There WILL be new NEVER Openweight Six Man Champions!

Kazuchika Okada’s leaving NJPW meant vacating the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles. Now a tournament will be held in one go to crown new champions! Who NEVER stops until they make it reign?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Kickoff Match – Puzzle Presents: Touyuu VS Axe Wang; Touyuu wins.
• NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships Tournament: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The United Empire; Tanahashi, Yano & Oleg win and advance to tonight’s main event.
• NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships Tournament: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins and advances to tonight’s main event.
• Tiger Mask & Satoshi Kojima VS El Desperado & Shoma Kato; Tiger Mask & Kojima win.
• HANAKO VS Starlight Kid; Starlight Kid wins.
• DOUKI VS Kosei Fujita; Douki wins.
• IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Bishamon VS SANADA & Yuya Uemura; Bishamon wins and retain the titles.
• NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The House of Torture; Tanahashi, Yano & Oleg win and are the new NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions.

PLAY BY PLAY

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships Tournament: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The United Empire!

The Ace may also be President of NJPW, but that doesn’t mean he’s retired! He wants to get these Six Man titles back, will the Clown Prince and the Hulking Kazakh help him do that? Or will Great-O-Khan, Francesco Akira & Callum Newman conquer the Six Man Division?

The fans rally for “SACHOU! SACHOU!” as he shows off the abs. Then the trios sort out, and while Oleg gets in Khan’s face, we start with Callum and Tanahashi. The fans cheer, the bell rings, and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Tanahashi finds a point of leverage and powers Callum onto ropes. The ref counts, Tanahashi lets off cleanly, and the fans applaud. Callum and Tanahashi reset, tie up again, and Tanahashi headlocks. Tanahashi thrashes and grinds the hold but Callum pulls hair! The fans boo and the ref reprimands, but Callum lets slowly. But then Callum kicks low! Callum whips Tanahashi hard into a corner!

Callum runs corner to corner but into an ELBOW! Tanahashi goes up to CROSSBODY! The fans cheer as Tanahashi air guitars, but Callum gets to his feet in a huff. Yano and Oleg both reach out, but Tanahashi tags Yano. The fans fire up for Yano but Akira tags in. Yano goes to untie a buckle pad! Akira protests but he lets Yano have his fun. Akira then shadows Yano as he turns around. Yano is confused, turns around but Akira stays behind him. Akira then shoves Yano into the corner! Yano loses the pad and Akira dropkicks the legs out! Akira runs, rolls and basement dropkicks! Crowns up and the fans cheer.

Akira drags Yano over, tags in Khan, and Khan puts some stank on the Mongolian Chops! The Empire double whip but Yano holds ropes and tags Oleg! The fans fire up but The Empire mugs Oleg first! They double whip but Oleg holds ropes, to then come in and DOUBLE SHOUDLER TACKLE! Khan gets up but Oleg throws him with a fireman’s carry takeover! Callum runs in to BOOT Oleg, then runs, but Oleg CLOBBERS Callum and sends him flying! The fans fire up as Oleg hauls Khan up, but Khan CLAPS at him, twists an ear and CLUBS it, then clinches for a BELLY2BELLY! Khan then BLASTS Tanahashi and Yano off the corner!

Khan stomps away on Oleg, drags him back up, then Mongolian CHOPS! Oleg staggers, Khan Mongolian CHOPS again! And again! Oleg falls, Khan cocky covers, ONE! The fans rally as Khan hauls Oleg up in a facelock. Khan brings Oleg to the corner, tags Callum, and the Empire mugs him. Callum CHOPS, then tags Akira. Callum bumps Oleg off buckles, Akira CHOPS, then they double whip. Callum runs in to forearm SMASH! Akira runs in to clothesline! Feed to the DROPKICK! The fans fire up with Akira as he and Callum coordinate, back suplex SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Akira drags Oleg up and around to facelock, but Oleg throws body shots.

Khan tags in, he and Akira mug Oleg, and Khan CLUBS Oleg down. Khan drags Oleg up but Oleg ROCKS him! And CHOPS him! Oleg whips, Khan reverses to NORTHERN- NO, Oleg fights the suplex, so Khan RAMS him into the corner! Khan turns Oleg around, CLUBS him, and then climbs up. The fans cheer as Khan sits on his throne! Oleg flails, the ref reprimands but Khan hops down. Khan then HIP TOSSES Oleg down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally, Khan kicks Oleg around then whips. Oleg reverses and lifts, but Khan claws the ear! Oleg lets Khan down but avoids the lariat to DROPKICK Khan down!

The fans fire up while both men are down. Hot tag to Tanahashi! The fans fire up as Sachou rallies on Khan with FLYING FOREARMS! Then he BLASTS Callum and Akira off the apron! Tanahashi runs in at the corner, but blocks Khan’s boot! DRAGON SCREW! The fans fire up as Akira runs in, and gets a DRAGON SCREW! Callum steps in, but Tanahashi gets his leg! Tanahashi waves bye before the DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! The fans fire up with Tanahashi and he waits on Khan. Khan rises, Tanahashi runs in, but Khan sidesteps and TOSSES Tanahashi! But Tanahashi skins the cat! Only for Khan to waistlock!

Tanahashi fires elbows, but Khan ducks the shotei to HITSUJIGOROSHI into MARINE! Both men are down and the fans rally up! Khan and Tanahashi crawl, hot tag to Callum! Callum runs up to whip Tanahashi, but Tanahashi reverses. Callum stops himself, comes back, but into a spin, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans rally as Tanahashi crawls, hot tag to Yano! The fans fire up with Yano, he whips Callum at the bare corner! Callum stops himself, Yano runs in, but Callum dodges so Yano hits bare buckles! Callum runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and BOOTS Yano down! The Prince of Speed shows why that’s the case!

The fans fire up with Callum as he goes Around the World for a DROPKICK! Snapmare and PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO!! Yano survives, but Akira DROPKICKS Oleg down! Khan joins in, The Empire gets Yano up. They mug Yano in the corner, whip him corner to corner, then Khan runs in. Khan clotheslines, Akira clotheslines, and Callum runs to trip and STOMP Yano down! Cover, TWO!! Yano stays in this and the fans rally up again. Callum scowls and drags Yano to a drop zone. The Empire brawls with Tanahashi and Oleg while Callum climbs. The fans fire up as Callum aims, SHOOTING STAR, but he has to land out as Yano moves!

Tanahashi returns to dropkick Callum’s legs out! Khan BOOTS Tanahashi! Oleg scoops and SLAMS Khan! Akira dodges Oleg to ENZIGIR! The fans fire up, Akira runs and RANAS, but Oleg blocks it! Oleg swings Akira around to Shake, Rattle and- SUPERKICK from Callum! Tanahashi returns again, Callum ducks the shotei but then Tanahashi ducks the heel kick! SHOTEI! Yano rolls Callum up, Yano’s team wins!

Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg, by pinfall (advance to the main event)

The Ace, the Joker and the Rook snatch the win and are now in the title match! Will this hot hand take the pot? Or will they be trumped by the winner of the next match?

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships Tournament: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The House of Torture!

Shingo Takagi is once again NEVER Openweight Champion, but he, Yota Tsuji & Bushi are looking to add to the LIJ trophy case. But Evil, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Sho want to make up for their losses, will they find redemption through this tournament? Or will everything be tranquilo in Taiwan?

Sho gets the mic to say he hates being here in Taiwan, so he wants to win, get the titles, and get outta here as fast as he can! The fans boo but Sho just taunts them all. He tells LIJ to get out here already, so LIJ makes their entrance. Takagi shows off that he cleaned up that NEVER Openweight belt from all the black spray paint Evil defaced it with! The fans cheer Takagi, Yota and Bushi in turn, and LIJ fist bump. But the House attacks! The fans boo but the bell rings, and Kanemaru has Yota in the ring. Evil KNEES Takagi, then steps on the NEVER Openweight title! Sho DECKS Bushi, Kanemaru whips Yota, but Yota comes back to run Kanemaru over!

Yota runs to SPLASH, cover, TWO! Yota keeps cool and he brings Kanemaru up. Yota reels Kanemaru in, suplexes, but Kanemaru fights it! Yota ROCKS Kanemaru, ROCKS him again, and then again! Yota runs but Sho is there! The fans boo but Kanemaru CLAWS Yota’s eyes! Kanemaru whips Yota to the corner, and surprise! Evil takes the blue buckle pad away! Yota hits bare steel, then the House BLASTS Bushi and Yota! The fans boo but Kanemaru drags Yota up. Sho SMACKS Bushi off apron, Kanemaru TOSSES Yota, and then Sho and Kanemaru stomp away. The fans boo more, but then Evil whips Takagi at the edge of the stage!

Takagi stops himself by flailing and wobbling! The fans are relieved he stays safe, but then Evil CLAWS Takagi’s back! Sho puts Yota in the ring, Kanemaru covers, TWO! Kanemaru tags Sho, Sho scuffs Yota around and taunts him. Yota rises up, fires a forearm, but Sho eggs him on! Yota fires another forearm so Sho CLAWS Yota’s eyes! Sho throws Yota out then gets in the ref’s face, Evil JAMS Yota with a chair! The fans boo but Evil taunts them. The ref has to keep LIJ from going after The House, and Evil puts Yota in for Sho to cover. ROPEBREAK! Sho is upset but he steps on Yota’s arm. Tag to Kanemaru, he and Sho DOUBLE KNEE DROP!

Kanemaru drags Yota up, whips him to ropes, then kitchen sink KNEES him down! Cover, TWO! Gene Blast stays in this for his team but Kanemaru stomps away. Kanemaru then scuffs Yota, taunts him, but Yota just gets mad! The fans rally for Yota as Kanemaru gives him more kicks. Yota stands to ROCK Kanemaru, ROCK him again, and ROCK him again! But Kanemaru CLAWS eyes! Tag to Evil, the ref is again told to stop LIJ, and Evil CHOKES Yota with a House of Torture shirt! Evil shoves Yota down, covers, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO!! Evil is furious with the ref but Yota’s tougher than all that.

Evil stands Yota up, wrenches and whips Yota to a neutral corner. Evil runs in, blocks a boot, but Yota reels him in for the STOMP! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Yota and Evil crawl, hot tag to Takagi! The Rampaging Dragon runs up but Sho & Kanemaru drop away. So Takagi runs Evil over, scoops him and SLAMS him, but Evil avoids the senton! Sho & Kanemaru get in to stomp Takagi, double whip, but he holds ropes! Then DOUBLE PUMPING BOMBERS! But Evil CLAWS Takagi’s eyes! Evil runs, but into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKON LARIAT! The fans fire up as Takagi gets Evil back up.

Takagi suplexes high and hard, then covers, TWO! Evil is tougher than that, but Takagi then says in Taiwanese, he’s not done! But Takagi still uses Japanese for “TOKI GA KITA! <THE TIME HAS COME!>” The fans fire up with “OI! OI! OI!” Then he fires down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS on Evil! Takagi runs, but Evil uses the ref as a shield! Takagi moves the ref aside, but Evil blocks the kick, gives it to the ref, and mule kicks Takagi down! The standard formula works out, and Evil tags Sho. Sho laughs as he runs up in the corner, clothesline! Then he brings Takagi around, wrenches, kicks, KICKS and SUPER- NO, Takagi blocks the superkick!

Takagi JABS, then YUKON feints to DDT! The fans fire up again and Takagi encourages them to get louder. Takagi hurries over, tag to Bushi! Bushi fires forearms on Sho, runs, but Kanemaru gets a cheap shot in! Bushi falls, Kanemaru steps in, he and Sho double whip Bushi to ropes. Bushi gets under the double elbows and shoves Kanemaru into Sho! Then Bushi DOUBLE RANAS! The fans fire up, and Bushi BLASTS Evil for good measure! Sho swings, Bushi spins him, DDT! Cover, TWO! Sho stays in this for the House but the fans rally behind Bushi. Bushi brings Sho to a corner, whips corner to corner, but Sho reverses.

Sho runs up, Bushi dodges, Yota STINGER SPLASHES! Takagi clotheslines, then feeds Sho to Yota’s V-TRIGGER! Sho wobbles, Bushi BACKSTABBERS! Cover, TWO!! Sho survives the onslaught but the fans rally for Bushi. Bushi drags Sho up, but Kanemaru runs in to BOOT Bushi down! Takagi JUMP KNEES Kanemaru! Evil whips Takagi into bare buckles! Evil mule kicks Yota, whips him, and Yota also hits bare buckles! Bushi dropkicks Evil’s legs out! Bushi drags Sho up, reels him in, but Sho breaks free and CLAWS the eyes! Sho runs, into a dropkick to the legs! Bushi SMASHES the knee, then ties the legs up! RIVERA!!

Sho endures, flails, but Kanemaru gets his whiskey! Evil distracts, Kanemaru WHISKEY MISTS! Sho is free, he has his Torture Tool! WRENCH SHOT!! Sho drags Bushi up, reels him in and tucks the arms, SHOCK ARROW!! Cover, The House wins!

Winners: The House of Torture, by pinfall (advance to the main event)

Like always, The House finds a way to cheat their way to success! Will The King of Darkness and his pawns find a way to trump Team Go Ace? Or will Sachou get to personally punish this faction for all their nefarious deeds?

DOUKI VS Kosei Fujita!

Japones Del Mal and the Ichiban Young Punk each staked their claim to the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, to the point that Douki left with the belt! If possession is nine-tenths of the law, then who will be the de factor champion after tonight?

