An F4WOnline Editor since 2019, Ethan has been covering wrestling and MMA since 2011. He has hosted The Wrestling Life Podcast since 2014, and is a former Baltimore Sun TV/Tribune Media contributor. He is also a Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles fan.
For the third time in a ten-day stretch, Kota Ibushi has been pulled from an NJPW event.
NJPW announced Friday that Ibushi is off the Monday, July 19 Summer Struggle card in Ryugasaki due to illness. In its announcement, NJPW noted that Ibushi took a PCR test, which came back negative for COVID-19.
Previously, NJPW cited side effects from COVID-19 vaccination as the reason for removing Ibushi from the July 10 and July 11 Summer Struggle in Sapporo events.
Ibushi last wrestled on the July 2 NJPW Kizuna Road event.
Monday’s scheduled Ibushi, Master Wato, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI & SANADA match has been changed to Yuji Nagata, Wato, Tenzan & Kojima vs Shingo, Naito, BUSHI & SANADA.
Ibushi is currently still scheduled to challenge Shingo for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome on Sunday, July 25.
Following Friday’s NJPW Strong, the semifinals are set for the Tag Team Turbulence tournament.
Brody King and Chris Dickinson were victorious over Team Filthy’s JR Kratos and Danny Limelight in the main event of Strong to secure their place in the semifinals.
King and Dickinson will face the West Coast Wrecking Crew duo of Jorel Nelson and Royce Isaacs, who advanced to the next round with their victory over the LA Dojo unit of Kevin Knight and The DKC.
On the other side of the bracket, Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows beat Clark Connors and TJP in a first round match after Anderson and Gallows hit a Magic Killer on TJP.
The Good Brothers advance and will face Yuji Nagata and Ren Narita. Nagata and Narita advanced with a victory over Fred Yehi and Wheeler Yuta.
The semifinals will take place on the Friday, July 23 Strong. Next week’s show will also feature an NJPW Strong Openweight Championship match between Tom Lawlor and Satoshi Kojima.
The Tag Team Turbulence finals will be held on the July 30 episode.
Strong airs Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World and is available on demand shortly after airing.
Here are the upcoming Strong lineups:
NJPW Strong Tag Team Turbulence, Friday, July 23 —
NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Tom Lawlor (c) vs. Satoshi Kojima
Tag Team Turbulence semifinal: Yuji Nagata & Ren Narita vs. The Good Brothers
Tag Team Turbulence semifinal: Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs vs. Brody King & Chris Dickinson
NJPW Strong Tag Team Turbulence, Friday, July 30 —
WWE’s first episode of Raw back in front of fans could have a major star return, according to a report.
Fightful Select reports that as of today, Goldberg is scheduled to return to WWE Raw on Monday’s episode at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
The Fightful report also states that WWE’s current plan is to have Goldberg face Bobby Lashley for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam on Saturday, August 21 at Allegiant Stadium in Nevada. The report also states that Goldberg’s WWE contract runs through 2022 and calls for two matches per year.
Goldberg’s last WWE appearance came at Royal Rumble 2021 on January 31. He challenged Drew McIntyre for the WWE title on that show in a losing effort.
Goldberg wrestled twice in 2020, defeating The Fiend for the Universal title at Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia in February, then dropping the title to Braun Strowman on night one of WrestleMania 36.
Goldberg also wrestled twice in 2019. He lost to The Undertaker at Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia in June, then defeated Dolph Ziggler at SummerSlam in Toronto.
Lance Archer has challenged IWGP United States Champion Jon Moxley to a Texas death match for night two of AEW Fyter Fest.
Archer issued the challenge on night one of Fyter Fest in a backstage segment. Following Jon Moxley’s successful IWGP US title defense against Karl Anderson in the opener, Jake Roberts and Archer proposed that Moxley put up the US title on next week’s show.
Moxley’s current reign began with a win over Archer, also in a Texas death match, at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 on January 4, 2020 in the Tokyo Dome.
Archer held the title from 2019 into 2020. Archer won the title after Moxley vacated it due to travel issues in October 2019. Archer beat Juice Robinson in a no DQ match to win the title at NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 2019.
Archer made one successful defense during his reign, beating David Finlay at NJPW Showdown in San Jose, California in November 2019.
Here is the announced card for night two of Fyter Fest to this point:
AEW Dynamite Fyter Fest night two, Wednesday, July 21 —
AEW Women’s World Championship: Britt Baker (c) vs. Nyla Rose
IWGP United States Championship Texas death match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Lance Archer
The Young Bucks did a travel vlog. They were in total heel promo mode, bragging about how much they have spent on shoes in the last month, how the “marks” in the airport won’t leave them alone, how they hate doing this show and they’re not sure why they continue to do it. They also said how much better the show is now that they have banned Dark Order.
