On July 20th, 2002, All Japan Pro Wrestling aired the AJPW Giant Battle Day 1 2002 in Tokyo, Japan. Inside Nippon Budokan, we had nine matches on tap. As we had a Non Title Fatal 4 Way Tag Team Stan Hansen Cup, The Great Muta went one on one with The Great Koji (Satoshi Kojima) & the main event Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion Genichiro Tenryu went one on one with Taiyo Kea.
AJPW Giant Battle Day 1 Review
Kazushi Miyamoto vs. Masanobu Fuchi
Kazushi Miyamoto & Masanobu Fuchi lock up to start this match off then Fuchi gets Miyamoto to the mat but Miyamoto gets out of it and they both bounce back up. Hammerlock by Fuchi, but again Miyamoto rolls out of it, but Fuchi delivers a backdrop driver, which keeps Miyamoto down for a moment.
Fuchi allows Miyamoto time to get back to his feet and kicks him in the head but Miyamoto pushes him into the corner and hits a series of punches. Irish whip by Miyamoto and he hits a jumping forearm shot in the corner. An arm breaker is applied by Miyamoto, Fuchi twice gets a hand on the ropes but both times the referee kicks his arm free which allows Miyamoto to slap the submission on harder.
Fuchi eventually struggles back to his feet and grabs the 2nd rope and this time the referee forces Miyamoto to break the hold then they lock up, waist lock by Fuchi, he gets Miyamoto to the mat and goes for an STF. He doesn’t get it locked on, so he applies a stretch submission instead. Miyamoto squirms to the ropes and manages to get one foot on the bottom rope.
Back up Fuchi applies a front facelock but again Miyamoto grabs the ropes. Fuchi backs up from Miyamoto lock up, Fuchi gets Miyamoto in to the corner but Miyamoto slaps him in the face. Lock up Fuchi gets Miyamoto into the ropes and again Miyamoto slaps Fuchi. Lock up once again, again Fuchi gets Miyamoto into the corner, he goes to punch Miyamoto, but changes his mind and gives a clean break.
Back to the middle of the ring, kick to the gut by Fuchi and he hits a scoop slam then another scoop slam with authority by Fuchi and he applies a modified STF. Fuchi twists Miyamoto’s legs for a bit and then applies a modified Indian Deathlock. Fuchi switches to a different leg submission and he grabs Miyamoto’s arms before he can reach out for the ropes.
He does eventually make it though, and Fuchi allows him up then a another lock up Miyamoto gets Fuchi into the corner and slaps Fuchi in the chest. Front face lock by Miyamoto but Fuchi pushes him into the ropes. Uppercut by Miyamoto, another one, and a 3rd knocks Fuchi to the mat.
Miyamoto applies a side headlock, but Fuchi hits a gutwrench suplex. Fuchi goes for a Backdrop Driver, Miyamoto reverses it but Fuchi shakes him off and delivers a boot to the face. Quick cradle by Fuchi, but it only gets a two count.
Miyamoto hits a dropkick on Fuchi then a sunset flip but it only gets a two count while still on the mat then Fuchi quickly gets up & hits Cradle Cutback to get the win.
Winner: Masanobu Fuchi (8:55)
AJPW Giant Battle Day 1
Kaz Hayashi vs. Kokushi Muso
Waist lock by Kokushi Muso, reversed into an arm wrench by Kaz Hayashi but Muso quickly rolls out of it and applies a leg lock to Hayashi. Hayashi tries to reverse it with a headscissors but Muso avoids it and re applies a leg submission. Muso breaks the hold after Hayashi reaches the ropes, and Hayashi rolls out of the ring to regain his composure.
Back in the ring, single leg takedown by Hayashi and he crosses Muso’s legs to apply a submission hold. Hayashi continues pulling back on Muso’s leg, but Muso gets to his feet and hits an enziguiri. Snapmare by Muso and he applies a side headlock on the mat.
