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

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