Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW New Japan Cup 2020 Results & Report Part 2!
Day 3 is STACKED!
The New Japan Cup is almost TOO amazing!
After a great opening week, the New Japan Cup 2020 raises the bar on itself with a star-studded third day! Who moves on to the second round?
NOTE: NJPW no longer wants to feed AXS TV now that it is with Anthem and Impact Wrestling. But never fear, I will cover NJPW in the spirit of AXS in providing the most important matches of the show.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Ryusuke Taguchi VS SANADA; SANADA wins and advances to the second round.
- SHO VS Shingo Takagi; SHO wins and advances to the second round.
- Kota Ibushi VS Zack Sabre Jr; Ibushi wins and advances to the second round.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Taichi; Taichi wins and advances to the second round.
PLAY BY PLAY
Ryusuke Taguchi VS SANADA!
The Funky Weapon is primed but he’s up against the Cold Skull, who was red hot for a good stretch this year. But now that everyone’s starting from scratch, will Taguchi scratch the itch of finally getting those big titles? Or will Sanada take a step closer to challenging his faction leader?
The bell rings and Taguchi wants double fist bump. Sanada leaves him hanging, so they circle. They approach, tie up, and are in a deadlock right away. Sanada powers Taguchi to the ropes but lets up with a pat on the shoulder. Taguchi plays like that stung, and circles with Sanada again. They tie up again, Taguchi gets around but Sanada wrenches out to the standing switch. Taguchi wrenches back to a wristlock, then again, and he brings Sanada to a knee. Sanada gets up, wrenches one arm, then the other arm, then hammerlocks. But Taguchi slips through to hammerlock Sanada back! Sanada goes to elbow but Taguchi spins him for a snapmare and chinlock. Sanada kicks and reaches but Taguchi grinds him down.
Sanada slips out the back and hammerlocks, but Taguchi gets up to turn it back on Sanada again. Taguchi shifts to a headlock, grinds Sanada to the mat, and cranks back on the head. Sanada powers up, pries out, but Taguchi spins through to get the hammerlock again. Sanada reaches back to headlock, shift sides, and throws Taguchi for the takedown! Taguchi headscissors, Sanada pops out and the two stand off. Taguchi applauds but asks for the fist bumps again. Sanada still leaves him hanging, but Taguchi keeps asking. Taguchi even kneels to prove this isn’t a trick. Sanada gives him the fist bump, but blocks the cheap shot kick! Taguchi apologizes and asks Sanada put the foot down. Sanada does, the two back away, but then Taguchi swings! Sanada dodges, double dropkicks cancel out!
Sanada asks for the fist bumps? Taguchi is surprised and hopes the cameras are seeing this. Taguchi applauds, then goes to give the fist bumps back. But then both men try to cheap shot! They catch each other, and both let the other down, but Taguchi fakes Sanada out again! Taguchi has the leg for a takedown! Taguchi steals PARADISE! He stands on Sanada and poses for the cameras. But Sanada has gotten his arms free without Taguchi knowing! Taguchi does a dance, but turns around into a takedown! Sanada shows Taguchi how Paradise is done! And Taguchi is definitely stuck as Sanada stands on him for the cameras. Sanada shows mercy, as he dropkicks Taguchi out of Paradise! Taguchi falls out of the ring, too, and Sanada takes his time fetching him into the ring.
Sanada brings Taguchi up, back suplex lift for the atomic drop! Taguchi clutches his ass in pain! Sanada brings Taguchi up again, for another atomic drop! Taguchi grits his teeth in pain from his ass! Wait, is he powering up, too? Sanada brings Taguchi up, Taguchi slips out of the lift, but Sanada elbows him away. Sanada runs, but dodges the Funky Weapon! Taguchi crashes down and Sanada covers, TWO! Taguchi survives the damage to his ass but Sanada clamps on a chinlock. Sanada cranks it to a sleeper hold and Taguchi starts to turn red. Taguchi kicks and flails, and starts to scoot to get the ropebreak! Sanada lets go quickly, and drags Taguchi up to club him to a corner. Sanada wrenches and whips Taguchi corner to corner, but runs into a BOOT! Taguchi runs, but Sanada dodges the Funky Weapon again!
Sanada runs and sunset flips, but Taguchi rolls through to basement dropkick! Both men are down but stirring. Taguchi fires himself up as he and Sanada rise. Sanada gets to ropes, Taguchi fires up, hip attack at the ropes! And another! And then a baseball slide to an apron hip attack! Cover, TWO! Taguchi keeps going as he brings Sanada up. Snap suplex for uno amigo! ANother, dos amigos! Taguchi wants tres but Sanada suplexes him first! Taguchi flails and fends it off, to suplex Sanada again! But Sanada slips out to the dragon sleeper! But before Sanada can complete Skull End, Taguchi spins around to hit TRES AMIGOS! Both men are down again, but Taguchi kips up!? Taguchi calls upon the powers of the King of Strong Style as he goes to a corner. “ORYA!” Taguchi runs but into a basement dropkick! No Bum-a-ye just yet!
Taguchi bails out but Sanada aims at the ropes. Slingshot but Taguchi avoids the pescado! TRIANGLE CROSSBODY! Taguchi takes Sanada down on the outside! Taguchi gets up as the ring count begins, and he brings Sanada up at 7 of 20. He puts Sanada in at 13, then goes to a corner. Taguchi aims and springboards, but Sanada gets under! Sanada comes back, but Taguchi dropkicks the leg out! ANKLE LOCK! Sanada fights to his free foot, uses a corner to go up and over, and gets SKULL END!! Taguchi flails, Sanada drops back for the body scissors but Taguchi rolls back! Cover, ONE, but Taguchi gets the ANKLE LOCK! Taguchi cranks on the foot but Sanada endures! Sanada rolls, kicks Taguchi back but Taguchi still has a hold on the foot!
Taguchi cranks and leans on the ankle but Sanada gets up again. Sanada enziguris, but it misses! Taguchi drops elbows on the ankle and leans on the hold! Sanada endures, crawls, reaches, but Taguchi drags him away! Sanada moves around, brings Taguchi down by his legs, and uses Taguchi’s legs to throw him over. SKULL END! But Taguchi hammers away with his free arm! Sanada holds on but fades, and Taguchi uses knees to bring Sanada down more. But Sanada stands right back up! SKULL SWING! But Taguchi cradle counters, TWO!! Sanada dropkicks but Taguchi deflects! LA MAGISTROL! TWO!?! Sanada escapes, Taguchi enziguris! Taguchi runs, but Sanada follows to waistlock at the ropes! Taguchi standing switches to roll Sanada up, TWO!! Things speed up, FUNKY- ATOMIC DROP! O’Conner Roll, JAPAN CLUTCH! SANADA WINS!
Winner: SANADA, by pinfall
An incredible technical exchange ends it all! The Funky Weapon misfired, and now the Cold Skull is hot again! Will Sanada keep that going, even as his fellow LIJ members are also in this tournament?
SHO VS Shingo Takagi!
Speaking of a Los Ingobernables de Japon member wanting to challenge the leader, the same goes for the Last Dragon! Will Shingo show Sho that he’s just not ready for the big time?
The bell rings and Sho rushes Shingo with a BIG clothesline! Shingo stays up but wobbles, so Sho hurries to try again! The clothesline hits but Shingo still stays up. Shingo throws forearm after forearm, but Sho gives a SUPER FOREARM back! Sho whips, Shingo reverses, Sho boots but Shingo blocks it! Shingo rocks Sho with a right, runs corner to corner, but Sho follows to clothesline back! Sho keeps moving, shoulders Shingo, Shingo rebounds to shoulder Sho back, but Sho comes back to LARIAT Shingo down! Cover, TWO! Sho goes right for an ARMBAR! Shingo scrambles and gets the ropebreak! Sho lets go but goes after Shingo with stomps at the ropes! The ref backs Sho down and Shingo sits up.
Sho hurries over to stomp Shingo again, and even stand on his chest! The ref reprimands and counts, but Sho lets up at 4. Shingo gets up, Sho cravats to snapmare and KICK! Sho watches Shingo sputter, but Shingo eggs Sho on. Sho kicks again! Shingo stays sitting up and dares Sho to keep going. Sho KICKS and Shingo falls over! Shingo grits his teeth as he gets back up, and both men egg the other on. Shingo catches Sho’s kick, throws a forearm, but Sho gives it back. The two brawl back and forth, picking up speed! Sho gets the edge as he throws elbows from all sides, but Shingo stands up to give it all back! Shingo runs, into Sho’s dropkick! But Shingo keeps going to run Sho over! Shingo whips Sho but Sho holds ropes, only for Shingo to clothesline him out of the ring!
Sho has a rough landing but Shingo goes out to fetch him. Shingo drags Sho up to whip into railing! Then he stands on Sho’s head and kicks away! The ref reprimands but Shingo brings Sho up. Shingo fireman’s carries Sho for a snake eyes off the apron, then a DDT to the floor! Shingo takes his time catching his breath as the ring count climbs. He drags Sho up at 10 of 20, puts him in at 12, and then follows to clamp onto Sho with a chinbar. Sho endures as Shingo shifts, and drives elbow after elbow into his chest and shoulder! Shingo sets Sho down, for a BIG knee drop! Sho writhes in pain but Shingo stands on his head to add on. Shingo stomps then walks it off before toying with Sho. Sho gets up but Shingo slaps and kicks him around. Sho gets mad and gets up to throw forearms! Shingo throws them back, and he ROCKS Sho!
Sho flounders, hits back, but Shingo jabs away to then CHOP Sho to a corner! Shingo brings Sho back out to whip and knee! Then he runs, Sho SPEARS, but Shingo blocks!! Shingo knees away then goes to suplex, but it’s SHO who suplexes Shingo! Both men are down but Sho gets to his feet first. Shingo runs out of a corner but Sho runs him over. Sho throws forearms and kicks, then goes corner to corner for a corner clothesline! Sho keeps moving, dodges Shingo’s clothesline, and comes back with a SPEAR! Sho takes Shingo down, covers, TWO!! Shingo survives but Sho doesn’t lose focus. Sho brings Shingo into a waistlock but Shingo elbows back. Sho grabs the arm but Shingo stays on his feet.
Shingo rolls but Sho uses that to get the wristlock and shoulder breaker! And another! And then a torturing wristlock to a third shoulder breaker! Sho runs, into the back elbow! JAB! LARIAT! Shingo catches his breath while Sho is dazed on the mat. Shingo goes to Sho but Sho catches him to an armbar! Shingo clasps hands to resist but Sho breaks it free! Sho drags Shingo into a triangle hold, but Shingo powers up for a dead lift POWERBOMB! Shingo drags Sho back up, Gory Especial, but Sho resists! Sho shows his strength, spins through to kick and kick and KICK, then SUPERKICK! Sho watches Shingo rise, then runs, but double clotheslines hit! Neither falls, so they both clothesline again! Still neither falls, Shingo swats Sho’s third clothesline away, to get a SNAP SAIDO! Sho gets up!?
Sho swats Shingo’s clothesline away to waistlock, GERMAN SUPLEX! Sho holds on, for a SECOND! Sho wants a third but Shingo gets the ropebreak. Sho lets go, KICKS, then waistlocks again. Shingo elbows but Sho kicks low. Sho runs but Shingo follows to clothesline at the ropes. Shingo runs but Sho KNEES! Sho runs, Shingo goes perpendicular, to PUMPING BOMBER! SLIDING LARIAT! Shingo isn’t done with Sho, he drags him up, Gory Especial, NOSHIGAMI! Cover, TWO!?! Sho survives Shingo’s Gory Bomb but Shingo isn’t done with him yet. Shingo kicks Sho while he’s down, then drags him up. Sho resists the torture rack and elbows away. Shingo whips Sho, corner clotheslines, then brings Sho back up to hoist him up top.
Shingo climbs to join Sho, but Sho goes after the bad arm! The ref counts as Sho has the top rope wristlock, so Sho throws hands and headbutts! Sho keeps going until Shingo wobbles. Sho adjusts, SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB BACKBREAKER! But it’s double edged given that height, and Sho clutches his knees. But Sho gets to his feet, runs, and PUMPING BOMBERS SHINGO!! Cover, ONE?!?! Sho won’t worry about being shocked, he just drags Shingo into a dead lift waistlock! Shingo resists, but Sho powers through to GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Shingo escapes at the last possible second! Sho just fires up more, takes aim with his bow, and brings Shingo into the doubl eump handle. But Shingo back drops Shock Arrow away!
Sho runs to clothesline Shingo on the back, but Shingo comes back to clothesline! Sho stays up and Shingo eggs him on. The two start brawling with big forearms again! Sho wobbles, throws another, but Shingo DOUBLE CHOPS! Sho fires up to throw elbows from all sides, then all from the right! A total of 10 but he walks into a JAB! And HEADBUTT! Shingo grits his teeth as he dodges Sho’s clothesline, for MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!?!? Shingo can’t believe Sho survives! Shingo gets up, runs, PUMPING BOMBER!! Cover, TWO?!?!? How?!? Shingo doesn’t worry about that, he just brings Sho back up. Shingo pump handles and fireman’s carries, but Sho slips out to arm-drag to the KIMURA!
Shingo endures the double wristlock as Sho cranks back on it hard! Shingo reaches, but Sho gator rolls him away to the double ump hnalde! CROSS-ARM DRIVER! Sho fires up, gest the double pump handle proper, SHOCK ARROW!!! Cover, SHO WINS!?!
Winner: Sho, by pinfall
IMPOSSIBLE! One half of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions pins Mr. Openweight?! Sho heads on, but will he and Shingo meet again with the NEVER Openweight Championship on the line?
Kota Ibushi VS Zack Sabre Jr!
The Golden Star and The Ace are still IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions and still have a bone to pick with the #DangerousTekkers. But for now, they all try to climb the mountain to challenge the Double Champion, Tetsuya Naito! Will Ibushi score the first blow? Or will he #JustTapOut?
The bell rings and Ibushi circles with ZSJ. Ibushi avoids ZSJ as he slides around, but ZSJ stays back as Ibushi tests with kicks. ZSJ tries to get a leg but Ibushi kicks at him. They feel things out and go all around the ring, and ZSJ gets the facelock. He brings Ibushi down to a waistlock then shifts to the arm. ZSJ goes back to the facelock but Ibushi powers him down to the mat. Ibushi finds a way to the lateral press, but ZSJ gets out fast to go after the arms with his legs. Ibushi gets the mount again, another press, but ZSJ gets out and away. The two reset and circle again. ZSJ keeps his distance as Ibushi looks ready to swing on him. They approach and Ibushi kicks ZSJ in the leg! ZSJ backs off, they circle, approach, and Ibushi tries hands. ZSJ avoids, but his kick is deflected.
ZSJ lunges at the leg, Ibushi stays on top with the waistlock but ZSJ slips out and around to float around and get the mount, to an armbar! Ibushi clasps hands and moves around, but ZSJ stays wrapped on with body scissors. ZSJ grabs at IBushi for a chinlock but settles for fish hooking his face. They move around, ZSJ goes after the armbar again, but Ibushi rolls back to get around ZSJ. Ibushi waistlocks then goes after ZSJ’s arms a la Rings of Saturn. ZSJ rolls, Ibushi wants a ghost pin, ZSJ slips out to body scissor roll Ibushi back into the chinlock, but Ibushi gets the ropebreak. ZSJ lets go and Ibushi bails out, both men taking their time to reset. They go again, testing the waters with grabs and kicks, and Ibushi makes contact with the leg! Ibushi kicks and KICKS and ZSJ falls to the mat. Ibushi KICKS ZSJ in the back, covers, ONE!
Ibushi clamps onto ZSJ with a chinlock and grinds him down. ZSJ gets the ropebreak with a leg and Ibushi lets go with a slap on the back. Ibushi backs off and both he and ZSJ talk trash. ZSJ gives Ibushi free shots and Ibushi fires off. But ZSJ catches a kick to a heel hook! Ibushi scrambles as ZSJ grapevines the legs! ZSJ cranks but Ibushi gets the ropebreak! ZSJ lets go but the damage is done. Ibushi goes to a corner but ZSJ is on him with a standing toehold. ZSJ turns Ibushi over for a modified calf killer. ZSJ traps one leg, pulls on the other, and twists Ibushi around. Ibushi gets another ropebreak and ZSJ lets go. Ibushi drags himself up in the corner so ZSJ backs off. ZSJ runs in but Ibushi goes up, over and rolls to ROUNDHOUSE ZSJ down! Standing moonsault! Cover, TWO!
Ibushi keeps his cool, and stomps ZSJ on the back! Ibushi brings ZSJ up for forearms and ROCKS ZSJ. ZSJ comes back with a strong European Uppercut, but Ibushi just ROCKS him again. ZSJ wrenches but Ibushi ROCKS him, then whips him to a corner. ZSJ goes up and comes back, into a SNAP-RANA! ZSJ ends up outside, Ibushi fires himself up, and goes to the corner, only for ZSJ to get far away from there. ZSJ won’t let Ibushi fly out at him, and takes a breather. ZSJ retruns but Ibushi BOOTS him out! ZSJ hurries and trips Ibushi up, for a HANGING KNEEBAR! Ibushi falls to the floor which does help for a moment, but ZSJ just clamps on tighter. The ref reprimands, submissions don’t matter on the outside! ZSJ lets go and leaves Ibushi behind as he goes to the ring.
The ring count begins and Ibushi hobbles up at 7 of 20. Ibushi gets in at 11, but ZSJ stands on the bad leg. ZSJ walks all over the bad leg then cranks the other, for a modified figure four to a kneebar! They’re in the ropes but ZSJ keeps twisting and pulling! The ref reprimands, ZSJ lets go, but again the damage is done. ZSJ toys with Ibushi, kicking him harder and harder. Ibushi fires off forearms but ZSJ sweeps the legs! ZSJ watches Ibushi get to a corner, then runs in for a EuroUpper! Ibushi comes back, into a boot! ZSJ boots the clohteline, PELES the arm, but Ibushi LARIATS back! Both men are down and the ref checks on them. They’re okay to continue, and Ibushi slowly rises. Ibushi drags ZSJ up, reels him in, and lifts, but ZSJ counters to a GUILLOTINE! Ibushi stays up, pops free, but ZSJ gets the leg for another KNEEBAR!
Ibushi stays up, shifts back, and dead lifts ZSJ into a full nelson! ZSJ breaks the hold, wrenches, and CRANKS the arm between his legs! Then he wrenches, hooks Ibushi up for the IRON OCTOPUS! Ibushi powers out, has ZSJ as a backpack, and ZSJ sleeper holds. But Ibushi keeps fighting, so ZSJ gets the roll up, to a HALF CRAB! ZSJ sits deep on the hold but Ibushi grits his teeth as he endures. ZSJ adds the other leg, and he has another heel hook! Ibushi reaches and gets the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go in frustration but he comes back to STOMP the bad leg! ZSJ KICKS Ibushi down but Ibushi sits back up. ZSJ kicks more but Ibushi sits up again. ZSJ kicks and kicks but Ibushi stands. Ibushi blocks, swings a punch, but gets caught to a crucifix pin! TWO, and ZSJ gets a triangle hold!
Ibushi powers up, dead lifts and POWERBOMBS ZSJ! ZSJ gets up, dodges one kick, blocks another and EuroUppers! Ibushi PELES back! Both men are down but Ibushi sits up first. Ibushi gets up, brings ZSJ in, powerbomb lift but ZSJ avoids the Last Ride! ZSJ mule kicks, runs in, Ibushi double stomps, but ZSJ catches them! ZSJ wants another leg lock but Ibushi KICKS ZSJ away from below! ZSJ comes back to PENALTY KICK! ZSJ has to catch his breath before he brings Ibushi up. ZSJ scoops, Ibushi slips out, V-TRIGGER!! KENNY~!! Ibushi sits ZSJ up, KAMI-GOYE!!! Cover, Ibushi wins!
Winner: Kota Ibushi, by pinfall
One half of the #GoldenAces succeeds and is heading to the next round! Is the start of Ibushi becoming a triple belt champion?
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Taichi!
We saw one half of this tag team rivalry compete, now it’s time for the other! Will we see a sweep or a split? Will the Once in a Century Talent be ready for the Sliest Wrestler in the World?
But while Tanahashi is on the corner per his entrance tradition, Taichi grabs him for a SUPER POWERBOMB! Taichi grins as he paces around Tanahashi. Red Shoes reprimands but there’s only so much he can do about it now. Taichi wants the match to start already but Red Shoes tells him to wait. Red Shoes checks on Tanahashi but Taichi looms closely. Red Shoes moves Taichi back and Young Lions come in, but Taichi kicks the Young LIons out! Taichi demands Red Shoes get this match on the record but Red Shoes has to help Tanahashi first. Red Shoes gets the title belt off Tanahashi, and Tanahashi manages to sit up. Tanahashi wants this match, too, so the bell rings. Taichi BUZZSAWS! Taichi kicks Tanahashi out of the ring and Tanahashi flops to the floor.
Taichi keeps Red Shoes’ attention and this allows DOUKI to attack! It’s never a fair fight when it comes to Taichi! Douki uses his walking stick to choke Tanahashi! The ref misses all of this as Douki brings Tanahashi up to wrench and whip into railing! Red Shoes finally spots Douki and tells him to leave. Taichi drags Tanahashi up and chokes him with camera cables! The Young Lions get Red Shoes’ attention about this and Red Shoes reprimands Taichi. Taichi stops, but only for a moment! Douki stays and Taichi drags Tanahashi up, Suzuki-Gun continues to buck Red Shoes’ authority. Taichi puts Tanahashi in to cover but Red Shoes refuses to count. Red Shoes stands up for himself as he wants Tanahashi to have a fair chance. Taichi CHOKES Tanahashi with his bare hands!
Red Shoes counts, Taichi stops at 4, but then chokes again! Taichi stops at 4 again, then stalks Tanahashi to the ropes. Taichi uses the ropes to choke Tanahashi now, and again Red Shoes stops. Another stop at 4 but Tanahashi throws body shots! Tanahashi backs Taichi down but Taichi chokes him again! Taichi stands on Tanahashi’s head then lets off to bring Tanahashi up. Taichi throws Tanahashi out and Douki lurks close again. Taichi goes out to deal with Tanahashi himself, but Tanahashi throws hands and kicks back! Tanahashi whips Taichi into railing! Douki creeps close but Tanahashi backs him off with a glare. But Taichi clobbers Tanahashi from behind! Red Shoes argues with Douki but Taichi whips Tanahashi into railing! Taichi opens the gate and drags Tanahashi through. Taichi throws Tanahshi into folded bleachers!
Taichi has camera crews clear out and he takes a chair to JAM Tanahashi with it! And again, right in the head! Tanahashi goes down and Red Shoes reprimands Taichi, but Taichi presses the chair’s edge into Tanahashi’s throat! Tanahashi kicks and flails but Taichi eventually lets up. Red Shoes tells Taichi to bring this back in the ring, so Taichi drags Tanahashi up by his hair. Taichi POSTS Tanahashi the moment they’re ringside! Taichi puts Tanahashi in the ring, looms over him, then covers with just a hand. But again, Red Shoes refuses until Tanahashi’s had time to get back into this. The Young Lions rally for The Ace but Taichi snapmares and KICKS Tanahashi in the back. But Tanahashi fires up and sits up. Taichi toys with him but Tanahashi eggs him on. Taichi basement BOOTS Tanahashi down!
Taichi drags Tanahashi up, but Tanahashi throws forearms back! Taichi kicks the leg then whips, but Tanahashi comes back with the flying forearms! Tanahashi keeps the fire building and the Young Lions rally again. Tanahashi brings Taichi up for more forearms and body shots, and Taichi falls to the mat. Tanahashi scoops and slams Taichi, then goes to the corner. Second rope senton! Cover, TWO! The rallying continues and Tanahashi feeds off that energy. Taichi stands, Tanahashi runs, but Tanahsahi blocks the boot to a DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi doesn’t lose his cool, he gets up and watches Taichi in the corner. Tanahashi goes corner to corner but the splash misses! Taichi gamanguris! Tanahashi drops and Taichi shakes out his legs as he walks about. Taichi dares Tanahashi to sit up, and then BUZZS-
NO! Tanahashi blocks the kick! But Taichi rakes the eyes! Taichi kicks the leg but Tanahashi throws forearms. They go back and forth, forearm for kick, but then Taichi fires off several shots! Tanahashi hobbles to ropes but Taichi dares him to come back. Tanahashi does with a furious strike fest! Taichi wobbles to ropes but he still smirks. Taichi comes back to KICK Tanahashi hard in the chest! And again! But Tanahashi blocks, elbows the leg and throws forearms. Taichi boots, back kicks, and looms over Tanahashi as he drops to a knee. Taichi slaps Tanahashi, ducks the palm strike, for a SAIDO! Tanahashi is down but Taichi catches his breath instead of trying to cover. Taichi drags Tanahashi back up but he’s dead weight. The Young Lions rally and Taichi drags Tanahashi back up again.
Taichi reels Tanahashi in, but Tanahashi blocks the bomb lift! Taichi unleashes the Kowata kicks, then brings Tanahashi back in. Powerbomb lift, but Tanahashi slips out! The bad leg buckles, Taichi boots, but runs into a scoop! SWINGING SIDE SLAM! Both men are down again but the rallying builds. Tanahashi rises slowly but he returns to his feet. Tanahashi watches Taichi rise, then builds speed, but the Slingblade is denied! Tanahashi elbows the suplex away, tries again, but still no Slingblade! Tanahashi reaches for ropes but Taichi CLUBS and lifts! SLINGBLADE COUNTER! Tanahashi fires up as the Young Lions rally. Tanahashi runs, but Taichi ducks the Slingblade to Alabama lift! Tanahashi flails, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi runs again, to hit a proper SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO!! Taichi survives, but Tanahashi has more to give!
Tanahashi goes right to a corner and to the top rope. Taichi stands, HIGH FLY FLOW-BODY! Tanahashi wants another but Douki stands in his way! Red Shoes tells Douki to get away but Douki keeps egging Tanahsahi on. Tanahashi swings on Douki, Douki ducks once, but gets ROCKED with the uppercut! Taichi grabs at Tanahashi, Tanahashi kicks, but Taichi blocks it! Taichi shoves Red Shoes away, to LOW BLOW Tanahashi!! GEDO CLUTCH!! TWO!?!? Tanahashi survives but Taichi is too exhausted to be frustrated. The Young Lions rally again but Taichi is up first. Taichi powers up, takes aim, but Tanahashi deflects the superkick to run! Into a LARIAT! Taichi drags Tanahshi up, powerbomb lift, LAST RIDE!! Cover, TWO?!?! Tanahashi survives, this is not the end for him!
The rallying continues but Taichi gets up and slashes the throat. Taichi drags Tanahashi back up, Alabama lifts, but Tanahashi powers it down to club away on Taichi’s back! Tanahashi fires forearm after forearm, but Taichi DECKS him! Taichi brings Tanahashi up, but Tanahashi ROCKS him with the palm strike! Tanahashi fires up and brings Taichi back up. Taichi is dead weight now but Tanahashi just keeps going. Tanahashi whips, Taichi reverse but Tanahashi grabs hold. So Taichi brings Tanahashi in to SNAP SAIDO!! Taichi drags Tanahashi up again, runs, BLIND AX BOMBER! GAMANGIRI! Off come the pants!! Taichi powers up as Tanahashi slowly rises. Tanahashi turns around, into the SUPERKICK!! Taichi drags Tanahashi back up, Alabama to BLACK MEPHISTO!! Cover, TAICHI WINS!
Winner: Taichi, by pinfall
The tag teams split the series on the night! The Maestro trumps the Ace, but wants to keep going! Dragon sleeper! The Young Lions rush in but Douki clobbers them all! Taichi makes Tanahashi suffer until he is satisfied. But Ibushi comes hobbling out! Ibushi runs Taichi and Douki off as he comes to the aid of his role model. Taichi has Ibushi calm down and then joins him in the ring. These two will meet in the next round, but they’ll also meet for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. And then Douki blindsides Ibushi!
Taichi grabs Ibushi’s title belt and CLOBBERS him with it! And then he CLOBBERS Tanahashi with it! Taichi stacks the #GoldenAces and stands on them, as if he’s already won it all. Taichi grabs a mic to speak. “What happened to you guys?” These two are tag champions for now, but not if he can take care of them both by himself. As it stands now, Taichi won’t just take the tag titles, but the entire New Japan Cup, to become THE greatest in NJPW. Will all of Taichi’s dark dreams come true in the spotlight?
My Thoughts:
A great start to the second week of New Japan Cup, as the only match I could justifiably skip was the tag team match with Suzuki-Gun. I honestly thought the matches involving Suzuki-Gun would go on first, but it does work to make Douki’s return a bit more surprising. If he’d shown up just after being in the 8 Man Tag, it’d seem really stupid. One interesting thing to note, though still done to great effect, was that LIJ and Suzuki-Gun each split the night. Sanada gets a win over Taguchi, perfect for Sanada getting back on that great run he had before the pandemic shutdown, and then Sho gets a shocking and amazing upset over Shingo! I would really love to see a rematch of Shingo and Sho for the Openweight Championship.
Then it seemed very likely and natural for Tanahashi and Ibushi to split with Taichi and ZSJ. In order for Dangerous Tekkers to be a serious contender, they can’t both lose, and it adds to some drama for Taichi to be the one that wins. I think Ibushi beats Taichi to split the team series while also pushing forward to be a part of the Final Four. The tag titles can be on the line at Dominion, assuming someone else makes it to the finals over Ibushi. Dominion would definitely be the place for a great tag team match, and who knows, that could be a great moment for a title change.
My Score: 9.2/10
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Coverage
Mitchell’s Road to Wrestling Dontaku Results & Report! (4/27/24)
Rural Revitalization continues!
Will Great-O-Khan be setting the table?
It’s Rural Revitalization in Hiroshima for the KOPW Championship! Can Yuya Uemura survive tires, lemons and a table? Or will Great-O-Khan conquer him for the United Empire?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Frontier Zone – Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano VS Rey Paloma & HANZO; Oleg & Yano win.
- Six Man Tag: Tiger Mask & Bishamon VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita VS Jeff Cobb & Francesco Akira; Cobb & Akira win.
- Six Man Tag: El Desperado, Shota Umino & Tomohiro Ishii VS The House of Torture; Desperado, Shota & Ishii win.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima VS Tomoaki Honma & Shoma Kato; Tanahashi & Murashima win.
- DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Sho & Yoshinobu win.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo; TMDK wins and retains the titles.
- KOPW Championship Rural Revitalization: Great-O-Khan VS Yuya Uemura; Yuya wins and becomes the new KOPW Champion.
- 10 Man Tag Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK w/ Zack Sabre Jr. VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo w/ Jado!
Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls snatched the titles away during the Windy City Riot, but the Guerrillas of Destiny are getting their rematch! Will the Headbanga & Young Guerilla redeem themselves on the Road to Wrestling Dontaku? Or will they see The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if The Mighty stay NJPW Strong!
The teams sort out and Hysterical Haste starts against ELP. The fans rally up with the bell and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but then Shane cording holds into a wrench and wristlock. ELP rolls, handsprings and wrenches back. ELP keeps Shane from ropes so Shane rolls, kips up, snapmares and KICKS ELP! The fans cheer while Shane shakes out his leg. ELP grimaces as he stands and shakes out the arm. The two reset, tie up, and ELP waistlocks. ELP goes for a chinlock but Shane standing switches. ELP switches, Shane switches again, and repeat. ELP headlocks, Shane powers out, then reels ELP in for a headlock.
ELP powers out, Shane runs him over, and then he sits ELP up to run. ELP drops under, hurdles over, but Shane shoves him. ELP rolls off Shane’s back to RANA! The fans fire up as ELP kips up and fixes his hair. The fans rally for “E L P! E L P!” while Shane is in a corner. Shane comes back to fire a forearm! ELP fires a forearm back! Shane fires another forearm so ELP gives it back. They go back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans rally up! ELP gets the edge, but Shane UPPERCUTS! Shane CHOPS ELP, whips him corner to corner, but ELP goes up and over and keeps moving. ELP fakes Shane out to avoid the dropkick!
ELP goes to ropes to LIONSAULT but Shane moves! ELP sits up but avoids the Penalty Kick! The two stand off and the fans cheer! Shane and ELP reset, and Leo reaches out. ELP tags him in and the fans rally up. Shane tags Mikey, and he circles with Leo. They get face to face, and Mikey pie faces Leo! They tie up, Leo shoves Mikey away, but Mikey comes back. They tie up, Mikey headlocks but Leo lifts. Mikey thrashes the hold, Leo powers out and they RAM shoulders! Leo eggs Mikey on so Mikey runs and they RAM shoulders! Leo runs, Mikey ELBOWS him! Mikey runs, Leo runs him over! The fans fire up as Leo flexes.
Leo drags Mikey up, suplexes, but Mikey fights it! Mikey tries to suplex but Leo’s so tall! Leo suplexes, Mikehy slips free to waistlock, but Leo RAMS him into a corner! Leo runs in, Mikey dodges, only for Leo to LARIAT outta the corner! Tag to ELP and the Guerrillas get Mikey up. ELP BLASTS Shane while Leo whips Mikey to a corner. Leo SPLASHES, ELP clotheslines, then feed to the SIDEWALK SLAM and FALLING AX HANDLE! The Guerrillas high-five, ELP covers, TWO! ELP brings Mikey up but Mikey fights the suplex! Mikey powers out, whips, but ELP BLASTS Shane! ELP dodges Mikey, waistlocks, but Mikey swings. ELP ducks, into a DDT!
The fans fire up while Mikey shoves ELP over and tags in Shane. Mikey brings ELP up to TOSS him out, and then Mikey BLASTS Leo! Shane whips ELP into railing! Shane flexes, fans applaud, and Shane drags ELP up. APRON BACK SUPLEX! Shane shoves ELP in, covers, ROPEBREAK! The fans rally as ELP stays in this but Shane grabs one of ELP’s hands. Shane stretches out the arm to then KICK ELP in the shoulder! Shane brings ELP up but ELP fires forearms! Shane shoves ELP but ELP ELBOWS Mikey! ELP fires off on Shane, whips, but Shane reverses and Mikey trips ELP up! Shane basement dropkicks ELP and he spins around into a HAYMAKER from Mikey!
ELP flops to the floor, Mikey claims the apron is slippery, but the referee reprimands him all the same. The ring count starts but Mikey puts ELP in at 4 of 20. Shane covers, TWO! Shane keeps ELP down with body scissors. ELP endures, reaches out, drags Shane along as he crawls over, and the fans rally up. Shane grabs ELP’s arm and brings him into a cover, TWO! Shane whips ELP away into The Mighty corner! Tag to Mikey, he sends Shane in, but ELP puts Shane on the apron! ELP BOOTS Mikey, ROUNDHOUSES Shane, then runs, but Mikey catches him! Mikey RAMS ELP back into the corner!
Mikey taunts Leo then digs boots into ELP. The fans rally up and ELP throws body shots. Mikey eggs ELP on so ELP CHOPS! ELP tries to get under but Mikey grabs a leg and drags him back! Tag to Shane, and Shane stomps ELP down. Shane kicks ELP around, kicks him more, but ELP fires off hands! Shane back drops ELP up and away! The fans rally while Shane drags ELP back to a cover, but Leo breaks it! Shane drags ELP back, tags Mikey in, and TMDK mug ELP. ELP sputters, Mikey tags Shane back in, and Shane sucker punches Leo! Mikey hoists ELP up but ELP BOOTS Shane! ELP backs Mikey into the corner, then goes up and over Shane!
Shane runs into Mikey but Mikey still pursues ELP. Mikey drags ELP back but ELP ENZIGIRIS free! The fans fire up, but Shane gets ELP’s legs! ELP BOOTS Shane away, hurries up again, but Mikey BLASTS Leo first! Mikey then brings ELP around to back suplex! ELP lands on his feet, but Shane back suplexes! ELP still lands on his feet, then he ducks under TMDK to hot tag Leo! The fans fire up as Leo UPPERCUTS Shane, swings on Mikey, but Mikey dodges, only for Leo to BOOT him! Leo scoops Shane for SNAKE EYES and a BOOT! The fans fire up with Leo while Shane and Mikey go to opposite corners.
Leo runs in to SPLASH Mikey! Leo keeps going but Shane BOOTS him! Shane runs up but Leo ELBOWS him down! Leo runs to drop the JUMPING ELBOW on Shane! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Leo watches Shane stir. Shane rises, Leo choke grips! GODS- NO, Shane slips free and Mikey fires a forearm! Shane UPPERCUTS, Mikey LARIATS, but Leo stays up! Shane runs to LARIAT! Leo roars, but TMDK double kick! TMDK reels Leo in, but Leo DOUBLE SUPLEXES them instead! The fans fire up and Leo watches TMDK bail out. Leo tags ELP and ELP goes up. Leo helps him walk the tightrope, to ARIHARA MOONSAULT TMDK down at the ramp!
The fans fire up again, and Leo goes out to get Shane in. ELP & Leo get Shane up to CHOP, straitjacket torture rack, and then Leo runs. BOOT into the spin, BRAIN SALAD! Cover, Mikey breaks it! Mikey fires forearms on Leo & ELP, runs, but ELP hurdles so Leo can DDT! Mikey bails out, the fans fire up, and ELP tunes up the band. Shane rises, into SUDDEN- NO, Shane dodges! Shane runs up, but into Leo’s hands! ELP aims, but Shane pulls Leo into SUDDEN DEATH! Shane UPPERCUTS ELP and DROPKICKS Leo! Shane KICKS ELP, BOOTS him, then reels him in for an INVERTED EXPLODER! Cover, TWO!!
ELP survives and Shane is surprised! The fans fires up, Shane and ELP rise, and ELP staggers to a corner. Shane puts ELP up top, ROCKS him with a right, then climbs up. Shane brings ELP up but ELP fires body shots! ELP HEADBUTTS Shane down but Mikey tags in! Shane goes up, ELP sends him back down, so Mikey UPPERCUTS! Mikey gives Shane the boost, and they get ELP for the SUPERPLEX BOMB COMBO! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives but Mikey powers up and runs, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives again and the fans fire up! Mikey grows frustrated, he drags ELP up and reels him in.
ELP slips free of the Blue Thunder to kick and tuck the arms! But Mikey trips ELP to jackknife bridge, TWO! ELP rolling clutches! TWO and Mikey has the cover! TWO and ELP ghost pins, TWO!! Mikey escapes but ELP dodges! ELP DROPKICKS Mikey down and the fans fire up! Both men crawl, hot tag to Leo! Leo runs to BLAST Shane, then he turns to look at Mikey. Mikey eggs Leo on, then fires forearms! Leo ROCKS Mikey with just one! Mikey fires another flurry, but Leo ROCKS Mikey again! Leo eggs Mikey on and the fans rally. Mikey kicks low, ROCKS Leo, then runs, but into a scoop! Tag to ELP before the POWERSLAM!
ELP goes up to SWANTON BOMB! And then LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up, ELP tags Leo back in, and they tune up the band again! Mikey rises, but Shane trips Leo! Mikey ROCKS ELP, Shane UPPERCUTS ELP! Feed to the scoop but ELP slips free! ELP shoves Mikey into Shane, and Leo grabs them both! But both Shane & Mikey fight free of the choke slams! Shane KNEES, Mikey FOREARMS, but then ELP fires off on TMDK! ELP runs, but into a double trophy lift! THUNDER- DOUBLE DDTS!! ELP turns things around on TMDK, and the fans are thunderous! Mikey stands up into SUDDEN DEATH! ELP PLANCHAS onto Shane!
GODSEND for Mikey! ELP then climbs up the ropes, then climbs onto Leo! SUPER THUNDERKISS 86!! Cover, but Shane barrels through ELP to break it!! The fans are thunderous again but ELP is frustrated. ELP fires off on Shane, runs, but Shane LARIATS! Shane dodges Leo but runs into the POWER TRIP! GOD- NO, Mikey rolls Leo up!! TMDK WINS!!
Winners: TMDK, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)
Leo is furious! He is sure Mikey pulled tights there! He stomps at Mikey, pushes past ELP and goes after Mikey on the outside! Mikey and Leo push each other around, but there’s nothing Leo can do about this one. Will he and ELP just have to fight their way back up to the top? As for TMDK, will they continue to rock ‘n’ roll through the ranks with all this gold?
KOPW Championship Rural Revitalization: Great-O-Khan w/ Callum Newman & Francesco Akira VS Yuya Uemura w/ Taka Michinoku & Taichi!
It’s Rural Revitalization 2: Hiroshima Style! The Dominator just managed to make it past Tanga Loa, will he make it through the Heat Storm? Or will KOPW soon belong to Just5Guys?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who can put in the work!
This first round is Mazda tire carrying. Each man has a big orange cone placed in their corner, so they simply have to go fetch the tires from the stacks outside. Whoever gets four tires first wins the round! The bell rings, Yuya kicks Khan then heads for ropes, but Khan reels him in for a BIG back suplex! Khan goes out now, hurries up the ramp, and grabs two tires at once! The fans cheer and Khan gets those tires in the ring. Then he goes back for more! A risky move but that means four tires are on play. Yuya DROPKICKS Khan and here’s where the risk is involved! Yuya aims to PLANCHA but Khan chucks a tire!
Yuya falls back, Khan gets the tires in then drags Yuya out. Khan CLUBS away on Yuya against the apron, then uses a tire to bind Yuya’s legs! Khan CLUBS Yuya more, and Khan even ties Yuya up in the ropes! Khan sacrifices two tires to trap Yuya! The fans cheer the creativity, and Khan STOMPS Yuya on the apron before heading for more tires. Yuya works to get free as Khan brings two more tires to the ring. Khan sets those tires in, Yuya gets free, but Khan has stacked two tires. Then three, but Yuya DROPKICKS him down! Yuya takes the tires off Khan’s cones, leaving him with just one. Yuya goes out to get the last tires remaining!
Yuya brings tires to his cone, then clears out some space. Yuya has two tires, steals Khan’s one, but then Khan grabs Yuya for an IRON CLAW SLEEPER! Yuya fights free, but Khan Mongolian Chops him down! Khan throws the tires off Yuya’s cone, then throws the cone! We’re back to zero and zero, and Khan whips Yuya into a corner, to then clothesline him! The fans fire up as Khan climbs up and sits on his throne! Khan then hops down to Mongolian Chop! And Mongolian Chops! And Mongolian CHOP! Yuya sits down, Khan takes a tire, but then THROWS it at Yuya! Yuya goes up and over and AX HANDLES Khan down!
The fans rally as Khan grabs tires and cone, and he starts stacking! Yuya has two, then three! He just needs to find one more! Yuya grabs one from outside, but Khan reels him in! Khan DECKS Yuya, then undoes some of the stack. Khan confiscates a tire, makes sure it’s nice and bouncy, but also works up quite the sweat. The fans rally as Khan aims and takes a swing, only for Yuya to counter tire with tire! They clash again, and again! Then they set up for TIRE SUMO! And again, TIRE SUMO! They run in again, and Khan RAMS Yuya! Yuya is disarmed, and Khan CLOBBERS him with the TIRE SUMO!
The fans fire up while Yuya is down and Khan grabs tires. Khan says he’s not done with Yuya yet. Khan starts stacking tires at the center of the ring, then drags Yuya up. Khan clinches Yuya into HITSUJIGOROSHI! Yuya endures, even as Khan throws knees! Khan then scoops to SLAM Yuya on the tires! That’ll leave some skid marks! Khan then drags Yuya off the stack, brings him up and around, to then put a tire around his head. And then another! Yuya’s two tired to stand but Khan makes him! Khan throws a BODY BLOW, then he TRIPS Yuya into a TIRE DDT! The fans fire up while Khan grabs the other tires.
Khan stacks tires on his cone, that’s two. Khan hurries to find other tires on the outside, and he has a third. Khan considers his options, and takes one of the tires from Yuya. But Yuya clings to the tires, so Khan stomps him! Yuya refuses to let go of the tires! Khan stomps Yuya more but Yuya defends the tire with his body! Khan claws at Yuya, they tug-o-war over the tire, but Khan pulls on Yuya’s ear! Yuya kicks low, kicks again, then SMACKS Khan with the tire, and DROPKICKS Khan down! The tire goes tumbling out of the ring while Yuya fires up! Yuya takes Khan’s tires, hurries them over to his cone, that’s three right there!
Now Yuya has to hurry and find another! Yuya goes outside, grabs the tire, but Khan intercepts! They tug-o-war again, but then Khan RAMS Yuya into a corner! Khan takes this tire, that’s one. Khan finds tires on the outside and brings them in! Yuya hurries to cover tires again! Khan stomps Yuya, still stacks three, so it’s all down to this seventh tire! Yuya and Khan tug-o-war yet again, the fans rallying behind them! Khan grabs Yuya’s arm, but Yuya slips around to a SLEEPER! Khan fights up but Yuya squeezes tight! Yuya then CLUBS away on Khan, runs, but into a TIRE SWEEP! And a BASEMENT DROPKICK!
Khan grabs the final tire, but Yuya schoolboys him away! Yuya rolls through, snatches the tire, and complete his stack! Yuya wins the first round!
Khan: 0; Yuya: 1
Just like with Tanga Loa, Khan drops the ball in the first round! But then, will history repeat itself here as we prepare for the second round?
The tarps are set down, the table is set, and it’s time to eat up some Hiroshima lemons! Khan makes sure the people watching at home and around the world understand that Hiroshima lemons are the best, which probably means they’re the most sour. Khan puts on his bandana and takes his seat at the table. He and Yuya get some wet wipes to clean their hands, and it all comes down to who finishes their one lemon first. Ready, set, EAT! Yuya starts fast and that face shows how sour these are. Khan says hold on, and he just takes a HUGE bite! Yuya is suffering but Khan is reveling in the sourness! Khan’s already halfway through!
Yuya can barely keep the lemon in, but Khan’s eaten it all up! Can he get it all down before Yuya? Khan is chewing and chewing, Yuya is practically shaking from how sour it all is! Khan keeps going and… Yes, Khan has it all down! Khan wins!
Khan: 1; Yuya: 1
Khan now lets his body feel the stinging sweetness, and he says it was delicious! But then, that leaves us with this third and final round. And this time it’s a TABLES match! Who will be feeling sour and sore after this one?
The bell rings, both men rush in, Yuya dodges to fire haymakers! Yuya whips, Khan reverses but Yuya CLOBBERS him! Khan gets up, but Yuya DROPKICKS him down! Khan bails out, Yuya aims and PLANCHAS! Direct hit at the ramp, and the Heat Storm fires back up! The table is there, so Yuya drags Khan right up! Yuya goes to suplex but Khan blocks! Khan fights with body shots, turns things around, but Yuya fights the suplex! They fight for control, but Khan RAMS Yuya into the apron! The fans rally, Khan drags Yuya back up, and whips him into railing! Yuya tumbles up and over into No Man’s Land!
Khan storms out after Yuya and he asks fans move aside. Young Lions help the fans clear out while Khan drags Yuya up. Khan brings Yuya around and reminds everyone, No Disqualifications! Khan BOWLS Yuya through chairs, and that’s definitely a strike! The fans cheer Khan as he stands on chairs, but then asks more fans to move aside! Khan stomps Yuya, stomps a chair onto Yuya, then tosses that chair aside. Sorry to whoever had that seat… Khan then drags Yuya up and brings him around, but Yuya throws body shots! Khan Mongolian Chops Yuya down! Khan drags Yuya back up, and BOWLS him into more chairs!
Yuya is stuck on the seats, that wasn’t quite a strike. But Khan stacks chairs on Yuya to pick up the spare. Khan SMACKS chair with chair! Yuya sputters while fans applaud, and Khan goes back to fetch Yuya. Taichi and Taka are there but so are Newman and Akira. The Empire keeps the two out of five guys at bay while Khan drags Yuya to the back of the crowd. Khan whips Yuya into the emergency exit! Khan then SLAMS railing down on Yuya, and then SMACKS railing with railing! Khan talks trash while Taka and Taichi coach Yuya up. The ref checks Yuya, but he’s somehow able to continue, so Khan drags him up.
Khan brings Yuya around to drag him through the chairs! Khan brings Yuya back to ringside, then into the ring. The fans applaud, and then Khan goes looking under the ring. Khan eventually finds another lemon! Khan takes a big bite and uses the citrus to power up! Then he DIGS the lemon into Yuya’s face! The citric acid burns but the fans fire up! Khan goes to fetch the table from outside, puts it inside, and then sets it up in a corner. The fans rally up as Khan stalks Yuya. Khan drags Yuya up, reels him in to scoop, but Yuya slips free! Khan avoids hitting table, but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! Yuya whips Khan into the blue corner, then DOUBLE CHOPS again!
The fans fire up and Yuya grits his teeth. Yuya roars, brings Khan up and reels him in for a BIG back suplex! The fans rally again and Yuya brings Khan up. Yuya clinches, but Khan fights the lift! Yuya still tries, but Khan fights it to a head ‘n’ arm clinch. Yuya gets around, headlocks, but Khan pops out to waistlock. Yuya fights being pushed around, then switches to get an arm. Khan clinches but so does Yuya. They fight for control, and Khan’s SAYANAGI takes Yuya down! The fans fire up and both men stir. Yuya flops out of the ring, but Khan crawls in pursuit. Khan drags Yuya up, then RAMS him into railing!
Yuya writhes, Khan goes looking under the ring, and he brings out another TABLE! Khan SMACKS Yuya with the table, then stands the table up at ringside. Khan drags Yuya up, SMACKS him off the apron, then climbs up. Khan drags Yuya up onto the apron, Mongolian Chops, then regular CHOPS! Khan UPPERCUTS, then clamps on the IRON CLAW! Khan scoops but Yuya fights free! Yuya DROPKICKS! Khan holds onto ropes to stay up, but Yuya hurries to run! Yuya LARIATS, but into the IRON CLAW!! Khan drags Yuya up and over, ELIMINATOR- NO, Yuya grabs ropes to fight that off! Khan kicks low, winds up, but Yuya traps the arm!
Yuya traps the other arm, takes aim, but Khan fights the Deadbolt with all his might!! The fans are thunderous as Yuya still tries! Khan BITES Yuya’s ear! And then POSTS him! But Yuya runs up, into a BOOT! Yuya falls back, Khan sits down, and the fans rally again! Khan undoes his hand tape, ends up pushing the table over, and then he folds it all up. Khan puts the table in the ring, pushes Yuya aside, and then he sets this table up again, in the blue corner. Yuya goes up top to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as Yuya roars! Yuya has his choice as he hauls Khan up. Yuya traps the arms, but Khan makes it a BELLY2BELLY!
But Yuya rises back up! Yuya runs in, gets around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Khan’s right up! Khan LARIATS Yuya down! The fans fire up as Yuya is right back up, and URENAGES! Both men are down again and the fans are thunderous! Khan flounders around, he and Yuya crawl to center, and Yuya fires a forearm! Khan gives it back! Both men stand, and Yuya fires a haymaker! Khan comes back to forearm! Yuya wobbles, but he comes back to HAYMAKER! Khan staggers, wobbles, but comes back to FOREARM! Both men stagger, but Yuya fires another haymaker! Khan fires a flurry of forearms, but Yuya haymakers!
Khan ROCKS Yuya, but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS! But Khan throws an IRON RIGHT! The fans fire up again as Yuya falls! Khan roars with Monster Rage and he hauls Yuya up! IRON CLAW, and then ELIMIN- NO, Yuya slips free! Yuya wrenches, traps the arms, DEADBOLT SUPLEX through the table!! YUYA WINS!!
Winner: Yuya Uemura, 2-1 (NEW KOPW Champion)
Yuya slammed the Deadbolt shut on Khan and now he takes the title from him! The Heat Storm is rising, how hot will he make the KOPW Division through the Summer?
10 Man Tag Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs!
These factions have been battling all over this Road to Wrestling Dontaku, but now they will fight ’til the last man! Will there be a roll call for Bushi, Hiromu, Takagi, Yota y Naito? Or will this alliance with the Good Looking Emperor, Jake Lee, help David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney shoot down LIJ?
Wait, it seems Naito has brought backup of his own? It’s SLYLY! The dragon-like mascot of Hiroshima Toyo Carp, and half-brother to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Phillie Phanatic! Well, Naito does love him some baseball. Tensions are running high, and Finlay throws his shirt at Yota. Yota balls that shirt up, and throws a fastball over the plate! The teams sort out, Finlay pushes Yota around and Gabe talks trash on Takagi. Red Shoes gets them all to settle down, and the War Dogs bark and put up the Too Sweet. Jake joins in at the end there. LIJ mocks the barking before they fist bump, and the fans cheer.
Things finally sort out and Finlay starts against Yota. The fans fire up behind “YO~TA! YO~TA!” at the bell, and Yota makes sure Finlay hears that. Finlay gets on the corner but the fans all boo. The two circle, tie up, and Yota uses his size to put Finlay on ropes. Finlay turns that around to grind forearms in Yota’s face and push him around. Finlay then backs up to SPIT at him! The fans boo but Yota CHOPS Finlay in return! The fans cheer, Yota headlocks, and Yota grinds Finlay down. Finlay powers up and out to headlock back, but Yota powers up and out. They RAM shoulders, Yota rebounds to run Finlay over!
The fans fire up, things speed up, but Finlay bails out. The fans boo but Finlay says he’s got time. Yota barks at Finlay but Finlay just mockingly applauds. Finlay returns, kips up just to show off, but then Hiromu wants in! Yota tags Hiromu, Finlay tags Drilla. Hiromu fires forearms on Drilla, whips, to ROCK, trip, KICK the ropes, then run and SHOTGUN Drilla down! The fans fire up while Hiromu barks. Hiromu runs corner to corner to clothesline, snapmare and basement dropkick! The fans fire up but Connors runs in to knee Hiromu low! Connors barks, runs, but Hiromu kicks low! Bushi dropkicks legs out so Hiromu can basement dropkick!
The fans fire up but Drilla fires hands and CHOPS on LIJ. Hiromu CHOPS back, he and Bushi double whip to TU LO SABE! Cover, TWO! Drilla stays in this but Hiromu fires Hiroshima up. Hiromu fireman’s carries, but Drilla slips free to RAM Hiromu into the corner! The Dogs mug Hiromu while Jake Lee runs up to BLAST Naito! Finlay and Connors help out in mugging Yota and Bushi! Things have pilled out into the crowd in multiple areas while Naito fights back! Jake kicks Naito, then whips him hard into railing! Naito tumbles up and over into No Man’s Land! Gabe and Takagi throw HEADBUTTS back and forth!
Finlay snatches a phone? He’s taking pictures of Jake stomping away on Naito! But then Yota attacks Finlay! Finlay POSTS Yota, a ring count starts, but the Dogs just keep beating LIJ down! Drilla finds his way back to ringside, Hiromu manages to make his way in! Hiromu crawls in at 17 but Drilla is there to stomp him! Drilla bumps Hiromu off Finlay’s boot! Drilla tags Jake in, they mug Hiromu, and Jake digs his boot in while Finlay pulls Hiromu’s hair! Red Shoes is busy getting everyone to stop brawling! Jake lets off but Hiromu fires off CHOPS! Jake just kicks low, whips, and then HIP TOSSES Hiromu down!
Hiromu staggers up but Jake clamps on a SLEEPER! Tag to Finlay and they mug Hiromu in the corner. Red Shoes reprimands and counts, the fans boo, and Finlay lets off at 4. Finlay soaks up heat, then he takes Hiromu’s Kamaitachi mask and THROWS it to the crowd! Finlay then BLASTS Yota off the apron! The Dogs CHOKE Hiromu more, mug him while Finlay argues with Red Shoes, then Finlay brings Hiromu up. Finlay fireman’s carries and goes to dump Hiromu! Hiromu clamps onto ropes, Bushi runs in to make the save! Connors goes after Bushi so Takagi makes the save! But Connors goes after Takagi now!
Finlay puts Hiromu on the apron but Hiromu rolls back in, SAFE! The fans cheer while Finlay is frustrated. Finlay storms up on Hiromu in a corner but Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS! Finlay knees low, whips corner to corner hard, and Hiromu flounders all the way back to where he started! Finlay drags Hiromu up and over, the fans still cheering him on, but Connors tags in. Connors BLASTS Naito off the corner, then snap suplexes Hiromu down! Connors runs to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Hiromu stays in this but Connors stays on him with a seated full nelson. The fans continue to rally for “HI-RO-MU!” as he endures!
Hiromu fights around, even as Gedo barks at him to give up. Hiromu still gets the ROPEBREAK! Finlay pushes the foot away and that distracts Red Shoes, allowing Drilla to join in and stomp Hiromu! Drilla & Connors double whip but Hiromu gets around to lift Connors and throw him at Drilla, FORCED RANA! The fans fire up but Connors keeps Hiromu away from his corner! Hiromu blocks a kick, and a punch, to DRAGON SCREW! The fans rally again while both men are down! Hot tag to Naito! Naito rallies on Connors, BLASTS Drilla, swings on Jake, but Jake gets away. Connors CLUBS Naito, whips, but Naito reverses to arm-drag!
Naito atomic drops, runs, and ELBOWS Connors down, to then basement dropkick! The fans fire up while Naito stares Jake down. Naito covers Connors, TWO! The fans rally, Naito drags Connors up and dragon sleepers, for the NECKBREAKER! And then, LEG HOOK NELSON! Connors endures but Gabe stomps Naito! Gabe BLASTS Takagi, the rest of the Dogs attack, and Gabe stomps away on Naito! Gabe tells off the fans but the fans boo. Red Shoes reprimands so Gabe steps away, and Connors drags Naito up. Connors UPPERCUTS, whips, but Naito reverses to TORNADO- NO, Connors powers out!
