Another New Beginning begins, but who will reign?

The New Beginnings are continuing, and NJPW returns to Hiroshima! Will Hiromu Takahashi still be IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion against Sho?

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

• Master Wato VS BUSHI; Bushi wins.
• 10 Man Tag: Chaos VS Bullet Club; Chaos wins.
• Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma VS SANADA & Tetsuya Naito; Sanada & Naito win.
• IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Guerrillas of Destiny VS Dangerous Tekkers; GoD wins by disqualification and retain the titles.
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi VS SHO; Hiromu wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Master Wato w/ Hiroyoshi Tenzan VS BUSHI!

The rivalry is on! The Way of the Grandmaster wants to show he belongs, and that he can beat the Death Mask! Will he prove it tonight? Or will Bushi shut Wato down?

Wato poses on the corner, to missile dropkick Bushi down! Fans fire up as the bell rings and Wato builds speed to FLY! Tornillo takes down Bushi and Wato fires up! Wato brings Bushi up and puts him in the ring to then stomp away. Wato pulls at the mask, the ref reprimands and Bushi gets away to the outside. Wato pursues to stomp Bushi then rip his shirt away! Wato brings Bushi up, Bushi hits back but Wato clubs Bushi. Wato whips, Bushi reverses and Wato gets railing! Fans rally up as both men are down on the outside. The ref checks on them both, Bushi rises first and he brings Wato along. Bushi wraps Wato’s leg on railing and BOOTS it!

Wato hobbles and falls, Bushi stomps him down, and a ring count begins. The count is already 10 of 20 as Bushi puts Wato in, and fans cheer as this continues in the ring. Bushi brings Wato up, bumps him off buckles and CHOPS him! And CHOPS, and CHOPS! Wato throws forearms but Bushi CHOPS then double CHOPS! Bushi brings Wato up, wraps his leg on the ropes and dropkicks the leg! Wato falls over, fans rally, but Bushi drags Wato up. Bushi has the leg, and hits a SHIN BREAKER! Bushi keeps on the leg and has a deathlock! Wato endures, fans rally, and Wato drags himself and Bushi over to get the ropebreak! The ref counts, Bushi pulls Wato’s hair but still lets go at 4.

Bushi keeps the leg hooked but the ref counts again so Bushi gets away at 3. Bushi stands Wato up, snapmares and KICKS him! And KICKS, then gives toying kicks. Wato gets annoyed, Bushi boots him but Wato boots back! Wato kicks but Bushi blocks to elbow the knee! Bushi runs, but into Wato’s jumping kick! Fans rally as both men are down again. Wato gets up, brings Bushi around and whips him to ropes. Bushi ducks but Wato back elbows, back hands and sobats! Fans fire up as Bushi goes to a corner. Wato runs in but is put on the apron. Wato kicks Bushi back, springboards, but Bushi avoids the leap! Bushi kicks low then runs, but into a tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!

Wato grows annoyed but he gets the bad leg moving and drags Bushi up. Fans rally as Wato kicks away from all sides, then spins Bushi into a ZIGZAG! Cover, TWO! Bushi survives but Wato drags him up and around. Wato wrenches, reels Bushi in, but Bushi fights the Mouse Trap! Bushi runs but into a back kick! Wato runs but into an enziguri! Bushi hoists Wato up and hangs him out to dry. Bushi goes to a corner, climbs, but Wato avoids the guillotine to shoulder in! Wato springboards and hits the FLYING UPPERCUT! Bushi bails out, fans fire up with Wato and Wato builds speed again, only for Bushi to get in and BOOT!

Bushi whips, Wato reverses but Bushi huricanranas Wato out! Bushi builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit and Wato hits railing hard! The ref checks on Wato as commentary fixes their Plexiglas! Wato is okay to continue but he flounders around. Fans rally up and Bushi gets up. The ring count returns, Bushi puts Wato back in at 10 of 20 and fans fire up. Bushi drags Wato up, dropkicks the leg then hits a DDT! Bushi goes to a corner and fans rally up. Wato slowly rises and Bushi runs in, but no Code Breaker! Wato kicks but Bushi dodges to dropkick the legs again! Bushi reels Wato in to wrench and hook up, but Wato fights off the lift! Wato reels Bushi in, MOUSE TRAP DRIVER! Cover, TWO!

