Tag: world tag league 2021

NJPW crowns World Tag League 2021 winners

Posted on by Ethan Renner

CHAOS reigned today in Sumo Hall. 

Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHi defeated EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi in 19:58 in the World Tag League finals to capture NJPW’s World Tag League 2021. 

Goto and YOSHI-HASHI overcame the usual constant interference from Dick Togo to win the match and the tournament finals. Though not yet official, the World Tag League winners traditionally challenge the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions at Wrestle Kingdom. Those belts are currently held by Suzuki-gun’s Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi.

Goto has now won World Tag League three times with three different partners. He won the tournament in 2012 with Karl Anderson, again in 2014 with Katsuyori Shibata, and now the 2021 edition with YOSHI-HASHI. The victory was the first tournament win for YOSHI-HASHI. 

Shibata made news of his own today, announcing that he will have a match on night one of Wrestle Kingdom 16 on January 4. 

NJPW World Tag League & Best of the Super Juniors finals lineup set

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW has revealed the full lineup for the Wednesday, December 15 World Tag League and Best of the Super Juniors 28 finals. 

The BOSJ finals will main event, as Hiromu Takahashi takes on YOH. Hiromu will be trying for his third overall BOSJ crown, and his second consecutive. A win for YOH would be the first of his career. 

In the semi-main event, Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI of CHAOS will face EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi from Bullet Club House of Torture to decide the 2021 World Tag League winner. Both Goto and EVIL have won the tournament twice before with different partners. 

Also announced for Wednesday, Katsuyori Shibata is scheduled to make a “major announcement.”

A Wrestle Kingdom night one preview will take place in the sixth match of the night. IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi will team with BUSHI against his Wrestle Kingdom challenger Kazuchika Okada and Robbie Eagles. Okada and Shingo will main event on January 4, 2022, with the winner defending the IWGP title against Will Ospreay the next night. 

A hodgepodge of tag matches will fill out Wednesday’s undercard. 

Here is the lineup: 

NJPW World Tag League & Best of the Super Juniors finals, Wednesday, December 15, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • Best of the Super Juniors 28 finals: Hiromu Takahashi vs. YOH
  • World Tag League 2021 finals: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Kazuchika Okada & Robbie Eagles
  • Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
  • Toru Yano, Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Master Wato vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Tiger Mask & Ryohei Oiwa vs. Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
  • Ryusuke Taguchi, Yuto Nakashima & Kosei Fujita vs. Minoru Suzuki, DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku
  • Katsuyori Shibata announcement

NJPW World Tag League 2021 finals set

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The finals of the 2021 NJPW World Tag League are set. 

Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI will face EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi in the finals on Wednesday, December 15. 

Goto and YOSHI-HASHI finished atop the block with 18 points, earning a place in the finals with today’s win over IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi. EVIL and Yujiro finished the tournament at 16 points, but held head-to-head tiebreakers over the other two teams that also finished at 16. They secured a spot in the finals with a win today over Tetsuya Naito and SANADA. 

EVIL has won the World Tag League twice, both times while teaming with SANADA. They captured the 2017 and 2018 editions of the tournament back-to-back. Goto is also a two-time winner, claiming victory with Karl Anderson in 2012, and with Katsuyori Shibata in 2014.

Wednesday’s show will also include the Best of the Super Juniors 28 tournament finals, where Hiromu Takahashi will take on YOH. Shibata will also make a “major announcement” on the show. The full card has yet to be released. 

Here are the final World Tag League standings: 

  • Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI 18 points (9-2)
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi 16 points (8-3)
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi 16 points (8-3)
  • Tetsuya Naito & SANADA 16 points (8-3)
  • Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare 14 points (7-4)
  • Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa 14 points (7-4)
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano 14 points (7-4)
  • Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens 12 points (6-5)
  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan 6 points (3-8)
  • Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe 4 points (2-9)
  • Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask 2 points (1-10)
  • Minoru Suzuki & Taka Michinoku 0 points (0-11)

NJPW World Tag League night 11 results: Final block matches

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s World Tag League 2021 tournament wrapped up block action today in Hiroshima. 