The Elite —
Kenny Omega confronted Matt, Nick and Nakazawa for shaving their mustaches off without his approval.
Footage was shown from Dynamite.
The episode ended as it began, with a Young Bucks travel vlog. Matt and Nick detailed their injuries from the Dynamite street fight. Clips were shown as they detailed the spots where they got hurt.
Miscellaneous bits —
A cinematic Hollywood Hunk vignette aired. Ryan Nemeth received a mysterious gift at his door, then began typing “Michelle” on a typewriter.
Leva Bates and Serpentico visited Ryzin, Vickie Guerrero and Nyla Rose’s confessional.
Fans will decide whether handcuffs or blindfolds will be used in the New Japan Ranbo for the provisional KOPW 2021 title at NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome.
Yano stated that as with prior KOPW bouts, fans will be asked to choose the stipulation. In the past, NJPW has conducted those polls on the NJPW Global Twitter account. Yano proposed that either blindfolds or handcuffs be legal in the Ranbo.
“On the guardrails and the ropes will be handcuffs set up to use,” said Yano. “The Ranbo is as normal, when you’re pinned, submitted or thrown over the top you’re out, but you can also be put out by being handcuffed, and then you’re stuck there for the rest of the match! Completely humiliated!”
“This time, the point of the Ranbo will be to put a blindfold on an opponent to eliminate them,” Yano said. “The blindfolds will be suspended in different positions in and around the ringside area. Enough for every participant.”
“Whether its blindfolds or handcuffs, NJPW will have to prepare as many of each as possible to make the rules viable. That’s a key point here.”
NJPW announced the full lineup for Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome earlier today. Here it is:
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Sunday, July 25, 1 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 has announced the full lineups for the next four Summer Struggle events to be aired on NJPW World.
On the Saturday, July 17 in Tokyo, two singles match previews of the upcoming IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome will take place. In the main event, Rocky Romero will take on El Phantasmo. In the semi-main, Ryusuke Taguchi will face Taiji Ishimori. Ishimori and ELP will defend the Junior Tag titles against Taguchi and Romero at the Tokyo Dome.
The Thursday, July 22 and Friday, July 23 events in Osaka will have singles match previews of the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match to take place at the Tokyo Dome. On July 22, Tetsuya Naito faces Taichi in the main event and SANADA faces Zack Sabre Jr. in the semi-main. On July 23, Naito vs. Sabre main events, while SANADA vs. Taichi is the semi-main. Naito and SANADA defend the Tag titles against Taichi and Sabre at Wrestle Grand Slam.
Saturday, July 24 in Nagoya will be headlined by a pair of singles matches teased heavily during the last leg of the Summer Struggle tour. In the main event, Hiroshi Tanahashi takes on KENTA. Tomohiro Ishii vs. EVIL will be the semi-main.
Here are the full lineups:
NJPW Summer Struggle at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Saturday, July 17, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
Rocky Romero vs. El Phantasmo
Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Taiji Ishimori
Robbie Eagles, SHO & YOH vs. El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI
Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemura vs. KENTA, EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo
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
New champions were crowned on night two of NJPW Summer Struggle in Sapporo.
Tetsuya Naito and SANADA defeated Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event of today’s show to win the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles. Following a battle of nearly 37 minutes, Naito pinned Sabre after hitting Destino.
The story of the match was Naito overcoming Sabre and Taichi working over his left arm, while Naito and SANADA’s offense focused on softening up Sabre’s neck to allow Naito to hit Destino. Sabre kicked out of one earlier Destino, but the second was enough to put him away.
The win marks Naito and SANADA’s first reign as a duo. Naito previously held the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles with Yujiro Takahashi in 2010. SANADA is now a three-time IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. He had two prior reigns with EVIL.
Taichi and Sabre’s second reign with the titles came to an end after 41 days. They defeated Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa to win the titles at a Road to Dominion event on June 1 in Tokyo.
Naito, SANADA, Taichi and Sabre faced off backstage in the post-match comments following the event. Taichi and Sabre proposed that an immediate rematch take place at Wrestle Grand Slam on Sunday, July 25. Naito and SANADA appeared to agree, but NJPW has yet to make the match official.
A bevy of official match announcements for Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome should be made imminently. Matches teased for the event include Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KENTA, Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb, Tomohiro Ishii vs. EVIL, El Desperado defending the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title against Robbie Eagles, plus Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo vs. Ryusuke Taguchi and Rocky Romero for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles.
Already announced for the Tokyo Dome are Shingo Takagi defending the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Kota Ibushi, plus a pre-show New Japan Ranbo for the provisional KOPW 2021 title.
The IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships are on the line today on night two of NJPW Summer Struggle in Sapporo.
Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. (Dangerous Tekkers) will defend the titles against Los Ingobernables de Japon’s Tetsuya Naito and SANADA in the main event.
In the semi-main, Shingo Takagi will face Master Wato in a singles match. This was changed from Shingo and BUSHI vs. Wato and Kota Ibushi after Ibushi was pulled from his second consecutive event folowing side effects from a COVID-19 vaccine. Ibushi will challenge Shingo for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome on July 25.
Kazuchika Okada and YOH will face United Empire’s Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan. Cobb and O-Khan beat Okada and SHO on night one of Summer Struggle in Sapporo.
Three more tag matches fill out the undercard.
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Yota Tsuji will take on KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero will face the Bullet Club trio of EVIL, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo, plus SHO & Yuya Uemura will take on El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the opener.
Our live coverage begins at 1 a.m. Eastern time.
**********
Hiromu Takahashi began the show with a promo. He previewed the card.
Kanemaru and Uemura worked the bulk of this fine opener. Desperado was in a long main event yesterday, so I’m sure welcomed the rest.
Kanemaru is technically very good, Uemura is one of the best technical wrestlers in the company, but there was no storyline reason for this match.
Kanemaru and Uemura began. Uemura got some shine, but was quickly cut off. Kanemaru and Desperado worked him over.
SHO got a tag. SHO used a cross armbreaker. Kanemaru and Desperado tried a double team, but SHO answered with a double spear.
Uemura got a hot tag. He used a flying forearm and a full crab on Kanemaru. Desperado saved for Kanemaru. Uemura tried a double overhook suplex, but Kanemaru blocked.
Kanemaru hit a dropkick. Desperado and Kanemaru hit their tandem one-legged dropkick to Uemura. Kanemaru got cradled for two. Kanemaru hit an inverted DDT for a near fall, then hit Deep Impact for the pin.
This served two purposes — to establish challengers for ELP and Ishimori and to further tease Ishii vs. EVIL.
It had a good closing stretch, but I’m not a fan of the formulaic Bullet Club undercard garbage brawls.
The teams began brawling before the bell. Romero started off as the legal man for his team. He was isolated on the outside and whipped into the barricade.
Taguchi got a hot tag, then he was also isolated and worked over with Ishimori and ELP’s comedy offense.
EVIL and Ishii got their tags. Ishii escaped a ref-assisted Magic Killer, then hit a vertical suplex into a double down.
Romero and ELP got tags. Romero avoided a Sudden Death and a jackknife cover. Taguchi hopped in to double up on ELP. Romero hit an assisted swing DDT.
Romero ran into a Sudden Death with his arm and sold his wrist. Romero reversed a CR2 attempt into a victory roll and got the pin over one half of the IWGP Junior Tag champs.
**********
Romero cut a promo after the match and declared himself and Taguchi the next challengers for ELP and Ishimori. Romero asked if they accepted the challenge. ELP and Ishimori said no. Romero said next time they meet, Romero and Taguchi will beat them.
Not sure the purpose of having the heels decline the challenge when they’re just going to go ahead and make the match anyway in about 18 hours.
I think this was the best thing on the show to this point. Tana and KENTA are beginning a feud with great intensity to it. In particular, their striking exchanges are fantastic.
Tana and KENTA began the match by trading strikes on the mat, each trading top position. Tsuji got a tag and was quickly cut off. KENTA and Yujiro took turns on Tsuji. Tsuji managed a dropkick and hot tag to Tana.
Tana hit strikes, a slam and a somersault senton. He teased a slingblade, but KENTA countered into a G2S attempt. Tana slid out and they traded strikes. They hit simultaneous slaps and both went down.
Yujiro tagged in and hit a series of kicks. Tana blocked a fisherman buster and hit twist and shout. Tana then tagged out to Tsuji.
Tsuji got a tag and hit a hurricanrana to Yujiro. He followed with a slam, a senton and a splash for a two count. Tsuji fed Yujiro to Tana for a slingblade. Tsuji then used a crab on Yujiro as Tana used his clover hold on KENTA. Yujiro forced a break.
Tsuji used a series of cradles for near falls on Yujiro. Yujiro blocked a backslide, then rolled through into Pimp Juice position. Yujiro hit Pimp Juice and got the pin.
***** Intermission *****
Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan defeated Kazuchika Okada & YOH (12:45)
This was a very good tag match. Cobb’s power moves tonight were unreal.
Cobb and Okada were in briefly at the start. Cobb used a shove to send Okada rolling outside to collect himself. O-Khan and YOH tagged in. YOH hit a forearm, then was quickly isolated as Empire took over the match.
Cobb tagged in for some impressive power spots on YOH. YOH managed a leg lariat to O-Khan, then Okada got a hot tag. Okada ran wild on O-Khan with back elbows. O-Khan blocked a DDT and used a claw to set up a tag to Cobb.
