El Desperado won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title tonight for the first time on the second night of NJPW Castle Attack in Osaka-jo Hall.
Desperado pinned El Phantasmo in a match that also featured BUSHI. The finish had BUSHI being taken out by ELP’s loaded boot. Desperado then got the better of ELP, pinning him after two Pinche Locos (angel’s wings).
This marks the first Junior title win for El Desperado. He also won the IWGP Junior Tag Team titles with Yoshinobu Kanemaru on February 25, winning that championship for the third time.
The match at tonight’s Castle Attack event was originally set to be a singles match between Hiromu Takahashi and El Phantasmo. However, Takahashi had to vacate the Junior title after tearing his left pectoral muscle, putting him out of action for the next six months. When vacating the title, Takahashi asked BUSHI to take his place. The match was later announced as a three-way, also including Desperado.
NJPW has revealed the full lineups for both nights of their next major event.
Castle Attack is taking place at Osaka-jo Hall in Osaka, Japan on Saturday, February 27 and Sunday, February 28. For the first time since Wrestle Kingdom 14’s double title match, the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Champion will defend only one of his titles. Double champion Kota Ibushi’s Intercontinental title will be on the line against Tetsuya Naito in the main event of Castle Attack night two.
After Ibushi retained both of his titles against SANADA at the New Beginning in Hiroshima night two this week, Naito challenged Ibushi to the Intercontinental Championship match. Ibushi has said his dream is to unify the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental titles, while Naito wants them to be kept separate.
Ibushi became IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Champion by defeating Naito at Wrestle Kingdom 15 night one last month.
Three other title matches will also take place at Castle Attack night two. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi will defend his title against El Phantasmo, Hiroshi Tanahashi will defend his NEVER Openweight Championship against The Great O-Khan, and IWGP Tag Team Champions The Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) will put their titles on the line against Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI.
Night one of Castle Attack will be headlined by Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL. Jay White vs. Tomohiro Ishii will be the semi-main event.
Both nights of Castle Attack will air live on NJPW World. Night one will begin at 2 a.m. Eastern time. Night two will start at midnight Eastern.
Here are the full cards for both shows:
Castle Attack night one (Saturday, February 27) —
Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL
Jay White vs. Tomohiro Ishii
KOPW 2021 trophy holder Toru Yano defends against Chase Owens
Hirooki Goto vs. Tama Tonga
YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tanga Loa
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. The Great O-Khan, Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb
Castle Attack night two (Sunday, February 28) —
IWGP Intercontinental Champion Kota Ibushi defends against Tetsuya Naito
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi defends against El Phantasmo
NEVER Openweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defends against The Great O-Khan
IWGP Tag Team Champions The Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) defend against Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. EVIL, Jay White & Chase Owens
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb
