Tag: iwgp world heavyweight championship

NJPW Wrestling Dontaku live results: Okada vs. Naito IWGP World title match

Posted on by Chick Fritts

Kazuchika Okada defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Tetsuya Naito in the main event of Wrestling Dontaku today. 

Naito is challenging Okada for the World title for the second time this year. Okada won their first title bout at New Year’s Golden Series in February, but Naito got his win back in the New Japan Cup tournament. The two are even 6-6 in their 12 career singles matches. 

Five other titles will also be on the line tonight. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tomohiro Ishii will square off for the IWGP United States Heavyweight title, left vacant when SANADA suffered an injury. Tanahashi and Will Ospreay had been set to do battle for the vacant title, but Ospreay was pulled from the card due to testing positive for COVID-19.

El Desperado will defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against former title holder Taiji Ishimori.

EVIL defends the NEVER Openweight Championship against Tama Tonga. 

United Empire’s Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb defend the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles against Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI, and Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens in a three-way.

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles will be on the line, as Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato defend against Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI.

Tanga Loa will take on Yujiro Takahashi in a singles match. 

In another singles contest, Hiromu Takahashi will face YOH. 

In the opener, Shingo Takagi, BUSHI, and a mystery partner face Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi, and TAKA Michinoku. Tatsumi Fujinami was set to team with Shingo and BUSHI, but also tested positive for COVID-19 and was pulled from the show. 

Our live coverage begins at 4 a.m. Eastern time.

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Taichi, TAKA Michinoku & Zack Sabre Jr. (Suzuki-gun) defeated BUSHI, Shingo Takagi, & Shiro Koshinaka

Shiro Koshinaka, perhaps best known for his work as a top New Japan junior in the 80s and tag wrestler in the 90s, was revealed to be the mystery partner for LIJ.

This was a fairly by the numbers opening tag — with the inclusion of Shiro Koshinaka, of course.

Koshinaka opened the match against ZSJ and had a deal of success. Once BUSHI took Koshinaka’s place, ZSJ took control of the match. ZSJ and the rest of Suzuki-gun worked to isolate BUSHI, eventually leading to a hot-tag into Shingo.

After a TAKA and Shingo exchange, the match broke down as Suzuki-gun hit the ring. LIJ turned things around, helping Koshinaka land some of his signature hip attacks. Finally, as the fog cleared, Shingo and Taichi were left alone. The pair had a quick back and forth, ending with a Gedo clutch from Taichi which brought the match to an end.

It looks like we’re gearing up for a KOPW rematch between Taichi and Shingo — oh boy. 

Hiromu Takahashi defeated YOH

Something about this just didn’t connect with me. There was a lot to like, but this match felt off time from time. 

The match began with both men trading strikes in the center of the ring. As things picked up, the pair walked through a slick exchange, ending with YOH reversing a powerbomb and transitioning into a tope con hilo to establish an early lead.

After answering a YOH dropkick with one of his own, Hiromu connected with a sudden powerbomb; YOH responded with a falcon arrow, resetting the match just as the match reached the five-minute mark. Hiromu landed a victory royal, a German suplex, and a lariat, only for YOH to kick out at one. YOH rallied with a colossal kick, DNV, and tiger suplex but failed to connect with the direct drive. Hiromu fought back into a position of control with a lariat, timebomb, and timebomb 2, leading to a Hiromu pinfall victory.

After Hiromu won, he left his BOSJ trophy in the ring. Hiromu will presumably try for another, seeing as the tournament is just around the corner. 

Tanga Loa defeated Yujiro Takahashi

Ugh.

Yujiro started the match by slamming Tanga into the barricade and the ring post. Tanga fought back with some slams, forcing Yujiro to escape to the floor. Tanga met Yujiro on the ramp, but SHO jumped Tanga, leading to a House of Torture beatdown. Yujiro landed a fisherman buster on the ramp, cementing his control.

After kicking out of a second fisherman buster and escaping a crossface, Tanga landed a suplex to reset the match. A t-bone suplex, 619, and top rope clothesline left Tanga with a near fall.

Yujiro tried fighting back but couldn’t find anything substantial. Tanga landed a spear right before a referee bump let SHO land a quick suplex. Tanga avoided SHO’s wrench and took him back with a powerbomb, but SHO’s distraction bought Yujiro enough time to connect with pimp juice; Tanga kicked out.

After fighting off HoT and kicking out of Yujiro’s attempt at closing the match, Tanga landed a reverse driver. Tanga pinned Yujiro to score the win.

After the match, Tanga posed with Yujiro’s NEVER Six-Man belt, so it’s safe to assume GoD will be challenging for the title soon. 

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi (Six Or Nine) (c) defeated DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (Suzuki-gun)

This was not good, but if you’re into butt-based wrestling, this match might be for you. 

Taguchi came to the ring with his underwear in hand—he apparently decided to go commando in this defense.

The match opened with a fun sequence between all four men. Wato landed a tope con hilo, but Kanemaru prevented him from following up; this led to the first real control segment, with Suzuki-gun working to keep Wato away from Taguchi.

Taguchi eventually made the save, landing a ton of hip attacks. After the rescue, Suzuki-gun turned their attention to Taguchi, paying particular attention to his leg. A while later, Wato returned the favor, saving Taguchi in effect.

Kanemaru tried blinding Taguchi with a mouth full of liquor but pulled Taguchi’s pant’s down first—big mistake. Taguchi, while not rocking nonederwear, was wearing a thong. Taguchi landed a bare-butt hip attack, forcing Kanemaru to blind his own partner. Taguchi then pinned Kanemaru, planting his tuchus on Kanemaru’s face during the cover. 

IWGP Tag Team Championships: Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens (BULLET CLUB) defeated Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (Bishamon) and Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb (United Empire) (c)

This wasn’t great or anything, but it probably over-delivered, all things considered. 

The opening exchange was pretty content dense. The match started with Bishamon and Bullet Club focusing United Empire. With UE temporarily taken care of, the BC pairing turned their attention to Bishamon. Once given a moment to breathe, UE returned fire.

This back and forth continued; the teams constantly traded control and cute spots, eventually building to some intense sequences. Things were ultimately ended as Fale launched Owens from the top rope to deliver their new rocket launcher elbow drop. Owens then pinned Goto to win the match and the titles. 

BOSJ Lineup

A video package revealed the lineup for the upcoming Best of Super Juniors tournament. The tournament this year will feature two blocks.

A Block: Ryusuke Taguchi, YOH, Clark Conners Hiromu Takahashi, Alex Zayne, Francesco Akira, Taiji Ishimori, SHO, and Impact’s Ace Austin

B Block: Master Wato, Robbie Eagles, BUSHI, El Desperado, DOUKI, TJP, El Phantasmo, CMLL’s Titan, GLEAT’s El Lindaman, and AEW’s Wheeler Yuta

Overall, this looks to be a great lineup with many fresh faces. This is certainly a tournament to look forward to. 

NEVER Openweight Championship: Tama Tonga defeated EVIL (c) 

This was bad.

The match started with a brawl outside of the ring. The pair eventually found their way into the ring, only for the action to spill back outside moments later. EVIL landed a suplex to the floor and slammed Tama into the barricade before taunting him with a live microphone.

EVIL maintained control in the ring for some time, but Tama eventually rallied by reversing a suplex. Tama took out Dick Togo while holding his newfound lead.

EVIL tried throwing Tama into Togo, but this backfired. After taking out the manager (again), Tama landed a drop and crossbody but couldn’t connect with the gun stun. This led to a brief struggle for control, ending with a chair shot from Togo. EVIL landed darkness falls, but Tama managed to kick out.

Tama bounced out of a whip into an exposed corner with a lariat. Tama locked in a sharpshooter in the center of the ring. Togo rang the bell on the outside, making Tama think he won the match while buying EVIL another break. As the referee tried to figure out what happened, Togo hit the ring to choke Tama with his rope. EVIL and Togo hit the magic killer and set up for a super powerbomb. Before they could deliver the tandem finish, Jado hit EVIL with a stick, saving Tama.

After escaping defeat, Tama tried desperately for his finisher. After a long struggle, Tama landed a gun stun and pinned EVIL to win the NEVER Openweight championship.

Before he could celebrate, old guard Bullet Club members Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows hit the ring and took out Tama. The Good Brothers are back in New Japan. 

Anderson and Gallows wore Bullet Club colors during their return to Japan, making their allegiance known. After taking Tama out, the pair beat down Jado and Tanga Loa.

Karl Anderson posed with and dropped Tama on the NEVER belt, perhaps setting up a future title challenge. 

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Taiji Ishimori defeated El Desperado (c)

This match opened with chain wrestling that turned into an energized sequence. Things slowed down after Ishimori drove Desperado into an exposed turnbuckle, leading to a ground control segment.

Desperado turned things back around with a dragonscrew which he followed with a ground control segment of his own. Ishimori retook control by slamming Desperado into the corner post. Desperado’s work on the mat paid off, however, as Ishimori’s leg gave out, buying Desperado enough time to avoid a dive and land a spear.

Ishimori continued to land leg-based moves, and each time he was left in agony. Desperado tried for pinche loco twice, but Ishimori managed to wiggle free each time. Desperado locked in numero dos, but Ishimori transitioned into a cobra twist; Desperado escaped the twist by lifting Ishimori into position and dropping him with a driver.

Desperado finally connected with pinche loco but was not satisfied with one. Ishimori reversed Desperado’s second attempt, transitioning into a bone lock. Ishimori held on, eventually forcing Desperado to submit. Ishimori is the IWGP Junior champion.

Two title wins and a big return—tonight is a big Bullet Club night, it seems. 

IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Tomohiro Ishii

This match was extraordinary.

This match opened with a passionate back and forth that evolved into an extended strike exchange. After striking down Tanahashi, Ishii landed a suplex to further establish his early lead.

Tanahashi fought back with a flurry of his signature offense. Tanahashi tried focusing on the leg, but Ishii responded with a leg whip of his own. Ishii continued to use light leg-based moves while still landing his go-tos for an interesting change of pace.

Ishii tried for a superplex but was stuffed by Tanahashi; Tanahashi then landed a dragonscrew on an elevated Ishii to gain a significant lead. Tanahashi locked in the Texas cloverleaf, forcing Ishii into the ropes. Even after Ishii escaped, Tanahashi maintained his focus, targeting Ishii’s leg.

Ishii landed a quick powerslam to reset the match. Tanahashi connected with a dragon suplex, as did Ishii. Ishii hit a lariat, Tanahashi, a pair of slingblades.

Tanahashi landed a German suplex for a near fall before setting up for high fly flow; Ishii cut Tanahashi off on the top rope with a running headbutt that slumped the ace. This time, Ishii connected with the superplex but only scored a two count.

Ishii grew desperate after Tanahashi continued to kick out of his devastating offense. Ishii tried for a brainbuster, but Tanahashi reversed into twist and shout. Another dragon suplex opened Ishii up for a high fly flow. After the first, Tanahashi tried for another div, but Ishii rolled out of the way and tried for a quick pin; Tanahashi barely escaped.

