On Sunday, Yota Tsuji and EVIL both advanced from the quarterfinals. They will now face each other in the semifinals, which take place Monday morning. The winner of that match will then move on to the finals on March 20, where they will face the winner between Hirooki Goto and SANADA.
During Tsuji vs. Ren Narita, House of Torture members began to interfere towards the end of the match. Los Ingobernables de Japon ran out to even the score, allowing Tsuji to advance by rolling up Narita. HoT then jumped Tsuji, but Shingo Takagi got involved, kicking off the main event between Takagi and EVIL. Much like the previous match, HoT regularly interfered until EVIL hit Takagi with the Everything is Evil for the win.
The winner of the New Japan Cup usually challenges for the IWGP World Heavyweight title. SANADA won last year’s New Japan Cup and went on to defeat Kazuchika Okada the following month at Sakura Genesis to win the title.
The 2024 New Japan Cup continues today in Hyogo with the final opening round matches.
Yota Tsuji faces Jeff Cobb in the headline bout on today’s show.
Taichi takes on Ren Narita in the semi-main event.
El Phantasmo vs. Mikey Nicholls is today’s other tournament match.
The winner of today’s main event will face the winner of Phantasmo vs. Nicholls on March 15. The Taichi/Narita winner will face Zack Sabre Jr. on the March 15 show. Sabre is one of four wrestlers who received byes into round two.
The tournament will be whittled down to the final 16 competitors following today’s matches.
Five tag team matches round out today’s undercard, including a Los Ingobernables de Japon vs. United Empire eight-man bout, with LIJ’s Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI facing UE’s Great-O-Khan, TJP, Francesco Akira & Callum Newman.
The show streams live on NJPW World beginning at 2 a.m. Eastern time.
Bullet Club cheated, and the upcoming Goto/Owens match was teased throughout this match’s runtime.
The babyfaces spent quite a bit of time on top, but we’re cut off by tandem attacks. Most of the Bullet Club offense was focused on Honma. After prolonged isolation, KENTA trapped him in a pin with his feet on the ropes to steal the win.
Just 5 Guys (DOUKI, SANADA & Yuya Uemura) defeated CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) & Ryusuke Taguchi
Yano and Taguchi set the pace of this match from the beginning. After tons of chicanery, Ishii tagged in, leading to a competitive back and forth with DOUKI. Uemura then challenged Ishii, utilizing his arm drags to establish control.
Uemura and Ishii traded strikes in the center of the ring. Ishii overwhelmed Uemura, forcing a tag to SANADA and Taguchi. Taguchi, with Yano’s help, unloaded on SANADA, taking back control. Taguchi launched into a pinning spree, which backfired when SANADA caught him in one of his own. Taguchi failed to kick out, leaving J5G with the win.
Guerrillas Of Destiny (Hikuleo, Jado & Tanga Loa) defeated BULLET CLUB War Dogs (David Finlay, Gabe Kidd & Gedo)
The War Dogs started this match with a brawl. They cleared the ring of the babyfaces, establishing solid control. BC then worked to isolate Jado, keeping him away from his partners for minutes.
The eventual double tag led to a babyface rally. Loa gained quite a bit on Finlay. Once Finlay tagged out, the War Dogs hit the ring in an attempt to retake control, but he held them off on his own. Loa then hit Gedo with a knee strike to win the match.
El Desperado, Oleg Boltin, Shota Umino & YOH vs. House Of Torture (EVIL, Jack Perry, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi)
Before the match began, EVIL forced an announcer to call Jack Perry to the ring. Perry then replaced SHO in this match.
Unsurprisingly, this match opened with a HoT-initiated brawl. Oleg reversed momentum for his team in the ring before tagging out. Once Desperado established a more substantial lead, HoT rushed the ring, starting another brawl.
Once Umino tagged in, the match began to turn around for the babyfaces. HoT attempted to cheat their way back into control, but a match breakdown followed. The babyfaces maintained their lead through the chaos, leaving Umino free to unload on Yujiro. Umino locked in a crossface and held onto it through a distracted referee long enough to win the match.
Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito) defeated United Empire (Callum Newman, Francesco Akira, Great-O-Khan & TJP)
A full-fledged brawl kicked off this match. Once the match gained some order, UE had full control over Hiromu.
Eventually, Naito tagged in and beat down O-Khan (who had spit on him during UE’s control). Naito uloaded on O-Khan and his backup before returning the favor, spitting on O-Khan multiple times.