Cobb powered Okada around the ring. Cobb hit a running powerslam out of the corner for two. Okada blocked a Tour of the Islands and a spin cycle. Okada hit a flapjack into a double down.
YOH tagged in for a neckbreaker and a one count on Cobb. YOH hit a shotgun dropkick off the top rope for a two count. YOH tried a falcon arrow, but Cobb blocked. O-Khan saved as YOH tried another falcon arrow.
O-Khan hit a pump kick on YOH into a Cobb suplex for a two count as Okada saved. Okada went for a dropkick to O-Khan, but Cobb plucked Okada out of the air and hit him with a spin cycle. That was awesome.
Cobb then hit a Tour of the Islands on YOH for the pin.
Shingo Takagi defeated Master Wato (14:49)
This was the best Master Wato outing in quite some time. This was short of the level of a really good main event NJPW match, but a good semi-main.
They locked up, then traded tackle attempts. Neither went down. Wato hit a dropkick, sending Shingo stumbling to the floor. Wato then hit a tornillo to the outside. Back in, Wato covered for a quick one count.
Wato used a series of kicks for another one count. Shingo blocked a suplex attempt, then hit a slam and a senton. Shingo sent Wato to the floor with a clothesline over the top. Wato threw some flailing strikes on the outside, but Shingo shrugged them off and rammed Wato into the ring frame.
Back in the ring, Shingo hit some stomps and posed. Shingo hit chops and a vertical suplex for a two count. Shingo used a chinlock on the mat, but Wato forced a rope break. Shingo remained firmly in control.
Wato hit a series of strikes for a hope spot. Shingo dropped Wato with a double sledge to the chest. Wato stopped a lariat attempt by hitting a springboard uppercut forearm. Wato fired off some kicks and an enzuigiri for a one and a half count.
Shingo hit his jab and lariat combination. He then used a back suplex for a two count. Wato avoided a sliding lariat and hit a buzzsaw kick into a double down.
Wato was first up. He teased a piledriver, but Shingo hit a backdrop out of it. Shingo dared Wato to throw strikes at him. Shingo ate all the strikes, then hit a series of forearms. Wato ducked a strike and hit recientemente. He followed with a TTD.
Wato went for the RPP off the top, but crashed and burned on landing. Shingo hit a lariat. Wato blocked a Pumping Bomber. Shingo hit a pop-up powerbomb with a stack cover for a near fall. Shingo used an STF to set up a cradle for a near fall.
Shingo hit a sliding lariat. Wato reversed a Last of the Dragon into a crucifix bomb for a near fall. Wato caught another quick near fall, then Shingo cut him off with a sliding forearm strike. Shingo hit the Pumping Bomber, but Wato kicked out.
Shingo then looked into the camera and called out Ibushi. He then hit Last of the Dragon and got the pin.
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (w/Miho Abe) to win the titles (36:57)
This was paced slowly, but turned into quite the main event. The match never dragged despite going nearly 37 minutes.
Naito and Sabre postured as though they were going to start off with one another. Both ended up tagging out. Sabre and SANADA started with some mat work. They grappled to a stalemate for the first five minutes.
Taichi and Naito tagged in. Naito twice knocked Sabre down off the apron. Naito sent Taichi rolling outside. Naito teased a dive, but hit his Tranquilo pose in the center of the ring instead.
Sabre tagged in, finally wanting to face off with Naito. Naito immediately tagged out, but interfered from the floor to allow SANADA to take control of Sabre. SANADA isolated Sabre in the LIJ corner. Naito tagged in and used a crucifix hold on the mat.
SANADA tagged in and continued to soften up Sabre’s neck. Naito tagged in and worked over the neck as well. Sabre kicked at Naito’s left arm to set up a tag to Taichi. Taichi sent Naito outside and into the barricade.
Taichi and Sabre continued to methodically work on Naito’s left arm as the match returned to the ring. Naito came back with a neckbreaker to Sabre. Naito managed to tag SANADA. SANADA hit an interfering Taichi with a leapfrog dropkick.
Sabre avoided a SANADA plancha. SANADA hit a dragon screw in the ropes and a high crossbody off the top for a near fall. SANADA avoided an octopus hold. The two traded a series of clutch holds for near falls.
Sabre caught SANADA in a triangle choke. SANADA escaped and tried a TKO. Sabre avoided the TKO and went after SANADA’s left arm at the 20 minute call.
Taichi tagged in. Taichi fired off kicks as SANADA fired back with forearm strikes. They traded big boots. Taichi hit a gamengiri for a double down. Sabre caught Naito in a kimura on the floor to prevent a tag.
SANADA ducked a buzzsaw kick. SANADA used a TKO attempt to set up Skull End. Taichi escaped and teased Black Mephisto. Taichi connected on a high kick. SANADA answered with a TKO into another double down.
