Tag: el desperado

NJPW Strong Independence Day night two live results: Moxley vs. Desperado Final Death match

Posted on by Chick Fritts

NJPW Strong’s two-night Independence Day event concludes today with a Final Death match at Korakuen Hall. 

In the main event, Jon Moxley takes on El Desperado in a Final Death contest. Desperado & Jun Kasai defeated Moxley & Homicide in a Doomsday No DQ match on yesterday’s show. 

Three titles are also on the line at the event. 

KENTA defends the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship against Eddie Kingston, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defend the IWGP Tag Team Championship against Gabe Kidd & Alex Coughlin, plus Willow Nightingale defends the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship against Giulia. 

The undercard: 

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & The DKC vs. Tom Lawlor, Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs
  • Lance Archer & Alex Zayne vs. Bad Dude Tito & Kosei Fujita
  • Rocky Romero & YOH vs Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney
  • Homicide & Ryohei Oiwa vs. TJP & Francesco Akira
  • JR Kratos vs. Oskar Leube
  • Ryusuke Taguchi, Boltin Oleg & Master Wato vs. Dragon Libre, Takahiro Katori & Rekka

Our live coverage begins at 5:10 a.m. Eastern time. 

**********

Master Wato, Oleg Boltin & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Dragon Libre, Rekka & Takahiro Katori

Rekka opened the match hot against Taguchi, prompting tags to Oleg and Katori. Oleg, in possession of Katori’s stuffed rabbit, played a dominant game of keep-away while establishing a solid lead for his team. From here on, the New Japan squad traded tags and custody of Katori’s bunny.

Taguchi slammed the bunny on the ground and shoved it into his pants to a chorus of boos, giving Katori enough time to mount a comeback and retake rabbit control. This led to a hot tag into Libre, who gave the FREEDOMS team a fighting chance. From here, the teams traded momentum with back-and-forth tags.

The match ended with an extended sequence between Rekka and Wato. Wato finished the bout with a bridging German suplex.

After the match, Taguchi attacked Katori and Katori’s rabbit.

Satoshi Kojima defeated Oskar Leube

This was great. Even with Kojima as a last-minute replacement, Leube put in a vivacious performance.

Leube opened the match with a shoulder tackle that knocked Kojima to the floor, but Kojima answered with one of his own. Leube tried for a chop in the corner, but again, Kojima responded with a barrage of chops. Leube kept up the fight, trading strikes with Kojima before landing a big slam.

Kojima kept Leube from getting too far ahead, hitting a quick Koji Cutter before attempting a lariat. Leube blocked the lariat with a big boot, but Kojima was quick to respond with another. After hitting the lariat, Kojima pinned Leube to win the match.

Catch 22 (Francesco Akira & TJP) defeated Homicide & Ryohei Oiwa

Nowhere near perfect, but this was another fun watch.

The match opened with a short back-and-forth between Homicide and Akira. After the tags, Catch 22 worked to isolate Oiwa, setting up a path for the rest of the match.

A hot tag to Homicide opened the door for a colossal comeback. Homicide hit TJP with multiple suplexes and a DDT for a near fall.

With Oiwa’s help, Homicide maintained his lead for some time, even with Catch 22 hitting the ring. Eventually, Catch 22 was able to clear the ring of Homicide and hit Oiwa with their double running knee to win the match.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney) (c) defeated CHAOS (Rocky Romero & YOH)

This match was nothing short of fantastic. I have a feeling that this War Dogs reign is going to be incredible.

Before the match could begin, Rocky asked if the match could be for the Junior tag belts. After some hesitation, Moloney agreed, making this a title match.

The match began with the War Dogs rushing YOH and Rocky, taking the match outside the ring. On the outside, CHAOS fought back, but back in the ring, the War Dogs established firm control, isolating YOH for some time.

A hot tag to Rocky allowed for a comeback from the babyfaces. YOH landed a falcon arrow, but Moloney avoided the tandem finish. Connors hit the ring to make the save.

Connors and Moloney hit Rockey with their tandem chop-block spear, forcing YOH to break up the pin. This led to an extended back and forth with multiple convincing near falls, including a 3K from YOH and Rocky. To close, Moloney hit a Drilla Killer, leading into the War Dogs’ tandem leaping spear/suplex. 

Alex Zayne & Lance Archer defeated TMDK (Bad Dude Tito & Kosei Fujita)

Another entertaining match here.

The match began with Tito calling out Archer. Archer obliged, leading to the pair coming to blows. This encounter was short-lived, allowing the other two to lead a sequence of their own.

Once Tito tagged back in, he worked to isolate Zayne while taunting Archer. Once Archer eventually tagged in, he ran through Fujita and Tito with ease. Archer and Zayne then hit Fujita with their moonsault chokeslam for a near fall.

Tito hit the ring, turning the match into a chaotic brawl. Both teams worked to gain ring control, but after an extended back-and-forth, Archer killed Fujita with a lariat and pinned him.

After the match, Archer announced Zayne would be his new partner under the team name “Murder Sauce”.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, The DKC & Tomohiro Ishii defeated Team Filthy (Jorel Nelson, Royce Isaacs & Tom Lawlor)

This show keeps on giving.

After a brief opening with Tanahashi and Nelson, the match broke down. Ishii and Lawlor traded strikes as the rest of the men hit the ring. Eventually, the in-ring multi-man fight calmed down a bit, but the momentum continued to shift drastically.

After Team Filthy isolated DKC for some time, Ishii tagged in for a fiery rally. Isaacs answered Ishii’s comeback, leading to an intense back-and-forth between the pair.

Tanahashi tagged in, prompting Team Filthy to hit the ring again. An assisted falcon arrow and a running knee from Isaacs scored him a pair of near falls over Tanahashi. As Isaacs grew more desperate, Tanahashi took advantage, trapping Isaacs with a snug pin to win the match.

WrestleKingdom Announcement

WrestleKingdom was announced for its typical January 4, Tokyo Dome slot, along with a new logo. The show event will seemingly be one night.

NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship: Giulia defeated Willow Nightingale (c)

I had extremely high expectations for this match going in, but it blew them away. This was one of the best matches of the year, no qualifiers needed.

Giulia opened the match by rushing Willow, but Willow stuffed Giulia early, blocking an arm drag and a head-scissor takedown. Giulia attempted to take the match to the mat, but Willow continued to escape before landing a massive powerbomb to establish a strong lead.

After an extended period on the back foot, Giulia secured a choke which she turned into a DDT. This led to a bit of a rally, but a massive pounce put Willow back in control. The follow-up cannonball and driver resulted in an excellent pin attempt.

Giulia ate a buckle bomb, setting Willow up for a moonsault attempt. Giulia avoided the dive, allowing her to lock in her Bianca submission, establishing control for the first time. She followed with a throw that led to a joint strike exchange.

A pair of lariats from Willow dropped Giulia. Willow tried to follow up with a powerbomb, but Giulia reversed into a code red for a near fall. This led to an intense struggle for control that featured a super butterfly suplex for another great near fall.

Giulia dodged Willow’s next lariat, hit a knee strike and a Glorious Driver to close the match and win the Strong Women’s Championship.

IWGP Tag Team Championship: Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (c) defeated BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd)

While not as good as their match from last night, this was still quite fun. These War Dogs are the best thing to happen to Bullet Club in years.

The War Dogs tried to rush Bishamon like they did last night, but Bishamon was ready. After withstanding the initial rush, Bishamon kept up the pace, attacking the War Dogs both in and out of the ring.

The fighting on the outside eventually allowed the War Dogs to gain some footing. This allowed them to write off YH for a while and begin to focus on Goto. After YH recovered, he tagged in and began a rally. Before Bishamon could hit a tandem finish, Coughlin hit YH with a chair. The War Dogs hit YH with a double muscle buster for a near fall.

A late match reset led to a Bishamon rally. After dropping Coughlin across Kidd’s knee, Goto and YH hit Kidd with Shoto. They then pinned Kidd to win the match and retain their tag belts.

NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship: Eddie Kingston defeated KENTA (c)

Everyone knows current KENTA can be hit or miss, but this was quite good.

KENTA baited Eddie into a chase early on, earning a quick lead. Eddie answered with a suplex and a chop, sending KENTA to the floor. Eddie pursued KENTA but missed a strike, driving his hand into the ring post. KENTA followed up, focusing on Eddie’s hand from here on.

