funny and immediately grabs his shoulder. He dislocated it and rammed it into the steel ringpost 3 times to knock it back in place! He gets back in, but Jamin has recovered and hits the kamikaze splashes and jumping clotheslines. He goes for the Standing O, but Marcus catches him and hits the Gamma Punch. Jamin kicks out. Marcus puts Jamin on his shoulders, but Jamin reverses it into a whirlwind DDT. He goes for the pin, but Danger jumps up on the apron to distract the ref. Jamin grabs him, but Marcus comes up from behind for the full nelson. Jamin slides out and kicks Marcus in the head. He goes for the Standing O again, but Marcus blocks it, flips Jamin around and locks in the full nelson. Jamin doesn't answer the three arm raises and we have a new champion.

WINNER and NEW OVW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: MARCUS by submission.
Danger grabs the title as Marcus does a backflip. Danger tells him to lock in the full nelson one more time and he does.
Marcus celebrates with the title to end the show.

A great SNS to start off 2014.

2015 - New Japan Pro Wrestling presented "Wrestlekingdom 9" at the Tokyo Dome with the show broadcasting live internationally with English commentary for the first time on PPV. Mike Johnson filed the following PPV report:

Richard Trionfo with the coverage of the Pre Show Match on the New Japan World Feed

On the New Japan World Feed, the New Japan Rumble was broadcast prior to the start of the pay per view.

The participants in the New Japan Rumble are:
Tiger Mask
Yuji Nagata
Taichi
Jushin Liger
Sho Tanaka
Hiro Saito
Yohei Komatsu
Captain New Japan
Tama Tonga
Yoshi Hashi
Manabu Nakanishi
Yoshiaki Fujiwara
Great Kabuki
Taka
Desperado

The first two men in the match are Yuji Nagata and Tiger Mask.

Tiger Mask with a kick but Nagata with a kick of his own. Tiger Mask with a back heel kick and more kicks to the leg. Tiger Mask misses a kick and Nagata backs into the corner. Tiger Mask with a drop toe hold but Nagata with a hammer lock. Nagata works on the wrist but Tiger Mask with a reversal.

They have a Greco Roman Knuckle Lock and the third man enters the match as Nagata kicks and snap mares Tiger Mask. The Third Man is Taichi. While Taichi makes his way to the ring with two other men, Nagata and Tiger Mask wait for him. Taichi works over Tiger Mask with a chop while he is assisted by the men who came to he ring with him. Taichi Irish whips Nagata and he connects with a knee and then he stomps on the chest and covers Nagata.

All three men work over Tiger Mask and Nagata. Tiger Mask holds on to the ropes to stay in the match. The fourth entrant is Jushin Liger. Liger makes his way to the ring and he connects with clotheslines and palm thrusts to Taichi and his men. Liger with a tilt-a-whirl back breaker.

Liger with a surfboard while Nagata and Tiger Mask work over the other two men. Liger adds a Dragon Sleeper to the surfboard. Liger with a double sledge to the back of Taichi. The fifth entrant is Sho Tanaka. Tanaka goes after Taichi and connects with forearms and punches. Liger holds Taichi and Tiger Mask kicks him. Tanaka gets worked over in the corner but Liger helps him and one of Taichi’s assistants is on the apron.

The sixth entrant is Hiro Saito. Saito makes his way to the ring and Liger goes after him. Saito with a spinebuster to Liger followed by a back senton. Taichi watches from the apron while Tiger Mask and Tanaka work over Saito. Saito with a spinebuster and back senton to Tiger Mask.

Tanaka goes after Nagata while Liger connects with knees to Saito. Number seven is Yohei Komatsu. Komatsu goes after Saito while Tanaka hangs on to the ropes to stay in the match. Komatsu chokes Saito while Tiger Mask snap mares and kicks one of Taichi’s associates. Saito with forearms to Komatsu’s neck. Nagata brings Taichi back into the ring. Number eight is Captain New Japan.

