While Shingo Takagi will face Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight title on January 4, Will Ospreay wants the winner on January 5.
After Okada defeated Buddy Matthews on tonight’s NJPW Battle in the Valley event in San Jose, California, Ospreay came out and congratulated Okada on winning this year’s G1 tournament. He said that as the winner, Okada could challenge the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, referring to himself. Okada said that he wouldn’t challenge Ospreay, but Ospreay could challenge him. Ospreay then declared he wanted the winner of Shingo Takagi vs. Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 16 on January 4 to face him on the Wrestle Kingdom show on January 5. Okada said that he would make it rain.
Ospreay had originally vacated the IWGP World Heavyweight title back in May after suffering a neck injury. He returned in August, appearing at NJPW’s Resurgence event in Los Angeles, saying that he was still champion as he never lost the title. He said he would remain in America and has since appeared on several NJPW USA events including tonight’s show, where he defeated Ren Narita.
Reed, going under the name Jonah, appeared after Moose defeated Juice Robinson at tonight’s NJPW Battle in the Valley event. He stared down Moose, who soon exited the ring. After Moose left, Reed splashed Robinson and attacked him. Robinson’s tag team partner David Finlay ran down to try to make the save, but Jonah also laid him out.
After the beatdown, Jonah cut a promo, saying that the shackles were finally off, and it was time for the real violence to begin. He said that he was NJPW’s top dog.
Reed had been part of WWE’s NXT brand dating back to 2019, when he signed with the company. He won the NXT North American Championship on May 18 of this year. After losing the title to Isiah ‘Swerve’ Scott on June 29, Reed remained off NXT television until July 27, when he lost to Adam Cole. He was then released from his contract as part of talent cuts on August 6.
“Switchblade” Jay White defends the NEVER Openweight Championship against Tomohiro Ishii in the main event of NJPW Battle in the Valley in San Jose, California.
White has held the title since Wrestling Dontaku on May 3. Should Ishii lose, he is banned from challenging for the NEVER title ever again.
Buddy Matthews will make his NJPW debut in the semi-main event, facing Kazuchika Okada.
In a first-time matchup, Juice Robinson will face Impact Wrestling World Champion Moose in a non-title affair.
United Empire’s Will Ospreay will take on LA Dojo’s Ren Narita in singles action. Ospreay’s stablemates Jeff Cobb and TJP will tag against Karl Fredericks and Clark Connors.
NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Tom Lawlor and top contender to his title Fred Rosser will be on opposite sides of a 10-man tag. Lawlor, JR Kratos, Danny Limelight, Royce Isaacs and Jorel Nelson will face Rosser, David Finlay, Rocky Romero, Alex Coughlin and Alex Zayne.
Brody King and Chris Dickinson will take on Bateman and Misterioso while in the opener, Impact’s Josh Alexander will face Yuya Uemura.
Our live coverage begins at 11 PM Eastern time.
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Show Report —
Kevin Kelly and Alex Kozlov were on commentary.
Josh Alexander defeated Yuya Uemura (11:52)
Very solid opener. Uemura still has yet to expand his moveset much beyond his Young Lion days, but he went toe to toe with a recent Impact World Champion.
Alexander went for a quick ankle lock, forcing Uemura to scramble to the ropes. The early goings were all Alexander as he picked Uemura apart. A spear into the ropes followed by a Northern Lights suplex got two. About five minutes in, Uemura fired up with chops as they traded strikes in the corner. He caught Alexander with a corner dropkick.
Uemura hit a scoop slam and an elbow drop followed by a back suplex for two. He immediately transitioned into a cross armbreaker out of the pin attempt. Alexander fought out and hit repeated Germans for a near fall, then went for the ankle lock before transitioning into a scorpion deathlock.
After the rope break, Alexander stomped Uemura’s ankle across the ropes. Uemura fought and fought, eventually getting back to his feet and reversing it into the armbar. Alexander stacked Uemura up, forcing a break. He starched Uemura with a right hand, but Uemura came back with dropkicks. Alexander countered the overhead underhook suplex, then locked the ankle lock on tight and forced the submission.
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BATEMAN & Misterioso defeated Brody King & Chris Dickinson (10:48)
Dickinson was legitimately injured in this match, leading to the odd finish and upset victory.
King and BATEMAN are former tag partners. BATEMAN attacked before the bell, and we lost commentary almost immediately. They brawled outside for a while, with BATEMAN and Misterioso maintaining control. Commentary returned.
Dickinson got a tag and entered the match with a double missile dropkick. A lariat and a head-and-arm suplex got two on Misterioso. He tried to follow it up with an armbar, but BATEMAN broke it up. Misterioso regained control as double knees in the corner got a two-count.
King eventually got the hot tag and crushed BATEMAN in the corner with a cannonball senton before sending Misterioso into him with a throw for two. Dickinson landed a top-rope splash as both he and BATEMAN sold knee injuries. Misterioso broke up the cover, but King immediately dispatched him to the floor.
Misterioso hit a springboard moonsault on King on the outside, and then BATEMAN covered Dickinson for the win out of nowhere. Cameras completely missed it — I think Dickinson may be legitimately injured.
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Team Filthy (Tom Lawlor, JR Kratos, Danny Limelight, Royce Isaacs, & Jorel Nelson) defeated Fred Rosser, David Finlay, Rocky Romero, Alex Coughlin, & Alex Zayne (15:20)
This had some nice intensity and cool spots, but it did get a little long in the tooth towards the end.