Hayashi slowly gets to his feet, Irish whip, but Muso knocks him down. Muso goes off the ropes again, Hayashi drops down to the mat but instead of jumping over him Muso hits the flash elbow. Muso grabs Hayashi by the arm and goes up to the top turnbuckle. He goes to walk the ropes ala Shinzaki but Hayashi kicks the top rope and Muso falls off.
Hayashi then kicks Muso in the back while he is still straddling the top rope, sending him out of the ring. Hayashi approaches the ropes and tries to hit a pescado down on Muso, but Muso moves out of the way & on the outside, Muso Irish whips Hayashi into the guardrail. Muso then gets a chair and puts it on the floor near the guardrail before grabbing Hayashi’s arm.
Muso then proceeds to step up onto the guardrail and walk down it, before jumping off with a club to Hayashi’s arm. Muso tosses Hayashi back into the ring and delivers a hammerlock takedown. Muso keeps the hammerlock on & lifts Muso back up, and hits a thrust in the corner.
Irish whip by Muso to the corner, but Hayashi flips over the top turnbuckle out to the apron. Muso tries to hit a shoulderblock through the ropes but Hayashi grabs Muso’s neck and guillotines it over the top rope.
Hayashi goes off the ropes and drops a big elbow on Muso. Muso fires back with a punch, snapmare by Muso and he applies a side headlock then a elbow to the back of the head by Muso and he kicks Hayashi in the gut. Chop by Muso, Irish whip, but he misses a thrust and Hayashi nails a handstand springboard elbow.
Kick by Hayashi, Irish whip to the corner, and he hits Muta’s handspring cartwheel elbow followed by a running facecrusher. Backbreaker by Hayashi, he goes up top and nails a moonsault then goes for a cover but Muso kicks out. Hayashi goes for a kick but Muso catches his leg and hits a dragon screw leg whip.
Muso then goes for a kick, but his leg is caught, and Hayashi hits a dragon screw leg whip. Dropkick to the knee by Hayashi and another one, and he hits another dragon screw. Hayashi applies the figure 4 as Muso prays and meditates & it works as Muso makes it to the ropes.
Hayashi goes for another dragon screw, but Muso hits a thrust to block it Hayashi knocks him down with a spinning leg lariat. Hayashi hits a scoop slam goes up top again and nails a corkscrew splash then goes for a cover but it only gets a two count.
Hayashi goes for a shining wizard but Muso blocks it and hits a shining wizard of his own, follow by Praying Powerbomb to score the victory.
Winner: Kokushi Muso (9:37)
AJPW Giant Battle Day 1 2002
Tag Team Match
Hideki Hosaka & Ryuji Hijikata vs. Shigeo Okumura & Jimmy Yang
Hideki Hosaka & Shigeo Okumura starts this match off with a lock-up then Hosaka gets Okumura into the corner and he gives a clean break they lock up again, waist lock by Hosaka reversed by Okumura but Hosaka gets on a side headlock and gets Okumura to the mat. Okumura reversed the move into a headscissors but Hosaka gets out of it and both men are back up.
Arm wrench by Hosaka and he applies a reverse chinlock on the mat. Hosaka picks up Okumura and he tags in his partner Ryuji Hijikata then they lock up, side headlock by Okumura into a hammerlock and he tags in Jimmy Yang & they lock up, they exchange reversals ending in a roll up by Yang but he only gets a two count.
Back up we get a test of strength, Hijikata gets the better of it, but Yang applies a cross armed submission hold. Hijikata steps out of the hold to reverse it however and he tags in Hosaka, who takes over the hold. Yang arm drags Hosaka to get out of it, Hosaka falls out of the ring and Yang goes sailing out with a plancha and he slides Hosaka into the ring.
Yang tags in Okumura, and he trades blows with Hosaka. Okumura goes off the ropes but Hosaka catches him with a German suplex. Okumura bounces back up and hits a lariat and both men lay on the mat. Back up, Hosaka gets a spinning heel kick on Okumura, and then hits a tope through the ropes when Okumura slides out of the ring.
