Tag: never openweight six-man tag team championship

NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome live results: NEVER Six-Man title match

Posted on by Chick Fritts

NJPW’s final title matches of 2023 will be held on today’s Road to Tokyo Dome event at Korakuen Hall. 

In the main event, Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, & Tomohiro Ishii will defend the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship against United Empire’s Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, & HENARE. 

The KOPW 2023 Champion will also be crowned on today’s show in a whiskey bottle ladder match, as provisional title holder Taichi defends against Yoshinobu Kanemaru in a match where a whiskey bottle will be suspended above the ring and can be used as a weapon. 

Second from the top, a preview of the Wrestle Kingdom 18 main event will take place in a six-man tag, with IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA teaming with Yuya Uemura & DOUKI against SANADA’s Wrestle Kingdom challenger Tetsuya Naito, Yota Tsuji, & BUSHI.

Holiday favorite Masked Horse will return on the show in the opening contest, teaming with Masked Boltin against Tiger Mask & Toru Yano.

Before the show began, Tanahashi stood in the ring, surrounded by the rest of the roster on the outside, for a tribute and 10-bell salute to Osamu Kido.

Masked Horse (Ryusuke Taguchi) & Masked Boltin (Oleg Boltin) defeated Tiger Mask & Toru Yano

This opener was a fun time.

After the opening bell, Yano’s masked opponents rushed him, prompting Yano to remove the corner pads. Boltin ignored this antic, picking Yano up, rag dolling him before hitting a suplex. After TMIV tagged in, the beatdown continued for a while. TMIV attempted to rally, but Hourse caught him in the Kido clutch, winning the match for his team.

TMDK (Kosei Fujita & Zack Sabre Jr.) defeated Young Blood (Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima) 

This match was excellent. Leube looked terrific in the final stretch. Young Blood seems to be the team to watch going forward.

Fujita and Nakashima opened the match with a strike-off that turned into a grappling battle. Nakashima then tagged out, allowing the Young Blood pair to double-team Fujita and ZSJ, establishing a solid lead. Unfortunately for the lion pair, their focus on ZSJ would open the door to being out-grappled, which they were as soon as the opportunity arose.

ZSJ, with help from Fujita, took control of the ring. Fujita let the lead slip eventually, opening the door to a hot tag into Leube. Leube and Nakashima then took out Fujita, forcing ZSJ to hit the ring, who they also beat down.

A sudden suplex from Fujita led to a double tag. What was an expected comeback from ZSJ ended up being a solid advance from Leube, who used his size to dominate while standing. After eating a PK, Leube dropped ZSJ with a strike but was caught in a choke when he attempted to follow up. The choke ended Leube’s control and the match, leaving TMDK with a win.

BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Clark Connors, Drilla Moloney & Gedo) defeated United Empire (Callum Newman, Francesco Akira & TJP)

Before the match could begin, Connors and Moloney came to the ring, escorting a casket. Moloney then cut a short promo on UE, prompting a brawl on the outside.

Once the match began, Moloney and Newman traded strikes in the middle of the ring. The War Dogs gained control by pulling Newman to the floor, using weapons on the outside to put him on the back foot. An isolation segment followed.

A hot tag to Akira and a follow-up tag to TJP led to a UE rally. Gedo eventually ended up legal, leaving him open to a prolonged beatdown from UE. Catch 22 then hit Gedo with their double knee and won the match.

Once the match was over, the War Dogs beat down the winners, hitting Akira with their finish before leaving the rings. After recovering, TJP cut a promo on the War Dogs, hyping their match for WrestleKingdom. Catch 22 then challenged the junior champions to a coffin match tomorrow, which is now official.

House of Torture (EVIL, Ren Narita & SHO) defeated Master Wato, Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma

Ren wore a hooded cape to the ring, confirming his embrace of evil.

HoT started the match by rushing their opponents, leading to a prolonged, disorderly beatdown. In the ring, Wato was on the receiving end of HoT’s wrath until he tagged out to Shota. Shota unloaded on the traitorous Ren with loud forearms and other snappy offense, forcing the rest of HoT to hit the ring. Shota also overwhelmed the rest of HoT, but this gave Ren enough time to sneak into the match.

EVIL tagged in, leading to a match reset. The babyface trio rallied, forcing the rest of HoT to get involved. Honma scored a nearfall with Kokeshi but became distracted by HoT antics. Ren struck Honma with a wooden pushup bar before EVIL won the match with Everything is Evil.

After the match, HoT attempted a beatdown, but Kaito Kiyomiya and Ryohei Oiwa made the save. Last night, HoT attacked Kaito and Oiwa on NOAH’s Star Navigation show. Once they ran off HoT, Kaito offered a handshake to Shota, who accepted after a moment of hesitation. 

Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi) defeated El Desperado & Satoshi Kojima

Desperado and Hiromu opened their match with a lot of what they always do—some back-and-forth wrestling and some back-and-forth striking in the middle of the ring. Hiromu eventually hit a spinebuster, leading to a double tag.

Kojima and Shingo went at each other to a raucous crowd. Kojima landed early, but a sliding lariat from Shingo left him far ahead. The follow-up pumping bomber scored Shingo a nearfall. Shingo attempted another, but Kojima ate it, forcing Shingo to try again. Finally, Shingo hit a pumping bomber while Hiromu and Desperado fought on the floor, scoring him a pinfall victory.

Just 5 Guys (DOUKI, SANADA & Yuya Uemura) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Tetsuya Naito & Yota Tsuji) 

Uemura and Tsuji opened the match fast. Uemura landed a few arm drags before focusing the arm on the mat. Once Uemura established a lead, he tagged out to DOUKI. DOUKI could not maintain control in the ring, leading to a LIJ-favored fight on the floor.

Back in the ring, LIJ worked to isolate DOUKI. SANADA tried to interrupt the isolation, prompting Naito to spit in his face before sending him to the floor. An awkward back spring elbow busted Naito’s brow and freed DOUKI to make the tag, leading to a SANADA rally. A quick neckbreaker allowed Naito to escape SANADA’s offense.

Tsuji and Uemura tagged in, leading to a desperate struggle for control in the closing moments. Both men traded momentum before a curb stomp left Uemura flattened. BUSHI and Naito then hit the ring, gaining an even more significant advantage before the other J5Gs made the save.

With help from the rest of J5G, Uemura regained his footing. SANADA then locked BUSHI in the Skull End before passing him to Uemura for the finishing suplex. 

NJPW King Of Pro-Wrestling Championship Whiskey Bottle Ladder Match: Taichi (c) defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru

Ugh. From needless interference, inconsistent selling, and pointless overindulgence, this match was a total slog. Oh, and it went 30 minutes. If it wasn’t actively infuriating, it was horrifically boring.

A whiskey bottle ladder match is a ladder match with a bottle of whiskey hanging above the ring. The first person to climb a ladder and claim the bottle is allowed to use it. You win the match with a pinfall or submission. It’s basically a neutered coal miner’s glove match.

Once the match began, Kanemaru rushed Taichi before grabbing a ladder and attempting to grab the bottle. Of course, Taichi threw him off, but Kanemaru tried again seconds later. Once Kanemaru realized it wouldn’t be that easy, he removed the turnbuckle pad and whipped Taichi into the exposed corner and the ladder placed in the other.

Kanemaru tried driving Taichi into the corner with a ladder, but Taichi reversed; this, unfortunately, sent both men to the floor because ladders have two ends. Kanemaru then hit Taichi in the leg with the ladder, leaving him free to climb the ladder and retrieve the whiskey.

After taking a swig of the whiskey, Kanemaru spat a mouthful into Taichi’s face. Taichi got ahold of the bottle, but he was not allowed to use it due to the stipulation. Once the referee took the bottle from Taichi, Kanemaru poured it all over him and continued attacking the leg.

Eventually, Taichi landed an enziguri, giving him time to rip off his pants. The post-pants pause gave Kanemaru enough time to drop Taichi again. Kanemaru locked in the figure four and spat another mouthful of whiskey at Taichi, but Taichi survived by reaching the bottom rope.

A backfire from Kanemaru allowed Taichi to land a head kick, gaining a lead for the first time in a while. Taichi grabbed the whiskey bottle again, ignoring the referee’s warning. Even with all the theatre, Taichi decided not to use the bottle.

