More names have been added to the 2019 Super J-Cup that takes place later this month.
New Japan Pro Wrestling announced this evening that YOH, BUSHI and Amazing Red will be taking part in the tournament. This would be Amazing Red’s first time wrestling for the promotion. He originally retired back in March, citing severe neck injuries.
Red, BUSHI and YOH join TJP, SHO, CMLL’s Caristico, Ryusuke Taguchi and Taiji Ishimori as participants in this year’s tournament. Overall, there will be sixteen participants, including wrestlers from NJPW, CMLL, and Ring of Honor. Will Ospreay and El Phantasmo have also been featured on advertising, though they have yet to be announced for the tournament.
The first round of the Super J-Cup will take place at the Temple Theater in Tacoma, Washington on August 22. The next round takes place at the San Francisco State University Student Life Event Center on August 24 in San Francisco. The finals will take place on August 25 at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California.
The NJPW Kizuna Road tour rolled into Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall today.
The show saw a title change in the main event, but that was secondary to the real draw of the event — the announcement of the G1 Climax 29 field.
Here are full results and match recaps:
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YOTA TSUJI DEFEATED YUYA UEMURA
These two continue to trade wins and go to time limit draws. Their series now stands at four wins for Tsuji, three for Uemura, and 21 draws.
After an early mat wrestling sequence, Tsuji used a shoulder tackle to take over. He demonstrated his power edge until Uemura came back with a dropkick. Uemura hit a second dropkick in the corner.
They traded strikes in the center of the ring until Tsuji landed his own dropkick. Tsuji hit a powerslam, but Uemura kicked out of the ensuing cover. Tsuji went for a full crab, but Uemura turned it into a cradle for a two count.
Tsuji got the crab applied on his second attempt. Uemura battled to reach the ropes, but ultimately could not, and Tsuji got the submission. A solid opener.
Suzuki-gun used an attack before the bell to establish the early advantage. Narita made a quick comeback, landing a pescado. Kanemaru jumped Narita on the floor and hit him with a guillotine leg slice over the barricade.
While Kanemaru and DOUKI worked over Narita inside the ring, Taichi choked Ishii with a camera cable on the floor. DOUKI landed a double stomp. Narita made another comeback, hitting a knee lift and a dropkick.
Honma tagged in. He was cut off on his first kokeshi attempt, but hit one on Taichi. Honma hit a diving kokeshi on Kanemaru, and Ishii and Taichi received tags.
Taichi hit Ishii with a series of short kicks. Ishii fired up and hit a series of chops. Taichi raked the eyes, but Ishii countered with a shoulder tackle. Ishii ducked a buzzsaw, and Taichi kicked away an attempted lariat. Ishii hit a back suplex, into a double down.
Narita tagged in. Taichi blocked a belly-to-belly. DOUKI jumped in, and Narita hit him with a belly-to-belly. Narita tried for a leg lace on Taichi, but Kanemaru made the save. Taichi removed his pants. Narita used a cradle and a backslide for a pair of near falls.
Taichi hit an axe bomber for a two count, then pinned Narita with a superkick. They worked at a brisk pace, and the match was good.
RYUSUKE TAGUCHI, JUICE ROBINSON & MIKEY NICHOLLS DEFEATED TAMA TONGA, TANGA LOA & JADO
They are establishing Juice and Nicholls as future opponents for Tonga and Loa, so the booking here made sense.
Bullet Club attacked before the bell. Tonga and Loa hit Juice with some tandem offense. Tonga missed a splash into the corner, and Nicholls jumped in to aid Juice in hitting their own tandem offense.
Taguchi got a tag, but quickly found his ass being worked over. Tonga and Loa took the referee, enabling Jado to jump in and nail Taguchi with a kendo stick. Taguchi continued to sell his ass as G.O.D. worked it over with kicks and headbutts.
Jado pulled Taguchi’s tights down and threatened to use the kendo stick again, but Juice jumped in to make the save. Juice ran wild with jabs, and Nicholls hit a pescado. Taguchi continued to work the rest of the match with his tights down in the back.
Taguchi and Jado traded cradles. Taguchi used an ankle lock, and Jado tapped out. A total comedy match. The live crowd loved it.
TETSUYA NAITO, SHINGO TAKAGI, EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI DEFEATED KOTA IBUSHI, YUJI NAGATA, JUSHIN LIGER, TIGER MASK & SHOTA UMINO
BUSHI and Tiger started off. Tiger landed a series of kicks, then tagged Liger. A brawl broke out around ringside, while BUSHI used a kick to the face to gain the advantage on Liger. On the outside, Naito went after Ibushi’s eye, which was injured in their match last weekend.
EVIL and SANADA continued to work over Liger. SANADA applied the Paradise Lock over the ropes. Liger hit a backbreaker and a lariat to BUSHI, then tagged Nagata. Nagata looked great here. Naito got a tag, and Nagata absolutely went crazy on him. He hit an exploder, then used a Nagata Lock.
Ibushi got a tag and continued the work on Naito that Nagata started. Ibushi hit a missile dropkick, and a plancha. Naito came up from the floor with a bloody mouth. This interaction was mild and safe by their standards.
Umino and Shingo tagged in. Umino hit a missile dropkick and used a cross armbreaker, but Shingo rolled to the ropes for a break. Shingo sold a lot for Umino. LIJ went five-on-one against Umino. Umino’s team jumped in for the save.
The match broke down, leaving Shingo and Umino in the ring. Shingo hit a noshigami for a nearfall, then hit a Pumping Bomber to pick up the pin.
LIJ posed together in the ring after the match. Naito’s mouth was a complete mess. EVIL refused to join in the group celebration. This wasn’t so much a breakup angle as it was a reminder that G1 is coming, and it’s every man for himself.
Yujiro returned here after a long absence due to an eye injury.
Makabe worked over Yujiro and Owens. Yano got a tag and immediately untied a corner pad. He was, of course, whipped into the exposed buckle.
After a lengthy beatdown on Yano, White and Tana got tags. White hit a flatliner and a deadlift German, but Tanahashi came back with a Twist and Shout, into a double down. Makabe and Yujiro got tags. Yujiro hit a fisherman buster, then tagged Owens.
Owens hit a Final Cut for a near fall. He teased a package piledriver, but Makabe escaped and hit a lariat. Makabe went up top for a knee drop, but Yujiro cut him off.
The match broke down. Yano sent Yujiro into the exposed buckle. White sent Yano and Tana into the exposed buckle. White hit a Saito suplex on Tana.
The finish saw Owens use a schoolboy on Makabe. He held the tights and got the upset.
MINORU SUZUKI, LANCE ARCHER & ZACK SABRE JR. DEFEATED KAZUCHIKA OKADA, YOSHI-HASHI & TOA HENARE
They had to establish a lot in a short period of time with the booking of this match.
YOSHI-HASHI is challenging for Sabre’s RPW British Heavyweight title on June 29, so the focus was put on them at the outset. They also started a storyline that Suzuki has become unhinged after being left out of the G1. For good measure, they also tried to get over the iron claw as a submission hold for Archer.
YH held his own early on. He landed a big chop. Sabre had enough at that point, got a takedown, and went to work on YH’s legs. He dropped him leg-first over the barricade. Suzuki, meanwhile, went after Okada with a chair. They put over on commentary that Suzuki was upset at being left out of the G1 and was taking it out on the champ.
Okada got the hot tag, and Suzuki tagged in as well. Okada hit a back elbow and used a DDT for a nearfall. Okada hit a slam and started to climb to the top for an elbow. Suzuki no-sold the slam, then attacked Okada from behind.
Suzuki shoved the referee down, then hit Okada with a PK. They exchanged forearm strikes. Suzuki stayed up, while Okada collapsed to the mat. Suzuki applied a kimura, but Okada rolled to the ropes. Suzuki threw Red Shoes out of the ring and maintained the kimura.
Suzuki held Okada in the kimura in the ropes forever, but the ref didn’t call for a DQ. Archer didn’t want to get disqualified, so he tagged himself in. Okada hit him with a dropkick, then dropkicked Suzuki off the apron, before tagging Henare.
The match broke down. Suzuki held Okada in a rear naked choke, while Sabre tied YH up. Archer hit the Blackout on Henare. He made a cover, but pulled Henare up after a two count. Archer then used the iron claw to submit Henare.
Suzuki cut a promo after the match. He demanded to be put in the G1 field. He said the people want to see him in the G1, and he demanded that New Japan give him a match to win his way into the field.
IWGP JR. HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: EL PHANTASMO & TAIJI ISHIMORI DEFEATED SHO & YOH TO WIN THE TITLES
YOH and Ishimori started off with a nice sequence. ELP tried to jump in, but he got sent outside. YOH hit a dive and came up bleeding from the neck. SHO tried to out-wrestle Ishimori, but Ishimori got the upper hand. He hit a series of chops, and he and ELP went to work on SHO.
ELP used a series of back rakes. Ishimori hit double knees in the corner. ELP tied SHO to the tree of woe. SHO managed to escape. He landed a suplex to Ishimori, then tagged YOH. YOH hit a dragon screw. He teased a second, but Ishimori jumped in illegally, cutting him off.
ELP and Ishimori worked YOH over in their half of the ring. Ishimori hit a sliding German. YOH tried to tag SHO, but Ishimori pulled him from the apron, and the extended beatdown on YOH continued.
YOH hit a double dropkick, then suplexed Ishimori. SHO got a hot tag. He hit a series of lariats, then a double spear. Ishimori rolled through on a suplex attempt. He tried to hit a foot stomp, but the timing was off. Ishimori hit a handspring kick. Ishimori blocked a right-armed lariat, but SHO connected with his left arm.
SHO hit another lariat, and Ishimori took a flip bump. SHO went for Shock Arrow, but Ishimori blocked. Ishimori teased the Bloody Cross, but SHO blocked. Ishimori hit a double stomp — and both tagged out.
They traded quick cradles. YOH hit a Final Cut for a near fall. YOH teased hitting a dragon suplex off the top, but ELP slid out and hit a powerbomb. ELP hit a splash off the top for a two count. ELP missed a moonsault, and YOH rolled into a Calf Crusher. Simultaneously, SHO used a cross armbreaker on Ishimori. ELP reached the ropes.
YOH used SHO as a launch pad to hit a back elbow in the corner. They tried for the 3K, but ELP hit a DDT. Ishimori took the referee and slid ELP his title belt. ELP hit YOH with the belt, then used an airplane spin for a nearfall.
ELP tried for the CR2, but SHO made the save. SHO and YOH hit a tandem facebuster, then followed with the 3K. YOH covered, but Ishimori jumped in at the last second to make the save.
SHO hit a jumping knee on Ishimori, then hit a flip dive through the second rope to the floor. YOH hit a bridging German on ELP for a near fall.
SHO hit a backstabber. Ishimori jumped in and threw SHO into the referee. ELP hit a low blow on SHO. Ishimori hit a lungblower on YOH. ELP then used the CR2 on YOH. He got the pin — and the titles.
ELP and Ishimori continued to attack after the bell. Taguchi ran in for the save. ELP promised to win the NEVER Six-Man titles from Taguchi tomorrow, then to beat him again later in the tour to retain the British Cruiserweight belt.
Taguchi grabbed the mic and called SHO and YOH back to the ring to close the show with a promo.
Everyone gave a great effort, but the crowd was quiet for a Korakuen main event.
Night six of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament took place today, once again in Yamagata. While the main event featured Ryusuke Taguchi and BUSHI, the real stars of the show tonight were Will Ospreay and YOH, who had an epic match in the co-main event.
Prelim bouts:
Jonathan Gresham, Shota Umino and Yuya Uemura and defeated SHO, Titan and Yota Tsuji
Umino pinned Tsuji with a fisherman’s suplex.
Juice Robinson and Tiger Mask defeated Dragon Lee and Toa Henare
Robinson pinned Henare with the Pulp Friction.
Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Taka Michinoku defeated Taiji Ishimori, Gedo and Jado
Taichi pinned Jado after a superkick.
Tetsuya Naito and Shingo Takagi defeated Marty Scurll and Brody King
Naito pinned King with the Destino.
B Block results:
Rocky Romero defeated Ren Narita
Chain wrestling starts us off. Romero applies a surfboard, but Narita counters with a cover. Romero then starts targeting the arm, sinking in a double wrist lock until Narita makes it to the ropes.
Narita captures Romero in a backslide then counters Romero’s la magistral cradle with a pin of his own. Narita overpowers Romero then applies the cloverleaf. They start striking one another with stiff shots as Narita lays out Romero with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex.
Romero soon takes down Narita and goes for an arm. Narita gets a cradle, but Romero kicks out, extends the arm and Narita has to tap. A very good match with lots of fun near falls.
Bandido defeated DOUKI
DOUKI charged before the bell, but Bandido countered, sent DOUKI to the floor and leveled him with a tope con hilo on the outside. DOUKI regains control in the ring, but Bandido cuts him off with a tornillo and a headscissors that takes DOUKI out of the ring. Another tope con hilo sends them both crashing to the floor.
Bandido went for the twenty one plex but DOUKI blocked it and ended up laying him out. He dived off the apron over the top rope but Bandido blocked him and hit a knee. He took down DOUKI with a headscissor armbreaker, but he made the ropes.
DOUKI came back with a slingshot DDT but Bandido kicked out. DOUKI tried to follow with a wheelbarrow suplex but DOUKI countered with a reverse code red. Sensing the momentum, Bandido hit another knee with DOUKI on his shoulders then hit the twenty one plex for the win. A great match filled with some big, crazy spots. These two had great chemistry with one another and may have been DOUKI’s best match so far on the tour.
El Phantasmo defeated Robbie Eagles
With both being Bullet Club members, things started off slow, with both respecting one another. ELP bailed to the outside at one point and started harassing Kevin Kelly at ringside. Eagles asked ELP to take it to the ring and wrestle. ELP agreed, but then jumped Eagles from behind, posting him.
ELP gains control in the ring where he puts Eagles in a tree of woe position. He jams his foot into Eagles’ netheregions, but Eagles counters back with a spider German suplex. He went for a sliced bread, but ELP cut him off and landed an airplane spin.
They trade nearfalls as Eagles starts to come back with some stiff kicks. He hits a poison rana then a 450 splash, but ELP kicks out. ELP takes out Eagles with a superkick then pins him following the CR2. Definitely a good match on a technical level, but the crowd was largely unresponsive for it.
The two make up after the match, giving the two sweet sign.
Will Ospreay defeated YOH
Ospreay and YOH did some back and forth to start things off. He showed some good fire as he monkey flipped Ospreay to the floor then slingshotted himself to the floor.
Back the ring, Ospreay dominated as YOH started to fight back, hitting a dragon screw. YOH hit another that send Ospreay off the apron and to the floor. YOH hit the tope con hilo, sending them both to the floor once again.
They start exchanging strikes back in the ring as Ospreay starts to favor one of his legs. He hits a running dropkick then a reverse DDT. He goes for the Stormbreaker, but YOH starts to fight back, applying a calf crusher to break his momentum. He targets the leg as Ospreay kicks him and lands on the apron, following up with a forearm off the top rope.
Ospreay hits a shooting star press but YOH bridges out. Ospreay hits a giant sitout powerbomb YOH counters again, this time draping Ospreay and slamming him down, but still only gets a two count. They make it to the top rope where both try to take one another out. Ospreay slides out and hits the cheeky nandos kick. He goes to the top rope again, but YOH escapes the shooting star press attempt, with Ospreay crashing down on his bad leg.
YOH seizes the opportunity by grabbing Ospreay and for the calf crusher. Ospreay desperately looks for a way out, and he does, getting a the break. Ospreay went for the ozcutter but YOH countered with a German suplex. YOH went for the dragon next, but Ospreay dodged it and hit YOH square in the temple. YOH countered with a superkick that sent them both down.
