Hiromu Takahashi is off upcoming NJPW events due to a shoulder injury.
NJPW posted on their website tonight that their medical staff has determined that Takahashi has suffered an injury to his left shoulder. As a result, Takahashi is off tomorrow morning’s card in Shizuoka and the July 31 card at Korakuen Hall.
Despite the injury, NJPW wrote in their statement that they are still expecting Takahashi to return for his scheduled IWGP Jr. title match against Taiji Ishimori. That match is scheduled to take place at Summer Struggle in Jingu on August 29.
A six-man tag match pitting Hiromu Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito, and BUSHI against EVIL, Dick Togo, and Taiji Ishimori was scheduled to take place both on July 29 and July 30. Both matches have now been changed into a tag team match, with Natio & BUSHI taking on EVIL & Ishimori.
Takahashi last wrestled on July 27, teaming with Tetsuya Naito & SANADA in a losing effort against Bullet Club’s EVIL, Taiji Ishimori, and Dick Togo.
The top two matches for Summer Struggle in Jingu have been announced.
In a press conference held this morning, it was confirmed that IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental champion EVIL will defend both titles against Tetsuya Naito. This comes after EVIL defeated Naito at Dominion to win the titles following interference from EVIL’s new partner, Dick Togo.
Naito confronted EVIL at the end of Sengoku Lord last weekend, setting up the title match for next month.
Hiromu Takahashi will also defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Taiji Ishimori on this card. It was Ishimori who attacked Hiromu after losing his double title match to EVIL at Sengoku Lord. Naito eventually ran in for the save.
NJPW chairman Naoki Sugabayashi also noted that although IWGP rules say titles must be defended every six months, the period during the state of emergency won’t count against Hiromu.
Additionally, a new championhip, the KOPW 2020 title, will be determined in a fatal four-way match. Four matches will take place on August 26, with the winners advancing into this match. Competitiors fighting for the championship will name their stipulations and will allow fans to vote on the matches they would want to see.
Summer Struggle in Jingu will take place on August 29 at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo.
This was a well-worked opener. You can really see the toll that injuries have taken on Ishimori as he is still spectacular in short bursts but has really slowed down overall.
Uemura got the best of the opening mat wrestling sequence. Ishimori turned it into a brawl and whipped Uemura into the barricade. Ishimori worked on the neck.
Uemura made a comeback and used his cool rolling cradle for a near fall. They traded cradles and sunset flips for a series of near falls.
The finish saw Ishimori hit a lungblower. He followed up with a strange sequence on the mat that saw him finally lock on the Yes Lock and Uemura tapped.
Togi Makabe, Satoshi Kojima & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano & Gabriel Kidd (10:25)
This was originally scheduled as an eight-man with Tomoaki Honma on the winning side and Yota Tsuji on the losing team but both were pulled after coming in contact with someone who had COVID-19. Both are said to not be showing any symptoms themselves and were pulled for precautionary reasons.
The match began and ended with Makabe and Kidd. Kidd was fired up and hit Makabe with strikes. Taguchi and Yano tagged in for some comedy spots. Kojima and Ishii had a fun exchange that saw Kojima hit a top rope elbow for a near fall.
Kidd got a series of near falls on Makabe. Makabe cut him off with a lariat and hit a German into a bridge for the pin.
BUSHI and SHO kicked things off. Goto tagged in and worked on BUSHI. LIJ used an illegal triple team to cut Goto off. Naito tagged in for a sequence with Goto. Goto avoided a charge into the corner and hit an ushigoroshi on Naito.
YH tagged in for a surprisingly intense sequence with Naito. They traded forearm shots and Naito sold a lot for YH. Naito hit an enzuigiri and we were back to SHO and BUSHI.
SHO dodged a rewind kick. BUSHI hit a swinging neckbreaker. SANADA tagged in for the closing sequence. Everyone jumped in for a big move. SHO hit a spear for a near fall. SANADA went for Skull End but SHO turned it into a cradle for another near fall.
SANADA then used Skull End and SHO quickly tapped out.
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They announced an on August 29 outdoor show, their first in 21 years at Jingu Stadium on the aptly named Summer Struggle tour.
We then had an intermission as they cleaned the ring.
Suzuki-gun attacked before the opening bell and the match broke down into a ringside brawl. Suzuki and Nagata renewed their rivalry by trading strikes. Suzuki choked Nagata with a camera cable.
Suzuki-gun cut Wato off and worked him over. Wato came back with a nice dropkick on Taichi before tagging Tanahashi. Tanahashi took on all of Suzuki-gun by himself. He hit a somersault second rope senton on both Taichi and Kanemaru at the same time.
Taichi came back with a gamengiri on Tanahashi. Sabre and Ibushi tagged in for a sequence of strikes and trading cradles for near falls. DOUKI tagged in and got two honest to goodness near fall on Ibushi with a lariat and a driver.
The match broke down. Suzuki and Nagata traded strikes. Nagata hit an exploder on Suzuki. Tenzan hit Sabre with a wheel kick. Wato hit a springboard forearm to DOUKI.
The finish saw DOUKI shove the ref down. He then swung his metal pipe at Ibushi. Ibushi ducked and hit a Kamigoye for the pin.
Kazuchika Okada defeated Yujiro Takahashi (13:44)
This was one of the weaker Okada matches you will ever see. Yujiro just isn’t a top flight singles guy. Okada had to sell most of the way to make the match work at all.
Yujiro ducked outside at the opening bell. They brawled in the aisle and around ringside. Okada missed a charge and Yujiro hit a drop toehold to send him into the barricade. Back inside, Yujiro hit some punches from the mount.
Yujiro hit a legdrop for a two count. Yujiro used a chinlock and hit a one-legged dropkick for another two count. Yujiro hit a big boot and a stroke for another near fall.
Okada came back with a shotgun dropkick and a DDT. Okada tried for a cobra clutch but Yujiro bit his hand to force a break. Yujiro hit another one-legged dropkick and used a fisherman’s suplex for a two count.
They traded strikes. Yujiro hit the ropes but ran into a dropkick. Okada then hit a tombstone and locked on the cobra clutch. Yujiro reached the ropes to force a break.
Okada teased another tombstone. Gedo jumped on the apron with a wrench and took the referee. Yujiro used the distraction to hit Okada with his pimp cane. Yujiro hit Miami Shine for a near fall. Okada blocked Pimp Juice but Yujiro hit a big boot for another near fall.
Yujiro avoided a dropkick and hit a lariat for a two count. Yujiro went for a razor’s edge but botched it. They went right back to the same move. Okada slid out and got the cobra clutch again. Yujiro again bit his hand.
Okada went for a Rainmaker. Yujiro ducked and hit a lariat. Okada hit a dropkick and knocked Gedo off the apron.
The finish saw Okada use the cobra again. He gave up the hold and hit a spinning tombstone before going back to the cobra clutch. Yujiro tapped out.
NEVER Openweight Championship match: Shingo Takagi defeated El Desperado to retain the title (17:03)
This was a very good match built around Shingo selling his left leg.
Desperado stole Shingo’s title belt on Monday. He refused to hand the belt over to Red Shoes before the match and tried to hit Shingo with it. Shingo ducked the belt shot and teased his own strike with the title before handing it off to the referee and the match finally began.
Desperado went after Shingo’s left leg. He snapped it over the barricade then attacked it with a chair. Shingo’s selling was awesome. Shingo came back with a crazy double dragon screw. Desperado answered with a spinebuster.
Desperado got a stretch muffler applied but Shingo forced a break. Desperado again got the hold applied and again Shingo forced a rope break. Shingo hit a DDT and a sliding lariat.
Shingo used noshigami but could not follow up with a cover. Desperado rolled outside and grabbed a chair befire deciding to use the title belt as a weapon. They did a countout tease but Shingo made it back in at 18.
Desperado hit a spear. Shingo blocked Pinche Loco. Desperado hit an Angle slam before going back to the stretch muffler. He used the hold to go for a pin but Shingo kicked out. Shingo blocked Pinche Loco but sold his knee going out.
They traded strikes. Shingo hit Made in Japan for a near fall. Shingo went for Last of the Dragon but Desperado blocked and used a crucifix for a near fall. Shingo blocked a low blow and hit a lariat.
Shingo hit a pumping bomber. He then hit Last of the Dragon for the pin.
Shingo limped to the back still selling his leg.
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We got another intermission before the main event.
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IWGP Heavyweight Championship & IWGP Intercontinental Championship match: EVIL (w/Dick Togo) defeated Hiromu Takahashi to retain the titles (33:58)
The last seven or eight minutes were very good but they went forever before that. they worked the match at EVIL’s pace instead of Hiromu’s which hurt the match too. Hiromu was fantastic but the whole EVIL run is built on ref bumps and interference and it limits how good the matches can be.
Hiromu hit two shotgun dropkicks in the ring immediately. EVIL rolled outside and Hiromu hit two shotgun dropkicks off the apron to establish the early advantage.
Hiromu hit the ropes but Togo tripped him. EVIL took the referee and Togo hit some stomps on the floor. EVIL placed a chair around Hiromu’s neck and hit it with a second chair. EVIL exposed a buckle and repeatedly sent Hiromu into it. Hiromu sold his neck.
