New IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions were crowned today at NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam.
El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo in 20:28 to win back the titles. This marks the fourth IWGP Jr. Tag title reign for the Suzuki-gun tandem.
Ishimori and ELP’s third reign ends after another defeat at the hands of Desperado and Kanemaru. Desperado and Kanemaru defeated Ishimori and ELP to win the 2021 Super Junior Tag League on August 17 in Korakuen Hall.
The two teams have traded the titles for the better part of a year. Desperado and Kanemaru won the vacant titles last September, then lost them to Ishimori and ELP in January. Desperado and Kanemaru got the belts back in February, then dropped them to SHO and YOH in April. SHO and YOH then lost the titles back to Ishimori and ELP in June.
While the reign is the fourth for Kanemaru and Desperado as a unit, this marks the sixth total reign for Kanemaru, as he has also held the Junior Tag titles with Taichi and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi.
Shingo Takagi defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against EVIL in the main event of night two of Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome.
The match will mark Shingo’s return to the ring after being out of action after a positive COVID-19 test announced on August 17.
In the semi-main, Robbie Eagles will try for his first defense of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. He faces Hiromu Takahashi, who has just returned to NJPW after missing six months with a torn pectoral.
The IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship will be on the line as Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. defend against Tetsuya Naito and SANADA, plus Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI in a three-way.
The first of four title matches on the evening, Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo will defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against Super Junior Tag League 2021 winners El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
In the main card opener, Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii will face Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan. Cobb defeated Okada on yesterday’s Wrestle Grand Slam show.
On the pre-show, winners of yesterday’s STARDOM showcase match Momo Watanabe and Saya Kamitani will take on Giulia in Syuri in today’s showcase.
Our live coverage begins with the pre-show at 1:30 a.m. Eastern time.
This was a more complex match than last night’s STARDOM showcase. I think last night’s was just slightly better, but this had more star power and was very good as well.
Giulia and Momo began with a brief bit of chain wrestling, then quickly tagged out. Same pattern as the match last night. Syuri and Kamitani tagged in. Kamitani was quickly cut off.
Syuri and Giulia used quick tags and went to work on Kamitani. Momo jumped in for an illegal double team save. Kamitani connected with a one-legged dropkick to Giulia. Momo then got a tag and continued working on Giulia.
Giulia made her own comeback and hit a missile dropkick. Syuri tagged in for a shotgun dropkick and a near fall on Momo. Momo hit a uranage for a two count, then tagged Kamitani.
Kamitani and Syuri traded strikes. Kamitani hit a pump kick for a two count. Syuri and Giulia doubled up on Kamitani. Syuri used a shining wizard for a two count. Kamitani hit a frankensteiner and a springboard crossody from the top rope to the floor.
Kamitani hit a northern lights suplex for a two count, then hit Star Crusher. She went to the top for a phoenix splash, but Giulia cut her off from the apron.
Syuri used an arm capture superplex for a near fall, then used a kimura to set up a stretch muffler. Momo saved, but Giulia hit her with a northern lights bomb to clear the deck for Syuri and Kamitani.
Syuri hit a series of kicks. Kamitani hit a poison rana. Syuri hit a high kick for a two count. Giulia and Syuri hit a tandem slam.
Syuri then used a Byakko stretch muffler to submit Kamitani.
This was a solid opener with some impressive work from Cobb and some cool dropkicks from Okada.
This quickly broke down into a brawl around ringside. Cobb hit Okada with a release belly-to-belly on the floor. Cobb and O-Khan worked Okada over in the ring. Okada came back with an air raid crash neckbreaker to Cobb and tagged out.
Cobb and Ishii traded power moves. Ishii hit a vertical suplex. Cobb then hit Ishii with a release belly-to-belly. Ishii was cut off and isolated in United Empire’s half of the ring. Okada entered to even the odds and hit a flapjack to Cobb.
Ishii and O-Khan traded strikes in the ring as Cobb and Okada rolled to the floor. Cobb and O-Khan used tandem offense on Ishii, but Okada broke up a pin attempt. Cobb plucked Okada out of the air as he jumped for a dropkick. Okada escaped a Tour of the Islands and hit dropkicks to both Cobb and O-Khan.
Ishii escaped an Eliminator from O-Khan, but O-Khan got it on his second attempt and pinned Ishii as Cobb held Okada on the floor.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo to win the titles (20:28)
This division really needs some new blood. These guys have traded the titles and almost exclusively wrestled each other for a year now. This was good but they have had a few better matches this year.
