Fale was set to face off against Ryohei Oiwa on July 4 with one of the last spots in this year’s G1 up for grabs. It will now be Oiwa vs. Satoshi Kojima to determine the final A Block competitor for the tournament.
“Fale, who was scheduled to compete on events through the New Japan Soul series, will miss the remainder of the tour due to a loss in the family,” NJPW announced without disclosing more information about the personal situation. “We apologize to fans looking forward to seeing Fale wrestle, and appreciate your understanding.”
An original Bullet Club member, Fale recently joined House of Torture and is now using the name Don Fale in NJPW. He is a wrestling trainer as well and runs the NJPW dojo in New Zealand.
New Japan Soul is the last NJPW tour before the G1, which begins on July 19 and ends on August 17. The tournament will feature the following entrants:
Eight wrestlers are set to compete for the final four spots in NJPW G1 Climax 2025.
Over the weekend, NJPW revealed 16 of the 20 entrants who will be participating in this summer’s tournament. The last four spots are still up for grabs with play-in matches taking place during the New Japan Soul tour with events at Korakuen Hall on June 23 and Budokan Hall on July 4.
Here is the play-in schedule:
Monday, June 23 —
A Block play-in match: Taichi vs. Callum Newman
B Block play-in match: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Drilla Moloney
Friday, July 4 —
A Block play-in match: Ryohei Oiwa vs. Bad Luck Fale
B Block play-in match: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Chase Owens
Moloney and Oiwa would be competing in their first-ever G1s if they are able to qualify for the tournament. Moloney is a member of Bullet Club War Dogs, while Oiwa is part of TMDK.
At NJPW Dominion on Sunday, Taichi & Ishii defeated Newman & Great-O-Khan to become the new IWGP Tag Team Champions. Ishii also currently holds singles gold as the NJPW Strong Openweight Champion.
The G1 begins on July 19 and runs through August 17. Here’s what the field looks like ahead of the last four entrants being confirmed:
The four participants for tomorrow’s match for the provisional KOPW trophy have been set.
Toru Yano, Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, and BUSHI all qualified tonight to take part in the four-way match that will take place on the January 5 Wrestle Kingdom 15 card. The winner of that match will start the year as the provisional 2021 KOPW champion.
The finish of tonight’s match had Fale last eliminating young lions Gabriel Kidd, Yuya Uemura, and Yota Tsuji. Yano was the last person to enter the rumble. He never made it to the ring, however, as Fale’s eliminations marked the end of the match. Yano taunted his future opponents after the match ended as he made his exit.
Yano became the 2020 KOPW champion on the December 23 Road to Tokyo Dome card, defeating Bad Luck Fale. Per the championship’s stipulations, the person to hold the trophy at the end of the year officially becomes the KOPW champion for that year. The trophy is then reset, and a new match determines the provisional champion for 2021.
Toru Yano defeated Bad Luck Fale in a bodyslam or last corner pad match at today’s Road to Tokyo Dome event to win the NJPW KOPW 2020 Championship.
Yano won with a bodyslam. Fale had slammed Yano earlier in the match, but the referee missed it after a sequence that featured interference from Chase Owens and multiple low blows by Yano.
Yano also sprayed hand sanitizer in Fale’s face and attempted to conceal a backpack that he was wearing. The backpack contained a bag of sand in an attempt to make himself too heavy for Fale to slam.
Yano won the provisional title at Summer Struggle in Jingu on August 29th, beating Kazuchika Okada, SANADA and El Desperado in a four-way. He defended it once before today, on November 7th at Power Struggle. Yano defeated Zack Sabre Jr. by countout in a no corner pads match on that show.
The provisional KOPW 2021 will be decided at night two of Wrestle Kingdom on January 5th in a four-way. The final four competitors in the New Japan Rambo on January 4th will advance to that match.
Toru Yano will defend the provisional King of Pro-Wrestling Championship against Bad Luck Fale on Wednesday, December 23rd in a bodyslam or last corner pad match at Road to Tokyo Dome in Korakuen Hall. NJPW made the match official earlier today.
The match stipulation was decided in a fan vote. Fans were asked to choose between Yano’s stipulation, the ultimate winner, and Fale’s choice of just a bodyslam match.
The winning selection’s margin was announced as 18,826 votes to 5,813, or 76.4 percent to 23.6 percent.
Wednesday’s match will be the final KOPW 2020 bout, meaning that the winner will be declared NJPW’s KOPW 2020.
Yano won the provisional title at Summer Struggle in Jingu on August 29th, beating Kazuchika Okada, SANADA and El Desperado. He has since defended it once, on November 7th at Power Struggle. Yano defeated Zack Sabre Jr. by countout in a no corner pads match on that show.
NJPW has confirmed the stipulation options and opened voting for Toru Yano and Bad Luck Fale’s upcoming KOPW 2020 match.
Yano is defending the KOPW 2020 title against Fale at NJPW’s Road to Tokyo Dome show at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on Wednesday, December 23. This is the last NJPW show of the year, meaning that the winner of Yano vs. Fale will be crowned the KOPW 2020 Champion ahead of the title being reset at the start of the new year.
Fale’s chosen stipulation is a body slam match. The first person to body slam their opponent will win. Yano’s chosen stipulation is a body slam or last corner pad removed match. The first person to either body slam their opponent or remove the final corner pad once all others have been removed will get the win. Voting to determine the stipulation is now underway.
NJPW’s full announcement is available below:
On December 11, Toru Yano and CHAOS stood opposite BULLET CLUB in tag team action, in a match that saw Yano try repeatedly to slam Fale to little or no avail. Post match, Fale showed Yano how the move was applied, before destroying Yano’s KOPW 2020 trophy. That led to an official challenge being set for December 23!
Fale will challenge Yano for the KOPW 2020 status in Korakuen Hall on December 23. With the event being the last on the NJPW calendar this year, its winner will officially be the King of Pro-Wrestling for 2020 before the title starts afresh next year. So who will win, and more importantly, under what rules?
Fale has proposed a Bodyslam Match. Quite simply, this means that the first to slam their opponent will be the victor, a stipulation that certainly favors the big man.
For Yano, the proposal is Bodyslam or Last Corner Pad Removed match. Under Yano’s rules, the first to slam their opponent will win, but you can also win by removing the four cornerpads on the ring; the person to remove the last pad will be the winner. Here, Yano’s speed could well counteract Fale’s size.
Voting is underway NOW on Twitter, and runs until noon JST on December 22! Whose rules will count in Korakuen?
Yano became the inaugural KOPW title holder when the championship was introduced at Summer Struggle in Jingu this August.
The December 23 Road to Tokyo Dome show will air live on New Japan World starting at 4:30 a.m. Eastern time.
The entrants for this year’s NJPW World Tag League have been announced.
Several people will be making their return to the company after being gone due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Guerillas of Destiny, Toa Henare, and Bad Luck Fale will all be making their return on this tour.
It was announced that The Great O-Khan will team with a mystery partner, or “X”. It wasn’t made clear who that would be. O-Khan is part of The Empire stable along with Will Ospreay and Bea Preistley.
One notable team that will not be on the tour is TenKoji, Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan. This would be the first time since 2011 that the team won’t be competing in the tournament.
Here is the full list of participants for this year’s tournament. Opening day starts on November 15 in Aichi and will run through December 11 in the Nippon Budokan:
NJPW continued their Road to Destruction tour today in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall, the second of three straight nights in the building.
The show featured two Young Lion Cup tournament bouts, along with a collection of tag matches previewing the key matches on the Destruction shows later in the tour.
Here are full results and match recaps:
YOUNG LION CUP MATCH: MICHAEL RICHARDS DEFEATED YUYA UEMURA
Richards used a side headlock takeover, but Uemura made it back to his feet quickly. Uemura worked a wristlock from mount position, but Richards slipped back to the side headlock.
Richards got a knockdown off a shoulder tackle. He hit a chop, then a clothesline in the corner for a nearfall. They traded strikes. Uemura hit a couple of dropkicks, then used a series of stomps in the corner.
Uemura hit a scoop slam, then applied a full crab. Richards showed good fire as he crawled to the ropes for a break. Uemura hit a series of forearm shots, but Richards cut him off with a lariat.
Richards used a vertical suplex for a two count. He tried for a crab of his own. Uemura fought him off with slaps, but Richards got the hold applied. Uemura fought his way to the ropes, forcing a break.
Richards got the hold re-applied, and Uemura tapped out.
YOUNG LION CUP MATCH: REN NARITA DEFEATED KARL FREDERICKS
This followed the same pattern as the night before, with the opening bout focusing on technical wrestling and the second match feeling more like a brawl.
They exchanged hard palm strikes to the chest. Fredericks hit a scoop slam for a nearfall, then hit some stomps. Fredericks used a chinlock, then hit a back elbow. Fredericks hit a splash in the corner, then used an elbow drop for a nearfall.
Fredericks missed on a charge into the corner, and Narita followed up with a shotgun dropkick. Narita hit a back elbow, then used a vertical suplex for a two count.
Narita tried for an overhead belly-to-belly, but Fredericks fought it off and hit a spinebuster. Fredericks applied a single-leg crab, but Narita reached the ropes.
Fredericks hit the ropes, but ran into an overhead belly-to-belly. Narita got a single-leg crab applied. Fredericks reached the ropes, but Narita kept the hold applied on the break. Narita rolled through into a Narita Special, a modified sharpshooter. Fredericks tapped out. Very solid work from both guys.