Taichi set up to win the match, only for the lights to go out. Once the lights came on, SHO, EVIL, and Dick Togo were in the ring. They took out the referee and beat down Taichi. Ren Narita and Yujiro Takahashi hit the ring with more whiskey, which they used to fill a bucket. After HoT tried to drown Taichi in the bottle of whiskey, the rest of J5G hit the ring to make the save. J5G ran off HoT, leaving Kanemaru and Taichi alone once more.

Even after the extended beatdown and surviving a murder attempt, Taichi was able to make it to his feet. He dropped Kanemaru with a lariat for a nearfall. Kanemaru responded with Touch Out, but Taichi kicked out. Kanemaru followed up with a moonsault onto a ladder; Taichi kicked out. Kanemaru, now desperate, climbed to the top of the ladder for Deep Impact, but Taichi interrupted him with a low blow on the descent.

After failing to close with three finisher attempts, Kanemaru needed help. Togo hit the ring to pass Kanemaru the bucket of whiskey, but Taichi interrupted him, violently spilling the whiskey into Kanemaru’s face. Taichi then hit a superkick and Black Mafisto to win the match.

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship: Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, & Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) defeated United Empire (Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Jeff Cobb)

Okada and Cobb opened the match with collar-and-elbow work. Once both men proved to be on equal footing, Cobb taunted Okada with Bryan Danielson’s old “Yes!” chants. Cobb then tossed Okada across the ring and stretched him. Okada’s team hit the ring, saving him from Cobb’s advance.

The champions traded tags, slowly working over Cobb with the preferred offense. Cobb held on, tagging out to O-Khan, who managed to retake the lead. UE then began to work together to isolate Ishii. The eventual tag to Tanahashi gave the champions a second wind, but a throw put UE right back in the driver’s seat.

UE took their time picking apart each of their opponents. UE went uncontested for minutes at a time. Even after tags and momentary momentum shifts, UE managed to hold on to control.

In a full-fledged match breakdown, both teams began to swing for the fences. Ishii crushed HENARE with a powerbomb and a lariat. UE responded with a triple powerbomb that forced Okada to break up the pin.

A pair of miscommunications from both teams left Ishii and HENARE alone again. HENARE hit a knee in the corner and a slam for a neafall. Streets of Rage was interrupted, leading to another breakdown. Tanahashi hit Cobb with a sling blade as Okada hit HENARE with a tombstone. Ishii landed a lariat, but Henare was able to kick out.

HENARE and Ishii began to trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Ishii tried running at HENARE, but HENARE caught him with a spine buster for a near fall. A headbutt and a kick led to another Streets of Rage attempt, but Ishii answered with a headbutt of his own. After HENARE kicked out of a sliding lariat, Ishii hit him with his brainbuster to win the match and retain his team’s belts.

NJPW Road to Destruction live results: Two title matches

Posted on by Chick Fritts

Two titles are on the line today at Korakuen Hall on night two of the NJPW Road to Destruction tour. 

Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Tomohiro Ishii will try for their second defense of the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship as they defend against Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, and Tiger Mask. 

The second title bout is newly added to the lineup, as Zack Sabre Jr. will defend the NJPW World TV Championship for a second consecutive night. After last night’s bout was changed from Sabre vs. Boltin Oleg to Sabre vs. Ryohei Oiwa due to an injury to Oleg, Sabre challenged Satoshi Kojima for today’s event. 

The show’s main event is an elimination match between Los Ingobernables De Japon and United Empire. 

The card: 

  • Elimination match: Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) vs. United Empire (Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Callum Newman)
  • NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii defend vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe & Tiger Mask
  • NJPW World TV Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. defends vs. Satoshi Kojima
  • SANADA, Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Toru Yano, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs Bad Dude Tito, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls
  • Tomoaki Honma, Shota Umino, Master Wato & Yuji Nagata vs. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Ren Narita & Yuto Nakashima
  • YOH & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku

Our live coverage begins at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.

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YOH & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku

This was a by-the-book opening tag, nothing worth seeking out. After a few back-and-forths, YOH and Taguchi hit TAKA with a tandem double-knee facebreaker. 

Tomoaki Honma, Master Wato, Shota Umino, & Yuji Nagata defeated Yuto Nakashima, El Desperado, Ren Narita, & Minoru Suzuki

Fantastic match, this.

This match was all about individual rivals; Suzuki and Nagata spent as much time as possible brawling, Ren and Shota took shots at each other as soon as there was an opportunity, Wato and Desperado were the in-ring focus, and Honma bullied Nakashima because he didn’t have anything better to do.

In the end, young lion Nakashima ate the Shota’s death rider, leaving Shota with a win. Even after the closing bell, the fighting continued, setting up the best-of-seven series starting tomorrow. 

Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI, & Hirooki Goto defeated Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste, & Bade Dude Tito

Due to Boltin Oleg’s wrist infection, he and ZSJ were pulled from this match.

TMDK worked a standard heel match here before Yano involved himself. After the Yano silliness, Tito and Goto traded momentum. Ultimately, Goto would win out, hitting Tito with Shoto to secure victory.

SHO, EVIL, & Yujiro Takahashi vs. SANADA, Taichi, & Yoshinobu Kanemaru

This opened with a brawl initiated by Just 5 Guys, not allowing H.o.T. to strike. While entering the ring, Kanemaru blew out his knee. After carting off Kanemaru, H.O.T. continued the attack, forcing DOUKI to make the save. The match would then restart with DOUKI taking Kanemaru’s place.

SHO, EVIL, & Yujiro Takahashi defeated SANADA, Taichi, & DOUKI.

This match, even with its unfortunate start, was fun for a H.o.T affair.

DOUKI matched the early energy set by J5G and then some. DOUKI scored a nearfall on EVIL with a DOUKI-chokie, but his follow-up was stopped by a Dick Togo chair shot. EVIL then landed Everything is Evil to win the match.

NJPW World TV Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) defeated Satoshi Kojima

This fill-in match, unsurprisingly, was terrific.

Both men worked a fantastically focused match here, with Kojima’s offense being immediately impactful and ZSJ’s being as slick as ever. The back-and-forth sequence in the last stretch of the match was phenomenal, with Kojima nailing ZSJ with everything in his tank before being caught in a ZSJ triangle. ZSJ won with the hold to retain his belt.

Tomohiro Ishii, Hiroshi Tanahashi, & Kazuchika Okada (c) defeated Tiger Mask, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, & Togi Makabe

Was this a crisp masterpiece? No. Was it a sloppy hoot that’s totally worth seeking out? Absolutely.

2023 has been the year of hateful Okada, and this match was no exception. Okada’s confidence actually allowed the veteran squad in the door after TM IV landed a massive arm drag from the top rope. A veteran-led exchange followed. Tenzan, whose ability was a focal point throughout this match, allowed the veterans’ control to slip, eventually leading to an extended offensive sequence at his expense.

A late veteran rally helped Tenzan regain footing. With Ishii alone in the ring, TM landed a Tiger Driver, Makabe a King Kong Knee, and Tenzan a headbutt. This scored Tenzan a nearfall. Tenzan then climbed to the top rope, but Okada pulled him down and landed a German suplex to a chorus of boos, re-asserting control for the champions. In the end, Ishii dropped Tenzan with a brainbuster to win the match and retain the belts.

Callum Newman, HENARE, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, Will Ospreay defeated BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takahi, & Tetsuya Naito

This was an elimination match, with eliminations occurring by pin, submission, or over-the-top rope falls.

This match was filled to the brim with action, with a bunch of neat moments spread throughout. It filled the main event role exceptionally well. A great match.

The early portion of this match was focused around Ospreay. After interacting with all of the other LIJ members in the match, Ospreay dropped Hiromu with a boot, signaling for the rest of UE to clear the ring. From here on, UE worked to isolate Hiromu, gaining a significant advantage.

Eventually, Naito tagged in, leading to a showcase for the Naito/Cobb match to come. After that interaction ended, an influx of wrestlers tagged in and out, leading to multiple shifts in momentum.

Shingo scored the first elimination in this match by dropping Newman with a pumping bomber. The next eliminations followed soon after, as O-Khan eliminated Shingo and himself with an eliminator to the apron, which sent both men to the floor. BUSHI was next to score an elimination by throwing HENARE over the top. The fun for BUSHI ended once Ospreay entered the ropes, as a quick hidden blade resulted in a pin.

