NJPW PPV Results
Mitchell’s NJPW Destruction in Kobe Results & Report! (9/28/25)
Who survives Destruction?
Who will be left standing in Kobe?
Ren Narita beat Zack Sabre Jr. in the G1 Climax, and now he’s getting the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match he’s been owed! But will he win it? Or will he #JustTapOut?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- 10 Man Tag: Hontai VS House of Torture; Hontai wins.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Great-O-Khan; Tanahashi wins.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Boltin Oleg VS Don Fale; Oleg wins and retains the title.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Tomohiro Ishii & Taichi VS OSKAR & Yuto-Ice; Oskar & Yuto win and become the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
- GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi VS Taiji Ishimori; Hiromu wins and retains the title.
- Yota Tsuji VS David Finlay; Yota wins.
- IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Gabe Kidd VS Shingo Takagi; Gabe wins and retains the title.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Ren Narita; ZSJ wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Great-O-Khan!
The Ace Final Road arrives in Kobe, and he will have one last connection with The Dominator! Will President Tanahashi be the one to conquer Khan? Or will he not survive his final Destruction?
As usual, the fans cheer as Tanahashi shows off the abs. The bell rings and the fans cheer on Tanahashi. There are “O-KHAN!” fans, as well, but they’re vastly outnumbered. The two tie up, are in a deadlock, but Khan digs in his heels to push Tanahashi back. They end up on the ropes, Tanahashi turns things around, but Tanahashi honors the clean break. The fans applaud and the two reset. Khan and Tanahashi circle, feel things out, and Khan goes for a leg. Khan trips Tanahashi, waistlocks but Tanahashi switches, only for Khan to switch back. Khan has the rear facelock but Tanahashi rolls. Khan keeps close but Tanahashi has the ROPEBREAK!
The fans applaud this technical exchange, but Khan still sticks close as Tanahashi goes to a corner. The ref calls for a proper break, Khan pats Tanahashi on the shoulder, but then he kicks low! No clean break as Khan then whips Tanahashi corner to corner. Khan runs up, but Tanahashi ELBOWS him away! Tanahashi goes up to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as Tanahashi air guitars a quick chord, then waistlocks. But Khan fights the lift to drop toehold and KNEEBAR! Khan grapevines the legs, then sits up to have a DEATHLOCK, but Tanahashi has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Khan lets go.
Khan drags Tanahashi back to center, stomps the leg again and again, then mule kicks it! Tanahashi clutches the knee but Khan drops down to have an inverted toehold. Khan then turns Tanahashi over to SMASH the knee! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi is still in this and the fans applaud. Khan stands on the bad leg, and he hears the fans duel. Khan then stomps the leg as he steps over. Tanahashi grits his teeth, but Khan kicks him around. Khan eggs Tanahashi on, so Tanahashi stands to fire a forearm! And another! And another! Khan Mongolian Chops! Khan laughs, but Tanahashi blocks the chops to give Mongolian Chops!
The fans cheer and Tanahashi whips, but Khan reverses, only for Tanahashi to FLYING FOREARM! Khan is down and the fans fire up! Tanahashi rises, he storms up to Khan, and he stands Khan up for fast hands! Tanahashi then scoops to SLAM! Tanahashi goes up the corner, and SUNSET SENTONS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Khan stays in this, and they chant, “Go Ace!” Tanahashi rises, he waits on Khan, and the fans rally again. Tanahashi runs, but Khan dodges the slingblade! But Tanahashi blocks the boot to DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi kicks, but Khan blocks, JUDO DRAGON SCREW! Khan takes a swing but Tanahashi slips around!
Tanahashi reels Khan in, but Khan fights the Twist ‘N’ Shout! Khan then scoops, but Tanahashi slips free! But Khan ROCKS Tanahashi! The fans fire up and Tanahashi fires back! Khan fires another forearm, Tanahashi fires back, and repeat! The fans rally as the shots keep going faster and faster! Khan ROCKS Tanahashi, Tanahashi leans on Khan, but then Tanahashi stands to fire fast hands! Khan drops to his knees, the fans fire up with Tanahashi, and Tanahashi watches Khan sputter. Tanahashi dares Khan to get up, and Khan slowly rises. Tanahashi brings Khan up, but he gets the IRON RIGHT! Tanahashi DRAGON PALMS in return!
Both men wobble, then roar! Khan swings, misses, and Tanahashi SLINGBLADES! Cover, TWO! Khan survives, but Tanahashi goes right up! The fans fire up for the HIGH FLY FLOW, but onto knees! A bit double-edged for Khan but better than losing! Khan clinches for the HITSUJIGOROSHI! But Tanahashi powers up and out to shove Khan! Khan returns to steal SLINGBLADE! Khan roars, runs, and SLINGBLADES again! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives and the fans fire up with Khan as his Monster Rage boils over! IRON CLAW! Khan drags Tanahashi up, ELIMIN- NO, Tanahashi victory rolls it, AND WINS!
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi, by pinfall
As Tanahashi himself might say, he took that win in an instant! Khan is shocked, his gameplan was practically flawless! Tanahashi still shows Khan respect and tells him to keep fighting. Will Khan find his own way to the top of NJPW one day? Will Tanahashi continue his- Wait, whose music interrupts Tanahashi’s? KAITO KIYOMIYA!? Yes, NOAH’s Supernova is here in Kobe, and he heads right to the ring! He grabs a mic, and he tells Tanahashi, “Recently, you called me over to wrestle at Tanahashi Jam, and I was very honored. Thank you for that. I really felt the weight of your 25 years of history. So I have one favor to ask of you!
“Before you retire, I want you to be in a Pro-Wrestling NOAH ring! Let me wrestle Hiroshi Tanahashi in NOAH! On October 11th, in Ryogoku, please, after all our battles together, I want to battle you head on at Wrestle Odyssey!” Kaito offers the handshake, and Tanahashi accepts! The fans cheer as now we’ll see The Ace of the Universe VS The Next Generation Ace, 1v1 for the first time and the last time! Who will prove they are The Ace of Japan this close to the Final Road’s finish line?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Boltin Oleg VS Don Fale w/ EVIL & Dick Togo!
It was quite the shock when The Alpha, Konosuke Takeshita, was put behind BARS and lost this title. But now, big Boltin runs into an even bigger opponent! And while he may no longer be Bad Luck, you can bet The Rogue General is as dangerous as ever. Will Fale bring this title home to the House of Torture? Or will Oleg prove that size doesn’t matter?
The introductions are made, but that’s when Fale attacks! The fans boo but Fale CLUBS away on Oleg in the corner! The bell rings to get this on record, and Oleg fires forearms in return! Oleg CHOPS, runs, but Fale CLOBBERS Oleg! the fans do applaud the impressive nature of that, but then Fale DUMPS Oleg out! Fale distracts the ref so that Evil & Dick can mug Oleg! They even use Fale’s pimp cane to JAM Oleg up! Evil laughs, he puts Oleg in, and Fale leaves the ref alone. Fale stomps Oleg, then stands on him! Fale uses Oleg to hang ten! Fale then steps off so he can kick him to the ropes. Fale stands on Oleg’s chest! The fans boo, the ref counts, but Fale steps off at 4.
Fale puts Oleg in a corner, fires a BODY BLOW, then he eggs Oleg on. Fale whips Oelg to a bare corner! Evil & Dick took the blue buckle pad away, and Fale plays dumb. The fans tell Evil & Dick to go away but Evil tells them to shut up! Fale covers, TWO! Oleg is tougher than that and the fans rally behind him. Oleg rises to fire more forearms, but Fale ROCKS him in return. Fale BODY BLOWS, then BODY BLOWS again! Fale whips, Oleg grabs ropes, and Oleg BOOTS Fale in return! Oleg runs to RAM Fale! Fale stays up but Oleg keeps moving! Oleg RAMS Fale, Fale staggers, and Oleg goes again, only for Fale to CLOBBER him!
