Tag: njpw road to tokyo dome 2025

NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome results: Wrestle Kingdom 20 go-home show

Posted on by Corey Michaels

The penultimate match in Hiroshi Tanahashi’s legendary career takes place on today’s NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome, the go-home show for Wrestle Kingdom 20.

Tanahashi faces Kosei Fujita in the main event singles match today, the last step before his retirement match against Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 20 in Tokyo Dome set for Sunday, January 4.

Today’s show in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo kicks off with an NJPW World TV title defense from El Phantasmo in an open challenge against a mystery opponent.

In between the opener and the main event, five tag bouts comprise the undercard:

  • Yota Tsuji, Yuto-Ice, and OSKAR vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa, and Hartley Jackson
  • Three-way tag: SHO and DOUKI vs. El Desperado and KUUKAI vs. Taiji Ishimori and Daiki Nagai
  • Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, and Gedo vs. Great-O-Khan, Callum Newman, and Jakob Austin Young
  • Shota Umino, Yuya Uemura, Toru Yano, YOH, and Master Wato vs. EVIL, SANADA, Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, and Boltin Oleg vs. Taichi, Satoshi Kojima, and Tiger Mask

**********

Main Card

El Phantasmo defeated Ryusuke Taguchi for the NJPW World Television Championship

Phantasmo easily found himself on the winning side of the early lock-ups. He casually watched, aloof, as Taguchi ran the ropes before tripping him. They exchanged brutal, sluggishly slow chops, ending in an Atomic Drop from one man to another.

Teasing a plodding Brainbuster, Phantasmo instead found he and Taguchi speeding things up with a series of Three Amigos. A Rolling Cradle across the mat left both men dizzied; Taguchi hit an elevated dropkick on nothing.

Taguchi exposed his rear end for his Funky Weapon moves, obscured effectively, thanks to expert camerawork. Phantasmo won the match, reversing Taguchi’s roll-up for one of his own.

Post-match: Phantasmo declared that his upcoming match for the NJPW World Television Championship would be on the line in an open challenge. Santa Claus emerged, handing Phantasmo a present. In it sat a puppet that signified DDT Pro Wrestling’s Chris Brookes. Surely enough, Brookes slid into the ring, attacking Phantasmo, Santa Claus, and someone dressed as a reindeer. He accepted Phantasmo’s challenge.

(There’s nothing wrong with a little comedy to start the show. My favorite spot was Taguchi running the ropes under Phantasmo’s encouragement.)

Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) & Oleg Boltin defeated Team 100 (Satoshi Kojima & Taichi) & Tiger Mask

Goto and YOSHI-HASHI dispatched Taichi early, and they aligned with Boltin with a flurry of fists on Tiger Mask’s back. Kojima and Boltin made hot tags, soon leading to a passionate series of rapid-fire chest chops to the Kazakh wrestler. YOSHI-HASHI returned, unleashing his own chops to wear down Kojima. He replied with a Koji-Cutter.

Tiger Mask became too much for his opponents, especially with dropkicks, but was left stunned by a Boltin Shake. Bishamon held Tiger Mask horizontal in the air for a Boltin Splash in coordination with their partner for the pinfall.

Post-match: Tensions came to a boiling point between Kojima and Taichi, but Tomohiro Ishii joined them in the ring, imploring them to see reason. They obliged and shook hands.

(Fun match with some hard-hitters. The boys led an intense trio’s hoss fight. If you like big meaty men slapping meat, this is the match for you.)

House Of Torture (EVIL, Ren Narita, SANADA, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi) defeated Master Wato, Shota Umino, Toru Yano, YOH & Yuya Uemura

YOH and Yano momentarily halted House of Torture’s predictable ambush after the bell, but an exposed turnbuckle via EVIL agonized YOH after an Irish Whip. Narita also took advantage of the turnbuckle by hurling YOH into it once more. SANADA lay tied up following YOH stealing his Paradise Lock.

