Juice Robinson and David Finlay are this year’s World Tag League winners.
They defeated EVIL and SANADA at this morning’s World Tag League finals, their first time winning both individually and as a team. Finlay scored the pinfall for his team after hitting a springboard stunner off the middle rope.
After the match and the trophy presentation, the rest of the babyface roster came out with Zimas to celebrate FinJuice’s win. Robinson called out current IWGP Tag Team champions Guerillas of Destiny, who came out with Jado. Robinson officially challenged the team to a title match at the Tokyo Dome. Tama Tonga bluntly replied by flipping off everyone in the ring as the trio left.
It had boiled down to three teams going into the finals: EVIL and SANADA, Guerillas of Destiny and Robinson & Finlay. GoD lost their match against Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI in the semi main event, putting them out of the tournament.
EVIL & SANADA were going for a third straight win tonight after winning in 2017 and 2018.
Tonight’s World Tag League finals in Hiroshima will be determined by two key matches.
There are two scenarios that could go down. If Tomohiro Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI beat Guerrillas of Destiny tonight, the David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. SANADA and EVIL match will be winner take all.
The situation gets murkier if Guerillas of Destiny win and if EVIL and SANADA win after that. EVIL and SANADA would need to win that match or else it would end up in a three way tie, in which case there would be a playoff matches to determine a winner.
The rest of tonight’s card will feature the remaining participants complete in one final World Tag League tournament match, mostly just for rankings’ sake.
Whoever ends up winning tonight will challenge the current IWGP Tag Team champions Guerillas of Destiny at Wrestle Kingdom 14.
Join us for live coverage starting at 2 a.m. EST. There will be English commentary.
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WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: MANABU NAKANISHI & YUJI NAGATA DEFEATED HIROYOSHI TENZAN & SATOSHI KOJIMA
If heart and workrate were the same thing, all Nakanishi and Tenzan matches would be great. Alas.
Tenzan and Kojima got the heat on Nagata. Kojima hit his top rope elbow. Nagata came back with a weak dropkick to the leg of Kojima.
Nakanishi and Tenzan tagged in. Nakanishi hit a spear and tagged Nagata. Tenzan hit Nagata with a mountain bomb and a brainbuster. Tenzan and Kojima hit a TenKoji cutter. Tenzan called for a moonsault, but Nagata cut him off.
Nakanishi came off the top with a chop while Nagata hit an enziguri for a combination move. Nagata used a Nagata Lock II (crossface) for the submission on Tenzan.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: TORU YANO & COLT CABANA DEFEATED BAD LUCK FALE & CHASE OWENS
They did a total comedy match. A highlight saw Yano poke Owens in the eyes, which caused Owens to headbutt Fale low.
For the finish, Yano hit a low blow while the referee’s back was turned, allowing Cabana to use the Superman pin to get the win over Owens.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: JEFF COBB & MIKEY NICHOLLS DEFEATED TERRIBLE & SHINGO TAKAGI
This was a lot of fun. They had a heck of a little undercard match.
Cobb hit a dropkick to Shingo, then hit a standing moonsault while Nicholls hit a fist drop. Terrible and Shingo responded to the early assault by taking the fight to the floor. There they got the heat on Nicholls.
Shingo and Terrible worked over Nicholls in the ring. Shingo hit a sliding lariat. Terrible hit a top rope splash and made a cover, but Cobb broke up the pin with a dropkick.
Nicholls made a comeback and hit a double lariat. Cobb jumped in to double up on Terrible. Cobb hit a Spin Cycle, while Nicholls hit a sliding lariat for a near fall.
Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber on Cobb. Nicholls took out Shingo with a lariat. Terrible hit some strikes, but Nicholls cut him off, then used the Mikey Bomb to pick up the pin.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: HIROSHI TANAHASHI & TOA HENARE DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO & KARL FREDERICKS
This was another good undercard match. Fredericks is something else, man.
Tana and Fredericks had a nice opening exchange that saw Fredericks score a near fall on The Ace. Henare and Tana used a double crab on Fredericks, then went to work on him.
Tana hit a somersault senton for a two count. Fredericks came back with a spinebuster, then tagged Goto. Goto hit Tana with a hip toss, a lariat, then used a bulldog for a two count.
Tana came back with a forearm, then used a cloverleaf on Goto, but Fredericks broke it up. Goto tried a misdirection spot, but Tana countered into a slingblade.
Fredericks and Henare got tags. Fredericks hit a huge top rope crossbody on Henare, then a dropkick on Tana for good measure. Fredericks used a hip toss and a diving chop on Henare for a two count. Goto and Fredericks hit their tandem Russian leg sweep/blockbuster on Henare, but Tana saved.