Bushi survives and fans fire up as Wato rises again. Wato drags Bushi up, kicks but Bushi blocks! Bushi dropkicks the legs again, reels Wato back in, but no Fisherman Screw! SCREW HIGH KICK! Wato fires up, fans rally and Wato drags Bushi up to scoop, T T D!! But the Tenzan Tombstone Driver isn’t enough, Wato goes up top! RPP FLOPS!! Bushi avoids the twist at the last moment! Wato rolls to the opposite corner now and fans fire up more! Bushi and Wato both stagger up to their feet, but Wato runs in corner to corner. Bushi dodges, runs back in but Wato boots him. Wato kicks, kicks and KICK-

No, Bushi catches it and puts the leg in the ropes! DRAPING CODE BREAKER! Bushi drags himself up, Wato is in the target zone, but Wato avoids MX to come around and tilt-o-whirl, school boy, but Bushi avoids the buzzsaw! Bushi kicks, Wato blocks, Wato ducks the enziguri but not the rewind mule kick! Bushi wrenches and reels Wato in, TERRIBLÉ! Cover, TWO!?! Wato survives but Bushi won’t lose focus! Bushi staggers to the corner and climbs up. Wato slowly gets back up, Bushi leaps, M X!! Cover, Bushi wins!

Winner: Bushi, by pinfall

The ending wasn’t Terriblè but it was still successful for Bushi! Surprisingly, Bushi helps Wato up onto his feet. But then he throws Wato out! And dumps an ice pack out on Wato’s head! Will it sink in for Wato that he is not the Grandmaster yet?

10 Man Tag: Chaos VS Bullet Club!

The Rainmaker, the provisional Mr. KOPW 2021 and the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions are taking on The King of Darkness, the Switchblade, Tokyo Pimp, Bone Soldier and the man with the most powerful boot in NJPW! Will Kazuchika Okada lead his team to victory? Or will Darkness Fall on the New Beginnings?

Teams don’t bother sorting out, it turns into a HUGE brawl before Okada even gets in the ring! Bullet Club’s Jay White wants revenge on Tomohiro Ishii and Bullet Club wants those Six Man Tag titles, but they’re the ones getting beat down! Chaos isolates White for the Six Man champions to stomp away on! The bell rings as Okada clubs and RAMS Evil and Yano keeps the other Bullet Club members busy. Goto and Hashi dig boots into White, then drag him back into the ring. Ishii helps stomp White, then they whip White to ropes. White holds ropes, and tags out to Ishimori! Ishii is after White while Goto and Hashi kick and whip and run Ishimori over! Hip toss senton!

ELP gets in but he gets kicks, and hammering fists! Goto drags Ishimori back up, and now Ishimori gets hammered! Gedo protests but Ishii throws him in! The Six Man champs hammer away on Gedo! White is furious, Gedo insults Chaos as he bails out, but Hashi elbows Ishimori down. Hashi CHOPS Ishimori, runs, but ELP gets a cheap shot in! Ishimori claws Hashi’s back while Evil runs in to sucker punch Goto and Okada! Tag to ELP and the Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions give Hashi a super BACK RAKE! Evil RAMS Okada into the timekeeper! White fires off on Ishii! Goto helps Ishii against White while everyone else is trying to help Abe-san!

Ishimori and ELP keep on Hashi with another super BACK RAKE! ELP gives Hashi noogies but the ref reprimands. White tags in and he drags Hashi up to give back those hammering fists! And more, and more! White drags Hashi up for a neckbreaker, then covers, TWO! Bullet Club complains about the count but White drags Hashi up. White EuroUppers Hashi, tags Yujiro in, but Hashi hits back! Hashi hits everyone in the Bullet Club corner but White anchors a foot for Yujiro to mug Hashi! The ref reprimands as Yujiro digs his boots in but Yujiro tags to Evil. Evil drags Hashi up as fans rally, and Evil puts Hashi in a cobra twist!

Chaos protests because they see the human chain already forming! And with extra links this time! The ref finally sees that, counts, and all of Bullet Club lets go at 4. Evil taunts Chaos, then tags in ELP. ELP tags Ishimori, and the Junior Heavyweight Tag champs whip Hashi to a corner. ELP whips Ishimori in but Hashi dodges! Ishimori hits buckles, Hashi dropkicks ELP’s legs out! Ishimori blocks the superkick to KNEE Hashi! Ishimori suplexes but Hashi slips out to hit a BUNKER BUSTER! Hashi and Ishimori crawl, hot tag to Evil! Evil drags Hashi away but Hashi spinning mule kicks! Hot tag to Okada! The Rainmaker fires off on Evil, whips but Evil reverses.

