Tag: El Phantasmo

NJPW G1 Climax 33 night three live results: Okada vs. El Phantasmo

Posted on by Chick Fritts

NJPW’s G1 Climax 33 tournament continues today in Yamagata with A Block & B Block action. 

In the main event, Kazuchika Okada faces El Phantasmo in B Block. Both enter the match 1-0 in the tournament. 

In the semi-main, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA takes on Shota Umino. Umino & Ren Narita went to a time limit draw in their first tournament bout, while SANADA scored a win over Hikuleo. 

The full lineup: 

  • B Block: Kazuchika Okada (1-0, 2 points) vs. El Phantasmo (1-0, 2 points)
  • A Block: SANADA (1-0, 2 points) vs. Shota Umino (0-0-1, 1 point)
  • B Block: Will Ospreay (0-1, 0 points) vs. YOSHI-HASHI (1-0, 2 points)
  • A Block: Ren Narita (0-0-1, 1 point) vs. Yota Tsuji (0-1, 0 points)
  • B Block: Taichi (1-0, 2 points) vs. Tanga Loa (1-0, 2 points)
  • A Block: Hikuleo (0-1, 0 points) vs. Gabe Kidd (0-1, 0 points)
  • B Block: KENTA (0-1, 0 points) vs. Great-O-Khan (0-1, 0 points)
  • A Block: Kaito Kiyomiya (1-0, 2 points) vs. Chase Owens (1-0, 2 points)

Our live coverage begins at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time. 

**********

There was nothing “must-see” from tonight’s show. There were some strong individual performances (Okada, Kaito, and Kidd come to mind), but no matches that stand out as particularly great.

Kaito Kiyomiya defeated Chase Owens

This was a simple match structurally. Chase got and maintained the heat for most of the bout. Kaito eventually launched a comeback before winning with the shining wizard.

Kaito now leads A Block with 4 points.

KENTA defeated Great-O-Khan

This was a strange one. The match featured a lot of outside brawling, with both men utilizing chair shots and environmental offense. Back in the ring, the match was built around failed ref bumps, which didn’t even play into the finish. KENTA used the ropes after a rollup to win the bout.

KENTA scores his first 2 points of the tournament.

Gabe Kidd defeated Hikuleo

Ruthless Kidd is such a fantastic addition to this roster. His matches always feel urgent. Kidd rushed Hikuleo before the match could begin, setting up another brawl-heavy bout. Hikuleo won the advantage on the floor, which he maintained in the ring. Kidd eventually landed a low blow and a pile driver to eke out a win.

This was Kidd’s first win, leaving him with 2 points.

Taichi defeated Tanga Loa

This wasn’t great. The match opened as a sluggish strike-heavy affair. The ending sequence was moves-heavy, with Taichi coming out on top with his Gedo Clutch variation.

Taichi remains undefeated with 4 points.

Time Limit Draw: Ren Narita vs. Yota Tsuji

This match played out as you would imagine, with Tsuji using his power to gain and maintain a lead, with Narita’s fire acting as a constant check. As time wound down, both men grew desperate and climbed to the top rope where the match would find its end.

Will Ospreay defeated YOSHI-HASHI

This match was a fairly standard Ospreay affair with a fair bit of back-and-forth. YH survived an awful lot of Ospreay offense, but in the end, a corkscrew senton marked the end.

Ospreay is on the board with 2 points.

SANADA defeated Shota Umino

This was a match with no real urgency, even as the clock ticked on. Just before the time limit, SANADA hit the shining wizard and deadfall to win the match.

SANADA maintains his position on top of A block with 4 points.

Okada defeated El Phantasmo

Okada was indifferent for most of the match, which allowed ELP to gain advantage. After avoiding a Rainmaker, ELP hit CR2, a moonsault to the floor, and a tombstone but failed to finish. In the end, it was an Okada Rainmaker that marked the end for ELP.

Okada finishes the night with 4 points.

