Author: Ethan Renner - Page 208

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome live results: IWGP title match

Posted on July 25, 2021 by Ethan Renner

NJPW takes to the Tokyo Dome today for Wrestle Grand Slam.

In the main event, Shingo Takagi will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi. Tanahashi is serving as a replacement for Kota Ibushi, who was officially pulled from the show just hours ago due to pneumonia.

The only prior singles meeting between Shingo and Tana came on January 30 of this year, a NEVER Openweight Championship match won by Tana. Dave Meltzer gave the match a ***** rating.

In the semi-main, Tetsuya Naito and SANADA will try for their first defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. They defend against Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.).

In a special singles match, Kazuchika Okada takes on Jeff Cobb of the United Empire.

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship will be defended, with El Desperado facing Robbie Eagles. Eagles pinned the champ in a tag match in the opening match of yesterday’s show.

In the main card opener, Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against Ryusuke Taguchi and Rocky Romero.

A New Japan Ranbo for the provisional KOPW 2021 title will take place on the pre-show. An unspecified number of participants will enter at 60-second intervals in a match where eliminations occur by pinfall, submission, disqualification, or by being handcuffed.

Our live coverage begins with the pre-show at 3 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

Chase Owens won a pre-show New Japan Ranbo for the provisional KOPW 2021 (35:36)

This was a worst match of the year contender. It went absolutely forever. No one worked especially hard because it was a pre-show battle royal. Most of the veterans got in and out quickly. The sparse crowd was dead for it.

For the final elimination, Yujiro hit Yano with his pimp cane. Owens threw powder in Yano’s eyes and rolled him up for two. Owens hit a jewel heist for a nearfall, then hit a package piledriver for the pin.

Order of entrance —

Chase Owens
Great-O-Khan
Tomoaki Honma
Togi Makabe
DOUKI
Tiger Mask
Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Minoru Suzuki
SHO
YOH
Yuji Nagata
Satoshi Kojima
Hiroyoshi Tenzan
BUSHI
Master Wato
Dick Togo
Tomohiro Ishii
Yujiro Takahashi
YOSHI-HASHI
Hirooki Goto
KENTA
Toru Yano

Order of elimination —

Makabe (top rope)
Honma (handcuffs)
Suzuki (top rope)
Kanemaru (top rope)
SHO (top rope)
YOH (top rope)
Tenzan (top rope)
Kojima (top rope)
BUSHI (handcuffs)
Tiger Mask (handcuffs)
Wato (pinfall)
DOUKI (pinfall)
Ishii (top rope)
Togo (top rope)
Goto (top rope)
Nagata (handcuffs)
O-Khan (handcuffs)
KENTA (handcuffs)
YOSHI-HASHI (handcuffs)
Yujiro (top rope)
Yano (pinfall)

**********

Hiromu Takahashi opened the show with a promo. He said he’s challenging the winner of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title match.

**********

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo defeated Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi to retain the titles (20:56)

This was a very good opener. Both teams pulled out all the stops.

After some back-and-forth comedy offense, Ishimori and ELP cut Romero off.

ELP hit Romero with a springboard senton and quebrada for a near fall. Romero reversed a CR II attempt into a rana for a two count. Romero kicked out of a Styles Clash. ELP hit a v-trigger. Romero reversed a One-Winged Angel into a cross armbreaker. Ishimori saved.

ELP hit Sudden Death to Romero’s midsection. Romero managed a tag to Taguchi. ELP tagged Ishimori. Romero hit a doomsday device poison rana to Ishimori. Taguchi hit Ishimori with a bumaye for a two count.

Romero and Taguchi ran through a litany of finishers from their previous teams. Ishimori hit a code red and a golden triangle moonsault to the floor.

ELP hit a spectacular moonsault from the top rope over the barricade and wiped everyone out. ELP sold his ankle after landing. ELP hit a UFO to Taguchi for a two count. ELP hit Thunder Kiss 86 for a two count as Romero saved. ELP hit Romero with Sudden Death.

Taguchi threw ELP’s Sudden Death into Ishimori. Taguchi hit a blue thunder bomb for a near fall, then used an ankle lock.

Taguchi ripped ELP’s loaded boot off and showed it to the ref. Ishimori took the ref. ELP hit a low blow and CR II to Taguchi for the pin.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles defeated El Desperado to win the title (19:56)

This was another good match. The story of the match was both went after the other’s left leg. The crowd really got into it and bought the upset possibility as the match went on.

Desperado immediately went after the left leg of Eagles. He had worked on it in their tag match yesterday as well, so they had a built-in story.

Eagles fired back with some strikes, but Desperado continued to work the left leg with dragon screws. Desperado used a deathlock on the left knee. Eagles forced a break. Eagles stumbled off a Desperado whip and they briefly teased a ref stoppage.

Desperado sent Eagles to the floor and into the ring frame. Eagles sent Desperado into the ring frame and hit a 619. Desperado went flying over the barricade. Desperado beat the count back in.

Eagles hit a springboard dropkick to the left leg of Desperado. Eagles used the Ron Miller Special, but Desperado forced a rope break. Eagles used a knee crusher. Desperado blocked turbo backpack with a face rake, then hit a back suplex.

They traded forearm shots, then exchanged kicks to their respective bad legs. Eagles hit a thrust kick, then missed an enzuigiri. Desperado hit a heavy forearm strike and Guitarra de Angel for a near fall.

Eagles reversed Pinche Loco into a cradle for a two count. Desperado reversed the Ron Miller Special into Numero Dos. Eagles got another cradle or two. Desperaodo used an inside cradle. Eagles reversed into another cradle as they traded quick near falls.

Desperado reversed a sliced bread attempt into El Es Culero for a two count. Desperado used the threat of a ref bump to set up a right hand, but Eagles blocked with a high kick into a double knockdown.

Eagles hit turbo backpack for a two count. Eagles went up top and hit a 450 to the leg. Eagles went back to the Ron Miller Special. After a long struggle, Desperado tapped out for the upset.

Eagles had a staredown with Hiromu after the match.

Kazuchika Okada defeated Jeff Cobb (w/Great-O-Khan) (19:23)

Another excellent match. I can’t wait to see them run this back, maybe in the G1.

Cobb broke cleanly after locking up and backing Okada into the ropes. Okada backed Cobb into the ropes. Cobb tried a kick on the break, but Okada avoided it and established early control. Okada hit a basement dropkick and a neckbreaker.

Okada tried a suplex out of the corner, but Cobb placed him on the middle rope and hit a dropkick to send Okada to the floor. Cobb chose to target Okada’s bad back as he sent him into the ring frame. Cobb stood on the back. Cobb got back in and taunted Okada.

Back inside, Cobb hit a series of chops. They traded forearm strikes. Cobb dropped Okada. Okada hit a flapjack, back elbow and DDT for a two count. Okada dropkicked Cobb to the floor off the second rope, returning serve from earlier.

Okada sent Cobb over the barricade, then hit a draping DDT off the barricade to the ring platform. Back in, Cobb avoided an air raid crash. Okada locked on the Money Clip. Cobb backed Okada into the corner to break it.

Cobb teased a suplex off the second rope to the floor. Okada blocked. Cobb caught an attempted plancha and hit a vertical suplex on the floor. Cobb made it back in first, while Okada just beat the count at 19.

Cobb hit a running powerslam and a standing moonsault for a pair of near falls. Cobb blocked a kick and hit a spin cycle for another close near fall.

Cobb hit a release German. Okada blocked a Tour of the Islands with a shotgun dropkick, then hit a standard dropkick. Cobb blocked a tombstone. Okada used a backslide to set up a pair of short lariats. Cobb ducked a Rainmaker and tried his own tombstone. Okada tried a spinning Rainmaker, Cobb blocked with a lariat.

