The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament continued today in Shizuoka.
El Desperado faced BUSHI in the main event, and Hiromu Takahashi took on Master Wato in the semi-main.
The other tournament action was comprised of Robbie Eagles vs. SHO, El Phantasmo vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, YOH vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, plus Taiji Ishimori vs. DOUKI.
Young Lions Yuto Nakashima and Ryohei Oiwa faced off in the non-tournament opener.
Here are today’s results:
Yuto Nakashima drew with Ryohei Oiwa (10:00)
The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.
Best of the Super Juniors: Taiji Ishimori defeated DOUKI (10:23)
Ishimori used the Bone Lock to pick up the submission win.
Best of the Super Juniors: YOH defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (12:11)
YOH got the pin with the Five Star Clutch.
Best of the Super Juniors: El Phantasmo defeated Ryusuke Taguchi (15:12)
This was a comedy master class. ELP won by submission with a wrist lock after hitting a low blow.
Best of the Super Juniors: Robbie Eagles defeated SHO (14:06)
Eagles used the Ron Miller Special to get the submission victory.
Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Master Wato (16:30)
Hiromu got the pin after hitting Time Bomb II.
Best of the Super Juniors: El Desperado defeated BUSHI (21:08)
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion won by pinfall after hitting Pinche Loco.
The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament continued today in Saitama.
YOH faced El Desperado in the main event, and Hiromu Takahashi took on Ryusuke Taguchi in the semi-main.
The other tournament action was comprised of El Phantasmo vs. SHO, BUSHI vs. Taiji Ishimori, Robbie Eagles vs. DOUKI, plus Master Wato vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Kosei Fujita and Ryohei Oiwa faced off in the non-tournament opener.
Here are today’s results:
Kosei Fujita drew with Ryohei Oiwa (10:00)
The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.
Best of the Super Juniors: Master Wato defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (10:17)
Wato won by pinfall after an RPP.
Best of the Super Juniors: Robbie Eagles defeated DOUKI (11:53)
Eagles used the Ron Miller Special to pick up the submission win.
Best of the Super Juniors: BUSHI defeated Taiji Ishimori (13:35)
BUSHI won by pinfall after an MX.
Best of the Super Juniors: El Phantasmo defeated SHO (11:47)
ELP got the win after SHO tapped out following a Sudden Death low blow.
Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Ryusuke Taguchi (8:56)
Hiromu used the “Nameless Hiromroll” rollup to score the pinfall.
Best of the Super Juniors: YOH defeated El Desperado (18:26)
YOH pinned the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion after hitting Direct Drive.
The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament began today in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado took on SHO in the main event, while Hiromu Takahashi faced YOH in the semi-main.
The other tournament action was comprised of El Phantasmo vs. Master Wato, Robbie Eagles vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, DOUKI vs. BUSHI, plus Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Taiji Ishimori.
Ryohei Oiwa and Yuto Nakashima faced off in the non-tournament opener.
Here are today’s results:
Ryohei Oiwa & Yuto Nakashima went to a time limit draw
Best of the Super Juniors: DOUKI defeated BUSHI
DOUKI got the upset win by pinfall with Suplex De La Luna.
Best of the Super Juniors: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Taiji Ishimori
Kanemaru stole a countout win using underhanded tactics.
Best of the Super Juniors: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Robbie Eagles
Taguchi pinned Eagles with Dodon.
Best of the Super Juniors: Master Wato defeated El Phantasmo
Wato got the upset win with a jackknife cradle.
Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi defeated YOH
Hiromu got a flash cradle for the pin.
Best of the Super Juniors: SHO defeated El Desperado
SHO won with a Shock Arrow after interference from Yujiro Takahashi and Dick Togo.
New IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions were crowned today at NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam.
El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo in 20:28 to win back the titles. This marks the fourth IWGP Jr. Tag title reign for the Suzuki-gun tandem.
Ishimori and ELP’s third reign ends after another defeat at the hands of Desperado and Kanemaru. Desperado and Kanemaru defeated Ishimori and ELP to win the 2021 Super Junior Tag League on August 17 in Korakuen Hall.