Captain New Japan connects with punches to everyone and they all go down. Captain New Japan shakes the ropes and then he punches Tiger Mask. More punches from Captain New Japan. Nagata and Liger fall victim again as well as Saito and Tiger Mask. Number nine enters the match while Captain New Japan continues to punch everyone. Tama Tonga is number nine and he eliminates Captain New Japan and the crowd is mixed on the elimination.

Liger goes up top but he is stopped by one of Taichi’s associates. He is sent to the apron and he tries to suplex Liger to the floor. Tiger Mask takes care of the man but Liger is eliminated as well. Number ten is Yoshi Hashi. Tanaka is slammed by Saito while Yoshi Hashi waits to enter the ring. Tama Tonga is sent to the aron but he rolls back in. Tiger Mask and Tanaka work over Saito. Yoshi Hashi remains on the floor waiting for the right moment to strike.

Number eleven enters the match and it is Manabu Nakanishi. Tiger Mask holds on to the ropes while a number of people try to eliminate him. Nakanishi goes after Tama Tonga and Tiger Mask with a forearm to Tama Tonga. Tiger Mask kicks Yoshi Hashi in the leg while Tama Tonga rakes Nakanishi’s eyes and he chokes him in the corner. Nakanishi grabs Tama Tonga by the throat and he punches him.

We are up to number twelve and it is Yoshiaki Fujiwara. Tama Tonga continues to work over Nakanishi. Tiger Mask goes after Fujiwara but Fujiwara punches Tiger Mask and then he kicks him. Fujiwara with a head butt to Taichi’s remaining ally. Fujiwara then gives a head butt to Taichi. Nagata and Fujiwara lock up and Nagata with forearms and kicks in the corner. Fujiwara with a low blow and a head butt to Nagata.

Number Thirteen enters the match and it is The Great Kabuki. Kabuki does his nunchuk work and mist spraying before he gets to the ring. Kabuki enters the ring and Taichi goes after him but Kabuki with shots to him and his associate. Kabuki with red mist to Taichi’s associate and Fujiwara applies a Fujiwara arm bar on him. Fujiwara is pinned by a number of people to eliminate him.

Tanka with a sunset flip and Komatsu with a bridge to help eliminate Taichi. Kabuki was eliminated for using the mist. Saito with a slam and back senton to Komatsu. Tiger Mask and Nakanishi hold Tanaka for a back senton from Saito from the turnbuckles but everyone pins Saito to eliminate him.

Yoshi Hashi with forearms to Tama Tonga in the corner. Komatsu and Tanaka work over Tiger Mask but Komatsu almost gets eliminated. Tiger Mask is eliminated by Tanaka and Komatsu. Nakanishi and Nagata back Tanaka and Komatsu into the corner. They work over Nakanishi and try for a double suplex but Nakanishi counters with a double suplex of his own. Nakanishi with a torture rake to Tanaka and he taps out.

Tama Tonga goes after Nakanishi and he connects with punches. Nakanishi with a Torture Rack to Tama Tonga but Tanaka attacks Nakanishi and Tama Tonga with a small package to pin him. Komatsu with a near fall on Tama Tonga while Yoshi Hashi works over Nagata. Tama Tonga with a DDT to Komatsu to eliminate him.

We are down to the final three with Tama Tonga, Yoshi Hashi and Yuji Nagata. Tama Tonga with a TKO to Yoshi Hashi for a near fall. Tama Tonga charges at Yoshi Hashi and he gets back dropped to the floor to get eliminated. Nagata with knees but Yoshi Hashi with an inside cradle for a near fall. Yoshi Hashi with a palm thrust for a near fall. Yoshi Hashi tries for a slam but Nagata with an arm bar into a cross arm breaker but Yoshi Hashi gets to the ropes.

Nagata works on the arm and shoulder but Yoshi Hashi with a sleeper into a side head lock but Nagata with a Saito suplex and bridge to pin Yoshi Hashi.

