Tag: world tag league

NJPW announces full slate of teams for World Tag League 2024

Posted on by Joseph Currier

With Super Junior Tag League over, NJPW now shifts focus to its heavyweight tag team tournament.

World Tag League 2024 begins on Tuesday, November 19 and will run through Sunday, December 8. The tournament consists of 15 events that will all air live on New Japan World.

The full 16-team field was unveiled today:

A Block —

  • Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
  • KENTA & Chase Owens
  • Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma
  • Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman
  • Alex Zayne & a mystery partner
  • Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa
  • Gabe Kidd & Sanada

B Block —

  • Great-O-Khan & HENARE
  • Taichi & TAKA Michinoku
  • Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls
  • Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Jado
  • Tome Filip & Stevie Filip
  • Toru Yano & Oleg Boltin
  • EVIL & Ren Narita

Known as the Natural Classics, brothers Tome Filip & Stevie Filip are an Australian tag team making their official NJPW debut in the tournament. They have been part of NJPW’s Tamashii brand in the Oceania region.

World Tag League will likely set up Wrestle Kingdom 19 challengers for IWGP Tag Team Champions Great-O-Khan & HENARE, who just won the belts from Haste & Nicholls at Power Struggle.

Power Struggle saw Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita crowned as the winners of Super Junior Tag League 2024. It will be a four-way match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles at Wrestle Kingdom 19 with KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight defending against Eagles & Fujita, TJP & Francesco Akira, and Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney.

NJPW reveals full card for World Tag League 2023 finals

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The full card is set for NJPW’s World Tag League finals.

World Tag League 2023 comes to an end as the finals stream live on NJPW World starting at 12:30 a.m. Eastern time this Sunday (December 10). In the main event, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI face Hikuleo & El Phantasmo to determine the World Tag League winner.

Goto & YOSHI-HASHI earned their spot in the finals with a semifinal victory over Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd. Hikuleo & El Phantasmo defeated TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls) in the semifinals.

Goto & YOSHI-HASHI and Hikuleo & El Phantasmo are both current tag team champions in NJPW. Goto & YOSHI-HASHI hold the IWGP Tag Team titles, while Hikuleo & El Phantasmo are the Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions.

Eight other tag matches are part of the card for Sunday’s event. Among them is a bout pitting Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi against AEW/ROH team Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona).

The full card is listed below:

  • World Tag League 2023 finals: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Hikuleo & El Phantasmo
  • SANADA, Taichi, Yuya Uemura, DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku vs. Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, BUSHI & Zandokan Jr.
  • Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona
  • Kaito Kiyomiya, Ryohei Oiwa & Tomoaki Honma vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • Shota Umino & Tiger Mask vs. Ren Narita & SHO
  • Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano, Yuto Nakashima & Oskar Leube vs. Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Callum Newman
  • Yuji Nagata, Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer & Alex Zayne vs. Bad Luck Fale, Jack Bonza, Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd
  • Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste & Kosei Fujita vs. Atlantis Jr., Soberano Jr. & Master Wato
  • Pre-show match: Ryusuke Taguchi & Boltin Oleg vs. Kodai Nozaki & Asosan (from independent promotion Kyushu Pro)

NJPW World Tag League night 13 results, updated standings

Posted on by Ian Carey

The World Tag League continued on Wednesday in Karatsu.

The final night of round-robin action in the A Block was featured on the show. 

The Bullet Club War Dogs team of Alex Coughlin and Gabe Kidd defeated TMDK’s Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste in the main event to clinch the top spot in A Block. Both teams finished with 10 points and 5-2 records, but Coughlin & Kidd were awarded the top seed on a head-to-head tie-breaker. TMDK also moves on to the semifinals after finishing second in the block. 

Ren Narita joined House of Torture on Wednesday’s show as well, turning on his partner Shota Umino. After taking a boot to the stomach from EVIL during a pre-match attack, Narita remained on the outside of the ring throughout most of the contest. When Narita finally did return to the ring, he refused a tag from his partner. Umino fought against HoT all alone and looked to have the match won as he went to hit EVIL with a Death Rider, but Narita hit the ring and choked his partner out, allowing HoT to pick up the win. After the match, Narita hit Umino with a chair and put on a House of Torture t-shirt. 

