Who survives to be IWGP World Heavyweight Champion?

NJPW returns to Ryogoku, and Sanada finally has it out with Evil! The IWGP World Championship is on the line in a LUMBERJACK DEATH MATCH!!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Kickoff – 10 Man Frontier Zone: Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask, Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI & Oskar Leube VS Takahiro Katori, Jun Masaoka, Kengo, Kazuma Sumi & Takeshi Masada; Taguchi, Tiger Mask, Yano, Hashi & Oskar win.
• Six Man Tag: Taichi, DOUKI & ??? w/ Taka Michinoku VS The House of Torture w/ Dick Togo; Taichi, Douki & Yuya Uemura win.
• Tanga Loa w/ Jado VS Chase Owens; Loa wins.
• 8 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The United Empire; LIJ wins.
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney VS Intergalactic Jetsetters; Connors & Drilla win and retain the titles.
• Six Man Tag Best of 7 Series, Match 7: Team Strong Style VS Shota Umino, Master Wato & Yuji Nagata; Shota, Wato & Nagata win, series ends 3-3-1.
• NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: Bullet Club War Dogs VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo w/ Jado; ELP & Leo win and become new NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions.
• NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii VS Josh Alexander & The Motor City Machine Guns; Okada, Tanahashi & Ishii win and retain the titles.
• NEVER Openweight Championship: David Finlay w/ Gedo VS Tama Tonga; Tama wins and becomes the new NEVER Openweight Champion.
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat: Hiromu Takahashi VS “Speedball” Mike Bailey VS YOH; Hiromu wins and retains the title.
• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Lumberjack Death Match: SANADA VS EVIL; Sanada wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Six Man Tag: Taichi, DOUKI & ??? w/ Taka Michinoku VS The House of Torture w/ Dick Togo!

Just5Guys is back down to Just4Guys after the Heel Master joined the King of Darkness’ side in this war. But now, the Holy Emperor & Japones Del Mal are bringing in a NEW fifth guy! Who will it be? Back from excursion, it’s Yuya Uemura! Will the “Heat Storm” help Taichi & Douki burn down the House?

Taichi doesn’t wait, he attacks Sho the moment the House of Torture is in the ring! Fans fire up as Douki goes after Kanemaru and Yuya is after Yujiro! Yujiro CLUBS Yuya, Sho stomps Tatichi and Kanemaru tosses Douki. The bell rings. Yuya and Douki are sent into railing! Fans boo but Sho digs his boots into Taichi. The ref counts, Sho lets off but then digs his boot back in! Taichi fights up and fans fire up as Taichi choke grips Sho! Yujiro CLUBS Taichi, he and Sho mug Taichi, then they double whip. Yujiro runs in but Taichi BOOTS! Taichi swings on Sho but Sho waistlocks. Taichi breaks free to PELE!

Fans fire up as Taichi drags Sho up. But Kanemaru CLUBS Taichi! Taichi glares at Kanemaru and the two shoulder bump each other. They each pull hair but then Kanemaru claws eyes! Kanemaru whips, Taichi reverses and wrenches to HOOK KICK! Fans fire up again as Taichi goes back to Sho. Taichi stomps Sho, drags him up and cravats to snapmare. Taichi KICKS Sho in the back! Taichi drags Sho up, chokes him again, and Douki tags in. The ref reprimands Taichi but Douki ROCKS Sho! Douki scoops and SLAMS Sho, then runs to DOUBLE STOMP! Cover, TWO! Douki stomps Sho then drags him up.

Douki whips Sho, Sho reverses but Douki holds ropes. Sho runs in but Douki drops down! Sho tumbles out and Douki builds speed, but Kanemaru trips him up! Fans boo but Sho goes after Taichi, and Kanemaru whips Douki into railing! Kanemaru pulls the floor mats up! Dick gets a cheap shot in before Kanemaru scoops and SLAMS Douki on the concrete! Yujiro claws Yuya’s eyes! Sho tags Kanemaru in and the Heel Master waits. Yuya is sent into railing, Sho puts Douki in, and Kanemaru suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Fans rally for Douki but Kanemaru stomps him. Tag to Yujiro and he drags Douki up.

But Douki fires forearms! Yujiro knees low, snapmares Douki, and then drops a leg! And an elbow! And a headbutt! Cover, TWO! Douki is still in this and fans fire up! Yujiro tags Sho and Sho storms up on Douki while talking trash on Taichi. Sho kicks Douki around but Douki CHOPS! And fires forearms! But Sho claws the eyes and throws Douki down! Fans boo but Sho drags Douki up. Sho waistlocks, but Douki fights the lift! Douki fires elbows but Sho keeps him from running away. Douki breaks free using a leg, and then ENZIGURIS! Both men are down and fans fire up! Sho and Douki crawl, hot tag to Yuya!

Yuya dodges Kanemaru to arm-drag! Arm-drag for Sho! Yujiro kicks, whips but Yuya reverses to CHOP him down! Yuya CHOPS Sho down! And he CHOPS Kanemaru down! Fans fire up for Heat Storm and he storms up on Sho. Yuya whips, Sho reverses but Yuya CLOBBERS Sho! Cover, TWO! Fans stay fired up and Yuya goes to a corner. Yuya climbs but Dick SHOVES him into an atomic drop! Kanemaru BOOTS Taichi down, then Douki! Yujiro tags in and the House gets Yuya up. They double whip him to a corner, then Kanemaru runs in to ELBOW! Sho clotheslines! Whip to a kick from Yujiro, then the FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO!!

Fans fire up as Yuya stays in this! Sho argues with the ref, and Dick passes Yujiro his pimp cane! Kanemaru drags Yuya up but Douki gets in to ENZIGURI Yujiro! Kanemaru kicks Douki, he and Sho double whip, but Douki holds ropes! Taichi returns to DOUBLE AX BOMBER! Fans fire up as Taichi drags Sho up to TOSS him out! Douki lines it up, ASAI MOONSAULT onto Kanemaru and Sho! Taichi brings Yujiro up to whip, but Yujiro reverses. Yujiro runs in but Taichi dodges to GAMANGIRI! Then Yuya runs in to DROPKICK! Taichi & Yuya coordinate and fans fire up! Yuya goes up, Taichi sets Yujiro up, BIG CROSSBODY!

Yuya drags Yujiro up and fans fire up more, cording hold and then double cording hold, KANUKI PLEX! Bridging cover, J5G wins!!

Winners: Taichi, Douki & Yuya Uemura, by pinfall

A huge victory for Yuya’s return, and a new era for the once again Just5Guys! Sho rubs in that he’s KOPW Champion, but this fight isn’t over! Will J5G be ready to back up Sanada in tonight’s main event? Or will the House get revenge when they take even the world title away?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney VS Intergalactic Jetsetters!

The Dangerous Gaijin have had these belts since NJPW Independence Day’s two day event, winning on July 4th and retaining on July 5th. Will those be the only wins they have together? Or can they ground Kevin Knight & Kushida before they take flight?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if it will be the Jetsetters’ time again!

The teams sort out, but then Drilla & Connors just attack! Fans boo but Drilla is on Kushida and Connors fires off on Knight! Connors CHOPS Knight, then he and Drilla double whip corner to corner. Connors runs in to SPALSH, and Drilla runs in to CHOP! Then Drilla & Connors mug Kushida. They double whip but Kushida handsprings to DOUBLE ELBOW! Fans fire up as the jackets finally come off, and Kushida sets up. Knight builds speed and uses Kushida as a step to FLY out onto the War Dogs! Fans fire up with Knight as he says he got the homerun! Knight then drags Drilla up and into the ring.

Kushida CHOPS Drilla, CHOPS him again, then bumps him off buckles. And off more buckles! Kushida climbs up and rains down fists on Drilla! The ref reprimands, Kushida lets off at five to wrench and wristlock, and then wrench to an ELBOW BREAKER! Kushida runs but Connors trips him up! So Kushida WRECKS Connors with a dropkick! Kushida drags Drilla up, tags in Knight, and they whip to drop toehold and SPLASH! Fans fire up and Knight covers, ONE!! Drilla hangs tough but Knight wrenches an arm. Knight double wristlocks and throws Drilla down. Drilla resists the armlock so Knight drops a knee on the arm!

Knight uses Drilla’s hand to clap and the fans join in. Knight sits Drilla up to run and SLIDING SHOULDER! Then Knight wrenches Drilla, tags Kushida, and sets the arm up for a PELE! Kushida then trips Drilla, turns him over, and has the SEATED SURFBOARD! Fans fire up while Drilla endures! Fans rally, Kushida drags Drilla around into a double arm scissor! Drilla still endures so Kushida turns to cradle, TWO! Kushida wrenches, whips, but Connors tags in as Drilla reverses. Drilla hurdles then bails out, Connors POUNCES! And he CLOBBERS Knight, too! Drilla goes out to attack Knight while Connors storms around.