The fans applaud the continued impressive feat of strength. Fale then runs corner to corner, but Oleg dodges! Oleg runs and he CLOBBERS Fale! The fans fire up again while Evil & Dick panic. Oleg runs to SPLASH DOWN! Cover, TWO! Fale is tougher than that, but Oleg stays focused. Oleg drags Fale up, scoops, but that’s too much to scoop! The fans rally as Oleg still tries, and he lifts, only for Fale to topple him over! Cover, TWO! Oleg survives the mishap and both behemoths rise. Fale winds up to choke grip! But Oleg breaks free! Oleg dodges the Grenade to RAM Fale! The fans fire up as Oleg SCOOP SLAMS Fale!
Evil & Dick get on the apron, Oleg BLASTS them down, and then Oleg goes back to Fale. Oleg drags Fale up, reels him in, and he manages to SUPLEX Fale?! Cover, TWO!! Fale survives but the fans fire up for Oleg! Oleg roars, he drags Fale up, but Fale blocks the fireman’s carry! Fale grabs the ref, shoves Oleg, then shoves the ref into Oleg! The ref is down, and now Evil & Dick attack! The fans boo as the House does what the House does! Dick & Evil double whip Oleg to a corner, then Oleg runs up to ELBOW! Evil LARIATS! Then Fale SPLASHES! Fale snapmares Oleg, he and Evil open Oleg up, and Dick is up top for the DICK CHOP!
The fans boo more but there’s nothing stopping The House as Dick SENTONS! WAIT! Fale is going up now?! But Oleg BOOTS Evil away, and THRWOS Dick into Fale! Evil CLAWS Oleg’s eyes, whips, but Oleg blocks to CHOP! Oleg then THROWS Evil into Fale! Oleg roars, the fans fire up, and Oleg uses the corner to help fireman’s carry! AND KAMIKAZE!! Cover, OLEG WINS!!
Winner: Boltin Oleg, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Champion)
A truly massive victory, but Oleg doesn’t get to enjoy it as Evil just attacks again! The fans boo as Dick joins back in and uses the SPOILER CHOKER! The Young Lions try to get close but Evil is there. Oleg fights up, but he’s fed to EVERYTHING IS EVIL!! The King of Darkness grabs the NEVER Openweight Championship and a mic, but what he wants is already clear. “Oi, Boltin! So, next it’s gonna be me! And I am gonna tear you apart! Now play my music!” Evil’s music does indeed play, but is he really trying to take back this NEVER title against another big bad giant? Or will he have yet another trick up his proverbial sleeve?
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Tomohiro Ishii & Taichi VS OSKAR & Yuto-Ice!
The Stone Pitbull and The Holy Emperor stand strong as stalwart stars of NJPW, but this year has been defined by “changing of the guard,” and Bullet Club certainly injected some young blood into the tag division! Will the War Dogs be bringing home gold? Or can Ishii & Taichi knock out the Knock Out Brothers?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who’re the real top dogs of tag team wrestling!
The teams sort out and Ishii starts against Yuto. The fans rally up already as the two storm up. Ishii SLAPS Yuto, Yuto SLAPS Ishii, but Ishii CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Yuto KICKS, KICKS, and KICKS! Both men egg the other on, and Yuto fires forearms. Ishii leans into those shots! Then Ishii CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Ishii CHOPS Oskar for good measure! Ishii kicks Yuto, so Yuto fires a forearm! Ishii just fires back! Ishii whips, Yuto reverses to KNEE low! Yuto BOOTS Ishii, then he sucker punches Taichi! Taichi storms in and fires RIDGE HANDS! The fans fire up, but Yuto BODY BLOWS, then KICKS!
Taichi snarls and KICKS Yuto down! Taichi KICKS Yuto more, but Oskar storms in! Oskar fires hands, Taichi fires Ridge Hands, repeat! Yuto gets up, the Knock Out Brothers mug Taichi, then double whip to DOUBLE BOOT! Taichi tumbles out and Oskar wows the fans by stepping up and over the top rope with ease. Yuto goes back to Ishii and fires KICK after KICK! Ishii is in the corner as Yuto KICKS him more, and the ref reprimands. Yuto stops to then SOBAT! Ishii sits down, Yuto says yo yo yo yo, check it! “Bomboclat!” Yuto runs in and KNEES Ishii in the corner! Tag to Oskar, and Oskar again wows fans by stepping over the top.
Oskar CLUBS Ishii, then he CHOPS! The fans fire up just for that! Oskar CHOPS Ishii but Ishii eggs him on! Ishii RAMS Oskar, ROCKS Oskar, then goes to suplex, but Oskar’s too tall! Oskar CLUBS Ishii, but Ishii avoids the boot! Ishii waistlocks, Oskar elbows free, and BOOTS, but Ishii blocks! KNEE JAMMER! Ishii tries again, but Oskar is still a lot to suplex! Oskar scoops, but Ishii slips free! Ishii shoves Oskar, and he doesn’t really have to duck to avoid the backhand. Ishii then waistlocks to GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up while both men are down! Oskar crawls, Ishii stirs, and the fans rally up, hot tag to Taichi!
Taichi storms up to BOOT Oskar! Then he BOOTS Yuto for good measure! The fans fire up as Taichi runs at Oskar in the corner, and he CHOPS! Then he wrenches to SAI- NO, Oskar stops that and CLUBS Taichi! But Taichi ducks the backhand, only for Oskar to block the boot! Oskar waistlocks, but Taichi fights the lift to PELE! Then he SOBATS, and he reels Oskar in for the SEITEI JUJIRO! Oskar endures being in the Holy Emperor’s Tomb, and he pries at the hold, but Taichi fires RIDGE HAND after RIDGE HAND! SEITEI JUJIRO! But Yuto storms up to fire forearms! Taichi just eggs Yuto on! Yuto ROCKS Taichi, then whips!
Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! Yuto falls, Taichi snarls, but Oskar kicks low and CHOPS again! Oskar whips Taichi to a corner, then runs corner to corner! Taichi dodges, then GAMANGIRIS! Oskar falls and the fans fire up! The fans fire up with Taichi, and OFF COME THE PANTS! Taichi aims and powers up, TENSHO- NO, Oskar dodges the kick to scoop and spin! But Taichi slips free! Roll up, TWO! Taichi aims, BUZZ- NO, Oskar blocks, then grabs Taichi with both hands! Taichi fights free, Oskar ROCKS Taichi, but Taichi URAKENS! Oskar BOOTS in return, then TOWERING BACK SUPLEXES!
The fans fire up while both men are down, and then rally as they crawl! Hot tags to Yuto and Ishii! The fans fire up as Yuto dodges, Ishii blocks, and the forearms fire! Ishii HEADBUTTS, Yuto SLAPS, Ishii SLAPS, and then it is a SLAP fight! Yuto bobs ‘n’ weaves to SLAP, SLAP, then SLAP! Yuto roars, winds up, but Ishii comes back to SWAT the roundhouse! But Yuto leans back to avoid the forearm! Yuto ROCKS Ishii, then reels him in for a suplex! BRAINBUSTER! But Ishii’s right up!? The fans fire up as Ishii CLOBBERS Yuto! But Yuto’s right up! Yuto BOOTS Ishii, SPITS at him, then KICKS! Ishii just SPITS back!
Ishii fires a forearm, then a HEADBUTT! Yuto falls, Ishii roars, and the fans fire up! Ishii takes a second to steady himself, and he vows to finish this! Ishii reels Yuto in, but Oskar CHOPS Ishii on the back! Oskar CHOPS Ishii again, then CLUBS him! Oskar CHOPS Ishii against the ropes, then runs, but Taichi is back! HE TAKES THE BOOT FOR ISHII! Oskar is a bit surprised by that, but what’s good for the goose is good for the gander! Oskar runs, but Ishii ROCKS Oskar! Taichi RICH HANDS! They DOUBLE RIDGE HAND! Then choke grip and clinch! But Oskar choke grips in return! Oskar CLUBS Ishii off of him, but Taichi breaks free!
Taichi wrenches, but Oskar blocks the hook kick! ATOMIC DROP and LARIAT! Yuto BOOTS Ishii, Oskar ROCKS Ishii, and Yuto ROUNDHOUSES! The fans fire up as the Knock Out Brothers get Ishii up, ASSISTED POWERBOMB!! High stack, TWO?!!? Ishii survives being Iced, and the fans are thunderous! Yuto drags Ishii up, he feeds Ishii to Oskar, but Ishii ROCKS Oskar! Then he sends Yuto into Oskar! Taichi drags Oskar out, Ishii waistlocks Yuto, then he feeds Yuto to Taichi’s RIDGE HAND! Ishii then runs up, but Yuto sends him into Taichi! Taichi falls, Yuto DECKS Ishii with the right hand!
The fans are torn as Yuto sits Ishii back up. Yuto runs and PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! Ishii survives and the fans fire up again! And this is all just ten minutes of action! Yuto drags Ishii up, sends him to Oskar, and Oskar scoops! But AX BOMBER for Yuto! Oskar runs up, but Taichi dodges to GAMANGIRI! And then DANGEROUS SAIDO!! The fans are thunderous again as Taichi is seething! Taichi drags Yuto up, but Yuto SPITS at him! Taichi DECKS Yuto! The fans cheer, “Let’s Go, Taichi!” and he vows to end this now! Alabama Lift, BLACK ME- NO, Yuto slips free! But Ishii LARIATS Yuto! Taichi stands Yuto up for Ishii!
Ishii reels Yuto in, Taichi aims, PENALTY KICK PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Yuto survives the “remix” of the KOB Driver and the fans are electric! Ishii roars and rises up, and the fans rally behind him! Taichi keeps Oskar down while Ishii runs to LARIAT! Cover, but OSKAR BARRELS IN! Oskar saves things but Taichi & Ishii are on him! But he choke grips them both! They break free to DOUBLE GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up again as Ishii & Taichi focus on Yuto. Feed, but Yuto BOOTS Taichi! And KNEES Ishii! Yuto DECKS Ishii, staggers to a corner, but he shakes out the stanky leg. But he runs into an Alabama Lift!
Ishii ROCKS Yuto while he’s upside-down! And then Ishii & Taichi combine for a MEPHISTO BRAIN- NO! Oskar saves Yuto again! Oskar ROCKS Ishii, BOOTS Taichi, then blocks the superkick! Oskar spins Taichi for the SKY HIGH!! But Ishii LARIATS! Oskar stays up!? And he gives Ishii a- NO, Ishii pops free to ROCK him! But Oskar has the SLEEPER!! And then a SLEEPER SLAM!! Yuto shakes out the stanky leg, for the BUSAIKU KNEE! And now they vow to end this! Ishii is fed to the scoop, and the K O B DRIVER!!! Cover, KOB WINS!!!
Winners: OSKAR & Yuto-Ice, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
Oskar & Yuto took over Europe’s tag division during their excursion, and now NJPW is no different! From Young Lions to returning stars to champions, will everyone be down with KOB? As for “old dogs” Taichi and Ishii, what new tricks must they learn to keep up with the new generation?
Oh, but wait! Hontai is not without more tag teams, as Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura appear! The Roughneck & Heat Storm led their team to victory in tonight’s 10 Man Tag, and now they look to go right to the top! They first go to the ring and grab the mics. Shota says, “Ice, Oskar… You are here to fight? Then Yuya and I are here to pick a fight with you. So just see how good we are!” Yuto takes the mic to tell Shota, “You fake little goody two shoes punks! You’re not on our level, but if you want it, then bring it!” The two teams get face to face and Young Lions hurry in there to keep this from breaking down! But when and where will Oskar & Ice fight Shota & Heat?
GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi VS Taiji Ishimori!
The Ticking Timebomb may very well be the best Junior Heavyweight wrestler of his or any generation, but he wants to keep proving it match after match! And he knew that he could only do that by battling the Bone Soldier one more time! Will Hiromu find a way to make Destruction in Kobe fun? Or will Taiji’s ticket to Pro-Wrestling NOAH: Wrestle Odyssey come to him #ByGrace?
The introductions are made, NOAH’s belt is raised, and we see how this remake of an old classic turns out!
The bell rings and the two run up! Hiromu RAN- NO, Taiji blocks it and brings Hiromu up! Hiromu slips free, whips Taiji to a corner, then LARIATS! Hiromu snapmares, but Taiji avoids the sliding lariat! Taiji gut wrenches, Hiromu turns that around, but Taiji turns it back around! And repeat! The fans rally as they keep turning things around on each other! Taiji can’t stay up, he gives a short driver to Hiromu, but he holds on to drag Hiromu back up! CIPHER U- RANA! But Taiji handsprings through! The fans fire up, Hiromu ELBOWS Taiji and whips, but Taiji reverses. Hiromu slides out, but so does Taiji!
The fans applaud as the cat ‘n’ mouse game leads back into the ring. Hiromu runs up but Taiji DUMPS him out! But Hiromu uses that to sunset flip! But Taiji FLIPS through! And he uses the apron to RANA! Hiromu tumbles, the fans fire up, and Taiji hurries back into the ring. Taiji then builds speed to FLY with a VUELO NAGILA! Down goes Hiromu and the fans fire up! Taiji leaves Hiromu behind so he can untie the blue buckle pad. It’s still the Bullet Club Special, and then Taiji goes back out to fetch Hiromu. Taiji drags Hiromu into the ring, then stands him up. Taiji fireman’s carries, and he ROLLING DEATH VALLEY DRIVERS!
Taiji steadies himself, and he basement SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO! Hiromu is still in this but Taiji is not deterred. Taiji stands Hiromu up, but Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS !Taiji ROCKS Hiromu, runs, but Hiromu dodges! Hiromu RANAS and Taiji goes to the corner! Hiromu runs up to LARIAT against the bare buckles! Then he snapmares Taiji for the basement DROPKICK! Taiji tumbles out and the fans fire up again. Hiromu goes to the apron, takes aim, but Taiji dodges the flying dropkick! Taiji then scoops to LAWN DART into the post! The fans rally while Hiromu writhes, but Taiji brings him right back into the ring.
Taiji drags Hiromu up, wrenches, hammerlocks, and POSTS Hiromu! The ref reprimands but Taiji drags Hiromu back out to hammerlock, scoop, and SHOULDER BUSTER! Hiromu writhes more while Taiji leaves him behind. Taiji catches his breath and shakes out his leg while he watches Hiromu rise. Taiji then runs in, tilt-o-whirls, but Hiromu throws him away! Then Hiromu scoops to BACKBREAKER! Hiromu suplexes, Taiji fights it, and Taiji wrenches. Hiromu swings, Taiji dodges, but he runs into a tilt-o-whirl SLAM! Both men are down and the fans applaud. The two stir and the fans rally up.