The two teams have traded the titles for the better part of a year. Desperado and Kanemaru won the vacant titles last September, then lost them to Ishimori and ELP in January. Desperado and Kanemaru got the belts back in February, then dropped them to SHO and YOH in April. SHO and YOH then lost the titles back to Ishimori and ELP in June.
While the reign is the fourth for Kanemaru and Desperado as a unit, this marks the sixth total reign for Kanemaru, as he has also held the Junior Tag titles with Taichi and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi.
Robbie Eagles will be the next challenger for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
Eagles appeared via video message and issued his challenge at today’s NJPW Summer Struggle in Sapporo event following the IWGP Jr. title match main event.
After champion El Desperado successfully defended his title against Taiji Ishimori, Desperado took the microphone to cut the customary post-match promo. Before he spoke, the arena lights briefly went out. A message from Eagles then played on the video wall.
Eagles said that the junior heavyweight division has become more like a committee of vultures than anything else. Eagles said he needs to push past the vultures and make a declaration. Eagles said he was declaring himself the next challenger for Desperado.
In backstage comments after the event, Desperado said that Eagles did well to assert himself. He said that NJPW should listen to its champions, and Desperado stated that he wanted to defend the title against Eagles at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome on July 25.
No official announcement from NJPW has been made regarding Desperado vs. Eagles.
Here is the announced card for July 25 so far:
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Sunday, July 25 —
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
Pre-show New Japan Ranbo for the provisional KOPW 2021
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is on the line on night one of NJPW Summer Struggle in Sapporo.
Champion El Desperado will defend the title against Taiji Ishimori. Desperado has made one successful title defense since winning the vacant title at Castle Attack in February. The title was vacated after Hiromu Takahashi suffered a pectoral injury.
A change to the card was made after Kota Ibushi was pulled from the show due to suffering side effects from a COVID-19 vaccination. Ibushi was set to team with Master Wato against Yuya Uemura and Yota Tsuji. Wato will now face Uemura in a singles match in the show opener.
A series of tag matches make up the rest of the undercard:
Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI
Kazuchika Okada & SHO vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero vs. KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi & El Phantasmo
Tomohiro Ishii & YOH vs. EVIL & Dick Togo
Our live coverage begins at 5 a.m. Eastern time.
*********
Master Wato defeated Yuya Uemura (9:09)
A solid opener that told a simple story. Uemura had the technical edge, but Wato displayed superior striking.
They opened with some tentative kicks. Uemura got the best of a mat wrestling sequence. Frustrated, Wato took to striking and established the advantage. He threw in a kimura on the mat, but Uemura forced a rope break.
Uemura came back with a flying forearm for a near fall. Uemura used a half crab. Wato blocked a double overhook suplex, but Uemura hit a deep arm drag. Uemura hit a beautiful bridging German for a two count.
Wato again blocked the overhook suplex. He hit recientemente, then used the RPP for the pin.
EVIL & Dick Togo defeated Tomohiro Ishii & YOH (11:37)
This was a formulaic Bullet Club brawl and not a particularly inspired one.
Ishii attacked EVIL before the opening bell and they brawled around ringside. Togo and YOH began as the legal men. EVIL exposed a buckle, then Togo whipped YOH into the buckle for the heat.
EVIL and Togo traded tags in working YOH over. They again sent him into the exposed buckle. YOH found an opening against Togo and tagged Ishii. EVIL tagged in and sent Ishii into the exposed buckle. Ishii hit a backdrop suplex into a double down.
Ishii tagged YOH. YOH ran wild and hit a nice half hatch suplex for a two count. Togo tried to choke YOH with a ligature, but Ishii saved. YOH hit a falcon arrow on EVIL for a near fall.
YOH tried for Direct Drive, but EVIL blocked and hit a lariat for a two count. While Togo held Ishii at bay with a crossface, EVIL used a scorpion deathlock to submit YOH.
Togo and EVIL stomped Ishii down after the match as they continue to tease an EVIL vs. Ishii singles match.
