Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Report: Road to Wrestling Dontaku!

Published

7 years ago

May 18, 2018

NJPW’s “Main unit”, Taguchi Japan, puts up two rising stars seeking their first championships! Juice Robinson gets another go at Hirooki Goto for the NEVER Openweight Championship, will the second time be better than the first? And David Finlay goes after an old friend in the Switchblade and the IWGP US Championship!

This review of Road to Wrestling Dontaku 2018 will be as broadcast by AXS TV.
Therefore, all images are courtesy of AXS TV.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Jay White VS David Finlay; White wins and retains the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.
NEVER Openweight Championship: Hirooki Goto VS Juice Robinson; Goto wins and retains the NEVER Openweight Championship.

PLAY BY PLAY

AXS TV and NJPW review the build to tonight’s matches.

The Flamboyant One of the “main unit”, Taguchi Japan, challenged for both the NEVER Openweight and IWGP US Championships before, failing to defeat either the Fierce Warrior of Chaos or The Cleaner. He made quite the impression in the New Japan Cup, and tries once more against Hirooki Goto. Will Juice finally get his first taste of gold? Meanwhile, David Finlay targeted The Switchblade at Strong Style Evolved, and made it clear he wants the IWGP US Championship on top of revenge. These former friends face off to see who is truly the better man!

IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Jay White VS David Finlay!

We jump into this match partway as Finlay has White down. Finlay stands up and gets to a corner. He takes aim at White, but White stays down. Finlay kicks White in the back, then goes back to the corner again. White still can’t stand, so Finlay stands him up for a hard right. Finlay takes aim again, but White glares up at him from the mat. Finlay stands White up for a European Uppercut, then a chop. White staggers and Finlay fires up, but White falls to his knees. Finlay grows frustrated, so he just clobbers White in the back of the head! White finally stands up on his own, and Finlay runs out for a SPEAR!

Cover, TWO! Finlay grows frustrated but the fans rally. Finlay goes to the corner again, but White spits in his face. White laughs, but Finlay steals the Blade Runner! Cover, TWO!! White survives his own move and Finlay is again frustrated. Finlay drags himself out of the ring to walk it off. He peels away the apron skirt, to then retrieve a table. Finlay sets up the table, positioning it between ring and railing. He hears the fans rallying as he drags White up. He brings White over, and hoists him up onto the top of a corner. Finlay climbs up from the outside, and Red Shoes grows concerned. White resists as Finlay tries to lift him. White elbows Finlay down and they both go to the apron. Finlay fireman carries White, but White clings to the rope.

White slips down and hits Finlay back with kicks and clubbing forearms. White goes to lift Finlay but Finlay resists. Finlay lifts and back drops White onto the apron. White slumps down, but then suddenly grabs Finlay in powerbomb position, and bombs Finlay onto the table!

The table cracks but does not break. White wants to finish it, so he sets Finlay on the table and climbs back onto the apron. White drops an elbow!

Both men are in pain from the impact, but White stands up first. White gets into the ring while Finlay crawls from the wreckage. The 20 count reaches 10 before Finally drags himself up. It reaches 15, but Finlay flounders, to beat it at 19.5! White is on him right away, with a double underhook dominator! Cover, TWO!? White can’t believe it, but fans are rallying for Finlay. Finlay stirs, grabbing at White. White drags Finlay up, and reels him in for the Black Dragon brainbuster! Cover, TWO! White decides to finish this, and drags Finlay up for his Blade Runner, but Finlay counters with a stunner! Finlay flounders to a cover, TWO, but by the slimmest of margins. Finlay thinks he’s won, but is crushed when he hears it isn’t so. Fans continue to rally while we go to break.

NJPW on AXS returns as both Finlay and White glare while slowly sitting up. Finlay throws a forearm, White throws one back. Finlay throws another, and White leans back. White comes back with a harder forearm, and Finlay leans. Finlay hits White, and again, and again. They stand up and White chops Finlay, and again, and again. Finlay falls back into a corner, but EuroUppers out at White. He gives another, and another. White staggers but Finlay gives him a sharp slap to the face. Finlay fires up but White grabs his hair to turn him around, for a clubbing clothesline! Finlay gets up but walks into Blade Runner, but slips out for a lumbar check! He’s all fired up now, as are the fans.

Finlay suplexes White up, for the last shot brainbuster! Cover, TWO!! And Finlay still can’t believe it. He gets up and calls to end it. But White blocks that cutter to hit his Blade Runner!!

Cover, White wins!

Winner: White, by pinfall; still IWGP US Heavyweight Champion

The second-ever IWGP USHC continues his reign on the Road to Wrestling Dontaku. He downs his former friend turned bitter rival, who will be next to be cut down by The Switchblade?

White speaks.

“David Finlay. David Finlay. Quite the valiant effort.” White knew Finlay was tough, but even he was surprised. Finlay proves he belongs in the main events of NJPW. “But more importantly, you showed that you certainly do NOT belong in the ring with me.” Ten wins for White, only one for Finlay, way back in 2015. White has and will always be better than Finlay, “get that piece of shit outta here!” Finlay is the past, we are looking at the future. The future of Chaos, and the future of Jay White. “Who is next?” White doesn’t know, but he’ll keep an eye on Hirooki, Tanahashi and Okada. “But whoever is next, they will be left lying in this ring” while White is still champion. “Everybody will breathe with the Switchblade.”

NEVER Openweight Championship: Hirooki Goto VS Juice Robinson!

The Fierce Warrior defeated the Flamboyant One before, and Juice has learned much since then. Will Juice’s growth since their first match be enough to finally remove Goto from his NEVER throne?

Red Shoes shows Juice the belt he fights for, then signals for the bell. Fans duel already as the two circle. They tie up, and are even in strength as neither man budges. Juice pushes but Goto pushes him back. Juice kneels but stands back up. Goto gets around Juice, but Juice reaches back for the headlock. Goto reverses to a wristlock, but Juice turns that back into the headlock. Juice holds on as Goto tries to power out. Juice shifts to a wristlock, but Goto rolls and escapes. The two back off and fans applaud. They tie up again, and Goto gets the headlock now. Juice works his way out, but Goto puts the hold back on. Juice powers out, things speed up and Goto reverses the hip toss into a hip toss. Goto runs but Juice stays solid with him as they collide shoulder to shoulder.

They glare at each other, and Goto kicks low. Goto puts Juice in a corner, then throws forearm after forearm. Juice turns it around and gives off his own left haymakers. Goto punches Juice, so Juice slaps back. Juice throws Goto out, then slingshots out onto him!

Juice wipes Goto out and stands back up as fans applaud. He rains hands on Goto, then drags Goto up. He has the media clear out, to then whip Goto into the railings. Juice runs in, but Goto back drops Juice up and over. Juice lands on his feet, but Goto rocks him with a right hand. Goto grabs Juice’s dreads, and yanks him backwards into the railing! Juice goes down while Goto catches his breath. Red Shoes checks on Juice, Juice is okay to continue. Goto gets up to fetch Juice, and the 20 count climbs up to 10. Goto puts Juice back in the ring, then keeps on him with stomps. He drags Juice up and around, to then hoist him onto the top rope. Goto grabs the head again, for a draping neckbreaker!