SATOSHI KOJIMA, CLARK CONNORS & ALEX COUGHLIN DEFEATED HIROYOSHI TENZAN, SHOTA UMINO & YOTA TSUJI
Tenzan and Kojima began, trading chops. Umino and Connors tagged in for a nice exchange, with both hitting shoulder tackles.
Coughlin and Tsuji got tags. They traded some chops. Coughlin used a scoop slam to get the advantage, then his team used a series of quick tags, working over Tsuji. Coughlin used an Indian deathlock, but Tenzan broke it up.
Coughlin then worked a chinlock, but Tsuji reached the ropes. Coughlin hit stomps and chops, but Tsuji came back with a dropkick, then tagged Tenzan. Tenzan hit Mongolian chops on Coughlin, then hit a brainbuster for a nearfall.
Tenzan hit some headbutts. Coughlin fired back with chops. Tenzan hit a right hand for a nearfall. Coughlin hit a dropkick, and both tagged out.
Umino and Connors got tags. Umino went crazy with elbow strikes and a dropkick. He hit a vertical suplex for a nearfall. Umino went for a fisherman buster, but Connors blocked it. Connors hit a spear. This exchange was the highlight of the match.
Kojima and Tsuji got tags. Kojima hit machine gun chops in the corner. He teased a top rope elbow, but Tsuji cut him off. Umino and Tenzan cleared the apron, then jumped in for a triple team. Tsuji covered Kojima, but Connors and Coughlin saved.
Kojima hit a Koji Cutter for a nearfall, then connected with a lariat for the pin.
Umino and Coughlin continued fighting on the floor after the bell.
TOMOHIRO ISHII, YOSHI-HASHI & TOA HENARE DEFEATED TAMA TONGA, TANGA LOA & CHASE OWENS
Bullet Club attacked before the opening bell. Loa and Tonga doubled up on YH in the ring, and Jado hit him with a kendo stick from the floor for good measure. Ishii came in for the save, and Ishii and YH cleaned house.
Order was restored, and Henare and Owens tagged in. Henare hit a shoulder tackle. Owens sent Henare to the floor, then hit a dropkick through the ropes. Loa tagged in and hit a vertical suplex. Tonga tagged in and hit a slingshot senton.
Ishii entered illegally, and Tonga hit him with a dropkick. Henare hit a Samoan drop off the distraction, then tagged YH. YH hit a bunker buster. He hit a dropkick as Tonga was draped over the ropes, picking up a two count.
Ishii tagged in for a double team. Loa jumped in to even things up. Bullet Club triple-teamed Ishii. Henare jumped in. Owens hit him with a Jewel Heist.
Ishii and Owens ended up being the legal men. Owens used a cradle for a nearfall, then hit a running knee strike for another. He tried for a package piledriver, but YH cut him off with a lariat. Ishii hit a brainbuster and pinned Owens.
EL PHANTASMO, TAIJI ISHIMORI & YUJIRO TAKAHASHI DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY, ROBBIE EAGLES & TOMOAKI HONMA
We’ve only gotten glimpses of what Ospreay and Eagles can do as a team, and I can’t wait to see them unleashed in a two-on-two situation.
Ospreay and ELP began with a great sequence. ELP flipped out of a hurricanrana, then hit a springboard rana. Ospreay hit a shoulder tackle. Eagles got a tag and hit a double stomp off the top to ELP’s left arm as Ospreay held it.
Honma got a tag. He hit a scoop slam, then connected on a kokeshi. Yujiro cut him off from the apron with a kick, then pulled him outside. Yujiro used his cane as a weapon, choking Honma. Back inside, Ishimori and ELP worked over Honma’s neck.
ELP used a back rake. Ishimori and ELP then hit a tandem back rake off the top rope. Honma came back with a brainbuster on Ishimori. Eagles got a tag. He hit Ishimori with a springboard dropkick to the leg.
ELP came in for an illegal double team, but Eagles hit him with a wall flip kick. Ospreay came in, and Eagles and Ospreay hit stereo kicks in the corner. Ospreay hit an enzuigiri on Ishimori. While ELP and Eagles brawled to the floor, Ishimori hit Ospreay with a poison rana.
Honma and Yujiro tagged in. Honma hit a bulldog, a kokeshi, then hit a lariat for a nearfall.
Eagles and Ospreay sent Ishimori and ELP to the floor, then jumped in to triple up on Yujiro. Eagles hit a dive, but the camera missed it.
Honma went for a kokeshi off the middle rope, but he missed. He tried a diving kokeshi, but he missed again. Yujiro hit a fisherman buster for a nearfall, then used Pimp Juice for the pin.
Suzuki-gun attacked before the bell. Suzuki and Taguchi stayed in the ring. Suzuki tried for a PK, but Taguchi caught the kick and hit a hip attack. SHO, YOH and Tanahashi jumped in for the four-on-one clothesline spot in the corner.
They teased sending Suzuki head-first into Taguchi’s butt as Taguchi stood on the buckle. The rest of Suzuki-gun made the save for Suzuki. Taguchi tried to offer Suzuki his rugby helmet, but Suzuki declined and they fought into the crowd.
Suzuki used a chair on YOH, then hit Taguchi with the chair. Sabre used an armbar on Tanahashi’s left arm then stomped on it. They teased a countout, but Taguchi made it back in at 19.
Suzuki used a kneebar. SHO jumped in and forced him to give up the hold, but Suzuki-gun retained the advantage. Suzuki tried to kneebar the referee. Sabre tagged in and used an armbar on Taguchi.
DOUKI got a tag and continued the beatdown on Taguchi. Kanemaru tagged in and hit a dropkick for a nearfall. Kanemaru hit an atomic drop, but Taguchi came back with a hip attack.
Sabre and Tanahashi got tags. Tanahashi hit a crossbody off the second. YOH and Kanemaru jumped in, and Tana and YOH hit tandem dragon screws.
Sabre got a triangle choke applied, but Tanahashi reversed it into a cloverleaf. He transitioned to an armbar, but Sabre forced a rope break. SHO tagged in and Sabre immediately cut him off with a wristlock. DOUKI got a tag, and DOUKI and SHO exchanged strikes.
SHO hit a spear. He went for a deadlift German, but Suzuki, Sabre, and Kanemaru all jumped in to block him. Sabre hit a PK, while DOUKI hit a double stomp off the top rope for a nearfall.
While the other six men brawled outside, DOUKI used a jawbreaker for a nearfall. Taguchi broke up the pin, then went back to brawling on the floor.
DOUKI went for Suplex de la Luna, but Taguchi saved. Everyone jumped in and hit a move. SHO hit a backstabber on DOUKI, and YOH hit him with a one-legged dropkick. DOUKI used a schoolboy on SHO for a nearfall.
SHO and YOH hit the 3K on DOUKI, and SHO got the pin. Tanahashi and Taguchi played air guitar on their belts after the match.
Okada hit a shoulder tackle. He teased a Rainmaker, but SANADA countered into a Skull End tease. Okada fought it off, then hit a dropkick. Romero got a tag and hit forever clotheslines in the corner.
BUSHI jumped in, and Romero sent him outside with a hurricanrana. He tried for a rana on Shingo, but Shingo caught him and SANADA nailed him with a dropkick. Okada jumped in for the save, but SANADA put him in the Paradise Lock. SANADA sent Okada to the floor with a dropkick, and BUSHI and SANADA continued working over Romero.
Shingo tagged in and hit a vertical suplex. Romero came back with a hurricanrana, then tagged Goto. Goto hit a wheel kick and a Saito suplex on Shingo for a two count. Shingo hit his own Saito suplex. Goto ducked a Pumping Bomber, and Shingo and Goto hit simultaneous lariats, into a double down.
After a tag, BUSHI hit a missile dropkick, and SANADA cleared the apron. LIJ went three-on-one on Goto. SANADA and BUSHI hit tandem dropkicks. BUSHI went for an MX, but Goto avoided it. Romero hit BUSHI with a lariat. SANADA hit a dropkick to Romero. Okada ate a dragon screw from Shingo and rolled outside.
Goto and BUSHI were left the legal men. Goto hit an ushigoroshi, then hit a GTR for the pin.
TETSUYA NAITO & EVIL DEFEATED JAY WHITE & BAD LUCK FALE
This was sloppy in spots and didn’t have the heat of a really good Korakuen Hall main event.
LIJ got the early advantage. Naito sent White outside with a hurricanrana, then teased a dive, but he hit his Tranquilo pose instead. Naito tried for a combinacion on White in the corner, but Fale cut him off from the floor and the match turned into a ringside brawl.
Fale sent EVIL and Naito into the barricade, while White mocked Naito’s pose in the ring. They teased a countout, but Naito made it back in at 18. Fale got a tag and stomped on Naito, then stood on his back.
White got a tag and tossed Naito outside. He sent him into the barricade and the ring frame. Fale and White traded tags, working over Naito. Fale missed an elbow drop, and Naito hit a dropkick to Fale’s legs, allowing him to tag out.
EVIL hit Fale with lariats. He tried for a slam, but White came in for the illegal double team. Fale missed a charge into the corner. EVIL hit White with a lariat, then hit a bulldog on Fale. Fale cut him off with a shoulder tackle.
