Giant Baba Memorial Six Man Tag Team Tournament

The Giant Baba (Hai Sodatsu) Memorial Six Man Tag Team Tournament, or simply the Giant Baba Six Man Cup, was a professional wrestling memorial event produced by the All-Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) promotion, which took place from April 13 to May 12, 2002, at the Nippon Budokan,[1] Iwate Prefectural Gym,[2] Niigata City Gym[3] and Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. It was the third and final event honoring AJPW founder Shohei "Giant" Baba, the previous shows being the Giant Baba Memorial Spectacular and Giant Baba Memorial Cup in January 2001 and 2002 respectively. Seven professional wrestling matches were held over a three-week period,[6] with both the tournament semi-finals and final match held at Korakuen Hall.[1][4]

Giant Baba Memorial Six Man Tag Team Tournament
PromotionAll-Japan Pro Wrestling
DateApril 13-May 12, 2002
CityTokyo, Japan
VenueNippon Budokan[1]
Iwate Prefectural Gym[2]
Niigata City Gym[1][3]
Korakuen Hall[1][4]
Attendance16,000 (April 13)[1]
2,100 (April 27) [1][5]
2,700 (April 30)[1][2]
3,150 (May 1)[1][3]
chronology
← Previous
Giant Baba Memorial Cup
Next →
Last

Keiji Mutoh, Kaz Hayashi and George Hines won the tournament by winning three matches all aired on pay-per-view.[7] Over the course of the tournament, they defeated Satoshi Kojima, Tomoaki Honma and Jimmy Yang in the quarter-finals,[5] Taiyō Kea, Mitsuya Nagai and Shigeo Okumura in the semi-finals and Genichiro Tenryu, Arashi and Nobutaka Araya in the final match.[6] Earlier in the semi-finals, between Genichiro Tenryu's team and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, Mike Rotunda and Yoji Anjo, Anjo accidentally hit Rotunda in the face with a back-fist punch which eventually led to their defeat. Blaming Anjo for the loss, Williams turned his back on Anjoh causing a split between the two former teammates.[4]

Results

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No.Results[6]StipulationsTimes
1"Dr. Death" Steve Williams, Mike Rotunda and Yoji Anjo defeated Mike Barton, Jim Steele and CedmanGiant Baba Memorial Cup quarter-final match16:16[1]
2Genichiro Tenryu, Arashi and Nobutaka Araya defeated Kendo Kashin, Johnny Smith and Abdullah the ButcherGiant Baba Memorial Cup quarter-final match19:11[3]
3Keiji Mutoh, Kaz Hayashi and George Hines defeated Satoshi Kojima, Tomoaki Honma and Jimmy YangGiant Baba Memorial Cup quarter-final match13:35[5]
4Taiyō Kea, Mitsuya Nagai and Shigeo Okumura defeated Masa Fuchi, Hideki Hosaka and Gran NaniwaGiant Baba Memorial Cup quarter-final match18:50[2]
5Genichiro Tenryu, Arashi and Nobutaka Araya defeated Steve Williams, Mike Rotunda and Yoji AnjoGiant Baba Memorial Cup semi-final match
6Keiji Mutoh, Kaz Hayashi and George Hines defeated Taiyo Kea, Mitsuya Nagai and Shigeo OkumuraGiant Baba Memorial Cup semi-final match
7Keiji Mutoh, Kaz Hayashi and George Hines defeated Genichiro Tenryu, Arashi and Nobutaka ArayaGiant Baba Memorial Cup final match

Tournament brackets

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The tournament took place between April 13 and May 12, 2002. The tournament brackets were:

Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
         
Steve Williams, Mike Rotunda and Yoji Anjo Pin
Mike Barton, Jim Steele and Cedman
Steve Williams, Mike Rotunda and Yoji Anjoh
Genichiro Tenryu, Arashi and Nobutaka Araya Pin
Genichiro Tenryu, Arashi and Nobutaka Araya Pin
Kendo Kashin, Johnny Smith and Abdullah the Butcher
Genichiro Tenryu, Arashi and Nobutaka Araya
Keiji Mutoh, Kaz Hayashi and George Hines Pin
Keiji Mutoh, Kaz Hayashi and George Hines Pin
Satoshi Kojima, Tomoaki Honma and Jimmy Yang
Keiji Mutoh, Kaz Hayashi and George Hines Pin
Taiyo Kea, Mitsuya Nagai and Shigeo Okumura
Taiyo Kea, Mitsuya Nagai and Shigeo Okumura Pin
Masa Fuchi, Hideki Hosaka and Gran Naniwa

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Cole, Brian (April 21, 2002). "411's International News Report #94 (Tons Of Japan News)". Video Reviews. 411mania.com.
  2. ^ a b c d Cole, Brian (May 4, 2002). "411's International News Report #100 (Special Milestone Edition!)". Video Reviews. 411mania.com.
  3. ^ a b c d Cole, Brian (May 11, 2002). "411's International News Report #103 (Hakushi, Scorpio, Abby & More)". Video Reviews. 411mania.com.
  4. ^ a b c Cole, Brian (May 14, 2002). "411's International News Report #104 (Lucha Report, All Japan News & More)". Video Reviews. 411mania.com.
  5. ^ a b c Cole, Brian (April 27, 2002). "411's International News Report #97 (WWF/New Japan Teaming Up? & More)". News. 411mania.com.
  6. ^ a b c "Giant Baba Memorial Six Man Tag Tournament". Misc. Events. ProWrestlingHistory.com.
  7. ^ All-Japan Pro Wrestling (Producer) (2002). AJPW All Japan Pro Wrestling 2002 VHS DVD Zen Nihon Puroresu Tapes Videos (VHS). Tokyo: Quebrada.net.