The full cards for both nights of Wrestle Kingdom 14 have been released.
Based off of last night’s World Tag League finals, additional matches have been added to both cards. Lance Archer vs. Jon Moxley in a Texas deathmatch for the IWGP United States title has now been confirmed for January 4 following last night’s angle, where Moxley laid out Archer and challenged him to a match.
A pair of eight man tag team matches were also added to the January 4 card, featuring CHAOS vs. Bullet Club and Los Ingobernables de Japon vs. Suzuki-gun bouts.
January 5 will have KENTA vs. Hirooki Goto for the NEVER Openweight title as well as Zack Sabre Jr. vs. SANADA for the RevPro British Heavyweight title. Juice Robinson will also challenge the winner of the IWGP United States title match the previous night.
Jushin Thunder Liger’s final match has also been confirmed. He will team with Naoki Sano to take on Ryu Lee and Hiromu Takahashi in a tag team match. Yoshiaki Fujiwara will be in Liger and Sano’s corner.
Here are the full cards for both Tokyo Dome events:
January 4:
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight title
Jay White vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Intercontinental title
Will Ospreay vs. Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Jr. title
Lance Archer vs. Jon Moxley in a Texas deathmatch for the IWGP United States title
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa vs. David Finlay & Juice Robinson for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles
Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano and YOSHI-HASHI vs. KENTA,, Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens
SANADA, EVIL, Shingo Takagi and BUSHI vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Minoru Suzuki, Taichi & El Desperado
Jushin Thunder Liger, Tatsumi Fujinami, The Great Sasuke & Tiger Mask vs. Naoki Sano, Shinjiro Otani, Tatsuhito Takaiwa and Ryusuke Taguchi
January 5:
Double title match for IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chris Jericho
The two non champions following the Intercontinental and Heavyweight title matches on January 4 will meet in a special singles match
KENTA vs. Hirooki Goto for the NEVER Openweight title
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. SANADA for the British Openweight title
Juice Robinson will face the IWGP United States champion
El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori vs. SHO & YOH for the IWGP Jr. Tag Team titles
Here are the results from tonight’s New Japan Showdown event at the Globe Theatre in Los Angeles, California. It featured a six-man tag match in the main event, with LIJ members facing off against The Bullet Club.
TJP & Amazing Red defeated Alex Zayne & Aaron Solow
– Red pinned Solow with the Code Red.
Colt Cabana & Toru Yano defeated Alex Coughlin & Karl Fredericks
– Cabana pinned Fredericks with the Superman pin.
Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer & El Desperado defeated Juice Robinson, David Finlay & Clark Connors
– Suzuki defeated Connors with the Gotch Style piledriver.
SANADA & EVIL defeated Tomohiro Ishii & Rocky Romero
– SANADA submitted Rocky with the Skull End.
Kota Ibushi defeated Ren Narita
– Ibushi submitted Narita with an elevated Boston crab.
More matches have been announced for both Wrestle Kingdom cards, including the double championship match.
It was confirmed during tonight’s NJPW press conference that both titles will be on the line on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 14 on January 5. This double champions match will be between the winners of two matches that take place on January 4: Jay White vs. Tetsuya Natio for the Intercontinental title and Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight title.
The two non-champions after January 4 will compete the following day in a special singles match.
The press conference also confirmed several matches that were made during Power Struggle this past Sunday. January 4 will now have Will Ospreay defending the Jr. title against Hiromu Takahashi as well as the new Intercontinental title match. January 5 will have a special singles match between Chris Jericho and Hiroshi Tanahashi. The Jr. Tag Team title match, which will have champions Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo take on Roppongi 3K, will also take place on January 5.
As usual, the January 6 New Year Dash card will not have a card announced until bell time. It will host Jushin Thunder Liger’s retirement ceremony.
Here are the current cards for Wrestle Kingdom 14:
January 4 –
Kazuchika Okada vs. Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Heavyweight title
Jay White vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Intercontinental title
Will Ospreay vs. Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Jr. title
Jushin Thunder Liger, Tatsumi Fujinami, The Great Sasuke & Tiger Mask (with El Samurai) vs. Naoki Sano, Shinjiro Ohtani, Tatsuhito Takaiwa & Ryusuke Taguchi (with Kuniaki Kobayashi)
January 5 –
IWGP Heavyweight champion vs. IWGP Intercontinental champion for both titles
The two non champions following the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental title matches on January 4 will have a singles match
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chris Jericho
Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo vs. SHO & YOH for the IWGP Jr. Tag Team titles
Following King of Pro Wrestling, NJPW has made four matches official for Power Struggle.
Those matches are:
IWGP Intercontinental Champion Jay White defending against Hirooki Goto
NEVER Openweight Champion KENTA defending against Tomohiro Ishii
Tetsuya Naito vs. Taichi
Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi
NJPW has been building to White vs. Goto since the aftermath of White winning the IWGP Intercontinental title from Naito at Destruction in Kobe last month. At King of Pro Wrestling, Goto, Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defeated White, KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi.
KENTA won the NEVER Openweight Championship from Ishii at Royal Quest in August.
Naito & Shingo Takagi defeated Taichi & DOUKI by disqualification at King of Pro Wrestling. Taichi laid out Naito after the match, then mocked him for losing the Intercontinental title and having his quest to become a double champion get derailed.
Taichi also defeated Naito in this year’s G1 Climax.
Okada & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Ibushi & Tanahashi is part of the build to Okada defending his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Ibushi at Wrestle Kingdom 14 night one on January 4.
Power Struggle is taking place in Osaka, Japan on Sunday, November 3. The show will also feature the finals of this year’s Super Junior Tag League.
NJPW’s Fighting Spirit Unleashed East Coast tour kicked off at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts on Friday night. It will continue in New York City on Saturday and then conclude in Philadelphia on Sunday. The NYC show will air live on New Japan World with Japanese commentary.
Here are the results from night one:
– Karl Fredericks defeated Alex Coughlin
Basic Young Lions match — a lot of hard chops and typical NJPW style with a lot of selling. Fredericks won with a modified half-crab.
– Lance Archer defeated Ren Narita
Archer felt like a superstar. His theme song was over and people in unison all chanted “Everybody Dies!” during it. Narita was given a lot for a Young Lion facing a veteran.
They worked a spot where Narita kept trying to slam Archer — and when he finally did the crowd popped big for it. Narita kicked out of the Texas Hightower (Archer’s chokeslam). Archer pinned him with the EBD Claw.
– Juice Robinson & Mikey Nicholls defeated Clark Connors & TJP
Basic tag match. They worked on Connors for a long time before TJP made a hot tag. Nicholls eventually pinned Connors after a Blue Thunder Bomb.
– Chase Owens & Jado defeated The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)
Considering he was the only guy who could really take a lot of bumps, Owens had to work very hard during this match. Morton and Gibson were pretty over as a nostalgia act — and Morton actually hit a tope to the outside.
Owens eventually pinned Morton after a package piledriver.
The crowd was really into Ishii and Takagi and they had their typical fight: big forearm exchange spot, shoulder tackles, etc. Ishii pinned BUSHI after a brainbuster. Interesting that they didn’t pin Red since he doesn’t even work full-time for the company.
– Hirooki Goto, Rocky Romero & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Gedo, Jay White & KENTA
KENTA didn’t do much in the match. He hit a few moves but just looked like he was going through the motions. The crowd liked Goto and reacted to him like he was a star. White worked really hard and fast and crisp with all of his stuff.
YOSHI-HASHI submitted Gedo with his Butterfly Lock.
– IWGP Tag Team Champions Guerillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) defeated Roppongi 3K (SHO & YOH) to retain their titles.
This ended up being really good. Guerrillas of Destiny were over pretty big during their entrance.
They built a great series of spots at the end where YOH rolled Tonga up a couple of times for some really close near falls. Tonga then went for the Gun Stun, with YOH catching him into a backslide for an awesome near fall, since it felt like if they were going to pull off the upset, it would have to be on a move like that.
Tonga slipped out of the pinning attempt and hit the Gun Stun for the win.
– Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi defeated Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & EVIL
The match was mostly about the personalities in it. The crowd really dug the star power in the ring, especially on the babyface side. They didn’t do anything crazy, but they didn’t have to.
They built up to the finish with everyone going for their trademark moves. Naito tried to cradle Tanahashi, but Tanahashi reversed it and pinned Naito. The crowd didn’t really expect that finish.
Tanahashi stayed in the ring after the match and cut a short promo in English, saying he doesn’t have a title now but he will never give up, never retire, and that when he comes back, he will have a title.
The third NJPW Destruction event takes place today in Kobe.
Tetsuya Naito will defend his IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Jay White in the main event. The two last met in a singles match on August 11, when White beat Naito to win the B Block in the 2019 G1 Climax.
The semi-main will feature Shingo Takagi vs. Hirooki Goto. Takagi will be looking for a high profile win over an established heavyweight as he continues to climb towards the top of the card.
The Young Lion Cup will also conclude, with Ren Narita facing Clark Connors, and Shota Umino battling Karl Fredericks in what will likely be the deciding match.
Among the other matches on the show is Kazuchika Okada, Kota Ibushi & Robbie Eagles vs. SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI. Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI, Will Ospreay, SHO & YOH will also face KENTA, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo.
