NJPW held the final Road to Castle Attack show today in Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
In the main event, El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru captured the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, defeating El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori.
To open the show, Hiromu Takahashi vacated the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and asked that BUSHI wrestle scheduled challenger El Phantasmo for the vacant title on Sunday’s Castle Attack show at Osaka-Jo Hall. After the main event, Desperado cut a promo and asked to be added to ELP vs. BUSHI, or to face the winner at the March 4 NJPW Anniversary show. ELP then laid out Desperado with a Sudden Death superkick. BUSHI would then attack ELP with a codebreaker and posed with the Jr. title belt.
After missing several shows with a knee injury, Tetsuya Naito returned to action on today’s show and wrestled in a six-man. Naito is scheduled to challenge Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship on Sunday.
Castle Attack takes place this weekend over two nights, with shows Saturday at 2 a.m. Eastern time and Sunday at midnight Eastern time.
Here are results from today’s show:
Great-O-Khan, Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb (w/Bea Priestley) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Satoshi Kojima & Yota Tsuji (8:24)
NJPW has officially confirmed a change to the card for the final show of their Road to Castle Attack tour.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori will now defend their titles against El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the main event of this Thursday’s Road to Castle Attack event. Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI were originally set to be Phantasmo & Ishimori’s challengers, but Takahashi is expected to be out of action for approximately six months due to a torn left pectoral muscle.
Takahashi had been scheduled to defend his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Phantasmo at Castle Attack night two this coming Sunday. NJPW hasn’t announced what their updated plans are for that match with Takahashi unable to compete due to injury.
Phantasmo & Ishimori won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles from Desperado & Kanemaru on the Road to The New Beginning tour this January. Desperado & Kanemaru replacing Takahashi & BUSHI in Thursday’s title match was set up by an angle where Desperado & Kanemaru laid out Phantasmo & Ishimori at Monday’s Road to Castle Attack show and vowed to become champions again. Phantasmo & Ishimori had claimed that they had no challengers with Takahashi injured.
Thursday’s Road to Castle Attack event is taking place at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. It will air live on New Japan World starting at 4 a.m. Eastern time. Here’s the full card for the show:
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori defend against El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Kota Ibushi, Yuji Nagata & Tomoaki Honma vs. Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & Shingo Takagi
Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Jay White, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano & SHO vs. EVIL, Chase Owens & Dick Togo
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Satoshi Kojima & Yota Tsuji vs. The Great O-Khan, Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb
El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori are the new IWGP Jr. Tag Team champions following tonight’s title match at Road To The New Beginning.
The duo defeated El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru in a match that featured three different referees being laid out throughout the course of the match. ELP eventually picked up the win for his team after superkicking Kanemaru. ELP’s gimmick during recent tours is scoring wins with what opponents suspect to be a loaded boot. In a backstage interview, ELP took off his boot and showed that nothing was inside.
After the match, ELP cut a promo praising his new superkick finish, calling himself an all-time great striker.
Desperado and Kanemaru had held the titles for 132 days, defeating Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI in a tournament final on September 11. The titles were previously vacated after YOH of Roppongi 3K suffered a torn ACL.
The next major NJPW show will be on January 30 with The New Beginning in Nagoya. Shingo Takagi will defend the NEVER Openweight championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi in the main event.
I love Suzuki and I love heel vs. heel brawls, but this was rough. There’s no good reason for Jado to be wrestling every night on this tour.
Suzuki and DOUKI attacked before the opening bell. DOUKI got cut off by a Jado trip from the floor as he ran the ropes. Gedo and Jado worked on DOUKI. Jado also teased going after Taichi who was on commentary.
Jado did some entertaining crowd work from the apron. He got a tag and knocked Suzuki off the apron as Bullet Club continued to dominate DOUKI. Gedo tagged in and tried to take a swing at Suzuki. Instead, Suzuki put him in an armbar over the ropes.
Suzuki didn’t get a tag but jumped in and did a hot tag anyway, and it was awesome. Suzuki shoved the referee down before hitting a big boot in the corner and a PK on Gedo. Suzuki and Jado brawled to the floor.
DOUKI used a double stomp for a near fall on Gedo. Jado hit DOUKI with a kendo stick to stop him from hitting Daybreak.
DOUKI used a Jorge Rivera special to get the pin on Gedo.
Suzuki put the ringside attendants in armbars after the match, while Jado continued jawing with Taichi.
This was the same basic match that this Bullet Club trio has worked every night of the tour to this point.
Ishii and Togo began. EVIL and Yujiro jumped in to try for an illegal triple team, but Okada and YH saved for Ishii and tripled up on Togo.
YH got a tag and worked on Togo’s left arm. Togo used an eye rake. Yujiro exposed a turnbuckle and all three CHAOS teammates got whipped into it. YH got worked over by Bullet Club.
EVIL missed a charge into the corner and ran chest-first into the exposed turnbuckle. Okada got a tag and hit EVIL with a DDT for a near fall. EVIL blocked a second DDT attempt and hit a ref-assisted mid kick.
EVIL tried a fisherman buster, but Okada blocked. EVIL got a Darkness Scorpion applied. Okada forced an immediate rope break. Yujiro got a tag and faced off with Okada. The match broke down and everyone jumped in.
Yujiro hit a lariat for a near fall. Okada blocked a Miami Shine attempt and used the Money Clip on Yujiro, who tapped out.
Will Ospreay & Great-O-Khan (w/Bea Priestley) defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima by DQ (11:52)
Kojima and Ospreay were good in this match. The finish was bad, but they so rarely do DQs that you can forgive that, particularly since this was a way to get Tenzan and Kojima some of their heat back without pinning O-Khan or Ospreay.
This was billed as Tenzan’s comeback match after he was kayfabe injured in a match against the United Empire at New Year Dash less than three weeks ago.
Tenzan and Kojima used a jumpstart attack. Tenzan and O-Khan began as the legal men and had a sloppy brawl. O-Khan used a nerve hold and stomped Tenzan down. Priestley interfered and choked Tenzan.
Ospreay tagged in and mocked Tenzan with Mongolian chops. Tenzan hit a wheel kick and tagged Kojima. Kojima hit Ospreay with machine gun chops and landed a top rope elbow for a near fall.
Ospreay missed with pip pip cheerio. Ospreay blocked a cutter. Kojima hit a DDT. Ospreay blocked a lariat and hit a rolling elbow and a vertical suplex. O-Khan got a tag and got hit with a Kojima cutter.
Tenzan tagged in and hit O-Khan with Mongolian chops and a headbutt. Tenzan hit a brainbuster for a near fall. O-Khan went for a Dominator, but Tenzan blocked. They traded Mongolian chops.
Ospreay and Kojima entered and traded strikes. Kojima blocked a hook kick and hit a cutter. Kojima and Tenzan doubled up on O-Khan. They hit the TenKoji cutter. Tenzan got the Anaconda Vice applied to O-Khan, then transitioned to a pinfall attempt, but O-Khan kicked out.
