NJPW PPV Results
Mitchell’s NJPW WTL X Super Jr. Tag Results & Report! (12/14/22)
It all comes down to this!
Time to lift the trophies high!
NJPW’s double tag tournament series finishes as World Tag League and Super Jr. Tag League finally have their finals! Who wins their golden tickets to WrestleKingdom 17?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Alex Zayne & El Lindaman VS Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita; Zayne & Lindaman win.
- KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight VS Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls; Shane & Mikey win.
- 8 Man Tag: Tiger Mask, Robbie Eagles, Alex Coughlin & Gabriel Kidd VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Suzuki-Gun VS The House of Torture; Suzuki-Gun wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Toru Yano, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Clark Connors VS Los Ingobernables de Japon; LIJ wins.
- Six Man Tag: Kazuchika Okada, Tama Tonga & Master Wato VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Karl Anderson VS Hikuleo; Anderson wins and retains the title.
- Super Jr. Tag League 2022 Finals: YOH & Lio Rush VS Ace Austin & Chris Bey; Yoh & Lio win and will challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships.
- World Tag League 2022 Finals: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI VS Aussie Open; Goto & Hashi win and will challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships.
PLAY BY PLAY
After Suzuki-Gun’s victory, Minoru Suzuki himself gets the mic.
“Why are you applauding? 2011, me, Taichi and Taka Michinoku started Suzuki-Gun. Lance Archer quickly joined. The four of us were going at full force. Now it’s 2022, and we’ve gone through an awful lot. Taichi, you used to be nothing, and now look at tough he’s become. You were an idiot, but you’re experience and your knowledge has come in so helpful for all of us. I understand that and I acknowledge that. Lance, I first met you in an indie, and now look at you. I was the first Japanese person to wrestle Lance Archer. And you’re my brother and you’ll always be my brother.
“Desperado, you are not nothing. You are the Junior Heavyweight Ace in NJPW. Kanemaru, with his in-ring, there’s no one more reliable. Douki, we always talk about Heel wrestlers having to eat dirt, but he did it and really pulled himself up from the dirt floor and through hell to be where he is today. And Zack, he isn’t here today, but I am so glad that I went to the UK and plucked you up to be a part of Suzuki-Gun. And I want to test you and to stretch you in the ring.
“Oh, now you’re applauding? Suzuki-Gun was born 11 years ago, and you guys have done nothing but taunt us, yell at us, boo us. Sometimes, you’ve thrown trash at us. Calling us scum, telling us to go off and die. But that’s us, that’s Suzuki-Gun. And now look at what we’ve become. You all love us. In 2023, Suzuki-Gun will go on a new voyage. We will all go on our own individual journeys, and at the end of 2022, Suzuki-Gun will be no more. Thank you.” Fans applaud but this is truly shocking news! What does this mean for the future of NJPW’s meanest faction?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Karl Anderson VS Hikuleo w/ Jado!
The Machine Gun may be with his Good Brothers in WWE, but he’s back in Japan to settle scores! This was meant to go down for Battle Autumn, but will all that time waiting make the Young Gun even more determined? Or will the bright lights still shine on “Hollywood” Karl Anderson?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if title stays home or goes back to the US!
The bell rings and Karl rushes in! Hikuleo clinches him for a CHOKE BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Karl survives and fans fire up as Hiku stays on him. Hikuleo whips but Karl holds ropes! Karl bails out, hurries to No Man’s Land, but Hikuleo is in pursuit! Hiku CLUBS Karl, drags him up, CHOPS him, and then stalks him along the way. Fans applaud as Hikuleo scoops Karl, for SNAKE EYES off the railing! Hikuleo says he’s been waiting two months for this! He stomps Karl back to ringside, but Karl goes up the ramp. Hikuleo CLUBS Karl down! Fans fire up as Hikuleo RAMS Karl into railing!
The ref reprimands but Hikuleo sits Karl up to CLUB him in the chest. Karl staggers away to get in the ring but Hikuleo pursues. Hikuleo keeps Karl from bailing back out, to RAM him into a corner! Fans applaud and Karl bails out again. Hikuleo pursues as Karl goes back to No Man’s Land. Hikuleo CLUBS Karl, drags him up, and CHOPS him! Fans applaud that while Karl curses under his breath. Hikuleo digs Karl’s head into the floor! The ref reprimands, starts a ring count, and Hikuleo lets off. Hikuleo slaps Karl around as he heads for ringside. Hikuleo whips Karl at 10 of 20, right into railing!
Hikuleo storms up as the count reaches 15, but puts Karl in at 16. Fans applaud and Hikuleo steps in, but Karl kicks the ropes! Hikuleo gets jammed up, and then Karl grabs a leg for a DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Hikuleo falls to the floor and Karl goes out after him! Karl waits for Hikuleo to sit up, and then he stomps the bad leg. Hikuleo goes to the railing, stands up, and Karl mule kicks the bad leg out! Karl grabs that leg, puts it around the railing, but the ref counts. Karl lets off, but then BOOTS the railing! Karl goes to the ring and fans applaud while Hikuleo clutches a leg. Fans rally up as the ring count climbs, and Hikuleo stands at 10 of 20.
Karl goes out to kick Hikuleo’s leg out again! Karl stomps the bad leg, slides back in at 13 of 20, and lets the count climb. Fans rally up as Hikuleo staggers up at 18 and slides in! Karl stomps Hikuleo’s leg, stalks him to a corner and stomps him more. Karl says he’s the greatest NEVER Openweight Champion ever, then he stomps Hikuleo down. Karl digs his knee in, but he lets off as the ref counts 4. Karl drags Hikuleo into a toehold but fans rally as Hikuleo endures. Hikuleo CLUBS Karl, Karl holds on, so Hikuleo drags himself and Karl over. Hikuleo reaches out to the ROPEBREAK! Karl lets off and mockingly applauds Hikuleo’s toughness.
Karl gets the fans to rally up, and he runs the ropes, but Hikuleo avoids the senton! Jado rallies the fans for Hikuleo and he drags himself up. Hikuleo storms up but Karl throws a forearm! Hikuleo throws one back! Karl kicks the bad leg! Hikuleo staggers, he ROCKS Karl, but Karl kicks the bad leg again! Hikuleo CHOPS in return! Fans fire up but Karl fires off forearms! Karl eggs Hikuleo on, and Hikuleo DECKS him! Fans fire up and Hikuleo runs in to elbow Karl at the corner! Hikuleo throws a forearm, CHOPS, then whips corner to corner! Hikuleo runs and SPLASHES, then scoops Karl for SNAKE EYES!
Hikuleo keeps moving, he LARIATS Karl down! Cover, TWO!! Karl survives again but Hikuleo drags Karl up. Fans rally, Hikuleo scoops, but Karl slips off. Karl shoves Hikuleo to the corner, runs in, but Hikuleo dodges! Karl bounces off buckles, Hikuleo scoops Karl, and he hits a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!! Karl continues to survive, but Hikuleo choke grips! Hikuleo drags Karl up but Karl throws elbows. Hikuleo CHOPS, runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Now Hikuleo survives and Karl is frustrated! Fans rally up, Karl stalks Hikuleo, and then he pounds the mat. Fans drum along as Hikuleo rises. GUN- NO, Hikuleo fights off the Gun Stun!
Hikuleo shoves Karl to the corner, Karl bounces off buckles, and Hikuleo hits a SPINNING POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!! Karl survives again but Hikuleo choke grips again! But here comes GEDO! Jado manages to anchor Gedo at the apron, and Hikuleo choke grips him! Hikuleo CHOKE SLAMS Gedo onto Karl! Fans fire up and Hikuleo waits on Karl to get back up! Karl staggers over, into another choke grip! CHOKE- GUN STUN!! Cover, KARL WINS?!
Winner: Karl Anderson, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Champion)
The only one not stunned by this is Karl himself! The bright lights are still shining for the Machine Gun, will no one keep him from traveling the world with this belt?
Wait, Karl gets the mic to talk! First in Japanese, “Sendai, I’m sorry. It’s been a long time.” Then in English, “Sendai loves Karl Anderson! I know that! The world loves Karl Anderson. What did I say? I was coming to NJPW to defend the NEVER Openweight Championship because Karl Anderson is the greatest NEVER Openweight Champion of all time! Karl Anderson sugoi legend. Sugoi kakui legend.” That is to say, Karl is an awesome and cool legend. Karl vows to be NEVER Openweight Champion FOR ALL OF ETERNITY! He will be the champion forever!! FOR-E-VER! But wait! Here comes Tama Tonga, the man he took the title from!
Tama and Karl get in each other’s face, and then the forearms start flying! Fans rally, the timekeeper is ringing the bell, Tama ROCKS Karl, but Karl fights off the Gun Stun to GUN STUN Tama!! The Good Bad Guy took his shot but got shot down, and Karl gets the mic to tell him, “I will see you at WrestleKingdom, bitch!” The Machine Gun understood this was Tama making a challenge and he has accepted it! If Karl really is the greatest NEVER Openweight Champion, will he make 2023 the Year of Bright Lights?
Super Jr. Tag League 2022 Finals: YOH & Lio Rush VS Ace Austin & Chris Bey!
Chaos’ Men of the Hour and Bullet Club’s Impact boys have battled already, and it was Direct Drive & The Bad Child who came out on top! But the #InevitableFinesse claim that was just dumb luck! If so, will Yoh & Lio get lucky again? Or will Ace & Bey have an impact on WrestleKingdom 17?
The teams sort out, Yoh & Lio high-three but then Ace has them stop that. Bullet Club Too Sweets, and then Yoh & Lio attack! They brawl, Red Shoes rings the bell and this is on record as Ace throws Lio out. Lio drags Ace out and he fires off haymakers on Ace! Yoh goes after Bey, but Ace tackles Lio and rains down fists! Ace stomps Lio, Yoh whips Bey, things speed up in the ring as Yoh sidesteps to drop toehold and basement dropkick! Fans fire up as Bey bails out and Yoh builds speed! Ace gets in to DROPKICK Yoh down! Yoh bails out, Lio gets in, he dodges Ace to springboard and RANA, but Ace handsprings through!
Fans fire up as Lio handsprings to dodge! Lio mule kicks and ENZIGURIS Ace down! Fans fire up more, and Lio whips Ace to a corner. Ace reverses, Lio slides to a stop and Ace runs in. Lio puts Ace on the apron, Ace slingshots up and around but Lio ducks under. Ace runs in but Lio dodges again. Ace slips through the ropes to the apron, shoulders into Lio, and Ace steps in to FLYING- NO, Lio ducks the roundhouse! Lio bobs ‘n’ weaves to avoid Ace’s haymakers, then Lio steps in. Lio whips Ace at Bey, Yoh runs in, NECKBREAKER to Bey that causes him to DDT Ace! Fans fire up as the Men of the Hour stand tall!
Yoh officially becomes the legal man, then he tags Lio in. Fans rally as they stomp Bey and bring him up. They double whip Bey, sidestep and kick low. Lio runs in but Bey avoids the scissor kick! Bey runs but into double elbows! Lio runs, wheelbarrows with Yoh, WHEELBARROW SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Lio stalks Bey to ropes. Lio stomps away, CLUBS Bey down, then CLUBS him some more. Lio rains down more fists on Bey, puts him on the ropes and CHOKES him, but lets off as Red Shoes counts 4. Yoh also has Lio cool off, and Yoh tags in. Fans rally but then Lio tags right back in! Lio fires off on Bey more!
Yoh drags Lio away from Bey and tells him to cool it! A disqualification will cost them. Yoh tells Lio to let him handle Bey. Lio accepts that, and he tags Yoh back in. Fans rally again, but then Bey shoves Yoh into Lio! Bey snapmares Yoh, stomps him, Lio gets in but Red Shoes keeps him back! This allows Ace to join in and stomp Yoh with Bey! Lio is furious but he has no choice but to stand down. Bey laughs and drags Yoh away. Tag to Ace and they double whip Yoh to a corner. Bey sets up for Ace’s POMMEL KICK! Then Ace sets up for FINESSE IN MOTION! Feed to the drop toehold and capoeria kick, and then DOUBLE STOMPS! Ace covers, TWO!
Ace drags Yoh away and DDTs a leg! Ace KICKS Yoh in the back, throws up the Too Sweets, then digs his knee into Yoh’s head. Fans rally but Ace drags Yoh up. Ace puts Yoh in the corner, digs his boot in, but Red Shoes counts. Ace lets off, he tags Bey, and Bey taunts Yoh. Bullet Club double wrench, double CLAW, then double drop toehold to Too Sweet CLAW! Fans applaud the shoutout to El Phantasmo while Bey taunts Lio. Fans rally, Bey stomps Lio, and then Bey drags Lio up. Bey suplexes Yoh high and hard, then glares at Lio as he covers. TWO, and fans applaud! Bey tags Ace, drags Yoh up, and they mug Yoh.
Ace arm-drags Yoh to a mounted armbar! Red Shoes checks with Yoh but Ace brings the ace up his sleeve out of his sleeve. PAPERCUT! Fans applaud and Ace hides the card. Ace then brings Yoh up to back suplex! Tag to Bey and he climbs up. Fans rally, Bey aims, and he jumps, to then land on his feet. And then he stomps Yoh hard in the chest! Fans applaud the trick but Lio and Bey talk trash again. Bey drags Yoh up, brings him around, but Yoh fires off forearms! Yoh CHOPS Bey but Bey knees low! Tag to Ace, they double whip Yoh to ropes, but Yoh holds ropes! Ace runs in but Yoh throws him out! Bey runs in, but Yoh dumps him out!
