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The Big Audio Nightmare is back with a solo express edition looking at the latest news from New Japan Pro Wrestling, Stardom, Pro Wrestling NOAH, and more throughout the very busy world of Japanese professional wrestling.
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With Sakura Genesis now in the rearview mirror, NJPW’s attention turns to Wrestling Dontaku 2026.
The two-night Dontaku event is being held in Fukuoka on Sunday, May 3 and Monday, May 4. Headlining the second night is an IWGP Heavyweight Championship defense by Callum Newman, who is putting his title on the line against Shingo Takagi. Newman — the 2026 New Japan Cup winner — dethroned Yota Tsuji for the belt at Sakura Genesis this past weekend.
At 23 years old, this is Newman’s first IWGP Heavyweight Championship reign. He’s one of the top foreign wrestlers in NJPW and the leader of United Empire.
United Empire has a big night at Wrestling Dontaku night two. In the semi-main event, the group is challenging for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles. The match has AEW’s Will Ospreay — who is returning to Japan once again for both nights of Dontaku — teaming with HENARE & Great-O-Khan against champions Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Oleg Boltin.
Tsuji still holds the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship and will be defending that title in the night one main event. His challenger is Gabe Kidd, who is now waging war on NJPW after joining AEW.
Plus, there is more international representation on the cards with top CMLL star Mistico competing in tag matches.
The shows will stream live on NJPW World. Here are the announced lineups:
Night one (Sunday, May 3):
Night two (Monday, May 4):
The future of Bullet Club was decided on night one of Wrestling Dontaku, 12 years after the faction was formed at the event in 2013.
The War Dogs defeated House of Torture in a Dogpound Steel Cage Match to close Saturday’s show in Fukuoka. Gabe Kidd secured the win after delivering a piledriver to Ren Narita on top of a barbed-wire-covered table.
Per the stipulation, the losing team was forced to leave Bullet Club, meaning House of Torture has officially been expelled from the faction.
The war is over. The War Dogs stood tall and HOUSE OF TORTURE is officially out of BULLET CLUB!#njDONTAKU report:https://t.co/3YWZ7F1rFs
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) May 3, 2025
Watch the replay:https://t.co/klR2duTUZD#njpw pic.twitter.com/a0CExK1DsT
Unlike the previous Dogpound Cage Match between Bullet Club and United Empire, all 10 wrestlers started the match at once rather than entering at intervals. Several big spots took place during the bout, with multiple wrestlers going through tables. Dick Togo and Gedo also got involved, with Gedo delivering a splash to Togo from the cage onto a table that didn’t break. SANADA and Drilla Moloney clashed during the match, with SANADA using a fork on Moloney before being put through a table.
After the match, EVIL wrapped a chain around the neck of David Finlay, who was handcuffed to the cage, and choked him before leaving the ring area. Backstage, Finlay challenged EVIL to a Dog Collar Match. Moloney also had words for SANADA backstage, while Kidd cut a promo declaring the War Dogs the best version of Bullet Club ever.
Full coverage of today’s show is available here.
🐉 The Dragon Burns Brighter!
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) May 3, 2025
Shingo Takagi overcames Shota Umino in a brutal battle at #njDONTAKU
What’s next for Shingo Takagi?#njDONTAKU report:https://t.co/rDG6QzetBh
Watch the replay!https://t.co/klR2duTna5#njpw pic.twitter.com/M6G4qJNjZR
In the semi-main event, Takagi put away Umino with a Burning Dragon, a Pumping Bomber, and Last of the Dragon. Umino had appeared to be on the verge of victory before Takagi countered a Second Chapter attempt.
This marks the second singles loss in a row for Umino after he failed to defeat Hirooki Goto for the IWGP World Championship at Windy City Riot last month.
The first of two big matches between NJPW World TV Champion El Phantasmo and NEVER Openweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita took place on Saturday. Only ELP’s TV title was on the line in this bout, which ended in a 15-minute time-limit draw.
The newest member of the Don Callis Family, Rocky Romero, was in Takeshita’s corner and interfered during the match. El Phantasmo was attempting a CR2 just as the time limit expired. The two will now meet again next week at Resurgence, this time with Takeshita’s NEVER Openweight Championship on the line.
The 14th and final singles match between Zack Sabre Jr. and Hiroshi Tanahashi took place on the show, with ZSJ scoring the win via Zack Driver just over 13 minutes into the bout. With the victory, Sabre evens their all-time head-to-head series at seven wins apiece.
Full coverage of today’s show from Fukuoka is available here.
A change has been made to the lineup for night one of Wrestling Dontaku.
El Phantasmo will now defend his newly regained NJPW World TV title against Konosuke Takeshita on the show. Takeshita and Rocky Romero were originally scheduled to face ELP and Jado in a tag match, but plans shifted after ELP defeated Great-O-Khan for the TV title on Tuesday’s show. Following the win, ELP cut a promo challenging Takeshita to face him at Wrestling Dontaku.
The two are also scheduled to face off at NJPW Resurgence on May 9, with Takeshita defending the NEVER Openweight Championship.
“Takeshita-Chan, I don’t want to wait until Resurgence. Fukuoka, Dontaku, you are my first challenger, Konosuke Takeshita. And then, at Resurgence, we do it for your title, the NEVER title. And you will never beat me again,” ELP said at Hizen no Kuni after beating O-Khan.
NJPW has also confirmed the “Loser Leaves Bullet Club” stipulation for the War Dogs vs. House of Torture Dogpound Steel Cage match that headlines the May 3 show in Fukuoka.
Official!
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) April 30, 2025
Changes made to night one of Dontaku May 3!
The Dogpound Steel Cage sees either War Dogs or HOUSE OF TORTURE ousted- it's Losers Leave BULLET CLUB!
El Phantasmo defends the @njpwworld TV title against Konosuke Takeshita!https://t.co/iVbOViXkDS#njpw #njdontaku pic.twitter.com/BelRIVBjWR
Here are the updated lineups for Wrestling Dontaku:
Here are your complete #BOSJ32 blocks!
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) April 30, 2025
Lineup preview:https://t.co/HivNbgk5tR
Schedule breakdown:https://t.co/WxD1qMrRqq#njpw #BOSJ32 pic.twitter.com/Pt70ZZRBOv
NJPW has also announced the blocks and schedule for the Best of the Super Juniors 32 tournament, which kicks off on May 10 in Chiba.
NJPW BOSJ 32 Night One lineup for Saturday, May 10, 2025:
NJPW BOSJ 32 Night Two lineup for Sunda, May 11, 2025:
Rocky Romero is now officially part of the Don Callis Family.
Romero joined the faction on AEW Collision last night, aligning with his Roppongi Vice teammate Trent Beretta and attacking Tomohiro Ishii. NJPW has since confirmed that Romero will be the mystery partner previously advertised to team with Konosuke Takeshita at Wrestling Dontaku on May 3 and 4.
Takeshita & Romero vs. Jado & El Phantasmo is set for night one of Wrestling Dontaku, and Takeshita & Romero vs. ELP & Oleg Boltin is scheduled for night two.
