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After Brock Lesnar was stripped of the IWGP Heavyweight Title on 7/15/06, days before he was scheduled to defend the title against Hiroshi Tanahashi, a one night tournament was hurriedly determined to crown the 45th champion. Six superstars competed for the belt at the Tsukisamu Green Dome, and despite having to do it another way, Tanahashi was the hero of the day and began his first IWGP Heavyweight Title reign.
IWGP Heavyweight Title Tournament (7/17/06)
Round 1: Akebono beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan (6:55) with a running body press.
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