Naito sent Sabre into the barricade, then tagged in. He was still doing a masterful job of selling his left arm as he hit a combinacion to Taichi. Naito tried for a top rope frankensteiner. Taichi blocked at first and tried a Black Mephisto off the top. Naito blocked that and hit the frankensteiner for a near fall.
Taichi blocked Gloria. Sabre and SANADA jumped in. SANADA hit a dropkick to Sabre’s left knee. Sabre hit a neck twist to Naito. SANADA hit Sabre with a dragon screw. Taichi avoided Skull End from SANADA and hit a high kick in the corner to Naito. All four were down in the ring just past the 25 minute call.
Naito hit a swing DDT to Taichi. Taichi popped right up and hit a backdrop suplex for yet another double down. Sabre got a tag and used a neck crank on Naito. SANADA ran in for the illegal double team and tandem offense.
Naito used a jackknife cradle for a two count to Sabre as Taichi saved. SANADA took out Taichi with a plancha. Naito hit esperanza for a near fall. Sabre reversed a Destino attempt into a cobra twist. Taichi caught SANADA in a dragon sleeper to stop the save 30 minutes in. Sabre switched the cobra twist to an octopus hold, but Naito forced a rope break after a long struggle.
Sabre taunted Naito with short kicks. Naito caught a PK and hit a back elbow, again going after Sabre’s neck. Naito hit a series of hard elbows to the neck and a flying forearm. Sabre blocked Valentia and hit a dragon suplex for a near fall as SANADA saved.
Taichi took out SANADA with a chokeslam, then hit an axe bomber to Naito. Naito fought off Zack Mephisto at the 35 minute call. Taichi hit a last ride to Naito. Sabre hit a PK, then covered for a two count.
Naito avoided the Zack Driver and hit Destino for a near fall on Sabre as SANADA used Skull End on Taichi. SANADA hit a moonsault to Sabre.
Naito hit Sabre with a second Destino for the pin to win the titles.
**********
BUSHI and Shingo Takagi came to the ring to celebrate after the match. Hiromu Takahashi also joined his stablemates after sitting at the commentary table for the show.
Naito closed the show with the LIJ roll call promo.
Kota Ibushi will miss his second consecutive NJPW event due to COVID-19 vaccine side effects.
NJPW has announced that Ibushi has been pulled from Sunday’s night two of Summer Struggle in Sapporo event. Ibushi was also pulled from night one on Saturday for the same reason.
Ibushi had been scheduled to semi-main event Sunday’s show, teaming with Master Wato against IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi and BUSHI. That bout has been changed to Shingo vs. Master Wato in a singles match.
NJPW said in a statement that Ibushi’s health and status will continue to be monitored and that decisions will be made as to his future bookings. There are seven more Summer Struggle events scheduled between Tuesday and the time Ibushi is currently slated to challenge Shingo for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on Sunday, July 25 at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome.
The Summer Struggle tour continues after the Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome event with sixteen shows to be held between July 27 and August 27.
Robbie Eagles will be the next challenger for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
Eagles appeared via video message and issued his challenge at today’s NJPW Summer Struggle in Sapporo event following the IWGP Jr. title match main event.
After champion El Desperado successfully defended his title against Taiji Ishimori, Desperado took the microphone to cut the customary post-match promo. Before he spoke, the arena lights briefly went out. A message from Eagles then played on the video wall.
Eagles said that the junior heavyweight division has become more like a committee of vultures than anything else. Eagles said he needs to push past the vultures and make a declaration. Eagles said he was declaring himself the next challenger for Desperado.
In backstage comments after the event, Desperado said that Eagles did well to assert himself. He said that NJPW should listen to its champions, and Desperado stated that he wanted to defend the title against Eagles at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome on July 25.
No official announcement from NJPW has been made regarding Desperado vs. Eagles.
Here is the announced card for July 25 so far:
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Sunday, July 25 —
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
Pre-show New Japan Ranbo for the provisional KOPW 2021
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is on the line on night one of NJPW Summer Struggle in Sapporo.
Champion El Desperado will defend the title against Taiji Ishimori. Desperado has made one successful title defense since winning the vacant title at Castle Attack in February. The title was vacated after Hiromu Takahashi suffered a pectoral injury.
A change to the card was made after Kota Ibushi was pulled from the show due to suffering side effects from a COVID-19 vaccination. Ibushi was set to team with Master Wato against Yuya Uemura and Yota Tsuji. Wato will now face Uemura in a singles match in the show opener.
A series of tag matches make up the rest of the undercard:
Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI
Kazuchika Okada & SHO vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero vs. KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi & El Phantasmo
Tomohiro Ishii & YOH vs. EVIL & Dick Togo
Our live coverage begins at 5 a.m. Eastern time.
