NJPW has confirmed that Kota Ibushi suffered a dislocated right shoulder during his G1 Climax 31 finals match against Kazuchika Okada.
NJPW chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced the injury update during a post-G1 finals press conference. Sugabayashi said that further updates regarding Ibushi’s condition and his timetable to return to the ring will be made after he’s received a “more thorough appraisal.”
Sugabayashi also announced that, due to the vaccination status of NJPW’s wrestlers and staff and the reduction of COVID-19 cases in Japan, NJPW will be increasing the number of matches on each card starting with the promotion’s next tour. The Road to Power Struggle tour kicks off at Korakuen Hall this Sunday.
“I have two updates for you today. Firstly, in the G1 final last night in the Nippon Budokan, Kota Ibushi incurred a dislocated right shoulder during the match, and was treated by the ring doctor and training personnel. Further updates to Ibushi’s condition and a timetable for return will be announced after Ibushi has received more thorough appraisal,” Sugabayashi said.
Secondly, over the last year or so, under NJPW’s COVID protocols, there has been a reduction in the number of matches on each New Japan Pro-Wrestling event. As a result of the current infection levels in Japan, as well as the vaccination of staff and wrestlers, from the forthcoming tour we will be increasing the number of matches on each card, while maintaining our other COVID rules and protocols. From now on, fans can expect to see more of their favorite wrestlers competing on each live event. Once again, we appreciate your understanding and support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Your patience through this period has been very important, and in several ways moving forward, we will be looking to bring back the New Japan Pro-Wrestling of pre-COVID times.”
Okada defeated Ibushi by referee stoppage in the G1 finals on Thursday. The match was stopped after Ibushi missed a Phoenix Splash.
Kazuchika Okada won the G1 Climax 31 today after an injury to Kota Ibushi forced the early stoppage of their finals match at the G1 finals in the Nippon Budokan.
After failing to put Okada away with a Kamigoye, Ibushi climbed to the top rope to attempt a phoenix splash. Okada rolled out of the way and Ibushi landed on the mat. Ibushi immediately clutched at his right arm. Referee Red Shoes Unno checked on Ibushi, then quickly called for the bell.
Medical personnel made their way to the ring. It appeared as though trainers were trying to pop Ibushi’s right shoulder back into socket, but ringside attendants formed a circle around Ibushi to offer some privacy.
The ring ropes were removed and Ibushi was helped to the back as he continued to hold his right arm.
With the win, Okada earns an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestle Kingdom 16, set to take place on January 4, January 5 and January 8, 2022.
Backstage immediately after the show, Tama Tonga appeared and issued a challenge to Okada, so that match will likely take place at Power Struggle on Saturday, November 6.
Traditionally, the G1 winner will defend the right to challenge briefcase at least one time between the conclusion of the tournament and Wrestle Kingdom. Last year, Ibushi lost the briefcase to Jay White at the Power Struggle event in November.
Okada’s win is his third career G1 Climax victory. He also won the 2012 and 2014 editions of the tournament.
Kazuchika Okada and Kota Ibushi will meet today in the G1 Climax 31 finals.
Ibushi, the A Block winner, will face B Block winner Okada to determine the winner of G1 and who will carry the right to challenge briefcase for an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestle Kingdom in January.
Okada and Ibushi have each won the tournament twice. Okada’s wins came in 2012 and 2014, while Ibushi won the 2019 and 2020 editions of the tournament. Ibushi was also a finalist in 2018, making this his record fourth consecutive finals. Okada has never lost a G1 finals match.
A series of tag matches will fill out the undercard.
Shingo Takagi, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI will face Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma and Tiger Mask will take on KENTA, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa and Chase Owens.
Bullet Club’s House of Torture (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and SHO) will face NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI in a non-title match, likely setting up a Championship bout on the next tour.
Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan of The United Empire will face Yuji Nagata and Toru Yano in the main card opener.
El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru will take on Ryohei Oiwa and Kosei Fujita in a pre-show match.
Our live coverage begins with the pre-show at 4:30 a.m. Eastern time.
This was your standard Young Lion tag. Very similar to last night, only Oiwa sold most of the way and made a hot tag to Fujita.
Desperado and Oiwa traded headlocks. Desperado cut Oiwa off. Kanemaru tagged in and continued working Oiwa over. Oiwa came back with a vertical suplex and made the hot tag.
Fujita got a crab applied to Kanemaru, but Kanemaru forced a break. Desperado held Oiwa at bay while Kanemaru used a crab to submit Fujita.
O-Khan and Yano have an on and off blood feud going, so they began here. Yano exposed a buckle. Empire turned it into a brawl around ringside and took control of the bout.
O-Khan and Cobb worked on Yano. Yano used a hair pull on Cobb to break free and tag out. Nagata hit Cobb with some signature offense. Cobb answered with a dropkick and tagged out.
Nagata blocked an iron claw and hit an exploder on O-Khan. Yano tagged back in as they worked towards the finish. Yano and O-Khan traded throws. Cobb and Nagata brawled to the outside.
Yano hit a low blow and cradled O-Khan to steal the pin.
SHO produced a CHAOS flag and stomped on it. We got a brawling start with all six guys in. Goto ended up cut off and his taped right shoulder was worked on.
Ishii tagged in and did some cool reversal spots with Yujiro and Yujiro kept accidentally hitting EVIL on the apron. Ishii was then cut off.
Ishii made a hot tag to YH. YH got some offense, but then the Dick Togo show began. Togo interfered. Togo jumped in the ring. Togo used his ligature. The ref got bumped.
SHO cracked YH with a chair, EVIL hit Everything is EVIL, the ref was revived and EVIL pinned YH.
KENTA, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa and Chase Owens (w/Jado) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Tiger Mask (10:41)
The match was good, all action. The post-match was the story, as KENTA attacked Tanahashi and stole the IWGP US title. KENTA and Owens briefly argued as to who was going to challenge Tanahashi next. Owens relented and said he’s going back to America and KENTA can have the first shot.
The babyface side got the early shine, as Makabe and Loa started off. Tonga and Honma tagged in and Honma was cut off until hitting a vertical suplex. Tiger got a tag and ran wild. He hit KENTA with a Tiger driver for a near fall.
Tiger was then cut off. They built to a Tanahashi hot tag. He hit KENTA with a dragon screw and a somersault senton for a near fall. Tana missed with a slingblade and KENTA rolled him up for two. KENTA used a schoolboy for another near fall.
Owens blind-tagged in and hit a lariat on Tana for a two count. Tana blocked a package driver with twist and shout and tagged Honma.
Honma hit kokeshi, but Bullet Club jumped in to cut him off. Owens used a package piledriver to pin Honma.
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Zack Sabre Jr. entered after intermission.
Katsuyori Shibata then entered.
A five minute UWF rules exhibition match was announced. Shibata was forced to retire after suffering a subdural hematoma in a match with Kazuchika Okada at Sakura Genesis in April 2017. He has been serving as the head coach at NJPW’s LA Dojo since 2018.
UWF rules match: Katsuyori Shibata & Zack Sabre Jr. went to a time limit draw (5:00)
Shibata looked great, but he didn’t really take any bumps.
They had a grappling battle. Shibata used a figure four, Sabre reversed it. Sabre got a heel hook, Shibata reversed it. They traded neck ties. Sabre used a side headlock. Shibata reversed into a sleeper.
Sabre had a cobra twist applied. Shibata reversed it and had the hold applied as time expired.
Shibata cut a promo and said that the next time you see him in the ring, it will be in a match.
Hiromu and Taguchi started off with some comedy. They ran the ropes. Taguchi ran in place while Hiromu blew himself up. Tenzan and Kojima doubled up on Hiromu with tandem offense. Wato tagged in, but LIJ went four-on-one to cut him off.
LIJ took turns in working over Wato. Wato blocked a suplex from SANADA and tagged Kojima. Kojima hit SANADA and Hiromu with machine gun chops. SANADA missed a standing moonsault. They traded strikes. BUSHI tagged in for a missile dropkick and a double down.
Tenzan tagged in and worked on BUSHI to set up the closing stretch. BUSHI was caught in the Anaconda Vice, but Tenzan gave up the hold. BUSHI hit a dropkick and tagged Shingo.
Shingo hit a DVD for a near fall. He teased a Pumping Bomber, but Wato intercepted with a springboard forearm. Everyone jumped in for a big move and fought to the floor, leaving Shingo and Tenzan in the ring.
Shingo hit a superplex and a Pumping Bomber to pin Tenzan.
G1 Climax 31 finals: Kazuchika Okada defeated Kota Ibushi by referee stoppage (injury) (25:37)
They were on their way to having a classic, but Ibushi injured himself missing a phoenix splash. This will be memorable, but unfortunately for the wrong reason.
They started slowly, trading headlocks. They traded tentative strikes. Ibushi hit a standing moonsault off a mid kick.
Business picked up after they brawled to the outside. Ibushi blocked a whip into the barricade and hit a half-and-half suplex on the floor. He threw Okada back inside and hit a springboard dropkick.
Okada sent Ibushi out to the floor with a dropkick, then hit a DDT on the ramp. Okada threw Ibushi back in and hit a shotgun dropkick. Okada used the Money Clip. Okada gave up the hold and hit a picture-perfect dropkick.
Okada went back to the Money Clip. As Ibushi fought to the ropes, Okada hit a backbreaker. He applied the hold again, but Ibushi forced a break. Okada hit a top rope elbow. Ibushi ducked under a Rainmaker. Okada ducked a kick. Ibushi hit a lariat.
They traded strikes. Ibushi hit a snap rana and a top rope Asai moonsault to the ramp. Back in, Ibushi hit a last ride for a near fall. Ibushi went for Kamigoye, but Okada turtled up. Okada used a backslide to set up a Rainmaker, but Ibushi ducked it. Ibushi hit a high kick, a v-trigger and a Kamigoye, but Okada kicked out.
Okada reversed a Kamigoye attempt into a cradle for a near fall. Okada avoided a v-trigger. Ibushi hit a lariat. Ibushi went for a phoenix splash, but Okada rolled out of the way.
Ibushi landed awkwardly on the phoenix splash. Red Shoes checked on Ibushi and called for the stoppage.
They spent several minutes working on Ibushi in the ring as medical staff came in. They appeared to be trying to pop his shoulder back in.
I watched the spot about a dozen times. It appeared that Ibushi landed on his knees, but he had so much force on the landing that even still, his right arm hit the mat and caused the injury.
Okada cut a promo. He put himself over, put over Ibushi and said his focus is on the Tokyo Dome.
Confetti fell and Okada posed with the G1 flag and trophy.
NJPW has announced the card for tomorrow morning’s G1 Climax 31 finals at Budokan Hall.
The undercard for tonight’s show mainly consists of tag team matches. In the co-main event, Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan will team with Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato to take on the Los Ingobernables de Japon contingent of Shingo Takagi, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi, and BUSHI.
In the main event, A Block winner Kota Ibushi will face B Block winner Kazuchika Okada. Ibushi is looking to win the tournament for the third consecutive year in a row, while Okada has previously won the tournament in 2012 and 2014.
The full card for this year’s finals is as follows:
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi in the G1 Climax 31 finals
Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Master Wato vs. Shingo Takagi, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi, and BUSHI
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, and Tiger Mask vs. KENTA , Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, and Chase Owens
Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, and YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, and SHO
Yuji Nagata and Toru Yano vs. Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan
(Pre-show) El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Kosei Fujita and Ryohei Oiwa
The event will begin at 4:30 am ET, with the opening tag match taking place prior to the start of the main card at 5:00 am ET.
One half of the G1 Climax 31 finals are set following today’s A Block finale.
Kota Ibushi defeated KENTA in the main event of today’s show at Yokohama Budokan to advance to his record fourth consecutive G1 finals. Ibushi extends the record that he set last year, as he is the only wrestler to make it to three G1 finals in a row, let alone four.
Ibushi finished A Block with 14 points and 7-2 record. He began the tournament 1-2, but won his final six bouts to stand alone atop the Block.
Ibushi now awaits the winner of Wednesday’s B Block finale between Jeff Cobb and Kazuchika Okada to determine who he will face in Thursday’s G1 Climax 31 finals. Okada needs a win to advance. Cobb can advance with a win, a draw, a no contest, a double countout or a double DQ.
Ibushi entered the final night of A Block tied with Shingo Takagi, Zack Sabre Jr. and KENTA with 12 points. Shingo went to a double countout with Yujiro Takahashi to finish at 13. Sabre lost to Tanga Loa to remain at 12. Those results set up a winner-take-all scenario in the main event.
Here are the final A Block standings, the current B Block standings, plus the match lineup for the B Block finals on Wednesday.
The G1 Climax 31 A Block concluded today in Yokohama.
Five wrestlers remained mathematically alive heading into the final day of A Block action.
Here are results and a report from the show.
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Recommended matches —
Kota Ibushi vs. KENTA
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tanga Loa
Report —
Great-O-Khan defeated Satoshi Kojima (10:25)
O-Khan attacked before the bell and they brawled around ringside. O-Khan dominated the early-going. Kojima came back with machine gun chops, a DDT on the apron and a DDT in the center of the ring.
Kojima hit a brainbuster for a near fall. O-Khan blocked a lariat with a pump kick. Kojima blocked the Eliminator with a lariat. O-Khan used the iron claw. Kojima blocked the Eliminator. They hit simultaneous lariats.
O-Khan used the sheep killer to set up the Eliminator and score the pin.
A Block: Toru Yano defeated Tomohiro Ishii (11:08)
Ishii needed to win and every 12-pointer to lose or go to a double DQ, so he was effectively out but not mathematically eliminated headed into the night.
The story of the match was Ishii being wise to all of Yano’s tricks and narrowly avoiding defeat, until he didn’t. Ishii was good, Yano was Yano.
Yano used a towel around Ishii’s neck to take him down and try to score two quick pinfalls, but failed. Yano exposed a buckle.
Yano went outside and crawled under the ring. Ishii threw a corner pad at Yano on the floor. Yano whipped Ishii into the exposed buckle and used a schoolboy for a near fall.
Ishii blocked three low blow attempts and hit an enzuigiri. Yano turned one sliding attempt into a crucifix for a near fall. Ishii hit the sliding lariat on the second attempt.
Ishii hit a headbutt. Yano blocked a Vertical Drop Brainbuster, hit a low blow, then used a backslide to pin Ishii.
A Block: Shingo Takagi & Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) went to a double countout (13:36)
This was ruled a draw and each got one point. There was some good brawling here, but also some clunky spots.
Yujiro whiffed on a suicide dive as Shingo prepared to step into the ring, but Shingo sold the dive anyway.
Pieter provided a distraction and Yujiro hit Shingo with his walking stick on the floor. Yujiro maintained control of the brawl and tried to steal a countout win.
Shingo made his comeback with noshigami and a sliding lariat. Shingo was begging the crowd for reactions. Yujiro hit a hotshot across the tope strand. Shingo dead-weighted Yujiro on an Angle slam, but Yujiro powered him up and hit the move.
Yujiro used Miami Shine for a near fall. Shingo blocked Big Juice with a lariat and pounded the mat to try to wake the crowd up. Yujiro raked the eyes. Shingo blocked Pimp Juice and hit Made in Japan for a near fall.
Yujiro blocked Last of the Dragon by biting Shingo’s hand. Yujiro rolled to the apron and low-bridged Shingo to the floor. Yujiro repeatedly sent Shingo into the fence to try to steal the countout. Both beat the count in at 19.
They continued to brawl on the outside. Yujiro hit Pimp Juice on the floor. Shingo hit a DVD on the floor. Yujiro hooked his ankle and prevented him from beating the 20 count. A double countout.
A Block: Tanga Loa (w/Jado) defeated Zack Sabre Jr. (17:31)
The pace these guys worked was insane. A great match.
Sabre tried to steal a quick submission with a cobra twist, but Loa fought it off. Loa tried to get a countout win by baiting Sabre to the floor. They did several countout teases. Loa went for a quick submission of his own with the OJK, but Sabre forced a break.
Sabre came back with a RNC in the ropes. Loa cut him off again and hit a standing moonsault. Sabre came back with la mistica. Loa hit a frog splash for a near fall. They traded suplexes and no-sold them.
Loa went for an electric chair. Sabre fought through and went for a clutch, but Loa reversed into an Apesh*t attempt. Sabre caught Loa in a flying octopus. Loa got the ropes for a break, then hit a lariat.
Loa hit a powerbomb for a near fall. Sabre got another octopus applied, then used it to set up a code red for a near fall. Sabre kicked at Loa’s arm, then hit two PKs. Loa kicked out at one. Loa got the better of a striking battle.
Sabre used a European clutch for a near fall. Loa reversed the clutch into his own clutch and got the pin.
A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated KENTA (26:16)
This was fun. They did one million things in the match. Some hit, some missed, but the drama was there.
They exchanged tentative strikes from kickboxing stances. Ibushi caught KENTA right in the face on a flying mid kick. KENTA rolled outside. Ibushi went out after, but KENTA posted him and took control of the bout. Both just beat a very generous 19 count back in.
KENTA used an STF. Ibushi got a brief comeback and went for the golden triangle moonsault, but KENTA tripped him up and Ibushi crashed to the floor. KENTA sent Ibushi up and over the barricade.
KENTA dragged Ibushi backstage. KENTA made it back to the ring. Ibushi beat another very generous 19 count back in. KENTA sent Ibushi into an exposed turnbuckle. KENTA used a chinlock.
Ibushi hit a powerslam and a moonsault. KENTA hit some short kicks. He went for a Busaiku knee, but Ibushi used a Matrix kip-up to avoid it and hit a kick and a half-and-half suplex. KENTA avoided the Bomaye and bumped Ibushi into the referee in the exposed turnbuckle. Red Shoes was down on the floor.
KENTA hit a DDT. KENTA brought a chair in. Ibushi no-sold a chair shot. Ibushi teased using the chair, but hit a kick to the head instead. Ibushi introduced a table on the floor. He teased a German off the apron, but KENTA blocked. Ibushi hit a backdrop on the apron.
Ibushi placed KENTA on the table. The table legs gave way. KENTA laid there anyway. Ibushi hit a splash off the post to KENTA on the table. The table refused to break. Both made it back in after yet another long 19 count.
KENTA hit a green killer and a double stomp off the top for a near fall. Ibushi fought out of a GTS. KENTA hit a series of palm strikes. Ibushi blasted KENTA with Kamigoye, but KENTA kicked out.
KENTA avoided another Kamigoye and sent Ibushi into the exposed buckle. KENTA used a hip toss for a near fall, then got Game Over applied. Ibushi forced a rope break at 25 minutes.
Ibushi hit a head kick. KENTA sent Ibushi into the exposed buckle and used a schoolboy for a near fall. KENTA hit a Busaiku knee for a near fall.
Ibushi blocked GTS and hit a v-trigger. He hit a Kamigoye to the back, then another Kamigoye to the front to get the pin and win the block.
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Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night 18, Wednesday, October 20, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
B Block: SANADA vs. EVIL
B Block: YOSHI-HASHI vs. Chase Owens
B Block: Hirooki Goto vs. Tama Tonga
B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Taichi
Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita
A decent tag team opener. Oiwa remains ahead of Fujita at this point in their development, but Fujita was good here.
Oiwa and Kanemaru started off. Fujita jumped in for a double shoulder block. Oiwa got hit with a back suplex from Kanemaru and was cut off.
Oiwa made a comeback on Desperado with a gutwrench suplex and a dropkick. Fujita got a hot tag and hit Despy with a dropkick. After failing to get a crab on Desperado in their singles match, Fujita got one here, but Desperado reached the ropes.
Desperado hit a backdrop and put the Indian deathlock on Fujita. Oiwa saved, but Kanemaru tossed Oiwa outside. Fujita used an inside cradle for a near fall.
Desperado then locked on Numero Dos and Fujita tapped out.
Tomohiro Ishii defeated Hiromu Takahashi (18:13)
Excellent match. Their New Japan Cup match from a year ago was more crisp, but that was one of the first great matches of the pandemic era and it isn’t really fair to compare them.
Ishii side-stepped a shotgun dropkick at the opening bell. Hiromu avoided a sliding lariat. Each avoided a series of big moves from the other. A great way to open.
Ishii took over, using his heavyweight power to win an exchange of shoulder tackles. Ishii got the better of a chop battle. Hiromu came back with a hurricanrana. He teased a sunset bomb, but Ishii blocked. Hiromu hit a DVD on the apron instead.
Hiromu escaped an electric chair and hit something resembling dynamite plunger for a near fall. Hiromu hit some palm strikes to the face. They traded some working headbutts. Ishii hit a lariat, then the sliding variation for a near fall.
Hiromu escaped a brainbuster attempt and tried a wheelbarrow bulldog, but slammed Ishii’s head right into the mat for real. Ishii appeared to be okay. Hiromu rolled through on an Ishii German and hit three superkicks.
Hiromu reversed another brainbuster attempt and hit victory royal. He then hit a DVD into the corner pad. Hiromu hit Time Bomb, but Ishii kicked out. Hiromu hit a clothesline for a two count.
Ishii again tried for a brainbuster, again Hiromu blocked. Ishii hit a clothesline, an enzuigiri and a another clothesline for a near fall.
Hiromu reversed another brainbuster attempt and used a cradle for a two count. Ishii no-sold a superkick and hit a lariat.
Ishii then was finally able to hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin.
A Block: KENTA defeated Zack Sabre Jr. (22:24)
These guys did something I haven’t seen done well in a long time, which was a heel vs. heel match where both played heel and did it effectively. Sometimes someone plays babyface just for the match to make it work better, but not here. Both guys were extremely unsavory, but still entertaining. This was a great match.
They beat the crap out of each other. It felt like a real fight at points. They began striking. The story of most Sabre matches is that he gets out-struck, but with KENTA being a smaller heavyweight, they went back and forth pretty evenly in the striking.
They brawled outside. Sabre stomped on KENTA’s taped left knee. KENTA answered in the ring with a DDT. KENTA covered Sabre with one foot, Sabre kicked out before one. Sabre came back with two neck twists, then covered KENTA with one foot.
They continued to go back and forth with strikes. KENTA tried a green killer, but Sabre blocked and slapped on an octopus in the ropes. Sabre then stomped on KENTA’s taped left shoulder and targeted it for the rest of the match.
Sabre used two submission attempts, KENTA forced two rope breaks. KENTA hit a Busaiku knee. He went for a second, but Sabre caught him in a heel hook for the second time in the match. KENTA forced a break. Sabre propped KENTA up in the corner and kicked at the left leg.
KENTA blocked a PK and hit a clothesline. Sabre ducked a kick and trapped both of KENTA’s legs, but KENTA forced another rope break. Sabre stomped on the left leg. KENTA went for Go To Sleep, but Sabre blocked and used a clutch hold for a near fall.
They traded palm strikes. Sabre blocked a GTS and used an ankle lock on the left leg. KENTA twisted out and hit a drop toe hold into an exposed turnbuckle, then caught Sabre on the rebound with a GTS for the pin.
A Block: Toru Yano defeated Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) by countout (10:23)
Yano matches should all be under five minutes. This was five minutes of comedy stretched across ten minutes.
Yujiro hit a running boot before the bell, then busted out a tope suicida after the bell. Yujiro wrapped Yano up in athletic tape and hit a big boot with Yano seated on a chair at the bottom of the ramp. Yano beat the count back in at 19.
Yujiro exposed a buckle and whipped Yano into it. Yano exposed a second buckle and whipped Yano into it. Yujiro exposed a third buckle and whipped Yano into it. Pieter took the ref as Yujiro hit Yano with his walking stick.
Yujiro hit a drive-by kick, but Yano hit an inverted atomic drop. Yano avoided a whip and used a schoolboy for a two count. Yujiro blocked a low blow. Yano took a front turnbuckle. Yano raked Yujiro’s eyes and hit a belly-to-belly. Yujiro stopped the comeback with a lariat.
Yujiro hit a fisherman buster for a two count. Yano blocked Pimp Juice and hit a low blow. He used a school boy, but Yujiro grabbed the ref and bumped him. Yujiro hit a low blow.
They went to the floor. Yujiro tried to handcuff Yano. Yano escaped and crawled under the ring. Yujiro went under the ring. Yano emerged and got back in. Yujiro crawled out with his hands cuffed behind his back and could not beat the count back in. Yano stole a countout win.
A Block: Shingo Takagi defeated Tanga Loa (w/Jado) (19:08)
This was Shingo doing his best NWA Champion in the 80s match. He gave Loa a ton of offense before finally slipping over in the end. A very good match.
Shingo got an early knockdown and hit a senton. Loa reversed a whip and hit a dropkick. He low-bridged Shingo to the apron and hit a back suplex on the apron to take control of the match.
Loa hit a slingshot senton and a standing moonsault for a two count. Loa used a chinlock, no-sold a snap vertical suplex and hit a tackle. Loa backed Shingo into the corner and hit some clotheslines. Loa hit a powerslam for another near fall.
Loa used the OJK. Shingo forced a break. Shingo came back with strikes and hit a DDT. Shingo hit a suplex. Loa hit a blue thunder bomb for a near fall. Shingo hit a backdrop. Loa hit an exploder and a lariat.
Loa hit a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. They fought to the top rope. Loa slipped coming off the second rope as he hit a powerslam. Shingo immediately started selling his collarbone and I was concerned that he was hurt, but he appeared fine. Loa could have torn his knee up slipping like that also. A scary spot.
Shingo blocked Apesh*t and hit a sliding lariat and a superplex. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber, but Loa didn’t go down. Loa ate two more lariat, then blocked a third with a spear.
Shingo blocked a powerbomb with a hurricanrana and hit a lariat. They exchanged strikes. Loa hit a headbutt to the chest. Shingo blocked Apesh*t again and hit a GTR in the ropes.
Shingo hit Last of the Dragon for the pin.
A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated Great-O-Khan (20:22)
This never reached the level of a great NJPW main event to me. A good match, but was overshadowed by the previous bout.
They started very slowly. They did some tentative striking, then some mat wrestling with neither gaining a notable advantage. O-Khan took Ibushi down and hooked his leg in a submission attempt, then began kicking at the left leg.
Ibushi fired off some sharp upkicks from the mat, then locked in a figure four. Ibushi pounded the mat to try to get the crowd into it. O-Khan used a rolling kneebar, but Ibushi reached the ropes. O-Khan was firmly in control as he laid in some strikes in the corner.
Ibushi went into murder Ibushi mode and hit a series of palm strikes and a Bomaye. O-Khan ended up with a bloody nose. O-Khan used a heel hook to set up an ankle lock, but Ibushi kicked his way free.
Ibushi fired off some more palm strikes and hit a big knee. He called for Kamigoye, but O-Khan avoided it. Ibushi avoided the iron claw and hit a high kick for a near fall.
Ibushi went for Kamigoye, but O-Khan put the iron claw on the knee. Ibushi blocked the Dominator and hit a v-trigger, then hit Kamigoye and got the pin.
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Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night 14, Tuesday, October 12, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
The G1 Climax 31 A Block continued today in Aichi.
Shingo Takagi faced Kota Ibushi in the main event, while Tomohiro Ishii took on Zack Sabre Jr. in the semi-main.
Tanga Loa vs. Yujiro Takahashi, and KENTA vs. Great-O-Khan were the other tournament matches today.
Toru Yano took on BUSHI, plus Yoshinobu Kanemaru faced Kosei Fujita in the two non-tournament matches.
Here are results and a report from the show.
**********
Recommended matches —
Shingo Takagi vs. Kota Ibushi
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Report —
Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Kosei Fujita (7:34)
Fujita is not as good as Oiwa is my hot take on the new Young Lion duo. Oiwa had a really good match with Kanemaru the other night. This was just there.
Fujita tried some forearm strikes early. Kanemaru cut him off and worked him over. Fujita made a comeback and hit a dropkick. Kanemaru cut him off again and used a Boston crab for the submission.
Toru Yano defeated BUSHI (7:14)
This was complete haha.
