NJPW PPV Results
Mitchell’s NJPW G1 Climax 33 Results & Report! (7/23/23)
C & D, round 3!
Bullet Club: Civil War?
David Finlay has revitalized Bullet Club with his War Dogs, but what about the House of Torture? Will he test Evil in tonight’s main event?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- G1 Climax 33, D Block: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Alex Coughlin; ZSJ wins.
- G1 Climax 33, C Block: Tama Tonga VS Mikey Nicholls; Tama wins.
- G1 Climax 33, D Block: Hirooki Goto VS Shane Haste; Goto wins.
- G1 Climax 33, C Block: Eddie Kingston VS HENARE; Eddie wins.
- G1 Climax 33, D Block: Toru Yano VS Tetsuya Naito; Naito wins.
- G1 Climax 33, C Block: Shingo Takagi VS Tomohiro Ishii; Takagi wins.
- G1 Climax 33, D Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Jeff Cobb; Cobb wins.
- G1 Climax 33, C Block: David Finlay VS EVIL; Finlay wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Here are the current C Block standings.
David Finlay: 2-0, 4 points
EVIL: 2-0, 4 points
Mikey Nicholls: 1-1, 2 points
Eddie Kingston: 1-1, 2 points
Aaron Henare: 1-1, 2 points
Tama Tonga: 1-1, 2 points
Shingo Takagi: 0-2, 0 points
Tomohiro Ishii: 0-2, 0 points
Here are the current D Block standings.
Jeff Cobb: 2-0, 4 points
Zack Sabre Jr: 2-0, 4 points
Tetsuya Naito: 1-1, 2 points
Hiroshi Tanahashi: 1-1, 2 points
Hirooki Goto: 1-1, 2 points
Shane Haste: 1-1, 2 points
Toru Yano: 0-2, 0 points
Alex Coughlin: 0-2, 0 points
G1 Climax 33, D Block: Zack Sabre Jr. w/ Kosei Fujita VS Alex Coughlin!
The Front Man is at the top of the block, but he’s running into the Bullet Club’s Dreadnought! Will ZSJ make Coughlin #JustTapOut? Or will this War Dog take a bite out of the NJPW World Television Champion?
The bell rings and the two rush in! ZSJ BOOTS, runs, BOOTS, and then fires off UPPERCUTS! But Coughlin DECKS ZSJ! And DECKS him again! Coughlin soaks up the heat and brings ZSJ up to whip. ZSJ wrenches, traps the arm, and TWEAKS it! ZSJ goes for an arm, manages to bring Coughlin down, but Coughlin deadlifts ZSJ and TOSSES him! Fans do cheer the show of strength and Coughlin pursues ZSJ to the outside. Coughlin whips ZSJ into railing right in front of English commentary! Coughlin then grabs his NJPW Strong Openweight Tag title, but Kosei snatches it from him! So Coughlin DECKS Kosei!
Coughlin whips ZSJ at more railing, but ZSJ stops himself! ZSJ ROUNDHOUSES Coughlin away! ZSJ then pursues Coughlin and KICKS him again! And again! And again! ZSJ wrenches an arm, brings Coughlin around, and STOMPS the arm on the apron! Fans cheer and ZSJ stalks Coughlin. ZSJ brings Coughlin around, wrenches the arm again and again, but Coughlin whips ZSJ back into railing! And again! Coughlin puts ZSJ in the ring, gut wrenches, and suplexes! Cover, TWO! Fans applaud as ZSJ hangs tough. Coughlin stalks ZSJ, stomps him around, then drags ZSJ up. Coughlin CHOPS and ZSJ drops to his knees.
Coughlin stands ZSJ up to CHOP him again! Coughlin eggs on the fans as they rally, and Coughlin whips ZSJ to a corner. Coughlin runs in, blocks a boot, but ZSJ brings Coughlin down to a NECK TWIST! Fans rally while Coughlin writhes, and ZSJ cravats Coughlin for a neck wrench. Coughlin powers up to lift ZSJ with just his neck! And then hits a BACKBREAKER! ZSJ crawls away and Coughlin catches his breath. Coughlin puts ZSJ on ropes to CHOKE him! The ref counts, Coughlin lets off at 4. ZSJ sputters, but he hits back with a headbutt to the gut! Coughlin CLUBS ZSJ down, but ZSJ grabs an arm!
Coughlin powers out of the Triangle to CLUB ZSJ again! ZSJ stands to UPPERCUT! And UPPERCUT again! ZSJ runs but Coughlin drop toeholds! And floats to hook the arms, and deadlifts ZSJ into the Reverse Gory Especial! Coughlin stretches ZSJ, but he fights out and flips things around to a COBRA TWIST! Coughlin powers out of that to switch the hold onto ZSJ! Coughlin CLUBS ZSJ in the hip, then pump handles and lifts ZSJ! FALL AWAY SLAM! Fans fire up while ZSJ flounders to the apron. Coughlin storms over and drags ZSJ up, but ZSJ fights the suplex to spin Coughlin around, HANGING DOUBLE WRISTLOCK!
The ref reprimands, ZSJ lets go, and Coughlin falls over. ZSJ isolates an arm to STOMP it! Fans rally up with ZSJ, and he eggs Coughlin on. Coughlin sits up, and ZSJ KICKS him in the chest! Coughlin shakes his head, so ZSJ KICKS again! Coughlin grits his teeth, blocks a kick, and he powers ZSJ up to a SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Coughlin stomps ZSJ, deadlift gut wrenches, and pops ZSJ up to his shoulder! But ZSJ DRAGON SLEEPERS! Coughlin fights but ZSJ drops back to body scissors and SLEEPER! But Coughlin rolls back, has ZSJ as a backpack, and pries free to the shoulder rack! POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!
