Tag: new beginning

NJPW New Beginning in Osaka live results: Naito vs. KENTA

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Ethan Renner

Big title matches headline tonight’s NJPW New Beginning in Osaka.

The latest event to take place at Osaka-jo Hall will be headlined by Tetsuya Naito defending the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles against KENTA. Although KENTA lost his match at Wrestle Kingdom, he sent a message to Naito at the end of the second night by laying him out immediately after Naito became the double champion.

Jon Moxley and Minoru Suzuki will finally come to blows for the IWGP United States title. The two have been going after each other all tour, brawling all over the crowds and even backstage.

Hiromu Takahashi and Ryu Lee will continue their rivalry that began years ago in Mexico by facing off for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title. This was the same match back in 2018 where Hiromu Takahashi broke his neck, putting him out of action for over a year.

A special singles match between SANADA and Jay White will also take place.

Join us for live coverage starting at 2 a.m. EST.

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MANABU NAKANISHI, SATOSHI KOJIMA, YUJI NAGATA & HIROYOSHI TENZAN DEFEATED TOA HENARE, RYUSUKE TAGUCHI, TOGI MAKABE & TOMOAKI HONMA

Taguchi began with Nakanishi, who hit some strikes in the corner. Tenzan entered and they worked over Taguchi’s bum. Henare and Nagata tagged in and traded strikes. Henare teased an Argentinian backbreaker, as he’s been doing all tour, taunting Nakanishi.

Taguchi and team went 4-on-1 against Nagata. Taguchi gave Nagata a stinkface. Makabe got a tag and Nagata hit him with an exploder. Nakanishi got a tag and hit a double clothesline on Honma and Makabe. Nakanishi used the Argentinian backbreaker on Makabe. Nakanishi’s team did a quadruple submission spot on their opponents.

Makabe and Nakanishi hit a series of simultaneous lariats, and both dropped. Kojima and Honma tagged in. Kojima hit machine gun chops. Honma cut him off before a top rope elbow. Honma hit a kokeshi for a near fall.

Makabe jumped in and hit a double clothesline. Nakanishi hit a series of double sledges. Kojima held Honma, allowing Nakanishi to hit him with a top rope chop. Kojima then hit Honma with a lariat for the pin.

Makabe cut a promo after the match. He thanked the crowd for coming out. He said he got his start in Osaka 27 years ago. He said he was terrible when he began, but he accomplished all he did because of the support of the fans.

He said he has four matches left, he’ll give them his all, and he hopes everyone supports him. He said NJPW will go on without him to new heights.

Nakanishi’s team left the ring to him, he took a bow and waved to the crowd. This was nice. The match itself was nothing.

IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SHO & YOH (W/ROCKY ROMERO) DEFEATED EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU TO RETAIN THE TITLES

The story of the match was whether or not Roppongi 3K would be able to retain the titles given that SHO was coming in with a leg injury, suffered earlier in the tour after a Suzuki-gun attack.

3K attacked just before the bell, employing a Suzuki-gun tactic. SHO and YOH hit a double dropkick. Kanemaru and Desperado made a quick comeback. Kanemaru hit a leg slice over the barricade. Desperado used a chair in the aisle on SHO’s left leg.

Back in the ring, Kanemaru used a stretch muffler. Desperado used a single-leg crab, continuing to punish the left leg. SHO made a comeback with a backdrop to Despy, a suplex to Kanemaru, then made a tag.

YOH ran wild with leg lariats and flying forearms. YOH and Desperado traded strikes. Desperado hit a misdirection spear. Kanemaru tagged in and hit a knee lift, then a tornado DDT for a two count.

Kanemaru went for Deep Impact. YOH moved out of the way and hit a DDT, into a double down. SHO tagged in and traded strikes with Kanemaru. SHO hit a spear. SHO went for a powerbomb but his leg gave out.

Kanemaru hit a dropkick and locked on a figure four. Desperado used a crossface on an interfering YOH. SHO finally forced a rope break. Kanemaru hit Deep Impact, but SHO kicked out at two.

Kanemaru missed a moonsault but landed on his feet. YOH intercepted him with a dropkick. YOH hit Kanemaru with a superkick, then hit a rewind kick to Desperado. All four men went down.

SHO and YOH hit some tandem offense on Kanemaru. They set up for the 3K but Desperado cut them off and took the referee. Kanemaru tried to spit whiskey but SHO blocked and spit whiskey in the air.

SHO tossed YOH over the top into a dive on Desperado. SHO hit a lariat to Kanemaru, then hit Shock Arrow, but Kanemaru kicked out at two.

YOH climbed to the top, hit Strong X, then SHO covered for the pin.

YOH and Desperado traded slaps to the face after the match. Taguchi then entered with a basketball. He said Rocky Romero is not just a manager, he’s a great wrestler. He asked Rocky to challenge Roppongi for the title. He threw Rocky the basketball, made a basket with his arms, and Rocky shot the ball through his arms.

YOH cut a promo. He said he expected Taguchi to show up, but not to face Rocky. He then said that 3K hasn’t surpassed Rocky yet, and if that means they have to beat him, they will.

So Taguchi and Romero are the next challengers for the Jr. Heavyweight Tag titles.

Good match, but not great, as they didn’t get a ton of time.

HIROSHI TANAHASHI, KOTA IBUSHI, JUICE ROBINSON & DAVID FINLAY DEFEATED TAMA TONGA, TANGA LOA, YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & CHASE OWENS

This was really more about the post-match than the match itself.

Tana and Tonga started out. Tonga broke cleanly against the ropes, but Loa grabbed Tana by his glorious mane and Bullet Club tried a 4-on-1 beatdown. Tana’s teammates jumped in and the match broke down. When the dust settled, Tonga and Finlay were the legal men.

Tonga and Loa hit slingshot sentons to Finlay. Loa tagged in and got a two count. Owens tagged in. Finlay made a comeback, then tagged Ibushi. Ibushi hit a dropkick, a mid kick, then used a standing moonsault for a two count.

Juice and Loa got tags. Juice hit a ful nelson bomb and a cannonball. He teased Pulp Friction, but Tonga jumped in to cut him off. Tana got a tag. Yujiro jumped in and hit a fisherman buster, Owens hit a shining wizard, then Loa covered for a two count.

The match broke down, with everyone eating a big move. Jado hit Ibushi with a kendo stick from the floor, leaving Tanahashi to go 1-on-2 against Tonga and Loa. Tonga got hit witth a slingblade. Loa took a dragon screw.

Jado hit Tana with a kendo stick. Loa went for Apeshit, but Tana blocked, then used a cradle for the pin.

Tonga, Loa and Jado attacked Tanahashi after the match. Ibushi saved with a missile dropkick. Jado tried another kendo stick shot. Ibushi blocked, then pie faced Jado.

They out over on commentary that Tanahashi and Ibushi just beat the tag team champs. Tana, Ibushi, Finlay and Juice faced off after the match. Juice and Finlay just lost the tag titles, so perhaps a three-way, or perhaps a number one contenders match with Ibushi and Tana vs. Finlay and Juice is on the way.

Tanahashi was really moving poorly tonight. A tag team feud feels like a waste of him in one way, but in another, it’s probably the best thing for his body at this point not to be in main events all the time.

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A video announcement played. A Madison Square Garden date was announced, as well as G1 details, as well as NJPW World returning to a prime time slot on Japanese TV.

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KAZUCHIKA OKADA & WILL OSPREAY DEFEATED TAICHI & ZACK SABRE JR.

This was good, but they only got about 12 minutes. Good matches that could have been great with a few more minutes is the theme of the night.

Okada and Taichi began in the ring, while Sabre and Ospreay brawled on the outside. Taichi hit a high kick, then continued working over Okada with short kicks. Sabre tagged in, Okada hit a flapjack, then tagged out.

Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio, then a handsrping kick. Sabre used the submission that earned him a victory over Ospreay last week, but Ospreay forced a break. They did an incredible series of counters and reversals, then traded cradles on the mat. Sabre used a guillotine, then slid to a triangle, which Ospreay broke with a one-armed powerbomb.

Okada and Taichi tagged in. Okada hit a back elbow in the middle of the ring, then another in the corner. Okada hit a dropkick. Ospreay and Sabre jumped in. Ospreay hit a cheeky Nando’s kick to Sabre. Taichi hit a high kick to Ospreay, then an axe bomber to Okada.

Taichi removed his trousers. He used a buzzsaw kick for a near fall. Okada escaped a Last Ride. Ospreay jumped in and hit an Oscutter, then hit a Sasuke special to Sabre. Okada hit Taichi with another dropkick, then hit the Rainmaker for the pin.

JAY WHITE DEFEATED SANADA

In kayfabe why does SANADA always give up the Skull End? He always gives up the hold, then misses a moonsault. Not a fan of that spot in every big SANADA match, it makes him look really dumb.

This was good. A patterned Jay White match with lots of Gedo interference.

Gedo was a factor in the opening minutes, first jumping on the apron for a distraction, then tripping SANADA, then choking SANADA with a towel on the floor. White went to work from there, hitting stomps, strikes and a crab.

SANADA hit a missile dropkick, then a dropkick to the left knee. White came back with a DDT, an uppercut forearm, then a DVD. SANADA fell victim to another trip from Gedo. White ran into a big boot in the corner, then SANADA used a paradise lock.

SANADA hit a leapfrog dropkick, then a plancha, then hit a missile dropkick for a two count. SANADA tried for a TKO, then a Skull End, but White hit a thumb to the eye. They traded uppercuts. White hit a flatliner and a deadlift German.

White hit a Blade Buster and Kiwi Krusher for a two count. SANADA came back with a draping neckbreaker. SANADA used a high-angle suplex for a two count. SANADA teased Skull End. Gedo jumped on the apron for a distraction. White used a schoolboy for a two count.

SANADA hit a TKO. White took the referee. Gedo jumped on the apron. SANADA crotched him on the top rope.

SANADA used a moonsault press threat to float over into a Skull End. He used a spinning Skull End, then dropped to the mat with the hold applied, adding a bodyscissors. SANADA gave up the hold, then missed a moonsault.

They traded finisher teases in a great sequence. SANADA used an O’Connor Roll, then a Japanese leg roll for near falls.

They tried a spot where SANADA was going to come off the middle rope into a Skull End again, but he landed wrong and both guys almost broke their necks.

White hit a sleeper suplex, a Regal suplex, then a cross-armed suplex, all for near falls. White then hit the Blade Runner and pinned SANADA.

IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: HIROMU TAKAHASHI DEFEATED RYU LEE TO RETAIN THE TITLE

Well, good luck to everybody that has to follow this tonight, or any night.

These are two of the best ten wrestlers in the world. They should not be allowed to wrestle again. They do so many things together where there is no margin for error, and they can’t help themselves. The matches are incredible. They are also beyond dangerous.

They came out firing, trading lariats and German suplexes, ending with both men down less than a minute in. They traded dozens of open-hand chops to the chest. They paused, then traded several more, paused again, then traded a ton more.

Hiromu dropped Lee with an unanswered series of chops. Lee popped up, hit the ropes, then hit a chop. They traded MORE CHOPS. Hiromu hit a corner clothesline, then they traded chops again. At the five minute call here, and almost all chops to this point.

Hiromu tried a tijeras, Lee blocked, Hiromu hit a handspring out, then landed a chop. More chops. Lee finally got a knockdown off a chop. Lee hit a Shibata dropkick, falcon arrow, then a PK. Hiromu rolled outside. Lee hit a tijeras over the top rope to the apron, tossing Hiromu to the floor.

Lee sat Hiromu on the barricade. Lee hit a tope suicida at a thousand miles an hour, sending both men over the barricade, bouncing off a table, then crashing to the floor in front of the second barricade. They made it back in after a countout tease.

Hiromu blocked a springboard move, then hit a sunset bomb from the ring to the floor. Hiromu hit a Dynamite Plunger for a two count. He hit a DVD into the buckle. Lee blocked a Time Bomb and teased a spike package driver, the move where Hiromu broke his neck in 2018. Hiromu rolled through into his triangle choke submission, D, but Lee forced a rope break.

They sat on the top rope, trading punches. Lee hit a double stomp from that position. Lee landed on his feet on the apron, while Hiromu hit the edge of the ring, then hit the floor.

They traded strikes on the apron. Hiromu hit an overhead throw on the apron, sending Lee to the floor. They pulled it off, but thats the kind of move where there’s no margin for error.

Hiromu asked the ref to stop the 20 count, then hit a Hiromu bomb off the post to the floor. They did a countout tease, but Lee made it in at 19.

They traded a series of strikes and suplexes that had to be seen to be believed. Lee went for a Desnucadora. Hiromu rolled through into D. Lee escaped and hit a buckle bomb. Hiromu countered with an overhead throw into the buckle.

Lee hit a bastard driver for a two count. Hiromu was draped over the top rope, where Lee hit a double stomp. Lee hit a V-Trigger and made a cover. Hiromu forced a rope break.

Hiromu teased a package driver. Hiromu reversed into a destroyer for a near fall, threw Lee like a dart into the buckle, then went for Time Bomb. Lee rolled through into a cover for a near fall.

Lee exposed his right knee, then hit a running knee for a near fall. He hit a second knee. Hiromu hit another destroyer. Hiromu hit Time Bomb for a two count, then hit a second Time Bomb, covered, and retained the title.

IWGP UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: JON MOXLEY DEFEATED MINORU SUZUKI TO RETAIN THE TITLE

What can you say about these guys? An awesome feud, an awesome brawl to cap it off, just great stuff.

Suzuki entered first. Moxley entered through the crowd, then walked to the ramp, where he beckoned Suzuki to join him. Suzuki grabbed two chairs, threw one to Moxley, then they had a duel.

Moxley got the best of the chair duel. They brawled into the crowd, tearing up pieces of barricade and using them as weapons. They fought into the time keeper’s area. They teased a table spot, but Moxley blocked. Somewhere in here the opening bell rang. They did a countout tease before either man got in the ring.

In the ring, they traded strikes. Suzuki hit a big boot in the corner. Moxley caught a PK, then bit Suzuki. Suzuki hit a series of headbutts and bit Moxley. They brawled outside again.

Moxley set up a table on the outside. He teased putting Suzuki through it. Suzuki fought it off, then hit a con-chair-to to Moxley’s arm. Suzuki posted the arm, then used an armbar on the apron. Moxley powerbombed Suzuki off the apron through the table. Suzuki sold it by laughing, then stumbling as he got to his feet.

Each man grabbed a piece of broken table and beat themself in the head with it. Back inside, they traded super stiff forearm shots. Suzuki slipped behind and locked on a rear naked choke. Suzuki gave up the hold when it looked as though Moxley was passing out, then covered for a near fall.

Suzuki hit a running boot for another near fall. Moxley came back with a knee strike and a Regal knee for a near fall. Suzuki blocked a Death Rider. They traded shots. Suzuki hit a dropkick.

Moxley escaped a Gotch-style piledriver and hit Death Rider. Suzuki kicked out at two. Moxley kissed Suzuki on the forehead.

Moxley brought two chairs into the ring. Red Shoes tried to pull the chairs away, but got shocved down.

Moxley hit a gimmicked chair shot to the head, then hit a Death Rider on a chair, but there was no referee.

Suzuki fired up. Suzuki hit a series of strikes. Moxley hit a rebound lariat, Suzuki didn’t go down, but the way he sold not going down was incredible.