White got a tag and hit a Saito suplex, then used a Blade Buster for a two count. White went for a DVD, but EVIL blocked it. EVIL hit a ref-assisted mid kick, then tagged out.
Naito hit White with strikes, a rana, then a dropkick. Naito hit a neckbreaker, then used a crucifix hold. Fale broke it up, but Naito remained in control. Naito teased a top rope frankensteiner, but White crotched him on the top.
Naito missed on a flying forearm, and White hit him with a uranage. Fale got a tag. He hit a splash in the corner, then used a big splash on the mat for a two count.
Fale teased a Grenade, but EVIL saved. White jumped in, and EVIL hit him with Darkness Falls. Naito hit a tornado DDT on Fale. Fale sent Naito into the referee. Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles, but Naito ducked them.
White came in with a chair, but EVIL fought him off with his own chair. EVIL hit a con-chair-to on Fale. Naito hit Destino on Fale for the pin.
Naito cut a promo after the match, teasing the idea of a double title match at the Tokyo Dome. He mentioned Ibushi and said that they both want to be a double champion. Ibushi would have to win the title first, but it’s an interesting possibility.
NJPW heads to Melbourne, Australia this morning for a new event called Southern Showdown.
A special tag match headlines, with New Zealand’s Bad Luck Fale and Jay White teaming up to take on Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi in the main event. White has a history with both, as does Fale, and all four will be in the upcoming G1 Climax tournament. Fale in particular will be in the same block as both Tanahashi and Okada.
Three titles are on the line in the undercard. Will Ospreay will defend the IWGP Jr. title against Robbie Eagles, the Guerillas of Destiny will defend the IWGP tag team titles against Juice Robinson and Australia’s own Mikey Nicholls and El Phantasmo will defend the British cruiserweight championship against Rocky Romero in a rematch from the Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
The undercard also features a number of Australian and New Zealand talent, including Gino Gambino, Slex and Aaron Solow.
Join us for live coverage starting at 5:00 a.m.
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TOA HENARE, SHOTA UMINO & NICK BURY DEFEATED ANDREW VILLALOBOS, MARK TUI & MICHAEL RICHARDS
Bury was a late sub for Ren Narita, as travel issues kept Narita and SHO from making the event.
Umino and Villalobos began with some mat wrestling. Bury and Tui tagged in, and Tui got the heat on Bury. Bury, Tui, and Richards worked over Bury in their corner with ics, stomps, and elbow strikes.
Bury flipped out of a backdrop attempt, and hit an enziguri on Richards. Umino got a tag. He connected with a back elbow. Tui tried to cut him off, but Umino quickly disposed of him. Umino loced a crab on Richards, while Henare ran interference for him. Richards reached the ropes, forcing a break.
Vilalobos and Henare tagged in. Henare ate a suplex, but popped right up. He hit an elbow strike, and hit a spear for a two count. They exchanged strikes. The sequence ended with a headbutt from Henare, who then hit Toa Bottom for the pin. A solid, very basic opener.
SLEX DEFEATED AARON SOLOW
They exchanged waistlock takedowns, then traded dropkicks. Slex hit a backbreaer, and Solow rolled outside. Slex hit a suicide dive. Slex teased a superplex, but Solow slipped out. He crotched Slex on the top rope, then hit a neckbreaker.
After an exchange of strikes, Slex hit an enziguri. They exchanged strikes again. Slex hit a blue thunder bomb for a two count. Slex went for a quebrada, but Solow hit him with a superkick. Solow used a step-up knee in the corner for a nearfall.
Solow went up top, but Slex cut him off, and hit a delayed superplex for a two count. Solow used a schoolboy for a nearfall. Solow connected with a double stomp on the mat, then hit another off the top rope for a nearfall.
Slex hit a disaster kick, then connected with the Slexecution for the pin. Slex posed with his sunglasses after the bell.
Slex has great charisma and Solow is a very solid worker with a good look. A good match.
Gambino and Yano kicked things off with some comedy. Yano tried to untie a turnbucle pad, but Gambino cut him off. Ishimori got a tag, and worked over Yano’s neck. Ishimori and Gambino cut the ring in half, and continued to work on Yano.
Yano used a hair pull to take down Ishimori, then tagged YOH. YOH fought off a double team, then hit Ishimori with a dragon screw. YOH hit a bridging suplex for a nearfall, but Ishimori came back with a sliding German.
YOH hit a flying forearm, but Ishimori connected with a handspring kick. Both tagged out. Yano untied two corner pads, and Gambino and Yano both used one as a weapon. Yano got sent into an exposed buckle. Ishimori hit double kneed in the corner, then a seated senton.
Gambino hit a splash for a nearfall. While Ishimori and YOH brawled outside, Yano sent Gambino into an exposed buckle. Yano hit a low blow, and YOH jumped in to hit a superkick. Yano then pinned Gambino. A fun little comedy bout.
Bullet Club used an attack before the bell to establish the advantage. They worked over YOSHI-HASHI for the first five minutes. YH finally hit a kick, then managed to tag Ishii. Ishii hit Owens with a shoulder tackle, then blistered him with chops.
Ishii hit a release German, which spawned an “Ishii” chant from the crowd. Owens hit a Russian leg sweep, sending Ishii into the buckle. Yujiro jumped in and hit a fisherman buster. Owens connected with a shining wizard for a nearfall.
Owens hit a snap dragon suplex, then a v-trigger. He hit the Jewel Heist, but Ishii kicked out. Owens went for a package piledriver, but YH saved. YH and Yujiro brawled to the floor.
Owens fought out of another package driver attempt, then hit a lariat. He followed with the vertical drop brainbuster for the pin.
This was notable only because Owens broke out some of Kenny Omega’s offense. I’m a huge Ishii fan, but this was nothing special.
RPW BRITISH CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: EL PHANTASMO DEFEATED ROCKY ROMERO TO RETAIN THE TITLE
ELP attacked Romero before the bell. Romero came back with a rana off the second rope. Romero hit ten punches in the corner, and ELP begged off. They exchanged chops, then Romero used a pair of eye pokes.
Romero went to work on ELP’s left arm. Romero went for forever clotheslines, but ELP blocked, then stomped on Romero’s groin in the tree of woe. ELP used a chinlock. Romero missed a dropkick, and ELP connected on a quebrada for a nearfall.
Romero draped ELP over the ropes, then kicked at the left arm. Romero missed a double stomp off the top, but rolled through. ELP pulled Romero to the floor, then hit a moonsault off the post. Back inside, ELP made a cover for a two count.
ELP again went to the chinlock. ELP did his rope-walk spot. He made it around three corners of the ring, until Romero crotched him. Romero hit a coast-to-coast dropkick, then a rana. He hit forever clotheslines, but ELP caught him coming in, and hit an airplane spin neckbreaker for a nearfall.
ELP went for the CR2, but Romero dropped into a cradle for a nearfall. Romero hit a tornado DDT, then hit a falcon arrow into a Diablo armbar. ELP slipped to an ankle lock, but Romero pulled him into another cradle for a two count.
ELP hit a series of short kicks, but Romero fired back with slaps. ELP attacked Romero’s nipples, and Romero came back with a pair of lariats. He then hit a standing sliced bread for a two count.
Romero went for sliced bread, but ELP caught him in a tombstone position. Romero flipped out, and into a Canadian Destroyer.
The video feed dropped out here. It appears that ELP retained. They were having a good match, but not at the level of their Korakuen Hall bout.
IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: TAMA TONGA & TANGA LOA DEFEATED JUICE ROBINSON & MIKEY NICHOLLS TO RETAIN THE TITLES
They brawled around ringside at the outset. Tonga hit a backdrop on Juice on the ramp, then jumped back inside and dropped Nicholls with a gun stun. Loa and Nicholls ended up the legal men, and Nicholls found himself being worked over.
Nicholls hit a DDT on Loa, then tagged Juice. Juice ran wild with jabs. He teased Pulp Friction on Tonga, but Jado cut him off with a kendo stick shot from the floor. Tonga took the referee, and Jado hit Juice with the stick on the floor.
Back inside, Loa used a chinlock. Tonga came in for an illegal double team, and G.O.D. hit a double back suplex. Loa used a powerslam for a two count.
Nicholls got a hot tag. He ran wild with clotheslines. Juice came back in for a double team, and hit Tonga with a cannonball. Juice and Nicholls hit a tandem facebuster on Tonga for a nearfall.
Jado jumped on the apron, and Juice hit him with a left hand. Tonga hit a gun stun on Juice. Nicholls went for a Mikey Bomb, but Loa rolled him up with a handful of tights, and got the pin.
Tonga and Loa do certain things well as a team, and they have great explosiveness. That said, I’m not a fan of the formula they’ve settled on for their matches. I know tag matches are generally formulaic, but theirs are even more so than most.
IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: WILL OSPREAY DEFEATED ROBBIE EAGLES TO RETAIN THE TITLE
ELP came to the ring as Eagles’s second. The bell rang, and Eagles sent ELP to sit near the announce desk.
Ospreay and Eagles locked up. Off the break, Ospreay initiated a great opening sequence of counters and teases. Eagles tried a pair of shoulder blocks, but Ospreay didn’t go down. Eagles dared Ospreay to try a shoulder tackle, but Ospreay landed a chop instead.
They did a sequence of rope-running, ending with Eagles hitting a dropkick. Ospreay rolled outside, and Eagles hit a flip dive through the ropes. Eagles threw Ospreay back inside for a one count.
