The participants and blocks for this year’s G1 Climax tournament has been announced.
The biggest news coming from the announcement is that several wrestlers who have been unable to travel to Japan due to COVID-19 restrictions have made it in for the tournament. The tour will be the first in months for the likes of Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, Jay White, KENTA, and Juice Robinson.
KENTA, Cobb, and White have been working shows for New Japan of America, namely the New Japan Strong shows that have aired over the summer.
It also cements several rematches from recent high profile feuds. EVIL and Tetsuya Naito, who just headlined Summer Struggle in Jingu, share the same block. Kazuchika Okada and Yujiro Takahashi are also in the same block and have been feuding for the last several months.
Here are the blocks and participants in this year’s tournament:
A Block:
Kota Ibushi
Tomohiro Ishii
Kazuchika Okada
Shingo Takagi
Yujiro Takahashi
Taichi
Minoru Suzuki
Jeff Cobb
Will Ospreay
Jay White
B Block:
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Hirooki Goto
Toru Yano
YOSHI-HASHI
SANADA
Tetsuya Naito
EVIL
Zack Sabre Jr.
Juice Robinson
KENTA
The G1 Climax tournament this year will start on September 19, with the finals taking place at Sumo Hall on October 18.
Two new title matches are set for this year’s NJPW Dominion event.
IWGP Tag Team Champions Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi will defend their titles against Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. at Dominion. Ibushi eliminated Sabre from the New Japan Cup tournament last month, while Taichi eliminated both Tanahashi and Ibushi.
Shingo Takagi will also defend his NEVER Openweight Championship against SHO at Dominion. Takagi won the NEVER title from Hirooki Goto on night one of the New Beginning in Sapporo in February. SHO eliminated Takagi from this year’s New Japan Cup in the first round.
Dominion is taking place on Sunday, July 12 at Osaka-jo Hall in Osaka, Japan. The show will air live on New Japan World at 2 a.m. Eastern time. In the main event, Tetsuya Naito will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against the winner of the New Japan Cup tournament final between Kazuchika Okada and EVIL.
The New Japan Cup finals are being held at Osaka-jo Hall on Saturday, July 11.
NJPW returned today with its first show in 110 days, the Together Project Special.
The show began with a video recap of some of the Together Project content posted on NJPW World over the last few months. The recap continued with video messages sent in from NJPW fans celebrating the return.
After the video package, we got our first look at the empty arena. The set resembled an empty theater.
The ring announcer called out the Taguchi Japan members of the NJPW roster. Hiroshi Tanahashi cut a promo in Japanese.
The ring announcer then presented the card for the evening.
This was your standard, technically sound NJPW opener.
Kidd got a waistlock takedown. Tsuji powered Kidd back into the ropes and broke cleanly. Each tried to work the other’s left arm. Kidd briefly had an armbar before Tsuji grabbed a heel hook. Kidd escaped and applied a cross armbreaker but Tsuji forced an immediate rope break.
Tsuji hit a shoulder tackle. Tsuji hit a series of strikes in the corner. Tsuji hit a hip toss for a near fall. Tsuji applied a camel clutch. Tsuji hit a splash for another near fall.
Kidd blocked a slam and hit one of his own. Kidd tried a pair of tackles but could not get Tsuji down. Kidd hit some forearm strikes and then finally got Tsuji off his feet with a tackle. Kidd hit a dropkick for a two count.
Kidd fought for a full crab. Tsuji kicked him off so Kidd settled for a single-leg crab. Tsuji forced a rope break.
Tsuji hit a backdrop and used a vertical suplex for a two count. Kidd used a cradle for a surprise near fall. They traded strikes and some hard slaps.
For the finish, Tsuji used a spear for a two count then got a full Boston crab applied. Kidd tapped.
Desperado and Kanemaru attacked before the opening bell. They hit Ishii with a 3D and he rolled outside. Uemura came back with a dropkick on both Desperado and Kanemaru. Kanemaru cut him off with an eye rake.
Desperado taunted Ishii and Ishii jumped in illegally. Ishii and Desperado traded strikes while Kanemaru ran Uemura into the barricade.
Kanemaru tagged in and continued working Uemura over. Kanemaru used a camel clutch while Ishii and Desperado fought on the floor. Desperado raked Ishii’s eyes.
Uemura missed one dropkick but hit a second and tagged Ishii. Ishii dropped Kanemaru with a tackle. Ishii no-sold an eye rake. Desperado nailed Ishii from the apron. Ishii brought Desperado inside with a brainbuster.
Desperado and Kanemaru tried to double team Ishii. Ishii side-stepped a big boot and Kanemaru nailed Desperado. Ishii hit Kanemaru with a powerslam.
Kanemaru hit a low dropkick to Ishii’s left leg. Desperado tagged in and worked on the same leg. Desperado tried Numero Dos but Ishii forced a rope break. Ishii hit a backdrop suplex and tagged out.
Uemura entered and first went after Kanemaru on the floor, whipping him into the barricade. He then attacked Desperado with a vertical suplex and a full crab. Kanemaru attacked and forced Uemura to give up the hold.
Desperado hit Uemura with a spinebuster. Kanemaru connected with a one-legged dropkick and Desperado covered for a two count. Ishii jumped in. Uemura cradled Desperado for a two count.
Desperado hit a spear for a near fall then used the stretch muffler for the submission win.
This was a comedy brawl. Sometimes the comedy was unintentional. This would have been a stretch to make work in front of a crowd and it had no chance in this setting.
All of these guys were very vocal. Jado can barely move and shouldn’t be in the ring.
Yujiro and Goto began. Goto went for an ushigoroshi early but Yujiro blocked.
Yano and Jado tagged in. Yano grabbed a corner pad and Jado brought his kendo stick into the ring. Yano ducked a kendo stick shot. Jado took the ref and Yujiro attacked Yano.
YH tagged in. Gedo hit him from behind and attempted a double team but YH fought it off. Jado cut YH off and the heels took turns working him over. YH hit a headhunter on Ishimori to set up a tag to Goto.
Goto used a misdirection lariat, a wheel kick and a Saito suplex to earn a near fall. Ishimori blocked an ushigoroshi and hit a handspring kick.
Gedo tagged in and hit a jaw breaker. Goto blocked a thrust kick and tagged Honma. Honma sent Gedo into the exposed buckle and hit a bulldog. Honma missed a kokeshi.
Yujiro tagged in and all four faces teamed up against him. Honma hit a kokeshi for a near fall. Honma hit a slam. Honma tried a kokeshi off the second rope but missed.
Jado used a kendo stick on Honma. Yujiro followed with a fisherman buster but Goto broke up the pin.
Yujiro then hit Pimp Juice for the pin.
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A hype video played for The Grand Master. He is coming soon.
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Some staff members were shown cleaning the ring and ringside area. The announcers filled time. The announcers were several feet apart with partitions between them.
We then got an official cleaning and disinfection intermission.
These guys had a really good match and the finish was surprising. The time off looked to have done Tenzan some good as he was moving well.
Taguchi and SANADA locked up. They had a nice chain wrestling exchange that ended in a stalemate. Taguchi offered a fist bump but then kicked SANADA instead.
They did a great comedy spot where Taguchi thought he had successfully applied the paradise lock. He hadn’t. Taguchi did his Nakamura mannerisms and hit a hip attack to SANADA’s head.
Tenzan and SANADA traded palm strikes to the chest. Tenzan hit some Mongolian chops. Kojima cleared the LIJ corner and joined Tenzan for some tandem offense on SANADA.
LIJ took control of the match after BUSHI tripped Tenzan from the floor. BUSHI tagged in and choked Tenzan with his shirt. LIJ took turns working over Tenzan. Tenzan managed to tag out after hitting a wheel kick to EVIL.
Kojima hit machine gun chops on EVIL and connected with the follow-up top rope elbow for a near fall. Taguchi tagged in for a series of hip attacks on SANADA and BUSHI.
Taguchi hit a springboard hip attack and used an ankle lock on SANADA. Taguchi blocked a TKO, blocked a Skull End and used a cradle for a two count. SANADA hit a low dropkick.
The match broke down. BUSHI hit Taguchi with a backstabber for a two count. BUSHI hit a rewind kick. Taguchi countered with a hip attack and an ankle lock. SANADA broke up the hold. Tenzan and Kojima hit a TenCozy Cutter on EVIL.
BUSHI blocked Dodon. Taguchi hit a Bomaye for a two count, then got the ankle lock applied again. BUSHI tapped out.
This was about setting up New Japan Cup matches and teasing some spots for those matches.
Suzuki-gun attacked before the opening bell in this match as well. Suzuki and Nagata started off as the legal men and traded strikes.
Sabre and Ibushi tagged in. They traded strikes until Sabre grabbed a hold. Ibushi tried to shoot Sabre off into the ropes but Sabre hit a flapjack and Suzuki-gun turned this into a brawl around ringside.
Suzuki-gun isolated Ibushi in their corner. It was something else seeing DOUKI get offense on Ibushi. Ibushi came back with a backflip kick and tagged out.
Tanahashi hit a slam and a somersault senton on Taichi for a two count. Taichi blocked a slingblade. Tana blocked a backdrop suplex. They traded strikes. Taichi hit a high kick. He went for a buzzsaw kick but Tana blocked and hit a dragon screw.
Makabe tagged in and hit Taichi with punches in the corner. Sabre and Suzuki tried to interfere but they were intercepted by Tana and Ibushi.
DOUKI and Makabe ended up as the legal men. Makabe got caught in a triangle but forced a rope break. Everyone jumped in for a big move. Nagata and Suzuki brawled to the floor.
DOUKI hit Makabe with a pipe and rolled him up. Makabe kicked out at two. Makabe then hit a slam and hit the King Kong Knee Drop for the pin.
Taichi and Tanahashi had a long staredown after the match.
Okada and Naito began the match. They locked up. Okada broke cleanly against the ropes. Naito kicked Okada off the break. They traded holds. Naito used a side headlock takeover. Okada used a headscissors escape.
Shingo and SHO tagged in for an electric exchange. Hiromu jumped in. YOH intercepted him and SHO and YOH nailed Hiromu with dropkicks.
SHO got the upper hand on Shingo with some hard kicks. Shingo sold them big time for SHO. SHO tried a series of lariats but Shingo did not go down.
LIJ used an illegal triple team to assert control of the match. They isolated SHO in their corner and worked him over. Shingo used a brainbuster for a near fall. Naito tagged in and worked on SHO’s left leg. Hiromu tagged in and worked on the left leg and left arm.
Hiromu hit a dropkick and made a cover but YOH broke up the pin after just a one count. SHO came back with a spear to Shingo and a vertical suplex on Hiromu.
Okada tagged in for a running back elbow, a running back elbow in the corner and a DDT for a two count. Hiromu avoided a top rope elbow attempt and Okada landed on his feet. Hiromu avoided a tombstone and dropped Okada with a back suplex.
Naito and Okada had another exchange. Naito avoided an air raid crash on the first attempt. Okada landed the move on the second try.
YOH tagged in and nailed Naito with a flying forearm and a missile dropkick for a near fall. LIJ saved for Naito. The match broke down. SHO and Shingo jumped in and hit lariats.
Naito went for Destino. YOH blocked and rolled up Naito for a two count. Naito blocked a falcon arrow and hit a flipping inverted Destino. I’m not sure that’s what the move is, but I don’t know what else to call it. The move looks awesome.
Naito then hit YOH with the traditional Destino and pinned him.
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Naito cut a promo to close the show. He mentioned the New Japan Cup and ended with the LIJ roll call.
The participants for this year’s New Japan Cup have been revealed.
Similar to last year, 32 participants will take part in this year’s tournament. NJPW has confirmed that the winner of the tournament will challenge Tetsuya Naito for both the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles at Sakura Genesis, which takes place on March 31.
Most of NJPW’s top talent are taking part. New to the tournament this year include Shingo Takagi, Karl Fredericks, KENTA, Jeff Cobb, Alex Coughlin, and David Finlay.
Some of the biggest matches in the first round include Kazuchika Okada taking on Jay White, Yuji Nagata facing Minoru ‘Suzuki, Kota Ibushi facing Zack Sabre Jr. and Will Ospreay squaring off against Shingo Takagi. The latter match will be a rematch from last year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
The opening round starts on March 4, with the finals taking place on March 21. All cards will air live on New Japan World with English commentary.
Here are the list of matches taking place in the opening round:
NJPW ran their second of four straight nights in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall today with a New Japan Road show that featured two title matches.
The top two matches are well worth going out of your way to see.
Here are full results and match recaps:
YOTA TSUJI DEFEATED GABRIEL KIDD
Kidd really has something. He’s not as good as Karl Fredericks, but he’s better than Tsuji.
They started out with some chain wrestling. Kidd broke cleanly against the ropes. Tsuji did not break cleanly when given the same chance.
Tsuji used a slam for a two count. Tsuji went for a crab but couldn’t get it. Kidd blocked another slam attempt and hit a dropkick, then used a slam for a two count.
Kidd applied a single-leg crab. After a long struggle, Tsuji forced a rope break. Kidd hit some stomps. They traded forearm strikes. Tsuji hit a spear, then a powerslam, before locking in a full crab. Kidd tapped out. Good opener.
MINORU SUZUKI, TAICHI, EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY, HIROOKI GOTO, YOSHI-HASHI & YUYA UEMURA
This was a crazy fun brawl.
The CHAOS team employed a Suzuki-gun tactic in attacking before the bell. Uemura ran into the ring and blasted Suzuki with a dropkick, then hit dozens of unanswered forearm strikes in the corner. Referee Marty Asami got shoved down by Uemura, which was not a DQ.
YH tagged in and Suzuki came back with an armbar over the ropes. Suzuki-gun turned this into a brawl around Korakuen, and Suzuki absolutely killed Uemura, hitting him with slaps and strikes, then using a chair and a variety of plunder as they fought all around the building.
Taichi went to work on YH in the ring, hitting a series of kicks. YH came back with a rewind kick. Ospreay tagged in and hit Pip Pip Cheerio on Taichi, then a double handspring kick to an interfering Desperado and Kanemaru.
Goto blind tagged in. Ospreay hit a standing shooting star to Taichi. Goto covered for a two count. Taichi and Goto traded lariats. Taichi hit a high kick into a double down.
Uemura and Kanemaru tagged in. CHAOS went 4-on-1 against Kanemaru. Uemura hit a dropkick and an overhead belly-to-belly for a near fall.
The match broke down and everyone jumped in. Suzuki got one last shot in on Uemura, hitting a PK. Kanemaru used a Boston crab on Uemura, who finally forced a break.
Uemura used a cradle for a two count, but Kanemaru then hit Deep Impact for the pin.
Suzuki hit Uemura with a knee strike after the bell. He teased hitting the Gotch-style piledriver, but let Uemura go instead, perhaps in a grudging show of respect.
Yano and Cabana did some comedy right at the outset, fighting over who should start the match. Okada started instead.
Honma and Okada began. Honma missed a kokeshi. Yano and Henare tagged in. Yano untied a turnbuckle pad. Henare hit some strikes. Yano used a hair pull, then sent Henare into the exposed buckle.
Cabana tagged in and did some more comedy spots with Yano. Henare fired back on Cabana with chops, then missed a splash off the second rope. Okada tagged in and got hit with a vertical suplex.
Makabe got a tag and hit a powerslam, then ten punches in the corner. Okada blocked a northern lights suplex, then ran into a lariat for a two count. Okada hit an air raid crash, then tagged Cabana.
Cabana hit some jabs and a bionic elbow. Makabe responded with a lariat, then tagged Honma. Honma hit a bulldog and a kokeshi. Henare and Makabe cleared the opposing apron, then went 3-on-1 on Cabana. Honma hit a diving kokeshi for a near fall as Okada and Yano saved.
The finish saw Yano hit Honma with a low blow while Cabana took the ref. Cabana then used his Superman cover for the pin.
Nakanishi and Naito started off. An LIJ triple team failed, Naito rolled outside, then Nakanishi hit a double tackle on BUSHI and Hiromu, who both flew around for Nakanishi. Nakanishi and Tiger worked over Naito for a bit, before LIJ went to work on Tiger.
There was a funny spot where Hiromu made a big show of hitting a Mongolian chop on Tenzan while Naito held Tenzan, who then ducked, and Naito took a comedy bump off the chop from Hiromu.
The dust settled, leaving SANADA and Tiger legal. Tiger blocked a TKO and hit a tiger suplex. Nagata tagged in and hit SANADA with kicks. SANADA blocked an exploder, landed on his feet out of a standing moonsault attempt, then hit a dropkick.
Nagata fought off a paradise lock attempt, blocked a TKO, then hit an exploder. EVIL and Kojima tagged in. Kojima hit machine gun chops on EVIL. He tried for a top rope elbow but got cut off. EVIL and SANADA tried a Magic Killer but Tenzan saved. Tenzan and Kojima hit a TenKoji cutter on SANADA.
Kojima hit a Koji cutter on EVIL. EVIL ducked a lariat and hit Darkness Falls for a near fall. Nakanishi jumped in and racked EVIL, then hit a cutter out of the rack backbreaker position. Nakanishi then hit the ugliest plancha you’ve ever seen onto a bunch of guys. He tried.
The finish saw Kojima hit EVIL with a lariat for the pin. I kept waiting for EVIL to kick out but he never did.
The New Japan dads celebrated their big win.
JAY WHITE, TAMA TONGA, TANGA LOA & BAD LUCK FALE DEFEATED HIROSHI TANAHASHI, KOTA IBUSHI, JUICE ROBINSON & DAVID FINLAY
White, Finlay and Ibushi looked great here, where as it was a night off for everyone else.
Bullet Club attacked before the opening bell. Ibushi and White began as the legal men with a hot exchange. Ibushi avoided a kendo stick shot from Jado on the apron, then tagged Finlay, who scored a two count off a diving uppercut from the middle rope.
White suplexed Finlay over the top to the floor, where Bullet Club attacked the opposing team. Back inside, White and Tonga doubled up on Finlay. Tonga and Loa both hit slingshot sentons on Finlay. Fale tagged in and stood on Finlay’s back. Fale looked really heavy and slow, even by his standards.
Tanahashi tagged in and hit a crossbody. He was really not moving well. The match broke down. Ibushi hit a crazy missile dropkick off the top rope. Tanahashi hit a dragon screw to Fale. Loa tagged in and got hit with Twist and Shout.
Juice tagged in and hit a crossbody on Loa off the top rope for a two count. Juice hit an inverted atomic drop and a Russian leg sweep on Loa. All of his teammates hit pescados. Jado jumped in with a kendo stick, but the ref took it away from him.
Juice and Finlay hit a double flapjack to Loa. Finlay hit Loa with a stunner. Gedo took the referee, allowing Tonga to jump in and hit Juice with a belt shot. Loa then covered for the pin.
Tonga hit Ibushi and Tanahashi with belt shots after the match for good measure. Loa then hit Ibushi with Apesh*t, and Tonga hit a gun stun on Tanahashi.
IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SHO & YOH DEFEATED ROCKY ROMERO & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI TO RETAIN THE TITLES
You know Taguchi has his working boots on when he breaks out offense besides hip attacks. He did that here. These guys tore the house down.
YOH and Taguchi started out with chain wrestling. Romero and SHO tagged in. Romero got cut off. Taguchi got a tag and had a fairly even back and forth with YOH. Taguchi hit a dive from the second turnbuckle to the floor, then a tope con giro.
Back inside, YOH hit a GTR for a two count on Taguchi. Taguchi managed a tag to Romero who hit forever clotheslines and a swing DDT. Romero worked over SHO’s left arm.
SHO went for a sleeper. Romero blocked, then hit a falcon arrow into a cross armbreaker. Taguchi jumped in and locked YOH in an ankle lock. SHO and YOH both reversed the submissions. Romero forced a rope break.
Romero and Taguchi hit stereo hip attacks. They did a comedy spot, teasing ramming Romero’s head into Taguchi’s ass. Romero blocked and hit a swing DDT. Taguchi hit a Bomaye. Taguchi and Romero hit a combination Dodon/codebreaker. Taguchi and YOH fought to the floor, leaving SHO and Romero legal.
SHO blocked a sliced bread attempt. YOH cut off a Romero clothesline attempt. SHO and YOH hit stereo knees to Taguchi. SHO and YOH hit a tandem move for a near fall. Taguchi saved Romero from a 3K. Everyone hit a lariat. Romero hit everyone with knees. SHO hit Taguchi with a spear.
Romero and SHO traded lariats. Romero used a backslide for a near fall, then used a hurricanrana into a victory roll for another two count. Romero took a flip bump off a lariat from SHO.
SHO hit a deadlift German on Romero for a two count. SHO hit a powerbomb onto his knees for a near fall. Taguchi made the save, then got tossed to the floor, where YOH hit a plancha.
Romero used an inside cradle for a near fall. SHO and Romero traded jumping knee strikes. Romero hit a rewind kick. YOH hit an elevated flatliner. SHO covered, but Taguchi made the save. YOH accidentally caught SHO with a superkick.
Taguchi hit a hip attack to YOH. SHO saved. Taguchi missed with a hip attack, got sent outside, then ate a dive from YOH. SHO hit Romero with a lariat, then hit Shock Arrow for a near fall. The place was going nuts.
SHO and YOH then immediately hit Strong X for the pin.
All four celebrated together after the match.
NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED TOMOHIRO ISHII TO RETAIN THE TITLE
This was not at the level of their G1 match last year, which was a match of the year candidate, but this was a great main event. These two have a special chemistry.
They had the unenviable task of following the previous match, so they smartly began slowly. They worked a lockup for a long time, then got the crowd going with a serious of shoulder tackles. No one went down on the first several tackles, then Shingo finally got Ishii to go down.
Shingo hit a senton, then a series of knees. Ishii dropped Shingo with his own knee strike. Ishii hit a series of headbutts. Shingo then hit a couple of his own. Ishii dropped Shingo with a headbutt. They traded chops. Shingo hit a vertical suplex.
They traded a long series of forearm strikes. Ishii finally backed Shingo into a corner and hit a series of punch and chop combinations. Shingo stood Ishii on his head with a DDT. Ishii sold his knee on landing. Shingo then answered the previous punch and chop combos with a series of his own.
Shingo hit some short kicks, then one big PK. Ishii fired up, backed Shingo into a corner, then hit a series of chops to the throat. Shingo blocked a charge into the corner. Ishii slid to the apron and teased a suplex to the floor. Shingo blocked, made it to the apron, then hit a death valley driver on the apron.
Back inside, Shingo hit a sliding lariat and noshigami for a near fall. Shingo hit Ishii with a lariat and you could virtually see Ishii’s soul leaving his body. Ishii came back with a powerslam, which Shingo no-sold. Each no-sold two suplexes from the other, before Ishii hit a Saito suplex, which left both men down.
They traded a series of hard lariats, running the ropes like mad men. Shingo took a flip bump off a lariat. Ishii hit a powerbomb and used a jackknife cover for a near fall.
Ishii teased a superplex. Shingo blocked with a series of headbutts. Ishii hit one big headbutt, then connected with the superplex for a two count.
Shingo blocked a sliding lariat. Ishii blocked Last of the Dragon. Shingo hit a lariat. They traded headbutts. Shingo landed a series of unanswered forearm strikes.
Shingo hit Made in Japan. Ishii kicked out at two. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber. Ishii kicked out at one. You knew the kick out at one was coming, you just didn’t know when. Ishii hit a German. Shingo no-sold. Ishii hit a lariat. Shingo kicked out at one.
Ishii hit an enzuigiri, then used a sliding lariat for a near fall. Shingo blocked a brainbuster and hit a driller for a near fall.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon, but Ishii blocked. Ishii hit a headbutt to the chest, then a lariat. Shingo hit a headbutt, draped Ishii in the ropes, then hit a GTR.
Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber for a close near fall, then hit Last of the Dragon for the pin.
Both men sold exhaustion after the match. Ishii, unable to stand, threw some strikes at Shingo on the mat. Ishii rolled outside and grabbed a chair. He teased going after Shingo with the chair, before being held back by ringside attendants. Ishii stumbled to the back.
Shingo cut a promo. He said Ishii beat the hell out of him tonight. He said Ishii gave him everything he had and he’s in pain, but it’s a good kind of pain. He said that clashing spirit with spirit is professional wrestling.
Shingo promised to continue elevating the NEVER title, then told anyone who wants the title to come get it.
NJPW’s Road to the New Beginning tour continued today in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
A NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team title match headlined, while opponents for Sunday’s New Beginning in Osaka show squared off in tag matches underneath.
Here are full results and match recaps:
YUYA UEMURA DEFEATED YOTA TSUJI
Tsuji’s right shoulder was heavily taped. Uemura took most of the match, working over the injured shoulder. Lots of ground work. Solid technical wrestling on display here in the opener.
Uemura used a crab, but Tsuji forced a break. Tsuji got the best of a striking exchange, then continued firing strikes with a grounded Uemura in the ropes.
Tsuji hit the ropes, but ran right into a dropkick. Uemura tried an underhook suplex, Tsuji blocked. Uemura hit the underhook suplex into a bridge on the second attempt for the pin.
EL PHANTASMO DEFEATED GABRIEL KIDD
This was similar to the match these two had last weekend. The two have wrestled before in the U.K. and have good chemistry. ELP gave Kidd a lot more offense than a Young Lion would typically get against a veteran.
Kidd scored a knockdown after a drop down and leapfrog sequence. ELP went to work on Kidd’s back and groin with his comedy stomps and back raking. Kidd came back and hit a dropkick and hit some stomps in the corner.
ELP cut Kidd off with a superkick, then hit a frog splash. ELP had Kidd pinned, but pulled him up after a two count, opting to try for his CR2 instead. Kidd used a jackknife cover for a two count, then an inside cradle for another near fall.
ELP then hit an enzuigiri and used the CR2 for the pin. This was an entertaining variation on the typical Young Lion squash.
These old guys (and Henare) went out there and tried to have the best eight minute undercard tag match of all time. The effort was there. Henare was the only guy who didn’t hit a move off the turnbuckles.
Nakanishi and Henare started out by locking up, then trading strikes. Henare tried to put Nakanishi in his own Argentinian Backbreaker, but Nakanishi fought it off, then hit a spear. Both tagged out.
Tenzan and Honma squared off. Tenzan hit Mongolian chops. Nakanishi entered for an illegal double team. He took a swing at Henare on the apron and hit the referee, who took half a bump. Tenzan hit a kokeshi to Honma. Nakanishi hit a spear.
Honma managed a tag to Henare, who used a slam on Tenzan for a two count. Henare hit Mongolian chops to Tenzan. Tenzan came back with a wheel kick, then tagged Nakanishi.
Nakanishi used a short-arm lariat on Henare, then another lariat for a near fall. Nakanishi put Henare in the Argentinian Backbreaker. Honma jumped in to break it up. Henare hit Nakanishi with a vertical suplex.
Honma and Tenzan tagged back in. Honma ducked a lariat and hit a tackle. Honma hit chops, a bulldog, then a kokeshi. Henare entered for a double team. Honma and Henare hit a combination kokeshi/leg sweep for a near fall.
Nakanishi and Henare brawled on the floor. Honma missed a kokeshi off the second rope and sold his neck. Nakanishi jumped in and hit Honma with a lariat. Nakanishi hit a chop off the top rope to Honma. Tenzan then hit a MOONSAULT to Honma for the pin.
WILL OSPREAY, SHO & YOH DEFEATED ZACK SABRE JR., EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU BY DQ
SHO and YOH defend the Jr. Heavyweight Tag titles against Despy and Kanemaru on Sunday, so the story here was that Kanemaru and Desperado wanted to soften up their opponents.
They had a great brawl, which is probably not what you would expect with these teams. Sabre and Ospreay had a great technical wrestling sequence as well.
Ospreay, SHO and YOH hit stereo pescados just before the opening bell. Ospreay dragged Sabre into the crowd and rammed him into the famed EAST sign.
In the ring, YOH went to work on Kanemaru with strikes. Ospreay got a tag and hit a slam for a near fall. Sabre made it back to the ring and the match broke down into a brawl around ringside. When the dust cleared, Suzuki-gun was in charge, working over SHO’s left leg.
After a lengthy beatdown of SHO, Ospreay and Sabre tagged in. They had a great mat wrestling sequence, trading cradles and clutches for near falls.
YOH and Desperado tagged in and had an intense exchange of slaps and strikes. YOH teased a dragon suplex, but then hit a bridging German for a near fall. YOH went for a falcon arrow. Desperado slipped behind, then hit a misdirection spear.
SHO and Ospreay jumped in to save YOH. Ospreay hit a mid kick and a standing corkscrew moonsault for a near fall, with Kanemaru and Sabre saving.
SHO and YOH hit stereo knees on Desperado. They tuned up the band for the 3K, but Kanemaru jumped in and spit whiskey in YOH’s eyes. Desperado then used a chair on SHO for the DQ.
Ospreay ran in and cleared the ring. He kicked a chair into Desperado, then kicked Sabre off the apron. Sabre tried to run back in and hit Ospreay with a chair, but Ospreay blocked and hit a high kick.
Suzuki-gun used their standard attack before the opening bell. They brawled around ringside and into the crowd. Taichi used a chair on Okada. Makabe was the legal man. They teased a countout, but Makabe made it back in.
Taichi choked Makabe. Suzuki tagged in and teased a Gotch-style piledriver. Makabe escaped and hit a lariat. Okada got a tag. He laid out Taichi with a DDT, then hit an interfering DOUKI with a flapjack.
Okada missed a Woo dropkick. Taichi answered with a backdrop suplex. Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick for a near fall. Okada escaped a powerbomb attempt and hit a dropkick. Taguchi got a tag and hit a hip attack, then pulled Taichi’s tear-away pants off. Just a tremendous spot.
DOUKI got a tag. Suzuki assisted with a double team. DOUKI hit a springboard double stomp for a near fall. Makabe jumped in and hit a double lariat. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick to Taichi on the apron.
DOUKI went for suplex de la luna, but Taguchi used a victory roll for a near fall. Taguchi hit a Bomaye, then used Dodon for the pin.
Suzuki went after the ringside attendants with a chair after the match.
TETSUYA NAITO, SANADA & HIROMU TAKAHASHI DEFEATED KENTA, JAY WHITE & TAIJI ISHIMORI
KENTA and Naito began. KENTA stalled. White attacked Naito from behind, Bullet Club cleared the opposing apron, then stomped Naito down in the ring. They then took the fight into the crowd. Back inside, Ishimori used a neck crank on Naito.
White got a tag and took Naito back outside, where he repeatedly rammed him into the barricade and the ring frame. KENTA got a tag and hit some stomps, then a draping DDT. This was kind of a night off for Naito, as he just laid on the mat and took some stomps most of the way.
KENTA missed a double stomp off the top. SANADA and white got tags. SANADA put Gedo in the paradise lock on the floor. SANADA sent White into the guardrail. Back inside, he tried for the paradise lock on White, but Switchblade blocked.
White pulled SANADA down by the hair, then hit some stomps. White hit a death valley driver for a near fall. White and SANADA did a series of TKO and Blade Buster teases before tagging Ishimori and Hiromu.
Ishimori tried a handspring kick. Hiromu blocked and hit a German, but Ishimori landed on his feet, then hit the handspring kick. White jumped in and hit a Blade Buster. Ishimori covered for a near fall.
KENTA, Naito, White and SANADA brawled to the floor. Ishimori hit Hiromu with a knee strike. Hiromu answered with an overhead throw into the buckle, then tagged Naito. Naito hit a top rope frankensteiner for a near fall.
Naito tried a Destino. KENTA cut him off. SANADA cleared the ring, then LIJ hit a triple dropkick to Ishimori. Naito hit Gloria, then used Destino for the pin on Ishimori.
White and SANADA looked good here, and Ishimori and Hiromu kicked the match into a higher gear near the finish. KENTA and Naito took it relatively easy ahead of their match Sunday.
NEVER OPENWEIGHT SIX-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI, EVIL & BUSHI DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO, TOMOHIRO ISHII & ROBBIE EAGLES TO RETAIN THE TITLES
This was all action from the opening bell. A great main event.
Ishii and EVIL were nominally the legal men, but all six guys jumped in and traded spots in the opening minute. The challengers went three-on-one against EVIL.
Eagles got a tag and hit EVIL with chops and a leg kick. Shingo cut Eagles off from the apron, and LIJ established a three-on-one. Shingo and Ishii fought into the crowd. EVIL worked over Eagles. BUSHI got a tag and continued the work, hitting a missile dropkick.
BUSHI choked Eagles with his t-shirt, then used the shirt to hit a neckbreaker. EVIL tagged in and knocked Goto off the apron, then hit Eagles with his bronco buster senton. Kevin Kelly always calls it a bronco buster, but it’s really more of a seated senton in the corner than a traditional bronco buster.
Shingo tagged in and teased Last of the Dragon. Eagles fought it off, hit a leg lariat, then tagged Ishii. Shingo cut Ishii off before he could even climb into the ring. He caught his leg on the rope, then sold his taped left knee.
Ishii fired up. Shingo and Ishii traded strikes. Ishii killed Shingo with a forearm to the face, then hit a series of forearm strikes to the back of Shingo’s neck. Shingo no-sold a powerslam and hit a lariat.
EVIL got a tag and hit a corner clothesline. Ishii blocked a Darkness Falls attempt and hit a vertical suplex. Goto got a tag. BUSHI and Eagles jumped in. Both sides teased a double suplex, with Goto and Eagles finally hitting one.
Goto used a Saito suplex on EVIL for a near fall. EVIL blocked an ushigoroshi and hit a draping stomp. Goto blocked Darkness Falls. They did a great series of misdirection spots, ending with Goto hitting a lariat.
LIJ jumped in for a triple team. Eagles and Ishii saved. BUSHI hit a tope suicida to Eagles at the fifteen minute call.
EVIL and Goto teased their finishers. EVIL hit the ropes and ran into an ushigoroshi. Ishii then hit a sliding lariat. Goto and Ishii teamed up for an elevated GTR on EVIL for a near fall. Shingo entered and got hit with an Ishii headbutt.
Goto hit EVIL with a mid kick. He tried a GTR, but EVIL reversed it into Darkness Falls. BUSHI and Eagles tagged in for what looked to be the closing sequence.
Eagles hit an elbow strike to BUSHI’s head. Shingo and Ishii entered. Shingo hit a double lariat to Eagles and Ishii. BUSHI hit a backstabber for a near fall on Eagles. Eagles hit a tope suicida to BUSHI. Goto and Ishii hit stereo ushigoroshis on EVIL and Shingo.
Eagles hit a dropkick to BUSHI’s leg. He tried the Ron Miller Special. BUSHI reversed into a cradle for a near fall. Eagles hit Turbo Backpack for another two count.
Eagles locked on the Ron Miller Special. Shingo broke it up with a sliding lariat. EVIL, Shingo, Ishii and Goto jumped in and traded a crazy series of clotheslines at the twenty minute call, ending with all four down on the mat, then rolling outside.
BUSHI hit Eagles with a neckbreaker. He went for MX. Eagles caught him and hit a codebreaker. Eagles hit a 450 to BUSHI’s leg, then locked him in the Ron Miller Special. BUSHI rolled Eagles over, spit black mist in his face, then used an inside cradle for a near fall.
With Eagles blinded by the mist, BUSHI then hit an MX for the pin.
Toru Yano and Ryusuke Taguchi ran in after the match and stole the title belts. Ishii then grabbed the NEVER Openweight belt and challenged Shingo to defend it against him next. Shingo agreed. Hopefully Ishii gets some time to heal up, as those two had a match of the year in G1 last year.
BUSHI cut a promo to close the show. He said they won, but they don’t have the belts, but they’re still the champs.
The first of three NJPW New Beginning shows begin tonight in Hokkaido.
Hirooki Goto will defend the NEVER Openweight championship in the main event against Shingo Takagi. The two faced off twice last year, scoring one win each. Shingo picked up a win during the G1 Climax tournament while Goto got the win in their rematch a month later at Destruction in Kobe.
The co-main event will be a special singles match between Tomohiro Ishii and EVIL. The two started a feud during the pre-show of Wrestle Kingdom 14, when the two brawled following a gauntlet match.
Jon Moxley and Kauchika Okada will team up for the first time in the undercard, taking on Minoru Suzuki and Taichi in a tag match. Okada and Taichi will headline tomorrow’s show, also in Hokkaido.
Tetsuya Naito and SANADA will also team up, taking on future opponents Jay White and KENTA.
Join us for live coverage starting at 4:00 a.m. EST
Uemura and ELP began. Uemura got some brief shine before ELP cut him off. ELP and Ishimori went to work with their comedy back rakes and crotch stomps. ELP worked a chinlock. Uemura hit a dropkick and tagged out.
Tiger hit a crossbody off the top to ELP, a dropkick to the apron on Ishimori, then grabbed a kneebar on ELP. Tiger used a crucifix for a near fall on ELP with Ishimori saving for his partner.
Tiger hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Uemura entered for a double team. Tiger hit a Tiger Driver, then Uemura locked on a crab. ELP reached the bottom rope for a break.
Uemura hit a release belly-to-belly for a near fall. Ishimori jumped in, allowing ELP to hit a superkick. Ishimori tagged in and ELP and Ishimori hit stereo superkicks for a near fall.
Ishimori went for the Bloody Cross. Uemura blocked and used a small package for a two count. Uemura used a cradle for another near fall. Ishimori hit a jumping knee strike, then used the Yes Lock for the submission win over Uemura.
This was a solid opener. ELP and Ishimori are so good that I get frustrated with their comedy offense, knowing they are capable of so much more.
Henare and Nakanishi started off, trading strikes. Henare bounced around for Nakanishi, jumping into a shoulder tackle. Nakanishi missed a splash and sold his knees. Honma tagged in and worked on Nakanishi’s left leg. Makabe got a tag and continued to attack the left leg.
Honma ducked under a lariat, then ran into a Nakanishi spear. Nakanishi tagged Tenzan, who hit Honma with chops and a brainbuster. Tenzan hit a wheel kick for a two count. Honma hit a diving kokeshi into a double down.
Makabe got a tag and hit ten punches in the corner on Tenzan. Tenzan came back with a mountain bomb. Henare and Tsuji tagged in. Tsuji locked on a full Boston crab.
The match broke down and all six men jumped in. Nakanishi used the Argentinian rack on Makabe. Tenzan used the Anaconda Vice on Honma. Henare fought to the ropes, forcing Tsuji to break the crab.
Tsuji peppered Henare with forearm strikes. Henare came back with an elbow strike and a tackle for a two count. The other four brawled to the floor. Tsuji blocked a Toa Bottom. Henare hit a lariat, then hit the Toa Bottom for the pin.
This wasn’t about match quality, it was about letting Nakanishi have some ring time as the final month of his career kicks off. Take it for what it is and on to the next.
WILL OSPREAY, SHO, YOH & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED ZACK SABRE JR., EL DESPERADO, YOSHINOBU KANEMARU & DOUKI
This was pure chaos from before the opening bell. A fine match, all action.
Suzuki-gun tried an attack before the bell. A brawl broke out around ringside. Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio off the barricade to Sabre. SHO, YOH and Taguchi went after Kanemaru in the ring. Kanemaru made a comeback and another brawl broke out. Sabre went after Ospreay on the ramp. Kanemaru hit a leg slice over the barricade.
When order was restored, Suzuki-gun established control of the match in the ring, working over SHO. DOUKI used a slam. SHO fired back with forearm shots. DOUKI raked the eyes and forced SHO into the blue corner, where Suzuki-gun continued to pummel SHO.
SHO hit a spear to Sabre, then tagged Ospreay. Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio, fought off DOUKI, then hit a handspring kick to Sabre for a near fall. Sabre blocked a cheeky Nando’s kick. Ospreay blocked an octopus. Sabre tied Ospreay up on the mat, but YOH saved.
Ospreay hit a tiger wall flip kick. Taguchi and DOUKI tagged in. Taguchi got cut off after missing a springboard hip attack into the ring. DOUKI hit a springboard double stomp for a two count, with SHO and YOH saving.
DOUKI hit his Daybreak springboard DDT for a near fall. He teased Suplex de la Luna, but Taguchi dropped into a cradle for a two count.
Everyone jumped in as the match broke down. SHO hit a baseball slide. YOH hit a plancha. Taguchi ducked a steel pipe shot from DOUKI, then hit a Bomaye for a two count. The finish saw Taguchi hit Dodon on DOUKI for the pin.
Ospreay posed with Sabre’s RPW British Heavyweight title after the match. SHO and YOH faced off with Desperado and Kanemaru as well.
RYU LEE & ROBBIE EAGLES DEFEATED HIROMU TAKAHASHI & BUSHI
This was crazy good.
Lee and Hiromu began with a palm strike battle. Lee teased a tope con giro. Hiromu backed away, so Lee hit a handstand on the apron, bounced to the floor, then sent Hiromu into the barricade. An unreal opening sequence.
Eagles tagged in and hit a dropkick. BUSHI jumped in to save Hiromu. The match broke down into a brawl, which saw BUSHI and Hiromu establish the advantage. Back inside, BUSHI used a neckbreaker on Eagles for a two count.
Hiromu hit a series of corner clotheslines, then used a basement dropkick on Eagles for a two count. BUSHI and Hiromu doubled up on Eagles. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick. Lee tried to interfere and was quickly dispensed with.
BUSHI used an STF on Eagles. Eagles forced a rope break. Eagles hit a leg lariat and tagged Lee, who mocked LIJ by hitting Naito’s combinacion cabron and spitting on Hiromu. Lee hit a Shibata dropkick for a two count.
Hiromu hit a wheelbarrow German. Lee hit a German, but Hiromu landed on his feet, then hit a German on Lee into the corner pad.
Eagles and BUSHI tagged in. Eagles attacked BUSHI’s left leg with kicks. Eagles missed a meteora in the corner. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick. BUSHI hit a tope suicida to Lee for good measure.
BUSHI and Hiromu used a tandem wheelbarrow for a two count as Lee saved. Lee and Hiromu brawled to the floor. BUSHI tried a codebreaker. Eagles blocked and hit Turbo Backpack for a near fall.
Eagles used the Miller Special on BUSHI. Lee hit a tope con giro to Hiromu. BUSHI verbally submitted to Eagles.
KENTA & JAY WHITE DEFEATED TETSUYA NAITO & SANADA
I think there are two schools of thought when it comes to KENTA right now. You likely either think he’s doing great heel work, or you think he’s on the boring side and can’t go at the level of the top in-ring performers in NJPW. I tend to think the latter. I thought this was quite dull.
Naito began for his team. KENTA and White did a bunch of stalling. Naito knocked White off the apron, tossed KENTA outside, then hit his pose. Then it was Naito’s turn to stall. White and SANADA tagged in. Gedo twice tried interfering from the floor. SANADA avoided his trips, but KENTA used the distraction to jump in.
KENTA and White turned it into a brawl around the arena. KENTA hit a DDT in the aisle on Naito. White sent SANADA into the barricade. Back inside, KENTA used a back elbow on SANADA for a one count.
White got a tag and used a chinlock. SANADA missed a standing moonsault. White hit a legdrop for a two count. KENTA worked on SANADA in as dull a manner as possible. SANADA came back with a dropkick off the second rope, then tagged Naito.
Naito showed good fire as he hit a headscissors takeover and a dropkick to KENTA. Naito used a neckbreaker, then a crucifix hold with his legs. KENTA reached the ropes for a break. KENTA hit a powerslam.
KENTA hit a clothesline off the top rope for a two count. He teased a G2S, but Naito slid out. KENTA hit a draping DDT for a near fall. KENTA missed a pump kick. Naito escaped another G2S attempt. KENTA hit a German. Naito answered with a spinebuster.
SANADA and White got tags. SANADA hit a dropkick to the knee, sending White rolling to the floor. SANADA hit a plancha. Back inside, SANADA tried a paradise lock. White fought it off. White escaped a TKO attempt, then dragged SANADA down by the hair.
White hit a DDT for a two count. SANADA blocked a uranage. White hit a snap Saito suplex, then used a Blade Buster for a two count. Naito and KENTA jumped in. Naito hit a one-legged dropkick to White, then a dropkick to KENTA.
Gedo tried to climb in with a chair, but SANADA crotched him on the middle rope. SANADA and White teased their finishers. White used a cradle for a near fall.
They did another series of finisher teases. SANADA used a roll-up with the tights for a two count. White shoved him off into the ropes, where Gedo hit SANADA with a chair. White then used a schoolboy with a handful of tights for the pin.
TAICHI & MINORU SUZUKI DEFEATED KAZUCHIKA OKADA & JON MOXLEY
This was an awesome brawl.
Moxley wore an eye patch, selling his AEW angle.
Okada and Moxley entered the ring at the same time and went after Taichi and Suzuki before the bell. Okada and Taichi rolled outside, leaving Moxley and Suzuki to trade shots in the ring. They had an intense striking exchange. Suzuki then went after Moxley’s fingers.
Taichi tagged in and Moxley sent him back into the corner, then tagged Okada. Okada hit a low dropkick. The pace slowed as Taichi and Okada squared off. They traded strikes. Taichi hit some leg kicks. Taichi hit a backdrop suplex.
On the floor, Suzuki went after Moxley with a chair. Suzuki dragged Moxley into the crowd. Taichi then sent Okada outside. Okada got whipped into a row of seats. Suzuki hit Moxley with chairs and pieces of the security fence. Suzuki and Moxley dueled with pieces of the barricade.
Back inside, Taichi used a couple of holds on Okada, as the focus was on Moxley and Suzuki outside. Suzuki made his way back to the ring and tagged in. Suzuki used a chinlock on Okada. Taichi tagged in and took his pants off.
Okada made a comeback on Taichi, hitting an air raid crash. Moxley and Suzuki tagged in. Moxley hit some knee strikes and a clothesline out of the corner. Moxley used a backbreaker for a two count.
Moxley tried a cloverleaf, then transitioned to an STF. Suzuki bit his way out of the hold. Moxley answered by biting Suzuki, then hitting a Regal knee for a two count.
Moxley set up a table on the floor. He teased a suplex from the apron but Suzuki used an armbar over the ropes. Suzuki locked on a cross armbreaker. Moxley forced a rope break.
Suzuki kicked at Moxley’s eye. Moxley hit a clothesline out of the corner. Moxley went for Death Rider, but Taichi saved. Okada jumped in. Taichi ducked a Rainmaker and avoided a dropkick. Taichi hit a back suplex to Okada. Moxley sent Taichi outside with a dropkick.
Moxley and Suzuki traded strikes. Moxley tried a Death Rider. Suzuki blocked, hit a couple of strikes, then applied a sleeper hold. Suzuki hit a Gotch-style piledriver and pinned Moxley.
After the bell, Taichi choked out Okada with a camera cable. He then used his mic stand to attack the referee and the ringside Young Lions.
Taichi choked Okada with the stand, then pulled out the iron fingers. Okada ducked the fingers and hit two dropkicks. Okada went for a Rainmaker, but Zack Sabre Jr. ran in and used a rear naked choke on Okada. Taichi then hit Okada with the fingers.
Ospreay ran in. Sabre hit Ospreay with a Zack Driver. Taichi and Sabre stood over their fallen opponents ahead of their matches tomorrow.
Taichi then hit a Black Mephisto on Okada on the ramp, then locked him in the stretch plum. Taichi marched back to the ring and cut a promo. He said Okada’s beaten up, and he’s going to beat the hell out of him tomorrow, just as he did when Okada was a Young Lion.
TOMOHIRO ISHII DEFEATED EVIL
I had high hopes for this. The last five minutes were very good, but Ishii is clearly hurting and had to work a slower match than usual. They got the crowd into it at the end, which was no small feat, as either the crowd was poorly mic’ed, or dead for most of the night.
They exchanged shoulder tackle attempts, strikes, then misdirection spots. They brawled outside. Ishii hit EVIL with a chair on the outside. EVIL punched a chair into Ishii’s head. EVIL then wrapped a chair around Ishii’s neck, then sent him into the post.
The action returned to the ring. EVIL hit a neckbreaker for a two count, then used a chinlock. Ishii hit some chops, then EVIL dropped Ishii with a single chop. EVIL tried a vertical suplex, but Ishii reversed into his own suplex.
Ishii hit a tackle out of the corner, then used a series of chops to the throat. EVIL suplexed Ishii into the buckle. Ishii landed awkwardly on his head. Ishii rolled outside. EVIL placed a chair around his neck, then hit it with a second chair.
Ishii hit a clunky-looking neckbreaker. EVIL used Red Shoes as a base for a Magic Killer on Ishii. EVIL blocked an enziguri. Ishii ducked a lariat and hit a back suplex. Ishii followed with a superplex for a two count.
EVIL hit a series of strikes to Ishii’s neck, but Ishii no-sold. Ishii dropped EVIL with one shot to the neck, then hit a stacked-up powerbomb for a near fall. EVIL hit a lariat. Ishii hit a leg lariat and a clothesline for a near fall.
Ishii went for the Vertical Drop Brainbuster, but EVIL blocked. They traded knee strikes. EVIL blocked another brainbuster try and hit a lariat for a two count. EVIL hit a top rope superplex for a near fall.
Ishii blocked Everything is EVIL and hit a headbutt. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. Ishii reversed Everything is EVIL into a DDT, then hit a sliding lariat. Ishii hit a kick, then used another sliding lariat for another two count.
EVIL hit two half-and-half suplexes. Ishii hit a dragon suplex but EVIL no-sold it, then hit a headbutt. EVIL hit a lariat. Ishii kicked out at two.
They did a series of finisher teases and reversals. Ishii hit two lariats and scored a near fall. Ishii hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin.
NEVER OPENWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO TO WIN THE TITLE
This was a very physical match. Just an absolute strong style war. A very good match.
They began with a series of tackle attempts. Neither man could get a knockdown. Shingo scored with a strike, then missed a sliding lariat. Goto hit a tackle. They traded strikes in the corner, with Goto getting the better of it.
They traded corner clotheslines. Neither man went down on a series of lariat attempts. Shingo hit a straight right hand and dropped Goto with a lariat. Goto got clotheslined over the top rope. Shingo grabbed the title belt and taunted Goto, then posted him.
Shingo sent Goto into the barricade, dropped him face-first on the apron, then hit a DDT on the floor. Back inside, Shingo hit some chops. He used a brainbuster for a near fall. He taunted Goto with some short kicks. Goto answered with a lariat.
Goto hit a wheel kick in the corner. He tried a follow-up suplex, but Shingo blocked. Shino teased noshigami. Goto reversed into a vertical suplex for a two count. Shingo bounced off the ropes into a sleeper hold from Goto. Shingo broke the hold once, but Goto re-applied. Shingo powered out.
Shingo slid out of a sleeper attempt and hit noshigami. Shingo was bleeding near his left eye. Shingo hit a knee drop and a sliding lariat. Goto popped up and hit an ushigoroshi. They hit a series of simultaneous lariats, just pounding the hell out of each other.
They traded Saito suplexes. Shingo blocked a misdirection lariat and hit a jab. Goto answered with a lariat. They hit simultaneous lariats. Shingo stayed up, Goto went down. Goto sold as though he was woozy.
Shingo used an Irish whip, but Goto collapsed before he made it to the corner. Shingo hit a top rope death valley driver for a near fall. Goto was still selling like he was out of it. Shingo teased a superplex. Goto hit a kaiten for a two count.
Goto hit a series of knees and a draping GTR for a near fall. Shingo answered with his own draping GTR, then hit a lariat for a two count.
Goto blocked Last of the Dragon, then hit Shouten Kai for a near fall. Goto hit a PK. They traded headbutts, then a series of neck strikes. Goto hit a series of unanswered headbutts, then hit an inverted GTR. Goto went for another GTR, but Shingo blocked and hit Made in Japan for a near fall.
Shingo then hit a huge Last of the Dragon for the pin.
Shingo cut a promo after the win. He said this is just the first step in his goals, not the ultimate goal. He put over the NEVER title and said it’s just as good as the IWGP Heavyweight title. I mean, he shouldn’t bury the belt he just won, but, come on.
He said he’s going to tear it up with this title and the people will be with him. Confetti rained down as Shingo posed with the title.
SHO was on Japanese commentary for this match and had a brief staredown with Shingo as the new champ walked to the back to close the show.
Shingo Takagi and Bandido are set to face off over WrestleMania week.
WrestleCon announced today that Takagi vs. Bandido will take place at their Mark Hitchcock Memorial SuperShow in Tampa, Florida on Thursday, April 2. The show is taking place at The Ritz Ybor City and will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
WrestleCon wrote that this may be the only match they announce for the SuperShow in advance. Will Ospreay, Black Taurus, Zack Sabre Jr., and Amazing Red have also been confirmed for the event.
Takagi and Bandido were both part of PWG’s Battle of Los Angeles finals in 2018. Jeff Cobb was the winner of that three-way elimination match.
Bandido headlined last year’s WrestleCon SuperShow, losing to Ospreay.
Takagi is also set for Pro Wrestling Revolver’s Pancakes & Piledrivers IV event during WrestleCon. He’ll face Chris Dickinson at the show, which is being held at The Ritz Ybor City at 11 a.m. Eastern on Saturday, April 4.
A second NJPW star has been confirmed for WrestleCon’s WrestleMania week SuperShow.
WrestleCon announced today that Shingo Takagi will be in action at this year’s Mark Hitchcock Memorial SuperShow. The event is taking place at The Ritz Ybor in Tampa, Florida on Thursday, April 2 and will start at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
This will be the first time Takagi has taken part in WrestleCon.
Will Ospreay has also been announced for this year’s WrestleCon SuperShow, along with Bandido, Alex Zayne, Blake Christian, and Jordan Oliver. Ospreay vs. Bandido headlined the 2019 WrestleCon SuperShow in New York City, with Ospreay getting the win.
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Takagi, EVIL & BUSHI) became NJPW’s NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions by winning a gauntlet match at Wrestle Kingdom 14 night two. Takagi will challenge Hirooki Goto for the NEVER Openweight Championship in the main event of the New Beginning in Sapporo on Saturday, February 1.
Here are the results from tonight’s New Japan Showdown event at the Globe Theatre in Los Angeles, California. It featured a six-man tag match in the main event, with LIJ members facing off against The Bullet Club.
TJP & Amazing Red defeated Alex Zayne & Aaron Solow
– Red pinned Solow with the Code Red.
Colt Cabana & Toru Yano defeated Alex Coughlin & Karl Fredericks
– Cabana pinned Fredericks with the Superman pin.
Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer & El Desperado defeated Juice Robinson, David Finlay & Clark Connors
– Suzuki defeated Connors with the Gotch Style piledriver.
SANADA & EVIL defeated Tomohiro Ishii & Rocky Romero
– SANADA submitted Rocky with the Skull End.
Kota Ibushi defeated Ren Narita
– Ibushi submitted Narita with an elevated Boston crab.
Shingo Takagi has made it clear: he is going to be a heavyweight moving forward.
In post-match comments from last night’s G1 Climax 29 card, Takagi noted that when he declared his interest in participating in the G1, he wanted to be an openweight wrestler, wrestling in both the heavyweight and junior heavyweight divisions. But after defeating Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii, he will now wrestle as a heavyweight going forward.
Takagi finished the G1 Climax tournament with eight points, his biggest wins being against NEVER champion Tomohiro Ishii and Hirooki Goto. He also scored wins over Taichi and Toru Yano.
After jumping from Dragon Gate over to New Japan Pro Wrestling Pro Wrestling last year, Takagi joined Los Ingobernables de Japon and established himself as a junior heavyweight, losing in the finals to Will Ospreay in this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament. He previously held the IWGP Jr. tag team titles with BUSHI.
A quick opener. Uemura and Tsuji beat down Umino, with the highlight being a double dropkick.
Umino made his own comeback, then pinned Tsuji with a fisherman buster.
BAD LUCK FALE, YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & CHASE OWENS DEFEATED EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI
Average undercard tag fare here. The match didn’t have a lot of heat.
Bullet Club got the heat on SANADA. SANADA hit a missile dropkick, then tagged EVIL. EVIL hit a fisherman buster, but Yujiro cut him off. Yujiro and Owens continued the Bullet Club beatdown on EVIL.
EVIL managed a tag to BUSHI, and LIJ then went three-on-one against Owens. The match broke down, leaving Owens and BUSHI legal.
Yujiro entered for an illegal double team. Owens hit a shining wizard, then a package piledriver on BUSHI for the pin.
MINORU SUZUKI, ZACK SABRE JR. & LANCE ARCHER DEFEATED KENTA, CLARK CONNORS & KARL FREDERICKS
Minoru Suzuki beating up Young Lions will never get old. This was a fun brawl.
KENTA, Connors, Suzuki, and Sabre brawled into the crowd, leaving Archer and Fredericks in the ring. Archer hit a pounce, then a series of back elbows in the corner.
Suzuki got a tag and dared Fredericks to hit him. Suzuki no-sold his offense — and the Suzuki-gun party was on.
Fredericks managed a tag to KENTA. KENTA ran wild on Sabre, then knocked Suzuki off the apron. KENTA teased a GTS, but Sabre slipped out. Sabre worked over KENTA’s left arm, so remember that when they face off Saturday.
Suzuki and Connors tagged in. Suzuki ate dozens of chops, and even sold some for Connors. Connors hit a dropkick and went for a crab. He managed to get it applied, but Sabre broke it up.
The match broke down. Sabre and KENTA brawled to the outside. Connors managed a quick cradle on Suzuki for a near fall, before Suzuki got a rear naked choke, then hit the Gotch-style piledriver for the pin.
Sabre continued working on KENTA’s left arm after the match.
KAZUCHIKA OKADA, HIROSHI TANAHASHI & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED KOTA IBUSHI, WILL OSPREAY & TOA HENARE
They didn’t get a ton of time, but we got a nice preview of two big A Block matches coming up on Saturday.
Okada and Ibushi started off with an intense sequence. Ibushi ducked a Rainmaker and hit a series of kicks. He went for a standing moonsault, but Okada got his knees up. Okada hit a flapjack and tagged YH.
YH and Tanahashi went to work on Ibushi, cutting the ring in half. Ibushi came back with a double stomp on Tanahashi, then tagged Ospreay. Ospreay cleared the apron and hit a handspring enzuigiri on Tanahashi.
Ospreay went for Storm Breaker, but Tanahashi reversed it into a Twist and Shout. Henare and YH got tags. YH teased his running chop in the corner, but Henare cut him off with a rugby tackle.
We saw a crazy sequence next, as Tanahashi jumped in with a dragon screw to Henare. Ospreay then hit Pip Pip Cheerio on Tanahashi. Okada hit Ospreay with a dropkick, then Ibushi hit Okada with a dropkick.
YH hit a brainbuster on Henare for the pin.
Okada and Ibushi had a staredown after the match. They played to the crowd, trying to get a mixed reaction kind of thing going. The crowd was either not mic’ed well, or not up for the idea, though.
B BLOCK MATCH: TORU YANO DEFEATED TAICHI (5:04)
This was not one of the better Yano comedy matches of the tournament, but the finish was among the best.
Taichi took forever to remove his entrance gear. He then rolled outside immediately after the bell, continuing to stall. Yano teased walking out. He made it all the way to the stage, where Yoshinobu Kanemaru ambushed him. Kanemaru hit Yano with a whiskey bottle, then beat him back to the ring.
Taichi wrapped Yano up in the ring skirt, and they teased a countout. Yano made it back in at 18. Yano and Taichi played a game of hot potato with a turnbuckle pad. Yano tore Taichi’s pants off, then sent him into the buckle. Yano hit a sloppy schoolboy for a near fall.
Taichi sent Yano into the exposed buckle, then used a Gedo Clutch for a near fall. Kanemaru tried to spit whiskey at Yano on the floor, but Yano ducked and the whiskey hit Taichi.
Yano rolled Kanemaru and Taichi up in the ring skirt, and Taichi could not beat the 20 count back inside.
B BLOCK MATCH: TETSUYA NAITO DEFEATED JEFF COBB (12:48)
This started slow. Naito didn’t exactly have his working boots on. The last few minutes were good, though.
Naito mocked Cobb by taking a sumo stance before the opening bell. Cobb responded with a shoulder tackle before the bell, then sent Naito rolling outside after a throw.
Back inside, Cobb fired off a couple of headbutts. Naito came back with a series of dropkicks to the legs. Naito continued to target Cobb’s legs with kicks. He then hit a dropkick to the back. Naito used a neckbreaker for a near fall.
Naito tried for a combinacion cabron in the corner, but Cobb caught him, then hit an overhead belly-to-belly. Cobb hit a Samoan drop, then a standing moonsault. Cobb got a near fall, but continued selling the damage to his legs.
Naito fought out of a deadlift attempt, then hit an enzuigiri. Cobb hit a gutwrench suplex into a bridge for a two count. Cobb hit a delayed superplex for a near fall. Cobb hit a spin cycle for another two count.
Cobb signaled for Tour of the Islands, but Naito hit a dropkick to the left leg. Cobb hit a superkick. Cobb teased a powerslam off the top rope, but Naito fought it off, then hit a frankensteiner. Cobb no-sold it. Naito then hit a swinging DDT.
Naito hit a poison rana. He went for Destino, but Cobb turned it into an F-5. Cobb was first up out of a double down. Naito got to his feet as well, and they exchanged strikes. Naito took a flip bump off a lariat.
Cobb went for Tour of the Islands, but Naito turned it into an inverted DDT. He covered, but only got a two count.
Naito hit Destino and got the pin.
B BLOCK MATCH: HIROOKI GOTO DEFEATED JON MOXLEY (8:39)
I think it was smart to keep this on the shorter side. They had a solid, very hard-hitting brawl.
They shared tough guy fist bumps at the outset, then went right into a striking exchange. Moxley got the better of it, and Goto rolled to the floor. They continued to trade strikes on the outside. They teased a double countout, but both made it back in at 19.
They continued to trade. Moxley took one lariat, but remained standing. A second lariat from Goto dropped him. Goto hit a wheel kick in the corner, then hit a back suplex for a near fall.
Goto went for an ushigoroshi, but Moxley blocked it. Moxley hit a release German, a corner clothesline, then a uranage. Moxley teased a Regal knee, but Goto blocked it. Goto teased a GTR, but Moxley blocked it.
Moxley hit a butterfly suplex, then tried for a kimura. He settled for an armbar, but Goto reached the ropes. They traded more strikes. Moxley hit a lariat for a near fall, then used the Regal knee for another two count.
Goto hit an ushigoroshi out of nowhere, but could not follow up. They hit a series of simultaneous lariats, and both men dropped to their knees.
Moxley was first up, but Goto was first to strike. Goto hit a headbutt, then a series of mid kicks. Moxley caught a kick, then hit a Death Rider. He went for a second Death Rider, but Goto countered. He pulled Moxley into a GTR, hit it, then got the pin.
B BLOCK MATCH: JAY WHITE DEFEATED JUICE ROBINSON (23:00)
These guys had a hell of a match, and both displayed great selling. The ref bump and interference hurt the finish.
White did some trademark stalling at the outset. Gedo provided a series of distractions from the floor, and White used them to get a couple of strikes in. Nothing substantial, though. Juice came back with a jab, but White rolled outside.
On the floor, White tried to use a chair on Juice’s hands, but Juice got out of the way. White got back inside. Gedo grabbed Juice’s ankle as he climbed back in, and White went after Juice’s left leg with a chop block.
White sent Juice’s left leg into the apron. He sent Juice into the barricade, then the ring frame. He continued to target Juice’s left leg, slamming it over the barricade. White slammed Juice’s knee into a chair in the crowd. Red Shoes refused to start a count on Juice because of White’s tactics.
As Juice got back inside, White continued working over the leg. He used a half crab, but Juice reached the bottom rope. White hit a series of jabs, mocking Juice. Juice managed a couple of his own jabs, but White cut him off, going back to the leg.
Juice hit a spinebuster, then fired up. He hit a series of jabs, but White ducked the Left Hand of God. White rolled outside. Juice hit a pescado, but continued to sell his left leg on landing.
Juice sent White into the barricade, then whipped him over the barricade. He dropped White throat-first onto the barricade, then posted both of White’s legs.
Juice hit a pair of clotheslines in the corner. He teased a cannonball, but White stood up out of the corner. Juice hit a jackhammer for a near fall, but continued selling his leg.
Juice went up top for a high cross, but White crotched him. White hit a DDT, then used a Blade Buster for a two count. White hit a Saito suplex at the 15 minute call.
White teased a Saito suplex over top rope. Juice fought off the first attempt, but White hit the move on his second attempt. White dragged Juice back inside, then hit a uranage for a two count.
White teased a sleeper suplex, but Juice elbowed out of it. Juice hit a full nelson bomb, into a double down.
Juice hit a powerbomb for a near fall. He applied a Tenzan-style crab, but White hammered at Juice’s left leg with strikes, breaking the hold. White hit an inverted dragon screw, then used his TTO submission hold. Juice reached the ropes after a struggle.
White ducked a Left Hand of God, then hit a sleeper suplex. He went for a Blade Runner, but Juice reversed into a roll-up for a two count.
Juice went for Pulp Friction, but White slid out, then hit a chop block. White went for Blade Runner again, but Juice escaped, then hit Left Hand of God.
Juice went for Pulp Friction. Gedo jumped on the apron, distracting the ref. White hit a low blow, then shoved Juice into Red Shoes, who took a bump.
Gedo gave White a chair. Juice cut White off before he could use it, then hit a Left Hand of God. He tried for Pulp Friction on the chair, but White slid out and slammed Juice on the chair.
White hit Juice’s left leg with the chair, then applied the TTO. Juice tapped out.
B BLOCK MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED TOMOHIRO ISHII (22:42)
This did not disappoint. A great main event.
They began with an awesome series of teases and counters. Both missed on sliding lariat attempts. Ishii missed an enzuigiri. They traded a series of shoulder tackles. Shingo finally dropped Ishii with a shoulder tackle.
Shingo used an elbow drop, then hit a senton for a two count. He used a bodyscissors on the mat, but Ishii rolled to the ropes, forcing a break. Ishii dropped Shingo with a tackle, then hit a series of strikes.
Ishii hit kicks to the back, then one to the back of the head. Ishii hit a chop to the throat. They exchanged headbutts, then traded chops. Shingo hit a double sledge to the chest, then hit a vertical suplex. He used an elbow drop off the second rope, then hit a DDT. Shingo followed with a back suplex for a near fall.
Shingo teased a piledriver, but Ishii hit a backdrop. Shingo blocked one powerslam attempt, but Ishii hit the move on his second attempt. Ishii hit chops in the corner, but Shingo reversed positions, then blistered Ishii with strikes in the corner.
Ishii no-sold a series of strikes out of the corner, but Shingo finally dropped him with a lariat. Ishii popped right up, then hit a vertical suplex. Ishii offered his neck to Shingo and no-sold a series of neck shots.
They exchanged lariats, then traded backdrop suplexes. They no-sold everything, until Ishii ended the exchange with one more backdrop suplex. Ishii was bleeding from the left ear.
Ishii hit a superplex for a two count, then used a series of short kicks to the head. Shingo stood up and tried to fire back, but Ishii dropped him with a forearm. Ishii hit a powerbomb. He stacked Shingo up in a cover, but Shingo kicked out.
Ishii teased a brainbuster, but Shingo slid out, then hit a big lariat. Shingo hit noshigami, then connected on a sliding lariat, earning another near fall.
Shingo went for Made in Japan, but Ishii blocked it. Shingo hit a series of hard lariats. Ishii fired back with a lariat, then dropped Shingo with a headbutt.
Ishii tried for a sliding lariat, but Shingo caught him coming in. He hoisted Ishii up for Made in Japan. Shingo connected, but Ishii kicked out at two.
Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber, but Ishii again kicked out.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon, but Ishii blocked the attempt. Ishii hit an enzuigiri, which Shingo took on his arms. Ishii hit a release German.
Ishii blocked a lariat, then hit two lariats of his own for a near fall. Ishii hit the sliding lariat for another near fall.
Ishii called for the brainbuster. They did a series of reversals, and Shingo hit an emerald frosion.
Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber, but Ishii no-sold it. Ishii hit an enzuigiri.
Ishii hit a lariat. Shingo kicked out at one. Shingo hit a lariat. Ishii kicked out at one. They hit simultaneous lariats. Shingo then dropped Ishii with a lariat.
Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber. This looked like the finish, but Ishii kicked out.
Shingo hit Last of the Dragon — and this time got the pin.
After the bell, they traded headbutts on the mat.
Shingo closed the show with a promo, promising to breathe fire.
G1 STANDINGS —
A BLOCK
Kazuchika Okada 14
Kota Ibushi 12
EVIL 8 (eliminated)
KENTA 8 (eliminated)
Hiroshi Tanahashi 8 (eliminated)
SANADA 8 (eliminated)
Zack Sabre Jr. 6 (eliminated)
Bad Luck Fale 6 (eliminated)
Will Ospreay 4 (eliminated)
Lance Archer 4 (eliminated)
B BLOCK
Hirooki Goto 10 (holds tiebreaker over White, Moxley)
Jon Moxley 10 (holds tiebreaker over Naito)
Tetsuya Naito 10 (holds tiebreaker over Goto)
Jay White 10 (holds tiebreaker over Moxley)
Tomohiro Ishii 8 (needs to beat Taichi and needs Goto, Moxley, Naito to lose)
Toru Yano 8 (needs to beat Cobb, needs Ishii and Goto to lose and White vs. Naito to end in a double DQ/countout)
The G1 continued this morning in Hiroshima with B Block action.
Jon Moxley stands alone atop the block after another convincing win — this time over Shingo Takagi, while Tetsuya Naito climbed back into the hunt with a win over Tomohiro Ishii in a great main event.
Here are full results and match recaps:
YUJIRO TAKAHASHI, BAD LUCK FALE & CHASE OWENS DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY, TOMOAKI HONMA & YUYA UEMURA
Yujiro pinned Uemura with Pimp Juice in a formulaic opener.
Bullet Club worked over Honma, then turned it into a crowd brawl. Ospreay made a comeback, then tagged Uemura. Uemura ran wild, but Yujiro and Owens cut him off.
After the bell, Fale sent Ospreay into the barricade ahead of their tournament match on Saturday.
MINORU SUZUKI, LANCE ARCHER & ZACK SABRE JR. DEFEATED EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI
Suzuki-gun worked over EVIL. SANADA came back with a rana on Archer, but Archer cut him off. Suzuki got a tag, and SANADA hit him with a dragon screw.
The match broke down, and BUSHI and Suzuki were left legal. Archer used the EBD claw on BUSHI and SANADA, then Suzuki hit BUSHI with a Gotch-style piledriver for the pin.
Tanahashi pinned Narita after a slingblade, but he also gave Narita a ton of offense. Narita hit an overhead belly-to-belly for a great near fall, and he also used a full crab for a long submission tease.
The interaction between Tanahashi and Ibushi was limited, but Ibushi did land some kicks, while Tana hit a dragon screw.
KAZUCHIKA OKADA, YOSHI-HASHI & TOA HENARE DEFEATED KENTA, CLARK CONNORS & KARL FREDERICKS
KENTA and Okada started off, and KENTA controlled the match. He hit Okada with kicks, then mocked him with a Rainmaker pose.
Okada made his own comeback against Fredericks. Henare and YOSHI-HASHI exchanged quick tags and went to work on Fredericks. Okada tagged back in and sent KENTA from the apron to the floor with a shoulder tackle.
KENTA sent Okada into the barricade, while Henare and Connors were left the legal men in the ring. Connors hit a nice dropkick, but Henare came back with a Samoan drop.
Fredericks and Connors doubled up on YH, but YH made his own comeback, then used a Butterfly Lock on Connors for the submission. This was a good little tag match.
B BLOCK MATCH: JUICE ROBINSON DEFEATED TORU YANO (4:28)
Yano asked for a handshake, but used it to roll Juice up for a near fall. Yano untied a corner pad, then sent Juice into the exposed buckle.
They went outside, where Yano tried to tape Juice to the barricade. They did a countout tease, but Juice made it back in at 19.
Yano got two more near falls off schoolboys and again sent Juice into the exposed buckle. Juice avoided two low blows, then hit Pulp Friction for the pin.
This was a short, typical Yano G1 match. It was entertaining.
B BLOCK MATCH: TAICHI DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO (12:11)
Goto went after Taichi before the bell, as he continues to show a more aggressive edge.
They brawled outside, where Taichi posted Goto, then took over. Back inside, Taichi worked over Goto with kicks. Goto went for an ushigoroshi, but Taichi slipped out the back.
They traded lariats, but Taichi continued to control the match with his kicks. Goto hit an ushigoroshi, but sold the damage to his legs from the kicks, and he could not follow up.
They exchanged lariats, and Goto hit a spinning lariat for a near fall. They traded a series of short kicks. Goto hit an inverted GTR for a two count. He went for a second GTR, but Taichi blocked it. He teased Shouten Kai, but Taichi slipped out, then sent Goto into the referee, who took a bump.
Taichi tried to use his mic stand as a weapon, but Goto blocked it. Goto went for a GTR as the ref revived. Taichi pulled the referee into Goto for a distraction, hit a low blow, then used the Gedo Clutch for the pin.
This was the weakest match of the tournament so far.
B BLOCK MATCH: JON MOXLEY DEFEATED SHINGO TAKAGI (14:45)
They exchanged forearm shots right away. Moxley scored a knockdown off a tackle, and Shingo rolled outside. Moxley went for a suicide dive, but Shingo caught him, then hit a DVD on the floor.
Moxley came back immediately, sending Shingo into the barricade, then posting him. Moxley set up a table. Both teased sending the other off the apron through the table, but both blocked.
Moxley hooked Shingo’s leg in the ropes, then nailed it with a dropkick. Moxley used a figure four, but Shingo reached the ropes. Moxley tried for a Death Rider, but Shingo hit a backdrop.
Shingo hit a pair of corner clotheslines, then hit a vertical suplex. Shingo continued to sell his legs. He went for a sliding lariat, but Moxley caught him, then hit a low dropkick to the legs. Moxley posted Shingo’s left leg repeatedly, then used a figure four around the post.
Moxley hit a clothesline in the corner, and they exchanged German suplexes. They exchanged strikes, then Moxley hit a dragon screw. Moxley used a figure four to cradle Shingo for a near fall, then hit a sliding lariat. He teased a cloverleaf, but Shingo fought it off.
Moxley tried to send Shingo from corner to corner, but Shingo’s leg buckled. Moxley went for the Regal knee, but Shingo hit him with noshigami, a lariat, then a Pumping Bomber for a near fall.
Shingo fired up at the ten minute call. He went for Last of the Dragon, but his leg buckled. Moxley hit Death Rider, but only got a near fall off of it.
Shingo blocked a second Death Rider, and they rolled outside. Moxley slammed Shingo’s left leg into the table, which didn’t break. Moxley wrapped a chair around the left leg, then hit it with another chair. They teased a countout, but Shingo made it back inside.
As soon as Shingo stepped back inside, Moxley hit the Regal knee. He went for a Death Rider, but Shingo blocked it. Shingo then hit Made in Japan for a near fall.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon, but Moxley kicked at the bad knee. Moxley hit another Regal knee to the back for a near fall, then used a cloverleaf for the submission.
This was good. Shingo did more selling than he has at any point since his NJPW debut, and Moxley did more wrestling than hardcore brawling.
B BLOCK MATCH: JAY WHITE DEFEATED JEFF COBB (15:50)
White did his customary stalling early on. Cobb hit a dropkick, then a huge throw, and White rolled outside. Cobb teased posting White, but Gedo made the save for White.
Cobb got Gedo in the ring, allowing White to hit a knee to the back. White took over, choking Cobb with the ring skirt, then hitting a neckbreaker off the apron to the floor.
White continued working over the neck with a chinlock, then a neck tie. Cobb hit a Samoan drop. He tried to kip up, but White pulled him back to the mat by his hair. Cobb hit a belly-to-belly, then a pop-up backdrop.
Cobb hit a gutwrench suplex, an uppercut, then a vertical suplex. Cobb hit a standing moonsault for a near fall. Cobb went for the Tour of the Islands, but White blocked it, then snapped Cobb’s neck over the top rope. White hit a DDT, then a flatliner.
White hit another flatliner, then a Saito suplex. They traded strikes. White used an eye rake, but Cobb came back with a fallaway slam. Cobb hit an impressive sidewalk slam, then placed White on the top rope. Gedo provided a distraction, and White slipped to the apron. Cobb followed up with a deadlift superplex for a great near fall.
White blocked a Tour of the Islands with elbow strikes. Cobb pushed White off into the referee, and we had our second ref bump of the night. Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles, but Cobb slammed him. White blocked another Tour of the Islands attempt, then hit a low blow.
White hit a sleeper suplex. Cobb hit a snap German. Cobb went for Tour of the Islands, but White reversed it into a Blade Runner to get his first win of the tournament.
The ref bump sucked the life out of the crowd and really hurt an otherwise good match.
B BLOCK MATCH: TETSUYA NAITO DEFEATED TOMOHIRO ISHII (19:00)
Naito controlled the early-going with strikes. Ishii came back with a powerslam, then landed a series of chops. Ishii hit a headbutt. Naito hammered Ishii’s neck with elbows, then hit an inverted atomic drop. Naito hit a one-legged dropkick.
Naito was really moving well here. He hit a flying headscissors, a dropkick to the back, then a combinacion in the corner. He teased a top rope rana, but Ishii cut him off. He teased a powerbomb out of the corner, but Naito slipped out.
Naito hit a hard shot to the neck, but Ishii no-sold it. Naito spit at Ishii, who then dropped him with a forearm. Ishii hit a series of chops and strikes in the corner. Ishii hit a back suplex for a near fall.
Ishii went for a powerbomb, but Naito countered out. Ishii missed a sliding lariat, and Naito hit an enzuigiri. Naito missed a dropkick, and Ishii hit a suplex. Naito hit a tornado DDT, into a double down. This was an awesome sequence.
Naito hit a neckbreaker off the second rope, then a top rope rana for a near fall. Naito hit a flying forearm, then hit Gloria for a near fall. Naito went for Destino, but had to settle for a suplex after Ishii fought out.
Naito hit a poison rana. He tried for Destino again, but Ishii fought it off with a lariat. Naito ducked another lariat, then hit an enzuigiri. Ishii placed Naito on the top rope, then hit an uppercut headbutt to the chin. Ishii followed up with a superplex for a two count at the 15-minute call.
Naito blocked a lariat, but Ishii hit a headbutt. Ishii hit a hard lariat, and Naito took a flip bump. Ishii got a two count. Naito slipped out of a brainbuster. Naito hit Destino, but only got a two count.
Naito went for another Destino. Ishii blocked it, but Naito hit a suplex. Ishii no-sold it, popped up, then hit a sliding lariat for a two count.
Naito blocked a brainbuster, then hit a Michinoku Driver for a near fall.
The participants for the 29th G1 Climax tournament have been revealed.
Everyone who declared for the G1 last week got their wish, as KENTA, Jon Moxley, and Shingo Takagi were all announced. ROH’s Jeff Cobb was also announced, taking part in his first G1. New Japan’s biggest stars including IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada, Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito, NEVER Openweight Champion Tomohiro Ishii, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Kota Ibushi will all return as well.
This year’s Best of the Super Juniors winner Will Ospreay has also been confirmed. He’ll try and make history as the first person to win both tournaments.
The full list of participants is as follows:
Block A:
Kazuchika Okada
Zack Sabre Jr.
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Kota Ibushi
EVIL
SANADA
Bad Luck Fale
Lance Archer
Will Ospreay
KENTA
Block B:
Tetsuya Naito
Tomohiro Ishii
Juice Robinson
Toru Yano
Hirooki Goto
Jay White
Jeff Cobb
Shingo Takagi
Taichi
Jon Moxley
Tomorrow morning’s Kizuna Road shows will reveal the main events for each G1 card. The tournament starts on July 6 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The finals will take place on August 12 at Budokan Hall.
There were 88 matches over the course of 15 nights of action in this year’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 26 tournament. But if you’re planning on catching up or want to do a binge watch, you certainly don’t need to watch all 88.
Through my coverage for the website, I watched everything and give you my best of the best in order of when they happened (with spoilers).
Night 1: Shingo Takagi vs. SHO
The semi-main event stole the show on the first night of the tournament. SHO kicked out of Shingo’s Pumping Bomber twice, but had no answer for Last of the Dragon.
Night 4: Robbie Eagles vs. Ren Narita
Eagles and Narita faced off in Narita’s hometown of Aomori on night four. Narita had his parents in attendance, and there were signs passed out to the crowd to support him. Eagles ultimately won with his secondary finisher (Turbo Backpack) but not before the competitors had the crowd believing that a Young Lion could pull off the upset.
Night 4: Will Ospreay vs. Rocky Romero
The main event on this show was Ryusuke Taguchi vs. DOUKI. DOUKI. He had no hopes of following Romero and Ospreay who tore the house down for more than 25 minutes.
Night 8: SHO vs. Marty Scurll
SHO makes his second appearance on our list, this time with the leader of Villain Enterprises. They went on in the middle of the lineup, but had a match that would not have been out of place in the main event spot on most shows. In most tournaments, this would have been a best match candidate. Instead, they just had a great match on a great night of action.
Night 8: Will Ospreay vs. Bandido
This was everything you would expect from two of the top guys in the world. Both are on the cutting edge when it comes to innovating moves, and they delivered a state of the art performance in the semi-main event.
Night 8: Shingo Takagi vs. Dragon Lee
They had the unenviable task of following a Will Ospreay match. Still, the then-unbeaten Shingo and the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion turned in a classic performance in Korakuen Hall.
Night 9: Will Ospreay vs. Ren Narita
This was the Eagles vs. Narita match turned up to eleven. Ospreay gave Narita a lot of offense, and the crowd in Korakuen absolutely bought a backslide from Narita as a potential finish in the closing exchange.
Night 9: Shingo Takagi vs. TAKA Michinoku
TAKA’s tournament was cut short due to injury, but not before he turned in a great performance against The Dragon. They worked this as a sprint, going just over a memorable seven minutes. TAKA broke out a moonsault off the post before falling to the Last of the Dragon.
Night 9: Dragon Lee vs. Titan
It was an up-and-down tournament for Titan. He had some good matches, but also a series of forgettable ones. This one was the former as he worked with a familiar opponent who was well-equipped to work his style. After not seeing him for a couple of tours, I had forgotten, and was reminded, that Dragon Lee is one of the best guys in the business.
Night 9: Rocky Romero vs. El Phantasmo
In what was billed as Romero’s first singles main event in Korakuen Hall, the veteran created a night to remember. They nearly went the full thirty minute time limit before Romero pulled off a bracket-busting upset. Technically, there may have been better matches in the tournament. Emotionally, there may not have been.
Night 10: Robbie Eagles vs. Will Ospreay
I came into this tournament with one impression of Eagles and left with a completely different one.
For lack of a better term, I had thought that he was just a warm body that could do a 450 splash. As it turns out, he is as fundamentally sound as anyone and a spectacular worker. If you know the story of Ospreay and Eagles, and how Ospreay got him into NJPW, this probably meant more to you than if you were watching without that backstory. If you watched the last match these two had in Australia, even more so.
Night 11: Taiji Ishimori vs. Tiger Mask
The psychology of this match was excellent. Ishimori needed a win to stay alive, Tiger knew that, and threw everything he had at him. It felt as though these were two athletes trying to win a legitimate competition.
Night 12: Will Ospreay vs. DOUKI
By this point in the tournament, I had my mind made up on DOUKI and thought he was easily the weakest performer in the tournament. After his match with Ospreay, I decided that he can be carried. This was just another day at the office for Ospreay, but he probably gave DOUKI the best match of his life. Again, Ospreay stole another show in the semi-main position.
Night 13: Dragon Lee vs. Marty Scurll
Only Takagi and Ishimori were still alive in A Block by this time. Still, Dragon and Scurll put forth a great effort on the final night of their block. Scurll is very detail-oriented as evidenced by the series of intricate counters, reversals, and teases on display here. While it may not strike you at first, Scurll is also an awesome base for high flyers like Dragon.
Night 13: Shingo Takagi vs. Taiji Ishimori
Ishimori injured his neck earlier in the tournament in a match with Scurll when he landed awkwardly on a botched move. That injury played into the story of the match. Despite being clearly banged up, Ishimori kept pace with Shingo, and they had a speed vs. power battle for the right to advance to the final.
Night 15: Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi
They had to follow the debuting Jon Moxley and Juice Robinson who pulled out all the stops and did everything imaginable in their match. Still, they were more than up to the task. Ospreay knocked off The Dragon, won his second BOSJ, and finished one of the best tournament runs of all time, all while cementing his reputation as an elite big match performer.