Join us for live coverage starting at 3 a.m. Eastern time. There will be English commentary.
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YUJI NAGATA, YOTA TSUJI & YUYA UEMURA DEFEATED MANABU NAKANISHI, ALEX COUGHLIN & MICHAEL RICHARDS
Nakanishi and Nagata started the show. Nagata kicked at Nakanishi’s bad left leg. Richards and Uemura tagged in. They traded chops. Richards got a knockdown off a back elbow, and picked up a nearfall.
Coughlin entered and continued to work over Uemura. Nakanishi tagged in for more of the same. Uemura hit a bodyslam on Nakanishi, then tagged Nagata. Nakanishi hit Nagata with a spear. He went for the Argentinian backbreaker, but Tsuji and Uemura saved.
Coughlin and Tsuji got tags. They traded strikes. Coughlin chops so hard. He hit a slam, then used a full crab on Tsuji. Tsuji reached the ropes for a break.
Coughlin hit some more chops. He hit the ropes, but ran into a spear. Tsuji followed with a powerslam for a nearfall. Tsuji used a giant swing, then applied a full crab. While the other four fought on the floor, Coughlin tapped out.
Coughlin looks better every time I see him. He was the standout in an otherwise unremarkable opener.
YOUNG LION CUP MATCH: CLARK CONNORS DEFEATED REN NARITA
Connors hit a hip toss and worked a wristlock. Narita made it to the ropes, and Connors broke cleanly. Narita got a headscissors takedown. Connors escaped, then worked a side headlock. Narita again made it to the ropes. This time, Connors hit a chop on the break.
They traded hard chops. Connors used a fireman’s carry takeover, and another wristlock. He transitioned to a leglock, but Narita scrambled and got an Indian deathlock. Connors escaped. They traded slams, then chops.
Narita hit an overhead belly-to-belly for a nearfall. Narita got double underhooks as he looked to hit it again, but Connors escaped. Connors hit a spear, then used a full crab. Narita sat in the hold for a long time, but couldn’t make the ropes, and tapped.
Narita was eliminated from contention with the loss, so the next match will decide the winner.
YOUNG LION CUP MATCH: KARL FREDERICKS DEFEATED SHOTA UMINO TO WIN THE YOUNG LION CUP
Fredericks had his right shoulder taped up, as he has for most of the tour. Umino had a wrap and a pad on his left arm.
They exchanged armdrags and trip takedowns. Umino hit a shoulder block and took the early advantage. Umino used an armbar, a snapmare, then hit a dropkick to the bad shoulder. Fredericks hit a crossbody, as the momentum shifted.
Fredericks hit a big splash in the corner, a hip toss, then used an elbow drop for a nearfall. Umino was able to re-apply the armbar, then hit a missile dropkick. He went right back to the cross armbreaker, but Fredericks rolled to the ropes for a break.
Umino hit a bridging German for a two count. He went for a fisherman suplex, but Fredericks blocked it. Fredericks grabbed the tights, then hit a back suplex. He followed with a spinebuster, then locked in a single-leg crab.
Umino fought for the ropes, but Fredericks pulled him back to the center of the ring. He stomped on Umino’s head while maintaining the single-leg crab, and Umino tapped out.
BAD LUCK FALE, YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & CHASE OWENS DEFEATED TOGI MAKABE, TOMOAKI HONMA & TOA HENARE
Not much to this one.
Henare and Yujiro started off. Henare hit a hip toss and a tackle. Honma tagged in for a bulldog and a kokeshi. Yujiro grabbed the tights and tossed Honma to the apron, where Owens and Fale went to work.
Owens tagged in and worked over Honma, while Fale choked Makabe with his own chain on the floor. Fale tagged in. Honma tried to slam Fale, but failed. Honma managed a tag to Makabe, who ran wild on Fale.
Makabe hit ten punches in the corner. He teased a northern lights suplex, but Fale blocked. Fale hit a clothesline, into a double down.
Henare and Owens tagged in. They did a series of teases and reversals. Owens went for a shining wizard, but Henare blocked. Yujiro came in for a double team, but Henare fought him off. Henare hit a series of forever clotheslines on both.
Henare hit a Samoan drop, then hit a chop for a two count. Fale entered, and Makabe and Honma jumped in. Fale was sent to the floor with a clothesline over the top. Owens recovered and hit Henare with a Jewel Heist for a two count.
Owens hit a knee strike, then hit Henare with a package piledriver for the pin.
This was crazy. They didn’t do a match, but a super-hot angle instead.
Liger jumped Suzuki as he made his entrance. Both men’s partners ran down and this became a wild brawl. Suzuki set up a table in the ring. Suzuki hit the ref with a chair, then hit a chair shot to the head of Liger. The chair was gimmicked.
Suzuki went for Liger’s mask. Liger hit a low blow, then took his own mask off to reveal his Kishin Liger persona. Liger spit mist in the ref’s eyes, then spit mist in Suzuki’s eyes.
Liger grabbed a spike and went after Suzuki with it. Suzuki avoided it, and the spike went through the table. Liger then threw the spiked table at Suzuki, who avoided it. Everyone ran to the back with Kishin Liger chasing them.
Officially, the win was given to Suzuki-gun, but this should have been a no contest.
TOMOHIRO ISHII, SHO, YOH, WILL OSPREAY & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED TAMA TONGA, TANGA LOA, TAIJI ISHIMORI, EL PHANTASMO & KENTA
SHO and YOH picked up their second win over G.O.D. on this tour, which looks to put them in line for a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight tag belts.
Ishii and Loa started off. YH tagged in, Ishii stayed in for a double team, but Bullet Club all jumped in to cut the good guys off. They brawled around ringside. Bullet Club then used a series of quick tags, working over YH.
YH managed a tag to Ospreay, and ELP tagged in for Bullet Club. ELP went for a vertical suplex, but Ospreay turned it into a cutter. Ospreay hit a Robinson Special. He teased a Hidden Blade, but ELP hit a poison rana instead.
Roppongi 3K and G.O.D. entered. YOH was legal, and he hit Tonga with a dragon screw. SHO and YOH hit Loa with stereo knees, then did the same to Tonga.
Everyone jumped in. ELP and Ishimori took out Roppongi 3K. Ishii took out Ishimori. Ospreay took out ELP with a Sasuke Special. Loa hit Ishii with a spear, then hit a powerslam to YOH.
Tonga and Loa hit Guerilla Warfare on YOH, but YH saved. G.O.D. teased a Magic Killer on YOH, but SHO jumped in to make the save. YOH rolled up Loa, and got the flash pin.
After the bell, Tonga hit SHO with a kendo stick, while Loa hit Apeshit on YOH.
Okada and SANADA kicked things off. SANADA went for a Paradise Lock early, but Okada blocked. Okada teased Red Ink, but SANADA blocked. SANADA teased a dive, but flipped back inside.
BUSHI and Eagles tagged in for some spots. While the other four fought outside, BUSHI hit a missile dropkick, and LIJ took over. SANADA tagged in and used the Paradise Lock on Eagles. EVIL got a tag and went for a fisherman buster, but Eagles blocked.
Eagles hit an enziguri, and managed a tag to Ibushi. Ibushi hit an interfering SANADA and BUSHI with a double backflip kick. He then used a standing moonsault on EVIL for a two count.
EVIL came back with a mid kick, then a double sledge to the chest. EVIL hit a seated senton in the corner. He went for Darkness Falls. Ibushi fought it off after a long struggle. EVIL hit a rolling elbow, and Ibushi countered with a high kick.
Okada and SANADA tagged back in. Okada landed a back elbow. After a series of signature teases, Okada hit a shotgun dropkick. Okada went for a tombstone, but SANADA blocked it. SANADA used an O’Connor Roll into Skull End, but Ibushi saved with a high kick.
Okada used the distraction to hit an air raid crash. Eagles tagged in and landed a missile dropkick to SANADA’s legs. He followed up with a chop block, then an elbow to the back of the head. Eagles hit double knees, a bottom rope 619, and again hit double knees for a nearfall.
SANADA avoided a sliced bread, and LIJ went 3-on-1 on Eagles. Ibushi entered for the save, but EVIL took him out with a German.
Eagles used a quick cradle for a nearfall. SANADA blocked Turbo Backpack, and used Skull End. Okada saved for Eagles with a dropkick. BUSHI hit a suicide dive to Okada, and SANADA used Skull End on Eagles to earn the submission win.
The post-match was notable. Okada tried to dropkick SANADA after the match, but SANADA avoided it. EVIL slapped Ibushi in the face. Ibushi hit a palm strike, then the two traded strikes to the chest.
HIROOKI GOTO DEFEATED SHINGO TAKAGI
I would call this a puzzling result. I know they like to keep Goto strong so that it means something when he loses, but there is way more upside in Shingo, and it seems counterproductive to beat him in his second big match as a heavyweight.
Shingo attempted a strike on the break after the opening tie-up, but Goto caught the chop. They had an intense striking battle in the center of the ring. Shingo tried an inverted GTR, a regular GTR, and an ushigoroshi, all signature Goto moves, but missed all three.