Eddie fought back in a strike exchange and landed a pair of suplexes to gain a lead. Eddie locked in a choke, but KENTA walked into the ref. KENTA then baited a recovering referee into thinking Eddie was choking him with a shirt before really bumping the referee. KENTA then grabbed a belt but lost control of it to Eddie. Eddie thought about using the belt but decided against it. While Eddie was discarding the belt, KENTA grabbed another, which he used to drop Eddie.

Eddie kicked out of a double foot stomp and locked in a stretch plum in the middle of the ring. KENTA worked his way to the rope, blocked the follow-up back elbow, and connected with a flurry of strikes. KENTA then hit a running knee before attempting the GTS; Eddie blocked.

After avoiding Kenta’s finish, Eddie hit two weak spinning back fists. A massive lariat yielded a near fall. Eddie followed up with another back fist before picking KENTA up and dropping him on his head to win the Strong Openweight Championship. Eddie Kingston is a champion in New Japan.

Final Death Match: Jon Moxley defeated El Desperado

This, unsurprisingly, was an extremely violent match. I don’t think it quite lived up to their previous match, especially on a visual level, but it was an intense war.

Before the match began, two barbed wire boards were set up in the corners. Once the bell sounded, the men tried whipping the other into said boards, but neither could pull it off at this point. Instead, Desperado rolled to the outside and blasted Moxley with a pair of trashcan lids.

Desperado grabbed a table from under the seats. After whipping Moxely into the barricade, he set up the table and climbed up one level of stairs. Moxely fought Desperado on the stage and threw him into the table, but it failed to break. After the table held strong, Moxley placed Desperado on it and hit him with an elbow drop; it held firm again. Moxley then placed him on the table again and landed a double-axe handle; the table refused to break.

Moxley moved on, slamming Desperado into four standing chairs before shutting Desperado’s leg in a chair. Moxley then threw Desperado in the ring and began to stab him with a fork. Moxley followed up by throwing Desperado into the barbed wire board for a near fall.

Back on the outside, Moxley killed Desperado with his own guitar. Moxley didn’t waste time, using the remnants of Desperado’s guitar to stab at his neck. Moxley challenged Desperado to return to the ring, only to stab him with a fork and bite him after returning to the ropes.

Desperado began to fight back with chops and forearms before whipping Moxlet into the other barbed wire board. Desperado then placed the board’s remnants on Moxley’s back and drove it into him with a chair. Desperado hit a backdrop, and a Kasai frog splash for a near fall.

Desperado grabbed a cheesegrater stashed in a bouquet of roses to draw Moxley’s blood before grabbing another table. Desperado set up the table, topped with a barbed wire board. Both men struggled for control, resulting in both men falling back into the barbed wire-adorned hardware; “holy sh*t” and “this is awesome” chants rang through Tokyo.

Both men wrapped barbed wire around their hands before driving skewers into each other’s heads. Moxley followed with a cutter, a barrage of elbows, and a choke. Desperado refused to quit, forcing Moxley to drop the hold.

Moxley attempted a death rider, but Desperado avoided, hit a spinebuster, and a pinche loco for a near fall. Moxley answered with a death rider, but Desperado kicked out. It took a curb stomp, a lariat, and another death rider to close the match for Moxley.

Moxley closed the show by declaring himself the king of NJPW. He thanked Korakuen Hall for being the “heartbeat of pro wrestling”. He thanked Desperado and Kasai for the matches before paying special tribute to the late Danny Havoc, who Kasai greatly inspired. Moxley then left through the crowd, marking the end to one of the best New Japan shows of the year.

Ring of Honor TV live results: Six-Man Tag Team title match

Posted on by Joseph Collins

The fallout from Forbidden Door continues on a NJPW-inspired Ring of Honor on HonorClub tonight.

LIJ’s BUSHI, Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi will attempt to take the ROH Six-Man Tag Team titles back to Japan as they challenge The Embassy (Brian Cage, Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun).

El Desperado will make his ROH debut against Willie Mack while United Empire’s Kyle Fletcher, TJP & Jeff Cobb take on Christopher Daniels, Action Andretti & Darius Martin in trios action.

Sho & Yujiro Takahashi will face Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta).

In two separate Proving Ground matches, ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli will face Chuck Taylor while ROH Women’s Champion Athena will take on KC Spinelli.

The rest of the 11-match card is highlighted by an eight-man tag team match featuring ROH Tag Team Champions The Lucha Brothers, El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander vs. The WorkHorsemen (JD Drake and Anthony Henry), Shane Taylor & Gringo Loco.

**********

Taped in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 

Tony Khan and Stokley Hathaway opened the show backstage and ran down parts of the card, before sending the show to Ian Riccobani and Caprice Coleman on commentary. 

Dralistico & Preston Vance (w/ Jose the Assistant) defeated Mark Wheeler & Vikram Prashar (2:14)

Vance and Dralistico jumped their opponents before the bell. Vance hit Wheeler with a spinebuster, Dralistico dove in with a springboard codebreaker on Prashar, and Vance finished off Wheeler with a discus lariat. This was a total squash.

The Righteous Vincent & Dutch (w/ Stu Grayson) defeated Alex Reynolds & John Silver (5:32)

Grayson was a member of the Dark Order but has been swayed to the Righteous.

The Dark Order did not follow through with the Code of Honor and attacked The Righteous before the bell. Silver confronted Stu Grayson on the floor and Vincent rammed Silver into the ring apron. This led to a setup, where Vincent brought a steel chair into the ring, but when the ref turned around he saw Evil Uno holding it, so Uno was ejected from the match. Dutch hit Silver with a black hole slam to take control.

Silver reversed a suplex attempt from the much larger Dutch and made the tag to Reynolds. Reynold ran wild on Dutch and hit a charging knee in the corner. They fought to the floor, and Reynolds sent Vincent into the ring barricade and took Dutch down with a tornado DDT.

Back in the ring, Silver hit Vincent with a deadlift brainbuster. Dutch pulled Silver out of the ring. Behind the ref’s back, Grayson ran in and hit Reynolds with a running knee, and Vincent rolled up Reynolds for the pin. Not a great week for the Dark Order.

After the match, the Righteous beat down Silver and Reynolds. Evil Uno ran in with a chair to break it up, but Stu Grayson got in Uno’s face. Uno wouldn’t hit his former partner with the chair. This is quite the little angle between former partners and the crowd was into the Reynolds/Uno conflict. But, Alex Reynolds wasn’t happy with Evil Uno’s lack of action. 

Diamante defeated Leila Grey (w/ “Smart” Mark Sterling) (6:00)

Sterling distracted Diamante on the floor, and Grey got the advantage. She hit a suplex and controlled Diamte with a surfboard, then transitioned to a chinlock when Diamante was about to escape. Diamante escaped with a jawbreaker and floored Grey with a series of clotheslines and a German suplex. Grey came back with a sit-out uranage for a near fall. Diamante hit a shotgun dropkick, but Sterling broke up the pin attempt by putting Grey’s foot on the bottom ropes. That didn’t stop Diamante, who hit Grey with the Cross Rhodes and got the pinfall. 

Diamante looked good here. 

Lucha Brothers, El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander (w/ Alex Abrantes) defeated The WorkHorsemen (JD Drake and Anthony Henry), Shane Taylor & Gringo Loco (8:58)

This was taped in Chicago.

Gringo Loco was something of a hometown favorite here. Loco press slammed Rey Fenix, and Taylor followed up with a big splash for a near fall. Fenix caught Taylor with a superkick. Kommander got the tag and was mowed down by a lariat from Taylor. Kommader was triple-teamed by the heels, and Loco hit a twisting springboard moonsault on Kommander for a near fall.

Kommander caught Drake with an enziguri and made the tag to Vikingo. Viking hit an amazing headscissors while standing on Loco’s shoulders. The Lucha Bros double-teamed Drake. Penta went for the stuff piledriver on Drake, but Drake escaped and both guys were down following a double clothesline.

Fenix and Anthony Henry got the tags for their teams. Henry dropped Fenix with a brainbuster for a near fall. Vikingo and Kommander hit a pair of dives on the floor, while in the ring Fenix and Penta double-teamed Henry. The Lucha Bros hit a double superkick on Henry, then finished him off with the Fear Factor to get the win. Great match. 

– ROH World Television Champion Samoa Joe’s promo was interrupted by Stokely Hathaway. Hathaway may run ROH, but Samoa Joe runs Hathaway.