Winner: Yuji Nagata

Richard Trionfo reporting:

Welcome to the coverage of Wrestle Kingdom 9 from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. I am watching the New Japan World feed of the show.

The pay per view starts off with a run down of the matches on the show.

Match Number One: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly (ReDRagon) vs. Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA (Time Splitters) vs. Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov (Forever Hooligans) vs. Nick & Matt Jackson (The Young Bucks)

KUSHIDA and Fish start things off and Fish with a wrist lock. KUSHIDA with a reversal and drop toe hold into a front face lock. Fish tries to escape but KUSHIDA holds on and he takes Fish down with a side head lock. Fish with a head scissors and KUSHIDA escapes. They both go for drop kicks and then KUSHIDA connects. Shelley tags in and he punches Fish in the midsection and KUSHIDA with a kick. The Young Bucks with eye rakes but KUSHIDA and Shelley with back drops. Shelley with a wrist lock and KUSHIDA tags in. They continue the pattern until Fish pushes KUSHIDA into Shelley to knock him off the apron.

Koslov tags in and he takes Fish down with a head scissors. Koslov puts on the hat and it is time for some traditional Russian kicks to the head followed by a double stomp for a near fall. Koslov throws his hat at Fish and Fish runs Koslov into the corner and O’Reilly makes the tag. O’Reilly with a chin lock and then he hits a running knee after Fish connects with a leg sweep.

O’Reilly with a snap mare and he mocks Koslov before kicking him in the back. Fish tags in and he hits a flying forearm and he gets a near fall. Koslov wit a forearm and Matt tags in and him and Nick go after everyone on the apron. Nick with a drop kick to knock Shelley off the apron. Koslove sends Matt to the floor but he trips Koslov. Nick tries to kick Koslov from the apron but he ducks and Nick kicks his brother.

Nick misses a kick but he connects with an elbow. Nick blocks a kick but Koslov with an enzuigiri and both men are down. Romero with a kick that is blocked by Matt but he connects with a mule kick. Romero with clotheslines into the corner and then to Fish and O’Reilly and the Jacksons. He hits a double clothesline on the Young Bucks. Koslov and Romero with elbows to Matt but Matt with knees to avoid a double suplex. KUSHIDA tags in and eh connects with elbows and then he hits a tornado DDT on Nick. KUSHIDA knocks Fish and O’Reilly off the apron.

KUSHIDA goes to the apron and then Romero goes over the top to the floor. Shelley with a flying knee. KUSHIDA with a drop kick to Matt’s knees. Nick comes off the ropes but he is met with a double super kick and then Kyle stops KUSHIDA. Kyle comes off the apron into a super kick from Shelley.

KUSHIDA is tripped by Romero and he hits a suicide dive onto Shelley. Koslov hits a plancha onto Fish and O’Reilly. Matt with a drop kick through the ropes and Nick with a corkscrew plancha. KUSHIDA with a dive off the turnbuckles onto everyone on the floor. Shelley with a clothesline to Nick followed by a neckbreaker while KUSHIDA hits a moonsault for a near fall. Shelley and KUSHIDA with a dream sequence to Nick. Matt gets Irish whipped and then hit with a double knee and enzuigiri. Koslov makes the blind tag and he misses a lariat. Matt with a super kick and then Kyle with a series of knees.

Nick with a super kick and then he hits a running knee to Koslov. Matt stops Koslov on the turnbuckles and Shelley with an enzuigiri. The Jacksons land on their feet on a Doomsday Device attempt by Koslov, Romero, and Shelley. They hit super kicks and then they hit the Meltzer Driver but everyone is pushed into Matt to break up the cover.

Kyle and Bobby work over KUSHIDA but he hits a springboard back elbow. The Young Bucks with super kicks and then they go for the buckle bomb and enzuigiri to Romero. Nick is crotches and then Fish and O’Reilly work over Shelley in the corner and then Kyle with a knee off the turnbuckles to Shelley. They hit a wheelbarrow codebreaker into a wheelbarrow suplex.

