NJPW PPV Results
Mitchell’s NJPW Resurgence Results & Report! (5/11/24)
Will there be a true Paradigm Shift?
Will the Roughneck surpass his Maniac mentor?
While there’s respect between them, Jon Moxley and Shota Umino won’t go easy. After all, they’re fighting for THE IWGP World Heavyweight Championship! Will #SHOOTER bring this title home to NJPW? Or will it stay All Elite with Moxley?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff match – Strong Survivor: Matt Vandagriff VS Adrian Quest; Vandagriff wins.
- Kickoff match – Strong Survivor: Mustafa Ali VS Lio Rush; Lio wins.
- Six Man Tag: The House of Torture VS Rocky Romero, Tomohiro Ishii & The DKC; The House of Torture wins.
- Tom Lawlor & Fred Rosser VS West Coast Wrecking Crew; WCWC wins.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo; ELP & Leo win and become the new NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions.
- NJPW Strong Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer VS Alex Windsor; Vaquer wins and retains the title.
- Tetsuya Naito & Yota Tsuji VS David Finlay & KENTA; Naito & Yota win.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr; ZSJ wins.
- NJPW World Television Championship: Jeff Cobb VS Lance Archer; Cobb wins and retains the title.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi VS Yuya Uemura; Takagi wins and retains the title.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Championship, No Ropes, Last Man Standing: Eddie Kingston VS Gabe Kidd; Kidd wins and becomes the new NJPW Strong Openweight Champion.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley VS Shota Umino; Moxley wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Kickoff match – Strong Survivor: Mustafa Ali VS Lio Rush!
It’s been a long time since The Beacon and The Bad Child have faced off, but they’re finally crossing paths again. Both men’s careers are in a Resurgence to be sure, but who proves to be a Strong Survivor?
Ali is rather high off himself as he goes to the ring, and Lio handspring kicks him off the apron! The fans fire up as the TNA X Division Champion flounders around on the outside, and Lio goes out after him! Lio throws hands, they both get in the ring, and the bell rings. Lio CHOPS and fans “WOO~!” Lio CLUBS Ali to a corner, fires off more hands, but Ali shoves him back. Lio run sin, Ali goes up and over, things speed up and Lio hurdles. Lio whips, Ali reverse, Lio reverses, repeat! Lio uses ropes to go up and around to whip, then he redirects! The fans rally for Ali but Lio ducks. Ali comes back, Lio sends him right out! Ali lands on his feet, turns around, into Lio’s DIVE!
The fans fire up again while both men hit railing! Lio gets up and in to build speed and DIVE again! Ali is sent back into railing but Lio wants another! The fans fire up and Lio builds speed, to then build more speed, and he DIVES! Direct hit and the fans cheer the hattrick! Lio puts Ali in and stalks him to a corner. Ali stands up but Lio fires hands! Lio climbs up to rain down fists! The fans count but Ali stops Lio at four to FLAPJACK him off the buckles! The fans rally up as Ali snarls and Lio sputters. Ali has Lio in a facelock, suplexes, but Lio blocks! Ali throws body shots as fans duel, then he whips. Tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER!
Ali then suplexes, for a JACKHAMMER! Cover, TWO! Lio toughs it out but Ali talks trash on him. Ali slaps Lio around, drags him up, and the fans rally. Ali bumps Lio off buckles, CHOPS him in the corner, then says, “In Ali We Trust!” The fans are torn but Ali whips Lio corner to corner. Lio slides to a stop, then dodges Ali to go up and over and over again! Lio tilt-o-whirl RANAS Ali into buckles! Then a roll up, spin and ENZIGIRI! The fans fire up and Lio says its time! Lio springboards, but no Rush Hour! Ali hits a LUMBAR CHECK! Shoutout to his old rival, Cedric, then Ali goes up top! 450 SPLASH! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up and Ali is shocked that Lio survives! Ali goes back up the corner, aims again, and 450- NO, he has to bail out as Lio moves! Ali runs back in, into a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO, and into a KOJI KLUTCH!! Lio endures, pushes around, has a cover, TWO! Ali has the victory roll, TWO! Both stand, Lio gets around, but Ali trips him! Ali steps through and turns Lio over into a SHARPSHOOTER! The fans cheer that unique way into the hold, and Lio endures. Lio pulls Ali’s hair to pull him down! Then HEEL KICKS! Lio runs, rebounds, RUSH HOUR! Lio hurries up top and aims, for the FINAL HOUR!! Cover, TWO as Ali goes Matrix!!
But then Lio jumps up to POISON RANA!! Cover, TWO!! Ali survives again and the fans rally up. Lio storms over to the corner, climbs up, and the fans rally again. Lio aims, but Ali rolls away to the far corner. Lio hops down, storms up, but Ali YANKS him into a corner! Lio stops himself in time, but Ali blocks his kick! Ali hooks Lio up, backslide, but feet on the ropes!! ALI WINS!!
Winner: Mustafa Ali, by pinfall
The politician celebrates his win, but Lio knows he cheated to get it! They argue, the ref steps in, but then Ali CLOBBERS Lio! Ali stomps away on Lio, but then Young Lions rush in to break it up! The fans are torn but then the lights go out? House of Torture is in the building tonight… But when the lights come back, Lio’s foaming black liquid from the mouth! He’s laughing and shouting at Ali as the X Division champion gets outta there! Is this a bad omen of what’s coming for Ali and his gold?
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo!
Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls held onto these belts through The Road to Wrestling Dontaku, but not without some controversy. The Headbanga & Young Guerrilla get one more shot, can they take the titles back? Or will TMDK make this a more decisive victory?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if justice is served!
The teams sort out, Mikey starts against ELP. They circle, the fans rally, and the two tie up. Mikey headlocks, ELP powers up and out, but Mikey runs him over! Mikey talks trash, things speed up, but Mikey avoids ELP’s dropkick! ELP avoids the sliding lariat, and both men stare down. They both go after the other’s partner! ELP BLASTS Shane down but Leo ROCKS Mikey first! ELP DROPKICKS Mikey, tags Leo, and the fans rally as they double whip Mikey to a corner. Leo runs in to SPLASH, ELP runs in to clothesline! Feed to Leo for a SIDEWALK SLAM! ELP is up top, AX HANDLE! The fans fire up and the two high-five!
Leo paces around Mikey, brings him up, but Mikey throws body shots! Leo CLUBS away on Mikey, then reels him in to suplex. Mikey fights that and suplexes Leo! Leo fights that, Mikey slips free but Leo elbows him away! Shane tags in to kick low! TMDK double whip, then DOUBLE ELBOW! Leo stays up, runs up, but into a double drop toehold! Then FIST DROP SENTON COMBO! Cover, TWO! The fans rally while Shane powers up. Shane shakes out that leg, runs up, but blocks Leo’s boot! Shane CHOPS, but Leo doesn’t flinch. Shane is surprised, so he CHOPS again! Leo still doesn’t flinch! Leo storms up on Shane, Shane winds up and CHOPS!
Leo just sighs and paces around. Leo grabs Shane by the neck, then CHOPS him down! Leo swings on Mikey but Mikey gets away. Leo tags ELP, and ELP CHOPS Shane! The fans “WOO~” but Shane kicks low. Shane whips,. ELP goes up and over and then ducks ‘n’ dodges to roll off Shane’s back! But Mikey trips ELP up! Shane basement dropkicks ELP and Mikey spins him around for a DRAPING DDT! Shane BLASTS Leo off the apron, too! The fans are torn and Mikey tells the ref ELP just fell like that. Mikey puts ELP in for Shane to cover, TWO! ELP stays in this but Shane brings him around for a NECKBREAKER! Shane pushes ELP to a cover, TWO!