Lawlor and Rosser/Coughlin are the big rivals in this one. The two team leaders faced off to start things off, but it immediately broke down into a ten-way brawl. Things eventually settled in the ring, where Rosser hit a backbreaker on the apron, leading to the whole thing breaking down again. When the dust settled, Lawlor was in control, and we lost commentary again.
Isaacs and Finlay tagged in, with the latter hitting a blue thunder bomb. Romero entered the match and landed a rope-hang dropkick. The Forever clotheslines followed, but Romero was cut off with a lariat from Nelson. Kratos hit a big delayed vertical suplex and Team Filthy posed. Rosser tried to interrupt but was overwhelmed by the numbers advantage.
Romero rolled over to tag in Zayne, who dispatched the illegal members of Team Filthy and landed a sweet flipping top-rope hurricanrana on Limelight. Nelson tripped him up, but Zayne was able to reach Coughlin for the tag. Coughlin made a valiant effort to gutwrench Kratos, but ultimately fell victim to a leaping shoulder tackle.
Kratos came back with gutwrench suplexes of his own. He thought about a dive, but Zayne cut him off and landed a springboard moonsault on everyone. Romero followed with a dive of his own. Kratos then hit a ridiculous tope con giro in a great spot.
Coughlin fired up with a stiff slap and unloaded on Kratos, who came back with a discus forearm. Coughlin chop-blocked Kratos and hit a lariat to the back of Kratos’s head. The deadlift gutwrench suplex followed, an impressive show of strength. West Coast Wrecking Crew double-teamed Rosser for a near fall.
Lawlor and Isaacs looked to set up to submit Rosser, but Rosser dispatched Lawlor and hit the Gut Feeling for the win.
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Karl Fredericks & Clark Connors defeated United Empire (Jeff Cobb & TJP) (10:01)
This was solid but rather unspectacular. A cool-down match after the all-out ten-man tag.
They brawled to kick things off. Fredericks sent Cobb to the floor and landed a tope con giro. He and Connors maintained control early on, beating down TJP with frequent tags and double teams. Cobb tagged in and a kick from TJP on the apron allowed United Empire to gain the advantage. Connors took an extended beatdown at the hands of Cobb and TJP.
Fredericks eventually got the hot tag and he and Cobb traded forearms in the center of the ring. He hit his signature spinebuster for two, but Cobb came back with the spin cycle suplex for the double down. They both reached their partners for the tag.
TJP cut off Connors with a low dropkick. Connors countered with a powerslam for two. TJP came back with a tornado DDT and Cobb landed a nice standing moonsault for a near fall. Connors pounced TJP into Cobb, then speared the latter for good measure. He and Fredericks worked together on a double team concluded by a diving back elbow from Connors for a near fall.
Fredericks wanted Manifest Destiny, but Cobb broke it up. Cobb distracted the official and TJP had Fredericks cradled, but Connors adjusted the cradle and Fredericks pinned TJP.
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Will Ospreay defeated Ren Narita (15:54)
This was excellent, far and away the best match on the show so far. A worthy sequel to their brief but thrilling 2019 Best of the Super Juniors battle.
Ospreay insisted that the official raise his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, but Narita cut him off with a plancha. Ospreay crotched Narita over the top rope and booted him to the floor, where he dropped Narita spine-first over the barricade. Narita made it back inside before the 20 count.
Back in the ring, Ospreay dominated with strikes. He mocked Shibata by sitting cross-legged and folding his arms. Narita came back with suplexes for two. Ospreay countered the overhead belly-to-belly and hit the handspring enziguiri. Narita avoided a dive and hit the belly-to-belly out on the floor. Ospreay made it back in at 19 but was met with a heel hook from Narita. Ospreay countered into a German suplex.
They traded strikes from a kneeling position before rising to their feet. Ospreay hit his backflip enziguiri and went for the Stormbreaker, but Narita turned it into a rear naked choke. He transitioned into a cobra twist. Ospreay fought out, but Narita caught the hook kick and hit a German suplex for two. Ospreay countered a suplex into a cutter.
Ospreay called for the Oscutter, but Narita stopped it in its tracks. Ospreay instead hit a stack powerbomb for a near fall. Narita avoided a 450 splash and went for the Narita special. After a hard fight including palm strikes, Narita eventually got Ospreay turned over with the cloverleaf, but Ospreay eventually reached the ropes to force the break.
They had a stiff slap exchange until Ospreay caught Narita with the hook kick. They traded finisher attempts until Narita countered the Liger bomb attempt into a flying guillotine. Ospreay powered out and hit the Oscutter for a near fall. The Hidden Blade followed for the win.
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Moose defeated Juice Robinson (15:00)
Moose has just looked better overall as a wrestler in NJPW than in Impact.
Moose is the current Impact World Champion. They wrestled around to start until Moose took Juice out with a shoulder tackle. Juice fired back by sending Moose to the floor, where he hesitated on a plancha before settling on a running cannonball senton. Moose tried to chop Juice, but Juice moved out of the way and Moose chopped the ring post. Moose then sent Juice hard into the barricade.
Back in the ring, Moose maintained control with a one-arm spinebuster. He landed a crazy impactful chop on Juice, who fired back and wouldn’t go down. Juice landed his signature jabs and the Left Hand of God. He followed it up with a top-rope Frankensteiner and then a corner cannonball senton. A frog splash followed for two.
