The next three participants have been announced for the 33rd Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
NJPW revealed on Saturday that House of Torture’s SHO and Yoshinobu Kanemaru, as well as DDT’s Daisuke Sasaki, will take part in this year’s event that begins on May 14 and runs through June 7.
SHO has amassed a 4 win, 5 loss record in the last three Best of the Super Junior tournaments he has taken part in. Meanwhile, this will be Kanemaru’s 9th BOSJ, coming up short each time.
This year’s event will mark the first time in 14 years that Sasaki has competed in NJPW, last taking part in a tournament to crown the first-ever NEVER Openweight Champion back in 2012. He also participated in that year’s Best of the Super Juniors 19. He is a six-time KO-D Champion and a three-time DDT Universal Champion.
Here are the list of participants announced so far:
NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 33 confirmed participants:
Five matches are now official for Wrestle Kingdom 20.
A four-way match featuring El Desperado, SHO, Kosei Fujita, and Taiji Ishiimori has been added to the lineup. The winner will earn a future shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, currently held by DOUKI.
The match was announced during a press conference in Tokyo on Sunday, which also confirmed Kazuchika Okada as Hiroshi Tanahashi’s opponent for Tanahashi’s retirement match.
Ishimori pinned SHO in a tag match on Saturday’s show and called out DOUKI after, upset at how DOUKI and SHO had defeated him and Robbie X in the finals of the Super Junior Tag League. DOUKI was later confronted backstage by El Desperado, who was upset that DOUKI cheated to win the title from him last month. Best of the Super Juniors winner Kosei Fujita had also confronted DOUKI backstage last week in Gifu.
DOUKI set up the challengers four-way during his backstage comments on Saturday, making sure his tag team partner SHO was part of the match as well.
“I’m done dealing with this,” DOUKI said. “You guys can run your own contenders match.“
“Desperado, Ishimori, and there was another loud punk, Fujita. Go ahead and have your contenders match, but there’s one condition from the champion, include this guy in the match (putting his hand on SHO). Don’t you think he’s the one who truly deserves to be a challenger?”
The updated lineup for the show is below:
NJPW WrestleKingdom 20 (January 4)
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita vs. IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji in a winner takes all match
Hiroshi Tanahashi retirement match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada
EVIL vs. Aaron Wolf for NEVER Openweight title
NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Saya Kamitani vs. IWGP Women’s Champion Syuri in a winner takes all match
El Desperado vs. SHO vs. Kosei Fujita vs. Taiji Ishiimori in an IWGP Junior Heavyweight number one contender match
On the road to Wrestle Kingdom, one of NJPW’s titles changed hands on Friday.
Taichi won the provisional KOPW 2023 Championship by defeating SHO at Friday’s New Japan Road event in Yamagata. SHO had held the KOPW title since winning it from Taichi at Destruction in Kobe this September.
For their rematch, SHO stacked the rules in his favor. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, a member of House of Torture with SHO, was the special guest referee. Taichi was also banned from using his signature moves in the match, and there was a stipulation where the loser would never be able to wrestle in Yamagata again.
But Taichi was able to overcome those rules, getting the victory when Red Shoes Unno counted the pin after a referee bump. Taichi also got help from his Just Five Guys stablemates to fend off House of Torture.
In a post-match promo, Taichi said he isn’t done defending the KOPW title for 2023. Taichi said he has business to settle with Kanemaru.
Kanemaru betrayed Just Five Guys and joined House of Torture at Destruction in Kobe, which caused Taichi to lose the KOPW title to SHO.
After their last title match of 2023, the KOPW title holder will be declared the official champion for this year. A new champion will be crowned at the start of 2024.
The 28th NJPW Best of the Super Juniors tournament began today in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado took on SHO in the main event, while Hiromu Takahashi faced YOH in the semi-main.
The other tournament action was comprised of El Phantasmo vs. Master Wato, Robbie Eagles vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, DOUKI vs. BUSHI, plus Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Taiji Ishimori.
Ryohei Oiwa and Yuto Nakashima faced off in the non-tournament opener.
Here are today’s results:
Ryohei Oiwa & Yuto Nakashima went to a time limit draw
Best of the Super Juniors: DOUKI defeated BUSHI
DOUKI got the upset win by pinfall with Suplex De La Luna.
Best of the Super Juniors: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Taiji Ishimori
Kanemaru stole a countout win using underhanded tactics.
Best of the Super Juniors: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Robbie Eagles
Taguchi pinned Eagles with Dodon.
Best of the Super Juniors: Master Wato defeated El Phantasmo
Wato got the upset win with a jackknife cradle.
Best of the Super Juniors: Hiromu Takahashi defeated YOH
Hiromu got a flash cradle for the pin.
Best of the Super Juniors: SHO defeated El Desperado
SHO won with a Shock Arrow after interference from Yujiro Takahashi and Dick Togo.
Bullet Club added a new member at today’s NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome event.
SHO officially joined Bullet Club’s ranks after defeating YOH by referee stoppage. After his win, EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and Dick Togo made their way to the ring and presented SHO with a Bullet Club shirt to cement his move from CHAOS to BC.