They traded shoulder tackles. Goto hit a vertical suplex, then used a chinlock. Shingo came back with a big right hand, then a lariat. Goto rolled outside, and Shingo went after him. Shingo posted Goto.
Shingo sent Goto into the barricade, then hit a DDT on the floor. Back inside, he used a vertical suplex for a two count. Shingo used a headlock on the mat, but Goto forced a rope break.
Shingo hit a series of short elbows to the neck, then a knee drop. Goto came back with a lariat, a wheel kick in the corner, then a Saito suplex for a nearfall.
Goto went for an ushigoroshi, but Shingo blocked it. Goto used a sleeper hold. Shingo broke the hold, backing Goto into the corner. Goto went back to the hold, and Shingo again broke it, then hit a sliding lariat. Shingo followed with noshigami for a two count.
Shingo went for Made in Japan. Goto blocked it, and slammed Shingo’s head across his knee. They exchanged corner clotheslines. Shingo hit a superplex, but Goto no-sold it. Goto hit a German, but Shingo no-sold it. Shingo hit a German, into a double down.
Both men connected on a series of simultaneous lariats. Goto used a misdirection spot, ate a right hand, but then dropped Shingo with a lariat. Goto scored another knockdown off a lariat. He went for ushigoroshi, but Shingo blocked.
Shingo hit Made in Japan. He covered, but Goto kicked out. Shingo hit a lariat, then hit a Pumping Bomber, but Goto kicked out at two.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon, but Goto turned it into an ushigoroshi. Goto hit an inverted GTR, but Shingo kicked out.
Shingo caught a mid kick. He hung goto up in the ropes, and hit an elevated GTR. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber, and Goto took a flip bump. Shingo covered, but Goto again kicked out.
Goto blocked a Last of the Dragon, then connected with Shouten Kai. He could not follow up right away, allowing Shingo recovery time.
Goto hit a big mid kick. He went for a GTR, but Shingo hit a headbutt. They hit simultaneous headbutts. Goto hit an ushigoroshi for a nearfall, then used a GTR for the pin.
IWGP INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: JAY WHITE DEFEATED TETSUYA NAITO TO WIN THE TITLE
I should stop being surprised when the Switchblade push kicks into high gear again. They are going all the way with White.
Both stalled at the outset, rolling to the outside. White wanted to lock up, but Naito kept backing away from him. Naito used a schoolboy for a quick nearfall, then an inside cradle for another. Naito went for a backslide, but White escaped.
Naito used a snapmare, then a chinlock. Naito teased a combinacion in the corner, but Gedo provided a distraction from the floor. Gedo then grabbed Naito’s ankle, allowing White to pull Naito’s legs into the post.
On the floor, White sent Naito into the barricade. White continued the attack, sending Naito over the railing into the front row. It looks as though Naito might be reaching the stage of his career where he makes up for a loss of athleticism by taking a beating for real.
Back inside, White used a camel clutch. Naito forced a rope break. White rolled Naito back outside. He slammed him into the barricade, then tossed him back inside.
White went for a Blade Buster, but Naito reversed into a neckbreaker. Naito hit a hurricanrana, an armdrag, then a dropkick to the back. Naito hit an inverted DDT for a nearfall.
Naito hit another inverted DDT, then applied a crucifix hold, but White rolled to the ropes. White slid out of an Irish whip, then hit a DDT. He followed with a running uppercut forearm, then hit two rolling suplexes. Naito blocked a third, but found himself tied up in the ropes, where White hit another running uppercut.
White hit a draping DDT for a two count. Naito went for a flying forearm. White blocked, hit a flatliner, then a back suplex. White slammed the back of Naito’s head into the buckle, repeatedly.
White hit a Saito suplex. They teased a ref stoppage. White went for another running uppercut, but Naito countered with a one-legged dropkick.
Naito hit a big spinebuster, then a draping neckbreaker over his knees. Naito hit a top rope frankensteiner, then used Gloria for a two count at the 20 minute mark.
White crawled to the apron. Naito hit a swinging dropkickover the ropes. He went for a neckbreaker on the apron, but White blocked, then used a waistlock to slam Naito on the apron. White went for a piledriver on the apron, but Naito hit a backdrop.
White popped right up, then powerbombed Naito on the apron. Back inside, White hit a uranage. He went for a Kiwi Krusher, but Naito reversed it into a DDT.
Naito hit a series of strikes at the 25 minute mark. White took the referee, allowing Gedo to slide in and hit Naito with a chair. White hit a Kiwi Krusher, but Naito kicked out.
White went for a Blade Runner. Naito fought it off, then hit an enziguri. Naito hit a flying forearm. He went for Destino, but White slid out. Gedo jumped on the apron. Naito hit a swinging DDT, taking out Gedo in the process.
Naito went for Destino, but White blocked it, trapped Naito’s head and arms, then hit a series of elbows.
White went for a sleeper suplex. Naito blocked. White blocked a Destino. Naito blocked a Blade Runner. The sequence ended with White hitting a sleeper suplex.
White hit another sleeper suplex. He went for another, but Naito blocked, then hit a dragon suplex. Naito hit a sloppy Destino. White kicked out.
Naito avoided a Blade Runner. White avoided Destino. White then hit Blade Runner, and got the 1-2-3.
White mocked Naito in his post-match promo, and promised to become a double champion.
Hirooki Goto came to the ring. He dropped White with a forearm, then hit some stomps. White rolled outside. Goto said that he won’t lose to White again.
NJPW continued their Road to Destruction tour today in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall, the second of three straight nights in the building.
The show featured two Young Lion Cup tournament bouts, along with a collection of tag matches previewing the key matches on the Destruction shows later in the tour.
Here are full results and match recaps:
YOUNG LION CUP MATCH: MICHAEL RICHARDS DEFEATED YUYA UEMURA
Richards used a side headlock takeover, but Uemura made it back to his feet quickly. Uemura worked a wristlock from mount position, but Richards slipped back to the side headlock.
Richards got a knockdown off a shoulder tackle. He hit a chop, then a clothesline in the corner for a nearfall. They traded strikes. Uemura hit a couple of dropkicks, then used a series of stomps in the corner.
Uemura hit a scoop slam, then applied a full crab. Richards showed good fire as he crawled to the ropes for a break. Uemura hit a series of forearm shots, but Richards cut him off with a lariat.
Richards used a vertical suplex for a two count. He tried for a crab of his own. Uemura fought him off with slaps, but Richards got the hold applied. Uemura fought his way to the ropes, forcing a break.
Richards got the hold re-applied, and Uemura tapped out.
YOUNG LION CUP MATCH: REN NARITA DEFEATED KARL FREDERICKS
This followed the same pattern as the night before, with the opening bout focusing on technical wrestling and the second match feeling more like a brawl.
They exchanged hard palm strikes to the chest. Fredericks hit a scoop slam for a nearfall, then hit some stomps. Fredericks used a chinlock, then hit a back elbow. Fredericks hit a splash in the corner, then used an elbow drop for a nearfall.
Fredericks missed on a charge into the corner, and Narita followed up with a shotgun dropkick. Narita hit a back elbow, then used a vertical suplex for a two count.
Narita tried for an overhead belly-to-belly, but Fredericks fought it off and hit a spinebuster. Fredericks applied a single-leg crab, but Narita reached the ropes.
Fredericks hit the ropes, but ran into an overhead belly-to-belly. Narita got a single-leg crab applied. Fredericks reached the ropes, but Narita kept the hold applied on the break. Narita rolled through into a Narita Special, a modified sharpshooter. Fredericks tapped out. Very solid work from both guys.
SATOSHI KOJIMA, CLARK CONNORS & ALEX COUGHLIN DEFEATED HIROYOSHI TENZAN, SHOTA UMINO & YOTA TSUJI
Tenzan and Kojima began, trading chops. Umino and Connors tagged in for a nice exchange, with both hitting shoulder tackles.
Coughlin and Tsuji got tags. They traded some chops. Coughlin used a scoop slam to get the advantage, then his team used a series of quick tags, working over Tsuji. Coughlin used an Indian deathlock, but Tenzan broke it up.
Coughlin then worked a chinlock, but Tsuji reached the ropes. Coughlin hit stomps and chops, but Tsuji came back with a dropkick, then tagged Tenzan. Tenzan hit Mongolian chops on Coughlin, then hit a brainbuster for a nearfall.
Tenzan hit some headbutts. Coughlin fired back with chops. Tenzan hit a right hand for a nearfall. Coughlin hit a dropkick, and both tagged out.
Umino and Connors got tags. Umino went crazy with elbow strikes and a dropkick. He hit a vertical suplex for a nearfall. Umino went for a fisherman buster, but Connors blocked it. Connors hit a spear. This exchange was the highlight of the match.
Kojima and Tsuji got tags. Kojima hit machine gun chops in the corner. He teased a top rope elbow, but Tsuji cut him off. Umino and Tenzan cleared the apron, then jumped in for a triple team. Tsuji covered Kojima, but Connors and Coughlin saved.
Kojima hit a Koji Cutter for a nearfall, then connected with a lariat for the pin.
Umino and Coughlin continued fighting on the floor after the bell.