ZSJ is still in this and fans rally up. Coughlin stands but ZSJ sits up. Coughlin brings ZSJ up and around to suplex, but ZSJ wrenches free to PELE the arm! And then wrenches again, but Coughlin ROCKS him! ZSJ BOOTS, Coughlin CHOPS! ZSJ forearms, Coughlin forearms, they go back and forth and the fans fire up! Coughlin SLAPS ZSJ and he doubles over! Coughlin fires up, but ZSJ CHOPS! And SLAPS! And KICKS! And KICKS! And runs, but into a LARIAT! Coughlin roars and we pass 10 minutes. Coughlin brings ZSJ up but ZSJ drags him down! Coughlin fights the armbar but ZSJ slaps at the grip.
The two roll around, Coughlin pops out the back to deadlift waistlock lift! GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! ZSJ is hanging tough but Coughlin keeps on him. Coughlin scoops to FALL AWAY BRIDGE! TWO, but Coughlin just holds on and lifts ZSJ again! But ZSJ fights free by wrenching an arm! ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Coughlin again clasps hands, moves around, but ends up in a TRIANGLE HOLD! Coughlin taps, ZSJ wins!!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by submission (gains 2 points; Coughlin earns 0)
The Android has strength, but even he can’t fortify his joints! Will D Block belong to ZSJ? As for Coughlin, his rage boils over and he chases ZSJ to the back! The Dreadnought is 0-3, what will it take to get on the board?
G1 Climax 33, C Block: Tama Tonga w/ Jado VS Mikey Nicholls w/ Kosei Fujita!
The Good Bad Guy won last round’s main event, and vowed to do his very best to win the G1! Will he continue on that mission? Or will Mad Mikey make Tama mad?
The bell rings and fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Mikey’s height becomes his leverage, and he puts Tama in the corner. The ref counts, Tama avoids Mikey’s swing, and fans applaud. The two reset and circle again, tie up, and go around. Mikey puts Tama in another corner and the ref counts, but Mikey whips Tama away! Tama stops himself, and the two reset again. They tie up, Tama waistlocks then headlocks but Mikey powers out. They RAM shoulders, and Tama runs again. They RAM shoulders, Mikey says not good enough, and Mikey runs. Tama drops down, hurdles, then runs to run Mikey over!
Fans cheer as Tama paces. Tama CLUBS Mikey, whips him to ropes, but Mikey reverses, only for Tama to reel him in! But Mikey suplexes first! Mikey holds Tama up for a count of TWELVE, then SLAMS! Cover, ONE!! Tama hangs tough but Mikey drops a knee on Tama’s head! Tama writhes, Mikey eggs him on, and Mikey throws Tama out. Mikey goes out after Tama, drags him up and whips him, but Tama reverses! Mikey crashes into railing in front of English commentary! Tama ROCKS Mikey, runs in, but Mikey dodges! Tama hits railing and tumbles right over! Mikey goes out to fetch Tama, and ROCKS him with a forearm!
Fans rally and duel as Mikey CLUBS Tama! They go past commentary, Mikey mockingly cheering Tama on. Tama hits back, they brawl and Mikey ROCKS Tama! Mikey brings Tama around to ringside and back in the ring. Fans cheer and Mikey wraps on a chinlock. Mikey traps an arm, too, as he leans on the hold. Tama endures but Mikey grinds him down to the mat. Tama endures, but Mikey leans all his weight on the hold! Tama fights up, throws body shots, and UPPERCUTS! Tama runs but Mikey lifts him up! Fireman’s carry, and DEATH VALLEY BOMB! Cover, TWO! Tama hangs tough and fans rally up.
Mikey gets the towel from Kosei to wipe his forehead, and he brings Tama up. Tama throws body shots, then UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! Mikey catches Tama to a backslide but Tama rolls through to UPPERCUT! Both men go to corners, and Tama storms up to fire off fast hands and forearms! The ref counts, Tama whips Mikey back in to UPPERCUT! Fans rally, Tama whips Mikey out and around to put him back in the corner and UPPERCUTS again! Tama whips corner to corner, but Mikey reverses! But Tama comes back to CLOBBER Mikey! And OFF COMES THE VEST! Fans rally up with Tama as he watches Mikey.
Tama runs in, STINGER SPLASH! And then a clinch, for an EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! Mikey hangs tough but fans rally with Tama. Tama paces around and stalks Mikey. Tama brings Mikey up but Mikey ROCKS Tama! And again! And again! Tama fires fast hands and ROCKS Mikey back! Mikey ROCKS Tama, Tama runs in, but into a fireman’s carry! DEATH VALLEY DRIVER this time! But Tama stands right up! Tama runs in, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men stay up, so they throw CHOPS and forearms! Mikey gets the edge but Tama ENZIGURIS! Tama hurries to fireman’s carry, S R C! Fans fire up with Tama as he goes to the corner!
Tama climbs, but Mikey trips him up! Mikey fireman’s carries Tama again, but Tama fights free! GUN- NO, Mikey slips right out! But Tama ducks the sliding lariat! Tama runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Tama is still in this but Mikey keeps cool. Mikey vows to end this, and he drags Tama up. Mikey whips, scoops, but Tama slips free to shove, run and redirect! But Mikey lifts Tama again! BIG ENDING!! Mikey drags Tama to a drop zone and goes up the corner! MOONSAULT GUN STUN!! Tama counters and fans fire up! Then standing GUN STUN!! Cover, Tama wins!
Winner: Tama Tonga, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Mikey earns 0)
So what if The Mighty Don’t Kneel? They still fall! And with that, Tama passes Mikey in the current rankings! Will the Good Bad Guy be THE guy in the G1?
G1 Climax 33, D Block: Hirooki Goto VS Shane Haste w/ Kosei Fujita!
The Fierce Warrior and Hysterical Shane are each 1-1, both having lost last round. But who gets back up to continue towards the top of the block, and who falls towards the bottom?
The bell rings and Shane DROPKICKS Goto right away! Then runs corner to corner to CALF KICK! Shane keeps moving and he CANNONBALLS! Fans fire up and Shane hurries to cover, TWO! Shane fires up and he brings Goto around but Goto gets away. The ref has Shane hold on, did he do more damage than even he expected? But then Shane shoves the ref aside to KICK Goto in the side! Goto sputters and fans rally, but Shane KICKS Goto around some more! Goto snarls and eggs Shane on so Shane KICKS him down! Shane then drags Goto up, brings him around, talks some trash, then runs, but Goto follows to LARIAT!
Both men are down and now Shane sputters from that shot to the face. Goto growls and stands, but Shane fireman’s carries! Goto slips free to a SLEEPER! Shane flails, claws at the hold, but he’s fading fast! Shane elbows Goto in the gut and Goto lets him go! Goto sputters again, goes to ropes, and Shane ROCKS him! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And body shots! Shane feints running, but Goto HEADBUTTS him! SLEEPER, and then roll into GOTO NI SHIKI! GOTO WINS!
Winner: Hirooki Goto, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Shane earns 0)
Shane is stunned that he got caught that fast! TMDK go 1-2 on the night, will the G1 slip through their fingers? As for Goto, can he still return to prominence?
G1 Climax 33, C Block: Eddie Kingston VS HENARE!
The Mad King got cheated by the King of Darkness while the Face of Fury slayed the Rampaging Dragon. But there is still a lot of ground to make up before the end, who will hit hardest and take the win?
Henare SUPERKICKS Eddie during the ref’s check! The ref asks if Eddie is still able to fight and Eddie says yes! The bell rings and Henare PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO!! Eddie survives and Henare is furious! Henare rains down forearms, then storms around the ring. Fans rally, Henare puts Eddie through the ropes to bend him back, and CLUB away on his chest! Eddie flops over and to the apron, but Henare goes out after him. Henare pursues Eddie and HEADBUTTS him around the way! Eddie staggers, shakes it off, and CHOPS Henare! Henare snarls and keeps after Eddie with another HEADBUTT!
Eddie staggers, but he CHOPS back! Henare snarls again, the ref wants this in the ring, but Henare storms up on Eddie to throw body shots! Eddie gets in the ring but Henare is right on him. Henare ducks the Uraken to ROCK Eddie! Eddie roars, but Henare blocks the Uraken, to WRING the arm out! Fans rally up while Eddie writhes. Eddie goes to ropes, Henare storms up, and Henare pulls on the arm to then HOTSHOT it! Eddie flounders away, Henare storms up to him in the corner, and he throws heavy shots! And a HEADBUTT! Henare fires up and fans cheer, then Henare talks trash on Eddie.
Eddie slaps Henare! And again, and again! Henare ROCKS Eddie! Henare drags Eddie up but Eddie CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! And RIDGEHANDS! Henare snapmares to KICK Eddie in the back! Eddie pushes up but the bad arm gives up! Henare KICKS Eddie, then SENTONS! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Eddie hangs tough, but Henare sits him up. Henare pulls on the bad arm, almost has a Fujiwara Armbar, but Eddie claws his way around! Eddie reaches out, fights over, and gets the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and ref counts, but Henare lets go at 4. Henare paces around and waits on Eddie.
Eddie rises but he fights the full nelson! Eddie switches, Henare swings an elbow, but into an EXPLODER! Henare staggers up, into another EXPLODER! Henare roars and runs in, but into a LARIAT! Fans rally and both men stir. Eddie shakes out the bad arm while Henare shakes out the cobwebs. They crawl to each other, and Eddie headbutts! But Henare headbutts back! Eddie gives another, so Henare gives another! They stand and Eddie CHOPS! Even though that’s the bad hand! Henare forearms, Eddie CHOPS, repeat! Eddie gets the edge but then Henare fires palm strikes from all sides! BODY BLOW! Eddie powers up but then falls!
Henare grins as he aims from a corner. Henare fires up and the fans rally. Eddie rises and Henare runs in, but Eddie blocks Rampage to a DDT! Fans fire up while both men are down again! Henare goes to a corner and Eddie shakes out the bad arm again. Eddie runs in to clothesline! Again, the bad arm! But Eddie swings, only for Henare to dodge! Henare BACK ELBOWS, but Eddie ducks the Flying Chuck! Eddie whips, Henare reverses and scoops, BERSERKER BOMB! Both men are down again and fans fire back up! Henare growls and grits his teeth as he crawls over to Eddie. Eddie stands but flops over, still holding the bad arm.
Henare slaps his legs into working and fans rally up. Henare runs in, SHINING WIZARD in the corner! Snapmare, and Henare runs to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO!! Eddie survives and Henare roars! Henare paces around as fans rally and duel! Henare drags Eddie up, fisherman’s, but Eddie fights that to HAYMAKER! Henare staggers around, Eddie runs in to whip corner to corner! Henare comes back to RAMPAGE!! Cover, TWO!?!? Eddie survives but Henare fires up! Fans rally, Henare drags Eddie up again, fisherman, but Eddie fights free again! ENZIGURI! Henare wobbles, into another ENZIGURI!
Henare roars, swings, but into the HALF ‘N’ HALF! Eddie powers up, and he fires a forearm! But the bad elbow! Eddie just PAINT BRUSH SLAPS Henare with his left hand! Henare flops over and the ref checks him as we hit 10 minutes! Fans fire up and Henare stir, so Eddie brings Henare up. Henare SPINNING HEEL KICKS! But Eddie URAKENS! Henare HEADBUTTS! But Eddie URAKENS!! Henare falls, Eddie falls on the cover! EDDIE WINS!
