The second round of the 2021 New Japan Cup continued today in Aichi. Here are the results for the preliminary matches and full reports for the Cup matches.
Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI, & Toru Yano defeated David Finlay, Yota Tsuji, & Gabriel Kidd (11:17)
YOSHI-HASHI submitted Kidd with the Butterfly Lock. Finlay and YOSHI-HASHI will face off in the second round of the Cup.
Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, & Jeff Cobb defeated Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi, & DOUKI (7:51)
O-Khan pinned DOUKI with the Eliminator. Ospreay and Sabre will face off in the second round of the Cup.
SANADA submitted SHO with the Skull End. SANADA and Nagata will face off in the second round of the Cup.
Jay White, EVIL, & Bad Luck Fale defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, & Toa Henare (11:41)
EVIL pinned Henare with Everything is EVIL. White and Tanahashi will face off in the second round of the Cup.
New Japan Cup second round: KENTA defeated Minoru Suzuki (16:56)
There was some really exciting stuff here, including an exhilarating slap sequence, but much of the work had a disconnect to it as well. It wasn’t as crisp as it could have been.
KENTA stalled at the bell. He grabbed a newspaper from ringside, but Suzuki took it from him and laid it out in the center of the ring, inviting KENTA back in. Suzuki laid in strikes, but upon a rope break, KENTA starched him with a slap, which just angered Suzuki, who in turn gave chase.
When Suzuki re-entered the ring, KENTA tried to take advantage with a big boot, but Suzuki stretched him over the top rope with his illegal armbar spot. He then sent KENTA into the barricades repeatedly before grabbing a chair. The official tried to take it, allowing KENTA enough time to boot the chair into Suzuki and attack him with it.
Back in the ring, KENTA laid in kicks. Suzuki tried to fire up but was consistently foiled as KENTA kept up the offense. KENTA taunted Suzuki with some weak kicks and was met with a single stiff forearm in return, dropping him. This time it was Suzuki who repeatedly laid in kicks, concluding with a cocky cover attempt.
Suzuki hit two more forearms but KENTA avoided the third and took advantage with a DDT, followed by a second draping DDT for two. KENTA laid in corner strikes and somewhat whiffed on his running Shibata dropkick. He set up for the Go To Sleep, but Suzuki countered it into a standing guillotine. When Suzuki tried to transition into the Gotch-style piledriver, however, KENTA rolled through and went for Game Over.
Once Suzuki reached the ropes, KENTA immediately followed it up with the Busaiku knee. He tried for the Go To Sleep again, but Suzuki countered it into a single-leg crab. After a long battle, KENTA eventually reached the ropes. Suzuki goaded KENTA into a standing striking battle, where they both hit some great open-hand slaps. That was one of the best individual sequences of the tournament so far.
KENTA surprised Suzuki with a spinning back fist, but Suzuki fought out of Go To Sleep once again and locked on the rear naked choke. Suzuki let it go, laid in a ton of strikes, and went for the Gotch-style Piledriver, but KENTA immediately countered it into the Go To Sleep out of nowhere for the win.
He will face the winner of tonight’s main event in a quarterfinal Cup match.
New Japan Cup second round: Shingo Takagi defeated Hirooki Goto
This was the exact match you would expect from these two, meaning it was excellent. Shingo is probably going a long way in this tournament.
They had the typical strong style shoulder block and forearm exchange to start. Shingo knocked Goto down as both men teased finishers before a cradle from Goto got a close near fall. They brawled on the floor, where Shingo hit a DDT after sending Goto into the barricade.
Shingo maintained control in the ring. They eventually wrestled to the apron, where Shingo attempted a Death Valley driver, but Goto fought out and dropped Shingo hard on the apron. Goto kept up the advantage for a while, targeting Shingo’s head with elbows. Shingo eventually fired up and laid in chops before his back elbow, straight right, and lariat combination bought him some time.
A shoulder block and a vertical suplex sent Goto to the mat again. Shingo went for Noshigami, but Goto fought out and hit a suplex of his own. Goto hit a corner knee into a bulldog for two. He followed it up with a Saito suplex, but Shingo popped right up and hit a Saito suplex himself. Shingo called for the Pumping Bomber and was met with a lariat from Goto. They exchanged clothesline attempts, but neither man would go down both collapsed for a double down.
Shingo went for his striking combination again but was met with a lariat for his trouble. Goto immediately followed it up with the ushigoroshi, but couldn’t make the cover. Shingo repeatedly went for a German suplex, so when Goto fought out, he adjusted his gameplan with a clothesline to the back of Goto’s head. Shingo taunted Goto with goading kicks, which baited Goto into taking a Noshigami.
Goto avoided the Pumping Bomber but took Made in Japan for his trouble for two. Shingo laid in repeated forearms, connecting hard with the last one, which downed Goto. Goto caught a lariat attempt and hit GTW but was once again too exhausted to cover. He went for GTR, but Shingo fought out, so Goto landed a headbutt and the reverse GTR for two. He followed it up with the mid kick, but Shingo fought out of another GTR attempt and rolled Goto up for a great near fall.
Shingo popped up and downed Goto with a short lariat. He tried to follow it up with Last of the Dragon, but Goto fought out and they had a long battle for a vertical suplex, which Shingo eventually won by draping Goto over the top rope and hitting an assisted GTR. Shingo then hit a picture-perfect Pumping Bomber for a near fall.
The Last of the Dragon followed to allow Shingo to pick up the win and advance.
Shingo Takagi vs. KENTA is the quarterfinal match from this section of the Cup bracket. They will likely be the main event of the March 16 Korakuen Hall show.
The New Japan Cup tournament continued today in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
Here are the results and a report on the Cup matches.
Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI defeated Tomoaki Honma, Gabriel Kidd & Yuya Uemura (10:46)
Suzuki pinned Uemura after a Gotch-style piledriver. Suzuki and Honma face off in a Cup match on tomorrow’s show, while Sabre faces Kidd in a tournament match on Sunday.
EVIL used a Darkness Scorpion (scorpion deathlock) to submit Tiger Mask.
EVIL, the 2020 New Japan Cup winner, and Tanahashi as the NEVER Openweight Champion were given first round byes. EVIL will face Jeff Cobb in the second round on March 11, while Tanahashi will take on the winner of Jay White vs. Toa Henare on March 15.
Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Master Wato (9:14)
Cobb pinned Wato after hitting a Tour of the Islands.
Cobb eliminated Kojima in the first round of the Cup yesterday. Ospreay vs. Tenzan is the main event of Sunday’s show.
New Japan Cup first round match: Toru Yano defeated Bad Luck Fale by countout (5:50)
This was a Fale vs. Yano match. They’ve had funnier matches, but this was fine for the comic relief that it was.
Fale attacked during Yano’s lengthy ring introduction and tried to roll him up. The ref counted even though the opening bell had not sounded. Yano kicked out.
Yano rolled to the floor to try to escape. Fale sent him into the barricade repeatedly. They did a countout tease, but Yano beat the count back in at 19.
Yano tried a slam, but Fale reversed it for a near fall. They traded forearm strikes. Fale ran into an exposed buckle. Fale hit two slams, then missed an elbow drop. Yano rolled back to the floor. Fale sent him into the barricade again. Fale missed a charge into the barricade. Fale posted Yano.
Yano produced a roll of tape. Fale intercepted and taped Yano’s wrists together around the post. Yano kicked Fale low, then climbed back into the ring with his hands still taped and stole the countout win.
After he was freed, Yano cried because Fale broke his KOPW trophy.
Yano advances and will face Great-O-Khan on March 11.
New Japan Cup first round match: Hirooki Goto defeated Taichi (w/Zack Sabre Jr.) (22:43)
This built well and turned into a heck of a match by the end.
They locked up a couple of times and Goto broke cleanly against the ropes. They locked up a third time and Goto grabbed a side headlock. Taichi threatened a backdrop suplex, but Goto slid out. After locking up again, Taichi refused to break cleanly and choked Goto in the ropes.
The fight spilled outside Taichi sent Goto into the barricade and choked him with a camera cable. Goto beat the count back in at 19. Taichi continued choking Goto in the ring. Taichi hit some Kawada kicks. Goto fired up with palm strikes to the chest.
Goto snapped and started choking Taichi in response to Taichi choking him again. Goto hit a lariat, a corner wheel kick and a bulldog for a near fall. Taichi blocked an ushigoroshi attempt and hit a gamengiri. They traded lariats. Taichi hit another gamengiri into a double down.
Taichi tore his pants off. Goto cut off a buzzsaw kick attempt. Taichi blocked a misdirection lariat. Goto hit an ushigoroshi. Goto hit a reverse GTR for a two count. Taichi blocked a discus lariat and hit a chokeslam.
Goto missed with a right hand and Taichi hit a backdrop suplex for a near fall. Taichi fired up and called for a last ride. Goto sprawled, but Taichi hit the powerbomb with a stack cover for another two count.
Taichi went for Black Mephisto. Goto blocked. Taichi hit a rolling elbow. Goto hit a desperation Shouten Kai. Goto hit a mid kick. Taichi fired back with a kick. Goto hit a headbutt. Goto tried for a GTR, but Taichi slid out and hit a high kick. Taichi used a clutch hold for a great near fall.
Goto blocked a high kick and hit a GTW for a near fall. Goto then hit another GTR and got the pin.
Goto advances and will face the winner of tomorrow’s Kazuchika Okada vs. Shingo Takagi match on March 13.
A NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team title match has been added to the card for NJPW’s The New Beginning in Hiroshima night two.
