NJPW PPV Coverage
NJPW King of Pro Wrestling 10/14/2019
Matt Davis steps back into the spotlight with his review and recap of New Japan’s King Of Pro Wrestling!
Matt Davis steps back into the spotlight with his review and recap of New Japan’s King Of Pro Wrestling!
Welcome to the event everyone has been waiting for since the G1 Climax ended! Annually this show is held in October, and features marquee rivalries coming to ahead as we set the stage for WrestleKingdom. Due to inclimate weather surrounding Typhoon Hagibis, several announced talent were not able to travel to Japan for this show. Due to time constraints of my own I will jumping into the action after the first couple matches with full details and summarizing the openers.
1) El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs SHO & YOH
Originally advertised as a six man tag featuring Zack Sabre Jr, this was turned into a regular tag team match and a preview for next weeks Super Jr Tag League Tournament. El Desperado made his return to NJPW after suffering a broken jaw in May. Suzuki-gun looked like they never missed a beat and picked up the opening win after a Pinche Loco at 10:55
Winners: El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Rating: **
Thoughts: Average junior tag match between two experienced teams. There was no doubt Desperado wasn’t winning his return. Let’s see what happens next week in the Super Jr Tag. I think these guys have to be favorites after their dominant run with the Tag Titles last year.
2) Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma vs Togi Makabe & Toru Yano
“20th Anniversary Hiroshi Tanahashi NJPW Debut Match”
This was a cool match which was the fourth in a series of anniversary matches for The Ace, honoring his longevity and loyalty to the company he helped rejuvinate over a decade ago. Makabe and Toru Yano have been with him along the way in the company, and Honma is a long time tag parter of Togi Makabe, so seeing the four veterans go at it with low stakes was fun. Tanahashi picked up the win after a High Fly Flow on Yano in under 10 minutes.
Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomoaki Honma
Rating: *1/2
Thoughts: Nothing wrong with it, nothing special about it either. I’m not a huge fan of Tanahashi at this stage of his career. Other people love him, it’s fine. He hit his spots, was a basic tag with NJPW veterans.
3) Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi vs DOUKI & Taichi
Early heel action by DOUKI and Taichi, because everyone hates Taichi. The feud with Naito and Taichi goes way back, when both were juniors. Taichi upset Naito in the G1 this year. With Takagi moving to the heavyweight division, there was a lot of story here and a proving ground for Taichi and Takagi as they tried to earn a reputation as guys that can “go”. Noshigami got a near fall at the end, but Taichi broke it up. Taichi attacked Shingo with his microphone for the rare disqualification finish in under 9 minutes.
Winners: Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi
Grade: *
Thoughts: So far this card has been extremely dull, and outside some excitement that we had near the end of this, there wasn’t much to it. I wished we got some more story. Disqualifications are extremely rare in New Japan, and it really sucks the finish away. No reason Naito couldn’t have gotte a pin on DOUKI and told the same story. As we head towards WK, I have to wonder if they’re building to Naito vs Taichi.
4) KISHIN Liger vs Minoru Suzuki
This is the match we’ve all been waiting for, and where I will begin reviewing the show. For those who need some background on why the title of this match says “KISHIN” and not “Jyushin”: In October 1996, The Great Muta had ripped off Liger’s mask during a match, but Liger stood up and revealed an all white painted face with red streaks, and white body paint, which was a much more aggressive version of Jushin Liger. He named this character KUSHIN Liger. He used the character again in 2006 in a feud with Bad Boy Hido, and again in 2012 against Taichi. In 2019, Minoru Suzuki assaulted Liger during his 30th anniversary, tearing at his mask, telling Liger he did not want to face Jushin, he wanted KISHIN. On September 22nd, the demonic alternative version of Thunder Liger finally returned, attacking Suzuki with a railroad spike, trainers, young lions, and even Hiroshi Tanahashi. Suzuki got his wish, and the match was made for tonight. Jyushin Thunder Liger will be retiring at WrestleKingdom in 2020, this being one of his final single matches.
Kevin Kelly tells us that this match could be considered a blood feud, dating back 17 years. Kelly tells us that Suzuki beat Liger in an MMA match in 2002, which was Liger’s only MMA match in his career. We are told that tonight Jyushin will be wrestling as Battle Liger tonight, which is a different character than either other character we’ve seen leading up to this match, only seeing it in 2012, and only two other times prior to tonight (against Tiger Mask and in 2002 and Hashimoto in 1994). We are told Liger might kill Minoru Suzuki tonight.
They circle around each other, trying to look for any advantage. Liger spits at Suzuki, and lays down on the mat, taunting Suzuki to wrestle him. Suzuki gets on the mat trying to twist him like a preztler and they square away to cheers. Liger into a drop toe hold but Suzuki blocks into a wristlock early! Suzuki is trying to break Liger’s arm, finally Liger gets to the ropes ad Minoru Suzuki is pissed. He lays flat on his mat now, but feigns out and tries to sweep Liger. Liger mounts now, as Suzuki cradles into a leglock but LIier reverses into a TRIANGLE! Suzulo frantic and backs up and gets a break. Liger refuses to break, as the referees warns him several times before breaking. Dropkick rolls Suzuki under the bottom rope. They begin to brawl outside. OW! Liger launches Suzuki chest first at full speed into the barricade. Liger smashes a chair on the cold steel as the referee stops LIger from using it, and Suzuki boots the chair into Liger now. Suzuki crashes Liger into the barricade now, cracking a chair across his back several times and then in the shoulder!
Suzuki wraps Liger’s arm and shoulder around the barricade and tries to break his arm again. Referee breaks it up, and Suzuki berates and chokes the referee. Suzuki begins tearing at the Battle Liger mask to boos. They stand face to face as Suzuki tries to rip it off again as they exchange slaps and chest strikes. On the apron, Suzuki tries to unmask Liger again, and drapes Liger’s arm across the top rope with a cross armbreaker screaming “IM GOING TO BREAK HIS ARM!” swinging back and forth on the ropes to boos. Liger rolling around in a lot of pain. Suzuki is really targeting the arm here.We are reminded that 7 years ago Suzuki wrestled one of the finest wrestling matches ever at King of Pro Wrestling against Hiroshi Tanahashi, but tonight it will be far from that. Huge headbutt drops Liger, before a hard right hand drops him again. Suzuki tells Liger to get up and stops the referee from counting him down. Liger up and open palm strikes, Suzuki with a boot and Liger collapses against the ropes. In the corner, huge boot by Suzuki, LIger blocks the PK! Running forearm chop across the nose and Suzuko shrugs it off and charges out of the corner! FIGHTING SPIRIT!!
Suzuki with elbows and is caught with a hard clothesline by Liger across the jaw to cheers! Capo Kick! Liger tries the Brainbuster into the rear naked choke! Suzuki doesn’t want it to end as he drops a limp Liger, Liger playing possum into a deep octopus double arm bar! Suzuki screaming in pain as Liger twists the shoulder and arm. He’s screaming “ASK HIM!” Suzuki somersaults out of of the hold into the ropes for a break. Liger with a hard kick on the shoulder he just twisted. Twisting armbreaker! Suzuki blocks, but Liger does it again! Suzuki in tremendous amounts of pain. Liger with a third one- NO BLOCKED INTO THE CHOKE! Liger escapes with a snapmare, and Suzuki holds onto the choke on the mat! Liger is fading… Referee lifts the limp arm twice and Liger gets to his feet. Suzuki teases a Gotch, and Liger blocks as the crowd starting to cheer. Liger back body drop! Lou Thesz Press into a pin for two and Suzuki gets out! VERTICAL DROP BRAINSBUSTERRRRRR!!!!! SUZUKI KICKS OUT!!!! ONE OF THE MOST PROTECTED MOVES IN JAPAN!!!! Suzuki kicked out! Liger signals for the end, and Suzuki with a hard dropkick!! Open palm strikes to a prone Liger who can’t protect himself as he stumbles, but roars back with his own fighting spirit! Crowd erupts! Suzuki slaps his own face! This is insane! Liger with his own chest strikes and slaps! Suzuki stares into Liger’s soul and smiles! Suzuki reponds with lightning fast strikes! Liger drops and stands again to cheers, but stumbles before he can connect with a strike. Liger with a slap! Suzuki says more! Forearm! Slap! Slap! Suzuki wants more! HARD STRIKE BY LIGER! Suzuki elbows Liger flat. Referee checking on Liger. Liger up with strikes and they yell in each others face. As hard as anyone can strike, Liger breaks sweat off Suzuki’s chest with an open palm strike, and Suzuki with a quick elbow strike into the Stalling Gotch Style Piledriver. Suzuki gets three for the win in 18 minutes.
Winner: Minoru Suzuki
Grade: ***
Thoughts: I honestly went from super excited about this match to disappointed before the bell rang, as I thought this would be Kishin Liger against Suzuki. Battle Liger still was a good character to use, as they absolutely kicked the crap out of each other here. Big, big difference between what we saw here and Liger’s usual stuff. The crowd loved it, it was reminiscent of older New Japan stuff, and both of them knew that. I can’t believe Suzuki kicked out of the Brainbuster. It’s one of the most protected moves in Japanese wrestling. This match was different for so many reasons, but it wasn’t a epic, so I gave it three stars out of five. Great story, electric atmosphere, great strong style, but it ended a little quicker than I was expecting, and as I mentioned, slightly disappointed that it was Battle Liger and not Kishin.
After the match Minoru Suzuki gets a chair and gets in the ring as the young lions tend on Liger, Suzuki tries to destroy Liger once and for all as he raises the chair above his head, and throws it away. He kneels in front of a prone Liger, and bows down to Liger as the fans erupt with cheers! A moment that this crowd will remember forever. The ultimate form of respect. Suzuki marches away quickly as Liger gets helped to his feet. Liger takes a microphone and says “Suzuki, thank you” and throws the mic down as his music hits for one of the last times. The crowd is chanting “LIGER LIGER” as he walks away.
5) El Phantasmo vs IWGP Jr Champion Will Ospreay
IWGP JR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
El Phantasmo won the Super J Cup in August, eliminating Ospreay in the semi-finals. Phantasmo has been haunting and attacking Ospreay at every corner. After Ospreay and Robbie Eagles couldn’t beat Phantasmo and Ishimori for thr Jr Tag Titles, Ospreay said Phantasmo will never beat him for the Jr Heavyweight Title. We are told ELP was able to make it to the show as he was training in the NJPW Dojo when the typhoon hit as the Doho was flooded and the moved memorabilia upstairs all night protecting the history of New Japan. Kevin Kelly told us Bullet Club will not be at ringside during this match as Phantasmo wanted to prove he could beat Ospreay by himself and clean. Ospreay won the Best of the Super Juniors in June, and won the IWGP Jr Championship at Dominion, but if Phantasmo can win here, he would be the reigning RevPro Cruiserweight Champion, one half of the IWGP Jr Tag Champions, the Super J Cup and British J Cup winner. He could sweep all the junior accolades with a win here.
Ospreay refuses a handshake as they lock up. Against the ropes, ELP breaks and taps Ospreay on the chest. Armdrag into a headlock into a press, snapmare, both men flip around to cheers, monkeyflip, missed clothesline, hurricanrana by ELP, Ospreay misses a roundhouse kick to cheers and ELP backs up. Ospreay says he was inches away from winning. Ospreay again refuses a handshake. ELP wants a test of strength and Ospreay accepts as they clash together. ELP forces down Ospreay at first but he fights back and drives ELP down into a bridge. They exchange rolls and flips into a double pin. Both escape into mirror bridges, eyes locked. ELP with a slap in the bridge. Both men up and The Aerial Assassin with his own slap! ELP with a knife edged chop! Ospreay with his own and ELP drops! They exchange forearms and ELP stumbles. Ospreay is fighting for his life, as they come to blows. Ospreay accuses ELP of hitting him in the eye as he drops down. ELP says it was an accident and offers his hand and respectfully lifts Ospreay to his feet to cheers before driving Ospreay throat first in the corner to boos! ELP blocks a forearm, and walks the ropes launching Ospreay outside. Handspring into the ropes, backflip into the superhero pose mocking Ospreay!
Ospreay with a quick Pip Pip Cheerio! HANDSPRING BACK FLIP MOONSAULT OVER THE TOP ROPE! Ospreay drags ELP around ringside to cheers. Ospreay tosses ELP into the crowd!! WOW! He tossed him over ten feet into the commentary teams. Phantasmo with a chair shot out of no where! He says “Whoops” (hahahahah). They’re brawling in the crowd now. Commentary is limited. Phantasmo climbs into a stairwell, as Ospreay meets him on the other side. They’re standing ten feet above concrete. Both of them teetering, Ospreay flips but fights back. OSPREAY TEASES THE STORMBREAKER BUT ELP BLOCKS! Ospreay slips and falls down to the walk way below. SUICIDE CROSSBODY DIVE TO THE FLOOR BY EL PHANTASMO!!!!!! ELP drags Ospreay back to ringside and is in complete control.
Cover in the ring, and Ospreay barely kicks out. ELP sends Ospreay chest into the opposite corner and rakes his back. Ospreay put in the tree of woe. Dropkick to the face! Phantasmo fakes another one and drops a boot in the groin. As Phantasmo poses, Ospreay lifts himself up ad nails a german suplex while in the tree of woe! HARD KNIFE EDGE CHOP in the corner by Ospreay! Ospreay blocks a springboard strike with a dropkick to the chest! Twisting handspring kick to the face! Ospreay poses on the corner, misses a moonsault, misses a standing moonsault, nails a standing shooting star, and a second rope moonsault for two! Ospreay tries a Stormbreaker but ELP blocks. Ospreay signals for the Hidden Blade but ELP blocks. They dodge attacks and ELP with an enzuguiri in the corner! Phantasmo with a Frankensteiner and OSPREAY LANDS ON HIS FEET! ELP escapes the dragonsuplex, ducks the hook kick, step up enzo by ELP! Ospreay blocks a move into a cutter, ELP blocks the OsCutter into a reverse airplane spin! Both me down!
