NJPW, 7/17/06 (WPW/NJ+IWTV Internet)
Tsukisamu Green Dome
3,955 Fans

1. Takashi Uwano, Taichi Ishikari & Mitsuhide Hirasawa beat Takashi Iizuka, Yujiro & Tetsuya Naito (11:37) when Hirasawa used a chickenwing armlock on Naito.
2. IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament - Round 1: Akebono beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan (6:55) with a running body press.
3. IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament - Round 1: Yuji Nagata beat Travis Tomko (7:48) with a backdrop hold.
4. Koji Kanemoto, Negro Casas, Ryusuke Taguchi & Prince Devitt beat Minoru, Jushin Thunder Liger, Jado & Gedo (10:35) when Kanemoto used a Tiger suplex hold on Minoru.
5. Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii beat Riki Choshu & Naofumi Yamamoto (10:38) when Yano used the Oni Koroshi on Yamamoto.
6. IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament - Semi Final: Giant Bernard beat Akebono (4:45) with a horizontal cradle.
7. IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament - Semi Final: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Yuji Nagata (13:46) with a ground Cobra Twist.
8. NWA Jr. Heavyweight Title: Tiger Mask (c) beat Wataru Inoue (12:13) with a Tiger suplex hold (2nd defense).
9. IWGP Provisional Tag Team Title: Manabu Nakanishi & Takao Omori beat Shiro Koshinaka & Togi Makabe (c) (15:17) when Nakanishi used the Hercules Cutter on Makabe to become the new champions.
10. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Giant Bernard (17:44) with the Sling Blade to become the 45th champion.

Some interesting notes:

Antonio Inoki, who did an interview in the ring to the John Cena reception (boos & a ton of cheers), avoided all subjects about Brock Lesnar, choosing instead to talk about his INOKI GENOME 2006 show. But he subtly(?) blamed New Japan for the Lesnar fiasco in Tokyo Sports.

Masahiro Chono did commentary, blasted Simon Inoki (called him Simon Kelly) and wanted to confront him, but the President (Simon) was in America. Chono also attacked the new IWGP "Provisional" Tag Champions which will set up a match between Real Wild Child and ChoTen when Chono returns.

Tanahashi was awarded the Hashimoto-version of the IWGP title as Lesnar has taken the new one back to America and said through a spokesman that he "Is still the true Champion."

Congrats to Tanahashi and RWC, good job to both