NJPW PPV Results
Mitchell’s NJPW Lonestar Shootout Results & Report! (11/10/23)
It’s the Wild Wild West!
Can #JustTrent slay the Rampaging Dragon?
As NJPW returns to Texas, Trent Beretta returns to NJPW as he goes after Shingo Takagi and the NEVER Openweight Championship!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff Match – Strong Survivor: Matt Vandagriff VS Barrett Brown; Vandagriff wins.
- Kickoff Match – Fred Rosser VS Tom Lawlor; Rosser wins.
- Six Man Tag: Tiger Mask, Atlantis & Metalik VS Rocky Romero, Ultimo Guerrero & Hechicero; Tiger Mask, Atlantis & Metalik win.
- Toru Yano VS Joey Janela; changed to…
- No Disqualifications: Toru Yano VS Joey Janela; Yano wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Guerrillas of Destiny & Intergalactic Jet Setters VS Bullet Club War Dogs; Bullet Club War Dogs win.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo VS West Coast Wrecking Crew; ELP & Leo win and retain the titles.
- Mistico VS TJP; Mistico wins.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Eddie Kingston VS Satoshi Kojima; Eddie wins and retains the title.
- Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta VS David Finlay & KENTA; Moxley & Yuta win.
- NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Mike Bailey; ZSJ wins and retains the title.
- IWGP Women’s Championship: Mayu Iwatani VS Stephanie Vaquer; Mayu wins and retains the title.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi VS Trent Beretta; Takagi wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Toru Yano VS Joey Janela!
One man is NJPW’s Clown Prince, but the other is a Bad, Bad Boy. Will Yano be able to pull off all his tricks to properly “welcome” Janela? Or will this outlaw have tricks of his own to play?
After Yano’s very long and detailed introduction, Joey attacks! Fans boo but Joey soaks it up. He even snatches Yano’s spare rolls of tape, DECKS Yano, and goes out to get a mic. “Yano! Welcome to MY world! I want this NO DISQUALIFICATIONS!” Fans cheer that, Yano SPRAYS Joey with his hand spray! What a way to say yes!
No Disqualifications: Toru Yano VS Joey Janela!
Yano CHOKES Joey with his robe! The bell rings and Yano keeps going since Joey said No DQ! Yano stomps Joey down, and he unties the buckle pad! Fans cheer and Yano goes back to Joey. Yano goes to bump but Joey blocks! Joey throws hands, and he goes to bump, but Yano fights back! Yano whips, Joey reverses, but Yano stops himself. Fans cheer but Joey mule kicks! Joey whips, Yano reverses but Joey goes up and- Wait, Yano stays back to SLAP Joey on the head! Fans cheer and Yano brings Joey up, to BUMP him off the bare buckles! Joey goes down, and Yano unties the red buckle pad. And then the other white pad!
Fans cheer for the blue corner, and so Yano obliges! Yano unties the blue corner pad, and now all corners are exposed! Yano whips but Joey reverses and Yano hits buckles! Fans are losing their minds already, and Joey dumps Yano out. Joey AX HANDLES Yano, then CHOPS him down! Fans boo but Joey soaks up the heat. Joey ROCKS Yano, turns him around, and CHOPS him against railing. Joey then POSTS Yano and Yano falls! Joey goes looking under the ring, and he brings out chairs! Those are put in the ring, but then Joey grabs another chair and goes back to Yano. Joey JAMS Yano with the chair, then throws it in the ring.
Joey sets all the chairs together in a pile, and then picks up Yano’s red chair. Fans wanna see him use it, but Joey drops it out of the ring and flips every one. The Bad, Bad Boy does things his way, and he goes out to fetch Yano. Joey puts Yano in the ring, drags him up, but the fans rally for “YANO! YANO!” Joey ROCKS Yano, ROCKS him again, then has him over the chairs. Joey whips, but Yano holds ropes to stop! Joey UPPERCUTS Yano, runs, and LARIATS! Yano stays up!? Joey scowls, runs again, but Yano dodges! Clinch and BELLY2BELLY onto the chairs! Fans fire up while both men are down!
Yano stands, fans chant for “RED CHAIR! RED CHAIR!” Yano scoops Joey for ONI- NO, Joey fights to get to the ropes and the apron. Joey ROCKS Yano, and uses a cravat to drag him up and out. Joey then SUPERKICKS from the apron, and PENALTY- NO, Yano blocks to trip Joey up! Joey hits the apron hard, and Yano hurries back in. But Joey SUPERKICKS again! And he reels Yano in, PILEDRIVER onto the chairs!! Cover, TWO!! Yano survives and fans fire up! Joey gets frustrated, and he sits one of the chairs up. He sits another chair up face to face with it, and he stalks Yano to the apron. Joey goes up the corner?!
Joey SWANTONS but Yano moves, Joey hits the APRON!! Yano hurries out, puts Joey back in, and hauls him up, ONIGOROSHI onto the chairs!! The chairs get bent!! Cover, TWO?!? Joey survives and fans fire up! Yano moves the chairs aside, and fans want “RED CHAIR! RED CHAIR!” Yano sets up the last black chair, SMACKS Joey off it, then gets his spare wrist tape! Yano ties Joey up with it, wrapping around the tree! Joey is trapped and Yano says “Y! T! R!” Shrug. LOW BLOW from Joey!! Yano forgot about the legs! Joey has the ref untie him, and then ROLLING ELBOW! Fireman’s carry, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER on the chair!
Joey puts the bent chair on Yano, goes up the corner, and DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS the chair in!! Cover, TWO?!?! Yano survives and shocks Joey! The fans fire up while Joey storms around. Fans chant for tables but Joey tapes Yano’s hands together! Fans boo now but Joey soaks it all up. Joey stomps Yano, kicks him around, and fans chant “We Want Red Chair!” Joey fetches Red Chair and fans cheer! Joey swings, but Yano dodges! Red Chair bounces off the ropes to SMACK Joey in the head! And then Yano LOW BLOW HEADBUTTS!! Joey somehow stays on his feet, but Yano AX HANDLE LOW BLOWS! Roll up, Yano wins!
Winner: Toru Yano, by pinfall
The Bad, Bad Boy played with fire and got burned! What a way to debut in NJPW. But Yano does apologize for what he had to do. Will Yano continue to add to the bag of tricks with this?
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo VS West Coast Wrecking Crew!
Just as the Headbanga & Young Guerrilla successfully defended these titles in Las Vegas, Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson had to ruin the fun! The WCWC doesn’t see ELP & Leo as a legit team, will they prove themselves right? Or will the former Bullet Club members prove they can still win a shootout?
The introductions are made, but then ELP & Leo just start throwing hands! Leo is after Isaacs and ELP is after Nelson! Fans fire up, the bell rings, and this is on record as Leo & ELP keep throwing hands! They send Nelson into Isaacs, then ELP BACK ELBOWS them both! ELP feeds Nelson to a BIG back drop, and in this smaller ring, Nelson reaches the other corner! ELP then sends Leo in to SPLASH Isaacs! ELP brings Nelson back up, the WCWC is sent into each other, and then Leo DOUBLE LARIATS them up and out! Fans fire up as Leo then gives ELP a boost up, tightrope and ASAI MOONSAULT! Down goes WCWC and fans fire up!
