NJPW keeps things rolling even after WrestleKingdom 15!

Nothing slows down in NJPW! WrestleKingdom 15’s fallout is felt here on New Year Dash 2021!! Will Sanada build momentum against Kota Ibushi tonight?

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

• Six Man Tag: The Empire VS Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yota Tsuji; The Empire wins.
• 8 Man Tag: Suzuki-Gun VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
• 10 Man Tag: Chaos VS Bullet Club; Chaos wins.
• 10 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Master Wato, Sho, Rocky Romero & Golden Aces; LIJ wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Six Man Tag: The Empire VS Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yota Tsuji!

Rather shockingly, Will Ospreay, Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb all LOST at WrestleKingdom 15! But can they all rebound and redeem themselves together?

The Empire doesn’t give Tenzan’s team time to sort out, they attack the moment all six are in the ring! Khan clubs Tenzan, Ospreay throws Kojima out and Cobb is after young lion Yota Tsuji! The bell rings to put this on record and Ospreay continues after Kojima while Cobb throws Tsuji out. Khan clubs Tenzan more while Cobb headbutts Tsuji and Ospreay throws Kojima into the apron. Khan CHOPS Tenzan, pushes him against ropes and CHOPS him again! Khan clubs Tenzan, taunts him, but Tenzan headbutts low and kicks. Khan stops Tenzan from using the Mongolian Chops, and he puts some stank on his hands. Tenzan kicks Khan before Khan can Mongolian Chop!

Tenzan headbutts Khan to a corner, kicks and CHOPS him, then CHOPS again. Fans fire up as Tenzan headbutts more! Tenzan clubs Khan, whips him corner to corner and runs in to clothesline! Tenzan fires up and suplexes Khan up and over! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up and Tenzan pulls Khan’s hair. The ref reprimands, Tenzan stomps Khan and throws more headbutts. Khan blocks the Mongolian to give the Mongolian CHOPS! And more Mongolian CHOPS! But Tenzan headbutts and Mongolian CHOPS! Fans fire up as Tenzan chokes Khan! The ref counts, Tenzan stops, but Tenzan tells the ref to back off as he stomps Khan.

Tenzan brings Khan up, Khan slips out of the slam to get the arm! Ospreay BLASTS the corner, and clubs Kojima down! Tenzan crawls and gets the ropebreak! Khan cranks the Fujiwara armbar harder until the ref counts 4. Khan stomps Tenzan, drags him up and wrenches the arm to wrap on the ropes! The ref counts, Tenzan lets off to Mongolian CHOP that arm! Khan drags Tenzan up, bumps him off buckles and clubs him! Khan sits on Tenzan in the corner! Fans rally as Khan taunts Tenzan’s team! The ref counts and Khan hops off at 3. Khan clubs Tenzan, tags Cobb, then sucker punches Tsuji and Kojima!

Cobb headbutts and clubs Tenzan, stalks him as he crawls, then knocks Kojima off the apron. Tenzan throws body shots but Cobb CLUBS him down! Cobb drags Tenzan up, hauls him up, and rams him into the Empire’s corner! Ospreay tags in, Khan claws Tenzan’s face and Ospreay throws hands! Ospreay CHOPS Tenzan, throws forearms, then boots Tenzan down! Ospreay stands on Tenzan’s throat but the ref counts. Ospreay stops at 4 and fans rally up. Ospreay clamps onto Tenzan’s arm but Tenzan fights free. Ospreay runs but Tenzan WINDMILL KICKS! Fans fire up and Tenzan crawls to his corner, hot tag to Kojima!

Kojima hits Khan and Cobb and fans fire up with him as he MACHINE GUN CHOPS Ospreay! Kojima whips and runs in to forearm Ospreay, then pushes him down! Ospreay is right up to ROCK Kojima! Ospreay rolls Kojima, goes to the apron and springboards in but Kojima dodges Pip Pip Cheerio! Kojima kicks low and hits a DDT! Fans fire up as Kojima brings Ospreay up. Kojima fires off forearms, spins, but Ospreay blocks to forearm back! Ospreay body shots with an elbow, then reels Kojima in. Kojima fights the waistlock, cravats but Ospreay powers out to ROLLING ELBOW! And a suplex! Ospreay grits his teeth, tags Cobb in, and Cobb drags Kojima up.