The final two matches decided who would advance to Wednesday’s finals, with EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi facing Tetsuya Naito and SANADA in the semi-main, and Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. taking on Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI in the main event. 

Here are the results from today’s show: 

Ryohei Oiwa drew with Kosei Fujita (10:00)

The Young Lions went to yet another time limit draw.

World Tag League: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima defeated Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku (9:27)

Kojima pinned TAKA after a lariat. TAKA took the fall in each of the 11 matches in a winless tournament.

World Tag League: Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma defeated Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask (9:07)

Makabe pinned Tiger after the King Kong knee drop. 

World Tag League: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano defeated Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens (9:53)

Tana got his win back over Owens from the G1, pinning him with a High Fly Flow.

World Tag League: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare (13:31)

GOD closed out the tournament with a win, as Loa pinned Henare after a Magic Killer.

World Tag League: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (17:46)

By virtue of head-to-head wins over Naito & SANADA and both teams in the main event, EVIL and Yujiro secured their spot in the finals with the win. EVIL pinned SANADA after Everything is EVIL.

World Tag League: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi (24:44)

Goto used a cradle to pin Sabre and advance to the finals. House of Torture came to the ring after the match for a staredown.

NJPW World Tag League 2021 updated standings and schedule

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Here are the World Tag League standings after night 10, plus the remaining schedule for the tournament: 

Standings —

  • Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi 16 points (8-2)
  • Tetsuya Naito & SANADA 16 points (8-2)
  • Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI 16 points (8-2)
  • Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare 14 points (7-3)
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi 14 points (7-3)
  • Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa 12 points (6-4)
  • Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens 12 points (6-4)
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano 12 points (6-4)
  • Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan 4 points (2-8)
  • Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask 2 points (1-9)
  • Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe 2 points (1-9)
  • Minoru Suzuki & Taka Michinoku 0 points (0-10)

Schedule —

NJPW World Tag League 2021 night 11, Sunday, December 12, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • World Tag League: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA vs. EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi
  • World Tag League: Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare vs. Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa 
  • World Tag League: Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe vs. Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask 
  • World Tag League: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano vs. Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
  • World Tag League: Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku
  • World Tag League: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
  • Kosei Fujita vs. Ryohei Oiwa

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 28 & World Tag League 2021 finals, Wednesday, December 15, 3 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —

  • World Tag League finals
  • BOSJ finals

NJPW World Tag League night 10 results: CHAOS vs. United Empire

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s World Tag League 2021 tournament continued today in Ehime.

With only night of block action left in the tournament, Great-O-Khan and Aaron Henare needed a victory in the main event to maintain a chance to place in the top two and advance to the finals, barring an unlikely series of no contests and double DQs. They faced Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI, who looked to get to 16 points and remain in contention for the finals. 

Here are the results from today’s show: 

Yuto Nakashima drew with Kosei Fujita (10:00)

The Young Lions went to yet another time limit draw.

World Tag League: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi  defeated Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku (9:31)

Yujiro pinned TAKA after hitting Big Juice.

World Tag League: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask (13:56)

SANADA pinned Nagata after a moonsault press.

World Tag League: Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi defeated Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (13:39)

Taichi submitted Honma with the Holy Cross Mausoleum (stretch plum).

World Tag League: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens (11:28)

Tama pinned Fale.

World Tag League: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (9:17)

Yano pinned Tenzan.

World Tag League: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare (19:43)

YH pinned Henare after Goto and YH hit their tandem finisher.

NJPW World Tag League night nine results: LIJ vs. GOD

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s World Tag League 2021 tournament continued today in Okayama.

With only two nights left in the tournament, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa needed a victory in the main event to maintain a chance to place in the top two and advance to the finals, barring an unlikely series of no contests and double DQs. They faced Tetsuya Naito and SANADA, who looked to get to 14 points and remain in contention for the finals. 

Here are the results from today’s show: 

Yuto Nakashima drew with Kosei Fujita (10:00)

The Young Lions went to yet another time limit draw.

World Tag League: Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi defeated Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask (11:48)

Taichi submitted Tiger with the Holy Cross Mausoleum (stretch plum).

World Tag League: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano defeated Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku (10:37)

Tana used his Texas Clover Hold to submit TAKA.

World Tag League: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (11:18)

Yujiro pinned Honma after hitting Big Juice.

World Tag League: Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (12:43)

Henare pinned Kojima after hitting an Imperial Drop.

World Tag League: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens (11:46)

Goto pinned Owens after Goto and YH hit their tandem finisher.

World Tag League: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (18:30)

Naito pinned Loa after hitting Destino.

NJPW World Tag League night eight results: Tanahashi & Yano vs. GOD

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s World Tag League 2021 tournament continued today in Yamanashi.

Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toru Yano faced Tama Tonga and Tang Loa in today’s main event. In a switch from the usual Young Lion vs. Young Lion opener, Yamanashi native and IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Shingo Takagi faced Young Lion Ryohei Oiwa.

Here are the results from today’s show: 

Shingo Takagi defeated Ryohei Oiwa (10:18)

Shingo won with a Boston crab.

World Tag League: Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens defeated Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask (9:52)

Owens pinned Nagata with a package piledriver.

World Tag League: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku (10:09)

YOSHI-HASHI pinned TAKA. 

World Tag League: Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare defeated Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (12:17)

Henare pinned Honma after an Imperial Drop.

World Tag League: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (11:32)

SANADA pinned Tenzan with an O’Connor roll. 

World Tag League: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi (17:10)

EVIL pinned Taichi after Everything is EVIL and the usual Bullet Club shenanigans. 

World Tag League: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano (14:47)

Loa pinned Yano after GOD hit a Magic Killer.

NJPW World Tag League night seven results: LIJ vs. Dangerous Tekkers

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s World Tag League 2021 tournament continued today in Saitama.

Tetsuya Naito & SANADA faced Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi for sole possession of first place atop the tournament block in today’s main event.

Here are the results from today’s show: 

Kosei Fujita drew with Yuto Nakashima (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

World Tag League: Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma defeated Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku (10:11)

Honma and Makabe won the battle of winless teams after Honma pinned TAKA with a kokeshi.

World Tag League: Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (10:45)

Fale pinned Kojima with a Grenade. 

World Tag League: Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare defeated Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask (10:11)

Henare pinned Tiger after an Imperial Drop.

World Tag League: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi  defeated Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (11:15)

EVIL pinned Tama Tonga after Everything is EVIL. 

World Tag League: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano (11:24)

The match is not available on video on demand for several more hours, but Goto pinned Yano, possibly after blocking a low blow. 

World Tag League: Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi defeated Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (29:49)

With just seconds left in the time limit, Sabre pinned SANADA after a Tensho Zack Driver to claim sole possession of first place for Dangerous Tekkers.

NJPW World Tag League night six results: LIJ vs. United Empire

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s World Tag League 2021 tournament continued today in Korakuen Hall. 

Tetsuya Naito & SANADA looked to remain undefeated in the main event, taking on United Empire’s Great-O-Khan and Aaron Henare.

Here are the results from today’s show: 

Ryohei Oiwa drew with Yuto Nakashima (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

World Tag League: Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens defeated Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku (9:03)

Owens pinned TAKA with a package piledriver.

World Tag League: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask (8:23)

Yujiro pinned Tiger after hitting Big Juice.

World Tag League: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (10:41)

YOSHI-HASHI pinned Honma. 

World Tag League: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (12:56)

Tanga Loa used the OJK to submit Tenzan.

World Tag League: Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano (14:23)

Taichi and Sabre won by countout after Yano’s legs were taped together and he could not beat the 20 count.

World Tag League: Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare defeated Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (21:28)

O-Khan pinned SANADA after an Eliminator to hand LIJ their first tournament loss. 

NJPW World Tag League results: Tournament night five

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s World Tag League 2021 tournament continued today in Chiba.

Here are the results from today’s show: 

Kosei Fujita drew with Yuto Nakashima (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

World Tag League: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima defeated Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (11:39)

Kojima pinned Honma after a lariat.