Current standings 

A Block 

SANADA (2-0) – 4 points)

Kaito Kiyomiya (2-0) – 4 points

Chase Owens (1-1) – 2 points

Gabe Kidd (1-1) 2 points

Ren Narita (0-0-2) – 2 points

Shota Umino (0-1-1) – 1 point

Yota Tsuji (0-1-1) – 1 point

Hikuleo (0-2) – 0 points

B Block 

Kazuchika Okada (2-0) – 4 points

Taichi (2-0) – 4 points

YOSHI-HASHI (1-1) – 2 points

Tanga Loa (1-1) 2 points

Will Ospreay (1-1) 2 points

KENTA (1-1) 2 points

Great-O-Khan (0-2) 0 points

El Phantasmo (0-2) 0 points

C Block

EVIL (1-0) – 2 points

Eddie Kingston (1-0) – 2 points

David Finlay (1-0) – 2 points

Mikey Nicholls (1-0) – 2 points

Tama Tonga (0-1) – 0 points

Tomohiro Ishii (0-1) – 0 points

Shingo Takagi (0-1) – 0 points

HENARE (0-1) – 0 points

D Block 

Zack Sabre Jr. (1-0) – 2 points

Jeff Cobb (1-0) – 2 points

Shane Haste (1-0) – 2 points

Hirooki Goto (1-0) – 2 points

Tetsuya Naito (0-1) – 0 points

Hiroshi Tanahashi (0-1) – 0 points

Alex Coughlin (0-1) – 0 points

Toru Yano (0-1) – 0 points

NJPW reveals KOPW stipulation for Rumble on 44th Street

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW has revealed the results of a fan vote to determine the KOPW 2022 stipulation for Friday’s Rumble on 44th Street pay-per-view. 

Challenger El Phantasmo’s New York City Street Fight stipulation defeated KOPW 2022 holder Shingo Takagi’s “Last Daddy Standing” proposal by a 56.1 percent to 43.9 percent margin in polls held on NJPW’s social media accounts to win the voting. A total of 17,004 votes were cast, with ELP’s choice winning 9,540 votes to 7,464 votes.

The KOPW 2022 match is one of five bouts official for Friday’s event, the second of two consecutive pay-per-view nights in New York City for NJPW. Thursday’s event will be The Night Before Rumble on 44th Street: A Halloween Special, a show with a mystery lineup. 

Both shows will be available for standalone purchase, or as a bundle on FITE TV. 

The lineups: 

NJPW The Night Before Rumble on 44th Street: A Halloween Special, Thursday, October 27, 8 p.m. Eastern time on FITE TV pay-per-view —

  • Mystery lineup

NJPW Rumble on 44th Street, Friday, October 28, 8 p.m. Eastern time on FITE TV pay-per-view —

  • Kazuchika Okada & Eddie Kingston vs. Jay White & Juice Robinson
  • KOPW 2022 New York City Street Fight: Shingo Takagi vs. El Phantasmo
  • Rocky Romero & YOH vs. Yujiro Takahashi & SHO
  • NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship: Aussie Open (c) vs. Motor City Machine Guns vs. Kevin Knight & The DKC
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Clark Connors

Josh Alexander & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Bullet Club set for Impact Wrestling

Posted on by Ian Carey

Tomohiro Ishii & Josh Alexander will team up to face Bullet Club’s Jay White & El Phantasmo on Impact Wrestling. 

Impact announced the news on Tuesday through their social media channels. It is the only match announced for the show thus far.

Thursday’s edition of Impact on AXS TV was filmed on Sunday, May 8 from the Promowest Pavilion in Newport, Kentucky. Under Siege took place from the same venue a night earlier and featured Alexander vs. Ishii for the Impact World Championship in the main event. 

Impact also released its weekly Digital Exclusive Match on YouTube and Impact Plus. It features the return of Shark Boy as he teams with W. Morrissey and Jordynne Grace in a match against Johnny Swinger, Zicky Dice, and Jackson Stone. 

The promotion also announced a match for this Thursday’s edition of Before the Impact on YouTube. Aiden Prince will face X-Division Champion, Ace Austin, on the show. 

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

NJPW BOSJ 28 night seven results: Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Phantasmo

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament continued today in Korakuen Hall.

Hiromu Takahashi faced El Phantasmo in the main event, and El Desperado took on tag team partner Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the semi-main. 

The other tournament action was comprised of Master Wato vs. SHO, YOH vs. Taiji Ishimori, Robbie Eagles vs. BUSHI, plus Ryusuke Taguchi vs. DOUKI.

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: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated DOUKI (11:39)

Taguchi won by pinfall after trapping DOUKI’s shoulders while he was caught in DOUKI’s triangle choke. 

Best of the Super Juniors: Robbie Eagles defeated BUSHI (12:52)

Eagles won with his Ron Miller Special submission. 