Eagles hit a running kick for a two count. He set Ospreay up in the corner, chopped him, and hit a back elbow. Eagles climbed to the second rope, but Ospreay hit a chop, and Eagles spilled outside.
Eagles tried to send Ospreay into the barricade, but Ospreay jumped over the barricade, then hit Pip Pip Cheerio off the railing. Ospreay posted Eagles, then hit a hook kick to the face. He followed up with a drive-by kick on the apron.
Ospreay hit a slam, then used a kneedrop for a two count. With Eagles sitting in the corner, Ospreay hit a series of forearms to the neck, then a delayed dropkick. Ospreay used a chinlock, as ELP came back to ringside to urge on Eagles.
Eagles used a surprise cradle for a one count, then popped up, hitting a DDT. Eagles hit a series of mid kicks. He connected with double knees in the corner. Ospreay rolled to the apron. He went for another drive-by, but Eagles escaed, then hit a double stomp on the apron.
Eagles posted Ospreay’s legs, setting up for the Miller Special. Back inside, Eagles hit a dropkick to the knee, a 619, then a springboard elbow to the neck for a nearfall. Eagles used a kneebreaker, continuing to target the left leg.
Eagles tried to whip Ospreay into the corner, but Ospreay’s knee buckled. Ospreay hit a handspring kick, but got up selling his left knee. Ospreay hit a series of kicks, a top rope 619, then hit Pip Pip Cheerio for a nearfall.
Eagles hit a kneebreaker, but Ospreay hit an enziguri, as Eagles took a flip bump. Ospreay went for a Storm Breaker. Eagles countered into a Miller Special attempt, but Ospreay kicked him off.
Eagles teased a Pulse Drop, but Ospreay cut him off. With Eagles sitting on the top rope, Ospreay hit a handspring kick. With Eagles in the tree of woe, Ospreay sat on the mat in front of him. They traded slaps.
They climbed to the top rope, and Ospreay teased a dragon suplex. Eagles pushed him to the apron, where Ospreay then hit a dropkick, sending Eagles to the floor. Ospreay hit a corkscrew moonsault off the post to the floor. They did a countout tease, but Eagles made it back in at 19.
Back inside, Ospreay hit a dropkick, then an inverted Bloody Sunday DDT. He then hit a Robinson Special. He went for an Oscutter off the turnbuckle, but Eagles cut him off with a Pulse Drop, into a double down.
From their knees, they traded forearm strikes. Back on their feet, they continued to trade. Eagles went for Turbo Backpack. Ospreay kicked him off. Ospreay hit a powerbomb, then hit a Liger Bomb for a nearfall.
Ospreay went to the top rope. ELP grabbed Ospreay’s ankle, giving Eagles enough time to recover. He hit a top rope rana, but missed a follow-up 450 splash.
Ospreay hit a hook kick, then climbed the ropes with Eagles in the electric chair. Ospreay hit an iconoclasm for a nearfall. He called for an Oscutter. ELP slid a chair into the ring. Ospreay used an O’Connor roll for a nearfall.
Eagles went for a dive to Ospreay, but took out ELP. Eagles hit a 450 with Ospreay draped over the ropes. He hit Turbo Backpack. He covered for a two count, then pulled Ospreay into the Miller Special. After a long struggle, Ospreay reached the ropes.
Eagles went for a springboard attack, but he jumped into an Oscutter. Ospreay hit a second Oscutter. Red Shoes went to count the pin, but ELP pulled him out of the ring.
ELP attacked Ospreay. He teased hitting him with his title belt, but Eagles stopped him. Ospreay hit ELP with a hook kick, and Red Shoes climbed back into the ring. Eagles threw the belt away at the 30 minute mark.
They traded shots in the middle of the ring. Eagles backed Ospreay into the corner with kicks. He went for Turbo Backpack, but Ospreay hit a dragon suplex. Ospreay hit a destroyer for a nearfall.
Eagles escaped a Storm Breaker. Ospreay hit a hook kick. He went for Storm Breaker again, but Eagles dropped into a poison rana for a nearfall. Eagles hit a tornado DDT for a nearfall, then went to the top. He hit a 450 to the leg. He went for a cover, but Ospreay used an inside cradle for a nearfall.
Ospreay hit a standing Spanish Fly for a nearfall, then hit a shooting star press, but Eagles kicked out at one. Ospreay hit the Hidden Blade, then Storm Breaker, and got the pin.
I liked their Best of the Super Jrs. match better, but this was the best thing on the show by a wide margin, and an instant classic.
Eagles dropped ELP with a forearm to the face after the match, then shook hands with Ospreay.
KAZUCHIKA OKADA & HIROSHI TANAHASHI DEFEATED JAY WHITE & BAD LUCK FALE
Okada and Fale had a short exchange, ending in a stalemate. Tana and White tagged in, and Tana worked a side headlock. After a rope break, White used Red Shoes to set a screen, then hit a kick. Tana came back with a crossbody off the second rope.
White dumped Tana to the floor with a Saito suplex. On the other side of the arena, Fale went after Okada, posting him. Fale tossed Tana back inside, and White raked his eyes. Fale tagged in, and used clubbing forearms to work over Tanahashi.
Tana tried for a sunset flip, but Fale sat on his chest for a nearfall. Fale and White used a series of quick tags, continuing to work over Tana. White used a chinlock, then hit an inverted dragon screw. White used a Muta Lock, but Okada jumped in to break it up. Fale entered, then sent Okada back to the floor.
Tana finally managed a tag to Okada. Okada hit a DDT to Fale, kipped up, then knocked White off the apron. Okada hit a back elbow in the corner. He pushed Fale into the corner, and slammed him on the rebound. Okada got a one count.
Okada went to the top rope, but Gedo provided a distraction, and Fale press slammed Okada. White got a tag, and hit a snap Saito suplex. White missed a charge into the corner, and Okada hit an air raid crash, into a double down.
Tana got a tag. He blocked a kick, then hit a pair of dragon screws. Tana locked on a cloverleaf, but White immediately grabbed the bottom rope. Tana went for slingblade. White hit him with chops. Tana no-sold them.
White hit a flatliner, while Fale continued to work on Okada on the floor. White hit a Bladebuster and a deadlift German for a nearfall, then a uranage for another, as Okada broke up the pinfall.
White went for a Blade Runner. After an extended series of counters, Tana hit Twist and Shout. After a double down, both tagged out.
Okada hit a shotgun dropkick. Fale blocked a slam, then hit a shoulder tackle. Fale hit a splash for a two count. He picked Okada up for a Grenade, but Tana saved.
The match broke down. White hit a dragon screw to Tana. Okada hit White with a big boot. Fale went for the Bad Luck Fall, but Okada slipped out, then hit a dropkick. White jumped in. Okada tried for a dropkick, but missed.
Okada went for a Rainmaker on White, but White slipped out. Tana hit slingblade on White. Tana and Okada hit a double suplex on Fale, and Tana took out White and Gedo with a pescado.
Okada hit Fale with a top rope elbow. Okada escaped a Grenade, and hit a spinning Rainmaker. He connected with a second Rainmaker, then pinned Fale.
This was essentially a slightly elevated house show main event.
Okada and Tanahashi had a brief faceoff after the match, ahead of their G1 matchup next weekend, then posed on the ropes.
Okada cut a promo in English after the match. He shouted out Australia, then Melbourne, specifically. The crowd chanted “best in the world”. Okada said “yes we are”, then “yes I am”. He thanked the crowd, and said he will see them again.
He closed his promo in Japanese, promising to return to Melbourne.
NJPW’s Road to the New Beginning continued today in Osaka, with the participants from the top four matches on Monday’s tour-closer taking part in a 10-man tag main event.
No titles were on the line on today’s event, which was more of a glorified house show than anything. The undercard was lackluster, largely due to having a lot of talent stacked in the last match.
With a pair of title matches, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jay White and Taiji Ishimori vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, plus Kazuchika Okada in singles action against Bad Luck Fale, Monday’s show should be significantly better.
Full results and match recaps from today’s show are below:
A decent opener, but nothing special, and not as good as some of the openers on this tour.
Tenzan and Tsuji used tandem tackles on Umino, who tagged out. Yoshida entered and took over on Tsuji with strikes. Umino tagged back in and used a slam for a near fall.
Umino and Yoshida worked over Tsuji. Yoshida kicked Tenzan off the apron, then used a chinlock on Tsuji. Tsuji reached the ropes, forcing a break. Tsuji got a slam on Yoshida and tagged Tenzan.
Tenzan hit Mongolian chops, a corner lariat, and hit a brainbuster for a two count. Yoshida and Tenzan exchanged strikes. Tenzan hit a mountain bomb for a two count. Yoshida hit a sit-out lariat and tagged Umino.
Umino ate a spin kick from Tenzan. Tenzan hit a corner lariat, and Tsuji hit a dropkick. Tsuji used a crab, but Yoshida broke it up. Umino used a dropkick off the second rope on Tsuji, then applied a crab. Tenzan broke up the hold.
Yoshida took Tenzan to the floor, and Umino hit a fisherman suplex on Tsuji for the pin.
YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED REN NARITA (9:59)
YOSHI-HASHI didn’t look good here. Narita is much better than he is already.
