NJPW has released details on Fighting Spirit Unleashed, a two night event that will take place on NJPW Strong.
The company announced that the shows will take place on September 4 and September 11. The events will be headlined by a KENTA vs. Jeff Cobb match that will take place on the second night. That match will be for KENTA’s IWGP US title match contract, which he won by winning the New Japan Cup USA tournament.
A match between Jay White and ROH’s Flip Gordon will take place on September 4. White attempted to lay out Gordon with a bladerunner after losing a tag team match, but was saved by Brody King.
King will face Hikuleo on September 4, a clash of two behemoths. Hikuelo made his debut for NJPW of America last week by attacking Lee after he made the save for Gordon.
Fred Rosser, formerly known as Darren Young in WWE, will be making his NJPW debut on the September 4 show.
Rocky Romero and Adrian Quest defeated The DKC and Danny Limelight
Good match. DKC and Limelight have already appeared on NJPW Strong, while this was Quest’s debut on the show.
Midway through, Limelight took Romero out with a jumping knee strike that left both temporarily KO’d. DKC tagged in next and showed lots of fire before plating Romero with an inverted Samoan Drop. The finish saw Quest do a crazy twisting plancha from the top to the floor to take out Limelight before Romero pinned DKC after using Sliced Bread #2 for the win. The three young guys were impressive in this.
Brody King and Flip Gordon defeated Jay White and Chase Owens
Gordon hasn’t been on TV since February in ROH. Neither he or King were wearing their Villain Enterprises gear.
Owens and Flip started the match off, but White intervened early on. He and Owens took turns wearing Gordon down in their corner. This was also Jay White’s first match in months, but he didn’t look to have any ring rust.
On commentary, Kevin Kelly said that Gordon changed up his in-ring style because of past knee injuries. He didn’t fly around too much tonight.
Flip was finally able to tag out to Brody King after a few more minutes. King cleaned house, laying White out with a spinning Boss Man slam. King then pinned Owens after a spike Gonzo Bomb to pick up the win.
This was really good. For some reason, White and Owens came off like they’d been a teaming forever. A rematch could be great down the road.
After the match, Jay White grabbed Gordon and went for a Bladerunner before King chased him off. Out of the post-match chaos appeared Hikuleo, younger brother to Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa, and laid out King. Looks like a program is building between these groups.
*****
New Japan announced that starting next week at the same time, the company will air NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed on the NJPW World streaming service.
*****
KENTA defeated David Finlay to win the 2020 NJPW USA Cup
There was no time limit in this one. The two grappled in the center of the ring for the opening minutes. The story here was that KENTA got an advantage over Finlay unless he resorted to cheating. It’s a subtle way of getting Finlay over in our minds without him having to do much. Hats off to KENTA, who relishes his 2020 heel life.
The pace of this might be too slow for a lot of people’s tastes, but I thought it was perfect for the context. KENTA worked slow and heavy over Finlay for a long five minutes or so. Finlay rallied back with a back suplex, then a knee strike and a spear only a two-count. It’s notable how much Finlay has improved a lot since his shoulder injury; his past three matches on this show have been solid. He’s crisper in the ring than before and it shows.
As Finlay went for Prima Nocta, KENTA shoved him into the referee, then kicked him low. This happened in KENTA’s match with Cobb also. The ref got back up but KENTA could only score a two-count on Finlay. The two went on to trade hard European uppercuts before KENTA was able to cinch in the GTS to put Finlay away for the win. KENTA is the first ever New Japan Cup USA winner.
KENTA was awarded a trophy and IWGP US title briefcase as his reward. He called out Jon Moxley next, shouting “Where’s Jon Moxley? What’s he doing?!”, saying he was coming for the current IWGP US champion.
KENTA switched to Japanese next and reiterated what he’d said in English until Jeff Cobb jumped into the ring. Cobb tried German suplexing KENTA, but KENTA escaped and ran out of the ring. The two jaw-jacked from a distance before the show ended.
Final thoughts:
Another solid hour of pro wrestling from NJPW. The tag match between White/Owens and Gordon/King was good, and it’s great to see those guys getting a chance to be in front of the cameras after half a year.
The main event was really good, though the slower, thinking-man’s pace isn’t for everyone. Regardless, both KENTA and Finlay did a great job, and it was cool to see Finlay finding his groove as a singles wrestler. Despite losing clean in the finals, he still got over.
NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed will air in the same time slot as NJPW Strong next week on Friday at 10 EST/7 PST on NJPW World.
KENTA is the first NJPW Cup USA tournament winner.
He defeated David Finlay in the finals to win the tournament. He won after low blowing Finlay following a ref bump. Finlay kicked out of a cradle, but didn’t have any answers once KENTA struck with the GTS, picking up the win.
After the match, KENTA was given both the NJPW Cup USA trophy and a briefcase with the IWGP United States title match contract inside. On commentary, Kevin Kelly mentioned that KENTA would be defending the briefcase going forward, similar to the briefcase G1 Climax tournament winners carry prior to Wrestle Kingdom.
KENTA then cut a promo, calling out IWGP United States champion Jon Moxley in English. When he started to do a promo in Japanese, Jeff Cobb came out and attacked KENTA, who retreated to the stage area. Cobb indicated he wanted the first shot at the IWGP United States title briefcase.
NJPW announced that the start of the Fighting Spirit Unleashed tour would begin next week, though no matches were announced.
The finals for the New Japan Cup USA tournament have been set.
David Finlay and KENTA will face off on next week’s episode of NJPW Strong. The winner of the match will be eligible for a IWGP United States title match. That title is currently held by AEW’s Jon Moxley.
KENTA defeated Jeff Cobb to advance to the finals after KENTA slipped out of the Tour of the Islands, low blowed Cobb, and rolled him up for the win. Finlay won his match clean, defeating Tama Tonga with his acid drop finish.
In other matches that took place on tonight’s show, Barrett Brown & Logan Riegel defeated Clark Connors & Jordan Clearwater. ACH also returned to the promotion, teaming with Alex Zayne and TJP in a losing effort against PJ Black, Misterioso, and Blake Christian.
NJPW of America have started to air shows on NJPW World since July, focusing on talent currently in the United States.
The two semifinal matches in the NJPW Cup USA tournament have been set.
KENTA and Jeff Cobb will square off in the first semifinal match. KENTA defeated Karl Fredericks to advance, while Jeff Cobb defeated Tanga Loa of the Guerillas of Destiny.
The second match is between David Finlay and Tama Tonga. Finlay defeated Chase Owens, while Tonga defeated Brody King of ROH.
The winners of both semifinal matches will face off on next week’s episode of Strong. The winners of those matches will advance to the finals of the tournament, which take place on August 21.
Whoever wins the NJPW Cup USA tournament will be eligible for a future IWGP United States title match. The title is currently held by AEW’s Jon Moxley, who won the championship back on January 4.