Bey holds Yoh’s arm to keep him from Lio! Bey shoulders into Yoh, slingshots up and over, runs but Yoh dropkicks the legs out! Fans fire up and Yoh crawls for the corner! Ace runs in to intercept! But Yoh back drops Ace away! Only for Bey to trip Lio off the apron! Bey RAMS Lio into the railing, Ace CLOBBERS Yoh from behind! Ace drags Yoh up and Bey slides in. DOUBLE SWEEP! Click, click, BOOM! The Moonsault and Leg Drop! Cover, TWO! Ace grows frustrated but the fans rally up for Yoh. Ace drags Yoh up, reels him in and puts him in a corner. Ace CHOPS, stomps, and then CHOPS again!
Yoh eggs Ace on so Ace CHOPS again! Yoh keeps egging Ace on, Ace CHOPS him down! Fans rally, Ace drags Yoh up but Yoh fights the yoyo! Yoh wrenches out, ROCKS, CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS! Ace kicks low! Ace whips Yoh to the corner but Yoh uses that to BLAST Bey! Ace kicks, whips, but Yoh reverses to DROPKICK Ace down! Fans fire up as Yoh crawls for his corner! Ace drags Yoh away but Yoh ENZIGURIS Ace away! Hot tag to Lio! Lio rallies on Ace, then really fires off on Bey! Bey blocks a kick, flips Lio, but Lio lands on his feet! Lio ducks Bey’s haymaker, whips, but Bey reverses, only for Lio to go up and around to whip again!
Lio then HANDSPRING KICKS Ace! Bey comes back, back suplexes, but Lio lands on his feet! Lio ducks Bey to WRECK Ace with a dropkick, and then hit RUSH HOUR on Bey! All in one motion!! Fans fire up, Lio covers, TWO!! Bey survives and Lio can’t believe it! Lio says it is time, and fans fire up as he climbs. Ace storms over, slingshots and STEINERS Lio down! Ace calls to Bey, they drag Lio up. Bey spins Lio for a KNEE SMASH, but Yoh DECKS Ace! Yoh blocks a kick from Bey and flips him, but Bey uses that to go from headlock to dragon sleeper on Lio! Only for Yoh to JUMP KNEE him! Lio rolls Bey for the SPINNING KICK!
Fans fire up as Yoh drags Bey up. Lio goes to a corner and climbs while Yoh hits FALCON GOROSHI! Yoh rushes out after Ace! Lio is up top, FINAL HOUR!! But Ace returns, only for Lio to throw him right back out! Bey cradles Lio but Lio rolls it! The rolling cradle goes around and around, Lio has it at last! TWO!! Lio staggers up all dizzy, but he finds his way to Bey. Bey SUPERMAN FOREARMS! Lio SCISSOR KICKS!! Fans are thunderous as both men are down! Lio crawls for his corner, as does Bey, hot tags to Yoh and Ace! Direct Drive dodges to fire off forearms! Yoh whips, then FLYING FOREARMS Ace down!
Fans fire up with Yoh and he runs at Ace in the corner! Ace BOOTS Yoh, runs, but Yoh handsprings into dodge! Mule kick and NECKBREAKER! Yoh then hits a HALF HATCH SUPLEX with a bridge! TWO!! Ace survives but fans fire up behind Yoh. Yoh storms up to drag Ace up. Yoh tries the underhooks but Ace fights free. Yoh kicks, whips, but Ace holds ropes. Ace boots but Yoh blocks to put him on the apron! But Ace dumps Yoh out! Ace avoids the sweep to PENALTY KICK Yoh down! Fans rally, Bey builds speed now! Bey FLIES to take out Yoh at the ramp! Ace and Bey coordinate, but Lio builds speed! Ace jumps over Lio as he DIVES onto Bey!
Ace builds speed now, to FALL TO GLORY on Lio and Yoh! Fans fire up and Ace fires up! Ace drags Yoh up, but Yoh hits FALCON ARROW to the floor! Fans fire up while all four men are down at ringside! Red Shoes starts the ring count as the four men stir. The count reaches 10 of 20 before anyone sits up. Bey and Ace flounder but we’re at 15! Yoh and Lio stir at 16, everyone stands up and slides in at 19!! Fans rally as the match continues! Lio and Yoh help each other up, and they make their way over to Ace & Bey. Yoh & Lio throw forearms, but Ace & Bey give them back. Yoh & Lio throw more forearms, but Ace & Bey give them back.
Fans rally as the shots go back and forth, faster and faster as the four men stand! The shots go fast and furious, Ace throws knees on Yoh but Lio ROCKS Ace! Bey swings on Lio but Lio ducks, so Bey BACKHANDS Yoh! Lio kicks but Bey blocks, hands it off to Ace, but Ace ducks and the ENZIGURI hits Bey! Ace runs in to POMMEL KICK Yoh! Lio fires off fast hands and he ROCKS Ace! Lio and Yoh combine, STARSHIP ROLLING LARIAT! Fans fire up, Yoh SUPERKICKS Ace back down! Fans are thunderous as the Men of the Hour fire up! Yoh drags Ace up, Lio runs, RUSH HOUR hits Yoh as Ace moves!!
Fans are stunned, as is Lio! Bey and Ace DOUBLE BUZZSAW Lio down! They shove Lio out and drag Yoh up! Bey says this is over! Gut wrench and Canadian rack, CLIFFHANGER DDT! Ace goes up, SWANTON! Cover, TWO?!? Yoh survives and Bullet Club can’t believe it! Fans fire up as Ace drags Yoh back up. Ace and Bey coordinate, A B C, One Two SWEET CUTTER!! And then LIO SPEARS ACE!! Bey doesn’t realize until he turns around to see Ace down! Bey glares at Lio but Lio glares back. Fans fire up as Bey fires forearms! Lio fires up to fire forearms back! Lio roars, but Bey BITES Lio’s hand! Bey HEEL KICKS Lio down!!
Bey drags Lio up, torture racks, Ace sets up on the apron! But Lio slips off, FLYING CHUCK hits Bey! Yoh SUPERKICKS Ace!! The Men of the Hour get ready, they drag Ace up and whip him to ropes! 3K!!! Cover, Bey drags Red Shoes back! Red Shoes reprimands but the damage is done! Bey flips Red Shoes off, but Lio DIVES onto Bey! Lio tells Red Shoes to get in the ring! Red Shoes obliges, Lio goes up top! FINAL HOUR onto Ace!! Yoh fires up and the fans fire up with him! Yoh drags Ace up for DIRECT DRIVE!!! Cover, Yoh & Lio win!!!
Winners: Yoh & Lio Rush, by pinfall (Super Jr. Tag League 2022 Winners)
It is truly their time! They took every card Ace & Bey had to play and now they have the jackpot! Red Shoes brings them the trophies, Yoh & Lio high-three before raising the trophies high! Will they soon be WrestleKingdom 17’s Men of the Hour when they go after those IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships?
World Tag League 2022 Finals: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI VS Aussie Open!
Bishamon is going back-to-back as World Tag League finalists! But now, they run into the future of tag team wrestling! Will Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher prove they’re the best by taking the trophies? Or will the Fierce Warrior & Head Hunter make history with back-to-back finals wins?
Gideon Grey accompanies Dunk-Zilla & The Aussie Arrow, and then gives the introductions. “They were handpicked to represent the United Empire. Collectively, they have held 19 tag team championships across the globe. England, Ireland, Germany, Australia, North America, where they were crowned the first-ever NJPW Strong Tag Team Champions! They have conquered every continent they have step foot on! Tonight, they will be World Tag League 2022 Winners! January the 4th, they will be your NEW IWGP Tag, Team, Champions! They are the Heart & Soul of Tag Team Wrestling! They are they greatest tag team to EVER LIVE!
“From Sydney, Australia and Brisbane, Australia respectively, they are THE AUSSIE ARROW, Kyle Fletcher, DUNK-ZILLA, Mark Davis…! This! Is! AUSSIIIIE~! OOOPEN~!” Fans applaud for that but Bishamon just stares Davis & Fletcher down. The teams sort out, and fans clap for, “BI! SHA-MON!” Davis shoves Goto, Goto throws a forearm back, and now the brawl is on! the bell rings, the brawl continues, and Aussie Open gets the edge! They whip Bishamon but Bishamon reverses! Aussie Open hold the ropes to KICK and LARIAT back! Fans fire up and finally, teams sort out. Fletcher tags Davis, and they drag Goto up.
Aussie Open double whip Goto, double ELBOW him down, then PENALTY KICK and SENTON! Fans applaud while Davis kneels on the cover, TWO! Davis drags Goto into an armlock and he grinds the shoulder. Fans rally as Goto endures, and Goto fights his way over to reach out. Davis grinds the arm more but Goto gets the ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes counts, Davis lets off at 4. Tag to Kyle, and Kyle springboard stomps Goto down! And again! Goto crawls, Kyle drags him up to scoop and SLAM! Cover, TWO! Fans rally but Kyle tags Davis again. Davis fireman’s carries, POP-UP- NO, Goto blocks the kick!
Goto swings Kyle’s foot at Davis but he avoids it! Kyle staggers, Goto DECKS him and Kyle falls out of the ring! Davis ROCKS Goto, runs, but Goto follows to LARIAT! Fans fire up while both men are down! Goto crawls over, hot tag to Hashi! Hashi runs at Davis to CHOP! Hashi whips and CHOPS again, then he mule kicks! Hashi turns Davis but Davis elbows free. Davis runs but Hashi dropkicks the leg! Hashi then turns Davis for the NECKBREAKER! Cover, ONE!! Davis is tough but Hashi stays focused. Fans rally, Hashi drags Davis up, and he CLUBS Davis on the neck. Daivs sits up, Hashi CHOPS him again!
Davis sputters and crawls but Hashi stands him up. Hashi whips but Davis reveres, and Kyle gets a cheap shot in! Davis runs in but Hashi sends him into Kyle! Hashi runs but Davis Complete Shots him to the ropes! Kyle GAMANGIRIS but Goto runs in! Davis fireman’s carries Goto for the POP-UP KICK! Davis drags Hashi up, scoops him, Kyle is up top! LAWN DART CUTTER!! Cover, TWO!! Hashi shows his toughness and fans fire up! Davis staggers over and brings Hashi back up. Davis throws down forearms, then soaks up the cheers. Davis then rains down even more forearms!
Davis drags Hashi up, stands him up, and CHOPS him down! Fans applaud a chop on par with Hashi’s own! Tag to Kyle, Kyle drags Hashi up and fans rally. Kyle scoops and SLAMS Hashi, then pats him on the chest. Hashi stands, Kyle scoops him and SLAMS him again! Kyle holds onto Hashi’s arm to drag him back around. Fans rally as Kyle stands Hashi up. Hashi throws body shots and a CHOP, but Kyle scoops and SLAMS Hashi again! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Kyle drags Hashi up again. Kyle bumps Hashi off buckles, then throws a hard body shot. Tag to Davis, Kyle throws more heavy shots and Hashi falls over.
Davis drags Hashi back up, CHOP LARIATS, and then CHOP LARIATS again! Davis CHOP LARIATS again and Hashi falls over! Fans fire up and Davis taunts Goto. Davis tags Kyle back in, fans rally up but Aussie Open lets Red Shoes check Hashi. Hashi is still okay to continue so Kyle drags Hashi back up. Hashi throws back elbows into Kyle, then ROCKS him with a forearm! Kyle knees low, but Hashi blocks! Hashi throws the leg away to SPIN KICK Kyle down! Fans fire up as Hashi crawls for his corner! Kyle tags Davis and Davis SENTONS onto Hashi! And SENTONS again! Davis runs to SENTON but misses this time!
Fans rally, Hashi and Davis crawl, hot tag to Kyle and he runs to CLOBBER Goto off the apron! Fans rally, Kyle drags Hashi up. Hashi throws shoulders into Kyle, then CHOPS! Kyle kicks low, runs, but Hashi SUPER- NO, Kyle blocks the kick and spins Kyle around to reel him in. But Hashi suplexes Kyle first! Fans fire up while both men are down! Hashi and Kyle crawl, hot tag to Goto! Goto CLOBBERS Kyle, BLASTS Davis, then fires up as he fires off forearms on Kyle! Goto whips Kyle to a corner, runs in and MURAMASAS! Then BULLDOGS! Cover, TWO! Kyle survives but Goto drags him back up. Fireman’s carry, but Kyle fights free!
Kyle kicks low, runs, but into the fireman’s carry! USHIGOROSHI! Fans fire up and Goto grits his teeth as he drags Kyle back up. Goto dragon sleepers, but Kyle fights free with haymakers! Kyle spins around but Goto fights the suplex! Goto tries to suplex but Kyle fights it! They fight for control, Goto suplexes, to a BRAINBUSTER!! Cover, TWO!! Goto almost had Kyle by borrowing from Tomohiro Ishii! Tag to Hashi, then Goto BLASTS Davis again! Hashi drags Kyle up, ROCKS him to the corner, then Bishamon double whip corner to corner. Hashi whips Goto in to clothesline! Hashi runs in to CHOP!
Hashi feeds Kyle to Goto’s fireman’s carry, but Davis runs in to BOOT Goto! Davis BOOTS Hashi, then DECKS Goto! Fans fire up as Kyle hurries and tags Davis in. Davis storms up on Goto but Goto throws him out! Kyle runs in but Goto TOSSES him out onto Davis! Aussie Open goes down and fans fire up! Goto calls to Hashi and Bishamon hurries after Aussie Open. They stomp Aussie Open at the ramp, drag them up, CLUB them a bit, then bring them around. Fans rally, but Kyle RAMS Goto into railing! Davis RAMS Hashi into railing, and then Aussie Open carries Bishamon around the way! They SANDWICH Bishamon in front of commentary!
Fans fire up as Aussie Open hit DOUBLE APRON BACK SUPLEXES! And then, DOUBLE SCOOP SLAMS to the floors! Fans fire up again as Aussie Open catches their breath. Fans rally as Davis confiscates the timekeeper’s table! Aussie Open brings that around to where they left Bishamon, and Kyle tells Red Shoes to leave them alone. Fans rally as Davis sits Hashi on the apron to CHOP him. Davis and Kyle then both go to the apron, and they drag Hashi up! Double pump handles, but Goto drags Kyle off the apron! Hashi fights free of Davis while Goto whips Kyle into the railing so hard that Kyle goes up and over into the spare timekeeper’s table!
Davis BOOTS Goto! Davis whips Goto hard into railing! Fans rally as Davis gets back in the ring after Hashi. Davis stomps Hashi around, drags him back up, and then puts him in a corner. Davis CHOPS Hashi and Hashi flops right down! Fans rally up as Davis drags Hashi up to whip corner to corner. Davis then fires himself up and runs in, but Hashi dodges! Hashi runs in to lariat! Hashi whips, Davis reverses, Hashi sunset flips! Davis stays up, but Hashi avoids the hip drop! Hashi runs to basement dropkick! Fans fire up and Davis goes to a corner. Hashi fires up, fans rally, and Hashi runs in, but Davis dodges! Kyle returns to LARIAT Hashi in the corner!
Kyle sits Hashi down, Davis SLIDING FOREARMS! Kyle then goes up and Davis drags Hashi up. ARIHARA MOONSAULT onto Goto!! Davis torture racks Hashi for the Airplane Spin! Davis spins and spins and spins, into the ALPAMARE WATERSLIDE!! Cover, TWO!! Hashi survives and fans are thunderous! Davis tags Kyle and Aussie Open storms up to Hashi. Fans rally, Davis underhooks Hashi and lifts, BUTTERFLY SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO!!! Hashi survives and everyone is shocked! Fans rally up, Kyle tags Davis, and Aussie Open coordinates. They drag Hashi up, double pump handle, but Goto CLUBS Davis!
Goto DECKS Kyle, then catches Davis to URA GTR! Goto fires off on Kyle but Kyle ROCKS Goto! Kyle scoops and has Goto in position, but Goto kicks and flails! Goto lands on the apron, Kyle ROCKS him with forearms! Goto stays standing, Kyle shoulders in, but into a facelock! Goto drags Kyle out, DRAPING GTR through the table!!!! Fans are thunderous again as Goto and Kyle are down in the wreckage! Red Shoes checks on them and somehow, Kyle is okay to continue! Hashi and Davis are still in the ring, crawl for each other and are forehead to forehead. Hashi throws a forearm, Davis throws it back!
Hashi growls and the two stand up. Hashi throws a forearm, but Davis gives it back! Fans rally up as the forearms go back and forth, faster and faster! Davis ROCKS Hashi, wrenches and CHOPS! Hashi falls over, but Davis drags him back up! Fans rally, Davis CHOPS Hashi off his feet again! Davis drags Hashi up, CHOPS him again, but Hashi stays up this time! Hashi roars and ROCKS Davis with forearm after forearm! Davis drops to a knee, Hashi CHOPS him! Hashi fires up, runs, but Davis blocks the lariat! Hashi CHOPS in return! Then dropkicks the legs out! Hashi runs, to HEAD HUNTER! Fans fire up as Hashi waits on Davis!
Davis stands, Hashi runs again, LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!! Fans rally, Hashi brings Davis back up, and Hashi full nelsons to spin and pump handle! Davis fights with elbows, but Hashi holds on! Goto returns and Hashi feeds him to a fireman’s carry! Davis slips off, but storms up into a HIDDEN GAP! Davis wobbles, into the fireman’s carry! FIERCE FLASH!! Fans fire up as Bishamon calls their shot! Goto drags Davis into the dragon sleeper, Hashi has the legs, SHOUTO!!! Cover, KYLE BREAKS IT!! Kyle returns outta nowhere and blasts it all apart! Fans are thunderous again as the four men are down!
Goto drags Kyle up but Kyle spins Goto to a SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! Hashi LARIATS Kyle down! Hashi runs, but Kyle CALF KICKS Hashi down!! Fans are thunderous again as all four men are back down! Kyle and Davis stand, they drag Goto up, POWERBOMB UPPERCUT!! Kyle then feeds Hashi to Davis’ scoop. Fans fire up as Davis inverted crucifix lifts Hashi! Kyle runs in, SWINGING CRUCIFIX BOMB!! Davis covers, TWO!?! Hashi survives and fans are thunderous again! Aussie Open stand back up and Davis tags Kyle back in. Aussie Open throw off the elbow pads and go to opposite corners.
Hashi roars as he stands up, but Aussie Open runs in to DOUBLE LARIAT SANDWICH!! Aussie Open drags Hashi up, double pump handle, but then Hashi kicks Kyle away to hit a DESTROYER on Davis!! Kyle runs in but into a cradle! TWO!!! Kyle escapes but even he is shocked! Kyle hurries to scoop Hashi, but Hashi fights free! Feed to Goto but Kyle slips around. Kyle kicks, but Goto fights the scoop! Goto pushes Kyle, Kyle BOOTS but Goto HEADBUTTS! Fans are thunderous again as Goto calls to Hashi! Goto drags Kyle up and Hashi flounders over. Goto dragon sleepers Kyle, Hashi grabs the legs, but Davis ENZIGURIS Hashi down!
Goto and Davis DOUBLE LARIAT but neither falls! They DOUBLE LARIAT again, Goto roars! Goto runs, but Davis LARIATS Goto down!! Hashi gets around Davis, Davis fights the full nelson and then fights the waistlock! Davis throws elbows but Hashi holds on! Davis throws more elbows and is free, but Hashi shoots around to shove him to ropes! Goto LARIATS Davis from behind! SNAP DRAGON from Hashi! Kyle mule kicks Goto, ROCKS Hashi, CHOPS and ROCKS, but spins into the dragon sleeper!! But he kicks Hashi away! Goto shoves Kyle into the HIDDEN GAP! And then, SHOUTO!!!!
Fans are electric as Bishamon fire up again! They’re not done with Kyle yet! They drag him up, full nelson and the lift, NARAKU!!!! Cover, BISHAMON WINS!!!!
Winners: Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi, by pinfall (World Tag League 2022 Winners)
Aussie Open may be the future, but the future isn’t here just yet as Bishamon completes the mission of going back-to-back! With as great a first run Davis & Fletcher had, will next year’s WTL be theirs for the taking?
As for Bishamon, Red Shoes brings them the trophies, and for another year, Goto & Hashi get to lift those high! And they put them together to make the globe and W! Yano gets some good pics of the moment, and then Hashi gets the mic. “We won the World Tag League again! And in this double main event, Lio Rush & Yoh won the first! And there was one thing that stuck out to me in this double main event, is that the main event winners get the right to speak. So Lio! Yoh! Since this is a double main event and you guys won, you should come out to speak, too!” Fans applaud that and they clap in anticipation. Yoh & Lio return!
Yoh & Lio bring their trophies with them, and all the tag tournament champions of Chaos stand together! Hashi congratulates Yoh & Lio, and says that if it was just Hashi & Goto here talking, it was going to be very awkward backstage. Hashi hands the mic over to Yoh, Yoh sets his trophy down and Lio puts his next to it. Yoh says “Chaos reigns supreme!” Fans applaud that. Yoh continues to say that he feels from the bottom of his heart that Chaos is the place for him and he is so happy to be in it. To be able to close out this event here with his senpai and in front of his hometown crowd, he is very grateful and proud.
Yoh thanks Lio and Lio thanks Yoh. Yoh says Lio can have a turn to speak now, and he hands the mic over. Fans applaud as Lio accepts, and says, “I have been wrestling for nine years. And this moment right now, and I’ve had a lot of great moments in my professional wrestling career. I’ve been everywhere, seen everything, and pretty much down everything at the age of 28 years old. But this, this moment, winning these trophies with my partner, Yoh, is by far the greatest moment in my professional wrestling career today.” Fans applaud that! Lio says, “Yoh, my friend. Chaos, my family. Thank you for accepting me.” Fans also applaud that!
Lio says this moment here will live on forever. “Arigato gozaimasu.” Fans applaud that Lio thanks them in Japanese, and then he hands the mic over to Goto. Goto says, “I really love Sendai, because we’ve gone back-to-back here. And now Hashi will speak.” Hashi takes the mic back and says, “So, here we go. We can only close this the traditional Chaos way, and the biggest way ever! Everyone here and watching at home on NJPW World, please join in.” Hashi explains that Lio & Yoh are gonna run the ropes, roll, and everyone will clap together. Yoh does his best to translate for Lio, and Hashi hopes everyone is ready to stomp, stomp clap.
The trophies are moved aside, and Hashi says they’ll go on Yano’s say. Fans applaud and Yano prepares for his part. Hashi says this is to the double main event winners! The fans clap and drum, Yoh and Lio build speed, they roll and CLAP!! “HAI!!” Perfect! The streamers fall for the tournament winners, and they pose together with their trophies! What will happen when Chaos comes to WrestleKingdom 17?
My Thoughts:
A great finishing event for this double tournament series, even though I did skip all those early matches. I did like seeing the combinations of heavyweight and junior heavyweight teams, especially Yano & Tanahashi teaming with Taguchi & Conners. That is a hilarious combo right there just on Yano and Taguchi. But luckily, I did see Suzuki get the mic as I was skimming. English commentary did their best to translate in real-time, so I hope I got the gist of what they said about what Suzuki was saying. Suzuki-Gun disbanding to end the year is really surprising, but I wonder if it’s a sign that Suzuki wants to retire sometime next year. I almost feel like they should just reform under like Taichi or Zack Sabre Jr, but maybe that won’t happen.
The NEVER Openweight Championship was a good match but what a surprise that Karl didn’t drop the title. At the same time, fans almost didn’t care about Hikuleo as he was beating Karl down. Karl retains but now he’s up against Tama again, and again a bit surprised Karl comes away from that standing tall. That makes me think that Karl will lose at WrestleKingdom 17 to let Tama carry the belt into the New Year.
Then we got awesome tag tournament finals. With Catch 2/2 kinda playing Heels, I figured the Face team would win here, and that is great for Lio Rush in particular. He had a great part of the closing promo, and that was definitely genuine after Vince McMahon wasted him on Raw and SmackDown while he only got to do so much in the crowded AEW field. Bishamon going back-to-back is awesome stuff, and there’s no real shame in losing here for Aussie Open. Aussie Open got to look incredible in the round robin, they made it to the finals on their first try, they will definitely be a return finalist next year. Catch 2/2 VS Yoh & Lio and FTR VS Bishamon will both be great tag team matches, and I feel like both matches could go both ways.
My Score: 8.8/10
Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - 4 Corners Podcast (sports)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Nefarious Means
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - 30 Mindless Minutes
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Once more around the round robin!
Best of the Super Juniors returns, yet Douki chooses not to compete! Who proves they’re “second best” to the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Best of the Super Juniors 33 B Block: Taiji Ishimori VS Jakob Austin Young; Taiji wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 33 B Block: SHO VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Sho wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 33 A Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Daiki Nagai; Taguchi wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 33 B Block: YOH VS Hyo; Hyo wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 33 A Block: Robbie X VS Nick Wayne; Nick wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 33 B Block: KUSHIDA VS Robbie Eagles; Kushida wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 33 A Block: Master Wato VS Titan; Titan wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 33 B Block: El Desperado VS Daisuke Sasaki; Daisuke wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 33 A Block: Kosei Fujita VS Francesco Akira; Fujita wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Best of the Super Juniors 33 B Block: Taiji Ishimori VS Jakob Austin Young!
The Bone Soldier and #DangerousJAY get to set the tone for the first round with this opening match. Will Taiji be victorious #ByGrace? Or will he fall off Jakob’s Ladder?
The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. The two tie up, Jakob headlocks, but Taiji puts him on ropes. The ref counts, Taiji backs off, and the fans cheer the clean break. Taiji and Jakob go again, feel things out, then clinch. Jakob puts Taiji on the ropes, the ref calls the break, but Jakob gives a quick body jab. The fans boo but Jakob tells them to shut up. The two circle again, tie up, and Jakob headlocks. Taiji powers up and out but Jakob RUNS him over! Things keep moving, Taiji drops down, hurdles over, but Jakob waistlocks. Taiji fires elbows, then runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and RANAS! Jakob tumbles, Taiji DROPKICKS him out!
The fans fire up as Taiji builds speed, but he tiger feints as Jakob moves! The fans cheer again, and then Taiji PLANCHAS! Down goes Jakob and the fans fire up again! Taiji goes back for Jakob, puts him in the ring, then covers, TWO! Jakob is tougher than that but Taiji stays close. Taiji cravats to snapmare Jakob, then NECK TWIST! Jakob writhes but the fans applaud, and Taiji stalks Jakob. Taiji CLUBS Jakob, ROCKS him with a right, but the ref reprimands about closed fists. Taiji wrenches and whips Jakob to a corner, then runs up, but Jakob puts Taiji on the apron. Jakob RAMS low, then pulls Taiji through the ropes, NECKBREAKER HOTSHOT!
The fans applaud Jakob’s creativity while Taiji slumps down. Jakob builds speed to WRECK Taiji with a dropkick! Jakob says crowns up, then he fetches Taiji. Jakob SMACKS Taiji off the apron, the ref reprimands, but Jakob puts Taiji in the ring. Jakob mocks the fans applauding, then slides into the ring. Cover, TWO! Jakob stomps Taiji while he argues the count. Jakob taunts Taiji, pats him on the head, but Taiji fires CHOPS! Jakob eggs Taiji on so Taiji CHOPS again! Jakob felt that one, but he dodges the lariat to wrench and spin Taiji around, NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The fans applaud as Taiji survives.
