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When Antonio Inoki's army demanded the 4/9/01 Osaka Dome show be changed to reflect their involvement, no one realized what impact it would have on New Japan. Indeed, New Japan graduate and vale tudo star, Kazuyuki Fujita, made short work of Team 2000's Scott Norton on the show, becoming the 29th IWGP Heavyweight Title. After defeating a bold Yuji Nagata, then fellow MMA star, Don Frye, Fujita was set to give Nagata a return match on the 1/4/02 Tokyo Dome show. However, he damaged an achilles tendon before the scheduled match and was forced to vacate the title. Meanwhile, on 12/31/01, both Nagata and another Inoki disciple, Tadao Yasuda, had MMA fights on Inoki's super-show at Saitama Super Arena. It was disaster for Nagata, as he was TKO'd by the deadly Mirko Cro Cop in just 21 seconds. However, as it was put, Yasuda "saved pro wrestling" by defeating Jerome Le Banner in the main event. On New Japan's "FIGHTING SPIRIT 2002" tour in February, both men were part of a tournament to crown a new IWGP Heavyweight Title. Fate would see them meet in the final, with Yasuda's rags to riches story climaxing.
IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament (2/1/02 to 2/16/02)
Round 1: Rick Steiner beat Kensuke Sasaki (8:09) with a Death Valley bomb.
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