Okumura is slid back in the ring and Hosaka tags in Hijikata. Kick to the back by Hijikata and one to the chest, but Okumura fires up and slaps him back. They trade shots which Okumura gets the better of. Irish whip by Okumura and he hits a dropkick on Hijikata. Cover, but it only gets a two count. Okumura tags in Yang and he hits a side Russian leg sweep into an arm submission hold. Hosaka comes in to break it up, snapmare by Hijikata and he kicks Yang in the back.
Kick to the chest by Hijikata and he tags in Hosaka & he clubs Yang in the back and applies a front facelock into a DDT then a cover by Hosaka but it only gets a two count. Jawbreaker by Hosaka and he tags Hijikata back in.
Hijikata kicks Yang a few times, Irish whip from the corner, but Yang elbows him when he charges and hits a leg lariat off the top turnbuckle & this allows Yang to tag in Okumura & he comes off the top turnbuckle with a missile dropkick. Scoop slam on Hijikata and Hosaka by Okumura, Irish whip on Hijikata, reversed, but Okumura slams Hijikata to the mat then hooks the leg but it only gets a two count.
Okumura hits a back suplex then a cover but again it gets a two count. Okumura picks up Hijikata, but Hijikata slaps him in the face. Okumura goes off the ropes but he is caught by two hard kicks to the head. Hijikata tags in Hosaka, Irish whip, and Hosaka hits a clothesline in the corner. Hosaka puts Okumura on the top turnbuckle and hits a Frankensteiner, followed by a running senton then goes for a pin but it only gets a two count.
Back up, Death Valley Driver by Hosaka cover, but again it gets a two count when Yang breaks it up. Yang distracts Hosaka, and by the time Hosaka turns back around he is hit with an exploder from Okumura. Okumura manages to tag in Yang, Yang knocks Hijikata off the apron and hits Hosaka with a kick. Irish whip by Yang on Hosaka, reversed, but Yang hits a dropkick to the chest then goes for a pin but Hosaka kicks out.
Kick to the back by Yang, he goes off the ropes, but he is caught with a spear. Hosaka tags in Hijikata, who kicks Yang in the back. Irish whip to the corner, and Hijikata hits a running forearm shot. Hijikata goes for a brainbuster but Yang kicks him into the corner and does a kickflip off of him. Hijikata charges Yang, ducks his high kick, trips him, and connects to Yang’s face with a side kick and then a cover, but Yang barely kicks out.
Hosaka comes in and hits a running clothesline in the corner, and then Hijikata hits a kick to the head then goes for the cover, but again it only gets 2. Hijikata picks up Yang and goes for the brainbuster, but Okumura runs in and trades shots with Hijikata & while Hijikata is busy with Okumura, Yang comes off the top rope with a missile dropkick.
Okumura hits a delayed brainbuster on Hijikata while Yang goes to the top turnbuckle and nails the Yang Time to get the win for his team.
Winners: Shigeo Okumura & Jimmy Yang (14:07)
AJPW Giant Battle Day 1 2002
Tomoaki Honma vs. Yuto Aijima
The match starts off with Yuto Aijima Irish whipping Tomoaki Honma then a elbow to the head then goes for a cover but it barely gets a 1 count then they trade kicks, Irish whip by Honma, and he hits a running forearm shot. Aijima doesn’t go down but he does after a lariat then goes for a cover but it only gets a two count.
Scoop slam by Honma and he applies a knee lock. Aijima eventually makes it to the ropes and Honma breaks the hold. Kick to the knee by Honma, and he clubs Aijima in the back. Aijima fights back with an eye rake but Honma kicks him back down to his knees.
Hammerlock takedown by Honma, and he applies a key lock on the mat. Aijima again makes it to the ropes, and Honma continues kicking on his knee. Irish whip, reversed, and Aijima hits a Samoan Drop then clubs to the back by Aijima and he hits a vertical suplex then hooks the leg but it only gets a two count.