Juice looked for Pulp Friction, but Moose countered out of it and hit a dropkick followed by a powerbomb for a near fall. They traded hard strikes in the center of the ring. Juice countered a step-up with the Left Hand of God. Pulp Friction followed for a good near fall. Juice hit a big-time lariat for another near fall.
Moose popped up and hit the top-rope powerslam for a near fall. He kipped up, but Juice avoided the spear and rolled Moose up for two. Juice hit yet another Left Hand of God, but Moose came back with the spear for the win.
– After the match, Jonah Rock (formerly Bronson Reed in WWE) arrived and walked down to the ring. He stared down Moose, but then turned around and landed a senton on Juice Robinson. David Finlay ran out to make the save, but Rock easily dispatched him and crushed him with another senton. He then grabbed a mic and said “Jonah is here.” I guess he’s just “JONAH” (all caps) now.
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Kazuchika Okada defeated Buddy Matthews (16:31)
This was the second-shortest non-Young Lion Okada match all year, and I think the match was better for it, as long, drawn-out contests were a common criticism of the previous big NJPW USA show.
They performed a choreographed sequence early on where both men went for their finishers. Okada perched Matthews on the top rope and dropkicked him to the floor, where Matthews dropped Okada on the apron with a back suplex. In the ring, Matthews landed repeated soccer kicks, targeting Okada’s injured back.
Okada came back with a forearm and a flapjack. Back elbows and a DDT followed for two. Okada went for the Money Clip, but Matthews pushed his way out and sent Okada to the floor, landing a tope con giro.
Back in the ring, Okada avoided a missile dropkick and hit the air raid crash neckbreaker for two. He landed a top-rope elbow drop and performed the Rainmaker pose. Matthews ducked a Rainmaker and landed a knee and a buckle bomb. He clubbed Okada with repeated elbows until the official forced him to break, and then hit a curb stomp for a near fall.
Matthews mocked Okada with the Rainmaker pose. He went for a Rainmaker, but Okada countered it with a spinning version. Matthews fought out of a tombstone piledriver and hit a running knee but ran into a signature dropkick from Okada, who followed it up with the spinning tombstone. Matthews stopped a Rainmaker, but Okada’s grip wouldn’t break until he was caught with a knee.
Okada fought out of Murphy’s Law and hit Landslide followed by the Rainmaker for the win.
– After the match, Will Ospreay’s music played and he came out. “Long time no see, big brother” were his first words. He said the only reason Okada won the G1 was because Ospreay wasn’t in Japan. Since Okada won, however, Ospreay gave him permission to challenge the “real” world champion. Okada said he wouldn’t challenge Ospreay: Ospreay would have to challenge him.
Ospreay argued about who was the real world champion. He planned on waiting for NJPW to recognize him. Whoever wins between Okada and Shingo Takagi on January 4th will face Ospreay on January 5th at Wrestle Kingdom. Okada said he would make it rain in the Tokyo Dome.
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NEVER Openweight Championship: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Jay White (c) to win the title (28:39)
This was long, classic NJPW main event epic style — for better and for worse. The crowd loved the finish. The title change was expected and could have interesting implications for Switchblade’s future if his contract rumors end up true.
They went back-and-forth at the bell until Ishii took White down with a shoulder block. White kept trying to slither away and escape Ishii’s attack until he surprised Ishii with a fireman’s carry throw across the ropes. White then repeatedly sent Ishii into the barricade. Back in the ring, White laid in multiple hard knife-edged chops.
White continued to dominate with dragon screws and more chops. Eventually, a shoulder tackle bought Ishii some breathing room, allowing him to come back with a powerslam. Ishii peppered White in the corner with chops and forearms. White returned fire with a spiking DDT.
Ishii fought out of a uranage attempt with a chop to the windpipe. White cheated by gouging at Ishii’s eyes and suplexed him into the corner. The Blade Buster followed for two. White couldn’t follow up with the Blade Runner, so he just chopped Ishii across the chest and flipped off the crowd. He mocked Ishii’s corner combinations until he was forced to break.
Switchblade kept up the attack until Ishii got that stony look on his face. He started leaning into White’s strikes until he just decked White with one forearm, sending him to the mat. They fought on the top rope, where Ishii desperately wanted a superplex, and he eventually hit it for a near fall.
Ishii tried to keep up the attack, but White countered the sliding lariat into his signature uranage. He then went for the Kiwi crusher, but Ishii fought out and they traded forearms in the center of the ring. White hit a strike combination and a back suplex, but Ishii popped up and came back with one of his own.
A Kiwi crusher from White got two as we lost commentary yet again. White wanted a sleeper suplex, but Ishii fought out and hit a German. White eventually did hit the sleeper suplex, but Ishii popped up and landed a hard lariat. White countered the sliding lariat with a clothesline of his own. He hit a brainbuster, but Ishii kicked out at one.
White was visibly frustrated at the 25-minute mark. Ishii countered a suplex with a headbutt and an enziguiri. White turned a lariat into a flatliner before hitting another sleeper suplex. Ishii countered the Blade Runner into a short-arm clothesline before landing the sliding lariat for a near fall. He called for the vertical drop brainbuster, but White fought out and they traded finisher attempts until Ishii hit a dragon suplex.
Ishii turned White inside out with a lariat for a near fall. The vertical drop brainbuster followed to earn Ishii the victory and the championship.
The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament began today in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado took on SHO in the main event, while Hiromu Takahashi faced YOH in the semi-main.
The other tournament action was comprised of El Phantasmo vs. Master Wato, Robbie Eagles vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, DOUKI vs. BUSHI, plus Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Taiji Ishimori.
Ryohei Oiwa and Yuto Nakashima faced off in the non-tournament opener.
Here are today’s results:
Ryohei Oiwa & Yuto Nakashima went to a time limit draw
Best of the Super Juniors: DOUKI defeated BUSHI
DOUKI got the upset win by pinfall with Suplex De La Luna.
Best of the Super Juniors: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Taiji Ishimori
Kanemaru stole a countout win using underhanded tactics.
Best of the Super Juniors: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Robbie Eagles
Taguchi pinned Eagles with Dodon.
Best of the Super Juniors: Master Wato defeated El Phantasmo
Wato got the upset win with a jackknife cradle.
Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi defeated YOH
Hiromu got a flash cradle for the pin.
Best of the Super Juniors: SHO defeated El Desperado
SHO won with a Shock Arrow after interference from Yujiro Takahashi and Dick Togo.
NJPW’s Jeff Cobb and TJP have been announced for the Friday, November 19 CMLL show at Arena Mexico in Mexico City.
No opponents have been announced for the United Empire members, nor whether the two will be teaming or in singles competition on the show.
Cobb was the runner-up in NJPW’s G1 Climax 31 B Block last month, losing just once in his nine tournament matches. He dropped his final Block match to eventual tournament winner Kazuchika Okada.
Cobb became the fourth member of the United Empire stable at the start of NJPW’s 2020 World Tag League, teaming with founding member Great-O-Khan in the tournament. Will Ospreay, O-Khan and Bea Priestley were the group’s original trio. Ospreay kicked Priestley out of the group at the 2021 New Japan Cup finals. Priestley eventually moved to WWE’s NXT UK, where she now appears under the ring name Blair Davenport.
TJP joined the United Empire at the NJPW Strong Autumn Attack tapings on September 26 of this year. The week prior, Aussie Open’s Mark Fletcher and Kyle Davis joined the group at RevPro’s High Stakes 2021 event.
A pre-show match to be taped for the NJPW Xtra YouTube show has been added to Saturday’s Battle in the Valley event.
Impact Wrestling talent and Bullet Club member Chris Bey will team with Hikuleo against NJPW LA Dojo trainees and Strong regulars Kevin Knight and The DKC. The match will take place 30 minutes before the main card begins at 11 p.m. Eastern time. The pre-show addition makes Battle in the Valley a nine-match show.
The first hour of Battle in the Valley’s main card will go head-to-head with the final hour of AEW’s Full Gear pay-per-view.
Battle in the Valley will air with English commentary on FITE TV and Japanese commentary on NJPW World.
Here is the full lineup:
NJPW Battle in the Valley, Saturday, November 13, pre-show 10:30 p.m. Eastern time, main card 11 p.m. Eastern time —
NEVER Openweight Championship: Jay White (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Kazuchika Okada vs. Buddy Matthews
Juice Robinson vs. Moose
Will Ospreay vs. Ren Narita
Jeff Cobb & TJP vs. Karl Fredericks & Clark Connors
Fred Rosser, David Finlay, Rocky Romero, Alex Coughlin & Alex Zayne vs. Tom Lawlor, JR Kratos, Danny Limelight, Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson
Brody King & Chris Dickinson vs. Bateman & Misterioso
Josh Alexander vs. Yuya Uemura
Pre-show match taped for NJPW Xtra: Chris Bey & Hikuleo vs. Kevin Knight & The DKC
NJPW has announced the teams for this year’s World Tag League.
12 teams will compete in a round robin tournament, with the top two teams with the most points meeting in the finals December 15 in Sumo Hall along with the finals of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. The winners of the World Tag League tournament will meet IWGP Tag Team Champions Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. at Wrestle Kingdom 16.
Taka Michinoku, who has not been seen in New Japan since the end of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament in 2019, will return as part of this year’s World Tag League. He will be teaming with Minoru Suzuki, who will make his return to the company after spending most of the last two months in the United States.
Tetsuya Naito confirmed in a press conference Monday morning that he would be part of the tournament as well, returning from a knee injury that he suffered back in September during his first match in the G1 Climax 31 tournament. He will be teaming with SANADA.
The full list of teams is as follows:
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano
Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma)
Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima)
Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask
Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
Tetsuya Naito & SANADA
Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.)
Minoru Suzuki & Taka Michinoku
Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare
Guerillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa)
EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi
Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
The first World Tag League card will take place on November 14. The show will be headlined by Naito & SANADA taking on Goto & YOSHI-HASHI. Other tournament matches include Tanahashi & Yano vs. EVIL & Yujiro, Henare & Great-O-Khan vs. Fale and Owens, Honma & Makabe vs. Guerrillas of Destiny, Tencozy vs. Nagata & Tiger Mask, and Dangerous Tekkers vs. Suzuki & Michinoku
NJPW has revealed the full list of entrants for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
The tournament will kick off at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo this Saturday and end with the finals being held at Tokyo’s Sumo Hall on Wednesday, December 15. It’s a single-block tournament featuring 12 participants, with the two wrestlers who have gained the most points then facing off in the finals.
Desperado is the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. He won the title from Eagles at Power Struggle this past Saturday.