Connors dodges Naito, redirects and POUNCES! Naito is down but the fans rally up. Naito and Connors crawl, hot tags to Takagi and Gabe! The fans fire up for the NEVER Openweight Championship appetizer! They RAM shoulders, Takagi ROCKS Gabe then runs to RAM him! Gabe rebounds to RAM Takagi, but Takagi rebounds to RAM Gabe! Gabe fires a forearm, whips Takagi to a corner then runs in to clothesline! Takagi says that’s not enough, so Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe says he’s a madman, then whips, only for Takagi to reverses. Takagi runs in, blocks a boot, and clotheslines through! The fans fire up with Takagi, but Gabe shoves him!
Takagi kicks and CLUBS away on Gabe, but Gabe BITES Takagi’s forehead! Red shoes reprimands, but Takagi spins Gabe around to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Gabe’s still in this but the fans rally behind “TA-KA-GI!” Takagi looks around, “Oi, Hiroshima! TOKI GA-” NO, Gabe CLOBBERS Takagi! It isn’t his time yet, and Gabe stands Takagi up to HEADBUTT again and again! Then Gabe suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi’s tougher than that but Gabe shakes his head. Gabe scuffs Takagi, eggs him on and runs, but Takagi blocks the Rebounder to HEADBUTT! Gabe HEADBUTTS! Both men shake their heads, and then Takagi HEADBUTTS!
Gabe HEADBUTTS! Takagi HEADBUTTS again and again, but then Gabe HEADBUTTS again and again! Takagi fires a forearm, Gabe gives it back, repeat! The fans fire up as the shots go back and forth! Gabe gets the edge, but Takagi fires boxing elbows! Gabe CHOP! Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! Gabe UPPERCUTS and YUKON LARIATS! But Takagi’s right up to LARIAT!! Gabe rises and shouts! Both men run in, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! And again! Gabe fires palm strikes, talks trash, but gets a JAB, HEADBUTT, and a PUMPING BOMBER take takes both men up and out! DOUBLE ELIMINATION!!
Fans go wild as Takagi’s sacrifice play makes things 4v4! Bushi and Drilla jump in and Drilla fires off shots! Drilla ENZIGIRIS, ripcords, but Bushi dodges to RANA! And DROPKICK! Drilla bails out but Bushi builds speed, only for Connors to SNAP POWERSLAM! Drilla gets in, he and Connors get moving, SPEAR GORE COMBO!! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives but the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions coordinate. Connors BLASTS Naito off the apron before he climbs a corner, and Drilla gets Bushi up. Drilla suplexes, but Bushi slips free! Bushi shoves Drilla into Connors, then runs back in to CODE-
NO, Drilla blocks and aims for ropes! Bushi slips free, dodges Drilla, but Drilla ducks the enzigiri, only for the REWIND HEEL to hit! Bushi whips Drilla up and out and to the floor, Bushi ELIMINATES Drilla! We’re 4v3 in LIJ’s favor, but then Connors SPEARS Bushi! Connors says this is it, and he reels Bushi in for- NO! Bushi turns No Chaser into a backslide! BUSHI ROLL! Bushi ELIMINATES Connors!! The Black Mask singlehandedly handles the tag champs and the fans fire up! But then Finlay CLOBBERS Bushi and rains down fists! Finlay roars in rage, then he drags Bushi up. Canadian Rack, but Bushi slips free to backslide!
Finlay rolls through to UPPERCUT! Jake BLASTS Naito, BLASTS Yota, and then Finlay gets Bushi up! Finlay POWERBOMBS Bushi to the outside, onto Naito and the rest! Finlay ELIMINATES Bushi! We’re back to 3v2 as Finlay still has Jake but LIJ still has Naito, Hiromu and Yota. And speaking of Yota, he gets in to brawl with Finlay! Yota whips, Finlay reverses but Yota flipping RANAS! Then he BLASTS Jake! Yota runs corner to corner to STINGER SPLASH Finlay! Yota keeps moving, he runs Finlay over to then run and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up with Yota as he smiles and paces around.
Yota brings Finlay up and fireman’s carries, but Finlay slips free. Yota kicks, runs, but Finlay ELBOWS him down, then SENTONS on top! Finlay barks as he aims at Yota. Yota rises, Finlay runs in, and UPPERCUTS at the corner! Then clotheslines! Then FALCON ARROWS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Yota but Finlay grows frustrated. Finlay drags Yota up, reels him in, but Yota fights the lift! Finlay CLUBS away on Yota, tries again, and he has Yota up, but Yota fights free of the bomb! Yota fires forearms, but Finlay UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS again! Finlay runs, but Yota backslides to KNEE Finlay down!
The fans fire up again as we pass 20 minutes, and Yota drags Finlay up. Yota goes up and up but Finlay shoves him over! Yota’s on the apron, he and Finlay brawl! Yota ROCKS Finlay, but Finlay gets in Red Shoes’ face! Jake grabs at Yota, Yota kicks him away, but Finlay BLASTS Yota down and ELIMINATES him! The fans boo but the Dogs have made this 2v2! Finlay and Jake stand together, and they dare Naito & Hiromu to join them. Naito and Hiromu oblige as they step inside. Naito stares Jake down, Hiromu stares Finlay down, and they start swinging! The fans fire up, but then Finlay fireman’s carries Hiromu! Finlay aims for ropes!
Naito gets past Jake to save Hiromu, but then Jake BOOTS Naito down! Jake scrapes Naito out of the ring and goes after him, but Hiromu fireman’s carries Finlay! Hiromu runs at ropes and dumps Finlay out! Finlay stays on the apron but Hiromu SUPERKICKS! Finlay holds onto ropes and wobbles, but Hiromu builds speed! Hiromu DIVES and SUNSET FLIPS, but Finlay still holds on! Finlay throws down hands, gets back inside, he’s SAFE! Hiromu is also safe because he went through the second rope. Hiromu runs back in, but avoids Blue Thunder to wheelbarrow! But Finlay turns that into an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER!
Hiromu writhes, the fans rally as hard as they can behind him, but Finlay drags Hiromu up. DOMINATOR! Cover, Naito breaks it! Jake stomps Naito and TOSSES him out! It was all second rope so Naito’s safe, but Finlay talks trash on Hiromu. Finlay drags Hiromu up, reels him in, suplexes, but Hiromu slips free! Finlay UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS! Flashback to the 23rd! Hiromu just takes UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT from Finlay, but he doesn’t stop! Then he SUPERKICKS! Hiromu runs, but into another UPPERCUT! Finlay gets Hiromu up, but Hiromu RANAS Finlay up and out to ELIMINATE him!!
The fans are thunderous as The Rebel is shocked! Hiromu mocks him, but then Jake runs in! Hiromu gets under the boot to get under Jake! Jake fights Hiromu off, snarls, and then runs up! Hiromu dodges to kick a leg! Hiromu runs, but Jake kitchen sink knees! Jake takes aim, runs up, and FACE BREAK SHOT! Hiromu tumbles up and out and to the floor, Jake ELIMINATES him! And now, at 25 minutes in, we’re down to just Jake and just Naito! Naito slowly rolls into the ring as the fans rally behind him. Jake watches Naito stand, and the two stare down. Jake runs in but Naito dodges to fire off forearms!
Naito whips but Jake reverses to KNEE low! Jake fires up but fans boo as he stands Naito up. Jake reels Naito in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Naito protects the plate but Jake is aiming another heater! Jake waits as Naito stands, then winds up to choke grip! But Naito throws back elbows to get free! Naito then wrenches, TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up again while both men are down! Naito rises, he drags Jake up, and he throws those heavy back elbows! Jake crawls around, Naito brings him up, and Naito throws more heavy back elbows! Jake wobbles and staggers to the corner but Naito is right on him.
Naito brings Jake around for even more heavy back elbows! Jake falls over, the fans fire up, and Naito aims from the corner. Naito drags Jake up and in, but Jake BOOTS Naito down! Naito dangles off the apron! Red Shoes keeps the War Dogs from interfering, and Naito stands up. Jake aims, runs in, but Naito avoid the FBS! Naito drags Jake ot the apron, Jake elbows him back! Jake runs up, but into an ELBOW! Naito goes up and over, sweeps the legs, then BASEBALL SLIDE DROPKICKS! Jake falls, LIJ wins!!
Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, Naito as the lone survivor
It came down to the bottom of the ninth, technically speaking, and Naito just hit the walk-off homer! Jake is stunned and Finlay is frustrated, but Yota just smiles back at him. Finlay and Yota will have it out as part of Wrestling Dontaku Night One, who will be smiling then?
As for LIJ, they regroup in the ring and have their hands raised. Slyly’s even still hanging around! But uh, he’s a little too chunky to get in the ring, so he just settles for pumping up the crowd like he does at baseball games. Naito gets the mic to say that it was three months ago, the Splash Strong series back in January, since Naito was last in Hiroshima. Naito would like to thank the fans from coming here tonight, “Gracias, amigos.” The fans cheer, and Naito continues by saying, “Hiroshima is my second home. I really long to have a match at Mazda Stadium.” The fans love the sound of that!
Naito does preface that him saying that doesn’t mean there’s anything planned. So please, tranquilo, be patient, and look forward to the day that finally happens. So, shall they do it? The fans cheer again! So then, for the first time in Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall in a year and eight months, is everyone ready? The fans cheer because they sure are! Well then, the only way to close The Road to Wrestling Dontaku here in Hiroshima… Bushi! Hiromu! Takagi! Titan! Yota! Slyly! Y Naito! NOSOTROS! LOS! INGOBERRRRNABLEEEES~! DE! JA! PON!! Slyly gets in on the roll call! Will all of LIJ have success as we reach Wrestling Dontaku next week?
My Thoughts:
A great event to conclude Road to Dontaku before getting to Wrestling Dontaku itself. An unfortunate change in the card, Sanada fell ill and could not compete, so his match alongside Taichi against Tanahashi & Tomoaki was changed into Tanahashi and a Young Lion VS Tomoaki and a Young Lion. Hopefully Cold Skull gets well soon. Great tag title match from TMDK VS GoD, and while I figured TMDK was going to retain, I didn’t think it’d be in a shady way like holding tights. While ZSJ VS Cobb for the NJPW World TV title is still to come, I doner of GoD shift gears and ELP becomes a singles guy so Leo and Loa can team up. Then ELP can challenge ZSJ in a battle of initials while the Brothers Guerrilla get to take on Shane & Mikey.
Great Rural Revitalization again, they managed to pull off great comeback spots each round. I was very surprised Yuya won out, I felt like Khan could’ve done one more Rural Revitalization before losing. But at the same time, Yuya feels like the unofficial fourth Reiwa Musketeer behind Narita, Shota & Tsuji. Yuya getting a title, any title, ahead of the others is good stuff for him, and could even bring about a feud with one of the Musketeers for the Summer. And then a great 10 Man Elimination Tag. I again really like that NJPW allows over the rope eliminations even in a tag match like this to really mix things up. Jake Lee not winning out for the War Dogs is really surprising, but I feel like that means Jake will defeat Naito 1v1.
My Score: 8.9/10
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It’s a violent end to a legendary friendship!
Former Best Friends, Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor, have been through many Parking Lot Brawls, but this is their first time as enemies! Will there be broken bones to go along with the broken hearts?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Parking Lot Brawl: Trent Beretta VS Chuck Taylor; Trent wins.
- Thunder Rosa VS Deonna Purrazzo; Rosa wins.
- “Big Bill” Morrissey VS Trevor Blackwell; Bill wins.
- Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions; Shibata & Garcia win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Parking Lot Brawl: Trent Beretta VS Chuck Taylor!