After a challenge that was issued by Jay White at Tuesday’s Road to The New Beginning show, NJPW has announced that White, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa will challenge for Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI’s NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles at The New Beginning in Hiroshima night two. The show is taking place on Thursday, February 11.
White made his return to NJPW at Monday’s Road to The New Beginning show and then returned to action on Tuesday. He’s also been added to the cards for NJPW’s two remaining Road to The New Beginning shows and The New Beginning in Hiroshima night one.
The New Beginning in Hiroshima night one is taking place on Wednesday, February 10 and will now feature White, EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo facing Ishii, Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano. Tonga & Loa are defending their IWGP Tag Team titles against Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi at the show.
The New Beginning in Hiroshima night one will begin at 4:30 a.m. Eastern time. Night two will start at 1 a.m. Eastern. Both shows are airing live on NJPW World.
Here are the updated cards:
The New Beginning in Hiroshima night one (Wednesday, February 10) —
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi defends against SHO
IWGP Tag Team Champions Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defend against Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma vs. SANADA & Tetsuya Naito
Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano vs. EVIL, Jay White, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
Master Wato vs. BUSHI
Yota Tsuji, Yuya Uemura & Gabriel Kidd vs. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
The New Beginning in Hiroshima night two (Thursday, February 11) —
IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental Champion Kota Ibushi defends both titles against SANADA
NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defend against Jay White, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
Report —
Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall was again the venue for today’s show.
Gabriel Kidd defeated Yota Tsuji (7:44)
This was a nice little sprint to kick things off.
They opened up with some mat work. They traded side headlocks. Kidd tried some shoulder tackles but Tsuji would not go down. Tsuji hit an uppercut forearm and dropped Kidd with his own shoulder block.
Tsuji hit a slam and used a camel clutch. Kidd came back with a backdrop and another side headlock. Kidd landed some strikes and dropped a knee on Tsuji’s chest for a near fall. After a striking battle, Kidd hit a senton for a two count.
Tsuji hit a vertical suplex, a slam, a senton and a splash for a near fall. He locked on a crab but Kidd made the ropes to force a break.
Kidd fought off a powerslam and used two quick cradles for near falls. Tsuji hit a sunset flip for a two count. Kidd reversed the sunset flip and escaped with the pinfall victory.
I’m not sold on Great-O-Khan. I like his look but his offense doesn’t look very good by NJPW standards.
Okada and O-Khan began. Ospreay jumped in for the immediate illegal double team. Okada fought it off and hit O-Khan with a neckbreaker before tagging out.
Ospreay tied Uemura up in the ropes, allowing O-Khan to go to work on the Young Lion. Ospreay sent Okada into the barricade on the outside while O-Khan established the advantage over Uemura.
Ospreay and O-Khan cut the ring in half and used a series of quick tags in working Uemura over. Ospreay took the referee and Priestley joined in on the attack from the floor.
Uemura finally avoided a charge into the corner from O-Khan and tagged out. Okada hit a running back elbow on O-Khan and hit an interfering Ospreay with a flapjack.
Okada used a DDT for a near fall. O-Khan blocked an air raid crash and the two traded strikes. O-Khan hit some Mongolian chops. Okada then hit an air raid crash.
Uemura tagged in and hit some tandem offense with Okada. Uemura went for a butterfly suplex but O-Khan blocked. Uemura used a crab while Okada and Ospreay fought to the floor. O-Khan powered out.
O-Khan hit a uranage for two as Okada broke up the pin. Ospreay and Okada did some cool teases and misdirections before brawling to the floor again.
O-Khan then hit the Dominator on Uemura and pinned him.
**********
Okada and O-Khan got into it after the bell. Okada locked on the Money Clip. Ospreay broke it up and O-Khan hit Okada with the Dominator. O-Khan posed over Okada ahead of their match on Saturday.
They began fighting before the bell. Shingo and Suzuki went at it on the floor, as did BUSHI and Kanemaru.
Hiromu and Desperado began in the ring and LIJ got the early edge. Shingo got a tag and again went after Suzuki on the apron. BUSHI ended up the legal man for LIJ while Shingo and Suzuki brawled outside. Suzuki sent Shingo into the barricade.
Suzuki-gun worked over BUSHI. Suzuki no-sold a series of BUSHI’s strikes and used a crab. Shingo broke the hold with a lariat to the back of Suzuki’s head and they again fought to the floor.
BUSHI hit a sloppy enzuigiri on Desperado and was finally able to tag out. Shingo and Suzuki brawled again, this time as the legal participants in the match. They proceeded to have an excellent exchange.
Kanemaru tagged and and fell victim to tandem offense from Hiromu and BUSHI. Shingo then deadlifted him for a Last of the Dragon and the pin.
**********
After the bell, Suzuki hit Shingo with a chair and a Gotch-style piledriver. He then used a Boston crab. Suzuki fought off the ringside attendants who tried to break the hold, then wrenched back on Shingo with a high-angle single-leg crab before posing over him with the NEVER title.
**********
The Best of the Super Jr. 27 field and the return of the Super J-Cup were announced before intermission.
BOSJ will be ten participants competing in a single block.
The J-Cup will be a one-night tournament with eight participants held in the United States and broadcast on NJPW World on Saturday, December 12.
The lineups:
Best of the Super Jr. 27 —
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori
Hiromu Takahashi
El Desperado
Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Ryusuke Taguchi
Master Wato
SHO
BUSHI
Robbie Eagles
DOUKI
Super J-Cup 2020 —
2019 Super J-Cup winner El Phantasmo
Clark Connors
TJP
ACH
Lio Rush
ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champion Rey Horus
Blake Christian
Chris Bey
**********
Jay White, KENTA & Chase Owens (w/Gedo) defeated Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma (12:25)
There was a stretch earlier this year where Honma was working more regularly and had started to look better in the ring. That has not been the case the last two nights.
White and KENTA pulled Tsuji into the ring before the match and menaced him into clapping for them during their introductions.
Owens and Honma started out as the legal men while White and KENTA went after Ibushi and Tanahashi on the outside. Bullet Club then cut Honma off and worked him over for several minutes.
Honma finally came back on KENTA with a DDT before tagging out to Tana. Tanahashi hit a series of strikes, a flying forearm and a dragon screw on KENTA. Tanahashi tried for a cloverleaf but Owens broke it up. Owens got hit with a dragon screw for his trouble.
KENTA hit Tanahashi with a powerslam, a swing DDT and a top rope clothesline. Tanahashi hit a slingblade after a striking battle.
Ibushi and White tagged in. They exchanged blows. White hit a DDT and a DVD for a near fall. Ibushi came back with a snap rana before tagging out.
White got hit with a triple team from Tanahashi, Ibushi and Honma. Honma hit a bulldog and kokeshi. White blocked a lariat and hit Blade Runner for the pin.
**********
White and KENTA laid out Ibushi and Tanahashi with briefcase shots after the match. Ibushi had to be restrained from going after White by Kidd and Tsuji after he recovered.
Naito and SANADA tried a jumpstart at the bell. Naito pulled EVIL to the floor and sent him into the barricade. Back in, Naito choked EVIL with his sweatshirt. Naito tagged out. SANADA hit a rana on EVIL but missed a plancha. Bullet Club took over from there.
EVIL sent Naito into the barricade and hit him with a chair. Togo took the referee while Yujiro posted SANADA. SANADA got whipped into an exposed buckle. EVIL twice sent SANADA into the barricade and knocked over the ring announcer Abe on the other side.
SANADA made a comeback. He avoided another whip into the buckle and sent EVIL into it instead. Naito tagged in and hit some signature offense on EVIL. Togo tripped Naito, which allowed Yujiro and EVIL to hit tandem offense on the champion.
SANADA jumped in and hit EVIL with a dropkick. EVIL and SANADA brawled outside, leaving Yujiro and Naito legal. Yujiro tried to hit Naito with his pimp cane but Naito ducked the shot. Yujiro hit an Olympic slam for a two count.
Naito ended up with a bloody mouth after taking a hotshot over the top strand from EVIL.
Naito and Yujiro were in for a very clunky closing sequence. Naito avoided Miami Shine. SANADA entered to double up on Yujiro. Naito hit Gloria and a Destino and got the pin.
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI to retain the titles (34:50)
This went about ten minutes too long but everyone worked hard. It felt like they reached the pinnacle of the match, then kept going and couldn’t get it back to the peak.
Taichi and YH started off by locking up. Taichi backed into the ropes to force an immediate break. He repeated the spot before tagging Sabre. Sabre took YH down right away and began manipulating his arms. YH came back with a hurricanrana and a tackle.
Goto tagged in for some tandem offense on Sabre. Taichi entered for an illegal double team but Goto fought it off. Sabre went after Goto’s neck, twisting it with his legs. Taichi pulled Goto to the floor and choked him with a camera cable.
Goto got worked over for several minutes. He eventually avoided a Taichi backdrop suplex and hit a lariat. YH and Sabre tagged in and went back and forth. Sabre continued attacking YH’s arms. He then went after YH’s legs with a sweep and a series of ankle locks, heel hooks and kneebars.
Goto got a tag. Sabre avoided a misdirection lariat and used an octopus. Goto fought out and went for an ushigoroshi but Sabre slipped to a guillotine. Goto hit a vertical suplex to end the sequence.
Suzuki-gun doubled up on Goto after fighting off interference from YH. Sabre hit a PK on Goto for two. Goto fought out of Zack Mephisto. Sabre hit a DDT and used a triangle. They did a long submission tease before Goto reached the ropes.