A double tag to Shingo and Newman led to an athletic back-and-forth. The match broke down once both men exhausted each other, and everyone else hit the ring. Shingo emerged from the chaos, standing tall. He then dropped Newman with a pumping bomber and Made in Japan to win the match.
New Japan Cup: El Phantasmo defeated Mikey Nicholls
This match opened with a pro-longed feeling-out sequence. The pair began to trade forearms, leaving the stronger Nicholls in the driver’s seat. Nicholls then tossed ELP to the floor, where he continued his attack. Back in the ring, Nicholls continued his advance, virtually uncontested.
Eventually, ELP landed a kick, which opened the door for a methodical rally. ELP landed a pair of springboards for a nearfall. When Nicholls attempted to reverse momentum, ELP caught him with a DDT and a moonsault to the floor.
Nicholls powered up, ending ELPs steak of offense with a lariat. He then hit ELP with a superplex and a sitting lariat. Once ELP kicked out, Nicholls climbed to the top and attempted a moonsault, but ELP rolled out of the way.
With Nicholls on the back foot, ELP caught him with a burning hammer. Instead of going for the cover, he hit Nicholls with sudden death; Nicholls kicked out. Nicholls then attempted a quick pin, leading to a back-and-forth. After multiple roll-throughs, ELP successfully pinned Nicholls.
ELP advances to round two.
New Japan Cup: Ren Narita defeated Taichi
This match was about as unenjoyable as a match could be. Calling this underbooked would be a massive understatement. There were probably ten ref bumps, twelve run-ins, and thirty fouls.
Narita and Yoshinobu Kanemaru attacked Taichi before the match could begin. Taichi held them off before throwing Kanemaru to the floor. Boltin Oleg then ran to the ring, grabbed Kanemaru, and carried him to the back.
Once the bell sounded, Narita launched an attack on the outside of the ring. Narita threw Taichi onto the floor seats before attacking him with a chair. Taichi was then forced to beat the referee’s count. In the ring, Narita continued to pick apart Taichi.
After an extended period on the defense, Taichi caught Narita with a kick. A massive forearm from Taichi sent Narita crashing to the floor. On the outside, Taichi returned the favor, whipping Narita into the barricades and chairs.
Taichi grabbed Narita’s pushup bar, leading to a confrontation with the referee. With the referee distracted, Narita attempted a low blow, but Narita avoided it. Taichi dropped Narita and ripped off his breakaway pants.
Narita interrupted Taichi’s offense by pulling the referee in front of Taichi. This allowed Narita to lock in holds, reversing momentum. Narita then hit Taichi with a low blow and a German suplex for a nearfall.
After surviving Narita’s tactics, Taichi hit Narita with his own low blow. Taichi then locked in a hold in the middle of the ring, forcing Dick Togo to hit the ring. With the referee distracted, Narita tapped out, and Taichi broke the hold. Narita shoved Taichi into the referee, leading to a full-fledged attack from House of Torture.
Just 5 Guys eventually hit the ring to save Taichi. They cleared the ring of HoT and pulled the referee back in. Taichi then hit the Dangerous Suplex for a nearfall. Taichi hit another, but the count was interrupted by Jack Perry.
Perry tried for a running knee, but Taichi knocked him down with an axe bomber. Narita tried to hit Taichi with the pushup bar, but Taichi kicked it from his hands. Kanemaru then ran to the ring, spit whiskey in Taichi’s face, and hit him with the bottle. Narita closed the match by hitting the double cross and pinning Taichi.
Narita, and the rest of HoT, will be seen in the second round.
New Japan Cup: Yota Tsuji defeated Jeff Cobb
This was the comfortable match of the night and the only match I would recommend checking out. This was a very good match; the progression worked extremely well on a native level, and the action was a blast. Great.
A collar-and-elbow tie-up kicked off this match. This led to a strike battle that turned into shoulder blocks. Cobb bested the footballer with a tackle, forcing Tsuji into the corner.
Tsuji turned the match around with a rana from the top rope. He attempted a tope, but Cobb caught him and slammed him into the apron. On the outside, Cobb clubbed Tsuji with forearms before returning to the ring.
In the ring, Cobb maintained his dominance, tossing Tsuji around with ease. He slammed Tsuji into the corner and hoisted him to the top rope; Cobb then hit Tsuji with a gut-wrench suplex from the top, scoring a nearfall.