“I’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time,’ Narita said after the match. “This is the day that handshake was all leading to. I’ve never felt better. Oh, yeah, this is Ren Narita.”

Gates of Agony appeared to have joined the faction earlier in the tournament as well, only to turn on their new teammates on the very next show. 

NJPW World Tag League 2023 night 13 results:

  • World Tag League 2023 A Block match: Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls (10 points) vs. Gabe Kidd & Alex Coughlin (8 points)
  • World Tag League 2023 A Block match: HENARE & Great-O-Khan (8 points) defeated Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii (8 points) 
  • World Tag League 2023 A Block match: Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL (6 points) defeated Ren Narita & Shota Umino (6 points) 
  • World Tag League 2023 A Block match: Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona (4 points) defeated Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa (4 points) 
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Kazuchika Okada, & YOSHI-HASHI defeated DOUKI, Yuya Uemaru, Taichi, & SANADA
  • Master Wato, Alex Zayne, & Lance Archer defeated Jado, El Phantasmo, & Hikuleo
  • Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Zandokan Jr, & BUSHI defeated Tomoaki Honma, Tiger Mask, Soberano Jr, & Atlantis Jr.
  • Jack Bonza, Bad Luck Fale, & Taiji Ishimori defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki

The top two teams in each block advance to the semifinals on Friday, December, 8, in Kagoshima. Head-to-head records determine tie-breakers. The finals take place on Sunday, December 10, in Kumamoto.

World Tag League 2023 standings:

A Block —

  • Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd (5-2): 10 points 
  • Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls (5-2): 10 points
  • Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano (4-2): 8 points
  • Great-O-Khan & HENARE (4-3): 8 points
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (3-4): 6 points
  • Shota Umino & Ren Narita (3-3): 6 points
  • Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona (2-5): 4 points
  • Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa (2-5): 4 points

B Block —

  • Lance Archer & Alex Zayne (4-2): 8 points
  • Taichi & Yuya Uemura (4-2): 8 points
  • Hikuleo & El Phantasmo (4-2): 8 points
  • Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (3-2-1): 7 points
  • Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr. (3-3): 6 points
  • Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. (2-3-1): 5 points
  • Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza (2-4): 4 points
  • Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki (1-5): 2 points

The final night of B Block action takes place tomorrow in Miyagi. 

B Block matches scheduled for Thursday, December 7 in Miyagi:

  • Hikuleo & El Phantasmo (8 points) vs. Lance Archer & Alex Zayne
  • Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (7 points) vs. Taichi & Yuya Uemura (8 points)
  • Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr. vs. Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. (5 points)
  • Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki (2 points) vs. Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza (4 points)

NJPW World Tag League 2023 night 10 results, updated standings

Posted on by F4W Staff

At Saturday’s event in Osaka, Lance Archer & Alex Zayne were dealt their first loss of World Tag League 2023.

Archer & Zayne lost to Minoru Suzuki & Yuji Nagata, giving Suzuki & Nagata their first victory of the tournament. Archer & Zayne now have a 4-1 record in World Tag League.

Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI, Taichi & Yuya Uemura, and Hikuleo & El Phantasmo were victorious in the other tournament matches that took place on Saturday. Here are the full results:

– B Block match: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr.

– B Block match: Minoru Suzuki & Yuji Nagata defeated Lance Archer & Alex Zayne

– B Block match: Taichi & Yuya Uemura defeated Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr.

– B Block match: Hikuleo & El Phantasmo defeated Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza

– Shota Umino, Ren Narita & Master Wato defeated Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste & Kosei Fujita

– EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Alex Coughlin, Gabe Kidd, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo

– Bishop Kaun, Toa Liona & Boltin Oleg defeated Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Callum Newman

– Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated Yuto Nakashima & Oskar Leube

Archer & Zayne and Taichi & Uemura are now tied for the B Block lead with eight points.

World Tag League 2023 standings:

A Block —

  • Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste (4-1): 8 points
  • Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd (3-2): 6 points
  • Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano (3-2): 6 points
  • Shota Umino & Ren Narita (3-2): 6 points
  • Great-O-Khan & HENARE (2-3): 4 points
  • Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa (2-3): 4 points
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (2-3): 4 points
  • Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona (1-4): 2 points

B Block —

  • Lance Archer & Alex Zayne (4-1): 8 points
  • Taichi & Yuya Uemura (4-1): 8 points
  • Hikuleo & El Phantasmo (3-2): 6 points
  • Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (2-2-1): 5 points
  • Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. (2-2-1): 5 points
  • Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr. (2-3): 4 points
  • Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza (1-4): 2 points
  • Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki (1-4): 2 points

Tag League is back in action tomorrow (December 3) with an A Block show. The tournament runs through December 10.

