New champions were crowned at NJPW Dominion on Sunday.
Francesco Akira and TJP regained the IWGP Junior Tag Team titles from KUSHIDA and Kevin Knight. Akira scored the win for his team, pinning Knight after both he and TJP connected with running knees. This is their second reign with the titles.
Later in the show, Bishimon (YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto) won the IWGP Tag Team and New Japan Strong Tag Team titles, defeating Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL and Aaron Henare & The Great-O-Khan after hitting their powerbomb/GTR combo on Takahashi. Bishimon won the vacant titles after Aussie Open were forced to vacate the titles last month due to Mark Davis suffering an injury.
After the match, Alex Coughlin and Gabriel Kidd came out wearing Bullet Club t-shirts, revealing they had joined the group. They attacked Bishimon, making it clear they were next in line for a title match.
Elsewhere on the card, SANADA retained the IWGP World Heavyweight title against Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi retained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title against Master Wato, Zack Sabre Jr. retained the New Japan World Television title over Jeff Cobb, David Finlay retained the NEVER title over El Phantasmo, and the team of Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Tomohiro Ishii retained the NEVER Six-Man Tag Team titles against Shota Umino, Jon Moxley, and Claudio Castagnoli.
The first semifinal match in the NJPW World TV title tournament is set.
The tournament continued on Thursday from Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall. EVIL defeated YOSHI-HASHI in the semi-main event and Zack Sabre Jr. defeated David Finlay to close out the show. ZSJ and EVIL will face off against each other in the semi-finals on November 5.
The final two quarter-final matches in the tournament will take place Sunday, October 30 from Chiba. SANADA will face KENTA and Toru Yano will take on Ren Narita on the show.
NJPW TV Championship tournament results:
David Finlay defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (October 14)
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Alex Zayne (October 14)
Yoshi-HASHI defeated Jeff Cobb (October 15)
EVIL defeated Aaron Henare (October 15)
SANADA defeated Taichi (October 16)
KENTA defeated Hirooki Goto (October 16)
Toru Yano defeated Great-O-Khan (October 26)
Ren Narita defeated Tomohiro Ishii (October 26)
Zack Sabre Jr defeated David Finlay (October 27) (quarter-final)
Toru Yano vs. Ren Narita (October 30) (quarter-final)
Zack Sabre. Jr. vs. EVIL (November 5) (Semi-final #1_
Semi-final #2 (November 5)
Finals (January 4)
NJPW also announced on Thursday that for the first time in three years, Fantasticamania will return in 2023. CMLL stars will travel to Japan for the tour beginning on February 22 in Tachikawa and concluding with two back-to-back shows from Korakuen Hall on February 27 & 28.
The finals of the 2021 NJPW World Tag League are set.
Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI will face EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi in the finals on Wednesday, December 15.
Goto and YOSHI-HASHI finished atop the block with 18 points, earning a place in the finals with today’s win over IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi. EVIL and Yujiro finished the tournament at 16 points, but held head-to-head tiebreakers over the other two teams that also finished at 16. They secured a spot in the finals with a win today over Tetsuya Naito and SANADA.
EVIL has won the World Tag League twice, both times while teaming with SANADA. They captured the 2017 and 2018 editions of the tournament back-to-back. Goto is also a two-time winner, claiming victory with Karl Anderson in 2012, and with Katsuyori Shibata in 2014.
Wednesday’s show will also include the Best of the Super Juniors 28 tournament finals, where Hiromu Takahashi will take on YOH. Shibata will also make a “major announcement” on the show. The full card has yet to be released.
It’s amazing how far ahead of Fujita that Oiwa is. Oiwa is already good. The difference really shows.
Hiromu and Oiwa began and picked up where they left off the other night with Hiromu just chopping Oiwa half to death. Fujita jumped in for a double tackle on Hiromu and some of the only Young Lion offense of the match. BUSHI and Hiromu took turns working the young boys over.
Fujita made a brief comeback on BUSHI and got a crab applied, but Hiromu broke it up with chops. Hiromu went to the floor with Oiwa and sent him into the barricade as BUSHI used a Boston crab to quickly submit Fujita.
B Block: Chase Owens defeated Taichi (w/Miho Abe) (12:05)
Taichi must be hurting, because he hasn’t done much of anything in his last two matches. Owens took the bulk of the match and tried to work enough or both of them.
They started with some comedy, as Owens acted like he wanted a sumo match. He would posture up, then beg off and drink from a water bottle. They brawled outside. Owens reversed a whip into the barricade and followed with a dropkick into the barricade.
Owens worked over Taichi’s taped ribs. Taichi got a couple of hope spots with an axe bomber and a backdrop suplex, but Owens dominated. Owens asked Miho Abe to kiss him, she declined.
Taichi went for an axe bomber, but Owens cut him off at the pass and hit two v-triggers. He followed with a legdrop off the top and a package piledriver for the pin.
B Block: SANADA defeated Hirooki Goto (15:32)
They had a good closing stretch, but the match itself was nothing special.
After trading hammerlocks and headlocks, Goto sent SANADA outside after a shoulder tackle and a clothesline over the top. Back in, Goto worked a chinlock. SANADA pulled Goto off the second rope and rolled him outside.
SANADA sent Goto into the barricade. Back inside, SANADA used a paradise lock and a chinlock. Goto came back with a lariat, a heel kick, a bulldog and a misdirection lariat. SANADA fought off an ushigoroshi and hit a plancha.
Goto avoided a springboard dropkick and hit the ushigoroshi. They traded strikes. SANADA hit Goto with an ushigoroshi. Goto tried to use Skull End as they went for each other’s big moves, but SANADA reversed and hit a neckbreaker. SANADA missed a moonsault.
SANADA got Skull End. Goto reversed into a neckbreaker for a near fall. SANADA blocked a mid kick. SANADA used a cradle and an O’Connor roll for near falls. Goto escaped Skull End and cradled SANADA for two.
Goto hit a GTR. He missed with a lariat and SANADA used an O’Connor roll into a bridge for the pin.
B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated YOSHI-HASHI (14:13)
Very good stuff.
They traded headlocks. Tana hit a crossbody off the second rope and a dropkick to the knee. Tana worked over the left leg with a leg lock and an Indian deathlock. YH tried to fire back with chops, but Tana continued to keep him grounded by kicking at the left leg.
Tana missed a charge into the corner. YH hit a headhunter, chops and a neckbreaker. They did a great sequence where YH hit a vertical suplex, but Tana held on and hit twist and shout after landing. YH hit another vertical suplex off the grip. Tana hit two more twist and shouts from the position.
They traded strikes. YH ducked a slingblade. Each teased a dragon suplex, but YH was the first to land it. YH hit a lariat for a two count. Tana used an inside cradle for a near fall. YH hit a lariat. YH hit a backbreaker and a meteora.
YH hit kumagoroshi for a two count. Tana blocked Kharma and hit another twist and shout. They charged each other like rams. Tana hit slingblade. YH popped up and hit a lariat. Tana hit another slingblade for a near fall.
Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow. He followed with a second High Fly Flow to get the pin.
B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated EVIL (w/Dick Togo) (16:45)
This was the overbooked mess that you would expect.
EVIL rolled to the floor immediately. Togo jumped on the apron for a distraction. EVIL jumped Cobb from behind, but Cobb overcame the attack to hit a leapfrog dropkick. EVIL used another distraction from Togo to take Cobb to the floor.
EVIL sent Cobb into the barricade. EVIL hit his baseball swing chair shot. Togo exposed a buckle. EVIL hit chops in the corner, then raked Cobb’s face. EVIL bumped Cobb into the barricade and the ring announcer.
Cobb made his comeback on the floor. He sat EVIL at the timekeeper’s table and bumped Togo into him. Back inside, Cobb hit uppercut forearms and a standing moonsault for a near fall. Cobb went for Tour of the Islands, but EVIL blocked with an eye gouge and slammed Cobb into the exposed buckle.
Cobb blocked Everything is EVIL. Togo jumped on the apron. Cobb tried to bump EVIL into Togo, but knocked the ref out instead. Cobb hit a powerslam. Togo hit Cobb with a chair. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. EVIL sent Cobb into the exposed buckle, but Cobb fired out with a lariat into a double down.
Togo interfered to prevent a Tour of the Islands. Cobb hit a spin cycle, but bumped the ref again. Togo choked Cobb with his ligature. Cobb hit a thrust kick to Togo. EVIL hit a low blow to Cobb.
Cobb ducked a chair shot and hit a thrust kick, sending the chair into EVIL. Cobb then hit Tour of the Islands for the pin.
B Block: Tama Tonga (w/Jado) defeated Kazuchika Okada (24:44)
Very good match with a great series of avoiding each other’s finishers in the closing stretch.
They began with some chain wrestling. Okada had the slight edge, then hit a slingshot senton to establish the advantage. Tonga rolled outside. Okada tried a whip into the barricade. Tonga reversed, but Okada jumped over the barricade to avoid impact. Tonga then hit a Gun Stun over the barricade to take over.
Okada beat the count back in. Tonga used a snap suplex and a chinlock. Okada came back with a flapjack. Okada sent Tonga outside and into the barricade. Okada blocked another Gun Stun on the barricade and hit a draping DDT off the barricade.
Back in, Okada went for the Money Clip. Tonga fought off the first attempt. Okada got it on a second time, but Tonga forced a break. Okada hit a DDT, a top rope elbow and a dropkick. Tonga ducked a Rainmaker and hit veleno.
Okada blocked a Tongan Twist. Tonga blocked landslide and hit a complete shot, then hit the Tongan Twist for a near fall. Okada avoided a Gun Stun and hit a spinning Rainmaker, but could not follow up.
Okada ducked a superman punch, but Tonga connected on an enzuigiri. Tonga avoided a shotgun dropkick attempt. Okada blocked a splash in the corner. Tonga blocked an air raid crash and hit a death valley bomb and supreme flow for a near fall.
Okada hit a backdrop and a dropkick. Okada hit a spinning tombstone. Tonga ducked the Rainmaker. Okada blocked a Gun Stun. Tonga avoided a dropkick. Tonga ducked another Rainmaker and hit a bloody Sunday DDT.
Okada blocked another Gun Stun and tried to reverse into landslide, but Tonga reversed that into a Gun Stun, then hit a double underhook piledriver to secure the upset.
Okada vs. Cobb on Wednesday will be for a spot in the finals. Okada needs a win, Cobb can advance with a win or a draw.
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Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night 17, Monday, October 18, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
The G1 Climax 31 B Block continued today in Tokyo at the Ota City General Gymnasium.
Here are results and a report from today’s show.
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Recommended matches —
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto
Jeff Cob vs. YOSHI-HASHI
Tama Tonga vs. Chase Owens
Report —
B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Hirooki Goto (14:10)
This was two veterans working a very good opener. They didn’t kick out of a bunch of finishers or do countout teases, they kept the match in the ring and left you wanting more.
Tanahashi took virtually all of the offense in the first ten minutes.
Tana dominated a chain wrestling sequence at the outset. Goto got one brief hope spot with his wheel kick and bulldog out of the corner, but Tana used a deathlock, a senton and strikes to maintain control.
Tanahashi hit a somersault senton for a two count. They did a great series of misdirection spots as Goto hit a lariat, then Tana hit a dropkick to the legs. Goto started to come back with a top rope neckbreaker.
Tana avoided a top rope superplex and tried to turn it into a sunset bomb, but Goto slid out. Tanahashi blocked Shouten Kai and hit slingblade. Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow. Goto rolled out of the way of a second High Fly Flow, allowing him to hit a lariat to the back of Tanahashi’s head.
Tanahashi hit a palm strike to the face, but Goto countered with a headbutt and an inverted GTR for a near fall.
Tana reversed a GTR attempt into an inside cradle for the flash pin.
B Block: Tama Tonga defeated Chase Owens (12:59)
This was much better than you might expect.
They began with a solid back and forth technical wrestling battle. Each avoided the other’s finisher.
After exchanging holds, they turned to a more traditional brawling style. Owens used a hip toss into a neckbreaker, a flurry of strikes and a Jewel Heist for a near fall. Tama came back and hit a Tongan Twist.
Owens used a tiger driver for another near fall. Tama blocked a jumping knee. Owens connected on another v-trigger.
Owens went for the package driver, but Tama hit a great reversal into the Gun Stun and got the pin.
B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated YOSHI-HASHI (13:21)
YH low-bridged Cobb to the floor and sent him into the barricade. Cobb cut YH off with a huge shoulder tackle as they got back in. Cobb hit a dropkick and a delayed vertical throw. YH answered with a dragon screw as he looked to take out Cobb’s base.
YH tried a sunset flip, but Cobb blocked. YH teased a powerbomb, but Cobb launched him into orbit on a backdrop. Cobb hit a series of strikes in the corner, then used a belly-to-belly and a spin cycle for a two count.
Cobb hit a standing moonsault for a two count. YH came back and hit a snap dragon suplex, then hit a lariat for a two count. Cobb blocked another powerbomb. YH hit a thrust kick, then a Canadian destroyer for another near fall. YH hit a meteora for a two count.
YH used the butterfly lock to set up a Kharma attempt, but Cobb blocked. Cobb hit a snap German suplex. They traded thrust kicks. YH blocked two Tour of the Islands attempts, then rolled Cobb up for a two count.
Cobb hit a spear, then ended things with Tour of the Islands and a pin.
B Block: Taichi (w/Miho Abe) defeated SANADA (25:15)
The small crowd and their inability to be vocal due to the pandemic restrictions really hurt this match. They didn’t help themselves by starting really slowly, but they were working hard once they got into the near falls and it was as though they were wrestling in an empty building.
They opened with a quick chain wrestling sequence, then they tried to work the crowd with some pec popping. The referee didn’t sell the pec pop battle and they just dropped the idea.
Taichi used a kitchen sink, then used a variety of rest holds. SANADA came back with a dropkick to the left knee and a plancha. Taichi hit a high kick. SANADA went back to the legs with a dropkick, then hit a magic screw.
Taichi avoided a TKO and tried for a stretch plum, but SANADA blocked. Taichi no-sold a tiger driver and hit a backdrop suplex. Both stumbled out of the ring, selling. Kind of a goofy spot. They did a double countout tease, then a double down once they beat the count back in.
They traded strikes. Taichi blocked Skull End. SANADA blocked a chokeslam. Taichi blocked an O’Connor roll. SANADA kicked out of a Gedo clutch. SANADA missed a moonsault into another double down.
SANADA used a moonsault to try to set up Skull End, but Taichi blocked. SANADA blocked Balck Mephisto, but Taichi hit a gamengiri and a backdrop suplex for a near fall. Taichi kicked out of an O’Connor roll.
Taichi avoided another moonsault, then hit a forearm and Black Mephisto for the pin.
B Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated EVIL (w/Dick Togo) (21:46)
NJPW has doubled down on EVIL and this version of the character is killing every show he’s on. The Bullet Club House of Torture is just that. Okada is one of the greatest wrestlers to ever live, but even he can’t make a match with 2021 EVIL work.
EVIL rolled outside and immediately stalled. Togo exposed a buckle. They brawled to the floor, where EVIL sent Okada into the barricade. The ring announcer took his first bump. Okada made a quick comeback with a back elbow and a DDT after EVIL missed a charge into the exposed buckle.
EVIL rolled back to the floor and again sent Okada into the barricade and the ring announcer. While the ref checked on the announcer, EVIL hit Okada with a chair. EVIL tried a running kick with Okada seated on the chair, but Okada hit a drop toe hold on the chair.
Back in, Okada avoided a misdirection lariat and hit a dropkick. Okada used the Money Clip, but EVIL reached the ropes. Okada hit the Rainmaker pose, but EVIL used interference from Togo to cut him off. Togo used a chair on Okada while EVIL took the ref. EVIL hit a tackle for a near fall.
EVIL hit a superplex and tried a pin while grabbing the trunks, but Okada kicked out. Okada fought off Everything is EVIL and used a cradle for a two count.
Okada hit a short Rainmaker. EVIL ducked under a second Rainmaker, but Okada nailed him with a dropkick and a spinning tombstone. Okada went for another Rainmaker, but EVIL pulled the referee in his path. The ref took a bump. EVIL hit a low blow.
EVIL revived the ref. EVIL tried Everything is EVIL, but Okada reversed into a Money Clip attempt. Before he got the hold applied, EVIL bumped the ref again as Red Shoes rolled to the floor.
Togo jumped in and hit Okada with a series of right hands. Okada fought off a Magic Killer and sent EVIL into the exposed buckle. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick to Togo.
Red Shoes was revived. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. Okada blocked a lariat and hit EVIL with Everything is EVIL.
Okada hit a sit-out tombstone and another Rainmaker for the pin.
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Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night five, Sunday, September 26, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
Shingo Takagi defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against EVIL in the main event of night two of Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome.
The match will mark Shingo’s return to the ring after being out of action after a positive COVID-19 test announced on August 17.
In the semi-main, Robbie Eagles will try for his first defense of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. He faces Hiromu Takahashi, who has just returned to NJPW after missing six months with a torn pectoral.
The IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship will be on the line as Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. defend against Tetsuya Naito and SANADA, plus Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI in a three-way.
The first of four title matches on the evening, Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo will defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against Super Junior Tag League 2021 winners El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
In the main card opener, Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii will face Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan. Cobb defeated Okada on yesterday’s Wrestle Grand Slam show.
On the pre-show, winners of yesterday’s STARDOM showcase match Momo Watanabe and Saya Kamitani will take on Giulia in Syuri in today’s showcase.
Our live coverage begins with the pre-show at 1:30 a.m. Eastern time.
This was a more complex match than last night’s STARDOM showcase. I think last night’s was just slightly better, but this had more star power and was very good as well.
Giulia and Momo began with a brief bit of chain wrestling, then quickly tagged out. Same pattern as the match last night. Syuri and Kamitani tagged in. Kamitani was quickly cut off.
Syuri and Giulia used quick tags and went to work on Kamitani. Momo jumped in for an illegal double team save. Kamitani connected with a one-legged dropkick to Giulia. Momo then got a tag and continued working on Giulia.
Giulia made her own comeback and hit a missile dropkick. Syuri tagged in for a shotgun dropkick and a near fall on Momo. Momo hit a uranage for a two count, then tagged Kamitani.
Kamitani and Syuri traded strikes. Kamitani hit a pump kick for a two count. Syuri and Giulia doubled up on Kamitani. Syuri used a shining wizard for a two count. Kamitani hit a frankensteiner and a springboard crossody from the top rope to the floor.
Kamitani hit a northern lights suplex for a two count, then hit Star Crusher. She went to the top for a phoenix splash, but Giulia cut her off from the apron.
Syuri used an arm capture superplex for a near fall, then used a kimura to set up a stretch muffler. Momo saved, but Giulia hit her with a northern lights bomb to clear the deck for Syuri and Kamitani.
Syuri hit a series of kicks. Kamitani hit a poison rana. Syuri hit a high kick for a two count. Giulia and Syuri hit a tandem slam.
Syuri then used a Byakko stretch muffler to submit Kamitani.
This was a solid opener with some impressive work from Cobb and some cool dropkicks from Okada.
This quickly broke down into a brawl around ringside. Cobb hit Okada with a release belly-to-belly on the floor. Cobb and O-Khan worked Okada over in the ring. Okada came back with an air raid crash neckbreaker to Cobb and tagged out.
Cobb and Ishii traded power moves. Ishii hit a vertical suplex. Cobb then hit Ishii with a release belly-to-belly. Ishii was cut off and isolated in United Empire’s half of the ring. Okada entered to even the odds and hit a flapjack to Cobb.
Ishii and O-Khan traded strikes in the ring as Cobb and Okada rolled to the floor. Cobb and O-Khan used tandem offense on Ishii, but Okada broke up a pin attempt. Cobb plucked Okada out of the air as he jumped for a dropkick. Okada escaped a Tour of the Islands and hit dropkicks to both Cobb and O-Khan.
Ishii escaped an Eliminator from O-Khan, but O-Khan got it on his second attempt and pinned Ishii as Cobb held Okada on the floor.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo to win the titles (20:28)
This division really needs some new blood. These guys have traded the titles and almost exclusively wrestled each other for a year now. This was good but they have had a few better matches this year.
Bullet Club overcame a Suzuki-gun jumpstart before the bell. ELP used a springboard crossbody and a quebrada on Kanemaru. Kanemaru came back with kicks to ELP’s left leg. ELP took a bump on his head off a dropkick to the knee.
Kanemaru and Desperado went to work on ELP’s left leg. Desperado used an Indian deathlock. ELP and Ishimori came back on Desperado and used their comedy back rake offense and crotch stomps in the corner with Desperado in the tree of woe. Kanemaru tried to save and ended up getting crotch stomped as well.
Desperado hit a spinebuster to ELP, but Ishimori pulled Kanemaru off the apron to prevent a tag. Ishimori hit a sliding German to Desperado for a near fall. Desperado managed a tag. Kanemaru cradled Ishimori for a two count. ELP hit a senton to Kanemaru out of an Ishimori codebreaker.
Kanemaru caught ELP in a figure four. ELP forced a rope break. Kanemaru and Desperado continued to attack ELP’s left leg. Desperado used Numero Dos on ELP while Kanemaru used a camel clutch on Ishimori. ELP forced another rope break.
ELP rolled up Desperado while holding the tights for a near fall. ELP and Desperado traded strikes. ELP loaded his boot and hit Desperado with two kicks. ELP hit Desperado with his own Pinche Loco for a two count.
Ishimori hit the Cipher Utaki to Desperado. ELP followed with Thunder Kiss 86 for a near fall with Kanemaru saving. Ishimori hit a moonsault to the floor to take out Kanemaru. ELP took off his loaded boot. Desperado ducked the boot. Ishimori bumped the referee.
Kanemaru hit Ishimori with a whiskey bottle. Desperado hit ELP with the loaded boot. Desperado then hit Pinche Loco and pinned ELP.
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (w/Miho Abe) defeated Tetsuya Naito & SANADA & Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI to retain the titles (26:43)
This was a lot of fun.
The rules for the match were that only two guys could be legal at a time. This proved to be more of a suggestion than a rule as this was pure chaos. It was nearly impossible to tell who was legal at any given time. Just move, move, move, move, move.
SANADA used a paradise lock. Sabre used a Euro clutch for a near fall. Naito used a jackknife cradle for a near fall. YH hit a powerbomb for a near fall. Taichi hit an axe bomber. SANADA used an O’Connor roll for a near fall.
It appeared to come down to SANADA and YH. Goto hit a plancha to both Sabre and Taichi to take them out. YH hit a meteora to SANADA for a near fall. SANADA avoided Kharma. YH avoided Skull End and hit a lariat.
SANADA blocked a butterfly lock attempt from YH. Naito saved. SANADA hit a TKO to YH for a near fall with Goto saving. SANADA hit a back suplex to YH for a near fall. Sabre and Taichi got back in. Naito hit a swing DDT and took out both Sabre and Taichi.
YH broke out of Skull End and cradled SANADA for two. YH broke the hold again and used another cradle for two. SANADA used Skull End with a body scissors. He gave up the hold to try a moonsault, but Taichi blind-tagged himself in.
Sabre caught Naito in an octopus as he tried to save YH. Taichi then hit Black Mephisto and pinned YH.
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G1 Climax 31 announcement —
Block finals will be on October 20, with A Block and B Block winners facing off on October 21. Here is the field of 20:
A Block
Kota Ibushi
Tetsuya Naito
Shingo Takagi
Zack Sabre Jr.
Toru Yano
Tomohiro Ishii
Yujiro Takahashi
Tanga Loa
KENTA
Great-O-Khan
B Block
SANADA
Taichi
YOSHI-HASHI
Hirooki Goto
Jeff Cobb
EVIL
Tama Tonga
Chase Owens
Kazuchika Okada
Hiroshi Tanahashi
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*****Intermission*****
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles defeated Hiromu Takahashi to retain the title (24:07)
This was excellent. The leg work from last night’s tag match came into play, so you were rewarded for paying attention. This is easily the biggest win of Robbie’s career and Hiromu is such a star that he wasn’t hurt by the loss.
It should not come as a shock to you that they began with a lightning-quick series of counters and reversals. Eagles hit a stomp to Hiromu’s left leg to soften it up for the Ron Miller Special. Eagles hit a flip dive to the floor and they crashed into the barricade.
Eagles brought the action back inside the ring at the five minute mark. He stomped at both of Hiromu’s legs. Hiromu got a brief flurry of offense, but Eagles went back after the legs. He hit a 619 to the legs and a springboard dropkick to the left leg.
Eagles used the Ron Miller Special. Hiromu crawled to the ropes to force a break. Hiromu blocked turbo backpack and hit a DVD into the buckle. Hiromu followed up with a sunset bomb.
Eagles beat the count back in after the sunset bomb at 19. Hiromu hit a lariat for a near fall just past 15 minutes. Eagles blocked a pop-up powerbomb, but Hiromu hit two thrust kicks and victory royale for a two count.
Eagles grabbed two quick cradles for near falls. Hiromu hit Dynamite Plunger for a near fall. Hiromu was bleeding from the mouth. Hiromu hit a lariat, then an inverted DDT. They fought to the top rope. Eagles escaped the corner and hit a dropkick to Hiromu’s left leg as he was prone on the top rope.
Eagles hit turbo backpack off the top rope, but only got a two count. Eagles hit two thrust kicks and a 450 splash to the legs. Eagles used the Ron Miller Special again. This time it was enough, as Hiromu tapped out.
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Desperado came to the ring after the match He said he wants a rematch, but not just a rematch, a rematch with the Junior Tag titles on the line as well.
I’m not sure if this is a pair of matches with Desperado and Kanemaru against Eagles and Tiger Mask, or if they’re talking about a singles match.
Hopefully we’ll get some clarity when the match is officially announced.
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IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi defeated EVIL (w/Yujiro Takahashi, SHO & Dick Togo) to retain the title (30:20)
The Bullet Club interference and ref bumps are beyond parody at this point. This was a mess of interference, ref bumps, run-ins, ejections, returns after ejections, weapon shots, ring announcer bumps and everything else.
SHO jumped on the apron with a chair right off the bat. Shingo was distracted, allowing EVIL to attack. Shingo grabbed a side headlock, but EVIL powered him down. They traded chops. Shingo hit a shoulder tackle.
Shingo hit a suplex for a near fall. EVIL rolled outside. Shingo whipped him into the barricade. Togo provided a distraction. EVIL bumped Shingo into the barricade and the ring announcer. They did the spot again and the ring announcer went flying.
EVIL hit a baseball swing chair shot. Yujiro exposed a buckle. EVIL whipped Shingo into the exposed steel. EVIL threw Shingo outside. EVIL took the ref as Togo, Yujiro and SHO tripled up on Shingo on the floor. Red Shoes refused to count the pin as Shingo was thrown back inside.
EVIL used an abdominal stretch. Togo interfered to provide more leverage. SHO and Yujiro got involved as well. Red Shoes kicked at EVIL’s arm to break up the human centipede.
EVIL hit a vertical suplex for two. Shingo made a comeback with a series of chops and a DDT. Yujiro, SHO and Togo interfered again on the floor. They took the referee. Shingo set EVIL and Togo up at the ring announcer’s table, then bumped SHO and Yujiro into them.
Red Shoes finally ejected Togo, Yujiro and SHO.
Shingo hit noshigami, a wheelbarrow suplex and a sliding lariat. EVIL used Red Shoes for a Magic Killer. EVIL hit a top rope superplex. EVIL used a scorpion deathlock, but Shingo forced a rope break.
EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. Shingo blocked two Everything is EVIL attempts and got shot into the exposed buckle. Shingo flew out of the corner for a lariat into a double down.
Togo made his way back to the ring. Shingo hit Made in Japan, but Togo pulled Red Shoes out of the ring before the three count. Togo choked Shingo with his ligature. Shingo broke free, but Yujiro ran back in and hit Shingo with Pimp Juice. EVIL made a cover, but Shingo kicked out and threw EVIL into Red Shoes for yet another ref bump.
Togo choked Shingo again. BUSHI ran in for the save. SHO hit a German to BUSHI. SHO hit a chair shot to Shingo’s head. SHO went for Shock Arrow, but Naito and SANADA ran in for the save.
Togo apparently bladed somewhere here, as he popped up with a bloody face and hit a belt shot to Naito. EVIL hit Shingo with a low blow. Shingo and EVI fought over the belt. The referee came to just as Shingo was about to use the belt.
Shingo blocked a low blow and hit a lariat to EVIL. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber at 30 minutes, then connected with Last of the Dragon and got the pin.
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Hiromu limped to the ring after the match. Shingo cut a promo and talked about having COVID and his tough last few weeks. He put over Hiromu and put over his LIJ teammates.
The NJPW Summer Struggle tour continued today in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
The only notable angle on the show came after Kazuchika Okada was victorious in a six-man tag. His Tokyo Dome opponent from this past Sunday, Jeff Cobb, appeared and laid Okada out with his Tour of the Islands finisher. That program will likely continue until the September 4 and September 5 Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome events.
After EVIL and Dick Togo attacked IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Shingo teamed with BUSHI to face EVIL and Togo in today’s main event.
Shingo will defend the IWGP World title against EVIL in the main event of Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome on Sunday, September 5.
After two days off, NJPW returns Friday, Saturday and Sunday with three shows. All of the events will also be held at Korakuen Hall and will begin at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.
A familiar face appeared to issue a challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at the conclusion of today’s NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo event.
Following Shingo Takagi’s successful defense of the IWGP title over Hiroshi Tanahashi, EVIL asserted himself as the next challenger.
As Shingo addressed the crowd following his win, he was interrupted by a promo by EVIL and Dick Togo on the video wall. EVIL stated that regardless of who had won the match, he was stepping up as the next challenger.
After the video, EVIL and Togo appeared in the ring. EVIL attacked Shingo with his Everything is EVIL STO and laid the champion out. EVIL posed over Shingo with the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship as the show concluded.
EVIL is a former IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental double champion, beating Tetsuya Naito to win both titles at NJPW Dominion in July 2020. His reign with the titles lasted 48 days, as he dropped the belts back to Naito at Summer Struggle in Jingu in August 2020.
In addition to his double IWGP title reign, EVIL’s career accolades include two IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team title reigns, a NEVER Openweight title reign, four reigns with the NEVER Openweight Six-Man titles, two World Tag League wins, plus the 2020 New Japan Cup victory.
The NJPW Summer Struggle tour continued today on the third of four consecutive days with major NJPW shows.
Hiroshi Tanahashi took on KENTA in the main event, while Tomohiro Ishii battled EVIL in the semi-main.
With Kota Ibushi’s status as the main event challenger for Shingo Takagi’s IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in question, the winner of today’s main event would seem to be the logical fill-in should Ibushi not yet be recovered from his bout with pneumonia.
Eagles pinned the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion a day before their title match. That was the only thing of note in this opener, as they didn’t get much time.
Suzuki-gun used a jumpstart attack to begin the match and cut YOH off. YOH managed a tag to SHO. DOUKI hit a cool suplex on SHO for a two count. SHO answered with a spear.
Desperado and Eagles got tags. Desperado used Numero Dos, but Eagles forced a break. Eagles used the Ron Miller Special, but Kanemaru saved for Desperado. Kanemaru entered to double up Eagles. Desperado hit Guitarra de Angel for a two count.
Desperado went for Pinche Loco. Eagles blocked, then rolled Desperado up for the flash pinfall.
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After the match, Desperado hit Eagles with a right hand and used a chair on the left leg of the challenger.
There was a lot of butt stuff with Taguchi in the early part of the match. Bullet Club rebounded and isolated YH in their corner. Ishimori and ELP used their comedy tandem offense on YH. YH came back with a headhunter to Ishimori.
Romero got a hot tag and hit forever clotheslines on ELP and Ishimori, then a double rana. Ishimori blocked sliced bread. Romero hit a rewind kick. Taguchi tagged in for hip attacks. Jado caused a distraction with a kendo stick, then tagged in.
Bullet Club went 4-on-1 against Taguchi. Jado used the OJK, but Romero saved. The match broke down as everyone climbed in.
Taguchi ducked a kendo stick shot from Jado and trapped him in an ankle lock for the submission.
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There was a short angle after the match. ELP and Ishimori tried to attack Taguchi and Romero after the bell. Taguchi caught ELP in an ankle lock and tried to reveal the contents of ELP’s loaded boot, but Ishimori saved.
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Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano defeated Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan by countout (10:52)
Okada and Cobb were very good together and should tear the house down tomorrow. The rest of this was a Yano match.
Okada threw his entrance gear at Cobb and brawled to the floor with him before the bell. O-Khan and Yano began the match as the legal men. Yano exposed a buckle, but that gave O-Khan an opening to go on the offensive. O-Khan and Cobb beat Yano down.
Cobb and Okada tagged in for an extended preview of their bout tomorrow. Cobb hit a throw. Okada blocked a spin cycle and tried the Money Clip, but Cobb blocked that. Okada hit a flapjack into a double down.
O-Khan and Yano tagged back in. O-Khan used a cobra twist with the claw applied, but Yano forced a break. Yano sent O-Khan into the exposed turnbuckle. O-Khan used a head and arm choke. Cobb and Okada jumped back in and broke the hold up.
All four brawled to the floor. Yano produced handcuffs and cuffed O-Khan to something under the ring. He was actually a second late beating the count back inside, but the ref called it for Yano anyway as O-Khan was counted out.
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Okada hit Cobb with a dropkick after the match. Cobb tossed a chair into the ring. Okada stood on the chair and taunted Cobb ahead of their match tomorrow.
Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura came to the ring to free O-Khan. He responded by beating them up.
Honma was good yesterday. Honma had a rough time today in the third of three straight days with this same matchup.
Honma was quickly cut off and LIJ worked on him in their half of the ring. Wato finally got a tag and hit BUSHI with a springboard forearm. Wato hit a tope con giro to both BUSHI and Shingo. Wato and BUSHI traded spots. They may have been having some communication issues.
Shingo got a tag and hit a series of chops and strikes to Wato. Wato hit a great pop-up hurricanrana. Honma climbed in for a double team. Wato got a two count on Shingo.
Shingo hit Wato with a pop-up DVD and a sliding lariat. Honma entered for a kokeshi. He teased a Kamigoye, but BUSHI saved and pulled Honma to the floor.
Shingo hit Wato with a Pumping Bomber for a two count. Wato used a crucifix bomb and a cradle for a pair of near falls.
Shingo blocked a kick and used Wato’s momentum to lift him for Made in Japan and the pin.
Ishii always delivers in big matches and this was no exception.
Ishii attacked before the opening bell and beat both EVIL and Togo all around ringside. He sent EVIL into the guardrail in the aisle and broke a piece of it.
Ishii teased a brainbuster on the ramp on EVIL, but Togo made the save. Ishii chased Togo into the ring. Togo distracted Ishii just long enough for EVIL to slide in with a lariat and take control of the match.
EVIL used his baseball swing chair shot on Ishii. Ishii made it back in after a countout tease. EVIL bumped Ishii into the barricade and the ring announcer took a bump. Back inside, EVIL sent Ishii into an exposed turnbuckle. EVIL used a half-crab.
Ishii fired up after a series of EVIL chops and hit a chop to the throat. Both were down selling the chops. EVIL again sent Ishii into the buckle, but Ishii charged out and hit a lariat. Ishii hit a long series of chops and forearm strikes in the corner.
EVIL stopped Ishii’s momentum with an eye poke. Togo pulled Ishii outside and whipped him into the barricade. EVIL sent Ishii back outside again. This time Ishii reversed a Togo whip into the barricade. Ishii then pulled EVIL to the ring announcer’s seat and bumped Togo into the barricade as a measure of justice.
Back in, Ishii hit a vertical suplex for a two count at the 15 minute mark. EVIL whipped Ishii into the buckle and hit a fisherman buster out of it. EVIL hit a superplex for a two count. Ishii blocked an attempt at the scorpion deathlock.
EVIL sent Ishii into the ref. The ref was bumped just long enough for Togo to get in for a Magic Killer and a near fall. Ishii blocked Darkness Falls. EVIL took a front turnbuckle into the exposed steel. Ishii hit a backdrop suplex into a double down.
Ishii hit a clothesline and a Vertical Drop Brainbuster off the middle rope for a two count. Ishii sent EVIL into Togo on the apron. Togo took a great bump to the floor. Ishii hit a sliding lariat for another near fall.
Ishii blocked Everything is EVIL and hit a headbutt. Ishii slid to the apron. EVIL kicked the middle rope into his groin for a low blow. EVIL then hit Darkness Falls for a two count. EVIL hit a lariat after a series of reversals for another two count. Ishii again blocked Everything is EVIL with a headbutt at 25 minutes.
EVIL took the ref. Togo jumped in with his ligature. Ishii fought him off and hit him with a headbutt. Ishii blocked an EVIL low blow and hit an enzuigiri. Ishii hit a massive lariat for another two count. EVIL bumped Ishii into the ref.
Yujiro ran in with his cane. Ishii blocked the cane shot. EVIL hit Ishii with a low blow. Yujiro hit Ishii with Pimp Juice. EVIL then finally hit Everything is EVIL for the pin.
Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated KENTA (24:51)
Tanahashi’s incredible year continues. Another great main event performance from him here.
Katsuyori Shibata was on commentary for this match. This would prove important.
KENTA did some of his customary stalling at the opening bell. Tana got off a flurry of offense, including a crossbody and a senton. KENTA came back by whipping Tana to the outside. He hit a double stomp off the apron, then sent Tana into the barricade.
KENTA took some time to jaw with Shibata.
Back in the ring, KENTA hit a neckbreaker for a two count. KENTA used a chinlock. KENTA took his knee pad down and teased a knee drop, but hit a short kick instead. KENTA played some air bass guitar.
Tana fired up after a series of punches and kicks from KENTA. Tana hit a flying forearm and a dragon screw out of the corner. He connected with two more dragon screws in the center of the ring. Tana used his Texas Clover Hold, but KENTA forced a break.
Tana blocked a swing DDT attempt, but KENTA connected on a powerslam. KENTA hit some kicks and a fisherman’s suplex for a two count. KENTA hit a clothesline off the top rope for another two count.
Tana blocked a draping DDT attempt. KENTA hit a hotshot over the top rope, then hit a draping DDT off the apron to the floor. Tana made it back in after a countout tease.
KENTA hit a Shibata dropkick in the corner. Tana blocked a Go 2 Sleep and hit another dragon screw. They traded heavy forearm shots. Tana got the best of the long exchange, dropping KENTA.
KENTA repeatedly tried to send Tana into the referee, even chasing Red Shoes around the ring, but Tana avoided the bump and hit a dropkick to the knee. Tana tried a dropkick in the corner, but this time KENTA pulled Red Shoes in the way for a ref bump.
With the referee down, KENTA hit a low blow. KENTA produced his old IWGP US title shot briefcase and used that as a weapon as well.
Shibata got in the ring and hit KENTA with a pump kick. He then revived Red Shoes and Tanahashi.
KENTA reversed slingblade into a G2S attempt. Tana reversed that into twist and shout. Tana then hit two slingblades. KENTA blocked a third slingblade with a Busaiku knee. He hit a second running knee strike for a near fall. Tana blocked another G2S attempt and hit a dragon suplex.
Tana then hit the Shibata dropkick to a massive reaction.
Tana then hit two High Fly Flows and got the pin.
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Tanahashi shook hands with Shibata after the match.
Tana then cut this amazing babyface promo. He was practically in tears. The NJPW Global Twitter account translated the promo:
“Right now, I’m going to be honest and humble with you. Thank you. Thank you for being here…
If we can draw enough power from one another we can overcome anything and live through everything. That’s what pro-wrestling is about.
And although I’m sweaty, I’m not tired. This tireless body will pull NJPW into the future.
Thank you for your support. Keep taking care of yourselves, stay healthy and enjoy pro-wrestling. FINALLY- one more thing. Tomorrow. The Tokyo Dome. The main event… is still uncertain. So can I make a little appeal?
If I’m needed (to fill in for Ibushi tomorrow) – I am ready! AIshitemasu!”
Tana played air guitar to close the show
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Here is the lineup for tomorrow:
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
Toru Yano will defend the provisional KOPW 2021 against EVIL in a Creation of Darkness match on night one of Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni, NJPW has announced.
A fan poll on the NJPW Global Twitter account asked voters to choose between two darkness-themed stipulations, with Yano’s proposal winning the vote by a 51.58% to 48.42% margin. The rules of the match will see a hood placed on each of the four ring posts. Pinfalls, submissions and countouts would not be in effect until one competitor places a hood on the other.
EVIL had proposed a Darkness match, where the lights would be turned on and off for thirty second intervals in the first three minutes of the match. After that point, there would be a thirty second period with the lights out for every three minutes of match time.
The feud between Yano and EVIL has had hijinks involving hoods and the arena lights being turned off at key moments. Yano was defeated by EVIL in the New Japan Cup tournament after Dick Togo turned the lights off. Yano later pinned Togo in a tag match on the Road to Wrestling Dontaku tour after placing a hood over his face and hitting a low blow. EVIL retaliated by hiding under the ring during a Yano tag match, turning the lights off, then hitting Yano with his finisher.