Winner: Eddie Kingston, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Henare earns 0)
That might’ve ended up a double knockout if Eddie didn’t fall forward! But in the end, The Mad King refuses to be conquered by the United Empire! Will everyone see that Eddie is NJPW Strong?
G1 Climax 33, D Block: Toru Yano VS Tetsuya Naito!
The Clown Prince could not pull one over on ZSJ, while the Uncontrollable Charisma was able to bring down Hirooki Goto. Will Yano be able to trick Naito into a loss? Or will Naito make things tranquilo in Nagano?
But the trolling begins as Naito makes his entrance, taking his time so as to exasperate Yano. Yano shouts for Naito to hurry, the ref keeps him back, but then even the ref tells Naito to please go to the ring already. Yano almost goes after Naito at the ramp! Wait, then Naito turns to run back up the ramp? Yano is furious that Naito wants to do the whole thing again! But fans still clap along with the song as they get the “encore.” It’s been about three MINUTES already, and Naito finally gets in the ring. Then there’s still the ref checking both men, and Naito putting away his elaborate entrance attire. All of this is driving Yano nuts!
Yano shouts for Naito to hurry it up but of course that only encourages Naito to take longer. Five minutes have already passed and Naito is finally ready. The bell rings and Yano is all fired up! Fans rally, Naito keeps toying with Yano, and Yano rushes in! Naito stays back so the two have to reset. They rush up again but then Naito backs away. Naito does last minute stretching and Yano is annoyed. The two circle, tie up, and Yano puts Naito on ropes! Yano says Naito wasn’t even trying! The fans cheer and Naito resets with Yano. They tie up, but again Naito doesn’t try! Yano is further annoyed but that amuses the fans.
Naito lazily rallies the fans with clapping, and the two tie up. Naito rolls Yano up! TWO!! Yano stands but into a cradle! TWO!! Atomic drop! Naito runs for ROLLING JACKKNIFE! TWO!!! Yano escapes and that surprises Naito! Yano bails out, paces in frustration and then goes up the ramp. Yano doesn’t get what Naito’s playing at, but Naito just waits in the ring. Yano goes back, but he wants Naito to back away from the ropes! Naito now tells Yano he should hurry up. Yano says he doesn’t wanna hear that from Naito! Yano wants to go in but Naito is right there. Yano wants Naito to back off already.
Naito steps back, but they’re baby steps. Yano says further! Further! Naito is finally far enough away but Yano sees he’s ready to pounce. This is the first ever cat ‘n’ mouse game where there’s no running. Fans rally up and Yano feeds off the energy, and he steps in! But then Naito steps out. Naito turns the tables on Yano again, but Yano goes out after him! Naito kicks but Yano blocks! And rakes eyes! And whips Naito hard into railing! Naito slumps down and the ref checks on him. Yano unties a buckle pad from the outside! The ref wonders where that went but Yano tells him not to question it.
Yano brings Naito around, and whips, but Naito reverses to rake eyes, and then whips, only for Yano to reverse! Naito crashes into railing and closes the gap in No Man’s Land! Fans fire up as Naito almost ends up in their laps! Yano goes out after Naito, pulls his legs through the railing, and has tape! But then Naito YANKS Yano into the railing and has his arms in through the gaps! Naito uses the tape to tie up Yano!! Fans cheer and the ring count starts! Naito leaves it at that, stomps away on Yano, and at 7 of 20, he heads to the ring. Naito is safe but Yano is trapped on the outside!
The count passes 15 of 20 but Yano is still stuck! Yano pulls the tape against the railing and it starts to tear! Yano is free and he slides into the ring at 19.5!! Fans cheer and Naito is again surprised. Naito stomps Yano around, drags him to a corner, and then whips him corner to corner! Yano stops from hitting bare buckles and fans cheer. But Naito copies Yano by untying the other buckle pad! Yano stops him, whips him, but Naito rolls into tranquilo! Fans cheer and Yano is annoyed again. Yano stomps Naito around, brings him up, and whips him corner to corner. Yano then runs in, blocks boots, and puts Naito in the ropes to SLAP him!
Fans cheer as Yano talks some trash, but Naito easily gets out of the ropes. Naito runs in, but into an atomic drop! CATAPULT into the bare buckles!! Roll up, TWO!! Yano pushes Naito down, M U! TWO!! Naito ELBOWS Yano again and again, then ENZI- NO, Yano ducks! Yano runs, but Naito avoids the chop block! Wheelbarrow and victory roll, NAITO WINS!
Winner: Tetsuya Naito, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Yano earns 0)
But he’s not done with Yano! Naito whips him into those bare buckles! And then again! Yano suffers his own cleverness, and Naito pins him again! The ref says it’s done, they don’t need to keep going. Naito beats Yano, is he the new Clown Prince of NJPW?
G1 Climax 33, C Block: Shingo Takagi VS Tomohiro Ishii!
Surprisingly, The Rampaging Dragon and Stone Pitbull are the bottom of the block! But whose fortunes will change through combat?
The bell rings and both men rush in! They RAM shoulders, go forehead to forehead, then forearm for forearm! Fans fire up and Ishii eggs Takagi on! The forearms keep flying, faster and faster, no guard! Takagi finally gets the edge, and runs, to RAM Ishii! Ishii rebounds, RAMS Takagi, then they RAM shoulders again and again! Fans fire up as the two stand tall! They talk some trash, both men run and they RAM shoulders! They run and RAM again, and again! Ishii RAMS Takagi, Takagi rebounds to run Ishii over! Fans fire up and Takagi stomps Ishii. Takagi drags Ishii up, bumps him off buckles, then RAMS into him!