NJPW Strong, which focuses on NJPW of America talent, premiered tonight. It replaced Lion’s Break Collison, a show that aired in July that also highlighted NJPW USA talent, including Jeff Cobb and Karl Fredericks.
KENTA and Tomohiro Ishii are the first two NJPW wrestlers confirmed for this year’s ROH-NJPW War of the Worlds tour.
ROH announced today that KENTA and Ishii are set for all four shows on the War of the Worlds tour. The dates and locations for it are:
Wednesday, May 6: Buffalo RiverWorks, Buffalo, New York
Thursday, May 7: Ted Reeve Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Saturday, May 9: Wings Event Center, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Sunday, May 10: The Odeum Expo Center, Villa Park, Illinois
Tickets for all four shows went on sale to HonorClub members this morning. They’ll go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. local time this Friday.
KENTA is also set for ROH Supercard of Honor XIV on Saturday, April 4. In his first match for ROH since 2009, KENTA will be teaming with Taiji Ishimori against Jeff Cobb & Dan Maff at that show.
Aside from being in the pre-show Honor Rumble match at G1 Supercard last year, the War of the Worlds tour will be the first time Ishii has wrestled for ROH since 2018.
ROH and NJPW have partnered together for War of the Worlds every year since 2014.
Big title matches headline tonight’s NJPW New Beginning in Osaka.
The latest event to take place at Osaka-jo Hall will be headlined by Tetsuya Naito defending the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles against KENTA. Although KENTA lost his match at Wrestle Kingdom, he sent a message to Naito at the end of the second night by laying him out immediately after Naito became the double champion.
Jon Moxley and Minoru Suzuki will finally come to blows for the IWGP United States title. The two have been going after each other all tour, brawling all over the crowds and even backstage.
Hiromu Takahashi and Ryu Lee will continue their rivalry that began years ago in Mexico by facing off for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title. This was the same match back in 2018 where Hiromu Takahashi broke his neck, putting him out of action for over a year.
A special singles match between SANADA and Jay White will also take place.
Taguchi began with Nakanishi, who hit some strikes in the corner. Tenzan entered and they worked over Taguchi’s bum. Henare and Nagata tagged in and traded strikes. Henare teased an Argentinian backbreaker, as he’s been doing all tour, taunting Nakanishi.
Taguchi and team went 4-on-1 against Nagata. Taguchi gave Nagata a stinkface. Makabe got a tag and Nagata hit him with an exploder. Nakanishi got a tag and hit a double clothesline on Honma and Makabe. Nakanishi used the Argentinian backbreaker on Makabe. Nakanishi’s team did a quadruple submission spot on their opponents.
Makabe and Nakanishi hit a series of simultaneous lariats, and both dropped. Kojima and Honma tagged in. Kojima hit machine gun chops. Honma cut him off before a top rope elbow. Honma hit a kokeshi for a near fall.
Makabe jumped in and hit a double clothesline. Nakanishi hit a series of double sledges. Kojima held Honma, allowing Nakanishi to hit him with a top rope chop. Kojima then hit Honma with a lariat for the pin.
Makabe cut a promo after the match. He thanked the crowd for coming out. He said he got his start in Osaka 27 years ago. He said he was terrible when he began, but he accomplished all he did because of the support of the fans.
He said he has four matches left, he’ll give them his all, and he hopes everyone supports him. He said NJPW will go on without him to new heights.
Nakanishi’s team left the ring to him, he took a bow and waved to the crowd. This was nice. The match itself was nothing.
IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SHO & YOH (W/ROCKY ROMERO) DEFEATED EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU TO RETAIN THE TITLES
The story of the match was whether or not Roppongi 3K would be able to retain the titles given that SHO was coming in with a leg injury, suffered earlier in the tour after a Suzuki-gun attack.
3K attacked just before the bell, employing a Suzuki-gun tactic. SHO and YOH hit a double dropkick. Kanemaru and Desperado made a quick comeback. Kanemaru hit a leg slice over the barricade. Desperado used a chair in the aisle on SHO’s left leg.
Back in the ring, Kanemaru used a stretch muffler. Desperado used a single-leg crab, continuing to punish the left leg. SHO made a comeback with a backdrop to Despy, a suplex to Kanemaru, then made a tag.
YOH ran wild with leg lariats and flying forearms. YOH and Desperado traded strikes. Desperado hit a misdirection spear. Kanemaru tagged in and hit a knee lift, then a tornado DDT for a two count.
Kanemaru went for Deep Impact. YOH moved out of the way and hit a DDT, into a double down. SHO tagged in and traded strikes with Kanemaru. SHO hit a spear. SHO went for a powerbomb but his leg gave out.
Kanemaru hit a dropkick and locked on a figure four. Desperado used a crossface on an interfering YOH. SHO finally forced a rope break. Kanemaru hit Deep Impact, but SHO kicked out at two.
Kanemaru missed a moonsault but landed on his feet. YOH intercepted him with a dropkick. YOH hit Kanemaru with a superkick, then hit a rewind kick to Desperado. All four men went down.
SHO and YOH hit some tandem offense on Kanemaru. They set up for the 3K but Desperado cut them off and took the referee. Kanemaru tried to spit whiskey but SHO blocked and spit whiskey in the air.
SHO tossed YOH over the top into a dive on Desperado. SHO hit a lariat to Kanemaru, then hit Shock Arrow, but Kanemaru kicked out at two.
YOH climbed to the top, hit Strong X, then SHO covered for the pin.
YOH and Desperado traded slaps to the face after the match. Taguchi then entered with a basketball. He said Rocky Romero is not just a manager, he’s a great wrestler. He asked Rocky to challenge Roppongi for the title. He threw Rocky the basketball, made a basket with his arms, and Rocky shot the ball through his arms.
YOH cut a promo. He said he expected Taguchi to show up, but not to face Rocky. He then said that 3K hasn’t surpassed Rocky yet, and if that means they have to beat him, they will.
So Taguchi and Romero are the next challengers for the Jr. Heavyweight Tag titles.
Good match, but not great, as they didn’t get a ton of time.
HIROSHI TANAHASHI, KOTA IBUSHI, JUICE ROBINSON & DAVID FINLAY DEFEATED TAMA TONGA, TANGA LOA, YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & CHASE OWENS
This was really more about the post-match than the match itself.
Tana and Tonga started out. Tonga broke cleanly against the ropes, but Loa grabbed Tana by his glorious mane and Bullet Club tried a 4-on-1 beatdown. Tana’s teammates jumped in and the match broke down. When the dust settled, Tonga and Finlay were the legal men.
Tonga and Loa hit slingshot sentons to Finlay. Loa tagged in and got a two count. Owens tagged in. Finlay made a comeback, then tagged Ibushi. Ibushi hit a dropkick, a mid kick, then used a standing moonsault for a two count.
Juice and Loa got tags. Juice hit a ful nelson bomb and a cannonball. He teased Pulp Friction, but Tonga jumped in to cut him off. Tana got a tag. Yujiro jumped in and hit a fisherman buster, Owens hit a shining wizard, then Loa covered for a two count.