Shane pulls on ELP’s arm, twists the wrist, then KICKS ELP in the back! Shane shakes out that stanky leg, but ELP gets up to fire forearms! ELP ROCKS Shane, runs, leaps, but Shane keeps ELP from Leo! Shane shoves ELP back and DROPKICKS him down! The fans fire up, Shane covers, TWO! Shane tags Mikey, Mikey runs at Leo, but Leo gets away. Shane stands ELP up, URENAGE POWER- RANA! ELP sends Mikey away and fakes Shane out to go low! But Shane grabs a foot! ELP ENZIGIRIS Shane, reaches for Leo, but Mikey has a foot! Mikey ducks the enzigiri, but ELP BOOTS him into Shane! The fans fire up, hot tag to Leo!
Leo storms in and he rallies on TMDK! Mikey blocks a boot, ducks a lariat, but the UPPERCUT takes him down! Leo has Shane for a scoop, but Shane slips free! Shane CHOPS, Mikey clotheslines! TMDK double whip, but Leo comes back to DOUBLE LARIAT! The fans fire up with Leo and he aims at Mikey! Mikey staggers up, into a choke grip! But Mikey fights free! Leo swings, Mikey gets around, but Leo fights the back suplex! Leo ROCKS Mikey, Mikey ROCKS Leo, repeat! The forearms fly, the fans fire up, and Mikey gets the edge! Mikey runs, into an ELBOW! Leo runs to JUMP ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO!
Leo keeps calm and he brings Mikey up. Leo scoops Mikey, tags ELP, POWERSLAM to SPRINGBOARD SWANTON! To LIONSAULT! Leo BLASTS Shane while ELP covers, TWO! Mikey survives but ELP & Leo say this is over! They go to corners and tune up the band! But Shane anchors Leo! Mikey blocks Sudden Death to ROCK ELP! Mikey clothesline Leo, Shane UPPERCUTS! FOREARM! UPPERCUT! LARIAT! Leo stays up, so Shane LARIATS! Leo roars and runs up, but into a BACK SUPELX NECKBREAKER COMBO! ELP returns to BOOT Shane, BOOT Mikey, then runs, but into the URENAGE POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up as ELP survives. Mikey tags Shane and TMDK go after ELP together. Mikey scoops, ELP slips free and shoves Mikey at Shane! Mikey ducks so Shane can LARIAT ELP! Shane sits ELP up for Mikey to SLIDING LARIAT! Mikey gets ELP up to scoop, TANK BUSTER!! Cover, LEO BREAKS IT! The fans fire up but Mikey goes after Leo! Leo grabs Mikey by the neck! And then he gets Shane! But TMDK fight free, ROCK Leo, and DOUBLE TROPHY LIFT! Leo fights free and he BOOTS Shane down! Mikey ducks ‘n’ dodges, but runs into the POWERSLAM! Leo then hauls Mikey up, for GOD- NO, Mikey slips free!
Mikey waistlocks Leo but Leo gets free, and ELP hits SUDDEN DEATH! Almost a Hidden Gap a la Bishamon! ELP dodges Shane, Leo UPPERCUTS him down! ELP builds speed to DIVE onto Mikey! And then Leo gets Shane up! GODSEND!! ELP goes up and then onto Leo’s shoulders! SUPER THUNDERKISS!! Cover, ELP & LEO WIN!
Winners: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo, by pinfall (NEW NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)
Justice IS served! ELP & Leo take these titles back, but will their Resurgence see them through the Summer? Or will TMDK want to settle the score before the Fall?
NJPW Strong Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer VS Alex Windsor!
The Windy City Riot saw La Primera make it past the highspeed AZM, but now she’s running headlong into Iron Will Windsor! Will Vaquer be able to hold onto the gold when facing someone tough as titanium? Or will the winds of change blow across the Golden State?
The introductions are made, the amethyst colored belt is raised, and we see who is NJPW Strong!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two circle. They feel things out, knuckle lock, and go shoulder to shoulder in a test of strength. The fans rally as Alex puts the pressure on. Vaquer rolls, but so does Alex! Vaquer steps over to bring Alex down, and she twists the wrist! Vaquer then shifts to have a motorcycle stretch, but Alex powers it back onto Vaquer! The fans rally, Vaquer arm-drags and then wraps Alex up in a straitjacket stretch! Alex fights up, but Vaquer kicks the legs out to pull her back onto knees! But Alex rolls back to put the straitjacket on Vaquer! The fans rally, Vaquer fights up, and she powers out to victory roll! TWO!
Alex escapes, and she ROCKS Vaquer! Alex takes another swing but Vaquer gets around, waistlocks, then spins and wrenches Alex’s arm to YANK it! The fans rally, Alex wrenches back, but Vaquer rolls, handsprings, and wrenches again. The fans cheer this technical exchange, and Vaquer gets Alex’s other arm to wrangle her down! Vaquer isolates that arm to STOMP it! The fans cheer while Vaquer watches Alex get up. Vaquer is right on her with a whip, but Alex ducks ‘n’ dodges to run Vaquer over! The fans cheer and Alex kicks Vaquer. Alex runs, Vaquer stays low then hurdles. Vaquer DROPKICKS Alex and the fans fire up again!
Vaquer runs corner to corner to jump at Alex, but Alex puts her up top! Alex CHOPS, then YANKS Vaquer down! Cover, ROPEBREAK! Alex KICKS Vaquer, KICKS her again, then hauls her up to CLUB her down. Alex clamps onto Vaquer’s arm to then RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Alex sits Vaquer up to basement LARIAT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up, Alex drags Vaquer up and cravats for a neck wrench. The fans are torn but Vaquer endures and wrenches free. Alex CHOPS, then cravats for some knees! Vaquer still endures and the fans rally up. Vaquer pries free, arm-drags Alex down, then isolates the arm again, only for Alex to avoid the stomp!
Alex mule kicks, SUPERKICKS, and Vaquer falls! Alex covers, TWO! The fans fire up as Vaquer survives, but Alex scowls. Alex runs in at the corner, but Vaquer dodges! Vaquer then fires off HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT! The fans fire up, Vaquer goes corner to corner, but Alex dodges! Alex swings but Vaquer spins her around, snap suplex! Vaquer drags Alex up into the headscissor squeeze, then turns her over to RAM her into the mat again and again and again! The fans fire up and Vaquer lets off to cover, TWO! Vaquer is annoyed but she brings Alex down to scrape her face! Then she drops the leg, brother! Cover, TWO!
Alex is still in this but the fans rally behind Vaquer. Vaquer drags Alex up, but Alex HEADBUTTS! Vaquer HEADBUTTS! Alex HEADBUTTS again! Vaquer HEADBUTTS again! They DOUBLE HEADBUTT! Both women wobble, then run in! Vaquer dodges to SUPERKICK! Vaquer runs, but Alex LARIATS her down! The fans fire up while both women fall on the logo at center! A standing count starts, the fans rally up, and both women sit up at 3 of 10. Alex aims from ropes, runs up at Vaquer, but Vaquer gets around, shoves, only for Alex to stop herself! Alex puts Vaquer on the apron, Vaquer ROCKS Alex, but Alex catches the shoulder thrust for a DRAPING DDT!
Vaquer is stuck in ropes so Alex goes up a corner! MISSILE DROPKICK! Vaquer flops out of the ropes, Alex drags her to a cover, TWO! Alex hauls Vaquer up, suplexes, but Vaquer fights free, SOLE FOOD! And then wrench for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Alex survives but the fans rally up again. Vaquer runs, but Alex follows to clothesline at ropes! Then she whips to clothesline again! Then leg lift SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Vaquer survives but Alex steps through, for a SHARPSHOOTER! Vaquer endures, even as Alex sits deep with her at the center of the ring! The fans rally, Vaquer fights around, ROPEBREAK!