Leo goes out to stomp Isaacs, ELP ROCKS Nelson, and Nelson gets into the ring. ELP CHOPS Nelson, CHOPS him again, and fans “WOO~!” ELP brings Nelson around, whips, but Nelson ELBOWS him away! ELP runs in but Nelson FLAPJACK HOTSHOTS! Isaacs is there to suplex ELP out of the ropes and marches around the ring with him! ELP fights but can’t get free, and Nelson DIVES to take out Leo! Isaacs SLAMS ELP onto Leo! Fans cheer the feat of strength and Isaacs drags ELP back up. Isaacs puts ELP in, Nelson drags ELP up and UPPERCUTS! Nelson runs corner to corner to SPLASH! Isaacs runs in to UPPERCUT!
Isaacs feeds ELP to Nelson’s BOOT! Isaacs then runs to drop an ELBOW! Isaacs tags Nelson in, the WCWC gets ELP up to DOUBLE ATOMIC DROP! Nelson dropkicks the legs out, and Isaacs deadlift suplexes! Isaacs holds ELP up again, for the count of TEN! SLAM, and Nelson covers, TWO! Nelson drags ELP over, tags in Isaacs, and fans rally for ELP while WCWC mugs him. Isaacs BLASTS Leo off the apron, then deadlifts ELP again, for a squat, squat and squat again. ELP is the barbell for Isaacs’ gut wrench workout, and then the SUPLEX! ELP flounders, Isaacs drags him to a cover, TWO! ELP is still in this and Leo rallies the fans.
Isaacs throws up the Westside W, then drags ELP back. Nelson tags in to stomp ELP down. Nelson digs his knee into ELP at the corner but the ref counts. Nelson lets off at 4, he tags Isaacs back in, and Isaacs kicks ELP around. ELP fights up but Isaacs holds him back. Tag to Nelson and he cartwheels, cartwheels and drop steps. He’s parodying ELP before he hip swivels and CLAWS ELP’s back! Isaacs BLASTS Leo, then WCWC flexes for the photo op. Fans boo, Nelson drags ELP up but ELP throws forearms! ELP whips, Nelson reverses, but ELP goes up and over and rolls, then ducks ‘n’ dodges to springboard CROSSBODY! Then LION-
NO, Nelson dodges! ELP dodges back, and RANAS Nelson out of the ring! The fans fire up, ELP crawls but sees he’s going the wrong way. ELP turns around and heads for Leo, but Nelson YANKS Leo down! Fans boo but Nelson RAMS ELP into the corner! Tag to Isaacs and WCWC wrench to double- NO, ELP lands out of the back suplex! ELP goes up and over and then under, but Isaacs grabs his legs! ELP BOOTS Isaacs into Nelson, rolls and hot tag to Leo! Leo rallies on the WCWC with haymakers! Isaacs dodges but runs into a BOOT! Leo scoops Nelson to SNAKE EYES and LARIAT! Fans fire up with Leo and he choke grips Nelson.
Isaacs staggers up, into the choke grip! WCWC breaks free, fires hands, and double whip. But Leo breaks the line to DOUBLE LARIAT them down! Fans fire up and now Leo aims at Isaacs. Choke grip, GOD- NO, Isaacs slips free to CHOP! Isaacs then dodges Leo’s chop, but runs into Leo’s POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Leo keeps cool and pushes Isaacs to the ropes. ELP holds Isaacs in place, and Leo CHOPS! Fans fire up for “One More Time! One More Time!” ELP stands Isaacs back up, and Leo CHOPS again! Isaacs falls over, but ELP drags him up. Straitjacket torture rack, Leo runs to BOOT, and that literally kickstarts the SWINGING NECKBREAKER!
Leo BLASTS Nelson off the apron for good measure, and then ELP covers Isaacs. TWO, but ELP & Leo keep cool. Leo and ELP go to corners, they tune up the band, and Isaacs stands. SUDDEN- NO, Isaacs blocks! But Leo still choke grips! Isaacs fireman’s carries?! But Leo fights free and goes back to the grip! ELP runs in, but Isaacs ducks, SUDDEN DEATH hits Leo! ELP is stunned, Isaacs rolls him up! TWO!! Nelson JUMP KNEES ELP into Isaacs’ GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! ELP survives and fans fire up! Isaacs snarls, he tags in Nelson and the WCWC drags ELP up. Feed to the POP-UP POWERBOMB!
Nelson then has the legs, CATAPULT into Isaacs’ fireman’s carry. DEATH VALLEY DRIVER onto Nelson’s knees! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives and Nelson can’t believe it! Nelson tags Isaacs, WCWC drag ELP up in the corner. Nelson runs to DOUBLE KNEE, then Isaacs reels ELP in for a BACKBREAKER! And then Canadian Rack, Nelson runs in, DOMINATOR CUTTER COMBO!! Nelson goes up, Isaacs brings ELP back up, PILEDRIVER and the MACHO ELBOW! Cover, but Leo BOOTS Nelson onto the ref! Isaacs CLUBS Leo and fires off! Leo ROCKS Isaacs back! Leo drags Isaacs up to CHOP! And ROCK!
But Nelson gets in with a title belt! Leo choke grips Nelson, but Isaacs LOW BLOWS Leo!! Fans boo, BELT SHOT from Nelson!! Fans boo even more, and now WCWC coordinate on ELP. Isaacs hauls ELP up, Nelson aims with the belt, but ELP ducks and the BELT SHOT hits Isaacs! SUDDEN DEATH sends Nelson out of the ring! Cover on Isaacs, ELP & Leo win!
Winners: ELP & Hikuleo, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)
Team Filthy sure tried to do the boys dirty, but it all backfired! ELP & Leo win out, does this prove they’re a real team now? Or will the challenges only get tougher from here on out?
NJPW Strong Openweight Championship: Eddie Kingston VS Satoshi Kojima!
The Mad King still has both his crowns, having just made it past Angelico in an ROH World Championship match. Will Eddie still be bringing both belts with him to ROH Final Battle? Or will the King of Bread Style rise to the occasion?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is NJPW Strong!
The bell rings and fans rally up for “EDDIE! EDDIE!” already. Eddie and Kojima stare down, step up, and tie up. They’re in a deadlock, but Eddie finds a point of leverage. But Kojima turns it around to put Eddie in a corner. Kojima CHOPS as he lets off, but Eddie brushes that off. They tie up again, Kojima headlocks, but Eddie powers up and out. They RAM shoulders, but neither falls. Kojima runs again, and he RAMS Eddie again! And again! Eddie falls back to shake out the arm and fans fire up. The fans now rally for “KOJIMA! KOJIMA!” Eddie comes back and the fans rally for him again.
