POST Wrestling

Episode 14 sees Chris Charlton and Lee Daly look at 2002, a year of radical change and dissent within NJPW. As many standbys left the promotion, some new faces appeared, significantly Joanie Laurer and Bob Sapp. Antonio Inoki also sought to bring the MMA flavoured UFO to the dome.

Episode 13 sees Chris Charlton and Rich Kraetsch look at 2001. NJPW continued their relationship with an AJPW that was experiencing radical change. This was the last year All Japan ran in the Dome on their own. They’d also have significant presences on New Japan cards, with Toshiaki Kawada rematching Kensuke Sasaki, and Keiji Muto in the mix in both companies.

Episode 12 sees Chris Charlton and Joe Gagne look at 2000, a turbulent year in wrestling history. Mitsuharu Misawa and a swathe of wrestlers defect from AJPW to form NOAH, leaving Toshiaki Kawada and crew to mend fences with NJPW and leading to a Tokyo Dome classic with Kensuke Sasaki.

Episode 11 sees Chris Charlton and Dan Lovranski look at 1999, which saw one of Japanese wrestling’s most controversial moments occur inside the Tokyo Dome when Shinya Hashimoto faced Naoya Ogawa. 1999 also saw AJPW return to the Tokyo Dome for the second year running, though under sad circumstances as the company mourned the death of Giant Baba.

Episode ten sees Chris Charlton and Kim Justice look at 1998, including two huge retirements as Riki Choshu and Antonio Inoki withdrew from active involvement in NJPW. Also, AJPW return to the Tokyo Dome for the first time in eight years for a memorable show with Hiroshi Hase vs. Jun Akiyama in a featured position.