Taichi tagged in and went for a last ride. Goto fought out of it. Sabre and Taichi tried a tandem dragon screw but YH intercepted it. Goto and YH hit the GYR on Taichi for a two count.
Goto hit a mid kick, no-sold a backdrop suplex and hit a lariat to Taichi. YH tagged in and hit a lariat for two. YH fought off a Black Mephisto, no-sold a lariat and hit a powerbomb for a near fall as Sabre broke it up.
YH hit a senton bomb for a two count. YH used a butterfly lock. Sabre tried to break it up but Goto intercepted him. YH transitioned to a sleeper. Taichi grabbed the ref and hit a low blow. Taichi used a clutch hold for a near fall.
Sabre got in and Goto hit him with an ushigoroshi. All four guys were down and exhausted by this point.
Taichi and YH traded strikes. YH hit a superkick, a dragon suplex and a lariat for a near fall. He hit a brainbuster for another two count. Goto and Sabre got back in. Goto got hit with Zack Mephisto. YH hit a meteora on Sabre.
In the closing sequence, YH hit a lariat and used a stack cover for two. Taichi blocked Kharma. Sabre got in. Taichi and Sabre hit YH with Zack Mephisto and Taichi covered for the pin.
**********
They shot an angle after the match. There was a stark contrast in the tone of the long battle for the titles that we just saw and the total comedy that followed.
Toru Yano jumped up from the commentary table and climbed into the ring. He took off all four corner pads. He cut a promo and said that Sabre pisses him off because he always tries to put the pads back on when Yano takes them off, so their KOPW match on Saturday will now be a no corner pads match.
Sabre then sent Yano into an exposed buckle. Yano went backstage. Yano could still be heard shouting from backstage as Sabre and Taichi tried to cut their end of show promo. Sabre went backstage with a chair and returned a few seconds later.
The NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles will be on the line at Road to Power Struggle night one.
NJPW has revealed the full card for Road to Power Struggle night one, with it being headlined by NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defending their titles against Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI. The match was set up by Taichi, Sabre Jr., DOUKI & El Desperado defeating Ishii, Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano in an eight-man tag match at the G1 finals.
DOUKI pinned YOSHI-HASHI to get the win in that eight-man tag match. After the match, Taichi, Sabre & DOUKI attacked Ishii, Goto & YOSHI-HASHI and posed with the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag team titles.
Ishii, Goto & YOSHI-HASHI have been NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions since winning the titles in a tournament this August. EVIL, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI were the champions prior to that, but the titles were declared vacant after EVIL joined Bullet Club.
NJPW has yet to reveal the cards for the rest of the Road to Power Struggle tour. The tour is leading into Power Struggle being held at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan on Saturday, November 7. Power Struggle will feature six singles matches.
Road to Power Struggle night one is taking place at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo this Friday (October 23) and will air live on NJPW World starting at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time. Here’s the full card for the show:
NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defend against Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI
Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. EVIL & Dick Togo
Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma vs. Jay White, KENTA & Gedo
Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Kazuchika Okada & Gabriel Kidd vs. Will Ospreay & The Great O-Khan
For the first time in this year’s G1 Climax, the B Block takes us to Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
Report —
Gabriel Kidd defeated Yuya Uemura
The match began with a brief scramble which Kidd came out on top of. Kidd took to targeting the arm of Uemura in his early groundwork and continued to do it throughout the match.
After multiple Uemura transitions, Kidd would ultimately return his attention to the arm. After a test of strength and a show of athletics favoring Kidd, Uemura secured a takedown and began working a headlock. Only after an extended period under the control of Uemura would Kidd break free with a rope break and a dramatic dropkick.
Kidd and Uemura then traded advantage, first with Kidd laying boots into a cornered Uemura followed by Uemura doing the same to Kidd. Uemura tried to further his lead with a return to the headlock but Kidd landed a slam effectively resetting the match.
After an exchange of strikes, Uemura took the match back to the mat and locked in the Boston crab. A submission soon followed, leaving Uemura the victor.
Crisp work from both men but especially Uemura.
G1 Climax B Block: YOSHI-HASHI defeated SANADA
SANADA and YOSHI-HASHI started the match with a brief in-ring struggle that spilled to the outside. YH gained an early advantage in the outside brawl but after SANADA drove YH into the barricade, the match became all SANADA. After barely beating the referee’s count YH was brought to the mat. He stayed there for some time under the control of SANADA.
After a neckbreaker, YH was in the driver seat. This was followed by a short offensive streak that was cut short by a SANADA dropkick. Likewise, SANADA’s offense was short-lived, as it was cut short by a YH lariat.
YH landed a powerbomb before attempting a Swanton. SANADA’s knees found YH’s back during his descent. SANADA took advantage of his damaged adversary by locking in the Skull End. After YH had seemingly faded from consciousness, SANADA ascended to the top rope and tried for a moonsault but found himself in the knees of YH.
With both men on equal footing, it was a struggle to find a finish. SANDA teased a second try for Skull End but instead was nearly rolled up by YH.
YH landed a double knee and secured a near fall. YH then landed Kharma and pinned SANADA in what must be considered an upset.
This match was nothing to write home about. Its shining moments featured YH’s determination to hold on, he truly is a gem.
G1 Climax B Block: KENTA defeated Zack Sabre Jr.
KENTA lured Sabre to the ground by giving up his guard in the opening moments. Sabre unsurprisingly came out on top, triggering KENTA stalling. Sabre returned KENTA’s favor this time, but instead of engaging in grappling, KENTA took to striking his prone opponent. KENTA kicked Sabre inside the ring and out before Sabre caught a kick and nearly submitted KENTA.
Sabre then took time to kick at a downed KENTA, an action that KENTA mimicked after withstanding the storm. Sabre and KENTA traded blows for a while, with noting feeling meaningful. KENTA eventually landed a flying forearm and a fisherman buster before returning to the mat. More striking followed their rise
A KENTA lariat left him in control long enough to land a hangman’s DDT which he followed with a pair of dropkicks. KENTA rose to the top rope and landed a double foot stomp and a near fall. A running knee resulted in another two count.
Sabre resisted as KENTA tried for the GTS. KENTA dropped Sabre with a chop but was caught by Sabre as he attempted to follow up. A ground struggle favoring Sabre followed. Sabre tried for a quick pin and some strikes but a surprise knee from KENA led into the GTS which Sabre did not kick out from.
This match’s luster was outweighed so much by its pacing that it’s hard to forgive. It was slow. Both men’s striking and groundwork felt like filler instead of a logical progression to a finish. When the finish finally came there was no feeling, no emotion, just a change in standings.
G1 Climax B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Juice Robinson
Tanahashi and Robinson had a feeling out that did nothing more than to reassure viewers of both men’s charisma. Robinson gained a leg up early as he landed a backdrop which he followed with a full nelson. Tanahashi fought out but Robinson reasserted his lead with a headbutt to the upper back of Tanahashi. It took a quick dropkick for Tanahashi to start playing catchup.
Enter Tanahashi dragon screws. After two leg whips, Tanahashi tried for the cloverleaf but an aware Robinson rolled Tanahashi up, nearly pinning him. Robinson then hit the stunned Tanahashi with a spine buster and a flurry of strikes. Robinson tried for a standing suplex but left himself open for another dragon screw, this time of the neck variety. Robinson did not let this set him back for long as he regained the full nelson and landed a lariat mere moments later. Robinson set up in the corner and landed the cannonball.
Tanahashi was positioned on the top rope where a struggle ensued. Robinson held on to his lead, landing a super-standing suplex followed immediately by a mat-bound standing suplex. Down come the straps of Robinson’s tank top just in time for a Tanahashi sling blade. After a second sling blade, Tanahashi tried for a pin. After Robinson kicked out, Tanahashi tried for a crossbody but found himself being pinned after Robinson rolled through it.
A strong strike from Robinson nearly left him the victor but Tanahashi’s limp body forced him to lean in too far. Instead of Robinson following up, Tanahashi rolled Robinson up and commandeered his first block victory.
A very fun watch with tons of energy. A perfect collision of character that left everything else on the card feeling gray by comparison.
G1 Climax B Block: Toru Yano defeated EVIL
Yano’s antics started as soon as the bell sounded. The turnbuckle padding was immediately removed from every corner and subsequently used as a weapon by EVIL. Dick Togo tried to interfere on behalf of EVIL but was taped to the barricade as soon as Yano was given the chance. Yano tried to do the same to EVIL but was forced to re-enter the ring as the 20 count inched near.
EVIL landed multiple Irish whips into the exposed buckle after returning to the ring. Yano returned the favor. Before Yano could follow up, Togo revealed he was free from Yano’s trap. Togo extended the turnbuckle padding just in time to save the back of EVIL. EVIL was then aided as Togo distracted the referee long enough for an EVIL eye rake and a low blow. Yano was seemingly unbothered and landed a low blow of his own.
Togo hit a low blow on Yano but Yano immediately returned the favor. Yano again hit EVIL in the nether regions before rolling him up for the win.
A Yano match bell to bell — after all, what else could it be? Yano’s continual B Block dominance is an interesting road to a horizonal cliff.
G1 Climax 30 B Block: Tetsuya Naito defeated Hirooki Goto
Goto took to a headlock as soon as the bell sounded. After fighting free, Naito turned his attention to the taped shoulder of Goto, whipping it downwards. Goto retreated to the outside where he fell victim to Naito’s malice. After being whipped shoulder first into the barricade Goto was choked against the blue steel.