Fans then chant for “Both These Guys!” as they tie up. Eddie CHOPS! And CHOPS! And then URA- NO, Kojima ducks, kicks and runs Eddie over! Fans fire up and Eddie bails out again. That arm is really bothering Eddie, but Kojima gets his pecs dancing! Fans cheer for the pecs, and then Kojima goes out to fetch Eddie. Kojima kicks and CLUBS Eddie, follows him around the way, kicks and CLUBS him again, then goes to the railing. Kojima whips Eddie but Eddie reverses and Kojima hits railing! Eddie CHOPS Kojima, then ROCKS him with a haymaker! Eddie puts Kojima in to cover, TWO! Eddie keeps on Kojima with a chinlock.
Kojima endures, fights around, and has the ROPEBREAK! Eddie lets off quickly and shakes out the arm. Eddie stomps Kojima, Kojima stands up in a corner, but Eddie CHOPS! And JABS! And CHOPS! Eddie whips corner to corner, runs in, but Kojima dodges! Kojima CHOPS, CHOPS and MACHINE GUN CHOPS! Fans fire up while the ref counts, and Kojima tops it off with one more CHOP! Kojima then whips corner to corner, runs in, and forearm smashes! He’s gonna get ya- NO, Eddie ROCKS Kojima! And fires the MACHINE GUN CHOPS in return! Eddie CHOPS then EXPLODERS!
Fans fire up as Kojima tumbles away to the far corner. Eddie shakes out the arms, runs corner to corner, but Kojima BOOTS! Kojima goes up but Eddie SWATS him! Kojima falls to the outside and a ring count starts. Eddie waits while the count climbs, and it goes past 5 of 20. Kojima springs up at 8 to slide in at 9, but Eddie kicks him. Eddie goes to the apron with Kojima, but Kojima fights the half nelson! Kojima fires elbows, reels Eddie in, to APRON DDT! Fans fire up while Eddie falls, and the ring count starts again. Kojima stands over Eddie at 6 of 20, the fans rally as Kojima puts Eddie in at 8. Kojima steps in but Eddie rolls to the far side.
Kojima storms over, stands Eddie up and fires off forearms! ROLLING ELBOW! Kick! DDT! Eddie writhes but fans fire up. Kojima stands, fans rally up, and he drags Eddie back up. Cravat and- NO, Eddie throws body shots, to then SAIDO! Kojima rises to run in, but into a HALF NELSON SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Eddie’s bad arm couldn’t keep the legs hooked, but Eddie goes for the STRETCH PLUM! Kojima endures being twisted around and the fans rally up! Kojima pries at the hold, throws hands from below, and Eddie lets go. Eddie goes to a corner, Kojima stands, and the two stare down as the fans fire up.
Eddie runs in to LARIAT, but Kojima stays up! Eddie scowls and runs, but DOUBLE LARIATS collide! The fans fire up as Eddie falls and Kojima stands! Kojima stands Eddie up, COZY CUTTER! Cover, TWO! Eddie survives but Kojima keeps his cool. Off comes the elbow pad! Kojima waits on Eddie to stand, then runs, but Eddie blocks the lariat! And URAKEN! Kojima stays up, so Eddie URAKENS!! And then URAKENS!!! The trilogy of Backfist to the Future hits, but Kojima LARIATS!! Both men fall and the fans are thunderous! Kojima rises, he storms up on Eddie, and he drags Eddie back up.
Eddie shoves Kojima away, flips him off, but Kojima ROCKS him! Kojima suplexes Eddie up for a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Eddie survives by a literal foot! Fans fire up again as Kojima powers up the arm. Kojima runs, to COZY- LARIAT FROM EDDIE!! Fans are thunderous again, and Eddie suplexes, NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB!! Cover, TWO?!? Kojima survives but Eddie just powers up! URAKEN!! URAKEN!! And NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB AGAIN!!! Cover, Eddie wins!!
Winner: Eddie Kingston, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Openweight Champion)
Kojima proved he’s a living legend, withstanding all that damage! But in the end, Eddie proved why he is a Double Champion! Eddie and Kojima show respect to each other, will we get to see this one again in the future? Until then, who is next to- WAIT! GABE KIDD ATTACKS!! This Bullet Club War Dog knocks Eddie down, then grabs the title! Kidd talks a ton of trash before he BELT SHOTS Eddie back down! Kidd gets the mic while fans boo but he soaks it up. “Yeah, keep talking, I got the microphone! It’s always these guys! It’s always these top guys who wanna duck me, until I turn up and hit ’em in the back of the head!”
Fans boo and ask “WHAT?” but Kidd says Will Ospreay is one example! Ospreay made the same mistake, and Kidd will bury Ospreay on December 16th, Rev-Pro Uprising! But Eddie, when will Kidd come for Eddie? The answer is: Whenever the EFF he wants!! Fans boo as Kidd drags Eddie up, PILEDRIVER!!! Kidd then tells Boss Dog Finlay said bring gold or bring bodies. “Ey, boss! How ’bout both?!” Kidd stands over Eddie, holding up the belt. Kidd mockingly bows to Eddie before leaving. Is this rabid dog going to take that belt or just get put down?
Backstage interview with Trent Beretta.
Emily Mae catches Trent as he heads for his locker room and says we heard him make the challenge at the end of Fighting Spirit Unleashed, does he have anything else to say before tonight’s main event? Trent thinks about that. It has been four years since he left NJPW, and it’s been great in AEW & ROH. But he did still wonder what it’d be like if he didn’t. And tonight, he’s on his own, no Best Friends, and Trent will show NJPW, the fans, Shingo Takagi, and even AEW exactly who he is. Emily high-fives Trent and he heads out, will Trent prove he can stand on his own two feet?
Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta VS David Finlay & KENTA!
While the Maniac & Decoder are ready to tear into #OrangeHook this Wednesday on AEW Dynamite, there’s a war brewing in NJPW. Just last week, The Rebel ruined the confrontation Moxley had with Will Ospreay at the end of Power Struggle, and then he defiantly and violently SMASHED the IWGP United States and United Kingdom Championships! Will Finlay and the Fang Revived do even worse to Moxley & Yuta here? Or will Bullet Club get owned by the Blackpool Combat Club?
As usual, BCC makes their way in from the crowd. But as soon as they’re ringside, Finlay & Kenta attack! Finlay goes right after Moxley and Kenta beats down Yuta but the fans boo. Finlay claws Moxley’s face while Kenta rains down fists on Yuta. The ref reprimands but there’s nothing to be done when this isn’t a match yet. Kenta POSTS Yuta, but fans taunt Finlay with “Switchblade’s Better!” Yuta hits back, but Finlay fireman’s carries Moxley to SNAKE EYES off railing! Kenta RAMS Yuta into the apron, ELBOWS him in the head, and Finlay DECKS Moxley. Finlay then helps Kenta mug Yuta but the fans rally up for BCC.
Kenta stands Yuta up and Finlay CHOPS him! The War Dogs put Yuta in, the bell rings, and Kenta rains down fists! The ref reprimands about that, but Kenta lets off. Kenta stands Yuta up to bump off buckles, and then RAMS into him! And again! And again! Kenta then throws a hard body shot! Tag to Finlay and he CHOKES Yuta! The fans boo, the ref counts, but Finlay RAMS into Yuta! And again! And again and again and again! The ref backs Finlay down but Kenta gets a cheap shot in. Yuta hits back! But then Finlay smothers him and snap suplexes! Cover, ONE!! Yuta hangs tough but Finlay clamps on and stands Yuta up.