There was some good comedy here in the first few minutes, then some good wrestling once Tanahashi got in for the closing stretch.
Tana wanted to start with KENTA. KENTA teased starting off, but immediately tagged out to ELP. Tana tagged out to Taguchi.
Taguchi and ELP did some comedy with their t-shirts. ELP choked out Taguchi with a shirt. Taguchi was cut off and worked over in comedic fashion for quite a while.
Romero got a hot tag and had a nice sequence with ELP. KENTA and Tana tagged in. Tana hit a dragon screw. They had a lengthy striking sequence. KENTA blocked a slingblade attempt with a kitchen sink and tagged out to Yujiro.
Yujiro and ELP doubled up on Tana. Yujiro hit a fisherman buster. Taguchi saved for Tana. Yujiro hit a lariat and an Angle slam for another near fall.
Tana blocked Pimp Juice, blocked a thrust kick, then blocked Miami Shine. Tana hit a twist and shout and a slingblade. Romero and Taguchi hit stereo planchas to KENTA and ELP.
Tana then used High Fly Flow to pin Yujiro.
KENTA ran back in after the match and attacked Tanahashi as he posed for the fans, so expect KENTA vs. Tana to be a singles match soon.
***** Intermission *****
Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan defeated Kazuchika Okada & SHO (11:41)
This was fun. There were lots of cool spots with SHO and Cobb trying to hit their trademark power moves on one another.
O-Khan and SHO began. They teased a striking battle, but neither threw anything of significance. SHO tried to take O-Khan’s arm after locking up, but O-Khan blocked. O-Khan gouged SHO’s face and ears. SHO made a brief comeback off a misdirection spot. Okada hopped in for a double team spot on Cobb.
O-Khan cut SHO off with a series of throws. Cobb was in briefly, but O-Khan did the bulk of the heavy lifting in working SHO over. SHO came back with a spear and tagged Okada.
Okada hit a series of signature spots on O-Khan. He hit a back elbow and a DDT. O-Khan blocked an air raid crash neckbreaker and hit a judo throw. Cobb tagged in for a series of uppercuts. He then hit Okada with a spin cycle for a near fall.
Okada slapped on a Money Clip, but Cobb broke the hold. Okada answered with an air raid crash neckbreaker to Cobb. Okada tagged out to SHO.
SHO hit a series of kicks to Cobb and got a near fall. He went for a suplex, but Cobb blocked. Cobb hit a back suplex, then O-Khan jumped in for a double team. Okada saved for SHO. O-Khan and Okada brawled to the floor.
SHO reversed a Tour of the Islands into a cradle for a near fall. Okada hopped back in and hit Cobb with a dropkick. SHO tried a deadlift German but Cobb blocked.
SHO hit the ropes, but ran right into a Tour of the Islands for the pin.
Cobb and Okada stared each other down after the match, so I expect Okada vs. Cobb to be announced any day now.
This was very good. All action. I fully expect Naito, SANADA, Taichi and Sabre to have a great match in the main event tomorrow. They have excellent chemistry.
LIJ attacked before the opening bell and cut Taichi off. SANADA and Naito doubled up on Taichi. SANADA and Taichi ended up the legal men. SANADA went for the paradise lock, but Sabre saved and turned the tide in Suzuki-gun’s favor.
Suzuki-gun went to work on SANADA’s left arm. Kanemaru hit a slam. DOUKI used a snapmare and a cradle. Sabre continued to work on the arm. SANADA came back with a dropkick to Kanemaru and a rana on DOUKI.
Naito tagged in and hit a neckbreaker to Taichi. Kanemaru was still legal. Naito tagged BUSHI and they hit tandem offense to Kanemaru. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick to Kanemaru. Kanemaru hit his own dropkick and tagged out.
DOUKI hit a double stomp to BUSHI for a near fall. Suzuki-gun cleared the LIJ apron and went 3-on-1 against BUSHI. DOUKI hit a patriot missile, then used a triangle. BUSHI forced a rope break. BUSHI blocked Suplex de la Luna and hit a dropkick for a double down.