Ospreay and Tsuji came to blows for an extended period. The pair soon found themselves on the apron, where Tsuji scored an elimination with a curb stomp. This curb stomp also eliminated Tsuji in what was nothing short of a great sequence.

With the rest of his team eliminated, Cobb was left alone with Naito and Hiromu. Cobb was quick to even the score by catching Hiromu and powerbombing him to the floor. Cobb then went to war with Naito, eventually fighting onto the apron. On the edge of the ring, the pair went back and forth before a sudden dropkick sent Naito crashing to the ground. Cobb has won the match for his team heading into Destruction.

New champions crowned at NJPW Power Struggle

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Multiple titles changed hands at today’s NJPW Power Struggle event in Osaka. 

KENTA defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi after sending him into an exposed turnbuckle and hitting a Go To Sleep to win the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. KENTA takes home the US title for the first time, plus captures his first title in NJPW since losing the NEVER Openweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom in January 2020. Tanahashi’s first reign with the US title ends after 84 days and a single successful defense. 

A new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion was crowned, as El Desperado defeated Robbie Eagles by submission to win the title. Desperado is now a two-time IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion. Eagles sees his first reign with the Junior title ended after 104 days and one successful defense. 

The NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship also switched, as EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and SHO defeated Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI, ending the longest NEVER Six-Man reign in history. Goto, Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI’s run with the titles ends at 454 days and nine successful defenses. 

Two champions did retain their titles at Power Struggle. 

Shingo Takagi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. After his win, Kazuchika Okada came to the ring and engaged in a back-and-forth with Shingo on the microphone. Okada retained his right to challenge Shingo at Wrestle Kingdom after defeating Tama Tonga earlier in the show. 

Toru Yano also retained the provisional KOPW 2021 title, defeating Great-O-Khan in an amateur rules match.

NJPW Summer Struggle results: NEVER Six-Man Tag title match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW Summer Struggle continued today with a show from the Yokohama Budokan.

Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI and Tomohiro Ishii defended the NEVER Six-Man titles against Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and BUSHI in the main event.

In the semi-main event of the show, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi faced Bullet Club’s Yujiro Takahashi in a non-title match. 

Three tag matches rounded out the undercard.

The Summer Struggle tour continues with untelevised events on Saturday and Sunday. 

Summer Struggle tour coverage on NJPW World resumes as the Super Junior Tag League continues on Monday, August 16. 

Below are results and a report from today’s show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI 

Report —

Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Tomoaki Honma, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato (10:24) 

This was a fine little opener that didn’t overstay its welcome. 

Suzuki-gun attacked before the opening bell. Coach Taguchi tried to call some plays, but Suzuki-gun cut him off and spent the first half of the match working him over. 

Wato got a hot tag and had a solid sequence with Desperado. Desperado hit a spinebuster and tagged out. Suzuki ate a flying kick from Wato. Wato tagged Honma for the closing stretch. 

Suzuki avoided a kokeshi. Honma hit a second kokeshi, but Kanemaru and Desperado saved Suzuki. 

Suzuki used a misdirection spot to set up a rear naked choke and a Gotch-style Piledriver on Honma for the pin.

Chase Owens, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo defeated Toru Yano, Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask (10:03)

Eagles and ELP started off and had a crazy sequence of drop-downs and kip-ups and dropkick feints. This was cool. 

Tiger and Ishimori got tags. Tiger was only in for a few spots, then it was back to Eagles. Eagles was cut off and worked over by Bullet club. 

Yano and Owens got tags and did some comedy with the turnbuckle pads. Yano made a tag to Tiger. Tiger hit a tiger driver for a near fall. Ishimori and ELP cut Tiger off as he teased a dive off the top. 

Owens hit a jewel heist, a pump knee and a package piledriver to pin Tiger. 

**********

After the match, Owens hit a low blow on Yano, then pulled a strap from under the ring and beat Yano with it. 

Owens then announced that the KOPW 2021 match with Yano at Wrestle Grand Slam will be a Texas strap match.

This will be the second Owens vs. Yano strap match of the year. 

**********

EVIL, Gedo & Dick Togo defeated Togi Makabe, SHO & YOH (10:56)

The only way I can explain this SHO and YOH losing streak story is that they have a lack of depth on the junior heavyweight side and are going to turn one on the other. 

EVIL is a good heel in that there is nothing redeeming or entertaining about his matches. Togo is actually a heck of a worker in small doses. Gedo is a fun comedy heel or a heel manager. Put them all together? No. Dull, formulaic, uninspired, stale. 

EVIL tripped SHO from the floor to turn the tide in Bullet Club’s favor early. EVIL bumped SHO into the barricade and the ring announcer. Gedo and Togo worked SHO over forever. SHO finally came back and hit a double spear. 

Makabe was in briefly with EVIL and hit his ten punches in the corner. YOH got a tag and hit EVIL with a flying forearm. 

EVIL cut YOH off and used a scorpion deathlock for the submission.

Shingo Takagi defeated Yujiro Takahashi by DQ (15:06)

Bad match, worse finish.

This was the worst Shingo match I’ve ever seen. Yujiro is just too slow at this stage of his career to keep up with Shingo’s agility, plus he isn’t a good enough worker to compensate in other ways. Shingo had to work at a fraction of his normal pace. 

Shingo overcame an attack before the opening bell and controlled the first couple of minutes. After the fight went outside, Yujiro sent Shingo into the barricade for the heat. Back in, Yujiro used his plodding offense. 

Yujiro hit a Miami Shine for a two count. Shingo stole Yujiro’s hand biting spot. Shingo tried a Pumping Bomber, but Yujiro kicked his arm away. Shingo hit noshigami and a sliding lariat for a pair of near falls. 

EVIL and Togo ran in after two ref bumps. Shingo fought them off and avoided a cane shot from Yujiro. Shingo hit Yujiro with a Pumping Bomber. 

Shingo hit Yujiro with Last of the Dragon. EVIL pulled the ref out of the ring at two. Shingo lifted EVIL for Last of the Dragon, but Togo saved with a low blow. EVIL hit Shingo with the IWGP title. 

NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii defeated Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI to retain the titles (36:56)

This was super long. As always in these NEVER Six-Man matches, there was a great closing stretch, but I think you could have cut the first 20 minutes of the match and told the same story. 

The condensed version of the first 20 minutes goes like this — LIJ worked over Ishii. CHAOS worked over Naito. YH blocked a Destino. LIJ worked over Ishii. 

Ishii blocked an O’Connor roll. SANADA used Skull End. SANADA gave up the hold like he always does and got hit by a YH thrust kick. YH and Goto hit stereo planchas to BUSHI and Naito. 

BUSHI got a tag. From here, this was basically an excellent BUSHI vs. Ishii singles match with some double and triple-team spots from both sides. 

BUSHI threatened a ref bump. Ishii avoided black mist from BUSHI. BUSHI used a crucifix for a two count. LIJ went three-on-one on Ishii. Naito hit Ishii with Destino. BUSHI hit the MX, but Goto saved for Ishii. 

Ishii avoided a top rope MX attempt. Goto hopped in. BUSHI fell victim to a thrust kick into an ushigoroshi. BUSHI fought out of a GYW. Goto hit lariats on Naito and SANADA. Goto and YH hit the GYW on BUSHI. Ishii followed with a sliding lariat for a near fall.

Ishii then hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin.

**********

Here are the lineups for next week’s shows

NJPW Summer Struggle, Monday, August 16, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Super Jr. Tag League: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo vs. Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask
  • Super Jr. Tag League: El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. SHO & YOH 
  • Super Jr. Tag League: Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. Gedo & Dick Togo
  • Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. EVIL, Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi & Jado
  • Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., Minoru Suzuki & DOUKI

NJPW Summer Struggle, Tuesday, August 17, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Super Jr. Tag League: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo vs. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru 
  • Super Jr. Tag League: Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask
  • Super Jr. Tag League: SHO & YOH vs. Gedo & Dick Togo
  • Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima vs. Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI
  • Toru Yano, Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi & Jado

NEVER Six-Man title match set for August 10 NJPW Summer Struggle

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW has added a NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship match to their August 10 Summer Struggle event in the Yokohama Budokan. 