NJPW World Tag League 2023 night nine results, updated standings

Posted on by F4W Staff

The A Block was in action as night nine of NJPW World Tag League 2023 took place in Wakayama on Friday.

Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano, Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd, Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste, and EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi all picked up victories. Here are the full results:

– A Block match: Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated Shota Umino & Ren Narita

– A Block match: Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd defeated Great-O-Khan & HENARE

– A Block match: Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste defeated Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa

– A Block match: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona

– Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, YOH & Boltin Oleg defeated Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Zandokan Jr. & BUSHI

– Yuji Nagata, Minoru Suzuki & Master Wato defeated Lance Archer, Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi

– Taichi, Yuya Uemura & DOUKI defeated Atlantis Jr., Soberano Jr. & Tiger Mask

– Bad Luck Fale, Jack Bonza & Taiji Ishimori defeated Hikuleo, El Phantasmo & Jado

Nicholls & Haste are now in sole possession of first place with eight points. Behind them, three teams have six points, three teams have four points, and one team has two points.

World Tag League 2023 standings:

A Block —

  • Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste (4-1): 8 points
  • Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd (3-2): 6 points
  • Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano (3-2): 6 points
  • Shota Umino & Ren Narita (3-2): 6 points
  • Great-O-Khan & HENARE (2-3): 4 points
  • Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa (2-3): 4 points
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (2-3): 4 points
  • Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona (1-4): 2 points

B Block —

  • Lance Archer & Alex Zayne (4-0): 8 points
  • Taichi & Yuya Uemura (3-1): 6 points
  • Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. (2-1-1): 5 points
  • Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr. (2-2): 4 points
  • Hikuleo & El Phantasmo (2-2): 4 points
  • Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (1-2-1): 3 points
  • Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza (1-3): 2 points
  • Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki (0-4): 0 points

The next World Tag League show is a B Block event from Osaka on Saturday (December 2). The tournament runs through December 10.

NJPW World Tag League night seven results, updated standings

Posted on by F4W Staff

NJPW came to Nagoya on Tuesday for night seven of World Tag League 2023

The show featured A Block tournament matches. In the main event, Shota Umino & Ren Narita defeated Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa. The show also saw TMDK take their first loss of the tournament. Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls lost to Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano.

AEW/ROH team The Gates of Agony got their first World Tag league victory, defeating Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd.

Here are the full results:

– A Block match: Shota Umino & Ren Narita defeated Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa

– A Block match: Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls

– A Block match: Great-O-Khan & HENARE defeated EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi

– A Block match: Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona defeated Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd

– Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & YOH defeated Atlantis Jr., Soberano Jr. & Tiger Mask

– Taichi, Yuya Uemura & DOUKI defeated Lance Archer, Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi

– Yuji Nagata, Minoru Suzuki & Master Wato defeated Hikuleo, El Phantasmo & Jado

– Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Zandokan Jr. & BUSHI defeated Bad Luck Fale, Jack Bonza, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo

Haste & Nicholls and Umino & Narita are now tied at the top of A Block with six points. Four teams have four points and two teams have two points.

World Tag League 2023 standings:

A Block —

  • Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls (3-1): 6 points
  • Shota Umino & Ren Narita (3-1): 6 points
  • Great-O-Khan & HENARE (2-2): 4 points
  • Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa (2-2): 4 points
  • Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd (2-2): 4 points
  • Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano (2-2): 4 points
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (1-3): 2 points
  • Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona (1-3): 2 points

B Block —

  • Taichi & Yuya Uemura (3-0): 6 points
  • Lance Archer & Alex Zayne (3-0): 6 points
  • Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. (2-1): 4 points
  • Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr. (2-1): 4 points
  • Hikuleo & El Phantasmo (1-2): 2 points
  • Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (1-2): 2 points
  • Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza (0-3): 0 points
  • Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki (0-3): 0 points

The next Tag League show is a B Block event this Wednesday (November 29). The tournament runs through December 10.