Henare hit a Samoan drop on Fredericks. Henare and Tana hit a leg sweep/slingblade combo on Fredericks, but Goto saved.
Tana took out Goto with a plancha. Henare went for a tackle but Fredericks turned it into a sunset flip for a two count. Fredericks used another quick cradle for a two count. Henare hit a lariat and Fredericks took a flip bump. Henare covered for a near fall.
Henare then hit the Toa Bottom on Fredericks for the pin.
CHRIS JERICHO VIDEO
As Tanahashi and Henare celebrated the win, the lights went out. A video played on the entrance screen.
In the video, Chris Jericho posed with an army of people painted up in his Painmaker gimmick. He told Tanahashi that time is running out and he’ll see him January 5. He said it’ll be one of Tana’s greatest matches, but also his last match.
Tanahashi then cut a promo. He said he thought Jericho would be there. He said he doesn’t plan to quit any time soon, and January 5 may be Jericho’s last match.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: LANCE ARCHER & MINORU SUZUKI DEFEATED YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & KENTA
This was a pretty standard Suzuki-gun brawl.
KENTA went after Suzuki before the opening bell. They brawled all around the arena, with Suzuki-gun getting the upper hand. They teased a countout, but Yujiro made it back in.
Archer did his rope-walk spot with Yujiro. Suzuki and KENTA continued fighting on the floor with hard slaps. Archer hit a series of slams. Suzuki and KENTA tagged in and continued their slap-fest in the ring.
KENTA sent Suzuki outside and into the barricade. KENTA and Yujiro doubled up on Archer. KENTA hit a double stomp off the top for a two count. Archer sent KENTA outside and hit a pounce on Yujiro for a two count.
Everyone jumped in. Suzuki used a rear naked choke on KENTA, then threw him outside. Yujiro hit a sliding dropkick on Archer. Archer came back with a chokeslam. Yujiro bit Archer’s hands. Archer teased a Blackout, but Yujiro bit him again.
With Suzuki and KENTA still on the outside, Archer hit the Blackout on Yujiro. He then pulled Yujiro up before the inevitable three count. He then used the EBD claw to pin Yujiro.
Archer and Suzuki attacked some Young Lions after the match.
JON MOXLEY APPEARS
As Suzuki and Archer posed in the ring after their match, Jon Moxley’s entrance video played. Moxley then appeared in the crowd. Moxley then walked to the ring.
Archer and Moxley had a staredown. Moxley turned to leave, but then hit a Death Rider on Archer. Suzuki stepped towards Moxley, but then ate a Death Rider himself.
Moxley cut a promo and said he wants his belt back. He said he’ll take it back at Wrestle Kingdom in a Texas Death Match.
Moxley then pulled a table from under the ring. He teased sending Archer through the table, but Archer fought back. They had an intense brawl around the arena, then brawled out of the arena. The cameras did not follow them.
They built this match around a hot tag to Liger, whose appearance was the highlight of the night for the crowd. Okada played total heel here as well. The crowd clearly favored Ibushi in his confrontations with Okada, even before Okada played heel.
Ibushi went after Okada at the opening bell. He hit a running boot, knocking Okada to the floor. He hit another boot on the floor against the barricade. Back inside, Ibsuhi continued to attack with kicks. Okada came back with a flapjack, then tagged YOH.
Ibushi managed a tag to Tiger, and 3K and Okada took turns working Tiger over in their half of the ring. Tiger tried to tag Liger, but Okada pulled Liger off the apron. Liger finally got the tag.
Liger hit a top rope rana, hit both members of 3K with shoteis, and even hit a shotei on Okada. Ibushi tagged in and hit a springboard dropkick. Okada countered with a shotgun dropkick.
The match broke down and everyone hit a big move. Liger ducked a Rainmaker and hit a shotei on Okada.
Ibushi and SHO were left the legal men. Ibushi hit a Bomaye and a Kamigoye on SHO for the pin. Good match.
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Okada got in Ibushi’s face after the match. Ibushi hauled off and smacked Okada in the head with his Wrestle Kingdom briefcase. Ibushi continued to attack Okada, standing on his throat after the briefcase shot. Everyone from both teams tried to pull Ibushi off Okada. Okada was helped to the back.
On his way to the back, Ibushi attacked Okada again with a running knee. The crowd didn’t want to boo Ibushi, so they were just quiet for most of this. This was a super effective angle.
RYU LEE CHALLENGES JUSHIN LIGER
Ryu Lee (the former Dragon Lee) appeared on the screen as Liger posed in front of his hometown crowd. Liger put Lee over as being one of the best. But he said he also wants to wrestle someone else. Someone who just returned from a neck injury. He seemed to be referring to Hiromu Takahashi. He challenged both to take him on, so perhaps a triple threat between Lee, Liger and Takahashi is coming up January 5.