EVIL used a chinlock, then took the ref again. Togo interfered from the floor. EVIL hit a neckbreaker but missed a senton. Hiromu hit a headscissors and knocked Togo off the apron. Hiromu hit a sunset bomb that wiped out both EVIL and Togo. Hiromu whipped Togo into the barricade.
Back inside, Hiromu used a falcon arrow for a near fall. EVIL blocked a Time Bomb attempt and hit a stomp. EVIL teased Darkness Falls on the apron but Hiromu blocked and hit a superkick. Hiromu hit a Dynamite Plunger on the apron.
Hiromu teased a dive off the post but EVIL pulled two young lions in his path. Hiromu then hit a senton off the post onto EVIL and the lions. Hiromu hit another Dynamite Plunger for a two count.
Hiromu blocked a Magic Killer and hit a shotgun dropkick. EVIL answered with a snap suplex into the turnbuckle pad. EVIL hit a top rope superplex. He went for Everything is EVIL but Hiromu blocked.
EVIL hit a German but Hiromu landed on his feet. Hiromu hit a superkick and a German. EVIL used a standing switch and hit five more Germans. Hiromu blocked Everything is EVIL and backed EVIL into the exposed buckle.
Hiromu locked on D. EVIL tried to hit a slingshot out of the triangle but Hiromu sat down in a cradle for a two count. Hiromu hit some strikes and used an inverted suplex for a two count.
EVIL blocked Time Bomb. Hiromu blocked a low blow and hit a lariat for a two count. Togo jumped on the apron and Hiromu knocked him off with a back elbow.
Hiromu hit a running death valley driver into the corner pad. He went for Time Bomb but EVIL blocked. The ref got bumped on a Hiromu charge into the corner.
Togo jumped in and attacked Hiromu. EVIL and Togo hit a Magic Killer. Togo went up top but got crotched on the top rope before falling to the floor. Hiromu blocked Everything is EVIL and hit the move himself at the 30 minute mark.
Hiromu hit a death valley driver into the exposed buckle. He hit Time Bomb but EVIL kicked out. Hiromu hit Time Bomb II but Togo pulled the referee out of the ring before he could count the three.
Togo choked Hiromu with his ligature. EVIL then hit a low blow.
EVIL hit Darkness Falls. He followed up with Everything is EVIL for the pin.
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Ishimori ran in and attacked Hiromu after the match, so that appears to be the next IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title program.
Naito ran in to make the save for Hiromu. He then faced off with EVIL and cut a promo. He hinted at a challenge in the future but nothing will likely be made official until the cards for the Summer Struggle tour are announced.
EVIL, Ishimori and Togo celebrated in the ring to close the show.
This was a solid opener and Uemura was the star of the match.
Kojima and Tsuji began and traded a few power moves. Tenzan and Uemura tagged in and they did some mat wrestling. They traded strikes until Tenzan cut Uemura off with Mongolian chops.
Kojima and Tenzan worked Uemura over. Kojima used a neckbreaker for three near falls as Uemura did a great job selling his neck. Tenzan and Kojima took turns chopping Uemura in the corner.
Tenzan used a brainbuster for a near fall. Uemura managed to tag Tsuji who gut cut off after a mountain bomb from Tenzan. Kojima tagged in for machine gun chops but Tsuji cut him off before he could hit the follow-up elbow.
Uemura hit Kojima with chops. He hit both Tenzan and Kojima with a double dropkick. He used a crab on Kojima. Tenzan tried to break it up but got hit by a Tsuji spear. Kojima finally forced a break.
The finishing sequence saw Kojima kick out of a double underhook suplex from Uemura. Uemura hit the ropes but ran right into a lariat for the pin.
The highlights of this one were the exchanges between Honma and Ishii. Ishii went out of his way to make Honma look good and the crowd really got into their spots. Kidd also looked good here.
Honma got some early offense on YOSHI-HASHI. YH was slightly favoring his right knee which he injured during the New Japan Cup.
Honma and Ishii traded a bunch of chops which got the crowd into the match. Honma missed a kokeshi. Taguchi hit an illegal elbow drop on Ishii to cut him off. Taguchi Japan went four-on-one against Ishii before Ishii escaped.
Yano and Taguchi did some comedy spots. Makabe and SHO traded a series of forearm shots. Yano exposed a buckle which led to the finish. Kidd hit a dropkick on Yano and used a crab but Ishii broke it up.
The finish saw everyone jump in for a big move. Kidd rolled Yano up for a near fall before transitioning to a crab. Yano reached the ropes, hit a slingshot into an exposed buckle and used a schoolboy for the pin.
SANADA & Shingo Takagi defeated El Desperado & DOUKI (12:41)
The action in this one was weak for a Shingo match but this was all about setting up his match at Sengoku Lord.
Shingo and SANADA attacked before the opening bell. Shingo went right for Desperado, his opponent in the NEVER title match on Saturday.
Suzuki-gun turned the tide and turned it into a brawl around ringside. This was notable as it was the first crowd brawl in the COVID era that required fans to move.
DOUKI used a chair on Shingo’s left leg, so it looks as though he will go into the match Saturday selling a knee injury. DOUKI and Desperado worked over SANADA in the ring before SANADA managed a tag.
Desperado continued working on Shingo’s left knee. He used a stretch muffler and Shingo sold for a long time before finally forcing a rope break. Shingo hit a back elbow, jab and lariat before tagging out to set up the closing sequence.
DOUKI hit a neckbreaker and his Day Breaker slingshot DDT for near falls. Shingo and Desperado brawled to the floor. SANADA tried for Skull End but DOUKI cradled him for a near fall.
SANADA then lifted DOUKI for a TKO before transitioning to Skull End instead. He locked in the dragon sleeper and body scissors and DOUKI tapped.
Desperado attacked Shingo after the bell and stole his NEVER Openweight title belt as well.
I was willing to give this Yujiro vs. Okada program a shot but it was clear in this match that they need to get out of this as soon as possible. Yujiro’s work is just nowhere near Okada’s level and the people don’t care about the feud.
Okada wanted to start off with Yujiro but Yujiro begged off. Okada hit Gedo with a dropkick. Gedo tried to run to the back but Goto went after him and brought him back to the ring. Goto tagged in and worked on Gedo with stomps.
Gedo cut Goto off with a thumb to the eye. Yujiro interfered and aided in attacking Goto before turning his attention to Okada. The crowd was completely silent as Yujiro posted Okada and nailed him with punches on the floor.
Gedo exposed a buckle and sent Goto into it. Gedo and Yujiro spent several minutes working on Goto before he finally managed a hot tag to Okada.
Okada hit his trademark back elbow, back elbow in the corner and DDT sequence on Yujiro. He teased an air raid crash but Yujiro blocked. They worked back to the air raid crash and Okada hit it before both tagged out.
The closing sequence saw Goto hit a wheel kick and a Saito suplex for a near fall, then hit the GTR for the pin.
Suzuki-gun attacked before the opening bell. Taichi used his mic stand to attack Tanahashi. Suzuki and Nagata began with an exchange that left you wanting to see a rematch of their New Japan Cup classic.
Tanahashi and Sabre tagged in and the story they told was cool as Tanahashi was able to get the upper hand on the mat at first and had a counter for every hold Sabre tried. Sabre used interference from Taichi to target Tana’s right knee and take over.
After a few minutes of continuing to work on the knee, Tana managed a dragon screw on Taichi and tagged Ibushi. Ibushi hit a standing moonsault for a near fall. Ibushi and Taichi traded kicks before Wato and Kanemaru tagged in.
Wato hit a standing moonsault for a two count. He went to the top rope but Suzuki jumped in and cut him off. Kanemaru recovered and hit a one-legged dropkick and inverted DDT for a near fall.
Kanemaru hit Deep Impact and had Wato pinned but pulled him up after the count of two. Kanemaru then hit Touch Out (spinning brainbuster) for the pin.
Nagata and Suzuki went at it after the bell and had to be pulled apart. Sabre and Taichi talked trash to Tanahashi and Ibushi.
Suzuki and Nagata had a second pull-apart and traded slaps to the face so they definitely look to be running that back soon.
This had a unique start as Hiromu came to the ring acting very heelish. He kept his ring jacket on while everyone else was getting ready for the match.
Hiromu stared at EVIL before taking his jacket off and revealing a Bullet Club shirt. He pointed a finger gun at EVIL before turning it on Naito and BUSHI. Naito and BUSHI acted confused. Hiromu then attacked EVIL and revealed that this was all a ruse and he was still LIJ.
Bullet Club tripled up on Naito as the match began. Togo used a fist drop before slapping a chinlock on Naito. Naito blocked a DDT and used a crab on Togo before EVIL jumped in to cut him off with an eye gouge.
Hiromu and EVIL got tags. Hiromu hit a low dropkick on EVIL. Togo and Ishimori tried to cut him off but Hiromu fought them off. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick off the apron onto all three Bullet Club members.
Back inside, Hiromu hit EVIL with a falcon arrow for a near fall. The crowd got into the match at this point. EVIL blocked Time Bomb and took the referee, allowing Togo and Ishimori to expose a buckle and double up on Hiromu.