Juice slumps out of the ring and to the floor. Goto lets the 20 count start. Juice drags himself up at 9, but that neck bothers him. Juice manages to get in at 17, but then goes back out for more recovery time. The count starts over, so Goto goes to fetch Juice this time. Goto puts Juice back in, then drags Juice up for a neck wrench. He bends Juice left, then right, but Juice resists, so Goto puts him in a headscissors. Juice endures the squeeze, and works to escape. Goto keeps up the squeeze and the wrenching, but Juice uses his long legs for the ropebreak. Goto lets Juice go, then elbows Juice in the back of the neck. He puts Juice in a corner, then throws forearms.

Goto whips Juice corner to corner, and runs in for the clothesline. He rolls Juice out of the corner, then climbs up. Fans fire up as Goto drops the elbow. Cover, TWO, but Goto keeps his cool. Goto positions Juice for a normal elbow drop to the chest, then gives on to Juice’s back. Cover, TWO! Goto sits Juice up for the chinlock, digging a knee into Juice’s back. Juice flails, then pries his way out of the hold, only for Goto to bring it back on. Fans rally as Juice blocks the elbow to his face! Juice stands up with Goto, blocks the kick, to give the leg lariat! The challenger is back in the fight while we go to break.

NJPW on AXS returns to fans rallying for both men. Juice sits up first, then stands. Juice fires himself up with fist pumps. Fans chant “Juice! Juice!” with each one. Juice jabs Goto over and over, but Goto ducks the big punch only to get a big chop. Juice whips Goto but Goto reverses, and they collide with clotheslines. They go again for another collision, and Goto fires up. Juice dodges but Goto follows, only to miss again, and Juice knocks him down with a clothesline! Goto gets to a corner while fans applaud.

Juice fires up and runs corner to corner, for another big clothesline. Juice runs but Goto follows to give Juice a clothesline. Goto fires up and runs, but Juice follows to give another clothesline! Juice runs, but Goto follows, only for Juice to dodge his heel kick! Goto hits buckles, and Juice runs in for the cannonball! Cover, TWO! Juice keeps his cool, then gets himself to a corner. He climbs up with fans rallying. Juice takes aim, but Goto slips out. Juice still jumps!!

They both go down from that insane flying attack. Juice drags himself up first, and the 20 count begins again. Juice drags Goto up at 13, and puts him in the ring at 15. He keeps going, climbing back up to the top. Goto stirs, and Juice leaps for the flying crossbody! Cover, TWO! Now Juice grows a bit frustrated with Goto. He stands up and says it’s time to go around. Juice brings Goto up, double chicken wing, but Goto shoves out of the Unprettier to then fireman’s carry. Juice slips out, shoves Goto, then follows, but Goto gets around behind. Goto lifts, but Juice slips out, and Juice grabs Goto for the German Suplex! But Goto springs up to clobber Juice! But Juice springs up, too! Only to run into Ushigoroshi!

Both men are down, too sore to cover or escape. Fans are thunderous as they duel. Goto slowly stands up while Juice stirs. Goto goes to Juice and throws a forearm. Juice comes back to headbutt Goto. Goto grits his teeth to hit Juice again. Juice stands up, and rocks Goto with a left. Goto throws a haymaker, but Juice responds with his own. They go back and forth with heavy forearms. Juice kicks low, then chops. Juice runs, but into the kick. Goto runs, but into a dropkick. Goto still hits Juice with a kick in the chest! Both men fall again, and the fans rally. Red Shoes checks on them, but they’re okay to continue.

Goto drags himself to ropes while Juice crawls his way to a corner. They both slowly stand, and Goto runs in to heel kick Juice in the back of the head! Then he drives Juice down with a big saido suplex! Juice writhes and clutches his neck, but Goto doesn’t cover. Goto stands back up, and drags Juice to his feet, for a second saido suplex! Goto wants more but Red Shoes keeps him back. Red Shoes checks Juice, but Goto doesn’t care. Goto drags Juice up and calls to finish it. He lifts Juice up for another fireman’s carry, and another Ushigoroshi! Cover, TWO!! Goto is shocked while we go to break.

NJPW on AXS returns as Goto brings Juice up one more time. He hoists Juice up to the top rope, then climbs up to join him. Goto clubs away, then positions Juice for a fireman’s carry. Juice revives and slips out to then go after Goto. Goto resists the powerbomb with a rain of rights. Juice clubs Goto back in the back, then headbutts the lower back. Juice gets Goto in the torture rack, for the inverted Ushigoroshi! He then calls for the end, demanding Goto stand up. Goto staggers to his feet, Juice runs, and clobbers Goto with the clothesline! Cover, TWO!! Juice clutches his neck but gets back up. He wants to end this, so he drags Goto up. Juice suplexes Goto up for the brainbuster!

Cover, TWO!? Juice is losing hope but the fans are thunderous. Juice fires himself back up and the fans rally with him. He brings Goto back up, and turns him with the chicken wings, but Goto grabs Juice in a sleeper hold! Goto holds on tight, but Juice backs him into a corner. Juice is still caught, and now fades to a knee. He pries at Goto’s arms, but Goto locks the hold back on. Juice uses the corner pad for leverage, but Goto drags him away. Fans rally while Red Shoes checks Juice. Goto won’t go easy, he shifts into a Dragon Sleeper! He wrenches back, but Juice throws him off with a snapmare. Goto catches his own breath, then drags Juice up. Juice revives, but Goto uses a headbutt to block the punch! Then a headbutt to rock Juice. And from there, Goto hits a front facing GTR.

But that’s not enough for Goto, as he drags Juice back up. Juice catches him into a cradle! TWO!! Juice was close and everyone knows it. Goto rushes Juice but Juice gets the full nelson. Goto breaks free and around to a hammerlock, then dragon sleeper, but Juice switches it around onto Goto! Juice goes from sleeper to chicken wings, but Goto shoves out of the Unprettier again. Juice headbutts Goto, and they both stagger, but Juice still hits a stiff left forearm! He fires up, as do the fans, and he hits another stiff left. Juice drags Goto up, he wants to finish this. He turns Goto, but Goto dumps him off! Goto catches Juice into the Shotenkai, the suplex slam!

Cover, TWO!? Everyone is thunderous again as both men are down. Goto seems at a loss as to what to do. He drags himself up on the ropes, then staggers around. Goto hears the fans, and calls for one more move. Juice sits up, and Goto kicks him back down. Goto then drags Juice up, for a true GTR!!

Cover, Goto wins!

Winner: Goto, by pinfall; still NEVER Openweight Champion

Juice pushed Goto to his limits, but Goto’s limits were too much for Juice. While the young lions attend to Goto and Juice, Mike Elgin appears.