TOMOHIRO ISHII, YOSHI-HASHI & TOA HENARE DEFEATED TAMA TONGA, TANGA LOA & CHASE OWENS
Bullet Club attacked before the opening bell. Loa and Tonga doubled up on YH in the ring, and Jado hit him with a kendo stick from the floor for good measure. Ishii came in for the save, and Ishii and YH cleaned house.
Order was restored, and Henare and Owens tagged in. Henare hit a shoulder tackle. Owens sent Henare to the floor, then hit a dropkick through the ropes. Loa tagged in and hit a vertical suplex. Tonga tagged in and hit a slingshot senton.
Ishii entered illegally, and Tonga hit him with a dropkick. Henare hit a Samoan drop off the distraction, then tagged YH. YH hit a bunker buster. He hit a dropkick as Tonga was draped over the ropes, picking up a two count.
Ishii tagged in for a double team. Loa jumped in to even things up. Bullet Club triple-teamed Ishii. Henare jumped in. Owens hit him with a Jewel Heist.
Ishii and Owens ended up being the legal men. Owens used a cradle for a nearfall, then hit a running knee strike for another. He tried for a package piledriver, but YH cut him off with a lariat. Ishii hit a brainbuster and pinned Owens.
EL PHANTASMO, TAIJI ISHIMORI & YUJIRO TAKAHASHI DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY, ROBBIE EAGLES & TOMOAKI HONMA
We’ve only gotten glimpses of what Ospreay and Eagles can do as a team, and I can’t wait to see them unleashed in a two-on-two situation.
Ospreay and ELP began with a great sequence. ELP flipped out of a hurricanrana, then hit a springboard rana. Ospreay hit a shoulder tackle. Eagles got a tag and hit a double stomp off the top to ELP’s left arm as Ospreay held it.
Honma got a tag. He hit a scoop slam, then connected on a kokeshi. Yujiro cut him off from the apron with a kick, then pulled him outside. Yujiro used his cane as a weapon, choking Honma. Back inside, Ishimori and ELP worked over Honma’s neck.
ELP used a back rake. Ishimori and ELP then hit a tandem back rake off the top rope. Honma came back with a brainbuster on Ishimori. Eagles got a tag. He hit Ishimori with a springboard dropkick to the leg.
ELP came in for an illegal double team, but Eagles hit him with a wall flip kick. Ospreay came in, and Eagles and Ospreay hit stereo kicks in the corner. Ospreay hit an enzuigiri on Ishimori. While ELP and Eagles brawled to the floor, Ishimori hit Ospreay with a poison rana.
Honma and Yujiro tagged in. Honma hit a bulldog, a kokeshi, then hit a lariat for a nearfall.
Eagles and Ospreay sent Ishimori and ELP to the floor, then jumped in to triple up on Yujiro. Eagles hit a dive, but the camera missed it.
Honma went for a kokeshi off the middle rope, but he missed. He tried a diving kokeshi, but he missed again. Yujiro hit a fisherman buster for a nearfall, then used Pimp Juice for the pin.
Suzuki-gun attacked before the bell. Suzuki and Taguchi stayed in the ring. Suzuki tried for a PK, but Taguchi caught the kick and hit a hip attack. SHO, YOH and Tanahashi jumped in for the four-on-one clothesline spot in the corner.
They teased sending Suzuki head-first into Taguchi’s butt as Taguchi stood on the buckle. The rest of Suzuki-gun made the save for Suzuki. Taguchi tried to offer Suzuki his rugby helmet, but Suzuki declined and they fought into the crowd.
Suzuki used a chair on YOH, then hit Taguchi with the chair. Sabre used an armbar on Tanahashi’s left arm then stomped on it. They teased a countout, but Taguchi made it back in at 19.
Suzuki used a kneebar. SHO jumped in and forced him to give up the hold, but Suzuki-gun retained the advantage. Suzuki tried to kneebar the referee. Sabre tagged in and used an armbar on Taguchi.
DOUKI got a tag and continued the beatdown on Taguchi. Kanemaru tagged in and hit a dropkick for a nearfall. Kanemaru hit an atomic drop, but Taguchi came back with a hip attack.
Sabre and Tanahashi got tags. Tanahashi hit a crossbody off the second. YOH and Kanemaru jumped in, and Tana and YOH hit tandem dragon screws.
Sabre got a triangle choke applied, but Tanahashi reversed it into a cloverleaf. He transitioned to an armbar, but Sabre forced a rope break. SHO tagged in and Sabre immediately cut him off with a wristlock. DOUKI got a tag, and DOUKI and SHO exchanged strikes.
SHO hit a spear. He went for a deadlift German, but Suzuki, Sabre, and Kanemaru all jumped in to block him. Sabre hit a PK, while DOUKI hit a double stomp off the top rope for a nearfall.
While the other six men brawled outside, DOUKI used a jawbreaker for a nearfall. Taguchi broke up the pin, then went back to brawling on the floor.
DOUKI went for Suplex de la Luna, but Taguchi saved. Everyone jumped in and hit a move. SHO hit a backstabber on DOUKI, and YOH hit him with a one-legged dropkick. DOUKI used a schoolboy on SHO for a nearfall.
SHO and YOH hit the 3K on DOUKI, and SHO got the pin. Tanahashi and Taguchi played air guitar on their belts after the match.
Okada hit a shoulder tackle. He teased a Rainmaker, but SANADA countered into a Skull End tease. Okada fought it off, then hit a dropkick. Romero got a tag and hit forever clotheslines in the corner.
BUSHI jumped in, and Romero sent him outside with a hurricanrana. He tried for a rana on Shingo, but Shingo caught him and SANADA nailed him with a dropkick. Okada jumped in for the save, but SANADA put him in the Paradise Lock. SANADA sent Okada to the floor with a dropkick, and BUSHI and SANADA continued working over Romero.
Shingo tagged in and hit a vertical suplex. Romero came back with a hurricanrana, then tagged Goto. Goto hit a wheel kick and a Saito suplex on Shingo for a two count. Shingo hit his own Saito suplex. Goto ducked a Pumping Bomber, and Shingo and Goto hit simultaneous lariats, into a double down.
After a tag, BUSHI hit a missile dropkick, and SANADA cleared the apron. LIJ went three-on-one on Goto. SANADA and BUSHI hit tandem dropkicks. BUSHI went for an MX, but Goto avoided it. Romero hit BUSHI with a lariat. SANADA hit a dropkick to Romero. Okada ate a dragon screw from Shingo and rolled outside.
Goto and BUSHI were left the legal men. Goto hit an ushigoroshi, then hit a GTR for the pin.
TETSUYA NAITO & EVIL DEFEATED JAY WHITE & BAD LUCK FALE
This was sloppy in spots and didn’t have the heat of a really good Korakuen Hall main event.
LIJ got the early advantage. Naito sent White outside with a hurricanrana, then teased a dive, but he hit his Tranquilo pose instead. Naito tried for a combinacion on White in the corner, but Fale cut him off from the floor and the match turned into a ringside brawl.
Fale sent EVIL and Naito into the barricade, while White mocked Naito’s pose in the ring. They teased a countout, but Naito made it back in at 18. Fale got a tag and stomped on Naito, then stood on his back.
White got a tag and tossed Naito outside. He sent him into the barricade and the ring frame. Fale and White traded tags, working over Naito. Fale missed an elbow drop, and Naito hit a dropkick to Fale’s legs, allowing him to tag out.
EVIL hit Fale with lariats. He tried for a slam, but White came in for the illegal double team. Fale missed a charge into the corner. EVIL hit White with a lariat, then hit a bulldog on Fale. Fale cut him off with a shoulder tackle.
White got a tag and hit a Saito suplex, then used a Blade Buster for a two count. White went for a DVD, but EVIL blocked it. EVIL hit a ref-assisted mid kick, then tagged out.
Naito hit White with strikes, a rana, then a dropkick. Naito hit a neckbreaker, then used a crucifix hold. Fale broke it up, but Naito remained in control. Naito teased a top rope frankensteiner, but White crotched him on the top.
Naito missed on a flying forearm, and White hit him with a uranage. Fale got a tag. He hit a splash in the corner, then used a big splash on the mat for a two count.
Fale teased a Grenade, but EVIL saved. White jumped in, and EVIL hit him with Darkness Falls. Naito hit a tornado DDT on Fale. Fale sent Naito into the referee. Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles, but Naito ducked them.
White came in with a chair, but EVIL fought him off with his own chair. EVIL hit a con-chair-to on Fale. Naito hit Destino on Fale for the pin.
Naito cut a promo after the match, teasing the idea of a double title match at the Tokyo Dome. He mentioned Ibushi and said that they both want to be a double champion. Ibushi would have to win the title first, but it’s an interesting possibility.
A number of big bouts and title matches are set to take place over the next few weeks during NJPW’s Destruction tour.
Destruction in Beppu on Sunday, September 15 will have Hiroshi Tanahashi defending his newly won RevPro British Heavyweight Championship against Zack Sabre Jr., who lost the title to Tanahashi at Royal Quest. IWGP Tag Team Champions Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) will face YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii in a non-title match.