EVIL repeatedly sent Hiromu into the exposed buckle. Hiromu came back with a superkick and a lariat into a double down.
BUSHI tagged in and hit an enzuigiri and a missile dropkick on EVIL. He fought off attacks from Ishimori and Togo and hit a tope suicida on EVIL. BUSHI and Naito held EVIL up while Hiromu hit a doomsday device missile dropkick. BUSHI covered for a two count.
The match broke down as everyone jumped in at the finish. EVIL hit Hiromu with a lariat. Togo choked BUSHI with a ligature while Ishimori took the ref.
EVIL then hit BUSHI with Everything is EVIL for the pin.
After the match, Togo choked Hiromu out with the ligature. EVIL teased hitting EVIL on Hiromu but chose not to.
EVIL cut a brief promo before standing over the fallen LIJ to close the show.
NJPW held a press conference Monday to announce the card for Sengoku Lord on July 25 in Nagoya. Attendance will be limited to abide by social distancing guidelines.
A double title match will headline as new Bullet Club member EVIL will make his first defenses of the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships against former Los Ingobernables de Japon stablemate Hiromu Takahashi. It was Takahashi who made the save for Naito after EVIL and Dick Togo attacked him at the end of Dominion.
The semi-main event will feature LIJ’s Shingo Takagi making his third defense of the NEVER Openweight Championship, facing Suzuki-gun’s El Desperado. Desperado attacked Takagi at Dominion to set up the title defense.
Sengoku Lord will also feature a grudge match between Kazuchika Okada and Yujiro Takahashi. Okada lost in the New Japan Cup Final to EVIL, who was aided by interference from Yujiro, Gedo and Taiji Ishimori.
Here is the full card:
IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental double title match: EVIL (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi
NEVER Openweight Championship match: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. El Desperado
NJPW held a press conference Monday to announce the lineups for next week’s New Japan Road event, a prelude to Sengoku Lord on July 25 in Nagoya.
New Japan Road will be held on Monday, July 20 at Korakuen Hall. Attendance will be limited.
The show will be headlined by a six-man-tag, as new Bullet Club members EVIL and Dick Togo will team with Taiji Ishimori against Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI. EVIL defeated Naito at Dominion to win the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental titles. Hiromu will be EVIL’s challenger for both belts at Sengoku Lord on July 25 in Nagoya.
The semi-main event will feature Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Master Wato and Yuji Nagata vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Minoru Suzuki. Sabre and Taichi defeated Tanahashi and Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles at Dominion, while Kanemaru attacked Wato after he defeated DOUKI at the New Japan Cup Final. Suzuki and Nagata will renew their rivalry after a memorable New Japan Cup first round match. Suzuki will return here after missing the Cup final and Dominion for precautionary reasons after he had a fever.
Also on the card, Kazuchika Okada will team with Hirooki Goto against Yujiro Takahashi and Gedo. Yujiro, Gedo and Ishimori’s interference helped EVIL defeat Okada to win the New Japan Cup. Okada will look for revenge against Yujiro at Sengoku Lord.
Shingo Takagi and SANADA will team against El Desperado and DOUKI. Desperado will challenge Takagi for the NEVER Openweight title at Sengoku Lord.
Here is the full lineup:
EVIL, Dick Togo & Taiji Ishimori vs. Hiromu Takahashi, Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Master Wato & Yuji Nagata vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Minoru Suzuki
Kazuchika Okada & Hirooki Goto vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Gedo
Shingo Takagi & SANADA vs. El Desperado & DOUKI
Gabriel Kidd, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe vs. SHO, YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemura
New Japan Road will air live on NJPW World at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on Monday, July 20.
All four matches are worth a look but just watch the last two if you’re pressed for time.
EVIL vs. SANADA
Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiromu Takahashi
Report —
Korakuen Hall was again the venue for today’s show.
Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & El Desperado defeated Yuji Nagata, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi & Gabriel Kidd (12:14)
The focus here was on Sabre and Taichi vs. Tanahashi and Ibushi, the tag title program. This was a solid opener.
Tanahashi and Taichi started off. Taichi choked Tana with a length of rope, a trick he also used last night against SANADA. The match broke down into a brawl. Suzuki and Nagata paired off, as did Tanahashi and Taichi and Sabre and Ibushi.
Taichi choked Tanahashi with a piece of security fence. When the match returned to the ring, Suzuki-gun began working over Tanahashi’s right leg. Taichi brought the tag belts into the ring while Sabre and Suzuki tied Tanahashi up in holds.
Ibushi got a tag and had a nice exchange with Sabre. Ibushi went for a standing moonsault but Sabre caught him in a submission on the landing. Suzuki and Nagata tagged in and renewed their rivalry. Suzuki went for the Gotch-style piledriver but Nagata blocked and hit an exploder.
Kidd tagged in for an exchange with Suzuki. Kidd fought off a double team from Desperado and hit Suzuki with a dropkick. The match broke down. Ibushi hit a dive to Sabre.
Desperado and Kidd ended up the legal men. Desperado hit a straight right hand and used Pinche Loco to pin Kidd.
The post-match was intense. After the bell, Sabre put Ibushi in a triangle. Taichi and Tanahashi faced off on the outside. Nagata made the save for Ibushi. Ibushi went after Sabre and Taichi but was held back.
SHO and Shingo looks to be the NEVER Openweight title program so they started off the match.
SHO and Shingo traded some power strikes. Ishii tagged in and cut Shingo off with some hard chops. Naito jumped in and hit a dropkick to Ishii’s left knee to cut him off. Naito and BUSHI took turns working on Ishii while SHO and Shingo brawled on the floor.
Ishii came back with a powerslam on Naito and tagged Goto. Goto hit a backdrop suplex. Naito answered with a back elbow and a dropkick. BUSHI entered for a double team which allowed Naito to hit a one-legged dropkick.
Shingo and SHO tagged back in. Shingo missed a sliding lariat but blocked a spear. They traded vertical suplexes and lariats. Shingo hit a German. SHO responded with two rolling Germans. Shingo blocked a third. SHO hit a knee strike. Shingo hit a lariat.
BUSHI tagged in for an enzuigiri and a DDT. Ishii jumped in but BUSHI dispatched him. LIJ went 3-on-1 on SHO. BUSHI hit a backstabber. Goto made the save for SHO.
BUSHI went for an MX. SHO ducked it. Ishii and Naito jumped in. Ishii hit a brainbuster on Naito. Shingo hit a pumping bomber on SHO.
The finishing sequence saw SHO hit a power breaker on BUSHI for a two count, then use the Shock Arrow for the pin.
SHO hit Shingo with a spear after the match and stood over him with the NEVER Openweight title in hand.
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A Way to the Grand Master video played. The Grand Master then debuted. This was the former Hirai Kawato, now using the name Master Wato. Wato has all blue gear and blue hair.
Wato came to the ring and cut a brief promo. He was then jumped from behind by DOUKI who left him laying with several shots with a pipe.
This was an underwhelming debut to say the least.
We then had an intermission before the two semifinal matches.
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New Japan Cup semifinal match: EVIL defeated SANADA (20:14)
There have been better matches in this tournament but the storytelling here was off the charts great. EVIL has been showing a more ruthless side throughout the entire tournament and that peaked here with his brutal beating of his own tag partner.
SANADA offered a handshake at the opening bell. EVIL looked to accept it but then went for an STO. SANADA blocked and went for Skull End. EVIL slid out. EVIL hit a tackle. SANADA hit an arm drag and EVIL rolled outside to stall.
EVIL clotheslined SANADA to the floor and then posted his arm inside a chair. SANADA came back with a dropkick and a plancha. EVIL raked SANADA’s eyes and used a ref-assisted mid kick. SANADA hit a back suplex.
EVIL hit a ref-assisted Magic Killer. They did a long double down before trading strikes at the ten minute mark. EVIL hit a misdirection lariat out of the corner and used Darkness Falls for a two count.
SANADA blocked Everything is EVIL. EVIL blocked Skull End. SANADA used a dragon suplex for a two count. SANADA used Skull End but EVIL slid out and hit a lariat for a near fall.
There was a scary spot at the 15 minute mark. SANADA tried to flip out of the corner for Skull End. It looked as though EVIL was supposed to block and hit a suplex but SANADA somehow got spiked on top of his head.
SANADA used an O’Connor roll to set up Skull end. SANADA gave up the hold and went for a top rope moonsault but EVIL got his knees up. EVIL shoved SANADA into the ref and the ref took a bump to the floor.
With the ref down, EVIL hit a low blow. He then brought two chairs into the ring. He placed one around SANADA’s neck and hit it with the other. EVIL set up like he was going for the scorpion deathlock but hit another low blow instead.
EVIL revived the referee at the 20 minute mark. He then immediately hit Everything is EVIL and pinned SANADA.
**********
There was another brief intermission before the main event.
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New Japan Cup semifinal match: Kazuchika Okada defeated Hiromu Takahashi (27:00)
I expected a match of the year candidate. This was a match of the year candidate.
Okada broke cleanly after they locked up at the outset. Hiromu feigned doing the same before hitting a forearm strike and a flying headscissors. Okada locked on a head and arm choke but Hiromu forced a break.