They traded heavy strikes. Cobb hit a doctor bomb for a near fall. Okada blocked Tour of the Islands. Cobb hit a headbutt.

They traded Rainmaker attempts. Okada ducked Cobb’s Rainmaker and sat down into a cradle for the flash pin.

***** Intermission *****

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (w/Miho Abe) defeated Tetsuya Naito & SANADA to win the titles (37:58)

This was a war of attrition. Very long, but very good match.

Naito and Sabre began with a mat wrestling sequence. They grappled to a stalemate, then tagged out.

SANADA and Taichi entered. SANADA tried to instigate a pec popping battle, but Taichi refused to engage. SANADA grabbed a hammerlock, Taichi forced an immediate rope break. Taichi choked SANADA and the match broke down into a brawl on the floor.

Sabre went after Naito, while Taichi choked SANADA with a camera cable. SANADA ended up isolated in the Tekkers corner. Naito hopped in for a double team and attacked Sabre’s leg. SANADA wedged Sabre’s leg over the barricade and kicked at it.

Naito tagged in and continued to work on Sabre’s leg. Naito hit the combinacion cabron to the left knee. Naito and SANADA traded quick tags and continued their assault on the leg. Naito used a figure four and a knee breaker.

Sabre hit a neck crank to Naito and tagged out. Taichi missed an axe bomber. Naito hit a neckbreaker at the 15 minute call. SANADA tagged in for an atomic drop and a paradise lock. He hit a high cross for a near fall.

SANADA and Taichi had a lengthy striking battle. All four guys jumped in at the 20 minute call. All four ended up down. Taichi was up first and the trousers came off. SANADA hit a feint kick to set up Skull End. Taichi slid out and hit a high kick.

Sabre got a tag and hit a kick to SANADA, then a running boot to knock Naito off the apron. SANADA and Sabre traded cradles. Sabre used a backslide to set up a jackknife cradle for a two count. Sabre and SANADA ended up in a double pin situation, but both kicked out. SANADA escaped a cobra twist and hit a dragon screw.

Naito tagged in and hammered Sabre’s leg with kicks. Naito hit a pair of neckbreakers. Sabre blocked Gloria, blocked a flying forearm, then caught Naito in an octopus hold. Naito slid out and tried a swing DDT. Sabre escaped and Taichi came in for a double team. Sabre hit a swing DDT for a two count.

SANADA saved Naito from Zack Mephisto. SANADA and Naito used some impressive tandem offense to set up a Naito jackknife cradle for a near fall. Naito caught Sabre in a cross kneelock. SANADA slapped a figure four on Taichi. Both forced breaks 30 minutes in.

Naito hit esperanza to Sabre for a two count as SANADA took out Taichi with a plancha. Sabre caught Naito in a triangle choke on landing after a frankensteiner. SANADA jumped in to save, but Taichi locked SANADA in a stretch plum. SANADA escaped, blocked a chokeslam and hit a dropkick.

SANADA hit a moonsault on Sabre to break the hold. Taichi hit Black Mephisto on SANADA. Naito hit Taichi with Destino. Sabre hit a Zack Driver to Naito but could not follow up.

Exhausted, Naito and Sabre threw strikes at each other on the mat. They climbed to their feet and continued to trade. Taichi and SANADA jumped in. Taichi hit a backdrop suplex to SANADA. Taichi hit the forearm out of a three point stance to Naito. Sabre hit a PK for a two count.

Naito hit Valentia. Sabre escaped a Destino attempt and caught Naito in a Euro Clutch and escaped with the pin.

**********

Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI came to the ring after the match to stake their claim as the next challengers. Naito and SANADA did not take kindly to this and argued with YH and Goto. This will be sorted out on the next leg of the Summer Struggle tour.

**********

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to retain the title (37:26)

These guys are my wrestlers of the year. They’re now two for two in providing classic matches with each other in 2021. This was epic.

Tana got the best of an early mat wrestling sequence. He tried for a second rope crossbody, but Shingo caught him and hit a pop-up death valley driver to take control. Shingo sent Tana outside and continued his assault on the floor. Tana rolled back in.

Shingo used a lariat, a head and arm choke on the mat, then hit a DDT. Tana blocked a sliding lariat and hit a dropkick to the knee and a dragon screw at 10 minutes in. Tana took a whip into the buckle, but hit a flying forearm out of it. A somersault senton got him a two count.

Tana teased slingblade, but hit a basement dropkick to the left leg instead. Tana tried for the Texas Clover Hold, but Shingo blocked by grabbing the ropes. They had an intense war of strikes in the corner. Tana hit a running dropkick in the corner and Shingo rolled outside.

Tanahashi hit a standing High Fly Flow to the floor. Tanahashi hit a series of elbows in the corner and a Shibata dropkick at the 15 minute call. Tana hit three twist and shouts. Shingo blocked slingblade and hit noshigami.

Shingo hit a wheelbarrow suplex and a sliding lariat for a two count. Tana caught a kick and hit another dropkick to the leg. Tana slid out of a fireman’s carry and hit a dragon screw. Tana hit another dragon screw in the corner, then an elevated dragon screw off the top rope.

Tana got the Texas Clover Hold applied at 20 minutes. Shingo sold the hold for a long time, then finally fought to the ropes. Shingo rolled to the apron and hit a dragon screw in the ropes. He pulled Tana to the floor and continued to work on his right leg.

Shingo hit a GTR off the guardrail. Tana barely beat the count back in. Shingo hit Made in Japan for a two count. Shingo connected with a Pumping Bomber for another near fall. Shingo hit an unanswered series of strikes and a headbutt.

Tana reversed Last of the Dragon into a slingblade. Shingo hit a lariat. Tana hit a straightjacket German into a bridge for a two count, then hit another slingblade for another near fall.

Tanahashi hit a standing High Fly Flow. Tana hit a Kamigoye, then another High Fly Flow. Shingo kicked out at the last possible instant for an awesome near fall at the 30 minute mark.

Shingo blocked a dragon suplex attempt and hit Last of the Dragon, but could not follow up with a cover.

They traded forearm strikes. Tana fired off a huge headbutt. Tana ducked a lariat and hit a dragon suplex. Shingo popped right up. Tana hit another dragon suplex into a bridge for a two count.

Shingo cut Tana off on the top rope as he went up for High Fly Flow. Shingo hit four headbutts. Tana fired back with forearm strikes. Shingo hit a headbutt as both were on the top rope. Shingo hit Stay Dream off the second rope for a two count. They traded slaps to the face. Shingo hit a lariat.

Shingo then hit Last of the Dragon and pinned Tanahashi to win an epic encounter.

**********

Shingo cut a promo and put Tana over. He said Tana is The Ace, he’s great, and now they’re 1-1, so let’s have the rubber match someday.

Shingo said Ibushi fought to be here, couldn’t quite make it, but he’ll be waiting for him with the title when he returns.

He said despite all the challenges of limited attendance and the state of emergency, everyone showed up and watched in person or on TV to watch pro wrestling and everyone has his gratitude for that.

He said he continues to lead the world of wrestling and the world of sports like a dragon.

Shingo’s pyro was cut short. The lights went out. An EVIL and Dick Togo video played on the screen. EVIL said he’s next for the title.

EVIL then appeared in the ring and laid out Shingo with Everything is EVIL. EVIL and Togo stood over Shingo and EVIL posed with the title.

NJPW Summer Struggle in Nagoya results: Tanahashi vs. KENTA

Posted on July 24, 2021 by Ethan Renner

The NJPW Summer Struggle tour continued today on the third of four consecutive days with major NJPW shows.