The match broke down, with everyone eating a big move. Jado hit Ibushi with a kendo stick from the floor, leaving Tanahashi to go 1-on-2 against Tonga and Loa. Tonga got hit witth a slingblade. Loa took a dragon screw.
Jado hit Tana with a kendo stick. Loa went for Apeshit, but Tana blocked, then used a cradle for the pin.
Tonga, Loa and Jado attacked Tanahashi after the match. Ibushi saved with a missile dropkick. Jado tried another kendo stick shot. Ibushi blocked, then pie faced Jado.
They out over on commentary that Tanahashi and Ibushi just beat the tag team champs. Tana, Ibushi, Finlay and Juice faced off after the match. Juice and Finlay just lost the tag titles, so perhaps a three-way, or perhaps a number one contenders match with Ibushi and Tana vs. Finlay and Juice is on the way.
Tanahashi was really moving poorly tonight. A tag team feud feels like a waste of him in one way, but in another, it’s probably the best thing for his body at this point not to be in main events all the time.
**********
A video announcement played. A Madison Square Garden date was announced, as well as G1 details, as well as NJPW World returning to a prime time slot on Japanese TV.
**********
KAZUCHIKA OKADA & WILL OSPREAY DEFEATED TAICHI & ZACK SABRE JR.
This was good, but they only got about 12 minutes. Good matches that could have been great with a few more minutes is the theme of the night.
Okada and Taichi began in the ring, while Sabre and Ospreay brawled on the outside. Taichi hit a high kick, then continued working over Okada with short kicks. Sabre tagged in, Okada hit a flapjack, then tagged out.
Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio, then a handsrping kick. Sabre used the submission that earned him a victory over Ospreay last week, but Ospreay forced a break. They did an incredible series of counters and reversals, then traded cradles on the mat. Sabre used a guillotine, then slid to a triangle, which Ospreay broke with a one-armed powerbomb.
Okada and Taichi tagged in. Okada hit a back elbow in the middle of the ring, then another in the corner. Okada hit a dropkick. Ospreay and Sabre jumped in. Ospreay hit a cheeky Nando’s kick to Sabre. Taichi hit a high kick to Ospreay, then an axe bomber to Okada.
Taichi removed his trousers. He used a buzzsaw kick for a near fall. Okada escaped a Last Ride. Ospreay jumped in and hit an Oscutter, then hit a Sasuke special to Sabre. Okada hit Taichi with another dropkick, then hit the Rainmaker for the pin.
JAY WHITE DEFEATED SANADA
In kayfabe why does SANADA always give up the Skull End? He always gives up the hold, then misses a moonsault. Not a fan of that spot in every big SANADA match, it makes him look really dumb.
This was good. A patterned Jay White match with lots of Gedo interference.
Gedo was a factor in the opening minutes, first jumping on the apron for a distraction, then tripping SANADA, then choking SANADA with a towel on the floor. White went to work from there, hitting stomps, strikes and a crab.
SANADA hit a missile dropkick, then a dropkick to the left knee. White came back with a DDT, an uppercut forearm, then a DVD. SANADA fell victim to another trip from Gedo. White ran into a big boot in the corner, then SANADA used a paradise lock.
SANADA hit a leapfrog dropkick, then a plancha, then hit a missile dropkick for a two count. SANADA tried for a TKO, then a Skull End, but White hit a thumb to the eye. They traded uppercuts. White hit a flatliner and a deadlift German.
White hit a Blade Buster and Kiwi Krusher for a two count. SANADA came back with a draping neckbreaker. SANADA used a high-angle suplex for a two count. SANADA teased Skull End. Gedo jumped on the apron for a distraction. White used a schoolboy for a two count.
SANADA hit a TKO. White took the referee. Gedo jumped on the apron. SANADA crotched him on the top rope.
SANADA used a moonsault press threat to float over into a Skull End. He used a spinning Skull End, then dropped to the mat with the hold applied, adding a bodyscissors. SANADA gave up the hold, then missed a moonsault.
They traded finisher teases in a great sequence. SANADA used an O’Connor Roll, then a Japanese leg roll for near falls.
They tried a spot where SANADA was going to come off the middle rope into a Skull End again, but he landed wrong and both guys almost broke their necks.
White hit a sleeper suplex, a Regal suplex, then a cross-armed suplex, all for near falls. White then hit the Blade Runner and pinned SANADA.
IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: HIROMU TAKAHASHI DEFEATED RYU LEE TO RETAIN THE TITLE
Well, good luck to everybody that has to follow this tonight, or any night.
These are two of the best ten wrestlers in the world. They should not be allowed to wrestle again. They do so many things together where there is no margin for error, and they can’t help themselves. The matches are incredible. They are also beyond dangerous.
They came out firing, trading lariats and German suplexes, ending with both men down less than a minute in. They traded dozens of open-hand chops to the chest. They paused, then traded several more, paused again, then traded a ton more.
Hiromu dropped Lee with an unanswered series of chops. Lee popped up, hit the ropes, then hit a chop. They traded MORE CHOPS. Hiromu hit a corner clothesline, then they traded chops again. At the five minute call here, and almost all chops to this point.
Hiromu tried a tijeras, Lee blocked, Hiromu hit a handspring out, then landed a chop. More chops. Lee finally got a knockdown off a chop. Lee hit a Shibata dropkick, falcon arrow, then a PK. Hiromu rolled outside. Lee hit a tijeras over the top rope to the apron, tossing Hiromu to the floor.
Lee sat Hiromu on the barricade. Lee hit a tope suicida at a thousand miles an hour, sending both men over the barricade, bouncing off a table, then crashing to the floor in front of the second barricade. They made it back in after a countout tease.
Hiromu blocked a springboard move, then hit a sunset bomb from the ring to the floor. Hiromu hit a Dynamite Plunger for a two count. He hit a DVD into the buckle. Lee blocked a Time Bomb and teased a spike package driver, the move where Hiromu broke his neck in 2018. Hiromu rolled through into his triangle choke submission, D, but Lee forced a rope break.
They sat on the top rope, trading punches. Lee hit a double stomp from that position. Lee landed on his feet on the apron, while Hiromu hit the edge of the ring, then hit the floor.
They traded strikes on the apron. Hiromu hit an overhead throw on the apron, sending Lee to the floor. They pulled it off, but thats the kind of move where there’s no margin for error.
Hiromu asked the ref to stop the 20 count, then hit a Hiromu bomb off the post to the floor. They did a countout tease, but Lee made it in at 19.
They traded a series of strikes and suplexes that had to be seen to be believed. Lee went for a Desnucadora. Hiromu rolled through into D. Lee escaped and hit a buckle bomb. Hiromu countered with an overhead throw into the buckle.
Lee hit a bastard driver for a two count. Hiromu was draped over the top rope, where Lee hit a double stomp. Lee hit a V-Trigger and made a cover. Hiromu forced a rope break.