Tenzan hit a slam and teased a moonsault. Priestley hit Tenzan with a chair as he climbed to the top. Ospreay tried to use the chair. Tenzan shoved him away and began pounding on O-Khan with the chair for the DQ.
Kojima hit Ospreay with a lariat after the match. Tenzan again used the chair on O-Khan.
Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomoaki Honma, SHO & Master Wato defeated SANADA, Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI in an elimination match (24:22)
This was fun, especially after the Honma-Naito interactions in tag matches on this tour.
This was held under NJPW elimination match rules where you tag in and out and eliminations can come by pinfall, submission, DQ or being thrown over the top rope.
Tanahashi and Shingo began. They did a couple of elimination teases right away with LIJ trying to team up to dump Tana over the top rope, then Tana’s team doing the same to Shingo.
SHO and Hiromu tagged in. SHO landed a series of strikes in the corner and they teased that he would be DQed before his team calmed him down. Honma tagged in and missed a kokeshi. LIJ used quick tags in working Honma over.
Tanahashi got a hot tag and ran wild with dragon screws. Ibushi tagged in and hit SANADA with a series of kicks and a standing moonsault. Ibushi and SANADA did a series of elimination teases.
BUSHI and Wato fought in the ring, then knocked Ibushi and SANADA off the apron for a double elimination. *Ibushi & SANADA eliminated*
Wato and BUSHI fought to the apron. Wato eliminated BUSHI with a spinning backfist. *BUSHI eliminated*
Hiromu hit a sunset bomb through the middle rope to eliminate Wato. *Wato eliminated*
Hiromu and SHO had a nice exchange. Hiromu applied D. They fought to the apron. SHO eliminated Hiromu with a dropkick. *Hiromu eliminated*
Shingo and SHO squared off. SHO got hit with a pumping bomber on the apron and was eliminated. *SHO eliminated*
Tanahashi entered the match and hit a somersault senton off the second rope on Shingo. Tana blocked a lariat and hit twist and shout. Shingo hit his own twist and shout. They fought to the apron. Tana hit a dragon screw in the ropes and eliminated Shingo. *Shingo eliminated*
It was down to Honma and Tanahashi vs. Naito. Tanahashi hit a slingblade. Tana went for High Fly Flow but got crotched on the top rope and fell to the apron. Naito eliminated him with a baseball slide. *Tanahashi eliminated*
Honma hit a kokeshi on Naito. He tried a top rope kokeshi but got slammed off the top. Naito went to the top rope. Honma cut him off and hit a superplex. Honma covered for a near fall.
Honma avoided a flying forearm, hit a headbutt, then eliminated Naito with a clothesline over the top. *Naito eliminated*
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo defeated El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru to win the titles (23:07)
There were three ref bumps and three different referees in this match. If Bullet Club shenanigans aren’t your thing, you can skip this.
Kanemaru and ELP began the match. Kanemaru kept trying to rip apart ELP’s loaded boot, but failed. Desperado and Ishimori tagged in. Ishimori worked on Desperado’s arms. Ishimori and ELP traded tags and used their comedy back rakes as Desperado was cut off.
Kanemaru tagged in and hit a double back rake. He was quickly cut off and ELP attacked his neck. Ishimori got a tag and continued working on Kanemaru’s neck. Kanemaru was tied to the tree of woe. Ishimori hit him with a baseball slide. ELP and Ishimori stomped on Kanemaru’s crotch. Desperado saved and threw them to the floor.
Desperado tagged in and went after Ishimori’s left leg. He tried for Numero Dos but ELP saved. Desperado got Numero Dos applied, but Ishimori reversed into the Yes Lock. Desperado reversed back into Numero Dos. Ishimori rolled through for a cradle and a near fall.
Ishimori hit a handspring kick. Kanemaru and ELP got tags. Kanemaru hit a satellite DDT for a near fall. Kanemaru got a figure four applied and tried to take off ELP’s boot, but Ishimori saved.
ELP and Ishimori hit an electric chair codebreaker/moonsault combination for a near fall. ELP hit the ref with a superkick and the ref took a bump to the floor. Kanemaru covered ELP but there was no ref. They carried the ref to the back as Desperado hit ELP with a title belt.
Another ref ran out and Ishimori pulled him out of the ring for another ref bump. Ishimori used the titles as weapons. Kanemaru tried a whiskey bottle shot. ELP hit a low blow and hit him with a belt for a near fall. Kanemaru used an inside cradle for two.
ELP tried a superkick. Kanemaru threw the boot into the ref for another ref bump. Kanemaru hit ELP with a low blow.
A third ref came out and cleared the ring of the various weapons. Kanemaru tried the Eddie Guerrero spot with the title belt on ELP, but the ref didn’t call for a DQ. Kanemaru hit a moonsault for a near fall. Kanemaru hit a brainbuster for another two count.
Kanemaru tried Deep Impact but jumped into a low blow. The ref missed the low blow somehow. ELP then hit a superkick with the loaded boot for the pin.
Taichi jumped in the ring after the match and kept ELP and Ishimori at bay while he got Desperado and Kanemaru out of the ring.
ELP cut a promo, then Ishimori and ELP celebrated in the ring to close the show.
Hiromu Takahashi is getting an IWGP Junior Heavyweight title shot at Wrestle Kingdom 15.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori will defend his title against Takahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 15 night two. That became official when Takahashi booked his spot in the match by defeating El Phantasmo at Wrestle Kingdom 15 night one.
Takahashi vs. Phantasmo was a matchup of the 2020 Best of the Super Juniors winner and Super J-Cup winner. Takahashi defeated El Desperado in the Best of the Super Juniors finals in December.
The Super J-Cup was a one-night tournament that was held in the United States and aired in December following the conclusion of the Best of the Super Juniors. Phantasmo defeated ACH in the finals. Phantasmo also won the 2019 Super J-Cup
After Takahashi vs. Phantasmo at Wrestle Kingdom night one, it was pushed that Takahashi is going into the title match against Ishimori with a broken hand.
Takahashi lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship to Ishimori at Summer Struggle in Jingu in August. This will be Ishimori’s first title defense.
Ishimori vs. Takahashi will be the semi-main event of Wrestle Kingdom 15 night two. The show will begin at 3 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, January 5.
Here’s the updated card for Wrestle Kingdom 15 night two:
Winner of Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi from Wrestle Kingdom 15 night one defends the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Jay White
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori defends against Hiromu Takahashi
SANADA vs. EVIL
NEVER Openweight Champion Shingo Takagi defends against Jeff Cobb
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defend against Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato
KOPW 2021 four-way match: Chase Owens vs. Bad Luck Fale vs. BUSHI vs. Toru Yano
Stardom dark match: Mayu Iwatani & Tam Nakano vs. Giulia & Syuri
Stardom dark match: Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani & AZM vs. Maika, Himeka & Natsupoi
More matches have been announced for both nights of Wrestle Kingdom 15.