Connors stomps Kushida, fans boo, but Connors tells them to STFU! But then Kushida kicks the leg! And again! And again! Connors CLUBS Kushida, then brings Kushida up to CHOP! Kushida sputters and falls over while fans rally. Connors drags Kushida up to RAM him into the corner! Tag to Drilla and they mug Kushida. Drilla brings Kushida out to CHOP! Kushida shoves Drilla, then CHOPS and CHOPS! But Drilla CHOKES Kushida, and he CHOPS! Kushida SLAPS Drilla, Drilla throws a forearm! Drilla pulls on the arms and has Kushida in a motorcycle stretch! Fans rally as Kushida endures and fights up.

Kushida moves around, powers up, but Drilla keeps him down with the stretch. Drilla even digs his head into the shoulder blades! But Kushida fights up, stomps a foot, and turns things around, only for Drilla to turn them back around! Drilla stands on Kushida’s shoulders, even scuffs Kushida’s head, but Kushida fights up again. Kushida tries again, and he turns things around to then roll Drilla up! TWO, but Drilla keeps Kushida from Knight! Only for Kushida to ENZIGURI! But then Connors YANKS Knight down! Fans boo but Connors just soaks it up. Drilla has Kushida’s legs, ROPE GUILLOTINE!

Drilla stomps Kushida, brings him up, but Kushida throws body shots. Drilla snarls but Kushida gets the arm again. ELBOW BREAKER! Kushida runs, but Connors trips him! Kushida kicks at Connors but Drilla stomps Kushida. Drilla runs, but Knight trips Drilla! Kushida runs in, PENALTY KICK to the arm! Fans fire up while both men are down! Hot tags to Connors and Knight! And Knight springboards to FLYING LARIAT! Knight fires off haymakers then whips, but Connors reverses and pops Knight up, but Knight DOUBLE STOMPS! Drilla returns but Knight dodges to fire off fast hands and an UPPERCUT!

Knight clinches but Drilla claws his eyes! Drilla & Connors double whip but Knight jumps the line to DOUBLE PELE! Fans fire up and Knight calls to Kushida. Knight whips, Drilla reverses but Kushida helps Knight in the springboard! SUPER CROSSBODY! Kushida hoists Connors up in an Electric Chair Lift, TIME 2 FLY!! Cover, TWO!! Connors survives but Knight keeps his cool. Knight aims, runs in again, but Connors stops the DDT! SUPERKICK from Drilla to Knight while Connors BLASTS Kushida! Connors then ROCKS Knight, and they lock ‘n’ load, HIGH LOW! Fans boo but Drilla drags Knight up and Connors climbs.

But Kushida handspring kicks Connors down! Knight slips free, but Drilla SPINEBUSTERS and DOUBLE STOMPS! But Kushida ROLLING ELBOWS! Connors runs in, dodges the fastball and POWERSLAMS Kushida! Connors snarls, but Knight SLAPS him down! Connors stands, Knight fires forearms, but Connors ROCKS Knight! Knight ROCKS Connors! Knight eggs Connors on and Connors throws more forearms! They go back and forth, fans rally up, and Knight gets the edge! But Connors HEADBUTTS! Both men wobble, but Connors whips Knight, only for Knight to avoid the slam! But Connors avoids the splash!

Connors whips, Knight reverses, SKY HIGH! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Both men crawl, hot tags to Drilla and Kushida! Now Kushida and Drilla fire shots! Kushiad KICKS the arm, Drilla whips but Kushida CLOBBERS him! Drilla gets up, swings, misses, and Kushida PELES! Kushida whips, hip tosses, and handsprings to dropkick! Fans fire up again and Kushida brings Drilla up. Electric Chair Lift, but Drilla victory rolls through! Kushida pushes him to get him back up, but Connors runs in to catch Knight in an Electric Chair! It’s a game of chicken and fans fire up as Knight throws hands with Drilla!

Drilla fires off shots, and he ROCKS Knight, but Knight POISON-RANAS Connors! Drilla slips down to waistlock but Knight runs in to SPLASH at the corner! Kushida SHOTEIS! Kushida puts Drilla up top, climbs up after him, and fans fire up for the SUPER- NO, Drilla blocks the Steiner! So Knight adds on, DOUBLE STEINER!! Drilla can’t believe it, and he staggers up into the SATELLITE DDT! Cover, Connors barrels through Knight to break it! All four men are down and the fans are thunderous! Knight roars to his feet and says it’s time! Knight has the arm, Kushida PENALTY KICKS Drilla! But Drilla fights the Hoverboard!

Kushida CLUBS Drilla, whips, but Drilla reverses and catches Knight! DRILLA KILLA!!! But Drilla isn’t done, he sees Knight coming in! POP-UP SPEAR COMBO!! Fans boo but the Dangerous Gaijin fire up! They get Kushida up, but Kushida fights to a HOVERBOARD! But Drilla powers through!! FULL CLIP!!! Cover, Bullet Club wins!

Winners: Clark Connors & Drilla Dan Moloney, by pinfall (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)

100 Proof knocks Knight down for good measure, and then celebrates with Drilla. The Jetsetters got grounded, but will they be able to refuel and try again? Or will Bullet Club even dominate through the coming Super Junior Tag League?

Six Man Tag Best of 7 Series, Match 7: Team Strong Style VS Shota Umino, Master Wato & Yuji Nagata!

3-2-1. No, that isn’t a countdown. That is the current score after Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Ren Narita won on October 7th. So while they have the advantage, they still need to finish Team Blue Justice! Can the Roughneck, Way of the Grand Master and Blue Justice himself survive Destruction? Or will this all end in a zero sum?

The trios sort out, the rivals all staring down. Wato steps up and Desperado responds in kind. Fans rally as the two circle, and the two tie up. Wato headlocks, Desperado throws body shots, and then Desperado wrenches out to headlock. Wato wrenches out, puts the headlock back on, but Desperado powers out. Desperado headlocks, Wato powers out, but Desperado runs Wato over! Fans rally, things speed up, and Desperado just steps on Wato’s drop down. Wato is frustrated but Desperado shrugs. Wato runs in, but into an arm-drag! Desperado runs, Wato hurdles, drops and arm-drags! And then DROPKICKS!

Desperado tumbles out and fans fire up with Wato. Wato stops himself as Desperado drops. Desperado wonders where Wato went, but he looks up! Desperado moves as Wato slingshots, but then Wato lands on the apron and jumps back into the ring. Fans cheer Wato and Desperado waves it off. Desperado goes in around the side, and he tags in Suzuki. So Wato tags in Nagata! Fans fire up as the two start trading shots! The murder grandpas keep going harder and harder, and Suzuki ROCKS Nagata! Suzuki TOSSES Nagata out, goes out and whips him into railing! But Nagata rebounds to BOOT Suzuki!

Nagata whips Suzuki into railing, but Suzuki comes back to BOOT! Fans fire up as Suzuki storms up on Nagata, and they start throwing more forearms! The ref reprimands, this has to finish in the ring! They don’t care, the shots keep going! Fans fire up, the ref goes out and shouts at them, and they each shout at each other to get in the ring. They both slide in and fans fire up! Suzuki kicks and snapmares then KICKS Nagata in the back! Nagata stands to body shot, snapmare and KICK! Suzuki stands to kick, snapmare and run, PENALTY KICK! Nagata rises! Nagata body shots, snapmares, runs and PENALTY KICKS!

But now Suzuki rises! Fans fire up as the forearms fly again! Nagata nods every time as he hits back! Suzuki PALM STRIKES! Nagata PALM STRIKES! Repeat! DOUBLE PALM STRIKE! DOUBLE PALM STRIKE! DOUBLE PALM STRIKE! Both men fall back! They crawl, hot tags to Shota and Narita! Narita dodges a clothesline, but Shota dodges a boot! Narita dodges another clothesline and then hits the BOOT! Shota just roars! Narita knees low, whips, but Shota reverses then dodges to CLOBBER Narita! Fans fire up and Shota stomps Narita. Shota drags Narita up, CLUBS him, then throws forearms.

Shota whips, Narita turns hip toss into COBRA TWIST! Desperado BLASTS Wato off the apron but Shota has the ROPEBREAK! Narita CLUBS Shota, TOSSES him out, and Suzuki whips Shota hard into railing! Narita runs in to BOOT Shota over the railing! Suzuki sends Nagata into railing! Narita fetches Shota from No Man’s Land, and POSTS him! Shota flounders, and Suzuki has a chair! Nagata sits up and dares Suzuki to do something. Suzuki grins, puts the chair down, and kicks low! Suzuki fires forearms on Nagata, and Narita stomps Shota. Narita drags Shota up to whip him into the corner.

Desperado & Suzuki hold Shota up for Narita to stomp, then Narita tags Suzuki. Narita holds Shota up for Suzuki to fire off fast strikes! Tag to Desperado and he SLAPS Shota down! Fans rally, Narita tags back in, and Narita digs his boot in. Suzuki & Desperado add on, the ref counts and Wato protests, but Shota kicks back from below! Narita stomps Shota down! Narita drags Shota up but Shota fires back on Team Strong Style! Only for Suzuki to pull hair, then pull an ear! Narita runs in to BOOT Shota down! Narita whips, NECKBREAKER DROP! Cover, TWO! Shota stays in this but Narita stays between him and Shota’s team.