Hiromu teased a package driver. Hiromu reversed into a destroyer for a near fall, threw Lee like a dart into the buckle, then went for Time Bomb. Lee rolled through into a cover for a near fall.
Lee exposed his right knee, then hit a running knee for a near fall. He hit a second knee. Hiromu hit another destroyer. Hiromu hit Time Bomb for a two count, then hit a second Time Bomb, covered, and retained the title.
IWGP UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: JON MOXLEY DEFEATED MINORU SUZUKI TO RETAIN THE TITLE
What can you say about these guys? An awesome feud, an awesome brawl to cap it off, just great stuff.
Suzuki entered first. Moxley entered through the crowd, then walked to the ramp, where he beckoned Suzuki to join him. Suzuki grabbed two chairs, threw one to Moxley, then they had a duel.
Moxley got the best of the chair duel. They brawled into the crowd, tearing up pieces of barricade and using them as weapons. They fought into the time keeper’s area. They teased a table spot, but Moxley blocked. Somewhere in here the opening bell rang. They did a countout tease before either man got in the ring.
In the ring, they traded strikes. Suzuki hit a big boot in the corner. Moxley caught a PK, then bit Suzuki. Suzuki hit a series of headbutts and bit Moxley. They brawled outside again.
Moxley set up a table on the outside. He teased putting Suzuki through it. Suzuki fought it off, then hit a con-chair-to to Moxley’s arm. Suzuki posted the arm, then used an armbar on the apron. Moxley powerbombed Suzuki off the apron through the table. Suzuki sold it by laughing, then stumbling as he got to his feet.
Each man grabbed a piece of broken table and beat themself in the head with it. Back inside, they traded super stiff forearm shots. Suzuki slipped behind and locked on a rear naked choke. Suzuki gave up the hold when it looked as though Moxley was passing out, then covered for a near fall.
Suzuki hit a running boot for another near fall. Moxley came back with a knee strike and a Regal knee for a near fall. Suzuki blocked a Death Rider. They traded shots. Suzuki hit a dropkick.
Moxley escaped a Gotch-style piledriver and hit Death Rider. Suzuki kicked out at two. Moxley kissed Suzuki on the forehead.
Moxley brought two chairs into the ring. Red Shoes tried to pull the chairs away, but got shocved down.
Moxley hit a gimmicked chair shot to the head, then hit a Death Rider on a chair, but there was no referee.
Suzuki fired up. Suzuki hit a series of strikes. Moxley hit a rebound lariat, Suzuki didn’t go down, but the way he sold not going down was incredible.
Moxley hit a second lariat, then hit Death Rider for the pin.
Suzuki left, tearing up the barricade on his way to the back.
As Moxley posed in the ring, Sabre ran in and choked him out, then posed with the U.S. title, so there’s something for the future.
**********
Gedo, Jado, White, Yujiro, Tonga, Loa and Owens accompanied KENTA to the ring for the main event. Tama Tonga took a swing at Red Shoes before the bell. Red Shoes took a bump, then ejected Bullet Club.
IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT & INTERCONTINENTAL DOUBLE TITLE MATCH: TETSUYA NAITO DEFEATED KENTA TO RETAIN THE TITLES
After the ref bumps, this was a good match. The problem was that they went about 20 minutes before the ref bumps.
KENTA did his customary stalling at the outset. They finally locked up. Naito broke against the ropes. KENTA rolled outside. Naito teased a dive, then hit his Tranquilo pose.
Naito finally got his hands on KENTA in earnest. He hit a rana and some stomps, then threw KENTA into the barricade. Naito hit stomps in the corner. KENTA countered with a slingshot knee strike, then sent Naito outside.
KENTA tossed Naito into all four sides of the barricade, then hit a DDT in the aisle. Back inside, KENTA exposed a buckle, then whipped Naito into it. We were past the ten minute mark here and this was still moving at a snail’s pace.
KENTA hit a knee lift, then did some more crowd work. He hit a snapmare, then used a chinlock. KENTA hit a DDT for a near fall.
Naito made a comeback with a low dropkick, combinacion cabron, then hit a neckbreaker for a two count. Naito hit another neckbreaker, then used a crucifix hold. KENTA reached the ropes for a break.
KENTA snapped Naito’s neck on the top rope, then hit a top rope clothesline for a two count. KENTA tried for Game Over, but Naito reached the ropes before the hold was applied.
KENTA went for a draping DDT. Naito hit a leg sweep, then hit a neckbreaker on the apron. KENTA answered with a draping DDT off the barricade. They teased a countout, but Naito made it back in.
KENTA hit a running knee in the corner, then a KENTA/Shibata dropkick. KENTA missed a double stomp off the top. Naito hit a spinebuster. They traded strikes. Naito got the better of the exchange.
KENTA ducked a back elbow, threw Red Shoes in Naito’s path, then used the distraction to lock Naito in Game Over. Naito fought for a long time, then reached the ropes. KENTA hit a PK, a knee strike in the ropes, then hit a busaiku knee for a near fall.
KENTA teased G2S. Naito blocked, then hit a tornado DDT. Naito hit a neckbreaker, top rope frankensteiner, then hit Gloria for a near fall.
Naito went for Destino. KENTA blocked and threw Naito into Red Shoes twice. Red Shoes took a bump and rolled outside.
White ran in and hit a sleeper suplex. BUSHI ran in and tried to spit black mist at White. White ducked, then hit BUSHI with Blade Runner. Hiromu ran in and hit White with a superkick then dragged White to the back.
Naito hit an enziguri and a flying forearm. KENTA blocked a Destino with a lariat for a near fall.
KENTA tried Go 2 Sleep. Naito slid out and hit an inverted DDT.
KENTA blocked Valentia and sent Naito into the exposed buckle, then used a schoolboy for a near fall.
Naito was bleeding a gusher after going into the buckle, and it appeared to be hard way blood, as Naito really didn’t have time to blade before the blood started pouring.
KENTA hit some slaps and a busaiku knee for another near fall.
Naito reversed a G2S into a poison rana, then hit Valentia for a near fall.
Naito then hit Destino for the 1-2-3.
Naito cut a promo. KENTA was still lingering in the aisle. Naito told him no tranquilo, just get out of here.
He rhetorically asked what was next for him. He called out Hiromu. Traditionally, the IWGP Heavyweight champ wrestles the Jr. Heavyweight champ at the anniversary show.
Hiromu entered. He said Naito taught him wrestling when he was a Young Lion. He said when he was about to go on excursion, Naito told him they’d have a match when he got back. So the answer is yes.
Naito said the LIJ roll call, then confetti showered the ring. Hiromu and Naito bumped fists, then posed with their respective titles. Hiromu left the ring to Naito to close the show.
A number of new participants have been added to the Lion’s Break Project 3 event that will take place WrestleMania weekend.