Following the events of the Best of the Super Junior/World Tag League finals, Hiroshi Tanahashi will now face Great-O-Khan in a special singles match on January 4. Khan destroyed both Henare and Tanahashi following a tag team match, with O-Khan focusing on Tanahashi’s knee.
World Tag League winners Tama Tonga and Tanga Loga, the Guerillas of Destiny, will face Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP Tag Team titles.
After he had won the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, Hiromu Takahashi challenged the winner of the following day’s Super J-Cup to a match. El Phantasmo defeated ACH to win the Super J-Cup back-to-back and accepted Takahashi’s challenge for January 4. Taiji Ishimori will be defending the IWGP Jr. title on January 5 against the winner.
SANADA and EVIL, meanwhile, will face each other on January 5. SANADA wildly attacked EVIL after Dick Togo choked out SANADA at ringside. The two ended up fighting all the way backstage.
Shingo Takagi and Jeff Cobb will meet for the NEVER title on January 5. Cobb pinned Shingo during the World Tag League, eliminating Shingo and SANADA from the tournament. Cobb attacked Shingo during the Budokan Hall finals show and held the NEVER title up high, indicating he was next for a title match.
Here is what is currently announced for both Wrestle Kingdom cards, which will take place on January 4 and 5 at the Tokyo Dome:
January 4:
Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles
Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Great-O-Khan
Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Guerillas of Destiny for the IWGP Tag Team titles
Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Phantasmo
January 5:
Winner of Naito-Ibushi vs. Jay White for the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles
SANADA vs. EVIL
Shingo Takagi vs. Jeff Cobb for the NEVER Openweight title
Taiji Ishimori vs. Hiromu-ELP winner for the IWGP Jr. title
The participants for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors 27 tournament have been announced
This year’s format is a dramatic change from last year’s tournament. Instead of two blocks and twenty entrants, this year there is only one block with ten wrestlers. The top two wrestlers who score the most points will meet each other in the finals.
Most of this year’s participants are NJPW regulars. Robbie Eagles, who has not appeared on a New Japan Pro Wrestling card since the COVID-19 pandemic, will make his return on this tour. Master Wato, who returned from excursion earlier this year, will make his Best of the Super Juniors debut.
The ten participants for this year’s tournament include:
Ryusuke Taguchi
Master Wato
SHO
Robbie Eagles
Hiromu Takahashi
BUSHI
El Desperado
Yoshinobu Kanemaru
DOUKI
Taiji Ishimori
The finals will take place on December 11 at Nippon Budokan.
The tournament, which usually runs in May, will instead run in conjunction with this year’s World Tag League. The original tour was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Four new champions were crowned this morning at NJPW’s Summer Struggle in Jingu event.
Tetsuya Natio once again reclaimed himself as double champion, regaining the IWGP Heavyweight title for the third time and the IWGP Intercontinental title for the sixth time. After a match full of ref bumps, interference, and back and forth action, Naito pinned EVIL with the Destino.
After the match, Naito put over Jingu Stadium, saying it’s the first time they have been back in 21 years. He thanked the fans for coming in under sweltering heat. He mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic but also said there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s overcome all of these obstacles.
Naito ended his promo with the usual roll-call, though none of the other members of Los Ingobernables de Japon came out to celebrate. The show ended with Naito doing his signature pose as fireworks went off. No one came out to challenge Naito following the match.
The IWGP Jr. title also changed hands. After 238 days, Hiromu Takahashi lost the title to Taiji Ishimori, who is now a two time champion. Hiromu went for a second time bomb for the finish, but Ishimori countered, hit an inverted bloody cross then eventually got the submission win with the crossface.
Toru Yano is the first to win the KOPW trophy, becoming the first ever provisional champion, pinning Kazuchika Okada after a low blow and a roll-up. Yano will defend the trophy under stipulation matches until the end of the year, when a champion is crowned.
Minoru Suzuki captured the NEVER title for the second time, ending Shingo Takagi’s run with the title after 210 days. Suzuki won the title after pinning Takagi with the Gotch piledriver
The next tour will start on September 3, with New Japan Road.
The top two matches for Summer Struggle in Jingu have been announced.
In a press conference held this morning, it was confirmed that IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental champion EVIL will defend both titles against Tetsuya Naito. This comes after EVIL defeated Naito at Dominion to win the titles following interference from EVIL’s new partner, Dick Togo.
Naito confronted EVIL at the end of Sengoku Lord last weekend, setting up the title match for next month.
Hiromu Takahashi will also defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship against Taiji Ishimori on this card. It was Ishimori who attacked Hiromu after losing his double title match to EVIL at Sengoku Lord. Naito eventually ran in for the save.
NJPW chairman Naoki Sugabayashi also noted that although IWGP rules say titles must be defended every six months, the period during the state of emergency won’t count against Hiromu.
Additionally, a new championhip, the KOPW 2020 title, will be determined in a fatal four-way match. Four matches will take place on August 26, with the winners advancing into this match. Competitiors fighting for the championship will name their stipulations and will allow fans to vote on the matches they would want to see.
Summer Struggle in Jingu will take place on August 29 at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo.
ROH has revealed KENTA and Taiji Ishimori’s plans for Supercard of Honor XIV.
It was announced this morning that Bullet Club’s KENTA & Ishimori will face Jeff Cobb & Dan Maff in a tag match at Supercard of Honor. This is the second match confirmed for the show, joining Marty Scurll vs. Jay White.
Cobb & Maff vs. ROH Tag Team Champions Jay Lethal & Jonathan Gresham is set for ROH’s Free Enterprise show this Sunday. If Cobb & Maff win or the match goes to a time-limit draw, Cobb & Maff will get a future shot at the ROH Tag Team titles.
KENTA is challenging Tetsuya Naito for both the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental titles in the main event of NJPW’s New Beginning in Osaka on Sunday.
Supercard of Honor XIV is taking place at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Florida on Saturday, April 4. It’s going against NXT TakeOver: Tampa during WrestleMania weekend.
El Phantasmo, Will Ospreay, Rocky Romero, Amazing Red, and Nick Aldis are among the other wrestlers who have been announced for Supercard of Honor.
Taiji Ishimori is joining his Bullet Club stablemates at Supercard of Honor XIV.
ROH announced Ishimori for Supercard of Honor XIV today. The Bullet Club’s Jay White, El Phantasmo, and KENTA have also been confirmed for the show, which is taking place at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Florida on Saturday, April 4.
Will Ospreay, Villain Enterprises (ROH World Champion PCO, Marty Scurll, Brody King & Flip Gordon), La Faccion Ingobernable (Rush, ROH Television Champion Dragon Lee, Kenny King & Amy Rose), Slex, Session Moth Martina, Jeff Cobb, and ROH Tag Team Champion Jay Lethal have also been announced for Supercard of Honor XIV.
