Goto and Shingo will face off in a second round match on Saturday.
New Japan Cup first round match: Yuji Nagata defeated Yota Tsuji (13:42)
This was not Nagata’s best night, but Tsuji was very good here. Nagata was huffing and puffing his way through.
They opened with some chain wrestling. Tsuji scored a knockdown off a tackle and began to try some strikes. He was initially successful, but Nagata caught his left arm and began to work on it.
Nagata fired off some strikes, then went back to working the left arm with a fujiwara armbar. Nagata hit some big kicks. Tsuji fired up and demanded more kicks. Nagata hit the ropes to deliver a big boot, but Tsuji cut him off with a dropkick into a double down.
Tsuji hit a slam, a senton and a splash for a near fall. Nagata fired back with kicks and a butterfly suplex for a near fall. Tsuji got two quick near falls off cradles. Nagata used a crossface. Tsuji bit Nagata’s hand to break the hold.
They traded pinning combinations. Tsuji used two more cradles, then hit a spear to complete a trio of near falls. Tsuji got a Boston crab applied at the 10 minute call. Nagata forced a rope break, then hit a kitchen sink.
They exchanged strikes. Nagata hit an exploder and a running knee lift in the corner. Tsuji trapped Nagata in another cradle for a two count.
Nagata hit a wheel kick, then a backdrop suplex into a bridge for the pin.
Nagata advances to the second round and faces the winner of the main event on Sunday.
New Japan Cup first round match: SANADA defeated Tomohiro Ishii (25:18)
This was very good. Ishii is always going to deliver in a main event and this was no exception.
They began with some mat work. They moved on to striking and Ishii got the best of the first battle. SANADA rolled outside to gain some distance, but Ishii went out after him and threw him back in.
Ishii backed SANADA into the corner and scored with more strikes. SANADA charged out of the corner with a basement dropkick to the left knee. He followed with a leapfrog dropkick and a plancha. SANADA did some crowd work, then used a paradise lock. After some more crowd work, he broke the hold with a dropkick.
Ishii hit a series of forearm and chop combinations in the corner. Ishii shoved referee Red Shoes down as he tried to force Ishii out of the corner. They traded strikes in the center of the ring. SANADA got a knockdown off an uppercut forearm.
SANADA then trapped Ishii in the corner. Red Shoes tried to force a break, but this time SANADA threw him aside. They traded backdrop suplexes. Ishii hit a German. SANADA hit a shotgun dropkick. Ishii hit a German into the buckle, then used a delayed superplex for two.
A crazy sequence saw SANADA hit a dropkick after Ishii hit a reverse buckle bomb. SANADA used a dragon sleeper to set up a TKO attempt. Ishii blocked. Ishii blocked a rolling elbow with a forearm shot.
Ishii hit a powerbomb with a stack cover for a two count. He hit two lariats and used another stack for a near fall. Ishii went for a brainbuster. SANADA blocked. SANADA landed on his feet out of a suplex attempt and hit a TKO into a double down.
SANADA hit a springboard dropkick. Ishii no-sold, but SANADA followed with an immediate forearm shot. SANADA used Skull End with a body scissors. After nearly a minute in the hold, Ishii forced a rope break.
SANADA hit a magic screw for a near fall. Ishii missed an enzuigiri. Ishii avoided an O’Connor roll. SANADA hit a moonsault. He went for a second moonsault, but Ishii rolled out of the way.
SANADA used another moonsault to set up Skull End. Ishii slid out. SANADA avoided a sliding lariat. Ishii hit an enzuigiri. Ishii hit a sliding lariat for a near fall. SANADA avoided two brainbuster attempts and used an O’Connor roll for a great near fall.
They traded strikes. SANADA hit a hurricanrana and a pop-up TKO, then used another moonsault for the pin.
SANADA advances to round two and will face Nagata on Sunday.
Ishimori pinned BUSHI after BUSHI was hit with ELP’s Sudden Death superkick.
El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru attacked ELP and Ishimori after the match. Desperado and Kanemaru vs. Ishimori and ELP for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag titles will likely be added to Thursday’s show. ELP and Ishimori had been set to defend against Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI, but Hiromu is now out for six months.
SANADA defeated Tomoaki Honma (12:45)
SANADA won by submission with Skull End.
EVIL & Jay White (w/Dick Togo & Gedo) defeated Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii (13:40)
EVIL pinned Okada after hitting Everything is EVIL.
A NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team title match has been added to the card for NJPW’s The New Beginning in Hiroshima night two.
After a challenge that was issued by Jay White at Tuesday’s Road to The New Beginning show, NJPW has announced that White, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa will challenge for Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI’s NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles at The New Beginning in Hiroshima night two. The show is taking place on Thursday, February 11.
White made his return to NJPW at Monday’s Road to The New Beginning show and then returned to action on Tuesday. He’s also been added to the cards for NJPW’s two remaining Road to The New Beginning shows and The New Beginning in Hiroshima night one.
The New Beginning in Hiroshima night one is taking place on Wednesday, February 10 and will now feature White, EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo facing Ishii, Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano. Tonga & Loa are defending their IWGP Tag Team titles against Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi at the show.
The New Beginning in Hiroshima night one will begin at 4:30 a.m. Eastern time. Night two will start at 1 a.m. Eastern. Both shows are airing live on NJPW World.
Here are the updated cards:
The New Beginning in Hiroshima night one (Wednesday, February 10) —
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi defends against SHO
IWGP Tag Team Champions Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defend against Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma vs. SANADA & Tetsuya Naito
Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano vs. EVIL, Jay White, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
Master Wato vs. BUSHI
Yota Tsuji, Yuya Uemura & Gabriel Kidd vs. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
The New Beginning in Hiroshima night two (Thursday, February 11) —
IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental Champion Kota Ibushi defends both titles against SANADA
NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defend against Jay White, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa
The NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles will be on the line at Road to Power Struggle night one.
NJPW has revealed the full card for Road to Power Struggle night one, with it being headlined by NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defending their titles against Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI. The match was set up by Taichi, Sabre Jr., DOUKI & El Desperado defeating Ishii, Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano in an eight-man tag match at the G1 finals.
DOUKI pinned YOSHI-HASHI to get the win in that eight-man tag match. After the match, Taichi, Sabre & DOUKI attacked Ishii, Goto & YOSHI-HASHI and posed with the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag team titles.
Ishii, Goto & YOSHI-HASHI have been NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions since winning the titles in a tournament this August. EVIL, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI were the champions prior to that, but the titles were declared vacant after EVIL joined Bullet Club.
NJPW has yet to reveal the cards for the rest of the Road to Power Struggle tour. The tour is leading into Power Struggle being held at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan on Saturday, November 7. Power Struggle will feature six singles matches.
Road to Power Struggle night one is taking place at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo this Friday (October 23) and will air live on NJPW World starting at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time. Here’s the full card for the show:
NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defend against Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI
Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. EVIL & Dick Togo
Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma vs. Jay White, KENTA & Gedo
Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Kazuchika Okada & Gabriel Kidd vs. Will Ospreay & The Great O-Khan
Kota Ibushi has won the A Block in NJPW’s G1 Climax 30 tournament and is advancing to this weekend’s finals.
Ibushi defeated Taichi in the semi-main event of this morning’s A Block finals. He still needed help to advance, with Jay White and Tomohiro Ishii facing off in today’s main event. After a back-and-forth match, Ishii hit the vertical brainbuster to pick up the win and eliminate White from the tournament.
Ibushi finished A Block action with 14 points, while White finished with 12 after his loss today.
The G1 finals are being held at Sumo Hall in Tokyo this Sunday (October 18). Ibushi’s opponent for the finals will be determined when the last night of B Block action is held at Sumo Hall on Saturday. EVIL vs. SANADA, Tetsuya Naito vs. KENTA, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Juice Robinson vs. Hirooki Goto, and Toru Yano vs. YOSHI-HASHI are Saturday’s tournament matches.
Here are the current standings and scenarios heading into the B Block finals, compiled by Ethan Renner:
EVIL — 12 points (6-2) *wins the block with a win over SANADA or a draw/no contest with SANADA, Naito loss and Sabre loss/draw*
Tetsuya Naito — 12 points (6-2) *wins the block with a win/draw over KENTA and an EVIL loss/no contest*
SANADA — 10 points (5-3) *wins the block with a win over EVIL and a Naito loss/no contest*
Zack Sabre Jr. — 10 points (5-3) *ties with Naito & EVIL for block win with a win over Tanahashi, a Naito loss, and a SANADA/EVIL no contest*
Kidd scored a takedown in the early going and began working over the entirety of Uemura. Uemura was able to scramble free and secure Kidd’s left arm in the process. Kidd was forced to resort to the ropes and sneak in some strikes to free his arm.
Once free, Kidd landed a suplex and tried securing the arms for his new finish. Uemura recaptured arm control as Kidd let his guard down. Uemura’s arm work was cut short by a stomp to the chest and an echoing slap nearly left him unconscious.
A strike exchange ended with a Kidd dropkick. Kidd tried again for his double-arm suplex and Uemura slipped free. Uemura used a quick arm drag to take the match briefly to the ground.
Uemura then hoisted Kidd up in double overhooks and landed a suplex with the hooks still in. Uemura used the leverage to pin Kidd.
A very easy watch with strong performances from both men.
G1 Climax A Block: Jeff Cobb defeated Will Ospreay
Ospreay burst from the corner immediately with a dropkick to set the pace of the match. A frustrated Cobb tried striking Ospreay but instead was ejected to the outside by a rana.
Ospreay entered a sprint for the Ospreay special but was caught by Cobb mid-flip. Cobb, still on the apron, lifted Ospreay, teasing both a driver to the ring corner and a powerbomb to the outside. Ospreay freed himself and landed a knee to send Cobb back to the mat. Ospreay then landed the Ospreay special completing the dangerous dance on the outside.
Cobb and Ospreay had a short exchange of strikes, slightly favored Ospreay. Ospreay tried diving onto a standing Cobb but was caught mid-flight and hit with a giant suplex. Cobb followed up with a backdrop, headbutt, and a pseudo-slam from standing suplex position.
