F4W NEWSLETTER: Rey Mysterio’s US title win Joseph Currier looks at how WWE has started to use the legendary Mysterio to his full potential.
After periods of not being used as well as he should have been, it seems like Rey Mysterio’s legendary career may get the dream final stretch that it deserves.
Mysterio was at the center of a great moment on last week’s post-Survivor Series edition of Raw. With Humberto Carrillo being attacked by The O.C. before his scheduled title shot, Mysterio won two straight matches to become United States Champion. He defeated Ricochet, Randy Orton, and Drew McIntyre in a number one contender’s fatal four-way match and then beat AJ Styles to win the US title.
Mysterio pinned Ricochet to get the immediate title shot against Styles. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson had interfered when Orton had the fatal four-way won, and Orton then helped Mysterio even the odds a bit when The O.C. got involved in the title match. Orton took out Gallows and Anderson, gave Styles an RKO after Mysterio hit the 619, and Mysterio followed up with a frog splash to win the title. Mysterio then celebrated in the ring with his son Dominik.
At press time, with ten days to go before the WWE TLC PPV show on 12/15 in Minneapolis, they are exactly zero matches officially announced on television.
WWE sent the Target Center three matches several weeks back to start advertising, which were Bobby Lashley vs. Rusev, Asuka & Kairi Sane vs. Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch in a TLC match for the women’s tag team titles, and Roman Reigns vs. King Corbin. At the time, all three matches were actually scheduled for the show as opposed to just matches sent to give the arena something to advertise.
All three matches are still scheduled for the show, but one of the reasons nothing else has been advertised, and directions aren’t even clear from television, is because Vince McMahon hasn’t made final decisions.
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FRIDAY NEWS UPDATE
The Observer Hall of Fame issue will be out this coming Thursday. There are ten new members of the Hall of Fame, which is a record I believe.
In the New Japan tag team tournament, Evil & Sanada are 13-1, while Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa and Juice Robinson & David Finlay are 12-2. Tonga & Loa face Tomohiro Ishii & Yoshi-Hashi. If they lose, they are eliminated. If it’s a draw they are eliminated. If they win, it gets confusing. Evil & Sanada face Robinson & Finlay. If Robinson & Finlay win and Tonga & Loa win, all three teams are tied and they will also be 1-1 against the other two which means a playoff. That also means it probably won’t happen. If Evil & Sanada win they are 14-1, go to the Tokyo Dome to face Tonga & Loa, who they beat in the tournament.
In the classless move of the day award, Liz Carmouche was doing promotional work for tomorrow night’s show in Washington, DC with her military background, and while there, got word that she was being released. Her last fight was a flyweight title loss to Valentina Shevchenko. The fight was really bad and all, but she’s a key part of UFC history with all the promotional work she did to lead to the great success of UFC’s first-ever women’s fight, a PPV headliner no less, with Ronda Rousey, that proved women could draw on PPV in a main event position.
The annual CMLL Legends show takes place tonight at Arena Mexico. The legends matches, featuring a number of stars in their 60s, are likely to be very slow. Bandido is on the show in the semi after leaving AAA.
Regarding the note in the Observer about Saraya Knight noting she had to cancel her Australia tour because of her husband being in the hospital, Paige wrote that her father was okay and he partied too much which led to complications with his diabetes.
WWE
Sky in the UK has moved Smackdown to the Sky Sports Mix channel until the contract expires at the end of the month.
La Presse, a Montreal newspaper, is doing a readers poll for the best Quebec athlete of the last decade. Of the 16 choices, one was Kevin Owens. The favorite is likely Georges St-Pierre.
This is the latest from the 12/26 holiday show in Madison Square Garden
Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins
Asuka & Kairi Sane vs. Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair in a cage match for the tag titles
Rey Mysterio vs. Andrade for the U.S. title
Randy Orton vs. A.J. Styles
Rusev vs. Bobby Lashley No holds barred
Shawn Michaels won a Best Supporting Actor award at the NE Film Festival for his role as Jimmy Divine.
WWE is pushing Jessica Carr’s debut tonight on Smackdown as the first female referee on the main roster. Actually the first was Rita Chatterton about 35 years ago.
UFC
Diego Sanchez vs. Michel Pereira has been added to the 2/15 UFC show in Rio Rancho, NM.
MISCELLANEOUS
WWN is offering a first month free deal for Club WWN which would start with tonight’s show in Livonia, MI.
AXS TV has a one-hour long preview of the Tito Ortiz vs. Alberto El Patron fight at 10 p.m. Eastern tonight. The two headline a PPV tomorrow night from McAllen, TX.
Tenshin Nasukawa, the undefeated kickboxing superstar in Japan, will face Ru Ebata in a 123 pound fight as one of the main events on the Rizin New Year’s Eve show from the Saitama Super Arena. Nasukawa was knocked out by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a boxing match this past New Year’s Eve. That fight caused people to lose their minds in multiple ways.
A number of wrestlers are filming a movie called The Replaceables. Among those in the movie are Larry Zbyszko, Stan Hansen, Glacier, Ernest Miller, Tonga, Diamond Dallas Page, Ron Reis and former boxing champion Pinklon Thomas. They will be filming a scene at a pro wrestling show on 12/13 in Orlando at the Englewood Community Center with Glacier & Toga & Luther Biggs in a six-man tag match.
Kurt Angle, Will Ospreay, Minoru Suzuki, Drago and Aero Star appear in Chicago on 12/13 at Marian Catholic High School. There will be a VIP Fan Fest at 5 p.m. and matches at 7 p.m.
Bar Wrestling from Thursday night in Los Angeles: Ryan Taylor b Lucas Riley, Ray Rosas & Uptown Andy Brown b Yuma & Watts, Taya Valkyrie b Miranda Alize, Joey Ryan & Heather Monroe & Laura James d Anthony Greene & Angel Sinclair & Ava Everett with a double pin, Brian Cage b Chris Bey, Phoenix Star & Zokre b Jake Atlas & Dom Kubrick (thanks to Shannon Walsh and wrestlingwithdemons.net)
Blitzkrieg Pro Wrestling tomorrow in Enfield, CT for a Toys for Tots benefit show featuring Raven and Little Guido.
House of Glory Wrestling runs Club Amazura in Queens, NY tomorrow night with tag team champions Pentagon Jr.& Re Fenix vs. Private Party, plus Low Ki vs.Masada and TJP vs Ken Broadway vs. JT Dunn vs. Evander James.
KSW announced one of the biggest fights in its history with Mamed Khalidov coming out of retirement to challenge middleweight champion Scott Askham in a non-title match. There is also a battle of Olympic medalists as Szymona Kolecki, who took a gold and a silver in weightlifting, faces Damian Janikowski,who took a bronze in wrestling.
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)
KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi vs. Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens
Tetsuya Naito & Bushi vs. Jay White & Gedo
Tomohiro Ishii & Yoshi-Hashi vs. Shingo Takagi & El Terrible
Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi
Raw is Monday in Boston. Natalya vs. Asuka was announced as well as Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch as a tag team. It’s the go-home Raw for Survivor Series so NXT talent should be on the show, and main roster talent would make sense to be on NXT on Wednesday.
Joseph Currier looks at the reactions to Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega’s unsanctioned match.
AEW’s first pay-per-view since debuting on weekly television was headlined by what will likely end up being the most divisive match of the year.
For some, Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega’s unsanctioned lights out match at Full Gear was a hardcore classic. To others, it was a gratuitously violent and long match that was a misstep for AEW. They wrestled for over 38 minutes and did everything they could to try and have the epic hardcore match that its biggest fans thought it was. A board covered in mouse traps, a chain, a screwdriver, glass, barbed wire, and a barbed wire spider web were just some of the weapons used. By the end of the match, part of the ring was deconstructed — and a Paradigm Shift DDT on the exposed wood finally put an end to things and gave Moxley the win.
Every move AEW has made in its brief history has been overanalyzed to the point of exhaustion. Each positive and negative moment has probably been assigned too much importance. But AEW is defining its identity over the course of the promotion’s first year. Moxley vs. Omega is now always going to be part of that. Full Gear was an opportunity for AEW to put their best foot forward to an audience that has sampled their first six weeks of TV. While it’s likely that some things were gimmicked and Moxley vs. Omega wasn’t quite as violent as it came off as, AEW not only didn’t shy away from the “blood and guts” criticism that Vince McMahon leveled at them — they leaned into it.
The return of C.M. Punk to the pro wrestling scene and coverage of AEW’s Full Gear and the lessons after seven weeks of television of what we’ve learned from AEW and NXT are the lead stories in this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
We examine the timeline of C.M. Punk and his deal with WWE Backstage, including the original approach, how things were viewed along the way, the last AEW offer and how much AEW wanted him, what he said that led to AEW going cold, and his debut on Backstage on Tuesday night.
We cover what has and hasn’t happened for NXT and AEW since getting television. We look at things like maintaining audience, live sales, PPV, NWA Powerr and its reaction and numbers, key demo ratings, how NXT came close once, PPV numbers, how the date backfired on AEW, how PPV changed with television with organizations in the past, plus full coverage of Full Gear with business notes, match-by-match coverage, star ratings and poll results.
The new issue also covers:
Survivor Series update with booking changes made, how that affects TLC and early plans for that show, plus a key title match not yet announced.
Steve Austin’s new WWE Network show, the value of WrestleMania, how ticket sales this year differed from shows in the past, Johnny Gargano injury and how that changed the Takeover card, ACH update, Sin Cara talks wanting out, new John Cena movie, Rusev talks his angle with Lashley, Starrcade card, Evolve notes, as well as WWE market value, most watched shows on WWE Network and a look at all the WWE and NXT live events over the past week with results, highlights and business news.
Notes on New Japan’s coming to San Jose with match-by-match coverage.
Full rundown on the UFC show in Moscow and the stories behind it.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
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If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
SUNDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I did our weekend show talking Smackdown, ratings, UFC and more earlier today.
There was nothing from combat sports that made Google trends over the weekend. The UFC show from Sau Paulo had nothing of mainstream interest and there was no big boxing. The only stuff in the past week that did was Dwayne Johnson being No. 2 on Wednesday with 1 million searches talking about playing Black Adam, and C.M.Punk being No; 14 on Thursday with 100,000 searches.
Ratings all week will be interesting. Monday night goes against the Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs, which isn’t a big game, so in theory it should bounce back to above the levels of the last few weeks. Tuesday is the first C.M. Punk full show appearance on WWE Backstage. Wednesday has a loaded in-ring for AEW but it’s not coming off a PPV. If the number stays in the same range, that would be a good sign, but we’ll see what the PPV bump does or doesn’t mean for them. NXT should have main roster talent since they are in the country and it makes sense. For Smackdown, we find out if Friday was just a bad week or a pattern. Right now the lower numbers for Raw and Smackdown are still to me, Raw was expected based on unique competition and Smackdown was way down, but it’s only one week, and follows two good weeks.
After two days in the New Japan tag team tournament, Juice Robinson & David Finlay and Tomohiro Ishii & Yoshi-Hashi are tied on top with 2-0 records. In the All Japan tournament, Parrow & Odinson are on top with three wins while Suwama & Shuji Ishikawa have two wins.
Our own JJ Williams, who covers NXT events across Florida, has sadly and unexpectedly lost his mother recently. A friend of the family has started a GoFundMe to cover funeral services for those that would like to help.
WWE
WWE has changed the main event for the 11/30 show in Mexico City to Bray Wyatt vs. Rey Mysterio for the WWE title. If they book a semi-squash, which is how Wyatt’s matches at house shows are usually booked, with Mysterio in Mexico City, well, I don’t know what to say.
WWE has released new Funko Pops of Bray Wyatt, Diesel, The Miz, John Cena, Naomi, Hulk Hogan and others.
A documentary on Sting’s last match, where he messed up his neck and was found to have spinal stenosis after suffering a stinger in a match with Seth Rollins after taking two buckle bumps will be on the WWE Network on Friday.
The movie “Peanut Butter Falcon,” which is very good and had a wrestling plot to it, including an appearance by Jake Roberts and Mick Foley, was released this past week on DVD.
The Indianapolis Star did a story on Dick the Bruiser, the city’s all-time biggest drawing card. One correction is that they talked about the Bruiser vs. Alex Karras match in Detroit after the brawl they had at the world’s first sports bar in Detroit. The brawl started as a work but turned real and Bruiser was arrested. That’s a well-known story. But it said the show drew a sparse crowd. While the crowd of 8,000 fans was less than expected since the brawl got major local and national news, I don’t think 8,000 fans attending a show in that era, or this era, should be called sparse.
They are billing next week’s WOW show on AXS as the season finale. They do have more episodes that were taped in September in the can.
A story on Dr. Sam Sheppard, who was briefly a celebrity wrestler around 1969, with the famed F. Lee Bailey, and his wrestling career is discussed. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)
Future Stars of Wrestling from Friday night in Las Vegas: Robby Lit & Hyper Streak & Mondo Rok b Lazarus & Ricky Adams & Danny Rose, Shogun James won Rumble, Tito Escondido & Jorel Nelson b Royce Isaacs & Che Cabrera, Douglas James b Hammerstone-DQ so Hammerstone keeps the Nevada state title, Greg Romero b Kyle Hawk in a first blood match, Lacey Ryan b Mazzerati to keep the women’s title, Remy Marcel won three-way over Damian Dre and Ice Williams in a ladder match, Graves b Chris Bey to win the FSW title. Next show is 11/29 on Twitch (thanks to Shannon Walsh and Wrestlingwithdemons.net)
Wrestling Rampage from last night in Adelaide, Australia: Corey Adams b Einar Ironside, Tommy Knight b Hartley Jackson, Robby Heart b Damien Slater, Boens & Big & Gorgeous b Wam Bam Bellows & Foxxy Boys, Corndog b Havok in a hardcore match, Tommy Knight b Hartley Jackson, Kellyanne b Xena, Rat Daddy b Punch Drunk Istria to win Australian national title (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
Ladies Night Out from last night in Texas City, TX: Promise & Uju b Myka Madrid & Viki Vento, Diamante b Kiera Hogan, Leyla Hirsch b Lindsay Snow, Veda Scott b Ivory Robyn (Scott was limping after the match), Harlow O’Hara & Alejandra the Lion b Vert Vixen & Madi Wrenkowksi, Jazz b Phoebe, Heather Monroe b Riley X Paris, Thunder Rosa b Holidead, Ivelisse b Miranda Alize to become first LNO champion. I was told that everything that could go wrong on a show did here. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling from last night in East Carondelet, IL: Ax Allwardt b Jake Prater, Bobby D b Big Texan, Superstar Steve Fender b Chris Kade, Billy McNeil & PT Beckham b Frankie D & Waco, Flash Flanagan b Damian Blade, Gary Jackson & Gil Rogers d Ken Kasa & Christopher Hargas, Ricky Cruz b Curtis Wylde-COR. Jimmy Valiant was a guest on the show (thanks to Patrick Brandmeyer)
Melbourne Championship Wrestling GIRL show from earlier today in Melbourne, Australia: Erika Reid b Aysha, Chanel Phoenix b Caity Luxe, Lucille Brawl b Jessica Troy, Xena b Nikki Van Blair, Avary b Charli Evans in a no DQ match (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
Pro Wrestling Revolution from last night at O’Connell High in San Francisco before 700 fans: JR Kratos b LA Park in a 25:00 brawl, Bestia 666 b Colt Stevens in a ladder match to win the PWR jr. title, Flamita b Puma King, Ultimo Panda won over Adrian Quest, Sangre Azteca and El Hijo de L.A. Park. Lots of money was thrown in for the Kratos vs. Park and Flamita vs. Puma King matches. They announced a 2/22 show in San Jose with Konnan and Psycho Clown. (thanks to Roy Lucier)
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)
EVIL and SANADA have won the World Tag League for the second year in a row.
The duo managed to defeat Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa, the Guerrillas of Destiny, after EVIL landed the Darkness Falls on Tama Tonga, with SANADA finishing things off with the moonsault. This likely means that they will face the Guerrillas of Destiny, the IWGP tag team champions, at Wrestle Kingdom 13 for the titles.
But right after they won, The Young Bucks then came out in a surprise. They said that EVIL and SANADA are the best tag team in the tournament, but they are the best in the world. Matt mentioned they never got the rematch from when the Guerrillas of Destiny defeated them back at Fighting Spirit Unleashed. He suggested that they get the next title shot.
After everyone had left, EVIL mentioned that they are willing to take on both at the same time, leaving the door open for a possible triple threat match at Wrestle Kingdom.
The finals of this year’s World Tag League will be set after tonight’s show in Akita.
There are four teams at 18 points, and coincidentally enough they are all facing each other tonight: Killer Elite Squad vs. EVIL and SANADA and Guerrillas of Destiny vs. Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano. The winners of these two matches, should they be clean finishes with no draws, should determine the two teams that will advance to the finals on December 9.
It seems like the end of the road for the rest of the teams in the tournament, but there are still plenty of other tag team matches that will determine rankings. It would be interesting to see if Shota Umino and Ayato Yoshida, who have scored 0 points in the tournament so far, will be able to pull off a win against Manabu Nakanishi and Yuji Nagata.
Another eight man tag headlines tonight’s show. HIroshi Tanahashi, Kazuchika Okada, KUSHIDA and Rocky Romero will team up to take on JAy White, Bad Luck Fale, Taiji Ishimori and Gedo.
Join us this morning starting at 5 a.m. ET. Kevin Kelly and Excalibur will be on commentary.
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World Tag League: Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi defeated Ayato Yoshida & Shota Umino
This was fine, but your typical opener between young lions and the old guard in Nagata/Nakanishi. Umino showed great fire in selling all of Nagata’s offense. He eventually fell to the Nagata lock while Nakanishi kept Yoshida at bay. So in other words, Yoshida and Umino fail to score any points in the tournament.
World Tag League: Tencozy defeated Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka
This too felt atypical. I’ve seen plenty of times where Suzuki or a cohort take someone to the crowd, only for them to magically come back to the ring at 19. Iizuka came in and did whatever he calls offense. He escaped a 3D once, but fell for it a second time. Tenzan went and did the moonsault and connected as well as he could for the win.
World Tag League: Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi defeated Togi Makabe & Toa Henare
This time around it was Taichi and Sabre who took it into the crowd. Another countout tease. Sabe works on Henare’s leg. Suzuki-gun are in control for awhile until Makabe is finally tagged in. Makabe went for the king kong knee drop, but Sabre held him back.
Henare missed a charge in the corner as he and Taichi went at it. Henare went for a charge to the corner but Taichi grabbed his cane and whacked Henare with it. He finished things off with the press powerbomb. Another okay match, but nothing to write home about.
World Tag League: Juice Robinson and David Finlay defeated Best Friends by DQ
This was a much better match than previous bouts, lots of good back and forth action crowd was kind of quiet, though. Best Friends worked over Finlay and isolated him from Juice. Chuckie T was on offense and got a nearfall with a piledriver.
Chuckie T has a new gimmick now where he introduces weapons for no real reason other than I guess these tournaments need someone to do DQs now. He just whacks Finlay with a chair for the DQ. He then piledrove the referee which got the crowd to boo.I hope this is going somewhere.
World Tag League: Hangman Page and Yujiro Takahashi defeated Jeff Cobb & Michael Elgin
Hangman & Cobb, as well as Elgin & Yujiro, paired off against each other early. Hangman & Cobb’s offense looked good. Hangman eventually works over both men, launching off with a giant moonsault off the top to the floor.
Elgin came back to mount some offense, but Yujiro raked him in the eyes and hit the pimp juce DDT. Cobb came back and laid out Yujiro with the tour of the islands. Page fired back with the buckshot lariat then pinned Cobb with the rite of passage. This was pretty good, but this crowd was quiet tonight and it hurt match quality as a result.
Kevin Kelly pushed Hangman Page vs. Jeff Cobb ahead of their Final Battle match next week. Page said on commentary after the match that Cobb had one week to rest.
Jay White, Bad Luck Fale, Taiji Ishimori and Gedo defeated Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, KUSHIDA and Rocky Romero
Okada didn’t even wait for the bell as he went right after the Bullet Club crew, the rest of his team following suit. KUSHIDA was getting the heat when White cut him off, allowing the rest of the Bullet Club to jump everyone, take them into the crowd and throw them into the barricades.
Back in the ring, the heels worked over KUSHIDA, grinding him down with sleeper holds. Tanahashi was eventually tagged in and worked on Fale’s knee. KUSHIDA and Romero worked over White and Ishimori together. Okada hit White with the dropkick as Tanahashi laid out Fale with the slingblade.
Romero scored some nearfalls, with Okada coming in for an assist. However, White manages to grab Romero, laid out Okada with Romero then pinned him with the Switchblade. Pretty good while it lasted.
The story being pushed here is that Okada & Tanahashi failed each time they faced off against the Bullet Club on this tour.
World Tag League: EVIL & SANADA defeated Killer Elite Squad
This started off as a good back and forth match. Archer pushed EVIL into Red Shoes, who rolled out of the ring into the floor. Archer then grabbed the exposed turnbuckle and threw EVIL into it. Archer introduced a chair and went to whip EVIL into it, but EVIL countered and sent Archer head first into the chair.
SANADA and DBS worked for a bit before Archer came in helped DBS plant SANADA with an avalanche powerslam. DBS went for the bulldog bomb but SANADA countered with a roll-up and got the surprise win. EVIL & SANADA advance to the finals in a good match.
Archer argued it wasn’t a three count after the match. DBS put someone through a table in anger.
World Tag League: Guerrillas of Destiny defeated Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano
Heels worked over Yano early, avoiding Ishii. Ishii came in for a hot tag, then Yano came in to continue the momentum, taking out Loa with a belly to belly. Both Loa and Tonga made a comeback, hitting stereo splashes on Yano. They hit Guerrilla Warfare on Yano, but he kicked out.
Yano continued to fight back, pushing Tonga into Loa. Loa distracted the referee but Yano was about to low blow him when Tonga interrupted. Jado struck Yano in the back, giving the GoD an opportunity. They planted Yano with a powerbomb off the middle rope, with Loa getting the pinfall.
That makes it Guerrillas of Destiny vs. EVIL and SANADA in the finals of the World Tag League on 12/9.
Loa says this show isn’t over yet. He calls out SANADA and EVIL who obliged, selling the match they had with KES earlier. He asked them to enter the ring. He brought up that last year GoD lost to them, but they beat them during the World Tag League. It’s now one and one, and they’ll get the win on Sunday.
They all started to leave, but GoD, along with Jado and his cane, jumped them. They hit the magic killer on SANADA and posed over them to close out the show.
Final Standings:
Guerrillas of Destiny (10-3) — 20 points
EVIL & SANADA (10-3) — 20 points
Killer Elite Squad (9-4) — 18 points
Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano (9-4) — 18 points
Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb (8-5) — 16 points
Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi (8-5) — 16 points
Juice Robinson & David Finlay (8-5) — 16 points
Best Friends (7-6) — 14 points
Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka (5-8) — 10 points
Hangman Page & Yujiro Takahashi (5-8) — 10 points
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (5-8) — 10 points
There’s a four-way tie for first place heading into NJPW’s last World Tag League show before the finals.
The second-to-last show prior to the finals took place in Yamagata this morning, with Best Friends defeating Guerrillas of Destiny to take Guerrillas of Destiny out of sole possession of first place. EVIL & SANADA, Killer Elite Squad, and Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano all won their matches to move into a tie with Guerrillas of Destiny.
Here are the results of today’s tournament matches:
– Best Friends (Beretta & Chuckie T) defeated Guerrillas of Destiny (Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga)
– SANADA & EVIL defeated Takashi Iizuka & Minoru Suzuki
– Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan defeated Toa Henare & Togi Makabe
– Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. defeated David Finlay & Juice Robinson
– Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer) defeated Yujiro Takahashi & Hangman Page
– Jeff Cobb & Michael Elgin defeated Manabu Nakanishi & Yuji Nagata
Guerrillas of Destiny vs. Ishii & Yano and EVIL & SANADA vs. Killer Elite Squad are set for tomorrow’s show in Akita and will decide which teams advance to the finals.
The finals are being held in Iwate on December 9. If Guerrillas of Destiny don’t win the tournament, the winning team will likely challenge for their IWGP Tag Team titles at Wrestle Kingdom 13 in some form.
Here are the updated World Tag League standings:
Guerrillas of Destiny (9-3) — 18 points
EVIL & SANADA (9-3) — 18 points
Killer Elite Squad (9-3) — 18 points
Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano (9-3) — 18 points
Michael Elgin & Jeff Cobb (8-4) — 16 points
Best Friends (7-5) — 14 points
Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi (7-5) — 14 points
Juice Robinson & David Finlay (7-5) — 14 points
Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka (5-7) — 10 points
Hangman Page & Yujiro Takahashi (4-8) — 8 points
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (4-8) — 8 points
World Tag League action heads to Korakuen Hall this morning, but a much more interesting match will be taking place outside of the tournament.
For what may be the first time since Okada’s return from excursion, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada will join forces in a tag team match, partnering with KUSHIDA to take on the Bullet Club team of Jay White, Bad Luck Fale and Taiji Ishimori. Tanahashi, Okada and KUSHIDA all have their reasons for wanting to their hands on the Bullet Club, who have gained strength under Jay White.
As far as the World Tag League goes, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano (10) will take on SANADA & EVIL (10) in the co-main event. Other tournament matches include Takashi Iizuka & Minoru Suzuki (6) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi (8) in a battle of Suzuki-gun members, Yujiro Takahashi & Hangman Page (6) vs. Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga (8), Toa Henare & Togi Makabe (2) vs. Best Friends (8), Killer Elite Squad (8) vs. Tencozy (4), Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi (2) vs. David Finlay and Juice Robinson (6) and the team of Michael Elgin and Jeff Cobb (6) vs. Shota Umino and Ayato Yoshida (0).
Join us this morning starting at 4:30 a.m. PT. There will not be English commentary.
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WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: JEFF COBB & MICHAEL ELGIN DEFEATED SHOTA UMINO & AYATO YOSHIDA (8:00)
A solid opener, everyone worked hard.
Elgin and Umino pushed each other before the match. Those two began the match as the legal men. Elgin did some power stuff, and Umino came back with a back elbow. Cobb jumped in for a double backbreaker on Umino.
Elgin and Cobb did their handoff delayed vertical suplex spot, into a standing moonsault from Cobb for a two count. Umino hit Cobb with a dropkick, but Cobb didn’t go down, bracing himself against the ropes.
Umino came off the top with a dropkick, taking out both Cobb and Elgin. Yoshida got a tag and wet for a slam, but couldn’t get it. Cobb took a Bret Hart front turnbuckle bump, and this time Yoshida got the slam.