Aijima applies a Crab but Honma grabs the bottom rope to break it up. Irish whip by Aijima, but Honma rolls out of the way of the clothesline and hits an enzigieri. Honma throws Aijima in the corner, Irish whip, and he hits a crazy elbow followed by a running facecrusher then a missile dropkick from the top turnbuckle by Honma, cover but it only gets a two count.
Back up Honma punches Aijima into the corner and puts him on the top turnbuckle. Honma goes for a Frankensteiner but Aijima grabs him and powerbombs Honma to the mat then a cover but he only gets a near fall. Aijima picks up Honma, Irish whip, and now he is the one that hits a running elbow smash.
Butterfly suplex by Aijima, cover, but Honma kicks out then a scoop slam by Aijima, he goes to the top turnbuckle and hits an elbow drop then goes for a cover but it only gets a two count. Aijima calls for the lariat, but Honma dropkicks him in the knee when he goes off the ropes. Honma blocks another lariat and again kicks Aijima in the knee.
Honma applies a STF with a grapevine but Aijima makes it to the ropes & after he sets up Aijima against the ropes, Honma hits another elbow and follows it with a lariat then a cover but Aijima somehow kicks out then Honma goes to the top turnbuckle & delivers Shalimarti to put away Aijima.
Winner: Tomoaki Honma (10:59)
AJPW Giant Battle Day 1 2002
6 Man Tag Team Match
Abdullah The Butcher, Hamada & Gran Naniwa vs. Keiji Mutoh, Mil Mascaras & Dos Caras
The match starts off with a lock-up then Hamada gets Dos Caras into the corner, Caras reverses positions with him and gives a clean break then another lock-up, hammerlock by Caras, Hamada snap mares out of it though, Hamada misses a clothesline, Caras goes for a back body drop but Hamada lands on his feet.
Kick by Caras and he hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker before Caras goes for a powerbomb, but Hamada hurricanrana out of it and Caras falls out of the ring. Hamada follows him out with a plancha, but Caras recovers quickly and tags in Mil Mascaras as Hamada tags in Gran Naniwa.
They lock up followed by a side headlock by Mascaras and he tosses Naniwa to the mat then they lock up again, and Mascaras gives Naniwa a headstand headscissors takedown while keeping the head locked for a submission. Naniwa gets to his feet but Mascaras takes him down again & this time Naniwa lands near the ropes and he gets the break.
They lock up, hammerlock by Mascaras and he arm drags Naniwa to the mat. Mascaras stretches Naniwa, Irish whip, and he hits a flying double chest chop. Caras comes in, Irish whip, and together he and Mascaras hit a double flying chest chop. Caras leaves, and Naniwa gets a hammerlock on Mascaras, but Mascaras flings him down.
Kick by Naniwa, he tries to push down Mascaras, but can’t do it, Hamada comes in to help, but Mascaras bridges up and tosses them to the mat. Mascaras then hits the double snap mare/headscissors on Naniwa & Hamada & Mascaras hits an atomic drop on Naniwa and then a slam on Hamada. Caras comes back in the ring they give Naniwa a double Irish whip and hit another flying double chest chop.
Caras then sails out of the ring with a tope on Naniwa. Mascaras gets on the top turnbuckle, but he was just teasing and he comes back down. Mascaras tags in Keiji Mutoh, while Abdullah The Butcher is tag in & he runs the ropes and rubs his head, followed by a lock up then Abdullah pushes Mutoh into the ropes, and gets a spike out of his boot which he promptly jabs into Mutoh’s neck.
Abdullah stabs Mascaras in the leg a few times before giving the spike to Naniwa then all 3 take turns working over Mutoh’s leg, as Hamada comes in and jumps down on it while it is propped against the 2nd rope. Abdullah stands on top of Mutoh’s leg and then chops him in the chest before tagging in Hamada.
Hamada kicks Mutoh in the leg and tags in Naniwa, who gets in his kicks as well then a leg submission is applied by Naniwa but Mutoh grabs the rope. Abdullah is tagged back in, and he hits a series of neck thrusts. Irish whip by Abdullah, and a thrust to the neck knocks Mutoh down. Abdullah drops the big elbow on Mutoh then a cover but Mutoh kicks out.