Once the contents returned to the ring, Naito continued to target the shoulder. A neckbreaker with a slight tilt left Goto to crash against the same shoulder. Naito strikes seemed to hit Goto’s shoulder without fail. At every turn, Naito had one target in mind.
After ducking an elbow, Goto landed a backdrop to reset the match. He took advantage with a bulldog but soon after was again on the receiving end of Naito’s targeting. Goto’s resistance was proving to be futile as Naito went after that elbow.
Naito drove Goto back-first into the corner before ascending to the top rope. Goto was able to stun Naito during his ascent, leading to a top rope standing suplex that reset the match in his favor.
Goto took to the skies with a plancha before landing an elbow drop on Naito. Goto’s offense was not enough however as a well-placed kick from a dazed Naito left Goto reeling.
Naito was able to regain control with a simple strike and further his lead with a barrage of elbows to the shoulder. Naito moved his attention further up as his strikes were soon finding the side of Goto’s head. A top rope frankensteiner cemented Naito’s change in target.
Naito had victory in his sight when he tried for Destino. Goto was able to catch Naito in the middle of his finish and prevent doom. Goto had a brief offensive stint before lifting Naito into the fireman’s carry. Naito fell from the carry driving Goto into the mat at the same time.
A last-ditch strike exchange left both men winded. Naito tried for a slam of sorts but instead was reversed into a ushigoroshi. Goto slowly lifted Naito to his feet and was hit with a surprise Destino. During Naito’s attempt for another Goto reversed, driving Naito to the mat.
A well-placed kick found the chest of Naito. Naito was lifted back to his feet but he reversed Goto with Valentia. Naito then landed another Destino and pinned Goto for the win.
A very good match. Goto was excellent playing from underneath. Likewise, Naito being anything short of commanding would have been out of place. The execution was fantastic as well. This without question was the best match of the night.
The participants and blocks for this year’s G1 Climax tournament has been announced.
The biggest news coming from the announcement is that several wrestlers who have been unable to travel to Japan due to COVID-19 restrictions have made it in for the tournament. The tour will be the first in months for the likes of Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, Jay White, KENTA, and Juice Robinson.
KENTA, Cobb, and White have been working shows for New Japan of America, namely the New Japan Strong shows that have aired over the summer.
It also cements several rematches from recent high profile feuds. EVIL and Tetsuya Naito, who just headlined Summer Struggle in Jingu, share the same block. Kazuchika Okada and Yujiro Takahashi are also in the same block and have been feuding for the last several months.
Here are the blocks and participants in this year’s tournament:
A Block:
Kota Ibushi
Tomohiro Ishii
Kazuchika Okada
Shingo Takagi
Yujiro Takahashi
Taichi
Minoru Suzuki
Jeff Cobb
Will Ospreay
Jay White
B Block:
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Hirooki Goto
Toru Yano
YOSHI-HASHI
SANADA
Tetsuya Naito
EVIL
Zack Sabre Jr.
Juice Robinson
KENTA
The G1 Climax tournament this year will start on September 19, with the finals taking place at Sumo Hall on October 18.
NJPW’s NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team title tournament is down to its final two teams.
It will be an all-Chaos final as Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano & SHO face off with their stablemates Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI to determine the new NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions. The match is taking place at NJPW’s Summer Struggle show at Korakuen Hall on Sunday (August 9).
Okada, Yano & SHO advanced to the finals by defeating SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI at today’s Summer Struggle event. They won by countout after Yano tied the laces of BUSHI’s mask to the barricade.
Ishii, Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi & Master Wato in today’s main event to advance to the finals.
In the first round of the tournament, Okada, Yano & SHO defeated Yujiro Takahashi, Gedo & Jado and Ishii, Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Ryusuke Taguchi.
The NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles were declared vacant after EVIL left Los Ingobernables de Japon and joined Bullet Club. He had held the titles with Shingo & BUSHI.
Sunday’s Summer Struggle show will begin at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.
New Japan Cup second round match: YOSHI-HASHI defeated BUSHI (10:22)
This was a solid opener marred by an apparent injury to YH’s right knee.
BUSHI attacked YH as he posed on the turnbuckle during his entrance. BUSHI choked YH with his t-shirt. YH came back with a shoulder block and a series of strikes and chops in the corner. YH no-sold a series of strikes.
YH appeared to tweak his knee as BUSHI blocked a charge into the corner. YH slid on the mat as he planted his feet and his right knee gave out. He continued working with a notable limp and the referee checked in on him for the rest of the match.
BUSHI hit a suicide dive and a draping DDT on the apron. BUSHI hit a swinging neckbreaker for a near fall. BUSHI called for the MX but YH caught him coming off the buckle with a lariat. YH hit a second lariat for a near fall.
YH used the butterfly lock. They did a long submission tease but BUSHI forced a rope break. BUSHI used a backslide with a weird bridge for a two count.
The finish saw YH slide out of a fireman’s carry and hit Karma for the pin.
New Japan Cup second round match: SANADA defeated SHO (14:43)
This was very good.
SHO has put on some mass with all of it residing in his quads and his biceps.
They started with chain wrestling. SHO got a cross armbreaker but SANADA forced a break. SHO wrenched on SANADA’s left arm. He slammed it on the top rope and used a wristlock around the post.
SANADA came back with a dropkick to the back on the apron. SANADA barred the left knee but SHO reached the ropes. SANADA no-sold some strikes and kicked at the left knee as he found his point of attack.
SHO came back with a spear and a dropkick. He went back to the armbar but SANADA forced a break. SANADA tried his leapfrog dropkick but SHO caught him with a German and went back to the armbar. SHO transitioned to a triangle and SANADA broke the hold with a powerbomb.
SHO hit a power breaker. He went for Shock Arrow but SANADA blocked. SANADA landed on his feet off a German attempt. SANADA used a TKO threat to transition to Skull End. SHO reversed and used a cradle for a two count.
SHO used a kimura. SANADA rolled through into Skull End. SHO reversed into a wheelbarrow German with a bridge for a near fall. SHO fired up.
SHO again went for Shock Arrow. SANADA blocked and got Skull End. SHO escaped and tried Shock Arrow again. SANADA blocked and hit a spinning Skull End. SHO escaped.
The finish saw SANADA tease a moonsault press. Instead he landed on his feet on the moonsault and locked in Skull End again. SHO tapped.
Hiromu and Yano continued their comedy series here. Yano pulled a bag of Hiromu’s hair clippings out of his tights as they faced off.
Shingo and Tsuji started the match for real. Tsuji was quickly cut off. Shingo and Naito worked Tsuji over. Tsuji came back with a dropkick to Naito.
Hiromu and Ishii tagged in and business picked up. Ishii was tremendous in selling like he wasn’t taking Hiromu seriously as they first engaged. Hiromu made him a believer after a series of signature spots. Ishii fired up and they traded strikes. Hiromu hit a brainbuster. Ishii hit a backdrop suplex.
With Hiromu down, Tsuji tagged back in. He used a variation on a guillotine which looked nasty on Hiromu’s surgically repaired neck. Everyone jumped in. Yano took Shingo and Naito down with hair pulls.
Tsuji went for a crab but Hiromu blocked. LIJ went three-on-one on Tsuji. Naito and Hiromu hit stereo dropkicks for a near fall.
The finish saw Hiromu go for a crab. Tsuji blocked. Hiromu hit a superkick and went back to the crab and Tsuji tapped.
Ishii and Hiromu faced off after the match. They face each other in a tournament match tomorrow. That match is going to rule.
Hiromu also stared down Naito before finally participating in the LIJ fist bump. Was that foreshadowing the Cup final? That match is also going to rule.
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Way to the Grandmaster video and cleaning intermission time.
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New Japan Cup second round match: Taichi (w/ Zack Sabre, Jr.) defeated Kota Ibushi (w/ Hiroshi Tanahashi) (18:08)
There was some good action here but I’m going to stop short of recommending it given the screwy finish.
If you get nauseous watching head drops this was not the match for you.
Sabre tripped Ibushi from the floor early on. Taichi took the ref and Sabre pounded on Ibushi on the outside. Taichi beat Ibushi around the arena and choked him with camera cables. Ibushi made a comeback as the action returned to the ring and used a standing shooting star for a near fall.
They traded hard kicks. Ibushi sold a roundhouse kick big. Ibushi hit a sick Pele kick but sold his neck on landing. Ibushi hit a backdrop suplex for a two count and Ibushi sold his neck again.
Taichi removed his pants. Taichi hit an axe bomber. Ibushi answered with his own lariat. Each tried a last ride but both escaped. Ibushi hit a high kick. Ibushi then connected with a last ride for a two count.
Ibushi teased a Kamigoye. Sabre took the referee. Taichi hit a low blow and used a Gedo clutch for a near fall. Tanahashi tried to fire Ibushi up.
Ibushi missed a charge into the corner. Taichi hit a jumping high kick and a sick backdrop suplex that dropped Ibushi on his head. They traded high kicks into a double down.
Ibushi blocked a buzzsaw kick. He teased sending Taichi into the buckle like a lawn dart but settled for a nasty spike package piledriver instead. Ibushi again went for Kamigoye but Taichi pulled the referee in his path. The ref took a bump and fell out of the ring.
Sabre jumped in and hit Ibushi with strikes. He went for a Zack Driver but Tanahashi saved. Tanahashi hit Sabre with twist and shout and they brawled to the back.
With the ref still down, Taichi hit Ibushi with the iron glove. Taichi then hit Black Mephisto for the pin.
Taichi posed with Ibushi and Tanahashi’s tag titles after the match.
They’re serving two masters by simultaneously pushing Taichi as a serious threat to win the cup and also going so hard in the direction of Sabre and Taichi vs. Tanahashi and Ibushi. That’s not a criticism, it’s just an interesting strategy worth noting.
New Japan Cup second round match: EVIL defeated Hirooki Goto (18:25)
This was a hard-hitting main event. They protected Goto on the finish and established that EVIL will cheat to win if he has to.
EVIL stood blocking the ring steps after his entrance, waiting for Goto to appear. Goto entered and they brawled all over the building before they ever set foot in the ring. That was a creative start.
The brawl continued in the ring. Goto hit a big kick before going to a chinlock. Goto has been going to that chinlock early in all of his recent matches. Goto hit some more strikes. EVIL came back with a lariat that sent Goto over the top to the floor.
EVIL sent Goto into the barricade before Pillman-izing Goto’s arm against the post. Back inside, EVIL used a chinlock. EVIL hit a shoulder tackle. Goto escaped a brainbuster and hit a misdirection lariat.
Goto hit a Saito suplex for a near fall. EVIL answered by taking Goto to the mat with a hair pull. EVIL hit a seated senton in the corner for a two count. They did an awesome series of misdirection spots that ended with Goto hitting an ushigoroshi.
They traded strikes. Each fought for a suplex. Goto hit a rolling elbow and an inverted GTR for a two count. Goto hit a series of mid kicks. EVIL caught a kick and hit a German. Goto no-sold it and they hit simultaneous lariats. Goto hit a lariat for a near fall.
Goto went for a GTR. EVIL blocked and hit a counter elbow to the orbital bone. EVIL hit a fisherman buster for a two count just past the 15-minute mark.
EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. EVIL called for Everything is EVIL but Goto blocked. They did a series of counters ending with Goto hitting a headbutt.
Goto hit a mid kick and a GTW but EVIL kicked out. Goto went for a GTR but EVIL shoved him off into the referee. The ref took a bump. EVIL hit a lariat and a low blow before reviving the ref. EVIL covered for a two count.
EVIL then hit Everything is EVIL for the pin.
EVIL closed the show with a promo.
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So the quarterfinals are now set. Here are the matches:
NJPW’s Road to the New Beginning tour continued today in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
A NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team title match headlined, while opponents for Sunday’s New Beginning in Osaka show squared off in tag matches underneath.
Here are full results and match recaps:
YUYA UEMURA DEFEATED YOTA TSUJI
Tsuji’s right shoulder was heavily taped. Uemura took most of the match, working over the injured shoulder. Lots of ground work. Solid technical wrestling on display here in the opener.
Uemura used a crab, but Tsuji forced a break. Tsuji got the best of a striking exchange, then continued firing strikes with a grounded Uemura in the ropes.
Tsuji hit the ropes, but ran right into a dropkick. Uemura tried an underhook suplex, Tsuji blocked. Uemura hit the underhook suplex into a bridge on the second attempt for the pin.
EL PHANTASMO DEFEATED GABRIEL KIDD
This was similar to the match these two had last weekend. The two have wrestled before in the U.K. and have good chemistry. ELP gave Kidd a lot more offense than a Young Lion would typically get against a veteran.
Kidd scored a knockdown after a drop down and leapfrog sequence. ELP went to work on Kidd’s back and groin with his comedy stomps and back raking. Kidd came back and hit a dropkick and hit some stomps in the corner.
ELP cut Kidd off with a superkick, then hit a frog splash. ELP had Kidd pinned, but pulled him up after a two count, opting to try for his CR2 instead. Kidd used a jackknife cover for a two count, then an inside cradle for another near fall.
ELP then hit an enzuigiri and used the CR2 for the pin. This was an entertaining variation on the typical Young Lion squash.
These old guys (and Henare) went out there and tried to have the best eight minute undercard tag match of all time. The effort was there. Henare was the only guy who didn’t hit a move off the turnbuckles.
Nakanishi and Henare started out by locking up, then trading strikes. Henare tried to put Nakanishi in his own Argentinian Backbreaker, but Nakanishi fought it off, then hit a spear. Both tagged out.
Tenzan and Honma squared off. Tenzan hit Mongolian chops. Nakanishi entered for an illegal double team. He took a swing at Henare on the apron and hit the referee, who took half a bump. Tenzan hit a kokeshi to Honma. Nakanishi hit a spear.
Honma managed a tag to Henare, who used a slam on Tenzan for a two count. Henare hit Mongolian chops to Tenzan. Tenzan came back with a wheel kick, then tagged Nakanishi.
Nakanishi used a short-arm lariat on Henare, then another lariat for a near fall. Nakanishi put Henare in the Argentinian Backbreaker. Honma jumped in to break it up. Henare hit Nakanishi with a vertical suplex.
Honma and Tenzan tagged back in. Honma ducked a lariat and hit a tackle. Honma hit chops, a bulldog, then a kokeshi. Henare entered for a double team. Honma and Henare hit a combination kokeshi/leg sweep for a near fall.
Nakanishi and Henare brawled on the floor. Honma missed a kokeshi off the second rope and sold his neck. Nakanishi jumped in and hit Honma with a lariat. Nakanishi hit a chop off the top rope to Honma. Tenzan then hit a MOONSAULT to Honma for the pin.
WILL OSPREAY, SHO & YOH DEFEATED ZACK SABRE JR., EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU BY DQ
SHO and YOH defend the Jr. Heavyweight Tag titles against Despy and Kanemaru on Sunday, so the story here was that Kanemaru and Desperado wanted to soften up their opponents.
They had a great brawl, which is probably not what you would expect with these teams. Sabre and Ospreay had a great technical wrestling sequence as well.
Ospreay, SHO and YOH hit stereo pescados just before the opening bell. Ospreay dragged Sabre into the crowd and rammed him into the famed EAST sign.
In the ring, YOH went to work on Kanemaru with strikes. Ospreay got a tag and hit a slam for a near fall. Sabre made it back to the ring and the match broke down into a brawl around ringside. When the dust cleared, Suzuki-gun was in charge, working over SHO’s left leg.
After a lengthy beatdown of SHO, Ospreay and Sabre tagged in. They had a great mat wrestling sequence, trading cradles and clutches for near falls.
YOH and Desperado tagged in and had an intense exchange of slaps and strikes. YOH teased a dragon suplex, but then hit a bridging German for a near fall. YOH went for a falcon arrow. Desperado slipped behind, then hit a misdirection spear.
SHO and Ospreay jumped in to save YOH. Ospreay hit a mid kick and a standing corkscrew moonsault for a near fall, with Kanemaru and Sabre saving.
SHO and YOH hit stereo knees on Desperado. They tuned up the band for the 3K, but Kanemaru jumped in and spit whiskey in YOH’s eyes. Desperado then used a chair on SHO for the DQ.
Ospreay ran in and cleared the ring. He kicked a chair into Desperado, then kicked Sabre off the apron. Sabre tried to run back in and hit Ospreay with a chair, but Ospreay blocked and hit a high kick.
Suzuki-gun used their standard attack before the opening bell. They brawled around ringside and into the crowd. Taichi used a chair on Okada. Makabe was the legal man. They teased a countout, but Makabe made it back in.
Taichi choked Makabe. Suzuki tagged in and teased a Gotch-style piledriver. Makabe escaped and hit a lariat. Okada got a tag. He laid out Taichi with a DDT, then hit an interfering DOUKI with a flapjack.
Okada missed a Woo dropkick. Taichi answered with a backdrop suplex. Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick for a near fall. Okada escaped a powerbomb attempt and hit a dropkick. Taguchi got a tag and hit a hip attack, then pulled Taichi’s tear-away pants off. Just a tremendous spot.
DOUKI got a tag. Suzuki assisted with a double team. DOUKI hit a springboard double stomp for a near fall. Makabe jumped in and hit a double lariat. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick to Taichi on the apron.
DOUKI went for suplex de la luna, but Taguchi used a victory roll for a near fall. Taguchi hit a Bomaye, then used Dodon for the pin.
Suzuki went after the ringside attendants with a chair after the match.
TETSUYA NAITO, SANADA & HIROMU TAKAHASHI DEFEATED KENTA, JAY WHITE & TAIJI ISHIMORI
KENTA and Naito began. KENTA stalled. White attacked Naito from behind, Bullet Club cleared the opposing apron, then stomped Naito down in the ring. They then took the fight into the crowd. Back inside, Ishimori used a neck crank on Naito.
White got a tag and took Naito back outside, where he repeatedly rammed him into the barricade and the ring frame. KENTA got a tag and hit some stomps, then a draping DDT. This was kind of a night off for Naito, as he just laid on the mat and took some stomps most of the way.
KENTA missed a double stomp off the top. SANADA and white got tags. SANADA put Gedo in the paradise lock on the floor. SANADA sent White into the guardrail. Back inside, he tried for the paradise lock on White, but Switchblade blocked.
White pulled SANADA down by the hair, then hit some stomps. White hit a death valley driver for a near fall. White and SANADA did a series of TKO and Blade Buster teases before tagging Ishimori and Hiromu.
Ishimori tried a handspring kick. Hiromu blocked and hit a German, but Ishimori landed on his feet, then hit the handspring kick. White jumped in and hit a Blade Buster. Ishimori covered for a near fall.
KENTA, Naito, White and SANADA brawled to the floor. Ishimori hit Hiromu with a knee strike. Hiromu answered with an overhead throw into the buckle, then tagged Naito. Naito hit a top rope frankensteiner for a near fall.
Naito tried a Destino. KENTA cut him off. SANADA cleared the ring, then LIJ hit a triple dropkick to Ishimori. Naito hit Gloria, then used Destino for the pin on Ishimori.
White and SANADA looked good here, and Ishimori and Hiromu kicked the match into a higher gear near the finish. KENTA and Naito took it relatively easy ahead of their match Sunday.
NEVER OPENWEIGHT SIX-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI, EVIL & BUSHI DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO, TOMOHIRO ISHII & ROBBIE EAGLES TO RETAIN THE TITLES
This was all action from the opening bell. A great main event.
Ishii and EVIL were nominally the legal men, but all six guys jumped in and traded spots in the opening minute. The challengers went three-on-one against EVIL.
Eagles got a tag and hit EVIL with chops and a leg kick. Shingo cut Eagles off from the apron, and LIJ established a three-on-one. Shingo and Ishii fought into the crowd. EVIL worked over Eagles. BUSHI got a tag and continued the work, hitting a missile dropkick.
BUSHI choked Eagles with his t-shirt, then used the shirt to hit a neckbreaker. EVIL tagged in and knocked Goto off the apron, then hit Eagles with his bronco buster senton. Kevin Kelly always calls it a bronco buster, but it’s really more of a seated senton in the corner than a traditional bronco buster.
Shingo tagged in and teased Last of the Dragon. Eagles fought it off, hit a leg lariat, then tagged Ishii. Shingo cut Ishii off before he could even climb into the ring. He caught his leg on the rope, then sold his taped left knee.
Ishii fired up. Shingo and Ishii traded strikes. Ishii killed Shingo with a forearm to the face, then hit a series of forearm strikes to the back of Shingo’s neck. Shingo no-sold a powerslam and hit a lariat.
EVIL got a tag and hit a corner clothesline. Ishii blocked a Darkness Falls attempt and hit a vertical suplex. Goto got a tag. BUSHI and Eagles jumped in. Both sides teased a double suplex, with Goto and Eagles finally hitting one.
Goto used a Saito suplex on EVIL for a near fall. EVIL blocked an ushigoroshi and hit a draping stomp. Goto blocked Darkness Falls. They did a great series of misdirection spots, ending with Goto hitting a lariat.
LIJ jumped in for a triple team. Eagles and Ishii saved. BUSHI hit a tope suicida to Eagles at the fifteen minute call.
EVIL and Goto teased their finishers. EVIL hit the ropes and ran into an ushigoroshi. Ishii then hit a sliding lariat. Goto and Ishii teamed up for an elevated GTR on EVIL for a near fall. Shingo entered and got hit with an Ishii headbutt.
Goto hit EVIL with a mid kick. He tried a GTR, but EVIL reversed it into Darkness Falls. BUSHI and Eagles tagged in for what looked to be the closing sequence.
Eagles hit an elbow strike to BUSHI’s head. Shingo and Ishii entered. Shingo hit a double lariat to Eagles and Ishii. BUSHI hit a backstabber for a near fall on Eagles. Eagles hit a tope suicida to BUSHI. Goto and Ishii hit stereo ushigoroshis on EVIL and Shingo.
Eagles hit a dropkick to BUSHI’s leg. He tried the Ron Miller Special. BUSHI reversed into a cradle for a near fall. Eagles hit Turbo Backpack for another two count.
Eagles locked on the Ron Miller Special. Shingo broke it up with a sliding lariat. EVIL, Shingo, Ishii and Goto jumped in and traded a crazy series of clotheslines at the twenty minute call, ending with all four down on the mat, then rolling outside.
BUSHI hit Eagles with a neckbreaker. He went for MX. Eagles caught him and hit a codebreaker. Eagles hit a 450 to BUSHI’s leg, then locked him in the Ron Miller Special. BUSHI rolled Eagles over, spit black mist in his face, then used an inside cradle for a near fall.
With Eagles blinded by the mist, BUSHI then hit an MX for the pin.
Toru Yano and Ryusuke Taguchi ran in after the match and stole the title belts. Ishii then grabbed the NEVER Openweight belt and challenged Shingo to defend it against him next. Shingo agreed. Hopefully Ishii gets some time to heal up, as those two had a match of the year in G1 last year.
BUSHI cut a promo to close the show. He said they won, but they don’t have the belts, but they’re still the champs.
The first of three NJPW New Beginning shows begin tonight in Hokkaido.
Hirooki Goto will defend the NEVER Openweight championship in the main event against Shingo Takagi. The two faced off twice last year, scoring one win each. Shingo picked up a win during the G1 Climax tournament while Goto got the win in their rematch a month later at Destruction in Kobe.
The co-main event will be a special singles match between Tomohiro Ishii and EVIL. The two started a feud during the pre-show of Wrestle Kingdom 14, when the two brawled following a gauntlet match.
Jon Moxley and Kauchika Okada will team up for the first time in the undercard, taking on Minoru Suzuki and Taichi in a tag match. Okada and Taichi will headline tomorrow’s show, also in Hokkaido.
Tetsuya Naito and SANADA will also team up, taking on future opponents Jay White and KENTA.
Join us for live coverage starting at 4:00 a.m. EST
Uemura and ELP began. Uemura got some brief shine before ELP cut him off. ELP and Ishimori went to work with their comedy back rakes and crotch stomps. ELP worked a chinlock. Uemura hit a dropkick and tagged out.
Tiger hit a crossbody off the top to ELP, a dropkick to the apron on Ishimori, then grabbed a kneebar on ELP. Tiger used a crucifix for a near fall on ELP with Ishimori saving for his partner.
Tiger hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Uemura entered for a double team. Tiger hit a Tiger Driver, then Uemura locked on a crab. ELP reached the bottom rope for a break.
Uemura hit a release belly-to-belly for a near fall. Ishimori jumped in, allowing ELP to hit a superkick. Ishimori tagged in and ELP and Ishimori hit stereo superkicks for a near fall.
Ishimori went for the Bloody Cross. Uemura blocked and used a small package for a two count. Uemura used a cradle for another near fall. Ishimori hit a jumping knee strike, then used the Yes Lock for the submission win over Uemura.
This was a solid opener. ELP and Ishimori are so good that I get frustrated with their comedy offense, knowing they are capable of so much more.
Henare and Nakanishi started off, trading strikes. Henare bounced around for Nakanishi, jumping into a shoulder tackle. Nakanishi missed a splash and sold his knees. Honma tagged in and worked on Nakanishi’s left leg. Makabe got a tag and continued to attack the left leg.
Honma ducked under a lariat, then ran into a Nakanishi spear. Nakanishi tagged Tenzan, who hit Honma with chops and a brainbuster. Tenzan hit a wheel kick for a two count. Honma hit a diving kokeshi into a double down.
Makabe got a tag and hit ten punches in the corner on Tenzan. Tenzan came back with a mountain bomb. Henare and Tsuji tagged in. Tsuji locked on a full Boston crab.
The match broke down and all six men jumped in. Nakanishi used the Argentinian rack on Makabe. Tenzan used the Anaconda Vice on Honma. Henare fought to the ropes, forcing Tsuji to break the crab.
Tsuji peppered Henare with forearm strikes. Henare came back with an elbow strike and a tackle for a two count. The other four brawled to the floor. Tsuji blocked a Toa Bottom. Henare hit a lariat, then hit the Toa Bottom for the pin.
This wasn’t about match quality, it was about letting Nakanishi have some ring time as the final month of his career kicks off. Take it for what it is and on to the next.
WILL OSPREAY, SHO, YOH & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED ZACK SABRE JR., EL DESPERADO, YOSHINOBU KANEMARU & DOUKI
This was pure chaos from before the opening bell. A fine match, all action.
Suzuki-gun tried an attack before the bell. A brawl broke out around ringside. Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio off the barricade to Sabre. SHO, YOH and Taguchi went after Kanemaru in the ring. Kanemaru made a comeback and another brawl broke out. Sabre went after Ospreay on the ramp. Kanemaru hit a leg slice over the barricade.
When order was restored, Suzuki-gun established control of the match in the ring, working over SHO. DOUKI used a slam. SHO fired back with forearm shots. DOUKI raked the eyes and forced SHO into the blue corner, where Suzuki-gun continued to pummel SHO.
SHO hit a spear to Sabre, then tagged Ospreay. Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio, fought off DOUKI, then hit a handspring kick to Sabre for a near fall. Sabre blocked a cheeky Nando’s kick. Ospreay blocked an octopus. Sabre tied Ospreay up on the mat, but YOH saved.
Ospreay hit a tiger wall flip kick. Taguchi and DOUKI tagged in. Taguchi got cut off after missing a springboard hip attack into the ring. DOUKI hit a springboard double stomp for a two count, with SHO and YOH saving.
DOUKI hit his Daybreak springboard DDT for a near fall. He teased Suplex de la Luna, but Taguchi dropped into a cradle for a two count.
Everyone jumped in as the match broke down. SHO hit a baseball slide. YOH hit a plancha. Taguchi ducked a steel pipe shot from DOUKI, then hit a Bomaye for a two count. The finish saw Taguchi hit Dodon on DOUKI for the pin.
Ospreay posed with Sabre’s RPW British Heavyweight title after the match. SHO and YOH faced off with Desperado and Kanemaru as well.
RYU LEE & ROBBIE EAGLES DEFEATED HIROMU TAKAHASHI & BUSHI
This was crazy good.
Lee and Hiromu began with a palm strike battle. Lee teased a tope con giro. Hiromu backed away, so Lee hit a handstand on the apron, bounced to the floor, then sent Hiromu into the barricade. An unreal opening sequence.