“Now Romero and Takeshita are united under the Callis Family banner and set to tag at Dontaku. But against ELP and Jado on May 3, and then Phantasmo with Boltin Oleg on May 4 — has Rocky bitten off more than he can chew?” an article on NJPW1972.com asks.
After a shocking turn of events on @aew TV saw him join the Don Callis Family, @azucarroc will be @takesoup's partner at #njdontaku!https://t.co/I0k5M5lxGL#njpw #njdontaku pic.twitter.com/uIq3kYFevj
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) April 18, 2025
The updated lineups for Wrestling Dontaku are below.
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku – May 3 at the Fukuoka International Center in Fukuoka, Japan
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku – May 4 at the Fukuoka International Center in Fukuoka, Japan
Former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA has been pulled from a slate of upcoming NJPW events.
After already missing two shows, NJPW has announced that SANADA is off the remainder of its Wrestling Dontaku tour. He will miss two more Road to Wrestling Dontaku events, both nights of Wrestling Dontaku, and All Together 2024.
SANADA has been out of action since April 26 due to illness.
NJPW wrote that he’s returning to Tokyo for a medical appraisal:
After missing two events on the Road to Dontaku, it has been determined that SANADA be absent from the remainder of the Dontaku tour, as well as All Together as he returns to Tokyo for a medical appraisal.
We apologise to fans looking forward to seeing SANADA wrestle and appreciate your understanding. :
Wrestling Dontaku is being held this Friday (May 3) and Saturday (May 4). At night one, SANADA, Taichi & Yuya Uemura were supposed to face Great-O-Khan, Callum Newman & Francesco Akira. It will now be a two-on-two tag match with Taichi & Uemura facing O-Khan & Newman.
SANADA & Taichi were scheduled to face Hiroshi Tanahashi & Nic Nemeth at night two of Wrestling Dontaku. That match will now be Taichi & TAKA Michinoku vs. Tanahashi & Nemeth.
All Together 2024 is a cross-promotional show under the United Japan Pro-Wrestling banner. It’s taking place next Monday (May 6). At the event, SANADA was going to team with Dragon Gate’s Kai against Zack Sabre Jr. & DDT wrestler Chris Brookes. With SANADA off the card, it’s been changed to Taichi & KAI vs. Sabre & Brookes.
NJPW has announced a new addition to the card for Wrestling Dontaku 2024.
Night two of the event will feature a Frontier Zone match with Togi Makabe & Katsuya Murashima teaming up against Jet Wei & Naoki Sakurajima. In Frontier Zone matches, NJPW wrestlers face off against competition from smaller promotions. The concept debuted in October 2023.
Wei and Sakurajima both wrestle for Kyushu Pro Wrestling. Wei, who is from Taiwan, is also representing his home promotion PUZZLE.
Katsuya Murashima and Togi Makabe will represent NJPW in the face of new faces from Kyushu Pro-Wrestling. Kyushu Pro have already been represented in the Frontier Zone before the World Tag League finals last December, but this time, new faces include Jet Wei, currently in his second excursion to Kyushu from his home in PUZZLE. With PUZZLE itself having been represented at Wrestling World 2024 this past weekend, how will Wei represent his host and home promotions, as well as his home country?
Wei’s partner will be Naoki Sakurajima. A 16 year veteran of the independent scene, Sakurajima brings a no nonsense hard hitting style to the ring, which has seen him compete in Osaka Pro, IGF, Wrestle-1 and others. Will he make a powerful mark on May 4? Don’t miss the Frontier Zone at Dontaku!
Wrestling Dontaku is being held in Fukuoka on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4. Makabe & Murashima vs. Wei & Sakurajima will be the pre-show match on night two.
Makabe & Murashima are also teaming together in the night one pre-show match, taking on Boltin Oleg & Shoma Kato. Murashima and Kato are both Young Lions who debuted in November of last year.
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2024 —
Night one (May 3):
Night two (May 4):
Two new title bouts have been officially confirmed for NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2023.
NJPW has announced that Zack Sabre Jr. will defend his NJPW World Television Championship against Jeff Cobb at the Wednesday, May 3 event. The Strong Openweight Championship will also be up for grabs as KENTA faces Hikuleo.
The championships being on the line in these matches became official after successful title defenses at NJPW Capital Collision in Washington, D.C. Sabre retained against Tom Lawlor, while KENTA retained against Eddie Edwards.
Sabre became the first-ever NJPW World Television Champion by defeating Ren Narita in the finals of a tournament at Wrestle Kingdom 17 this January.
KENTA won the Strong Openweight Championship from Fred Rosser in February. Wrestling Dontaku will be the first time the title has ever been defended in Japan.
Wrestling Dontaku is being held at the Fukuoka Convention Center and will air live on NJPW World. Here’s the updated card for the event:
Two New Japan Pro Wrestling wrestlers have tested positive for COVID-19.
NJPW released a statement on their website tonight confirming that two wrestlers have tested positive and are currently showing mild symptoms. The company did not name the two individuals. This follows yesterday’s removal of six wrestlers (Kazuchika Okada, Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, and YOH) from the second night of Wrestling Dontaku after two of the indviduals developed fevers prior to the start of the card.
Additionally, NJPW said in their statement that other wrestlers and staff who have been in contact with the two wrestlers are “currently being monitored in a controlled environment and are receiving relevant tests.”
The company also noted that all wrestlers and staff for the Road to Dontaku tour returned negative PCR tests prior to the start of the tour.
Several matches set for the second night of Wrestling Dontaku were changed as a result of the protocols. The IWGP Junior Heavyweight title match between champion El Desperado and challenger YOH was removed from the card entirely.
The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship will be on the line in the main event of night two of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku.
Will Ospreay will defend the IWGP World title against Shingo Takagi. This will be Ospreay’s first title defense since defeating Kota Ibushi for the Championship at Sakura Genesis.
The two have met three times in singles competition before. Ospreay holds a 2-1 edge over Shingo with his wins coming in the 2019 Best of the Super Juniors final and this year’s New Japan Cup final. Shingo’s victory came in the 2020 G1 Climax tournament.
Tonight’s scheduled IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match with El Desperado defending against YOH was pulled from the card as a precautionary measure. Contact tracing has also forced the change of two other matches on the card.
A previously scheduled 10-man tag has been split into two new matches: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori, plus Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Jay White, EVIL & Dick Togo.
The Los Ingobernables de Japon vs. United Empire series will continue with Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare in a trios match.
For the seventeenth time since April 4 and in their tenth broadcast meeting in that timeframe, Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI will face Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado in a trios match.
Our live coverage begins at 2 a.m. Eastern time.
***********
The show began with the announcement of the changes to tonight’s card.
**********
Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado (10:00)
This is the tenth time this exact match has been broadcast in the last month. I don’t know what more can be said about the match. I don’t ever want to see it again.
Unfortunately, Taichi and Sabre are G.O.D.’s next challengers for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles by virtue of Sabre’s win yesterday, so I expect to see it many more times.
This was the DOUKI show early. He hit an Asai moonsault on both members of G.O.D. before being cut off. Jado worked him over. Tama worked him over. Loa worked him over.
The match broke down. Everyone brawled. Sabre got a hot tag and used Hurrah! to submit Jado.
Sabre and Taichi cut promos on G.O.D. after the match, as this feud must continue.
Yujiro Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato (10:24)
This was a solid little tag match.
Tenzan and Yujiro began with some brawling. Tenzan tagged in Wato and Wato was promptly cut off. Yujiro and Ishimori used quick tags as they worked on Wato. Wato came back with a flying mid kick to Ishimori.
Yujiro and Tenzan got tags. Tenzan’s hot tag was actually pretty crisp. His effort is always there, but his body is not always willing. He hit a brainbuster and a mountain bomb. He used an Anaconda Vice, but Ishimori made the save for Yujiro.
Wato and Ishimori got tags. Wato peppered Ishimori with kicks. Ishimori blocked a powerbomb and hit a handspring kick. Yujiro and Ishimori hit a tandem neckbreaker for a near fall. Tenzan saved.
As Yujiro and Tenzan brawled to the floor, Ishimori hit Wato with a Bloody Cross for the pin.
Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare defeated Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI (14:54)
This was good as well. With the exception of one off night, all the televised tagmatches between LIJ and United Empire have been good on this tour.
Naito had trouble getting his entrance gear off. It’s always a rib when Naito is introduced last and is wearing his entrance suit. It takes him forever to get everything off.
LIJ overcame a jumpstart and controlled Henare for the first several minutes of the match. Naito and SANADA hit some tandem offense. Naito was eventually cut off and worked over.
Cobb used a delayed vertical suplex while doing squats with Naito, which was beyond impressive. Cobb hit a standing moonsault for a two count. O-Khan tagged in to continue working Naito over. Naito hit a swing DDT and tagged out.
SANADA got a hot tag and ran wild. Henare tagged in and got hit with an atomic drop and put in the paradise lock. Henare came back with a Samoan drop. They traded elbow strikes. Cobb tagged in. SANADA took him over with a rana, then tagged BUSHI.
BUSHI hit a tope suicida to Cobb. He followed with a DDT for a two count. Cobb fought off a Codebreaker. Everyone hopped in to hit a big move as they worked to the finish.
BUSHI teased an MX, but Cobb caught him coming off the ropes. BUSHI fought out of a spin cycle attempt and used a victory roll for a near fall.
Cobb powered up and hit a dropkick and a vicious knee strike to mock Kota Ibushi, then hit Tour of the Islands to pin BUSHI.
***** Intermission *****
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Jay White, EVIL & Dick Togo (12:14)
This had a little bit of everything. Lots of good work from Tanahashi. Lots of comedy. Lots of Bullet Club shenanigans.
Tanahashi and White began. Both were so great at subtly selling the damage they did to each other’s legs in yesterday’s main event.
Taguchi tagged in and it was comedy time. All six guys did a great comedy spot. Five guys took a bump off a single Taguchi hip attack. Taguchi went for Everything is EVIL on EVIL, but EVIL blocked and cut him off. Taguchi was worked over.
Tana and White got tags. Both tried for a Texas cloverleaf, but neither could get it. White hit a Blade Buster, then tagged Togo. Togo used a jackknife cradle for two.
Tana hit a crossbody off the second to Togo and tagged Yano. Yano exposed a buckle and produced a hood. Togo put the hood on Yano and rolled him up for two. EVIL and Togo hit Yano with sentons. Togo covered for another two.
EVIL took the referee. Togo choked Yano. Tanahashi jumped in and put the hood on Togo. Yano hit a double low blow on Togo and EVIL and pinned Togo.
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match: Will Ospreay defeated Shingo Takagi to retain the title (44:53)
The last two nights have shown that even with all the issues currently facing NJPW, the repetitive undercard, the apathy and the uninspired booking, the main events still produce the best pro wrestling in the world. This was an epic.
They teased locking up, then decided to strike with each other. Ospreay kipped up off a double sledge to the chest. Shingo missed a senton. Ospreay grabbed a side headlock and took Shingo over. Shingo used a head scissors escape. Both backed away to collect themselves before the next volley.
A test of strength ended with Shingo hitting a backdrop. Shingo went after Ospreay’s back, stretching him. Shingo hit a tackle and a senton, then grabbed a front chancery. Shingo ate a kick, then clotheslined Ospreay to the floor.
On the outside, Ospreay whipped Shingo into the barricade. Shingo avoided a back suplex on the railing and hit a drop toe hold into the fence. Shingo posted Ospreay and dropped him face-first onto the apron.
O-Khan, Cobb and Henare came to ringside. A momentary distraction from them allowed Ospreay to get the upper hand on Shingo. Ospreay cleared the timekeeper’s table and tried to drag it over to Shingo, but Shingo produced a table from under the ring and knocked Ospreay’s table away.
Shingo set up both tables on the floor. He teased a death valley driver off the apron, but Ospreay blocked. Ospreay teased a kick off the apron, but Shingo avoided the tables. Ospreay brought Shingo back inside with a brainbuster, then hit pip pip cheerio. The tables remained a Chekhov’s gun on the outside.
Ospreay torqued on Shingo’s left arm with a cross armbreaker. Shingo rolled outside. Ospreay went out after him and used the barricade and the post to continue attacking the left arm. Back in, Ospreay kicked at the arm, then used an armlock.
Shingo tried to turn an arm wringer into a sleeper hold, but Ospreay broke the hold by backing Shingo into the corner. Ospreay hit some Kawada kicks. Shingo no-sold them and fired up. Shingo hit a jab and a DDT.
Shingo hit a tackle and a brainbuster. Ospreay avoided noshigami. They traded chops in the corner. Ospreay tied Shingo to the tree of woe for a series of kicks. Ospreay hit a bloody sunday for a near fall.
Shingo hit a backdrop out of a Stormbreaker attempt. Shingo caught a kick and turned it into a dragon screw. Ospreay reversed a suplex into a stunner, then hit a 619. Ospreay used La Mistica to set up a wristlock. Shingo forced a rope break.
Ospreay hit a rolling elbow. Shingo blocked an Oscutter attempt. Ospreay hit a stunner and tried a standing moonsault, but Shingo got his knees up. Shingo hit noshigami into a double down at the 20 minute call.
Shingo hit a wheelbarrow German for a two count. Shingo caught a kick and tossed Ospreay through the air for a flip bump. Ospreay avoided a sliding lariat. Shingo avoided a handspring kick. Shingo blocked a Stormbreaker. Ospreay hit a handspring kick. Shingo no-sold and hit the sliding lariat.
Ospreay blocked a corner clothesline and hit a cheeky nando’s kick. Ospreay teased a top rope Stormbreaker. Shingo blocked a sunset bomb out of the corner. Ospreay hit a Pele kick and a top rope Spanish fly for a two count at 25 minutes.
Ospreay draped Shingo over the ropes and hit a shooting star press. He followed with a standard shooting star press for a near fall. Ospreay started selling his back after landing. Ospreay placed Shingo on the tables. He teased a 450 off the post, but Shingo cut him off.
They fought on the apron. Ospreay teased a Stormbreaker off the apron. Shingo teased noshigami off the apron. Ospreay went for an Oscutter, but Shingo blocked and hit Made in Japan off the apron through the tables.
Ospreay barely beat the count back in at 19. Shingo hit a sliding jab and Made in Japan for a near fall at the 30 minute call. Ospreay’s back was cut up from the table spot.
Ospreay collapsed as Shingo tried to set up a pumping bomber. Ospreay collapsed as Shingo tried to whip him into the corner. Shingo hit a corner clothesline. He teased a second rope Last of the Dragon. Ospreay elbowed his way free. Ospreay missed on a frankensteiner.
Shingo dove off the second rope into an Oscutter. Ospreay hit a second Oscutter and got a near fall. They traded elbow strikes. Ospreay hit the Chelsea Grin. Ospreay missed with a Hidden Blade. Shingo blocked a Super Oscutter and hit a GTR.
Shingo hit a lariat. Ospreay blocked a pumping bomber. Ospreay went for an Oscutter, but Shingo caught him in a cutter for a great near fall.
Ospreay blocked a Last of the Dragon and hit a rolling elbow, then hit a hook kick. They traded poison ranas. Ospreay popped up and hit Hidden Blade. Ospreay covered, but Shingo’s right arm was under the bottom rope, so Red Shoes stopped the count at two.
Ospreay went for a Stormbreaker, but his back gave out. Ospreay hit some short kicks at the 40 minute call. Shingo hulked up and hit a series of forearms. Ospreay ducked a pumping bomber. Ospreay hit a pop-up DVD, but Ospreay no-sold it.
Shingo hit a lariat. Ospreay hit a high kick and a Spanish fly. Shingo escpaed a Stormbreaker attempt. Ospreay hit a jumping knee strike. They traded strikes, then traded headbutts. Shingo hit a big headbutt to the side of the neck.
Ospreay hit the Chelsea Grin and a Rainmaker. He followed with Hidden Blade and a Stormbreaker for the pin.
**********
Ospreay cut a promo. He thanked Shingo for being his first stepping stone. He said that the company has leaned on him for far too long. He said with card subject to change, the people get their ticket’s worth just by seeing him. He said the building sold out with just one match announced — his match.
He said everyone was expecting his demise. He said Okada and the world are probably disappointed with the man he’s become, but he doesn’t care. He said all he cares about is United Empire and being the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
Ospreay said he rights the wrong and will beat Okada in the main event of Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome.
O-Khan translated Ospreay’s promo, then did the United Empire roll call to close the show as confetti fell.
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WON NEWSLETTER: May 3, 2021 Observer Newsletter: UFC 261 recap, NHL-Turner deal
How the NHL deal affects both WWE and AEW is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
We look at the deal, have Tony Khan’s comments on it, update on AEW and TNT, AEW vs. NHL ratings, declining ratings equals larger right fees, notes on the next WWE and AEW deals, and key contract years for AEW and WWE.
Also in this issue:
A complete rundown of UFC 261, background of the show, match-by-match coverage, poll results, business notes, as well as what categories UFC won in television ratings this past week.
Peacock subscribers, Supreme Court ruling on a WWE case, WWE going back on the road, Mickie James talks her issues with her final run, why no second Evolution PPV show, front office changes in WWE, Daniel Bryan talks his future goals, Paul Levesque talks physical Hall of Fame, new WWE announcer, new WWE signings, how wrestling fared as compared with other sports on television, former headliner says he’s returning to WWE, upcoming major TV matches and the most-watched segments on YouTube of recent shows.
CMLL and ROH relationship falling apart, how Mexico is changing with a new promotion, the question a lot of the CMLL and AAA wrestlers have to ask themselves and money figures the top talent is getting with the new promotion.
What other wrestlers held three major world titles in three different companies besides Kenny Omega and details of that.
Impact Rebellion with match-by-match coverage, star ratings and poll results, as well as early PPV notes, where the company is going forward and what happened in the Omega vs. Swann match.
WWE’s highest stakes television match in a long time with Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan.
A feature on Jake Paul, Triller’s lawsuit, and Paul challenges involving Daniel Cormier, Nate Diaz and Kamaru Usman.
PPV numbers from television from every company over the past six months.
More on last week’s feature about historical world title unification matches from different companies, including a reference to Babe Ruth.
How long the average fan watches the key wrestling shows, how many different people are actually watching, what show is watched live the most and what show is time delayed the most.
More into detail on the ratings than any other source, how every segment on NXT and AEW did as well as how it did with different age groups, genders and more, plus a look at all other wrestling shows of the past week.
Results of the major pro wrestling events of 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].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
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Bryan and I will be back tonight with Wrestling Observer Radio talking Raw, New Japan, Randy Savage and perhaps Brian Pillman. You can send questions to the show to [email protected]
What could be one of the best matches of 2021 takes place in a few hours with the New Japan show tonight at 2 a.m. Eastern time from Fukuoka in the second night of Dontaku:
One of Dragon Gate’s biggest shows of the year, Dead or Alive, takes place at 3 a.m. early Wednesday morning headlined by Yamato & Kai vs. Dragon Kid & SB Kento where the losing team then has a singles match and the loser of that match loses their mask or their hair.
Triller has announced they are giving one month’s amnesty for any person or entity who illegally streamed the 4/17 show. Anyone who pirated the PPV can pay the original cost for the show before 6/1 and obtain a release from a lawsuit by Triller. After 6/1, the company will be pursuing all individuals for a maximum penalty of $150,000 per illegal stream. Matt St. Claire, the Head of Piracy for Triller said that all the actual IP addresses of everyone who streamed the fight from an illegal source will be turned over in discovery, even if they used VPN’s as each stream has a unique fingerprint embedded.
Raw tonight has Bobby Lashley in a non-title match against either Drew McIntyre or Braun Strowman, A.J. Styles & Omos vs. The New Day for the tag titles and Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler defend the women’s tag titles against Lana & Naomi.
NXT tomorrow night has Ember Moon & Shotzi Blackheart vs. Indi Hartwell & Candice LeRae in a street fight for the NXT women’s tag titles, Leon Ruff vs. Isaiah Scott falls count anywhere and Timothy Thatcher & Tommaso Ciampa vs. Grizzled Young Veterans.
The PFL show on Thursday night is moving from ESPN 2 to ESPN which means the PFL will be in front of the largest audience in the history of the promotion. It airs from 7-11 p.m. Eastern:
Part one of the Brian Pillman documentary is on YouTube now.
Vice will be doing a Dark Side of the Ring marathon on Thursday starting at 8:30 a.m. leading to the 9:30 p.m. episode on Brian Pillman. Owen Hart is at 3:30 pm. and Chris Benoit is at 7:30 p.m., the Road Warriors is at 10 a.m. and Von Erichs at 2:30 p.m.
The Brian Pillman Memorial show anthology DVD is at www.PillmanShow.com. The trailer can be found here.
Daily Pro Wrestling History: AJ Styles beats Okada for IWGP title
CONTACT INFORMATION
Jay White defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the NEVER Openweight Championship at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku night one today in Fukuoka.
White pinned Tanahashi with a Blade Runner in 39:01. White had tapped out to Tanahashi’s Texas cloverleaf earlier in the match, but the referee missed the tap after interference from White’s second, Gedo.
After winning the match, White cut a promo and called himself “the real belt collector” and dared anyone who had a problem with that statement to come find him.
The NEVER title victory makes White the only wrestler to have held the IWGP Heavyweight, IWGP Intercontinental, IWGP United States and NEVER Openweight Championships. White immediately took to calling himself the first-ever quadruple crown champion in NJPW history.