They blindfolded each other with tote bags. BUSHI tied Yano to the barricade with a towel for a countout tease. Yano exposed a buckle. Yano tied BUSHI to the barricade by the mask for another countout tease.
BUSHI hit a missile dropkick and a suicide dive. Yano put a blindfold over the ref’s head. BUSHI rolled up Yano but there was no referee.
Yano hit a low blow and used a schoolboy for the pin.
A Block: KENTA defeated Great-O-Khan (19:39)
This was okay. The Great-Okay.
They did some promo work before the match where each asked the other to bow down to the other. The loser of the match would be forced to bow down to the winner.
KENTA stalled early and hid under the ring. He popped out from under the ring and attacked O-Khan on the floor. They traded leg holds on the mat. O-Khan took control of the match after some Mongolian chops.
O-Khan used an iron claw and went for the Eliminator, but KENTA escaped and hit a DDT. KENTA followed up with the green killer for a near fall. KENTA hit a running boot and stalling dropkick in the corner.
KENTA rolled through after missing a double stomp, but O-Khan cut him off with a pump kick. They traded hard slaps, with KENTA getting the better of the sequence. O-Khan escaped a GTS attempt an went for an Eliminator, but KENTA used a knee strike to block.
O-Khan used the sheep killer. KENTA slid out and bumped O-Khan into the referee. KENTA brought a chair in and used it on O-Khan. KENTA put O-Khan’s hat on and hit a double stomp off the top onto O-Khan on the chair.
KENTA brought a baseball bat into the ring. He threw the bat to O-Khan. The ref was revived and saw O-Khan with the bat. KENTA used the distraction to schoolboy O-Khan and pin him.
KENTA sat on a chair and demanded that O-Khan bow down. O-Khan almost did, but popped up at the last minute and hit the Eliminator on KENTA. KENTA gets the win, O-Khan keeps his pride.
A Block: Tanga Loa (w/Jado) defeated Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) (12:36)
They had a fine brawl, they didn’t overstay their welcome, they worked hard. No complaints about this one which looked like it could have been a struggle on paper.
Loa gained the early advantage and busted out a standing moonsault for a two count. He continued on the offensive with a blue thunder bomb. Loa used a chinlock.
Yujiro came back and actually hit a suicide dive. These guys weren’t messing around tonight.
Yujiro hit an Angle slam for a two count. Loa came back with a sit-out powerbomb. Yujiro hit Miami Shine and scored a near fall.
Yujiro went for Big Juice, but Loa blocked and hit Apesh*t to get the pin.
A Block: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Zack Sabre Jr. (18:40)
Really good match with a simple story. Sabre went after Ishii’s right arm. Would Ishii be able to deliver enough punishment before the arm gave out?
Sabre tried to steal a quick win with a European clutch. Sabre used kicks and holds in working over the arm. Ishii went for a superplex, but Sabre escaped and hit a powerbomb off the second rope. Ishii came back with a German after blocking a PK.
Ishii went for a sliding lariat, but Sabre caught his right arm in an armbar. Ishii forced a rope break. He adjusted the wrap on his arm and continued to sell it.
Ishii no-sold a kick and kicked Sabre’s right leg. Ishii no-sold another kick and hit a big forearm shot. They traded strikes. Ishii hit an enzuigiri and a powerbomb with a stack cover for a near fall.
Sabre again avoided a sliding lariat and caught Ishii in a crucifix for a two count. Ishii kicked out and then hit the sliding lariat at 15 minutes.
Ishii hit another lariat. Sabre avoided another lariat swing and used a clutch for a two count. Sabre used a kimura, then transitioned to a cross armbreaker. He then slid to a triangle. Ishii forced a break with kicks.
Ishii escaped a Zack Driver and hit a headbutt and a lariat. Ishii rammed his own arm into the corner pad and ripped the padding off.
Ishii hit a lariat for a two count, then hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin.
A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated Shingo Takagi (23:57)
A classic G1 match. This was easily Ibushi’s best match since his return from pneumonia.
They started simply, hitting shoulder blocks and trading headlocks. They turned to striking. Shingo hit some strikes, but Ibushi went into Murder Ibushi mode and no-sold. Ibushi hit a flying mid kick.
Ibushi sent Shingo to the floor with a snap rana, then hit a gorgeous Asai moonsault. Back in, Ibushi used a standing moonsault for a two count. Shingo blocked a last ride attempt with a backdrop, then hit a neckbreaker to halt Ibushi’s momentum.
They traded half-and-half suplexes. They traded strikes. Ibushi dumped Shingo with a suplex, but Shingo no-sold and hit a diving forearm to the back into a double down.
Shingo hit a superplex for a two count. Ibushi blocked a Pumping Bomber, but Shingo hit a left-arm lariat. Shingo used a standing switch to set up Made in Japan for another two count. Ibushi blocked Last of the Dragon and hit a knee strike to the face.
Shingo blocked Bomaye and tried a sliding lariat. Ibushi avoided it, then hit an enzuigiri. Ibushi then connected with the Bomaye and a last ride for a near fall.
Ibushi went for Kamigoye at 20 minutes. Shingo blocked and hit his own Kamigoye. Ibushi sold this huge. Shingo could not immediately follow up. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber. Ibush took a flip bump. Shingo covered for a two count.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon. Ibushi powered out with forearm strikes. Shingo hit a combination of strikes. Ibushi hit a palm strike and a hook kick. Ibushi blocked a Pumping Bomber attempt with a high kick.
Ibushi hit a Kamigoye, but Shingo kicked out at two.
Ibushi pulled down the knee pad and tried another Kamigoye, but Shingo blocked and tried Last of the Dragon. Ibushi slid out and hit a poison rana.
Ibushi hit a v-trigger and two more Kamigoyes and got the pin.
Ibushi held up one finger after the match, as if to say let’s do it one more time.
**********
Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night 10, Monday, October 4, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
The G1 Climax 31 A Block continued today at Kobe World Hall.
Kota Ibushi took on Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event, while Tomohiro Ishii faced KENTA in the semi-main.
Great-O-Khan vs. Yujiro Takahashi and Tanga Loa vs. Toru Yano were the other tournament matches today. IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi faced Yuji Nagata in a special singles match, while Master Wato took on Kosei Fujita in the opener.
Here are results and a report from today’s show.
**********
Recommended matches —
Shingo Takagi vs. Yuji Nagata
Tomohiro Ishii vs. KENTA
Kota Ibushi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Report —
Master Wato defeated Kosei Fujita (6:21)
I’m not an anti-Wato guy, I think some of his stuff is good, but these Young Lion openers probably benefit him as much as Fujita and Oiwa. Wato could use the ring time and practice on fundamentals.
Wato got the best of a brief chain wrestling sequence, then took control with kicks. Fujita hit a great desperation dropkick to create separation and locked on a crab, but Wato fought to the ropes.
Wato hit a backdrop and used a Boston crab for the submission.
Shingo Takagi defeated Yuji Nagata (16:51)
This was terrific.
Shingo had his right arm taped up, selling the damage from his match with Sabre last week.
They began by trading holds, then traded strikes. Shingo hit a knee lift and backed Nagata into the ropes. They slipped to the apron. Each teased a move on the apron, but Nagata jumped to the floor. Shingo tried a diving chop off the apron, but Nagata caught him and hit an exploder on the floor to take control of the match.
Back inside, Nagata began targeting the arms. He wrenched on the left arm, then the taped right arm. Nagata hit kicks to the arms, then barred the left arm. Shingo forced a break, then hit a vertical suplex.
Shingo caught a kick attempt and hit a DVD. Nagata hit a knee strike and caught Shingo in a Nagata Lock. Nagata transitioned to pin attempt, but Shingo kicked out. Shingo hit a dragon screw.
Nagata fought off a figure four attempt, then caught a sliding lariat attempt and slapped on another variation of the Nagata Lock. Shingo escaped and hit a diving forearm strike. Nagata hit the Justice knee in the corner. Shingo tried to fight off a superplex, but Nagata hit a top rope exploder for a near fall.
Shingo blocked a back suplex and dumped Nagata on his neck with a back suplex. Shingo hit a lariat. Nagata countered with a back suplex. They traded forearm blows. Nagata hit an enzuigiri, but Shingo answered with an immediate sliding lariat.
Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber for a near fall, then used Last of the Dragon to score the pin.
Shingo cut a promo after the match and promised to deliver Shingo vs. Naito as soon as possible. That was the originally scheduled main event for tonight before Naito’s knee forced him to withdraw from G1.
A Block: Great-O-Khan defeated Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) (14:15)
This lacked intensity and the pacing was slow, but it was better than I expected.
O-Khan wanted to amateur wrestle on the mat, but Yujiro didn’t want any part of that. They brawled to the floor. Yujiro used his walking stick on O-Khan on the ramp to take over. O-Khan made it back in after a countout tease.
Yujiro used a legdrop, a slam and another legdrop for a pair of near falls. O-Khan came back with a back suplex, then tied Yujiro to the tree of woe and hit a sliding dropkick. They traded chops. O-Khan hit a belly-to-belly to set up a head and arm choke, but Yujiro forced a break.
Yujiro hit a fisherman buster and an Angle slam for a two count. Yujiro hit Miami Shine for another near fall. O-Khan blocked Pimp Juice. Yujiro escaped the Eliminator and hit a lariat for a two count.
O-Khan escaped Big Juice and used a sheep killer to set up the Eliminator for the pin.