The moment Douki’s on the apron, Fujita dropkicks him down! Fujita then builds speed and FLIES! Direct hit on Douki and the fans fire up! Fujita drags Douki up, puts him in the ring, then springboards to SWANTON BOMB! The bell rings, Fujita covers, TWO! Fujita runs to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Fujita waistlocks and deadlifts Douki, but Douki throws elbows. Fujita ducks to CHOP, then he runs, only for Douki to do the splits! Fujita tumbles out, Douki builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit in return and the fans fire up again! The ref checks both men, they’re both okay to continue.

Douki sits up first, the ring count starts and Douki POSTS Fujita! Fujita falls over, Douki drags him up, and then DDTs to the floor! Douki slides in at 10 of 20, leaving Fujita to the count. The count reaches 15 before Fujita sits back up! Fujita flounders around at 17, 18, but springs in at 19! Douki drags Fujita up, CLUBS him, then stalks him to ropes. Douki CLUBS Fujita again, drags him up, and turns him for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally and Douki keeps on Fujita with a chinlock. Fujita endures the knee digging into his back, reaches out, and kicks around. The fans rally more as Fujita keeps moving forward, to the ROPEBREAK!

Douki lets off in frustration, then drags Fujita back up. Fujita fires forearms but Douki eggs him on. Douki then knees low, and DDTs! Cover, TWO! Fujita is still in this and the fans cheer again. Douki whips Fujita but Fujita holds ropes to block! Douki tries again, knees low, then whips. Fujita reverses, CHOPS, but Douki HELL STABS! Douki runs, but into the WHEEL KICK! It was only a grazing blow but enough to knock Douki down! The fans rally up and Fujita hurries after Douki. Fujita fires a forearm, an UPPERCUT and a CHOP! Fujita whips corner to corner then runs in, to CHOP! Fujita snapmares Douki, then goes up, out and waits.

Douki slowly rises, Fujita springboards in, MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Douki shakes his head, he’s tougher than that. Fujita drags him up, reels him in, and suplexes high and hard! Fujita keeps moving, PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! Fujita grows frustrated but he drags Douki up. Fujita waistlocks, goes to ropes, but Douki bucks the O’Conner. Fujita CLUBS Douki, brings him back, but Douki fights the lift. Douki switches, spins Fujita around and drops down, ITALIAN STRETCH 32! Fujita scrambles, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Fujita escapes by a literal foot! Douki lets go in frustration and the fans rally.

Douki turns Fujita to Gory Especial, but Fujita fights free! Fujita arm-drags Douki away, then runs up, but into a BOOTS! Douki goes to the apron, RAMS into Fujita, then slingshots for DAY- NO, Fujita stays up, pops Douki around, but Douki sunset flips! Fujita rolls through, rolls Douki and hooks the legs up, REGAL STRETCH! Douki endures and the fans rally up! Douki claws at the mat but Fujita has those legs trapped! Douki still fights but Fujita pulls way back! Douki doesn’t give in, he gets the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Fujita lets off in frustration. Fujita drags Douki up, spin him, but Douki fights the lift!

Douki throws elbows, runs, but Fujita reels him in! Douki kicks free but then Fujita ducks the enzigiri! Fujita waistlocks to deadlift, but Douki wheelbarrows! Victory roll, TWO! Douki goes for the full nelson! Fujita fights, so Douki shifts for the Bow ‘n’ Arrow Rack! Douki spins and spins, REINEDA! And then ghost pin, TWO!! Fujita escapes, but ends up in the ITALIAN STRETCH!! Douki pulls and Fujita is already red in the face! Fujita reaches out, Douki rolls him away from ropes! ITALIAN STRETCH!! Fujtia is fading! The ref checks, but Fujita gets a second wind! Fujita kicks around, reaches out, but Douki pulls!

Fujita’s fading again! The fans rally harder as Fujita gives one last kick, to the ROPEBREAK! Douki lets go and the fans cheer! Douki rises, goes to the apron, and takes aim for DAYBREAKER!! Cover, TWO?!? Fujita survives and Douki is furious! The fans rally, Douki gets the legs and turns Fujita over. Wheelbarrow, lift, but Fujita fights the rest! Fujita fires elbows, waistlocks, GERMAN SUPLEX! Douki tumbles away and the fans fire up while both men are down. Fujita rises, the fans rally, and Fujita brings Douki up. Douki ENZIGIRIS, but Fujita ENZIGIRIS! Fujita runs, but Douki ELBOWS! Douki runs but Fujita BOOTS then HEEL KICKS!

But Douki stays up! Douki runs up to LARIAT! But then Fujita rises!! Both men run, and Fujita LEG LARIATS! Douki crawls to ropes, Fujita runs in, STRADDLE ATTACK! Fujita roars, the fans fire up, and Fujita deadlift GERMAN SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO!! Douki survives but Fujita stays on him! Suplex, but Douki fights free, wrenches, hammerlocks, rolls, then drags Fujita up into Gory Especial! DODON NO JUTSU! Backslide cover, TWO! Douki just hops over Fujita to hook him up again! SUPLEX DE LA LUNA!! Bridging cover, Douki wins!!

Winner: Douki, by pinfall

And “still” IWPG Junior Heavyweight Champion, at that! If Douki can put on a match like that and pull off the victory, will nothing stop him from becoming the Best of the Super Juniors?

Oh no, Sho attacks! He wants his belt back! The fans boo as he stomps away on Douki then picks up the belt. To be fair, Sho is still the actual champion, but he takes aim with the belt! Douki dodges to ENZIGIRI! Then he reels Sho in for the torture rack, and swings for the SIDEWALK SLAM! The fans fire up as Douki takes the belt back! The Murder Machine tried and failed to take the belt back, will he also fail to stay a champion through the Spring?

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Bishamon VS SANADA & Yuya Uemura!

Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi only just got these title back, but they’re fighting champions so they’re already putting them on the line! Will it be lights out in Taiwan? Or will the Cold Skull & Heat Storm bring gold back to Just5Guys?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if Chaos still reigns!

The teams sort out and Hashi starts against Yuya. The bell rings and the fans rally for Yuya as the two circle. They tie up, Yuya wrenches to a wristlock, but Hashi spins, wrenches back, and then hammerlocks. Yuya switches that onto Hashi, but Hashi drop toeholds. Hashi floats to a headlock but Yuya pops out the back to hammerlock again. Hashi rolls, headscissors, but Yuya fights that off to keep the headlock. Hashi keeps his shoulders up, fights to his feet, then rolls Yuya to get his own headlock. Yuya headscissors, Hashi kips free and the fans cheer! Hashi and Yuya circle again, feel things out, knuckle lock, but then Yuya shoots around to headlock.

Yuya grinds the hold, Hashi powers up but can’t power out as Yuya holds tight! Yuya grinds Hashi to the mat but Hashi endures and fights back up. Hashi throws body shots, powers up and out, but Yuya RAMS shoulders! The fans cheer as the two stare down. Yuya runs, RAMS Hashi again, but Hashi gets in Yuya’s face. Yuya shoves, runs, but Hashi ELBOWS! Hashi runs, but into a hip toss! And arm-drag! Yuya DROPKICKS Hashi, then BLASTS Goto for good measure! The fans fire up and Yuya goes back for Hashi. Yuya drags Hashi up, CHOPS him, then CHOPS again. Yuya whips, Hashi holds ropes, then BOOTS back!

Goto gets in, he and Hashi run Yuya over! Bishamon coordinate, ZANMAI! Sanada storms in but Goto kicks low! “SE NO!” and they DRUM away on Sanada’s back! The fans fire up with Bishamon, and Goto stomps Sanada to a corner. Hashi has Yuya in the opposite, then they whip. Sanada & Yuya reverse to send Goto and Hashi into each other! DROPKICKS send Bishamon out, then STEREO PLANCHAS take them down! The fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. The fans oblige and Sanada brings Goto up. Yuya brings Hashi up to CHOP! And CHOP! Hashi fires a foraerm, but Yuya eggs him on.

Hashi fires more forearms, then CHOPs! Yuya CHOPS Hashi down! The fans fire up, but the ref says to get this in the ring. Yuya drags Hashi up and puts him in. The fans applaud and Yuya storms in after Hashi. Yuya drags Hashi up, ROCKS him with a haymaker, then CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Yuya CHOPS Hashi in the corner, CHOPS him again, but Hashi CHOPS back! Yuya knees low, then CHOPS Hashi down! Tag to Sanada and the fans rally up. Sanada drags Hashi up, reels him in, and Sanada CLUBS Hashi on the neck. Sanada CLUBS Hashi again, but Hashi throws body shots! Sanada CLUBS Hashi down, then stomps him at the ropes.

The ref reprimands and counts, Sanada stops, then drags Hashi back up. Sanada knees Hashi into the corner, whips corner to corner, then runs in, but blocks a boot! Sanada trips Hashi, and ties him up for Paradise! The fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get even louder. The fans cheer Sanada on as he then runs to DROPKICK Hashi out of Paradise! Sanada then drags Hashi up and around, reels him in, but Hashi fights the suplex! The fans rally as Sanada powers up, but Hashi still fights it! Hashi goes to suplex but Sanada slips free! Sanada blocks the superkick to CLUB the leg! Snada runs, Hashi dodges, BLOCKBUSTER!

Sanada flounders and Hashi crawls, but Yuya jumps in! Yuya drags Hashi up but Hashi SPIN BACK KICKS! Hashi crawls, hot tag to Goto! Goto runs in at a corner to clothesline Sanada! Then he runs corner to corner to clothesline Yuya! Sanada kicks and whips, then he sends Yuya in. Goto dodges Yuya, CLOBBERS Sanada, then kicks Yuya! Goto snap suplexes Yuya onto Sanada! The fans fire up and Goto brings Sanada up. Fireman’s carry, but Sanada flails free! Goto elbows free of the waistlock, then kicks and whips. Goto runs in, but Sanada BOOTS him! Sanada QUEBRADAS, but Goto gets under!

Goto runs up but into a fireman’s carry! Goto slips free, Sanada throws more elbows! Sanada runs, Goto follows, but Sanada ELBOWS! STANDING MOONSAULT, but Sanada lands on his feet as Goto moves! Then Sanada basement dropkicks! The fans fire up while both men are down! Sanada and Goto stir, and Sanada crawls for his corner, hot tag to Yuya! Yuya storms up on Goto, brings him up and reels him in, SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Goto stays in this but Yuya stays calm. Yuya drags Goto up, underhooks the arms, but Goto fights the lift! Yuya still tries, but Goto lifts Yuya to back drop him! The fans fire up while both men are down!

Yuya goes to a corner, Goto crawls to ropes. Goto stands, runs up, but Yuya ELBOWS him! Yuya runs, Goto follows and LARIATS! Both men are down again and the fans rally! Goto crawls his way over, hot tag to Hashi! The fans cheer as Hashi fires off a forearm, body shot and CHOP! Yuya falls, the fans fire up, and Yuya goes to a corner. Hashi runs up to CHOP! Hashi whips to CHOP! Then he mule kicks, turns Yuya, but Yuya fights the neckbreaker! Yuya whips, Hashi reverses but Yuya CLOBBERS him! The fans fire up as Yuya kips up, and Sanada jumps in. They get Hashi up in a corner, and whip corner to corner.

Yuya runs in to CHOP! Sanada runs in to ELBOW! Sanada feeds Hashi to Yuya’s arm-drag! And then they DOUBLE DROPKICK! Hashi roars as he rises, but then a DOUBLE BOOT takes him down! Cover off #Just2Boots, TWO! Yuya is a little annoyed but Sanada keeps Goto out of the ring. Yuya drags Hashi up, underhooks, but Hashi fights the lift! Hashi wrenches out, Yuya ducks the lariat and waistlocks, but Hashi RAMS him into buckles! Goto runs in to clothesline Yuya! The fans fire up as Goto BLASTS Sanada off the apron! Bishamon fires up, they bring Yuya around, feed to the fireman’s carry, and FIERCE FLASH!

The fans fire up with Bishamon as Hashi calls for the finish! Goto dragon sleepers, Hashi grabs the legs, but Sanada CLUBS Hashi! Goto pushes Yuya aside but Sanada kicks him to whip him. But Goto reverses to fireman’s carry! But Sanada slips free! Only to run into HIDDEN GAP! And then they get Sanada up! But Sanada kicks free of Hashi! Goto fights Sanada’s suplex, Hashi gets the legs, but Sanada kicks free of Magic Killer! Sanada then puts Goto up for MAGIC SCREW! The fans fire up again as Hashi runs in! Sanada ducks, feed to Yuya’s UPPERCUT! DOUBLE CHOP! ENZIGIRI! Cold Skull & Heat Storm watch Hashi rise, SHINING WIZARD!

The fans fire up as Yuya brings Hashi back up, underhooks, and BUTTERFLY BOMBS! Cover, Goto breaks it! Sanada TOSSES Goto out and leaves it to Yuya! Yuya roars, goes to a corner and climbs up, to CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO!! Hashi survives and the fans fire up again! Yuya grits his teeth and roars! Yuya drags Hashi up, reels him in. Yuya traps the arms, but Hashi fights the Deadbolt! Yuya CLUBS away on Hashi, then tries again. But Hashi CHOPS! Yuya PELES! Yuya gets Hashi back up, swings him around, but Hashi LARIATS! Both men are down and the fans rally even harder! Hashi and Yuya stir, and head for each other.

Yuya gets in Hashi’s face, but Hashi fires a forearm! Yuya fires back! Hashi fires another, so Yuya HAYMAKERS! Hashi throws another forearm, Yuya fires another haymaker, repeat! They go back and forth, pick up speed, and the fans rally harder and harder! Hashi gets the edge, then CHOPS! Yuya roars, but Hashi DOUBLE CHOPS! Hashi roars, runs, but into a DOUBLE CHOP from Yuya! Goto returns but Yuya dodges! Feed to Sanada’s DROPKICK! Sanada & Yuya double whip Hashi to a corner, then Yuya runs in. Hashi dodges, dropkicks Sanada’s leg, then he sends Yuya into Sanada! SUPERKICK!