NEVER Six-Man Champions Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI and Tomohiro Ishii will defend the titles against the Los Ingobernables de Japon trio of Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and BUSHI. The match was set up following the main event of Sunday’s Summer Struggle show. 

After Goto, YOSHI-HASHI and Ishii retained their titles with a win over Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. and Minoru Suzuki, Naito, SANADA and BUSHI made their way to the ring to declare themselves the next challengers. Goto and YOSHI-HASHI made it clear in post-match comments that they would accept the challenge, and now the match is official. 

A non-title match between IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi and Yujiro Takahashi has also been announced for the August 10 event. 

Here is the full lineup: 

NJPW Summer Struggle, Tuesday, August 10, 5 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI
  • Shingo Takagi vs. Yujiro Takahashi
  • Togi Makabe, SHO & YOH vs. EVIL, Gedo & Dick Togo
  • Toru Yano, Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask vs. Chase Owens, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
  • Tomoaki Honma, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru

NJPW Kizuna Road results: NEVER Six-Man Tag Team title match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s Kizuna Road tour concluded today at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo with a NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team title match headlining.

Below are results and a report on today’s show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship match: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata 
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Yota Tsuji
  • Shingo Takagi vs. Yuya Uemura 

Report —

Kota Ibushi defeated Yota Tsuji (12:10)

A terrific opener. 

Ibushi looked more ripped than usual, if that’s even possible. 

A mat wrestling sequence ended in a stalemate. Each tried to work the other’s left arm. Tsuji did not go down from an Ibushi tackle attempt. Tsuji got shot off the ropes into a mid kick. Ibushi hit the ropes, but Tsuji dropped him with a tackle. This was a nice opening volley. 

Tsuji took Ibushi’s back and used a choke, but Ibushi forced a rope break. Ibushi hit another big mid kick, then used a camel clutch. Tsuji forced a break. 

Ibushi dared Tsuji to hit him with chops. Ibushi ate the chops, then dropped Tsuji with another kick. Tsuji answered with a dropkick, a slam, a senton and a splash for a two count. 

Tsuji fought for a Boston crab, but Ibushi reversed and rolled through into a double stomp. Tsuji took three kicks, then fired back with strikes. They had a slap fight. Ibushi began lighting Tsuji up with strike combinations. Tsuji hit a spear. 

Tsuji busted out a giant swing, using it to set up a crab. Ibushi fought his way to the ropes for a break. Tsuji used a rolling cradle for a near fall. Ibushi hit a lariat for a two count. 

Ibushi used a single-leg crab, then switched to a high angle single-leg crab for the submission win. 

Ibushi led the crowd in a round of applause for Tsuji and left the ring to him. 

Shingo Takagi defeated Yuya Uemura (11:03)

Shingo was amazing in this match. He worked as a subtle heel. 

Shingo easily dodged a single-leg takedown attempt. Uemura refused to break cleanly after locking up and hit a chop. They traded headlocks. Shingo used a hair pull behind the ref’s back to escape a headlock. 

Shingo dared Uemura to hit the ropes. Uemura demanded that Shingo run the ropes instead. Shingo dodged an arm drag. Uemura rolled out of the way of a senton and went back to the arm drag. This was beautiful. 

Shingo took control with a tackle, then sent Uemura to the floor. Uemura got rammed into the apron. Back inside, Shingo won a striking battle. Shingo hit a corner clothesline. Uemura connected on a dropkick. 

Uemura hit a flying forearm, a shotgun dropkick and a side suplex. He used the threat of a cover to set up a cross armbreaker, but Shingo immediately got the ropes. Shingo hit a striking combo, then a second rope back elbow drop for a near fall. 

Uemura blocked noshigami and used a backslide for a two count. Shingo blocked an overhook suplex. Uemura blocked a lariat, but Shingo hit noshigami for two. 

Uemura blocked a sliding lariat and hit a bridging German for a near fall. He tried a double overhook suplex, but Shingo blocked. 

Shingo hit a lariat, then connected with a Pumping Bomber for the pin. Uemura ended up with a bloody mouth after the final two lariats. 

Shingo waved the IWGP title at Uemura after the match as if to say they will do this again one day for the title. 

Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Jado (11:08)

This was mostly a nothing brawl. 

Suzuki-gun overcame a jumpstart attack from Bullet Club and cut Ishimori off. Bullet Club came back and both teams brawled around the ring. I think Ishimori lost a contact lens here. Kanemaru was then cut off as Bullet Club took control. 

Kanemaru came back with a dropkick to ELP. ELP took a bump at a weird angle, almost spiking himself on the top of his head on a dropkick to the knee. 

Desperado and Ishimori got tags. Desperado caught Ishimori in a stretch muffler, but Ishimori escaped. Ishimori blocked a spinebuster. Ishimori hit a handspring kick. Ishimori managed a tag to Jado , with ELP running interference on Suzuki to prevent a Desperado tag. 

Jado hit a lariat for a two count. Jado hit his draping DDT. Suzuki saved Desperado. Ishimori tried a Bloody Cross on Desperado, but Desperado fought it off. 

Jado applied the OJK, but Desperado reversed into Numero Dos for the submission. 

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI defeated Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI (12:13)

Naito and SANADA ‘s utter disdain for Taichi and Sabre is the story of their feud. That continued here. 

LIJ attacked before the opening bell. Suzuki-gun overcame the attack and cut SANADA off. Sabre worked over SANADA’s left arm. SANADA managed a tag to Naito. Naito then began working on Sabre’s right leg. 

Naito, Sabre, Taichi and SANADA went back and forth. BUSHI and DOUKI tagged in for the closing stretch. DOUKI hit an Asai moonsault to the floor, then hit Daybreak for a near fall. Naito saved BUSHI from Suplex de la Luna. Taichi, Sabre and SANADA jumped in as well. SANADA used Skull End on Sabre. Naito hit Taichi with Destino. 

BUSHI then hit a codebreaker and an MX for the pin. 

Naito and SANADA posed over the fallen Sabre and Taichi with the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles after the match. 

NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata to retain the titles (26:50)

The NEVER Six-Man matches are always good. This was no exception. It was not a blow-away match, but given the limitations of the challengers, this was about as good as it could have been.

Ishii and Nagata began with a striking battle. Their match yesterday is worth going out of your way to see. Goto and Kojima tagged in. Goto was selling his anger over losing to Kojima yesterday. Kojima and Tenzan did some double team spots on Goto. 

Kojima hit machine gun chops to Goto. YH saved and chopped Kojima. Tenzan tried to save, but YH, Ishii and Goto tripled up on Kojima and cut him off. Ishii then chopped Kojima’s chest raw. Kojima came back with a cutter to YH and tagged out. 

Tenzan tagged in and hit a brainbuster to YH for a near fall. YH blocked an Anaconda Buster. They traded strikes. YH hit a thrust kick and a neckbreaker for a two count. 

As the other four brawled to the floor, YH used a Butterfly Lock on Tenzan, the finish to their singles match yesterday. YH gave up the hold and hit a series of chops. Tenzan hit a spinning kick and tagged Nagata. 

Nagata hit a series of kicks. YH blocked a suplex and hit a headhunter. Goto, Ishii and YH tripled up on Nagata. YH hit a lariat for a two count. He went for Kharma, but Kojima saved. Goto tried to save Nagata, but Goto stopped him. Nagata overcame Goto’s interference, but YH hit him with a low dropkick into a double down. 

Ishii tagged back in and hit Nagata with a powerslam. Tenzan saved for Nagata with a series of headbutts to Ishii. Nagata used a crossface on Ishii. Kojima and Tenzan used submissions on Goto and YH. Nagata used the hold to set up a cradle for a two count, then went back to the crossface. YH saved with a dropkick. 

Nagata hit Ishii with an exploder. Ishii ducked a kick and hit a German. Goto climbed in for a double team. YH hit a headhunter to Nagata. Ishii then hit a sliding lariat for a two count. Nagata blocked a brainbuster, but Ishii hit an enzuigiri. 

Kojima jumped in and ate an Ishii lariat and forearm strikes. Tenzan came in and Ishii tried to fight him off, but Tenzan dropped him with a headbutt. Kojima hit a lariat to Ishii. Tenzan hit Ishii with the Anaconda Buster. 

