A title change took place in the main event of NJPW’s Golden Fight Series show on Monday.
Shingo Takagi defeated Taichi to become the new provisional KOPW 2022 Champion. Takagi vs. Taichi was a “30 Count Match,” where the first wrestler to get a combined 30 count in pinfall attempts throughout the match was declared the winner.
In a show-closing promo after his win, Takagi vowed to elevate the KOPW trophy just like he’s done with other titles that he’s held.
Provisional KOPW title matches will be held throughout 2022. After the final title match of the year, the trophy holder will be declared the official KOPW 2022 Champion.
For every KOPW title match, each participant proposes a set of rules. A fan vote then determines which rule set the match will be held under. The 30 Count stipulation was proposed by Taichi.
Here are the full results from Monday’s Golden Fight Series show:
– 30 Count Match: Shingo Takagi defeated Taichi to become the new provisional KOPW 2022 Champion
– NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa to retain their titles
The rules are set for the KOPW match between Shingo Takagi and Taichi.
The two will square off with the KOPW trophy on the line Monday, April 25 from Hiroshima.
Takagi vs. Taichi will be a “30 Count Match” with the winner being the first wrestler to accumulate a pin count of 30. A one-count on your opponent is worth one point, a two-count is worth two and so on with the winner being the first to get to 30.
For KOPW matches, each wrestler presents a set of rules and a fan vote is used to determine which the match will be contested under. 51% of fans voted for the “30 Count Match” rules presented by Taichi. 49% of fans voted for Takagi’s “Three Falls Match” where the winner would be the first wrestler to get a one-count, two-count, and a three-count on their opponent.
The lineup for NJPW’s April 25 show in Hiroshima is as follows:
NJPW has revealed the stipulation options for the upcoming KOPW title match between Taichi and Shingo Takagi.
Taichi will defend the provisional KOPW 2022 title against Takagi in the main event of NJPW’s Golden Fight Series tour show in Hiroshima on Monday, April 25. For KOPW matches, the participants each choose a stipulation and a fan vote on Twitter determines which one gets chosen.
Taichi has proposed a “30 Count Match,” where the first wrestler to get a combined 30 count on their opponent in pinfall attempts throughout the match is declared the winner.
Takagi has proposed a “Takagi Style Three Falls Match.” In the match, “the first to three falls is the winner, but rather than being best three out of five, a competitor must get first a one count, then a two count, and then three.”
At Hyper Battle earlier this month, Taichi defeated Toru Yano to win the KOPW trophy.
Monday April 25 will see a new evolution of the KOPW concept, as new holder Taichi faces Shingo Takagi in the main event, the first KOPW match not to feature Toru Yano, and with a very different vision for the trophy.
The concept behind KOPW remains to have holder and challenger present rule ideas to be voted on by the public. After a lot of speculation about just what rules both men would bring, Takagi and Taichi have reached their decisions, and have proposed rulesets that will see endurance and conviction pushed hard no matter the poll outcome.
Taichi has suggested a 30 Count Match. In this match, multiple falls will see a cumulative count from the referee. The winner is the wrestler who can get a combined 30 count on their opponent. Strategy and stamina will come to the fore in this punishing match style.
Takagi meanwhile has brought his own spin on a multiple falls match, suggesting a Takagi Style Three Falls Match. In this match, the first to three falls is the winner, but rather than being best three out of five, a competitor must get first a one count, then a two count, and then three. This will likely see a hard pace being set in the opening as both men vie to get the early one counts, before will to win really comes to the fore for the third fall.
Which match do you want to see? Voting will be on Twitter until Saturday April 23 at 10PM JST. Cast your vote now!
The April 25 Golden Fight Series event will air live on NJPW World. The full card for the show is listed below:
KOPW 2022 Champion Taichi defends against Shingo Takagi
NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi defend against Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
The New Japan Cup semifinals take place today in Osaka-Jo Hall.
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada faces Tetsuya Naito in the show’s main event. The winner advances to tomorrow’s finals. The two last met in singles competition on February 20, with Okada defeating Naito.
In the other semifinal bout, Zack Sabre Jr. will take on Shingo Takagi. Shingo and Sabre split their two meetings last year, with Sabre defeating Shingo in the G1, and Shingo defeating Sabre to retain the IWGP World title in November at Power Struggle.
A series of tag matches rounds out the undercard:
Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Will Ospreay & Aaron Henare
YOSHI-HASHI & YOH vs. Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb
Hirooki Goto, Tomoaki Honma & Tiger Mask vs. STRONGHEARTS (CIMA, T-Hawk & El Lindaman)
El Desperado, TAKA Michinoku & DOUKI vs. House of Torture (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & SHO)
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato vs. Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, Gedo, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
Our live coverage begins at 3 a.m. Eastern time.
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Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo, Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens & Gedo (Bullet Club) defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Master Wato, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Hiroshi Tanahashi
This match opened with a brawl on the outside. Once things took to the ring, the babyface squad took control by isolating ELP with hip attacks. Fale hit the ring to help Bullet Club back into the match as the team worked to single out Wato.
The Bullet Club control came to an end after Loa tagged in the match. He took control, prompting Bullet Club to hit the ring again. Loa, with aid from Tama, fought through their former faction-mates. Gedo tried to turn things back around with a pair of brass knuckles. Jado, sensing an opportunity for revenge, jumped Gedo. After seeing Jado’s interference, the referee called for the bell, leaving Bullet Club with a win via disqualification.
Suzuki and Ishii started the match with an intense back and forth. Suzuki locked in a deep choke against a corner pad, forcing a referee break. With Ishii nearly unconscious, the rest of Suzuki-Gun took turns beating Ishii down.
Ishii connected with a backdrop suplex to buy him a tag. Makabe took the match over before tagging in Yano, who almost immediately lost control. Kanemaru tried to spray Yano with a mouth of whiskey, but Yano landed a low blow; Kanemaru misted Taichi and Yano pinned Kanemaru to win the match.
SHO, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL (House of Torture) defeated DOUKI, Taka Michinoku & El Desperado (Suzuki-Gun)
This match opened with a brawl that didn’t take long to spill to the outside. HoT took control and worked to maintain it in the ring with underhanded tactics. DOUKI eventually scored a tag to Desperado, who helped Suzuki-Gun gain a footing for the first time.
After tagging in, SHO had some success in retaking control, but ultimately, Suzuki-Gun fought through. Just as things were looking quite good for the Suzuki-Gun trio, Taka let go of his facelock to swing at Dick Togo. EVIL responded to this opening by landing everything is evil and pinning Taka to close the match.
CIMA and Goto had a brief exchange to open the match before Lindaman and Tiger Mask tagged in. Lindaman took control after dodging a KoKeShi, tagging in T-Hawk. The STRONGHEARTS trio maintained this control by isolating Honma.
Goto led a strong rally once tagging in before tagging into Tiger Mask. Tiger Mask fought off all STRONGHEARTS, locking T-Hawk into a double armbar. Honma landed KoKeShi and Tiger Mask a tiger driver, almost bringing this match to an end.
CIMA and Lindaman hit the ring to help T-Hawk fight off their opponents. CIMA and Lindaman landed a dive to take out Goto and Honma, leaving T-Hawk alone to bring this match to an end with a night ride on Tiger Mask.
YH and Cobb opened the match. Cobb tried out grappling YH, but some pro-wrestling style offence helped YH hold his own. Once YOH tagged into the match, things were not as favourable.
Cobb brutally tossed YOH across the ring and into the corner to establish a dominant lead. O-Khan continued this advance with slams, strikes, and holds that left YOH on the ground. It took a quick YOH dropkick and a double tag for things to turn around for the CHAOS duo.
YH landed a blockbuster for a two count Cobb; Cobb answered with a dropkick. O-Khan tagged in, landing some Mongolian chops that forced YH to tag out. YOH took control, scoring a couple of close pins. YOH then landed a superkick and DMV that forced Cobb to break up the pin.
A short scuffle followed the last break up, leading to O-Khan, Cobb, and YOH in the ring. With Cobb on guard, O-Khan dropped YOH with the eliminator and pinned him.
Will Ospreay & Aaron Henare (United Empire) defeated BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi (Los Ingobernables De Japon)
Before the match started, Ospreay grabbed a microphone and said the match was not happening. He said he wasn’t doing a tag match, as he didn’t tap to Zack Sabre Jr. Before he could leave the ring, Hiromu landed a big dropkick to jumpstart the match.
A scrap on the outside left UE in control. Both Ospreay and Henare connected with heavy offence on BUSHI. Once Hiromu tagged in, things turned around for a short time.
A double tag let BUSHI gain some offensive footing over Henare. Henare answered with a big slam, kick, and streets of rage, which led to the finish.
After the match, EVIL launched an assault on Hiromu. Dick Togo then choked Hirmou out and walked to the back.
New Japan Cup Semifinal: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Shingo Takagi
This match had a lot of interesting elements. ZSJ’s branching approach to groundwork and Shingo’s high impact wrestling made for a special pairing. Good stuff.
This match opened with a prolonged standing sequence. Eventually, ZSJ sent Takagi to the floor after cranking his neck. ZSJ landed heavy strikes while continuing to focus Shingo’s neck, establishing a lead for the first time.
Shingo landed two jabs and a throw to escape ZSJ’s control. Shingo landed a falling elbow, which allowed ZSJ to retake the lead by taking Shingo’s arm. Another Shingo strike and DDT broke ZSJ’s lead once more, but again, ZSJ responded by taking control of Shingo’s arms.
A popup DVD provided Shingo with another break from ZSJ control. This time, Shingo landed a superplex before trying for made in Japan; ZSJ blocked, reversing into a close pin attempt. ZSJ landed a suplex for another near fall. As the pace picked up, Shingo answered with made in Japan, resulting in another near fall.
ZSJ blocked last of the dragon, leading to a back and forth strike exchange. Shingo won out, landing pumping bomber. Shingo looked to close, again trying for last of the dragon, and again, ZSJ reversed into a submission attempt. Shingo tried fighting through ZSJ’s follow-up submission attempts, climbing to the top and dropping to his back in an effort to break a deep choke; ZSJ held on. Eventually, ZSJ’s choke was enough, as Shingo was rendered unconscious.
ZSJ moves on to the finals.
New Japan Cup Semifinal: Tetsuya Naito defeated Kazuchika Okada
Compared to their last, this match felt a little stale. Then again, their previous match was New Japan’s best in over two years, at least for my money.
The match opened with a grappling exchange which saw both men trade advantage. Okada established an actual lead after a dropkick sent Naito to the floor. On the outside, Okada landed a colossal DDT to further this advantage.
Naito eventually started a rally with a dropkick to the knee. A dropkick to the back of the head opened Okada up to more Naito offence. Now on the outside, Naito used the environment to cement his control. Back in the ring, Naito continued to weave in offence.
Okada countered Naito’s corner combination into the money clip. After Naito escaped, Okada landed a dropkick to re-establish the hold. Okada then looked to close with rainmaker, but Naito reversed.
Naito landed a DDT, super rana, and a collection of elbows to retake control. Esperanza led into a surprise Destino for a near fall. Gloria set Naito up for a stardust press, but Okada avoided the stunning dive.
Okada hit a shotgun dropkick to retake his lead. He then landed a giant German suplex and dropkick while trying for a rainmaker. Naito continued to avoid the rainmaker, trying for some quick pins. It was Polvo de Estrella, one of Naito’s signature cradles, that brought this match to a sudden end.
After pinning the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Naito advances to face ZSJ in the final.
United Empire (Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, The Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Ryohei Oiwa
United Empire led this match almost through its entirety. The babyface quartet tried to rally, but a Rampage Tackle from Henare dropped Oiwa for the pin.
Bullet Club (El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori & Yujiro Takahashi) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI)
This match had wider Bullet Club implications as Yujiro teamed with Bullet Club proper. For the first time since the stateside schism, both sub-groups teamed together and seemed to be on the same page. In fact, the only tension was between ELP and Ishimori, which Yujiro worked to calm.
The Bullet Club team had the win secured after Ishimori hit BUSHI with a Bloody Cross, but ELP had secretly tagged into the match. After Ishimori wasn’t allowed to pin BUSHI, ELP dropped BUSHI with CR II and pinned him himself.
After a match with plenty of offense from both sides, ZSJ secured an armbar on YOH, leading to the Suzuki-gun victory.
New Japan Cup first-round match: Chase Owens defeated Jado
This wasn’t great, but it could have been a lot worse — a small victory, but we take those.
A quick knee to Jado after a deceptive handshake left Owens with an early lead. Owens continued making advances until Jado caught a C-Trigger. For the first time, Jado landed a pair of lariats to take control into his own hands.
A Green Killer to Owens left Jado with a near fall. Owens sprung back with a Jewel Heist. After kicking out, Jado answered with the Crossface of Jado. Owens couldn’t reach the rope to break the hold, instead pulling the referee. Owens tapped while the referee was down, convincing Jado he had won the match. Jado, in anger, grabbed his stick. Owens talked him out of using the weapon, only to hit a low blow after the act of borderline courtesy. A C-Trigger brought this match to an end.
After the match, Owens paid care to Jado, giving him an ice pack and helping him to the back.
Owens moves on to wrestle Tiger Mask in round two.
New Japan Cup first-round match: EVIL defeated Ryusuke Taguchi
This was bad.
Taguchi came to the ring in a jank EVIL costume, complete with a dollar store skull mask, plastic scythe, and ill-fitting cloak. Once he removed his mask, Taguchi revealed his EVIL-inspired face paint, but to be honest, he just looked tired.
Once the match started, both men immediately tried for Everything is Evil. EVIL dropped Taguchi, but a hip attack kept him in the match. Strangely, a missed hip attack allowed EVIL to take complete control. EVIL slammed Taguchi into the barricade before choking him with a foreign object.
Taguchi launched a comeback after a deadman sit-up. A low blow dropped EVIL, prompting Dick Togo to make his presence felt. Taguchi pulled Togo into the ring and smothered him with his backside. A series of B-Triggers, both to EVIL and Togo, left Taguchi with a strong lead. Taguchi connected with the Three Amigos, an enzuigiri, and a Bomaye, resulting in a near fall.
Taguchi looked to close with an ankle lock, but EVIL grabbed the referee. With the official distracted, Togo hit the ring with a wire. Taguchi turned his attention to Togo, locking him into the ankle lock and forcing him to tap out. With Taguchi’s attention subverted, EVIL snuck in and hit Everything is Evil to close the match.
EVIL moves on to face Tama Tonga, a match with significant implications following the recent Bullet Club happenings.
New Japan Cup first-round match: Hiromu Takahashi defeated SHO
This was not for me in any way. Other than this match structure being utterly played out, the actual contents bored me to tears. It felt like they were just going through the motions.
Before the match could even start, SHO carried Hiromu from the back, wielding a chair. SHO beat Hiromu with the chair all the way to the ring.
Once inside the ring, Hiromu immediately turned things around with an explosive sunset flip powerbomb to the floor. He then led an extended offensive sequence, mainly on the outside. Hiromu removed the padding next to the ring, buying SHO enough time to grab the ring bell hammer. After hitting Hiromu with said hammer in plain sight of the referee, SHO dropped Hiromu with a piledriver on the concrete.
SHO could not finish the match, leaving Hiromu with an opportunity after a missed clothesline. Hiromu rallied, landing a Falcon Arrow. SHO stole the lead back after a brief back and forth by pulling the referee into Hiromu’s path and landing a spear. A powerbomb into the Snake Bite forced Hiromu into the ropes.
SHO then grabbed a chair and his wrench. The referee confiscated the chair but left SHO with his signature blunt object. Hiromu dodged the wrench attack, landing a German suplex and a lariat. Hiromu’s offense continued with a thrust kick, lariat, and Victory Royal, but SHO kicked out.
After surviving Hiromu’s rally, SHO pushed him into the referee and landed a low blow. SHO tried using the wrench again, but Hiromu ducked. Hiromu then ran SHO into an exposed turnbuckle corner, prompting Yujiro Takahashi to hit the ring. Yujiro dropped Hiromu with his cane, leaving SHO free to land a cross-arm piledriver. Hiromu held on, reversing a Shock Arrow into a quick roll-up for a surprise win.
Hiromu will face Minoru Suzuki in the next round.
New Japan Cup first-round match: Shingo Takagi defeated Tomohiro Ishii
This was the kind of match you would expect from these two. Full of high impact sequences, big moves, and brutal strikes.
The match opened with a heavy feeling out process filled with shoulder tackles. After Shingo fell, Ishii took the fight to the floor, throwing Shingo into the barricades. Shingo answered with strikes and a Death Valley Driver to the floor. Back in the ring, Shingo continued making offensive inroads with a senton, standing suplex, and a back elbow drop.
Shingo came off the ropes, perhaps looking for the Pumping Bomber, but Ishii caught him with a slam. Ishii then worked Shingo into the corner, landing heavy strikes, but he wasn’t ahead for long. Shingo connected with a lariat to initiate a long back and forth. Ishii eventually won out, landing one more backdrop than Shingo.
Ishii connected with a superplex but couldn’t follow up as a quick Shingo DDT left him grounded. A nasty buckle bomb and superplex from Ishii yielded Shingo a near fall of his own. Shingo tried to close with a Pumping Bomber, but Ishii avoided the move, initiating another back-and-forth sequence. Shingo won out, hitting a Pumping Bomber for a believable false finish.
Ishii blocked Last of the Dragon and followed up with a nasty headbutt that brought both men down. Ishii tried dropping Shingo with a snap German, but Shingo popped up. Ishii was quick to respond with a lariat. Shingo kicked out at the count of one. Shingo reversed the brainbuster and hit one of his own. Ishii kicked out before the one count. After two more one-count kickouts, Shingo connected with Made in Japan for an actual near fall. Shingo then picked Ishii up and set him down with Last of the Dragon. This time, Ishii did not kick out.
Night one of Wrestle Kingdom 16 features an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match, three other title matches, plus the return of Katsuyori Shibata.
In the main event, Shingo Takagi defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against G1 Climax winner Kazuchika Okada. The winner goes on to defend the title against Will Ospreay in the main event of tomorrow’s show.
In the semi-main, El Desperado defends the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Best of the Super Juniors winner Hiromu Takahashi. The two went to a time limit draw in their most recent meeting in the BOSJ tournament.
Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against World Tag League winners Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI.
Tomohiro Ishii will defend the NEVER Openweight Championship against EVIL from Bullet Club’s House of Torture.
Katsuyori Shibata returns to action in a match under catch wrestling rules where strikes will not be permitted. Shibata will face a mystery opponent.
Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and BUSHI of Los Ingobernables de Japon will take on Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan of United Empire in a trios match.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi and Rocky Romero will face KENTA, Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo in another trios battle.
Former Roppongi 3K teammates SHO and YOH will square off in a grudge match in the main card opener.
A New Japan Ranbo will be held on the pre-show, with the final four competitors advancing to the first KOPW 2022 match on tomorrow’s show.
Our live coverage begins with the pre-show at 2 a.m. Eastern time.
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KOPW 2022 New Japan Ranbo – Chase Owens, Toru Yano, Minoru Suzuki, and CIMA advance
Today, the KOPW enters its third year with this Ranbo. This is a rumble style match with an unset number of competitors. Competitors can be eliminated by being thrown over the top rope, pinned, submitted, or disqualified. The final four wrestlers move on to challenge for the KOPW 2022 trophy.
Aaron Henare and Chase Owens opened the match. Young lions Kosei Fujita and Yuto Nakashima at three and four. Owens and Henare gained the upper hand on the young lions just in time for Ryohei Oiwa to make the save at number five. Owens and Henare maintained control even with the numbers disadvantage.
Master Wato entered the match and immediately took control, but things slowed down in time for Hiroyoshi Tenzan to enter at number seven. The match remained uneventful as Minoru Suzuki made his way to the ring. Suzuki immediately tapped out all three young lions. Satoshi Kojima hit the ring in time to help Tenzan stop the Suzuki threat. Likewise, Taka Michinoku aided Suzuki in fighting off Tenzan and Kojima.
CIMA entered at number eleven, repping GLEAT and STRONGHEARTS. Awesome. He immediately eliminated Taka after hitting the ring. CIMA also eliminated Wato after Tomoaki Honma entered at twelve. We had DOUKI at thirteen, Yuji Nagata at fourteen, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru at fifteen before a pile on pin eliminated Tenzan and Kojima.
Enter Togi Makabe and Bad Luck Fale. Fale cleared the ring of DOUKI, Kanemaru, Nagata and Honma, eliminating. Six-time IWGP Champion Tatsumi Fujinami entered next. Makabe eliminated Fale just as former KOPW holder Toru Yano entered the match at nineteen, the last entrant. Yano eliminated Henare, Fujinami, and Makabe almost immediately, leaving the final four of Chase Owens, Toru Yano, Minoru Suzuki, and CIMA to advance to the finals.
This was a silly ranbo. Seeing CIMA made this worth watching for me personally, but it’s not like this was anything more than a goofy match with some fun moments.
YOH defeated SHO
The match opened with YOH hitting a quick tope con hilo. YOH tried driving SHO on the ramp, but SHO used a member of the ring crew to stop YOH’s early momentum. SHO then slammed YOH onto the entrance ramp before slamming the ring crewman into YOH. SHO was in control.
A dragon screw from YOH opened an opportunity. YOH struck down SHO before stomping in his face. What followed was an extended back and forth exchange that ended with a spear from SHO. SHO led the match for some time, scoring a near fall with a powerbomb/piledriver combination.
YOH captured the leg again, scoring a visible submission on SHO, but Dick Togo distracted the referee. This bought SHO enough time to retake the match, locking in snakebite; YOH barely survived the hold. SHO grabbed a wrench as Togo distracted the referee. YOH ducked the wrench attack, sending SHO into Togo. YOH then folded SHO into a pin for a sudden into this opening match.
SHO tried hitting YOH with the wrench again after the match, but YOH landed a pump kick to stand tall.
This was not at all what I expected. It certainly didn’t feel like a Wrestle Kingdom match between two tag partners who are supposed to hate each other.
Rocky and ELP opened the match with a typical sequence. A similar, but more hip focused, sequence played out after Taguchi and Ishimori tagged in. Inside the ring, ELP and Ishimori took control over Taguchi as KENTA attacked Tanahashi with a chair on the outside.
Taguchi finally escaped isolation to tag Tanahashi into the match. Tanahashi overwhelmed Bullet Club, gaining quick control. A referee bump allowed Bullet Club to steal momentum back. KENTA brutalized Tanahashi with a cane before Taguchi and Rocky made the save allowing Tanahashi to land a few cane strikes of his own. The referee caught Tanahashi and disqualified him.
I like this Tanahashi, but at Wrestle Kingdom? I guess this sets up for tomorrow’s US title match, but we’re coming off of a week of “road to” shows, so I really don’t get it.
Jeff Cobb, Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan (United Empire) defeated SANADA, BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito (Los Ingobernables De Japon)
This match opened with a brawl that left Cobb and Naito alone in the ring. Cobb got the best of Naito in their opening interaction, a lead the O-Khan continued. Naito finally gained some ground with help from BUSHI and SANADA.
SANADA and O-Khan tagged in. SANADA locked O-Khan into the paradise lock before O-Khan tried for a couple of quick pins. SANADA tagged out after landing a dropkick, prompting Ospreay to tag in for the first time. Before Ospreay could hit Strom Breaker, Naito made the save. Naito then attempted Destino on Cobb, but Cobb revered. The ring was cleared after a sequence of attempted finishers allowing Ospreay to hit BUSHI with Hidden Blade, leading to the pin.
This was a fine showcase tag with nothing standout (other than Ospreay’s participation) compared to the previous LIJ vs UE matches from this tour.
Katsuyori Shibata defeated Ren Narita
Ren Narita was revealed as Shibata’s opponent. Not quite the surprise a lot of people expected, but I’m not complaining about it. This is easily the biggest match in Narita’s early career.
Before the match, Shibata grabbed a microphone, making this a normal match. Striking is allowed.
The match opened with a beautiful grappling sequence. Before standing up, Shibata took full mount, as did Narita. After some light striking, the grappling continued as Shibata secured a figure four leglock.
Shibata worked Narita into a corner, landing heavy blows; Narita returned the favor before a takedown left Shibata in a favorable position once more. A corner dropkick and suplex led the match to the ground again. On the mat, Narita took control, locking in a cloverleaf. After Shibata found the ropes, Narita secured a leglock.
Shibata regained a standing position, but his leg was hurting. Regardless, a kick to Narita sent him to the outside. Back in the ring, Shibata stretched, slapped, and kicked Narita. Narita fired up, landing multiple leg kicks, but Shibata resisted. Shibata choked Narita, leading to the PK and a pin.
This was a tremendous grappling focused match with dynamic segments of striking and excellent pacing—what a return for Shibata.
NJPW is returning to AXS
A brief video announced New Japan will be returning to AXS TV on January 20th.
NEVER Openweight Championship: EVIL defeated Tomohiro Ishii (c) to win the title
This match opened with EVIL and Ishii fighting with chairs on the outside. Interference from Dick Togo allowed EVIL to win the chair war, leaving EVIL with a significant lead. Ishii eventually sparked up, landing some blows and suplexes, but a referee bump and Togo chair shot left EVIL back in control.
A superplex from Ishii seemed to turn things in his favor, but again Togo interfered. Ishii accidentally hit the ref with a lariat, prompting Togo to choke him with a wire. Yujiro Takahashi hit the ring, helping Togo beat down Ishii. Ishii managed to survive the onslaught, only for SHO to hit the ring as well. YOH ran out to save Ishii just as a second referee joined the match.
Ishii rallied, landing an enzuigiri. Togo attempted to use the NEVER belt, but YOH held him off. Regardless of YOH’s efforts, the referee was distracted. Yujiro hit a low blow, EVIL hit Ishii with the NEVER belt and Everything is Evil. Evil then pinned Ishii to win the NEVER Openweight Championship.
This was a House of Torture match, not an Ishii match (and a bad one at that).
IWGP Tag Team Championships: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (CHAOS) defeated Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi (Dangerous Tekkers) (c) to win the titles
Miho Abe returned to Taichi’s side tonight—how sweet.
Goto and YH took early advantage, but the Tekkers took control as the match spilt to the outside. Back in the ring, ZSJ kept the lead, working over YH on the mat. YH eventually secured the hot-tag, allowing Goto to attempt an offensive sequence; ZSJ used grappling to hold off long enough for Taichi and YH to initiate a match reset.
ZSJ and Taichi stretched Goto and YH at the same time. Taichi ripped off his pants after the team isolated Goto; this bought YH enough time to grab Taichi, making the match a one-on-one affair once more. Goto secured the tag, prompting a YH/Taichi striking battle. Taichi managed to win out, but YH’s persistence allowed him to fight through. A powerful lariat left YH with a near fall. The CHAOS team hit a double drop, but ZSJ made the save.
Taichi fought free and nearly stole a win with the Gedo clutch. Taichi tried for Black Mephisto, but YH turned it into a destroyer. Goto hit Taichi with a GTR, setting up the CHAOS pair for a Naraku, leading to the pin. YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto are IWGP Tag Champions.
After the match, YH offered Taichi a handshake; Taichi slapped away the hand and gave him something resembling a hug.
I enjoyed this. YH winning gold will always be special.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado (c) defeated Hiromu Takahashi to retain the title
A forearm exchange opened this match; this turned to slapping moments later. Things picked up as both men took turns knocking each other down. Desperado landed a tope con hilo only for Hiromu to respond with a sunset flip bomb to the floor; this was a reset in effect, bringing the first sequence to a close.
Hiromu landed multiple heavy strikes, forcing Desperado into the corner. Desperado fought free, landing a spinebuster to take match control. Desperado climbed to the top, landing a splash, à la Jun Kasai, that yielded a near fall. Hiromu fought back, landing a powerbomb and a suplex into the corner to stay competitive. A dynamite plunger left Hiromu with a near fall.
The two went back and forth again, trying to land anything substantial; this struggle worked its way to the mat where Desperado locked in a hold on the leg. Hiromu fought back to a standing position and landed a lariat to reset the match.
Hiromu landed Victory Royal to score a near fall, and Desperado connected with a back to belly driver for a near fall of his own. A punch from Desperado flattened Hiromu, but Hiromu avoided the impending finish. Hiromu landed his own closed fist strike that dropped Desperado, and Desperado landed another. Desperado landed two Pinche Locos and pinned Hiromu to close this match.
This was quite good.
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Kazuchika Okada defeated Shingo Takagi (c) to win the title
The opening chain wrestling lasted for a while. A lariat from Shingo led the match to the outside. Shingo landed a suplex to the floor after surviving an Okada DDT. Back in the ring, Shingo maintained control.
Okada finally landed a tackle to reset the match. A flapjack left Okada in the driver’s seat. Okada knocked Shingo from the top rope to the floor with a dropkick, taking the action back outside. Okada slammed Shingo into the barricade before leaping it to deliver a splash. Between the ropes, Okada locked in the money clip. Shingo rallied, landing a DDT of his own. Shingo attempted a sliding lariat, but Okada caught him with the money clip again. Okada hit a tombstone piledriver and tied Shingo up with the money clip once more.
Okada tried for the rainmaker, but Shingo leveled him with a lariat of his own. Shingo hit the rainmaker pose; this infuriated Okada. Okada went off on Shingo, but Shingo did not back down. Shingo withstood the storm, landing a lariat to end the sequence that Okada started.
Things worked back outside the ring where Okada tried dropping Shingo on the ramp; instead, Shingo tossed Okada on the ramp from a fireman’s carry. Okada beat the ring-out count at 19. Shingo hoisted Okada to the top and hit a superplex that forced the crowd to break the clapping rule. A sliding lariat left Shingo with a near fall.
Shingo attempted Made in Japan; Okada slipped free, landing a dropkick. Okada then landed two short-arm lariats and tried for a third. Shingo landed Made in Japan twice; Okada kicked out. Shingo landed a pumping bomber; Okada kicked out. Shingo tried for last of the dragon, but again, Okada slipped free. Okada landed a rainmaker but couldn’t reach Shingo for the pin.
Both men traded strikes, and Shingo won out. Shingo tried for last of the dragon again, but Okada slipped free and tried for the money clip. Shingo fought free and hoisted Okada to the top rope in a fireman’s carry. Okada reversed, landing a DDT from the top. Okada landed a German but Shingo ducked the rainmaker. Shingo connected with a lariat that flattened Okada. Shingo tried for last of the dragon again, but Okada slipped free.
Okada landed a dropkick that Shingo sprung up from. Okada pulled Shingo in, landed the rainmaker, and pinned him to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship for the first time.
After the match, Okada did not take the new belt; instead, he bowed to the old IWGP Heavyweight championship. After paying his respect to the Heavyweight championship, the referee placed the new belt around his waist.
Will Ospreay hit the ring and cut a promo on Okada following the match, calling him the interim champion and insulting his attire. Osprey said he would win tomorrow, making it possible for Okada to leave to pursue a career in acting. Okada responded by calling Ospreay a fake champion.
Okada closed the show with a promo, praising Shingo and the heavyweight championship of old. He claimed NJPW was the best promotion in the world and made some comments referring to COVID.
This match took a while to get going, but once it did, it’s precisely what you would expect: prolonged sequences, convincing near falls, and ramping intensity.
Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale defeated Yuji Nagata and Yuto Nakashima
This was fine enough for what it was, I suppose — about what one would expect from this match on paper.
Nagata and Nakashima started the match by isolating Fale, Owens entered the fray, creating enough separation for Fale to get the upper hand on Nakashima. Fale and Chase then traded tags, slowly picking apart Nakashima far from his corner. Owens and Fale crushed Nakashima, forcing Nagata to save his desperate partner. Eventually, Nakashima escaped a corner splash, allowing Nagata to tag in finally.
Nagata had a short rally but soon fell to Fale’s power; Nagata continued to slip after Owens tagged back into the match. Nakashima tagged back into the match after recovering on the apron. He gained a quick lead over Owens, locking in a Boston crab that Fale broke up. Fale’s distraction allowed Owens to land a lariat for a near fall and a C Trigger for the actual fall to bring this match to a close.
DOUKI and Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Toru Yano and Kosei Fujita
This was not great.
Kanemaru and DOUKI started the match by jumping their opponents. Kanemaru doused Yano with his alcohol before launching an innovative offensive sequence outside the ring. The match returned to the mat but soon devolved into an outside scrap once more.
After the outside fighting, Kanemaru and DOUKI isolated Fujita. Eventually, Fujita scored the hot tag, prompting Yano to remove the turnbuckle pad; this immediately backfired as Yano flew back first into the turnbuckles, but this really didn’t matter. Kanemaru tried to hit Yano with his bottle, but Yano ducked. Yano teased hitting Kanemaru with his own bottle, but instead, the match went back outside the ring. Yano then fetched a bottle of alcohol of his own that he used to drench Kanemaru. Kanemaru lay on the outside for some time. Once he returned to the ring, he sprayed Yano with a mouth full of liquor. Both men then tagged out.
Fujita forced DOUKI into the ropes with a deep Boston crab. After surviving the hold, DOUKI immediately took advantage, scoring a near fall. Fujita was not done fighting, however; he tried for two quick roll-ups, both of which DOUKI escaped. DOUKI then caught Fujita with the Italian Stretch No.32, leading to the submission victory.
Yujiro Takahashi, SHO, and EVIL defeated Ryohei Oiwa, YOH, and Tomohiro Ishii
I can’t imagine this match succeeded in any of its goals. If the EVIL vs Ishii, SHO vs YOH, or NEVER 6-Man matches look anything like this come the 4th, that would be a disappointment.
House of Torture jumped their opponents as the match started. In the chaos, SHO and YOH were left alone in the ring. SHO tried working the fingers of YOH, but YOH fought through, delivering a dropkick before tagging out of the match; after the tag, the match fell into chaos again.
After the dust settled, EVIL and Ishii were alone in the ring. The pair took turns throwing one another into an exposed corner. Oiwa tagged in, having moderate success before succumbing to the numbers. House of Torture isolated Oiwa, leaving him desperate for a tag. The tag never came. After an extended period of domination, Takahashi had a pin on Oiwa, but instead of taking it, he pulled Oiwa from the mat. EVIL then hit Oiwa with the singles NEVER belt, then Takahashi pinned Oiwa.
Tiger Mask, YOSHI-HASHI, and Hirooki Goto defeated TAKA Michinoku, Zack Sabre Jr, and Taichi
Anything with Tiger Mask or YH will be fun, so this had its moments.
YH and ZSJ opened the match with a wonderful sequence that soon involved every other competitor. ZSJ and Tiger Mask were soon alone in the ring, and after some ZSJ targeting, Tiger Mask was in deep trouble. As Taichi entered the match, things only grew direr for Tiger Mask.
A tiger driver allowed Goto to tag into the match and take momentum for his team; YH tagged back into the match, and Suzuki-Gun regained control. TAKA locked in a deep choke that forced YH into the ropes. Moments later, the match broke down into a 6-way brawl. YH and Goto hit TAKA with Shoto, leading to the pin.
Master Wato, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori, and Gedo
For a match structured on Taguchi’s hindquarters, this was decent.
ELP and Taguchi started the match by playing chicken; this evolved into a silly sequence that ended with Wato being slammed into Taguchi’s rear. The distraction this caused allowed Bullet Club to gain control by isolating Taguchi. After raking his back for minutes, ELP slapped Taguchi’s buttocks that Gedo and Taji exposed; Taguchi seemed ashamed.
Taguchi, with his pants around his thighs, finally landed a hip attack before tagging Wato into the match. Wato had a short sequence before tagging in Tanahashi. Tanahashi, unfortunately, fell victim to a referee distraction and kick from ELP’s loaded boot. Before Bullet Club could put away Tanahashi, Taguchi hit the ring, his butt still out. After Taguchi landed a hip attack to clear the ring, Tanahashi locked in the cloverleaf and tapped out Gedo.
Aaron Henare, Great-O-Khan, and Jeff Cobb defeated BUSHI, SANADA, and Tetsuya Naito
This match was a little bloated, but it was the first match of the night that actually made me more excited for a Tokyo Dome match; every Cobb/Naito interaction left me wanting more.
Cobb wanted Naito from the opening bell, but Naito denied him; instead, O-Khan and SANADA opened the match. O-Khan was sure to show off his wrestling that earned him a technique award early in his exchange. SANADA, on the other hand, grabbed O-Khan’s braid, pulling him across the ring by his lone lock.
SANADA tied O-Khan up in the paradise lock, causing The United Empire to hit the ring. O-Khan gained control over SANADA on the inside, and on the outside, Cobb flattened Naito. The United Empire then picked apart SANADA as Naito watched on.
SANADA eventually tagged out, allowing Naito and Cobb to interact in the ring. Naito led the first sequence inside the ropes by targeting Cobb’s leg. Cobb was only slightly phased, however, as his power soon overwhelmed Naito. What followed was a fantastic back and forth exchange that left both men laid out.
The match broke down, and everyone traded moves for some time. Eventually, O-Khan hit BUSHI with an Eliminator to close the match.
Hiromu Takahashi and Shingo Takagi defeated Kazuchika Okada and Robbie Eagles
This is precisely what you would expect from a preview tag with these guys—tons of interaction without over-delivering before the Dome show.
Okada and Shingo opened the match with some chain wrestling to establish equality between the two. Then Eagles and Hiromu tagged in, having a lightning-quick sequence that broke down into a brawl on the outside. Eagles emerged with advantage before Okada tagged back in and cemented his teams lead. Eagles and Okada then took turns keeping Hiromu from tagging out.
Hiromu eventually got the hot tag, allowing for a significant Shingo offensive sequence. Though, Shingo’s offense was cut short as Okada caught him in the money clip, forcing a rope break and a momentum reversal. After an air-raid crash neckbreaker, Okada tried for the money clip once more, but Shingo escaped, landing a lariat to reset the match.
The juniors tagged back in, and Eagles immediately tied up the legs of Hiromu. Hiromu barely escaped but managed to find the ropes. The pair then struggled for control, with Hiromu eventually driving Eagles into the turnbuckle pad. Eagles answered some light offense but was thrown back into the corner with even more intention.
Shingo tagged in to keep Eagles from Okada. Okada saved Eagles from a pin following the pumping bomber, but he could not make the save following last of the dragon. Shingo pinned Eagles to close the match.
Shingo Takagi is this year’s Tokyo Sports MVP Award winner.
Takagi, who has spent most of the year as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, commented after winning.
“Thank you for voting me as MVP,” he said upon accepting the award (via NJPW’s website). “I don’t have the time here to really express how I feel, or how happy I am at the award, but to hear that the nominations were mainly for me and Keiji Muto, that shows that [the Yamanashi prefecture] is churning out the best in Japan and the world, and that’s pretty cool in my book.”
The two nominees for the award included Takagi and Keiji Muto, with Takagi winning the first round with a majority of 14 votes. Muto, along with Go Shiozaki, won the Best Bout award, which took place in Pro Wrestling NOAH back on February 12 of this year.
A match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship has been made official for Wrestle Kingdom 16.
NJPW confirmed this morning during a press conference that champion Shingo Takagi will defend against Kazuchika Okada on January 4. During this morning’s press conference, Takagi promised that he would retain the championship against Okada. He then mentioned that when he won he would take the IWGP Heavyweight title that Okada is carrying and would give it to “the appropriate IWGP advocate”, mentioning that 2022 is NJPW’s 50th anniversary.
Okada has been carrying the IWGP Heavyweight title since winning the G1 Climax last month, with the title representing his IWGP World Heavyweight title shot at Wrestle Kingdom. He successfully defended his title shot at Power Struggle this past weekend, defeating Tama Tonga.
Wrestle Kingdom 16, for the first time, will be held across three days. January 4 and 5 will be held at the Tokyo Dome, with a third Wrestle Kingdom event taking place on January 8 at Yokohama Arena.
Shingo Takagi defends the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event of NJPW Power Struggle in Osaka.
Sabre defeated Shingo in a non-title match during the G1 Climax tournament on September 23 to set up the IWGP title bout. The two have split their two career singles matches 1-1.
In the semi-main, G1 Climax 31 winner Kazuchika Okada will defend his Wrestle Kingdom title shot against Tama Tonga. Tama defeated Okada in the G1, Okada’s only blemish in the tournament.
Four other titles will be on the line on today’s show.
Hiroshi Tanahashi defends the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against KENTA. KENTA holds a 2-1 lead in their three career singles bouts.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles defends against El Desperado. The two have split their previous singles meetings 1-1.
Provisional KOPW 2021 Toru Yano defends against Great-O-Khan in an amateur rules match. This duo has also split their career singles bouts 1-1.
Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI defend the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championships against Bullet Club’s House of Torture (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and SHO).
A series of tag matches fills out the undercard. Yuji Nagata, Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato will face SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI. Tiger Mask, Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma will take on Tanga Loa, Gedo and Jado. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI will face Young Lions Ryohei Oiwa and Kosei Fujita in the opener.
This was well wrestled, precisely what you would expect from a young lion match.
The Young Lions opened the match with energy but failed to maintain their early lead. The Young Lion duo regained control after DOUKI, who started the match, tagged out, but this too was short-lived as Kanemaru took advantage of their inexperience. A scoop slam and Boston crab led to the Suzuki-Gun favoured submission.
This wasn’t good, per se, but it was fun at times and didn’t overstay its welcome.
Gedo and Tiger Mask opened the match, but Loa and Gedo hit the ring soon after Tiger Mask gained advantage. Tiger Mask not only tried but succeeded in fighting off all three of his opponents. Makabe and Honma then traded tags, taking complete control for their team.
The brawling continued for some time, with everyone hitting something. Honma and Loa traded strikes after the ring was cleared. Loa connected with a driver after surviving the onslaught before pinning Honma.
Los Ingobernables De Japon (SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) defeated Yuji Nagata, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato
This match featured structural elements that I am not a fan of, but similar to the previous match, it was amusing and brief.
Taguchi and Hiromu opened the match with a lively exchange. With aid from Taguchi, Wato secured some match presence. This led to SANADA and BUSHI hitting the ring to take control. Wato managed to survive before tagging Nagata into the match.
Nagata and SANADA began a brawl that demanded intervention from Hiromu. Nagata fought off both before tagging in Taguchi, who ran through all three of his opponents, hitting them all with hip attacks. SANADA ended the sequence with an atomic drop, triggering a 6-way brawl. A hip attack from Taguchi also ended the brawl. Taguchi then embraced his Nakamura, hitting the signature taunt and SANADA with the Bomaye. SANADA kicked out of the pin and escaped the ankle lock that followed before bridging Taguchi for a sudden finish.
NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag team Championships: HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & SHO) defeated CHAOS (Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI) to win the titles
This match was long and not very good. In a match that should be filled with impassioned disputes between ex-faction-mates, fluff filled most of the run time.
The first title match of the night opened with a brawl. As the dust settled, Yujiro and Goto shared the ring. Yujiro secured control inside the ropes with aid from EVIL, who removed the turnbuckle pad just in time for a slam into the hooks. EVIL then tagged in, choked Goto with a towel, and tagged out.
SHO, now legal, traded blows with Goto. Goto won the exchange and fought off the opposing rally before tagging Ishii into the match. Ishii ran through his former faction mate, but a pause, seemingly caused by emotion, allowed SHO to gain an advantage. SHO then proved he was also susceptible to the same flaw, as a pause allowed Ishii to take control back from him. Ishii’s momentum was vanquished with a kick from EVIL, leading to a SHO spear and tag.
It was YH who gained control of EVIL, only for a cane shot and a whip into the exposed buckles to recement HOT dominance. YH endured all of the underhanded tactics and interference before landing a superkick that forced a breakup. YH’s rally also was met with resistance from EVIL, but it was outside interference that caused another brawl.
The CHOAS team had a visible pin after emerging from the smoke, but the referee was pulled outside the ring. This led to all-out BULLET CLUB chicanery. Alone in the ring with YH, Evil hit Everything is Evil, leading to the pin and new champions.
As the new champions celebrated (by attacking the former champions), YOH returned, running off House of Torture. SHO fled before YOH could get his hands on him.
KOPW 2021 Amateur Wrestling Rules: Toru Yano defeated Great-O-Khan to retain the title
Before the match started, Nagata explained the rules in Japanese. I do not speak Japanese, however, so I had no clue what was happening. Thankfully, there was a scoreboard.
O-Khan entered the ring in a singlet, so you know this is serious business, and in case you didn’t think this was serious, Yano also had a singlet—talk about big match feel.
Period 1
As the match started, O-Khan and Yano wrestled into the ropes; the referee, equipped with a whistle, stood the pair back up. Soon after, Yano pushed O-Khan into the ropes again, but this time, he scored a point. 1-0 Yano. O-Khan responded with a takedown; for this, he received two points. 2-1 O-Khan. O-Khan maintained his lead by rolling Yano around, scoring two more points. 4-1 O-Khan.
Period 2
Period two started with Yano pushing O-Khan into the ropes for a quick point. 4-2 O-Khan. O-Khan then placed Yano in the ropes to regain the 3 point lead. 5-3 O-Khan. Yano stuffed a takedown before landing a colossal suplex shooting him into a lead late in the 2nd. Final score: 6-5 Yano, in a photo finish.
After Yano won the match and had his hand raised, O-Khan beat down the winner with help from Toa Henare. Thankfully, Nagata restored order.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado defeated Robbie Eagles to win the title
This was quite good. The multi-dimensional leg work weaved through the match was made all the sweeter by the payoff.
The opening sequence was fairly typical. Eagles slightly outwrestled Desparado, but Desperado took advantage of momentary openings, leading to significant Desperado favoured offence. Said sequence was punctuated with a beautiful dive from Desperado, leaving the challenger with control of the champion early.
Desperado focused his attention on the champion’s legs, a move reciprocated by Eagles. After Eagles fought to his feet, he connected with multiple kicks before hitting a dive of his own; after landing the move, Eagles limped back in the ring before hitting a springboard dropkick. Eagles then locked in the Ron Miller Special that forced Desperado in the ropes.
Desperado finally regained some footing after a sudden spine buster. Desperado wasted no time either, as he turned his attention back to the legs of Eagles. Eagles fought through the pain, though, landing a superkick and attempting the 450; Desperado blocked the move with his knees.
With both men essentially on equal footing, a strike battle began. After the striking broke down, the pair traded increasingly impactful offence. This led to near falls and more leg work. After an Eagles rollup attempt was reversed, Desperado locked in Numero Dos, his over the shoulder single leg Boston Crab that Eagles failed to escape. Desperado is champion.
IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: KENTA defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the title
This match was great in its second half. Getting there was almost a chore, but once it picked up, it was incredible.
KENTA tried setting the mood early on by overwhelming Tanahashi’s crowd reaction with claps of his own; this failed. KENTA then continued the antics by leaving the ring for a while. After he finally re-entered the ropes, Tanahashi connected with a sequence that sent him back outside. This time Tanahashi capitalised with a dive. KENTA then grabbed the IWGP US Belt and began to run away.
After Tanahashi caught up to KENTA, KENTA hit a quick slam on the ramp. Tanahashi broke the referee’s count at 19. KENTA then removed the turnbuckle pad before slamming Tanahsi into the exposed metal. To follow this up, KENTA connected with multiple closed fist strikes in mount. KENTA was in control. KENTA tried draping Tanahashi over the second rope for a hangman’s DDT, but Tanahashi caught KENTA with a dragonscrew; this led to the match spilling outside, and on the outside, KENTA flourished. KENTA pulled a table from beneath the ring that he set up ringside. KENTA then positioned Tanashi for a GTS from the apron to the floor through a table. Tanahashi evaded his doom only to be hit with the hangman’s DDT. KENTA then hit a double foot stomp before turning his attention back to the table.
KENTA placed Tanahashi on the furniture before climbing to the top rope, but Tanahashi rolled off before KENTA could connect. Tanahashi then landed a sling blade, gaining control on the outside. Tanahashi now set KENTA on the table and climbed to the top himself. High Fly Flow put KENTA through the table.
Back in the ring, Tanahashi hit High Fly Flow again, but on his third attempt, he ran into the knees of KENTA. KENTA then secured a crossface to reset momentum in his favour. KENTA hoisted Tanahashi for a GTS, but Tanahashi escaped, hitting a dragonscrew to reset match flow again. KENTA survived by throwing Tanahashi into the exposed corner, opening him up for a running knee. KENTA tried again for a GTS, but again was hit with a sling blade. KENTA again recovered by throwing Tanahashi into the corner. This time, KENTA succeeded in hitting the GTS before pinning Tanahashi to win IWGP gold.
Tokyo Dome IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Right to Challenge: Kazuchika Okada defeated Tama Tonga
I was generally not a fan of this. The majority of this match felt bloated, but hey, the closing sequence was good. It just wasn’t for me.
The two began a battle of offence as soon as the match started. Okada gained momentum from the opening exchange; this lasted until the match fell outside the ropes. On the outside, Tama landed a suplex that left Okada motionless; at the count of 19, Okada re-entered the ring. Now on the inside, Tama’s control continued via a chinlock turned choke.
Okada finally freed himself from the prolonged hold before connecting with a big boot. A flapjack left Tama grounded on the inside, and a dropkick sent him crashing to the outside. This time on the outside, Okada had success. After rolling Tama back in the ring, a top rope dropkick led to an Okada near fall. Okada followed the near fall with the money clip.
After escaping the money clip, Tama rolled to the outside. Okada tried for a tombstone close to the ramp, but Tanga freed himself and delivered Tongan Twist. Back in the ring, another Tongan Twist led to a Tama near fall. Okada dodged a strike and locked in the money clip in the centre of the ring. Tama made it to the rope moments before unconsciousness. Okada then tried for the rainmaker, but Tama ducked. Tama caught Okada with an Alabama slam that he followed with a top rope dive for a convincing near fall. Okada stuffed three gun stuns to stay in the match.
Okada tried for a tombstone but was blocked; a dropkick found the mark, however. Okada tried again but was hit with a tombstone instead of delivering one. A dropkick from Okada followed a dropkick from Tama. Okada tried again for a tombstone and failed again; this led directly to the climax. In a move dense closing sequence, Okada closed the match with a rainmaker.
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. to retain the title
I enjoyed this a lot, but it could have been significantly better with a shorter run time. So many of the sequences were excellent, but with so much, it’ll be hard to pick out anything meaningful.
The opening sequence consisted of ZSJ trying for holds and Shingo evading them. A shoulder tackle opened ZSJ to strikes from the champion in the first play of control. This was short-lived, however, as ZSJ continually caught an open limb.
Shingo was not afraid to engage on the mat, forcing ZSJ into the ropes in an early exchange. ZSJ’s response was to exit the ring, effectively resetting the match. ZSJ then caught Shingo in the ropes, gaining control for himself; a punt to a prone Shingo only cemented this.
Shingo eventually fought to a standing position after turning a choke into a slam. Shingo followed up with heavy strikes and a DDT leading to a near fall. After the pin attempt, more strikes reigned in, but again ZSJ capitalised on an opening to take the match back to the mat.
After the match returned to an upright position, a remarkable sequence of suplexes and strikes created another reset. This time, a dragonscrew from Shingo left him in the driver’s seat. Shingo hit a powerbomb that he turned into a crossface that forced ZSJ back in the ropes.
ZSJ used the rope break to scrap back into a favourable position. After a lightning-quick strike, the Zack Driver left both men lying. ZSJ tried for a choke, Shingo dropped him, ZSJ grabbed the arm. After escaping, Shingo hit a strike, but again the match returned to the mat. On the mat, Shingo secured a choke. ZSJ fought himself free only to be hit with Made in Japan, resulting in a near fall; a pumping bomber followed.
Shingo hoisted ZSJ to the top rope, where a struggle commenced. ZSJ pulled Shingo down into an armbar. Shingo fell into the ropes to escape. ZSJ then continued the attack on the arm. After another Zack Driver and another kick out, ZSJ grew visibly frustrated. ZSJ locked in a choke while on the back of Shingo. Shingo climbed to the top, where he fell onto ZSJ. ZSJ was unphased as he immediately took Shingo’s arm once again. Shingo powered through and hit Made in Japan again, ZSJ kicked out.
ZSJ and Shingo began trading hard strikes; Shingo won this exchange. ZSJ immediately took control via grappling again, and a quick pin almost left him with gold. Another pumping bomber, another ZSJ kick out. With the end in sight, Shingo hit Last of the Dragon, leading to the pin.
After the match, Okada walked out to the ring with the old belt on his shoulder. He cut a promo, Shingo responded, close show.
After months of shows with six or fewer matches, NJPW will present a nine-match card at the Saturday, November 6 Power Struggle event.
In the main event, Shingo Takagi will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Zack Sabre Jr.. Sabre defeated Shingo in this year’s G1 Climax 31 tournament to set up the bout.
In the semi-main, Kazuchika Okada defends his right to challenge for the IWGP World title at Wrestle Kingdom 16 briefcase against Tama Tonga. Okada earned the briefcase with his G1 Climax 31 victory, but Tonga beat him in the tournament.
Hiroshi Tanahashi will defend the IWGP United States title against KENTA. KENTA stole the title belt from Tanahashi after defeating his team in a tag match at the G1 finals.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles will defend his title against former Champion El Desperado. On the Road to Power Struggle tour, Eagles and Tiger Mask will challenge Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships.
Provisional KOPW 2021 Toru Yano will defend the title against The Great-O-Khan.
The NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championships will be on the line, as Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI defend against EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and SHO, the Bullet Club House of Torture.
A series of tag matches fill out the undercard.
SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI will face Yuji Nagata, Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato. Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma and Tiger Mask will take on Tanga Loa, Gedo and Jado. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI vs. Ryohei Oiwa and Kosei Fujita will open the show.
Here is the lineup:
NJPW Power Struggle, Saturday, November 6, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Right to challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 16 briefcase: Kazuchika Okada vs. Tama Tonga
IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. KENTA
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles (c) vs. El Desperado
Provisional KOPW 2021: Toru Yano (c) vs. Great-O-Khan
NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI (c) vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & SHO
The G1 Climax 31 A Block continued today in Sendai.
Shingo Takagi took on The Great-O-Khan in the main event, while Zack Sabre Jr. faced Toru Yano in the semi-main.
KENTA vs. Tanga Loa and Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yujiro Takahashi were the other tournament matches.
Kota Ibushi vs. Satoshi Kojima, plus Hiromu Takahashi vs. Kosei Fujita were the non-tournament matches today.
Here are results and a report from the show.
**********
Recommended matches —
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yujiro Takahashi
Kota Ibushi vs. Satoshi Kojima
Report —
Hiromu Takahashi defeated Kosei Fujita (7:46)
Hiromu gave Fujita a little bit more than he gave Oiwa last night, but not much. They had the same basic match.
Oiwa wanted to wrestle, but Hiromu just chopped his chest raw. Oiwa hit a slam, Hiromu cut him off with more chops. Hiromu went for a crab, but Oiwa used a small package for a near fall.
Hiromu hit more chops, then used the Boston crab for the submission.
Kota Ibushi defeated Satoshi Kojima (14:56)
I’m not even sure Ibushi broke a sweat here and he still had a great match. This was very good stuff.
They began simply, trading side headlocks and shoulder tackles. Kojima went for a plancha, but Ibushi got out of the way. Ibushi sent Kojima into the barricade and hit a big boot. Ibushi hit a slingshot splash back into the ring for a near fall.
After a rest hold, Ibushi won a striking battle. Ibushi hit a springboard dropkick. Ibushi missed an elbow in the corner, allowing Kojima to hit machine gun chops and his top rope elbow for a near fall as the momentum shifted.
Kojima hit a rolling elbow. Ibushi hit a flying mid kick. Ibushi hit a combination of strikes and a standing moonsault as he regained control. Kojima fought out of a last ride and hit a DDT. They rolled to the apron. Kojima hit a DDT on the apron. Ibushi may not have been able to beat the count back in, but Kojima went out after him and threw him back in.
Ibushi blocked a cutter and hit a last ride for a two count. Ibushi hit a Bomaye for another near fall. Kojima blocked Kamigoye and hit a cutter. Kojima hit a brainbuster for a near fall.
Ibushi blocked one lariat, but Kojima hit one with his other arm for a near fall. Ibushi hit a massive lariat. They hit simultaneous lariats. Ibushi went down, but Kojima did not. Ibushi blocked another lariat and hit a v-trigger.
Ibushi followed with the Kamigoye to get the pin.
A Block: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) (17:00)
Ishii isn’t going to have a bad match. If he’s in there with someone who can’t work up to his level, he’s going to make sure the psychology is superb, so they laid out an intricate match with a bunch of counters and reversals of big moves.
Yujiro attacked as soon as Ishii stepped through the ropes. They brawled to the floor. Pieter took the ref while Yujiro used his walking stick on Ishii. Back in, they traded chops. Yujro used his legdrop and fisherman buster.
Ishii came back with a whip into the corner and a superplex. Ishii went for a powerbomb, Yujiro blocked by biting Ishii’s hand. Yujiro again avoided the powerbomb and hit a DDT. Ishii blocked an Angle slam. They traded strikes. Yujiro then connected with the slam for a two count. Ishii blocked Miami Shine. Yujiro blocked an enzuigiri and hit a lariat.
Yujiro hit a buckle bomb. He almost dropped Ishii right on his head as he just barely made it into the buckle. I watched this three times and I’m not entirely certain Ishii’s head didn’t just bounce right off the mat. He was okay enough to finish the match, and he’s so good at selling that it’s impossible to say, but I’m pretty sure he hurt his head, neck and shoulder on this spot.
Yujiro hit Miami Shine for a two count. Ishii blocked Pimp Juice and hit a Saito suplex.
They traded strikes. Ishii hit an enzuigiri and a sliding lariat for a two count. Ishii fired up and hit another lariat. Yujiro reversed Ishii’s finisher into a brainbuster. Yujiro hit Pimp Juice, but Ishii kicked out.
Ishii blocked Big Juice. They did a great series of counters and reversals. Ishii hit a lariat for a near fall, then hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster to get the pin.
A Block: KENTA defeated Tanga Loa (w/Jado) (22:12)
KENTA saves himself for big spots, and he did not consider this a big spot. The match wasn’t bad, but I marvel sometimes at the way he manages to do absolutely nothing.
KENTA spent the first five minutes of the match running away from Loa. KENTA would roll outside, Loa would go out after him, KENTA would roll back in the ring.
Jado finally put a stop to this and blocked KENTA as he went to roll out of the ring. Loa then took control of the match. He used a chinlock and an OJK. Loa busted out a standing moonsault for a near fall. Loa used a blue thunder bomb.
KENTA got a brief comeback with a powerslam and a clothesline off the top, but Loa regained control after tossing KENTA outside and into the barricade. KENTA cut Loa off as he went to get back in and hit a green killer for a near fall. KENTA hit a double stomp off the top for a two count.
They traded strikes. Loa hit an exploder. KENTA bumped the referee and hit a low blow. Jado got on the apron. KENTA kicked the middle rope into Jado’s groin.
KENTA grabbed Jado’s kendo stick and did the Eddie Guerrero spot as the referee was revived. As the ref went to get Jado out of the ring, Loa hit a low blow on KENTA.
Loa went for a powerbomb. KENTA blocked. Loa went for Apesh*t, but KENTA backed him into the buckle and schoolboyed him with his feet on the ropes for the pin.
A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Toru Yano (6:42)
This was short. A typical Yano comedy match.
Sabre tried to steal a win by attacking Yano as he stepped through the ropes. Sabre used a cradle for a near fall. Yano got a cradle for two. Sabre got another near fall.
Yano rolled out to the floor. Sabre went after him. Yano got back in the ring. Yano hit a belly-to-belly. Sabre rolled outside. Yano carried Sabre backstage. Yano ran back to the ring. Sabre entered with a blindfold on. Sabre beat the count.
Yano used a cross armbreaker. Sabre reversed into his own cross armbreaker, but Yano got his foot on the ropes. They fought on the floor. Yano crawled under the ring. Sabre pulled him back out with an ankle lock.
Yano brought out a pair of handcuffs. Sabre cuffed himself to Yano. They beat the count back in. Yano used a fireman’s carry into a cradle. They traded cradles. Sabre got a cross armbreaker. Yano got the handcuff key out, but Sabre kept him from freeing himself and Yano tapped.
A Block: Shingo Takagi defeated Great-O-Khan (25:50)
This was missing something. Shingo had his ribs taped up, but O-Khan didn’t really go after them until past the 15 minute mark. They just kind of went back and forth, your turn, my turn on offense until that point.
After trading shoulder blocks, Shingo rolled outside in an attempt to control the pace. O-Khan knocked him off the apron with a pump kick, then sent him into the barricade. O-Khan again sent Shingo into the fence.
O-Khan used a nerve hold and a chinlock. They traded chops. They traded Mongolian chops. Shingo hit a DDT, a knee lift and got a knockdown off a tackle. Shingo hit a corner clothesline and a vertical suplex.
O-Khan blocked a sliding lariat and hit a judo throw. O-Khan tied Shingo to the tree of woe and hit a running kick. O-Khan used the iron claw on the back of Shingo’s head. Shingo fired up and hit a combination of strikes in the corner.
They traded strikes. Shingo hit a lariat and a Saito suplex. O-Khan answered with a pump kick. Each no-sold a suplex. Shingo hit a sliding lariat. O-Khan blocked Made in Japan and noshigami.
O-Khan used a bearhug and slammed Shingo into the corner pad. O-Khan used the sheep killer. He gave up the hold and hit a slam for a two count.
Shingo blocked the Eliminator and got a cross armbreaker applied. Shingo snapped back on the arm. O-Khan absorbed two lariats. Shingo blocked a pump kick and used it to set up Made in Japan for a near fall.
O-Khan reversed a Last of the Dragon attempt into a gordbuster. They traded strikes. Shingo blocked an iron claw with a short forearm strike.
O-Khan blocked Last of the Dragon. O-Khan blocked a Pumping Bomber with a lariat for a near fall.
Shingo blocked the Eliminator and hit a dragon suplex and a sliding forearm. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber for a near fall.
Shingo hit Last of the Dragon and got the pin.
**********
Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night 16, Thursday, October 14, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
B Block: Kazuchika Okada vs. Tama Tonga
B Block: Jeff Cobb vs. EVIL
B Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. YOSHI-HASHI
B Block: Hirooki Goto vs. SANADA
B Block: Taichi vs. Chase Owens
Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita
The G1 Climax 31 A Block continued today in Aichi.
Shingo Takagi faced Kota Ibushi in the main event, while Tomohiro Ishii took on Zack Sabre Jr. in the semi-main.
Tanga Loa vs. Yujiro Takahashi, and KENTA vs. Great-O-Khan were the other tournament matches today.
Toru Yano took on BUSHI, plus Yoshinobu Kanemaru faced Kosei Fujita in the two non-tournament matches.
Here are results and a report from the show.
**********
Recommended matches —
Shingo Takagi vs. Kota Ibushi
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Report —
Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Kosei Fujita (7:34)
Fujita is not as good as Oiwa is my hot take on the new Young Lion duo. Oiwa had a really good match with Kanemaru the other night. This was just there.
Fujita tried some forearm strikes early. Kanemaru cut him off and worked him over. Fujita made a comeback and hit a dropkick. Kanemaru cut him off again and used a Boston crab for the submission.
Toru Yano defeated BUSHI (7:14)
This was complete haha.
They blindfolded each other with tote bags. BUSHI tied Yano to the barricade with a towel for a countout tease. Yano exposed a buckle. Yano tied BUSHI to the barricade by the mask for another countout tease.
BUSHI hit a missile dropkick and a suicide dive. Yano put a blindfold over the ref’s head. BUSHI rolled up Yano but there was no referee.
Yano hit a low blow and used a schoolboy for the pin.
A Block: KENTA defeated Great-O-Khan (19:39)
This was okay. The Great-Okay.
They did some promo work before the match where each asked the other to bow down to the other. The loser of the match would be forced to bow down to the winner.
KENTA stalled early and hid under the ring. He popped out from under the ring and attacked O-Khan on the floor. They traded leg holds on the mat. O-Khan took control of the match after some Mongolian chops.
O-Khan used an iron claw and went for the Eliminator, but KENTA escaped and hit a DDT. KENTA followed up with the green killer for a near fall. KENTA hit a running boot and stalling dropkick in the corner.
KENTA rolled through after missing a double stomp, but O-Khan cut him off with a pump kick. They traded hard slaps, with KENTA getting the better of the sequence. O-Khan escaped a GTS attempt an went for an Eliminator, but KENTA used a knee strike to block.
O-Khan used the sheep killer. KENTA slid out and bumped O-Khan into the referee. KENTA brought a chair in and used it on O-Khan. KENTA put O-Khan’s hat on and hit a double stomp off the top onto O-Khan on the chair.
KENTA brought a baseball bat into the ring. He threw the bat to O-Khan. The ref was revived and saw O-Khan with the bat. KENTA used the distraction to schoolboy O-Khan and pin him.
KENTA sat on a chair and demanded that O-Khan bow down. O-Khan almost did, but popped up at the last minute and hit the Eliminator on KENTA. KENTA gets the win, O-Khan keeps his pride.
A Block: Tanga Loa (w/Jado) defeated Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) (12:36)
They had a fine brawl, they didn’t overstay their welcome, they worked hard. No complaints about this one which looked like it could have been a struggle on paper.
Loa gained the early advantage and busted out a standing moonsault for a two count. He continued on the offensive with a blue thunder bomb. Loa used a chinlock.
Yujiro came back and actually hit a suicide dive. These guys weren’t messing around tonight.
Yujiro hit an Angle slam for a two count. Loa came back with a sit-out powerbomb. Yujiro hit Miami Shine and scored a near fall.
Yujiro went for Big Juice, but Loa blocked and hit Apesh*t to get the pin.
A Block: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Zack Sabre Jr. (18:40)
Really good match with a simple story. Sabre went after Ishii’s right arm. Would Ishii be able to deliver enough punishment before the arm gave out?
Sabre tried to steal a quick win with a European clutch. Sabre used kicks and holds in working over the arm. Ishii went for a superplex, but Sabre escaped and hit a powerbomb off the second rope. Ishii came back with a German after blocking a PK.
Ishii went for a sliding lariat, but Sabre caught his right arm in an armbar. Ishii forced a rope break. He adjusted the wrap on his arm and continued to sell it.
Ishii no-sold a kick and kicked Sabre’s right leg. Ishii no-sold another kick and hit a big forearm shot. They traded strikes. Ishii hit an enzuigiri and a powerbomb with a stack cover for a near fall.
Sabre again avoided a sliding lariat and caught Ishii in a crucifix for a two count. Ishii kicked out and then hit the sliding lariat at 15 minutes.
Ishii hit another lariat. Sabre avoided another lariat swing and used a clutch for a two count. Sabre used a kimura, then transitioned to a cross armbreaker. He then slid to a triangle. Ishii forced a break with kicks.
Ishii escaped a Zack Driver and hit a headbutt and a lariat. Ishii rammed his own arm into the corner pad and ripped the padding off.
Ishii hit a lariat for a two count, then hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin.
A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated Shingo Takagi (23:57)
A classic G1 match. This was easily Ibushi’s best match since his return from pneumonia.
They started simply, hitting shoulder blocks and trading headlocks. They turned to striking. Shingo hit some strikes, but Ibushi went into Murder Ibushi mode and no-sold. Ibushi hit a flying mid kick.
Ibushi sent Shingo to the floor with a snap rana, then hit a gorgeous Asai moonsault. Back in, Ibushi used a standing moonsault for a two count. Shingo blocked a last ride attempt with a backdrop, then hit a neckbreaker to halt Ibushi’s momentum.
They traded half-and-half suplexes. They traded strikes. Ibushi dumped Shingo with a suplex, but Shingo no-sold and hit a diving forearm to the back into a double down.
Shingo hit a superplex for a two count. Ibushi blocked a Pumping Bomber, but Shingo hit a left-arm lariat. Shingo used a standing switch to set up Made in Japan for another two count. Ibushi blocked Last of the Dragon and hit a knee strike to the face.
Shingo blocked Bomaye and tried a sliding lariat. Ibushi avoided it, then hit an enzuigiri. Ibushi then connected with the Bomaye and a last ride for a near fall.
Ibushi went for Kamigoye at 20 minutes. Shingo blocked and hit his own Kamigoye. Ibushi sold this huge. Shingo could not immediately follow up. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber. Ibush took a flip bump. Shingo covered for a two count.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon. Ibushi powered out with forearm strikes. Shingo hit a combination of strikes. Ibushi hit a palm strike and a hook kick. Ibushi blocked a Pumping Bomber attempt with a high kick.
Ibushi hit a Kamigoye, but Shingo kicked out at two.
Ibushi pulled down the knee pad and tried another Kamigoye, but Shingo blocked and tried Last of the Dragon. Ibushi slid out and hit a poison rana.
Ibushi hit a v-trigger and two more Kamigoyes and got the pin.
Ibushi held up one finger after the match, as if to say let’s do it one more time.
**********
Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night 10, Monday, October 4, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
When you look at the lineup and you see Yano in the semi-main, you can bet on everything else getting a few extra minutes. This went too long as a result.
BUSHI hit a dropkick before the bell for the jumpstart, then threw Yujiro into the barricade. Yujiro used Pieter as a human shield to stop BUSHI from attempting a dive and used the distraction to drag BUSHI to the floor. Yujiro sent BUSHI into the security fence and took control of the bout.
Yujiro worked BUSHI over in a dull manner. BUSHI came back with a basement dropkick and a suicide dive. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick. Yujiro bit BUSHI’s hand to halt the momentum. Yujiro went for Miami Shine, but BUSHI blocked and hit a backstabber.
BUSHI went for an MX, but Yujiro caught him with a lariat. They exchanged forearm strikes. Yujiro hit a big boot. BUSHI hit a dropkick. Yujiro hit another lariat and an Angle slam for a two count.
BUSHI blocked a Pimp Juice attempt and cradled Yujiro for a near fall. Yujiro blocked a codebreaker and hit Big Juice for the pin.
A Block: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tanga Loa (w/Jado) (16:18)
Really good match. Ishii will probably end up MVP of the G1 again. His worst match so far was with Kota Ibushi of all people. The sons of Haku continue to deliver in the tournament so far as well.
Loa rolled outside after a quick strike exchange kicked things off. He climbed back in and they got the crowd into the match with a long series of strikes exchanged. Loa got the best of the sequence. Ishii rolled outside. Loa sent him into the barricade, then posted his back.
Back in, Loa used a chinlock and elbows to the head. Loa hit an exploder and Ishii sold his back big. Ishii answered with chops in the corner, a powerslam and a delayed vertical suplex. Loa hit a neckbreaker to cut him off.
Loa no-sold a German suplex and hit a blue thunder bomb for a two count. Loa used the OJK, but Ishii made the ropes. Ishii blocked a powerbomb and hit a backdrop. Ishii hit a superplex for a two count.
Ishii tried to set up a sliding lariat, but Loa popped up and hit a dropkick. Loa hit a massive lariat and a top rope diving headbutt for a near fall. Loa hit a spear and a sit-out powerbomb for a good near fall.
Ishii escaped Apesh*t and hit an enzuigiri and a lariat for a two count. They traded lariats, but neither went down. Ishii hit a headbutt. Loa again avoided the sliding lariat.
Ishii escaped Apesh*t a second time and hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin.
A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Great-O-Khan (15:26)
This was unique and excellent if you like Sabre matches. They did almost exclusively technical wrestling and it felt like a real contest. This might have been the best match of O-Khan’s career.
They spent the first eight minutes of the match trading holds on the mat. O-Khan ended up bleeding from the nose.
Sabre fired off a couple of forearms, but O-Khan dropped Sabre with one Mongolian chop. O-Khan used two more Mongolian chops to drop Sabre a second time. Sabre sold losing feeling in his right arm after the chops to the neck.
Sabre used an octopus. O-Khan reversed into an ankle lock. Sabre reversed into a heel hook. O-Khan reversed. Sabre forced a rope break. Sabre blocked a gutwrench throw and took O-Khan’s back with a choke. Sabre used a crucifix for a two count.
Sabre hit a penalty kick, but O-Khan kicked out at one. Sabre avoided the claw and went for a tornado DDT, but O-Khan blocked and used a cobra twist with the iron claw applied as well. O-Khan transitioned to the sheep killer. O-Khan slipped to a modified torture rack, then gave up the hold.
O-Khan went for the Eliminator at the 15 minute mark, but Sabre locked on a standing triangle. O-Khan didn’t submit, but the referee called for the stoppage with O-Khan unable to improve his position.
A Block: Kota Ibushi vs. Toru Yano (4:03)
This was total comedy.
Yano put a bag over Ibushi’s head and rolled him up for two near falls. Yano then rolled Ibushi up in the ring skirt and tried to steal a countout, but Ibushi freed himself and made it back in.
Ibushi hit a dropkick and a plancha. Yano tried to tape Ibushi to the apron, but Ibushi kicked him away and Yano was almost counted out. Ibushi blocked a low blow. Yano used another cradle for a near fall.
Ibushi hit a Kamigoye to the back, a Bomaye, then hit a standard Kamigoye for the pin.
A Block: Shingo Takagi defeated KENTA (23:56)
A very good main event. Not match of the tournament or anything, but a solid match with good storytelling.
They traded strikes and shoulder tackle attempts. Shingo hit a slam and a senton. KENTA blocked a diving forearm attempt and used Game Over on Shingo’s taped right arm, but Shingo forced a rope break.
Shingo rolled outside and KENTA posted his right arm. KENTA kicked the right arm as it was draped over the barricade. Back inside, KENTA kicked at the arm and used a Fujiwara armbar. KENTA exposed a turnbuckle and whipped Shingo’s arm into it.
KENTA continued working on the arm. Shingo grabbed a chinlock, but got backed into the exposed buckle. Shingo hit a couple of strikes and a DDT. He continued firing off strikes with the right arm, selling it after each strike. Shingo blocked a swing DDT and hit a lariat with his left arm.
Shingo hit a vertical suplex and a sliding lariat with the right arm. He continued to sell the arm, then covered for a near fall. KENTA fought off Made in Japan and hit a swing DDT across the top rope. KENTA hit a top rope clothesline for a two count.
KENTA hit a DDT for another near fall. Shingo blocked a draping DDT attempt and they fought to the apron. Shingo teased Made in Japan off the apron, but KENTA slid out and dropped Shingo’s right arm across the top rope.
They battled on the floor. KENTA hit the green killer DDT off the apron to the floor. Shingo made it back in after a countout tease. KENTA hit a running kick and a stalling dropkick in the corner. KENTA hit a double stomp off the top to the bad arm for a near fall.
Shingo blocked a GTS attempt. KENTA hit a knee strike and tried it again. Shingo blocked and hit a pop-up DVD into a double down at the 15 minute call.
They traded forearms. KENTA hit a series of palm strikes. Shingo hit a headbutt. KENTA hit a spinning backfist. Shingo blocked a kick and hit Made in Japan for a two count. Shingo hit a top rope superplex.
Shingo tried a lariat in the corner, but KENTA pulled the referee in his path. The ref took a bump and rolled to the floor. KENTA hit a low blow and a divorce court. KENTA Pillman-ized Shingo’s right arm.
KENTA dragged the ref back in at 20 minutes and locked on Game Over, but Shingo got his foot across the bottom rope to force a break. KENTA hit a running knee strike. He teased a Pumping Bomber, but Shingo cut him off with a lariat.
Shingo escaped another GTS attempt and hit a dragon suplex and a diving forearm strike. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber with his bad arm, but KENTA kicked out.
KENTA slipped out of one Last of the Dragon attempt and tried to send Shingo into the buckle, but Shingo sent KENTA into the buckle instead. Shingo then hit Last of the Dragon to get the pin.
**********
Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night eight, Friday, Ocotber 1, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
The G1 Climax 31 A Block continued today in Tokyo at the Ota City General Gymnasium.
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi and Zack Sabre Jr. face off in the main event, while Kota Ibushi took on Tomohiro Ishii in the semi-main.
Tanga Loa earned two points by way of Tetsuya Naito forfeiting their G1 match due to injury. Instead of a tournament bout, Loa faced Yuji Nagata in a special singles match in the opener.
Here are results and a report from today’s show.
**********
Recommended matches —
Shingo Takagi vs. Zack Sare Jr.
Kota Ibushi vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Report —
Tanga Loa (w/Jado) defeated Yuji Nagata (15:35)
This was a good opener. Nagata was moving well today and everything they did made sense.
After some chain wrestling, Loa used a right hand to the throat to take over. He hit an axe handle off the apron to the floor and sent Nagata into the barricade.
Loa maintained the advantage with brawling offense in the ring. Loa used a blue thunder bomb for a two count, then used a chinlock. Nagata fought back with punches and a kitchen sink.
Nagata began working on Loa’s legs with kicks and a dropkick to the knee, then used a butterfly suplex for a two count. Nagata used a heel hook, but Loa forced a rope break.
Loa hit a flatliner and slapped on the OJK. Nagata escaped the hold and used an ankle lock. Nagata grapevined the legs, but Loa crawled to the ropes. Nagata hit some more kicks to the leg and an exploder suplex.
Loa hit a hotshot across the top rope, then used a spear and a powerslam for a two count. Nagata escaped Apesh*t and hit a German. Loa rolled through on landing, but Nagata hit another kick for a near fall.
Nagata hit an enzuigiri, but Loa answered with an immediate lariat and hit Apesh*t for the pin.
A Block: Great-O-Khan defeated Toru Yano (11:30)
These two had a blood feud earlier this year where Yano tied O-Khan’s hair to the barricade and O-Khan was forced to cut one of his braids off to escape. O-Khan also tried to stab Yano with scissors at some point. O-Khan saved the braid that was cut off six months ago and brandished it as Yano made his entrance.
I appreciate the continuity here, but the match was hot garbage.
O-Khan attacked Yano as he entered and choked him with the braid. O-Khan pounded on Yano and used an Anaconda Vice. Yano forced a rope break.
Yano sprayed hand sanitizer in O-Khan’s eyes. O-Khan produced a pair of handcuffs. Yano exposed a buckle. They fought over the corner pad. O-Khan bumped the ref with the corner pad. Yano hit a dragon screw and wrestled the corner pad away.
Yano tried to cuff O-Khan to the barricade, but O-Khan reversed and cuffed Yano to the barricade. Yano freed himself by prying the barricade apart and beat the count back in.
O-Khan fought off two cradle attempts and hit the Eliminator for the pin.
Yano hit a low blow after the match and ran to the back. O-Khan chased after him with a chair, so this feud must continue.
A Block: KENTA defeated Yujiro Takahashi (w/Pieter) (15:48)
KENTA is smart and picks his spots for when to work hard. Tonight was not one of those spots.
I will always pop for Kevin Kelly explaining Pieter’s interpretive dance.
Yujiro and Pieter both refused Too Sweet hand gestures from KENTA.
They brawled in slow-motion. Yujiro gained the upper hand as they fought to the floor. Yujiro danced in front of Pieter. KENTA hit a DDT on the floor and could have won by countout, but threw Yujiro back in.
KENTA hit some stomps and mocked Yujiro’s dancing. KENTA hit some kicks and used a front facelock. Yujiro fought back with strikes and a sliding dropkick. KENTA answered with a DDT and a diving clothesline off the top for a two count.
KENTA used an STF. Yujiro forced a break. Yujiro avoided one double stomp off the top, but KENTA hit it on his second try and earned a near fall.
Yujiro reversed a GTS into a DDT. Yujiro hit an Angle slam and Miami Shine for a pair of two counts. KENTA used a jackknife and a rollup for two near falls of his own.
KENTA hit a Busaiku knee. Yujiro blocked GTS and tried a low blow, but KENTA caught the arm and used it to set up Game Over for the submission.
They made amends and hugged and did the Too Sweet after the match.
*****
A PSA for saving lions aired with Togi Makabe and a player from the Seibu Lions. This was the best thing on the show to this point.
*****
A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated Tomohiro Ishii (17:42)
If these guys wrestled ten times, they would probably have a better match than this one nine of those times. I’m giving this a mild recommendation because of who these guys are, but this was not the classic you would expect.
Ibushi tried to break cleanly against the ropes of the opening collar and elbow, but Ishii slapped him across the face. Ibushi kipped up after a shoulder tackle, but Ishii took him down with another tackle.
Ibushi got dropped with a forearm strike. Ishii hammered away with chops, dropping Ibushi against the ropes. They had a slap fight, then Ibushi scored his first significant offense of the match with a mid kick at the five minute mark.
Ibushi sent Ishii outside with a snap rana. He followed with a plancha, then a powerslam and a moonsault as the fight returned to the ring. Ishii answered with a backdrop suplex. Ishii no-sold a dropkick and hit a diving shoulder tackle.
Ishii hit a delayed superplex for a two count. Ishii missed with an enzuigiri. Ibushi missed on a standing moonsault and almost landed on the top of his head. Ishii missed a sliding lariat. Ibushi hit a mid kick into a double down.
They traded strikes. Ibushi ducked under a lariat and hit a German suplex. Ishii sprawled to avoid a last ride attempt. They traded strikes. Ibushi hit a lariat into another double down.
Ibushi hit a powerbomb for a two count. Ibushi called for the Kamigoye, but Ishii fought it off. Ibushi hit a head kick, but Ishii immediately countered with a headbutt into another double down.
Ibushi kicked away a lariat, but Ishii hit a clubbing forearm and a German. Ibushi landed on his feet out of the suplex, but then was dropped with a clothesline. Ishii hit another lariat and Ibushi took a flip bump. Ishii got a two count.
Ibushi slid out of a Vertical Drop Brainbuster attempt and hit a high kick. Ishii blocked Kamigoye and hit a clothesline. Ibushi missed a v-trigger. Ishii tried a lariat, but Ibushi blocked with a v-trigger.
Ibushi hit two Kamigoyes and scored the pin.
A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Shingo Takagi (27:17)
Great psychology in this match. Shingo worked on Sabre’s right leg, while Sabre worked on Shingo’s right arm the entire match. Sabre won out.
Sabre avoided an early lariat attempt. They traded arm drags and each escaped from holds on the mat. Shingo missed a sliding lariat, but hit a shoulder tackle and Sabre rolled outside. Shingo teased a dive, but did Naito’s Tranquilo pose instead.
Shingo missed on a senton and Sabre used a neck twist. Shingo rolled outside to collect himself, but Sabre went right after him and threw him back in to keep the pressure on.
Sabre blocked a hip toss and used a cobra twist. Shingo fought out and hit a DDT. Shingo hit a clothesline in the corner, then turned to chops. Sabre blocked a chop, avoided a DVD, then used an octopus hold in the ropes.
Sabre began to attack the right arm. Shingo caught a PK and hit a dragon screw. Sabre blocked a sliding lariat and twisted on the right arm with his legs. Sabre stomped on the right arm. Shingo hit noshigami and a diving forearm strike to Sabre’s right leg.
Sabre used a triangle choke. Shingo hit a powerbomb out of the hold, then used an inverted STF. Sabre forced a break. Sabre blocked Made in Japan and hit a German, but Shingo rolled through and answered with his own.
Sabre blocked multiple lariat attempts with the right arm with kicks. Shingo kicked at Sabre’s right leg and hit a sliding lariat. Sabre used a cradle and a Euro clutch for two near falls. Sabre hit a PK, but Shingo popped right up and hit a lariat.
Sabre cut Shingo off as he went for a superplex and used a wristlock. Sabre hit a swing DDT, then hit a La Mistica. Sabre transitioned to the Clarky Cat submission hold just past the 20 minute mark. Shingo rolled to the ropes to force the break.
Sabre wrenched on the right arm. He blocked a pop-up DVD attempt and tried a guillotine, but Shingo escaped and hit a diving forearm strike. Sabre blocked a Pumping Bomber and hit the Zack Driver for a near fall.
Sabre hit a series of elbows to the neck. Shingo ate all of them and powered through to finally hit the DVD he had been trying to land all match. Sabre escaped a choke. Shingo blocked a PK and turned it into Made in Japan for a near fall at the 25 minute call.
Shingo hit the Pumping Bomber, but sold the work to his right arm and could not follow with a cover. Sabre blocked Last of the Dragon. Shingo hit a right hand, then tried Last of the Dragon again. Sabre blocked with a choke.
Sabre switched to a crucifix hold, then slipped to a triangle choke. Shingo tried to power out, but Sabre kept the hold applied and Shingo tapped out.
Sabre taunted Shingo with the IWGP World title after the match.
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Here is the lineup for the next show:
G1 Climax 31 night four, Friday, September 24, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