NJPW announced today that Juice Robinson, David Finlay, Rocky Romero, Shingo Takagi, The Guerillas of Destiny, KENTA, Bad Luck Fale, El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori, Jado & Gedo, The Amazing Red, TJP, Misterioso, and Logan & Sterling Riegel have been added to the card. No matches have been currently set.
This is in addition to a number of other people that have already been announced, including Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ren Narita, El Desperado, Zack Sabre Jr., Karl Fredericks, Clark Connors, and Alex Coughlin,
NJPW talent are also committed to ROH’s SuperCard of Honor, which will take place two days later on April 4. Names confirmed for that event include Jay White, KENTA, El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori, Will Ospreay, The Amazing Red, and Rocky Romero.
Lion’s Break Project 3 will take place at The Ritz Ybor in Tampa, Florida on April 2.
ROH has revealed KENTA and Taiji Ishimori’s plans for Supercard of Honor XIV.
It was announced this morning that Bullet Club’s KENTA & Ishimori will face Jeff Cobb & Dan Maff in a tag match at Supercard of Honor. This is the second match confirmed for the show, joining Marty Scurll vs. Jay White.
Cobb & Maff vs. ROH Tag Team Champions Jay Lethal & Jonathan Gresham is set for ROH’s Free Enterprise show this Sunday. If Cobb & Maff win or the match goes to a time-limit draw, Cobb & Maff will get a future shot at the ROH Tag Team titles.
KENTA is challenging Tetsuya Naito for both the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental titles in the main event of NJPW’s New Beginning in Osaka on Sunday.
Supercard of Honor XIV is taking place at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Florida on Saturday, April 4. It’s going against NXT TakeOver: Tampa during WrestleMania weekend.
El Phantasmo, Will Ospreay, Rocky Romero, Amazing Red, and Nick Aldis are among the other wrestlers who have been announced for Supercard of Honor.
For the first time since 2009, KENTA is returning to Ring of Honor.
KENTA will be in action at Supercard of Honor XIV in Lakeland, Florida on Saturday, April 4. He’s the third Bullet Club member and fourth NJPW wrestler announced for the show. It will also feature Jay White, El Phantasmo, and Will Ospreay.
Villain Enterprises (ROH World Champion PCO, Marty Scurll, Brody King & Flip Gordon), La Faccion Ingobernable (Rush, ROH Television Champion Dragon Lee, Kenny King & Amy Rose), Slex, Session Moth Martina, Jeff Cobb, and ROH Tag Team Champion Jay Lethal are also advertised for Supercard of Honor XIV.
KENTA will challenge Tetsuya Naito for both the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles in the main event of NJPW’s the New Beginning in Osaka on Sunday, February 9.
Supercard of Honor XIV is taking place at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland and will go against NXT TakeOver: Tampa on April 4. Tickets for Supercard of Honor went on sale to the general public this morning.
The Bullet Club is also holding their Bullet Club Beach Party at Whiskey Joe’s in Tampa earlier in the day on April 4.
KENTA will officially be the first challenger for Tetsuya Naito’s double gold.
NJPW has confirmed that Naito vs. KENTA will headline the New Beginning in Osaka on Sunday, February 9. Naito’s IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental titles will both be on the line.
KENTA being Naito’s first challenger was established during the show-closing angle at Wrestle Kingdom 14 night two. After Naito defeated Kazuchika Okada in their double title match, KENTA attacked Naito, hit a Penalty Kick, and laid him out with the Go 2 Sleep. KENTA then posed with Naito’s title belts.
Naito & SANADA defeated KENTA & Jay White at New Year Dash, with SANADA getting the pin on White as KENTA and Naito were fighting outside. KENTA and White attacked Naito and SANADA after and hit them with chairs. KENTA cut a promo telling Naito that he’s going to take both of his titles.
The New Beginning in Osaka is taking place at Osaka-jo Hall. Naito vs. KENTA is the first match announced for the New Beginning tour.
Following King of Pro Wrestling, NJPW has made four matches official for Power Struggle.
Those matches are:
IWGP Intercontinental Champion Jay White defending against Hirooki Goto
NEVER Openweight Champion KENTA defending against Tomohiro Ishii
Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi
Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi
NJPW has been building to White vs. Goto since the aftermath of White winning the IWGP Intercontinental title from Naito at Destruction in Kobe last month. At King of Pro Wrestling, Goto, Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defeated White, KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi.
KENTA won the NEVER Openweight Championship from Ishii at Royal Quest in August.
Naito & Shingo Takagi defeated Taichi & DOUKI by disqualification at King of Pro Wrestling. Taichi laid out Naito after the match, then mocked him for losing the Intercontinental title and having his quest to become a double champion get derailed.
Taichi also defeated Naito in this year’s G1 Climax.
Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Ibushi & Tanahashi is part of the build to Okada defending his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Ibushi at Wrestle Kingdom 14 night one on January 4.
Power Struggle is taking place in Osaka, Japan on Sunday, November 3. The show will also feature the finals of this year’s Super Junior Tag League.
The second of three Destruction events takes place tonight in Kagoshima.
Kota Ibushi, the hometown hero, will face KENTA in the main event. KENTA defeated Ibushi at the G1 Opening Day event in Dallas, Texas, and thus is looking to take Ibushi’s IWGP title briefcase that gives him the oppertunity to face the champion at Wrestle Kingdom 14. KENTA’s new stablemates in the Bullet Club will also likely be in his corner.
In the co-main event, IWGP Jr. Tag Team champions El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori will defend against Will Ospreay and Robbie Eagles. The teams have been going at one another all tour, and now will finally get to settle things one-on-one here tonight.
The Young Lion Cup will also continue, with Yuya Uemura facing Clark Connors and Ren Narita facing Michael Richards.
Join us for live coverage starting at 5 a.m. EDT. There will be English commentary.
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YOUNG LION CUP MATCH: YUYA UEMURA DEFEATED CLARK CONNORS
Uemura went for a takedown at the opening bell, but Connors blocked it. Connrs used a trip takedown and used a series of holds on the mat. Uemura slipped to a headscissors on the mat, but Connors used a handstand escape.
They tied up. Connors refused to break cleanly, and hit a chop. Uemura used a double-leg takedown, and worked over Connors’s left arm. It was then Uemura’s turn to hit a chop on the break.
After spending the first few minutes trading holds, Connors turned it into a striking battle. They traded elbow strikes, chops, and uppercut forearm blows. Uemura used a bodyslam for a nearfall.
Uemura hit a hip toss, then used a rear chinlock. Connors hit a picture-perfect dropkick, then went for a full Boston crab. He got the hold applied, but Uemura fought to the ropes for a break.
Uemura fired up and hit a palm strike to the chest. They traded a flurry of quick strikes. Uemura hit a deep armdrag, then hit a double underhook belly-to-belly.
Uemura applied a Boston crab in the center of the ring. Connors could not reach the ropes, and tapped out. This was a very good opener.
Connors offered a handshake after the match, but Uemura refused it.