In backstage comments after the show, White stated that he would like to avenge his New Japan Cup 2021 loss to David Finlay by making him his first challenger. He said he would then like to defend against junior heavyweight Ryusuke Taguchi.
For Tanahashi, his NEVER title reign ends after just one successful defense. Tana beat Shingo Takagi at New Beginning in Nagoya on January to win the title, then defended it against Great-O-Khan at Castle Attack on February 28.
Hiroshi Tanahashi defends the NEVER Openweight Championship against Jay White in the main event of night one of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku.
Tanahashi claimed the NEVER title with a win over Shingo Takagi at The New Beginning in Nagoya on January 30. White holds a 4-2 career record over Tanahashi in singles matches.
The semi-main event will feature the second-ever singles ladder match in NJPW history. Taichi will take on Tama Tonga with the iron fingers from hell suspended above the ring. Their tag partners will also face off in a singles match, as Zack Sabre Jr. battles Tanga Loa. If Loa wins, Taichi and Sabre are barred from challenging for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships ever again.
A series of tag matches will fill out the undercard.
Los Ingobernables de Japon takes on United Empire in an eight-man tag, with Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI vs. Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare.
Kazuchika Okada returns to action, teaming with SHO & YOH vs. Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Toru Yano, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Tiger Mask & Master Wato will face EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Dick Togo in the opener.
Our live coverage begins at 5 a.m. Eastern time.
***********
EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Dick Togo defeated Toru Yano, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Tiger Mask & Master Wato (9:57)
The second half of this was pretty good as the better workers got in.
Bullet Club used a jumpstart attack before the bell. Tenzan spent the next five minutes selling for everyone in Bullet Club. He finally managed a tag to Wato, who ran wild on Togo with a springboard uppercut forearm and a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
Togo blocked a sunset flip attempt and Ishimori tagged in. Ishimori hit a sliding German on Wato for a near fall. Wato avoided a lungblower. Ishimori avoided a dreamcast. Wato hit a dreamcast on his second attempt.
Tiger got a tag and hit a crossbody off the top rope. Tiger hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall. The good guys went 4-on-1 against Ishimori. Tiger hit a Tiger Suplex off the top for a near fall. Bullet Club jumped in to save Ishimori.
Tiger kicked out of a lungblower. Ishimori then connected with a Bloody Cross for the pin.
Kazuchika Okada, SHO & YOH defeated Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (10:31)
This was very good. All of these guys work well together. Okada was moving much better than he has been of late in his return after about a month off.
YOH went after Desperado before the bell. The two started off as the leagal men and traded strikes. YOH was getting the better of the exchange. Kanemaru and SHO got tags. Suzuki-gun cut SHO off and turned this into a brawl around ringside.
SHO came back with a suplex on Suzuki. Okada tagged in for a nice exchange with Suzuki. Okada blocked a PK. Suzuki fought off an air raid crash attempt. Okada blocked a Gotch-style Piledriver and hit a dropkick.
Desperado and YOH got tags. Desperado tried Numero Dos, but YOH made the ropes. Kanemaru tagged in and continued to go after YOH’s legs with a figure four. SHO made the save and hit Kanemaru with a spear. SHO and YOH hit a tandem facebuster for two, with Suzuki saving for Kanemaru.
YOH teased the Direct Drive, but Desperado saved. Desperado got hit with a thrust kick. YOH hit a thrust kick to Kanemaru, then landed Direct Drive to pick up the pin.
Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI defeated Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare (11:31)
This was also very good. These guys have mixed and match in just about every conceivable combination of singles and tags on this tour.
Shingo and Ospreay kicked things off with a great series of counters and teases of their big moves. They will tear the house down tomorrow.
LIJ briefly established the advantage by gong 4-on-1 against Cobb. BUSHI tagged in and was quickly on the wrong end of a beatdown from United Empire. BUSHI hit a double rana to Cobb and Ospreay and tagged Naito.
Naito and O-Khan had a brief exchange with a lot of hair pulling and brawling. Henare and SANADA got tags. Henare hit a blue thunder bomb. Empire went 4-on-1 against SANADA. Cobb hit SANADA with a spin cycle. Henare covered for a near fall as LIJ saved SANADA.
SANADA countered a Streets of Rage attempt into a dragon sleeper. Everyone jumped in for a big move as they worked to the finish. Ospreay hit Shingo with a stunner.
Henare countered out of Skull End. SANADA slid out of Streets of Rage and used an O’Connor roll to pin Henare.
Ospreay tried to hit Shingo with a Stormbreaker after the match. Shingo escaped. Ospreay escaped a Last of the Dragon and retreated.
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Tanga Loa (15:12)
The story here was the story of most Sabre matches — Sabre is the superior technician, while his opponent has the power and striking edge. It’s simple, but it always works.
Sabre got three quick near falls right away with pinning combinations. They locked up with a knuckle lock. Sabre used some impressive bridges to avoid being pinned. Sabre stomped at Loa’s left arm. Loa dropped Sabre with two big forearm shots, then hit a powerslam for a near fall.
Sabre came back with a DDT, then went to work on the left arm again. He used stomps to the arm, a double wristlock, then twisted the arm with his legs. Loa reached the ropes to force a break on another wristlock.
Sabre kicked at Loa’s left arm. Loa fired back with forearm strikes. Sabre hit a series of kicks. Loa hit a powerslam. He went for a powerbomb, but Sabre turned it into a guillotine. Loa drove Sabre into the corner to break the hold.
Loa went for Apesh*t, but Sabre slid out. They traded strikes. Loa missed a gamengiri. Sabre hit a PK for a near fall. Loa hit a lariat for a near fall, then locked on the OJK. Sabre forced a rope break.
Loa hit a delayed vertical suplex, then missed a frog splash. Sabre used a neck twist, then went back to a double wristlock. He transitioned to a crucifix hold, but Loa reached the ropes.
Sabre went for an octopus hold. Loa reversed into an Apes*t attempt. Sabre reversed that into a European clutch for a near fall. Loa hit a spear and a powerbomb for a near fall.
Loa ducked a high kick and hit a gamengiri. He went for Apesh*t again, but Sabre escaped and trapped his shoulders to the mat for the pin.
***** Intermission *****
Iron fingers from hell ladder match: Taichi (w/DOUKI) defeated Tama Tonga (w/Jado) (27:11)
The finish was excellent, but this was far from one of the best ladder matches you’ll ever see.
The iron fingers from hell were suspended from the ceiling in a clear plastic tote bag. The ladders looked like shoot aluminum ladders and absolutely brutal to take bumps with and on.
They brawled early. Taichi hit an axe bomber. They retrieved a couple of smaller ladders from around the ring and dueled with them. Tama made the first climb on a short ladder, which was wobbling all over the place. The ref wasn’t helping to keep the thing stable. He gave up trying to reach the bag and went back after Taichi with right hands.
Tama whipped Taichi into a ladder in the corner, then followed with a splash. He went for a cover in this here ladder match. The ref refused to count, as there are no pinfalls. Tama missed a splash in the corner and crashed into a ladder. Taichi hit a backdrop into the corner, sending Tama’s feet into a ladder. Tama sold his feet.