Big Mike checks on Juice. Goto stands, his title in hand. Elgin helps Juice up, then turns his attention to Goto. Elgin points at Goto’s belt, then to himself. Goto locks eyes with The Unbreakable Elgin, who might be his next challenger. Elgin picks up a mic to speak.

“Goto, you have something I want.” Elgin wants the NEVER Openweight Championship. But then Taichi appears and picks up the mic, too.

“Hey hey hey. How dare you throw out challenges, baldy?” Taichi tells Goto that the belt he’s “always clutching tightly” will be more useful to Taichi. “So hand it over.” As for the “third wheel” Elgin, Taichi says, “Piss off, fat ass.” Taichi drops the mic, then drops Goto using his mic stand!

Elgin grabs Taichi, and lifts him high over head! Taichi slips out and runs away, having completed his mission. Elgin picks up the belt, and refuses to give it to Red Shoes. He returns it to Goto himself. Will one or both challengers get a match with Goto for the NEVER Openweight title?

Backstage interviews.

Elgin says it’s simple. “It’s been too long since Big Mike could call himself champion in NJPW.” As for Taichi, he hasn’t learned not to stick his nose in people’s business.

Meanwhile, Taichi says that everyone is sick of seeing Goto “clinging to the belt”. “It’s just another tool to me. So hand it over.” Taichi will put it to good use. As for “that bald, bearded fatty: stay out of this.”

Goto says his belt is “a sight for sore eyes.” Elgin and Taichi showing up at the end, Goto will take either of them on. Or even both at the same time. That’s all he has to say, and he takes his leave. Will Goto be able to break the Unbreakable? Will he be able to deny the World’s Sliest Wrestler? Or will one of them be the man to finally take that NEVER Openweight Championship from him?

My Thoughts:

A solid night of action, and with only two matches. We get part of White VS Finlay but even part was really great. The story was there, with Finlay being 1-9 against White, and that was perhaps in his head the entire time. White won to build his reign, and he ups the ante by name dropping some great champions. Seeing him against any of those would be a great match, and if he wins against even just one, it really ups his stock. The main event was great, that match raises Juice’s stock as well. Juice is almost there, he just needs a little more time. Goto VS Elgin VS Taichi sounds like a great idea, especially with how rare NJPW uses multi-man matches like that. Plus, it is the one way to keep Goto strong while taking the title off him and putting it on someone else.

My Score: 8.5/10

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Though already IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, Kosei Fujita wants to be THE Junior Heavyweight Champion! Can he do it? Or will El Desperado still be the Best of the Super Juniors?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima VS Togi Makabe & Daiki Nagai; Makabe & Nagai win.
8 Man Tag: El Phantasmo, Jado, Shota Umino & Master Wato VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
Boltin Oleg & Tomoaki Honma VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi; Naito & Hiromu win.
Taichi & Taka Michinoku VS SANADA & Taiji Ishimori; Sanada & Taiji win, by disqualification.
Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; Double Count Out Draw.
8 Man Tag: Chaos VS TMDK; Chaos wins.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado VS Kosei Fujita; Desperado wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

After the 8 Man Tag: Team Phantasmo VS The United Empire…

While victory was good enough for Jeff Cobb and the others, The Great-O-Khan attacks Shota Umino! The fans are torn as Khan CLOBBERS Shota, then sends him back into the ring. Khan stomps away, then he hits a SAYANAGI! Khan then goes out to fetch a pair of scissors! Khan goes back to Shota, sits him up, and starts cutting away Shota’s air! Khan revels in the trophy he just took from The Roughneck, and the fans continue to be torn. Khan stomps Shota, then leaves him behind, but the message seems rather clear. Will Khan look to humiliate Shota in a Hair VS Hair grudge match?

Taichi & Taka Michinoku VS SANADA & Taiji Ishimori!

Every time The Holy Emperor has gone after Cold Blooded Sanada in these tag matches, Sanada has found a way to frame Taichi and get him disqualified! Surely Sanada can’t keep this up forever, will this be the moment of his comeuppance? Or will he still get the better of his furious former friend?

Well, to start, Taichi & Taka attack Sanada & Taiji during their entrance! The fans fire up as Taichi goes right after Sanada with kicks, then he POSTS Sanada! Taichi CHOKES Sanada, Taka keeps Taiji away, and then Taichi shoves Sanada into railing. The ref reprimands but he can’t do much else, this isn’t a match yet! The brawls spill out into the crowd, and Taichi whips, only for Sanada to reverse! Taichi clips a chair, then Sanada goes after him! Taiji CLAWS Taka’s eyes, and Sanada SMACKS Taichi off the “West” sign! Taiji takes a water bottle, takes a swig, then MISTS Taka in the face! Fans rally for Taichi as Sanada brings Taichi back to ringside.

Sanada whips, but Taichi reverses, and Sanada hits railing hard! The fans cheer, but Taiji still CHOKES Taka! Taichi storms up on Sanada, brings him around and puts him in the ring. The fans cheer again, but then Taiji anchors Taichi’s foot. The bell rings, and Sanada KICKS ropes to jam Taichi up! Sanada then suplexes Taichi onto ropes for MAGIC SCREW! Sanada goes up the corner, ROUNDING BODY PRESS! The fans are torn but Sanada just soaks it all up. Sanada brings Taichi up, but Taka BOOTS him! Taiji kicks and whips Taka, but Taka reverses, only for Taiji to handspring and NEURALIZER KICK!

Taiji says BANG, and BLOODY- NO, Taka fights out, UPPERCUTS, and MICHINOKU DRIVERS! Taka scoops Sanada, Sanada slips free, but Taka fights the dragon sleeper! SUPER K! AX BOMBER from Taichi! The fans fire up and Taichi TAKES OFF HIS PANTS! The fans fire up more as Taichi takes aim. TENSHO- NO, the ref is sent at Taichi! Taichi pushes the ref aside, Sanada blocks the kick, then fakes the low blow! But the ref saw it this time, Sanada’s trick won’t work! Sanada gets mad at the ref, then he kicks at Taichi. Taichi blocks the kick and he wants the ref to see this! LOW BLOW!!

Winners: Sanada & Taiji Ishimori, by disqualification

If Sanada wants it that bad, Taichi will give it to him! Taka can’t understand, but consider it a moral victory for Taichi. But he isn’t done, TENSHO JUJIHO for Sanada! Taichi RIPS the “F Just5Guys” shirt off Sanada, then tells him this is what he gets! Taichi storms out of the ring, to grab a chair! Taichi then goes back for Sanada, but Taka and Young Lions tell him not to! Taichi shoves them all aside, storms into the ring, but again he has to push Young Lions and even Taka out of the way! Taichi aims as Sanada sits up, but Taka stops Taichi. Taka says Taichi only has to wait a week, then he can get Sanada in Osaka.

Sanada slips away, and Taichi scares Taiji off. Will the Holy Emperor’s wrath be satisfied when he ends this at The New Beginning?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado VS Kosei Fujita!