Finlay UPPERCUTS, but Yuta CHOPS! And CHOPS! Finlay pokes Yuta in the eye, then UPPERCUTS him down! Tag to Kenta, and he sits Yuta up to KICK! And KICKS! Yuta eggs Kenta on, the Yes Kicks are harder. Kenta and Yuta start trading forearms, but Kenta claws the eyes! The ref reprimands but Kenta UPPERCUTS! Kenta runs, but into an atomic drop! And ENZIGURI! Fans fire up as Yuta crawls, hot tag to Moxley! Moxley RAMS Kenta into a corner! Moxley stomps a mudhole, fires off forearms and CHOPS on repeat, then goes up to rain down more fists! The fans count to TEN, then Moxley BITES Kenta’s forehead!
Moxley whips corner to corner, runs in and clotheslines! And then he reels Kenta in, for a stalling PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO! But Moxley just rains down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Fans rally and then Moxley lets off to run and- NO, Kenta blocks the Penalty Kick to KICK a leg! Moxley KICKS back, they KICK back and forth, harder and faster! Kenta gets the edge but then Moxley blocks a kick to trip Kenta for a TEXAS CLOVERHOLD! Fans fire up but Finlay BOOTS Moxley! Moxley holds on! So Finlay BOOTS him again! Moxley lets Kenta go to get in Finlay’s face, and then Yuta DECKS Finlay! But Kenta rolls Moxley up! TWO!
Moxley hits a CUTTER! Yuta drags Kenta up and reels him in, Moxley climbs a corner. The fans chant for “B C C!” but Finlay trips Moxley up! Kenta back drops Yuta away, Finlay shoves Moxley off the corner, and Kenta runs in to PENALTY KICK! Kenta drags Moxley over, tags in Finlay, and fans boo as Finlay rains down fists. The ref reprimands and counts, but Finlay BITES Moxley’s forehead now! Finlay SPITS at the crowd and fans boo. Finlay drags Moxley up to UPPERCUT! Finlay runs at the corner, UPPERCUT! BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Finlay keeps Moxley from Yuta and pulls him back in a fishhook.
Finlay CLUBS Moxley with a crossface forearm, fishhooks him again, and CLUBS him back down! Finlay repeats the process, then throws up the Too Sweet. But Moxley stands to put on a SLEEPER! Finlay backs Moxley down, and Kenta grabs on with a SLEEPER! Finlay is free, and he intercepts Yuta to TOSS him out! The ref reprimands, Kenta lets Moxley go but now he has no one to tag. Finlay stomps Moxley’s hand! Finlay bends the fingers, BITES the fingers, then lets off as the ref reprimands. Moxley goes to ropes, but Finlay CHOKES him! The ref counts, Finlay lets off, and the fans rally up for Moxley again.
Moxley eggs Finlay on, Finlay pie faces him, then stands Moxley up. Moxley SLAPS Finlay, then DISCUS LARIATS! Both men are down, they crawl for their corners, hot tag to Yuta! Yuta climbs up and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Yuta DECKS Kenta for good measure before he fires off forearms and CHOPS on Finlay! Fans fire up as Yuta rains down shots in a corner! Yuta whips corner to corner, A-LIST LARIATS, then he goes up top! Finlay stands, into the FLYING LARIAT! Yuta kips up and fans fire up, and Yuta brings Finlay around. Finlay whips Yuta away but Yuta rewinds and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO!
Finlay escapes but Yuta keeps his cool. The fans rally behind Yuta and he brings Finlay around. Wrench and- NO, Finlay slips out of the lift to waistlock. Yuta throws elbows but Finlay lifts! Yuta wheelbarrows to a victory roll, TWO! Finlay clinches, IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Fans boo but Finlay drags Yuta up again to Canadian Rack, and CLIFFHANGER DDT! Cover, TWO!! Tag to Kenta and he covers, TWO! Another cover, TWO! A third cover, TWO!! Yuta is still in this and Kenta argues with the ref. The ref defends his count, so Kenta drags Yuta up. Kenta whips, Yuta holds ropes and KICKS back!
Yuta swings, Kenta spins him, and DDT! Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Kenta is frustrated but the fans rally up. Kenta drags Yuta up, fireman’s carries, but Yuta fights free! Yuta shoves and DROPKICKS Kenta down! Moxley rises! Fans rally up, Yuta brings Kenta around, but Finlay has the shillelagh! The ref stops Finlay, but Kenta has his Defy Wrestling Championship! Yuta dodges the belt shot, to wrench and PAIN THRILLER! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Kenta and Yuta crawl, hot tags to Finlay and Moxley! The forearms are fast and furious, back and forth! Moxley gets the edge, fires palm strikes, but runs into an ELBOW!
Finlay runs, but Moxley SWATS the Polish Hammer, to then SAIDO! Finlay staggers up, ducks the lariat, and T-BONE SUPLEXES! Both men are down, but they rise to go forehead to forehead. They stand, and the forearms fly again! Moxley has the edge, he flips Finlay off and runs to BOOT! Finlay returns to SPEAR! Both men are down again, and Finlay crawls his way over, tag to Kenta. Kenta goes up top to DIVING DOUBLE STOMP!! Cover, TWO!! Moxley survives but Kenta fires up! Kenta slashes his throat, drags Moxley up and fireman’s carries, GO TO- NO, Moxley lands on his feet! The forearms fly!
Fans rally, and Kenta gets CROSS COUNTER after CROSS COUNTER! Kenta roars, fireman’s carries again, GO TO- DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, BCC wins!
Winners: Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta, by pinfall
The better Club stands tall, and Finlay seethes as he stares Moxley down. Whatever battle is coming between Moxley, Finlay and Ospreay, it will be for the title without a name. But will it be the American Maniac, the British Assassin or the Rebel without a country that holds up that gold in the end?
NJPW World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Mike Bailey!
The Front Man of TMDK has been keeping season one of this title going without any delays or interruptions, but he might be up against his fastest opponent yet! Will Speedball make big changes to this title’s run? Or will his 15 minutes of fame be over before he knows it?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who heads the Fall line-up!
The fans duel, “Let’s Go, Speedball!” “Z S J!” The bell rings, both men rush in, and Bailey gets ZSJ with a SOBAT! Bailey fires off fast palm strikes, fast kicks, but ZSJ blocks to UPPERCUT! ZJS whips, Bailey reverses, ZSJ reverses back but Bailey handsprings. ZSJ dodges, but turns around into the LIGHTNING KICKS! Bailey fires off from both sides, then ENZIGURIS! Fans fire up while ZSJ flops out of the ring. Bailey builds speed, but ZSJ is up, so Bailey BOOTS him back down! Then Bailey triangle jump MOONSAULTS! Direct hit and down goes ZSJ! The fans rally up and Bailey puts ZSJ against railing. Bailey KICKS ZSJ in the chest!