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WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: TOMOHIRO ISHII & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED TAMA TONGA & TANGA LOA
They were bound and determined to get the crowd into this match, and it seemed as though they were going to stay out there until they did. They finally accomplished their goal, but it was tough.
Far be it from me to tell Tonga and Loa how to lay out their matches, but their opponents just sell, sell, sell, sell, sell for without so much as a hope spot for the first ten minutes of their matches and the crowd dies.
The Guerrillas of Destiny used a kendo stick shot from Jado on the floor to take control in the early-going. They turned the match into a crowd brawl, then worked over YH in the ring.
Ishii finally got a tag and hit Tonga with a lariat. Loa cut him off. Ishii managed a tag to YH, who scored his first significant offense of the match with a lariat and headhunter on Loa.
YH hit a codebreaker on Loa into a suplex by Ishii. YH covered, but Tonga saved at the last pssible second. YH hit a lariat on Loa for another near fall. Ishii and Tonga brawled to the floor.
Jado took the referee. Tonga jumped in and hit a low blow on YH. Loa then used the OJK on YH, teasing a submission. YH reached for the ropes, but Loa rolled through and re-applied in the center of the ring. YH pulled Loa over into a cover for a near fall.
Ishii jumped in and knocked Jado off the apron. Tonga hit a Tongan Twist on Ishii. Tonga and Loa each hit top rope splashes on YH for a near fall.
G.O.D. teased a super powerbomb. YH fought it off and hit a top rope rana. Tonga tried a Gun Stun on Ishii, but Ishii fought it off. Ishii hit a lariat, and YH used an inside cradle on Loa for the pin.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: JUICE ROBINSON & DAVID FINLAY DEFEATED SANADA & EVIL TO WIN WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2019
Finlay scored early with some shoulder tackles on SANADA. Juice came in for the double team and hit some jabs. Juice ended up the legal man. EVIL cut him off with a trip from the floor. EVIL then tagged in and hit a shoulder tackle.
EVIL used a scorpion deathlock on Juice, who reached the ropes. SANADA tagged in and tried for the paradise lock, but Juice blocked the first attempt. SANADA got it applied on the second try, then hit a dropkick to break it.
SANADA got sent up and over the top, which allowed Juice to tag out. Finlay hit EVIL with an uppercut forearm. Juice tried to jump in for a double team, but SANADA saved with a dropkick.
On the outside, EVIL placed a chair around Finlay’s neck, then swung a second chair into the first. This was not a DQ. SANADA sent Juice into the barricade. EVIL and SANADA went to work on Finlay in the ring.
SANADA tried a standing moonsault, but Finlay rolled away. SANADA then hit a dropkick, and the assault on Finlay continued. EVIL hit a seated senton in the corner on Finlay after begging the crowd to get into the match by pounding the mat.
Finlay escaped a back suplex attempt from SANADA, then hit his own back suplex. Juice got a tag and hit SANADA with a senton. He teased a cannonball, but EVIL jumped in. Juice dispatched EVIL, then connected with the cannonball on SANADA.
Juice stacked up SANADA with a powerbomb and got a two count. He teased a Juice Box, but SANADA blocked it. EVIL jumped in to hit a quick strike, enabling SANADA to hit a backdrop. They teased a Magic Killer, but Finlay saved, then clotheslined EVIL outside.
Juice and Finlay hit a double flapjack on SANADA. Finlay hit a superplex into an immediate frog splash by Juice for a two count. SANADA landed badly on the superplex, but appeared to be okay.
Juice and SANADA each teased a finisher. EVIL hit a German on Juice. Finlay hit EVIL with a spear. SANADA hit a springboard dropkick to Finlay. SANADA tried Skull End. Juice tried Pulp Friction. SANADA blocked, then locked in Skull End.
EVIL held Finlay on the floor while SANADA held Juic ein Skull End. Referee Red Shoes really tried to sell this as a finish, but no. SANADA gave up the hold, then tried a moonsault. Juice got his knees up, and they did a double down.
EVIL and Finlay got tags and exchanged strikes. EVIL tried a misdirection spot out of the corner, but Finlay blocked and hit a uranage over his knee. Finlay hit an ushigoroshi for a near fall.
Finlay tried a cutter. EVIL blocked and hit a fisherman buster. EVIL hit a superplex, then a lariat. Finlay took a flip bump, then kicked out at two.
EVIL used a scorpion deathlock. Juice tried for a save, but SANADA cut him off and put him in Skull End. After a struggle, Finlay reached the ropes.
EVIL and SANADA hit a Magic Killer on Juice, who rolled to the floor. They tried a Magic Killer on Finlay, but Finlay used a Granby roll for a great near fall.
EVIL hit Darkness Falls on Finlay for a two count. EVIL and SANADA then hit a Magic Killer. EVIL covered, but Juice saved.
SANADA hit a plancha on Juice. EVIL tried Everything is EVIL on Finlay, but Finlay blocked and hit his own Everything is EVIL.
Finlay hit EVIL with a stunner. Juice hit EVIL and SANADA with Left Hand of God. Juice hit Pulp Friction on SANADA. Finlay then hit his Acid Drop and pinned EVIL. The last few minutes of this were exceptional.
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After the match, Cobb, Nicholls, Tenzan, Kojima, Henare, Tanahashi, Nagata, Nakanishi, Cabana, Yano, Makabe and Honma came to the ring to celebrate with Juice and Finlay. Zima is a sponsor, so the babyfaces drank Zima and gave the winning team a Zima bath.
Juice called out G.O.D. and challenged them. Tonga and Loa came to the stage. Tonga flipped off Juice, then left.
The babyfaces continued celebrating with confetti and the World Tag League trophies to close the show.
FINAL WORLD TAG LEAGUE STANDINGS
Juice Robinson & David Finlay — 26 points (13-2)
EVIL & SANADA — 26 points (13-2)
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa — 24 points (12-3)
Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI — 22 points (11-4)
Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer — 18 points (9-6)
Toru Yano & Colt Cabana — 18 points (9-6)
Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi — 18 points (9-6)
KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi — 16 points (8-7)
Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls — 16 points (8-7)
Shingo Takagi & El Terrible — 12 points (6-9)
Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens — 12 points (6-9)
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima — 8 points (4-11)
The stage is set for the final night of NJPW’s World Tag League.
EVIL & SANADA, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa, and Juice Robinson & David Finlay are the three teams still in contention heading into Sunday. All three teams won their matches as night 16 of the tournament took place in Kumamoto this morning.
Here are the results from today’s tournament matches:
– Hirooki Goto & Karl Fredericks defeated Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
EVIL & SANADA will face Robinson & Finlay at Sunday’s show, while Tonga & Loa are facing Ishii &YOSHI-HASHI. If EVIL & SANADA win, they’ll win the tournament. If Robinson & Finlay win and Tonga & Loa lose, Robinson & Finlay will win the tournament.
Due to Tonga & Loa defeating Robinson & Finlay when they faced off earlier in the tournament, It will be a three-way tie if Robinson & Finlay and Tonga & Loa both win on Sunday.
Tonga & Loa are the current IWGP Tag Team Champions. Sunday’s show should set up a title match for Wrestle Kingdom 14.
Here are the updated World Tag League standings heading into the final night:
EVIL & SANADA — 26 points (13-1)
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa — 24 points (12-2)
Juice Robinson & David Finlay — 24 points (12-2)
Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI — 20 points (10-4)
Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi — 18 points (9-6)
KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi — 16 points (8-6)
Toru Yano & Colt Cabana — 16 points (8-6)
Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer — 16 points (8-6)
Jeff Cobb & Mikey Nicholls — 14 points (7-7)
Shingo Takagi & El Terrible — 12 points (6-8)
Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens — 12 points (6-8)
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima — 8 points (4-10)
Night three of NJPW’s World Tag League took place today in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall before an announced crowd of 1,504.
Here are full results and match recaps:
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: TOGI MAKABE & TOMOAKI HONMA DEFEATED HIROOKI GOTO & KARL FREDERICKS
Fredericks and Makabe started the match. Fredericks out-powered Makabe on shoulder blocks, and Makabe quickly tagged out. Honma took over on Fredericks after Fredericks missed a dropkick.
Fredericks made a comeback and hit a dropkick on Honma. Goto saw his first tag of the match and worked over Honma. Honma managed a tag to Makabe, who hit a Northern Lights suplex on Goto for a near fall. Fredericks tagged back in and again got the best of Makabe, using a spinebuster for a two count.
The match broke down and all four jumped in. Goto and Fredericks used a tandem Russian leg sweep/blockbuster for a near fall. Honma hit Goto with a diving kokeshi. Makabe then hit the King Kong Knee Drop on Fredericks and pinned him.
This was a solid opener, largely due to Fredericks. Makabe sold a ton for Fredericks as well.