Mutoh quickly tags in Caras, Irish whip by Abdullah, but Caras hits a dropkick then he goes for another one but Abdullah hits another neck thrust to block the move and then hits him repeatedly while Caras is laying on the mat. Mutoh & Mascaras come in to help, they give Abdullah a double Irish whip, and deliver a double flying chest chop.
Caras covers Abdullah, but Hamada breaks it up. Abdullah tags in Naniwa, Irish whip by Naniwa on Caras, but it is reversed, and Caras hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Double under hook backbreaker by Caras, cover, but Hamada breaks it up. Caras picks up Naniwa & nails the Jumping Bomb for the win.
Winners: Keiji Mutoh, Mil Mascaras & Dos Caras (9:44)
AJPW Giant Battle Day 1 2002
6 Man Tag Team Match
Arashi & Nobutaka Araya (c) & Nobukazu Hirai vs. Kendo Kashin (c), Yoji Anjo & Mitsuya Nagai
Match starts off with a side headlock by Kendo Kashin then a Irish whip by Arashi, and they collide with neither man budging. Hiptoss by Arashi, another hiptoss, and a 3rd on Kashin. Kashin gets up angry but his partners won’t tag him. Side headlock by Arashi and he tags in Nobutaka Araya. Clubs to the back by Araya, but Kashin gets to his corner and tags in Yoji Anjo.
Kashin holds Araya for Anjo but Araya ducks and Kashin clotheslines Anjo on accident. Araya picks up Anjo and clubs him in the back before tagging in Nobukazu Hirai then double Irish whip, and they hit a double shoulder block. Hirai goes for a suplex, but Anjo reverses it into an armbar. Anjo gets Hirai to his feet and tags in Mitsuya Nagai.
Nagai knees Hirai in the arm and chokes him against the ropes then a dropkick to the arm by Nagai but Hirai manages to get to his corner and tags in Arashi. Kicks by Arashi in the corner and he chokes Nagai with his boot. Arashi clubs Nagai in the back, scoop slam but Nagai gets up and pushes Arashi into his own corner.
Both Kashin & Anjo ask for the tag but Nagai can’t decide which one to choose, which gives Arashi time to recover and push him back towards the middle of the ring. Nagai pushes him back, and this time Anjo tags himself in then a kick in the corner by Anjo but Kashin tags himself in and kicks Arashi as well.
Uppercuts by Kashin, Irish whip, reversed, and Arashi hits a dropkick. Kashin rolls to the outside, he fakes a tope, but the referee stops him from doing it. Kashin slowly gets back in the ring and is greeted by kicks by Arashi. Arashi tags in Araya & he punches Kashin in the corner.
Irish whip, and Araya hits a clothesline then goes for a cover but it only gets a two count. Araya tags in Hirai, Irish whip by Hirai, he hits a drop toehold and Araya followed with a leg drop then a elbow drop by Hirai gets a two count.
Kashin elbows Hirai and manages to get to his corner but Anjo holds back Nagai so that Kashin can’t make the tag to his partners. Hirai tags in Arashi, who punches Kashin in the corner. Irish whip, and Arashi applies a reverse chinlock. Kashin bites Arashi’s thumb to get out of it however, and Anjo tags in.
After Anjo tosses Kashin out of the way, Anjo turns his attention to Arashi. Arashi asks for a handshake, Anjo accepts, but Arashi kicks him in the stomach and tags in Araya then a scoop slam by Araya and he drops an elbow on Anjo then goes for a cover but it gets a two count. Araya tags in Hirai, he slams Anjo to the mat and applies a crab hold.
Kashin quickly breaks it up then he kicks Anjo as well, drags Anjo to his corner, and tags himself in. Hirai then drives Kashin back into his own corner and hits a series of shoulder tackles before tagging in Araya. Kick by Araya, Irish whip but Kashin gets his foot up when he charges and applies the reverse triangle choke over the top rope.