A kick to the midsection was caught by Cobb, who then converted with a chop and a senton. Cobb then tried for Tour of the Islands but was blocked by a clever grabbing of the arms. Ospreay flipped into a powerbomb while still attached to Cobb.
Ospreay tried for Storm Breaker but Cobb escaped the underhooks. A quick sequence ended by Ospreay landing a Spanish fly followed. Ospreay landed a 450 and was shocked as Cobb kicked from the pin attempt.
Ospreay tried for the Oscutter but was blocked by Cobb. Cobb then lifted Ospreay onto his shoulders and launched him with a ridiculous F5.
Ospreay and Cobb both tried and failed to land their finish before Ospreay finally connected with his cutter. After Cobb kicked out, Ospreay tried and failed to land Storm Breaker.
It was instead Cobb who landed a German suplex which he followed with Tour of the Islands. Cobb pinned Ospreay after landing the move.
What a match. Spectacular pacing and impactful wrestling.
G1 Climax A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated Yujiro Takahashi
Takahashi broke free of Ibushi-favored collar-and-elbows by sending Ibushi to the outside. Takahashi tried striking Ibushi, but failed in landing anything significant. Takahashi instead gained some momentum by blocking an Ibushi dive and landing a DDT on the outside.
Once inside the ring, Takahashi landed a few strikes that caused Ibushi’s face of rage to grow. Takahashi still held onto his lead, even landing a suplex and a big boot prior to Ibushi gaining any type of foothold.
Ibushi landed a kick to the midsection before kicking a hole into Takahashi’s chest.
Takahashi threw Ibushi onto the ropes and landed a lariat in his next show of offense. This time it was an impressively-timed double foot stomp that broke Takahashi’s momentum.
Takahashi didn’t give up, however, as a bite on Ibushi placed him back into front. Miami Shine left both men winded. Takahashi lifted Ibushi to the top rope and landed a super fisherman buster.
Ibushi freed himself from Pimp Juice but missed the rebound Kamigoye. A short sequence allowed Ibushi to land the Kamigoye and pin Takahashi.
It will never not be strange to see Takahashi scoring near falls over top stars. Anyway, this match was fine.
G1 Climax A Block: Taichi defeated Shingo Takagi
Takagi landed a lariat to the corner followed by a shoulder tackle sending Taichi to the outside. On the floor, Taichi elected to use a hammer to inflict punishment. The referee freed Takagi from a Taichi choke and forced the match to return to the ring.
Back inside, it was Taichi who continued choking Takagi. Any sign of Takagi defiance was blocked prior to a dangerous backdrop attempt. Takagi landed a suplex after being given the least bit of space. A brainbuster and sliding lariat followed.
Takagi whipped Taichi into the corner but was kicked before he could follow up. Taichi was dropped moments later to a Takagi lariat.
Takagi followed the lariat with a noshigami and a failed attempt at Last of the Dragon. A striking contest broke out that featured both men landing larger and larger moves. Taichi landed the dangerous backdrop to end the one-upmanship.
A pumping bomber from Taichi resulted in a two count and the removal of Taichi’s breakaway pants. Takagi immediately flattened Taichi with a lariat.
Takagi landed some strong strikes before an awkward roll-up nearly left him with a win. In following up, Takagi used Made in Japan and a pumping bomber, both of which yielded a near fall.
A Taichi-favored sequence followed. Taichi ended the sequence with Black Mephisto and pinned Takagi.
This was good enough. With both men already mathematically eliminated prior to the match itself, a dramatic masterclass shouldn’t be expected.
G1 Climax A Block: Jay White defeated Minoru Suzuki
White left the ring immediately following the bell. Once Suzuki succeeded in baiting White into a match, he manipulated the fingers, nullifying the effectiveness of one of White’s hands. Suzuki then chopped White in the corner before returning his attention to the digits.
Gedo then interfered in the match on White’s behalf by just gaining the focus of Suzuki.
White chopped Suzuki on the outside which awoke a monster on the face of Suzuki. White temporarily stopped the monstrous Suzuki from encroaching with a chinlock. White threw Suzuki into the ropes, where Gedo threatened to strike Suzuki with a chair. With the referee occupied with Gedo, White tried for a chair shot of his own but Suzuki countered, grabbing the chair and landing multiple shots across the back of White.
Gedo stole enough of Suzuki’s attention for White to reenter the fold and a sadistic attack on the leg of Suzuki emerged from the opening. Suzuki rose in defiance to his knees as fully standing was now an impossibility. Suzuki was chopped and chopped, never fell, but instead rose. Suzuki was dropped by a DDT once regaining footing.
Suzuki gained an opening by apprehending the arm of White. Though nothing followed directly from gaining the arm, Suzuki was able to land a strike that sent White to the floor. Suzuki followed White to make sure he returned to the ring.
White started back at the leg of Suzuki but was caught in a leglock after daring to challenge Suzuki on the mat. White was forced to grab the bottom rope. A pair Suzuki forearms left White limp. Before the third could be delivered, Gedo peculated the awareness of Suzuki once again.
White dropped Suzuki with a chop block. The Blade Runner attempt that followed was transformed into a Suzuki armbar. Gedo hopped onto the apron just in time for the referee to miss White submitting. Suzuki then clubbed Gedo, sending him crashing back to the outside.
A Suzuki striking sequence almost ended in disaster as a ducked strike left White in position for a Blade Runner. Suzuki avoided the move twice in quick succession.
Suzuki locked in a sleeper to weaken White and positioned for the Gotch piledriver before Gedo reasserted his presence. A distracted referee led to a White low blow and a Blade Runner. White pinned Suzuki to further his great standing.
Sadly, the incessant Gedo interference reduced what would have an incredible match to a very good match.
G1 Climax A Block: Kazuchika Okada defeated Tomohiro Ishii
An early standoff combined with their immeasurable reputation built to an intense air around the match. Small moves, an Okada shoulder block, for example, felt huge.
Okada landed a few elbows, a single leg dropkick, and secured a chinlock to lay an offensive foundation. A standing suplex from Ishii did the same for him.
Okada’s chest was chopped, causing him to fall to the corner. A chop to the throat yielded a more devastating result as Okada was forced to gasp for air. Ishii tried to follow up with an Irish whip but was caught by a flapjack.
An Okada DDT allowed him to toy with Ishii, triggering a strike exchange. A solid elbow dropped Okada.
Under the lead of Ishii, they climbed to the top rope. Ishii met resistance but nothing came from the ascent. Instead, on the safety of the mat, Okada landed an Air Raid Crash, initiating Ishii’s survival instincts. Ishii landed a quick suplex on Okada.
A struggle for footing left Ishii in perfect position for a German suplex into the corner. Ishii then lifted Okada to the top rope and suplexed him back to the mat, completing the prior tease.
Okada landed his dropkick to transition into the match’s next phase. A tombstone piledriver followed and the Money Clip forced Ishii into the ropes. Okada slowed after this, a fact that Ishii took full advantage of.
A German suplex allowed Ishii to temporarily gain a lead, but a triad of quick pins left the match back in Okada’s favor. A big boot, elbow, and shotgun dropkick left Okada back in position for the Money Clip. Ishii freed himself from the hold with a DDT.
A failed suplex from Ishii allowed Okada to reset the match with a tombstone. Okada established wrist control but was blocked by a barrage of Ishii headbutts. A Rainmaker failed to make Ishii move.
Ishii landed an enzuigiri and Okada a dropkick. Okada locked in the Money Clip again and allowed Ishii to fade. A last-ditch headbutt reopened the match for Ishii. Ishii landed a lariat and nearly scored the fall.
Ishii lifted Okada for a brainbuster but Okada freed himself. Okada set up for the Money Clip while standing, but Ishii used his knees to break the hold.
A sequence of near-hits played out and was punctuated by Okada’s dropkick. Okada locked the Money Clip in once again and allowed Ishii to slowly fade from consciousness. The bell was called for leaving Okada the victor.
The match’s early feeling of intensity was somewhat drained as the match failed to pick up. While at times sluggish, these men still delivered a strong performance heading into the last stretch of the tournament.
Korakuen Hall got its first look at G1 Climax Block A tonight, headlined by Tomohiro Ishii vs. Shingo Takagi in the main event.
Report —
Yota Tsuji defeated Yuya Uemura (7:53)
Korakuen famously loves its Young Lion matches. This was the third meeting between these two on the tour, and I felt it was their best yet.
Tsuji won a test of strength with a Greco-Roman knuckle lock, but Uemura’s bridge was too strong to break. After more chain wrestling, Tsuji landed the first move of the match with a running shoulder tackle.
A jumping body press got an early two for Tsuji, but Uemura had too much left in the tank for him to lock on the Boston crab. A dropkick allowed Uemura to make his comeback, followed by a running forearm for two.
Uemura laid in strikes in the corner. After being whipped into the opposite corner, Tsuji exploded back with a spear, which finally allowed him to apply the crab.
Uemura nearly reached the ropes to escape the crab, but Tsuji pulled back with a giant swing. After a longer-than-usual submission fight, Uemura was forced to tap.
This was nice and compact action, but nothing special.
They shoved each other around before the bell, and Suzuki quickly downed his opponent with a big boot. On the outside, Yujiro took the advantage by striking and choking with his staff.
After more strikes in the ring, Suzuki snapped, sending Yujiro back outside. He smashed Yujiro with chair strikes and shoved down the official, then choked Yujiro with an electrical cord.
Back inside, Suzuki applied a sleeper hold. Yujiro caught a soccer kick and hit a running dropkick, followed by a fisherman’s buster for two.
They traded forearms, but Suzuki’s super-stiff forearm sent Yujiro to the mat. After firing back up with a lariat, Yujiro attempted his swinging fireman’s carry slam, but Suzuki escaped.
Suzuki turned Pimp Juice into the rear naked choke, followed by the Gotch piledriver for a quick win.
G1 Climax Block A: Kota Ibushi defeated Jeff Cobb (10:44)
I thought this was Cobb’s best performance yet, but the match ended just as it was getting great.