*********
Master Wato defeated Yuya Uemura (9:09)
A solid opener that told a simple story. Uemura had the technical edge, but Wato displayed superior striking.
They opened with some tentative kicks. Uemura got the best of a mat wrestling sequence. Frustrated, Wato took to striking and established the advantage. He threw in a kimura on the mat, but Uemura forced a rope break.
Uemura came back with a flying forearm for a near fall. Uemura used a half crab. Wato blocked a double overhook suplex, but Uemura hit a deep arm drag. Uemura hit a beautiful bridging German for a two count.
Wato again blocked the overhook suplex. He hit recientemente, then used the RPP for the pin.
EVIL & Dick Togo defeated Tomohiro Ishii & YOH (11:37)
This was a formulaic Bullet Club brawl and not a particularly inspired one.
Ishii attacked EVIL before the opening bell and they brawled around ringside. Togo and YOH began as the legal men. EVIL exposed a buckle, then Togo whipped YOH into the buckle for the heat.
EVIL and Togo traded tags in working YOH over. They again sent him into the exposed buckle. YOH found an opening against Togo and tagged Ishii. EVIL tagged in and sent Ishii into the exposed buckle. Ishii hit a backdrop suplex into a double down.
Ishii tagged YOH. YOH ran wild and hit a nice half hatch suplex for a two count. Togo tried to choke YOH with a ligature, but Ishii saved. YOH hit a falcon arrow on EVIL for a near fall.
YOH tried for Direct Drive, but EVIL blocked and hit a lariat for a two count. While Togo held Ishii at bay with a crossface, EVIL used a scorpion deathlock to submit YOH.
Togo and EVIL stomped Ishii down after the match as they continue to tease an EVIL vs. Ishii singles match.
There was some good comedy here in the first few minutes, then some good wrestling once Tanahashi got in for the closing stretch.
Tana wanted to start with KENTA. KENTA teased starting off, but immediately tagged out to ELP. Tana tagged out to Taguchi.
Taguchi and ELP did some comedy with their t-shirts. ELP choked out Taguchi with a shirt. Taguchi was cut off and worked over in comedic fashion for quite a while.
Romero got a hot tag and had a nice sequence with ELP. KENTA and Tana tagged in. Tana hit a dragon screw. They had a lengthy striking sequence. KENTA blocked a slingblade attempt with a kitchen sink and tagged out to Yujiro.
Yujiro and ELP doubled up on Tana. Yujiro hit a fisherman buster. Taguchi saved for Tana. Yujiro hit a lariat and an Angle slam for another near fall.
Tana blocked Pimp Juice, blocked a thrust kick, then blocked Miami Shine. Tana hit a twist and shout and a slingblade. Romero and Taguchi hit stereo planchas to KENTA and ELP.
Tana then used High Fly Flow to pin Yujiro.
KENTA ran back in after the match and attacked Tanahashi as he posed for the fans, so expect KENTA vs. Tana to be a singles match soon.
***** Intermission *****
Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan defeated Kazuchika Okada & SHO (11:41)
This was fun. There were lots of cool spots with SHO and Cobb trying to hit their trademark power moves on one another.
O-Khan and SHO began. They teased a striking battle, but neither threw anything of significance. SHO tried to take O-Khan’s arm after locking up, but O-Khan blocked. O-Khan gouged SHO’s face and ears. SHO made a brief comeback off a misdirection spot. Okada hopped in for a double team spot on Cobb.
O-Khan cut SHO off with a series of throws. Cobb was in briefly, but O-Khan did the bulk of the heavy lifting in working SHO over. SHO came back with a spear and tagged Okada.
Okada hit a series of signature spots on O-Khan. He hit a back elbow and a DDT. O-Khan blocked an air raid crash neckbreaker and hit a judo throw. Cobb tagged in for a series of uppercuts. He then hit Okada with a spin cycle for a near fall.
Okada slapped on a Money Clip, but Cobb broke the hold. Okada answered with an air raid crash neckbreaker to Cobb. Okada tagged out to SHO.
SHO hit a series of kicks to Cobb and got a near fall. He went for a suplex, but Cobb blocked. Cobb hit a back suplex, then O-Khan jumped in for a double team. Okada saved for SHO. O-Khan and Okada brawled to the floor.
SHO reversed a Tour of the Islands into a cradle for a near fall. Okada hopped back in and hit Cobb with a dropkick. SHO tried a deadlift German but Cobb blocked.
SHO hit the ropes, but ran right into a Tour of the Islands for the pin.
Cobb and Okada stared each other down after the match, so I expect Okada vs. Cobb to be announced any day now.
This was very good. All action. I fully expect Naito, SANADA, Taichi and Sabre to have a great match in the main event tomorrow. They have excellent chemistry.
