NJPW has revealed the full lineup for Saturday’s Fighting Spirit Unleashed episode of Strong.
Jay White will face Wheeler Yuta on the show. White’s NEVER Openweight Championship will not be on the line in the non-title affair.
In the show’s main event, Fred Rosser will face Ren Narita. Narita is coming off a victory over Karl Fredericks on Strong’s LA Dojo Showcase 2 episode. This contest was set up on that show when Rosser came to ringside to congratulate Narita, but Narita refused to shake Rosser’s hand.
In the opener, Yuji Nagata and Yuya Uemura will team against Kevin Knight and The DKC. Uemura scored the pinfall over Danny Limelight in a ten-man tag at NJPW Resurgence in his last match.
The Fighting Spirit Unleashed episodes of Strong were taped at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California on August 23.
Here is Saturday’s lineup:
NJPW Strong Fighting Spirit Unleashed, Saturday, September 25, 8 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
Fred Rosser vs. Ren Narita
Jay White vs. Wheeler Yuta
Yuji Nagata & Yuya Uemura vs. Kevin Knight & The DKC
The United Empire has two new members following today’s RevPro High Stakes event.
Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis of Aussie Open joined RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay’s NJPW stable after Ospreay defeated Ricky Knight Jr. to retain the title.
As Ospreay beat Knight down after the match, Shota Umino ran in for the save. Aussie Open and Young Guns then ran in. Ospreay and Aussie Open then beat down Young Guns and Umino to seal Aussie Open’s defection to the United Empire.
Fletcher and Davis join Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb and Aaron Henare as members of United Empire. Only Cobb and O-Khan are currently competing in NJPW’s main unit due to a variety of pandemic-related travel issues and restrictions. Cobb and O-Khan both won their first G1 Climax 31 tournament matches this weekend.
Bea Priestley, now NXT UK’s Blair Davenport, is a former member of the group. Ospreay turned on her and kicked her out of the group in her NJPW swan song.
NJPW G1 Climax 31 night two results: Okada vs. Tanahashi
The G1 Climax 31 B Block kicked off today in Osaka.
Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi squared off in the main event, while Taichi took on Hirooki Goto in the semi-main.
Here are results and a report from today’s show.
**********
Recommended matches —
Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
Hirooki Goto vs. Taichi
SANADA vs. Tama Tonga
Report —
SHO defeated Kosei Fujita (8:09)
SHO hasn’t found his rhythm yet as a heel. He looks like a guy cosplaying as a heel, plus he’s incorporating an element that makes Bullet Club matches insufferable when he rolls outside to stall at the opening bell.
SHO rolled outside to stall, then beat Fujita up with strikes. Fujita made a quick comeback with forearm shots and a nice dropkick.
SHO cut Fujita off with a lariat, then used the Snake Bite for the submission win.
B Block: EVIL (w/Dick Togo) defeated YOSHI-HASHI (17:15)
YOSHI-HASHI was good in this match. He sold well. The EVIL shtick is beyond played out, though.
They kicked things off by trading side headlocks.
If you have been watching NJPW for the last 15 months, you know what happened next –Togo got involved and allowed EVIL to take control on the floor. EVIL and Togo exposed a buckle. EVIL bumped the ring announcer. YH made a comeback, EVIL bumped the ring announcer again.
YH used the butterfly lock, but EVIL forced a break. EVIL tried to bump the ref twice, but the ref fought back and slapped him. YH hit a brainbuster for a two count.
EVIL blocked Kharma. Togo jumped in the ring. YH had a rolling cradle applied, but Togo took the ref and EVIL escaped.
EVIL hit a low blow and the STO for the pin.
B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated Chase Owens (12:11)
I presume that Cobb is going to win a lot in this tournament, maybe even winning the whole thing. He gave Owens enough to not totally make him look like a job guy, but not so much that it hurt Cobb.
Owens is in better shape than maybe at any point in his career.
Cobb hit one shoulder block, then Owens began stalling. This was different than the stalling in the previous two matches in that they were telling a David and Goliath story, Owens wasn’t just stalling for heat.
Cobb clobbered Owens around the ring with his power moves. Owens got some hope spots with v-triggers and a Jewel Heist. Cobb hit his running powerslam, his standing moonsault, thrust kicks, lots of his signature spots.
Owens made one last attempt to put Cobb away with v-triggers. Cobb blocked, then hit the Tour of the Islands for the pin.