They performed chain wrestling to start. After a big chop from Cobb, they went right into a striking battle. Ibushi hit his striking sequence, finishing with a moonsault for two.
Ibushi ran the ropes but Cobb hit an impressive standing dropkick to take control. Ibushi fought back with a jumping hurricanrana and a plancha to the outside. He missed a springboard but avoided a spear and hit a double stomp.
Cobb caught a mid kick and hit a back suplex. He ran in with his jumping uppercut in the corner, followed by his catching back suplex and a standing moonsault for two.
Cobb set up for a running lariat, but Ibushi turned it into another stiff striking battle, which Cobb won with a standing lariat. He then hit his series of gutwrenches, but Ibushi fought out of the powerbomb, so he turned it into an F5 for a near fall.
Ibushi fought out of Tour of the Islands and hit a high kick and a V-Trigger, followed by the Kamigoye for the win.
This started slowly with too much brawling, but it built to a really exciting finish. I thought this was better than their overlong New Beginning main even from earlier in the year. Okada’s back was heavily taped, and he just didn’t move as effortlessly as we’re used to seeing from him.
Taichi attacked before the bell, and sent Okada into the barricade outside. El Desperado, who had been on commentary, distracted the referee while Taichi hit chair shots. I’m not sure why that was necessary considering Suzuki hit chair shots right in front of the exact same official earlier in the show.
Back inside, Taichi beat Okada down with kicks. Okada rolled outside again, and Taichi shoved him into the ring apron. Back in, Okada was beaten down for a while before fighting back with a running forearm.
Okada hit his running back elbow and his corner DDT sequence for two, but Taichi fought out of the Money Clip cobra clutch. Taichi rolled outside once again, driving Okada’s back into the ring barricade. Okada finally got the best of the exchange with a DDT to the floor.
Okada missed a missile dropkick which sent him crashing to the mat. Taichi hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and locked on a single-leg crab, but Okada reached the ropes.
Okada fought out of the Last Ride, so Taichi was forced to hit Kawada kicks. Another Last Ride attempt was countered into the Air Raid Crash neckbreaker. Taichi avoided a corner lariat and hit an enzuigiri.
Taichi ran the ropes but had the Okada dropkick scouted. He hit a buzzsaw kick, and the pants were off, but Okada hit his dropkick. Okada tried to apply the Money Clip but Taichi turned into a backdrop suplex.
Okada fought out of the Last Ride once again and hit a spinning tombstone piledriver, which allowed him to lock on the Money Clip. Taichi fought out with an illegal choke, but Okada hit a short Rainmaker and maintained wrist control.
Taichi pulled the official in front of a second Rainmaker attempt and used the Gedo Clutch for a great near fall.
Another jumping enzuigiri led to a striking battle. Taichi finished it off with a Rainmaker of his own.
Okada fought out of Black Mephisto and locked on the Money Clip, but Taichi forced his way out. He tried for Black Mephisto one more time, but Okada hit a backbreaker with the Money Clip applied, leading to a referee stoppage.
G1 Climax 30 Block A: Will Ospreay defeated Jay White (18:49)
This was fantastic, maybe White’s best match all year. They kept the Gedo interference to a minimum, and White’s timing in avoiding big moves is so perfect that it makes them all the more satisfying when they hit.
Gedo joined Switchblade as always. His gimmick on this tour has been taunting the fans for being unable to chant. He powdered to the outside at the bell, and continued to do so for a few minutes.
Once inside, White beat Ospreay down in the corner. Ospreay fired back out with a huge chop, reminiscent of his massive chop against Okada during last year’s G1 Korakuen stop.
A lariat sent White to the outside, but Ospreay feinted on his space flying tiger drop attempt. Back in, White dispatched Ospreay with an overhead suplex from inside the ring to the apron, sending him crashing to the floor.
White maintained control during a long heat segment. Ospreay finally made a comeback with a handspring kick followed by a standing shooting star press for two. Pip Pip Cheerio followed, but White moved out of the way of the space flying tiger drop.
Gedo grabbed Ospreay’s leg as they made their way back inside the ring, allowing White to take advantage once again. The Bladebuster got two for White. Ospreay tried to hit his backflip into an enzuigiri, but his leg gave out. Another distraction from Gedo gave White enough time to counter Pip Pip Cheerio into a German suplex.
The two fought on the top rope, but Ospreay hit a springboard dropkick, forcing White into the tree of woe. White moved out of the way of the Coast to Coast and rolled outside, which allowed Ospreay to hit the space flying tiger drop.
Back in, a springboard 450 splash from Ospreay got two. White avoided the Oscutter and hit a uranage for a double down. The Kiwi Krusher got two, but Ospreay fought out of the Blade Runner and hit a Liger bomb.
Ospreay fought out of another Blade Runner and hit the Oscutter for two. He set up for the Hidden Blade, but White collapsed out of the way. Ospreay laid in ground and pound to the back of White’s head, which forced the official to break it up.
Ospreay continued his beatdown with Kawada kicks, but White tripped up the official on as he set up for the Stormbreaker. Gedo tried to use his brass knuckles, but Ospreay easily downed him with a forearm and foiled White’s attempt at a low blow.
The Hidden Blade followed and Ospreay hit the Stormbreaker for the upset victory.
This was a rematch of many people’s match of the tournament from last year, and I’d say it mostly lived up to that expectation. I’d put it on the level of their match from earlier this year. These two absolutely killed each other, even more than you’d imagine. It didn’t truly pick up until the closing sequence, but these two have such a high floor when they’re in the ring together that even with a more muted crowd reaction, the match is still excellent.
They had a striking exchange right at the bell. Ishii gained the upper hand at the start with a shoulder tackle and a couple big chops. Outside, Shingo was sent into the barricade, but he fired up with a shoulder tackle and a lariat.
Back in, Shingo hit elbow drops and a leaping senton. The two hit big chops on each other, concluding with a massive two-hand chop from Shingo. Ishii regained the upper hand with a suplex.
Ishii beat Shingo down in the corner with forearms and chops. He whipped Shingo into the other corner, but Shingo hit his signature strike combination followed by a lariat.
They continued to battle with strikes. Shingo hit a wheelbarrow German suplex for two. He hit the Pumping Bomber, but Ishii popped up and the two hit lariats for a double down.
They fought up top and Ishii hit a superplex. Ishii fought out of Made in Japan, but Shingo improvised and hit a gutbuster. Made in Japan and a Pumping Bomber each followed for two.
A short lariat downed Ishii. Shingo went for another Pumping Bomber but Ishii turned it into a backdrop suplex and hit a second for good measure. They traded strikes once more, and Ishii hit a powerbomb for two.
Ishii attempted the Vertical Drop Brainbuster but Shingo popped him up into a DVD. Ishii fired back up and hit a lariat but Shingo kicked out at one, followed by a sliding lariat for two.
Shingo fought out of the brainbuster again and hit a sliding forearm smash. They domed each other with clunking headbutts which garnered audible groans from the crowd. That was brutal.
They each hit a series of forearms, but Shingo trapped Ishii in the ropes and hit a GTR. A picture-perfect Pumping Bomber landed for a great near fall. Ishii fought out of Last of the Dragon and hit a DDT at the 25-minute mark.
They traded lariats and Ishii hit a jumping enzuigiri and another big lariat, allowing him to hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for his first win.
Post-match, they both sold like they didn’t realize the fight was over and continued to go after each other.
G1 Climax 30 made its last stop before arriving in Tokyo with a stacked card from the tournament’s A Block in Kobe.
Report —
Gabriel Kidd defeated Yota Tsuji
Kidd started the match by taking Tsuji to the mat. Tsuji was able to gain some ground by grappling in retort, but overall Kidd’s mat work left him in the driver’s seat early.
The power of Tsuji was the main means of thwarting Kidd’s advance. A large shoulder block led to an extended showcase of Tsuji offense. Tsuji locked in a single leg Boston crab that forced a desperate rope break from Kidd. The rope break allowed Kidd to regain a semblance of control, but again Tsuji’s strength seemed to be too much.
Kidd managed to withstand the storm and catch Tsuji off guard with a passion-filled sequence punctuated with a double arm suplex. Kidd then pinned Tsuji in the middle of the ring for his first win over Tsuji.
A fun match that was fundamentally sound. Kidd’s fervor really stood strong at the conclusion. A simple story executed well.
G1 Climax 30 A Block: Taichi defeated Yujiro Takahashi
This match started abruptly as Takahashi rammed his cane into Taichi as the opening bell sounded. Takahashi was disarmed but maintained the momentum until Taichi returned the favor with a hammer. Taichi took to assaulting Takahashi on the outside of the ring, driving him into the ring post and choking him with cables. Takahashi returned the favor of an environmental beating.
Takahashi’s offense inside the ring was short-lived as Taichi gouged for the eyes. A Taichi enzuigiri only cemented his rebound. Taichi kicked Takahashi in the temple before trying for a pin that Takahashi only just kicked out from.
Taichi wasted no time as tried he tried to hoist Takahashi for a slam but Taichi’s hand found its way into the mouth of Takahashi. With Takahashi’s teeth pressed into his hand, Taichi again turned to raking the eyes of Takahashi, a cute moment in what had been a trivial match.
Takahashi won a striking victory and followed up with an Olympic slam. Taichi reset the match with a suplex of his own. Taichi landed a lariat, re-energizing him late in the match.
After Takahashi kicked from the pin that followed Taichi’s breakaway pants were torn from his thighs in one fluid motion. Takahashi hit Miami Shine immediately after Taichi’s theatrics.
Taichi was able to fight free from Pimp Juice and down the referee in the process. A low blow and quick rollup followed leaving Taichi with another win.
This match was what one should expect with these two, nothing special. Some interactions were fun but not enough to carry them to a good match.
G1 Climax 30 A Block: Minoru Suzuki defeated Jeff Cobb
Suzuki started the match by baiting Cobb to the mat. Cobb was able to hold his own against Suzuki’s ground game but Suzuki eventually forced Cobb into a rope break.
