Tag: road to wrestle grand slam

NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam results: LIJ vs.CHAOS

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The Road to Wrestle Grand Slam tour continued today as NJPW ran their third straight night in Korakuen Hall. 

A new set of challengers for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles were established, as Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and BUSHI made a challenge for Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI to defend the titles against them at an upcoming show. YOSHI-HASHI accepted the challenge on behalf of his team. 

The show was also notable for the return of Kazuchika Okada. 

Okada kicked off the show by cutting a promo. He said that he feels great and wants to challenge for the vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. 

Here are results from today’s show: 

Shingo Takagi defeated Yota Tsuji (11:09)

Shingo won by referee stoppage after a forearm strike and a choke. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato defeated Yujiro Takahashi, Chase Owens & Taiji Ishimori (10:58)

Tanahashi used a Texas Clover Hold to submit Yujiro. 

Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI (11:56)

Loa pinned DOUKI after hitting three powerbombs. 

Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb defeated Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma (12:04)

Cobb pinned Honma after a Tour of the Islands. 

Cobb laid Ibushi out after the match with a Cobb-igoye.

Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (23:24)

Naito pinned YH with a jackknife cradle. 

After the match, Naito issued a challenge for the NEVER Six-Man titles. YOSHI-HASHI came back to the ring to accept, but got jumped three-on-one by Naito, SANADA and BUSHI. Goto ran back in to make the save for YH. 

**********

Up next are three Road to Dominion shows next week on June 1, June 2 and June 4, all at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World. Dominion will be held on Sunday, June 6 in Osaka-Jo Hall at 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World. No cards have been announced for the tour. 

NJPW’s Naito, SANADA & BUSHI to challenge for NEVER Six-Man titles

Posted on by Ethan Renner

A new set of challengers for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles were established at today’s NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam event.

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and BUSHI challenged NEVER Six-Man Champions Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI to a title match at a later date. 

Naito and SANADA defeated Goto and YOSHI-HASHI in the main event of today’s event. Naito pinned YOSHI-HASHI with a jackknife cradle. After the match, Naito cut a promo and said that while his stablemate Shingo Takagi has his sights set on the IWGP World title, Naito wants some gold as well. Naito then issued the challenge. 

YOSHI-HASHI returned to the ring after the main event to accept the challenge, but was laid out by Naito, SANADA and BUSHI. Goto ran in to make the save for his partner. Ishii was not booked on today’s show, but his interactions with Naito had been heavily focused on on Monday and Tuesday’s Road to Wrestle Grand Slam events. 

The NEVER Six-Man title match, as well as the rest of the cards for next week’s Road to Dominion events should be announced imminently. To this point, zero matches have been announced for the June 1, June 2, June 4 Road to Dominion shows, nor for the Dominion event itself. Dominion will take place on Sunday, June 6 in Osaka-Jo Hall.

Kazuchika Okada appears at NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Kazuchika Okada appeared in person for the first time since testing positive for COVID-19 tonight at Korakuen Hall.

He appeared at the start of tonight’s Road to Wrestle Grand Slam event. He said he was doing great. He spent most of the promo talking about still wanting his match for the IWGP World Heavyweight title at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome. He closed the promo by saying that next time people see him, he will be in his ring gear.

Okada was pulled from the second night of Wrestling Dontaku and was later confirmed to have COVID-19. Taichi and El Desperado have also since confirmed that they too have tested positive. NJPW has confirmed that nine wrestlers overall tested positive following their May 4 event.

Will Ospreay and Okada were scheduled to meet in the main event of Wrestle Grand Slam at the Tokyo Dome. However, Ospreay vacated the IWGP World Heavyweight title on May 21 due to a neck injury. Both the Tokyo and Yokohama Wrestle Grand Slam events were delayed due to the state of emergency in Japan being extended through the end of the month.

NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam results: Golden Ace in action

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The Road to Wrestle Grand Slam tour continued today as NJPW ran their second of three straight nights in Korakuen Hall. 

The focus of the show was on Kota Ibushi vs. Jeff Cobb, which will likely be a match for Dominion on June 6. 

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tetsuya Naito in a singles match, plus Ishii, Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI defending the NEVER Openweight Six-Man titles against Naito, SANADA and BUSHI look to be upcoming matches as well. 

There has still not been an announcement regarding the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, vacated by Will Ospreay. 

By process of elimination, Shingo Takagi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the vacant title in a rematch of a match of the year contender from The New Beginning in Nagoya on January 30 seems likely. 

Here are results from today’s show: 

Chase Owens defeated Yota Tsuji (8:34)

Owens pinned Tsuji after a package piledriver. 

Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI defeated Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori (9:44)

Sabre submitted Yujiro with Barry from Eastenders (modified octopus hold).

Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato (12:44)

Tama pinned Wato after a Magic Killer. 

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI defeated Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Ryusuke Taguchi (17:11)

Shingo pinned Taguchi with a Made in Japan. 

Naito and Ishii had to be pulled apart after the match. They continue to tease both a singles match with Naito and Ishii, as well as a NEVER Six-Man Tag title match with Goto, Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defending against Naito, SANADA & BUSHI. 

Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb (15:53)

Ibushi pinned O-Khan after a Kamigoye. 

Ibushi and Cobb stared each other down after the match. That singles match has been teased for quite some time and should be announced for Dominion any day now. 

**********

Here is the lineup for tomorrow’s show: 

NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam, Wednesday, May 26, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
  • Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma vs. Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Chase Owens & Taiji Ishimori
  • Shingo Takagi vs. Yota Tsuji

Kazuchika Okada, Taichi reveal positive COVID-19 tests

Posted on by Bryan Rose

New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Kazuchika Okada and Taichi revealed that they have tested positive for COVID-19.

Tokyo Sports reported that Okada confirmed in a recent interview that he had tested positive. He said that he felt sick and had lost his sense of taste, but it has since returned. Taichi confirmed to Tokyo Sports that he also tested positive. He appeared on this morning’s Road to Wrestle Grand Slam event via video and said had a high fever, but is recovering now.

Okada was pulled from the second night of Wrestling Dontaku on May 4 when two participants in a match he took part in the night prior had fevers. He and others involved in that match were removed from the second night’s card. NJPW later announced that nine people had tested positive for COVID-19, causing the company to cancel their shows through May 22 when they resumed their schedule. 

Taichi competed in the second night of Dontaku, but has not wrestled on the current tour.

Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome was scheduled to have an IWGP World Champion Will Ospreay vs. Okada title match. However, the event and the other Wrestle Grand Slam show in Yokohama were delayed due to the COVID-19 emergency in Japan being extended through the end of the month.

Ospreay has since vacated the title, returning to the United Kingdom to seek treatment for a neck injury.

NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam results: Eight-man tag main event

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW World broadcast their first event in 20 days today, a Road to Wrestle Grand Slam show from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

NJPW returned to action on Saturday after an 18-day break following the May 4 Wrestling Dontaku event. 

A state of emergency in Tokyo and other prefectures in Japan forced the postponement of the Road to Wrestle Grand Slam tour and both planned Wrestle Grand Slam stadium shows. 

While the Road to Wrestle Grand Slam tour started on Saturday, new dates for the stadium shows have yet to be announced. 

Here are results from today’s show: 

Yujiro Takahashi defeated Yota Tsuji (8:24)

Yujiro pinned Tsuji after hitting Pimp Juice. 

Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI defeated Chase Owens & Gedo (10:58)

Sabre beat Gedo with a straightjacket sleeper. 

Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Tomoaki Honma (9:12)

Loa beat Honma with the Operation Jado Killer. 

Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cob defeated Kota Ibushi & Master Wato (14:11)

Cobb pinned Wato after hitting a Tour of the Islands. 

Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI (16:18)

Shingo pinned YOSHI-HASHI after hitting a Last of the Dragon.

**********

Here are the lineups for the next two events: 

NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam, Tuesday, May 25, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
  • Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Ryusuke Taguchi
  • Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori
  • Chase Owens vs. Yota Tsuji

NJPW Road to Wrestle Grand Slam, Wednesday, May 26, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
  • Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma vs. Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Chase Owens & Taiji Ishimori
  • Shingo Takagi vs. Yota Tsuji

NJPW reveals lineups for upcoming Road to Wrestle Grand Slam shows

Posted on by Bryan Rose

NJPW has revealed full cards for their upcoming Road to Wrestle Grand Slam events.

The first night’s main event, on May 22, will have Hiroshi Tanahashi teaming with Ryusuke Taguchi to take on Shingo Takagi and BUSHI. An eight man tag headlines the May 24 card. May 25 has Tanahashi teaming with Kota Ibushi to take on Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan. May 26 has Tetsuya Naito and SANADA teaming up to take on Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI.

Young Lion Yota Tsuji will also be in singles action on all four shows.

The company is returning to touring after nine wrestlers tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month. The Wrestle Grand Slam events, which were also scheduled for this month, were delayed due to the COVID-19 state of emergency being extended to the end of May.

The full cards for this coming week’s shows can be seen below:

Saturday, May 22 – Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Shingo Takagi and BUSHI
  • Kota Ibushi and Tomoaki Honma vs. Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan
  • Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tetsuya Naito and SANADA
  • Master Wato and Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Chase Owens and Gedo
  • YOSHI-HASHI vs. Yota Tsuji

Monday, May 24 – Korakuen Hall

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, and YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, SANADA, and BUSHI
  • Kota Ibushi and Master Wato vs. Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Tomoaki Honma vs. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa
  • Zack Sabre Jr. and DOUKI vs. Chase Owens and Gedo
  • Yujiro Takahashi vs. Yota Tsuji

Tuesday, May 25 – Korakuen Hall

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi vs. Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan
  • Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI, and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Tetsuya Natio, SANADA, Shingo Takagi, and BUSHI
  • Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Master Wato vs. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa
  • Zack Sabre Jr. and DOUKI vs. Taiji Ishimori and Yujiro Takahashi
  • Chase Owens vs. Yota Tsuji

Wednesday, May 26 – Korakuen Hall

  • Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tetsuya Natio and SANADA
  • Kota Ibushi and Tomoaki Honma vs. Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan
  • Zack Sabre Jr. and DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and Master Wato vs. Taiji Ishimori, Chase Owens, and Yujiro Takahashi
  • Shingo Takagi vs. Yota Tsuji

NJPW to resume shows starting on May 22

Posted on by Bryan Rose

NJPW announced that they will return to running shows starting on May 22.

The company released a statement saying that they will resume their Road to Wrestle Grand Slam tour starting this Saturday in Nagoya. They also announced dates for May 24, 25, and 26 at Korakuen Hall.

NJPW made the move to cancel their events as 9 people tested positive for COVID-19 following the second night of Wrestling Dontaku. Today’s statement said that these wrestlers have continued to display minor symptoms and have received medical treatment. The company said further that wrestlers and staff will only be allowed to participate after diligent screening.

The two scheduled dome events in Yokohama and Tokyo have been delayed due to the state of emergency being extended in Japan to the end of month.

The second night of Wrestling Dontaku had to be rearranged due to wrestlers being taken off due to safety precautions. A scheduled match between El Desperado and YOH for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title had to be removed from the card altogether.

NJPW cancels three May shows due to Tokyo’s state of emergency

Posted on by Bryan Rose

NJPW has canceled three shows scheduled for next month at Korakuen Hall due to a state of emergency declaration for Tokyo.

The company wrote the following on their website:

As a result of the State of Emergency declared across Tokyo, New Japan Pro-Wrestling has arrived at the decision to cancel three events on the Road to Wrestle Grand Slam tour on May 8, 10 and 11 at Korakuen Hall.

We deeply apologise to fans who were looking forward to these events. Though matches with no fans in attendance were considered, NJPW has decided that, in order to act in the best interests of staff and wrestlers as they prepare for Wrestle Grand Slam in Yokohama Stadium May 15 and Tokyo Dome May 29, cancellation was the correct course of action. 

The company also said in their statement that the rest of their events are set to be held as planned, and will be in contact with authorities in regards to restrictions and regulations. All tickets for the canceled shows will be refunded.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga delcared a state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hyogo that began on April 25 and will run through May 11 due to an increase in COVID-19 infections.

NJPW’s next big shows are Wrestling Dontaku on May 3 and 4 in Fukuoka, Wrestle Grand Slam in Yokohama Stadium on May 15, and Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome on May 29.