Shingo tagged in for his first action of the match. DOUKI hit an enzuigiri. Shingo answered with a pop-up DVD. Taichi jumped in and hit a lariat to Shingo. SANADA took out Taichi. Sabre used a head scissors on SANADA. Naito tried to save, but Sabre caught him in a submission while maintaining the hold on SANADA. Shingo slammed Kanemaru onto Sabre to break both holds.
DOUKI cradled Shingo for a near fall. Shingo then hit the Pumping Bomber and pinned DOUKI.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado defeated Taiji Ishimori to retain the title (28:54)
This was a great main event. Really good psychology. Both picked a body part and worked it over and worked it over for the entire length of the match.
Desperado broke cleanly after locking up. A chain wrestling sequence ended with Desperado escaping a Yes Lock before Ishimori could apply it. Ishimori then went after Desperado’s left arm, looking to soften him up for the Yes Lock.
Ishimori worked Desperado’s arm over the barricade. Ishimor posted the left arm and hit it with a chair. Ishimori exposed a buckle as Desperado sold his arm on the floor. Back in, Ishimori used a neck crank for a near fall.
Ishimori sent Desperado’s arm and shoulder into the exposed buckle. Ishimori posted the left shoulder, then hit a shoulder breaker. Desperado reversed a whip, then blocked a handspring kick. Desperado hit a knee breaker and a dragon screw to Ishimori’s left leg.
Desperado sent Ishimori into the barricade, then posted Ishimori’s left leg. Red Shoes tried to intercept a chair from Desperado. Desperado threw the referee down on the floor, then used the chair on Ishimori’s left leg. Back in, Desperado continued to hammer away at Ishimori’s left leg.
Ishimori caught Desperado in a cradle for a near fall, then used a sliding German. On the outside, Ishimori hit a Bloody Cross over the barricade. Back in, Ishimori hit a springboard 450. Desperado fought off a Bone Lock and made the ropes.
Ishimori went back after the left arm. Desperado ducked a lariat and hit an Angle slam. Ishimori blocked Guitarra de Angel and sent the referee into the exposed buckle for a ref bump.
With the referee down, both hit low blows at the 20 minute call. They traded strikes as Red Shoes was revived. Desperado hit a spinebuster for a near fall, then used the pinning position to set up Numero Dos. Ishimori reversed into a cradle for a near fall.
Ishimori tried La Mistica, but Desperado reversed into Guitarra de Angel for a near fall. Ishimori blocked Pinche Loco and sent Desperado into the exposed buckle. Ishimori used La Mistica to set up the Yes Lock. Desperado reversed into Numero Dos. ELP ran in and pulled the ref out of the ring for another ref bump.
ELP hit Sudden Death to Desperado. Kanemaru ran in and hit a dropkick to ELP, then dragged him to the back. Desperado hit a back suplex. Ishimori reversed Pinche Loco into a hurricanrana for a near fall. Ishimori hit Cipher Utaki for a two count.
Desperado reversed a loody Cross attempt into El Es Culero for a near fall. Ishimori reversed Pinche Loco into the Bone Lock. Ishimori rolled through into a Bloody Cross attempt, but Desperado blocked. Ishimori hit a series of strikes.
Desperado reversed a whip into the exposed buckle. Desperado hit a right hand and two Pinche Locos for the pin.
**********
Before Desperado coould cut his post-match promo, a Robbie Eagles promo played on the video wall. Eagles said that the junior heavyweight division has become more like a committee of vultures than anything else. Eagles said he needs to push past the vultures and make a declaration. Eagles said he was declaring himself the next challenger for Desperado.
Desperado cut a short promo after the match. He pointed out Hiromu Takahashi on commentary and told him to get back soon.
Desperado said he won the match, but can only talk like he lost. He said he might have dislocated his shoulder, but he just beat Ishimori.
El Desperado is the latest NJPW talent to reveal his COVID-19 diagnosis.
