There was some underlying tension between Minoru and Masakatsu Funaki, with Minoru holding a grudge after trying out for Fujiwara-gumi back in 1991 and being laughed off at the age of 18 by Funaki. Minoru fought hard to show his growth between then and now, and impressed Funaki so much that after the match he offered Minoru a chance to become his regular tag partner! Minoru declined and left the ring, opting not to leave VM, and showing that whatever grudge he has with Funaki will forever be rooted in his soul.
AJPW, 9/13/09 (GAORA TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall
1,950 Fans - Super No Vacancy
1. Masayuki Kono & Super Crazy beat Kaz Hayashi & Seiya Sanada (10:17) when Kono used a cross armbreaker on Sanada.
2. Osamu Nishimura beat Manabu Soya (9:16) with a backslide.
3. Akebono & Ryota Hama beat Joe Doering & Hate (7:05) when Hama used a body press on Doering.
4. ZODIAC beat TARU (4:56) by disqualification when Joe Doering & Hate interfered.
5. Minoru Suzuki beat Toshizo (2:26) by via a sleeper hold.
6. Masakatsu Funaki beat Minoru (8:56) with a backdrop suplex.
7. Yoshihiro Takayama, NOSAWA Rongai & MAZADA beat Satoshi Kojima, KAI, & Hiroshi Yamato (13:07) when Takayama used a lariat on Yamato.
8. Great Muta & KIYOSHI beat Suwama & Shuji Kondo (20:46) when KIYOSHI used a moonsault press on Kondo.