Ishimori lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at NJPW and ROH’s G1 Supercard over WrestleMania weekend last year, with Dragon Lee defeating Ishimori and Bandido in a triple threat match. Hiromu Takahashi is the current champion.
Ishimori & Phantasmo lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles to SHO & YOH at Wrestle Kingdom 14 night two earlier this month.
Supercard of Honor XIV will go against NXT TakeOver: Tampa on April 4. The Bullet Club also has their Bullet Club Beach Party event taking place in Tampa earlier that day.
On Wednesday night, it was announced that CMLL’s Caristico and NJPW’s Ryusuke Taguchi and Taiji Ishimori will be taking part in the tournament. TJP, Dragon Lee, and SHO are the other three entrants that have been officially confirmed thus far.
There will be 16 wrestlers in the tournament. Though they’ve yet to be officially announced, Will Ospreay, El Phantasmo, and YOH have been featured on advertising for the Super J-Cup.
Jushin Thunder Liger, who NJPW has announced is the producer of the Super J-Cup, won’t be an entrant in the tournament but will be wrestling on all three nights.
The first round of the Super J-Cup will take place at the Temple Theater in Tacoma, Washington on Thursday, August 22. The tournament will continue at the San Francisco State University Student Life Event Center in San Francisco, California on Saturday, August 24. It will then conclude at Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California on Sunday, August 25.
The NJPW Kizuna Road tour rolled into Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall today.
The show saw a title change in the main event, but that was secondary to the real draw of the event — the announcement of the G1 Climax 29 field.
Here are full results and match recaps:
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YOTA TSUJI DEFEATED YUYA UEMURA
These two continue to trade wins and go to time limit draws. Their series now stands at four wins for Tsuji, three for Uemura, and 21 draws.
After an early mat wrestling sequence, Tsuji used a shoulder tackle to take over. He demonstrated his power edge until Uemura came back with a dropkick. Uemura hit a second dropkick in the corner.
They traded strikes in the center of the ring until Tsuji landed his own dropkick. Tsuji hit a powerslam, but Uemura kicked out of the ensuing cover. Tsuji went for a full crab, but Uemura turned it into a cradle for a two count.
Tsuji got the crab applied on his second attempt. Uemura battled to reach the ropes, but ultimately could not, and Tsuji got the submission. A solid opener.
Suzuki-gun used an attack before the bell to establish the early advantage. Narita made a quick comeback, landing a pescado. Kanemaru jumped Narita on the floor and hit him with a guillotine leg slice over the barricade.
While Kanemaru and DOUKI worked over Narita inside the ring, Taichi choked Ishii with a camera cable on the floor. DOUKI landed a double stomp. Narita made another comeback, hitting a knee lift and a dropkick.
Honma tagged in. He was cut off on his first kokeshi attempt, but hit one on Taichi. Honma hit a diving kokeshi on Kanemaru, and Ishii and Taichi received tags.
Taichi hit Ishii with a series of short kicks. Ishii fired up and hit a series of chops. Taichi raked the eyes, but Ishii countered with a shoulder tackle. Ishii ducked a buzzsaw, and Taichi kicked away an attempted lariat. Ishii hit a back suplex, into a double down.
Narita tagged in. Taichi blocked a belly-to-belly. DOUKI jumped in, and Narita hit him with a belly-to-belly. Narita tried for a leg lace on Taichi, but Kanemaru made the save. Taichi removed his pants. Narita used a cradle and a backslide for a pair of near falls.
Taichi hit an axe bomber for a two count, then pinned Narita with a superkick. They worked at a brisk pace, and the match was good.
RYUSUKE TAGUCHI, JUICE ROBINSON & MIKEY NICHOLLS DEFEATED TAMA TONGA, TANGA LOA & JADO
They are establishing Juice and Nicholls as future opponents for Tonga and Loa, so the booking here made sense.
Bullet Club attacked before the bell. Tonga and Loa hit Juice with some tandem offense. Tonga missed a splash into the corner, and Nicholls jumped in to aid Juice in hitting their own tandem offense.
Taguchi got a tag, but quickly found his ass being worked over. Tonga and Loa took the referee, enabling Jado to jump in and nail Taguchi with a kendo stick. Taguchi continued to sell his ass as G.O.D. worked it over with kicks and headbutts.
Jado pulled Taguchi’s tights down and threatened to use the kendo stick again, but Juice jumped in to make the save. Juice ran wild with jabs, and Nicholls hit a pescado. Taguchi continued to work the rest of the match with his tights down in the back.
Taguchi and Jado traded cradles. Taguchi used an ankle lock, and Jado tapped out. A total comedy match. The live crowd loved it.
TETSUYA NAITO, SHINGO TAKAGI, EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI DEFEATED KOTA IBUSHI, YUJI NAGATA, JUSHIN LIGER, TIGER MASK & SHOTA UMINO
BUSHI and Tiger started off. Tiger landed a series of kicks, then tagged Liger. A brawl broke out around ringside, while BUSHI used a kick to the face to gain the advantage on Liger. On the outside, Naito went after Ibushi’s eye, which was injured in their match last weekend.
EVIL and SANADA continued to work over Liger. SANADA applied the Paradise Lock over the ropes. Liger hit a backbreaker and a lariat to BUSHI, then tagged Nagata. Nagata looked great here. Naito got a tag, and Nagata absolutely went crazy on him. He hit an exploder, then used a Nagata Lock.
Ibushi got a tag and continued the work on Naito that Nagata started. Ibushi hit a missile dropkick, and a plancha. Naito came up from the floor with a bloody mouth. This interaction was mild and safe by their standards.
Umino and Shingo tagged in. Umino hit a missile dropkick and used a cross armbreaker, but Shingo rolled to the ropes for a break. Shingo sold a lot for Umino. LIJ went five-on-one against Umino. Umino’s team jumped in for the save.
The match broke down, leaving Shingo and Umino in the ring. Shingo hit a noshigami for a nearfall, then hit a Pumping Bomber to pick up the pin.
LIJ posed together in the ring after the match. Naito’s mouth was a complete mess. EVIL refused to join in the group celebration. This wasn’t so much a breakup angle as it was a reminder that G1 is coming, and it’s every man for himself.
Yujiro returned here after a long absence due to an eye injury.
Makabe worked over Yujiro and Owens. Yano got a tag and immediately untied a corner pad. He was, of course, whipped into the exposed buckle.
After a lengthy beatdown on Yano, White and Tana got tags. White hit a flatliner and a deadlift German, but Tanahashi came back with a Twist and Shout, into a double down. Makabe and Yujiro got tags. Yujiro hit a fisherman buster, then tagged Owens.
Owens hit a Final Cut for a near fall. He teased a package piledriver, but Makabe escaped and hit a lariat. Makabe went up top for a knee drop, but Yujiro cut him off.