Takagi snapmares Ishii to run and drop a BIG elbow! Cover, TWO and Takagi SENTONS! Fans rally up and Takagi kicks Ishii around. Takagi drags Ishii back up, puts him against ropes, and throws knees into Ishii’s stomach! Takagi whips, KNEES him again, then runs, but Ishii runs Takagi over! Fans fire up as Ishii looms over Takagi. Ishii stands Takagi up to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP! Takagi fires forearms in return! Ishii eggs him on so Takagi JABS and JABS and JABS! Ishii CHOPS again! Takagi staggers away and Ishii finally feels those jabs. Ishii CHOPS Takagi in a corner, but Takagi turns it around to throw forearms!
Ishii turns things back around to CHOP and forearm on repeat! Ishii lays in heavy forearms and Takagi sits down! Fans rally as the ref has Ishii back off. Ishii drags Takagi up but Takagi HEADBUTTS! Ishii stays up to Takagi HEADBUTTS again! Ishii HEADBUTTS! And HEADBUTTS! And HEADBUTTS! Takagi falls and fans fire up again. Ishii sits Takagi up to KICK him in the back! Takagi huffs and puffs and gets in Ishii’s face. Takagi CHOPS and Ishii felt that one! Takagi CHOPS again, but Ishii grits his teeth! Takagi CHOPS, Ishii CHOPS, so Takagi DOUBLE CHOPS! ELBOW! JAB! YUKON- Ishii ROCKS Takagi first!
Ishii goes to suplex but Takagi fights it! Takagi suplexes Ishii up and over!! And this is just the five minute mark! Fans rally up and duel, “TA-KA-GI!” “I-SHI-I!” Takagi storms up, blocks a boot, and clotheslines through! Fans fire up with Takagi and he JABS and CHOPS on repeat! Then JABS, JABS, JABS and CHOPS! Ishii sputters but Takagi brings him up. Takagi runs, but Ishii dodges! Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON feint to DDT! Takagi drags Ishii up, to SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Ishii hangs tough but Takagi says… IT’S TIME! Fans fire up and Takagi brings Ishii up. Takagi reels Ishii in but Ishii fights the lift!
Ishii powers up to back drop Takagi! Fans fire up, but Ishii staggers while Takagi goes to ropes. Ishii runs in but Takagi BOOTS him! Takagi runs, but into a POWERSLAM! Both men rise, Ishii runs, into a POWERSLAM from Takagi! But Ishii is up again, gets around, and SAIDOS! But Takagi is right up to SAIDO! Ishii roars as he rises up and runs in, into a YUKON LARIAT! Fans fire up while both men are down again! Takagi rises, he kicks Ishii around then drags him up. Takagi hoists Ishii to the top rope, climbs up after him, but the ropes are a bit slippery. Takagi HEADBUTTS Ishii, then climbs!
Takagi brings Ishii up to the very top, for a SUPER DUPER PLEX! Both men are down while fans fire up! Takagi crawls to the cover, TWO!! Ishii survives and fans fire up again! Takagi rallies the fans with “OI! OI! OI!” and he rises again. Takagi roars and the fans fire up more, and Takagi brings Ishii up. Ishii fights the Gory Especial and throws elbows. But Takagi spins him, only for Ishii to suplex Takagi! Both men are down again as we pass 10 minutes! Fans rally up and Ishii runs in at the corner, to clothesline! Ishii hoists Takagi up top now, and Ishii climbs up. Fans rally as Ishii brings Takagi to the very top, stalling SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO!!
Fans rally and duel while both men are down. Ishii sits Takagi up, runs, but Takagi ducks the sliding lariat! Ishii ducks the haymakers, but so does Takagi! Takagi pops Ishii up to a DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Both men are down again but Takagi goes to ropes. To SLIDING LARIAT! Fans rally up again and Takagi rises. Takagi brings Ishii up, pump handles and half nelsons, but Ishii fights with elbows! Takagi throws knees, but Ishii slips around and spins Takagi to throw a forearm! Takagi just fires boxing elbows in return! And he DECKS Ishii with the last one! Fans fire up with Takagi as he runs, but Ishii DROPKICKS!!
Fans are thunderous as Ishii roars! Ishii drags Takagi up, lifts, POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!! Takagi survives but Ishii keeps on him! Ishii sits Takagi up, runs and SLIDING LARIATS! Cover, TWO!! Ishii roars and fans fire up again as he stands Takagi up. Ishii suplexes, Takagi fights it, DDT!! Fans rally and duel again, and Takagi rises. Takagi drags Ishii around, suplexes, but Ishii knees free! Takagi blocks the lariat to pump handle and half nelson! MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!!! Ishii survives and fans are thunderous! Takagi goes to ropes as we hit 15 minutes. Takagi aims from the corner, runs in, PUMPING BOMBER!
But Ishii rises?!? Takagi says fine, and he POINT-BLANK PUMPING! Ishii HEADBUTTS! Takagi JABS, HEADBUTTS, and then SLIDING PUMPING!! Cover, ONE?!?! Ishii roars and rises again, swats a lariat and HEADBUTTS! Takagi rebounds, into Ishii’s LARIAT!! Cover, ONE?!?!? Fans are thunderous again as both men rise! Takagi runs in, but Ishii LARIATS him down!! Ishii aims, runs, to LARIAT again!! Cover, TWO!?!? Fans are thunderous again as Ishii brings Takagi up! Suplex, but Takagi slips out! Takagi waistlocks, torture racks, but Ishii fights free to spin Takagi and ROCK him!