Destruction in Kagoshima the following day will be headlined by Kota Ibushi defending his right to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 against one of the people he lost to during the G1 Climax, KENTA. El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori will also defend their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles against Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles.
Shingo Takagi will face Hirooki Goto in a singles match at Destruction in Kobe on Sunday, September 22. That show is being headlined by Testuya Naito defending his IWGP Intercontinental title against Jay White.
The three shows will also feature Young Lion tournament bouts. DOUKI, who previously wrestled in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, is returning for this tour as well.
Here are the full cards for the three Destruction shows:
Destruction in Beppu (September 15) —
RevPro British Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defending against Zack Sabre Jr.
Guerrillas of Destiny vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii
NJPW has confirmed a number of names for next month’s Fighting Spirit Unleashed tour.
The following names have been announced, featuring most of NJPW’s factions:
NJPW’s main unit consisting of Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi
CHAOS members Kazuchika Okada (Lowell and New York City only), Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI
Los Ingobernables de Japón members Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, SANADA, Shingo Takagi and BUSHI
Bullet Club members Jay White, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa and KENTA
More participants, including matches, have yet to be announced and will be revealed at a later date. It was also noted that Kazuchika Okada would not be appearing on the Philadelphia card.
The tour will start on September 27 at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts, which still has tickets available. The last two shows, which take place at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York and the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, are both sold out.
NJPW announced this weekend they will also be returning to San Jose before the end of the year, as they will run the San Jose Civic on November 9.
A new match has been announced for Destruction in Kobe.
Jay White will challenge Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Intercontinental title on September 22. The two clashed in the B Block finals earlier this month, with White getting the win.
The main events for the other two Destruction shows, which take place in Beppu on September 15 and Kagoshima on September 16, have yet to be announced.
Along with the Intercontinental title match, the Young Lions Cup tournament was announced for the Destruction tour, pitting LA Dojo trainees against the Japanese dojo. The tour will run through the Kobe show, where the winner will be announced.
Additionally, a ten man tag team match will take place on September 8 to celebrate Yuji Nagata’s 35th year of being a wrestler, both amateur and professional. He will team with Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Manabu Nakanishi and Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Jado, Yujiro Takahashi, Tanga Loa, Tama Tonga and Bad Luck Fale.
These guys had an intense brawl, not the kind of thing you typically see in these Young Lion openers. Lots of stomps, kicks, punches, and brawling on the outside from Umino and Tsuji, who also continued going at it after the closing bell.
The finish saw Narita get a full crab on Uemura. Uemura fought the hold forever, but finally tapped out. This was excellent.
BAD LUCK FALE, YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & CHASE OWENS DEFEATED EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI
Yujiro pinned BUSHI after hitting Pimp Juice, as Bullet Club and LIJ continue to trade wins in the undercard tag matches on this tour.
The match was okay, the highlight being a comedy spot where Owens tried to put SANADA in the Paradise Lock.
KOTA IBUSHI, TOA HENARE & TOMOAKI HONMA DEFEATED KENTA, CLARK CONNORS & KARL FREDERICKS
Henare pinned Fredericks after a Toa Bottom. This was a pretty standard Honma tag match where he missed kokeshis, got worked over, hit a kokeshi, then tagged his partners for the comeback.
Ibushi and KENTA had a nice sequence, ending with them hitting simultaneous high kicks. Fredericks continues to sit at the top of the L.A. Dojo class.
It would be virtually impossible to have this much talent in a ring and have a bad match. This was fantastic.
Tanahashi pinned Sabre. Sabre hit a Northern Lights suplex, then used the bridge to transition to a double wristlock with a headscissors, then a cross armbreaker. Tanahashi used the armbreaker position to cradle Sabre for the win.
They played up on commentary that Tanahashi could be in line for a shot at Sabre’s RPW British Heavyweight title after the win. August 31 in London seems like a good time and place for that one.
B BLOCK MATCH: JEFF COBB DEFEATED TORU YANO (5:19)
This was not one of the more inspired Yano comedy matches of the tournament.
Cobb asked the referee to check Yano’s tights after the opening bell. Yano had five rolls of tape in his tights. Yano asked the referee to check Cobb’s singlet. Cobb turned his back, and Yano rolled him up for a near fall.
Yano then tucked Cobb’s arms down into his singlet, and rolled him up for another near fall.
They traded throws. Cobb hit a standing moonsault for a near fall. Yano missed on a series of low blow attempts. Cobb hit Tour of the Islands, then pinned Yano.
B BLOCK MATCH: TAICHI DEFEATED TOMOHIRO ISHII (11:56)
These guys have great chemistry. Ishii wrapped up his G1 with another incredible performance, and, sadly, another loss.
Taichi hit an axe bomber immediately, then followed with a backdrop suplex for a quick near fall.
Ishii tried to fire out of the corner with a shoulder tackle, but Taichi took it, then dropped Ishii with a kick. Taichi hit a series of short kicks. Ishii came back with a powerslam.
Taichi hit an enzuigiri in the corner. Ishii blocked a buzzsaw kick, then hit a release German. Ishii hit his own series of kicks at the five minute mark, then hit a delayed superplex for a two count.
Ishii hit a backdrop suplex, but Taichi no-sold it. Ishii it a clothesline, then used a sliding lariat for a near fall.
Ishii went for a brainbuster, but Taichi blocked it. Taichi sent Ishii face-first into the buckle, then hit a head kick. Ishii missed on an enzuigiri, and Taichi followed up with a buzzsaw kick.
Taichi hit an axe bomber for a near fall. He went for a Last Ride, but Ishii blocked it. Taichi hit a kamiguri, then hit a Last Ride for a two count.
Taichi removed his trousers, then hit a head kick. They traded a series of hard strikes, and Ishii dropped Taichi. Ishii hit a lariat, and Taichi took a flip bump. Ishii got a near fall off the lariat.
Ishii again went for the brainbuster, but Taichi blocked it, hit a series of kicks, then a backdrop suplex. Ishii no-sold an enzuigiri. Taichi hit another high kick, and Ishii kicked out at the last possible instant.
Ishii hit an enzuigiri, but Taichi no-sold it, then hit a thrust kick. He followed with Black Mephisto and got the 1-2-3.
B BLOCK MATCH: JUICE ROBINSON DEFEATED JON MOXLEY (16:26)
This was nowhere near the level of their first match in June, but still a very good match. Juice had his left knee taped up, so they built the match around Moxley working over the left leg.
They teased locking up. Moxley offered Juice a free strike, which led to an exchange of strikes. Juice’s knee gave out on a charge into the corner, and Moxley went to work on the leg.
Moxley hit a stomp to the abdomen, then used a figure four. Juice hit a slap to the face, but Moxley didn’t break the hold. Juice reversed the figure four, and Moxley forced a rope break.
Juice missed on a Juice Box attempt, and Moxley applied a cloverleaf. Juice forced a break, then bit Moxley’s earring out.
He bit Moxley’s earring out.
Juice went for a crossbody off the top, but Moxley was ready for it, and rolled to the floor. Moxley pulled a table from under the ring, but Juice hit a pescado, cutting him off. Juice gently placed the table back under the ring. Moxley recovered and sent Juice into the barricade.
Moxley posted Juice’s legs. He teased a figure four around the post, but went for a chair instead. Juice avoided a chair shot to the legs, posted Moxley, then hit him with a cannonball off the apron. Juice again refused to use a weapon and dropped the chair behind the barricade.
Back inside, Juice hit a high cross off the top for a near fall, but sold his leg on landing. They had a striking battle, while the crowd did dueling chants. Moxley hit a lariat, ending the sequence.
Moxley used an ankle lock and grapevined the leg. Juice reached the ropes for a break. Moxley hit a series of strikes to the back, then applied an STF. Red Shoes dropped Juice’s arm twice. On the third drop, Juice grabbed Red Shoes’ pant leg.
Moxley thought he won the match, and released the hold. Red Shoes told him that he hadn’t won and they argued. Moxley hit a Regal Knee, then an x-plex.
Moxley threw all sorts of plunder into the ring. Chairs, a table, and a bucket flew in. Moxley bit Juice’s face, but Juice cut him off with a Left Hand of God.
Juice hit a series of jabs, a Left Hand of God, then connected with Pulp Friction for the pin.
B BLOCK MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO (15:10)
Goto needed a couple of rest holds in the first few minutes, but aside from that, he did well keeping up with Shingo’s frenetic pace. A very good match. If Will Ospreay didn’t exist, Shingo might have a case for wrestler of the year.
Goto broke cleanly against the ropes on the opening tie-up. Shingo refused to do the same on the next tie-up, hitting a chop. Shingo scored a knockdown off a shoulder tackle, hit a series of elbows, then hit a senton. He made a cover, but Goto kicked out at one.
Shingo hit a knee strike, then a vertical suplex. Goto fired back with a discus lariat, and Shingo rolled to the floor to collect himself. Back inside, Goto hit a neckbreaker for a near fall, then hit a mid kick for a one count.
Goto used a chinlock, then applied a headscissors on the mat. Shingo reached the ropes, forcing a break. Goto hit a couple of clotheslines in the corner, and Shingo sold them big.
They exchanged strikes and chops in the center of the ring. Shingo connected with a snap backdrop suplex. Goto hit a backdrop. They traded strikes, and Shingo dropped Goto with a lariat for a two count.