They rolled outside where Okada hit a neckbreaker on the floor. Back inside, Okada hit a slingshot senton before covering for a one count. Hiromu came back with a lariat and a dropkick.
Okada rolled outside and Hiromu nailed him with a shotgun dropkick off the apron. Okada went flying through the security fence. Back inside, Hiromu hit a superkick and a falcon arrow for a near fall.
Okada hit a huge flapjack. He went for a top rope elbow but rolled through and landed on his feet. Hiromu hit a German. They traded strikes and Okada got the better of the exchange. Okada hit a Woo dropkick. He sat Hiromu on the top rope and hit another dropkick sending Hiromu crashing to the floor.
Okada whipped Hiromu into the barricade and then sent him over it with a big boot. Okada hit a draping DDT off the barricade. Okada hit a missile dropkick off the top for a two count. He hit a dropkick to the back before trying a standard dropkick and missing. Hiromu answered with a shotgun dropkick. This was an incredible sequence.
Hiromu sat Okada on the top rope and then sent him to the floor with a dropkick, a call back to the earlier spot where Okada did the same thing. Hiromu hit a sunset bomb off the apron. He followed up with a Dynamite Plunger for a near fall.
Hiromu went for Time Bomb. Okada blocked. Hiromu hit the ropes but ran right into an Okada dropkick. Okada hit a tombstone and locked in the cobra clutch. Hiromu grabbed Okada by the hair and hit a DVD into the buckle to break the hold.
Okada blocked Time Bomb. Okada hit a dropkick. Hiromu hit a lariat. Hiromu then hit a Rainmaker for a near fall. Hiromu hit Time Bomb but Okada kicked out at the last instant.
Hiromu ducked under a spinning Rainmaker and locked in a triangle. Okada broke it with a powerbomb. Hiromu used a cradle for a near fall and a wheelbarrow facebuster. Okada hit a dropkick but Hiromu no-sold it and hit a lariat.
Hiromu went for Time Bomb 2. Okada blocked and hit a spinning tombstone at the 25 minute mark. Okada went back to the cobra clutch. Hiromu slid out. Okada hit a Rainmaker and went back to the clutch. He gave up the hold and hit two more Rainmakers.
Okada then locked in the cobra clutch one final time. Hiromu passed out in the hold and the ref called for the stoppage finish.
New Japan Cup quarterfinal match: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Tomohiro Ishii (19:12)
These are two of the ten best wrestlers in the world and they had a either the best or second best match of the tournament so far here in the opener.
They opened by trading shoulder tackles. Hiromu held his own in the exchange but Ishii established the clear advantage. They then traded hard chops. Again Hiromu held his own but again Ishii got the better of the exchange.
Hiromu fired up and hit chops. Ishii answered with one headbutt which sent Hiromu stumbling to the ropes. Hiromu rolled outside but Ishii went right after him and threw him back in the ring. Hiromu landed a snapmare and a dropkick but Ishii was back in control after a vertical suplex.
Hiromu hit a falcon arrow for a near fall. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick. Ishii popped right up and sent Hiromu into the buckle with a tackle. They did an intricate series of counters ending with Ishii hitting a backdrop suplex.
Hiromu hit a rana and rolled through into a triangle choke. They did a long submission tease but Ishii broke the hold by powering Hiromu into the corner pad. Ishii hit a hard corner clothesline to set up a delayed superplex. Both guys sold this great on landing. Ishii got a near fall.
Hiromu blocked a lariat. Ishii hit an enzuigiri. Ishii then connected with the lariat. Hiromu struggled to his feet and hit some weak forearms. Ishii answered with a single forearm shot and a sliding lariat for a two count.
Ishii went for the Vertical Drop Brainbuster. Hiromu countered into a triangle. Ishii again broke the triangle and hit a lariat. Hiromu took a crazy flip bump off the lariat. Hiromu popped up and hit a dynamite plunger for a near fall.
Hiromu hit two lariats and a superkick. He then hit a DVD into the corner pad. Ishii sold this like he was dead. They did a series of finisher teases. Hiromu no-sold a German. Ishii no-sold a lariat. Hiromu dropped Ishii with a single headbutt in a callback to the start of the match.
Hiromu hit a lariat. He hit Time Bomb but Ishii kicked out at two.
Ishii hit a headbutt. Hiromu spiked Ishii with a brainbuster then hit Time Bomb 2 for the pin.
Both guys sold for a long time after the bell and both stumbled to the back after. This was a war.
New Japan Cup quarterfinal match: EVIL defeated YOSHI-HASHI (2:00)
YH sold the knee injury from yesterday’s show during his entrance. EVIL attacked as YH posed on the buckle before the bell rang. EVIL repeatedly hit the knee with a chair.
Once the bell rang, YH tried to fire up and hit chops but EVIL would kick at the leg and cut him off.
EVIL used a scorpion deathlock. They did a long submission tease. YH refused to tap but the referee called for the bell and a stoppage.
EVIL went back after the leg after the match. They continue to build EVIL as a monster who will do anything to win this tournament and they protected YH on the loss.
Uemura started off and did well for himself against Shingo. SHO tagged in to face off with Shingo as that still appears to be a NEVER title direction. SHO got cut off and LIJ worked him over.
SHO made a tag to Goto who got some offense in on Naito. Naito tagged BUSHI who hit Goto with a missile dropkick. Goto tagged Uemura.
Uemura and SHO doubled up on BUSHI. Uemura hit a nice dropkick. Everyone jumped in for a big move as the match broke down. SHO and Shingo traded hard clotheslines.
BUSHI and Uemura were left the legal men. BUSHI hit an enzuigiri and a swinging neckbreaker for a near fall before hitting a fireman’s carry into a codebreaker for the pin.
Shingo and SHO faced off after the match. Shingo taunted SHO with both his NEVER Openweight title and his NEVER Six-Man title belt.
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Way to The Grand Master video and intermission time.
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New Japan Cup quarterfinal match: Kazuchika Okada defeated Taiji Ishimori (16:52)
Okada went to lock up but Ishimori hit a thumb to the eye instead. Okada quickly established the advantage once they did lock up and Ishimori rolled outside.
Gedo appeared and distracted Okada. Ishimori attacked from behind. Okada then rolled outside where Gedo hit him with a wrench to the gut. Ishimori used a chinlock and hit a leg drop for a two count.
Ishimori hit an enzuigiri and a sliding German for a two count. Ishimori then went back to the chinlock. Okada came back with a flapjack and more of his signature spots. Okada hit a DDT for a two count.
Ishimori fought out of a tombstone attempt and hit a handspring kick. Ishimori hit a meteora. He went for a knee strike but Okada ducked and rolled him up for a two count.
Ishimori got the Yes Lock applied but Okada forced a rope break immediately. Ishimori attacked Okada’s abs with strikes. Okada hit an air raid crash at the 10 minute mark.
Okada hit a slam and teased a top rope elbow. Gedo jumped on the apron and allowed Ishimori to recover. Ishimori knocked Okada off the apron and hit a golden triangle off the post to the floor.
Back inside, Ishimori hit a shotgun dropkick and a meteora for a two count. Ishimori got the Yes Lock again. Okada did a great job selling this like it was a potential finish but he made the ropes.
Okada hit a dropkick. Ishimori reversed a tombstone into a lungblower for a near fall. Okada sold his abs big. Okada made it to his feet and hit a spinning tombstone.
Okada went for his head and arm choke. Gedo jumped on the apron and Okada gave up the hold. Okada got the hold again. Ishimori pulled the ref down and the ref took a bump.
Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles. Okada ducked the knuckles and sent Gedo outside after a Woo dropkick.
Okada hit Ishimori with a dropkick and then used the head and arm choke for the submission.
This was Ishimori’s best match in about two years. He has to pick his spots now because he’s had so many injuries and he picked today to turn it on.
They felt that the interference was necessary given that Ishimori has been an undercard junior heavyweight tag guy for the last year and it worked to enhance the match.
New Japan Cup quarterfinal match: SANADA defeated Taichi (22:50)
Taichi pulled a length of rope out of his pants and used it to choke SANADA on the opening lockup. Taichi then beat SANADA around ringside. He sent him into the barricade. He dragged him through the building and choked him with a piece of fence. He posted SANADA’s left shoulder.
Back inside, Taichi went for a cover but Red Shoes refused to count the pin. Taichi again choked SANADA. SANADA came back with a low dropkick. He hit a second dropkick to Taichi’s left leg and Taichi rolled outside. SANADA hit a plancha.
Taichi hit a thumb to the eye and a jumping high kick at the ten minute mark. SANADA caught a thrust kick and tried to lock in Skull End. Taichi blocked and hit a backdrop suplex.
They traded strikes. Taichi went for Black Mephisto. SANADA blocked. SANADA ducked an axe bomber and hit a draping neckbreaker. Taichi blocked a springboard attack but SANADA turned it into a sunset flip for a near fall.
SANADA used a moonsault to set up Skull End. Yoshinobu Kanemaru ran in and took the referee. Taichi tapped to Skull End but the ref didn’t see the tap. SANADA gave up the hold. Taichi hit a backdrop suplex.
Taichi used a dragon sleeper with a body scissors. SANADA teased tapping but eventually reached the ropes to force a break.