He eventually releases the hold on Araya and tags in Nagai. Irish whip by Nagai, and he hits a spinning heel kick. Nagai kicks Araya in the back and again in the chest, knocking him to the mat then goes for a pin but it gets a two count. Irish whip by Nagai, hiptoss, and he nails a knee strike to the head then a cover but it is broken up.
Arm wrench by Nagai and he tags in Anjo & he hits a forearm to the chest of Araya while Nagai is holding him but when he goes for a 2nd one, Araya ducks and Nagai ends up getting hit instead. Kashin comes in to yell at Anjo while Hirai puts Nagai up on the top turnbuckle and hits a Frankensteiner then Hirai goes for a cover but it gets a two count.
Araya goes off the ropes, but Nagai him catches him with a kick and a capture suplex & this gives him time to tag in Anjo, double Irish whip, and they deliver a double flying chest chop to Hirai. Anjo picks up Hirai, Irish whip from the corner, and he hits a diving forearm smash. Anjo goes up top but he accidentally falls off.
Hirai tags in Araya, double Irish whip, and both wrestlers hit clotheslines as well as Arashi. Hirai hits a powerbomb from the top turnbuckle then goes for a cover, but Nagai breaks it up. Nagai gets taken out, Hirai nails the Hirai End then goes for a cover but Anjo somehow kicks out then a brawl ensues, Hirai picks up Anjo but Anjo kicks him in the stomach, delivers a back chop follow by Upper 200 gets the job done.
Winners: Junior Heavyweight Champion Kendo Kashin, Yoji Anjo & Mitsuya Nagai (12:10)
AJPW Giant Battle Day 1 2002
Non-Title Fatal 4 Way Tag Team Stan Hansen Cup Match
World Tag Team Champions KroniK (Brian Adams & Bryan Clark) vs. Mike Barton & Jim Steele vs. Steve Williams & Mike Rotundo vs. Johnny Smith & George Hines
The match starts off with a brawl with all 4 teams fighting in the ring. KroniK is beaten down and kicked out of the ring while Johnny Smith yells at him from the turnbuckle & now Smith & George Hines are facing off against Steve Williams & Mike Rotundo. Williams punches Steele against the ropes and hits a Cactus Clothesline over the top rope.
KroniK is in the ring now, and they hit a double chokeslam on Smith then a cover, and it gets the 3 count. Williams fighting with Brian Adams in the ring while Rotundo takes care of Bryan Clark outside the ring then Williams punches Adams and nails Doctor Bomb then goes for a cover & that eliminated the champ’s KroniK. Williams Irish whips Mike Barton to the corner and hits a running splash.
Jim Steele runs in the ring and hits a swinging neckbreaker, but Williams comes back with a hiptoss. Steele quickly gets to the top turnbuckle and hits a diving shoulder block, and cover, but he only gets a two count. Steele goes for a gut-wrench suplex, but Rotundo distracts him and Williams knocks down Steele with a lariat.
Williams tags in Rotundo & he knocks down Steele with a clothesline. Irish whip by Rotundo, and he gives Steele an airplane spin then a cover by Rotundo, but it only gets a two count when Barton breaks it up.
DDT by Barton but Williams comes in to take care of him. Williams fights off both men at first, but they give him an Irish whip and deliver a double shoulder block. Steele tags in Barton, but then goes over to Rotundo and hits a scoop slam followed by a diving splash.
Barton then drops an elbow from the top turnbuckle, then goes for the pin, but Rotundo kicks out. Barton hits a pump handle slam on Rotundo, cover, but Williams breaks it up. Williams goes for the Oklahoma Stampede, but Barton pushes him off, and Steele hits a clothesline. Barton then goes back to Rotundo & nails Barton Cutter for the win.