Alex lets go in frustration, but she drags Vaquer right up. Alex says Vaquer is a POS, but Vaquer JAWBREAKERS and SUPERKICKS her for it! Vaquer then brings Alex around, tucks her in, but Alex fights free! HEADBUTT! Vaquer stays up, runs up, but Alex blocks to DISCUS LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Vaquer survives again and Alex is losing her cool! The fans fire up as Alex steps through, but Vaquer kicks her away! Alex goes to a corner, runs back in, but only gets buckles! Vaquer runs up, blocks boots, and DRAGON SCREWS! Vaquer sits Alex up in the corner, runs and METEORAS! The fans fire up as Vaquer isn’t done yet! Tuck and PACKAGE BACKBREAKER!! Cover, Vaquer wins!
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Women’s Champion)
La Primera pulverizes the Iron Will and holds onto the title! She holds all three of her titles high, will anyone ever take those from her?
NJPW World Television Championship: Jeff Cobb VS Lance Archer!
Two big bad behemoths battle over a belt that’s more about speed and time than size and strength! But then will the Imperial Unit make this a quick Tour of the Islands? Or will the Murderhawk Monster show how fast #EverybodyDies?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see how this kaiju movie short film turns out!
The bell rings and we’re on the clock. Archer fires a forearm, runs, but Cobb hits a SPANISH FLY!?! Cobb almost gives himself a brainbuster but he whips Archer, for a TOUR OF THE- NO, Archer slips free! Cobb gets under the lariat, and he GERMAN SUPLEXES! Archer tumbles out of the ring, Cobb follows, and he gets Archer back in the ring. Cobb storms up to ROCK Archer, but Archer shoves back. Cobb RAMS into Archer, then whips corner to corner. Archer goes up and over, keeps moving, but Cobb ducks the lariat! Cobb runs in but Archer TOSSES him out! Archer aims from the apron, to CANNONBALL!
The fans fire up with Archer, then he ROCKS a Young Lion! Archer brings this poor soul over to scoop and SLAM him onto Cobb! The fans boo but Archer soaks up the heat. Archer hauls Cobb up, but Cobb throws body shots and CHOPS! The ring count starts, Archer ROCKS Cobb! Cobb ROCKS Archer! Archer kicks low and then APRON CHOKE SLAMS! The count is 6 of 20 while Cobb flops to the floor. Archer grins and we reach 10 of 20. Archer drags Cobb up, to whip him into railing! The count is 15 so Archer leaves Cobb behind! Cobb hurries up and in at 18! The fans cheer but Archer is annoyed.
Archer storms over to Cobb, stomps him then drags him up. Archer puts Cobb in a corner to CHOP! Cobb sputters and Archer smirks. Archer tells the booing fans to shut up, then he swings, but Cobb dodges to CHOP back! Archer ROCKS Cobb, then CLUBS away at the ropes! The ref reprimands, Archer lets off and says this is HIS title now! The fans boo and Archer scares referee Scarlet off! Scarlet says hey, she’s the authority here, leave her alone! Archer drags Cobb up, but Cobb fires body shots! Cobb ROCKS Archer, runs, but Archer follows to CROSSBODY! Archer laughs while the fans are torn.
Archer talks trash, goes back for Cobb, stomps him, then covers, TWO! Archer is upset with the ref again but she cowers away. The fans boo Archer for being a bully, but he drags Cobb up. We hit five minutes, the fans rally for “COBB! COBB! COBB!” Archer tells them to shut up, but Cobb suplexes first! The fans fire up while both behemoths are down! Cobb and Archer stir, rise up, and crawl to each other. Archer pats Cobb on the head, but says he’s tired of Cobb’s crap! Archer ROCKS Cobb with a forearm, but Cobb ROCKS Archer back! Archer ROCKS Cobb, so Cobb ROCKS Archer! The fans chant “MEAT!” with each forearm they throw!
The forearms keep going, even as both men stand! “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Archer CHOPS, Cobb CHOPS, and so fans “WOO~” as they keep going! They even throw LARIATS! “MEAT! MEAT!” Both men fire up, and they DOUBLE LARIAT! DOUBLE LARIAT! DOUBLE LARIAT! “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Archer kicks low, SMASHES Cobb, then runs, but into a SUPERKICK! The fans fire up while Archer leans on ropes. Archer snarls, runs up, but into an URENAGE! FALLING HAMMER! Cover, ONE?!? GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up while Cobb is surprised, but he goes back for Archer.
Archer grabs at Cobb but Cobb fights off the claw! Archer BOOTS Cobb, ripcords, and SCRAPBUSTERS! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up but Archer drags Cobb back up. Archer puts Cobb in a corner, then puts him up top. Archer wants the inverted crucifix! But Cobb fights that and CLUBS away on Archer! Cobb shoves Archer, but Archer comes back with a STEP-UP KNEE! And now the crucifix, for the BLACKOUT BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Into a ghost pin!! TWO!!! Archer escapes and the fans fire up again! Cobb goes to a corner, Archer snarls and runs in to SPLASH! Archer fires up and the fans boo, but he runs back in for another-
NO! Cobb catches Archer and carries him out, ATHLETIC PLEX! Cover, TWO!! We’re past the 10 minute mark so time is still on Cobb’s side. Archer goes to a corner, Cobb fires up and rises up! Cobb runs in but into a BOOT! Archer slashes his throat and says that belt is his! Archer drags Cobb up with a knuckle lock, then CLUBS him. Archer goes up the corner, CLUBS Cobb more, then walks the tightrope! Archer flips the fans off, but Cobb yanks him down! TOUR OF THE ISLAND!!! Cover, Cobb wins!!
Winner: Jeff Cobb, by pinfall (still NJPW World Television Champion)
Archer tried to go Old School but he let filler get in the way! Cobb is still the star of NJPW World, will he have the biggest and best “season” of them all? Wait! Tomohiro Ishii walks out here! The Stone Pitbull stares the Imperial Unit right in the eye and the fans fire up! Cobb can tell what Ishii wants, and the fans sure like the idea of this match! Cobb sets the belt down, and he mockingly does a Rainmaker Pose. Ishii says he’ll be back. Will Ishii look to terminate Cobb’s reign and make his own?
NJPW receives a message.
“Bloodied, left for dead, surviving only by the last drop of blood running through my veins. New blood. Evolution. Valiantly, eternal, wreck. Those words define my destiny. The NEVER Openweight Championship IS my destiny! And I don’t care who is victorious tonight, Henare is back! And I’m coming for anybody who holds that championship! I’ll ensure this fight forever and ever and ever! I’m bringing my mana, I’m bringing vengeance, and I’m TAKING that NEVER Openweight Championship! Understand this challenge! Agree to it! RAH! And let’s make it so!” The Face of Fury is back, but at who will his Rampage be aimed?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi VS Yuya Uemura!
The Rampaging Dragon is no stranger to the NEVER Openweight Division, but he is no stranger to the KOPW Championship that the Heat Storm now holds. Will Yuya be able to take down one of the toughest men in NJPW to become a rare Double Champion? Or will Takagi earn himself a golden ticket back to the cerulean blue belt?
Each man holds up their titles, the fans cheer, but of course only one is on the line here. The introductions are made, the NEVER belt is raised, and we see who NEVER gives up!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two stare down. Takagi and Yuya slowly approach, circle, and tie up. They’re in a deadlock, but Yuya gets around to waistlock. Takagi switches, Yuya switches back, but Takagi drop toeholds. Takagi pushes on the foot, floats to a headlock, but Yuya pops out the back. Yuya headlocks now, but Takagi powers up, only for Yuya to hold on tight! Takagi stands up, pries at the hold, but Yuya grinds Takagi’s head. Takagi still tries, throws some body shots, and pries free. Takagi hammerlocks, headlocks, but Yuya powers out to headlock back! The fans cheer this exchange as Takagi endures.
