The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament continued today in Korakuen Hall.
Hiromu Takahashi faced BUSHI in the main event, while tag partners Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo battled in the semi-main.
The other tournament action was comprised of El Desperado vs. DOUKI, SHO vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Robbie Eagles vs. YOH, and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Master Wato.
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 Ryusuke Taguchi (12:09)
Wato won by pinfall with the RPP.
Best of the Super Juniors: YOH defeated Robbie Eagles (13:48)
YOH got his first win of the tournament with the Five Star Clutch.
Best of the Super Juniors: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated SHO (8:08)
Kanemaru stole a win with a rollup and continues his improbably great tournament.
Best of the Super Juniors: El Desperado defeated DOUKI (15:08)
Desperado won by submission with Numero Dos.
Best of the Super Juniors: El Phantasmo defeated Taiji Ishimori (15:53)
ELP caught Ishimori in a cradle to steal the victory.
Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi defeated BUSHI (21:16)
NJPW’s Summer Struggle tour wrapped up today with a Korakuen Hall finale.
Hirmou Takahashi returned after being sidelined with a torn pectoral. He took on Suzuki-gun’s DOUKI in the main event.
Hiromu’s Wrestle Grand Slam opponent, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles, faced Master Wato in the semi-main.
Kazuchika Okada and Jeff Cobb’s tag team series continued. Okada and Togi Makabe faced Cobb and Great-O-Khan. Okada and Cobb will face off at Wrestle Grand Slam on September 4.
A preview of the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match at Wrestle Grand Slam was featured in the second match of the night. Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI and Ryusuke Taguchi took on Minoru Suzuki and IWGP Tag champs Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi.
The opener featured new Young Lions Ryohei Oiwa and Kosei Fujita meeting for the fourth time in as many nights.
Below are results from today’s show.
**********
Ryohei Oiwa drew with Kosei Fujita (10:00)
The Young Lions went to their fourth consecutive time limit draw.
Eagles won by submission with the Ron Miller Special.
Hiromu Takahashi defeated DOUKI (29:43)
Hiromu won with Time Bomb.
These guys tore the house down. DOUKI works harder than anyone on every show he’s on and Hiromu was great in his comeback match.
Eagles and Hiromu had a brief staredown after the match. Hiromu cut a promo on the IWGP Junior title. Eagles left, then Hiromu addressed the crowd for a long time as the show closed. His promo might still be going on.
**********
Here are the announced lineups for Wrestle Grand Slam:
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night one, Saturday, September 4, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
IWGP United States Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
Provisional KOPW 2021 No DQ, I Quit match: Chase Owens (c) vs. Toru Yano
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night two, Sunday, September 5, 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. EVIL
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi
NJPW will soon have its biggest junior heavyweight star back.
Hiromu Takahashi tweeted today that a doctor has cleared him for an in-ring return after being sidelined with a torn left pectoral.
The NJPW Global Twitter account quoted the tweet and stated “Somebody is cleared…”
Hiromu’s tweet read:
“【朗報】
お医者さんから復帰の許可が出たよ！
さーーまた無茶するぞー。ふぃーーーー”
Which Twitter translated as:
“【good news】
The doctor gave me permission to return!
Let’s go crazy again. Feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee”
Hiromu was injured while teaming with current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi against Kota Ibushi and Tomoaki Honma on February 19 at an NJPW Road to Castle Attack event. He would then vacate the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on the February 25 Road to Castle Attack show.
El Desperado would go on to win the vacant IWGP Jr. title in a three-way at Castle Attack in Osaka, defeating BUSHI and El Phantasmo. Desperado has since made two successful defenses of the title. He is scheduled to defend the belt against Robbie Eagles on Sunday’s Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome event.
Hiromu also missed more than a year of in-ring action with a broken neck following a match with Dragon Lee on July 7, 2018 on an NJPW G1 Special event in California. His comeback match after the neck injury took place on a Road to Tokyo Dome show on December 19, 2019.
Our annual WrestleMania issue of the Observer is out this week with full coverage of pro wrestling’s biggest event.
We go through all the news of the show, including the booking, the title changes, the finishes, the direction, what did and didn’t work, the difference between the two nights, after four examples how does two shows work vs one, the big money WrestleMania main events, the returns, the celebrities and business notes on the show. We also look at next year.
Also in this issue:
Match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results from both nights of WrestleMania and both nights of Takeover, to see how people saw all four of the WWE’s big events.
Stone Cold Broken Skull Sessions with Chris Jericho. We talk about the stories told, Jericho’s career, what they did talk about and what was avoided, how this went against usual McMahon policy and why we probably won’t be seeing another show like this very soon. We look at what was said about AEW, New Japan, WWE, some of Jericho’s frustrations with WWE that he talked about, the formation of AEW and much more.
The sale of FITE TV to Triller and why it happened this week.
Anthem Entertainment’s purchase of Invicta, plans for Invicta on AXS, and a sale that was talked about for Invicta that didn’t happen.
WWE cuts, person by person, their strengths and weaknesses and where they would fit in.
WWE international plans, hiring of Adnan Vink as an announcer, new members of the WWE Board of Directors, how much WWE’s top executives earned in 2020 and where it came from, Edge and Paul Heyman building Mania, changes in WWE announcing, WWE International numbers and where Raw & Smackdown rank with sports shows of the past week. We also look at WWE’s most-watched streaming clips and a star about to return, as well as the current market value of WWE.
Coverage of Saturday’s UFC show, comments on the winning fighters and upcoming booking, along with business notes on the show.
A feature on John Da Silva, who was the biggest babyface and a national hero in New Zealand in the 70s.
More on Ethel Johnson and sister Babs Wingo, who integrated women’s pro wrestling in the Billy Wolfe stable in 1951.
More detail on ratings than any other source, we have how every segment on NXT and AEW did as well as how it did with different age groups, genders and more, plus a look at all other wrestling shows of the past week.
Results of the major pro wrestling events of the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
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TUESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
Ivar spoke to WWE in a new video on his neck injury and road to recovery.
Karrion Kross spoke to PWInsider on his current run in NXT, his entrance, and future WrestleMania aspirations.
Damian Priest spoke to DAZN on Bad Bunny’s appearance at WrestleMania. “It was all worth it,” he said. “He had no issue putting in the work. I knew he would surprise a lot of people because though again like you said, nobody expected it. Nobody knew. You hear that he’s training. Anybody can train. That doesn’t mean you’re going to be any good. It doesn’t mean you’re taking it to the fullest seriously. There’s been other celebrities, and they train, but they didn’t train to the level he did mentally. He took this very prideful. He didn’t want to embarrass himself, the company, his fans, our fans, me, and anybody else in the ring because the first thing he was worried about was earning respect. He didn’t want to disrespect anybody.”
In an interview with Metro, Rhea Ripley credited Scotty 2 Hotty with helping her and Raquel Gonzalez getting through rough times.
Jim Steinman, a producer for the likes of Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler, has passed away at the age of 73. He also produced The Wrestling Album, which included what would eventually become Hulk Hogan’s theme music, “Real American”.
In an interview with Sportscasting, Xavier Woods talked about eventual retirement. “Until I feel like I can no longer perform at a level that’s acceptable to the fans,” he responded when asked. “So once that happens, then I’m done. So I’ll probably jump out right before that happens so I don’t have to accidentally find it. But at this point in my career, I’m so focused on making sure that other people are taken care of and that other people are getting the chance to shine, whether that’s in the ring or outside of it. “For me, I want to make sure that I’ve done everything in my power to get a couple of pages of the next chapter written before I get there because I don’t want to have to pick up the pen and scramble to write.”
Bianca Belair on YouTube showed how she made her gear that appeared at WrestleMania 37.
Bebe Rexha, who sang ‘America the Beautiful’ on night one of WrestleMania 37, expressed interest in having a WWE match in an interview with ET Canada.