Now that the two were standing, Cobb tried to crush Suzuki with his strength. Suzuki again was able to get the best of the situation. The two spilled to the outside of the ring. Suzuki and Cobb again seemed to be near equals, but even here it was Suzuki who proved to be ahead.
It was only by a collision of bodies that Cobb was able to pull ahead. Cobb was able to maintain his advantage in a striking exchange and subverted a Gotch piledriver. Cobb used his power to block almost every attempt at a Suzuki comeback. Suzuki’s wherewithal eventually proved to be too much even for Cobb’s power.
A choke attempt from Suzuki seamlessly lead into a successful Gotch piledriver leaving Suzuki with a clean pin.
This match was fast-paced and well structured. In a test of brains versus brawn, Suzuki’s demanding presence gelled perfectly with Cobb tonight for an outstanding match.
G1 Climax 30 A Block: Kota Ibushi defeated Tomohiro Ishii
Following an intense staredown, Ibushi and Ishii entered a series of tie-ups. After the collapse of the felling out process, they entered an extended striking sequence. Ishii was unmoving for the sequence and was perpetually standing over Ibushi during any pause.
Ibushi was able to withstand the strikes and ultimately end the first striking session with a rana. It wasn’t long after that the striking continued as if it had never stopped, but this time Ibushi had the edge.
An Ibushi slam and dropkick that would have dropped any other left Ishii standing. Before the shock of Ishii’s resistance could fully set in Ibushi was hit with a power slam. Ibushi this time refused to fall. The two then entered a test of will where no move could drop either man.
A tempo-resetting dropkick from Ibushi triggered an open palm brawl. Ibushi was able to drop Ishii for a moment, but Ishii rose with even more striking.
This awakened the beast in Ibushi.
Ibushi punched the heart of Ishii before nearly kicking his head off. Ishii was then hoisted by Ibushi into a powerbomb which only yielded a two count.
Ishii was not done fighting.
Ishii and Ibushi entered another struggle. This time it was an Ishii headbutt that caused Ibushi to fall. An Ishii lariat resulted in a near fall for the Stone Pitbull, but again Ibushi continued to resist.
Now on his last legs, Ibushi landed an enzuigiri followed by a brainbuster. Ibushi dropped his knee pads and landed a Kamigoye only for Ishii to kick out again.
Ishii and Ibushi traded their final swings at this point. Ishii’s headbutts and knees, in the end, proved to be just short of enough as another Kamigoye left Ibushi the victor.
What a match. These men beat the breaks off of each other. With everything left in the ring, topping this would be a real challenge.
G1 Climax 30 A Block: Shingo Takagi defeated Will Ospreay
Ospreay’s speed met Takagi’s power as soon as the bell sounded.
Ospreay and Shingo struggled for any advantage in a fantastic opening arrangement. Ospreay forced Takagi to retreat to the safety of the outside after his speed in combination with his new bulk proved to be too much. Takagi avoided any significant offense before dropping Ospreay with a Fireman’s carry takeover on the arena floor.
Takagi took his lead between the ropes, slowing the pace and overpowering Ospreay. Takagi landed a few elbows and a knee drop before taunting Ospreay. Ospreay responded with the initiation of a chop exchange which he left victorious. Ospreay’s offense picked up temporarily but was cut short by Shingo’s power. Shingo was just as unsuccessful in maintaining long-term sway as an unexpected stunner threw the match back in Ospreay’s direction.
In the first prolonged offensive stint of the match, Ospreay landed a flying forearm and the Sasuke special. Ospreay positioned Takagi in the tree of woe once returning to ring, where he delivered a swift kick to the skull and a picture-perfect coast-to-coast dropkick. A bloody Sunday and moonsault failed to close the match for Ospreay.
Ospreay tried for a springboard variation but was caught by a ready Takagi. Takagi dropped Ospreay face-first on the mat. Takagi was experiencing offensive success in the match for the first time. A sit-down powerbomb from Ospreay cut Takagi’s hopes short. An Oscutter and near fall seemingly reset the match.
Takagi and Ospreay began trading more and more impressive moves. Ultimately it was Takagi’s Made in Japan that left him ahead.
A pumping bomber almost closed the match for Takagi. Instead of a victory, the move triggered Ospreay’s final efforts. A poison rana from Ospreay and a headbutt from Takagi again reset the match.
Both men were now left to slug it out. Forearms reigned in prior to a burst of speed. Ospreay landed a one-man Spanish fly, a lariat and a brutal forearm to set up for a finale.
Takagi met Ospreay with a lariat of his own to subdue what would be the match’s end. Takagi then hoisted Ospreay onto his shoulders and dropped him from the second rope. Ospreay kicked out. Takagi landed a lariat. Ospreay kicked out.
Finally, Takagi connected with the Last of the Dragon, pinning Ospreay for the win.
This pair brings out the best in each other and now a rubber match is necessary. They put on a great match with little room for improvement.
G1 Climax 30 A Block: Jay White defeated Kazuchika Okada
White journeyed to the outside as soon as the match started, as this match was going to be on his terms.
Okada tried for his typical rope pat down but this match was at White’s pace. White actually was the one patting down Okada, which upset him greatly.
Okada took to beating down White, but again, this was under White’s control. Gedo clubbed the back of Okada, gaining his attention long enough for White to regain advantage.
White began his systematic dissection of Okada’s back at this point, driving Okada back first into any rigid object at his disposal. Okada tried to fight free but his back was proving to be his weak point. Plenty of knees and forearms from White crashed into the spine of Okada. Whenever Okada showed signs of life, his back stopped him.
Okada eventually landed a facebuster on White and began a slow climb back into this match.
Forearms, a hip attack and a DDT left Okada in control but for some unimaginable reason, Gedo became the center of Okada’s attention. A double DDT, ignoring the previously damaged back, dropped both White and Gedo.
Once in the ring again Okada’s back failed again. White regained advantage with a DDT of his own and once again the beating of Okada’s back continued.
Okada was able to catch a methodical White with a neckbreaker, resetting the match. The two traded forearms back and forth before White collapsed. Gedo tried to interfere again but was subverted by Okada. An Okada dropkick attempt was avoided, further punishing the back.
White tried the Rainmaker but Okada responded with a forearm. An Okada dropkick, piledriver, and Money Clip left Okada in control. Gedo entered the ring and found himself on the receiving end of a dropkick.
Okada locked in the Money Clip again only for Gedo to grab at the leg of the referee. White landed a low blow before grabbing the wrist of Okada. Okada tried again for a desperation Money Clip, but White landed a suplex in retort.
A transition into a Blade Runner allowed White to pin Okada.
**********
White grabbed a microphone and thanked Okada for celebrating the two year anniversary of White’s and Gedo’s Chaos defection while simultaneously claiming Okada’s glory days are behind him.
If you still somehow need convincing of White’s brilliance, this match will do it for you. It is everything you should expect in a White showing — a complete dissection and change of scenery when compared to everything else in New Japan. This was a great match that was only held back by the overuse of Gedo.
The participants and blocks for this year’s G1 Climax tournament has been announced.
The biggest news coming from the announcement is that several wrestlers who have been unable to travel to Japan due to COVID-19 restrictions have made it in for the tournament. The tour will be the first in months for the likes of Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, Jay White, KENTA, and Juice Robinson.
KENTA, Cobb, and White have been working shows for New Japan of America, namely the New Japan Strong shows that have aired over the summer.
It also cements several rematches from recent high profile feuds. EVIL and Tetsuya Naito, who just headlined Summer Struggle in Jingu, share the same block. Kazuchika Okada and Yujiro Takahashi are also in the same block and have been feuding for the last several months.
Here are the blocks and participants in this year’s tournament:
A Block:
Kota Ibushi
Tomohiro Ishii
Kazuchika Okada
Shingo Takagi
Yujiro Takahashi
Taichi
Minoru Suzuki
Jeff Cobb
Will Ospreay
Jay White
B Block:
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Hirooki Goto
Toru Yano
YOSHI-HASHI
SANADA
Tetsuya Naito
EVIL
Zack Sabre Jr.
Juice Robinson
KENTA
The G1 Climax tournament this year will start on September 19, with the finals taking place at Sumo Hall on October 18.
NJPW’s NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team title tournament is down to its final two teams.
It will be an all-Chaos final as Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano & SHO face off with their stablemates Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI to determine the new NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions. The match is taking place at NJPW’s Summer Struggle show at Korakuen Hall on Sunday (August 9).
Okada, Yano & SHO advanced to the finals by defeating SANADA, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI at today’s Summer Struggle event. They won by countout after Yano tied the laces of BUSHI’s mask to the barricade.
Ishii, Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi & Master Wato in today’s main event to advance to the finals.
In the first round of the tournament, Okada, Yano & SHO defeated Yujiro Takahashi, Gedo & Jado and Ishii, Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Ryusuke Taguchi.
The NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles were declared vacant after EVIL left Los Ingobernables de Japon and joined Bullet Club. He had held the titles with Shingo & BUSHI.
Sunday’s Summer Struggle show will begin at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time.
New Japan Cup quarterfinal match: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Tomohiro Ishii (19:12)
These are two of the ten best wrestlers in the world and they had a either the best or second best match of the tournament so far here in the opener.
They opened by trading shoulder tackles. Hiromu held his own in the exchange but Ishii established the clear advantage. They then traded hard chops. Again Hiromu held his own but again Ishii got the better of the exchange.
Hiromu fired up and hit chops. Ishii answered with one headbutt which sent Hiromu stumbling to the ropes. Hiromu rolled outside but Ishii went right after him and threw him back in the ring. Hiromu landed a snapmare and a dropkick but Ishii was back in control after a vertical suplex.
Hiromu hit a falcon arrow for a near fall. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick. Ishii popped right up and sent Hiromu into the buckle with a tackle. They did an intricate series of counters ending with Ishii hitting a backdrop suplex.
Hiromu hit a rana and rolled through into a triangle choke. They did a long submission tease but Ishii broke the hold by powering Hiromu into the corner pad. Ishii hit a hard corner clothesline to set up a delayed superplex. Both guys sold this great on landing. Ishii got a near fall.