Yoshida used a guillotine on Cobb, while Umino locked Elgin in an armbar. Cobb and Elgin powered out, slamming Umino and Yoshida into each other. Umino hit the ropes, and ran right into a superkick from Elgin. Yoshida used a rollup on Cobb for a nearfall.
Elgin hit an enziguri, and Elgin and Cobb hit their double team backstabber for a nearfall. Cobb then hit the tour of the islands on Yoshida, and pinned him.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: DAVID FINLAY & JUICE ROBINSON DEFEATED MANABU NAKANISHI & YUJI NAGATA (9:15)
It’s tough to have a good match with Nakanishi, but these guys tried. Nakanishi works hard, but he moves in slow motion.
Finlay and Nagata started off. Juice jumped in to try to double team Nagata, but Nagata used his wisdom and experience to thwart their efforts, hitting a low dropkick to their legs.
Juice and Nakanishi got tags. Nakanishi hit some chops, but missed a knee drop and sold his leg. Juice hit a suplex and a senton. Juice and Finlay worked over Nakanishi’s left arm. Nakanishi avoided a double bulldog, then suplexed both Juice and Finlay at the same time.
Nagata tagged in and ran wild on Finlay with kicks. He hit a boot in the corner, followed by an exploder for a nearfall. Finlay hit a back elbow, then tagged Juice. Juice missed a cannonball, and Nagata was able to tag out.
Nakanishi hit a lariat, knocked Finlay off the apron, then hit a double sledge. Juice reversed an irish whip, and placed Nakanishi on the top rope. He called for a brainbuster. Finlay jumped in, but Nakanishi kicked both of them off, and hit a high cross off the top.
Nagata put Finlay in a Nagata lock, while Nakanishi used the rack on Juice. Nagata hit a boot, Nakanishi hit a spear, Nagata hit another boot, and Nakanishi covered Juice for a nearfall.
Nakanishi hit throat punches to Juice and Finlay, but then ran into a double dropkick. Finlay hit a cutter, and Juice hit pulp friction for the win.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: HIROYOSHI TENZAN & SATOSHI KOJIMA DEFEATED DAVEY BOY SMITH JR. & LANCE ARCHER (11:01)
Smith and Archer took most of the match, and looked like killers in doing so. The fans loved the finish, and everyone sold this as an upset.
Smith and Kojima began the match. Kojima couldn’t handle Smith’s power, and tagged out. Archer and Tenzan entered. Archer mocked Kojima’s chops in the corner and Tenzan’s mongolian chops.
Smith used a crab on Tenzan, then just gave up the hold. Archer and Smith continued to work Tenzan over. Tenzan hit what was supposed to be a spinning wheel kick, and tagged Kojima. Kojima hit both Smith and Archer with the machine gun chops.
Kojima went up top, but got backdropped off. Archer hit a splash off the second for a nearfall. Smith went for a powerbomb, but Kojima hit a Koji cutter, then tagged Tenzan.
Tenzan hit Smith with some chops, then called for a brainbuster. Smith blocked it, but Tenzan hit a suplex for a nearfall. Smith and Archer hit Tenzan with a Hart attack out of nowhere. Smith hit a chop block and got a two count.
They teased a killer bomb, but Kojima broke it up, then low-bridged Archer over the top to the floor. Tenzan and Kojima hit a double team cutter, but Archer broke up the pin.
Tenzan went up top, and hit Smith with a moonsault. He made a cover, and got the pin.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: TOA HENARE & TOGI MAKABE DEFEATED CHUCKIE T & BERETTA BY DQ (11:18)
Kind of a weird place on the card to do an angle for a company that doesn’t shoot a lot of angles, but here we are.
Makabe beat on Chuckie at the outset. Henare tagged in, and aside from a brief flurry of hip tosses, he didn’t fare very well. Beretta hit a superkick, and Henare sold it incredibly well. All of Henare’s selling was good here, actually.
Beretta hit a top rope rana for a nearfall, and a bridging suplex for another. Chuckie tagged in and Henare hit him with a brainbuster, then tagged Makabe.
Makabe hit ten punches in the corner, and dropped Chuckie with a lariat for a two count. Makabe hit both Best Friends with a double clothesline, then tagged Henare. Henare hit a corner lariat, then blocked a tornado DDT attempt, countering it with a brainbuster.
Henare and Beretta traded lariats and release germans. Beretta hit a dropkick, then tagged Chuckie. Chuckie threw Henare into the crowd, hit him with chairs, then slammed him twice on a pile of chairs.
Chuckie was selling like he snapped, and threw a pile of chairs and a table into the ring. He threw a chair at Henare’s head, and the ref called for a DQ.
Chuckie continued his attack after the match. Beretta tried to stop him, but Chuckie punched him in the face.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: TAMA TONGA & TANGA LOA DEFEATED YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & HANGMAN PAGE (10:57)
Really good action. Everyone had their working shoes on.
Tama Tonga and Page started off with a great sequence of reversals and teases that the crowd went nuts for. Yujiro and Loa tagged in. Loa and Tonga double teamed and taunted Yujiro for a while. Yujiro hit a suicide dive, which also got a big reaction.
Yujiro teased a second dive, but as he hit the ropes, Jado hit him with a kendo stick. Loa worked over Page and Yujiro on the floor, while Tonga stood in the ring, being cool. Tonga and Loa worked over Yujiro forever, and taunted him with two sweets.
Tonga missed a corner splash, and Yujiro hit a fisherman’s suplex. Page got a tag and went nuts. He might have the best hot tag in the business right now. He went nuts with dives, and hit Tonga with a discus lariat for a two count.
Page went to the top rope, but Loa cut him off, and hit a shoulder breaker on the apron. Loa hit a blue thunder bomb for a two count. Yujiro jumped in and clotheslined Tonga on the top rope, then hit Loa with a low dropkick.
Page flew in with the buckshot lariat on Loa for a two count. Jado hit Yujiro with the stick on the floor. Page escaped a gun stun, but fell victim to a Tongan twist, and Loa pinned him.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: ZACK SABRE JR. & TAICHI DEFEATED MINORU SUZUKI & TAKASHI IIZUKA (14:19)
I loved this match. It featured both incredible and terrible wrestling. It showcased the realest of real wrestlers, and two absolute cartoon characters. Nine stars.
Suzuki and Sabre started out, and it was awesome. Suzuki had counters for Sabre’s submissions, Sabre had counters for those, and then Suzuki countered those. Sabre used a backslide for a two count. Suzuki used a kimura, then an armbar, but Sabre reached the ropes, and the place went nuts for the exchange.
Then their cartoon character tag partners tagged in. Taichi tried to convince Iizuka to bite Suzuki as he took his muzzle off, but of course Iizuka bit everyone but Suzuki. This quickly turned into a crazy brawl all around the arena.
They finally got back in the ring. Taichi took his pants off. Iizuka kicked out of a PK from Sabre. Sabre kicked out of a PK. Iizuka broke out the iron glove. Taichi brought in the mic stand. Sabre used a bridge to cover Iizuka, but Iizuka reversed it into a sleeper, while Suzuki applied a sleeper to Taichi.
Sabre kicked out of the sleeper, then used a double wrist clutch to flip into a bridge for the pin on Iizuka.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: SANADA & EVIL DEFEATED TORU YANO & TOMOHIRO ISHII (14:21)
This was a lot of fun. SANADA didn’t do a lot of his trademark flying stuff, but the match didn’t really call for it.
SANADA and Yano did some comedy spots. SANADA tied Yano in the paradise lock around the bottom rope, then left him there, while EVIL And Ishii brawled all around the building. EVIL worked Ishii over in the ring, then tagged SANADA.
SANADA hit a standing moonsault for a nearfall. SANADA went for skull end, but Ishii blocked it, then hit a brainbuster. Yano got a tag and untied a corner pad. Yano hit SANADA with the pad, and SANADA sold it like he was dead.
Yano tried to apply the paradise lock to SANADA, but SANADA popped up and used the hold on Yano, then hit him in the butt with the corner pad.
Ishii and EVIL tagged in and ran at each other full force, repeatedly. Ishii used a tackle and a suplex for a nearfall. SANADA came in, and provided EVIL the chance to hit Ishii with a lariat for a nearfall.
EVIL and SANADA went for the magic killer, but Ishii slipped out. EVIL hit Ishii with a lariat for a two count. SANADA hit a springboard dropkick, and EVIL hit darkness falls for a two count. SANADA hit a pescado to Yano, while Ishii dropped EVIL with a regular lariat, then a sliding lariat.
Ishii got a nearfall off the lariats. EVIL and Ishii teased hitting their finishers, then hit simultaneous headbutts, into a double down.
SANADA and Yano got tags. Yano ran into an exposed buckle, then sent SANADA into the buckle. Ishii hit a lariat, and Yano used a rollup for a pin attempt, but EVIL broke it up. EVIL sent Yano into the exposed buckle. Ishii broke up the magic killer.