The match broke down. Yano sent Yujiro into the exposed buckle. White sent Yano and Tana into the exposed buckle. White hit a Saito suplex on Tana.
The finish saw Owens use a schoolboy on Makabe. He held the tights and got the upset.
MINORU SUZUKI, LANCE ARCHER & ZACK SABRE JR. DEFEATED KAZUCHIKA OKADA, YOSHI-HASHI & TOA HENARE
They had to establish a lot in a short period of time with the booking of this match.
YOSHI-HASHI is challenging for Sabre’s RPW British Heavyweight title on June 29, so the focus was put on them at the outset. They also started a storyline that Suzuki has become unhinged after being left out of the G1. For good measure, they also tried to get over the iron claw as a submission hold for Archer.
YH held his own early on. He landed a big chop. Sabre had enough at that point, got a takedown, and went to work on YH’s legs. He dropped him leg-first over the barricade. Suzuki, meanwhile, went after Okada with a chair. They put over on commentary that Suzuki was upset at being left out of the G1 and was taking it out on the champ.
Okada got the hot tag, and Suzuki tagged in as well. Okada hit a back elbow and used a DDT for a nearfall. Okada hit a slam and started to climb to the top for an elbow. Suzuki no-sold the slam, then attacked Okada from behind.
Suzuki shoved the referee down, then hit Okada with a PK. They exchanged forearm strikes. Suzuki stayed up, while Okada collapsed to the mat. Suzuki applied a kimura, but Okada rolled to the ropes. Suzuki threw Red Shoes out of the ring and maintained the kimura.
Suzuki held Okada in the kimura in the ropes forever, but the ref didn’t call for a DQ. Archer didn’t want to get disqualified, so he tagged himself in. Okada hit him with a dropkick, then dropkicked Suzuki off the apron, before tagging Henare.
The match broke down. Suzuki held Okada in a rear naked choke, while Sabre tied YH up. Archer hit the Blackout on Henare. He made a cover, but pulled Henare up after a two count. Archer then used the iron claw to submit Henare.
Suzuki cut a promo after the match. He demanded to be put in the G1 field. He said the people want to see him in the G1, and he demanded that New Japan give him a match to win his way into the field.
IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: EL PHANTASMO & TAIJI ISHIMORI DEFEATED SHO & YOH TO WIN THE TITLES
YOH and Ishimori started off with a nice sequence. ELP tried to jump in, but he got sent outside. YOH hit a dive and came up bleeding from the neck. SHO tried to out-wrestle Ishimori, but Ishimori got the upper hand. He hit a series of chops, and he and ELP went to work on SHO.
ELP used a series of back rakes. Ishimori hit double knees in the corner. ELP tied SHO to the tree of woe. SHO managed to escape. He landed a suplex to Ishimori, then tagged YOH. YOH hit a dragon screw. He teased a second, but Ishimori jumped in illegally, cutting him off.
ELP and Ishimori worked YOH over in their half of the ring. Ishimori hit a sliding German. YOH tried to tag SHO, but Ishimori pulled him from the apron, and the extended beatdown on YOH continued.
YOH hit a double dropkick, then suplexed Ishimori. SHO got a hot tag. He hit a series of lariats, then a double spear. Ishimori rolled through on a suplex attempt. He tried to hit a foot stomp, but the timing was off. Ishimori hit a handspring kick. Ishimori blocked a right-armed lariat, but SHO connected with his left arm.
SHO hit another lariat, and Ishimori took a flip bump. SHO went for Shock Arrow, but Ishimori blocked. Ishimori teased the Bloody Cross, but SHO blocked. Ishimori hit a double stomp — and both tagged out.
They traded quick cradles. YOH hit a Final Cut for a near fall. YOH teased hitting a dragon suplex off the top, but ELP slid out and hit a powerbomb. ELP hit a splash off the top for a two count. ELP missed a moonsault, and YOH rolled into a Calf Crusher. Simultaneously, SHO used a cross armbreaker on Ishimori. ELP reached the ropes.
YOH used SHO as a launch pad to hit a back elbow in the corner. They tried for the 3K, but ELP hit a DDT. Ishimori took the referee and slid ELP his title belt. ELP hit YOH with the belt, then used an airplane spin for a nearfall.
ELP tried for the CR2, but SHO made the save. SHO and YOH hit a tandem facebuster, then followed with the 3K. YOH covered, but Ishimori jumped in at the last second to make the save.
SHO hit a jumping knee on Ishimori, then hit a flip dive through the second rope to the floor. YOH hit a bridging German on ELP for a near fall.
SHO hit a backstabber. Ishimori jumped in and threw SHO into the referee. ELP hit a low blow on SHO. Ishimori hit a lungblower on YOH. ELP then used the CR2 on YOH. He got the pin — and the titles.
ELP and Ishimori continued to attack after the bell. Taguchi ran in for the save. ELP promised to win the NEVER Six-Man titles from Taguchi tomorrow, then to beat him again later in the tour to retain the British Cruiserweight belt.
Taguchi grabbed the mic and called SHO and YOH back to the ring to close the show with a promo.
Everyone gave a great effort, but the crowd was quiet for a Korakuen main event.
The twenty sixth Best of the Super Juniors tournament begins this morning in Miyagi, featuring A Block action.
A rematch from Wrestling Dontaku will take place in the main event. Dragon Lee successfully defeated Taiji Ishimori, and naturally Ishimori is looking to settle the score this morning. A win here could be a good omen for either man as they begin to enter their way into the tournament.
Other A Block matches taking place include SHO vs. Shingo Takagi (who feuded with one another during the last tour), Marty Scurll vs. Jonathan Gresham, Titan vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Tiger Mask vs. Taka Michinoku.
Bandido will also be making his official debut for the promotion in the undercards as he will team with Rocky Romero and Yuya Uemura to take on the Bullet Club contingent of Jado, Robbie Eagles and El Phantasmo. DOUKI will also be making his debut, teaming with Taichi to take on Ren Narita and Yota Tsuji.
Join us for live play-by-play starting at 5:30 a.m.
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TAICHI & DOUKI DEFEATED REN NARITA & YOTA TSUJI
This was all about introducing Douki. Taichi and Tsuji started. Taichi worked over Tsuji with kicks. Tsuji got sent to the floor, where Douki nailed him with a chair.
The finish saw Douki hit a Suplex de Luna, a wheelbarrow dragon suplex into a bridge, for the pin. Douki didn’t show much, but we will get a chance to see what he can do tomorrow against Narita.
Bandido and Phantasmo began with a hot sequence. Rocky and Eagles were in next. Jado used a kendo stick to cut Rocky off, and Bullet Club went to work. They tied Rocky to the tree of woe, and took turns working him over.
Bandido got a hot tag, and connected with a tornado crossbody off the top. Uemura and Eagles faced off, and Uemura hit a double underhook belly-to-belly.
The match broke down, still leaving Eagles and Uemura the legal men. Eagles hit a Backpack Stunner and picked up the victory.