B Block: SANADA defeated Tama Tonga (w/Jado) (19:04)
This over-delivered. A very good match.
They opened with a nice series of quick counters and teases out of a side headlock from Tama and some arm drags from SANADA.
Tama baited SANADA into posing on the turnbuckles for applause to take control, attacking him from behind and sending him outside. Tama sent SANADA into the barricade for a countout tease.
Back in, Tama used a chinlock. SANADA came back with a basement dropkick to the knee out of a whip into the buckle. SANADA hit another nice arm drag and a backbreaker, then hit planchas to both Tama and Jado.
SANADA used a sunset flip to set up a paradise lock. A dropkick broke the hold. Tama blocked Skull End and hit a Tongan Twist. Tama hit a powerslam for a two count. SANADA blocked a Skull End attempt with another arm drag.
SANADA used Skull End. Tama reversed into his own Skull End. SANADA escaped and hit a magic screw. SANADA hit a TKO for a near fall after a strike exchange. Tama reversed Skull End into an inside cradle for a near fall.
Tama hit an underhook piledriver for a near fall. SANADA blocked a Gun Stun and used Skull End. He gave up the hold and tried a moonsault, but Tama got his knees up and cradled SANADA for a near fall.
SANADA blocked two more Gun Stun attempts and used an O’Connor roll for the pin.
B Block: Taichi (w/Miho Abe) defeated Hirooki Goto (18:30)
They worked this as an intense fight and had a very good brawl.
Taichi was taunting Goto with his IWGP Tag title belt before the opening bell. Goto snapped and the fight was on.
Taichi choked Goto with a camera cable to take control early. Taichi repeatedly choked Goto. Goto finally fought back and began choking Taichi. They exchanged hard kicks. Goto hit his wheel kick in the corner and a bulldog for a near fall.
Taichi regained control with chokes. Taichi hit a chokeslam for a near fall. Goto hit a Shouten Kai out of nowhere, but could not follow up with a cover. Taichi came back with a buzzsaw kick and a gamengiri.
Goto blocked Black Mephisto and hit a headbutt into a double down. Taichi blocked a GTR attempt with a choke, then hit a chokeslam for a two count. Goto blocked a thrust kick.
Taichi hit a forearm out of a three-point stance, then hit Black Mephisto for the pin.
B Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (29:36)
This was a real treat. Two of the best to ever do it, if not the two very best to ever do it. Tanahashi deserves consideration for wrestler of the year. His in-ring this year has been outstanding.
They began slowly with some basic chain wrestling. Tana ducked an early Rainmaker attempt, then began to attack Okada’s legs with dragon screws.
They rolled outside, where Okada hit a DDT on the floor to capture the momentum. Back inside, Okada hit a flapjack and an air raid crash neckbreaker. Okada placed Tana on the top rope and dropkicked him to the apron. Tana crashed to the floor.
Tana blocked an Okada boot and hit a dragon screw on the floor. Tana teased a High Fly Flow to the floor, but Okada cut him off and tried for a tombstone on the apron. Tana slid out and hit another dragon screw in the ropes. Tana hit an Ace’s High Fly Flow to the floor. Okada barely beat the count back in at 20 minutes.
Tana blocked another air raid crash attempt and hit three twist and shouts and a slingblade for a two count. Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow, but Okada rolled through on the landing and locked on the Money Clip. Tana fired up and reached the ropes.
Each tried to hit a tombstone. Okada was eventually successful. Tana ducked a Rainmaker. Okada sat down into a cradle for a two count. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick at 25 minutes.
Okada hit a top rope elbow drop and the Rainmaker pose. Tana ducked a Rainmaker, ducked a spinning Rainmaker, then hit two slingblades.
Tana went to the top for High Fly Flow. Okada got his knees up. They did a double down with three minutes left.
Okada hit two Rainmakers. Tana reversed a spinning Rainmaker into an inside cradle for a great near fall. Tana hit a German, then hit a dragon suplex. Okada kicked out at one at 28 minutes in.
They traded strikes. Okada hit a dropkick with under a minute left.
Okada hit a tombstone and a Rainmaker for the pin.