Fish with a Super Falcon Arrow on one of the Jacksons. Koslov counters the brainbuster into an inside cradle. Fish and O’Reilly with Chasing the Dragon on Koslov for the three count.

Winners: Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly

Match Number Two: Tomoaki Honma, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Jeff Jarrett, Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi (Bullet Club)

The Bullet Club attack before the bell rings and Jarrett works over Honma while Fale works over Kojima. Fale is hit with a double suplex by Tenzan and Kojima. They hit a slingshot elbow and diving head butt on Takahashi. Kojima with a series of chops followed by an Irish whip and running forearm into the corner. Fale with a splash into the corner on Tenzan. Jarrett tags in and he kicks Kojima. Jarrett with a short arm clothesline and a clothesline for a near fall. Fale tags back in and he punches Tenzan.

Fale knocks Tenzan off the apron. Takahashi tags in and he kicks Tenzan. Takahashi shows Tenzan no respect with kicks to the head followed by an elbow. Tenzan with forearms but Takahashi rakes the eyes. Tenzan with a kick and Cutter and both men are down. Honma tags in and he connects with back elbows to Takahashi and Jarrett. Honma slams Takahashi and chops him.

Honma with an Irish whip and forearm into the corner followed by a bulldog but he misses a diving head butt when Takahashi moves. Takahashi with a fisherman’s suplex for a near fall. Takahashi gets Honma on his shoulders but Honma gets to his feet and he hits a flying head butt. Jarrett gets the guitar and he tries to hit Honma with it but Honma with a kick. Takahashi hits Honma from behind and Jarrett tries to hit Honma but he moves and Jarrett hits Takahashi instead.

Tenzan and Kojima with a double belly-to0back suplex on Jarrett followed by a double back drop to Takahashi. Honma goes up top for a diving head butt and the three count.

Winners: Tomoaki Honma, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima

Mike Johnson tagging in...FINALLY!

I want to thank Richard for covering the first few matches for me. For the second month in a row, Time-Warner Cable in NYC was unable to process PPV orders, even though I placed an order for this show five days ago. I’m still waiting for someone to call me back and explain what the issue is, since last month they claimed it was my box and I’ve since upgraded my box and modem to a newer model. As you can imagine, my conversation with them was the opposite of pleasant.

I want to thank my boy John Carey for hooking me up with his Slingbox.

Toru Yano, Naomichi Marufuji & TMDK (Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls vs. Takashi Iizuka, Shelton Benjamin & KES (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith, Jr) (Suzuki-Gun)

Team Iizuka attacked Team Yano at the bell and everyone brawled all over the ring and on the outside. It settled down to Benjamin working over Yano. The Killer Elite Squad began double teaming Yano. Archer whipped him into the ropes but Yano stopped him by grabbing Archer by the hair and snapping him down to the mat. Haste and Nichols tagged in and worked over Archer including a nice cannonball in the corner.

Smith tagged in and cleaned house with kicks and a powerbomb but was nailed with a leg lariat by Nicholls. Archer caught Nicholls with a beautiful chokeslam. Marufuji and Iizuka tagged in, Marufuji cleaned house with several kicks and fought off Iizuka on the ropes but was caught with a Benjamin leap into a superplex. Majufuji came back with a series of kicks but was choked by Iizuka. Haste and Nicholls double teamed Iizuka and scored the pin.

Short but solid eight man tag.

Your winners, Team Toru Yano!

Jim Ross and Matt Striker did a good job of getting over the idea that the NOAH team had captured a win over New Japan on their own show.

Minoru Suzuki vs. Kazushi Sakuraba (Match ends by submission, KO or referee stoppage)

The announcers did a good job of building this as the battle of the proteges of Karl Gotch and Billy Robinson. Striker painted the picture of Suzuki as one of the creators of MMA and talked about the UWFi rules (listed above) which is how this bout will be contested.

