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NJPW 40th Anniversary Power Struggle 2012

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New Japan Pro Wrestling's Power Struggle Recap

November 11th, 2012 - Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, Japan

Attendance: 6,600 (a sell-out crowd, no less)

It was a night to remember in Osaka as New Japan Pro Wrestling presented their annual Power Struggle pay-per-view. The card featured a mix of title matches, grudge bouts, and explosive tag team action. Let's dive into the highlights from a thrilling evening.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match: Time Splitters (Alex Shelley & KUSHIDA) vs. Forever Hooligans

The show opened with a bang as the high-flying Time Splitters duo took on the Forever Hooligans in a match that showcased some of the best junior heavyweight action you'll see anywhere. In the end, it was Alex Shelley and KUSHIDA who emerged victorious, retaining their titles in a thrilling contest.

Ten-Man Tag Team Match: CHAOS (Jado, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. Captain New Japan, Jushin Thunder Liger, Manabu Nakanishi, Negro Casas & Tiger Mask

This match was all about chaos... and that's exactly what it delivered. With 10 men in the ring at once, it was a wonder anyone managed to keep their heads (or bodies) intact. In the end, CHAOS emerged victorious in a wild and woolly affair.

Tag Team Match: Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki & Taichi) vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Yuji Nagata

Suzuki-Gun's Minoru Suzuki is always a force to be reckoned with, and he teamed up with Taichi to take on the unlikely duo of Ryusuke Taguchi and Yuji Nagata. The result was a hard-hitting match that saw Suzuki-Gun emerge victorious in 9:53.

IWGP Tag Team Title Match: Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer) vs. TenKoji (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima)

In a battle of the big boys, Killer Elite Squad's Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer took on TenKoji's Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima for the IWGP Tag Team Titles. The result was a dominant performance from Killer Elite Squad, who retained their titles in 13:12.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match: Prince Devitt vs. Low Ki

The junior heavyweight division is always a hotbed of talent, and this match between Prince Devitt and Low Ki was no exception. In the end, it was Prince Devitt who emerged victorious, retaining his title in a closely contested affair.

Tag Team Match: Laughter7 (Katsuyori Shibata & Kazushi Sakuraba) vs. Togi Makabe & Wataru Inoue

This tag team match was all about the high-flying antics of Katsuyori Shibata and Kazushi Sakuraba, who took on the unlikely duo of Togi Makabe and Wataru Inoue. The result was a quick but entertaining contest that saw Laughter7 emerge victorious in just 5:26.

IWGP Heavyweight #1 Contendership Match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Hirooki Goto

In this battle of the best, Kazuchika Okada took on Hirooki Goto for the right to challenge Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Title at a later date. In the end, it was Okada who emerged victorious in 15:43.

IWGP Intercontinental Title Match: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Karl Anderson

This match featured two of New Japan's top stars going head-to-head in a bid to claim the IWGP Intercontinental Title. In the end, it was Shinsuke Nakamura who emerged victorious, retaining his title in 17:32.

IWGP Heavyweight Title Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yujiro Takahashi

The main event of the evening saw Hiroshi Tanahashi put his IWGP Heavyweight Title on the line against the challenger Yujiro Takahashi. This was a hard-hitting, back-and-forth battle that saw both men give it their all. In the end, it was Tanahashi who emerged victorious in 25:06, retaining his title and proving once again why he's one of the best in the business.

Final Thoughts

Power Struggle was an excellent pay-per-view from New Japan Pro Wrestling, featuring a mix of high-flying action, hard-hitting brawls, and thrilling title matches. If you're a fan of professional wrestling, this show is definitely worth checking out. And if you're not already a fan... well, then you've got some catching up to do!

Card Details

  • Date: 11 Nov 2012
  • Promotion: New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • Arena: Bodymaker Colosseum
  • Attendance: 6600
  • Type: Pay Per View
  • Broadcast Type: Live
  • Broadcast Date: 11 Nov 2012

Matches

  1. Time Splitters (Alex Shelley and KUSHIDA)(C) defeat Forever Hooligans in a IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match

  2. CHAOS (Jado, Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano and YOSHI-HASHI) defeat Captain New Japan, Jushin Thunder Liger, Manabu Nakanishi, Negro Casas and Tiger Mask in a Ten Man Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 07:20

  3. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki and Taichi) defeat Ryusuke Taguchi and Yuji Nagata in a Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 09:53

  4. Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer)(C) defeat TenKoji (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) in a IWGP Tag Team Title Match
    Match Time: 13:12

  5. Prince Devitt(C) defeat Low Ki in a IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match

  6. Laughter7 (Katsuyori Shibata and Kazushi Sakuraba) defeat Togi Makabe and Wataru Inoue in a Tag Team Match
    Match Time: 05:26

  7. Kazuchika Okada defeat Hirooki Goto in a IWGP Heavyweight Title #1 Contendership Match
    Match Time: 15:43

  8. Shinsuke Nakamura(C) defeat Karl Anderson in a IWGP Intercontinental Title Match
    Match Time: 17:32

  9. Hiroshi Tanahashi(C) defeat Yujiro Takahashi in a IWGP Heavyweight Title Match
    Match Time: 25:06

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