Night one of Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni will be held on Wednesday, April 28 at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.
Here is the lineup for the show:
Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni night one, Wednesday, April 28 —
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: SHO & YOH (c) vs. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
KOPW 2021 provisional Championship: Toru Yano (c) vs. EVIL
Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare
A Twitter poll will decide the stipulation for the KOPW 2021 match at NJPW’s Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni event.
NJPW announced that a poll on the NJPW Global Twitter page will kick off on Monday. Fans will be asked to choose between provisional KOPW 2021 Toru Yano’s stipulation choice, and challenger EVIL’s proposal.
Yano has proposed a Creation of Darkness Blindfold match. The rules of that stipulation would see a hood placed on each of the four ring posts. Pinfalls, submissions and countouts would not be in effect until one competitor placed a hood on the other.
EVIL’s proposal is a Darkness match. Under that stip, the lights would be turned on and off for thirty second intervals in the first three minutes of the match. After that point, there would be a thirty second period with the lights out for every three minutes of match time.
Yano and EVIL’s feud has incorporated both proposed elements. EVIL defeated Yano in the New Japan Cup after his second, Dick Togo, turned out the lights to distract Yano. Yano answered by placing a hood on Togo, then hitting him with a low blow and pinning him at Sakura Genesis on April 4.
Night one of Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni will be held on Wednesday, April 28 at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.
Here is the lineup for the show:
Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni night one, Wednesday, April 28 —
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: SHO & YOH (c) vs. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
KOPW 2021 provisional Championship: Toru Yano (c) vs. EVIL
Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare
Yano won a terrible match, rolling up Jado for the pin after a low blow.
Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI defeated Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI (11:19)
This was a fun sprint. SANADA tapped out DOUKI with Skull End.
Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada defeated Jay White, KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi (w/Gedo) (10:26)
This was the match with the earthquake break in the middle of it. Ibushi pinned Yujiro after a Kamigoye.
They teased tension between Okada and Ibushi, and Tanahashi and Ibushi during the match.
New Japan Cup semifinal: Will Ospreay (w/Bea Priestley) defeated David Finlay (w/Juice Robinson) (21:04)
This was a good match with good psychology.
They traded hammerlocks to start, then did some basic drop-downs, tackles and simple spots. Finlay hit a dropkick. Ospreay rolled outside. Finlay hit a backdrop on the floor.
Back in, Ospreay briefly got the upper hand. They went back to the outside and Finlay got sent into the fence. Finlay was back on top after another backdrop.
Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio for a near fall and began to go to work. He teased his Chelsea Grin, but Finlay blocked and hit a superplex. Finlay used a series of cradles for near falls. Finlay blocked Stormbreaker and hit a uranage backbreaker. Ospreay came back with a Spanish Fly.
Finlay hit an ushigoroshi. He went for an Acid Drop, but Ospreay tossed him over the top rope to the floor. Finlay sold like he had broken his ankle. A medical attendant checked on Finlay. They teased a countout, but Finlay made it back in.
Ospreay hit a dropkick and a stack powerbomb for a two count, then applied a figure four. Ospreay removed the boot on Finlay’s injured ankle while he kept the figure four applied. Finlay forced a rope break.
Ospreay hit some Kawada kicks. Ospreay hit a hook kick. Finlay blocked an Oscutter with a jaw breaker. Finlay tried an Acid Drop, but his ankle gave out. Finlay turned a Stormbreaker attempt into a victory roll for a two count.
Finlay went for the Acid Drop, but Ospreay blocked. Ospreay nearly dropped Finlay on is head as they tried to set up a powerbomb, but hit the move safely.
Ospreay then hit Stormbreaker for the pin.
New Japan Cup semifinal: Shingo Takagi defeated EVIL (w/Dick Togo) (22:43)
This was a good match that never reached a higher gear. The usual Bullet club shenanigans didn’t help. Shingo did a masterful job of selling his back, though.
EVIL stalled at the outset. Togo interfered from the outside to allow EVIL to hit a lariat. Togo exposed a buckle and took the ref. EVIL whipped Shingo into the buckle.
Shingo came back with some power spots, but sold the damage to his back from the buckle. EVIL blocked an early Last of the Dragon attempt and hit a backbreaker. EVIL hit a drop toehold into the exposed buckle. EVIL continued to work on the back with a superplex.
EVIL went for Everything is EVIL. Shingo blocked and hit a short lariat. They traded lariats, then traded strikes. The crowd started to really get into it here. Togo slid EVIL a chair and took the ref. EVIL hit a chairshot to the head for a two count.
EVIL hit Darkness Falls for another two count. Shingo blocked Everything is EVIL and hit Made in Japan for a two count. EVIL bumped Shingo into the referee.
Togo entered and hit Shingo with right hands. EVIL hit a low blow to Shingo. EVIL and Togo hit a Magic Killer. Togo used a ligature to choke Shingo. Shingo came back with a double lariat to knock Togo outside. Shingo blocked a low blow and hit a pumping bomber.
Shingo revived the ref, then hit Last of the Dragon for the pin.
Ospreay made an appearance during Shingo’s show-closing promo. Ospreay hit a series of strikes. Shingo blocked a Stormbreaker and sent Ospreay packing with a clothesline.
David Finlay and Will Ospreay claimed the two remaining semifinal spots with wins today in Shizuoka. Finlay scored an upset win over Jay White, pinning him with a stunner and an Acid Drop. Ospreay pinned SANADA after a Hidden Blade and a Stormbreaker.
Both semifinal matches will take place Saturday in Sendai, which will also host the finals on Sunday.
Here are the updated results and the remaining Cup schedule.
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New Japan Cup schedule —
Semifinals —
Saturday, March 20, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World
EVIL vs. Shingo Takagi
Will Ospreay vs. David Finlay
New Japan Cup final —
Sunday, March 21, 1 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World
EVIL or Shingo Takagi vs. Will Ospreay or David Finlay