NJPW World Tag League 2023 night five results, updated standings

Posted on by F4W Staff

TMDK were victorious in the main event as night five of NJPW World Tag League 2023 took place in Fujisawa on Saturday.

Improving their record to 3-0, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls defeated Great-O-Khan & HENARE. Haste & Nicholls are in sole possession of the A Block lead with six points.

Here are the full results from Saturday’s event:

– A Block match: Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls defeated Great-O-Khan & HENARE

– A Block match: Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa defeated EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi

– A Block match: Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd defeated Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano

– A Block match: Shota Umino & Ren Narita defeated Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona

– Yota Tsuji, Zandokan Jr. & BUSHI defeated Hikuleo, El Phantasmo & Jado

– SANADA, Taichi, Yuya Uemura & DOUKI defeated Yuji Nagata, Minoru Suzuki, Tomoaki Honma & Master Wato

– Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, YOH & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Bad Luck Fale, Jack Bonza, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo

– Atlantis Jr., Soberano Jr. & Boltin Oleg defeated Lance Archer, Alex Zayne & Oskar Leube

– Yuto Nakashima defeated Katsuya Murashima

Behind Haste & Nicholls, there are three A Block teams with four points. Three other teams have two points. Kaun & Liona are in last place with zero points.

World Tag League 2023 standings:

A Block —

  • Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls (3-0): 6 points
  • Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa (2-1): 4 points
  • Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd (2-1): 4 points
  • Shota Umino & Ren Narita (2-1): 4 points
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (1-2): 2 points
  • Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano (1-2): 2 points
  • Great-O-Khan & HENARE (1-2): 2 points
  • Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona (0-3): 0 points

B Block —

  • Taichi & Yuya Uemura (2-0): 4 points
  • Lance Archer & Alex Zayne (2-0): 4 points
  • Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. (2-0): 4 points
  • Hikuleo & El Phantasmo (1-1): 2 points
  • Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr. (1-1): 2 points
  • Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (0-2): 0 points
  • Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza (0-2): 0 points
  • Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki (0-2): 0 points

The next Tag League show is on Sunday (November 26) with B Block action. The tournament runs through December 10.

NJPW World Tag League 2023 night two results

Posted on by F4W Staff

B Block action got underway with World Tag League 2023 night two taking place at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

The main event of Tuesday’s show saw Hikuleo & El Phantasmo defeat Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI. Here are the full results:

  • B Block match: Hikuleo & El Phantasmo defeated Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
  • B Block match: Taichi & Yuya Uemura defeated Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr.
  • B Block match: Lance Archer & Alex Zayne defeated Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza
  • B Block match: Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. defeated Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki
  • EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo defeated Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Kosei Fujita
  • Shota Umino, Ren Narita, Master Wato & Tiger Mask defeated Alex Coughlin, Gabe Kidd, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo
  • Kaito Kiyomiya, Ryohei Oiwa & Boltin Oleg defeated Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Callum Newman
  • Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona defeated Tomoaki Honma & Oskar Leube
  • Yuto Nakashima defeated Katsuya Murashima (Murashima’s debut match)

Goto & YOSHI-HASHI are the current IWGP Tag Team Champions. If they don’t win World Tag League, the winning team will be in line for a shot at their titles at Wrestle Kingdom 18 on January 4.

World Tag League is back in action with an A Block show this Thursday (November 23). The tournament runs through December 10.

World Tag League 2023 standings:

A Block —

  • Shota Umino & Ren Narita (1-0): 2 points
  • Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa (1-0): 2 points
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (1-0): 2 points
  • Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls (1-0): 2 points
  • Great-O-Khan & HENARE (0-1): 0 points
  • Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd (0-1): 0 points
  • Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano (0-1): 0 points
  • Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona (0-1): 0 points

B Block —

  • Hikuleo & El Phantasmo (1-0): 2 points
  • Taichi & Yuya Uemura (1-0): 2 points
  • Lance Archer & Alex Zayne (1-0): 2 points
  • Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. (1-0): 2 points
  • Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (0-1): 0 points
  • Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr. (0-1): 0 points
  • Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza (0-1): 0 points
  • Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki (0-1): 0 points

NJPW World Tag League 2023 night one results

Posted on by F4W Staff

On Monday, NJPW’s road to Wrestle Kingdom continued with the start of World Tag League 2023.