Hiromu blocked a lariat. Ishii hit an enzuigiri. Ishii then connected with the lariat. Hiromu struggled to his feet and hit some weak forearms. Ishii answered with a single forearm shot and a sliding lariat for a two count.
Ishii went for the Vertical Drop Brainbuster. Hiromu countered into a triangle. Ishii again broke the triangle and hit a lariat. Hiromu took a crazy flip bump off the lariat. Hiromu popped up and hit a dynamite plunger for a near fall.
Hiromu hit two lariats and a superkick. He then hit a DVD into the corner pad. Ishii sold this like he was dead. They did a series of finisher teases. Hiromu no-sold a German. Ishii no-sold a lariat. Hiromu dropped Ishii with a single headbutt in a callback to the start of the match.
Hiromu hit a lariat. He hit Time Bomb but Ishii kicked out at two.
Ishii hit a headbutt. Hiromu spiked Ishii with a brainbuster then hit Time Bomb 2 for the pin.
Both guys sold for a long time after the bell and both stumbled to the back after. This was a war.
New Japan Cup quarterfinal match: EVIL defeated YOSHI-HASHI (2:00)
YH sold the knee injury from yesterday’s show during his entrance. EVIL attacked as YH posed on the buckle before the bell rang. EVIL repeatedly hit the knee with a chair.
Once the bell rang, YH tried to fire up and hit chops but EVIL would kick at the leg and cut him off.
EVIL used a scorpion deathlock. They did a long submission tease. YH refused to tap but the referee called for the bell and a stoppage.
EVIL went back after the leg after the match. They continue to build EVIL as a monster who will do anything to win this tournament and they protected YH on the loss.
Uemura started off and did well for himself against Shingo. SHO tagged in to face off with Shingo as that still appears to be a NEVER title direction. SHO got cut off and LIJ worked him over.
SHO made a tag to Goto who got some offense in on Naito. Naito tagged BUSHI who hit Goto with a missile dropkick. Goto tagged Uemura.
Uemura and SHO doubled up on BUSHI. Uemura hit a nice dropkick. Everyone jumped in for a big move as the match broke down. SHO and Shingo traded hard clotheslines.
BUSHI and Uemura were left the legal men. BUSHI hit an enzuigiri and a swinging neckbreaker for a near fall before hitting a fireman’s carry into a codebreaker for the pin.
Shingo and SHO faced off after the match. Shingo taunted SHO with both his NEVER Openweight title and his NEVER Six-Man title belt.
**********
Way to The Grand Master video and intermission time.
**********
New Japan Cup quarterfinal match: Kazuchika Okada defeated Taiji Ishimori (16:52)
Okada went to lock up but Ishimori hit a thumb to the eye instead. Okada quickly established the advantage once they did lock up and Ishimori rolled outside.
Gedo appeared and distracted Okada. Ishimori attacked from behind. Okada then rolled outside where Gedo hit him with a wrench to the gut. Ishimori used a chinlock and hit a leg drop for a two count.
Ishimori hit an enzuigiri and a sliding German for a two count. Ishimori then went back to the chinlock. Okada came back with a flapjack and more of his signature spots. Okada hit a DDT for a two count.
Ishimori fought out of a tombstone attempt and hit a handspring kick. Ishimori hit a meteora. He went for a knee strike but Okada ducked and rolled him up for a two count.
Ishimori got the Yes Lock applied but Okada forced a rope break immediately. Ishimori attacked Okada’s abs with strikes. Okada hit an air raid crash at the 10 minute mark.
Okada hit a slam and teased a top rope elbow. Gedo jumped on the apron and allowed Ishimori to recover. Ishimori knocked Okada off the apron and hit a golden triangle off the post to the floor.
Back inside, Ishimori hit a shotgun dropkick and a meteora for a two count. Ishimori got the Yes Lock again. Okada did a great job selling this like it was a potential finish but he made the ropes.
Okada hit a dropkick. Ishimori reversed a tombstone into a lungblower for a near fall. Okada sold his abs big. Okada made it to his feet and hit a spinning tombstone.
Okada went for his head and arm choke. Gedo jumped on the apron and Okada gave up the hold. Okada got the hold again. Ishimori pulled the ref down and the ref took a bump.
Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles. Okada ducked the knuckles and sent Gedo outside after a Woo dropkick.
Okada hit Ishimori with a dropkick and then used the head and arm choke for the submission.
This was Ishimori’s best match in about two years. He has to pick his spots now because he’s had so many injuries and he picked today to turn it on.
They felt that the interference was necessary given that Ishimori has been an undercard junior heavyweight tag guy for the last year and it worked to enhance the match.
New Japan Cup quarterfinal match: SANADA defeated Taichi (22:50)
Taichi pulled a length of rope out of his pants and used it to choke SANADA on the opening lockup. Taichi then beat SANADA around ringside. He sent him into the barricade. He dragged him through the building and choked him with a piece of fence. He posted SANADA’s left shoulder.
Back inside, Taichi went for a cover but Red Shoes refused to count the pin. Taichi again choked SANADA. SANADA came back with a low dropkick. He hit a second dropkick to Taichi’s left leg and Taichi rolled outside. SANADA hit a plancha.
Taichi hit a thumb to the eye and a jumping high kick at the ten minute mark. SANADA caught a thrust kick and tried to lock in Skull End. Taichi blocked and hit a backdrop suplex.
They traded strikes. Taichi went for Black Mephisto. SANADA blocked. SANADA ducked an axe bomber and hit a draping neckbreaker. Taichi blocked a springboard attack but SANADA turned it into a sunset flip for a near fall.
SANADA used a moonsault to set up Skull End. Yoshinobu Kanemaru ran in and took the referee. Taichi tapped to Skull End but the ref didn’t see the tap. SANADA gave up the hold. Taichi hit a backdrop suplex.
Taichi used a dragon sleeper with a body scissors. SANADA teased tapping but eventually reached the ropes to force a break.
Taichi went for a last ride but SANADA fought it off. Taichi hit an axe bomber and a jumping high kick at the 20 minute mark.
Taichi hit a backdrop suplex with a bridge for a near fall. SANADA ducked an axe bomber and hit a hurricanrana for a two count. SANADA hit a TKO.
The finish saw SANADA use a spinning Skull End. He went for a moonsault press but Kanemaru jumped on the apron. Taichi shoved the ref down and hit a low blow. SANADA shoved Taichi into Kanemaru and Kanemaru flew off the apron. SANADA then used an O’Connor roll for the pin.
Taichi shoved the ref down after the match as SANADA continued selling the low blow.
New Japan Cup round one match: Togi Makabe defeated Yota Tsuji (8:42)
This was an excellent opener and was probably Makabe’s best match in years.
Tsuji hit a spear right at the opening bell and scored a quick two count. Tsuji then hit a shoulder tackle for another near fall.
Makabe rolled outside and Tsuji followed. Tsuji peppered Makabe with strikes before Makabe reversed a whip into the barricade and established control of the match. Makabe hit a slam and used a single-leg crab.
Tsuji fired up and hit a tackle into a double down. Tsuji was first up and hit a vertical suplex for a near fall. Tsuji used a Boston crab but Makabe powered out. Tsuji answered with a second spear for another near fall.
Makabe hit his best powerslam in years for a near fall. Makabe applied a crab but Tsuji forced a rope break. Tsuji used a cool rolling cradle for a two count. Tsuji hit the ropes but ran right into a lariat.
Makabe then hit a German suplex into a bridge for the pin.
New Japan Cup round one match: Toru Yano defeated Jado (w/ Gedo and Yujiro Takahashi) (9:08)
This should get votes for worst worked match of the year. You have to see this to believe how bad it was.
They both played to the nonexistent crowd for comedy. Yano came to the ring with a spray bottle of hand sanitizer. Yano untied a corner pad.
Yano ducked a kendo stick shot. They had a battle over who would drop their weapon first. The ref took Jado’s stick and Yano hit Jado with the corner pad. Jado took a delayed flop bump.
Up to this point it was just a typical comedy match that wasn’t clicking. Then things took a turn.
Jado took the ref and Yujiro ran Yano into the barricade. Jado followed up with some chops, back rakes and biting.
Jado sent Yano into the exposed buckle. Jado used a cradle for a near fall. Jado used an abdominal stretch. Gedo took the ref and Yujiro and Gedo hit a double back suplex on Yano for a two count. Yano untied a second turnbuckle pad. Jado hit Yano with it.
The finish saw Jado take the ref. Gedo jumped in. Gedo tried a low blow but Yano blocked. Yano hit low blows to Gedo and Jado. Yujiro jumped on the apron but didn’t do anything. Yano used a schoolboy for the pin.
Suzuki-gun’s attack before the opening bell failed and the faces ran wild at the outset. Taichi and Sabre doubled up on Tanahashi to take control of the match. Sabre hit a PK and an assisted dragon screw as they went after Tana’s left leg.
They continued working the leg. Suzuki used a kneebar. Taichi and Suzuki used chairs to attack the leg on the outside.
The match turned when Sabre went for a cobra twist. Tana reversed into a dragon screw and tagged Ibushi. Ibushi lit up Sabre with strikes and hit a standing moonsault for a near fall.
Suzuki and Nagata tagged in and traded strikes. Suzuki used misdirection and applied a rear naked choke. He went for the Gotch-style piledriver but Nagata slipped out and hit an exploder suplex.
The babyfaces cleared the ring and went four-on-one against Suzuki. Uemura hit Suzuki with a double underhook suplex and used a crab before Suzuki-gun jumped back in to break it up.
The match broke down. Suzuki and Uemura were left the legal men. Suzuki took the ref. Kanemaru hit Uemura with a whiskey bottle. Suzuki then hit the Gotch for the pin.
**********
Suzuki and Nagata had a pull-apart after the match while Ibushi and Sabre talked trash. Taichi and Sabre then double-teamed Ibushi and posed with Ibushi and Tanahashi’s tag titles.