Ishii dropped Tanahashi with a tremendous lariat; Tanahashi kicked out at one. Ishii hit another lariat and the brainbuster; Tanahashi kicked out again. Tanahashi bought a moment to breathe with a reverse slingblade, but Ishii responded with a barrage of headbutts. Tanahashi answered Ishii’s headbutts with some of his own, but Ishii landed a slingblade to stop any potential shifts in momentum.

Ishii tried for another brainbuster, but Tanahashi slipped free. Tanahashi hit a brainbuster of his own and a slingblade; Ishii kicked out at one. Tanahashi then hit a crossbody to a standing Ishii and high fly flow to bring this match to a climatic end. 

After the match, Chase Owens came to the ring and distracted Tanahashi long enough for a masked man to jump the new United States champion. After dropping Tanahashi, the man removed his mask to reveal Bullet Club’s newest member, Juice Robinson.

Juice Robinson has fooled the world, it seems. 

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Tetsuya Naito

I feel that New Japan has visited this well one too many times. That’s not to say this match didn’t have its moments of brilliance; of course it did. We’ve just been fed this match so many times, especially when things seem slow, that it feels like a crutch. It’s entirely understandable, but frustrating nonetheless. 

The match opened with a familiar exchange, as each man knew enough about the other to prevent any significant offense. Okada was the first to successfully strike, landing a DDT to establish an early lead.

Naito rolled to the floor to try to slow Okada’s advance. As Okada attempted to pursue the challenger, Naito caught Okada with a whip into the barricade and a DDT to the concrete; Naito had wholly reversed the match’s momentum.

Back in the ring, Naito led an extended sequence. Okada began to turn things around with a boot and a flapjack. An air raid crash let Okada transition into the money clip for the first time. This was followed by a sudden dropkick that sent Naito to the floor, cementing Okada’s newfound control.

On the outside, Okada landed a running crossbody over the barricade. Back in the ring, Okada connected with a picture-perfect dropkick from the top rope before locking the money clip in again.

Okada tried for the rainmaker but met Naito resistance. Naito reversed into a spinebuster, effectively resetting the match. Naito hit Gloria and locked in pluma blanca, forcing Okada into the ropes.

Naito set Okada up for a frakensteiner, but Okada reversed into a top rope powerbomb. Naito tried to hold on, even going for a Destino, but two quick clotheslines allowed Okada to maintain his wave of offense.

Naito avoided Okada’s attempts at rainmaker, all the while reigning in shots to the neck. This fed into Naito landing Destino, only to score a near fall. When he tried again, Okada reversed into a tombstone.

Okada hit landslide but failed to follow up. Naito answered in this momentary lapse of offense, landing a second Destino; Okada kicked out. A desperate Naito then attempted stardust press but came up short, resting the match again.

Naito dropped Okada with a slap before trying for another Destino. Okada slipped free, landed an emerald flowsion, and pulled Naito to his feet for a rainmaker. Okada hit his finish and pinned Naito to retain his belt. 

After Okada’s show-closing promo, Jay White’s music hit. Jay White himself walked to the ring and grabbed a microphone. Before he could say anything, Okada swatted the microphone from his hand and held his belt high. Gedo then jumped Okada; White joined in on the beatdown. White hit Bladerunner and held the belt high. 

After taking out the champion, White grabbed the microphone again. He hyped himself up while the rest of Bullet Club, including the new and returning members, flanked his side. The House of Torture subgroup did not join them. 

Karl Anderson then grabbed a microphone. After singing a ‘happy birthday’ to Bullet Club, Anderson introduced all of the members and sold White as the greatest wrestler alive. 

White hit Okada with another Bladerunner to close the show. 

Tonight was Bullet Club’s night. 

NJPW Hyper Battle live results: Okada vs. Sabre IWGP World title match

Posted on by Chick Fritts

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is on the line in Ryogoku in the main event of NJPW Hyper Battle ’22.

Kazuchika Okada defends the title against 2022 New Japan Cup winner Zack Sabre Jr. in the headliner. 

In the semi-main, El Desperado defends the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against SHO. 

In another title bout, Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI defend the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles against United Empire’s Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb. 

EVIL will defend the NEVER Openweight Championship against Hiromu Takahashi in a rare heavyweight vs. junior heavyweight battle. 

Toru Yano defends the provisional KOPW 2022 trophy against Taichi. 

In the night’s first title bout, Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles against Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo. 

Tetsuya Naito and Shingo Takagi will face Will Ospreay and Aaron Henare in a tag team bout. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, and Jado take on Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi, and Gedo in the opening contest. 

Our live coverage begins at 4 a.m. Eastern time.

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Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Jado defeated Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, Gedo & Yujiro Takahashi (Bullet Club)

The Japanese crowd seems to care deeply about this GoD story; it does nothing for me, however.

This match opened with a brawl. Gedo and Jado eventually found themselves in the ring where Bullet Club gained the advantage. The Bullet Club squad worked to isolate Jado from his partners, which led into a Tama hot tag. Tama and Loa overtook their opponents with tandem offence.

Fale stuffed a gun stun, opening the match up for some Owens offence. Owens forced Tama to tag out to Tanahashi, revisiting the borderline rivalry between the pair. Tanahashi led a short sequence, but Owens landed a C trigger for a match reset.

Jado and Gedo shared a moment in the ring before the entire babyface quartet beat Gedo down. A green killer from Jado resulted in a near fall. Jado locked Gedo in the Crossface of Jado; as the Bullet Club hit the ring in an attempt to break up the hold, the other babyfaces locked them into cross faces. Gedo tapped out as the heels were met with checkmate.

After the match, Tanahashi awarded Jado, Tama, and Loa with NJPW Main Unit T-Shirts. 

Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito (Los Ingobernables de Japon) defeated Aaron Henare & Will Ospreay (United Empire)

This was good. The seamless sequences of singles offence flowed nicely into the tag team segments.

On his way to the ring, Ospreay tweeted a video. The video was of Jon Moxley’s wife, Renee Paquette, saying she was excited about Will Ospreay from a podcast setting,

This match opened with a brawl, and from the fog, UE emerged with an early lead. Once Shingo finally got the tag, Naito and Ospreay had an entertaining back and forth exchange. Both men traded offence for some time before Naito tagged back into Shingo. Shingo and Ospreay continued the pattern with a mesmerizing back and forth sequence.

Henare tried taking the fight to Shingo after a tag, but this prompted a battle between all competitors. After another compelling series of moves, Shingo landed a pumping bomber on Henare. After the kickout, Naito kept Ospreay at bay long enough for Shingo to land Made in Japan. With Ospreay held off, Shingo secured the pin and won the match for LIJ.

After the match, Shingo seemingly challenged Ospreay to a match for the British Heavyweight Championship. 

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi (Six Or Nine) (c) defeated El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori (Bullet Club’s Cutest Tag Team)

This was a borderline stupid match with little redeemable about it.

The feeling-out process that opened the match saw all four men getting in light offence. The champions gained a strong lead with tandem offence as the match developed. Six Or Nine lost their advantage when the Bullet Club reversed a rump bump, sending Wato face-first into Taguchi’s rear.

ELP and Ishimori singled out Taguchi, spending nearly as much time taunting him as they spent connecting with offence. Taguchi reversed a mocking hip attack attempt from ELP, but Wato fell into the same hole once he tagged in.

After making team Six Or Nine imitate the position they’re named after, ELP and Ishimori fell to a double DDT from Wato. Taguchi connected with a ton of hip attacks and a superplex for a near fall over ELP. This led to a double team sequence from the champions.

Bullet Club answered with a double team sequence of their own. Taguchi was forced to save Wato after a moonsault into a facebuster, UFO, and Thunderkiss ’86. This bought Wato enough time to escape sudden death tag into Taguchi.

Taguchi and ELP traded quick pin attempts but couldn’t close things out. ELP wasn’t ready to give up, however; as he tried for another pin, Taguchi dropped his pants and planted his cheeks on the face of ELP. This turned into a pin, leading to Six Or Nine retaining the IWGP Junior Tag Team Championships.

King Of Pro-Wrestling Championship | No Rope, Ringout Match: Taichi defeated Toru Yano (c)

I think this was fine for what it was.

These rules were set up to resemble a sumo match. The match is won by throwing your opponent from the ring to the floor. Unlike sumo, pro wrestling moves were seemingly allowed.

Before the match could start, the ring crew had to remove the ropes, turnbuckles, and pads. For some reason, the wrestler’s entrances were before the ring breakdown, so they just sat there watching the ring crew take apart the ring.

After Taichi tried rushing Yano down early, both men traded strikes. Yano tried throwing Taichi to the floor, Taichi blocked the move to regain footing. With the referee’s back turned, Yano landed a low blow, but this didn’t lead to much.

Yano tried knocking off Taichi by throwing the referee into him, but, instead, the referee was sent crashing to the floor. This led to a sumo-esque grappling battle. Taichi then used his weight to deliver a katasukashi throw, sending Yano crashing to the floor. Taichi is the KOPW champion.

After the match, Taichi claimed he would make the KOPW a main event prize. Taichi called out Shingo Takagi, daring him to challenge for the KOPW trophy. 

G1 Announcement

A video package played detailing the return of New Japan’s legendary summer tournament. Beginning on July 16 and ending on August 18, the G1 Climax is back to its regular schedule. 

SANADA Vacates IWGP United States Championship

Before the NEVER Openweight Championship match could begin, SANADA walked to the ring. He announced that, due to his broken orbital bone, he would need to vacate the IWGP United States title. SANADA tried passing the belt to the former champion, Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Will Ospreay hit the ring and demanded SANADA give the belt. This prompted Tanahashi to walk to the ring and challenge Ospreay to a match for the now vacant belt. The match should happen on May 1, at Wrestling Dontaku. 

NEVER Openweight Championship: EVIL (c) defeated Hiromu Takahashi

This was an over-busy mess.

The match opened with a lot of teasing. EVIL tried slowing things down by rolling to the outside, but Hiromu took this as an opportunity to get in Dick Togo’s head. Hiromu landed a dropkick into the barricade, but Togo’s presence allowed EVIL to steal the lead.

On the outside, EVIL slammed Hiromu into the barricade and landed a big chair shot. Back inside, EVIL whipped Hiromu into an exposed turnbuckle before allowing Togo to land some shots.

Hiromu eventually landed a rana to create some separation. Hiromu followed up, landing a DVD into the corner to take control of the match. Hiromu then powerbombed EVIL into Togo, setting EVIL up for further offence. Hiromu tried for a dropkick, but EVIL pulled a ring boy into his path. EVIL retook the advantage after this opening with a suplex to the floor.

On the inside, darkness falls yielded an EVIL near fall. Hiromu tried to answer with a thrust kick, but Togo grabbed Hiromu as the referee was occupied by EVIL. Hiromu threw EVIL into Togo and pinned EVIL, but the referee was distracted. A referee bump followed, leading to a HoT style beatdown.

EVIL tried for a magic killer with Togo, but Hiromu reversed, using Togo’s body to deliver a magic killer of his own. Hiromu dropped Togo with Everything is Evil and EVIL with a timebomb for a near fall. With the end in sight, EVIL tried buying time by knocking down the official again. Hiromu answered with a low blow.

