NJPW’s New Japan Soul tour concludes today with two title bouts, plus a G1 Climax 35 play-in gauntlet match.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado defends his title against Kosei Fujita in the show’s main event. Desperado has won all three of their previous singles encounters.
In the semi-main, House of Torture’s SHO and DOUKI defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against Master Wato and YOH in a rematch from last month’s Dominion event.
With Hirooki Goto out of this year’s G1 Climax 35 tournament due to injury as announced Friday, a spot opened up in A Block. That will be filled by the winner of today’s last chance gauntlet match featuring Taichi, Tomohiro Ishii, Satoshi Kojima, and Chase Owens. Two random participants will start the match, with the final two competitors entering after eliminations. The sole survivor will move on to participate in the G1.
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Tiger Mask in a special singles match is set for today’s undercard. This will be just the second career singles meeting between the two, with Tanahashi winning their previous match, and will be the last time the two square off with Tanahashi’s retirement date set for January. This also marks the 30th anniversary of the debut of this current iteration of the Tiger Mask character.
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Pre-show
Zane Jay versus Tatsuya Matsumoto ended in a Time-Limit Draw
Jay leveraged his weight in a few leg holds, whereas Matsumoto cranked back on a couple of his own. Double-wrist lock and an armbar by Jay gave the American an edge. against the ropes, Matsumoto endured forearms until he absorbed enough to fire back. Since his arm was weakened, Matsumoto pulled out a single-leg Boston Crab before pulling Jay in for a full Boston Crab. During this hold, Jay desperately crawled to the ropes, but the 10-minute time-limit ran out.
These Young Lions explored the dichotomy of their styles well. Matsumoto classically trained in grappling while Jay, without it, managed to overwork the limbs of his opponent.
Daiki Nagai & Katsuya Murashima defeated Masatora Yasuda & Shoma Kato
Nagai controlled Yasuda early on. Murashima’s size and power offset Kato until the latter targeted his weak left knee. Eventually, he powered out of Kato’s advances with a pounce. Kato and Yasuda ran roughshod on Nagai, with Murashima diving for a desperate save. Yasuda yanked as far as he could on Nagai, trapped in a Boston Crab. Murashima made a spirited comeback, using an Avalanche Slam to dispatch Yasuda. Spinebuster and Boston Crab combination forced Yasuda to tap out.
Murashima and Nagai worked a thrilling babyface role. So far, the best on this month’s pre-shows.
Main show
House Of Torture (EVIL, Ren Narita, SANADA, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi) defeated Oleg Boltin, Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino, Tomoaki Honma & Yuya Uemura
House of Torture struck before the bell. Uemura came to Umino’s save when Narita and then Takahashi tried to weaken him early. Taguchi overwhelmed Narita momentarily, before Togo distracted him with a running motion that Taguchi copied. Takahashi bit the fingers of Uemura, who came to the aid of Taguchi. SANADA feigned a collapse, low-blowing Taguchi in the process; the fallen Taguchi landed his head on Takahashi’s sensitive nether regions as he fell.
Boltin’s might gave his team an advantage upon his tag-in with a Boltin Shake on SANADA. Kokeshi by Honma and Taguchi focused EVIL’s midsection. Honma fired himself like a rocket into EVIL, once again leaving him prone on the mat. EVIL hit Tonma with an EVIL STO, giving his team the pinfall victory.
Not as much House of Torture shenanigans as I expected. There wasn’t as many moments for Umino and Uemura to shine, but they made the most of it. Boltin and somehow Taguchi were the stars of their team tonight with House of Torture focusing on EVIL, Narita, and Takahashi. Though not a bad match, I’d hesitate to recommend this as must-watch.
Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji defeated TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.)
Sabre swiftly trapped Takagi in a hold, but the latter reflexively evaded the technical prowess of the former. Takahashi charged at the unshakeable Jackson, only to be tossed after a failed flying crossbody.
TMDK took turns landing Sentons on Takahashi. Oiwa and Tsuji clashed with their dynamic stylings. The former soon landed a DDT and then an Anaconda Suplex. Pumping Bomber by Takagi sends the sturdy Jackson down. A Gene Blaster and Pumping Bomber combination fell Jackson, with Tsuji enjoying the pinfall.
Post-match, Tsuji, Takahashi, and Takagi were on their way out when Young Lion Daiki Nagai approached them to their ranks.
Without Naito and BUSHI, the triumvirate of the last Los Ingobernables de Japon are still as strong as ever. With Nagai accompanying them, this could be the start of something special.
Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Tiger Mask
These veterans locked up, feeling each other out, when Tanahashi targeted Tiger Mask’s legs. El Tigre Suicida followed a comeback, bringing Tiger Mask further in control of the match. Failing a Tiger Suplex from the top rope, Tiger Mask landed an armdrag from the same position. A Tiger Driver softened the Ace, leading him to target Tanahashi’s leg.
Figure-four leglock further agonized Tanahashi, who found the spirit to roll into a rope break. He broke this momentum with a Sling Blade, punctuated by a Twist and Shout. High Fly Flow took the breath out of a prone Tiger Mask, earning Tanahashi a victory despite the stinging in his legs.