ZSJ sputters as he leans against railing but the fans rally up. Bailey whips ZSJ into more railing, then KICKS him again! ZSJ falls, Bailey stalks him, and Bailey puts ZSJ in. Bailey gives the belt a glance before going to the ring. Bailey runs but ZSJ dodges and the boot gets hung up on ropes! ZSJ trips Bailey, then TWISTS a foot! Then TWISTS the other foot! ZSJ swings Bailey around to get on the apron, and NECK TWIST! ZSJ holds on for a squeeze while slipping back into the ring. ZSJ has a DOUBLE ANKLE LOCK, but the ref counts. ZSJ lets off and fans sing “OH~ Zack Sabre Junior~!” ZSJ “apologizes” with a bow then drags Bailey to center.
ZSJ has a standing toehold, then he bends the toes! ZSJ ties the legs up, chinbars Bailey and brings him into the BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Bailey endures so ZSJ sends him flying! ZSJ flexes, fans rally up, and ZSJ brings Bailey up. Bailey throws a body shot! The fans rally again, and ZSJ cravats to snapmare. ZSJ KICKS Bailey in the back, and mocks the crane stance. But Bailey scowls as he stands. Bailey fires off a flurry of forearms, then ROCKS ZSJ! Bailey whips, ZSJ reverses and traps the arm, to TWEAK it! ZSJ whips, Bailey handsprings, but into an ARMBAR! Fans fire up as Bailey clasps hands and scrambles around!
ZSJ pulls on the arm, Bailey moves and has the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go, the fans rally and duel again, and Bailey rises. ZSJ stands Bailey up, wrenches, wrenches, but Bailey clubs free to CHOP! ZSJ UPPERCUTS in return! Bailey CHOPS again! ZSJ UPPERCUTS back! That hurts ZSJ’s arm but he eggs Bailey on! Bailey CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Bailey’s arm! ZSJ runs, but into a BOOT! Bailey goes up and MISSILE DROPKICKS! We pass five minutes, but fans rally up as Bailey rises again. Bailey aims, SOBATS, then AX KICKS! ZSJ kneels, into another KICK! STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO!
ZSJ is still in this but there’s still a lot of time left. Fans rally up as Bailey aims again. ZSJ sits up, ducks the buzzsaw, duck the return, but then Bailey feints the third. ZSJ lets his guard down and the BUZZSAW hits! Cover, TWO! ZSJ survives but the fans fire up with Bailey. Bailey aims again, but ZSJ ducks and rolls to get a foot! ZSJ TRIPS Bailey, but Bailey avoids the kick to kick low, snapmare and PENALTY- NO, ZSJ dodges and HEADBUTTS! ZSJ snapmares, then PENALTY- NO, Bailey ducks, kicks and snapmares, but ZSJ bridges up to snapmare back! But then Bailey bridges up to snapmare again!
ZSJ bridges up, but Bailey KICKS him! And then runs to PENALTY KICK! And then sets up to MOONSAULT KNEE DROP onto ZSJ’s knees! A double-edged save but fans still fire up. ZSJ and Bailey both clutch knees while the fans duel again. ZSJ scoots over to Bailey to kick him, but Bailey kicks back. ZSJ kicks, Bailey kicks, repeat! They each target hamstrings as they kick again and again. Both men let off, that hurts themselves more than anything. They both hobble up, and ZSJ fires UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT! Bailey roars and BOOTS! Then ROUNDHOUSE, but ZSJ dodges the roundhouse! And he goes Matrix to avoid the thrust kick!
ZSJ SLAPS Bailey, runs, but into the THRUST KICK! Bailey runs in, but ZSJ KICKS the kick! Fans are thunderous while both men sit down and Bailey clutches his leg. “This is Awesome!” and ZSJ stalks Bailey. ZSJ drags Bailey back, hooks up the legs, and then STOMPS the knees! Bailey hobbles to a corner, ZSJ runs up and knuckle locks, to pop Bailey into a KNEEBAR! And then an INVERTED FIGURE FOUR! With ANKLE LOCK!! Bailey endures, even as ZSJ TWEAKS the toes!! ZSJ then shifts to deathlock, but he wants an arm! Bailey resists, so ZSJ gets the STF! Bailey still fights forward, to the ROPEBREAK!
Fans cheer as we finally hit ten minutes! ZSJ keeps cool, and he pulls on the toes to then have a HEEL HOOK! Bailey still hast he ropes so the ref reprimands and counts. They go to the apron, Bailey holds onto ropes so they don’t fall, and he stomps ZSJ! ZSJ just shifts on the Heel Hook! Bailey sits up to SLAP! ZSJ SLAPS! They SLAP back and forth, then ZSJ gives his own stomps. Bailey eggs ZSJ on, ZSJ kicks more and more, but Bailey doesn’t budge! If anything, he leans into the shots! Bailey has the leg, steps over, and then APRON MOONSAULT KNEE DROP!! Both men fall to the floor and the fans are thunderous again!
ZSJ sputters as he rolls away, but Bailey drags himself up to the apron. Bailey goes up the corner as he sees ZSJ go tot he ramp. Bailey springboards to CORKSCREW PLANCHA!! Direct hit and down goes ZSJ! We hit the three minute warning so Bailey gets ZSJ in. ZSJ goes to a corner, Bailey runs in, TATSU- NO, ZSJ avoids Tatsumaki, but Bailey avoids the Tornado DDT! TATSUMAKI SENPU!! Bailey goes up the corner, to ULTIMATE WEAPON!!! Cover, TWO!??! ZSJ survives those knees to his back but the fans are thunderous again! Bailey aims, to KICK, but ZSJ blocks! To get a SLEEPER, then a scoop, SABRE DRIVER!! Cover, TWO?!?!?
The fans are thunderous and hope they “FIGHT FOREVER!” but we’re at the two minute warning! This is coming to an end one way or another! ZSJ drags Bailey up but Bailey RANAS! Cover, TWO! ZSJ sunset flips, TWO! Bailey high stacks but ZSJ spins, only for Bailey to cartwheel! But then ZSJ kicks the legs out and has a SLEEPER! But Bailey rolls back to a cover, TWO! Bailey has the SLEEPER, ZSJ rolls back to EURO CLUTCH! TWO?!?! Bailey escapes and both men scramble up. ZSJ KICKS, runs, but into a SPANISH FLY!! Cover, TWO!!! Bailey aims, PENALTY KCIK! Last minute, and Bailey feints the knee drop to turn ZSJ over! MOONSAULT KNEE DROP!!
ZSJ goes to a corner, Bailey runs in, TATSU- FLYING ARMBAR TAKEDOWN!!! Bailey scrambles, ends up in a Triangle Hold, but he deadlifts, only for ZSJ to drag him down! 30 seconds, Bailey stomps but ZSJ shifts! RINGS OF SATURN!! CLARKY CAT!! ZSJ tortures the fingers, stomps away, but Bailey refuses! FINAL TEN SECONDS!! ZSJ BENDS the fingers, SNAPS the pinkie, and Bailey QUITS! ZSJ WINS!!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by submission (still NJPW World Television Champion)
With literal seconds left on the clock, ZSJ brings this episode to an end! Bailey’s pinkie tells the tale, will anyone ever stop The Front Man at this rate? Or will he make it far beyond the one year mark in January?