The Rogue Luchador’s been on quite the roller coaster ride the past 13 months. He wins this title at WrestleKingdom 18 off his long time rival, Hiromu Takahashi. He loses this title to that cheating Murder Machine, Sho, in Sapporo. He wins Best of the Super Juniors 2024 to then win this title back in a Steel Cage Match, also in Sapporo, only to lose it to his old friend, Douki, only a few weeks later. And then, Desperado wins this title back from Douki, only because Douki crashed and burned at WrestleKingdom 19. Will Despy find himself back on the rise? Or will the Japanese Young Punk send him plummeting back down?

The introductions are made, Desperado’s belt is raised, and we see who is truly the mightiest Junior Heavyweight!

The bell rings and the fans rally and duel. The “FU-JI-TA!” is fairly loud compared to the “DE-SU-PEY!” Despy and Fujita circle, tie up, and feel it out. They clinch, Fujita waistlocks, Despy facelocks, they move around, and Despy tries again. Fujita slips free to float for a later press but Despy’s right up. Despy facelocks yet again, Fujita slips to a waistlock, but Despy arm-drags for a wristlock. Fujita headscissors, Despy moves around, turns Fujita over, and then has the legs. Despy floats back to the facelock, but Fujita fights up to wrench and wristlock. Despy grabs the ROPEBREAK, and the fans applaud. Fujita lets off with pats on the shoulders, and fans cheer again.

Despy stays cool as he and Fujtia reset. They tie up again, and Despy hammerlocks. Fujita switches that onto Despy, Despy switches it back onto Fujita, and they go again and again and again! Despy spins Fujita to then wrangle him, but Fujita rolls to his feet. Despy wrenches, Fujita rolls through and CHOPS! Despy grins and CHOPS in return! The fans rally as Fujita comes back to CHOP! Despy grins again, and then CHOPS! Fujita fires up and CHOPS! The CHOPS keep going back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans rally up! Neither man is backing down, and the CHOPS just keep going faster and faster!

The fans fire up, and finally Despy feels it! Fujita CHOPS again, eggs Despy on, so Despy gets the fans fired up. Despy CHOPS and Fujita feels that one! Fujita grins and shakes out his arm to CHOP again! Despy almost laughs, then he comes back to CHOP! Fujita CHOPS, Despy CHOPS, and they’re back at it again! Despy CHOPS and Fujita feels that one! The fans fire up again, and Fujita comes back with another CHOP! And another CHOP! But then Despy ducks one to trip Fujita, STRETCH MUFFLER! Fujita scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Despy drags Fujita back to SPLASH the leg! The fans rally while Despy feels that stinging in his chest.

Despy steps over Fujita’s leg to drop a knee on the knee! Despy whips, Fujita reverses, wrenches, and drop toeholds! Fujita ties the legs up fast, and he has the arms! Fujita pulls back for the modified surfboard! Then Fujita manages the NEMESIS SPECIAL! Despy flails, but then he pries the chinlock apart! Fujita shoves him down, shifts to get the arm, and he uses CLARKY CAT! Despy flails and has the ROPEBREAK! Fujita lets go in frustration, and the fans rally as Despy goes to the apron. Fujita brings Despy up, bumps him off buckles, then takes a swing. But Despy blocks and HOTSHOTS that arm!

Fujita falls back and the fans rally up again. Fujita PENALTY KICKS from the apron! Then he ASAI MOON- NO, Despy catches Fujita! And he LAWN DARTS Fujita into the POST! Fujita falls and the fans fire up! Despy catches his breath and shakes out his arm while Red Shoes checks Fujita. Fujita is still in this, so Despy refreshes the ring count. Despy drags Fujita up, whips him and Fujita hits railing! Fujita falls over, Despy storms over, and Despy drags Fujita up to pull him against a post. Despy SLINGS the arm into the post! Fujita falls, Despy goes to the ring, and the fans duel again. Fujita rises, hobbles, and the ring count starts again.

Despy paces while Fujita rises. Fujita rolls in at 9 of 20 and the fans cheer. Despy drags Fujita up to YANK the bad arm, and Fujita drops to his knees. Despy stomps Fujita, then puts him in a corner. Fujita CHOPS, but Despy scuffs Fujita. Despy whips corner to corner, runs up, and he blocks a boot to KICK the other leg! Despy then DRAGON SCREWS Fujita down! Despy steps through to drop a leg on the knee, then he ties Fujita up in a DEATHLOCK! The fans rally while Fujita endures, and Fujita CHOPS! Despy puts pressure on the knees but Fujita still CHOPS! Despy grabs Fujita’s arm, KIMURA, and even a headscissor!

Fujita endures, Despy shifts to have both arms! Fujita endures this Zack Sabre Jr. level combination of submissions while the fans rally up! Despy shifts to have a cover, TWO! Fujita is still in this and the fans cheer, but Despy looms over him. Despy drags Fujita up, but Fujita pushes his hand away. Fujita CHOPS, but there wasn’t much behind it. Despy eggs him on, so Fujita CHOPS again. Despy CHOPS and Fujita staggers to a corner. Despy whips corner to corner, Fujita reverses, then runs up. Despy puts Fujita on the apron, then kicks the bad leg! Fujita falls to the floor, and Despy builds speed! But Fujita GAMANGIRIS the dive!

The fans fire up as Fujita rises. Fujita slingshots up and over, comes back, and CROSSBODIES! Despy falls while Fujita tumbles out. Fujita then resets, and he ASAI MOONSAULTS! The fans fire up again as Fujita stands tall! Fujita brings Despy up, puts him in the ring, then stalks behind him. Despy stands, Fujita facelocks, but Despy fights the suplex! Despy fires body shots, then knees low. Despy whips Fujita to a corner, but Fujita reverses! Fujita runs up, Despy puts him on the apron again, but Despy ROCKS Fujita first! Fujita springboards to MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Fujita roars!

Fujita stalks Despy, deadlifts him, but Despy throws Fujita down for a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Then he shifts to a KIMURA! Fujita fights, Despy pulls on the arm, but Fujita scoops to SLAM Despy down! The fans fire up and Fujita KICKS Despy in the back! Fujita PENALTY KICKS, but Despy grits his teeth! Despy eggs Fujita on, so Fujita KICKS again! Fujita runs, but Despy blocks the kick to GROUND DRAGON SCREW! STRETCH MUFFLER! Fujita throws Despy away, dodges him, and GAMANGIRIS! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! Fujita crawls to ropes, drags himself up, and the fans rally again.

Fujita brings Despy up, but it’s Despy who suplexes high and hard! Despy then SPEARS Fujita, hauls him up, and hits a BIG back suplex! Despy keeps going as he gut wrenches Fujita, GUITARRA DEL ANGEL! Cover, TWO! Fujita survives, the fans rally up, and Despy rises again. Despy drags Fujita up, reels him in, and underhooks, PINCHE- NO, Fujita RANAS Despy down to then get an ARMBAR! Despy fights around but Fujita turns that into CLARKY CAT!! Despy endures, fights as Fujita pulls, but Fujita cording holds the arm! Then he scissors the arm, and grabs a leg! Despy still fights, kicks, and he manages to kick Fujita!