The company’s social media team has been nominated for the “General Social: Sports” category in the 25th annual Webby Awards. WrestleMania 36 has also been nominated in the “Social Content Series & Campaigns: Events and Livestreams” category. Additionally, The Undertaker’s Last Ride docuseries received honorary status in the “Video Series & Channels: Sports” category.
Hiromu Takahashi did a Q&A on the US NJPW website. In regards to his current status, he said he was doing well, but “If 100 percent means what I feel it should, then honestly it would be 2% right now. To me being 100 percent means being able to do what I set out to do, win championships, make dreams happen. It’s not enough just to get back in there. So with that in mind, yeah, two percent.”
CM Punk told Stephanie Chase of DigitalSpy that he has an interest in facing Will Ospreay, who recently called him out. “I don’t want to give people false hope in answering Ospreay,” Punk said. “But he’s for sure somebody that I’ve never wrestled before that interests me a lot more than, I guess, the corporate side of professional wrestling nowadays. New and different things are going to interest me more than doing the same old, same old. I always need new goals. I don’t know,” he added. “Let’s see if he has it at the end of the summer and then ask me the question again.”
Britt Baker, Jungle Boy, and Sting will be a part of the Wales Comic Con Convention at the International Centre in Telford on November 20 and 21.
Chris Van Vliet spoke to Chris Masters about his addiction to painkillers, his Master Lock submission, and the NWA.
Chelsea Green filed for trademarks on the terms “Chelsea Green” and “Hot Mess” on April 15.
Warrior Wrestling announced that Deonna Purrazzo will face Ray Lyn on their June 5 Stadium Series event.
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.
The death of Tom Cole this week takes us back to one of the most sordid pro wrestling stories of the last 50 years, which involved media heavyweights at the time like Phil Donahue, Larry King, Geraldo Rivera and Phil Mushnick. It’s the lead story of a new double issue of the Observer.
We look at the story and its tragic end this past week and all the key characters involved. We look at Cole’s death, what exactly happened to him, different media appearances at the time, the WWF first settling his case, the unique plans for the Phil Donahue show, at the time the leading daytime talk show in the U.S. with a gigantic audience and how Vince McMahon planned the show and why it never transpired the way it was planned. Cole’s memories of what happened, and things that triggered his past including a first suicide attempt that few knew about. This is a major piece of wrestling history that has been largely hidden except from those who were around at the time.
Also in this issue:
NXT Takeover show with match-by-match coverage, star ratings and poll results of what undoubtedly will be considered among the best shows of 2021.
WWE not offering raises and promotions and how that went down this past week, as well as a look at WWE performer salaries if they were paid the same percentage as sports stars or even UFC fighters, Lacey Evans’ pregnancy, a pilot for a new WWE Network show filmed, the attempt to re-litigate the concussion case and its likely outcome, injury updates, details of a number of different people having signed new deals, who they are and their background, notes on how many saw Sasha Banks start the Daytona 500, Finn Balor talks staying in NXT, TV show with WWE stars as guests, WWE & AEW international TV ratings and how last week’s shows did compared to other sports, another celebrity training to appear in WWE rings, upcoming TV matches, a what ever happened to, current company value and the most-watched shows of the past week on the WWE Network.
Gina Carano and her social media posts that cost her a television series was was to be built around her, her new affiliation, and the situation with Ariel Helwani, Dana White and ESPN as well as media criticism of ESPN for how they handled the situation.
UFC 258 with match-by-match coverage and all the business news.
How Keiji Muto became one of the oldest world champions in history, why NOAH made the move, a look at NOAH today after its biggest show in many years.
WWE social media regulations for its talent, what is and isn’t allowed.
Debut episode of “Young Rock,” its ratings, and what was real, nor real and in between about the stories with a look at early women wrestling promoters, Rocky Johnson, Peter Maivia, Lia Maivia and Dwayne Johnson growing up.
Second night of New Japan’s New Beginning in Hiroshima..
Television ratings of the past week, including segment-by-segment numbers for the past two weeks on Wednesday, who was watching in different age groups, how different segments did on Raw & Smackdown and more.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Raw, Chamber fallout as well as the latest news.We also have a Friday night show where we talked to Jon Moxley on a ton of different subjects, and Garrett and I did an all news show that is up on the site right now. You can also send questions to the show to [email protected]
Elimination Chamber was the No. 4 most searched term on Google yesterday with 500,000 searches. That was well ahead of Saturday’s UFC show and a good number for a non-major show. We’re still taking our poll for last night’s show so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
Regarding NXT to Sportsnet 360 starting Wednesday, which WWE announced this morning. WWE had been trying to make this happen since October of last year when AEW started up, for obvious reasons, but the station didn’t make the call until starting this week. Paul Levesque will be on Sportsnet 590 in Toronto on the morning show on Wednesday promoting the debut.
With Hiromu Takahashi needing surgery for a torn pec, that changes a ton of plans, basically the entire New Japan jr. division. If you actually think about it, there is probably not one wrestler in the world more valuable to their division. The new card for Thursday (late Wednesday from Korakuen Hall which starts at 4 a.m. Eastern has:
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Satoshi Kojima & Yota Tsuji vs. Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb & Great O’Khan
Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano & Sho vs. Evil & Dick Togo& Chase Owens
Tomohiro Ishii & Hirroki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Jay White & Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
Kota Ibushi & Yuji Nagata & Tomoaki Honma vs.Tetsuya Naito & Sanada Shingo Takagi
El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori vs. Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru for IWGP jr. title. Desperado & Kanemaru replace Hiromu Takahashi & Bushi
Right now nothing has been announced regarding Osaka with the Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Phantasmo title defense. The usual rule of thumb in New Japan is if a title match is announced, it takes place, which would mean Phantasmo would face somebody for the vacant title. That’s the usual case with injuries. But that hasn’t been announced yet.
Regarding the WWE Network and its transition to Peacock, we should have more later in the week but Fast Lane will be on Peacock and the WWE Network in the U.S. separately, so it was not said WWE Network only for fans outside the U.S. Everything will be in the process of transitioning. As of right now, WrestleMania will be exclusively on Peacock in the U.S. and will be the first exclusive PPV on that platform.
Raw tonight has only announced The Miz opening the show. The ratings should be up due to being the day after the PPV, but last week’s numbers were also higher than usual.
AEW tonight on YouTube has two U.S. matches and two foreign matches in the women’s tournament. Emi Sakura vs. Yuka Sakazaki and Aja Kong vs. Ryo Mizunami are the Japanese bouts. The two winners will face off on Sunday on Bleacher Report. Tay Conti faces Nyla Rose and Britt Baker vs. Madi Wrenkowski (replacing Anna Jay) is also on tonight’s show with those winners meeting on Dynamite on Wednesday.
After Raphael Assuncao pulled out of Saturday’s UFC fight with Raoni Barcelos, Marcelo Rojo agreed to replace him in a 140 pound fight. But Barcelos tested positive for COVID-19 and is out. Barcelos said he’s feeling no symptoms and hopes to be able to fight again soon.
As noted yesterday, New York is now opening up for indoor sports games including the NBA and NHL, but the rules are this:
10 percent capacity
All players must test negative for COVID within 72 hours
The New York Nets will be testing all fans for COVID and providing all fans with a mandatory mask. The Nets are the first pro sports team to include a COVID test in its ticket pricing. The Nets will only allow 300 fans until 3/7, when they will start after that with 1,800 tickets.
WWE
Miz & Mrs. will return to the USA Network on 4/12. It will air on Monday nights at 11 p.m. after Raw, which is a time slot the show will do far better in than Thursday prime time.
UFC
Alez Perez vs. Matt Schnell has been added to the 5/15 show.
Randy Brown is out of Saturday’s UFC show where he was to face Alex Oliveira. No reason was given for his withdrawal. The company is looking for a replacement.
