The First all American IWGP Heavyweight Title match since Hansen/Vader

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Stolen from http://www.puroresufan.com



[Results] New Japan, 4/30/06 by Stuart - 30 Apr 2006 - [Comments (33)]
--> "NEW JAPAN CUP 2006" <--
Giant Bernard became one of the rare foreigners to win a major New Japan tournament, capturing the second New Japan Cup today. After much poor business between the opening Korakuen show and today's tour climax while in western Japan, New Japan headed back to Hyogo today with a good crowd of 5,200 fans on hand today. The heat for the show was very good throughout, with most matches having strong crowd interaction. Nagata vs. Bernard ended the tournament well and worked out much better than last year's final, which was a slightly unsatisfying end to the first NJC. Nagata was equal Bernard and the match went back and forth quite a lot, Nagata trying to keep the monster down with armbarring techniques, following kicks and a backdrop suplex. After escaping Nagata's arm attacks, Bernard struck back with two corner presses and a neck-hanging buster. Nagata managed to escape the Bernard bomb and hit home with three Shining Wizards for a 2.9 count. Amagasaki was on fire by this stage, with huge chants for Nagata. Nagata hit a wrist-clutch Exploder, the move that kept Tanahashi down yesterday, but Bernard made another last ditch kickout! Nagata ran out of steam and the powerful Bernard hit the Bernard bomb, then his new Bernard Driver, which is similar to a TTD, and got the 1-2-3. After a great battle, Nagata and Bernard shook hands out of respect for each other, despite being on opposite sides. Bernard took the microphone and promised to bring the IWGP Heavyweight Title back to New Japan as a representative of the company. Nagata, who just missed out on the championship, told Bernard to throw everything at Lesnar, and challenge him as a New Japan wrestler. The first all-American IWGP Heavyweight Title match since Vader vs. Hansen (Lesnar vs. Akebono wasn't really recognized as one, because Akebono called himself a representative of Japan) takes place just days from now in Fukuoka. Bernard, who was said "to have evolved since joining New Japan" by one local report, may pose the biggest threat to Lesnar's title yet, as he is still unbeaten this year.