**********
Another Way to The Grandmaster hype video played. This was the same video as last night.
We then had an intermission for cleaning and disinfecting the ring.
**********
New Japan Cup round one match: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Tomoaki Honma (18:47)
If you have any doubt as to whether Hiromu is one of the ten best wrestlers on earth, watch this match. He got a great match out of Tomoaki Honma. Honma was great too.
They established that Honma had a power edge as a heavyweight as they traded shoulder tackles at the outset. Honma missed a kokeshi and only after that was Hiromu able to drop him with a tackle.
Hiromu hit a dropkick and Honma rolled outside. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick off the apron. Hiromu did a lap around the ring and hit a second dropkick on the floor, sending Honma into the barricade.
Back inside, Hiromu hit some strikes to the neck and shoulder area. He followed up with a headscissors on the mat, working over the neck. Hiromu hit a series of unanswered strikes to the neck before Honma countered with a DDT.
Honma hit a back elbow and a bulldog. He went for a kokeshi but missed again. Hiromu tried a kokeshi and missed. Honma hit a brainbuster for a two count and hit a series of hard chops.
They traded strikes. They traded running back elbows. They hit a pair of simultaneous lariats. Honma hit a German suplex. Hiromu tried a German but Honma blocked. Hiromu hit a lariat.
Then it was time for the terrifying spot of the match.
Honma rolled to the apron. Hiromu teased a sunset bomb but Honma blocked. Honma knocked Hiromu into the barricade. Honma teased a diving kokeshi off the post but Hiromu blocked and hit a DVD on the apron.
Honma did a tremendous job of selling the DVD as though he were dead. It was delivered about as safely as it could have been, but there’s not a lot of margin for error for two guys who have broken their necks.
Honma beat the count back in at 19. Hiromu hit some strikes. Honma tried to fire back but collapsed, selling exhaustion.
They traded strikes at the 15 minute mark. Honma hit a series of chops and tried another kokeshi but missed again. Hiromu went for a Dynamite Plunger. Honma blocked and hit a diving kokeshi, a standard kokeshi, then another diving kokeshi. He rolled Hiromu up for a two count.
Honma tried a kokeshi from the second rope but missed. Hiromu immediately covered for a two count. Honma hit a diving kokeshi to the back. Hiromu hit a lariat. Honma kicked out at one.
Honma ducked a superkick and hit a kokeshi. He went for a slam but Hiromu blocked and hit a superkick.
Hiromu hit a running DVD into the turnbuckle, then hit Time Bomb for the pin.
Awesome, awesome match.
New Japan Cup round one match: Tomohiro Ishii defeated El Desperado (20:18)
This was the best empty arena match I’ve seen during the pandemic.
They locked up. Desperado broke cleanly against the ropes but taunted Ishii over his height. Ishii fired up. Desperado hit a foot stomp. Ishii fired back with a tackle and some stiff kicks to the back.
Ishii hit a tackle and hit some short kicks to Desperado’s head, taunting him. Desperado came back with a hard chop and a tackle. Desperado then turned his attention to Ishii’s left leg and began working it over.
Desperado posted the left leg and sent Ishii into the barricade. Desperado hit a double knee drop to the bad leg and Ishii sold it big. While Red Shoes checked on Ishii, Desperado exposed a turnbuckle.
Desperado sent Ishii into the exposed buckle. He sent Ishii into the buckle a second time but Ishii no-sold it and hit a pounce out of the corner. Ishii then hit his chop and forearm combinations in the opposite corner.
Desperado went for a spear but Ishii blocked. Ishii tried a powerbomb but Desperado slipped out. Desperado hit a misdirection spear but Ishii answered with a heel hook on landing. Desperado forced a rope break, but now his left leg was compromised.
Desperado hit a spinebuster and applied Numero Dos. Ishii crawled to the ropes to force a break. They traded kicks. Ishii reversed a whip and sent Desperado into the exposed buckle.
Desperado pulled Red Shoes into Ishii’s path and hit a low dropkick. Desperado then got Numero Dos applied again but Ishii powered out.
Desperado went for a pumphandle slam but Ishii slid out and hit a brainbuster. Ishii hit a powerslam into a double down. They traded strikes. Ishii dropped Desperado with a big forearm at the 15 minute mark.
Ishii went for a powerbomb but he sold as though his knee gave way. Ishii hit the powerbomb on the second attempt and stacked Desperado up for a near fall. Desperado blocked a lariat.
Ishii blocked a low blow attempt. Ishii hit a backdrop and used a sliding lariat for a near fall. Ishii went for the Vertical Drop Brainbuster but Desperado slid out. Desperado shoved Ishii into Red Shoes, then hit a low blow for a near fall.
Desperado missed a charge and hit the exposed buckle but quickly recovered and slammed Ishii’s head into the exposed buckle. Desperado then hit Guitarra de Angel for a near fall.
Ishii blocked two Pinche Loco attempts. Desperado wound up for a lariat but Ishii hit a headbutt to the chest. Ishii hit a lariat but Desperado kicked out at two.
Desperado blocked a brainbuster and used El Es Culero for a great near fall.
Ishii then hit the vertical drop brainbuster for the pin.
KENTA and Tomohiro Ishii are the first two NJPW wrestlers confirmed for this year’s ROH-NJPW War of the Worlds tour.
ROH announced today that KENTA and Ishii are set for all four shows on the War of the Worlds tour. The dates and locations for it are:
Wednesday, May 6: Buffalo RiverWorks, Buffalo, New York
Thursday, May 7: Ted Reeve Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Saturday, May 9: Wings Event Center, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Sunday, May 10: The Odeum Expo Center, Villa Park, Illinois
Tickets for all four shows went on sale to HonorClub members this morning. They’ll go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. local time this Friday.
KENTA is also set for ROH Supercard of Honor XIV on Saturday, April 4. In his first match for ROH since 2009, KENTA will be teaming with Taiji Ishimori against Jeff Cobb & Dan Maff at that show.
Aside from being in the pre-show Honor Rumble match at G1 Supercard last year, the War of the Worlds tour will be the first time Ishii has wrestled for ROH since 2018.
ROH and NJPW have partnered together for War of the Worlds every year since 2014.
NJPW ran their second of four straight nights in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall today with a New Japan Road show that featured two title matches.
The top two matches are well worth going out of your way to see.
Here are full results and match recaps:
YOTA TSUJI DEFEATED GABRIEL KIDD
Kidd really has something. He’s not as good as Karl Fredericks, but he’s better than Tsuji.
They started out with some chain wrestling. Kidd broke cleanly against the ropes. Tsuji did not break cleanly when given the same chance.
Tsuji used a slam for a two count. Tsuji went for a crab but couldn’t get it. Kidd blocked another slam attempt and hit a dropkick, then used a slam for a two count.
Kidd applied a single-leg crab. After a long struggle, Tsuji forced a rope break. Kidd hit some stomps. They traded forearm strikes. Tsuji hit a spear, then a powerslam, before locking in a full crab. Kidd tapped out. Good opener.
MINORU SUZUKI, TAICHI, EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY, HIROOKI GOTO, YOSHI-HASHI & YUYA UEMURA
This was a crazy fun brawl.
The CHAOS team employed a Suzuki-gun tactic in attacking before the bell. Uemura ran into the ring and blasted Suzuki with a dropkick, then hit dozens of unanswered forearm strikes in the corner. Referee Marty Asami got shoved down by Uemura, which was not a DQ.
YH tagged in and Suzuki came back with an armbar over the ropes. Suzuki-gun turned this into a brawl around Korakuen, and Suzuki absolutely killed Uemura, hitting him with slaps and strikes, then using a chair and a variety of plunder as they fought all around the building.
Taichi went to work on YH in the ring, hitting a series of kicks. YH came back with a rewind kick. Ospreay tagged in and hit Pip Pip Cheerio on Taichi, then a double handspring kick to an interfering Desperado and Kanemaru.
Goto blind tagged in. Ospreay hit a standing shooting star to Taichi. Goto covered for a two count. Taichi and Goto traded lariats. Taichi hit a high kick into a double down.
Uemura and Kanemaru tagged in. CHAOS went 4-on-1 against Kanemaru. Uemura hit a dropkick and an overhead belly-to-belly for a near fall.
The match broke down and everyone jumped in. Suzuki got one last shot in on Uemura, hitting a PK. Kanemaru used a Boston crab on Uemura, who finally forced a break.
Uemura used a cradle for a two count, but Kanemaru then hit Deep Impact for the pin.
Suzuki hit Uemura with a knee strike after the bell. He teased hitting the Gotch-style piledriver, but let Uemura go instead, perhaps in a grudging show of respect.
Yano and Cabana did some comedy right at the outset, fighting over who should start the match. Okada started instead.
Honma and Okada began. Honma missed a kokeshi. Yano and Henare tagged in. Yano untied a turnbuckle pad. Henare hit some strikes. Yano used a hair pull, then sent Henare into the exposed buckle.
Cabana tagged in and did some more comedy spots with Yano. Henare fired back on Cabana with chops, then missed a splash off the second rope. Okada tagged in and got hit with a vertical suplex.
Makabe got a tag and hit a powerslam, then ten punches in the corner. Okada blocked a northern lights suplex, then ran into a lariat for a two count. Okada hit an air raid crash, then tagged Cabana.
Cabana hit some jabs and a bionic elbow. Makabe responded with a lariat, then tagged Honma. Honma hit a bulldog and a kokeshi. Henare and Makabe cleared the opposing apron, then went 3-on-1 on Cabana. Honma hit a diving kokeshi for a near fall as Okada and Yano saved.
The finish saw Yano hit Honma with a low blow while Cabana took the ref. Cabana then used his Superman cover for the pin.
Nakanishi and Naito started off. An LIJ triple team failed, Naito rolled outside, then Nakanishi hit a double tackle on BUSHI and Hiromu, who both flew around for Nakanishi. Nakanishi and Tiger worked over Naito for a bit, before LIJ went to work on Tiger.