JUICE ROBINSON & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED YOH & SHOTA UMINO
Juice and Taguchi did a lot of comedy for the first two-thirds of the match. Things took a more serious turn later, and Taguchi and YOH had a nice sequence. YOH hit a falcon arrow for a nearfall. Taguchi got an ankle lock, but Umino broke it up.
Umino and Juice faced off, while Taguchi and YOH fought on the floor. Umino hit a back elbow, and used a cross armbreaker, but Taguchi made the save. Juice used a high angle crab. After a fight, Umino finally tapped out.
TETSUYA NAITO & BUSHI DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY & TOA HENARE
Ospreay has really toned down his style. He’s still an excellent wrestler, but he doesn’t fly nearly as much as he used to. That’s not a complaint.
He started off here with BUSHI. They had a nice exchange, and both tagged out. Naito and Henare got tags, and Naito had fun toying with Henare. Henare hit a Samoan Drop, and both made tags.
Ospreay hit a 619, and then a backflip kick. He connected with a standing shooting star press for a nearfall. He went for Storm Breaker, but BUSHI slipped out. Ospreay teased an Oscutter, but BUSHI hit a neckbreaker.
Naito and Henare got tags. Ospreay on the apron with a DDT. Naito hit Destino, and pinned Henare.
A BLOCK MATCH: TIGER MASK DEFEATED TAKA MICHINOKU
This was good, all things considered. They played off the knee injury that Tiger suffered at the end of the last tour. TAKA immediately went after the right knee, using holds and kicks.
Tiger got a couple of hope spots. He threw kicks with both legs, making it clear that he is mostly selling when it comes to the severity of his injury.
TAKA used a figure four, but Tiger reached the ropes. Tiger used a tombstone for a nearfall, then applied a cross armbreaker. TAKA reached the ropes. Back on their feet, Tiger threw some kicks. TAKA ducked another kick, then used the Just Facelock, but Tiger made it to the ropes.
TAKA hit a springboard wheel kick. He tied Tiger up in a submission, but Tiger again reached the ropes. They went into their nearfalls at the ten minute mark. Tiger hit a Tiger Driver for a two count, and a Tiger Suplex for another. Tiger then hit a Tiger Suplex into a bridge, and got the pin.
A BLOCK MATCH: TITAN DEFEATED YOSHINOBU KANEMARU
Kanemaru used an attack before the opening bell to take the early edge. Kanemaru went for Titan’s mask, and loosened it. Titan made a brief comeback, hitting a dive to the floor, then a headscissors. Kanemaru fired right back, hitting a DDT on the floor.
Kanemaru used a camel clutch, then a headscissors on the mat, grounding Titan. Titan almost hurt himself badly on a charge into the corner, as he slipped between the ropes and went to the floor. He followed up with a beautiful tope con hilo.
Kanemaru went to the top for Deep Impact. Titan cut him off, but Kanemaru was still able to connect, and got a nearfall. Kanemaru hit a tilt-a-whirl DDT, into a double down at the ten minute mark.
Titan ducked whiskey mist, then hit a super kick. He hit Titanics, and pinned Kanemaru. Nice effort from these guys.
A BLOCK MATCH: MARTY SCURLL DEFEATED JONATHAN GRESHAM
They began with a great leapfrog/drop down/dropkick sequence. The pace slowed as Scurll used a Romero Special. They spent several minutes trading holds on the mat. There was some good grappling here.
Scurll hit a 619, then a superplex. They traded pinfall attempts with rolling cradles. Gresham hit a quebrada, then rolled through into an ankle lock. Gresham used a deadlift German. He used a backslide, and a magistral cradle for nearfalls.
Scurll stomped on the hand, then did his finger break spot. Scurll rolled into a cradle, then slipped to the chicken wing. Gresham escaped the hold, but Scurll followed with a big lariat, and Black Plague for the pin. A different kind of match, but very good.
A BLOCK MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED SHO
SHO came out to new entrance music, and has changed his look up a bit. He has new gear and dyed his hair black.
They locked up. SHO broke cleanly as Shingo reached the ropes. The crowd was buzzing, just waiting to explode. They traded shoulder tackles, and somewhat surprisingly, SHO scored the first knockdown.
SHO hit a dropkick. Shingo no-sold two kicks, then caught a third. Shingo swung his arm for a clothesline, but SHO caught it and used a Fujiwara armbar. Shingo rolled outside, and SHO hit a kick from the apron. He teased a German on the apron, but Shingo slipped out. They popped back inside, and Shingo hit a clothesline.
Shingo hit a clothesline, and SHO spilled to the floor. Shingo posted SHO’s arm. Back inside, Shingo hit a gutbuster, followed by a DDT. Shingo hit a Dragon Spirit, which is a falling back elbow off the top.
They traded chops. Shingo got a knockdown off a double sledge to the chest. Shingo blocked a spear. SHO hit a vertical suplex. They made the ten minute call, and this match was just flying by.
SHO used a backstabber and an armbar, but Shingo reached the bottom rope. SHO tried to attack the right arm, Shingo’s Pumping Bomber arm. Shingo hit a big jab and a lariat. SHO teased a suplex to the floor, but Shingo turned it into a deadlift superplex for a nearfall.
They had an intense striking battle. They traded suplexes. They dropped each other to a knee simultaneously with clotheslines. SHO hit a jumping knee strike, blocked a lariat, and hit his own lariat.
SHO hit a Pumping Bomber, then three rolling deadlift Germans. He bridged on the third, but Shingo kicked out. SHO hit a lungblower for an awesome nearfall. Shingo backdropped out of a Shock Arrow attempt.
Shingo hit a German, and followed with a Pumping Bomber for a two count. SHO hit a knee strike, but Shingo followed with a Noshagami. Shingo hit another Pumping Bomber, but SHO kicked out.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon, but SHO turned it into a kimura. SHO transitioned to an armbar, then a triangle choke. He slipped back to an armbar, but Shingo reached the ropes.
SHO hit a series of kicks to the right arm, so Shingo hit a clothesline with his left arm. They traded strikes. Shingo hit a big right hand, and another Pumping Bomber. SHO kicked out.
Shingo connected with Last of the Dragon, and got the pin. An unreal match. I don’t know how anything in the rest of the tournament can follow this.
A BLOCK MATCH: TAIJI ISHIMORI DEFEATED DRAGON LEE
A good match, but they couldn’t follow the semi-main. It felt as though they were out there trying to figure out a way to get the crowd. They tried brawling, they tried slowing the pace, they tried quickening the pace, and nothing quite worked.
This is the second time these two have main evented in the last ten days. I’m sure they wanted to do a different match for that reason. And so, they started off brawling. They exchanged forearm strikes for a long time. Ishimori sent Lee outside with a dropkick, then hit a pescado.