Taichi set up a ladder bridge from the ring to the barricade. Jado distracted Taichi to save Tama from a suplex on the ladder bridge. DOUKI saved Taichi from a ladder shot. Tama took DOUKI down with a lariat. Taichi hit Tama with a ladder on the outside.
Taichi set up a big ladder and started to climb. Tama cut him off with back rakes. Tama took a bump off the ladder. Taichi hit a jumping forearm off the ladder. Tama was first up and started to climb. DOUKI nailed him with a springboard dropkick. Jado got in and hit DOUKI with a kendo stick, then kicked Taichi to the floor.
Jado taped Taichi’s wrists to the barricade. Tama started to climb. Sabre ran in and shoved Tama off the ladder, then used a neck twist on Jado. Sabre freed Taichi. Loa ran in as Taichi started to climb. Loa hit Sabre with Apesh*t.
Loa went for a powerbomb on Taichi, but DOUKI saved. Loa hit a powerbomb on DOUKI over the top rope and through the ladder bridge. Brutal. DOUKI has taken some bad bumps on virtually every night of this tour.
Taichi fought out of a Magic Killer. He hit a gamengiri to Loa and a low blow on Tama. Taichi removed his trousers. Taichi no-sold a kendo stick shot from Jado and hit a hip toss on a ladder.
Taichi started to climb. Tama interfered. Taichi hit a chokeslam off the ladder. Tama intercepted another climb and Taichi got hung up in the ladder. Tama brought a table into the ring. Taichi fought off an attempt at a powerbomb through the table.
Both climbed the ladder. Tama tried a Gun Stun off the ladder, but Taichi shoved him off through the table.
Taichi retrieved the iron fingers to win the match.
NEVER Openweight Championship match: Jay White (w/Gedo) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the title (39:01)
This was an absolute war and an instant classic.
White did his customary stalling right away. Tanahashi broke cleanly against the ropes. White used a hair pull and went to work on Tana’s knees, dropping him knee-first on the apron. White hit a backbreaker for a two count.
White used a leglock on the mat. Tanahashi tried some forearms, but White rolled over and maintained the hold. Tana forced a rope break. White hit an inverted dragon screw in the ropes. Tana came back with a dragon screw and flying forearm.
Tana hit a dropkick in the corner and a somersault senton for a one count. Tana hit a basement dropkick to White’s left leg. Tana went for the Texas cloverleaf, but White kicked him away. White hit a DDT.
White posted Tanahashi’s legs. Tana fought for a dragon screw as White climbed back inside. White avoided one attempt, but Tana got it on his second try. Tana hit a standing High Fly Flow to the floor. Both beat the count back inside.
White blocked three slingblade attempts. He hit a complete shot and a wheelbarrow German suplex. White hit a snap Saito suplex at the 15 minute call. Tana blocked a Kiwi Krusher and hit twist and shout twice. White turtled up to avoid a third. Tana then hit an inverted dragon screw, then hit the third twist and shout.
White again avoided slingblade and hit a uranage. White hit a sleeper suplex, then used Tana’s own Texas cloverleaf. White transitioned to the TTO. Tana forced a rope break after fighting the hold for a long time.
Tana fought off another sleeper suplex attempt, but White hit a chop block to the left leg. Tana again fought off the sleeper suplex with a slap. Tana went for a dragon suplex. White fought it off, but Tana trapped his arms and hit a straightjacket German into a bridge for a great near fall.
Tana hit slingblade. Gedo jumped on the apron. Tana bumped him to the floor. Tana went for a High Fly Flow, but White caught him coming off the top. He teased a Blade Runner, but went back to the TTO instead. Tana powered his way to the ropes to force a break.
Tana refused to let go of the ropes. White argued with the referee. Tana used the opportunity to hit a dragon screw at the 25 minute call. White hit his own dragon screw. Tana went for a cloverleaf, but White kicked his leg out. White hit another dragon screw. Tana kicked White off as he went for a TTO.
Tana hit another dragon screw. Both guys were down, selling the incredible damage they had done to each other’s legs. There was a scramble on the mat. Both grabbed a leg. Both agreed to back off.
They met back in the center of the ring on their knees and traded strikes. They climbed to their feet and continued to trade. White hit a dragon screw and kicked at Tana’s left leg. White hit another dragon screw. White hit an uppercut forearm in the corner at 30 minutes in.
White taunted Tana to get back to his feet. He hit two more uppercut forearms in the corner. They did a long ref stoppage tease. White pulled Tana to his feet. Tana whiffed on a dragon screw attempt and a slap attempt. White was in total control. Tana hit a hail mary lariat into a double down.
Tana powered White into the corner and hit a dragon screw at the 35 minute call. Tana reversed a Blade Runner into a slingblade. He hit another slingblade for a near fall.
Tana hit a High Fly Flow. He hit a second High Fly Flow to the legs. Tana used the cloverleaf. Jay tapped out, but Gedo jumped on the apron and took the ref, so the ref missed the tap. Tana hit Gedo with a dragon screw.
White caught Tana in a small package for a near fall, then used a backslide with his feet on the ropes for another near fall. Tana blocked a Blade Runner.
Tana fought for a dragon suplex. White reversed into a Blade Runner and pinned Tanahashi to win the title.
**********
White cut a promo after the match. He mocked Tana’s “Never give up, never quit” catchphrase that he’s been using in promos building to this match. White said it’s time for Tana to hang up his boots.
White said this completed his NJPW Grand Slam, he’s won every heavyweight singles title in NJPW. He said he’s the real belt collector and if anyone has a problem with that, they know where to find him.
He said he’s the last rock ‘n’ roller, the man who sold out Madison Square Garden, the first ever quadruple crown champion. He said this proves that it’s still his era.
Read into the belt collector line what you will.
**********
Here is the lineup for tomorrow’s show:
NJPW Wrestling Dontaku night two, Tuesday, May 4, 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
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WON NEWSLETTER: May 3, 2021 Observer Newsletter: UFC 261 recap, NHL-Turner deal
How the NHL deal affects both WWE and AEW is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
We look at the deal, have Tony Khan’s comments on it, update on AEW and TNT, AEW vs. NHL ratings, declining ratings equals larger right fees, notes on the next WWE and AEW deals, and key contract years for AEW and WWE.
Also in this issue:
A complete rundown of UFC 261, background of the show, match-by-match coverage, poll results, business notes, as well as what categories UFC won in television ratings this past week.
Peacock subscribers, Supreme Court ruling on a WWE case, WWE going back on the road, Mickie James talks her issues with her final run, why no second Evolution PPV show, front office changes in WWE, Daniel Bryan talks his future goals, Paul Levesque talks physical Hall of Fame, new WWE announcer, new WWE signings, how wrestling fared as compared with other sports on television, former headliner says he’s returning to WWE, upcoming major TV matches and the most-watched segments on YouTube of recent shows.
CMLL and ROH relationship falling apart, how Mexico is changing with a new promotion, the question a lot of the CMLL and AAA wrestlers have to ask themselves and money figures the top talent is getting with the new promotion.
What other wrestlers held three major world titles in three different companies besides Kenny Omega and details of that.