Yuya staggers, Hashi brings him around, and Hashi fires forearm, body shot and CHOP! Hashi runs, but Yuya spins him around! DEAD- NO, Hashi fights the suplex and Goto LARIATS at the ropes! Then spin and tuck, KARMA ROLL! Bishamon wins!!

Winners: Bishamon, by pinfall (still IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)

Yuya can’t believe he got caught, but he did! Goto & Hashi

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The House of Torture!

Ace-sachou and the Clown Prince bring back the high school “Yankee” bad boy look as they prepare to face some real punks! Will they and big bad Boltin tear down the House? Or will the King of Darkness make sure Everything is Evil again?

The introductions are made, but then the House attacks! They TOSS Tanahashi aside, then TOSS Yano, and Evil CLAWS Oleg’s face! Sho digs a chair into Tanahashi’s leg! Red Shoes is so busy with Sho that he misses Kanemaru’s WHISKEY BOTTLE SHOT on Oleg! The fans boo but the match hasn’t started, there’s nothing Red Shoes can do about any of this! Kanemaru & Evil then mug Yano on the outside, and use spare wrist tape to hogtie him! The bell finally rings as Sho puts Tanahashi in the ring, and Sho CHOKES Tanahashi! Red Shoes reprimands, Sho steps off, but Kanemaru stomps away on Yano!

Yano calls for help but Oleg is down and the House mugs Tanahashi! The fans boo but the House soaks up the heat. They stomp Tanahashi more, but Red Shoes reprimands. Evil and Kanemaru split the wishbone, and then Kanemaru CLUBS Tanahashi. But Tanahashi fights back with forearms! The House mugs Tanahashi again! Red Shoes reprimands, there has to be a 1v1! Kanemaru stays the legal man as he drops elbow after elbow on the bad knee! Tanahashi endures the toehold, so Kanemaru shifts to drag him over. Tag to Evil, he and Kanemaru split the wishbone again! Tanahashi writhes but Evil drags him around.

Evil stomps away on the bad leg while Sho keeps Yano and Oleg down on the outside. Evil has Tanahashi on ropes but the fans boo. Evil CHOKES Tanahashi, Kanemaru and Sho join in, and then Evil covers. Red Shoes refuses because of all the shenanigans. Evil stomps Tanahashi drags him from ropes to cover, TWO! Wait, who rings the bell? That’s Sho of course, and the fans boo. Red Shoes and Sho argue, and Sho acts like that was all Abe-san. Red Shoes knows better than that, so the match continues. Evil tags Sho, Sho stomps Tanahashi around, then Sho drags Tanahashi by the leg to DDT the foot!

Tanahashi writhes, Sho tags Kanemaru, and Kanemaru storms up to get the bad leg. Kanemaru SMASHES the knee! Kanemaru eggs Tanahashi on, stomps the bad leg, but Tanahashi glares at him defiantly! The fans fire up as Tanahashi rises, and he fires off forearms! But Kanemaru claws the eyes! Kanemaru runs, Tanahashi blocks the boot to DRAGON SCREW! The fans fire up, Tanahashi crawls, and Yano’s free of the tape! Hot tag to Yano! The fans fire up as Yano goes to untie a buckle pad! Shiro is free and Yano throws him to Kanemaru! Red Shoes reprimands Kanemaru, Kanemaru defends his innocence, but Yano SLAPS Kanemaru on the head!

Yano whips Kanemaru but Kanemaru reverses! Yano stops from hitting bare buckles, Kanemaru runs in, but Yano sends him into the bare buckles! Roll-up, TWO! Yano stays fired up and the fans join in. Yano gets Kanemaru up but Kanemaru body shots, elbows and runs! But Yano atomic- NO, Kanemaru CLAWS the eyes! So Yano CLAWS the eyes! Yano runs, but Evil trips him! Sho stomps Oleg down, Evil drags Yano out, and Evil CLAWS Yano’s eyes! Red Shoes reprimands, but Evil and Kanemaru distract him so Sho can CHOKE Yano with a chair! Sho then drags Yano up, puts him in the ring, and Evil takes off his shirt.

Red Shoes says no, he doesn’t trust Evil with the shirt. Red Shoes confiscates the shirt, but Evil has a tag rope! Evil CHOKES Yano with the tag rope! The fans boo as Evil gets away with that one! Cover, TWO! Yano is still in this and Evil is upset with Red Shoes! Evil drags Yano up, wrenches, and YANKS the arm, to then CLUB it! Tag to Sho and he runs up to wrench Yano’s arm and bend the fingers! Sho wrenches again to ELBOW BREAKER! Yano falls but Sho tags Kanemaru. Sho pulls on the bad arm while Kanemaru goes up, and Kanemaru AX HANDLES the arm! Kanemaru wrenches the arm, YANKS and YANKS and wrangles Yano!

Kanemaru isolates the arm with atop wristlock, and STOMPS it! Then Kanemaru hits an ARM WRINGER! Kanemaru stomps Yano, BLASTS Tanahashi, then tags Sho. They get Yano up, Kanemaru wrenches the arm and Sho climbs, to AX HANDLE! Sho grins while Yano writhes, and Sho stomps Yano around. Sho bends the fingers, twists the wrist, then gets Yano up to wrap his arm around ropes. Red Shoes reprimands and counts, Sho lets off but distracts Red Shoes so Kanemaru can bend the arm! Evil tags in, he storms over, and he bumps Yano off buckles. Evil then TOSSES Yano out, and gets in Red Shoes’ face again!

Sho CHOKES Yano with the chair, then Kanemaru drags Yano up. Kanemaru wrenches and hammerlocks the arm to POST it! Sho then puts Yano in while Tanahashi protests. Red Shoes tells Sachou to stand down, and Evil covers. Red Shoes is late to the count, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO!! Yano is still in this and Evil is furious! The fans cheer, though, and Evil drags Yano up. Yano pulls hair! Evil kicks low, whips, but Yano reverses for the hair-pull takedown! The fans rally up, hot tag to Oleg! Oleg CLOBBERS Evil, BLASTS the House, then scoops Evil to SLAM him! Oleg runs to SPLASH! Cover, TWO!

Oleg stays cool and he deadlifts Evil! Sho & Kanemaru attack, they reel him in, but Oleg fights the double suplex to DOUBLE SUPLEX them! The fans fire up as Oleg deadlift GUT WRENCH PLEXES Sho! Then he deadlifts Kanemaru for Shake, Rattle and THROW! The fans fire up as Oleg fires forearms on Evil, then gut wrenches. But Evil CLAWS the eyes! Red Shoes reprimands but Evil reels Oleg in. Oleg fights the fisherman to clinch and OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Cover, TWO! Evil survives but Oleg hauls him back up! Fireman’s carry, but Evil slips free! Evil shoves Oleg at Red shoes, then LOW BLOWS!

Fans boo but The House BLASTS Tanahashi & Yano! The House then gets Oleg up, whips him to a corner, Sho forearm SMASHES! Kanemaru ELBOWS! Evil clotheslines! Snapmare and the set-up! Yano gets in but Red Shoes is distracted! Kanemaru DICK CHOPS! Cover, TWO!! Oleg survives and the fans fire up! Evil is shocked, but he vows to end this now! The fans boo but Evil drags Oleg up, spins him around, EVERYTHING- NO, Oleg fights free! Evil knees low, runs, but Oleg CLOBBERS him! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Oleg crawls his way over, hot tag to Tanahashi! The fans fire up as The President BLASTS the House!

Tanahashi keeps going to CLOBBER Evil! Tanahashi fires forearms and body shots, then he scoop SLAMS Evil into the drop zone! Tanahashi goes up, for the SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi stays cool as the fans fire up. Evil wants mercy but Tanahashi runs to SLING- NO, Evil ducks it, and whips Tanahashi into bare buckles! Tag to Sho and Kanemaru BLASTS Yano! Sho & Kanemaru double whip, Sho runs up to forearm smash! Feed to Kanemaru’s basement dropkick! They DOUBLE SMASH the knees! Sho clamps on the KNEEBAR!! Tanahashi endures, the fans rally, but Yano stomps Sho!

Kanemaru CLAWS Yano’s eyes and TOSSES him out! Evil gets in with the chair! Red Shoes stops Evil but Sho sneaks his Torture Tool! The Murder Machine wants to do this like he did to LIJ! Sho lines up the shot, but Tanahashi ducks! But WHISKEY MIST is there! Roll up, OLEG BREAKS IT!! The fans fire up as the House goes after Oleg! They TOSS Oleg, then they intercept Yano! They double whip, Yano holds ropes to taunt them! Yano ducks Kanemaru, shoves him into Evil, then shoves Red Shoes aside so he can DOUBLE LOW BLOW! Sho staggers up, winds up with the wrench, but Yano dodges!

SHOTEI from Tanahashi, then he SLINGBLADES Sho down! Oleg returns and he hauls Sho up! Oleg fireman’s carries Sho, and hits the ROLLING SENTON! Tanahashi is up top, HIGH FLY FLOW!! Cover, Team Go Ace wins!!

Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg, by pinfall (NEW NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)

A huge victory for The Ace of the Universe, for the Producer, and for the Young Lion! Oleg goes right from new kid on the block to a champion alongside two living legends! The House regroups, will they ever learn their lesson?

As for the new champs, Yano presents Oleg with his own high schooler blazer! It might be a couple sizes too small, but Yano still helps Oleg get it on! Oleg smiles as he is presented one of the belts, and is truly part of the club! Yano gets Shiro the buckle pad to join in on the photo op! And of course, they do the squat! Tanahashi-sachou then gets the mic so that he may speak. “Long time no see, Taiwan! Thank you very much, xièxiè.” Fans applaud his use of Mandarin! Tanahashi continues to say that NJPW hasn’t been able to visit Taiwan in some time, “but we’ll be back a lot from now on!” The fans love the sound of that!

Tanahashi vows to “keep NJPW fired up in Taiwan,” and that they’ll see them again very soon. “And finally… Taiwan, ASHITEMAAASU~!” The fans cheer and once again, the bad boy champs squat for the photo op. Will this unique trio lead the way into a brighter future for not just NJPW, but for the entire Wrestling World?

My Thoughts:

A great event for NJPW’s return to Taiwan, though things went about how you’d expect as far as results. Great stuff in the non-title matches, and really great win for Douki over Fujita. Douki giving Sho a taste of his own medicine with the theft of the belt is great, I hope Douki literally holds onto the belt until the final round of the Best of Super Juniors. Great tag title match from Bishamon VS Sanada & Yuya, with a great win for Bishamon. I figured Yuya was taking that pin, but he and Sanada make a pretty good team, maybe they’ll try again.

And great stuff in the NEVER Openweight Six Man tournament, but I had a feeling it was going to be Tanahashi’s team winning in the end. At least, once it was them against House of Torture, it was certainly clear. It wasn’t even that Tanahashi is President of NJPW. Evil wasn’t gonna just get a belt to replace the NEVER Openweight title, and Takagi wasn’t gonna be Mr. NEVER right away, so why not put these belts back on Tanahashi and a team he now leads. Great honor for Oleg as he hasn’t even gone from Young Lion to established guy with a gimmick. Oleg’s shown he can have fun and goof around, I think he’ll be a great third man to Tanahashi & Yano.

My Score: 8.7/10

NJPW starts a riot!

As NJPW lands in Chicago, the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Testuya Naito, defends the title against Jon Moxley! Is The Maniac going to become the face of NJPW?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Kickoff Show – Strong Survivor: Matt Vandagriff VS Zane Jay; Vandagriff wins.
• Kickoff Show – Mina Shirakawa & Viva Van VS Alex Windsor & Trish Adora; Windsor & Adora win.
• Minoru Suzuki VS Ren Narita; Narita wins.
• NJPW Strong Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer VS AZM; Vaquer wins and retains the title.
• NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships Fatal 4 Way: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo VS TMDK VS West Coast Wrecking Crew VS #NoFilthyDaysOff; TMDK wins and become the new NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions.
• Shota Umino VS Jack Perry; Shota wins.
• Mustafa Ali VS Hiromu Takahashi; Ali wins.
• Riot Rules 8 Man Tag: Team Eddie Kingston VS Team Gabe Kidd; Team Kidd wins.
• NJPW World Television Championship: Matt Riddle VS Zack Sabre Jr; ZSJ wins and becomes the new NJPW World Television Champion.
• Nic Nemeth VS Tomohiro Ishii; Nemeth wins.
• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Tetsuya Naito VS Jon Moxley; Moxley wins and becomes the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

PLAY BY PLAY

Minoru Suzuki VS Ren Narita!

Finally, months after the betrayal, The King of Pancrase gets his chance at teaching #SouledOut Narita a lesson! Will Meanest Man in the World show no mercy? Or will the House of Torture find a way to stack the deck even now?

The Windy City knows “KAZE NI NARE~!” and then Suzuki CLOBBERS Narita! The bell rings, Narita bails out and the fans fire up as Suzuki goes after him! Suzuki stomps Narita, whips him into railing, then storms up to stomp Narita down! The fans fire up for “SU-ZU-KI!” as he whips Narita hard into more railing! Suzuki stomps Narita more, then CHOKES Narita with camera cables! The fans fire up, the ref reprimands, but Suzuki lets go. The fans cheer the “MURDER GRAMPA!” as he gets a chair! Suzuki then stomps Narita, drags him up and puts his arm through railing! The ref reprimands as Suzuki pulls on the arm!

Suzuki lets off, the fans fire up more, and Suzuki drags Narita up. Suzuki brings Narita along, SMACKS him off the apron, and the ref finally starts a ring count. Suzuki kicks away on Narita then shoves him into the ring. The fans cheer and Suzuki drags Narita up. Suzuki whips but Narita flops and flounders out of the ring. The fans boo but Suzuki is amused. Suzuki taunts Narita, but Narita trips Suzuki and whips him into railing! The fans boo as Narita goes into the ring, builds speed, and as Suzuki gets on the apron, Narita BOOTS him back down! Narita stomps Suzuki against railing while the ring count starts.

Narita fires forearms, Suzuki eggs him on, so Narita claws the eyes! Suzuki gets in the ring, Narita storms in to stomp away at the ropes! The fans boo as Narita kicks Suzuki back out, then whips him hard into railing! Suzuki sputters, Narita brings Suzuki around to whip into more railing! Suzuki grabs a bottle of water to SPLASH Narita! The fans fire up but Narita kicks Suzuki, only to slip in the water! Narita puts Suzuki in the ring, stands on him for a cocky cover, TWO! The fans boo but Narita soaks up the heat. Suzuki rises, Narita fires a forearm then runs to BOOT! Suzuki staggers, Narita whips, but Suzuki reverses!

Suzuki runs in to BOOT Narita at the corner! The fans fire up as Suzuki fires forearm after forearm! The fans count and Suzuki goes past ten, and even tells the ref to back off! Narita sits down in the corner but Suzuki fires off more forearms! Suzuki tops it off at TWENTY! The fans fire up, Suzuki drags Narita to his feet, then snapmares Narita to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! Suzuki keeps on Narita with a SLEEPER! Narita fights up, slips around, and has a SLEEPER! Suzuki switches to put the SLEEPER back on Narita! The fans fire up as Narita flails, but Suzuki drops back into body scissors! Narita is caught and the fans fire up!

Narita flails, reaches out, but Suzuki rolls him away from ropes! Narita is fading, the ref checks. The arm drops once! The arm drops twice! Narita comes back at the third and has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts as Suzuki thrashes around! The ref pries at the hold, but Suzuki holds on! The ref counts again, Suzuki lets go at 4, and Suzuki gets in the ref’s face! Narita breathes again, rises up, and then runs up to KNEE STOMP! The fans boo as Narita goes to get a chair! The ref stops Narita, but Narita wedges the chair into the corner. But Suzuki kicks Narita first! Suzuki whips, follows, then shoots around to the SLEEPER!

Narita wrenches out! Narita whips, Suzuki stops himself, and then Suzuki BOOTS Narita down! The fans fire up as now Suzuki has the chair! The ref says no, the fans boo, and Narita has his push-up bar! Suzuki shoves the ref aside, PUSH-UP BAR SHOT!! Then the DOUBLE CROSSER! Cover, Narita wins!

Winner: Ren Narita, by pinfall

The fans boo because of course the Souled Out son of a gun had to cheat to win, but it’s surprising that he did it all on his own! Suzuki is pissed, he runs back up but the Young Lions keep him away! So the Young Lions are sent into railing for it! Will anyone ever humble Narita’s inflated ego?

NJPW Strong Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer VS AZM!

Having dethroned Giulia in the background of Stardom’s Cinderella Tournament, La Primera feels unstoppable! But will she be able to keep up with the Highspeed Superstar? Or will Stephanie show she’s a real speed demon herself?

The introductions are made, the NJPW belt is raised, and we see who is truly a Strong Star!

The bell rings and the fans rally up already as the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but then Vaquer uses her height for leverage. AZM digs her heels in to push back, and the fans rally up more. Vaquer gets around to waistlock, sit-down, roll and JAPANESE BRIDGE! TWO, and the fans cheer as the two reset. AZM runs up to kick low, whip, but Vaquer reverses. Vaquer hurdles but AZM comes right back to shove, follow and run up again. Vaquer pops AZM up but AZM slips free to then duck ‘n’ dodge and trip Vaquer up! Then PENALTY KICK! SLIDING KICK! Kip up! The fans fire up with AZM and she gets them even hotter!

AZM gets Vaquer up but Vaquer JAWBREAKERS! AZM blocks a kick, gives a kick, then runs to sunset flip! Vaquer stays up, scuffs AZM and then runs to drop the leg, brother! The fans fire up and Vaquer clamps on a chinlock. Vaquer squeezes tight but AZM endures. The fans rally, AZM fights around, reaches out, but Vaquer drags her by her hair! The fans boo but Vaquer wraps on a headscissors, and she turns AZM over to RAM her into the mat again and again and again! The fans cheer as Vaquer lets off to cover, TWO! AZM stays in this but Vaquer stays calm. Vaquer looms over AZM, then springboard KNEE DROPS!

Vaquer digs her heel into AZM’s head, but the ref counts. Vaquer lets off, drags AZM up and the fans rally up. Vaquer bumps AZM off buckles, sits her down, then goes up to stand on AZM’s face! The ref counts, Vaquer steps off, and she drags AZM up. AZM fires a forearm but then falls over. Vaquer stands AZM up to HEADBUTT her down! AZM drags herself up to fire another forearm! Vaquer HEADBUTTS again! AZM forearms again and again and again! The fans fire up, but Vaquer HEADBUTTS again and again and again! Vaquer runs, AZM gets around and spins her, snap suplex! The fans fire up while both women are down!

AZM stands, whips Vaquer to a corner, but Vaquer stops herself to CLUB AZM! Vaquer whips, runs up, but into a BOOT! AZM fires up, but Vaquer puts AZM’s leg in the ropes! Vaquer has the other leg, to DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! AZM writhes, flops out of the ring, but Vaquer goes to the apron. Vaquer watches like a hawk, but AZM avoids the kick! AZM trips Vaquer to ROUNDHOUSE Vaquer down! Vaquer slumps to the floor, AZM goes up and up and SUPER DIVING STOMPS!! The fans are thunderous as AZM stands tall! AZM drags Vaquer up, puts her in, and then goes back up the corner!

AZM aims and the fans fire up for the MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! But into the FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Vaquer reaches out, so AZM traps that arm and pulls the other arm! Vaquer endures as AZM has a mounted armlock! Then AZM YANKS the arm into an ARMBAR! Vaquer clasps hands to fight the hold, then kicks around, ROPEBREAK! AZM lets go and fans rally as she brings Vaquer around. AZM KICKS Vaquer in the side, then drags her into a drop zone! AZM steps on Vaquer before she climbs back up. The fans fire up for the DIVING- NO, Vaquer avoids the stomps to DROPKICK!

But AZM’s right back up! She ROUNDHOUSES Vaquer, then runs, but Vaquer reels her in, BIG back suplex! Both women are down again and the fans are thunderous! The two women slowly sit up and the fans rally again. AZM fires a forearm first, but Vaquer HEADBUTTS! AZM fires another forearm, so Vaquer HEADBUTTS! Forearm, HEADBUTT, then AZM fires a flurry! Vaquer SLAPS AZM! The fans fire up as Vaquer then blocks a slap into an ARMBAR! AZM stacks it, TWO! CROSSFACE!! Vaquer pulls way back on AZM, AZM is fading, reaches out, but Vaquer rolls her from ropes!

AZM kicks around still, ROPEBREAK behind Vaquer’s back! The fans fire up as Vaquer lets go in frustration. Vaquer drags AZM up, ducks the haymaker, then spins her to snap suplex! Cover, TWO! AZM is still in this and the fans fire up! Vaquer goes to a corner, climbs up, but AZM rises! AZM ROCKS Vaquer, but then Vaquer HEADBUTTS back! AZM ROUNDHOUSES back, goes up after Vaquer, and the fans fire up for the SUPERPLEX! AZM positions Vaquer just right, hurries back up top, and DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS!! Cover, TWO!! Vaquer survives and neither Chicago nor AZM can believe it!

AZM drags Vaquer up, “This is Awesome!” as she reels Vaquer in. Vaquer wrenches out, EAT DA FEET! Vaquer runs, AZM follows and tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTICA! Then the step over, AZM SUSHI ROLL! TWO!! Vaquer escapes the cradle, and AZM hurries to a corner. AZM runs in, but is sent into buckles! HEADBUTT HEADBUTT HEADBUTT!! Vaquer sits AZM down, runs corner to corner, METEORA! Vaquer drags AZM up and tucks her in, but AZM pops free! AZM ducks ‘n’ dodges but into a SUPERKICK! Vaquer runs, but AZM follows again! Tilt-o-whirl but no Mystica! PACKAGE BACKBREAKER!! Cover, Vaquer wins!

Winner: Stephanie Vaquer, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Women’s Champion)

AZM’s speed was there, but so was Vaquer’s strength! Vaquer keeps her THREE belts, from NJPW Strong to CMLL, but will she be able to hold onto all of them through the Summer?

Well hold on, speaking of, here comes Alex Windsor! She gets a mic to say, “Now I understand that you maybe don’t know who I am, so allow me to formally introduce myself. I am at the top of the UK Women’s Scene. I have conquered Europe, I have overcome Japan. Every single country, every single company I have been to, I have made my presence known. And trust me when I say, it doesn’t stop here. So uh, if you’re up for it, May 11th, Resurgence, you put your NJPW Strong Women’s Championship on the line against Alex Windsor!” The fans are torn on this, but Alex bloody dares Vaquer!

Vaquer looks Alex up and down, takes the mic, and says, “You’re on.” Will Vaquer be able to break the Iron Willed Windsor? Or will Alex prove she’s just as NJPW Strong, if not stronger?

NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships Fatal 4 Way: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo VS TMDK VS West Coast Wrecking Crew VS #NoFilthyDaysOff!

The Guerrillas of Destiny have passed on the torch, but there’s a chance the fire could be blown out in the Windy City! Can The Headbanga & Young Guerilla make it through Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls, Royce Isaacs, Jorel Nelson, Tom Lawlor AND Fred Rosser all at once? Or are we guaranteed NEW Strong Tag Team Champions?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who defies the odds to win the gold!

Tensions are already running high given the beef between WCWC and their former leader, Lawlor. In this Fatal 4, only two teams are legal at a time, and ELP steps up to start against Hysterical Haste. The fans rally up with the bell as the two circle. They tie up, Shane headlocks, but ELP powers up and out. Shane runs ELP over, drags him back up, and runs, but ELP drops, hurdles, and drops again. ELP DROPKICKS Shane down then handsprings up! The fans cheer but Shane KICKS ELP, whips him to the corner, only for ELP to ROCK Mikey! Shane DROPKICKS ELP down! Tag to Mikey and TMDK double whip.

TMDK DOUBLE ELBOW ELP then SENTON FIST DROP COMBO! Cover, ONE, and Mikey whips ELP. Leo tags in, ELP gets around Mikey and sends him into the UPPERCUT! ELP BLASTS Shane, Leo sends Mikey to the corner to SPLASH! ELP back elbows, then feeds Mikey to Leo’s SIDEWALK SLAM! ELP is up, for the FALLING ELBOW! Then the high five! The fans fire up as Leo aims, but then Rosser tags in! Rosser eggs Mikey on, they RAM shoulders! And RAM again! Rosser runs but Mikey ELBOWS him! Mikey runs, Rosser dodges and ROLLING ELBOWS! Tag to Lawler, the fans fire up, and NFDO RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP TACKLE COMBO!

Rosser BLASTS WCWC, drops a leg on Mikey, then scoops Lawlor to SLAM him on Mikey! Rosser BLASTS Shane, too, but Royce sneaks a tag. The fans fire up as Lawlor and Royce stare down. The two circle, but then ELP tags in off Lawlor! No filthy showdown yet, but then Royce SHOVES ELP into Lawlor, then GERMAN SUPLEXES ELP! The fans boo as WCWC BLAST Leo! Royce RAMS ELP into the corner, stomps a mudhole in, then tags in Jorel. Jorel stands ELP up to CHOP, then CHOPS again! The fans rally up as Jorel winds up, but then he pokes ELP in the eyes! The fans boo but Jorel says he’s smarter than that.

Jorel RAMS ELP into the corner, tags Royce, and then WCWC wrench and DOUBLE ATOMIC DROP! ELP hobbles, Jorel sweeps the legs, and Royce deadlift suplexes! Royce holds ELP up, kicks Shane away, but then Lawlor reaches out to tag in! Royce SLAMS ELP down, but he has to exit now. Lawlor drags ELP up, and clamps on a GUILLOTINE! ELP endures, fights his way up, reaches out, but Lawlor redirects him. Rosser tags in and CLUBS ELP. NFDO double whip to ELBOW ELP down, then Lawlor hooks Rosser up, HALF NELSON FACEBUSTER SPLASH onto ELP! Cover, TWO! Rosser stares down WCWC then gets ELP up.

Rosser kicks and KNEES ELP, then HEADBUTTS! Rosser HIP ATTACKS ELP, runs, but Royce tags in! Royce then knees Rosser low and TOSSES him! Tag to Jorel, WCWC BLASTS everyone else! Then WCWC double wrench and double- NO, ELP slips free of the suplex! ELP go esup and over, slips under, but Royce gets a leg! ELP ENZIGIRIS but then Jorel gets a leg! ELP BOOTS Jorel into Royce! Hot tag to Leo! The fans fire up as Leo UPPERCUTS Jorel! Royce ducks ‘n’ dodges but Leo still BOOTS him! Leo scoops Jorel for SNAKE EYES, and the BOOT! Leo choke grips Royce, but Jorel gets up! So Leo gets him, too!

