Tag: iwgp tag team titles

NJPW Sakura Genesis notes: Wrestler returns, mystery man, Knockout Brothers

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Notes from NJPW Sakura Genesis.

Following Callum Newman’s shock IWGP Championship win, A hooded figure appeared out of the crowd and jumped Tsuji, who was still recovering on the outside. Gabe Kidd unmasked, unzipping his jacket to reveal an AEW shirt. He fled the ringside area with the IWGP Global title, which he lost to Tsuji back in October.

One of the top matches from Saturday’s show had Konosuke Takeshita go to a time limit draw with Shota Umino, retaining the NJPW World Television title. However, a mystery man in a mask and suit appeared at ringside, momentarily distracting Takeshita. This allowed Chase Owens to run in and jump the TV Champion from behind. Owens continued his assault until Umino came back to the ring for the save.

Earlier in the show, Boltin Oleg & Bishimon retained the NEVER Six-Man titles against Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi, and Owens, with Bishimon taking out Yujiro as Oleg had Narita in a torture rack. After the match, he cut a short promo making it clear he wanted the next shot at Narita’s NEVER Championship.

In the co-main event, The Knockout Brothers defeated Zack Sabre Jr. and Ryohei Oiwa in a classic bout to retain the IWGP Tag Team titles. Yuto-Ice cut a promo after the match saying they wanted another shot at Bishimon. But before Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI could arrive, Aaron Henare and Great-O-Khan entered the ring, saying they wanted the next shot. Eventually it was decided that Bishimon and the two members of the United Empire would face off in the future with the winners challenging the champions.

Jeff Cobb leaving NJPW, IWGP Tag Team titles vacated

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Jeff Cobb is leaving NJPW.

New Japan has announced that Cobb will be leaving the promotion, and as a result the IWGP Tag Team titles he currently holds with Callum Newman have been vacated. His final match will be on April 19 at Korakuen Hall when he faces Hiroshi Tanahashi in a singles match.

The company wrote the following on their website: “New Japan Pro-Wrestling has come to terms with the departure of Jeff Cobb at his request. With Cobb one half of the IWGP Tag team Champions, those titles have now been vacated. Cobb’s final match in NJPW will take place in Korakuen Hall on April 19 against Hiroshi Tanahashi. New Japan Pro-Wrestling profoundly apologises for the sudden nature of this news and joins fans in wishing Cobb the best in all his future endeavours.”

Last month it was reported by Fightful that WWE was interested in signing Cobb, with one source indicating he was already on the internal roster. Dave Meltzer reported that while there had been talks, there was no confirmation of a deal. Cobb’s contract with NJPW expired earlier this year, but continued working for the company as a free agent.

In a press conference on Monday, Newman was seen with both belts and mentioned recent backstage comments made by Cobb about wanting to face IWGP World Champion Hirooki Goto, saying now he’s the one issuing the challenge to the champion. The duo had only held the titles for nine days, defeating Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi at Sakura Genesis.

New champions crowned at Wrestle Dynasty

Posted on by Bryan Rose

New champions were crowned at Wrestle Dynasty.

Mercedes Mone won the RevPro Undisputed British Women’s title from Mina Shirakawa on Sunday’s show at the Tokyo Dome, adding a third title to her collection along with the TBS and New Japan Strong Women’s titles. The Young Bucks, meanwhile, won the IWGP Tag Team titles for a second time, winning a three-way match for the vacant titles.

Mone defeated Shirakawa early in the night. Shirakawa scored a nearfall with a Venus Driver, but Mone earned the victory after hitting the Mone Maker. 

Later, The Young Bucks won the vacant IWGP Tag Team titles, defeating the teams of Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito as well as Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan after they hit the Meltzer Driver on Khan. The titles were declared vacant last month after Henare was taken off the road due to injury.

Elsewhere on the show, Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara defeated SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru to retain the ROH Tag Team titles, while Konosuke Takeshita retained the NEVER and AEW International titles by defeating Tomohiro Ishii. Yota Tsuji defeated Jack Perry to retain the IWGP Global title and in the main event, Zack Sabre Jr. successfully retained the IWGP World title against AEW’s Ricochet.

Three-way match for IWGP Tag Team titles proposed for Wrestle Dynasty

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The Tag Team match for Wrestle Dynasty could now be a three-way.

After Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi wrestled one another at Wrestle Kingdom 19 on Saturday, they were confronted backstage by The Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb. Naito & Takahashi proposed being added into the United Empire/Young Bucks match at Wrestle Dynasty to determine new IWGP Tag Team Champions. Although the challenge was issued, the three-way has yet to be made official by New Japan Pro Wrestling.