Kojima throws forearms, whips but Cobb reverses to get the ATHLETIC PLEX! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up but Cobb drags Kojima up to scoop. Kojima slips off and swats Cobb’s punch away to COZY CUTTER! Fans fire up as Kojima hot tags Tsuji! The young lion BLASTS the Empire corner, fires off on Cobb, then whips! Cobb reverses, they collide but neither falls! They ram each other again and again and Cobb actually staggers! Tsuji runs in for a leaping forearm! Tsuji runs Cobb over! LEAPING SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Tsuji has the veterans hit the Empire down, and then Tsuji suplexes! Cobb blocks, fans rally, and Tsuji fires off forearms! But it’s Cobb who suplexes Tsuji!

Tsuji slips out, waistlocks, but Cobb switches to shove! Tsuji leaps, into Cobb’s arms! Cobb RAMS Tsuji into buckles, then hits an OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE! Cover, but Kojima breaks it! Tenzan and Kojima stomp Cobb, have him on ropes, and then double whip. Cobb fights off the combo move, Ospreay DECKS Kojima! Khan BOOTS Tenzan! The Empire coordinates, drags Tsuji up, and Ospreay goes to the corner while Khan and Cobb lift Tsuji up! IMPERIAL OSCUTTER!! Cover, The Empire wins!

Winners: The Empire, by pinfall

They have redeemed themselves, but they’re not done! Ospreay rains down furious fists on Tsuji and Khan adds his kicks. Tenzan gets in to go after the Empire, but Khan Mongolian CHOPS over and over! Khan drags Tenzan back up, scoops and TENZAN TOMBSTONE DRIVERS!! The Empire stomps away on Tenzan but Kojima shields him, so he gets beat up, too! Ospreay even shoves the ref out of the ring! Cobb sits Kojima up for Ospreay’s HIDDEN BLADE!

Ospreay gets the mic and he says, “Do you think we’re weak?” Ospreay is weak? Cobb is weak? Khan is weak? They don’t look weak now, do they? They look pretty strong! “You think I was angry before WrestleKingdom, now I’m pissed off!” They will not be defined by what happened at WK15! The Empire will be united, and 2021 will be the year they take over! Khan says it in Japanese that Ospreay, Priestly, Cobb and himself are the UNITED Empire!!

After Ospreay leads his team away, medics check on Tenzan. That brutal TTD did some serious damage, and a backboard is needed. Kojima stays by his friend’s side as a neck brace is put on, as well. Fans clap for Tenzan, will he be able to return to the ring? Or will another have to avenge him against The United Empire?

8 Man Tag: Suzuki-Gun VS Bullet Club!

El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru are still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, but the Dangerous Tekkers lost the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships to the Guerrillas of Destiny! Will Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa help Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasma get a leg up on the Rogue Luchador and Heel Master so that Bullet Club can have even more gold?

Douki and Jado are threatening each other with their respective sticks as the teams sort out. Things are tense, and then just explode into a brawl! Taichi chokes Tama, Loa throws ZSJ out, Kanemaru is after ELP and Desperado stomps Ishimori! The ref has the bell ring just to get it on record as Loa saves Tama from Taichi, only for Taichi to choke Loa! Ishimori attacks Taichi and then calls ELP in. They double whip Taichi but Taichi holds ropes to then choke them both! Fans fire up but Jado gets on the apron. Taichi chokes Jado! Tama runs in but is sent into Jado!

Taichi chokes Tama to a corner, ZSJ adds on, and the ref counts at the Tekkers! The Tekkers finally stop at 4 and Taichi tells the ref to shut up. Suzuki-Gun all dig their boots into Tama but stop as the ref counts. ZSJ tags in, Taichi stomps Tama on the way out and ZSJ snapmares Tama for a NECK CRANK! ZSJ drags Tama up by his ears, puts him back in the corner and Kanemaru tags in. Kanemaru grabs the leg to trip Tama, and he KNEES Tama down! Kanemaru stomps and clubs Tama, tags in Desperado, and they stomp Tama down. Desperado taunts Bullet Club then stomps Tama more. Taichi gets his shots in but Desperado brings Tama up, only for Tama to suplex!

Desperado fights free to stomp Tama’s foot! Desperado runs but Tama plays up the foot pain to distract him, and Jado kendo stick SMACKS Desperado! Bullet Club rushes out, Tama clobbers Desperado while the others hit Suzuki-Gun! ELP and Loa mug ZSJ, Jado SMACKS Douki and then Bullet Club focuses on Desperado. Loa hits Taichi as he gets in while ELP drags Desperado to the corner. Tama chokes Desperado but the ref counts. Tama lets go, ELP and Ishimori choke Desperado now! Tama comes back to tag Loa and they bring Desperado up. Loa headbutts Desperado down, Jado gets in Desperado’s face and Loa chokes Desperado on the ropes.

The ref counts, Loa lets off but Jado uses the kendo stick to choke Desperado! Suzuki-Gun protests but Loa drags Desperado up. Taichi storms in anyway but Loa ROCKS him! Loa throws Taichi out at his team, Ishimori and Jado go after Desperado with chokes! Loa stands on Desperado at the ropes, Douki goes after Jado but gets another SMACK! ELP talks smack on Douki and then tags in. ELP climbs up, Loa holds Desperado, jumping CLAWS to the back! ELP drags Desperado up, tags Ishimori in, and Ishimori also jumping CLAWS Desperado! Fans rally as Ishimori wraps Desperado up. Desperado throws elbows to get free but Ishimori elbows him down.

Ishimori taunts Suzuki-Gun, drags Desperado up but Desperado throws hands. Ishimori snapmare and neck CRANKS! ZSJ gets in but the ref backs him down. Ishimori pushes Desperado to the corner and tags in Loa. The ref is busy with Suzuki-Gun and Loa stands on Desperado’s neck! Desperado flails and ELP gives Desperado PURPLE NURPLES! The ref finally gets Suzuki-Gun to calm down and Loa stalks Desperado. Fans rally, Loa back suplexes but Desperado rakes eyes to get free! Desperado crawls, Loa brings him up, and Loa blocks the straight right! But Desperado pokes him in the eyes! And ROCKS Loa!

Tag to ZSJ and ZSJ runs to EuroUpper Loa into a corner! And again! And again! Loa fires up, ZSJ throws more EuroUppers, but Loa DECKS ZSJ with a forearm! ZSJ fires up and fires off more EuroUppers! Loa ROCKS ZSJ, runs, but ZSJ dodges and leaps to GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! Fans cheer but Loa stays standing, to RAM ZSJ into a corner! But ZSJ holds on tight! Loa powers up again to RAM ZSJ into another corner! ZSJ still holds on tight! Fans fire up but Loa throws body shots. Loa powers out to suplex but ZSJ just drags Loa down to a TRIANGLE HOLD! Tama and Taichi get in, DRAGON SLEEPER!

Kanemaru DECKS ELP then gets Ishimori in a HALF CRAB! Suzuki-Gun has triple submissions! Taichi and Kanemaru let Tama and Ishimori go as ZSJ drags Loa around into a deeper triangle! Loa endures, fights up, dead lifts, but ZSJ wrenches to PELE the arm! ZSJ boots the clothesline then BOOTS Loa! ZSJ runs into Loa’s SPEAR! Fans rally up as both men are down! ZSJ crawls but so does Loa, hot tags to Kanemaru and ELP! ELP dodges Kanemaru, knees low but Kanemaru reverses the whip. ELP elbows Kanemaru away but Kanemaru uses the ref as shield!

Kanemaru dropkicks the legs out, Desperado DECKS Ishimori, then the Junior Heavyweight Tag champs coordinate, dropkick back suplex! Kanemaru scoops ELP to a dragon sleeper, BRITISH FALL! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up as Kanemaru climbs up the corner. ELP rises, Kanemaru leaps but ELP ducks under! Ishimori seated sentons Kanemaru, but runs into Desperado’s SPINEBUSTER! Tama gives Desperado a TONGAN TWIST! Taichi AX BOMBERS Tama! Loa ENZIGURIS Taichi! ZSJ PENALTY KICKS Loa! ELP Superkicks but into an ANKLE LOCK! ELP rolls and throws ZSJ out, Kanemaru returns but the whiskey shot misses!

ELP rolls Kanemaru, TWO! Kanemaru rolls ELP, TWO! ELP rakes eyes! ELP runs, Kanemaru uses the ref as a shield but ELP gives him back! Kanemaru dodges the superkick to ENZIGURI! Kanemaru brings ELP in, suplexes, but ELP slips out to shove. Ishimori gets a cheap shot in but Kanemaru DECKS him! ELP SUPERKICKS! Cover, Bullet Club wins!!