**********
Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night three, Thursday, September 23, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
Announcers Kevin Kelly and Alex Koslov opened the show in front of a new backdrop that read “New Japan: Fighting Spirit Unleashed.” Kelly explained that over the next three weeks on Strong we’ll be seeing the new Fighting Spirit Unleashed that culminates in a Strong Openweight title match between champion Tom Lawlor and Lio Rush. This was the first episode of Strong that featured a live audience at ringside.
Tomohiro Ishii defeated Alex Coughlin
This was great. This was the first of Coughlin’s Challenge Match Series, or a series of bouts against senior NJPW stars. This is similar to what both Yota Tsuji and Yuta Uemura completed this year, their final obstacle before becoming a full-time NJPW roster member. Coughlin will soon be a Young Lion no more.
Coughlin got right in Ishii’s face before the “Stone Pitbull” had even stepped into the ring. They started off with a long collar and elbow tie-up until they were forced to break when they were up against the ropes. Coughlin landed a cheap shot as they broke the hold. Just as you’d expect, Ishii dished out a brutal receipt of chops and elbows. Coughlin’s chest was pink not even five minutes into this.
Coughlin came back and put Ishii down with a flying shoulder block, then a deadlift gutwrench suplex for two. Ishii responded with even harder combinations of strikes in the corner. He scored a two-count with a huge angle backdrop suplex.
Coughlin immediately sprung back up after Ishii put him down again with a vertical suplex. He’d also use a backdrop suplex on Ishii for a two of his own, and later his signature bridging fall-away slam, again for two. They did a tit-for-tat elbow spot next, but Coughlin was able to power up again and hit Ishii with a spear. It wasn’t enough, though, and Ishii put Coughlin away with a vertical drop brainbuster to win in just over nine minutes.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Clark Connors & Karl Fredericks defeated the Stray Dog Army (Bateman, Barrett Brown & Misterioso)
Tanahashi making an appearance on tonight’s episode was kind of surreal. His presence alone felt like it elevated the match from the get-go. Just watching him pose on the top corner turnbuckle and show his IWGP US championship did something to alter the dynamic of the match before it even started.
The Stray Dog Army is a new name for the gang of three led by Bateman. They jaw-jacked with the babyface team before the match was underway. The crowd chanted for Tanahashi before this started; Tana humbly declined the praise with a “no, no” hand gesture.
Fredericks and Misterioso kicked things off for their teams. SDA triple-teamed him early, but Fredericks was able to land a cross body block and tag out to Connors.
Later, Fredericks and Tanahashi landed a double-team elbow drop, and then all three played simultaneous air guitar, which was awesome.
Brown tagged in next and shut Connors down with a suplex into the corner. Bateman was next and used his usual dirty wrestling tactics on Connors. Tonight he fishhooked Connors’ nose right in front of the referee.
SDA worked over Connors for a few more minutes, using quick tags in and out to keep the pressure on Connors. When Connors was finally able to make it to the red corner, Misterioso and Brown pulled Tanahashi and Fredericks off the apron so Connors couldn’t tag out.
Finally, Connors was able to tag out to Tanahashi, and what a hot tag it was. Tana cleaned house, then did a double-elbow drop to Misterioso and Brown. The crowd was probably at its loudest by this point as the crowd started chanting “Go Ace!”
They did a spot where first Brown took out Fredericks, then Connors took out Brown, Tanahashi slingbladed Brown, Bateman suckerpunched Tanahashi, and finally Fredericks came back and took out Bateman with an enzuigiri kick. Everyone was laid out and the crowd let out more loud cheers and a “this is awesome” chant, the first on Strong ever.
Fredericks would lay Brown out with Manifest Destiny to pick up the win for his team. Everyone looked great in this, but having both Tanahashi and a live audience really enhanced the match quality and made it feel more meaningful than the usual six-man tags on the show.
“It’s obvious: This asshole running around this place right now is—and always was—the real Will Ospreay.” Fredericks grabbed the mic afterwards and immediately called out Ospreay, saying he’d become a prick since “turning over a new leaf,” or becoming a heel and forming the United Empire with the Great O-Khan and Jeff Cobb. He said he wasn’t the same Young Boy he was 18 months ago and now, he’s a killer. He then issued a strongly worded challenge to Ospreay, who appeared with his version of the IWGP World Heavyweight title. The two then got into a wild brawl where Fredericks ended up tearing Ospreay’s pink dress shirt off his back. Ospreay then laid Fredericks out with the Hidden Blade back elbow, grabbed the mic and left Fredericks with these words: “I’ll see you in Dallas, Young Boy.”