YOUNG LION CUP MATCH: REN NARITA DEFEATED MICHAEL RICHARDS
They teased locking up, and tentatively traded some basic holds. Narita hit a hip toss for a nearfall, then used a side headlock. Richards hit a back suplex, breaking the hold. Richards hit a clothesline in the corner, then a back elbow.
Richards hit a vertical suplex, then covered for a two count. Richards used a single-leg crab, but Narita forced a rope break. Narita went for a belly-to-belly, but Richards fought it off, then hit a clothesline for a nearfall. Gino Gambino said “They used to call me belly-to-belly,” on commentary.
Narita hit a dropkick, then used a belly-to-belly into a bridge for the pin. Not as strong as the opener. Richards’s work is not up to the level of the others in this Young Lion class, but he has great facial expressions and intensity.
YOUNG LION CUP STANDINGS
Shota Umino 8
Ren Narita 8
Karl Fredericks 8
Clark Connors 6
Alex Coughlin 4
Yota Tsuji 2
Michael Richards 2
Yuya Uemura 2
MANABU NAKANISHI, TOA HENARE, KARL FREDERICKS & ALEX COUGHLIN DEFEATED YUJI NAGATA, RYUSUKE TAGUCHI, SHOTA UMINO & YOTA TSUJI
Tsuji hit a dropkick on Coughlin at the opening bell, then fired off strikes in the corner. Both tagged out. Umino and Fredericks tagged in. Fredericks hit a nice crossbody, then a dropkick. Henare tagged in and continued to work over Umino, hitting a chop, then a vertical suplex.
Taguchi broke up a pinfall attempt by Henare on Umino. Coughlin got a tag, knocked Tsuji off the apron, then used a slam on Umino. He made a cover, but Tsuji jumped in to break it up. Nakanishi got a tag and kept up the pressure on Umino.
Fredericks tagged back in. He missed an elbow drop. Umino still could not manage to make a tag. Umino hit a dropkick, then finally tagged Taguchi. Taguchi hit Fredericks with three hip attacks. Coughlin, Henare and Nakanishi jumped in and also got hit with hip attacks.
Nagata got a tag. He tried for an exploder, but Nakanishi blocked it. They traded strikes. Nakanishi blocked an Irish whip attempt, then knocked Taguchi off the apron. Nakanishi hit a short clothesline for a two count.
Nakanishi used an Argentinian backbreaker on Nagata. Nagata slipped out, then used a Nagata Lock. Everyone jumped in and broke it up. While the other six brawled on the outside, Tsuji and Henare tagged in.
Tsuji hit a dropkick, then a slam on Henare. Tsuji used a full crab. Coughlin jumped in and hit Tsuji with chops, but Tsuji no-sold them. Tsuji hit Coughlin with a spear, allowing Henare to get back to his feet.
Henare and Tsuji exchanged strikes. Henare hit a headbutt, then used a tackle for a nearfall, as Nagata broke up the pin. Henare then hit Toa Bottom on Tsuji for the victory.
The CHAOS team attacked Bullet Club before the opening bell, but their plan backfired. Fale ran over SHO and YOH in the ring, while Tonga, Loa and Owens used their numbers advantage to take care of YH and Ishii on the outside.
SHO ended up the legal man for the CHAOS team, and Bullet Club used a series of quick tags, working him over. He managed a tag to YH, who got some offense on Loa, including a dropkick as he was draped over the ropes.
Tonga jumped in to try to even the odds, but Ishii jumped in to help YH, hitting a back suplex. YOH got a tag, and SHO entered illegally. SHO and YOH hit stereo knees. Tonga and Loa hit a Tongan Twist on YOH for a nearfall.
Tonga and Loa went for a Magic Killer on YOH. SHO broke it up with a spear, and YOH used an inside cradle on Tonga out of nowhere for the pin.
Tonga, Loa and Owens attacked YOH after the bell. They used a kendo stick, and GOD hit a Magic Killer, leaving YOH laying.
They put over strongly on commentary that SHO and YOH had just scored a win over the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
Suzuki-gun used an attack before the bell, but for the second consecutive match, the surprise assault did not benefit the attackers. Honma and Kanemaru ended up the legal men. Suzuki and Liger brawled to the outside.
Honma missed a kokeshi, but came back with a slam. Sabre and Tanahashi got tags. Sabre used a cobra twist, but Tana reversed it into his own cobra twist. Suzuki broke the hold, and this devolved into a wild brawl all around the arena.
Suzuki attacked Liger with a piece of the barricade. Liger and Suzuki faced off with steel chairs. Meanwhile, back inside, Kanemaru worked over Tana. Suzuki tagged and went for a chinlock, but Liger broke it up. Suzuki and Liger again fought to the floor.
Sabre kept up the assault on Tana, while Suzuki, the legal man, attacked Liger on the outside. Suzuki took the referee, allowing DOUKI to use a steel pipe on Tana. Sabre tagged in. Tana missed a low dropkick. Tana caught a PK attempt, then hit a dragon screw.
Makabe and Suzuki tagged in. Makabe hit a northern lights suplex. DOUKI and Kanemaru entered, and Makabe hit them with a double lariat.
Liger got a tag, and the place came unglued. Liger hit a shotei. Suzuki fired back with a palm strike to the chest. They exchanged palm strikes. Suzuki used a misdirection spot, then used a rear naked choke. DOUKI got a tag, and Liger nailed him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
The good guys went 4-on-1 on DOUKI. Liger hit a shotei for a nearfall, as Suzuki-gun jumped in to break it up.
While the other six brawled outside, Liger hit another shotei. He went for a brainbuster, but Suzuki jumped in to break it up. Suzuki then grabbed a chair, and attacked Liger with it for the DQ.
Suzuki ripped Liger’s mask off and posed with it on the second rope, as the Young Lions jumped in to cover up Liger.
Liger cut a promo after the match. He covered his face with a t-shirt. He said while this is his last match of the tour, Suzuki crossed a line tonight by humiliating him in front of the fans. He promised to get his revenge on Suzuki.
This was such a simple angle, but because of the decades of equity that Suzuki and Liger have built with the audience, it worked in a big way.
This was a fun 6-man. Lots of great teases for the upcoming Okada vs. SANADA and Shingo vs. Goto singles matches.
Goto and Shingo started off with a series of hard strikes and lariats. Goto scored the first knockdown with a shoulder tackle, then used a vertical suplex. He tagged Romero. Romero hit a series of strikes.
BUSHI jumped in for an illegal double team, but got sent outside with a headscissors. Romero went for a hurricanrana on Shingo, but SANADA jumped in and hit him with a dropkick. BUSHI then got a tag, and LIJ went to work on Romero.
BUSHI hit a swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall. SANADA got a tag. He put Romero in the Paradise Lock, then broke it with a dropkick. Shingo and Goto brawled outside, while SANADA kept working on Romero.
Romero came back with a hurricanrana, then a rewind kick. Okada got a tag and ran wild. He cleared the opposing apron, then hit SANADA with a back elbow. SANADA blocked a charge into the corner, but Okada then hit him with a flapjack for a two count.