EVIL, Yujiro, Togo and SHO’s shirts all read House of Torture and featured the Bullet club logo on the left sleeve, so the House of Torture may be something of a sub-group with those four within the Bullet Club stable.
SHO turned on YOH during the Summer Struggle tour in August. SHO and YOH went winless as a team in the Super Junior Tag League this year after winning the prior three iterations of the tournament.
As Roppongi 3K, SHO and YOH captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship five times, with their most recent reign ending at Kizuna Road in June 2021.
NJPW has finalized the cards for both nights of Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome coming up this Saturday and Sunday.
In a battle of former tag team partners, SHO vs. YOH has been added to night one on September 4. The Roppongi 3K duo split up when SHO turned on YOH during the Super Junior Tag League tournament on August 16.
Also added to night one, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Robbie Eagles and Tiger Mask will team against Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI of Los Ingobernables de Japon. Eagles will defend his title against Hiromu on night two.
Added to night two, Super Junior Tag League winners El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru will face IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo. The two teams have spent the bulk of the last year trading the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag titles, with both having two reigns with the titles since September 2020.
Also added to night two, Kazuchika Okada and Tomohiro Ishii will tag against Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan. Cobb and Okada will face of in a singles match on night one.
Here are the full lineups:
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night one, Saturday, September 4, 4 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
IWGP United States Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Kota Ibushi
Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb
Provisional KOPW 2021 No DQ, I Quit match: Chase Owens (c) vs. Toru Yano
SHO vs. YOH
Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask vs. Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI
Pre-show: STARDOM exhibition match TBA
NJPW Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome night two, Sunday, September 5, 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi (c) vs. EVIL
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles (c) vs. Hiromu Takahashi
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tetsuya Naito & SANADA
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (c) vs. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
A major angle closed today’s NJPW Summer Struggle event in Korakuen Hall.
Roppongi 3K split in the midst of losing their Super Junior Tag League match to El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru when SHO turned on YOH.
The Roppongi 3K duo have been on a losing streak, now losing all four of their Super Jr. Tag League matches. The two worked as a unit for the bulk of the match, but Desperado and Kanemaru worked over YOH’s left knee. YOH missed a year of action due to a torn ACL in the knee.
SHO entered the match to perform a tandem move on Desperado. As YOH ran the ropes, his knee buckled.
From that point on, SHO gave up on the match.
Desperado put YOH in his Numero Dos stretch muffler submission hold. SHO jumped in as if to save, but then backed away and allowed Desperado to continue using the hold. YOH fought for a rope break, but then fell to Desperado’s Pinche Loco finisher.
After the bout, SHO hit YOH with his Shock Arrow cross-armed piledriver to cement the turn on his tag partner.
SHO and YOH both joined the NJPW Dojo in 2012. They were opponents and tag partners as Young Lions, eventually forming something of a permanent unit in 2014.
The duo were sent to CMLL and ROH for their international excursion in 2016 at the conclusion of the NJPW/CMLL Fantastica Mania tour. They worked as The Tempura Boyz in ROH.
They returned to the main NJPW roster in October 2017 with the Roppongi 3K name, managed by Rocky Romero. They defeated Ricochet and Ryusuke Taguchi to claim the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship at King of Pro Wrestling in their first match back in Japan.
Roppongi 3K are one of the most decorated junior heavyweight teams in NJPW history, with five IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship reigns and three Super Jr. Tag tournament wins. Only three teams have more combined days as IWGP Jr. Tag champs. Only The Young Bucks have more IWGP Jr. Tag title reigns as a unit.
Today’s NJPW Kizuna Road event at Korakuen Hall saw a title change.
Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo defeated SHO and YOH in 26:43 to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships in the main event of the show.
The finish of the match came after SHO and Ishimori brawled to the floor. With El Phantasmo and YOH the legal men, Phantasmo stomped on YOH’s foot with a loaded boot. Phantasmo then followed with his Sudden Death superkick with the loaded boot and pinned YOH to win the titles.
This marks the third reign with the IWGP Junior Tag titles for Ishimori and ELP. Their first reign also began at a Kizuna Road event in June with a win over Roppongi 3K, that coming in June 2019.
Ishimori and ELP’s second reign began with a win over El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru at a Road to the New Beginning show in January 2021. They would drop the titles back to Desperado and Kanemaru a month later at a Road to Castle Attack event in February.
Ishimori is also next in line to challenge Desperado for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. No date has been announced for that match as of yet.
SHO and YOH’s fifth IWGP Jr. Tag title reign ends after one successful defense.
Two New Japan Pro Wrestling wrestlers have tested positive for COVID-19.
NJPW released a statement on their website tonight confirming that two wrestlers have tested positive and are currently showing mild symptoms. The company did not name the two individuals. This follows yesterday’s removal of six wrestlers (Kazuchika Okada, Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, and YOH) from the second night of Wrestling Dontaku after two of the indviduals developed fevers prior to the start of the card.
Additionally, NJPW said in their statement that other wrestlers and staff who have been in contact with the two wrestlers are “currently being monitored in a controlled environment and are receiving relevant tests.”
The company also noted that all wrestlers and staff for the Road to Dontaku tour returned negative PCR tests prior to the start of the tour.
Several matches set for the second night of Wrestling Dontaku were changed as a result of the protocols. The IWGP Junior Heavyweight title match between champion El Desperado and challenger YOH was removed from the card entirely.
Six wrestlers were removed from this morning’s NJPW Wrestling Dontaku card due to COVID-19 protocols.
Kazuchika Okada, Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, and YOH were all removed from tonight’s card. New Japan Pro Wrestling wrote on their website that several matches had to be changed, including the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title match between El Desperado and YOH, which was removed from the card altogether.
The website said that one wrestler that was scheduled to appear on the show this morning had a fever, and was currently going through examination, including PCR and antibody testing. They also said that one other wrestler who has been part of the events since May 1 in Beppu is also undergoing evaluation.
NJPW’s website said the show currently taking place would continue after consulting with their medical committee. The following changes to the card have been made:
Second match: Master Wato and Hiroyoshi Tenzan will face Taiji Ishimori and Yujiro Takahashi, replacing Kazuchika Okada and SHO vs. Minoru Suzuki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Fourth match: Ryusuke Taguchi, Toru Yano, and Hiroshi Tanahashi will face Jay White, EVIL, and Dick Togo, replacing the Wato/Taguchi/Tenzan/Yano/Tanahashi vs. Togo/Ishimori/Yujiro/EVIL/Jay White bout
Fifth match: El Desperado vs. YOH for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title has been removed from tonight’s card.
NJPW has revealed the cards for their next major events, Wrestling Dontaku 2021 and Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni.
Wrestling Dontaku is a two-night event that’s being held at the Fukuoka Convention Center. Night two is taking place on Tuesday, May 4 and will be headlined by IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay defending his title against Shingo Takagi, The winner of that match will go on to defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Grand Slam at the Tokyo Dome on Saturday, May 29.
Also at Wrestling Dontaku night two, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado will put his title on the line against YOH.
Night one of Wrestling Dontaku is taking place on Monday, May 3. In the main event, Hiroshi Tanahashi will defend his NEVER Openweight Championship against Jay White. There will also be a ladder match on the Wrestling Dontaku night one card, with Tama Tonga and Taichi battling for the Iron Finger from Hell, which is a weapon that both Taichi and Tonga have feuded over in the last few months. It originally belonged to Takashi Iizuka.
Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni is being held at the Kagoshima Arena over two nights on Wednesday, April 28 and Thursday, April 29. The first night will feature Roppongi 3K (SHO & YOH) defending their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles in a rematch against former champions El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru. A pair of special tag team matches will headline the night two card, with Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi facing Aaron Henare & Jeff Cobb and Will Ospreay & The Great-O-Khan taking on Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito.
Here are the full lineups for all four events:
Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni night one (Wednesday, April 28) —
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions SHO & YOH defend against El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Toru Yano defends the KOPW 2021 Provisional title against EVIL
Will Ospreay, The Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare & Jeff Cobb vs. Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI
NJPW’s Road to Castle Attack tour continued today with the fourth consecutive night of action in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
The originally scheduled main event of Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs Kota Ibushi & Yuji Nagata did not take place due to a knee injury suffered by Naito on yesterday’s show. Instead, Naito opened the show with a promo, apologizing to the crowd and addressing Ibushi. SANADA then face Nagata in a singles match in the semi-main.
According to NJPW’s Chris Charlton, the severity of Naito’s injury is unclear, but Charlton speculated that Naito will likely still wrestle Ibushi for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship at Castle Attack in Osaka-Jo Hall on February 28.
The Road to Castle Attack tour continues this weekend with untelevised events on Friday and Saturday. The tour returns to Korakuen for broadcast events on Monday, February 22 and Thursday, February 25. Castle Attack will be a two-night event in Osaka on Saturday, February 27 at 2 a.m. Eastern time and Sunday, February 28 at midnight Eastern time.
Here are the results from today’s show:
Great-O-Khan, Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb (w/Bea Priestley) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Gabriel Kidd (11:39)
Cobb pinned Kidd after hitting a Tour of the Islands.
Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano went to a no contest with Jay White, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Chase Owens (w/Gedo & Jado) (11:41)
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship match: Hiromu Takahashi vs. SHO
Report —
Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Yota Tsuji, Yuya Uemura & Gabriel Kidd (8:01)
Suzuki vs. the Young Boys has been a highlight on a pretty lackluster Road to The New Beginning tour. That continued here as they told a good story and made the most of their eight minutes.
Uemura attacked Suzuki as he stepped through the ropes during Kaze Ni Nare. A brawl broke out. Desperado and Kidd began as the legal men and briefly got some offense. Kidd hit a senton. Tsuji hit a splash for a near fall.
Uemura and Suzuki were the focus as the match built. Suzuki gave Uemura a lot. Uemura used a crab for a near submission. Suzuki came back with a strike combo and a high angle single-leg crab for the submission.
This was very solid. I would have put Wato over, as BUSHI is pretty locked in to his spot and Wato could use the help.
Wato attacked before the bell and hit a flying mid kick. He followed with a tornillo. BUSHI sent Wato into the security fence to stop his momentum. Back in the ring, BUSHI worked on Wato’s right knee, as he has all tour. BUSHI used an STF. Wato forced a rope break.
Wato came back with a jumping knee, a back elbow and a flying mid kick. Wato missed on a springboard uppercut, then hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a two count. BUSHI hit an enzuigiri. Wato avoided a draping missile dropkick and hit a springboard uppercut.
BUSHI cut off a dive attempt and hit a hurricanrana and a tope suicida. He followed with a DDT. Wato blocked a code breaker and hit recientemente for a near fall. Wato hit a dreamcast and a TTD.
Wato went up top for the RPP. BUSHI rolled out of the way and Wato crashed to the mat. BUSHI hit a code breaker in the ropes. Wato avoided an MX. BUSHI hit a rewind kick.
BUSHI hit his new terrible (that’s not an insult, it’s the Spanish pronunciation and the name of the move) for a near fall, then hit MX for the pin.
Three matches, three pre-match attacks to begin them. The CHAOS side attacked Bullet Club. They have done a good job of heating up a feud over the NEVER 6-Man titles of all things.
Bullet Club overcame the attack and cut YH off in the ring. Bullet Club did their human centipede abdominal stretch spot. YH came back with a bunker buster on Ishimori and a heel kick to EVIL. Okada tagged in to square off with EVIL. He took out an interfering Yujiro with a flapjack.
Okada hit a DDT on EVIL for a near fall. Togo provided a distraction and EVIL gained the upper hand. Okada blocked Darkness Falls.
Ishii and White tagged in. They have been the MVPs on this tour. Yano and Goto cut off an interfering ELP and Ishimori. Ishii blocked a Blade Buster from White. White hit a German suplex. Ishii no-sold it. White hit a Blade Buster. White hit a DDT and tagged Yujiro.
Ishii blocked a fisherman buster and hit a vertical suplex. Yano tagged in and removed a corner pad. Togo jumped on the apron for a distraction. Yano removed a second corner pad, then missed a charge into an exposed turnbuckle. Yujiro whipped Yano into the other exposed buckle.
Yano and Yujiro traded inverted atomic drops. Togo hit Yano with a right hand from the apron. Everyone jumped in for a big move.
Yano sent Yujiro hit a low blow, sent into Togo on the apron, then used a schoolboy to pin Yujiro.
**********
Okada went after EVIL after the match, as he has been angling for a singles match with him.
**********
SANADA & Tetsuya Naito defeated Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma (11:02)
There have been better previews for Ibushi/SANADA on this tour, but this was still good.
Ibushi and SANADA began with a simple exchange of holds. Ibushi hit a shoulder tackle and a dropkick, then tagged Honma in with their team in the plus position. Naito tripped Honma from the floor. SANADA hit a low dropkick to Honma and the LIJ side began working on Honma.
Honma came back with his flatliner/DDT combination on both Naito and SANADA. Ibushi got a tag and sent SANADA outside for a plancha. Back in, SANADA tried a paradise lock, but Ibushi fought it off. Ibushi went for a paradise lock, but SANADA blocked.
Ibushi tried a sunset flip. SANADA used the position to lock on a paradise lock, then broke it with a dropkick. SANADA hit a magic screw. Naito and Honma got tags. Naito mocked Honma’s voice and hit a series of strikes and stomps.
Honma avoided a combinacion in the corner. Ibushi entered to double up on Naito. Ibushi hit a powerslam. Ibushi and Honma hit stereo kokeshis for a near fall. Honma missed on a Michinoku driver attempt. SANADA entered and hit a dropkick.
SANADA sent Ibushi from the apron to the floor with a dropkick. Naito hit a flying forearm and a Destino on Honma for the pin.
**********
Ibushi invited SANADA into the ring for a fist bump after the match. Naito and SANADA then did their customary LIJ fist bump.
**********
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (w/Jado) defeated Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. (w/DOUKI) by DQ (29:08)
This was an entertaining twelve minute brawl stretched out to almost thirty minutes, complete with ref bumps, run-ins and a terrible finish. The finish made sense, I’ll give it that, but I have no idea why they went as long as they did.
Tama threw a bag filled with smaller bags into the ring as he entered, teasing that the iron fingers that he stole from Taichi were in one of them. DOUKI and Jado dueled with their weapons. DOUKI dragged Jado to the back.
Kanemaru was on commentary and got one of the bags. It contained a bra. Some of the other bags contained a puppet, a ping pong paddle, a loaf of bread and a boxing glove.
The teams brawled around ringside with G.O.D. in control. They teased a double countout, but both Taichi and Tama made it in at 19. G.O.D. worked over Taichi in the ring. Tanga used a blue thunder bomb.
Sabre got his first tag just before the 11 minute mark of the match and ran wild on G.O.D., focusing on Tanga’s left arm. Tanga came back with a spear after three minutes. Tama jumped in and G.O.D. doubled up on Sabre. Sabre avoided a Magic Killer at the 15 minute call.
Sabre caught Tanga in a guillotine. Taichi used a dragon sleeper on an interfering Tama. Tanga forced a rope break. Sabre and Taichi double teamed Tanga. Sabre used a PK for a near fall. Tanga avoided a Zack Driver and hit a jackhammer into a double down at the 18 minute mark.
Taichi and Tama got tags. Taichi choked Tama and hit an axe bomber. Taichi hit a series of Kawada kicks. Tama hit a Tongan Twist at the 20 minute call. Taichi avoided two Gun Stuns and hit a backdrop suplex for a near fall.
Taichi tore his trousers off. Tanga jumped in and attacked. Sabre choked Tanga. G.O.D. hit Guerrilla Warfare on Sabre. G.O.D. hit a tandem neckbreaker on Taichi for a near fall.
Tama and Tanga called for the super powerbomb on Taichi. Taichi powered out with a vertical suplex on Tama. Sabre took out Tanga with a leg sweep. Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick on Tanga.
Dangerous Tekkers double teamed Tama. They hit Zack Mephisto. Tanga pulled the referee out of the ring before the three count.
Taichi went down after a series of simultaneous lariats with Tanga at the 25 minute call. Taichi avoided a powerslam and hit a jumping high kick.
Jado entered with the iron fingers and passed them off to Tama. DOUKI ran in and hit an enzuigiri on Tama. Tama popped up and used the iron glove on DOUKI.
Taichi blocked an iron glove shot with a kick. Taichi grabbed the fingers. Tanga cut him off. Tama got the glove back. Sabre slapped a choke on Tama. Taichi got the fingers back. The ref jumped in. Taichi shoved him down.
Jado used a kendo stick on Sabre. Taichi no-sold a kendo stick shot and used the fingers on Jado.
The ref was revived. Taichi hit an iron glove shot on Tama for the DQ.
Taichi sold as though he snapped after the match, hitting the ref with the iron glove. Taichi got his glove back, G.O.D. kept their titles.
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship match: Hiromu Takahashi defeated SHO to retain the title (35:38)
This was an epic and easily the best thing on the show. It was also the longest IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship match ever.
They traded forearms for the first several minutes, a trademark of Hiromu matches. They first traded in the ring, then down on the floor. They sent each other into the barricade. Hiromu hit a second barricade whip and briefly got the upper hand.
SHO came back with a spear and a series of stiff kicks. Hiromu launched SHO into the buckle with an overhead belly-to-belly throw. Hiromu sent SHO to the apron and teased a sunset bomb. SHO blocked with a forearm and pulled Hiromu to the apron.
Hiromu hit a thrust kick on the apron. Hiromu teased a powerbomb on the apron. SHO teased a backdrop. Hiromu worked his way to the floor and hit a powerbomb off the apron. SHO beat the count back in.
Hiromu climbed to the top rope. SHO pulled him off the top and hit a powerbomb on the apron. Hiromu beat the count back in at 19. SHO hit two rolling Germans, then went for a cross armbreaker. Hiromu kept him from getting full extension and reached the ropes at the 15 minute call.
Hiromu hit a German suplex. SHO rolled through and no-sold the landing. SHO hit a series of forearms with Hiromu in the ropes. Referee Red Shoes tried to break them up, but SHO shoved him away. Hiromu got a triangle applied over the ropes. SHO pulled him over the top and hit a powerbomb into a double down.
They traded forearms again at the 20 minute call. They traded corner clotheslines. Both hit two forearm strikes. All four times they kicked out at one. SHO dropped Hiromu with another forearm, but could not follow up and went down himself.
Hiromu blocked two lariats and rolled into D. SHO hit a powerbomb, but Hiromu kept the hold applied. SHO powered out. SHO blocked a powerbomband used a hammerlock to set up a kimura. Hiromu fought the hold for a long time before reaching the ropes.
SHO hit a power breaker for a near fall. He called for Shock Arrow. Hiromu landed on his feet and hit a headbutt as SHO tried to execute his finisher.
SHO avoided a Dynamite Plunger. Hiromu hit a superkick. Hiromu came off the ropes into a jumping knee strike from SHO. SHO again tried for Shock Arrow. Hiromu slipped to his feet again and SHO hit a headbutt. SHO hit a backstabber and two lariats. They hit four simultaneous lariats.
Hiromu took a flip bump off a lariat and landed on his neck. SHO got a two count. SHO hit Shock Arrow just past the 30 minute call. Hiromu kicked out at 2.
Hiromu slipped out of another Shock Arrow and hit a DDT on the landing. Hiromu hit a victory royal for a near fall. Hiromu hit five superkicks. SHO refused to go down. Hiromu blocked a jumping knee strike, but SHO got a triangle choke applied. Hiromu hoisted SHO up for a DVD into the corner pad.
Hiromu hit Time Bomb. SHO kicked out. Hiromu hit a lariat and Time Bomb II for the pin.
**********
ELP jumped up from commentary and got in the ring. He teased a superkick with the loaded boot. BUSHI ran in for the save. Ishimori ran in and attacked BUSHI. Hiromu saved for BUSHI.
ELP cut a promo. He said he’s tired of Hiromu carrying the Jr. title. ELP said Hiromu didn’t earn the title, it was given to him by “this bullsh*t company” and he’s not leaving Japan until he wins the title from Hiromu.
Hiromu cut a promo. He said he’ll face ELP, but only if ELP and Ishimori put the Jr. Tag titles on the line against him and BUSHI first.
Hiromu then addressed the crowd to close the show.
Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Yuya Uemura & Gabriel Kidd (7:36)
Suzuki’s interactions with Kidd and Uemura were the highlights of this match.
Taguchi and company employed a Suzuki-gun tactic and attacked before the opening bell. Taguchi did some comedy. Suzuki-gun rebounded from the attack and cut Kidd off in the ring.
Kidd tried to trade forearms with Suzuki. Suzuki actually gave Kidd a lot here, doing a subtle sell of the forearms and taking a dropkick. Uemura tagged in and peppered Suzuki with forearms and slaps. Uemura hit a dropkick in the corner and a forearm knockdown for a one count.
Suzuki tried for the Gotch-style piledriver. Uemura blocked and tried for a crab. Suzuki fought out of the crab attempt. Suzuki-gun tripled up on Uemura. Taguchi saved with hip attacks. Uemura used a back suplex for a near fall on Desperado.
Suzuki distracted the referee. Desperado hit a strike with a closed fist and Pinche Loco for the pin on Uemura.
EVIL, Jay White & Yujiro Takahashi (w/Gedo & Dick Togo) defeated Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto by DQ (5:17)
This was more of an extended angle than a match. YOSHI-HASHI was on commentary and caused the DQ.
Okada, Ishii and Goto attacked before the opening bell. Ishii and Goto went after White on the floor. EVIL sent Okada into the barricade and Abe the ring announcer took a bump.
EVIL and Okada began as the legal men. Okada teased a dropkick. EVIL hit a lariat for a near fall. Okada tried for the Money Clip. EVIL shoved Okada into the corner to break the hold. Goto tagged in and got tripped by Togo. Yujiro tagged in for a sliding dropkick on Goto.
White and Ishii jumped in illegally. Ishii suplexed White and White rolled outside. Goto hit an ushigoroshi on Yujiro. White tripped Goto from the floor.
White grabbed Ishii and pie-faced YH on commentary. YH jumped the rail and got in the ring. He hit a series of strikes on White for the DQ.
Ishii and YH chased White to the back. Okada cut a promo and challenged EVIL to a singles match right there and then. EVIL declined. Okada went out after EVIL. They ended up back in the ring. EVIL again fought out of the Money Clip.
EVIL hit his baseball swing chair shot on Okada.
Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado (9:59)
This was a bad match with a bad finish. Tama was entertaining with his comedy.
Tama brought three bags to the ring with him as this feud built on Tama stealing Taichi’s iron fingers continued. Taichi attacked Tama. The bags contained a glove, a baseball glove and a rubber chicken.
Taichi beat Tama down. DOUKI tagged in and was cut off after a trip from Jado. Jado used a kendo stick on DOUKI. Bullet Club used quick tags in working DOUKI over.
Tama teased pulling the iron fingers out of his tights. Instead, it was an elephant puppet.
There was an extended DOUKI/Jado sequence. Sabre and Tanga got tags and had the best action of the match by default. Taichi got a tag and hit Tanga wth kicks. Jado got a tag. Sabre saved for Taichi.
Tama took the ref. Jado tried to use the kendo stick again on Taichi. DOUKI saved with his pipe. DOUKI used the pipe on Jado.
This had its moments when BUSHI and Wato were in, but the Naito/Honma issue has run its course and it’s probably best for both that this tour is ending.
Wato and BUSHI began with a solid exchange, trading kicks. Honma tagged in and was cut off by LIJ. Naito and BUSHI traded tags and worked on Honma. Naito mocked Tenzan.
Honma managed a tag to Wato. Wato hit BUSHI with kicks and a nice tornillo. Naito and Honma tagged back in. Naito hit a combinacion in the corner. They traded hard slaps to the face. Wato saved for Honma as Naito looked to set up a frankensteiner.
Honma hit a diving kokeshi and a superplex. BUSHI jumped in for an LIJ double team. Naito and BUSHI hit stereo dropkicks for a two count. Wato saved.
Naito teased Destino. Honma blocked and cradled Naito for a two count. Honma hit two lariats for another near fall on Naito.
Naito blocked a Michinoku Driver attempt and hit Destino. BUSHI entered and hit a sunset flip. Naito followed with a jackknife cradle and pinned Honma.
Naito held the cradle long after the bell. Wato made the save for Honma. BUSHI sent Wato outside and hit him with a suicide dive.
Kota Ibushi & SHO went to a time limit draw with SANADA & Hiromu Takahashi (30:00)
Ibushi and SANADA started out with some crowd work. Ibushi posed on the turnbuckles. SANADA attacked from behind and knocked Ibushi over the ropes to the floor. They did a series of teases. Both teased their finishers.
They locked up. SANADA broke cleanly against the ropes. SANADA used a hammerlock. They traded waistlocks. Ibushi used a headlock takeover. SANADA used a handstand escape. Both tagged out after nearly five minutes of very good work.
Hiromu and SHO tagged in and traded strikes. They traded tackles. Hiromu teased a dive, but sat in the center of the ring instead. SHO got the upper hand on Hiromu with strikes. Ibushi tagged in and hit a series of kicks for a two count.
SHO tagged in and maintained the edge on Hiromu. Hiromu came back with a choke over the ropes. All four brawled to the floor. Hiromu and SANADA sent SHO and Ibushi into the barricade. LIJ now had the upper hand.
Hiromu hit SHO with a series of chops. SANADA tagged in and continued chopping. SANADA put SHO and an interfering Ibushi in paradise locks. SANADA and Hiromu broke the holds with dropkicks. SANADA hit a back elbow for a two count.
Hiromu tagged back in for more chops at the 15 minute call. SHO hit a kitchen sink. SANADA got a tag. SHO hit him with a vertical suplex and tagged out. Ibushi hit a running mid kick and a moonsault for a near fall. SANADA hit a dropkick to the knee.
Ibushi and SANADA rolled outside. Ibushi blocked a whip into the barricade and sent SANADA into the fence with a drop toe hold. Back in, Ibushi hit a springboard dropkick. Ibushi fought out of a Skull End attempt. SANADA hit a magic screw into a double down.
SHO and Hiromu got tags. Hiromu blocked a spear. SHO escaped a falcon arrow attempt. They traded forearm strikes at the 20 minute call. SHO hit a series of kicks. SHO hit a big mid kick for a two count. Hiromu blocked a deadlift German.
SHO blocked a hurricanrana. Hiromu fought out of a powerbomb. SHO hit a spear for a near fall. SANADA and Hiromu hit stereo dropkicks on an illegal double team. Hiromu hit a falcon arrow for a two count as Ibushi saved for SHO.
Ibushi and SANADA fought to the floor. SHO escaped a DVD attempt. SHO hit a jumping knee strike. Hiromu blocked a dragon screw. SHO blocked a sunset flip and slapped on a kimura. Hiromu broke the hold with a forearm strike at the 25 minute call.
SHO refused to go down after a thrust kick and a lariat. They traded lariats. They hit a series of simultaneous lariats into a double down. SANADA and Ibushi dragged their partners to their respective corners and tagged in.
Ibushi and SANADA traded strikes at the 27 minute mark. SANADA used an O’Connor roll to set up Skull End. Ibushi escaped and hit a high kick.
Ibushi went for the Kamigoye. SANADA blocked and used a TKO threat to set up a spinning Skull End. Ibushi popped his head out. SANADA got the hold applied again. SANADA gave up the hold with one minute left.
SANADA tried for a moonsault but landed on his feet. SHO jumped in and hit a knee strike. Hiromu hit a tackle to SHO. Ibushi hit a dropkick on Hiromu. SANADA hit a dropkick to Ibushi’s legs. SHO hit a German on SANADA. Hiromu hit SHO with a pop-up powerbomb with 30 seconds left before the time limit.
Ibushi hit a high kick to Hiromu. SANADA hit a springboard dropkick to Ibushi and got Skull End. Ibushi cradled SANADA for a two count as the time limit expired.
Ibushi and SANADA continued trading cradles after the time limit.
Bullet Club cut Tsuji off early and the bulk of the match was spent working him over. Jado used a kendo stick shot from the floor. ELP and Ishimori hit their comedy offense.
ELP hit a series of cartwheels and flips for no reason. He ultimately left the match and joined commentary.
Tiger Mask got a hot tag and cleaned house with kicks and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Ishimori blocked a Tiger Driver and hit a handspring kick. Gedo tagged in and got hit with the Tiger Driver instead.
Nagata got a tag. He hit Gedo with kicks. He teased an exploder, but Jado saved for Gedo. Jado used a kendo stick on Nagata. Gedo grabbed brass knuckles, but Tsuji speared him.
Nagata won by submission with the Nagata Lock.
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima went to a no-contest with Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan (w/Bea Priestley) (2:23)
Tenzan and Kojima came to the ring with chairs. Ospreay and O-Khan cleared out of the ring. Priestley ran in and hit low blows on Kojima and Tenzan.
Ospreay threw a table in the ring. Kojima hit Ospreay with a cutter. Kojima and Tenzan teased a cuter through the table, but O-Khan saved.
Ospreay challenged Kojima to a no-DQ match at The New Beginning in Nagoya on Saturday. Kojima appeared to accept, but the match was not officially announced.
Togo and Okada started the match. Goto tagged in and got tripped by EVIL from the floor and Bullet Club turned this into a brawl, as they proceeded to work virtually the identical match that they have every night of this tour.
Goto got cut off and worked over in the ring. Yujiro exposed a buckle, tagged in, then threw Goto into the buckle. Goto came back on EVIL with a whip into the buckle and a Saito suplex.
Okada tagged in and hit EVIL with strikes and a running back elbow. Okada hit an air raid crash neckbreaker for a near fall.
Okada went for the Money Clip, but Togo jumped on the apron for a distraction. EVIL hit a mid kick and used a Darkness Scorpion, but Okada forced a rope break.
Yujiro got a tag. Ishii tagged in and ran wild on Yujiro and Togo. Bullet Club jumped in to aid Yujiro. EVIL hit a fisherman buster. Yujiro hit a sliding dropkick for a two count.
Yujiro brought his pimp cane in while EVIL took the referee. Ishii ducked the cane, but Yujiro hit an Angle slam for a near fall. Ishii blocked Pimp Juice. Goto choked Yujiro from the apron. Okada nailed EVIL and Togo. Goto hit an ushigoroshi on Yujiro.
Ishii then connected with a sliding lariat and the vertical drop brainbuster for the pin.
Naito took his time getting to the ring. He has been working for his own amusement on this tour.
Honma and Wato attacked just before the bell. Naito used a jackknife cover to try to steal a pin on Honma, the same hold he pinned him with yesterday, but Honma kicked out.
Wato and BUSHI got tags. Wato hit a series of kicks. Honma tagged in and began to work on BUSHI. BUSHI and Naito doubled up on Honma, then turned this into a brawl around ringside. Honma ended up being worked over in the LIJ corner.
Honma came back on Naito with a vertical suplex. Wato and BUSHI got tags and the pace quickened. Wato hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. BUSHI hit a dropkick to the leg and started working on Wato’s right knee. They traded strikes. Wato ducked a rewind kick and hit a high kick.
Honma tagged in and hit some chops. Honma missed a kokeshi. BUSHI tagged Naito. Naito hit a back elbow, a dropkick and a neckbreaker for a two count. Honma ducked a swing and hit a kokeshi. Honma and Wato doubled up on Naito. Honma hit a diving kokeshi for two as BUSHI saved.
Wato and BUSHI brawled to the floor. Honma hit a DDT and a lariat for a near fall. Honma teased a Michinoku Driver. Naito escaped. BUSHI jumped in. Wato caught Honma with a kick by mistake.
BUSHI hit a backstabber to Honma, then Naito used the jackknife cradle for the pin.
Naito held the cradle for more than a minute after the three count, adding insult to injury. Wato and BUSHI had a quick pull-apart after the match.
Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & SHO vs. SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi ended in a time limit draw (30:00)
This was a really good main event and easily the best thing on the show.
Tanahashi and Shingo started with a quick chain wrestling sequence. SHO and Hiromu tagged in and had a brief, intense battle. SANADA and Ibushi got tags and slowed things down. They worked some holds. SANADA teased a dragon screw. Ibushi hit a dropkick and gave his team the edge at the 5 minute call.
Tana tagged in and hit SANADA with a slam and an elbow drop. Tanahashi got a cobra twist applied. SHO tagged in and went after SANADA’s left arm. LIJ jumped in to save SANADA. After a brief brawl on the outside, SHO ended up cut off in the ring.
Hiromu hit a dropkick for a two count. Shingo tagged in and stomped at SHO’s left leg. Shingo teased a cloverleaf to SHO to taunt Tana. Shingo went after Tana on the apron. SANADA tagged in and used the paradise lock.
SHO hit a backstabber to Hiromu and a kitchen sink to SANADA. Tana tagged in and hit a dragon screw and somersault senton for a two count. Ibushi tagged in and hit a running mid kick and a standing moonsault. SANADA came back with a hurricanrana and a plancha for a near fall at the 15 minute call.
SANADA used an O’Connor roll to set up a Skull End attempt. Ibushi escaped and hit a dropkick. SHO got a tag and got hit with a back suplex. Hiromu tagged in for a sequence with SHO. SHO hit a series of kicks and got a two count.
SHO hit a vertical suplex. LIJ tripled up on SHO. Hiromu hit a Dynamite Plunger. Tana saved for SHO. Hiromu blocked a SHO spear. SHO hit a German suplex and a spear. SHO went for Shock Arrow, but Shingo and SANADA saved. Hiromu escaped another Shock Arrow attempt at the 20 minute call.
Hiromu and SHO traded strikes. SHO got a kimura applied. Hiromu rolled through and hit a DVD into the turnbuckle pad. SHO avoided Time Bomb. They traded lariats. Hiromu hit a belly-to-belly throw into the buckle.
Shingo and Tanahashi got tags and traded strikes. They continued to trade at the 25 minute call. Shingo blocked a slingblade. Tana hit twist and shout. Shingo blocked another slingblade and hit his own twist and shout. Shingo escaped a dragon screw and hit a sliding lariat.
Shingo hit a dragon screw. Shingo used a powerbomb and a single-leg crab. Ibushi saved. Ibushi and SANADA brawled to the floor. Tana hit two dragon screws and locked on a cloverleaf. Hiromu broke it up.
Shingo blocked another slingblade. Tana hit slingblade for a two count. Tana hit Ace’s High. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick to Tana. SHO hit a jumping knee to Hiromu. SANADA hit SHO with a dropkick to the knee. Ibushi hit a springboard dropkick to SANADA. Shingo hit a German on Ibushi.
Shingo and Tanahashi traded strikes. Tana hit a slingblade. Shingo hit a lariat for a near fall as Tanahashi kicked out at the 30 minute call.
All six guys were down in the ring at the finish.
Tanahashi and Shingo cut promos on each other after the match.