By the way, the production on this show looks so great, I expect WWE will be taking notes for Wrestlemania.

A lot of mat wrestling and submission wrestling. Sakuraba went for the Texas Cloverleaf but Suzuki rolled through and went for a heel hook, even though they were trapped in the ropes. They began exchanging slaps and strikes as Suzuki was on the apron and Sakuraba was in the ring. Suzuki grabbed an armbar while hanging off the ropes, which the referee broke up.

They battled to the floor and up the entrance ramp. Suzuki nailed a snap mare and went up the ramp but Suzuki stopped him with several kicks. Sakuraba began nailing some stiff kicks. He locked a Kimura on the ramp, which is probably the first time that has ever happened. The referee finally convinced him to release the hold, since there’s no way for him to win that way. The story was that Suzuki’s arm was probably injured. They teased the idea of the referee stopping it but Suzuki refused to get over the story that he had his fighting spirit.

Back in the ring, Suzuki continued to take hard kicks. Suzuki went down to one knee, pretty much a sitting duck. He went down and the referee began counting him down. He returned to his feet at eight but continued getting kicked down. Sukuki fired back with several strikes, taking him down. The referee began counting down Sakuraba but he returned to his feet.

The two fired back and forth. Suzuki went for Key Lock in a cross armbreaker but Suzuki rolled through. Suzuki tried to break it but was trapped in an armbar. Suzuki was able to get to the ropes to break the hold. Sakuraba kept kicking him while he was down on the mat, focusing on the arm.

Suzuki made a comeback after daring Sakuraba to keep going as be absorbed the kicks. Suzuki grabbed a rear naked choke and Sakuraba was choked out.

Your winner, Minoru Suzuki!

For what it was, it was entertaining. This obviously was going to mean more to fans in Japan who know the history and the personalities but the announcers did a great job of making this seem important and it was never boring. I didn’t expect the brawling on the ramp.

NEVER Openweight Championship: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Togi Makabe

They immediately hitting each other with big bombs of shots and clotheslines. Ishii and Makabe began hitting each other with shoulderblocks. Makabe nailed a scoop slam but Makabe powered right up and drilled him. They began chopping and punching each other back and forth. Jim Ross did a good job of explaining Makabe’s Bruiser Brody-esque character and how he’s been working hurt for five months, refusing surgery.

Ishii drilled him with several headbutts and began kicking him in the head. Makabe absorbed them and demanded more. They slugged it out back and forth. Makabe nailed a running clothesline in the corner and drilled the champion with a series of punches to the head.

They began slapping each other. Makabe nailed a Northern Lights suplex. No mention of Hiorshi Hase, Ross and Striker? Boo! They slugged it out and it wasn’t pretty but it was stiff. Ishii nailed a delayed vertical suplex off the ropes, which was damn impressive given their size.

Ishii nailed a powerbomb for a two count. Makabe blocked several strikes and nailed a clothesline. Makabe nailed a nice powerbomb for another two count. Makabe hit a German suplex with a bridge for a two count. Makabe placed Ishii on the top and attempted a German superplex. Ishii fired back but Makabe nailed him with some stiff shots. He nailed a Samoan Drop off the top for a two count.

Makabe nailed several hard clotheslines. Ishii went for an enziguiri but was wiped out mid-stream. Makabe killed him with a clothesline but Ishii kicked up at one. You could hear the crowd screaming for Ishii to rise up and fight. He was nailed with a German suplex but he fired up and nailed a big lariat for a two count.

They began battling banc and forth with stiff shots. Makabe began nailing chops to the shoulder but Ishii drilled him with a headbutt to the chest. Ishii nailed a downstairs clothesline for a two count. Makabe reversed a suplex attempt but Ishii landed on his feet. Makabe drilled him for a two count. Great physical bout.

Ishii nailed a series of lariats but was caught with a Dragon suplex for a near fall. I am loving this match! They drilled each other with sledge-hammers (the move, not the weapon) but Ishii kept battling back. Makabe killed him with another lariat for another two count.