If Desperado doesn’t win Best of the Super Juniors, the tournament will likely set up a challenger for him as we enter Wrestle Kingdom season.
Desperado vs. SHO will be the main event as Best of the Super Juniors begins this Saturday. Takahashi vs. YOH, Phantasmo vs. Wato, Eagles vs. Taguchi, Ishimori vs. Kanemaru, and BUSHI vs. DOUKI are the other tournament matches.
The Best of the Super Juniors is taking place alongside this year’s World Tag League tournament. The participants for Tag League have yet to be revealed.
Korakuen Hall will host the opening night of Tag League action this Sunday, and the shows will alternate between Best of the Super Juniors and Tag League events throughout the tour. That will lead to the finals of both tournaments taking place at Sumo Hall on December 15.
Tetsuya Naito is returning to action on November 14.
Naito appeared at a press conference held this morning and confirmed that he would be returning for the World Tag League that will start on the 14th. He announced that he would be teaming with SANADA.
During the press conference, Naito said that he injured his knee during his first match in the G1 against Zack Sabre Jr. back in September. This caused him to miss the rest of the tournament, officially scoring a 0-9 record. Naito said that while he was mentally preparing for torn ligaments in his knees that would have required surgery, instead there was in fact no ligament damage and would be able to return to the ring quickly. He also assured people that he was not rushing back to the ring.
It was also confirmed during this morning’s press conference that Kazuchika Okada would challenge Shingo Takagi for the IWGP World Heavyweight title at Wrestle Kingdom 16 on January 4.
A match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship has been made official for Wrestle Kingdom 16.
NJPW confirmed this morning during a press conference that champion Shingo Takagi will defend against Kazuchika Okada on January 4. During this morning’s press conference, Takagi promised that he would retain the championship against Okada. He then mentioned that when he won he would take the IWGP Heavyweight title that Okada is carrying and would give it to “the appropriate IWGP advocate”, mentioning that 2022 is NJPW’s 50th anniversary.
Okada has been carrying the IWGP Heavyweight title since winning the G1 Climax last month, with the title representing his IWGP World Heavyweight title shot at Wrestle Kingdom. He successfully defended his title shot at Power Struggle this past weekend, defeating Tama Tonga.
Wrestle Kingdom 16, for the first time, will be held across three days. January 4 and 5 will be held at the Tokyo Dome, with a third Wrestle Kingdom event taking place on January 8 at Yokohama Arena.
Saturday’s show kicked off the NJPW Showdown series that was filmed in Philadelphia at the 2300 Arena.
Team Filthy (West Coast Wrecking Crew & JR Kratos) defeated David Finlay, Alex Coughlin & Yuya Uemura
Team Filthy’s Danny Limelight did color commentary for this match. Coughlin and Kratos had a great exchange with a bodyslam during the match even getting a great reaction. Finlay did a dive to the floor midway through, but Kratos later planted him with a Sky High. The finish saw the Wrecking Crew put Uemura away after Royce Isaacs used a deadlift half-and-half-to-German suplex followed by a Jorel Nelson springboard back elbow with Isaacs pinning Uemura. Afterward, Kratos and Coughlin got into it.
Juice Robinson defeated El Phantasmo
Phantasmo poked Robinson in the eye. Robinson responded later with a pescado, landing on Phantasmo on the floor. Robinson later offered him a free shot to the face, but Phantasmo kicked him in the gut instead followed by back rakes.
Robinson came back later, sticking Phantasmo with a full nelson slam followed by a standing senton. He scored a two count after landing a fireman’s carry gutbuster. Phantasmo landed a big splash just before the ten minute mark. Phantasmo teased a One-Winged Angel, but Robinson escaped and shoved Robinson into the ref. He then gave Robinson a low blow and went for the pin, but the ref was still out. Robinson used Pulp Friction, but the ref was still down. He finally pinned Phantasmo after a sit-out fisherman’s buster.
After the match, Robinson called out Impact Wrestling’s Moose who he will wrestle at NJPW’s Battle in the Valley in San Jose this Saturday.
— A quick vignette for Buddy Matthews (fka Buddy Murphy in WWE) aired and it was announced Saturday that he is wrestling Kazuchika Okada this Saturday in San Jose.
Ren Narita and Clark Connors defeated United Empire (Will Ospreay & TJP)
Narita, who is really beginning to resemble his trainer Katsuyori Shibata, had the crowd chanting for him as soon as he stepped foot in the ring. TJP locked his head in a ankle scissors early, taunting the crowd as he squeezed. Connors was in next and chopped up his previous mentor and tag partner, TJP.
Ospreay broke up the babyface momentum when he stepped into the ring without tagging. He tried putting the boots to Narita and Connors, but they stopped him with a double back body drop.
United Empire gained another advantage when they laid Narita out and left him on the floor. They worked Connors over until he blasted Ospreay with a pounce off the ropes. He tagged out to Narita, who had recovered, and he began suplexing Ospreay all over the ring. Ospreay cut his offense short after connecting with a handspring somersault heel kick.
Ospreay went for the Stormbreaker on Narita, but Narita slipped out of it and locked on a sleeper. Connors then locked TJP in the Nirvana Strangle (the submission finisher for FMW’s Mr. Gannosuke) which is a full nelson camel clutch. Neither of the United Empire team submitted and both were forced to break the hold.
After a couple of very close near falls, Narita scored the pin after putting TJP down with a bridging front suplex. He will face Ospreay this Saturday in San Jose.