YOH hit an overhead suplex into the turnbuckle, then goes for another dragon suplex attempt. Ospreay comes back with a standing spanish fly then finally hits the stormbreaker for the win after the 20 minute mark. A really damn great match, one of the best of the tournament so far. So many great near fall spots, the legwork was well done and there were some great spots where you thought YOH had a chance.
Ryusuke Taguchi defeated BUSHI
They start off simple enough. Taguchi did comedy early, hitting the ropes over and over. BUSHI, get this, slapped him on the butt on the outside for heat. Taguchi came back with a hip toss that sent BUSHI to the floor.
Taguchi launched off with a hip toss that took out BUSHI and held him against the ropes with his posterior. Taguchi missed a dive to the floor as BUSHI rolled himself back in. BUSHI followed through with a suicide dive
Taguchi countered briefly back in the ring, but BUSHI cut him off with a DDT through the apron. Taguchi, however, countered the MX with a hip toss. BUSHI countered the dodon but fell into a ankle lock attempt. BUSHI escapes, but Taguchi knocks down the ref in the process.
BUSHI uses the opportunity to mist Taguchi then hit the rewind kick. He went for the MX again, but Taguchi grabs one of his legs for the ankle lock. He uses that to sink BUSHI into the dodon. When BUSHI kicks out, Taguchi takes him down and finally submits him for the win. This was pretty good, but paled in comparison to the co-main.
B Block action began today in the 26th Best of the Super Juniors tournament, with NJPW running their second consecutive night in Miyagi.
The Sendai Sunplaza Hall hosted a solid night of action. Nothing on night two could touch the Shingo Takagi vs. SHO battle from night one, but the card as a whole delivered more than you likely expected at first glance.
YOH found himself in the main event the night after his tag team partner stole the show. YOH is perhaps better than SHO in the ring, but lacks a certain charisma or intangible that his partner has. That’s a real shame, because he really is something special as a worker.
Here are full results and recaps from Tuesday’s show:
TAKA MICHINOKU, YOSHINOBU KANEMARU & TAICHI DEFEATED JONATHAN GRESHAM, TIGER MASK IV & YOTA TSUJI
Gresham and TAKA started the show with some mat work. The Suzuki-gun squad went to work on Gresham’s left hand. Gresham made his own comeback, hitting Kanemaru with a cutter before tagging in Tiger.
Tiger hit a high cross, but was immediately cut off. He also made his own comeback and hit a Tiger Driver. Tsuji and Taichi tagged in. Tsuji hit a powerslam. He went for a crab, but Taichi fought him off.
Taichi took his pants off, and Tsuji rolled him up for a near fall. Taichi put on a stretch plum, and Tsuji tapped out.
After the bell, Kanemaru ripped off Tiger’s mask, while Taichi and TAKA held Tsuji and Gresham in submission holds. The match never got out of first gear and was not as good as most NJPW openers.
DRAGON LEE & JUICE ROBINSON DEFEATED SHO & SHOTA UMINO
SHO and Lee began, trading holds. SHO had his left shoulder taped up. Umino and Juice tagged in, and Umino aggressively went after Juice. Juice cut him off, then hit a cannonball and a senton.
Juice and Lee isolated Umino in their corner and focused their attack on his left arm. Umino escaped a double ax handle, pushing Lee in the way. He managed to tag SHO, and SHO and Lee traded strikes.
Lee and SHO exchanged big knee strikes. SHO landed on his feet out of a snap German, then hit a lariat. Both made tags. Juice missed a senton on Umino, who followed up with a back elbow. Umino ducked the Left Hand of God and hit a vertical suplex.
Juice hit a flapjack and made a cover, but SHO broke up the pinfall. SHO and Lee fought to the floor. Juice hit a lariat for a near fall, then used a Tenzan-style crab for the submission.
Lee and SHO continued to brawl after the bell, and their fight spilled into the crowd. They were finally pulled apart, with neither gaining a clear advantage. Good intensity between Lee and SHO throughout here, but just an average match.
MARTY SCURLL & BRODY KING DEFEATED TAIJI ISHIMORI & GEDO
Scurll and Ishimori started out with an intricate sequence, while King and Gedo brawled on the outside. Scurll was getting the best of the exchange — until Gedo jumped in to choke him with a towel, cutting him off.
Ishimori and Gedo worked like a totally old school heel tag team here. They used eye rakes, kept Scurll isolated in their corner, cheated behind the ref’s back, all building anticipation for the big tag to King.
King never got a legal tag, but he jumped in and ran wild. He hit a springboard double arm drag and a double senton, allowing Scurll time to recover. Scurll hit Black Plague on Gedo for the pin. A fun little match.
TETSUYA NAITO & SHINGO TAKAGI DEFEATED TITAN & TOA HENARE
Titan hit a springboard arm drag on Shingo, who rolled outside. Shingo grabbed a chair, but didn’t use it. Henare and Naito made tags. Naito and Shingo tried to double up on Henare. Henare got some shine briefly, but was quickly cut off.
Naito and Shingo worked Henare over. Henare blocked a neckbreaker from Naito, and both tagged out. Shingo and Titan went back and forth, then Shingo hit a DVD into a double down.
Naito and Henare tagged back in, and Shingo jumped in for an assist. Naito hit some trademark spots, including the combinacion de cabron and a one-legged dropkick. Shingo and Titan brawled on the outside, while Naito hit a flying forearm and a Destino on Henare to win the match. This was quick.
B BLOCK MATCH: DOUKI DEFEATED REN NARITA
Narita showed off some impressive amateur moves, out-wrestling Douki early on. Douki low-bridged Narita to the floor, then used a chair shot to take control of the match.
Douki hit a double stomp and methodically worked over Narita. Narita went for a double underhook belly-to-belly, but Douki blocked it and applied a modified triangle choke. Narita reached the bottom rope with his feet, forcing a break.
Narita hit a perfect dropkick. He followed with a pair of shoulder tackles and hit a vertical suplex for a two count. Narita used a modified Scorpion Deathlock, but Douki reached the ropes. Narita hit a big belly-to-belly, but could not bridge out of it. He covered, but Douki kicked out at two.
Douki hit a lariat. Narita used a roll-up and an inside cradle for two near falls. Douki hit a sloppy springboard DDT, then used his Suplex de La Luna for the pin.
After the match, Douki attacked Narita with a pipe. Narita was impressive in defeat. We obviously have a very small sample size, but Douki has not been impressive so far.
B BLOCK MATCH: ROBBIE EAGLES DEFEATED ROCKY ROMERO
They came out firing strikes. Rocky hit a headscissors, and Eagles rolled outside. Rocky teased a dive, but slid out to the floor while Eagles jumped back in. Eagles went for a suicide dive, but Rocky hit him with a dropkick.
Back in the ring, Rocky used an octopus hold, then hit a dropkick. Eagles went after Rocky’s left leg. He went for a figure four, but Rocky kicked him off. Eagles hit a chop block, then a lariat to the back of the head for a two count.
Eagles continued to target the left leg with kicks. He hit a bridging fall-away slam for a two count. Eagles hit double knees in the corner, a 619 to the legs, then again hit double knees in the corner for a near fall.
Rocky caught a kick and hit a slap to the face. He followed with a tornado DDT. Rocky hit a series of chops, then used a flying bodyscissors to transition to an armbar. Eagles reached the ropes, forcing a break.
They exchanged kicks. Rocky hit his forever clotheslines, but his knee gave out, allowing Eagles to hit a springboard dropkick to the leg. Eagles used a Ron Miller Special submission, but Rocky made it to the ropes.
Eagles hit an enzuigiri, then used a Pulse Drop for a near fall. Rocky flipped out of a backpack stunner, and used a magistral cradle for a two count. Eagles bridged out of another cover. Rocky hit a standing Sliced Bread for a near fall.
Rocky hit a rewind kick. Eagles caught another kick, and he used a backpack stunner for a two count. Eagles hit a 450 to Rocky’s leg, then used the Ron Miller for the submission. Good match.
B BLOCK MATCH: EL PHANTASMO DEFEATED BANDIDO
They used a really nice opening sequence, ending with both kipping up out of handstands. They used a series of monkey flips and bridges to transition in and out of covers. Bandido got sent outside, and Phantasmo hit a suicide dive, landing in the front row.
Back in the ring, Bandido avoided a charge in the corner. He went for a gorilla press slam, but Phantasmo escaped. Bandido hit a flying headscissors, sending Phantasmo to the floor. Bandido hit a big tope con hilo, then sent Phantasmo back inside.
Bandido went for a springboard crossbody, but Phantasmo hit a dropkick. Phantasmo used an airplane spin neckbreaker out of a torture rack position. They traded Canadian Destroyers, then both collapsed. Phantasmo ended up bleeding from the mouth.
They traded chops, then exchanged strikes. Bandido hit a pop-up cutter for a two count. He used an inverted suplex, then a running knee strike, earning a near fall. Bandido went up top, but Phantasmo cut him off with an enzuigiri. Phantasmo hit a top rope rana, then used a frog splash for a near fall.
Phantasmo used a rope walk, halfway around the ring. Bandido hit a moonsault press for a two count. Phantasmo pulled the referee in Bandido’s way, then hit a thumb to the eye. He then used a modified facebuster to pick up the pin. A good match with some cool moves, but not a blow-away outing.
B BLOCK MATCH: WILL OSPREAY DEFEATED BUSHI
A hot opening sequence ended with BUSHI hitting a flying headscissors over the top to the floor. He continued his attack on Ospreay’s neck with a chair shot. Back inside, BUSHI hit some chops, then used a neckbreaker.
Ospreay came back with a series of chops. BUSHI grounded Ospreay with an STF, and Ospreay forced a break. Ospreay removed BUSHI’s shirt and hit some chops. BUSHI used the shirt to choke Ospreay, but Ospreay responded with a handspring kick.
Ospreay hit a 619, then a dropkick in the corner. Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio, but BUSHI kicked out at two. BUSHI hit a missile dropkick. After a nice series of teases and counters, BUSHI finally hit a swinging neckbreaker.
Ospreay hit a step-up enzuigiri. They traded strikes. Ospreay hit a sit-out powerbomb for a two count. BUSHI avoided an OsCutter, and hit a codebreaker for a near fall. BUSHI went to the second rope for an MX, but Ospreay cut him off.
Ospreay flipped out of a top rope rana, landing on his feet. He followed with a standing Spanish Fly for a two count. Ospreay went for a Storm Breaker, but BUSHI flipped to the apron. BUSHI hit a draping DDT, dropping Ospreay on the apron. They teased a countout, but Ospreay made it back inside at 19.