Makabe went to the top rope and drilled the flying knee, finally scoring the pin.

Your winner and new champion, NEVER Openweight champion Togi Makabe

Just a brutal, physical match. Nothing like this today in the United States. Just awesome stuff.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Kenny Omega

The Bucks are with Omega. Ross painted the picture that Omega reminded him of Brian Pillman and lied to the fans when he came to NJPW by joining the Bullet Club. Omega showed Taguchi a lot of disrespect early. Taguchi controlled him and countered a rana attempt with an ankle lock.

Taguchi clotheslined Omega over the top to the floor. The Bucks got on the apron, trying to distract him. That allowed Omega to use the “cold spray” as Matt Striker called it, in Taguchi’s eyes as the referee was distracted. Omega took over, controlling Taguchi with chops and nailed a beautiful running elbow in the corner for a two count.

Omega continued to work over Taguchi and attempted to go for a suplex. Taguchi tried to fight him off but Omega powered him over. Omega’s charisma tonight is awesome and Ross perfectly played it up, questioning why he wouldn’t just try to get the job done. Taguchi kicked off Omega during a charge in the corner but his leg was grabbed by one of the Bucks as he rebounded off the ropes. Omega charged but was backdropped over the top to the floor onto the Bucks. Taguchi then hit a great flip dive to the outside.

Taguchi tossed Omega back into the ring and nailed a good missile dropkick from the top for a two count. Omega went for a running powerbomb but Taguchi turned it into a rana in mid-stream, sending Omnega headfirst into the buckles. Taguchi went to the top but Omega met him on the ropes. Taguchi battled him off but Omega returned. He was knocked into the ring again. Taguchi came off the top with a missile dropkick but Omega dropkicked him at the same time. That was awesome.

Omega nailed a spinning sitdown powerbomb for a two count but the champion kicked out. Omega went for an Electric Chair but Taguchi slipped out. Omega used a forward roll for a two count. Taguchi nailed a flying knee for a two count and locked Omega into an ankle lock. The Bucks got on the apron but was knocked off. Taguchi drilled Omega for another two count.

They went back and forth with some good stuff until Omega nailed the Omega Driver and score the pin!

Your winner and new IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion, Kenny Omega!

Good match. Not an all time classic by any means but a good, physical Cruiser style bout and as a showcase for Omega, it was a great way to introduce him to a new audience. Taguchi looked good and The Bucks were great as the annoying outside distractions. Good stuff.

IWGP Tag Team Championship: Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows (Bullet Club) vs. Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata (Meiyu Tag)

Amber O’Neal is there as the “Bullet Babe” and Tama Tonga also came to the ring.

Goto and Anderson started off, going back and forth with some good back and forth wrestling before facing off. The champions controlled early, tagging in and out. Anderson nailed a leg lariat for a two count, covering Goto over and over. Jim Ross compared Anderson to Arn Anderson in how he approached being in the ring.

Gallows tagged in and ripped at Goto’s face. Goto finally made a comeback and took doen Gallows after a series of clotheslines. Shibata tagged in and had some momentum that brought the crowd to life but he was quickly cut off. Gallows drilled him with a big clothesline and you could hear the breath come out of the fans

Shibata fought his way back and locked Anderson in a great abdominal stretch but Gallows attacked him. All four battled in the corners. Shibata nailed Air Sabu off Goto’s back into a dropkick on Anderson. The challengers nailed a double back suplex on Gallows but Gallows kicked out at two,

Anderson took out Goto with a big knee. He and Gallows wiped out Shibata with a flying boot. Gallows and Anderson used a great series of double teams on Shibata but Goto broke it up. The champions controlled and scored several two counts.