Hikuleo defeated Juice Robinson in a tables match
The first person to put their opponent through a table would win, which meant no pinfalls, submissions, count-outs or disqualifications.
This was a rematch from their bout at Resurgence last month, and tonight’s match was much better. Robinson went after Hikuleo before the bell sounded. He threw Hikuleo into the corner and laid in a number of closed fists to his head, but Hikuleo was able to lift Robinson onto his own shoulders in position to be power bombed. Robinson bit his way out of the hold, then kicked him in the groin. The juice was loose, indeed.
Robinson ran off the apron and and landed onto Hikuleo with a somersault senton. The crowd was very into him at this show. Robinson tried suplexing Hikuleo through a table but couldn’t swing it. Hikuleo later back body-dropped Robinson onto the floor. Robinson dropkicked a table into Hikuleo’s face, then caught him with a pescado back on the floor.
When Robinson went to the top rope later, Hikuleo press slammed him off of it and back into the ring. He’d then set up a table in the corner and attempted to impale Robinson through it, but Robinson dodged it and Hikuleo went through the table. Since Robinson himself didn’t put Hikuleo through the table, the match was still on.
Robinson tried putting Hikuleo through a table with a diving senton off the top but Hikuleo moved, and Robinson landed on the table neck-first and actually split the table, although not fully. Hikuleo finished Robinson off next with a Tongan Driller through a table, thus winning the match in ten minutes.
Final thoughts:
This was definitely the most “big time” episode of NJPW Strong. With the live crowd, bigger set, and stars like Hiroshi Tanahashi, Will Ospreay and Tomohiro Ishii showing up, the entire show felt elevated and more important than usual. This might be a good jumping on point for anyone wanting to get into Strong now that hasn’t already.
Next week sees Fred Rosser vs. Ren Narita in the main event, plus Jay White vs. Wheeler Yuta in singles action.
A new match has been added to the NJPW Strong Autumn Attack tapings in Texas on Sunday, September 26.
Juice Robinson will take on Hikuleo in a Texas bullrope match. The new bout was made official following Hikuleo’s win over Robinson in a tables match on Saturday’s NJPW Strong.
Seven matches are now official for Sunday’s show, while six have been announced for Saturday’s event. Tickets for the dates in Garland, Texas are on sale now.
Here are the announced lineups:
NJPW Autumn Attack night one, Saturday, September 25 —
Minoru Suzuki vs. Fred Rosser
Will Ospreay vs. Karl Fredericks
Jay White vs. Robbie Eagles
TJP, Clark Connors, Lio Rush & Juice Robinson vs. Hikuleo, Chris Bey, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
Tom Lawlor vs. Ren Narita
Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero vs. Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs
NJPW Autumn Attack night two, Sunday, September 26 —
Texas bullrope match: Juice Robinson vs. Hikuleo
Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer vs. Tom Lawlor & Royce Isaacs
Lio Rush vs. Taiji Ishimori
Jay White vs. Daniel Garcia
Will Ospreay & a mystery partner vs. Karl Fredericks & Clark Connors
Robbie Eagles & Chris Dickinson vs. El Phantasmo & Chris Bey
The G1 Climax 31 tournament kicked off today in Osaka with A Block action.
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi and Tomohiro Ishii squared off in the main event, while Tetsuya Naito took on Zack Sabre Jr. in the semi-main.
Here are results and a report from today’s show.
**********
Recommended matches —
Shingo Takagi vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Report —
SHO defeated Ryohei Oiwa (6:08)
Great intensity from both guys in this quick opener.
Oiwa fired off a series of strikes right away. SHO quickly cut him off and dropped him with a forearm. SHO took the fight to the floor and whipped Oiwa into the barricade.
SHO stayed on offense as the fight returned to the ring. Oiwa made a fiery comeback and ht a series of strikes and a slam. SHO avoided a crab, then hit a lariat to halt Oiwa’s momentum.
SHO used the Snake Bite and Oiwa tapped out.
G1 Climax 31 A Block: Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) defeated Kota Ibushi (11:31)
So the story they’re telling is that Ibushi has yet to fully recover from pneumonia and is vulnerable. Still, this was a pretty shocking result.
Ibushi hit one dropkick early, but this was pretty much all Yujiro. Yujiro hit stomps. Yujiro kicked Ibushi off the top rope to the floor as he tried a springboard attack. Yujiro used his walking stick to hit Ibushi. Yujiro hit some stomps.
