Battle Satellite in Tokyo Dome

Battle Satellite in Tokyo Dome (Japanese: '89格闘衛星☆闘強導夢, Hepburn: '89 Kakutō Eisei ☆ Tōkyōdōmu) was a major professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on April 24, 1989 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. It was the first major professional wrestling event held in the Tokyo Dome, with wrestlers from the United States, Japan, and the Soviet Union.

Battle Satellite in Tokyo Dome
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateApril 24, 1989
CityTokyo, Japan
VenueTokyo Dome
Attendance43,800[1]
Tagline(s)Super Powers Clash

The event saw a one night single-elimination tournament for the vacant IWGP Heavyweight Championship, the debut of the Jushin Liger character in NJPW, and Antonio Inoki versus Shota Chochishvili in a no rope martial arts match for the WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship.

Background

The Tokyo Dome opened on March 17, 1988. At the time, NJPW looked to use the Dome to hold the first major wrestling event of the Heisei period.[2]

Storylines

The event featured fourteen professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in the scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.[3]

Aftermath

Battle Satellite in Tokyo Dome was a great success for NJPW, and the Dome would be a home for many years to come for puroresu. Starting in 1992, NJPW returned to the Dome to hold the first of what has become an annual tradition and their biggest show of the year, the January 4 Tokyo Dome Show.

Results
No.Results[1]StipulationsTimes[4][5]
1Naoki Sano defeated Hiro SaitoSingles match for the 1989 Young Lion Cup10:43
2Big Van Vader defeated Masahiro ChonoIWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament quarterfinal match5:52
3Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Vladimir Berkovich by submissionIWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament quarterfinal match4:51
4Victor Zangiev defeated Buzz SawyerIWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament quarterfinal match3:56
5Shinya Hashimoto defeated Riki ChoshuIWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament quarterfinal match3:41
6Benny Urquidez vs. Shinya Asuka ended in a draw after five roundsKickboxing match10:00
7Big Van Vader defeated Tatsumi FujinamiIWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament semifinal match14:37
8Shinya Hashimoto defeated Victor Zangiev by submissionIWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament semifinal match7:28
9Wahka Eveloev defeated Masa Saito by submissionSingles match5:28
10Big Van Vader defeated Shinya HashimotoIWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament final match with Lou Thesz as the guest referee9:47
11George Takano & Super Strong Machine defeated Hiroshi Hase & Shiro KoshinakaTag team match with Lou Thesz as the guest referee17:10
12Jushin Liger defeated Kuniaki KobayashiSingles match9:55
13Salman Hashimikov defeated Crusher Bam Bam BigelowSingles match2:26
14Shota Chochishvili defeated Antonio Inoki (c) by knockout in five roundsNo rope martial arts match for the WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship13:20
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

IWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament bracket
Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
         
Big Van Vader Pin
Masahiro Chono 5:52
Big Van Vader Pin
Tatsumi Fujinami 14:37
Tatsumi Fujinami Sub
Vladimir Berkovich 4:51
Big Van Vader Pin
Shinya Hashimoto 9:47
Victor Zangiev Pin
Buzz Sawyer 3:56
Victor Zangiev 7:28
Shinya Hashimoto Sub
Shinya Hashimoto Pin
Riki Choshu 3:41

References
  1. "NJPW Tokyo Dome Shows". www.prowrestlinghistory.com.
  2. NJPW. "The Story of the Tokyo Dome's First Pro Wrestling Match | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  3. Grabianowski, Ed. "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on 2013-11-29. Retrieved 2014-01-05.
  4. NJPW Battle Satellite In Tokyo Dome
  5. Ochoso, 作成者. "新日本プロレス「'89格闘衛星☆闘強導夢」1989年4月24日 東京ドーム 試合結果". プロレス試合結果データべース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-06-26.
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