Eagles tagged in and hit a dropkick. BUSHI jumped in to save Hiromu. The match broke down into a brawl, which saw BUSHI and Hiromu establish the advantage. Back inside, BUSHI used a neckbreaker on Eagles for a two count.
Hiromu hit a series of corner clotheslines, then used a basement dropkick on Eagles for a two count. BUSHI and Hiromu doubled up on Eagles. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick. Lee tried to interfere and was quickly dispensed with.
BUSHI used an STF on Eagles. Eagles forced a rope break. Eagles hit a leg lariat and tagged Lee, who mocked LIJ by hitting Naito’s combinacion cabron and spitting on Hiromu. Lee hit a Shibata dropkick for a two count.
Hiromu hit a wheelbarrow German. Lee hit a German, but Hiromu landed on his feet, then hit a German on Lee into the corner pad.
Eagles and BUSHI tagged in. Eagles attacked BUSHI’s left leg with kicks. Eagles missed a meteora in the corner. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick. BUSHI hit a tope suicida to Lee for good measure.
BUSHI and Hiromu used a tandem wheelbarrow for a two count as Lee saved. Lee and Hiromu brawled to the floor. BUSHI tried a codebreaker. Eagles blocked and hit Turbo Backpack for a near fall.
Eagles used the Miller Special on BUSHI. Lee hit a tope con giro to Hiromu. BUSHI verbally submitted to Eagles.
KENTA & JAY WHITE DEFEATED TETSUYA NAITO & SANADA
I think there are two schools of thought when it comes to KENTA right now. You likely either think he’s doing great heel work, or you think he’s on the boring side and can’t go at the level of the top in-ring performers in NJPW. I tend to think the latter. I thought this was quite dull.
Naito began for his team. KENTA and White did a bunch of stalling. Naito knocked White off the apron, tossed KENTA outside, then hit his pose. Then it was Naito’s turn to stall. White and SANADA tagged in. Gedo twice tried interfering from the floor. SANADA avoided his trips, but KENTA used the distraction to jump in.
KENTA and White turned it into a brawl around the arena. KENTA hit a DDT in the aisle on Naito. White sent SANADA into the barricade. Back inside, KENTA used a back elbow on SANADA for a one count.
White got a tag and used a chinlock. SANADA missed a standing moonsault. White hit a legdrop for a two count. KENTA worked on SANADA in as dull a manner as possible. SANADA came back with a dropkick off the second rope, then tagged Naito.
Naito showed good fire as he hit a headscissors takeover and a dropkick to KENTA. Naito used a neckbreaker, then a crucifix hold with his legs. KENTA reached the ropes for a break. KENTA hit a powerslam.
KENTA hit a clothesline off the top rope for a two count. He teased a G2S, but Naito slid out. KENTA hit a draping DDT for a near fall. KENTA missed a pump kick. Naito escaped another G2S attempt. KENTA hit a German. Naito answered with a spinebuster.
SANADA and White got tags. SANADA hit a dropkick to the knee, sending White rolling to the floor. SANADA hit a plancha. Back inside, SANADA tried a paradise lock. White fought it off. White escaped a TKO attempt, then dragged SANADA down by the hair.
White hit a DDT for a two count. SANADA blocked a uranage. White hit a snap Saito suplex, then used a Blade Buster for a two count. Naito and KENTA jumped in. Naito hit a one-legged dropkick to White, then a dropkick to KENTA.
Gedo tried to climb in with a chair, but SANADA crotched him on the middle rope. SANADA and White teased their finishers. White used a cradle for a near fall.
They did another series of finisher teases. SANADA used a roll-up with the tights for a two count. White shoved him off into the ropes, where Gedo hit SANADA with a chair. White then used a schoolboy with a handful of tights for the pin.
TAICHI & MINORU SUZUKI DEFEATED KAZUCHIKA OKADA & JON MOXLEY
This was an awesome brawl.
Moxley wore an eye patch, selling his AEW angle.
Okada and Moxley entered the ring at the same time and went after Taichi and Suzuki before the bell. Okada and Taichi rolled outside, leaving Moxley and Suzuki to trade shots in the ring. They had an intense striking exchange. Suzuki then went after Moxley’s fingers.
Taichi tagged in and Moxley sent him back into the corner, then tagged Okada. Okada hit a low dropkick. The pace slowed as Taichi and Okada squared off. They traded strikes. Taichi hit some leg kicks. Taichi hit a backdrop suplex.
On the floor, Suzuki went after Moxley with a chair. Suzuki dragged Moxley into the crowd. Taichi then sent Okada outside. Okada got whipped into a row of seats. Suzuki hit Moxley with chairs and pieces of the security fence. Suzuki and Moxley dueled with pieces of the barricade.
Back inside, Taichi used a couple of holds on Okada, as the focus was on Moxley and Suzuki outside. Suzuki made his way back to the ring and tagged in. Suzuki used a chinlock on Okada. Taichi tagged in and took his pants off.
Okada made a comeback on Taichi, hitting an air raid crash. Moxley and Suzuki tagged in. Moxley hit some knee strikes and a clothesline out of the corner. Moxley used a backbreaker for a two count.
Moxley tried a cloverleaf, then transitioned to an STF. Suzuki bit his way out of the hold. Moxley answered by biting Suzuki, then hitting a Regal knee for a two count.
Moxley set up a table on the floor. He teased a suplex from the apron but Suzuki used an armbar over the ropes. Suzuki locked on a cross armbreaker. Moxley forced a rope break.
Suzuki kicked at Moxley’s eye. Moxley hit a clothesline out of the corner. Moxley went for Death Rider, but Taichi saved. Okada jumped in. Taichi ducked a Rainmaker and avoided a dropkick. Taichi hit a back suplex to Okada. Moxley sent Taichi outside with a dropkick.
Moxley and Suzuki traded strikes. Moxley tried a Death Rider. Suzuki blocked, hit a couple of strikes, then applied a sleeper hold. Suzuki hit a Gotch-style piledriver and pinned Moxley.
After the bell, Taichi choked out Okada with a camera cable. He then used his mic stand to attack the referee and the ringside Young Lions.
Taichi choked Okada with the stand, then pulled out the iron fingers. Okada ducked the fingers and hit two dropkicks. Okada went for a Rainmaker, but Zack Sabre Jr. ran in and used a rear naked choke on Okada. Taichi then hit Okada with the fingers.
Ospreay ran in. Sabre hit Ospreay with a Zack Driver. Taichi and Sabre stood over their fallen opponents ahead of their matches tomorrow.
Taichi then hit a Black Mephisto on Okada on the ramp, then locked him in the stretch plum. Taichi marched back to the ring and cut a promo. He said Okada’s beaten up, and he’s going to beat the hell out of him tomorrow, just as he did when Okada was a Young Lion.
TOMOHIRO ISHII DEFEATED EVIL
I had high hopes for this. The last five minutes were very good, but Ishii is clearly hurting and had to work a slower match than usual. They got the crowd into it at the end, which was no small feat, as either the crowd was poorly mic’ed, or dead for most of the night.
They exchanged shoulder tackle attempts, strikes, then misdirection spots. They brawled outside. Ishii hit EVIL with a chair on the outside. EVIL punched a chair into Ishii’s head. EVIL then wrapped a chair around Ishii’s neck, then sent him into the post.
The action returned to the ring. EVIL hit a neckbreaker for a two count, then used a chinlock. Ishii hit some chops, then EVIL dropped Ishii with a single chop. EVIL tried a vertical suplex, but Ishii reversed into his own suplex.
Ishii hit a tackle out of the corner, then used a series of chops to the throat. EVIL suplexed Ishii into the buckle. Ishii landed awkwardly on his head. Ishii rolled outside. EVIL placed a chair around his neck, then hit it with a second chair.
Ishii hit a clunky-looking neckbreaker. EVIL used Red Shoes as a base for a Magic Killer on Ishii. EVIL blocked an enziguri. Ishii ducked a lariat and hit a back suplex. Ishii followed with a superplex for a two count.
EVIL hit a series of strikes to Ishii’s neck, but Ishii no-sold. Ishii dropped EVIL with one shot to the neck, then hit a stacked-up powerbomb for a near fall. EVIL hit a lariat. Ishii hit a leg lariat and a clothesline for a near fall.
Ishii went for the Vertical Drop Brainbuster, but EVIL blocked. They traded knee strikes. EVIL blocked another brainbuster try and hit a lariat for a two count. EVIL hit a top rope superplex for a near fall.
Ishii blocked Everything is EVIL and hit a headbutt. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. Ishii reversed Everything is EVIL into a DDT, then hit a sliding lariat. Ishii hit a kick, then used another sliding lariat for another two count.
EVIL hit two half-and-half suplexes. Ishii hit a dragon suplex but EVIL no-sold it, then hit a headbutt. EVIL hit a lariat. Ishii kicked out at two.
They did a series of finisher teases and reversals. Ishii hit two lariats and scored a near fall. Ishii hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin.
NEVER OPENWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO TO WIN THE TITLE
This was a very physical match. Just an absolute strong style war. A very good match.
They began with a series of tackle attempts. Neither man could get a knockdown. Shingo scored with a strike, then missed a sliding lariat. Goto hit a tackle. They traded strikes in the corner, with Goto getting the better of it.
They traded corner clotheslines. Neither man went down on a series of lariat attempts. Shingo hit a straight right hand and dropped Goto with a lariat. Goto got clotheslined over the top rope. Shingo grabbed the title belt and taunted Goto, then posted him.