LIJ attacked before the opening bell and cut Taichi off. SANADA and Naito doubled up on Taichi. SANADA and Taichi ended up the legal men. SANADA went for the paradise lock, but Sabre saved and turned the tide in Suzuki-gun’s favor.
Suzuki-gun went to work on SANADA’s left arm. Kanemaru hit a slam. DOUKI used a snapmare and a cradle. Sabre continued to work on the arm. SANADA came back with a dropkick to Kanemaru and a rana on DOUKI.
Naito tagged in and hit a neckbreaker to Taichi. Kanemaru was still legal. Naito tagged BUSHI and they hit tandem offense to Kanemaru. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick to Kanemaru. Kanemaru hit his own dropkick and tagged out.
DOUKI hit a double stomp to BUSHI for a near fall. Suzuki-gun cleared the LIJ apron and went 3-on-1 against BUSHI. DOUKI hit a patriot missile, then used a triangle. BUSHI forced a rope break. BUSHI blocked Suplex de la Luna and hit a dropkick for a double down.
Shingo tagged in for his first action of the match. DOUKI hit an enzuigiri. Shingo answered with a pop-up DVD. Taichi jumped in and hit a lariat to Shingo. SANADA took out Taichi. Sabre used a head scissors on SANADA. Naito tried to save, but Sabre caught him in a submission while maintaining the hold on SANADA. Shingo slammed Kanemaru onto Sabre to break both holds.
DOUKI cradled Shingo for a near fall. Shingo then hit the Pumping Bomber and pinned DOUKI.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado defeated Taiji Ishimori to retain the title (28:54)
This was a great main event. Really good psychology. Both picked a body part and worked it over and worked it over for the entire length of the match.
Desperado broke cleanly after locking up. A chain wrestling sequence ended with Desperado escaping a Yes Lock before Ishimori could apply it. Ishimori then went after Desperado’s left arm, looking to soften him up for the Yes Lock.
Ishimori worked Desperado’s arm over the barricade. Ishimor posted the left arm and hit it with a chair. Ishimori exposed a buckle as Desperado sold his arm on the floor. Back in, Ishimori used a neck crank for a near fall.
Ishimori sent Desperado’s arm and shoulder into the exposed buckle. Ishimori posted the left shoulder, then hit a shoulder breaker. Desperado reversed a whip, then blocked a handspring kick. Desperado hit a knee breaker and a dragon screw to Ishimori’s left leg.
Desperado sent Ishimori into the barricade, then posted Ishimori’s left leg. Red Shoes tried to intercept a chair from Desperado. Desperado threw the referee down on the floor, then used the chair on Ishimori’s left leg. Back in, Desperado continued to hammer away at Ishimori’s left leg.
Ishimori caught Desperado in a cradle for a near fall, then used a sliding German. On the outside, Ishimori hit a Bloody Cross over the barricade. Back in, Ishimori hit a springboard 450. Desperado fought off a Bone Lock and made the ropes.
Ishimori went back after the left arm. Desperado ducked a lariat and hit an Angle slam. Ishimori blocked Guitarra de Angel and sent the referee into the exposed buckle for a ref bump.
With the referee down, both hit low blows at the 20 minute call. They traded strikes as Red Shoes was revived. Desperado hit a spinebuster for a near fall, then used the pinning position to set up Numero Dos. Ishimori reversed into a cradle for a near fall.
Ishimori tried La Mistica, but Desperado reversed into Guitarra de Angel for a near fall. Ishimori blocked Pinche Loco and sent Desperado into the exposed buckle. Ishimori used La Mistica to set up the Yes Lock. Desperado reversed into Numero Dos. ELP ran in and pulled the ref out of the ring for another ref bump.
ELP hit Sudden Death to Desperado. Kanemaru ran in and hit a dropkick to ELP, then dragged him to the back. Desperado hit a back suplex. Ishimori reversed Pinche Loco into a hurricanrana for a near fall. Ishimori hit Cipher Utaki for a two count.
Desperado reversed a loody Cross attempt into El Es Culero for a near fall. Ishimori reversed Pinche Loco into the Bone Lock. Ishimori rolled through into a Bloody Cross attempt, but Desperado blocked. Ishimori hit a series of strikes.
Desperado reversed a whip into the exposed buckle. Desperado hit a right hand and two Pinche Locos for the pin.
**********
Before Desperado coould cut his post-match promo, a Robbie Eagles promo played on the video wall. Eagles said that the junior heavyweight division has become more like a committee of vultures than anything else. Eagles said he needs to push past the vultures and make a declaration. Eagles said he was declaring himself the next challenger for Desperado.
Desperado cut a short promo after the match. He pointed out Hiromu Takahashi on commentary and told him to get back soon.
