NEW JAPAN WORLD PRO WRESTLING
July 26, 2001
1. WCW Title: Giant (c) vs Kensuke Sasaki (Power Warrior)
Giant completely overpowered and dominated Sasaki early. Sasaki threw some chops and a couple dropkicks. Sasaki kicked Giant in his leg and chest. Giant missed a corner splash. Sasaki knocked down Giant with a couple lariats for a pop and went for his triangle armbar. Giant fought back and hit a dropkick. Giant gave Sasaki an elbowsmash for a near fall. Giant pinned Sasaki at 4:54 after a chokeslam to retain the title. A nothing match. *
2. Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal) vs Sting & Keiji Muto
Animal overpowered Muto early and no-sold a couple dropkicks. Muto hit Animal with a top rope dropkick. Sting hit a lariat on and went for a scorpion deathlock but Animal intervened. Hawk no-sold a piledriver by Sting and gave him a lariat. Sting powerslammed Hawk. Hawk whipped Sting into the barricade but Sting returned the favor only to miss a stinger splash and crash hard into the barricade. Hawk slammed Sting on the floor. Animal no-sold a suplex by Sting and gave him a lariat. Hawk missed a top rope splash on Sting. Sting hit a stinger splash on Animal. Muto gave Animal a handspring elbow and a bulldog. Muto hit a dragon screw on Animal and applied a figure 4 leglock but Hawk intervened. Animal powerslammed Muto and Hawk gave him a doomsday device for a near fall. Muto ducked a second doomsday device and rolled up Animal for a near fall. Muto rolled up Hawk and pinned him at 7:15. A fine match for these guys but nothing great. **
3. Shinya Hashimoto & Riki Choshu vs Shiro Koshinaka & Tatsumi Fujinami
Choshu dominated Koshinaka as footage began. Koshinaka fought back but Choshu gave him two hard slaps. Hashimoto hit a top rope foot stomp on Koshinaka. Fujinami worked on Hashimoto’s hurt right leg. Koshinaka back suplexed Hashimoto. Fujinami and Choshu had a good, intense exchange. Koshinaka gave Choshu a hip attack but Choshu fought back and applied a sharpshooter. Hashimoto got the better of Koshinaka with his hard chops, a stiff kick and an enzuguiri. Hashimoto DDTd Koshinaka and Choshu gave Koshinaka a lariat. Koshinaka fought back with a hip attack on Choshu. Fujinami hit a top rope kneedrop but Choshu then gave him a lariat. Fujinami applied a figure 4 leglock on Choshu. Hashimoto whipped Koshinaka into the barricade. Hashimoto scored with a couple stiff kicks and DDTd Fujinami twice for the pin at 10:35 (7:40 aired). A good match, especially in terms of intensity. After the match Choshu turned on Hashimoto leading to the 1996 G-1 tournament. **3/4
4. IWGP Tag Team Title: Kazuo Yamazaki & Takashi Iizuka (c) vs Masa Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Chono accidentally flew into Tenzan when Iizuka moved. Yamazaki threw a ton of kicks at Tenzan and German suplexed him. Tenzan applied a Fujiwara armbar on Yamazaki as Iizuka and Chono fought at ringside. Tenzan and Chono dominated Yamazaki with much of their offense focused on Yamazaki’s arm. Yamazaki fought back and gave Tenzan a dragon screw into a figure 4 leglock. Iizuka also applied a figure 4 leglock on Tenzan. Yamazaki also continued to attack Tenzan’s legs. Chono got the better of Iizuka with a yakuza kick but Iizuka fought back with a suplex. Tenzan whipped Iizuka into the barricade. Tenzan gave Iizuka a cross between a Samoan drop and a northern lights suplex. Yamazaki got the better of Chono with several roundhouse kicks and applied a cross armbreaker but Tenzan intervened. Yamazaki applied a cross armbreaker on Chono on the floor at ringside. Yamazaki then applied a Fujiwara armbar on Chono in the ring. Iizuka also attacked Chono’s right arm. Iizuka gave Chono a urunage and an exploder for a near fall. Iizuka applied a cross armbreaker on Chono as heat mounted. Iizuka went for a German suplex but Chono countered with a low mule kick. Chono gained a near fall on Iizuka with a yakuza kick. Iizuka rolled up Chono for a near fall as Tenzan had Yamazaki hung upside down in the corner. Chono atomic dropped Iizuka and Tenzan gave Iizuka a top rope headbutt. Chono applied an STF on Iizuka and made him submit at 22:17 to win the title (13:15 aired). A good match, but these two teams were capable of a better match given the setting. Not that disappointing though. ***
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