BUSHI hit a backstabber for a near fall. He went for an MX, but Ospreay caught him with a dropkick. Ospreay hit a Robinson Special, then an inverted Bloody Sunday DDT. He went for an OsCutter, but BUSHI blocked it. Ospreay dodged BUSHI’s black mist, then hit the Hidden Blade. Ospreay then hit a Storm Breaker for the pin. Again, a very good match, but not a great one.
B BLOCK MATCH: RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED YOH
They did a nice series of dropdown spots, ending with Taguchi avoiding a low dropkick. Taguchi hit a hip attack. YOH blocked a second with an atomic drop. Taguchi rolled to the ropes, then crotched himself on the bottom rope.
YOH used the Paradise Lock, then broke it with a dropkick. Taguchi rolled to the floor, and YOH hit a rolling senton off the apron. Back inside, YOH used an elbow drop, a knee drop, and a double stomp for three quick near falls.
YOH hit a dragon screw, then continued to attack Taguchi’s legs, as the pace slowed. Taguchi hit a springboard hip attack, rolled through a sunset flip, and hit a springboard plancha. Taguchi hit a hip attack off the apron, sending YOH into the front row.
Back inside, Taguchi went for his rolling suplexes. YOH blocked the third, and he used an inside cradle for a two count. YOH hit a neckbreaker, then a flying forearm. YOH fought for a dragon suplex, but had to settle for a gutwrench German for a near fall.
YOH went for a superplex. Taguchi fought him off, then hit a second rope hip attack. Taguchi went for a Bomaye, but YOH rolled through into a half crab. That was awesome. YOH again focused on attacking the legs, using a figure four. Taguchi reversed the hold, then reached the ropes.
They traded cradles for near falls. Taguchi went for Dodon, but YOH rolled through. Taguchi got two quick near falls. Taguchi hit an enzuigiri, then YOH hit a thrust kick into a double down. They got back to their feet, and exchanged strikes.
YOH ate a hip attack. He attempted to full himself up by the bottom rope but Taguchi caught him coming in. Taguchi used an ankle lock to set up a Tiger Suplex for a near fall. YOH went for an enzuigiri, but Taguchi caught him. Taguchi hit Dodon for a near fall. Taguchi then hit a modified Dodon for the pin.
NJPW was at Korakuen Hall today for another Road to Wrestling Dontaku event. Kazuchika Okada and YOH teamed up in the main event to battle future opponent SANADA and BUSHI in the main event.
The participants for this year’s Best of the Super Juniors tournament was also announced, and you can check out that information here.
Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata and Toa Henare defeated Yota Tsuji, Yuya Uemura and Shota Umino
Tsuji was highlighted during parts of the match, attacking Kojima before the match started. He got in some shine against Nagata, as did Umino. Henare cut off Uemura with a giant headbutt and suplex. He then scored the win following the uranage, which he calls the Toa Bottom. Fine opener.
Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask and Ren Narita
Suzuki zoned in on Liger, since they will be squaring off in another tag match tomorrow as part of Liger’s 30th anniversary under the gimmick. A solid match, not much more. Suzuki wore him down with a half crab. Narita kicked out of an assisted spear by Desperado, but fell to the angel’s wings.
Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi and Taka Michinoku defeated Tomoaki Honma, YOSHI-HASHI and Rocky Romero
Same structure as the other matches. Story was that Romero, as a result of the Ibushi/Naito storyline, was shuffled to teaming without his CHAOS teammates. He and Taichi were at it near the end, with Taichi eventually cutting him off and submitting him with a new neck crank submission.
Sabre attacked YOSHI-HASHI after the match, taking his arm, then took down the young boys that tried to stop him. That could be a future program.
Juice Robinson, Mikey Nicholls, Toru Yano and Togi Makabe defeated Guerillas of Destiny, Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens
The commentators pushed there was some dissension between Jado and Tama Tonga on social media. They argued in the ring, but then Jado attacked their opponents with kendo sticks, so it was pretty much just a swerve.
Yano immediately took out one of the turnbuckles. Heels were in control but Juice made the same for his team as the crowd came alive. Owens tried for the package piledriver, but Nicholls cut him off. Robinson came in with a punch, then Nicholls pinned Owens with the Mikey bomb.
Hirooki Goto, Dragon Lee and Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Jay White, Taiji Ishimori and Hikuleo
Goto and Jay White were the highlights here as the two faced off during the match. Hikulelo also got some time to shine and is progressing well, After Goto sent White out, Hikuleo came in and ate the GTR, giving Goto the win.
Tetsuya Naito, EVIL and Shingo Takagi defeated Kota Ibushi, Tomohiro Ishii and SHO
Both EVIL and Naito worked on Ibushi for a good while. EVIL was working on Ibushi when Ishii came in and kicked him square in the back. EVIL responded by giving Ishii a punch that sent him to the floor. Ibushi finally tagged in Ishii who came in like a ball of fire against EVIL.
Takagi and SHO had a short sprint before Naito came in and have him a hurricanrana off the top rope. Everyone came in and did a big move. SHO hit his deadlift German suplex on Naito, but he kicked out. He went for the shock arrow, but Naito blocked in and Shingo came in for the assist.
Takagi laid out SHO with the pumping bomber, then Naito pinned him following the Destino. This was easily the best match of the night, a great six man tag with a hot crowd.
Kazuchika Okada and YOH defeated SANADA and BUSHI
A very good main event. YOH and BUSHI looked great here, as did Okada and BUSHI when they were in. They stepped it up and had a really fun match.
Juniors and heavys paired off early. BUSHI reddened YOH’s chest with hard slaps, it looked ugly. Okada and SANADA came in and did their part. SANADA put Okada in the paradise lock and dropkicked him.
BUSHI and Okada went at it on the outside, but SANADA catches Okada with the skull end. He escapes and counters by driving him and BUSHI over the guardrail with a kick. YOH, who was at the bleachers area in the crowd, jumped off with a tope con hilo that wiped everyone out.
YOH and BUSHI had another hot exchange toward the end before Okada laid out BUSHI with the dropkick and a tombstone. Okada sunk in the cobra clutch (which could play in a role in his upcoming match against SANADA), then hit the rainmaker for the win.
Both Okada and YOH cut promos to close out the show. YOH had to repeat his catchphrase several times for whatever reason.
After they were set up at the New Beginning in Osaka on Monday morning, New Japan Pro Wrestling has announced two title matches for this year’s anniversary show.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori will defend his title against Jushin Thunder Liger at the anniversary event, and SHO & YOH will challenge for Shingo Takagi & BUSHI’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight titles.
Ishimori called out Liger (who was on commentary) after retaining his title against Ryusuke Taguchi at the New Beginning in Osaka. Liger said he’d accept Ishimori’s challenge at any place or time.
SHO & YOH attacked Takagi & BUSHI and grabbed their title belts after Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Takagi & BUSHI) defeated Suzuki-gun (Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado) in a six-man tag match. Takagi & BUSHI took the belts back after both teams got on the microphone and set up their title match.
This year marks NJPW’s 47th anniversary. The anniversary show is taking place at Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo on Wednesday, March 6 and will air live on New Japan World.
From the Odeum in Chicago, Illinois, this was episode #351 of Ring of Honor television. Colt Cabana and Ian Riccaboni called the action.
Flip Gordon defeated Jonathan Gresham
The match started with some impressive chain wrestling, and unsurprisingly, flips by each man. Gordon landed on his feet after a leg sweep and gave Gresham a “You can’t see me” hand wave. Gresham then attempted to hook up his version of the Octopus. A dropkick sent Gresham outside and Gordon launched himself onto him on the floor.
After the commercial, a strike exchange ensued for a very long time until Gordon hit an amazing back heel kick over his own shoulder and landed a Falcon Arrow. Gresham kicked out and managed a quick roll-up, but Gordon kicked out and then landed a Star Spangled Stunner for the win.
Bully Ray came to the ring and said his perspective of Gordon has changed because he has learned that Gordon is from Montana. Ray told a story about wanting to buy a ranch for his father in Montana, but his father had a heart attack and died before he bought it. Ray said that he respected Gordon in life because of his Montana roots as well as his time served in the Army.
Ray said that there was no heat anymore and asked for a handshake. He shook Gordon’s hand, gave him a salute, and then hit a low blow. Ray laughed and told Gordon that he is nothing but a stupid young boy.
A video package aired setting up the grudge match between Kelly Klein and Deonna Purrazzo.
A recap aired of last week’s main event of Austin Aries vs. Silas Young and Aries’ subsequent loss and meltdown involving his groin attacks of both head referee Todd Sinclair and former friend Kenny King.
Kelly Klein defeated Deonna Purrazzo
Purrazzo came to the ring in street fight gear — jeans and a T-shirt. She got the early jump on Klein, beat her down, and went to work on the arm.
After the break, Purrazzo remained in control and hit three German suplexes, then locked on an arm submission. It was all Purrazzo until Klein was able to counter and launch her into the ring post. Klein landed a fall-away slam from the second rope. Purrazzo got back to her feet and pushed Klein, who bumped into the referee.
Purrazzo landed a cutter, but no referee was there to count the pin. She hooked up the Fujiwara armbar, but Klein reversed it into a choke and Purrazzo tapped out immediately.
In a promo, Jay Lethal announced that his rubber match against KUSHIDA for Best in the World was now official.
Also in a promo, Dalton Castle said that Cody Rhodes and Marty Scurll should fear him at Best in the World because his internal fire rages like a furnace.
Caprice Coleman joined Cabana and Riccaboni on commentary for the main event.
ROH Tag Team Champions The Briscoes defeated Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh) to retain their titles
The Briscoes got a lot of heat on Yoh until Sho got the hot tag and ran wild. Sho hit three German suplexes on Mark Briscoe with a superkick assist by Yoh. The Briscoes got back in control after a lariat on Sho. The Briscoes hit some impressive double-team maneuvers, including a double football shoulder tackle and a Razor’s Edge into a cutter. They also hit a power plex elbow combo, but Sho kicked out.
Roppongi 3K fired up and made a comeback with double knees and double flip dives. They threw Mark back in the ring and landed their 3K finisher, but he kicked out. It looked like 3K was on the verge of winning until Jay Briscoe threw a chair into the ring for a distraction. Then Mark kicked Yoh below the belt and the Jay Driller finished it.
The result makes it official that The Briscoes will be defending the ROH Tag Team belts against The Young Bucks at Best in the World on June 29th.
The 25th Best of the Super Juniors tournament continued Thursday with Night Five’s A Block action, held at the Ukaru Chan Arena in Shiga. Here are the results.
Prelim Matches:
Shota Umino & KUSHIDA defeated Yota Tsuji & Ryusuke Taguchi when Umino tapped out Tsuji with a Boston Crab.
Chase Owens & Marty Scurll defeated Tomoyuki Oka & Chris Sabin when Owens pinned Oka after a Package Piledriver.