Bullet Club overcame a Suzuki-gun jumpstart before the bell. ELP used a springboard crossbody and a quebrada on Kanemaru. Kanemaru came back with kicks to ELP’s left leg. ELP took a bump on his head off a dropkick to the knee.
Kanemaru and Desperado went to work on ELP’s left leg. Desperado used an Indian deathlock. ELP and Ishimori came back on Desperado and used their comedy back rake offense and crotch stomps in the corner with Desperado in the tree of woe. Kanemaru tried to save and ended up getting crotch stomped as well.
Desperado hit a spinebuster to ELP, but Ishimori pulled Kanemaru off the apron to prevent a tag. Ishimori hit a sliding German to Desperado for a near fall. Desperado managed a tag. Kanemaru cradled Ishimori for a two count. ELP hit a senton to Kanemaru out of an Ishimori codebreaker.
Kanemaru caught ELP in a figure four. ELP forced a rope break. Kanemaru and Desperado continued to attack ELP’s left leg. Desperado used Numero Dos on ELP while Kanemaru used a camel clutch on Ishimori. ELP forced another rope break.
ELP rolled up Desperado while holding the tights for a near fall. ELP and Desperado traded strikes. ELP loaded his boot and hit Desperado with two kicks. ELP hit Desperado with his own Pinche Loco for a two count.
Ishimori hit the Cipher Utaki to Desperado. ELP followed with Thunder Kiss 86 for a near fall with Kanemaru saving. Ishimori hit a moonsault to the floor to take out Kanemaru. ELP took off his loaded boot. Desperado ducked the boot. Ishimori bumped the referee.
Kanemaru hit Ishimori with a whiskey bottle. Desperado hit ELP with the loaded boot. Desperado then hit Pinche Loco and pinned ELP.
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (w/Miho Abe) defeated Tetsuya Naito & SANADA & Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI to retain the titles (26:43)
This was a lot of fun.
The rules for the match were that only two guys could be legal at a time. This proved to be more of a suggestion than a rule as this was pure chaos. It was nearly impossible to tell who was legal at any given time. Just move, move, move, move, move.
SANADA used a paradise lock. Sabre used a Euro clutch for a near fall. Naito used a jackknife cradle for a near fall. YH hit a powerbomb for a near fall. Taichi hit an axe bomber. SANADA used an O’Connor roll for a near fall.
It appeared to come down to SANADA and YH. Goto hit a plancha to both Sabre and Taichi to take them out. YH hit a meteora to SANADA for a near fall. SANADA avoided Kharma. YH avoided Skull End and hit a lariat.
SANADA blocked a butterfly lock attempt from YH. Naito saved. SANADA hit a TKO to YH for a near fall with Goto saving. SANADA hit a back suplex to YH for a near fall. Sabre and Taichi got back in. Naito hit a swing DDT and took out both Sabre and Taichi.
YH broke out of Skull End and cradled SANADA for two. YH broke the hold again and used another cradle for two. SANADA used Skull End with a body scissors. He gave up the hold to try a moonsault, but Taichi blind-tagged himself in.
Sabre caught Naito in an octopus as he tried to save YH. Taichi then hit Black Mephisto and pinned YH.
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G1 Climax 31 announcement —
Block finals will be on October 20, with A Block and B Block winners facing off on October 21. Here is the field of 20:
A Block
Kota Ibushi
Tetsuya Naito
Shingo Takagi
Zack Sabre Jr.
Toru Yano
Tomohiro Ishii
Yujiro Takahashi
Tanga Loa
KENTA
Great-O-Khan
B Block
SANADA
Taichi
YOSHI-HASHI
Hirooki Goto
Jeff Cobb
EVIL
Tama Tonga
Chase Owens
Kazuchika Okada
Hiroshi Tanahashi
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*****Intermission*****
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles defeated Hiromu Takahashi to retain the title (24:07)
This was excellent. The leg work from last night’s tag match came into play, so you were rewarded for paying attention. This is easily the biggest win of Robbie’s career and Hiromu is such a star that he wasn’t hurt by the loss.
It should not come as a shock to you that they began with a lightning-quick series of counters and reversals. Eagles hit a stomp to Hiromu’s left leg to soften it up for the Ron Miller Special. Eagles hit a flip dive to the floor and they crashed into the barricade.