Hiromu goes to the ropes and clutches the shoulder. The ref checks him and Hiromu insists he can continue. Hiromu drags Taiji up, brings him around, fireman’s carries, but Taiji slips free! Taiji shoves Hiromu away, runs up, but into a BOOT! Hiromu runs, Taiji dodges the lariat, but then Hiromu wrenches Taiji! FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Taiji stays in this and the fans applaud while Hiromu shakes out the arm. Hiromu drags Taiji up, wrenches, fireman’s carries, but Taiji CLAWS the eyes! Taiji whips, but that knocks Hiromu into the ref! The ref falls, Taiji POP-UP LOW- NO! Hiromu blocks the sneaky kick!
The fans applaud as Hiromu wags his finger and fakes the low blow! The ref sees that, Taiji defends his actual innocence, but then Hiromu rolls Taiji! TWO! Another roll-up, TWO! Both men stand, Taiji blocks the kick, and he sends it into the ref! Taiji waistlocks, Hiromu switches, and Taiji actually LOW BLOW MULE KICKS! Then GEDO CLUTCH! TWO!!! Hiromu survives and Taiji is beside himself! Hiromu and Taiji crawl, and Hiromu goes to a corner. The fans rally as Taiji runs up, and Taiji LARIATS! Taiji then hoists Hiromu up for an URENAGE! Taiji roars, and the fans cheer as he goes up the corner!
Taiji aims, and he 450 SPLASHES!! But it hurts his ribs! Taiji crawls to the cover, TWO!!! Hiromu survives from the delay, and now the ref checks Taiji. Taiji insists he can continue, but he still clutches his side. Taiji forces himself to stand, and then he brings Hiromu up. Taiji hits a POWERSLAM, then insists he’ll finish with some razzle dazzle! Taiji runs, handsprings, SUPER STUN- NO! Hiromu blocks the stunner, Taiji breaks the nelson, but Hiromu has the pump handle! Z 360!! HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! Then the TIMEBOMB 1.5!! Cover, TWO!??! Taiji survives and Hiromu is shocked! Hiromu rises up and he brings Taiji around.
Hiromu fireman’s carries again, swings, but Taiji pops free! And then tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTICA! But Hiromu fights the crossface portion! Hiromu reaches out, but Taiji rolls him away to center! BONE LOCK!! Hiromu still fights around, and he finds the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Taiji grows frustrated. Taiji huffs ‘n’ puffs and storms back over to Hiromu to stand him up. Taiji reels Hiromu in, BLOODY- NO, Hiromu arm-drags free! Taiji BOOTS the lariat, ducks the superkick, and JUMP KNEES! Then BLOODY- NO, Hiromu flips free! Then he wrenches, pump handle, HIROMU-CHAN CRADLE! TWO!!!
Taiji stands, tilt-o-whirl, but Hiromu rolls through! Taiji dodges a lariat, tries again, but Hiromu again blocks Mystica for the TIMEBOMB MK2!!! And then he drags Taiji back up, fireman’s carries, and O G TIMEBOMB!!! Cover, Hiromu wins!!
Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (still GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion)
It took just about everything in Hiromu’s arsenal, but he manages to bring down one of his greatest rivals! Taiji snatches the belt from the ref, because he wants to personally hand it over to Hiromu. The fans applaud this showing of respect, and Taiji even pats Hiromu on the shoulder. Is that Taiji’s way of wishing Hiromu luck at Wrestle Odyssey? Will Hiromu hold onto the belt through- WAIT! Isn’t that Eita?! And he SUPERKICKS Hiromu down!! The fans boo but Eita just shrugs. He asks like he did nothing wrong, but now he grabs a mic. The fans boo but Eita just smiles as he says, “Hiromu… You think you can get away with anything with NOAH’s belt?
“So from now on, I’m gonna do whatever I want!” And he stomps away on Hiromu! Eita mocks the fans for booing him, and says he’s lived in Kobe for 15 YEARS! He is their hometown hero! The fans still boo, but Eita tells Hiromu that it is now official, Hiromu VS Eita at Wrestle Odyssey! Eita will show the world the power of the NOAH Junior Heavyweight Division. Things won’t go Hiromu’s way, because in Ryogoku, in a NOAH ring, Eita will destroy Hiromu! Eita spikes the mic down, steps on Hiromu, then waves goodbye. Will the King of Chops chop Hiromu down to size? Or will the Ticking Timebomb blow Eita away at Wrestle Odyssey?
Yota Tsuji VS David Finlay w/ Gedo!
Between the New Japan Cup and G1 Climax, The Gene Blaster and The Rebel have been meaning to settle a score, and there’s no better time than now! But who will face their Destruction in Kobe?
The bell rings and both men run up! Yota BOOTS but Finlay fires a forearm! They go back and forth with forearms, Finlay gets the edge then whips. Yota grabs ropes, BOOTS again, then dodges to LARIAT Finlay up and out! The fans fire up with Yota and he takes aim. Yota builds speed to slide, but Finlay gets away. Yota just pursues to kick Finlay in the back. Finlay fires a forearm, Yota ROCKS him in return! Yota whips Finlay hard into railing, and Finlay drops to his knees. The fans cheer Yota on while he storms up on Finlay. Yota DECKS Finlay at the ramp! Finlay staggers up, Yota pursues and he DECKS Finlay again.
Yota watches Finlay stagger away up the ramp, and then grins. The fans rally as Yota runs up, but into a clinch! IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER on the ramp! A little double-edged as Finlay clutches his leg, but he drags Yota up. Finlay ROCKS Yota, follows him back to ringside, and he RAMS Yota into the apron. And then APRON BACK SUPLEXES! Yota flops down, Gedo applauds, but the fans are torn. Finlay throws up the Too Sweet while the ring count starts. Finlay drags Yota up and puts him in the ring to then cover, TWO! Yota is tougher than that but Finlay drags Yota up. Finlay reels Yota in, but Yota sunset flips through, TWO!
Both men hurry up and Finlay kicks low. But then Yota BACKDROPS Finlay into the corner! The fans fire up while Finlay writhes and Yota catches his breath. Yota fires up, the fans cheer him on, and Yota storms over to Finlay. Yota hoists Finlay up top, then climbs up after him. Yota goes to the very top, but Finlay shoves him away! Yota rolls through, comes back, and GAMANGIRIS! Finlay sputters, the fans cheer, and Yota goes back up! Finlay tries to fight it, but Yota still hits the SUPER STEINER! It took a bit to do it, but then Yota covers, TWO! Yota drags Finlay up, but Finlay fights the suplex. Finlay wrenches, but Yota ROCKS him first!
Finlay talks trash and he ROCKS Yota! Yota brushes that off to ROCK Finlay! The forearms go back and forth, Gedo coaches Finlay and he comes back to ROCK Yota! Yota comes back to ROCK Finlay, then ROCK him again and again! Finlay throat chops! But he runs into the BACKBREAKER, FLATLINER, and- NO, Finlay dodges the stomp! Finlay ROCKS Yota, then ROLLING- NO, Yota GENE TRIGGERS! Then SUPERKICKS! Finlay yoyos, MCGUINNESS LARIAT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Gedo coaches Finlay to keep going and Finlay barks. The fans rally, Yota goes to a corner, and Finlay runs in, UPPERCUT!
Finlay then suplexes to THROW Yota away! Finlay flexes and the fans fire up for that Broken Arrow. Finlay then unties the blue buckle pad, bringing the Bullet Club Special back into this! Finlay reels Yota in, but Yota fights the lift! Finlay CLUBS away on Yota’s back, lifts, but Yota RANAS! Finlay hits POST, then he falls to the floor! The fans fire up while Finlay writhes and Yota rises. Yota builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Finlay is sent over railing! Finlay almost wipes out Japanese commentary! Daiki Nagai hurries to fan off Yota and Yota rises again. The ring count starts as Yota fetches Finlay.
Yota puts Finlay in the ring and the fans applaud. Yota fires them up more, and then he rolls into the ring. Finlay rises, Yota runs in, GENE TRIGGER! Then a suplex, ORANGE CRUSH! Cover, TWO! Finlay survives but Yota hauls him back up! Finlay fights the bomb, reels Yota in for a Canadian Rack, CANADIAN HAMMER! Cover, TWO! Yota survives and the fans fire up again! Gedo coaches Finlay, Finlay drags Yota up, and Finlay aims again! But Yota again RANAS, to cover! TWO! Yota comes back, but Finlay ALLEY-OOPS him into bare buckles! BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives and Gedo is mad, but Finlay just goes again!
Finlay POWERBOMBS Yota down! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives once more and Finlay is fuming! Gedo is mad at the count but the ref defends it. The fans bark for Finlay as he drags Yota up, and he suplexes to OVER- NO, Yota lands out to GENE TRIGGER! FLATLINER! And then deadlift GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up again as Yota rises! Yota roars, aims from a corner, and GENE- SNAP GATOR ROLL!? Then a suplex, INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO!?!? Yota survives once more and the fans are thunderous! Finlay shakes out the bad arm while thinking on what to do next. Finlay drags Yota up and goes to a corner.
Finlay goes up, up, and MARLOWE- SUPERKICK! Yota won’t let Finlay steal his move! Yota goes up to MARLOWE- PRIMA NOCTA!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Finlay is beside himself as Yota finds another way to survive! The fans duel and Finlay slashes his throat! Finlay is ready to end this, and he drags Yota up again. Suplex for OVER- CRADLE COUNTER! TWO! Both men stand, Finlay slips around, backslide! Yota rolls through, but into OVER- NO, Yota PO-UP KNEES Finlay! GENE- KNEE!! SHORT OVERKILL!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!?! HOW?!?! Finlay is not able to understand, but the fans are thunderous either way!
Finlay seethes, suplexes again, but Yota flips right through! And GENE BLASTER!!! Cover, TWO!?!?! Now Finlay shocks everyone by surviving! Both men are down while the fans rally harder and harder! Both men crawl to corners as the fans duel even harder. Yota powers up, roars, and he takes aim again! Finlay stands, into a GENE- SNAP CRADLE! TWO, but Finlay holds on! INTO- NO, Yota pops free again! And he flips through the lariat to lift, JAMBO PLEX!! Cover, TWO!! But Yota won’t stop, he puts Finlay on the top rope, and backwards! Yota goes up, up, and dragon sleepers! INVERTED SUPERPLEX!!
The fans fire up again as Yota reloads, for the GENE BLASTER!!!! Cover, YOTA WINS!!
Winner: Yota Tsuji, by pinfall
Both men went above and beyond their human limits, and in the end, The Rebel could not survive! But will this incredible victory lead Yota back to a golden opportunity? And which title would he choose?
Before Finlay leaves, Yota offers a handshake of respect. The fans want to see it, but Finlay leaves Yota hanging. No respect from the “Top Dog” just yet, but will Yota leave Finlay and the rest with no choice but to respect him?
IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Gabe Kidd VS Shingo Takagi!
The Mad Man survived a Gene Blast to take this title back for the War Dogs, but now this former ungovernable is looking to return the favor! Will Gabe prove no one’s #WarReady like him? Or will this Rampaging Dragon soon be a global superstar?
The introductions are made, Gabe taunts Takagi with the belt quite literally in his face, but Takagi pushes it aside. Gabe keeps putting the belt in Takagi’s face, so Takagi throws forearms! Then he throws KNEES and HEADBUTTS! They brawl, the bell rings and the fans rally up! Gabe DECKS Takagi with a closed fist! The ref warns Gabe but he drags Takagi up in a corner. Gabe CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS, but Takagi turns things around to JAB and CHOP on repeat! Gabe and Takagi go forehead to forehead, then Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe CHOPS, CHOPS, LARIATS, then runs. Gabe then redirects, but Takagi TOSSES him out!
The fans fire up as Takagi pursues, but Gabe kicks low! Gabe ROCKS Takagi, whips, but Takagi reverses! Gabe hits railing, but he comes back to RAM Takagi! They RAM shoulders again and again, then go forehead to forehead. Takagi SMACKS Gabe off the apron! Gabe JABS, then he SMACKS Takagi off the apron! Gabe SMACKS Takagi off the apron again, then he goes looking under the ring. Gabe brings out chairs! The ref reprimands, the fans are torn, but Gabe gives one to Takagi. Gabe and Takagi CLASH with the chairs! Gabe disarms Takagi, JAMS him up, then gets a fresh chair to HEADSHOT! But Takagi just LARIATS!
The fans fire up as Gabe is down! Takagi roars, but then he has to steady himself from taking that chairshot. The ref checks Gabe, but now Takagi gets a fresh chair! And he CHUCKS It at Gabe’s face! Takagi and the ref argue, but the fans cheer Takagi on. Takagi drags Gabe up, brings him up to the apron, and the fans rally up again. Takagi fires up and fireman’s carries! Gabe flails free and UPPERCUTS! Then he COMEBACKER LARIATS! Takagi falls to the apron then the floor while the fans rally. Gabe barks, the fans join in, and Gabe goes up the corner, ASAI MOONSAULT! Down goes Takagi and the fans fire up!
Gabe rises, roars, and he goes looking under the ring again. Another chair! And Gabe CHUCKS it into Takagi’s face! Takagi staggers away into the crowd, but Gabe pursues! Gabe CHOPS, Takagi HEADBUTTS, and Gabe HEADBUTTS! Gabe CHOPS, Takagi SMACKS Gabe, and repeat! Gabe eggs Takagi on, then he DECKS Takagi with a straight right hand! The fans fire up and bark it up as the Mad Man and Dragon brawl in the crowd! Gabe dares anyone to get on his level! He then drags Takagi up, and we finally get a new ring count. Gabe puts Takagi in at 5 of 20 and the fans applaud.
Gabe storms into the ring, stalks Takagi, and kicks him around. Gabe eggs Takagi on, and says this is NJPW! Takagi stands, and he CHOPS! Gabe shakes his head and CHOPS! Takagi CHOPS again, Gabe CHOPS again, and they go back and forth! The fans rally as then Takagi JABS, JABS, JABS, and DOUBLE CHOPS! Gabe CHOPS again, then CLUBS Takagi. Gabe runs, but Takagi LARIATS! Takagi runs, Gabe LARIATS! Takagi falls and the fans fire up again! Gabe goes to the apron and he lines up a shot, APRON SENTON! Takagi sputters, but now Gabe suplexes, BRAINBUSTER TO THE FLOOR!
The fans fire up while Gabe seethes. The ref checks Takagi and he is somehow okay to continue. Gabe brings out a TABLE! And a second table! Gabe sets those up nearby, “I’m a MAD MAN, y’know!” The fans are torn as Gabe puts Takagi on the apron. The ref reprimands but Gabe still drags Takagi up. Takagi fights the lift, Gabe CLUBS him, but Takagi slips down. Takagi YANKS Gabe down, fireman’s carries, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER on the floor! The fans fire up again and the ref checks both men. Takagi clutches his arm but he seems able to continue. Gabe sputters, but he is also somehow able to continue, so the fans rally up.
Takagi rises, and he goes back to Gabe. Takagi drags Gabe up, puts him in, and Takagi runs up to RUN Gabe over! Then scoop and SLAM, for the SENTON! Gabe sputters and goes to a corner while the fans rally. Takagi runs up, blocks a boot, and LARIATS through! Takagi fires the fans up more, and he JABS, JABS, JABS! Takagi then CHOPS, and he brings Gabe out. Gabe suplexes first! The fans rally, Gabe points to cameras, and he mocks Takagi with, “TOKI GA-” BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Takagi won’t let anyone copy his catchphrase! Takagi hauls Gable up, Gabe takes a swing, but Takagi spins him through for a BIG suplex! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally, and now Takagi tells the fans, “TOKI GA-” Gabe runs up! But Takagi ducks the blindside! Then Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! And YUKON feints to then JAB and YUKON LARIAT! The fans fire up and Takagi looks around. And now, “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up as it is now time! Takagi drags Gabe up, pump handles, but Gabe fights with elbows. Takagi KNEES low, runs, but into a BOOT! Takagi rebounds, but into an EXPLODER! Takagi is back, and he EXPLODERS! Gabe is back, SAIDO! Then Gabe runs, but Takagi ducks the Comebacker to SAIDO! Both men are down and the fans fire up again!
Gabe crawls to a corner while Takagi sits up. Takagi also goes to a corner as the fans duel 60-40 in his favor. Gabe seethes, and both men run in! But then Gabe DROPKICKS! Gabe keeps moving, but Takagi ducks to BLINDSDIE LARIAT, and GERMAN SUPLEX! Gabe lands out!? And SAIDOS in return! Cover, TWO! Takagi still has grit and the fans fire up! Gabe seethes, but then he barks. The fans bark with him, and he storms up on Takagi. Gabe hoists Takagi up but Takagi turns things around! Takagi has Gabe up top and he ROCKS Gabe! Takagi HEADBUTTS again and again, then climbs up the corner.
The fans fire up as Takagi drags Gabe up, and he fireman’s carries! Gabe fights with elbows, then he HEADBUTTS Takagi! Gabe adjusts position, and he SUPER STEINERS! Not the best throw, but the COMEBACKER hits!! Cover, TWO!! Takagi survives and Gabe is fuming! Gabe shakes is head, goes to a corner, and he brings down the kneepad! The fans rally as Gabe takes aim, Takagi rise sup, O- NO! Takagi stops the knee, Gabe CHOPS and SLAPS, but Takagi JABS and HEADBUTTS! SLIDING BOMBER! But Gabe is up to POINT-BLANK O-KNEE!! Both men are down and the fans duel as hard as they can!
Takagi stirs, Gabe reaches up, and Gabe goes back to the apron. Gabe looks at the tables he set up, and he drags Takagi up. Gabe reels Takagi in, but Takagi fights the rest! Gabe DOUBLE CHOPS Takagi! Takagi just gets pissed! He catches Gabe, pump handles, but Gabe fights for dear life! No good, MADE IN JAPAN down through the tables!! The fans are in disbelief as both men are in the wreckage! The ref checks on both men, and somehow, Takagi crawls away. The ring count starts as the fans rally and duel, and Takagi rises at 7 of 20. Takagi stands at 8, the fans cheer, and Takagi hobbles his way over at 12 of 20!
Takagi is safe, but what about Gabe? He’s still down at 15! He sits up at 16, but he’s barely moving! Gabe’s head is bloodied, but he LUNGES in at 19! SLIDING FOREARM! Takagi sits Gabe up, and rains down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Then he brings Gabe around, lifts him up, YUKON POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!!! Gabe survives and the fans fire up again! Takagi rises, the 60-40 split holds, and Takagi drags Gabe up. But Gabe swings! Takagi ROCKS him first! Takagi fires boxing elbows, then he DECKS Gabe! Gabe shakes his head, but Takagi is on him first! Pump handle, torture rack, but Gabe slips free!
Gabe waistlocks, ripcords, but Takagi dodges! Takagi ripcords, PUMPING RAINMAKER! And then he hauls Gabe up, pump handle and torture rack, BURNING DRAGON!!! Cover, TWO!??! Gabe survives and the fans fire back up! Takagi rises, runs, and PUMPING BOMBER!! Takagi roars, he hauls Gabe back up, pump handle and LAST- NO, Gabe slips free to PILEDRIVER!! It was outta nowhere but both men are down again! The fans rally up even harder, we might now have an even split! The ref checks Gabe, that cut on his head is still a concern. But Gabe and Takagi sit up to junkyard dog headbutt! Then they fire forearms!
Takagi HEADBUTTS, Gabe SLAPS, so Takagi SLAPS back! They stand for a SLAP fight! Gabe fires off strikes, then a LARIAT! Takagi stays up but he sputters! Gabe also sputters, but Takagi LARIATS! Gabe LARIATS! We hit 20 minutes as Gabe LARIATS again! Gabe roars, gut wrenches, but Takagi RANAS! And ELBOWS! JABS! Gabe HEADBUTTS! Takagi HEADBUTTS! Gabe SMACKS Takagi, Takagi SMACKS Gabe! Takagi dodges, Gabe dodges, but Takagi SWATS a lariat to POISON-RANA?!? But Gabe LARIATS!!! Cover, ONE?!!?!? The fans are thunderous and Gabe shakes his head, he refuses to accept this!
Gabe rises, runs, O-KNEE!!! And then the MAD MAN- NO, Takagi fights it! Gabe still hits a POWERBOMB and stacks, TWO!! Gabe just hauls Takagi back up, LEG TRAP PILEDRIVER!!! Cover, GABE WINS!!
Winner: Gabe Kidd, by pinfall (still IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion)
The series between the War Dogs and the “Unaffiliated” may favor the latter, but Gabe won out in the end! But will Gabe even survive his own war if he keeps going to such extremes? Or will the Mad Man just keep finding ways to win?
Takagi surprisingly shows Takagi respect the same way Taiji did to Hiromu. But lo and behold! The Gene Blast makes his way out here! Yota and Gabe have their own score to settle, and Yota grabs the mic to tell Gabe, “There may be something in you that’s changed since you took that title, but there is something you and I must still do together. There is something you and I both want to do. And we both share that same goal, and we need that IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship to achieve it. That’s why I’m challenging you for that title.” Yota drops the mic, but Gabe picks it up to respond!
Gabe holds up mic and belt, then says, “You challenging me? Challenge accepted! October 13th, Ryogoku Kokugikan, bring it on, my number one rival!” The Mad Man and the Gene Blaster are ready to run it back, but who proves they are the Global King of Pro-Wrestling?
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Ren Narita!
G1 Climax 35 certainly brought the heat this Summer, but there’s a lot more heat between The Front Man and the Souled Out Son of Strong Style. The House of Torture stole that win from the champion, and Ren’s been bragging ever since. But will he follow through and take the title for his own? Or will he #JustTapOut?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who faces their Destruction in Kobe!
The bell rings and the two stare down. They slowly circle and feel things out, and they clinch. ZSJ waistlocks, Ren turns to go for an arm but ZSJ stays on top of Ren. ZSJ slips around, goes for an arm in return, but Ren goes to stack. ZSJ lets go and has the leg guard, but Ren turns him over. Ren wants a facelock. ZSJ goes for a leg, then a clinch. Ren’s own leg guard holds ZSJ back, even as ZSJ looks for an angle to cover. ZSJ hooks up the legs, they roll in the deathlock, and end up in the ropes. Red Shoes counts, the two separate, and the fans applaud this opening exchange. Ren and ZSJ then reset and circle again.
Ren sits down and dares ZSJ to take on his leg guard. ZSJ stays back, he won’t fall for a trick he practically innovated. Ren scoots closer, so ZSJ sits down to also have the leg guard. Ren shoots in but ZSJ catches him to an ARMBAR! Ren stays up, clasps hands, and he pops free to KNEEBAR! ZSJ moves around, rolls with Ren, and they fight for control. They each have a leg as they roll, but ZSJ has the HEEL HOOK! Ren fights around to KNEEBAR! ZSJ has the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud and Ren lets ZSJ go. The tape on the left leg makes it a clear target, but that doesn’t mean ZSJ can easily defend it.
ZSJ and Ren reset, circle, and feel things out again. Ren KICKS the bad leg and ZSJ has to drop back! Ren smirks while ZSJ hobbles back up. They circle again, ZSJ keeps the bad leg back, and he blocks the kick! HEEL HOOK! Ren goes to the ROPEBREAK and the fans cheer as ZSJ gets even. The two reset again, tie up, and ZSJ headlocks. Ren powers up and out, ZSJ BOOTS Ren, but Ren just grins. Ren BOOTS, ZSJ BOOTS, repeat! The BOOTS go back and forth, then ZSJ runs to BOOT Ren to the ropes! The fans fire up as Ren sputters. ZSJ runs up to UPPERCUT! And then SNAP HALF HATCH! Cover, TWO!
Ren stays in this, but he bails out of the ring. ZSJ pursues and KICKS Ren’s leg. ZSJ UPPERCUTS, UPPERCUTS again, and again! And again! ZSJ SLAPS and UPPERCUTS Ren, then Ren slumps down to the floor. Red Shoes wants this in the ring so ZSJ brings Ren up. ZSJ twists Ren’s ear, then puts him in the ring. The fans fire up with ZSJ, and ZSJ storms up. Ren takes a swing, but into a HANGING ARMBAR! Red Shoes counts, but Ren makes it a HANGING HALF CRAB! Red Shoes reprimands Ren now, and Ren lets go at 4. ZSJ flops to the floor but Ren goes out after him. Ren drags ZSJ up to whip him hard into railing!
Ren whips ZSJ hard into railing, he puts ZSJ’s leg through the railing and pulls! ZSJ falls into the crowd, and Ren just pulls on the leg harder! Red Shoes reprimands, Ren tells him to shut up, but he still lets ZSJ’s leg go. Ren then brings out chairs! The fans boo and Red Shoes reprimands, but Ren puts the chairs in the ring. That lets him get another chair to SMASH ZSJ’s leg against railing! The fans boo again but Ren leaves ZSJ behind. Ren wants the ring count but Red Shoes checks with ZSJ first. ZSJ’s leg is free from the railing, and ZSJ is okay to continue, so now the count begins. The fans rally for ZSJ as he shakes out the bad leg.
ZSJ uses the railing to stand at 8 of 20, and he hobbles his way back to ringside, bringing the chair! Red Shoes pauses the count to reprimand ZSJ, so ZSJ leaves the chair behind. But then Ren stomps ZSJ at the ropes! Ren stomps away on the bad leg, then drags ZSJ to a corner! Red Shoes reprimands as Ren pulls the leg against the post! Red Shoes counts, Ren lets go, and Ren stalks ZSJ in the ring. Ren drags ZSJ up, and HALF HATCH BRIDGES! TWO!! ZSJ survives and the fans fire up! But Ren puts ZSJ’s bad leg on the ropes to stomp it! And HIP DROP it! The fans boo but Ren drags ZSJ around for a toehold.
ZSJ endures, flips over, and he reels Ren in for a headlock takeover! NECK- NO, Ren UP KICKS! ZSJ may have hesitated from the pain in the leg. Ren bumps ZSJ off buckles, puts the bad leg through ropes, and he pulls again! Red Shoes reprimands, Ren lets go, but then Ren DROPKICKS the leg! ZSJ falls over, but Ren snapmares to cover, ONE!! Ren AX HANDLES ZSJ down, covers, TWO! Ren is annoyed but he grabs the bad leg. Ren works to turn ZSJ over, but ZSJ hooks onto Ren’s leg to block it. Ren pulls on the leg, then has both legs for a gator roll and TEXAS CLOVERHOLD! ZSJ endures as Ren sits deep on the hold!
ZSJ fights around, rolls, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Ren lets go in annoyance. Ren drags ZSJ up, grabs the leg, and SHIN BREAKERS! Ren drags ZSJ back up, for another SHIN BREAKER! ZSJ falls against the ropes and Ren storms over. Ren drags ZSJ up, has the leg again, SHIN- DDT!! ZSJ turns things around on Ren and the fans cheer! ZSJ goes to a corner, Ren goes to the other. Ren gets his bad arm into working, and he runs up, only for ZSJ to UPPERCUT! ZSJ then runs up and UPPERCUTS Ren down! The fans cheer while ZSJ stands back up. ZSJ drags Ren up, but Ren KKICKS the bad leg!
Ren reels ZSJ in, but ZSJ fights the Cobra Twist to go for the Cobra Twist! Ren returns the favor, they go around and around, and ZSJ has the COBRA TWIST! The fans cheer, but Ren pulls ZSJ’s ear! Ren HIP TOSSES ZSJ away! Ren CHOKES ZSJ, but ZSJ hits an ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! ZSJ goes for the arm, Ren resists, so ZSJ isolates the arm to STOMP it! Ren writhes and the fans rally up. ZSJ drags Ren up, but Ren fights the scoop. Ren swings, but into an wrench, wrangle, and IRON OCTOPUS! Ren endures as ZSJ pushes his own leg down for pressure, but Ren reaches up to pull on the leg! Ren then knees low and snapmares.
Ren hooks ZSJ up, NECK TWIST! But ZSJ bridges up, snapmares, and NECK TWISTS! Then basement DROPKICKS! The fans fire up while both men are down again! The fans rally as ZSJ rises, and he hobbles back over. ZSJ rips Ren’s shirt away to KICK him in the chest! Ren manages to grin, but ZSJ KICKS him again! ZSJ hobbles back, but he then UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! Ren BOOTS, ZSJ UPPERCUTS Ren down! But Ren KICKS the bad leg, and has ZSJ in the GUILLOTINE! The fans rally for ZSJ as he endures, but Ren pulls on the hold! ZSJ fights around, rises up, and wrenches to PELE the arm!
The fans rally as ZSJ has Ren, scoops, but Ren slips free! Ren KICKS the bad leg, but ZSJ avoids the facebuster! Ren avoids the Penalty Kick, BLIZZARD PLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! ZSJ escapes and Ren seethes, but the fans rally up. Ren vows to end this, and he goes to the corner. Ren climbs, eggs ZSJ on, and HELL’S- ZSJ catches it to a FLAPJACK! STF!! ZSJ does his best to hold onto Ren’s leg with the bad leg, Ren spits out his mouthguard to then roll, but ZSJ uses that to KOJI KLUTCH, then TRIANGLE HOLD! Ren endures this string of modifications, but YUJIRO TAKAHASHI is here!
The fans boo as Red Shoes has to stop Tokyo Pimp from getting in the ring. Ren moves around, and he BITES ZSJ’s leg on the calf! The fans boo as Ren is free, and he goes for his pushup bar! Ren grins as he aims, but ZSJ ducks! But then Ren turns to CLUB the leg!! Roll and KNEEBAR!! ZSJ endures, reaches out, but Ren pulls on the leg! ZSJ reaches around to get Ren’s foot, but Ren just puts on more pressure! The two fight, ZSJ reaches for rope, but Ren drags him away! Ren gets both legs, FIGURE FOUR KNEEBAR!! The fans rally harder for ZSJ, but he’s in a tough spot. ZSJ turns things over, pulls at Ren’s arms, but Ren just turns things back over!
