Wrestling World 2001 was a professional wrestling event produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It took place on January 4 in the Tokyo Dome. It was the tenth January 4 Tokyo Dome Show held by NJPW. The show drew 52,000 spectators.[1]

Wrestling World 2001
Masahiro Chono, who made it to the semi-finals of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament.
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateJanuary 4, 2001[1]
CityTokyo, Japan
VenueTokyo Dome
Attendance52,000[1]
Wrestling World chronology
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New Japan Pro-Wrestling events chronology
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The focal point of Wrestling World 2001 was a tournament to crown a new IWGP Heavyweight Champion, which accounted for five of the nine matches on the show. No other championships were defended in 2001, marking the first year that only one title was on the line. The show saw Toshiaki Kawada wrestle twice; Kawada had previously been one of the main event wrestlers of NJPW's biggest rival All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Production

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Background

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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

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Wrestling World 2001 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

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No.ResultsStipulationsTimes
1Kensuke Sasaki defeated Satoshi KojimaSingles match: IWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament quarter-final16:33
2Hiroyoshi Tenzan defeated Yuji NagataSingles match: IWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament quarter-final16:45
3Koji Kanemoto and Minoru Tanaka defeated Shinya Makabe and Tatsuhito TakaiwaTag team match18:02
4Takashi Iizuka defeated Kendo KashinSingles match06:12
5Kensuke Sasaki defeated Masahiro ChonoSingles match: IWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament semi-final11:28
6Toshiaki Kawada defeated Hiroyoshi TenzanSingles match: IWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament semi-final10:45
7Keiji Mutoh and Shinjiro Otani defeated Jushin Thunder Liger and Manabu NakanishiTag team match05:44
8Riki Choshu vs. Shinya Hashimoto ended in a no contestSingles match15:20
9Kensuke Sasaki defeated Toshiaki KawadaSingles match: IWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament final10:30

IWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament bracket

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Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
      
Satoshi Kojima Sub
Kensuke Sasaki 16:33
Kensuke Sasaki Sub
Masahiro Chono 11:28
Kensuke Sasaki Pin
Toshiaki Kawada 10:30
Yuji Nagata Pin
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 16:45
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin
Toshiaki Kawada 10:45

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Wrestling World 2001". ProWrestlingHistory.com. January 4, 2001. 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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