In a Twitter thread he posted tonight on social media, Desperado detailed the symptoms he has been dealing with during his illness, including general muscle joint pain, a high fever, “unbelievable” back pain, “the most dizziness I’ve ever had”, and a terrible cough. He ended his thread by thanking the staff and nurses in Tokyo.
Desperado is the latest NJPW talent to confirm he has tested positive for COVID-19, with Kazuchika Okada and Taichi in recent days also confirming their status. NJPW has confirmed that nine wrestlers have tested positive following the second night of Wrestling Dontaku.
Desperado was originally scheduled to defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title against YOH on the second night of Wrestling Dontaku. However, both men were removed from the card, and the title match never took place. Desperado has been champion since February 28, winning a three way match for the vacant title that also included El Phantasmo and BUSHI.
Two New Japan Pro Wrestling wrestlers have tested positive for COVID-19.
NJPW released a statement on their website tonight confirming that two wrestlers have tested positive and are currently showing mild symptoms. The company did not name the two individuals. This follows yesterday’s removal of six wrestlers (Kazuchika Okada, Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, and YOH) from the second night of Wrestling Dontaku after two of the indviduals developed fevers prior to the start of the card.
Additionally, NJPW said in their statement that other wrestlers and staff who have been in contact with the two wrestlers are “currently being monitored in a controlled environment and are receiving relevant tests.”
The company also noted that all wrestlers and staff for the Road to Dontaku tour returned negative PCR tests prior to the start of the tour.
Several matches set for the second night of Wrestling Dontaku were changed as a result of the protocols. The IWGP Junior Heavyweight title match between champion El Desperado and challenger YOH was removed from the card entirely.
Six wrestlers were removed from this morning’s NJPW Wrestling Dontaku card due to COVID-19 protocols.
Kazuchika Okada, Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, and YOH were all removed from tonight’s card. New Japan Pro Wrestling wrote on their website that several matches had to be changed, including the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title match between El Desperado and YOH, which was removed from the card altogether.
The website said that one wrestler that was scheduled to appear on the show this morning had a fever, and was currently going through examination, including PCR and antibody testing. They also said that one other wrestler who has been part of the events since May 1 in Beppu is also undergoing evaluation.
NJPW’s website said the show currently taking place would continue after consulting with their medical committee. The following changes to the card have been made:
Second match: Master Wato and Hiroyoshi Tenzan will face Taiji Ishimori and Yujiro Takahashi, replacing Kazuchika Okada and SHO vs. Minoru Suzuki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Fourth match: Ryusuke Taguchi, Toru Yano, and Hiroshi Tanahashi will face Jay White, EVIL, and Dick Togo, replacing the Wato/Taguchi/Tenzan/Yano/Tanahashi vs. Togo/Ishimori/Yujiro/EVIL/Jay White bout
Fifth match: El Desperado vs. YOH for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title has been removed from tonight’s card.
IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental double title match: Kota Ibushi vs. El Desperado
New Japan Cup first round match: Satoshi Kojima vs. Jeff Cobb
Hirooki Goto, Tomoaki Honma, Gabriel Kidd & Master Wato vs. Taichi, Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI
Report —
Hirooki Goto, Tomoaki Honma, Gabriel Kidd & Master Wato defeated Taichi, Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI (10:39)
This was a good opener. All action. Wato and Sabre barely saw any action in the match, but Sabre took a crazy bump.
Suzuki-gun tried a jumpstart attack, but were foiled. Suzuki and Honma began as the legal men. Honma hit a kokeshi. Kidd tagged in to continue working with Suzuki. Kidd and Sabre had an exchange on the apron. Sabre took a bump off the apron to the floor on a forearm strike.
Suzuki-gun was able to turn this into a brawl and gained the advantage on Kidd. Kidd was worked over in the blue corner. Suzuki crotched Kidd with the post and put him in an ankle lock.
Kidd came back with a dropkick on Taichi and tagged Goto. Goto ran wild on Taichi and an interfering DOUKI. Taichi cut Goto off with an illegal choke and some Kawada kicks. Suzuki-gun then went to work on Goto.