Moxley hit a second lariat, then hit Death Rider for the pin.

Suzuki left, tearing up the barricade on his way to the back.

As Moxley posed in the ring, Sabre ran in and choked him out, then posed with the U.S. title, so there’s something for the future.

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Gedo, Jado, White, Yujiro, Tonga, Loa and Owens accompanied KENTA to the ring for the main event. Tama Tonga took a swing at Red Shoes before the bell. Red Shoes took a bump, then ejected Bullet Club.

IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT & INTERCONTINENTAL DOUBLE TITLE MATCH: TETSUYA NAITO DEFEATED KENTA TO RETAIN THE TITLES

After the ref bumps, this was a good match. The problem was that they went about 20 minutes before the ref bumps.

KENTA did his customary stalling at the outset. They finally locked up. Naito broke against the ropes. KENTA rolled outside. Naito teased a dive, then hit his Tranquilo pose.

Naito finally got his hands on KENTA in earnest. He hit a rana and some stomps, then threw KENTA into the barricade. Naito hit stomps in the corner. KENTA countered with a slingshot knee strike, then sent Naito outside.

KENTA tossed Naito into all four sides of the barricade, then hit a DDT in the aisle. Back inside, KENTA exposed a buckle, then whipped Naito into it. We were past the ten minute mark here and this was still moving at a snail’s pace.

KENTA hit a knee lift, then did some more crowd work. He hit a snapmare, then used a chinlock. KENTA hit a DDT for a near fall.

Naito made a comeback with a low dropkick, combinacion cabron, then hit a neckbreaker for a two count. Naito hit another neckbreaker, then used a crucifix hold. KENTA reached the ropes for a break.

KENTA snapped Naito’s neck on the top rope, then hit a top rope clothesline for a two count. KENTA tried for Game Over, but Naito reached the ropes before the hold was applied.

KENTA went for a draping DDT. Naito hit a leg sweep, then hit a neckbreaker on the apron. KENTA answered with a draping DDT off the barricade. They teased a countout, but Naito made it back in.

KENTA hit a running knee in the corner, then a KENTA/Shibata dropkick. KENTA missed a double stomp off the top. Naito hit a spinebuster. They traded strikes. Naito got the better of the exchange.

KENTA ducked a back elbow, threw Red Shoes in Naito’s path, then used the distraction to lock Naito in Game Over. Naito fought for a long time, then reached the ropes. KENTA hit a PK, a knee strike in the ropes, then hit a busaiku knee for a near fall.

KENTA teased G2S. Naito blocked, then hit a tornado DDT. Naito hit a neckbreaker, top rope frankensteiner, then hit Gloria for a near fall.

Naito went for Destino. KENTA blocked and threw Naito into Red Shoes twice. Red Shoes took a bump and rolled outside.

White ran in and hit a sleeper suplex. BUSHI ran in and tried to spit black mist at White. White ducked, then hit BUSHI with Blade Runner. Hiromu ran in and hit White with a superkick then dragged White to the back.

Naito hit an enziguri and a flying forearm. KENTA blocked a Destino with a lariat for a near fall.

KENTA tried Go 2 Sleep. Naito slid out and hit an inverted DDT.

KENTA blocked Valentia and sent Naito into the exposed buckle, then used a schoolboy for a near fall.

Naito was bleeding a gusher after going into the buckle, and it appeared to be hard way blood, as Naito really didn’t have time to blade before the blood started pouring.

KENTA hit some slaps and a busaiku knee for another near fall.

Naito reversed a G2S into a poison rana, then hit Valentia for a near fall.

Naito then hit Destino for the 1-2-3.

Naito cut a promo. KENTA was still lingering in the aisle. Naito told him no tranquilo, just get out of here.

He rhetorically asked what was next for him. He called out Hiromu. Traditionally, the IWGP Heavyweight champ wrestles the Jr. Heavyweight champ at the anniversary show.

Hiromu entered. He said Naito taught him wrestling when he was a Young Lion. He said when he was about to go on excursion, Naito told him they’d have a match when he got back. So the answer is yes.

Naito said the LIJ roll call, then confetti showered the ring. Hiromu and Naito bumped fists, then posed with their respective titles. Hiromu left the ring to Naito to close the show.

NJPW New Beginning USA Durham results: Marty Scurll appears

Posted on January 28, 2020 by Bryan Rose

NJPW continued their latest US tour with tonight’s New Beginning USA event in Durham, North Carolina.

During the show, Marty Scurll appeared in person and challenged Jay White to a match at ROH Supercard of Honor XIV. Scurll hasn’t been seen in NJPW since his participation in last year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament.

Here are quick results from tonight’s event:

Yujiro Takahashi defeated Misterioso

– Takahashi pinned Misterioso with the Pimp Juice DDT.

Yuji Nagata and Satoshi Kojima defeated TJP and Alex Coughlin

– Nagata pinned Coughlin with the backdrop hold.

Toru Yano, Colt Cabana and Rocky Romero defeated Ricky Morton, Robert Gibson and Alex Zayne

– Toru Yano pinned Zayne with a schoolboy

Jeff Cobb defeated Clark Connors

– Cobb pinned Connors with the Tour of the Islands.

Lance Archer defeated Ren Narita

– Archer pinned Narita with the EBD Claw.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, YOSHI-HASHI, David Finlay and Juice Robinson defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Chase Owens and Jado

– Tanahashi pinned Jado with the High Fly Flow.

NJPW reveals cards for New Beginning in Sapporo and Osaka

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Joseph Currier

NJPW has revealed the cards for February’s New Beginning in Sapporo and New Beginning in Osaka events.

The New Beginning in Sapporo takes place across two nights on Saturday, February 2 and Sunday, February 3. The first night will be headlined by Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada teaming against Jay White & Bad Luck Fale, while the second show’s main event will be IWGP Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito defending his title against Taichi.

Night two in Sapporo also features two Tag Team title matches. IWGP Tag Team Champions EVIL & SANADA defend against Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr., and El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru get their rematch against IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Shingo Takagi & BUSHI.

Tanahashi will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against White at the New Beginning in Osaka on Monday, February 11. White confronted Tanahashi after Wrestle Kingdom 13 and was established as his first challenger in an angle at New Year Dash.

Okada vs. Fale is the semi-main event of the Osaka show. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori is also set to make his first title defense against Ryusuke Taguchi.

NJPW has yet to reveal the cards for their New Beginning USA events in Los Angeles, Charlotte, and Nashville. Those shows are expected to feature wrestlers who aren’t on the New Beginning tour in Japan, along with young lions from NJPW’s California dojo.

Here are the full cards for the New Beginning in Sapporo and Osaka:

New Beginning in Sapporo night one (February 2) —

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White & Bad Luck Fale
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. EVIL
Minoru Suzuki vs. SANADA
Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado
Ryusuke Taguchi, YOSHI-HASHI, Tomoaki Honma, Toru Yano & Togi Makabe vs. Taiji Ishimori, Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Tiger Mask IV vs. Takashi Iizuka & Taka Michinoku
Manabu Nakanishi & Toa Henare vs. Ayato Yoshida & Shota Umino
Ren Narita vs. Yuya Uemura

New Beginning in Sapporo night two (February 3) —

IWGP Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito defending against Taichi
IWGP Tag Team Champions EVIL & SANADA defending against Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Shingo Takagi & BUSHI defending against El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jay White, Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
Ryusuke Taguchi, Tomoaki Honma, Toru Yano & Togi Makabe vs. Taiji Ishimori, Yujiro Takahashi, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Ren Narita vs. Takashi Iizuka & Taka Michinoku
Manabu Nakanishi & Tiger Mask IV vs. Ayato Yoshida & Shota Umino
Toa Henare vs. Yota Tsuji

New Beginning in Osaka (February 11) —

IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defending against Jay White
Kazuchika Okada vs. Bad Luck Fale
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori defending against Ryusuke Taguchi
Togi Makabe & Toru Yano vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
Tomoaki Honma & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens
Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado
EVIL & SANADA vs. Shota Umino & Ayato Yoshida
Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Minoru Suzuki, Takashi Iizuka & Taka Michinoku

NJPW New Beginning in Osaka live results: Okada vs. SANADA

Posted on February 10, 2018 by Ethan Renner

YUJI NAGATA defeated KATSUYA KITAMURA

Kitamura took the early advantage with a shoulder block and a scoop slam. Nagata went to work on the left arm, but a rope break forced the action back to the middle of the ring. They exchanged strikes, with Nagata getting the better of the exchange. Kitamura came back with a gutwrench suplex for a nearfall, and racked Nagata for a near submission.