Eagles brought the action back inside the ring at the five minute mark. He stomped at both of Hiromu’s legs. Hiromu got a brief flurry of offense, but Eagles went back after the legs. He hit a 619 to the legs and a springboard dropkick to the left leg.
Eagles used the Ron Miller Special. Hiromu crawled to the ropes to force a break. Hiromu blocked turbo backpack and hit a DVD into the buckle. Hiromu followed up with a sunset bomb.
Eagles beat the count back in after the sunset bomb at 19. Hiromu hit a lariat for a near fall just past 15 minutes. Eagles blocked a pop-up powerbomb, but Hiromu hit two thrust kicks and victory royale for a two count.
Eagles grabbed two quick cradles for near falls. Hiromu hit Dynamite Plunger for a near fall. Hiromu was bleeding from the mouth. Hiromu hit a lariat, then an inverted DDT. They fought to the top rope. Eagles escaped the corner and hit a dropkick to Hiromu’s left leg as he was prone on the top rope.
Eagles hit turbo backpack off the top rope, but only got a two count. Eagles hit two thrust kicks and a 450 splash to the legs. Eagles used the Ron Miller Special again. This time it was enough, as Hiromu tapped out.
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Desperado came to the ring after the match He said he wants a rematch, but not just a rematch, a rematch with the Junior Tag titles on the line as well.
I’m not sure if this is a pair of matches with Desperado and Kanemaru against Eagles and Tiger Mask, or if they’re talking about a singles match.
Hopefully we’ll get some clarity when the match is officially announced.
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IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi defeated EVIL (w/Yujiro Takahashi, SHO & Dick Togo) to retain the title (30:20)
The Bullet Club interference and ref bumps are beyond parody at this point. This was a mess of interference, ref bumps, run-ins, ejections, returns after ejections, weapon shots, ring announcer bumps and everything else.
SHO jumped on the apron with a chair right off the bat. Shingo was distracted, allowing EVIL to attack. Shingo grabbed a side headlock, but EVIL powered him down. They traded chops. Shingo hit a shoulder tackle.
Shingo hit a suplex for a near fall. EVIL rolled outside. Shingo whipped him into the barricade. Togo provided a distraction. EVIL bumped Shingo into the barricade and the ring announcer. They did the spot again and the ring announcer went flying.
EVIL hit a baseball swing chair shot. Yujiro exposed a buckle. EVIL whipped Shingo into the exposed steel. EVIL threw Shingo outside. EVIL took the ref as Togo, Yujiro and SHO tripled up on Shingo on the floor. Red Shoes refused to count the pin as Shingo was thrown back inside.
EVIL used an abdominal stretch. Togo interfered to provide more leverage. SHO and Yujiro got involved as well. Red Shoes kicked at EVIL’s arm to break up the human centipede.
EVIL hit a vertical suplex for two. Shingo made a comeback with a series of chops and a DDT. Yujiro, SHO and Togo interfered again on the floor. They took the referee. Shingo set EVIL and Togo up at the ring announcer’s table, then bumped SHO and Yujiro into them.
Red Shoes finally ejected Togo, Yujiro and SHO.
Shingo hit noshigami, a wheelbarrow suplex and a sliding lariat. EVIL used Red Shoes for a Magic Killer. EVIL hit a top rope superplex. EVIL used a scorpion deathlock, but Shingo forced a rope break.
EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. Shingo blocked two Everything is EVIL attempts and got shot into the exposed buckle. Shingo flew out of the corner for a lariat into a double down.
Togo made his way back to the ring. Shingo hit Made in Japan, but Togo pulled Red Shoes out of the ring before the three count. Togo choked Shingo with his ligature. Shingo broke free, but Yujiro ran back in and hit Shingo with Pimp Juice. EVIL made a cover, but Shingo kicked out and threw EVIL into Red Shoes for yet another ref bump.
Togo choked Shingo again. BUSHI ran in for the save. SHO hit a German to BUSHI. SHO hit a chair shot to Shingo’s head. SHO went for Shock Arrow, but Naito and SANADA ran in for the save.
Togo apparently bladed somewhere here, as he popped up with a bloody face and hit a belt shot to Naito. EVIL hit Shingo with a low blow. Shingo and EVI fought over the belt. The referee came to just as Shingo was about to use the belt.
Shingo blocked a low blow and hit a lariat to EVIL. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber at 30 minutes, then connected with Last of the Dragon and got the pin.