Taichi went for a last ride but SANADA fought it off. Taichi hit an axe bomber and a jumping high kick at the 20 minute mark.
Taichi hit a backdrop suplex with a bridge for a near fall. SANADA ducked an axe bomber and hit a hurricanrana for a two count. SANADA hit a TKO.
The finish saw SANADA use a spinning Skull End. He went for a moonsault press but Kanemaru jumped on the apron. Taichi shoved the ref down and hit a low blow. SANADA shoved Taichi into Kanemaru and Kanemaru flew off the apron. SANADA then used an O’Connor roll for the pin.
Taichi shoved the ref down after the match as SANADA continued selling the low blow.
NJPW returned today with its first show in 110 days, the Together Project Special.
The show began with a video recap of some of the Together Project content posted on NJPW World over the last few months. The recap continued with video messages sent in from NJPW fans celebrating the return.
After the video package, we got our first look at the empty arena. The set resembled an empty theater.
The ring announcer called out the Taguchi Japan members of the NJPW roster. Hiroshi Tanahashi cut a promo in Japanese.
The ring announcer then presented the card for the evening.
This was your standard, technically sound NJPW opener.
Kidd got a waistlock takedown. Tsuji powered Kidd back into the ropes and broke cleanly. Each tried to work the other’s left arm. Kidd briefly had an armbar before Tsuji grabbed a heel hook. Kidd escaped and applied a cross armbreaker but Tsuji forced an immediate rope break.
Tsuji hit a shoulder tackle. Tsuji hit a series of strikes in the corner. Tsuji hit a hip toss for a near fall. Tsuji applied a camel clutch. Tsuji hit a splash for another near fall.
Kidd blocked a slam and hit one of his own. Kidd tried a pair of tackles but could not get Tsuji down. Kidd hit some forearm strikes and then finally got Tsuji off his feet with a tackle. Kidd hit a dropkick for a two count.
Kidd fought for a full crab. Tsuji kicked him off so Kidd settled for a single-leg crab. Tsuji forced a rope break.
Tsuji hit a backdrop and used a vertical suplex for a two count. Kidd used a cradle for a surprise near fall. They traded strikes and some hard slaps.
For the finish, Tsuji used a spear for a two count then got a full Boston crab applied. Kidd tapped.
Desperado and Kanemaru attacked before the opening bell. They hit Ishii with a 3D and he rolled outside. Uemura came back with a dropkick on both Desperado and Kanemaru. Kanemaru cut him off with an eye rake.
Desperado taunted Ishii and Ishii jumped in illegally. Ishii and Desperado traded strikes while Kanemaru ran Uemura into the barricade.
Kanemaru tagged in and continued working Uemura over. Kanemaru used a camel clutch while Ishii and Desperado fought on the floor. Desperado raked Ishii’s eyes.
Uemura missed one dropkick but hit a second and tagged Ishii. Ishii dropped Kanemaru with a tackle. Ishii no-sold an eye rake. Desperado nailed Ishii from the apron. Ishii brought Desperado inside with a brainbuster.
Desperado and Kanemaru tried to double team Ishii. Ishii side-stepped a big boot and Kanemaru nailed Desperado. Ishii hit Kanemaru with a powerslam.
Kanemaru hit a low dropkick to Ishii’s left leg. Desperado tagged in and worked on the same leg. Desperado tried Numero Dos but Ishii forced a rope break. Ishii hit a backdrop suplex and tagged out.
Uemura entered and first went after Kanemaru on the floor, whipping him into the barricade. He then attacked Desperado with a vertical suplex and a full crab. Kanemaru attacked and forced Uemura to give up the hold.
Desperado hit Uemura with a spinebuster. Kanemaru connected with a one-legged dropkick and Desperado covered for a two count. Ishii jumped in. Uemura cradled Desperado for a two count.
Desperado hit a spear for a near fall then used the stretch muffler for the submission win.
This was a comedy brawl. Sometimes the comedy was unintentional. This would have been a stretch to make work in front of a crowd and it had no chance in this setting.
All of these guys were very vocal. Jado can barely move and shouldn’t be in the ring.
Yujiro and Goto began. Goto went for an ushigoroshi early but Yujiro blocked.
Yano and Jado tagged in. Yano grabbed a corner pad and Jado brought his kendo stick into the ring. Yano ducked a kendo stick shot. Jado took the ref and Yujiro attacked Yano.
YH tagged in. Gedo hit him from behind and attempted a double team but YH fought it off. Jado cut YH off and the heels took turns working him over. YH hit a headhunter on Ishimori to set up a tag to Goto.
Goto used a misdirection lariat, a wheel kick and a Saito suplex to earn a near fall. Ishimori blocked an ushigoroshi and hit a handspring kick.
Gedo tagged in and hit a jaw breaker. Goto blocked a thrust kick and tagged Honma. Honma sent Gedo into the exposed buckle and hit a bulldog. Honma missed a kokeshi.
Yujiro tagged in and all four faces teamed up against him. Honma hit a kokeshi for a near fall. Honma hit a slam. Honma tried a kokeshi off the second rope but missed.
Jado used a kendo stick on Honma. Yujiro followed with a fisherman buster but Goto broke up the pin.
Yujiro then hit Pimp Juice for the pin.
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A hype video played for The Grand Master. He is coming soon.
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Some staff members were shown cleaning the ring and ringside area. The announcers filled time. The announcers were several feet apart with partitions between them.
We then got an official cleaning and disinfection intermission.
These guys had a really good match and the finish was surprising. The time off looked to have done Tenzan some good as he was moving well.
Taguchi and SANADA locked up. They had a nice chain wrestling exchange that ended in a stalemate. Taguchi offered a fist bump but then kicked SANADA instead.
They did a great comedy spot where Taguchi thought he had successfully applied the paradise lock. He hadn’t. Taguchi did his Nakamura mannerisms and hit a hip attack to SANADA’s head.
Tenzan and SANADA traded palm strikes to the chest. Tenzan hit some Mongolian chops. Kojima cleared the LIJ corner and joined Tenzan for some tandem offense on SANADA.
LIJ took control of the match after BUSHI tripped Tenzan from the floor. BUSHI tagged in and choked Tenzan with his shirt. LIJ took turns working over Tenzan. Tenzan managed to tag out after hitting a wheel kick to EVIL.
Kojima hit machine gun chops on EVIL and connected with the follow-up top rope elbow for a near fall. Taguchi tagged in for a series of hip attacks on SANADA and BUSHI.
Taguchi hit a springboard hip attack and used an ankle lock on SANADA. Taguchi blocked a TKO, blocked a Skull End and used a cradle for a two count. SANADA hit a low dropkick.
The match broke down. BUSHI hit Taguchi with a backstabber for a two count. BUSHI hit a rewind kick. Taguchi countered with a hip attack and an ankle lock. SANADA broke up the hold. Tenzan and Kojima hit a TenCozy Cutter on EVIL.
BUSHI blocked Dodon. Taguchi hit a Bomaye for a two count, then got the ankle lock applied again. BUSHI tapped out.
This was about setting up New Japan Cup matches and teasing some spots for those matches.
Suzuki-gun attacked before the opening bell in this match as well. Suzuki and Nagata started off as the legal men and traded strikes.
Sabre and Ibushi tagged in. They traded strikes until Sabre grabbed a hold. Ibushi tried to shoot Sabre off into the ropes but Sabre hit a flapjack and Suzuki-gun turned this into a brawl around ringside.
Suzuki-gun isolated Ibushi in their corner. It was something else seeing DOUKI get offense on Ibushi. Ibushi came back with a backflip kick and tagged out.
Tanahashi hit a slam and a somersault senton on Taichi for a two count. Taichi blocked a slingblade. Tana blocked a backdrop suplex. They traded strikes. Taichi hit a high kick. He went for a buzzsaw kick but Tana blocked and hit a dragon screw.
Makabe tagged in and hit Taichi with punches in the corner. Sabre and Suzuki tried to interfere but they were intercepted by Tana and Ibushi.
DOUKI and Makabe ended up as the legal men. Makabe got caught in a triangle but forced a rope break. Everyone jumped in for a big move. Nagata and Suzuki brawled to the floor.
DOUKI hit Makabe with a pipe and rolled him up. Makabe kicked out at two. Makabe then hit a slam and hit the King Kong Knee Drop for the pin.
Taichi and Tanahashi had a long staredown after the match.
Okada and Naito began the match. They locked up. Okada broke cleanly against the ropes. Naito kicked Okada off the break. They traded holds. Naito used a side headlock takeover. Okada used a headscissors escape.
Shingo and SHO tagged in for an electric exchange. Hiromu jumped in. YOH intercepted him and SHO and YOH nailed Hiromu with dropkicks.
SHO got the upper hand on Shingo with some hard kicks. Shingo sold them big time for SHO. SHO tried a series of lariats but Shingo did not go down.
LIJ used an illegal triple team to assert control of the match. They isolated SHO in their corner and worked him over. Shingo used a brainbuster for a near fall. Naito tagged in and worked on SHO’s left leg. Hiromu tagged in and worked on the left leg and left arm.
Hiromu hit a dropkick and made a cover but YOH broke up the pin after just a one count. SHO came back with a spear to Shingo and a vertical suplex on Hiromu.