DOUKI hit a double stomp to Goto and locked on a triangle. Honma broke the hold with a kokeshi. Honma and Suzuki brawled to the floor. DOUKI tried Daybreak. Goto blocked. DOUKI blocked an ushigoroshi. Wato hit a springboard forearm on DOUKI and a plancha to Taichi.
Goto hit an ushigoroshi on his second attempt, then hit a GTR for the pin on DOUKI.
Ahead of their first round New Japan Cup match, Honma and Suzuki traded blows after the bell. Suzuki dropped Honma with a forearm.
EVIL, Jay White, KENTA, Chase Ownes & Taiji Ishimori (w/Gedo & Dick Togo) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, David Finlay, Toa Henare & Ryusuke Taguchi (7:39)
This was a quick undercard tag with a funny finish.
White teased starting with Henare, but stalled instead. KENTA and Juice tagged in. KENTA used a choke against the ropes and a hair pull to gain the upper hand. KENTA fired off some kicks. Juice answered with jabs and an inverted atomic drop.
KENTA fell victim to a 5-on-1. Tanahashi tagged in and he was on the wrong end of a 5-on-1 Bullet Club attack. Bullet Club used their human centipede abdominal stretch on Tana. Tana hit a dragon screw on Owens and tagged Finlay. Finlay was quickly cut off after an Owens knee strike.
EVIL tagged in and got hit with a Finlay neckbreaker. Taguchi tagged in and immediately got hit with Everything is EVIL for the pin.
There were some nice teases for first round New Japan Cup matches here with Okada vs. Shingo and Ishii vs. SANADA.
Okada and Shingo locked up. They’ll face off in the main event on Saturday. Okada teased a clean break against the ropes. Shingo wouldn’t allow the clean break and fired off some forearms.
SANADA and Ishii tagged in. SANADA wanted to have a grappling battle, while Ishii wanted to turn it into a fist fight. SANADA hit a leapfrog dropkick. Ishii did a great subtle sell of his ribs, which Jay White heavily worked over last Saturday.
Shingo tagged in and traded strikes with Ishii. BUSHI tripped Ishii from the floor. LIJ used wuick tags in working Ishii over. BUSHI choked him with his t-shirt. SANADA hit a side suplex for a near fall. Ishii and SANADA traded finisher attempts.
Okada and Shingo tagged back in. Okada hit a back elbow and DDT for a near fall. They traded strikes. Shingo hit a corner clothesline. Okada blocked a pumping bomber and tried a Money Clip. Shingo slid out and tried a lariat. Okada blocked with a big boot.
SHO tagged in for a nice exchange with Shingo. Shingo hit a big tackle and tagged BUSHI. BUSHI connected with a missile dropkick, a basement dropkick and a DDT. Everyone jumped in ahead of the finish. Shingo and BUSHI doubled up on SHO. SHO hit Shingo with a spear.
SHO hit a deadlift German to BUSHI. SHO hit a lariat and called for Shock Arrow. He hit it, then pinned BUSHI.
Ishii and SANADA traded chops after the match.
**********
Wrestle Grand Slam was announced for May 15 in Yokohama Stadium and in Tokyo Dome on May 29.
***** Intermission *****
New Japan Cup first round match: Jeff Cobb defeated Satoshi Kojima (11:50)
This was slow, but the work was very solid and every move meant something.
They opened up with some power spots. They traded tackles. Cobb missed a splash in the corner. Kojima hit machine gun chops in the corner. Kojima went for a top rope elbow, but Cobb cut him off. Kojima avoided a slam off the top. Cobb hit a lariat.
Kojima kicked out of a second lariat. Cobb hit a standing moonsault for a near fall. Cobb hit chops in the corner. He teased a top rope elbow to taunt Kojima. Kojima cut him off and tried for a superplex. Kojima connected with the superplex after a struggle.
Kojima hit a shining wizard. Cobb rolled to the floor. Kojima tried a plancha. Cobb caught Kojima out of mid-air, hit two backbreakers, then a slam on the floor.