But Fujita grabs that leg to add a HALF CRAB to the mix! Despy endures being twisted around! Despy uses his one free leg to kick around as the fans are thunderous again! Fujita pulls on the leg with all his might but Despy still endures! Despy tries to find a point of leverage, but Fujita uses that to stack him! Cover, TWO!!! Despy escapes, but Fujita PENALTY KICKS! Fujita roars and the fans are with him! Fujita storms back up, waistlocks, and deadlifts! Despy fights the German Suplex, but Fujita still lifts! Despy fights, flails, goes to ropes, but Fujita uses that to O’Conner Roll, CHAOS THEORY!! Bridging cover, TWO!!!

The fans are thunderous again as Despy survives! Fujita roars and slashes his throat, vowing to end this now! Fujita drags Despy up but he’s a ragdoll! Fujita stomps Despy, then drags him up with a facelock. Fujita CRANKS on the hold, it’s almost a Guillotine Facelock! Despy CLAWS at Fujita, but Fujita just CRANKS the facelock! Then he suplexes, ABANDON- STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE?! Despy busts that out in desperation and now both men are down again! The fans rally up, Fujita sputters and crawls, and he rises to his feet. Fujita drags Despy up, Despy fires body shots, then he shoves Fujita away.

Despy sits up and eggs Fujita on, so Fujita CHOPS! The fans rally as Fujita CHOPS again! Despy stands, Fujita CHOPS! Fujita drags Despy up, CHOPS, and CHOPS, but then Despy CHOPS! Despy drops to his knees, but he still CHOPS again! Despy is running on fumes, but he still CHOPS! Fujita storms up to CHOP again! Despy KICKS the bad arm! Fujita tries but his warm won’t let him chop! Despy ROCKS Fujita, but Fujita HEEL KICKS Despy down! The fans fire up again and Fujita brings Despy around, for a CHOP! Despy grabs that arm for a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Despy uses an S grip, and more like a crossface hold on the arm, but it’s very effective!

Fujita fights around, Despy pulls and even pushes on the arm as he changes angles! The fans rally as hard as they can while Fujita endures, and he powers up with his one good arm! Fujita stands, but Despy fishhook shim! Despy spins him, underhooks him, and TIGER DRIVERS!! Despy keeps the underhooks, rolls Fujita around, and then hauls him up for PINCHE- NO!! Fujita BACKDROPS Despy, with a bridge! TWO as Despy bridges up!! Despy keeps the arms hooked, and he powers up to PINCHE LOCO!!! Cover, DESPY WINS!!

Winner: El Desperado, by pinfall (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)

Fujita put up a fight worthy of being The Mighty! But even though The Mighty Don’t Kneel, Fujita could not stand tall in the end! Despy is given the belt by Red Shoes, and he either taunts or motivates Fujita with it. Fujita stands to SLAP Despy, then he flops back down. He still has spirit, but what will it take for the Japanese Young Punk to become the Best of the Super Juniors?

As for Desperado, he gets the mic, and though the fans are cheering him, he says he’s had his fill, give it up for Fujita. The fans chant for Fujita now, proud of his fight. Despy then asks Fujita, “How about it? Frustrating, huh?” If the guy who beat him told the fans to cheer him on, Despy would probably crawl away into a hole somewhere. But does the Young Punk get it now? Yeah? Okay, good. Despy notes how during this Road to series, Fujita came after Despy pretty hard, but Despy knows Fujita has business to handle in Osaka, so good luck. Despy says it’s more fun when someone else is doing this, so he wants to wrap this up already.

The fans chuckle, and Despy dismisses Fujita so he can go home. Despy says when you work hard, sometimes you get hurt, even by your colleagues. But sometimes, they get support like this from the fans, and that makes it fun. It still hurts, but Despy still wants to do this. It’s also fun that fans can shout what they want, even if it’d upset Despy, but it’s fine here in this space. He even dares fans to say what they want, like he’s an idiot or he should just go home, even that he should die! So long as they come here to say it, he’ll welcome it.

Despy continues by saying he has a lot he still wants to do, and he even has an idea of who he wants to face next. The fans like the sound of that! Despy says he’s keeping it secret but the fans want to know! Despy says he’s not telling~! Now, Despy doesn’t have a match for Osaka next week, February 11th, but Hirooki Goto VS Zack Sabre Jr. sounds like a good time to him. He hopes everyone will still watch the rest of Road to New Beginning, thank you very much. Despy drops the mic, gets the official announcement that he is still the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, and then he gets the streamers! Wait, his music cuts off?

And now, Francesco Akira’s music plays! The Nova Fireball makes his way out to the ring, and he grabs the mic now. Akira tells Desperado that he had an amazing match! Bravo, Despy, bravo! Akira says he still remembers tapping out to Despy two years ago, right here in Korakuen Hall. But even back then, Akira knew they were destined to battle for that title. That is why Akira is here today! The fans like the sound of that! Akira shifts to English to say, “Despy, I want this belt. And I want to take it from you in a special place for me.” He wants that match for the NJPW Anniversary Show in March! The fans cheer, and Akira pushes the mic back at Despy.

The fans cheer Akira on, and Despy says he remembers that match, too. Maybe not that it was two years ago or whatever, but it was in Best of the Super Juniors. Despy remembers he was giving Akira the runaround before TJP came to help. But Despy does remember that, and he remembers NJPW saying Akira’s name was one of the best. Despy’s a little surprised it took Akira this long to challenge him, especially when Despy hasn’t had the title that long. That said, Despy will gladly accept Akira’s challenge. The fans like the sound of that! But uh, donde esta tu jefe? Where is your boss? Where’s TJP? Doesn’t he need TJP’s approval?

Akira gets mad and shoves Despy! Despy shoves Akira back, things get heated, and Akira trips Despy! Akira throws hands and Young Lions hurry to stop this! Akira tells Despy not to screw around with him! Akira says he doesn’t need TJP, he doesn’t need anybody! Get back in here, Despy! Despy taunts Akira from afar, but then they both storm up to the center of the ring, even as Young Lions try to hold Akira back. Despy tells Akira to go home and calm down. Despy isn’t into Akira’s flash and fire, he shouldn’t just start a fight for no good reason. Who’s gonna have the title? Just listen to the song and you’ll understand.

Despy drops the mic and his music plays again. The New Beginning hasn’t even begun and things are getting spicy! Will Desperado turn down the heat on the Nova Fireball? Or will Akira finally blaze his own trail in NJPW?

My Thoughts:

A great event for Road to New Beginning, with a lot of great story stuff in post-match moments. Khan going after Shota’s hair as part of their feud is certainly an interesting move, given Khan really only has that ponytail now. At the same time, I don’t see Shota resetting back to a Young Lion buzzcut here. That could be a very interesting one right there. Taichi giving Sanada the win using the low blow was hilarious stuff, great comeuppance for Sanada. Their 1v1 match will be a lot of fun if trying to frame each other becomes their focus. LIJ and War Dogs ending in a count-out and then just brawling after is some good stuff, really adds to Yota VS Gabe for the Global Heavyweight Championship.

