Wrestling World 2003

Wrestling World 2003 was a professional wrestling event held by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on January 4 in the Tokyo Dome. Wrestling World 2003 was the twelfth January 4 Tokyo Dome Show promoted by NJPW. The show drew 30,000 spectators.[1] The show featured the semi-finals and the finals of the "Young Generation Cup", an NJPW tournament for relative newcomers who have yet to establish themselves as top level wrestlers, which saw Ryushi Yanagisawa defeat Yutaka Yoshie to win the cup. The show featured a total of eleven matches, including a match for the vacant NWF Heavyweight Championship that Yoshihiro Takayama won by defeating Tsuyoshi Kosaka in the finals of a four-man tournament. The main event was a successful defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship as champion Yuji Nagata defeated Josh Barnett.

Wrestling World 2003
Yutaka Yoshie, who was defeated by Ryushi Yanagisawa in the Young Generation Cup finals.
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateJanuary 4, 2003[1]
CityTokyo, Japan
VenueTokyo Dome
Attendance30,000[1]
Wrestling World chronology
← Previous
2002		 Next →
2004

Production
Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
English Commentators Kevin Kelly
Chris Charlton
Rocky Romero
Japanese Commentators Shinpei Nogami
Milano Collection A.T.
Katsuhiko Kanazawa
Kazuyoshi Sakai
Togi Makabe
Ring announcers Makoto Abe
Kimihiko Ozaki
Referees Kenta Sato
Marty Asami
Red Shoes Unno

Background

The January 4 Tokyo Dome Show is NJPW's biggest annual event and has been called "the largest professional wrestling show in the world outside of the United States" and the "Japanese equivalent to the Super Bowl".[2][3]

Storylines

Wrestling World 2003 featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.[4]

Results
No. Results Stipulations Times[1]
1 Osamu Nishimura defeated Tatsumi Fujinami Singles match 08:10
2 Yutaka Yoshie defeated Shinya Makabe Singles match: semifinal of the Young Generation Cup 13:20
3 Ryushi Yanagisawa defeated Kenzo Suzuki Singles match: semifinal of the Young Generation Cup 09:23
4 Dai Majin and Makai #1 defeated Hiro Saito and Tatsutoshi Goto via disqualification Tag team match 07:50
5 Makai #4 and Makai #5 defeated Masahito Kakihara and Takashi Iizuka Tag team match 10:54
6 Jushin Thunder Liger, Koji Kanemoto and Takehiro Murahama defeated Heat, Masayuki Naruse and Tiger Mask Six-man tag team match 16:10
7 Ryushi Yanagisawa defeated Yutaka Yoshie Singles match: Finals of the Young Generation Cup 06:48
8 Michiyoshi Ohara and Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Kazunari Murakami and Tadao Yasuda via referee stoppage Tag team match 07:12
9 Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan defeated Masahiro Chono and Manabu Nakanishi Tag team match 23:18
10 Yoshihiro Takayama defeated Tsuyoshi Kosaka Singles match; Tournament final for the vacant NWF Heavyweight Championship 10:19
11 Yuji Nagata (c) defeated Josh Barnett Singles match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship 10:40
  • (c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match

NWF Heavyweight Championship tournament bracket
Semifinals Finals
      
Cross Road Yoshihiro Takayama Pin
08/29/2002 Kazuyuki Fujita 08:28
Wrestling World Yoshihiro Takayama Pin
01/04/2003 Tsuyoshi Kosaka 10:19
The Spiral Tsuyoshi Kosaka Sub
10/14/2002 Tadao Yasuda 02:15

Young Generation Cup tournament bracket
Semifinals Finals
      
Shinya Makabe Pin
Yutaka Yoshie 13:20
Yutaka Yoshie Sub
Ryushi Yanagisawa 06:48
Kenzo Suzuki Pin
Ryushi Yanagisawa 09:23

References
  1. "Wrestling World 2003". ProWrestlingHistory.com. January 4, 2003. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  2. "GFW News: New Japan Pro Wrestling "Wrestle Kingdom 9" press conference details". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. December 23, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  3. Keller, Wade (December 13, 2016). "New Japan's WrestleKingdom 11 to air on AXS TV starting Jan. 13 in four weekly special episodes with Ross & Barnett on commentary". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  4. Grabianowski, Ed. "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
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