NJPW announced that they will return to running shows starting on May 22.
The company released a statement saying that they will resume their Road to Wrestle Grand Slam tour starting this Saturday in Nagoya. They also announced dates for May 24, 25, and 26 at Korakuen Hall.
NJPW made the move to cancel their events as 9 people tested positive for COVID-19 following the second night of Wrestling Dontaku. Today’s statement said that these wrestlers have continued to display minor symptoms and have received medical treatment. The company said further that wrestlers and staff will only be allowed to participate after diligent screening.
The two scheduled dome events in Yokohama and Tokyo have been delayed due to the state of emergency being extended in Japan to the end of month.
The second night of Wrestling Dontaku had to be rearranged due to wrestlers being taken off due to safety precautions. A scheduled match between El Desperado and YOH for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title had to be removed from the card altogether.
NJPW has revealed the full lineup for this week’s Road to Collision episode of Strong.
El Phantasmo returns to action on this week’s show. He will team with Hikuleo against Lio Rush and Fred Rosser. Phantasmo has not wrestled on Strong since February. He was most recently in action on last week’s episode of Impact Wrestling.
In Friday’s opener, Rocky Romero will take on the debuting AJZ.
Already announced for the show’s main event, Tom Lawlor, Chris Dickinson, JR Kratos and Danny Limelight will face Karl Fredericks, Brody King, TJP & Clark Connors in an elimination match. Eliminations can occur by pinfall, submission, DQ or over the top rope with both feet hitting the floor.
Strong airs Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World and is available on demand shortly after airing.
Here is Friday’s lineup:
Elimination match: Karl Fredericks, Brody King, TJP & Clark Connors vs. Tom Lawlor, Chris Dickinson, JR Kratos & Danny Limelight
Seven additional NJPW wrestlers have tested positive for COVID-19.
The company released a statement tonight saying that upon further testing, seven more wrestlers have tested positive for COVID-19. This is in addition to the two wrestlers that NJPW confirmed have tested positive. The statement reads:
As a result of PCR testing conducted across the roster following the May 4 Wrestling Dontaku event in Fukuoka, New Japan Pro-Wrestling has learned of seven positive tests for COVID-19.
As previously reported, two wrestlers who presented with a fever on the day of the May 4 event were immediately tested in accordance with COVID protocols, with the tests returning positive.
In light of this news, all those who had close contact with the infected parties, in addition to every wrestler on the roster, received PCR tests, with a further seven wrestlers testing positive.
All those who tested positive are experiencing mild symptoms or are asymptomatic. According to protocols and under medical advice, all are isolating and receiving appropriate treatment.
NJPW pulled Kazuchika Okada, Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, and YOH from the second night of Wrestling Dontaku after two wrestlers came down with a fever. As a result, several matches had to be changed and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title between El Desperado and YOH was removed.
The company announced earlier this week that both of their stadium shows in Yokohama and Tokyo were being postponed due to the COVID-19 state of emergency in Japan being extended through the end of May.
Tonight’s episode of NJPW Strong was titled “Collision 2021,” with visiting NJPW legend Yuji Nagata making an appearance in the main event tonight ahead of his match with Jon Moxley next week on AEW Dynamite.
We saw a brief recap of “Filthy” Tom Lawlor after he’d just won this year’s NJPW Cup USA 2021 and current Strong Openweight title. The video reminded us that when Lawlor challenged anyone in the NJPW locker room to take him on, that it was his own Team Filthy teammate, “Dirty Daddy” Chris Dickinson, who wanted the first shot at Lawlor.
Barrett Brown and Adrian Quest defeated The DKC and Kevin Knight
The teams scuffled before the bell. Brown and the DKC started the match off together. DKC was amped going into this. Brown got the better of DKC on the mat early on before DKC tagged out to Knight. Brown then tagged out to Quest, where he and Knight had an evenly matched exchange together. Both are very athletic, but Knight more noticeably so — the air he got on that leapfrog, jeez. Quest did a tornillo cross-body block after bouncing off the second rope.
Action almost spilled to the floor at one point, when Brown went for a dive onto Knight. Knight was able to slide back into the ring before Brown made it to the floor and landed a high dropkick before tagging out. Action began heating up between teams, with DKC able to get the better of Quest after his short respite on the apron. Quest was able to tag out to Brown, who came in to clean house. He’d at one point reverse a Kevin Knight tilt-a-whirl attempt that Brown turned into a swinging DDT.
The finish saw Adrian Quest make a blind tag into the ring and stick Knight with a standing shooting star press for the win. This was right after Brown nailed Knight with a claymore kick.
Things got chippy between partners after the win, as Brown seemed to have wanted the pin and the glory of winning the match. They bickered in the ring, and before they went to the back, they bumped fists. As they left the ring, Brown actually attacked Quest from behind. He then threw him into the ring and beat on Quest some more before heading to the locker room. Brown’s chippiness was now borderline psycho-rage. After a slow but clear build over recent episodes, Brown’s official heel turn is now in motion.
The West Coast Wrecking Crew (Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson) defeated Misterioso and Jordan Clearwater
The West Coast Wrecking Crew used to be called The One Percent and were regulars for companies like DEFY out of Seattle and Championship Wrestling From Hollywood and appeared on AEW Dark in March. Viewers may have caught Isaacs at the last Bloodsport event were he took on LA Dojo Young Lion Alex Coughlin, or last year in NWA where he and Thom Latimer won the tag titles.
Isaacs and Clearwater were in together first. Isaacs tried out-wrestling the taller Clearwater, attempting a few takedowns, but Clearwater was able to riggle away from the more aggressive Issacs and spike him with a running bulldog before tagging out to Misterioso.
Misteriso and Clearwater had a handle on Nelson for a few moments, but the more experienced Nelson was able to make it back towards his team’s corner, allowing Isaacs to throw in a cheap knee shot before Nelson would legally tag out to Isaacs. WCWC have a slight FTR vibe about them, at least in a context like NJPW Strong.
The match began heating up as soon as Misterioso hit the ring next. He used a frankensteiner on Isaacs that actually sent Isaacs to the floor, then threw Nelson through the ropes and did a tope con giro to the floor onto them. Back in the ring, Misterioso landed on Isaacs with a swanton for two. He landed a second-rope moonsault onto Isaacs after that, but Nelson made the save at a count of 2.5.
Misterioso held Isaacs in place as Clearwater came off the ropes with an elbow, but Isaacs moved and Clearwater nailed Misterioso instead. WCWC used a power bomb-running neckbreaker double team move to neutralize Clearwater out of the match. Isaacs picked Misterioso up in an exploder suplex hold and actually dumped him over the top rope to the floor instead of slamming him on the mat in the ring. Nelson followed up with tope suicida.
Back in the ring, Isaacs used a fireman’s carry on Clearwater and stood in the corner. Nelson then climbed to the top rope, then took one extra step onto the back of Clearwater and dropped a one-legged elbow from the heavens onto Misterioso. Isaacs then used a Death Valley Bomb on Clearwater where he planted Clearwater directly onto Nelson’s knees, then covered for the win. Impressive debut from the West Coast Wrecking Crew. These two would be an interesting matchup against Strong regular teams like the Logan Twins or the DKC and Kevin Knight.
The Wrecking Crew cut a promo backstage afterwards that made them feel like they’d been around the block already. They came off as a fresh team for the show, but they also didn’t come across like rookies, either. Nelson said all they care about in NJPW is beating people up, winning matches and winning championship. Isaacs told fans to “get used to the name,” West Coast Wrecking Crew.
Jon Moxley and Chris Dickinson defeated Yuji Nagata and Ren Narita
Moxley and Nagata began throwing elbows into each others’ faces as soon as the bell sounded. Nagata landed a big boot early on. Mox missed a sliding lariat, so then Nagata used a standing armbreaker on him, then dragged him to the red corner where he’d tag in Ren Narita. The younger Narita didn’t have a chance to do much as Mox quickly tagged out to Chris Dickinson. Viewers may recall Dicksinson and Narita’s dark horse banger of a match in February on NJPW Strong, the same episode that featured Moxley vs. KENTA for the IWGP US title in the main event. They showed flashes of the same kind of intensity when they were in together tonight.
