 After that, Iizuka would suffer a major concussion in a match against Mitsuya Nagai on June 6, 2001, the injury would keep him out until October 6, 2002.Upon his return, he began a feud with Nagai, who by that point joined the Makai Club as Makai #5.The feud with go through the first quarter of 2003 with Iizuka eventually winning two three-match series against Nagai to end the feud.