Jakob stands Taiji up, suplexes, but Taiji slips free. Taiji ducks a shot to then CLAW the eyes! Taiji whips, Jakob reverses, but Taiji handsprings, NEURALIZER KICK! Down goes Jakob and the fans applaud. Taiji and Jakob rise, Taiji runs in at the corner, and he DOUBLE KNEES! Then Taiji fireman’s carries, ROLLING DEATH VALLEY! Basement SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO! Taiji waits on Jakob while we pass five minutes. Jakob rises, Taiji runs up, LA MYST- NO, Jakob blocks to THROW Taiji down! Then dragon sleeper for the SAVING GRACE! Cover, TWO! Taiji survives and the fans fire up again!
Jakob frowns as he storms back over to Taiji. Jakob grabs the legs, steps through, but Taiji kicks and kicks. Taiji kicks free, but Jakob SLIDING KNEES! Cover, TWO! Jakob argues with the ref again but the ref defends his count. Taiji stirs but Jakob brings him up. Jakob cravats, goes to the corner, but Taiji slips free! BUCKLE SHOT! The fans cheer while Jakob sputters in the corner. Taiji rises again, and the fans rally as he brings Jakob up. Taiji whips but Jakob blocks! Taiji wrenches the arm to YANK it! Jakob falls to his knees but Taiji stands him up. Hammerlock, scoop, and SHOULDER BUSTER! Cover, TWO! The fans applaud as Jakob survives.
Taiji stays focused and he brings Jakob up. Taiji ripcords, LA MYSTI- NO, Jakob slips free! Jakob CHOPS, Taiji CHOPS, but Jakob ROCKS Taiji with a forearm! Jakob runs, but Taiji is up to JUMP KNEE! The fans fire up again and Taiji calls his shot! Taiji hauls Jakob up, gut wrenches, and CIPHER UT- NO, Jakob catches it to a cover, TWO! Taiji victory rolls, TWO! Taiji ducks ‘n’ dodges, LA MYSTICA! BONE LOCK!! Jakob flails, reaches out, but Taiji rolls him to center! Jakob TAPS, Taiji wins!
Winner: Taiji Ishimori, by submission (gains 2 points; Jakob earns 0)
The tone is set, and it is Unbound! Will that be exactly how Taiji’s run goes? Or will he still fall short of his first BOSJ trophy?
Best of the Super Juniors 33 B Block: SHO VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru!
Wait, wait, wait. Douki choosing to stay out of this tournament is one thing, but the Murder Machine and Heel Master facing each other in the first round? Well, the fix is in already, but who will help the other get an easy win?
Well, since they’re both House of Torture, no one attacks the other. And it seems they’re both out here alone, if only for now. Wait, Sho grabs the mic. “This is a battle of two of the absolute best Junior Heavyweights. And it is a disgrace that this incredible match is only second on the card. The power balance of this division is so screwed up. But to make sure this makes everyone regrets this, Kanemaru-san, you and I are gonna have the best match of this entire tournament! And we know we’re not coming out of this unscathed. This will be a Match of the Year contender!
“And all these country bumpkins in Tokyo will see the best match of their entire lives, even though they don’t deserve it! This should be in the Tokyo Dome with a minimum buy-in of 100 MILLION Yen! Kanemaru-san, I don’t want to hurt you. But let’s have a great match, and as your kouhai, you’ll do me a solid and lie down.” Kanemaru agrees to a fair match, the two “put one out” together, and then the bell rings. Kanemaru already lies down!? Finger Poke of Doom 2026! Sho applauds, the fans clap along, and Kanemaru snatches Sho into the victory roll! TWO!! Kanemaru bails out and Sho is upset! Kanemaru argues the count while the fans laugh at Sho!
Sho is upset, he raises the ref’s hand, then he grabs Kanemaru’s bottle of whiskey! The ref and Sho fight over the bottle, but Kanemaru slithers in, and he’s holding Sho’s wrench! Kanemaru sneaks the Torture Tool into Sho’s waistband, and then shoves him around. The ref sees the wrench in Sho’s pants! Now they argue over the wrench! Kanemaru rolls Sho up, TWO! Headlock takeover, TWO! Trip and jackknife bridge, TWO!! The fans cheer Kanemaru for how close he got! Sho is still beside himself but Kanemaru bails out. Kanemaru goes around the outside, Sho chases him and says how dare he mess around!
Sho round the corner, Kanemaru dropkicks the legs out! Kanemaru SMASHES the leg off the floor! Then FIGURE FOUR! The fans cheer but a ring count climbs! Sho flails, reaches out, but Kanemaru holds until 12 of 20! Kanemaru leaves Sho behind, but Sho grabs Kanemaru’s legs! Sho drags Kanemaru off the apron, fans clear out, and Sho THROWS Kanemaru into chairs! Then Sho sends a Young Lion into Kanemaru! The count is still going!! We pass 15 as Kanemaru sends Young Lion Taisei Nakahara back at Sho! The fans cheer as Kanemaru rolls in! 18! 19! Sho slides in at 19.99! The fans cheer while Kanemaru is shocked!
Kanemaru apologizes to Sho? Kanemaru offers a handshake, the fans cheer, but Sho says Kanemaru needs to watch himself. Sho takes the handshake, then bends Kanemaru’s fingers! Kanemaru CLAWS Sho with his other hand! Kanemaru runs, Sho uses the ref as a shield, but then so does Kanemaru! Kanemaru ENZIGIRIS Sho! Kanemaru stomps Sho’s fingers! Kanemaru grabs his whiskey! The ref protests, Kanemaru shoves him away, then Kanemaru takes a swig. But Sho smothers Kanemaru! Kanemaru breaks free, but Sho just smothers him again! Kanemaru’s at his limit, and Sho lets go, WHISKEY MIST into the ref!
The ref is blinded, Sho laughs at them both, and Sho says that should be a disqualification, right? IT IS!
Winner: Sho, by disqualification (gains 2 points; Kanemaru earns 0)
Kanemaru is mad at the ref and TOSSES him out! Poor Sakamoto… Sho apologizes to Kanemaru now, but they were both playing dirty anyway. They fist bump and head out, but will the trickery only continue until one of them is the Best of the Super Juniors?
Best of the Super Juniors 33 A Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Daiki Nagai!
The Funky Weapon has had his moments in this tournament, but the Unbound Young Lion is finally having his first! Will Taguchi be serious right from the start? Or will he underestimate his young opponent?
Oh snap, Daiki SHOTGUNS Taguchi during introductions! The fans fire up as Daiki shows how serious he is about this! The bell rings as he whips Taguchi, but Taguchi reverses to start up the cycle of dropdown and sidestep! But Daiki knows it well and DROPKICKS Taguchi out! The fans fire up as Daiki builds speed, and DIVES! Down goes Taguchi right in front of the fans! The fans fire up with Daiki and he brings Taguchi up. Daiki says here goes, and he climbs up the corner! Taguchi stands, Daiki MISSILE DROPKICKS! Taguchi flounders away but Daiki runs in at the corner! Taguchi dodges, rolls Daiki, then DROPKICKS in return!
The fans rally as Taguchi crawls to the cover, TWO! OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Daiki scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Taguchi holds but lets go as the ref reprimands. Things finally slow down and Taguchi can take off his shirt. Taguchi CHOKES Daiki with it! The ref reprimands, Taguchi stops right away, and he apologizes for getting mad. Taguchi reels Daiki in, has the leg, but Daiki fights the lift! Taguchi fires body shots to then SHIN BREAKER! And DROPKICK to the leg! The fans rally as Taguchi grabs OH MY GAH ANKLE! Daiki flails, crawls, and makes the ROPEBREAK! Taguchi lets go, but then kneels on the leg for a toehold.
Daiki grabs the ropes again, the ref counts, and Taguchi steps away. Taguchi drags Daiki up to HIP ATTACK! And HIP ATTACK! Daiki rises but Taguchi brings him up. Daiki ROCKS Taguchi, Taguchi ROCKS Daiki, repeat! The shots go back and forth, Taguchi fires a flurry, then he runs, but Taguchi follows! HIP- ATOMIC DROP! Daiki still knows the tricks, and he waistlocks. Taguchi fights with elbows, then more elbows, then he feints the run! But Daiki avoids the hips! But Taguchi victory rolls again! TWO, and Daiki DROPKICKS! Taguchi falls into a corner and the fans fire up again! Daiki has a wild look in his eyes as he goes to the other corner.
Daiki runs in and HYDRAULIC DROPKICKS! Daiki hurries to drag Taguchi out, covers, TWO! The fans fire up again while Daiki goes to a corner. Daiki climbs, the fans rally, and Daiki DIVING BODY FLOPS as Taguchi moves! Daiki sputters while Taguchi crawls to a corner. Taguchi calls upon the powers of Strong Style, “OYA~!” BUM- NO, Daiki rolls Taguchi up! TWO, and Taguchi dodges a lariat to roll Daiki up! TWO, and OH MY- NO, Daiki kicks free! SLIDING HIP! Cover, TWO!! Daiki survives and the fans fire up, but Taguchi hauls Daiki right up! Taguchi chicken wings and DODON- NO, Daiki victory rolls, TWO!
Daiki ROCKS Taguchi, Taguchi ENZIGIRIS! Daiki rebounds to CHOP! Daiki runs, but into a DROPKICK! Taguchi hurries to cover, TWO, but OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Daiki flails again, reaches out, and the fans rally even harder! Taguchi puts on the pressure but Daiki still fights his way forward! Daiki reaches out but Taguchi drags him back! OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Daiki claws with everything he has, but Taguchi YANKS Daiki back! Chicken wings and DODON BUSTER!! Cover, Taguchi wins!
Winner: Ryusuke Taguchi, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Daiki earns 0)
Taguchi got serious because Daiki brought it out of him! And with that, Taguchi already has his first win in this year’s tournament! Will Taguchi prove that the Funky Weapon still has what it takes? Will Daiki learn from this and make sure his first win is in the second round?
Best of the Super Juniors 33 B Block: YOH VS HYO!
A curious match-up here, and not just because you can rearrange one man’s name and spell the other’s. But will Mr. Direct Drive kick it into gear right from the start? Or will The Black Panther prove he’s the apex predator in this tournament?
The fans have a hard time making heads or tails of the ring gear, and Yoh asks for a little help with the halter top. Hyo makes sure his little snow leopard, Nyan Nyan, is comfortable in the corner, then the bell rings. The two run up, Hyo leaps over the dropdown, then mule kicks. Hyo whips, Yoh reverses, but Hyo goes up and over, then handsprings through! Things really speed up, and the panther gets the zoomies as he runs around Yoh! Then DROPKICK! The fans cheer while Yoh bails out! Hyo shows his claws, and the fans rally up as Hyo builds speed. But Hyo handsprings through as Yoh moves!
The fans cheer and Yoh THROWS Nyan Nyan down! The fans boo Yoh for that, Hyo flexes and the fans cheer. But Yoh sneaks in to wrench and trip Hyo! Yoh ties Hyo up in Paradise! The fans cheer as Yoh stands on Hyo, then “kicks sand” before he runs around like a cat! Yoh “pees” on Hyo, maybe he’s a dog instead. Yoh then runs to DROPKICK Hyo outta Paradise! Yoh drags Hyo up, reels him in, and suplexes, but Hyo fights free, wrenches, then NEKODAMASHI CLAP! Cradle, TWO! Yoh rolls Hyo, TWO! Hyo runs up, sunset flips, TWO! Yoh sits on the cover, TWO! Hyo has it again, TWO! Yoh has it again, TWO!!
The fans cheer that near escape, but Yoh kicks and runs. But Hyo blows past, and now both men have the zoomies! They chase each other like cats ‘n’ dogs, then STUNNER to SOMERSAULT DRIVER! Cover, HYO WINS!!
Winner: Hyo, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Yoh earns 0)
In the blink of an eye, the Panther snatches that win like a rabbit out of the hat! Hyo shows Yoh respect with the Roppongi 3K salute, AND A KISS?! Yoh faints, will he be able to recover from that? Or will Hyo hunt down the top spot in the block?
Best of the Super Juniors 33 A Block: Robbie X VS Nick Wayne!
The former IWGP Junior Tag Team Champion and the former ROH World Television Champion (sorry if that’s spoilers/breaking kayfabe) meet in hopes of each becoming the next IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. Will things get too extreme for The Prodigy? Or will NJPW enter Wayne’s World?
The bell rings and the fans rally behind Robbie. Robbie and Nick circle, tie up, and Robbie headlocks. Nick powers up and out, but Robbie handsprings! Nick stops the cutter, but Robbie fights the full nelson! Robbie trips Nick, but Nick avoids the PK! Nick arm-drags Robbie, Robbie headscissors, but Nick kips free to kick low! Nick whips, Robbie goes up and over in the corner, then handsprings! Things keep moving, Nick hurdles to then UPPERCUT! The fans fire up as Nick kips up again! Robbie flounders away but Nick storms over to him. Nick drags Robbie up, CHOPS him in the corner, then follows him along the ropes.
Robbie goes to another corner but Nick kisses him on the bald head before he CHOPS again! Nick then snapmares Robbie, leg drops, then covers, TWO! Robbie is tougher than that but Nick keeps his cool. Nick stalks Robbie, brings him up, but Robbie CHOPS! The fans cheer but Nick comes back. Robbie ROCKS Nick, ROCKS him again, then again! But Nick ROCKS Robbie back! Nick stalks Robbie, whips him to ropes, but Robbie avoids the superkick! Nick runs up, Robbie cartwheels to dodge! Nick tumbles out to the apron, Robbie NO HAND HANDSPRINGS to knock Nick down! Then Robbie reloads, PLANCHA! Down goes Nick and the fans fire up!