IWGP Women’s Championship: Mayu Iwatani VS Stephanie Vaquer!
The Sky Blue Hyper Technician is just the third-ever champion, and has held onto this title since April when she dethroned Mercedes Mone, and held onto it through facing Utami Hayashishita, but now she’s up against La Primera, who is already the CMLL Women’s World AND Women’s Tag Team Champion! Will Vaquer win the shootout and become a THREE-BELT champion? Or will Mayu continue her historic reign beyond 200 days?
The introductions are made, the IWGP belt is raised, and we see who has what it takes to make history!
The bell rings and the two circle. The fans rally, the two tie up, and Vaquer wrenches to fireman’s carry takeover, and then she has a double wristlock. Mayu moves around, wrenches back, but Vaquer rolls, handsprings and wrenches to wristlock. Mayu moves around, uses ropes to flip through, and then she wrenches to wrench again, then wristlock. Mayu shifts to a hammerlock but Vaquer uses her leg to hook free. Vaquer wrenches and hammerlocks, but Mayu throws elbows. Mayu headlocks, fans cheer the exchange, but Vaquer claws Mayu’s face! Vaquer puts Mayu on ropes, the ref counts, and Vaquer lets off.
Vaquer whips, Mayu rolls over the dropdown, and keeps moving to arm-drag! Vaquer avoids the dropkick but then so does Mayu! Mayu headlocks for the takeover but Vaquer headscissors. Mayu kips free, Vaquer trips her to cover, ONE! The fans cheer the standoff! Mayu and Vaquer circle, the fans rally, and the two rush in. Mayu SOBATS, whips, but Vaquer reverses. Mayu slips to the apron, schoolgirls but Vaquer rolls through, only for Mayu to basement dropkick! Fans rally with Mayu and she runs, but Vaquer pulls hair! Fans boo but Mayu gets free. Vaquer dodges to SUPERKICK! Mayu falls over and fans rally up.
Mayu goes to a corner, Vaquer runs in but into a BOOT! Vaquer comes back, puts one leg in the ropes and then DRAGON SCREWS the other! Mayu writhes, fans rally up, and Vaquer drags Mayu up. Vaquer fireman’s carries but Mayu fights to sunset flip. Vaquer stays up, to scrape soles off the face! Vaquer runs to hit the leg drop, brother! Cover, TWO! Mayu is still in this but Vaquer looms over her. Vaquer drags Mayu up, Mayu throws body shots but Vaquer wraps on a headscissors! Vaquer turns over to JAM Mayu into the mat again and again! Vaquer turns Mayu back over, ties up the legs and has a sit-down cradle, TWO!
Mayu is still in this and the fans rally up. Vaquer looms over Mayu, kicks her around, then stands her up to bump her off buckles! And again, and again, and again! Vaquer lets off as the ref reprimands, then she pushes Mayu down. Vaquer drags Mayu up but Mayu throws a forearm! Vaquer HEADBUTTS in return! That made Vaquer just as dizzy, and Mayu throws a forearm! Vaquer HEADBUTTS, HEADBUTTS and HEADBUTTS! Mayu falls against ropes, Vaquer stands on her to CHOKE her! The ref counts but fans cheer as Vaquer flexes. Vaquer scrapes Mayu’s face with her boot, then really digs it in!
Vaquer drags Mayu up, whips, but Mayu reverses to tilt-o-whirl RANA! Mayu gets running and she DROPKICKS Vaquer against ropes and out of the ring! Fans fire up as Mayu builds speed, but Vaquer GAMANGIRIS first! Vaquer steps up, springboards, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Mayu is still in this but Vaquer keeps her focus. Vaquer reels Mayu in and tucks the arms, but Mayu fights the piledriver! Vaquer kicks Mayu low, runs, but into a SUPERKICK! Fans fire up while both women are down! Mayu rises, reels Vaquer in but Vaquer swings! Mayu gets around to SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX!
Vaquer goes to the apron and fans rally up. Mayu rises and she builds speed, to DIVE! Direct hit into the railing! Fans lose their minds as Mayu stands back up! Mayu puts Vaquer back in, then she goes to the apron. Mayu climbs up, and FROG SPLASHES! Cover, TWO!! Vaquer survives but Mayu nods. Mayu kicks Vaquer around, drags her to the drop zone again, and she heads back up. Fans rally, Mayu reaches the top to MOONSAULT! But into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Wait, it’s a FOOT CHOKE! Mayu flails inside Hell’s Gates while fans rally up! Mayu reaches out, but she’s fading! The ref checks, Mayu gets a second wind to get the ROPEBREAK!
The ref counts, Vaquer lets Mayu go at 4, and she stands Mayu up to HEADBUTT! And HEADBUTT! And HEADBUTT again! But Mayu SHOTEIS! Mayu roars, but Vaquer reels her in, GERMAN SUPLEX!! Vaquer sends Mayu flying and fans are thunderous! Vaquer goes to a corner, runs in, METEORA in the corner! High stack, TWO!! Mayu survives and Vaquer grows frustrated. The fans rally up, Vaquer tucks and lifts, but Mayu fights! Mayu slips free to ROCK Vaquer! Mayu runs, gets around the lariat, CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Vaquer survives, but Mayu aims to SUPERKICK! But Vaquer rises up!
Vaquer shouts at Mayu, so Mayu BUZZSAWS! Cover, TWO!! Vaquer survives again but Mayu keeps her cool. Mayu drags Vaquer up, gut wrenches, and TOMBSTONES!! But Mayu isn’t done there, she goes back to the corner! Fans fire up as Mayu climbs, and MOONSAULTS!! Cover, Mayu wins!
Winner: Mayu Iwatani, by pinfall (still IWGP Women’s Champion)
And this is why Mayu is the Icon of Stardom! Mayu bests the best CMLL has to offer and holds onto NJPW’s title. Mayu does show Vaquer respect, and Vaquer accepts the handshake. Will Vaquer have to return the favor and give Mayu a match for the CMLL Women’s World Championship?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi VS Trent Beretta!
Just as the Rampaging Dragon took this title off Tama Tonga in Las Vegas, he was called out by #JustTrent! Takagi doesn’t back down from a fight, but will he win the shootout? Or will Trent add this title to the Best Friends’ collection?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if it’s truly Takagi’s time!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two approach. They feel things out, tie up, and Takagi powers Trent back. Trent slips around to waistlock but Takagi switches. Trent wrenches out to hammerlock, but Takagi reaches around. Takagi drop toeholds then floats to a headlock. Trent fights up to his feet, powers up and out, but Takagi runs him over! Fans applaud while Trent sits up in a huff. Takagi clamps on a chinlock, leans on the hold, perhaps aware of Trent’s bad neck. Trent fights up again but Takagi goes for the arm. Takagi wrenches, gives a quick elbow breaker, then CLUBS the arm. Takagi ROCKS Trent with a forearm!
