Kawada wins Dome Showdown
By JOHN F. MOLINARO -- SLAM! Wrestling
A reported sell-out crowd of 64, 000 fans saw All Japan Pro
Wrestling star Toshiaka Kawada defeat I.W.G.P. World Heavyweight
Champion Kensuke Sasaki in a non-title match in the main event of New
Japan's "Do Judge!!" Spectacular today at the Tokyo Dome.
The inter-promotional match between two of the biggest stars in
Japan saw both men engage in a physical confrontation as they exchanged
a series of chops, lariat clotheslines and stiff kicks. Kawada tried to
apply his signature move early on, the stretch plumb, as did Sasaki with
his Northern Lights Bomb, but were both thwarted in their attempts.
Kawada finally scored the pin in 19:38 after nailing Sasaki with
four jumping high kicks.
Speculation among the Japanese wrestling media is that a
title rematch for Sasaki's title will be signed for January 4, 2001, --
New Japan's annual Tokyo Dome spectacular and traditionally biggest show
of the year.
In other New Japan vs. All Japan matches: New Japan's Masa Chono
teamed with Mr. T (New Japan star Tatsutoshi Gotoh dressed in black
tights and a mask) to defeat All Japan's Masa Fuchi and Shiro
Koshinaka. Koshinaka, who is actually the assistant booker of New
Japan, is doing a 'traitor gimmick', siding with All Japan, a promotion
he left in 1985. All Japan's Steve 'Dr. Death' Williams defeated New
Japan's Scott Norton in 12:56 with a Back-Drop Driver.
Shinya Hashimoto, in his first match back since losing a
retirement match on April 7th at the Tokyo Dome to then-N.W.A. World
Naoya Ogawa, defeated New Japan President Tatsumi Fujinami in 14:18 via
submission with a Chicken Wing. I.W.G.P. Junior Heavyweight champion
Tatsuhito Takaiwa successfully defended his title defeating challenger
Koji Kanemoto in 12:51 with a Death Valley Bomb. I.W.G.P. World Tag
Team champs Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan retained their titles
against Yuji Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi in 20:22.
In other matches: In another inter-promotional match, New
Japan's Jushin "Thunder" Liger defeated Osaka Pro Wrestling star Super
Delfin in 13:43 when he pinned him following a brain-buster; Don Frye
defeated Takashi Iizuka in 10:47 with a choke sleeper submission.
The scheduled match between All Japan's Taiyo Kea and New
Japan's Yutaka Yoshie did not take place due to Kea suffering a pelvis
injury. Kea is expected to be out of action for two to three months,
taking himself out of All Japan's single-elimination tournament that
starts this Saturday to crown a new Triple Crown heavyweight champion.
SLAM! Wrestling will have a full preview of the Triple Crown
tournament and an extensive feature article on the history of the Triple
Crown title this Friday.
-- With files from
Zach
Arnold