Winners: Bullet Club, by pinfall

It seems GoD did help ELP and Ishimori get a pin on the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions! ELP grabs the Junior Tag titles as if they’re his and Ishimori’s already but Desperado gets in! But Ishimori sneaks up on him, tilt-o-whirls and drives Desperado down! Douki and the Tekkers run Bullet Club off, but will 2021 be just… too… SWEEEEET~?

10 Man Tag: Chaos VS Bullet Club!

Toru Yano is the provisional Mr. KOPW 2021, the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships still belong to Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi, and The Rainmaker is still The Rainmaker! But will Jay White redeem himself alongside his faction?

The factions sort out, after Yano plugs all his stuff, and Owens gets impatient. The Crown Jewel wants to take on Mr. KOPW 2021, so Bullet Club lets him start. Bullet Club gives a Low Sweet, and Owens calls Yano out. Yano accepts the challenge, and fans rally behind Yano already. Yano and Owens circle, Yano stays back to ropes but then sees Gedo is up to something. Red Shoes looks at Gedo but Owens knees Yano low! Owens whips but Yano holds ropes. Owens kicks low, whips again but Yano reverses. Owens holds ropes, bails out and goes after the KOPW trophy! Yano keeps Owens from tossing the trophy, kicks Owens, but Fale attacks Yano!

Fale puts Yano in, Owens pursues but Yano gets away to tag in Goto! Owens backs away to tag Tokyo Pimp. Goto and Yujiro circle, Yujiro kicks low. Yujiro headlocks, Goto powers out and the two collide. Neither falls, Yujiro runs again and they collide again, but still no one falls. Yujiro runs but Goto runs him over! Goto drags Yujiro up, headlocks, grinds, but Yujiro BITES the hand! No one ever learns! Hashi gets in to kick Yujiro but Yujiro forearms. Hashi CHOPS, whips, Yujiro reverses but Hashi dropkicks Yujiro’s legs out! Fans fire up with the Headhunter as he brings Yujiro up. Yujiro bites Hashi’s hand, too! Yujiro throws Hashi out, runs at Goto and BOOTS him in the corner!

Yujiro rolls Goto to run but Goto dodges and Hashi basement dropkicks! Owens gets in, Hashi kicks, he and Goto double whip. Hip toss senton! Fale runs in but they dodge and Ishii rocks him! Double shoulder tackle! Evil runs in but the Six Man Tag Champs all hammer away! Dick Togo gets up but they drag Dick in! Okada and Yano join in, and all five hammer away! Fans fire up for Chaos as Dick crawls away. Tag to Okada, Okada clubs Yujiro then drags him up for a forearm. Okada whips, Yujiro reverses but Okada dodges, only for Evil to trip him! Evil tags in and works with Yujiro to double whip. Okada kicks Yujiro, pushes Evil into him, then kicks Evil for the DDT! Cover, TWO!

Okada clap-clap-clap-stomps and fans follow. But Dick takes a swipe! Okada glares at Dick but Evil clotheslines him out! Bullet Club blasts Chaos off the corner! Evil goes out to stomp Okada down, then he finds chairs from under the ring! Evil whips Okada into railing, Evil puts a chair around Okada’s head, and then hits the HOME RUN! Bullet Club regroups as Evil stands on Okada’s head. White talks trash, Evil drags Okada up as the ring count passes 10 of 20 to put him in at 14. Cover, but Red Shoes refuses because of all the shenanigans. White protests but Red Shoes doesn’t care. Evil stands on Okada’s head, then stomps Okada down.

Tag to White, he drags Okada up for a neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! White tags Owens and they mug Okada. Owens brings Okada up, whips him to a corner and hits a forearm smash to clothesline! Cover, TWO! Owens drags Okada over, tags Fale in, and they stand on Okada! Yujiro adds onto the “massage!” Red Shoes is busy with Chaos as they protest, and Bullet Club gets away with it all. Fale covers, TWO! Fans cheer and rally up for Okada but White tags back in. White puts Okada in the corner, rams his shoulder in over and over, then pushes Okada down. White slaps Okada around, then mockingly pats him on his head. Okada stares White down so White rakes his eyes!

White EuroUppers Okada but Okada hits back. Yujiro and Evil rake Okada’s eyes and White digs his boots in! Ishii attacks and fights Bullet Club off! Evil hotshots Ishii down and Owens anchors Okada’s feet! Owens and White drag Okada out to throw him into barriers! Evil mule kicks Okada then claws at Okada’s face! Evil puts Okada back in for White to cover, TWO! Fans rally up but White tags Evil. Fale and the others hit Chaos while White and Evil double whip Okada. Bullet Club starts a string of attacks! Owens forearms, Yujiro boots, Evil clotheslines, Fale splashes, and then Evil mule kicks to FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO!!

Okada survives but Bullet Club attacks Chaos on the outside! Fans rally up, Evil and White mock their clapping, and Evil drags Okada up. Evil fireman’s carries, Okada fights free and gets the MONEY CLIP! Evil powers Okada to buckles and breaks free, but runs into boots! Okada pops Evil up to the Alabama, REVERSE NECKBREAKER! Okada and Evil are down but fans rally up! Evil and Okada crawl, hot tags to White and Ishii! The Stone Pitbull swings on White but White dodges. Ishii dodges back, they switch waistlocks, Ishii spins White but White fights off the suplex! White wrenches but Ishii fights the urenage, only for White to suplex.

White forearms, Ishii roars and forearms back! Ishii whips, White reverses, Ishii bounces off buckles but White ROCKS him! White runs but Ishii hits the POWERSLAM! Chaos hits Bullet Club back! Goto and Hashi whip White and then Goto whips Hashi, Hashi CHOPS White! Goto clotheslines White, they feed White to Yano’s atomic drop, and Ishii’s GERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Ishii keeps his focus as Chaos and Bullet Club brawl outside. Ishii drags White up, reels him in, but Gedo distracts! Ishii storms over to Gedo but White boots, only for Ishii to block! Ishii ROCKS White, runs in but White dodges to kick and DDT! Both men are down and fans fire up.

White hobbles, Ishii goes to a corner but White runs in to EuroUpper! White suplexes for BLADE BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! White grits his teeth as fans rally up. White drags Ishii up, reels him in, but Ishii fights the urenage. White gets a leg for a DRAGON SCREW! Yano gets in and throws White down by his hair! Owens knees Yano, whips but Yano throws him down by his hair! Fale runs in but Yano dumps him out! Yujiro reverse DDT’s Yano, Hashi SUPERKICKS Yujiro! White knees Hashi, but runs into Goto’s fireman’s carry! SUPERKICK USHIGOROSHI! SLIDING LARIAT!! Cover, Evil breaks it!

Okada throws Evil out and tells Ishii to finish it! Ishii fires up, fans fire up with him, and Gedo panics! Ishii watches White rise, runs, but White blocks the clothesline! Ishii fights out of the sleeper, then out of Blade Runner, only to run into SNAP SLEEPER SUPLEX! White drags Ishii up, but Ishii spins through to BRAIN BUSTER!! Cover, Ishii and Chaos win!!

Winners: Chaos, by pinfall

If the Switchblade didn’t want to quit before, he might now! Chaos stands tall together, will they stand atop NJPW even now?

10 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Master Wato, Sho, Rocky Romero & Golden Aces!

Tetsuya Naito is no longer IWGP Heavyweight & Intercontinental Double Champion, but Sanada is looking to bring those belts back to LIJ! Kota Ibushi rejoins Hiroshi Tanahashi and some other friends to take on the ungovernables, but will he be rolling into his rematch with the Cold Skull?

The teams sort out, and after a photo op for Ibushi’s team, High Voltage steps up. LIJ has the group fist bump, and the Timebomb starts. Fans cheer as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion goes forehead to forehead with Sho. Sho shoves and forearms, Hiromu forearms back, and we’re already fast and furious! Fans rally as the two keep going back and forth, and Hiromu likes it! He and Sho keep throwing forearms, Sho staggers first but he comes back for more! Sho rocks Hiromu now and eggs him on! Hiromu grins as he throws more forearms, and Sho gives them back! Hiromu eggs Sho on and Sho throws more, but Hiromu gives them back!

Sho ROCKS Hiromu, runs, but they ram shoulders and neither falls. Things speed up as Sho dodges and ducks to run Hiromu over! Sho throws more forearms and puts Hiromu in the corner. Hiromu fires up but Sho knocks him down and digs his boots in! Red Shoes counts, Rocky tags in and he has Sho cool off. Fans rally, Rocky goes to Hiromu but Hiromu throws a forearm! Rocky forearms back over and over, then ROCKS Hiromu with a right! Hiromu ends up in a corner, fans fire up with Rocky and he starts up the Forever Lariats! Hiromu boots back, then elbows Rocky away. Wato gets in but Hiromu puts him on the apron.

Hiromu ROCKS Wato, but Rocky grabs Hiromu for Wato’s springboard dropkick! Cover, TWO! Rocky looms over Hiromu and brings him up to CHOP! Fans fire up as Rocky eggs Hiromu on, and Hiromu CHOPS back! Rocky CHOPS, eggs Hiromu on more, but Hiromu CHOPS again! Hiromu eggs Rocky on and Rocky kicks low. Rocky whips, Naito trips Rocky and Hiromu dropkicks Rocky out while LIJ goes after the team! Hiromu goes out after Rocky to whip him into railing! Sanada, Takagi and Bushi club Wato and the Golden Aces as well as Sho. Bushi headlocks Wato while Naito joins in to go after Sho. Hiromu digs his boots into Rocky, then tags in Bushi.

LIJ mugs Rocky, Bushi CHOPS and clubs Rocky down. Bushi snapmares and chinlocks Rocky, then claws his face! Red Shoes counts, Bushi stops at 3, then tags in Takagi. Takagi facelocks and elbows Rocky down then hits the corner! Takagi lets Tanahashi get off easy and he goes back to Rocky. Takagi cravats Rocky, snapmares and runs to then hit Tanahashi after all! Fans cheer as Takagi steps on Rocky then drops a big elbow! And another! And then the back senton! Rocky flounders, Takagi storms over and sits him up to elbow over and over and over! Cover, TWO! Rocky is still in this and fans cheer, but Takagi tags to Naito.

Naito brings Rocky up as fans rally and Naito ROCKS Rocky with forearms! Naito throws more forearms, whips Rocky corner to corner then runs in, rocket kick! COMBINACION CABRON! Fans cheer as Naito poses. Naito scuffs Rocky while fans rally up. Rocky gets up as Naito gives more toying kicks. Rocky throws forearms but Naito eggs him on! Naito fakes Rocky out to then rake the eyes! Red Shoes reprimands, but Naito turns Rocky, only for Rocky to fight out of the neckbreaker! Rocky kicks but Naito blocks and Naito toys with Rocky as he stays out of reach. Bushi clubs Rocky on the back! Red Shoes reprimands but Naito stomps Rocky to ropes.

Naito and Bushi double whip, Rocky ducks under and DOUBLE RANAS! Fans fire up as Rocky crawls to his corner. Naito also crawls, hot tag to Sanada, and he DECKS Ibushi before the tag! Sanada whips Rocky but Rocky RANAS Sanada! Now Rocky and Sanada are both down, Rocky hot tags Ibushi! Ibushi hits LIJ’s corner then goes after his challenger! Ibushi forearms and whips but Sanada reverses, only for Ibushi to FLYING KICK! Fans rally with “I-BU-SHI!” as Ibushi drags Sanada up. Sanada throws forearms but Ibushi ducks to KICK him down! Sanada ducks the Penalty Kick but the standing moonsault hits! Cover, TWO! Ibushi keeps his cool and he drags Sanada up.

Ibushi waistlocks, Sanada backs him down to a corner! Sanada runs in but blocks a boot to reel Ibushi in. Ibushi kicks Sanada away before Paradise, then sunset flips! Sanada rolls through to get Ibushi into Paradise! Fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder! Sanada is satisfied with the volume and he dropkicks Ibushi out of Paradise! Cover, TWO! Fans rally with “SA-NA-DA!” now as he fireman’s carries Ibushi. Ibushi fights out, shoves and runs in at the corner but Sanada elbows! Sanada Quebrada but Ibushi gets under, only to run into the fireman’s carry! Ibushi slips off to dragon sleeper, but Sanada spins that around for his own!

Ibushi fights free, Sanada ducks a kick to give a kick. Sanada whips, Ibushi reverses but Sanada tumbles out to springboard back in! Both men are down and fans fire up! Sanada and Ibushi crawl, hot tags to Takagi and Tanahashi! The Ace dodges the Dragon but they brawl with forearms all the same! Fans rally as Takagi ROCKS Tanahashi, whips, but Tanahashi forearms back! Tanahashi hits LIJ’s corner then runs at Takagi, but he blocks a boot! Tanahashi DRAGON SCREWS the Dragon! Fans fire up with Tanahashi as he runs, but Takagi follows to clothesline! Takagi runs, Tanahashi gets around, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Takagi steals Twist ‘n’ Shout?!