There was a funny spot where Hiromu made a big show of hitting a Mongolian chop on Tenzan while Naito held Tenzan, who then ducked, and Naito took a comedy bump off the chop from Hiromu.
The dust settled, leaving SANADA and Tiger legal. Tiger blocked a TKO and hit a tiger suplex. Nagata tagged in and hit SANADA with kicks. SANADA blocked an exploder, landed on his feet out of a standing moonsault attempt, then hit a dropkick.
Nagata fought off a paradise lock attempt, blocked a TKO, then hit an exploder. EVIL and Kojima tagged in. Kojima hit machine gun chops on EVIL. He tried for a top rope elbow but got cut off. EVIL and SANADA tried a Magic Killer but Tenzan saved. Tenzan and Kojima hit a TenKoji cutter on SANADA.
Kojima hit a Koji cutter on EVIL. EVIL ducked a lariat and hit Darkness Falls for a near fall. Nakanishi jumped in and racked EVIL, then hit a cutter out of the rack backbreaker position. Nakanishi then hit the ugliest plancha you’ve ever seen onto a bunch of guys. He tried.
The finish saw Kojima hit EVIL with a lariat for the pin. I kept waiting for EVIL to kick out but he never did.
The New Japan dads celebrated their big win.
JAY WHITE, TAMA TONGA, TANGA LOA & BAD LUCK FALE DEFEATED HIROSHI TANAHASHI, KOTA IBUSHI, JUICE ROBINSON & DAVID FINLAY
White, Finlay and Ibushi looked great here, where as it was a night off for everyone else.
Bullet Club attacked before the opening bell. Ibushi and White began as the legal men with a hot exchange. Ibushi avoided a kendo stick shot from Jado on the apron, then tagged Finlay, who scored a two count off a diving uppercut from the middle rope.
White suplexed Finlay over the top to the floor, where Bullet Club attacked the opposing team. Back inside, White and Tonga doubled up on Finlay. Tonga and Loa both hit slingshot sentons on Finlay. Fale tagged in and stood on Finlay’s back. Fale looked really heavy and slow, even by his standards.
Tanahashi tagged in and hit a crossbody. He was really not moving well. The match broke down. Ibushi hit a crazy missile dropkick off the top rope. Tanahashi hit a dragon screw to Fale. Loa tagged in and got hit with Twist and Shout.
Juice tagged in and hit a crossbody on Loa off the top rope for a two count. Juice hit an inverted atomic drop and a Russian leg sweep on Loa. All of his teammates hit pescados. Jado jumped in with a kendo stick, but the ref took it away from him.
Juice and Finlay hit a double flapjack to Loa. Finlay hit Loa with a stunner. Gedo took the referee, allowing Tonga to jump in and hit Juice with a belt shot. Loa then covered for the pin.
Tonga hit Ibushi and Tanahashi with belt shots after the match for good measure. Loa then hit Ibushi with Apesh*t, and Tonga hit a gun stun on Tanahashi.
IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SHO & YOH DEFEATED ROCKY ROMERO & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI TO RETAIN THE TITLES
You know Taguchi has his working boots on when he breaks out offense besides hip attacks. He did that here. These guys tore the house down.
YOH and Taguchi started out with chain wrestling. Romero and SHO tagged in. Romero got cut off. Taguchi got a tag and had a fairly even back and forth with YOH. Taguchi hit a dive from the second turnbuckle to the floor, then a tope con giro.
Back inside, YOH hit a GTR for a two count on Taguchi. Taguchi managed a tag to Romero who hit forever clotheslines and a swing DDT. Romero worked over SHO’s left arm.
SHO went for a sleeper. Romero blocked, then hit a falcon arrow into a cross armbreaker. Taguchi jumped in and locked YOH in an ankle lock. SHO and YOH both reversed the submissions. Romero forced a rope break.
Romero and Taguchi hit stereo hip attacks. They did a comedy spot, teasing ramming Romero’s head into Taguchi’s ass. Romero blocked and hit a swing DDT. Taguchi hit a Bomaye. Taguchi and Romero hit a combination Dodon/codebreaker. Taguchi and YOH fought to the floor, leaving SHO and Romero legal.
SHO blocked a sliced bread attempt. YOH cut off a Romero clothesline attempt. SHO and YOH hit stereo knees to Taguchi. SHO and YOH hit a tandem move for a near fall. Taguchi saved Romero from a 3K. Everyone hit a lariat. Romero hit everyone with knees. SHO hit Taguchi with a spear.
Romero and SHO traded lariats. Romero used a backslide for a near fall, then used a hurricanrana into a victory roll for another two count. Romero took a flip bump off a lariat from SHO.
SHO hit a deadlift German on Romero for a two count. SHO hit a powerbomb onto his knees for a near fall. Taguchi made the save, then got tossed to the floor, where YOH hit a plancha.
Romero used an inside cradle for a near fall. SHO and Romero traded jumping knee strikes. Romero hit a rewind kick. YOH hit an elevated flatliner. SHO covered, but Taguchi made the save. YOH accidentally caught SHO with a superkick.
Taguchi hit a hip attack to YOH. SHO saved. Taguchi missed with a hip attack, got sent outside, then ate a dive from YOH. SHO hit Romero with a lariat, then hit Shock Arrow for a near fall. The place was going nuts.
SHO and YOH then immediately hit Strong X for the pin.
All four celebrated together after the match.
NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED TOMOHIRO ISHII TO RETAIN THE TITLE
This was not at the level of their G1 match last year, which was a match of the year candidate, but this was a great main event. These two have a special chemistry.
They had the unenviable task of following the previous match, so they smartly began slowly. They worked a lockup for a long time, then got the crowd going with a serious of shoulder tackles. No one went down on the first several tackles, then Shingo finally got Ishii to go down.
Shingo hit a senton, then a series of knees. Ishii dropped Shingo with his own knee strike. Ishii hit a series of headbutts. Shingo then hit a couple of his own. Ishii dropped Shingo with a headbutt. They traded chops. Shingo hit a vertical suplex.
They traded a long series of forearm strikes. Ishii finally backed Shingo into a corner and hit a series of punch and chop combinations. Shingo stood Ishii on his head with a DDT. Ishii sold his knee on landing. Shingo then answered the previous punch and chop combos with a series of his own.
Shingo hit some short kicks, then one big PK. Ishii fired up, backed Shingo into a corner, then hit a series of chops to the throat. Shingo blocked a charge into the corner. Ishii slid to the apron and teased a suplex to the floor. Shingo blocked, made it to the apron, then hit a death valley driver on the apron.
Back inside, Shingo hit a sliding lariat and noshigami for a near fall. Shingo hit Ishii with a lariat and you could virtually see Ishii’s soul leaving his body. Ishii came back with a powerslam, which Shingo no-sold. Each no-sold two suplexes from the other, before Ishii hit a Saito suplex, which left both men down.
They traded a series of hard lariats, running the ropes like mad men. Shingo took a flip bump off a lariat. Ishii hit a powerbomb and used a jackknife cover for a near fall.
Ishii teased a superplex. Shingo blocked with a series of headbutts. Ishii hit one big headbutt, then connected with the superplex for a two count.
Shingo blocked a sliding lariat. Ishii blocked Last of the Dragon. Shingo hit a lariat. They traded headbutts. Shingo landed a series of unanswered forearm strikes.
Shingo hit Made in Japan. Ishii kicked out at two. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber. Ishii kicked out at one. You knew the kick out at one was coming, you just didn’t know when. Ishii hit a German. Shingo no-sold. Ishii hit a lariat. Shingo kicked out at one.
Ishii hit an enzuigiri, then used a sliding lariat for a near fall. Shingo blocked a brainbuster and hit a driller for a near fall.
Shingo went for Last of the Dragon, but Ishii blocked. Ishii hit a headbutt to the chest, then a lariat. Shingo hit a headbutt, draped Ishii in the ropes, then hit a GTR.
Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber for a close near fall, then hit Last of the Dragon for the pin.
Both men sold exhaustion after the match. Ishii, unable to stand, threw some strikes at Shingo on the mat. Ishii rolled outside and grabbed a chair. He teased going after Shingo with the chair, before being held back by ringside attendants. Ishii stumbled to the back.
Shingo cut a promo. He said Ishii beat the hell out of him tonight. He said Ishii gave him everything he had and he’s in pain, but it’s a good kind of pain. He said that clashing spirit with spirit is professional wrestling.
Shingo promised to continue elevating the NEVER title, then told anyone who wants the title to come get it.
NJPW’s Road to the New Beginning tour continued today in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
A NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team title match headlined, while opponents for Sunday’s New Beginning in Osaka show squared off in tag matches underneath.
Here are full results and match recaps:
YUYA UEMURA DEFEATED YOTA TSUJI
Tsuji’s right shoulder was heavily taped. Uemura took most of the match, working over the injured shoulder. Lots of ground work. Solid technical wrestling on display here in the opener.
Uemura used a crab, but Tsuji forced a break. Tsuji got the best of a striking exchange, then continued firing strikes with a grounded Uemura in the ropes.
Tsuji hit the ropes, but ran right into a dropkick. Uemura tried an underhook suplex, Tsuji blocked. Uemura hit the underhook suplex into a bridge on the second attempt for the pin.
EL PHANTASMO DEFEATED GABRIEL KIDD
This was similar to the match these two had last weekend. The two have wrestled before in the U.K. and have good chemistry. ELP gave Kidd a lot more offense than a Young Lion would typically get against a veteran.
Kidd scored a knockdown after a drop down and leapfrog sequence. ELP went to work on Kidd’s back and groin with his comedy stomps and back raking. Kidd came back and hit a dropkick and hit some stomps in the corner.
ELP cut Kidd off with a superkick, then hit a frog splash. ELP had Kidd pinned, but pulled him up after a two count, opting to try for his CR2 instead. Kidd used a jackknife cover for a two count, then an inside cradle for another near fall.
ELP then hit an enzuigiri and used the CR2 for the pin. This was an entertaining variation on the typical Young Lion squash.
These old guys (and Henare) went out there and tried to have the best eight minute undercard tag match of all time. The effort was there. Henare was the only guy who didn’t hit a move off the turnbuckles.