Years of friendship, thrown away, and why? Because #JustTrent had a problem with Freshly Squeezed having more success in AEW than them? Because #JustTrent had a problem with Cassidy as a person? Because #JustTrent turned out to be the selfish one in the relationship? Well, then will #JustTrent get his ass kicked? Or will he take advantage of how Chuckie T. is a Kentucky Gentleman?
Trent stares Chuck down while we hear the crowd of other wrestlers taunting him. Trent takes a swing, but Chuck dodges to fire off hands! The brawl is on, and Chuck gets the edge! Chuck ROCKS Trent, then SMACKS him off a car hood! And then off the car door! Chuck drags Trent up, but Trent RAMS Chuck into the car! And throat chops him just because! Trent gets space, runs back in, but Chuck dodges so Trent hits the passenger door! Chuck gets a trash can lid and he stands Trent up. Trent jumps through the open window but Chuck drags him back out. Trent kicks low, and he gives Chuck a CAR HOOD BACK SUPLEX!
Trent grabs the trash can lid, SMACKS Chuck right in the head and Chuck falls down! The crowd boos but Trent opens a car trunk to bring out a trash can, a dustpan and a baseball bat! Chuck storms up but Trent CHUCKS the trash can into Chuck’s face! Chuck flounders and Trent smirks. Trent SMACKS Chuck with the trash can, CLUBS him around, and Chuck is busted open! The white car has red polka dots on it now, and Trent talks trash, “This is what you wanted?!” Trent runs up, but Chuck POP UP POWERBOMBS Trent onto a car hood! Trent writhes, Chuck staggers around, and Chuck brings Trent around.
Chuck headlocks Trent before he SMACKS him off another car door. Trent goes around the back and then up onto a truck! Chuck follows, and he CLUBS Trent in the chest! But Trent slips under, and he CLAWS Chuck’s bloody face! Trent DECKS Chuck and Chuck falls through drywall sheets! Trent looms over Chuck as he crawls out of the wreckage. Trent stalks Chuck, brings him around and SMACKS him with the trash can lid! Trent hoists Chuck onto a car roof, SMACKS him again, then goes back to the truck. Trent climbs onto the roof of the truck, to FLYING ELBOW from car to car! Cover, TWO!!
Trent is furious, but Chuck is still in this as Rampage goes picture in picture.
Trent fumes, paces around, and goes back to the goodies. He brings out… Is that a screwdriver?! And he JABS Chuck in the head with it!! And then he DIGS it into Chuck’s forehead!! As if he wasn’t already bleeding badly!! Trent leaves Chuck behind, to fetch what looks to be a flat screen TV. Then he brings out a wood door!? Did someone visit Home Depot before coming here? Chuck CHOPS Trent in return then fires haymakers! Trent CLAWS Chuck’s face! Trent grabs that TV and CHUCKS it, only for Chuck to duck it! Rampage returns as TV screen hits windshield! Chuck kicks low to snap suplex Trent through the door!!
The crowd is losing its minds as Trent crawls. Chuck gets Trent’s legs, to CATAPULT him into the truck’s tailgate!! The crowd fires up while Chuck gets a sinister look on his face. Chuck takes a piece of that drywall to SMASH it on Trent! Chuck gets that trash can, he SMACKS Trent with it! Chuck sees the pile of extra goodies nearby, and he uncovers some light tubes! But first, he’ll clean up the mess, he SMACKS Trent with the dust pan! And SMACKS him again and again! And then one more shot with the trash can! Trent writhes, but Chuck drags Trent up. Chuck SMACKS Trent off the tailgate, then clears some space.
Chuck climbs up, but Trent ROCKET LAUNCHES him onto the light tubes!!! The tubes shatter under Chuck’s back! Trent sputters, he’s bloody now, too. Trent puts Chuck against the car hood and stands on him! Trent soaks up the heat, but Chuck TRIPS Trent! Trent writhes, Chuck reels Trent in, Canadian Rack, RAZOR’S EDGE onto a windshield!! Trent writhes while fans chant “HOLY CHUCK!” Chuck covers Trent on the hood, TWO!! Trent survives and hurries around the back of this sedan. Chuck snarls, goes up after Trent, and they meet on the roof. They’re both so bloody as they fire forearms back and forth!
The crowd cheers Chuck and boos Trent, and as the two swing wild, they end up HUGGING! You GOT to give the people what they want, right? They stand, Chuck ROCKS Trent and reels Trent in, but Trent LOW BLOWS!! Trent has Chuck now, PILEDRIVER ON THE CAR ROOF!!! And then, SNAKE BITE!! Trent is choking Chuck out!!! Chuck IS out, Trent wins!!
Winner: Trent Beretta, by submission
The Best Friends tore each other apart, but it is #JustTrent that stands tall in the end. He’s clearly lost the respect of his peers given how the other wrestlers are chanting “You Suck! You Suck!” But wait, Trent isn’t done? He has a monkey wrench!? Cassidy & Kris step forward to say no, this is going too far! Trent says this is all Cassidy’s fault! And SMASH, Trent hits Chuck’s leg with the wrench, and even shatters the glass behind it!! Chuck clutches the already recovering leg, and now Cassidy wants after Trent! Kris stops Cassidy, Trent’s still got the wrench! Trent escapes into the shadows of the arena, what darkness is living in Trent’s heart?
Don Callis is watching this.
And he seems to like the sadistic savagery he just witnessed. Trent may not have Best Friends anymore, but could he end up with a whole new family?
Backstage interview with Kyle O’Reilly.
Arkady Aura is with #CombatKyle and brings up his impressive showing in Dynamite’s Casino Gauntlet this past Wednesday. But we all want to know, what is next for her? Well, on Saturday, May 11th, AEW is coming to his hometown! Collision in Vancouver, British Columbia! The Rogers Arena, the same building an 11-year-old Kyle saw his first wrestling show ever. And at that show, Kyle told his dad that he was gonna do this one day. Papa O’Reilly said, “Oh yeah, sure you will, kid.” But somehow, Kyle pulled it off. 25 years later, he’s coming back home to do the one thing he’s ever been good at and that’s wrestling.
Kyle is going to take on the best wrestlers this world has to offer, right here in AEW, where the best wrestle. Kyle is ready for a fight, who will take him up on that in two weeks?
Thunder Rosa VS Deonna Purrazzo!
La Mera Mera and The Virtuosa could not coexist in the race for the AEW Women’s World Championship, and now they will Rampage against each other! Who will stand tall, ready for another shot at the title?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Deonna and Rosa step up, talk a little trash, then Deonna pie faces Rosa! Rosa swings but Deonna catches the arm! Rosa avoids the takedown to knee low! They tie up again, go around and around, and Deonna puts Rosa in a corner. The ref counts, Rosa powers her way out but Deonna headlocks. Rosa powers up and out, but Deonna RAMS her! The two stay up, Deonna eggs Rosa on then kicks her low! Deonna whips, Rosa blocks the hip toss, but then Deonna blocks a hip toss! Rosa avoids the lariat to DECK Deonna! Rosa rains down fists but the ref reprimands.
Rosa sits Deonna up, clamps on a COBRA CLUTCH, and she grinds Deonna down. The fans rally but Deonna fights up. Deonna throws hands, then wrenches, but Rosa breaks free. Deonna BOOTS Rosa, then has the arm for the ARMBAR DDT! Deonna dusts herself off as she paces, then she KICKS Rosa’s arm. And KICKS it again! Rosa goes to ropes, Deonna pushes her down and ties her up in Paradise! Rosa is stuck, Deonna soaks up the cheers and jeers, and then runs to DROPKICK Rosa out of Paradise! Deonna stands Rosa up but Rosa ROCKS her first! Deonna stands, Rosa RAMS into her then bumps her off buckles.
Rosa goes up and up to leap, but Deonna blocks the rana and has a BOSTON CRAB! They’re in the ropes, the ref counts, and Deonna lets go. Rosa crawls to the corner, Deonna paces while soaking up the heat. Rosa stands, builds speed, and she WERCKS Deonna with a dropkick! Rosa fires up despite the pain in her back, and she kicks Deonna. Deonna stands, Rosa CHOPS her against the post! And CHOPS her again! Deonna ducks, Rosa chops post! Deonna SUPERKICKS Rosa down, and Rampage goes picture in picture.
Deonna steps on Rosa’s face, steps away, and Rosa staggers up to railing. Deonna storms up but Rosa kicks her low. Rosa then runs Deonna side to side to POST her! But then Deonna RAMS Rosa into apron! And SMACKS her off it! Deonna snarls, brings Rosa around, and she puts Rosa in the ring. Cover, TWO! Deonna clamps onto Rosa to pull her arms in, for a straitjacket stretch! Rosa endures, fights up, but Deonna turns that into a BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Rosa is still in this, and she is feeding off the energy of the fans! Rosa stands, and she ELBOWS Deonna! And body shots! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS again!
Rosa has Deonna in a corner to UPPERCUT! Rosa runs corner to corner and back again, but Deonna dodges! Rosa POSTS herself and falls to the apron! Deonna storms back over, brings Rosa up and wraps the bad arm against ropes! The ref counts, Deonna KICKS the ropes as she lets off, and Rosa clutches the elbow. Deonna returns but Rosa RAMS into her! Deonna CLUBS Rosa, has her in a corner, and HEADBUTTS the lower back as Rampage goes to break.
Rampage returns and Deonna runs in, but into an ELBOW! And then a BOOT! Rosa goes up to MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up with Rosa as she rises up! Deonna runs in, Rosa dodges to fire forearm after forearm! Deonna shoves, Rosa ENZIGIRIS! Rosa runs, to SHOTGUN BOOT! Deonna flounders to ropes, Rosa pounds the mat and the fans rally again. Rosa runs side to side to DROPKICK again! Cover, TWO!! Deonna toughs it out while Rosa shakes out her arm. Rosa drags Deonna up, but Deonna SOBATS! Deonna runs to KNEE LIFT and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Deonna wants the Fujiwara but Rosa rolls free!
Deonna BOTOS Rosa down, covers, TWO! Rosa is still in this and the fans rally up. Deonna is frustrated but she fireman’s carries Rosa. Rosa fires elbows, waistlocks, but Deonna pries the hold open! Deonna waistlocks, Rosa victory rolls and STOMP 182! The fans rally up again and Rosa covers, TWO! Deonna stays in this but Rosa stays on her. Rosa drags Deonna to a drop zone, goes to a corner and climbs. But Deonna rises and catches the leap! FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! Rosa endures, reaches out, pushes Deonna over to get a REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Deonna is in the body scissors but she fights around!
Deonna rises, to BACKPACK SENTON! Deonna is free, the fans fire up, and Deonna brings Rosa back up. Deonna SLAPS Rosa, then reels her in! Gotch Hold, but Rosa jackknife bridges! TWO, Deonna sunset flips, TWO! Prawn hold, TWO! FUJIWARA!! Rosa rolls it to a cradle, ROSA WINS!!
Winner: Thunder Rosa, by pinfall
Deonna thought she had the perfect formula but Rosa says she just beat her at wrestling! But then Deonna CLOBBERS Rosa at the ramp! The fans boo but Deonna drags Rosa up to RAM her into the bleachers! Rosa slumps down, but Deonna digs her boot in! Deonna SLAPS Rosa around, tells the ref to shut up, and she SLAPS Rosa more! So Rosa SLAPS back! They brawl on stage and then out to the ledge of the upper level! The fans fire up as they keep going! Security rushes in, the fans boo, but Deonna flips Rosa off! It seems nothing was settled here, will these two look to go Double or Nothing?
Backstage interview with The Undisputed Kingdom.