Chaos VS TMDK keeps happening to keep building up Goto VS ZSJ, not sure this one really added anything, other than seeing #BigJag Hartley taking a Shoto. Despy VS Fujita was awesome, though, probably Fujita’s best singles match yet. But in the end, great win for Despy, and then a somewhat surprising appearance by Akira. Despy pushing Akira’s buttons about how TJP is in charge was some good stuff. Despy VS Akira is going to be a great match for the Anniversary Show, but hard to say if Akira wins the title. The fans really like Despy, he’s been going strong, I’m not sure Akira has had that real breakthrough yet.

My Score: 8.8/10

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Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW Road to New Beginning Results & Report! (2/3/25)

It’s the Headbanga Show!

Published

19 hours ago

February 3, 2025

Steven Mitchell

Don’t touch that dial and stay on ’em!

El Phantasmo defeated cancer, and he won the NJPW World Television Championship! But will this feel good story take a Tour of the Island?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Kickoff – Katsuya Murashima VS Masatora Yasuda; Murashima wins.
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Daiki Nagai; Tanahashi wins.
Six Man Tag: Shota Umino, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato VS The United Empire; Shota, Taguchi & Wato win.
Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi VS Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma; Naito & Hiromu win.
Taichi & Taka Michinoku VS SANADA & Clark Connors; Sanada & Connors win, by disqualification.
Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; Bullet Club wins.
10 Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, YOH, Tomohiro Ishii & El Desperado VS TMDK; Goto, Hashi, Yoh, Ishii & Desperado win.
NJPW World Television Championship: El Phantasmo VS Jeff Cobb; ELP wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

10 Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, YOH, Tomohiro Ishii & El Desperado VS TMDK!

We saw The Fierce Warrior and Front Man lead teams before in a Six Man Tag, but now we raise the bar! Will Chaos plus Despy defeat The Mighty? Or will Zack Sabre Jr, Ryohei Oiwa, Robbie Eagles, Kosei Fujita & Hartley Jackson prove The Mighty Don’t Kneel?

The teams sort out, and we get tense stare downs. ZSJ and Goto, Oiwa and Hashi, Fujita and Despy, Eagles and Yoh, Hartley and Ishii. The ref tells everyone to settle down, and eventually it’s Despy and Fujita starting off. The bell rings and the fans rally. Chants “FU-JI-TA!” and “DE-SU-PEY!” are fairly even, and the two circle. They feel things out, Fujita goes for a leg but Despy facelocks to counter. Fujita spins to use his leg guard but Despy gets around to go for the headlock again. Fujita waistlocks, Despy wrenches an arm, but Fujita slips away. The fans cheer as the two reset. They circle, tie up, and Despy wrenches an arm.

Fujita fires elbows, wrenches back, but Despy slips around to wrench and hammerlock. Fujita wrenches out to hammerlock in return, and they switch the hammerlock onto each other again and again. Despy wrangles Fujita with a top wristlock and grinds him down. Fujita fights up, Despy cording holds, but Fujita whips him, to then wrench and wrangle in return! Fujita STOMPS Despy’s arm and the fans cheer. Despy storms up on Fujita, then CHOPS! Fujita CHOPS, but Despy doesn’t flinch! The CHOPS go back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans fire up as they just keep going! Despy starts to feel that stinging, but then he YANKS Fujita’s arm!

Despy drags Fujita up, CHOPS him again, then brings him over to the corner. Tag to Yoh, but Fujita fires forearms on Despy! Yoh CLUBS Fujita, Despy stomps Fujita down, then Yoh stomps Fujita. Yoh drags Fujita up, kicks him low, then fires a forearm. Eagles sneaks a tag and Fujita whips Yoh away! Trip, KICK, SENTON, and basement DROPKICK! Fujita then BLASTS the Chaos corner! Eagles drags Yoh by a leg, steps through, but Yoh fights his way to a ROPEBREAK! Eagles drags Yoh back, Yoh scrambles to another ROPEBREAK! Eagles drags Yoh back again, but Yoh scrambles to yet another ROPEBREAK!

The ref counts, Eagles finally lets go, and he follows Yoh to the center. Eagles CHOPS Yoh to a corner, then runs in, only for Yoh to put him on the apron! Eagles ROCKS Yoh first, then springboards, but Yoh dodges! Yoh then drop toeholds Eagles, and basement DROPKICKS him! The fans cheer while Eagles scrambles away. Eagles tags Oiwa, so Yoh tags Hashi. Mighty Mullet and Headhunter RAM, and RAM, and then Oiwa runs, but Hashi dodges to BLOCKBUSTER! Goto & Ishii BLAST ZSJ & Hartley! Then Bishamon whips Oiwa to a corner! Goto LARIATS, then feeds Oiwa to DOUBLE SHOULDERS from Hashi & Ishii!

Goto sits Oiwa up for a CHAOS TRIPLE KICK! Cover, TWO! Hashi brings Oiwa up, but Oiwa CHOPS! Oiwa fires a forearm, Hashi CHOPS, and the fans fire up! Hashi brings Oiwa up but Oiwa CHOPS! Hashi CHOPS, Oiwa CHOPS, repeat! The fans fire up as the CHOPS go back and forth! Oiwa runs, but into a CHOP! And then DOUBLE CHOP! Hashi runs, but Oiwa RUNS Hashi over! The fans fire up and Oiwa tags in #BigJag! Hartley CHOPS Hashi! And then he suplexes Hashi high and hard! Then BIG ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Hashi survives but Hartley BLASTS the Chaos corner! Then Hartley plays defense while TMDK swarms Hashi!

ZSJ and Oiwa have Hashi’s arms, Fujita & Eagles have Hashi’s legs! Then they rotate! And rotate! And rotate again! The ref reprimands and counts them all, and all five TMDK members put their hands up, even though Hartley wasn’t doing anything. But then Hartley SENTONS onto Hashi! The fans cheer, Hartley covers, but Yoh & Despy break it! TMDK throws Yoh & Despy back out, then Hartley tags ZSJ. The fans cheer as ZSJ brings Hashi up in a cravat. Hashi endures the neck wrench, throws body shots, then a CHOP! ZSJ eggs Hashi on, then blocks a chop to JAB low! ZSJ facelocks Hashi, but Hashi powers out with a suplex!

The fans fire up while both men are down! Hashi and ZSJ crawl, hot tag to Goto! The Fierce Warrior runs ZSJ over, intercepts Goto, and snap suplexes him onto ZSJ! Goto then BLASTS Hartley & Fujita! Goto brings ZSJ up, fires forearms, then whips him to a corner. ZSJ reverses, runs up, and UPPERCUTS! ZSJ keeps moving but Goto LARIATS ZSJ in the corner! The fans fire up with Goto, but ZSJ stops the hip toss to THROW Goto down! And NECK TWIST! ZSJ then runs to PENALTY- NO, Goto blocks the kick! Goto ROCKS ZSJ, but ZSJ fires up! ZSJ UPPERCUTS, but Goto fires up!