Impact Rebellion with match-by-match coverage, star ratings and poll results, as well as early PPV notes, where the company is going forward and what happened in the Omega vs. Swann match.
WWE’s highest stakes television match in a long time with Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan.
A feature on Jake Paul, Triller’s lawsuit, and Paul challenges involving Daniel Cormier, Nate Diaz and Kamaru Usman.
PPV numbers from television from every company over the past six months.
More on last week’s feature about historical world title unification matches from different companies, including a reference to Babe Ruth.
How long the average fan watches the key wrestling shows, how many different people are actually watching, what show is watched live the most and what show is time delayed the most.
More into detail on the ratings than any other source, how every segment on NXT and AEW did as well as how it did with different age groups, genders and more, plus a look at all other wrestling shows of the past week.
Results of the major pro wrestling events of 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].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
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.
We have a number of new shows up this weekend. Bryan and Lance Storm did a Friday night show and Bryan and I also talked to Chris Jericho for a long show on Friday talking behind the scenes in AEW, Garrett and I did a lengthy show with Evan Husney talking Dark Side of the Ring which was a really interesting show talking about the past seasons and the coming seasons. Bryan and I also did our weekend show last night.
For Google trends this past week, yesterday’s UFC show was No. 5 with 200,000 while the Anthony Ruiz vs. Chris Arreola boxing match on PPV was No. 11 at 100,000. Joe Rogan was No. 15 on Wednesday with 100,000 for his giving people medical advice on the vaccine, while Logan Paul was No. 2 on Tuesday with 200,000 for the announcement of his fight with Floyd Mayweather.
Jiri Prochazka looked like a very legit light heavyweight title contender with his win over Dominick Reyes last night. He’ll face the winner of Jan Blachowicz vs. Glover Teixeira for the title in his next fight most likely.
UFC has nothing officially announced for a main event for this coming Saturday’s show on ESPN. There is talk of Michelle Waterson vs. Marina Rodriguez as the headliner. Cody Sandhagen vs. TJ Dillashaw was to be the main event, but Dillashaw suffered a bad cut and is likely out. Donald Cerrone vs. Diego Sanchez was the semi, but Sanchez was released from his contract.
The camp of Kai Kamaka III is protesting the decision of last night’s fight with TJ Brown. Judge Michael Bell and Sal D’Amato both gave rounds one and three to Brown, giving him the win. Judge Adelaide Byrd gave all three rounds to Kamaka. Reporters’ scores were 100 percent for Kamaka.
Greg Oliver has a story on the death of former wrestling promoter Rob Russen at 75. His background included founding the NWF and IWA, promoting house shows for WCW and at one point being Vice President of Verne Gagne’s AWA. He also had a background in music and boxing. Russen had been in poor health for years and passed away in The Philippines.
New Japan’s first show of Wrestling Dontaku from the Fukuoka Convention Center will be at 5 a.m. Eastern tomorrow morning with live English commentary:
Late Monday night at 2 a.m. Eastern or 11 p.m. Pacific (starts as Raw ends on the West Coast) will be the second Dontaku show featuring Will Ospreay vs. Shingo Takagi for the IWGP heavyweight title. Keep in mind these two already had a match of the year winner in 2019.
The A&E biography on Randy Savage airs at 8 p.m. tonight, followed by the search for WWE treasures on A&E at 10 p.m.
At last night’s Rey De Reyes show, besides the set up for Kenny Omega vs. Andrade El Idolo for the AAA title and Deonna Purrazzo vs. Faby Apache for the Knockouts title vs. Reina de Reinas title, they also introduced Diamante Azul, Puma King and Sam Adonis with a “La Empresa” T-shirt in th 104th NWO remake. La Empresa is the nickname of CMLL, although they haven’t been called the Empresa since the 90s.
Impact is doing a special offer that you can get two months free of Impact Plus by ordering using the promo code REBELLIONX
Daily Pro Wrestling History: Curt Hennig wins AWA World title
CONTACT INFORMATION
Night twelve of the Road to Wrestling Dontaku tour took place today in Hiroshima at Sun Plaza Hall.
Two unique singles matches topped the card, as Tetsuya Naito took on Great-O-Khan in the main event, while SANADA faced Aaron Henare in the semi-main.
The Los Ingobernables de Japon vs. United Empire theme continued on the undercard, with Shingo Takagi and BUSHI teaming against IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay and Jeff Cobb.
The tour continues with two nights of Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni on Wednesday at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time and Thursday at 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World.
Here are full results and a report on today’s show:
Recommended matches —
Report —
Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Tiger Mask, SHO & YOH (7:09)
This didn’t get enough time to be anything special, but the work was solid.
Suzuki-gun attacked as the babyfaces made their ring entrance. A brawl around ringside ensued. Suzuki and SHO began as the legal men. Suzuki used a heel hook, but SHO made the ropes. Suzuki hit a PK for a two count.
SHO came back with a vertical suplex. YOH and Desperado got tags and had a nice exchange. YOH hit a neckbreaker, but missed a superkick. Desperado hit a spinebuster and tagged Kanemaru. YOH managed a tag to Tiger.
Tiger hit a high cross for a near fall. Kanemaru blocked a Tiger Driver. Tiger used a crucifix for a near fall. Tiger hit the Driver, but Suzuki broke up the pin.
Tiger went for a Tiger suplex, but Kanemaru blocked, then sent SHO into Tiger. Kanemaru caught Tiger in a jackknife cover and scored the flash pin.
Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado by DQ (6:53)
This was more of an angle to set up the Loa vs. Sabre and Tonga vs. Taichi matches at Wrestling Dontaku next week. It was good when Loa and Sabre were in together.
Sabre caught Loa in a guillotine at the opening bell, but Loa powered him into the corner to break the hold. Loa used some powerful strikes. Sabre caught him in a cobra twist. Loa powered out. Loa powered out of another guillotine and hit a powerslam.
Taichi and Tama got tags. Taichi hit some Kawada kicks. Jado tried to interfere, but his immobility interfered with his interference. Taichi tossed him aside and he took an awkward tumble. Tama hit a Tongan Twist to Taichi.
Bullet Club triple-teamed Taichi. DOUKI and Jado were in for some spots together. DOUKI hit a springboard hurricanrana to Tama. He went for a suicide dive, but Tama nailed him with a ladder. DOUKI took a nasty bump.
Tama bumped the ref. Taichi used a dragon sleeper on Jado. Jado tapped, but the ref didn’t see it. Tama then laid waste to the Suzuki-gun side with the ladder. The ref was revived and called for the DQ.
Loa taunted Sabre on the mic after the match. Jado hit DOUKI with a kendo stick.
EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori, Gedo & Dick Togo defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato (12:17)
This was about what you would expect from a bad Bullet Club tag match with Yano on the other side.
The good guys began with some comedy spots against EVIL. Tenzan tagged in and hit a brainbuster, tagged Wato, then hit an elbow drop. Wato covered for two. Togo jumped in. Wato nailed Togo with strikes.
Yano took the referee. Togo exposed a buckle and Wato was whipped into it. All ten guys brawled to the floor, with Bullet Club firmly in control of the match.