Goto hit a vertical suplex, then hit a Saito suplex for a two count. He teased an ushigoroshi, but Shingo blocked it. Shingo hit the ropes, but ran right into a sleeper hold. Shingo broke the hold once, but Goto went right back to it.
Shingo hit a backdrop suplex to break the hold, a sliding lariat, then hit noshigami for a two count. He teased Made in Japan, but Goto blocked it. They traded misdirection spots and lariats. Goto hit a big lariat, then used an ushigoroshi for a two count.
Goto hit some mid kicks for a near fall. Goto went for a GTR, but Shingo blocked. They hit simultaneous headbutts. Shingo hit Made in Japan for a near fall.
Shingo connected with a Pumping Bomber, but Goto again kicked out at two.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon. Goto blocked it. Shingo hit a big right hand, then a series of elbows. Shingo teased another big right, but Goto cut him off with a headbutt.
Goto hit an inverted GTR, but did not make a cover. Shingo cut him off with a lariat. Goto ducked one Pumping Bomber, but Shingo hit another on the rebound for a near fall.
Shingo hit Last of the Dragon,got the pin, and finished his G1 with a win.
B BLOCK MATCH: JAY WHITE DEFEATED TETSUYA NAITO (18:51)
They had a good match, but not at the level of the best matches of the tournament.
I don’t want to say that Naito can’t go any more, but this version of Naito can’t hang with the top in-ring guys in the industry right now. He’s just too beaten up. If I were booking, I’d be putting Shingo in Naito’s spot for whatever long-term plans I had.
They didn’t touch for nearly the first full minute of the match. Both of these guys love to stall. White rolled outside. White got back in. White rolled outside. Naito teased a dive, but hit his tranquilo pose instead.
They finally faced off on the floor, where a Gedo distraction failed. Naito took control of the early offense. Back inside, Naito tried twice for his combinacion in the corner, but White cut him off both times.
White pushed Naito off the ropes on a slingshot attempt, and Naito crashed to the apron. White then whipped Naito into the barricade. Back inside, White hit a DDT for a two count. White rolled Naito to the floor, then slammed him into the barricade and ring frame.
Back in the ring, White used a chinlock. Naito came back with a one-legged dropkick. Naito hit a hurricanrana, then a low dropkick. He finally connected on a combinacion in the corner, then hit two neckbreakers for a near fall.
Naito applied a crucifix hold, but White managed to reach the bottom rope. White ducked a lariat, hit a flatliner, then a suplex, as the momentum shifted back to Switchblade.
White blocked a flying forearm and hit a uranage. Naito blocked a Kiwi Krusher, then hit a DDT. He teased Gloria, but White blocked it with a hair pull. White pulled Naito into the referee, who took a bump.
Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles, but Naito cut him off. White tried for a low blow, but Naito blocked it, then hit Gloria for a near fall.
Naito went for Destino, but White blocked it. Naito hit a tornado DDT, but White again blocked a Destino attempt. White hit two Saito suplexes, then hit a Kiwi Krusher for a two count.
White teased Blade Runner, but Naito reversed into a sloppy poison rana. Naito dropped himself right on his head. Naito hit Destino, but White kicked out.
Naito went for a second Destino, but White blocked it, then hit a sleeper suplex.
They did an intricate series of finisher reversals, ending with White hitting another sleeper suplex. White hit a bloody Sunday DDT, then hit Blade Runner.
White covered and got the win.
White taunted Naito in his post-match promo. He taunted the fans, then called out Ibushi.
Ibushi slowly walked to the ring, then slowly climbed inside. White promised that Gedo would not accompany him tomorrow.
White offered a handshake. Ibushi shook his hand. White tried to kick Ibushi low, but Ibushi avoided the kick.
As Ibushi went to exit the ring, Gedo grabbed his ankle. White used the distraction to hit a chop block. Gedo threw two chairs to White. White Pillman-ized Ibushi’s left ankle with three chair shots.
White closed the show saying that tomorrow, Ibushi will breathe with the Switchblade.
New Japan Pro Wrestling was back in Aichi for the second night in a row and the tenth show overall. It was B Block’s turn to shine, featuring first ever match between Jon Moxley and Tetsuya Naito.
Preliminary matches:
– Ren Narita defeated Yuya Uemura
Narita pinned Uemura following a front suplex.
– Bad Luck Fale, Yujior Takahashi and Chase Owens defeated Tomoaki Honma, Toa Henare and Kota Ibushi
Takahashi pinned Honma with the pimp juice DDT.
– Lance Archer, Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, YOSHI-HASHI and Shota Umino
Kanemaru pinned Umino with the deep impact DDT.
– EVIL, SANADA and BUSHI defeated KENTA, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Karl Fredricks
BUSHI pinned Fredricks following the MX.
B Block: Hirooki Goto defeated Toru Yano
After scoring some roll ups, Yano threw Goto into the turnbuckle and rolled him up for another near fall. Yano used the referee to low blow Goto from behind, but Goto grabbed the leg and used it to roll up Yano for the win. That was it!
B Block: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Juice Robinson
This was excellent, as per usual with most of Ishii’s performances. It wasn’t exclusively a brawl, but this definitely was a battle, one that Juice Robinson more than held his own in.
The two start off right at the bell. They exchange hard strikes, with Robinson sending Ishii to the corner. Ishii responds by chopping him in the throat. Robinson comes back with a spinebuster, then goes for some punches, knocking him down with the left hand of God.
Robinson connected with a full nelson bomb and went to spike Ishii with a hurricanrana off the top, but Ishii held on and hit a big knee to Robinson’s neck, then drilled him with a side suplex. The two continue to tear into each other with chops until Robinson took Ishii down and connected with the cannonball.
Robinson hit a superplex, but Ishii popped right back up. Robinson went for the juice box, but Ishii again popped up and hit a German suplex. Robinson tried to fire back with more forearms, and succeeded, hitting the juice box for a nearfall. Robinson kept going for the pulp friction, but Ishii kept escaping. Robinson countered with a powerbomb.
Another pulp friction attempt by Robinson, but Ishii escaped and hit a lariat…only for Robinson to get up. Ishii scored another lariat and went for the brainbuster but Robinson countered with a jackhammer. Robinson got the better on Ishii with punches and went for the pulp friction but Ishii countered with a dragon suplex and sliding D, but Robinson kicked out. Ishii then hit the brainbuster for the win.
B Block: Jeff Cobb defeated Taichi
After the first few minutes, this turned out to be alright Taichi is inconsistent so you’ll never know what you’ll get, but after the first few minutes this turned out fine.
Stalling to kick things off. Taichi did all his tricks and Jeff Cobb, like a dope, fell for them and was jumped after Miho Abe hopped on the apron to distract. After Abe got in the way again, Taichi attacked Cobb with the microphone stand, then a chair.
Back in the ring, Cobb came alive with some offense, but it soon turned into a back and forth affair. Taichi hit a lariat and went for the black mephisto but Cobb transitioned into two gutwrench suplexes. Taichi fought him off, but Cobb cut him off again and hit a crazy looking piledriver.
Cobb blocked a ref bump attempt and laid out Taichi with a standing moonsault, then landed the tour of the islands for the win.
B Block: Jay White defeated Shingo Takagi
This ended up being very good, with some great nearfalls towards the end. White has a pattern of interference in his matches, and while there’s too much of that in NJPW now at least here it doesn’t detract from the match too much.
After stalling for a bit, the two end up brawling on the outside, then go back to the ring. Shingo took White to the apron, but Gedo grabbed his feet, allowing White to get the advantage by laying out Shingo with a DDT to the floor.
Back in the ring, the two start exchanging strikes until White takes down Shingo, remaining in control until catching White on the ropes with a lariat and landed a side suplex. White latches on but Takagi strikes with a headbutt and a lariat.
Shingo landed a big wheelbarrow suplex, but when going for the sliding D White escaped and blocked a noshigami attempt. Shingo countered the bladerunner with a successful noshigami attempt. He went for the pumping bomber, but once again Gedo got involved. Shingo ignored Gedo and hit a buckle bomb then a pumping bomber, but only got two.
Shingo went for the last of the dragon, but White grabbed the referee, allowing Gedo to come in and interfere. Shingo took him out and nailed White with the Made in Japan for a nearfall. He went for the last of the dragon, but White countered and eventually landed a half dragon suplex. White dominated, landing a modified version of a brainbuster then pinned Shingo with the bladerunner.
B Block: Jon Moxley defeated Tetsuya Naito
So this was really good, probably great, but not an excellent bout. The finish felt kind of flat and at the end, just didn’t feel like an epic main event. Still, the work was good and by New Japan standards was a perfectly fine main event, just not a blowaway one.
After taking his sweet time taking off his outfit, Naito threw his pants at Moxley as they start brawling, with Moxley leading Naito into the crowd, They wind up back in the barricade area. Moxley whips Naito into sitting fans nearby then took him back in the ring, where he grounded Naito.
Moxley went to the outside and grabbed a chair, wrapped it around Naito’s leg and went to grab another chair but the referee took it from him. This lasted long enough for Naito to throw the other chair at Moxley and drill him with a boot to the chair, and thusly onto Moxley’s face.
