NJPW Battle Final 2004 - Tag 12

ZOHASH.COM REPORT

NJPW: "Winter Fury" PPV Review

December 11, 2004 - Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan

Attendance: 6,000

In a year filled with ups and downs for New Japan Pro Wrestling, the promotion closed out 2004 with a bang at their "Winter Fury" pay-per-view event. The card featured a mix of young guns, veteran stalwarts, and even some surprise appearances. Let's dive into the action-packed evening that was.

Match 1: El Samurai & Hiroshi Nagao vs. Akiya Anzawa & Ryusuke Taguchi

The curtain jerker saw two teams clash in what was a solid, if unremarkable, tag team match. El Samurai and Nagao proved to be the more cohesive unit, ultimately securing the victory (10:04).

Match 2: Masayuki Naruse vs. Hirooki Goto

In a brief but intense singles match, Naruse bested Goto with a series of rapid-fire moves (2:51). Not much to say here, but kudos to both competitors for putting in the effort.

Match 3: Koji Kanemoto, Tiger Mask & Wataru Inoue vs. CTU (Gedo, Jado & Minoru Tanaka)

The first six-man tag team match of the evening saw CTU's trio take on the more established trio of Kanemoto, Tiger Mask, and Inoue. The result was a thrilling bout that showcased each competitor's unique skills (13:41). A fun match with some great moments.

Match 4: Kensuke Family (Genichiro Tenryu & Katsuhiko Nakajima) vs. Togi Makabe & Toru Yano

The second tag team match of the night saw the young guns of Makabe and Yano take on the veteran duo of Tenryu and Nakajima. While not as captivating as the previous six-man, this bout still had its moments (10:25).

Match 5: Blue Wolf, Takashi Iizuka & Yutaka Yoshie vs. Black New Japan (Black Strong Machine, Mitsuya Nagai & Scott Norton)

In a match that felt more like a showcase for Blue Wolf and his cohorts than an actual contest, the trio from Osaka emerged victorious (14:35). Some nice spots here, but ultimately, this was about the underdogs getting their moment in the sun.

Match 6: Jushin Thunder Liger & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Riki Choshu & Tomohiro Ishii

Liger and Nakanishi made a strong case for why they should be considered one of the best tag teams in the world, dominating their opponents (8:03). A well-executed match that left fans wanting more.

Match 7: Masahiro Chono vs. Yuji Nagata

Chono looked every bit the grizzled veteran as he dispatched Nagata with a series of methodical attacks (13:23). Not much in terms of excitement, but a solid display from both competitors.

Main Event: Hiroyoshi Tenzan (TL) vs. Satoshi Kojima

In a bout that will be remembered for years to come, the main event saw Tenzan and Kojima engage in an instant classic time limit draw (30:00). The crowd was electric as these two legends gave it their all, with neither man able to emerge victorious. A truly unforgettable performance from both.

Main Event II: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Kensuke Sasaki & Minoru Suzuki

The IWGP Tag Team Championship match saw the reigning champions, Tanahashi and Nakamura, successfully defend their titles against the formidable duo of Sasaki and Suzuki (no time limit). A well-executed match that showcased the skills of all four competitors.

In conclusion, "Winter Fury" was a solid pay-per-view event that featured some great matches and memorable moments. While not every bout was a home run, the overall product was enjoyable and left fans feeling satisfied. Here's to looking forward to what New Japan has in store for us in 2005!

Card Details

• Date: 11 Dec 2004
• Promotion: New Japan Pro Wrestling
• Arena: Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
• Attendance: 6000
• Type: Pay Per View
• Broadcast Type: Live
• Broadcast Date: 11 Dec 2004

Matches

1. El Samurai and Hiroshi Nagao defeat Akiya Anzawa and Ryusuke Taguchi in a Tag Team Match
   Match Time: 10:04

2. Masayuki Naruse defeat Hirooki Goto in a Singles Match
   Match Time: 02:51

3. Koji Kanemoto, Tiger Mask and Wataru Inoue defeat CTU (Gedo, Jado and Minoru Tanaka) in a Six Man Tag Team Match
   Match Time: 13:41

4. Kensuke Family (Genichiro Tenryu and Katsuhiko Nakajima) defeat Togi Makabe and Toru Yano in a Tag Team Match
   Match Time: 10:25

5. Blue Wolf, Takashi Iizuka and Yutaka Yoshie defeat Black New Japan (Black Strong Machine, Mitsuya Nagai and Scott Norton) in a Six Man Tag Team Match
   Match Time: 14:35

6. Jushin Thunder Liger and Manabu Nakanishi defeat Riki Choshu and Tomohiro Ishii in a Tag Team Match
   Match Time: 08:03

7. Masahiro Chono defeat Yuji Nagata in a Singles Match
   Match Time: 13:23

8. Hiroyoshi Tenzan Time Limit Draw Satoshi Kojima in a Singles Match
   Match Time: 30:00

9. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinsuke Nakamura(C) defeat Kensuke Sasaki and Minoru Suzuki in a IWGP Tag Team Title Match