A Block: Toru Yano defeated Tanga Loa (w/Jado) (10:46)
They didn’t go full comedy or full serious match with this one and the result was a bad mix of both.
Yano produced a bag before the opening bell. The referee emptied the bag and it was full of handcuffs and rolls of tape.
Loa got the better of a striking battle. Loa pulled Yano’s shirt over his head and tried to win by countout, but Yano beat the count back in.
They traded suplexes for near falls. They had a plodding brawl. Yano exposed a buckle. Loa used the OJK, but Yano rolled to the ropes. Yano cradled Loa for two. Loa used a cradle for a near fall.
Yano hit a slingshot into the exposed buckle. The ref blocked Yano as he went for a low blow. Loa bumped Yano into the ref. Jado climbed in with a kendo stick. Yano got the kendo stick and threw Loa into the buckle, then threw the stick to Jado.
Yano used the distraction to low blow Loa and schoolboy him for the pin.
A Block: KENTA defeated Tomohiro Ishii (21:08)
This was very good and KENTA’s best match in quite some time.
KENTA tried to roll outside to stall, but Ishii dragged him back in and hit a tackle. KENTA again rolled outside. Ishii went after him and sent him into the barricade. KENTA hit Ishii with the bell to turn the tide in his favor.
KENTA posted Ishii’s right arm and sent him into the barricade arm-first. Back in, KENTA continued to work over the right arm. KENTA exposed a buckle, but Ishii sent KENTA into the exposed steel. Ishii hammered away with chops and forearms in the corner. KENTA answered with a diving clothesline off the top.
KENTA caught Ishii coming in and tried for Game Over, but Ishii rolled to the ropes. Ishii got to the apron and teased a suplex to the floor, but KENTA hit a draping DDT. KENTA hit a running boot and a stalling dropkick.
Ishii avoided a double stomp off the top and hit a German suplex into the buckle. They exchanged strikes. KENTA hit a clothesline, then connected with a double stomp off the top for a near fall.
KENTA used Game Over. Ishii fought his way to the ropes after a long submission tease. Ishii blocked a penalty kick and dropped KENTA with a German suplex. Ishii hit a superplex for a two count.
KENTA hit a short knee. Ishii escaped a GTS attempt and hit a lariat, but KENTA hit two Busaiku knees for a near fall. KENTA hit a series of palm strikes to the face. Ishii escaped a GTS and hit a headbutt to the chest. Ishii hit a sliding lariat for a two count at the 20 minute mark.
Ishii went for the Vertical Drop. KENTA reversed into a GTS attempt. Ishii slid out and hit an enzuigiri. Ishii hit a lariat for another near fall.
KENTA escaped a Vertical Drop attempt and rammed Ishii into the exposed turnbuckle, then used a schoolboy with the trunks for the flash pin.
A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Kota Ibushi (19:55)
This was Ibushi’s best match since his return. The G1 is turning into the Zack Sabre Jr. Invitational.
Sabre broke cleanly after the opening lockup. Sabre escaped a head scissors on the mat and again broke cleanly. Ibushi tried to break cleanly after another lockup, but Sabre piefaced him. Ibushi swung and missed on a high kick as Sabre rolled to the floor to reset.
Sabre reversed a whip, then tried a backslide, but Ibushi blocked. Ibushi missed on another high kick attempt as Sabre rolled out of the way. Ibushi went after Sabre’s left leg with a series of kicks. Sabre used a submission in the ropes to go after Ibushi’s left arm, then kicked the left arm on the break.
Sabre continued to go after Ibushi’s left arm on the floor, hitting a stomp. Sabre kept up the arm work as Ibushi got back in. Ibushi came back with a striking combo, then hit a standing moonsault for a two count.
Sabre hit another kick to the left arm, but Ibushi answered with a snap rana and a plancha. Ibushi escaped a submission attempt on the left arm by rolling to the ropes. Sabre hit a series of short kicks to the arm. Ibushi dropped Sabre with a mid kick.
They traded kicks. Ibushi got the better of the strikes. Ibushi used a backslide to set up a lariat. Sabre hit a flying mid kick and a last ride. Sabre trapped the left arm, but Ibushi made the ropes for a break.
Ibushi hit a German and a powerslam. Ibushi tried to go for a moonsault, but Sabre hit a kick to the legs to halt the attempt and Ibushi crashed to the mat. Sabre hit a PK and used a stack cover for a near fall.
Sabre used an ankle lock. Ibushi broke the hold with a palm strike to the chest. Ibushi hit a Bomaye.
Ibushi teased Kamigoye, but Sabre blocked and used Clarky Cat for the submission.
**********
Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night six, Wednesday, September 29, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
Hiroshi Tanahashi defends the IWGP United States Championship against Kota Ibushi today in the main event of night one of NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome.
The match marks Kota Ibushi’s return to action for the first time since July 2. He has been sidelined while recovering from aspiration pneumonia. Tanahashi will try for his first successful defense after winning the US title from Lance Archer at NJPW Resurgence on August 14 in Los Angeles.
Kazuchika Okada will face Jeff Cobb in the semi-main event in a return match. Their last singles meeting took place on July 25 at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome. Okada defeated Cobb with a cradle in 19:23 in that match.
Chase Owens will defend the provisional KOPW 2021 title against Toru Yano in a No DQ I Quit match. Owens claimed the provisional championship by winning a New Japan Ranbo at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome.
SHO will face YOH in a matchup of former Roppongi 3K teammates. SHO turned on YOH during the Super Junior Tag League on the Summer Struggle tour in August.
In the main card opener, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles and Tiger Mask will team against Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI. The match will mark BUSHI’s return after missing the last two weeks of the Summer Struggle tour with COVID-19.
On the pre-show, Lady C and Maika will take on Momo Watanabe and Saya Kamitani in a STARDOM exhibition match.
Our live coverage begins with the pre-show at 3:30 a.m. Eastern time.
**********
Momo Watanabe & Saya Kamitani defeated Maika & Lady C (12:02)
This was one of the better pre-show matches you’ll ever see. All action.
Maika and Watanabe began with a brief mat wrestling sequence, ending in a stalemate.
Lady C and Kamitani tagged in. Lady C was quickly cut off. Watanabe tagged back in for a series of slams. Lady C managed a tag. Maika hit a forearm for a knockdown. Watanabe came back with a Shibata dropkick and a series of big kicks for a near fall.
Kamitani got a tag in the plus position and hit a running knee and a dropkick for a near fall. Maika missed a sliding lariat. She tried a suplex, but Kamitani blocked with a guillotine choke. Maika powered through and hit a vertical suplex into a double down.
Lady C got a tag. Kamitani hit a running kick. Lady C hit a knee lift and a running boot. Maika came in for an illegal double team. Watanabe entered as well and hit a dropkick to take out Maika.
Kamitani used a dropkick for a near fall on Lady C. Kamitani hit a springboard crossbody for another two count. Lady C hit an overhand chop. Kamitani blocked a chokeslam attempt. Maika cut Kamitani off on the top rope and hit a stalling superplex.
Lady C recovered and hit a chokeslam, but Watanabe saved to break up the pinfall. Watanabe hit a big kick. Lady C hit a big boot to Kamitani, then hit a chop off the second for another near fall just past the 10 minute mark.
Lady C went for a chokeslam off the top, but Kamitani hit a frankensteiner and a Star Crusher for a near fall as Maika saved.
All four were in. Watanabe hit a half-and-half suplex to Maika. Watanabe and Kamitani hit tandem knee strikes off the second rope.
Kamitani then hit a phoenix splash to Lady C for the pin.
This was the second excellent tag match of the night.
Hiromu and Eagles started the match and did a great series of counters and escapes. Hiromu tagged BUSHI, but hit Eagles from behind as he went to tag Tiger. Hiromu and BUSHI doubled up on Eagles. Eagles made his own comeback and tagged out.
Tiger came in with a high cross and a dropkick to Hiromu. Eagles and Tiger then hit tandem dropkicks to BUSHI. BUSHI came back by choking Tiger with his t-shirt. Tiger was then isolated in the LIJ half of the ring. Hiromu ended up wearing Robbie’s bandana.
Hiromu used the Ron Miller Special to Tiger to taunt Eagles. Tiger fought to the bottom rope to force a break. Tiger went after Hiromu’s left leg and managed a tag to Eagles.
Eagles got the hot tag and ran wild on Hiromu. He hit double knees in the corner to set up a 450 attempt. Hiromu slid out of the way and Eagles landed on his feet. BUSHI tried a save, but Eagles sent Hiromu into him.
Hiromu blocked a Ron Miller Special attempt. Hiromu blocked turbo backpack and hit a pop-up powerbomb into a double down. BUSHI got a tag and stopped Eagles from reaching Tiger. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick.
BUSHI hit a DDT for a near fall at 10 minutes. BUSHI ducked a right hand and hit a tope suicida to Tiger. Hiromu came in and traded strikes with Eagles. Eagles attacked Hiromu’s left leg, so look for that in their match tomorrow.
Eagles used the Ron Miller Special on BUSHI, but Hiromu saved. Tiger hit a tope suicida to Hiromu. Eagles hit a springboard dropkick to BUSHI’s leg.
Eagles then used the Ron Miller Special to submit BUSHI.
SHO defeated YOH (24:41)
This was very good. They worked it like a fight and a very heated personal issue. There was no heat from the audience, though. And if SHO joining Bullet Club means more ref bumps and bad booking, I’m not for it.
SHO entered first. He has a new look. He wore black and his ring jacket had some purple on it, a very EVIL aesthetic.