Goto fires a forearm, ZSJ UPPERCUTS, repeat! The forearms fly, Goto ROCKS ZSJ again and again! But ZSJ UPPERCUTS right back! ZSJ runs, but Goto follows, only for ZSJ to wrangle him! FUJIWARA ARMBAR! TMDK BLASTS the Chaos corner! Goto endures, ZSJ shifts, DISARMER! Goto still endures, so ZSJ shifts to trap that arm and grab the other! CLARKY CAT! Goto endures, reaches out, but ZSJ pulls that arm way back! Goto still kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and ZSJ lets go in frustration. ZSJ drags Goto up, reels him in, ZACK- NO, Goto slips out, but ZSJ elbows him away.

ZSJ runs up but Goto dodges to schoolboy with some stank on it! Cover, TWO! ZSJ escapes, but Goto fireman’s carries! Goto feints Ushigoroshi to have the dragon sleeper! G T- NO, ZSJ drops down to victory roll and EURO CLUTCH!! TWO!! Goto escapes but ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! Goto rises to LARIAT!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! ZSj and Goto crawl, hot tags to Hartley and Ishii! The big meaty men DOUBLE LARIAT! And DOUBLE LARIAT! Ishii ducks a lariat to LARIAT back! Hartley DROPKICKS Ishii!! Hartley SPLASHES in the corner, then short arm LARIATS! Cover, TWO!

Hartley reels Ishii in but Despy LOCO MONOS! Fujita runs up, Despy dodges, but then Fujita dodges Despy! Despy blocks a kick, knees low, then sends Fujita at the corner. Eagles puts Fujita on the apron, BOOTS Despy, then Fujita MISSILE DORPKICKS Despy! Fujita runs, into Yoh’s SUPERKICK! Eagles SOBATS and ASAI- NO, Yoh slips free! But Eagles avoids the elbow to ROUNDHOUSE, SUPERKICK and PELE! But Yoh says I’LL BE BACK, SUPERKICK!! Yoh aims, but Hartley stops the plancha! Yoh elbows free, but Hartley CROSSBODIES! The fans fire up as Hartley now has Ishii! Fireman’s carry, but Ishii fights free!

Ishii waistlocks, but Hartley is too big to German Suplex! Hartley elbows free, then sends Ishii to Oiwa. Ishii ROCKS Oiwa first! Then Ishii dodges to send Hartley into Oiwa! The fans fire up as Ishii feeds Hartley to Hashi’s SUPERKICK! Then Ishii GERMAN SUPLEXES Hartley!! The fans are thunderous, and Hashi dodges Oiwa to feed him to Ishii’s forearm! Hashi mule kicks, then he and Ishii whip Oiwa, but Oiwa DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans are thunderous as now Oiwa hauls Ishii up, THE- NO, Ishii swats the Grip, dodges again, but Oiwa DROPKICKS Ishii down! Oiwa hauls Ishii up, for the DAIGO SHIKI SAIDO!

Oiwa sets Ishii up for Hartley, BIG JAG DEATH VALLEY!! Cover, TWO!! Ishii survives and the fans are thunderous again! Hartley hauls Ishii up, reels him in, BIG JAG BOMB!! Cover, GOTO BREAKS IT! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Goto, UPPERCUTS again, and again! ZSJ whips, Goto reverses, USHIGOROSHI! Hartley is up, he DOUBLE LARIATS with Goto! Goto HEADBUTTS Hartley, Ishii HEADBUTTS Hartley, then Ishii LARIATS Hartley down! High stack, TWO!! Hartley survives but Ishii hauls him up. No way! Ishii suplexes Hartley!? BRAINBUSTER!!! Cover, CHAOS WINS!

Winners: Hirooki Goto, Yoshi-Hashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Yoh & El Desperado, by pinfall

That was definitely a mighty battle, and while The Mighty Don’t Kneel, Hartley sure fell hard! Eagles still goes after Yoh on the outside, their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship battle still to come. The Young Lions separate them, but will Yoh & Rocky Romero revise who is on top? And what about Fujita and El Desperado? They battle tomorrow for THE IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, will the Rogue Luchador still be the Best of the Super Juniors?

NJPW World Television Championship: El Phantasmo VS Jeff Cobb!

The Headbanga fought cancer, and won. He fought three opponents in one match, and won! But now, he and the Imperial Unit are going to go 1v1, can ELP still win? Or will his “season” be over already?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who’s the real main character of NJPW World!

The bell rings and we’re on the clock. The fans rally up as Cobb and ELP step up. ELP and Cobb shake hands and the fans cheer. The two tie up, Cobb headlocks, but ELP powers up and out, only for Cobb to run him over! Cobb runs but ELP stays low, then ELP DROPKICKS Cobb! Cobb staggers to a corner while ELP kips up. The fans cheer and ELP goes to Cobb, but Cobb POUNCES him away! Cobb throws hands to put ELP in a corner, then he RAMS into him! Cobb then TOSSES ELP across the ring! Jado coaches ELP up and ELP stands. Cobb runs in, ELP goes up and over, then dodges to springboard, but Cobb catches him!

Cobb pops ELP up into a suplex, then THROWS him away! Cobb flexes and the fans cheer, but Jado still coaches ELP. Cobb drags ELP up, HEADBUTTS him to the corner, then whips corner to corner. ELP goes up and over, then spins to CHOP! ELP knuckle locks Cobb, CHOPS again, then goes up, up, jumps around, and FLYING- NO! Cobb stops the rana to then bring ELP up. ELP fires hands, and he manages to RANA Cobb out of the ring! ELP skins the cat, the fans cheer, and ELP builds speed. ELP DIVES, and he sends Cobb into railing! The fans cheer and ELP DUMPS Cobb into the front row! The fans step aside while ELP brings Cobb back up.

ELP ROCKS Cobb, Cobb ends up taking a seat, so ELP goes up the corner! The fans fire up already as ELP spells it out! “E! L! P!” SUPER ARIHARA MOONSAULT but no Cobb!? Cobb let the Young Lions take that hit for him! ELP crawls and Cobb drags him up from the chairs. Cobb brings ELP around to and tosses him to the orange seats! Cobb stalks ELP up the bleachers, brings him up, and he suplexes!? The fans freak out, but then Cobb carries ELP as he marches up the steps! The fans cheer, but ELP manages to slip free! ELP shoves Cobb into the side of the stairwell! ELP then uses Cobb as a step to get onto the ledge!

The fans freak out already as ELP takes aim, “E! L! P!” SUPER CROSSBODY! Direct hit and the fans fire up! Both men are down and Red Shoes wants them to get to the ring. However, the time hits five minutes, this is already working in ELP’s favor. ELP and Cobb stand, and ELP fires a forearm! Cobb staggers away, ELP follows, and ELP CHOPS! Cobb staggers away again, and ELP struts over to CHOP again! Cobb stumbles down the stairs, ELP pursues, and we return to the ground floor. ELP uses a fan’s ELP towel to blind Cobb, and ELP CHOPS him! ELP gives the towel a kiss before giving it back to the fan.

But Cobb fires body shots! Cobb POSTS ELP, then brings him around to APRON BACK SUPLEX! ELP writhes but Cobb slips into the ring. Cobb storms over, drags ELP up from the apron, and Jado already doesn’t like where this is going. Cobb deadlifts ELP for the stalling- NO, ELP slips free again! And he gets under, to carry Cobb out for a POWERBOMB! The fans fire up and ELP high stacks, TWO! Cobb survives that but the fans rally for ELP. Time is still ticking away, but ELP tunes up the band! ELP aims as Cobb rises up, SUDDEN- NO, Cobb blocks the kick and reels ELP in! FALL AWAY SLAM!

ELP flounders to a corner and Cobb flounders to the other. Both men drag themselves up, and Cobb runs in, LEAPING BACK ELBOW! Cobb huffs ‘n’ puffs but he clearly has a bloody nose. Cobb wipes the blood away, but ELP kicks from below! Cobb grabs the legs and he YANKS ELP right up into an ATHLETIC PLEX! Cover, TWO! ELP stays in this and the fans cheer. Cobb hauls ELP back up, whips him to ropes, but ELP grabs ropes to stop! ELP BOOTS back, runs up, but Cobb catches him! ELP BELL CLAPS free, then ROCKS Cobb! Cobb DOUBLE CHOPS, ELP mule kicks, front KICKS, then ENZIGIRIS!

The fans fire up and ELP throws off the elbow pads! ELP winds up and LARIATS! LARIAT! And LARIAT! ELP runs, but Cobb dodges to come back and LARIAT! Cobb hits so hard, he tumbles to the apron! ELP sputters while Cobb rises up. The fans rally for ELP, but Cobb climbs the ropes!? “JEFF! COB-BU!” THUNDER FLOP!! ELP rolls Cobb up, TWO! Cobb is still in this but ELP steps over, LA MAGIST- NO, Cobb smothers it to a cover, TWO!! ELP escapes, then hooks Cobb, but Cobb fights the backslide! Cobb switches the hooks to FLIP ELP! Cobb HEADBUTTS ELP, ELP staggers and rebounds, and Cobb SUPERKICKS!

ELP leans against ropes, Cobb reels him in, TOUR OF THE- CRUCIFIX TAKEDOWN! TWO!! Cobb escapes again! SUDDEN DEATH!! ELP covers, ONE?!? Cobb survives so ELP tunes up again! Cobb staggers up, into SUDDEN DEATH!! Cover, TWO?!?! Cobb survives again and ELP is stunned! Jado and the fans continue to rally for ELP and ELP vows to finish this! Three minute warning as ELP hooks Cobb up, but Cobb wrenches free! TOUR OF- DDT!! ELP hits a shocking counter, then goes to the apron! ELP climbs up, Cobb rises, CROSSBODY! Then he goes up the ropes again, THUNDERKISS 86!! Cover, ELP WINS!!

Winner: Jeff Cobb, by pinfall (still NJPW World Television Champion)

Cobb put a powerful fight worthy of a former champion like him. But in the end, he couldn’t “cancel” the Headbanga Show. ELP shows Cobb respect by helping him stand, but Cobb doesn’t want it! Cobb snatches the title, so that he can give it to ELP himself. Cobb shows ELP respect in return, but will Cobb be moving on to another title scene?

As for ELP, after catching his breath a bit, he grabs the mic to tell Korakuen Hall, “Daisuki desu! <I really like you~!>” The fans cheer that! ELP grabs a second mic so “Papa Jado” can also speak. Is he feeling good? Jado says yeah, he’s feeling good! ELP asks Korakuen if they feel good, and the fans cheer that they do. “Sugoi. <Amazing.>” ELP apologizes, he knows little Japanese. But ELP knows Jado knows a lot of Japanese! Maybe Jado can translate? Jado says yeah, it’s all good! The fans applaud, and ELP says it has been a long time since he was in the main event of NJPW! And yes, Jado translates.

The fans cheer, and ELP says he won’t use this time to put himself over. Jado hesitates, he isn’t sure how “put myself over” would translate… Jado just goes with, “Good luck with that.” ELP says he doesn’t want fans to cheer him, he wants fans to cheer for all the guys in the back who drove the bus for 9.5 HOURS to get here from Morioka. Jado translates that, and the fans do cheer. ELP wants fans to cheer for the cameramen who film this all day, while ELP only has to wrestle 15 minutes. The fans cheer already, and Jado still isn’t sure how to translate. ELP simplifies it to: I love the cameramen who work so hard. Jado can do that.

ELP wants cheers for Milano Collection AT and Hiroshi Tanahashi on commentary. They do way more work than him, so cheer them. The fans do cheer, but Jado’s translation is more about teasing Milano & Tanahashi than praising. ELP also points to the timekeeper, and English commentary’s Walker Stewart, who is doing this for like, the 12 English speaking fans who watch this live! The fans do cheer, and ELP says F Clark Connors, the guest commentator. ELP thanks the referees and office staff who help set up the ring and tear it down every show, and Jado translates. ELP says there are a lot of people who deserve more love than him.

So for everyone who isn’t a wrestler, but who makes NJPW run on a daily basis, make some noise! The fans cheer, and ELP says hold on, this is for the Osaka fans. ELP isn’t on the New Beginning show, but he will do an autograph signing there because of all the love they showed when he had his little cancer thing back then. “Osaka, see you soon.” The fans cheer, and ELP tells Korakuen, “I am the Headbanga! I am the NJPW World TV Champion! And I am… E! L! P!” The fans join in on that! Will The Headbanga Show continue to be the people’s show?

My Thoughts:

A great continuation of Road to New Beginning, though about as much filler as before, too. I do appreciate that Tanahashi is doing this series of “Final Road Connection” matches. With these Young Lions still in that phase of their career, Tanahashi will never get to wrestle them when they’re established stars, so this is nice of him as a veteran, an icon, a legend, to be giving back and paying it forward. Good stuff in the other matches, too, and Sanada finding another way to get Taichi disqualified is actually hilarious. Sanada is really leaning into being a sneaky, underhanded Heel, I feel like his blowoff with Taichi should be No Disqualifications just so he can’t frame Taichi.

The 10 Man Tag was good stuff, and with TMDK having won last time in the main event, it made sense for Goto’s team to win this time. It was also mostly to build momentum for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match tomorrow, and the tag title match for New Beginning in Osaka. Desperado VS Fujita is going to be great, but I don’t know if Fujita & Eagles really become a Junior Heavyweight Two Man Power Trip. The NJPW World TV Championship was a great main event, and that was a great win for ELP. ELP also gave a great promo where he showed love and appreciation for all the NJPW non-wrestler and production staff. Naturally he has a new lease on life, he’s learning to be grateful for everything, so this was a great way to show that.