IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles has been added to the September 25 and September 26 NJPW Strong Autumn Attack shows in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Eagles is coming off his first successful defense of the IWGP Jr. title at Sunday’s Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome. Eagles retained by defeating Hiromu Takahashi by submission. Eagles won the title at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome on July 25, defeating El Desperado.
No matches have been officially made for Eagles at Autumn Attack. Tickets for the dates in Garland, Texas are on sale now.
Here are the announced lineups:
NJPW Autumn Attack night one, Saturday, September 25 —
Minoru Suzuki vs. Fred Rosser
Will Ospreay vs. Karl Fredericks
Robbie Eagles vs. TBA
NJPW Autumn Attack night two, Sunday, September 26 —
Lio Rush vs. Taiji Ishimori
Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer vs. Tom Lawlor & Royce Isaacs
Three championships changed hands at today’s NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome event.
In the show’s semi-main event, Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Tetsuya Naito and SANADA to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships in 37:58. This was the longest IWGP Tag title match in Tokyo Dome history, according to Chris Samsa.
This marks the third reign with the IWGP Tag titles for Dangerous Tekkers. Naito and SANADA’s run with the belts ended at two weeks with zero successful defenses.
Earlier in the evening, Robbie Eagles defeated El Desperado to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship for the first time in 19:56. Eagles becomes the first Australian to capture IWGP gold.
Desperado’s first IWGP Jr. title reign came to an end following 147 days and two successful defenses.
On the Wrestle Grand Slam pre-show, Chase Owens won the provisional KOPW 2021 title in a 22-man New Japan Ranbo that went 35:36. Owens last eliminated former provisional KOPW 2021 Toru Yano by pinfall with a package piledriver to win the title.
Owens becomes the first person besides Yano to hold the KOPW title since its inception in August 2020. Yano held the KOPW 2020 title the entire time it was active. He won the first KOPW 2021 match at Wrestle Kingdom 15 in January and had held it ever since.
Robbie Eagles will be the next challenger for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
Eagles appeared via video message and issued his challenge at today’s NJPW Summer Struggle in Sapporo event following the IWGP Jr. title match main event.
After champion El Desperado successfully defended his title against Taiji Ishimori, Desperado took the microphone to cut the customary post-match promo. Before he spoke, the arena lights briefly went out. A message from Eagles then played on the video wall.
Eagles said that the junior heavyweight division has become more like a committee of vultures than anything else. Eagles said he needs to push past the vultures and make a declaration. Eagles said he was declaring himself the next challenger for Desperado.
In backstage comments after the event, Desperado said that Eagles did well to assert himself. He said that NJPW should listen to its champions, and Desperado stated that he wanted to defend the title against Eagles at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome on July 25.
No official announcement from NJPW has been made regarding Desperado vs. Eagles.
Here is the announced card for July 25 so far:
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, Sunday, July 25 —
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
Pre-show New Japan Ranbo for the provisional KOPW 2021
The fallout of AEW’s Winter is Coming show is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We look at how AEW is doing compared to Raw in different demos, the Sting interview this past week, how AEW’s numbers for segments have risen as well as the biggest AEW quarters of this year.
Also in this issue:
Kenny Omega/Don Callis dynamic, the odes to the past they have copied in their angle, debut of Tony Khan as a television performer in the interview on Impact, how close Winter is Coming actually came to being No. 1 for the night on cable, Tony Schiavone’s appearances years ago in TNA and what angle Vince Russo wanted to do with him, executives who vowed to not be TV performers and how that changed.
Major match teased on Impact, as well as the background of the Omega-Callis alliance and when the idea was first broached.
Television ratings for Impact and the surprises, as well as streaming numbers, and what major message that sends about the appeal of Omega in some places and not in others, as well as the number of people who ended up seeing the interview segment.
NXT Takeover War Games, the good, the not-so-good, the next destination show, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
TLC, have a lot of notes about where things do and don’t stand with the 2021 WrestleMania, the actual story of how Bill Goldberg’s streak came to be and what it came from, and how it was ruined and lost popularity. We also look back at the end of WCW.
HHH brings up some notes on Undertaker, WWE women popularity on social media, new WWE TV characters, new gimmicks, WWE stars on new television show, how WWE & AEW programming is doing internationally, how it is doing compared to other sports, more on the lawsuit against Matt Riddle & WWE and Riddle’s sides key arguments for dismissal, Johnny Gargano talks NXT goal, injury updates, Tyler Bate’s return, WWE market value and most-watched shows this past week on the WWE Network.
New Japan’s first show back in Fukuoka, to decide the Best of the Super Junior and World tag league finals. We look at both tournaments, as well as the business notes, the big announcement on the show, as well as match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
UFC weekend coverage with the stories behind the card, what’s next, effects of COVID and much more. We look at the business notes on the show and fight-by-fight coverage.
NOAH Chronicle and in particular, the Go Shiozaki vs Takashi Sugiura match-of-the-year candidate.
The short but very memorable pro wrestling career of Tom “Tiny” Lister and his run as Zeus, what he was known for out of wrestling and more.
WWE 2020 award nominations as well as one voter talks about favorites for Japan’s Tokyo Sports awards.
Detailed look at the television business, looking at stats not available elsewhere to get the deepest read into how shows are doing, what categories are doing well and how shows compare with previous weeks and one year ago.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
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If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
WEDNESDAY NEWS UPDATE
WWE
On social media, NXT noted that the match between Kyle O’Reilly and Pete Dunne will have “uninterrupted bell to bell action”. The winner will get a NXT Championship match.
WWE Battlegrounds’ third roster update will take place on December 23 and run through January 20. Characters to be added are Sting, Ric Flair, Sheamus, The Street Profits, Razor Ramon, Diesel, Bret Hart, Sami Zayn, Chad Gable, AOP, Fandango, and Roddy Piper.
Eric Bischoff spoke to Digital Spy on his short run as an executive producer for SmackDown.
Other Wrestling
Jake Roberts will not be on Dynamite tonight, writing on Twitter: “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to appear tonight due to illness (not COVID). These days we all have to be on point. Looking forward to seeing everyone in two weeks.”
A GoFundMe has been set up for Robbie Eagles and his family, who are trying to get his father home to Australia from the Philippines following his passing. He wrote on Twitter: “I really want to start posting some positivity online, but the last few days have been incredibly testing. After having already paid $16k AUD on my Dad’s medical bills, my family are still being asked an additional $20k AUD from the hospital he was in before passing. Without this outstanding balance paid, they will not release our Dad’s death certificate and thus we can’t even begin to look into how we can bring our Dad home to give him the send off he deserves and all of us, his kids want. We’ve tapped out our personal funds, x2 over. Everyone has been incredible with the generosity and I know it’s the worst time of the year to ask but if there is anyone able to donate, even a dollar or two, it’ll help us reach this goal.”
Serena Deeb noted on The Hashtag Show that NWA may be resuming shows at the start of next year. “NWA is probably starting back up again with some tapings in January or early next year,” she said (h/t Fightful). My intention as champion is to defend it all over the world. I would love to be a platform to showcase other women. The possibilities are endless.”
AEW and Rooster Teeth will launch a new video podcast next month called “Wrestling with the Week”. Hosted by Scorpio Sky and Rooster Teeth’s Eric Baudour, the show will look at the week in wrestling, gaming, sports, movies, and more.
Mike Bennett spoke to TVInsider on returning to Ring of Honor following his WWE release.
Impact will hold a virtual fanfest next month on Zoom. It will take place on January 16 at 11:00 am EST. Talent scheduled to appear include Rich Swann, Deonna Purrazzo, The Good Brothers, Don Callis, Eric Young, Motor City Machine Guns, and Tasha Steelz & Kiera Hogan. Information can be found at this link.
We’ve got a heavy-historical double-issue of the Wrestling Observer out this week. Our lead story looks at the career and final appearance of The Undertaker. We look at his famous matches, the WrestleMania streak, how long it’s been since he actually worked a full schedule, the dream match that did happen and why, and the one that never happened and why.
Also in this issue:
Survivor Series with match-by-match coverage, star ratings, poll results and interest level of the show.
The $39 million settlement of a lawsuit against WWE, the largest settlement of a lawsuit in pro wrestling history, why it was settled, testimony key witnesses were going to make, who sued, what the judge in the case said, crazy facts about the case, and testimony on what really happened in Saudi Arabia the day the WWE talent couldn’t get out of the country.
A story on the life of Bob Ryder, the start of TNA, the business numbers behind the start and how it got so deep in debt, what saved the company in 2005 and 2015 and Impact releases a statement on his death.
How Dana White is expecting a packed house for a UFC show sooner than you think and how that ties into what has been booked.
Major front office changes in WWE, and background of the decisions and people who are in and out, Xavier Woods and WWE negotiate a mainstream deal, NXT Takeover lineup notes, Lana documentary, Undertaker talks most famous matches and how Vince talked him into ending the streak, how WWE & AEW TV shows did this past week as compared to major sorts, U.K. Heritage Cup, former college football star has WWE interest, value of WWE stock right now and top ten most-watched shows on the WWE Network from last week.
Full coverage of UFC 255, details behind the show, match-by-match coverage and poll results.
The induction of Marc Ratner into the UFC Hall of Fame. We look at his background in boxing, his connection to pro wrestling, and his role in okaying an angle that literally changed the power structure of pro wrestling where Vince McMahon needed his approval. We look at why two different proposed dream match involving WWE stars didn’t happen as well as how Floyd Mayweather’s unbeaten streak stayed in tact due to a decision by Ratner as well as his role in making UFC treated as a sport, and how UFC was able to get Ratner to join the promotion.
2019 Business Year in review, with the biggest attendances, biggest PPV numbers, who headlined the most major shows, UFC business, WWE business and what Becky Lynch did in 2019 that no woman in the history of pro wrestling had ever come close to.
An updated list of the biggest drawing cards in pro wrestling history, comparing Jim Londos with Hulk Hogan, who Sam Muchnick said were the biggest draws ever, where Hogan ranked with Austin and Rock, and every annual attendance record from 1931 to the present and what record is likely never to be beaten.
NOAH’s Pro Wrestling Chronicle show and the Go Shiozaki ivs. Katsuhiko Nakajima main event.
A feature on the seven different Triple Crown award winners of the last 40 years, as well as those who came one step from doing so.
Stats for MVP, Most Outstanding, Best on interviews, Best Tag Team and others over the past 40 years as well as who seems to deserve more Hall of Fame consideration.
A feature on European villain Klaus Kauroff, who passed away this past week.
Television business, looking at stats not available elsewhere to get the deepest read into how shows are doing, what categories are doing well and how shows compare with previous weeks and one year ago.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
Our weekend Observer radio is up on the site talking about last night’s UFC, Smackdown and several other subjects.
The Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition was gigantic mainstream-wise. The fight did 12 million Google searches, and there were another 5 million for Nate Robinson and 100,000 for Badou Jack. No card in a long time has hit numbers like this. The numbers were bigger than Conor McGregor UFC fights and even bigger than Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm was. It was multiples of WrestleMania.
Former WWE announcer Mauro Ranallo was doing the Tyson-Jones broadcast last night. Al Bernstein was supposed to be doing the show, but he contracted COVID-19.
The only other combat sport related stuff that made the top 20 this past week was the death of David Prowse, the actor who played the physical character of Darth Vader in Star Wars, at 550,000. And UFC’s show last night, as weak as it was, still charted with 100,000 searches. While not covered in any of the news stories on the death of David Prowse, he was a pro wrestler in the U.K. during the 60s and 70s. Even with his notable size and physique, he was not a major star which is why the connection has rarely been made.
The former girlfriend of Alberto Rodriguez (Alberto El Patron) has retracted her statements regarding his allegedly beating and sexually assaulting her in May. She offered an apology to the Rodriguez family. This pretty likely will end the criminal case against him. There is obviously a lot more to this. Rodriguez was scheduled to go to trial on this case on 1/25. The woman wrote, “I apologize to the Rodriguez Del Rio family for the damages caused by my errors.”
The New Japan tag team tournament continues at 4:30 a.m. Eastern tomorrow from Korakuen Hall:
Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma vs. Yota Tsuji & Yuji Nagata
Jeff Cobb & Great O’Khan vs. Evil & Yujiro Takahashi
Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare vs Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano
Sanada & Shingo Takagi vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi vs. Juice Robinson & David Finlay
WWE
There is a new book out called “Dwayne The Rock Johnson: The People’s Champion – From WWE to Hollywood” at Amazon and other book outlets.
UFC
Clay Guida vs. Michael Johnson is scheduled for the 2/6 show.
Ronaldo Jacare Souza vs. Kevin Holland has been added to the 12/12 PPV show. Holland was scheduled to headline this coming Saturday against Jack Hermansson, but tested positive for COVID-19 and Holland was moved back one week. Hermansson’s new main event opponent is Marvin Vettorl, who was scheduled to face Souza on 12/12 but agreed to take the fight as the main event for 12/5.
OTHER NOTES
Lots of people raving about today’s Hiromu Takahashi vs. Robbie Eagles match from Korakuen Hall as part of the Super Junior tournament, as well as Taiji Ishimori vs. Bushi.
A documentary called “Sweet Daddy Siki,” after the 60s and 70s star Reginald Siki, is now playing on Amazon Prime. Siki stars in the movie with Bret Hart, who grew up idolizing him, and Adam “Edge” Copeland. Siki later became a country-western singer. He was a major drawing card in his heyday.
CWE is scheduling a tour that will start with a New Year’ Eve show called the Super Jobber Cup in Winnipeg, plus shows 1/2 in Morden, Manitoba, 1/2 in Gladstone, Manitoba, 1/7 in Calgary, 1/8 in Red Deer, Alberta, 1/9 in Grande Prairie, Alberta and 1/10 in St. Albert, Alberta. Of course off of this is subject to change.
Wrestler/reporter Israel Velazquez aka Heavy Boy has a Go Fund Me to cover the costs of surgery to remove one of his kidneys which has a tumor. He also recently had COVID which has left his lungs badly damaged. He is a writer for the SuperLuchas magazine. More info here.
Kevin Nash is starring in a movie called “COVID-19 Invasion” according to IMDB that will be filmed in Longview, TX.
The participants for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors 27 tournament have been announced
This year’s format is a dramatic change from last year’s tournament. Instead of two blocks and twenty entrants, this year there is only one block with ten wrestlers. The top two wrestlers who score the most points will meet each other in the finals.
Most of this year’s participants are NJPW regulars. Robbie Eagles, who has not appeared on a New Japan Pro Wrestling card since the COVID-19 pandemic, will make his return on this tour. Master Wato, who returned from excursion earlier this year, will make his Best of the Super Juniors debut.
The ten participants for this year’s tournament include:
Ryusuke Taguchi
Master Wato
SHO
Robbie Eagles
Hiromu Takahashi
BUSHI
El Desperado
Yoshinobu Kanemaru
DOUKI
Taiji Ishimori
The finals will take place on December 11 at Nippon Budokan.
The tournament, which usually runs in May, will instead run in conjunction with this year’s World Tag League. The original tour was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
NJPW’s Road to the New Beginning tour continued today in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
A NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team title match headlined, while opponents for Sunday’s New Beginning in Osaka show squared off in tag matches underneath.
Here are full results and match recaps:
YUYA UEMURA DEFEATED YOTA TSUJI
Tsuji’s right shoulder was heavily taped. Uemura took most of the match, working over the injured shoulder. Lots of ground work. Solid technical wrestling on display here in the opener.
Uemura used a crab, but Tsuji forced a break. Tsuji got the best of a striking exchange, then continued firing strikes with a grounded Uemura in the ropes.
Tsuji hit the ropes, but ran right into a dropkick. Uemura tried an underhook suplex, Tsuji blocked. Uemura hit the underhook suplex into a bridge on the second attempt for the pin.
EL PHANTASMO DEFEATED GABRIEL KIDD
This was similar to the match these two had last weekend. The two have wrestled before in the U.K. and have good chemistry. ELP gave Kidd a lot more offense than a Young Lion would typically get against a veteran.
Kidd scored a knockdown after a drop down and leapfrog sequence. ELP went to work on Kidd’s back and groin with his comedy stomps and back raking. Kidd came back and hit a dropkick and hit some stomps in the corner.
ELP cut Kidd off with a superkick, then hit a frog splash. ELP had Kidd pinned, but pulled him up after a two count, opting to try for his CR2 instead. Kidd used a jackknife cover for a two count, then an inside cradle for another near fall.
ELP then hit an enzuigiri and used the CR2 for the pin. This was an entertaining variation on the typical Young Lion squash.
These old guys (and Henare) went out there and tried to have the best eight minute undercard tag match of all time. The effort was there. Henare was the only guy who didn’t hit a move off the turnbuckles.
Nakanishi and Henare started out by locking up, then trading strikes. Henare tried to put Nakanishi in his own Argentinian Backbreaker, but Nakanishi fought it off, then hit a spear. Both tagged out.
Tenzan and Honma squared off. Tenzan hit Mongolian chops. Nakanishi entered for an illegal double team. He took a swing at Henare on the apron and hit the referee, who took half a bump. Tenzan hit a kokeshi to Honma. Nakanishi hit a spear.
Honma managed a tag to Henare, who used a slam on Tenzan for a two count. Henare hit Mongolian chops to Tenzan. Tenzan came back with a wheel kick, then tagged Nakanishi.
Nakanishi used a short-arm lariat on Henare, then another lariat for a near fall. Nakanishi put Henare in the Argentinian Backbreaker. Honma jumped in to break it up. Henare hit Nakanishi with a vertical suplex.
Honma and Tenzan tagged back in. Honma ducked a lariat and hit a tackle. Honma hit chops, a bulldog, then a kokeshi. Henare entered for a double team. Honma and Henare hit a combination kokeshi/leg sweep for a near fall.
Nakanishi and Henare brawled on the floor. Honma missed a kokeshi off the second rope and sold his neck. Nakanishi jumped in and hit Honma with a lariat. Nakanishi hit a chop off the top rope to Honma. Tenzan then hit a MOONSAULT to Honma for the pin.
WILL OSPREAY, SHO & YOH DEFEATED ZACK SABRE JR., EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU BY DQ
SHO and YOH defend the Jr. Heavyweight Tag titles against Despy and Kanemaru on Sunday, so the story here was that Kanemaru and Desperado wanted to soften up their opponents.
They had a great brawl, which is probably not what you would expect with these teams. Sabre and Ospreay had a great technical wrestling sequence as well.
Ospreay, SHO and YOH hit stereo pescados just before the opening bell. Ospreay dragged Sabre into the crowd and rammed him into the famed EAST sign.
In the ring, YOH went to work on Kanemaru with strikes. Ospreay got a tag and hit a slam for a near fall. Sabre made it back to the ring and the match broke down into a brawl around ringside. When the dust cleared, Suzuki-gun was in charge, working over SHO’s left leg.
After a lengthy beatdown of SHO, Ospreay and Sabre tagged in. They had a great mat wrestling sequence, trading cradles and clutches for near falls.
YOH and Desperado tagged in and had an intense exchange of slaps and strikes. YOH teased a dragon suplex, but then hit a bridging German for a near fall. YOH went for a falcon arrow. Desperado slipped behind, then hit a misdirection spear.
SHO and Ospreay jumped in to save YOH. Ospreay hit a mid kick and a standing corkscrew moonsault for a near fall, with Kanemaru and Sabre saving.
SHO and YOH hit stereo knees on Desperado. They tuned up the band for the 3K, but Kanemaru jumped in and spit whiskey in YOH’s eyes. Desperado then used a chair on SHO for the DQ.
Ospreay ran in and cleared the ring. He kicked a chair into Desperado, then kicked Sabre off the apron. Sabre tried to run back in and hit Ospreay with a chair, but Ospreay blocked and hit a high kick.
Suzuki-gun used their standard attack before the opening bell. They brawled around ringside and into the crowd. Taichi used a chair on Okada. Makabe was the legal man. They teased a countout, but Makabe made it back in.
Taichi choked Makabe. Suzuki tagged in and teased a Gotch-style piledriver. Makabe escaped and hit a lariat. Okada got a tag. He laid out Taichi with a DDT, then hit an interfering DOUKI with a flapjack.
Okada missed a Woo dropkick. Taichi answered with a backdrop suplex. Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick for a near fall. Okada escaped a powerbomb attempt and hit a dropkick. Taguchi got a tag and hit a hip attack, then pulled Taichi’s tear-away pants off. Just a tremendous spot.
DOUKI got a tag. Suzuki assisted with a double team. DOUKI hit a springboard double stomp for a near fall. Makabe jumped in and hit a double lariat. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick to Taichi on the apron.
DOUKI went for suplex de la luna, but Taguchi used a victory roll for a near fall. Taguchi hit a Bomaye, then used Dodon for the pin.
Suzuki went after the ringside attendants with a chair after the match.
TETSUYA NAITO, SANADA & HIROMU TAKAHASHI DEFEATED KENTA, JAY WHITE & TAIJI ISHIMORI
KENTA and Naito began. KENTA stalled. White attacked Naito from behind, Bullet Club cleared the opposing apron, then stomped Naito down in the ring. They then took the fight into the crowd. Back inside, Ishimori used a neck crank on Naito.
White got a tag and took Naito back outside, where he repeatedly rammed him into the barricade and the ring frame. KENTA got a tag and hit some stomps, then a draping DDT. This was kind of a night off for Naito, as he just laid on the mat and took some stomps most of the way.
KENTA missed a double stomp off the top. SANADA and white got tags. SANADA put Gedo in the paradise lock on the floor. SANADA sent White into the guardrail. Back inside, he tried for the paradise lock on White, but Switchblade blocked.
White pulled SANADA down by the hair, then hit some stomps. White hit a death valley driver for a near fall. White and SANADA did a series of TKO and Blade Buster teases before tagging Ishimori and Hiromu.
Ishimori tried a handspring kick. Hiromu blocked and hit a German, but Ishimori landed on his feet, then hit the handspring kick. White jumped in and hit a Blade Buster. Ishimori covered for a near fall.
KENTA, Naito, White and SANADA brawled to the floor. Ishimori hit Hiromu with a knee strike. Hiromu answered with an overhead throw into the buckle, then tagged Naito. Naito hit a top rope frankensteiner for a near fall.
Naito tried a Destino. KENTA cut him off. SANADA cleared the ring, then LIJ hit a triple dropkick to Ishimori. Naito hit Gloria, then used Destino for the pin on Ishimori.
White and SANADA looked good here, and Ishimori and Hiromu kicked the match into a higher gear near the finish. KENTA and Naito took it relatively easy ahead of their match Sunday.
NEVER OPENWEIGHT SIX-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI, EVIL & BUSHI DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO, TOMOHIRO ISHII & ROBBIE EAGLES TO RETAIN THE TITLES
This was all action from the opening bell. A great main event.
Ishii and EVIL were nominally the legal men, but all six guys jumped in and traded spots in the opening minute. The challengers went three-on-one against EVIL.
Eagles got a tag and hit EVIL with chops and a leg kick. Shingo cut Eagles off from the apron, and LIJ established a three-on-one. Shingo and Ishii fought into the crowd. EVIL worked over Eagles. BUSHI got a tag and continued the work, hitting a missile dropkick.
BUSHI choked Eagles with his t-shirt, then used the shirt to hit a neckbreaker. EVIL tagged in and knocked Goto off the apron, then hit Eagles with his bronco buster senton. Kevin Kelly always calls it a bronco buster, but it’s really more of a seated senton in the corner than a traditional bronco buster.
Shingo tagged in and teased Last of the Dragon. Eagles fought it off, hit a leg lariat, then tagged Ishii. Shingo cut Ishii off before he could even climb into the ring. He caught his leg on the rope, then sold his taped left knee.
Ishii fired up. Shingo and Ishii traded strikes. Ishii killed Shingo with a forearm to the face, then hit a series of forearm strikes to the back of Shingo’s neck. Shingo no-sold a powerslam and hit a lariat.
EVIL got a tag and hit a corner clothesline. Ishii blocked a Darkness Falls attempt and hit a vertical suplex. Goto got a tag. BUSHI and Eagles jumped in. Both sides teased a double suplex, with Goto and Eagles finally hitting one.
Goto used a Saito suplex on EVIL for a near fall. EVIL blocked an ushigoroshi and hit a draping stomp. Goto blocked Darkness Falls. They did a great series of misdirection spots, ending with Goto hitting a lariat.
LIJ jumped in for a triple team. Eagles and Ishii saved. BUSHI hit a tope suicida to Eagles at the fifteen minute call.
EVIL and Goto teased their finishers. EVIL hit the ropes and ran into an ushigoroshi. Ishii then hit a sliding lariat. Goto and Ishii teamed up for an elevated GTR on EVIL for a near fall. Shingo entered and got hit with an Ishii headbutt.
Goto hit EVIL with a mid kick. He tried a GTR, but EVIL reversed it into Darkness Falls. BUSHI and Eagles tagged in for what looked to be the closing sequence.
Eagles hit an elbow strike to BUSHI’s head. Shingo and Ishii entered. Shingo hit a double lariat to Eagles and Ishii. BUSHI hit a backstabber for a near fall on Eagles. Eagles hit a tope suicida to BUSHI. Goto and Ishii hit stereo ushigoroshis on EVIL and Shingo.
Eagles hit a dropkick to BUSHI’s leg. He tried the Ron Miller Special. BUSHI reversed into a cradle for a near fall. Eagles hit Turbo Backpack for another two count.
Eagles locked on the Ron Miller Special. Shingo broke it up with a sliding lariat. EVIL, Shingo, Ishii and Goto jumped in and traded a crazy series of clotheslines at the twenty minute call, ending with all four down on the mat, then rolling outside.
BUSHI hit Eagles with a neckbreaker. He went for MX. Eagles caught him and hit a codebreaker. Eagles hit a 450 to BUSHI’s leg, then locked him in the Ron Miller Special. BUSHI rolled Eagles over, spit black mist in his face, then used an inside cradle for a near fall.
With Eagles blinded by the mist, BUSHI then hit an MX for the pin.
Toru Yano and Ryusuke Taguchi ran in after the match and stole the title belts. Ishii then grabbed the NEVER Openweight belt and challenged Shingo to defend it against him next. Shingo agreed. Hopefully Ishii gets some time to heal up, as those two had a match of the year in G1 last year.
BUSHI cut a promo to close the show. He said they won, but they don’t have the belts, but they’re still the champs.
NJPW returned to Korakuen Hall this morning for the latest in the Super Jr. Tag League tournament. This morning’s main event featured the Birds of Prey, Will Ospreay and Robbie Eagles, taking on the team of Rocky Romero and Ryusuke Taguchi.
Prelim matches:
Karl Fredericks defeated Yota Tsuji
– Fredericks submitted Tsuji with a half Boston crab.
Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, BUSHI and SANADA defeated Taichi, DOUKI, Zack Sabre Jr. and Minoru Suzuki
– Naito pinned DOUKI with the Destino.
Jay White, Gedo, Yujiro Takahashi and KENTA defeated Toa Henare, Tomoaki Honma, Tomohiro Ishii and Hirooki Goto
Uemura fended off Desperado and Kanemaru early on, avoiding a beat down on the outside. Of course, nothing will stop them from doing spots on the outside, so Kanemaru raked him in the eyes and took him into the crowd, beating him with chairs. They spend a long time working on Uemura. Tiger Mask came in for the save, but Desperado took down Tiger Mask and tore his mask up badly, revealing much of his face.
Tiger Mask gets a second mask and is tagged in, going after Kanemaru’s arm. Desperado breaks it up and goes after his mask again, but the referee sends him away. Kanemaru used the referee and shoved him into Tiger Mask. Desperado tagged in and remains on offense. Tiger Mask cut him off and hit the Tiger Bomb as Uemura is tagged in again.
Uemura landed a dropkick on Desperado as Tiger Mask comes back in, hitting a butterfly suplex on Desperado. Uemura sinks in the Boston crab, but Kanemaru comes back with a dropkick. Uemura is able to get it in again, but Desperado escapes and cuts off Uemura with a spinebuster.
Desperado then applied the stretch muffler as the referee is distracted yet again as Kanemaru put a chair in the ring, which somehow distracted the referee long enough for Kanemaru to mist Tiger Mask on the outside. Uemura ended up tapping out in the ring.
This was fine, but man the referees are so dumb in this promotion, it’s getting to the point where it’s just frustrating. Uemura looked good here though, and the crowd was into him trying to get that win.
ELP & Taiji Ishimori defeated TJP & Clark Connors
Connors and TJP immediately went on the offensive, taking both men out to the floor. Heels soon gain control, however, and work on TJP, doing things like backrakes and pulling out armpit hair (seriously). TJP took out ELP with a tornado DDT and tagged in Connors, who is immediately taken out with a big boot. Ishimori puts him in a tree of woe position and puts his foot on Connor’s netherregions.
Connors fired back with a powerslam and tagged in TJP, who made a great comeback taking out both men. He did a cool spot where he tied up ELP’s legs, put Ishimori in an abdominal stretch then hit a northern lights suplex into a pin on Ishimori for a cool two count.
Connors is tagged in again, sinking in a Boston crab on ELP. TJP took down Ishimori with a submission, but Ishimori countered and threw TJP into Connors to break it up. Ishimori stomped Connors as he was in midair, allowing ELP to hit a big splash off the top rope for the win. Good stuff.
SHO & YOH defeated Volador Jr. & Titan
SHO and Volador has a good exchange to start things off. Titan and YOH followed. Titan took out YOH and hit what I would call a rolling Sasuke special to the floor, but missed YOH. YOH whipped him into the corner and tagged in SHO as they started work attacking Titan’s leg. Titan cut them off and tagged in Volador who went after both SHO and YOH, taking them to the outside and hitting stereo tope con hilos.
Volador and SHO strike each other as they tag out to their partners. Titan hit a big clothesline to the corner. He went for a double stomp, but landed on his bad knee. SHO and YOH kept working on him until Volador Jr. wiped out SHO with a big tope suicida.
Titan hit the la mistica and rolled up YOH for a near fall. YOH landed some uppercuts, landed a superkick and hit a big German suplex for another near fall. A dragon suplex sealed things up for SHO & YOH. Really fun match.
Taguchi and Romero initially were in control, but things quickly went in the Birds of Prey’s favor as they took both men out with double crossbodys to the floor. The Korakuen Hall crowd actually sang happy birthday to Romero as Will Ospreay chopped him.
Both Ospreay and Eagles worked over Romero as they went for a double superplex. Romero fought them off as he fell to the floor and tagged in Taguchi, who hit everyone with hip attacks. Eagles tried to cut off Taguchi with a backpack, but then fell to a Taguchi dropkick.
Ospreay and Romero are in as they exchange some lightning quick offense. Eagles was tagged back in, but Romero quickly took him down and hit a dropkick off the top rope, hitting Eagles who was draped on the middle rope. Ospreay saved Eagles as the two ran wild on both Taguchi and Romero.Ospreay hit a shooting star press, but Taguchi broke it up.
Eagles took Taguchi to the floor as Ospreay went for a superkick and the stormbreaker, but Romero countered with a hurricanrana for a near fall. Romero went for a sliced bread, but Ospreay went for the stormfront. Romero escaped as Taguchi came in and a double hip attack.
Taguchi back body dropped Eagles to the floor as Romero picked up steam against Ospreay. He planted Ospreay on the floor and sunk in an armbar. Ospreay lifted and powerbombed Romero in response. Ospreay started to strike, but Romero fired back with some of his own. Ospreay got the better of it, striking Romero with kicks. Romero, however, walked right into the backpack by Eagles and Ospreay hit the Oscutter.
Taguchi broke up the pin, but Eagles subdued him as Ospreay struck the hidden blade on Romero then pinned with the stormbreaker. This was excellent, absolutely the best match on the show. If Eagles & Ospreay teamed more during 2019 they’d be top contenders for tag team of the year, they have off the charts chemistry.
Eagles took the mic and thanked everyone for supporting them. They have two more points on the board and have one final match on Friday. Ospreay asked the crowd in Japanese if they were having fun. He thanked Romero and Taguchi. He promised that the Birds of Prey would be the tag team tournament winners.
In the post-match interview backstage, BUSHI walked up to Will Ospreay and challenged him to an IWGP Jr. title match. Ospreay accepted, but said he would do it after Power Struggle when they win the Super Junior Tag League tournament.
NJPW returned to Korakuen Hall this morning for the second day of the Super Junior Tag League tournament. Here are the full results, complete with prelim matches.
Naito pinned DOUKI after a Pumping Bomber. Sabre teased defending the RPW British Heavyweight Championship on both nights at the Tokyo Dome.
JAY WHITE, KENTA & YUJIRO TAKAHASHI DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO, TOMOHIRO ISHII & TOA HENARE
Yujiro pinned Henare after hitting Pimp Juice.
SUPER JR. TAG LEAGUE MATCH: RYUSUKE TAGUCHI & ROCKY ROMERO DEFEATED TIGER MASK & YUYA UEMURA
Romero and Uemura began with some chain wrestling. Romero tried to hit forever clotheslines in the corner, but Uemura blocked them, then hit a tackle. Both tagged out.
Tiger and Taguchi did some rope-running comedy spots. Tiger hit a deep arm drag, and Tiger and Uemura worked on Taguchi in their corner. Uemura missed a dropkick, allowing Romero and Taguchi to take over.
Taguchi and Romero used a series of quick tags in working over Uemura. Romero hit a low dropkick. Taguchi hit some hip attacks. Uemura missed another dropkick. Tiger finally got a tag. Taguchi missed a hip attack.
Romero and Taguchi had some dissension, as both kicked the other. This was played for comedy more than teasing a break up. Tiger got a kneebar on Romero, but Taguchi broke it up. Tiger hit a Tiger superplex, allowing Uemura to use a full crab on Taguchi, but Taguchi reached the ropes.
Uemura got the hold re-applied. Tiger grabbed Rocky in a Fujiwara armbar to prevent the save, but Taguchi again reached the ropes.
Uemura hit a German into a bridge for a near fall on Taguchi, but Romero made the save. Romero and Taguchi hit stereo hip attacks on Uemura. Romero hit a hip attack to Tiger, then nailed him with a suicide dive.
Taguchi got an ankle lock on Uemura, but Uemura rolled through to a cradle for a two count. Taguchi hit a Bomaye, but Uemura kicked out at two. Taguchi then hit Dodon and pinned Uemura.
This turned into a heck of a little match by the end.
SUPER JR. TAG LEAGUE MATCH: VOLADOR JR. & TITAN DEFEATED TJP & CLARK CONNORS
This was another good match.
Connors caused a ruckus by refusing Titan and Volador’s handshakes before the match. Volador and TJP began with some mat work. TJP used a bow and arrow. They had a nice sequence trading headscissors and dropkick attempts.
Titan and Connors tagged in. Connors used a headscissors on the mat. Titan escaped with a handstand. Connors fired back with a dropkick. Titan fought off a double team effort, and Connors accidentally clotheslined TJP.
Volador and Titan hit some tandem offense. Titan hit a fantastic springboard splash on TJP, and Volador covered for a two count. Titan and Volador focused on TJP’s left arm. Titan used a variation of a magistral cradle for a two count.
TJP managed a tag, then Connors took over on Titan with a shoulder tackle and stomps. TJP tagged back in and hit a slingshot senton for a two count. TJP used a sharpshooter, then a deathlock, but Titan forced a break.
Titan made a comeback with a springboard crossbody, then tagged Volador, who hit a backstabber for a near fall on TJP. Titan got an immediate tag back in, then hit a springboard leg drop off the middle rope. Connors broke up the pinfall.
TJP hit a superplex on Titan, then hit a kick for a near fall, as Volador made the save. TJP and Connors hit a tandem move, and Connors hit a spear on Titan for a two count. Connors used a full crab on Titan, but Volador saved.
Volador hit TJP with a tope con giro. Connors used an inside cradle for a two count on Titan. Titan hit a dropkick in the corner and flew through the ropes to the outside. He then hit a swinging dropkick in the corner, then used a springboard double stomp for the pin.
SUPER JR. TAG LEAGUE MATCH: EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU DEFEATED EL PHANTASMO & TAIJI ISHIMORI
This was two heel teams having a cartoon heel brawl. Lots of eye rakes, back rakes, and plenty of other underhanded tactics. If you’re into that, this was fine. After a long day of watching wrestling, this didn’t do much for me.
Suzuki-gun used an attack before the bell. ELP and Ishimori managed to withstand the attack, then worked over Kanemaru with some comedy spots. ELP used a back rake. Desperado tagged in and returned the back rake favor to ELP.
ELP and Ishimori worked over Desperado’s crotch with stomps in the corner. Kanemaru tripped Ishimori from the floor, and Suzuki-gun turned this into a crowd brawl. Desperado used a chair and an umbrella to attack ELP.
Back inside, Desperado and Kanemaru worked over Ishimori with a series of suplexes and quick tags. Ishimori hit a backflip kick, then managed to tag ELP. ELP hit a springboard crossbody to Desperado, a quebrada, then hit a suicide dive to Kanemaru for good measure.
ELP teased his airplane spin neckbreaker, but Desperado slipped out, then hit a spinebuster for a two count. Desperado got Numero Dos applied, but Ishimori made the save.
The match broke down — and all four jumped in. ELP missed a plancha to Kanemaru. Ishimori hit Desperado with a handspring kick for a two count. Ishimori hit a lung blower for a two count, as Kanemaru pulled the referee out of the ring.
With the ref down, ELP, Kanemaru, and Ishimori got hit with low blows. Ishimori went for a low blow on Desperado, but Desperado blocked the shot with a title belt. Kanemaru then spit whiskey in Ishimori’s eyes, and Desperado hit Pinche Loco on Ishimori. The ref was revived, and Desperado pinned Ishimori.
SUPER JR. TAG LEAGUE MATCH: SHO & YOH DEFEATED ROBBIE EAGLES & WILL OSPREAY
SHO and Eagles began by locking up. They traded left arm wringers. SHO used a hammerlock, then a side headlock takeover. Eagles escaped, then worked his own side headlock. They exchanged shoulder tackles, then tagged out.
Ospreay and YOH tied up. Ospreay and YOH both broke cleanly against the ropes. YOH hit a series of arm drags. Eagles jumped in and also got an arm drag. YOH then hit Ospreay with a dropkick.
YOH used a series of strikes on Ospreay. Eagles got a tag, and Ospreay and Eagles used tandem strikes to take over on YOH. Eagles and YOH stayed inside, while Ospreay and SHO fought into the audience.
Eagles hit a running kick for a near fall. Ospreay left SHO laying in the crowd, then returned to the ring to double up on YOH. Ospreay hit quick kicks, then a dropkick for a near fall. Eagles tagged in and used a knee drop for a two count.
YOH came back with a dragon screw on Eagles. Ospreay tagged himself in, and YOH hit both with a double hurricanrana.
SHO got a tag. He nailed Eagles with a delayed dropkick, sending him to the floor. SHO then hit a series of kicks on Ospreay for a two count. SHO tried for a wheelbarrow suplex on Ospreay. Ospreay blocked it, then hit a handspring kick, into a double down.
Ospreay and SHO exchanged strikes. Ospreay hit Kawada kicks. SHO fired up, no-sold a series of slaps, then dropped Ospreay with a forearm strike. SHO hit a series of forearms. Ospreay came back with uppercut strikes, but SHO cut him off with a lariat. Both tagged out.
YOH hit a back elbow and a dropkick to the left leg. SHO used a figure four, which Eagles sold as if he was covered in sulfuric acid. Eagles forced a rope break.
Eagles blocked a springboard attack from YOH, then fought off a counter attack by SHO. Both Roppongi 3K members rolled outside, and Eagles nailed them with a suicide flip dive.
Back inside, Eagles hit a couple of dropkicks to YOH, then locked on the Miller Special. SHO jumped in, and promptly ate stereo kicks from Eagles and Ospreay. Ospreay and Eagles hit a top rope ace crusher for a two count.
Ospreay and Eagles tried for their tandem finisher, the Red Wing. SHO broke it up. SHO and YOH hit Eagles with a tandem falcon arrow, but Ospreay saved. SHO and YOH hit Ospreay with stereo knees.
YOH hit a one-legged dropkick on Eagles. Roppongi called for a 3K, but Eagles hit YOH with a DDT, then a dropkick to SHO. Eagles hit Turbo Backpack on YOH for a two count. YOH didn’t get all the way over for the move and almost got spiked on his head.
Eagles went for a 450, but YOH got the knees up. Eagles avoided the knees and went for the Miller Special, but YOH used a cradle for a near fall. Eagles tried for Turbo Backpack again. YOH blocked.
YOH and Eagles traded a series of cradles for near falls. YOH then used a Japanese Clutch to pin Eagles.
This was a very good match, but Ospreay didn’t do many of his trademark spots. Apparently he was suffering from food poisoning and not feeling well. As a result, there was not nearly as much flying as you would expect.
Here are the results from this morning’s New Japan event in Sydney, Australia:
Michael Richards and Andrew Villalobos defeated Stevie and Tome Filip
– Richards pinned Tome.
Rocky Romero defeated Tony Kozina
– Romero submitted Kozina with an armbar.
Jack Bonza defeated Mick Moretti
– Bonza pinned Moretti with a vertical drop falcon arrow.
Chase Owens defeated Aaron Solow
– Owens pinned Solow with the package piledriver.
Juice Robinson, Mikey Nicholls and Toru Yano defeated Guerillas of Destiny and Gino Gambino
– Yano rolled up Gambino for the win.
Tomohiro Ishii defeated Toa Henare
– Ishii pinned Henare following a vertical drop brainbuster.
Will Ospreay, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada defeated Robbie Eagles, Bad Luck Fale and Jay White
– Ospreay pinned Eagles with the stormbreaker.
Bullet Club jumped the babyfaces after the match, with White instructing Eagles to lay out Ospreay with a chair. Eagles grabbed the chair, but ultimately refuses to strike Ospreay. White goes to do it himself, but Eagles stops him and attacks White, with Tanahashi and Okada coming in to even things out.
Ospreay recovered and cut a promo, confirming that Robbie Eagles was done with the Bullet Club and Eagles was now with CHAOS.
Eagles cut a promo saying he’d never thought he’d be here sharing a ring with his three opponents while the fans were chanting his name. He asked the crowd wanted to see Tanahashi, Okada, and himself and Will Ospreay as a tag team back in Australia. The crowd reacted positively.
NJPW heads to Melbourne, Australia this morning for a new event called Southern Showdown.
A special tag match headlines, with New Zealand’s Bad Luck Fale and Jay White teaming up to take on Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi in the main event. White has a history with both, as does Fale, and all four will be in the upcoming G1 Climax tournament. Fale in particular will be in the same block as both Tanahashi and Okada.
Three titles are on the line in the undercard. Will Ospreay will defend the IWGP Jr. title against Robbie Eagles, the Guerillas of Destiny will defend the IWGP tag team titles against Juice Robinson and Australia’s own Mikey Nicholls and El Phantasmo will defend the British cruiserweight championship against Rocky Romero in a rematch from the Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
The undercard also features a number of Australian and New Zealand talent, including Gino Gambino, Slex and Aaron Solow.
Join us for live coverage starting at 5:00 a.m.
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TOA HENARE, SHOTA UMINO & NICK BURY DEFEATED ANDREW VILLALOBOS, MARK TUI & MICHAEL RICHARDS
Bury was a late sub for Ren Narita, as travel issues kept Narita and SHO from making the event.
Umino and Villalobos began with some mat wrestling. Bury and Tui tagged in, and Tui got the heat on Bury. Bury, Tui, and Richards worked over Bury in their corner with ics, stomps, and elbow strikes.
Bury flipped out of a backdrop attempt, and hit an enziguri on Richards. Umino got a tag. He connected with a back elbow. Tui tried to cut him off, but Umino quickly disposed of him. Umino loced a crab on Richards, while Henare ran interference for him. Richards reached the ropes, forcing a break.
Vilalobos and Henare tagged in. Henare ate a suplex, but popped right up. He hit an elbow strike, and hit a spear for a two count. They exchanged strikes. The sequence ended with a headbutt from Henare, who then hit Toa Bottom for the pin. A solid, very basic opener.
SLEX DEFEATED AARON SOLOW
They exchanged waistlock takedowns, then traded dropkicks. Slex hit a backbreaer, and Solow rolled outside. Slex hit a suicide dive. Slex teased a superplex, but Solow slipped out. He crotched Slex on the top rope, then hit a neckbreaker.
After an exchange of strikes, Slex hit an enziguri. They exchanged strikes again. Slex hit a blue thunder bomb for a two count. Slex went for a quebrada, but Solow hit him with a superkick. Solow used a step-up knee in the corner for a nearfall.
Solow went up top, but Slex cut him off, and hit a delayed superplex for a two count. Solow used a schoolboy for a nearfall. Solow connected with a double stomp on the mat, then hit another off the top rope for a nearfall.
Slex hit a disaster kick, then connected with the Slexecution for the pin. Slex posed with his sunglasses after the bell.
Slex has great charisma and Solow is a very solid worker with a good look. A good match.
Gambino and Yano kicked things off with some comedy. Yano tried to untie a turnbucle pad, but Gambino cut him off. Ishimori got a tag, and worked over Yano’s neck. Ishimori and Gambino cut the ring in half, and continued to work on Yano.
Yano used a hair pull to take down Ishimori, then tagged YOH. YOH fought off a double team, then hit Ishimori with a dragon screw. YOH hit a bridging suplex for a nearfall, but Ishimori came back with a sliding German.
YOH hit a flying forearm, but Ishimori connected with a handspring kick. Both tagged out. Yano untied two corner pads, and Gambino and Yano both used one as a weapon. Yano got sent into an exposed buckle. Ishimori hit double kneed in the corner, then a seated senton.
Gambino hit a splash for a nearfall. While Ishimori and YOH brawled outside, Yano sent Gambino into an exposed buckle. Yano hit a low blow, and YOH jumped in to hit a superkick. Yano then pinned Gambino. A fun little comedy bout.
Bullet Club used an attack before the bell to establish the advantage. They worked over YOSHI-HASHI for the first five minutes. YH finally hit a kick, then managed to tag Ishii. Ishii hit Owens with a shoulder tackle, then blistered him with chops.
Ishii hit a release German, which spawned an “Ishii” chant from the crowd. Owens hit a Russian leg sweep, sending Ishii into the buckle. Yujiro jumped in and hit a fisherman buster. Owens connected with a shining wizard for a nearfall.
Owens hit a snap dragon suplex, then a v-trigger. He hit the Jewel Heist, but Ishii kicked out. Owens went for a package piledriver, but YH saved. YH and Yujiro brawled to the floor.
Owens fought out of another package driver attempt, then hit a lariat. He followed with the vertical drop brainbuster for the pin.
This was notable only because Owens broke out some of Kenny Omega’s offense. I’m a huge Ishii fan, but this was nothing special.
RPW BRITISH CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: EL PHANTASMO DEFEATED ROCKY ROMERO TO RETAIN THE TITLE
ELP attacked Romero before the bell. Romero came back with a rana off the second rope. Romero hit ten punches in the corner, and ELP begged off. They exchanged chops, then Romero used a pair of eye pokes.
Romero went to work on ELP’s left arm. Romero went for forever clotheslines, but ELP blocked, then stomped on Romero’s groin in the tree of woe. ELP used a chinlock. Romero missed a dropkick, and ELP connected on a quebrada for a nearfall.
Romero draped ELP over the ropes, then kicked at the left arm. Romero missed a double stomp off the top, but rolled through. ELP pulled Romero to the floor, then hit a moonsault off the post. Back inside, ELP made a cover for a two count.
ELP again went to the chinlock. ELP did his rope-walk spot. He made it around three corners of the ring, until Romero crotched him. Romero hit a coast-to-coast dropkick, then a rana. He hit forever clotheslines, but ELP caught him coming in, and hit an airplane spin neckbreaker for a nearfall.
ELP went for the CR2, but Romero dropped into a cradle for a nearfall. Romero hit a tornado DDT, then hit a falcon arrow into a Diablo armbar. ELP slipped to an ankle lock, but Romero pulled him into another cradle for a two count.
ELP hit a series of short kicks, but Romero fired back with slaps. ELP attacked Romero’s nipples, and Romero came back with a pair of lariats. He then hit a standing sliced bread for a two count.
Romero went for sliced bread, but ELP caught him in a tombstone position. Romero flipped out, and into a Canadian Destroyer.
The video feed dropped out here. It appears that ELP retained. They were having a good match, but not at the level of their Korakuen Hall bout.
IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: TAMA TONGA & TANGA LOA DEFEATED JUICE ROBINSON & MIKEY NICHOLLS TO RETAIN THE TITLES
They brawled around ringside at the outset. Tonga hit a backdrop on Juice on the ramp, then jumped back inside and dropped Nicholls with a gun stun. Loa and Nicholls ended up the legal men, and Nicholls found himself being worked over.
Nicholls hit a DDT on Loa, then tagged Juice. Juice ran wild with jabs. He teased Pulp Friction on Tonga, but Jado cut him off with a kendo stick shot from the floor. Tonga took the referee, and Jado hit Juice with the stick on the floor.
Back inside, Loa used a chinlock. Tonga came in for an illegal double team, and G.O.D. hit a double back suplex. Loa used a powerslam for a two count.
Nicholls got a hot tag. He ran wild with clotheslines. Juice came back in for a double team, and hit Tonga with a cannonball. Juice and Nicholls hit a tandem facebuster on Tonga for a nearfall.
Jado jumped on the apron, and Juice hit him with a left hand. Tonga hit a gun stun on Juice. Nicholls went for a Mikey Bomb, but Loa rolled him up with a handful of tights, and got the pin.
Tonga and Loa do certain things well as a team, and they have great explosiveness. That said, I’m not a fan of the formula they’ve settled on for their matches. I know tag matches are generally formulaic, but theirs are even more so than most.
IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: WILL OSPREAY DEFEATED ROBBIE EAGLES TO RETAIN THE TITLE
ELP came to the ring as Eagles’s second. The bell rang, and Eagles sent ELP to sit near the announce desk.
Ospreay and Eagles locked up. Off the break, Ospreay initiated a great opening sequence of counters and teases. Eagles tried a pair of shoulder blocks, but Ospreay didn’t go down. Eagles dared Ospreay to try a shoulder tackle, but Ospreay landed a chop instead.
They did a sequence of rope-running, ending with Eagles hitting a dropkick. Ospreay rolled outside, and Eagles hit a flip dive through the ropes. Eagles threw Ospreay back inside for a one count.
Eagles hit a running kick for a two count. He set Ospreay up in the corner, chopped him, and hit a back elbow. Eagles climbed to the second rope, but Ospreay hit a chop, and Eagles spilled outside.
Eagles tried to send Ospreay into the barricade, but Ospreay jumped over the barricade, then hit Pip Pip Cheerio off the railing. Ospreay posted Eagles, then hit a hook kick to the face. He followed up with a drive-by kick on the apron.
Ospreay hit a slam, then used a kneedrop for a two count. With Eagles sitting in the corner, Ospreay hit a series of forearms to the neck, then a delayed dropkick. Ospreay used a chinlock, as ELP came back to ringside to urge on Eagles.
Eagles used a surprise cradle for a one count, then popped up, hitting a DDT. Eagles hit a series of mid kicks. He connected with double knees in the corner. Ospreay rolled to the apron. He went for another drive-by, but Eagles escaed, then hit a double stomp on the apron.
Eagles posted Ospreay’s legs, setting up for the Miller Special. Back inside, Eagles hit a dropkick to the knee, a 619, then a springboard elbow to the neck for a nearfall. Eagles used a kneebreaker, continuing to target the left leg.
Eagles tried to whip Ospreay into the corner, but Ospreay’s knee buckled. Ospreay hit a handspring kick, but got up selling his left knee. Ospreay hit a series of kicks, a top rope 619, then hit Pip Pip Cheerio for a nearfall.
Eagles hit a kneebreaker, but Ospreay hit an enziguri, as Eagles took a flip bump. Ospreay went for a Storm Breaker. Eagles countered into a Miller Special attempt, but Ospreay kicked him off.
Eagles teased a Pulse Drop, but Ospreay cut him off. With Eagles sitting on the top rope, Ospreay hit a handspring kick. With Eagles in the tree of woe, Ospreay sat on the mat in front of him. They traded slaps.
They climbed to the top rope, and Ospreay teased a dragon suplex. Eagles pushed him to the apron, where Ospreay then hit a dropkick, sending Eagles to the floor. Ospreay hit a corkscrew moonsault off the post to the floor. They did a countout tease, but Eagles made it back in at 19.
Back inside, Ospreay hit a dropkick, then an inverted Bloody Sunday DDT. He then hit a Robinson Special. He went for an Oscutter off the turnbuckle, but Eagles cut him off with a Pulse Drop, into a double down.
From their knees, they traded forearm strikes. Back on their feet, they continued to trade. Eagles went for Turbo Backpack. Ospreay kicked him off. Ospreay hit a powerbomb, then hit a Liger Bomb for a nearfall.
Ospreay went to the top rope. ELP grabbed Ospreay’s ankle, giving Eagles enough time to recover. He hit a top rope rana, but missed a follow-up 450 splash.
Ospreay hit a hook kick, then climbed the ropes with Eagles in the electric chair. Ospreay hit an iconoclasm for a nearfall. He called for an Oscutter. ELP slid a chair into the ring. Ospreay used an O’Connor roll for a nearfall.
Eagles went for a dive to Ospreay, but took out ELP. Eagles hit a 450 with Ospreay draped over the ropes. He hit Turbo Backpack. He covered for a two count, then pulled Ospreay into the Miller Special. After a long struggle, Ospreay reached the ropes.
Eagles went for a springboard attack, but he jumped into an Oscutter. Ospreay hit a second Oscutter. Red Shoes went to count the pin, but ELP pulled him out of the ring.
ELP attacked Ospreay. He teased hitting him with his title belt, but Eagles stopped him. Ospreay hit ELP with a hook kick, and Red Shoes climbed back into the ring. Eagles threw the belt away at the 30 minute mark.
They traded shots in the middle of the ring. Eagles backed Ospreay into the corner with kicks. He went for Turbo Backpack, but Ospreay hit a dragon suplex. Ospreay hit a destroyer for a nearfall.
Eagles escaped a Storm Breaker. Ospreay hit a hook kick. He went for Storm Breaker again, but Eagles dropped into a poison rana for a nearfall. Eagles hit a tornado DDT for a nearfall, then went to the top. He hit a 450 to the leg. He went for a cover, but Ospreay used an inside cradle for a nearfall.
Ospreay hit a standing Spanish Fly for a nearfall, then hit a shooting star press, but Eagles kicked out at one. Ospreay hit the Hidden Blade, then Storm Breaker, and got the pin.
I liked their Best of the Super Jrs. match better, but this was the best thing on the show by a wide margin, and an instant classic.
Eagles dropped ELP with a forearm to the face after the match, then shook hands with Ospreay.
KAZUCHIKA OKADA & HIROSHI TANAHASHI DEFEATED JAY WHITE & BAD LUCK FALE
Okada and Fale had a short exchange, ending in a stalemate. Tana and White tagged in, and Tana worked a side headlock. After a rope break, White used Red Shoes to set a screen, then hit a kick. Tana came back with a crossbody off the second rope.
White dumped Tana to the floor with a Saito suplex. On the other side of the arena, Fale went after Okada, posting him. Fale tossed Tana back inside, and White raked his eyes. Fale tagged in, and used clubbing forearms to work over Tanahashi.
Tana tried for a sunset flip, but Fale sat on his chest for a nearfall. Fale and White used a series of quick tags, continuing to work over Tana. White used a chinlock, then hit an inverted dragon screw. White used a Muta Lock, but Okada jumped in to break it up. Fale entered, then sent Okada back to the floor.
Tana finally managed a tag to Okada. Okada hit a DDT to Fale, kipped up, then knocked White off the apron. Okada hit a back elbow in the corner. He pushed Fale into the corner, and slammed him on the rebound. Okada got a one count.
Okada went to the top rope, but Gedo provided a distraction, and Fale press slammed Okada. White got a tag, and hit a snap Saito suplex. White missed a charge into the corner, and Okada hit an air raid crash, into a double down.
Tana got a tag. He blocked a kick, then hit a pair of dragon screws. Tana locked on a cloverleaf, but White immediately grabbed the bottom rope. Tana went for slingblade. White hit him with chops. Tana no-sold them.
White hit a flatliner, while Fale continued to work on Okada on the floor. White hit a Bladebuster and a deadlift German for a nearfall, then a uranage for another, as Okada broke up the pinfall.
White went for a Blade Runner. After an extended series of counters, Tana hit Twist and Shout. After a double down, both tagged out.
Okada hit a shotgun dropkick. Fale blocked a slam, then hit a shoulder tackle. Fale hit a splash for a two count. He picked Okada up for a Grenade, but Tana saved.
The match broke down. White hit a dragon screw to Tana. Okada hit White with a big boot. Fale went for the Bad Luck Fall, but Okada slipped out, then hit a dropkick. White jumped in. Okada tried for a dropkick, but missed.
Okada went for a Rainmaker on White, but White slipped out. Tana hit slingblade on White. Tana and Okada hit a double suplex on Fale, and Tana took out White and Gedo with a pescado.
Okada hit Fale with a top rope elbow. Okada escaped a Grenade, and hit a spinning Rainmaker. He connected with a second Rainmaker, then pinned Fale.
This was essentially a slightly elevated house show main event.
Okada and Tanahashi had a brief faceoff after the match, ahead of their G1 matchup next weekend, then posed on the ropes.
Okada cut a promo in English after the match. He shouted out Australia, then Melbourne, specifically. The crowd chanted “best in the world”. Okada said “yes we are”, then “yes I am”. He thanked the crowd, and said he will see them again.
He closed his promo in Japanese, promising to return to Melbourne.
The 2019 Best of the Super Juniors finals picture became much clearer after Sunday’s show in Chiba.
With four shows and two tournament matches remaining for each wrestler before the finals, the field of 20 has been narrowed to six possible winners.
In the A Block, only Shingo Takagi and Taiji Ishimori have a chance to go to the final. They will meet on Friday, May 31. If Ishimori wins his match against Tiger Mask IV on Wednesday, the match on the 31st will decide the A Block winner.
The B Block is more complicated.
El Phantasmo is in the driver’s seat, by virtue of his wins over Will Ospreay and Robbie Eagles.
ELP has yet to face Ryusuke Taguchi, who still has an outside chance to win the block, along with Ospreay.
Eagles holds a tiebreaker over Ospreay and Taguchi, but his loss to ELP looms large.
Neither Ospreay nor Taguchi currently has a tiebreaker advantage.
Got it?
Here are full results and match recaps from Sunday’s show:
B BLOCK MATCH: RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED REN NARITA
They kicked off the show with a lengthy mat wrestling sequence. Narita got some takedowns and worked on Taguchi’s right leg. Taguchi tried for an ankle lock, but Narita reached the ropes. Taguchi sent Narita outside with a hip attack. He teased a dive, but Narita cut him off with a dropkick to the left leg.
Narita tried for a cloverleaf, but Taguchi got the ankle lock. Narita slipped out. Taguchi went for Dodon, but Narita escaped and applied a full crab. Taguchi rolled through the crab, then got the ankle lock. Narita used an inside cradle for a near fall.
Taguchi used the threat of a magistral cradle to work his way back to the ankle lock, and Narita tapped out. This lacked sizzle, but it was a technically sound opener.
– They announced that Dragon Lee won his scheduled match over TAKA Michinoku by forfeit. TAKA has a leg injury, and could not compete.
A BLOCK MATCH: JONATHAN GRESHAM DEFEATED YOSHINOBU KANEMARU
Kanemaru scored an early takedown, but Gresham excels on the mat and used a series of headscissors to maintain the advantage. Kanemaru hit a dropkick to the head from the floor, while Gresham was draped over the edge of the apron. Kanemaru then used a headscissors on the mat.
They exchanged strikes. Gresham came back with an arm drag, but Kanemaru hit a DDT. Kanemaru hit a top rope moonsault for a two count. Gresham hit a rana, but Kanemaru rolled through into an attempted pinfall. They traded rolling cradles for a series of near falls.
Gresham hit a bridging German for a two count. Kanemaru threw the referee into Gresham and grabbed his whiskey bottle. Gresham ducked a swing with the bottle, then locked on the octopus. Kanemaru tapped out.
B BLOCK MATCH: ROCKY ROMERO DEFEATED DOUKI
DOUKI attacked Rocky as he posed on the ropes before the bell. DOUKI posted Rocky’s knee. DOUKI continued to go after the left leg. Rocky hit an enzuigiri with the right leg, but could not follow up. DOUKI worked on the left leg, then hit a double stomp.
DOUKI untied a corner pad, exposing the buckles. Rocky avoided the buckle and sent DOUKI shoulder-first into the post. Rocky fired up and hit a series of palm strikes. He landed a springboard rana, then hit forever clotheslines. They collided on a criss-cross spot, into a double down.
Rocky blocked a springboard DDT attempt. He hit a tornado DDT, into a falcon arrow, into a cross armbreaker. DOUKI stood up out of the hold and got a near fall. DOUKI used a kneebar, but Rocky rolled to the ropes.
They traded quick near falls, then exchanged strikes. Rocky used a kimura, then rolled through into a cross armbreaker, and DOUKI tapped out. This was probably DOUKI’s best match in NJPW so far.
A BLOCK MATCH: MARTY SCURLL DEFEATED TITAN
Titan used a series of headscissors on the mat, then bridged out of them, which was impressive as hell. Scurll rolled outside, and Titan landed on his feet on a dive to the floor. He followed with a flying headscissors on the floor.
Back inside, Scurll used a Romero Special. He went for Titan’s mask, then went after his legs. Titan hit a clothesline in the corner and flew outside. Brody King threatened to interfere, but Titan took him out with a dive. He followed with a springboard attack back into the ring, then hit a top rope rana for a two count.
Scurll used an eye poke, then hit a tornado DDT. Titan countered with a wheel kick, into a double down. They exchanged strikes. Scurll hit a half-and-half suplex, but Titan no-sold it. Titan used an inverted figure four, but Scurll made it to the ropes.
Scurll hit a pair of lariats, then used a package DDT for a near fall. He followed with Black Plague and got the pin. Another solid match. Scurll gave Titan a ton of offense.
B BLOCK MATCH: BUSHI DEFEATED BANDIDO
BUSHI offered a handshake. Bandido hesitated, and BUSHI kicked him. They did a series of flying counters and reversals. Bandido hit a jumping knee. BUSHI countered by sending Bandido to the floor, then hitting a pescado into a rana on the floor.
Back inside, BUSHI used an STF, but Bandido made the ropes. BUSHI tried for a DDT on the apron, but Bandido escaped, sent BUSHI to the floor, then hit a gigantic tope con hilo. Back inside, Bandido hit a press slam for a near fall.
They traded enzuigiris. Bandido hit a tornillo off the top, an inverted suplex, and a shining wizard, picking up a near fall. BUSHI escaped a 21 Plex and hit a dropkick. He followed up with a DDT on the apron, then hit a neckbreaker for a near fall.
BUSHI teased a codebreaker, but Bandido blocked it. BUSHI hit a Canadian Destroyer, then hit an MX for the pin. Good stuff, and it could have been even better if they had more time.
A BLOCK MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED TIGER MASK IV
Tiger used a side headlock, but Shingo pushed off, into a shoulder tackle. Tiger dropped to the mat and lured Shingo in. Tiger tried for an armbar, but Shingo rolled to the floor. Tiger targeted Shingo’s right arm with kicks, and Shingo again rolled outside.
Shingo pulled Tiger into the post and posted both of his legs. Shingo hit a vertical suplex for a two count. Shingo hit a dragon screw. He went for a figure four, but Tiger kicked him off. He followed with a series of kicks to the neck for a near fall of his own.
Tiger got double underhooks, looking for the Tiger Driver. Shingo backdropped out, then hit a slam. They fought on the top rope, and Tiger hit a double underhook superplex. Shingo blocked a Tiger Suplex attempt, then they exchanged strikes.
Tiger hit a Tiger Driver for a near fall. He locked on an armbar, then slipped to a triangle, but Shingo powered out. Tiger blocked a Pumping Bomber, but Shingo hit a DVD. Tiger avoided another Pumping Bomber and used a crucifix for a near fall.
Tiger used an armbar, but Shingo reached the ropes. Tiger hit the ropes, right into a Pumping Bomber. Tiger kicked out at one. Shingo hit a second Pumping Bomber, but Tiger kicked out at two. Shingo hit Last of the Dragon, and got the pin.
I don’t think that anyone bought that Tiger had a chance, but they had a good match, and the last couple of near falls were great.
B BLOCK MATCH: YOH DEFEATED EL PHANTASMO
ELP attacked before the bell. He hit a suplex on the floor, then sent YOH into the crowd, wiping out several rows of chairs. They teased a countout, but YOH made it back in at 19. YOH used a quick roll-up for a near fall, then a backslide for another.
YOH went after ELP’s left arm, which was heavily taped. ELP clotheslined YOH on the top rope, then hit a quebrada for a near fall. ELP made another cover and used the ropes for leverage. Red Shoes refused to count the pin.
ELP used a choke, then hit a chop. ELP tied YOH to the tree of woe and stomped on his groin. YOH hit a spider German and followed up with a flying forearm. YOH hit a bridging belly-to-belly with a high grip for a two count.
ELP hit a top rope rana. He went for a frog splash, but YOH got his knees up. YOH used a cradle for a near fall, then got an armbar, but ELP reached the ropes. They traded cradles, with both scoring a near fall.
ELP hit a superkick, then used an airplane spin for a near fall. ELP tried for CR2, but YOH sent him to the floor. YOH teased a dive, but ELP cut him off with a kick. ELP sent YOH into Red Shoes, who took a bump.
ELP grabbed his belt, but Red Shoes woke up and took it away. YOH used an O’Connor roll for the upset. Good action, but it felt like the crowd wasn’t into it.
B BLOCK MATCH: ROBBIE EAGLES DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY
They locked up. Ospreay pushed Eagles to the ropes, then broke cleanly. They locked up again, then broke cleanly again. They engaged in a knuckle lock. Eagles covered, but Ospreay bridged. Ospreay monkey flipped out, then hit a dropkick to the knees.
Eagles offered a handshake. Ospreay went to accept it, but Eagles slapped him. Ospreay used a monkey flip to send Eagles outside, then hit a handspring into a pose. He followed with a plancha.
Back in the ring, they exchanged chops. Eagles hit an arm drag and a flying headscissors. Eagles hit a running knee for a near fall. Ospreay rolled to the ropes, and Eagles went after his left leg. They traded chops. Ospreay hit a handspring kick.
Ospreay hit a 619. He teased Pip Pip Cheerio, but Eagles escaped. Ospreay hit a dropkick in the corner, then used a standing Shooting Star Press for a two count. Ospreay then hit Pip Pip Cheerio, scoring a two count.
Eagles rolled outside, and Ospreay hit a Space Flying Tiger Drop. Back inside, Eagles recovered and hit a low dropkick, followed by a strike to the neck. Eagles sent Ospreay outside, then hit a flip dive through the ropes to the floor.
Back in the ring, Eagles used double knees in the corner, a 619 to the legs, and another double knees. Eagles hit a kneebreaker. He hit another, but Ospreay countered with an enzuigiri. They did an intricate series of reversals, ending with Eagles dumping Ospreay on his head with a poison rana.
From their knees, they exchanged forearm shots. Both men got to their feet, and they continued to trade. Eagles broke the exchange with a low dropkick, then hit a series of short kicks. Ospreay hit an enzuigiri. Eagles went for Turbo Backpack, but Ospreay escaped. Eagles hit a crossbody as Ospreay was up against the ropes, and they spilled to the floor.
They exchanged strikes on the apron. Ospreay tried for a Storm Breaker, but Eagles countered with a Sliced Bread on the apron. Eagles made it back inside. They teased a countout on Ospreay, but he made it back in at 19.
Eagles hit a dragon rana for a near fall. He missed a 450 as Ospreay rolled out of the way. Ospreay hit a hook kick. He teased the Hidden Blade, but Eagles dropped to the mat to avoid it.
ELP came to ringside, distracting Ospreay. Eagles applied the Miller Special. Ospreay teased tapping out, but finally reached the bottom rope. Eagles hit a dragon screw. He tried for a springboard move, but Ospreay dropkicked him out of the sky.
Eagles went for a reverse rana off the top, but Ospreay landed on his feet. Eagles got the Miller Special locked on, but Ospreay reversed into a cradle for a near fall. Eagles hit Turbo Backpack, but Ospreay kicked out at the 25-minute mark.
Ospreay hit a buckle bomb, then followed up with a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. ELP jumped on the apron, distracting Ospreay as he went to the top rope. Ospreay hit a 450, but Eagles got his knees up. Red Shoes took a bump.
Ospreay used a standing Spanish Fly. He got a visual pinfall, but with Red Shoes out, ELP hit Ospreay with a chair. Eagles hit a 450, then used the Miller Special for the submission at 28 minutes.
ELP tried to celebrate with Eagles after the match, but Eagles wanted nothing to do with him, teasing dissension in Bullet Club.
If you know the story of Ospreay and Eagles, and how Ospreay got Eagles into NJPW, then this probably meant more to you than if you were watching without that backstory. If you watched the last match these two had in Australia, even more so.
A BLOCK MATCH: TAIJI ISHIMORI DEFEATED SHO
SHO missed a dropkick out of the opening sequence. He quickly recovered, sending Ishimori to the apron. SHO connected with a dropkick, sending Ishimori to the floor. Back inside, Ishimori established the early advantage, stomping away at SHO’s arms.
Ishimori cranked on SHO’s neck. SHO fired back with shots to Ishimori’s neck. Ishimori went for a handspring kick, but SHO caught him. Ishimori blocked a suplex attempt, but SHO hit a spear. SHO landed a vertical suplex for a near fall. He fought for a cross armbreaker, but Ishimori rolled to the ropes.
Ishimori rolled through another suplex attempt, landing a double stomp. Ishimori missed with double knees in the corner, but connected on a handspring kick. SHO rolled outside, and Ishimori hit a golden triangle.
Back inside, SHO hit an inverted suplex, dropping Ishimori on his knees. SHO hit two rolling Germans, then bridged on the third into a near fall. SHO blocked a knee strike, and Ishimori jumped over a spear attempt. SHO hit a clothesline, into a double down.
They had a long striking exchange. They traded jumping knees. SHO landed a pair of lariats, then hit a backbreaker across his knees. He hit a second, but Ishimori kicked out.
SHO went for Shock Arrow. Ishimori powered out, but SHO eventually landed a piledriver. SHO used a sunset flip for a two count. He tried for a cross armbreaker, but Ishimori transitioned to the Yes Lock. After a long battle, SHO made the ropes.
Ishimori hit a Woo dropkick, then followed up with double knees in the corner. Ishimori hit a lungblower, but SHO kicked out at two.
SHO blocked a Bloody Cross and hit a knee strike. SHO went for Shock Arrow, but Ishimori countered into the Bloody Cross for the pin. Not a bad match by any means, but they couldn’t follow Ospreay and Eagles.
A BLOCK STANDINGS
Shingo Takagi: 14
Taiji Ishimori: 12
Dragon Lee: 10 (Out of contention)
Marty Scurll: 8 (Out of contention)
Jonathan Gresham: 8 (Out of contention)
SHO: 6 (Out of contention)
Titan: 4 (Out of contention)
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 4 (Out of contention)
Tiger Mask: 4 (Out of contention)
TAKA Michinoku: 0 (Out of contention)
B BLOCK STANDINGS
El Phantasmo: 10 (Holds tiebreaker over Eagles, Ospreay)
Robbie Eagles: 10 (Holds tiebreaker over Ospreay, Taguchi)