Big Bill & Lee Moriarty defeated Karou & Tarik (3:18)

Big Bill looked awesome, taking down Karou with a big boot and Tarik with a black hole slam. Moriarty caught Tarik in the Border City Stretch and got the submission. 

The Embassy (Brian Cage, Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun) defeated LIJ (BUSHI, Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi) to retain the ROH Six Man Tag Team Championship (7:37)

Takahashi did a fantastic job overselling all of Cage’s power moves. Liona dropped Takahashi back-first on the turnbuckles, and Khan hit him with a senton on the ring apron. Takahashi countered a slam attempt with a spinning DDT. Takagi got the tag and hit Bishop Khan with a lariat. Takagi hit a flatliner/DDT combo on Khan and Cage, then got a near fall on Khan after a DDT. Khan came back with a lungblower, but BUSHI got the tag and flew in with a top rope dropkick.

Kaun got triple-teamed by the LIJ team. BUSHI hit a twist and shout neckbreaker for a near fall, but Kaun came back with a clothesline. Cage floored Takahashi and Shingo with a double clothesline. Cage took out Shingo with a powerslam and Takahashi with a powerbomb at the same time. BUSHI sprayed black mist in Cage’s face, but back in the ring, the Gates of Agony gave BUSHI a double-team face first slam and got the pinfall. 

El Desperado defeated Willie Mack (9:03)

The crowd chanted “This is awesome!” before the bell even rang. Mack wowed the crowd with a leapfrog and flying leg lariat. Mack caught Desperado with a fallaway slam, then kipped up and hit a standing moonsault for a near fall. Desperado caught Mack with a low dropkick and started working over Mack’s leg. Desperado tied up Mack with an Indian Death Lock, which Mack escaped by grabbing the ropes.

Mack tried to come back, but Desperado cut him off by attacking the leg again. Mack finally caught Desperado with a pop-up forearm. Mack hit a huge cannonball in the corner for a near fall. Mack went to the top for a splash, but Desperado got out of the way. He went for a stretch muffler, but Mack countered into a cradle for a near fall. Mack called for the brainbuster, but Desperado escaped and dropkicked Mack’s leg again. Mack went for a powerbomb, but Desperado escaped. Desperado pulled Mack into a backslide to disorient him, then caught him with the Pinche Loco (a double underhook facebuster) to get the pinfall. Very good match, and they must find something more for Willie Mack to do. 

Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta defeated Sho & Yujiro Takahashi (8:50)

Sho and Takahashi (members of the House of Torture) did not adhere to the Code of Honor to start. Romero hit a place kick on Takahashi and Beretta followed up with a standing moonsault for a near fall. The heels got the advantage when Sho caught Beretta with a clothesline on the floor. Sho hit a deadlift suplex for a near fall. Beretta came back with a tornado DDT on Takahashi. Romero got the tag and chopped away at Sho. Romero hit a step-up rana on Sho. Romero hit charging clotheslines on both Sho and Takahashi in the corners. Beretta hit a sliding knee on Sho for a near fall.

Takahashi pushed Romeo off the top when he went for Strong Zero. Sho gave Beretta a powerbomb into a lung blower for a near fall. Takahashi hit a top rope fisherman’s buster on Beretta for a near fall. Romeo and Sho broke up the pin attempt. Romeo took Sho out with a dive, and Beretta and Romero combined for Strong Zero on Takahashi to get the pinfall. This felt unnecessarily long.

The House of Torture attacked Romero and Beretta after the match until Orange Cassidy walked in to make the save. After the match, a group hug from the almost Best Friends delighted the crowd. 

Christopher Daniels, Action Andretti & Darius Martin defeated United Empire (Kyle Fletcher, TJP & Jeff Cobb) (8:11)

Cobb got a near fall on Daniels after a standing moonsault. He picked up Daniels for a suplex, then made the tag to Fletcher and handed Daniels to Fletcher so he could finish the suplex. Daniels caught TJP with an exploder and made the tag to Darius Martin. Martin hit Fetchers with a spinning DDT, then took down Cobb with a flatliner. TJP caught Martin with a back suplex. Andretti hit TJP with an enziguri and a handspring back elbow. Andretti hit a falcon arrow for a near fall. TJP came back with a spinning DDT. TJP hit a splash off the top for a near fall. Daniels caught TJP with a forearm in the corner, and Andretti and Martin gave TJP a double-team slam and got the upset pinfall.

– Lexi Nair interviewed The Kingdom and Jerry Lynn. The Kingdom trashed ECW, and tried to stir up trouble between Jerry Lynn and Stokely Hathaway. Lynn then made a match between The Kingdom and Maria Kanellis against The Infantry and Trish Adora, presumably for next week. 

ROH Women’s Champion Athena defeated KC Spinelli in a Proving Ground match (2:37)

A Proving Ground match is a non-title match, where if Spinelli wins or goes the time limit with Athena, she will get a title match.

This match was so enthralling the commentators spent most of it talking about Mike Tyson and Buster Douglas. Athena won with a forearm. This was Athena’s 28th win in a row according to Ian Riccobani. 

Athena attacked Spinelli with a dropkick on the floor after the match.

ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli defeated Chuck Taylor in a Proving Ground match (5:28)

This evolved from a backstage interview earlier in the show, where Taylor asked for a title shot from Castignoli.  Even though this is a Proving Ground match, Claudio added the stipulation that Taylor has to win to get the title shot. Taylor can’t the title shot by lasting the time limit. Taylor has a winning record against Castignoli.

Taylor sent Castignoli to the floor with a Soul Food. On the floor, Claudio got the advantage and sent Taylor over the barricade with a forearm. Taylor tried to get back in the ring, but a big boot from Castignoli sent Taylor back to the floor.

Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta came to ringside to encourage Taylor. Taylor came back with a flatliner and locked in a Koji Clutch. Castignoli broke the hold by making the ropes. Taylor caught Castignoli with a knee and a stuff piledriver for a near fall. Castignoli hit a popup uppercut for a near fall. Taylor escaped a Neutralizer attmpt, but Castignoli came back with a clothesline. Castignolia followed up with the Ricola Bomb to get the pinfall. 

Two hours and 11 matches just feel like far too much for these shows. 

The Embassy vs. LIJ title defense part of 11-match Ring of Honor TV lineup

Posted on by Josh Nason

A Ring of Honor Six-Man Tag Team title match is part of Thursday’s NJPW-tinged ROH on HonorClub lineup.

The Embassy’s Brian Cage, Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun will defend against LIJ’s BUSHI, Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi in search of their fourth title defense since winning the gold last December.

After being part of the Forbidden Door pre-show, El Desperado will make his ROH debut against Willie Mack while Sho & Yujiro Takahashi will face Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta).

In eight-man action, ROH Tag Team Champions The Lucha Brothers will once again team with El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander to take on The WorkHorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry), Shane Taylor & Gringo Loco.

In one of two non-title Proving Ground matches, ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli will take on Chuck Taylor while ROH Women’s Champion Athena goes one-on-one with KC Spinelli.

Here’s the full 11-match card, taped last Saturday in Chicago:

  • El Desperado vs. Willie Mack
  • Lucha Brothers, El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander vs. The WorkHorsemen (JD Drake and Anthony Henry), Shane Taylor & Gringo Loco
  • ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions The Embassy (Brian Cage, Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun) defend against LIJ (BUSHI, Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi)
  • ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli vs. Chuck Taylor in a Proving Ground match
  • ROH Women’s Champion Athena vs. KC Spinelli in a Proving Ground match
  • Diamante vs. Leila Gray
  • Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver) vs. The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch)
  • United Empire (Kyle Fletcher, TJP & Jeff Cobb) vs. Christopher Daniels, Action Andretti & Darius Martin
  • Dralistico & Preston Vance vs. Mark Wheeler & Vikram Prashar
  • Sho & Yujiro Takahashi vs. Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta)
  • Big Bill & Lee Moriarty vs. Karou & Tarik

Moxley vs. Desperado ‘Final Death’ match added to NJPW Strong Independence Day

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Jon Moxley vs. El Desperado in a “Final Death” match has been added to NJPW Strong Independence Day, as the cards are now set.

After squaring off in a tag team match on night one, Moxley will face Desperado in a Final death match on night two on July 5. Moxley & Homicide will team on night one on July 4 against Desperado & Jun Kasai in an “Exciting Encounter Doomsday No DQ” match. That match has now been made official after being teased last week. 

An IWGP Tag Team title match has also been added to the July 5 show, with Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defending against Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd of Bullet Club. On July 4, Goto & YOSHI-HASHI will defend the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag titles against Kidd & Coughlin.