Best of the Super Juniors: YOH defeated Taiji Ishimori (13:33)

YOH picked up the win with the Five Star Clutch.

Best of the Super Juniors: SHO defeated Master Wato (15:02)

SHO won by ref stoppage with the Snake Bite.

Best of the Super Juniors: El Desperado defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (15:10)

Desperado used the Pinche Loco to pin Kanemaru.

Best of the Super Juniors: El Phantasmo defeated Hiromu Takahashi (23:14)

ELP won with his loaded boot Sudden Death superkick. He then teased a match with Jay White at Wrestle Kingdom in his post-match promo. 

Christopher Daniels, El Phantasmo return on Impact Wrestling

Posted on by Josh Nason

Christopher Daniels and El Phantasmo both made their returns to Impact Wrestling Thursday.

Current AEW roster member Daniels made his surprise return after the main event that saw Josh Alexander defeat Madman Fulton. After the loss, Fulton attacked Alexander and was aided by Ace Austin. World Champion Christian Cage then ran down to help out Alexander, but the two didn’t see eye-to-eye which gave Austin and Fulton the opening to jump them both.

Daniels then ran out and took out both men, teasing hitting the Angel’s Wings on Fulton before the heels ran away. After the show ended, Impact tweeted a clip of Daniels explaining why he was there. Scott D’Amore walked up and Daniels said he wasn’t here for just run-ins but to compete in the new Impact. D’Amore then booked Daniels vs. Fulton for next week.

Over two stints, Daniels spent more than ten years in TNA/Impact, holding the X-Division title four times, the Impact Tag Team titles twice, and the NWA Tag Team titles six times when they were defended in the company. He left the company in April 2014.

ELP’s return came earlier in the show as he aided fellow Bullet Club members Hikuleo and Chris Bey.

After David Finlay defeated Hikuleo, he and Juice Robinson were about to deliver a doomsday device until ELP ran out for the save. He, Hikuleo and Bey then left FinJuice laying.

ELP worked three matches for Impact in the late-spring, earning an X-Division title match and losing to then-champion Josh Alexander at May’s Under Siege. He has spent the last few months working for NJPW in Japan.

NJPW Summer Struggle results: Rocky Romero vs. El Phantasmo

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s Summer Struggle tour continued today with a show in Korakuen Hall. 

The top two bouts were singles match previews of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match set to take place at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome on July 25. 

In the main event, Rocky Romero took on El Phantasmo in a rematch of a classic Best of the Super Juniors match from May 2019. In the semi-main, Taiji Ishimori faced Ryusuke Taguchi. Ishimori and ELP will defend the IWGP Jr. Tag titles against Romero and Taguchi at the Tokyo Dome. 

The undercard was made up of tag team previews of some of next week’s biggest bouts. 

Here are today’s results:

KENTA, EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemura (12:56)

Yujiro pinned Tsuji after hitting Pimp Juice. 

Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki defeated Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI (13:29)

Taichi pinned BUSHI after he and Sabre hit Zack Mephisto. 

Robbie Eagles, SHO & YOH defeated El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI (12:55)

Eagles used the Ron Miller Special to submit DOUKI.

Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Taiji Ishimori (14:23)

Taguchi pinned Ishimori with a cradle after Ishimori failed in an attempt to cradle Taguchi by pulling his tights down. Taguchi then used a stinkface on Ishimori. This has to be seen to be believed. 

ELP then ran in and attacked Taguchi. Romero ran in for the save and the main event began. 

Rocky Romero and El Phantasmo went to a time limit draw (30:00)

Taguchi teased throwing in the towel for Romero. ELP intercepted the towel. ELP hit Sudden Death, but Romero kicked out as the time limit expired. 

Here are the lineups for the next week and weekend’s NJPW World events:

NJPW Summer Struggle in Osaka night one, Thursday, July 22, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi
  • SANADA vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Kota Ibushi & Master Wato vs. Shingo Takagi & BUSHI
  • Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. KENTA, EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Robbie Eagles, SHO & YOH vs. El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI

NJPW Summer Struggle in Osaka night two, Friday, July 23, 1 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • SANADA vs. Taichi
  • Kota Ibushi & Master Wato vs. Shingo Takagi & BUSHI
  • Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. KENTA, EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Hirooki Goto, Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero vs. Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Jado

NJPW Summer Struggle in Nagoya, Saturday, July 24, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. KENTA
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. EVIL
  • Kota Ibushi & Master Wato vs. Shingo Takagi & BUSHI
  • Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
  • Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Jado
  • Robbie Eagles, SHO & YOH vs. El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Sunday, July 25, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
  • IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (c) vs. Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado (c) vs. Robbie Eagles
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (c) vs. Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi
  • Pre-show New Japan Ranbo for the provisional KOPW 2021 

New champions crowned at NJPW Kizuna Road

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Today’s NJPW Kizuna Road event at Korakuen Hall saw a title change. 

Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo defeated SHO and YOH in 26:43 to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships in the main event of the show. 

The finish of the match came after SHO and Ishimori brawled to the floor. With El Phantasmo and YOH the legal men, Phantasmo stomped on YOH’s foot with a loaded boot. Phantasmo then followed with his Sudden Death superkick with the loaded boot and pinned YOH to win the titles. 

This marks the third reign with the IWGP Junior Tag titles for Ishimori and ELP. Their first reign also began at a Kizuna Road event in June with a win over Roppongi 3K, that coming in June 2019. 

Ishimori and ELP’s second reign began with a win over El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru at a Road to the New Beginning show in January 2021. They would drop the titles back to Desperado and Kanemaru a month later at a Road to Castle Attack event in February. 

Ishimori is also next in line to challenge Desperado for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. No date has been announced for that match as of yet. 

SHO and YOH’s fifth IWGP Jr. Tag title reign ends after one successful defense.

Three matches set for NJPW Strong Road to Collision

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW has revealed the full lineup for this week’s Road to Collision episode of Strong. 

El Phantasmo returns to action on this week’s show. He will team with Hikuleo against Lio Rush and Fred Rosser. Phantasmo has not wrestled on Strong since February. He was most recently in action on last week’s episode of Impact Wrestling. 

In Friday’s opener, Rocky Romero will take on the debuting AJZ. 

Already announced for the show’s main event, Tom Lawlor, Chris Dickinson, JR Kratos and Danny Limelight will face Karl Fredericks, Brody King, TJP & Clark Connors in an elimination match. Eliminations can occur by pinfall, submission, DQ or over the top rope with both feet hitting the floor. 

Strong airs Fridays at 10 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World and is available on demand shortly after airing. 

Here is Friday’s lineup:

  • Elimination match: Karl Fredericks, Brody King, TJP & Clark Connors vs. Tom Lawlor, Chris Dickinson, JR Kratos & Danny Limelight
  • El Phantasmo & Hikuleo vs. Lio Rush & Fred Rosser
  • Rocky Romero vs. AJZ

NJPW’s El Phantasmo to make Impact Wrestling debut next week

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The relationship between Impact Wrestling and NJPW will continue to grow as another NJPW wrestler comes to Impact next Thursday.

On Impact this week, a video aired announcing that El Phantasmo will make his Impact Wrestling debut on next Thursday’s episode of Impact. El Phantasmo is a member of Bullet Club and part of NJPW’s junior heavyweight division. He’s a two-time former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion and has also formerly held the Revolution Pro Wrestling British Cruiserweight Championship.

“Member of the Bullet Club, two-time Super J-Cup winner – @njpwglobal’s @elpwrestling is coming to IMPACT NEXT WEEK! #IMPACTonAXSTV,” Impact Wrestling tweeted.

El Phantasmo won the Super J-Cup in 2020 and 2019

NJPW’s Juice Robinson & David Finlay made their Impact debuts this February. In March, Robinson & Finlay defeated The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) to win the Impact Tag Team titles. Robinson & Finlay retained the titles against Anderson & Gallows at Impact Wrestling’s Rebellion pay-per-view this past Sunday.

NJPW wrote about El Phantasmo’s appearance on next Thursday’s Impact:

After FinJuice captured their Tag Team Championships and retained against the Good Brothers last week, IMPACT Wrestling will now see more of NJPW’s best, this time from the junior heavyweight division. Former two time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion and back to back Super J-Cup winner El Phantasmo will be making his debut next week. 

Will Sudden Death make an instant impact on May 6? Find out at 8/7c on AXS and Twitch!