Ibushi made a comeback with a mid kick, a striking combination and a standing moonsault. Ibushi hit a snap rana and sent Yujiro to the floor. Yujiro blocked the Golden Triangle moonsault off the post and sent Ibushi crashing to the floor. Yujiro hit a reverse DDT on the floor.
Back in, Yujiro used a boot and a fisherman buster for a near fall. Yujiro ducked a high kick and hit an Angle slam for another two count. Ibushi fought off two Miami Shine attempts and hit a high kick and a last ride for a near fall.
Yujiro blocked Kamigoye. Ibushi blocked Pimp Juice and hit a v-trigger. Yujiro used the threat of a ref bump to hit a low blow and Pimp Juice for a two count.
Yujiro hit a Big Juice implant DDT and got the pin.
G1 Climax 31 A Block: Great-O-Khan defeated Tanga Loa (w/Jado) (17:45)
Booking these guys to go more than ten minutes with each other is promotional malpractice, but this is also the same company that booked Chase Owens and Toru Yano to go nearly half an hour two weeks ago.
They began with a long collar and elbow, ending in a stalemate. O-Khan rolled outside and Jado threatened to get involved, but stayed away from O-Khan at this point.
Loa took over after a spear. Loa took the ref and threw O-Khan outside. Jado chopped O-Khan and hit him with a kendo stick. Loa hit a suplex on the floor for a countout tease.
O-Khan made a comeback with an inverted suplex and some of his unconventional offense. They traded strikes. Loa got a two count off a lariat. Jado took the ref for some reason as Loa locked on the OJK. The interference didn’t lead to anything. O-Khan forced a rope break.
Loa got a two count after a blue thunder bomb. They traded strikes, then O-Khan used a standing choke. Jado hobbled into the ring and O-Khan bumped him. Loa avoided an Eliminator and hit a powerbomb for a two count.
O-Khan avoided a Michinoku Driver and hit the Eliminator to end this.
G1 Climax 31 A Block: Toru Yano defeated KENTA (11:07)
Yano G1 matches are a wrestling comedy artform. You have to learn to love them, or else you’ll just be miserable all month.
KENTA gave the ring announcer a sheet of accomplishments to read off to match the length of Yano’s introduction.
The referee confiscated a roll of athletic tape from each man before the bell.
KENTA stalled for the first minute. Yano then followed suit and rolled outside. They did some comedy. KENTA sprayed Yano in the eyes with hand sanitizer. They fought on the ramp and the stage.
KENTA stashed two rolls of tape on the entrance stage. Yano threw one away, but KENTA used the other to tape Yano to the entrance truss. Yano freed himself and beat the count back in.
Yano exposed a turnbuckle and hit a slingshot on KENTA into it. Yano used a schoolboy for two. KENTA sent Yano into the exposed steel and hit a Shibata dropkick. KENTA hit a double stomp off the top for two.
Yano avoided a GTS. They pulled each other’s hair. They fought to the outside. KENTA bumped Yano into the ref. KENTA taped Yano’s wrists together and threw him under the ring, then revived the ref. Yano beat the count back in and hit a low blow and a schoolboy for a near fall.
Yano used another low blow and cradled KENTA for the pin.
G1 Climax 31 A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Tetsuya Naito (27:05)
This was excellent. These two don’t always have the best matches with each other for some reason, but the psychology here was perfect. Naito always goes after the neck, Sabre went after Naito’s knees, Naito gave out first.
They opened with some chain wrestling. Each won one of the two opening exchanges. Sabre used a neck crank to send Naito outside. Back in, Sabre used Naito’s own arms to choke him. Naito would try to reverse, but Sabre kept working back to the same position.
Naito made a comeback ten minutes in with a dropkick and his combinacion cabron in the corner. Sabre cut Naito off again with an ankle pick and a PK. Sabre laid in some uppercut forearms.
Sabre blocked a swing DDT and a flying forearm, then used Naito’s momentum to hit a dragon suplex for a two count. Naito then connected with a DDT and began to target Sabre’s neck to soften it up for Destino.
Naito hit Esperanza. Sabre caught Naito coming in and used a heel hook with a body scissors, but Naito fought to the ropes to force a break. Sabre tried a knee breaker, but Naito blocked and hit a spike DDT.