Ishii ROCKS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Those shots are up high! But Takagi JABS back! Ishii HEADBUTTS, but Takagi HEADBUTTS back! Takagi reels Ishii in, we hit the three minute warning, but Takagi tucks the arms! TAKAGI DRIVER 98!! Cover, TWO!!!! Ishii survives and fans are thunderous! Takagi powers up, runs, PUMPING- NO, Ishii dodges to LARIAT! But Takagi stays up so Ishii ENZIGURIS! Takagi returns, SLIDING ELBOW! Takagi hauls Ishii up, LAST OF THE DRAGONS!!! But he can’t make the cover!! Both men are down and fans rally up, and we hit the two minute warning!
Takagi stands, brings Ishii up, and runs for PUMPING BOMBER!!! Takagi wins!!
Winner: Shingo Takagi, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Ishii earns 0)
The Rampaging Dragon breaks through the Stone Pitbull and finally gets on the board! Does this mean there’s still a chance for Takagi to take the block?
G1 Climax 33, D Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Jeff Cobb!
The Ace of the Universe has gone 1-1, and now he runs into the undefeated Imperial Unit! Will Tanahashi be able to avoid a Tour of the Islands? Or will he be conquered on behalf of the United Empire?
The bell rings and fans rally up for Tanahashi. Cobb mocks the air guitar with air bass and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Tanahashi manages to push Cobb back a step. Cobb pushes Tanahashi away, and Cobb flexes. The two reset, tie up again, and Cobb holds firm as Tanahashi gives it his all. Cobb powers Tanahashi back to the ropes, but Tanahashi turns things around. Red Shoes calls for the break, Tanahashi lets off slowly, and then he stomps Cobb’s foot! Tanahashi headlocks and grinds but Cobb fights up and lifts Tanahashi! Tanahashi thrashes the hold more, but Cobb pulls hair!
Cobb powers out and sends Tanahashi to a corner. Cobb runs in but into boots! Cobb returns, but Tanahashi drop toeholds him into the buckle pad! Tanahashi runs to dropkick the leg out! Tanahashi plays some real air guitar while Cobb bails out. Tanahashi pursues as Cobb hobbles around the way, but Cobb ROCKS him first! Cobb reels Tanahashi in, and suplexes to POST him! And then he suplexes again, to SLAM Tanahashi on the apron! Fans fire up for that show of strength while Cobb walks off the bad leg. Cobb leaves Tanahashi behind and the ring count starts. Tanahashi sits up at 3 of 20, and drags himself up with the railing.
Fans rally as Tanahashi stands. Tanahashi rolls in at 11 but Cobb stomps him at the ropes! Red Shoes reprimands, Cobb “apologizes,” then stands Tanahashi up to HEADBUTT him down! Cobb mockingly asks if he’s okay, then strums the air bass while kneeling on Tanahashi for a cover. TWO and fans cheer, but Cobb stomps Tanahashi down. Cobb stands Tanahashi up to ROCK him in the back! Cobb then uses Tanahashi’s abs as the guitar! But Tanahashi throws elbows! Cobb CLUBS Tanahashi, pushes him down and stomps him! Fans rally but Cobb drags Tanahashi up to BEARHUG! Fans rally and Tanahashi endures the squeeze!
Tanahashi grabs at Cobb, throws elbows to the forehead, and is free! Tanahashi fires more shots, but Cobb kicks low! And CLUBS Tanahashi down! Fans rally again while Cobb steadies himself. Cobb looms over Tanahashi, drags him up, and reels him in to short arm LARIAT! Cobb strums again, then throws the guitar away to play his air ukulele! GACHIMUCHI FLOP as Tanahashi moves! Tanahashi blocks a kick, and Cobb begs for mercy. Tanahashi says bye-bye and DRAGON SCREWS the leg! Cobb hobbles more, Tanahashi fires off forearms, then whips to ropes. Cobb reverses but Tanahashi FLYING FOREARMS!
Fans fire up with Tanahashi, Cobb staggers around, and Tanahashi fires off fast hands! Tanahashi scoops and SLAMS Cobb!! Fans fire up for that feat of strength alone! Tanahashi goes up to SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! Fans rally, Tanahashi powers up as Cobb rises, and Tanahashi runs, but Cobb DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! Cobb grows frustrated that Tanahashi stays in this! Cobb drags Tanahashi up, scoops him, and carries him around with one arm! Cobb SLAMS Tanahashi down, then he goes up the corner! Cobb mocks Tanahashi, SUNSET SENTON FLOPS as Tanahashi moves!
Fans fire up as Tanahashi rises, dodges Cobb, and turns him around, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Fans fire up again and Tanahashi runs, SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO! Cobb is tougher than that but Tanahashi stays focused. Tanahashi goes up top but Cobb anchors him! Tanahashi fires forearms, and a DRAGON PALM! Cobb staggers away, Tanahashi stands, and HIGH FLY ATTACKS! But Cobb catches him!! Cobb pops Tanahashi around and runs, POWER- SLINGBLADE! Tanahashi turns things around, and he heads back up top! Tanahashi aims, to HIGH FLY FLOP as Cobb moves! Cobb then storms up, ripcords, TOUR OF- CRADLE! TWO!!
Cobb escapes, fans fire up, and Cobb runs in, but misses! DRAGON PALM! Cobb JABS! Tanahashi DRAGON PLAMS again! Tanahashi fires up, we hit 15 minutes but Cobb reels Tanahashi in for a GERMAN SUPLEX! But Tanahashi rises! Cobb whips, Tanahashi reverses, but Cobb dodges to SLINGBLADE!? Cobb drags Tanahashi up, reels him in, TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Cobb wins!!
Winner: Jeff Cobb, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Tanahashi earns 0)
The Imperial Unit is proving anything his opponents he can do, he can do stronger! And he is keeping pace with Zack Sabre Jr. at the front of the pack! Will it only be a matter of time before Cobb conquers the G1?