Back inside, Ishimori went for Lee’s mask. He tied him to the tree of woe, then hit a dropkick. Ishimori worked a chinlock. Lee escaped and hit the ropes, but Ishimori went back to the chinlock. Lee forced a rope break.
Lee hit a suicide dive. They teased a countout, but Ishimori made it back inside at 18. Ishimori hit a handspring kick, then applied La Mistica. Lee reached the bottom rope, then rolled to the floor. Ishimori teased a moonsault off the post, but Lee cut him off, and hit a dropkick on the apron.
They stood on the apron, trading strikes. They got back inside, and continued to trade. Twice Lee hit snap German suplexes, and twice Ishimori landed on his feet. Ishimori hit a Canadian Destroyer at the fifteen minute mark.
Lee hit a DVD into the turnbuckle pad, then hit a double stomp for a nearfall. Lee went for Desnucadora, but Ishimori turned it into a crucifix bomb for a two count. They traded poison ranas. Ishimori connected with a double knee gutbuster for a nearfall, then hit the Bloody Cross for the pin.
After a number of Road To shows, we’re finally at the first of two Wrestling Dontaku shows that will be held this weekend in Fukuoka.
This morning’s show is headlined by a big IWGP Junior Heavyweight title match, as Dragon Lee will make his first defense against Taiji Ishimori. The challenger lost the championship last month at the G1 Supercard inside Madison Square Garden, but was never pinned.
The NEVER Openweight Championship will also be on the line as Jeff Cobb will defend the title against Taichi. A special tag team match will also take place, as Tomohiro Ishii & Kazuchika Okada will team up to take on EVIL & SANADA, a preview for Saturday morning as Ishii/EVIL and Okada/SANADA will square off in singles action.
As usual, the rest of the undercard features tag team matches. Kota Ibushi and Tetsuya Naito will be on opposite sides for a six-man tag team match as they are soon to square off in a rematch of their own.
Join us this morning starting at 5 a.m. ET. There will be English commentary.
This was the Tsuji show early on. He dispatched Narita, then called for Umino to enter. Tsuji hit a dropkick to Umino. Umino hit a back elbow and a dropkick of his own, and the tide turned.
Umino, Honma and Narita took their time, working over Tsuji. Tsujit finally hit a backdrop, and tagged Henare. Henare ran wild, and cleared the ring. He hit a delayed vertical suplex on Umino, and got a two count.
Umino hit a dropkick, and Narita and Uemura got tags. Uemura cleared the apron, and his team tripled up on Narita. Uemura used a Fujiwara armbar, but Narita reached the ropes. Uemura used a double underhook suplex. He made a cover, but Umino saved Narita.
Uemura hit the ropes, but ran right into a bridging belly-to-belly from Narita for the finish. Good opener.
MINORU SUZUKI, TAKA MICHINOKU, EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU DEFEATED JUSHIN LIGER, RYUSUKE TAGUCHI, TIGER MASK & YOSHI-HASHI (9:57)
A fun, chaotic tag here.
Suzuki-gun attacked before the bell. They did some comedy involving Taguchi’s rugby helmet. Suzuki went after Taguchi, applying an armbar over the ropes, then using a chair on the outside.
Taguchi hit a hip attack, then tagged Liger. Liger went after Suzuki with strikes. Suzuki targeted the right arm of Liger, using an armbar. Suzuki refused to break the hold. They teased a DQ. Liger made a comeback, hitting strikes with his left arm.
Liger and Suzuki continued to trade strikes. Suzuki hit a knee lift, into a double down. Tiger and TAKA got tags. Suzuki-gun cut Tiger off, and hit stereo knees to the head. TAKA covered, but Taguchi and Liger made the save.
Tiger hit a Tiger Bomb for a nearfall. TAKA hit a Michinoku Driver for the pin.
After the bell, Suzuki went after Liger on the floor. They both grabbed chairs, and live to fight another day. Tiger was favoring his right leg in the post-match. He limped out of the ring under his own power.
WILL OSPREAY, TOGI MAKABE & TORU YANO DEFEATED TAMA TONGA, TANGA LOA & HIKULEO (7:25)
Yano started off with Tonga and Loa, and they did some comedy. Yano exposed a turnbuckle, and promptly got sent into it. Makabe tagged in and evened the playing field.
Ospreay and Hikuleo got tags, and Ospreay looked great here. Jado used a kendo stick shot from the floor, allowing Hikuleo to get the upper hand on Ospreay.
Ospreay went for an Oscutter, but Hikuleo blocked it. Hikuleo hit a lariat, and got a nearfall. Ospreay made his own comeback and used a rollup for a nearfall.
Ospreay hit an Oscutter on his second attempt, and got the pin. Ospreay made it a good match, as it was just kind of there until he tagged in.
This was excellent. After the match, Ibushi asked Naito to pick the time and place for their IC title match. Naito teased doing the match tomorrow, but then walked it back. He’s going to continue to make Ibushi wait.
YOH and BUSHI started off. YOH and SHO used some tandem offense. Shingo jumped in, but SHO sent him to the floor. YOH tagged Ibushi. Ibushi went for a standing moonsault, but BUSHI got his knees up. Naito jumped in and hit a one-legged dropkick. Naito then got a tag, and used a wacky double-legged submission hold to wear down Ibushi.
Shingo tagged in, and continued working on Ibushi. He got a shot in on SHO on the apron, then hit Ibushi with a senton. Naito tagged back in and hit the combinacion cabron. Naito caught a kick and spit on Ibushi, who countered with a double stomp to the chest.
SHO and Shingo got tags, and exchanged stiff strikes to the chest. SHO ducked a lariat and hit a spear. Shingo fired back with clotheslines. SHO hit a vertical suplex for a two count. They continued to exchange hard clotheslines.
YOH tagged in. He hit an enziguri and a falcon arrow for a nearfall. He teased a dragon suplex, but Shingo avoided it. SHO jumped in and 3K hit stereo knees. They called for the 3K, but Shingo blocked it, and hit a double suplex.
Shingo was able to tag BUSHI. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick and a DDT. YOH hit a dragon screw, and both looked to tag out. YOH reached his corner first, and Ibushi ran wild. He hit a powerslam and a moonsault. He got in a shot on Naito as well.
The match broke down. SHO took out Shingo on the floor with a knee strike. YOH hit a pescado to Naito. In the ring, Ibushi hit a Bomaye, followed by a Kamigoye for the pin.
JUICE ROBINSON, HIROOKI GOTO & MIKEY NICHOLLS DEFEATED JAY WHITE, CHASE OWENS & BAD LUCK FALE (11:23)
Goto, Nicholls and Juice took an early advantage, but they were thwarted when attempting stereo planchas. Bullet Club took over. Each took a turn working over Nicholls, who finally made a tag to Goto.
Goto hit a wheel kick in the corner, and used a Thesz press. White hit a Saito suplex, allowing him to tag Owens. Owens hit a series of strikes, but Goto cut him off with a vertical suplex.