On the apron, El Phantasmo in control, Ospreay blocks the CRII as both men fight on the apron. Ospreay blocks the CRII again, and knocks ELP silly with a roundhouse kick! OS CUTTER TO THE OUTSIDE!!! Both men down as the count begins. Ospreay in at 11, ELP in at 19.98! COAST TO COAST BY OSPREAY! SHOOTING STAR PRESS! Phantasmo kicked out at two and a half! Robinson Special connects! OS CUTTERRRRR!!!! Hooks the leg and Taiji Ishimori pulls the referee out to a lot of boos! Ishimori grabs the IWGP Jr Championship, but Robbie Eagles makes the save and destroys Ishimori with a cannonball through the ropes and drags Ishimori to the back!
ELP grabs the IWGP Jr Championship now, ELP swings, Ospreay ducks, HOOK KICK! ELP is done! HIDDE BLADE MISSES! LOW BLOW BY ELP! Shot with the title to the face! He throws the title outside. ELP to the top, diving splash! Ospreay out at two! Cheeky Nando kick by ELP mocking Ospreay using his own move. Both men up top now. ELP with a spinning reverse fireman carry! Ospreay kicks out again! ELP tries the CRII. Ospreay blocks, BUT ELP NAILS THE STYLES CLASH!!!! OSPREAY KICKS OUT!! V TRIGGER BY ELP! Ospreay reverses the One Winged Angel into a cradle! Kickout! SUPERKICK BY ELP! SPANISH FLY BY Ospreay and both men down!
They’re exchanging blows in the middle of the ring as both men exhausted. They’re empting all they have. ROUNDHOUSE! Forearm! HOOK KICK! ELP is dazed! ROUNDHOUSE! ELP drops to his knees! CANADIAN DESTROYER DDT SPIKES ELP! Ospreay covers and Phantasmo kicks out! Ospreay to the top rope to cheers. Phantasmo kicks the referee into the ropes and Ospreay crumbles. Ospreay blocks the Super CRII on the top rope. Headbutt by ELP! OSPREAY BLOCKS THE SUPER FRANKENSTEINER WITH A POWERBOMB!!!!! Ospreay pulls the elbow pad down…. HIDDEN BLADE! ELP HEAD FELL OFF HIS SHOULDERS! STORMBREAKER! WIN! 28 minutes
Winner AND STILL IWGP Jr Champion: Will Ospreay
Grade: ****1/4
Thoughts: You ever watch a match and know you’re watching a breakout match for someone? Think Kenny Omega against KUSHIDA at Dominion 2015, you knew Omega was going to be special soon. This match was that moment for El Phantasmo. Several iconic moments, the suicide crossbody into the walkway was absolutely insane. You don’t see that too much in Japan, and haven’t in a major professional wrestling promotion in a while. They brought out tributes to multiple famous junior heavyweights through wrestling history. The Hidden Blade at the end was brutal. I really don’t like matches that get dirty, but the very minor interference and cheating didn’t affect this match in the least bit, so it’s okay. What a great match between two guys who work so well together. Ospreay’s offense is just so crisp and devestating. His striking ability is unlike anyone else in wrestling. Not KENTA, not Shibata, not Ibushi, no one can compare to how fast he can strike. The Roundhouse near the end was one of the stiffest shots I’ve ever seen, clean on the ear. Really fun stuff.
6) “CHAOS” Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, & YOSHI-HASHI vs “Bullet Club” Jay White, KENTA, Yujiro Takahashi
This is going to be another quick review, as six man tag matches are often dull affairs, with some stories, but not much consequence. Not sure why this match wasn’t fourth on the card. If anything, a true definition of a crowd break match. Jay White defeated Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Championship at Destruction in Kobe on September 22nd, so Bullet Club has some gold around their waists here (coming up short of another in the previous match).
KENTA dominated most of the match, after beating Ishii for the NEVER Open Championship at Royal Quest, KENTA looks to prove a statement to CHAOS and future NEVER Openweight challengers, but it was Hirooki Goto who laid claim to an opportunity as he pinned Yujiro Takahashi with the GTR as KENTA and Jay White looked on in 12 minutes.
Winners: Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, & YOSHI-HASHI
Grade: **
Thoughts: Average six man tag between two groups of upper mid card guys. You get the usual Bullet Club/Jay White dirty stuff, and KENTA being a prick, but the fans went home happy with this one as Yujiro Takahashi ate the pin. Killed the flow of the show having this here, even if it involves some of the bigger names in the company.
7) Lance Archer vs Juice Robinson
IWGP UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP [vacant]
NO DISQUALIFICATION
This match was supposed to be Jon Moxley against Juice Robinson but Moxley could not travel to Japan due to the typhoon. This match was made instead. Lance Archer stepped into this opportunity due to a strong showing in G1 and the Fighting Spirit Tour. Juice Robinson is a former 2 time IWGP US Champion. Lance Archer is a former 3 time IWGP Tag Team Champion, former 4 time NWA Tag Team Champion (2 with Davey Boy Smith and 2 with Kid Kash), former 2 time GHC Tag Team Champion in NOAH, but he’s never held singles gold in a major promotion. Jon Moxley has now missed AEW’s All Out and NJPW’s King of Pro Wrestling in six weeks time for various reasons.
Archer starts trying a chokeslam, Juice a low blow and with an inside cradle for two! Juice with a spear to the outside! Juice immediately grabs a chair and drives it into Archer’s ribs and back! Juice throws Archer full speed into the barricade!! He posts him! Archer down! Juice tries a cannonball but Archer with a big boot on the outside! Juice blocks a chokeslam, but Archer gets it a second time through a table in the crowd! Archer with a steel chair across the back and holds the US Championship up to cheers. Archer tears off the turnbuckle pads in all the corners as this match is about to get dangerous.
Archer gets a chair and threatens the referee as Juice is still crawling around outside. Archer takes chairs and sticks them between the turnbuckles. He assaults Juice one more time for good measure. Archer gets another table and slides it in the ring as Archer is creating his own Murder House now. EVERYBODY DIES as he assaults the Young Lions at ringside. He puts the tables in the corners that don’t have chairs. Archer throws Juice face first into one of the chairs. Juice Robinson dislocated one of his fingers as he looks to be in a bit of pain, showing the finger to the camera. Archer sends Juice into the second chair, and tries a pin but Juice kicks out. Juice’s nose is now busted open as well. Archer grabs Juice’s arm and walks the top rope half way around the entire ring. Juice finally trips him up to cheers. Juice with a headbutt. Robinson tries a superplex and drops Archer back first!! Juice tries a pin and Archer kicks out! Juice with the Dizzy Jabs! Juice tries Left Hand of God, Archer blocks, RIGHT JAB! LEFT HAND OF GOD CONNECTS! Cannonball through the table! Juice with a pin and Archer kicks out.
Juice plays the crowd, Archer reverses Pulp Friction, POUNCE THROUGH THE TABLE IN THE CORNER! Both men down and dazed. Archer rolls outside and goes under the ring looking for more destruction. Juice is outside throwing chairs in the ring on the other side. Archer is getting more chairs. Both in the ring with chairs, Archer misses a swing, Juice misses, Archer with a right hand through the chair into Juice’s face! Juice is flat out! Chokeslam reversed. EBD CLAW! NO JUICE REVERSES INTO THE JUICEBOX! Hooks the leg and Archer kicks out! Juice is stacking chairs in the middle of the ring. Juice sets Archer and tries Pulp Friction, reversed into a Chokeslam onto the pile of chairs!! Archer piles them back together and grabs Juice as he teases the Blackout off the top through the chairs… MURDER HOUSE OPEN FOR BUSINESS!! Archer pins and JUICE KICKS OUT!!!!! Archer slamming Juice’s head into the chairs. EBD CLAW! Three count in the middle of the ring and we have a new IWGP US CHAMPION in 15 minutes!! Lance Archer has done it! WOW! What a upset!
Winner AND NEW IWGP US CHAMPION: Lance Archer
Grade: **1/2
Thoughts: For a impromptu brawl, this was fun. There was a lot of destruction, several tables went kaboom, several chairs were destroyed, and Juice’s finger and face also had better days. Juice wrestled with a dislocated finger most of a match against an opponent he wasn’t planning on facing. Gritty performance for Juice here. Archer gets a great moment as he has arrived in Japan as a singles star.
8) Kota Ibushi vs EVIL
TOYKO DOME CONTRACT MATCH
Kota Ibushi defeated Jay White in the finals of the G1 on August 12th, guaranteeing an opportunity to face the IWGP Champion at WrestleKingdom. He must defend that opportunity here against who many regard as the spiritual successor to big brawlers like Masahiro Chono and Hiroyoshi Tenzan in New Japan; “The King of Darkness” EVIL.
EVIL attacks at the bell trying to gain an immediate upper hand to head to the Toyko Dome. EVIL with a strong side headlock early on, wearing down Kota. Kota tries to fight out but EVIL locks it in tighter and harder. Ibushi finally escapes, EVIL with a strong shoulder tackle, Ibushi kips up, and EVIL with another side headlock, dragging this one to the mat. Ibushi up, strikes and kicks EVIL hard. He follows up with multiple mid kicks. EVIL blocks another and drives Ibushi upside down over the top rope with a clothesline! Ibushi back first into the ringside barricade crashing in hard! EVIL with a receipt!
EVIL in control in the ring, swinging neckbreaker and Kota kicks out at one easily. EVIL with knee in the back, angling pressure betwee the shoulder blades but Ibushi powers out but EVIL with a double wrist lock and Ibushi can’t escape. Ibushi tries to leverage. He finally outpowers, and EVIL reverses again, dropping Ibushi to the mat, driving the knee in deep. Ibushi with a desperation mid kick! Martial art kick combo, powerslam, into the moonsault and EVIL kicks out! They exchange tie ups, Ibushi misses a springboard kick, and EVIL ties Ibushi in the corner and drives Ibushi into the mat with a stomp to the heart. EVIL tries a bronco buster, and Ibushi counters into his own double stomp! On the apron, EVIL counters a deadlift german ito a cutter across the top rope! EVIL down outside, Ibushi down inside. EVIL wraps a chair around Ibushi’s head and hits a homerun! Its gone! EVIL crushes Ibushi i the corner and is in complete control. Superplex by EVIL, and Ibushi kicks out at two and a half!
EVIL dodges a dropkick at the 10 minute mark, and EVIL stalks the G1 winner, tries a misdirection lariat, but Ibushi with a headscissors! Both men on the top rope, EVIL with a devestating headbutt, but Ibushi with a springboard hurricanrana off the top! Two count! EVIL blocks the Kamigoye. German suplex by EVIL but Ibushi lands on his feet! Both men try hard forearms and are blocked! LARIATTTTTTTTTTTTT BY EVIL! HOOKS THE LEG! KICK OUT!! EVIL connects with Darkness Falls, Ibushi kicks out! Ibushi reverses Everything Is Evil into a roll up, two! KOTA IBUSHI WITH A BASTARD DRIVER!!!! Ibushi can’t make the cover. LAST RIDE! EVIL kicks out at 2.9! SO CLOSE! Shinsuke Nakamura tribute, LARIAT KILLS IBUSHI DEAD ON HIS FEET TURNING HIM INSIDE OUT!! Both men down! PUMPING BOMBER CONNECTS! EVIL hooks the leg, Ibushi kicks out! IBushi blocks Everything Is Evil, wristlock, waistlock briding german! EVIL rolls through, Kamigoye blocked! Half and half suplex by EVIL! Another half and half suplex! EVIL can’t get the pin… The rug was pulled out from Ibushi as he thought he had it won. LARIAT BY KOTA IBUSHI!!! EVIL flips inside out! Kamigoye reversed into Everything Is Evil but Kota blocks, tries a standing Kamigoye, EVIL WITH A HEADBUTT! Kota with a headbutt! High kick! Jumping Knee, KAMIGOYE! EVIL KICKED OUT!!!!!! EVIL KICKED OUT!!! KAMIGOYE AGAIN! That’s it at 24 minutes.
Winner: Kota Ibushi
Grade: ***3/4
Thoughts: This match started so unbelievably slow, it was grueling, but the second half was worth the wait. The winner was basically undeniable, I don’t think we will ever see a G1 winner dropping the contract at King of Pro Wrestling, but if they can give us matches like this, that’s perfectly fine. EVIL dominated this match, one of his best matches of all time. His thunderous powerful offense has begun to find its spot here in New Japan and the crowd just loves him. Ibushi played the come from behind guy well, hitting several quality spots. The last three minutes is just so crisp and exciting.
9) SANADA vs IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada
IWGP HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
This is the seventh singles meeting between these two, with Okada holding a 5-1 all time record against SANADA, but that one loss is what led to this title match, with SANADA all but eliminating Okada from the G1 (after a 6-0 start) with his upset victory over The Rainmaker. The IWGP Championship has not changed hands at KIng of Pro Wrestling since 2014, when Hiroshi Tanahashi beat AJ Styles.
Okada tries to start off hot with a shotgun dropkick but SANADA side steps, both men with bombs right away. SANADA dodges the Dropkick multiple times. SANADA to the top with the Muta Moonsault but misses, Rainmaker misses, Skull End escaped, and both men miss dropkicks as they square away.