Okada went for a tombstone, but SANADA blocked it. SANADA took a flip bump into and over the buckle. He missed a springboard attack. SANADA got Skull End applied, but Okada reversed into his own Skull End. SANADA fought out of it. SANADA ducked a Rainmaker, then hit a back suplex. This was a very nice exchange.
BUSHI got a tag. He hit a missile dropkick on Okada, a low dropkick to the leg, then used a DDT for a nearfall. Okada escaped a neckbreaker, then missed a charge into the corner. LIJ jumped in for a 3-on-1. Goto and Romero jumped in to put a stop to that.
Romero hit BUSHI with a spear. Shingo hit Romero with an inverted GTR. Shingo and Goto traded shots. Goto dropped Shingo with a lariat. SANADA hit Goto with a dropkick. SANADA hit Okada with a tombstone. He went for a Rainmaker, but BUSHI broke it up.
Okada hit BUSHI with a top rope elbow, then hit a Rainmaker He then used a jackknife cover for the pin.
TETSUYA NAITO & EVIL DEFEATED JAY WHITE & YUJIRO TAKAHASHI
This was an above-average undercard tag match. It was not as strong as the preceding match, but still good.
White and Yujiro’s attempt at a sneak attack before the bell failed. Naito hit a forearm and a low dropkick on White, while EVIL took Yujiro to the floor. EVIL got a tag and went for a Scorpion Deathlock on White, but White made it to the ropes.
Naito tagged back in. He went for a combinacion in the corner, but Gedo grabbed his ankle on the apron. White used the distraction to counter, slamming Naito’s face on the apron. The four brawled on opposite sides of the building, with White and Yujiro firmly in control of the offense.
They did a long countout tease. Naito was still in the middle of the crowd at the count of 18. He sprinted back to the ring and beat the count. Yujiro tagged in. He hit a series of elbow drops on Naito, and scored a nearfall.
Yujiro tossed Naito to the floor, where White repeatedly sent him into the barricade. White got a tag. He chopped Naito, and used a chinlock. Naito hit a hurricanrana, teasing a hot tag to EVIL. White briefly cut him off. He went for a Blade Buster, but Naito countered into a neckbreaker. This time he made the tag.
EVIL tagged in, while Yujiro entered without a tag. Gedo jumped on the apron, and EVIL dropped him with a right hand. White jumped back in. EVIL hit a seated senton in the corner for a two count.
EVIL went for a fisherman buster, but White blocked it. EVIL went for a misdirection lariat, but White was ready for it, and hit a DDT. Yujiro got a tag. He hit a neckbreaker, a low dropkick, and used a fisherman buster for a two count.
White jumped in. He knocked Naito off the apron, then hit EVIL with a Blade Buster. Yujiro covered, but Naito made the save. Naito and White then fought to the floor.
Yujiro went for Pimp Juice, but EVIL blocked it. Yujiro hit a superkick, then hit a fireman’s carry slam for a nearfall.
Yujiro again went for Pimp Juice, but Naito cut him off. White jumped in. Naito hit White with a neckbreaker and a dropkick. Naito hit an enziguri on Yujiro, then an inverted atomic drop. EVIL hit a lariat for a nearfall.
EVIL then hit Everything is EVIL for the pin on Yujiro.
White jumped in after the bell and attacked EVIL. Naito made the save. He went for Destino, but White escaped it. Naito offered White an LIJ fist bump, but White instead hit him with a low blow.
White taunted Naito with the IWGP Intercontinental belt before leaving.
IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: EL PHANTASMO & TAIJI ISHIMORI DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY & ROBBIE EAGLES TO RETAIN THE TITLES (23:11)
This started off slowly, but built into one of the best tag matches of the year.
Ospreay and Ishimori started off as the legal men, but Ospreay demanded that ELP tag in. He did, but Ishimori then attacked Ospreay from behind. Eagles jumped in to aid Ospreay, and they hit Ishimori and ELP with stereo planchas.
Ospreay and Eagles used a series of quick tags, working an arm wringer on ELP’s left arm. ELP managed a tag to Ishimori, but Ospreay and Eagles did the same to Ishimori’s left arm. Eagles hit a double stomp off the top to the arm.
Ospreay chop-blocked Ishimori, while Eagles hit a dropkick. Ishimori came back with a seated senton off the top rope, then tagged ELP, who hit a back rake off the top to Eagles. ELP used a vertical suplex, then a Vader bomb. Ishimori got a tag and hit a double stomp to the chest for a one count.
ELP hit an elbow off the middle rope for a two count, then used a magistral cradle for another nearfall. ELP tied Eagles to the tree of woe, then Ishimori and Eagles hit their tandem crotch stomp.
ELP used a chinlock on Eagles for a long time. Eagles tried to hit sliced bread to escape the hold, but ELP blocked it. Eagles finally escaped the hold and tagged Ospreay, and the pace quickened considerably.
Ospreay hit a top rope 619, then a DDT to ELP. He followed with a backflip kick on an interfering Ishimori. Ospreay hit a Cheeky Nandos kick to ELP for a nearfall. They did a series of teases and counters, including a Spanish Fly attempt and an airplane spin neckbreaker attempt.
ELP walked on the top rope, then tagged Ishimori. Ishimori hit a sliding German on Ospreay for a nearfall. Ishimmori hit a codebreaker, and ELP then hit a BME on Ospreay for a nearfall.
A crazy sequence saw Ospreay use a standing shooting star for a nearfall, while Eagles hit ELP with a suicide dive. Somewhere in here, Ishimori got the tag and became the legal man.
Ospreay hit a tiger wall kick for another nearfall, as ELP made the save. Ospreay escaped a tower of doom, and Eagles jumped in. He took Ishimori off ELP’s shoulders with a rana. Eagles then hit a suicide dive on ELP, while Ospreay hit an insane tope over the top rope to Ishimori.
Back inside, Ospreay and Eagles teased Red WIng, their tandem finisher. ELP cut them off. They teased a stacked superplex spot. Ishimori tried to superplex both, but Eagles and Ospreay landed on their feet.
Ospreay and Eagles hit a tandem Turbo Backpack on Ishimori. Eagles covered, but ELP broke up the pin.
Eagles went for sliced bread on Ishimori, but Ishimori reversed it into a poison rana.
Eagles and Ishimori exchanged strikes. Ospreay hit a Pip Pip Cheerio off the apron on ELP, while Eagles hit a double stomp on Ishimori’s leg on the apron.
Back in the ring, Eagles got the Miller Special applied on Ishimori. Ospreay hit a springboard 450 while Eagles went to re-apply the hold.
Eagles re-applied the Miller Special, while Ospreay used an octopus hold on ELP. ELP escaped, then dropped Ospreay on top of Eagles and Ishimori with an F-5.
Eagles hit ELP with chops and kicks in the corner. Eagles missed a meteora in the corner. ELP hit a quebrada on Eagles, then took out Ospreay with a suicide dive. ELP then hit an Asai moonsault from the ring, over the barricade, onto Ospreay.