Takagi throws body shots, then hits a BIG back suplex! But Yuya holds on! Yuya grinds the headlock, but Takagi fights back up. Takagi throws body shots, powers out, but Yuya runs him over! The fans cheer, things speed up, but Yuya drops onto Takagi’s dropdown for a headlock! Takagi fights back up, puts Yuya in a corner, but the ref counts. Yuya and Takagi let off slowly, but then Takagi fires off forearms! Takagi then whips corner to corner, but Yuya goes up! Takagi catches him going over but Yuya hits a takeover! Takagi headscissors, Yuya kips free, and Yuya runs up. Takagi sidesteps to ELBOW, JAB! YUKON LARIAT!
The fans fire up while Yuya flounders away to a corner. Yuya is on the apron but Takagi goes out after him. Takagi brings Yuya up to SMACK him off the apron! Then Takagi follows Yuya around the way to SMACK him off the apron again! Takagi asks if the fans want that again, and the fans cheer! So Takagi fireman’s carries, to SNAKE EYES off the apron! DDT to the floor! The fans fire up more while Takagi stands tall. The ring count starts while Takagi leaves Yuya behind. Yuya is still down at 5 of 20, then at 10. Yuya sits up at 12, slowly crawls over at 15, and slides in at 18! Takagi’s right on Yuya for a BIG suplex! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally as Yuya stays in this, and Takagi keeps cool as he looms over Yuya. Takagi sits Yuya up into a chinlock and he grinds Yuya down. Yuya endures, fights up, but Takagi hits a takeover. Takagi makes it a lateral press, ONE! Takagi still has a half nelson to keep Yuya down but Yuya fights around to a ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Takagi lets off cleanly, and he brings Yuya up. Takagi cravats for a neck wrench but Yuya endures again. Takagi cranks harder but Yuya throws body shots! Yuya headlocks but Takagi hits a snap back suplex! The fans fire up and Takagi gets a leg. Takagi turns Yuya but Yuya scrambles around to the ROPEBREAK!
The ref counts but Takagi has both legs! ROPE GULLOTINE! Yuya sputters and the ref checks on him, but he’s okay to continue. Takagi storms over to KICK Yuya in the back! Takagi then drags Yuya up, has him on ropes, and KNEES him low! And KNEES him again! The fans rally, Takagi assesses the crowd. Yuya? “BOO~!” Takagi? “YAY~!” Takagi is satisfied and he whips Yuya to then KNEE him again! But Yuya suplexes first! The fans fire up while both men are down! Takagi flounders to a corner and the fans rally. Yuya grits his teeth, rises up, and Yuya runs in at the corner! But Takagi BOOTS first! Takagi runs up, but into an arm-drag! And another arm-drag!
Yuya DROPKICKS Takagi down, then kips up! The fans fire up and Yuya storms around. Yuya aims from a corner as Takagi slowly rises. Yuya runs in to SPLASH! Then he reels Takagi in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Takagi is tougher than that but Yuya fires up again. Yuya goes to a corner and climbs up. Takagi springs up and CHOPS him first! Takagi ridge hand chops again and again! Takagi goes up but Yuya fires forearms! Takagi staggers back, then Yuya CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Yuya keeps calm, and he fires back up. The fans rally, Yuya brings Takagi up but Takagi fights the clinch! Takagi throws elbows but Yuya throws knees!
Yuya lifts but Takagi arm-drags free! Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON feints to DDT! The fans fire up while Yuya is down and Takagi stands. The fans chant “Let’s Go, Shingo!” as he looms over Yuya. Takagi kicks Yuya around, brings him up, and catches the lariat to spin Yuya around, reel him in, and FACEBUSTER! Takagi then drops a KNEE on Yuya’s neck! Yuya writhes, Takagi hauls him up and whips him into a corner hard! Takagi wants the ref to check Yuya, but Yuya says he’s fine. Takagi runs up, blocks a boot, and he clotheslines through! Then YUKON LARIATS! Then scoop and SLAM! Takagi goes up, FALLING ELBOW!
The fans fire up and Takagi isn’t done! He hauls Yuya up to POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO! STF!! Yuya endures and the fans fire up! Yuya endures, so Takagi shifts to the JUST FACELOCK! Takagi pulls way back but Yuya still endures! Yuya reaches out, fights around, claws his way over, but Takagi really pulls on the facelock! Yuya still swims his way to a ROPEBREAK! Takagi lets go and the fans rally up again. Takagi brings Yuya up, puts him up top, then climbs up after him. Yuya fires a forearm, then another, then another! Takagi HEADBUTTS back! The fans fire up as Takagi goes to the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX!
The fans fire up, Takagi crawls to the cover, TWO!! Yuya survives but Takagi looks to the cameras! The fans fire up as he says, “My time is coming! TOKI GA KITA!” The fans join in on “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi goes to Yuya at the ropes. Takagi brings Yuya up, pump handles, MADE IN- VICTORY ROLL!! ONE!! Takagi escapes as Yuya couldn’t hold on! Takagi hurries to waistlock but Yuya fights the lift! Takagi BLINDSIDE LARIATS! Yuya staggers forward, but PELES in return! The fans fire up while both men are down! Takagi and Yuya crawl towards each other, and they give junkyard dog headbutts! Takagi stands first, but Yuya CHOPS!
Takagi nods and CHOPS back! The fans “WOO~!” as we pass 15 minutes. Takagi eggs Yuya on, Yuya CHOPS! Takagi CHOPS, Yuya CHOPS, repeat! Takagi JABS, JABS, JABS, and then CHOPS! Yuya springs up to CHOP Takagi down! The fans fire up with Yuya as Takagi goes to a corner. Yuya runs in to DOUBLE CHOP! Then he reels Takagi in for an URENAGE! Cover, TWO! Takagi stays in this but Yuya stays focused! Yuya roars, rises up, and he brings Takagi up with a cording hold! Then another cording hold! But Takagi fights the Deadbolt! Takagi powers Yuya to ropes and OVERHEAD SUPLEXES! Yuya roars, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but leaps into Takagi’s arms!
Takagi pops Yuya up for a DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! The fans are thunderous while both men are down again! Takagi goes to a corner, runs up, and PUMPING BOMBERS! But he isn’t done, he drags Yuya up to pump handle! Yuya fights the lift, but Takagi still hits an USHIGOROSHI! Then pump handle for MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!! Yuya survives but Takagi wags his finger. The fans rally and duel as Takagi rises. Takagi brings Yuya up, pump handles, but Yuya sunset flips! Takagi turns that to a NECK TWIST! The fans rally as Takagi gets Yuya back up, fires boxing elbows, then ROCKS Yuya!
Yuya staggers to ropes, comes back, but into a JAB! HEADBUTT! SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, ONE?!?!? The fans are thunderous, Yuya staggers around, but into a PUMPING BOMBER!! Pump handle, torture rack, but Yuya slips free! To DEADBOLT!! Bridging cover, TWO!!! Takagi escapes and the fans are thunderous again! Yuya fires up, “This is Awesome!” as Yuya drags Takagi around to the drop zone. Yuya goes up, and FROG SPLASHES! Cover, TWO!! Takagi survives and Yuya can’t believe it! Yuya won’t let that stop him, though, and he gets Takagi up. Yuya waistlocks, then full nelsons, but Takagi fights it!
Takagi elbows Yuya, but Yuya ducks to ROCK Takagi! Takagi wobbles, but he grins as he grabs Yuya by the hair! HEADBUTT!! Yuya HEADBUTTS back?!? Takagi drops but Yuya stays on his feet! Yuya stands Takagi up to run, but into a LARIAT! Takagi runs, but Yuya gets around! O’Conner BRIDGE!! TWO!!!! Takagi escapes Yuya’s best Sanada impression and the fans are electric! Takagi then runs up, but Yuya dodges! PUMPING BOMBER into cradle, TAKAGI WINS!