Narita drags Shota up, but Shota fights the Half Hatch! Shota wrenches out but Narita kicks low. Narita runs, but Shota ELBOWS him down, then runs to basement dropkick! Fans fire up as both men are down, but Desperado and Suzuki BLAST Nagata & Wato! Suzuki & Desperado double whip Shota, but Shota DOUBLE SHOTGUNS them down! Fans fire up and Shota grits his teeth. Shota storms up on Narita, whips him corner to corner, then runs in to UPPERCUT! FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota fires up again! Shota goes up a corner and aims, MISSILE DROPKICK hits Narita!

Shota hurries to bring Narita up and dragon sleeper, SAVING GRACE! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up and Shota aims from a neutral corner. Narita stands, Shota runs in, IG- NO, Narita slips through to COBRA TWIST! Shota endures, people are sent into railing, and Desperado keeps Wato out! Shota tries to fight free but Narita just turns it back around! Suzuki keeps Nagata out, but Shota stomps his way forward! Wato and Nagata reach, but Narita shifts to a GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Narita is stunned, but he says he’ll end it now! Narita drags Shota up, reels him in, NORTHERN LIGHTS!

Narita rolls through and has the wrists! Clinch and- NO, Shota fights free! Narita runs in at the corner but Shota BOOTS! Shota fires up, IGNITION!! Fans fire up and Shota underhooks, but Narita RAMS Shota to a corner! Narita runs, but Shota dodges! TORNADO DDT! Both men are down and then the murder grandpas get in! Suzuki fires off, whips, but Nagata reverses and BOOTS! Then clinch, but Suzuki throws elbows! Nagata ROCKS Suzuki, runs, but Suzuki follows and shoots in, SLEEPER! But Nagata moves around, SAI- NO, Suzuki fights the saido to keep the SLEEPER! Fans fire up as Blue Justice turns purple!

Suzuki spins Nagata around but Nagata clinches! EXPLODER! Desperado runs in, ducks Wato’s springboard and kicks to whip. SPINEBUSTER! Then a BIG back suplex! Desperado doesn’t let off, he clinches to GUITARA- NO, Wato slips free to shove and SNAP GERMAN! BUZZSAW! Wato reels Desperado in but Desperado fights out to LOCO MONO!! All six men are down and the fans are thunderous! Shota and Narita stir and rise up. Fans rally, and Narita PALM STRIKES! Shota UPPERCUTS! Narita fires a flurry but Shota ROCKS him and ROLLING ELBOWS! Narita ENZIGURIS! Fans fire up with Narita!

Narita whips, Shota sunset flips and rolls through to PARADIGM SHIFT!! Cover, Shota’s team wins!!

Winners: Shota Umino, Master Wato & Yuji Nagata, by pinfall (series is now 3-3-1)

The Roughneck bests the Son of Strong Style, but that just means the best of seven ends in a TIE! It started that way and it ended that way, but surely this rivalry will never end. Shota offers a handshake, Narita stands and takes it! Will Narita and Shota fight until the day they’re the murder grandpas? Wato wants a handshake but Desperado says he’s crazy. Even so, Desperado shakes the index finger. Wato makes Desperado shake his hand fully, and Desperado says okay, okay, he respects Wato. Wait, Nagata and Suzuki stare down. They scowl and Suzuki talks some trash, then SLAPS Nagata! Nagata SLAPS back, then they shake hands and even fist bump!

Fans cheer the showing of both fighting spirit and sportsmanship, will we see this series continue until the end of time?

NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: Bullet Club War Dogs VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo w/ Jado!

Alex Coughlin & Gabe Kidd have held these titles since Independence Day, taking them away from Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi. But while that was business, this is personal! The Headbanga & The Young Guerrilla were exiled from Bullet Club, will they prove they’re better than their replacements? Or will these dogs prove they’re #WarReady?

Wait, Coughlin’s making his entrance alone? The Dreadnought is strong but even he can’t take on these two alone. Wait! Gabe attacks from the crowd side! Fans boo while Coughlin grins and joins in. Coughlin stomps Hikuleo’s legs, but ELP hits Kidd! Kidd DECKS ELP, the bell rings, and Kidd tosses ELP out! Kidd tells fans to move aside, but he then CHOPS ELP, and DECKS Jado! Then Kidd TOSSES ELP into the chairs! Fans boo but Coughlin puts Leo back in. The War Dogs soak up the heat from the fans before Coughlin drags Leo to a corner. Kidd has the legs and he SLAMS one into the post!

Leo writhes, Kidd gets right in the camera with a crazy grin, and then backs off as Coughlin drags Leo around. Coughlin stomps the leg, drops an elbow on it, then he pulls on it with a toehold! Leo endures, fights around, but Coughlin shifts for more leverage. Coughlin then drops a knee on the knee! Coughlin drags Leo up and over, tags Kidd in, and Kidd stomps Leo’s leg. Leo writhes but Kidd drops an elbow on it. Kidd has the toehold now, pulls on the foot, and then drops an elbow on the leg again! Fans rally, Kidd storms around, and Kidd ROCKS Leo! Kidd eggs Leo on, ROCKS him again, but Leo gets mad!

Kidd ROCKS Leo, but Leo CHOPS! Kidd sputters, but he kicks the bad leg! Kidd runs, but Leo hits a back drop! Fans fire up while both men are down! Leo and Kidd crawl, hot tags to Coughlin and ELP! ELP dodges Coughlin, DECKS Kidd, then jumps up an dover Coughlin to springboard and CROSSBODY! Then PLACHA for Kidd! Then SWANTON for Coughlin! And right to a LIONSAULT! Cover, ONE and Coughlin rolls back to deadlift suplex, to TOSS ELP to the floor!! Kidd stomps away on ELP at the railing, the ref reprimands, but Kidd shouts he’s a madman! Kidd drags ELP up to CHOP him, and Kidd shoves ELP in.

Coughlin drags ELP up, and CHOPS him down! Cover, TWO! Fans rally for ELP but Coughlin wrenches him and wrangles him to the corner. Tag to Kidd and the War Dogs mug ELP. Kidd HEADBUTTS ELP, then UPPERCUTS! ELP ROCKS Coughlin but Kidd UPPERCUTS ELP! Kidd digs his boots into ELP, lets off as the ref counts, and Kidd talks trash on the fans. The fans boo but Kidd pushes ELP around. ELP crawls but Kidd stays in the way. “What you got? What you got?” ELP CHOPS! Kidd eggs him on so ELP CHOPS! And fires off forearms! But Kidd claws the eyes! Tag to Coughlin and he dropkicks Leo down!

Kidd ROCKS ELP, he and Coughlin double whip ELP to ropes. ELP holds ropes, then BOOTS Coughlin! And TOSSES Kidd! And RANAS Coughlin down! Fans fire up and ELP hurries, but Kidd YANKS Leo off the apron! Fans boo but Coughlin storms up to CLUB ELP! Coughlin RAMS ELP into the corner, and RAMS him again, and RAMS him again! Kidd joins in, War Dogs hoist ELP up but ELP slips free! ELP goes up and over Kidd, under Coughlin, but Coughlin grabs a leg! ELP kicks Coughlin into Kidd! Hot tag to Leo! Leo UPPERCUTS Coughlin, Kidd runs in but into a HIP TOSS! Leo scoops to SNAKE EYES Coughlin! Leo keeps moving to LARIAT!

Fans fire up and Leo choke grips Kidd! And then choke grips Coughlin! But they break out of the guzels to DOUBLE CHOP! The War Dogs double whip, but Leo breaks the line to DOUBLE LARIAT! Fans fire up again, and Leo shakes out the bad leg. Leo sees them in opposite corners, so he runs in to CHOP Kidd! Leo runs in but Coughlin dodges the boot! GERMAN SUPLEX! Coughlin roars and he storms up to gut wrench! Deadlift and SUPLEX! Coughlin floats over, to get the leg! HALF CRAB! Leo reaches out but Coughlin sits deep on the hold! Fans rally as Leo reaches, but Kidd keeps ELP out! Leo claws forward to the ROPEBREAK!

Coughlin lets go in frustration and he drags Leo back up. Coughlin suplexes but Leo fights it! Coughlin throws body shots, then ROCKS Leo! Coughlin roars and suplexes, but Leo fights! Leo suplexes but Coughlin slips free to CHOP! Coughlin runs, but Leo swings. Coughlin ducks ‘n’ dodges, but the POWERSLAM hits! Tag to ELP! ELP BOOTS Kidd, and coordinates with Leo. ELP tunes up the band, but Kidd anchors ELP! Coughlin throat chops Leo, but ELP runs in to spin and straitjacket! Torture rack, and BOOT to the UFO NECKBREAKER! Double cover, Kidd CHOP BLCOKS Leo! Kidd then fires HEADBUTTS on ELP!