Naito went for a top rope frankensteiner, but Sabre blocked and used an octopus on the top rope. Sabre hit a sunset bomb off the top for a two count. Sabre used another heel hook, Naito forced another break.
Sabre kicked at Naito’s legs. Naito hit Destino, but could not follow with a cover. They traded strikes. Naito blocked a Zack Driver and hit Valentia. Sabre blocked Destino and used a clutch for a two count.
Sabre hit a dropkick to the legs and a leg sweep. Sabre hit a double stomp to the knees. Sabre tried a Zack Driver, but Naito countered into a clunky Destino.
Sabre used a double wristlock with a body scissors on the mat, almost a modified octopus hold from a seated position, he calls it YES! I AM A LONG WAY FROM HOME. After a ref stoppage tease, Naito tapped out.
Naito continued to sell his knees as he was helped to the back after the match.
This was everything you would expect from these two. Hard-hitting and a great match with insane pacing that flew by. Big, meaty men slapping meat.
They began at a crazy pace, firing off shoulder tackle attempts and trading forearms. Shingo scored the first knockdown. They fought to the floor, where Ishii hit a powerslam on the floor to establish the early advantage.
Back in, Shingo hammered away with forearms. Shingo dodged a headbutt and hit a DDT to win back control of the match. Shingo hit a series of strikes and a senton. Shingo hit some taunting kicks, so Ishii fired up and began to no-sell Shingo’s strikes. Ishii dropped Shingo with a forearm.
Ishii continued to fire off chops and forearms in the corner. Shingo fired back and dropped Ishii with a forearm. Shingo then began hammering away with strikes in the corner. Shingo hit a diving back elbow off the top for a two count.
Ishii avoided a sliding lariat, but Shingo hit a vertical suplex. Ishii answered with his own vertical suplex. Each no-sold two suplexes from the other. Shingo hit a sliding lariat on his second attempt.
Shingo hit a top rope superplex for a two count. Shingo hit a lariat. Ishii stumbled. Ishii fired off a lariat and dropped Shingo. Ishii ducked a lariat and hit another lariat. Ishii dropped Shingo as he tried a superplex. They realized what was happening as Ishii was losing his grip and Shingo was able to land safely.
Ishii hit the superplex on a second attempt. Shingo answered with a clothesline. They traded short forearm strikes. Shingo hit Made in Japan for a two count. Shingo hit a short clothesline to the back of the neck. Ishii hit a German. Shingo popped up and hit another lariat for a two count.
Ishii reversed Last of the Dragon into a crucifix bomb for a two count. They hit simultaneous lariats. Ishii hit an enzuigiri and bumped Shingo into the referee., but Red Shoes popped right back up. Ishii hit a powerbomb with a stack cover for a two count. Ishii hit a sliding lariat for another near fall.
Ishii blocked the Vertical Drop Brainbuster and hit a death valley driver. Ishii hit a half-and-half suplex and another lariat for another two count. Shingo blocked another brainbuster attempt and hit a dragon suplex.
Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber, Ishii kicked out at two. Ishii hit a series of chops. They traded headbutts.
Shingo blocked a forearm shot and lifted Ishii for Last of the Dragon and pinned him.
**********
Here is the lineup for tomorrow:
G1 Climax 31 night two, Sunday, September 19, 1 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
NJPW has announced the first two matches of next month’s NJPW Strong New Japan Showdown tapings in Philadelphia at the 2300 Arena.
On night one on Saturday, October 16, Minoru Suzuki will take on NJPW Strong regular and former Team Filthy member “The Dirty Daddy” Chris Dickinson.
On night two on Sunday, October 17, Will Ospreay will face Alex Zayne. Zayne is coming off a short WWE run, where he wrestled as Ari Sterling. Aside from one appearance on NXT, Zayne’s entire WWE stint was confined to 205 Live. Zayne’s original WWE signing was officially announced with the December 2020 Performance Center class. He was released by WWE on August 6, 2021.
Tickets for both nights of NJPW action in Philadelphia are on sale now.
NJPW Strong New Japan Showdown night one, Saturday, October 16 —
Minoru Suzuki vs. Chris Dickinson
NJPW Strong New Japan Showdown night two, Sunday, October 17 —
Jon Moxley is off New Japan Pro Wrestling’s upcoming event in San Jose.