Okada tries a waistlock but SANADA controls and gets up. SANADA with a slow pace, trying to gain any advatage. Okada reverses into a wristlock and SANADA reverses into a backlock, headlock by SANADA, both men against the ropes. Okada teases a strike and taps SANADA’s chest. Hard shoulderblock by Okada knocking SANADA off his feet. Slow neckbreaker by Okada, pins, and SANADA kicks out. Okada with a chinlock and SANADA gets to the ropes, dropkick to the ear knocks the challenger outside, and Okada follows. They exchange blows outside the ring. SANADA back first ito the barricade ad boots SANADA into the crowd! Draping DDT and SANADA reverses, twisting suplex off the barricade face first into the floor! SANADA with a fireman carry dropping Okada rib first on the barricade. Okada rolls in at 17. SANADA pins and gets two. Hard crushing back elbow in the corner by SANADA, snapmare into a pin press and gets two. Headlock by SANADA trying to weaken and drain the life from the champion. Okada blocks a splash with a boot, both men exchange maneuvers, SANADA misses the standing moonsault and Okada with an uppercut and both men down…
Okada kips up first, running forearm, forearm, ducks clotheslines, and drops SANADA with a hooking clothesline of his own! Thumping collison in the corner, SPIKING DDT by Okada, into the cover and SANADA kicks out at two. SANADA Flair flops to the apron, but Okada dropkicks him off the apron to the floor into the barricade. SANADA again into the barricade and again with a boot into the crowd. Okada HIGH SPEED DIVING CROSSBODY OVER THE BARRICADE SENDING SANADA INTO THE CROWD!!! Referee starts to count SANADA out… Okada stops the referee from counting SANADA out at 17 as SANADA stumbles into the ring and collapses at Okada’s feet. A hard right forearm drops SANADA. SANADA to his feet trying to fight back but OKada is just too much dropping SANADA again, followed by a powerslam. Okada to the top rope, SANADA up and leapfrogs Okada into a Dropkick! Springboard suicide splash to the floor byh SANADA as the crowd chanting and cheering for the challenger. SANADA plays up the crowd walking around the ring..
SANADA rolls Okada under the bottom rope and gets Okada in the Paradise Lock to cheers! SANADA plays up the crowd who loves is, SANADA sets and dropkicks the quad, freeing Okada, into the pin for two. Both men exchange counters, SANADA misses the moonsault prelude to Skull End, Shotgun Dropkick sends SANADA into the corner! Okada climbs to the top rope.. MISSILE SHOTGUN DROPKICK FROM THE TOP! Powerslam and Okada back to the top rope. Diving elbowsmash! RAINMAKKKKKKEERRRRRRR POSE!!!!!!!! SANADA ducks the Rainmaker into Skull End, Okada escapes, back into Skull End, cradle for two by Okada, SANADA tries a TKO, Okada escapes, Skull End! Okada reverses into a tombstone attempt but SANADA reverses and drops the champion with a spiking tombstone! TKO! Lateral press pin and two and a half! SANADA locks in the Bodyscissor Skull End in the middle of the ring. Okada trying to flail but SANADA trying to drain the life from Okada. Okada slowly fading… Okada slips out but SANADA locks it back in!! Okada is worse for wear, Okada going limp. Okada slips out again, trying to get to the ropes, but SANADA LOCKS IT IN A FULL BODYSCISSORS! NOT TODAY! SANADA YANKS BACK! This match should be over! Okadas’ eyes are fading. Referee checking on Okada. One hand up and down. Two hands up… Okada fights out into a roll up! Two! SANADA continues the ground mount, maintaining arm control. Okada blocks Skull End. OKada trying for leverage, SANADA trying for SKull End, flips and RAINMAKER!!!!!!! Okada took a few extra moments before trying a pin and SANADA kicked out!
Both men on their knees giving each other their all as we approach the 30 minute mark.. SANADA with hard forearms. Okada with an elbow. SANADA with a strike, Both men up. Okada with a hard forearm to the chin. Forearm by SANADA! Back and forth! Faster and harder! Uppercut by Okada! SANADA with an uppercut of his own. Okada with an uppercut. SANADA stumbles Okada with a uppercut! Okada with another! SANADA responds! Okada drops to the mat! Okada ducks a rolling elbow, SANADA ducks Rainmaker, Okada reverses Skull End into his own! Dropkick to back of the head! DROPKICK OFF THE ROPES! SANADA ducks Rainmaker, cutter out of the corner into the SKULL END! Okada fading! His arm dropping limp. SANADA spins the champion and drops in the hooks! Okada looks out! His eyes are grey! SANADA rolls Okada away from the ropes! Referee checking on Okada….. is he out? Okada eyes are closed. Referee asking Okada if he’s still with us. Referee checks the hand… Okada waving a fourth of a inch in a circle. SANADA tries a cover and OKADA KICKS OUT! MUTO MOONSAULT!!!!!! TRIES ANOTHER AND OKADA GETS THE KNEES UP! Both me down! SANADA could have gone to WrestleKingdom right there but he wanted to send a message and paid the price! Okada is out, stumbling around, barely able to grab the ropes, dazed. SANADA first to his feet as the crowd erupts. Okada with a defensive desperation boot, Moonsault into Skull End! Okada reverses into his own Skull End, TOMBSTONE! RAINMAKER BLOCKED WITH A BOOT! Rainmaker ducked! O’connor roll and the crowd is going crazy! TWO! ONLY TWO! RAINMAKER DUCKED! Tombstone reversed into Skull END! SANNADA SPINS THE CHAMPION AROUND, Okada armdrags out! Dropkick at the 35 minute mark! Rainmaker ducked, Okada ducks SANADA’s Rainmaker, popup dropkick! ROLLING ELBOW BY SANADA! OKada blocks the twisting cutter into the tombstone but SANADA tries to choke him, Michinoku Driver by OKada RAINMAKERRRRRRRRRRR GETS THREE! And still IWGP CHAMPION AT 37 MINUTES KAZUCHIKA OKADA!
Winner AND STILL IWGP Champion: Kazuchika Okada
Grade: ****1/2
Thoughts: They were testing the waters here, this was a fantastic match that told an awesome story. For all intents ad purposes if we were grading points, SANADA would be our new champion after this, after countering everything Okada had at every step of the way, completely draining him not once but twice with Skull End. But it wasn’t enough, and the Rainmaker finally connected for the successful defense as we look forward to Kazuchika Okada vs Kota Ibushi. Honestly, I’m not looking forward to that and I don’t think Ibushi will win. I would really love to see these two at it. I loved their New Japan Cup match, I loved their G1 match, and I loved this match. SANADA is often criticized for sandbagging matches, but Okada brings the best out of him. I think we saw the dawning of SANADA here and I think he will win G1 in 2020. Okada is still our champ, SANADA won our hearts and minds.
Overall Show Grade: 6/10
Overall Show Thoughts: King of Pro Wrestling is often regarded as a premier event, citing Minoru Suzuki/Tanahashi in 2012, and Tanahashi/Okada in 2013 as examples of some of the best matches in the modern era, in wrestling period both taking place at this event. Tonight had some amazing matches, but it also had it’s fair share of clunkers. All the tags were less than special, really not moving the meter much.
Top 5 Stars:
1) SANADA
2) Minoru Suzuki/Jyushin Liger
3) El Phantasmo
4) Will Ospreay
5) Kazuchika Okada
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Will heads for the Tokyo Dome?
Gabe Kidd & Sanada won A Block handedly while Naito & Hiromu came out of B Block’s chaotic finale, but only one team can win World Tag League!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Tiger Mask VS Daiki Nagai; Tiger Mask wins.
- Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls VS Shoma Kato & Katsuya Mursahima; Shane & Mikey win.
- Bishamon VS The Filip Brothers; Bishamon wins.
- Six Man Tag: The United Empire VS Taichi, Taka Michinoku & DOUKI; Taichi, Taka & Douki win.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club; LIJ wins.
- 10 Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg, Tomoaki Honma & Jado VS The House of Torture; The Houes of Torture wins, by disqualification.
- Six Man Tag: TMDK VS Shota Umino, Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi; TMDK wins.
- 2024 World Tag League Finals: Gabe Kidd & SANADA VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi; Naito & Hiromu win.
PLAY BY PLAY
10 Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg, Tomoaki Honma & Jado VS The House of Torture!
The Ace, The Joker & The Rook are joined by a couple knights of NJPW to stand against The King of Darkness and his army of scumbags! With WrestleKingdom on the horizon, which side of this war wins this crucial battle?
But as The House makes their entrance, Team Ace turns the tables by going after them first! The fans cheer as Tanahashi goes right after Evil and The House panics! Yano brawls with Narita, Oleg and Jado take care of Kanemaru and Yujiro, and Tanahashi headlocks Evil. Tanahashi brings Evil to ringside to POST him! Evil falls but Tanahashi drags him back up to wrench and whip into railing! The fans cheer more and Tanahashi CLUBS Evil. Tanahashi whips Evil at more railing, and Evil hits so hard that he tumbles up and over! The rest of the team keeps The House down all around ringside while Tanahashi fetches Evil.
Tanahashi brings Evil into the ring, then follows, and finally the bell rings! The fans cheer as Tanahashi stalks Evil to a corner. Tanahashi stomps Evil, throws forearms, and the ref counts. Tanahashi shoves the ref! The President is getting really rough with his employees, but he stalks Evil. Tanahashi drags Evil up to fire a BODY BLOW! And another! Tanahashi whips, Evil reverses, and then Evil gets in the ref’s face so Dick Togo can trip Tanahashi up! Then the House rushes in and BLASTS Team Ace off the apron! The ref reprimands everyone but Evil CHOKES Tanahashi with the tag rope!
The fans boo but The House beats up on Team Ace, and then Evil throws away the evidence of his crime. Dick passes the mic to Evil, and Evil grabs it so he can shout in Tanahashi’s face about just giving up now and sparing himself the embarrassment at WrestleKingdom! Tanahashi tells Evil he’ll never surrender, and the ref reprimands Evil. Evil stops choking Tanahashi and throws the mic away. Evil tags Narita and the Souled Out Son of Strong Style stomps away on Tanahashi’s legs! Narita then clamps on a KNEEBAR! Evil and Yano shout at each other, but Tanahashi fights his way to the ROPEBREAK!
The ref counts and Narita lets go at 4. Narita stomps Tanahashi more, then he tags Tokyo Pimp. Narita & Yujiro have the legs, and they split the wishbone! Yujiro then drops an elbow on the bad leg! Yujiro taunts Tanahashi, then ROCKS him with a forearm! Tanahashi ends up on ropes, so Yujiro ROCKS him, then CHOPS him! Yujiro stands Tanahashi up, Narita & Sho anchor Tanahashi in place, and Yujiro BOOTS him! The ref reprimands everyone but Yujiro snapmares for a cover! TWO, the fans rally, but Kanemaru tags in. The Heel Master YANKS the leg, then whisp Tanahashi to ropes. Kanemaru dropkicks the leg out!
Kanemaru hurries to step through, FIGURE FOUR! The House BLASTS Team Ace again! The ref reprimands and the fans rally up while Tanahashi endures. Honma clears Evil out, and he runs to FALLING KOKESHI on Kanemaru! The fans cheer as Tanahashi is saved, but Narita goes after Honma! The fans boo as Narita TOSSES Honma, but Kanemaru tags Sho. Sho stomps the leg, then DDTS the foot! The fans rally for Tanahashi but Sho scuffs him around. Tanahashi stands up and he fires forearms! Sho CLAWS Tanahashi’s eyes, but Tanahashi CLAWS Sho’s eyes! The ref reprimands them both, but Tanahashi blocks a kick! DRAGON SCREW!
The fans fire up as Tanahashi crawls over, hot tag to Oleg! The fans fire up as BARS CLOBBERS Sho! Evil gets away before Oleg can get him, and Yujiro attacks from behind! Yujiro & Narita double whip, but Oleg CLOBBERS them both! Kanemaru kicks and whips, but Oleg reverses to scoop Kanemaru! Oleg SMACKS Sho using Kanemaru! Then Oleg SLAMS Kanemaru, and gut wrenches! The fans fire up for the Shake, Shake, Shake! GUT WRENCH PLEX! Oleg kips up and the fans fire up! Oleg then deadlifts Sho for the gut wrench. But Sho bends fingers and wrenches free! Sho runs, SPEARS, but he bounces right off of Oleg!
The fans fire up and Oleg deadlifts Sho again! Shake, Shake, Shake! GUT WRENCH PLEX! And another kip up! The fans fire up with Oleg and he runs to BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO! Oleg drags Sho right up into his arms, then pops him to a fireman’s carry! But Sho CLAWS Oleg’s eyes! Sho slips free, but Oleg kicks Sho! Sho runs to dropkick Oleg’s legs! Sho whips, and TADA! Bare buckles! Oleg suffers The House Special, and Evil DROPKICKS Tanahashi! Sho & Evil double whip Oleg into the bare buckles! Oleg hobbles forward, into a DOUBLE- NO! Oleg fights to DOUBLE SUPLEX them first! The fans fire up and Oleg crawls, and Tanahashi is adamant about getting in!
Oleg isn’t sure about it, but he tags Tanahashi back! Tanahashi fires a strike fest on Evil, and goes an extra round before the SHOTEI! Tanahashi runs to SLINGBLADE! The fans fire up while Tanahashi stalks Evil to a corner. Tanahashi stomps a mudhole into Evil but the ref counts. Tanahashi is not stopping! He SHOVES the ref away! Tanahashi’s rage is getting the better of him as he UPPERCUTS Evil! Tanahashi goes corner to corner, runs back in, but Evil sends him into the ref! And then The House attacks again! Dick stomps away on Tanahashi while Evil recovers! The fans boo and tell Dick to go away!
Narita brings in chairs! Dick stomps Tanahashi more, and the House has all their favorite items! Dick has his Spoiler Choker, Narita with his pushup bar, Sho with the “Torture Tool,” Yujiro with the pimp cane, and Kanemaru with his whiskey bottle. The fans boo as Evil stands on Tanahashi’s face and The House closes in. Evil drags Tanahashi up, and Dick clamps on the SPOILER CHOKER! And then The House CLOBBERS Team Ace with all their weapons! Evil takes aim, but Tanahashi BOOTS him first! Tanahashi THROWS Dick away, but Evil JAMS him up! Tanahashi blocks the chair shot! Tanahashi kicks low, and he SMACKS away on Evil!