The fans fire up but WCWC break the guzels to throw hands! WCWC double whip, but Leo breaks the line to DOUBLE LARIAT back! The fans fire up but TMDK attack! They double whip but Leo breaks those lines, only for TMDK to get under! BACK SUPELX NECKBREAKER COMBO! NFDO fire off on TMDK! The fans fire up as NFDO double whip, but Shane JUMP KICKS Rosser and Mikey ELBOWS Lawlor! TMDK pinball Lawlor, get him up, but Lawlor slips free! Lawlor shoves Mikey into Shane, then he and Rosser clamp on, SLEEPER HOLD and CROSSFACE CHICKEN WING! The fans fire up as TMDK endure!

Mikey holds Shane’s hand, but then Leo DOUBLE LARIATS all four men!! The fans are thunderous as Leo gets NFDO, DOUBLE GODSENDS!! Leo SPLASHES Jorel, scoops him, and POWERSLAMS! The fans are thunderous as Leo tags ELP in! ELP and Leo coordinate, tune up, and Jorel stands. But Royce trips ELP! Leo still grabs Jorel, but Jorel STUNNERS! Royce LARIATS Leo up and out! Jorel KNEES ELP, Royce UPPERCUTS, feed to the POP UP POWERBOMB! And then CATAPULT into the fireman’s carry, DEATH VALLEY BACKBREAKER!! Cover, Lawlor breaks it! The fans are thunderous again and Royce is furious!

“This is Awesome!” as WCWC CLOBBER Lawlor! But Rosser gets in to stand Lawlor up. The four stare down, and the filthy brawl is on! The fans fire up as the forearms fly back and forth! NFDO DECK WCWC, then they DOUBLE ROLLING ELBOW on Jorel! NFDO aim at Royce, DOUBLE ROLLING ELBOW but Royce ducks! The elbows clash, Royce BOOTS Rosser! Lawlor sweeps the leg then KNEES Royce down! But Jorel SHOTGUNS Lawlor! But he turns around into SUDDEN DEATH! And then EKP DIVES onto the others before GODSEND!! ELP is back on the apron, he climbs up Leo, but Shane sneaks a tag!

SUPER THUNDERKISS, but Shane TOSSES ELP out! Mikey gets Leo, Shane LAST SUPPER on Jorel! TMDK WINS!!

Winners: TMDK, by pinfall (NEW NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)

The Mighty Don’t Kneel, and they don’t let an opportunity get past them! Shane & Mikey have gold, will Zack Sabre Jr. join them later tonight?

Meanwhile, WCWC are pissed! They CLOBBER NFDO for it! Royce POSTS Rosser, then OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY SUPLEXES to the floor! Jorel beats down on Lawlor, then shouts in his face, “WHY!? WHY!? WHY!?” WCWC gets Lawlor up, reel him in, PILEDRIVER!! MACHO ELBOW!! Team Filthy is truly no more, and then Jorel brings out SCISSORS!! The fans boo as Royce sits Lawlor up! Jorel grabs a handful of hair, and CUTS it away! The fans boo as Jorel & Royce disrespect their mentor as they just cut random pieces away! Jorel shouts, “It didn’t have to be this way!”

The fans tell Royce he’s sick as he EATS Lawlor’s hair! Rosser manages to rise to his feet, but he’s in no shape to fight! WCWC knows that, and Jorel MAKES Rosser eat hair!! The fans are disgusted, but the WCWC leaves. Will they prove they’re truly the filthiest of them all?

Shota Umino VS Jack Perry!

The Roughneck and his mentor, Jon Moxley, got the win over the Scapegoat and Ren Narita just a few days ago at NJPW Sakura Genesis. But now this is a more personal showdown as Shota wants to finally shut Jack up once and for all. Will there be a Paradigm Shift here in Chicago? Or will Perry prove Shota doesn’t know Jack?

As Jack makes his entrance, he has guards in riot gear. The fans are chanting “C M PUNK!” at him, but he came prepared! He has the flag of Chicago draped on his shoulders, then holds it up as he struts around. Then Jack turns around and drops the flag to reveal “CRY ME A RIVER” painted on the back of his jacket! Jack is rubbing it in everyone’s faces as he goes down to the ring, but will Shota make Jack cry?

Jack gets on a corner to soak up the heat, and Chicago sure gives him all he can handle. Though, there are some fans actually cheering “SCAPEGOAT! SCAPEGOAT!” The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, go around, and Jack puts Shota on ropes. Jack lets off clean and that surprises Shota, maybe even confuses him. The two reset, tie up again, and now Shota puts Jack on ropes. The ref counts, Shota lets off with pats on the shoulder, but then Jack SLAPS Shota! Jack bails out while fans boo, and a ring count starts. Jack grabs some water to take a sip, then he SPLASHES the fans! Shota rushes out, but the water trips him up!

Jack and Shota brawl, Shota RAMS Jack into railing, then CLUBS Jack around. Shota puts Jack in, but Jack KICKS Shota down! The fans boo as Jack stomps Shota to ropes. Jack CHOPS Shota, Shota staggers away, and Jack whips, Shota reverses, scoops, DROPS and basement dropkicks! The fans fire up with Shota while Jack flounders to a corner. Shota runs up to CLUB Jack down, then stomps him around. But Jack CLAWS Shota’s face! Jack CLUBS Shota, snapmares, and basement dropkicks to the back! Cover, ONE!! Shota is tougher than that, the fans chant “You Got Choked Out!” “No He Didn’t!” in reference to the All In video.

Jack stalks Shota, stands him up, and facelocks! The GUILLOTINE is a direct shot at #BrawlIn! The fans are torn, but then Jack snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Jack says okay, he drags Shota up and he whips Shota to a corner. Jack runs up to clothesline, then he stomps Shota down. The ref counts, Jack goes up the corner to soak up the heat. Jack then hops down to drag Shota up. Shota ROCKS Jack first! Jack CLUBS Shota, whips, but Shota ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Jack! The fans fire up with Shota and he storms up on Jack again. Shota whips corner to corner, runs in and UPPERCUTS! Then FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!

Not quite perfect but Shota does the Jungle Life dance! The fans sing along, Shota drags Jack up, and then clinches. Jack fights the lift, throws elbows, and he CLAWS Shota’s back! The ref reprimands, but Jack runs up, into a drop toehold! Shota slingshots to APRON DDT! The fans fire up again while Jack flops to the floor! The ring count starts, Shota takes a full lap, then returns to Jack. Shota drags Jack up at 5 of 20, puts him in at 7, and Shota goes up the corner. Fans chant for “LUCHASAURUS!” while Shota MISSILE DROPKICKS! Shota then clinches to EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! Jack is still in this but Shota keeps his cool.

Shota drags Jack back up, dragon sleepers, and hits the TRI- NO, Jack slips free! Jack waistlocks, Shota standing switches, but Jack grabs the ref and then LOW BLOWS Shota!! The fans boo as Jack gets away with that one! Jack then drags Shota out, has him on the apron, DRAPING DDT to the floor! Jack drags Shota up, puts him back in, then brings Shota around to underhook. TIGER DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives and the fans fire up! Jack sighs, rises up and hears all the boos. Jack walks around to soak up more heat, then he scuffs Shota. Shota crawls, Jack scuffs him again, but Shota shakes his head.

Jack scuffs Shota more, pie faces him, then eggs Shota on. Shota rises up to fire a forearm! Jack puts his hair back and Shota roars! Jack ROCKS Shota, Shota fires another forearm! Jack ROCKS Shota, Shota staggers around, but Shota comes back to forearm! Jack sighs, then SPITS at Shota! The fans boo more and Shota scowls. Shota storms up on Jack, then ROCKS him! Jack ROCKS Shota, Shota ROCKS Jack, repeat! They go back and forth, the fans strongly on Shota’s side! Shota gets the edge, then UPPERCUTS! Shota eggs Jack on, pie faces him, so Jack SLAPS back! Jack CLUBS Shota, runs, but into a DROPKICK!

The fans are thunderous as both men are down! Shota pounds the mat and rises up, and the fans rally behind him. Shota drags Jack back up, dragon sleepers, and TRIDENT! Cover, TWO!! Jack survives but Shota just fires up again! Shota drags Jack into a half nelson, spin and POP UP KNEE! IGNITION! Cover, TWO!! Jack is still in this but Shota is still fired up! The fans are still with him as he aims from a corner! Jack slowly sits up, Shota kicks low and underhooks, but Jack wrenches out! Shota blocks the superkick to ROCK, ROLLING- SUPERKICK! Jack hops up, POISON-RANA! But Shota’s up to BLAZE- NO, Jack ducks!

Jack runs, into a pop-up! But Jack blocks the uppercut and spins Shota around, for an UNPRETTIER?! Shoutout to Christian Cage as Jack covers, TWO!!! Shota survives and Jack is furiously headbutting the mat! Jack drags Shota up, calls the end, and runs up, GLASSJAW!! Cover, TWO?!? Shota survives the knee shot and Jack is beside himself! The fans chant “G T S! G T S!” Jack lets his hair back down, will he listen to Chicago? Shota is in a corner, Jack aims and runs in, SHINING WIZARD! Another shot at Phil Brooks! The fans are rowdy as ever as Jack flips them off, and he shoves Shota down. Jack says night-night!

Jack takes his time going up to Shota, then brings Shota up to fireman’s carry! Jack flips everyone off before the GO TO- DDT COUNTER!! The fans are electric as Shota aims from the corner! Shota says night-night to Jack! BLAZE BLADE!! Underhooks, DEATH RIDER!! Cover, Shota wins!!

Winner: Shota Umino, by pinfall

The Scapegoat was less fighting the Roughneck and more the specter of the Second City Saint, and perhaps that cost him! Shota brings Jack down tonight, but will he still bring a Paradigm Shift to NJPW?

Wait, Jack gets to his feet and offers a handshake? He suddenly respects Shota now? Shota trusts it and shakes Jack’s hand. Jack raises Shota’s hand in victory, but still flips off Chicago. Is this itself a paradigm shift in Jack’s personality?

Mustafa Ali VS Hiromu Takahashi!

Chicago’s other hometown hero is here, bringing the TNA X-Division Championship AND the DREAMWAVE Alternative Champion with him. The Beacon is shining with gold but he wants to have the Junior Heavyweight Division spotlight on him. Will he do that by defusing the Ticking Timebomb? Or will Hiromu still be the Best of the Super Juniors?

Hiromu shows off a very jacked Daryl Jr. but Ali refuses to accept that thing as alive. Ali gets on a corner for fans to cheer, but then Hiromu gets on a corner and all the fans cheer! The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, and then they break. They circle again, the fans cheer on “TA-KA-HA-SHI!” and he bows to Chicago. Ali gets the fans fired up, but then Hiromu gets the fans really fired up! Ali and Hiromu feel things out, knuckle lock, but Ali brings Hiromu down to wrench. Hiromu slips through, puts the wristlock up and over, using Ali’s own head to break the hold.

Hiromu then wrenches Ali to a wristlock, but Ali rolls, handsprings and wrenches back. Hiromu wrenches, Ali wrenches, repeat! The fans fire up as Hiromu WRINGS Ali! Ali stands, uses ropes to flip through, then wrenches to hammerlock. Ali headlocks, Hiromu powers up and out, but Ali runs Hiromu over! Things speed up, Hiromu drops down, hurdles, but Ali drops on the monkey flip for a cover, TWO! Hiromu sweeps the legs to cover, ONE as Ali goes Matrix! Hiromu rolls Ali up, TWO! The two stand off and the fans cheer. Ali gets Chicago fired up again, then he shoves Hiromu. Hiromu sputters and claims Ali hit him so hard!

The ref has Ali stay back while Hiromu shouts, “Oh my gosh!” Hiromu goes to Daryl Jr. and has him sit in the center. Daryl flops over but Hiromu says Daryl can handle this. Hiromu gets fans chanting for Daryl, but Ali is annoyed by these antics. Ali says fine, he’s gonna mess Daryl Jr. up! Ali circles with Daryl, but then Hiromu slips in! Ali sees that and the fans boo. Hiromu apologizes, but then Ali takes a swing! Hiromu dodges, scoops up Daryl, they duck ‘n’ dodge and then Hiromu says MEOW~! Or no, Daryl says meow! Catch! Hiromu throws Daryl at Ali, Ali catches Daryl and then Hiromu dropkicks Ali’s legs out!

The fans cheer while Ali flounders, and Hiromu picks Daryl Jr. back up. Hiromu shows Daryl to the crowd, the fans cheer, but then Ali runs up! Hiromu dodges to CHOP! Hiromu CHOPS again, then follows Ali around. Hiromu CHOPS again, whips, but Ali holds ropes. Ali bails out but Hiromu pursues, and CHOPS! The fans fire up as Hiromu follows Ali, but then Ali takes a swing! Hiromu counter punches, says “Oh my gosh,” then chases Ali around the ring! Ali suckers Hiromu into a DRAPING DDT to the floor! The ring count climbs, Ali talks trash on Hiromu, then stomps him. Ali drags Hiromu up and in at 9 of 20.

Ali shouts, “What’s my name?” The fans chant for Ali and he goes in to KNEE Hiromu in the back, then clamps on the chinlock. Hiromu kicks around, the fans duel, and Hiromu has the ROPEBREAK! Ali CLUBS Hiromu as he lets off, then whips Hiromu to a corner. Hiromu reverses, runs up, but Ali slips out to ROUNDHOUSE! Ali slingshots for the NECKBREAKER! Cover with a bridge, TWO! Hiromu stays in this but Ali stays on Hiromu with another chinlock. Hiromu endures the squeeze and the fans rally up. Hiromu fights up to his feet, throws body shots, but Ali CLUBS him again. Ali whips Hiromu to a corner, then runs to NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!