ELP goes to a corner, Kidd calls to Coughlin. Coughlin tags Kidd in, and Kidd goes up the corner. Kidd reels ELP in and up, HANGING GUILLOTINE! The ref counts, but Coughlin Electric Chair Lifts ELP! Kidd aims, DOOMSDAY DEVICE!! Cover, TWO?!? ELP survives and shocks the War Dogs! They hoist ELP up together, DOUBLE MUSCLE BUSTER!! Cover, TWO?!?! ELP survives and shocks the War Dogs, again! Fans rally as hard as they can for “E L P!” but Coughlin tags in. Coughlin hoists ELP up, Kidd climbs, but Leo choke grips! Kidd fights the guzel but ELP trips Coughlin to a jackknife bridge! TWO!!

Kidd knocks Leo down, Coughlin waistlocks ELP but ELP throws elbows. Kidd runs in, ELP ducks and the LARIAT takes out Coughlin! Fans fire up as ELP blocks a kick, Leo UPPERCUTS Kidd, and ELP SUPERKICKS! Kidd UPPERCUTS, then he fires off on Leo! Kidd throws shots, SPITS at Leo, but Leo SLAPS Kidd down! Fans fire up again as Leo tells Kidd to stay down. Leo & ELP coordinate again, and the band tunes up! Coughlin stands up, sees them both, and dares them to bring it! SUDDEN DEATH! Then ELP DIVES onto Kidd! Coughlin gets hit with GODSEND! ELP gets the help to go up top, THUNDERKISS 86!! Cover, ELP & Leo win!!

Winners: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo, by pinfall (NEW NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)

And once again, the Headbanga and Young Guerrila are champions, and this time it’s together! Will this team prove to be truly NJPW Strong? Kidd & Coughlin are furious, but how much angrier is David Finlay seeing his War Dogs lose twice tonight? Will GoD sweep with Finlay VS Tama later tonight?

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii VS Josh Alexander & The Motor City Machine Guns!

NJPW’s Dream Trio clashes with what is arguably Impact’s Dream Trio! However, The Walking Weapon is at odds with Alex Shelley over their coming Impact World Heavyweight Championship match. In fact, things boiled over and Shelley took out Alexander just last Thursday! Will Alexander, Shelley & Sabin hold it together? Or will The Rainmaker, The Ace of the Universe & The Stone Pitbull kick some A.S.S.?

The introductions are made, the NEVER belts are raised, and we see if Impact has an impact on the NJPW landscape!

The trios sort out and Shelley starts against Tanahashi. The fans rally up as the two circle, and they tie up. Tanahashi wrenches, wristlocks, but Shelley wrenches and wristlocks back. Tanahashi wrenches and wristlocks, but Shelley spins to headlock then hammerlock. Tanahashi spins and headlocks for the takeover! Shelley headscissors, Tanahashi kips free and roles reverse as Shelley headlocks for the takeover and Tanahashi headscissors. Shelley kips free and fans cheer as the two stand off. Tanahashi and Shelley go again, Tanahashi waistlocks but Shelley elbows free! Shelley runs in at the corner, but into an ELBOW!

Tanahashi goes up and he CROSSBODIES! Direct hit, and Tanahashi air guitars. Shelley goes to a corner but Tanahashi eggs him on. Shelley stays in the ropes for defense but Sabin encourages him. Tanahashi and Shelley reset, they circle, and Shelley reaches out for a tag, and Alexander takes it. Ishii tags in and fans fire up as these two heavy hitters get forehead to forehead! And then they go forearm for forearm! Fans rally up as Ishii gets the edge and whips. Ishii runs in but Alexander ELBOWS him! Alexander keeps moving and he runs Ishii over! Alexander then elbows, whips, but Ishii reverses!

Alexander slides under Ishii’s boot and trips Ishii up, to an ANKLE LOCK! Fans rally as Ishii moves around, and he drags Alexander down! ANKLE LOCK! But Alexander rolls to get free! Ishii dodges and runs but Alexander runs Ishii over! Fans rally as Alexander hauls Ishii up and brings him over. Sabin tags in but Ishii gets away, so Okada tags in. Fans fire up as the Rainmaker and the man once called The Future circle. Fans rally for “O-KA-DA!” and the two tie up. Okada wrenches, wristlocks and YANKS the arm again and again! Sabin rolls, wrenches, handsprings and wrenches to step over then arm-drag!

Fans cheer that fast string and Sabin gets the “O-KA-DA!” chant going again. Okada scowls, storms up, and he puts Sabin in a corner. The ref counts, Okada lets off, and fakes the chop, to then kick low! Okada whips corner to corner, Sabin goes up and over to UPPERCUT! Sabin whips, Okada reverses but Sabin stops to ELBOW Okada! Sabin goes up top and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up while Sabin brings Okada up. Okada ROCKS Sabin, CLUBS him, and then whips Sabin. Shelley sneaks a tag, MCMG double whip and Shelly drop toeholds, but Okada stays up! So Sabin BULLDOGS Okada down!

Okada bails out but Tanahashi runs in. He ducks the double elbows to send Sabin at Shelley. The MCMG stop short, Shelley shoves Sabin at Tanahashi to ELBOW him, then Shelley BOOTS him down! Ishii runs in to fire forearms on MCMG, runs, and he ducks Shelley’s lariat to run into Sabin’s! Shelley LARIATS from behind, then runs, DOUBLE LARIAT SANDWICH! MCMG TOSSES Ishii and fans fire up! Sabin waits as Okada stands, and he fakes the plancha so he and Shelley can DOUBLE KICK COMBO! Then they set Okada up for Alexander to run and WRECK! Fans fire up as Team Impact stands tall.

A ring count starts but Alexander drags Okada up and puts him in the ring. Shelley stands on Okada’s hand, stomps the fingers, then eggs Okada on. Okada stands up to ROCK Shelley! Shelley ROCKS Okada! They go back and forth, then Shelley CHOPS! Tag to Sabin, MCMG double wrench to DOUBLE LARIAT, then they crisscross and double whip to CLOBBER Okada! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up and Sabin HEADBUTTS Okada! And CLUBS Okada on the neck! Tag to Alexander and he RAMS Okada. Alexander CLUBS Okada, stomps him, CLUBS him again, then DECKS Tanahashi! But Okada fires forearms on Alexander!

Okada goes to Alabama Lift but Alexander CLUBS him! Alexander blocks a boot, CLUBS the leg, then UPPERCUTS Okada to the corner. Alexander runs in but Okada pops him up to the Alabama! REVERSE NECKBREAKER! Both men are down and fans rally up, hot tag to Ishii! Ishii RAMS Alexander, dodges him, then runs him over! MCMG attack, double whip, but Ishii holds ropes. MCMG dodge the double lariats, but Ishii blocks Shelley’s boot to throw it into Sabin! Shelley waistlocks, Sabin runs in, but Ishii BOOTS Sabin and Ishii elbows Shelley! Ishii sends Shelley into Sabin, then runs Shelley over!

Fans fire up as Ishii runs at the corner now, to clothesline Alexander! Ishii CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOPS! Alexander just growls and puts Ishii in the corner. Alexander fires forearms then CHOPS! Fans fire up, Alexander whips corner to corner, but Ishii comes back! Only for Alexander to GERMAN SUPLEX! Alexander holds on, to GERMAN SUPLEX again! Ishii reaches out, Tanahashi grabs his hands, but Shelley CHOPS Tanahashi down! Alexander hits CHAOS THEORY! Bridging cover, TWO!! Ishii survives and Alexander can’t believe it! But the fans fire up for “I-SHI-I!” as he stirs.

Alexander shakes his head and grins as he looms over Ishii. Alexander drags Ishii up, underhooks, but Ishii fights the lift! Ishii wrenches out, but Alexander ROCKS Ishii with a forearm! Ishii ROCKS Alexander back! Alexander BACK ELBOWS, ROLLING ELBOWS, but Ishii roars! So Alexander JABS him! Ishii falls right over! Alexander shakes out the hand, drags Ishii up, and POWER BREAKER!! Cover, Okada breaks it! MCMG BLAST Okada & Tanahashi out and send them into railing! Alexander pounds the mat and fans rally up. Alexander drags Ishii up, underhooks, but Ishii fights the lift to back drop free!

Alexander runs in, Ishii swats his lariat and HEADBUTTS him! Ishii hits so hard, Alexander’s wrestling headgear comes off!! Fans rally up as Ishii and Alexander stir, hot tag to Sabin! Sabin goes up and he MISSILE DROPKICKS Ishii down! Sabin brings Ishii up, reels him in, but Ishii suplexes! Fans fire up again while both men are down! Ishii crawls and Tanahashi pounds the buckle pad! Hot tag to The Ace! Tanahashi runs to CLOBBER Sabin! Tanahashi DECKS Shelley, then fires off on Sabin! Tanahashi scoops and SLAMS Sabin to the drop zone! Tanahashi goes up, to SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO!