Afterward, Ospreay attacked and attempted putting Narita’s lights out with the Hidden Blade back elbow to the head. However, Narita ducked and threw a big boot that missed as Ospreay slipped away to the floor. Narita then took the mic, and in Japanese, he told Ospreay that he wasn’t interested in his fake IWGP World Heavyweight title belt. He said that all he wanted was a win and not to underestimate the LA Dojo. He sat cross-legged in the middle of the ring, offering Ospreay a free shot as Ospreay and TJP exited to the back.
Final Thoughts:
Tonight’s Strong was good but didn’t feel as big time as the past few. Maybe it’s just that we’re getting used to this current lineup that has been used this fall. The lighting and overall setup looked much better on this episode, especially when compared with the recent Autumn Attack run.
The main event was very good as well as Coughlin and Kratos’ exchanges during the opener.
Kazuchika Okada has challenged the former Buddy Murphy for Saturday, November 13 in San Jose.
In his post-match comments after today’s NJPW Power Struggle show, Okada called out Buddy Matthews to face him at Battle in the Valley on Saturday. Matthews will be making his NJPW debut at the event.
Battle in the Valley will air on NJPW World with Japanese commentary and on FITE TV with English commentary at 11 p.m. Eastern time. The show will go head-to-head with the last hour of AEW’s Full Gear pay-per-view.
Here is the lineup:
NJPW Battle in the Valley, Saturday, November 13, 11 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World & FITE TV —
NEVER Openweight Championship: Jay White (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Kazuchika Okada vs. Buddy Matthews
Will Ospreay vs. Ren Narita
Juice Robinson vs. Moose
Jeff Cobb & TJP vs. Karl Fredericks & Clark Connors
Tom Lawlor, JR Kratos, Danny Limelight, Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson vs. Fred Rosser, David Finlay, Rocky Romero, Alex Coughlin & Alex Zayne
Brody King & Chris Dickinson vs. Bateman & Misterioso
Multiple titles changed hands at today’s NJPW Power Struggle event in Osaka.
KENTA defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi after sending him into an exposed turnbuckle and hitting a Go To Sleep to win the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. KENTA takes home the US title for the first time, plus captures his first title in NJPW since losing the NEVER Openweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom in January 2020. Tanahashi’s first reign with the US title ends after 84 days and a single successful defense.
A new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion was crowned, as El Desperado defeated Robbie Eagles by submission to win the title. Desperado is now a two-time IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion. Eagles sees his first reign with the Junior title ended after 104 days and one successful defense.
The NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship also switched, as EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and SHO defeated Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI, ending the longest NEVER Six-Man reign in history. Goto, Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI’s run with the titles ends at 454 days and nine successful defenses.
Two champions did retain their titles at Power Struggle.
Shingo Takagi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. After his win, Kazuchika Okada came to the ring and engaged in a back-and-forth with Shingo on the microphone. Okada retained his right to challenge Shingo at Wrestle Kingdom after defeating Tama Tonga earlier in the show.
Toru Yano also retained the provisional KOPW 2021 title, defeating Great-O-Khan in an amateur rules match.
Shingo Takagi defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event of NJPW Power Struggle in Osaka.
Sabre defeated Shingo in a non-title match during the G1 Climax tournament on September 23 to set up the IWGP title bout. The two have split their two career singles matches 1-1.
In the semi-main, G1 Climax 31 winner Kazuchika Okada will defend his Wrestle Kingdom title shot against Tama Tonga. Tama defeated Okada in the G1, Okada’s only blemish in the tournament.
Four other titles will be on the line on today’s show.
Hiroshi Tanahashi defends the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against KENTA. KENTA holds a 2-1 lead in their three career singles bouts.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles defends against El Desperado. The two have split their previous singles meetings 1-1.
Provisional KOPW 2021 Toru Yano defends against Great-O-Khan in an amateur rules match. This duo has also split their career singles bouts 1-1.
Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI defend the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championships against Bullet Club’s House of Torture (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and SHO).
A series of tag matches fills out the undercard. Yuji Nagata, Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato will face SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI. Tiger Mask, Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma will take on Tanga Loa, Gedo and Jado. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI will face Young Lions Ryohei Oiwa and Kosei Fujita in the opener.
This was well wrestled, precisely what you would expect from a young lion match.
The Young Lions opened the match with energy but failed to maintain their early lead. The Young Lion duo regained control after DOUKI, who started the match, tagged out, but this too was short-lived as Kanemaru took advantage of their inexperience. A scoop slam and Boston crab led to the Suzuki-Gun favoured submission.
This wasn’t good, per se, but it was fun at times and didn’t overstay its welcome.
Gedo and Tiger Mask opened the match, but Loa and Gedo hit the ring soon after Tiger Mask gained advantage. Tiger Mask not only tried but succeeded in fighting off all three of his opponents. Makabe and Honma then traded tags, taking complete control for their team.
The brawling continued for some time, with everyone hitting something. Honma and Loa traded strikes after the ring was cleared. Loa connected with a driver after surviving the onslaught before pinning Honma.
Los Ingobernables De Japon (SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) defeated Yuji Nagata, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato
This match featured structural elements that I am not a fan of, but similar to the previous match, it was amusing and brief.
Taguchi and Hiromu opened the match with a lively exchange. With aid from Taguchi, Wato secured some match presence. This led to SANADA and BUSHI hitting the ring to take control. Wato managed to survive before tagging Nagata into the match.