Robbie brings Nick up, puts him in the ring, and slingshots for the SILVER FLIP SENTON! Cover, TWO! Nick is still in this but the fans rally behind Robbie. Robbie checks his neck, then brings Nick up. Robbie reels Nick in but Nick fights the lift. Robbie still tries but Nick still fights. Robbie winds up to CHOP Nick down! The fans cheer but Robbie reels Nick back in, only for Nick to BACKDROP free! Robbie sunsets but Nick sits on it, TWO! Robbie finishes the flip, TWO! Nick is up, he dodges Robbie, and SNAP DRAGONS! The fans fire up for that very Kenny Omega level move! Nick then waits on Robbie to get up while he takes aim.
Nick runs corner to corner, but Robbie dodges! Robbie runs back up, blocks a boot, but not the ENZIGIRI! Nick goes up, up, WAYNE’S- NO, Robbie dodges the cutter and mule kicks! Robbie goes to run but Nick reels him in! Robbie fights the waistlock again, but Nick ducks a shot! Nick ROCKS Robbie, Robbie ELBOWS Nick, and PELES! The fans fire up with Robbie as he powers up again, only for Nick to jump up! POISON-RANA! The fans rally while Robbie is down! Nick calls his shot, gathers power, and Robbie rises up, into the BUZZ- NO, Robbie ducks, jumps up, POISON-RANA! The fans fire up as Robbie returns the favor!
Nick bails out, but Robbie springboards, SKY TWISTER! Down goes Nick but Robbie puts him in fast! Robbie handsprings, LETHAL INJECTION X!! Cover, TWO!! Nick survives and Robbie is shocked! The fans rally even harder for Robbie as he rises up. Robbie drags Nick to a drop zone, climbs up the corner, and X EX- NO, Robbie has to roll through as Nick moves! Robbie runs back up, but into a SUPERKICK! Robbie is down but Nick leans against the corner as he catches his breath. The fans rally up harder and harder still, and Nick rises to his feet. Nick calls his shot, and he goes up, into WAYNE’S- BACKSLIDE! TWO!
Nick BOOTS Robbie, runs, but Robbie ROCKS Nick! Robbie runs, Nick blows past, but Robbie dodges, QUEBRADA into a SUPERKICK! Nick hits the anti-air, and now he calls his shot! BUZZSAW, and WAYNE’S WORLD! Cover, NICK WINS!
Winner: Nick Wayne, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Robbie earns 0)
He may have lost the title, but Nick rebounds to get a major win in the tournament! Will nothing stop The Prodigy from proving he’s the next big thing? Can Robbie get the X Express back on track in the second round?
Best of the Super Juniors 33 B Block: KUSHIDA VS Robbie Eagles!
The Time Splitter returns to NJPW, hoping to prove he is still the Best of the Super Juniors. But he now stands in the crosshairs of the Sniper of the Skies! Will Kushida still bring us Back to the Future? Or will Eagles fly high right from the start?
Wait, Kushida is going barefoot for this! Eagles says okay, hold on. “Robbie Robbie Robbie!” “OI OI OI!” “Robbie Robbie Robbie!” “OI OI OI!” “Robbie!” “OI!” “Robbie!” “OI!” “Robbie Robbie Robbie!” “OI OI OI!” The fans applaud, but then a “KU-SHI-DA!” chant starts in response. The bell rings and the two circle. They feel things out, Kushida rolls, and he grabs a leg. Eagles fights that off to step over and cover, ONE! Kushida trips Robbie, has a toehold, but Robbie rolls and reels Kushida in, only for Kushida to use that and get the headlock for his own. The fans applaud this technical exchange, but then Eagles slips out to hammerlock!
Eagles reaches over but Kushida rolls to then headscissors! The fans applaud again, and Kushida puts on the pressure. Eagles endures, bridges, but Kushida puts on the pressure. Eagles kips free, but Kushida reels him back into the headscissors! The fans applaud, but Eagles fights around. Eagles rolls to turn Kushida over, then he pops out to trap the legs. Eagles rolls Kushida, but Kushida twists a foot! Kushida turns Eagles over, ties the legs up, then floats to a headlock. Eagles powers out to stand on Kushida’s arm, but Kushida slips away. The fans applaud the standoff as the two reset and circle again.
Kushida rushes Eagles, Eagles holds off the armlock but the body scissors are still on! Eagles powers through to drop Kushida down and have a toehold. Eagles bends toes! The ref reprimands, Eagles teases about “this little piggy,” but Kushida hooks Eagles’ nose! Eagles shakes that off but Kushida tries again. Kushida waistlocks, bridges, but Eagles moves, so Kushida floats to an ARMBAR! Eagles rolls to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Kushida lets go, and the two reset again. They circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. Kushida rolls, trips Eagles, then has the toehold. Eagles tries to headscissors, but Kushida shrugs that off.
Kushida pulls Eagles’ arm into tying up the legs, then he steps over. It’s not exactly Paradise as Kushida uses his legs to bend and crunch Eagles! Eagles powers up and trips Kushida to then SPLAYED STRETCH! Kushida endures, even as Eagles reclines back, so Eagles floats over to a cover. ONE, Eagles waistlocks but Kushida rolls. Cover, ONE, and Eagles trips Kushida. Kushida chinbars to wrangle Eagles into a chinlock. Eagles endures so Kushida shifts to a motorcycle stretch, and LEG HOOK NELSON! Eagles endures, pushes back, and rolls to have a leg! Eagles has the INDIAN DEATHLOCK! The fans cheer as Eagles sits Kushida up, INDIAN COBRA TWIST!!
Kushida endures, pries at the arm, then rolls to leg hook and float, ARMBAR! Eagles pries free, and the fans cheer the technical master class! Eagles and Kushida reset again, feel things out, then tie up. Eagles goes for an arm, but so does Kushida. Kushida chinbars but Eagles arm-drags! Eagles steps over, Kushida kicks free, but Eagles handsprings through. The fans cheer as the two reset again. They approach, and Kushida KICKS the leg! Then he grapevines the leg to trip Eagles. Eagles pries at toes but Kushida stands to change up his hold. Eagles slips through to drop toehold Kushida into the waistlock. Kushida fights up, switches, then arm-drags.
Kushida chicken wings the arms and he works to turn Eagles. Eagles endures but Kushida powers through to a cradle! TWO, and Kushida ducks a chop to roll back! Kushida goes up but Eagles blocks the arm-drag! Eagles arm-drags back, then trips Kushida. Eagles runs, handsprings over the dropdown, but Kushida is after the arm! Eagles wrenches through, breaks free, but Kushida blocks a kick! Eagles drops to trip Kushida, ANKLE- NO, Kushida rolls back, bridges, TWO! Eagles body scissors and rolls to a cover, TWO! Both men RAM shoulders! And RAM again! And again! The fans fire up as the two stare down.
Kushida offers a handshake, Eagles accepts, but Eagles stomps the toes! The fans boo but Eagles says Kushida baka. Eagles runs up, gets a leg, but Kushida steps over to cover, TWO! Eagles sunset flips, TWO! Kushida sits on it, TWO! Kushida rolls to highs tack, TWO! Eagles has Kushida, TWO! Kushida, ONE! Eagles, ONE! They teetertotter and the ref can’t even keep up! The fans cheer as this turns into a rolling cradle! Eagles finally has it, TWO!! Kushida escapes in time and Eagles is stunned! Eagles runs up but Kushida jumps the 619! Kushida somersaults, but Eagles stops the DDT! Eagles slips around, rolls Kushida up, TWO!
Eagles has the leg, steps through, but Kushida cradles, TWO! Eagles has it, TWO! Both men stand, Eagles jumps up, RANA! But Kushida sunset flips it! TWO!! The fans are thunderous as both men get up! Kushida FLAPJACKS, but Eagles avoids the PK! Eagles wrenches the leg, SLAPS, SLAPS, SLAPS, and TURBO- NO, Kushida slips through the backpack to cradle and BACK TO THE FUTURE!! Cover, KUSHIDA WINS!!
Winner: Kushida, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Robbie earns 0)
It feels like forever since we’ve seen Kushida win with that move here in NJPW, but seeing it again brings us right back! Will Kushida hit that 88 miles per hour and return to former glory? Will the Sniper of the Skies just have to reload and try again in the next round?
Best of the Super Juniors 33 A Block: Master Wato VS Titan!
The Way of the Grandmaster is still on the long road to the top, but the same goes for El Inmortal’s journey. Who will take another step closer to their goal of being the Best of the Super Juniors?
The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. The crowd is split between them, and the two tie up. Wato trips Titan, things speed up, and Titan hurdles to then drop down. Wato leaps over, keeps moving, and he RANAS! Titan bails out, Wato builds speed, but Titan is up fast to springboard and CROSSBODY! Then DROPKICK! Wato bails out, Titan builds speed, and fans clear out before Titan DIVES! Wato tumbles into the chairs! The ref checks and Wato is able to continue. Titan roars as he rises up and the fans cheer. Titan puts Wato in the ring, pushes him around, then fireman’s carries for the DEATH VALLEY NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!
The fans applaud was Wato toughs it out. Titan stomps Wato, eggs him on, then KICKS him in the back. Titan snapmares Wato, runs and basement DROPKICKS! High stack, TWO! Titan hurries to tie up the legs, FIGURE FOUR! Wato endures, drags Titan along, and manages the ROPEBREAK! Titan lets go while the fans applaud. Wato shakes out the legs, Titan stomps him around, then Titan kicks at him. Wato scowls but Titan SOBATS! Titan eggs Wato on again, then brings him up. Wato fires a shot but Titan CLUBS and KNEES Wato in return. Another fireman’s carry but Wato fights free!
Wato swings, Titan ducks, and Titan fires off a strike fest! Titan runs, but into an ELBOW! Wato runs but ducks a shot to ZIGZAG! But Titan kips up to PELE! Wato PENALTY KICKS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Wato crawls to ropes, rises up, and he runs to CLOBBER Titan! And CLOBBER again! Wato whips Titan, then DROPKICKS him down! Titan bails out, the fans fire up, and Wato builds speed! Wato FLIES and down goes Titan! The fans cheer while both men are down in front of the front row again. A ring count starts, but Wato rises at 7 of 20. Wato stands at 10 and fires up with the fans!
Wato brings Titan up, puts him in at 14, and takes aim. The fans applaud as Wato climbs the corner, then leaps in, MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Titan is tougher than that and the fans cheer again. Wato drags Titan up, wrenches and clinches, but Titan fights the lift! Wato CLUBS Titan, whips him, but Titan reverses to TORANDO DDT! And then roll through to suplex, CUTTER! Cover, TWO! But Titan steps through, ties up the legs, and rolls for LLAVE INMORTAL! The fans fire up as Titan bridges back and bends Wato! Wato fights, fights, and powers his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Titan lets go in frustration.
Titan roars and the fans rally again. Titan pounds the mat, the fans clap along, and Titan waits on Wato. Wato rises, Titan SUPER- NO, Wato ducks, but Titan BUZZSAWS! Titan goes to the corner, he climbs up top, and the fans fire up, but Wato CLUBS Titan first! Titan drops onto the corner, Wato climbs up, and Wato brings Titan back up! Titan holds onto the corner, fires elbows, then he trips Wato! Wato falls into the Tree of Woe! Titan turns around, WOE STOMPS!! Cover, TWO!! Wato survives and the fans fire up again! Titan throws off his elbow pads, then rolls his way back to the corner. Titan skins the cat to rise back up!
Titan aims while Wato is down, LA LANC- NO, Wato dodges, runs up, crucifix takedown, into RECIENTEMENTE!! Cover, TWO?!? Titan survives and the fans are thunderous! Wato grows frustrated, but he hurries to waistlock. TSU- NO, Titan rolls, hooks a leg, but Wato reels Titan into a cradle! TWO, and ROUNDHOUSE! Wato hurries to spin, but Titan blocks the kick to DRAGON SCREW! Then a step through and SHARPSHOOTER!! Wato endures, reaches out, but Titan pulls him back to center!! Wato flails, but Titan bridges on the hold! WATO TAPS, TITAN WINS!
Winner: Titan, by submission (gains 2 points; Wato earns 0)
It wasn’t quite Llave Inmortal, but it might’ve been even stronger! Titan borrows a fan’s flag of Mexico to celebrate his home and his people. Will Titan represent them both as he proves he was born for such a time as this? Or will Wato still prove he is the Way to the Grandmaster?
Best of the Super Juniors 33 B Block: El Desperado VS Daisuke Sasaki!
The Rogue Luchador won the tournament back in 2024, and is looking to repeat history so that he may have his revenge on Douki. However, he’s up against Charisma Itself! Will Desperado still be the Best of the Super Juniors two years later? Or will Daisuke prove he is the future of this division?
Before they get started, Despy offers a handshake. Daisuke is wary, but he accepts. They both kiss the other’s hand, then the bell rings. The fans duel as the two circle, but then Daisuke bails out. The fans boo but Despy waits on Daisuke. Daisuke steps back into the ring, circles with Despy, and they feel things out. They tie up, Daisuke waistlocks, but Despy wrenches to wristlock. Daisuke spins through, wrenches back, and wristlocks to then snapmare. Daisuke keeps on the arm but Despy fights around. Despy rolls, trips Daisuke, and has the toehold. Daisuke chinbars in return but Despy digs his elbow into the knee.
Daisuke chinlocks and pries Despy off the leg, but Despy kicks back to the ROPEBREAK! Daisuke lets go, Despy bails out, and now Daisuke waits. Despy takes his time returning, and the two reset. The fans rally as they feel things out, and they knuckle lock. But then Despy wrenches the arm to snapmare Daisuke, sit him up, and ghost pin, TWO! Daisuke slips around to headlock, but Despy powers up and out. Despy headlocks, Daisuke slips through to headlock, but Despy powers up and out again. Daisuke RUNS Despy over! Then he fakes Despy out to headlock, but Despy rolls. Daisuke rolls through, Despy trips him, STRETCH MUFFLER!