Arkady Aura is with Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett as she notes Will Ospreay is the NEW #1 Contender to the AEW International Championship. Taven says hold on, before we get started here, “Not Lexy,” as three guys who care deeply about neck health, and as two guys who nursed someone from the brink of paralysis (aka Roddy), The Kingdom wishes a very speedy recovery to “the world’s greatest boss. TK, stay strong, buddy.” Roddy then shouts that “WILL… Ospreay. Congratulations, you did it! You have signed, sealed and delivered the downfall, demise and destruction of The Aerial Assassin at Double or Nothing.”
Roddy says the world can sing Ospreay’s praises, but none of that matters when you step in the ring with Roddy. Just like all the ones before, Roddy will dismantle Ospreay, he will BREAK Ospreay, and he will make Ospreay fall in front of The Savior of the Backbreaker. Roddy’s confidence is strong, but will Roddy be the one feeling the End of Heartache after taking on the #BillyGOAT?
“Big Bill” Morrissey VS Trevor Blackwell!
The human skyscraper says he wants to sit under the Learning Tree, but Chris Jericho’s gonna need a bigger tree if he’s to give guidance to Big Bill. Will Bill prove he is worthy of The Wizard’s sage advice?
The moment Bill is in the ring, he SPLASHES Trevor right in the corner! The bell rings, Bill runs to BOOT Trevor down! Trevor flounders around, Bill runs corner to corner and SPLASHES again! Trevor flops around, Bill wants Jericho to watch this. Bill said he’d show Jericho he is worthy, and we do see Jericho watching backstage, holding the FTW Championship on his shoulder and oddly still wearing a #LionHook shirt… Jericho nods as Bill CLUBS Trevor on the back! Bill then tells Jericho to watch him! Scoop and BIG BOSS SLAM!! Cover, but Bill lets off! Bill wags his finger, he wants Jericho to see more.
Bill brings Trevor up, reels him in, and short arm LARIATS! Cover, but again Bill lets off! Bill is having too much fun at poor Trevor’s expect. Bill says Jericho’s gonna wanna teach him. Bill hoists Trevor up for the SKYSCRAPER CHOKE SLAM!! One foot cover, a very Jericho move, and Bill wins!
Winner: “Big Bill” Morrissey, by pinfall
Trev might want to change his last name to Well-done, because he got roasted. Bill wants Jericho’s guidance, does he even need it when he can do all this?
BREAKING NEWS for Rampage!
Rampage won’t be following up Collision next week but it also won’t be back on Friday just yet. For AEW’s return to Canada, Rampage is going to be BACK TO BACK with Dynamite! Get ready for a truly All Elite Wednesday!
Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions!
The Wrestler said during Collision earlier tonight that he was going to take on Shane Taylor Promotions by himself if he had to, but then the Dragonslayer offered his help. Now they’re both going to take on #TAIGASTYLE and Big Bad Shaney T. himself! Garcia wears basic trunks and boots to match Shibata, will The Wrestlers win out? Or will STP rumble, bad man, rumble?
The moment all four men are in the ring, Shibata CLOBBERS Lee Moriarty and then he and Garcia both go after Shane! The fans fire up as they stomp and kick Shane right out of the ring! Then they go out to keep after him! Shibata whips and BOOTS Shane into railing! Garcia fires off on Lee, then Shibata adds an UPPERCUT! Shibata whips and BOOTS Lee against railing! Garcia stomps Shane, Shibata snap suplexes Lee to the floor! Shibata leaves them behind to go into the ring and sit cross-legged! Garcia sits with him! The fans fire up and the two go out again. The brawling continues but Shane throws heavy hands!
Lee ROCKS Garcia, Shane puts Shibata in, and Shane storms in after Shibata. Lee sends Garcia into railing, but Shibata fires hands on Shane! Shibata KICKS and KICKS, but Shane blocks the boot! Shane JABS Shibata and Shibata falls back! Shane talks trash, the fans boo, but Shane drags Shibata up. Shane HEADBUTTS Shibata, tags Lee, and they mug Shibata. Lee stomps a mudhole in, lets off as the ref counts, but he sneaks mule kicks on Shibata the whole time! Shibata trips Lee, stomps him, but Lee gets up to RAM into Shibata! Lee brings Shibata around, suplexes, but Shibata slips free to waistlock!
Lee elbows free, kicks, but Shibata blocks! Lee KNEES Shibata but Garcia tags in! Shibata BOOTS Lee, Garcia LARIATS! Garcia DROPKICKS Shane, gets around Lee, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! And then another TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Garcia brings Lee up again but Lee suplexes! Garcia slips free, spins Lee and kicks low, to then TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The trifecta is complete and the fans fire up! Garcia storms up on Lee, brings him up, and UPPERCUTS! The fans rally for Garcia, he CHOPS Lee to ropes. And CHOPS Lee against ropes! Garcia runs, but Shane trips him! Lee distracts the ref so Shane can DRAPING DDT to the floor!
Shibata protests but Lee mocks him by sitting cross-legged. The ring count climbs, Garcia drags himself up at 3 of 10, slides in at 5, but Lee stomps Garcia at the ropes! Lee drags Garcia up, bumps him off buckles, then tags Shane. Shane pushes Garcia against the buckles, to then CHOP! Garcia seethes and he fires forearm son Shane! The fans fire up, Garcia throws more shots, then leaps, but into Shane’s arms! Shane RAMS Garcia into a corner, then CHOPS! Shane runs up, but Garcia BOOTS! Garcia spins, but Shane ROCKS him first! And URENAGES! And then SPLASHES down! Cover, TWO!
Shane seethes but he keeps Garcia from Shibata, and Rampage goes picture in picture.
Shane mocks Garcia’s dance, drags him up, but Garcia CHOPS! Garcia staggers, but Shane fires body shots in the corner! Shane ROCKS Garcia, tags Lee, and STP mugs Garcia. Garcia flounders to ropes, Lee CHOKES him! The ref counts, Lee steps away, and he stomps Garcia around. Lee wraps an arm around the ropes, then fishhooks Garcia! The ref counts, Lee lets off, and Garcia feeds off the energy of the fans. Lee brings Garcia up but Garcia fires forearm sand CHOPS! Lee gets around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Cover, TWO! Garcia stays in this but Lee stays on him with a wrench. Tag to Shane, and Lee hooks Garcia up in a COBRA TWIST, just so Shane can KNEE Garcia down!
Shane has Garcia on ropes, ROCKS him with a forearm, then scoops him for SNAKE EYES! Garcia slumps down in the corner, Shane drags him back up, and TOSSES him out! Shane goes out to then put Garcia against railing. Shane ROCKS Garcia, talks trash on fans, then brings Garcia around to scoop and SLAM him to the floor! Shane talks more trash on the fans, Lee has him cool off, and Shane brings Garcia up again. Shane puts Garcia in, tags Lee, and then Lee clamps on with a top wristlock and stretches Garcia out! Garcia endures, turns to fight the pressure, but Lee CLUBS him down. Lee drags Garcia up, tags Shane, and Shane scoop SLAMS!
Shane runs to SPLASH Garcia again! Rampage returns to single picture, Shane drags Garcia to a drop zone, and he goes up a corner. The fans boo but Shane blows them a kiss. FALLING SPLASH FLOPS as Garcia moves! T he fans fire up, but Lee KICKS him down! Lee hurries back and tags in, then he drags Garcia up. Lee wrenches, wristlocks, but Garcia endures. Lee SNAPS the fingers! The fans boo Lee being so villainous, but he drags Garcia up. Lee bumps Garcia off buckles, Shane holds Garcia up, but Garcia fights free with boots and haymakers and elbows! The fans fire up, Garcia sends Lee into Shane!
Lee hurries to waistlock but Garcia switches, SAIDO! The fans are thunderous as Lee and Garcia crawl! Hot tags to Shane and Shibata! Shibata BOOTS Shane! Shane roars, Shibata runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges and BOOTS! Shibata whips to BOOT Shane in the corner! Shibata fires forearms, the ref counts, but Lee runs up. Shibata DECKS him! Garcia RAMS Lee into a corner, climbs up, and while Shibata fires forearms on Shane, Garcia rains down fists! Garcia goes all the way to nine, then DOES HIS DANCE! Shibata and Garcia coordinate, DOUBLE HYDRAULIC DROPKICKS! The fans fire up and Garcia stands Shane up. Shibata runs in to BOOT!
Shibata CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS Shane, then CHOPS, CHOPS and JABS! Garcia does his dance while Shibata JABS and CHOPS to the rhythm! The fans are loving this, as now Garcia runs in to KNEE Shane! Shibata & Garcia get Shane up, to DOUBLE SUPLEX!! Cover, ONE?!? Shane has power to spare, but Garcia BOOTS him! Shibata BOOTS him! They go again, but this time Shane DOUBLE SUPLEXES them!! The fans boo but Shane tags in Lee. Lee runs up to clothesline Shibata, and JAB! And CHOP! JAB! CHOP! JAB! CHOP! Shibata just scowls at Lee! Lee says okay, and he fires more JABS and CHOPS!
Shibata steps into the shots, so Lee eggs him on! Shibata ROCKS Lee! Shane runs up, HEADBUTTS, then Lee HALF HATCH SLAMS! Cover, TWO!! Shibata toughs it out and STP grows frustrated. Lee drags Shibata up, kicks then waistlocks, but Shibata fights the lift! Shane storms in, helps Lee put on the full nelson, and Shane promises to knock Shibata out! But Shibata BOOTS Shane first! Garcia jumps on for a SLEEPER! Shibata switches on Lee for a SLEEPER!! The fans fire up as STP start fading out! Shane fires up to RAM Garcia into buckles! But Shibata BOOTS him! And Garcia SAIDOS!! Shibata PENALTY KICKS Lee!! Cover, The Wrestlers win!
Winners: Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia, by pinfall
Shibata helps Garcia stand up, and Garcia is proud to have won alongside one of his heroes! And with the fans cheering him on, Garcia sets up… to DO HIS DANCE! Will this momentum help Shibata avenge Hook and take that FTW Championship off of Chris Jericho? Or will The Learning Tree have some things to teach Shibata?
My Thoughts:
A great Rampage here, though I was oddly more excited when I thought it was just Deonna VS Rosa and the Parking Lot Brawl. But even so, at least Bill squashing a dude was used in story. He was showing off, he’ll surely have Jericho’s blessing if he helps defeat Shibata on Dynamite, but a part of me almost wants this to be all a trap. Bill was teammates with Ricky Starks in a feud against Jericho, and if Jericho is being obliviously arrogant then maybe Bill is using that against Jericho, too. But either way, let’s just hope this story helps Bill get going rather than slow him down like the #JerichoVortex has always done.
The Parking Lot Brawl was moving maybe a bit fast for me, especially with how there were some obvious spots already set up when they arrived, such as the drywall draped across the truck bed. But they surely got bloody, and in the end, Trent won out because he was willing to sink to the lowest low. And then they’ve written Chuck off again with that monkey wrench to the shin, so Cassidy VS Trent is definitely a Double or Nothing match. And something is just telling me that if Kris is gonna turn out to be the villain in the Willow Nightingale story, she’s probably gonna screw Cassidy over to help Trent, too.
Really good match from Deonna VS Rosa, and with Rosa getting a quick pin then that brawl, we’re clearly getting more out of them. Good promo from Kyle O’Reilly to hype AEW’s newest Canada tour, and good promo from The Kingdom to tie in their old Neck Health Awareness gag to the Tony Khan piledriver angle. Roddy calling out Ospreay, I would definitely think Ospreay wins the title at Double or Nothing. And really good tag main event from Shibata & Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions. STP keeps getting great showings even in losing, but Lee took the loss here to keep Shane himself strong. Great win for Shibata but this just adds to the go-home math where Jericho retains the FTW Championship on Dynamite.
My Score: 8.7/10
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