Nagata and SANADA began a brawl that demanded intervention from Hiromu. Nagata fought off both before tagging in Taguchi, who ran through all three of his opponents, hitting them all with hip attacks. SANADA ended the sequence with an atomic drop, triggering a 6-way brawl. A hip attack from Taguchi also ended the brawl. Taguchi then embraced his Nakamura, hitting the signature taunt and SANADA with the Bomaye. SANADA kicked out of the pin and escaped the ankle lock that followed before bridging Taguchi for a sudden finish.
NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag team Championships: HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & SHO) defeated CHAOS (Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI) to win the titles
This match was long and not very good. In a match that should be filled with impassioned disputes between ex-faction-mates, fluff filled most of the run time.
The first title match of the night opened with a brawl. As the dust settled, Yujiro and Goto shared the ring. Yujiro secured control inside the ropes with aid from EVIL, who removed the turnbuckle pad just in time for a slam into the hooks. EVIL then tagged in, choked Goto with a towel, and tagged out.
SHO, now legal, traded blows with Goto. Goto won the exchange and fought off the opposing rally before tagging Ishii into the match. Ishii ran through his former faction mate, but a pause, seemingly caused by emotion, allowed SHO to gain an advantage. SHO then proved he was also susceptible to the same flaw, as a pause allowed Ishii to take control back from him. Ishii’s momentum was vanquished with a kick from EVIL, leading to a SHO spear and tag.
It was YH who gained control of EVIL, only for a cane shot and a whip into the exposed buckles to recement HOT dominance. YH endured all of the underhanded tactics and interference before landing a superkick that forced a breakup. YH’s rally also was met with resistance from EVIL, but it was outside interference that caused another brawl.
The CHOAS team had a visible pin after emerging from the smoke, but the referee was pulled outside the ring. This led to all-out BULLET CLUB chicanery. Alone in the ring with YH, Evil hit Everything is Evil, leading to the pin and new champions.
As the new champions celebrated (by attacking the former champions), YOH returned, running off House of Torture. SHO fled before YOH could get his hands on him.
KOPW 2021 Amateur Wrestling Rules: Toru Yano defeated Great-O-Khan to retain the title
Before the match started, Nagata explained the rules in Japanese. I do not speak Japanese, however, so I had no clue what was happening. Thankfully, there was a scoreboard.
O-Khan entered the ring in a singlet, so you know this is serious business, and in case you didn’t think this was serious, Yano also had a singlet—talk about big match feel.
Period 1
As the match started, O-Khan and Yano wrestled into the ropes; the referee, equipped with a whistle, stood the pair back up. Soon after, Yano pushed O-Khan into the ropes again, but this time, he scored a point. 1-0 Yano. O-Khan responded with a takedown; for this, he received two points. 2-1 O-Khan. O-Khan maintained his lead by rolling Yano around, scoring two more points. 4-1 O-Khan.
Period 2
Period two started with Yano pushing O-Khan into the ropes for a quick point. 4-2 O-Khan. O-Khan then placed Yano in the ropes to regain the 3 point lead. 5-3 O-Khan. Yano stuffed a takedown before landing a colossal suplex shooting him into a lead late in the 2nd. Final score: 6-5 Yano, in a photo finish.
After Yano won the match and had his hand raised, O-Khan beat down the winner with help from Toa Henare. Thankfully, Nagata restored order.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado defeated Robbie Eagles to win the title
This was quite good. The multi-dimensional leg work weaved through the match was made all the sweeter by the payoff.
The opening sequence was fairly typical. Eagles slightly outwrestled Desparado, but Desperado took advantage of momentary openings, leading to significant Desperado favoured offence. Said sequence was punctuated with a beautiful dive from Desperado, leaving the challenger with control of the champion early.
Desperado focused his attention on the champion’s legs, a move reciprocated by Eagles. After Eagles fought to his feet, he connected with multiple kicks before hitting a dive of his own; after landing the move, Eagles limped back in the ring before hitting a springboard dropkick. Eagles then locked in the Ron Miller Special that forced Desperado in the ropes.
Desperado finally regained some footing after a sudden spine buster. Desperado wasted no time either, as he turned his attention back to the legs of Eagles. Eagles fought through the pain, though, landing a superkick and attempting the 450; Desperado blocked the move with his knees.
With both men essentially on equal footing, a strike battle began. After the striking broke down, the pair traded increasingly impactful offence. This led to near falls and more leg work. After an Eagles rollup attempt was reversed, Desperado locked in Numero Dos, his over the shoulder single leg Boston Crab that Eagles failed to escape. Desperado is champion.
IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: KENTA defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the title
This match was great in its second half. Getting there was almost a chore, but once it picked up, it was incredible.
KENTA tried setting the mood early on by overwhelming Tanahashi’s crowd reaction with claps of his own; this failed. KENTA then continued the antics by leaving the ring for a while. After he finally re-entered the ropes, Tanahashi connected with a sequence that sent him back outside. This time Tanahashi capitalised with a dive. KENTA then grabbed the IWGP US Belt and began to run away.