Naito clotheslined Moxley on the ramp then took him back to the ring. Moxley cut him off and hit a big butterfly suplex off the top rope. He went for a running knee, but Naito hit the satellite DDT. Naito took Moxley down with a hurricanrana off the top rope, but Moxley landed a strong lariat to derail Naito’s momentum.
Moxley hit the original dirty deeds (headlock DDT), then hit a running knee. Naito blocked the death rider and instead bit Moxley. Moxley responded by biting him back, but then ate a quick destino. Moxley kicked out and blasted Naito with the death rider, then hit another for the win.
Moxley closed out the show. He put over Naito, calling him “muy loco”. He has a message for his opponents: he will destroy them and won’t be denied. He promises to win the G1 Climax.
The G1 continued this morning in Hiroshima with B Block action.
Jon Moxley stands alone atop the block after another convincing win — this time over Shingo Takagi, while Tetsuya Naito climbed back into the hunt with a win over Tomohiro Ishii in a great main event.
Here are full results and match recaps:
YUJIRO TAKAHASHI, BAD LUCK FALE & CHASE OWENS DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY, TOMOAKI HONMA & YUYA UEMURA
Yujiro pinned Uemura with Pimp Juice in a formulaic opener.
Bullet Club worked over Honma, then turned it into a crowd brawl. Ospreay made a comeback, then tagged Uemura. Uemura ran wild, but Yujiro and Owens cut him off.
After the bell, Fale sent Ospreay into the barricade ahead of their tournament match on Saturday.
MINORU SUZUKI, LANCE ARCHER & ZACK SABRE JR. DEFEATED EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI
Suzuki-gun worked over EVIL. SANADA came back with a rana on Archer, but Archer cut him off. Suzuki got a tag, and SANADA hit him with a dragon screw.
The match broke down, and BUSHI and Suzuki were left legal. Archer used the EBD claw on BUSHI and SANADA, then Suzuki hit BUSHI with a Gotch-style piledriver for the pin.
Tanahashi pinned Narita after a slingblade, but he also gave Narita a ton of offense. Narita hit an overhead belly-to-belly for a great near fall, and he also used a full crab for a long submission tease.
The interaction between Tanahashi and Ibushi was limited, but Ibushi did land some kicks, while Tana hit a dragon screw.
KAZUCHIKA OKADA, YOSHI-HASHI & TOA HENARE DEFEATED KENTA, CLARK CONNORS & KARL FREDERICKS
KENTA and Okada started off, and KENTA controlled the match. He hit Okada with kicks, then mocked him with a Rainmaker pose.
Okada made his own comeback against Fredericks. Henare and YOSHI-HASHI exchanged quick tags and went to work on Fredericks. Okada tagged back in and sent KENTA from the apron to the floor with a shoulder tackle.
KENTA sent Okada into the barricade, while Henare and Connors were left the legal men in the ring. Connors hit a nice dropkick, but Henare came back with a Samoan drop.
Fredericks and Connors doubled up on YH, but YH made his own comeback, then used a Butterfly Lock on Connors for the submission. This was a good little tag match.
B BLOCK MATCH: JUICE ROBINSON DEFEATED TORU YANO (4:28)
Yano asked for a handshake, but used it to roll Juice up for a near fall. Yano untied a corner pad, then sent Juice into the exposed buckle.
They went outside, where Yano tried to tape Juice to the barricade. They did a countout tease, but Juice made it back in at 19.
Yano got two more near falls off schoolboys and again sent Juice into the exposed buckle. Juice avoided two low blows, then hit Pulp Friction for the pin.
This was a short, typical Yano G1 match. It was entertaining.
B BLOCK MATCH: TAICHI DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO (12:11)
Goto went after Taichi before the bell, as he continues to show a more aggressive edge.
They brawled outside, where Taichi posted Goto, then took over. Back inside, Taichi worked over Goto with kicks. Goto went for an ushigoroshi, but Taichi slipped out the back.
They traded lariats, but Taichi continued to control the match with his kicks. Goto hit an ushigoroshi, but sold the damage to his legs from the kicks, and he could not follow up.
They exchanged lariats, and Goto hit a spinning lariat for a near fall. They traded a series of short kicks. Goto hit an inverted GTR for a two count. He went for a second GTR, but Taichi blocked it. He teased Shouten Kai, but Taichi slipped out, then sent Goto into the referee, who took a bump.
Taichi tried to use his mic stand as a weapon, but Goto blocked it. Goto went for a GTR as the ref revived. Taichi pulled the referee into Goto for a distraction, hit a low blow, then used the Gedo Clutch for the pin.
This was the weakest match of the tournament so far.
B BLOCK MATCH: JON MOXLEY DEFEATED SHINGO TAKAGI (14:45)
They exchanged forearm shots right away. Moxley scored a knockdown off a tackle, and Shingo rolled outside. Moxley went for a suicide dive, but Shingo caught him, then hit a DVD on the floor.
Moxley came back immediately, sending Shingo into the barricade, then posting him. Moxley set up a table. Both teased sending the other off the apron through the table, but both blocked.
Moxley hooked Shingo’s leg in the ropes, then nailed it with a dropkick. Moxley used a figure four, but Shingo reached the ropes. Moxley tried for a Death Rider, but Shingo hit a backdrop.
Shingo hit a pair of corner clotheslines, then hit a vertical suplex. Shingo continued to sell his legs. He went for a sliding lariat, but Moxley caught him, then hit a low dropkick to the legs. Moxley posted Shingo’s left leg repeatedly, then used a figure four around the post.
Moxley hit a clothesline in the corner, and they exchanged German suplexes. They exchanged strikes, then Moxley hit a dragon screw. Moxley used a figure four to cradle Shingo for a near fall, then hit a sliding lariat. He teased a cloverleaf, but Shingo fought it off.
Moxley tried to send Shingo from corner to corner, but Shingo’s leg buckled. Moxley went for the Regal knee, but Shingo hit him with noshigami, a lariat, then a Pumping Bomber for a near fall.
Shingo fired up at the ten minute call. He went for Last of the Dragon, but his leg buckled. Moxley hit Death Rider, but only got a near fall off of it.
Shingo blocked a second Death Rider, and they rolled outside. Moxley slammed Shingo’s left leg into the table, which didn’t break. Moxley wrapped a chair around the left leg, then hit it with another chair. They teased a countout, but Shingo made it back inside.
As soon as Shingo stepped back inside, Moxley hit the Regal knee. He went for a Death Rider, but Shingo blocked it. Shingo then hit Made in Japan for a near fall.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon, but Moxley kicked at the bad knee. Moxley hit another Regal knee to the back for a near fall, then used a cloverleaf for the submission.
This was good. Shingo did more selling than he has at any point since his NJPW debut, and Moxley did more wrestling than hardcore brawling.
B BLOCK MATCH: JAY WHITE DEFEATED JEFF COBB (15:50)
White did his customary stalling early on. Cobb hit a dropkick, then a huge throw, and White rolled outside. Cobb teased posting White, but Gedo made the save for White.
Cobb got Gedo in the ring, allowing White to hit a knee to the back. White took over, choking Cobb with the ring skirt, then hitting a neckbreaker off the apron to the floor.
White continued working over the neck with a chinlock, then a neck tie. Cobb hit a Samoan drop. He tried to kip up, but White pulled him back to the mat by his hair. Cobb hit a belly-to-belly, then a pop-up backdrop.
Cobb hit a gutwrench suplex, an uppercut, then a vertical suplex. Cobb hit a standing moonsault for a near fall. Cobb went for the Tour of the Islands, but White blocked it, then snapped Cobb’s neck over the top rope. White hit a DDT, then a flatliner.
White hit another flatliner, then a Saito suplex. They traded strikes. White used an eye rake, but Cobb came back with a fallaway slam. Cobb hit an impressive sidewalk slam, then placed White on the top rope. Gedo provided a distraction, and White slipped to the apron. Cobb followed up with a deadlift superplex for a great near fall.
White blocked a Tour of the Islands with elbow strikes. Cobb pushed White off into the referee, and we had our second ref bump of the night. Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles, but Cobb slammed him. White blocked another Tour of the Islands attempt, then hit a low blow.
White hit a sleeper suplex. Cobb hit a snap German. Cobb went for Tour of the Islands, but White reversed it into a Blade Runner to get his first win of the tournament.
The ref bump sucked the life out of the crowd and really hurt an otherwise good match.
B BLOCK MATCH: TETSUYA NAITO DEFEATED TOMOHIRO ISHII (19:00)
Naito controlled the early-going with strikes. Ishii came back with a powerslam, then landed a series of chops. Ishii hit a headbutt. Naito hammered Ishii’s neck with elbows, then hit an inverted atomic drop. Naito hit a one-legged dropkick.
Naito was really moving well here. He hit a flying headscissors, a dropkick to the back, then a combinacion in the corner. He teased a top rope rana, but Ishii cut him off. He teased a powerbomb out of the corner, but Naito slipped out.
Naito hit a hard shot to the neck, but Ishii no-sold it. Naito spit at Ishii, who then dropped him with a forearm. Ishii hit a series of chops and strikes in the corner. Ishii hit a back suplex for a near fall.