Hiroshi Tanahashi took on KENTA in the main event, while Tomohiro Ishii battled EVIL in the semi-main.

With Kota Ibushi’s status as the main event challenger for Shingo Takagi’s IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in question, the winner of today’s main event would seem to be the logical fill-in should Ibushi not yet be recovered from his bout with pneumonia.

Below are results and a report on today’s show.

Recommended matches —

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KENTA
Tomohiro Ishii vs. EVIL

Report —

Robbie Eagles, SHO & YOH defeated El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI (9:19)

Eagles pinned the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion a day before their title match. That was the only thing of note in this opener, as they didn’t get much time.

Suzuki-gun used a jumpstart attack to begin the match and cut YOH off. YOH managed a tag to SHO. DOUKI hit a cool suplex on SHO for a two count. SHO answered with a spear.

Desperado and Eagles got tags. Desperado used Numero Dos, but Eagles forced a break. Eagles used the Ron Miller Special, but Kanemaru saved for Desperado. Kanemaru entered to double up Eagles. Desperado hit Guitarra de Angel for a two count.

Desperado went for Pinche Loco. Eagles blocked, then rolled Desperado up for the flash pinfall.

**********

After the match, Desperado hit Eagles with a right hand and used a chair on the left leg of the challenger.

**********

Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero defeated Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Jado (9:34)

There was a lot of butt stuff with Taguchi in the early part of the match. Bullet Club rebounded and isolated YH in their corner. Ishimori and ELP used their comedy tandem offense on YH. YH came back with a headhunter to Ishimori.

Romero got a hot tag and hit forever clotheslines on ELP and Ishimori, then a double rana. Ishimori blocked sliced bread. Romero hit a rewind kick. Taguchi tagged in for hip attacks. Jado caused a distraction with a kendo stick, then tagged in.

Bullet Club went 4-on-1 against Taguchi. Jado used the OJK, but Romero saved. The match broke down as everyone climbed in.

Taguchi ducked a kendo stick shot from Jado and trapped him in an ankle lock for the submission.

**********

There was a short angle after the match. ELP and Ishimori tried to attack Taguchi and Romero after the bell. Taguchi caught ELP in an ankle lock and tried to reveal the contents of ELP’s loaded boot, but Ishimori saved.

**********

Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano defeated Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan by countout (10:52)

Okada and Cobb were very good together and should tear the house down tomorrow. The rest of this was a Yano match.

Okada threw his entrance gear at Cobb and brawled to the floor with him before the bell. O-Khan and Yano began the match as the legal men. Yano exposed a buckle, but that gave O-Khan an opening to go on the offensive. O-Khan and Cobb beat Yano down.

Cobb and Okada tagged in for an extended preview of their bout tomorrow. Cobb hit a throw. Okada blocked a spin cycle and tried the Money Clip, but Cobb blocked that. Okada hit a flapjack into a double down.

O-Khan and Yano tagged back in. O-Khan used a cobra twist with the claw applied, but Yano forced a break. Yano sent O-Khan into the exposed turnbuckle. O-Khan used a head and arm choke. Cobb and Okada jumped back in and broke the hold up.

All four brawled to the floor. Yano produced handcuffs and cuffed O-Khan to something under the ring. He was actually a second late beating the count back inside, but the ref called it for Yano anyway as O-Khan was counted out.

**********

Okada hit Cobb with a dropkick after the match. Cobb tossed a chair into the ring. Okada stood on the chair and taunted Cobb ahead of their match tomorrow.

Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura came to the ring to free O-Khan. He responded by beating them up.

**********

Shingo Takagi & BUSHI defeated Tomoaki Honma & Master Wato (11:44)

Honma was good yesterday. Honma had a rough time today in the third of three straight days with this same matchup.

Honma was quickly cut off and LIJ worked on him in their half of the ring. Wato finally got a tag and hit BUSHI with a springboard forearm. Wato hit a tope con giro to both BUSHI and Shingo. Wato and BUSHI traded spots. They may have been having some communication issues.

Shingo got a tag and hit a series of chops and strikes to Wato. Wato hit a great pop-up hurricanrana. Honma climbed in for a double team. Wato got a two count on Shingo.

Shingo hit Wato with a pop-up DVD and a sliding lariat. Honma entered for a kokeshi. He teased a Kamigoye, but BUSHI saved and pulled Honma to the floor.

Shingo hit Wato with a Pumping Bomber for a two count. Wato used a crucifix bomb and a cradle for a pair of near falls.

Shingo blocked a kick and used Wato’s momentum to lift him for Made in Japan and the pin.

EVIL (w/Dick Togo) defeated Tomohiro Ishii (28:07)

Ishii always delivers in big matches and this was no exception.

Ishii attacked before the opening bell and beat both EVIL and Togo all around ringside. He sent EVIL into the guardrail in the aisle and broke a piece of it.

Ishii teased a brainbuster on the ramp on EVIL, but Togo made the save. Ishii chased Togo into the ring. Togo distracted Ishii just long enough for EVIL to slide in with a lariat and take control of the match.

EVIL used his baseball swing chair shot on Ishii. Ishii made it back in after a countout tease. EVIL bumped Ishii into the barricade and the ring announcer took a bump. Back inside, EVIL sent Ishii into an exposed turnbuckle. EVIL used a half-crab.

Ishii fired up after a series of EVIL chops and hit a chop to the throat. Both were down selling the chops. EVIL again sent Ishii into the buckle, but Ishii charged out and hit a lariat. Ishii hit a long series of chops and forearm strikes in the corner.

EVIL stopped Ishii’s momentum with an eye poke. Togo pulled Ishii outside and whipped him into the barricade. EVIL sent Ishii back outside again. This time Ishii reversed a Togo whip into the barricade. Ishii then pulled EVIL to the ring announcer’s seat and bumped Togo into the barricade as a measure of justice.

Back in, Ishii hit a vertical suplex for a two count at the 15 minute mark. EVIL whipped Ishii into the buckle and hit a fisherman buster out of it. EVIL hit a superplex for a two count. Ishii blocked an attempt at the scorpion deathlock.

EVIL sent Ishii into the ref. The ref was bumped just long enough for Togo to get in for a Magic Killer and a near fall. Ishii blocked Darkness Falls. EVIL took a front turnbuckle into the exposed steel. Ishii hit a backdrop suplex into a double down.

Ishii hit a clothesline and a Vertical Drop Brainbuster off the middle rope for a two count. Ishii sent EVIL into Togo on the apron. Togo took a great bump to the floor. Ishii hit a sliding lariat for another near fall.

Ishii blocked Everything is EVIL and hit a headbutt. Ishii slid to the apron. EVIL kicked the middle rope into his groin for a low blow. EVIL then hit Darkness Falls for a two count. EVIL hit a lariat after a series of reversals for another two count. Ishii again blocked Everything is EVIL with a headbutt at 25 minutes.

EVIL took the ref. Togo jumped in with his ligature. Ishii fought him off and hit him with a headbutt. Ishii blocked an EVIL low blow and hit an enzuigiri. Ishii hit a massive lariat for another two count. EVIL bumped Ishii into the ref.

Yujiro ran in with his cane. Ishii blocked the cane shot. EVIL hit Ishii with a low blow. Yujiro hit Ishii with Pimp Juice. EVIL then finally hit Everything is EVIL for the pin.

Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated KENTA (24:51)

Tanahashi’s incredible year continues. Another great main event performance from him here.

Katsuyori Shibata was on commentary for this match. This would prove important.

KENTA did some of his customary stalling at the opening bell. Tana got off a flurry of offense, including a crossbody and a senton. KENTA came back by whipping Tana to the outside. He hit a double stomp off the apron, then sent Tana into the barricade.