NJPW of America announced this evening that Moxley would be unable to participate at Battle in the Valley, which takes place on November 13. They have instead announced that Will Ospreay will be at the event. This may be due to AEW’s next event, Full Gear, taking place on the same date.
Additionally, the bell time for Battle in the Valley has been moved to 8 pm PT.
Full Gear originally was set to take place on November 6. However, a high profile UFC card featuring Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington, as well as a boxing match between Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant, are both scheduled to take place that weekend. AEW announced at All Out earlier this month that Full Gear would take place a week later instead. No venue or location has been announced.
Other stars announced for Battle of the Valley include Tomohiro Ishii, Jay White, and Filthy Tom Lawlor.
NJPW has tapings in October at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and in November at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium.
The first Saturday night episode of NJPW Strong will feature a Tomohiro Ishii vs. Alex Coughlin singles match, plus a trios match featuring Hiroshi Tanahashi.
In Saturday’s opener, the Alex Coughlin challenge series will continue with Coughlin taking on Ishii.
In the second match, IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi will team with Karl Fredericks and Clark Connors against Bateman, Misterioso and Barrett Brown.
This week’s main event will see Juice Robinson and Hikuleo’s personal issue continue. The two will face off in a tables match.
This month’s Fighting Spirit Unleashed episodes of Strong were taped on Monday, August 16 in Long Beach, California at Thunder Studios and were the first Strong shows taped in front of fans.
Strong will air at 8 p.m. Eastern time this Saturday on NJPW World. The show will also be available on demand immediately following airing.
Here is Saturday’s full lineup:
NJPW Strong Fighting Spirit Unleashed, Saturday, September 18, 8 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World–
Tables match: Juice Robinson vs. Hikuleo
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Karl Fredericks & Clark Connors vs. Bateman, Misterioso & Barrett Brown
NJPW Strong hosted its second LA Dojo Showcase card tonight. The first was held in April.
Kevin Knight defeated The DKC
This was good. The DKC has a distinct style and flavor in the ring, showing off tons of karate-style chop variations tonight. While DKC controlled the first half of the match, Knight eventually tapped him out with a Boston crab in the end. Knight has one of the best, or at least highest dropkicks in the business right now.
Clark Connors defeated Alex Coughlin
These two are awesome, if you haven’t gotten the memo yet. Coughlin took the lead on offense early on. On commentary, Kevin Kelly explained how far he has come in his training with Katsuyori Shibata at the LA Dojo. They presented this as the first possible time that Coughlin might really have a chance against his senior, the recently graduated Connors.
Connors caught Coughlin off the ropes with a pounce just after the five-minute call sounded. He unloaded a flurry of chops and stomps on Coughlin in the corner. Coughlin answered with two deadlift suplexes that earned him a two-count. He scored a beautiful bridging fall-away slam for another nearfall. They made it seem like Connors was really on the ropes.
Connors caught Coughlin with a desperation spear, then dropped a Tenryu-style reverse elbow drop from the top rope for a two-count. Coughlin responded with a leaping shoulder tackle, then a ripping chop. Connors answered with his signature snap powerslam, then finished Coughlin with a back suplex into a falling powerbomb for the win in just over ten minutes. Connors picked Coughlin up off the mat afterwards, then the two hugged. This was excellent.
An emotional Alex Coughlin put both Connors and Karl Fredericks over huge in his post-match promo. He talked about how he had his first match in NJPW against Connors and his rematch at Lion’s Break Collision last year. He thought he’d be able to take the win tonight and was upset about it. He said that no matter what happens to Connors, no matter where he goes, that Coughlin loves him, and that Connors had better not make a big career move, like to head to Japan, before he graduated from the LA Dojo.
Ren Narita defeated Karl Fredericks
This was pretty even for the first five minutes. The two blasted each other with chops. In the 2019 Young Lions cup, which Karl Fredericks won, Kevin Kelly explained how Ren Narita was the only one to defeat Fredericks over the course of the whole tournament.
Narita caught Fredericks with a rolling wheel kick and a single-arm suplex for two. He targeted the taller Fredericks’ legs next, applying an Indian Deathlock and later a Narita Special submission, or a modified clover-hold. Fredericks was able to escape via rope breaks both times.
Fredericks exploded back moments later with a big Pelé kick that put Narita down. He nailed Narita with a Shibata-style basement dropkick in the corner for two. Narita’s chest was pink and red by this point.
Fredericks went for his finisher Manifest Destiny twice, but Narita blocked both attempts. He put Fredericks on the mat with a knuckle-lock suplex, but was too tired to make the cover in quick enough time, so Fredericks was able to kick out. He’d later finish Fredericks off with a bridging front suplex for the decisive win. Narita has finally avenged his loss to Fredericks in the 2019 Young Lions Cup.
“Mr. No-Days-Off” Fred Rosser appeared in the ring afterwards. He wanted to congratulate Narita on his win, he said, but for those following along, Rosser and Narita actually got into it with each other after the six-man tag match they were in at NJPW Resurgence in Los Angeles last month. Rosser insisted Narita shake his hand, but Narita refused. Rosser said Narita was young and dumb, and that he’d be leaving Fighting Spirit Unleashed with three boots: two on his feet and one in his ass.
Narita answered in Japanese, telling Rosser that he wasn’t impressed with a “former” star like him, and that Rosser had better not underestimate the LA Dojo. The two will square off next week on the Saturday episode of NJPW Strong.
Final thoughts:
Tonight’s episode was a really good one. It’s amazing how much progress some of NJPW’s Young Lions have made in such a short period of time, especially when it comes to Katsuyori Shibata’s trainees. Everything on this is worth checking out, the fan in me eagerly awaits NJPW in three to five years from now.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles has been added to the September 25 and September 26 NJPW Strong Autumn Attack shows in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Eagles is coming off his first successful defense of the IWGP Jr. title at Sunday’s Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome. Eagles retained by defeating Hiromu Takahashi by submission. Eagles won the title at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome on July 25, defeating El Desperado.
No matches have been officially made for Eagles at Autumn Attack. Tickets for the dates in Garland, Texas are on sale now.
Here are the announced lineups:
NJPW Autumn Attack night one, Saturday, September 25 —
Minoru Suzuki vs. Fred Rosser
Will Ospreay vs. Karl Fredericks
Robbie Eagles vs. TBA
NJPW Autumn Attack night two, Sunday, September 26 —
Lio Rush vs. Taiji Ishimori
Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer vs. Tom Lawlor & Royce Isaacs
NJPW has announced the lineups for this year’s G1 Climax 31 tournament.
The tournament will run from September 18 in Osaka through October 21 at Budokan Hall. In recent years, the winner has been given a contract of his choosing and usually defends the briefcase through Wrestle Kingdom.
Notable matches this year includes Shingo Takagi vs. Tomohiro Ishii on opening day, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada on the 19th, Takagi vs. Tetsuya Naito on September 26, Kota Ibushi vs. Takagi on October 3, and Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb on October 20.
Here are the full list of matches for this year’s G1 Climax tournament:
This year’s World Tag League and Best of the Super Juniors tournaments will run concurrently for the second year in a row.
NJPW confirmed the two tournaments this morning. They will start on November 13 in Korakuen Hall and will conclude on December 15 in Ryogoku Sumo Hall. This will be the 28th installment of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, which dates back to 1994. NJPW has ran the World Tag League since 2012.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing NJPW to postpone the Best of the Super Juniors tournament last May, the company decided to run both BOSJ and the World Tag League concurrently last year. Hiromu Takahashi won last year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament, defeating Desperado to win the tournament for a second time. The Guerillas of Destiny defeated FinJuice to win the World Tag League tournament for the first time.
NJPW’s next tournament is the 31st G1 Climax, which starts on September 18 in Osaka and concludes on October 21 at Budokan Hall in Tokyo.
The final Friday night episode of NJPW Strong will feature talent from the LA Dojo. Strong moves to Saturdays at 8 p.m. Eastern time beginning on September 18.
In this week’s main event, Dojo graduate Karl Fredericks and Ren Narita will square off.
In the second match, LA Dojo graduate Clark Connors will take on current student Alex Coughlin.
In the opener, current Dojo trainees Kevin Knight will do battle with The DKC. Knight and DKC teamed against Yuji Nagata and Yuya Uemura on the most recent Strong tapings. That match will air during the Fighting Spirit Unleashed editions of the show.
Strong will air at 10 p.m. Eastern time this Friday on NJPW World. The show will also be available on demand immediately following airing.
Here is Friday’s full lineup:
NJPW Strong LA Dojo Showcase 2, Friday, September 10, 10 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World–