SANADA avoided several low blow attempts, then used an O’Connor roll for the pin on Yano.
JAY WHITE, BAD LUCK FALE & TAIJI ISHIMORI DEFEATED HIROSHI TANAHASHI, KAZUCHIKA OKADA & KUSHIDA (12:44)
This felt rushed. They seem pretty intent on ending these Tag League shows at exactly two and a half hours, which is fine, but it hurt this match here.
The Bullet Club jumped Okada before Tanahashi and KUSHIDA made their entrance. Okada’s partners ran in for the save, and they cleared the ring. Tana and Okada hit a double team back elbow on White, which got a big reaction, as the match started off hot.
Okada hit the ropes, but Gedo tripped him, allowing White to suplex him over the top to the floor. The pace slowed as Ishimori, Fale and White took over. They fought around ringside, with the Bullet Club in full control.
KUSHIDA jumped in for a save, but Ishimori fought him off. Fale worked over Okada with body slams. White tagged in to try to steal a quick pin, but Okada kicked out. White escaped a flapjack and hit a Saito suplex for two.
Fale tagged in, and promptly ate an Okada DDT. Okada tagged Tanahashi, who got a huge reaction. Tana cleared the apron, hit Fale with a low dropkick, then hit slingblade. Fale caught Tana coming off the ropes and went for the grenade, but Tana blocked it.
Tana went for a slam, but Fale blocked it. Fale went for a suplex, but Tana blocked it and hit a dragon screw. Tana went for a sunset flip, but Fale sat down on his chest. Both tagged out.
Ishimori and KUSHIDA entered and put on an incredible exhibition. KUSHIDA hit a handspring elbow on an interfering White, and a cartwheel dropkick. Ishimori hit a handspring kick and a sliding german.
As White continued to work on Okada on the floor, KUSHIDA hit a springboard, right into Fale’s arms. Tana stopped Fale from hitting the grenade, and hit him with a dragon screw. Okada jumped in and hit a dragon screw on White.
KUSHIDA went for back to the future, but Ishimori countered into a lung blower. Gedo took the ref, while Ishimori swung a weapon at KUSHIDA. KUSHIDA ducked, and applied the hoverboard lock.
White came in for the save and hit the blade runner on KUSHIDA. Ishimori followed with a bloody cross, and pinned KUSHIDA.
After the match, the Bullet club left the faces laying. White hit Okada and Tanahashi with blade runners, then cut a promo running down Okada and Tanahashi. He said that neither man can beat him, not even when they team up. White says this is the cutthroat era of the Bullet Club.
New Japan Pro Wrestling is bringing in Excalibur to call the last few days of the World Tag League next month.
NJPW’s Global Twitter made the announcement this morning. He will join Kevin Kelly to call the last three nights of action, which will start on December 6, continue on the 7th and end on the 9th with the finals.
“It’s been a longtime dream of mine to commentate for @njpw1972 @njpwglobal, and I’m super excited to be joining the booth-shaped booth with @realkevinkelly for the last three nights of [the World Tag League]” Excalibur wrote on Twitter. “Thanks to everyone for the support! Unless you don’t, then you can go to hell.”
In addition, Chris Charlton, author of the recent book Eggshells that details the history of wrestling at the Tokyo Dome, announced that he will be a part of Wrestle Kingdom 13’s English commentary team.
Excalibur is one of the founders of Pro Wrestling Guerilla and continues to do commentary for all of PWG’s shows. He recently was also part of the announce team for All In.
More World Tag League action continues tonight in Aichi.
Tonight’s tournament matches include Best Friends (6 points) vs. Killer Elite Squad (4) and Guerillas of Destiny (4) vs. Minoru Suzuki and Takashi Iizuka of Suzuki-gun (2). A tournament match featuring EVIL and SANADA of Los Ingobernables de Japon (6) will take on the other Suzuki-gun contingent of Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi (2).
Other tournament matches include Manabu Nakanishi and Yuji Nagata (2) vs. Toru Yano and Tomohiro Ishii (4), Shota Umino and Ayato Yoshida (0) vs. Yujiro Takahashi and Hangman Page (2), Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan (4) vs. Jeff Cobb and Michael Elgin (0) and Toa Henare and Togi Makabe (2) vs. David Finlay and Juice Robinson (4).
The most high profile match in the undercard includes Kazuchika Okada teaming with Roppongi 3K against LIJ members Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI and Shingo Takagi.
Join us for live coverage this morning starting at 3 a.m. EDT. There will be English commentary.
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WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: YUJIRO TAKAHASHI & HANGMAN PAGE DEFEATED SHOTA UMINO & AYATO YOSHIDA (7:54)
A decent opener, but nothing spectacular. Page and Yoshida looked good here.
Page and Umino kicked things off. Page used a fallaway slam on Umino, hit a plancha to Yoshida, then popped back into the ring and hit Umino with a lariat, all seemingly in one fluid motion.
Yujiro got a tag and worked over Umino with a slam and a chinlock. Page tagged back in and asked Umino to show him something. Umino responded with some offense, and hit a dropkick, then tagged Yoshida.
Yoshida hit a knee lift in the corner, a sit-out lariat, and a PK for a nearfall. Page responded with a discus forearm, then tagged Yujiro. Yujiro missed a low dropkick, and ate a knee lift from Yoshida, a forearm from Umino, and a PK from Yoshida.
Yoshida locked on a choke. Page jumped in for the save, but Umino cut him off and applied an armbar. Page broke free, and broke up the submission attempt.
Yujiro hit a fisherman suplex for a nearfall. Yoshida hit a PK, but Page jumped in and hit the buckshot lariat. Yujiro followed with pimp juice for the pin.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: TOMOHIRO ISHII & TORU YANO DEFEATED MANABU NAKANISHI & YUJI NAGATA (8:28)
This was good when Ishii and Nagata were in together.
This broke down into a brawl right away. Nakanishi and Yano started off. Ishii and Nagata jumped in. Nakanishi and Nagata got the upper hand in the ring. The action spilled to the floor, and Ishii and Yano gained control. Yano untied a corner pad, then whipped Nakanishi into the exposed buckle.
Ishii tagged in, and he and Nakanishi had a chop battle. Nakanishi hit Ishii with three headbutts, which Ishii no-sold. Ishii hit one headbutt and Nakanishi went down. Ishii went for the vertical drop brainbuster, but Nakanishi blocked it. Ishii hit the ropes, and Nakanishi hit a spear, then tagged Nagata.
Nagata landed some kicks, Ishii hit a forearm, and Nagata hit a release belly-to-belly. Ishii hit a powerslam, but Nagata hit an exploder, into a double down. Both tagged out.
Nakanishi dropped Yano with a lariat. Ishii jumped in for the save, but Nagata took him out. Nakanishi made a cover, but Ishii jumped back in for a save. Ishii and Yano tried a double suplex on Nakanishi, but he flipped them both over.
Nagata and Nakanishi both hit lariats. Nagata used a Nagata lock on Ishii, while Nakanishi racked Yano. Yano didn’t submit. Yano slipped out, hit a low blow on Nakanishi, and got the pin.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: MICHAEL ELGIN & JEFF COBB DEFEATED SATOSHI KOJIMA & HIROYOSHI TENZAN (12:19)
This was okay. It was also kind of a mess in places. Cobb may be working hurt, and Tenzan is limited at this stage of his career. As a result, they tried to give Kojima and Tenzan a lot of offense, and it was strange to see Elgin selling so much. It’s clear that Elgin has studied a lot of Hogan’s work, particularly his mannerisms and crowd work, but he’s not the seller that Hogan was.
Cobb had his left shoulder heavily taped. Kojima hit a shoulder block early, and Cobb sold the shoulder. Elgin and Tenzan tagged in. They did a couple of power spots where Tenzan realized he was overmatched, so resorted to kicking Elgin in the gut and raking his eyes.
Elgin hit a slam and a slingshot splash. Tenzan hit some Mongolian chops. Kojima tagged in and they hit some together. Kojima hit a slingshot splash, while Tenzan hit an elbow drop at the same time. Kojima got a two count.
Kojima and Tenzan worked over Elgin in their corner. Tenzan hit a corner lariat, then hit a brainbuster for a two count. Elgin hit a DDT. He went for a tag to Cobb, but Kojima cut him off. Elgin made his own comeback, then finally tagged Cobb.
Cobb hit Tenzan and Kojima with belly-to-belly suplexes, then hit a standing moonsault on Tenzan for a nearfall. Kojima tagged in and hit his machine gun chops in the corner on Cobb. Elgin jumped in and cut Kojima off. Cobb and Elgin hit a tandem backbreaker, and Cobb tagged in Elgin.
Kojima fought off Elgin and hit a DDT. They traded strikes. Elgin hit a rolling elbow, and they did a double down. Kojima was first up, but Cobb cut him off. They hit a tandem suplex, and a sandwich lariat. They botched their tandem backstabber move. Hard to say whether that was Kojima’s fault for dead-weighting Cobb, or if Elgin just mis-timed the jump.