The challengers made a comeback and worked over Anderson but Gallowed wiped them out and used a Chokenstein for a two count on Shibata. Gallows went to the top but Goto attacked him in the corner. The challengers worked over Gallows, who kicked away Goto as he charged. Goto came back with a clothesline and Shibata locked on a sleeper. Anderson was knocked off the apron. Goto lifted Gallows and dropped him into a kick. Shibata hit the PK and scored the pin.

Your winners and new IWGP Tag Team champions, Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata!

Good tag bout. They told the story that the former High School friends won the belts. Everyone looked really good here. Nice physical match.

AJ Styles vs. Tetsuya Naito

Styles, being the heel he is, tried to grab Naito for a Styles Clash immediately to try and break his neck. Naito fought back and hit a leaping dropkick off the apron to the floor on Styles. Back in the ring, Naito controlled Styles but Styles began working over his knee and leg.

As Naito fought for the ropes, Matt Striker mentioned our own Matt Macklin while talking the background of the talents and I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I was to hear that as Matt has done an amazing job on the site and is a great addition to the team.

Naito fought back an nailed an tornado DDT off the ropes. They battled back and forth. Naito backdropped Styles and nailed a nice senton splash. Naito placed Styles on the top rope and drilled him with a series of punches. Styles fired back with headbutts, knocking him to the floor. They battled back and forth. Styles went for a German suplex but Naito fought out and reversed it. Styles then reversed it and nailed the German suplex himself. Styles went for another but Naito used a forward victory roll for a two count.

Naito nailed a big German suplex and roled up Styles, who kicked out at two. They continued back and forth with some great wrestling. Naito nailed an enziguiri and whopped Styles into the ropes. Styles reversed but was still nailed with a flying forearm. The announcers told the story that Naito has never been able to win at this event to make him the underdog.

Naito ascended to the top but Styles took his legs out from under him, crotching Naito on the top. Some awesome back and forth stuff here. Styles locks on a leg submission and Naito fights to the ropes. Naito nailed a big back suplex for a two count. Styles nailed the Pele Kick. Styles nailed a big impact DDT. Styles was dumped over the top to the floor.

Naito drilled Styles and made the big comeback, placing Styles on the top, He went for a top rope rana but Styles caught him and went for the dreaded Styles Clash. Ross acted like this was the most devastating thing in wrestling. Styles scored the pin.

Your winner, AJ Styles!

Great back and forth match. Just awesome stuff from bell to bell. IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kota Ibushi

Big entrances here. They did a lot of feeling each other out early. Based on the timing of the show, we can expect some long final matches. Nakamura seemed to be taking Ibushi easy early but that ended when Ibushi shoved him. Ibushi and Nakamura went into a great flurry of kicks before facing off.

They went back and forth. Nakamura nailed a series of knees, including a big knee drop onto Ibushi’s head while he was out on the apron. Nakamura controlled the action for a long time. Ibushi made the comeback and started hitting all his high flying offense, including a missile dropkick an d a standing shooting star press. Ibushi went for a springboard but Nakamura kicked him down with his one-legged dropkick in mid-air.

Nakamura nailed several knees but missed a charge in the corner. Ibushi placed him on the top but Nakamura nailed him with a series of elbows and dumped him on the apron. Ibishi leapt up and caught him with a top rope rana in one fluid motion. Ibushi covered him and went for a Dragon suplex but Nakamura fought free. Ibushi nailed him with the Dragon suplex and hit a standing corkscrew moonsault press for a two count.

Nakamura was drilled with a big roundhouse kick to the head. He was out. Ibushi nailed a sit-out powerbomb for a close two count. Ibushi ascended to the top but missed a Phoenix Splash. Nakamura drilled him in the back of the head with his signature knee. Ibushi made a comeback and began hitting a lot of strikes and worked over Nakamura, who was down in the ropes. The referee argued with Ibushi, allowing Nakaumura to shove him into the challenger and then snap on the rolling armbreaker.

They continued battling back and forthj. Nakamura was really taking it to Ibushi with some stuff kicks and strikes. It was really stiff. Nakamura rebounded off the ropes but was caught with a ridiculously sick double stomp. Ibushi wounded himself up and used a springboard to pull Nakamura over the ropes into the ring with an incredibly sick suplex and somehow Nakamura kicked out at the last second. This is awesome.

They battled back and forth. Nakramura drilled him with a running knee and finally scored the pin.

Your winner and still IWGP IC champion, Shinsuke Nakamura!

Just an incredible story told here. Nakamura was the grizzled veteran who refused to play dead for Ibushi, who showed his heart and fire before finally falling, This was designed to make Ibushi the guy who the audience sees as someone who is fighting to earn his spot and when he gets that big win, it will be a huge deal. Great, great stuff.

After the bout, Nakamura said, "This is insane! Insane! I'm all worn out....just kidding. Ibushi...this guy is the best! Tokyo Dome! Are you ready? Yeah!" Thanks to Yottsume for the translation.

IWGP championship: Kazuchida Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Big entrances with Jim Ross comparing the rivalry to Austin vs. Rock, Flair vs. Steamboat, Brisco vs. Funk, etc. Lots of really nice wrestling as they go through a feeling out process. They have a ton of time so they are going to be going long.

They went back and forth before going to the floor. Tanahashi was sent over the guard rail to the floor outside, then hit with a hanging DDT off the guard rail. They battled to the ramp where Tanahashi nailed a jawjacket and charged down the ramp only to be caught with a DVDR. The announcers had spoken about Tanahashi’s back issues, so this played into that.

Okada brings Tanahashi back into the ring and snapmares him down before rebounding off the ropes, drilling Tanahashi. Okada slammed him into the buckles and worked him over in the corner. Okada controlled Tanahashi with several submission attempts and near falls. The story early was that Tanahashi was being controlled by the younger champion and couldn’t get his offense together.

Tanahashi finally went to the top rope but Okada cut him off and they battled. Okada got the better of it and went for the Rainmaker clothesline but Tanahashi reversed the attempt into a pinfall combination. Tanahashi caught him with the Dtragon Screw Legwhip and Okada grabbed at the knee, so this may be the turning point. Tanahashi began working over Okada’s knee, kicking the hell out of it. He nailed a dropkick to the knee, further inflicting damage.

They went to the floor. Okada reversed a whip into the rail, sending Tanahashi into it. He charged but Tanahashi moved and Okada ate the railing and flipped over it. Tanahashi hit a big frog splash bodypress from the top rope into the crowd.

Tanahashi took control and nailed a frog splash off the top across the champion’s back. Tanahashi nailed another but Okada kicked out at the last second. Tanahashi nailed the Sling Blade. He mocked Okada’s Rainmaker and nailed the move on Okada, who kicked out of his own move at the last second. Okada fought back but Tanahashi fired back in kind.

Okada went for a tombstone but it was reversed into a forward roll by Tanahashi. Tanahashi began drilling him with hard slaps. They went into a great sequence of near falls and reversals off big moves. Okada missed the Rainmaker and was nailed with a German suplex for a two count. Okada nailed his signature dropkick. Tanahashi grabbed Okada’s leg from behind and nailed a reverse Dragomn Screw Legwhip, then another. Tanahashi nailed a big clothesline from the top.

Tanahashi nailed another Dragon Screw and went to the top. He nailed another pair of Frog Splashes and scored the pin.

Your winner and new IWGP champion, Hiroshi Tanahashi!

Great, well worked main event. Okada was in tears as he left the ring. Tanahashi addressed the crowd and celebrated in the ring. As he left, fans tossed him towels to wipe his face and he tossed them back.

Awesome, fun broadcast and it was really refreshing. If you complain you can't enjoy pro wrestling and can't see the international stuff, well, your excuses are done. Even if you don't want to deal with subscribing to an online service like NJPW World, the biggest show of the year was on PPV. If you don't understand Japanese, they gave you Jim Ross and Matt Striker doing a phenomenal job calling the show. There are no excuses for you not to enjoy this one, and you should.

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