They had a slap fight in the center of the ring, which ended with Kitamura selling exhaustion. Kitamura hulked up and hit a spear for another nearfall. Kitamura went for the jackhammer, but Nagata locked on an armbar. Kitamura reached the ropes, forcing a break. Nagata hit a kick for a nearfall.

Nagata took a series of chops, which was the last gasp of offense from Kitamura. Nagata hit a high-angle suplex and bridged into a pinfall. A very basic opener, furthering the story of Kitamura’s test.

SUZUKI-GUN (EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU) defeated ROPPONGI 3K (SHO & YOH)

Suzuki-gun worked over SHO’s injured back, which was all taped up. The action spilled outside and SHO and YOH were both repeatedly whipped into the barricade. Back inside, Desperado used a reverse Gory Special to continue working on SHO’s back.

YOH tagged in and ran wild with a dragon screw, a flying forearm, and a slingshot double footstomp. Desperado swung the advantage back to his team with a spinebuster, forcing a tag to SHO.

SHO got a nearfall with a suplex, but his back gave out when Roppongi went for their finish, giving Kanemaru an opening. Kanemaru hit a superplex and applied a Boston crab. Rocky Romero took the referee to complain about Desperado’s interference, allowing Desperado to interfere, and blast SHO with a chair. Oh, sweet irony. SHO tapped out to the crab, and Suzuki-gun continued to beat down Roppongi after the bout.

Suzuki-gun grabbed the IWGP Junior Tag belts and taunted Roppongi with them after the bout, establishing themselves as future challengers for the championships. This told a good story and set up a match for down the road.

TOGI MAKABE, MICHAEL ELGIN, KUSHIDA, RYUSUKE TAGUCHI defeated SUZUKI-GUN (MINORU SUZUKI, TAKA MICHINOKU, TAICHI, TAKASHI IIZUKA)

Makabe, Elgin, KUSHIDA and Taguchi got the jump on Suzuki-gun at the bell, but Suzuki-gun quickly turned it into a brawl. Taichi went after Taguchi with the ring bell hammer, exacting revenge for his actions against his wife in Sapporo.

Elgin tagged in and did some power stuff, but Iizuka used an inverted atomic drop, forcing a double down. Makabe and Suzuki tagged in, and business picked up. They did a long forearm strike exchange. Suzuki threatened to strike with a closed fist, which forced the ref to intervene, allowing Suzuki’s teammates to go to work on Makabe.

Iizuka tried to use the iron glove, but Makabe survived the attempt. TAKA tagged in, and Makabe hit him with the King Kong kneedrop for the victory, while Makabe’s team held Suzuki at bay.

Makabe cut a promo after the match, challenging Suzuki for his IWGP Intercontinental title. After refusing Makabe’s challenge for weeks, Suzuki accepted, and got a parting shot in on Makabe. On his way out, Suzuki attacked a young boy at ringside. This was all about establishing Makabe vs. Suzuki down the line, and there wasn’t much to the match. KUSHIDA is one of the best guys in the world and he barely tagged in here.

CHAOS (IWGP UNITED STATES CHAMPION JAY WHITE, TOMOHIRO ISHII, TORU YANO) defeated JUICE ROBINSON, DAVID FINLAY, TOA HENARE

Yano immediately untied the turnbuckle pad and tried to hit Juice with it, but Juice ducked and used an airplane spin. White tossed Juice into the exposed buckle, and Chaos took over. Ishii and White worked over Juice, forcing a tag to Finlay.

Finlay and White had a hot exchange. Finlay tagged in Henare, who scored a nearfall on White,, while the other competitors brawled outside. White recovered and hit the Blade Runner on Henare. Just as he did at Korakuen earlier this week, rather than going for a pin, White locked Henare in a crucifix and rained down elbows, forcing a stoppage finish.

White continued punishing Henare after the bell, and also attacked the referee. The White/Finlay sequence was nice, but this was all about furthering White’s Switchblade persona.

Rey Mysterio cut a video promo, announcing that he will wrestle for the first time in New Japan, and challenged Jushin Liger for the Strong Style Evolved show in Long Beach on March 25. Liger was at ringside doing commentary, and accepted the challenge.

BUSHI defeated GEDO

BUSHI came out with Brutus Beefcake shears, threatening Gedo’s beard. Gedo came out with two of BUSHI’s masks tied around his neck, threatening BUSHI’s mask.

Gedo went for the mask right away, but BUSHI fought him off. BUSHI ripped at Gedo’s beard, and locked in an STF. Gedo forced a rope break. Gedo tied BUSHI to the top rope with the laces from his mask.

BUSHI had a young boy cut him free with his shears, and sent Gedo outside. BUSHI hit a dive and sent Gedo back inside, in full control. Gedo grabbed the mask again and cradled BUSHI for a nearfall. The ref got bumped. BUSHI went for the mist, but Gedo avoided getting it in his eyes and hit a low blow for a nearfall. BUSHI hit a codebreaker for a nearfall. BUSHI went to the middle rope and hit the MX for the pin.

BUSHI reclaimed his masks after the match, but was stopped before he could go after Gedo’s beard with the shears. This was not worth going out of your way to see, putting it mildly.

TETSUYA NAITO defeated YOSHI-HASHI

YOSHI-HASHI jumped Naito on the aisle as he made his entrance, and hit Naito’s Tranquilo pose in the middle of the ring, to a chorus of boos. Naito recovered and took control of the bout from the opening bell, to a mixed reaction from the Osaka crowd. Naito repeatedly spit on YOSHI-HASHI, selling his disrespect of his opponent.

YOSHI-HASHI fought back with a basement dropkick and a DDT. He hit a tope con hilo and a neckbreaker on the ramp. YOSHI-HASHI used a butterfly lock and hit an elevated DDT. Naito fired back with a slingshot dropkick in the corner, after a weird transition.

Naito hit a flying forearm, but YOSHI-HASHI countered Destino. They exchanged forearms and had a slap fight, which YOSHI-HASHI got the better of. Naito took a flip bump off a clothesline, and ate a powerbomb for a nearfall. YOSHI-HASHI quickly transitioned back to the butterfly lock. Naito reached the ropes after a long tease of tapping out.

YOSHI-HASHI went for Karma, but Naito countered with a release german suplex. Naito hit an enziguri and a top rope rana. He followed with a dragon suplex, and hit Destino twice, scoring the pinfall.

The story they were going for here was that Naito underestimated YOSHI-HASHI, and every time he let up in the match, YOSHI-HASHI showed heart in fighting back, and more than held his own. I think they largely succeeded in telling that story.

Taichi jumped Naito on the ramp after the match, and dragged him backstage. That was strange, and unexpected.

IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION WILL OSPREAY defeated HIROMU TAKAHASHI to retain the championship

They started at a million miles an hour, doing a cutting edge opening sequence, highlighted by Ospreay going for the Sasuke special, only to eat a german on the floor. Takahashi tossed Ospreay into the barricade, and Ospreay sold his neck.

Back inside, Takahashi used the ropes and kicks to continue working over Ospreay’s head and neck. Takahashi used a headscissors lock, but Ospreay got a hope spot in with a handspring into an enziguri. They worked outside, and Ospreay gained control of the bout with a sprongboard forearm off the barricade.

Back inside, Ospreay scored a pair of nearfalls with unique covers, as Takahashi started to sell his legs. Takahashi hit a pop-up powerbomb, and Ospreay nailed a cutter, before handspringing into a german from Takahashi. Red Shoes took a bump, and Takahashi hit a sunset bomb to the outside as he recovered.

Takahashi hit a senton onto a standing Ospreay from the top rope to the floor, and tossed him inside for a nearfall. Takahashi went for Time Bomb, but Ospreay fought out. Takahashi hit a lariat and Ospreay took a crazy flip bump. They went tot he top, and Ospreay dropped Takahashi into the ring on a deadlift.

Ospreay hit a front flip DDT, and went for the Oscutter, but Takahashi countered. After a double down, they exchanged forearm strikes, selling exhaustion. Ospreay hit the Cheeky Nandos and a reverse rana, dropping Takahashi right on his head, in a terrifying spot.

Ospreay went for a Time Bomb of his own, but Takahashi reversed it into a piledriver for a nearfall. Ospreay hit a dragon suplex, but Takahashi landed on his feet. Ospreay went for the Oscutter, but Takahashi countered. Ospreay hit a standing Spanish Fly, and a 450 on Takahashi as he was draped over the ropes for a nearfall. Ospreay hit The Beheading for another nearfall.

Takahashi survived all of that, but had nothing left in the tank. Ospreay hit his first Oscutter of the match, and it was enough to score the victory. This was excellent, well worth going out of your way to see.

NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPION HIROOKI GOTO defeated EVIL to retain the championship

They had a nearly impossible task in trying to follow the last match, but they decided to take the opposite approach, and began at a very slow pace. EVIL took over after hooking Goto’s neck in a chair and slamming him into the ring post.

Goto briefly got some offense and a nearfall, but EVIL regained control with a clothesline in the corner and sent Goto outside. EVIL bumped the ref and tried to hit Darkness Falls onto a stack of chairs, but Goto countered and hit a suplex onto the chairs.

Goto took over, but EVIL regained control as Goto went for a superplex. EVIL bumped Red Shoes again, and used a foreign object on Goto. Goto recovered and hit an ushigoroshi for a nearfall. They exchanged strikes and lariats, and Goto bled from the mouth.

EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a nearfall, and the crowd started to get invested. EVIL hit a suplex and a lariat for another nearfall. EVIL teased a dragon suplex and went for another lariat, but Goto countered and hit a rope-assisted neckbreaker for a nearfall. Goto ducked a lariat and hit GTR for the pin. Nothing wrong with the match, but its placement hurt it.

IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION KAZUCHIKA OKADA defeated SANADA to retain the championship

They spent the first seven minutes of the bout trading holds, and this had all the signs of a one hour draw. The first highspot saw SANADA hit a facebuster from the apron to the barricade. He followed up with a piledriver on the ramp. Back inside, SANADA cranked on the neck, hit a back elbow and a standing moonsault. He hit a dropkick and another piledriver for a nearfall. Okada hit a desperation flapjack and they did a double down just past the ten minute mark.

Back up, SANADA took the Flair corner bump onto the apron, and Okada dropkicked him to the floor. Okada took the fight outside, clotheslined SANADA over the barricade, and hit a draping DDT from the barricade to the floor. SANADA beat the count back inside, as Okada took control of the bout.

Okada got the better of a forearm strike exchange, and hit the flying elbow off the top. Okada went for the Rainmaker, but SANADA countered with a desperation suplex. Okada went for the Tombstone, but SANADA countered with a dropkick, and sent Okada outside. He hit a slingshot plancha, and followed up with another plancha, without the assistance of the ropes. This was right about the twenty minute mark, and the crowd really started to get into the match here.

Back inside, SANADA survived a roll-up and teased the Skull End, but Okada slipped out and reached the ropes. SANADA clubbed Okada with forearms and got a nearfall with a TKO. Okada went for the Cobra Clutch, but SANADA slipped out and hit a moonsault onto a standing Okada, and applied Skull End. Okada escaped the body scissors twice, but SANADA reapplied, and they teased a tapout or a stoppage, but Okada finally reached the ropes.

SANADA missed a moonsault and landed onhis feet, selling his knees. SANADA hit a tiger suplex for a close nearfall, and stacked Okada on the top rope. He dropped him off the top and got a nearfall. Okada went for the Rainmaker, but SANADA ducked and hit one of his own for another close nearfall. Okada applied a dragon sleeper and hit two dropkicks.

Okada hit a Tombstone and signalled for the Rainmaker, but SANADA turned it into another Skull End attempt. SANADA gave up the hold and hit a moonsault off the top for another nearfall, but sold his knee on the landing. He went for another moonsault, but Okada got the knees up and hit the Rainmaker. He could not make a cover as the thirty minute mark passed.

Okada was first up, and hit a Rainmaker. He went for another, but SANADA countered. Okada hit a german, but SANADA was back up. Okada hit the jumping Tombstone and another Rainmaker, covered, and got the pin. A truly great match, and an excellent main event.

Chaos won the night against LIJ, 3-2.

With the win, Okada tied Yuji Nagata for the second most successful defenses in a single IWGP title reign, and extended his records for longest continuous reign, and most overall days holding the championship.

After the bout, Okada declared his intention to compete for the New Japan Cup this year, and to face his Chaos stablemate Will Ospreay at the Anniversary Show on March 6.

NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo night two live results: Omega-White

Posted on January 28, 2018 by Dave Meltzer

Preview by Joseph Currier

New Japan Pro Wrestling is back in Sapporo for a second straight night tonight as the New Beginning tour continues.

We’re looking for your thoughts on this show, yesterday’s New Beginnings and NXT Takeover with a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]

In the main event, Kenny Omega will put his IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship on the line against Jay White. On night one, White hit the Blade Runner on Omega as the final build heading into this match.

The Young Bucks will be in action in the semi-main event, with Sho & Yoh challenging them for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles. Before that, there will be a big ten-man tag match as Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Will Ospreay & Gedo team against SANADA, EVIL, Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI.

More tag matches round out the rest of the card, including Cody, Marty Scurll & Hangman Page taking on Kota Ibushi, KUSHIDA & David Finlay.

Our live coverage begins at 1 a.m. Eastern time, and the show will air live on New Japan World with English commentary available.

**********

By Dave Meltzer

They opened the show announcing Hiroshi Tanahashi is off the show stemming from the injury angle at last night’s show although the injury is legit.

KATSUYA KITAMURA VS. JUICE ROBINSON

Slow basic match with Robinson winning with pulp friction. Very hard hitting match with some sick chops and a few good near falls. Kitamura was bleeding from the chest from the chops.

TAICHI & TAKA MICHINOKU & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU & DESPERADO VS. JUSHIN LIGER & TIGER MASK & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI & SHOTA UMINO

Miho Abe is with Taichi. This wasn’t as good as yesterday’s match. Umino looked good down the stretch but ended up pinned by Taichi after a superkick. Taka unmasked Tier Mask after and Miho put the mask on and stomped on Taguchi’s crotch her high heels. Miaho was taunting Taguchi and Taguchi tripped her but she escaped. The crowd so far isn’t nearly as hot as yesterday. It’s tough with an afternoon show after a long evening show. Taguchi after the match told Kevin Kelly that they broke his ass.

YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & HIKULEO (Leo Tonga) VS. TOMOHIRO ISHII & TORU YANO

Not much to this one. Hikuleo is still green. Yujiro isn’t much. The highlight was watchiing Ishii build a suplex spot on Hikuleo. The finish saw Yano give Hikuleo a low blow and Ishii clotheslined Hikuleo and Yano cradled him. It was kept short.

TAMA TONGA & TANGA LOA & CHASE OWENS & BAD LUCK FALE VS. TOGI MAKABE & TOMOYUKI OKA & MANABU NAKANISHI & HIROYOSHI TENZAN

About what you’d expect. This undercard hasn’t been good with the quiet crowd. Owens was doinng the stuff where he thinks he’s a Tongan. Oka looked good late working with Owens. Owens pinned Oka after a package piledriver and told ref Massao Hattori to count to five like he was King Kong Bundy. Bad Luck Fale told Kevin Kelly and Don Callis that he’s making them honorary Tongans.

MICHAEL ELGIN & TOA HENARE VS. MINORU SUZUKI & TAKASHI IIZUKA

Pretty basic match again. It was okay, nothing more. Taka Michinoku, Taichi, Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru were interfering regularly. Suzuki beat Henare with a choke, slaps and the kneebar submission. After the match Elgin and Iizuka were brawling in the stands and all of Suzuki-gun were beating down Henare until Togi Makabe ran in with a chain and ran everyone off. It’s clear that Suzuki ‘s first IC title defenes will be with Makabe.

CODY & MARTY SCURLL & HANGMAN PAGE VS. KOTA IBUSHI & KUSHIDA & DAVID FINLAY

This was the best thing so far. Good match with Page pinning Kushida after Cody gave him crossroads and Page used the rites of passage. This probably means something big for Page to get a win like this. Tough crowd but they got into it and Ibushi is always great. After the match Ibushi wanted to go after Cody but Finlay stopped him while Cody taunted him, so we’ve got more Cody vs. Ibushi coming up as well. Cody said that the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega would defend the title successfully. Cody started flexing and said he was drug free, while Marty said how Omega is the U.S. champion and he’s from Canad and he lives in the U.S. but he’s British.

SEIYA SANADA & EVIL & BUSHI & HIROMU TAKAHASHI & TETSUYA NAITO VS. YOSHI-HASHI &HIROOKI GOTO & WILL OSPREAY & KAZUCHIKA OKADA & GEDO

Good match. Everyone squared up with their current foe, Goto with Evil, Okada with Sanada, Yoshi-Hashi with Naito and Ospreay with Takahashi. Yoshi-Hashi was trying to be aggressive with Naito but people aren’t seeing him at that level. Sanada beat Gedo with the skull end by submission. Sanada cut a promo, bascially saying he’s going to say everything he needs to say in Osaka on 2/10. Really just a normal match you’d see with these guys any night just at a bigger arena.

YOUNG BUCKS VS. SHO & YOH FOR IWGP JR. TAG TITLES

Excellent match. The story of the match is that Matt did a windsprint down the ramp and a flip dive wiping Sho & Yoh out, but Matt sold it like his back was out. The rest of the match was Matt selling his back, They had the doctor out at one point. He took a backdrop over the top and his back landed on the apron. He had a nasty bruise on his side. Nick was on fire doing all kinds of great flying moves, knees and kicks. The finish of the match saw Matt have the sharpshooter on Yoh. But his back was out. Yoh couldn’t make the ropes, Sho was taken out by Nick but Matt couldn’t hold the sharpshooter and Yoh pinned Matt with an inside cradle to regain the titles.

KENNY OMEGA VS. JAY WHITE FOR THE U.S. TITLE

Jay White won the title when he countered the One Winged Angel into the blade runner. This was a 30:00 match and was very good, but really I can’t say White came through. The people didn’t buy him at this level and when he won, it wasn’t like Juice Robinson’s win. Adam Page came out to challenge White for the title. Omega wanted a rematch. Cody came out and told Omega you can’t take Page’s moment. Marty Scrull came out as well. Omega and Cody were arguing and Omega shoved. him. Omega threw down Matt Jackson and acted like that was an accident. Nick asked what was that all about. Omega went to apologize but the Young Bucks walked out on Omega. Marty Scurll walked out and told Cody and Omega to work it out. Omga slapped hands with Page and Page left leaving Omga and Cody in the ring. Cody said he was sorry he lost to Omega. Cody and Omega slapped hand. Cody then opened the ropes for Omega, but when Omega went through the ropes, Cody laid out Omega with crossroads. Cody started laughing. Scurll was back in the ring and Scurll stared yellling at Cody. Cody took a chair from Kevin Kelly. Ibushi made the save for Omega before Cody could hit him with the chair. The crowd didn’t know what to make of all this until Ibushi saved Omega. Ibushi offered his hand. The crowd was chanting for Omega at this point. Ibushi offered his hand but Omega turned it down. Omega was in tears about the Bullet Club breaking up. Then Omega and Ibushi embraced and the show ended. The angle was a pretty major bit and it looks from here like Omega is being moved into the Funk Brothers role.

NJPW reveals lineups for New Beginning in Sapporo & Osaka

Posted on January 9, 2018 by Joseph Currier

With Wrestle Kingdom 12 and New Year’s Dash in the rearview mirror, New Japan Pro Wrestling has revealed the lineups for their next three major shows.

NJPW will be in Sapporo for two New Beginning shows later this month and in Osaka for a third New Beginning event on February 10th. The Osaka show has the most loaded card of the three, with IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada defending against SANADA, NEVER Openweight Champion Hirooki Goto defending against EVIL, Hiromu Takahashi challenging for Will Ospreay’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight title, and Tetsuya Naito facing YOSHI-HASHI.

There are also four title matches set for Sapporo. Hiroshi Tanahashi will put his IWGP Intercontinental Championship on the line against Minoru Suzuki on night one, and Togi Makabe, Henare & Ryusuke Taguchi will challenge for the Bullet Club’s Six-Man tag titles.

Kenny Omega defending his IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against Jay White will headline on night two, and Roppongi 3K will get their Junior Heavyweight tag title rematch against The Young Bucks.

Most of the big matches for this tour were set up at New Year’s Dash. As part of the storyline where Okada accepted SANADA’s challenge to a title match, Okada & Goto will be challenging for SANADA & EVIL’s IWGP Tag Team Championship at a Road to the New Beginning show at Korakuen Hall on February 6th.

Both nights in Sapporo and the New Beginning in Osaka will air live on New Japan World with English commentary available. Here are the full cards for the shows:

The New Beginning in Sapporo (night one, January 27th) —

IWGP Intercontinental Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defending against Minoru Suzuki
Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks vs. Jay White & Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh)
Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto & Gedo vs. SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI
Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Will Ospreay
Cody, Marty Scurll & Hangman Page vs. Kota Ibushi, Juice Robinson & David Finlay
NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defending against Togi Makabe, Henare & Ryusuke Taguchi
Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens
Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV & KUSHIDA vs. Takashi Iizuka, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi, El Desperado & Taka Michinoku
Michael Elgin vs. Katsuya Kitamura (second match in Kitamura’s trial series)

The New Beginning in Sapporo (night two, January 28th) —

IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega defending against Jay White
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks defending against Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh)
Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Will Ospreay & Gedo vs. SANADA, EVIL, Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI
Cody, Marty Scurll & Hangman Page vs. Kota Ibushi, David Finlay & KUSHIDA
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin vs. Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka
Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Chase Owens vs. Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Henare
Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Leo Tonga
Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, Ryusuke Taguchi & Shota Unno vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi, El Desperado & Taka Michinoku
Juice Robinson vs. Katsuya Kitamura (third match in Kitamura’s trial series)

The New Beginning in Osaka (February 10th) —

IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada defending against SANADA
NEVER Openweight Champion Hirooki Goto defending against EVIL
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay defending against Hiromu Takahashi
Tetsuya Naito vs. YOSHI-HASHI
Gedo vs. BUSHI
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, KUSHIDA & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Minoru Suzuki, Takashi Iizuka, Taichi & Taka Michinoku
Michael Elgin, Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Jay White, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano
Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh) vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado
Yuji Nagata vs. Katsuya Kitamura (sixth match in Kitamura’s trial series)

NJPW New Beginning in Osaka live results: Naito vs. Elgin

Posted on February 11, 2017 by Bryan Rose

The second of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s New Beginning shows takes place overnight in Osaka with several titles on the line in high profile matches.

