NJPW 40th Anniversary Show

New Japan Pro Wrestling's "Tournament of Champions" Delivers Thrills and Spills at Korakuen Hall

In the world of professional wrestling, there's no substitute for a live event. And New Japan Pro Wrestling's latest pay-per-view offering, "Tournament of Champions," was no exception. Last night's card from Tokyo's Korakuen Hall was a masterclass in ring psychology, technical grappling, and sheer athleticism.

The Opening Act: Apollo 55 & KUSHIDA Shine

The evening kicked off with a high-flying six-man tag team match featuring Apollo 55 (Hirooki Goto) and KUSHIDA taking on Hiromu Takahashi, Takaaki Watanabe, and Tama Tonga. The young guns in this bout showed flashes of brilliance, with Apollo 55's impressive aerial attacks and KUSHIDA's quickness leaving the opposition scrambling to keep up. In the end, it was a well-timed roll-up from Apollo 55 that secured the victory (11:10).

CHAOS Reigns Supreme

The next two matches saw CHAOS stablemates Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI team up with Captain New Japan and Tomoaki Honma in a tag team contest. The result was a predictably intense affair, with Ishii's power and YOSHI-HASHI's agility proving too much for their foes (10:19). Later, CHAOS' Gedo and Jado found themselves on the receiving end of a beatdown at the hands of Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask in another tag team match. This one was all about the veteran lucha libre stars, who used their quickness and cunning to outmaneuver their opponents (8:36).

Seigigun vs. Suzuki-gun: A Battle for Supremacy

In a thrilling six-man tag team match, Seigigun (Togi Makabe) and his allies faced off against Suzuki-gun's trio of Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, and TAKA Michinoku. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as both teams traded near-falls and hard-hitting moves, ultimately resulting in a decisive win for Seigigun (12:35).

TenKoji & CHAOS Face Off

The penultimate match saw TenKoji's Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima take on CHAOS' Takashi Iizuka and Toru Yano. This one was all about the power vs. agility dynamic, with the larger men struggling to keep up with their quicker opponents. In the end, it was a well-executed combination move from CHAOS that sealed the deal (14:37).

The Main Event: Okada vs. Naito for the IWGP Heavyweight Title

And then there was the main event – Kazuchika Okada putting his IWGP Heavyweight Championship on the line against Tetsuya Naito. This bout had "instant classic" written all over it, with both men giving it their all in a 28:50 marathon of a match. In the end, Okada emerged victorious, but not before Naito had him reeling with a series of near-falls and jaw-dropping moves.

The Verdict

In conclusion, "Tournament of Champions" was an outstanding event that showcased the best of New Japan Pro Wrestling. From the high-flying opener to the thrilling main event, there was something for everyone in this card. If you're a fan of professional wrestling, do yourself a favor and seek out this show – it's well worth your time.

Grade: A-

Recommendation: Don't miss the replay of this event on pay-per-view or online streaming platforms. Trust us, it's worth the watch.

Card Details

Date: 04 Mar 2012
Promotion: New Japan Pro Wrestling
Arena: Korakuen Hall
Attendance: 2040
Type: Pay Per View
Broadcast Type: Live
Broadcast Date: 04 Mar 2012

Matches

Apollo 55 and KUSHIDA defeat Hiromu Takahashi, Takaaki Watanabe and Tama Tonga in a Six Man Tag Team Match
Match Time: 11:10
CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI) defeat Captain New Japan and Tomoaki Honma in a Tag Team Match
Match Time: 10:19
Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask defeat CHAOS (Gedo and Jado) in a Tag Team Match
Match Time: 08:36
Seigigun and Togi Makabe defeat Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Taichi and TAKA Michinoku) in a Six Man Tag Team Match
Match Time: 12:35
CHAOS (Takashi Iizuka and Toru Yano) defeat TenKoji (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) in a Tag Team Match
Match Time: 14:37
CHAOS (Masato Tanaka, Shinsuke Nakamura and Yujiro Takahashi) defeat Hirooki Goto, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Karl Anderson in a Six Man Tag Team Match
Match Time: 14:18
Kazuchika Okada(C) defeat Tetsuya Naito in a IWGP Heavyweight Title Match
Match Time: 28:50