Wato briefly dominated Narita, but the House of Torture swarmed him and struck with their Dick-to-Dick Contact, courtesy of Dick Togo. Aaron Wolfe tried coming to their aid, but EVIL annihilated him with the NEVER Openweight Championship. Narita whacked the lifeless Wato with a push-up board and stole the pinfall.

Post-match: Kaisei Takechi of DDT Pro-Wrestling came to Uemura and Umino’s aid, warding off the House of Torture.

United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young) defeated Gedo, Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi

United Empire brawled with Gedo, Takahashi, and Takagi on the outside. Khan, in particular, haunted Takagi with a chair as he lay in the rubble of audience chairs. Back in the ring, Newman and Young bullied Gedo. However, Gedo fired back with a Spinning Backfist. Further isolating him from Takagi and Takahashi, United Empire took turns brutalizing him. A Pumping Bomber from Takagi gave Gedo a 2-count over Young. United Empire rebounded in a united front, with Newman maliciously devastating Gedo with David Finlay’s Overkill for the win.

Post-match: Newman kicked at Takagi and Gedo’s bodies and left with a smug grin as Takahashi charged towards him. The lights went dark as Andrade El Idolo appeared in a pre-taped video promo as the first X in the United Empire in their war against the War Dogs.

(A brief beatdown, more than anything else. I was thinking that Newman would be a fantastic leader for the United Empire as he’s grown into his role. However, if Andrade continues to be a player in NJPW, he could very well be the group’s face.)

House Of Torture (DOUKI & SHO) defeated El Desperado & Kuukai and Daiki Nagai & Taiji Ishimori

All four of House of Torture’s opponents had had enough of SHO’s pre-match smack-talking preamble, teaming up on him and DOUKI. Kuukai almost had DOUKI in a modified Bow and Arrow, but Ishimori and Nagai intercepted. Nagai and Ishimori disputed with Desperado and Kuukai when both teams learned that House of Torture was attempting to escape.

Following a skirmish outside, Kuukai and Ishimori competed with top rope moonsaults outside. Desperado hoped for a tope suicida, only for Nagai to thwart him with a Spinebuster. Ishimori tackled DOUKI in the corner before hurling him at Nagai for another Spinebuster. Outside, Ishimori played equalizer as Nagai dragged DOUKI to the middle of the ring for a Boston Crab. Panicking, DOUKI pulled the match’s referee in so he couldn’t tap. SHO struck Nagai with a sheet pan, handing the pinfall to DOUKI.

(This was the type of pulse-pounding, high-octane thriller that only the junior heavyweights of this caliber can pull off. I was on the edge of my seat.)

Knockout Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) & Yota Tsuji defeated TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.)

Yuto-Ice and Sabre threatened to compromise the match with their heated rivalry intensifying. OSKAR and Oiwa started the match in highly physical action. Elsewhere, Yuto-Ice and Sabre brawled at ringside. Tsuji whipped Jackson into the blue steel barricade. Tsuji chopped Oiwa so hard that he collapsed to the mat. Yuto-Ice rocked Oiwa with a Bomboclat and knocked Sabre off the ring apron.

Despite OSKAR’s size and strength, Sabre was ready with strikes. OSKAR failed a leg drop—to painful effect—resulting in a Penalty Kick. OSKAR caught a second Penalty Kick, which he countered into a powerslam. Jackson refused Tsuji’s advances to pick him up, instead toppling him with a lariat. A senton backfired on Jackson, as Tsuji’s raised knees took the brunt of his mack.

Oiwa and Sabre intercepted OSKAR, rotating his arms and shoulders, for naught, as the tall German clotheslined both of them. Jackson rerouted Tsuji’s Gene Blaster with a piledriver. Tsuji attempted another Gene Blaster, which proved a successful gambit. He pinned Jackson for the 3-count.

Post-match: The Knockout Brothers, unsatisfied with their win, beat up Sabre and Oiwa before kicking one of their trophies from the ring apron, breaking it.