G1 Climax 33, C Block: David Finlay w/ Gedo VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo!
Bullet Club clashes as the leader off the War Dogs takes on the leader of the House of Torture! Wait, is House of Torture even still Bullet Club? Will The Rebel and King of Darkness end up sparking a new civil war?
But speaking of the HOT Boys, Yujiro Takahashi and Sho are joining Evil and Dick out here tonight! And to match, Finlay also brings Gabe Kidd along since Gabe competed last night and is rested for today. Seems all cards are on the table here in Nagano. There’s a tense stare down but Red Shoes wants the seconds (and perhaps thirds and fourths) to get out of the ring. Each side tells the other to get out first since they don’t trust each other, and everyone brandishes their weapons, from Gedo having Finlay’s shillelagh to Dick having the Spoiler Choker and Sho his “Murder Tool” wrench.
Since this is an impasse between factions, Red Shoes calls in reinforcements! The rest of the referees step in and they insist Gedo, Gabe, Yujiro, Sho & Dick all get out of the ring. Evil and Finlay finally give the orders and their men back off. The bell finally rings and fans applaud. Evil and Finlay circle, approach, and Evil kicks low! Evil headlocks, Finlay pulls hair, and though Red Shoes reprimands, Finlay headlocks in return. Finlay grinds Evil down but Evil pulls hair in return! Evil powers out, Finlay RAMS shoulders with him, but neither falls. Evil runs, RAMS Finlay, but Finlay stays up. They go forehead to forehead, then forearm for forearm!
The shots go faster and faster and fans rally up! Evil knees low, rakes the eyes, then TOSSES Finlay out! Evil distracts Red Shoes, but Gabe rushes over to keep Sho & Yujiro back! But while Finlay goes out to reinforce Gabe, they miss Dick untying the blue buckle pad! The extra refs keep this from breaking down, and Evil just watches from in the ring. The House and the War Dogs all stand down, and Finlay gets in to kick Evil! Finlay throws hands but Evil kicks low and then rakes eyes! Evil whips and Finlay hits bare buckles! Red Shoes finally realizes what happened, too, and he reprimands the House.
Evil stomps Finlay, but Finlay kicks back! Evil CHOKES Finlay with his shirt! Gedo protests and Red Shoes counts, Evil lets go at 4. Evil then throws the shirt at Gabe! Red Shoes keeps Gabe back but then Evil just rakes Finlay’s eyes! Evil puts Finlay in the Cobra Twist, and links up with the boys! But they forget the other refs, and the refs reprimand! The House stops and Finlay throws hands on Evil! Evil pulls hair and throws Finlay down! Gedo protests but Evil covers, ONE! Evil kicks Finlay around, taunts him, but Finlay gets up to fire a forearm! Evil just rakes eyes again! Red Shoes counts, Evil stops at 4.
Evil scoops Finlay to a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Evil then turns Finlay over for a HALF CRAB! Finlay fights but Evil shifts position to add pressure! Finlay fights up, but Evil uses the kneepad for leverage! Finlay slips through to kick from below, but Evil CRANKS the leg! Gedo coaches Finlay, Red Shoes sees Evil holding the kneepad so Evil lets go. Evil stands on Finlay, Finlay flips him off and ironically, that gets Finlay’s shoulder up. Evil lets off and Finlay grins, but Evil slaps him around. Evil tells Gedo to shut up, and he has Finlay against ropes. Evil whips, Finlay reverses but Evil BOOTS back! Finlay runs in to clothesline Evil and himself out of the ring!
Again, the factions rush over! The refs have to keep everyone back again, and Finlay gets up to RAMS Evil into railing! Finlay closes the gap in No Man’s Land and starts throwing haymakers! Finlay kicks and HEADBUTTS Evil, then SMACKS him off the apron! Finlay puts Evil in, covers, ONE!! Evil hangs tough and Finlay mocks him. Finlay bends fingers, and JAMS them into the mat! And then he bends the fingers again, to JAM them into the mat again! Gedo likes what he sees, and Finlay gives back all the eye rakes! Red Shoes counts, Finlay lets go at 4, and he looms over Evil. Finlay knees at the ropes and Backhand Sweets with Gabe.
Finlay pulls on the arm, but Evil gets the ROPEBREAK! Finlay lets go to drag Evil up and whip him into the bare buckles! The Bullet Club Special is truly ambivalent in this battle! Evil writhes, fans rally up, and Finlay talks trash. Finlay drags Evil up to snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Fans applaud, but Finlay CLAWS Evil’s face then crossface forearms him down! Finlay sits Evil up and CLUBS him with another crossface forearm! Finlay sits Evil up again, for a third crossface forearm! Finlay says he’s the captain of the ship, and he gives Evil more shots across the bow! Gedo likes what he sees here, too!
Fans rally as Finlay drags Evil up again. Finlay runs, but Evil ducks the blindsider! And blocks the kick, rakes the eyes, then sends Finlay’s foot into Red Shoes! Red Shoes goes down, another ref gets on the apron, but Finlay shoves Evil into him! The third ref gets up but Finlay is sent into him! That’s three ref bumps in less than a minute! Is that a world record? And then the War Dogs and House of Torture get in the ring! They all brawl! Gedo is after Dick and Gabe fights off both Sho and Yujiro! But Gabe gets mugged, and Dick drags Gedo out of the ring! Gedo rakes Dick’s eyes, then whips Dick into railing!