Winner: Shingo Takagi, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Champion)
The Heat Storm was strong, but he could not slay the Dragon! Takagi holds onto this title, but he also holds up Yuya’s KOPW belt! Yuya snatches his belt back, but will Takagi look to take it from him for real? However, Takagi must prepare because Henare is coming after him. Will Takagi deny Henare his destiny? Or will the Face of Fury soon become the Face of the NEVER Division?
NJPW Strong Openweight Championship, No Ropes, Last Man Standing: Eddie Kingston VS Gabe Kidd!
The Mad King and the Mad Man have gone back and forth, physically and verbally, but the Windy City Riot really ramped up the animosity. Now there’s quite literally nothing holding them back, not even ropes! Will Eddie hold on to the last piece of what was the Continental Triple Crown? Or will Gabe keep the War Dogs oath of bringing belts and bodies to the Club?
Kidd has Kensei Abbot live and in person to rap the War Dogs theme for his entrance! The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is the last mad man standing!
Young Lions stand in the way until both men are ready. Kidd takes his time putting his robe aside, and he’s ready now. The bell rings, the Young Lions clear out, and Kidd runs up to JUPM KNEE! He and Eddie start throwing hands fast and furious! Kidd fires palm strikes over an dover, but Eddie gives them all back! Kidd ROCKS Eddie, Eddie ROCKS Kidd, repeat! The fans fire up, Kidd SLAPS Eddie, so Eddie SLAPS Kidd! Kidd CHOPS Eddie but Eddie just gets mad! Eddie throws his shirt off and brings the straps down! The fans are thunderous as Kidd CHOPS! Eddie CHOPS back! Kidd CHOPS, Eddie CHOPS, repeat!
The fans “WOO~” as the CHOPS continue back and forth! Kidd then SPITS on Eddie, but Eddie CHOPS him down! Eddie rains down furious fists and forearms! And he just keeps going until he’s good with it! The standing count starts but Kidd rolls off the ring to stand up. Kidd then starts looking under the ring, and he brings out chairs! The fans fire up as Kidd stands. Eddie runs up but Kidd CHUCKS the chair at him! Eddie falls and tumbles to the floor and now the standing count is on him. Kidd steadies himself, Eddie is still down at 7 but he sits up, so Kidd runs up to CLUB Eddie down! Kidd gets the chair, and CHUCKS it at Eddie again!
Eddie flops over and fans boo, but Kidd tells them all off! Kidd flips off the fans so the fans give it back. Kidd runs up to BOOT Eddie, then stomps on him! Kidd digs his foot into Eddie’s face, and we see Eddie is bleeding! The fans rally as Eddie rises and goes to the ring. Eddie staggers around, but Kidd brings his chair, and CHUCKS it at Eddie again! Eddie falls, but Kidd isn’t done with him! Kidd goes under the ring to bring out a chain! Kidd brings the chain to the ring while the fans rally for Eddie. Kidd wraps that chain around his arm, then aims at Eddie. FULL METAL LARIAT! Eddie is down, the count starts, and Kidd soaks up all the heat.
The count is 5 of 10, Kidd drops the chain. We hit 6, then 7, but Eddie staggers to his feet! Eddie flips Kidd off, so Kidd UPPERCUTS him! Eddie drops to a knee, so Kidd BASEMENT DDTS! Kidd lets the count start and he talks a lot of trash. Eddie sits up at 4, reaches out at Kidd, but Kidd ROCKS him! Eddie tells Kidd off, Kidd fires more forearms, then BITES Eddie’s head! The fans boo but Kidd brings Eddie to a corner. Kidd puts one of the crossbars in Eddie’s mouth! Then he digs it into Eddie’s eye!! The fans boo but Kidd lets off and soaks up the heat from the Toyota Arena while Eddie has the ref check him.
Thankfully, Eddie’s eye is still there, but Kidd half nelsons! Eddie fights the suplex, then switches to POST Kidd! That’s really dangerous from this side given the bare buckles! Kidd falls to the floor, the ref checks him, and the standing count starts. Eddie rests for only a moment, and the count passes 5. The count reaches 8 but Eddie sees Kidd crawling. Eddie gets that chain and wraps it around his hand to FUL LMETAL PUNCH Kidd again and again! Kidd is busted open, but Eddie still wraps the chain around him to CHOKE him! Eddie walks the War Dog to the corner, wraps the chain around the post, and tries to HANG Kidd!!
The fans freak out and this is only the first five minutes! Eddie lets go and Kidd sputters before falling over. The count starts again, Kidd gets the chain off him, but Eddie goes looking for stuff. Kidd crawls around at 7, but Eddie has a stop sign! SMACK and Kidd goes down! But this doesn’t stop Eddie, he puts the sign on Kidd to STOMP it onto him! Eddie leaves Kidd behind to go looking for more goodies. The count is past 5 but Eddie brings out a trash can and lid first! Eddie puts the can in the ring, to then SMACK Kidd with the lid! Kidd staggers around, so Eddie SMACKS him again! Kidd scrambles away to the ring and fans want tables.
Eddie goes for the trash can, but Kidd flips him off. So trash can SMASH! Kidd staggers around, into another trash can SMASH! And another! And another! Kidd falls, and Eddie’s headbutting the can! He truly is a mad king! Kidd is down, the count starts, and we pass 5 of 10! Kidd rises at 8, so Eddie storms over! He won’t even let the count continue as he stands Kidd up! Eddie SMACKS Kidd with the chair! Kidd falls again, Eddie roars, and the count begins again. Kidd flounders around at 4, but Eddie keeps the can away from him. SMASH! Eddie mockingly counts but the count has to reset because of that.
Eddie says fine, he’ll really end it now! Eddie drags Kidd up, throws fists right on the wound, then DIGS his fingers in! Eddie stands Kidd up and half nelsons, to HALF- NO, Kidd fights free! Kidd reels Eddie in, SAIDO on the can!! It wasn’t the whole can, but that still hurt! But now it’s a double standing count as Kidd is also down! Kidd rises up but he has the ref stop, because he isn’t satisfied with just this! Kidd goes looking under the ring again, but he doesn’t find what he wants. Kidd ROCKS Eddie with a haymaker, the standing count starts, and Kidd keeps searching. We pass 5 of 10, but Kidd hurries back to Eddie.
Eddie stands, but then flops over onto the trash can! Kidd stands on him triumphantly, but this isn’t done yet. The fans boo, but Kidd stomps Eddie before continuing the search. Kidd asks where it went, doesn’t find it, but he throws chairs in instead. But then he finds a LADDER! That’s not quite it, but Kidd JAMS Eddie with a chair to keep him down! The count starts again, Kidd keeps searching, but he’s gone around the ring quite a few times already. Eddie stands at 7, and Kidd finally finds it! A chair wrapped in barbed wire!! Kidd puts that in the ring, tells Eddie off, and reels him in! BARBED WIRE PILEDRIVER!!!
The fans lose their minds as that is double-edged for someone who wears trunks like Kidd! The standing count starts, both men are down past 5, but Kidd stands at 7! Eddie sits up at 8 but Kidd is on him! Kidd HEADBUTTS, then sits the regular chairs up. Kidd puts the barbed wire chair across them like a bridge, and he tells Eddie to get up. Eddie wobbles as he rises, and the fans chant for “E C DUB!” Kidd fires off palm strike after palm strike, almost toying with Eddie really as he just throws more shots! Kidd DECKS Eddie, then soaks up heat. But he then drags Eddie back up, suplexes, but Eddie blocks!
