Wrestling World 2003

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Wrestling World 2003
Yutaka Yoshie.jpg
Yutaka Yoshie, who was defeated by Ryushi Yanagisawa in the Young Generation Cup finals.
Promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateJanuary 4, 2003 [1]
City Tokyo, Japan
Venue Tokyo Dome
Attendance30,000 [1]
Wrestling World chronology
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2004

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.

Contents

Production

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.ResultsStipulationsTimes [1]
1 Osamu Nishimura defeated Tatsumi Fujinami Singles match 08:10
2 Yutaka Yoshie defeated Shinya Makabe Singles match: semifinal of the Young Generation Cup13:20
3 Ryushi Yanagisawa defeated Kenzo Suzuki Singles match: semifinal of the Young Generation Cup09:23
4 Dai Majin and Makai #1 defeated Hiro Saito and Tatsutoshi Goto via disqualification Tag team match07:50
5 Makai #4 and Makai #5 defeated Masahito Kakihara and Takashi Iizuka Tag team match10:54
6 Jushin Thunder Liger, Koji Kanemoto and Takehiro Murahama defeated Heat, Masayuki Naruse and Tiger Mask Six-man tag team match 16:10
7Ryushi Yanagisawa defeated Yutaka Yoshie Singles match: Finals of the Young Generation Cup06:48
8 Michiyoshi Ohara and Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Kazunari Murakami and Tadao Yasuda via referee stoppage Tag team match07:12
9 Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan defeated Masahiro Chono and Manabu Nakanishi Tag team match23:18
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 TakayamaPin
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 Yanagisawa06:48
Kenzo Suzuki Pin
Ryushi Yanagisawa 09:23

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References

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