Nagata hit a mid kick and a high-angle suplex. He covered — but Goto saved for Ishii. Nagata tried a kitchen sink. Ishii blocked and hit a flying headbutt. 

Goto and Kojima got tags. Goto hit a misdirection lariat. Kojima came back with machine gun chops. Goto cut Kojima off before a diving elbow, then hit his own diving elbow for a near fall. Tenzan, Ishii and Nagata got in. Ishii got hit with a TenKoji Cutter. YH came in and hit lariats. 

Kojima blocked a GYW. YH hit Kojima with a meteora. Goto hit a PK for a near fall. Kojima blocked another GYW and hit a brainbuster to Goto for a two count. 

Goto blocked a Kojima lariat and hit an ushigoroshi. Goto hit a mid kick and blocked a lariat. 

Goto used an ushigoroshi position to set up a GTR attempt. Kojima slipped on the landing and they had to reset, then Goto hit the GTR for the pin. 

Everyone shook hands after the match. 

**********

Goto cut a promo, then YH cut a promo. The lights went out. When they came back on, Dick Togo was choking out Ishii with the microphone cord. 

EVIL hit Everything is EVIL to Ishii. Goto and YH jumped back in for the save. 

So EVIL, Togo and a third will likely end up the next challengers for the NEVER Six-Man titles. 

**********

NJPW’s next tour kicks off on Saturday, July 10. Here are the announced matches for the next two events:

NJPW Summer Struggle in Sapporo, Saturday, July 10, 5 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado (c) vs. Taiji Ishimori

NJPW Summer Struggle in Sapporo, Sunday, July 11, 1 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA

NJPW Kizuna Road results: NEVER Six-Man title match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s Kizuna Road tour continued today at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. 

The NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles were on the line in the main event, with Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI defending against EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and Dick Togo. 

The Young Lion singles gauntlets continued on the undercard, with Taichi taking on Yuya Uemura and Zack Sabre Jr. facing Yota Tsuji. 

Below are results and a report on today’s show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • Taichi vs. Yuya Uemura

Report —

Taichi defeated Yuya Uemura (10:12)

A fantastic opener. Everything Uemura did was fantastic. Taichi sold like a million bucks for Uemura as well. 

Uemura charged Taichi at the opening bell and hit a series of strikes, a dropkick and a flying forearm. Taichi rolled outside. Uemura whipped him into the barricade, then hit a diving crossbody off the apron to the floor. 

Back inside, Taichi took control after a gamengiri in the corner. Taichi used an abdominal stretch, but Uemura forced a rope break. Uemura fired up with strikes. He hit the ropes, running right into a Taichi big boot. Uemura fired off a dropkick into a double down. 

Uemura hit a shotgun dropkick in the corner. Uemura blocked a high kick and a backdrop suplex, then hit his own back suplex for a near fall. Uemura used a crab, but Taichi forced a rope break. 

Taichi blocked a double overhook suplex. Uemura blocked an axe bomber, then hit the overhook suplex for a two count. 

Uemura missed a springboard crossbody. Taichi hit an axe bomber for a near fall. He went for a Last Ride, but Uemura turned it into a victory roll for a near fall. 

Taichi hit a gamengiri and a Last Ride for the pin. 

Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Yota Tsuji (13:58)

I liked the opener a lot more, but this was good as well. These Young Lion gauntlets are more enjoyable then most multi-man matches on these smaller shows. 

They began with a lengthy grappling battle. They traded the advantage. The story was that Tsuji was able to hold his own against the technical wrestling wizard. 

After grappling, they traded strikes. Tsuji had the power edge. Sabre sold big for Tsuji’s strikes. Tsuji hit a dropkick. He went for a slam, but Sabre blocked and used a neck twist and a necktie. Tsuji forced a break and hit a slam. 

Tsuji got a Boston crab applied. He gave up the hold and hit a splash, then stretched Sabre’s arms with a knee to the back. Sabre grabbed a flying heel hook, but Tsuji grabbed the ropes for a break. 

They went back to trading strikes. Tsuji went for a backslide, but Sabre reversed into a guillotine. Tsuji turned a Peruvian necktie into a cradle for a near fall. Tsuji used a small package for another two count. 

They traded cobra twists. From northern lights bomb position, Sabre caught Tsuji’s neck in a figure four. The referee called for the stoppage with Tsuji trapped in the hold. 

Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, YOH & SHO defeated Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo, Gedo & Jado (10:04)

CHAOS attacked Bullet Club before the opening bell and they teased a quick finish. Okada got Gedo in the Money Clip right away. It probably would have been best if they had just gone home right there. 

Instead, Ishimori broke it up. Yano, Gedo, Jado, ELP and Ishimori did a lot of comedy. 

The match broke down and everyone hopped in for a big move. SHO and YOH hit the 3K on Gedo and YOH covered for the pin. 

ELP ended up with a bloody mouth in here somehow. They did a brief staredown with SHO, YOH, Ishimori and ELP. Those four for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag titles is the main event tomorrow. 

Kota Ibushi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata defeated Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI (18:41)

This turned into a pretty good match by the end. I would compare it to a good house show match. 

Shingo and Ibushi began with a brief exchange. Ibushi hit a flying mid kick, but they are clearly saving the big teases for Summer Struggle shows in July. 

Naito and Tenzan tagged in. Tenzan briefly got the advantage, but LIJ went 4-on-1 on Tenzan and cut him off. They focused on attacking his left leg. SANADA tagged in. Tenzan hit a mountain bomb, then tagged Nagata. Nagata hit SANADA with an exploder for a two count. 

Nagata caught an interfering Naito with an overhead belly-to-belly. SANADA went for the paradise lock, but Nagata blocked. SANADA hit a springboard dropkick and tagged out to Shingo. Nagata hit Shingo with an exploder, then tagged Ibushi. 

Ibushi lit Shingo up with kicks, a springboard dropkick and a standing moonsault for a two count. Shingo hit a backdrop out of a last ride attempt. They traded strikes in the corner. Ibushi kicked away a lariat attempt. Ibushi hit a series of kicks. Shingo fired off a lariat, then tagged BUSHI. 

Ibushi hit a double backflip kick to Shingo and BUSHI, then tagged Kojima. Kojima hit machine gun chops to BUSHI and Naito. SANADA stopped Kojima from hitting a top rope elbow. BUSHI hit Kojima with a missile dropkick. 

Kojima hit the Koji Cutter on BUSHI. Ibushi jumped in for a kick. Tenzan came in for Mongolian chops. Tenzan and Kojima went for the TenCozy Cutter, but Naito saved. SANADA and Shingo jumped in. BUSHI hit a backstabber on Kojima for a two count. 

While the other six brawled to the floor, BUSHI and Kojima squared off. BUSHI hit an enzuigiri. He ran off the ropes right into a Kojima lariat for the pin. 

NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defeated EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo (w/Pieter) (32:03)

Ishii was a workhorse in this match. It was an incredible performance by him. Togo was the best guy on his team by a wide margin as well. The match itself was beyond parody of all the usual Bullet Club shenanigans, ref bumps, weapon shots, low blows and the like. 

Pieter made her return, accompanying Yujiro and providing her interpretive dance before the match. 

EVIL, Yujiro and Togo hit the champs with their own title belts before the opening bell. A ringside brawl broke out. Ishii got whipped into the barricade. Togo and Ishii then began as the legal men. Bullet Club exposed the buckle in their corner and whipped Ishii into it. The Bullet Club trio used quick tags in working Ishii over. 

EVIL sent Ishii outside and into the barricade and the ring announcer’s table. EVIL hit his baseball swing chair shot to Ishii.  Ishii was worked over in Bullet Club’s corner, then finally came back with an enzuigiri. 

Goto tagged in for a quick sequence, then YH tagged in and was cut off. Another ringside brawl broke out. This time the champs got the better of it. 

YH and Goto doubled up on EVIL. Goto hit an ushigoroshi into a superkick by YH. YH then used the butterfly lock on EVIL. Ishii and Togo brawled on the floor while EVIL laid in the butterfly lock. YH then transitioned to a sleeper. EVIL grabbed the ref, who took a bump. 