Okada tagged in for a running back elbow, a running back elbow in the corner and a DDT for a two count. Hiromu avoided a top rope elbow attempt and Okada landed on his feet. Hiromu avoided a tombstone and dropped Okada with a back suplex.
Naito and Okada had another exchange. Naito avoided an air raid crash on the first attempt. Okada landed the move on the second try.
YOH tagged in and nailed Naito with a flying forearm and a missile dropkick for a near fall. LIJ saved for Naito. The match broke down. SHO and Shingo jumped in and hit lariats.
Naito went for Destino. YOH blocked and rolled up Naito for a two count. Naito blocked a falcon arrow and hit a flipping inverted Destino. I’m not sure that’s what the move is, but I don’t know what else to call it. The move looks awesome.
Naito then hit YOH with the traditional Destino and pinned him.
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Naito cut a promo to close the show. He mentioned the New Japan Cup and ended with the LIJ roll call.
The main event for NJPW’s 48th Anniversary show has been set.
Tetsuya Naito will face fellow Los Ingobernables de Japan member Hiromu Takahashi in the main event. It will be a battle between the current IWGP Heavyweight champion and the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight champion.
In a press conference that was held this morning, Hiromu entered and asked for the match to be a IWGP Heavyweight title match. That has not been confirmed and is not listed as such on NJPW’s website.
Both men are coming off of big matches from yesterday’s New Beginning in Osaka event. Naito defeated KENTA to retain his title, while Hiromu defeated Ryu Lee.
The theme in recent years for the NJPW Anniversary show is the IWGP Heavyweight champion facing off against the Jr. Heavyweight champion. At last year’s event, then IWGP Heavyweight champion Jay White defeated Jr. champion Will Ospreay.
This year’s Anniversary event will take place on March 3rd at the Ota City General Gymnasium.
Will Ospreay suffered a heel injury in Saturday’s Tokyo Dome match with Hiromu Takahashi where he lost his IWGP Junior Heavyweight title.
The injury took place at the beginning of the amazing series of spots where Ospreay landed on his feet each time.
Ospreay targeted the injury from his first Space Flying Tiger drop spot, where Takahashi moved and Ospreay landed on his feet, just prior to Takahashi giving him a German suplex onto the ramp, in which he also landed on his feet.
The match continued until Hiromu pinned Ospreay with a new variation of the time bomb to win the IWGP Jr. title for the second time. Ospreay wasn’t booked the following night.
He later posted a picture on social media where he was shown icing his heel. He is undergoing x-rays to determine the severity of the injury.
We haven’t heard of any other significant injuries from either of the two shows.
A big eight man tag team match will headline this morning’s Road to Tokyo Dome card at Korakuen Hall.
Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, Robbie Eagles and YOSHI-HASHI of CHAOS will battle Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI of Los Ingobernables de Japon in tonight’s main event. The match will likely continue the storyline from last night where Hiromu was pinned by Robbie Eagles in Hiromu’s return match after being gone for well over a year due to a neck injury.
Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi will team in the co-main event, taking on the team of Jay White and Chase Owens. This could be a preview for January 5 if both Ibushi and White win their matches on January 4.
Hirooki Goto and KENTA will each captain an eight man tag team match in the undercard, while SANADA will team with Shingo Takagi to take on Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.. Jushin Thunder Liger’s second to last match at Korakuen Hall will also take place, as he will be teaming with SHO and YOH to take on Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi and Rocky Romero.
Join us for live coverage starting at 4:30 a.m EST. You can watch for free tonight at this link.
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TOA HENARE DEFEATED YOTA TSUJI
They opened with a striking battle. After trading, Tsuji hit a dropkick. Henare cut him off with some chops and used a vertical suplex for a two count.
Henare continued to use chops. Tsuji fired up and hit a scoop slam out of the corner, then used another dropkick for a two count. Henare hit a Samoan drop for a two count. They traded strikes again. Tsuji hit a spear, then applied a full crab. Henare forced a rope break.
After another striking exchange, Henare hit a lariat for a two count. Tsuji used an inside cradle for a two count. Henare hit a tackle for a two count, then used Toa Bottom for the pin. A fundamentally sound opener.
EL PHANTASMO, TAIJI ISHIMORI & BAD LUCK FALE DEFEATED TOGI MAKABE, TOMOAKI HONMA & YUYA UEMURA
This was a nice showcase for Uemura, even in defeat.
Uemura and ELP started out with a nice mat wrestling sequence. Uemura hit a big tackle and tagged Honma. Honma missed a kokeshi and got cut off. Bullet Club used their comedy series of back rakes.
Honma managed a tag to Makabe. Makabe dropped Fale with a lariat. Fale hit a shoulder tackle and both tagged out. Uemura and Ishimori entered. Ishimori hit a backflip kick. Bullet Club tripled up on Uemura.
Uemura sent Fale over the top, then made his own comeback against Ishimori and ELP. Uemura blocked a Bloody Cross and used a cradle for a two count. Uemura hit a double underhook suplex and covered for another near fall. The crowd was super into this.
Ishimori recovered, hit the Bloody Cross and got the pin.
Tiger and Liger opened up with a great series. Tiger hit some kicks and a tope suicida. Liger hit a shotei on the floor. Tiger hit a Tiger bomb but could not make a cover. SHO and Romero tagged in.
Romero and Taguchi both missed with hip attacks on their first try. The NJPW coaches finally hit a stereo hip attack on SHO and cut him off. SHO is absolutely ripped to shreds. Taguchi hit two of three amigos on SHO. SHO hit a deadlift German and tagged Liger.
Liger ran wild on all three opponents with shoteis. He connected on a top rope rana on Taguchi for a two count. Liger blocked one hip attack but Taguchi hit one on his next attempt.
YOH got a tag and got cut off with a hip attack. The match broke down and everyone jumped in for a move. SHO and YOH hit stereo knees on Tiger, then a backstabber into a one-legged dropkick.
The finish saw YOH pin Tiger with a dragon suplex. Both teams celebrated together after the match. Liger and Tiger embraced and Tiger was in tears. This was a great moment.
ELP and Ishimori ran out after the match and posted both members of 3K ahead of their Wrestle Kingdom bout. ELP hit both YOH with a belt shot, then hit a low blow on SHO. Romero entered and Ishimori and ELP hit him with a 3K.
SANADA & SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED ZACK SABRE JR. & TAICHI
You can see SANADA and Sabre working out their Wrestle Kingdom match in these preview tags.
SANADA and Sabre started off. They did some grappling. Sabre used an armbar, then transitioned to a triangle. SANADA used the threat of a powerbomb to force a break. They rolled outside and Suzuki-gun turned this into a crowd brawl.
Back inside, Sabre and Taichi worked on SANADA”s left arm. SANADA managed a tag to Shingo. Shingo and Taichi exchanged some strikes. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber but could not follow up, then it was back to the real focus of the match with Sabre and SANADA.
SANADA and Sabre traded some strikes, then used a series of cradles almost exactly like te oe they used last night. This time, though, SANADA used a European clutch to pin Sabre.
Sabre sold this big, like he couldn’t believe he was beaten with one of his own holds. Good match.
HIROOKI GOTO, TOMOHIRO ISHII, DAVID FINLAY & JUICE ROBINSON DEFEATED KENTA, YUJIRO TAKAHASHI, TAMA TONGA & TANGA LOA
Bullet Club isolated Finlay and worked him over in their corner for a long time. Juice got a hot tag and hit Tonga with a cannonball. He set up the Left Hand of God, but Loa jumped in to save Tonga.
Finlay entered to even the odds and Juice and Finlay hit stereo clotheslines before tagging out. Goto and KENTA tagged in. KENTA hit some hard strikes and used a draping DDT for a near fall. They traded corner clotheslines. Goto hit a bulldog for a near fall.
Goto tried for an ushigoroshi but KENTA blocked. Jado used a kendo stick shot from the floor. Everyone brawled on the floor. Yujiro and G.O.D. tripled up on Goto in the ring. Yujiro hit a basement dropkick and made a cover, but Ishii saved.
Yujiro teased Pimp Juice. Finlay saved. The match broke down and everyone jumped in. Goto hit Yuiro with an ushigoroshi. Ishii followed up with a sliding lariat on Yujiro. Goto then used the GTR to earn the pin.
KOTA IBUSHI & HIROSHI TANAHASHI DEFEATED JAY WHITE & CHASE OWENS
White and Owens gave Ibushi a half-hearted offer to join Bullet Club before the match. Ibushi declined and got jumped before the bell.
Ibushi did fine for himself in the early going. He hit a series of kicks and a dropkick. Tana tagged in and hit a second rope crossbody on Owens. Owens and Tana both used hair pulls. White joined in from the apron, pulling Tanahashi’s hair. This allowed Bullet Club to take over.
On the outside, Ibushi got whipped up and over the barricade. Tana got sent into the barricade. Back in the ring, White used a dragon screw on Tana. White and Owens continued to work on the left leg. Tana came back with a dragon screw on Owens, then tagged out.