Daisuke scrambles to the ROPEBREAK and the fans cheer. Despy kneels on Daisuke, pretends to not understand what’s wrong, then he digs his knees in. The ref counts, Despy backs off, and Despy apologizes while Daisuke bails out. Despy waits, but Daisuke offers Despy to step outside. It’ll be a clean fight! Despy says step inside and it’ll be clean in here! Despy asks why it has to be outside. Daisuke CLAWS Despy’s eyes! Then he turns Despy for a NECKBREAKER HOTSHOT! The fans are torn while Despy writhes, but Daisuke drags Despy outside. Daisuke SMACKS Despy off the apron, then has fans clear out!
Daisuke stands Despy up, but he’s going to commentary! Despy fights back, but now Daisuke fights the desk bump! Daisuke SMACKS Despy off the desk, then grabs someone’s chair! The ref reprimands, but Daisuke puts the chair around Despy’s neck and POSTS him! The fans are torn while Despy writhes, but Daisuke leaves Despy behind. The fans rally for Despy as a ring count begins, and Despy is still down at 5 of 20. Despy sits up at 7, Daisuke wants the count to hurry up. Despy stands at 10 and rolls into the ring, only for Daisuke to DROPKICK him in the head! Despy scrambles away, clutching his neck, but Daisuke pursues!
Daisuke puts Despy back in, pushes him to a cover, ONE!! Despy toughs it out, but Daisuke KNEES him in the back of the neck! And then drops a knee on the same spot! And again! The fans rally up for Despy but Daisuke steps on him at the ropes. Daisuke then drags Despy up, puts him through ropes, and bends him back! The ref counts, Daisuke stops, then he drags Despy around to FISHERMAN SCREW! Despy sputters, but he BODY BLOWS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS again! Daisuke CLUBS Despy, then eggs him on. Daisuke slaps Despy around, Despy slaps back, so Daisuke slaps again. Despy SMACKS Daisuke down!
The fans fire up for Despy while Daisuke is dazed. But then Daisuke kicks the leg out, and he slips around, STF! Despy endures, reaches out, but Daisuke shifts to a CROSSFACE! Despy endures, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK with a foot! Daisuke lets go to drop knee after knee on Despy’s back! Daisuke then stalks Despy to ropes, brings him around, and turns him, but Despy slips free! Despy has the leg, SHIN BREAKER! Then a DROPKICK to the leg! Daisuke hobbles to a corner while the fans rally again. Despy runs up on Daisuke, blocks a boot, and KICKS the leg! Then DRAPING DRAGON SCREW!
Daisuke hobbles but he falls over. The fans rally as Despy grabs that leg, but Daisuke kicks free. Despy kicks Daisuke’s leg, then BRAINBUSTER! The fans fire up again and Despy keeps on Daisuke, BIG back suplex! Despy hurries to haul Daisuke up again, GUITARRA DEL ANGEL! Cover, TWO! Daisuke toughs it out and the fans rally up again. Despy drags Daisuke over to a drop zone, then climbs the corner! The fans rally, but Daisuke goes to the apron. Daisuke CLUBS Despy, ROCKS him with a right, then climbs up the corner. The fans and the ref are all worried as both men try to suplex the other from the outside!
Despy fires body shots, he steps inside, and then SUPERPLEXES Daisuke into the ring! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Despy crawls but Daisuke bails out. So Despy builds speed, but has to stop the dive as Daisuke slides in! Then Daisuke runs to RAM Despy off the apron! Despy tumbles into the chairs, but Daisuke is right after him! Daisuke drags Despy up to make him take a seat. Daisuke CLUBS Despy, then throws off his shirt before he climbs up the corner! The fans go nuts already as Daisuke aims, SUPER DUPER CROSSBODY onto Despy and the chairs!! The fans are thunderous for that wild risk Daisuke just took!
The ref checks both men, and somehow, they’re both able to continue. Daisuke hobbles away from the crash site to roll into the ring. Daisuke then goes back outside with a fresh ring count. Daisuke puts Despy in he ring at 8 of 20, then climbs up again! FLYING LARIAT! Daisuke hurries to reel Despy in, underhooks, and PEDIGREE!! Cover, TWO!! Despy survives but Daisuke hurries to SUPERKICK! Despy is up but Daisuke runs, LA MYSTI- NO, Despy makes it a FACEBUSTER! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Despy stirs, as does Daisuke, and they both slowly rise back up. Despy fires a forearm first, then another!
Despy fires another, but Daisuke ROCKS Despy with a haymaker! Daisuke whips, Despy reverses, and Despy SPINEUBSTERS! High stack, TWO, but into STRETCH MUFFLER!! Daisuke fights, reaches out, but Despy reels him into NUMERO DOS! Daisuke still fights, fights, but Despy drags him back! NUMERO DOS PLUS, but Daisuke rolls it around and around into a CROSSFACE!! Despy endures while the fans rally as hard as they can! Despy fights over, but Daisuke rolls him away from the ropes! Then Daisuke grabs the other arm, only for Despy to roll to a cradle! TWO!! Both men stand, Despy shoots around to then lift, and DOUBLE KNEE-
NO, Daisuke turns it into a DDT! Then Daisuke aims from a corner, runs up, LA MYSTIC- ARM-DRAG COUNTER! Daisuke kicks free of the stack, then uses the ref as a shield! Despy dosidos with the ref, but Daisuke shoves Despy into the ref! Daisuke whips, Despy reverses, and Daisuke ends up in a corner. Despy runs up, but into a pop-up LOW BLOW!! LA MYSTICA! CROSSFACE!! DESPY TAPS, DAISUKE WINS!!
Winner: Daisuke Sasaki, by submission (gains 2 points; Desperado earns 0)
Well, Daisuke was taught by Dick Togo, so perhaps such tactics should’ve been expected. But will Daisuke make sure NJPW is #NeverSober? Will Desperado still find his way to the BOSJ finals?
Best of the Super Juniors 33 A Block: Kosei Fujita VS Francesco Akira!
The Japanese Young Punk and the Crown of Fire have the honor of closing out opening night, but only one can finish strong! Will Fujita remind Akira that The Mighty Don’t Kneel? Or will even The Mighty be conquered by the United Empire?
But wait, Fujita CLOBBERS Akira with a chair outta nowhere! Where’d he even come from?! Fujita rains down fists on Akira while the fans are torn, but Fujita then drags Akira up with a headlock. Red Shoes reprimands, but Fujita takes Akira right to the West sign to SMACK him off it! And SMACK him off it again, and again! Fujita laughs, the fans cheer, and Fujita brings Akira to the ring. The bell finally sounds but Fujita deadlift GERMAN SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO!! Akira survives but Fujita brings him back up. Akira fights free and bails out, but Fujita goes to the apron. PENALTY KICK, then QUEBRADA!
The fans are torn as indeed, the Japanese Young Punk bullies and mugs Akira. Red Shoes checks Akira but Fujita has fans clear out. But then Akira throat chops Fujita! Akira whips, Fujita reverses, but Akira stops short of the chairs! Fujita runs up, but Akira THROWS him into the chairs! Not quite a strike but Akira is pissed! Akira whips Fujita hard into more chairs! Akira then huffs ‘n’ puffs, busted open on his forehead, the red standing out against his new green hair dye. Akira says if Fujita wants to fight like that, he’ll fight like that! Akira brings a TABLE out from under the ring! Red Shoes reprimands but Akira SHOVES him down!
The fans are torn while Akira fetches Fujita. Akira SMACKS Fujita off the table, then puts him on the apron. Akira climbs up to join Fujita, and he brings Fujita up to fireman’s carry! Akira aims, but Fujita slips free! Akira ROCKS Fujita first, then brings Fujita up the ropes! Fujita fights the suplex, UPPERCUTS Akira, then runs, but into a SLINGSHOT CUTTER! The fans duel while Akira rises up. Akira rains down forearms on Fujita, then drops back to a corner. Akira has them check his bloody forehead real quick, it seems to have stopped bleeding. Akira CHOPS Fujita, and Fujita sputters. Akira scoops and SLAMS Fujita, then pushes him to a cover, TWO!
Akira sets up, STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up while Akira brings Akira into a headscissors squeeze. Fujita endures, fights forward, but Akira puts on more pressure! Fujita kicks and kicks and makes the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Akira lets go. Akira snarls, then he kicks at Fujita. Akira KICKS Fujita in the back, eggs him on, so Fujita stands. Fujita ROCKS Akira with forearm after forearm, but Akira ROCKS him back! Akira then back suplexes, but Fujita lands out! Akira kicks and whips, Fujita reverses and LEG LARIATS! The fans fire up while both men are down!
Akira bails out, Fujita goes up, out, and tightrope walks, only for Akira to slide in! Fujita hops down, springboards back up, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! The fans fire up while Akira tumbles out the side. Fujita just goes up, up, and SUPER CANNONBALLS! Fujita takes Akira AND Zane Jay down! Fujita brings Akira back into the ring, then PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up again as Fujita waistlocks Akira. Deadlift- NO, Akira fights the suplex, reaches for ropes, but Fujita brings him back. Fujita ducks the elbow, then ties up the legs, NEMOS- NO, Akira crawls, crawls, and makes the ROPEBREAK!
The fans cheer while Fujita lets go. Fujita storms back up on Akira, grabs a leg, but Akira clings to the ropes. Red Shoes counts, but Akira BOOTS Fujita way. Then he sidesteps, trips Fujita, and puts him under the ropes! CATAPULT GUILLOTINE! Akira LIONSAULTS onto Fujita’s back! Cover, TWO! Fujita survives and the fans fire up again, but Akira just grits his teeth. Akira drags Fujita around, reels him in, and SPEED- NO, Fujita blocks Speedfire! Akira still tries but Fujita stops him again. Akira KNEES low again and again, but Fujita grabs that leg! Fujita wrenches, but Akira KNEES low! SPEEDFIRE! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally again while Akira paces. Akira rains down fists but Red Shoes reprimands. Akira stops, taunts the fans cheering Fujita, then tells them to watch this! Akira drags Fujita up, and SMACKS him off the mat! And SMACKS him off the mat again! Akira then taunts the fans for no longer chanting for Fujita! The fans boo, but Akira sits Fujita up again. Fujita blocks the throw this time! Akira KNEES Fujita, SMACKS him off the mat again, and NOVA- NO, Fujita ducks the Fireball to ROUNDHOUSE! Both men are down and the fans fire back up! Red Shoes checks, and both men stir. They slowly rise up, and Akira grabs at Fujita.
Fujita and Akira both pull hair as they sit up. Fujita fires the first forearm, but Akira responds in kind! Fujita fires back, Akira staggers, but Akira returns to ROCK Fujita! Fujita ROCKS Akira, Akira ROCKS Fujita, repeat! The fans rally as the shots keep going, and Fujita laughs it off! Fujita SMACKS Akira! Akira SMACKS Fujita! They start a SLAP fight, and the fans fire up as it gets fast ‘n’ furious! Fujita SMACKS Akira again and again, then winds up, but Akira ENZIGIRIS! Akira runs, but Fujita ELBOWS him! Fujita runs but Akira LARIATS! Akira runs, but into a SPIN HEEL KICK! The fans are thunderous as Fujita DEADLIFT GERMANS! Bridging cover, TWO!!
Akira survives again and the fans are torn right down the middle! Akira rolls to the apron but Fujita isn’t far behind. Fujita GAMANGIRIS, then he looks to Akira’s table! Akira clings to ropes but Fujita tries to pull him away! Akira ELBOWS Fujita, then slips under to POST him! Fujita falls to the floor, Akira leaps and RAN- NO! Fujita stops the rana to then swing Akira up! And he POWERBOMBS Akira through the table!! The fans are thunderous again and Fujita drags Akira back up. Fujita puts Akira in, then whips him for a pop-up GERMAN SUPLEX!! Bridging cover, TWO?!? But Fujita has the arms trapped!!
Akira endures as Fujita pulls on the arm! The fans rally and duel as hard as they have all night, and Akira adds a cording hold! Akira kicks, kicks, flails, but Fujita grabs the leg! BOW ‘N’ ARROW STRETCH, but Akira gives one last gasp! ROPEBREAK!! Fujita lets go but he vows to end it now! Fujita hauls Akira up, torture racks, but Akira fights with elbows! Fujita squats, but stands up! Akira slips through and hooks the arms, but Fujita spins through! Akira ducks, backslide, NOVA- NO, Fujita rolls through it to have the legs! NEMOS- CRADLE COUNTER! TWO!??! Akira hurries to run up, wheelbarrow, but Fujita stops the roll!
Fujita hauls Akira up, WHEELBARROW GERMAN! But Akira rises?!? Akira runs up, Fujita gets around him, POISON-RANA! NOVA FIREBALL?!?!? Cover, TWO?!?!? Fujita survives and Akira is beside himself! The fans are electric as Akira rises. Akira roars, vows to end it, and he drags Fujita up to reel him in. Akira hooks a leg, CROWN- CRADLE and deadlift! THRILLRIDE!!! Cover, FUJITA WINS!!
Winner: Kosei Fujita, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Akira earns 0)
It was an epic not only worthy of the main event, but perhaps even the finals! But in the end, the Crown of Fire is the one that burned out! Will Akira still be able to prove he’s the best after this unfortunate start?
As for Fujita, he sits back and gets the mic. “Oi, you big idiot! You’re sure one strong SOB! And every single time I wrestle you in BOSJ, it’s the match I’m most looking forward to. Everything here is over the top excellence, and that is something you see on the regular with me. And so, I think this year is mine to win. Every expectation you have of me, I will see you, raise you, and surpass those expectations!” With that mighty finish, will Fujita become the youngest man to go back-to-back as BOSJ Champion?