Both men tried for Everything is Evil but couldn’t connect. EVIL threw Hiromu into the exposed corner and caught him on the rebound with Everything is Evil. EVIL pinned Hiromu to retain the title.

After the match, Tama Tonga walked to the ring. Before he could do anything, Yujiro Takahashi hit the ring for a HoT beatdown. Tonga Loa made the save, and GoD dropped EVIL with a gun stun. Tama grabbed a microphone and told EVIL he would get his revenge. 

IWGP Tag Team Championships: Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb (United Empire) defeated Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (Bishamon) (c)  

UE tried to steal an early lead by jumping the champions during a handshake; Bishamon was ready, stopping the assault before it could begin.

Bishamon had a short lead, but O-Khan and Cobb to the fight to the outside, where they found great success. UE isolated YH from his corner to cement their edge.

After a long struggle, Goto received the hot tag. Cobb and O-Khan worked together to overwhelm Goto, but Goto persisted still. A reverse GTR scored Goto a near fall over O-Khan. As Goto looked to end the match with a traditional GTR, Cobb came from left field to deliver a tremendous lariat.

Cobb tried for a standing moonsault, but Goto dodged before tagging back to YH. YH focused Cobb’s knee but couldn’t gain a substantial footing. Cobb and O-Khan delivered a double team submission into an elbow drop moonsault combination. After Goto broke up the pin, Bishamon caught Cobb with a ushigoroshi.

YH tried striking down Cobb, but Cobb stood his ground before dropping YH with a spinning drop. YH blocked the Tour of the Islands and landed a fast destroyer in response. Goto hit the ring and helped YH deliver Shoto, but O-Khan was in place to break up the pin.

Cobb fought back into the match with O-Khan’s aid. An imperial drop to Goto left YH alone. Cobb connected with Tour of the Islands and pinned YH to win the IWGP Tag Team Championships. 

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado (c) defeated SHO

This style of match does nothing for me, no matter how ambitious the plotting is.

Before the match could begin, SHO jumped Desperado. After slamming Desperado into the post and barricade, SHO tried to use a chair, but the referee stopped him. This gave Desperado enough breathing room to fight back, throwing SHO into another barricade and covering him with a mysterious liquid.

Desperado’s lead lasted into the ring, but a referee bump opened the door for a nasty chair shot from SHO, but even after the referee was standing, SHO continued to beat the champion with a chair. SHO launched Desperado into the barricade, nearly forcing a referee stoppage.

Once Desperado escaped SHO’s double wristlock, Desperado connected with a fast back suplex for a match reset. A beautiful tope con hilo to the outside left Desperado with a strong lead.

A splash left Desperado with a near fall, but SHO answered with a quick armbar; Desperado escaped with the ropes but was back on the defensive. SHO continued to attack the arm, leaving Desperado desperate; a referee bump and low blow only furthered this desperation.

SHO wasted time grabbing his wrench, letting Desperado connect with a driver to reset the match. Desperado tried for Pinche Loco, but SHO reversed into a driver of his own. After SHO’s driver, SHO locked in snake bite, which forced Desperado back into the ropes.

Desperado survived a shock arrow attempt and a low blow, delivering a pair of forearms into Pinche Loco. Desperado pinned SHO and retained his belt. 

After the match, Taiji Ishimori walked to the ring and challenged Desperado for the Junior Championship. Before Ishimori could respond, the lights cut off, and former AJPW Jr Heavyweight Champion Francesco Akira appeared in the ring wearing a United Empire shirt. He declared he’d be in BOSJ and walked away. Desperado then accepted Ishimori’s challenge. 

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Zack Sabre Jr.

ZSJ’s single-mindedness contributed a significant amount to the final product. Okada’s offensive sequences came at the perfect time to break up ground control segments. The balance of groundwork to standing offence felt on point. This was a great match.

This match opened with a battle on the ground. Okada held his own in the scramble, but ZSJ was clearly comfortable at all times. Early on, Okada showed an edge while standing, landing a handful of uncontested strikes.

ZSJ caught Okada in an armbar that split to the floor. Back in the ring, ZSJ continued to focus the arm. A sudden flapjack from Okada gave him a moment to breathe, opening ZSJ to an extended offensive sequence.

ZSJ and Okada began to trade strikes. Okada seemingly won out, loading ZSJ into an air raid crash neckbreaker; ZSJ transformed his disadvantageous position into an octopus hold. Okada hit the neckbreaker regardless, but only after suffering more arm damage.

Okada tried for the money clip, but ZSJ answered with a cobra twist. Perhaps in a game of one-upmanship, Okada tried for a twist of his own that forced ZSJ into the ropes.

ZSJ avoided a pair of Okada dropkicks and locked in a triangle. Okada powered out, delivering a powerbomb; ZSJ held on, locking in another armbar. Okada panicked, barely escaping before a ZSJ dropkick furthered his lead.

Okada finally landed a partial dropkick, but ZSJ maintained his focus. After locking in another arm based submission, ZSJ forced a desperate Okada into the ropes.

Okada blocked a penalty kick on the outside before dropping ZSJ with a piledriver to the floor. A second pile driver on the inside and spinning rain maker spelt out defeat for ZSJ, but ZSJ was quick to respond with a Zack driver; Okada kicked out at the last possible moment.

A late strike fight started in the centre of the ring. The strikes evolved into bigger and bigger moves until a penalty kick left ZSJ in position to close. ZSJ locked in a deep armbar but Okada found the ropes once more.

Okada stuffed the second Zack driver attempt, transitioning into a pin attempt. Once ZSJ kicked out, Okada landed a huge dropkick. ZSJ answered with a deep choke. Okada escaped and launched an intense back and forth. Okada was the first to land something substantial, connecting with a landslide which he followed with a rainmaker to close the match and retain his championship.

After the match, Okada challenged Tetsuya Naito. After beating Naito with the belt on the line and losing to Naito in the cup, Okada wanted a rubber match. Naito walked to the ring and accepted the challenge. The bout is set for May 1, Wrestling Dontaku. 

NJPW New Year’s Golden Series live results: Okada vs. Naito

Posted on by Chick Fritts

Kazuchika Okada defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Tetsuya Naito in the main event of the final night of NJPW New Year’s Golden Series.

Okada will look to make his seco defense since winning the title on night one of Wrestle Kingdom on January 4. 

In the semi-main, Bullet Club’s House of Torture, EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, and SHO will defend the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship against Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, and YOH.

The provisional KOPW 2022 trophy will be on the line as Minoru Suzuki defends against Toru Yano in a dog cage match, where the winner must trap his opponent inside said cage. 

The rest of the card: 

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & Tomoaki Honma vs. SANADA, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI
  • Great-O-Khan vs. Satoshi Kojima
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Tomohiro Ishii & Ryohei Oiwa vs. Taichi & DOUKI
  • Robbie Eagles, Tiger Mask & Kosei Fujita vs. Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Jado

Our live coverage begins at midnight Eastern time. 

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El Phantasmo, Jado & Taiji Ishimori (BULLET CLUB) defeated Robbie Eagles, Tiger Mask, & Kosei Fujita

There is some tension growing between Ishimori and ELP, stemming from ELP’s lack of confidence after his loaded boot was rendered useless.

Bullet Club started the match by jumping TM. The Bullet Club trio worked to isolate TM, keeping him in their corner. TM finally got the tag after a tiger driver.

Eagles turned things around for his team, taking out ELP in a quick sequence. ELP broke the flow with a dropkick, prompting a double tag to Fujita and Ishimori. Once legal, Fujita locked in the Boston crab, forcing Jado to break up the hold; this led to a ring clear. Ishimori set ELP up for a superkick, but ELP hesitated. After Ishimori failed to end the match, Ishimori hit bloody cross and pinned Fujita to close the match.

DOUKI & Taichi (Suzuki-gun) defeated Ryohei Oiwa & Tomohiro Ishii

Taichi and Ishii were the focus of this match; it seems a singles match, perhaps at the New Japan Cup, is in their future.

Ishii and Taichi opened the match with a quick sequence. After the pair proved they were near equals, they tagged out.

Oiwa fought his heart out only to fall to DOUKI offence. DOUKI was entirely dominant until a scoop slam bought Oiwa enough time to tag out. Ishii turned the match around, running through DOUKI and Taichi.

A quick enziguri let DOUKI tag back into Taichi. Taichi and Ishii levelled each other with strikes before a German suplex left Taichi lying. Oiwa tagged back in, to immediate offensive success. Oiwa locked in a Boston crab, forcing Taichi into the rope. After the rope break, Taichi turned things around with an axe bomber followed by a quick suplex. Taichi then pinned Oiwa, bringing this one to an end.

Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (Suzuki-gun)

Wato started the match hot, scoring uncontested arm drags on Desperado before tagging in Taguchi. Taguchi poached himself on the top rope, but Kanemaru reversed the whip, throwing Wato into Taguchi’s rump. Taguchi, unaware that his partner’s face bounced off his rear, was caught off guard once both of his opponents were left standing. Desperado and Taguchi then worked over Taguchi for some time.

A flying hip attack bought Taguchi a tag, and Wato took control back for his team, landing a springboard uppercut for a near fall. Desperado landed a spinebuster to turn things back around, but Wato withstood the attempt at double team offence before tagging into Taguchi.

Taguchi jumped off the ropes and fell; his knee appeared injured. Desperado and Kanemaru capitalised for a moment before a double hip attack left Taguchi back in the driver seat for a moment. Taguchi set up for the finish, but Kanemaru caught him with a dropkick to the knee before locking in a figure four leglock. Even after Taguchi escaped, Suzuki-gun continued to focus the leg. Kanemaru tried for another figure four, but Taguchi reversed for a quick pin that ended the match. 

Great-O-Khan defeated Satoshi Kojima

This match was quite good. O-Khan’s selling was excellent, and Kojima put in an emotional performance.

O-Khan started the match with a quick takedown into an armbar. After Kojima found the ropes, O-Khan brought the action outside. O-Khan slammed Kojima into the barricade and pulverised his arm with a chair. Back in the ring, O-Khan locked in the sheep killer and hit a TTD for a near fall.

Kojima sent O-Khan crashing to the floor to reverse momentum for the first time; this marked the beginning of O-Khan’s rib selling, a crucial point for the rest of the match. Once O-Khan was back between the ropes, Kojima connected with a flurry of chops and an elbow drop. Kojima tried for a rolling forearm, but O-Khan fell to the mat, clutching his ribs. Kojima then landed a cutter and a brainbuster before attempting a lariat; O-Khan ducked.

O-Khan retook control with a claw, letting out painful cries in the process. O-Khan landed an eliminator before pinning Kojima to close the match.

Even on his way to the back, O-Khan was heaving. He collapsed before making it through the curtain. 

BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA & Shingo Takagi (Los Ingobernables de Japon) defeated Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Yuji Nagata

This match felt pretty trivial, especially on this card.

Tanahashi and SANADA opened the match but didn’t stay in the ring long. Honma and the rest of his team tried isolating Hiromu, prompting the rest of LIJ to hit the ring, taking over the match.