Here are the full lineups: 

NJPW Strong Independence Day night one, Tuesday, July 4, 5:10 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World pay-per-view —

  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: TJP & Francesco Akira defend against Drilla Moloney & Clark Connors
  • Exciting Encounter Doomsday No DQ match: Jon Moxley & Homicide vs. El Desperado & Jun Kasai
  • NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defend against Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd
  • Eddie Kingston & Rocky Romero vs. KENTA & Gedo
  • Tom Lawlor vs. Kosei Fujita
  • Lance Archer, Alex Zayne & Ryohei Oiwa vs. JR Kratos, Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs
  • Bad Dude Tito vs. The DKC
  • Kickoff match: Ryusuke Taguchi, YOH & Oskar Leube vs. Kengo, Dragon Libre & Takahiro Katori

NJPW Strong Independence Day night two, Wednesday, July 5, 5:10 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World pay-per-view —

  • NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: KENTA defends against Eddie Kingston
  • Final Death match: Jon Moxley vs. El Desperado
  • IWGP Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defend against Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & The DKC vs. Tom Lawlor, Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs
  • Lance Archer & Alex Zayne vs. Bad Dude Tito & Kosei Fujita
  • Drilla Moloney & Clark Connors vs. YOH & Rocky Romero
  • Homicide & Ryohei Oiwa vs. TJP & Francesco Akira
  • JR Kratos vs. OSkar Leube
  • Kickoff match: Ryusuke Taguchi, Master Wato & Boltin Oleg vs. Dragon Libre, Takahiro Katori & Rekka

Jon Moxley challenges NJPW’s El Desperado to ‘Final Death’ match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Jon Moxley and El Desperado will be facing off twice at NJPW Strong Independence Day.

At Saturday’s New Japan Road show, a video aired with Moxley challenging Desperado to face him in a “Final Death” match at night two of NJPW Strong Independence Day. Moxley said the match will have no winner — it will only have a survivor.

Desperado accepted Moxley’s challenge and stated that Final Death will be an anything goes match:

Sounds good. July 5, the second night for #njpwSTRONG in Korakuen, a singles match with Moxley? When it’s time for him to show up he shows, when it’s time for him to speak he speaks. That’s why I love Mox.

He said ‘Final Death?’ That sounds like anything goes to me. I’ll take it!

NJPW Strong Independence Day is taking place at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on Tuesday, July 4 and Wednesday, July 5. At night one of the event, Moxley is teaming with Homicide against Desperado & Jun Kasai.

Kasai made a surprise appearance at New Japan Road to officially accept Desperado’s offer to team together at Independence Day. It was Kasai’s first time appearing in an NJPW ring.

Desperado told Kasai that he’ll do what he can to make sure the rules for the tag match are to Kasai’s liking.

Kasai: BUT Despe, if I’m to step into a NJPW ring, it has to be with the right rules. I’ll be happy to be your partner, but I came here to make NJPW history.

Despe: Deathmatches in NJPW.. there might be a bit of resistance, like there’s been to me on Twitter, but I’ll do what I can to do right by you.

Moxley defeated Desperado in a no disqualification match at NJPW Music City Mayhem in July 2022.

The Independence Day events will be the first time NJPW Strong has held shows in Japan. Night one will feature TJP & Francesco Akira defending the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles against Clark Connors & Dan Moloney. Eddie Kingston is challenging KENTA for the Strong Openweight Championship on night two.

El Desperado asks Jun Kasai to be NJPW Strong Independence Day partner vs. Jon Moxley & Homicide

Posted on by Ethan Renner

El Desperado has asked hardcore wrestling icon Jun Kasai to be his tag team partner at NJPW Strong Independence Day against Jon Moxley & Homicide. 

In a video posted to the NJPW World YouTube page and NJPW’s social media accounts, Desperado asked Kasai to team with him against Moxley & Homicide on night one of Independence Day on July 4 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. 

NJPW has yet to make the match official, still listing Desperado’s partner as “X.”

Kasai, 48, has a history of death match wrestling both in Japan and on the American independent scene. He wrestled in death matches three times for GCW in 2022, and won the 2014 CZW Tournament of Death in his most high profile American matches over the past decade. Light tubes and razor blade board death matches have been staples of Kasai’s 25-year career. 

Moxley and Desperado squared off in a singles match last July at NJPW Music City Mayhem. Desperado proposed a rematch for Independence Day, and Moxley responded by challenging Desperado to find a partner, while announcing that he was bringing Homicide to Japan with him next month. 

The current announced lineups for NJPW Strong Independence Day: 

NJPW Strong Independence Day night one, Tuesday, July 4 —

  • Jon Moxley & Homicide vs. El Desperado & X
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Clark Connors & Dan Moloney defend against TJP & Francesco Akira

NJPW Strong Independence Day night two, Wednesday, July 5 —

  • NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: KENTA defends against Eddie Kingston

Jon Moxley to team with Homicide at NJPW Strong Independence Day

Posted on by Ian Carey

Jon Moxley will be in Korakuen Hall for NJPW Strong Independence Day and he is not coming alone. 

El Desperado issued a challenge to Moxley following his performance in GCW’s Tournament of Survival this weekend. The former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion said wrestling in GCW reminded him of facing Moxley on an NJPW Strong show last July and expressed interest in facing him once again. 

On Wednesday, NJPW posted a video of Moxley responding to Desperado’s challenge. Moxley accepted but said he would be enlisting the help of Homicide for the match and wants Desperado to find a partner as well. 

NJPW then made the match official on Thursday. 

Moxley said: 

El Desperado you sick son of a b*tch. Still talking trash all over the world about Jon Moxley. After the last time we crossed paths, we both had to get a tetanus shots after that match, that’s how bad it was and you want some more of that, huh? You’re going to be in Korakuen Hall on July 4 & 5, well guess what? I’ve got a brand spanking new, shiny, goddamn Japanese resident card so I can come back whenever the f**k I want. You got a partner? I got plenty of partners. I’ve got wrestling partners, I’ve got training partners. I’ve got a rap sheet in this business and for this, I’m going deep, deep, deep into the history books and it’s going to be me and the notorious 187, Homicide against El Desperado and whoever you can drag to the table with you. 

Moxley defeated Desperado via referee’s decision at NJPW Music City Mayhem on July 30, 2022 from the Nashville Fairgrounds. 

Homicide and Moxley were on the same team in a 12-person tag match at NJPW Night Before The Rumble on 44th Street last October. Along with Eddie Kingston, Kazuchika Okada, YOH, and Amazing Red they defeated a team comprised of members from Bullet Club and Team Filthy. 

Moxley leads the head-to-head series against Homicide 3-1, including matches in GCW, CZW, ICW, and EVOLVE. 

Two matches are confirmed for NJPW Independence Day thus far. 

NJPW Strong Independence Day lineup:

July 4:

  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Catch 22 (TJP & Francesco Akira) defend against Bullet Club’s Clark Connors & Dan Moloney

July 5:

  • NJPW Strong Openweight Champion KENTA defends against Eddie Kingston

NJPW’s El Desperado challenges Jon Moxley to rematch

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Nearly a year after their first singles match, El Desperado wants to face Jon Moxley again.

NJPW shared a promo from Desperado after he competed in GCW’s Tournament of Survival over the weekend. Desperado said the experience reminded him of the motivation he got from facing Moxley at NJPW Music City Mayhem last year. He challenged Moxley to face him again.

Though Desperado didn’t state when the match would take place, he mentioned that he’s heard NJPW Strong is doing some cool things soon. NJPW Strong will hold its first shows in Japan with two Independence Day events this July. The two-night event is taking place on Tuesday, July 4 and Wednesday, July 5.

Moxley defeated Desperado in a no disqualification match at NJPW Music City Mayhem in July 2022. With Desperado refusing to tap out, the match ended in a stoppage when he passed out in a choke.

Desperado lost in the first round of GCW’s Tournament of Survival last Saturday. At GCW’s Cage of Survival event the next day, Desperado defeated Joey Janela in a death match.

KENTA defending the Strong Openweight Championship against Eddie Kingston has been confirmed for night two of NJPW Strong Independence Day. Night one will see TJP & Francesco Akira defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles against Clark Connors & Dan Moloney.

El Desperado to make GCW debut at Tournament of Survival 8

Posted on by Ian Carey

El Desperado is entering GCW’s Tournament of Survival 8. 