AEW
Besides the injury to Anna Jay announced today, another AEW rookie woman wrestler, Brooke Havok, who just started her career, tore her ACL this past Wednesday night in a Dark match with Leyla Hirsch. The match airs tomorrow night and she did finish the match.
Chris Jericho appeared on KTLA Ch. 5 in Los Angeles today plugging his rock band.
OTHER NEWS
Memphis Wrestling returns to television at Noon this coming Saturday on CW30. It’s the first time local wrestling has been on TV in the market that had historically the highest television ratings for pro wrestling in nearly 15 years. Dustin Starr and David Marquez are producing the shows. The show will air weekly in the Noon time slot in a market where pro wrestling used to be a Saturday morning fixture from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We will have a lot more on this new issue.
Major League Wrestling will have some presence in the Canelo Alvarez fight on Saturday on DAZN. They also announced the next major TV show will be called Never Say Never and air on 3/31.
Former pro wrestler David Martin, who had signed to be a school superintendent, asked to be released after some parents were upset from a staged segment he did on the Jerry Springer show back in the 90s when Jamie Dundee was booking wrestlers as guests. Springer was a totally worked show, obviously
Pro Wrestling Australia is live on FITE TV on 2/27 in Ingleburn with a sold out show headlined by Robbie Eagles vs. Aaron Jake and Charli Evans vs. Cherry Stevens.
Pro Wrestling Australia Black Label has a live show on 3/12 at The Factory Theater in Sydney also live on FITE with a 30 man Rumble, a title match with Caveman Ugg vs. Ricky South plus Aussie Open, Shazza McKenzie and more.
Impact+ has a taping on 2/27 with Lariato Pro Wrestling in Lyons, GA with Doc Gallows, Eric Young, Hernandez and John Skyler on the show.
NJPW reported this morning that Hiromu Takahashi will be out for an estimated six months due to a torn left pectoral.
The company posted the following on social media: “After medical assessment, Hiromu Takahashi’s left pectoral injury will leave him out of action for an estimated six months. More information will follow.”
Takahashi has not wrestled since February 19, when he was injured during a tag team match at a Road to Castle Attack event in Morioka. It was announced prior to this morning’s event at Korakuen Hall that he would also be unable to compete on today’s card..
Takahashi is currently the IWGP Junior Heavyweight champion. He was scheduled to defend the championship against El Phantasmo on the second night of Castle Attack on February 28 at Osaka-jo Hall. It has not been said what the company will do with the championship.
Tetsuya Naito, who has taken dates off due to a knee injury, announced to the crowd at the start of today’s Road to Castle Attack show that he will return to action on February 25 at Korakuen Hall.
NJPW has announced that Hiromu Takahashi will miss the Monday, February 22 Road to Castle Attack event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
Hiromu suffered a shoulder injury in a tag match on the February 19 Road to Castle Attack event Morioka and has not wrestled since.
Hiromu had been scheduled to team with BUSHI and Shingo Takagi against Bullet Club’s El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori and Yujiro Takahashi. Instead, Shingo and BUSHI will now face Phantasmo and Ishimori in a tag.
Hiromu and BUSHI are currently slated to face Phantasmo and Ishimori for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles on Thursday’s Road to Castle Attack event, also set for Korakuen. He is also scheduled to defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title against Phantasmo on night two of Castle Attack on Sunday, February 28 at Osaka-Jo Hall.
Hiromu is the second prominent NJPW star to miss multiple shows on the Castle Attack tour due to injury. Los Ingobernables de Japon stablemate Tetsuya Naito is also off the Monday show due to injury.
Hiromu Takahashi was taken off the February 20th Road to Castle Attack event in Yamagata due to injury.
NJPW’s Japanese website announced that Hiromu was off the card due to a left shoulder injury and would be examined at the hospital. He last wrestled on February 19, teaming with Shingo Takagi to defeat Kota Ibushi and Tomoaki Honma.
As a result of the removal, two matches were changed on the card. Takagi and Hiromu were scheduled to face El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori, but that was changed to a singles match where Takagi defeated Yujiro Takahashi. ELP and Ishimori instead defeated Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura in the opening match.
Tetsuya Naito has also taken dates off due to a knee injury he suffered on the February 16th show. However, he is currently slated to face Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Intercontinental title on the second night of Castle Attack on February 28 in Osaka-jo Hall.
An IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team title match has been announced for the final night of NJPW’s Road to Castle Attack tour.
The Road to Castle Attack tour is taking place from Sunday, February 14 to Thursday, February 25. The final event of the tour will see El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori defend their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles against Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI. At the New Beginning in Hiroshima night one earlier this week, ELP and Ishimori attacked Takahashi after he retained his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against SHO in the main event. BUSHI came out to even the odds, and the title match was set up.
ELP will challenge Takahashi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at night two of Castle Attack. Castle Attack is taking place on Saturday, February 27 and Sunday, February 28.
NJPW has also announced that a new Young Lion has been added to their roster. 24-year-old Yuto Nakashima will make his debut on the February 14 Road to Castle Attack show, facing Yuya Uemura.
Nakashima trained for a year at the Fale dojo in New Zealand before moving to NJPW’s dojo in Japan. He has a background in MMA, jiu-jitsu, judo, and water polo.
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship match: Hiromu Takahashi vs. SHO
Report —
Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Yota Tsuji, Yuya Uemura & Gabriel Kidd (8:01)
Suzuki vs. the Young Boys has been a highlight on a pretty lackluster Road to The New Beginning tour. That continued here as they told a good story and made the most of their eight minutes.
Uemura attacked Suzuki as he stepped through the ropes during Kaze Ni Nare. A brawl broke out. Desperado and Kidd began as the legal men and briefly got some offense. Kidd hit a senton. Tsuji hit a splash for a near fall.
Uemura and Suzuki were the focus as the match built. Suzuki gave Uemura a lot. Uemura used a crab for a near submission. Suzuki came back with a strike combo and a high angle single-leg crab for the submission.
This was very solid. I would have put Wato over, as BUSHI is pretty locked in to his spot and Wato could use the help.
Wato attacked before the bell and hit a flying mid kick. He followed with a tornillo. BUSHI sent Wato into the security fence to stop his momentum. Back in the ring, BUSHI worked on Wato’s right knee, as he has all tour. BUSHI used an STF. Wato forced a rope break.
Wato came back with a jumping knee, a back elbow and a flying mid kick. Wato missed on a springboard uppercut, then hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a two count. BUSHI hit an enzuigiri. Wato avoided a draping missile dropkick and hit a springboard uppercut.
BUSHI cut off a dive attempt and hit a hurricanrana and a tope suicida. He followed with a DDT. Wato blocked a code breaker and hit recientemente for a near fall. Wato hit a dreamcast and a TTD.
Wato went up top for the RPP. BUSHI rolled out of the way and Wato crashed to the mat. BUSHI hit a code breaker in the ropes. Wato avoided an MX. BUSHI hit a rewind kick.
BUSHI hit his new terrible (that’s not an insult, it’s the Spanish pronunciation and the name of the move) for a near fall, then hit MX for the pin.
Three matches, three pre-match attacks to begin them. The CHAOS side attacked Bullet Club. They have done a good job of heating up a feud over the NEVER 6-Man titles of all things.
Bullet Club overcame the attack and cut YH off in the ring. Bullet Club did their human centipede abdominal stretch spot. YH came back with a bunker buster on Ishimori and a heel kick to EVIL. Okada tagged in to square off with EVIL. He took out an interfering Yujiro with a flapjack.
Okada hit a DDT on EVIL for a near fall. Togo provided a distraction and EVIL gained the upper hand. Okada blocked Darkness Falls.
Ishii and White tagged in. They have been the MVPs on this tour. Yano and Goto cut off an interfering ELP and Ishimori. Ishii blocked a Blade Buster from White. White hit a German suplex. Ishii no-sold it. White hit a Blade Buster. White hit a DDT and tagged Yujiro.
Ishii blocked a fisherman buster and hit a vertical suplex. Yano tagged in and removed a corner pad. Togo jumped on the apron for a distraction. Yano removed a second corner pad, then missed a charge into an exposed turnbuckle. Yujiro whipped Yano into the other exposed buckle.
Yano and Yujiro traded inverted atomic drops. Togo hit Yano with a right hand from the apron. Everyone jumped in for a big move.
Yano sent Yujiro hit a low blow, sent into Togo on the apron, then used a schoolboy to pin Yujiro.
**********
Okada went after EVIL after the match, as he has been angling for a singles match with him.
**********
SANADA & Tetsuya Naito defeated Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma (11:02)
There have been better previews for Ibushi/SANADA on this tour, but this was still good.
Ibushi and SANADA began with a simple exchange of holds. Ibushi hit a shoulder tackle and a dropkick, then tagged Honma in with their team in the plus position. Naito tripped Honma from the floor. SANADA hit a low dropkick to Honma and the LIJ side began working on Honma.
Honma came back with his flatliner/DDT combination on both Naito and SANADA. Ibushi got a tag and sent SANADA outside for a plancha. Back in, SANADA tried a paradise lock, but Ibushi fought it off. Ibushi went for a paradise lock, but SANADA blocked.
Ibushi tried a sunset flip. SANADA used the position to lock on a paradise lock, then broke it with a dropkick. SANADA hit a magic screw. Naito and Honma got tags. Naito mocked Honma’s voice and hit a series of strikes and stomps.
Honma avoided a combinacion in the corner. Ibushi entered to double up on Naito. Ibushi hit a powerslam. Ibushi and Honma hit stereo kokeshis for a near fall. Honma missed on a Michinoku driver attempt. SANADA entered and hit a dropkick.
SANADA sent Ibushi from the apron to the floor with a dropkick. Naito hit a flying forearm and a Destino on Honma for the pin.
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Ibushi invited SANADA into the ring for a fist bump after the match. Naito and SANADA then did their customary LIJ fist bump.
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IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (w/Jado) defeated Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (w/DOUKI) by DQ (29:08)
This was an entertaining twelve minute brawl stretched out to almost thirty minutes, complete with ref bumps, run-ins and a terrible finish. The finish made sense, I’ll give it that, but I have no idea why they went as long as they did.
Tama threw a bag filled with smaller bags into the ring as he entered, teasing that the iron fingers that he stole from Taichi were in one of them. DOUKI and Jado dueled with their weapons. DOUKI dragged Jado to the back.
Kanemaru was on commentary and got one of the bags. It contained a bra. Some of the other bags contained a puppet, a ping pong paddle, a loaf of bread and a boxing glove.
The teams brawled around ringside with G.O.D. in control. They teased a double countout, but both Taichi and Tama made it in at 19. G.O.D. worked over Taichi in the ring. Tanga used a blue thunder bomb.
Sabre got his first tag just before the 11 minute mark of the match and ran wild on G.O.D., focusing on Tanga’s left arm. Tanga came back with a spear after three minutes. Tama jumped in and G.O.D. doubled up on Sabre. Sabre avoided a Magic Killer at the 15 minute call.
Sabre caught Tanga in a guillotine. Taichi used a dragon sleeper on an interfering Tama. Tanga forced a rope break. Sabre and Taichi double teamed Tanga. Sabre used a PK for a near fall. Tanga avoided a Zack Driver and hit a jackhammer into a double down at the 18 minute mark.
Taichi and Tama got tags. Taichi choked Tama and hit an axe bomber. Taichi hit a series of Kawada kicks. Tama hit a Tongan Twist at the 20 minute call. Taichi avoided two Gun Stuns and hit a backdrop suplex for a near fall.
Taichi tore his trousers off. Tanga jumped in and attacked. Sabre choked Tanga. G.O.D. hit Guerrilla Warfare on Sabre. G.O.D. hit a tandem neckbreaker on Taichi for a near fall.
Tama and Tanga called for the super powerbomb on Taichi. Taichi powered out with a vertical suplex on Tama. Sabre took out Tanga with a leg sweep. Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick on Tanga.
Dangerous Tekkers double teamed Tama. They hit Zack Mephisto. Tanga pulled the referee out of the ring before the three count.
Taichi went down after a series of simultaneous lariats with Tanga at the 25 minute call. Taichi avoided a powerslam and hit a jumping high kick.
Jado entered with the iron fingers and passed them off to Tama. DOUKI ran in and hit an enzuigiri on Tama. Tama popped up and used the iron glove on DOUKI.
Taichi blocked an iron glove shot with a kick. Taichi grabbed the fingers. Tanga cut him off. Tama got the glove back. Sabre slapped a choke on Tama. Taichi got the fingers back. The ref jumped in. Taichi shoved him down.
Jado used a kendo stick on Sabre. Taichi no-sold a kendo stick shot and used the fingers on Jado.
The ref was revived. Taichi hit an iron glove shot on Tama for the DQ.
Taichi sold as though he snapped after the match, hitting the ref with the iron glove. Taichi got his glove back, G.O.D. kept their titles.
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship match: Hiromu Takahashi defeated SHO to retain the title (35:38)
This was an epic and easily the best thing on the show. It was also the longest IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship match ever.
They traded forearms for the first several minutes, a trademark of Hiromu matches. They first traded in the ring, then down on the floor. They sent each other into the barricade. Hiromu hit a second barricade whip and briefly got the upper hand.
SHO came back with a spear and a series of stiff kicks. Hiromu launched SHO into the buckle with an overhead belly-to-belly throw. Hiromu sent SHO to the apron and teased a sunset bomb. SHO blocked with a forearm and pulled Hiromu to the apron.
Hiromu hit a thrust kick on the apron. Hiromu teased a powerbomb on the apron. SHO teased a backdrop. Hiromu worked his way to the floor and hit a powerbomb off the apron. SHO beat the count back in.
Hiromu climbed to the top rope. SHO pulled him off the top and hit a powerbomb on the apron. Hiromu beat the count back in at 19. SHO hit two rolling Germans, then went for a cross armbreaker. Hiromu kept him from getting full extension and reached the ropes at the 15 minute call.
Hiromu hit a German suplex. SHO rolled through and no-sold the landing. SHO hit a series of forearms with Hiromu in the ropes. Referee Red Shoes tried to break them up, but SHO shoved him away. Hiromu got a triangle applied over the ropes. SHO pulled him over the top and hit a powerbomb into a double down.
They traded forearms again at the 20 minute call. They traded corner clotheslines. Both hit two forearm strikes. All four times they kicked out at one. SHO dropped Hiromu with another forearm, but could not follow up and went down himself.
Hiromu blocked two lariats and rolled into D. SHO hit a powerbomb, but Hiromu kept the hold applied. SHO powered out. SHO blocked a powerbomband used a hammerlock to set up a kimura. Hiromu fought the hold for a long time before reaching the ropes.
SHO hit a power breaker for a near fall. He called for Shock Arrow. Hiromu landed on his feet and hit a headbutt as SHO tried to execute his finisher.
SHO avoided a Dynamite Plunger. Hiromu hit a superkick. Hiromu came off the ropes into a jumping knee strike from SHO. SHO again tried for Shock Arrow. Hiromu slipped to his feet again and SHO hit a headbutt. SHO hit a backstabber and two lariats. They hit four simultaneous lariats.
Hiromu took a flip bump off a lariat and landed on his neck. SHO got a two count. SHO hit Shock Arrow just past the 30 minute call. Hiromu kicked out at 2.