Tanahashi doesn’t lose focus, he just brings Sabin up. Fans chant “GO ACE!” but Sabin JAWBREAKERS! But there’s no one to tag! Tanahashi runs in, Sabin dodges, Shelley is back, they DOUBLE KICK in the corner! Tag to Shelley, and Sabin fireman’s carries. Tanahashi slips free to waistlock but Shelley runs in to waistlock Tanahashi. Tanahashi backs Shelley down into the corner, Sabin runs in, but Tanahashi moves! The BOOT hits Shelley!! Sabin tries again but Tanahashi blocks to DRAGON SCREW the leg! Alexander runs in, but Okada intercepts with a FLAPJACK! The Dream Trio fire up together!

BOOT, SHOTEI and LARIAT, Shelley ends up in the TRIPLE DDT!! Cover, TWO?!? Shelley survives and the fans are thunderous as Tanahashi powers up! Tanahashi runs, but Shelley gets around to DECK Tanahashi! Okada BOOTS Shelley! Alexander fireman’s carries, Okada slips free and ripcords, RAIN- NO, Alexander dodges, only to run into a BOOT! Sabin returns but Okada UPPERCUTS! Okada runs but into the MCMG DREAM SEQUENCE!! Shelley aims at Tanahashi, mule kick and clinch, but Tanahashi slips around to full nelson! Shelley breaks that but ends up in a straitjacket! But Alexander waistlocks Tanahashi!

Tanahashi fights Alexander off, but Alexander spins, but Tanahashi ducks! The ROLLING ELBOW hits Shelley! Alexander still kicks Tanahashi then runs, but Ishii moves Tanahashi aside to LARIAT Alexander inside-out! Sabin is back, but Okada gets in to DROPKICK him! The fans are thunderous again and Tanahashi roars! But Shelley avoids Slingblade to clinch! But Tanahashi fights Shell Shock to TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! And then SLINGBLADE! Tanahashi goes up while Okada and Ishii keep Alexander and Sabin out! HIGH FLY FLOW!!! Cover, NJPW WINS!

Winners: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)

The Ace pins the Impact World Champion! And even bigger than that, Ishii helped him avoid destruction! Will the Dream Trio keep on going in this dream reign?

NEVER Openweight Championship: David Finlay w/ Gedo VS Tama Tonga!

The leader of the War Dogs has had this title since Wrestling Dontaku in May, but the Good Bad Guy has been after him for much longer than that! Will Tama take back this title and become a THREE-TIME NEVER Champion? Or will Finlay prove NJPW still needs The Rebel?

Wait, Finlay’s pulling the same move Kidd did earlier! He CLOBBERS Tama from the crowd side, with the belt! Fans boo as Finlay rains down fists! The ref reprimands, Finlay lets off and tells the ref to get this match going. The bell rings, Tama flounders up and Finlay aims. Finlay SPEARS Tama down! Cover, TWO!! Tama is still in this but Finlay rains down more fists! The ref reprimands, Finlay lets off, claiming those weren’t closed fists. Fans boo but Finlay DGAF. Finlay TOSSES Tama out, soaks up the heat, and then drags Tama up. Finlay ROCKS Tama with a forearm, RAMS him into the railing, and mocks commentary!

Finlay RAMS Tama in again! The ref reprimands but Finlay RAMS Tama again! Finlay lets off, Tama sputters, and Finlay gets a chair! Gedo distracts the ref from the CHAIRSHOT to the back! And another! And another! And another! Fans boo more but Finlay tosses the chair to hide the evidence. Finlay soaks up the heat, then goes looking under the ring. Finlay brings out a table! The ref reprimands and Finlay says Tama was the one saying Finlay would have to kill him to make him stop. Finlay brings Tama up, lifts him up, but Tama fights the bomb! Tama ROCKS Finlay, and again, and again!

But then Finlay RAMS Tama through the gateway! Down goes a cameraman! Finlay says if Tama doesn’t like the table, he has another plan. Finlay rips floor mats away! Fans boo but Finlay soaks it all up. Finlay drags Tama from No Man’s Land and over to the bare concrete! Finlay lifts Tama up but Tama grabs ropes! Tama gets to the apron, kicks Finlay away, and then leaps. Finlay dodges, scoops, but Tama slips free! REVERSE DDT to the concrete floor! Finlay writhes and clutches his head while fans rally up for Tama. Tama stands, hobbles, and finds Finlay. Tama SMACKS Finlay off the apron again and again and again!

The ring count is climbing but Tama sends Finlay into the railing! And then the apron! We hit 10 of 20 but Tama puts Finlay in. Fans cheer as this match continues in the ring, and Tama storms up. Tama counter punches again and again, then fires body shots and haymakers! Tama rains down shots then stomps in the corner. The ref tries to stop Tama but Tama shoves him away so he can stomp Finlay more! Tama throws knee after knee, the ref counts and Tama finally lets off. Tama drags Finlay up, HEADBUTTS him, then throws body shots! And an EXPLODER! Finlay staggers up, swings, but into another EXPLODER!

Fans rally for Tama as he watches Finlay drag himself up. Tama runs in to STINGER SPLASH! Finlay staggers about, Tama clinches, and EXPLODERS again! Gedo coaches Finlay but Tama watches him. Finlay wants mercy? After everything he’s done to this point? Tama kicks but Finlay blocks and he BITES Tama’s face! The ref counts, Finlay lets off and fans boo. Finlay whips Tama to a corner but Tama comes back! Finlay dodges, dodges again, then runs in but Tama TOSSES him out! Fans fire up as Tama then PLANCHAS! Down goes Finlay and the fans fire up with Tama! Tama looms over Finlay and drags him up again.

Finlay again wants mercy but Tama says STFU, and he whips Finlay hard into the railing! Tama then whips Finlay into more railing! Tama drags Finlay up to whip him into the railing again, and again, and again! Commentary somehow stays up with all that and fans fire up again. Tama storms around, Gedo says this is all disqualification but the ref says no it’s not. Finlay flounders, sputters, but Tama leaves him behind. The ring count climbs, fans rally up, and Finlay crawls. Tama hurries out, but Finlay goes after him! Tama CLUBS away on Finlay, whips, but Finlay reverses to fireman’s carry! Finlay POSTS Tama!

Gedo is all fired up but the fans are stunned as Tama is down. Finlay storms over, drags Tama up, and puts him in the ring. Finlay stalks Tama, runs in, BLINDSIDER! Cover, TWO!! Tama is still in this and fans rally back up! Finlay eggs Tama on, drags him up, and then whips to scoop and BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Tama is still in this and Gedo is frustrated! Finlay taunts Tama, and says he must want Finlay to kill him. Finlay drags Tama up, saying he will oblige. Gut wrench, but Tama slips out! Finlay ROCKS Tama, ROCKS him again, then runs, to LARIAT Tama inside-out! Finlay hauls Tama up, DOMINATOR!! Cover, TWO?!?

Fans fire up that Tama is still alive! Finlay scowls, but Gedo is confident Finlay will end this. Finlay drags Tama up, but Tama fights the lift. Finlay CLUBS away on Tama, hauls him up again, but Tama fights the lift! Tama then fireman’s carries, but Finlay slips free to IRISH- NO, Tama arm-drags! And then spins Finlay around, but Finlay fights free. Tama BOOTS Finlay, Finlay ROCKS Tama, but Tama roars and LARIATS!! Fans are thunderous as OFF COMES THE VEST! Tama brings Finlay up, fireman’s carries, FLAPJACK! But he’s not done there, he fireman’s carries again, to S R C!!

Tama just fires up more and the fans are with him! Tama goes up the corner, but Finlay CLOBBERS him off the top!! Fans are stunned as Tama hits apron then floor! Gedo and Finlay grin as they realize they’re by the table! Finlay hauls Tama onto the apron, then goes up to join him. Finlay says this is done! Finlay hauls Tama up, reels him in, but Tama fights the lift to back drop Finlay onto the apron! Gedo panics now as Finlay writhes. Tama aims, and he GUN- NO, Finlay blocks to POST Tama again! Another cameraman goes down! Finlay hurries to get Tama up but the ref says stop, he should check Tama first!

Finlay doesn’t care, he hauls Tama up, to POWERBOMB Tama through the table!! Finlay smiles and says that was easy. Fans boo as hard as they can but Finlay spits at them. The ring count starts but Finlay smirks. Finlay says there’s no need for that. Finlay hauls Tama out of the wreckage at 10 of 20, pushes him into the ring at 14, and Finlay takes his time crawling over to him, Finlay asks if Tama wants some more. Tama must want some more! Finlay hauls Tama up again, POWERBOMB!! Fans boo as Finlay recreates Dontaku. Finlay brings down the kneepad and says this is for Tama! X marks the spot!