Cobb placed Tsuji back in the corner. This time, Tsuji caught Cobb with a stomp on the mat, opening the door for a rally. Tsuji hit a head scissor takedown to send Cobb to the floor, which Tsuji followed with a successful tope.
Back in the ring, Tsuji began to work over Cobb, busting his nose in the process. Tsuji attempted a curb stomp, but Cobb powered through, provoking Tsuji into a strike exchange. Tsuji won out and dropped Cobb with an STO.
Tsuji tried for the curb stomp again, but Cobb rolled out of the way. Cobb followed up with a moonsault, resetting the match in his favor.
Another back-and-forth strike battle began, with Tsuji winning out. This didn’t deter Cobb, leading to a slick exchange of finish attempts. Cobb attempted Tour of the Islands, but Tsuji slipped free. Tsuji tried for Gene Blast, but Cobb reversed into a powerbomb.
Cobb hit a spin cycle and an F5000 for a pair of nearfalls. Tsuji tried answering Cobb only to eat a lariat. Cobb then pierced Tsuji with a colossal spear for a convincing false finish.
Cobb, looking to finish, tried for the Aloha Maker. Tsuji avoided the attack, dropping Cobb with a headbutt. Tsuji then landed a curb stomp and pulled Cobb to the corner. Tsuji then planted Cobb with a curb stomp from the top rope and a Gene Blaster to win the match.
Wrestle Kingdom 18 will include a match between two of NJPW’s top up-and-coming stars.
Yuya Uemura vs. Yota Tsuji was set up for Wrestle Kingdom 18 at Friday’s Road to Tokyo Dome event. With a pinfall victory over Tsuji in a six-man tag bout, Uemura earned a singles match between the two.
Uemura, Taichi & SANADA defeated Tsuji, Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi in the main event of Friday’s show. It was the final NJPW event before Wrestle Kingdom.
Tsuji had said that he would only face Uemura in a singles match if Uemura scored a direct pinfall over him. Uemura won the match with a crucifix pin.
The match came back to Uemura and Tsuji, Heat Storm being willed on by his teammates as he escaped a Tsuji combination to hit an uranage. The match breaking down and LIJ getting involved, Tsuji mocked Uemura with a Young Lion esque Boston Crab; after Taichi made the save, Tsuji persisted with a Curb Stomp and set for the Gene Blaster but was surprised with an armdrag and crucifix pin.
Post match, Uemura made reference to a promise Tsuji had made the night prior- that for a singles match between the two to happen Uemura needed a direct pinfall. Uemura issued his challenge and Tsuji accepted for Wrestle Kingdom.
Wrestle Kingdom is NJPW’s biggest event of the year. It takes place from the Tokyo Dome annually on January 4.
Here’s the updated card for Wrestle Kingdom 18:
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA defends against Tetsuya Naito
Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson
Three-way match: Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley vs. David Finlay to determine the inaugural IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi defends against El Desperado
NJPW World Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defends against Hiroshi Tanahashi
NEVER Openweight Champion Shingo Takagi defends against Tama Tonga
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney defend against TJP & Francesco Akira
Winner-takes-all Tag Team title match: IWGP Tag Team Champions Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI vs. NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions Hikuleo & El Phantasmo
The IWGP United States-United Kingdom title is on the line in the main event of NJPW Destruction in Kobe.
Champion Will Ospreay will defend the US title, which he has re-christened as the UK title, against Yota Tsuji in the headline match, the first career singles meeting between the two.
In the semi-main, Tetsuya Naito faces Jeff Cobb with Naito’s Wrestle Kingdom title shot unofficially on the line.
Shingo Takagi vs. Great-O-Khan is another featured singles match on the show.
Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI will defend the IWGP Tag Team titles against TMDK’s Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste.
The provisional KOPW 2023 is on the line as Taichi defends against SHO.
The undercard:
Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Bad Dude Tito
Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Lio Rush & YOH
Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Hikuleo, El Phantasmo & Jado vs. David Finlay, Chase Owens, Alex Coughlin, Gabe Kidd & Gedo
SANADA, DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo
Tiger Mask & Kevin Knight vs. Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney
Our live coverage begins at 3 a.m. Eastern time.
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Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney defeated Tiger Mask & Kevin Knight
This was a good open.
This match opened fast, with Knight rushing the War Dogs, but without TM’s help, the younger pair took little time to gain the upper hand. Once TM tagged in, the babyfaces retook the lead for some time. In the end, TM couldn’t hold onto the lead, falling to a jumping spear/suplex combination.
SANADA, DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku defeated EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo
The match opened with a brawl and an extended Yujiro/DOUKI sequence. As the match continued, HoT used all of their normal tactics to gain and maintain a lead. This lead fell apart in a skirmish, leading to TAKA hitting Togo with the Michinoku driver and winning the match.
EVIL still has possession of the IWGP World Title.
Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Hikuleo, El Phantasmo & Jado defeated David Finlay, Chase Owens, Alex Coughlin, Gabe Kidd & Gedo
This match could have been better, but Kidd and Coughlin looked great throughout.
This match opened with a brawl before transitioning into a Bullet Club control sequence. The eventual hot tag to Tama led to a babyface rally. Tama was able to win the match for his team by hitting Gedo with a gun stun.
After the match, another short brawl happened, ending with the babyfaces standing tall.
Lio Rush & YOH defeated Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI
This was an action-packed, hyper-athletic match.
Rush and YOH scored an early lead with tandem offense. As Hiromu bounced back, Rush kept up the pace, leading to multiple athletic back-and-forth sequences. BUSHI then entered the fray, leading to more chaotic exchanges. Ultimately, Rush would win the match for his team with a long-distance splash on BUSHI.
Zack Sabre Jr. & Bad Dude Tito defeated Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii
This was a fantastic match.
Tito and Okada opened the match, where Tito held his own before Ishii tagged in. Tito knocked Ishii to the floor and tagged in ZSJ, who worked to maintain this lead.
Eventually, Ishii tagged out to Okada, who then unloaded on Tito. This intense exchange forced a double tag, leading to a just as wild back-and-forth between Ishii and ZSJ. The match then broke down with all four men in the ring, with multiple major momentum shifts. ZSJ won the match with a trap pin on Ishii in the center of the ring.
KOPW Championship: SHO defeated Taichi (c)
Before the match could begin, Dick Togo and TAKA Michinoku, Yujiro Takahashi and DOUKI, and EVIL and SANADA were handcuffed to each other.
Immediately after the opening bell, SHO ran to the outside in an attempt to free his faction mates. Taichi met him on the floor, whipped him into the barricade, and carried him back to the ring, establishing control early.
Handcuffed or not, the HoT squad continued interfering, allowing SHO to work his way into the match. Taichi held on through most of the chicanery, but a ref bump, a face full of powder from Togo, and a low blow, all in quick succession, left SHO far ahead. SHO attempted a wrench shot, but Yoshinobu Kanemaru hit the ring to make the save. Instead of helping Taichi, Kanemaru betrayed him, spitting his whiskey in Taichi’s eyes, dropping him with a bottle, and revealing a House of Torture shirt. SHO then hit Taichi with Shock Arrow and won the KOPW belt.
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (c) defeated Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste
This match was built around tandem control/isolation segments from both teams. TMDK worked a nasty match, being mean when the opportunity was presented.
After being isolated for some time, Goto hit a double bulldog and secured the hot tag to YH. YH took out both of his opponents before scoring a nearfall.
Haste avoided the finish and hit YH with a superplex/powerbomb combination with Nicholls. The pair then isolated YH, scoring a couple of nearfalls before Goto hit the ring. TMDK attempted a tank buster, but YH reversed into a crucifix bomb to win the match and retain the belts for Bishamon.
Shingo Takagi defeated Great-O-Khan
This was the best O-Khan performance in ages.
O-Khan opened the match with a double-leg takedown, some grounded strikes, and a shirt-assisted choke. O-Khan then threw Shingo to the floor, where the intensity continued. O-Khan beat Shingo with a chair before taking him back to the mat.
Shingo eventually started to rally, landing multiple strikes to put O-Khan on the back foot. Just as Shingo seemed to be advancing, O-Khan landed a suplex and a cutter for a nearfall; a massive lariat and Eliminator scored O-Khan another.
A late strike exchange allowed Shingo to stay in the match, and a sudden lariat put him ahead. To close, Shingo landed Last of the Dragon and won the match.
Tetsuya Naito defeated Jeff Cobb
Naito put Cobb on the backfoot early, forcing him to the floor and landing some light offense. Once the action returned to the ropes, Cobb hit a belly-to-belly, gaining an upper hand. Similar shifts played out several times, establishing the match’s pace.
Cobb launched Naito with an F5000 for a nearfall. Naito blocked the Tour of the Islands before landing a perfect poison rana. Cobb reversed Destino but failed to follow up immediately. After surviving multiple rollups, Cobb landed a suplex and a lariat, but again, Naito escaped Tour of the Islands. Naito then hit Destino and won the match to retain his spot at Tokyo Dome.
IWGP United States Championship: Will Ospreay (c) defeated Yota Tsuji
The match opened with a standard feeling-out grappling sequence that escalated into a more athletic affair. Tsuji hit a tope to gain the upper hand early, but Ospreay responded with a plancha to equal things out. After a brief exchange in the ring, Tsuji landed a Fosbury flop, regaining the lead.
Ospreay ate a brutal stomp before hitting a stunner to keep himself in the match. Tsuji was quick to answer with a powerbomb for a nearfall. Ospreay reset the match by cutting off Tsuji’s strikes.
Tsuji and Ospreay traded strikes in the center of the ring, where Ospreay won out. The pair then worked their way to the apron, where Ospreay attempted an OsCutter, but Tsuji reversed. Tsuji attempted a stomp but missed, opening the door for an OsCutter from the top rope to the floor.
Back in the ring, Ospreay landed a long-distance dropkick but was stuffed on the follow-up. Tsuji dropped Ospreay before landing a fantastic stomp. Tsuji then pulled Ospreay to the top rope but ate a Spanish fly. After Tsuji kicked out, Ospreay hit a powerbomb and an OsCutter, but again, Tsuji held on.
Ospreay attempted Storm Breaker, but Tsuji reversed into a cutter. Tsuji immediately followed up with a picture-perfect spear, but Ospreay found the bottom rope at the last possible second. Tsuji hit another stomp and Storm Breaker, but Ospreay kicked out. Tsuji tried for another spear but was knocked silly with a hidden blade instead. Ospreay then hit a spear of his own and the Storm Driver 93 for another nearfall. Tsuji stood tall, staring down Ospreay, only for Ospreay to take off his head with another hidden blade and a storm breaker to win the match.
After the match, Zack Sabre Jr. walked to the ring and challenged Ospreay to a title match at Royal Quest 3. Ospreay accepted. After shaking hands, Ospreay tried for a hidden blade, but ZSJ avoided the attack. ZSJ then walked to the back.
Ospreay cut a short show-ending promo, calling himself the best in the world.
NJPW has announced its newest version of the Three Musketeers.
The promotion revealed on Thursday that Shota Umino, Ren Narita and Yota Tsuji will now be known as the Reiwa Three Musketeers, the third iteration of the group.
In recognition of their quick ascension in the ranks of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and clear desire to lead a new generation within NJPW, Shota Umino, Ren Narita and Yota Tsuji will together be officially named the Reiwa Three Musketeers.
Masahiro Chono, Shinya Hashimoto and Keiji Muto were the first to be given the label. All three were part of the NJPW Dojo Class of 1984. They first adopted the name Three Muskeeters of the Fighting Spirit while on excursion together in Puerto Rico.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shinsuke Nakamura and Katsuyori Shibata were named The New Musketeers in 2004 as they also reflected the future of the promotion at the time.
However, it appears as though some members of The Reiwa Three Musketeers are unhappy with being given the name.
Shota Umino wrote on Twitter that he did not consent to being part of a new Three Musketeers group. A translation of his Tweet reads:
What exactly is this title of “Reiwa Fighting Spirit Three Musketeers”? I’m so sorry. Frankly, I don’t care and I’m not interested.
I have nothing but respect for the “Three Musketeers”… Such a sudden announcement by a company is disrespectful to the “Three Musketeers” and, to be honest, it’s irritating. It was announced, but I have not consented to it in a small way, and is it named?
I don’t want us to be grouped by such words. However, it is certain that we have to make New Japan Pro-Wrestling a big explosion in the pro-wrestling world with this young generation, and I still have the awareness that I will break through more than anyone in this and create a paradigm shift in the ring of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. I’ll be here forever, so that’s all.
Yota Tsuji also responded to the news on Twitter, seemingly upset at being paired with Umino and Narita.