After the match, KENTA ran in to attack Goto, so that could be a NEVER title program going forward.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: JEFF COBB & MIKEY NICHOLLS DEFEATED YUJI NAGATA & MANABU NAKANISHI
Nicholls and Cobb got virtually zero offense for the first several minutes. Nagata and Nakanishi worked over Cobb, focusing their attack on his left leg. Cobb came back with a superkick on Nagata, then managed a tag to Nicholls. Cobb’s selling of his leg was excellent.
Nicholls hit two sliding lariats on Nagata. Nagata countered with a Nagata Lock. Cobb made the save for Nicholls with a superkick to Nagata. Cobb tagged in and ate an exploder suplex from Nagata, who tagged out.
Nakanishi nearly dropped Cobb on his head on a suplex. He locked Cobb in the Argentinian backbreaker, but Cobb raked the eyes. Cobb and Nicholls hit a double back suplex on Nakanishi for a two count, as Nagata saved.
Cobb used an Angle Slam on Nakanishi for a two count as Nagata and Nicholls brawled on the floor. Cobb then hit Tour of the Islands for the pin.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: HIROYOSHI TENZAN & SATOSHI KOJIMA DEFEATED HIROSHI TANAHASHI & TOA HENARE
Henare and Tanahashi really went all out in selling for Tenzan and Kojima here.
Tana and Tenzan started out. Tana sold Tenzan’s Mongolian chops big. Tana used a quick cradle for a two count and played some air guitar.
Henare and Kojima entered. They traded chops and shoulder tackles. Kojima missed a slingshot senton and the tide turned. Tana jumped in and hit Mongolian chops on Tenzan. Henare hit machine gun chops on Kojima. Henare and Tana used their double crab.
Kojima made a comeback after a vertical suplex and a DDT on Henare. Tenzan got a tag and hit a brainbuster on Henare for a two count. Tana tagged in for a flying forearm. He teased a slingblade, but Tenzan blocked it with a wheel kick.
Kojima tried a cutter on Tanahashi, who reversed it into a Twist and Shout. Henare tagged back in and Kojima hit him with chops and a top rope elbow for a near fall.
The finish saw Kojima hit a rolling elbow and a Koji Cutter for a near fall. Tanahashi entered and took a double flapjack. Kojima hit a lariat on Henare for the pin.
Not a great match, but more entertaining than you might expect.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: TORU YANO & COLT CABANA DEFEATED MINORU SUZUKI & LANCE ARCHER
This was mostly Suzuki-gun beating Yano and Cabana all around the arena in a comedy brawl. Yano sold as though he was scared of Suzuki and Archer. Cabana and Suzuki had an entertaining sequence where each crossed the other up on a trademark spot.
Archer had Yano pinned after a Blackout, but he pulled him up at two to inflict more punishment. Archer tried the EBD Claw, but Cabana saved for Yano. Yano hit a low blow and used a schoolboy while Cabana jumped on top of Archer, giving Yano and Cabana the victory.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: KENTA & YUJIRO TAKAHASHI DEFEATED BAD LUCK FALE & CHASE OWENS
This was an inter-faction battle. Yujiro and Owens started off trading cradles. Pieter jumped on the apron to distract Owens, allowing Yujiro to use a schoolboy for a near fall.
KENTA tagged in and demanded that Owens lay down for him. KENTA explained that since he was the NEVER champ and the leader of Bullet Club, Owens should lay down for him. Owens acted like he was going to, but then tried to cradle KENTA.
All four huddled together and acted like they had agreed to walk out on the match for a double countout. As they walked to the back, Owens ran back to the ring. Fale held KENTA and Yujiro by the trunks. KENTA broke free and just beat the count.
KENTA used Game Over to tap out Owens. This was funny.
TETSUYA NAITO & BUSHI DEFEATED JAY WHITE & GEDO
BUSHI pinned Gedo after an MX in the only non-tournament match of the night.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: TOMOHIRO ISHII & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED SHINGO TAKAGI & EL TERRIBLE
Ishii and Shingo started doff with an intense striking battle. Terrible and YH got in and Terrible took over on YH with strikes. YH managed a tag to Ishii, and Ishii and Shingo again traded. Both hit shoulder blocks — and both refused to go down.
Shingo hit a lariat, into a double down. Terrible and YH tagged in and Terrible hit his punch/chop combination sequence in the corner. YH hit a standard headhunter, then used another off the second rope for near falls.
Ishii got a tag and went toe-to-toe with Terrible. Ishii tried a sliding lariat, but Terrible moved out of the way. Shingo then jumped in and hit a sliding lariat of his own on Ishii. Shingo hit a DVD on Ishii. Terrible hit a top rope splash for a two count.
All four guys jumped in. Shingo hit noshigami on Ishii. YH hit a backstabber on Shingo into a German by Ishii. Ishii then hit Terrible with the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin.