Narita jumped YH before the bell, looking to gain the early advantage. He briefly scored some offense, before YH took control. YH used a chinlock, then a seated crossface, but Narita reached the ropes.
YH hit a slam for a near fall. He draped Narita over the ropes, then connected with a dropkick to the back for a near fall. Narita hit a dropkick to YH’s taped shoulder. Narita hit a back elbow and a shoulder tackle for a near fall.
Narita hit a vertical suplex for a two count, then applied a crab. YH reached the ropes. They traded chops. YH hit a superkick for a near fall, then applied a half crab. YH transitioned to a full crab, but Narita reached the ropes.
Narita picked up two quick near falls. YH used a neckbreaker for a near fall, then applied the butterfly lock. Narita fought it, but he had no choice but to tap out.
I can’t remember the last time I saw a match like this on a New Japan show. Mediocre work, no heat, and it went forever.
Honma and Owens grappled to a stalemate. Yujiro and Henare tagged in and Yujiro used some rule-breaking tactics to take over. Yujiro and Owens worked over Henare. Henare finally tagged Honma. Honma missed a Kokeshi.
Yujiro worked over Honma. Honma made his own comeback and tagged Henare. Henare hit a flying tackle on Owens. Yujiro jumped in for the illegal double team, but Henare hit him with a Samoan drop. Honma came in and hit a Kokeshi, and Henare hit a diving chop for a near fall.
Henare used a tackle on Owens for a near fall, as Yujiro jumped in to break up the pinfall. Owens went for a package piledriver, but Henare escaped. Owens tried again, and got it this time for the pin.
EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI DEFEATED MINORU SUZUKI, YOSHINOBU KANEMARU & EL DESPERADO (12:02)
This was fun, and it was excellent when Suzuki and SANADA were in together.
They brawled before the bell, then after. They brawled in the ring, they brawled around ringside. Suzuki-gun finally gained the advantage when Suzuki used an armbar on BUSHI, first over the ropes, then on the apron.
The Suzuki-gun team went to work on BUSHI, focusing on the left arm. BUSHI used a swinging neckbreaker on Desperado, then managed a tag to SANADA. SANADA put Kanemaru in the Paradise Lock, then focused his attack on Suzuki.
Business really picked up when SANADA and Suzuki were in together. They did a really nice sequence of counters based off their singles match last week. Suzuki went for the Gotch piledriver, but SANADA backdropped out of it and hit a dropkick.
EVIL got a tag. Suzuki did a misdirection spot, allowing his team to triple up on EVIL. Suzuki hit a PK, and Kanemaru covered for a near fall. Kanemaru hit Deep Impact on EVIL, but SANADA broke up the pinfall.
LIJ then triple-teamed Kanemaru. BUSHI hit a suicide dive to Desperado. EVIL and SANADA hit Kanemaru with the Magic Killer for the pin.
Naito had both knees taped, and his left arm taped. TAKA and Shingo worked most of the match. TAKA looked good considering his age, and Shingo always looks good.
Naito and TAKA started off. Naito wanted Taichi, so TAKA obliged. Taichi tagged in, he and Naito both hit tranquilo poses, then tagged out.
TAKA poked Shingo in the eyes. Shingo made his own comeback. Naito jumped in for the double team, then rolled outside. Taichi attacked Naito with his microphone stand on the floor, then jumped in and attacked Shingo with it while TAKA took the ref.
Taichi sent Naito over the barricade, attacking him with a chair on the outside. Taichi then sent Shingo into the barricade, before again focusing his attack on Naito.
TAKA worked on Shingo with stomps and simple strikes in the ring. TAKA then used a crossface, a running knee in the corner, a running knee strike, and another crossface. TAKA used a chinlock, but Shingo reached the ropes. Shingo and TAKA tagged out.
Naito hit a dropkick, a neckbreaker, and the combinacion de cabron for a near fall. Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick for a near fall. Taichi took his pants off. Naito hit a running kick into a double down. Naito made a tag.
Shingo missed with a pumping bomber, and Taichi hit an enzuigiri. TAKA used another eye poke, then hit a superkick for a two count. Shingo hit a brainbuster. Naito ran Taichi into the barricade, then jumped in to double up on TAKA.
Naito hit a dropkick, and Shingo used a pop-up spinebuster. Naito hit an atomic drop, and Shingo hit a pumping bomber. Shingo used Last of the Dragon to pick up the pinfall on TAKA.
HIROSHI TANAHASHI, KAZUCHIKA OKADA, TOGI MAKABE, TORU YANO & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED JAY WHITE, BAD LUCK FALE, TAMA TONGA, TANGA LOA & TAIJI ISHIMORI (29:33)
This was an elimination match. Eliminations could take place via pinfall, submission, or over the top rope with both feet hitting the floor.
Tanahashi and White started off. Tana tried for the quick over the top elimination, and his teammates helped, but Bullet Club made the save. White went to work on Tana’s bad knee with kicks. He went for an elimination, but Okada saved, then jumped in for a double-team back elbow. Tana and Okada posed.
Taguchi and Tonga tagged in. They did some comedy. Tonga tagged Ishimori. Taguchi hit a hip attack and danced. Taguchi used a roll-up, but then got hit with Jado’s kendo stick from the floor. Bullet Club used the distraction to beat down the babyfaces around ringside.
With his teammates down on the floor, Taguchi fell victim to an attack from Ishimori and White in the ring. White used dragon screws, then a chinlock. Loa got a tag, and hit a suplex for a two count. Tonga tagged in and hit a dropkick for a two count.
Ishimori tagged in. He hit a handspring, but jumped right into a hip attack. Taguchi tagged Makabe. Makabe hit a powerslam on Ishimori, then ten punches on Loa. Makabe hit three lariats. Loa hit a powerslam. Makabe hit a lariat. He went to the top for the knee drop, but Fale threw him off the top into the ring. Loa dumped Makabe over the top for the first elimination. (Loa eliminates Makabe)
Yano came in. Jado tossed Tonga a kendo stick, but he refused to use it, allowing Yano to use a schoolboy on Loa for the second elimination. (Yano eliminates Loa)
Tonga then snapped and used the kendo stick on Yano for the disqualification. (Tonga eliminated by DQ)
White hit the Blade Runner on Yano for the pinfall elimination. (White eliminates Yano)
Tana entered, going to work on White’s legs. Tana used a dragon screw and a dropkick to the leg. He went for a second rope senton, but White rolled out of the way. They went to the outside, where White sent Tana into the barricade. White got a near fall back inside.
Ishimori tagged in, and attacked Tana’s knees. Fale entered and did the same. White tagged back in. Tana managed a crossbody off the second, then tagged Okada. Okada ran wild on White and an interfering Ishimori. Okada hit a DDT for a near fall on White.
White came back with a Saito suplex, then tagged Fale. Okada went for a slam, but Fale escaped. Okada tried again, and slammed Fale. Fale hit a tackle and a splash for a two count. Okada blocked a grenade twice. Okada and Fale fought near the ropes, and Fale went to the floor for the elimination. Fale then pulled Okada to the floor and eliminated him. (Okada eliminates Fale, Fale eliminates Okada)
Taguchi and Ishimori fought on the apron. Taguchi hit a hip attack, and both he and Ishimori fell to the floor, eliminated. (Taguchi eliminates Ishimori, Taguchi eliminates himself)
The match came down to Tanahashi and White. They traded strikes. Tana hit a slingblade for a two count. Tana hit a slam, then went to the top. Gedo pushed him off the top, but Tana skinned the cat and made it back inside.
White went for a Blade Runner, but Tana fought it off. White hit a uranage. White hit a DVD for a two count. Tana reversed a Blade Runner into twist and shout. Tana hit a rope-assisted dragon screw on White, as White rolled to the apron.
They fought on the apron. Tana hit slingblade, and White fell to the floor, eliminated. (Tanahashi eliminates White)
White went after Tanahashi’s bad knee after the match, and promised to take his title on Monday. Tana went after White, but he was held back by the Young Lions. Tana broke free and chased White backstage, and that’s how the show ended.
The first of three New Beginning shows take place this morning in Sapporo, with the key matches being more of a preview for the other two cards set to take place this month.
In the main event, Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi will team up to take on Jay White and Bad Luck Fale. This will serve as a high-profile preview for their upcoming singles bouts on 2/21, with Okada facing Fale and White challenging Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight title.
There will also be two singles matches featuring the participants in the IWGP tag team title match on 2/3. EVIL will take on Zack Sabre Jr. in the co-main event, while SANADA will face Minoru Suzuki.
Join us for live coverage of the show starting at 4 a.m. Eastern. There will be English commentary for both weekend shows, with Kevin Kelly and RevPro announcer Andy Simmons calling the action.
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REN NARITA DEFEATED YUYA UEMURA (9:45)
This was a slightly better and longer version of the match that these two had on the January 29 show. A really good opener. I’ve been impressed with Uemura of late.
They exchanged standard Young Lion offense. Both sold well. Narita took the victory with a bridging belly-to-belly.
MANABU NAKANISHI & TOA HENARE DEFEATED SHOTA UMINO & AYATO YOSHIDA (8:54)
This was a showcase for Umino, more than anything. His offense looked great. His selling was excellent. His intensity was on point. Good stuff.
Umino got some early offense in on Henare, and earned a nearfall off a tackle. Henare was able to tag Nakanishi, who took control of the match for his team. Nakanishi hit some clubbing blows, and used a splash for a nearfall.