The fans fire up as Tanahashi breaks the chair on Evil’s back! Narita runs up, Tanahashi JAMS him first! And then he JAMS Yujiro! And he JAMS Kanemaru! And he JAMS Sho! Then Tanahashi uses the frame to SMACK Evil! The ref is back, he tells Tanahashi to stop, but Tanahashi shoves the ref again! Tanahashi’s rage explodes as he beats Evil down with the chair! Team Ace is DISQUALIFIED!!
Winners: The House of Torture, by disqualification
Tanahashi keeps beating Evil to serve justice, but Young Lions rush in and stop him! Evil writhes, but Tanahashi gets a new chair! Tanahashi SMACKS Evil again and again! His team isn’t even sure what to do, so they let him just BASH away on Evil! Tanahashi tells Evil this is what he gets! One more chair shot! AND THEN ANOTHER! Evil scrambles out of the ring, and Young Lions have to get in Tanahashi’s way to stop the beating! Tanahashi drops the chair to grab the mic, and he shouts, “EVIL, YOU BASTARD! Shut up about my retirement! Oi, oi, you want me to leave so badly? I get it. You want it a year earlier, huh?
“Then in our match on January 4th, I’ll put my career on the line right then!!” The fans are shocked, but Evil says good! And there’s no going back now that he said it! But Tanahashi adds that Evil won’t be able to rely on his goons! It will be a LUMBERJACK MATCH! Now YOU remember that!! Team Ace and The House will wage war once again in the Tokyo Dome! And given Evil only won tonight because Tanahashi lost his cool, will Tanahashi dish out his final justice?
Six Man Tag: TMDK VS Shota Umino, Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi!
Zack Sabre Jr. took the pin when he and Ryohei Oiwa faced Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma in the tournament, so an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match is set for WrestleKingdom! Will the Roughneck burn The Front Man again with the help of Funky Sauce? Or will we see even now that The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The teams sort out and after Shota stares at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, and his paper replica to compare, he steps up to the champ. The bell rings and the fans cheer as we get this WK19 preview. Shota and ZSJ stare down, the fans rally up, and it sounds pretty even between “SHOTA! SHOTA!” and “ZAKU! ZAKU!” Shota and ZSJ get their fans even more fired up, and then the two circle. They feel things out, knuckle lock, but then ZSJ rolls to wrench. Shota wrenches back and he WRINGS ZSJ out! ZSJ UPKICKS, and the two reset. The fans cheer and the two circle again. Shota avoids a leg pick but ZSJ avoids an enzigiri!
Shota avoids the Penalty Kick, then spins ZSJ to underhook! ZSJ flips that but Shota fights the scoop! ZSJ avoids the uppercut but Shota blocks the uppercut! Shota wants the backslide but ZSJ spins that around, only for Shota to arm-drag! But ZSJ headscissors! Shota kips free and the fans cheer the standoff! Shota dares ZSJ to take the leg, but ZSJ just pushes the foot away. The two reset and feel things out again. They knuckle lock, go forehead to forehead, but then each man kicks a knuckle lock apart. ZSJ and Shota back off, and ZSJ dares Shota to bring it. Shota steps back up, they go forehead to forehead, and then ZSJ offers a free shot.
Shota says no, the champ should take the free shot. ZSJ decides to tag in Oiwa instead. Shota says fine, and he tags Taguchi. The fans rally as Taguchi and Oiwa circle. They tie up, Oiwa headlocks, but Taguchi pries the hold. Oiwa clamps on tighter but Taguchi fires body shots. Taguchi powers up and out, but Oiwa runs him over! Things speed up, Taguchi hurdles and DROPKICKS Oiwa down! Cover, TWO! Fujita slides in but Zayne intercepts! Zayne kicks the Japanese Young Punk and then throws him out! Funky Sauce double whip Oiwa to then BULLDOG and BASEMENT DROPKICK! The fans cheer and Taguchi stalks Oiwa.
Taguchi HIP DROPS Oiwa again and again, then uses the ropes to go up, out, and slingshot back in, but he hip drops onto Oiwa’s knees! Taguchi hobbles away and Oiwa storms up to whip. Taguchi reverses, runs up, but Oiwa pops him up onto the top rope! Taguchi is stuck right on the Funky Weapon! The ref checks but Oiwa SHAKES the ropes! Taguchi suffer, then he slowly tilts to one side! Oiwa gut wrenches Taguchi off the ropes! Tag to ZSJ and ZSJ UPPERCUTS the butt! Then he UPPERCUTS the butt again! And again! Taguchi falls over and ZSJ tags Fujita. Taguchi backstrokes towards his corner, but Fujita stomps him down!
Fujita drags Taguchi up, CHOPS him, then whips him to a corner. Fujita runs up and CHOPS again! Fujita snapmares Taguchi to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! Taguchi stays in this and the fans rally up. Fujita drags Taguchi up, but Taguchi CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Fujita CHOPS back! Fujita runs, Taguchi jumps, but Fujita CHOPS the hip attack! Taguchi hobbles away while Fujita says he’s too smart for that. Fujita runs, but Taguchi somersaults to HIP ATTACK! Hot tag to Zayne and he fires forearms on Fujita! Zayne whips, hip tosses, then STANDING MARIPOSAS! The fans fire up while Zayne brings Fujita up.
Zayne fires more elbows, then a mule kick! Zayne runs to ROLLING AX KICK! Fujita goes to a corner, Zayne runs in, but Fujita BOOTS him away! Fujita hops up but Zayne comes back to JUMPING DRAGON RANA! The fans fire up and Zayne storms over to Fujita. Zayne scoops and B AJA BLASTS! Cover, TWO! Fujita survives but the fans rally behind Zayne. Zayne brings Fujita up, straitjackets, but Fujita fights free to CHOP! Zayne BOOTS! Fujita kicks but Zayne ducks! Fujita rolls off Zayne’s back and runs to GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up while both men are down! Fujita and Zayne crawl, hot tags to ZSJ and Shota!
The fans fire up as ZSJ BOOTS Shota, and Shota ROCKS ZSJ! Shota eggs ZSJ on so ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Shota UPPERCUTS in return! They UPPERCUT back and forth, harder and harder! The fans rally as they now go faster and faster! ZSJ gets the edge with UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT, but Shota roars! Shota UPPERCUTS again and again, ZSJ roars, but Shota UPPERCUTS him down! Shota hurries to FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota stays fired up! Shota clinches ZSJ but ZSJ fights the lift! ZSJ goes for the arm but Shota waistlocks. ZSJ spins around to FACELOCK GUILLOTINE!
Shota endures and stays on his feet, even as ZSJ has the body scissors! The fans duel as ZSJ thrashes, but Shota powers through to suplex ZSJ up and over! Both men are down and the fans fire up again. Shota rises, then he brings ZSJ up to dragon sleeper. ZSJ spins and PELES the arm! But Shota blocks a roundhouse to PELE! But ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! Both men are down again and the fans rally more! ZSJ and Shota crawl, but ZSJ tags in Oiwa! Oiwa runs in at the corner to DROPKICK! Oiwa has the single leg but Shota fights off the suplex! Oiwa swings but Shota clinches, so now Oiwa fights free!
Shota ROCKS Oiwa, spins, but Oiwa ROCKS Shota! Oiwa runs, into a clinch! EXPLODER! The fans fire up while both men are down! The fans rally, Shota and Oiwa crawl, hot tag to Taguchi! Taguchi calls to Zayne and then BLASTS Fujita! Funky Sauce whips Oiwa to a corner, then Zayne sends Taguchi in. HIP ATTACK! Taguchi goes up, Zayne RANAS Oiwa into the butt! Backslide, roll through, KETSUYE! Cover, TWO! Oiwa survives but Taguchi signals for that. Taguchi and Zayne use the power of Strong Style, and then “ITADAKIMAAAS~!” Oiwa stands, into a DOUBLE HIP ATTACK SANDWICH! Cover, Fujita breaks it!
Zayne ROCKS Fujita, he and Taguchi double whip, but Fujita ducks the lariats to shove Zayne into Taguchi! Zayne blocks a kick but not the DRAGON WHIP! Shota dropkicks Fujita’s legs! ZSJ BOOTS Shota! Shota roars, but ZSJ BOOTS him again! ZSJ whips, Shota reverses and TORNADO DDTS! ZSJ flounders away and the fans fire up with Shota! Shota tells Taguchi to finish it off, and Taguchi runs at Oiwa! And he sliding kicks! Oiwa tumbles, Taguchi grabs the leg to OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Oiwa endures, reaches out, but Taguchi drags him back! Oiwa gets up to LARIAT! Both men are down and the fans fire up!
Oiwa fires up and he brings Taguchi around. Oiwa whips, then clamps on a SLEEPER! But Taguchi slips right out! Taguchi has the headlock, but Oiwa slips out to hit a BIG atomic drop! Taguchi hobbles and Oiwa clamps on the SLEEPER! Taguchi flails but he’s fading already! The fans rally and Oiwa spins Taguchi, for THE GRIP!! Cover, TMDK wins!
Winners: TMDK, by pinfall
The Mullet gets the better of The Funky Weapon, but Shota still dares ZSJ to go for the leg. ZSJ ignores Shota’s bait and just gives him the paper belt. “This is the closest you’ll get to the effin’ title.” ZSJ SLAPS Shota with it! Shota says don’t be rude to the kids! A fan made that for him. Shota dusts off the paper belt, and claims that he’s gonna get the real deal soon enough. ZSJ says yeah, sure. ZSJ will make Shota a real nice toy belt himself so he can keep dreaming. ZSJ mockingly puts something together using his old wrist tape! Shota says wow, thanks. With not even a month left, who will win out when the real belt is on the line?
2024 World Tag League Finals: Gabe Kidd & SANADA VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi!
It’s the moment of truth as The Mad Man & Cold Blooded take on The Uncontrollable Charisma & Ticking Timebomb. There is still a lot of uncertainty regarding the tag titles given Henare’s knee injury, but for right now, it’s time to answer one question: Who will be the 2024 World Tag League Champions?
As Naito enters the ring, Gabe stays right at the center, but Naito completely ignores him. Then Naito takes his time with his entrance attire, as always, but Gabe and Sanada both stay calm. Gabe paces but Sanada keeps his eyes closed. Hiromu fires up Kumamoto and Naito finally does away with the pants. The teams finally sort out, and Gabe eggs on “the Junior.” Hiromu grins, then he fist bumps Naito, and yes, it seems Hiromu and the NJPW Strong Openweight Champion will start! The bell rings and both men run in! They DOUBLE LARIAT, but it’s Hiromu who falls! Hiromu gets up to CHOP, but Gabe CHOPS!
The fans fire up as the CHOPS go back and forth already! Hiromu backs down, but for only a moment! Hiromu CHOPS again, so Gabe CHOPS again! The CHOPS go back and forth, but Hiromu backs down again. Gabe eggs him on so Hiromu CHOPS! Gabe CHOPS again! Hiromu clutches his chest but he CHOPS again! Gabe CHOPS again, then braces himself. The CHOPS keep going, then they get forehead to forehead. Gabe winds up to CHOP! Hiromu drops back, and Gabe kicks at him. Gabe eggs Hiromu on so Hiromu CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS! Gabe spins to CHOP! Hiromu backs down, but runs up to LARIAT!
Gabe stays up, so he and Hiromu both run, but to take out Naito and Sanada! Then Hiromu runs up to kick Gabe low! Hiromu CLUBS Gabe, CHOPS, and Gabe feels that one. Hiromu whips, Gabe reverses, and Sanada gets a cheap shot in! The fans boo and Red Shoes reprimands, but the War Dogs double whip. Hiromu grabs ropes to stop, and Naito runs in! Naito CLOBBERS Sanada and Hiromu kicks Gabe! LIJ mugs Gabe then double whips, to DOUBLE CHOP! Then they DOUBLE BASEMENT DROPKICK! Gabe flounders away while the fans cheer. Hiromu tags Naito and Naito storms up on Gabe.
Naito CLUBS Gabe again and again, then snapmares for a chinlock. Gabe endures the knee in his back, even as Naito digs it in deeper. Naito then shifts to have a headscissors! Naito pushes up to put on the pressure, but Gabe still endures. Naito lets Gabe go and Hiromu sits in the ropes. Hiromu assures Red Shoes it isn’t what he thinks, but then Naito bumps Gabe off Hiromu’s boots! It WAS what it looked like! The fans cheer but Red Shoes reprimands, and Naito tags in Hiromu. Hiromu CHOPS Gabe to a corner, then CHOPS again! Naito joins in and they double whip Gabe corner to corner. Gabe comes back, Naito drops down and Hiromu CROSBODIES!
Sanada storms in but Hiromu CROSSBODIES! Hiromu goes out and chases down Gabe, CROSSBODY! Hiromu keeps moving, and Naito sets Sanada up for the CROSSBODY! The fans fire up with Hiromu as he goes back to the ring. Gabe storms around in frustration, then pushes his way to No Man’s Land. He eggs Hiromu on, so here he comes! But Sanada was lurking! He attacks first, then sends Hiromu into chairs! Naito and Gabe brawl, and Naito CLUBS Gabe around. Fans are told to move aside, and Naito whips. Gabe reverses and he BOWLS Naito into chairs! Not quite a strike but Gabe just flips off the fans.