Eddie wrenches, and MACHINE GUN CHOPS! Kidd sputters, staggers, and Eddie SMASHES him off the barbed wire chair!! Eddie storms around, then DOUBLE STOMPS Kidd onto the barbed wire!! Both men are down and the count begins! We pass 5 of 10, Eddie rises at 7, and he waves off the count. Eddie grabs the ladder and brings it over, to SMACK Kidd on the back! Kidd writhes but Eddie won’t stop there. Eddie sets the ladder aside, brings Kidd up, and clinches! EXPLODER onto the ladder!!! Kidd writhes across the rungs and now Eddie wants the count. Kidd flails and flounders, but he’s still down at 8! Kidd stands at 9, only to flop over!
The count begins but Eddie says hold on. Eddie goes looking under the ring now, and he even wants the ref to help? Because Eddie is bringing out a TABLE! The fans are finally satisfied as the ref helps Eddie set this table up as a bridge from ring to railing! That proves harder than you’d think, so Eddie YANKS railing closer to the ring! The table bridge is completed, though wouldn’t it have been easier just to stand it up? Eddie still goes back for Kidd, brings him up, and URA- NO, Kidd ducks to fire UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT! But Eddie URAKENS! Kidd flounders and the count starts. Eddie stalks Kidd, kicks the trash can aside, then URAKENS again!
The count begins again, Kidd is still down at 5 of 10, but then Eddie changes his mind at 9! Eddie isn’t satisfied, either, and he goes looking for more plunder! Eddie brings out handcuffs!? The fans are going nuts just seeing that, and Eddie shouts at Kidd, “Show me how much you love NJPW!” Eddie cuffs himself, Kidd fights but Eddie cuffs him! They’re attached at the wrist, and Eddie tells Kidd to get up! Kidd rises, and they start throwing haymakers! The fans are thunderous as these two go wild! Eddie HEADBUTTS Kidd, brings him around, and even though cuffed together, he reels Kidd in! But Kidd fights the lift!
Eddie CHOPS Kidd, CHOPS again, and keeps him close with the cuffs. Kidd ROCKS Eddie, CHOKES him with the chain, and then turns Eddie around for a BRAINBUSTER through the table bridge!!! The fans lose their minds and both men are down on the floor! The standing count is rising fast, both men are still down at 5! At 7! At 9! KIDD STANDS, KIDD WINS!!!
Winner: Gabe Kidd (NEW NJPW Strong Openweight Champion)
Eddie raised the stakes to an insane limit, and loses his own gamble! Kidd is bringing this title home to the War Dogs, and both David Finlay and Kensei help him to his feet! Is the Mad Man going to keep his promise by taking everything from NJPW to restore NJPW to what it was?
The War Dogs leave Eddie behind for medics to check, and he makes it back to the ring. The fans cheer Eddie on as he rests on the NJPW Strong logo, but then JACK PERRY makes his way out here? The House of Torture won earlier tonight, but then why is The Scapegoat coming back to the ring? Unless… THE YOUNG BUCKS are here!! Matthew & Nicholas Jackson attack Eddie and stomp him out! The Elite is here because Eddie is part of Team AEW for Double or Nothing’s Anarchy in the Arena! The fans are torn, and many chant “C M PUNK!” at The Elite. But Matt gets the mic to say, “NJPW, it’s been a minute, right?”
Matt says “This guy is an idiot! Who picks a fight on Wednesday night, and then on Saturday, shows up at the hometown of The Young Bucks? Beautiful Ontario, California!” Nick stomps Eddie in the nuts! Matt says now that he’s standing here in this great city, it’s all hitting him. He got the chills! So many great memories here! They had a backyard wrestling company out here, there are people he went to high school with. But now that he’s taking it all in again, he’s starting to realize, this was a great place to live, when they were poor. Just like all the fans! No judgment! Matt stomps Eddie but then apologizes.
Matt says the best thing he and Nick ever did was become multimillionaire executives, take their lovely families, pack their bags, and buy mansions in the “high desert!” Nick says he loves this relationship of AEW and NJPW! It gives him a chance to beat Eddie’s ass at two different shows! How about June 30th, when NJPW and AEW combine and do the greatest show, Forbidden Door! But even sooner than that, in two weeks AEW will be in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and The Elite will kick Eddie’s ass on PPV! Nick stomps Eddie, then tells Jack that this dumbass audience wants to see them hit their finisher on “this p*ick!”
Jack holds onto the mic for Nick, Matt sits Eddie up, and Jack says let’s all say it together. One, two, three! E V P TRIGGER!! Eddie falls back over and Matt thanks everyone for tonight! They’re not coming back to Ontario, CA, it is beneath them now, goodnight! The Elite stands tall over Eddie, but will it be a much different story when Eddie has Bryan Danielson & FTR backing him up at Double or Nothing?
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley VS Shota Umino!
The Maniac took this title off Tetsuya Naito at Windy City Riot and completed a historic trifecta of being the first WWE, AEW & IWGP World Champion ever. Then he made it through “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs on Dynamite and through Ren Narita just last week at Wrestling Dontaku. However, he now faces his NJPW protege in what is The Roughneck’s biggest match yet! Will #SHOOTER be the student that surpasses the master? Or will Moxley show Shota that he’s 100 years too early to beat him?
Moxley poses on the apron, and Shota DROPKICKS him down! The ref reprimands and the fans go nuts, but then the bell rings to put this on record as Shota FLIES! Direct hit and the fans fire up with Shota! Shota whips Moxley into railing, then Shota mocks the Moxley shoulder slink. Shota then goes around the way to cut Moxley off at the pass, and Shota kicks Moxley low. Shota puts Moxley in the ring, CLUBS him on the neck, then CLUBS him again. Moxley snarls and gets in Shota’s face, so Shota bumps him off buckles! Shota stomps a mudhole in, digs his boot in, but lets off as the ref counts, to shove the ref! Shota then stomps Moxley more!
Shota digs his boot in again, the ref reprimands, but Shota lets off. Shota UPPERCUTS, whips corner to corner, then runs in, but Moxley LARIATS first! Moxley then gets Shota up to LARIAT again! And LARIAT again! The fans fire up and Moxley storms around while Shota goes to the apron. Moxley goes out after Shota to bring him to the ramp. Moxley CLAWS Shota’s back, then snap suplexes him on the ramp! The fans fire up while Moxley leaves Shota behind to refresh the count. Moxley pats Shota on the cheek, he’s oddly proud of Shota pulling that move. Moxley puts Shota in the ring, then waits on him to rise.
The fans rally, Moxley runs up, but Shota ducks to ROCK him! Moxley ROCKS Shota but Shota shouts at Moxley! Shota runs, ROCKS Moxley, but Moxley rebounds to BOOT! Moxley says F U, but Shota says Moxley is the no brain mother effer! The fans fire up and Shota runs to ROCK Moxley! Moxley hits back, they fire forearms back and forth, and they each egg the other on! The forearms keep going, the fans fire up with each shot, and then Moxley KICKS a leg! And JABS! And KNEES! Moxley whips, Shota ducks ‘n’ dodges and CLOBBERS Moxley! The fans fire up and Shota gets Moxley up, for a NECKBREAKER!
Shota fires up and the fans are with him as Moxley goes to ropes. Shota storms up on Moxley and whips corner to corner. Shota runs in, to UPPERCUT! Then Shota fisherman’s for the FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Shota’s not quite perfect but he still fires up. Shota storms after Moxley to snapmare, then he clamps on for the HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Moxley taught Shota this move and now he feels this move! Shota fires up again and he brings Moxley up. Shota clinches, but Moxley fights with elbows! Moxley shoves Shota to a corner, runs up and clotheslines! Then CHOPS! Then forearms!