Ibushi was the proverbial house of fire. He hit a springboard dropkick to Owens, then a pescado to White. Gedo held Ibsuhi’s ankles from the floor which allowed White to hit a DDT, then a DVD. White teased a sleeper suplex but Ibushi blocked. Ibushi hit a snap rana. White answered with an immediate snap suplex.
White tagged Owens. Ibushi came back with a backflip kick and made a hot tag to Tanahashi. Tana hit a flying forearm, a slam, a second rope somersault senton, and picked up a two count.
Owens blocked a slingblade attempt. White jumped in for a Blade Buster. Owens hit a shining wizard for a two count, then used the Jewel Heist for another.
Owens hit a jumping knee strike. Tana blocked a package piledriver and hit Twist and Shout. Tana hit slingblade. White jumped in and teased a Blade Runner but Ibushi saved.
Ibushi sent White outside, then hit a Bomaye on Owens. Tana followed with a High Fly Flow to Owens for the pin.
Okada broke cleanly after the opening lockup. Okada went for an early Rainmaker but Naito ducked it, then used a headlock takeover. BUSHI got a tag and Okada hit an elbow drop before tagging Ospreay. Hiromu then tagged in.
Ospreay and Hiromu had a crazy exchange of counters and reversals, similar to last night. Hiromu hit a flying headscissors. Ospreay hit a flip kick. Ospreay and Eagles doubled up on Hiromu. Ospreay hit some kicks near the neck to play on Hiromu’s injury.
YOSHI-HASHI entered to continue the CHAOS beatdown on Hiromu. I barely recognized YH without his shoulder tape. Okada tagged in and baited Hiromu into throwing some chops. Okada hit a neckbreaker.
Ospreay tried an Oscutter but Hiromu pulled him out of the air with a German suplex. hiromu finally managed a tag to EVIL, who used a fisherman buster on YH for a near fall. EVIL tried Everything is EVIL, but YH blocked.
EVIL and YH had a chop battle. EVIL tried a misdirection spot out of the corner, but YH hit a lariat. Okada tagged in and peppered EVIL with punches. Okada hit a running back elbow strike in the center, then another in the corner. EVIL hit a ref-assisted thrust kick and tagged out.
Naito hit a low dropkick and a neckbreaker on Okada, then stomped on his neck. They traded strikes. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick. He teased a tombstone, but Naito blocked and hit a flying forearm. Naito tried Destino, Okada blocked. Naito ducked a Rainmaker. Okada hit a flapjack.
BUSHI and Eagles got tags after a double down. BUSHI hit a neckbreaker for a two count. Eagles used a 619 to BUSHI’s legs. Ospreay blind-tagged in and Ospreya and Eagles hit tandem kicks on BUSHI.
BUSHI avoided Pip Pip Cheerio. EVIL hit Ospreay with a lariat. Naito hit a basement dropkick. BUSHI covered, but YH saved. BUSHI teased an MX. Everyone jumped in for their big move at the end, with Okada’s dropkick on Naito the highlight.
Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio on BUSHI. He tried a Storm Breaker, but BUSHI reversed into a cradle for a two count. BUSHI hit a rewind kick. Ospreay hit a tiger wall flip kick, then a hook kick. Hiromu tried to save for BUSHI, but Eagles saved.
Ospreay hit Hidden Blade on BUSHI, then used Storm Breaker. While Eagles held Hiromu at bay, Ospreay pinned BUSHI.
This was a fun main event. Ospreay and Hiromu had a staredown after the closing bell, as did Naito and Okada.
Ospreay closed the show with a promo. He spoke some Japanese. As he did last night, he used some heel verbiage and mannerisms. He called himself unbeatable and said Hiromu did better tonight but will need to try harder to beat him at Wrestle Kingdom.
NJPW begins their Road to Tokyo Dome today with the first of three straight nights of action in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
Hiromu Takahashi’s comeback match headlines today’s show, as the returning star will team with BUSHI against the Birds of Prey, Will Ospreay and Robbie Eagles.
On the undercard, Kazuchika Okada will team with YOSHI-HASHI against Jay White and Chase Owens. Third from the top will be Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi tagging against Tetsuya Naito and Shingo Takagi.
The other notable undercard bout is the opener, which will see Jushin Liger wrestle the first of three final Korakuen Hall matches. Today he teams with Tiger Mask, Yuya Uemura and Yota Tsuji as they face Rocky Romero, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tomoaki Honma and Togi Makabe.
The NJPW World broadcast will have English commentary. Our live coverage begins at 4:30 a.m. Eastern.
Tsuji and Honma began. Honma missed a kokeshi. Taguchi and Tiger tagged in. Tiger hit some kicks. Taguchi hit a hip attack, then Tiger began attacking his posterior. Liger tagged in and continued the comedy, slapping Taguchi’s ass.
Liger used a Romero special. Taguchi tried a hip attack but Liger simply stepped out of the way. Taguchi hit a hip attack, then tagged in Makabe. Tsuji tried to make the save for Liger, but Makabe hit him with a powerslam.
Makabe hit ten punches in the corner and a lariat on Liger for a two count. Liger came back with a shotei. Uemura and Romero tagged in. Uemura hit a double underhook suplex. Honma saved Romero.
Everyone jumped in for a big move. Honma hit Liger with a kokeshi. Romero hit Uemura with a knee. Makabe hit a double lariat on Tiger and Liger.
Romero used a cradle on Uemura for a two count, then hit a swing DDT for another near fall. Romero then hit a falcon arrow into a cross armbreaker for the submission win over Uemura.
Tsuji went after Makabe after the match. Makabe dropped him with a forearm. All eight guys then had a pull-apart. A solid opener, but nothing special.
The announcers said that there was an earthquake during this match. That seems notable.
BAD LUCK FALE, TAMA TONGA & TANGA LOA DEFEATED JUICE ROBINSON, DAVID FINLAY & TOA HENARE
Bullet Club used a jumpstart attack and went after Henare. The commentators said that Henare is working with a broken rib. Jado used a kendo stick and Bullet Club worked over Henare, seemingly forever.
Henare finally managed a tag to Juice. Juice and Finaly hit stereo bulldogs. Juice hit a Left Hand of God. Henare and Fale tagged in. Henare went for a Samoan drop on Fale, but couldn’t get it. Fale took the ref in an effort to allow Jado to interfere, but Henare took him out with a dropkick.
Fale hit a pounce and a big splash for a two count, then hit a Grenade on Henare for the pin. This wasn’t good.
Somewhere in here Finlay took a spear on the floor taking him out of the match. G.O.D. taunted him after the match as Juice tended to his shoulder with an ice pack.
The announcers called attention to another earthquake aftershock here.
ZACK SABRE JR. & TAICHI DEFEATED EVIL & SANADA
SANADA and Sabre traded waistlocks and holds. SANADA used a headlock takeover and hit a dropkick. Sabre rolled outside, frustrated. SANADA tried for the paradise lock on Sabre. Taichi made the save and SANADA tried to put him in the lock as well. Sabre used the distraction to attack.
Sabre and Taichi went to work on SANADA. Taichi choked EVIL with a cable while Sabre sent SANADA into the crowd. After a countout tease, Sabre went to work on SANADA’s left arm. Taichi tagged in and continued the attack on the left arm.
SANADA managed a hip toss and tagged EVIL. EVIL hit a seated senton in the corner for a two count. Taichi blocked Darkness Falls and hit a kick. Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick. EVIL used the referee as a base for a Magic Killer on Taichi, into a double down.
Sabre and SANADA got tags. SANADA hit a dragon screw. He tried a figure four, but Sabre turned it into a cradle for a pinfall attempt. SANADA escaped, but Sabre nailed him with a PK. Sabre sold the damage from the kick and the earlier dragon screw.
SANADA and Sabre traded strikes. Sabre went for the Zack Driver. SANADA blocked. Sabre used a cobra twist but SANADA reversed into Skull End. SANADA used a spinning Skull End. He tried a moonsault but missed.
Taichi hit an interfering EVIL with an axe bomber. Sabre and SANADA traded a series of quick cradles, ending with Sabre rolling through for the pinfall victory.
This ended up being a heck of a match by the end after a slow start.
Not much to this one, just a chance for a hurting Ishii to get his hand raised.
YOH and Ishimori started off as the legal men. Bullet Club turned it into a ringside brawl. Ishimori, KENTA, Yujiro and ELP worked over YOH. YOH’s selling here was cartoonish, as was Bullet Club’s offense.
Goto finally got a tag but KENTA quickly cut him off. Goto came back with a lariat. Yujiro tagged in and also ate a lariat. Goto tagged Ishii. Ishii was quickly cut off as well. Yujiro used a fisherman buster for a two count.
The match broke down and all eight jumped in. Goto and Ishii hit stereo ushigoroshis on KENTA and Yujiro. Ishii then used the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin on Yujiro.
Naito and Ibushi began. I am absolutely terrified that someone is going to die when they are in the ring together. Naito and Shingo tried to double up on Ibushi, but Ibushi hit both with dropkicks before tagging out.
Tana tagged in and hit a scoop slam on Naito, but missed the follow-up somersault senton. They traded strikes. Shingo attacked Tana from the apron. All four brawled around ringside and Tana and Ibushi got sent into the barricade.