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Hiromu limped to the ring after the match. Shingo cut a promo and talked about having COVID and his tough last few weeks. He put over Hiromu and put over his LIJ teammates.
A new champion was crowned at today’s NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night one event.
Toru Yano regained the provisional KOPW 2021 title, defeating Chase Owens in 28:03 in a No-DQ I Quit match. This is the second time that Yano has claimed the provisional KOPW 2021.
Owens won a New Japan Ranbo at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome on July 25 to take the title away from Yano. Yano was the first to hold the provisional title in 2021, winning it on January 5 at Wrestle Kingdom 15 in a four-way that also involved Owens, BUSHI and Bad Luck Fale.
Yano was the first and only holder of the KOPW title in 2020. He won the original provisional title at Summer Struggle in a tournament final four-way over Kazuchika Okada, SANADA and El Desperado. He cemented himself as the official KOPW 2020 by defeating Fale in a bodyslam or no corner pads match.
Today’s match was the second Yano vs. Owens KOPW match on a major NJPW show this year. The two also met at Castle Attack in a Yano-style Texas strap match on February 27.
Bullet Club added a new member at today’s NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome event.
SHO officially joined Bullet Club’s ranks after defeating YOH by referee stoppage. After his win, EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and Dick Togo made their way to the ring and presented SHO with a Bullet Club shirt to cement his move from CHAOS to BC.
EVIL, Yujiro, Togo and SHO’s shirts all read House of Torture and featured the Bullet club logo on the left sleeve, so the House of Torture may be something of a sub-group with those four within the Bullet Club stable.
SHO turned on YOH during the Summer Struggle tour in August. SHO and YOH went winless as a team in the Super Junior Tag League this year after winning the prior three iterations of the tournament.
As Roppongi 3K, SHO and YOH captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship five times, with their most recent reign ending at Kizuna Road in June 2021.
Hiroshi Tanahashi defends the IWGP United States Championship against Kota Ibushi today in the main event of night one of NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome.
The match marks Kota Ibushi’s return to action for the first time since July 2. He has been sidelined while recovering from aspiration pneumonia. Tanahashi will try for his first successful defense after winning the US title from Lance Archer at NJPW Resurgence on August 14 in Los Angeles.
Kazuchika Okada will face Jeff Cobb in the semi-main event in a return match. Their last singles meeting took place on July 25 at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome. Okada defeated Cobb with a cradle in 19:23 in that match.
Chase Owens will defend the provisional KOPW 2021 title against Toru Yano in a No DQ I Quit match. Owens claimed the provisional championship by winning a New Japan Ranbo at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome.
SHO will face YOH in a matchup of former Roppongi 3K teammates. SHO turned on YOH during the Super Junior Tag League on the Summer Struggle tour in August.
In the main card opener, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles and Tiger Mask will team against Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI. The match will mark BUSHI’s return after missing the last two weeks of the Summer Struggle tour with COVID-19.
On the pre-show, Lady C and Maika will take on Momo Watanabe and Saya Kamitani in a STARDOM exhibition match.
Our live coverage begins with the pre-show at 3:30 a.m. Eastern time.
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Momo Watanabe & Saya Kamitani defeated Maika & Lady C (12:02)
This was one of the better pre-show matches you’ll ever see. All action.
Maika and Watanabe began with a brief mat wrestling sequence, ending in a stalemate.
Lady C and Kamitani tagged in. Lady C was quickly cut off. Watanabe tagged back in for a series of slams. Lady C managed a tag. Maika hit a forearm for a knockdown. Watanabe came back with a Shibata dropkick and a series of big kicks for a near fall.
Kamitani got a tag in the plus position and hit a running knee and a dropkick for a near fall. Maika missed a sliding lariat. She tried a suplex, but Kamitani blocked with a guillotine choke. Maika powered through and hit a vertical suplex into a double down.
Lady C got a tag. Kamitani hit a running kick. Lady C hit a knee lift and a running boot. Maika came in for an illegal double team. Watanabe entered as well and hit a dropkick to take out Maika.
Kamitani used a dropkick for a near fall on Lady C. Kamitani hit a springboard crossbody for another two count. Lady C hit an overhand chop. Kamitani blocked a chokeslam attempt. Maika cut Kamitani off on the top rope and hit a stalling superplex.
Lady C recovered and hit a chokeslam, but Watanabe saved to break up the pinfall. Watanabe hit a big kick. Lady C hit a big boot to Kamitani, then hit a chop off the second for another near fall just past the 10 minute mark.
Lady C went for a chokeslam off the top, but Kamitani hit a frankensteiner and a Star Crusher for a near fall as Maika saved.
All four were in. Watanabe hit a half-and-half suplex to Maika. Watanabe and Kamitani hit tandem knee strikes off the second rope.
Kamitani then hit a phoenix splash to Lady C for the pin.
This was the second excellent tag match of the night.
Hiromu and Eagles started the match and did a great series of counters and escapes. Hiromu tagged BUSHI, but hit Eagles from behind as he went to tag Tiger. Hiromu and BUSHI doubled up on Eagles. Eagles made his own comeback and tagged out.
Tiger came in with a high cross and a dropkick to Hiromu. Eagles and Tiger then hit tandem dropkicks to BUSHI. BUSHI came back by choking Tiger with his t-shirt. Tiger was then isolated in the LIJ half of the ring. Hiromu ended up wearing Robbie’s bandana.
Hiromu used the Ron Miller Special to Tiger to taunt Eagles. Tiger fought to the bottom rope to force a break. Tiger went after Hiromu’s left leg and managed a tag to Eagles.
Eagles got the hot tag and ran wild on Hiromu. He hit double knees in the corner to set up a 450 attempt. Hiromu slid out of the way and Eagles landed on his feet. BUSHI tried a save, but Eagles sent Hiromu into him.
Hiromu blocked a Ron Miller Special attempt. Hiromu blocked turbo backpack and hit a pop-up powerbomb into a double down. BUSHI got a tag and stopped Eagles from reaching Tiger. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick.
BUSHI hit a DDT for a near fall at 10 minutes. BUSHI ducked a right hand and hit a tope suicida to Tiger. Hiromu came in and traded strikes with Eagles. Eagles attacked Hiromu’s left leg, so look for that in their match tomorrow.
Eagles used the Ron Miller Special on BUSHI, but Hiromu saved. Tiger hit a tope suicida to Hiromu. Eagles hit a springboard dropkick to BUSHI’s leg.
Eagles then used the Ron Miller Special to submit BUSHI.
SHO defeated YOH (24:41)
This was very good. They worked it like a fight and a very heated personal issue. There was no heat from the audience, though. And if SHO joining Bullet Club means more ref bumps and bad booking, I’m not for it.
SHO entered first. He has a new look. He wore black and his ring jacket had some purple on it, a very EVIL aesthetic.
YOH charged into the ring and attacked SHO before the bell. YOH still had his entrance jacket on as he hammered away with strikes. SHO used a Young Lion at ringside as a human shield to turn the tide.
SHO then threw YOH into the barricade as he took control of the match. YOH sold his lower back. SHO posted YOH’s left arm. SHO used the barricade again and they did a couple of countout teases.
Back inside, YOH fired up and threw strikes with his right arm as his left arm dangled at his side. SHO used a rake of the eyes and a kitchen sink. SHO continued to attack the left arm. SHO hit some taunting kicks and stomps.
YOH came back with a dropkick and three flying forearms. YOH then hit some short kicks as SHO rolled to the apron. SHO went back after the arm. YOH sent SHO into the barricade with a dropkick. YOH landed a tope con giro.
YOH hit a falcon arrow for a two count. YOH fought for a superplex, but SHO blocked and hit a power breaker. SHO followed with two rolling German suplexes. YOH blocked a third German and hit a dragon screw.
YOH rolled through and used the Star Gazer, but SHO forced a quick break. They traded jumping knee strikes. YOH hit a dragon suplex, but SHO rolled through and hit a lariat for a double down just past the 15 minute mark.
SHO hit a powerful lariat and called for Shock Arrow. YOH blocked Shock Arrow and used Star Gazer again. SHO rolled to the ropes to force a break. YOH hit a dropkick to the leg and a dragon suplex into the turnbuckle pad.
SHO blocked Direct Drive. YOH hit a backdrop out of a Shock Arrow attempt. They traded strikes. SHO dropped YOH with a combination of strikes at 20 minutes. YOH fired back and dropped SHO with strikes.
They continued to trade heavy shots. SHO hit the ropes for a lariat, but YOH caught him with a lariat. YOH used a dragon suplex for a two count.
SHO blocked Direct Drive and bumped the referee. SHO hit a spear, then went to the floor to get a chair. YOH ducked a chair shot and hit a superkick. YOH refused to use the chair and hit another kick.
SHO blocked another Direct Drive attempt and hit a low blow. SHO hit a chair shot to the head and revived the referee. SHO revived the ref and had YOH pinned, but pulled him up at two to inflict more punishment.
SHO used a gogoplata and YOH passed out in the hold. The referee called for the stoppage.
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SHO fought off the ringside attendant that tried to perovide YOH an ice pack after the match. He cut a quick promo and told YOH to quit the business.
EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and Dick Togo came to the ring after the match and presented SHO with a Bullet Club shirt to cement his new persona.
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Provisional KOPW 2021 No-DQ I Quit match: Toru Yano defeated Chase Owens to win the title (28:03)
This wasn’t as bad as it looked on paper, but in what universe would you book Toru Yano and Chase Owens to go for almost half an hour?
Yano has gone back to his old bleached hair look. Yano also brought a bag of handcuffs to the ring.
They began brawling in the aisle as Owens made his entrance. They brawled with a variety of plunder, including a trash can, a parasol, a kendo stick, a chair and ladders. Owens used a strap to tie Yano to the ropes.
Yano used the parasol on the trash can as Owens was trapped inside with the microphone. Owens set up a ladder bridge from the ring to the barricade and teased a suplex through the ladder from the apron. Yano blocked, then used a smaller ladder to send Owens through the bridge.
Yano set up a pair of tables. Owens cut him off with a cookie sheet shot. Owens placed Yano on the tables. Yano popped up and teased a suplex off the post through the tables. Owens blocked.
Both teased cuffing each other to the barricade, but both failed. Owens tore up the ring mats and teased a piledriver on the floor, but Yano hit a backdrop. Back in, Owens hit a jewel heist.
Owens placed Yano on the tables and hit a package piledriver, but the tables didn’t break. Yano didn’t answer as the referee asked him if he wanted to quit. Owens cuffed Yano to the barricade.
Owens whipped Yano with the strap and Yano refused to quit. Yano pulled a key from his wrist tape and freed himself, but acted as though he was still cuffed. Owens grabbed a baseball bat. Yano ducked a swing of the bat and kicked Owens low.
Yano cuffed Owens and threw away the key. Yano whipped Owens with the strap. Yano choked Owens with the strap. Yano brought a table into the ring. Yano hit a powerbomb through the table.
Yano brought scissors into the ring and threatened to cut Owens’ hair. Owens spat at Yano.
Yano threatened to stab Owens with the scissors and Owens quit.
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Wrestle Kingdom 16 as a three-night event was announced for January 4, January 5 and January 8, 2022. Nights one and two will be in the Tokyo Dome, while night three will be in Yokohama Arena.
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*****Intermission*****
Jeff Cobb defeated Kazuchika Okada (27:41)
This was a great match. I liked some elements of their last match better than this, but the closing stretch of this and some of the counters and reversals they came up with in this one were out of this world. Easily the biggest win of Cobb’s career. For all the bad booking this year, NJPW has done an incredible job of building Cobb up into a monster.
Okada came out fast and hit a neckbreaker rihgt away. Cobb sent Okada rolling to the floor with a strike. Okada played cat-and-mouse with Cobb, ducking in and out of the ring.
Cobb hit some power strikes. Cobb blocked one flapjack, but Okada hit the move on his second attempt. Cobb came back with a series of strikes and powerful throws.
Okada managed another neckbreaker, then hit a series of back elbows as he looked to soften Cobb up for the Money Clip. Okada hit three DDTs and got a near fall. He locked on the Money Clip, but Cobb quickly got to the ropes to force a break.
They fought to the floor. Okada sent Cobb over the barricade and teased a dive over the railing, but Cobb caught him and hit a suplex on the floor. Okada just beat the count back inside at 19.
Cobb hit an Oklahoma stampede and a standing moonsault for a two count. Cobb blocked a plancha and teased a powerslam on the floor, but Okada reversed into a DDT on the floor.
Back inside, Cobb blocked a tombstone. Okada hit a dropkick to the back, then hit his standard picture-perfect dropkick. Okada then hit the tombstone.
Okada used the Money Clip. Cobb tried to roll out, but Okada re-applied the hold in the center of the ring. Cobb slid to the ropes for a break.
Okada tried another tombstone, but Cobb countered into a reverse tombstone. Cobb could not follow up. They got back to their feet and traded strikes. Okada dropped first, but made it back to his feet. They traded more shots, and again Cobb got the better of it.