Sanada is beating Hiromu down somewhere in the upper deck, and Gabe drags Naito back up. Gabe UPPERCUTS Naito, but Hiromu fights back against Sanada! Sanada CLAWS Hiromu’s face! Hiromu stops the suplex, then suplexes Sanada! Sanada fights that, and he CLAWS Hiromu’s face again! As for Gabe, he BITES Naito’s forehead, then SMACKS him down! At least they’re at ringside. But then Gabe looks under the ring, and he brings out a table! Gabe sets the table up, but Naito fires forearms on Gabe! Gabe SMACKS Naito again! Gabe hauls Naito up to POWERBOMB through the table!!
The fans go wild as Gabe looms over Naito. Gabe slides in and mocks Naito’s pose! The fans are torn but most boo. Red Shoes reprimands Gabe, and it seems Sanada has retuned to ringside, with Hiromu somewhere in the crowd. A ring count starts, but Gabe SPITS at Naito! The count is 7 of 20 and the spotlight shows Hiromu is still so far away! We pass 10, then 12! Hiromu hobbles at 15 and he’s finally in the aisle! Hiromu runs and slides in safe at 19! The fans cheer but Gabe drags Hiromu up. Gabe CHOPS Hiromu in the corner, then CHOPS again! And then JABS! Tag to Sanada and he CLAWS Hiromu’s back while Gabe talks trash on Naito.
The fans rally for Hiromu but Sanada stomps him in a corner. Sanada digs his boot in, but he stops as Red Shoes counts. Sanada drags Hiromu up, TOSSES him out, and Gabe quickly runs Hiromu back to the back of the crowd and up the bleachers! Gabe ROCKS Hiromu with a straight right hand! Then SMACKS him again! Hiromu flops over and Gabe leaves him behind again. The ring count returns while Hiromu sputters. The fans cheer Hiromu on as he’s up, but he’s still so far away at 10! Then 15! Hiromu returns at 18 to slide in at 19.5!! Sanada is on Hiromu, but Hiromu dropkicks the legs out! But Naito isn’t at the corner!
Sanada tags Gabe and he stomps away on Hiromu in the corner! Red Shoes reprimands but Gabe drags Hiromu up. The fans rally for Hiromu, but Gabe whips him hard into the corner! Gabe eggs Hiromu on, saying he’s not “Despy” or Douki. Hiromu rises up to CHOP! Gabe snarls but Hiromu CHOPS again! Hiromu roars and he CHOPS! Gabe finally wobbles, but he keeps Hiromu from Naito! Gabe throws Hiromu down by his hair, then he WRECKS Naito with a dropkick! Gabe mocks the tranquilo and the fans boo. Gabe tags Sanada and the War Dogs bring Hiromu up. The fans rally but the War Dogs double whip, only for Hiromu to DOUBLE CROSSBODY!
Hiromu crawls, reaches out, but Sanada keeps him from Naito! Hiromu breaks free, blocks a kick, and a punch! Sanada CLAWS Hiromu’s eyes! Sanada runs but Hiromu bolts for the corner! Hot tag to Naito! Naito kicks and fires off on Sanada, but Gabe CLUBS him! The War Dogs double whip, but Naito reverses to send Sanada away! Then he sends Gabe into Sanada! Gabe falls, Naito dodges Sanada to arm-drag! And ELBOW! Naito keeps moving, basement DROPKICK! Gabe ROCKS Naito! Gabe whips, Naito reverses and runs up to ELBOW him down! Sanada runs up but is sent into the corner! Naito blocks boots to put Sanada in ropes, DRAPING NECKBREAKER!
Naito hurries to stand Sanada up, turn him, and stall for the NECKBREAKER! The fans fire up as Naito does the pose himself. Cover, TWO! Sanada is tougher than that but Naito drags him up. Naito dragon sleepers for another NECKBREAKER, and then it’s the LEG HOOK NELSON! Sanada endures as Naito puts on the pressure, and Sanada kicks around. Naito puts on more pressure, but Sanada has the ROPEBREAK! But of course Naito claims he needs a little help. Red Shoes counts, Naito lets the hold go, and he brings Sanada to a corner. Naito drags Sanada up, reel shim in, but Sanada stops Esperanza! So Naito BOOTS him!
Naito whips corner to corner but Sanada goes up and out, and even to the floor! Naito slides out but Sanada goes to the apron. Naito hurries back up, but Sanada KICKS ropes to jam Naito up! The fans boo and Red Shoes reprimands but Sanada tags Gabe. Gabe drags Naito up, has him in a corner, and CHOPS! HEADBUTTS! Repeat! Gabe wobbles a bit, but he rolls back and returns to LARIAT! Then SAIDO! Naito gets flung, Gabe hurries to cover, TWO! The fans fire up but Gabe drags Naito right up to suplex and BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Naito survives but Gabe seethes. The fans rally for Naito as hard as they can, which annoys Gabe.
Gabe drags Naito up, reels him in, but Naito fights the lift! Gabe CLUBS Naito but still Naito fights! Gabe DOUBLE CHOPS Naito’s back, then powers through! But Naito powers out and throws those heavy back elbows! Gabe SPITS at Naito! Naito SLAPS Gabe! Gabe rebounds, Naito dodges, tilt-o-whirl CRADLE! TWO!! Gabe SMACKS Naito, reels him in, “I’m a MAD MAN, y’know!” But Hiromu SUPERKICKS him first! Sanada DROPKICKS Hiromu! Naito dropkicks Sanada’s legs! But Gabe KNEES Naito down! Hiromu fireman’s carries Gabe! TIMEBOMB 1.5! Sanada runs up, into a wrench and FACLON ARROW!
Sanada flounders out and Hiromu brings Gabe over to Naito! BOOSTED TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up and Naito brings Gabe back up! Wrench and tilt-o-whirl, DESTINO!! Cover, SANADA YANKS RED SHOES OUT!! The fans boo Sanada but he just soaks up the heat. Hiromu goes to the apron and he CROSSBODIES Sanada down! Hiromu helps Red Shoes up, Naito wrenches Gabe again, DESTIN- NO! TOMBSTONE!! Gabe and Naito are down and the fans rally even harder! There is some dueling in here, but the “GABU! GABU!” is still overwhelmed by the “NA-I-TO! NA-I-TO!” Both men stir while Red Shoes returns.
Gabe clutches his neck while rolling away from Naito. Naito changes course and rolls for his corner, hot tags to Sanada and Hiromu! Hiromu dodges Sanada’s boot but Sanada blocks the lariat! Dragon sleeper, but Hiromu spins that around! Sanada fights the suplex so Hiromu dropkicks a leg out! Hiromu KICKS and fireman’s carries, and flips Sanada into the dragon sleeper! Sanada spins that around, but Hiromu fights a suplex! Hiromu suplexes but Sanada slips free to dragon sleeper! SKULL END! Hiromu endures but Sanada drops back into the body scissors! The fans rally and Hiromu fights around!
Sanada squeezes as tight as he can and Hiromu is fading! Red Shoes checks, Hiromu faintly comes back to life, but Sanada goes to his old ways! Sanada goes up and up to ROUNDING BODY PRESS, but onto knees!! Hiromu saves himself and the fans rally up! Hiromu feeds off the energy to fire back up. Hiromu runs to HIROMU- NO, Sanada dodges the lariat, but the HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER still finds him! Fireman’s carry, TIMEBOMB 1.5!! Cover, TWO!! Sanada survives and Hiromu grows frustrated. The fans rally up behind him and Hiromu drags Sanada up. Hiromu fireman’s carries but Sanada slips free.
Sanada waistlocks but Hiromu switches. Sanada grabs at Red Shoes, Red Shoes gets away, and Hiromu avoids the low blow kick! Hiromu SUPERKICKS Sanada, then runs, but Sanada slips around! Sanada shoves Hiromu at Red Shoes and Red Shoes almost ends up falling out of the ring! Sanada whips Hiromu to POP-UP LOW BLOW! And then O’CONNER BRIDGE!! Cover, NAITO YANKS RED SHOES OUT!! Naito returns the favor and grins at Sanada. Gabe storms in with a chair! Naito runs and shoves Hiromu out of harm’s way! Naito then dodges Gabe to POP-UP LOW BLOW!! Another bit of returning the favor!
The fans are thunderous as Gabe writhes and rolls out of the ring. Naito drags Sanada up, Hiromu helps, BOOSTED TORNADO- NO! Sanada slips free, but Naito sends him into a SUPERKICK! ENZIGIRI! HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! The fans fire up with Hiromu as he fireman’s carries Sanada, for the OG TIMEBOMB!! Cover, TWO?!?! Sanada survives and shocks everyone! Hiromu roars and the fans are with him! Hiromu clinches in a dragon sleeper, but Gabe BITES Hiromu’s face! Gabe DECKS Naito, then he drags Hiromu up. Hiromu CHOPS, CHOPS , and CHOPS! Gabe just UPPERCUTS!
Gabe scoops and SLAMS Hiromu, then goes up the corner! MAD MAN MOONSAULT! Gabe calls to Sanada to get Hiromu, and Sanada goes up! ROUNDING BODY PRESS!! Cover, TWO!!! Hiromu survives and Sanada is furious!! Red Shoes defends his count and the fans are electric for Hiromu! Gabe reels Hiromu in, PILEDRIVER!! Feed to the DEAD- NO, Naito CLUBS Sanada! Naito dodges Gabe, comes back, DESTINO!!! SHINING WIZARD from Sanada!! Sanada hauls Hiromu up but Hiromu pump-handles! HIROMU-CHAN CRA- NO! SHINING WIZARD!! Sanada roars, fans are torn, but he drags Hiromu up.
Sanada clinches, DEAD- NO, Hiromu slips free, wrenches, pump handle, HIROMU-CHAN CRADLE!!! LIJ WINS!!!!
Winners: Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (World Tag League 2024 Champions)
Sanada cannot believe it, but Kumamoto absolutely loves it!! The War Dogs tore through A Block, but it was the team that survived the extra Triple Threat match that takes the whole thing! What does this mean for the combination of Gabe and Sanada in the future? Is there a future for them?
As for LIJ, Naito drags himself into the ring, crawls over to Hiromu, and master and student hug it out! Red Shoes brings them the trophies, and LIJ sets them side by side before they stand back up. Naito gets his hat back on while Hiromu rests on the mat again. And after a little water to refresh themselves, Naito gets the mic. “Buenas noches, KUMAMOTOOOO~!” The fans cheer, and Naito says, “The way things work, it should be Hiromu, the main event winner, on the mic right now. But it looks like he took some damage. In that case, I’ll say my part first.” The fans applaud that.
Naito thanks all the fans that came out to the Grand Messe Kumamoto for the WTL Finals. “Gracias, amigos.” The fans cheer that, and Naito adds that he won the main event here back in April of 2018. He sent a message to all the fans here that night. Does anyone remember what he said about “having the courage to take that step?” The fans applaud as it seems they do. Naito says, “Make no mistake, we won the World Tag League thanks to Hiromu.” The fans applaud again, and even chant for “HI-RO-MU! HI-RO-MU!” Naito says that Hiromu’s refusal to give up under any circumstance made Naito feel he had to take that step, too.
“And that step brings me to that singles match we were set to have before the pandemic.” Fans are intrigued hearing that. Naito says how about doing it January 4th in the Tokyo Dome? The fans cheer for Hiromu in support of that idea. Hiromu takes the mic now and asks if it takes Naito that long to take a step. The fans chuckle, and Hiromu stands. Hiromu says thanks to that, they were able to enter WTL and win it all. Hiromu thanks Naito for that, both arigato and gracias. The fans applaud, and Hiromu reviews the idea: January 4th, WrestleKingdom, Naito VS Hiromu. “The answer is, of course…! Let’s do it.”
The fans cheer as the match is now set! Hiromu thanks Naito for letting him know this is how he felt! “It’s important to say what we feel, isn’t it? Everyone, do you have something you want to say as well? It could to a friend, a lover, a parent, a teacher, a senpai, a kouhai! I’m reminded once again how important it is to share what we are feeling. Naito-san, do you mind if I tell you something, too?” The fans are again intrigued. “Naito-san, thank you for teaching me how to be a wrestler!” Hiromu bows and the fans applaud. Hiromu then says January 4th can’t come soon enough! “Everyone, we only live once, so enjoy it to the fullest!”
First, think of the life you wanna live, and then enjoy it to the fullest! And during that time, if pro-wrestling can bring you even a bit of joy, Hiromu will be satisfied! So then, let’s have more… The fans echo back, “Moto!” Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! MOTO fun in life enjoying pro-wrestling together~! The confetti goes off as the WTL winners must take a different route for WrestleKingdom. Will it be teacher or student who proves themselves the better man in the Tokyo Dome?
My Thoughts:
An awesome finale to WTL 2024, even with a lot of the other matches just kind of filler since there weren’t tag titles to be defended here and a lot of WrestleKingdom 19 stuff to be set up. I made sure to do the 10 Man Tag because it of course fed Tanahashi VS Evil, but I certainly didn’t see it happening that way. Tanahashi going wild because of all the frustration he has with Evil was some great stuff, and a Lumberjack match is a great move so that Tanahashi’s allies, aka all of The House of Torture’s enemies, are gonna be ringside with them. But moving up the retirement stipulation is a shock. Was saying 2026 would be when Tanahashi retires just a smokescreen so this would be more shocking? Or is this the smokescreen to put more drama on a match we’re pretty sure Tanahashi still wins?
The Six Man Tag of TMDK VS Shota & Funky Sauce was really good, and a really good win for Oiwa there. This was all still just secondary to building heat on Shota and ZSJ, but it was rather funny for Shota to have that paper (and I think soft foam?) belt and ZSJ mocking him with the wrist tape. If Shota ends up winning, I think NJPW is guilty of making him their “Super Cena,” their “Cena Wins LOL” guy, and that’s a disservice to Shota and especially Zack. Zack needs to make it through a WK with that belt, let Shota fight his way back up through the New Japan Cup or something.