Togo used a chair on YH. He went to use his ligature, but Ishii intercepted him. EVIL hit YH with Darkness Falls. The referee was revived and counted, but YH kicked out. YH and EVIL teased their finishers, but both blocked. YH hit a backstabber into a double down. 

Ishii tagged in. EVIL tried to use the ref as a base for a Magic Killer, but Ishii slipped out. Togo tagged in. Yujiro hit Ishii with a legdrop. Togo then hit Ishii with a senton for a near fall. Togo hit a lariat for another two count. 

Togo used a crossface. Ishii fought to the bottom rope to force a break. Togo went for a Pedigree, but Ishii hit a backdrop. Goto jumped in and hit a wheel kick on Togo. Ishii hit Togo with a superplex for a near fall. 

Togo blocked a Vertical Drop Brainbuster, but Ishii connected on a back suplex. Ishii missed a sliding lariat. Togo turned it into a crucifix for a near fall, then transitioned back to the crossface. YH saved for Ishii. 

Yujiro jumped in and bumped the referee. Yujiro kicked YH low. EVIL hit Goto with a chair. Yujiro hit YH with his pimp cane. Yujiro then used the cane on Ishii. EVIL used the chair on Ishii. It took three chair shots for Ishii to go down. 

Togo hit a Pedigree on Ishii on the chair. The referee was revived, but Ishii kicked out at the last instant. EVIL and Togo hit Ishii with a Magic Killer, but Ishii kicked out of that as well. 

Togo hit another Pedigree, then went to the top rope. Goto cut him off and slammed him off the top. Goto hit a GTR to Yujiro. EVIL hit a lariat to Goto. YH hit a lariat to EVIL. All six men were down at the 28 minute mark. 

Togo and Ishii traded strikes. Ishii dropped Togo with a lariat. Ishii hit a stack powerbomb for a two count as Yujiro saved. Goto and YH hit the GYW on Goto. Ishii hit a sliding lariat, but Togo kicked out at the 30 minute call. 

Ishii went for the Vertical Drop. Togo tried to bump the ref, but failed. Ishii blocked a low blow. Yujiro and Goto climbed in. YH and EVIL got in and distracted the ref, then bumped him. EVIL and Yujiro hit low blows to Goto and YH. 

Togo choked Ishii with his ligature. Ishii fought him off and hit a lariat, then hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin. 

**********

They shot an angle after the match. Tenzan, Kojima and Nagata came to the ring. Nagata dropped Ishii with a forearm strike. Kojima gestured towards the titles, so those look to be the next challengers for Goto, Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI. 

YH closed the show with a quick promo.

**********

Here is the lineup for tomorrow’s show:

NJPW Kizuna Road, Wednesday, June 23, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: SHO & YOH (c) vs. Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
  • Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo, Gedo & Jado
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Yuya Uemura
  • Great-O-Khan vs. Yota Tsuji

Two title matches to headline NJPW Kizuna Road tour

Posted on by Ethan Renner

A pair of title matches will headline the first leg of NJPW’s Kizuna Road tour this month. 

On Tuesday, June 22, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI will defend the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championships against EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and Dick Togo. 

On Wednesday, June 23, SHO and YOH will defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships against Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo. 

Both title matches were set up with angles on yesterday’s Dominion show. 

The other key announcement for the tour are a pair of singles gauntlets for Young Lions Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura. 

Each night of the tour, both Tsuji and Uemura will face an established star in singles competition. 

Here are the full Kizuna Road cards announced so far: 

NJPW Kizuna Road in Korakuen Hall, Monday, June 14, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Kazuchika Okada, SHO & YOH vs. Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Gedo
  • Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & Jado
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yota Tsuji
  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Yuya Uemura

NJPW Kizuna Road in Korakuen Hall, Tuesday, June 15, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato vs. Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI
  • Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Kazuchika Okada vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & Gedo
  • SHO, YOH & Toru Yano vs. Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Jado
  • Taichi vs. Yota Tsuji
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Yuya Uemura

NJPW Kizuna Road in Korakuen Hall, Wednesday, June 16, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Elimination match: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI, SHO & YOH vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
  • Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Kota Ibushi, Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata
  • Kazuchika Okada vs. Yota Tsuji
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Yuya Uemura

NJPW Kizuna Road, Friday, June 18, untelevised —

  • Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • SHO, YOH & Kazuchika Okada vs. Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Gedo
  • Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & Jado
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Yuya Uemura vs. Minoru Suzuki & DOUKI
  • Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Yota Tsuji vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata

NJPW Kizuna Road, Sunday, June 20, untelevised —

  • Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., Minoru Suzuki & DOUKI
  • Kazuchika Okada, SHO & YOH vs. Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Gedo
  • Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & Jado
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Yota Tsuji vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata & Master Wato
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & Yuya Uemura vs. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru

NJPW Kizuna Road in Korakuen Hall Tuesday, June 22, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championships: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI (c) vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo
  • Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs Kota Ibushi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata
  • Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, SHO & YOH vs. Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo, Gedo & Jado
  • Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Yota Tsuji
  • Taichi vs. Yuya Uemura

NJPW Kizuna Road in Korakuen Hall Wednesday, June 23, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: SHO & YOH (c) vs. Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo 
  • Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI, Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo, Gedo & Jado
  • Kota Ibushi vs. Yuya Uemura
  • Great-O-Khan vs. Yota Tsuji

NJPW Road to Dominion results: NEVER Six-Man title match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s Road to Dominion tour continued today with a show in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. 

The NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championships were on the line in the main event as Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI of CHAOS defended against Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and BUSHI of Los Ingobernables de Japon. 

Below are results and a report on today’s show. 

**********

Recommended matches —

  • NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI 
  • Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan vs. Kota Ibushi & Master Wato (at least the post-match angle)

Report —

EVIL, Chase Owens, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (w/Dick Togo)  Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomoaki Honma, Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemura (11:47)

This was a fun opener. Lots of action and everyone worked hard. 

EVIL and Uemura started off. Uemura out-wrestled EVIL, then tagged Honma. Honma tagged in and was cut off right away. EVIL hit a senton. Owens tagged in to continue the attack. Honma hit a back elbow and tagged Tsuji. 

Tsuji hit Owens with a senton. He went for a splash, but Owens got his knees up. While the other six guys brawled on the floor, Owens worked on Tsuji in the ring. Tsuji got tossed outside and hit with a Togo right hand. 

ELP tagged in for some break dancing and comedy offense. Ishimori tagged in and continued with back rakes on Tsuji. Owens tagged in. He hit a pump kick. Tsuji came back with a suplex, then tagged Tanahashi. 

Tana hit a jumping forearm to Owens, cleared the Bullet Club apron, then hit a baseball slide to Togo. Tana hit Owens with a dragon screw. He went for his Texas Clover Hold. He got it applied. ELP tried to break it up, but Honma intercepted him. EVIL jumped in to break it up. 

Owens blocked a slingblade attempt and hit a jewel heist. Ishimori got a tag. Tana blocked a handspring kick and hit twist and shout. 

Uemura tagged in and hit a running forearm and a back suplex for two. He went for an overhook suplex, but ELP jumped in to break it up. Uemura avoided an airplane spin neckbreaker. He went for a crab, but Ishimori blocked. 

Ishimori then connected with the Bloody Cross for the pin. 

YOH, SHO & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI (10:48)

This was good. I expect YOH and Desperado to have a great match on Monday. Desperado really upped his game at the end of 2020 and has been very good this year. 

YOH and Desperado began with a striking battle. Suzuki-gun turned it into a ringside brawl and cut SHO off. It was his role again tonight to sell most of the way. He came back with a spear to Kanemaru and Taguchi got a hot tag. 

Taguchi ran wild with hip attacks. He used three amigos to set up an ankle lock. Taguchi gave up the hold and went for Dodon, but Kanemaru blocked. Taguchi hit a hip attack, then missed a bumaye. 

YOH and Desperado tagged back in. YOH hit a flying forearm, then used a neckbreaker for a two count. Desperado blocked Direct Drive with a hair pull. YOH hit a jumping knee. Desperado countered with a spinebuster, then tagged DOUKI. 

DOUKI, Kanemaru and Desperado tripled up on YOH. DOUKI hit a springboard double stomp for a near fall. He used a triangle, but SHO saved. Kanemaru took out SHO. Taguchi took out Kanemaru. Desperado took Taguchi out with a spear. YOH hit a dropkick to Desperado. 