Evil and Finlay take each other out, Yujiro KNEES Gabe and smothers him! Sho has the Murder Tool, but Gedo drags him out and rakes his eyes! Gable knocks Yujiro down and out of the ring! Gable stomps Yujiro and rakes his eyes! Then Gabe runs to CLOBBER Sho! Gabe brings Yujiro around, but Sho attacks back! Sho & Yujiro mug Gabe into the crowd! And we pass 10 minutes as Evil rises. Finlay goes to a corner, the brawling continues outside, and Evil hobbles around. Evil aims at Finlay, runs in, but gets BOOTS! Finlay runs in, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! And then again! Finlay fires off forearm after forearm and a ROLLING ELBOW!
Referee Saito gets in the ring so there’s an authority now. Finlay suplexes, but Evil lands out of Oblivion! EVERYTHING- NO, Finlay denies Evil to hit an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Finlay runs, into a LARIAT! Both men are down and fans rally up! Evil rises, kicks away on Finlay’s face, then fireman’s carries. DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO! Finlay survives and fans rally up again. Oddly, fans cheer on Evil as he might be the lesser of two evils. But Finlay still denies the STO with a flurry of elbows! Finlay whips, Evil reverses, but Finlay stops hitting buckles! Evil runs in, but is sent into the bare buckles!
Finlay SMACKS Evil off the bare buckle! Then puts him up top for the Canadian Rack, RUNNING DOMINATOR! Cover, TWO!! Evil survives, but Finlay pushes the ref aside so he can rain down fists! The ref reprimands, he sees closed fists! Finlay pushes him away, Evil crawls to the red corner. Evil clutches his eye, claiming closed fists. Finlay runs in, but the SPEAR hits the ref! And then Evil LOW BLOW UPPERCUTS Finlay! Dick and Gedo both get up but Dick DECKS Gedo first! And then uses the SPOILER CHOKER on Finlay!! Fans boo, the House might be the bigger evil after all! Dick feeds Finlay to a mule kick! And then Dick and Evil coordinate, MAGIC KILLER!!
Evil shouts for a referee but which ref will it be? They’re all down at ringside! A fourth ref appears, it’s Marty Asami! Cover, but GEDO yanks Marty out!! Evil is furious but we’re still without authority! Dick throws in some chairs, and Evil grabs one. Evil puts that chair around Finlay’s head, and he gets the other! HOMERUN!!! And we pass 15 minutes! Evil grabs the shillelagh and looks to add on. But Gedo has slipped Finlay his NEVER Openweight Championship! Evil takes a swing, but the belt becomes a shield! And then Finlay CLOBBERS Evil with the belt!! Fans fire up as Finlay grabs his shillelagh!
Finlay SHILLELAGH SHOTS Evil!! Finlay demands there be a ref, so Gedo puts Red Shoes in! Finlay gets Evil up, INTO OBLIVION!!! Cover, Finlay wins!
Winner: David Finlay, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Evil earns 0)
Well, perhaps Evil was still the lesser of the two as the Rebel comes out on top! The King of Darkness falls from the top spot, will he have to go back to the drawing board on how to stack the deck?
As for Finlay, he holds up his NEVER Openweight title as Gedo gets the mic. Gedo makes the official announcement, “Your winner is… the BASTARD, David ‘The Rebel’ Finlay!” Finlay then takes the mic and says, “Evil, you pulled out all the stops, but you still couldn’t beat The Rebel! Now I said I am going to clean sweep this entire tournament, and thus far, I have done exactly that. So I stand in front of you still undefeated against every member of C Block. Still the baddest man in this company. And I am still the favorite to win this entire tournament.” There are fans that do applaud, and Finlay says there is no one badder or better than him.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you are looking at the future G1 Climax Champion.” Fans do cheer that, and then Gedo tells everyone in Japanese that “that idiot” Evil tried but failed to defeat The Rebel! “The Rebel take the effing over everything! I need The Rebel! Bullet Club needs The Rebel! And the world needs The Rebel!” Finlay stands atop C Block at 3-0, but will he make 2023 the Year of the Rebel?
Here are the NEW C Block standings!
David Finlay: 3-0, 6 points
EVIL: 2-1, 4 points
Tama Tonga: 2-1, 4 points
Eddie Kingston: 2-1, 4 points
Mikey Nicholls: 1-2, 2 points
Aaron Henare: 1-2, 2 points
Shingo Takagi: 1-2, 2 points
Tomohiro Ishii: 0-3, 0 points
Here are the NEW D Block standings!
Jeff Cobb: 3-0, 6 points
Zack Sabre Jr: 3-0, 6 points
Tetsuya Naito: 2-1, 4 points
Hiroshi Tanahashi: 1-2, 2 points
Hirooki Goto: 2-1, 4 points
Shane Haste: 1-2, 2 points
Toru Yano: 0-3, 0 points
Alex Coughlin: 0-3, 0 points
My Thoughts:
Another great night for NJPW, and great stuff in these blocks. I like that TMDK get their matches all in a row so they can basically bug out after the last guy is done. ZSJ winning but Mikey & Shane losing seems to be the standard right now, as ZSJ is staying strong as NJPW World TV Champion. But that might change next round as he’s up against the other undefeated man in D Block, his new rival of Jeff Cobb. Cobb VS Tanahashi was the best match of the night just on virtue of their wrestling, and I am liking how Cobb is copying his opponents and still winning. Cobb VS ZSJ could go a long way to deciding who is the D Block semifinalist.
Takagi VS Ishii was also an awesome match, those two are always just incredibly physical. And great win for Takagi so that he is no longer winless. Takagi can still give the top of the block a run for their money, but it feels like because of story, Finlay is going to be “the favorite” for it. Finlay VS Evil was definitely a good match, but what made it main event worthy was the story of these Bullet Club subsections fighting each other. Finlay having taken the NJPW/prime branch of the faction from Jay White, he is of course the alpha and he wins the main event to establish himself. Still waiting on that proper civil war feud but this was a good teaser.
My Score: 8.7/10
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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
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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
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