And awesome, incredible main event with the WTL finals. I figured Naito & Hiromu were winning, just because Gabe’s got his NJPW Strong title and the Kenny Omega match for that Tokyo Dome weekend. Not sure what it means for Sanada, but I don’t think he’s leaving War Dogs already (as funny as that would be). And I suppose with Henare’s knee in question, they’re just going to leave the Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match for another time. Naito VS Hiromu, the World Champ VS Junior Heavyweight Champ match we never got four years ago for the anniversary show, is a great move for WK19. There’s no place better than WK for a match like that, and they can’t wait on this match with Naito having said he’s getting closer and closer to retiring.
That said, maybe Hiromu wins to put him over and get him into that next level where he’s going for big titles. Granted, NJPW is literal about the “heavyweight” part of the World Heavyweight Championship, and I don’t know if Hiromu’s going to be able to pull off a 205+ frame. He’s already ~195, he’s already 35, but hey, maybe he can get a short reign in just so he can say he was on top of both weight classes in his career.
My Score: 9/10
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It all comes down to this!
Sadly, Henare’s leg injury last night has taken him and Great-O-Khan out of this, so B Block is up for grabs! Will World Tag League be tranquilo after all?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi VS Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima; Naito & Hiromu win.
- 8 Man Tag: Bullet Club VS Bishamon & Funky Sauce; Bullet Club wins.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The United Empire; LIJ wins.
- Six Man Tag: TMDK VS Shota Umino, Tomoaki Honma & Tiger Mask; TMDK wins.
- World Tag League 2024 B Block: Taichi & Taka Michinoku VS The Filip Brothers; The Filip Brothers win.
- World Tag League 2024 B Block: Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls; Yano & Oleg win.
- World Tag League 2024 B Block: EVIL & Ren Narita VS Hiroshi Tanahashi & Jado; Evil & Narita win.
- World Tag League 2024 B Block Emergency Triple Threat Tornado Tag: EVIL & Ren Narita VS Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi; Naito & Hiromu win and advance to the WTL 2024 Finals.
PLAY BY PLAY
Here are the current B Block standings!
Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi: 5-2, 10 points
Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg: 4-2, 8 points
Evil & Ren Narita: 4-2, 8 points
Great-O-Khan & Henare: 5-2, 10 points [INJURED]
Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls: 3-3, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Jado: 2-4, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
The Filip Brothers: 1-5, 2 points [ELIMINATED]
Taichi & Taka Michinoku: 1-5, 2 points [ELIMINATED]
After Bullet Club VS Bishamon & Funky Sauce…
Kenta snatches the win with a cradle on Ryusuke Taguchi, and while the War Dogs head out to focus on the WTL finals, Kenta & Chase hang back to taunt their opponents. But wait, who is making his way out here now? It’s KENOH! Pro-Wrestling Noah’s Rogue Fist surprises everyone by being here, and he steps into the ring to stare down Kenta! The fans cheer as Kenoh gets a mic, and he says, “Oi, Kenta! No, no, the man I’ve been thinking of, Kenta.” Kenta pretends to be flattered, but Kenoh tells him, “Next year, it’s the 25th Anniversary of your home in Noah. If you have feelings for where you came from, you’d start the 25th Anniversary in the Budokan and face me one on one.”
The fans like the sound of that! Kenoh then says, “Kenoh, first of all, good for you for coming all the way here! You chose Satsuma and you’ve made the people very happy. I’ve no reason to turn you down. You want me in the Budokan? You’ve got it, I’ll take your match!” The fans fire up and Kenoh grabs the mic again. “OI! You countryfolk in Satsuma heard it right? January 1, the Budokan, and oi, Kenta! You’re going to fight me, got it? While you’ve been away, I’ve gotten pretty damn tough. And OI, Kenta! I’ll beat you up so bad you’ll leave in tears!” The fans cheer that, but Chase says Kenta will kick his ass.
Kenoh then tells the fans that he’s sorry for saying they were simply country bumpkins. A little. But Kenta was the one who talked bad on Noah! But he will say this: maybe after Kenoh beats Kenta up in the Budokan, maybe… Kenoh can come beat the crap out of him in NJPW as well? The fans like the sound of that, too! Kenoh says maybe out here, people don’t get what “pro-wrestling” is, so just follow him! They’ll make pro-wrestling more and more enjoyable! And on January 1st, 2025, the Budokan, Kenta VS Kenoh, he will be the sword that cuts Kenta down! Fans are fired up for this huge crossover, but will Kenoh prove why he is the New Century Champion?
The House of Black has a message!
Brody King says, “You’ve cemented yourself as one of the most dangerous men in NJPW. From the carcass, you took the discarded pieces, and you built a dynasty. On January 5th, at WrestleDynasty, I will take your dynasty and turn it back into a carcass. David Finlay, your War Dogs are all bark. This dog bites.” Brody is ready for war, but here comes Gedo! He hooks up his phone, and he’s on call with Finlay! Gedo lets The Rebel know that Brody King just challenged him for WrestleDynasty, and it was total BS! What’s Finlay got to say?
Finlay laughs and says some people like to send fancy videos and act like that gets the point across. But for Finlay, that’s not his style. He was very surprised by who didn’t answer the Open Challenge, and equally surprised by those who did. That violent, dangerous, relentless machine, big bad Brody King. Now, let’s be entirely honest. Brody may be many great things, but a king ain’t one of ’em. A king doesn’t wear another man’s name on his chest, and he doesn’t take orders from a billionaire’s son.
So the fact Brody’s even considered walking into Finlay’s Tokyo Dome means Finlay sends Brody’s “big emo ass” back to “Uncle Tony” in a box, just like he did with all the rest. AEW keeps trying to take Finlay down, but he lays them all out no problem. So please, Brody, take your best shot. Then you’ll see what happens to the guy that takes orders takes on the guy that gives orders. See you there, b*tch. Gedo says he’ll get this done, and tells “Boss” Finlay to take care. The call ends, and Gedo tells the fans here, that WrestleDynasty, January 5th, Brody King VS Savage King, is going down!
And OI, Brody! However big you are and how hard you hit, it doesn’t matter to Finlay. You’ll see a real dogfight at WrestleDynasty! Because The Rebel is taking the F over everything! Gedo needs The Rebel, Brody King needs The Rebel, and the world needs The Rebel! The match has been made and WrestleDynasty just keeps growing bigger and better! Will the alpha War Dog take a big bite out of big bad Brody King?
World Tag League 2024 B Block: Taichi & Taka Michinoku VS The Filip Brothers!
No shot at the finals? SO WHAT? The Holy Emperor & Blue Playmaker are still gonna change everything! But then, can they escape last place in the league? Or will Tome & Stevie prove why they’re Natural Classics?
The teams sort out, but the Filip Brothers just attack! The ref reprimands and the bell rings as Stevie TOSSES Taka and Tome TOSSES Taichi! The Filip Brothers go outside after TakaTaichi and throw hands. Tome whips Taichi into railing! Then Tome CLUBS Taichi, and pushes him through the gate. The fans rally as Tome GRINDS Taichi’s face into railing, then pushes him down. Stevie sends Taka into railing! Taichi crawls, Tome mocks the fans cheering Taichi on, and Stevie joins in on both beating up Taichi and mocking the fans. The Filip Brothers then put Taichi in and they call for the MOAB!
Stevie reels Taichi in, brings him up, but Taichi RANAS Stevie away! The fans cheer and Taichi BOOTS Tome down! The fans rally up and Taichi tags Taka! Taka kicks Tome, kicks more, but Tome knees low! Tome fires elbow and UPPERCUTS, but Taka pokes him in the eye! Taka whips, Tome reverses, but Taka reverses back to wrangle Tome into JUST FACELOCK! Tome endures, but Stevie stomps Taka. Stevie whips, but Taka reverses and wrangles him into JUST FACELOCK! But now Tome stomps Taka! The Filip Brothers mug Taka, but Taka pokes them both in the eyes! Taka runs, but into a DOUBLE BOOT!
Tome BLASTS Taichi off the apron, and he says Taka’s gonna pay for playing games. Tome stomps Taka, then puts him in a corner to CHOP! The fans rally as Tome brings Taka over, and he tags in Stevie. The Filip Brothers mug Taka, the fans do applaud, and Stevie CHOPS Taka! Taka fires a forearm but Stevie ROCKS him in return! Stevie taunts Taichi, which distracts the ref, and Tome CHOKES Taka! Stevie stomps Taka, tags Tome, and then Tome brings Taka up to scoop, and he carries Taka around! Tome then SLAMS and LEG DROPS! Cover, TWO! Taka stays in this and the fans rally behind him.
Tome drags Taka up and bumps him off buckles. Tag to Stevie, and Tome snapmares so he can run and BASEMENT BOOT! Stevie KNEE-BOARD SENTON FLOPS as Taka rolls out of the ring! Taka crawls but Tome runs in and BLASTS Taichi! Then he CLOBBERS Taka! The ref reprimands but Stevie brings Taka up. Stevie UPPERCUTS Taka, kicks him at the ropes, then shoves him into the corner. Taka bails out but Tome is after him! Stevie distracts the ref while Tome sends Taka into railing! The ref has to stop Taichi from storming in, and that lets Tome throw body shots! Tome puts Taka in, Stevie covers, TWO!
The fans cheer as Taka stays tough, but Stevie tags Tome back in. The fans rally as the Filip Brothers stand Taka up. They double whip but Taka redirects! BOOT for Stevie! Tome kicks Taka and runs, but Taka redirects again and BOOTS Tome! The fans fire up as Taka hurries, hot tag to Taichi! Taichi runs up to BOOT Stevie in a corner! But Tome waistlocks! Taichi breaks free to PELE Tome down! Stevie kicks Taichi, then whips, but Taichi BOOTS him again! Cover on Stevie but the ref reminds Taichi it was Tome! Tome stomps Taichi, but Taichi wrenches to DANGEROUS HOOK KICK! Taichi’s still confused but he covers Tome, TWO!
The fans cheer Taichi on and he rises up. Taichi aims, but tome blocks the buzzsaw! Tome ROCKS Taichi but Taichi ROCKS Tome! Tome fires forearms while Taichi fires ridge hand chops, and they go back and forth as the fans fire up! They start slowing down, but then Taichi gets the edge! But Tome CHOKES him! The ref reprimands, Tome lets go to run, but Taichi follows! Only for Tome to SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Taichi survives and the fans fire up, but Tome snarls and says this is it! Tome drags Taichi up, reels him in, and he underhooks the arms! But Taichi wrenches out to SAI- NO, Tome fights that with elbows!
Tome fires boxing elbows but Taichi SOBATS! And BUZZSAWS! Cover, TWO! Tome survives but the fans fire up with Taichi! Taichi rises, and OFF COME THE PANTS! The fans fire up more as Taichi aims from the corner. But Stevie runs up to CLAW Taichi’s face! The ref reprimands but Tome DISCUS LARIATS! Both men are down, the fans rally up, and Tome crawls. Hot tag to Stevie! Stevie drags Taichi up, dragon sleepers, but Taichi powers out! Stevie ROCKS Taichi, whips him, but Taichi comes back to AX BOMBER! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Taichi crawls and reaches out, but Tome stomps him down!
The ref reprimands but Tome runs. Taka jumps in to SUPER K! Taka goes back to his corner and Taichi crawls again! Hot tag to Taka! Taka SHINING WIZARDS Stevie in the corner, then snapmares to SHINING WIZARD again! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up with Taka and he drags Stevie to his feet. Taka goes to scoop but Stevie fights it! So Taka kicks a leg out and Oklahoma Rolls! TWO, and Taka runs up! Sunset flip, high stack, TWO! SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO!! Stevie survives but Taka drags him up to a backslide! TWO, but into JUST FACELOCK!! Stevie endures, crawls, reaches out, but Taka rolls him away! JUST FACELOCK!!
Stevie fights, Tome runs up, but Taka kicks the legs out! Taka catches Tome into a HEADSCISSOR SQUEEZE! Taka has both Filip Brothers down and Taichi storms in. Taka passes Tome off into the SEITEI JUJIHOU!! Stevie still endures the facelock but he fights around! The fans rally as hard as they can as Taka CLUBS away on Stevie! JUST FACELOCK!!!! Stevie reaches out, but Taka grabs that hand! Stevie still fights to the ROPEBREAK!! The Filip Brothers survive but Taka vows to end this! Taka drags Stevie up but Stevie still fights the scoop! So Taka SLAPS Stevie, and scoops! Stevie slips out, FINAL CUT!!
Both Stevie and Taka are down and the fans rally up! Stevie drags Taka up, Tome joins in, but Taka kicks! Stevie ducks, and Tome fireman’s carries! AIR RAID CRASH! And then Stevie calls his shot! But Taichi goes after Tome! They brawl to a corner, Stevie PHOENIX SPLASHES!! Cover, TAICHI BARRELS IN! The fans fire up as this one continues! Stevie CLUBS Taichi, he and Tome whip, but Taichi comes back to AX- NO, Tome fireman’s carries! Stevie runs up, BOOT O’ DOOM!! Then the Filip Brothers call their shot on Taka! Stevie feeds Taka to Tome, and then MOTHER OF ALL BOMBS!!! Cover, Filip Brothers win!!
Winners: The Filip Brothers, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Taka & Taichi earn 0)
There’s always something at stake, and this final win proves The Taiga & The Phoenix have what it takes! Will these Natural Classics help Bullet Club’s Rogue Army dominate Tamashii?
World Tag League 2024 B Block: Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls!
While the House of Torture still needs to fall, there’s nothing to it but to do it for The Joker & The Rook! Can #YanoBoltin keep their hopes alive with one more win? Or will Hysterical Haste & Mad Mikey have the last laugh?