ZSJ and Ren roll, ZSJ pushes up and back, but Ren twists the foot! They keep moving around on the mat as Ren puts as much pressure as he can on the bad leg! ZSJ claws at the mat, pushes up again, and he sits back, but Ren pushes him back down! ZSJ reaches back for Ren’s feet but Ren just twists the leg again! They roll, roll, ZSJ scrapes at Ren with his heel, but has to go for the ROPEBREAK!! The fans cheer as ZSJ survives, but Ren looms over him. Ren drags ZSJ up, TOSSES him out, and then Ren gets in Red Shoes’ face. This lets Yujiro drag ZSJ up! The fans boo, but ZSJ fights the fisherman suplex! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Yujiro down!
The fans cheer, ZSJ hurries in, and he swings, but Ren gets around! SLEEPER! ZSJ reaches out, but Ren CLAWS the eyes, then GERMAN SUPLEXES! ZSJ rises to LARIAT! The fans cheer, ZSJ fires up, and ZACK DRIVER!! Cover, TWO! But into an ARMBAR! ZSJ has the omoplata, then he reaches for the other arm! RINGS OF SATURN! They roll, ZSJ keeps Ren down, and he bends the arms back! The fans rally, JIM BREAKS SPECIAL!! Ren endures as ZSJ traps both arms, then even HEADBUTTS the shoulder! Ren flails, kicks, but ZSJ adds a CROSSFACE!! Ren endures, but SANADA yanks the ref out!!
The fans boo as now the Cold-Blooded Snake CHOKES ZSJ! Sanada stomps him with those goofy Astro Boy boots! Yujiro joins in, the fans tell them to go away, but they stand ZSJ up. Yujiro runs up, but ZSJ dodges! PIMP CANE hits Sanada, then ZSJ BOOTS Yujiro! The fans fire up as this match hits 25 minutes! The Young Lions usher the House of Torture members away, and ZSJ hobbles back up. ZSJ fires up, the fans are with him, and ZSJ drags Ren up. But Ren LOW BLOWS! And DOUBLE CROSSER!! Cover, but there’s no ref! The cheating backfires and the fans laugh at Ren! Ren shouts at Red Shoes to get back in the ring!
Red Shoes hobbles his way over, and Ren goes up the corner. Ren puts one out, takes aim, HELL’S GUILLO- ENZIGIRI! ZSJ denies Ren again and both men are down! The fans fire up as ZSJ rises. ZSJ gets them to get louder, and then PENALTY- NO, Ren dodges! Ren trips ZSJ, drags him around, but ZSJ trips Ren! JAPANESE LEG ROLL CLUTCH! TWO, into a REAR NAKED- NO, ZSJ rolls back, then has the SLEEPER! Ren slips through, they both go for sleepers, but ZSJ has Ren caught! Ren sputters, fades, but then he mule kicks the bad leg! And he blocks the roundhouse! BLIZZARD PLEX!! Bridging cover, TWO!!
The fans are thunderous as ZSJ survives, and Ren is furious with Red Shoes! Red Shoes defends the count, and now the fans are even louder behind ZSJ. Ren BOOTS ZSJ, BOOTS him again, then runs to BOOT- NO, ZSJ blocks, and he SLAPS Ren! Ren drops to his knees but ZSJ falls back on the mat! The fans rally even harder and ZSJ goes to a corner. ZSJ runs up, Ren blocks the boot, and he shoves Red Shoes aside! But ZSJ blocks the low blow! ZSJ swings, but Ren SLAPS ZSJ now! ZSJ SLAPS back! They DOUBLE SLAP! And DOUBLE SLAP!! Both men wobble and stumble, but ZSJ stays on his feet!
ZSJ blocks another low blow, and he SLAPS Ren! And PENALTY KICKS! And SABRE DRIVER!! Cover, ZSJ WINS!!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall (still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)
Ren tried every trick he could think of, but he couldn’t pull off another robbery against the champion! Will Ren every realize that he sold out to the wrong side?
As for ZSJ, he gets the belt and the mic to tell Ren, “Oi! You don’t need the House of Torture to be great, you idiot. Just do things the right way. So, Kobe, how was it?” The fans cheer, they loved it! ZSJ says his next challenger, well, isn’t it Konosuke Takeshita? Is he here? No? Oh well, too bad. But ZSJ decides to talk to “Take-chan” through the camera! “Oi, Za Alpha, huh? Well, I’m the effin’ Front Man, and I’m the effin’ IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. We’re 1-1, huh? Ryogoku, <it’ll be fun>, d*ckhead!” ZSJ then wonders, should he get past Takeshita, who will be his challenger for WrestleKingdom in the Tokyo Dome?
ZSJ wonders if someone from this “Next Generation” is gonna step up. ZSJ is the best technical wrestler, he is THE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, and he is going to Tokyo Dome as such! As you were. Goodnight, Kobe! Mic drop and the gold streamers fly for the champion! But with 15 days to prepare, will ZSJ be ready for The Alpha? Who will prove they are THE King of Pro-Wrestling when NJPW returns to Ryogoku?
My Thoughts:
Awesome show for NJPW here, a really stacked card, and that’s even with it partially acting as the go-home/bridge to other events, such as King of Pro-Wrestling and now even NOAH’s Wrestle Odyssey. I was very surprised Tanahashi VS Khan went so quickly, but I suppose there was no doubting Tanahashi would win that. At the same time, it allowed time for Kaito to challenge Tanahashi face to face, and that’ll be a great match. Oleg VS Fale was good stuff, and great win for Oleg overcoming the overbooking. But of course, Evil & Dick have to beat Oleg up anyway, and Evil makes the obvious challenge. Sadly, the NEVER Openweight title is kinda the only title Evil can take, with or without cheating, as it feels like the other title scenes have left him behind.
Awesome tag title match, Oskar & Yuto are really ahead of the pace I expected for them. Granted, it helps that Oskar is legit 6’7″. And for being 2025, Yuto’s throwback gimmick of like 1990s American hip hop and rap is somehow working. Great win for them, and now Shota & Yuya are coming for the belts after their solid win in the 10 Man Tag. I don’t think the Knock Out Brothers are gonna be transitional champions, but who knows. There’s also World Tag League to consider in a couple months, so anything can happen.
Hiromu VS Taiji was great, though the gut wrench teeter totter might’ve gone one turn too many with Taiji almost dropping Hiromu. Great win for Hiromu, and Taiji showing him respect was also a nice touch. Eita showing up to attack Hiromu was good stuff to build their own Wrestle Odyssey match, and maybe Eita wins that to bring the GHC title home. Hiromu’s already solidified himself as one of, if not THE best Junior Heavyweight already, no need for a lengthy reign with another company’s belt.
Yota VS Finlay was awesome, Takagi VS Gabe was awesome but also scary given the cut on the back of Gabe’s head. But Gabe winning out made sense, as he and Yota can have their rematch. That will also be an awesome one, and could go either way, depending on other plans. ZSJ VS Ren was great, not quite as red hot as the other matches, and of course we got more overbooking. Luckily, it backfired, and ZSJ stays on top. ZSJ VS Konosuke for King of Pro-Wrestling will definitely bring the house down, but I’m leaning towards ZSJ retaining. Konosuke is awesome, we all know this, but he has a lot more going on in AEW right now, in that he should take the Unified Championship from Okada. It’d also be quite something if Konosuke won the Continental Classic this year, making unique history of winning both G1 and C2 in the same year.
My Score: 9.2/10
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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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