Finlay roars, drags Tama up, suplexes, INTO- GUN STUN!!! Both men are down as Tama pulls one out outta nowhere! Fans rally, Tama stirs, and manages to smile as he sits up. The two crawl towards each other, and Finlay SLAPS Tama! Tama SLAPS back, so Finlay SLAPS again! Tama SLAPS, Finlay wobbles, but Finlay SLAPS again! The SLAPS keep going as they stand, and they pick up speed! Tama fires off a flurry and Finlay falls! Fans rally more as Tama swings, but Finlay clinches! Tama slips out, Finlay snapmares, and then Finlay backslides! Tama rolsl throgh but Finlay suplexes, only for Tama to slip out!

Tama underhooks, Finlay gets out to ROCK Tama, but Tama ENZIGURIS! And then GUN- NO, Finlay powers out! Tama goes up, FLYING GUN- NO!! Finlay blocks, wrenches, and HEADBUTTS! Then a POWER- RANA!! Tama has the cover, TWO!!! Finlay ROLLING ELBOWS! And then spins again, INTO GUN STUN!!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Tama is stunned that Finlay survives but the fans are thunderous! Tama drags Finlay up, reels him in, underhooks and- NO, Finlay fights that to RAM Tama into a corner! And again! And again! Tama still holds on, throws some knees, and he backs Finlay down with each shot!

Tama underhooks, but Finlay back drops! So Tama sunset flips, drags Finlay up, STYLES CLASH!!! Fans are thunderous again as Tama drags Finlay up to underhook! DIVE SHACK DRIVER!!! Cover, TAMA WINS!!

Winner: Tama Tonga, by pinfall (NEW NEVER Openweight Champion)

Incredible! The Good Bad Guy brings down The Rebel and is once again NEVER Champion! Tama never gave up, will he never stop never stopping?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Triple Threat: Hiromu Takahashi VS “Speedball” Mike Bailey VS YOH!

The Ticking Timebomb may not have won the tournament, but he is still this year’s Best of the Super Juniors by holding onto the title from WrestleKingdom to this very moment. And with Lio Rush going down with illness, Hiromu thought he was going to get Speedball 1v1. But then Hiromu drops a tag match to Mr. Direct Drive and is right back to a three man match! Will Hiromu still defy the odds? Or will we see a new champion here in Ryogoku?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if we have more, more, MORE fun together!

The bell rings and fans rally up for “HI-RO-MU! HI-RO-MU!” Hiromu vibes to the chanting, then circles with Yoh and Bailey. They feel things out, watching each other, and then Bailey BOOTS Hiromu and trips Yoh. Things speed up,. Bailey handsprings the hurdles but Yoh leaps over, into a ROUNDHOUSE! Hiromu whips Bailey to a corner, runs in to clothesline, snapmare and- NO, Bailey dodges the basement dropkick, only for Yoh to basement dropkick him down! Hiromu kicks Yoh, runs, but Yoh drops and sidesteps to drop toehold. Yoh keeps moving but Hiromu dodges the basement dropkick. And he dodges Bailey’s Penalty Kick! Fans fire up as all three men stand off.

Yoh dusts himself off and Hiromu smirks. Hiromu pats both challengers on the shoulder and tells them, “Good luck.” Hiromu then exits the ring, letting them fight it out? They don’t understand but then figure okay. The fans rally, and then Bailey BOOTS Hiromu! Yoh CLUBS Bailey, then PLANCHAS Hiromu! Fans fire up as Bailey runs, to TRIANGLE MOONSAULT Hiromu! But Yoh PLANCHAS Bailey! Yoh puts Hiromu in, drags him up, FALCON ARROW! Cover, Bailey breaks it! Bailey TOSSES Yoh, drags Hiromu up and whips, and HIP ATTACKS! Bailey grins, he must’ve learned that from Taguchi.

Bailey then runs in to BOOT Hiromu in the corner, and POWERSLAM! Fans rally as Bailey goes up and up and DOUBLE KNEE DROPS! Cover, Yoh breaks it! Fans rally as Yoh and Bailey each want Hiromu, and they argue. Yoh shoves, Bailey shoves, but Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS! Hiromu runs, into DOUBLE KICKS! Double cover but then Yoh and Bailey stop each other. Yoh and Bailey decide they will do that 1v1 and they throw Hiromu out. They circle, and fire off forearms! Fans fire up as they go back and forth, and Bailey ROCKS Yoh! Yoh ROCKS Bailey! Bailey SOBATS, AX KICKS and ROUNDHOUSES!

Fans fire up and Bailey runs, to SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO! Bailey keeps his cool and he aims, but Yoh ducks the buzzsaw to roll him up! TWO, and Yoh whips. Bailey handsprings but Yoh dodges. Yoh dodges again, but Bailey blocks a boot to fire off the LIGHTNING KICKS! But Yoh blocks one to DRAGON SCREW the leg! Fans rally up, Hiromu is back but Yoh BLASTS him off the apron! Yoh runs in to ELBOW Bailey, then whips. Hiromu clotheslines Bailey in the corner, ELBOWS Yoh, then sends Bailey into Yoh! Hiromu picks Bailey up and throws him at Yoh to make Bailey RANA Yoh away!

Hiromu then whips Bailey to a corner, runs in and clotheslines! Hiromu runs to clothesline Yoh! Hiromu baits Bailey in, sends him into Yoh, and then SHOTGUNS them both down! Hiromu fires up to clothesline Yoh, snapmare, and basement dropkick! Fans fire up as Hiromu goes to the apron to JOHN WOO Bailey down! Hiromu then runs at Yoh, and leaps over to SUNSET POWERBOMB to the floor! Fans fire up as Hiromu gets up and leaves Yoh behind. Hiromu finds Bailey, puts him in the ring, and then fireman’s carries. DYNAMITE PLUNGER! Cover, TWO! Bailey is still in this but the fans rally behind Hiromu.

Bailey sits up and Hiromu brings him around. Hiromu fireman’s carries, but Bailey sunset flips! TWO! Bailey runs in, turns pop-up into RANA, TWO! Hiromu sunset flips, TWO! Bailey PENALTY KICKS! And MOONSAULT KNEE DROPS! Fans fire up while Bailey powers up! Hiromu goes to a corner, Bailey runs and spins, but Hiromu blocks the kick! But then Bailey KICKS free! Bailey goes up the corner, Yoh uses Hiromu as a step but Bailey jumps over them both! Bailey comes back, Hiromu OVERHEAD suplexes him into Yoh! All three men are down and fans fire up! Hiromu sits up and shouts “IKU ZE~! <Let’s go!>”

Hiromu fireman’s carries, Bailey slips free and Yoh DROPKICKS Hiromu! Bailey BOOTS Yoh and Hiromu SHOTGUNS Bailey! Hiromu whisp You, Yoh reverses to DROPKICK! Bailey SUPERKICKS Yoh! Bailey aims at Hiromu, but Hiromu goes Matrix to avoid the Superkick! But then Bailey uses a heel kick to swat Hiromu’s superkick! And THRUST KICK! Fans fire up as Bailey powers up again, SPIN KICK on Yoh! And then he gets really going, to SUPER SPIN KICK Hiromu! Hiromu is down, Bailey goes up, but Yoh hits ropes to trip him up! Bailey falls on the speedballs, and Hiromu climbs up.

Hiromu CHOPS Bailey, brings Bailey up, but Yoh CLUBS Hiromu! Yoh adds himself to this, TOWER OF DOOM!! Jackknife cover on Hiromu! TWO!! Yoh is frustrated that the powerbomb superplex combo didn’t finish this! Fans rally up, Yoh drags Hiromu up, but Hiromu fights the suplex! Hiromu wrenches but Yoh HEADBUTTS! And POINT-BLANK LARIATS!! Hiromu flounders all the way to the apron! Yoh has Bailey now, full nelsons, but Bailey RAMS Yoh into a corner, WRINGS the arm, and BOOTS Yoh down! Bailey goes up, ULTIMATE- NO, Yoh avoids the knee drop, Bailey’s knees hit the mat!

Yoh SUPERKICKS Bailey! And then reels him in, to a DRAGON SUPLEX! Bridging cover, Hiromu breaks it! Fans fire up as all three men are down again! Yoh fires up, he and Hiromu rise, and Hiromu wrenches to pump handle, HIROMU-CHAN CRADLE! TWO!! Yoh ducks ‘n’ dodges but into HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! Hiromu fireman’s carries Yoh but Yoh slips down and jumps back up, POISON-RANA! Hiromu staggers up, into a STUNNER! Fans rally again and Yoh drags Hiromu up. Yoh suplexes, DNV! Yoh “drops the needle on the vinyl,” and then goes up top! FINAL HOUR!! Shoutout to Lio Rush!! Cover, BAILEY BREAKS IT!