Kojima hit a chop block to Cobb on the apron. Kojima followed with a DDT on the apron. Kojima hit a top rope elbow. Cobb blocked a cutter and hit a jumping uppercut forearm. Cobb hit a powerslam into the corner pad. Kojima answered with a cutter and a brainbuster for a near fall.
Kojima teased pulling off his elbow pad for a lariat. Cobb stopped him and hit a spin cycle and a gutwrench powerbomb for a near fall.
Kojima blocked Tour of the Islands. Cobb blocked a lariat. Kojima hit a lariat, but Cobb kicked out.
Kojima removed his elbow pad. Cobb blocked a lariat with a superkick. Kojima blocked a lariat with a shoulder block.
Kojima went for another lariat, but Cobb caught him coming in and hit a Tour of the Islands for the pin.
New Japan Cup first round match: Great-O-Khan defeated Tetsuya Naito by referee stoppage (20:20)
This was a struggle. Naito did his best to have a good match and they paced it well given that they had to go so long, but O-Khan is learning on the job and isn’t up to the NJPW standard for long singles matches yet.
A quick openingexchange saw Naito send O-Khan outside, then mock O-Khan’s pose. Back inside, O-Khan used a choke on the mat. He sent Naito ouside and they brawled around the ring. O-Khan whipped Naito into the barricade.
O-Khan hit a throw, then sat on Naito’s back in the corner. Naito came back with a one-legged dropkick and a combinacion in the corner. Naito scored with a neckbreaker. O-Khan came back with Mongolian chops and used a figure four around the post.
O-Khan hit Naito’s right knee with a chair as it was wrapped around the post. O-Khan hit a kneebreaker on the chair at the base of the ramp. Naito made it back in at 19. O-Khan used a claw on Naito’s knee. A claw on the knee.
O-Khan hooked Naito’s knee with a modified deathlock. O-Khan again used a claw on the knee. I don’t know.
Naito hit a backdrop, then a series of back elbows in the corner. Naito hit diamond dust for a near fall. Naito went for Gloria. O-Khan blocked and hit a face-first slam.
Naito blocked two Dominator attempts and hit a desperation Destino. Naito could not follow with a pinfall attempt. Naito hit an enzuigiri. O-Khan blocked a second Destino and hit a lariat for a near fall.
O-Khan used a key lock on the knee, then used a kneebar. Naito fought the hold for a long time. He teased tapping out, he teased reaching the ropes, but Red Shoes eventually called for the stoppage.
O-Khan continued stomping on the knee after the bell. Naito was helped to the back.
IWGP Heavyweight Championship & IWGP Intercontinental Championship double title match: Kota Ibushi defeated El Desperado (w/Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) to retain the titles (20:36)
This was exactly what it should have been. Ibushi gave Desperado a ton and they had a great match.
They started out with chain wrestling. Desperado got the slight edge in the opening exchange and worked Ibushi’s left arm over the middle rope. Ibushi turned to strikes and hit a mid kick. The fight went to the floor. Ibushi sent Desperado into the barricade. Back in, Ibushi hit a slam for a near fall.
Ibushi used a chinlock to set up a quick near fall. Ibushi fired off more strikes and dared Desperado to strike with him. Ibushi repeatedly got the better of the striking battles.
Desperado went after Ibushi’s left leg with dragon screws. Desperado applied Numero Dos, but Ibushi fought to the ropes. Ibushi blocked Guitarra de Angel. Ibushi hit a powerslam and teased a follow-up moonsault. Desperado kicked Ibushi off the ropes to the floor.
Desperado hit a suicide flip dive through the ropes. Back inside, Desperado hit Guitarra de Angel for a two count. Desperado continued attacking the left leg with stomps. Ibushi fought off a figure four attempt. Ibushi hit a double stomp, but sold his knee on landing.
They traded strikes. Desperado picked Ibushi’s ankle and got Numero Dos applied again. Ibushi fought to the ropes to force a break. Ibushi countered a low dropkick attempt with another double stomp.