Fans rally behind Takagi and he facelocks. Trent throws body shots but Takagi knees low. Takagi whips, Trent reverses then drops down, to jump up, METEORA! Fans fire up while Takagi flounders to a corner. Trent storms over, stands Takagi up and CHOPS! Fans “WOO~!” but Trent bumps Takagi off buckles. Takagi headbutts the buckles to fire himself up! So Trent kicks low! Trent whips, Takagi reverses, but Trent dodges in the corner to TORNADO- NO, Takagi powers out! But then Trent RANAS! And SUPERKICKS! Cover, ROPEBREAK! Trent is annoyed but the fans rally up as Takagi goes to the apron.
Trent storms over, stomps Takagi, then drags him back in. Trent CHOPS, Takagi forearms! And CLUBS and CLUBS and CLUBS! Takagi goes to scoop but Trent fights it. Trent CLUBS Takagi, ROCKS him with a forearm, then runs. Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON LARIAT! Fans fire up and Trent staggers to his feet, for Takagi to clothesline him up and out! Fans fire up with Takagi and he tells them, “TOKI GA KITA! <THE TIME HAS COME!>” Takagi goes out, drags Trent up, and whips, but Trent reverses to POST Takagi! Trent then runs in, but Takagi dodges and Trent hits railing! Fans fire up while Trent falls in a heap!
Takagi catches his breath, the ring count starts, and it passes 5 of 20. Takagi refreshes the count to then drag Trent up and SMACK him off the apron. Takagi asks if he should do it again, and fans cheer! Takagi SMACKS Trent again! The fans continue to cheer so Takagi fireman’s carries, to SNAKE EYES off the apron, kick and DDT to the floor! The ref checks Trent and he’s okay to continue, so the ring count starts again. Takagi stomps Trent, puts him in at 6 of 20, and then stands on Trent at the ropes. The ref counts as Trent suffers, but Takagi lets go of the ropes. Not the problem! So Takagi DOUBLE STOMPS Trent!
Fans rally up, Takagi reels Trent in and suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi pushes Trent down to elbow drop! Takagi then clamps on the body scissors! Fans rally as Trent endures the squeeze, and Trent throws elbows. Takagi BELL CLAPS back! Takagi then SENTONS! Fans rally up, Takagi brings Trent around and pushes him. Takagi JABS, Trent forearms! And again! And then CHOPS! Takagi JABS again! Trent wobbles and goes to ropes, but Takagi storms up on him. Takagi throws knees against the ropes, then he whips Trent to KNEE again! Takagi reels Trent in, but Trent fights the suplex!
Takagi turns around and he suplexes Trent, but Trent lands on the apron! Trent swings but Takagi counter punches! Takagi ROCKS Trent, HOTSHOTS, then runs, into a SLINGSHOT SPEAR! Fans fire up while both men are down! Trent drags himself around while Takagi goes to a corner. Fans rally, Trent runs in, and BACK ELBOWS! And TORNADO DDTS! Takagi flounders away and out of the ring, but Trent hurries to pursue. Trent aims from the apron, goes up the corner, and ASAI MOONSAULTS! Direct hit and Takagi hits railing! Trent stands and fans fire up with him! Trent gives the belt a glance, then moves it aside.
Trent is confiscating the timekeeper’s table! The fans fire up for that but the ref reprimands. Trent doesn’t care, he wants to bring it in. He has to untangle it from the mic, though. Then Trent CHUCKS the table into Takagi’s face! Trent puts Takagi in the ring, slides the table in, and he sets the table up in a corner. The ref says no but Trent shoves the ref! Fans are torn seeing Mean Trent here! Trent fireman’s carries, to DEATH VALLEY DRIVER through the table!! Fans fire up, they’re starting to like Mean Trent! Trent moves the wreckage out of the way, and then picks up one of the pieces! Trent aims at Takagi as he stands up!
Trent swings, but Takagi dodges! Trent tries again, Takagi blocks, and he kicks low! Takagi SMACKS Trent with the table, and again, and AGAIN! Down goes Trent and fans fire up again! Takagi goes out as Trent flops to the floor. Fans fire up more as Takagi pounds the apron. Takagi takes that piece of table, and he CHUCKS it at Trent’s face! That’s a bit of payback but Takagi isn’t done with Trent just yet. Trent is busted open, and Takagi POSTS him! Trent falls and Takagi storms up on him. Takagi drags Trent up, puts him in the ring, and calls to the ref. Cover, TWO! Trent is still in this, even with a crimson mask forming.
Takagi CLUBS away on Trent’s head, then kicks him around. Fans rally, Takagi JABS! And JABS! Trent scowls, Takagi ROCKS him with a haymaker! Trent hits back! Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON- NO, Trent gets under and around to GERMAN SUPLEX! And GERMAN SUPLEX again! What a high arc! But Takagi fights the third with elbows. Takagi breaks free, swings, but into a HALF ‘N’ HALF! Trent goes to a corner, runs back in, BUSAIKU KNEE!! Cover, TWO!! Takagi survives and the fans are thunderous! Trent blinks through the blood pouring down that left side of his face, and he storms up on Takagi.
Trent stands Takagi up, Alabama Lifts, but Takagi fights it! And turns it to a backslide! TWO! ELBOW! JAB! YUKON feint to DDT! Trent flops over, but he punches his own forehead to wake himself up. Trent goes to the corner, Takagi fires up with “OI! OI! OI!” and the fans join in. Takagi runs to the corner, to clothesline! Takagi keeps going, but Trent ducks the lariat! Trent swings, into a Gory Especial! NOSHIGAMI! Fans rally again and Takagi stalks Trent. Takagi wheelbarrows Trent to WHEELBARROW GERMAN Trent into the corner!! The ref checks Trent after that nasty impact into the buckles and ropes!
Trent is dazed but he’s still in this. The fans rally up, Takagi and Trent rise up again, and Takagi stands first. Takagi points to the sky and he drags Trent up. Takagi puts Trent on the top rope, climbs up after him, but Trent fires body shots! They brawl, Trent HEADBUTTS and SUPER SUNSET- NO, Takagi holds ropes! Takagi punches Trent away, turns around, but then Trent CHOPS! Trent CHOPS Takagi again, and Takagi wobbles atop the corner. Trent climbs up after Takagi, goes to the very top, but Takagi throws body shots! Takagi reels Trent into a fireman’s carry! And tucks the arm!? STAY DREAM!! Takagi crawls to cover, TWO!!!
Fans are thunderous as Trent survives! But Takagi again shouts “OI! OI! OI!” The fans join in, and Takagi powers up. Trent rises, Takagi pump handles, but Trent victory rolls! TWO!! Takagi escapes and fans rally again. Trent grabs Takagi by the hair but Takagi fires boxing elbows! Trent ROLLING ELBOWS! Takagi JABS, HEADBUTTS, SLIDING PUMPING!! Cover, ONE?!?! Trent is showing grit and the fans love it! But PUMPING BOMBER knocks him down!! Takagi won’t stop there, MADE IN JAPAN!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Trent survives again and no one can believe it! “This is Awesome!” as both men are down.