KENTA took some time to jaw with Shibata.

Back in the ring, KENTA hit a neckbreaker for a two count. KENTA used a chinlock. KENTA took his knee pad down and teased a knee drop, but hit a short kick instead. KENTA played some air bass guitar.

Tana fired up after a series of punches and kicks from KENTA. Tana hit a flying forearm and a dragon screw out of the corner. He connected with two more dragon screws in the center of the ring. Tana used his Texas Clover Hold, but KENTA forced a break.

Tana blocked a swing DDT attempt, but KENTA connected on a powerslam. KENTA hit some kicks and a fisherman’s suplex for a two count. KENTA hit a clothesline off the top rope for another two count.

Tana blocked a draping DDT attempt. KENTA hit a hotshot over the top rope, then hit a draping DDT off the apron to the floor. Tana made it back in after a countout tease.

KENTA hit a Shibata dropkick in the corner. Tana blocked a Go 2 Sleep and hit another dragon screw. They traded heavy forearm shots. Tana got the best of the long exchange, dropping KENTA.

KENTA repeatedly tried to send Tana into the referee, even chasing Red Shoes around the ring, but Tana avoided the bump and hit a dropkick to the knee. Tana tried a dropkick in the corner, but this time KENTA pulled Red Shoes in the way for a ref bump.

With the referee down, KENTA hit a low blow. KENTA produced his old IWGP US title shot briefcase and used that as a weapon as well.

Shibata got in the ring and hit KENTA with a pump kick. He then revived Red Shoes and Tanahashi.

KENTA reversed slingblade into a G2S attempt. Tana reversed that into twist and shout. Tana then hit two slingblades. KENTA blocked a third slingblade with a Busaiku knee. He hit a second running knee strike for a near fall. Tana blocked another G2S attempt and hit a dragon suplex.

Tana then hit the Shibata dropkick to a massive reaction.

Tana then hit two High Fly Flows and got the pin.

**********

Tanahashi shook hands with Shibata after the match.

Tana then cut this amazing babyface promo. He was practically in tears. The NJPW Global Twitter account translated the promo:

“Right now, I’m going to be honest and humble with you. Thank you. Thank you for being here…

If we can draw enough power from one another we can overcome anything and live through everything. That’s what pro-wrestling is about.

And although I’m sweaty, I’m not tired. This tireless body will pull NJPW into the future.

Thank you for your support. Keep taking care of yourselves, stay healthy and enjoy pro-wrestling. FINALLY- one more thing. Tomorrow. The Tokyo Dome. The main event… is still uncertain. So can I make a little appeal?

If I’m needed (to fill in for Ibushi tomorrow) – I am ready! AIshitemasu!”

Tana played air guitar to close the show

**********

Here is the lineup for tomorrow:

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Sunday, July 25, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (c) vs. Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado (c) vs. Robbie Eagles
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (c) vs. Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi
Pre-show New Japan Ranbo for the provisional KOPW 2021

The Good Brothers advance to NJPW Strong Tag Team Turbulence finals

Posted on July 24, 2021 by Ethan Renner

Following Friday’s NJPW Strong, the finals are set for the Tag Team Turbulence tournament.

The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) and Violence Unlimited (Chris Dickinson & Brody King) advanced to the finals with wins on Strong.

King and Dickinson were victorious over the West Coast Wrecking Crew duo of Jorel Nelson and Royce Isaacs. King pinned Jorel Nelson after hitting him with a lariat.

On the other side of the bracket, The Good Brothers advanced with a victory over Yuji Nagata and Ren Narita. Anderson pinned Narita following a Magic Killer.

The Tag Team Turbulence finals will be held on the Friday, July 30 episode.

This week’s Strong also featured an NJPW Strong Openweight Championship match between Tom Lawlor and Satoshi Kojima. Lawlor retained the title, winning by submission with a rear naked choke.

Strong airs Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World and is available on demand shortly after airing.

NJPW Summer Struggle in Osaka night two results: Naito vs. Sabre

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Ethan Renner

The NJPW Summer Struggle tour continued today with the second of two straight nights in Osaka and the second of four consecutive days with major NJPW shows.

Before they face off for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship on Sunday at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Tetsuya Naito faced Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event of today’s show, while their partners SANADA and Taichi squared off in the semi-main.

Sabre and SANADA went to a draw yesterday following a double pin, while Taichi beat Naito in Thursday’s main event.

Below are results and a report on today’s show.

Recommended matches —

Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

Report —

Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Jado defeated Hirooki Goto, Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero (10:10)

Lots of butt comedy here in this opener.

Taguchi threatened to drop his pants a lot early on. He pinned Ishimori while sitting on his face with hit tights pulled down last week. Goto brought a whistle into the ring to serve as Taguchi and Romero’s coach.

First Taguchi, then Romero were cut off and worked over. This built to a Goto hot tag. Everyone hopped in for a big move.

Taguchi and Jado ended up legal for the closing stretch. Taguchi had Jado in the ankle lock. ELP jumped in and hit Taguchi with Sudden Death, then Jado covered and pinned Taguchi.

**********

ELP hit Romero with Sudden Death after the match.

**********

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated KENTA, EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (w/Dick Togo) (12:29)

The post-match was significantly better than the match. KENTA and Tanahashi’s exchanges here were excellent, though.

KENTA teased starting off with Tanahashi, then immediately tagged out.

Yujiro and Yano tagged in. Yano produced a pair of handcuffs and tried to cuff Yujiro to the ropes. The ref was shoved down and kind of rolled around on the mat for a while, not sure whether to sell this as a long ref bump or not. Bullet Club turned this into a ringside brawl and cut Yano off.

Togo interfered and threw Yano into the barricade. EVIL made a cover, but Ishii and Tana saved. Bullet Club did their human centipede cobra twist spot. EVIL covered again, Tana and Ishii saved again. EVIL sent Yano into an exposed buckle.

Yano came back with an inverted atomic drop on KENTA and tagged Tana. Tana hit a baseball slide to Togo. Tana hit a somersault senton. Tana and KENTA traded strikes. KENTA blocked a slingblade with a kitchen sink. EVIL tagged in and tried a mid kick. Tana caught the kick and hit a dragon screw.

Ishii tagged in. Togo and Yano got involved, tripping Ishii and EVIL from the floor. EVIL got whipped into the exposed buckle and tagged out. Bullet Club tripled up on Ishii. Tana and Yano made the save after Yujiro fisherman buster.

KENTA took the referee. Yujiro tried a cane strike, but Yano saved. KENTA took out Yano. Tana took KENTA out. EVIL took Tana out. Ishii took EVIL out with a backdrop suplex.

Tanahashi hit Yujiro with slingblade, then Ishii followed up with the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin.

**********

After the match, Ishii went after EVIL on the floor. Togo attacked Ishii with a ligature and choked him out. EVIL then used a chair on Ishii’s right knee. Tana saved Ishii from more chair shots, but KENTA attacked from behind and Ishii and Tanahashi were left laying.

**********

Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan defeated Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI (12:02)

Okada attacked Cobb before the bell yesterday, so Cobb returned the favor here. Okada reversed a whip and hit a back elbow, then hit a DDT. YH tagged in and soon found himself beaten down by Cobb and O-Khan.

YH came back with a heel kick to O-Khan. Okada tagged in and hit O-Khan with a back elbow and a flapjack. O-Khan countered with a backbreaker and tagged out. Cobb hit Okada with a running powerslam for a two count.

Cobb hit a massive dropkick to Okada, then mocked the Rainmaker pose. Okada blocked a splash in the corner and hit an air raid crash neckbreaker. YH tagged in and hit a headhunter to Cobb. He hit a second headhunter off the top for a near fall.