(The vibes between ZSJ and Oiwa against the Knock-Out Brothers were so volatile that their matches led to some physical and nasty confrontations on the Road to Tokyo Dome shows. This contrasted nicely with the more focused mentalities of Tsuji and Jackson, who didn’t share the intense feelings as everyone else but had a gripping last stretch of the match.)

Main Event

Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Kosei Fujita

Fujita gained an early advantage with a dive to Tanahashi outside. He continued his dominion over The Ace by pressing his legs into him in the corner. Tanahashi slammed a comeback after a top-rope senton. Following a prolonged period of dominance from Fujita courtesy of a Springboard Dropkick and a nasty hold, Tanahashi fought back, eventually sinking in a deep Texas Cloverleaf.

Keeping his momentum, Tanahashi hurled Fujita about with a Twist and Shout and a Slingblade before missing a High-Fly Flow. Fujita drew on this for a bridging suplex. Another Slingblade from the Ace moved into a suplex attempt, to which Tanahashi had to modify into a Straightjacket Suplex. Two High-Fly Flows later, and Tanahashi secured the pinfall over Fujita.

Post-match: Tanahashi thanked Fujita for the match, who left Korakuen Hall in low spirits. The Ace proceeded to thank the crowd and instructed El Phantasmo (who was on English commentary with Chris Charlton) to lead the wave across the arena. Sending the crowd home happy with his signature air guitar spot, he noticed the litany of posters in fans’ hands that had his face and name on them and tearfully thanked the fans in attendance.

(Tanahashi’s previous three matches, including this one, were so distinct from one another. The Hiromu Takahashi match felt like a contemporary homage to the 2010s, whereas the El Desperado hearkened to the more terrifying bouts with monster heels and ruthless killers in his career. What sets Kosei Fujita apart for me was his underdog performance in tonight’s bout. While the torch wasn’t passed, Fujita came out of this with some star power in pushing Tanahashi to his limit.)

Final Thoughts

The Andrade El Idolo surprise was a shocker but a welcome one. I’d have expected him to join The Unaffiliated, but since Andrade was previously associated with AEW’s Don Callis Family, perhaps that tie with Kyle Fletcher lent itself to United Empire? There’s quite a bit to untangle there, honestly.

The Chris Brookes angle was nice, too. I’m looking forward to that one. DDT Pro Wrestling is getting some love with the representation they’re getting at Wrestle Kingdom. Other than that, the only feuds heading into Wrestle Kingdom that I’d say were capitalized well on were EVIL and Aaron Wolfe’s bout, in addition to Yuto-Ice’s ongoing war with Zack Sabre Jr.

NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome results: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. El Desperado

Posted on by Corey Michaels

There are just three matches remaining in the legendary career of Hiroshi Tanahashi, one of them on today’s NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome event.

Coming off a victory over junior heavyweight Hiromu Takahashi on Friday’s Road to Tokyo Dome tour opener, Tanahashi faces El Desperado on today’s show in the main event.

Remaining on Tana’s dance card are a singles match against Kosei Fujita on tomorrow’s show, then his retirement match against career rival Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4.

Six tag matches make up today’s undercard:

  • Yota Tsuji, Taiji Ishimori, Yuto-Ice, and OSKAR vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa, Hartley Jackson, and Kosei Fujita
  • Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, and Daiki Nagai vs. Great-O-Khan, Callum Newman, and Jakob Austin Young
  • Shota Umino, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Yuya Uemura, and Boltin Oleg vs. EVIL, SANADA, Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Taichi, Tiger Mask, Satoshi Kojima, and Masatora Yasuda vs. Toru Yano, YOH, Master Wato, and Shoma Kato
  • Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma vs. Katsuya Murashima and Zane Jay
  • SHO and DOUKI vs. KUUKAI and Tatsuya Matsumoto

**********

Main Card

House Of Torture (DOUKI & SHO) defeated Kuukai & Tatsuya Matsumoto

DOUKI grabbed Matsumoto before the bell and assaulted him elsewhere. Meanwhile, after the bell, Kuukai withstood SHO’s offense and teamed with Matsumoto with a double-chop to the chest. SHO and DOUKI took turns bullying the Young Lion Matsumoto with one powerslam after another. Fully isolated, Kuukai could only watch as the House of Torture weakened Matsumoto’s neck and shoulders.