In their post detailing what had happened backstage, NJPW confirmed that Jeff Cobb would be teaming with Great-O-Khan on Sunday. The IWGP Tag Team titles were vacated in December when Great-O-Khan’s partner Henare suffered an injury that forced him out of action.

At Saturday’s show in the Tokyo Dome, Naito defeated Takahashi in the co-main event following a Destino. After the match, Naito extended his fist out to Takahashi. After bowing in a sign of respect, Takahashi fist bumped Naito and the two walked out of the arena together.

IWGP Tag Team title update following HENARE injury

Posted on by Joseph Currier

It’s looking like the IWGP Tag Team titles will have to be vacated due to injury.

The current champions are Great-O-Khan & HENARE, but NJPW announced last night that HENARE is out of action due to a knee injury. It forced Great-O-Khan & HENARE to withdraw from World Tag League, where they were leading in the B Block.

O-Khan competed in a non-tournament match on Friday after being removed from Tag League contention. In his post-match comments, he said the IWGP Tag Team titles will likely have to be vacated. That means O-Khan & HENARE are also likely out of their scheduled title defense against The Young Bucks at Wrestle Dynasty on January 5.

“We were the tag champions and were the closest to winning the World Tag League as the sole [B Block] leaders,” O-Khan said. “However, [HENARE] was injured the day before the final match and [we] lost everything. I will probably have to give up the belts. The January 5 Tokyo Dome match will also be a no-go.”

United Empire members HENARE and Callum Newman both missed today’s NJPW show due to knee injuries. A timetable for when they are expected to be back has not been established yet.

The World Tag League finals are taking place this Sunday (December 8) with Gabe Kidd & SANADA facing Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi. The winning team will put themselves in IWGP Tag Team title contention.

NJPW has yet to confirm if the titles are being vacated and has not indicated how new champions would be crowned if they are.

New champions crowned at NJPW Dominion

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Four titles changed hands at NJPW Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall.

Great-O-Khan started the night of new champions, defeating Yuya Uemura to regain the KOPW 2024 provisional championship, pinning Uemura following a slam. The match had been held under storm catch rules, where there was a two rope break/ring escape limit.

Yota Tsuji won his first championship in NJPW on Sunday, with him, Hiromu Takahashi, and BUSHI defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi, Oleg Boltin, and Toru Yano to become the new NEVER Six-Man Tag Team Champions. Tsuji pinned Tanahashi after hitting the Gene Blast, ending the reign of the champions after 56 days.

Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls of TMDK ended up leaving Osaka-jo Hall with both the IWGP Tag Team titles and the New Japan Strong Tag Team titles, defeating Bishimon (Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI) to become double champions. Strong champions Hikuelo and ELP were the first to be eliminated, followed by the IWGP champions Chase Owens and KENTA.

The two other title matches of the night saw Shingo Takagi and Aaron Henare go to a draw for the NEVER Openweight title and Jon Moxley defeat EVIL to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight title.

Young Bucks originally planned to win IWGP tag titles at Forbidden Door

Posted on by Ian Carey

The original plan for the Young Bucks at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door involved them winning the IWGP Tag Team Championships. 

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that initial plans were for the AEW Tag Team Champions to face the heavyweight tag champions from NJPW at the pay-per-view. 

“Gedo’s original idea was for the Young Bucks to win the IWGP tag titles on the show and make it AEW vs. IWGP tag titles,” Meltzer wrote. “It was changed, and the Young Bucks were on board with that change.”

The decision was later made that it would be an interesting story for FTR to hold the IWGP, ROH, and AAA tag titles. It also sets up a match between FTR and the Young Bucks with four sets of titles on the line. 

“While belts mean less because there are so many of them, there is now a natural push for Young Bucks vs. FTR with four sets of belts at stake and being pushed as a unique match in wrestling history, and could logically be billed as the biggest tag team championship match in history, for that reason,” Meltzer continued. 

Matt & Nick Jackson have won the heavyweight IWGP tag titles once previously. They defeated Evil & SANADA for the belts at Dominion in 2018 and then dropped them to the Guerillas of Destiny at Fighting Spirit Unleashed that September. The Bucks are also seven-time former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. 

FTR win IWGP Tag Team titles at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Posted on by Bryan Rose

FTR are the new IWGP Tag Team Champions, winning tonight’s three way tag team match at Forbidden Door.

Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler defeated The Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb, as well as Roppongi Vice (Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero) to win the titles for the first time, pinning Rocky Romero with the shatter machine. The story of the match had Harwood removed early due to what appeared to be a shoulder injury, with Wheeler working the first half of the match by himself. However, Harwood returned to the ring with his shoulder taped up and was hot tagged back into the match.

Great-O-Khan and Cobb had been IWGP Tag Team Champions for 14 days, defeating Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens back at NJPW’s Dominion event on June 12.