World Tag League: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens (10:22)

SANADA pinned Owens with an O’Connor roll. 

World Tag League: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano defeated Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare (11:49)

Yano pinned Henare with a schoolboy after a low blow.

World Tag League: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (11:20)

Yujiro pinned YOSHI-HASHI after hitting Big Juice.

World Tag League: Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi defeated Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (17:41)

Sabre pinned Loa with a small package after avoiding the Magic Killer.

World Tag League: Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask defeated Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku (14:46)

Nagata pinned TAKA with a backdrop suplex.

NJPW World Tag League night four results: Tanahashi & Yano vs. LIJ

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s World Tag League 2021 tournament continued today in Kanagawa.

Here are the results from today’s show: 

Kosei Fujita drew with Yuto Nakashima (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

World Tag League: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask (10:59)

YOSHI-HASHI pinned Tiger after hitting Shoto.

World Tag League: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (11:24)

Yujiro pinned Tenzan after hitting Big Juice.

World Tag League: Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens defeated Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (10:34)

Owens pinned Honma after a package piledriver.

World Tag League: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku (9:52)

Tama pinned TAKA after a Gun Stun.

World Tag League: Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare defeated Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi (19:05)

O-Khan pinned Taichi after an Imperial Drop. 

World Tag League: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano (15:18)

SANADA pinned Tanahashi with an O’Connor roll. 

NJPW World Tag League night three results: CHAOS vs. Bullet Club

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s World Tag League 2021 tournament continued today in Nagano.

Here are the results from today’s show: 

Kosei Fujita drew with Ryohei Oiwa (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

World Tag League: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano defeated Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask (8:49)

Yano pinned Nagata to keep his team undefeated.

World Tag League: Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare defeated Minoru Suzuki & Taka Michinoku (10:17)

O-Khan pinned TAKA after an Imperial Drop. 

World Tag League: Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens defeated EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (7:53)

Fale pinned Yujiro after a Grenade Launcher.

World Tag League: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe (13:01)

Naito pinned Honma with a jackknife cradle. 

World Tag League: Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi defeated Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan (16:34)

Taichi pinned Kojima after Black Mephisto.

World Tag League: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa (20:02)

YOSHI-HASHI pinned Tama Tonga to score the upset win. 

NJPW World Tag League night two results: Suzuki-gun vs. Bullet Club

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s World Tag League 2021 tournament continued today in Toyama.

Here are the results from today’s show: 

Yuto Nakashima drew with Ryohei Oiwa (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

World Tag League: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask (7:01)

Loa used the OJK to submit Tiger.

World Tag League: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (11:16)

YOSHI-HASHI pinned Tenzan after Shoto.

World Tag League: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano defeated Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma (13:01)

Tana pinned Honma after a High Fly Flow.

World Tag League: Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare defeated EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (12:51)

O-Khan scored the win over Yujiro with an Imperial Drop. 

World Tag League: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku (11:02)

SANADA used Skull End to defeat TAKA.

World Tag League: Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens (18:32)

Sabre pinned Owens after a Tensho Zack Driver. 

NJPW World Tag League night one results: CHAOS vs. LIJ

Posted on by Ethan Renner

NJPW’s World Tag League 2021 tournament kicked off today in Korakuen Hall. 

Here are the results from today’s show: 

Yuto Nakashima drew with Kosei Fujita (10:00)

The Young Lions went to a time limit draw.

World Tag League: Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi defeated Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku (18:44)

Taichi and Sabre won by referee stoppage TKO after Taichi hit TAKA with Black Mephisto.

World Tag League: Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan defeated Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask (10:09)

Kojima pinned Tiger after hitting a lariat.

World Tag League: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa defeated Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe (14:00)

Tama pinned Honma after hitting a Gun Stun.

World Tag League: Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens defeated Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare (9:13)

Fale pinned Henare after hitting a Grenade Launcher.

World Tag League: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano defeated EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (12:18)

Yano used a schoolboy to pin Yujiro after a low blow.

World Tag League: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (18:12)

Naito pinned YOSHI-HASHI after hitting Destino.