Yano’s impatient as ever, but Oleg again steps up for his team. Shane steps up for TMDK and the bell rings. The fans rally and the two circle. They feel things out, clinch, and Oleg gets around to push Shane down and go for a cover. Shane has the ROPEBREAK even before a count, and the ref has Oleg back away. Oleg does so slowly, and Shane stands up. They reset, feel things out again, and another clinch leads to another takedown from Oleg. Shane goes for a leg but Oleg holds him off. Oleg floats around, Shane avoids the rear mount but then ends up in a facelock. Oleg floats to a waistlock, but Shane fights the deadlift!
Oleg powers through to lift Shane in the gut wrench! Shane fights with elbows and an UPPERCUT! Shane runs and RAMS Oleg, but Shane’s the one that wobbles! Oleg then kicks low, scoops and SLAMS Shane, then Yano runs in to BLAST Mikey! Yano & Oleg drag Shane up to double whip, and they DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans cheer while Oleg storms up on Shane. Oleg stomps and CLUBS Shane, then stomps him more. Shane fires body shots but Oleg CLUBS him again. Shane CHOPS, but Oleg CHOPS! Shane falls over, and Oleg runs, only for Mikey to trip him! Shane basement DROPKICKS Oleg, then BLASTS Yano!
Yano gets mad and comes back, but Shane just BLASTS him again! Mikey drags Oleg out and whips him hard into railing! The railing moves from how big Oleg is! Mikey puts Oleg back in the ring, Shane tags Mikey in, and they stomp Oleg around. Shane isolates an arm for Mikey to STOMP, then Mikey SLAMS that arm down! Mikey clamps on with a cording hold but Oleg endures. Oleg reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer but Mikey brings Oleg right up to wrench that bad arm. Tag to Shane and Shane takes the arm to HOTSHOT it off ropes! Oleg falls back but Mikey brings Oleg to the ropes.
Mikey BLASTS Yano and Shane has Oleg’s bad arm! Shane wrenches the arm, pulls it against the post, then lets go before the ref notices. TMDK drags Oleg into the ring, Shane covers, TWO! Oleg still has power to spare but Shane stomps and KICKS him around! Shane then brings Oleg up, but Oleg fires body shots! Oleg fires shots with the good arm, but Shane WRINGS the bad arm! And again! And then he snapmares Oleg to basement ENZIGIRI! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up for Oleg but Shane drags him to the corner. Tag to Mikey and TMDK double wrench to then double RAM Oleg! Oleg stays up so they RAM him again!
TMDK RAMS Oleg again, but Oleg breaks free to DOUBLE SHOTGUN! The fans fire up and Oleg crawls, hot tag to Yano! Yano says here goes, and he unties a buckle pad! Yano baits Mikey in, and Mikey hits bare buckles! Roll up, TWO! Yano is upset but he dodges Mikey to SLAP him on the head! Mikey gets mad, and he fires forearms on Yano! But then Yano dodges to clinch and BELLY2BELLY! The fans fire up and Mikey crawls to a corner. Yano fires up and he runs in, but Mikey ELBOWS him! Mikey swings, Yano dodges and waistlocks, but then Yano ducks an elbow, only to get a DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down!
Mikey crawls, hot tag to Shane! Shane runs up, but into an atomic drop! Yano runs, but into a DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Shane runs in, CANNONBALL! The fans fire up and Shane covers, TWO! Yano is tougher than that but Shane stays focused. The fans rally and Shane aims. Shane KICKS a leg, BOOTS Yano, but Yano fights the back suplex! Yano pulls hair but Shane UPPERCUTS! Shane whips, Yano reverses, and Yano throws Shane down by his hair! Tag to Oleg! Oleg CLOBBERS Shane, drags him back up, and gut wrenches for the Shake, Shake, Shake, but Mikey runs up! Oleg SMACKS Mikey with Shane, then THROWS Shane!
Oleg kips up, and he runs in for a CORNER SPLASH! Then he scoops and SLAMS Shane to then go up and up and VADER BOMB! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Oleg shakes out the bad arm. Shane flounders but Oleg storms up on him. Oleg brings Shane up, fireman’s carries, but Shane grabs ropes! Shane slips free, Mikey LARIATS, Shane BLINDSIDE LARIATS! TMDK double whip, then Mikey LARIATS in the corner! Shane LARIATS in the corner, then feed to the DOUBLE LARIAT HIGH LOW! Cover, TWO!! Oleg survives and the fans fire up again! Shane sits Oleg up for Mikey’s SLIDING LARIAT! Then Mikey BLASTS Yano!
Mikey goes out after Yano as Shane runs up, SHANE-ING WIZARD! Cover, TWO!?! Oleg survives and the fans are thunderous! Shane says it’s time, and Mikey steps back in. TMDK hauls Oleg up, but he fires forearms and CHOPS first! TMDK double kick, then double whip! Oleg breaks the line to DOUBLE- NO, Shane catches him, ELECTRIC BLUE!! cover, TWO?!?! Oleg survives again and the fans fire up! TMDK says time to end this for real! But Yano gets on the apron! Mikey runs up but Yano drops down to trip him up! Yano then sends Mikey into railing! Shane hauls Oleg up and waistlocks, but Oleg switches!
Shane switches with Oleg, spins him around, but Oleg fights the suplex! Oleg suplexes, and shifts to a fireman’s carry! THE VERDICT!! The fans are thunderous and Oleg fireman’s carries! KAMIKAZE!! Cover, YANO BOLTIN WINS!!!
Winners: Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Shane & Mikey earn 0)
That was the mightiest win for BARS, and the team is alive in this tournament! At least, for now. Can President Ace come through for his fellow NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions by tearing down The House of Torture? Or will The King of Darkness & Souled Out Son of Strong Style ruin all the fun?
World Tag League 2024 B Block: EVIL & Ren Narita VS Hiroshi Tanahashi & Jado!
For these teams, it isn’t even so much about WTL anymore as it is having a leg up going to WrestleKingdom 19! The King of Darkness wants to trump President Ace once and for all, can he get a jump on that here? Or will we be rocking with Tanahashi & Jado into the New Year?
The teams sort out and surprisingly, Evil & Narita behave themselves. The fans cheer Tanahashi’s muscles and The House puts one out. Evil starts against Tanahashi as a WK19 preview. The fans of course cheer on Tanahashi at the bell but Evil tells them to all shut up. Evil and Tanahashi circle, feel things out, but then Narita attacks from behind! Evil BLASTS Jado and the fans boo, but what did anyone expect? The House stomps Tanahashi as Red shoes reprimands, but The House double whip Tanahashi to a corner. Narita runs up but Tanahashi BOOTS him! Evil runs up but Tanahashi BOOTS him, too!
Tanahashi goes up and CROSSBODIES Evil & Narita! The fans fire up and Tanahashi tags Jado. They stand Evil up to double whip, then they DOUBLE ELBOW! Evil bails out to join Narita, so Tanahashi & Jado give us an air guitar duet! Wait, Evil returns! Tanahashi & Jado kick him first! They reel Evil in, but then Narita double dropkicks the legs out! The fans boo but Evil & Narita literally kick Tanahashi out. Jado bails out on his own but Narita goes after Tanahashi. Evil gets in Red Shoes’ face so that Dick Togo can go after Jado! Narita sends Tanahashi into railing! Tanahashi slumps down, Dick puts Jado in, and Evil drags Jado by his leg.
Evil stomps away on Jado’s leg, then drops an elbow on the knee! Tag to Narita, and The House splits the wishbone! Narita puts Jado’s leg on ropes to HIP DROP the knee! Jado writhes but Narita stomps him around. Jado goes to a corner but Narita stomps him again and again! Narita talks trash, Red Shoes reprimands, but Narita stops to bring Jado back to the blue corner. Narita bumps Jado off buckles, then he tags Evil. Narita BLASTS Tanahashi while Evil stomps Jado! Evil brandishes the House of Torture shirt, but Red Shoes doesn’t like that. Evil lets Red Shoes confiscate the shirt, so he can use the tag rope to CHOKE Jado!
The fans boo but Red Shoes keeps Tanahashi back. Evil lets go of Jado to cover, TWO! Jado survives but Evil covers again! TWO, and Evil covers again! TWO!! Jado survives and Evil is furious, but he tags in Narita. The fans rally for Jado but Narita kicks Jado around. Jado gets mad! Narita fires forearms now but Jado just feeds off those things! The fans rally as Jado leans into the shots! Jado powers up and then blocks a punch! But Narita blocks a punch back! And he CHOKES Jado! Red Shoes reprimands but Narita runs, fakes a lariat to KICK Jado, but Jado just roars! Jado LARIATS Narita right down! The fans fire up as Jado crawls for his corner!
Jado reaches out, hot tag to Tanahashi! The fans fire up as Tanahashi runs and FLYING FOREARMS Narita! Then he BLASTS Evil for good measure! Tanahashi fires fast hands on Narita, then scoops and SLAMS him into a drop zone! The fans fire up again as Tanahashi goes up, for the SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! Narita stays in this but Tanahashi stays focused. The fans rally as Tanahashi runs again, but Narita ducks the slingblade to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Narita tags Evil, and then they both stomp Tanahashi around. The fans boo and Red Shoes reprimands but Evil stands Tanahashi up to whip him corner to corner.
Narita runs up to JUMP KICK! Evil runs up to LARIAT! Then Evil hits a FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, Jado breaks it! The fans cheer but Narita literally kicks Jado back out. Evil tells fans to shut up, then he laughs at Tanahashi. Evil stands Tanahashi up, fireman’s carries, DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi survives and the fans fire up again! Evil is annoyed as he rises up, but he vows to end it! Evil drags Tanahashi up, spins him around, EVERYTHING- NO, Tanahashi fights off the STO! And then he spins Evil around to TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Both men are down and the fans fire up again!
Tanahashi rises as the fans cheer him on. Tanahashi goes to a corner and drags himself up. Evil runs up but Tanahashi dodges! Tanahashi runs up, blocks a boot, and DRAGON SCREWS! Evil tumbles away but Dick AND Narita get on the apron! Tanahashi scares Narita off and grabs Dick’s leg, for a DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Then Tanahashi has Evil for a GROUND DRAGON SCREW! Narita slithers in, but Jado intercepts him! CROSSFACE!! Tanahashi then has Evil’s legs, for the TEXAS CLOVERHOLD!! Evil endures, Narita flails, and the fans rally as hard as they can! Evil claws at the mat, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK!
Tanahashi lets go in frustration but Jado gets Narita outta there. Jado & Tanahashi double whip, Tanahashi BODY BLOWS then runs! SLINGBLADE! The fans fire up and Tanahashi brings Evil back around to a drop zone. Tanahashi climbs, for the HIGH FLY FLOW FLOP!! Evil avoids the splash and Narita knocks Jado down! The fans rally for Tanahashi as he crawls, but Evil staggers to his feet. Evil brings Tanahashi up, but Tanahashi DRAGON PALMS! Tanahashi roars and runs, but Evil grabs Red Shoes! Dick SMACKS Tanahashi with a chair!! Evil LARIATS Tanahashi down! Cover, TWO!!!
The fans are thunderous as Tanahashi survives, but Evil argues with Red Shoes! Narita has the chair and he SMACKS Tanahashi on the back! Narita JAMS Jado up, too! Evil has the legs! SCORPION DEATHLOCK!! Narita wipes out Jado into railing! Tanahashi endures but Evil sits deep on the hold! The fans rally as hard as they can for Tanahashi, but Evil pulls on the legs! TANAHASHI TAPS, THE HOUSE WINS!!
Winners: Evil & Ren Narita, by submission (gain 2 points; Tanahashi & Jado earn 0)
But Evil holds on even past the bell! Red Shoes reprimands, Evil lets go, but now Narita stands Tanahashi up! Kick and DOUBLE CROSSER!! But the House still isn’t done! Narita stands Tanahashi up for EVERYTHING IS EVIL!! The fans boo and Red Shoes reprimands but Evil soaks up the heat. Then Evil grabs the mic to tell Tanahashi, “You’re done, retire already, you jerk! You’re already beaten, a shameful piece of trash. You should be thanking me for ending your career! Understand? Remember it!” Evil laughs, the fans boo, but Evil remembers WTL. This win makes them top of the block! He tells Abe-san to announce it!
Red Shoes and Abe-san tabulate the results while Evil mockingly tells Tanahashi & Jado to go home. The results are finalized, and the thing is, there are THREE teams at 5-2 with 10 points, and it’s a true rock-paper-scissors style TIE!! They must have an EMERGENCY TRIPLE THREAT TORNADO TAG!! The fans are all fired up while The House is furious! What does Abe-san mean Triple Threat?! And well, here come the other teams! Things just got interesting, but who wins here to be the TRUE leaders of B Block?
World Tag League 2024 B Block Emergency Triple Threat Tornado Tag: EVIL & Ren Narita VS Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi!
The bell rings and the fans are fired up already! LIJ watches #YanoBoltin, but then The House rushes in! Evil SHOVES Naito into Red Shoes and he LOW BLOWS Hiromu! Narita is after Yano and Oleg, and now Dick joins in! The fans boo as The House tries to cheat even now! Evil CLAWS Naito’s eyes, Dick sends Yano into railing, and then he does the same to Oleg! Evil goes after Naito on the outside, and Dick has handcuffs!? Dick brings Yano over, and wait, EVIL has handcuffs, too!! Evil cuffs Naito to a post, Dick cuffs Yano to a railing! Narita’s done the same to Oleg! Then Narita & Evil regroup to mug Hiromu in the ring!