Tiger Mask working the way he does at his age is astounding. Moreover having the chemistry with Tanahashi to have a toned down, stripped down match that isn’t boring is an added bonus. While not must-watch, there’s something to enjoy here.
Taichi won G1 Climax 35 Block A Play-In Gauntlet Match (Satoshi Kojima, Chase Owens, Taichi, Tomohiro Ishii)
Chase Owens defeated Satoshi Kojima
Though his sturdy demeanor balanced out Owens’s size, he suffered from his heelish tactics. Distracted by the ref, Owens dropped on the apron after Kojima went after his leg. The incensed veteran chopped Owens in the corner and capitalized with an elbow drop.
Change in strategy by Owens: target the leg. His plan was instantly thwarted by a lariat. Using referee Marty Asami, Chase Owens avoided another by Kojima. With a Last Testament, he soundly quelled Kojima’s hopes of advancing in the gauntlet.
Taichi defeated Chase Owens
SANADA intercepted Taichi, throwing him across tables and near the fans before dragging him into the ring. Owens hoped to pick the bones of the tenderized entrant, but couldn’t destroy Taichi’s will. SANADA further interfered, but Owens couldn’t seem to capitalize no matter how much he and his comrade tried.
High Noon by Ownes and stomps by SANADA added further damage. Just as SANADA was about to swing his guitar, the next entrant Tomohiro Ishii charged in, taking SANADA out of the proceedings. Taichi took advantage of the chaos with a Jacknife for the pin. Owens retaliated with strikes fueled by his fury.
Taichi defeated Tomohiro Ishii
Waiting for Taichi to get his bearings, Ishii threw his artillery into his fellow IWGP Tag Team Champion. Taichi ate some chops, nearly wishing to succumb to it, but persevered. In the corner, Ishii incurred chops by Taichi that showed cracks in his exterior. He saved himself with a lariat.
Vertical suplex courtesy of Ishii and Taichi still stood. Ishii pulled out Taichi’s Last Ride and a sliding forearm, both for failed pin attempts. Dangerous Backdrop gave Taichi some reprieve. A thunderous powerbomb via Taichi erupted Korakuen Hall. Taichi no-sold a Piledriver by Ishii, as well as chops. Ishii stole a Black Mephisto. Taichi fired back with a Gedo Clutch. Black Mephisto by Taichi ends this final stretch.
What a way to sell the importance of the G1 Climax. This was just to qualify in place of the injured Hirooki Goto. Chase Owens’s dastardly antics drove the drama, making an example of Satoshi Kojima before punishing an undying Taichi. Ishii only sought to bring the best out of their bout. In this, Taichi succeeded as the driving force in this match. Not only did he have my pick to win this match, but he now has my full support to win the whole thing.
House Of Torture (DOUKI & SHO) (c) defeated Master Wato & YOH for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
YOH trapped DOUKI and SHO in SANADA’s Paradise Lock, following up with dropkicks to their rear ends alongside Wato. DOUKI used a pipe on the outside to stretch Wato’s knee on the outside. He further agonized this with a single-leg Boston Crab. YOH flew over the top to drop DOUKI and SHO to the floor.
SHO, sensing YOH gaining momentum, used the referee as a shield but ultimately fell to a lariat. DOUKI confined Watoo’s leg on the rope and struck it with the pipe from earlier. YOH came to Wato’s rescue, dropping DOUKI with a Falcon Arrow. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Yujiro Takahashi slid in for DOUKI and SHO, only for Toru Yano to drag them out. SHO struck Wato with a metal sheet, to which DOUKI capitalized on with a Suplex de la Luna for the pinfall.
Great match until the finish.
Main event
El Desperado (c) defeated Kosei Fujita for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Fujita started off strong, sending Desperado every which way. Desperado, still adorned with scars from June 24’s Death Match with Jun Kasai, returned fire with chops. Driving Fujita’s knee onto the outside floor multiple times, Desperado took it further with the mat as he targeted the challenger’s legs from every angle.
Fujita terrorized Desperado, seeking to enact a deadly hold, battling for wrist control. The pair exchanged kicks and strikes, to which Fujita’s tenacity won out. Fujita further reached into the bag of mentor Zack Sabre Jr with technical wrestling before pulling a Kami Special. Desperado countered this with a Dragon Screw Leg Whip to an airborne Fujita. Taking utmost advantage of the worn Fujita, Desperado pulled off a gnarly Numero Dos to thus retain his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
Post-match, Desperado praised Fujita while detailing the weight of being the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
Desperado is having one of the best years in wrestling. Fujita came out of this feeling like a potential junior heavyweight champion. Just not now. Desperado lays claim to that as far as IWGP titles go.
Final thoughts
The show was filled with good to great matches. The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match was the only disappointing one—not bad in the execution of the earlier structure, but the finish left me with a bad taste. As for the G1 Climax Qualifier Gauntlet Match, that final stretch was sensational on a cosmic level. Keep this meomentum on Taichi. El Desperado’s 2025 has been a long time coming, as he continually has had phenomenal years, year after year. What’s more, is that this still feels like the beginning to his peak.