The two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion is the 12th participant to enter the annual one-night deathmatch tournament. This year’s event takes place Saturday, June 3, from The Showboat in Atlantic City. 

It will be Desperado’s first time wrestling in GCW. 

Other participants announced for the tournament include Rina Yamashita, Tomoya Hirata, Toru Suguira, Joey Janela, Sawyer Wreck, Kasey Kirk, John Wayne Murdoch, Ciclope, Tremont, Miedo Extremo, and Green Phantom.

The show is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Eastern time and will air on FITE TV. 

Desperado is coming off this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament. After finishing atop Block B with 10 points, Desperado was eliminated by Titan in the semifinals. 

Previous winners of GCW’s Tournament of Survival:

  • 2022: Drew Parker defeated Matt Tremont in the finals
  • 2021: Alex Colon defeated Atticus Cogar in the finals
  • 2020: Alex Colon defeated Rickey Shane Page in the finals
  • 2019: Alex Colon defeated Jimmy Lloyd and SHLAK in a three-way finals match
  • 2018: Ciclope defeated Miedo Extremo in the finals
  • 2017: Nick Gage defeated Matt Tremont in the finals
  • 2016: Danny Havoc won a four-way against Bryant Woods, John Wayne Murdoch, and Markus Crane in the finals. 

Finals set for NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 30

Posted on by Ian Carey

It will be Titan vs. Master Wato in this year’s Best of the Super Juniors finals.

The tournament’s semifinals took place Friday from Tokyo. 

Wato defeated Mike Bailey in the first semifinal on the card. In the later stages of the match, Wato kicked out from Bailey’s Ultimate Weapon. Moments later, he was able to fight back from a series of kicks and hit his Tsutenkaku German suplex for the win. 

Titan defeated El Desperado in the second semifinal. Both wrestlers were favoring an injured leg in the closing stages. Titan was able to get to the ropes while locked in Desperado’s Numero Dos. Desperado later tapped to Llave Inmortal (Muta Lock) to send Titan to the finals.  

Both Wato and Titan finished second in their block and then defeated the other block’s winner in the semifinals. This year’s tournament was the first since 2014 to include a semifinal round.  

This is Titan’s fourth time entering the Best of the Super Juniors. His previous best finish in the tournament had been eight points. This is also Master Wato’s fourth BOSJ. He finished with 8 points each of the last three years. 

The tournament finals take place Sunday from the Ota City General Gymnasium. No other matches have been announced for the show. 

NJPW Music City Mayhem live results: Jon Moxley vs. El Desperado

Posted on by Chick Fritts

NJPW hits the Nashville Fairgrounds today for the Music City Mayhem pay-per-view on FITE TV as part of Starrcast weekend. 

In the main event, Jon Moxley faces El Desperado in a no DQ match. 

In the semi-main, former tag partners KUSHIDA and Alex Shelley will do battle. 

IWGP Tag Team Champions FTR make their NJPW debut as a duo in a trios match, teaming with Alex Zayne against United Empire’s TJP, Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis. 

Hiromu Takahashi will be in action against Blake Christian. 

Fred Rosser will put the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship on the line, facing Big Damo (the former Killian Dain in WWE and NXT). 

In an MLW National Openweight Championship match, Davey Richards defends against Rocky Romero. 

In the trios match opener, Shota Umino, Yuya Uemura & Fred Yehi will face LA Dojo’s Kevin Knight, The DKC & Ren Narita. 

Our live coverage begins at 3 PM Eastern.

**********

Fred Yehi, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura defeated Kevin Knight, Ren Narita & The DKC

This was a fun open. It was a little busy at times, but an enjoyable watch regardless.

Before the match started, the teams engaged in a tense stare-down, almost resulting in an all-out brawl. Once the bell sounded, Narita and Yuya had an exciting back-and-forth. Narita eventually gained the upper hand and passed the momentum to his teammates.

Knight and DKC worked together to cut the ring in half, isolating Yuya from his team. Yuya eventually landed a dropkick, buying him enough time to score a hot tag to Yehi. Yehi led an intense offensive sequence but ultimately fell to his opponent’s numbers advantage.

Narita and Umino tagged into the match and immediately began to trade strikes before escalating to bigger and bigger moves. After a tag, DKC, Narita, and Knight hit the ring to target Umino; this led to minutes of chaos with brawls on the outside and multiple back-and-forths in the ring.

Eventually, Umino and DKC found themselves alone in the ring. After trading blows, Umino dropped DKC with Death Rider and secured the pin to win the match. 

MLW National Openweight Championship: Davey Richards (c) defeated Rocky Romero

This was fine.

The match opened with a competitive wrestling sequence. After being out-wrestled, Romero took the action to the outside, landing a leaping knee from the apron; this had virtually no effect on the match, as Richards took control as soon as the pair stepped back between the ropes. Richards focused his attention on Romero’s leg.

Romero began a comeback, landing a rana and a pair of corner clotheslines. A tornado DDT scored Romero a near fall. Romero continued to make advances after this, with particular attention paid to Richards’ shoulder.

Romero secured an armbar, but Richards slipped free, turning it into an ankle lock. Richards hit a brainbuster that he turned into another ankle lock after the kick-out. Romero tried rolling through the submission, turning it into a pin. Richards turned Romero’s pin into a pin of his own to bring this match to a close.

After the match, the pair teased a brawl but hugged instead. 

NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship: Fred Rosser (c) defeated Big Damo

This was bad.

The match opened quick, with Damo using his power and unusual speed to gain an early advantage; then, the match slowed to a near halt. On the outside, Damo slammed Rosser on the floor and into the barricade before continuing his domination between the ropes. Damo was so far ahead that he took a break to flash the crowd with his cheeks before continuing the beatdown.

A barrage of forearms dropped Damo for the first time. Rosser maintained his newfound momentum with a bunch of hip attacks before attempting an STF. Once Damo powered out, the pair traded standing strikes, with Rosser eventually winning out.

A spinebuster from Damo followed by a senton set Rosser up for a Vader bomb. Rosser interrupted Damo on the top, loaded him on his shoulders, and hit a sidewinder to retain his title. 

Hiromu Takahashi defeated Blake Christian

This wasn’t a match for me, but there is no denying it was filled with electric sequences and remarkable athletic feats. Christian looked like a star throughout; Hirmou gave him everything but the win.

The match opened with a high-impact sequence filled with explosive offense and dives. Hiromu slowed the match with head scissors in the ropes. A slam to the floor led to Hiromu working over Christian on the mat.

A quick kick from Christian opened the door, leading to a handspring kick, a single-under hook suplex, and a wild dive to the floor. Christian, now bloody, turned to slower offense to solidify his lead.

Hiromu began to fight back in a back-and-forth forearm exchange. Hiromu tried for Time Bomb, but Christian reversed. Hiromu then landed a lariat, but Christian popped up and landed a lariat of his own. Christian hit a 450° for a near fall.

Christian attempted a second 450°, but Hiromu avoided the move. This initiated an insane sequence with Hiromu and Christian going back and forth, trading high-impact moves and convincing near falls. A giant lariat from Hiromu and Time Bomb 2 brought this to a close.

Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis & TJP (United Empire) defeated Cash Wheeler, Dax Harwood (FTR), & Alex Zayne

This match was great. 

Zayne and TJP opened the match with an animated sequence before tagging out to Dax and Fletcher. Fletcher had great success against Dax, with help from his United Empire partners. Fletcher passed the momentum to Davis, only to lose it once Wheeler tagged into the match.

A short, explosive brawl on the outside allowed United Empire to take complete control. The heel trio worked to isolate Wheeler. A goliath lariat, a pair of knees, and an over-head through from Wheeler took out all of his opponents, leading into a Dax hot-tag.

Dax dropped Davis with a lariat. Fletcher and TJP tried to hit the ring, but FTR and Zayne hit a triple suplex. Zayne hit a corkscrew after FTR connected with tandem offense, which forced the breakup; from the fog, United Empire took control once more.

Zayne landed a double rana, and FTR cleared the ring, leaving Zayne and Fletcher alone in the ring. Zayne hit a giant powerbomb for a near fall. Dax hit the ring for some reason, causing a mix-up. This miscommunication allowed United Empire to catch Zayne in the Fidget Spinner, leading to a pinfall victory.

After the match, Aussie Open (Fletcher and Davis) challenged FTR to an IWGP title match. FTR accepted the challenge. 

Time-Limit Draw: KUSHIDA vs. Alex Shelley

This was a fun match filled with Time Splitters callbacks.

The former partners opened the match with a sequence that expressed their familiarity with each other. The lively exchange intensified as holds turned to strikes.

KUSHIDA established some control on the mat, trying for multiple holds, contorting Shelley in various ways. Shelley fought back into the match with legwork, landing dragonscrews, whips, and holds on KUSHIDA’s pre-damaged limb.

KUSHIDA landed a neckbreaker to open Shelley up. KUSHIDA led a quick offensive sequence before trying for the hoverboard lock. Shelley powered through, attempting a hoverboard lock of his own. KUSHIDA freed himself and hit Shelley with a cradle shock.

KUSHIDA climbed to the top rope and attempted a hoverboard lock in the ropes. Shelley escaped the hold, landing an inverted super atomic drop before locking in the border city stretch. Once KUSHIDA found the ropes, the pair continued to go back and forth.

With the clock ticking down, KUSHIDA tried for border city stretch himself. Shelley escaped and landed shellshock for a near fall. After kicking from Shelley’s finisher, KUSHIDA locked in the hoverboard lock. Shelley held on, outlasting the match’s 20-minute time limit.

No Disqualification: Jon Moxley defeated El Desperado

This was advertised as a “no disqualification match”, but this was a deathmatch. 

This was brutal; this was excellent.

The match opened with boards covered in barbed wire placed in the corner. Moxley and Desperado teased throws into the boards from the beginning.

After gaining a slight lead, Moxley tried removing Desperado’s mask. This enraged Desperado, leading to a passionate turnaround for Desperado. Once Moxley was rocked, Desperado grabbed a bouquet of roses; from the roses, he pulled a bundle of wooden skewers. Desperado drove the skewers into Moxley’s head, drawing blood. Desperado continued his attack, running Moxley’s face into the barbed wire.

Desperado locked in a cloverleaf; Moxley forced Desperado to break the hold by tearing at his mask once more. Moxley interrupted a Desperado suicide dive with a gnarly guitar shot. Moxley continued his assault by repeatedly driving a piece of the guitar into Desparado’s forehead.

Desperado reset the match with a spear into a barbed wire board. Moxley answered with a dropkick that sent Desperado crashing through a barbed wire board. A piledriver from Moxley yielded a near fall.

Both men rolled to the outside. Moxley set up a table while Desperado grabbed a chair. After flattening Moxley with the chair, Desperado placed Moxley on the table and climbed to the top rope. Moxley sprung to his feet and threw Desperado from the top rope, through the table, and to the floor. Looking to finish, Moxley grabbed a board covered with cut aluminum cans, onto which he through Desperado; Desperado kicked out.

Desperado caught Moxley in a stretch muffler. Moxley transitioned from the hold into an armbar. After escaping the armbar, Desparado stomped Moxley’s skull before landing a frog splash for a near fall.

After Moxley kicked out, the pair exchanged strikes. Desperado survived the barrage, landing a Pinche Loco; instead of attempting a pin, Desperado tried a second. Moxley answered with a lariat and Death Rider. Instead of pinning Desperado, Moxley locked in a choke, but Desperado refused to tap out, flipping the bird as his consciousness wained. Desperado passed out, leaving Moxley victorious.

Moxley tried to close the show with a promo, but the microphone was broken. 

Jon Moxley vs. El Desperado no DQ match set for NJPW Music City Mayhem

Posted on by Joseph Currier

AEW star Jon Moxley is set to headline NJPW Music City Mayhem in Nashville, Tennessee.

NJPW has announced that Moxley vs. El Desperado in a no DQ match will be the main event of Music City Mayhem, which airs live via Fite TV starting at 3 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, July 30. The event is taking place as part of Starrcast V in Nashville.

Desperado issued a challenge to Moxley after an New Japan Road event in Tokyo last week:

“After El Desperado was part of Suzuki-Gun’s partnership with the Jericho Appreciation Society at Forbidden Door, the masked rudo wants another taste of a mutual enemy of both Minoru Suzuki and Chris Jericho- and someone who just so happens to be the Interim AEW World Champion,” NJPW wrote. “Desperado issued a challenge to Jon Moxley backstage at Korakuen Hall last week, and the Death Rider has accepted, but under the condition that this is a no disqualification match.”

This is the first match that’s been announced for Music City Mayhem. The show is being held at the Nashville Fairgrounds.

KUSHIDA and Hiromu Takahashi are also advertised to appear at Music City Mayhem. The event is happening while this year’s G1 Climax tournament is ongoing.

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 29 finals live results: Hiromu vs. El Desperado

Posted on by Chick Fritts

Hiromu Takahashi and El Desperado square off today in the NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 29 finals. 

Hiromu will look to make it three BOSJ crowns in a row and four overall, while Desperado will try to win the tournament for the first time. Tatsumi Fujinami will be on hand as a special guest at ringside for the finals.

IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Juice Robinson takes on Tomoaki Honma in a non-title match in the only other singles bout on the card. A series of tag matches fill out the lineup. 

Here is the card: 

  • Best of the Super Juniors 29 finals: Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado
  • Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, Tama Tonga & Jado vs. Jay White, Doc Gallows, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo
  • Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Taichi, TAKA Michinoku & DOUKI
  • Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare vs. Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens & El Phantasmo
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. EVIL & SHO
  • Juice Robinson vs. Tomoaki Honma
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. TJP & Francesco Akira
  • Robbie Eagles, Clark Connors, YOH & Titan vs. El Lindaman, Wheeler Yuta, Ace Austin & Alex Zayne

Our live coverage begins at 5 a.m. Eastern time.

**********

The show opened with a card change announcement. Current IWGP champion Juice Robinson is afflicted with appendicitis and has been removed from tonight’s show. In his place, young lion Ryohei Oiwa steps up to challenge Tomoaki Honma.

Tomoaki Honma defeated Ryohei Oiwa

I’m a sucker for young lion matches—this was fun.

Oiwa opened the match with a stint of offense, but, unsurprisingly, Honma took control from the young lion after the match developed. Oiwa continued to fight, even with his back against the wall, eventually securing a single-leg Boston crab. Honma survived the hold and landed a pair of KoKeShi to bring this match to a close.

Ace Austin, Wheeler Yuta, El Lindaman, and Alex Zayne defeated Robbie Eagles, YOH, Titan, and Clark Conners

Yuta and Eagles opened the match with a speedy wrestling sequence before passing their batons to Lindaman and YOH. After YOH and Lindaman traded moves, Titan tagged in and established firm control for his team—a similar sequence played out with Zayne, Austin, and Conners until a match reset left Zayne and Conners alone in the ring.

Yuta and Lindaman rushed the ring, taking control for their team before landing a double dive. Once the ring was cleared again, Zayne hit Conners with the cinnamon twist to win the match.

The English commentary was doing their best to establish Zayne and Conners as a legitimate pairing moving forwards. 

TJP and Fransico Akira (United Empire) defeated Master Wato and Ryusuke Taguchi (Six or Nine) 

UE tried to gain an early advantage by rushing the junior tag champions as the opening bell rang but failed to establish significant control. UE was able to take the lead after withstanding a short stint of Taguchi control.

Wato eventually landed a dropkick which sent Akira to the floor, leading to a dive that took out both UE representatives. In the ring, Six or Nine double-teamed TJP, scoring a near fall after a barrage of b-triggers.

Taguchi forced Akira to make the save after locking TJP into an ankle lock. This led to a prolonged rally from the UE team, ending with an elevated cutter into a stretch hold from TJP. Taguchi tapped to the hold, leaving the UE team with a win over the IWGP Junior Tag Team champions.

This was, presumably, to set up a future IWGP junior tag title match. 

Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Zack Sabre Jr. (Suzuki-gun) defeated EVIL and SHO (House of Torture)

This was a nothing match, but at least it was short-lived.

The HoT team jumped Suzuki-gun before the match began—this led to an extensive lead for the HoT pairing. After being on the receiving end of an HoT beatdown, Kanemaru eventually tagged out to ZSJ, who helped take control for the first time. A distraction from EVIL and a run-in from Dick Togo ended ZSJ’s rally, but a well-timed low blow from Kanemaru forced Togo to spray EVIL in the eyes with Kanemaru’s alcohol. Kanemaru dropped SHO with another low blow, and ZSJ forced him to tap with an arm bar. 

Chase Owens, Bad Luck Fale, and El Phantasmo defeated (Bullet Club)Jeff Cobb, Arron Henare, and Great O-Khan (United Empire)

I was not a fan of this at all.