O-Khan and Cobb made a surprise appearance last month on Dynamite, attacking FTR and Roppongi Vice during an ROH Tag Team title match. A match was eventually made for Forbidden Door where the winners would walk away with both the IWGP and ROH Tag Team titles.

In addition to the IWGP and ROH titles, FTR also carry the AAA World Tag Team titles, defeating Fenix and Penta El 0 M last October.

Four titles change hands at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2022

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Four titles changed hands during this morning’s NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2022 event.

Hiroshi Tanahashi won the vacant IWGP United States title, while Taiji Ishimori won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title. Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens of the Bullet Club won the IWGP Tag Team titles, and Tama Tonga won the NEVER Openweight title.

Tanahashi won the United States title by defeating Tomohiro Ishii after two high fly flows. This is his second reign with the championship. After the match, Chase Owens came to the ring and distracted Tanahashi long enough for a hooded figure to come in and attack Tanahashi, eventually revealing himself to be Juice Robinson.

Ishimori won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title for a second time, defeating El Desperado after 176 days. The finish of the match had Desperado going for a second pinche loco, but Ishimori countered into his bone lock submission. Desperado submitted soon after.

Fale & Owens defeated Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan and Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI in a three-way match to win the IWGP Tag Team titles. The duo won the titles for the first time with their finisher, a rocket launcher elbow drop. This ends the United Empire’s reign with the titles after only 22 days, winning the titles back at NJPW Hyper Battle on April 9 over former champions Goto & YOSHI-HASHI.

Tonga defeated EVIL to win the NEVER Openweight title for the first time, picking up the win with the gun stun. Immediately after the match, The Good Brothers came out and attacked Tonga. Tanga Loa came to the ring in an attempt to make the save, but was also taken out. This ends EVIL’s reign with the NEVER Openweight title after 116 days, defeating Tomohiro Ishii at Wrestle Kingdom 16 on January 4.

Elsewhere on the card, Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato retained the IWGP Junior Tag Team titles, retaining over Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI. In the main event, Kazuchika Okada retained the IWGP World Heavyweight title over Tetsuya Naito.

New champions crowned at NJPW Hyper Battle

Posted on by Bryan Rose

New IWGP Tag Team Champions were crowned during tonight’s Hyper Battle event.

Jeff Cobb and The Great-O-Khan defeated YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship for the first time. Cobb pinned YOSHI-HASHI following the Tour of the Islands. This ends YOSHI-HASHI and Goto’s run with the titles after over 95 days, defeating Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.) back on January 4.

Additionally, Taichi defeated Toru Yano in a sumo match to become the provisional KOPW Champion, dumping Yano to the floor to win. Taichi then challenged Shingo Takagi to a match after he won the trophy.

The rest of New Japan’s champions retained their titles tonight. Master Wato and Ryusuke Taguchi retained the IWGP Junior Tag Team Championship over El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori, while EVIL retained the NEVER Openweight Championship against Hiromu Takahashi. El Desperado retained the Junior Heavyweight title over SHO, and in the main event Kazuchika Okada retained the IWGP World Heavyweigh title over Zack Sabre Jr..

Title change at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 night one

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The Guerillas of Destiny are once again the IWGP Tag Team champions.

GoD regained the titles for a seventh time tonight, defeating Dangerous Tekkers, Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi. The finish of the match had Tama Tonga strike Taichi with his own fingers of doom glove. Tanga Loa then pinned Taichi with his sitout piledriver, giving their team the win.

Taichi and Sabre held the titles for 176 days, defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi at Dominion on July 12. With their seventh title win, GoD have now surpassed Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) for the most IWGP Tag Team title reigns as a team in history. 

GoD received a title match after winning the 2020 World Tag League, defeating Juice Robinson and David Finlay in the finals. It was the first time they had won the World Tag League after appearing in the finals for the last four years.

IWGP Tag Team title match now set for NJPW Destruction in Beppu

Posted on by Bryan Rose

What was originally a special tag team match has turned into a IWGP Tag Team title match.

The Guerrillas of Destiny will now defend the titles against the team of Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI on September 15 in Beppu. 

NJPW made the tag team title match following a six man tag team match that took place this morning at a Road to Destruction event in Korakuen Hall. YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii and Rocky Romero teamed together to defeated The Guerillas of Destiny and Jado after YH submitted Jado with the butterfly lock. 

After the match, the Guerrillas of Destiny laid out Ishii ringside and looked to finish off YOSHI-HASHI with a magic killer. Ishii made the save, however, and sent them packing as he and YOSHI-HASHI posed with the titles.

The title match will the co-main event of Destruction in Beppu. New RevPro British Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi will defend the title against former champion Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event.