Miraculously, Matsumoto fought back, earning a speedy recourse from Kuukai. SHO reclaimed the momentum with a Spear. Matsumoto delivered karmic justice, delivering powerslams to Douki in immediate succession. Repeated instances of Matsumoto’s inside cradles proved fruitless. Dragging DOUKI to the corner, Matsumoto fell prey to a chair shot courtesy of SHO. An Italian Stretch #32 resulted in the Young Lion falling unconscious, gifting the House of Torture a win to start the night.

(Crisp and clean. This batch of Young Lions has continually improved every time I’ve had the pleasure to watch them. So, with DOUKI and SHO working so well together in semi-fair matches, and this youthful crop would naturally be a satisfying blend.)

Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) defeated Katsuya Murashima & Zane Jay

Jay and Murashima laid Honma flat before going to work on Makabe. Honma replied with a single-leg Sharpshooter to the American Jay. His offense continued, but a failed Kokeshi gave way to an enzuigiri. Full-speed, Marashima charged with a tackle that dazed the veteran. Honma nearly escaped the determined grip of Murashima, but still suffered a powerslam.

Makabe refused Jay’s attempt at a powerslam. An elevated dropkick did the trick for Jay, providing him with a Boston Crab to his seasoned opponent. Murashima came to his side, but the two Young Lions dropped to the cerulean mat following Makabe’s double-clothesline. Makabe finished off Jay with a King Kong Kneedrop.

(Fine match, with Jay’s recent tenure in Japan paying off in dividends as his in-ring tightens itself in quality.)

Master Wato, Shoma Kato, Toru Yano & YOH defeated Team 100 (Satoshi Kojima & Taichi), Masatora Yasuda & Tiger Mask

Yano and Kojima started the match, with the latter quickly gaining the upper hand with his trademark chops. Yasuda picked up after Kojima, powerslamming Kato. Tiger Mask followed suit with a series of kicks. Taichi took over for Yasuda, yet found himself on the mat with a Dragonscrew Legwhip from YOH.

Wato entered the fray, faceplanting Tiger Mask with a Bulldog. A series of Snap Suplexes lent Yasuda an edge over Wato. Kojima, Taichi, Yasuda, and Tiger Mask coordinated their efforts on Wato, but his teammates came for the save. Wato found a second breath with a Brainbuster, followed by a Cyclone Uppercut to secure a win over Yasuda.

(Action-packed and concise. Wato was undeniably the star of the match.)

Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI), Oleg Boltin, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura defeated House Of Torture (EVIL, Ren Narita, SANADA, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi)

Amid the chaos of the usual House of Torture onslaught, EVIL tormented YOSHI-HASHI until Goto and Boltin came to his rescue. Bishamon and Boltin barreled their fists onto Takahashi’s back and did the same for EVIL. Dick Togo tripped up YOSHI-HASHI after repeated instances of distracting him failed; EVIL took advantage by choking him with a T-shirt. His teammates were further isolated by House of Torture members herding them violently as far away from the ring as possible.

Kanemaru baited Goto via a referee while his cohorts bore down on the still-legal YOSHI-HASHI ringside. SANADA wrapped up YOSHI-HASHI in a Paradise Lock, whereupon he swung a blue turnbuckle pad on him. Boltin emerged with a hot tag, absorbing offense from EVIL as he dizzied SANADA with a Boltin Shake. Narita goaded the Kazakh wrestler to the ropes, to which SANADA exploited a rope kick.