The fans boo but even Dick joins in on stomping Hiromu. They all stand on Hiromu, this must be payback for Hiromu tricking them all last time. They stand Hiromu up just to punch him back down. Evil CLAWS Hiromu’s eyes, and only now is Red Shoes stirring. Evil CHOKES Hiromu on ropes, tells him off for that trick last time, but the fans rally behind the Timebomb! Evil steps out and Narita steps in. Narita drags Hiromu up to suplex high and hard! Hiromu reaches for Naito but it wouldn’t do any good when he’s cuffed! Narita drags Hiromu to a cover, TWO! Evil storms back over and he has Hiromu in a corner.
Hiromu is defiant but that just gets him mugged! The House CHOPS and ROCKS, then fakes a chop to CLAW his eyes! Evil CLUBS Hiromu, whips him to the blue corner, and TADA! Bare buckles! Hiromu hits steel as the House Special is in effect. Red Shoes asks how the others got cuffed but Dick just laughs. The House drags Hiromu up, but Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS in return! And CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOPS! The fans rally but Hiromu is running out of steam. Hiromu shouts to the Young Lions to hurry and find keys! The House mugs Hiromu again, then they split the wishbone! Narita clamps on a chinlock and Evil talks trash.
The fans rally for Hiromu but Narita brings him to ropes. Narita SCRAPES Hiromu’s face on the ropes! Narita then pushes Hiromu down, and Hiromu bails out towards commentary. Narita hits Naito just because, then he goes after Yano just because! Narita taunts Oleg while Evil CLAWS Hiromu’s face! Shingo Takagi is on commentary and he protests to Red Shoes about this. Evil mocks Takagi with, “Toki ga kita~!” Evil then CHOPS Hiromu against railing! And CHOPS him again! And CHOPS him up and over railing! Hiromu is behind commentary now and Red Shoes starts a ring count. Dick taunts Hiromu while the count reaches 10 of 20.
Hiromu rises at 12, then 14! Takagi has Dick back off and Hiromu hops railing at 17! Hiromu staggers, but Dick steps on Hiromu’s foot! Hiromu shoves Dick away, and he rolls in at 19.9!! The fans fire up but The House is on Hiromu again. They DOUBLE SUPLEX Hiromu high and hard! Hiromu flounders, Narita covers, TWO! Narita has the legs and he turns Hiromu over, BOSTON CRAB! The fans rally as Hiromu endures, and Hiromu powers up! The fans cheer as Hiromu makes his way forward. The Young Lions return, and they apologize! They couldn’t find keys!! Evil laughs at Hiromu’s misfortune, but The Young Lions go in search a second time!
Hiromu grits his teeth, powers his way forward, and he has the ROPEBREAK! Narita lets go, but then he stomps Hiromu down. Wait, Dick reveals he has the keys! Red Shoes demands Dick hand those over but Dick tosses them to Evil. Evil taunts Hiromu with the keys, then he stomps Hiromu! Narita keeps Red Shoes distracted while Evil tosses the keys back to Dick. Dick taunts Naito, then kicks him down! But here comes BUSHI! And he CLOBBERS Dick! The fans fire up as Bushi then whips Dick into railing! Bushi grabs the keys, and Hiromu SHOTGUNS Narita & Evil down! Bushi frees Naito, and now LIJ is back in this!
The fans fire up, but Evil CLUBS Naito! Also Bushi leaves Yano & Oleg high and dry. Evil & Narita whiop Naito, Naito grabs ropes and he BOOTS Evil! Naito ELBOWS Narita down, then he basement DORPKICKS Narita! And atomic drop to a NECKBREAKER for Evil! The rest of the refs show up and THEY have keys! The fans cheer as the refs free Yano & Oleg. Naito covers Evil, TWO! The fans fire up as Naito CLUBS Narita, then ROCKS him at the ropes. Naito whips, Narita reverses, and Dick TRIPS Naito! The fans boo but The House stomps away on Naito. Wait, Yano & Oleg are free! But The House mugs Yano!
Oleg runs up, Narita knees him low! The House reel Oleg in, but Oleg DOUBLE SUPLEXES The House!! The fans are thunderous as Yano sends Evil into bare buckles! Then he sends Narita into Evil! Then Oleg DOUBLE SPLASHES The House! Gut wrench for Narita, Shake, Rattle & THROW! And a kip up! The fans fire up while Oleg brings Narita back up! Scoop and SLAM, then a BODY PRESS FLOPS as Narita moves! Evil is back and he stomps Oleg. Yano returns but Evil gets around to send him into Red Shoes! Dick returns and The House mugs Yano & Oleg now! The fans boo but The House soaks it all up.
The House whips Yano into a corner, then Dick ELBOWS him! Narita ELBOWS him! Evil LARIATS him! Evil snampares Yano and Dick climbs! Yano is set up for the DICK CHOP!! Evil drags Oleg up, Narita climbs the corner, and Oleg suffers HELL’S GUILLOTINE!! The House clears Oleg out and they drag Yano back up. Evil & Dick hit Yano with MAGIC KILLER!! Narita puts Red Shoes back in and Evil covers Yano, BUT HIROMU BREAKS IT! The fans fire up but Narita stomps Hiromu! Narita kicks Yano out and Evil whips Hiromu. Hiromu hits bare buckles, but he powers up! Hiromu runs up, but Evil clinches!
EVERYTHING- NO, Hiromu fights the STO, to steal EVERYTHING- NO, Evil slips free and sends Hiromu at Narita! Narita drop toeholds Hiromu onto ropes, Evil distracts Red Shoes, and Dick throws POCKET SAND!! Narita covers, NAITO BREAKS IT!! The fans are thunderous but The House wrench and CLUB Naito’s arms! Narita hits an ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Naito clasps hands but Evil breaks the grip! But Hiromu returns to CLOBBER Narita! Evil CLUBS Hiromu, then he and Narita double whip. Narita runs in but Hiromu dodges to CROSSBODY Evil! CROSSBODY for Narita! Hiromu goes outside and he CROSSBODIES Evil!
Bushi chases Dick up the ramp while Hiromu keeps moving! CROSSBODY for Narita!! And then CROSSBODY for Dick!! The fans are thunderous as Hiromu wipes out The House! Hiromu goes back for Evil but Evil wants mercy! Naito CUFFS Narita to the railing! The fans cheer this payback as now Evil and Dick are also cuffed!! Hiromu mocks Evil that it’s just too bad! Hiromu takes the ring, he taunts Evil more, but Yano sneaks up! Yano rolls Hiromu up, Naito breaks it! Evil tries to hit someone but he’s too far away. LIJ mugs Yano, then double whip. Yano grabs ropes and Oleg is back to CLOBBER LIJ!
Hiromu is sent into bare buckles! Then Yano trips Hiromu, and he has the legs! CATAPULT into Oleg’s arms! BELLY2BELLY! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives and the fans are thunderous again! Oleg fireman’s carries, but Hiromu hits a crucifix takedown! Ghost pin, ONE as Oleg rolls back and stands again! The fans are electric for the F- NO! Hiromu slips free, dropkicks legs, then KICKS and SUPERKICKS! Hiromu runs, into a POP-UP FIREMAN’S CARRY! KAMIKAZE!!! Cover, Naito breaks it!! But Yano rolls Naito up! TWO!!! Naito escapes but Yano brings Naito up! Yano whips, Naito reverses, Yano hits bare buckles!
Oleg runs in but SPLASHES Naito against Yano! Oleg realizes what happened and apologizes. Oleg then hurries to SPLASH Hiromu in a corner! Scoop and fireman’s carry! THE VERDICT!! And then another fireman’s carry, but Naito is in the way! Oleg BOOTS Naito, but Hiromu slips free! Shove into an ELBOW! ENZIGIRI! SUPERKICK!! Oleg staggers around, Naito runs up, TORNADO CRADLE!! Cover, LIJ WINS!!!
Winners: Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (WTL B Block Finalists)
The fans are electric after perhaps the wildest match in WTL history! Evil & Narita tried to cheat this and it all comes back to bite them! Will justice be served as The King of Darkness faces President Ace at WrestleKingdom?
As for the ultimate winners of B Block, LIJ regroups and refresh with some water. Naito then gets the mic to say, “Buenas noches, SATSUMA SENDAAAI~!” The fans cheer, and Naito continues on, only to be interrupted by the shouting of one Gabe Kidd! The Mad Man & Cold Blooded make their way out, mockingly applauding their future opponents. They go to the ring, and Gabe looks to Sanada, using body language to ask if they’re gonna attack. Sanada says no, there’s no need. Gabe tells Naito, “Assen nai yo.” Gabe says he doesn’t need the mic, either. Gabe says Naito’s knees are dead, and Hiromu’s still just some “Junior b*tch.”
Gabe says he’ll roll them up like joins and smoke ’em. Gabe & Sanada head out, and Gabe says, “F YOU! See you in Kumamoto.” Hiromu mockingly waves bye, and Naito says, “I don’t know what Gabe said, but I imagine it was something like, ‘We are honored to face Hiromu and Naito in the finals. Thank you very much.'” The fans applaud Naito mocking Gabe back with that. The War Dogs leave, and Naito says now, in two days in Kumamoto, he and Hiromu, “this openweight team will win World Tag League.” The fans like the sound of that! Naito hopes they’ll watch it live, or watch it on NJPW World.
But either way, see you in Kumamoto. So now, should they do “it?” The fans cheer that, and Naito says then, for the first time in Satsuma Sendai, are they ready? The fans cheer and Naito says the only way to close tonight is of course… “Bushi! Hiromu! Takagi! Titan! Yota! Y Naito! NOSOTROS! LOS! INGOBERRRRRRRNABLEEEEES~! DE! JA! PON!!” The fans cheer the sendoff, but will Naito & Hiromu truly make World Tag League tranquilo?
Here are the FINAL B Block standings!
Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi: 5-2, 10 points [FINALISTS]
Evil & Ren Narita: 5-2, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg: 5-2, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
Great-O-Khan & Henare: 5-2, 10 points [INJURED]
Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls: 3-7, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Jado: 2-5, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
The Filip Brothers: 2-5, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
Taichi & Taka Michinoku: 1-6, 2 points [ELIMINATED]
My Thoughts:
An awesome final round in B Block and the round robin just in general. Even Taichi & Taka VS Filip Brothers was a great match, with quite the surprise in Tome & Stevie winning. Bullet Club Rogue Army has been getting some attention on NJPW Prime events, maybe they start moving up from Tamashii, the NJPW developmental brand in the Australia/New Zealand area. And then great drama in the last couple of matches to determine the B Block finals. As improvising goes, what with Henare hurt and The Empire unable to finish the tournament, this was an amazing job.
Evil & Narita win their match so that Tanahashi is on the ropes going into WrestleKingdom, because duh, Tanahashi’s winning there. But then with Yano & Oleg having that awesome match with TMDK and still winning out, making this three way tie, that was genius. That Triple Threat Tornado Tag was a lot of fun, but the cuffs were mostly to hide how they didn’t want this to be too chaotic, while also letting Naito, Yano and Oleg kinda rest since all these teams already had other matches tonight. But great win for Naito & Hiromu, and good interaction with Sanada & Gabe. As it stands, Naito & Hiromu are probably winning, they can make a good story out of facing Khan & Henare again so Khan & Henare can get payback for the leg injury.
My Score: 9/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Hockey Talk- Winter (Classic) Is Coming [121724]
Hockey Talk looks at Alex Ovechkin's recovery and when he might be back. Plus, the Winter Classic fast approaches. Is...
Oblong Ball Foot Show: Are Those Chiefs Uprights Regulation Size Or What?!
Jump on board as Andrew and PC run down the entire slate of action for week 15 in the NFL!
Hockey Talk- Igor Gets Paid! [121024]
Hockey Talk looks at a coaching change in Chicago, the Four Nations Tournament, and Igor Shesterkin laughing all the way...
Oblong Ball Foot Show: Famous Jameis
As we head into the last week of byes on the NFL schedule, the gents run down their picks for...
Hockey Talk- A Bruins Loss, A Blues Gain [120324]
Hockey Talk celebrates Jeremy Roenick finally getting inducted into the Hall of Fame, 16 years after his last game and...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (12/18/24)
Majora speaks.
Bandwagon Nerds #267: I’ve Had 16 Holes Already!
The Nerds convene for an extended trip to the Trailer Park and discuss big casting decisions affecting the MCU and...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (12/12/24)
Dinner is served.
Bandwagon Nerds #266: Silver Age Supermen
The Nerds conclude their review of Game 7, plus the latest trailers and the official launch of the new DCU!
Bandwagon Nerds #265: A New Man At Arms… We Love It!
Join the Bandwagon for a full trailer park, news around the Nerd-O-Sphere and find out what the gents are watching...
Mindless Wrestling Podcast: The Saturday Night Wrasslin Show!
With Saturday Night's Main Event in our rear view mirror, we talk about the MAIN event.
Mitchell’s AEW Rampage Results & Report! (12/20/24)
Brody King is on a Rampage!
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (12/20/24)
Who's dreaming of a gold Christmas?
Mitchell’s ROH Final Battle Results & Report! (12/20/24)
Is this the end of the Forever Reign?
DWI Podcast Classic: Scrooge McBitch
As the snow falls, enjoy this holiday classic from 4 years ago!
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (12/19/24)
One last stop before Final Battle!
Classic POD is WAR: Banana Bamboo (112620)
The Chairshot, brings you THE podcast that will absolutely have you questioning everything you thought you knew about professional wrestling,...
Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (12/18/24)
Happy Holidays!
Attitude Of Aggression #300- A Decade for the Ages
The 300th Episode of Attitude Of Aggression has arrived! Join us as we recap the biggest wrestling related events of...
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (12/17/24)
Whoop Dat Wolf!
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Coverage5 days agoMitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (12/16/24)
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Coverage7 days agoMitchell’s WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event Results & Report! (12/14/24)
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AEW Coverage7 days agoMitchell’s AEW Collision Results & Report! (12/14/24)
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Podcasts6 days ago#TheOddity 022: Just Your Everyday Hospital Orgy