Night one of the tournament took place from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and featured A Block matches. Here are the results from the show:

  • A Block match: Shota Umino & Ren Narita defeated Great-O-Khan & HENARE
  • A Block match: Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa defeated Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd
  • A Block match: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano
  • A Block match: Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls defeated Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona
  • Hikuleo, El Phantasmo & Jado defeated Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & YOH
  • SANADA, Taichi & Yuya Uemura defeated Yota Tsuji, Zandokan Jr. & BUSHI
  • Yuji Nagata, Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer & Alex Zayne defeated Bad Luck Fale, Jack Bonza, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo
  • Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr. defeated DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku
  • Oskar Leube defeated Shoma Kato (Kato’s debut match)

NJPW is back at Korakuen Hall on Tuesday for World Tag League night two, which will consist of the first B Block action of the tournament.

The tournament runs through December 10. The winning team will be in line to challenge Goto & YOSHI-HASHI for the IWGP Tag Team titles at Wrestle Kingdom 18 on January 4.

World Tag League 2023 standings:

A Block —

  • Shota Umino & Ren Narita (1-0): 2 points
  • Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa (1-0): 2 points
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (1-0): 2 points
  • Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls (1-0): 2 points
  • Great-O-Khan & HENARE (0-1): 0 points
  • Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd (0-1): 0 points
  • Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano (0-1): 0 points
  • Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona (0-1): 0 points

B Block —

  • Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI
  • Hikuleo & El Phantasmo
  • Taichi & Yuya Uemura
  • Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr.
  • Lance Archer & Alex Zayne
  • Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza
  • Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki
  • Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr.

NJPW announces dates for World Tag League 2023

Posted on by Ian Carey

The 2023 edition of NJPW’s World Tag League has officially been announced. 

The promotion revealed today that the annual tournament will begin on November 20 and conclude in Kumamoto on December 10. 

World Tag League is coming this November and December, powered by LEC! It’ll all kick off November 20, and runs to December 10 in Kumamoto! Stay tuned for more details soon!

Further details regarding this year’s tournament have yet to be announced. 

Bishamon’s Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI come into this year’s tournament having won the last two. Tournament winners traditionally are given a shot at the IWGP Tag Team Championships at Wrestle Kingdom.  

Up next for NJPW is the Destruction tour, which will culminate in big events at Kobe World Hall on September 24 and from Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan on October 9. The tour kicks off this weekend with shows from Korakuen Hall on Friday and Saturday. Zack Sabre Jr. will defend his NJPW TV title on Friday’s show against Boltin Oleg. Saturday’s show has the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Tomohiro Ishii defending against Tiger Mask, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and Togi Makabe. 

The Super Junior Tag League starts on October 21 and concludes on November 4 at Power Struggle in Osaka. 

NJPW World Tag League & Super Junior Tag League winners crowned

Posted on by Ian Carey

NJPW crowned the winners of the 2022 World Tag & Super Junior Tag League tournaments on Wednesday in Sendai. 

Lio Rush & YOH defeated Bullet Club’s Ace Austin & Chris Bey in the finals to win the 2022 Super Junior Tag League. This was YOH’s third Super Junior Tag League victory. His Roppongi 3K team with Sho won the tournament in 2018 and 2019 as well. Roppongi 3K also won the Super Junior Tag Tournament (single-elimination) in 2016. 

Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) defeated Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) in the finals to win the World Tag League for a second year in a row. Goto has now won the tournament four times (two-times w/ YOSHI-HASHI, one-time with Katsuyori Shibata, and one-time with Karl Anderson). He currently sits one back of both Keiji Mutoh and Antonio Inoki, who have each won the tournament five times with different partners. 

Lio Rush & YOH will now face TJP & Francesco Akira for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships at Wrestle Kingdom 17. Bishamon advance to challenge FTR for the IWGP Tag Team Championships on the show as well. 

Finals set for NJPW World Tag League

Posted on by Ian Carey

The World Tag League finals are set. 

Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) will face Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) on December 14 to determine the 2022 World Tag League winners. 

On the final night of the round-robin, Tetsuya Naito & SANADA needed a win to remain in the hunt but lost to EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi in the night’s semi-main event. Then Bishamon defeated TMDK in the main event to secure their spot against Aussie Open on December 14. The winner of that match moves on to face FTR for the IWGP Tag Team Championships at Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4, 2023. 

Goto & YOSHI-HASHI won the 2021 World Tag League last year defeating House of Torture’s EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi in the finals. This is Aussie Open’s first time competing in the tournament. 

Below are the full results from Sunday’s show from Hyogo: 

– World Tag League match: Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) defeated TMDK (Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste)

– World Tag League match: Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL defeated Tetsuya Naito & SANADA

– World Tag League match: Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan defeated Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi

– World Tag League match: Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki defeated Gabriel Kidd & Alex Coughlin

– Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI & Titan defeated Tomoaki Honma, Ryusuke Taguchi, Master Wato, & Clark Connors

– DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado defeated Gedo, Ace Austin & Taiji Ishimori

– Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) defeated Oskar Leube & Ryohei Oiwa

– Bad Luck Fale defeated Kosei Fujita

NJPW World Tag League 2022 final standings —

  • Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) (14 points, 7-2)
  • Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (14 points, 7-2)
  • TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls) (12 points, 6-3)
  • Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (12 points, 6-3)
  • Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare (10 points, 5-4)
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano (8 points, 4-5)
  • Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer (8 points, 4-5)
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (6 points, 3-6)
  • Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens (4 points, 2-7) (forfeited their remaining matches after Owens withdrew from the tournament due to a death in his family)
  • Alex Coughlin & Gabriel Kidd (2 points, 1-8)

The tournament concludes on Wednesday, December 14, with a show from the Sendai Sunplaza Hall in Miyagi. 

NJPW World Tag & Super Junior Tag League finals 12/14 lineup:

  • World Tag League finals: Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) vs. Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI)
  • Super Junior Tag League finals: YOH & Lio Rush vs. Ace Austin & Chris Bey
  • NEVER Openweight Championship: Karl Anderson defends against Hikuleo
  • Master Wato, Tama Tonga & Kazuchika Okada vs. Gedo, Taiji Ishimori & Jay White

NJPW World Tag League results: Naito & SANADA vs. Suzuki & Archer

Posted on by Ian Carey

NJPW’s World Tag League continued on Friday with a show from Kochi. 

Following the eighth night of the tournament, four teams are still in the hunt to make it to the finals. Aussie Open sit atop the group with 14 points but have no more round-robin matches scheduled. They would have faced Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens on the final night but the Bullet Club team has forfeited all remaining matches due to Owens suffering a death in the family. 

TMDK (12 points), Bishamon (12 points), Aussie Open (14 points), and Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (12 points) are the only teams still alive. 

Below are the results from night eight on Friday:  

– World Tag League match: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer

– World Tag League match: Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste defeated Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis

– World Tag League match: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano

– World Tag League match: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto defeated Gabriel Kidd & Alex Coughlin

– Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & Titan defeated DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado

– Kevin Knight, Master Wato, KUSHIDA & Tomoaki Honma defeated Gedo, Chris Bey, Ace Austin & Taiji Ishimori

– Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan defeated Oskar Leube & Ryohei Oiwa

– Bad Luck Fale defeated Yuto Nakashima

The standings heading into the final night of round-robin action are below. 

NJPW World Tag League 2022 standings —

  • Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) (14 points, 7-2)
  • TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls) (12 points, 6-2)
  • Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (12 points, 6-2)
  • Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (12 points, 6-2)
  • Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare (8 points, 4-4)
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano (8 points, 4-4)
  • Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer (6 points, 3-5)
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (4 points, 2-6)
  • Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens (4 points, 2-7) (forfeited their remaining matches after Owens withdrew from the tournament due to a death in his family)
  • Alex Coughlin & Gabriel Kidd (2 points, 1-7)

The top two teams in the group will face each other in the finals on December 14. Tie-breaking procedures begin with head-to-head records and in the case of a multi-team tie, the team (or two teams in the case of a three-way tie atop the group) with the best record against the other teams that they are tied with advances. 

Just two matches on the final night of the round-robin could factor into who makes it to the finals. Below are the four tournament matches scheduled for the show: 

– SANADA & Tetsuya Naito (12 points) vs. EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (4 points)

 – Bishamon (12 points) vs. TMDK (12 points)

– Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi (8 points) vs Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare (8 points)

– Alex Coughlin & Gabriel Kidd (2 points) vs. Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki (6 points)

NJPW World Tag League results: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano vs. TMDK

Posted on by Ian Carey

NJPW’s World Tag League continued with a show from Saga on Monday. 

Aussie Open seem destined to make it to the finals as they picked up a victory over the United Empire. They now have 14 points and a 7-1 record including a forfeit victory over Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale. 

TMDK, Bishamon, and Tetsuya Naito & SANADA are all tied for second with 10 points. 

The top two seeds in the group will face each other in the finals on December 14. 

Here are the full results from today’s event:

– World Tag League match: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano defeated Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste

– World Tag League match: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto defeated Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer

– World Tag League match: Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher defeated Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare

– World Tag League match: Gabriel Kidd & Alex Coughlin defeated Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL

– Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI, & Titan defeated Gedo, Chris Bey, Ace Austin, & Taiji Ishimori

– DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, & El Desperado defeated Kosei Fujita, Master Wato, & Ryusuke Taguchi

– Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated Ryohei Oiwa & Tomoaki Honma

– Bad Luck Fale defeated Oskar Leube

The Super Junior Tag League continues on Wednesday with a show from Nagasaki. The World Tag League continues on Friday with a show from Kochi. 

As a result of Chase Owens withdrawing from the event, all of Fale & Owens’ matches for the remainder of the tournament have been forfeited. Two points and a forfeit victory have been added to the tally for Aussie Open, TMDK, Bishamon, Naito & SANADA, and Henare & O-Khan below. 

NJPW World Tag League 2022 standings —

  • Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) (14 points, 7-1)
  • TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls) (10 points, 5-2)
  • Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (10 points, 5-2)
  • Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (10 points, 5-2)
  • Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare (8 points, 4-4)
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano (8 points, 4-3)
  • Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer (6 points, 3-4)
  • Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens (4 points, 2-7) (forfeited their remaining matches after Owens withdrew from the tournament due to a death in his family)
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (2 points, 1-6)
  • Alex Coughlin & Gabriel Kidd (2 points, 1-6)

NJPW World Tag League results: Tanahashi & Yano vs. Naito & SANADA

Posted on by F4W Staff

Los Ingobernables de Japon’s momentum continued to pick up on Saturday with another World Tag League victory.

One day after handing Aussie Open their first loss of the tournament, Tetsuya Naito & SANADA improved their World Tag League record to 5-2 with a win over Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano. Naito & SANADA are tied with TMDK in second place after today’s show, while Aussie Open are still in the lead.

Here are the full results from today’s event:

– World Tag League match: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano

– World Tag League match: EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer

– World Tag League match: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare

– World Tag League match: Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) defeated Alex Coughlin & Gabriel Kidd

– Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI & Titan defeated Tomoaki Honma, KUSHIDA, Kevin Knight & Master Wato

– El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI defeated Taiji Ishimori, Ace Austin & Gedo

– TMDK (Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste) defeated Kosei Fujita & Oskar Leube

– Bad Luck Fale defeated Ryohei Oiwa

The Tag League tour will be back in action on Sunday with a show featuring Super Junior Tag League matches. The next World Tag League event will take place on Monday.

Here are the updated standings for both Tag League tournaments:

NJPW World Tag League 2022 standings —

  • Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) (12 points, 6-1)
  • TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls) (10 points, 5-1)
  • Tetsuya Naito & SANADA (10 points, 5-2)
  • Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (8 points, 4-2)
  • Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare (8 points, 4-3)
  • Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer (6 points, 3-3)
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano (6 points, 3-3)
  • Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens (4 points, 2-7) (forfeited their remaining matches after Owens withdrew from the tournament due to a death in his family)
  • EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (2 points, 1-5)
  • Alex Coughlin & Gabriel Kidd (0 points, 0-6)

NJPW Super Junior Tag League 2022 standings —

  • Ace Austin & Chris Bey (10 points, 5-1)
  • TJP & Francesco Akira (10 points, 5-1)
  • Alex Zayne & El Lindaman (10 points, 5-1)
  • BUSHI & Titan (8 points, 4-2)
  • Lio Rush & YOH (8 points, 4-2)
  • Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask (4 points, 2-4)
  • Ryusuke Taguchi & Clark Connors (4 points, 2-4)
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI (2 points, 1-5)
  • KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight (2 points, 1-5)
  • SHO & Dick Togo (2 points, 1-5)