Juice tagged in and ran wild on Owens. He hit a senton, and a series of punches and chops in the corner. Juice hit a spinebuster, then used a crab. Fale and White jumped in for the save, then the illegal triple team.
Owens used a backbreaker for a nearfall. The match broke down, and everyone jumped in. The ring cleared, leaving Juice and Owens. Juice went for Pulp Friction, but White saved. White went for Blade Runner, but Nicholls saved.
Owens went for a package piledriver, but Juice turned it into a bridge for a nearfall. Juice hit the Left Hand of God, then hit Pulp Friction for the pin.
A video played after the match. Someone is targeting Juice. The video said Juice’s time is up on June 5, the Best of the Super Jrs. final.
EVIL & SANADA DEFEATED KAZUCHIKA OKADA & TOMOHIRO ISHII (16:52)
I think this was the best match on the tour so far. I loved this match. Please go out of your way to see it.
Okada and SANADA started off with an intricate series of counters and reversals based off their signature spots. Awesome stuff.
EVIL and Ishii tagged in. They traded chops and shoulder blocks. Ishii got the first knockdown, but EVIL got the upper hand. SANADA jumped in and raked Ishii’s eyes, allowing EVIL and SANADA to maintain their advantage.
SANADA hit a dropkick to Ishii’s knee, but Ishii countered with a powerslam. Ishii fought to make a tag, but EVIL tagged in first. Ishii fought him off with a suplex, then tagged Okada. Okada hit a back elbow, and a pescado.
Okada hit a DDT. EVIL hit a kick to the abdomen, then tagged SANADA. Okada twice fought off the paradise lock, then hit a flapjack. He used a scoop slam. He teased a top rope elbow, but SANADA hit a leapfrog dropkick, followed by a back suplex for a two count.
They did another intricate series of counters, ending with Okada hitting an air raid crash. Ishii tagged in. SANADA hit him with a springboard dropkick, then tagged EVIL. EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count.
Ishii blocked Everything is EVIL, and hit a backdrop suplex. SANADA came in for a double team, allowing EVIL to hit a clothesline for a nearfall. Ishii fought off a Magic Killer. Ishii hit a suplex on EVIL, and Okada jumped in for a dropkick on SANADA. Ishii hit a clothesline for a two count.
SANADA sent Okada into the barricade on the floor, then jumped in to help EVIL hit the Magic Killer on Ishii. EVIL used a Scorpion Deathlock. Okada tried to break it up, but SANADA put him in Skull End. Ishii fought the hold forever, and the referee called for the stoppage.
NEVER OPENWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: TAICHI DEFEATED JEFF COBB TO WIN THE TITLE (17:50)
This was better than I expected it would be.
They teased locking up, but Taichi kept stalling. He had Miho Abe check his hair. He took a stroll around the ring. Abe distracted Cobb while Taichi hit him from behind. Cobb no-sold it, then hit a dropkick. Cobb teased a dive, but Taichi used Abe as a human shield.
Kanemaru and TAKA accompanied Taichi as well, and provided a distraction, allowing Taichi to use his microphone stand to choke Cobb. Back inside, Taichi hit some kicks. Cobb went for a bearhug, but Taichi raked the eyes. Cobb put Taichi on the top rope, and hit a delayed vertical suplex from the second turnbuckle.
Cobb hit a running uppercut in the corner, followed by a Samoan drop. Cobb missed with a standing moonsault, and Taichi hit an enziguri in the corner. Taichi tried for a powerbomb, but Cobb powered out. Taichi hit a hook kick, then a buzzsaw kick for a nearfall.
Taichi removed his trousers. Cobb no-sold some kicks, and fired back with strikes. Cobb hit an overhead throw. They traded strikes, into a double down.
Taichi was up first, and went for a stretch plum. Cobb avoided it and went for Tour of the Islands, but Taichi blocked it, and hit a suplex. Taichi then applied a stretch plum. Taichi gave up the hold and went for a pinfall, but Cobb kicked out.
Cobb hit a gutwrench suplex, but maintained waist control. He hit another gutwrench, then hit a piledriver. Cobb hit a blue thunder bomb. He went for Tour of the Islands, but Taichi blocked it, and hit an enziguri.
Cobb caught a kick, hit a lariat, and followed with a standing moonsault. Cobb went for his finish again, but Taichi turned it into a rollup for a two count. Taichi hit a low blow, then used a Gedo Clutch for a nearfall.
Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick, then hit Black Mephisto for the pin, winning the title.
IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: DRAGON LEE DEFEATED TAIJI ISHIMORI TO RETAIN THE TITLE
This was everything you want in a wrestling match. Is Dragon Lee one of the ten best wrestlers in the world? One of the five best?
They started off with some mat wrestling, followed by a series of leg sweeps into a kip up. Ishimori used a flying headscissors and twisted Lee’s neck with his legs. Ishimori teased his sliding German, but Lee sent him to the floor, then hit a tope con hilo.
Back inside, Lee hit a dropkick in the corner. Lee started targeting the left leg of Ishimori, using a kneebreaker. Ishimori hit a handspring kick. He placed Lee on the top rope, and teased unmasking him. Ishimori tied Lee to the tree of woe, and hit a dropkick.
As the pace slowed, Ishimori used a chinlock. He followed up by hitting a sliding German. Lee rolled to the floor, and Ishimori hit a springboard moonsault off the post. Ishimori rolled Lee back inside for a two count.
Lee used a quick cradle for a nearfall. Ishimori hit a Woo dropkick, then double knees in the corner for a two count. Ishimori came off the ropes, but ran right into an STO for a two count. Lee hit a straightjacket suplex for a two count.
Ishimori blocked Desnucadora, and hit a crucifix bomb for a nearfall. Lee used a schoolboy for a two count, a one-armed powerbomb for another nearfall, then hit a flying rana from the apron to the floor.
Lee sent Ishimori into the barricade. Lee tried to toss Ishimori back inside, but Ishimori reversed it, and sent Lee into the barricade with an armdrag. They teased a double countout, and both made it back inside at 19.
From their knees, they exchanged forearm strikes. They traded on their feet, and Lee dropped Ishimori with a forearm. Ishimori got back to his feet, but Lee sent him back down with a kick. Lee hit a snap German, but Ishimori popped right up and hit a Canadian Destroyer. Lee no-sold it, and hit a falcon arrow, into a double down.
Lee placed Ishimori on the top rope, then hit a double stomp. He covered, but Ishimori kicked out at two. Ishimori countered Desnucadora with a rana for a nearfall. Ishimori used La Mistica, then transitioned to the Yes Lock. Lee fought for the ropes, and finally got there.
Ishimori hit a lungblower for a nearfall. They traded knee strikes. Lee hit a German, and a running knee for a nearfall. Lee followed with Desnucadora for the pin.
Lee cut a promo after the match, and said the win was for Hiromu Takahashi. He said the title is waiting for Hiromu to return.