With Tanahashi now legal and LIJ in control, SANADA tagged back in. After tying Tanahashi into the paradise lock, SANADA tried to take leg control. Tanahashi was able to turn things around with a dragonscrew before tagging Nagata in. Nagata found offensive success over SANADA and tagged in Makabe.

Against Makabe, SANADA scored a dropkick. Shingo tagged in and continued to gain momentum for LIJ. Makabe fought back with a lariat before tagging out to Honma. Honma connected with a bulldog and KoKeShi just as the rest of Honma’s partners hit the ring. After a short sequence, LIJ returned the favour, with all four members attacking Honma. Shingo landed a pumping bomber for a near fall before last of the dragon actually brought the match to an end.

After the conclusion, LIJ shared a moment in the ring, in a way letting SANADA celebrate his title win from last night. 

King Of Pro-Wrestling Championship, Dog Cage Match: Toru Yano defeated Minoru Suzuki (c)

This match, unsurprisingly, was ridiculous.

Something called “Tomo-Kun” accompanied Yano to the ring. Tomo-Kun is a red horned beast of some kind. Apparently, it’s an advertisement for Hokkaido of some sort.

Suzuki came to the ring with handcuffs and a bull rope.

Before the match started, Yano gave the referee his handcuff keys for some reason.

This match is won by locking your opponent in a dog cage.

Of all things, this match started with a chain wrestling sequence. This was followed by a strike exchange that saw Suzuki win out. Once the action left the ring, Suzuki slammed Yano into the barricade before leading Yano up the ramp. Suzuki then ran over Yano with the cage.

Suzuki threw Yano into the cage, but instead of locking Yano in it to win, Suzuki climbed into the cage with his opponent. After landing some strikes inside the cell, Suzuki tried to close it, but Yano escaped.

Things worked their way back to the ring. Suzuki then handcuffed one of Yano’s wrists, but a low blow let Yano escape sure defeat once more. Yano followed up by handcuffing Suzuki. Suzuki’s responded by bashing Yano over the head and completing Yano’s handcuff. Now both men were restrained.

The pair traded blows before Suzuki secured a choke. During this struggle, Suzuki procured a key from Yano and unlocked his handcuffs. Suzuki then began to whip Yano with the bull rope he brought to the ring. Suzuki took the bull rope and hung Yano over the ring before using it as a leash. Suzuki led Yano like a dog to the cage and placed him in it. Yano managed to link the rope to the cell, yank the collar, and trade positions with Suzuki. Yano threw Kosei Fujita into Suzuki to further occupy him. Suzuki couldn’t free himself, letting Yano lock up the cage to win the match.

After the match, Yano taunted Suzuki from outside the dog cage, KOPW trophy in hand. Suzuki took out his frustration, beating Fujita down as the other young lions rolled the cage to the back.

EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi (House Of Torture) (c) defeated Hirooki Goto, YOH & YOSHI-HASHI (CHAOS)

Yes, this was bad.

This match started with a brawl. The CHAOS trio gained the lead early, singling out Yujiro. After Yujiro was dealt with, the CHAOS squad hunted down Dick Togo and beat him down. This bought HoT enough time to turn things around.

The HoT squad isolated YH, slowly picking him apart. After a prolonged, cheating filled control sequence, YH reversed a suplex, leading to the hot tag. Goto launched a CHAOS rally, but HoT’s Togo stopped that from going too far.

SHO and YOH were left in the ring, letting YOH get in some offence. A dragonscrew into an OOP leg submission forced SHO into the ropes. SHO stole spacing by pulling the referee into YOH’s path, but YOH was unphased, landing a falcon arrow before a double tag.

EVIL distracted YH, giving Yujiro time to bite YH’s hand. This was followed by all of HoT attacking YH and scoring a near fall after a fisherman buster. Yujiro tried to use the cane, but the referee stopped him. The rest of CHAOS hit the ring, Goto and YH hit shoto and went for the pin; Togo pulled the referee to the outside.

With the referee down, EVIL hit YH with a chair before landing a magic killer with Togo’s help; YH managed to kick out even after this. CHAOS hit the ring, making the save. Meanwhile, SHO began assaulting people with the wrench. With the referee not looking, SHO flattened YH with the wrench, which Yujiro followed with big juice and the match-winning pin. 

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Tetsuya Naito

This is a foundational matchup for modern New Japan, but it didn’t feel that way heading into this particular iteration of this feud. Their last singles match is one of my all-time favourites, the climax to a generational rivalry, gold-standard championship reign, and a lightning-in-a-bottle title chase; this wasn’t entirely on that level because it couldn’t be, but it was close. That’s not to say this was anything less than fantastic; it clearly was. This was the best match so far from 2022 New Japan.

The match began with a prolonged feeling out process; both men scored takedowns and light offence in the early going.

A neckbreaker to the floor from Naito was the first piece of substantial offence. Naito continued to build momentum in the ring, landing moves and working Okada on the mat.

Okada started a rally with an air raid crash, followed by a flapjack. Okada’s continued his attack with a DDT to the ring apron and a hangman’s DDT to the floor. Back in the ring, Naito bounced back with a DDT of his own. Naito hammered away at Okada with heavy elbows before trying for Gloria; Okada stopped this with a boot. Okada then tried for a tombstone; Naito fought out only for Okada to secure the money clip. After Naito escaped the money clip, Okada maintained his control with a dropkick, followed by another money clip.

Okada tried for the rainmaker, but Naito reversed into the pluma blanca. Okada escaped, tried for heavy rain, but Naito reversed, almost into Destino. Naito tried for a full Destino, but Okada dropped him with a lariat. Okada gained wrist control on the mat but couldn’t land a rainmaker. Instead, Okada landed a tombstone and tried for a rainmaker once again; Naito reversed and landed Destino, leading to a near fall. Naito climbed to the top and landed stardust press; Okada kicked out again. Naito tried for Destino again, but Okada reversed into one of his own. Naito landed a German, Okada a dropkick, a brutal landslide, and a rainmaker to end this match.

After the match, Okada cut the show ending speech. He acknowledged El Desperado, presumably his opponent at the upcoming anniversary show. 

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 night two IWGP World title match set

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The main event of night two of NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 is official. 

New IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada will defend the title against former champ Will Ospreay in the main event of Wednesday’s show. 

Okada defeated Shingo Takagi in the main event of night one of Wrestle Kingdom 16 today to win the title and set the match for night two. Ospreay came to the ring and cut a promo taunting Okada, while Okada responded in kind with his own promo. 

Ospreay was the second-ever IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, defeating Kota Ibushi for the title last May. Ospreay then vacated the belt, citing a neck injury. Shingo went on to defeat Okada for the vacant title at Dominion in June, then held the belt until today. Ospreay returned at NJPW Resurgence in Los Angeles in August claiming to be the real IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, and has since been wrestling on NJPW Strong events in the United States. 

The full main card for night two of Wrestle Kingdom is now set, with just a pre-show match still to be announced. 

Here is the lineup: 

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 night two, Wednesday, January 5, 2 a.m. Eastern time pre-show, 3 a.m. Eastern time main card on NJPW World —

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Will Ospreay

No DQ match for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: KENTA (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Tetsuya Naito vs. Jeff Cobb

SANADA vs. Great-O-Khan

NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship: EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & SHO (c) vs. Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & YOH

Provisional KOPW 2022: Toru Yano vs. CIMA vs. Minoru Suzuki vs. Chase Owens

Stardom special: Mayu Iwatani & Starlight Kid vs. Tam Nakano & Saya Kamitani

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask (c) vs. Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo vs. Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero

Pre-show match: TBA

New champions crowned at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 night one

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Three titles changed hands on night one of NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16. 

In the main event of today’s show, Kazuchika Okada defeated Shingo Takagi to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship for the first time. After his win, Okada symbolically retired the v4 IWGP Heavyweight title belt that he had used to symbolize his G1 Climax 31 victory. 

Okada will now face Will Ospreay in the main event of night two of Wrestle Kingdom 16 on Wednesday. Ospreay was the second IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but did not lose the title in the ring, vacating it in May after suffering a neck injury. 

Shingo’s first IWGP World Heavyweight title reign ends at 211 days and three successful defenses. He originally won the title at Dominion in June 2021, defeating Okada for the title that Ospreay vacated.

World Tag League 2021 winners Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI defeated Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.) to win the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. With the win, YOSHI-HASHI claims his second career NJPW title, having previously only held the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship. 

This will mark Goto’s second reign as IWGP Heavyweight Tag title holder, having previously held the titles with Katsuyori Shibata. Taichi and Sabre’s third reign with the Heavyweight Tag belts ends at 163 days and one successful defense.

In the night’s first title change, EVIL defeated Tomohiro Ishii to win the NEVER Openweight Championship in a match that included interference from EVIL’s Bullet Club House of Torture stablemates Dick Togo, Yujiro Takahashi and SHO, a YOH run-in, two referees, chair shots, and a belt shot. 

EVIL ends Ishii’s sixth reign with the NEVER title at 52 days and zero successful defenses. This is the second NEVER title reign for EVIL.

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 night two main event set

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The main event of night two of NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 in Tokyo Dome has been announced. 

Will Ospreay will face the winner of the night one Shingo Takagi vs. Kazuchika Okada IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on night two on January 5, 2022. Okada earned the right to challenge Shingo for the title by winning the G1 Climax 31 tournament last month. Since his win, Okada has been carrying around the retired IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt to symbolize his victory. 

Ospreay laid out the challenge at Saturday’s Battle in the Valley event, but NJPW did not make the match official until Sunday. Shingo has held the IWGP World title since defeating Okada for the vacant Championship at Dominion in June. Ospreay originally vacated the same title in May due to a neck injury after defeating Kota Ibushi for the belt at Sakura Genesis in April. 

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 night one, Tuesday, January 4, 2022 —

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 night two, Wednesday, January 5, 2022 —

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi or Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom night three, Saturday, January 8, 2022 —

  • Card to be announced 

NJPW Power Struggle live results: Shingo vs. Sabre IWGP title match

Posted on by Chick Fritts

Shingo Takagi defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event of NJPW Power Struggle in Osaka. 

Sabre defeated Shingo in a non-title match during the G1 Climax tournament on September 23 to set up the IWGP title bout. The two have split their two career singles matches 1-1.

In the semi-main, G1 Climax 31 winner Kazuchika Okada will defend his Wrestle Kingdom title shot against Tama Tonga. Tama defeated Okada in the G1, Okada’s only blemish in the tournament. 

Four other titles will be on the line on today’s show. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi defends the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against KENTA. KENTA holds a 2-1 lead in their three career singles bouts. 

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles defends against El Desperado. The two have split their previous singles meetings 1-1.

Provisional KOPW 2021 Toru Yano defends against Great-O-Khan in an amateur rules match. This duo has also split their career singles bouts 1-1.

Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI defend the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championships against Bullet Club’s House of Torture (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and SHO). 