YOH charged into the ring and attacked SHO before the bell. YOH still had his entrance jacket on as he hammered away with strikes. SHO used a Young Lion at ringside as a human shield to turn the tide.
SHO then threw YOH into the barricade as he took control of the match. YOH sold his lower back. SHO posted YOH’s left arm. SHO used the barricade again and they did a couple of countout teases.
Back inside, YOH fired up and threw strikes with his right arm as his left arm dangled at his side. SHO used a rake of the eyes and a kitchen sink. SHO continued to attack the left arm. SHO hit some taunting kicks and stomps.
YOH came back with a dropkick and three flying forearms. YOH then hit some short kicks as SHO rolled to the apron. SHO went back after the arm. YOH sent SHO into the barricade with a dropkick. YOH landed a tope con giro.
YOH hit a falcon arrow for a two count. YOH fought for a superplex, but SHO blocked and hit a power breaker. SHO followed with two rolling German suplexes. YOH blocked a third German and hit a dragon screw.
YOH rolled through and used the Star Gazer, but SHO forced a quick break. They traded jumping knee strikes. YOH hit a dragon suplex, but SHO rolled through and hit a lariat for a double down just past the 15 minute mark.
SHO hit a powerful lariat and called for Shock Arrow. YOH blocked Shock Arrow and used Star Gazer again. SHO rolled to the ropes to force a break. YOH hit a dropkick to the leg and a dragon suplex into the turnbuckle pad.
SHO blocked Direct Drive. YOH hit a backdrop out of a Shock Arrow attempt. They traded strikes. SHO dropped YOH with a combination of strikes at 20 minutes. YOH fired back and dropped SHO with strikes.
They continued to trade heavy shots. SHO hit the ropes for a lariat, but YOH caught him with a lariat. YOH used a dragon suplex for a two count.
SHO blocked Direct Drive and bumped the referee. SHO hit a spear, then went to the floor to get a chair. YOH ducked a chair shot and hit a superkick. YOH refused to use the chair and hit another kick.
SHO blocked another Direct Drive attempt and hit a low blow. SHO hit a chair shot to the head and revived the referee. SHO revived the ref and had YOH pinned, but pulled him up at two to inflict more punishment.
SHO used a gogoplata and YOH passed out in the hold. The referee called for the stoppage.
**********
SHO fought off the ringside attendant that tried to perovide YOH an ice pack after the match. He cut a quick promo and told YOH to quit the business.
EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and Dick Togo came to the ring after the match and presented SHO with a Bullet Club shirt to cement his new persona.
**********
Provisional KOPW 2021 No-DQ I Quit match: Toru Yano defeated Chase Owens to win the title (28:03)
This wasn’t as bad as it looked on paper, but in what universe would you book Toru Yano and Chase Owens to go for almost half an hour?
Yano has gone back to his old bleached hair look. Yano also brought a bag of handcuffs to the ring.
They began brawling in the aisle as Owens made his entrance. They brawled with a variety of plunder, including a trash can, a parasol, a kendo stick, a chair and ladders. Owens used a strap to tie Yano to the ropes.
Yano used the parasol on the trash can as Owens was trapped inside with the microphone. Owens set up a ladder bridge from the ring to the barricade and teased a suplex through the ladder from the apron. Yano blocked, then used a smaller ladder to send Owens through the bridge.
Yano set up a pair of tables. Owens cut him off with a cookie sheet shot. Owens placed Yano on the tables. Yano popped up and teased a suplex off the post through the tables. Owens blocked.
Both teased cuffing each other to the barricade, but both failed. Owens tore up the ring mats and teased a piledriver on the floor, but Yano hit a backdrop. Back in, Owens hit a jewel heist.
Owens placed Yano on the tables and hit a package piledriver, but the tables didn’t break. Yano didn’t answer as the referee asked him if he wanted to quit. Owens cuffed Yano to the barricade.
Owens whipped Yano with the strap and Yano refused to quit. Yano pulled a key from his wrist tape and freed himself, but acted as though he was still cuffed. Owens grabbed a baseball bat. Yano ducked a swing of the bat and kicked Owens low.
Yano cuffed Owens and threw away the key. Yano whipped Owens with the strap. Yano choked Owens with the strap. Yano brought a table into the ring. Yano hit a powerbomb through the table.
Yano brought scissors into the ring and threatened to cut Owens’ hair. Owens spat at Yano.
Yano threatened to stab Owens with the scissors and Owens quit.
**********
Wrestle Kingdom 16 as a three-night event was announced for January 4, January 5 and January 8, 2022. Nights one and two will be in the Tokyo Dome, while night three will be in Yokohama Arena.
**********
*****Intermission*****
Jeff Cobb defeated Kazuchika Okada (27:41)
This was a great match. I liked some elements of their last match better than this, but the closing stretch of this and some of the counters and reversals they came up with in this one were out of this world. Easily the biggest win of Cobb’s career. For all the bad booking this year, NJPW has done an incredible job of building Cobb up into a monster.
Okada came out fast and hit a neckbreaker rihgt away. Cobb sent Okada rolling to the floor with a strike. Okada played cat-and-mouse with Cobb, ducking in and out of the ring.
Cobb hit some power strikes. Cobb blocked one flapjack, but Okada hit the move on his second attempt. Cobb came back with a series of strikes and powerful throws.
Okada managed another neckbreaker, then hit a series of back elbows as he looked to soften Cobb up for the Money Clip. Okada hit three DDTs and got a near fall. He locked on the Money Clip, but Cobb quickly got to the ropes to force a break.
They fought to the floor. Okada sent Cobb over the barricade and teased a dive over the railing, but Cobb caught him and hit a suplex on the floor. Okada just beat the count back inside at 19.
Cobb hit an Oklahoma stampede and a standing moonsault for a two count. Cobb blocked a plancha and teased a powerslam on the floor, but Okada reversed into a DDT on the floor.
Back inside, Cobb blocked a tombstone. Okada hit a dropkick to the back, then hit his standard picture-perfect dropkick. Okada then hit the tombstone.
Okada used the Money Clip. Cobb tried to roll out, but Okada re-applied the hold in the center of the ring. Cobb slid to the ropes for a break.
Okada tried another tombstone, but Cobb countered into a reverse tombstone. Cobb could not follow up. They got back to their feet and traded strikes. Okada dropped first, but made it back to his feet. They traded more shots, and again Cobb got the better of it.
Cobb hit a jumping uppercut forearm in the corner and hoisted Okada out of the corner with a spin cycle. Okada blocked Tour of the Islands with a dropkick. Cobb ducked a spinning Rainmaker. Okada hit the ropes and ran into a dropkick.
Cobb hit a tombstone and Okada’s Rainmaker pose. Cobb tried a ripcord Tour of the Islands, but Okada slid out and hit a Rainmaker. Okada hit a second Rainmaker. Okada hit another dropkick.
Okada hit a spinning tombstone. Cobb reversed a Rainmaker attempt into a Tour of the Islands attempt. Okada blocked and used a tombstone position to lift Cobb to the top rope. Okada teased a tombstone off the top, but Cobb blocked and hit a thrust kick.
Still perched on the top rope, Cobb tried a superplex. Okada blocked. Cobb hit a jumping headbutt and a Tour of the Islands off the second rope.
Cobb followed with another Tour of the Islands and scored the pin.
IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship match: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Kota Ibushi to retain the title (17:47)
This was a good main event to cap a good show. This never reached the level of an epic NJPW main event with the time they were given, but that is probably for the best given Ibushi is coming back from pneumonia.
Ibushi was in tears just before the match began, very emotional in his comeback.
They opened with some mat wrestling. It ended in a stalemate. Tanahashi sold frustration after not being able to best Ibushi on the mat. Ibushi used a short arm scissors, but Tana forced a rope break.
Ibushi turned his attention to Tana’s left arm after the arm scissors. He stomped at the left arm. Tana came back with a dropkick to the left leg, then began to work on the limb. Tana used a kneelock, but Ibush forced a break.
They traded strikes. Ibushi tried to fire off some palm strikes, but Tana kicked his leg out of his leg. Ibushi blocked a dragon screw and hit a dropkick. Ibushi hit a flying mid kick and a standing moonsault.
Ibushi hit a snap rana and sent Tana to the floor. Ibushi then hit an awesome golden triangle moonsault off the top buckle to the floor.
Ibushi rolled Tana back inside and landed a springboard dropkick. Tana blocked a kick and hit a dragon screw. Both landed a series of simultaneous forearm shots. Ibushi scored the knockdown, then hit a series of forearms to the back of the neck from back mount position.
Tana blocked a Kamigoye and hit twist and shout. Tana followed with slingblade, but Ibushi no-sold it. Tana hit another slingblade, but Ibushi didn’t go down. Tana hit a third slingblade and Ibushi took a bump high on his neck.
Tana went for High Fly Flow, but Ibushi got his knees up. Ibushi hit Kamigoye, but could not follow up with an immediate cover.
Ibushi hit a Bomaye. He locked up Tana’s wrists and tried to set up another Kamigoye, but Tana blocked. Ibushi hit a v-trigger and maintained wrist control. Tanahashi fought out and hit slingblade for a one count. Tana hit a dragon suplex into a bridge for a two count.
Tana hit the Ace’s High standing High Fly Flow, then followed with another High Fly Flow to get the pin.
**********
Ibushi was openly weeping after the match as Tanahashi shared some words with him on the mat. Tanahashi was in tears as he got back to his feet.