Shingo sent Goto into the barricade, dropped him face-first on the apron, then hit a DDT on the floor. Back inside, Shingo hit some chops. He used a brainbuster for a near fall. He taunted Goto with some short kicks. Goto answered with a lariat.
Goto hit a wheel kick in the corner. He tried a follow-up suplex, but Shingo blocked. Shino teased noshigami. Goto reversed into a vertical suplex for a two count. Shingo bounced off the ropes into a sleeper hold from Goto. Shingo broke the hold once, but Goto re-applied. Shingo powered out.
Shingo slid out of a sleeper attempt and hit noshigami. Shingo was bleeding near his left eye. Shingo hit a knee drop and a sliding lariat. Goto popped up and hit an ushigoroshi. They hit a series of simultaneous lariats, just pounding the hell out of each other.
They traded Saito suplexes. Shingo blocked a misdirection lariat and hit a jab. Goto answered with a lariat. They hit simultaneous lariats. Shingo stayed up, Goto went down. Goto sold as though he was woozy.
Shingo used an Irish whip, but Goto collapsed before he made it to the corner. Shingo hit a top rope death valley driver for a near fall. Goto was still selling like he was out of it. Shingo teased a superplex. Goto hit a kaiten for a two count.
Goto hit a series of knees and a draping GTR for a near fall. Shingo answered with his own draping GTR, then hit a lariat for a two count.
Goto blocked Last of the Dragon, then hit Shouten Kai for a near fall. Goto hit a PK. They traded headbutts, then a series of neck strikes. Goto hit a series of unanswered headbutts, then hit an inverted GTR. Goto went for another GTR, but Shingo blocked and hit Made in Japan for a near fall.
Shingo then hit a huge Last of the Dragon for the pin.
Shingo cut a promo after the win. He said this is just the first step in his goals, not the ultimate goal. He put over the NEVER title and said it’s just as good as the IWGP Heavyweight title. I mean, he shouldn’t bury the belt he just won, but, come on.
He said he’s going to tear it up with this title and the people will be with him. Confetti rained down as Shingo posed with the title.
SHO was on Japanese commentary for this match and had a brief staredown with Shingo as the new champ walked to the back to close the show.
Following King of Pro Wrestling, NJPW has made four matches official for Power Struggle.
Those matches are:
IWGP Intercontinental Champion Jay White defending against Hirooki Goto
NEVER Openweight Champion KENTA defending against Tomohiro Ishii
Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi
Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi
NJPW has been building to White vs. Goto since the aftermath of White winning the IWGP Intercontinental title from Naito at Destruction in Kobe last month. At King of Pro Wrestling, Goto, Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defeated White, KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi.
KENTA won the NEVER Openweight Championship from Ishii at Royal Quest in August.
Naito & Shingo Takagi defeated Taichi & DOUKI by disqualification at King of Pro Wrestling. Taichi laid out Naito after the match, then mocked him for losing the Intercontinental title and having his quest to become a double champion get derailed.
Taichi also defeated Naito in this year’s G1 Climax.
Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Ibushi & Tanahashi is part of the build to Okada defending his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Ibushi at Wrestle Kingdom 14 night one on January 4.
Power Struggle is taking place in Osaka, Japan on Sunday, November 3. The show will also feature the finals of this year’s Super Junior Tag League.
New Japan’s next stop on the G1 Climax 29 tour was in Fukuoka this morning, as we’re now on day twelve of the tournament. Today’s main event featured a brawl between CHAOS stablemates Tomohiro Ishii and Hirooki Goto.
Today’s preliminary matches:
Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi and Chase Owens defeated KENTA, Karl Fredricks and Clark Connors
– Owens defeated Fredricks with the package piledriver.
Minoru Suzuki and Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Lance Archer and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
– Sabre bridged Kanemaru for the victory.
Kota Ibushi, Tomoaki Honma and Toa Henare defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shota Umino and Ren Narita
– Henare pinned Narita with a uranage.
Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay and YOSHI-HASHI defeated SANADA, EVIL and BUSHI
– YOSHI-HASHI submitted BUSHI with the butterfly lock.
B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated Shingo Takagi
This was a great, well fought back and forth match, exactly the kind of match you want to have during this tournament. The last few minutes had some really great heat.
After getting the better of an early flurry of offense, Shingo cut off Cobb by clipping his leg. Cobb cut him off with an overhead suplex. Cobb followed that up reverse sidewalk slam and a standing moonsault.
Shingo cut him off and hit a big side suplex. He took him to the top, but Cobb grabbed him. Shingo kept him at bay and followed with a big superplex. The two then traded t-bone suplexes. The two trade offense until Shingo rails Cobb with the pumping bomber.
Cobb came back with his own lariat. Shingo went for a hurricanrana, but Cobb held on to him and flattened him with a powerbomb. He motioned for the tour of the islands, but Takagi collapsed. Shingo came back with a crucifix bomb then hit the Made in Japan for a near fall.
Shingo went for the last of the dragon, but Cobb cut him off and landed the Tour of the Islands for the win.
B Block: Toru Yano defeated Jon Moxley by count out
This was fine. I think most can accept this as a fluke loss as Yano’s gimmick is he gets these kind of surprise wins all the time.
Yano exited the ring before the match started and sprayed water on Moxley. He went to charge after him, but offered the DVD he tried to sell him on the last show, this time with ten thousand yen, a five thousand dollar increase Moxley kicked the DVD away as they started to brawl.
Yano low blowed Moxley as they were outside and tried to do the tape to the barricade routine, but Moxley got to him instead, with Yano getting in at 17. The two then grabbed the turnbuckles and started to fight with them. The referee took away the turnbuckle and Moxley got distracted, allowing Yano to low blow and roll him up for a nearfall.
Moxley set up a table, but as Moxley went towards him he grabbed Shota Umino and shoved him into Moxley, sending them both down. Yano got the tape and tied them together. Yano got into the ring late as the referee counted Moxley out, giving him his first loss.
The announcers made sure to mention that with a Yano win, everyone in the B Block with 4 points are still in contention, as a Moxley win would have eliminated them from the tournament.
B Block: Tetsuya Natio defeated Juice Robinson
Great match. A very well done, well worked match that made me want to see more between these two. I kind of wish Robinson got the win here as it would be a good fall program, but no dice.
Juice taunted Naito at the bell by taking his time taking off all of his gear, including the three t-shirts he had one. Naito attacked once Juice took off the third shirt and took him to the floor, where he hit a tornado DDT.
Naito taunted Juice by doing his punches, but Juice fired back with them and landed a lariat. Juice followed that up with a full nelson bomb. Naito cut him off with a neckbreaker and went to the top rope, but Naito cut him off.
Juice went for the pulp friction, but Naito cut him off and hit a giant German suplex. Naito rocks Juice and landed a poison rana and a Destino. Juice kicked out and hit the juice box. Somewhere around here Naito busted open his ear badly.
Juice countered the Destino and landed a giant lariat. But Naito countered the pulp friction with a brainbuster and hit the Destino for the win.
B Block: Jay White defeated Taichi
Not that good. Both men have a similar style and that played into the match, as there was a lot of stalling and tons of interference. That is their style, and while this doesn’t make it a great match I guess it was executed well for what it was.
Both men exited the ring and stalled. White stalked Kanemaru, who seconded Taichi, and bumped into Gedo. White attacks Taichi and the two battle until the referee starts counting, then they come back in.
Gedo grabs Miho Abe, which distracts Taichi and allows a Jay White opening. Taichi fired back with some kicks in the corner and went for a superkick, but White collapsed. White came back with a twisting neckbreaker and eventually landed the kiwi crusher, but Taichi kicked out at two.
Taichi rallied back and went for the last ride powerbomb, but Gedo went on the apron to complain to the ref. It backfired as Taichi got the low blow instead and pinned White with the Gedo clutch, but the referee was dragged out of the ring by Gedo, who came in with brass knucks. Kanemaru came in with the whiskey shot, but it backfired.
Both Gedo and Kanemaru were sent backing as Jay White goes for the bladerunner. Kanemaru connected with the whiskey shot and Taichi hit the last ride powerbomb for a nearfall. Gedo grabbed Taichi’s leg, which led to he and White trading finisher attempts until White hit a brainbuster. He connected with the blade runner and got the win.
B Block: Hirooki Goto defeated Tomohiro Ishii
A great main event. Not as good as some of the other Ishii brawls in this tournament, but this was the match of the night with some tremendous intensity and brawling.
The two started off the match with back and forth brawling. Ishii took Goto down with a suplex. Ishii continued to berate Goto with kicks and punches until he blocked a big boot and hit a discus clothesline.
The two continue to strike each other with forearm shots. Goto feels he has Ishii down, but when he rebounds off the ropes Ishii counters with a powerslam. Goto gets the better of Ishii and lands a draping neckbreaker off the top rope. Ishii meets Goto on the top rope with some big headbutts. Goto hits one of his own and plants Ishii with a big code red bomb for a nearfall.
Goto went for the ushigiroshi but Ishii blocked it. Goto was taken down by an Ishii headbutt and followed that with a powerbomb. Ishii hit the sliding D and looked for the brainbuster but Goto fought it. He took out Ishii with a reverse GTR and locked in a sleeper, then landed the ushigiroshi.
Goto pelted Ishii with kicks; Ishii responded with some scary sounding headbutts. Goto hit another reverse GTR and a kick. Ishii hit a standing enziguri, but Goto fought through with with a death valley driver, then finally landed the GTR for the win.
Goto finished the show with a promo, saying the G in G1 stands for Goto.