A series of tag matches fills out the undercard. Yuji Nagata, Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato will face SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI. Tiger Mask, Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma will take on Tanga Loa, Gedo and Jado. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI will face Young Lions Ryohei Oiwa and Kosei Fujita in the opener. 

Our live coverage begins at 4 a.m. Eastern time. 

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Suzuki-Gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI) defeated Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita 

This was well wrestled, precisely what you would expect from a young lion match. 

The Young Lions opened the match with energy but failed to maintain their early lead. The Young Lion duo regained control after DOUKI, who started the match, tagged out, but this too was short-lived as Kanemaru took advantage of their inexperience. A scoop slam and Boston crab led to the Suzuki-Gun favoured submission.

BULLET CLUB (Tanga Loa, Jado & Gedo) defeated Tiger Mask, Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma

This wasn’t good, per se, but it was fun at times and didn’t overstay its welcome. 

Gedo and Tiger Mask opened the match, but Loa and Gedo hit the ring soon after Tiger Mask gained advantage. Tiger Mask not only tried but succeeded in fighting off all three of his opponents. Makabe and Honma then traded tags, taking complete control for their team. 

The brawling continued for some time, with everyone hitting something. Honma and Loa traded strikes after the ring was cleared. Loa connected with a driver after surviving the onslaught before pinning Honma.

Los Ingobernables De Japon (SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) defeated Yuji Nagata, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato 

This match featured structural elements that I am not a fan of, but similar to the previous match, it was amusing and brief. 

Taguchi and Hiromu opened the match with a lively exchange. With aid from Taguchi, Wato secured some match presence. This led to SANADA and BUSHI hitting the ring to take control. Wato managed to survive before tagging Nagata into the match. 

Nagata and SANADA began a brawl that demanded intervention from Hiromu. Nagata fought off both before tagging in Taguchi, who ran through all three of his opponents, hitting them all with hip attacks. SANADA ended the sequence with an atomic drop, triggering a 6-way brawl. A hip attack from Taguchi also ended the brawl. Taguchi then embraced his Nakamura, hitting the signature taunt and SANADA with the Bomaye. SANADA kicked out of the pin and escaped the ankle lock that followed before bridging Taguchi for a sudden finish. 

NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag team Championships: HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & SHO) defeated CHAOS (Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI) to win the titles

This match was long and not very good. In a match that should be filled with impassioned disputes between ex-faction-mates, fluff filled most of the run time. 
The first title match of the night opened with a brawl. As the dust settled, Yujiro and Goto shared the ring. Yujiro secured control inside the ropes with aid from EVIL, who removed the turnbuckle pad just in time for a slam into the hooks. EVIL then tagged in, choked Goto with a towel, and tagged out. 

SHO, now legal, traded blows with Goto. Goto won the exchange and fought off the opposing rally before tagging Ishii into the match. Ishii ran through his former faction mate, but a pause, seemingly caused by emotion, allowed SHO to gain an advantage. SHO then proved he was also susceptible to the same flaw, as a pause allowed Ishii to take control back from him. Ishii’s momentum was vanquished with a kick from EVIL, leading to a SHO spear and tag.

It was YH who gained control of EVIL, only for a cane shot and a whip into the exposed buckles to recement HOT dominance. YH endured all of the underhanded tactics and interference before landing a superkick that forced a breakup. YH’s rally also was met with resistance from EVIL, but it was outside interference that caused another brawl.

The CHOAS team had a visible pin after emerging from the smoke, but the referee was pulled outside the ring. This led to all-out BULLET CLUB chicanery. Alone in the ring with YH, Evil hit Everything is Evil, leading to the pin and new champions. 

As the new champions celebrated (by attacking the former champions), YOH returned, running off House of Torture. SHO fled before YOH could get his hands on him. 

KOPW 2021 Amateur Wrestling Rules: Toru Yano defeated Great-O-Khan to retain the title

Before the match started, Nagata explained the rules in Japanese. I do not speak Japanese, however, so I had no clue what was happening. Thankfully, there was a scoreboard. 

O-Khan entered the ring in a singlet, so you know this is serious business, and in case you didn’t think this was serious, Yano also had a singlet—talk about big match feel. 

Period 1
As the match started, O-Khan and Yano wrestled into the ropes; the referee, equipped with a whistle, stood the pair back up. Soon after, Yano pushed O-Khan into the ropes again, but this time, he scored a point. 1-0 Yano. O-Khan responded with a takedown; for this, he received two points. 2-1 O-Khan. O-Khan maintained his lead by rolling Yano around, scoring two more points. 4-1 O-Khan. 

Period 2 
Period two started with Yano pushing O-Khan into the ropes for a quick point. 4-2 O-Khan. O-Khan then placed Yano in the ropes to regain the 3 point lead. 5-3 O-Khan. Yano stuffed a takedown before landing a colossal suplex shooting him into a lead late in the 2nd. Final score: 6-5 Yano, in a photo finish. 

After Yano won the match and had his hand raised, O-Khan beat down the winner with help from Toa Henare. Thankfully, Nagata restored order. 

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado defeated Robbie Eagles to win the title

This was quite good. The multi-dimensional leg work weaved through the match was made all the sweeter by the payoff. 

The opening sequence was fairly typical. Eagles slightly outwrestled Desparado, but Desperado took advantage of momentary openings, leading to significant Desperado favoured offence. Said sequence was punctuated with a beautiful dive from Desperado, leaving the challenger with control of the champion early. 

Desperado focused his attention on the champion’s legs, a move reciprocated by Eagles. After Eagles fought to his feet, he connected with multiple kicks before hitting a dive of his own; after landing the move, Eagles limped back in the ring before hitting a springboard dropkick. Eagles then locked in the Ron Miller Special that forced Desperado in the ropes. 

Desperado finally regained some footing after a sudden spine buster. Desperado wasted no time either, as he turned his attention back to the legs of Eagles. Eagles fought through the pain, though, landing a superkick and attempting the 450; Desperado blocked the move with his knees. 

With both men essentially on equal footing, a strike battle began. After the striking broke down, the pair traded increasingly impactful offence. This led to near falls and more leg work. After an Eagles rollup attempt was reversed, Desperado locked in Numero Dos, his over the shoulder single leg Boston Crab that Eagles failed to escape. Desperado is champion. 

IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: KENTA defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the title

This match was great in its second half. Getting there was almost a chore, but once it picked up, it was incredible. 

KENTA tried setting the mood early on by overwhelming Tanahashi’s crowd reaction with claps of his own; this failed. KENTA then continued the antics by leaving the ring for a while. After he finally re-entered the ropes, Tanahashi connected with a sequence that sent him back outside. This time Tanahashi capitalised with a dive. KENTA then grabbed the IWGP US Belt and began to run away. 

After Tanahashi caught up to KENTA, KENTA hit a quick slam on the ramp. Tanahashi broke the referee’s count at 19. KENTA then removed the turnbuckle pad before slamming Tanahsi into the exposed metal. To follow this up, KENTA connected with multiple closed fist strikes in mount. KENTA was in control. KENTA tried draping Tanahashi over the second rope for a hangman’s DDT, but Tanahashi caught KENTA with a dragonscrew; this led to the match spilling outside, and on the outside, KENTA flourished. KENTA pulled a table from beneath the ring that he set up ringside. KENTA then positioned Tanashi for a GTS from the apron to the floor through a table. Tanahashi evaded his doom only to be hit with the hangman’s DDT. KENTA then hit a double foot stomp before turning his attention back to the table. 

KENTA placed Tanahashi on the furniture before climbing to the top rope, but Tanahashi rolled off before KENTA could connect. Tanahashi then landed a sling blade, gaining control on the outside. Tanahashi now set KENTA on the table and climbed to the top himself. High Fly Flow put KENTA through the table. 

Back in the ring, Tanahashi hit High Fly Flow again, but on his third attempt, he ran into the knees of KENTA. KENTA then secured a crossface to reset momentum in his favour. KENTA hoisted Tanahashi for a GTS, but Tanahashi escaped, hitting a dragonscrew to reset match flow again. KENTA survived by throwing Tanahashi into the exposed corner, opening him up for a running knee. KENTA tried again for a GTS, but again was hit with a sling blade. KENTA again recovered by throwing Tanahashi into the corner. This time, KENTA succeeded in hitting the GTS before pinning Tanahashi to win IWGP gold. 

Tokyo Dome IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Right to Challenge: Kazuchika Okada defeated Tama Tonga

I was generally not a fan of this. The majority of this match felt bloated, but hey, the closing sequence was good. It just wasn’t for me. 

The two began a battle of offence as soon as the match started. Okada gained momentum from the opening exchange; this lasted until the match fell outside the ropes. On the outside, Tama landed a suplex that left Okada motionless; at the count of 19, Okada re-entered the ring. Now on the inside, Tama’s control continued via a chinlock turned choke. 

Okada finally freed himself from the prolonged hold before connecting with a big boot. A flapjack left Tama grounded on the inside, and a dropkick sent him crashing to the outside. This time on the outside, Okada had success. After rolling Tama back in the ring, a top rope dropkick led to an Okada near fall. Okada followed the near fall with the money clip. 

After escaping the money clip, Tama rolled to the outside. Okada tried for a tombstone close to the ramp, but Tanga freed himself and delivered Tongan Twist. Back in the ring, another Tongan Twist led to a Tama near fall. Okada dodged a strike and locked in the money clip in the centre of the ring. Tama made it to the rope moments before unconsciousness. Okada then tried for the rainmaker, but Tama ducked. Tama caught Okada with an Alabama slam that he followed with a top rope dive for a convincing near fall. Okada stuffed three gun stuns to stay in the match. 

Okada tried for a tombstone but was blocked; a dropkick found the mark, however. Okada tried again but was hit with a tombstone instead of delivering one. A dropkick from Okada followed a dropkick from Tama. Okada tried again for a tombstone and failed again; this led directly to the climax. In a move dense closing sequence, Okada closed the match with a rainmaker. 

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. to retain the title

I enjoyed this a lot, but it could have been significantly better with a shorter run time. So many of the sequences were excellent, but with so much, it’ll be hard to pick out anything meaningful. 

The opening sequence consisted of ZSJ trying for holds and Shingo evading them. A shoulder tackle opened ZSJ to strikes from the champion in the first play of control. This was short-lived, however, as ZSJ continually caught an open limb. 

Shingo was not afraid to engage on the mat, forcing ZSJ into the ropes in an early exchange. ZSJ’s response was to exit the ring, effectively resetting the match. ZSJ then caught Shingo in the ropes, gaining control for himself; a punt to a prone Shingo only cemented this. 

Shingo eventually fought to a standing position after turning a choke into a slam. Shingo followed up with heavy strikes and a DDT leading to a near fall. After the pin attempt, more strikes reigned in, but again ZSJ capitalised on an opening to take the match back to the mat. 

After the match returned to an upright position, a remarkable sequence of suplexes and strikes created another reset. This time, a dragonscrew from Shingo left him in the driver’s seat. Shingo hit a powerbomb that he turned into a crossface that forced ZSJ back in the ropes. 