Fans fire up again while Hiromu flops out of the ring. Speedball sits Yoh up, aims, but Yoh ducks the buzzsaw to shove and UPPERCUT! Yoh runs, but into a COLLISION COURSE!! Cover, TWO!! BUZZSAW!! Bailey then puts Yoh in a corner, runs in, but into a BOOT! THRUST KICK! Bailey puts Yoh up top, tucks him in, FLAMINGO- NO, Yoh slips free and ripcords, FLASH KNEE!! Fans fire up again as Yoh roars! Yoh drags Bailey up, reels him in, DIRECT DRIVE!!! Cover, HIROMU BREAKS IT!! Somehow, Hiromu gets there in time and all three men are down again! Fans rally up as all three stir.

Yoh crawls over to Hiromu, but Hiromu ROLLING ELBOWS! Hiromu then runs in at the corner, into a SUPERKICK!! Yoh is all fired up and the fans are thunderous! Yoh reels Hiromu in, DIRECT- NO, arm-drag and roll-through to a fireman’s carry! TIMEBOMB!! Cover, TWO?!?! Yoh survives and fans are thunderous again! Hiromu shouts at Yoh as he aims from a corner! Yoh rises, Hiromu runs in, SLIDING LARIAT!! And then Hiromu hauls Yoh up, runs, Yoh dares him! HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! Then an inverted suplex, for TIMEBOMB MKII!!! Cover, HIROMU WINS!!

Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)

Both challengers put up a hell of a fight, and Hiromu still comes out on top! Will Yoh ever get the gold? How hard will Speedball have to fight to get his 1v1 shot? Will any of it matter with Hiromu still the Best of the Super Juniors?

Wait! The lights go out! House of Torture? No, they’re in the main event. But then the lights come up and it’s TAIJI ISHIMORI! The Bone Soldier KNEES Hiromu down, then hauls him up, just to throw him aside! Fans are fired up to see Taiji back from injury, and it is clear why he’s back tonight! He holds up the title, then throws it to Hiromu. Taiji gets the mic, and he tells Hiromu, “Are you going to face me for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship? The Timebomb’s time… is up!” Hiromu sits up and nods to his most sinister rival. When and where will these two wage war over the gold again?

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Lumberjack Death Match: SANADA VS EVIL!

Just5Guys took the win to open the show, and now they and the House of Torture bookend things with this faction warfare main event! Can the Cold Skull stay the Gold Skull? Or will the King of Darkness take even this from J5G?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see how far both sides are willing to go to win this title!

The factions stare down while the fans rally up. The House put one out, J5G group thumbs up, and everyone surrounds the ring. Fans fire up as the bell rings, and Sanada encourages the fans chanting for him. Evil is annoyed but then smirks as he and Sanada circle. They tie up but Evil kicks low then headlocks. Evil grinds the hold, Sanada throws body shots and powers out, but Evil runs him over! Fans rally, Evil fakes the dropdown out and stomps Sanada! Evil whips Sanada but Sanada reverses to ELBOW and STANDING- NO, Evil moves, but Sanada lands on his feet to basement dropkick!

Evil bails out but J5G throws him right back in! Fans cheer and Sanada facelocks Evil. Sanada wrenches and wrenches and whips. Evil holds ropes, bails out, and the House defends him. Fans boo but J5G storms over! Evil slips away but Sanada kicks him at the ropes! Sanada ties Evil up in the ropes, ROPE PARADISE! Fans cheer and Sanada runs to dropkick Evil outta Paradise! Fans fire up more and Sanada paces. Sanada keeps Evil from getting away, then wrenches and CLUBS the arm. Evil drops to his knees but Sanada bumps him off buckles. Sanada wrenches and whips corner to corner, to then run in and ELBOW!

Evil falls over but Sanada drags him to a cover, TWO! Sanada keeps cool as he brings Evil up. Evil blocks the suplex and pulls hair! Fans boo, J5G protest, but then Sanada pulls hair! Sanada kicks, runs, but Evil dumps him out! And the House is there to stomp away! Fans boo but J5G rush the hyenas! It is a brawl, Evil distracts Red Shoes but the other refs rush in! Evil storms out, drags Sanada up, and not only does he knock over a cameraman, he still throws Sanada into the timekeeper! Down goes Abe-san! Fans boo as Evil continues to bully Abe, and then he tells Sanada just to give up. Sanada says no, so Evil slaps him around.

Evil leaves Sanada behind and the House beats up on J5G. Sho puts Sanada in for Evil and Evil drags him up. Evil whips Sanada into bare buckles! That’s right, the blue buckle pad is gone, the Bullet Club Special is in play! Evil stands on Sanada’s head, drags him up, and fans rally. Evil mocks the fans like he can’t hear them as he TOSSES Sanada out! Sho throws Sanada in, Evil throws him out! They keep passing Sanada around like they’re playing catch! Dick gets a turn as he throws Sanada in, so Evil wrangles Sanada to a cover. TWO! Another cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO!! Sanada is still in this and the House is furious!

Evil stands on Sanada, taunts him, but the fans rally up. Evil drags Sanada up, but Sanada CHOPS! Sanada CHOPS again, and Evil is stinging! Sanada CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS, but Evil claws Sanada’s face! Evil whips, but Sanada avoids the bare buckles! Evil runs in but is sent into those buckles! Then Sanada hits a BIG back suplex! The fans fire up while both men are down! Sanada stalks Evil to the ropes, drags him back in and whips, but Evil reverses. But Sanada dropkicks the leg! Then he dropkicks Evil! Dick & Kanemaru storm up, but Sanada kicks the rope to jam them up!

Fans fire up as Sanada now ties Dick up in a Paradise Lock! And then he does the same to traitorous Kanemaru! They’re side by side and fans fire up! Sanada DOUBLE DROPKICKS them outta paradise! Sho is upset, but Sanada DECKS him! Sanada DECKS Yujiro, then PLANCHAS Sho! Then he PLANCHAS Yujiro! Fans fire up as Murder Machine and Tokyo Pimp go down! Wait, where is Evil going? He stole the belt again, and is going up the bleachers! But J5G is in hot pursuit! Taichi, Taka and Yuya SMACK Evil into the door! And stomp away on him! Douki & Taka get the belt, then Taichi & Yuya drag Evil back to ringside!

Fans cheer as Evil is forced to face justice! Sanada stalks Evil to a corner but Evil begs for mercy. Sanada isn’t falling for that and he drags Evil up, but Evil still kicks low! Evil whips, Sanada reverses, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Sanada keeps cool, paces around Evil and drags him up again. Sanada fireman’s carries but Evil claws the eyes! Red Shoes reprimands, Evil CLUBS Sanada, but Sanada kicks. Evil blocks, hands it to Red Shoes, but then Sanada blocks Evil’s kick! Red Shoes lets Sanada go and Sanada ROCKS Evil! Sanada brings Evil up to UPPERCUT, and then he runs. But Evil goes to the corner, but Sanada ROCKS him first!

Sanada ROLLING ELBOWS, runs, but Red Shoes is pulled in the way! The ROLLING ELBOW takes Red Shoes down! Evil pulls Sanada around to TOSS him out, and the House stomps away! J5G storms up but the brawl is on again! The House even throws the other refs aside before sending J5G into railing! Yujiro puts Sanada in for Evil and the House all gets in. Fans boo as Kanemaru hauls Sanada up. He and SHo double whip Sanada to a corner, then Dick runs in to ELBOW! Sho forearms! Yujiro BOOTS! Kanemaru UPPERCUTS! Evil clotheslines! They snapmare Sanada, turn him upside-down, and Dick goes up, to DICK CHOP!!

Sanada writhes, Evil shouts to a ref, and Sakamoto is in. Cover, TWO!!! Evil is mad at Sakamoto, and TOSSES him out onto Douki! Fans boo as now another ref goes down! Sho drags Sanada up, reels him in, and tucks the arms! STRAITJACKET PILEDRIVER! Evil calls to another ref, and Kenta Sato runs in. Sato checks Red Shoes but Evil drags Sanada up. Evil tells Sato to pay attention. FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Sanada is still in this and Evil is frustrated! Evil tells the booing fans to shut up, and then he drags Sanada up. Fans rally for Sanada, but Evil fireman’s carries. But Sanada fights free!

Evil throws hands, whips Sanada but Sanada goes up and out and springboards in to MISSILE DROPKICK! Fans fire up as both men are down! J5G coach Sanada, House of Torture coaches Evil, and both men rise. Evil and Sanada go to opposite corners, and Sanada runs in, but into a boot! Sanada shakes that off, comes back in, but into another boot! Evil runs, but Sanada dodges to fireman’s carry and T K O! Cover, TWO! Evil is still in this but Sanada points up. Sanada drags Evil up into the dragon sleeper! But Evil fights and snapmares free. Sanada returns but the Shining Wizard is blocked! DARK SCORPION DEATHLOCK!!

