Results NJPW last night. Lesner Vs Fatty

[Dave Youell]

Lesnar beat Akebono in 10 minutes with a DDT. Seems a strange ending. Lesnar couldn't lift Akebono up for his finisher. People are saying it was an abrupt ending and that maybe Akebono was too exhausted to kick out, so it ended early.

NJPW, 3/19/06 (WPW/NJ+IWTV Internet)
Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
7,500 Fans

1. Riki Choshu & Tomohiro Ishii beat Manabu Nakanishi & Takashi Iizuka (9:08) when Ishii used a brainbuster on Iizuka.
2. Minoru & Hirooki Goto beat Tiger Mask & Yujiro (14:29) when Goto used the Jigoku Guruma on Yujiro.
3. Elimination Match: Kintaro Kanemura, Tetsuhiro Kuroda, BADBOY Hido & GENTARO beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Black Tiger, Jado & Gedo (13:52). Liger threw Hido out of the ring (3:30). Liger fell out of the ring (3:32). Kuroda used a lariat on Gedo (5:28). Tiger used a tombstone piledriver on Kuroda (10:33). Kanemura used a diving senton on Tiger (12:01). Jado used the Crossface of JADO on Kanemura (13:31). GENTARO pinned Jado after a chairshot from the outside (13:52).
4. Monster Battle - Japanese Edition: Togi Makabe beat Toru Yano (10:55) with a piledriver.
5. Monster Battle - U.S. Edition: Giant Bernard beat Scott Norton (13:30) with a lariat.
6. IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Title: El Samurai & Ryusuke Taguchi © beat Koji Kanemoto & Wataru Inoue (19:53) when Samurai used the Samurai clutch on Kanemoto (1st defense).
7. Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Kazushi Miyamoto (13:34) with a Dragon suplex hold.
8. IWGP Tag Team Title: Masahiro Chono & Hiroyoshi Tenzan © beat Yuji Nagata & Naofumi Yamamoto (23:07) when Chono used a Shining Yakuza kick on Yamamoto (3rd defense).
9. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Brock Lesnar © beat Akebono (10:35) with a DDT (2nd defense).

[Savio]

This is like his longest reign ever right?

[What Would Kevin Do?]

This was Lesnar's second defense. I thought it was his third, but who knows.

His WWE world title reign was longer I believe.


Anywho, by the sound of things the match had to end because Bono was so exhausted/. Plus, rumor has it Lesnar was injured or sick or something, and couldn't lift BOno. There are talks of a rematch due to a ref inicident.

From the sound of things, the Tag title match was way better.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Total credit goes to http://www.puroresufan.com for this write up.

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Chono OUT. Fujita OUT. Nakanishi OUT. Nagata OUT. Nakamura OUT. Choshu OUT. Akebono OUT. Who can stop Brock Lesnar? That was the big question leaving today's tour-ending show, after the unstoppable IWGP Heavyweight Champion again left Sumo Hall with the belt in his hands. Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant from New Japan aired on the screen, then the lights dimmed, creating G1 final-like production. Choshu seconded Akebono, while Tanahashi sat in the commentary booth and watched the two mammoths collide. And collide they did, with Lesnar failing to hit the Verdict early on and being backdropped! Akebono hit the Bono Bomber and a body press, taking control, and after referee Tiger Hattori took a spill, Akebono hit a Banzai drop for a phantom three count! When Akebono went to check on him, Lesnar grabbed his belt and hit Akebono with it, prompting a big "Akebono!" chant in Sumo Hall. Lesnar seemed to be having serious problems with his waist, some suspecting lumbago, and Akebono hit a second Bono Bomber, pressing on. Since he had problems lifting Akebono due to that injury, Lesnar had to unveil several sleeper techniques to take Akebono's stamina. Nothing Akebono did in return could finish off Lesnar, and unable to hit the Verdict, he spiked Akebono with a DDT (http://www.njpw.co.jp/result/2006/0304_0319/0319_p/img/001.jpg) for the three count. The match had been going about as well as expected, but the finish felt frank and abrupt, with several theories already popping up. One being that Lesnar wanted to hit the Verdict, but lumbago prevented it, another perhaps more plausible one being that Akebono simply ran out of stamina and couldn't get up, as 10 minutes in a singles match is an awfully long time for someone of his size. Anyway, despite working his heart out to catch up to Lesnar, the difference in rank was too wide today and the "Global Standard" champion managed his V2 defense. Lesnar snatched his belt after the match and someone threw a beer can at him, driving him into a frenzy where he declared he is a true champion. Some people liked this match, while some didn't. There seems to be a very mixed opinion on it, with many feeling the matches leading in devoured it and Lesnar vs. Akebono was too American style. Basically, it probably came down to those who want high quality matches that someone like Nagata would bring and those who enjoy the showy spectacle side these two can bring. Lesnar's victory should confirm that he will remain with New Japan, and it'll be interesting to see if his deal has changed at all.

Naofumi Yamamoto did his best again in his first challenge for the IWGP Tag Team Title, but despite frantic grade-skipping, still fell short of his target. The teacher-and-pupil team of Nagata & Yamamoto put up one hell of a fight for ChoTen's IWGP Tag Team Title though, in a match that was said to have been really exciting, with ChoTen in ruthless heel mode and Nagata & Yamamoto playing out their roles perfectly. Yamamoto attacked Tenzan quickly, but would live to regret that when he was floored at ringside by a TTD and CTC, leaving Nagata to fight a lonely battle for a long time. Nagata has been in some of his best in-ring form ever lately, and shone again, working hard against both men while the fans called his name, but being floored himself by the ChoTen Torpedo, followed by Chono's STF. Yamamoto made his revival around the 10 minute mark, taking it to Tenzan with force, before being caught by ChoTen once more. After receiving a hefty beating, General Nagata entered the ring and kicked his own tag partner, demanding he get his act together. Finally, Nagata exploded into the ring, firing kicks, suplexes, and submissions at both opponents, who desperately saved each other. Yamamoto wanted more, so got back in the ring and unveiled a new hidden move, the classic Octopus hold, used two inside cradles for near falls on Tenzan, before dropping him with his backdrop for a 2.99 count! A huge "Yamamoto!" chant rung out around Sumo Hall as he neared victory, but ChoTen's superior teamwork edged them to victory. Before going down, Yamamoto did what no one else has been able, kick out of ChoTen's Shining Yakuza kick/lariat sandwich combination, but a second Shining Yakuza kick from Chono finally kept the fiery young lion down. Yamamoto received a big ovation and went home perhaps the wiser. Not only did ChoTen control the last major preliminary skirmish, beating Nakanishi & Yamamoto, but also won today, showing why they are the #1 tag team. However, Nagata & Yamamoto fooled most fans into thinking they would win, and hopefully they will keep teaming, as this duo is working out perfectly. ChoTen praised Yamamoto after the match, and promised a long-term reign this year. Likewise, stern Mr. Ikemen praised his pupil, saying he grew up today and won the support of fans, although couldn't hide his disappointment at not winning the title. Yamamoto shed tears in regret and said he would keep fighting for New Japan.