Here are the A Block standings!
Kosei Fujita: 1-0, 2 points
Ryusuke Taguchi: 1-0, 2 points
Nick Wayne: 1-0, 2 points
Titan: 1-0, 2 points
Robbie X: 0-1, 0 points
Francesco Akira: 0-1, 0 points
Master Wato: 0-1, 0 points
Daiki Nagai: 0-1, 0 points
Valiente Jr: [did not compete]
Jun Kasai: [did not compete]
Here are the B Block standings!
Taiji Ishimori: 1-0, 2 points
SHO: 1-0, 2 points
HYO: 1-0, 2 points
KUSHIDA: 1-0, 2 points
Daisuke Sasaki: 1-0, 2 points
YOH: 0-1, 0 points
Robbie Eagles: 0-1, 0 points
El Desperado: 0-1, 0 points
Jakob Austin Young: 0-1, 0 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 0-1, 0 points
My Thoughts:
An awesome opening round for BOSJ, and it wasn’t even all the participants with Valiente Jr. and Jun Kasai for whatever reason not here tonight. Maybe travel stuff kept them from arriving in time? Otherwise, the tenth match on the card would’ve been Valiente VS Kasai. But even without them, great matches from start to finish, but that’s par for the course when it comes to NJPW. I really liked Sho saying his match with Kanemaru was gonna steal the show, and then all we get is them trying to outcheat the other, because duh, what else were they gonna do?
Daiki taking Douki’s spot since Douki kayfabe refused to compete, he had a great showing against Taguchi, but it feels like Daiki’s first win in this tournament is gonna happen late in the tournament so that he can act as spoiler. Yoh VS Hyo was certainly unique, and surprisingly short. Both Robbies losing was a bit of a surprise, but it makes sense since Nick Wayne is meant to make an impact this time around, and Kushida is making his return to NJPW, both of those guys needed the win. But seriously, ROH’s tape delays hurt them here because Nick Wayne VS AR Fox doesn’t air until tonight so we already know what happens there…
Daisuke being a real Heel in the end of his match was a good way for him to win while protecting Despy. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Daisuke join House of Torture in the absence of Evil. And awesome main event from Fujita VS Akira, but very fitting of the 2025 BOSJ winner basically defending his title as he goes for another. All of Fujita’s matches probably will be this awesome, or as close to it as they can get out of everyone in A Block, but who knows if he repeats.
My Score: 9/10
Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - 4 Corners Podcast (sports)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Nefarious Means
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - 30 Mindless Minutes
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Will The Prince dispatch two challengers at once?
After retaining the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, Callum Newman offered a unique challenge. Can Shingo Takagi or Yota Tsuji secure a title shot through a tag match?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Ryusuke Taguchi & Taisei Nakahara VS SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Sho & Kanemaru win.
- Six Man Tag: Bishamon & Tatsuya Matsumoto VS Toru Yano, YOH & Master Wato; Yano, Yoh & Wato win.
- Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma VS Taichi & El Desperado; Taichi & Desperado win.
- Yuya Uemura & Masatora Yasuda VS Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita; Oiwa & Fujita win.
- Six Man Tag: Aaron Wolf, Boltin Oleg & Tiger Mask VS Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo; Wolf, Oleg & Tiger Mask win.
- 10 Man Tag: The Unbound Company VS The United Empire; The Empire wins.
- Championship Stakes: Callum Newman & Jake Lee VS Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji; Takagi & Tsuji win, and Tsuji will challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
PLAY BY PLAY
10 Man Tag: The Unbound Company VS The United Empire!
Before the Knock Out Brothers clash with the Dominator & Mauler over the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, they lead their units into war! Will Oskar, Yuto-Ice, Gedo, Taiji Ishimori & Daiki Nagai be truly unbound? Or will Great-O-Khan, Henare, Francesco Akira, Jakob Austin Young & Zane Jay conquer them for the glory of the Empire?
The teams sort out, but Yuto and Henare egg each other on as they’re forehead to forehead. The ref has them back off, but they still start the match. The bell rings and the fans rally as Yuto and Henare step back up. They’re forehead to forehead again as they talk trash, then they fire forearm after forearm! The fans rally as Henare ROCKS Yuto, but Yuto fires a flurry in return! Henare fires a flurry of his own, then runs, but into a BOOT! Henare wobbles but he comes right back. Yuto laughs as he ROCKS Henare! Yuto runs, ROCKS Henare again, but Henare roars! Henare eggs Yuto on, Yuto runs the ropes, but Henare RUNS him over!
Henare sits Yuto up to KICK him in the back, then KICK again! The fans rally as Henare runs, but Yuto avoids the Rugby Kick! Henare still kicks low, whips to ropes, but Yuto reverses to BOOT Henare down! The fans fire up with Yuto, and he KICKS Henare in the back! And KICKS him again! Henare scrambles to a corner but Yuto swaggers his way over. Yuto KICKS, and KNEES, and SOBATS! Henare sits down, Yuto gets gangsta! “BOMBACLAT!” But Henare gets up to fireman’s carry! Yuto slips free, Henare dodges a lariat, but so does Yuto! Henare swats the boot, Yuto ducks the heel kick, and the fans cheer the standoff!
Zane has Henare calm down, and wants him to tag. Henare tags Zane, and Zane calls out Daiki. Daiki tags in, and these two still have to settle how they ended the Young Lion Cup. Zane eggs Daiki on, so Daiki ROCKS him! Zane fires back, Daiki fires another, and the fans rally as the two brawl! Daiki whips, Zane reverses, but Daiki redirects! Zane hurdles, drops down, but Daiki avoids the dropkick! Daiki runs to basement DROPKICK! Zane scrambles to a corner while the fans fire up. Daiki runs in, HYDRAULIC DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Zane toughs it out but the fans rally behind Daiki. Daiki storms up on Zane but Zane wants mercy. Daiki says no and he ROCKS Zane!
Daiki runs in at the corner, but Zane counters the monkey flip to put Daiki up top! Zane DROPKICKS Daiki down, then the Empire BLASTS the Unbound corner! They all brawl on the outside and into the crowd! Oskar CLUBS Khan, Yuto fires forearms on Henare, but Henare BODY BLOWS and CHOPS! Oskar has fans clear out, then he whips Khan, but Khan reverses! Oskar tumbles into the chairs! Yuto CHOKES Henare, Henare shoves Yuto away, and Zane has Daiki in the ring. Zane bumps Daiki off buckles while Khan JAMS Oskar with a chair! Khan SMACKS Oskar on the back with it, too! The fans are torn as Khan roars.
Henare and Yuto return ringside, and Khan uses a chair to sit on Oskar! Khan taunts Oskar, then steps off. Henare uses a DEATH GRIP on Yuto! Henare THROWS Yuto into chairs, then he smothers a Young Lion for getting in the way! Henare even scares ring staff off before going to ringside. Zane CHOKES Daiki, the ref counts, and Zane stops at 4. Zane tags #DangerousJay and he UPPERCUTS Daiki. Jakob CHOKES Daiki in the corner, then brings him around. Jakob whips Daiki to ropes, ELBOWS him down, then covers, TWO! The fans applaud as Daiki toughs it out, but Jakob brings him back up. Jakob tags Akira, and he taunts Oskar!
The ref has to keep Oskar back, but this all lets Khan bend Daiki’s fingers! The Empire mugs Daiki in the corner, and Jakob even CLAWS Daiki’s eyes! Khan tells commentary to shut up, but Daiki fights back! Akira KNEES low, whips, and drop toeholds. Akira SMACKS Daiki off the mat again, then kneels on a cocky cover. TWO, but Akira taunts the Unbound Company. Akira bumps Daiki off buckles, tags Khan, and Khan dumps Daiki out. The rest of the Empire mugs Daiki while the fans boo. Zane puts Daiki back in for Khan, and Khan drags Daiki around. Khan steps on Daiki for a cocky cover, TWO! Daiki toughs it out but Khan soaks up the cheers and jeers.
Khan scuffs Daiki as Daiki tries to crawl away. Khan eggs Daiki on, offering a free hit. Daiki stands, but Khan dodges the hit. Khan laughs at Daiki for falling for his trap quite literally! Khan then drags Daiki up, but Daiki fires forearms after all! The fans rally as Daiki HEADBUTTS! Daiki whips, Khan reverses, and Khan runs up, only for Daiki to dodge! Hot tag to Oskar! The fans fire up as the giant German RUNS Khan over, BLASTS Henare, then whips Khan corner to corner! Zane runs up but Oskar BOOTS him away! Oskar runs up, DOUBLE ELBOW for Zane and Khan! Akira runs up to jump on Oskar’s back! Oskar RAMS Akira into a corner!
Jakob storms in, but Oskar guzels! Akira runs up, but Oskar guzels! Oskar gives them a meeting of the minds, then a DOUBLE LARIAT! The fans fire up with Oskar, and he goes back for Khan. Oskar drags Khan up, scoops, but Henare KICKS Oskar’s leg! The ref reprimands but Henare KICKS and KICKS and BODY BLOWS! Henare HEADBUTTS, then DEATH GRIPS! Henare HEADBUTTS Oskar, then he and Khan bring Oskar around. Oskar fights the lift, but Henare blocks the boot! But then Oskar guzels Henare! Henare can’t reach Oskar for the Death Grip! Oskar then guzels Khan, but they both break free! DOUBLE BODY BLOW!
The ref reprimands, but #Khanare double whip Oskar. He breaks their lariats, but the DOUBLE BOOTS hit! Yuto is in, he shoves Henare into Khan! Then he fires off fast hands on Henare, bobs ‘n’ weaves, then ROCKS Henare! Henare drops, Yuto ICE HIGHS! But Henare is up, LARIAT! The fans fire up while all four men are down! Oskar rises, he SWATS Khan’s haymaker to have the NIGHTMARE SLEEPER! But Khan BITES Oskar’s arm! IRON CLAW! But Oskar pries it away, only for Khan to KICK the leg, and BOOT Oskar down! The fans rally as both men crawl for their corners. Hot tags to Akira and Taiji!
The fans fire up as the two rush in! Akira dodges the boot to headlock, but Taiji powers up and out. Akira RUNS Taiji over, then keeps moving. Taiji drops, hurdles, but Akira shoves! Taiji RANAS! Akira tumbles, Taiji runs up, DOUBLE KNEES! Then a fireman’s carry, ROLLING DEATH VALLEY, and a BASEMENT SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO! Akira is tougher than that but Taiji stays on him. Taiji gut wrenches, but Akira fights to turn it around! CIPHER- NO, Taiji lands out to whip Akira. Akira reverses, Taiji handsprings, but into a waistlock! Akira then spins Taiji around, SPEEDFIRE! Akira sputters, he can’t make the cover!
Taiji and Akira crawl, hot tag to Jakob! Jakob drags Taiji up, he and Akira DOUBLE SUPLEX, but Daiki makes the save! Akira & Jakob kick Daiki, then whip, but Daiki ducks ‘n’ dodges to DOUBLE SHOTGUN! The fans cheer the Unbound Young Lion as he flounders to a corner, and Taiji tags Gedo! Gedo JABS, JABS, and JABS! Gedo winds up, but Jakob CLAWS Gedo’s eyes! Jakob winds up, but Gedo UPPERCUTS! Then SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO! Jakob survives but Gedo stays focused. Gedo tells Jakob to get up, then he mule kicks the leg! Body scissors, GEDO CLUTCH! But Zane ELBOW DROPS Gedo down!
Zane drags Gedo up, and he FALL AWAY SLAMS! Jakob gets Gedo back up, for the HAMMERLOCK DDT! Cover, The Empire wins!
Winners: The United Empire, by pinfall
Another bites the dust, and The Empire is control on this New Japan Road! Henare taunts Yuto with his tag title, but that just sparks a new brawl! Young Lions hurry to stop this, but easier said than done! The rest of the teams get in there, too, and Unbound Company must fall back, if only for now. But will things be different with their best in the main event?
Championship Stakes: Callum Newman & Jake Lee VS Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji!
It was just 48 hours ago that The Prince slayed the Rampaging Dragon, although with controversial and underhanded tactics. He’s so confident, in fact, he’s giving Takagi and Tsuji another chance! Will Callum cross off two names from the list for the rest of his reign? Or will someone from the Unbound Company have a golden ticket to the top title in NJPW?
The teams sort out, but Callum can’t help himself. He taunts Takagi and Tsuji with the belt, so they attack! They mug Callum, then Yota kicks Jake. Yota TOSSES Jake, the bell rings, and Unbound mug Callum again. They double whip then DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans cheer while Takagi ELBOW DROPS! The fans rally as Takagi eggs Callum on. Callum goes to a corner, Takagi runs up, but Callum dodges. Callum runs back in, but Takagi puts him on the apron. Callum RAMS Takagi, slingshots up and over, then keeps moving. Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges but Takagi sidesteps to HIP TOSS! Callum staggers to his feet, Takagi LARIATS him up and out!
Callum stumbles into and then tumbles over the railing! Yota goes after Jake while Takagi hurries through the gate to fetch Callum. Yota whips Jake hard into railing, then stalks him around the way, while Takagi KNEES Callum low. Takagi brings Callum around to SMACK him off the timekeeper’s table! Takagi ROCKS Callum, follows him to another section of the crowd, while Yota DOUBLE CHOPS Jake out of a chair! Takagi ROCKS Callum again and the fans rally behind him. Callum wants to escape but Takagi stalks him. Takagi SMACKS Callum off some chairs, then HEADBUTTS him down! Yota brings Jake up to ROCK with a forearm of his own!