President Obari, how long will New Japan Pro-Wrestling cling to the past? Why do you want to line me up with “John’s shin biting” and “Shibata’s imitation bastard”? Aren’t they telling a youth story with two people in the same generation? Kitani, have you been watching New Japan Pro-Wrestling World recently?
NJPW has revealed full cards for their upcoming Road to Wrestle Grand Slam events.
The first night’s main event, on May 22, will have Hiroshi Tanahashi teaming with Ryusuke Taguchi to take on Shingo Takagi and BUSHI. An eight man tag headlines the May 24 card. May 25 has Tanahashi teaming with Kota Ibushi to take on Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan. May 26 has Tetsuya Naito and SANADA teaming up to take on Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI.
Young Lion Yota Tsuji will also be in singles action on all four shows.
The company is returning to touring after nine wrestlers tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month. The Wrestle Grand Slam events, which were also scheduled for this month, were delayed due to the COVID-19 state of emergency being extended to the end of May.
The full cards for this coming week’s shows can be seen below:
Saturday, May 22 – Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall
Hiroshi Tanahashi and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Shingo Takagi and BUSHI
Kota Ibushi and Tomoaki Honma vs. Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan
Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii vs. Tetsuya Naito and SANADA
Master Wato and Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Chase Owens and Gedo
YOSHI-HASHI vs. Yota Tsuji
Monday, May 24 – Korakuen Hall
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, and YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, SANADA, and BUSHI
Kota Ibushi and Master Wato vs. Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan
Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Tomoaki Honma vs. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa
Zack Sabre Jr. and DOUKI vs. Chase Owens and Gedo
Yujiro Takahashi vs. Yota Tsuji
Tuesday, May 25 – Korakuen Hall
Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi vs. Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan
Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI, and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Tetsuya Natio, SANADA, Shingo Takagi, and BUSHI
Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Master Wato vs. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa
Zack Sabre Jr. and DOUKI vs. Taiji Ishimori and Yujiro Takahashi
Chase Owens vs. Yota Tsuji
Wednesday, May 26 – Korakuen Hall
Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI vs. Tetsuya Natio and SANADA
Kota Ibushi and Tomoaki Honma vs. Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan
Zack Sabre Jr. and DOUKI vs. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and Master Wato vs. Taiji Ishimori, Chase Owens, and Yujiro Takahashi
After being pulled from Sengoku Lord this past weekend as a precautionary measure, Tomoaki Honma and Yota Tsuji have been cleared to return by NJPW.
NJPW announced on Saturday that Honma and Tsuji would both miss Sengoku Lord due to taping a television show with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19. NJPW wrote that Honma and Tsuji were both in good health and weren’t in close contact with the person who tested positive.
On July 25, Yota Tsuji and Tomoaki Honma were both pulled from the Sengoku Lord in Nagoya as a precautionary measure.
Since then, both wrestlers have undertaken PCR testing and are confirmed negative for Coronavirus. They are both cleared to return to competition from Wednesday July 29’s non-televised event in Hamamatsu.
Honma, Tsuji and NJPW thank you for your support.
Honma and Tsuji also missed Summer Struggle nights one and two on Sunday and Monday.
Night four of the Summer Struggle tour is taking place at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan this Friday and will air live on New Japan World. Honma will team with Togi Makabe against Shingo Takagi & SANADA at the show, while Tsuji, Satoshi Kojima, Ryusuke Taguchi & Gabriel Kidd will face Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI.
A match at this morning’s NJPW Sengoku Lord event was changed due to two wrestlers missing the show as a precautionary measure.
NJPW announced that Tomoaki Honma and Yota Tsuji would both miss Sengoku Lord as a precautionary measure due to taping a television show with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19. It was noted that Honma and Tsuji are both in good health and weren’t in close contact with the person who tested positive:
On July 17, Tomoaki Honma and Yota Tsuji recorded a television show with another cast member who tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, July 24.
Both are in good health and were not in close contact with the infected party. They will not be appearing on Sengoku Lord out of an abundance of caution.
We apologize to fans who were looking forward to seeing Tsuji and Honma wrestle, and appreciate your understanding.
Honma, Togi Makabe, Satoshi Kojima & Ryusuke Taguchi were supposed to face Tsuji, Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano & Gabriel Kidd at Sengoku Lord. It was changed to Makabe, Kojima & Taguchi defeating Ishii, Yano & Kidd in a six-man tag match. Makabe pinned Kidd to get the win.