Nakanishi and Henare started out by locking up, then trading strikes. Henare tried to put Nakanishi in his own Argentinian Backbreaker, but Nakanishi fought it off, then hit a spear. Both tagged out.
Tenzan and Honma squared off. Tenzan hit Mongolian chops. Nakanishi entered for an illegal double team. He took a swing at Henare on the apron and hit the referee, who took half a bump. Tenzan hit a kokeshi to Honma. Nakanishi hit a spear.
Honma managed a tag to Henare, who used a slam on Tenzan for a two count. Henare hit Mongolian chops to Tenzan. Tenzan came back with a wheel kick, then tagged Nakanishi.
Nakanishi used a short-arm lariat on Henare, then another lariat for a near fall. Nakanishi put Henare in the Argentinian Backbreaker. Honma jumped in to break it up. Henare hit Nakanishi with a vertical suplex.
Honma and Tenzan tagged back in. Honma ducked a lariat and hit a tackle. Honma hit chops, a bulldog, then a kokeshi. Henare entered for a double team. Honma and Henare hit a combination kokeshi/leg sweep for a near fall.
Nakanishi and Henare brawled on the floor. Honma missed a kokeshi off the second rope and sold his neck. Nakanishi jumped in and hit Honma with a lariat. Nakanishi hit a chop off the top rope to Honma. Tenzan then hit a MOONSAULT to Honma for the pin.
WILL OSPREAY, SHO & YOH DEFEATED ZACK SABRE JR., EL DESPERADO & YOSHINOBU KANEMARU BY DQ
SHO and YOH defend the Jr. Heavyweight Tag titles against Despy and Kanemaru on Sunday, so the story here was that Kanemaru and Desperado wanted to soften up their opponents.
They had a great brawl, which is probably not what you would expect with these teams. Sabre and Ospreay had a great technical wrestling sequence as well.
Ospreay, SHO and YOH hit stereo pescados just before the opening bell. Ospreay dragged Sabre into the crowd and rammed him into the famed EAST sign.
In the ring, YOH went to work on Kanemaru with strikes. Ospreay got a tag and hit a slam for a near fall. Sabre made it back to the ring and the match broke down into a brawl around ringside. When the dust cleared, Suzuki-gun was in charge, working over SHO’s left leg.
After a lengthy beatdown of SHO, Ospreay and Sabre tagged in. They had a great mat wrestling sequence, trading cradles and clutches for near falls.
YOH and Desperado tagged in and had an intense exchange of slaps and strikes. YOH teased a dragon suplex, but then hit a bridging German for a near fall. YOH went for a falcon arrow. Desperado slipped behind, then hit a misdirection spear.
SHO and Ospreay jumped in to save YOH. Ospreay hit a mid kick and a standing corkscrew moonsault for a near fall, with Kanemaru and Sabre saving.
SHO and YOH hit stereo knees on Desperado. They tuned up the band for the 3K, but Kanemaru jumped in and spit whiskey in YOH’s eyes. Desperado then used a chair on SHO for the DQ.
Ospreay ran in and cleared the ring. He kicked a chair into Desperado, then kicked Sabre off the apron. Sabre tried to run back in and hit Ospreay with a chair, but Ospreay blocked and hit a high kick.
Suzuki-gun used their standard attack before the opening bell. They brawled around ringside and into the crowd. Taichi used a chair on Okada. Makabe was the legal man. They teased a countout, but Makabe made it back in.
Taichi choked Makabe. Suzuki tagged in and teased a Gotch-style piledriver. Makabe escaped and hit a lariat. Okada got a tag. He laid out Taichi with a DDT, then hit an interfering DOUKI with a flapjack.
Okada missed a Woo dropkick. Taichi answered with a backdrop suplex. Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick for a near fall. Okada escaped a powerbomb attempt and hit a dropkick. Taguchi got a tag and hit a hip attack, then pulled Taichi’s tear-away pants off. Just a tremendous spot.
DOUKI got a tag. Suzuki assisted with a double team. DOUKI hit a springboard double stomp for a near fall. Makabe jumped in and hit a double lariat. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick to Taichi on the apron.
DOUKI went for suplex de la luna, but Taguchi used a victory roll for a near fall. Taguchi hit a Bomaye, then used Dodon for the pin.
Suzuki went after the ringside attendants with a chair after the match.
TETSUYA NAITO, SANADA & HIROMU TAKAHASHI DEFEATED KENTA, JAY WHITE & TAIJI ISHIMORI
KENTA and Naito began. KENTA stalled. White attacked Naito from behind, Bullet Club cleared the opposing apron, then stomped Naito down in the ring. They then took the fight into the crowd. Back inside, Ishimori used a neck crank on Naito.
White got a tag and took Naito back outside, where he repeatedly rammed him into the barricade and the ring frame. KENTA got a tag and hit some stomps, then a draping DDT. This was kind of a night off for Naito, as he just laid on the mat and took some stomps most of the way.
KENTA missed a double stomp off the top. SANADA and white got tags. SANADA put Gedo in the paradise lock on the floor. SANADA sent White into the guardrail. Back inside, he tried for the paradise lock on White, but Switchblade blocked.
White pulled SANADA down by the hair, then hit some stomps. White hit a death valley driver for a near fall. White and SANADA did a series of TKO and Blade Buster teases before tagging Ishimori and Hiromu.
Ishimori tried a handspring kick. Hiromu blocked and hit a German, but Ishimori landed on his feet, then hit the handspring kick. White jumped in and hit a Blade Buster. Ishimori covered for a near fall.
KENTA, Naito, White and SANADA brawled to the floor. Ishimori hit Hiromu with a knee strike. Hiromu answered with an overhead throw into the buckle, then tagged Naito. Naito hit a top rope frankensteiner for a near fall.
Naito tried a Destino. KENTA cut him off. SANADA cleared the ring, then LIJ hit a triple dropkick to Ishimori. Naito hit Gloria, then used Destino for the pin on Ishimori.
White and SANADA looked good here, and Ishimori and Hiromu kicked the match into a higher gear near the finish. KENTA and Naito took it relatively easy ahead of their match Sunday.
NEVER OPENWEIGHT SIX-MAN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: SHINGO TAKAGI, EVIL & BUSHI DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO, TOMOHIRO ISHII & ROBBIE EAGLES TO RETAIN THE TITLES
This was all action from the opening bell. A great main event.
Ishii and EVIL were nominally the legal men, but all six guys jumped in and traded spots in the opening minute. The challengers went three-on-one against EVIL.
Eagles got a tag and hit EVIL with chops and a leg kick. Shingo cut Eagles off from the apron, and LIJ established a three-on-one. Shingo and Ishii fought into the crowd. EVIL worked over Eagles. BUSHI got a tag and continued the work, hitting a missile dropkick.
BUSHI choked Eagles with his t-shirt, then used the shirt to hit a neckbreaker. EVIL tagged in and knocked Goto off the apron, then hit Eagles with his bronco buster senton. Kevin Kelly always calls it a bronco buster, but it’s really more of a seated senton in the corner than a traditional bronco buster.
Shingo tagged in and teased Last of the Dragon. Eagles fought it off, hit a leg lariat, then tagged Ishii. Shingo cut Ishii off before he could even climb into the ring. He caught his leg on the rope, then sold his taped left knee.
Ishii fired up. Shingo and Ishii traded strikes. Ishii killed Shingo with a forearm to the face, then hit a series of forearm strikes to the back of Shingo’s neck. Shingo no-sold a powerslam and hit a lariat.
EVIL got a tag and hit a corner clothesline. Ishii blocked a Darkness Falls attempt and hit a vertical suplex. Goto got a tag. BUSHI and Eagles jumped in. Both sides teased a double suplex, with Goto and Eagles finally hitting one.
Goto used a Saito suplex on EVIL for a near fall. EVIL blocked an ushigoroshi and hit a draping stomp. Goto blocked Darkness Falls. They did a great series of misdirection spots, ending with Goto hitting a lariat.
LIJ jumped in for a triple team. Eagles and Ishii saved. BUSHI hit a tope suicida to Eagles at the fifteen minute call.
EVIL and Goto teased their finishers. EVIL hit the ropes and ran into an ushigoroshi. Ishii then hit a sliding lariat. Goto and Ishii teamed up for an elevated GTR on EVIL for a near fall. Shingo entered and got hit with an Ishii headbutt.
Goto hit EVIL with a mid kick. He tried a GTR, but EVIL reversed it into Darkness Falls. BUSHI and Eagles tagged in for what looked to be the closing sequence.
Eagles hit an elbow strike to BUSHI’s head. Shingo and Ishii entered. Shingo hit a double lariat to Eagles and Ishii. BUSHI hit a backstabber for a near fall on Eagles. Eagles hit a tope suicida to BUSHI. Goto and Ishii hit stereo ushigoroshis on EVIL and Shingo.
Eagles hit a dropkick to BUSHI’s leg. He tried the Ron Miller Special. BUSHI reversed into a cradle for a near fall. Eagles hit Turbo Backpack for another two count.
Eagles locked on the Ron Miller Special. Shingo broke it up with a sliding lariat. EVIL, Shingo, Ishii and Goto jumped in and traded a crazy series of clotheslines at the twenty minute call, ending with all four down on the mat, then rolling outside.
BUSHI hit Eagles with a neckbreaker. He went for MX. Eagles caught him and hit a codebreaker. Eagles hit a 450 to BUSHI’s leg, then locked him in the Ron Miller Special. BUSHI rolled Eagles over, spit black mist in his face, then used an inside cradle for a near fall.
With Eagles blinded by the mist, BUSHI then hit an MX for the pin.
Toru Yano and Ryusuke Taguchi ran in after the match and stole the title belts. Ishii then grabbed the NEVER Openweight belt and challenged Shingo to defend it against him next. Shingo agreed. Hopefully Ishii gets some time to heal up, as those two had a match of the year in G1 last year.
BUSHI cut a promo to close the show. He said they won, but they don’t have the belts, but they’re still the champs.