ZSJ used the rope break to scrap back into a favourable position. After a lightning-quick strike, the Zack Driver left both men lying. ZSJ tried for a choke, Shingo dropped him, ZSJ grabbed the arm. After escaping, Shingo hit a strike, but again the match returned to the mat. On the mat, Shingo secured a choke. ZSJ fought himself free only to be hit with Made in Japan, resulting in a near fall; a pumping bomber followed.

Shingo hoisted ZSJ to the top rope, where a struggle commenced. ZSJ pulled Shingo down into an armbar. Shingo fell into the ropes to escape. ZSJ then continued the attack on the arm. After another Zack Driver and another kick out, ZSJ grew visibly frustrated. ZSJ locked in a choke while on the back of Shingo. Shingo climbed to the top, where he fell onto ZSJ. ZSJ was unphased as he immediately took Shingo’s arm once again. Shingo powered through and hit Made in Japan again, ZSJ kicked out.

ZSJ and Shingo began trading hard strikes; Shingo won this exchange. ZSJ immediately took control via grappling again, and a quick pin almost left him with gold. Another pumping bomber, another ZSJ kick out. With the end in sight, Shingo hit Last of the Dragon, leading to the pin. 

After the match, Okada walked out to the ring with the old belt on his shoulder. He cut a promo, Shingo responded, close show.

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam live results: Shingo Takagi vs. EVIL

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Shingo Takagi defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against EVIL in the main event of night two of Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome.

The match will mark Shingo’s return to the ring after being out of action after a positive COVID-19 test announced on August 17.

In the semi-main, Robbie Eagles will try for his first defense of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. He faces Hiromu Takahashi, who has just returned to NJPW after missing six months with a torn pectoral. 

The IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship will be on the line as Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. defend against Tetsuya Naito and SANADA, plus Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI in a three-way. 

The first of four title matches on the evening, Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo will defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against Super Junior Tag League 2021 winners El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru. 

In the main card opener, Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii will face Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan. Cobb defeated Okada on yesterday’s Wrestle Grand Slam show. 

On the pre-show, winners of yesterday’s STARDOM showcase match Momo Watanabe and Saya Kamitani will take on Giulia in Syuri in today’s showcase. 

Our live coverage begins with the pre-show at 1:30 a.m. Eastern time. 

**********

Pre-show STARDOM match: Giulia & Syuri defeated Momo Watanabe & Saya Kamitani (11:31)

This was a more complex match than last night’s STARDOM showcase. I think last night’s was just slightly better, but this had more star power and was very good as well. 

Giulia and Momo began with a brief bit of chain wrestling, then quickly tagged out. Same pattern as the match last night. Syuri and Kamitani tagged in. Kamitani was quickly cut off. 

Syuri and Giulia used quick tags and went to work on Kamitani. Momo jumped in for an illegal double team save. Kamitani connected with a one-legged dropkick to Giulia. Momo then got a tag and continued working on Giulia. 

Giulia made her own comeback and hit a missile dropkick. Syuri tagged in for a shotgun dropkick and a near fall on Momo. Momo hit a uranage for a two count, then tagged Kamitani. 

Kamitani and Syuri traded strikes. Kamitani hit a pump kick for a two count. Syuri and Giulia doubled up on Kamitani. Syuri used a shining wizard for a two count. Kamitani hit a frankensteiner and a springboard crossody from the top rope to the floor. 

Kamitani hit a northern lights suplex for a two count, then hit Star Crusher. She went to the top for a phoenix splash, but Giulia cut her off from the apron. 

Syuri used an arm capture superplex for a near fall, then used a kimura to set up a stretch muffler. Momo saved, but Giulia hit her with a northern lights bomb to clear the deck for Syuri and Kamitani. 

Syuri hit a series of kicks. Kamitani hit a poison rana. Syuri hit a high kick for a two count. Giulia and Syuri hit a tandem slam. 

Syuri then used a Byakko stretch muffler to submit Kamitani. 

**********

Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan defeated Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii (12:45)

This was a solid opener with some impressive work from Cobb and some cool dropkicks from Okada.

This quickly broke down into a brawl around ringside. Cobb hit Okada with a release belly-to-belly on the floor. Cobb and O-Khan worked Okada over in the ring. Okada came back with an air raid crash neckbreaker to Cobb and tagged out. 

Cobb and Ishii traded power moves. Ishii hit a vertical suplex. Cobb then hit Ishii with a release belly-to-belly. Ishii was cut off and isolated in United Empire’s half of the ring. Okada entered to even the odds and hit a flapjack to Cobb. 

Ishii and O-Khan traded strikes in the ring as Cobb and Okada rolled to the floor. Cobb and O-Khan used tandem offense on Ishii, but Okada broke up a pin attempt. Cobb plucked Okada out of the air as he jumped for a dropkick. Okada escaped a Tour of the Islands and hit dropkicks to both Cobb and O-Khan. 

Ishii escaped an Eliminator from O-Khan, but O-Khan got it on his second attempt and pinned Ishii as Cobb held Okada on the floor. 

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo to win the titles (20:28)

This division really needs some new blood. These guys have traded the titles and almost exclusively wrestled each other for a year now. This was good but they have had a few better matches this year. 

Bullet Club overcame a Suzuki-gun jumpstart before the bell. ELP used a springboard crossbody and a quebrada on Kanemaru. Kanemaru came back with kicks to ELP’s left leg. ELP took a bump on his head off a dropkick to the knee. 

Kanemaru and Desperado went to work on ELP’s left leg. Desperado used an Indian deathlock. ELP and Ishimori came back on Desperado and used their comedy back rake offense and crotch stomps in the corner with Desperado in the tree of woe. Kanemaru tried to save and ended up getting crotch stomped as well. 

Desperado hit a spinebuster to ELP, but Ishimori pulled Kanemaru off the apron to prevent a tag. Ishimori hit a sliding German to Desperado for a near fall. Desperado managed a tag. Kanemaru cradled Ishimori for a two count. ELP hit a senton to Kanemaru out of an Ishimori codebreaker. 

Kanemaru caught ELP in a figure four. ELP forced  a rope break. Kanemaru and Desperado continued to attack ELP’s left leg. Desperado used Numero Dos on ELP while Kanemaru used a camel clutch on Ishimori. ELP forced another rope break. 

ELP rolled up Desperado while holding the tights for a near fall. ELP and Desperado traded strikes. ELP loaded his boot and hit Desperado with two kicks. ELP hit Desperado with his own Pinche Loco for a two count. 

Ishimori hit the Cipher Utaki to Desperado. ELP followed with Thunder Kiss 86 for a near fall with Kanemaru saving. Ishimori hit a moonsault to the floor to take out Kanemaru. ELP took off his loaded boot. Desperado ducked the boot. Ishimori bumped the referee. 

Kanemaru hit Ishimori with a whiskey bottle. Desperado hit ELP with the loaded boot. Desperado then hit Pinche Loco and pinned ELP.

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (w/Miho Abe) defeated Tetsuya Naito & SANADA & Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI to retain the titles (26:43)

This was a lot of fun. 

The rules for the match were that only two guys could be legal at a time. This proved to be more of a suggestion than a rule as this was pure chaos. It was nearly impossible to tell who was legal at any given time. Just move, move, move, move, move.

SANADA used a paradise lock. Sabre used a Euro clutch for a near fall. Naito used a jackknife cradle for a near fall. YH hit a powerbomb for a near fall. Taichi hit an axe bomber. SANADA used an O’Connor roll for a near fall. 

It appeared to come down to SANADA and YH. Goto hit a plancha to both Sabre and Taichi to take them out. YH hit a meteora to SANADA for a near fall. SANADA avoided Kharma. YH avoided Skull End and hit a lariat. 

SANADA blocked a butterfly lock attempt from YH. Naito saved. SANADA hit a TKO to YH for a near fall with Goto saving. SANADA hit a back suplex to YH for a near fall. Sabre and Taichi got back in. Naito hit a swing DDT and took out both Sabre and Taichi. 

YH broke out of Skull End and cradled SANADA for two. YH broke the hold again and used another cradle for two. SANADA used Skull End with a body scissors. He gave up the hold to try a moonsault, but Taichi blind-tagged himself in. 

Sabre caught Naito in an octopus as he tried to save YH. Taichi then hit Black Mephisto and pinned YH. 

**********

G1 Climax 31 announcement —

Block finals will be on October 20, with A Block and B Block winners facing off on October 21. Here is the field of 20:

A Block

  • Kota Ibushi
  • Tetsuya Naito
  • Shingo Takagi
  • Zack Sabre Jr.
  • Toru Yano
  • Tomohiro Ishii
  • Yujiro Takahashi
  • Tanga Loa
  • KENTA
  • Great-O-Khan

B Block

  • SANADA
  • Taichi
  • YOSHI-HASHI
  • Hirooki Goto
  • Jeff Cobb
  • EVIL
  • Tama Tonga
  • Chase Owens
  • Kazuchika Okada
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi

**********

*****Intermission*****

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles defeated Hiromu Takahashi to retain the title (24:07)

This was excellent. The leg work from last night’s tag match came into play, so you were rewarded for paying attention. This is easily the biggest win of Robbie’s career and Hiromu is such a star that he wasn’t hurt by the loss. 

It should not come as a shock to you that they began with a lightning-quick series of counters and reversals. Eagles hit a stomp to Hiromu’s left leg to soften it up for the Ron Miller Special. Eagles hit a flip dive to the floor and they crashed into the barricade. 

Eagles brought the action back inside the ring at the five minute mark. He stomped at both of Hiromu’s legs. Hiromu got a brief flurry of offense, but Eagles went back after the legs. He hit a 619 to the legs and a springboard dropkick to the left leg. 

Eagles used the Ron Miller Special. Hiromu crawled to the ropes to force a break. Hiromu blocked turbo backpack and hit a DVD into the buckle. Hiromu followed up with a sunset bomb. 

Eagles beat the count back in after the sunset bomb at 19. Hiromu hit a lariat for a near fall just past 15 minutes. Eagles blocked a pop-up powerbomb, but Hiromu hit two thrust kicks and victory royale for a two count. 

Eagles grabbed two quick cradles for near falls. Hiromu hit Dynamite Plunger for a near fall. Hiromu was bleeding from the mouth. Hiromu hit a lariat, then an inverted DDT. They fought to the top rope. Eagles escaped the corner and hit a dropkick to Hiromu’s left leg as he was prone on the top rope. 

Eagles hit turbo backpack off the top rope, but only got a two count. Eagles hit two thrust kicks and a 450 splash to the legs. Eagles used the Ron Miller Special again. This time it was enough, as Hiromu tapped out. 

**********

Desperado came to the ring after the match He said he wants a rematch, but not just a rematch, a rematch with the Junior Tag titles on the line as well. 

I’m not sure if this is a pair of matches with Desperado and Kanemaru against Eagles and Tiger Mask, or if they’re talking about a singles match. 

Hopefully we’ll get some clarity when the match is officially announced.

**********

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi defeated EVIL (w/Yujiro Takahashi, SHO & Dick Togo) to retain the title (30:20)

The Bullet Club interference and ref bumps are beyond parody at this point. This was a mess of interference, ref bumps, run-ins, ejections, returns after ejections, weapon shots, ring announcer bumps and everything else. 