EVIL worked over Wato in the ring, then Bullet Club used quick tags to continue the assault. Wato came back with a dreamcast to Ishimori. Taguchi tagged in for a series of hip attacks. Ishimori blocked a bumaye with a cradle, then hit a rolling kick for a double down.
Tana and Yujiro got tags. Tana was the proverbial house of fire, hitting dropkick and a somersault senton. He hit a dragon screw to Gedo for good measure. Yujiro bit Tana’s hand and blocked a slingblade attempt with a lariat.
Togo tagged in and lit Tana up with strikes. Tana hit a crossbody and tagged Yano. Yano exposed a buckle and produced a hood. EVIL hit Yano with a corner pad. EVIL took the ref. Togo put the hood on Yano and rolled him up for two.
Togo tried to choke Yano with his ligature. Yano hit a low blow. The ref got bumped. EVIL hit Everything is EVIL, then put Togo on top of Yano. Togo got the pin.
EVIL choked Yano with the ligature after the match and had to be torn away by the ring attendants.
***** Intermission *****
Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb defeated Shingo Takagi & BUSHI (13:23)
This was excellent.
Ospreay and Shingo started off with a hot exchange. They traded strikes. Shingo hit a hip toss on Ospreay onto Cobb. BUSHI tagged in and hit Ospreay with chops. BUSHI went after Ospreay’s knees with a dropkick.
Cobb got a blind tag. Cobb and Ospreay hit some tandem offense on Shingo on the apron. Cobb went after BUSHI on the outside, while Shingo and Ospreay paired off. Cobb cut BUSHI off with some power moves. Cobb and Ospreay used quick tags and worked on BUSHI.
Ospreay hit a springboard double stomp to a draping BUSHI. Cobb hit a running vertical suplex for a near fall. BUSHI came back with a low dropkick to Cobb and a combination bulldog/dropkick.
Shingo tagged in for some power spots with Cobb. Shingo hit a vertical suplex. Cobb hit an overhead belly-to-belly. Ospreay tagged in and tied Shingo to the tree of woe for a Shibata dropkick. Ospreay hit a bloody sunday. Shingo countered with a pop-up death valley driver.
Shingo missed a sliding lariat. A crazy sequence ended with Ospreay taking a flip bump off a lariat after missing on a Stormbreaker attempt.
BUSHI tagged in and hit Ospreay with a tope suicida and a DDT. Ospreay hit a handspring kick. Shingo and BUSHI hit tandem offense. BUSHI hit a back stabber for a two count. All four jumped in as the match worked towards the finish. Ospreay hit two Oscutters to Shingo.
BUSHI avoided a Stormbreaker and a Tour of the Islands. Ospreay hit a pop-up powerbomb, but Shingo saved for BUSHI. Cobb hit the Tour of the Islands on Shingo.
Ospreay hit the Chelsea Grin and the Stormbreaker on BUSHI for the pin.
SANADA defeated Aaron Henare (w/Will Ospreay) (23:28)
The last five minutes of this were excellent, but there were long stretches early on where this was quite dull. Henare is still learning how to have long singles matches and I don’t see SANADA as a guy who can carry just anyone.
Henare attacked as SANADA made his ring entrance. Henare sent SANADA into the barricade. Back inside, Henare focused on attacking the left leg. Henare used a heel hook. SANADA rolled to the ropes to force a break.
SANADA came back with a dropkick to Henare’s left leg. SANADA hit a leapfrog dropkick and a plancha. Ospreay teased getting involved on the outside, but held back. Back in, SANADA missed a springboard attack. Henare hit some stiff mid kicks at the ten minute mark. Henare missed a mid kick, but connected on a blue thunder bomb for a two count.
SANADA blocked a tackle. Henare escaped a TKO attempt. SANADA took his Ray Stevens bump over the corner pad and hit a springboard dropkick. SANADA hit a back suplex for a two count. He followed with a magic screw for another near fall.
SANADA missed a moonsault press, but that led to nothing. SANADA used a spinning Skull End. Henare reversed into his own submission hold, but SANADA forced a rope break. SANADA fought off a superplex attempt.
Henare rolled through on a crossbody attempt and hit a fall away slam. Henare hit a rugby tackle for a two count. SANADA fought out of a Streets of Rage attempt. Henare reversed Skull End into his own Skull End. SANADA fought out of another finisher attempt and used Skull End to set up an O’Connor roll, then used that to set up Skull End again.
Here’s the logic flaw in every SANADA match. In most cases he is about to win with Skull End, then gives up the hold to try a moonsault. He did it again here. He had Skull End, they did a long submission tease, then he gave up the hold and missed the moonsault.
They traded strikes. Henare hit a headbutt and tried Streets of Rage. SANADA escaped and hit a Tiger Suplex. Henare kicked out at one.
SANADA hit a TKO, then hit two moonsaults for the pin.
Tetsuya Naito defeated Great-O-Khan (w/Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb) (27:05)
I don’t think this was as good as their last singles match. I saw that one as a one-man show, with Naito carrying O-Khan. Naito was not as good here, so the match was not as good.
They teased locking up for so long that it became comedy. They finally tied up. O-Khan broke cleanly against the ropes. O-Khan went to the mat and dared Naito to grapple with him. They had a lengthy sequence on the ground. O-Khan was firmly in control of the grappling.
Naito came back with an enzuigiri, then used O-Khan’s hair as he set up a camel clutch. O-Khan rolled outside. Naito again used the hair on the floor. O-Khan sent Naito into the barricade, then hit a throw on the floor.
O-Khan again used the barricade. Naito got hung up on the barricade and went into complete SummerSlam 2005 Shawn Michaels mode as he sold a near-countout. Back in, O-Khan sat on Naito’s head on the turnbuckle.
Naito came back with an inverted atomic drop and a neckbreaker. Naito hit a basement dropkick and combinacion cabron for a near fall. Naito used a crucifix hold, but O-Khan forced a break. O-Khan blocked a Destino and hit a throw.
O-Khan hit Mongolian chops before hanging Naito up in the corner. He hit a sliding dropkick with Naito tied to the tree of woe. O-Khan covered for a near fall. Naito hit a one-legged dropkick and a draping neckbreaker.
Naito hit a top rope frankensteiner for a two count. O-Khan hit a couple of throws. O-Khan hit a reverse suplex for a two count. Naito answered with a tornado DDT. Naito began going after O-Khan’s neck with elbows to set up for Destino at the 20 minute call.
Naito hit Esperanza for a near fall. Naito hit Destino, but O-Khan kicked out. Naito hit an enzuigiri. O-Khan came back with a lariat. Naito fired off some strikes. O-Khan tried to answer, but his strikes were clearly weaker.
O-Khan blocked a flying forearm and hit a slam. O-Khan fired up and hit a pump kick for a two count. O-Khan used a standing head and arm choke, but gave up the hold and hit a back breaker. He went back to the choke at the 25 minute mark. O-Khan hit a TTD, but Naito kicked out.
O-Khan went for the Eliminator, but Naito reversed into a Destino. O-Khan kicked out.
Naito hit a third Destino for the pin.
Naito closed the show with a promo.
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Here are the lineups for the next events:
NJPW Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni night one, Wednesday, April 28, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
NJPW Wrestling Satsuma no Kuni night two, Thursday, April 29, 2 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World —
