Tag: never title

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

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Notes from NJPW Sakura Genesis.

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

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

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

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

NJPW adds Takeshita NEVER title defense to New Beginning in Osaka

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Oleg Boltin is officially next in line for a shot at Konosuke Takeshita’s NEVER Openweight Championship.

NJPW has confirmed that Takeshita will put his NEVER title on the line against Boltin at the New Beginning in Osaka on Tuesday, February 11. It’s the third title defense for Takeshita since he dethroned Shingo Takagi at Wrestle Kingdom 19 to become the new NEVER Openweight Champion.

Takeshita is also the current AEW International Champion. He defeated Takagi in a double title match at Wrestle Kingdom and then retained both belts against Tomohiro Ishii the next night at Wrestle Dynasty. Backstage after that match, Boltin confronted Takeshita to set up a NEVER title bout.

Takeshita then retained the NEVER title against KUSHIDA at NJPW Battle in the Valley last weekend.

If Boltin defeats Takeshita, it would be his first time winning a singles title in NJPW. He is an accomplished amateur wrestler from Kazakhstan who holds NJPW’s NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team title belts with Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano.

Osaka is Takeshita’s hometown. It was announced earlier this month that he has signed a contract with NJPW, meaning that he now has deals with all three of AEW, NJPW, and DDT.

The updated New Beginning in Osaka card is listed below:

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defends against Hirooki Goto
  • IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji defends against Gabe Kidd
  • IWGP Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks defend against Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi
  • NEVER Openweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita defends against Oleg Boltin
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita defend against Rocky Romero & YOH
  • Taichi vs. SANADA
  • Shota Umino vs. Great-O-Khan
  • Shingo Takagi vs. Drilla Moloney
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe

New champions crowned at NJPW Summer Struggle in Jingu

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Four new champions were crowned this morning at NJPW’s Summer Struggle in Jingu event.

Tetsuya Natio once again reclaimed himself as double champion, regaining the IWGP Heavyweight title for the third time and the IWGP Intercontinental title for the sixth time. After a match full of ref bumps, interference, and back and forth action, Naito pinned EVIL with the Destino.

After the match, Naito put over Jingu Stadium, saying it’s the first time they have been back in 21 years. He thanked the fans for coming in under sweltering heat. He mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic but also said there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s overcome all of these obstacles.

Naito ended his promo with the usual roll-call, though none of the other members of Los Ingobernables de Japon came out to celebrate. The show ended with Naito doing his signature pose as fireworks went off. No one came out to challenge Naito following the match.

The IWGP Jr. title also changed hands. After 238 days, Hiromu Takahashi lost the title to Taiji Ishimori, who is now a two time champion. Hiromu went for a second time bomb for the finish, but Ishimori countered, hit an inverted bloody cross then eventually got the submission win with the crossface.

Toru Yano is the first to win the KOPW trophy, becoming the first ever provisional champion, pinning Kazuchika Okada after a low blow and a roll-up. Yano will defend the trophy under stipulation matches until the end of the year, when a champion is crowned.

Minoru Suzuki captured the NEVER title for the second time, ending Shingo Takagi’s run with the title after 210 days. Suzuki won the title after pinning Takagi with the Gotch piledriver

The next tour will start on September 3, with New Japan Road.