YOH blocked DOUKI’s Suplex de la Luna, then used the Stargazer calf killer for the submission. 

YOH and Desperado faced off after the match. Desperado pie-faced YOH, but there was no physicality in the angle besides that. 

Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Gedo (2:24)

They couldn’t top their effort last night, so they didn’t even try. 

Bullet Club jumped Suzuki-gun in the ring before Taichi’s song had finished playing. They fought around the ring on the outside. Sabre was briefly cut off in the ring. 

Tonga and Loa went for a Magic Killer on Sabre. Suzuki and Taichi saved. Sabre used a neck crank and a Clarky Cat to quickly submit Gedo. 

***** Intermission *****

Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan defeated Kota Ibushi & Master Wato (9:07)

O-Khan tried a sneak attack before the bell. Ibushi fought it off and landed a flying mid kick. Wato tagged in, but O-Khan came back on him with an elbow and Mongolian chops. O-Khan and Cobb traded tags and continued beating down Master Wato. 

Wato managed a dropkick and a reverse bulldog. Cobb and Ibushi got tags for a crazy sequence. Ibushi blocked a pop-up powerslam with a hurricanrana. Cobb did some of his impressive power spots and landed a deadlift throw out of the corner. Cobb landed another huge slam and tagged out. That spot was ugly. 

O-Khan tied Ibushi to the tree of woe. He missed a basement dropkick. Ibushi popped up to the top rope and hit a double stomp. Wato tagged in and hit O-Khan with a springboard uppercut forearm and a dreamcast for a near fall. 

Wato used a rolling heel hook, but Cobb broke it up. Cobb just started throwing Wato and Ibushi around. Cobb used a spinebuster on Wato. 

O-Khan used the iron claw to set up the Eliminator on Wato for the pin. 

**********

Ibushi and Cobb had a wild brawl after the match. Tsuji and Uemura jumped in to try to pull them apart. Just when you thought it was over, one of them would break free and the brawl would start all over again. They fought in the ring, then all around the arena. 

This was intense and awesome, a great angle. 

**********

NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI to retain the titles (31:15)

This was an excellent six-man. The first ten minutes were slow, but they had to go quite a long time and that’s to be expected. 

Goto pinned SANADA in a tag yesterday, so those two began here. SANADA broke cleanly off the opening lock-up. They briefly grappled to a stalemate. 

Naito tagged in and demanded Ishii. Ishii tagged in, then Naito immediately tagged out to BUSHI. Ishii tried to go after Naito on the apron. As soon as Ishii turned his back, Naito jumped him. LIJ tried a 3-on-1 attack, but Goto and YH saved. CHAOS then went 3-on-1 against BUSHI. 

BUSHI found himself isolated in the CHAOS half of the ring. YH tagged in for some chops. Goto tagged in and the pace slowed. YH tagged back in for a vertical suplex. They were pacing themselves to go a long time. 

Naito grabbed YH from the apron and turned the tide in LIJ’s favor. A brawl broke out on the arena floor between Ishii and Naito. Naito used a kravate over the barricade. YH was then isolated in LIJ’s half of the ring. Ishii and Goto tried to make saves, but Naito and SANADA sent them to the outside. 

YH came back with a headhunter to Naito. Ishii got a tag and beat up all three members of LIJ on his own. Naito was the legal man. Ishii hit a back suplex for a near fall. Naito and Ishii had a crazy striking battle in the middle of the ring. Ishii got the better of the strikes. Naito hit a back elbow and sliding dropkick at the 15 minute call. 

SANADA tagged in for a cool sequence with Ishii. Ishii worked for a German suplex. SANADA avoided it once. Ishii got it on the second attempt. Goto tagged in and dispatched an interfering BUSHI, then hit a wheel kick in the corner on SANADA for a two count. 

Goto teased an ushigoroshi, but SANADA blocked. SANADA took his corner flip bump and hit Goto with an atomic drop. SANADA put Goto in the paradise lock, then broke it with a dropkick. BUSHI and SANADA cleared the CHAOS apron. Goto avoided a TKO and grabbed a sleeper hold. Goto used the sleeper to set up the rolling cradle he won with yesterday, but SANADA kicked out. 

Goto and YH doubled SANADA up and used the finish from yesterday for a near fall, with Naito making the save for SANADA. SANADA kicked at Goto’s spine. SANADA tried an O’Connor roll, but Goto blocked with a kick to the spine. SANADA hit a TKO into a double down. 

YH and BUSHI got tags. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick and a tope suicida. All six guys were down and out on the floor just past the 20 minute mark. 

Back inside, BUSHI used a DDT for a two count. CHAOS went 3-on-1 against BUSHI. Naito saved BUSHI from a headhunter. Naito hit Ishii with a dropkick off a BUSHI sunset flip. LIJ went 3-on-1 against YH. BUSHI hit a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. 

BUSHI missed an MX. Everyone jumped in and hit each other with a big move. Goto hit BUSHI with an ushigoroshi. YH hit a meteora for a two count. 

YH locked BUSHI in the Butterfly Lock at the 25 minute call. YH rolled through and hit a sit-out powerbomb for a two count. BUSHI blocked Kharma and rolled YH up for two. 

Ishii and Naito jumped in and teased their finishers on each other. Naito blocked a brainbuster with a DDT. Ishii no-sold it. Naito hit a flying forearm. BUSHI hit YH with a codebreaker and an MX. Goto jumped in to break it up. SANADA hit a plancha to Goto. 

BUSHI tried the MX again, but jumped off the ropes into a YH lariat. BUSHI went for a tag to SANADA, but Goto pulled SANADA off the apron. Ishii and Goto went for stereo ushigoroshis on Naito and SANADA, but they blocked. BUSHI used the BUSHI roll on YH for a super near fall. BUSHI and YH traded kicks. YH hit a lariat for a near fall at 30 minutes in. 

YH went for Kharma. BUSHI tried to turn it into a codebreaker, but YH got him in the Butterfly Lock. Naito tried to save, but Ishii caught him in a heel hook. BUSHI verbally submitted or the referee called for the stoppage with the Butterfly Lock still locked in. 

**********

Naito and Ishii stared each other down after the match. The best part of all of this is that it looks like a Naito-Ishii singles match will happen at Dominion if they ever get around to announcing a card. 

YOSHI-HASHI cut a quick promo and the champs posed with their titles to close the show.

**********

Here is the announced lineup for Dominion. More matches will be announced at a later date:

NJPW Dominion, Monday, June 7, 5 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

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

NJPW’s Naito, SANADA & BUSHI to challenge for NEVER Six-Man titles

Posted on by Ethan Renner

A new set of challengers for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles were established at today’s NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam event.

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and BUSHI challenged NEVER Six-Man Champions Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI to a title match at a later date. 

Naito and SANADA defeated Goto and YOSHI-HASHI in the main event of today’s event. Naito pinned YOSHI-HASHI with a jackknife cradle. After the match, Naito cut a promo and said that while his stablemate Shingo Takagi has his sights set on the IWGP World title, Naito wants some gold as well. Naito then issued the challenge. 

YOSHI-HASHI returned to the ring after the main event to accept the challenge, but was laid out by Naito, SANADA and BUSHI. Goto ran in to make the save for his partner. Ishii was not booked on today’s show, but his interactions with Naito had been heavily focused on on Monday and Tuesday’s Road to Wrestle Grand Slam events. 

The NEVER Six-Man title match, as well as the rest of the cards for next week’s Road to Dominion events should be announced imminently. To this point, zero matches have been announced for the June 1, June 2, June 4 Road to Dominion shows, nor for the Dominion event itself. Dominion will take place on Sunday, June 6 in Osaka-Jo Hall.

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku results: NEVER Six-Man title match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Night eight of the Road to Wrestling Dontaku tour took place today at Korakuen Hall.

The NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles were on the line in the main event, with the CHAOS trio of Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI defending against the Bullet Club team of KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi and Taiji Ishimori. 

The tour continues with untelevised shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The next broadcast event will be a 5:30 a.m. Eastern time show on NJPW World on Monday, April 26. 

Here are full results and a report on today’s show:

Recommended matches —

  • Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori 
  • Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare vs. Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI 

Report —

Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Tomoaki Honma, SHO & YOH (10:38)

This was a good opener. They didn’t have enough time to kick it into high gear. 

