2-20 results

[BusaLiger Dragon]

Building is mostly full. Opener was a regular young lion match. The second match was very good, with all four leaving an impression. The third match was fast paced (as the first half of the show was... hmm...), all-action. Same for the fourth match, non-stop action. The Jr. Title match was also high spurt, said to be good, but not long enough to develop into anything more. Tiger won quite convincingly to prove a difference in rank now between he and Liger. Inoki appearance after intermission, talking enthusiastically about his birthday and a double title match happening on it. A birthday festival was held for him, with Kengo Kimura singing "Happy Birthday"! Iizuka attacked Choshu more than once during Nishimura vs. Choshu, helping Nishimura. Not sure of exact details, but Choshu ended up snapping and getting DQ'd. The fans were in a "pre-riot" state after this, much like last November after Tenzan & Nagata vs. Chono & Frye.

Nagata is refusing to fight for the regular army, putting the semi in a state of chaos. He finally got in the ring, but lost to Nakanishi in the second fall, after Chono and Kensuke drew in the first. Nakamura went through two opponents, before falling to Suzuki. Tanahashi vs. Suzuki finished the match, with Suzuki getting the win by pinfall after a sleeper. Match was said to be good, but not as much heat as expected. Main event now. National anthem was played, and Stan Hansen entered the ring as part of the formalities.

Kojima won an epic match with 15 seconds to go, when everything believed it would be a draw! Nagata attacked Kojima after the match, making his formal challenge for a shot.

NJPW, 2/20/05 (WPW/PPV/NJ+IWTV Internet)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan

1. Hiroshi Nagao beat Naofumi Yamamoto (5:51) with a chokeslam.
2. Hirooki Goto & Akiya Anzawa beat Yujiro & Katsuhiko Nakajima (8:18) when Goto used a cross armbreaker on Yujiro.
3. Togi Makabe & Masayuki Naruse beat Yutaka Yoshie & Masahito Kakihara (8:39) when Makabe used a lariat on Kakihara.
4. Minoru Tanaka, Jado, Gedo & James Gibson beat Koji Kanemoto, Wataru Inoue, Katsushi Takemura & Taiji Ishimori (10:04) when Tanaka used a cross armbreaker on Inoue.
5. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title: Tiger Mask (c) beat Jushin Thunder Liger (10:04) with a Tiger suplex hold (1st defense).
6. Osamu Nishimura beat Riki Choshu (9:02) by DQ.
7. New Japan vs. Black New Japan - Singles Elimination Match: Masahiro Chono Black New Japan, Manabu Nakanishi Black New Japan, Minoru Suzuki Black New Japan & Mitsuya Nagai Black New Japan beat Yuji Nagata New Japan, Kensuke Sasaki New Japan, Shinsuke Nakamura New Japan & Hiroshi Tanahashi New Japan
- Kensuke Sasaki vs. Masahiro Chono went to a draw (15:00) when the time limit expired.
- Manabu Nakanishi beat Yuji Nagata () with the Hercules Cutter.
- Shinsuke Nakamura beat Manabu Nakanishi (4:18) with a cross armbreaker.
- Shinsuke Nakamura beat Mitsuya Nagai () with a standing cross armbreaker.
- Minoru Suzuki beat Shinsuke Nakamura (6:34) with a Gotch-style piledriver.
- Minoru Suzuki beat Hiroshi Tanahashi (11:59) by pinfall after a sleeper hold.
8. IWGP Heavyweight Title & Triple Crown: Satoshi Kojima All Japan (c) beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan (c) (59:45) by KO (1st defense) to become the 41st IWGP Heavyweight Champion.

THE KOJI ERA IS HERE!!!!!

[BadNews]

KOJI IT IS!!! Well, Tenzan is dead now tho.

[Haiku Warrior]

Congratulations Satoshi! It's nice to see a traditional build-up to a championship reign. But how about the story here? Koji leaves NJ in 02 only to win both championships in 1 week in 05! And 59:49???? I smelled tie if it went over 45:00. I can't wait to see this match.

KOJIMA!

[Luds]

So was Tenzan really injured? Or is it just a work injury?

And I have to say it:

Tradewynd, you were right. They found yet another way to screw Tenzan. Shame on Inoki.

Tenzan should leave and join NOAH!

[edgehead1984]

well this was unexpected...Tenzan will go to NOAH, I believe...

[BusaLiger Dragon]

Well in the report on SSS...it says that...Tenzan said that if he looses this match that he might possibly reitre... I hope he doesnt and he makes that jump to NOAH

[django]

Congrats to the new champion. I just read about it and it sounds like a historical moment. I have a few questions

1. Where does this rank in great moments in Japan?

2.Now are the titles unified? Will Koji defend it New Japan and All-Japan?

3.I wonder if any of the other former TC and IWGP champs are mad because they did get the chance to be the first to do what Koji did?

[Luds]

#1 Not very high. Kojima is still a no name. He needs to put on tons of classic matches. He has the talent, I hope they don't screw him as well like Tenzan.

#2 No. Kojima will defend both titles against different wrestlers.

#3 I'm sure some feel that way. I would have given that chance to Kawada before Kojima.

[kwilson83]

Well I wouldn't go as far as saying Kojima is a no name, he has gotten some big victories in the past. He just has been used very poorly.

I think he needs to defend the titles successfully for at least 4 months in order for the "historical moment" to really matter. If he drops either belt within his first two defenses, it makes it much less special that he accomplished the feat in the first place. Hopefully that won't happen and he will be given the chance to run with it a little.

[Pheonix_Chi25]

If someone had told me Kojima would have beaten Tenzan I'd say you are lying. Way to go Koji, hope your reign is long and plentiful

to Tenzan, start over again, and try NOAH