New IWGP Junior champion crowned at NJPW Castle Attack

Posted on by Bryan Rose

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.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight title bout set for NJPW Castle Attack

Posted on by Ethan Renner

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

  • Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jay White
  • KOPW 2021 Provisional Championship YTR style Texas strap match: Toru Yano (c) vs. Chase Owens
  • Hirooki Goto vs. Tama Tonga
  • YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tanga Loa
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Great-O-Khan, Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb

Sunday, February 28, 12 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World

  • IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Phantasmo vs. BUSHI vs. El Desperado
  • NEVER Openweight Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Great-O-Khan
  • IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (c) vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
  • Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. EVIL, Jay White & Chase Owens
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb

NJPW Road to Castle Attack results: IWGP Junior Tag Team title match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW held the final Road to Castle Attack show today in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. 

In the main event, El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, defeating El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori. 

To open the show, Hiromu Takahashi vacated the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and asked that BUSHI wrestle scheduled challenger El Phantasmo for the vacant title on Sunday’s Castle Attack show at Osaka-Jo Hall. After the main event, Desperado cut a promo and asked to be added to ELP vs. BUSHI, or to face the winner at the March 4 NJPW Anniversary show. ELP then laid out Desperado with a Sudden Death superkick. BUSHI would then attack ELP with a codebreaker and posed with the Jr. title belt. 

After missing several shows with a knee injury, Tetsuya Naito returned to action on today’s show and wrestled in a six-man. Naito is scheduled to challenge Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship on Sunday. 

Castle Attack takes place this weekend over two nights, with shows Saturday at 2 a.m. Eastern time and Sunday at midnight Eastern time. 

Here are results from today’s show: 

Great-O-Khan, Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb (w/Bea Priestley) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Satoshi Kojima & Yota Tsuji (8:24)

Cobb pinned Tsuji after a Tour of the Islands. 

Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano & SHO defeated EVIL, Chase Owens & Dick Togo (1:23)

Yano pinned Togo with a schoolboy. 

Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Jay White, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (w/Gedo & Jado) (10:00)

Goto pinned Tama after a GYW. 

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & Shingo Takagi defeated Kota Ibushi, Yuji Nagata & Tokmoaki Honma (15:30)

Shingo pinned Honma after a Last of the Dragon. 

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori to win the titles (20:12)

Desperado pinned Ishimori after a Pinche Loco. 

Hiromu Takahashi vacates IWGP Junior Heavyweight title

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Hiromu Takahashi has officially vacated the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title.

At today’s Road to Castle Attack event, Hiromu came out to start the show. He said that for the sake of the junior heavyweight division, he would relinquish the title. He then asked BUSHI to wrestle in his place at Castle Attack on February 28 against El Phantasmo.

Takahashi tore his left pectoral muscle on February 19, during a match where he teamed with Shingo Takagi to defeat Tomoaki Honma and Kota Ibushi. After initially being taken off the tour for evaluation, it was announced that he would miss up to six months due to the injury.

Tetsuya Naito, who has been out of action with a knee injury, returns on tonight’s show at Korakuen Hall, teaming with Shingo Takagi and SANADA to take on Kota Ibushi, Yuji Nagata, and Tomoaki Honma. He will face Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Intercontinental title as scheduled on February 28.

NJPW confirms change to IWGP Junior Tag Team title match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

NJPW has officially confirmed a change to the card for the final show of their Road to Castle Attack tour.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori will now defend their titles against El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the main event of this Thursday’s Road to Castle Attack event. Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI were originally set to be Phantasmo & Ishimori’s challengers, but Takahashi is expected to be out of action for approximately six months due to a torn left pectoral muscle.

Takahashi had been scheduled to defend his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Phantasmo at Castle Attack night two this coming Sunday. NJPW hasn’t announced what their updated plans are for that match with Takahashi unable to compete due to injury.

Phantasmo & Ishimori won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles from Desperado & Kanemaru on the Road to The New Beginning tour this January. Desperado & Kanemaru replacing Takahashi & BUSHI in Thursday’s title match was set up by an angle where Desperado & Kanemaru laid out Phantasmo & Ishimori at Monday’s Road to Castle Attack show and vowed to become champions again. Phantasmo & Ishimori had claimed that they had no challengers with Takahashi injured.

Thursday’s Road to Castle Attack event is taking place at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. It will air live on New Japan World starting at 4 a.m. Eastern time. Here’s the full card for the show:

  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori defend against El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Kota Ibushi, Yuji Nagata & Tomoaki Honma vs. Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & Shingo Takagi
  • Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jay White, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
  • Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano & SHO vs. EVIL, Chase Owens & Dick Togo
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Satoshi Kojima & Yota Tsuji vs. The Great O-Khan, Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb