Tag: road to wrestling dontaku results

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku results: Naito vs. Great-O-Khan

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Night twelve of the Road to Wrestling Dontaku tour took place today in Hiroshima at Sun Plaza Hall. 

Two unique singles matches topped the card, as Tetsuya Naito took on Great-O-Khan in the main event, while SANADA faced Aaron Henare in the semi-main. 

The Los Ingobernables de Japon vs. United Empire theme continued on the undercard, with Shingo Takagi and BUSHI teaming against IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay and Jeff Cobb. 

The tour continues with two nights of Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni on Wednesday at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time and Thursday at 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World. 

Here are full results and a report on today’s show:

Recommended matches —

  • Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb vs. Shingo Takagi & BUSHI 

Report —

Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Tiger Mask, SHO & YOH (7:09)

This didn’t get enough time to be anything special, but the work was solid. 

Suzuki-gun attacked as the babyfaces made their ring entrance. A brawl around ringside ensued. Suzuki and SHO began as the legal men. Suzuki used a heel hook, but SHO made the ropes. Suzuki hit a PK for a two count. 

SHO came back with a vertical suplex. YOH and Desperado got tags and had a nice exchange. YOH hit a neckbreaker, but missed a superkick. Desperado hit a spinebuster and tagged Kanemaru. YOH managed a tag to Tiger. 

Tiger hit a high cross for a near fall. Kanemaru blocked a Tiger Driver. Tiger used a crucifix for a near fall. Tiger hit the Driver, but Suzuki broke up the pin. 

Tiger went for a Tiger suplex, but Kanemaru blocked, then sent SHO into Tiger. Kanemaru caught Tiger in a jackknife cover and scored the flash pin. 

Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado by DQ (6:53)

This was more of an angle to set up the Loa vs. Sabre and Tonga vs. Taichi matches at Wrestling Dontaku next week. It was good when Loa and Sabre were in together. 

Sabre caught Loa in a guillotine at the opening bell, but Loa powered him into the corner to break the hold. Loa used some powerful strikes. Sabre caught him in a cobra twist. Loa powered out. Loa powered out of another guillotine and hit a powerslam. 

Taichi and Tama got tags. Taichi hit some Kawada kicks. Jado tried to interfere, but his immobility interfered with his interference. Taichi tossed him aside and he took an awkward tumble. Tama hit a Tongan Twist to Taichi. 

Bullet Club triple-teamed Taichi. DOUKI and Jado were in for some spots together. DOUKI hit a springboard hurricanrana to Tama. He went for a suicide dive, but Tama nailed him with a ladder. DOUKI took a nasty bump.  

Tama bumped the ref. Taichi used a dragon sleeper on Jado. Jado tapped, but the ref didn’t see it. Tama then laid waste to the Suzuki-gun side with the ladder. The ref was revived and called for the DQ. 

Loa taunted Sabre on the mic after the match. Jado hit DOUKI with a kendo stick. 

EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori, Gedo & Dick Togo defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato (12:17)

This was about what you would expect from a bad Bullet Club tag match with Yano on the other side. 

The good guys began with some comedy spots against EVIL. Tenzan tagged in and hit a brainbuster, tagged Wato, then hit an elbow drop. Wato covered for two. Togo jumped in. Wato nailed Togo with strikes. 

Yano took the referee. Togo exposed a buckle and Wato was whipped into it. All ten guys brawled to the floor, with Bullet Club firmly in control of the match. 

EVIL worked over Wato in the ring, then Bullet Club used quick tags to continue the assault. Wato came back with a dreamcast to Ishimori. Taguchi tagged in for a series of hip attacks. Ishimori blocked a bumaye with a cradle, then hit a rolling kick for a double down. 

Tana and Yujiro got tags. Tana was the proverbial house of fire, hitting  dropkick and a somersault senton. He hit a dragon screw to Gedo for good measure. Yujiro bit Tana’s hand and blocked a slingblade attempt with a lariat. 

Togo tagged in and lit Tana up with strikes. Tana hit a crossbody and tagged Yano. Yano exposed a buckle and produced a hood. EVIL hit Yano with a corner pad. EVIL took the ref. Togo put the hood on Yano and rolled him up for two. 

Togo tried to choke Yano with his ligature. Yano hit a low blow. The ref got bumped. EVIL hit Everything is EVIL, then put Togo on top of Yano. Togo got the pin. 

EVIL choked Yano with the ligature after the match and had to be torn away by the ring attendants. 

***** Intermission *****

Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb defeated Shingo Takagi & BUSHI (13:23)

This was excellent. 

Ospreay and Shingo started off with a hot exchange. They traded strikes. Shingo hit a hip toss on Ospreay onto Cobb. BUSHI tagged in and hit Ospreay with chops. BUSHI went after Ospreay’s knees with a dropkick. 

Cobb got a blind tag. Cobb and Ospreay hit some tandem offense on Shingo on the apron. Cobb went after BUSHI on the outside, while Shingo and Ospreay paired off. Cobb cut BUSHI off with some power moves. Cobb and Ospreay used quick tags and worked on BUSHI. 

Ospreay hit a springboard double stomp to a draping BUSHI. Cobb hit a running vertical suplex for a near fall. BUSHI came back with a low dropkick to Cobb and a combination bulldog/dropkick.

Shingo tagged in for some power spots with Cobb. Shingo hit a vertical suplex. Cobb hit an overhead belly-to-belly. Ospreay tagged in and tied Shingo to the tree of woe for a Shibata dropkick. Ospreay hit a bloody sunday. Shingo countered with a pop-up death valley driver. 

Shingo missed a sliding lariat. A crazy sequence ended with Ospreay taking a flip bump off a lariat after missing on a Stormbreaker attempt. 

BUSHI tagged in and hit Ospreay with a tope suicida and a DDT. Ospreay hit a handspring kick. Shingo and BUSHI hit tandem offense. BUSHI hit a back stabber for a two count. All four jumped in as the match worked towards the finish. Ospreay hit two Oscutters to Shingo. 

BUSHI avoided a Stormbreaker and a Tour of the Islands. Ospreay hit a pop-up powerbomb, but Shingo saved for BUSHI. Cobb hit the Tour of the Islands on Shingo. 

Ospreay hit the Chelsea Grin and the Stormbreaker on BUSHI for the pin. 

SANADA defeated Aaron Henare (w/Will Ospreay) (23:28)

The last five minutes of this were excellent, but there were long stretches early on where this was quite dull. Henare is still learning how to have long singles matches and I don’t see SANADA as a guy who can carry just anyone. 

Henare attacked as SANADA made his ring entrance. Henare sent SANADA into the barricade. Back inside, Henare focused on attacking the left leg. Henare used a heel hook. SANADA rolled to the ropes to force a break. 

SANADA came back with a dropkick to Henare’s left leg. SANADA hit a leapfrog dropkick and a plancha. Ospreay teased getting involved on the outside, but held back. Back in, SANADA missed a springboard attack. Henare hit some stiff mid kicks at the ten minute mark. Henare missed a mid kick, but connected on a blue thunder bomb for a two count. 

SANADA blocked a tackle. Henare escaped a TKO attempt. SANADA took his Ray Stevens bump over the corner pad and hit a springboard dropkick. SANADA hit a back suplex for a two count. He followed with a magic screw for another near fall. 

SANADA missed a moonsault press, but that led to nothing. SANADA used a spinning Skull End. Henare reversed into his own submission hold, but SANADA forced a rope break. SANADA fought off a superplex attempt. 

Henare rolled through on a crossbody attempt and hit a fall away slam. Henare hit a rugby tackle for a two count. SANADA fought out of a Streets of Rage attempt. Henare reversed Skull End into his own Skull End. SANADA fought out of another finisher attempt and used Skull End to set up an O’Connor roll, then used that to set up Skull End again. 

Here’s the logic flaw in every SANADA match. In most cases he is about to win with Skull End, then gives up the hold to try a moonsault. He did it again here. He had Skull End, they did a long submission tease, then he gave up the hold and missed the moonsault. 

They traded strikes. Henare hit a headbutt and tried Streets of Rage. SANADA escaped and hit a Tiger Suplex. Henare kicked out at one. 

SANADA hit a TKO, then hit two moonsaults for the pin. 

Tetsuya Naito defeated Great-O-Khan (w/Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb) (27:05)

I don’t think this was as good as their last singles match. I saw that one as a one-man show, with Naito carrying O-Khan. Naito was not as good here, so the match was not as good. 

They teased locking up for so long that it became comedy. They finally tied up. O-Khan broke cleanly against the ropes. O-Khan went to the mat and dared Naito to grapple with him. They had a lengthy sequence on the ground. O-Khan was firmly in control of the grappling. 

Naito came back with an enzuigiri, then used O-Khan’s hair as he set up a camel clutch. O-Khan rolled outside. Naito again used the hair on the floor. O-Khan sent Naito into the barricade, then hit a throw on the floor. 

O-Khan again used the barricade. Naito got hung up on the barricade and went into complete SummerSlam 2005 Shawn Michaels mode as he sold a near-countout. Back in, O-Khan sat on Naito’s head on the turnbuckle. 

Naito came back with an inverted atomic drop and a neckbreaker. Naito hit a basement dropkick and combinacion cabron for a near fall. Naito used a crucifix hold, but O-Khan forced a break. O-Khan blocked a Destino and hit a throw. 

O-Khan hit Mongolian chops before hanging Naito up in the corner. He hit a sliding dropkick with Naito tied to the tree of woe. O-Khan covered for a near fall. Naito hit a one-legged dropkick and a draping neckbreaker. 

Naito hit a top rope frankensteiner for a two count. O-Khan hit a couple of throws. O-Khan hit a reverse suplex for a two count. Naito answered with a tornado DDT. Naito began going after O-Khan’s neck with elbows to set up for Destino at the 20 minute call. 

Naito hit Esperanza for a near fall. Naito hit Destino, but O-Khan kicked out. Naito hit an enzuigiri. O-Khan came back with a lariat. Naito fired off some strikes. O-Khan tried to answer, but his strikes were clearly weaker. 

O-Khan blocked a flying forearm and hit a slam. O-Khan fired up and hit a pump kick for a two count. O-Khan used a standing head and arm choke, but gave up the hold and hit a back breaker. He went back to the choke at the 25 minute mark. O-Khan hit a TTD, but Naito kicked out. 

O-Khan went for the Eliminator, but Naito reversed into a Destino. O-Khan kicked out. 

Naito hit a third Destino for the pin. 

Naito closed the show with a promo.

**********

Here are the lineups for the next events: 

NJPW Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni night one, Wednesday, April 28, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: SHO & YOH (c) vs. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Creation of darkness blindfold match for the provisional KOPW 2021: Toru Yano (c) vs. EVIL
  • Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo
  • Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado
  • Tiger Mask & Gabriel Kidd vs. Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemura

NJPW Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni night two, Thursday, April 29, 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare
  • Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito vs. Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan
  • Toru Yano, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Dick Togo
  • Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado
  • Tiger Mask, SHO & YOH vs. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • SANADA & BUSHI vs. Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemura

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku results: NEVER Six-Man title match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Night eight of the Road to Wrestling Dontaku tour took place today at Korakuen Hall.

The NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles were on the line in the main event, with the CHAOS trio of Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI defending against the Bullet Club team of KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi and Taiji Ishimori. 

The tour continues with untelevised shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The next broadcast event will be a 5:30 a.m. Eastern time show on NJPW World on Monday, April 26. 

Here are full results and a report on today’s show:

Recommended matches —

  • Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori 
  • Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare vs. Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI 

Report —

Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Tomoaki Honma, SHO & YOH (10:38)

This was a good opener. They didn’t have enough time to kick it into high gear. 

Desperado immediately got the upper hand on YOH with a series of strikes and by raking the face. YOH fired up and hit a flying forearm, then backed Desperado into the corner with strikes. Kanemaru pulled YOH off the ropes as he tried a springboard attack, then Suzuki-gun took control. 

YOH was cut off. Desperado and Kanemaru worked on his left knee. Desperado used Numero Dos, but SHO made the save. Kanemaru and Suzuki used quick tags and continued to target the left leg. YOH managed a dropkick to Suzuki’s left leg, then tagged Honma. 

Honma hit a bulldog, but missed a kokeshi attempt on Suzuki. They traded forearm shots, then slaps. Suzuki used a heel hook, then an ankle lock, but Honma forced a rope break. Honma ended up bleeding from the mouth. Honma hit two diving kokeshis to turn the tide. 

SHO and Kanemaru tagged in. SHO hit a series of kicks and scored a near fall. Kanemaru and Desperado doubled up on SHO, but YOH jumped in to even things out. 

Suzuki and Honma brawled to the floor. SHO hit Kanemaru with a backstabber into a one-legged dropkick from YOH. Kanemaru avoided a 3K, then blocked a Shock Arrow attempt. Kanemaru sat down into a cradle and trapped SHO for the flash pin. 

Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado defeated Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI (12:33)

The Bullet Club side attacked before the opening bell. DOUKI and Jado dueled with their sticks. Loa hit a Boss Man slam to DOUKI to cut him off. Jado used a kendo stick on DOUKI on the outside. Bullet Club then isolated DOUKI in their corner and went to work. 

DOUKI came back with something resembling a DDT on Tama, then tagged Taichi. Taichi ran wild, choking both members of G.O.D., then turned his attention to Jado. Jado got sent outside. Tama hit a dragon screw to Taichi. 

There were some clunky spots between Tama and Taichi. Tama blocked an axe bomber and hit a Tongan Twist. Taichi blocked a Gun Stun and hit a gamengiri into a double down. 

Sabre and Loa got tags and had a nice exchange. Sabre used a guillotine, then went to work on Loa’s left arm. Bullet Club triple-teamed Sabre. Loa hit a back suplex for a near fall. Sabre fought out of a G.O.D. Magic Killer, but got hit with a tandem neckbreaker. 

Jado took the referee as everyone jumped in. Tama used a title belt as a weapon on Taichi. Jado missed a kendo stick shot to DOUKI. DOUKI hit a plancha to Jado. DOUKI has improved and is working very hard on this tour. 

Sabre used an octopus on Loa, but Loa reversed into Apesh*t and got the pin. 

Jado used a kendo stick on DOUKI after the match. Loa cut a promo and said that if Sabre beats him fair and square in a one-on-one match, G.O.D. will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles against Sabre and Taichi, but if Sabre loses, they can never challenge G.O.D. for the titles again. 

G.O.D. then hit a Magic Killer on Taichi. 

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano defeated EVIL & Gedo (w/Dick Togo) by DQ (6:34)

This was a cluster by design. The highlight was once again Gedo booing Tanahashi’s abs as he took off his ring jacket. 

Yano began as the legal man and was quickly cut off. EVIL exposed a buckle. Tanahashi got a tag and got whipped into the buckle. Tanahashi came back with a twist and shout on Gedo. 

Tanahashi got a cloverleaf applied to Gedo. Togo jumped on the apron and took the ref. Yano put a hood on Togo. EVIL jumped in and hit low blows to Tanahashi and Yano. Gedo grabbed brass knuckles. Togo jumped in with his ligature and put a hood on Yano. 

Gedo used the knuckles on Tana and the ref called for the DQ. 

EVIL spray painted Yano’s KOPW trophy black after the match. Yano sold this by crying. 

***** Intermission *****

Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare defeated Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI (14:41)

This was a chaotic brawl from before the opening bell. 

United Empire tried a sneak attack as LIJ did their fist bump before the match, but LIJ fought them off. All eight brawled to the floor. Empire got the best of the brawl. BUSHI and Cobb ended up as the legal men. BUSHI was cut off and Empire worked him over. 

BUSHI managed a tag and Shingo came in all fired up. Ospreay tagged in as well. Shingo teased a noshigami, but instead hit a vertical suplex. Shingo and Ospreay traded strikes in the corner. Ospreay hit pip pip cheerio, then tagged out. 

Shingo made a comeback on Henare with a dragon screw, then tagged SANADA. SANADA connected on a back suplex and a plancha. Henare answered with kicks and a suplex. SANADA blocked a tackle. They traded finisher teases. SANADA hit a magic screw into a double down. 

Naito and O-Khan got tags. They traded forearm strikes. Naito hit a one-legged dropkick for a two count. Naito went after O-Khan’s neck with back elbows. BUSHI jumped in for some tandem offense. Ospreay broke up a submission attempt. Shingo took out Ospreay. 

Naito pulled O-Khan around the ring by his hair. O-Khan used a throw and a judo toss. Naito hit an enzuigiri and a basement dropkick to the right knee before tagging out. 

BUSHI tagged in for a missile dropkick and a DDT. O-Khan blocked a swinging neckbreaker with a pump kick. O-Khan went for the Eliminator, but Shingo saved. Ospreay jumped in and did a crazy sequence with Shingo. SANADA and Henare entered for their own battle. Cobb and Naito jumped in. Cobb blocked a swing DDT and hit a spin cycle. 

Cobb threw BUSHI to O-Khan. O-Khan used the claw to set up the Eliminator and got the pin. 

NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defeated KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori to retain the titles (20:14)

The closing stretch of this was very good. The match was all action. 

KENTA teased starting off with YH, but stalled. He then tagged out. Ishimori and Goto began the match. Ishimori fired off some strikes, but Goto dropped him with a tackle. All six jumped in as Red Shoes lost control of the match in the opening minute. 

Bullet Club turned it into a ringside brawl. Goto ended up cut off. KENTA tagged in and methodically worked on Goto with elbow drops. Bullet Club traded tags as they kept the pressure on Goto. YH tried to interfere, but Ishimori tossed him outside. Goto got whipped into an exposed turnbuckle. 

Goto hit a misdirection lariat to Yujiro and managed a tag to Ishii. Ishii blocked an Ishimori dropkick and hit a lariat. Ishii dispatched an interfering KENTA after a series of misdirection spots. Yujiro hit an inverted DDT. Ishii blocked a lariat. They traded strikes. Yujiro hit a lariat and fisherman buster for a two count. 

Ishii came back with a German on Yujiro. KENTA and YH got tags. Goto and Ishimori jumped in. Ishii entered. Ishimori and Yujiro hit a neckbreaker to YH. KENTA followed with a top rope double stomp for a near fall. 

YH escaped a Go 2 Sleep. KENTA escaped a Goto ushgoroshi. YH hit a thrust kick into a Goto ushigorsoshi into an Ishii sliding lariat for a near fall. YH hit a lariat on KENTA for two. KENTA blocked Kharma and hit a DDT. 

Ishimori hit a Bloody Cross on YH, but missed a 450. YH hit a lariat. Goto tagged in for a wheel kick and a bulldog on Ishimori for a near fall. Ishimori blocked an ushigoroshi and hit a handspring kick. Bullet Club triple-teamed Goto. YH and Ishii saved. 

Yujiro took the referee. KENTA jumped in with YH’s bo staff. KENTA hit Ishii and Goto with the bo. Ishimori covered, but YH broke up the pin. KENTA bumped the referee. YH and Yujiro dueled with their bo and cane. KENTA and YH fought over the bo. YH hit KENTA with the bo. 

Ishimori hit a drop toehold into the exposed buckle on Goto. Ishimori got two quick near falls on pinning combinations. Ishimori took a flip bump off an Ishii lariat. Ishimori hit a knee strike to Goto. 

Goto blocked a La Mistica and hit a headbutt. Goto hit a GTW and a GTR for the pin. 

YH got his bo back and the good guys retained. 

**********

Here is the lineup for Monday’s show: 

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku night 12, Monday, April 26, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Tetsuya Naito vs. Great-O-Khan
  • SANADA vs. Aaron Henare
  • Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb vs. Shingo Takagi & BUSHI
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori, Gedo & Dick Togo
  • Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado
  • Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. SHO, YOH & Tiger Mask

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku results: KENTA vs. YOSHI-HASHI

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Night seven of the Road to Wrestling Dontaku tour took place today at Korakuen Hall.

The top three matches featured the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions facing members of Bullet Club in singles matches, with YOSHI-HASHI vs. KENTA, Hirooki Goto vs. Taiji Ishimori and Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yujiro Takahashi. 

KENTA, Takahashi and Ishimori will challenge Goto, Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI for those NEVER Six-Man titles on tomorrow’s Road to Wrestling Dontaku event, a 5:30 a.m. Eastern time show on NJPW World.

Here are full results and a report on today’s show:

Recommended matches —

  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yujiro Takahashi
  • Hirooki Goto vs. Taiji Ishimori

Report —

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Tomoaki Honma defeated EVIL, Dick Togo & Gedo (8:54)

This was a fun little comedy opener with some bad wrestling. 

I love the spot where Gedo boos Tanahashi’s abs when he takes his ring jacket off. 

Bullet Club attacked before the opening bell. Honma and Togo paired off in the ring as the other four brawled on the floor. Honma missed a kokeshi, and Bullet Club cut him off and worked him over. 

Honma came back on Gedo with a hip toss and a kokeshi, then dispatched an interfering Togo and EVIL. Tanahashi got a tag and went to work on Gedo. Gedo used a thumb to the eye. Togo tagged in, but Tana hit him with a dragon screw. 

Yano tagged in for the finish. He exposed a buckle. He produced a hood from his tights. Togo grabbed the hood and put it on Yano, then rolled him up for a two count. 

Yano hit a double low blow on EVIL and Togo, then used a schoolboy on Togo for the pin. 

Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare defeated Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI (7:43)

This was fine for what it was, but they hardly got any time. 

We had our second match and our second jumpstart attack by the heels. Ospreay and Shingo started out as the legal men. They had a nice strike exchange. Ospreay avoided a sliding lariat and stomped away at Shingo’s head. 

Henare tagged in for some double team offense. Shingo hit a double vertical suplex, then tagged SANADA. Henare has pinned SANADA twice on this tour. Henare cut SANADA off, then tagged O-Khan. O-Khan used a wacky hold on SANADA. He tried for a Dominator, but SANADA kicked hm away and tagged Naito. 

Naito fought off a double team from O-Khan and Cobb. BUSHI jumped in for some tandem offense. O-Khan used Mongolian chops on Naito. Naito hit an enzuigiri into a double down. 

BUSHI and Cobb tagged in. BUSHI rolled Cobb up for a near fall. Cobb hit a spin cycle for a near fall. Everyone jumped in for a big move before the finish. 

Cobb hit BUSHI with a Tour of the Islands for the pin. 

O-Khan cut his roll call promo after the match. 

*****Intermission*****

Tomohiro Ishii defeated Yujiro Takahashi (15:17)

This was the best Yujiro match in years. 

Yujiro fired off some kicks at the outset, then sent Ishii outside. Yujiro whipped Ishii into the barricade and hit him with his pimp cane. 

Back inside, Ishii no-sold some forearm shots. Yujiro hit some elbow drops and a drive-by kick with Ishii hung up in the ropes. Ishii hit a shoulder block, then a series of chops in the corner. Yujiro halted the momentum by biting Ishii’s hand, then hit a slam and a low dropkick. 

They had a striking battle in the center of the ring. Yujiro whipped Ishii into the buckle, then ht a German suplex into the buckle. He followed with a fisherman buster for a near fall. 

Ishii fired up and hit a powerslam. Yujiro hit a back suplex into a double down. Ishii hit a superplex for a two count. They teased a ref bump. Ishii hit a headbutt, but Yujiro answered with an Alabama slam, a lariat and an Angle slam for a near fall. 

A series of misdirection spots ended with Yujiro hitting a lariat. Ishii avoided Miami Shine and hit an enzuigiri into another double down. 

Another exchange of strikes ended with an Ishii lariat. Ishii hit a powerbomb and used a stack cover for one near fall, then hit a sliding lariat for another. Yujiro hit a DDT, then a reverse DDT. Yujiro hit Miami Shine for a two count. 

Ishii blocked Pimp Juice and hit a headbutt and a lariat for a near fall, then used a Vertical Drop Brainbuster to pick up the pin. 

Taiji Ishimori defeated Hirooki Goto (w/Tomohiro Ishii) (12:08)

From a ring psychology standpoint this was probably the best thing on the show. 

They established this right away as your classic big man vs. little man match where the heel is the little guy, as Goto won a striking battle. Ishimori then used his agility to avoid a series of strike attempts. Ishimori bailed to the outside and ran away from Goto. 

Ishimori beat Goto back into the ring and cut him off, focusing his attack on Goto’s left arm. Ishimori took the fight back outside and worked Goto’s arm over the edge of the barricade. 

Back in, Ishimori continued to attack the left arm. Ishimori missed with double knees in the corner. Goto hit a vertical suplex, a wheel kick in the corner, then a bulldog. Ishimori used an eye rake to avoid an ushigoroshi, then hit a handspring kick. 

Ishii came to ringside to second Goto. 

Ishimori used a Yes Lock, but Goto reached the ropes. Ishimori dropped Goto face-first into the turnbuckle. Goto hit a hangman’s neckbreaker. They traded strikes. Goto got a near fall off a lariat, then hit an ushigoroshi for a two count. 

Goto hit a PK. Ishimori blocked a GTR attempt and turned it into a backslide for the flash pin. 

KENTA defeated YOSHI-HASHI (w/Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto) (26:06)

These guys were working in slow motion. KENTA picks and chooses his spots to work hard, and YH needs a lot of help to have a great match. This did not make for a winning formula. 

Throw in the ref bumps and the fact that both wrestlers ended up with bloody mouths after the match, and this was even worse. 

KENTA did his customary stalling for the first few minutes. YH hit a baseball slide and dragged him back inside. YH hit a headhunter. YH went after KENTA’s left arm with elbow strikes. YH hit a chop. KENTA rolled back outside. 

YH sent KENTA into the barricade. KENTA reversed a whip into the barricade and hit a DDT on the arena floor. KENTA continued his offensive on the outside. Ishii came over to menace him, so KENTA rolled YH back inside. 

KENTA hit a series of kicks. YH fired up. They traded forearm strikes. KENTA used a drop toehold to ground YH again. KENTA hit a kitchen sink, then exposed a turnbuckle. KENTA and Ishii jawed at each other. YH got whipped into the exposed buckle. 

KENTA continued to work YH over, using a neckbreaker, a chinlock, then some kicks. YH came back with strikes, a dragon screw and a delayed vertical suplex. KENTA hit another kitchen sink to stop YH’s momentum. 

KENTA hit a tornado DDT, then a top rope clothesline for a near fall. KENTA used an STF, but YH made the ropes. KENTA hit a draping DDT for a two count. He followed with a running boot in the corner and a Shibata dropkick. 

KENTA missed with a double stomp off the top, but hit a powerslam. He hit the double stomp on his second attempt for a two count. YH fought off a Go 2 Sleep attempt. They traded strikes. YH hit a dragon suplex, but KENTA rolled to the apron for safety. 

YH hit a slingshot into the exposed buckle, then connected with a lariat for a two count. YH used the Butterfly Lock, then rolled through into a Kharma attempt. KENTA blocked. YH hit a back stabber and a meteora. YH hit a fisherman buster, but KENTA kicked out. 

KENTA blocked Kharma. They teased a ref bump, and KENTA used the distraction to hit a DDT for a two count. As YH kicked out, he threw KENTA into the ref, who took a bump. 

KENTA produced YH’s bo staff from under the ring. KENTA missed with a bo swing. YH grabbed the staff. The ref was revived and saw YH with the staff. As YH took the ref, KENTA splashed them both in the corner for another ref bump. 

KENTA used the bo on YH, then revived the ref. YH trapped KENTA in a cradle for a good near fall. YH hit a superkick and used a schoolboy for a two count. YH blocked a kick and hit a slap. He tried for Kharma, but KENTA threw him into the buckle. 

KENTA hit a series of palm strikes, a busaiku knee for a near fall, then used the Go 2 Sleep for the pin.

KENTA closed the show with a promo, introducing the crowd to his girlfriend — the bo staff.  

Here is the lineup for Tomorrow’s show: 

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku night eight, Tuesday, April 20, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI (c) vs. KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori
  • Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare vs. Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano vs. EVIL & Gedo 
  • Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado 
  • Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Tomoaki Honma, SHO & YOH 

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku results: The tour continues

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Night six of the Road to Wrestling Dontaku tour took place today at Korakuen Hall.

The top two matches again featured members of Los Ingobernables de Japon taking on members of The United Empire. Today it was United Empire that won both bouts. 

The tour continues with a 5:30 a.m. Eastern time show on NJPW World on Monday morning. 

Here are full results from today’s show:

Tomoaki Honma, SHO & YOH defeated Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (8:35)

YOH pinned Kanemaru with an O’Connor roll into a five star clutch.

Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado (10:38)

Sabre used a clarky cat armlock into a cross armbreaker for the submission win over Jado.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defeated EVIL, KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo (15:29)

Goto pinned Gedo after a GYW.

Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb defeated Shingo Takagi & BUSHI (12:41)

Ospreay pinned BUSHI after hitting a Stormbreaker.

Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare defeated Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (20:02)

Henare pinned SANADA after hitting the Streets of Rage death valley bomb.

Here is the lineup for Monday’s show: 

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku night seven, Monday, April 19, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • KENTA vs. YOSHI-HASHI
  • Hirooki Goto vs. Taiji Ishimori
  • Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yujiro Takahashi
  • Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare vs. Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Tomoaki Honma vs. EVIL, Gedo & Dick Togo

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku results: United Empire vs. LIJ

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW continued the Road to Wrestling Dontaku tour today with a show at Korakuen Hall.

The top two matches pitted members of The United Empire against Los Ingobernables de Japon, with each unit winning a bout. 

The tour continues with an untelevised event in Tochigi on Friday, then returns to Korakuen Hall with a 5:30 a.m. Eastern time show on NJPW World on Sunday morning. 

Here are full results from today’s show:

Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Tomoaki Honma, SHO & YOH (12:02)

Suzuki submitted Honma with a heel hook.

Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado defeated Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI (9:21)

Tama pinned DOUKI after hitting a Gun Stun.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defeated EVIL, KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo (15:25)

YOSHI-HASHI used the Butterfly Lock for the submission win over Gedo.

Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb defeated Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI (9:30)

Cobb pinned BUSHI after hitting a Tour of the Islands.

Shingo Takagi & SANADA defeated Will Ospreay & Aaron Henare (18:07)

Shingo pinned Henare after hitting Last of the Dragon.

Here is the lineup for Sunday’s show: 

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku night six, Sunday, April 18, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare
  • Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL, KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo
  • Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado 
  • Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Tomoaki Honma, SHO & YOH

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku results: LIJ vs. United Empire

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW continued the Road to Wrestling Dontaku tour today with a show at Korakuen Hall.

The main event pitted members of The United Empire against Los Ingobernables de Japon in an eight-man tag, with United Empire coming out on top. 

The big angle on the show took place in the semi-main, as EVIL helped Dick Togo defeat Toru Yano after turning the lights out. EVIL will challenge Yano for the KOPW 2021 provisional title on April 28 at Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni.

The tour continues Thursday with a 5:30 a.m. Eastern time show, again from Korakuen Hall. 

Here are full results from today’s show:

Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated SHO, YOH & Gabriel Kidd (10:00)

Kanemaru pinned SHO after a ref bump, a low blow and a schoolboy.

Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado defeated Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI (8:40)

Tanga Loa pinned DOUKI after hitting Apesh*t.

EVIL, KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori defeated Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Tomoaki Honma (14:26)

EVIL used a Darkness Scorpion (scorpion deathlock) on Honma for the submission win.

Gedo & Dick Togo defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano (11:14)

EVIL was presumably under the ring for the match as Yano crawled under the ring and someone threw him back out. 

The lights went out after Yano put a hood over Togo’s head. A camera flash appeared to illuminate EVIL hitting Yano with Everything is EVIL while the lights were out. With the hood still on, Togo was placed on top of Yano. The lights came back on and Togo pinned Yano. 

EVIL put a hood on Yano and stomped him down after the match.

Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare defeated Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI (16:16)

Cobb pinned BUSHI after hitting a Tour of the Islands.

Here is the lineup for Thursday’s show: 

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku night four, Thursday, April 15, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Will Ospreay & Aaron Henare vs. Shingo Takagi & SANADA
  • Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI vs. Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL, KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo
  • Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado 
  • Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Tomoaki Honma, SHO & YOH

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku results: The tour begins

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW kicked off the Road to Wrestling Dontaku tour today with a show at the Yokohama Budokan. 

Los Ingobernables de Japon took on The United Empire in an elimination match in the main event, with number one contender to the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Shingo Takagi last eliminating the IWGP champ Will Ospreay to secure victory for his team. 

The tour continues Sunday with an untelevised event in Shizuoka, then action returns to NJPW World on Tuesday with a 5:30 a.m. Eastern time show from Korakuen Hall. That event will be streamed for free on NJPW World. 

Here are full results from today’s show:

Yota Tsuji defeated Gabriel Kidd (8:18)

Tsuji won by submission with a Boston crab. 

Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated SHO, YOH & Yuya Uemura (13:08)

Suzuki beat Uemura by submission with a half-crab. 

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

Taichi submitted Jado with the Seitei Jujiro (stretch plum).

Elimination match: EVIL, KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI (23:13)

EVIL eliminated YOSHI-HASHI over the top rope for the victory. 

Elimination match: Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI defeated Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare (23:21)

Shingo eliminated Ospreay over the top rope to secure the win for his team. 

Here is the lineup for Tuesday’s show: 

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku night three, Tuesday, April 13, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time, free on NJPW World —

  • Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano vs. Gedo & Dick Togo
  • Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI & Tomoaki Honma vs. EVIL, KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori
  • Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado
  • Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. SHO, YOH & Gabriel Kidd

NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku results: Two elimination tag matches

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The final NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku show of 2019 was held today at the Beppu B-Con Plaza in Oita.

Aided by the elimination stipulation in the top two matches, the show felt fresher and more energetic than the last few events on the tour. 

The only news in the way of angles involved the feud between IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Dragon Lee and Taiji Ishimori, who faced off in the semi-main, taking opposite sides in a 10-man elimination tag. 

After a double elimination over the top rope, Ishimori unmasked Lee, and Young Lions rushed to Lee’s side, so as not to reveal his face. 

Here are full results and recaps:

TIGER MASK IV, SHOTA UMINO & REN NARITA DEFEATED TOA HENARE, YOTA TSUJI & YUYA UEMURA

This was one of the better openers on this tour. The Young Lions appeared particularly energized. Narita and Uemura began with an intense exchange. Umino and Tsuji both hit very nice dropkicks. 

Tiger hit a tiger suplex off the top to get the pin on Uemura. 

ROCKY ROMERO & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU

The addition of Rocky Romero to this tour has added some much-needed life and excitement to the undercard. 

Suzuki-gun’s targets tonight were the eyes. Several times they used eye rakes. They started off doing some comedy with Taguchi and his rugby helmet. 

Suzuki-gun turned it into a brawl, and they fought around ringside. Kanemaru hit a leg slice off the guardrail.

Near the finish, Rocky went for Sliced Bread, but Desperado cut him off. Desperado hit a suplex. He went for Pinche Loco, but Rocky turned it into a cradle and got the pin. 

TOGI MAKABE, TORU YANO & TOMOAKI HONMA DEFEATED TAMA TONGA, TANGA LOA & JADO

I wish for long and happy lives for Jado and Honma. That said, they are limited at best at this stage of their in-ring careers. The matches that they are involved in are going to be what they are going to be. Lots of brawling, countout teases, kendo stick shots, and other shortcuts in this one.

The finish saw Honma hit Jado with a kokeshi, and Makabe followed with the King Kong knee drop off the top for the pin. 

JUSHIN THUNDER LIGER, JEFF COBB & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED MINORU SUZUKI, TAICHI & TAKA MICHINOKU 

Cobb and Taichi started off with a short exchange. Suzuki and YOSHI-HASHI got tags. YOSHI-HASHI hit a hard chop, and Suzuki decided that was enough. He put an armbar on YOSHI-HASHI over the ropes, and then both teams started brawling around ringside. 

Suzuki went after Liger on an announcer’s table, attacking his arms and biting his fingers. Suzuki-gun worked over YOSHI-HASHI back in the ring. 

Liger finally got a tag and went one-on-one with Suzuki. Liger hit a shotei, caught a PK, and hit a brainbuster. Cobb and Taichi tagged back in. Cobb hit a Samoan drop, but missed on a standing moonsault. Taichi hit an enzuigiri and took his pants off. 

Cobb hit a clothesline, then connected on his second standing moonsault attempt. They exchanged strikes. Suzuki jumped in illegally, while Taichi tagged Cobb. TAKA hit a knee strike for a near fall. 

Taichi jumped in and went after Cobb, but Cobb hit him with a uranage. He followed with a Tour of the Islands on TAKA and pinned him. 

JAY WHITE, TAIJI ISHIMORI, BAD LUCK FALE, CHASE OWENS & HIKULEO DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO, DRAGON LEE, MIKEY NICHOLLS, JUICE ROBINSON & WILL OSPREAY IN AN ELIMINATION TAG MATCH

White was the sole survivor. The stipulation really added an element of fun to this match.

Ishimori and Lee began with the same crazy sequence they used last night. I can confirm, it was again awesome. They tumbled over the top rope together, so we had a double elimination. Ishimori ripped Lee’s mask off on his way to the back. 

White got in with Goto, while the other six men brawled around the arena. Bullet Club won that battle, and they began taking turns working on Goto. 

Ospreay got a hot tag and ran wild on Hikuleo. Hikuleo hit some chops and went for an elimination over the top, but Nicholls and Juice caught Ospreay. Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio, a Robinson Special, and an OsCutter on Hikuleo, and pinned him. 

Fale jumped in and eliminated Ospreay over the top. Nicholls came in and eliminated Fale. Fale hit Nicholls with a right hand from the floor, and Owens tossed Nicholls. 

Juice and Owens did a spot where they both skinned the cat, then fought on the apron. Juice hit the Left Hand of God, and Owens was eliminated, leaving Juice and Goto against White. 

Juice hit a high cross off the top, but White suplexed him over the top rope for the elimination. 

White and Goto traded signature spots. Gedo jumped on the apron, distracting the referee. Goto tossed White, but the ref didn’t see it. White jumped back in, hit a low blow, then tossed Goto for the victory. 

SANADA, TETSUYA NAITO, EVIL, SHINGO TAKAGI & BUSHI DEFEATED KAZUCHIKA OKADA, KOTA IBUSHI, TOMOHIRO ISHII, SHO & YOH IN AN ELIMINATION TAG MATCH

SANADA was the sole survivor. This was another in a series of awesome matches that these two teams have had on this tour. A fun main event. 

EVIL and Ishii started off, trading shoulder blocks. Ishii got the first knockdown. EVIL scored his own, and both tagged out. YOH and BUSHI entered next. They traded palm strikes to the chest. YOH hit a flying forearm, then tagged SHO. They hit some tandem offense, and SHO got a near fall. 

Naito and SANADA jumped in illegally, and dropped SHO. On the outside, a brawl broke out. EVIL and Ishii went at it. Back inside, Shingo and SANADA traded tags, continuing to work over SHO. Ibushi and Naito jumped in, then went after each other on the floor. 

Shingo and SHO exchanged strikes. BUSHI came in and ate a spear, and SHO hit a vertical suplex on Shingo, allowing him to tag out to Okada. Okada picked up a near fall after a back elbow. Shingo hit a vertical suplex and tagged SANADA. 

SANADA hit a rana, then put the Paradise Lock on Okada. SANADA broke the hold with a dropkick, and got a near fall. Okada hit a flapjack, then tagged Ishii. SANADA hit a low dropkick, then tagged EVIL. EVIL hit a bulldog. Ishii no-sold some chops. They exchanged chops. EVIL got a knockdown, then hit a senton for a two count. 

They fought on the top rope, then slipped to the apron. They exchanged forearm shots, and EVIL eliminated Ishii with a clothesline. Ibushi immediately eliminated EVIL with a dropkick. 

Naito jumped in with Ibushi. Ibushi hit a standing moonsault. Naito used some help from BUSHI to hit a dropkick. Shingo also came in, and they went three-on-one against Ibushi. Naito hit a one-legged dropkick. Ibushi went to the apron, and Naito hit the combinacion de cabron on the apron. Ibushi avoided a baseball slide, then hit a crazy rana, eliminating both Naito and himself. 

BUSHI and YOH entered as the legal men. BUSHI blocked a dragon suplex and hit a DDT. SHO saved YOH from an elimination on the apron, and Roppongi 3K doubled up on BUSHI. They hit stereo knees on BUSHI, then a double suplex on Shingo. 

BUSHI blocked a 3K and hit a double rana. BUSHI sent YOH to the apron and eliminated him with a dropkick. SHO and BUSHI fought on the apron. SHO got back in the ring, then eliminated BUSHI with a dropkick. Shingo and SANADA were left for LIJ, and SHO and Okada for CHAOS. 

Shingo peppered SHO with strikes. SHO blocked two Pumping Bombers and hit his own running lariat. Okada got a tag. Shingo hit a DDT. He went to the top rope, but Okada cut him off, then eliminated him with a dropkick. 

SANADA and Okada faced off. They exchanged strikes. SANADA hit a leapfrog dropkick. He ducked a Rainmaker and applied Skull End, but SHO broke up the hold. Okada dropped SANADA onto the apron. SANADA low-bridged Okada and eliminated him. 

SHO hit a deadlift German for a two count. He went for Shock Arrow, but SANADA slid out and used Skull End. SHO dropped down into a cradle for a really cool near fall. SANADA went back to Skull End. He used a giant swing, maintaining the hold, then sat down. SHO tapped out.