This match opened with a brawl. O-Khan focused Owens, forcing Fale to make an early save. Bullet Club then worked to isolate O-Khan, eventually leading to a tag out to Cobb. Cobb rocked Fale with a pair of lariats, but Fale answered with a shoulder tackle, leading to a double tag.

ELP and Henare worked through a short sequence before the match broke down into another brawl. Once things calmed down, Ace Austin walked to the ring and flashed an ace playing card and a too-sweet at Henare, leaving ELP free to hit CR2 and pin Henare.

After the match concluded, a close-up revealed Austin’s ace was Bullet Club branded. Austin is officially the Bullet Club. 

SANADA Speaks

In an unannounced appearance, SANADA walked to the ring and challenged for the IWGP US championship at Dominion. The English commentary seemed uncertain about Robinson’s readiness come Dominion, given his ongoing battle with appendicitis. 

BUSHI, Shingo Takagi, and Tetsuya Naito (Los Ingobernables de Japon) defeated Taichi, TAKA Michinoku, and DOUKI (Suzuki-gun)

This wasn’t very good.

This match opened with an awkward brawl. The match tried to develop in-ring but continually fell into chaos for some time. Eventually, Naito escaped a prolonged period of Suzuki-gun control, tagging out to Shingo.

Shingo and his King of Pro Wrestling rival, Taichi, traded blows before a tag to TAKA allowed Taichi to escape. Shingo then ran through TAKA, but Taichi interrupted the pin after the pumping bomber. Taichi and Shingo teased a sumo spot, and Shingo sent Taichi to the floor. Shingo then rolled up TAKA to win the match.

After the match, Shingo rolled up Taichi for a five-count, perhaps teasing a future stipulation for the KOPW trophy.

Once he recovered, Taichi announced if you want to see the choices for stipulations ahead of his KOPW challenge, you will need to watch his YouTube channel. 

Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, Tama Tonga, and Jado defeated Gedo, Taiji Ishimori, Doc Gallows, and Jay White (Bullet Club) 

Before the match, Jay White announced he had a surprise. KENTA’s music hit, and he walked to the ring. 

Gallows and Yano opened the match with a silly little sequence. Gedo tagged in and jumped Jado to establish control for Bullet Club. White cemented this control as he and his partners worked Jado into the corner. 

Jado eventually secured the hot tag to Okada, leading to a strong rally for the babyface team. Gedo interrupted Okada’s offense long enough for White to retake control, scoring a near fall with a blade-buster. Okada avoided the blade-runner and White avoided the rainmaker, but a dropkick from Okada hit the mark. 

Tama and Gedo tagged in. With Jado’s help, Tama hit gun-stun and pinned Gedo to win the match. 

Once the match concluded, Okada and White had a staredown and heated verbal exchange. 

Best of the Super Juniors Finals: Hiromu Takahashi defeated El Desperado

This pairing feels more than overexposed at this point. The match was pretty slow until the twenty-minute mark; once the pair reached this point, the match was rather exciting. The closing sequence was what you would expect—a ton of kick-outs in the ultimate battle of one-upmanship. 

After an extended feeling out process, Hiromu established control with a slam into the ring post and a suplex to the floor. Back in the ring, Desperado turned things around with a knee-breaker, beginning his attack on Hiromu’s leg. Desperado took the action to the floor himself, landing a scoop slam on the outside before a backdrop on the inside left him with a two-count. 

Desperado locked in multiple wear-down holds, continuing to focus Hiromu’s leg. Hiromu eventually fought back into the match, landing a dropkick to the floor to slow Desperado’s advance. Back in the ring, Hiromu led an offensive sequence, connecting with multiple big moves. 

Desperado turned things back around with a beautiful dive to the floor. A frog splash scored Desperado a near fall, leading into another stent of leg work. Hiromu avoided Pinche Loco and locked in D to turn momentum on its head. 

Once Desperado escaped Hiromu’s triangle choke, the pair traded strikes. From the exchange, Desperado tried for Pinche Loco, but Hiromu reversed the move again. A quick lariat yielded a near fall for Hiromu, which he followed with a victory royal. As Hiromu tried for D again, Desperado landed a spinebuster, but the followed Pinche Loco attempt was blocked once more. Desperado hit a forearm that slumped Hiromu and a pair of Pinche Locos; Hiromu kicked out. 

A now frustrated Desperado whipped the leg of Hiromu multiple times before locking in numero dos. Hiromu reversed the submission into destroyer; Desperado refused to fall. After two quick pin attempts, Hiromu dropped Desperado with a lariat. Hiromu then hoisted up Desperado and hit Time Bomb 2; Desperado kicked out. 

Hiromu, now as desperate as Desperado, tried closing things with a close fist strike. Desperado answered Hirmou with a punch of his own before trying for Pinche Loco again. Hiromu wiggled free from the underhooks, landing two cutters, a Time Bomb, and a Time Bomb 2 to close the match and win the tournament. 

After the tournament’s conclusion, Hiromu cut a promo thanking the people responsible for the tournament and celebrating his third consecutive win. 

NJPW New Japan Cup night one live results: Okada vs. El Desperado

Posted on by Chick Fritts

The 2022 New Japan Cup begins tonight with a show consisting of all tournament matches at the Nippon Budokan. 

In the main event, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada will take on IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado. The winner will face Master Wato in round two.

In the semi-main, Tetsuya Naito and Yujiro Takahashi will face off in a singles match for the first time since 2014. The winner will take on Gedo in the second round. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi will take on YOH, with the winner facing Bad Luck Fale in round two. 

KOPW 2022 Toru Yano will face Taichi. The winner will receive a bye to the third round following an injury to Hiroyoshi Tenzan. 

Togi Makabe will take on Jeff Cobb, with the winner facing Satoshi Kojima in the second round. 

Yuji Nagata will face Hirooki Goto. The winner will take on Dick Togo in round two. 

Tomoaki Honma will take on YOSHI-HASHI, with the winner facing Kosei Fujita in the second round. 

In the opener, CIMA will face TAKA Michinoku. The winner will take on Yoshinobu Kanemaru in round two. 

Our live coverage begins at 3:30 a.m. Eastern time. 

**********

The show opened with a ceremony celebrating the launch of New Japan’s new mobile game, Strong Spirits. After generally speaking about the game, Hiroshi Tanahashi declared the digital product open, and a group of people on the dev team cut a red ribbon. 

New Japan Cup: CIMA defeated TAKA Michinoku

This match, for what it was, was enjoyable.

After a fairly even opening, CIMA sent TAKA to the floor, which he followed with an impressive dive through the ropes. Back in the ring, CIMA tried to establish control on the ground, but TAKA synched a head-scissor that forced CIMA into the ropes. TAKA continued to focus the neck while branching out to CIMA’s arm, all while on the mat.

CIMA retook the lead with a sudden lung blower. CIMA followed up heavy knee drops and some light striking. TAKA reversed momentum in a strike exchange and took CIMA back to the mat; CIMA barely escaped a deep head-scissor.

CIMA fought back into the match with a quick suplex, a sliding lariat, and a Meteora. This fast sequence left CIMA with a clean pin; he advances Yoshinobu Kanemaru in round two. 

New Japan Cup: YOSHI-HASHI defeated Tomoaki Honma

This match had absolutely no business being as good as it was.

YH and Honma opened the match by trading heavy shoulders and strikes. Honma dropped YH and tried for Kokeshi, but YH avoided the headbutt. YH took full advantage of this opening, transitioning into an extended offensive sequence. Honma began to fight back with chops and a DDT before missing Kokeshi again. This time, YH could not follow up as a missile headbutt from Honma landed flush. Honma tried a third time for Kokeshi, and this time, he hit it; YH kicked out.

Honma tried for a rocket Kokeshi from the top rope, but YH stepped aside to dodge the move. YH continued to make offensive inroads with a top rope blockbuster and a lariat, but he couldn’t connect with Kharma. After stuffing YH’s finish, Honma landed two rocket headbutts and a top rope Kokeshi for a convincing near fall.

YH squared up to Honma after surviving Kokeshi. The pair traded hefty trikes, with a lariat from YH dropping Honma. YH hoisted Honma, hit Karmah, and secured the pinfall win to advance. YH will face Young Lion, Kosei Fujita in round two.

