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2/19 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo.
For those who are not aware, Masao “Tiger” Hattori has been a referee for NJPW for 38 years. He was given the nickname “Tiger” by Bill Watts when he wrestled in Florida in the 1970’s.
Match 1: Gabriel Kidd, Yuya Uemura and Yota Tsuji vs. Toa Henare, Tomoaki Honma and Togi Makabe
Henare pins Kidd with the Toa Bottom.
Match 2: Will Ospreay, SHO and YOH vs. Tiger Mask, Rocky Romero and Ryusuke Taguchi
Ospreay pins Tiger Mask with the Storm Breaker.
Romero and Taguchi attack Roppongi 3K after the match setting up their match tomorrow night for the IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship.
Match 3: YOSHI-HASHI, David Finlay and Juice Robinson vs. BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi and EVIL
Robinson pins BUSHI with a Pulp Friction.
Match 4: Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Manabu Nakanishi vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado, Taichi and Minoru Suzuki
Kojima pins Kanemaru with a lariat. Nakanishi bows to the crowd as he winds his career to a close.
Match 5: Colt Cabana, Toru Yano, Kota Ibushi and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bad Luck Fale, Jay White, Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga, with Jado and Gedo
Tiger Hattori enters the ring to a nice applause. Bullet Club tried to get Hattori to do the “Too Sweet” salute but he refused.
Yano pins Fale with a backslide. Gedo tries to attack Hattori but Hattori hits him with a low blow. Jado tries to hit Hattori with the kendo stick but gets a low blow too. Guerrillas confront Hattori but Tanahashi and Ibushi makes the save.
Match 6: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and Kazuchika Okada vs. SANADA, Shingo Takagi and Tetsuya Naito
Hattori remains in the ring to referee his final match.
SANADA pins Goto with an O’Conner roll with a bridge.
Los Ingobernales de Japon gave their fist bump salute with Hattori.
Hattori stands in the ring while the announcer tells the crowd of his retirement.
CHAOS members come out to present a bouquet to Hattori. They pose for photos.
Kevin Kelly says Matt Taven, War Machine and Bobby Fish all asked to pass on their best wishes to Hattori.
Jyushin Thunder Liger’s music plays and he leads Tanahashi, Ibushi and other NJPW members out to present a bouquet.
The referees from NJPW come out to present a signed referee shirt to Hattori.
NJPW Administration comes out to congratulate Hattori.
The Great Kabuki comes to the ring to honor Hattori.
Hiroshi Hase makes his way to the ring to thank Hattori. He says to the audience that we should all be grateful for the work of Tiger Hattori.
Keiji Muto comes to the ring to honor Hattori. He thanks Hattori and hopes he can have a game of Majong with Tiger.
Riki Choshu comes to the ring to honor Hattori.
A video message played from Genichiro Tenryu and Antonio Inoki who congratulated Hattori.
Tiger Hattori takes the mic and thanks the fans for coming despite the health issues. He thanks everyone who enjoys pro wrestling. He thanks the NJPW staff for great to work with.
Hattori stands in the ring while they ring the bell ten times for the last time.
The NJPW wrestlers come into the ring and toss Hattori in the air. They pose for a final photo in the ring.
Seeing all the Japanese legends was awesome.
Thanks for reading.
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80’s Wrestling Con 3 takes place on Saturday, April 18th at iPlay America in Freehold, NJ from 10 AM to 3 PM featuring appearances by Honky Tonk Man, Zeus, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Lex Luger, Rock N’ Roll Express, “Dr. D” David Schultz, The Haiti Kid, Teddy Long, Dutch Mantell, The Conquistadors (Jose Luis Rivera & Jose Estrada), Sean Mooney, Larry Zbyszko, Sam Houston, “Polish Power” Ivan Putski, Tony Garea, Mike McGuirk, Ted Arcidi, and the daughter of Andre The Giant Robin Christensen-Roussimoff. Also appearances by Dean Malenko, The Ascension, Bill DeMott, Terri Runnels, and more! Tons of vendor tables, attractions, Q&A’s, and more! For more info visit 80sWrestlingCon.com and Email 80sWrestlingPics@gmail.com. Be a part of the biggest 80’s Wrestling Party ever!
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