Shota grits his teeth and gets in Moxley’s face, even as Moxley fires more CHOPS and forearms! Shota then puts Moxley in the corner to CHOP and forearm on repeat, just as Moxley taught him! But Moxley CLAWS eyes, digs his elbow into Shota’s face, and he sits Shota down so he can stand on him! The fans fire up, the ref counts, and Moxley hops off at 4. Moxley “apologizes” with a bow, then stands Shota up. Moxley puts Shota up top to CHOP! Moxley climbs up after Shota and rains down fists! Fans count to 3 then Moxley BITES Shota’s face! The fans are torn but then Moxley punches more! But Shota slips under to tuck Moxley!
Shota learned this one from Ospreay! CHEEKY NANDOS! Moxley is still stuck, so Shota CHEEKY NANDOS again! Moxley eggs Shota on, Shota feints then CHEEKY NANDOS anyway! Shota drags Moxley down, pulls him into the corner, then SLAMS a leg into the post! The ref reprimands but the fans fire up, and Shota tells Moxley he’s an SOB! Shota SLAMS the leg back into the post! The fans cheer while Moxley tries to crawl away, but Shota gets him again! Moxley is still an SOB and Shota SLAMS the leg into the post again! Moxley hobbles away but Shota CLUBS the bad leg. Shota then whips Moxley hard into railing! Shota runs up to dropkick the bad leg!
The fans fire up again and Shota stalks Moxley. Shota puts Moxley into the ring, aims and runs up, to dropkick the leg again! Shota reloads and runs in from another corner, but he blocks the boot! Shota dropkicks the bad leg again! Then he brings Moxley out for a SHINBREAKER, into a takedown and roll, KNEEBAR!! Moxley endures as Shota pulls back on the leg! Moxley asks where the hell Shota learned this one, and he scrambles around to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Shota lets go at 4. Moxley hobbles, Shota stalks him, and Shota kicks the bad leg! And kicks it again! And then kicks it again!
Shota puts the bad leg int he ropes, pulls on it, but Moxley grabs at Shota. The ref counts, Shota lets off to run, but Moxley TOSSES him to the apron! Moxley runs to BLAST Shota off the apron! Shota rises, Moxley gets the bad leg working, and he builds speed! Moxley DIVES and sends Shota into railing! The fans fire up and Moxley stands on railing to show off a bit. Moxley then goes back to Shota, drags him up, and puts him in the ring. Moxley rolls in, paces around Shota, then drags him up, for an X PLEX! Cover, TWO! Shota’s tougher than that but Moxley drags him up to TOSS him back out.
Shota hits railing and falls to a knee. Moxley goes out to stand Shota up and grind an arm. Moxley CLUBS that arm, then hammerlocks it, to POST it! Shota clutches the elbow and hobbles away, but Moxley goes after him. Wrench and ELBOW BREAKER, then a KNEE down low! Moxley hammerlocks the arm again, to POST it again! Moxley gets in the ring and paces around as the fans cheer. The ring count starts, Moxley lets it climb, and Shota rises at 8 of 20. Shota hobbles over at 10, slides in at 11, but Moxley is right on him. The fans cheer as Moxley shots Shota how those HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS are down! Then he KICKS! ELBOW! KICK! Repeat! Moxley covers, TWO!
Moxley keeps Shota down by digging a knee into the arm, and he bends it back! The fans rally while Shota endures, but Moxley shifts position to push on the arm. Moxley SNAPS the fingers, and Shota scrambles away! Moxley gets in Shota’s face, CHOPS him, then eggs Shota on. Shota stands, Moxley pushes him around, but Shota fires a forearm! Moxley fires it back! Shota shakes his head, shouts and forearms again! Moxley ROCKS Shota right back! Shota staggers, fires another forearm, but Moxley ROCKS Shota again! Shota fires himself up and the fans are with him! Shota fires forearm after forearm, but Moxley KICKS the leg!
Moxley wrenches the arm to a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK, then he drags Shota down! Shota endures, even as Moxley tortures the elbow! The fans rally, Moxley shifts to an ARMBAR! Shota endures, kicks and flails, reaches out with his legs, and finds the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Moxley lets off, and he SLAMS the arm on the mat! The fans continue to rally as Moxley brings Shota up. Moxley puts Shota up top, CHOPS him, then climbs up to join him. DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Shota endures, the ref reprimands, but Moxley still twists the arm! The ref counts, Moxley lets go at 4, then stands Shota up! SUPERPLEX!
Moxley hurries to get Shota back up and in, for a stalling PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives and the fans fire up! Moxley SLAMS Shota’s bad arm again, then paces. The fans fire up for Shota but Moxley goes out to look under the ring. After all the violence from Eddie and Kidd, what’s even left under there? Moxley finds a TABLE! The ref reprimands, this isn’t a No Disqualification match! Moxley flips the ref off and sets the table up anyway. The fans duel while Moxley makes sure the table is just how he wants it. Moxley blesses it with a quick prayer, then goes back to Shota. Shota runs up to forearm!
Shota throws more shots but Moxley ROCKS him back! Shota CHOPS, Moxley CHOPS, repeat! Then Moxley HEADBUTTS! And HEADBUTTS! And HEADBUTTS again! Moxley runs, but into a DROPKICK! Shota fires up, the fans rally behind him, and he crawls to ropes on one end while Moxley goes to the other. Shota stands, Moxley runs in, but Shota BOOTS! Shota drop toeholds Moxley onto the ropes, then slingshots to APRON DDT! Moxley flounders and the fans fire up with Shota! Moxley is on the apron, and very close to the table he set up. The fans rally with “OI! OI! OI!” for Shota as he makes a lap around the ring.
Shota brings Moxley to the table, throws hands, then CLUBS Moxley onto the furniture! Shota goes up the corner and the fans fire up! The ref says don’t do it, but Shota still MACHO ELBOWS through the table!!! The fans lose their minds as Shota rises from the wreckage! Shota shouts, but then he sits back down. A ring count starts, but Shota stands at 7 of 20. Shota leaves Moxley behind, and Moxley flounders at 11. Moxley sits up at 12, drags himself up at 13, but Shota’s back up top!? Moxley turns around at 15 of 20, staggers at 17, and slides in at 19! Only for Shota to MISSILE DROPKICK him down! And then, EXPLODER! Cover, TWO!!
Moxley survives but Shota won’t let that stop him! Shota hurries to spin Moxley, POP-UP KNEE, and IGNITION! Cover, TWO!! Moxley survives again but Shota just revs up the engines! Kick and DEATH- NO, Moxley wrenches out to CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! But Moxley clamps on the BULLY CHOKE!! The fans rally, Shota rolls Moxley into an STF!! “This is Awesome!” as Moxley now endures! Moxley fights free of the crossface, and gets the BULLY CHOKE back! Shota fights around, stands up, then switches to CROSS RHODES!! Cover, TWO!! Moxley survives but it’s right back to the STF!! The fans fire up again as Moxley endures!
Moxley fights around, drags Shota along with him as he claws his way forward, but Shota drags him back! Shota wants the arms but Moxley resists! Shota traps the arms after all, flips Moxley off, this is just like with Ospreay! Shota rains down forearm after forearm on Moxley’s head and neck! The fans are thunderous as Shota lets off and roars! Moxley flounders around, gets to his feet, and swings wild. Shota storms up on Moxley in a corner, puts him up top, then climbs up. Shota has the arms but Moxley fights that! Moxley wrenches Shota’s hand, for a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Shota CLUBS Moxley’s leg, but Moxley underhooks him!
The fans freak out, but Shota fights to underhooks, and CLAWS Moxley’s back! Shota gives Moxley extra CLAWS, then he goes to the very top! SUPER DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Moxley survives but Shota won’t be deterred! Shota aims from a corner, for the BLAZE- PARADIGM SHIFT!! But BLAZE BLADE hits on the rebound!!! The fans are thunderous while both men are down! “This is Awesome!” as mentor and mentee slowly stir. Shota crawls after Moxley, and he fires a forearm! Moxley gives it back! Shota throws another forearm, so Moxley takes off the wrist tape. Moxley fires a forearm, Shota gives it back!
The forearms keep going, and then the two stand up. Shota fires a forearm, but Moxley says Shota’s just pissing him off! Moxley ROCKS Shota, and Shota says Moxley’s the one pissing him off! The forearms keep going, and they’re picking up speed! The fans fire up, Shota ROCKS Moxley but Moxley KICKS, KNEES and ROCKS Shota! Shota drops to a knee, Moxley aims to KICK! And KICK! And KICK! Shota just grits his teeth! Moxley pie faces Shota, scuffs him, and pie faces again. Shota stands up and the fans are all fired up! Shota winds up, to ROCK Moxley! Moxley wobbles, drops to a knee, and now Shota gives the scuffs and slaps!
Shota kicks and kicks and pie faces Moxley, eggs him on, and Moxley stands. Moxley paces, then he comes back to fire forearms with Shota! The fans rally as they go back and forth again, picking up speed, and then Shota kicks the leg! Moxley kicks Shota’s arm! Shota ROCKS Moxley with elbow after elbow, then a ROLLING ELBOW! Moxley ROCKS Shota, runs, but into a POP-UP UPPERCUT! But Moxley still GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Shota rises to HALF ‘N’ HALF! But Moxley’s up to KING KONG LARIAT! But Shota’s up to SHOTGUN!! Shota and Moxley both stand, the fans are thunderous, and they both run in! Moxley’s LARIAT hits first! Cover, ONE?!?!?
We’ve hit 30 minutes and Moxley is scowling at Shota. The fans hope they “FIGHT FOREVER!” but this has to end somehow! Moxley rises, Shota flips him off, so Moxley STOMPS that finger! Moxley gets Shota up, DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Shota shocks Moxley and the fans are thunderous again! Moxley is beside himself as he hobbles around and fires back up. The fans are loving this as Moxley drags Shota up and in again. DEATH- NO, Shota slips free to SATELLITE DDT! The fans rally as hard as they can as Moxley goes to a corner. Shota goes to the other, runs in, and BLINDSIDE KNEES! Then TORNADO DDTS!
Shota isn’t done there, he drags Moxley right up to fisherman, EVOLVED DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Moxley survives and Shota pounds the mat! Shota goes back to a corner, Moxley eggs him on, so he gets BLAZE BLADE!! Shota hauls Moxley up, underhooks, SWINGING DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!? Moxley survives again and Shota is going nuts! Shota reloads one more time, Moxley rises up, and Shota runs in to BLAZE BLADE!!! Shota roars and the fans are thunderous again! But Moxley still WRINGS Shota’s arm! And CURB STOMPS! And then DEATH RIDER!!!! Cover, Moxley wins!!
Winner: Jon Moxley, by pinfall (still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)
Moxley defied human limitations to survive this shootout! It may not be 100 years too early, but it’s still a few years too early for Shota to surpass The Maniac. But then, how long will Shota have to wait until he is truly the New Ace of NJPW?
As for Moxley, he still shows his student respect by offering a hand. Shota takes it, and Moxley helps him sit up. The fans cheer, and Moxley even kneels down to tell Shota that while he didn’t win this time, he’s on the right track. Shota bows deeply to show respect for his mentor, and the fans also cheer that. Moxley sets the belt down, and he bows in respect to Shota. The fans cheer that, too, but then THE HOUSE OF TORTURE ATTACKS! Evil & Ren Narita beat down Moxley & Shota! The fans boo as Narita CHOKES Shota with the push-up bar! Evil gets the mic, and in English, he says, “Hey, Jon Moxley. F YOU!”
The fans boo more, especially as Evil now lifts up the IWGP World title. “Next challenger is me!” The fans also boo that but Evil says no no no, he is the REAL IWGP World Heavyweight Champion! “So next challenger is you, b*tch!!” And then, just as he did with the NEVER Openweight title, Evil brings out a can of black spray paint, and he vandalizes the world title!! Then he says, “Hey, y’know what? I am the REAL NJPW Pro-Wrestling President! Everything is Evil! <That’s what it is! Remember that!>” The King of Darkness drops the mic as the lights dim. Will Darkness Fall on NJPW once more? Or can Moxley tear down this house of lies?
After Evil & Ren leave, Moxley gets back up so that he can finally speak. “Evil…! I know what you just did, spray painting this belt, was meant to be a very big insult to me, to the fans and to NJPW. And it is. You will pay dearly for it. But I gotta tell you man, this black don’t look too bad. After I beat the s*it outta you, I might keep it like this. So good looking out. Ontario, California, thank you for tonight, this incredible experience you got to be a part of, and NJPW live pro-wrestling show, an authentic NJPW show right here in California, on this side of the Pacific. That’s really something special.
“Every time we come here, we will bust our asses, because you came here tonight and was such a great crowd, gave us something to dig, and we need that energy to beat the s*it out of each other.” The fans cheer that! Moxley tells Evil, “One day, somebody’s gonna hit me and I’m gonna go down, and I’m not gonna get back up. But trust me, today in Ontario, California, is not that day. And Evil, you are not that guy! NJPW, Ontario, California, thank you, we’ll see you next time.” The Maniac rides on, even into the shadows. Will he stare into the abyss and make the abyss flinch first?
My Thoughts:
An awesome night for NJPW in the USA, even though I did still skip stuff. There’s just too much going on with how Best of the Super Juniors was this morning and AEW’s got their stuff during primetime. Great match from Lio and Ali in the kickoff show, and what a wild development for Lio’s character. Great NJPW Strong tag title match, and I was fairly surprised ELP & Leo won. I guess NJPW is okay playing hot potato with these titles, but I still hope we get some huge Winners Take All Fatal 4 as teased during Wrestling Dontaku just last week. And very good NJPW Strong Women’s title match, but I figured Vaquer would retain. Alex Windsor just didn’t have what felt like new champion vibes.
Cobb VS Archer was a lot of fun, though I was worried it was gonna end quick only because Cobb’s Spanish Fly wasn’t as clean as it could’ve been. Great win for Cobb over Archer, which I figured would happen, but I like Ishii stepping up. That is going to be a stiff, hard hitting showdown. Great promo from Henare to preemptively call out the NEVER Openweight Champion, and then an awesome match from Takagi VS Yuya. I figured Takagi would win, but it is intriguing that he teased going back for the KOPW title. Is Yuya sadly just a transitional champion for Takagi to be the NEVER KOPW combo champ?
That No Ropes Last Man Standing was some wild stuff, and I was really surprised Kidd took the title. At the same time, Kidd had to make good on his promise/threat to NJPW as a company, and winning this title was definitely more likely than his taking the NEVER title last week. And then great crossover as The Elite weren’t present on Collision in Vancouver because they were in California! It’s a smart Heel strategy to go after one target while they’re alone and the others are in another city. Eddie better bring this up on Dynamite for good continuity.
And then an awesome main event from Moxley and Shota. Moxley was maybe booked a little too strong surviving so many things, but it’s not like this never happens in pro-wrestling. Shota definitely had the best match of his career, even in losing, but I guess even a Reiwa Three Musketeer has to wait until they can be top champion. Evil going after Moxley was a little surprising but there’s connections here given the beef between Moxley & Shota with The House of Torture. Evil cut a pretty good promo for using English and not Japanese, and while he spray painted the belt, I’m surprised he didn’t steal it like usual.
Moxley’s promo in response was good, and it’s funny how he downplayed the belt being defaced. Evil probably won’t beat Moxley, but it’d make sense if he did because he’s a former IWGP World Champion, and he’d also have the whole House of Torture go after Moxley to do it. Perhaps it happens at Forbidden Door, which The Elite also made sure to name drop tonight to remind us it’s coming.
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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