Kojima went for a lariat on Elgin, but Cobb jumped in and took the hit for him. Elgin hit a lariat, then a tiger driver for a nearfall. Elgin hit a buckle bomb, then hit the Elgin bomb for the pin.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: DAVID FINLAY & JUICE ROBINSON DEFEATED TOA HENARE & TOGI MAKABE (10:44)
This picked up towards the end. The problem is that Henare is so clearly positioned as an underneath guy. He almost always gets pinned. As a result, his nearfalls don’t even get the reaction that the Young Lions get with their nearfalls in the opening match.
Juice and Makabe were in briefly. They traded shoulder blocks, then tagged Finlay and Henare. Henare hit a series of hip tosses. Finlay cut him off with a beautiful dropkick. Finlay and Juice used a series of quick tags, working over Henare’s left arm. Finlay hit a suplex for a nearfall.
Juice hit a pair of sentons. Finlay hit one too. Henare hit a back body drop, then tagged Makabe. Makabe ran wild with tackles and corner lariats, then hit ten punches in the corner on Finlay. Makabe used a suplex into a bridge for a nearfall. Finlay ducked a lariat and hit a back elbow, then tagged Juice.
Juice hit a pair of corner lariats, then a sit-out lariat. Juice hit his jabs, then a dropkick, then used a spinebuster for a nearfall. Makabe ducked a leg lariat and hit a lariat, and Juice took a flip bump. Henare got a tag and hit a tackle and a lariat. He fought for a brainbuster, and finally got it, picking up a two count.
Henare hit a big spear for a two count. Finlay made a blind tag, then hit a running boot for a nearfall. makabe made the save. Makabe hit a double lariat on Finlay and Juice. Henare hit a diving tackle off the top for a nearfall on Finlay.
Juice and Makabe brawled to the floor. Henare hit a pop-up Samoan drop for a two count. Finlay slipped out of a uranage, hooked Henare’s leg, then cradled him for a three count. That was a great spot.
I would liken this to a really fun house show match. Good stuff.
Naito and Okada started off. Naito stalled, ducked an Okada lockup, then knocked SHO and YOH off the apron. LIJ commenced a three-on-one beatdown of Okada, but Okada made his own comeback, hit Naito with a DDT, then tagged SHO.
Naito spit at SHO, hit an inverted atomic drop, then tagged Shingo. SHO and Shingo exchanged strikes. BUSHI jumped in for a double team, but YOH cut him off. Naito and BUSHI jumped back in for a three-on-one on SHO. Naito and Okada brawled to the aisle, and Naito slammed Okada on the ramp, as Shingo continued to work over SHO in the ring.
Shingo hit a brainbuster for a nearfall. BUSHI got a tag. BUSHI and Shingo hit a legdrop senton combo for a two count. Shingo hit a neckbreaker. Naito tagged in and hit a neckbreaker for a nearfall.
Naito went for the combinacion de cabron, but SHO caught him. Naito escaped one deadlift, but SHO then hit a deadlift german. YOH got a tag and ran wild. Shingo tried to hit a dragon screw, but YOH countered into one of his own.
Shingo hit a death valley driver, then tagged BUSHI. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick, and used a DDT for a nearfall. BUSHI hit a backstabber. SHO jumped in for a save, and SHO and YOH hit stereo knees.
Okada got a hot tag and hit a DDT on BUSHI for a two count. He went for a tombstone, but Naito cut him off, and Naito hit him with a dropkick. BUSHI hit an MX for a nearfall.
Everyone jumped in and hit a big move, ending with Okada hitting a dropkick on Naito, and a tombstone on BUSHI. Okada followed with a rainmaker for the pin.
Desperado was shown at ringside doing commentary. After the match, SHO, YOH, and Shingo all approached him and they talked smack.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: TAMA TONGA & TANGA LOA DFEATED MINORU SUZUKI & TAKASHI IIZUKA (9:47)
This was a brawl. It was not a particularly good one.
Suzuki and Iizuka jumped the GOD as they made their entrance. They brawled all around the arena. Suzuki used a guardrail as a weapon. Suzuki used a hammer. Tama Tonga and Iizuka were the legal men, but they spent forever brawling about ten rows deep.
Iizuka and Tonga beat the count back inside at 18. Suzuki removed Iizuka’s muzzle, and Iizuka bit Tonga. Suzuki got a tag and worked over Tonga in the corner. Suzuki used a boot in the corner and a PK for a two count.
Suzuki went for the Gotch, but Tonga blocked it. Jado hit Suzuki with a kendo stick from the floor. Suzuki rolled outside, and Loa slammed him on the floor. Suzuki went after Jado, but Jado hit him again with the kendo stick, then rolled him back into the ring.
Tonga hit a dropkick, then tagged Loa. Loa used an Angle slam for a nearfall. Tonga got a tag and hit a stinger splash for a two count. Suzuki was able to slap a choke on, and Iizuka made a blind tag. Suzuki took the ref, while Iizuka choked Tonga with a piece of rope. Loa broke up the choke pinfall.
Iizuka avoided a gun stun, then bit Tonga’s leg and Loa’s head. Jado jumped on the apron and Iizuka bit him as well. The ref took a bump. Loa suplexed Suzuki. Iizuka used the iron glove on Tonga. Jado jumped in and hit Iizuka with the kendo stick, and Tonga followed with the gun stun for the pin.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: DAVEY BOY SMITH JR. & LANCE ARCHER DEFEATED CHUCKIE T & BERETTA (11:04)
You know what you’re going to get from these teams, and I mean that as a compliment. The work is going to be very good, but they aren’t going to get enough time to kick the match into third gear.
They brawled around ringside for about three minutes before the opening bell. Chuckie and Beretta hit stereo planchas, but Smith and Archer gained control of the fight quickly, with the highlight being Beretta taking a chokeslam on the apron.
Once the match officially began, Smith worked over Chuckie in the ring with stiff strikes. Archer tagged in and the beating continued. Archer missed a charge into the corner. Chuckie went for a tag, but Smith pulled Beretta off the apron. Yes, the beating continued.
Smith hit a suplex for a one count, then used a chinlock. Archer threw Beretta off the apron. Chuckie hit a jawbreaker, but Smith recovered quickly, and, yes, the beating continued.
Chuckie finally got a tag, and Beretta lit Smith up with chops. He hit a clothesline, and Smith rolled outside. Beretta hit a tope, and Chuckie hit a flip dive. Beretta hit a quebrada to the floor. Back inside, Beretta hit a tornado DDT, but then fell victim to a backdrop. Smith hit a fallaway slam into a bridge for a cool nearfall.
Beretta took his flip into the corner. Smith hit two rolling germans, but Beretta escaped before the third. Smith hit a buckle bomb, Beretta popped out into a chokeslam from Archer, but Chuckie broke up the pinfall attempt from Smith.
Archer and Smith went for the killer bomb, but Chuckie tripped Smith from the floor, breaking it up. Archer teased a crucifix drop on Beretta, but Beretta slipped off, hit an elbow, then tagged Chuckie.
Chuckie made a valiant comeback. He kicked out of a killer bomb, then used a crucifix to get a nearfall on Archer. Smith and Archer then hit a second killer bomb, and got the victory.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: TAICHI & ZACK SABRE JR. DEFEATED EVIL & SANADA (16:57)
EVIL and Sabre got into a shoving match before the bell, but we were spared the traditional Suzuki-gun pre-match antics. The bell rang, and EVIL and Sabre started off. Sabre tried to strike with EVIL, but they established that EVIL had the power edge.
SANADA got a tag. He went for the paradise lock, but Sabre didn’t allow him to apply it, establishing Sabre as the one guy able to counter that hold. EVIL made a tag and hit a senton for a nearfall. He went for a lariat in the corner, but Sabre trapped his right arm and blocked it. EVIL’s right elbow was taped, and he wore a pad over it.
Sabre then used his legs to torque on that arm. The match went to the floor, and turned into a brawl. Taichi and EVIL paired off, while Sabre went with SANADA. Sabre left SANADA laying in the crowd, then assisted Taichi. Taichi posted EVIL’s right arm.
Back in the ring, the assault on EVIL’s arm continued. Sabre and Taichi tagged in and out and worked EVIL over. Both stomped on the arm. Taichi taunted EVIL with kicks to the back of the head. EVIL took off his elbow pad and tried to throw strikes with the bad arm, but Taichi kicked at it.
EVIL used a mid kick and tagged SANADA. SANADA hit a dropkick in Sabre, a leapfrog dropkick on Taichi, then a pescado to Taichi. That was funny, as it looked as though SANADA didn’t trust Taichi to catch him, and, in fact, had he not braced himself on the apron as he landed, it appeared as though Taichi would have dropped him.
Sabre and Taichi cut SANADA off. Taichi removed his pants. SANADA rolled off the ropes and applied skull end. Taichi slipped out and hit a lariat, which SANADA sold big. Taichi went for a last ride, but SANADA slipped out. EVIL jumped in and hit a superkick. SANADA hit a superkick, and got a nearfall.
EVIL called for the magic killer, but Sabre made the save. Sabre got sent outside. EVIL and SANADA then hit the magic killer, but Sabre was able to get back in for the save. While Sabre and EVIL brawled on the floor, SANADA went for a moonsault, but Taichi got his knees up. Taichi used a rollup for a great nearfall.
EVIL and Sabre got tags. Sabre immediately hit a jumping knee, which may have caught EVIL flush, as he was bleeding from the mouth. Sabre used a kimura, but EVIL turned it into a suplex. EVIL hit darkness falls for a nearfall.
EVIL went for everything is EVIL, but Sabre turned it into a pinning combination for a very close nearfall. Sabre used a triangle, but EVIL power bombed out of it.
Sabre escaped everything is EVIL again, but Sabre turned it into the octopus. SANADA jumped in and applied skull end. The referee was distracted. Taichi jumped in with the mic stand and hit EVIL and SANADA.
EVIL recovered and went for everything is EVIL again, but Sabre turned it into a Zack driver. Taichi held off SANADA, while Sabre covered EVIL for the upset win.
CURRENT TAG LEAGUE STANDINGS
EVIL & SANADA 6
Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa 6
Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer 6
Beretta & Chuckie T 6
Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano 6
David Finlay & Juice Robinson 6
Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi 4
Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan 4
Yujiro Takahashi & Hangman Page 4
Manabu Nakanishi & Yuji Nagata 2
Jeff Cobb & Michael Elgin 2
Toa Henare & Togi Makabe 2
Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka 2
A new NEVER title match has been added to the World Tag League finals.
New Japan announced this evening that Hirooki Goto will defend the NEVER Openweight title against Kota Ibushi. This stems from a challenge made on this morning’s World Tag League event at Korakuen Hall. Goto issued the challenge after a six man tag team bout featuring the both of them. Ibushi originally seemed uninterested in the offer, but then took him up after Goto pulled the offer.
Goto regained the title earlier this month at Power Struggle, defeating then champion Taichi. He wasn’t originally supposed to get a championship shot, however. Will Ospreay was originally supposed to face Taichi, but a rib injury put him out of the match. Ospreay and Ibushi have run into each other several times in recent months.
The World Tag League finals will take place on December 9 at the Iwate Industrial Cultural Center.
More World Tag League action continues tonight inside Korakuen Hall.
A World Tag League match main events, as the team of Jeff Cobb and Michael Elgin take on the team on SANADA and EVIL. Other tournament matches tonight include Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Zack Sabre & Taichi and Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka vs. Killer Elite Squad in a Suzuki-gun battle.
The undercard will feature a CHAOS vs. LIJ six man tag team match, with Kazuchika Okada and Roppongi 3K taking on Tetusya Naito, BUSHI and Shingo Takagi. There will also be a CHAOS vs. Elite six man match with Hirooki Goto, Beretta and Chuckie T vs. Hangman Page, Yujiro Takahashi and Kota Ibushi.
More matches in the undercard include WTL teams that aren’t competiting in tournament matches tonight, which include David Finlay and Juice Robinson, Guerillas of Destiny and more.
Join us for live action starting at 4:30 a.m. ET. There will be English commentary.
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JUICE ROBINSON & DAVID FINLAY DEFEATED YUYA UEMURA & YOTA TSUJI (5:58)
A quick match with a couple of cool spots. Tsuji and Uemura got a lot of offense.
The Young Lions scored some early offense on Juice. Juice reversed an irish whip, and Finlay and Juice took Tsuji down with a double dropkick. Each hit Tsuji with a senton. Tsuji missed a dropkick, but hit one on his second attempt, and was able to tag Uemura.
Uemura used a back elbow and a scoop slam on Finlay. Tsuji knocked Juice off the apron, and Tsuji and Uemura each took one of Finlay’s legs, applying a double crab. Juice broke it up with a dropkick.
Juice and Finlay hit a double flapjack on Uemura, and Finlay used a brainbuster on his knee to pin Uemura.
THE GUERILLAS OF DESTINY DEFEATED TOMOAKI HONMA & REN NARITA (8:23)
The crowd was into Honma. The match itself was just kind of there. Honma tried to do a little bit more than he has since his comeback, but there isn’t a lot he can do aside from selling.
Guerillas of Destiny went on the attack a few seconds before the bell. Jado accompanied them and used an air horn to signal them to attack. While Narita was sent to the floor, Honma made a comeback. He went for a kokeshi on Tonga, but Jado hit him with a kendo stick from the floor, cutting him off.
The Guerillas worked over Honma. Tonga hit a splash in the corner. Loa used a knee drop. Honma sold as though he was knocked out and unable to run the ropes. Tonga went for a kokeshi, but Honma moved. Honma went for a kokeshi, but Tonga moved. Honma hit a slow-motion DDT, then tagged Narita.
Narita hit a dropkick out of the corner, and followed with two more shotgun dropkicks. Honma hit a diving kokeshi on Loa, and Narita used a slam for a nearfall. Narita used a crab. Kado jumped on the apron. Tonga jumped in, but ate a kokeshi.
Narita used an O’Connor roll into a bridging cradle for a two count. Loa recovered and hit a lariat for a nearfall, then hit apeshit for the pin.
SATOSHI KOJIMA, HIROYOSHI TENZAN, TOA HENARE & TOGI MAKABE DEFEATED MANABU NAKANISHI, YUJI NAGATA, SHOTA UMINO & AYATO YOSHIDA (10:11)
Of the veterans in the match, Kojima, Makabe and Nagata can still go. Nakanishi and Tenzan, not so much. The match picked up in the last couple of minutes, but it was tough when the slower guys were in.
Henare and Nakanishi started off. Henare went for a backbreaker, but Nakanishi blocked it, forcing a tag.
Kojima and Yoshida tagged in. Yoshida dropped Kojima with a forearm, then hit a big PK. Yoshida missed a charge into the corner, allowing Kojima to hit his series of chops. Kojima hit a DDT, then tagged Tenzan. They hit some tandem offense. Tenzan used a vertical suplex for a two count.
Makabe tagged in and continued to work over Yoshida. Yoshida hit a kick to the stomach and tagged Nagata. Nagata hit Makabe with a series of kicks, then a boot in the corner. Nagata hit an exploder, but Makabe popped right up and hit a lariat, into a double down.
Umino and Henare got tags. Umino ran wild, then triple-teamed Henare with help from Nakanishi and Yoshida. Kojima broke up a pinfall attempt. Umino hit a dropkick. Henare hit a rugby tackle, then Yoshida broke up a pinfall attempt on Umino.
Everyone jumped in and hit a big move, then cleared the ring, leaving Henare and Umino the legal men. They traded strikes. Umino hit the ropes, right into a Samoan drop for a two count. Henare then used a uranage for the pin.
KOTA IBUSHI, HANGMAN PAGE & YUJIRO TAKAHASHI DEFEATED BERETTA, CHUCKIE T & HIROOKI GOTO (9:58)
Goto challenged Ibushi to start the match with him, but Ibushi declined, teasing that Ibushi doesn’t think Goto is a worthy opponent. This would play into the post-match.
Good match. It would have been even better with about five more minutes, as it felt like they crammed a lot into their allotted time.
Yujiro hit Beretta with a boot to the face. Beretta came back with a sunset flip off the second.
Page tagged in and went crazy, hitting a springboard lariat, a pescado, and a suicide dive. Beretta quickly cut him off, then the CHAOS team went to work on Page.
Page went for a springboard move, but Beretta caught him and hit a bridging suplex for a two count. Chuckie worked Page over with a chinlock, hit a dropkick, then went back to the chinlock. Beretta got a tag, took his flip into the corner, then ran into a lariat.
Goto and Ibushi got tags. Ibushi hit a standing moonsault, a snap rana, then a slingshot splash for a two count. Goto hit an ushigoroshi, then tagged Chuckie. Chuckie hit a corner clothesline and a pop-up powerbomb for a two count.
Ibushi was able to tag Yujiro. Chuckie and Beretta hit stereo pescados. Yujiro hit a dropkick. Ibushi hit Goto with a missile dropkick. Page hit a buckshot lariat on Chuckie, and Yujiro followed with pimp juice for the pin.
After the match, Goto asked Ibushi if he wants the next shot. Ibushi was non-committal. Goto said fine, no shot for you. Then Ibushi changed his mind, and accepted the challenge for the NEVER title.
They had a really good six-man. There was a palpable buzz every time Okada and Naito faced off.
Okada and Naito started off. They traded quick cradles, then Naito hit his tranquilo pose. Shingo and YOH tagged in, locked up, then traded strikes. SHO jumped in and they doubled up on Shingo. BUSHI and Naito jumped in to even the odds, and the match broke down into a ringside brawl.
SHO got whipped hard into the security fence, which nearly impaled him. Back in the ring, Naito and Shingo worked over YOH. Naito used a weird-looking single-leg crab thing on YOH. Shingo used a brainbuster. He tried to use a dragon screw, but YOH reversed and hit one himself.
SHO got a tag and ran wild on Shingo. He hit a low dropkick and took BUSHI off the apron. SHO used a knee lift. SHO and Shingo traded strikes. Shingo went for the pumping bomber, but SHO ducked and hit a spear.
Shingo hit a haymaker and a lariat, then tagged BUSHI. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick and a DDT. BUSHI hit an enziguri and a backstabber, forcing Okada to break up a pinfall. Okada then sent Naito into the barricade on the floor.
SHO and YOH hit a suplex on Shingo, then tagged Okada. Okada hit a neckbreaker on BUSHI for a nearfall. Naito jumped in and traded shots with Okada. SHO and YOH hit stereo knees on Naito and Shingo, then stereo pescados to both.
Okada hit BUSHI with a dropkick, then hit the rainmaker for the pin.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: DAVEY BOY SMITH JR. & LANCE ARCHER DEFEATED MINORU SUZUKI & TAKASHI IIZUKA (11:25)
They had the crazy brawl that you would expect from two Suzuki-gun teams.
Suzuki and Iizuka tried to get the jump on Smith and Archer before the bell. Suzuki fared better, as he applied a heel hook over the barricade on Archer. In the ring, Smith used a delayed vertical suplex on Iizuka. All four men went to the floor, and Suzuki and Iizuka used chairs.
Back inside, Suzuki and Smith were declared the legal men. Suzuki went for the Gotch on Smith, but Smith backdropped him over the top to the floor. Smith sent Iizuka into the railing, then Smith and Archer double-teamed Suzuki. They brawled into the crowd, and Smith used a chair on Suzuki.
Archer and Iizuka continued to brawl outside. Suzuki hit Smith with a boot in the corner, then a series of PKs. Smith demanded more. Suzuki hit three, then picked up a nearfall. Suzuki hit a knee to the chest, then used a rear naked choke.
Suzuki went for the Gotch again, but Smith blocked it. Suzuki used a guillotine, but Smith suplexed out of it, then tagged Archer. Archer taunted Suzuki, then traded palm strikes with him. Suzuki slipped out of a chokeslam, then tagged Iizuka.
Suzuki took Iizuka’s muzzle off, and he bit Smith and Archer. Suzuki took the ref, allowing Iizuka to use a rope to choke Archer. Iizuka grabbed the iron glove. Smith and Archer took Suzuki out. Iizuka bit Smith and Archer again.
Archer hit Iizuka with a pounce, then Smith and Archer hit Iizuka with the killer bomb, and Archer pinned Iizuka.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: ZACK SABRE JR. & TAICHI DEFEATED TOMOHIRO ISHII & TORU YANO (16:29)
This was excellent when Sabre and Ishii were in. The Taichi and Yano comedy worked pretty well, but Taichi’s regular offense doesn’t look very good.
Taichi and Yano started off, but neither wanted to lock up. They stalled for almost two minutes. Sabre tagged in, Yano escaped a chain wrestling sequence with his life, then immediately tagged Ishii.
Ishii and Sabre exchanged strikes, and Ishii dropped Sabre with a forearm. Sabre and Ishii had a nice sequence of moves and reversals, ending when Sabre cranked on Ishii’s neck with his feet. Sabre continued to work over the neck and the right arm of Ishii, while Taichi took Yano to the floor, then brawled into the crowd with him.
Taichi and Sabre continued to work over the right arm. Sabre then attacked the left arm. Taichi got a tag and stomped away at the right arm. Ishii threw chops with the right arm, but sold them. Ishii hit a powerslam, then tagged Yano.
Yano untied a corner pad, then another. Taichi used a pad as a weapon, knocking Yano down. Taichi raked the eyes, but Yano sent him into the exposed buckle. Yano took Taichi’s pants off, shoved him into an exposed buckle, then used a roll-up for a nearfall.
Ishii tagged in, and chopped away at Taichi. Ishii missed a charge into the exposed buckle. Taichi used a series of kicks on Ishii’s left leg. Ishii hit a headbutt, but ran into a lariat, allowing Taichi to tag Sabre.
Sabre cranked on the right arm of Ishii, then stomped on it. Ishii blocked a PK, then dropped Sabre with a forearm. Ishii got sent into the buckle. Sabre applied an octopus, while Taichi kicked at Ishii’s head. Ishii fought for the ropes, then finally made it.
Yano jumped in and hit a fireman’s carry on Taichi, then one on Sabre. He used an inverted atomic drop on Sabre. Ishii went for the sliding lariat, but Sabre caught him and applied a double wristlock. Yano broke up the hold.
Sabre hit a PK, teased a Zack driver, but Ishii slid out and hit a standing lariat, then a sliding lariat for a great nearfall. Ishii went for the brainbuster, but Sabre turned it into a triangle. Ishii tried to power out, but he kept the hold.
Yano jumped in to break the hold, but Taichi cut him off, nailing him with the mic stand. Ishii refused to tap out, but the referee called for a stoppage, giving Taichi and Sabre the win.
WORLD TAG LEAGUE MATCH: EVIL & SANADA DEFEATED MICHAEL ELGIN & JEFF COBB (17:40)
A really good main event with some great nearfalls.
Cobb and SANADA started out with some mat work. Cobb hit a huge throw on SANADA, then tagged Elgin, and they hit a double backbreaker, picking up a quick two count.
SANADA hit Elgin with a low dropkick to the knees, then tagged EVIL. Elgin used a delayed vertical on EVIL, then tagged Cobb, who took hold of EVIL and continued it. Cobb tagged Elgin, who then finally delivered the suplex.
Elgin used an O’Connor roll, but EVIL kicked him off, right into a dropkick from SANADA from the apron. The match spilled to the floor. EVIL placed a chair around Elgin’s neck, then sent him into the post.
Back inside, SANADA hit a snap suplex on Elgin for a two count. EVIL and SANADA hit a double back elbow, then EVIL hit a senton for a nearfall. Elgin hit a couple of short elbows, but EVIL raked his eyes. SANADA jumped in. Elgin made his own comeback, including using EVIL as a springboard while he hit SANADA with a DDT.
Elgin hit a dropkick on EVIL, then tagged Cobb. Cobb hit an overhead belly to belly, then a side suplex. He went for a standing moonsault, but EVIL got his knees up, then tagged SANADA.
SANADA hit his leapfrog dropkick on Cobb. SANADA took the Flair corner flip, missed a springboard dropkick, then Cobb hit a throw. Elgin tagged in and hit discus forearms on SANADA, then a tope to EVIL.
They nearly botched it, but Elgin is a stong dude, and he eventually hit a gutwrench backbreaker on SANADA, who sold it as though he was broken in half. EVIL broke up a buckle bomb attempt. SANADA flipped out of a brainbuster attempt and used skull end on Elgin. EVIL used a choke on Cobb, who then threw EVIL into SANADA, breaking the hold.
Cobb lifted SANADA as if he was going to hit a last ride, but instead, Elgin jumped up and hit SANADA with a backstabber. EVIL broke up the pinfall. SANADA hit a dropkick, then used skull end. EVIL and SANADA used a magic killer, but Cobb broke up the pinfall attempt on Elgin.
SANADA missed a moonsault, and both Elgin and SANADA made tags. EVIL and Cobb exchanged strikes, and Cobb dropped EVIL with a lariat. Cobb hit a modified bossman slam for a nearfall. Cobb and Elgin hit EVIL with forearms in the corner. Elgin used a superplex into a standing moonsault from Cobb, who picked up a nearfall on EVIL.
SANADA nailed Elgin with a missile dropkick. Cobb went for tour of the islands on EVIL, but SANADA broke it up. EVIL and SANADA hit a second magic killer on Cobb, then EVIL hit everything is EVIL, and got the pin.
The lineup for this year’s World Tag League has been revealed.
No real surprises were announced for this year’s tournament — save for the Young Bucks, anyone you’d think would be in here is, including current champions Guerrillas of Destiny. Like this year’s Super Jr. Tag League, this year’s tournament has no blocks and everyone will battle it out, with the top two teams with the most points facing off on 12/9 in Iwate.
A most interesting combination will be teaming during the tour as Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi are joining forces for a number of dates in six man and eight man tag bouts. The two have been teasing an alliance of sorts for the last few months.
Shows that will air live on New Japan World include 11/17 (opening day, CHAOS vs. LIJ ten man tag), 11/18 (Cobb & Elgin vs. SANADA & EVIL, will also air for free), 11/25 (SANADA & EVIL vs. Taichi & Sabre), 11/29 (Tanahashi/Okada/KUSHIDA vs. White/Fale/Ishimori), 11/30 (Tanahashi/Okada/KUSHIDA/Romero vs. White/Fale/Ishimori/Gedo), 12/2 (same as 11/30), 12/6 (same as the two prior shows), 12/7 (Yano & Ishii vs. Guerillas of Destiny) and 12/9 (finals). The first two shows and the last four shows on the tour will have English commentary. A full listing of matches can be found on New Japan’s website.
The list of tag teams for this year’s World Tag League are:
