Two new title matches are set for this year’s NJPW Dominion event.
IWGP Tag Team Champions Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi will defend their titles against Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. at Dominion. Ibushi eliminated Sabre from the New Japan Cup tournament last month, while Taichi eliminated both Tanahashi and Ibushi.
Shingo Takagi will also defend his NEVER Openweight Championship against SHO at Dominion. Takagi won the NEVER title from Hirooki Goto on night one of the New Beginning in Sapporo in February. SHO eliminated Takagi from this year’s New Japan Cup in the first round.
Dominion is taking place on Sunday, July 12 at Osaka-jo Hall in Osaka, Japan. The show will air live on New Japan World at 2 a.m. Eastern time. In the main event, Tetsuya Naito will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against the winner of the New Japan Cup tournament final between Kazuchika Okada and EVIL.
The New Japan Cup finals are being held at Osaka-jo Hall on Saturday, July 11.
Will Ospreay is the new RevPro British Heavyweight champion.
Ospreay defeated Zack Sabre Jr. at today’s High Stakes 2020 event at York Hall in London, England to capture the championship for the first time. He has previously won the Cruiserweight title twice and the Undisputed British Tag Team title once.
Ospreay and Sabre have been feuding over the title in New Japan Pro Wrestling in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Sabre defeated Ospreay to retain the title on the second day of New Beginning in Sapporo.
Following that match, Ospreay was able to score the win over Sabre in an elimination match featuring members of CHAOS and Suzuki-gun on the February 4 Road to New Beginning show. Ospreay then challenged Sabre to a match at High Stakes on Twitter, saying the win was proof that he could pin Sabre’s shoulders.
Two other titles changed hands today at High Stakes. Oku defeated ELP to win the Cruiserweight championship, while Gisele Shaw defeated Zoe Lucas to win the Women’s championship.
The main event of NJPW’s Road to the New Beginning show this morning set up a British Heavyweight Championship rematch for Revolution Pro Wrestling.
British Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. will defend his title against Will Ospreay at RevPro’s High Stakes event at York Hall in London, England on Friday, February 14. It’s a rematch from NJPW’s New Beginning in Sapporo night two, where Sabre defeated Ospreay to retain his title.
Chaos (Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada, SHO & YOH) faced off with Suzuki-gun (Sabre, Taichi, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) in an elimination match at today’s Road to the New Beginning show. The match came down to Ospreay and Sabre, with Ospreay pinning Sabre after hitting the Stormbreaker.
After pinning Sabre, Ospreay cut a promo where he challenged Sabre to another British Heavyweight title match. Ospreay also posted a tweet hyping up the match: “Tonight I proved I can put Zack’s shoulder to the mat. My 7 year journey will come full circle in the place it all begun. Friday 14th February • York Hall • Bethnal Green, London • Main Event Big Match Billy. Time to come home @RevProUK”
Sabre has been RevPro British Heavyweight Champion four times, while Ospreay has never held the title.
The second night of New Beginning takes place tonight, once again in Sapporo.
Kazuchika Okada will battle Taichi in the main event. Taichi has proven to be a thorn on Okada’s side in the aftermath following Wrestle Kingdom 14, where Okada lost the IWGP Heavyweight title to Tetsuya Naito. The situation escalated last night when Taichi attacked Okada following their match and laid him out on the entrance ramp.
The RevPro British Heavyweight title will also be on the line. Zack Sabre Jr. will defend the title against Will Ospreay, who lost the IWGP Jr. title last month at Wrestle Kingdom 14.
A number of tag matches hyping the New Beginning show that will take place later this month is also set for this show. Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi and SANADA will battle KENTA, Taiji Ishimori and Jay White in a six-man tag match.
Jon Moxley will also make another appearance, teaming with SHO, YOH and Ryusuke Taguchi to take on Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, DOUKI and Yoshinoubu Kanemaru.
Join us for live coverage starting at 1 a.m. EST.
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TOA HENARE DEFEATED YOTA TSUJI
This was your standard opener. Full of fundamentally sound, yet unspectacular work.
Henare established the early edge with basic offense, including shoulder tackles and a Boston crab. Tsuji came back with a slam. He tried his own crab, then a cradle attempt, but Henare blocked and hit a Samoan drop for a two count.
Tsuji tried another cradle, then pulled Henare into a full crab. Henare reached the ropes for a break. Tsuji hit Henare with a couple of dozen unanswered strikes.
Tsuji hit a spear for a near fall. Henare answered with a lariat, then hit a rugby tackle for a two count. Henare then used Toa Bottom to pick up the pin.
This was about getting Nakanishi and the NJPW Dads some ring time, not about match quality.
Nakanishi and Uemura kicked things off. Uemura sold a Nakanishi chop like a fish out of water, then tagged Honma. Honma hit Nakanishi with the slowest DDT in the world, then missed a kokeshi. Tenzan tagged in and worked over Honma. Not good.
Honma came back with a kokeshi and tagged in Makabe, who hit ten punches in the corner on Tenzan. Tenzan hit a mountain bomb and tagged Nakanishi. Nakanishi hit Makabe and Honma with chops.
Nakanishi used two lariats to pick up a near fall on Makabe. Nakanishi used the Argentinian backbreaker on Makabe. Tiger Mask used an octopus on Uemura. Tenzan locked the Anaconda Vice on Honma. Makabe broke the hold.
Uemura and Tiger tagged in. Uemura hit a dropkick, a flying forearm near fall, then used a full crab. Nakanishi broke the hold with chops. Everyone jumped in as the finish neared. Four guys brawled outside, leaving Tiger and Uemura in the ring.
Uemura used an inside cradle for a two count. Tiger killed Uemura with a high kick, then hit a tiger suplex off the top for a near fall, with Makabe making the save. Tiger then used a tiger suplex on the mat to pick up the pin.
Nakanishi cut a promo after the match. He said this is his last time in Sapporo and thanked the fans, before bowing to all four sides of the arena.
EL PHANTASMO DEFEATED GABRIEL KIDD
Kidd is an L.A. Dojo boy with a couple of years of experience. Commentary pointed out that he wrestled ELP on this date two years ago in England. Kidd is good and ELP gave him a good bit of offense here. Good match.
A chain wrestling sequence kicked things off. ELP used a bow and arrow. Kidd escaped and covered for a one count. ELP used a knuckle lock, then a rope walk, then a springboard headscissors for a near fall.
ELP hit some comedy back rakes. He tied Kidd to the tree of woe and stomped on his crotch. Kidd hit a chop and a slam. ELP hit a springboard crossbody, then missed a quebrada. Kidd used an inside cradle for a two count, then hit a dropkick.
Kidd locked on a full crab. ELP forced a rope break, then hit an enziguri. ELP went for a crab, but Kidd reversed into a roll-up for two. ELP then hit a chop and a frog splash for the pin.
Ishii and EVIL started out. Ishii accidentally took a bump on his head off an EVIL lariat and tagged out. He may have been selling, but the referee and Goto didn’t react as though this was planned.
Eagles and BUSHI tagged in. Eagles targeted the left leg with kicks. Shingo jumped in to save, then turned this into a brawl around ringside. Ishii took a bump on the ramp off a chop from EVIL. Back inside, Goto and EVIL ended up the legal men.
EVIL tried a scorpion deathlock. Ishii jumped in to save, and EVIL chopped him down. Shingo tagged in. Goto and Shingo traded elbows and simultaneous lariats. Shingo blocked a misdirection lariat, but Goto connected on a short arm lariat.
Ishii tagged in and hit a back suplex to EVIL. Shingo tagged in and traded a series of strikes in the corner with Ishii. Ishii hit a powerslam. Shingo blocked a right hand and hit a back suplex. Shingo no-sold a vertical suplex, then hit a lariat. This was a great exchange.
BUSHI and Eagles got tags. Eagles hit a wheel kick. BUSHI blocked a sliced bread attempt, blocked a Turbo Backpack, then hit a rewind kick. BUSHI hit a hurricanrana, then used a backstabber for a near fall.
Eagles blocked a neckbreaker, then got an assist from both Ishii and Goto. Eagles hit a dropkick to the knee, a 450 to the knee, then used the Ron Miller Special. EVIL jumped in to break it up. Ishii and Goto hit stereo ushigoroshis on EVIL and Shingo. After a long struggle, BUSHI tapped out.
JON MOXLEY, SHO, YOH & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED MINORU SUZUKI, EL DESPERADO, YOSHINOBU KANEMARU & DOUKI
This was a crazy brawl. Just tons of fun.
Moxley was last to enter. He was entering through the crowd and Suzuki went up into the stands after him. Everyone brawled all around the arena. Suzuki teased hitting a Gotch-style piledrive on Moxley through a table, but Moxley escaped.
In the ring, Desperado used Numero Dos on SHO, while Kanemaru locked YOH in a crab. Kanemaru and YOH were legal. YOH reached the ropes. Moxley and Suzuki continued to brawl around the arena while the match went on.
Moxley and Suzuki brawled back to the ring, then tagged in. They had a lengthy exchange of strikes. Suzuki hit a PK, then tried a piledriver, but Moxley hit a backdrop. Suzuki tagged out, so Moxley tagged out to go after Suzuki again on the outside.
The other members of Suzuki-gun went 3-on-1 on Taguchi. DOUKI hit a double stomp for a near fall, as SHO and YOH saved. SHO and YOH brawled to the outside with Desperado and Kanemaru.
DOUKI tried for Suplex de la Luna. Taguchi escaped and missed a hip attack. Everyone jumped in for a big move as the match reached its climax. Suzuki and Moxley were the last two in. They continued trading. Moxley hit his own partner in Taguchi. Suzuki and Moxley brawled to the floor again.
DOUKI used an inside cradle for a near fall on Taguchi. Taguchi hit a Bomaye for a near fall, then slapped on an ankle lock. DOUKI tapped out.
The brawl continued after the match, and Moxley and Suzuki fought all the way to the back.
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They announced a seven date tour of Hokkaido for July.
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TETSUYA NAITO, SANADA & HIROMU TAKAHASHI DEFEATED KENTA, JAY WHITE & TAIJI ISHIMORI
Bullet Club jumped LIJ as they entered. KENTA went after Naito on the floor. Hiromu made his own comeback in the ring, sending Ishimori outside with a headscissors. White nailed Hiromu, and the fight spilled to the floor.
White sent SANADA into the barricade, then choked him with a camera cable. KENTA hit a DDT on Naito in the aisle. Bullet Club then threw Hiromu back inside and started working him over.
KENTA hit a series of uppercut forearms, then went outside after Naito, sending him into the barricade. White tagged in and used a chinlock. Hiromu came back with a dragon screw, then tagged Naito.
KENTA tagged in to go head to head with Naito. They traded strikes. KENTA hit a draping DDT for a two count. KENTA hit a Shibata dropkick. Naito countered with a neckbreaker. Naito went for Gloria, but KENTA blocked. KENTA avoided a flying forearm. Naito answered with a tornado DDT.
SANADA and White tagged in. Ishimori jumped in for a double team but got locked in the paradise lock. White hit a DDT, an uppercut forearm, then a death valley driver for a near fall. SANADA avoided a Blade Buster and hit a back suplex.
Ishimori tagged in and hit a lungblower for a near fall on SANADA, while Naito, KENTA, White and Hiromu fought to the floor. SANADA, Naito and Hiromu hit stereo dropkicks to Ishimori. Everyone jumped in the ring and hit a big move, then fought back to the floor.
Ishimori used a cradle for a near fall on SANADA. Ishimori hit a jumping knee strike. SANADA cought Ishimori coming in and locked on Skull End, forcing Ishimori to tap out. This was another good tag match.
RPW BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: ZACK SABRE JR. DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY TO RETAIN THE TITLE
I think we’re past the point where a significant portion of wrestling fandom looks at Ospreay as just a high spot guy. If not, show any doubters this match. Both guys put on a technical wrestling clinic. A great match.
The story they told early was that Ospreay wanted to create pace to fly, so Sabre did his best to stay in Ospreay’s face, first grounding him with a wristlock, then backing him into the corner. Sabre kept control of Ospreay’s right arm, grounding him with holds. Ospreay wore an aelbow pad on that arm.
Ospreay asked for a Grecco-Roman knuckle lock. Sabre obliged. Ospreay powered Sabre down, but Sabre bridged out. They traded a series of rolling cradles, before Sabre took a stroll around ringside.
They traded a hammerlock. Ospreay used the hold to grab Sabre’s left heel. Sabre reversed and twisted on Ospreay’s left heel. Sabre tried a bow and arrow but Ospreay escaped, then used the threat of a magistral cradle to employ a headscissors takeover.
They rolled to the floor. Ospreay teased a Sasuke Special. Sabre cut him off. Ospreay popped back into the ring and hit a plancha to the floor. Back inside, Sabre used a cobra twist, then transitioned to a ground cobra, before cranking Ospreay’s neck.
Sabre used a kravate. Ospreay slid out and hit a handspring kick. Ospreay sold his neck, then hit a series of short strikes. Ospreay hit a running forearm shot. As Sabre was clutching the middle rope from the mat, Ospreay nailed him with a dropkick.
Sabre avoided Pip Pip Cheerio. They traded snapmares. Sabre took Ospreay’s back. Ospreay tossed Sabre off. He went for a standing shooting star, but Sabre caught him coming in and fought for a cross armbreaker. Ospreay slid out and locked on a crossface. Sabre slid out of that.
Ospreay fought for, and finally applied, a figure four. After a long fight, Sabre forced a rope break at the 15 minute mark.
Ospreay hit a standing shooting star to Sabre’s left leg, then hit Pip Pip Cheerio. Sabre avoided a Robinson Special. Ospreay missed a second Robinson attempt. Sabre tried for a European clutch, but Ospreay escaped.
Sabre grabbed an ankle lock. Ospreay slid out and used a backslide. Sabre landed on his feet out of a suplex attempt. Ospreay hit a high kick. Sabre blocked an Oscutter and locked on a sleeper. Ospreay escaped the hold, but Sabre hit a half nelson suplex.
Sabre hit three PKs for a near fall. Sabre taunted Ospreay with Kawada kicks at the 20 minute mark. They traded strikes. Sabre blocked a tiger wall flip kick, but Ospreay hit a vertical suplex. Ospreay hit an Oscutter, and Sabre rolled to the floor. Ospreay threw him back in. Sabre rolled out the other side of the ring, where Ospreay hit a Sasuke Special.
Back inside, Ospreay hit a hook kick. Ospreay teased a Hidden Blade, but Sabre grabbed an ankle lock. Ospreay slid out and hit a hook kick. Sabre ducked under a Hidden Blade and tried a crucifix-type hold, but Ospreay forced a rope break.
Sabre went for a Zack Driver. Ospreay blocked, then hit an inverted bloody sunday for a near fall. Ospreay tried Storm Breaker, but Sabre reversed into a European clutch. Ospreay escaped. Sabre hit a PK. Ospreay answered with a strike at 25 minutes.
Ospreay escaped a hold and hit a powerbomb for a two count. Ospreay hit a shooting star press off the top for a near fall.
Sabre escaped a Storm Breaker and locked on an octopus. Ospreay reversed into Storm Breaker position. Sabre escaped and used the octopus to hook on a ground cobra. Ospreay didn’t respond to the referee’s commands, so Red Shoes called for a stoppage.
KAZUCHIKA OKADA DEFEATED TAICHI
This was probably the best match of Taichi’s life. You know Okada is going to bring it in a singles main event, and he did. The crowd probably didn’t buy Taichi having a chance until they crossed the 25 minute mark of a match that went about 31 minutes, but they finaly bought in.
Taichi attacked witha kick to the back as Okada was taking off his ring jacket. The opening bell sounded. Taichi grabbed the iron glove. Okada ducked a glove shot, then hit a low dropkick. Okada sold his neck, selling the damage from Taichi’s attack last night.
Taichi rolled outside. Okada hit a flying crossbody over the first guardrail, sending both crashing into the second security fence. Okada again sold his neck on landing. Okada whipped Taichi into the barricade.
Okada slowed things down as they climbed back into the ring. Okada hit some back elbows in the corner. He went for a DDT, but Taichi blocked, then hit a backdrop suplex. Okada rolled to the floor. Taichi went out after him and sent Okada into the barricade. Taichi again choked Okada with a cable over the barricade, as he did yesterday.
The pace slowed to a crawl with Taichi on offense. Back inside, he used an abdominal stretch. Taichi targeted the tape on Okada’s back and neck with kicks. Okada went for a flapjack. Taichi fought it off and hit another kick.
Okada hit a DDT, then a running back elbow, waking up the crowd. Okada missed his back elbow into the corner, but hit an air raid crash after the miss. Taichi rolled to the floor. Okada teased a plancha, but Taichi pulled Miho Abe in front and used her as a human shield.
Okada went to the floor. Taichi used the distraction from Abe to send Okada into the barricade. They fought to the ramp, where yesterday Taichi hit a Black Mephisto. Taichi teased it again. Okada blocked and teased a tombstone on the ramp. Taichi blocked. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick on the ramp.
Back inside, Okada hit a slam, then a top rope elbow. He hit the Rainmaker pose. Taichi fought off the Rainmaker attempt. Okada missed another back elbow into the corner, allowing Taichi to hit a running high kick in the corner.
Taichi dropped Okada with a mid kick at the 15 minute mark. Okada ducked an axe bomber, then hit a flapjack. Okada hit another Woo dropkick. Taichi rolled to the corner, where he slid on the iron glove. Okada ducked a glove shot, sat Taichi on the top rope, then dropkicked him to the floor.
Okada grabbed the glove and handed it to Red Shoes. Kanemaru came to ringside and took the referee. Taichi used a chair on Okada twice. The second shot, to the head, caused the seat of the chair to pop off, so it was a gimmicked chair.
Taichi hit an axe bomber for a near fall. Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick, then locked in the stretch plum. Taichi ripped off the tape from Okada’s neck, then applied the hold a second time. Okada sat in the hold forever. Taichi gave it up and made a cover for a two count at the 20 minute mark.
Taichi went for a Last Ride. Okada blocked. Taichi used Kawada kicks, then teased a piledriver, but Okada hit a backdrop. Okada ducked a buzzsaw kick and hit a German, maintaining waist control on landing.
Okada teased a Rainmaker. Taichi slid out. Okada hit a dropkick. Taichi fought off a Rainmaker, then applied the stretch plum. Okada hit an armdrag to break it. Taichi ducked another Rainmaker and hit another backdrop suplex.
Taichi dumped Okada on his head with another backdrop suplex. Taichi hit another backdrop suplex into a bridge for a near fall.
Okada ducked a thrust kick and hit a tombstone, into a double down. They traded big boots at the 25 minute mark. Taichi hit two hard forearm strikes. He whipped Okada into the ropes and hit a dropkick.
Taichi teased Black Mephisto. Okada slid out and hit a Rainmaker. Okada kept hold of Taichi’s wrist on landing and hit a second Rainmaker. Okada posed, then pulled Taichi up for a third. Taichi grabbed Red Shoes and hit a low blow on Okada, then used a Gedo clutch for a close near fall.
Taichi hit a high kick in the corner, an axe bomber, then a kamigiri kick. Taichi stacked up Okada off a Last Ride and scored another two count. The crowd really got into it from this point.
Taichi went for Black Mephisto. Okada slid out and hit a spinning Rainmaker. Taichi ducked another Rainmaker. Okada blocked a Black Mephisto at the 30 minute mark.
Okada teased a tombstone. Taichi blocked and hit a high kick. Okada caught a kick and hit a spinning tombstone, then hit another Rainmaker for the pin.
Okada cut a promo. He put over the tough battle. He thanked the fans and said NJPW will be back in July with the earlier announced Hokkaido tour.
Two members of Suzuki-gun have been added to NJPW’s Lion’s Break Project 3.
Zack Sabre Jr. and El Desperado have both been announced for Lion’s Break Project 3. The show is taking place at The Ritz Ybor City on the afternoon of Thursday, April 2. It’s part of WrestleCon’s events in Tampa, Florida during WrestleMania week.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ren Narita, Karl Fredericks, Clark Connors, and Alex Coughlin have also been announced for Lion’s Break Project 3. The first two Lion’s Break Projects were held at the Anaheim Convention Center in 2018 and 2019 and showcased Young Lions, members of the NJPW roster, and other wrestlers.
At NJPW’s New Beginning in Sapporo night two on February 2, Sabre will defend his RevPro British Heavyweight Championship against Will Ospreay. Desperado & Kanemaru will challenge SHO & YOH for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles at the New Beginning in Osaka on February 9.
Sabre has also been confirmed for the WrestleCon SuperShow on the night of April 2.
NJPW’s World Tag League continued today in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall in front of an announced sellout crowd of 1,725.
The show featured all Tag League matches, with all 16 teams in action. Here are full results and match recaps:
JUICE ROBINSON & DAVID FINLAY DEFEATED HIROYOSHI TENZAN & SATOSHI KOJIMA
Finlay and Tenzan kicked things off. They traded shoulder tackles and knockdowns. Kojima got a tag and hit machine gun chops in the corner. Kojima missed a charge into the corner, which enabled Finlay and Juice to take over.
Finlay hit Kojima with uppercuts. Juice used a senton for a two count. Kojima came back with DDTs on both Finlay and Juice, then made a hot tag to Tenzan. Tenzan hit Finlay with Mongolian chops, then used a brainbuster for a near fall.
They traded strikes. Tenzan used a wheel kick, then slapped on an Anaconda Vice. Juice made the save for Finlay, breaking the hold. Juice tagged in. Tenzan and Juice traded strikes. Juice hit a spinebuster. Tenzan answered with a Mountain Bomb, then tagged out.
Kojima hit Juice with machine gun chops, a top rope elbow, and a Koji Cutter. He covered, but Finlay made the save for Juice. The match broke down and all four jumped in. Tenzan and Finlay brawled to the floor. Kojima hit Juice with a brainbuster for a near fall.
Juice ducked one lariat, but Kojima connected on another for a near fall. Finlay jumped in. Juice and Finlay hit a double dropkick on Kojima, who no-sold it.
The finish saw Juice hit the Left Hand of God into a Stunner by Finlay, into a Pulp Friction from Juice, who pinned Kojima. This turned into a heck of an opener by the end.
Sadly, three of these four guys have no business being in the ring, with Makabe the only exception. Honma looked as good as he has in a long time, but Nagata seems to have aged five years since his last tour, and Nakanishi is immobile.
The match was built around Honma missing kokeshis. He scored some early chops and shoulder tackles on both Nagata and Nakanishi, but missed kokeshis on both.
Nagata and Nakanishi took over on Honma. Makabe finally got a hot tag and hit 10 punches in the corner and a lariat on Nagata. Nagata answered with an exploder suplex.
Nakanishi hit a splash on Makabe for a near fall. Nakanishi put Makabe in the Argentinian backbreaker, while Nagata used a Nagata Lock on Honma. Makabe responded with a double lariat, then Honma and Makabe hit Nakanishi with a double lariat.
The finish saw Honma hit a kokeshi on Nakanishi. Makabe then hit a lariat for a near fall, a sloppy slam, then the King Kong Knee Drop for the pin.
BAD LUCK FALE & CHASE OWENS DEFEATED HIROSHI TANAHASHI & TOA HENARE
Fale and Owens attacked before the opening bell, sending Henare outside. Tanahashi made his own comeback. Henare and Tanahashi used a tandem crab on Fale, which Owens broke up with thumbs to the eyes.
Fale and Owens isolated Henare. Fale eventually missed a splash, which allowed Henare to make a tag to Tanahashi. Tana hit Fale with strikes, a dragon screw, and tried for a cloverleaf, but Fale fought it off.
Tana tried a slam on Fale, but collapsed with Fale on top of him. Fale missed a splash, which led to Owens and Henare getting tags.
Henare hit a Samoan drop, then used a diving chop for a near fall. Owens blocked a charge into the corner, and Fale entered for a double team. Owens hit a second rope elbow for a near fall. Tana and Henare suplexed Fale.
Tana hit a slingblade on Owens, and Henare covered for a two count. Tana rolled outside to brawl with Fale. Fale tripped Henare from the floor, allowing Owens to hit a shining wizard. Owens then hit a package piledriver and pinned Henare.
HIROOKI GOTO & KARL FREDERICKS DEFEATED KENTA & YUJIRO TAKAHASHI
Let’s all pitch in and buy Yujiro a new hat for Christmas this year. The one he wears during his entrance has seen better days.
They could be setting up a Goto/KENTA NEVER title match. This whole match was built around the two of them and the finish makes no sense otherwise.
KENTA stalled in the early going, avoiding Goto. Fredericks again worked most of the match for his team. He scored early offense with an uppercut forearm and a diving chop. KENTA and Yujiro then turned this into a brawl around ringside, leading to a lengthy bit of getting heat on Fredericks.
Fredericks blocked a Pimp Juice attempt by Yujiro, then both tagged out. Goto hit some trademark offense on KENTA. Yujiro tried to jump in for a double team, but Fredericks hit him with a spinebuster. Fredericks also hit a blockbuster off the second rope.
Goto tried an ushigoroshi, but KENTA raked his eyes. KENTA used Game Over, but Goto reached the ropes for a break. The finish saw KENTA take the ref. Yujiro jumped in with his cane, but Goto blocked a shot and hit him with an ushigoroshi. Goto then pinned KENTA after two GTRs.
Yano and Cabana argued over who would start. Yano began but quickly tagged out. Tonga hit a neckbreaker on Cabana on an illegal double team, which led to a lengthy beatdown on Colt by GOD.
Yano finally got a tag and untied a turnbuckle pad. All four did some comedy spots. Yano and Cabana both took Tongan Twists. The ref took a bump, which allowed Jado to jump in and hit Yano with a kendo stick.
The finish saw Cabana take the referee, which allowed Yano to hit low blows on both Tonga and Loa. Yano rolled Loa up with a schoolboy, then Cabana jumped on top with a Superman pin to earn the victory.
This didn’t have enough comedy to be a good comedy match. It also didn’t have enough brawling to be a good brawl.
TOMOHIRO ISHII & YOSHI-HASHI DEFEATED JEFF COBB & MIKEY NICHOLLS
Ishii and Cobb started off by no-selling each other’s power moves. Nicholls and YH got tags. Nicholls took over on YH after a lariat. YH came back with a headhunter, allowing both to tag out.
Ishii and Cobb exchanged heavy strikes and chops. Cobb hit a massive brainbuster, then tagged Nicholls. Nicholls hit Ishii with clotheslines in the corner. He tried a brainbuster, but Ishii slid out. Ishii hit some hard strikes, but Nicholls countered with a spinebuster for a near fall.
Ishii ducked a lariat, then hit a vertical suplex. Cobb and YH both jumped in and hit superkicks. YH used a backstabber on Nicholls into a German by Ishii. Ishii hit a lariat and went for a cover on Nicholls, but Cobb broke it up.
YH hit a dragon suplex on Cobb. Cobb popped up and hit Ishii and YH with lariats. Cobb and Nicholls hit stereo standing moonsaults on Ishii for a two count. Nicholls hit Ishii with a DVD, then hit a sliding lariat for a near fall.
Nicholls teased a Mikey Bomb on Ishii, but YH jumped in to make the save. YH hit Nicholls with a lariat. Ishii then hit a sliding lariat for a two count, while Cobb and YH rolled outside. Ishii then hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin.
This was a great match worth going out of your way to see — if only for the one-man show that is Tomohiro Ishii. He is unreal.
There is honor among stablemates, as neither side used an attack before the bell.
After the bell, however, all bets are off. Suzuki and Taichi started off in the ring. Suzuki went after Taichi’s hair. Taichi responded by sending Suzuki into the barricade and hitting him with a chair. Sabre used a heel hook on Archer on the outside.
Archer and Suzuki made a comeback. Suzuki used a chair on Taichi and sent him into the barricade. Archer and Sabre brawled all over the building. Back in the ring, Suzuki and Archer took turns working over Taichi in their half of the ring.
Taichi snapped and went after Suzuki’s throat, backing him into a corner. Sabre made a blind tag and used a kimura and stomped on Suzuki’s elbow. Suzuki’s facial expressions here were absolutely priceless.
Suzuki fired back with strikes on Sabre. Sabre tried to respond with stiff forearms, but Suzuki got the best of it. Sabre hit a PK, but Suzuki no-sold it. Suzuki hit a PK, but Sabre no-sold it. This was great. Sabre and Suzuki knocked each other down with simultaneous high kicks.
Archer and Taichi got tags. Archer teased the EBD Claw on Taichi. Taichi blocked and hit a kamiguri. He teased a buzzsaw kick, but Archer caught him in a black hole slam.
Suzuki tagged in and slapped the crap out of Taichi. Taichi answered with a high kick, then made a tag to Sabre. Suzuki and Sabre squared off. Sabre dared Suzuki to hit a forearm. Suzuki did, dropping Sabre. Suzuki dared Sabre to hit him. Suzuki dropped to a knee from the strike.
They continued to trade hard strikes. Sabre tried a neck twist, but Suzuki blocked and put him in an ankle lock. Sabre reversed into an octopus. Archer jumped in and hit a Pounce on Sabre. Taichi jumped in and ate a big boot from Suzuki.
Suzuki hit Sabre with kicks. He tried a misdirection spot, but Sabre answered with a European clutch for a near fall. Suzuki got a rear naked choke applied. Sabre slid out. They traded a series of cradles, with Sabre finally using an inside cradle for the pin.
This match ruled. My favorite tag match in weeks.
EVIL & SANADA DEFEATED SHINGO TAKAGI & EL TERRIBLE
EVIL and SANADA established the early advantage on Shingo with some very basic offense. EVIL hit some shoulder tackles. Shingo came back with a lariat on EVIL, and all four brawled around ringside.
Back in the ring, Shingo hit a slingshot stomp on EVIL, a knee lift, then a vertical suplex. Terrible and Shingo worked over EVIL’s left arm, cutting the ring in half. EVIL came back with a double bulldog, then tagged SANADA.
SANADA used the Paradise Lock on Terrible. Shingo and SANADA exchanged strikes. SANADA teased a leapfrog dropkick, but Shingo blocked. Shingo tried a dragon screw, but SANADA reversed into one of his own.
SANADA hit a springboard dropkick. EVIL got a tag and hit a lariat for a two count. EVIL and SANADA teased a Magic Killer, but Shingo fought it off, then hit both with a double lariat.
Terrible came in for some double team spots. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber on EVIL. Terrible hit a top rope splash for a two count on EVIL, as SANADA made the save.
Terrible hit his punch and chop combos on both EVIL and SANADA. EVIL and SANADA hit Terrible with a Magic Killer. Shingo jumped in to make the save, but SANADA locked him in Skull End. EVIL and SANADA then hit Shingo with a Magic Killer.
The finish saw EVIL hit Everything is EVIL on Terrible for the pin. A good main event, but it had no chance at following the previous two matches.
CURRENT WORLD TAG LEAGUE STANDINGS:
Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI — 4 points (2-0)
David Finlay & Juice Robinson — 4 points (2-0)
EVIL & SANADA — 2 points (1-0)
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare — 2 points (1-1)
Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer — 2 points (1-1)
KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi — 2 points (1-1)
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima — 2 points (1-1)
We’re looking for your thoughts on today’s NJPW King of Pro Wrestling, so you can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
We’re also looking for reports from Raw tonight in Denver with Main Event matches and any dark matches, or anything notable off camera, a well as the WWE weekend shows in Odessa, TX on Saturday, Amarillo on Sunday, Evolve weekend shows in Atlanta and Concord, NC and the Saturday Lucha Libre show in San Jose to [email protected]
Raw is tonight from Denver with Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair as a Raw vs. Smackdown match with the winner getting first pick in the second day of the draft. It’s another draft show.
NEW JAPAN AT KORAKUEN HALL WEDNESDAY AT 5:30 A.M. EASTERN ON NEW JAPAN WORLD FOR OPENING OF JR. TAG TOURNAMENT
Tiger Mask & Yuya Uemura vs. Volador Jr. & Titan
Rocky Romero & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. TJP & Clark Conners
Sho & Yoh vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Desperado
Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles vs. El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori
AEW WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON TNT FROM THE LICOURAS CENTER IN PHILADELPHIA
Kenny Omega & Adam Page vs. Jon Moxley & Pac
Chris Jericho vs. Darby Allin no DQ for AEW title
Riho vs. Britt Baker for women’s title
Pentagon & Fenix vs. Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus in tag tournament
Chuckie T & Baretta vs. Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian in tag title tournament
NXT ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT FROM FULL SAIL UNIVERSITY IN ORLANDO
The most important week in recent pro wrestling history reached strong heights before ending with an embarrassing low.
The Wednesday Night War began, with AEW Dynamite debuting on TNT opposite a stacked episode of NXT on USA. SmackDown made its move to FOX two days later and featured an appearance by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, a WWE Championship change, and the debut of Cain Velasquez. Sunday’s Hell in a Cell pay-per-view looked like it was only going to be a footnote, but the main event made the show memorable for all the wrong reasons.
Here’s a look at three stories that defined the week:
1. AEW wins first night of Wednesday night ratings war
Pro wrestling returned to TNT last Wednesday as the premiere of AEW Dynamite averaged 1.409 million viewers. That topped the 891,000 viewers that NXT averaged. In the 18-49 demo, AEW posted a 0.68 rating — second for the night on cable and more than double what NXT did.
Smackdown on FOX, the ratings, what they mean, how this relates to Raw, the Velasquez vs. Lesnar and Fury vs. Strowman matches is the lead story in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer.
This week’s Observer also covers:
How FOX did with the competition, how FOX did compared to last season’s premieres, how the show did in Canada, note on how the kickoff show did, match-by-match and how the ratings changed, who drew big and who didn’t, the usage of legends, the story behind Velasquez’s negotiations, the end of Kingston’s reign, plus match-by-match coverage.
What went wrong with Hell in a Cell, the disaster of a main event, the reactions by fans, Vince McMahon’s reactions to those reactions, how the match order hurt the show, plus match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results.
Wednesday night war with ratings, where both sides lost viewers the most, the fall from the first week on TNT, the average viewer age for AEW and NXT and how different the makeup is, how every segment on both shows did.
What segments were strong set with what age groups, and how teenage viewership both shows differs greatly.
Smackdown draft, 205 Live going forward, the plans for Saudi Arabia, why the cruiserweight distinction in NXT makes no sense anymore, new WWE signings, Mae Young Classic, WWE injuries, Goldberg and Matt Riddle situation, Hulk Hogan wants a match with Vince McMahon, former Miss America contestant signs with WWE, U.K. star moves to Florida, remake of “Badstreet USA,” value of WWE stock, most-watched shows on WWE Network over the past week, plus notes on every live event by the WWE main roster and NXT this past week with business notes, results and highlights.
Jeff Hardy’s recent arrest and a look back at his other issues over the years.
A full report on the UFC show from Australia, the record crowd, business notes, and a look at Israel Adesanya.
The situation with Dragon Lee going forward as well as where WWE and AEW may fit in, his being pulled from the New Japan tour as well as a look at this year’s Junior heavyweight tag team tournament that starts this coming week.
A full report on the debut of NWA Power, the new Internet television show Billy Corgan and Dave Lagana have put out, glory days of Georgia Championship Wrestling and its ratings, a look at Nick Aldis as NWA champion, business notes and economic realities regarding the company as well as what kind of Youtube numbers the different shows are doing.
Full coverage of all the WWE television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
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MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw, New Japan King of Pro Wrestling, and the rest of the news with Wrestling Observer Radio tonight. You can send questions for the show to [email protected]
This is a good week to sign up. We want to apologize that due to some sort of a corrupted file on our phone, several of the interviews that we taped on Friday were destroyed, but we will have interviews with Becky Lynch and Ric Flair up on the site over the next day or so. Plus there will be a major story breaking in Japan this week unless something falls through and we will have a special show on that.
Mike Bennett aka Mike Kanellis publicly stated today that he was asking for his release, saying he wanted to do more than one match a week (he hasn’t been booked on the road) and said that even though he just signed a new deal in June, he wanted to do more with his career. The last guy who publicly asked for his release was Luke Harper, and he ended up not working for months, although he is in a top program now. He aid that he’s clean, sober and motivated and wants to have 30 minute matches all over the world and wants his daughter to see her father wrestle for his money.
The reason Jon Moxley wasn’t on the New Japan show and travel issues was legit. Zack Sabre Jr. also missed the show, and Kevin Kelly barely made it in time for the show. We’d heard some concern about the guys coming from Australia, Will Ospreay, Robbie Eagles and Gino Gambino, but they all made it. The worst of the typhoon is over although it did a lot of damage to the bottom floor of the New Japan Tokyo dojo.
There was a lot of controversy as woman wrestler Giulia of Ice Ribbon asked for her release from the promotion yesterday and then showed up on the Stardom show earlier today and was announced as the new signee. Ice Ribbon claimed she was under contract and while she asked for her release, she had not been released. Ice Ribbon said that they wanted to set up a schedule for her to have a farewell but she insisted on being released yesterday. They said they did not give her a release and she was advertised for shows upcoming and in Japan false advertising of talent is looked upon very negatively. Ice Ribbon said that Giulia has not turned in a formal resignation letter nor returned her Ice Ribbon health insurance card, nor did they receive anything from the promotion she was looking to transfer to (Stardom). They said they would announce any changes in upcoming shows as soon as possible. Rossy Ogawa, who runs Stardom, said that he was under the impression there was no contract between Giulia and Ice Ribbon.
WWE
Tonight is the final night of the draft. The key names up for grabs are Brock Lesnar, Rey Mysterio, Seth Rollins, Shinsuke Nakamura, Charlotte Flair, The Miz, Samoa Joe, New Day, Kabuki Warriors, Bayley and many others.
Raw has double competition tonight, with Game Three of the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Washington Nationals baseball playoff series on TBS and Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions NFL on ESPN. By all rights the draft, which usually leads to a big ratings increase, should keep the number above last week by a good margin. If not, it’s that they killed the draft concept to enough fans on Friday.
The company’s next investor call will be on 10/31, just two hours before Crown Jewel starts. That’s going to be tough because Vince McMahon and Paul Levesque in theory have to be in two places at the same time. So I’m thinking Vince isn’t going to Saudi Arabia, but then again, it’s such a major show. The key stuff is the updated WWE Network number as of 9/30, the third quarter hour show business and if anyone asks about the Wednesday night wars. Whether profits are big for the quarter or not isn’t that big of a deal, because fourth quarter profits with the new TV deals in effect, will be gigantic.
An interview with Ricochet. (thanks to Mike Kuzmuk)
UFC
Joanna Jedrzejczyk got good news today when X-rays shows her foot was not broken as she believed it was during her fight with Michelle Waterson, that she won on Saturday. She said to MMA Fighting that both of her feet were very swollen but there’s no break,and she won’t need surgery. She said that every exam she had before the X-rays, she was told the foot was broken.
MISCELLANEOUS
MLW announced that this coming Saturday night’s TV show will be produced by Jimmy Havoc. The show will have a death match with Damian 666 vs. Savio Vega and a Tijuana street fight with Joseph Samael vs. El Hijo de L.A. Park, plus a trios match, from the taping before 4,500 fans in Tijuana.
Stardom results from earlier today at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo”: Tam Nakano b Saya Kamtani, Hazuki & Natsuko Tora won gauntlet over Jamie Hayter & Andras Miyagi, Starlight Kid & Saya Iida, Konami & Death Yama-san and Hina & Leo Onozaki, Session Moth Martina & Natsu Sumire b Zoe Lucas & Bobbi Tayler in tag tourney, Mayu Iwatani & Saki Kashima b Momo Watanabe & AZM in tag tourney, Arisa Hoshiki b Kagetsu to keep the Wonder of Stardom title, Bea Priestley b Hana Kimura to keep the World of Stardom title. (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
Oz Academy results from today in Kawaguchi: Rina Shingaki b Mari Manji, Aja Kong b Suzu Suzuki, Leon & Hiragi Kurumi b Kaho Kobayashi & Akino, Hiroyo Matsumoto won three-way over Yuu and Tsubasa Kuragaki, Mayumi Ozaki & Saori Anou b Sonoko Kato & Kakeru Sekiguchi (thanks to Shannon Walsh)
ICW from yesterday in Glasgow, Scotland: Jordan Devil b Kernan Kelly, Three masked men b Ian Skinner & Darren Vice & Dean Ford, Alvi b Isla Dawn to win women’s title top contender tournament, Kaz Evans b Michael May, Kenny Williams b Scotty Davis, Jason Reed b Sam Barbour, Lewis Girvan b Stevie James, Liam Thomson b Leyton Buzzard.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships has a PPV on Saturday night headlined by Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva vs. Gabriel Gonzaga from Tampa. The last Bare Knuckle PPV died a brutal death.
Action Wrestling on 10/25 in Tyrone, GA has Curt Stallion, Alex Zayne, Joey Lynch and is a benefit show for a local domestic violence shelter.
Defy Wrestling on Saturday night in Seattle at Washington Hall features Cima, Matt Sydal plus Defy champion Shaff vs. Tom Lawlor and Jacob Fatu vs. Amazing Red.
Fashion Nova has released its first T-shirt of a Luchador, with a Penta 0M shirt. The T-shirt is part of Penta’s officially licensed products through Masked Republic’s Legends of Lucha Libre brand and licensing department.
Rise has released its first year of events for free.
A video of Arn Anderson giving Buff Bagwell a spinebuster on a show in Hot Springs, AR on Saturday night.
The first of three Destruction events begins this morning in Beppu at Beppu B-Con Plaza.
Hiroshi Tanahashi will once again face Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event. The tables have been turned this time around, as Tanahashi defeated Sabre at last month’s Royal Quest event to win the RPW British Heavyweight title. He will be the champion heading into this match.
The IWGP Tag Team titles will be on the line in the co-main event. What was originally supposed to be a special tag team match between champions Guerrillas of Destiny and Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI turned into a title match after the latter picked up a victory over GoD in a six man tag team match on the first card of the tour.
The Young Lion Cup will also continue, with Yota Tsuji taking on Karl Fredericks and Shota Umino facing Alex Coughlin.
Join us for live coverage starting at 4 a.m. EDT. There will be English commentary.
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Young Lion Cup: Karl Fredericks defeated Yota Tsuji
Some good wrestling to start things off. Tsuji worked on Frederick’s shoulder, which is all taped up. He took the bulk of the match. Fredericks cut him off with a giant dropkick. He sold the shoulder, but managed to his a spinebuster and a half Boston crab. Tsuji wouldn’t submit, but did once Fredericks elevated him. A solid opener.
Young Lion Cup: Shota Umino defeated Alex Coughlin
After some struggle for control, Umino briefly gets the upper hand but was driven down by elbows from Coughlin. He unleashes some sick chops but Umino meets him back with a big suplex, then soon follows with a big missile dropkick.
Couglin drops Umino with a dropkick and follows that up with a gutwrench suplex. He sets up a Boston crab, but Umino manages to escape and lays out Coughlin with a spinebuster then follows with another missile dropkick.
A fisherman’s suplex gives him the win. Another solid, very well worked match.
Yuji Nagata, Ryusuke Taguchi, Yuya Uemura and Ren Narita defeated Manabu Nakanishi, Toa Henare, Clark Connors and Michael Richards
The young lions worked mostly against one another. Henare ended up working over Uemura. Nakanishi came in and chopped Uemura in the corner. After hitting a dropkick that had no effect, Uemura straight up bodyslammed Nakanishi to a big pop.
Nagata came in as he and Nakanishi traded offense. Everything Nakanishi does comes off as so slow. Nagata hit an exploder and tagged in Taguchi. Nakanishi polish hammered Taguchi right in the butt.
It boils down to Richards and Taguchi. Richards gets some brief offense, but Taguchi traps him in the ankle lock and eventually submits. Felt like it was a little too long given who was involved, but this was fine minus the parts where Nakanishi wrestled.
Jushin Thunder Liger, SHO and YOH defeated Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI
DOUKI and Sho came in as everyone became busy on the outside. DOUKI attempted a wheelbarrow into a dragon suplex but YOH came in and cleared house. DOUKI tried to even the odds, but couldn’t as he was soon pinned with the 3K.
Suzuki attacked Liger after the bell and continued going after his mask. Young lions attempted to stop him as he eventually let Liger go, but then laid out the young lions. This feud has been going on for months, is this just a house show thing or is it going to lead to something? Tokyo Dome?
Liger grabbed a mic. He said if Suzuki wants to fight right now, they can do it now and the fans in Beppu want to see it. Suzuki headed toward the ring, but then bailed.
KENTA, Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi, El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori defeated Kota Ibushi, Tomoaki Honma, Togi Makabe, Will Ospreay and Robbie Eagles.
Early part of the match had all of Bullet Club working over Eagles. KENTA and Kota Ibushi came in and their stuff looked great, but it was brief and Honma came in and went for the kokeshi. Didn’t happen.
After some more back and forth, KENTA connected with a backfis. Honma missed a diving kokeshi. KENTA took the opportunity to connect with GTS and pinned Honma for the win. A tag match that highlighted KENTA as he soon faces Ibushi for his IWGP title briefcase.
SANADA, Shingo Takagi and BUSHI defeated Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto and Rocky Romero
As you would expect, this exactly one of those matches where rivals went in with one another as their time came to be tagged in. Goto and Shingo started things off. Okada worked on BUSHI for a good while until the hot tag was made to SANADA, who cleared the ring and zeroed in on Okada.
At one point, everyone came in to work with one another in the ring. Goto laid out Shingo with the ushigiroshi. Rocky and SANDA came back to the ring but SANADA quickly took things over with the cold skull. He took Rocky down and that was it.
Tetsuya Naito and EVIL defeated Jay White and Chase Owens
White and Owens worked over EVIL. White took EVIL to the outside as Owens yelled at Kevin Kelly, blaming him for bringing the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express to the NJPW tour in California. Naito and White were tagged in. White wanted to do the LIJ trademark gesture but instead jumped Naito on the apron.
Naito retaliated by throwing him across the barricades. They went at it until Owens came in. EVIL also came in and laid out White with the darkness falls. EVIL took care of White on the outside as Naito pinned Owens with the Destino.
LIJ attacked Gedo after the match and threw his hat into the crowd. Bullet Club eventually managed to get the hat back. White told the commentary team the fun and games would soon be over.
The Guerrillas of Destiny defeated Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI to retain the IWGP Tag Team titles
Ishii and Tama Tonga had a great opening exchange. YH and Loa come and as all four exchange counters for a bit before going to the outside, where GoD got the advantage by throwing both men into the barricade.
Back in the ring, Tonga had the heat on Ishii, then tagged in Loa who continued to grind. YH is tagged in and lays both GoD on the top rope, then dropkicks them both. YH hit Loa with the headhunter then tagged in Ishii.
Ishii powered out of a Loa move by giving him a backdrop as both men exchange strikes. Ishii connected with a headbutt but fell to a lariat. YH came in and the two worked over Loa. Ishii got Loa on his feet and hit a clothesline for a nearfall. Loa escaped from the vertical brainbuster but Loa escaped, only to get planted by a spear. But Loa popped right back up and hit a spear.
Tonga was tagged back in. He hit something resembling a gun stun. ‘He hit the Tongan twist on Ishii and the waistlock DDT on YH. They followed with a double splash off the top rope, but YH kicked out. They went for the magic killer, but Ishii came in.
GoD instead hit Ishii with the magic killer, then did the same to YOSHI-HASHI, who actually kicked out. They started to set up for their powerbomb off the top rope, but Ishii took out Roa on the outside. YH applied the butterfly lock, but Loa came in…only momentarily as Ishii took him down with a submission as well.
Jado came in with the kendo stick, but YH grabbed it and attacked Jado. Ishii and YH hit a double team move on Tonga as YH connected with a lariat. YH got a nearfall with karma. KENTA then came out to distract. Right out of the WWE playbook, YH got distracted then was rolled up by Tama Tonga for the win. A bad finish to a match that felt like it went way too long, especially for that result
Ishii went after KENTA, who attacked YOSHI-HASHI, following the match. KENTA eventually retreated.
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi for the RevPro British Heavyweight title
Sabre immediately gets Tanahashi’s arm and starts working over it, but Tanahashi escapes. That doesn’t last long as Sabre quickly controls Tanahashi’s arms again. Tanahashi counters and does the same, working over Sabre’s arms. Sabre powers out and crosses the arms, choking Tanahashi.
Tanahashi connects with a crossbody off the top rope then chop blocks Sabre’s leg. Sabre escapes to the floor but stalls, and becomes increasingly angry. He goes for a chair, but Uemura took it away from him. Sabre attacks Uemura but Tanahashi comes back to continue the match. Tanahashi went for an elbow but Sabre caught him and put him in a submission until Tanahashi reached the ropes.
Sabre next locked in an armbar, changing his position for leverage. Tanahashi retaliated by grabbing Sabre’s leg once they are both up and gives it a dragon screw. The senton follows, then the cobra twist. Zack bailed again as Tanahashi went for the high fly flow to the outside, but Sabre saw him and ran away. Tanahashi instead went for a baseball slide, but Sabre caught him and transitioned into the armbar.
Tanahashi fought hard trying to go for a cloverleaf back in the ring. He had it on for a few seconds, but Sabre countered and transitioned into an armbar. Tanahashi reversed it. Sabre countered right back and tried to go for his finish, but Tanahashi barely managed to escape. Tanahashi hit two sling blades then hit the high fly flow.
Instead of another high fly flow, Tanahashi instead went for what looked like the sharpshooter but Sabre made it to the ropes. Sabre then latched on with a guillotine choke, but Tanahashi countered with two twist and shouts but Sabre countered the third with the Zack driver.
Sabre kicks Tanahashi in the arm as both men fall down. ZSJ went for the PK, but Tanahashi countered and followed with a waistjacket suplex. The two traded flash pins. Tanahashi went for the cobra twist again, but Sabre countered with a roll-up and hooked both legs to regain the title.
Sabre says he just buried strong style today. He’s been the ace of the British scene for decades. He says he wants to win both the Intercontinental and IWGP Heavyweight titles and become the first NJPW triple crown champion. Long live Sabreism.
The main event was real good, but I think the Royal Quest match was a little bit better. Overall, there was nothing technically wrong with this card save for the co-main, but it didn’t feel like a big show. It felt like a Road To show until the final two matches. Unfortunately I get the feeling the other two cards may be more of the same.
NJPW continued their Road to Destruction tour today with their third consecutive night in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
The show featured the continuation of the round-robin Young Lion Cup tournament, along with a collection of tag matches previewing the key bouts on the Destruction shows later in the tour.
Here are full results and match recaps:
YOUNG LION CUP MATCH: ALEX COUGHLIN DEFEATED MICHAEL RICHARDS
Coughlin scored early with some chops and stomps in the corner. He used a side headlock takeover. Richards used a headscissors to escape the hold. Coughlin bridged out of the headscissors and tried for a crab, but Richards forced a quick break.
Richards hit a lariat. Coughlin came back with a crab. Richards again forced a rope break. Coughlin used a bridging Indian deathlock, and Richards tapped out. This was the least spectacular of the Young Lion Cup matches so far. It was technically sound, but not very exciting.
YOUNG LION CUP MATCH: KARL FREDERICKS DEFEATED CLARK CONNORS
Fredericks missed with a dropkick, giving Connors an opening to try for a full crab. Fredericks fought it off. Connors hit some chops in the corner. Fredericks came back with uppercut forearms.
Connors went to work on the taped right arm of Fredericks. Fredericks hit a dropkick. Fredericks tried a body slam twice, but Connors fought it off. Connors hit a jawbreaker, but Fredericks came back with a shotgun dropkick, then a splash in the corner.
Connors hit a spear out of the corner. They exchanged chops and uppercuts. Fredericks hit a spinebuster, then used a single-leg crab. Connors tapped out.
Kojima and Tenzan traded Mongolian chops. Umino and Narita tagged in and had a striking battle. Narita did not go down after two shoulder tackle attempts, then scored a knockdown on Umino on his first shoulder tackle.
Umino hit a back elbow and a dropkick. Uemura and Tsuji tagged in. Tsuji hit a chop, and Uemura responded with a double-leg takedown. Tsuji worked a side headlock. Uemura hit a shoulder tackle and a back elbow, and his team began working over Tsuji.
Tenzan hit Tsuji with headbutts, then choked him on the mat. Umino hit a shoulder tackle, then a series of elbow strikes. Tsuji hit a body slam, then tagged Kojima. Kojima hit Umino with a DDT, then hit machine gun chops in the corner.
Kojima hit a top rope elbow for a nearfall. Umino came back with a dropkick off the middle rope, then tagged Tenzan. Tenzan hit Kojima with chops, then hit a brainbuster for a two count.
Kojima and Tenzan traded strikes. Kojima hit a Koji Cutter, into a double down. Narita and Uemura tagged in. Uemura used a slam for a one count. Uemura tried for a double underhook suplex, but Narita blocked it, then hit a backdrop.
Umino jumped in and hit Narita with a dropkick. Narita hit a belly-to-belly on Umino. The match broke down, and four guys brawled to the floor, leaving Narita and Uemura the legal men. Narita hit an overhead belly-to-belly into a bridge and got the pin.
They started off with a wild brawl, with everyone jumping in. Honma hit Yujiro with a kokeshi, but missed one on Tonga. YH hit a dropkick through the ropes to Jado. Loa jumped YH on the floor, and everyone brawled around ringside.
Back inside, Bullet Club worked YH over. Yujiro hit him with a leg drop for a nearfall, then hit some forearm strikes from the mount. Loa hit a powerslam for a nearfall. Tonga teased a brainbuster, but YH escaped, then made a tag to Ishii.
Ishii ran wild, hitting shoulder tackles, a dropkick, and a powerslam. Tonga and Loa cut him off. Tonga hit a neckbreaker for a nearfall. Tonga blocked a lariat, then hit a Tongan Twist. Loa tagged in and covered Ishii for a two count.
Loa tried for a suplex on Ishii, but Ishii reversed it into a brainbuster. Ishii tagged Honma. Honma hit Loa with strikes, a bulldog, a kokeshi, then a pair of lariats. Loa cut him off with a boot to the gut.
Jado hit Honma with a kendo stick, then Loa hit Apesh*t for the pin. This was a weak match except when Ishii was in.
EL PHANTASMO, TAIJI ISHIMORI & BAD LUCK FALE DEFEATED WILL OSPREAY, ROBBIE EAGLES & TOA HENARE
Eagles and Ishimori kicked things off. Eagles went for the Miller Special immediately, but Ishimori reached the ropes. Eagles hit a hurricanrana, then a wheel kick. Ospreay and Eagles used a series of quick tags, working over Ishimori’s left arm. Eagles hit a double stomp off the top rope while Ospreay held the arm.
Henare tagged in. He hit a shoulder tackle for a two count. He tried for a suplex, but Ishimori slipped out and raked Henare’s eyes. Bullet Club worked Henare over. Each member tried a back rake off the top rope. ELP and Ishimori hit theirs, but Henare crotched Fale on his attempt.
Henare managed a tag to Ospreay. Ospreay and Eagles hit some tandem offense, including stereo kicks in the corner. Ospreay hit a standing shooting star press for a nearfall. They teased a double Spanish Fly, but ELP blocked it.
ELP tried to powerbomb Ospreay off the top rope, but Ospreay landed on his feet. Ospreay tried a wall flip, but ELP hit him with an airplane spin neckbreaker.
Henare and Fale got tags. Henare teased a Samoan drop on Fale, but Ishimori made the save. Ishimori hit double knees in the corner. Fale hit a splash in the corner, then hit a splash on the mat. He made a cover, but Ospreay and Eagles saved.
Ospreay and Eagles teased stereo planchas, but Ishimori and ELP avoided them. With those four out on the floor, Henare and Fale were left the legal men.
Henare managed a shoulder tackle for a nearfall. He ran to the corner, but ELP grabbed his ankle from the floor. Fale hit a splash in the corner, then hit The Grenade to get the win.
ELP and Ishimori taunted Eagles and Ospreay after the match. Ospreay and Eagles teased getting back into the ring to attack, but Fale stood in their way as a bodyguard for ELP and Ishimori.
Shingo and Goto started off exchanging hard chops. BUSHI tried to jump in for a double team, but Goto hit him with a Saito suplex. Everyone brawled on the outside. Okada teased hitting a tombstone on SANADA on the floor, but SANADA escaped. Okada sent him into the barricade.
BUSHI and Romero ended up the legal men. They traded chops. Romero got the best of the exchange, then tagged Okada. Okada hit a slam, then used a slingshot senton for a one count. Romero and Okada traded tags, working over BUSHI.
BUSHI came back with a hurricanrana on Okada, then tagged SANADA. SANADA hit a pescado on Okada. He tried for a back suplex, but Okada blocked it. Okada tried for an air raid crash, but SANADA avoided it. Okada hit a flapjack, then tagged Goto.
SANADA hit Goto with a dropkick off the middle rope, then tagged Shingo. Shingo and Goto traded forearms. They hit simultaneous lariats. Shingo hit a jab, but Goto caught him in an ushigoroshi.
Romero tagged in and hit Shingo with forever clotheslines, then used a tornado DDT for a two count. LIJ tripled up on Romero. Shingo used a side slam for a nearfall, with Okada and Goto making the save.
Everyone jumped in. Goto hit Shingo with a lariat. SANADA hit a dropkick to Goto’s legs. Okada went for a Rainmaker on SANADA. SANADA tried Skull End. Okada missed a dropkick. SANADA hit Okada with a dropkick. Romero hit a standing sliced bread on Shingo for a nearfall.
Romero tried for sliced bread again, but Shingo blocked it, then hit a pop-up DVD. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber, then hit Made in Japan on Romero for the pin.
TETSUYA NAITO & EVIL DEFEATED JAY WHITE & CHASE OWENS
Owens attacked EVIL before the bell, and they rolled outside. Naito attacked White with strikes, and White rolled outside, then tagged Owens. Naito tagged EVIL. EVIL hit a series of chops in the corner. He hit the ropes, but Gedo tripped him from the floor.
All four fought around ringside. Back in the ring, Owens hit a back elbow for a one count. EVIL came back with a fisherman buster, then both tagged out.
Naito choked White on the mat. He hit a neckbreaker, then used a dropkick to the back for a nearfall. Naito hit a series of forearms in the corner. White hit a DDT, then tagged Owens. Owens missed a running knee, and Naito hit him with a neckbreaker.
EVIL got a tag. Naito hit Owens with a dropkick. White jumped in to save Owens and sent Naito to the floor. White hit a Blade Buster on EVIL, and Owens followed up with a running knee for a two count.
Owens went for a package piledriver, but EVIL blocked it. Naito jumped in and hit an enzuigiri. White tried to stop Naito. He teased a Blade Runner, but Naito sent him to the floor after a flying headscissors. EVIL hit Owens with a headbutt and a lariat for a nearfall, then used the Scorpion Deathlock for the submission.
White attacked Naito on the floor after the bell. He whipped him into the barricade, then choked him before leaving with Naito’s title belt.
Suzuki attacked Liger at the commentary desk on his way to the ring. He dragged Liger inside the ring, then hit him with the Gotch-style piledriver. Tanahashi and Taguchi ran out to make the save. Taguchi hit a plancha on Suzuki, while Tana and Sabre started off the match inside.
Tana hit a dropkick to Sabre’s left leg, then hit a chop block. Taguchi tagged in and he and Tana hit tandem hip attacks on Sabre. Taguchi kept up the attack on Sabre’s left leg with stomps. Suzuki cut Taguchi off, applying an armbar over the ropes. Suzuki pulled Taguchi to the floor, then proceeded to take the fight into the crowd.
Suzuki hit Taguchi with a chair. Sabre and Tanahashi fought into the crowd, and Sabre used an armbar. After a countout tease, Sabre and Suzuki used a variety of holds to ground Taguchi in the ring. Suzuki used a crossface, while Sabre wrenched on Taguchi’s legs.
Taguchi and Suzuki ended up the legal men. Suzuki hit a hard forearm to the side of Taguchi’s neck. Sabre got a tag and used a PK on Taguchi’s butt. Suzuki applied an ankle lock. Tana came in for the save, but Suzuki got him in a rear naked choke, then tossed him outside.
Sabre and Suzuki continued working Taguchi over in their corner. Taguchi finally made a comeback, hitting Suzuki and Sabre with hip attacks. Tana got a tag. He hit Suzuki with a somersault senton. Suzuki cut him off with a rear naked choke, then tagged Sabre.
Sabre hit Tana with uppercuts. They traded cobra twists. Sabre teased a Zack Driver, but Tana hit him with Twist and Shout, then used a slingblade for a two count. Tana went up top while Suzuki and Taguchi fought to the floor.
Tana went for a High Fly Flow, but Sabre got his knees up. Suzuki and Sabre used armbars on both of Tana’s arms, and Taguchi jumped in for the save. Taguchi and Suzuki rolled outside.
Sabre went for a PK. Tana caught it, then hit a dragon screw before tagging Taguchi. Taguchi hit Sabre with four hip attacks, earning a nearfall.
Taguchi went for Dodon, but Sabre pulled him into a cross armbreaker. Taguchi rolled through into an ankle lock. Sabre reversed into his own ankle lock, but Taguchi rolled through that back to an ankle lock. Sabre rolled to the ropes for a break.
Taguchi went for a hip attack. Sabre caught him with a crucifix. Tana saved. Suzuki jumped in and put Taguchi in a sleeper while Sabre and Tana fought. Sabre hit Tana with a Zack Driver, then hit Taguchi with a Zack Driver for the pin.
After the bell, Sabre used a wristlock on Tanahashi. Uemura and Tsuji tried to make the save, but Suzuki fought them off. Sabre then stomped on Tana’s arms.
Sabre cut a promo on Tanahashi and Boris Johnson after the match. He said Tanahashi is a joke, the Ace is dead, and long live the new Prime Minister of the UK, Zack Sabre Jr.
Suzuki grabbed the mic and said Suzuki-gun is ichiban, then attacked Uemura with a chair for good measure.
A number of big bouts and title matches are set to take place over the next few weeks during NJPW’s Destruction tour.
Destruction in Beppu on Sunday, September 15 will have Hiroshi Tanahashi defending his newly won RevPro British Heavyweight Championship against Zack Sabre Jr., who lost the title to Tanahashi at Royal Quest. IWGP Tag Team Champions Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) will face YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii in a non-title match.
Destruction in Kagoshima the following day will be headlined by Kota Ibushi defending his right to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14 against one of the people he lost to during the G1 Climax, KENTA. El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori will also defend their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles against Will Ospreay & Robbie Eagles.
Shingo Takagi will face Hirooki Goto in a singles match at Destruction in Kobe on Sunday, September 22. That show is being headlined by Testuya Naito defending his IWGP Intercontinental title against Jay White.
The three shows will also feature Young Lion tournament bouts. DOUKI, who previously wrestled in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, is returning for this tour as well.
Here are the full cards for the three Destruction shows:
Destruction in Beppu (September 15) —
RevPro British Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defending against Zack Sabre Jr.
Guerrillas of Destiny vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii
Ahead of Royal Quest, Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi will again be teaming against their respective opponents.
Okada & Tanahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr. has been announced for Revolution Pro Wrestling’s Summer Sizzler 2019. The show is taking place at York Hall in London, England on Friday, August 30.
Okada will defend his IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Suzuki in the main event of NJPW Royal Quest at the Copper Box Arena in London on Saturday, August 31. Tanahashi is challenging for Sabre’s RevPro British Heavyweight Championship in the semi-main event.
There will also be a tag team match with Royal Quest implications at Summer Sizzler. Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) are facing Sha Samuels & Josh Bodom in the finals of a tournament, with the winning team advancing to challenge for Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa’s IWGP Tag Team titles at Royal Quest.
Summer Sizzler will later be uploaded to RevPro’s on-demand service.
NJPW’s Kizuna Road tour ended today in Sendai, with a pair of RPW title matches closing the event.
The main event featured Zack Sabre Jr. defending his RPW British Heavyweight title, as well as his spot in the G1 Climax tournament, against YOSHI-HASHI.
In what was a complete comedy match, the semi-main saw El Phantasmo defend his RPW British Cruiserweight title against Ryusuke Taguchi.
Nagata and Tsuji double-teamed Kojima at the outset. Once Nagata exited, Kojima made a comeback. Tenzan got a tag, and TenKoji worked over Tsuji. Kojima hit his machine gun chops, then hit a diving elbow.
Tsuji hit a dropkick, allowing him to tag Nagata. Nagata hit Kojima with kicks and used an exploder for a near fall. Kojima hit a Koji Cutter, then tagged Tenzan. He hit a sloppy brainbuster, then followed up with chops.
Nagata got a Nagata Lock applied, but Kojima broke it up. Tsuji got a tag. He hit a body slam for a two count, then used a crab. Tenzan flipped out of the crab. Tsuji hit a spear for a near fall as Kojima broke up the pin.
Tenzan and Kojima hit a TenKoji Cutter on Tsuji, but Nagata broke up the pin. Nagata and Kojima brawled to the floor, and Tenzan used the Anaconda Vice on Tsuji for the submission. A below average opener.
EVIL again refused to participate in the LIJ fist bump before the bell.
Umino and Naito started out. Naito sent Umino outside, then hit his tranquilo pose. Umino jumped back in and hit a dropkick. BUSHI and Honma tagged in. Honma missed a kokeshi, and LIJ took the opportunity to begin brawling around ringside.
Back inside, LIJ worked over Honma. SANADA tried for a TKO, but Honma blocked it, hit a kokeshi, and tagged Makabe.
The crowd got into it as Shingo and Makabe exchanged lariats. Ibushi and EVIL tagged in. EVIL missed a senton, and Ibushi connected on a standing Shooting Star Press. EVIL used a misdirection spot, then dropped Ibushi with a clothesline.
Ibushi hit a double backflip kick to Shingo and EVIL, then tagged Narita. Narita hit a brainbuster and a belly-to-belly on Shingo for a near fall. Naito jumped in for the save.
The match broke down, and everyone hit a big move. Shingo went for a noshigami, but Narita turned it into a backslide for a two count. Narita got another near fall off a cradle. Shingo hit a Pumping Bomber for a near fall, then hit noshigami for the pin.
The action really picked up in the last few minutes, particularly once Narita tagged in. Good stuff.
After the match, Ibushi had a staredown with all five members of LIJ in the ring. Naito teased an attack, but Ibushi escaped unscathed.
JUICE ROBINSON & MIKEY NICHOLLS DEFEATED TAMA TONGA & TANGA LOA
They brawled all around the arena at the opening bell. They did a countout tease, but everyone made it back in at 18. Loa and Juice were left the legal men. Tonga hit a neckbreaker, and Tonga and Loa went to work on Juice.
Loa used a chinlock. Juice rolled out, then tagged Nicholls. Nicholls briefly ran wild, but Jado used a kendo stick shot from the floor to cut him off. Loa hit a diving headbutt off the top, and Tonga hit a top rope splash for a near fall.
Tonga took the ref, and Jado jumped in. Juice no-sold a kendo stick shot, then hit a series of jabs. Tonga cut him off with a Gun Stun. Tonga went for a Gun Stun on Nicholls, but Nicholls turned it into a backslide for the pin.
After the bell, Nicholls hit a Mikey Bomb on Tonga, then said that he and Juice want the IWGP Tag Team titles. I expect that to be on the Australia show on Saturday. This was not the most inspired effort from either team, but I guess they accomplished what they set out to do, which was to establish Juice & Nicholls as challengers.
Tanahashi’s team went for a quadruple dropkick on Ishimori, but Ishimori avoided it, and Bullet Club took over. White used a single-leg crab on SHO. Tanahashi got a tag. He and YOH hit stereo dragon screws. Tana hit a somersault senton on White for a two count.
White came back with a Saito suplex, then a brainbuster. He tried for Blade Runner, but Tana reversed it into a Twist and Shout. Henare tagged in and fought off Yujiro. He hit White with a delayed vertical suplex for a two count.
The match broke down. Tana and YOH hit stereo planchas. Henare hit White with a spear for a two count. He tried for a uranage, but White hit a suplex, then used the Blade Runner for the pin.
The match was nothing special, but Henare looked good here. Tanahashi is clearly hurting.
White cut a promo on Hirooki Goto after the match. He said he saw that he ran off to the LA Dojo to see Shibata. He said Goto and Shibata are two failures. Goto ran in and hit a lariat on White. He hit Gedo with an ushigoroshi for good measure.
This was a standard Suzuki-gun brawl. They worked over Tiger Mask at the outset. Things picked up once Okada and Archer tagged in. Okada hit a slam, then avoided Archer’s EBD Claw. Okada hit a dropkick.
Ishii and Taichi tagged in. Taichi connected with a buzzsaw kick and used a stretch plum. They did a long submission tease, but Liger made the save for Ishii.
The match broke down. Yano sent Suzuki into an exposed buckle. Taichi hit an axe bomber on Yano, then hit one on Ishii for a near fall. Ishii blocked a buzzsaw and hit a suplex. DOUKI blind-tagged in, and Suzuki-gun ganged up on Ishii.
DOUKI hit a DDT on Ishii, but Okada saved. Okada hit Archer and DOUKI with dropkicks, allowing Ishii to hit a lariat. Ishii hit the vertical drop brainbuster, then pinned DOUKI.
The last few minutes were fun, but the rest was forgettable.
RPW BRITISH CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: EL PHANTASMO DEFEATED RYUSUKE TAGUCHI TO RETAIN THE TITLE
They did a total comedy Taguchi match. They started with crowd work. They did rope-running comedy. ELP pulled Taguchi’s tights down, exposing his red underpants. Taguchi worked for several minutes with his tights down.
ELP used a chinlock, then hit a quebrada for a two count. Taguchi came back with hip attacks, a rana, and a springboard hip attack to the floor. ELP retaliated by attacking Taguchi’s nipples. ELP hit an airplane spin neckbreaker for a two count.
Taguchi hit Three Amigos, then a DDT. He followed up by hitting Nakamura’s pose, then a running hip attack for a near fall. Taguchi went up top, but got crotched. ELP broke out a reverse rana off the top.
ELP went for a frog splash, but Taguchi got his knees up. Taguchi hit Dodon for a near fall, then slapped on an ankle lock, but ELP reached the ropes.
Taguchi used a cradle for a two count, then went back to the ankle lock. ELP tried to roll through to a cradle, but Taguchi kept the hold applied. ELP reached the ropes, then hit a Canadian Destroyer off the second rope for a near fall.
ELP hit CR2 and got the pin. This was the third time I’ve seen them do a version of the same comedy match in the last month, so this didn’t do anything for me. If you haven’t seen it before, maybe you would enjoy this. More power to you.
RPW BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH WITH A SPOT IN THE G1 CLIMAX 29 AT STAKE: ZACK SABRE JR. DEFEATED YOSHI-HASHI TO RETAIN THE TITLE
They began with some mat wrestling. Sabre had the clear edge, but YH held his own. YH hit a couple of chops to the chest, and Sabre decided he was done toying with YH. He used a heel hook over the bottom rope, then sent the same left leg of YH into the barricade.
Back in the ring, Sabre continued to target the left leg. YH fired up and hit a chop, and Sabre responded by hitting a dropkick to the bad leg. YH came back with a brainbuster, a dropkick to the back, then a neckbreaker.
YH missed a swanton bomb, and Sabre went for a cross armbreaker. YH rolled to the ropes. Sabre used a triangle choke. YH hit a powerbomb, breaking the hold. YH went to the top rope, but Sabre cut him off. Sabre used an ankle lock over the top rope.
Sabre tried for a superplex, but YH fought him off. YH hit a Headhunter off the top rope for a two count. YH tried for the butterfly lock. Sabre went for the octopus, but YH turned it into an octopus of his own, then hit a shoulder breaker.
YH hit a thrust kick, then applied the butterfly lock. Sabre rolled to the ropes, forcing a break. Sabre blocked a lariat. YH hit the ropes, but ran into a step-over toehold. Sabre then used a neck crank, but YH reached the ropes.
YH blocked a Zack Driver and hit a backstabber. He followed with double knees off the ropes for a two count. Sabre blocked Kharma, then hit a PK. He hit another PK, then strolled around the ring. Yep, he just went for a walk.
YH tried to fire up. He hit a chop, but Sabre stomped on his arm. Sabre hit a series of uppercuts, then slaps to the face. YH used a cradle for a near fall, then hit a lariat. He dropped Sabre again with a forearm, then hit a fisherman buster for a near fall.
Sabre blocked Kharma, then trapped YH’s legs in a figure four. He also pinned YH’s arms underneath him, and torqued on the legs with his arms for good measure. YH submitted. The move wasn’t Napalm Death or Hurrah!, so I’m not sure what to call it.
A good effort from both guys, but this was a style clash to say the least.
Sabre cut a promo after the match. He promised to win the G1 — and to become the first British IWGP Heavyweight Champion.
A stipulation has been added to Zack Sabre Jr. and YOSHI-HASHI’s match at Kizuna Road next week.
Sabre is set to defend his Revolution Pro Wrestling British Heavyweight Championship against YOSHI-HASHI at NJPW’s Kizuna Road show in Sendai next Tuesday (June 25). After a challenge that was issued by YOSHI-HASHI, Sabre’s spot in this year’s G1 Climax will also be on the line as part of the match.
Sabre, Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Will Ospreay, KENTA, EVIL, SANADA, Bad Luck Fale, and Lance Archer have been announced as the A Block participants for the G1.
RevPro British Cruiserweight Champion El Phantasmo is defending his title against Ryusuke Taguchi at Tuesday’s Kizuna Road show. It will air live on New Japan World. Here’s the full card:
RevPro British Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defending against YOSHI-HASHI (Taguchi will take Sabre’s spot in the G1 Climax if he wins)
RevPro British Cruiserweight Champion El Phantasmo defending against Ryusuke Taguchi
Two title matches highlight tonight’s Sengoku Lord event in Nagoya.
Kota Ibushi will make his first title defense since winning the Intercontinental title at Madison Square Garden when he faces Zack Sabre Jr. in the main event. It was in the second round of the New Japan Cup last month where Sabre was able to defeat Ibushi, and now looks to do the same tonight.
Juice Robinson will also be defending his title on the card as he faces the Rogue Leader of the Bullet Club, Bad Luck Fale. He set his sights on the title shortly after Robinson successfully defended it against Chase Owens last month and looks to do the deed tonight.
Owens will be in a featured match as well, as he is scheduled to face ‘Mad’ Mikey Nicholls in singles action. The rest of the card are mainly tag team matches, with one having Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito in opposite corners in a ten man tag team match.
Join us tonight for live coverage starting at 5 a.m. EST. There will be English commentary.
The four engaged in some pushing and shoving before the opening bell.
Tsuji and Umino traded forearms on the ground, then standing. Umino scored a nearfall off a back elbow. Narita got a tag and worked over Tsuji’s head and neck.
After being worked over, Tsuji was finally able to make a tag to Uemura for the first time. Tsuji and Uemura hit a double dropkick on Umino. Uemura hit a nice double underhook suplex for a two count on Narita.
Uemura hit the ropes, but ran right into a bridging belly-to-belly from Ren Narita, who used the hold for the pinfall.
MINORU SUZUKI, TAICHI, YOSHINOBU KANEMARU, EL DESPERADO & TAKA MICHINOKU DEFEATED SATOSHI KOJIMA, YUJI NAGATA, TOMOAKI HONMA, TOA HENARE & JUSHIN LIGER (12:16)
A chaotic ten-man followed the very good opener. This was a mixed bag. The Liger and Suzuki showdown was cool, and something I hope to see more of.
Suzuki-gun jumped their opponents before the bell. Honma halted their momentum, hitting a pair of kokeshis on TAKA. TAKA made a tag to Suzuki, who demanded that Liger tag in. Liger obliged.
Liger and Suzuki exchanged palm strikes to the chest. Liger sent Suzuki outside and teased a baseball slide, but Suzuki escaped, then sent Liger into the barricade.
The match broke down into a crowd brawl. Suzuki buried Liger under pile of chairs. Liger beat the count back into the ring at 19.
Taichi tagged in and went for Liger’s mask. Liger fought him off. Suzuki-gun used a series of quick tags, isolating Liger in their corner. Liger hit a superplex on Kanemaru, a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on Desperado, then tagged Nagata.
Nagata ran wild with kicks and exploder suplexes. Kojima tagged in, and hit a series of machine gun chops. He went for the top rope elbow, but Suzuki cut him off. Kojima hit a Koji Cutter on Taichi. Henare tagged in. He dropped Taichi with a shoulder tackle, then hit a brainbuster.
The match broke down into chaos. Everyone jumped in. Eventually, Henare and Taichi were the only two left in the ring. Taichi hit a buzzsaw kick, a superkick, then used a stretch plum for the submission victory.
After the bell, Suzuki used a heel hook on Liger on the floor.
Fun fact: Suzuki does a bit on his Instagram where he wears a different pair of Stance socks every day, and posts a photo of them. I met Suzuki at WrestleCon a couple of weeks ago, and I wore a pair of Stance socks. I showed Suzuki, who could not have been less impressed with them, or me.
The best stuff here was in the opening minutes of the match, in the exchange between Dragon Lee and Taiji Ishimori.
Dragon and Ishimori kicked things off. Dragon teased a dive, but Jado nailed him with a kendo stick from the floor, allowing Ishimori to take over. Ishimori hit a sliding German. Dragon hit a knee strike, enabling him to tag Makabe. Dragon and Ishimori have great chemistry.
Makabe and Tonga did a few spots. Yano made a tag, and untied a turnbuckle pad. The Bullet Club went three-on-one on Yano. Dragon hit a tope con hilo to the floor, but took himself out along with Ishimori.
Tonga and Loa doubled up on Yano, but Makabe saved with a double lariat. Yano used a schoolboy on Loa for the pin.
Yano tried to steal Tonga and Loa’s belts after the match, but the Bullet Club preceded to beat down their opponents, leaving them laying.
MIKEY NICHOLLS DEFEATED CHASE OWENS (8:55)
This was an odd match. There was nothing technically wrong with it. The work was solid. It also had little heat from the crowd. It felt like they had just started when they were already getting into nearfalls and the closing sequence.
As Nicholls made his entrance, Jado came down the ramp behind him, and hit him with a kendo stick. Owens used the attack to establish the early advantage. Owens hit a leg sweep on the floor, sending Nicholls into the barricade. They teased a countout, but Nicholls made it back in at 19.
Owens used an abdominal stretch, and pulled on the top rope for extra leverage. Nicholls hit a DDT, four clotheslines, and a spinebuster. Nicholls hit a DVD, and used a sliding lariat for a nearfall.
Owens hit a series of strikes, a lariat, and hit a running knee. Owens used a Final Cut for a two count. Owens hit a thumb to the eye, then a superkick. He hit the ropes, but ran right into a Mikey Bomb, and Nicholls got the pin.
HIROOKI GOTO & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI DEFEATED JAY WHITE & HIKULEO (10:57)
The theme of the night was CHAOS picking up wins over the Bullet Club, and that continued here. The match was just alright.
Goto wanted to start things off with White. White agreed, but then immediately tagged out. Goto made quick work of Hikuleo, and White tagged in. Goto and Taguchi hit a series of clotheslines on White in the corner.
Hikuleo jumped back in and hit both with clotheslines, allowing Bullet Club to take over. White and Hikuleo used quick tags, and worked over Taguchi. White countered two hip attacks, but Taguchi hit a third, into a double down.
Goto tagged in, going one-on-one with White. Goto hit a Saito suplex for a two count. White escaped the ushigoroshi twice, then hit a Saito suplex of his own. Hikuleo tagged in. Taguchi jumped in for the save, but Hikuleo hit him with a powerslam.
Gedo jumped on the apron for a distraction, but Goto shoved White into him. Goto hit an ushigoroshi on White, then one on the legal man, Hikuleo.
Goto followed with a GTR on Hikuleo, and got the pin.
This was a fun ten-man tag. With as much talent as there was in the ring, it would have been nearly impossible to have a bad match. The EVIL and Ishii showdowns here were especially good.
YOH and Shingo began. Shingo went for a dragon screw, but YOH avoided it, and hit one of his own. Ishii got a tag, and demanded EVIL. EVIL entered, and the two traded strikes. This got a great reaction. They exchanged for a solid minute without a respite. They then went to trading shoulder blocks, and Ishii finally got the upper hand.
YOSHI-HASHI tagged in, and chopped away at EVIL. EVIL used misdirection, and knocked Ishii off the apron. Ishii jumped in, and EVIL dropped him with chops. SHO tagged in, and YOH entered illegally for the double team on EVIL.
Everyone got involved as the action spilled to the floor. The brawl ended with BUSHI and Shingo in the ring, doubling up on SHO. Shingo and SHO went one-on-one. SHO ducked the Pumping Bomber, then hit a dropkick and a spear.
Okada and SANADA tagged in, ahead of their upcoming IWGP title match. They did a series of counters and reversals based on their trademark spots. Okada hit a DDT, while SANADA countered with a leapfrog dropkick.
BUSHI and YOH got tags. BUSHI avoided a 3K from SHO and YOH, and hit a double rana. Naito tagged in, and YOH took him out with a dropkick to the knee. YOSHI-HASHI tagged in, and hit Naito with a double stomp.
CHAOS teamed up on Naito. YOSHI-HASHI hit double knees on Naito and made a cover, but EVIL made the save.
The match broke down, with everyone hitting a big move. The sequence ended with YOSHI-HASHI hitting Naito with a lariat for a two count.
LIJ teamed up against YOSHI-HASHI, who ate a Codebreaker from BUSHI, then a Destino from Naito, who got the pin.
IWGP UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: JUICE ROBINSON DEFEATED BAD LUCK FALE TO RETAIN THE TITLE (17:33)
This was tough sledding. It’s tough to have a good match with Fale, and it’s even tougher to have a good, long singles match with him.
They built the match around Juice trying to slam Fale. Fale knew that Juice’s plan was to slam him. So he worked over Juice’s back, so that Juice could slam him.
Fale attacked Juice before the bell. The assault continued after the bell, and Fale slammed Juice into a row of seats. They teased a countout, but Juice made it back to the ring in time. Fale continued working over Juice’s back.
Juice made a comeback, but continued to sell his back. He hit a cannonball, but could not follow up due to the damage to his back. Juice avoided a Grenade twice. He went for a slam again, but Fale collapsed on top of him for a nearfall.
Fale hit a splash for a two count. Fale hit a spear, then hit a Grenade, but Juice kicked out at two. Fale went for the Bad Luck Fall, but Juice slipped out and hit the Left Hand of God.
Juice hit a high cross off the top, then another Left Hand. Juice finally got the bodyslam, then hit Pulp Friction for the pin.
I liken trying to have a match with immobile or musclebound big guys to attempting to wrestle various appliances or pieces of furniture.
Wrestling Jinder Mahal would be like wrestling a recliner. Wrestling Drew McIntyre would be like wrestling an office chair. Office chairs have wheels, so they’re a little more mobile. I think wrestling Fale would be like wrestling a refrigerator.
IWGP INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: KOTA IBUSHI DEFEATED ZACK SABRE JR. TO RETAIN THE TITLE (29:09)
An excellent main event. I think this was better than their most recent singles match, but I think I liked their 2018 New Japan Cup match a little bit more.
Ibushi used a blistering kick to the quad to keep Sabre at bay early on, as Sabre looked to take the fight to the ground. They eventually locked up, and Sabre used some holds to ground Ibushi. Ibushi quickly baited Sabre into striking again, and Ibushi landed another hard kick to the leg. Sabre took a stroll around the ring to regroup.
Sabre tied up Ibushi. He went for a headscissors, but Ibushi blocked it. Ibushi sent Sabre to the outside after a snap rana. They fought on the floor. Sabre locked Ibushi up with a bodyscissors over the barricade. Sabre then applied a cobra twist over the barricade.
Sabre cranked on Ibushi’s head and neck with his legs, as they fought on the apron. Ibushi fell to the floor, while Sabre went back inside. Ibushi made it back in as well, and Sabre continued to target the head and neck.
Sabre hit a suplex, then a pump kick to Ibushi’s left arm. Ibushi fought back, hitting a pair of strikes to the abdomen. Sabre pinned both of Ibushi’s arms behind him, tied up his legs, and made a cover for a nearfall.
Sabre used a neck crank, then slipped to a head and arm choke, but Ibushi powered out with a slam. Sabre used an octopus hold, but Ibushi rolled to the ropes, forcing a break. Sabre used a modified single-leg crab, but Ibushi again forced a rope break.
Ibushi hit a dropkick out of nowhere, sending Sabre to the floor. Ibushi hit a pescado. Sabre rolled back inside, and Ibushi hit a springboard dropkick. Ibushi hit a powerslam. He went for a moonsault, but Sabre caught him coming in, and turned it into a triangle choke at the fifteen minute mark. Ibushi forced a break.
They traded pinning combinations. Ibushi hit a straightjacket German for a two count. Sabre used a European clutch for a two count, then transitioned to a butterfly neck crank. Ibushi again forced a rope break. Sabre hit a running uppercut, but missed a PK. Sabre blocked a head kick, then used a bridging suplex for a nearfall. Sabre hit a PK for another two count.
Sabre taunted Ibushi with some short kicks to the head, then followed with three PKs. Ibushi caught a fourth, and dropped Sabre with a palm strike to the chest.
They had a slap fight, ending with Ibushi hitting a lariat. Ibushi went for a Last Ride, but Sabre turned it into a triangle. Ibushi powerbombed out of the triangle. Ibushi went for another Last Ride, but Sabre hit the Zack Driver. Exhausted, Sabre could not follow up.
They traded strikes on the mat. They made it back to their feet, and continued to trade. Ibushi hit a suplex, and Sabre rolled to the apron. Ibushi tried for a deadlift suplex back inside, but Sabre cut him off with a guillotine. Ibushi escaped, and hit a backflip kick.
Ibushi went for a Bomaye, but Sabre ducked it, and used a bridge for a two count. Ibushi hit a high kick, then hit Last Ride for a two count.
Sabre escaped a Kamigoye, and slipped to an octopus hold. Ibushi slid out, and hit a knee strike. He followed with a Kamigoye, and got the pin.
Naito came out after the match, and grabbed a microphone. He challenged Ibushi to face him at a later date, and Ibushi accepted.
The day before they face off at G1 Supercard, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Zack Sabre Jr. will be on opposite sides of a tag match for Revolution Pro Wrestling.
RevPro has announced that Tanahashi & Will Ospreay will face British Tag Team Champions Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr. in a non-title match at their WrestleMania week show in New York City on Friday, April 5. The event is taking place at the Hilton New York Midtown Ballroom and will begin at 3 p.m. Eastern time.
RevPro’s show in NYC is being presented by WrestleCon.
Tanahashi vs. Sabre at ROH-NJPW G1 Supercard will be for Sabre’s RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship. Ospreay is NJPW’s NEVER Openweight Champion and will face ROH Television Champion Jeff Cobb in a title vs. title match at G1 Supercard.
Ospreay was originally scheduled to team with PAC against CCK (Chris Brookes & Jonathan Gresham) at RevPro’s WrestleMania week show, but PAC had to be pulled from WrestleCon due to a visa issue.