When Dickinson threw Narita to the floor, Moxley put the boots to the neophyte. He also whipped him into the barricade outside the ring before rolling him back in. Moxley bullied Narita against the rope and scraped his elbow across Narita’s face, Snakepit style. Dickinson tagged in next, but Narita found a moment to escape to his side of the ring and tag out to a fresh Nagata, who began blasting Dickinson in the chest with his signature kicks before whipping him into the corner and landing another running boot before launching him with a butterfly suplex for two. The two began exchanging chops and elbows and I couldn’t help but want to see a singles bout between the “Dirty Daddy” and the “Blue Dandy.”
Nagata and Moxley were in together towards the end of the match and again traded hard blows, mostly elbows, plus some stiff headbutts from Moxley. Mox blasted Nagata with a lariat and then locked in a bully choke, but Nagata was able to muscle out of it and throw him with an exploder suplex. He’d then tag out to Narita, where they double-teamed Moxley after knocking Dickinson to the floor.
Narita was able to hit his signature front suplex off the ropes for two as Nagata and Dickinson brawled on the floor. Mox powered up and launched Narita with a release German suplex, then planted him with a perfect-looking Deathrider DDT for the win.
Nagata got back into the ring and got into Moxley’s face afterwards. Mox slapped Nagata, but Nagata slapped back then locked him in the Nagata Lock until three NJPW staffers and Chris Dickinson peeled Nagata off Moxley. Nagata flexed his 53-year-old guns and flashed the ZEA gesture before heading to the back. Mox checked to make sure his back teeth were still there as the show went to black.
Final thoughts: This was a top-notch episode of NJPW Strong. It felt both fresh and special. Barrett Brown officially turned heel after he went after tag partner Adrian Quest, which will seemingly lead to a new set of bouts with Brown vs. other Strong regulars this summer, now in a slightly different context.
The West Coast Wrecking Crew looked very good in their debut against the DKC and Kevin Knight, and I imagine they’ll be another solid fit with Strong down the road. The main event delivered in that it did what it was meant to do—get us hyped for Mox vs. Nagata on Dynamite—but also reminded us that Ren Narita and Chris Dickinson also kick plentiful amounts of ass. Another solid night of pro wrestling from New Japan.
On Friday May 7, the Japanese government announced an extension to the state of emergency currently in place in Tokyo and other prefectures. In light of this announcement, as well as current COVID-19 infection status, and in order to prevent any potential further spread of the virus, New Japan Pro-Wrestling has arrived at the decision to postpone the Wrestle Grand Slam events in Yokohama Stadium and the Tokyo Dome previously scheduled for May 15 and 29 respectively.
The company said that new dates for the upcoming shows are currently being finalized. They ask for fans to retain their tickets, and that any fan that is unable to attend the new dates will be eligible for a refund.
The only match officially announced for either show was an IWGP World Heavyweight title match between Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada for the Tokyo Dome event.
Originally set to expire on May 11, Japan extended its state of emergency until the end of May. This applies to the Tokyo, Osaka, Hyogo, and Kyoto prefectures. Two more prefectures, Aichi and Fukuoka, have been added to the list.
NJPW has revealed the main event for each Collision episode of NJPW Strong this month.
Tom Lawlor will make his first defense of the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship against fellow Team Filthy member Chris Dickinson on the Friday, May 28 edition of the show.
On the Friday, May 21 episode, Fred Rosser will take on Hikuleo in a no disqualification match. The two also met in the New Japan Cup USA 2021 tournament, where Hikuleo came away with the victory.
On the Friday, May 14 show, Lawlor, Dickinson, JR Kratos and Danny Limelight will face Karl Fredericks, Brody King, TJP & Clark Connors in an elimination match. Under NJPW rules, eliminations can occur by pinfall, submission, DQ or over the top rope with both feet hitting the floor.
The main event for the Friday, May 7 episode had already been announced, as Jon Moxley and Dickinson will face Yuji Nagata and Ren Narita. Nagata will also challenge Moxley for the IWGP United States Championship on the Wednesday, May 12 edition of AEW Dynamite.
Strong airs Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World and is available on demand shortly after airing.
Here are the lineups announced for Collision so far:
Friday, May 7 —
Jon Moxley & Chris Dickinson vs. Yuji Nagata & Ren Narita
Misterioso vs. Jordan Clearwater vs. Royce Isaacs
Kevin Knight & The DKC vs. Barrett Brown & Adrian Quest
Friday, May 14 —
Elimination match: Karl Fredericks, Brody King, TJP & Clark Connors vs. Tom Lawlor, Chris Dickinson, JR Kratos & Danny Limelight
Friday, May 21 —
No disqualification match: Fred Rosser vs. Hikuleo
Friday, May 28 —
NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Tom Lawlor (c) vs. Chris Dickinson
Two New Japan Pro Wrestling wrestlers have tested positive for COVID-19.
NJPW released a statement on their website tonight confirming that two wrestlers have tested positive and are currently showing mild symptoms. The company did not name the two individuals. This follows yesterday’s removal of six wrestlers (Kazuchika Okada, Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, and YOH) from the second night of Wrestling Dontaku after two of the indviduals developed fevers prior to the start of the card.
Additionally, NJPW said in their statement that other wrestlers and staff who have been in contact with the two wrestlers are “currently being monitored in a controlled environment and are receiving relevant tests.”
The company also noted that all wrestlers and staff for the Road to Dontaku tour returned negative PCR tests prior to the start of the tour.
Several matches set for the second night of Wrestling Dontaku were changed as a result of the protocols. The IWGP Junior Heavyweight title match between champion El Desperado and challenger YOH was removed from the card entirely.
Six wrestlers were removed from this morning’s NJPW Wrestling Dontaku card due to COVID-19 protocols.
Kazuchika Okada, Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, and YOH were all removed from tonight’s card. New Japan Pro Wrestling wrote on their website that several matches had to be changed, including the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title match between El Desperado and YOH, which was removed from the card altogether.
The website said that one wrestler that was scheduled to appear on the show this morning had a fever, and was currently going through examination, including PCR and antibody testing. They also said that one other wrestler who has been part of the events since May 1 in Beppu is also undergoing evaluation.
NJPW’s website said the show currently taking place would continue after consulting with their medical committee. The following changes to the card have been made:
Second match: Master Wato and Hiroyoshi Tenzan will face Taiji Ishimori and Yujiro Takahashi, replacing Kazuchika Okada and SHO vs. Minoru Suzuki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Fourth match: Ryusuke Taguchi, Toru Yano, and Hiroshi Tanahashi will face Jay White, EVIL, and Dick Togo, replacing the Wato/Taguchi/Tenzan/Yano/Tanahashi vs. Togo/Ishimori/Yujiro/EVIL/Jay White bout
Fifth match: El Desperado vs. YOH for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title has been removed from tonight’s card.
The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship will be on the line in the main event of night two of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku.
Will Ospreay will defend the IWGP World title against Shingo Takagi. This will be Ospreay’s first title defense since defeating Kota Ibushi for the Championship at Sakura Genesis.
The two have met three times in singles competition before. Ospreay holds a 2-1 edge over Shingo with his wins coming in the 2019 Best of the Super Juniors final and this year’s New Japan Cup final. Shingo’s victory came in the 2020 G1 Climax tournament.
Tonight’s scheduled IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match with El Desperado defending against YOH was pulled from the card as a precautionary measure. Contact tracing has also forced the change of two other matches on the card.
A previously scheduled 10-man tag has been split into two new matches: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori, plus Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Jay White, EVIL & Dick Togo.
The Los Ingobernables de Japon vs. United Empire series will continue with Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare in a trios match.
For the seventeenth time since April 4 and in their tenth broadcast meeting in that timeframe, Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI will face Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado in a trios match.
Our live coverage begins at 2 a.m. Eastern time.
***********
The show began with the announcement of the changes to tonight’s card.
**********
Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado (10:00)
This is the tenth time this exact match has been broadcast in the last month. I don’t know what more can be said about the match. I don’t ever want to see it again.
Unfortunately, Taichi and Sabre are G.O.D.’s next challengers for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles by virtue of Sabre’s win yesterday, so I expect to see it many more times.
This was the DOUKI show early. He hit an Asai moonsault on both members of G.O.D. before being cut off. Jado worked him over. Tama worked him over. Loa worked him over.
The match broke down. Everyone brawled. Sabre got a hot tag and used Hurrah! to submit Jado.
Sabre and Taichi cut promos on G.O.D. after the match, as this feud must continue.
Tenzan and Yujiro began with some brawling. Tenzan tagged in Wato and Wato was promptly cut off. Yujiro and Ishimori used quick tags as they worked on Wato. Wato came back with a flying mid kick to Ishimori.
Yujiro and Tenzan got tags. Tenzan’s hot tag was actually pretty crisp. His effort is always there, but his body is not always willing. He hit a brainbuster and a mountain bomb. He used an Anaconda Vice, but Ishimori made the save for Yujiro.
Wato and Ishimori got tags. Wato peppered Ishimori with kicks. Ishimori blocked a powerbomb and hit a handspring kick. Yujiro and Ishimori hit a tandem neckbreaker for a near fall. Tenzan saved.
As Yujiro and Tenzan brawled to the floor, Ishimori hit Wato with a Bloody Cross for the pin.
Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare defeated Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI (14:54)
This was good as well. With the exception of one off night, all the televised tagmatches between LIJ and United Empire have been good on this tour.
Naito had trouble getting his entrance gear off. It’s always a rib when Naito is introduced last and is wearing his entrance suit. It takes him forever to get everything off.
LIJ overcame a jumpstart and controlled Henare for the first several minutes of the match. Naito and SANADA hit some tandem offense. Naito was eventually cut off and worked over.
Cobb used a delayed vertical suplex while doing squats with Naito, which was beyond impressive. Cobb hit a standing moonsault for a two count. O-Khan tagged in to continue working Naito over. Naito hit a swing DDT and tagged out.
SANADA got a hot tag and ran wild. Henare tagged in and got hit with an atomic drop and put in the paradise lock. Henare came back with a Samoan drop. They traded elbow strikes. Cobb tagged in. SANADA took him over with a rana, then tagged BUSHI.
BUSHI hit a tope suicida to Cobb. He followed with a DDT for a two count. Cobb fought off a Codebreaker. Everyone hopped in to hit a big move as they worked to the finish.
BUSHI teased an MX, but Cobb caught him coming off the ropes. BUSHI fought out of a spin cycle attempt and used a victory roll for a near fall.
Cobb powered up and hit a dropkick and a vicious knee strike to mock Kota Ibushi, then hit Tour of the Islands to pin BUSHI.
***** Intermission *****
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Jay White, EVIL & Dick Togo (12:14)
This had a little bit of everything. Lots of good work from Tanahashi. Lots of comedy. Lots of Bullet Club shenanigans.
Tanahashi and White began. Both were so great at subtly selling the damage they did to each other’s legs in yesterday’s main event.
Taguchi tagged in and it was comedy time. All six guys did a great comedy spot. Five guys took a bump off a single Taguchi hip attack. Taguchi went for Everything is EVIL on EVIL, but EVIL blocked and cut him off. Taguchi was worked over.
Tana and White got tags. Both tried for a Texas cloverleaf, but neither could get it. White hit a Blade Buster, then tagged Togo. Togo used a jackknife cradle for two.
Tana hit a crossbody off the second to Togo and tagged Yano. Yano exposed a buckle and produced a hood. Togo put the hood on Yano and rolled him up for two. EVIL and Togo hit Yano with sentons. Togo covered for another two.
EVIL took the referee. Togo choked Yano. Tanahashi jumped in and put the hood on Togo. Yano hit a double low blow on Togo and EVIL and pinned Togo.
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match: Will Ospreay defeated Shingo Takagi to retain the title (44:53)
The last two nights have shown that even with all the issues currently facing NJPW, the repetitive undercard, the apathy and the uninspired booking, the main events still produce the best pro wrestling in the world. This was an epic.
They teased locking up, then decided to strike with each other. Ospreay kipped up off a double sledge to the chest. Shingo missed a senton. Ospreay grabbed a side headlock and took Shingo over. Shingo used a head scissors escape. Both backed away to collect themselves before the next volley.
A test of strength ended with Shingo hitting a backdrop. Shingo went after Ospreay’s back, stretching him. Shingo hit a tackle and a senton, then grabbed a front chancery. Shingo ate a kick, then clotheslined Ospreay to the floor.
On the outside, Ospreay whipped Shingo into the barricade. Shingo avoided a back suplex on the railing and hit a drop toe hold into the fence. Shingo posted Ospreay and dropped him face-first onto the apron.
O-Khan, Cobb and Henare came to ringside. A momentary distraction from them allowed Ospreay to get the upper hand on Shingo. Ospreay cleared the timekeeper’s table and tried to drag it over to Shingo, but Shingo produced a table from under the ring and knocked Ospreay’s table away.
Shingo set up both tables on the floor. He teased a death valley driver off the apron, but Ospreay blocked. Ospreay teased a kick off the apron, but Shingo avoided the tables. Ospreay brought Shingo back inside with a brainbuster, then hit pip pip cheerio. The tables remained a Chekhov’s gun on the outside.
Ospreay torqued on Shingo’s left arm with a cross armbreaker. Shingo rolled outside. Ospreay went out after him and used the barricade and the post to continue attacking the left arm. Back in, Ospreay kicked at the arm, then used an armlock.
Shingo tried to turn an arm wringer into a sleeper hold, but Ospreay broke the hold by backing Shingo into the corner. Ospreay hit some Kawada kicks. Shingo no-sold them and fired up. Shingo hit a jab and a DDT.
Shingo hit a tackle and a brainbuster. Ospreay avoided noshigami. They traded chops in the corner. Ospreay tied Shingo to the tree of woe for a series of kicks. Ospreay hit a bloody sunday for a near fall.
Shingo hit a backdrop out of a Stormbreaker attempt. Shingo caught a kick and turned it into a dragon screw. Ospreay reversed a suplex into a stunner, then hit a 619. Ospreay used La Mistica to set up a wristlock. Shingo forced a rope break.
Ospreay hit a rolling elbow. Shingo blocked an Oscutter attempt. Ospreay hit a stunner and tried a standing moonsault, but Shingo got his knees up. Shingo hit noshigami into a double down at the 20 minute call.
Shingo hit a wheelbarrow German for a two count. Shingo caught a kick and tossed Ospreay through the air for a flip bump. Ospreay avoided a sliding lariat. Shingo avoided a handspring kick. Shingo blocked a Stormbreaker. Ospreay hit a handspring kick. Shingo no-sold and hit the sliding lariat.
Ospreay blocked a corner clothesline and hit a cheeky nando’s kick. Ospreay teased a top rope Stormbreaker. Shingo blocked a sunset bomb out of the corner. Ospreay hit a Pele kick and a top rope Spanish fly for a two count at 25 minutes.
Ospreay draped Shingo over the ropes and hit a shooting star press. He followed with a standard shooting star press for a near fall. Ospreay started selling his back after landing. Ospreay placed Shingo on the tables. He teased a 450 off the post, but Shingo cut him off.
They fought on the apron. Ospreay teased a Stormbreaker off the apron. Shingo teased noshigami off the apron. Ospreay went for an Oscutter, but Shingo blocked and hit Made in Japan off the apron through the tables.
Ospreay barely beat the count back in at 19. Shingo hit a sliding jab and Made in Japan for a near fall at the 30 minute call. Ospreay’s back was cut up from the table spot.
Ospreay collapsed as Shingo tried to set up a pumping bomber. Ospreay collapsed as Shingo tried to whip him into the corner. Shingo hit a corner clothesline. He teased a second rope Last of the Dragon. Ospreay elbowed his way free. Ospreay missed on a frankensteiner.
Shingo dove off the second rope into an Oscutter. Ospreay hit a second Oscutter and got a near fall. They traded elbow strikes. Ospreay hit the Chelsea Grin. Ospreay missed with a Hidden Blade. Shingo blocked a Super Oscutter and hit a GTR.
Shingo hit a lariat. Ospreay blocked a pumping bomber. Ospreay went for an Oscutter, but Shingo caught him in a cutter for a great near fall.
Ospreay blocked a Last of the Dragon and hit a rolling elbow, then hit a hook kick. They traded poison ranas. Ospreay popped up and hit Hidden Blade. Ospreay covered, but Shingo’s right arm was under the bottom rope, so Red Shoes stopped the count at two.
Ospreay went for a Stormbreaker, but his back gave out. Ospreay hit some short kicks at the 40 minute call. Shingo hulked up and hit a series of forearms. Ospreay ducked a pumping bomber. Ospreay hit a pop-up DVD, but Ospreay no-sold it.
Shingo hit a lariat. Ospreay hit a high kick and a Spanish fly. Shingo escpaed a Stormbreaker attempt. Ospreay hit a jumping knee strike. They traded strikes, then traded headbutts. Shingo hit a big headbutt to the side of the neck.
Ospreay hit the Chelsea Grin and a Rainmaker. He followed with Hidden Blade and a Stormbreaker for the pin.
**********
Ospreay cut a promo. He thanked Shingo for being his first stepping stone. He said that the company has leaned on him for far too long. He said with card subject to change, the people get their ticket’s worth just by seeing him. He said the building sold out with just one match announced — his match.
He said everyone was expecting his demise. He said Okada and the world are probably disappointed with the man he’s become, but he doesn’t care. He said all he cares about is United Empire and being the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
Ospreay said he rights the wrong and will beat Okada in the main event of Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome.
O-Khan translated Ospreay’s promo, then did the United Empire roll call to close the show as confetti fell.
Jay White defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the NEVER Openweight Championship at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku night one today in Fukuoka.
White pinned Tanahashi with a Blade Runner in 39:01. White had tapped out to Tanahashi’s Texas cloverleaf earlier in the match, but the referee missed the tap after interference from White’s second, Gedo.
After winning the match, White cut a promo and called himself “the real belt collector” and dared anyone who had a problem with that statement to come find him.
The NEVER title victory makes White the only wrestler to have held the IWGP Heavyweight, IWGP Intercontinental, IWGP United States and NEVER Openweight Championships. White immediately took to calling himself the first-ever quadruple crown champion in NJPW history.
In backstage comments after the show, White stated that he would like to avenge his New Japan Cup 2021 loss to David Finlay by making him his first challenger. He said he would then like to defend against junior heavyweight Ryusuke Taguchi.
For Tanahashi, his NEVER title reign ends after just one successful defense. Tana beat Shingo Takagi at New Beginning in Nagoya on January to win the title, then defended it against Great-O-Khan at Castle Attack on February 28.
Hiroshi Tanahashi defends the NEVER Openweight Championship against Jay White in the main event of night one of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku.
Tanahashi claimed the NEVER title with a win over Shingo Takagi at The New Beginning in Nagoya on January 30. White holds a 4-2 career record over Tanahashi in singles matches.
The semi-main event will feature the second-ever singles ladder match in NJPW history. Taichi will take on Tama Tonga with the iron fingers from hell suspended above the ring. Their tag partners will also face off in a singles match, as Zack Sabre Jr. battles Tanga Loa. If Loa wins, Taichi and Sabre are barred from challenging for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships ever again.
A series of tag matches will fill out the undercard.
Los Ingobernables de Japon takes on United Empire in an eight-man tag, with Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare.
Kazuchika Okada returns to action, teaming with SHO & YOH vs. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Toru Yano, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Tiger Mask & Master Wato will face EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Dick Togo in the opener.
The second half of this was pretty good as the better workers got in.
Bullet Club used a jumpstart attack before the bell. Tenzan spent the next five minutes selling for everyone in Bullet Club. He finally managed a tag to Wato, who ran wild on Togo with a springboard uppercut forearm and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
Togo blocked a sunset flip attempt and Ishimori tagged in. Ishimori hit a sliding German on Wato for a near fall. Wato avoided a lungblower. Ishimori avoided a dreamcast. Wato hit a dreamcast on his second attempt.
Tiger got a tag and hit a crossbody off the top rope. Tiger hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall. The good guys went 4-on-1 against Ishimori. Tiger hit a Tiger Suplex off the top for a near fall. Bullet Club jumped in to save Ishimori.
Tiger kicked out of a lungblower. Ishimori then connected with a Bloody Cross for the pin.
This was very good. All of these guys work well together. Okada was moving much better than he has been of late in his return after about a month off.
YOH went after Desperado before the bell. The two started off as the leagal men and traded strikes. YOH was getting the better of the exchange. Kanemaru and SHO got tags. Suzuki-gun cut SHO off and turned this into a brawl around ringside.
SHO came back with a suplex on Suzuki. Okada tagged in for a nice exchange with Suzuki. Okada blocked a PK. Suzuki fought off an air raid crash attempt. Okada blocked a Gotch-style Piledriver and hit a dropkick.
Desperado and YOH got tags. Desperado tried Numero Dos, but YOH made the ropes. Kanemaru tagged in and continued to go after YOH’s legs with a figure four. SHO made the save and hit Kanemaru with a spear. SHO and YOH hit a tandem facebuster for two, with Suzuki saving for Kanemaru.
YOH teased the Direct Drive, but Desperado saved. Desperado got hit with a thrust kick. YOH hit a thrust kick to Kanemaru, then landed Direct Drive to pick up the pin.
Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI defeated Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare (11:31)
This was also very good. These guys have mixed and match in just about every conceivable combination of singles and tags on this tour.
Shingo and Ospreay kicked things off with a great series of counters and teases of their big moves. They will tear the house down tomorrow.
LIJ briefly established the advantage by gong 4-on-1 against Cobb. BUSHI tagged in and was quickly on the wrong end of a beatdown from United Empire. BUSHI hit a double rana to Cobb and Ospreay and tagged Naito.
Naito and O-Khan had a brief exchange with a lot of hair pulling and brawling. Henare and SANADA got tags. Henare hit a blue thunder bomb. Empire went 4-on-1 against SANADA. Cobb hit SANADA with a spin cycle. Henare covered for a near fall as LIJ saved SANADA.
SANADA countered a Streets of Rage attempt into a dragon sleeper. Everyone jumped in for a big move as they worked to the finish. Ospreay hit Shingo with a stunner.
Henare countered out of Skull End. SANADA slid out of Streets of Rage and used an O’Connor roll to pin Henare.
Ospreay tried to hit Shingo with a Stormbreaker after the match. Shingo escaped. Ospreay escaped a Last of the Dragon and retreated.
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Tanga Loa (15:12)
The story here was the story of most Sabre matches — Sabre is the superior technician, while his opponent has the power and striking edge. It’s simple, but it always works.
Sabre got three quick near falls right away with pinning combinations. They locked up with a knuckle lock. Sabre used some impressive bridges to avoid being pinned. Sabre stomped at Loa’s left arm. Loa dropped Sabre with two big forearm shots, then hit a powerslam for a near fall.
Sabre came back with a DDT, then went to work on the left arm again. He used stomps to the arm, a double wristlock, then twisted the arm with his legs. Loa reached the ropes to force a break on another wristlock.
Sabre kicked at Loa’s left arm. Loa fired back with forearm strikes. Sabre hit a series of kicks. Loa hit a powerslam. He went for a powerbomb, but Sabre turned it into a guillotine. Loa drove Sabre into the corner to break the hold.
Loa went for Apesh*t, but Sabre slid out. They traded strikes. Loa missed a gamengiri. Sabre hit a PK for a near fall. Loa hit a lariat for a near fall, then locked on the OJK. Sabre forced a rope break.
Loa hit a delayed vertical suplex, then missed a frog splash. Sabre used a neck twist, then went back to a double wristlock. He transitioned to a crucifix hold, but Loa reached the ropes.
Sabre went for an octopus hold. Loa reversed into an Apes*t attempt. Sabre reversed that into a European clutch for a near fall. Loa hit a spear and a powerbomb for a near fall.
Loa ducked a high kick and hit a gamengiri. He went for Apesh*t again, but Sabre escaped and trapped his shoulders to the mat for the pin.
***** Intermission *****
Iron fingers from hell ladder match: Taichi (w/DOUKI) defeated Tama Tonga (w/Jado) (27:11)
The finish was excellent, but this was far from one of the best ladder matches you’ll ever see.
The iron fingers from hell were suspended from the ceiling in a clear plastic tote bag. The ladders looked like shoot aluminum ladders and absolutely brutal to take bumps with and on.
They brawled early. Taichi hit an axe bomber. They retrieved a couple of smaller ladders from around the ring and dueled with them. Tama made the first climb on a short ladder, which was wobbling all over the place. The ref wasn’t helping to keep the thing stable. He gave up trying to reach the bag and went back after Taichi with right hands.
Tama whipped Taichi into a ladder in the corner, then followed with a splash. He went for a cover in this here ladder match. The ref refused to count, as there are no pinfalls. Tama missed a splash in the corner and crashed into a ladder. Taichi hit a backdrop into the corner, sending Tama’s feet into a ladder. Tama sold his feet.
Taichi set up a ladder bridge from the ring to the barricade. Jado distracted Taichi to save Tama from a suplex on the ladder bridge. DOUKI saved Taichi from a ladder shot. Tama took DOUKI down with a lariat. Taichi hit Tama with a ladder on the outside.
Taichi set up a big ladder and started to climb. Tama cut him off with back rakes. Tama took a bump off the ladder. Taichi hit a jumping forearm off the ladder. Tama was first up and started to climb. DOUKI nailed him with a springboard dropkick. Jado got in and hit DOUKI with a kendo stick, then kicked Taichi to the floor.
Jado taped Taichi’s wrists to the barricade. Tama started to climb. Sabre ran in and shoved Tama off the ladder, then used a neck twist on Jado. Sabre freed Taichi. Loa ran in as Taichi started to climb. Loa hit Sabre with Apesh*t.
Loa went for a powerbomb on Taichi, but DOUKI saved. Loa hit a powerbomb on DOUKI over the top rope and through the ladder bridge. Brutal. DOUKI has taken some bad bumps on virtually every night of this tour.
Taichi fought out of a Magic Killer. He hit a gamengiri to Loa and a low blow on Tama. Taichi removed his trousers. Taichi no-sold a kendo stick shot from Jado and hit a hip toss on a ladder.
Taichi started to climb. Tama interfered. Taichi hit a chokeslam off the ladder. Tama intercepted another climb and Taichi got hung up in the ladder. Tama brought a table into the ring. Taichi fought off an attempt at a powerbomb through the table.
Both climbed the ladder. Tama tried a Gun Stun off the ladder, but Taichi shoved him off through the table.
Taichi retrieved the iron fingers to win the match.
NEVER Openweight Championship match: Jay White (w/Gedo) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the title (39:01)
This was an absolute war and an instant classic.
White did his customary stalling right away. Tanahashi broke cleanly against the ropes. White used a hair pull and went to work on Tana’s knees, dropping him knee-first on the apron. White hit a backbreaker for a two count.
White used a leglock on the mat. Tanahashi tried some forearms, but White rolled over and maintained the hold. Tana forced a rope break. White hit an inverted dragon screw in the ropes. Tana came back with a dragon screw and flying forearm.
Tana hit a dropkick in the corner and a somersault senton for a one count. Tana hit a basement dropkick to White’s left leg. Tana went for the Texas cloverleaf, but White kicked him away. White hit a DDT.
White posted Tanahashi’s legs. Tana fought for a dragon screw as White climbed back inside. White avoided one attempt, but Tana got it on his second try. Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow to the floor. Both beat the count back inside.
White blocked three slingblade attempts. He hit a complete shot and a wheelbarrow German suplex. White hit a snap Saito suplex at the 15 minute call. Tana blocked a Kiwi Krusher and hit twist and shout twice. White turtled up to avoid a third. Tana then hit an inverted dragon screw, then hit the third twist and shout.
White again avoided slingblade and hit a uranage. White hit a sleeper suplex, then used Tana’s own Texas cloverleaf. White transitioned to the TTO. Tana forced a rope break after fighting the hold for a long time.
Tana fought off another sleeper suplex attempt, but White hit a chop block to the left leg. Tana again fought off the sleeper suplex with a slap. Tana went for a dragon suplex. White fought it off, but Tana trapped his arms and hit a straightjacket German into a bridge for a great near fall.
Tana hit slingblade. Gedo jumped on the apron. Tana bumped him to the floor. Tana went for a High Fly Flow, but White caught him coming off the top. He teased a Blade Runner, but went back to the TTO instead. Tana powered his way to the ropes to force a break.
Tana refused to let go of the ropes. White argued with the referee. Tana used the opportunity to hit a dragon screw at the 25 minute call. White hit his own dragon screw. Tana went for a cloverleaf, but White kicked his leg out. White hit another dragon screw. Tana kicked White off as he went for a TTO.
Tana hit another dragon screw. Both guys were down, selling the incredible damage they had done to each other’s legs. There was a scramble on the mat. Both grabbed a leg. Both agreed to back off.
They met back in the center of the ring on their knees and traded strikes. They climbed to their feet and continued to trade. White hit a dragon screw and kicked at Tana’s left leg. White hit another dragon screw. White hit an uppercut forearm in the corner at 30 minutes in.
White taunted Tana to get back to his feet. He hit two more uppercut forearms in the corner. They did a long ref stoppage tease. White pulled Tana to his feet. Tana whiffed on a dragon screw attempt and a slap attempt. White was in total control. Tana hit a hail mary lariat into a double down.
Tana powered White into the corner and hit a dragon screw at the 35 minute call. Tana reversed a Blade Runner into a slingblade. He hit another slingblade for a near fall.
Tana hit a High Fly Flow. He hit a second High Fly Flow to the legs. Tana used the cloverleaf. Jay tapped out, but Gedo jumped on the apron and took the ref, so the ref missed the tap. Tana hit Gedo with a dragon screw.
White caught Tana in a small package for a near fall, then used a backslide with his feet on the ropes for another near fall. Tana blocked a Blade Runner.
Tana fought for a dragon suplex. White reversed into a Blade Runner and pinned Tanahashi to win the title.
**********
White cut a promo after the match. He mocked Tana’s “Never give up, never quit” catchphrase that he’s been using in promos building to this match. White said it’s time for Tana to hang up his boots.
White said this completed his NJPW Grand Slam, he’s won every heavyweight singles title in NJPW. He said he’s the real belt collector and if anyone has a problem with that, they know where to find him.
He said he’s the last rock ‘n’ roller, the man who sold out Madison Square Garden, the first ever quadruple crown champion. He said this proves that it’s still his era.
Read into the belt collector line what you will.
**********
Here is the lineup for tomorrow’s show:
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku night two, Tuesday, May 4, 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Shingo Takagi
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado (c) vs. YOH
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. Jay White, EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Dick Togo
Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare
Kazuchika Okada & SHO vs. Minoru Suzuki & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado
Our Dave Meltzer reported in February that a working relationship had been established between NJPW and AEW. NJPW’s KENTA appeared on the February 3 Dynamite to shoot an angle for his title match with Moxley later that month. KENTA made his in-ring AEW debut on the February 10 Dynamite.
Moxley has been the IWGP US Champion since defeating Lance Archer for the title at Wrestle Kingdom 14 on January 4, 2020. His most recent title defense came on the February 27 Strong, where he defeated KENTA.
As for Moxley and Nagata’s tag partners, Dickinson is currently the number one contender to new NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Tom Lawlor’s title, while Narita is currently on excursion to NJPW’s LA Dojo.
Strong airs Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World and is available on demand shortly after airing.
Tonight’s episode of NJPW Strong was described as an LA Dojo showcase, with a focus on each of the trainees. Karl Fredericks and Alex Coughlin were pushed as the show centerpieces. Trainer Katsuyori Shibata spoke in English about his trainees, basically hyping his guys up for tonight’s card.
TJP defeated the DKC via submission
The opener saw TJP take most of the first part of this match on offense, and it was mostly on the mat. The DKC came across as a competent grappler, though. He never felt like he was too far behind TJP. DKC caught TJP with a dropkick late, kicking off a short series of fiery comeback action. He has great babyface energy. TJP eventually tapped him with a modified STF/abdominal stretch submission. They shook hands afterward.
DKC said backstage that he’s in the gym and giving his best effort in his new path as a LA Dojo Young Lion under Shibata.
Fred Rosser and Ren Narita defeated Alex Coughlin and Kevin Knight
We saw some feistiness between Coughlin and Rosser before the bell. It was a simple way of drawing me into the match without any other context. Rosser and Knight were in together first and had a great exchange. Knight is super athletic. Rosser bullied Knight around before tagging out to partner Ren Narita, stomping over Knight a few times.
Knight and Rosser made a comeback midway through this after Narita got the better end of a beating from both Coughlin and later Knight. Knight at one point landed a beautiful high dropkick on Narita. It wouldn’t be hyperbole if I were to compare him with Okada’s. Some may even rate Knight’s higher. Go and watch for yourself.
Coughlin took Rosser out with a missile of a shoulder tackle. He later showcased his raw power by ragdolling the not-small-at-all Rosser, and later launching Narita with a deadlift backdrop suplex from hell.
Towards the end of the match, Rosser landed a powerful lariat on Knight, sending Knight spinning to the mat. Narita and Coughlin brawled on the floor as Knight and Rosser struggled for control on the top rope. Knight knocked Rosser off the turnbuckle and landed a high crossbody block, but Rosser held onto Knight while rolling through, reversing Knight’s momentum and lifting him into a double-knee gutbuster. Rosser pinned Knight after connecting with a running basement dropkick, picking up the win for him and Young Lion Narita.
Knight talked about how he’s taken a loss every single time he’s been in the ring, then said he “couldn’t do it.” Coughlin shared some words of support for his training partner and urged him to keep going. Knight said he’d keep training.
Karl Fredericks defeated Clark Connors
Tonight’s main event was between the hypothetical “best of the best” on NJPW Strong. Connors and Fredericks trained at the same time in the LA Dojo, alongside Alex Coughlin, but Fredericks won the Young Lions Cup in 2019, hence “graduating” from the dojo one year ahead of Connors, who would go on to win the Cup last year.
Things kicked into overdrive early on. After an even exchange between both on the mat, the action spilled to the floor. The bigger Fredericks at one point dove through the ropes, landing onto Connors with a tope suicida. They continued to brawl on the floor, with Connors suplexing Fredericks onto the floor.
Connors kept control on offense from the time he’d brought the fight back into the ring. The pace slowed, and Connors seemed to target Fredericks’ back and shoulder area, using a variety of both modified abdominal stretches and hard double-chops to the back of Fredericks.
Fredericks powered back from Connors’ control and threw some hard kicks to a seated Connors, then both continued exchanging hard shots for a short while.
At the ten-minute mark, Connors collided with Fredericks, sending him flying with a shoulder tackle. Towards the end, their exchanges got much faster, with one exchange ending with Fredericks picking Connors up and drilling him into the mat with a backdrop suplex. Fredericks dropped his jumping elbow drop on Connors before locking him into a crossface submission. Connors made it to the ropes for a break, then was able to lock Fredericks into a Boston Crab, the Young Lion signature. Fredericks was close to tapping but eventually made it to the bottom rope to break the hold.
Connors went to the top, assumedly for a super flying shoulder block, but Fredericks got up and knocked him dizzy with a jump enzuigiri kick to the face, then superplex’d him from the corner post into the ring.
Both looked exhausted and were slow to their feet by around 15 minutes into the match. The two then traded even harder elbows and slaps. Fredericks leveled Connors with a running basement kick, but Connors asked for more. Fredericks went for another kick, but Connors stood up and caught Connors with a snap powerslam. We saw a big spear from Connors next. The two then went back and forth, teasing finishers until Fredericks finally was able to plant Connors with Manifest Destiny, his version of an elevated DDT, and picked up the win.
Connors said he’d watched all of his matches on NJPW Strong and that he’s noticed he has grown since he’d gotten to NJPW. He also said he liked that announcer Kevin Kelly had been referring to Connors as a “wild rhino” that now, the Young Lion Clark Connors is dead. He’s now the “motherf**king” Wild Rhino”.
Final thoughts: This was a hell of a showcase. Everything was very good, but I thought both the tag team match and the main event stuck out in the best kind of way. The effort both Fredericks and Connors gave in tonight’s main event was comparable to any modern high-impact sport. Kudos to them for shining in the spotlight. Also, fans should keep their eyes peeled on both Fred Rosser and Kevin Knight as the show goes forward. Both are unique and could add a very interesting element to the show later in the year.
NJPW’s Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni continues with night two of the event today in Kagoshima. This will serve as the go-home show for both nights of Wrestling Dontaku on May 3 and May 4.
Kota Ibushi returns to action on this show, teaming with Hiroshi Tanahashi in the main event. They will face United Empire’s Jeff Cobb and Aaron Henare. Ibushi has not wrestled since losing the IWGP World Heavyweight title to Will Ospreay on April 4.
Ospreay and Great-O-Khan will take Shingo Takagi and Tetsuya Naito in the semi-main. Naito beat O-Khan in a singles match earlier this week, while Shingo challenges Ospreay for the IWGP World title next week at Wrestling Dontaku.
Here is the remainder of the undercard:
Toru Yano, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Dick Togo
Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado
Tiger Mask, SHO & YOH vs. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
SANADA & BUSHI vs. Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemura
Our live coverage begins at 2 a.m. Eastern time.
**********
SANADA & BUSHI defeated Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemura (8:28)
This was a solid technical opener.
SANADA and Uemura began with some chain wrestling, then some basc tackle and drop down spots. Uemura got the upper hand with arm drags. Tsuji tagged in and lost the advantage. SANADA and BUSHI began working over Tsuji’s left leg. Tsuji’s selling was excellent.
Tsuji managed a tag. SANADA tagged BUSHI. Uemura got a cool near submission on BUSHI, with Tsuj spearing an interfering SANADA to add to the drama.
This was another match with some really good technical wrestling.
Suzuki-gun used a jumpstart before the bell.
SHO and Kanemaru started off as the legal men. SHO got some shine with kicks. Suzuki used an armbar over the ropes to interfere, so we were back to brawling on the outside. When the dust settled, Suzuki-gun was in the driver’s seat on SHO, working him over in the ring.
Suzuki and SHO had a great little sequence. Suzuki blocked a spear with a front facelock. SHO countered out with a vertical suplex that Suzuki sold big.
YOH and Desperado got tags. YOH hit a missile dropkick for a near fall. YOH went after Desperado’s right leg, so look for that in their title match next week. YOH used a falcon arrow for two. Desperado hit a spinebuster. YOH managed a tag before Desperado did.
Tiger tagged in for a high cross and a near fall on Desperado after preventing a tag to Suzuki. Tiger hit a Tiger Driver for a near fall. Desperado went for Pinche Loco, but YOH saved with a superkick. Tiger used an armbar, but Desperado made the ropes.
Desperado hit a knee crusher to Tiger. Kanemaru hopped in for a dropkick to the leg. Desperado used Numero Dos, trapping Tiger’s arms as well. The ref called for the stoppage.
Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI went to a no contest with Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado
The match never officially began.
Taichi’s entrance music played, but both teams spilled out to the stage and began brawling with weapons. DOUKI had a pipe, Jado a kendo stick, Taichi and Tama had ladders.
Sabre and Loa made their way to the ring and did a few spots, but threw the ref outside. After he was revived, Tama and Taichi bumped the ref with their ladders.
Can we get these guys some safer ladders? These things look painful and not structurally sound.
The ref revived a second time and officially called for the no contest.
Gedo and Kanemaru came out to try to hold their respective factions back. Sabre and Loa fought to the back in a comical ankle lock spot.
This started off decent enough. Tenzan and Yujiro were the legal men. Tenzan used Mongolian chops. Wato tagged in and continued working on Taguchi. Yujiro turned the tide after a basement dropkick. Bullet Club went to work on Wato.
The match started to drag, as they worked Wato over for quite a while. Wato finally hit EVIL with a Dreamcast and tagged Taguchi. Taguchi hit his usual hip attack cavalcade. He missed one on EVIL, then hit Three Amigos and a bumaye for a near fall.
Taguchi went for Dodon on EVIL. EVIL grabbed the ref. The match pretty much fell apart from there. Togo hit Taguchi with a corner pad. Yano tagged in. EVIL put a hood on Yano. Togo and Yano started doing spots. EVIL took the ref. Togo choked Yano with a ligature. Yano hit low blows on EVIL and Togo, then used a schoolboy to pin Togo.
LIJ controlled the first five minutes of the bout. Ospreay and Shingo began with a slower sequence than we’re used to seeng from them, but it was good. Both tagged out. Naito took over on O-Khan after grabbing his hair.
Shingo tagged back in and was cut off after a high kick from Ospreay on the apron. Naito and O-Khan tagged back in for a lengthy sequence. Naito was cut off. O-Khan worked him over with his wacky offense and chops. Naito came back with a top rope frankensteiner and a one-legged dropkick.
Shingo and Ospreay tagged in. Most of their exchanges on this tour have been built on their speed, but they were throwing bombs tonight, hitting each other really hard. Ospreay hit a Shibata dropkick and a bloody sunday DDT.
Shingo avoided a powerbomb. Ospreay avoided a sliding lariat. Ospreay landed on his feet off a German suplex attempt. Ospreay hit a rolling elbow and tagged O-Khan. O-Khan hit a judo throw and used a head and arm choke on Shingo, but Naito saved.
O-Khan and Ospreay hit double pump kicks to Shingo. Ospreay and Naito brawled to the floor. O-Khan went back to the choke on Shingo. Naito saved. Ospreay hit pip pip cheerio to Naito. Shingo finally hit on a sliding lariat to Ospreay after not connecting with one all tour.
O-Khan went for the Eliminator on Shingo. Naito saved with a dropkick. Ospreay teased a springboard attack, but Shingo sent him to the floor with a lariat.
Naito and Shingo doubled up on O-Khan. Shingo hit a pumping bomber and a Last of the Dragon to pin O-Khan.
After the match, Ospreay hit a rolling elbow to Shingo. He went for a Stormbreaker, but Shingo reversed and hit him with Last of the Dragon. Shingo briefly posed with Ospreay’s title belt.
Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare (17:04)
This was great pro wrestling.
Cobb laid out Ibushi with a Tour of the Islands the last time they were in the ring together, so it made sense that they started off together here. They hit a ton of simultaneous forearm strikes to get the crowd into it right away. Ibushi connected on a flying mid kick to briefly establish the edge.
Tanahashi tagged in for a diving elbow drop and some air guitar. Cobb came back with some powerful forearm shots. Henare took Tanahashi to the floor and beat him down with strikes. Cobb worked on Ibushi in the ring. Henare tagged in and was promptly hit with a flying mid kick.
Tana tagged in and hit a flying forearm to Henare. He hit Cobb with a dragon screw in the ropes for good measure. Tana hit a somersault senton on Henare for a two count. Henare came back with a snake eyes in the corner, then hit a vertical suplex for a two count. Cobb beat down Ibushi on the outside.
Henare mounted Tana and hit a series of strikes, then used a heel hook. Tana fought to the ropes to force a break. Henare continued to attack Tana’s left leg wth stomps, then went back to the heel hook. Tana forced another rope break. Henare hit a dragon screw.
Cobb tagged in and hit a series of headbutts. Tana hit a dropkick to the left leg and looked for a tag, but Henare knocked Ibushi off the apron. Tana reversed a suplex attempt into twist and shout, then tagged out.
Ibushi hit a double overhead kick to Cobb and Henare. He followed with a standing moonsault on Cobb for a near fall. He teased Kamigoye, but missed. Cobb hit a release belly-to-belly, European uppercut and a running back suplex for a near fall.
Cobb tried a spin cycle, but Ibushi blocked and hit a high kick into a double down. Tana tagged in and went for a slingblade, but Cobb blocked and hit a spin cycle. Henare tagged in for a step-up knee in the corner, then hit two stiff PKs for a near fall.
Henare hit a rugby tackle for another two count. He went for Streets of Rage, but Tana reversed into a slingblade at the 15 minute call.
Ibushi tagged in and hit a striking combination to Henare. He went for a Kamigoye, but Cobb saved Henare with a lariat. Cobb lifted both Ibushi and Tana on his shoulders. Ibushi sent Cobb to the apron, then kicked him off.
Henare took on both Tana and Ibushi with strikes. Ibushi hit a v-trigger to Henare. Tana followed with a slingblade. Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow. Ibushi followed with a Kamigoye and pinned Henare.
**********
Ibushi and Cobb had an intense staredown after the match. Cobb pulled up a chair and sat ringside as Ibushi cut a promo. Ibushi put Cobb over, then challenged him. Cobb said “F*** yeah.” Expect that match to be made official shortly.
Tanahashi then addressed the crowd. Ibushi closed the show on the mic.
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag titles are on the line tonight on night one of NJPW’s Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni.
SHO and YOH will attempt their first defense on this title reign against former champs El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
In the semi-main, Toru Yano will defend the provisional KOPW 2021 title against EVIL in a creation of darkness blindfold match.
The battles between Los Ingobernables de Japon and The United Empire will continue on the undercard, as Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and BUSHI take on Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb and Aaron Henare. BUSHI and Shingo fell to Ospreay and Cobb in a tag match on Monday’s Road to Wrestling Dontaku show, while SANADA beat Henare and Naito defeated O-Khan in singles matches.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo will be the third match of the evening.
Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado will take place for the twelfth time on the current tour.
Tiger Mask & Gabriel Kidd will face Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemura in the opener.
Our live coverage begins at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.
It was all Tiger and Kidd at the outset. Kidd quickly took over with some slams. Tiger tagged in and continued the assault with kicks. Tiger used a single-leg crab and a camel clutch. Uemura broke the clutch with a kick.
Tsuji came back with a slam on Tiger and tagged out. Uemura hit arm drags and dropkicks on both Tiger and an interfering Kidd. Uemura used a suplex and a cross armbreaker.
Kidd and Tsuji got tags. Kidd again dominated their exchanges. He hit a slam, a senton and a vertical suplex for a near fall. Kidd went for a Regal suplex, but Tsuji avoided it with a backdrop. After a striking battle, Tsuji hit a spear.
Tsuji used a Boston crab. Tiger tried to break the hold with kicks, but Uemura took him out with a dropkick. Tsuji used a giant swing, then went back to the crab and got the tapout.
Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado defeated Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI by DQ (7:53)
This was just a fight.
Bullet Club attacked Suzuki-gun as they made their entrance. They brawled around the ring. Jado used a kendo stick on DOUKI.
A match briefly broke out. Bullet Club remained in control. Tama worked over Taichi. Taichi managed a tag to Sabre. Loa tagged in as well. Sabre tagged DOUKI. Taichi introduced a ladder to the proceedings and was disqualified.
Suzuki-gun left Bullet Club laying. Sabre cut a promo after the match and said that G.O.D. has taken everything from them, but next week, Taichi gets his iron fingers back in a ladder match with Tama, then they’ll get their rightful Tag title shot.
They opened with a lot of comedy, which was enjoyable. Tanahashi, Taguchi and Wato worked over Gedo by pulling on his beard. Bullet Club attacked Taguchi by biting his funky weapon.
Wato got a tag and ran wild with kicks and a springboard forearm. Ishimori cut him off with a Yes Lock and a handspring kick. Gedo tagged in and promptly got hit with a dreamcast.
Tana tagged in and hit Gedo with a flying forearm and a senton. Tana played some air guitar. He teased a Blade Runner on Gedo, but Yujiro saved. Taguchi saved for Tana. Tana and Taguchi hit stereo hip attacks to Gedo.
Taguchi and Wato hit stereo planchas to Yujiro and Ishimori. Tana then used a slingblade. He locked on the Texas cloverleaf and Gedo tapped out.
***** Intermission *****
Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare defeated Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI (12:14)
I liked the Shingo & BUSHI vs. Ospreay and Cobb match on Monday more, but this was quite good as well.
United Empire pounced as LIJ attempted their pre-match fist bump and the brawl was on. O-Khan and Naito ended up the legal men, with O-Khan in control following the jumpstart. O-Khan hit Mongolian chops. Naito was cut off in Empire’s corner and they took turns working hm over.
Cobb hit a standing moonsault. Ospreay hit a double stomp to a draping Naito as Cobb held him. Naito came back with an elbow and a basement dropkick on O-Khan. Naito hit a flying forearm into a double down.
Shingo and Ospreay tagged in and picked up the pace. Cobb tried to interfere, but Shingo hit him with a vertical suplex. Shingo missed a sliding lariat to Ospreay. Ospreay hit a stunner. They had a rare misstep as Shingo slipped while trying to block a rana.
SANADA and Henare got tags. SANADA used the paradise lock. He broke the hold with a dropkick, then hit a plancha. Back inside, SANADA missed a springboard attack. Henare hit a vertical suplex. SANADA avoided Streets of Rage and hit a back suplex.
Cobb interfered. SANADA hit him with a rana, then tagged BUSHI. BUSHI hit a DDT and a missile dropkick. Cobb blocked a swinging neckbreaker and Empire wenr 4-on-1 against BUSHI. Cobb hit a spin cycle. LIJ jumped in to make the save.
Everyone jumped in for a big move. Ospreay and Shingo had another crazy sequence. The speed with which those guys execute is absurd.
BUSHI used a schoolboy for a two count, then hit a victory roll for another. Cobb caught BUSHI coming off the ropes and hit Tour of the Islands for the pin.
Creation of darkness blindfold match for the provisional KOPW 2021: Toru Yano defeated EVIL (w/Dick Togo) to retain (14:58)
This was an easy worst match of the year contender. It was endless. The comedy wasn’t funny. The work was clunky. The stipulation was beyond stupid. Everyone involved in the booking and execution of this should retire.
The rules were that you had to put a hood on the loser. If the hood was off, pinfalls, countouts and submissions were null and void.
They dueled with hoods right away. Yano used a schoolboy for a near fall. EVIL missed wth Everything is EVIL. Togo hit Yano with a corner pad. EVIL hit a baseball swing chair shot.
EVIL taped Yano’s wrists to the barricade for a countout tease. Yano shook the hood off at 18, so the count was stopped.
EVIL put a hood over the ring announcer, then bumped him. EVIL put a hood on Yano and tossed him back in for a two count. Togo assisted EVIL as he used a cobra twist. EVIL got a two count as Yano shook the hood off.
Togo and EVIL stomped Yano on the outside. EVIL rolled Yano under the ring. Yano beat the count back in. EVIL tried a lariat, but Yano had cut holes in the hood and ducked it.
Yano sent EVIL into the exposed buckle. Yano hit a belly-to-belly. Yano tried a low blow, but the ref stopped him. Yano put a hood on the ref, who then took a bump. Togo interfered. Yano put a hood on Togo. Yano hit a low blow on EVIL. Everyone was down. Togo walked to the back.
Yano hit a slingshot into the exposed buckle. He put a hood on EVIL. The lights went out. When they came back on, EVIL was choking out Yano with Togo’s ligature. EVIL hit a lariat. Yano kicked out.
EVIL used a scorpion deathlock. Yano removed his hood and this match must continue.
Yano avoided Everything is EVIL and bumped the ref. Togo ran back in. Yano avoided a Magic Killer and hit a double low blow. EVIL had a hood on and hit Togo with Everything is EVIL by mistake.
Yano hit another low blow and rolled EVIL up for the pin.
Yano spray painted his KOPW trophy gold again after the match.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: SHO & YOH defeated El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru to retain the titles (27:09)
This was very good. The time just flew by. These four could probably havea good match with each other in their sleep.
Kanemaru and YOH started with an exchange of holds. Kanemaru quickly went after YOH’s bad knee and cut him off. Desperado and Kanemaru went to work. They took the fight to the floor and sent YOH into the barricade. They teased a countout, but SHO urged YOH along and he got back in.
YOH managed a tag to SHO. SHO was quickly cut off by Desperado and Kanemaru. The first five minutes were spent working over YOH, the next five working over SHO. SHO finally came back with a kitchen sink and a double spear.
YOH got a tag and hit a missile dropkick to Kanemaru. Desperado got a tag and went for Pinche Loco, but YOH hit a backdrop to escape it. YOH hit a falcon arrow and a pumphandle driver for a two count.
YOH went for Direct Drive, but Desperado blocked. Kanemaru interfered with a well-timed dropkick to the bad knee. Desperado used Numero Dos. SHO broke free from Kanemaru on the outside to break up the submission attempt on YOH.
Desperado hit Guitarra de Angel for a near fall. After a double down, both tagged out. SHO tried for a power breaker, but Kanemaru grabbed the referee. SHO hit a spear for a near fall, then used a kimura for a near submission.
Kanemaru came back with a sattelite DDT. Kanemaru hit a slam and a moonsault for a near fall. Kanemaru teased Deep Impact. YOH jumped in to cut him off. Desperado got in and took out YOH.
SHO hit a series of German suplexes on Kanemaru. He used a cross armbreaker. Kanemaru forced a rope break. SHO and YOH hit Kanemaru with tandem offense. They set up for the 3K, but Kanemaru fought out of it.
SHO and YOH hit stereo knees, then hit the 3K. Desperado broke up the pin. YOH ducked a right hand from Desperado and hit a superkick and a tope con giro. It looked like a nasty landing on the floor.
Kanemaru caught SHO in two quick cradles for near falls. SHO hit a lariat. He used a Shock Arrow, but Kanemaru kicked out.
SHO and YOH hit the Strong X. SHO covered Kanemaru for the pin.
YOH is Desperado’s next challenger for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title, so they had a brief staredown after the match.
SHO and YOH addressed the crowd after the match.
**********
Here is the lineup for tomorrow’s show:
NJPW Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni night two, Thursday, April 29, 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare
Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito vs. Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan
Toru Yano, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Dick Togo
Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado
Tiger Mask, SHO & YOH vs. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