Takagi rises up, he drags Trent around, and he pump handles again. Trent fights the lift with elbows! Takagi LARIATS! Trent stays up but he sputters. Takagi LARIATS again, Trent wobbles, and Takagi says this is it! LARIAT! Trent roars!? Swings, but into a spin and- Alabama Lift!? DUDEBUSTER!!! Cover, TWO!!!! Takagi survives that Crunchy driver and the fans are electric! Trent and Takagi stir, both running on fumes. The fans rally up, Trent drags Takagi up to throw a haymaker. Takagi gives it back! Trent throws a forearm, so Takagi gives it back! Trent throws another, so Takagi throws another!
They stand now, and Trent throws another haymaker! Takagi staggers but he comes back to forearm! Trent wobbles, but he throws a forearm! Takagi ROCKS Trent! Trent goes to ropes, comes back, and he ROCKS Takagi! Takagi ROCKS Trent! Trent throws a forearm, Takagi fires a flurry of HEADBUTTS! Then the boxing elbows! Takagi goes all the way to TEN, but Trent gets around the lariat to backslide! Takagi rolls through, btu Trent reels him in for a GOTCH PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO!!! Takagi survives, the fans fire up again, and Trent huffs and puffs as he sits back up. Trent drags Takagi up, but Takagi blocks the Alabama!
Takagi CLUBS away on Trent’s back, but Trent SLAPS him! Takagi staggers to ropes, comes back, into the JUMP KNEE! Alabama Lift, but Takagi fights it to trap the arms! TAKAGI DRIVER 98!! Cover, TWO!!!! Trent survives and the fans are thunderous again! Takagi and Trent slowly rise, and Takagi reels Trent in. Trent gets up to ENZIGURI but Takagi ducks it! Takagi sits Trent up for HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Fans fire up, then Takagi clamps on a REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Trent flails around, but ends up in the GROUND COBRA!! Trent flails, reaches out, but Takagi thrashes him! Trent starts to fade, but he gets a second wind! He kicks and kicks, ROPEBREAK!!
Takagi lets go and we’re past 25 minutes! Trent goes to the apron, but Takagi rises up. Fans rally, Takagi drags Trent up, but Trent HEADBUTTS! Takagi wobbles, Trent SLINGSHOT- NO, Takagi blocks the spears, to make it the DRAPING GTR! And then pump handle, torture rack, LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! Cover, Takagi wins!!
Winner: Shingo Takagi, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Champion)
Trent may not have won, but he sure showed everyone what he’s made of! But at the same time, Takagi again showed everyone what he’s made of! Takagi shows Trent respect and Trent nods, perhaps these two will go another round some day. Will Trent return to AEW ready for anything now?
As for Takagi, he gets the belt back and the ref raises his hand in victory before he gets some water to refresh himself. Then Takagi gets the mic to say, “Trent! Next time, No DQ.” Fans like the sound of that! Takagi says it’s okay, he’ll get permission. Trent nods again, and fans are really looking forward to that rematch now. Takagi then catches his breath, and the fans cheer that, too. Takagi sits up and says, “My time… is coming! TOKI GA KITA~! Thank you, guys. Thank you, everybody. I’m happy. Did you enjoy?” The fans cheer because they sure did! Takagi then says, “Actually, I love Texas. So here, my second hometown!” Fans like the sound of that!
Takagi now stands, and he says this belt, the NEVER Openweight Championship, who is next? Huh? Who’s next!? Fans cheer and Takagi points to the stage. Come on down, somebody! C’mon! Oi, oi, oi, where are they? Maybe they’re all in Japan? But Takagi promises to come back to Texas, and between Japan and Texas, it will be an amazing match! Until then, he will fly on as a Rampaging Dragon! WAIT! The lights go down and a Guerrilla of Destiny is here! And it’s Tama Tonga! The Good Bad Guy gets in the ring, picks up the mic, and he says, “Shingo, since you asked so nicely for the next challenger, you’ve got one right here.”
Last time was Las Vegas, it didn’t go Tama’s way. And yeah, that stuff eats away at him. He can’t let that go. So how about it? Tama wants his rematch. Hell, Takagi wants that rematch. Hell, the FANS want that rematch! The fans cheer to confirm! Tama hands the mic back and Takagi has everyone settle down. “Tama… Yes, of course!” So that said, from Las Vegas to Tokyo, Japan! WrestleKingdom 18, in the Tokyo Dome!! Fans fire up as a big match is made for the biggest stage in NJPW! Will the Good Bad Guy take this title back once again? Or will nothing stop the Rampaging Dragon now?
My Thoughts:
An awesome event for NJPW, the first with the new NJPW World website, but I do need to quickly say that it isn’t exactly an “improved” website. The streaming player itself is better, the website’s aesthetic is a bit more like other websites (hell, it looks almost exactly like ROH’s Honor Club). And the way they divided the show up by matches for watching On Demand is great, too, for someone who likes to skip around like I do. But in trying to skip around to the matches I want to cover, it was very glitchy, kept telling me I hit my maximum multiple streams or whatever, something they’ll need to iron out if they’re going to continue on with that format.
But of what I did cover, Yano VS Janela turning into a No DQ match was great stuff, definitely up Janela’s alley, and kudos to Yano for taking those chair spots. Unlike other promotions that might’ve given Janela a win for his debut, NJPW still had Yano go over given he has more experience not in No DQ but in being a trickster. But I’m sure Janela will still find great stories and give great matches in NJPW, maybe even getting in on the KOPW Championship to come up with some wild stipulations.
Great NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship match, and I figured ELP & Leo would retain, but a really good showing for WCWC. Great NJPW Strong Openweight Championship match from Eddie VS Kojima, and I figured Eddie would retain, but an awesome showing from Kojima. Gabe Kidd attacking to stake his claim to the next challenge is good stuff, and Kidd is definitely a good fit for facing Eddie given just how much Kidd mouths off. That match is going to be scrappy and rough, and that makes for a great time, can’t wait to see it. Also awesome to hear Kidd and Ospreay are having a match in Rev-Pro back in the UK.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to cover Moxley & Yuta VS Finlay & Kenta as it’s one of those “build momentum” matches, but it turned out great and I figured Moxley would win to have momentum going into all the things he’s doing. And I did chuckle at the chant, “Switchblade’s Better,” cuz… I don’t know why, but Finlay is feeling like bootleg Jay White in this, even though he technically has the better Bullet Club henchmen while White is stuck with The Gunns. Anyway, the NJPW World TV Championship was awesome with how it pushed the time limit, but I figured ZSJ would win out there.
The IWGP Women’s Championship was a great match, but I figured Mayu would retain there, too. Vaquer is definitely a great talent and CMLL certainly felt she was worthy of two titles, but three would be one too many for anyone. And an awesome main event from Takagi and Trent, and again, I figured Takagi would retain. Trent bleeding and using a table was great stuff, and I love that Takagi wants to go No DQ for real next time. Tama coming back for his rematch is fine, that will make for a solid WrestleKingdom match that could probably go either way. Though, if Takagi got it just to hot potato it back to Tama, I’m not sure what the point was then. So personally, I’m leaning towards Takagi holding onto the NEVER title so Tama can move up to like the US/UK/whatever it’ll be title next.
My Score: 9/10
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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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