The last few minutes of this were excellent.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: ZACK SABRE JR. & TAICHI DEFEATED JUICE ROBINSON & DAVID FINLAY
Sabre and Finlay started the match. Sabre tried to strike with Finlay and Juice, who took the early advantage. Finlay hit a back elbow. Suzuki-gun eventually turned this into a brawl around ringside. In the brawl, Sabre posted Finlay’s left shoulder and arm.
Back inside, Sabre worked over the damaged left arm of Finlay. Finlay came back with a back elbow and tagged out. Juice missed a cannonball in the corner and Sabre locked him in the octopus hold.
Juice slipped out of the octopus and tried a Juice Box. Sabre avoided the move and tagged Taichi. Taichi used an eye rake. Juice countered with a leg lariat before tagging Finlay back in.
Finlay hit an interfering Sabre with a dropkick, then used a uranage on Taichi for a near fall. Taichi avoided a double flapjack attempt. Sabre jumped in and hit a PK on Finlay. Taichi used another PK for a near fall.
Sabre locked Juice in a triangle while Taichi used a guillotine on Finlay. Juice broke the triangle with a powerbomb, then made a save for Finlay. Sabre and Juice rolled outside. Taichi teased a Last Ride, but Finlay hit a back drop.
Juice hit Taichi with the Left Hand of God. Sabre took out Juice with a kick to the arm. Finlay hit Sabre with a spear and all four men went down.
Taichi and Finlay traded strikes. Finlay used a schoolboy for a two count, then used a cradle for another. Finlay tried a Stunner, but Taichi rolled through into a Gedo clutch for a near fall.
The finish saw Finlay and Taichi botch a first attempt at a Zack Mephisto, which is a combo Black Mephisto from Taichi and Zack Driver from Sabre. They got it on their second attempt and Taichi pinned Finlay.
A forgettable end to a forgettable show.
CURRENT WORLD TAG LEAGUE STANDINGS:
Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI — 6 points (3-0)
Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi — 4 points (2-1)
Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma — 4 points (2-1)
David Finlay & Juice Robinson — 4 points (2-1)
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima — 4 points (2-1)
NJPW’s World Tag League continued today in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall in front of an announced sellout crowd of 1,725.
The show featured all Tag League matches, with all 16 teams in action. Here are full results and match recaps:
JUICE ROBINSON & DAVID FINLAY DEFEATED HIROYOSHI TENZAN & SATOSHI KOJIMA
Finlay and Tenzan kicked things off. They traded shoulder tackles and knockdowns. Kojima got a tag and hit machine gun chops in the corner. Kojima missed a charge into the corner, which enabled Finlay and Juice to take over.
Finlay hit Kojima with uppercuts. Juice used a senton for a two count. Kojima came back with DDTs on both Finlay and Juice, then made a hot tag to Tenzan. Tenzan hit Finlay with Mongolian chops, then used a brainbuster for a near fall.
They traded strikes. Tenzan used a wheel kick, then slapped on an Anaconda Vice. Juice made the save for Finlay, breaking the hold. Juice tagged in. Tenzan and Juice traded strikes. Juice hit a spinebuster. Tenzan answered with a Mountain Bomb, then tagged out.
Kojima hit Juice with machine gun chops, a top rope elbow, and a Koji Cutter. He covered, but Finlay made the save for Juice. The match broke down and all four jumped in. Tenzan and Finlay brawled to the floor. Kojima hit Juice with a brainbuster for a near fall.
Juice ducked one lariat, but Kojima connected on another for a near fall. Finlay jumped in. Juice and Finlay hit a double dropkick on Kojima, who no-sold it.
The finish saw Juice hit the Left Hand of God into a Stunner by Finlay, into a Pulp Friction from Juice, who pinned Kojima. This turned into a heck of an opener by the end.
Sadly, three of these four guys have no business being in the ring, with Makabe the only exception. Honma looked as good as he has in a long time, but Nagata seems to have aged five years since his last tour, and Nakanishi is immobile.
The match was built around Honma missing kokeshis. He scored some early chops and shoulder tackles on both Nagata and Nakanishi, but missed kokeshis on both.
Nagata and Nakanishi took over on Honma. Makabe finally got a hot tag and hit 10 punches in the corner and a lariat on Nagata. Nagata answered with an exploder suplex.
Nakanishi hit a splash on Makabe for a near fall. Nakanishi put Makabe in the Argentinian backbreaker, while Nagata used a Nagata Lock on Honma. Makabe responded with a double lariat, then Honma and Makabe hit Nakanishi with a double lariat.