Yoshida got a tag, and hit a vertical suplex on Nakanishi for a two count. Nakanishi hit a lariat for a nearfall. Henare and Umino got tags. Umino hit a suplex for a nearfall, then applied a cross armbreaker. Henare rolled to the ropes.
Umino hit a missile dropkick off the top. He went for a fisherman buster, but Henare blocked it. Umino applied a flying armbar that threatened to end the match, but Nakanishi broke up the hold.
Henare and Yoshida brawled to the floor. Henare hit a Samoan drop for a two count, then hit a big spear for another. Henare used a uranage for the pin.
This wasn’t very good. They’re preparing for Iizuka’s retirement show later this month and trying to put a little steam behind this Iizuka/Tenzan thing to make the retirement show meaningful. It’s hard to be too critical given that they’re trying to give a veteran a nice sendoff.
Tenzan cut a promo before the match and said he wants to go one-on-one with Iizuka once more before Iizuka retires. Iizuka attacked him before the bell.
This broke down into a standard Suzuki-gun ringside brawl right away. Iizuka used a chair on Tenzan. They teased a countout, but Tenzan RACED back to the ring as fast as he could, which was not very fast, to beat the count at 19.
Iizuka and TAKA took turns working over Tenzan. Tiger got a tag and hit a high cross, but TAKA rolled through for a two count. Tiger used a crucifix hold for a nearfall, but it was quickly back to Iizuka and TAKA working him over.
Tiger hit a Tiger Driver, but Iizuka broke up the ensuing pinfall. Tenzan tagged in and hit a brainbuster, but TAKA kicked out. Tenzan hit a mountain bomb for a two count, then used the Anaconda Vice. Iizuka broke up the hold with stomps.
Iizuka and Tiger brawled on the floor. In the ring, Tenzan teased a moonsault, but Iizuka jumped in with a chair for the DQ. Iizuka attacked Tenzan with the iron glove after the bell.
Tama Tonga’s “Good Guy” shtick is really funny, but it’s taken away whatever edge his character had and made him a comedy act. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. At least it seems he’s having a good time.
Tonga and YH did some spots. Honma and Owens tagged in. Honma hit the ropes, and Jado hit him with a kendo stick from the floor. Owens worked Honma over while the other eight guys brawled on the outside.
Loa and Yujiro got tags and continued assaulting Honma.
Tonga hesitated when given the chance to attack Honma, allowing Honma to hit a suplex and tag out. Ishimori and Taguchi got tags. They traded ankle locks. Ishimori reached the ropes. Ishimori hit a handspring kick. Makabe and Loa tagged in.
Makabe hit ten punches in the corner. He teased a northern lights suplex, but Loa cut him off. Loa blocked a lariat and hit a headbutt. Makabe was finally able to connect with a lariat, and tagged Yano in. Loa hit a neckbreaker, then tagged Yujiro.
Yujiro, Ishimori and Owens worked over Yano three on one. Yujiro hit a fisherman buster for a two count. YH jumped in for a lariat. Owens hit a backbreaker. Honma hit a kokeshi. Makabe hit Tonga and Loa with a double lariat. Taguchi hit a hip attack on Jado, then hit Ishimori with a plancha. Yano used a low blow and a schoolboy on Yujiro for the pin.
This was just kind of there. Naito didn’t do much, saving himself for the IC title match tomorrow.
Despy and Kanemaru attacked Shingo and BUSHI before the bell and brawled to the floor, leaving Taichi and Naito to face off in the ring. Taichi offered a handshake. Naito offered a fist bump, then spit in Taichi’s eyes. They both hit tranquilo poses.
Desperado and BUSHI tagged in. BUSHI hit a flying headscissors, and Shingo jumped in for the illegal double team. Shingo tagged in legally, and continued to work on Desperado. Desperado came back with an eye rake. They traded chops. Shingo hit the ropes, Kanemaru tripped him from the floor, then pulled him outside.
Kanemaru hit a legdrop as Shingo was draped over the barricade. Taichi threw Naito over the barricade and sent him flying into the audience. Taichi slipped while hitting Naito with a chair. Back inside, Taichi teased hitting Shingo with Naito’s title belt, but decided against it.
Suzuki-gun cut the ring in half and went to work on Shingo. Shingo came back with a brainbuster on Kanemaru, and made a tag to Naito. Naito cleared the apron, then hit a dropkick in the corner on Kanemaru.
Kanemaru tagged Taichi, who attacked Naito with a series of kicks. Taichi hit an enziguri, while Desperado and Kanemaru cleared the apron. Taichi removed his pants. Taichi hit a dropkick, into a double down.
Naito tagged BUSHI, while Kanemaru and Desperado jumped in. BUSHI took them out, then went for an MX on Taichi. Kanemaru spit whiskey in BUSHI’s eyes while Taichi took the ref. Taichi hit BUSHI with a lariat for a nearfall. Taichi followed with a high-angle suplex, then covered for the pin.
Desperado unmasked BUSHI after the bell. Miho Abe put the mask on. Taichi posed with Naito’s belt.
MINORU SUZUKI DEFEATED SANADA (19:41)
This was very good. They worked a slower pace, but it worked well.
Suzuki went for a running kick right off the bat, but SANADA blocked it. They traded side headlocks. SANADA went for the paradise lock, but Suzuki fought it off. He went for it again, but Suzuki turned it into an armbar. SANADA used the armbar to successfully apply the paradise lock, which got a great reaction.
SANADA broke the hold with a dropkick, which allowed Suzuki to attack with kicks. SANADA rolled outside, and Suzuki hit him with a PK from the apron. Suzuki turned it into a brawl around ringside. Suzuki used a chair shot to the back. Suzuki left SANADA buried under a stack of chairs and barricades. Suzuki had a cut on his cheek. SANADA beat the count back inside.
Suzuki used a kimura, but SANADA was able to reach the bottom rope. Suzuki lit SANADA up with kicks. They traded chops. SANADA went for a dragon screw, but Suzuki turned it into an armbar. SANADA again reached the ropes.
Suzuki worked on SANADA’s right arm. SANADA dodged a kick, hit a dropkick to the knee, then a dragon screw. SANADA hit a leapfrog dropkick, then a plancha as Suzuki rolled outside. Back in the ring, Suzuki hit a PK and earned a nearfall.
They exchanged chops again. SANADA went up and over into the corner. He went for a springboard dropkick, but Suzuki cut it off and used a rear naked choke. Suzuki went for the Gotch Piledriver, but SANADA slipped out and applied Skull End. He didn’t have the hold fully applied, and gave it up.
SANADA went for a moonsault, but Suzuki got his knees up. Suzuki sold the damage to his knees while they exchanged more strikes. Suzuki hit a huge forearm, dazing SANADA. Suzuki hit two more big shots, dropping him. The crowd had been quiet for some time, but they really got into it here.
Suzuki hit a bunch of palm strikes to the face. SANADA hit the ropes, and bounced right into a dropkick from Suzuki. Suzuki hit another series of strikes. Suzuki used a rear naked choke, then transitioned to the Gotch Piledriver. SANADA fought it off, and backdropped out.
They used a series of misdirection spots. SANADA used a European Clutch for a nearfall. SANADA escaped another choke, and applied Skull End. Suzuki slipped out, applied another choke, then hit the Gotch Piledriver for the pin.
EVIL DEFEATED ZACK SABRE JR. (22:02)
I would have put this on before the previous match. The pace was even slower than the Suzuki match. Sabre is a master at what he does, but that doesn’t always translate to exciting matches if he doesn’t have the right opponent. The last couple of minutes were great, but this dragged in spots.
They exchanged holds at the outset. Sabre was not able to lock on anything of significance, and the sequence ended with EVIL hitting a shoulder block. EVIL controlled a knuckle lock, stretching Sabre. EVIL maintained wrist control. Sabre finally flipped out and countered with a heel hook. EVIL reached the ropes.
Sabre sold the damage to his arms from EVIL’s stretching. Sabre attacked both of EVIL’s arms with stomps. Sabre applied a wristlock over the ropes. Sabre attacked EVIL’s right arm with kicks. Sabre hit a pair of uppercuts. He raked the face, then torqued on EVIL’s neck with his legs.
Sabre used a cravate. EVIL transitioned to an abdominal stretch, then hit a sidewalk slam. EVIL used a wristlock, but Sabre reversed it into Hurrah! Another Year, Surely This One Will Be Better Than the Last! The Inexorable March of Progress Will Lead Us All to Happiness!, before EVIL reached the ropes.
Sabre used a triangle, but EVIL powerbombed out. Sabre rolled to the apron, and EVIL hit him with a shoulder tackle, knocking him to the floor. They brawled to the ramp, and EVIL hit a fisherman buster. They beat the count back inside.
EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. He went for Everything is EVIL, but Sabre escaped, and hit a PK. They exchanged strikes. EVIL dropped Sabre with a forearm, then a double sledge to the chest. EVIL hit a big lariat in the corner.
Sabre came back with a mid kick, then hit a PK for a two count. Sabre used a one-arm guillotine. He went for the Zack Driver, but EVIL escaped and hit a kick. EVIL hit another corner lariat. They went to the top rope. EVIL went for a superplex, but Sabre used an abdominal stretch.
They traded strikes, still on the top rope. EVIL hit a superplex. EVIL hit a lariat for a two count. EVIL went for Everything is EVIL, but Sabre turned it into a European Clutch for a nearfall. Sabre hit a PK, then used a rollup into a bridge for a two count.
EVIL blocked a kick and hit a headbutt. EVIL hit a lariat. After a series of reversals, EVIL hit Everything is EVIL and got the pin.
SWITCHBLADE JAY WHITE & BAD LUCK FALE DEFEATED HIROSHI TANAHASHI & KAZUCHIKA OKADA (24:36)
White and Tana started off. They locked up. White backed Tana into the corner, but broke cleanly. He went for a right hand, but Tana ducked and grabbed a side headlock. Each pulled the other’s hair. Tana hit a second rope springboard crossbody, then tagged Okada. Okada and Tana both hit sentons.
White backed Okada into the corner, and made a tag to Fale. Fale whipped Okada into the corner. Okada slapped on a sleeper, and jumped on Fale’s back, but Fale slammed him off. Fale and White took the fight to the floor. Fale choked Okada with a towel, and White used a camera cable to choke Tanahashi.
White left Tana laying in the aisle, buried under pieces of barricade. Back inside, Fale slowly worked over Okada. Fale sent Okada to the floor, and White sent Okada into the ring frame and the barricade, repeatedly.
White got a tag and picked up a nearfall on Okada. He knocked Tana off the apron, then used a single-leg crab on Okada. Tana jumped in to break it up. Fale sent Tana over the top rope to the floor, then tagged in and went to work on Okada.
Fale and White cut the ring in half, and worked Okada over. White used a chinlock. Okada broke free, then made a tag. Tana hit a flying forearm on White, then knocked Fale off the apron with a leg lariat. Tana hit a somersault senton from the second rope for a two count.
Tana ran into a pair of chops from White. White grabbed a waistlock, then hit a chop block on Tana’s right leg. White hit a Saito suplex, then tagged Fale. Fale went for a suplex, but Okada jumped in, cut him off, and Okada and Tana hit a tandem suplex on Fale.
Okada got a tag and hit Fale with a back elbow and a DDT. Okada slammed Fale. Okada went to the top, but Fale cut him off. He hit a Samoan drop and a big splash for a two count. Fale went for a Grenade, but Okada hit him with a dropkick. Okada escaped a Bad Luck Fall, but Fale hit him with a tackle into a double down.
White and Tana got tags. They traded strikes. White kicked at the right knee. Tana hit Slingblade for a two count. Okada and Fale brawled to the floor. Tana went for a cloverleaf, but White escaped. Tana hit a Dragon Screw. Fale jumped in, but Okada hit him with a dragon screw.
Tana ran the ropes, but Gedo tripped him. White hit a flatliner, then a bridging suplex for a two count. Tana hit Fale with Slingblade. Okada hit a dropkick on White. Okada hit a Tombstone on White, and handed him off to Tana, who hit a Styles Clash. Okada hit a top rope elbow on White.
Tana went to the top for High Fly Flow, but Gedo cut him off. Fale hit Grenades on both Okada and Tana. White picked up Tana and hit a DVD for a nearfall. White went for the Blade Runner, but Tana turned it into Twist and Shout. Fale also ate a Twist and Shout.
Gedo passed White a chair. White swung it, but Tana ducked and hit Slingblade. Tana hit Fale with a suplex, then decked Gedo. White hit Tana with the chair, then hit a series of dragon screws. White used an inverted figure four. Okada tried to break it up, but Fale hit him with a splash and a Bad Luck Fall.
With Okada taken out, Tanahashi tapped out to the inverted figure four. White kept the hold applied after the bell.
White cut a promo running down Tanahashi, hit him with a Blade Runner, and posed with the IWGP title to close the show.
New Japan Pro Wrestling has one more title match scheduled before Wrestle Kingdom 12 at the Tokyo Dome.
NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI will defend their titles against Bad Luck Fale & Guerrillas of Destiny at NJPW’s Road to Tokyo Dome show on December 17th. With SANADA & EVIL challenging Killer Elite Squad at Wrestle Kingdom, a title change would clear the way for the NEVER tag belts to be featured on the card.
SANADA & EVIL defeated Guerrillas of Destiny in this year’s World Tag League finals, with BUSHI getting disqualified against Fale earlier in the show after using the black mist.
The NEVER Six-Man titles were featured in a gauntlet match at Wrestle Kingdom 11. Whether Los Ingobernables de Japon retain or not, the full card for January’s Dome show likely won’t be announced until after Sunday’s six-man title match happens.
SANADA & EVIL vs. KES for the IWGP Tag Team Championship was added to the Wrestle Kingdom 12 lineup at a press conference overnight. Minoru Suzuki vs. Hirooki Goto in a match where Suzuki’s NEVER Openweight title and Goto’s hair are both on the line has been set up as well, though NJPW has yet to officially announce it.
Korakuen Hall will host Road to Tokyo Dome shows on December 17th and 18th as the final build to Wrestle Kingdom takes place. Hiroshi Tanahashi isn’t listed on the card for either night at Korakuen, which means that his first match back from his knee injury is scheduled to be when he faces Jay White at the Dome.
Kazuchika Okada facing off against Tetsuya Naito in tag team matches ahead of their IWGP Heavyweight Championship bout is the main event for both Road to Tokyo Dome shows. Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Naito & Hiromu Takahashi will headline night one, with Okada, Sho & Yoh vs. Naito, Takahashi & BUSHI set for night two.
NJPW’s Wrestling Dontaku event takes place tonight in Fukuoka with three titles on the line.
In the main event, Kazuchika Okada will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Bad Luck Fale, who destroyed him mercilessly following a tough title defense against Katsuyori Shibata at Sakura Genesis. In the buildup to this match, Fale has been using Okada’s tombstone to his advantage, even pinning Okada once with the maneuver in a tag match. It will be interesting to see if Fale’s new move plays a role tonight.
In the co-main event, Kenny Omega will take on Tomohiro Ishii. It seems based on positioning, whoever wins this match may challenge the winner of the main event in the future.
The other title matches include War Machine defending the IWGP Tag Team titles against Tencozy and Guerrillas of Destiny in a three-way bout. The NEVER Six-Man titles are also on the line as champions Taguchi Japan (Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ricochet & Ryusuke Taguchi) defend against Los Ingobernable members EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI.
The card rounds off with Cody taking on David Finlay, a six-man tag match featuring Tiger Mask, Tiger Mask W & Togi Makabe taking on Jushin Thunder Liger, Manabu Nakanishi & Yuji Nagata, and other assorted six-man and regular tag team matches.
Announcements for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament are also expected.
Our live coverage begins at 4 a.m. ET/1 a.m. PT. There will be English commentary for the show on NJPW World.
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Yoshitatsu and Hirai Kawato defeated Katsuya Kitamura and Takayuki Oka
This was an okay opener. Yoshitatsu worked a lot of the match. When Oka and Kawato were in it was pretty good. Oka has the makings of a future star and Kitamura will probably be one too due to his immense size. After some back and forth, Yoshitatsu grapevined Kitamura’s legs and rolled him on his stomach for a submission win.
YOSHI-HASHI and Will Ospreay defeated Yujiro Takahashi and Chase Owens
Perfectly fine match that the crowd was into. Owens and YOSHI-HASHI worked a lot of the match. Ospreay came in to do his great Fosbury flop. Owens went for the package piledriver but YOSHI-HASHI escaped and locked in Karma for the submission.
Tiger Mask, Tiger Mask W and Togi Makabe defeated Jushin Thunder Liger, Yuji Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi
This was pretty good. Tiger Mask W looked great and the finishing moments where both Tiger Masks did dives to the floor was cool too. Togi Makabe took out Nakanishi then pinned him with the King Kong knee drop.
Hirooki Goto, Roppongi Vice, Jado and Toru Yano defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi, Taka Michinoku, El Desperado and Minoru Suzuki
I liked this match as it was one of those matches where everyone battled one another, keeping the action hot throughout. A lot of typical Suzuki-gun stuff with the brawling around the ring, Taichi using the bell hammer, etc. Goto picked up the win for his team with the GTR on Taka Michinoku.
Suzuki came into the ring after the match and had a pull apart brawl. After everyone was separated, Suzuki cut a promo, saying don’t let your Chaos stablemates hold you back. They got in another fight before eventually bailing.
Cody defeated David Finlay
Cody waffled Finlay with an Alabama Slam on the mat early. Mostly solid back and forth, nothing too fancy but was perfectly alright. Finlay went for an uppercut off the top rope but Cody grabbed him and transitioned into the Crossroads for the win.
Cody takes the mic after the match, telling New Japan to bring him someone bigger, someone stronger. They will find out what everyone already knows in their bones and in their soul — the worst nightmare happens when your eyes are open, and it’s me.
Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi defeated KUSHIDA and Juice Robinson
This was pretty good, the action was hot and there’s a big story here based on how the situation between KUSHIDA and Hiromu Takahashi is unfolding. KUSHIDA became a wildman the minute he and Hiromu interacted, brawling all over the arena. Naito came him and gave him a bodyslam on a raised platform in the crowd. KUSHIDA looked great in this match, came off as super aggressive following the big loss last month. He wiped both of his opponents out with a big tope con hilo. Naito throws Juice into the barricade and helps Takahashi lay out KUSHIDA, allowing Takahashi to pick up the win over KUSHIDA after laying him out with the time bomb.