Desperado immediately got the upper hand on YOH with a series of strikes and by raking the face. YOH fired up and hit a flying forearm, then backed Desperado into the corner with strikes. Kanemaru pulled YOH off the ropes as he tried a springboard attack, then Suzuki-gun took control. 

YOH was cut off. Desperado and Kanemaru worked on his left knee. Desperado used Numero Dos, but SHO made the save. Kanemaru and Suzuki used quick tags and continued to target the left leg. YOH managed a dropkick to Suzuki’s left leg, then tagged Honma. 

Honma hit a bulldog, but missed a kokeshi attempt on Suzuki. They traded forearm shots, then slaps. Suzuki used a heel hook, then an ankle lock, but Honma forced a rope break. Honma ended up bleeding from the mouth. Honma hit two diving kokeshis to turn the tide. 

SHO and Kanemaru tagged in. SHO hit a series of kicks and scored a near fall. Kanemaru and Desperado doubled up on SHO, but YOH jumped in to even things out. 

Suzuki and Honma brawled to the floor. SHO hit Kanemaru with a backstabber into a one-legged dropkick from YOH. Kanemaru avoided a 3K, then blocked a Shock Arrow attempt. Kanemaru sat down into a cradle and trapped SHO for the flash pin. 

Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado defeated Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI (12:33)

The Bullet Club side attacked before the opening bell. DOUKI and Jado dueled with their sticks. Loa hit a Boss Man slam to DOUKI to cut him off. Jado used a kendo stick on DOUKI on the outside. Bullet Club then isolated DOUKI in their corner and went to work. 

DOUKI came back with something resembling a DDT on Tama, then tagged Taichi. Taichi ran wild, choking both members of G.O.D., then turned his attention to Jado. Jado got sent outside. Tama hit a dragon screw to Taichi. 

There were some clunky spots between Tama and Taichi. Tama blocked an axe bomber and hit a Tongan Twist. Taichi blocked a Gun Stun and hit a gamengiri into a double down. 

Sabre and Loa got tags and had a nice exchange. Sabre used a guillotine, then went to work on Loa’s left arm. Bullet Club triple-teamed Sabre. Loa hit a back suplex for a near fall. Sabre fought out of a G.O.D. Magic Killer, but got hit with a tandem neckbreaker. 

Jado took the referee as everyone jumped in. Tama used a title belt as a weapon on Taichi. Jado missed a kendo stick shot to DOUKI. DOUKI hit a plancha to Jado. DOUKI has improved and is working very hard on this tour. 

Sabre used an octopus on Loa, but Loa reversed into Apesh*t and got the pin. 

Jado used a kendo stick on DOUKI after the match. Loa cut a promo and said that if Sabre beats him fair and square in a one-on-one match, G.O.D. will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles against Sabre and Taichi, but if Sabre loses, they can never challenge G.O.D. for the titles again. 

G.O.D. then hit a Magic Killer on Taichi. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano defeated EVIL & Gedo (w/Dick Togo) by DQ (6:34)

This was a cluster by design. The highlight was once again Gedo booing Tanahashi’s abs as he took off his ring jacket. 

Yano began as the legal man and was quickly cut off. EVIL exposed a buckle. Tanahashi got a tag and got whipped into the buckle. Tanahashi came back with a twist and shout on Gedo. 

Tanahashi got a cloverleaf applied to Gedo. Togo jumped on the apron and took the ref. Yano put a hood on Togo. EVIL jumped in and hit low blows to Tanahashi and Yano. Gedo grabbed brass knuckles. Togo jumped in with his ligature and put a hood on Yano. 

Gedo used the knuckles on Tana and the ref called for the DQ. 

EVIL spray painted Yano’s KOPW trophy black after the match. Yano sold this by crying. 

***** Intermission *****

Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare defeated Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI (14:41)

This was a chaotic brawl from before the opening bell. 

United Empire tried a sneak attack as LIJ did their fist bump before the match, but LIJ fought them off. All eight brawled to the floor. Empire got the best of the brawl. BUSHI and Cobb ended up as the legal men. BUSHI was cut off and Empire worked him over. 

BUSHI managed a tag and Shingo came in all fired up. Ospreay tagged in as well. Shingo teased a noshigami, but instead hit a vertical suplex. Shingo and Ospreay traded strikes in the corner. Ospreay hit pip pip cheerio, then tagged out. 

Shingo made a comeback on Henare with a dragon screw, then tagged SANADA. SANADA connected on a back suplex and a plancha. Henare answered with kicks and a suplex. SANADA blocked a tackle. They traded finisher teases. SANADA hit a magic screw into a double down. 

Naito and O-Khan got tags. They traded forearm strikes. Naito hit a one-legged dropkick for a two count. Naito went after O-Khan’s neck with back elbows. BUSHI jumped in for some tandem offense. Ospreay broke up a submission attempt. Shingo took out Ospreay. 

Naito pulled O-Khan around the ring by his hair. O-Khan used a throw and a judo toss. Naito hit an enzuigiri and a basement dropkick to the right knee before tagging out. 

BUSHI tagged in for a missile dropkick and a DDT. O-Khan blocked a swinging neckbreaker with a pump kick. O-Khan went for the Eliminator, but Shingo saved. Ospreay jumped in and did a crazy sequence with Shingo. SANADA and Henare entered for their own battle. Cobb and Naito jumped in. Cobb blocked a swing DDT and hit a spin cycle. 

Cobb threw BUSHI to O-Khan. O-Khan used the claw to set up the Eliminator and got the pin. 

NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defeated KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori to retain the titles (20:14)

The closing stretch of this was very good. The match was all action. 

KENTA teased starting off with YH, but stalled. He then tagged out. Ishimori and Goto began the match. Ishimori fired off some strikes, but Goto dropped him with a tackle. All six jumped in as Red Shoes lost control of the match in the opening minute. 

Bullet Club turned it into a ringside brawl. Goto ended up cut off. KENTA tagged in and methodically worked on Goto with elbow drops. Bullet Club traded tags as they kept the pressure on Goto. YH tried to interfere, but Ishimori tossed him outside. Goto got whipped into an exposed turnbuckle. 

Goto hit a misdirection lariat to Yujiro and managed a tag to Ishii. Ishii blocked an Ishimori dropkick and hit a lariat. Ishii dispatched an interfering KENTA after a series of misdirection spots. Yujiro hit an inverted DDT. Ishii blocked a lariat. They traded strikes. Yujiro hit a lariat and fisherman buster for a two count. 

Ishii came back with a German on Yujiro. KENTA and YH got tags. Goto and Ishimori jumped in. Ishii entered. Ishimori and Yujiro hit a neckbreaker to YH. KENTA followed with a top rope double stomp for a near fall. 

YH escaped a Go 2 Sleep. KENTA escaped a Goto ushgoroshi. YH hit a thrust kick into a Goto ushigorsoshi into an Ishii sliding lariat for a near fall. YH hit a lariat on KENTA for two. KENTA blocked Kharma and hit a DDT. 

Ishimori hit a Bloody Cross on YH, but missed a 450. YH hit a lariat. Goto tagged in for a wheel kick and a bulldog on Ishimori for a near fall. Ishimori blocked an ushigoroshi and hit a handspring kick. Bullet Club triple-teamed Goto. YH and Ishii saved. 

Yujiro took the referee. KENTA jumped in with YH’s bo staff. KENTA hit Ishii and Goto with the bo. Ishimori covered, but YH broke up the pin. KENTA bumped the referee. YH and Yujiro dueled with their bo and cane. KENTA and YH fought over the bo. YH hit KENTA with the bo. 

Ishimori hit a drop toehold into the exposed buckle on Goto. Ishimori got two quick near falls on pinning combinations. Ishimori took a flip bump off an Ishii lariat. Ishimori hit a knee strike to Goto. 

Goto blocked a La Mistica and hit a headbutt. Goto hit a GTW and a GTR for the pin. 

YH got his bo back and the good guys retained. 

**********

Here is the lineup for Monday’s show: 

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku night 12, Monday, April 26, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Great-O-Khan
  • SANADA vs. Aaron Henare
  • Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb vs. Shingo Takagi & BUSHI
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori, Gedo & Dick Togo
  • Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado
  • Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. SHO, YOH & Tiger Mask