Back in the ring, Shingo and Naito used quick tags in working Tanahashi over. Shingo hit a vertical suplex and a double sledge to the chest. Tana came back with a dragon screw. Both tagged out.
Ibushi ran wild on Naito with dropkicks. Naito hit a tijeras, then used a crucifix with his legs on Ibushi. Ibushi reached the bottom rope, but Naito was slow to break the hold. Ibushi hit a snap German. Naito came back with a one-legged dropkick, then tagged out.
Ibushi hit an insane snap rana on Shingo, then tagged out. Tanahashi hit a flying forearm and a somersault senton on Shingo for a near fall. They traded strikes. Tana hit Twist and Shout, then used a slingblade for a two count. Naito made the save for Shingo, then brawled outside with Ibushi.
Tana tried a High Fly Flow, but Shingo got his knees up. Tana ducked a Pumping Bomber but fell victim to a double team. Shingo hit Noshigami for a near fall as Ibushi made the save.
Ibushi hit a superkick on Naito. Shingo hit a German on Ibushi. Shingo and Tana traded strikes. Shingo hit a big lariat for a two count.
Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber. He went for Last of the Dragon, but Tana slipped to a victory roll and got the flash pin.
Immediately after the three count Shingo jumped on Tana with a lateral press to get his heat back. Tanahashi sold all of this big, doing his best to make Shingo look good in defeat.
It’s not surprising given the level of talent of all four of these guys, but this was awesome.
JAY WHITE & CHASE OWENS DEFEATED KAZUCHIKA OKADA & YOSHI-HASHI
White and Okada started off. White teased locking up but tagged out right away. Okada used some strikes to take over on Owens. YH got a tag and hit some chops. YH hit a baseball slide on both Owens and White, then sent Owens into the barricade.
As YH tried to climb back inside, White cut him off. This allowed Owens to get the upper hand on YH, while White then sent Okada into the barricade.
White and Owens worked over YH. YH went for a tag but White knocked Okada off the apron. YH managed a headhunter on Owens, then tagged Okada. Okada hit Owens with a back elbow and a DDT. Okada teased an air raid crash, but Owens blocked and suplexed Okada into the buckle.
White got a tag and hit a Blade Buster on Okada for a two count. Okada came back with a dropkick to the back. He tried another but White avoided it. They teased finishers. Okada pulled out of a Blade Runner and connected on another dropkick.
YH got a tag and hit a headhunter on White, then used a sit-out powerbomb and a jackknife cover for a two count.
YH went for Kharma, but White blocked. YH used the Butterfly Lock, but Owens saved for White. Okada and Owens brawled outside. YH hit a lariat. He went for Kharma again. White grabbed the referee. Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles. YH ducked the knuckles but fell victim to a Blade Runner. White got the pin.
YH had a good night and Okada was his usual spectacular self in this match.
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We got an awesome wacky Hiromu video package before the main event. Hiromu was hanging out in a laundromat. Hiromu was naked in a hot tub. I can’t do this justice.
WILL OSPREAY & ROBBIE EAGLES DEFEATED HIROMU TAKAHASHI & BUSHI
Hiromu looked good but only did some moderately insane things instead of his typical extremely insane things.
Hiromu and Ospreay started with a crazy exchange of flips, counters, drop-downs, misdirection spots, headscissors, you name it. This got a great crowd response. Both tagged out.
Eagles and BUSHI were the legal men inside, but the focus was on Ospreay and Hiromu on the floor. Ospreay sent Hiromu into the barricade repeatedly, and Hiromu threw himself around with reckless abandon.
Ospreay got a tag. Eagles and Ospreay hit stereo kicks on BUSHI. Ospreay got a two count as the pace slowed for the first time. Ospreay hit some methodical chops. Eagles tagged back in.
Hiromu tripped Eagles from the floor. He teased a sunset bomb on Ospreay, but ultimately settled for a regular apron bomb. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick and Ospreay flew over the barricade.
They fought into the crowd. BUSHI sent Eagles into the East sign, while Hiromu sent Ospreay into the West sign in Korakuen.
Back in the ring, Hiromu tagged in and hit Eagles with chops. BUSHI and Hiromu used quick tags and worked Eagles over. BUSHI used an STF, but Eagles reached the ropes. Hiromu and BUSHI both hit chops. Hiromu used a basement dropkick for a two count.
Ospreay tried a Pip Pip Cheerio but Hiromu hit him with a shotgun dropkick, and the Eagles beatdown continued. Eagles hit a leg lariat on Hiromu, then tagged Ospreay.
Ospreay hit Hiromu with a flying forearm. Hiromu again ducked Pip Pip Cheeri, but Ospreay connected on a backflip kick. Ospreay then hit Pip Pip Cheerio.
Ospreay teased Storm Breaker. Hiromu blocked, but Ospreay hit a kick that might have caught Hiromu in the face, as he ended up with a bloody nose. Hiromu suplexed Ospreay into the buckle. BUSHI got a tag and Ospreay hit both with a backflip kick, then tagged out.
Eagles missed a charge into the corner. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick. Eagles hit a dropkick to the leg. Ospreay entered for some tandem offense, then hit a Sasuke Special to Hiromu on the floor. Eagles hit a running knee for a two count.
Eagles missed a 450 attempt, but rolled through. Ospreay and Hiromu jumped in. Hiromu blocked a tiger wall flip kick and sent Ospreay outside. Eagles hit a kick on Hiromu, then hit BUSHI with Turbo Backpack.
Eagles climbed to the top but BUSHI cut him off. Eagles sent BUSHI back to the mat with a headbutt, then hit a 450 to the legs. Eagles then used the Ron Miller Special. Hiromu tried to save but Ospreay intercepted him with a cobra twist. Hiromu hit a pop-up powerbomb on Ospreay, sendng him into Eagles, breaking the submission.
BUSHI managed a tag. Hiromu hit a corner clothesline. Eagles and Ospreay cut him off with a double Cheeky Nandos kick.
Eagles and Ospreay went for Red Wing. Hiromu flipped over into a double powerbomb off the second rope. Hiromu and BUSHI hit a tandem fireman’s carry slam on Eagles but Ospreay saved.
Ospreay tried Hidden Blade on Hiromu, but Hiromu ducked it, then press slammed Ospreay over the top to the floor. BUSHI followed with a dive over the top to Ospreay.
Hiromu hit a DVD into the buckle on Eagles. He tried Dynamite Plunger, but Eagles rolled through into a cradle for the surprise pinfall win.
After the bell, Ospreay taunted Hiromu with the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight belt. Hiromu and BUSHI walked to the back, leaving Ospreay to cut the show-closing promo.
Ospreay cut a heelish promo. He said maybe Hiromu isn’t ready, but he is, and he’ll see everyone tomorrow.
The past will meet the present in the final match of Jushin Thunder Liger’s legendary career.
NJPW has revealed the cards for Wrestle Kingdom 14 nights one and two. The shows will feature the final two matches of Liger’s career, with a retirement ceremony then being held for him at New Year Dash.
Rivals Liger & Naoki Sano will team together against Hiromu Takahashi & Ryu Lee (Dragon Lee’s new name in NJPW) on Wrestle Kingdom 14 night two. Liger & Sano will be managed by Yoshiaki Fujiwara.
Lee issued a challenge to Liger on the last show of NJPW’s World Tag League, and Liger replied by saying he wanted to face both Lee and Takahashi.
Liger’s match for night one had already been announced. It will be Liger, Tatsumi Fujinami, The Great Sasuke & Tiger Mask IV (w/ El Samurai) vs. Sano, Shinjiro Otani, Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Ryusuke Taguchi (w/ Kuniaki Kobayashi). Norio Honaga will referee the eight-man tag.
Liger’s matches will open both Tokyo Dome shows. Night one is taking place on January 4, night two is on January 5, and New Year Dash is on January 6. New Year Dash is taking place at Ota City General Gymnasium.
Hiromu Takahashi is returning to action prior to his matches at Wrestle Kingdom 14.
NJPW has revealed the full cards for their three-show Road to Tokyo Dome tour. Takahashi will be in action on all three nights, with him in the main events of nights one and two.
In his return match, Takahashi will team with BUSHI against Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles on Road to Tokyo Dome night one on December 19. On night two, Takahashi, BUSHI, Tetsuya Naito, & EVIL will face Ospreay, Eagles, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI.
Takahashi & EVIL will face Ospreay & Tomohiro Ishii on night three.
Ospreay defending his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Takahashi is set for Wrestle Kingdom 14 night one. Takahashi will be part of Jushin Thunder Liger’s retirement match on night two. It will be Liger & Naoki Sano (w/ Yoshiaki Fujiwara) vs. Takahashi & Ryu Lee (Dragon Lee’s new name in NJPW).
For the first time since breaking his neck against Lee in July 2018, Takahashi returned at Power Struggle last month and challenged Ospreay for Wrestle Kingdom 14.
The three Road to Tokyo Dome shows are taking place at Korakuen Hall and will air live on New Japan World. Here are the full lineups for the tour:
Night one (Thursday, December 19) —
Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles vs. Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI
Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jay White & Chase Owens
Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi
Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, SHO & YOH vs. KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
SANADA & EVIL vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
Juice Robinson, David Finlay & Toa Henare vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Bad Luck Fale