The finish saw Honma hit a kokeshi on Nakanishi. Makabe then hit a lariat for a near fall, a sloppy slam, then the King Kong Knee Drop for the pin.
BAD LUCK FALE & CHASE OWENS DEFEATED HIROSHI TANAHASHI & TOA HENARE
Fale and Owens attacked before the opening bell, sending Henare outside. Tanahashi made his own comeback. Henare and Tanahashi used a tandem crab on Fale, which Owens broke up with thumbs to the eyes.
Fale and Owens isolated Henare. Fale eventually missed a splash, which allowed Henare to make a tag to Tanahashi. Tana hit Fale with strikes, a dragon screw, and tried for a cloverleaf, but Fale fought it off.
Tana tried a slam on Fale, but collapsed with Fale on top of him. Fale missed a splash, which led to Owens and Henare getting tags.
Henare hit a Samoan drop, then used a diving chop for a near fall. Owens blocked a charge into the corner, and Fale entered for a double team. Owens hit a second rope elbow for a near fall. Tana and Henare suplexed Fale.
Tana hit a slingblade on Owens, and Henare covered for a two count. Tana rolled outside to brawl with Fale. Fale tripped Henare from the floor, allowing Owens to hit a shining wizard. Owens then hit a package piledriver and pinned Henare.
HIROOKI GOTO & KARL FREDERICKS DEFEATED KENTA & YUJIRO TAKAHASHI
Let’s all pitch in and buy Yujiro a new hat for Christmas this year. The one he wears during his entrance has seen better days.
They could be setting up a Goto/KENTA NEVER title match. This whole match was built around the two of them and the finish makes no sense otherwise.
KENTA stalled in the early going, avoiding Goto. Fredericks again worked most of the match for his team. He scored early offense with an uppercut forearm and a diving chop. KENTA and Yujiro then turned this into a brawl around ringside, leading to a lengthy bit of getting heat on Fredericks.
Fredericks blocked a Pimp Juice attempt by Yujiro, then both tagged out. Goto hit some trademark offense on KENTA. Yujiro tried to jump in for a double team, but Fredericks hit him with a spinebuster. Fredericks also hit a blockbuster off the second rope.
Goto tried an ushigoroshi, but KENTA raked his eyes. KENTA used Game Over, but Goto reached the ropes for a break. The finish saw KENTA take the ref. Yujiro jumped in with his cane, but Goto blocked a shot and hit him with an ushigoroshi. Goto then pinned KENTA after two GTRs.
Yano and Cabana argued over who would start. Yano began but quickly tagged out. Tonga hit a neckbreaker on Cabana on an illegal double team, which led to a lengthy beatdown on Colt by GOD.
Yano finally got a tag and untied a turnbuckle pad. All four did some comedy spots. Yano and Cabana both took Tongan Twists. The ref took a bump, which allowed Jado to jump in and hit Yano with a kendo stick.
The finish saw Cabana take the referee, which allowed Yano to hit low blows on both Tonga and Loa. Yano rolled Loa up with a schoolboy, then Cabana jumped on top with a Superman pin to earn the victory.
This didn’t have enough comedy to be a good comedy match. It also didn’t have enough brawling to be a good brawl.
TOMOHIRO ISHII & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED JEFF COBB & MIKEY NICHOLLS
Ishii and Cobb started off by no-selling each other’s power moves. Nicholls and YH got tags. Nicholls took over on YH after a lariat. YH came back with a headhunter, allowing both to tag out.
Ishii and Cobb exchanged heavy strikes and chops. Cobb hit a massive brainbuster, then tagged Nicholls. Nicholls hit Ishii with clotheslines in the corner. He tried a brainbuster, but Ishii slid out. Ishii hit some hard strikes, but Nicholls countered with a spinebuster for a near fall.
Ishii ducked a lariat, then hit a vertical suplex. Cobb and YH both jumped in and hit superkicks. YH used a backstabber on Nicholls into a German by Ishii. Ishii hit a lariat and went for a cover on Nicholls, but Cobb broke it up.
YH hit a dragon suplex on Cobb. Cobb popped up and hit Ishii and YH with lariats. Cobb and Nicholls hit stereo standing moonsaults on Ishii for a two count. Nicholls hit Ishii with a DVD, then hit a sliding lariat for a near fall.
Nicholls teased a Mikey Bomb on Ishii, but YH jumped in to make the save. YH hit Nicholls with a lariat. Ishii then hit a sliding lariat for a two count, while Cobb and YH rolled outside. Ishii then hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin.
This was a great match worth going out of your way to see — if only for the one-man show that is Tomohiro Ishii. He is unreal.
There is honor among stablemates, as neither side used an attack before the bell.