Ishii went for a powerbomb, but Naito countered out. Ishii missed a sliding lariat, and Naito hit an enzuigiri. Naito missed a dropkick, and Ishii hit a suplex. Naito hit a tornado DDT, into a double down. This was an awesome sequence.
Naito hit a neckbreaker off the second rope, then a top rope rana for a near fall. Naito hit a flying forearm, then hit Gloria for a near fall. Naito went for Destino, but had to settle for a suplex after Ishii fought out.
Naito hit a poison rana. He tried for Destino again, but Ishii fought it off with a lariat. Naito ducked another lariat, then hit an enzuigiri. Ishii placed Naito on the top rope, then hit an uppercut headbutt to the chin. Ishii followed up with a superplex for a two count at the 15-minute call.
Naito blocked a lariat, but Ishii hit a headbutt. Ishii hit a hard lariat, and Naito took a flip bump. Ishii got a two count. Naito slipped out of a brainbuster. Naito hit Destino, but only got a two count.
Naito went for another Destino. Ishii blocked it, but Naito hit a suplex. Ishii no-sold it, popped up, then hit a sliding lariat for a two count.
Naito blocked a brainbuster, then hit a Michinoku Driver for a near fall.
NJPW was in Hokkaido today for more B Block action. Tetsuya Naito and Taichi clashed in the main event in a rekindling of their feud from last year.
Here are the prelim bouts that took place prior to the B Block matches:
– Jushin Thunder Liger and Kota Ibushi defeated Shota Umino and Yota Tsuji
Ibushi submitted Tsuji with the half Boston Crab. Liger cut a promo after the match thanking the fans.
– SANADA, BUSHI and EVIL defeated Tomoaki Honma, Toa Henare and Ren Narita
BUSHI pinned Narita with the MX.
– Zack Sabre Jr., Lance Archer, Minoru Suzuki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, KENTA, Clark Connors and Karl Fredericks
Kanemaru pinned Connors with the Deep Impact DDT.
– Kazuchika Okada and YOSHI-HASHI defeated Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens
Okada pinned Owens with the rainmaker.
B Block:
Shingo Takagi defeated Toru Yano
This was fine for what it was. I don’t think it was as clever as the Naito match, but this is different than the normal G1 fare and I’m into it as a result.
Shingo, realizing Yano’s shirt got him the victory against Naito, wanted the shirt off. Yano was unsure about this, but obliged. Shingo jumped him but Yano put the shirt over him, shoved him into the turnbuckle and rolled him up for a near fall.
Yano goes out into the crowd and sits down in one of the aisles, daring Shingo to do something about it. Shingo started to make his way towards Yano, and Yano responded by tripping him into the stairs and setting up a bunch of obstacles so he could get a count out win. Despite everything, Shingo made it in at 19.
Yano next went for the tape. Shingo took it away from Yano and struck him with it. The two ended up exchanging punches Shingo blocked a low blow but Yano countered the noshigami with a crucifix roll-up. Yano put the ref in Shingo’s line of fire as he introduced as chair. He threw it to Shingo and tattled on him to the ref.
BUSHI came out to ringside to I guess tell the referee what was going on. Shingo then threw the chair at Yano and pinned him with the pumping bomber.
Juice Robinson defeated Hirooki Goto
This was a solid match. The work was very good and the crowd got into it. Will probably be lost in the ether of tremendous G1 matches, but this was a nice, good match.
The two start off tentatively. At the five minute mark they are both looking for control. Juice finally gets something with a big flapjack that takes down Goto. He is resilient, however, as they both exchange back and forth strikes.
Goto went for the ushigiroshi but Juice escaped as they both hit a lariat. Goto struck with a lariat that connected and followed that with the ushigiroshi. Goto continued to pelt Juice with strikes until Juice cuts him off and hits a jackhammer.
Juice went for the pulp friction but Goto countered out of it Juice cradled him for a nearfall. The two exchanged strikes until Juice struck with the left hand then pinned Goto with the pulp friction.
Jon Moxley defeated Jeff Cobb
This was a really weird match. It never felt like it got going, then just ended abruptly out of nowhere.
Moxley gained the advantage early, taking Cobb to the outside and working on an arm, slamming it on the mat. He then took Cobb out to the floor and hit a tope suicida, wiping him out on the stage. He took Cobb further back, going for a powerbomb. Cobb tried to counter with a back body drop but Moxley retreated. They both end up hitting a double clothesline, taking each other out.
Moxley rolled Cobb back in the ring and struck Cobb with an elbow off the top rope. Cobb cut him off and started to connect with some offense but Moxley exposed a knee and hit a running knee strike for a nearfall. Cobb took Moxley to the apron and went for a suplex but Moxley blocked it and headed back in the ring, taking out Cobb with a knee and hitting a draping DDT for the win.
Tomohiro Ishii defeated Jay White
This got really great by the end of the match, easily the best match of the card up to this point. Crowd got into it big time too which helped.
As soon as the bell rang, White bolted out of the ring and tricked Ishii by going back to the ring when Ishii exited. Ishii got control soon after by whipping White across the barricades and getting a chair. Gedo distracted Ishii long enough for White to shove him into the ringpost, gaining control.
That didn’t last long however as Ishii hit White with a suplex and attacked him in the corner with kicks and chops. White hit a DDT then landed a suplex that sent Ishii back first into the post. Ishii soon fired back with some offense and hits a powerslam.
After Ishii got the better of White in a strike exchange, White took him out with a German suplex and goaded him with some kicks. Ishii encouraged him to do more and got right back up after a side suplex. Ishii attacked, taking him to the top rope and hitting a big superplex.
White cut him off after some lariat attempts and took him down with a uranage. He connected with a kiwi crusher for a nearfall. White hit the sleeper suplex but Ishii countered with a German suplex. Ishii built momentum again, hitting the stack up powerbomb. White avoids the sliding D attempt and grabs a leg as Gedo starts to distract.
Ishii falls for the bait momentarily which allowed White to go for the bladerunner but Ishii countered, took out White and connected with the sliding D. White escaped the brainbuster and tried for the bladerunner but Ishii hit a downward spiral. He followed that up with a lariat then a brainbuster for the win.
Taichi defeated Tetsuya Naito
I’m not too sure what to think of this match. I think Taichi has developed a certain type of style with his matches, and this was what you would expect. I guess it was fine, but nothing going out of your way to watch. A long stretch of this was kind of boring, but by the end there was some good drama. The iron fingers of death is such a weak item to use, though.
Taichi, of course, opted to stall once the bell rang. Naito practically laid down in the middle of the ring so he could engage. Taichi bought the bait and kicked out of a near fall. After Miho Abe distracted Naito for a bit, he entered the ring and got low blowed by Taichi.
After Taichi connected with some Kawada kicks, Naito responded by spitting at Taichi. Taichi continued to work over Taichi until he took out what he had been planning for a while: the iron fingers of death. However, Naito took out Taich with a dropkick to the knee. Naito went for a hurricanrana, but Taichi countered with a ganso bomb.
Taichi went for Black Mephisto but Naito countered, hit a poison rana and hit the Destino. Taichi kicked out. Naito went for another, but Taichi hit the air raid crash. The two went at it some more until Taichi put Red Shoes in their path, with Naito accidently blasting him with a forearm.
Kanemaru got on the apron for the whiskey shot, but Naito took him out and also foiled another iron fingers of death attempt. Taichi went for a superkick and grabbed the fingers again, this time succeeding. Taichi then hit the last ride powerbomb for the win.
Taichi mocked the crowd to close out the show, saying he’s in the G1.
G1 STANDINGS
A BLOCK
Kazuchika Okada 4
KENTA 4
Lance Archer 4
SANADA 2
Bad Luck Fale 2
EVIL 2
Will Ospreay 2
Kota Ibushi 0
Zack Sabre Jr. 0
Hiroshi Tanahashi 0
B BLOCK
Tomohiro Ishii 4
Jon Moxley 4
Juice Robinson 4
Shingo Takagi 2
Hirooki Goto 2
Toru Yano 2
Taichi 2
Tetsuya Naito 0
Jeff Cobb 0
Jay White 0
Kota Ibushi and Tetsuya Naito finally have a date for their next match.
Naito and Ibushi faced off this morning at Wrestling Dontaku following a tag team match that had them on opposite sides, with Naito’s team picking up the win. After the match, he said that would like to face Ibushi for the Intercontinental title at Dominion on June 9th. He asked Ibushi a simple question: “si” or “no.”
Ibushi entered the ring and quickly said “si”, setting the stage for their showdown at Osaka-jo Hall.
The story for much of this tour was that Ibushi wanted to get his hands on Naito so bad that he wanted to face him throughout the entire tour. The cards were changed, with Ibushi regularly teaming with CHAOS against Los Ingobernables de Japón. Ibushi clearly wanted to face Naito in a singles match, and while Naito agreed, he waited to reveal when he wanted the match until this morning.
Naito and Ibushi have faced off against each other twice this year, the first during the New Japan Cup and the second at the G1 Supercard at Madison Square Garden. Ibushi picked up the win in both matches.
