NJPW Riki Choshu Revival

ZOHASH.COM EXCLUSIVE: NJPW's "Battle Royale" PPV Delivers Thrills and Spills!

Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan - July 30th, 2000

The anticipation was palpable as the sold-out crowd of 18,000 packed Yokohama Arena for New Japan Pro Wrestling's highly-anticipated pay-per-view event, "Battle Royale." And boy, did the promotion deliver! From start to finish, this show had it all: high-flying action, technical grappling, and even a healthy dose of carnage. Let me take you through the highlights...

Match 1: Shinya Makabe vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (Singles Match) In the opening contest, young upstart Shinya Makabe looked to make a statement against veteran Hiroshi Tanahashi. And while Makabe showed flashes of brilliance, it was ultimately Tanahashi's experience that proved too much, as he secured the victory in 9:33.

Match 2: Minoru Tanaka vs. AKIRA (Singles Match) The second match saw Minoru Tanaka, known for his high-flying antics, take on the rugged AKIRA. In a back-and-forth affair, both men traded near-falls and showed no signs of letting up. In the end, it was Tanaka's aerial assault that sealed the deal in 10:32.

Match 3: Junji Hirata vs. Kenzo Suzuki (Singles Match) Next up, Junji Hirata looked to prove his worth against rising star Kenzo Suzuki. This one was a real barnburner, with both men giving it their all. In the end, Hirata's sheer power proved too much for Suzuki, as he picked up the win in 10:13.

Match 4: Shiro Koshinaka vs. Koji Kanemoto (Singles Match) The fourth match saw Shiro Koshinaka, a man known for his technical prowess, take on the aggressive Koji Kanemoto. This one was a real test of strength and endurance, with both men trading holds and near-falls. In the end, it was Koshinaka's cunning that won out, as he submitted Kanemoto in 11:40.

Match 5: Takashi Iizuka vs. Shinjiro Otani (Singles Match) The penultimate contest pitted veteran Takashi Iizuka against the up-and-coming Shinjiro Otani. This one was a real clash of styles, with Iizuka's power going up against Otani's quickness. In the end, it was Iizuka's experience that proved too much, as he picked up the win in 11:04.

Main Event: Kensuke Sasaki & Yuji Nagata vs. G-EGGS (Manabu Nakanishi & Yutaka Yoshie) - Tag Team Match And finally, we had our main event, pitting the legendary tag team of Kensuke Sasaki and Yuji Nagata against the young guns of G-EGGS. This one was a real war, with both teams giving it their all. In the end, it was Sasaki and Nagata's experience that proved too much, as they secured the victory in 18:23.

No Rope Explosive Barbed Wire Death Match: Riki Choshu vs. Atsushi Onita And finally, we had our infamous No Rope Explosive Barbed Wire Death Match, pitting two of Japan's most legendary wrestlers against each other - Riki Choshu and Atsushi Onita. This one was a real spectacle, with both men putting their bodies on the line in a brutal battle. In the end, it was Choshu's cunning that won out, as he secured the victory in 7:46.

FINAL THOUGHTS

In conclusion, this "Battle Royale" PPV event from NJPW delivered in spades. With a mix of high-flying action, technical grappling, and even some carnage, there was something for everyone. And while not every match was a five-star affair, the overall quality of the card was top-notch. If you missed it, do yourself a favor and track down a replay - this one's worth seeing! 4.5/5

Card Details

Date: 30 Jul 2000
Promotion: New Japan Pro Wrestling
Arena: Yokohama Arena
Attendance: 18000
Type: Pay Per View
Broadcast Type: Live
Broadcast Date: 30 Jul 2000

Matches

Shinya Makabe defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi in a Singles Match
Match Time: 09:33
Minoru Tanaka defeat AKIRA in a Singles Match
Match Time: 10:32
Junji Hirata defeat Kenzo Suzuki in a Singles Match
Match Time: 10:13
Shiro Koshinaka defeat Koji Kanemoto in a Singles Match
Match Time: 11:40
Takashi Iizuka defeat Shinjiro Otani in a Singles Match
Match Time: 11:04
Kensuke Sasaki and Yuji Nagata defeat G-EGGS (Manabu Nakanishi and Yutaka Yoshie) in a Tag Team Match
Match Time: 18:23
Riki Choshu defeat Atsushi Onita in a No Rope Explosive Barbed Wire Death Match
Match Time: 07:46