ELP went for a springboard 450 to Eagles, but Eagles got his knees up. Eagles hit a sliced bread into a DDT for a nearfall.
Eagles hit a 450 off the top to ELP’s legs. ELP kicked him off as he tried for the Miller Special, right into a belt shot from Ishimori on the floor. ELP got a nearfall off the interference.
ELP used an airplane spin neckbreaker for a nearfall, as Ospreay saved. ELP and Ishimori hit Ospreay with a tandem Bloody Cross. Ishimori hit Eagles with a Bloody Cross, then ELP hit him with a CR2 for the pin.
KOTA IBUSHI DEFEATED KENTA TO RETAIN THE TOKYO DOME RIGHT TO CHALLENGE CERTIFICATE (26:23)
KENTA is a step slower than the top NJPW guys. Couple that with the overbooking, the run-ins and ref bumps, and this made for one of the weaker NJPW main events in a long time.
I understand that they felt that people wouldn’t buy KENTA as a legitimate contender without all the gaga, but Ibushi is a super worker and could have made the match work without it.
KENTA attacked Ibushi with a Busaiku knee strike before the bell. He then hit Ibushi with the briefcase. He cut a promo on Ibushi and said that he destroyed the case because he wants a Bullet Club case.
They teased a no contest, but Ibushi was able to start. KENTA hit another Busaiku knee at the opening bell, and covered for a quick two count.
KENTA dragged Ibushi outside, and repeatedly sent him into the barricade. They teased a countout, but Ibushi made it back in. KENTA again took Ibushi to the floor. He sent Ibuhsi over the barricade, then hit a DDT on the floor.
Back inside, KENTA hit a draping DDT for a nearfall. Five minutes in, Ibushi was yet to hit a single offensive move.
KENTA used a series of short kicks in the corner. Ibushi fired up and showed a bit of life, but KENTA cut him off again with kicks. KENTA hit a back elbow for a nearfall.
KENTA hit a knee lift, but Ibushi came back with a dropkick. Ibushi hit a powerslam, then a second rope moonsault for a two count. KENTA rolled outside, and Ibushi connected with a pescado.
Back inside, KENTA hit a PK. Ibushi fired back with his own hard kick. They traded forearm strikes. Both missed with wild right hands, but then landed simultaneous high kicks for a double knockdown.
Ibushi dodged a charge into the corner, then hit a snap rana. Ibushi went for a Golden Star off the post, but KENTA cut him off, then posted Ibushi’s left leg, repeatedly.
KENTA dropped Ibushi’s leg over the barricade, then hit the left leg with a chair. KENTA then dropped Ibushi leg-first onto the English commentary table.
Back inside, KENTA continued working on the left leg. He used a dragon screw, then a heel hook. He hit another dragon screw, then used another heel hook. Ibushi forced a rope break.
Ibushi hit a couple of quick strikes. KENTA hit a yakuza kick. Ibushi fired up and hit his own yakuza kick. Ibushi tried for a Shibata dropkick in the corner, but KENTA caught his legs coming in, and went back to the heel hook.
KENTA hit a series of forearm strikes in the corner, then hit a Shibata dropkick. KENTA hit a double stomp off the top rope for a nearfall.
KENTA called for the GTS. Ibushi blocked it. KENTA hit a dragon screw, then used a figure four. Red Shoes really tried to sell this as a potential finish. Ibushi reversed the figure four, then clawed his way to the ropes for the break.
KENTA hit a knee strike to the back. He went for another Busaiku knee, but Ibushi cut him off with a lariat. Ibushi hit a sit-out powerbomb for a nearfall.
Ibushi called for a Bomaye. KENTA took the ref. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa ran in, but ate a double backflip kick. Ibushi hit a buzzsaw kick. He covered, but Tonga and Loa pulled the referee to the floor.
Tonga and Loa went for a super powerbomb, but Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI ran in for the save. Ishii hit Loa with a brainbuster off the top rope, and YH hit Tonga with a weak lariat.
The referee was revived. KENTA and Ibushi exchanged strikes from their knees, then continued trading as they got to their feet. KENTA hit a big right hand, then used a PK for a nearfall at the 25 minute mark.
KENTA hit Ibushi with a Kamigoye, but Ibushi kicked out at two.
KENTA went for the GTS, but Ibushi blocked it, then hit a knee strike. Ibushi hit Kamigoye, but KENTA kicked out at two this time.
Ibushi hit a second Kamigoye, and got the win in his hometown.
EVIL came out to the ring after the match, and challenged Ibushi for the certificate at a later date.
Ibushi then cut a promo. He said that last time he was in Kagoshima, he promised to win the G1. This time, he said he promises to bring both the heavyweight and intercontinental titles back to his hometown.
A number of big bouts and title matches are set to take place over the next few weeks during NJPW’s Destruction tour.
Destruction in Beppu on Sunday, September 15 will have Hiroshi Tanahashi defending his newly won RevPro British Heavyweight Championship against Zack Sabre Jr., who lost the title to Tanahashi at Royal Quest. IWGP Tag Team Champions Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) will face YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii in a non-title match.
Destruction in Kagoshima the following day will be headlined by Kota Ibushi defending his right to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 against one of the people he lost to during the G1 Climax, KENTA. El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori will also defend their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles against Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles.
Shingo Takagi will face Hirooki Goto in a singles match at Destruction in Kobe on Sunday, September 22. That show is being headlined by Testuya Naito defending his IWGP Intercontinental title against Jay White.
The three shows will also feature Young Lion tournament bouts. DOUKI, who previously wrestled in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, is returning for this tour as well.
Here are the full cards for the three Destruction shows:
Destruction in Beppu (September 15) —
RevPro British Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defending against Zack Sabre Jr.
Guerrillas of Destiny vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii
KENTA is the latest member of the Bullet Club, turning his back not only on his tag team partners during the G1 Climax finals but also the person who brought him into NJPW.
The angle happened during a match between KENTA, YOSHI-HASHI and Tomohiro Ishii, who teamed up to take on the Bullet Club team of Bad Luck Fale and the Guerillas of Destiny. KENTA never interacted with the Bullet Club during the match nor was ever tagged in. As Tomohiro Ishii finally went for a tag, KENTA bailed and stood outside the ring as the match continued. After a few minutes, he came back in and laid out Ishii with the running knee, allowing Tama Tonga to pin Ishii.
After the match, Katsuyori Shibata ran in and immediately attacked KENTA to a huge ovation. The rest of the Bullet Club tried to cut him off, but Shibata kept them at bay and set up KENTA for the PK. As Shibata hit the ropes, Jado struck him with a kendo stick. The rest of the Bullet Club regrouped and attacked Shibata with kendo stick shots.
KENTA sat cross-legged on Shibata, his own pose, as he gave the “too sweet” hand gesture of the rest of the Bullet Club. Shibata later left the ring under his own power.