Ali is growing frustrated but he has the fans cheering. Ali sits Daryl up in the corner so he can watch what’s about to happen. Ali of course knows this is a stuffed animal, it doesn’t matter, but he’s still gonna mess Hiromu up. Ali kicks Hiromu around, tells him he’s crazy, but then Hiromu CHOPS! And CHOPS! Ali knees low, runs, but Hiromu follows to RANA! The fans fire up while Ali flounders to ropes. Hiromu drags himself up, they end up in corners, and Ali runs in. Hiromu dodges to clothesline, snapmare and basement dropkick! Ali bails out but Hiromu goes to the apron. FLYING SHOTGUN! Ali is sent into railing!

The fans fire up with Hiromu as he stands back up. The ring count starts, Hiromu goes back to Ali but we reach 10 of 20 before Hiromu gets him up. Hiromu puts Ali into the ring, cover, TWO! Hiromu drags Ali up by his hair, then fireman’s carries. But Ali slips free, runs up, but into a BOOT! Hiromu runs, but Ali ducks, only to swing into a spin and suplex, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! The fans rally and duel again as Hiromu rises. Hiromu stalks Ali, drags him up and fireman’s carries, but Ali fights free again. Ali shoves, runs in, and DROPKICKS in the corner! Ali keeps moving, and he DROPKICKS again!

Ali goes again, but Hiromu LARIATS first! The fans fire up, Hiromu whips Ali to ropes, then scoops him, but Ali tilt-o-whirl DDTS! Cover, TWO! Hiromu survives but both men are down, and the fans rally up. Ali slowly rises, makes his way to ropes and goes up a corner. Ali reaches the top but Hiromu throws body shots and elbows first! Hiromu climbs from the outside, and fans are freaking out as Hiromu aims for the floor! Ali fires body shots to send Hiromu to the apron. But Hiromu UPPERCUTS Ali! Ali backflips, and lands on his feet!! The cameraman almost got an eyeful, though! Ali hurries up to SHOVE Hiromu down!

Hiromu hits railing, and then Ali DIVES into him! The railing is sent WAY back, commentary takes a hit, and the fans are thunderous! Ali is busted open, but he still drags Hiromu up and into the ring, then goes up the corner! The fans rally, Ali aims, 450- NO, he has to roll through as Hiromu moves! Ali comes back, but Hiromu sends him hard into buckles! The fans rally up while the ref checks both men. Ali and Hiromu are both somehow okay, as is Chris Charlton on commentary. Hiromu crawls his way over to Ali, brings him back up to the top rope, and then CHOPS! Hiromu climbs, brings Ali up, but Ali resists!

Ali throws body shots, then he HEADBUTTS Hiromu down! Hiromu staggers to his feet, Ali stands on the top rope, but Hiromu runs up! Ali jumps to SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB! Ali then skins the cat, takes aim, and 450 SPLASHES! Cover, Ali wins!!

Winner: Mustafa Ali, by pinfall

The X-Division/Alternative Champion is triumphant here in his hometown! And best of all, Ali shows Hiromu respect by shaking his hand. Hiromu wants Ali to shake Daryl Jr’s hand, too, and so do the fans! Ali sighs, goes over to pick Daryl Jr. up, and he shakes Daryl Jr’s hand! The Windy City cheers him on, will Ali become the champion not just Chicago needs, but that the world needs?

Riot Rules 8 Man Tag: Team Eddie Kingston VS Team Gabe Kidd!

The Mad King has lost the AEW Continental Championship and the ROH World Championship, but he is still NJPW Strong! However, this War Dog vows he will take everything from the company that, in his eyes, has all but thrown away its identity. There are no rules holding these teams back, but no one even knows who recruited who! Who drew the hotter hand to take the win here in Chicago?

Well of course Gabe got his fellow War Dog, Clark Connors, as well as The Fang Revived, Kenta, and the LEADER of Bullet Club, #GoatSlayer Rebel, David Finlay! As for Eddie, he’s already bringing a trash can of goodies as he’s got The United Empire’s Jeff Cobb and TJP! The enemies of his enemies are his allies tonight, and then we add HOMICIDE! Eddie’s old friend has come around to F Kidd’s S up! Team Eddie rushes down the ramp, Bullet Club runs up to meet them, the bell rings as the brawl is on! No need for tags or count outs in this match, anyway! Homicide fires off on Kidd while TJP has Connors, Cobb has Kenta and Eddie is after Finlay!

TJP sends Connors into railing, Eddie throws Kenta over railing! Homicide and Kidd brawl, Kidd gets the edge, and Finlay helps out. TJP stomps away on Connors while digging a chair into him, and Eddie grabs the ring bell! Kidd CLUBS Eddie first, then throws hands. Homicide fires off on Finlay, Cobb UPPERCUTS Kenta! TJP brings more chairs, and one is wrapped in barbed wire! Homicide UPPERCUTS Kidd, TJP digs the wires into Connors’ head! Eddie places the bell against Connors’ head and DING! TJP kicks Finlay away, Kidd gets in the ring, and so does Homicide. Eddie joins Homicide, but then the Dogs drag Eddie out!

Homicide runs up, he CLOBBERS Kidd, then goes out to CHOKE Kidd! Finlay wraps a chinlock on Homicide, Eddie CHOPS Connors in the ring! Connors goes to a corner, Eddie fires MACHINE GUN CHOPS! But Finlay CLOBBERS Eddie with a shillelagh! The fans boo but then TJP runs up on Finlay. TJP SOBATS, runs, but Finlay dodges the boot! And he ducks the blood mist! But TJP DROPKICKS Finlay out all the same! TJP runs to WRECK Finlay with a dropkick, then Cobb brings out a TABLE! The fans fire up seeing that, and the Empire gets the table in the ring. The table is put in the corner, then TJP grabs Finlay.

TJP bends Finlay back in a chinlock stretch, then feeds him to Cobb. Cobb picks Finlay up but the War Dogs save Finlay! The fans boo but TJP and Homicide turn things around on the Dogs. Everyone falls out of the ring again, TJP throws down hands on Connors but Finlay pulls TJP’s hair. Homicide has fans move aside so he can TOSS Kidd over railing! Finlay gets in the ring with a chair while Homicide SMACKS Kidd with a trash can lid! Finlay undoes the red corner’s buckle pad, Eddie CLOBBERS Connors with the trash can! Eddie even headbutts the trash can until it’s dented! But Connors CHOP BLOCKS Eddie!

Cobb SMACKS Kenta with the buckle pad, but Finlay CLAWS Cobb’s face! TJP SMACKS Finlay with a kendo stick! The fans fire up as TJP CHOKES Finlay with the stick! Kenta CLUBS TJP, grabs the stick and SMACKS TJP with it! And SMACKS him again! Cobb CLOBBERS Connors off of Eddie! Cobb rains down fists, Eddie SMACKS Connors with the trash can! Finlay has a loose skateboard deck and SMACKS Cobb with it! Eddie crotches Connors on the railing, then CLOBBERS him! Eddie then goes out to the crowd to CLAW Connors’ face, and send him into the railing! Eddie fires hands, Kenta SMACKS away on Cobb with the kendo stick!

Cobb blocks a shot and JAMS Kenta in return! Cobb SMACKS Kenta, Connors hits Eddie back! Connors then crotches Eddie on the railing! Eddie falls over, Connors talks trash on the fans, but TJP drags Finlay around. Homicide and Kidd are brawling in the crowd! Fans count as Homicide rains down TEN fists, then takes a BITE out of Kidd’s forehead! Cobb puts Kenta in the ring, TJP drags Kenta around to trap an arm, and Eddie SMACKS Connors with a stop sign! TJP puts the skateboard on Connors’ back to ride him! Finlay CLOBBERS Eddie to rain down fists! TJP HIP DROPS Connors, then Cobb brings him up.

Homicide and Kidd are still brawling somewhere in the crowd, Cobb keeps Connors down in a corner, and TJP drop toeholds Finlay down! TJP skateboards on Finlay’s back! Finlay powers up to throw TJP off, then IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Eddie grabs at Finlay but Finlay hits him back. Finlay goes out after Eddie, HEADBUTTS him, but the fans rally up. Finlay throws hands, Eddie hits back! Eddie CHOKES Finlay with camera cable! Eddie rains down fists and sits Finlay down. Cobb ROCKS Kenta, then CHUCKS the trash can! Kenta ducks, the can hits post! Eddie and Connors get in the ring, Eddie fires knees.

Eddie hits a BUTTERFLY SUPLEX and Connors writhes. Kidd TOSSES Homicide over railing! But Homicide hits Kidd with the railing! And again! And again! Finlay and Connors mug Eddie, CLAW his eyes, but TJP hurries over to CLOBBER Kidd! Kidd shoves TJP into railing, gets into the ring, but Homicide finds a ladder! The fans cheer as Homicide gets Kidd up, reels him into a corner, and CLAWS Kidd’s back! Then TORNADO- NO, Kidd powers out to LARIAT! “I’m a MAD MAN, y’know!!” The fans boo but Kidd grabs that ladder! Kidd RAMS Homicide low, then equips the ladder like Terry Funk!

Kidd CLOBBERS Cobb, CLOBBERS Eddie, and CLOBBERS TJP as he does the ladder-copter! But then Cobb returns, GERMAN SUPLEX!! The ladder dropped away just in time but Kidd still tumbles out. Connors runs up to SPEAR, but Cobb blocks it! Canadian Rack, but Connors slips free, ducks ‘n ‘dodges and SPEARS!! Down goes Cobb and the fans fire up! Connors grabs the barbed wire off his hat, wears it as a crown of thorns, and then he drags TJP up. The fans tell Connors he’s sick as he BARBED WIRE HEADBUTTS! And BARBED WIRE HEADBUTTS again! Connors fires up, drags TJP back up, but gets BLOOD MIST!!

The fans fire up as TJP then sits Connors in a corner, and digs that wire in! TJP scrubs Connors’ face through the wires! TJP goes side to side for the BARBED WIRE BOOT WASH! Homicide joins in, Connors is fed to an ELBOW! And then speaking of “fed,” Homicide has a FORK! Homicide DIGS the fork into Connors’ forehead!! Kenta runs in, but blocks the fork! URAKEN! Homicide sits back but TJP kicks Kenta. TJP whips, Kenta reverses and BOOTS! Kenta runs to HYDRAULIC DROPKICK Homicide! HYDRAULIC DROPKICK for TJP! Homicide puts TJP up top, climbs up after him, but Cobb CLUBS Kenta!

Cobb drags Kenta back but Kenta fires elbows. Kenta fireman’s carries, but Cobb’s too big! Cobb CLBUS Kenta, but Kenta CROSS COUNTERS! Kenta runs, into a LARIAT! TJP adjusts up top to MAMBA SPLASH, but he has to roll through as Kenta moves! Kenta fireman’s carries! GO TO SLEEP!! But Cobb CROSSBODIES! Finlay returns and SMACKS Cobb with a kendo stick! And again! Finlay whips Cobb into the barbed wire chair wedged in the corner!! Cobb falls out of the ring, but Eddie blocks the kendo stick smack! LOW BLOW! Eddie fires off shots on Finlay!! The fans are thunderous as Eddie even headbutts the stick to break it!

The straps come down, and finally, Eddie and Kidd meet! They LARIAT, CHOP, CHOP and repeat! The fans “WOO~” with every CHOP! Eddie CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Kidd BITES Eddie’s forehead! The Mad Man spits, flips everyone off, and Kidd whips Eddie! Eddie stops himself, then clinches! EXPLODER through the table!! The fans are thunderous as Eddie rises, barbed wire in hand! Eddie wraps his hand in the barbed wire, and he aims as Kidd rises! But then the Dogs CLOBBER Eddie! The fans boo as Finlay, Connors and Kenta all beat down Eddie! They get a steel chain to gag Eddie and sit him up!

Kidd storms around as the Dogs hold Eddie open! But Homicide returns and the fans fire up! Homicide fires off shots on Kidd! Kidd denies one cutter, shoves Homicide, but Homicide returns to CUTTER after all! Eddie meanwhile breaks free to fire off hands on Kenta and Connors! Connors hits low, CLUBS away, then he and Kenta mug Eddie. The chain wraps Eddie up, but Homicide gets Kidd up. Only for Finlay to SHILLELAGH Homicide! Feed to Kidd’s HANGING GUILLOTINE, then PILEDRIVER!! The Dogs keep Eddie down while Kidd covers, Bullet Club wins!

Winners: Team Gabe Kidd, by pinfall

The War Dogs worked together to tear down Eddie’s team, and Finlay says they run this! But Eddie still puts up a fight! As do TJP and Cobb! It is chaos as Eddie CHOKES Kidd and Cobb throws hands down on Finlay! Young Lions and refs rush in to stop this, but Eddie and Kidd still throw windmilling haymakers! TJP still wants after Kenta, refs pull him back, and Kidd ROCKS Eddie! TJP and Cobb stand tall as the Dogs fall back. Kidd wants to tear Eddie apart, and Eddie gets a mic! “Hey! HEY! Gabe! Get in, you effing t*at! You effing b*tch! May 11th! May 11th! California! No ropes, Last Man Standing, you effing p*ssy!”

The fans are thunderous as the challenge has been made, and Kidd even gets some last shots in on Eddie! Eddie grabs the ladder but is told to stand down! Eddie gets back on the mic to say, “I’m gonna kill that mother effer!!” The fans are loving this as Resurgence will become violence, but will the Mad Man dethrone the Mad King once and for all?