After the bell, however, all bets are off. Suzuki and Taichi started off in the ring. Suzuki went after Taichi’s hair. Taichi responded by sending Suzuki into the barricade and hitting him with a chair. Sabre used a heel hook on Archer on the outside.
Archer and Suzuki made a comeback. Suzuki used a chair on Taichi and sent him into the barricade. Archer and Sabre brawled all over the building. Back in the ring, Suzuki and Archer took turns working over Taichi in their half of the ring.
Taichi snapped and went after Suzuki’s throat, backing him into a corner. Sabre made a blind tag and used a kimura and stomped on Suzuki’s elbow. Suzuki’s facial expressions here were absolutely priceless.
Suzuki fired back with strikes on Sabre. Sabre tried to respond with stiff forearms, but Suzuki got the best of it. Sabre hit a PK, but Suzuki no-sold it. Suzuki hit a PK, but Sabre no-sold it. This was great. Sabre and Suzuki knocked each other down with simultaneous high kicks.
Archer and Taichi got tags. Archer teased the EBD Claw on Taichi. Taichi blocked and hit a kamiguri. He teased a buzzsaw kick, but Archer caught him in a black hole slam.
Suzuki tagged in and slapped the crap out of Taichi. Taichi answered with a high kick, then made a tag to Sabre. Suzuki and Sabre squared off. Sabre dared Suzuki to hit a forearm. Suzuki did, dropping Sabre. Suzuki dared Sabre to hit him. Suzuki dropped to a knee from the strike.
They continued to trade hard strikes. Sabre tried a neck twist, but Suzuki blocked and put him in an ankle lock. Sabre reversed into an octopus. Archer jumped in and hit a Pounce on Sabre. Taichi jumped in and ate a big boot from Suzuki.
Suzuki hit Sabre with kicks. He tried a misdirection spot, but Sabre answered with a European clutch for a near fall. Suzuki got a rear naked choke applied. Sabre slid out. They traded a series of cradles, with Sabre finally using an inside cradle for the pin.
This match ruled. My favorite tag match in weeks.
EVIL & SANADA DEFEATED SHINGO TAKAGI & EL TERRIBLE
EVIL and SANADA established the early advantage on Shingo with some very basic offense. EVIL hit some shoulder tackles. Shingo came back with a lariat on EVIL, and all four brawled around ringside.
Back in the ring, Shingo hit a slingshot stomp on EVIL, a knee lift, then a vertical suplex. Terrible and Shingo worked over EVIL’s left arm, cutting the ring in half. EVIL came back with a double bulldog, then tagged SANADA.
SANADA used the Paradise Lock on Terrible. Shingo and SANADA exchanged strikes. SANADA teased a leapfrog dropkick, but Shingo blocked. Shingo tried a dragon screw, but SANADA reversed into one of his own.
SANADA hit a springboard dropkick. EVIL got a tag and hit a lariat for a two count. EVIL and SANADA teased a Magic Killer, but Shingo fought it off, then hit both with a double lariat.
Terrible came in for some double team spots. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber on EVIL. Terrible hit a top rope splash for a two count on EVIL, as SANADA made the save.
Terrible hit his punch and chop combos on both EVIL and SANADA. EVIL and SANADA hit Terrible with a Magic Killer. Shingo jumped in to make the save, but SANADA locked him in Skull End. EVIL and SANADA then hit Shingo with a Magic Killer.
The finish saw EVIL hit Everything is EVIL on Terrible for the pin. A good main event, but it had no chance at following the previous two matches.
CURRENT WORLD TAG LEAGUE STANDINGS:
Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI — 4 points (2-0)
David Finlay & Juice Robinson — 4 points (2-0)
EVIL & SANADA — 2 points (1-0)
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare — 2 points (1-1)
Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer — 2 points (1-1)
KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi — 2 points (1-1)
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima — 2 points (1-1)
The roster for this year’s World Tag League has been revealed.
There’s no real surprises in this year’s line up. The current IWGP Tag Team champions Guerillas of Destiny are in, as well as last year’s winners EVIL and SANADA.
Coming in for the tour are Colt Cabana (who will team with Toru Yano) and El Terrible (Shingo Takagi). Mikey Nicholls & Jeff Cobb will also be coming in as a tag team. This year’s format will be the same as last year’s tournament, consisting of a single block where the two teams with the most points will meet in the finals.
Some of New Japan’s older roster members who don’t appear on every tour will also be a part of the tournament. That includes teams like Manabu Nakanishi & Yuji Nagata and Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima.
Full lineups of each show can be found on New Japan’s website. The tournament will start on November 16 in Kanagawa and end on December 8 in Hiroshima.