Tana posed with the title. He then cut a promo welcoming Ibushi back. He said that they will do it again for the title one more time. Tana got an Ibushi chant started.
Tana said that last time in this building he wasn’t the main event, but tonight he is and that’s pretty awesome. He thanked the fans and finished up with some air guitar.
**********
Here is the lineup for tomorrow:
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night two, Sunday, September 5, 1:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. EVIL
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (c) vs. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
A match between Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi has been set for Wrestle Grand Slam after Tanahashi issued a challenge to Ibushi.
In a post-match interview after winning the IWGP United States title this past weekend at NJPW’s Resurgence event, Tanahashi called out Kota Ibushi as his next challenger at Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome. NJPW later shared a video of Ibushi saying that the direct path for him was best, and that he must face Tanahashi, accepting the challenge. NJPW later confirmed the match for the Wrestle Grand Slam card that will take place on September 4.
Ibushi has been out of action since July 2, when he defeated Yota Tsuji in a singles match. He has been suffering from aspiration pneumonia. Despite initial reports, the pneumonia is no way related to side effects from a COVID-19 vaccine.
Wrestle Grad Slam in MetLife Dome will take place over two days, on September 4 and 5. A singles match between Jeff Cobb and Kazuchika Okada and Toru Yano vs. Chase Owens for the KOPW title has been announced for September 4.
Shingo Takagi vs. EVIL for the IWGP World Heavyweight title, Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi vs. SANADA and Tetsuya Naito vs. YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto in a three-way match for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles, and Hiromu Takahashi vs. Robbie Eagles for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title has been announced for September 5.
Due to illness, Kota Ibushi is out of the NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam main event.
NJPW announced tonight that Hiroshi Tanahashi is replacing Ibushi in the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestle Grand Slam. Tanahashi will challenge Shingo Takagi for the title.
Tanahashi defeated KENTA in the main event of Summer Struggle in Nagoya this morning. After the match, Tanahashi spoke to the crowd and said he was ready to replace Ibushi at Wrestle Grand Slam if needed.
“As previously reported, Kota Ibushi has been diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia, and as a result has missed the Summer Struggle tour. After careful monitoring of his recovery, Ibushi is unfortunately unable to compete at Wrestle Grand Slam where he was scheduled to face Shingo Takagi for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship,” NJPW announced.
“We apologise to fans who were looking forward to seeing Ibushi wrestle. We appreciate your understanding, and hope you join us in wishing Ibushi the best in his recovery.”
Tanahashi defeated Takagi when they faced off in the main event of The New Beginning in Nagoya this January.
Takagi won the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Kazuchika Okada at Dominion last month. The title was vacant going into that match after Will Ospreay had to relinquish it due to injury.
This will be Takagi’s first title defense since becoming IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
Wrestle Grand Slam is taking place at the Tokyo Dome and will begin on New Japan World at 3 a.m. Eastern time overnight tonight. Here’s the updated card for the show:
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi defends against Hiroshi Tanahashi
IWGP Tag Team Champions Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defend against Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado defends against Robbie Eagles
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo defend against Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi
New Japan Ranbo for the provisional KOPW 2021 trophy
Kota Ibushi has been diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia and will miss the next three NJPW dates.
The website reported that in order to make a full in-ring recovery, he will miss the July 22 and 23 shows in Osaka, and July 24 in Nagoya. They also wrote that a final decision regarding Ibushi’s appearance at Wrestle Grand Slam, where he is slated to face Shingo Takagi for the IWGP World Heavyweight title, will be determined after assessing Ibushi’s recovery.
NJPW further explained that the pneumonia Ibushi is suffering from is not a side effect of a COVID-19 vaccination.
“Ibushi’s illness was originally reported as a result of side effects arising from his COVID-19 vaccination,” they explained. “Aspiration pneumonia has no connection to COVID vaccinations, and Ibushi’s illness is not a result of his inoculation. We apologise for any misunderstanding. Ibushi has also tested negative for COVID-19,” they wrote.
Ibushi was slated to team with Master Wato against Shingo Takagi and BUSHI on all three dates he will now miss. Tomoaki Honma will replace him on all three shows.
The last time Ibushi wrestled was prior to the Summer Struggle tour, where he defeated Yota Tsuji in a singles match on July 2.
A look at the life and career of Paul Orndorff, one of the top stars of the 70s, 80s and 90, is the lead story in the new issue of the Observer.
We go deep into the issue of dementia, his life after wrestling, what he was known for in wrestling, the street fighter talk, the fight with Tony Atlas, the fight with John Matuszak, his high school and college sports stardom in Florida, the unique story about how he got into pro wrestling and another street fight story just as he was breaking in where he wound up arrested and Eddie Graham thought it was great for business, his rise to stardom in the territorial era, the Vader fight, how he got started lifting weights, his second run with Hulk Hogan that remains the most successful live event program in pro wrestling history, the Hogan vs. Orndorff years, both teaming and as rivals, the first WrestleMania, The Big Event in Toronto and how monumental that show was and how it blew away expectations, how WrestleMania III being held at the Pontiac Silverdome came from the success of The Big Event, the injury that changed the trajectory of his career.
Also in this issue:
Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor turned into the second biggest PPV event in UFC history. Ryan Frederick, one of the top insiders in the MMA world, looks in depth at UFC 264, the stories that led to it, the success of the show, and what happens next coming out of it. We look at the McGregor injury and what happened leading up to it. We also look at the rest of the show, new stars to watch out for, business notes plus match-by-match coverage with poll results.
The return of the arena business to WWE and AEW, ticket advances, the Arthur Ashe Stadium & Newark shows for AEW and WWE in Madison Square Garden all at the same time. We look at the numbers and give all the qualifying information. We also look at how other major shows are doing, this coming week’s stuff, SummerSlam update, what AEW show are they peaking for a major event, how the debut of Rampage will change things, the Money in the Bank show, new WWE date and more.
Top matches for SummerSlam, names talked about for Bobby Lashley, NXT schedule change during the Olympics, the Bayley injury and one top star talks about why the training sessions were a bad idea, why employee morale in WWE is up, thoughts on Jimmy Uso and why the Uso will be kept strong, Belair & Banks ESPY, other combat sport ESPY winners, the Riddle/Tavel lawsuit goes away and the story behind that, story behind the debuts of newcomers to main roster television, Mandy Rose stuff, how often WWE,New Japan, NXT and AEW do rematches, where Dwayne Johnson claims the term Smackdown came from, international TV ratings, notes on shows coming up and bookings, Riddle’s heat with Rollins and why, an idea they were considering to make the Bray Wyatt puppets real people, Bea Priestley talks her WWE signing, Big E talks fighting the new Day breakup, WWE stock value and the most-watched videos from WWE this past week.
The Tokyo Dome show this coming week, with the lineup and a look at each match.
Full coverage of the ROH Best in the World show, with business notes, notes on the next show, the title change, the women’s tournament, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
A story on Travis Fulton, a former UFC fighter who had more than 300 MMA fights and 75 boxing matches, who committed suicide by hanging while in prison.
More detail on the ratings than any other source, we have how every segment on NXT and AEW did with different age groups, genders and more, plus a look at all other wrestling shows of the past week, how many different viewers the shows had, DVR numbers and how long the average fan watches.
Results of the major pro wrestling events of the past week.
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SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight covering Money in the Bank and the rest of the wrestling news. You can send questions for the show to [email protected]. We are looking for reports from the Impact tapings today and tomorrow in Nashville to [email protected]
Money in the Bank is tonight from what will be a sold out Dickie’s Arena in Fort Worth. As of this morning there were only 47 tickets left at the start of the day today so it’s a given they’ll do that many walk-ups. After seeing the Friday show one would expect a hot crowd. The show looks good on paper, particularly the Men’s Money in the Bank match. We are also doing polls for both tonight’s show as well as for Impact Slammiversary so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match for each show to [email protected]. Both Paddy Power and BetFair have removed the men’s Money in the Bank match from betting. No reason was given. 5Dimes has made Big E the favorite at -170. Big E getting pinned on Friday is the reason he’s the favorite. I can’t argue that logic but that does say something.
Men’s Money in the Bank with Big E, Riddle, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Shinsuke Nakamura, Ricochet and John Morrison. This is really an incredible lineup of talent and on paper looks to be one of the best MITB matches in history. You’ve got great workers and the crazy moves guys which shine in a match like this.
Women’s Money in the Bank with Alexa Bliss, Liv Morgan, Nikki Ash, Asuka, Zelina Vega, Naomi, Natalya and Tamina. Obviously this doesn’t have the talent of the men’s match as far as the daredevils go. Jason Agnew this morning threw an idea out to me about Becky Lynch somehow getting in replacing someone, since she was scheduled to be at the show, and winning, which would be a huge pop and her return would give a giant spark to the women’s side of either brand. Anyway, I don’t expect that but it sounds like a great idea.
Roman Reigns vs. Edge for the Universal title. Another match that looks great on paper. I can’t see Reigns losing the title with the plans for a John Cena match. The only way that could happen is if the match falls through and all week it was insisted to me that they believed it was solid and wouldn’t. I could see Rollins getting involved here based on TV, because Rollins vs. Edge was a match heavily talked about for SummerSlam but not for sure.
Bobby Lashley vs. Kofi Kingston for the WWE title. This should be good, but any result other than a Lashley win would be a surprise.
Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair for the Raw women’s title. Should be a good match here as well. I could see this going either way. Ripley would be the favorite however.