Jake stumbles around through the crowd, knocking chairs over as he tries to flee. Yota pursues as Jake begs young fans to help. Yota grabs that hand to SNAP fingers! The ring count finally starts as Callum SMACKS Takagi off a table! Takagi considers throwing that table but thinks better of it. Takagi pursues Callum as Callum heads back to ringside, but Yota BOOTS Jake out of a seat! The count is 15 of 20 as Callum and Takagi roll inside. Callum wants mercy, even apologizes, but Takagi CHOKES him! Red Shoes counts, Takagi stops at 4, and Callum clings to the ropes. Takagi kicks Callum into letting go, then brings him up.
Takagi JABS Callum and Callum falls against ropes. Takagi JABS again and Callum flounders. Callum calls to Jake but Takagi keeps him back. Callum fights the lift with elbows, then BODY BLOWS! Callum runs, but Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! But Callum trips Takagi and PUNTS him in the side! Just like in their title match! Jake BLASTS Yota off the apron, then goes out to stomp him down! Red Shoes reprimands but Jake drags Yota up and grinds him into railing. Callum pushes Takagi out of the ring while Jake fires body shots on Yota. Callum RAMS Takagi into railing, then brings him around to POST him!
Takagi staggers while Callum mockingly cheers him on. Jake POSTS Yota and does the same. Callum KICKS Takagi in the side, then flexes before he SPITS at Takagi! The fans boo but Callum ROCKS Takagi again. Callum puts Takagi in the ring, taunts Yota from across the way, then slingshots to stomp Takagi down. Callum dares Yota to reach out for Takagi, then he stomps Takagi. Callum digs his heel in, then he tags Jake. Jake swaggers and talks some trash, then he brings out the black glove! Callum KNEES Takagi before Jake takes Takagi’s shirt off. Jake shows off the bad ribs while he says it is picture time! Jake gives Takagi the DENTAL CHECK!
The fans are torn as Jake shoves Takagi down and takes off the glove. Jake mockingly applauds that Takagi passed his dental exam, then he stomps Takagi down. Tag to Callum and Callum clamps onto the arm. Callum traps the arm, kneels on Takagi, then digs his knuckles into the bad ribs! Yota BOOTS Callum, then backs off as Jake runs up. Callum calls BS, but he drags Takagi to stomp him down! Callum KICKS Takagi, then sits for a cocky cover, TWO! Callum clamps onto Takagi, wags his finger at Yota, then grinds Takagi’s bad arm. The fans rally for Takagi as he rises up and fires body shots! Callum KNEES low, then bumps Takagi off buckles.
Callum tags Jake back in and Jake again taunts Takagi. Callum CHOKES Takagi, and Jake KICKS Takagi in the side! The fans rally for Takagi as he rises again, and he rips away the tape! Takagi snarls as he ROCKS Jake again and again! But Jake kicks low, CLAWS Takagi’s face, then runs. Takagi blocks the boot to CLUB the leg! Takagi whips, Jake reverses, but Takagi blocks the knee! DRAGON SCREW! The fans cheer while both men are down! Hot tag to Yota! The fans fire up as Yota BLASTS Callum off the corner, then kicks and whips Jake. Jake reverses but Yota BOOTS him! Yota BLASTS Callum again, then DIVES! Direct hit and Callum hits railing!
The fans fire up for Yota and he slingshots into the ring. Yota then whips Jake corner to corner, runs up, but Jake dodges the splash! BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Yota is tougher than that, but Jake signals he’s taking his shot. Jake drags Yota up, reels him in, but Yota fights the lift! Yota tries to suplex but Jake fights the lift! They fight for control as the fans rally, and Jake suplexes! But Yota lands out! Yota ducks an elbow to FLATLINER! The fans fire up while both men are down! Takagi calls to Yota and Yota crawls over. Yota is a bit unsure, but he hot tags Takagi anyway! The fans fire up as Takagi powers up and LARIATS in the corner!
Takagi fires the fans up more, and he JABS, JABS, JABS in the corner! Then a CHOP! Jake roars, but Takagi ELBOWS him! Takagi runs, but into the KITCHEN SINK KNEE! It hit pretty high and Takagi falls. Jake tags Callum, Callum BOOTS Yota! Callum stands Takagi up for Jake to KITCHEN SINK KNEE! Then EXCALIBUR!! Cover, YOTA BREAKS IT! The fans cheer, and Yota TOSSES Jake! Callum kicks and TOSSES Yota! Callum is frustrated, but he still mocks Takagi’s pain. Callum kicks Takagi around, and mockingly asks if it hurts. Callum CLUBS Takagi, eggs him on, then ROCKS him with a forearm.
Callum eggs Takagi on, but Takagi SLAPS him! Callum DECKS Takagi for that! Callum sits Takagi up, mocks the prayer hands, then KICKS Takagi in the back! Takagi stays up, and he’s getting mad! The fans fire up as Takagi rises, but Callum BOOTS! And BOOTS! And BOOTS! Takagi just gets angrier! Callum fires knee after knee, but Takagi headbutts the buckles! The fans fire up but Callum BOOTS again! Callum runs, but into the ELBOW! SOBAT! JAB! HEEL KICK! Callum feints the run, but Takagi LARIATS first! Callum LARIATS in return! Both men stand but stagger, and Yota tags in! The fans fire up as Yota hurries to BLAST Jake!
Yota then goes back to Callum and ROCKS him with a forearm! Callum staggers around, Yota ROCKS him again, and again! The fans fire up with Yota, he whips Callum to ropes, but Callum grabs ropes! Yota runs up, Callum BOOTS him away, and Jake jumps in! Jake kicks and whips Yota to a corner, then runs up, but he blocks the boot. Yota reels Jake in for the STOMP! Yota runs up but Callum wrenches through, short arm LARIAT! The fans rally up again while everyone is down! Callum sits up, kisses the crown tattoo, and brings Yota up. Callum goes to fireman’s carry but Yota fights it. Callum powers through, but Yota slips free!
Yota feeds Callum to Takagi’s ELBOW! Yota BOOTS, Takagi BLINDSIDE LARIATS, and Yota GENE TRIGGERS! Then they DOUBLE BACK SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Callum survives and Takagi has to sort out who is legal. Red Shoes and Yota explain that tag from earlier, but then Callum kicks them both! Callum runs, but into the ELBOW! BACKBREAKER! JAB! Then Yota pump handles, but Jake CLAWS Yota’s face! Takagi RUNS Jake over, Callum BOOTS Takagi down, but Yota scoops to BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up while all four men are down again! Yota and Callum stir, and Callum flips off the fans cheering Yota.
Yota rises up, Callum wants mercy, and Yota hesitates. But then Callum SPITS at him! Callum fires a forearm, Yota fires back, and repeat! The fans rally up as the shots go back and forth, faster and faster! Callum fires a flurry, runs, but Yota follows to SPLASH in the corner! Yota runs but Callum follows to HELLUVA KICK! Callum runs, Yota follows, GENE TRIGGER! Yota keeps moving, but he dodges Callum to then GAMANGIRI! Yota puts Callum up top, climbs up, and SUPER STEINERS! Cover, TWO! Callum survives but Yota roars! The fans cheer Yota on as he pump handles, but Callum slips free! Callum shoves Yota at Red Shoes! Yota stops short, but Callum LOW BLOWS!
The fans boo but Callum turns around as Takagi runs in! DOUBLE LARIATS collide, but neither man falls! They DOUBLE LARIAT again, and Callum flops against Takagi! Takagi fires boxing elbows on Callum, then winds up, but Callum ROCKS! ROLLING- JAB! Callum grabs at Red Shoes, uses him as a shield, but Takagi stops the low blow! Takagi shoves Callum at Red Shoes, REVENGE LOW BLOW! Yota SUPERKICKS! Takagi PUMPING BOMBERS! And they set Callum up for the PUMPING BLASTER!! Cover, Jake breaks it! KNEE for Takagi, then a ROUNDHOUSE! But Takagi rebounds, PUMPING BOMBER on Jake!!
Takagi tells Yota to finish this! Yota GENE BLASTERS Callum!! Cover, Yota & Takagi win!!
Winners: Yota Tsuji & Shingo Takagi, by pinfall (Yota Tsuji is the NEW #1 Contender to the IWGP Heavyweight Championship)
Callum got too cocky in his young reign, and now he’s the one staring up at the lights! But will he have a better game plan for when the title is on the line?
As for the Unbound Company, they catch their breath before Yota takes the mic. “OI, CALLUM! Too bad for you. To me, the path you forge is darkness. I won’t let NJPW go down that path. I will lead NJPW towards the light of hope.” The fans applaud that. Callum says see you at Dominion then! Callum leaves, and Yota continues by saying with Hiroshi Tanahashi’s retirement, the New Beginning, and now Dominion, NJPW has changed dramatically. But now, Yota meets Callum in a rematch for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in Dominion’s main event, carrying that responsibility and determination in his heart!
The fans cheer again, and Yota says, “OI, NJPW! And Callum Newman… ARE YOU READY?!” The fans cheer again, and Yota promises to be the one to carry NJPW on his shoulders! Mic drop from the Gene Blast, but will he dethrone the Prince already? Or will Callum solidify NJWP as his dominion?
My Thoughts:
A very good New Japan Road event as also a sendoff to Dominion. Really good tune-ups, and the 10 Man Tag especially for the build into the Heavyweight Tag title match. Empire winning here might show KOB wins when the time comes, but Best of the Super Juniors is next so there will be more and more tune-up filler matches first. And great tag match main event with the unique stipulation. As I said before, Yota losing both belts is so he can have his heroic journey back to the top. Yota getting the win here makes sense as it sets up the rematch from losing to Callum, and Dominion’s going to have a great main event that could honestly go either way.
My Score: 8.8/10
Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - 4 Corners Podcast (sports)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Nefarious Means
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - 30 Mindless Minutes
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
4 Corners Podcast: Secretariat’s Family Tree
Patrick and Tunney discuss the NHL and NBA playoffs!
4 Corners Podcast: Did The Red Sox Panic?
Dave & Patrick discuss a seismic shift in Boston as the Red Sox clean house. Plus, NFL Draft thoughts and...
4 Corners Podcast: NHL & NBA Playoff Preview
Dave & PC Tunney preview the NHL & NBA Playoffs!
4 Corners Podcast: The Masters, NBA & MLB
Join Patrick and Dave weekly as they explore the 4 Corners of the American sports scene.
4 Corners Podcast: College Madness
The guys recap the Final Four, discuss March Madness expanding, and discuss an Executive Order that the guys actually agree...
Bandwagon Nerds #340: Womp Womp!
Your favorite Nerds review the season finale of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, episode 6 of The Boys final season,...
Bandwagon Nerds #339: Everybody Dies
Your favorite Nerds review Daredevil: Born Again and The Boys. Paramount, Disney and Oscars news. All that plus we take...
Bandwagon Nerds #338: Impossible Choices
Your favorite Nerds review the season finale of Invincible, as well as continuing their review of Daredevil: Born Again and...
Bandwagon Nerds #337: Parallels & Purpose
The NERDS continue to review Invincible, Daredevil, and The Boys. Plus, we take a look at the new trailer for...
Bandwagon Nerds #336: Invincible, Daredevil, The Boys… Oh My!
Don't miss the Bandwagon, NERDS!
Former WWE Star Reveals How Company Tests Wrestlers for an “Attitude Problem”
A former WWE star took to social media to explain, in brief, how WWE evaluates its talent to determine whether...
WWE Backlash Match Sparks “Clone War” Debate in Wrestling Community
Wrestling fans and insiders are abuzz after a match at WWE Backlash was accused of “copycatting” a formula previously used...
Thekla Says AEW Became the “Perfect Fit,” Citing Tony Khan in Decision to Re-Sign
AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla revealed that Tony Khan’s promotion has become the “perfect fit” for her, a realization that...
Swerve Strickland Targets ROH Champion Bandido Ahead of Owen Hart Cup Match
AEW’s Swerve Strickland fired several warning shots at ROH World Champion Bandido as the two prepare to collide in the...
Ronda Rousey Reflects on WrestleMania 35 Main Event, Cites Lack of Preparation Time
Ronda Rousey has opened up about her feelings surrounding the historic WrestleMania 35 main event, calling it a career-defining moment...
Matt Hardy Reflects on Kofi Kingston’s WrestleMania 35 Triumph and the New Day’s Influence
Matt Hardy praised Kofi Kingston’s emotional WWE Championship victory at WrestleMania 35, calling the KofiMania run a defining moment for...
Kit Wilson Opens Up About Emotional Toll After Being Left Off 2026 Royal Rumble
WWE’s Kit Wilson admitted he struggled emotionally after being left off this year’s Royal Rumble card, saying the omission from...
Kevin Nash Slams TKO’s WWE Stewardship, Says Only One Thing Would End His Involvement
Veteran Kevin Nash has publicly criticized TKO’s handling of WWE, taking aim at the promotion’s current direction under Paul Levesque...
Jeff Jarrett Says Orange Cassidy Excels at Mixing Character and In-Ring Work
AEW veteran Jeff Jarrett praised Orange Cassidy as the standout performer in modern wrestling when it comes to blending distinctive...
JBL Says He Was Asked to Take a Pay Cut Minutes Before Surgery
WWE Hall of Famer John “Bradshaw” Layfield revealed he once received a phone call just minutes before going into surgery...
-
News5 days ago
Former New Day Duo Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston Announced for GalaxyCon
-
Headline News4 days ago
Former Wyatt Sicks Announced for WrestleCon Under New Names
-
Headline News7 days ago
WWE Announces AAA TripleMania 34 as Two-Night Event; Night Two Set for Mexico City
-
Headline News7 days ago
IYO SKY Defeats Asuka at WWE Backlash 2026, Receives Apology and Hug