New Japan Cup: Hirooki Goto defeated Yuji Nagata

This match had an extended opening sequence that saw both men gain small, short-lived leads. Things worked their way to the outside, where Goto tried for a lariat; Nagata avoided the move, sending Goto’s arm into the ring post. Nagata’s attention turned to Goto’s new injury as he tried for an armbar. After landing a headbutt to stun Nagata, Goto escaped blue control, but his arm was still a target.

Nagata and Goto went back outside, but Goto gained momentum on the floor this time. Goto rolled Nagata inside and climbed to the top, but Nagata met him atop the ropes. Nagata landed a suplex from the top to score a near fall. Goto continued to fight, however, as a quick lariat and ushigoroshi left him with a two count. Nagata responded with a thunder death driver, resulting in a match reset.

Goto seemingly emerged from a strike exchange with a lead, but Nagata slipped in a Nagata lock II; Goto used the ropes to escape the hold. Goto reversed a backdrop and dodged an enziguri before transitioning into Goto Ni Shiki. In a retelling of their 2016 New Japan Cup match, Nagata couldn’t escape from the cradle combination, leaving Goto with a win. In the next round, Goto faces Dick Togo. 

New Japan Cup: Jeff Cobb defeated Togi Makabe

This match was, unsurprisingly, 95% Cobb.

Cobb established control early, slamming Makabe into various objects around the ring. Back in the ring, Cobb maintained his lead with significant strikes and slams. Makabe eventually bought a moment to breathe after a clothesline. He followed this with a short sequence, but Cobb landed a back suplex to extinguish any Makabe hope.

Makabe managed to stay in the match for a while after another lariat, but Cobb continued his advance. After some more heavy strikes and a tour of the islands, Cobb pinned Makabe to secure his position in round two. Cobb is to face Satoshi Kojima, who he defeated in last year’s New Japan Cup.

New Japan Cup: Taichi defeated Toru Yano

This match was a silly Yano match, filled with silly Yano stuff.

Yano tried rolling up Taichi as soon as the match began. After Taichi kicked out, he removed a turnbuckle pad and threw him to the floor. Yano tried putting Taichi in a tarp, but Miho Abe was used as a human shield. Taichi then put the tarp over Yano, resulting in a near count-out.

Back in the ring, Yano reversed the last ride with the tarp still over his head. The referee then removed the tarp, a move Taichi wasn’t overly fond of. Taichi then placed the tarp over the official’s face, just in time for a Yano rollup attempt.

Yano tried for another rollup after he ripped off Taichi’s pants. Taichi responded by sending Yano into the exposed buckle, landing a forearm, and pinning Yano. Taichi, because of Hiroyoshi Tenzan’s withdrawal from the Cup, is advancing to the third round. 

New Japan Cup: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated YOH

This match had a lot of little things going on that played into the final product. Overall, it came together nicely. Perhaps the match’s most powerful element was that it made a YOH victory feel possible.

A back and forth grappling sequence opened this match. YOH managed to gain an early lead with purposeful offence directed at Tanahashi’s knee. Tanahashi answered with a thrust kick and dragonscrew before locking in a Texas cloverleaf. This was a leg-based war.

YOH connected with a dragonscrew of his own and a leglock to retake control. Tanahashi transformed a YOH suplex attempt into twist and shout for another shift in momentum. Tanahashi landed another dragonscrew, but YOH dodged the follow-up sling blade and landed a German to turn the match on its head once again.

YOH landed a superplex, only for Tanahashi to answer with a sling blade; Tanahashi went for another, but YOH landed his own sling blade this time. A DMV resulted in a YOH near fall. YOH tried and tried for a dragon suplex but couldn’t connect, opening him up to another sling blade from Tanahashi. Tanahashi then landed a dragon suplex of his own and pinned YOH to close the match. Tanahashi will face Bad Luck Fale in the next round.

New Japan Cup: Tetsuya Naito defeated Yujiro Takahashi

This match did absolutely nothing for me before the HoT interfered; that only further detracted from the match. This was bad. 

Naito gained control for the first time with strikes to the back, an arm drag, and a snap mare. Yujiro stopped Naito’s advance by dropping him with a hotshot. Yujiro followed up with a plotting series of moves.

Naito turned things around again after a knee strike and neck breaker combination. Naito led Yujiro through his typical spots before a mid-match strike exchange. Yujiro won out and landed a fisherman buster to score a near fall. Naito bounced back, landing strikes to the neck to set up Destino; when Naito tried for his finish, Yujiro blocked it before landing Miami Shine.

The pair traded strikes once more, and again, Yujiro won out. Naito was able to fight off pimp juice and big juice, turning things back in his favour. Naito tried for the finish, but Yujro shoved him into the referee. Enter House of Torture.

After SHO and EVIL beat down Naito, Yujiro had second thoughts. Once he asked his faction mates to leave, he dropped Naito with a low blow. Yujiro tried hitting Naito with his stick, but Naito ducked and landed a disgusting low blow of his own. Natio secured a jackknife pin to win the match. Naito is scheduled to wrestle Gedo in the second round.

After Naito pinned Yujiro, EVIL hit the ring for a beat down. EVIL’s plan failed as Naito reversed everything is evil before dropping his former faction mate with another low blow.

New Japan Cup: Kazuchika Okada defeated El Desperado

This match, especially in its final act, was an effective rollercoaster that almost convinced me Desperado had a chance. I don’t think you could ask for more.

This match opened with a swift sequence, complete with a rainmaker attempt and a submission that forced Okada into the ropes. The action spilt to the floor as Desperado continued to focus the leg of the heavyweight champion. Desperado maintained this control until an Okada flapjack reset the flow of the match.

Okada slammed Desperado into the barricades before using a chinlock to slow the match back down. Okada connected with substantial strikes, but Desperado stayed in the match by landing a dropkick to the knee. Desperado tied Okada into a leg lock variation that forced Okada into the ropes. Even after the rope break, Desperado continued to attack Okada’s leg.

Okada sidestepped Desperado, sending him into the corner. Okada then lifted the junior champion onto the top rope and landed a dropkick, sending Desperado crashing onto the floor. Okada hit a DDT outside the ring for a near count-out. Another DDT in the ring led to a near fall.

Desperado escaped the air raid crash and landed a spinebuster for a late reset. Desperado chopped Okada’s chest—Okada answered with a picture-perfect dropkick. Okada climbed to the top, but Desperado avoided the attack, chopping away Okada’s knee before landing Guitarra de Angel; Okada kicked out. Desperado then hit a splash à la Jun Kasai for another near fall. Okada blocked Pinche Loco, leading to an air raid crash neckbreaker to reestablish Okada’s control.

Okada locked in the money clip. After Desperado escaped, Okada hit an elbow drop and tried for the rainmaker. Desperado avoided the finish, connecting with another dropkick to the knee. A dragonscrew dropped Okada. Okada tried to fight back with a dropkick, but Desperado caught him mid-jump with another dragonscrew. Desperado secured numero dos for an intense period on the mat.

Once Okada escaped numero dos, he locked in the money clip again. Desperado seemingly passed out in the hold, allowing Okada to land two uncontested rainmakers; on the third attempt, Desperado sparked up, hitting Pinche Loco. This led to an explosive sequence, ending with one more rainmaker and an Okada pinfall. Okada advances to face Master Wato in the next round of the New Japan Cup.

NJPW announces change to IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team title match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A change has been made to NJPW’s next IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match.

Champions Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask will now defend their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles in a four-way match at NJPW’s New Year’s Golden Series show this Saturday (February 19). It will be Eagles & Tiger Mask vs. Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru.

The match was originally set to be Eagles & Tiger Mask defending against Ishimori & Phantasmo, but the other two teams were added after challenges that were issued at Sunday’s New Year’s Golden Series show.

Eagles & Tiger Mask have been IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions since winning the titles from Desperado & Kanemaru last October.

Saturday’s New Year’s Golden Series event is the second-to-last stop on the tour. The tour will conclude with shows in Sapporo on both Saturday and Sunday. Both shows are airing live on NJPW World.

Here’s the updated lineup for Saturday’s event:

  • IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defends against SANADA
  • IWGP Tag Team Champions Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defend against EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Four-way match: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask defend against Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato, and El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Kazuchika Okada, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata vs. Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI
  • Tomoaki Honma vs. The Great-O-Khan
  • Tomohiro Ishii & YOH vs. Dick Togo & SHO
  • Toru Yano & Ryohei Oiwa vs. Minoru Suzuki & Taichi
  • Togi Makabe & Kosei Fujita vs. TAKA Michinoku & DOUKI