Cobb hit spin cycle for a two count. O-Khan entered for a double team and a pump kick into a Cobb vertical suplex to YH. Okada ran in and tried a dropkick, but Cobb plucked him out of the air. Okada blocked Tour of the Islands, but Cobb hit a throw to Okada.

YH hit a lariat for a near fall on Cobb. He tried Kharma, but Cobb blocked, then hit Tour of the Islands and pinned YH.

Shingo Takagi & BUSHI defeated Tomoaki Honma & Master Wato (12:35)

This was one of Honma’s better outings in recent years.

Honma and Shingo began. Honma and Wato used an effective double team to score a shoulder tackle takedown. Wato tagged in and got a one count on Shingo after a kick.

Wato fell victim to a double team as LIJ went to work on him. Wato came back with a crucifix bomb and a dreamcast to Shingo, then tagged Honma. Honma hit Shingo with a kokeshi. Honma fought for a suplex and finally got it for a two count on Shingo.

Shingo answered with a sliding lariat for a two count. Honma fought off Last of the Dragon. Wato entered for a high kick. Honma hit a lariat for a two count. Honma pulled his knee pad down and teased a Kamigoye, but hit a kokeshi instead for another near fall on the champion.

Honma went up top. BUSHI stopped him before a diving kokeshi attempt. Shingo hit a superplex. BUSHI came in for an assisted backstabber. Shingo covered, Wato saved. Wato and BUSHI fought to the floor.

Honma and Shingo exchanged strikes. Honma hit two headbutts. Shingo no-sold a kokeshi and hit a Pumping Bomber for a two count.

Shingo then hit Last of the Dragon and scored the pin.

SANADA defeated Taichi (23:19)

There’s a way to slowly build a match when you’re going to go for a long time that doesn’t involve not doing anything for the first ten minutes. This was the problem I had with the main event of yesterday’s show as well. Good closing stretch, very dull until that point.

They spent the first three-plus minutes of the match just flexing their pecs. Referee Red Shoes eventually declared SANADA the winner of the pec pop challenge based on fan response.

Taichi was enraged and choked SANADA. Taichi locked SANADA over the bottom rope with his own paradise lock, then broke it with a dropkick to the floor. Taichi sent SANADA into the barricade and choked him with a camera cable. Back inside, Taichi continued with illegal chokes.

Taichi used a cobra twist. SANADA blocked a last ride and hit a backdrop and a dropkick to the leg. SANADA hit a leapfrog dropkick at the 10 minute call. Taichi avoided a plancha and a springboard dropkick. SANADA used the paradise lock and broke it with a dropkick.

Taichi hit a gamengiri out of a standing switch. He maintained the advantage with clotheslines. SANADA blocked two axe bomber attempts. Taichi hit a high kick. SANADA answered with a TKO for a two count.

They traded Kawada kicks. They exchanged strikes. SANADA used forearms, while Taichi used leg kicks. SANADA hit a rolling elbow and a tiger driver. Taichi kicked out at one. Taichi hit a backdrop suplex. Both popped up, then both dropped to the mat to sell in a double down.

Taichi was first up. He removed his trousers. SANADA blocked a high kick and hit a dropkick. Taichi hit a chokeslam for a two count. SANADA blocked a high kick and used a moonsault to set up Skull End. Taichi slid out immediately. SANADA got back to the hold. Taichi escaped again.

SANADA got Skull End on for a third time, this time with a body scissors on the mat at the 20 minute mark. SANADA gave up the hold and hit a moonsault to the back. He flipped Taichi over and tried another moonsault, but Taichi got his knees up.

They traded kicks. Taichi hit an axe bomber and a gamengiri, then hit last ride for a two count.

SANADA escaped Black Mephisto and tried an O’Connor roll. Taichi reversed the roll into a Koji Clutch for two, then SANADA reversed that into an O’Connor bridge for the pin.

Tetsuya Naito defeated Zack Sabre Jr. (25:01)

This was an excellent match. Naito took the bulk of the offense and looked dominant in victory, the story being that Sabre’s leg was injured yesterday against SANADA and will still be injured Sunday at the Tokyo Dome.

Naito would tease locking up with Sabre, then kick him and send him to the floor. This happened several times. Naito then led Sabre on a chase around the ring as he was in full Naito mode tonight.

Naito went after Sabre’s taped left leg with kicks and a deathlock. Sabre avoided a basement dropkick to the bad leg and used a neck twist. Sabre stood on Naito’s back and neck. Naito fired off a big overhand chop. They exchanged strikes. Naito hit an inverted atomic drop and a dropkick to the leg at the 10 minute mark.

The pace picked up as Naito continued going after Sabre’s left leg. Naito’s attack became two-pronged as he also began to soften up Sabre’s neck with back elbows. Naito got caught in a body scissors as he tried to bar Sabre’s knee. Sabre forced a break.

Sabre used a neck twist and a full nelson. A nice exchange saw Naito hit another dropkick to the leg and use a cross kneelock. Sabre blocked a flying forearm and used a guillotine. Naito backed him into the corner to break the hold.

Sabre hit a swing DDT out of the corner and went back to the guillotine. He switched to a triangle choke, but Naito forced a break. They traded strikes to the chest, but Naito went right back to kicking at the leg. Naito hit a swing DDT and a top rope frankensteiner. Naito hit a step-up enzuigiri. Sabre used a sleeper. Naito quickly escaped the hold. Sabre used another neck twist 20 minutes in.

Sabre used a dragon sleeper and trapped the arms as well. Naito got back to his feet as Sabre kept the dragon sleeper applied. Naito avoided a Zack Driver and kicked the leg again. Naito hit a sliding dropkick to the leg. Naito hit Esperanza for a near fall.

Naito hit Destino, but Sabre kicked out. Naito went for a Michinoku driver, but Sabre blocked and hit a dragon suplex. Naito hit an enzuigiri. Sabre answered with an immediate PK into a double down.

Naito hit Valentia, then hit another Destino for the victory.

**********

SANADA and Taichi came to the ring after the match. Taichi helped Sabre to the back.

Naito cut a promo to send the fans home happy.

**********

Here are the lineups for the next two days:

NJPW Summer Struggle in Nagoya, Saturday, July 24, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KENTA
Tomohiro Ishii vs. EVIL
Tomoaki Honma & Master Wato vs. Shingo Takagi & BUSHI
Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Jado
Robbie Eagles, SHO & YOH vs. El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Sunday, July 25, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (c) vs. Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado (c) vs. Robbie Eagles
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (c) vs. Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi
Pre-show New Japan Ranbo for the provisional KOPW 2021

NJPW’s Hiromu Takahashi cleared for in-ring return

Posted on July 22, 2021 by Ethan Renner

NJPW will soon have its biggest junior heavyweight star back.

Hiromu Takahashi tweeted today that a doctor has cleared him for an in-ring return after being sidelined with a torn left pectoral.

The NJPW Global Twitter account quoted the tweet and stated “Somebody is cleared…”

Hiromu’s tweet read:

“【朗報】

お医者さんから復帰の許可が出たよ！

さーーまた無茶するぞー。ふぃーーーー”

Which Twitter translated as:

“【good news】

The doctor gave me permission to return!

Let’s go crazy again. Feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee”

Hiromu was injured while teaming with current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi against Kota Ibushi and Tomoaki Honma on February 19 at an NJPW Road to Castle Attack event. He would then vacate the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on the February 25 Road to Castle Attack show.

El Desperado would go on to win the vacant IWGP Jr. title in a three-way at Castle Attack in Osaka, defeating BUSHI and El Phantasmo. Desperado has since made two successful defenses of the title. He is scheduled to defend the belt against Robbie Eagles on Sunday’s Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome event.