Winners Of The 2002 Stan Hansen Cup: Mike Barton & Jim Steele (26:30)
AJPW Giant Battle Day 1 2002
The Great Muta vs. The Great Koji
The match starts off with The Great Koji charges The Great Muta and chops him against the ropes, then an Irish whip, Muta rolls through the clothesline and both wrestlers spray each other with the Mist at the same time then they come at each other again.
We get a lock up, then a waist lock by Muta into an arm wrench, Koji reverses it into his own arm wrench, but Koji backs off when Muta sticks his fingers in his mouth before a kick to the chest by Koji, followed by chops, snap mare, and he hits a running senton. Elbow is dropped by Koji, and he drops another one. Muta quickly rolls out of the ring and then crawls under it. Koji goes out to find him, crawling under as well.
Muta appears at the other side with a broomstick, but Koji catches him from behind and hits him with the broom stick himself. Kick by Koji and he throws Muta up on the ramp. Koji then runs all the way up the ramp way charges Muta and kicks him down. Muta rolls back into the ring and Koji soon follows him in.
Eye rake by Koji and he kicks Muta in the side of the head. Koji takes off his belt and then begins to choke Muta with it then after releasing him, Koji picks up Muta and hits a vertical suplex. Koji picks up Muta and chops him in the chest then a kick by Koji, he goes up to the 2nd turnbuckle and hits a diving club to the back.
Koji goes off the ropes but Muta quickly dropkicks him in the knee follow by snapmare by Muta, and he hits the flash elbow. Muta wipes Koji’s face, trying to get the face paint off, and throws him out of the ring. Muta follows Koji out, grabs the ring bell ringer and hits Koji with it before throwing him into the ring post.
Kick to the stomach by Muta, and as he is choking him we see that Koji has been busted open. Muta jumps over the guardrail to unlock the fence then comes back in to throw Koji into the ring post again then after throwing a random young wrestler at Koji and throwing him into the guardrail, Muta rolls back into the ring and waits for Koji.
Koji eventually makes it back in, and Muta chops him in the back of the head. Choke by Muta, Koji tries to fight back, but Muta rakes him in the eyes. Koji hits a Koji Cutter when Muta picks him back up, but Muta recovers and hits a back kick, sending Koji out of the ring. Muta goes out as well and hits Koji in the head with the ring bell then the referee gets the bell from Muta but Muta finds a silver box and hits Koji with that as well.
Koji rolls back into the ring, and after posing for the camera Muta goes back in after him. Koji struggles to his feet, but Muta punches him into the corner. Irish whip by Muta to the corner, he goes for his cartwheel back elbow but Koji catches him and hits a German suplex then Koji with a chop but Muta returns fire, and Muta floors Koji with a kick to the head.
Muta goes up top and hits a missile dropkick on Koji. Muta kicks Koji in the corner, places him on the top turnbuckle, and after biting him he delivers the Frankensteiner then goes for a cover but it only gets a two count then back up, Koji goes for a kick but Muta catches his leg and hits a dragon screw leg whip. Koji gets up quickly though but Muta hits another one.
Koji springs to his feet and he nails a Michinoku Driver II on Muta then a pin but Muta kicks out. Koji picks up Muta, Irish whip from the corner, and he hits the jumping elbow smash/snapmare/elbow drop then goes for a cover but it only gets a two count. Koji clubs Muta in the back, goes for the lariat, it is blocked, Muta goes for the Shining Wizard, but Koji blocks that, and Koji then nails a lariat.
Muta rolls out of the ring after the move and lays on the mat outside. Muta eventually gets to his feet and grabs a chair but as he gets back in the ring he accidentally drops it. He then demands a ring attendant hand it back to him, which he does, but in the meantime Koji has recovered and he hits Muta in the back.
Muta pushes down the referee, and when Koji goes for a lariat he holds the chair up so that it connects with Koji’s arm; then a Green mist but Muta to the face of Koji and he nails a Shining Wizard off the chair. Then applies a cross-arm breaker for the submission win.