NJPW World Television Championship: Matt Riddle VS Zack Sabre Jr!

The Original Bro has been taking this title on Ex-BRO-dition to Major League Wrestling, where he even fought some TMDK members in Bad Dude Tito and Kosei Fujita. But now, the original star of this title division has come back to prove The Mighty Don’t Kneel! Will ZSJ have the answer to this Riddle? Or will the Super King prove he’s mightier than The Mighty?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if “season three” gives way to a reboot!

The bell rings, 15 minutes on the clock, and the fans rally already as the two circle. They feel things out, Riddle goes for a leg but ZSJ flips him around to facelock. They go around, trade waistlocks, then break. The fans cheer as the two reset and go again. They feel things out, Riddle powers his way to a waistlock but ZSJ wrenches to an armlock. ZSJ steps over, headscissors Riddle onto his back, but Riddle moves around, and goes for the ARMBAR! ZSJ clasps hands, bridges up and rolls back, but they’re in the ropes. ZSJ still gets the KNEEBAR, but Riddle stands to pry ZSJ off! ZSJ goes for the leg again, Riddle gets away!

The fans cheer the technical exchange as the two reset. They circle, the fans sing for “OH~ Zack Sabre Jr~!” ZSJ pops Riddle up and drops him down into the ARMBAR! Riddle holds that off so ZSJ floats to a HEEL HOOK! Riddle endures, ZSJ eggs him on, and he pushes on the hold. Riddle rolls and rolls and rolls and also gets a HEEL HOOK! They duel with heel hooks, ZSJ kicks Riddle away, and the fans cheer the newest standoff. ZSJ and Riddle reset, feel things out, and ZSJ snapmares. Riddle avoids the Penalty Kick, trips ZSJ but ZSJ kicks him away. ZSJ avoids a Penalty Kick and the fans cheer again.

ZSJ and Riddle circle, feel things out again, and knuckle lock. Riddle shoots around, gut wrenches and SUPLEXES! Riddle rolls back, drags ZSJ up, GUT WRENCH PLEX! The fans are torn but Riddle smiles all the same. Riddle runs to BROTON but into an ARMBAR! Riddle scrambles, ROPEBREAK, but ZSJ has the DISARMER! The ref counts, ZSJ lets off and the fans fire up with him. ZSJ kicks Riddle, kicks again, but then Riddle blocks. Riddle stands up, ZSJ avoids the sweeps and SLAPS Riddle back! Riddle CHOPS ZSJ down! The fans are torn again while Riddle scowls now. ZSJ rises, and Riddle KICKS!

Riddle eggs ZSJ on, KICKS him again, and KICKS him again! Riddle kicks ZSJ around, then stands him up to KICK! ZSJ eggs Riddle on now, blocks that kick, and SNAPS a toe! Riddle falls over, ZSJ gets the foot and bends the toes back to SNAP! Then he twists the other foot all around, and STOMPS the leg down! Riddle bails out as we pass five minutes, and the fans are all fired up! Riddle hobbles up and into the ring, ZSJ is on him and snap suplexes! ZSJ gets the foot, hooks the leg, then twists the other foot! ZSJ turns Riddle over, ties the legs up, and has the BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Then ZSJ throws Riddle away!

Riddle storms up to CHOP! And forearm! ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Riddle goes to a corner, ZSJ runs in, but into a HANGING ARMBAR! The ref counts, Riddle lets go and ZSJ falls back. Riddle adjusts his shorts, goes up the corner, and leaps, FLYING KNEE into a HALF CRAB! ZSJ shifts to lean on that hold, STF, but Riddle has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer this technical exchange, ZSJ brings Riddle up, but Riddle gets around to GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! ZSJ is still in this but Riddle BROTONS! The fans are torn but Riddle is having fun again as he goes up top. Riddle aims for the FLOATING- NO, he has to bail out as ZSJ moves!

ZSJ runs up, TRIANGLE HOLD! And he fires off ELBOWS! ZSJ squeezes with the legs but Riddle powers up to deadlift, and POWERBOMB! ZSJ sits up, FLASH KNEE! Cover, TWO! ZSJ survives, but Riddle crosses his arms to mock the fans. Riddle KICKS ZSJ, KICKS him again, and again! Riddle runs side to side to forearm SMASH! Then again, but ZSJ dodges to go up, around and TORNADO DDT! Into a GUILLOTINE!! ZSJ has the body scissors, too! ZSJ flails, endures, fights up, and he lifts ZSJ to then power through into a suplex! ZSJ slips free to SLEEPER! Riddle flails, throws ZSJ off, and ARMBAR!

ZSJ clasps hands to fight the hold, but Riddle works on breaking it. ZSJ lets it go so he can shift and have the ARMBAR! Riddle clasps hands but ZSJ pulls fingers! ZSJ has the ARMBAR, but Riddle shifts into the leg guard to fire shots! The ground ‘n’ pound favors Riddle, but then ZSJ catches him to a TRIANGLE HOLD! Riddle deadlifts, but ZSJ slips free to ZACK DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! We pass ten minutes, time is on Riddle’s side! ZSJ goes to the corner, runs up, but Riddle catches Penalty Kick into the HALF CRAB! Riddle pulls on the leg but ZSJ flips Riddle off as he endures! ZSJ reaches out, even as Riddle pulls way back!

Riddle lets go to deadlift but ZSJ PELES the arm! Riddle still gets ZSJ for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Then Riddle goes up top, FLOATING BRO! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives and the fans fire up! Riddle is stunned, that move almost never fails! Riddle has fans chanting “BRO! BRO! BRO!” for him as he aims, and KICKS! KICKS! And SLAPS, to then KICK! KICK! And CHOP! Three minute warning, Riddle just toys with ZSJ, but ZSJ kicks, KICKS, blocks, CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS! Riddle wobbles ZSJ grabs a leg, but Riddle JUMP KNEES! Riddle hurries to haul ZSJ up, ripcord and FINAL FLASH!

But Riddle’s not done with ZSJ, he gets the gut wrench and tuck, BRO- VICTORY ROLL! And EURO CLUTCH!! TWO?!? Riddle escapes, but ZSJ KICKS! Then he runs up, into a FLASH KNEE!! Two minute warning, Riddle runs, but ZSJ catches him in to a ghost pin! ZSJ wins!!

Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall (NEW NJPW World Television Champion)

ZSJ goes from the first-ever champion to the first-ever TWO-TIME NJPW World TV Champion! Riddle is mad with himself and storms off. Is Riddle going to find a way to some other title opportunity in NJPW? Or will he come back for another try?

As for ZSJ, he gets the mic to say, “Alright, Chicago, what’s up, mates? Are we having a lovely time or what? Are you having a lovely time?” Chicago sure is! ZSJ says his year hasn’t gone well. He wanted the world title, but he had to get his baby back! Did she miss him? Also, he needs industrial cleaner, he doesn’t trust the last champion. But it’s been a minute, so this is usually where ZSJ goes talking about challengers, but he won’t bother, he’s tired, it’s straight to the pub. But he will defend this title in the US very, very soon. Cheerio, everyone, buh-bye. Wait! Someone is not letting ZSJ get away that easily, because here comes Cobb!

The fans cheer as The Imperial Unit makes his way back out here, and he steps in to the ring with ZSJ. Cobb looks at the title he’s come close to taking on multiple occasions, and ZSJ sets it down at his feet. ZSJ says not today, though, he’s tired. Cobb and ZSJ shake hands to agree on it, so when and where will we get this sequel? Wait, ZSJ tries to scoop Cobb! Cobb says nope and he scoops ZSJ! ZSJ slips away, bails out, and gets the mic back. “Hawaiian Jeffery, please may I have my championship back? And I promise, I’ll give you a championship match, just not today, I’m tired.” ZSJ also compliment’s Cobb hair.

Cobb hands the belt over, ZSJ thanks him and heads out. ZSJ is back on top of the NJPW World TV Division, but will he end up the first man to lose this title twice?

Nic Nemeth VS Tomohiro Ishii!

The Showoff is basically showing off now, saying he isn’t going to defend his IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion until he faces Hiroshi Tanahashi. Is he really looking past the Stone Pitbull like that? Or will Ishii not give Nemeth a choice on who has next?

The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. They feel things out, tie up, and they’re in a deadlock. Nemeth uses his height for leverage but Ishii gets around to waistlock. Nemeth switches and hooks Ishii up in the COBRA TWIST, but Ishii slips right out to waistlock. Nemeth switches, tries for the Cobra Twist but Ishii slips around again. Ishii lifts, Nemeth hooks a leg to fight it, and he switches to wrangle Ishii to a cover. TWO, they end up in ropes, and the ref has them both separate. The fans cheer as the two reset. They tie up, are in another deadlock, but Nemeth uses his height as leverage to put Ishii on ropes.

The ref counts, Nemeth lets off, but Ishii CHOPS! Nemeth CHOPS back! Ishii CHOPS again! Nemeth CHOPS again! The CHOPS go back and forth as fans “WOO~,” but then Nemeth throws a forearm! Ishii fires a forearm in return, they go back and forth and Nemeth gets the edge. The fans fire up but then Ishii ROCKS Nemeth again and again. Ishii runs, RAMS Nemeth, but Nemeth stays up. The fans fire up as Nemeth ROCKS Ishii, runs and RAMS him! Ishii rebounds to CLOBBER Nemeth! The fans fire up more while Nemeth flounders. Nemeth slowly rises, Ishii brings him up and bumps him off buckles.

Ishii CHOPS Nemeth and Nemeth falls over. Ishii eggs Nemeth on, Nemeth stands, and the fans rally. Nemeth fires forearms, but Ishii CHOPS him down! The fans rally behind Ishii as he looms over Nemeth. Ishii drags Nemeth up to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Ishii kicks Nemeth around while egging him on. Ishii slaps Nemeth around, the fans rally, and Nemeth fires body shots! Nemeth kicks, DROPKICKS, and Ishii falls! The fans fire up while both men go to corners. Ishii stands, Nemeth runs in, STINGER SPLASH! And then NECKBREAKER! Nemeth drops ELBOW after ELBOW, then winds up for the JUMPING ELBOW! Cover, TWO!

Nemeth is a little annoyed but Ishii is tougher than that. Nemeth reels Ishii in, but Ishii fights the lift! Ishii powers up and back drops Nemeth away! The fans fire up while Nemeth staggers to his feet. Nemeth fires hands but Ishii just scowls. Nemeth looks around as the fans say he messed up, but he still throws hands! Ishii doesn’t budge, then he just DECKS Nemeth with one shot! The fans fire up while Nemeth flounders to a corner. Ishii storms up, brings Nemeth up to the top rope, and climbs. Ishii brings Nemeth up to the very top, for the STALLING SUPERPLEX! The fans are all fired up while both men are down!

Ishii rises, looms over Nemeth, then drags him up. Ishii reels Nemeth in, but Nemeth fights the lift now! Nemeth wrenches, and jumps on, SLEEPER! Ishii has Nemeth as a backpack, but he shifts around to put the SLEEPER on Nemeth! Nemeth flails, gets around, OLYMPIC SLAM! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Nemeth rises while the fans rally. Nemeth runs up, but Ishii denies the satellite DDT with a throw! Ishii runs up but Nemeth UPPERCUTS! Ishii ROCKS Nemeth, but Nemeth SWATS the lariat to SATELLITE DDT! Cover, TWO! Ishii survives and the fans fire up while Nemeth is a bit surprised.

The fans rally as Nemeth watches Ishii rise. Nemeth kicks low, runs, FAM- NO, Ishii turns the leg drop into a POWERBOMB! The fans fire up again and Ishii headbutts the buckles to fire himself up! Ishii runs but Nemeth ducks to HEADBUTT! And FAMOUSER! Cover, TWO!! Ishii survives and the fans fire up again! Nemeth is beside himself, but rises as the fans rally again. Nemeth goes to a corner, Ishii staggers to his feet, and Ishii runs in! Nemeth BOOTS Ishii, runs up, and LARIATS! Ishii just roars! Ishii ROCKS Nemeth but now Nemeth roars! The fans fire up with Nemeth, but then Ishii LARIATS him down! Cover, TWO!!

Nemeth survives and Ishii growls in frustration. Ishii sits Nemeth up while fans chant “This is Awesome!” Ishii runs but Nemeth ducks the sliding lariat! Ishii blocks Nemeth’s superkick, then ENZIGIRIS! The fans fire up again while Ishii aims from a corner! SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Nemeth survives again and Ishii grows further frustrated. Ishii fires back up and the fans are with him as he drags Nemeth up. Ishii suplexes, but Nemeth fights it! Nemeth wrenches, HEADBUTTS, but Ishii still whips! Nemeth reverses, but Ishii bucks the Danger Zone! Only to turn around into a SUPERKICK 101! Cover, TWO!!!

Ishii just gets an arm up and Nemeth’s shock is clear on his face, even with his hair over his eyes! The fans fire up again as both men slowly rise. Ishii winds up but Nemeth ROCKS him first! Then GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Ishii rises right up! Ishii staggers, but he avoids Danger Zone to STEAL DANGER ZONE!! The fans are thunderous as Nemeth staggers up, into the LARIAT!! Cover, ONE?!?! Nemeth shocks everyone as he kicks it into another gear! Ishii rises, into the SUPERKICK 101!! Cover, ONE?!?!? Now Ishii shocks everyone! “This is Awesome!” as both men are down, catching their breaths.

Ishii and Nemeth go to corners, then they run in! DOUBLE LARIATS collide but neither man falls, and then Ishii HEADBUTTS! Nemeth rebounds to HEADBUTT, but then they DOUBLE HEADBUTT! Ishii BATTERING RAM HEADBUTTS!! Cover, TWO!?!? Nemeth survives that shot, but Ishii roars as he rises up! Ishii slaps himself to get back in this! Ishii drags Nemeth up, reels him in, suplexes, but Nemeth slips free, DANGER- NO, Ishii clinches! Nemeth slips free, ROCKS Ishii, SUPERKICK 101! Then he dodges Ishii to DANGER ZONE!!! Cover, Nemeth wins!!

Winner: Nic Nemeth, by pinfall

Nemeth is a Wanted Man, and this is why! He took Ishii to the Danger Zone, proving that hanging with NJPW isn’t Mission: Impossible! But will Nemeth prove he’s a Top Gun when he finally gets his dream match with President Tanahashi?

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Tetsuya Naito VS Jon Moxley!

The Uncontrollable Charisma has finally been back on top of NJPW since WrestleKingdom, and he even just defeated his Los Ingobernables de Japon teammate, Yota Tsuji, just a week ago at Sakura Genesis. At the same time, The Maniac put out the challenge that same night, and Naito said okay! Will Naito continue to keep NJPW tranquilo? Or is there truly about to be a Paradigm Shift in the world of pro-wrestling?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if the winds of change start to blow!

Moxley paces as Naito takes his time with his entrance attire, and Naito tells Moxley to tranquilo. Naito really takes his time with his pants, and is finally ready. The bell rings and the fans fire up already! Naito looks around but Moxley keeps his eyes right on Naito. The two slowly circle while the fans rally and duel. They approach but Naito dodges, and the fans cheer while Moxley keeps cool. They go again, and again Naito avoids Moxley’s grip. Naito again says tranquilo, and they circle. Moxley flips Naito off, the fans are torn, but Naito doesn’t even flinch. The two circle, tie up, and Moxley puts Naito on ropes.

The ref counts, Moxley lets off, but Naito SPITS at Moxley! Naito kicks low, TOSSES Moxley out, but gets Moxley with the fake out and tranquilo pose! The fans cheer while Moxley seethes. Moxley snarls, storms in, but Naito slips away to the outside. The fans cheer as Naito continues to troll Moxley, but then Moxley rushes out to fire off forearms! Moxley whips Naito into railing, then fires more forearms! Naito hits back, Moxley headlocks, and then he SMACKS Naito off the timekeeper’s table! The fans rally as Moxley goes up and over the railing to get Naito back up. The ref reprimands but Moxley ROCKS Naito!

Moxley SMACKS Naito off the table, SMACKS him off it again, then brings Naito around. The crowd moves aside as Moxley fires hockey scrum punches. Moxley then whips Naito, but Naito reverses and Moxley hits railing! The fans fire up, Naito checks his face, then he takes a seat to relax. The fans cheer, but then Moxley BOOTS Naito down! Moxley drags Naito up, brings him around, and back to ringside so he can POST Naito! Naito falls, the fans are torn, but Moxley paces around. Moxley storms back up on Naito, drags him up, and puts him in the ring. Moxley stalks Naito to the ropes, then stands on Naito’s face!

The ref counts, Moxley lets off to grab a hand, and Moxley SNAPS fingers! Moxley reels Naito in, PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO! Naito’s still in this but Moxley paces again. Moxley waits on Naito to get up, then KICKS him! And ROCKS him! And ROCKS him, and ROCKS him again! Then Moxley KICKS a leg! And KICKS the leg, and then KICKS the leg out! Cover, TWO! Naito is still in this but Moxley eggs him on. Moxley paces around, drags Naito up and then CHOPS! Moxley KICKS, CHPOS, but Naito SPITS! Moxley KICKS, ROCKS, but Naito SPITS! Moxley fires off ELBOW after ELBOW, then whips, but Naito sunset flips!

Moxley rolls through, steps through, FIGURE FOUR! Naito endures, the fans rally, but Moxley talks trash even as he puts on pressure! Naito powers the main leg up but Moxley powers it back down! Naito sits up, SPITS at Moxley, but Moxley puts on more pressure! Naito fights around, turns things over, but Moxley slips free to get the legs again. Moxley SPITS, then he turns Naito over into a TEXAS CLOVERLEAF! Naito endures, the fans rally, and Naito fights his way around. Moxley drops down into a modified STF! Naito again endures, moves around, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Moxley lets go at 4.

Moxley eggs Naito on, talks more trash, then PENALTY KICKS! Naito sits up and shakes his head. Moxley KICKS again, but Naito again sits up. Naito even smirks as he annoy Moxley. Moxley KICKS but Naito blocks! Naito CLAWS the eyes, but Moxley kicks low! Moxley suplexes for a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Moxley CHOKES Naito, the ref counts, but Moxley lets off. Moxley storms around, the fans rally, and Naito stirs. Moxley goes to the apron, then climbs a corner. Naito rises, Moxley leaps, Naito BODY SHOTS! Naito ENZIGIRIS, Moxley drops to his knees, but Naito still has to catch his breath.

The fans rally as Naito smirks and rises up. Naito brings Moxley around to fire forearm after forearm! Naito whips, atomic drops, and then runs to ELBOW Moxley down and basement dropkick in the back! Naito whips corner to corner, runs up, JUMP KICK! He can’t get up and over so he ELBOWS then NECKBREAKERS! Cover, TWO! Naito clamps on a cravat for a neck wrench on the mat! Moxley endures, the fans rally, but Naito thrashes him around. Moxley fights up, he drags Naito up and he DUMPS Naito to the apron! Naito gets up but Moxley fires a forearm! Naito gives it back, they go back and forth!

The fans rally as the shots keep going, faster and faster! Naito ROCKS Moxley but Moxley BOOTS Naito! Naito wobbles, Moxley goes out to the apron, but Naito fights the half nelson suplex! Naito fires elbows, gets free, but Moxley ELBOWS back! And then APRON DDT! Naito flops down to the floor while the fans fire up! Moxley leaves Naito behind to mock the tranquilo! The fans are torn but Naito stirs. Naito slowly crawls, the fans rally up, and Naito stands. Naito shakes out the cobwebs, flounders into the ring, and Moxley drags Naito up. Moxley TOSSES Naito out, then builds speed to DIVE into a chair?!

The fans fire up as Naito sneaks that one! The ref checks Moxley but he’s somehow still in this! Naito goes up to the apron and brings Moxley up, for an APRON NECKBREAKER! Moxley flops down while Naito leaves him behind. The ring count starts, Moxley stirs at about 3 of 20. Moxley turns over, he’s busted open! Naito counts along as we pass 10 of 20, then reach 15! Moxley rises at 17, staggers about, and slides in at 19.9!! The fans fire up and Naito is actually annoyed. Naito drags Moxley up, reels him in, and TORNADO DDTS! Moxley sits up in a daze, the crimson mask already complete on his face!

Moxley staggers back to his feet, Naito runs in, but Moxley KING KING LARIATS! Both men are down and the fans fire back up! The ref checks both men, especially Moxley with that blood, but they’re both okay to continue. Moxley sits up as we pass 15 minutes, a quarter of the allotted hour time limit. Moxley says he’s not gonna be taken alive! Not tonight! The fans fire up with Moxley as he is ready to Die Hard! Moxley fires a haymaker, Naito gives it back! Moxley throws another, so Naito SPITS, then ROCKS him! Moxley ROCKS Naito, Naito ROCKS Moxley, so Moxley SPITS! Naito SPITS, and the forearms fly again!

The fans are thunderous as this gets fast and furious! Moxley fires a flurry, then winds up to run, but Naito gets around! Waistlock, but Moxley switches, to a SLEEPER! Naito RAMS Moxley into buckles, gets free, but the CURB STOMP OUTTA NOWHERE! Cover, TWO!! Moxley hurries to clamp on, REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Naito flails but the body scissors are on! Blood pours off of Moxley’s head, will he give out before Naito does? The fans rally as Naito endures and fights around! Moxley uses that to get the BULLY CHOKE!! Naito fights to his feet, Moxley keeps a SLEEPER! The fans continue to rally as Naito flails!

Naito pries at the hold, then drops, victory roll! TWO!! Moxley stands, Naito wrenches and fires the heavy elbows! Again and again, and then the wrench, tilt-o-whirl, but Moxley slips free! CUTTER!! But that’s not all! DEATH RIDER!! Cover, TWO?!? Naito survives Moxley’s best shot and the fans are thunderous! Moxley snarls, the fans rally and duel, and Moxley wipes the blood from his eyes. Moxley underhooks Naito again, but Naito slips around to DESTINO!!! TWO!!! Moxley survives Naito’s best shot now! But Naito is just as confident about trying again! DESTI- NO!! Moxley slips free to ROLLING ELBOW! ROLLING ELBOW! DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?

The fans are electric as Naito survives another shot! But Moxley won’t let up, he KING KONG LARIATS again!! Cover, ONE?!?!? HOW?!?! Naito staggers about, but into a DEATH RIDER!!!! Cover, MOXLEY WINS!!!!

Winner: Jon Moxley, by pinfall (NEW IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)

Chicago cannot believe it, but they are loving it! From WWE World Champion to AEW World Champion to now NJPW’s IWGP World Champion, this is history being made before our eyes!! The Maniac makes himself a modern legend, but what does this mean for Naito? Is Naito’s destino simply that he cannot last?

As for Moxley, he does push-ups just to show he has more in that tank! He sets the title down on the lion logo then gets the mic. Moxley says a quick prayer while the fans say, “You Deserve It!” Moxley gets the mic on to say, “Arigato gozaimasu, Chicago! Holy s*it… This was a treat for everybody here that might not ever get a chance to fly across the ocean and NJPW, an authentic NJPW wrestling show live and in person. And it was special to be a part of it here, and there’s nowhere better to have done it than right here in Chicago.” The fans cheer that!

Moxley says he’s wrestled in every building in Chicago, big, small and tiny, and the fans have been with him every step of the way. He thanks them for being here to make it special, as he now stands atop the effin’ NJPW mountain!! The fans fire up for Moxley again, “Thank You, Moxley!” Moxley says he’s just getting started, so he has a message for everyone in NJPW and around the world. First order of business as the King of NJPW is to pick who’s coming at him first! Mox calls the shots, and the long list of Japanese legends he’s defeated over the last five years is really something, but that’s the easy stuff.

Moxley won’t run or hide from the Young Lions, the young and hungry stars of NJPW! He won’t sit atop a mountain and be scared of the hungriest hunters in the game. So stepping up first, this will be the final exam for #SHOOTER!! The fans fire up, but then in runs REN NARITA! PUSH-UP BAR ATTACK!! The fans boo as Narita stomps away on Moxley! Narita gets the mic while he CHOKES Moxley to tell “Shooter, no no no. I’m next challenger, mother effer!” Narita stomps away, but then here comes The Roughneck! Narita turns tail and runs, the fans cheering “SHOOTER! SHOOTER!” Narita laughs as he retreats, but Shota helps Moxley sit up.

Moxley manages to glare at Narita through the crimson mask, and Shota gets the mic for him. Moxley says, “What the heck, man? Narita! You just graduated from being a Young Boy… to being a dead man!” Moxley just said he isn’t gonna run and hide, so if Narita wants a fight, he’ll get a fight! Will The Maniac tear apart that Souled Out SOB? Will Shota get to have his match with his mentor sometime after that?

My Thoughts:

A great event for NJPW, and I did not think they’d have so many changes to the title landscape. Well, Vaquer retained but that’s because she only just got that belt off Giulia. And good on Windsor to step up, though I’m not sure she’ll take that title, either. Anyway, great Fatal 4 Way that also referenced the story between Tom Lawlor and Team Filthy falling apart. Great win for TMDK here, and rather surprising because I didn’t think ELP & Leo would be losing those belts. I wonder if ELP & Leo go back to the heavyweight titles for the Summer.

And then quite the surprise that ZSJ won the NJPW World TV title back. TMDK is taking over, and maybe this move was because Riddle is more an MLW wrestler than a NJPW wrestler. ZSJ VS Cobb the third time around is going to be awesome, great trilogy, and maybe Cobb wins this time. United Empire needs some positives in their post Ospreay era. Cobb and TJP did really good in helping Eddie and Homicide against what ended up being less Team Gabe Kidd and just Bullet Club War Dogs or whatever. Good win for Bullet Club here, and setting up a NO ROPES Last Man Standing for the NJPW Strong Championship is going to be awesome stuff.

Great non-title matches, too. Narita cheating Suzuki to win, but Shota winning despite Jack trying to cheat is good stuff for the Reiwa Musketeer rivals. Great fun in the Hiromu VS Ali match with Daryl Jr, aka El Hijo De Daryl cuz he had a little lucha mask. Great win for Ali, too, but he isn’t scheduled for the Best of the Super Juniors so maybe this was so Chicago gets a win. And then great match of Nemeth and Ishii with Nemeth getting a great win to keep his momentum up while waiting on a match with Tanahashi.

And of course, an awesome main event from Naito and Moxley. I should’ve known Moxley was gonna bleed, but I was NOT expecting Moxley to win the title. Great for Moxley personally, but I’m surprised NJPW made this move. Is Moxley going to bring this title to Dynasty AND Double or Nothing? Well, I suppose Moxley could tell us as much on Dynamite, but this is all still really surprising. I’m not gonna say I agree with Gabe Kidd’s claims NJPW is letting AEW get their way, but it certainly seems like NJPW is hoping AEW helps them with the American audience.

That stuff aside, Narita and Shota being winners works for them stepping up to the world title. Narita probably won’t win, but maybe Shota proves the student has surpassed the master. Might be a bit of NJPW fast tracking their new neo new musketeers, but it’s not like other companies haven’t done that.

My Score: 8.9/10