Cobb hit a jumping uppercut forearm in the corner and hoisted Okada out of the corner with a spin cycle. Okada blocked Tour of the Islands with a dropkick. Cobb ducked a spinning Rainmaker. Okada hit the ropes and ran into a dropkick.
Cobb hit a tombstone and Okada’s Rainmaker pose. Cobb tried a ripcord Tour of the Islands, but Okada slid out and hit a Rainmaker. Okada hit a second Rainmaker. Okada hit another dropkick.
Okada hit a spinning tombstone. Cobb reversed a Rainmaker attempt into a Tour of the Islands attempt. Okada blocked and used a tombstone position to lift Cobb to the top rope. Okada teased a tombstone off the top, but Cobb blocked and hit a thrust kick.
Still perched on the top rope, Cobb tried a superplex. Okada blocked. Cobb hit a jumping headbutt and a Tour of the Islands off the second rope.
Cobb followed with another Tour of the Islands and scored the pin.
IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship match: Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Kota Ibushi to retain the title (17:47)
This was a good main event to cap a good show. This never reached the level of an epic NJPW main event with the time they were given, but that is probably for the best given Ibushi is coming back from pneumonia.
Ibushi was in tears just before the match began, very emotional in his comeback.
They opened with some mat wrestling. It ended in a stalemate. Tanahashi sold frustration after not being able to best Ibushi on the mat. Ibushi used a short arm scissors, but Tana forced a rope break.
Ibushi turned his attention to Tana’s left arm after the arm scissors. He stomped at the left arm. Tana came back with a dropkick to the left leg, then began to work on the limb. Tana used a kneelock, but Ibush forced a break.
They traded strikes. Ibushi tried to fire off some palm strikes, but Tana kicked his leg out of his leg. Ibushi blocked a dragon screw and hit a dropkick. Ibushi hit a flying mid kick and a standing moonsault.
Ibushi hit a snap rana and sent Tana to the floor. Ibushi then hit an awesome golden triangle moonsault off the top buckle to the floor.
Ibushi rolled Tana back inside and landed a springboard dropkick. Tana blocked a kick and hit a dragon screw. Both landed a series of simultaneous forearm shots. Ibushi scored the knockdown, then hit a series of forearms to the back of the neck from back mount position.
Tana blocked a Kamigoye and hit twist and shout. Tana followed with slingblade, but Ibushi no-sold it. Tana hit another slingblade, but Ibushi didn’t go down. Tana hit a third slingblade and Ibushi took a bump high on his neck.
Tana went for High Fly Flow, but Ibushi got his knees up. Ibushi hit Kamigoye, but could not follow up with an immediate cover.
Ibushi hit a Bomaye. He locked up Tana’s wrists and tried to set up another Kamigoye, but Tana blocked. Ibushi hit a v-trigger and maintained wrist control. Tanahashi fought out and hit slingblade for a one count. Tana hit a dragon suplex into a bridge for a two count.
Tana hit the Ace’s High standing High Fly Flow, then followed with another High Fly Flow to get the pin.
**********
Ibushi was openly weeping after the match as Tanahashi shared some words with him on the mat. Tanahashi was in tears as he got back to his feet.
Tana posed with the title. He then cut a promo welcoming Ibushi back. He said that they will do it again for the title one more time. Tana got an Ibushi chant started.
Tana said that last time in this building he wasn’t the main event, but tonight he is and that’s pretty awesome. He thanked the fans and finished up with some air guitar.
**********
Here is the lineup for tomorrow:
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night two, Sunday, September 5, 1:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. EVIL
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (c) vs. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
After testing positive for COVID-19, Shingo Takagi and BUSHI have been medically cleared to appear at NJPW’s Wrestle Grand Slam.
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo will return at NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome on Sunday, according to Tokyo Sports. BUSHI’s return has been announced for a tag team match on night one on Saturday.
Shingo and BUSHI were pulled from a Summer Struggle show on August 15 after presenting with fevers. Both would undergo PCR tests. NJPW announced on August 18 that both had tested positive for COVID-19. They missed the rest of the Summer Struggle tour.
Six wrestlers who were identified as close contacts with Shingo and BUSHI worked the show on August 15, but were then pulled from the remainder of the tour. The six close contacts were Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, EVIL, Gedo, Dick Togo and Yujiro Takahashi.
Of those wrestlers, EVIL, Tetsuya Naito and SANADA are all still listed for the Sunday Wrestle Grand Slam show, although no specific announcement has been made regarding their status.
Here are the lineups for both nights at MetLife Dome:
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night one, Saturday, September 4, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
IWGP United States Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
Provisional KOPW 2021 No DQ, I Quit match: Chase Owens (c) vs. Toru Yano
SHO vs. YOH
Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask vs. Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI
Pre-show: STARDOM exhibition match TBA
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night two, Sunday, September 5, 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. EVIL
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (c) vs. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
NJPW has finalized the cards for both nights of Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome coming up this Saturday and Sunday.
In a battle of former tag team partners, SHO vs. YOH has been added to night one on September 4. The Roppongi 3K duo split up when SHO turned on YOH during the Super Junior Tag League tournament on August 16.
Also added to night one, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles and Tiger Mask will team against Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI of Los Ingobernables de Japon. Eagles will defend his title against Hiromu on night two.
Added to night two, Super Junior Tag League winners El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru will face IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo. The two teams have spent the bulk of the last year trading the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag titles, with both having two reigns with the titles since September 2020.
Also added to night two, Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii will tag against Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan. Cobb and Okada will face of in a singles match on night one.
Here are the full lineups:
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night one, Saturday, September 4, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
IWGP United States Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
Provisional KOPW 2021 No DQ, I Quit match: Chase Owens (c) vs. Toru Yano
SHO vs. YOH
Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask vs. Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI
Pre-show: STARDOM exhibition match TBA
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night two, Sunday, September 5, 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. EVIL
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (c) vs. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
A fan vote has decided the stipulation for the KOPW 2021 match on night one of NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome on Saturday, September 4.
Chase Owens will defend the provisional 2021 KOPW title against Toru Yano in a No DQ I Quit match. A poll on NJPW’s Twitter account decided the stipulation.
Yano proposed the ultimate winner, while Owens had proposed a Texas strap match. Yano’s choice won by a 75.47 percent to 24.53 percent margin in a poll with 17,598 total votes.
Owens vs. Yano, Hiroshi Tanahashi defending the IWGP United States Championship against Kota Ibushi, pus Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb are now set for night one of Wrestle Grand Slam.
Here are the announced lineups for both nights:
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night one, Saturday, September 4 —
IWGP United States Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
Provisional KOPW 2021 No DQ I Quit match: Chase Owens (c) vs. Toru Yano
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night two, Sunday, September 5 —
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. EVIL
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi
Stardom dark matches will take place at NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome.
Stardom tweeted the announcement that they will present dark matches on both nights of the event. No talent was announced for the shows, as matches will be announced at a later date. Broadcast restrictions with Japanese television partner Samurai TV preclude the dark matches from being shown on NJPW World.
Stardom’s inclusion on NJPW dome shows began following Bushiroad’s purchase of Stardom in 2019. Bushiroad serves as the parent company for both NJPW and Stardom.
On night two of Wrestle Kingdom 15 in January 2021, AZM, Saya Kamitani and Utami Hayashishita faced Himeka, Maika and Natsupoi, plus Giulia and Syuri faced Mayu Iwatani and Tam Nakano.
On night one of Wrestle Kingdom 14 in January 2020, Iwatani and Arisa Hoshiki faced Giulia and the late Hana Kimura.
Here are the announced lineups for Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome:
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night one, Saturday, September 4 —
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
Provisional KOPW 2021: Chase Owens (c) vs. Toru Yano
Stardom dark match
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night one, Sunday, September 5 —
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. EVIL
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi
Three title matches have been announced for NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome on Sunday, September 5.
In the main event, Shingo Takagi will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against EVIL. This match was set up at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome when EVIL attacked Shingo after his main event title defense against Hiroshi Tanahashi.
The IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship will be on the line in a three-way at MetLife Dome. Champions Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. will defend against Tetsuya Naito & SANADA, as well as Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI. Taichi and Sabre defeated Naito and SANADA for the titles at the Tokyo Dome. Following their win, Goto and YOSHI-HASHI appeared and declared their intentions to be the next challengers.
Also announced, new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles will defend his title against the returning Hiromu Takahashi. Hiromu has been out of action with a torn pectoral, but announced last week that he has been medically cleared.
Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome will be a two-night event on Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 5. No matches have been announced for the September 4 show.
Here is the lineup for night two:
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome, Sunday, September 5, 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. EVIL
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi
