From Puroresupower.com:
| QUOTE |
| The R-30 tournament was announced to determine a #1 challenger for Jun Akiyama's GHC championship. The tournament will take place throughout the April tour, and the winner will face Akiyama in the main event of the 4/23 Nippon Budokan show. The tournament field includes: Naoki Sano, Akitoshi Saito, Masao Inoue, Jun Izumida, Kentaro Shiga, Kishin Kawabata, & Shuhei Taniguchi. |
I really hope those aren't the full list and that some other names are added, or we might see Saito get his 3rd GHC title shot.
I think this is the full list. The tournament has to be finished by the 20th.
Saito would be the obvious choice, since he has a history with Akiyama and is the most protected wrestler out of the 7. And for these reasons he would be my favourite challenger, despite the fact, that only 10 months have passed since his last challege. And his match against Kobashi wasn't that bad. But 3 title shots in 2 years are too much for a wresler of his status. If they only hadn't put him against Rikio, this would be a very nice V2 defence.
Kentaro Shiga had some pretty strong showings in the last shows, but I can't see one of the other 6 get a title shot.
Pro Wrestling NOAH will be running an eight man single-elimination tournament to find a challenger for Jun Akiyama's GHC Heavyweight Title. The participants include: Takuma Sano, Tsuyoshi Kikuchi, Kentaro Shiga, Junji Izumida, Kishin Kawabata, Akitoshi Saito, Masao Inoue & with Akiyama's own reccomendation, new rookie Shuhei Taniguchi.
NOAH, 4/2/06 (NTV/G+)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Round One: Takuma Sano vs. Junji Izumida
2. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Round One: Masao Inoue vs. Shuhei Taniguchi
NOAH, 4/5/06
Kanazawa Industrial Center
1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Round One: Tsuyoshi Kikuchi vs. Kentaro Shiga
2. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Round One: Akitoshi Saito vs. Kishin Kawabata
NOAH, 4/7/06
Zepp Nagoya
1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Semi Final: Winner of Sano/Izumida vs. Winner of Inoue/Taniguchi
2. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Semi Final: Winner of Kikuchi/Shiga vs. Winner of Saito/Kawabata
NOAH, 4/8/06
Okayama Exhibition Center
NOAH, 4/10/06
Kobe Sambo Hall
NOAH, 4/12/06
Kumamoto Hall
NOAH, 4/13/06
Kagoshima Arena
NOAH, 4/15/06
Omura Sports Center
NOAH, 4/16/06 (NTV/G+)
Hakata Star Lane
1. GHC Heavyweight Title Shot Tournament - Final: Winner of Semi Final 1 vs. Winner of Semi Final 2
NOAH, 4/17/06
West Japan Exhibition Center
NOAH, 4/19/06
Hiroshima Big Rose
NOAH, 4/20/06
Yonago Convention Center
NOAH, 4/23/06 (NTV/G+)
Tokyo Nippon Budokan
1. GHC Heavyweight Title: Jun Akiyama © vs. Winner of Final