In the main event, Michael Elgin seeks to reclaim the IWGP Intercontinental Championship from Tetsuya Naito, who has treated the belt as something with little value. Fully recovered from an orbital injury, Elgin looks to regain the title he once held and bring it back to prominence.

Other big title matches include Katsuyori Shibata defending the RPW British Heavyweight Championship against Will Ospreay, Hiromu Takahashi defending the IWGP Jr. title against Dragon Lee, and Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii defending their IWGP tag team titles against Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe and Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Takashi Iizuka (replacing an injured Lance Archer) in a three-way match.

The NEVER six-man titles will also be defended as EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI challenge Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Manabu Nakanishi.

Our live coverage begins at 3 a.m. ET.

**********

It was announced due to a bout of the flu, Hirai Kawato was off the card. He’ll be replaced by Henare.

TAKA Michinoku defeated Henare

Solid opener. Henare has some great looking shoulder tackles. Taka did some cool mat work and ended up getting the win by rolling him up, hooking both the arms and legs together.

Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima defeated KUSHIDA and Yoshitatsu

This was okay. Work was fine, but at times it was clear Yoshitatsu was a notch under everyone else. TenKoji worked on KUSHIDA early. Yoshitatsu comes in for a comeback, but it doesn’t work out for him. Yoshitatsu blocks one lariat attempt, but Kojima succeeds with another for the win.

Kojima extends his hand after the match, but Yoshitatsu refuses it and they both wind up in a scuffle that has to be broken up. Kevin Kelly mentions on commentary Yoshitatsu has a lot of thinking to do; I guess he’ll do it in Mexico as he’s set to be a regular in CMLL going forward.

Tiger Mask, Jushin Liger, Yuji Nagata and Juice Robinson defeated Jado, Gedo, Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI

Another solid eight man bout. Nothing special, but good action. Goto and Liger had a cool exchange. Ended up being down to Jado and Juice, with the latter looking strong and finishing off with the unprettier, which he falls Pulp Friction.

Robinson made clear after the match he wanted another shot at the NEVER title, doing the belt motion around his waist.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi and Minoru Suzuki defeated Baretta, Rocky Romero and Kazuchika Okada

Suzuki went after Okada immediately, focusing on the leg that he worked on for so long on last week’s show. Taichi and Kanemaru, and later Suzuki, work on Baretta in the ring. Baretta tagged in Okada, but again Suzuki immediately targeted the leg. Okada and Suzuki brawled on the outside while the juniors came in. Taichi helped with the finish, powerbombing Romero then lifting him up as Kanemaru planted him with the top rope DDT for the win.

Kanemaru and Taichi posed with the Jr. tag belts after the match. Baretta tried to make the save, but the numbers game got to him.

EVIL, SANADA and BUSHI defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Manabu Nakanishi and Ryusuke Taguchi to retain the NEVER Six Man tag belts

The faces all wore face paint before the match, I guess parodying EVIL’s bags under his eyes. SANADA goes for the skull end on Nakanishi but he counters with the torture rack.. Tanahashi has the cloverleaf on EVIL and Taguchi has the ankle lock on BUSHI but SANADA takes out Tiger Hattori while still on Nakanishi’s shoulders. Heels hone in on Nakanishi Sanada has the Skull Eng in again but Tanahashi hits the slingblade. Taguchi comes in and hip tosses EVIL. Nakanishi hits a crossbody on SANDA for a cool nearfall. Nakanishi gets misted by BUSHI while SANADA stumbles into the ref, then walks right into the Skull End where Nakanishi finally submits.

Heels take out the rest of the faces after the match. SANDA ties up Taguchi as Milano Collection AT at ringside stands up. SANDA dares him to do something, but Milano doesn’t do anything in response.

Katsuyori Shibata defeated Will Ospreay to retain the British heavyweight title

This wasn’t off the charts great, but still a great match as Ospreay looked incredible at times and Shibata was good in his role as well.

They start off slow, with Shibata working on Ospreay’s arm early. Ospreay comes back with some incredible offense, including a tope then immediately getting back into the ring and launches off with the Sasuke special. Shibata wraps up his legs and launches Ospreay with a German. Ospreay makes a comeback, hitting the imploding 450 splash for a nearfall. He goes for the Oscutter but Shibata grabs him and puts him in the sleeper. Ospreay can’t escape as he’s taken down then it’s followed by the penalty kick as Shibata retains the title.

Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii defeated Takashi Iizuka/Davey Boy Smith Jr and Togi Makabe/Tomoaki Honma to win the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles

Fun, action packed match. DBS and Iizuka take Honma to the outside and waffle him with a steel chair, then continue to work on him in the ring. The Chaos team worked over Honma until he started mounting a comeback with the aid of Makabe. Big superplex by Ishii but Makabe immediately got up. DBS and Iizuka clear things out. After wiping everyone out with the iron fingers, DBS holds up Yano as Iizuka goes to strike, but Iizuka accidently hits DBS instead. Yano low blows both of them then rolls up DBS to retain the titles.

Hiromu Takahashi defeated Dragon Lee to retain the IWGP Jr. title

An amazing spectacle of a match that lived up to their incredible rivalry in Mexico. Some of the moves here just literally have to be seen to be believed. I think the only thing that comes close in the last year was Ricochet/Ospreay but even then it didn’t have the incredible spots this match had.

They exchange some quick offense early, with Dragon Lee gaining momentum following a tope. Takahashi follows with a sick sunset flip bomp off to the floor. Dragon Lee followed that with a hurricanrana off the apron and onto the floor, then followed with a tope con hilo. Lee went to do a stomp off the middle rope but Takahashi throws him to the floor and hits what I think was supposed to be a hurricanrana, but didn’t connect well.

Lee went for another hurricanrana off the apron but instead Takahashi powerbombed him. OUCH. Takahashi did a senton to the floor. Lee fires back and grounds him, working in a crossface, then hooks in both arms before Takahashi gets his feet on the ropes. Takahashi goes to do something off the top rope, but Lee blocks it. Takahashi responds by taking the mask right off of Lee and powerbombs him for a nearfall. Lee makes a comeback but Takahashi drills him with a canadian destroyer. Takahashi hits another, but Lee still kicks out. Takahashi finally hits the time bomb and that is it.

Taguchi comes to the ring after the match to challenge for the next title shot. Takahashi walks away, but tries to sneak attack Taguchi from behind with the titles. It fails, as Taguchi takes him down and applies the ankle lock.

Tetsuya Naito defeated Michael Elgin to retain the IWGP Intercontinental title

Incredible match, definitely up there as one of the best matches of the year so far. Tons of callbacks from previous matches, tremendous nearfalls and some sick spots made this a match you gotta check out sometime if you missed it live.

Naito did some stalling tactics early until Elgin took him out with a shoulder tackle. Elgin did a somersault dive to the floor, lifted up Naito, walked a few feet then suplexed him on the floor. Naito hones in on Elgin’s knee. Elgin fires up a comeback drilling Naito with German suplexes. Naito tries to counter with a tornado DDT but Elgin powers out and tries to lift him up but Naito finally counters with the DDT.

Naito tries to build some more momentum by blocking Elgin on the top rope and following with a sunset bomb, but Elgin catches him with a powerbomb. Elgin follows with a big splash and a sick lariat but Naito still kicks out. Elgin is trying for the powerbomb but his leg isn’t giving him the support he needs for it. Elgin takes Naito to the top rope. Naito musters a comeback, but Elgin blocks it, only for Naito to shoot back with a hurricanrana followed by a reverse rana.

Naito works on the leg and takes Elgin to the apron but Elgin grabs him and lays him out with a death valley driver on the apron. Elgin mocks Naito then goes for the buckle bomb but Naito reverses, lays him out then lands the Destino but Elgin kicks out. Naito tries for a second but Elgin rams him into the ropes. Elgin took him to the outside, powerbombed him on the apron then into the barricade then followed with the Elgin bomb but Naito still kicked out in an amazing near fall. Elgin tried for the burning hammer but Naito countered with the Destino. Elgin kept trying but Naito kept countering. He hit the Destino after countering Elgin off the tope rope, then landed it once more to finally retain the championship.

The rest of Los Ingobernables de Japon, who all won or retained their titles tonight, came out as Naito cut a promo. Streamers flew as Naito flung around the title, disrespecting the title as he heads to the back to close out the show.

NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo live results: Okada vs. Suzuki

Posted on February 5, 2017 by Dave Meltzer

Preview by Joseph Currier

New Japan Pro Wrestling returns tonight and into tomorrow morning with its biggest show since Wrestle Kingdom 11 as the New Beginning in Sapporo takes place at the Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center.

The show will be headlined by Kazuchika Okada’s first IWGP Heavyweight Championship defense since retaining his title against Kenny Omega at the Tokyo Dome. Okada will face Minoru Suzuki, who returned along with Suzuki-gun on NJPW’s New Year’s Dash show to set up his match for the title.

Suzuki-gun will challenge for two other championships as well. Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer will challenge IWGP Tag Team Champions Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano in a three-way match that also includes Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma. And Roppongi Vice will put their IWGP junior tag titles on the line against Suzuki-gun members Taka Michinoku & Taichi.

The rest of the card will feature mostly tag matches to build to the New Beginning in Osaka later this month, as well as a NEVER Openweight Championship match with Hirooki Goto defending against Juice Robinson.

Our coverage begins at 1 a.m. ET.

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YOSHINOBU KANEMARU & DESPERADO VS. HIRAI KAWATO & KUSHIDA

About what you’d expect. Despeardo pinned Kawato with a spinning power bomb. Kawato, who is 19, got on the show with the David Finlay injury. Kushdia looked ral godo in one spot with an O’Connor role on Kanemaru and German suplex on Desperado at the same time. Kawato’s timing was good.

Minoru Suzuki attacked Kazchika Okada at the press conference and put a kneebar on him. They pushed that he’s coming into the match with an injured knee.

HIROYOSHI TENZAN & SATOSHI KOJIMA & YUJI NAGATA VS. HENARE & YOSHITATSU & TOMOYUKI OKA

The finish here was Nagata beaitng Oka with the crossface submission. Nice finish as Oka broke the crossface on one side, but Nagata moved it to the other side. Really good action with Nagata and Yoshitatsu with the stiff elbows and kicks was the highlight. Solid match, about what you’d expect.

KATSUYORI SHIBATA & JUSHIN LIGER & TIGER MASK VS. GEDO & JADO & WILL OSPREAY

Not much to this match. The focal point was just to get Ospreay over. Ospreay used the spinning kick and Oscutter on Tiger Mask for the pin. After the match Shibata went after Ospreay, but Ospreay came back and laid out Shibata with the Oscutter to help build this coming Saturday’s match for the British title. Ospreay didn’t do his spectacular stuff, and while the exchanges with Shibata and Ospreay were good, it was nothing like at Korakuen Hall.

YOSHI-HASHI VS. TAKASHI IIZUKA

At least it’s over. Yoshi-Hashi pinned him after a twisting power bobm. Iizuka did his act running through the crowd. He had the advantage most of the way using chair shots, choking him with a rope and he finally used the Iron Fingers from hell but Yoshi-Hashi ducked and went to the finish. I’m surprised they beat Iizuka on his first big show and didn’t built more of a mid-card program between the two.

HIROSHI TANAHASHI & MICHAEL ELGIN & MANABU NAKANISHI & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI & DRAGON LEE VS. TETSUYA NAITO & SEIYA SANADA & EVIL & BUSHI & HIROMU TAKAHASHI

No reaction to the new Tanahashi theme. The crowd was quiet here which hurt the match a little. It turned into a good match with the highlight being Lee vs. Takahashi. Big win for the face team as Elgin power bombed Naito over the top rope onto Evil & Sanada. Tanahashi then used the high fly flow to the floor on Evil & Sanada. Lee pinned Bushi with a power bomb. Lee and Takahashi put each aman’s title belt in the others’ face. Taguchi put on a mask and he, Tanahashi & Elgin & Lee all posed with their various title belts.

ROCKY ROMERO & BARETTA VS. TAKA MICHINOKU & TAICHI FOR THE IWGP JR. TAG TEAM TITLES

This match was a mess. Baretta pinned Taka with Strong Zero. Afer the match, Kanemaru & Desperado challenged for the titles. Most of the match was then beating on Baretta and it was like a five-on-two with Desperado & Kanemaru interfering as well as Taichi’s nymph girl who was constnatly distracting the referee. The match didn’t have mudch heat even with all the heel tactics used. It told a stroy but the crowd wasn’t much into it. Romero was very good here and on paper, what Baretta did should have worked but crowd wasn’t buying Taichi’s stuff..

HIROOKI GOTO VS. JUICE ROBINSON FOR NEVER OPEN WEIGHT TITLE

Stiff physical match which Goto won using the GTR after kicking out of a draping GTR. It turned into a good match because it was hurt early on because nobody bought that Robinson could win in the early part of the match. Robinson ended up with a bloody nose. He made a good showing in losing.

TOMOHIRO ISHII & TORU YANO VS. TOGI MAKABE & TOMOAKI HONMA VS. DAVEY BOY SMITH JR. & LANCE ARCHER FOR THE IWGP TAG TITLES

Yano & Ishii retained when Yano used a low blow and cradle on Makabe. . Archer and Smith then went crazy after the match beating everyon in sight. The story is that Suzuki-gun continues to not win. These teams are all rematched next week. Fast moving match. Good match.

KAZUCHIKA OKADA VS. MINORU SUZUKI FOR IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

This was an unreal match. It was probably the best prolonged selling of any match in a decade or longer. The first 30 minutes were Suzuki just destroying Okada’s knee. He put him in all kinds of heel hooks and kneebars and even the figure four. The story was that Okada would never submit. The crowd was actually almost quiet becauase of how one-sided the match was. The entire story was that it was clear Suzuki was winning but Okada kept never quitting. They did a ref bump spot and then Taichi, Archer and Smith interfered. Then Ishii and Yano ran them off. They teased the Royce Gracie-Sakuraba finish as Gedo, in the role of Helio, was about to throw in the towel, but Okada told him not to. Later, Okada was back getting his knee destroyed and they brought up how nobody was going to throw in the towel. What is amazing was how this played off the Blaydes-Milstead fight earlier tonight. The ref was about to stop the match but Okada made the ropes. Okada and Suzuki then started trading slaps and twice Suzuki got Okada in the choke. Okada actually teased a Gotch piledriver. Suzuki did as well but Okada got out of it. Finally after almost 40 minutes, Okada twice hit the rainmaker but coiuldn’t follow up on it because of knee damage but won with tjhe third rainmaker. This was totally unlike any great match you’ll ever see.

No challenge because the New Japan Cup winner gets the next title shot.

They also announced there would be English commentary on the Korakuen Hall show on Tuesday.