Winner By Submission: The Great Muta (16:57)
AJPW Giant Battle Day 1 2002
Non Title Match
Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion
Genichiro Tenryu vs. Taiyo Kea
The match starts off with a lock-up then an arm wrench by Taiyp Kea, reversed into an arm wrench by Genichiro Tenryu, Kea rolls through it though and re applies the hold. Tenryu rolls out of Kea’s grasp, he takes him to the mat, but Kea regains his footing and both men face off on their feet again. Kea goes for a single leg takedown but Tenryu makes it to the ropes.
Kea hits a chop instead of giving a clean break, which Tenryu did not appreciate then they lock up again with Tenryu gets Kea against the ropes and hits a chop. Kea chops back but Tenryu hits an enziguiri and slams Kea’s head into his knee. Kea fires back though with a chop and dropkicks Tenryu against the ropes. Kea charges Tenryu but Tenryu gets his boot up.
Lariat by Tenryu, but Kea stumbles away and gets back to his feet then a another lock up, Tenryu gets Kea against the ropes and gives a break. Kick by Kea followed by a chop, and he challenges Tenryu.
Tenryu responds with a slap, but Kea slaps him back then a gut punch by Tenryu, and Kea falls to the mat. Tenryu hits a DDT and applies a reverse choke. Kea manages to roll to the ropes though and Tenryu breaks the hold after a moment.
Kea rolls out of the ring but Tenryu follows him and hits a chop then a another chop by Tenryu and he throws Kea back into the ring. Elbow drop by Tenryu and he applies a stretch hold.
Kea eventually knees his way out of it, but Tenryu hits another punch then Tenryu picks up Kea & drops him on his head. Tenryu picks up Kea and nails a brainbuster then goes for a cover, but it only gets a two count. Chops by Tenryu in the corner, Irish whip, and he hits a clothesline in the other corner. Another Irish whip, and he alternates between punches and chops in the corner.
Tenryu hits a gut punch and knocks down Kea with an enzuigiri. Tenryu places Kea up on the top turnbuckle & he goes up, and delivers a spider suplex. Kea bounces up though, and while Tenryu is still hanging upside-down he kicks Tenryu repeatedly in the chest as the referee tries to stop him. Tenryu eventually falls off and Kea stomps him in the leg. Kick to the back of the head by Kea and Tenryu falls/rolls out of the ring.
Kea quickly joins him on the outside and chops Tenryu against the guardrail then Kea twists Tenryu’s leg around the iron of the guardrail and chops Tenryu in the chest then more stomps by Kea and he slams Tenryu’s head into the apron before sliding him back in the ring. Leg drop by Kea to the knee of Tenryu and he applies a leg submission.
Kea lays down to apply more pressure to his submission hold but Tenryu eventually makes it to the bottom rope. Tenryu slowly gets to his feet and the two exchange chops. Irish whip by Kea, reversed, but Kea hits a DDT then a cover but Tenryu kicks out. Kea elbows down on Tenryu’s injured leg and applies an ankle lock.
Tenryu makes it to the ropes fairly quickly though and Kea has to release the hold. Kea picks up Tenryu then a scoop slam, but when he goes for the frog splash off the top turnbuckle Tenryu gets his knees up & hits Kea with a chop. Kea returns the chops and punches, and knocks down Tenryu with a jumping kick to the back of the head.
Kea picks up Tenryu, puts him on his shoulders and nails the Hawaiian Smasher then goes for a cover Tenryu is too close to the ropes and he gets his foot under them for the break. Kea picks up Tenryu, but Tenryu connects with a gut punch. Kea fires back with a jumping heel kick, delivers another Hawaiian Smasher, cover, but Tenryu barely kicks out.
Kea picks Tenryu up off the mat, but Tenryu sneaks in a punch and nails the powerbomb. Cover, but it only gets a two-count. Tenryu hits another brainbuster, then goes for a pin, but again Kea is able to kick out.
They started trading chops while they are standing, but Kea nails 2 consecutive high kicks to the head of Tenryu then picks him up & drills him to the mat with H50 for the win.
