Japanese legend and Hall of Famer Tatsumi Fujinami, through his Dradition (yes, it is spelled that way) promotion, held his 50th Anniversary event today that also featured his final match at age 69. In perhaps a symbolic torch passing, his final opponent was none other than this generation’s icon-Hiroshi Tanahashi. Wrestlers from promotions throughout Japan, both the Big 3 (New Japan, All-Japan, Pro Wrestling NOAH) and smaller promotions were featured throughout the event.
Today’s event was held at Yoyogi National Stadium Gym 2 in Tokyo and can be watched on demand as a PPV on New Japan World as a PPV. Between the event cost and monthly subscription fees it adds up to around $28 US and you can watch on demand with purchase until 3/1/23. After that it may be available to all monthly subscribers.
The announced paid attendance was 2150.
Match 1 (I’m going to botch some names from quick web translations): Alexander Otsuka, Go Takemura, MAZADA & Nobuyuki Kurashima beat Sanshu Tsubakichi (?), TAMURA, Kumaru Tajima (?) & Yutaka Yoshie. Kurashima pinned Tsubakichi with a German suplex hold.
Match 2: Jinsei Shinzaki, AKIRA & Shiro Koshinaka beat Masaaki Mochizuki, Masato Tanaka & Tatsuhito Takaiwa. AKIRA pinned Takaiwa.
Match 3: Hiromu Takahashi (New Japan) beat LEONA.
Match 4: Kengo Mashimo, Daisuke Sekimoto & Naomichi Marufuji (NOAH) beat KENSO, Yoshiki Inamura (NOAH) & Kazusada Higuchi (DDT). Marufuji pinned KENSO after Shiranui.
Match 5: Jake Lee (All-Japan), Zack Sabre Jr. (New Japan) & Masakatsu Funaki (NOAH) beat Mitsuya Nagai, Shingo Takagi (New Japan) & Tetsuya Naito (New Japan). Funaki pinned Nagai after Hybrid Blaster.
Main Event: Tatsumi Fujinami 50th Anniversary & Final Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi (New Japan) beat Tatsumi Fujinami.