El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki defeated SHO & YOSHI-HASHI when Desperado pinned SHO afyer a low blow.
Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi defeated Toa Henare & Dragon Lee when Naito pinned Henare after a Destino.
A Block Matches:
Tiger Mask defeated BUSHI
This was mostly a one man show, as BUSHI worked incredibly hard to make sure that Tiger makes it to the end of this tournament in one piece. Tiger didn’t do much, but all of his key spots looked good.
BUSHI jumped Tiger as he tried to get into the ring, and hit a suicide dive. BUSHI grabbed a chair and choked Tiger with it in the aisle, and rammed him into the timekeeper’s table. He threw him into the ring, and continued to choke with the chair.
As BUSHI raised the chair to strike with it, the referee cut him off, allowing Tiger to fire up and hit some kicks. BUSHI was back in control before long, using a chinlock and a headscissors, working on Tiger’s neck.
BUSHI went for Tiger’s mask, then hit him with a guillotine legdrop off the top. He used an STF, but Tiger reached the ropes. He went for an attack of the ropes, but Tiger hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, and a cross armbreaker. BUSHI came back with a Meteora and a missile dropkick.
They brawled on the top rope, and Tiger missed a splash. BUSHI hit a Codebreaker for a nearfall. Tiger hit a double underhook suplex for a nearfall. He hit it a second time, but this time from the top rope, and followed with a Tiger Suplex for the pin.
Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated ACH
Kanemaru jumped ACH in the aisle during his entrance, and brawled around ringside, highlighting what appeared to be a sparse crowd. ACH had his left shoulder heaily taped. He went for a handspring attack n the ring, but his shoulder gave out. Problem is, he sold the wrong shoulder giving out. His selling was excellent through the rest of the match, which is why that minor momentary slip stood out.
Kanemaru continued working the shoulder, using stomps and an armbar. They brawled outside and teased a countout, but ACH made it back in. Ricky Steamboat is one of the best in-ring babyfaces ever, and he had a rule about not taking more than x number of moves in a row before getting in a hope spot, or else the audience dies. The only wrestler I see practicing that principle with any regularity is Sasha Banks. In a related note, ACH hit a back elbow and a splash, his first meaningful offense of the match, seven minutes in.
They did a cool criss-cross spot, that ended with ACH hitting a standing double footstomp. He hit a bridging suplex for a nearfall. They teased an Electric Chair, but Kanemaru raked the eyes and hit a DDT. They traded lariats, and ACH got a nearfall.
ACH hit a slingshot cutter for a nearfall, then tore off his shoulder wrap. He hit a matrix kick for a nearfall, but missed a 450. They teased a ref stoppage, which Kanemaru used as a distraction, spitting the whiskey mist and a brainbuster for a nearfall. He immediately followed with Deep Impact for the win.
They did a lot of good things, and the last several minutes were good. ACH exclusively selling for the first half of the match made it difficult to get into.
Flip Gordon defeated Taiji Ishimori
This was a good action match, but lacked the time to be truly memorable.
They worked at a crazy pace. Flip hit a moonsault off the post to the outside in the first big spot. Ishimori hit a seated senton, and cranked on Flip’s neck. He used a chinlock and a neck crank, continuing to work the neck.
Flip came back with a springbord dropkick and a suicide dive. He landed a flipping neckbreaker off the middle rope for a nearfall. Ishimori caught him going for a springboard move, and hit his sliding suplex. He hit a Shining Wizard for a nearfall.
Flip hit a knee strike and a Falcon Arrow for a nearfall. Flip missed a standing Shooting Star, and Ishimori locked in a crossface. Flip rolled through, and Ishimori slipped to a triangle, but Flip powered up and put him on the top rope, then kicked him off.
Flip went for a 450, but Ishimori got the knees up. He went for a suplex, but Flip turned it into an O’Connor Roll for the win.
Will Ospreay defeated YOH
They worked this as a babyface match at the outset, trading arm wringers, clean breaks, reversals, and dropkicks. Things changed a bit when YOH turned to a more strike-based offense, and Ospreay laid in some chops and uppercuts, as well as a 619.
They did a cool sequence that ended with YOH ducking a corner strike, and hitting a springboard footstomp to Will’s back. He hit a dropkick, and hit a superkick on a prone Ospreay. Ospreay went for an O’Connor Roll, but YOH rolled it into a Dragon Sleeper. Ospreay reached the ropes.
Ospreay sent YOH outside, and hit the Sasuke Special. He followed with a springboard forearm inside for a nearfall. Ospreay hit a step-up Enziguri and a standing Shooting Star for a nearfall, before both men collapsed to the mat, exhausted.
They traded strikes, and Will seemed to get the best of the exchange, but he stopped while running the ropes, and really sold the neck. YOH pounced, and hit a bridging suplex for a nearfall. He went for a Falcon Arrow, but Ospreay turned it into a cutter. He hit the Robinson Special, but YOH reversed an Oscutter attempt into an elbow strike.
They went up top. YOH slipped going for a superplex, but they somehow completed the spot without killing each other. YOH hit a Falcon Arrow for a great nearfall. Ospreay bridged into a pinning combination, but YOH kicked out, and hit a huge lariat, as Ospreay took a flip bump.
Ospreay hit a standing Spanish Fly for a nearfall, and immediately followed with the Storm Breaker for the pin.
This was an excellent athletic display, and the last few minutes are worth going out of your way to see.