Hiromu also missed more than a year of in-ring action with a broken neck following a match with Dragon Lee on July 7, 2018 on an NJPW G1 Special event in California. His comeback match after the neck injury took place on a Road to Tokyo Dome show on December 19, 2019.

NJPW Summer Struggle in Osaka night one results: Naito vs. Taichi

Posted on July 22, 2021 by Ethan Renner

The NJPW Summer Struggle tour continued today with the first of two straight nights in Osaka and the first of four consecutive days with major NJPW shows.

Before they face off for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship on Sunday at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Tetsuya Naito faced Taichi in the main event of today’s show, while their partners SANADA and Zack Sabre Jr. squared off in the semi-main.

The pairings will be reversed on tomorrow’s show, as Naito will face Sabre in the main event, while SANADA and Taichi will be the semi-main.

Below are results and a report on today’s show.

Recommended matches —

Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan vs. Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto
SANADA vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Taichi vs. Tetsuya Naito

Report —

El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI defeated Robbie Eagles, SHO & YOH (12:20)

There was some crisp wrestling here. There was also a ref bump and some questionable booking. Eagles is challenging for the title on Sunday. Frankly, he needs all the help he can get to look like a credible opponent. There’s no reason Eagles shouldn’t have pinned Kanemaru or DOUKI.

Desperado and Eagles started off with a nice chain wrestling sequence. YOH and DOUKI tagged in. SHO got a tag and Roppongi 3K hit DOUKI with some tandem offense. Desperado and Kanemaru interfered from the floor to help cut SHO off. The Suzuki-gun trio then went to work on SHO.

SHO eventually made a comeback with a spear to DOUKI and a suplex to Kanemaru. Desperado and Eagles tagged in for another exchange. Eagles hit two meteoras and used a jackknife cover for a near fall.

Desperado avoided a 450 to the legs and hit a spinebuster. Desperado got Numero Dos applied. Eagles fought to the ropes to force a break.They trades trikes into a double down. YOH got a hot tag and hit a flying forearm to Desperado for a near fall. Everyone jumped in for a big move.

YOH avoided Pinche Loco and hit a falcon arrow for a two count. Desperado blocked Direct Drive by shoving YOH into the referee for a ref bump here in the opener.

Desperado followed up with Pinche Loco and pinned YOH.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defeated KENTA, EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (w/Dick Togo) (12:39)

Tanahashi and YOSHI-HASHI were the stars of this match.

Bullet Club immediately cut Ishii off after interference from Togo and spent the first five minutes working him over.

YH got a tag and showed great fire as he went after EVIL. KENTA tagged in and briefly cut YH off. YH hit a kick and managed a tag to Tana. Tana used a dragon screw. He tried for his Texas Clover Hold, but KENTA small packaged him for a two count.

KENTA hit a clothesline off the top rope for another near fall. KENTA and Tana traded strikes and did a simultaneous knockout spot. Yujiro tagged in for a kick and a lariat for a two count. Tana avoided a fisherman buster, but Yujiro hit an inverted DDT for two.

Yujiro took the referee. KENTA jumped in with a chair. Ishii knocked the chair back into KENTA. KENTA took a bump and rolled outside. YH took out Togo on the apron. Yujiro shoved the ref, so we had our second ref bump in as many matches tonight.

Tana then hit a slingblade and High Fly Flow for the pin.

Ishii used a kick to the ropes to low blow EVIL and Togo after the match.

Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan defeated Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto (10:05)

This was a fun sprint.

Okada and Goto attacked before the bell. Okada still had his entrance gear on as he went after Cobb with a back elbow. Cobb overcame the attack and powered Okada to the floor and into the barricade.

O-Khan got a tag and went to work on Okada. O-Khan knocked Goto off the apron. Okada tried for a tag but Goto wasn’t there. O-Khan used Mongolian chops on Okada. Cobb and O-Khan traded tags as they worked Okada over.

Okada came back with a flapjack on O-Khan. Goto tagged in and hit a lariat for a two count. O-Khan blocked an ushigoroshi and hit his own version of the GTR. Cobb tagged in and ran across the ring with Goto, hitting a huge backdrop.

O-Khan and Cob hit tandem thrust kicks to Goto. Okada saved as Cobb made a cover. Okada and Cobb traded dropkicks. Okada rolled to the floor to sell Cobb’s impressive dropkick.

Cobb avoided two Goto lariats and a GTR attempt, then hoisted Goto up for a Tour of the Islands and the pin.

Shingo Takagi & BUSHI defeated Tomoaki Honma & Master Wato (10:30)

This was a quick showcase for Shingo as it should have been.

BUSHI and Wato began with a cool lucha sequence. Shingo and Honma tagged in. Shingo teased a clean break in the ropes, but Honma blocked an attempted strike. Shingo missed a senton.

Honma used a bulldog, then missed a kokeshi. Shingo hit a series of elbows. BUSHI tagged in for a missile dropkick. Honma hit a double DDT and tagged out.

Wato hit a springboard uppercut forearm and a tornillo to BUSHI. He followed with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall. BUSHI managed a tag. Shingo hit a back suplex for two as Honma saved for Wato.

Honma hit a kokeshi to Shingo. Honma and Wato doubled up on Shingo, but Shingo hit a double lariat. Shingo hit noshigami for a two count on Wato. Wato ducked a Pumping Bomber and used two quick cradles for near falls. That was a nice callback as Shingo pinned Wato with a Pumping Bomber last time they wrestled.

Shingo ducked a kick, hit a lariat, then followed with another Pumping Bomber for the pin.

SANADA & Zack Sabre Jr. wrestled to a draw following a double pin (24:21)

This was a total Zack Sabre Jr. match with a unique finish. I enjoy a long technical match, but the crowd was not into this most of the way.

They wrestled on the mat for the first eight minutes. Sabre used a head scissors on the mat. SANADA used a body scissors. Sabre tried a variety of techniques to break the hold, but was thwarted at every turn.

Sabre finally found an escape and used an ankle lock. SANADA sent Sabre outside and attacked his left leg with a kick over the barricade. Back inside, Sabre used a kick and went after SANADA’s left arm. Sabre then used a kick over the barricade on the bad arm.

Back in, Sabre continued using a variety of holds on the left arm. SANADA finally sent Sabre outside by kicking out of a hammerlock and used a plancha. Sabre blocked a TKO. SANADA avoided a kick to the arm and hit a standing moonsault for two.

Sabre kept going for kicks to the left arm in between holds. SANADA avoided the kicks and hit a dragon screw. Sabre got his knees up on a moonsault attempt and used an armbar, but SANADA forced a rope break.

Sabre finally hit a kick to the arm at the 20 minute call. SANADA answered with an immediate dragon screw in the ropes. SANADA used a figure four, but Sabre forced an immediate rope break.

They traded uppercut forearms. SANADA avoided a Zack Driver. Sabre avoided Skull End and reversed an O’Connor roll for a near fall. They traded pinning combinations. SANADA caught a PK and hit a dragon screw to the damaged leg.

SANADA hit a moonsault. He went for a figure four. Sabre tried to reverse into a European clutch. SANADA bridged with Sabre in the clutch position and elevated Sabre’s shoulders above his head to the mat. Red Shoes then counted a double pin.

The two argued over who won after the bell, then traded small packages and cradles before the ring attendants broke them up.

Taichi defeated Tetsuya Naito (26:42)

The second half of this was very good. The first half was kind of slow and plodding.

Naito sent Taichi outside with a sliding dropkick. Taichi bumped into the barricade and took nearly the full 20 count to get back in. Naito began going after Taichi’s neck with knee strikes. Taichi came back with a gamengiri.

Taichi sent Naito outside and choked him with a camera cable. Back inside, Taichi continued choking Naito. Taichi hit a series of kicks to Naito’s back. Naito asked for more, then fired up with strikes at the 10 minute call.

Naito avoided a chokeslam and hit a neckbreaker. Naito hit a back elbow and a basement dropkick to the back. He followed with the combinacion cabron. Naito hit another neckbreaker and used a crucifix hold. Taichi forced a break.

Taichi reversed a whip and hit a hook kick. Taichi hit a series of short kicks. Naito fired back with forearms. They traded kicks and forearms. Taichi took Naito’s legs out with a kick. Naito fired up and hit a series of back elbows in the corner at the 15 minute mark.

Taichi blocked one attempt at a top rope frankensteiner, but Naito eventually hit it. Taichi no-sold and hit a gamengiri into a double down. Naito ducked one axe bomber, but Taichi hit it on the rebound.

Taichi used the Seitei Jujiro. They did a long submission tease, but Taichi gave up the hold and used a lateral press for a near fall. Naito blocked two last ride attempts and hit a swing DDT. He followed with a top rope frankensteiner.

Taichi blocked Destino and hit an Alabama slam. Taichi removed his trousers. Naito hit a one-legged dropkick and Destino for a two count. Taichi blocked a second Destino. Naito hit an enzuigiri. Taichi blocked an Esperanza.

Naito avoided another Alabama slam and turned it into a piledriver for a near fall. Naito hit Valentia. Naito blocked another Destino attempt and reversed into Black Mephisto for a near fall. Naito blocked a backdrop suplex. They traded strikes.

Taichi hit an elbow strike out of a three point stance. He followed with a superkick and a second Black Mephisto for the pin.

**********

Sabre and SANADA came to the ring after the match. Sabre said he and SANADA aren’t done yet, but he’s concentrating on Naito. He said he’ll see Naito tomorrow and they’ll have some fun.

Taichi mocked Naito’s traditional post-match promo as he addressed the crowd to close the show.

**********

Here are the lineups for the next three days:

NJPW Summer Struggle in Osaka night two, Friday, July 23, 1 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
SANADA vs. Taichi
Tomoaki Honma & Master Wato vs. Shingo Takagi & BUSHI
Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. KENTA, EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi
Hirooki Goto, Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero vs. Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Jado

NJPW Summer Struggle in Nagoya, Saturday, July 24, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KENTA
Tomohiro Ishii vs. EVIL
Tomoaki Honma & Master Wato vs. Shingo Takagi & BUSHI
Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Jado
Robbie Eagles, SHO & YOH vs. El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Sunday, July 25, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (c) vs. Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado (c) vs. Robbie Eagles
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (c) vs. Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi
Pre-show New Japan Ranbo for the provisional KOPW 2021

Chavo Guerrero makes AEW debut as Andrade El Idolo’s consultant

Posted on July 22, 2021 by Ethan Renner

Chavo Guerrero made his AEW debut as Andrade El Idolo’s executive consultant on tonight’s Fyter Fest episode of Dynamite.

During an in-ring interview with Tony Schiavone, Andrade stated that he had a surprise for the crowd tonight. Schiavone then introduced Guerrero.

Guerrero said that he heard AEW is the place to be and that he was blown away by all the talent he saw backstage. Guerrero then said with all due respect to the talented men and women in AEW, none are as talented as Andrade.

The Death Triangle trio of PAC, Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix came to the stage with Alex Abrahantes. Guerrero, Andrade, PAC and Abrahantes had a verbal exchange where Andrade said that Penta and Fenix should come work for him rather than working for PAC, a request that Death Triangle rejected. The segment ended with Death Triangle hitting the ring and a pull-apart by referees.

Guerrero, 50, is a veteran with international experience. He has wrestled for WCW, NJPW, TNA, Lucha Underground, AAA and a variety of independent promotions over a career spanning more than two decades. He had a lengthy run with WWE beginning in 2001 after his contract was purchased in the sale of WCW to WWE. He was granted his WWE release in June 2011.

Guerrero has wrestled sporadically in 2020 and 2021, with his only high-profile matches being on two Good Brothers’ Talk ‘N Shop A Mania PPV events in 2020 and a Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport PPV in April 2021.

Two matches added to NJPW Resurgence

Posted on July 21, 2021 by Ethan Renner

NJPW has added two matches to their Resurgence event on August 14 in Los Angeles.

Karl Fredericks will take on Alex Coughlin in a singles match. Additionally, Fred Rosser, Rocky Romero and Wheeler Yuta will face TJP, Clark Connors and Ren Narita in a six-man tag.

Already announced for the show, Jay White will make his first NEVER Openweight Championship defense, taking on David Finlay. Finlay eliminated White from the 2021 New Japan Cup to set up the contest.

NJPW also announced that Drama King Matt will be on the English commentary team on FITE TV, joining the regular NJPW Strong duo of Kevin Kelly and Alex Koslov. NJPW World will stream the show with Japanese commentary.

Resurgence will be the first ticketed NJPW event in the United States since The New Beginning in USA tour event in Georgia on February 1, 2020. It will be held at The Torch at LA Coliseum.

Here is the lineup so far:

NJPW Resurgence, Saturday, August 14, 10 p.m. Eastern time on FITE TV & NJPW World —

NEVER Openweight Championship: Jay White (c) vs. David Finlay
Karl Fredericks vs. Alex Coughlin
Fred Rosser, Rocky Romero & Wheeler Yuta vs. TJP, Clark Connors & Ren Narita

Other talent announced for the show:

Jon Moxley
Tom Lawlor
Doc Gallows
Karl Anderson
Juice Robinson
Shota Umino
Hikuleo
Lio Rush
Brody King
Chris Dickinson
JR Kratos

NJPW reveals KOPW stipulation for Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome

Posted on July 20, 2021 by Ethan Renner

NJPW has announced the stipulation for the New Japan Ranbo for the KOPW 2021 title on the Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome pre-show.

Toru Yano will defend the provisional KOPW 2021 in the Ranbo in a match where handcuffs will be legal. Eliminations in the Ranbo can take place by pinfall, submission, DQ, being thrown over the top rope, or being handcuffed to the ropes or the ringside area.

The number of entrants for the Ranbo have not been announced, but participants will enter the match at one-minute intervals.

Handcuffs won by a margin of 12,100 votes (76.3%) to 3,755 votes (23.7%).

Here is the full lineup for the event:

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Sunday, July 25, pre-show 2 a.m., main card 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (c) vs. Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado (c) vs. Robbie Eagles
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (c) vs. Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi
Pre-show New Japan Ranbo with handcuffs for the provisional KOPW 2021

NXT Champion Karrion Kross makes WWE Raw debut

Posted on July 20, 2021 by Ethan Renner

NXT Champion Karrion Kross made his WWE Raw debut on tonight’s show.

Kross faced Jeff Hardy in a singles match, a bout won by Hardy. Kross’s Raw debut also came minus his longtime valet Scarlett.

During the match, Hardy missed his Swanton Bomb finisher. Kross backed Hardy into the corner and attempted to climb the ropes. Hardy then hit a powerbomb off the second rope. Hardy then used a jackknife cover with his feet on the ropes to pin Kross.

Kross was interviewed in the ring following his loss. He stated that Hardy had just made the biggest mistake of his life. To close the segment, Kross said that “everyone will fall and pray.”

Kross’s main roster debut came on the June 24 episode of Main Event, where he defeated Shelton Benjamin. Kross also worked dark matches for WWE in June, facing Dolph Ziggler and Slapjack at SmackDown tapings. He would also face Cesaro and Drew Gulak in dark matches in July.