SHO jumped on the apron with a chair right off the bat. Shingo was distracted, allowing EVIL to attack. Shingo grabbed a side headlock, but EVIL powered him down. They traded chops. Shingo hit a shoulder tackle. 

Shingo hit a suplex for a near fall. EVIL rolled outside. Shingo whipped him into the barricade. Togo provided a distraction. EVIL bumped Shingo into the barricade and the ring announcer. They did the spot again and the ring announcer went flying. 

EVIL hit a baseball swing chair shot. Yujiro exposed a buckle. EVIL whipped Shingo into the exposed steel. EVIL threw Shingo outside. EVIL took the ref as Togo, Yujiro and SHO tripled up on Shingo on the floor. Red Shoes refused to count the pin as Shingo was thrown back inside. 

EVIL used an abdominal stretch. Togo interfered to provide more leverage. SHO and Yujiro got involved as well. Red Shoes kicked at EVIL’s arm to break up the human centipede. 

EVIL hit a vertical suplex for two. Shingo made a comeback with a series of chops and a DDT. Yujiro, SHO and Togo interfered again on the floor. They took the referee. Shingo set EVIL and Togo up at the ring announcer’s table, then bumped SHO and Yujiro into them. 

Red Shoes finally ejected Togo, Yujiro and SHO. 

Shingo hit noshigami, a wheelbarrow suplex and a sliding lariat. EVIL used Red Shoes for a Magic Killer. EVIL hit a top rope superplex. EVIL used a scorpion deathlock, but Shingo forced a rope break. 

EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. Shingo blocked two Everything is EVIL attempts and got shot into the exposed buckle. Shingo flew out of the corner for a lariat into a double down. 

Togo made his way back to the ring. Shingo hit Made in Japan, but Togo pulled Red Shoes out of the ring before the three count. Togo choked Shingo with his ligature. Shingo broke free, but Yujiro ran back in and hit Shingo with Pimp Juice. EVIL made a cover, but Shingo kicked out and threw EVIL into Red Shoes for yet another ref bump. 

Togo choked Shingo again. BUSHI ran in for the save. SHO hit a German to BUSHI. SHO hit a chair shot to Shingo’s head. SHO went for Shock Arrow, but Naito and SANADA ran in for the save. 

Togo apparently bladed somewhere here, as he popped up with a bloody face and hit a belt shot to Naito. EVIL hit Shingo with a low blow. Shingo and EVI fought over the belt. The referee came to just as Shingo was about to use the belt. 

Shingo blocked a low blow and hit a lariat to EVIL. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber at 30 minutes, then connected with Last of the Dragon and got the pin. 

**********

Hiromu limped to the ring after the match. Shingo cut a promo and talked about having COVID and his tough last few weeks. He put over Hiromu and put over his LIJ teammates. 

LIJ celebrated in the ring to close the show. 

Will Ospreay returns at NJPW Resurgence, disputes IWGP title

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Will Ospreay returned to NJPW at Saturday’s Resurgence event and declared himself the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. 

In a promo, Ospreay said that he was medically cleared to return, but that he would not be returning to the main NJPW unit or participating in the 2021 G1 Climax tournament. 

Instead, Ospreay said, he will be appearing on NJPW Strong and defending the IWGP title on that show. Ospreay said he was never pinned and never submitted, therefore he is still the rightful IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. 

Ospreay said that he broke his neck for NJPW, and all he needed was four months away to rest up, but the company decided to strip him of his title. He said that when Jon Moxley could not defend the IWGP US title due to travel issues, NJPW showed favoritism and refused to strip Moxley, but they stripped him the first chance they had. 

Ospreay’s Resurgence return marks his first NJPW appearance since May 4, when he successfully defended the IWGP World title against Shingo Takagi on night two of Wrestling Donatku. NJPW announced on May 20 that Ospreay was vacating the title due to a neck injury and returning to the UK.

Three title matches set for NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Three title matches have been announced for NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome on Sunday, September 5.

In the main event, Shingo Takagi will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against EVIL. This match was set up at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome when EVIL attacked Shingo after his main event title defense against Hiroshi Tanahashi. 

The IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship will be on the line in a three-way at MetLife Dome. Champions Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. will defend against Tetsuya Naito & SANADA, as well as Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI. Taichi and Sabre defeated Naito and SANADA for the titles at the Tokyo Dome. Following their win, Goto and YOSHI-HASHI appeared and declared their intentions to be the next challengers. 

Also announced, new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles will defend his title against the returning Hiromu Takahashi. Hiromu has been out of action with a torn pectoral, but announced last week that he has been medically cleared. 

Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome will be a two-night event on Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 5. No matches have been announced for the September 4 show. 

Here is the lineup for night two:

NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome, Sunday, September 5, 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. EVIL
  • IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi

NJPW’s EVIL to challenge for IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

Posted on by Ethan Renner

A familiar face appeared to issue a challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at the conclusion of today’s NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo event. 

Following Shingo Takagi’s successful defense of the IWGP title over Hiroshi Tanahashi, EVIL asserted himself as the next challenger.

As Shingo addressed the crowd following his win, he was interrupted by a promo by EVIL and Dick Togo on the video wall. EVIL stated that regardless of who had won the match, he was stepping up as the next challenger. 

After the video, EVIL and Togo appeared in the ring. EVIL attacked Shingo with his Everything is EVIL STO and laid the champion out. EVIL posed over Shingo with the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship as the show concluded. 

EVIL is a former IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental double champion, beating Tetsuya Naito to win both titles at NJPW Dominion in July 2020. His reign with the titles lasted 48 days, as he dropped the belts back to Naito at Summer Struggle in Jingu in August 2020. 

In addition to his double IWGP title reign, EVIL’s career accolades include two IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team title reigns, a NEVER Openweight title reign, four reigns with the NEVER Openweight Six-Man titles, two World Tag League wins, plus the 2020 New Japan Cup victory. 

New IWGP World Champion crowned at NJPW Dominion

Posted on by Ethan Renner

A new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion was crowned today at NJPW Dominion in Osaka-Jo Hall. 

Shingo Takagi defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the title in the show’s main event. 

Shingo hit Okada with a dragon suplex, a diving forearm strike and a Last of the Dragon to win the title in 36:00 of a battle that saw both repeatedly use Okada’s Rainmaker finisher. 

After his title win, Shingo called out Kota Ibushi. Ibushi beat Jeff Cobb in an unofficial number one contender’s match earlier in the evening and was the first IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Shingo challenged Ibushi and the challenge was accepted. No date was announced for the match. 

Shingo becomes the third IWGP World Heavyweight Champion since the title’s inception in March of this year. 

NJPW’s former top two titles, the IWGP Heavyweight title and IWGP Intercontinental title, were put on the line in a winner take all match won by Tetsuya Naito at Wrestle Kingdom 14 in January 2020. Following Naito’s win, both titles were on the line in each IWGP Heavyweight Championship match, with one exception. That exception was an Ibushi Intercontinental title defense against Naito at Castle Attack in February 2021. 

Following Ibushi’s defense of both the Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles at the NJPW Anniversary Show on March 4, they were officially retired. Ibushi was then recognized as the first IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and presented with the new title belt at the March 30 Road to Sakura Genesis event.

Ibushi would lose the IWGP World title to Will Ospreay in his first defense at Sakura Genesis on April 4. Ospreay made one defense of the title, beating Shingo at Wrestling Dontaku on May 4. Ospreay officially vacated the title on May 20, citing a neck injury. 

NJPW Dominion live results: Okada vs. Shingo IWGP World title match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is on the line tonight at NJPW Dominion in Osaka-Jo Hall. 

Kazuchika Okada will face Shingo Takagi for the title vacated by Will Ospreay last month due to a neck injury. Okada and Shingo have met twice before in singles matches. Okada beat Shingo in the 2020 G1 Climax tournament, while Shingo was the winner in the 2021 New Japan Cup tournament. 

In the semi-main, Kota Ibushi will face Jeff Cobb. These two had a crazy pull-apart at a Road to Dominion event last week in Korakuen Hall. 

El Desperado will defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against YOH. This match was scheduled for Wrestling Dontaku last month, but was postponed due to COVID protocols. 

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI, plus Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & SHO vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Chase Owens, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo round out the undercard. 

Our live coverage begins at 5 a.m. Eastern time. 

**********

Hiromu Takahashi opened the show with a promo. He said he’s recovering well from his injury and will challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship soon. 

He then previewed the card and rallied the crowd. 

**********

EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Chase Owens, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (w/Dick Togo) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & SHO (11:49)

This was a solid opener that really could have used a few more minutes. 

Tanahashi and Owens began. Owens mocked Tana’s air guitar. Tana hit a second rope crossbody. Ishimori tried to interfere from the apron, but SHO jumped in to even things out. Bullet Club turned this into a brawl around ringside and gained the upper hand. 

YOSHI-HASHI ended up the legal man and cut off in Bullet Club’s corner. YH made a comeback on EVIL, then tagged Ishii. Goto and SHO jumped in for some spots, including a double spear from SHO on ELP and Ishimori. Togo distracted Ishii and EVIL hit a fisherman buster for a near fall. 

SHO and Ishimori tagged in for the closing sequence. Everyone jumped in for a big move. Tana hit Ishimori with slingblade. Ishimori and ELP doubled up on SHO and got a near fall. EVIL took the ref, Togo choked Ishii. Ishimori hit SHO with a Bloody Cross and pinned him. 

**********

Bullet Club continued attacking after the bell. EVIL, Yujiro and Togo went after Goto, Ishii and YH, so that looks to be a NEVER Six-Man Tag title match for the next tour. 

**********

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI defeated Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI (11:32)

It looks as though they’re positioning Naito and SANADA as the next challengers for Taichi and Sabre’s IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles. Naito and Taichi began here. Naito shot for a single-leg takedown on the referee. Things turned serious and Sabre and SANADA jumped in. They did a couple of cool four-way spots. 

Suzuki-gun turned this into a brawl around ringside. DOUKI choked BUSHI with his steel pipe on the floor. DOUKI and BUSHI ended up the legal men. BUSHI was beaten down, then managed a DDT. 

Taichi and Naito tagged back in. Naito hit a neckbreaker and his Tranquilo pose. SANADA tagged in for a double hip toss and a sliding dropkick to Taichi for a two count. Taichi hit an axe bomber, then tagged Sabre. 

Sabre used a cobra twist. SANADA teased a paradise lock, but Sabre blocked and hit a neck twist. Suzuki-gun went 3-on-1 against SANADA. Sabre hit a PK for a two count. Taichi and Sabre teased Zack Mephisto. Naito saved. BUSHI hit a tope suicida to Taichi. DOUKI hit a tope to BUSHI. 

Sabre tried to turn a SANADA O’Connor roll into a European clutch. SANADA blocked, then trapped Sabre’s shoulders and pinned him. 

Naito, SANADA, Taichi and Sabre had a long staredown after the match and taunted each other.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado defeated YOH to retain the title (23:40)

This was very good. Both guys are super workers. The psychology was simple work a body part, but sound. 