Umino spun a comeback for his team in the form of a Tornado-DDT on Takahashi. Uemura had the same luck with a Flying Crossbody to the same opponent. EVIL, Narita, and Kanemaru set Uemura up for Togo’s Dick-to-Dick Contact. Umino came to Uemura’s save, subverting a weapon spot to outsmart the House of Torture. Uemura and Umino had a brief misunderstanding, but came through with a Lariat + Suplex Combo to Takahashi. Uemura concluded the match with a Bridging Suplex to Takahashi for the pinfall.

(This is likely a hot take, but I think there’s great chemistry with Uemura and Umino since they aligned. Umino is far more likable. Giving this match a comeuppance finish for House of Torture increased the bout’s entertainment factor.)

United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young) defeated Daiki Nagai, Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi

United Empire wasted no time in bearing down on their opponents. Newman struck Takahashi, mocking him with his GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. Takahashi’s distress continued, with Newman and Jay tenderizing his flesh. Khan drew on the referee’s distraction by Takagi and Nagai by crushing Takahashi’s face via an Iron Claw.

Grimacing from a chairshot to the back, Takahashi was easy pickings for Khan’s oppression. Once more, Khan reached for an Iron Claw, but Takahasih’s fighting spirit forbade it, nearly escaping with a dropkick. Takagi rampaged in, his kicks softening Khan’s leg. Mongolian Chops, an Iron Claw, and a bitten forehead didn’t deter Takagi, but a lariat did the trick for Khan. Takagi countered Khan’s bodyslam with a DDT. Nagai sent Young flying with a Monkey Flip, which he punctuated with a dropkick. Newman stole Takahashi’s Time Bomb, proudly revealing a middle finger as he won the match via pinfall.

Post-match: Nagai’s teammates flooded the ring as Newman proceeded to attack him. Takagi threw a chair. Newman and Young taunted them and the fans with smug grins and profane language.

(Newman and Young are such jerks, and it’s enjoyable how hateable they’ve become.)

War Dogs (OSKAR, Taiji Ishimori & Yuto-Ice) & Yota Tsuji defeated TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.)

Yuto-Ice and Sabre’s boiling tensions simmered before the match before flooding over after the bell with rapid-fire strikes. Yuto-Ice’s Bomboclat saw him receive a united front from Sabre and Oiwa. Tsuji distracted the referee to allow Yuto-Ice and OSKAR a beatdown on Oiwa.

Displeased, Sabre brawled with Yuto-Ice in proximity to the crowd. Ishimori recovered after a prolonged dominance from Fujita with an enzuigiri. Jackson tackled Tsuji and laid him back down with a lariat. Tsuji unwisely tried a Flying Crossbody, but Jackson caught him, crushing his opponent with a Senton. Using a knee strike, Tsuji took advantage of a dazed Jackson to puncture him with a Gene Blaster for the pinfall.

(This started off being very much the Knockout Brothers’ match, with some thrilling junior heavyweight action from Ishimori and Fujita. Sabre and Yuto-Ice’s increased time together feels so believably spiteful, and I’m here for it. Moreover, the closing stretch of the match shone a light on Tsuji, heating him for his Tokyo Dome clash with Konosuke Takeshita.)

Main Event

Hiroshi Tanahashi versus El Desperado

Tanahashi gained an early advantage, holding Desperado against the ropes. The pair grappled to a standstill, which left Desperado recuperating in frustration. The Ace wore down Desperado with an unrelenting headlock. Momentarily, Desperado gained the lead, nearly securing a Numero Dos had it not been for a rope break. However, the damage was done; Tanahashi hobbled under the strain of his weak knee.

Referee Red Shoes pleaded with Desperado, who stacked a chair on Tanahashi’s knee and swung another chair on top of it. Dragging Tanahashi’s helpless corpse into the crowd, ignoring the protestations of NJPW’s Young Lions. The Tochigi crowd willed Tanahashi to his feet, and he obligingly limped to the ring despite a brief and dramatic collapse.