After Tanahashi caught up to KENTA, KENTA hit a quick slam on the ramp. Tanahashi broke the referee’s count at 19. KENTA then removed the turnbuckle pad before slamming Tanahsi into the exposed metal. To follow this up, KENTA connected with multiple closed fist strikes in mount. KENTA was in control. KENTA tried draping Tanahashi over the second rope for a hangman’s DDT, but Tanahashi caught KENTA with a dragonscrew; this led to the match spilling outside, and on the outside, KENTA flourished. KENTA pulled a table from beneath the ring that he set up ringside. KENTA then positioned Tanashi for a GTS from the apron to the floor through a table. Tanahashi evaded his doom only to be hit with the hangman’s DDT. KENTA then hit a double foot stomp before turning his attention back to the table.
KENTA placed Tanahashi on the furniture before climbing to the top rope, but Tanahashi rolled off before KENTA could connect. Tanahashi then landed a sling blade, gaining control on the outside. Tanahashi now set KENTA on the table and climbed to the top himself. High Fly Flow put KENTA through the table.
Back in the ring, Tanahashi hit High Fly Flow again, but on his third attempt, he ran into the knees of KENTA. KENTA then secured a crossface to reset momentum in his favour. KENTA hoisted Tanahashi for a GTS, but Tanahashi escaped, hitting a dragonscrew to reset match flow again. KENTA survived by throwing Tanahashi into the exposed corner, opening him up for a running knee. KENTA tried again for a GTS, but again was hit with a sling blade. KENTA again recovered by throwing Tanahashi into the corner. This time, KENTA succeeded in hitting the GTS before pinning Tanahashi to win IWGP gold.
Tokyo Dome IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Right to Challenge: Kazuchika Okada defeated Tama Tonga
I was generally not a fan of this. The majority of this match felt bloated, but hey, the closing sequence was good. It just wasn’t for me.
The two began a battle of offence as soon as the match started. Okada gained momentum from the opening exchange; this lasted until the match fell outside the ropes. On the outside, Tama landed a suplex that left Okada motionless; at the count of 19, Okada re-entered the ring. Now on the inside, Tama’s control continued via a chinlock turned choke.
Okada finally freed himself from the prolonged hold before connecting with a big boot. A flapjack left Tama grounded on the inside, and a dropkick sent him crashing to the outside. This time on the outside, Okada had success. After rolling Tama back in the ring, a top rope dropkick led to an Okada near fall. Okada followed the near fall with the money clip.
After escaping the money clip, Tama rolled to the outside. Okada tried for a tombstone close to the ramp, but Tanga freed himself and delivered Tongan Twist. Back in the ring, another Tongan Twist led to a Tama near fall. Okada dodged a strike and locked in the money clip in the centre of the ring. Tama made it to the rope moments before unconsciousness. Okada then tried for the rainmaker, but Tama ducked. Tama caught Okada with an Alabama slam that he followed with a top rope dive for a convincing near fall. Okada stuffed three gun stuns to stay in the match.
Okada tried for a tombstone but was blocked; a dropkick found the mark, however. Okada tried again but was hit with a tombstone instead of delivering one. A dropkick from Okada followed a dropkick from Tama. Okada tried again for a tombstone and failed again; this led directly to the climax. In a move dense closing sequence, Okada closed the match with a rainmaker.
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. to retain the title
I enjoyed this a lot, but it could have been significantly better with a shorter run time. So many of the sequences were excellent, but with so much, it’ll be hard to pick out anything meaningful.
The opening sequence consisted of ZSJ trying for holds and Shingo evading them. A shoulder tackle opened ZSJ to strikes from the champion in the first play of control. This was short-lived, however, as ZSJ continually caught an open limb.
Shingo was not afraid to engage on the mat, forcing ZSJ into the ropes in an early exchange. ZSJ’s response was to exit the ring, effectively resetting the match. ZSJ then caught Shingo in the ropes, gaining control for himself; a punt to a prone Shingo only cemented this.
Shingo eventually fought to a standing position after turning a choke into a slam. Shingo followed up with heavy strikes and a DDT leading to a near fall. After the pin attempt, more strikes reigned in, but again ZSJ capitalised on an opening to take the match back to the mat.
After the match returned to an upright position, a remarkable sequence of suplexes and strikes created another reset. This time, a dragonscrew from Shingo left him in the driver’s seat. Shingo hit a powerbomb that he turned into a crossface that forced ZSJ back in the ropes.
ZSJ used the rope break to scrap back into a favourable position. After a lightning-quick strike, the Zack Driver left both men lying. ZSJ tried for a choke, Shingo dropped him, ZSJ grabbed the arm. After escaping, Shingo hit a strike, but again the match returned to the mat. On the mat, Shingo secured a choke. ZSJ fought himself free only to be hit with Made in Japan, resulting in a near fall; a pumping bomber followed.
Shingo hoisted ZSJ to the top rope, where a struggle commenced. ZSJ pulled Shingo down into an armbar. Shingo fell into the ropes to escape. ZSJ then continued the attack on the arm. After another Zack Driver and another kick out, ZSJ grew visibly frustrated. ZSJ locked in a choke while on the back of Shingo. Shingo climbed to the top, where he fell onto ZSJ. ZSJ was unphased as he immediately took Shingo’s arm once again. Shingo powered through and hit Made in Japan again, ZSJ kicked out.
ZSJ and Shingo began trading hard strikes; Shingo won this exchange. ZSJ immediately took control via grappling again, and a quick pin almost left him with gold. Another pumping bomber, another ZSJ kick out. With the end in sight, Shingo hit Last of the Dragon, leading to the pin.
After the match, Okada walked out to the ring with the old belt on his shoulder. He cut a promo, Shingo responded, close show.