They traded strikes. Desperado fired up after a series of hard kicks. Desperado hit a slam for a two count. Desperado went up top and connected with a frog splash for a close near fall.
Desperado went for Pinche Loco. Ibushi blocked and hit a mid kick, a palm strike to the chest, then a v-trigger. Desperado blocked a high kick with a straight right hand.
Ibushi blocked another Pinche Loco attempt and hit a lariat. Ibushi hit last ride for a two count. Ibushi called for the Kamigoye. Desperado reversed into el es culero for a two count.
Ibushi hit a high kick. Desperado avoided Kamigoye and locked on Numero Dos. Ibushi reversed into a cradle for a near fall. Ibushi hit Kamigoye. Desperado kicked out.
Ibushi hit a second Kamigoye and this time it was enough for the 1-2-3.
Ibushi held up Desperado’s hand in a show of respect after the match.
Ibushi cut a promo. He said he will unify the titles, he will take on all challengers and specifically called out Tanahashi at the commentary desk.
He closed saying will never leave us, he will never betray us.
New Japan Pro Wrestling has announced the card for their 49th Anniversary Show on March 4 at Budokan Hall.
The main event will feature IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion Kota Ibushi face new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado. At the press conference, it was noted that the titles would not be on the line. However, after Ibushi requested the match be for the titles, it was announced that Ibushi would defend both the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles for the last time. The championships will then merge into one title, the IWGP World Heavyweight title.
Additionally, the first two New Japan Cup opening round matches will take place. Tetsuya Naito will face The Great-O-Khan, and Satoshi Kojima will face Jeff Cobb.
Here is the full card for the March 4 event:
Kota Ibushi vs. El Desperado in a special singles match
New Japan Cup first round: Tetsuya Natio vs. The Great-O-Khan
New Japan Cup first round: Satoshi Kojima vs. Jeff Cobb
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, David Finlay, Toa Henare, and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. EVIL, KENTA, Chase Owens, Jay White, and Taiji Ishimori
Master Wato, Gabriel Kidd, Tomoaki Honma and Hirooki Goto vs. Taichi, Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr., and DOUKI
New IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion El Desperado will challenge Kota Ibushi for both of his titles at New Japan’s 49th Anniversary Show later this week.
After Ibushi successfully retained the IWGP Intercontinental title on tonight’s Castle Attack show against Tetsuya Naito, Desperado came out, sporting his new IWGP Junior title that he had won in the co-main event. He brought up that he had challenged for the Junior title against Ibushi back in 2014 in Osaka, and now he wanted to challenge Ibushi for both of his championships. Ibushi accepted .
Recent anniversary shows have featured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion challenging the IWGP Heavyweight champion to a non-title match. Last year’s match was supposed to feature then Junior champion Hiromu Takahashi challenge then Heavyweight champion Tetsuya Natio. However, that event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 49th NJPW Anniversary Show will take place on March 4, this Thursday, at Budokan Hall.
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.
El Phantasmo, BUSHI and El Desperado will square off for the vacant IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at Sunday’s NJPW Castle Attack event. NJPW made the announcement this evening.
The Jr. Heavyweight title was officially vacated at today’s Road to Castle Attack event at Korakuen Hall. Former champ Hiromu Takahashi announced that he was unable to make his scheduled title defense on Sunday against El Phantasmo and asked that BUSHI take his place in a match for the vacant belt.
In today’s main event, Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori to capture the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles. Desperado then cut a promo asking to either be added to the match with ELP and BUSHI or to face the winner of that bout at the March 4 NJPW Anniversary event.
Phantasmo then hit Desperado with a Sudden Death superkick. BUSHI ran in and laid out ELP with a codebreaker to complete the three-way angle.
Desperado tied for the block lead in the 2020 Best of the Super Juniors tournament and scored wins over both Hiromu and BUSHI on the tour before falling to Hiromu in the BOSJ Finals. Phantasmo won both the 2019 and 2020 Super J-Cup tournaments.
Sunday’s Castle Attack show will feature four title matches. Here is the lineup for both nights of Castle Attack:
Saturday, February 27, 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World