Fans fire up with “OI! OI! OI!” and Tanahashi goes to a corner. Takagi runs in to clothesline! Tanahashi fires off a strike fest then runs, but into the elbow! JAB! But Tanahashi SHOTEIS, only for Takagi to DISCUS! Fans fire up as both men are down! Takagi tags Bushi and Bushi climbs up the corner. Bushi aims at Tanahashi, missile dropkick! Bushirooni! Bushi drags Tanahashi up, fisherman but no screw, just TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Both men are down, Tanahashi crawls and tags in Wato! Wato fires off kicks and KICKS Bushi down! Wato drags Bushi up, whips to ropes and hurdles to back elbow, back hand and SOBAT!

Bushi staggers to a corner, Wato runs in but is put on the apron. Wato kicks Bushi away, springboards in, FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up, Wato drags Bushi up and KICKS away from both sides! Bushi writhes and Wato aims again, but Bushi ducks the buzzsaw to shove! Naito kicks, Bushi sunset flips to send Wato into Naito’s basement dropkick! LIJ hits the corner, Bushi drags Wato up and FISHERMAN SCREWS! Bushi goes to the corner and climbs up. Wato rises, Bushi leaps, M- No, Wato gets under! Rocky gets in to JUMPING KNEE Bushi! Naito dropkicks Rocky’s legs out! Sho LARIATS Naito, Hiromu and Sho collide but Hiromu ranas!

Sho blocks to lift, but Hiromu slips out of the bomb to SUPERKICK! Wato LEG LARIATS Hiromu! Wato dodges Bushi, DREAMCAST KICK! Fans fire up as Wato drags Bushi up. Wato wrenches, reels Bushi in, but no Mouse Trap! Bushi slips out, Wato BACK HANDS him down! Wato whips Bushi corner to corner, runs in but Bushi dodges! Takagi corner clotheslines Wato, feeds to Sanada’s kick, calm ‘n’ fury combo! Bushi BACKSTABBERS! Cover, the Golden Aces break it! Sanada throws Ibushi out, Takagi throws Tanahashi out, and Bushi wrenches Wato to hook him up, INVERTED PAGE TURNER?! Cover, TWO!?! Wato survives but Bushi doesn’t lose focus. Bushi goes up, takes aim at Wato, M X!! Cover, LIJ wins!

Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, by pinfall

The Death Mask downs the Grandmaster and wins for the team! But even so, Tanahashi stares down Takagi and Sho stares down Hiromu. Do they have the NEVER Openweight and IWGP Junior Heavyweight titles in their sights? Of course, the same goes for Sanada wanting both of Ibushi’s belts. As Ibushi’s team takes its leave, Bushi gets the mic. “Too bad for you, Kawato, but I beat you tonight. Coming out of WrestleKingdom, it’s me and Naito with our hands in our pockets.” Naito seems a bit surprised to hear that.

Takagi has the NEVER title, Hiromu has the Junior title, and Sanada has lined up a title match. What about the rest of them? Bushi wants after Kawato! Try as he might, Wato will never beat Bushi, because Bushi won’t allow it. “In 2021, this ring will belong to us. EN SERIO! MA-JI-DE!” Hiromu sets his BOSJ 27 trophy and title belt up front as he and LIJ pose together. Will 2021 truly be El Ano del Ingobernables?

My Thoughts:

This was a pretty fun New Year Dash. Yes I skipped some things, but Yuji Nagata was of course going to beat a Young Lion, and Tiger Mask was teamed with a Young Lion so his team was losing. The Empire didn’t get to have any of their moments at WK15 but they seem to be using that to justify having their moment today, and then making the rest of 2021 their year. If they are not the United Empire, perhaps they will go after the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships. If they can’t beat Okada, they can at least take their frustrations out on the rest of Chaos.

Chaos stands tall over the part of Bullet Club they fought, so it’d be a good story for 2021 that the apparent top faction has to fight the newest one. The other part of Bullet Club wins the 8 Man Tag to set up a Junior Heavyweight tag title match, which I’m sure is going to be really good stuff. LIJ VS Ibushi and friends was a lot of fun, but with everything being set up between the respective wrestlers, LIJ wins to go strong into the rest of the year. It is clear we’re getting Takagi VS Tanahashi, Hiromu VS Sho and Ibushi VS Sanada, and I suppose Bushi VS Wato will make for a good story. Perhaps bring Naito and Taguchi into it since Taguchi teams with Wato, and because Naito needs something to do.

My Score: 8.2/10