Kross’s WWE signing was announced in February 2020. He would go on to make his NXT debut in April 2020. Kross went on to claim the NXT title for the first time at NXT TakeOver: XXX in August 2020. His first title reign lasted just four days, as he suffered a shoulder injury at TakeOver and was forced to vacate the title.

Kross would return to NXT in December 2020. His second NXT title reign began on April 8, 2021 when he defeated Finn Balor on night two of NXT TakeOver: Stand and Deliver. He most recently defended the NXT title on last week’s episode, defeating Johnny Gargano.

VIDEO: Being The Elite – ‘Good Old Fashioned Extortion’

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Ethan Renner

Video —

This week on Being The Elite —

The cold open —

Matt and Nick Jackson were in an airport doing their full heel shtick, complaining about “marks” traveling and making their travel days more difficult.

The Elite —

There was an extended montage of The Young Bucks and Brandon Cutler shoe shopping, then going to a juice bar.
The Bucks and Kenny Omega posed for a video shoot.
A Jim Ross impersonator alerted The Elite that Hangman Page was calling Omega out on last week’s Dynamite. Footage was then shown of The Elite and Dark Order segment from last week’s Dynamite.
Frankie Kazarian and Christopher Daniels appeared off-screen as two new human resources employees hired to monitor Matt and Nick’s new heelish behavior.
Matt Hardy went to The Elite’s locker room to explain how big a fan he was of them and how The Bucks had surpassed The Hardys as the number one tag team of all time. He also said that Omega was the best world champion in the business today, surpassing Roman Reigns, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins. He also continued on his quest to have his loss to Christian Cage overturned due to his lack of sleep.
Cutler was wrapping up the episode when he received a ransom note from Dark Order. They threatened to show Matt and Nick “the tape” where there’s blood on Cutler’s hands unless he gets them back on Dark Order.

Miscellaneous bits —

There was a very strange Hollywood Hunk segment. Ryan Nemeth appeared to have a hostage in his home.
The A.M.E.N. segment stated that they had been canceled due to lack of funding. Alright.
In this week’s telenovela, Peter Avalon was sitting alone. Leva Bates approached and told him they’ll always have the library.

Mickie James to appear on Impact Wrestling this week

Posted on July 18, 2021 by Ethan Renner

Following her surprise return to the company on Saturday, Mickie James will appear on this Thursday’s episode of Impact Wrestling.

Impact tweeted a video today featuring James and Impact producer Gail Kim. Kim said that she was happy to see James, but that James can’t just come in and attack the Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo as she did on Saturday. James promised to “make it right” when she appears on this Thursday’s episode of Impact.

James returned to Impact at Saturday’s Slammiversary PPV and had a standoff with Purrazzo following Purrazzo’s title defense against surprise opponent Thunder Rosa.

James stated that she was there at Slammiversary to invite Purrazzo to the NWA Empower all-women’s PPV that James is producing. Purrazzo insulted James and referenced the trash bag incident that followed James’s release from WWE in April. James then hit Purrazzo with a Mick Kick.

Impact airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. Eastern time on AXS TV and on Twitch.

Mickie James, Thunder Rosa appear at Impact Slammiversary

Posted on July 18, 2021 by Ethan Renner

On a night filled with surprise appearances, two more stars made unannounced showings at Impact Wrestling’s Slammiversary PPV.

NWA’s Thunder Rosa appeared on the show as Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo’s mystery opponent in a title match.

Following Rosa’s defeat, Mickie James came to the ring to issue an invitation to Purrazzo to appear at the NWA Empower all-women’s PPV on Saturday, August 28. James is serving as executive producer for that event.

Purrazzo did not officially accept the invite, but insulted James and made reference to the trash bag incident that James took public following her April release from WWE. James then laid out Purrazzo with a kick.

Prior to tonight’s event, James last appeared in Impact in 2015. Her most recent in-ring appearance came at WWE Royal Rumble on January 31. She has announced a return to the ring at NWA’s 73rd anniversary event on August 29, one day after Empower.

Tonight’s appearance marks Rosa’s most high-profile match since facing Britt baker in an unsanctioned match on AEW Dynamite in March. Rosa has since primarily appeared on AEW Dark: Elevation and NWA Power.

Chelsea Green returns to Impact Wrestling at Slammiversary

Posted on July 18, 2021 by Ethan Renner

Chelsea Green has returned to Impact Wrestling.

Green appeared as Matt Cardona’s mystery partner at tonight’s Slammiversary PPV. Green and Cardona defeated Brian Myers and Tenille Dashwood in a mixed tag match.

It has been a busy week for Green, as she also appeared on this past Sunday’s Ring of Honor PPV, Best in the World. Green stated at Best in the World that she wanted to wrestle on that show, but was deemed unfit by the Maryland State Athletic Commission due to her wrist injury, originally suffered on WWE SmackDown in November 2020. Green was released by WWE on April 15, 2021.

Returning to her “Hot Mess” persona, Green wrestled with a cast on her arm at Slammiversary, but it was announced on the broadcast that she had been cleared for competition.

Green had a prior stint in Impact from 2016 to 2018, wrestling primarily as Laurel Van Ness. She claimed the Impact Knockouts Championship one time, beating Rosemary to win the vacant title in 2018.

NJPW Summer Struggle results: Rocky Romero vs. El Phantasmo

Posted on July 17, 2021 by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s Summer Struggle tour continued today with a show in Korakuen Hall.

The top two bouts were singles match previews of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match set to take place at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome on July 25.

In the main event, Rocky Romero took on El Phantasmo in a rematch of a classic Best of the Super Juniors match from May 2019. In the semi-main, Taiji Ishimori faced Ryusuke Taguchi. Ishimori and ELP will defend the IWGP Jr. Tag titles against Romero and Taguchi at the Tokyo Dome.

The undercard was made up of tag team previews of some of next week’s biggest bouts.

Here are today’s results:

KENTA, EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemura (12:56)

Yujiro pinned Tsuji after hitting Pimp Juice.

Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki defeated Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI (13:29)

Taichi pinned BUSHI after he and Sabre hit Zack Mephisto.

Robbie Eagles, SHO & YOH defeated El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI (12:55)

Eagles used the Ron Miller Special to submit DOUKI.

Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Taiji Ishimori (14:23)

Taguchi pinned Ishimori with a cradle after Ishimori failed in an attempt to cradle Taguchi by pulling his tights down. Taguchi then used a stinkface on Ishimori. This has to be seen to be believed.

ELP then ran in and attacked Taguchi. Romero ran in for the save and the main event began.

Rocky Romero and El Phantasmo went to a time limit draw (30:00)

Taguchi teased throwing in the towel for Romero. ELP intercepted the towel. ELP hit Sudden Death, but Romero kicked out as the time limit expired.

Here are the lineups for the next week and weekend’s NJPW World events:

NJPW Summer Struggle in Osaka night one, Thursday, July 22, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi
SANADA vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Kota Ibushi & Master Wato vs. Shingo Takagi & BUSHI
Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. KENTA, EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi
Robbie Eagles, SHO & YOH vs. El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI

NJPW Summer Struggle in Osaka night two, Friday, July 23, 1 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
SANADA vs. Taichi
Kota Ibushi & Master Wato vs. Shingo Takagi & BUSHI
Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. KENTA, EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi
Hirooki Goto, Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero vs. Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Jado

NJPW Summer Struggle in Nagoya, Saturday, July 24, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KENTA
Tomohiro Ishii vs. EVIL
Kota Ibushi & Master Wato vs. Shingo Takagi & BUSHI
Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Jado
Robbie Eagles, SHO & YOH vs. El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Sunday, July 25, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (c) vs. Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado (c) vs. Robbie Eagles
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (c) vs. Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi
Pre-show New Japan Ranbo for the provisional KOPW 2021