Desperado said he won the match, but can only talk like he lost. He said he might have dislocated his shoulder, but he just beat Ishimori.
Malakai Black took to his wife Thea Trinidad’s Twitch channel on Thursday to discuss his AEW debut, offering details on his ideas for his character, ring music and future plans.
Black said that only a handful of people knew that he was set to debut at the Road Rager episode of Dynamite, a fact only made possible due to a WWE clerical error that left him free to sign with another company.
“Once I found out that my contract was a tad different than the usual, I just came up with this idea,” said Black. “We made it a thing to make it available to as limited people as possible because that’s how you keep it under wraps. Security, Cody Rhodes, and a few others. It may have been five or six total people.”
“It was all very last second. I feel like, in modern day wrestling, there are few moments to make a genuine surprise and get people to look your way. For me to sneak in, not be seen, dip and dive so they wouldn’t see me, that took some skill.”
Black said that his creative vision for his character involves playing a heel, an idea he had wanted to use since debuting in NXT. He said that Triple H envisioned him as a babyface in NXT, so the character was shelved. Black said that he has new entrance music and ring gear set to debut as well.
Regarding the blackouts that teased his eventual debut during Road Rager, Black said that they were his idea.
“I pitched that idea and said, ‘What if we do multiple blackouts throughout the show and insinuated the technical difficulties?’ Commentary did a great job getting that over and it came off great,” said Black.
“It feels good where I’m in a place where my creative mind can be utilized instead of stopped and controlled and knowing that things weren’t going to work.”
Black stated that his decision to go to AEW was made for a combination of reasons, and that his debut was one of the highlights of his career.
“It was the right move for me to make for me, my family, my career, the state of mind I’m in. It’s just a really good company. I can’t say enough good things about it. They have a bright future.”
“Last night was top three one of my favorite moments of my career… It was the cumulation of months and months and months and having this big payoff was worth the pain, chaos, and perseverance,” said Black.
Black also spoke of AEW owner Tony Khan in glowing terms in response to a fan question on the Twitch stream.
“My first impression of Tony is great. What a f—ing wonderful dude. Really nice guy. Loves his company, loves wrestling.”
An archived video of the entire stream can be found here.
Tom Lawlor will defend the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship against Satoshi Kojima on the Friday, July 23 Tag Team Turbulence episode of NJPW Strong.
Kojima issued a challenge to Lawlor to face him following Lawlor’s title defense against Karl Fredericks on the June 25 Strong. Lawlor accepted and the company made the announcement this evening.
Tag Team Turbulence is an eight-team tournament set to kick off on the July 16 edition of Strong. The semifinals will take place on the July 23 show, while the finals will be held on the July 30 episode.
Strong airs Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World and is available on demand shortly after airing.
Here are the lineups for July’s episodes of Strong:
NJPW Strong Road to Tag Team Turbulence, Friday, July 9 —
Josh Alexander vs. Rocky Romero
PJ Black vs. Alex Coughlin
The DKC vs. Barrett Brown
NJPW Strong Tag Team Turbulence, Friday, July 16 —
First round match: The Good Brothers vs. Clark Connors & TJP
First round match: Yuji Nagata & Ren Narita vs. Fred Yehi & Wheeler Yuta
First round match: Kevin Knight & The DKC vs. Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs
First round match: Brody King & Chris Dickinson vs. JR Kratos & Danny Limelight
NJPW Strong Tag Team Turbulence, Friday, July 23 —
NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Tom Lawlor (c) vs. Satoshi Kojima
Tag Team Turbulence semifinal: Nagata & Narita/Yehi & Yuta vs. The Good Brothers/Clark Connors & TJP
Tag Team Turbulence semifinal: Kevin Knight & The DKC/Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs vs. Brody King & Chris Dickinson/JR Kratos & Danny Limelight
NJPW Strong Tag Team Turbulence, Friday, July 30 —
Jim Ross will conduct a sit-down interview with Darby Allin and Ethan Page on this week’s Road Rager edition of AEW Dynamite.
Allin and Page are set to face each other in a coffin match in the near future. That match had originally been slated for Road Rager, but was later postponed.
Allin and Sting have been feuding with Page and Scorpio Sky’s Men of the Year tag team, including squaring off in Sting’s first match in front of live fans since 2015 at the Double or Nothing PPV in May. Page and Sky later defeated Allin in a handicap match on the Friday, June 18 edition of Dynamite. Prior to AEW, Allin and Page feuded in Evolve in 2016 and 2017.
Here is the announced lineup for Road Rager:
AEW Dynamite: Road Rager, Wednesday, July 7, 8 p.m. Eastern time —
AEW Tag Team Championship street fight: Young Bucks (c) vs. Penta El Zero Miedo & Eddie Kingston