Hiromu slipped out of another Shock Arrow and hit a DDT on the landing. Hiromu hit a victory royal for a near fall. Hiromu hit five superkicks. SHO refused to go down. Hiromu blocked a jumping knee strike, but SHO got a triangle choke applied. Hiromu hoisted SHO up for a DVD into the corner pad.
Hiromu hit Time Bomb. SHO kicked out. Hiromu hit a lariat and Time Bomb II for the pin.
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ELP jumped up from commentary and got in the ring. He teased a superkick with the loaded boot. BUSHI ran in for the save. Ishimori ran in and attacked BUSHI. Hiromu saved for BUSHI.
ELP cut a promo. He said he’s tired of Hiromu carrying the Jr. title. ELP said Hiromu didn’t earn the title, it was given to him by “this bullsh*t company” and he’s not leaving Japan until he wins the title from Hiromu.
Hiromu cut a promo. He said he’ll face ELP, but only if ELP and Ishimori put the Jr. Tag titles on the line against him and BUSHI first.
Hiromu then addressed the crowd to close the show.
Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Yuya Uemura & Gabriel Kidd (7:36)
Suzuki’s interactions with Kidd and Uemura were the highlights of this match.
Taguchi and company employed a Suzuki-gun tactic and attacked before the opening bell. Taguchi did some comedy. Suzuki-gun rebounded from the attack and cut Kidd off in the ring.
Kidd tried to trade forearms with Suzuki. Suzuki actually gave Kidd a lot here, doing a subtle sell of the forearms and taking a dropkick. Uemura tagged in and peppered Suzuki with forearms and slaps. Uemura hit a dropkick in the corner and a forearm knockdown for a one count.
Suzuki tried for the Gotch-style piledriver. Uemura blocked and tried for a crab. Suzuki fought out of the crab attempt. Suzuki-gun tripled up on Uemura. Taguchi saved with hip attacks. Uemura used a back suplex for a near fall on Desperado.
Suzuki distracted the referee. Desperado hit a strike with a closed fist and Pinche Loco for the pin on Uemura.
EVIL, Jay White & Yujiro Takahashi (w/Gedo & Dick Togo) defeated Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto by DQ (5:17)
This was more of an extended angle than a match. YOSHI-HASHI was on commentary and caused the DQ.
Okada, Ishii and Goto attacked before the opening bell. Ishii and Goto went after White on the floor. EVIL sent Okada into the barricade and Abe the ring announcer took a bump.
EVIL and Okada began as the legal men. Okada teased a dropkick. EVIL hit a lariat for a near fall. Okada tried for the Money Clip. EVIL shoved Okada into the corner to break the hold. Goto tagged in and got tripped by Togo. Yujiro tagged in for a sliding dropkick on Goto.
White and Ishii jumped in illegally. Ishii suplexed White and White rolled outside. Goto hit an ushigoroshi on Yujiro. White tripped Goto from the floor.
White grabbed Ishii and pie-faced YH on commentary. YH jumped the rail and got in the ring. He hit a series of strikes on White for the DQ.
Ishii and YH chased White to the back. Okada cut a promo and challenged EVIL to a singles match right there and then. EVIL declined. Okada went out after EVIL. They ended up back in the ring. EVIL again fought out of the Money Clip.
EVIL hit his baseball swing chair shot on Okada.
Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado (9:59)
This was a bad match with a bad finish. Tama was entertaining with his comedy.
Tama brought three bags to the ring with him as this feud built on Tama stealing Taichi’s iron fingers continued. Taichi attacked Tama. The bags contained a glove, a baseball glove and a rubber chicken.
Taichi beat Tama down. DOUKI tagged in and was cut off after a trip from Jado. Jado used a kendo stick on DOUKI. Bullet Club used quick tags in working DOUKI over.
Tama teased pulling the iron fingers out of his tights. Instead, it was an elephant puppet.
There was an extended DOUKI/Jado sequence. Sabre and Tanga got tags and had the best action of the match by default. Taichi got a tag and hit Tanga wth kicks. Jado got a tag. Sabre saved for Taichi.
Tama took the ref. Jado tried to use the kendo stick again on Taichi. DOUKI saved with his pipe. DOUKI used the pipe on Jado.
This had its moments when BUSHI and Wato were in, but the Naito/Honma issue has run its course and it’s probably best for both that this tour is ending.
Wato and BUSHI began with a solid exchange, trading kicks. Honma tagged in and was cut off by LIJ. Naito and BUSHI traded tags and worked on Honma. Naito mocked Tenzan.
Honma managed a tag to Wato. Wato hit BUSHI with kicks and a nice tornillo. Naito and Honma tagged back in. Naito hit a combinacion in the corner. They traded hard slaps to the face. Wato saved for Honma as Naito looked to set up a frankensteiner.
Honma hit a diving kokeshi and a superplex. BUSHI jumped in for an LIJ double team. Naito and BUSHI hit stereo dropkicks for a two count. Wato saved.
Naito teased Destino. Honma blocked and cradled Naito for a two count. Honma hit two lariats for another near fall on Naito.
Naito blocked a Michinoku Driver attempt and hit Destino. BUSHI entered and hit a sunset flip. Naito followed with a jackknife cradle and pinned Honma.
Naito held the cradle long after the bell. Wato made the save for Honma. BUSHI sent Wato outside and hit him with a suicide dive.
Kota Ibushi & SHO went to a time limit draw with SANADA & Hiromu Takahashi (30:00)
Ibushi and SANADA started out with some crowd work. Ibushi posed on the turnbuckles. SANADA attacked from behind and knocked Ibushi over the ropes to the floor. They did a series of teases. Both teased their finishers.
They locked up. SANADA broke cleanly against the ropes. SANADA used a hammerlock. They traded waistlocks. Ibushi used a headlock takeover. SANADA used a handstand escape. Both tagged out after nearly five minutes of very good work.
Hiromu and SHO tagged in and traded strikes. They traded tackles. Hiromu teased a dive, but sat in the center of the ring instead. SHO got the upper hand on Hiromu with strikes. Ibushi tagged in and hit a series of kicks for a two count.
SHO tagged in and maintained the edge on Hiromu. Hiromu came back with a choke over the ropes. All four brawled to the floor. Hiromu and SANADA sent SHO and Ibushi into the barricade. LIJ now had the upper hand.
Hiromu hit SHO with a series of chops. SANADA tagged in and continued chopping. SANADA put SHO and an interfering Ibushi in paradise locks. SANADA and Hiromu broke the holds with dropkicks. SANADA hit a back elbow for a two count.
Hiromu tagged back in for more chops at the 15 minute call. SHO hit a kitchen sink. SANADA got a tag. SHO hit him with a vertical suplex and tagged out. Ibushi hit a running mid kick and a moonsault for a near fall. SANADA hit a dropkick to the knee.
Ibushi and SANADA rolled outside. Ibushi blocked a whip into the barricade and sent SANADA into the fence with a drop toe hold. Back in, Ibushi hit a springboard dropkick. Ibushi fought out of a Skull End attempt. SANADA hit a magic screw into a double down.
SHO and Hiromu got tags. Hiromu blocked a spear. SHO escaped a falcon arrow attempt. They traded forearm strikes at the 20 minute call. SHO hit a series of kicks. SHO hit a big mid kick for a two count. Hiromu blocked a deadlift German.
SHO blocked a hurricanrana. Hiromu fought out of a powerbomb. SHO hit a spear for a near fall. SANADA and Hiromu hit stereo dropkicks on an illegal double team. Hiromu hit a falcon arrow for a two count as Ibushi saved for SHO.
Ibushi and SANADA fought to the floor. SHO escaped a DVD attempt. SHO hit a jumping knee strike. Hiromu blocked a dragon screw. SHO blocked a sunset flip and slapped on a kimura. Hiromu broke the hold with a forearm strike at the 25 minute call.
SHO refused to go down after a thrust kick and a lariat. They traded lariats. They hit a series of simultaneous lariats into a double down. SANADA and Ibushi dragged their partners to their respective corners and tagged in.
Ibushi and SANADA traded strikes at the 27 minute mark. SANADA used an O’Connor roll to set up Skull End. Ibushi escaped and hit a high kick.
Ibushi went for the Kamigoye. SANADA blocked and used a TKO threat to set up a spinning Skull End. Ibushi popped his head out. SANADA got the hold applied again. SANADA gave up the hold with one minute left.
SANADA tried for a moonsault but landed on his feet. SHO jumped in and hit a knee strike. Hiromu hit a tackle to SHO. Ibushi hit a dropkick on Hiromu. SANADA hit a dropkick to Ibushi’s legs. SHO hit a German on SANADA. Hiromu hit SHO with a pop-up powerbomb with 30 seconds left before the time limit.
Ibushi hit a high kick to Hiromu. SANADA hit a springboard dropkick to Ibushi and got Skull End. Ibushi cradled SANADA for a two count as the time limit expired.
Ibushi and SANADA continued trading cradles after the time limit.
Bullet Club cut Tsuji off early and the bulk of the match was spent working him over. Jado used a kendo stick shot from the floor. ELP and Ishimori hit their comedy offense.
ELP hit a series of cartwheels and flips for no reason. He ultimately left the match and joined commentary.
Tiger Mask got a hot tag and cleaned house with kicks and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Ishimori blocked a Tiger Driver and hit a handspring kick. Gedo tagged in and got hit with the Tiger Driver instead.
Nagata got a tag. He hit Gedo with kicks. He teased an exploder, but Jado saved for Gedo. Jado used a kendo stick on Nagata. Gedo grabbed brass knuckles, but Tsuji speared him.
Nagata won by submission with the Nagata Lock.
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima went to a no-contest with Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan (w/Bea Priestley) (2:23)
Tenzan and Kojima came to the ring with chairs. Ospreay and O-Khan cleared out of the ring. Priestley ran in and hit low blows on Kojima and Tenzan.
Ospreay threw a table in the ring. Kojima hit Ospreay with a cutter. Kojima and Tenzan teased a cuter through the table, but O-Khan saved.
Ospreay challenged Kojima to a no-DQ match at The New Beginning in Nagoya on Saturday. Kojima appeared to accept, but the match was not officially announced.
Togo and Okada started the match. Goto tagged in and got tripped by EVIL from the floor and Bullet Club turned this into a brawl, as they proceeded to work virtually the identical match that they have every night of this tour.
Goto got cut off and worked over in the ring. Yujiro exposed a buckle, tagged in, then threw Goto into the buckle. Goto came back on EVIL with a whip into the buckle and a Saito suplex.
Okada tagged in and hit EVIL with strikes and a running back elbow. Okada hit an air raid crash neckbreaker for a near fall.
Okada went for the Money Clip, but Togo jumped on the apron for a distraction. EVIL hit a mid kick and used a Darkness Scorpion, but Okada forced a rope break.
Yujiro got a tag. Ishii tagged in and ran wild on Yujiro and Togo. Bullet Club jumped in to aid Yujiro. EVIL hit a fisherman buster. Yujiro hit a sliding dropkick for a two count.
Yujiro brought his pimp cane in while EVIL took the referee. Ishii ducked the cane, but Yujiro hit an Angle slam for a near fall. Ishii blocked Pimp Juice. Goto choked Yujiro from the apron. Okada nailed EVIL and Togo. Goto hit an ushigoroshi on Yujiro.
Ishii then connected with a sliding lariat and the vertical drop brainbuster for the pin.
Naito took his time getting to the ring. He has been working for his own amusement on this tour.
Honma and Wato attacked just before the bell. Naito used a jackknife cover to try to steal a pin on Honma, the same hold he pinned him with yesterday, but Honma kicked out.
Wato and BUSHI got tags. Wato hit a series of kicks. Honma tagged in and began to work on BUSHI. BUSHI and Naito doubled up on Honma, then turned this into a brawl around ringside. Honma ended up being worked over in the LIJ corner.
Honma came back on Naito with a vertical suplex. Wato and BUSHI got tags and the pace quickened. Wato hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. BUSHI hit a dropkick to the leg and started working on Wato’s right knee. They traded strikes. Wato ducked a rewind kick and hit a high kick.
Honma tagged in and hit some chops. Honma missed a kokeshi. BUSHI tagged Naito. Naito hit a back elbow, a dropkick and a neckbreaker for a two count. Honma ducked a swing and hit a kokeshi. Honma and Wato doubled up on Naito. Honma hit a diving kokeshi for two as BUSHI saved.
Wato and BUSHI brawled to the floor. Honma hit a DDT and a lariat for a near fall. Honma teased a Michinoku Driver. Naito escaped. BUSHI jumped in. Wato caught Honma with a kick by mistake.
BUSHI hit a backstabber to Honma, then Naito used the jackknife cradle for the pin.
Naito held the cradle for more than a minute after the three count, adding insult to injury. Wato and BUSHI had a quick pull-apart after the match.
Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & SHO vs. SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi ended in a time limit draw (30:00)
This was a really good main event and easily the best thing on the show.
Tanahashi and Shingo started with a quick chain wrestling sequence. SHO and Hiromu tagged in and had a brief, intense battle. SANADA and Ibushi got tags and slowed things down. They worked some holds. SANADA teased a dragon screw. Ibushi hit a dropkick and gave his team the edge at the 5 minute call.
Tana tagged in and hit SANADA with a slam and an elbow drop. Tanahashi got a cobra twist applied. SHO tagged in and went after SANADA’s left arm. LIJ jumped in to save SANADA. After a brief brawl on the outside, SHO ended up cut off in the ring.
Hiromu hit a dropkick for a two count. Shingo tagged in and stomped at SHO’s left leg. Shingo teased a cloverleaf to SHO to taunt Tana. Shingo went after Tana on the apron. SANADA tagged in and used the paradise lock.
SHO hit a backstabber to Hiromu and a kitchen sink to SANADA. Tana tagged in and hit a dragon screw and somersault senton for a two count. Ibushi tagged in and hit a running mid kick and a standing moonsault. SANADA came back with a hurricanrana and a plancha for a near fall at the 15 minute call.
SANADA used an O’Connor roll to set up a Skull End attempt. Ibushi escaped and hit a dropkick. SHO got a tag and got hit with a back suplex. Hiromu tagged in for a sequence with SHO. SHO hit a series of kicks and got a two count.
SHO hit a vertical suplex. LIJ tripled up on SHO. Hiromu hit a Dynamite Plunger. Tana saved for SHO. Hiromu blocked a SHO spear. SHO hit a German suplex and a spear. SHO went for Shock Arrow, but Shingo and SANADA saved. Hiromu escaped another Shock Arrow attempt at the 20 minute call.
Hiromu and SHO traded strikes. SHO got a kimura applied. Hiromu rolled through and hit a DVD into the turnbuckle pad. SHO avoided Time Bomb. They traded lariats. Hiromu hit a belly-to-belly throw into the buckle.
Shingo and Tanahashi got tags and traded strikes. They continued to trade at the 25 minute call. Shingo blocked a slingblade. Tana hit twist and shout. Shingo blocked another slingblade and hit his own twist and shout. Shingo escaped a dragon screw and hit a sliding lariat.
Shingo hit a dragon screw. Shingo used a powerbomb and a single-leg crab. Ibushi saved. Ibushi and SANADA brawled to the floor. Tana hit two dragon screws and locked on a cloverleaf. Hiromu broke it up.
Shingo blocked another slingblade. Tana hit slingblade for a two count. Tana hit Ace’s High. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick to Tana. SHO hit a jumping knee to Hiromu. SANADA hit SHO with a dropkick to the knee. Ibushi hit a springboard dropkick to SANADA. Shingo hit a German on Ibushi.
Shingo and Tanahashi traded strikes. Tana hit a slingblade. Shingo hit a lariat for a near fall as Tanahashi kicked out at the 30 minute call.
All six guys were down in the ring at the finish.
Tanahashi and Shingo cut promos on each other after the match.
This was the quickest show of this loop at roughly 110 minutes.
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Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan (w/Bea Priestley) defeated Satoshi Kojima & Yota Tsuji (8:36)
There was some good action in this one as Ospreay worked the bulk of the match for his team.
Kojima and Tsuji attacked before the opening bell. Tsuji was quickly cut off when O-Khan grabbed an anaconda vice. O-Khan worked Tsuji over with his wacky offense. Ospreay tagged in and continued the attack.
Kojima got a tag and hit machine gun chops to Ospreay. O-Khan blocked a top rope elbow attempt from Kojima. Ospreay hit Kojima with pip pip cheerio. Kojima blocked a Storm Breaker attempt and took Ospreay down with a cutter.
Tsuji tagged in and hit a back bodydrop and a vertical suplex on Ospreay for a near fall. He followed with a splash for another two count as O-Khan made the save for Ospreay. O-Khan and Kojima exchanged Mongolian chops and rolled outside.
Ospreay hit a bloody sunday on Tsuji. Kojima broke up the ensuing pin attempt. Tsuji connected with a spear to Ospreay. Ospreay blocked a slam attempt and hit a hook kick and an Oscutter for the pin.
O-Khan did his United Empire roll call promo after the match.
Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo, Gedo & Jado defeated Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI (10:42)
This was the third garbage brawl between these teams in as many nights and the worst match of the bunch. ELP’s loaded boot was again the story of the bout.
Kanemaru fell victim to the loaded boot after Bullet Club attacked before the bell rang. Bullet Club isolated Kanemaru and worked over his abdomen. Suzuki tried to save but got sent outside by Gedo and Jado.
ELP and Ishimori did a lot of their comedy offense. Kanemaru managed a low dropkick to Gedo and tagged Suzuki. Suzuki hit a penalty kick on Gedo for a near fall.
Jado saved for Gedo. Suzuki put Jado in a Fujiwara armbar. ELP saved for Jado. Suzuki blocked a shot from ELP’s boot and put him in a kneebar. ELP rolled outside. Desperado tagged in and got hit with a kendo stick from the floor.
Ishimori tagged in and hit a seated senton on Desperado. Kanemaru jumped in for a double team. ELP got a tag and stomped on Desperado with the loaded boot. DOUKI tagged in to set up the closing sequence.
DOUKI hit Daybreak for a near fall, but Ishimori made the save for ELP. Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles. Jado entered with a kendo stick. DOUKI brought his pipe into the ring.
ELP hit a superkick with the loaded boot for the pin.
Suzuki put Jado in an armbar on the floor after the match, just for giggles. ELP and Ishimori briefly posed with the IWGP Jr. Tag belts after the win.
This was a fine little brawl. Goto looked especially good here.
Bullet Club used a jumpstart attack and sent Okada and YH outside while they worked on Goto. Goto made a heck of a comeback and beat on all three Bullet Club guys. Togo tripped him from the outside to shift the momentum back in Bullet Club’s favor.
They brawled around ringside. EVIL used a chair to choke Okada. Goto was worked over for several minutes. Goto and Yujiro hit simultaneous lariats into a double down. Okada got a tag and hit some signature offense on Yujiro. EVIL tagged in and got hit by an Okada air raid crash.
YH tagged in. YH and Goto hit EVIL with some tandem offense, including a thrust kick into an ushigoroshi. The match broke down and everyone jumped in for a big move. YH used a lariat and a butterfly lock on EVIL. Togo jumped on the apron with a chair for the distraction save.
EVIL hit a low blow and Everything is EVIL on YH for the pin.
SANADA & Tetsuya Naito defeated Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma (13:07)
Ibushi and SANADA began by locking up. Ibushi broke cleanly against the ropes. Ibushi gained the advantage with a mid kick, then tagged Honma. Ibushi jumped back in for a double team. Honma and Ibushi missed a double kokeshi, allowing LIJ to take control of the bout.
Naito tagged in and toyed with Honma. He hit a series of back elbows to the neck, softening up Honma for a later Destino. Naito and SANADA exchanged tags and kept the pressure on Honma. Naito used a kravate on the mat and hit a basement dropkick for a near fall. Honma came back with a diving kokeshi.
SANADA and Ibushi got tags. Ibushi hit a back elbow and a standing moonsault for a near fall. SANADA hit a dropkick to Ibushi’s left knee. Ibushi tried a sunset flip, but found himself stuck in the paradise lock. SANADA used a dropkick for a near fall.
Ibushi avoided a moonsault attempt and a TKO attempt, but SANADA hit a magic screw to reset the match. Naito and Honma got tags to set up the finish.
Honma hit a vertical suplex for a two count. SANADA interfered. Honma hit a combination complete shot/DDT on both and used a kokeshi for a near fall. Ibushi entered to double up on Naito. Honma hit a lariat for another near fall.
Honma teased a top rope kokeshi, but SANADA cut him off at the pass. Naito teased a reverse frankensteiner, but Honma blocked, thank goodness. SANADA and Naito hit double dropkicks on Honma. Ibushi tried to save but SANADA threw him out of the ring.
Naito hit a step-up enzuigiri. Honma hit a headbutt. Naito blocked a lariat and hit Destino for the pin.
Naito threw Honma into the barricade after the match. He legitimately seemed angry that he had to work with Honma on a third straight show.
SANADA and Ibushi did some crowd work after the match.
This was another fun main event. The finish was awesome and very creative as well.
SHO and Hiromu started out. Hiromu hit an immediate shotgun dropkick. They traded tackles. SHO used two misdirection spots to hit another shoulder tackle. Tanahashi tagged in and used a cobra twist on Hiromu.
SHO tagged in for a strike exchange. BUSHI entered for the illegal double team and LIJ took control of the match. They cut SHO off and all three worked him over. Hiromu tagged back in for another nice exchange with SHO. SHO managed a spear and a tag to Wato.
Wato peppered BUSHI with kicks. They traded strikes. BUSHI hit a rewind kick and a swinging neckbreaker into a double down.
Shingo and Tanahashi tagged in. Tanahashi avoided a combination of strikes and hit a second rope crossbody. Shingo fought off three dragon screw attempts. Tana ducked a sliding lariat. Shingo came back with his own dragon screw. Tana fought off a cloverleaf attempt, but Shingo answered with a sliding lariat.
They traded strikes. Shingo blocked a slingblade and hit a suplex. Tanahashi popped up and hit slingblade into a double down. These guys are incredible.
Wato got a tag and cleared the LIJ apron. Wato hit a dreamcast on Shingo. SHO jumped in for a double team. Shingo hit a double lariat. Wato ducked a short lariat. Shingo got the short lariat on his second attempt.
SHO entered. Hiromu tried a hurricanrana on him, but SHO blocked and hit a lariat. BUSHI hit a step-up enzuigiri on SHO. Tanahashi hit a slingblade on BUSHI. Shingo hit a lariat out of the corner on Tanahashi.
With the deck cleared, Shingo and Wato were set for the finish. Wato hit a crucifix bomb for a two count. Wato used another crucifix for a near fall.
For the finish, Wato tried a dreamcast. Shingo caught the kick and plucked Wato out of the air, then hit Last of the Dragon for the pin.
Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan (w/Bea Priestley) vs. Satoshi Kojima & Yota Tsuji
Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo
SHO & Master Wato vs. Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI
Report —
Due to a COVID-related state of emergency being declared in Tokyo until February 7, the show began a half hour earlier than usual at 4 a.m. Eastern.
This was also a five-match card rather than the traditional six as there is a recommended 8 p.m. curfew in Tokyo (6 a.m. Eastern).
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Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan (w/Bea Priestley) defeated Satoshi Kojima & Yota Tsuji (8:38)
This was an entertaining opener.
Kojima and Ospreay began, as Kojima wanted revenge for Ospreay kayfabe injuring Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Kojima got the better of a quick striking battle and hit a tackle.
Tsuji and O-Khan tagged in. I like the O-Khan character but his wrestling leaves a lot to be desired. He’s very unorthodox and not in a good way. O-Khan cut Tsuji off and repeatedly picked him and dropped him on the mat. There was a fair amount of squeezing.
Ospreay got a tag and took a back bodydrop. Kojima tagged in and hit some machine gun chops and a top rope elbow for a near fall. Ospreay’s bumping and feeding is the weakest part of his game besides his dollar store Ric Flair gimmick.
Ospreay cut Kojima off with a kick to the bread club and a vertical suplex. O-Khan tagged in and hit some Mongolian chops. Kojima came back with a cutter and tagged out.
Tsuji and O-Khan squared off. Tsuji is significantly better than O-Khan. Kojima jumped in for a double team. Tsuji used a splash for a near fall. Ospreay jumped in and traded strikes with Kojima. Ospreay blocked a lariat with a high kick, then hit a hook kick.
Tsuji used a unique pinning combination for a near fall on O-Khan. O-Khan cut him off with a big boot, then hit the Dominator for the pin.
O-Khan did his United Empire roll call promo after the match.
Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo, Gedo & Jado defeated Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI (9:23)
The key to this one was continuing to get ELP’s loaded boot over.
It’s typically fun to watch NJPW’s heel stables wrestle each other, just because there’s no depth that they won’t sink to in trying to win.
This match was the exception to that rule. Ishimori and ELP are fantastic wrestlers who are handicapped by being placed in the Bullet Club job squad. Gedo is a fine in small doses. Jado has significant balance issues and should not be in the ring.
Suzuki-gun started brawling before the opening bell. Bullet Club got the upper hand when ELP hit Kanemaru in the leg with the loaded boot. Bullet Club worked Kanemaru over with comedy back rakes and such.
There was a cool finish. DOUKI went for Daybreak, but came off with a springboard into an ELP superkick with the loaded boot for the pin.
With Jay White on hiatus, EVIL has borrowed his stalling routine.
Yujiro and Goto began as the legal men. Yujiro bit Goto’s hand. Ishii tagged in and demanded that Togo do so as well. Ishii and Togo doing spots together gave me life. This ruled.
EVIL jumped in to try to double up on Ishii. Instead, Okada and Goto saved. EVIL tripped Ishii from the floor, finally allowing Bullet Club to turn this into a brawl more suited to their style. EVIL used a chair on Okada on the floor.
Ishii ended up cut off in the Bullet Club corner. Ishii was whipped into an exposed turnbuckle. Ishii avoided a second whip into the buckle. EVIL ran sternum-first into the exposed steel, allowing Ishii to tag Okada.
Okada had a great hot tag here. He ran wild with elbow strikes and back elbows on EVIL. Okada teased an air raid crash neckbreaker, but EVIL used a hair pull and a trip from Yujiro on the floor to regain command and tagged Togo.
Okada hit a flapjack on Togo. Goto got a tag. Goto tried a misdirection lariat, but soon fell victim to a 3-on-1 from Bullet Club. Togo got a near fall off an EVIL fisherman buster to Goto.
Things broke down as the finish approached. Togo grabbed his ligature. Okada saved. EVIL took out Okada. Goto rebounded and hit an ushigoroshi and a GTR on Togo, then pinned him.
These guys were up first after intermission. SANADA entered last for the LIJ squad. It will be interesting to see if Naito being phased down is just for the short term.
This was not a good night for Naito and Honma in the ring. Someone could have been seriously injured.
Shingo and Tanahashi began. Shingo teased a clean break against the ropes, then tried a wild chop. Tana ducked, then hit a second rope crossbody. Naito interfered from the apron and LIJ took over.
SANADA got a tag and got the paradise lock on Tana. Naito tagged in and used a kravate. Tanahashi knocked Shingo down on the apron with a wild swing. Shingo then tagged back in and the two traded strikes.
Ibushi and SANADA got tags. Ibushi scored a knockdown with a forearm, then used a high kick and a standing moonsault for a two count. SANADA hit a dropkick to the left knee and a follow-up plancha as Ibushi rolled outside.
Ibushi avoided a springboard attack and hit a flying mid kick. Ibushi teased a last ride. SANADA escaped and tried to lock in a dragon sleeper. Ibushi hit a high kick into a double down. Honma tagged in and hit a series of strikes and a bulldog.
Honma missed a kokeshi, allowing SANADA to tag Naito. Naito hit some trademark offense on Honma, then used a crucifix. Tanahashi broke the hold. Shingo entered and took Tanahashi out. Naito tried a Destino. Honma was supposed to reverse, but stumbled. Naito and Honma stumbled around and fell into a turnbuckle.
Tanahashi hit a slingblade on Naito. SANADA took out Tana. Honma missed a top rope kokeshi. Naito and Honma were supposed to do something else, but again they stumbled and fell down. Naito looked like he was really mad with how the match was going here.
SANADA and Naito hit a double dropkick on Honma. Naito then used Destino and pinned Honma.
SANADA and Ibushi stared each other down after the match.
Wato and BUSHI began. Wato immediately knocked Hiromu off the apron with a running boot. Hiromu answered by hitting a sunset bomb. BUSHI tagged out and Hiromu began working on Wato in the LIJ corner. Hiromu knocked SHO off the apron for good measure.
BUSHI got a tag and used an STF, but Wato forced a rope break. Hiromu and BUSHI continued to use quick tags in working Wato over.
SHO got a hot tag and ran wild on Hiromu. Hiromu sold big for him. SHO hit a spear and began working on Hiromu’s left arm, looking to set up the Shock Arrow or the cross armbreaker. SHO hit a vertical suplex for a two count.
Hiromu tried to take SHO’s back. SHO threw him off and got the cross armbreaker. Hiromu reversed the hold into a cradle for a two count. They did a series of counters and reversals. Hiromu hit a superkick into a double down.
Hiromu tried a Dynamite Plunger. SHO blocked and hit a big forearm strike. They traded stiff forearm shots. Hiromu blinked first, as SHO knocked him into the ropes with a strike. Hiromu popped up and they kept trading. Hiromu knocked SHO into the ropes with a strike.
After another striking sequence, SHO hit a lariat into a double down. Both tagged out. Wato lit BUSHI up with kicks and a springboard uppercut forearm for a two count. BUSHI blocked a recientemente attempt and hit a DDT.
BUSHI hit a missile dropkick. Wato blocked a codebreaker and hit a slingblade. Wato climbed to the top rope, but Hiromu shoved him off to the mat. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick with Wato draped over the ropes. BUSHI hit a DDT on the apron.
Hiromu entered for a double team. SHO hit Hiromu with a German suplex. BUSHI hit a codebreaker on SHO. Wato hit a dreamcast on BUSHI. All four were down in the ring at this point.
BUSHI and Wato climbed to their feet and traded strikes. Wato hit a jumping knee strike. BUSHI hit a rewind kick and a destroyer, but SHO saved. BUSHI and Hiromu took out SHO with a double sunset flip.
BUSHI suplexed Wato into a powerbomb from Hiromu, then covered for a near fall. BUSHI tried to set something up, but Wato reversed into a jackknife cradle and stole the pin.
Hiromu and SHO had a staredown over the IWGP Jr. title after the bell.
Wato and SHO both cut short promos in the ring after their win.
Including the opening video package and the intermission, the show was done in an hour and 53 minutes.