Sanada endures, J5G coaches him on, and Sanada reaches out! Evil sits deep but Sanada powers up! But Sanada falls over! Evil shouts to give up but the fans rally up! Sanada grits his teeth, gives it another go, and he has the ROPEBREAK! Evil holds until Sato counts 4! Evil argues with the ref and the fans rally up. Evil drags Sanada back up, fireman’s carries, DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Sanada survives and the House is frustrated! Evil paces around, slashes his throat and vows to end this. Evil tells Sanada to get up, and then drags him up. EVERY- NO, Sanada blocks and throws elbows!

Evil LARIATS! Sanada wobbles but stays up! Sanada shakes his head, eggs Evil on, so Evil runs to LARIAT! Sanada drops to his knees and fans rally up behind him! Evil wants Sato to call this as he stands on Sanada’s back. Evil tells the fans to shut up, and he throws off his elbow pads. Evil stands Sanada up, runs, but Sanada ducks and reels Evil in! MAGIC SCREW! Both men are down and fans rally up again! Sanada drags Evil to a drop zone and he goes up! ROUNDING- NO, Evil moves! Sanada lands out, cravat, SHIRANUI into SKULL END!! Evil flails but he’s in the body scissors as J5G keeps the House down!

Wait, the bell rings? Dick did that to trick everyone!! The House attack J5G in the confusion! Sanada lets Evil go to figure this out, but Evil SHOVES Sanada into Sato and Sato hits buckles! Dick RAMS Sanada into a corner, DECKS Him, but Douki runs in to arm-drag Dick away! Douki builds speed and he DIVES! Direct hit on Dick into railing! But Sho has his Murder Tool! But Taichi SUPERKICKS Sho, then hoists him up, BLACK MEPHISTO! Kanemaru is in! WHISKEY MIST, and BOTTLE SHOT! But Taka BOOTS Kanemaru, then scoops, MICHINOKU DRIVER!! Fans fire up, but then the PIMP CANE hits Taka!

Yuya gets in, he blocks a pimp cane shot, and he kicks Yujiro low! Yuya tosses the cane to clinch, KANUKI!! But Evil reels Yuya in! Yuya fights off Everything to DROPKICK! SHINING WIZARD from Sanada!!! Sanada goes up top, ROUNDING BODY PRESS!!! Fourth ref Marty Asami is here, so Sanada goes up again! ROUNDING BODY PRESS!!!! Cover, but Dick YANKS Marty outta the ring!!! Fans boo, Yuya chases Dick into the ring! Dick begs for mercy, but then Evil LOW BLOWS Yuya! And LOW BLOWS Sanada! Dick BLASTS Douki! Fans boo the House as they again have control of the situation!

Dick puts a chair in the ring and Evil takes it. Evil drags Sanada up, lines it up, HEADSHOT!!! Sanada flops over and fans boo as hard as they can. Evil just soaks it up! Dick joins in, he and Evil drag Sanada up, MAGIC KILLER!!! But they need a ref! Do they even have a fifth ref? No, but Red Shoes is back on his feet so Dick forces him into the ring. Evil covers, Red Shoes takes his time to walk over, hesitates, and then tells Evil F U!! Evil is pissed but what can he do? Red Shoes flips Dick off, too! Sanada RAMS Evil into Dick, O’Conner BRIDGE!! TWO!!! Evil runs in to LARIAT Sanada down! Fans boo but Evil tells Red Shoes he better do his job.

Evil drags Sanada up, but Sanada clinches! But Evil slips free! Kick and HEADLOCK DRIVER! Cover, TWO!??! Sanada survives and Evil can’t believe it! Evil slashes his throat, hauls Sanada back up, EVERYTHING IS- NO, Sanada steals EVERYTHING IS EVIL!!! J5G is back up and Taichi shouts to Sanada to end this! Sanada grits his teeth, fans rally up as hard as they can, and Sanada drags himself up. Sanada aims from a corner, runs in, BLINDISDE SHINING WIZARD!! Sanada shouts for Evil to rise, and then SHINING WIZARDS again!! Sanada hauls Evil back up, for DEAD FALL!!! Cover, Sanada wins!!!

Winner: Sanada, by pinfall (still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)

It was a hard fought battle, and the House brought out every single trick they knew, but it was not going to stop the Cold Skull! Certainly not with his mentor, Keiji Mutoh, on commentary! Will Evil and his cohorts ever learn their lesson?

As for Sanada, not only is he going to WrestleKingdom in January, he apparently gets a one YEAR supply of Kantansu brand vinegar. Huh. And then Mutoh gets in the ring so that he can personally hand the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to Sanada as NJPW’s ABEMA TV pro-wrestling ambassador! They even stand together for the photo op. Fans cheer, and Taichi helps Sanada put the belt back on. Fans then chant for Sanada as he gets the mic, but wait! Here comes Tetsuya Naito and his Right to Challenge tote bag. Naito enters the ring, gets a mic and says, “BUENAS NOCHES, RYOGOKU~!”

Naito is pretty sure the fans aren’t as excited for Sanada’s gift as they are for an LIJ roll call. Maybe on January 4th, 2024 at the Tokyo Dome, the fans will get what they didn’t four years ago. That said, Naito knows Sanada will tell him to buzz off. But before then, Naito will just take his leave. Adios! The fans cheer the stare down photo op, then Naito exits. Sanada picks up his mic to finally say, “Ryogoku audience, everyone watching at home… Some of you might know that 18 years ago, I took a tryout for NJPW. And in that tryout, the only person to pass was Tetsuya Naito. I failed, but now, the failure is the world champion and Naito is the challenger. What do you think of that?

“On January 4th, I’m looking forward to our match. So, shall we do ‘that?’ The gift?” Fans like that, and the stars slowly come out as the lights come down. Sanada says Just5Guys welcomes their newest member, Yuya. Fans chant for Yuya and he waves to them. Sanada says thanks for all the cheers and applause, he won’t forget this night. And with Just5Guys, Mutoh, and all of them here, he is grateful to them all. January 4th, Tokyo Dome, WrestleKingdom 18, Sanada promises to explode! “OI, Ryogoku! See You Next Time!” The streamers fly and Sanada has his belt as J5G hoist him onto his shoulders! But who wins when Sanada and his former team leader face off in the New Year?

My Thoughts:

An awesome event for NJPW, and so much of importance this time! The Frontier Zone thing was kickoff show, I didn’t even think it’d be on the recording but it was, and it sure looked like a lot of fun. I definitely had to get the opening Six Man Tag with Just5Guys bringing in their new member, and great spot for returning Yuya Uemura. Heat Storm is a great polar opposite concept to Cold Skull Sanada, who knows if anything comes of that. Great Junior Tag title match, Connors & Drilla retaining made some sense with Super Junior Tag League coming and these Heel champs being the ones to topple.

The Best of 7 finale was pretty good, though I obviously didn’t cover any of the other six matches. But given the very first one of these ended in a time limit draw, and Team Strong Style came in leading the series, it made a lot of sense that Shota’s team won here to end things in a draw. It keeps Shota and Narita, two of the Reiwa Three Musketeers, even as they continue building themselves. Great NJPW Strong tag title match, and a great surprise that ELP & Leo won. And for that matter, great surprise that all three matches when the way of Guerrillas of Destiny. I skimmed Loa VS Chase and Loa beat Chase quick. Then the NJPW Strong tag titles, and then Tama beats Finlay to win the NEVER title back after an awesome match, but I don’t know where that leaves Bullet Club War Dogs.

Great NEVER Six Man titles, and as I figured, they didn’t worry about overplaying the Impact story of Alexander and Shelley being at odds, until later on with the classic miscue spot. I’m sure Impact will do a good job playing off this, though, as they build to Shelley VS Alexander at Bound For Glory. Okada, Tanahashi & Ishii are a great trio, I can’t see anyone taking these titles off them, even at WrestleKingdom. Awesome Triple Threat for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title, and while it’s a shame Lio couldn’t be in it, Yoh did a great job jumping in for him. Hiromu retaining made sense, and a really good return for Taiji here. Maybe Taiji dethrones Hiromu after having the full match they meant to have when Taiji got hurt.

And of course, great main event, though not much of a “death match.” Maybe that was just a fancy way of dressing up how the factions were present, but it was pretty much just standard House of Torture stuff. Probably went a beat too long but you gotta love Red Shoes having his moment as being a person with his own morality and not just a ref that does what he’s told. Sanada wins, which gives him a great moment with Mutoh there, and Naito even has a bit of fun just reminding everyone that Naito VS Sanada is the WrestleKingdom main event. That is going to be great stuff, and it is going in line with Naito’s story of wanting to main event WK one last time.

No idea if Naito, though. It’s hard to say if Sanada’s popularity is waning, but if it’s supposed to be Naito’s send off, I’d say Sanada wins. Plus, it just feels like Sanada, Naito’s former LIJ subordinate, is going to show Naito that he is now the better wrestler. Sanada’s quick little story pointed that out, where Sanada didn’t meet NJPW’s standards at first, but look at him now. That’d be the real crowning moment for Sanada at WrestleKingdom, and it’d probably be a great honor for Naito to put over one of the guys he helped bring into NJPW.

My Score: 8.8/10