Unsatisfied with the injuries suffered thus far in Tanahashi’s knee, Desperado drained more life from him with a leglock. With a Flying Elbow, Tanahashi’s comeback began. Revenge was a dish best served cold as Tanahashi ensnared Desperado with a figure-four leglock of his own, which changed owners a few times during this spot. Sapping Desperado’s energy with an excruciatingly angled Texas Cloverleaf begat an anguished crawl to the ropes. Tanahashi fought for his life to prevent another Numero Dos attempt, grounding Desperado while clutching a rope break.

A Frog Splash from Desperado resulted in a nearfall that brought forth a passionate fervor from the audience. Exchanging strikes, it was by Desperado’s hand that Tanahashi staggered. However, a Slingblade from the Ace wrested control back. Making his way back to his feet, Desperado returned to the mat thanks to a High-Fly Flow. One more High-Fly Flow sealed the deal, gifting Tanahashi with one more win ahead of his January 4 retirement.

Post-match: Tanahashi and Desperado bowed in respect and shook hands. Alone in the ring, Tanahashi tearfully thanked the fans. Concluding on a happy note, he beckoned Katsuya Murashima to throw him his air guitar for a solo. He then requested it from a fan for another solo. Quietly, he addressed his December 22 opponent, Kosei Fujita, before greeting the crowd with a loving farewell.

(Desperado gave no quarter, as Tanahashi-san would have appreciated. After the past few years he’s been having, seeing Desperado work heel gave this a compelling edge. In this last stretch, Tanahashi feels like the superheroic babyface fans have adored him for throughout his tenured career.)

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for storyline beats to follow, this show has plenty of them. But this was absolutely Tanahashi’s event. More and more, it looks like the future is finally setting in for The Ace.

NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome results: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hiromu Takahashi

Posted on by Corey Michaels

The final countdown to both Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement and NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 begins today with Road to Tokyo Dome in Gunma.

Tanahashi takes on Hiromu Takahashi in the main event singles match of today’s show, the first-ever singles meeting between the two. Tanahashi faces El Desperado on Sunday, then Kosei Fujita on Monday as his career winds down. He takes on Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom in Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2026 in his final match.

Three trios matches and three eight-man tags make up today’s undercard:

  • Yuto-Ice, OSKAR, Taiji Ishimori, and Daiki Nagai vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa, Hartley Jackson, and Kosei Fujita
  • Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, and Gedo vs. Great-O-Khan, Callum Newman, and Jakob Austin Young
  • Shota Umino, Yuya Uemura, Taichi, and Satoshi Kojima vs. EVIL, Ren Narita, SANADA, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • El Desperado, KUUKAI, and Katsuya Murashima vs. DOUKI, SHO, and Yujiro Takahashi
  • Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Boltin Oleg, and Tatsuya Matsumoto vs. Toru Yano, YOH, Master Wato, and Shoma Kato
  • Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, and Masatora Yasuda vs. Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Zane Jay

**********

Main Card

Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask & Zane Jay defeated Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) & Masatora Yasuda

After dancing around each other in headlocks, Jay maintained control over Yasuda’s shoulder, slamming him to the mat. Honma missed a Kokeshi on Taguchi, who landed it successfully. Jay stomped a mudhole in Honma in the corner, capitalizing with a bodyslam. Makabe punished the Young Lion with elbows, but ate a dropkick for his troubles.

Tiger Mask delivered a series of kicks to Makabe’s midsection. He responded in kind with a lariat. Yasuda tortured Tiger Mask with two Snap Suplexes and a Boston Crab before dropkicking an intervening Taguchi. Tiger Mask took the opportunity to engage in a Boston Crab. Honma and Makabe coordinated their efforts on Jay, but were equalized by a dropkick. Tiger Mask submitted Yasuda with a Crossface Chickenwing for the victory.

(Yasuda and Jay had a lot of fun with the limelight here. However, with Tiger Mask’s impending retirement on the horizon, his time tonight made him look like a superhero.)

Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI), Oleg Boltin & Tatsuya Matsumoto defeated Master Wato, Shoma Kato, Toru Yano & YOH

YOSHI-HASHI had no time for Yano’s turnbuckle shenanigans, and fortunately for him, Wato would tag himself in. YOH and Yano fell victim to a flurry of fists to their back from Bishamon, Boltin, and Matsumoto. Kato torqued the left shoulder of Matusmoto. YOSHI-HASHI made the save for Goto, who was suffering from the onslaught of YOH and Wato. A rejuvenated Goto soundly fell YOH with a lariat.

Boltin dizzied the already worn YOH with a Boltin Shake, but snuck in a counter DDT. Kato ducked from the powerhouse Boltin’s tackles to sneak in a hurricanrana. Boltin tapped Kato out with a Boston Crab for the win.

Post-match: Boltin and BIshamon seemed to challenge Yano, YOH, and Wato for a NEVER Openweight 6-Man Championship defense at a later date.

(YOH was an absolute sponge here. That lariat from Goto was my favorite part of his selling. Also, my Boltin stocks are still way up.)

House Of Torture (DOUKI, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi) defeated El Desperado, Katsuya Murashima & Kuukai

Desperado, mildly irritated by a pre-match smack-talk from SHO, lost focus as DOUKI and Takahashi tripped him, pulling by the legs to damage his nether region. Takahashi distracted the referee while DOUKI and SHO assaulted Desperado with a chair. Kuukai swung a comeback for his team via a Spinning Face Crusher on SHO.

Murashima energetically charged in, laying in a couple of sentons on DOUKI. DOUKI retaliated with an Italian Stretch #32, but was met by Kuukai and Desperado. Screaming in agony, Murashima ultimately succumbed to DOUKI’s second Italian Stretch #32 attempt, submitting to the hold.

(Isolated from the rest of House of Torture with a clean win like this proves the interference schtick isn’t necessary. This trio’s match had a compelling story of Desperado fighting for his life and his partners giving their all to help him. DOUKI was in great form here.)

Team 100 (Satoshi Kojima & Taichi), Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura versus House Of Torture (EVIL, Ren Narita, SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) ended in disqualification

House of Torture immediately went to work on their opposition, clobbering all but Taichi on the outside. Taichi, still in his entrance gear, laid out Kanemaru with a Big Boot. Uemura, spry as ever, overwhelmed the still-legal Kanemaru. The House of Torture came to Kanemaru’s aid, exposing the turnbuckle’s steel while the referee was distracted. EVIL choked Uemura with a T-shirt while Kanemaru kept the referee’s attention.

Much to EVIL’s annoyance, multiple pin attempts on Uemura were unsuccessful. An arm drag and elevated dropkick gave the weary Uemura momentary respite against Narita’s onslaught. Umino entered the fray, tenderizing Narita’s chest with chops and a Fisherman’s Suplex. He then toppled SANADA with a Tornado-DDT and Narita with a dropkick. Kojima chopped the chests of Kanemaru and SANADA to painful effect. Taichi rattled SANADA with an Axe Bomber. Kojima followed suit with a cutter. Emulating Eddie Guerrero’s chair spot with his guitar, SANADA smoothly fooled the referee, disqualifying Taichi and his teammates.

Post-match: House of Torture assaulted their defeated opponents and an interrupting Aaron Wolfe. Taichi seemingly helped Kojima to his feet, but the two veterans shoved each other. Uemura and Umino separated them as they bickered.

(This was rife with House of Torture shenanigans. The babyfaces did well, but my favorite part was Taichi beginning the match wrestling in his entrance gear.)

Gedo, Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji versus United Empire (Callum Newman, Great-O-Khan & Jakob Austin Young) ended in disqualification.

The bell had yet to ring as United Empire brawled with their opponents into the crowd. Khan plunged Takagi deep into the wreckage of chairs. Tsuji flung Newman into the barricade and back into the ring, superceding his speed with a hurricanrana. Gedo and Tsuji took turns with right-hand strikes on Newman.

Newman recovered enough to abuse Gedo in the corner. Young took advantage of Gedo’s agonized state by bending his fingers in uncomfortable directions. Khan pressed his full weight on Gedo on the top rope and attached his Iron Claw to Gedo’s face. Gedo powered out of this with a prolonged eye poke. Takagi devastated Khan with a Brainbuster, but not enough to secure a pinfall.

Despite the referee’s protests, Khan bit Takagi’s skull. Takagi rebounded with a Pumping Bomber to Young. Tsuji prevented a rescue from Khan courtesy of a tope suicida. Newman returned to the ring, flinging a steel chair at Takagi’s face, ending the match in disqualification.

Post-match: Newman continued his assault on Takagi with satisfaction etched on his face. Gedo, Tsuji, and a band of young lions came to Takagi’s defense.

(This mean streak from United Empire’s added an interesting wrinkle to Newman and Young. I almost felt bad for all the punishment Gedo took. However, two DQ finishes in one night doesn’t sit right with me.)

TMDK (Hartley Jackson, Kosei Fujita, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.) defeated War Dogs (OSKAR, Taiji Ishimori & Yuto-Ice) & Daiki Nagai

Both members of each time watched as Yuto-Ice and Sabre shoved each other around. Ishimori and Fujita started the match, wrestling to near-standstills until the latter poked the Bone Soldier’s eyes and chopped him flat. At ringside and in the crowd, the War Dogs and Nagai brawled with TMDK while Jackson threw his weight against Ishimori in a senton. Sabre stomped on Ishimori’s shoulder, baiting Yuto-Ice in for another brawl, this time in the ring.

Oiwa ragdolled Ishimori around, unrelenting on his left arm. OSKAR endured Oiwa’s offense, recovering with a slam. Yuto-Ice’s now-legal brawl with Sabre was interrupted by assists from Fujita and OSKAR, respectively. Thanks to a kick from Ishimori, Nagai miraculously crushed Jackson with a Spinebuster. Jackson mockingly absorbed Nagai’s offense before rebounding with a lariat. Jackson finished off Nagai with a Death Valley Driver.

Post-match: TMDK and the War Dogs + Nagai brawled en route to backstage.

(Sabre and Yuto-Ice’s beef made this bout entertaining, coupled with the buildup to the ultimate in-ring clash in this match. Nagai’s spinebuster on Jackson popped me.)

Main Event

Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Hiromu Takahashi

Tanahashi and Takahashi battled to a standstill repeatedly in the main event’s waking moments. Overcoming Takahashi’s flashes of dominance, Tanahashi’s comeback came at a Flying Crossbody. The Ace and the Time Bomb exchanged chest chops and elbows. Takahashi teased Tanahashi with a Rainmaker attempt. Tanahashi sank in a deep Texas Cloverleaf, broken by Takahashi’s desperate rope break.

Finally, Takahashi succeeded with Kazuchika Okada’s Rainmaker and his own Time Bomb. After nearly putting Takahashi to sleep with a headlock, Tanahashi dropped him with two successive Slinge Blades. Combining the Rainmaker with his Sling Blade, Tanahashi finished off Takahashi with a High-Fly Flow.

Post-match: Tanahashi thanked the fans in attendance, performed an air guitar solo, and led a wave.

(Classic Tanahashi match without the flourishes from his younger days. In this, The Ace reminded fans just who he was with a great dance partner. An emotional and satisfactory match weeks away from the legend’s looming retirement.)

Final Thoughts

Things certainly ramped up on the road to Wrestle Kingdom 20. Perhaps my least favorite match tonight was House of Torture versus Taichi, Satoshi Kojima, Shota Umino, and Yuya Uemura, which ended in a predictable DQ finish. In being the second match to feature a DQ, United Empire versus War Dogs almost reaches that quality. As I expect most will simply tune in for Hiroshi Tanahashi and Hiromu Takahashi, they’ll get their money’s worth. I expect Tanahashi’s next few matches against El Desperado and Kosei Fujita to have the same level of quality, or close, before reuniting with The Rainmaker, Kazuchika Okada.