A.J. Styles & Omos vs. Viking Raiders. Considering Omos role in the match will probably be a hot tag, throwing guys around and most of it will be Styles vs. Raiders, those are three really strong workers. I would not expect a title change here.
Rey & Dominick Mysterio vs. Usos in the pre-show match for the tag team title. This will almost surely be a good match given the participants. Given that the Usos tried and failed twice, and are the pushed act, they would be favored to win the belts here.
The show looks on paper stronger than most and Reigns-Edge looks a sure thing for a great match except you never know if the finish will be weird, and the men’s match could be one of the best matches of the year for the company.
A few notes on last night’s Impact PPV show. The show went off the air as planned. They wanted the commotion, which ended up being an angle for New Japan to build up its 8/14 show in Los Angeles where Jay White laid out David Finlay. White vs. Finlay is one of the two main events for the show at The Torch at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. I would suspect the footage shows up on Thursday’s show and New Japan World. While we don’t know this as a fact, the belief is that the new Drama King wrestler is the former Aiden English, who uses the name Drama King Matt on indie shows. We’re also wondering about the CMLL reaction to New Japan and AAA being both billed as having wrestlers on Bound for Glory on 10/23 in Las Vegas.
For Google searches for the week there is actually a decent amount of stuff in the combat sports world. Today’s WWE show will surely rank high given the fans aspect and Money in the Bank being one of the bigger shows. For Saturday: UFC itself was No. 3 with 200,000 for last night’s Fight Night show, and Miesha Tate also had 200,000 searches for fifth place. The Jernell Charlo vs. Brian Castano was No. 6. On Tuesday, Tyron Woodley was No 13 with 50,000. On Monday, Paul Orndorff was No. 8 with 200,000. One thing we hadn’t checked is the aftermath of the Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier fight garnered so much talk that there were two million more searches Sunday alone bringing the weekend total to 14 million, which is the all-time record for a UFC event. That is a huge mainstream interest.
Kota Ibushi is still out of action due to illness. He’s scheduled to headline next Sunday’s Tokyo Dome and right now is expected back Thursday. New Japan has a huge week with major arena shows Thursday through Sunday.
Congratulations to Sheamus, who proposed to girlfriend Isabella Rivella in Ireland in his home town of County Clare. (thanks to Stephen Lyon)
UFC announced International Fight Week from 9/21 to 9/25 with the big event being UFC 266. The UFC Hall of Fame ceremony will be on 9/23. There will be a two-day UFC Fan Experience on 9/24 and 9/25 featuring top stars from the past and present.
WWE
On Smackdown when they were pushing next week’s show, they billed it from a sold out arena in Cleveland as well as the Rolling Loud Music festival in Miami, the reality is that Cleveland is nowhere close to being sold out and they have many sections unopened. It’s not like it’s going to be a bad house for it’s not selling out legit.
After the sellout in Houston, and at the show, WWE smartly already had tickets ready for purchase for a return on 10/25, which will be a live Raw.
There had been some rumors about SummerSlam being moved up to 7 p.m. so they could get another hour into the show with the 11 p.m. hard out because of the Pacquiao fight. WWE officials have said that the main card is still scheduled for an 8 p.m. Eastern start.
WWE should be announcing the new location for its 9/17 Smackdown show which was to be in Atlanta but was canceled on Friday after about 1,700 tickets were moved. WWE officials said that it just made sense to swap some dates and the new location should be announced soon.
Backroad Entertainment is working on a pro wrestling show which they describe as a cross between Last Chance U and Ultimate Fighter. They are looking for independent wrestlers with a few years experience but have had a rough go with getting noticed and making it. They are also looking for people with interesting family histories or with personal issues they are trying to overcome. The show includes being picked for the cast and being trained by Dustin Rhodes in August in Austin, TX. For those interested, this is the application to fill out.
CBS Sunday morning today mentioned the death of Paul Orndorff (thanks to Mike Lano)
AEW
On my weekend show with Garrett Gonzales, we talked heavily on the AEW ratings and ticket sales for the Arthur Ashe Stadium show. As noted, they are over 15,000 after the first day. The next number to note would be 16,544 which was the MSG New Japan show. If and when that is topped they would be the largest non-WWE or NCAA wrestling crowd in North America since 1999. That would be a WCW show at the Georgia Dome and they will not top that figure.
There has been good movement in ticket sales for Wednesday night in Garland. As of last night, they had 5,118 tickets out so were 476 shy of a sellout. It did not appear a sellout was possible but now there is a fairly decent shot at it.
OTHER NOTES
Warrior Wrestling from last night in Chicago Heights, IL. Not sure of attendance but a fan estimate was 1,000 for the show: Dante Martin b KC Navarro (good), Danhausen b Lee Moriarty (Danhausen over with the crowd, but review we got weren’t good), Calvin Tannkman b Jordan Oliver (fine), Jonathan Gresham b Davey Richards (very good), Brian Pillman Jr. & Griff Garrison b Richard Holiday & Victor Benjamin (decent), Aramis b Dag to keep the Lucha title (excellent), Brian Cage b Ninja Mack (no chemistry), Lance Archer b Robert Ego Anthony no holds barred (Archer threw Frank the Clown off the football bleachers, you couldn’t see the fall, but it wa a big one, likely a crash pad and Frank tweeted after he was quitting wrestling which is likely a storyline), Kylie Rae b Lady Frost to keep the women’s title (felt rushed, Frost had two guys with her, there was a post-match beatdown and Pillman & Garrison made the save so it seemed to set up a six person mixed tag for the next show). Fun show overall (thanks to Lance LeVine)
A story on Kevin Fertig, the former Kevin Thorne, now working in real estate. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)
Absolute Intense Wrestling on 7/30 in Cleveland, OH at the Odeon Concert Club and 7/31 in Jefferson, OH at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds.
Legacy Fighting on UFC Fight Pass is doing a four-man one-night welterweight tournament from the Upper Arena in Rio de Janeiro. It starts at 9 p.m. Eastern. The semi finals are Gabriel Confim (10-0) vs. Brenner Alberth (8-0) and Diego Dias (13-3) vs. Carlos Leal (12-3). The LFA is an American promotion making its Brazilian debut.
Insane Wrestling Revolution from Thursday night in Monroe, MI: Nate Bock b Kenny Urban, Malcolm Monroe III b Sam Beale, Trey Miguel b Ace Austin, DBA b Mysterious Movado, Dread King Logan b Benjamin Boone, Konnor b Dread King Logan, Chinstrap Jesus b Bryan Castle, Rhino & Joe Doering & Deaner b Aaron Orion & Jack Price & Tony Vendetta (thanks to Leonard Brand)
Pro Wrestling Conquest from Friday night in Charleston,WV: Daniel Eads b Calvin Tankman, Levi Everett b Beastman, Cole Karter b Ryan Edons & David Lawless in a handicap match, Mance Warner b Mad Man Fulton, Dani Mo b Megan Meyers, Jock Samson b Danhausen, Mane Event b Money Shot & Renegade.
NOAH Sanctuary will air on FITE TV PPV on 7/28 with English commentary and the 8/1 show from Hiroshima will also be on FITE. Mark Pickering, one of the English announcers has COVID and best wishes to him on recovery. He tested positive on 7/10 so missed calling the Sendai show. He will be back for the shows mentioned above.
Tickets for NWA shows from 8/28 to 8/31 in St. Louis, which was be EmPowerrr, an all women’s show on 8/28, the NWA 73rd anniversary show on 8/29, and TV tapings on 8/30 and 8/31, are available at Ticketmaster. Just to clear something up we talked about on the show last night, Mickie James will not work EmPowerrr but will be the Executive Producer of the show. She will be wrestling on the 8/29 anniversary show.
The MLW Battle Riot match will air on 7/24 on Bein Sports at 10 p.m.
The world premiere of the new pro wrestling TV show Starz Heels will be on 7/29 in New York at the 92nd Street Y. Stephen Amell and other stars and the producers will be doing a Q&A after the first episode airs.The show debuts on television on 8/13 in a Friday night time slot.
T-Mart Promotions presents The Gathering 7/22 to 7/25 at the Charlotte University Hilton. Names listed are The Fabulous Ones, Eric Bischoff, Tony Atlas, Barry Windham, Tom Prichard, Demolition, Tommy Rich, Bobby & Jackie Fulton, Molly Holly, Mike Rotunda, John Nord, Dennis Condrey, Norvell Austin, Eric Embry, Rick Steiner, David Crockett, Ken Resnick, Trevor Murdoch and more. There Is a Saturday night card headlined by Nick Aldis vs. Murdoch for the NWA title and Kamille vs. Kenzie Paige for the NWA women’s title. Sam Houston and Mike Jackson will be working the shows.
For the third time in a ten-day stretch, Kota Ibushi has been pulled from an NJPW event.
NJPW announced Friday that Ibushi is off the Monday, July 19 Summer Struggle card in Ryugasaki due to illness. In its announcement, NJPW noted that Ibushi took a PCR test, which came back negative for COVID-19.
Previously, NJPW cited side effects from COVID-19 vaccination as the reason for removing Ibushi from the July 10 and July 11 Summer Struggle in Sapporo events.
Ibushi last wrestled on the July 2 NJPW Kizuna Road event.
Monday’s scheduled Ibushi, Master Wato, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI & SANADA match has been changed to Yuji Nagata, Wato, Tenzan & Kojima vs Shingo, Naito, BUSHI & SANADA.
Ibushi is currently still scheduled to challenge Shingo for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome on Sunday, July 25.
