NOAH April Tour observations

In addition to the big Budokan show on 4/24, the rest of the tour dates and most of the match-ups have been announced. Thought I'd point out a few of the more interesting shows.

NOAH, 4/2/05
Tokyo Differ Ariake
1. Mitsuo Momota VS Haruka Eigen
2. Tamon Honda VS Go Shiosaki
3. Akitoshi Saito, Masao Inoue & Takashi Sugiura VS Takuma Sano, Jun Izumida & SUWA
4. Yoshinari Ogawa & Yoshinobu Kanemaru VS Akira Taue & Kishin Kawabata
5. Takeshi Rikio & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi VS Mohammed Yone & Takeshi Morishima
6. Tiger Emperor VS Ricky Marvin
7. Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi & Jun Akiyama VS Naomichi Marufuji, KENTA & Makoto Hashi

First is the tour opener, which from top to bottom looks like a can't miss show! But it's a pity there aren't any plans to tape the show for TV!
The main event would be PERFECT if not for Makoto Hashi being in it, as it also immediately points the finger at who will take the fall in the match. Would have prefferred Sugiura or even Momota in that spot.
The return of Tiger Emperor should also be interesting, as Kotaro Suzuki has improved alot, and a good performance with Ricky Marvin could lead to a Jr. title challenge down the line.

NOAH, 4/3/05 (NTV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Takuma Sano VS Tsuyoshi Kikuchi
2. Tamon Honda & Jun Izumida VS Shiro Koshinaka & Kishin Kawabata
3. Scorpio VS Go Shiosaki
4. Yoshinari Ogawa, Richard Slinger & Kotaro Suzuki VS Rick Steiner, Michael Modest & Donovan Morgan
5. Jun Akiyama VS Makoto Hashi
6. Mitsuharu Misawa, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Takashi Sugiura VS Kenta Kobashi, KENTA & Ricky Marvin
7. Akira Taue & SUWA VS Minoru Suzuki & Naomichi Marufuji
8. Takeshi Rikio, Takeshi Morishima & Mohammed Yone VS Akitoshi Saito, Masao Inoue & Bison Smith

The first Korakuen Hall show of the tour also shows some promise with a main event that builds up the big Budokan show on 4/24, but the two semi-main events look really good! For some reason, I have high interest to see Taue VS MiSuzuki in a singles match.

NOAH, 4/17/05 (NTV)
Hakata Star Lane
1. Mitsuharu Misawa & Mohammed Yone VS Kenta Kobashi & Go Shiosaki
2. Takeshi Rikio, Jun Akiyama & Bison Smith VS Akira Taue, Takuma Sano & Masashi Aoyagi
3. Captain's Fall Elimination Match: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Takashi Sugiura, Makoto Hashi & SUWA VS Naomichi Marufuji, KENTA, Kotaro Suzuki & Ricky Marvin

The second TV taping of the tour has an INCREDIBLE looking Captain's Fall Elimination Match in the main event! The Captain's of each team haven't been announced yet, but that will be the big factor in how the match turns out as elimination of the captain means the entire team instantly loses.

NOAH, 4/24/05
Tokyo Nippon Budokan
1. GHC Heavyweight Title: Takeshi Rikio VS Akitoshi Saito

And of course the big Budokan show at the end of the tour. Make no mistake about it, Rikio defending against Saito will not sell out the 16,000 seat Budokan, so a strong mid-card is heavilly needed. Additional title matches need to be stacked onto the show as well as getting a big outsider like Tenryu on the show.

NJPW "NEXESS V" Results

Big surprise at New Japan's big show yesterday when in the main event Shinsuke Nakamura managed to go sixty minutes with reigning IWGP/Triple Crown champion Satoshi Kojima in the main event of the show. Everyone was expecting a Kojima win, so the booking of the match really caught many off-guard.
But while New Japan handled Nakamura well, some would question the booking of New Japan's other talent on the show. For example, Yuji Nagata losing to Tsuyoshi Kosaka in under 5-minutes by TKO. There were questionable circumstances leading to the TKO decision in that one though, and Ron Waterman made a successful return to NJPW as he teamed with Minoru Suzuki to beat Kensuke Sasaki & Takashi Iizuka.
Hiroyoshi Tenzan has now earned the a shot at Satoshi Kojima's IWGP as he successfully won two matches in one night to earn his shot, first beating Manabu Nakanishi, then Masahiro Chono. Will be interesting to see how New Japan follows this up in the coming months leading to the May Tokyo Dome show where Tenzan faces the IWGP champion.

NJPW "NEXESS V", 3/26/05 (WPW/PPV/NJ+IWTV Internet)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
9,000 Fans - No Vacancy
1. Tatsumi Fujinami Return Match: Tatsumi Fujinami VS Osamu Nishimura went to a draw (15:00) when the time limit expired.
2. Koji Kanemoto & Wataru Inoue beat Katsuhiko Nakajima & Taiji Ishimori (10:54) when Kanemoto used a moonsault press on Ishimori.
3. Tiger Mask, El Samurai & Masahito Kakihara beat Masked CTU-L, Masked CTU-T & Masked CTU-G (10:45) when Samurai used a chickenwing armlock on CTU-T.
4. Yutaka Yoshie & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Togi Makabe & Ryushi Yanagisawa (7:13) when Tanahashi used a cradle on Yanagisawa.
5. IWGP Heavyweight Title #1 Contender Tournament - Semi Final: Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Manabu Nakanishi (12:17) with the Anaconda Cross.
6. Young Lion Cup - Final: Hirooki Goto beat Hiroyuki Ito (9:55) with the Going To Heaven.
7. Ron Waterman & Minoru Suzuki beat Kensuke Sasaki & Takashi Iizuka (14:03) when Waterman used a Tiger Driver on Iizuka.
8. Tsuyoshi Kosaka beat Yuji Nagata (4:41) by TKO.
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title #1 Contender Tournament - Final: Hiroyoshi Tenzan beat Masahiro Chono (19:02) with the Anaconda Cross.
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Satoshi Kojima VS Shinsuke Nakamura went to a draw (60:00) when the time limit expired (1st defense).

AJPW Champion Carnival 2005 schedule

The full list of participants and match listings for this year's Champion Carnival has been announced and looks to be really interesting.
Looking at the brackets, Block A has a tougher path then Block B.
In Block B, I can see Suwama, Palumbo & Buchanan losing most of their matches, and either of the later two giving Suwama his sole win of the Carny. I expect Jamal only to go down to Kawada & Mutoh, whereas Mutoh & Kawada will go to a 30-min draw against each other.
Block A is harder to call. Kondo might look big in Dragon Gate, but compared to the AJPW guys he is SMALL. That puts him at a disadvantage, but will definately have strong showings like Kaz Hayashi did last year.
Hate to say it, but Kea is the dark horse of this block. Sure he's high on the AJPW food chain, but with the imminant push of Giant Bernard as a monster gaijin, I don't see him beating anyone other than Kondo & Arashi. As for Bernard, I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't take any direct loses and loses by count-out or double count-out draws.
I expect Sasaki to do well like last year, but how well depends now since his stock in AJPW has fallen a bit with the influx of gaijin talent.
And then there's Kojima. The reigning Triple Crown champion HAS to do well and make the finals to solidify his position and push so the fans can take him as a legitimate champion. He CANNOT lose any of his matches, except maybe the finals.

BLOCK A:
- Satoshi Kojima
- Kensuke Sasaki
- Love Machine Arashi
- Taiyo Kea
- Shuji Kondo
- Giant Bernard

BLOCK B:
- Keiji Muto
- Toshiaki Kawada
- Kohei Suwama
- Jamal
- Buchanan
- Chuck Palumbo

AJPW, 4/9/05 (GAORA TV/TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Champion Carnival '05 - Block A: Satoshi Kojima vs. Kensuke Sasaki
2. Champion Carnival '05 - Block A: Love Machine Arashi vs. Shuji Kondo
3. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Keiji Muto vs. Buchanan
4. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Kohei Suwama
5. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Jamal vs. Chuck Palumbo

AJPW, 4/10/05 (Samurai! TV Near-Live)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. Champion Carnival '05 - Block A: Satoshi Kojima vs. Shuji Kondo
2. Champion Carnival '05 - Block A: Kensuke Sasaki vs. Giant Bernard
3. Champion Carnival '05 - Block A: Love Machine Arashi vs. Taiyo Kea
4. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Keiji Muto vs. Toshiaki Kawada
5. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Jamal vs. Buchanan

AJPW, 4/13/05
Matsuyama ITEM
1. Champion Carnival '05 - Block A: Satoshi Kojima vs. Taiyo Kea
2. Champion Carnival '05 - Block A: Kensuke Sasaki vs. Love Machine Arashi
3. Champion Carnival '05 - Block A: Shuji Kondo vs. Giant Bernard
4. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Kohei Suwama vs. Buchanan
5. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Chuck Palumbo

AJPW, 4/14/05 (GAORA TV/TV)
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium #2
1. Champion Carnival '05 - Block A: Satoshi Kojima vs. Love Machine Arashi
2. Champion Carnival '05 - Block A: Kensuke Sasaki vs. Shuji Kondo
3. Champion Carnival '05 - Block A: Taiyo Kea vs. Giant Bernard
4. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Jamal
5. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Keiji Muto vs. Kohei Suwama
6. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Buchanan vs. Chuck Palumbo

AJPW, 4/16/05
Sunpia Matsumoto
1. Champion Carnival '05 - Block A: Satoshi Kojima vs. Giant Bernard
2. Champion Carnival '05 - Block A: Taiyo Kea vs. Shuji Kondo
3. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Jama;
4. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Keiji Muto vs. Kohei Suwama
5. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Buchanan vs. Chuck Palumbo

AJPW, 4/17/05
Niigata City Gymnasium
1. Champion Carnival '05 - Block A: Kensuke Sasaki vs. Taiyo Kea
2. Champion Carnival '05 - Block A: Love Machine Arashi vs. Giant Bernard
3. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Keiji Muto vs. Chuck Palumbo
4. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Toshiaki Kawada vs. Buchanan
5. Champion Carnival '05 - Block B: Kohei Suwama vs. Jamal

AJPW, 4/20/05 (PPV/GAORA TV/TV)
Yoyogi National Stadium Gymnasium #2
1. Champion Carnival '05 - Semi Final:
2. Champion Carnival '05 - Semi Final:
3. Champion Carnival '05 - Final:

Doi wins the Brave Gate!

Blood Generation's Naruki Doi became the first Open The Brave Gate champion winning one nihgt, an eight-man, single elimination tournament last night and beating YOSSINO in the finals. The Brave Gate title is the new Dragon Gate mid-card championship belt.
Another fun sounding surprise on the show was Akitoshi Saito showing up as the mystery "X" opponent for Stalker Ishikawa. Probably one of the only shows Saito has done outside of NOAH given his freelancer status.

Dragon Gate "The Brave Gate is Open"3/13/2005
Aichi, Nagoya International Conference Event Hall
1. Open the Brave Gate Tournament: YOSSINO (14:30 Quick Reversed into Cradle) K-ness
2. Open the Brave Gate Tournament: PSYCHO (3:17 High Fly Bomb) Naoki Tanisaki
3. Open the Brave Gate Tournament: Naruki Doi (6:48 No Contest) Super Shisa
3b. Open the Brave Gate Tournament: Naruki Doi (2:13 Bakatare Sliding Kick) Super Shisa
4. Open the Brave Gate Tournament: Daniel Mishima (8:26 Danny*Yell) Genki Horiguchi
5. Masaaki Mochizuki{W}, Susumu Yokosuka, Keni'chiro Arai (18:21 Twister) Ryo Saito, Dragon Kid, Syachihoko Machine{L}
6. Open the Brave Gate Semifinals: YOSSINO (8:29 Another Space) PSYCHO
7. Open the Brave Gate Semifinals: Naruki Doi (8:13 Referee Stop) Daniel Mishima
8. Akitoshi Saito (4:26 Sickle Death) Stalker Ichikawa
9. CIMA, Don Fujii, Shingo Takagi{W} (16:30 Last Falcony) Magnum TOKYO, BXB Hulk{L}, Anthony W. Mori
10. Open the Brave Gate Finals: Naruki Doi (21:01 Bakatare Sliding Kick) YOSSINO

Where the teacher goes...

Following up on the story yesterday of Kawada going freelance in AJPW, the news recently broke that his protege, Taichi Ishikari, will follow in his footsteps and will go freelance as well! Expect to see Ishikari as Kawada's ring second or tag partner wherever Kawada decides to go do business.
And speaking of Kawada's new venture as a freelancer, it now seems that the guy has an interested to work the MMA scene for PRIDE FC! Make no mistake, Kawada is one of the pro-wrestling's toughest workers (legitimately), but so far every wrestler who tried their hand at the MMA thing has failed miserably, save for a few exceptions like Shinsuke Nakamura who's primary training was MMA. I really hope Kawada isn't making a mistake here, but if he can somehow do what many have failed at, then more power to him, as it would also boost his popularity more than it already is!

Kawada out of AJPW?!?!

It's OFFICIAL! Kawada is now a freelance!

SportsNavi has confirmed the story. Kawada says he now expects to stay with All Japan until around April before he starts looking around, but will always call AJPW his home. He claims to have been freelancing since his contract expired some time ago, and only stuck around to help keep AJPW on it's feet as Triple Crown champion. And now that he's past the torch to Kojima, that frees him up now as he believes AJPW would be in good hands.

This is a sad day as Kawada was the true last link All Japan had to Baba's era of the company. Masanobu Fuchi might still be around, but he's not as recognised as Kawada is, and Fuchi himself isn't exactly in his prime to carry Baba's banner.

The only bright side to all this is that the possibility of seeing Kawada work dream matches in either NJPW or NOAH should he so choose.
But the main problem I see with it is that AJPW has lost it's top draw. No disrespect to Mutoh & Kojima, but Kawada was indeed the top man in the company who always guaranteed a quality match no matter who his opponents were. The following months now will be a true test of Kojima as the top new top man of the company, and I wish them all the best of luck too, cause without Kawada, I seriously think they are gonna need it.

NEW GHC Champion!

The new generation of puroresu certainly seem to be dominating 2005 as Takeshi Rikioh defeated long running GHC Heavyweight Champion Kenta Kobashi for the GHC Title last night! Rikioh used the Muso to end Kobashi's 2 year long reign as champion, but no word on whether it was the regular Muso or the new high-angle version he's been practicing.
Also on the card, Muhammed Yone won the GHC Hardcore Openweight Title off Naomichi Marufuji to become the third champion.
Also on the card, the outsider team of Tenryu & Minoru Suzuki beat Akiyama & Takeshi Morishima when Tenryu pinned Morishima with a lariat. This could lead to either a Akiyama/Tenryu singles match, or Tenryu being the first challenger to Rikioh.
The Zero-One MAX team of Shinjiro Ohtani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa defeated the tandem of Mitsuharu Misawa & Kotaro Suzuki when Takaiwa pinned Suzuki with a Death Valley Bomb. If Misawa is true to his word, they 01-MAX team are now the no.1 contenders to the GHC Tag Titles currently held by Scorpio & Doug Williams.

NOAH "Navigation for Evolution" - 3/5/05
Tokyo Nippon Budokan
1. Takuma Sano, Jun Izumida & Makoto Hashi beat Tamon Honda, Tsuyoshi Kikuchi & Kishin Kawabata (15:08) when Izumida used the Mukado Domu on Kawabata.
2. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Takashi Sugiura & SUWA beat KENTA, Ricky Marvin & Low Ki (17:43) when SUWA used the FFF on Marvin.
3. Bison Smith, The Gladiator & Ace Steel beat Akira Taue, Yoshinari Ogawa & Go Shiosaki (15:35) when Steel used a Swinging DDT on Shiosaki.
4. Scorpio & Doug Williams beat Akitoshi Saito & Masao Inoue (17:17) when Scorpio used the 450 Splash on Inoue.
5. GHC Hardcore Openweight Title: Mohammed Yone beat Naomichi Marufuji (12:36) with the Muscle Buster to become the 3rd champion.
6. Shinjiro Otani & Tatsuhito Takaiwa beat Mitsuharu Misawa & Kotaro Suzuki (18:02) when Takaiwa used a Death Valley Bomb on Suzuki.
7. Genichiro Tenryu & Minoru Suzuki beat Jun Akiyama & Takeshi Morishima (14:30) when Tenryu used a lariat on Morishima
8. GHC Heavyweight Title: Takeshi Rikio beat Kenta Kobashi (27:11) with the Muso to become the 7th Champion.