They opened with some chain wrestling. Neither man got a clear advantage over the other. YOH reversed a whip and hit a dropkick, sending Desperado outside. Desperado pulled YOH to the floor and whipped him into the barricade to take control of the bout. 

Desperado grabbed a bucket from under the ring and threw it inside to distract the referee. Desperado then used a chair on YOH’s left leg. Back in the ring, Desperado continued to target the left leg. Desperado hit a splash to the leg for a near fall. 

YOH hit a sunset flip for a hope spot near fall. Desperado came back with an Indian deathlock, but YOH forced a rope break. YOH tried a suplex, but his leg gave way. YOH hit a series of back elbows and a flying forearm. 

YOH began to target Desperado’s right leg. He used an inverted figure four. Desperado forced a rope break. YOH hit a dropkick to the right leg. Desperado reversed a whip and hit a spinebuster. He went for Numero Dos. He got the hold, but YOH quickly made the ropes. 

Desperado hit a stiff forearm shot, but YOH refused to go down. Desperado hit a back suplex and a vertical suplex for a near fall. YOH escaped a Guitarra de Angel, but sold his leg on landing. They fought to the floor. YOH hit a shotgun dropkick into the barricade. 

YOH hit a plancha and a tope con giro. YOH threw Desperado back in after a countout tease. YOH hit a missile dropkick and a falcon arrow for a two count. Desperado came back with a dragon screw in the corner. 

They traded forearms, then traded kicks to their respective bad legs. YOH hit a flatliner. Desperado hit an Angle slam and Guitarra de Angel for a near fall at the 20 minute call. 

Desperado went for Pinche Loco. YOH blocked with a jumping knee. YOH reversed Numero Dos into a cradle for a two count, then slapped on his Stargazer submission hold. YOH rolled through and blocked one rope break, but Desperado crawled back to the ropes to force the break. 

YOH hit a dragon suplex for a two count. Desperado blocked Direct Drive. YOH blocked a right hand, but Desperado hit a headbutt. YOH blocked Pinche Loco and used a roll-up for two. YOH hit a superkick. Desperado hit a straight right hand. 

Desperado then hit Pinche Loco and got the pin to retain the title.

**********

SHO came to the ring to tend to YOH. El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori ran in. ELP said they’l be challenging SHO and YOH for the Junior Tag titles on the Kizuna Road tour. 

Ishimori then addressed Desperado and said it’s now his time to challenge him for the Junior Heavyweight title. Desperado accepted the challenge. 

***** Intermission *****

Kota Ibushi defeated Jeff Cobb (w/Great-O-Khan) (19:53)

This was a great match. These guys have super chemistry and I’d like to see this again. 

They didn’t touch for nearly the first full minute. After posturing, Ibushi landed a dropkick. Ibushi tried to land some strikes, but Cobb covered up. Cobb used a double-leg takedown and hit some strikes from Ibushi’s guard. 

Ibushi rolled outside, but Cobb went out after him to keep the pressure on. Cobb hit some heavy strikes on the floor. Cobb powered Ibushi up and posted his lower back. Back inside, Cobb hit a headbutt, then went back after Ibushi’s back. 

Ibushi came back with a flying mid kick. Cobb quickly cut him off again and used a variety of strikes. Cobb continued to target Ibushi’s back with knees, then stood on Ibushi’s back. Ibushi hit a kick from his back on the mat, but Cobb stayed on the attack with power strikes. 

Cobb hit a short-arm lariat. Cobb went for a standing moonsault, but Ibushi got his knees up. Both missed a charge into the corner. Ibushi hit a standing moonsault for a two count. Cobb ducked a high kick and hit a back suplex, then landed his own standing moonsault for a near fall. 

Ibushi sent Cobb to the floor. He went for a plancha, but Cobb caught him. Ibushi fought Cobb off and made it back to the apron, then hit an Asai moonsault from the top rope to the floor. Cobb made it back in after a countout tease. 

Ibushi tried for a German off the second rope, but Cobb blocked. They fought on the top rope. Ibushi hit a reverse rana off the top for a two count. Ibushi hit a bomaye for another near fall. 

Ibushi called for the Kamigoye. Cobb blocked and hit a release overhead belly-to-belly for a double down. Cobb hit a running uppercut and a back suplex for a near fall. Cobb powered Ibushi up for an F-5 and a near fall. 

Ibushi escaped Tour of the Islands and hit a high kick. Ibushi hit Kamigoye, but Cobb kicked out at two. Cobb blocked a second Kamigoye. Ibushi blocked Tour of the Islands. Cobb hammered Ibushi with the Cobbgoye, but couldn’t follow up in time. He covered for a near fall. 

Ibushi turned a Tour of the Islands into a lateral press for a two count. Cobb went for a pop-up powerbomb. Ibushi blocked and hit a knee strike on his way down, then hit another Kamigoye for the pin. 

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the title (36:00)

This was everything you would expect. Shingo especially was incredible in this match. Okada may have been battling his wind a bit in his first singles match back after battling COVID, but he was great as well. Shingo’s selling and facial expressions were on another level throughout the match. 

They opened with some mat wrestling. Both worked hammerlocks on the mat. Shingo missed on a senton attempt. Okada tried a senton, but Shingo got his knees up. Okada sold his back on landing and that became the story of the match. 

They fought on the outside. Shingo got the upper hand and threw Okada back in. Shingo used a body scissors on the mat and continued to go after the back. Okada tried to end it quickly with a tombstone, but Shingo escaped and hit a powerslam. 

Okada made a comeback. He ducked a lariat and hit a running back elbow and a DDT. Okada went for the air raid crash neckbreaker, but Shingo blocked and drove his elbow into Okada’s back. Shingo went to the top rope, but Okada hit a dropkick and sent him crashing to the floor. 

Okada hit a draping DDT off the barricade. Back inside, Okada hit heavy rain and went for the Money Clip. Shingo quickly forced a rope break. Okada hit a slam. He teased a missile dropkick, but Shingo popped up. Okada rolled through and ran into a lariat. 

Okada got the Money Clip again. Shingo elbowed out. Okada tried a backslide, but Shingo turned it into Noshigami. Shingo hit a wheel barrow German into the corner pad. Shingo used a torture rack, then hit two gutbusters. Shingo hit a massive corner clothesline Okada fired up and hit a shotgun dropkick. 

Okada got the Money Clip applied yet again, but Shingo was in the ropes. Okada was forced to break right away. Okada missed a dropkick. Shingo missed a sliding lariat. Okada used the Money Clip to set up a spinning tombstone, then went back to the Money Clip. They did a long submission tease, but Shingo fought to the ropes. 

Shingo rolled outside. Okada fought for a tombstone on the floor, but Shingo blocked by grabbing the barricade. Shingo hit Made in Japan on the floor. Both made it in after a double countout tease. Shingo hit a corner lariat and a stay dream for a close near fall. Shingo hit a series of strikes, then ran off the ropes into an Okada dropkick at the 30 minute call. 

Okada hit a tombstone, then tried a Rainmaker. Shingo ducked and hit his own Rainmaker. They traded strikes from their knees, then standing. Shingo blocked a spinning Rainmaker and hit a DVD. Okada ducked a pumping bomber, then used a backslide to set up two Rainmakers. Shingo blocked another Rainmaker and hit a Rainmaker of his own. 

Shingo hit a pumping bomber for a great near fall at the 35 minute call. They reversed each other’s finishers, then Shingo hit a dragon suplex. Shingo hit a diving forearm strike. 

Shingo hit Last of the Dragon and got the pin to win the title. 

**********

Shingo cut a promo after the match. He said he lost to Will Ospreay when he challenged for this title, but his heart was still beating. He said that this is only the start of what he has planned. Shingo said we’re still going through a lot, but he’s here to inspire us and bring us energy. 

Shingo called out Ibushi and challenged him. Ibushi accepted. No date was announced for the match. 

Confetti fell on the ring as the show closed. 

NJPW to crown new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion at Dominion

Posted on by Ethan Renner

A new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion will be crowned at NJPW Dominion. 

NJPW has announced that Kazuchika Okada will face Shingo Takagi for the vacant title. 

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship has been vacant since May 20, when NJPW revealed that former title holder Will Ospreay had vacated the title to return to the United Kingdom to seek treatment for a neck injury.

Okada had been scheduled to face Ospreay for the title at Wrestle Grand Slam at the Tokyo Dome on Saturday, May 29, a show that has been postponed indefinitely. Shingo challenged Ospreay for the title at Wrestling Dontaku on May 4 in a losing effort, but beat Okada in this year’s New Japan Cup. 

NJPW also announced that Dominion will now take place on Monday, June 7 in Osaka-Jo Hall. The show was originally scheduled for Sunday, June 6, but a state of emergency in Osaka related to the COVID-19 pandemic was extended through that weekend. 

In addition to the IWGP World title match, two other matches were announced for Dominion. 

El Desperado will defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against YOH. That match had been scheduled for Wrestling Dontaku on May 4, but the match was pulled from the show due to COVID-19 protocols. Desperado later revealed that he had battled COVID. 

The other match set for Dominion is Kota Ibushi vs. Jeff Cobb. The first angle for this match was shot at Sakura Genesis back in April, as Cobb laid out Ibushi after Ibushi lost the IWGP World title to Ospreay. 

Here is the lineup for Dominion so far: 

NJPW Dominion, Monday, June 7, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada vs. Shingo Takagi
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Jeff Cobb
  • IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado (c) vs. YOH

NJPW Road to Sakura Genesis results: The tour continues

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s Road to Sakura Genesis tour continued today in Tokyo. Korakuen Hall was again the venue for today’s event, which included a ceremony introducing the new IWGP World Heavyweight Championship title belt. 

There is just one more Road to Sakura Genesis show on Thursday, April 1, an untelevised event in Fukushima. This short tour then concludes with Sakura Genesis in Sumo Hall on Sunday, April 4, headlined by Kota Ibushi vs. Will Ospreay for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. 

Here are the results from today’s event:

Kota Ibushi was presented with the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to kick off the show.

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI defeated Tiger Mask, Yota Tsuji, Yuya Uemura & Gabriel Kidd (10:05)

Naito submitted Tsuji with a crab. 

SHO, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato defeated El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI (10:56)

SHO pinned DOUKI after hitting Shock Arrow. 

EVIL, KENTA, Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori defeated Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI (13:04)

KENTA got the submission win over YH with Game Over. 

Jay White, Gedo & Jado defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata & Tomoaki Honma (11:55)

White submitted Honma with the TTO. 

Kota Ibushi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima defeated Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb (13:27)

Ibushi pinned Cobb after hitting Kamigoye.

Here is the full lineup for Sunday’s show:

NJPW Sakura Genesis, Sunday, April 4, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kota Ibushi (c) vs. Will Ospreay
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (c) vs. SHO & YOH
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Satoshi Kojima vs. Jay White & Bad Luck Fale
  • Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & Shingo Takagi vs. Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & a mystery partner
  • Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL, KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Dick Togo
  • Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado