With the Road to Power Struggle tour coming to an end this morning, we now know which teams will be facing off in the Super Junior Tag League finals.
It will be SHO & YOH vs. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the tournament finals at Power Struggle this Sunday. Both teams won their matches today and enter the finals with 5-2 records in the Super Junior Tag League.
SHO & YOH defeated Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo this morning, while Desperado & Kanemaru defeated Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles. Ishimori & Phantasmo also finished with a 5-2 record, but SHO & YOH and Desperado & Kanemaru both hold tiebreakers over them due to defeating Ishimori & Phantasmo during the tournament.
Today’s show ended with an angle where Desperado & Kanemaru attacked SHO & YOH and laid them out ahead of the finals.
The Super Junior Tag League finals should set up an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team title match for Wrestle Kingdom 14. Ishimori & Phantasmo are the current Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
BUSHI interfered in Desperado & Kanemaru vs. Ospreay & Eagles today and spit mist into Ospreay’s eyes. Ospreay cut a post-match promo saying he accepts BUSHI’s challenge and will defend his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against BUSHI at Power Struggle.
Power Struggle is taking place at the Edion Arena in Osaka this Sunday and will air live on New Japan World at 1 a.m. Eastern time. Jay White defending the IWGP Intercontinental title against Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii challenging for KENTA’s NEVER Openweight title, Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi, and Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi have also been announced for the show.
SHO & YOH will face Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado in the Super Junior Tag League finals at Power Struggle on Sunday. Both teams sealed their positions with wins in Osaka today on the last night of the Road to Power Struggle tour.
Here are full results and match recaps from today’s show, as well as the final tournament standings:
TJP, CLARK CONNORS & YOTA TSUJI DEFEATED JUSHIN THUNDER LIGER, TIGER MASK IV & YUYA UEMURA
TJP pinned Uemura after a Detonation Kick. They only went about six minutes and the Young Lions worked most of the way.
BUSHI pinned DOUKI after a super hurricanrana off the second rope and an MX.
The focus here was on Naito vs. Taichi. Both brawled through the crowd at the opening bell. After the match, Naito hit Taichi with dozens of strikes, but Taichi no-sold all of them. Taichi teased going after Naito with a chair, but they were held apart.
Naito dropkicked the referee after the match as well.
HIROOKI GOTO, TOMOHIRO ISHII & KARL FREDERICKS DEFEATED JAY WHITE, KENTA & YUJIRO TAKAHASHI
Goto pinned Yujiro after hitting him with an ushigoroshi and a GTR. This was a good six-man. Fredericks looked awesome and everyone worked hard.
After the match, White, who had spent the bulk of the match avoiding Goto, went after him. Goto dropped White with a right hand. He went for a GTR, but Gedo jumped in and knocked out Goto with brass knuckles.
White grabbed a chair. Ishii tried to make the save for Goto, but White knocked him down with the chair, then used the weapon on Goto. KENTA jumped in and put Ishii in a rear naked choke, so the final big angle before Power Struggle saw White and KENTA standing tall.
KAZUCHIKA OKADA, YOSHI-HASHI & TOA HENARE DEFEATED KOTA IBUSHI, HIROSHI TANAHASHI & TOMOAKI HONMA
This was similar to the multi-man main event last night involving four of these same guys.
Both nights, Okada and Ibushi did a spot where Ibushi ducked a Rainmaker and Okada hit a dropkick, so look for that or a variation on that theme on January 4.
The highlight sequence here saw Henare hit a thrust kick on Honma. Ibushi then hit a knee strike to Henare. Okada hit Ibushi with a shotgun dropkick. Tanahashi hit Okada with a slingblade. YOSHI-HASHI tried a brainbuster on Tana, but Tana reversed it into a Twist and Shout.
The finish saw Honma submit to YOSHI-HASHI after a Butterfly Lock.
YOSHI-HASHI and Okada tried to cut a promo on Tana and Ibushi after the match. They will face off in a tag match on Sunday.
Okada literally dropped the mic. YOSHI-HASHI picked it up, but accidentally turned it off. Okada and YOSHI-HASHI cut a promo but no one heard it. Tanahashi and Ibushi returned to ringside. Tana picked up the mic and tested it. It worked. He then turned the mic off before cutting a promo. That was a great ad lib.
SUPER JUNIOR TAG LEAGUE MATCH: VOLADOR JR. & TITAN DEFEATED ROCKY ROMERO & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI
Romero and Volador began with a lucha sequence, ending in a stalemate. Titan and Taguchi got tags and did some comedy spots. Titan hit a dropkick, sending Taguchi to the floor. Titan tried a tope, but Taguchi jumped back inside, then hit a plancha.
Taguchi and Romero did some more comedy where they hit each other by accident, but they remained in control. Titan came back with a springboard crossbody to Taguchi, then a Pele kick on Romero.
Volador got a tag and ran wild with an enzuigiri, then a springboard dropkick on Taguchi. Volador and Titan hit a tandem top rope splash/double stomp combo for a near fall. Taguchi came back with a hip attack and an enzuigiri. Volador answered with a backstabber.
Romero and Titan tagged in. Titan tried a springboard crossbody, but Romero knocked him out of the air with a dropkick. Romero hit a swinging DDT, and Taguchi hit a Bomaye . Romero covered for a near fall.
Romero and Taguchi hit a combination Dodon/backstabber for a two count. Romero and Taguchi hit stereo hip attacks. They tried the same move again, but Titan dodged it. Volador hit a tope con giro on Taguchi. Titan used a magistral cradle on Romero for a two count.
Titan used a clutch for a great near fall. Romero used a cradle for a two count. Romero hit forever clotheslines, but Titan answered with his diving clothesline out of the ring, a swinging dropkick in the corner, and a springboard second rope double stomp for a two count.
Titan then hit a second double stomp for the pin. This was a great match. All four of these guys are fantastic, but Titan was the standout performer of this tournament.
SUPER JUNIOR TAG LEAGUE MATCH: EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY & ROBBIE EAGLES
Desperado and Kanemaru attacked before the opening bell. Ospreay and Eagles quickly came back with a crazy stereo dive that has to be seen to be believed. Suzuki-gun retaliated by turning this into a fight in the crowd. Desperado whipped Ospreay about eight rows deep into the crowd.
Back inside, Desperado used a single-leg crab on Eagles. Kanemaru tagged in, but Eagles stopped him with a kick to the leg and a cutter, into a double down.
Eagles managed a tag to Ospreay. Ospreay hit a backflip kick on Kanemaru for a two count. Kanemaru used an eye rake, then hit a dropkick. Desperado and Kanemaru tried a double team, but Eagles jumped in to even the odds. Eagles hit a suicide dive on Kanemaru, while Ospreay hit a standing shooting star press for a near fall on Desperado.
Eagles got a tag and hit a dropkick to Desperado’s leg, the usual precursor to the Ron Miller Special. Eagles got the submission hold applied, but Desperado reached the ropes. Desperado hit a spinebuster.
Desperado used Numero Dos, but Eagles reversed into a sunset flip for a two count. All four men jumped in. Everyone hit a dropkick. Kanemaru and Ospreay rolled to the floor. Desperado hit a spear. Eagles answered with Turbo Backpack.
Eagles hit a double stomp to Desperado’s leg on the apron. He followed with a 450 splash to the leg, then applied the Ron Miller Special. With the hold still applied, Ospreay hit a springboard 450 on Desperado. After a long struggle, Kanemaru made the save.
Ospreay hit Kanemaru with a wall flip kick, then a Space Flying Tiger Drop. Taichi was at the commentary desk. He pulled Ospreay’s hair, then jumped on the apron to distract the referee.
Ospreay and Eagles went for Red Wing. BUSHI ran down and spit black mist in Ospreay’s face. Kanemaru then spit whiskey in Eagles’ eyes, and Desperado used a cradle on Eagles to score the pin.
Ospreay cut a promo on BUSHI after the match. He took BUSHI’s attack as a challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. Ospreay accepted, and said the match will happen Sunday at Power Struggle.
I understand that it would be a waste of Ospreay to have him in the Junior Heavyweight Tag Team picture, but it feels like they have just scratched the surface with him and Eagles as a team.
SUPER JUNIOR TAG LEAGUE MATCH: SHO & YOH DEFEATED EL PHANTASMO & TAIJI ISHIMORI
SHO out-wrestled both Ishimori and ELP at the outset. ELP rolled outside to regroup, then used a trip from Ishimori on the floor to gain the edge on SHO. ELP clotheslined SHO over the top. SHO sold his taped-up back on landing. Ishimori then slammed SHO’s back into the post.
Back inside, ELP and Ishimori used their trademark back rakes. They continued using quick tags, working over SHO’s back, then stomping on his crotch.
Ishimori hit a sliding German. SHO came back with a vertical suplex and made his first tag to YOH over ten minutes into the match. YOH hit a dragon screw on ELP, a dragon screw on Ishimori, then a double dragon screw on both.
YOH used a figure four on ELP. After a rope break, ELP came back with kicks and an enzuigiri before tagging out. ELP and Ishimori hit stereo superkicks for a two count. Ishimori hit a codebreaker, immediately followed by an ELP moonsault for a near fall. YOH responded with a combination DDT/flatliner to both members of Bullet Club.
SHO tagged in but was immediately cut off with a superkick. Bullet Club teased a Doomsday Device, but YOH saved his partner, hitting both with superkicks. SHO and YOH hit a 3K on ELP, but Ishimori made the save.
Ishimori also ate a 3K. YOH hit a plancha to Ishimori. ELP went for a low blow, but SHO blocked it. SHO went for Shock Arrow, but his back gave out. ELP hit a low blow, then used an inside cradle for a two count.
ELP went for CRII, but SHO used an inside cradle for his own near fall.
SHO hit a lariat, then hit Shock Arrow for the pin. This was a disappointing match.
After the match, Desperado hit a Pinche Loco on SHO, while Kanemaru spit whiskey in YOH’s eyes. Suzuki-gun then brought chairs into the ring. Desperado hit a con-chair-to on SHO’s back. Desperado cut a promo mocking SHO and YOH, as well as the crowd in Osaka.
FINAL SUPER JUNIOR TAG LEAGUE STANDINGS
SHO & YOH: 10 points (5-2)
El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 10 points (5-2)
El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori: 10 points (5-2) eliminated
Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles: 8 points (4-3) eliminated
The penultimate show of the Road to Power Struggle tour took place in Aichi at the Toyohashi City General Gymnasium today.
Day 12 of the tour featured only one Super Junior Tag League bout, while a star-studded eight-man tag took the main event slot on the show.
The event took place in a large room with a high ceiling and a relatively small crowd. As a result, this was a very quiet show. Nothing seemed to have any heat.
Here are full results, match recaps, and updated Super Junior Tag League standings:
Tsuji and Honma began. Honma took some chops, but dropped Tsuji with a backdrop. Fredericks and Honma traded tags, working Tsuji over. Honma used a single-leg crab, a headbutt, then hit some chops.
Tsuji landed a dropkick and tagged Taguchi. Taguchi hit Honma and Fredericks with a series of hip attacks. Honma missed a kokeshi. Taguchi missed a kokeshi. Tsuji entered for a double-team, but Honma hit a combination DDT/downward spiral on both Tsuji and Taguchi.
Fredericks and Tsuji tagged in. Fredericks hit a dropkick, a Stinger splash, then hit an elbow drop for a near fall. Tsuji hit a dropkick to Fredericks, then hit a slam on Honma. Tsuji used a full crab on Fredericks. Honma tried to break it up, but Taguchi cut him off with a hip attack. Fredericks forced a rope break.
Fredericks and Tsuji traded forearm shots. Fredericks hit a spinebuster, then used a Liontamer for the submission win. This was not a very noteworthy opener.
SHO & YOH DEFEATED EL DESPERADO & DOUKI
Desperado and DOUKI attacked Roppongi 3K before the opening bell. Desperado used two chairs to attack SHO on the floor, and SHO sold his back. They teased a countout, but SHO made it back in.
Desperado used a full crab on SHO, but SHO forced a rope break. DOUKI tagged in and hit a double stomp to SHO’s back. Desperado exposed a turnbuckle. SHO reversed a suplex into his own suplex, and YOH got a hot tag.
YOH ran wild with flying forearms. He then hit a dragon screw on Desperado. Desperado pulled the ref into YOH’s path, then hit a right hand. DOUKI got a tag and hit a springboard DDT. He made a cover, but SHO made the save.
Desperado took the referee. DOUKI grabbed a steel pipe. YOH ducked the pipe, then SHO hit DOUKI with a spear. SHO clotheslined Desperado to the floor. YOH hit DOUKI with a superkick, then used a bridging German for a near fall.
YOH then hit a dragon suplex for the pin on DOUKI.
Desperado hit SHO and YOH with a chair after the match. He then hit a con-chair-to to SHO’s back. They’re pushing the idea that Roppongi 3K will be going into their last tournament match injured.
Liger went for a Romero Special on Ishimori, but ELP saved. ELP and Ishimori used quick tags and worked Liger over in their corner. Liger no-sold back and chest rakes from ELP. Liger used a chest rake on ELP, which ELP sold big. Liger hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
Romero got a tag and hit forever clotheslines, then hit both Ishimori and ELP with a double lariat. Romero hit a swinging DDT on ELP for a two count. Liger got a tag and hit a shotei. Romero hit a knee. Liger and Romero hit a double suplex on ELP, and Liger got a two count.
Ishimori took Romero out on the floor. Ishimori and ELP hit tandem superkicks to Liger, and ELP got a near fall. Liger hit a shotei on ELP for a two count. Ishimori took the referee. ELP hit a low blow to Liger, then used an inside cradle for the pin.
TAICHI, ZACK SABRE JR., MINORU SUZUKI & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU DEFEATED TETSUYA NAITO, SHINGO TAKAGI, SANADA & BUSHI BY DQ
This was your standard Suzuki-gun vs. LIJ brawl. Suzuki-gun used a jump start before the bell, and they brawled all over the building. Suzuki-gun used all manner of plunder, including chairs and pieces of the barricade.
SANADA was the first LIJ member to make it back to the ring. Suzuki and Sabre worked him over. SANADA came back with a dragon screw on Sabre, then hit a dropkick to Suzuki’s knees. BUSHI tagged in and hit Suzuki with an enzuigiri and a DDT.
Suzuki went for a Gotch-style piledriver on BUSHI, but BUSHI hit a backdrop. Suzuki tagged Taichi. Taichi and Kanemaru ate a double hurricanrana from BUSHI, who then managed a tag to Naito.
Naito and Taichi exchanged strikes. Naito hit an arm drag. Taichi went for a buzzsaw kick, but Naito caught it. Naito spit on Taichi. Naito shoved the referee down. Taichi grabbed the referee by the throat. None of this was a DQ.
Naito attacked Taichi with strikes as Taichi was near the ropes. The referee tried to intervene. Naito raked his eyes, then kicked him out of the ring. This was a DQ.
Everyone continued brawling after the bell. Another ref ran out. Naito raked his eyes too. Taichi hit Naito with an Axe Bomber, then choked him. Tsuji and Red Shoes jumped in to break up the fight.
Perhaps the feeling in the NJPW office is that the Naito and Taichi feud needed some steam behind it. This was an attempt to heat things up before they face off on Sunday for the de facto number one contendership for the intercontinental title. The Naito and Taichi program just does nothing for me.
KENTA, JAY WHITE & YUJIRO TAKAHASHI DEFEATED TOMOHIRO ISHII, HIROOKI GOTO & TOA HENARE
Goto attacked White in the aisle as he made his entrance. Ishii paired off with KENTA, Yujiro with Henare, and Goto with White, as they brawled around ringside.
Henare and Yujiro ended up the legal men. Bullet Club kept Henare close to their corner, then took turns working him over.
White hit Henare with a suplex for a two count. Ishii and KENTA tagged in. They traded forearm shots and powerslams, neither man selling anything. Ishii hit a German. He went for a tag to Goto, but Gedo pulled Goto off the apron. Ishii tagged Henare instead.
Henare hit a tackle. KENTA hit a running knee strike. Ishii cut KENTA off, allowing Henare to hit a tackle for a two count. Everyone else brawled to the floor, leaving KENTA and Henare alone.
Henare went for Toa Bottom. KENTA instead slapped on a triangle choke, then transitioned to Game Over, and Henare tapped.
Ishii went after KENTA after the bell, but KENTA escaped.
SUPER JUNIOR TAG LEAGUE MATCH: TJP & CLARK CONNORS DEFEATED TIGER MASK IV & YUYA UEMURA
Connors and Uemura started off. They had an intense striking battle. Connors backed Uemura into the corner, then tagged TJP. Uemura tagged Tiger. Tiger and TJP traded holds on the mat, while Connors and Uemura continued to brawl on the outside.
Back in the ring, Connors and TJP worked over Tiger. Tiger came back with kicks against Connors. Uemura tagged back in and used a chinlock on Connors. Connors hit Uemura with kicks and chops.
TJP got a tag and used a slingshot senton for a two count. TJP hit a suplex. Uemura hit a dropkick, then managed a tag to Tiger. TJP hit Tiger with a DDT, then tagged Connors. Connors hit Tiger with a DDT for a two count.
Connors hit some chops. Tiger came back with a kick. Uemura came in for a double team. He hit a vertical suplex, and Tiger covered for a near fall. Tiger used a kimura on Connors. TJP tried to save. Uemura held him off, but TJP eventually did save.
TJP and Uemura brawled on the floor. Tiger hit some spin kicks on Connors, but Connors hit a dropkick, then tagged TJP. TJP hit a springboard backfist on Tiger, then dispatched with an interfering Uemura.
TJP hit a slingshot dropkick to Tiger. He went to the top rope, but jumped off into a dropkick from Tiger. Tiger hit a Tiger Driver for a near fall.
Tiger hit a Tiger Superplex for a near fall, then immediately transitioned to an armbar. Connors broke up the hold. Uemura and Connors again fought to the floor.
TJP hit a hook kick on Tiger. Uemura made the save for Tiger, then hit a double shoulder block on Connors and TJP. Connors and TJP hit a combination blockbuster/powerbomb for a two count. That spot woke the crowd up.
Connors missed a spear and went crashing to the floor. Uemura used a full crab on TJP. Connors jumped back in and hit Uemura with chops. Uemura initially refused to give up the crab, but finally did after an uppercut.
TJP hit a spear on Uemura. He covered, but Tiger made the save. TJP went for a Detonation Kick, but Uemura used a schoolboy for a near fall. Tiger and Connors fought outside.
TJP tried a pop-up dropkick, but botched it. TJP then hit a Detonation Kick on Uemura for the pin.
They did a lot of moves, but this match really needed a ring general to keep things cohesive from a psychology standpoint.
KAZUCHIKA OKADA, WILL OSPREAY, ROBBIE EAGLES & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED KOTA IBUSHI, HIROSHI TANAHASHI, VOLADOR JR. & TITAN
Ospreay and Eagles wore Roppongi 3K’s gear. Ospreay was dressed as SHO, while Eagles was YOH.
Titan and Eagles began with some fancy mat work. Ospreay and Volador tagged in and started flying. A bunch of guys hit hurricanranas. Everyone on Tana’s team hit a plancha.
Ospreay and Eagles hit tandem kicks on Volador. Eagles used a low dropkick on Volador, then tagged YH, as Okada’s team worked over Volador in their corner. Okada tagged in and hit a slam, then a slingshot senton.
Ospreay used a chinlock on Volador. Volador came back with a hurricanrana, and Ospreay tagged YH. Volador hit an enzuigiri, then a springboard dropkick before tagging Tanahashi.
Tana hit YH with a dragon screw. Eagles and Ospreay jumped in and ate a double dragon screw. Tana hit a slam to YH, then connected with a somersault senton for a two count. Tana and YH traded slaps. YH hit an enzuigiri and a lariat, then tagged Okada.
Okada hit Tana with a back elbow. Okada teased an air raid crash, but Tana caught him with a Twist and Shout. Tana tagged Ibushi. Ibushi hit a flurry of kicks, then connected with a standing moonsault for a near fall.
Okada came back with a flapjack on Ibushi. YH entered to double up on Ibushi. YH launched Ibushi into a DDT by Okada for a two count. Okada went for a tombstone, but Ibushi blocked it. Ibushi teased lawn-darting Okada into the corner, but Okada slid out and hit a dropkick. Ibushi ducked a Rainmaker, then hit his own dropkick.
Titan and Ospreay tagged in. Titan hit a springboard crossbody. Ospreay came back with a superkick for a two count. Titan hit a superkick, then connected on a falcon arrow for a near fall.
Ospreay and Eagles hit stereo knees, then called for a 3K. Titan escaped, then hit Ospreay with a DDT. Things became chaotic here. Volador hit Eagles with a superkick. YH hit Volador with a basement dropkick. Tana hit a slingblade on YH. Okada hit Tana with a big boot. Ibushi hit Okada with a backflip kick.
Titan hit Ospreay with a clothesline and a swinging dropkick. Titan went for a double stomp, but Ospreay rolled out of the way. Eagles and Ospreay doubled up on Titan, but Volador saved for Titan. Eagles hit a suicide dive on Volador. Ospreay hit Titan with the Storm Breaker for the pin.
This main event was the highlight of an otherwise lackluster show.
SUPER JR. TAG LEAGUE STANDINGS
Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo 10 points (5-1)
Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles 8 points (4-2)
Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero 8 points (4-2)
El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru 8 points (4-2)
SHO & YOH 8 points (4-2)
Volador Jr. & Titan 6 points (3-3) [eliminated]
TJP & Clark Connors 2 points (1-5) [eliminated]
Tiger Mask IV & Yuya Uemura 0 points (0-6) [eliminated]
The Road to Power Struggle tour rolled into Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall today, the first of two straight nights in the building.
Here are full show results and tournament match recaps:
TOA HENARE DEFEATED YOTA TSUJI
Henare won with a Toa Bottom.
MINORU SUZUKI, ZACK SABRE JR., TAICHI & DOUKI DEFEATED TETSUYA NAITO, SHINGO TAKAGI, SANADA & BUSHI BY DQ
Naito got disqualified for hitting Taichi and the referee with Taichi’s microphone stand.
HIROOKI GOTO, TOMOHIRO ISHII, TOMOAKI HONMA & KARL FREDERICKS DEFEATED JAY WHITE, KENTA, YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & GEDO
Goto pinned Gedo after hitting a GTR. Goto also hit the GTR on Jay White.
SUPER JR. TAG LEAGUE MATCH: WILL OSPREAY & ROBBIE EAGLES DEFEATED TIGER MASK IV & YUYA UEMURA
Eagles and Ospreay worked over Uemura at the outset. Uemura hit a forearm shot to Eagles, and Tiger and Ospreay tagged in. Tiger hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and a series of kicks. Ospreay tried a shooting star press, but Tiger got his knees up.
Tiger teased a Tiger Suplex off the top, but Ospreay blocked. Tiger avoided Pip Pip Cheerio, but Ospreay hit a backflip kick, then tagged Eagles. Tiger took out Eagles with kicks. Uemura demanded a tag. Tiger hesitated, but tagged him in.
Uemura got a near fall off a jumping elbow. Tiger jumped in and hit Eagles with a Tiger Driver. Uemura then hit an overhead belly-to-belly for a two count. Uemura used a cradle for another two count.
Eagles tried for Turbo Backpack, but Uemura blocked, then rolled through into a single-leg crab. Ospreay broke the hold, then hit a top rope 619 on Tiger. Eagles hit a monkey flip on Uemura, while Ospreay took out Tiger with a plancha.
Eagles hit a missile dropkick to the leg, then used the Ron Miller Special for the submission victory.
After the bell, Tiger raised Uemura’s hand. This was a fun match.
SUPER JR. TAG LEAGUE MATCH: EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU DEFEATED TJP & CLARK CONNORS
Desperado scored a takedown, but TJP used a handstand to escape. TJP then used a Muta Lock and a crab. Connors tagged in and got a two count off a hip toss. Kanemaru had seen enough at that point, and jumped in for an illegal double team.
Kanemaru and Desperado turned this into a Suzuki-gun crowd brawl. Desperado used a chair on TJP’s leg. Kanemaru hit a suplex on Connors on the floor.
Kanemaru worked over Connors in the ring. Connors came back with a dropkick, then managed a tag. TJP ran wild on Kanemaru with dropkicks and a springboard crossbody. TJP avoided a satellite DDT, but Kanemaru hit a dropkick to the leg, then tagged out.
Desperado and Connors got tags. Connors used a backdrop, then went for a crab. Desperado reached the ropes before the hold could be applied.
Desperado went for Pinche Loco, but Connors reversed the attempt into a full crab. Kanemaru tried to break up the hold, but TJP cut him off, then locked him in a Cobra Twist. Desperado reached the ropes for a break.
Connors hit a spear and made a cover, but Kanemaru broke up the pin. TJP and Kanemaru fought to the floor. Connors hit a powerslam on Desperado for a two count.
TJP and Connors tried a Doomsday Device, but Kanemaru shoved TJP off the top rope. Desperado got Numero Dos applied. Connors tried to reach the ropes, but Kanemaru spit whiskey in his eyes, and Connors tapped out.
Lots of solid wrestling in this one. Another good match.
SUPER JR. TAG LEAGUE MATCH: EL PHANTASMO & TAIJI ISHIMORI DEFEATED VOLADOR JR. & TITAN
Volador and Ishimori began with a very nice sequence, trading flips and quick covers. ELP and Titan tagged in. Titan sent ELP to the floor with a headscissors. He tried a flip dive over the top to the floor, but ELP moved, and Ishimori hit a jumping knee off the apron.
Titan and Volador came right back with a great flying sequence. Volador hit a tope con giro. Titan teased one of his own, but hit a top rope Asai moonsault instead. Titan grabbed his knee on the landing, but he looked to be okay.
Back inside, Titan went for a top rope moonsault. ELP distracted Titan, allowing Ishimori to get his knees up. From there, Ishimori and ELP used their cartoonish heel tactics, including back rakes, chest rakes, crotch stomps, and going for Titan’s mask.
ELP teased a One-Winged Angel, but Titan hit him with a poison rana, then tagged Volador. Volador and Titan hit a tandem splash off the top on Ishimori. Titan hit a running dropkick, then flew through the ropes and landed on the floor. Volador hit a cannonball.
Ishimori came back with a sliding German on Titan. ELP hit a moonsault to Titan while Ishimori held Titan. ELP and Titan traded palm strikes to the chest. ELP walked along the top rope, but Volador cut him off and hit a Spanish Fly off the top. Titan made a cover on ELP for a near fall.
Titan hit a springboard leg drop to ELP for a two count, while Volador hit Ishimori with a pescado. Titan used a springboard double stomp on ELP for a near fall. Volador and Titan teased a top rope tandem move, but Ishimori pulled Volador to the floor.
ELP hit a reverse Frankensteiner off the top, then used a moonsault for a two count. Titan used an inside cradle for a near fall. ELP pulled Titan’s mask around backwards, then hit a CRII for the pin.
Volador and Titan have been spectacular this entire tournament, and that continued here.
SUPER JR. TAG LEAGUE MATCH: ROCKY ROMERO & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED SHO & YOH
YOH and Romero started off. They grappled to a stalemate, and SHO and Taguchi tagged in. Taguchi did some comedy. SHO missed a dropkick. Taguchi hit forever hip attacks. SHO dropkicked Taguchi to the floor. Taguchi missed a hip attack.
YOH made a series of covers on Romero, but Romero kicked out at one each time. YOH used a camel clutch. SHO and YOH isolated Romero in their corner and used a series of quick tags, working him over.
Romero came back with a double hurricanrana. Taguchi got a tag and ran wild with hip attacks. Taguchi hit a plancha on SHO, then used a frog splash on YOH for a two count. YOH and Taguchi traded hip attacks. YOH used a schoolboy for a two count, then tagged SHO.
SHO hit a series of kicks on Taguchi. Taguchi tried a hip attack, but SHO caught him. He tried for a deadlift German, but Taguchi rolled through into an ankle lock attempt. SHO fought it off, but Taguchi hit a hip attack, into a double down.
Romero tagged in and hit both SHO and YOH with hurricanranas. Romero hit forever clotheslines on SHO and YOH. Romero hit a standing sliced bread on SHO, and Taguchi hit him with a Bomaye. Romero covered for a two count.
Romero hit a falcon arrow into an armbar on SHO, while Taguchi used an ankle lock on YOH. SHO hit a powerbomb on Romero, breaking both holds.
SHO and Romero traded strikes. Taguchi and Romero hit tandem hip attacks on YOH. SHO jumped in and hit a series of superkicks. SHO and YOH hit Romero with stereo knees, then Taguchi with stereo superkicks. YOH hit a pescado to Taguchi. SHO hit a deadlift German on Romero and covered, but Romero kicked out.
Romero tried a springboard attack, but SHO caught him. YOH hit Romero with a jumping knee strike, into a falcon arrow by SHO for a near fall. Taguchi jumped in and ate a 3K. SHO hit a backstabber on Romero into a knee strike from YOH.
Romero fought off a 3K, then hit YOH with a rana. SHO went for a spear, but Romero hit him with a knee strike, then a rewind kick. SHO countered with a spear.
SHO hit Romero with a straightjacket piledriver, but Romero kicked out at two.
SHO went for a powerbomb. Romero rolled through for a near fall. Romero used a backslide for a near fall. SHO hit a German, then a lariat, and Romero took a flip bump.
SHO hit the Power Breaker for a two count. SHO went for a Shock Arrow, but Romero pulled SHO into an inside cradle for the pin.
The crowd was going absolutely crazy for the last few minutes of this one. A great main event with a great finish.
Here are the updated Super Junior Tag League standings:
Ahead of the tournament coming to Korakuen Hall for two straight nights, day eight of NJPW’s Super Junior Tag League took place in Gunma this morning.
There was one tournament match on the Road to Power Struggle show. Volador Jr. & Titan defeated El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru, improving their record to 3-1. Desperado & Kanemaru are now 2-2 in the tournament.
The match will be uploaded to New Japan World on VOD. The rest of the tour will air live on New Japan World.
Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo, Volador & Titan, and Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero all have 3-1 records in the Super Junior Tag League. Phantasmo & Ishimori’s one loss was against Desperado & Kanemaru, Volador & Titan’s was against Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles, and Taguchi & Romero’s was against Ishimori & Phantasmo.
The first and second place teams will face off in the Super Junior Tag League finals at Power Struggle on November 3. The finals will likely set up an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team title match for Wrestle Kingdom 14.
Ishimori & Phantasmo are the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
Here are the updated Super Junior Tag League standings:
The eight teams taking part in this year’s Super Junior Tag League have been announced.
The tournament will begin at Korakuen Hall on October 16, which is just days after Kings of Pro Wrestling. The finals will take place at Power Struggle on November 3.
The teams for the tournament are:
Tiger Mask & Yuya Uemura
Ryusuke Taguchi & Rocky Romero
Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles
SHO & YOH
Volador Jr. & Titan
TJP & Clark Connors
Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Missing from the tournament is Dragon Lee, who had been advertised previously on posters. Lee and his brother Rush were fired from CMLL last month.
Ishimori & Phantasmo are the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
The tournament matches for night one are: SHO & YOH vs. Desperado & Kanemaru, Ospreay & Eagles vs. Ishimori & Phantasmo, Taguchi & Romero vs. TJP & Connors, and Tiger Mask & Uemura vs. Volador & Titan.