Here are the brackets for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament:
A Block
Jushin Thunder Liger
Ricochet
Dragon Lee
Will Ospreay
Marty Scurll
Taichi
Taka Michinoku
Hiromu Takahashi
B Block
Tiger Mask
Ryusuke Taguchi
KUSHIDA
Volador Jr
ACH
Kanemaru
Desperado
BUSHI
War Machine defeated Guerillas of Destiny and Tencozy to retain the IWGP tag team titles
This was good as action was frequent throughout, crowd was hot and everyone worked well together. War Machine is one of the hardest working teams out there which is pretty amazing given their size. A lot of spots between all three teams. Tenzan went for a moonsault but Rowe grabbed him and Hanson landed with Fallout, giving them the win.
War Machine bowed to the fans after the match, but Guerillas of Destiny used this as an opportune time to jump them after the match with the belts, Tama Tonga saying “This is ours”, so they’re staying the course with this feud..
EVIL, SANADA and BUSHI defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ricochet and Ryusuke Taguchi to win the NEVER Six Man titles
There was one point of the match where Taguchi was isolated on the top rope as all of LIJ were staring at him. He tried to make his way by them but got destroyed. All three of the faces eventually managed stereo ankle locks. Tanahashi hit the sling blade and went for the high fly flow but EVIL got the knees up.
Taguchi gains the advantage for his team and secures another ankle lock. BUSHI taps, but the referee it out of the ring recovering from a bump. Taguchi releases the hold but BUSHI mists him in response. He lays him out with the MX but Taguchi’s teammates break it up. SANADA and EVIL lay them both out and BUSHI hits the MX for the second time to win the titles. Really great match with lots of good tandem work and some pretty fun spots.
Kenny Omega defeated Tomohiro Ishii
A completely tremendous match, easily the best thing on the show and a true testament to both men’s skills. They kept a high pace for the majority of the match and never felt like it was dull.
They start off hot early, hitting Omega at one point in the match hit a big time crossbody off the top rope and through the barricade. They go back into the ring and trade one hot move after another. Omega tries for the One Winged Angel but Ishii blocks and hits a lariat, then hits another but Omega kicks out. Ishii hits his version of the One Winged Angel except hit turns into a neckbreaker on the knee.
Omega fires back with a reverse rana and a giant lariat, still a part of this match. He hits the v-trigger then goes for the One Winged Angel but Ishii counters with a reverse rana. Yep, you read that right. He hits a lariat after that but doesn’t get it.
They go into a forearm battle, with Ishii losing after Omega switches to a knee under the chin. A second brings Ishii down. Omega follows with a brainbuster than lands the One Winged Angel for the win.
Kazuchika Okada defeated Bad Luck Fale to retain the IWGP Heavyweight title
Great main event with some really great callbacks to other matches on this tour. They made Fale look like a super strong challenger, dominating Okada throughout. The story with the tombstone played well here too because not only did he manage to land one of his own on Fale, he also kicked out Fale’s tombstone too.
Okada tries to gain an advantage early but Fale easily dominates. He takes him to the outside where he teases a Bad Luck Fall, but Okada escapes. Fale instead manages to ram Okada’s back to the ring post. Fale works him over for a while until Okada comes back with a DDT, then takes Fale to the outside where he flies over the guardrail, taking down Fale with a crossbody.
He tries for a bodyslam, or even his tombstone, but Fale manages to overpower him each time he tries to execute. Fale tries to charge him in a corner but Okada instead dropkicks him in the opposite corner. Okada hits the elbow and tries for a rainmaker but Fale counters with a bear hug. He hits the grenade but Okada kicks out. Fale tries for the tombstone but Okada escapes, then manages to land a dropkick. He tries once again for a tombstone…and it connects! He tries for the rainmaker but Fale immediately comes back with a clothesline of his own and follows that with a spear.
Fale goes for the Bad Luck Fall but Okada escapes, so instead he follows with the grenade then lands the tombstone he’s been delivering to Okada on the tour, but Okada kicks out of it. He follows with another Bad Luck Fall attempt, but Okada escapes and manages to hit a rainmaker, then two, then pins Fale with a third.
The rest of Bullet Club, including Kenny Omega, come out after the match to tend to Fale. After a short ceremony, Okada takes a mic and calls out Omega, who was helping Fale to the back. He comes to the ring and they have a staredown. Omega then makes his exit but not before making comments to the camera about Okada not being the champion people want.
Gedo takes the mic from here and cuts a promo to close out the show. Kevin Kelly mentioned that the next IWGP title match would most likely be at Dominion.
Here are some quick results from this morning’s Road to Wrestling Dontaku show, which took place at Korakuen Hall:
– Hirai Kawato defeated Shota Umino via submission with a Boston Crab.
This was Umino’s debut on a regular New Japan card after making his wrestling debut last week at Lion’s Gate Project 4. They had a short match and both looked good.
– YOSHI-HASHI defeated Tomoyuki Oka via submission with Karma.
They were given a long time and worked a pretty good, decent match that the crowd got into. It seems pretty clear they are super high on Oka, who is continually improving. He got a lot of offense in before being taken down and submitted.
– Taka Michinoku & Takashi Iizuka defeated Toru Yano & Jado after Michinoku pinned Jado with a roll-up.
Not very interesting — a lot of brawling and silliness. Iizuka used the iron fingers to strike Jado in the throat and Michinoku followed it with a roll-up.
– Yujiro Takahashi, Chase Owens, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated David Finlay, Katsuya Kitamura, Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan when Takahashi pinned Kitamura with the Pimp Juice DDT.
Kitamura was in for a lot of the match. It was your typical quick-paced New Japan undercard multi-man match, with good action overall.
– Hirooki Goto, Will Ospreay & Roppongi Vice defeated Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi & Desperado when Ospreay pinned Desperado with the Ozcutter.
Suzuki targeted Ospreay early and wrapped one of his legs around with a chair, but it didn’t play much into the finish of the match. Goto worked a lot of the match, which was another solid undercard bout.
– SANADA, EVIL, BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito defeated Juice Robinson, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi, Yoshitatsu & Ricochet when SANADA submitted Yoshitatsu with the Skull End.
Another solid match. Ricochet looked really good; it’s already clear he and Takahashi have some good chemistry.
– Bad Luck Fale & Kenny Omega defeated Tomohiro Ishii & Kazuchika Okada when Fale pinned Okada with a tombstone.
This started off slow at first, but picked up as everyone paired off with their rivals. Omega looked great, putting on all sorts of great offense on Ishii. Okada went for the Rainmaker near the end but Fale countered with one of his own, then tombstoned Okada for the win.
Fale went to beat up Okada in the corner after the match. Gedo tried to aid Okada, but his efforts were futile as Fale quickly got rid of him. Omega started to cut a promo when Ishii grabbed him by the waist. He had Fale splash him in response. Omega told the crowd that Ishii was next on his hit list, and Fale would be the next champion.
New Japan Pro Wrestling announced the lineups for Wrestling Toyonokuni and Wrestling Dontaku at a press conference this morning.
The shows will be headlined by title matches that were set up at Sakura Genesis. Kazuchika Okada is set to defend the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Bad Luck Fale in the main event of Wrestling Dontaku on May 3rd, while Tetsuya Naito will put his IWGP Intercontinental title on the line against Juice Robinson in the top match at Wrestling Toyonokuni on April 29th.
Wrestling Dontaku will also feature another singles match between Kenny Omega and Tomohiro Ishii, which could have future title implications for the winner.
Two other titles will be up for grabs at a smaller show on April 27th, where Hirooki Goto will defend the NEVER Openweight Championship against Minoru Suzuki and Roppongi Vice will challenge for Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru’s IWGP Junior tag titles.
Due to what NJPW reported to be a subdural hematoma, Katsuyori Shibata underwent emergency surgery following his match at Sakura Genesis and will miss this upcoming tour.
Wrestling Toyonokuni on April 29th will have —
Jushin Thunder Liger, Tomoyuki Oka & Hirai Kawato vs. Tiger Mask IV, Katsuya Kitamura & Shota Umino (another new young lion making his debut soon on the April 13th Lion’s Gate show)
Rocky Romero, Beretta & Jado vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi & El Desperado
Ryusuke Taguchi & Yoshitatsu (returning from CMLL) vs. SANADA & BUSHI
Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & David Finlay vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Roa & Yujiro Takahashi
Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Will Ospreay vs. Minoru Suzuki, Takashi Iizuka & TAKA Michinoku
Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Kenny Omega, Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi defending against Ricochet
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL
IWGP Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito defending against Juice Robinson
Wrestling Dontaku will follow on May 3rd and will feature —
Yoshitatsu & Hirai Kawato vs. Tomoyuki Oka & Katsuya Kitamura
YOSHI-HASHI & Will Ospreay vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens
Tiger Mask W, Tiger Mask IV & Togi Makabe vs. Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi & Jushin Thunder Liger
Hirooki Goto, Toru Yano, Jado, Rocky Romero & Beretta vs. Minoru Suzuki, Takashi Iizuka, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi & El Desperado
David Finlay vs. Cody
Juice Robinson & KUSHIDA vs. Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi
NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Ricochet defending against SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI
IWGP Tag Team Champions War Machine defending against Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima and Guerillas of Destiny in a three-way match
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kenny Omega
IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada defending against Bad Luck Fale