Okada elbows Evil down, hits ELP down but Yujiro kicks and runs, into a flapjack! Okada whips Evil corner to corner, runs in and back elbows! Kick and DDT! Cover, TWO! Okada watches Bullet Club and gets fans rallying with clap clap clap stomp. Evil blocks the Alabama lift, pulls hair, but Okada fires forearms! Evil rakes Okada’s eyes, the ref reprimands but the damage is done. Okada boots Evil back, goes out and up the corner, but Evil distracts the ref and Dick Togo shoves Okada down! Evil hits a FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Evil hits everyone on the Chaos corner and then stands on Okada’s head. White and Bullet Club mock the clapping as Evil fireman’s carries.

Okada fights out and boots, only for Evil to block and elbow the leg. Evil mule kicks, runs but into a BOOT! Both men are down and fans fire up! Okada and Evil crawl, hot tags to White and Ishii! The Pitbull dodges, the Switchblade dodges, repeat! Ishii spins and suplexes but White fights out to wrench. Ishii swings but White throws knee after knee and then some EuroUPpers. White whips corner to corner, Ishii reverses and runs in but into boots. White runs to fire forearms but Ishii ROCKS White with one! Ishii whips, White reverses but Ishii comes back to run him over! ELP and Ishimori hit Ishii, whip him, but Ishii holds ropes.

Yano and Goto throw ELP and Ishimori into corners, then whip them at each other! Bullet Club reverses, Goto and Yano collide, then Ishimori dropkicks Yano down! ELP rakes Goto’s eyes, then he and Ishimori whip him. Goto double cltoheslines them down! White gets in to throw Goto by his hair! White runs at Ishii but misses, but then dodges! White gets Ishii up but no suplex. Ishii wrenches, White reels him in but Ishii slips off the fireman’s carry! White swings, Ishii swings, but White waistlocks. Ishii elbows, but into a SNAP SAIDO! Ishii rises right up! And he ROCKS White with a forearm! Ishii suplexes but White counters to BLADE BUSTER!

White flounders about, drags Ishii up, but Ishii fires up. White SLAPS Ishii, then dodges the clotheslines to hit a DDT! Both men are down, fans fire up, and White tags to Yujiro. Yujiro runs and boots Ishii! Yujiro fisherman but Ishii reverses to a suplex! Now Yujiro is down with Ishii! Fans fire up, Ishii sees Yano and tags him in! The Producer says he’s going for buckles! Yano unties a corner, Dick is there, but Yano dares him to take the pad. Dick refuses, and Yujiro CLUBS Yano on the back! Yujiro whips Yano, Yano reverses, Yujiro stops himself from hitting buckles but Yano unties the other pad! Yujiro runs in, but almost falls for the trap! Yano runs in but gets bare buckles!

Yujiro whips, Yano reverses, but Yujiro reverses and Yano hits buckles again! Yujiro BOOTS Yano down, then drags him back up. Fans fire up, Yujiro whips but Yano holds ropes. Dick is there to trap Yano! The ref reprimands, Yujiro fires off on Yano, but Yano hits Dick and atomic drops Yujiro! Dick gets a sucker punch, Yujiro atomic drops! ELP and Ishimori hit Chaos, Yujiro runs to LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Yano survives and Yujiro can’t believe it! Yujiro drags Yano up while Bullet Club takes care of Chaos. But Goto gets in to CLOBBER Yujiro! ELP SUPERKICKS Goto, Hashi SUPERKICKS ELP! Ishimori springboard seated sentons Hashi! Yano BUCKLE SMACKS Ishimori!

Dick is there, Yano throws the pad at him! The ref argues with Dick, Yujiro sneaks up on Yano but gets a low blow mule kick! Yano shoves Yujiro into Dick, then rolls Yujiro up, CHAOS WINS!

Winners: Chaos, by pinfall

Well that ending was fitting of the faction name! Yano thwarts the Tokyo Pimp but he might still have to worry about the Crown Jewel going after his KOPW trophy! And then the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships are on the line tomorrow! Will the Switchblade and GOD add more gold to the Bullet Club treasury?

Meanwhile, Okada wants after Evil and he dares Evil to give him a fight! Evil considers it, slides into the ring but then slides right back out. Okada gives chase and attacks Evil at the ramp! Okada throws Evil into the ring but Young Lions keep this from going down! Evil gets away, grabs a chair, and he takes a seat. Now Evil acts like the ball is in Okada’s court. The Young Lions stay near and Okada says Evil is only brave because of that. Evil and Okada are heading on a collision course, but when and where will it happen?

Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma VS SANADA & Tetsuya Naito!

Before defending his Double Championships against the Cold Skull, the Golden God of NJPW teams with the Innovator of Light Tube Death Matches to take on Sanada and the Uncontrollable Charisma! Who goes into the massive championship match with momentum?

The teams sort out and Ibushi starts against Sanada in a preview of tomorrow’s main event! Fans rally up, “I-BU-SHI!” “SA-NA-DA!” They circle, feel out the grapple, tie up and Ibushi wrenches to a wristlock. Sanada spins through, wrenches back and hammerlocks. Ibushi drop toeholds, floats to a chinlock but Sanada slips out to the hammerlock. Ibushi fights up, spins through to hammerlock back, then goes back to a headlock for a takeover. Sanada tries to kip out but Ibushi holds tight. Sanada rolls to a cover, ONE! Ibushi hits another headlock takeover but Sanada headscissors. Ibushi kips out and fans cheer as the two stand off.

Sanada and Ibushi circle, tie up, and Sanada headlocks. Ibushi endures the grind, fights up and powers out, but Sanada runs him over. Ibushi kips right up and things speed up. Ibushi drops then dropkicks Sanada! Fans fire up and Ibushi encourages it. Ibushi stomps Sanada, tags in Honma, and Honma kicks Sanada. Honma throws forearms then runs, but Sanada kicks low and runs. Honma dodges but Naito is there! Sanada clubs Honma from behind but Honma knees back. Honma whips, Sanada reverses and Naito trips Honma up! Sanada basement dropkicks Honma then hits Ibushi down! The ref reprimands but Naito drags Honma out.

Sanada goes after Ibushi while Naito whips Honma into railing! Sanada whips Ibushi into railing on the other side! Naito puts Honma in the ring, Sanada leaves Ibushi alone and drags Honma to a cover. TWO, Sanada keeps his cool and tags in Naito. Naito stomps Honma over and over and over, and over and over, and fans rally with him. Naito drags Honma up for a neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Naito tags Sanada, fans rally again, perhaps it’s “L I J!” Sanada brings Honma up but Honma throws forearms. Naito clubs away on Honma, the ref reprimands and Naito stops. Sanada brings Honma up, LIJ double whip him corner to corner and then Sanada runs in.

Honma dodges Sanada, has Naito then catches Sanada, DDT COMPLETE SHOT COMBO! Honma hurries and hot tags Ibushi! Ibushi springboards and hits Sanada with the missile dropkick! Fans fire up, Ibushi aims and slingshots to PLANCHA Sanada down! Ibushi gets fans back on the “I-BU-SHI!” claps, then he drags Sanada up. Ibushi puts Sanada in the ring, drags him up, but Sanada swings on Ibushi. Ibushi fires off a strike fest, but Sanada catches the leg! Sanada trips Ibushi up but Ibushi fights off Paradise! Ibushi trips Sanada to go after Sanada, and he’s figuring out Paradise! Sanada kicks Ibushi away before he’s trapped, but Ibushi sunset flips!

Sanada rolls through, and ties up Ibushi in Paradise! Fans cheer and Sanada encourages them to get louder. The fans get louder and Sanada dropkicks Ibushi out of Paradise! Cover, TWO! Sanada keeps his cool and fireman’s carries. Ibushi fights out but Sanada kicks low. Sanada whips but Ibushi reverses. Sanada tumbles up and out and springboards in but Ibushi dodges! Sanada rolls, Ibushi runs in but Sanada ducks the roundhouse. Ibushi fights off the suplex but swings into MAGIC SCREW! Both men are down and fans fire up! Ibushi and Sanada crawl, hot tags to Naito and Honma! Honma runs into a kick, but he elbows Naito at ropes!

Honma runs but Naito gets around to waistlock. Honma swings, facelocks, but Naito wrenches. Honma kicks low and runs, but into Naito’s back elbow! Naito runs to add a basement dropkick! Naito drags Honma up, BACKBREAKER to PLUMA BLANCA! Fans rally as Honma endures, and Naito mocks Honma’s raspy voice. Honma kicks around, reaches out, and gets a ropebreak with a foot! Naito holds on until the ref counts, and the ref helps him undo the hold. Naito mocks Honma’s voice more, stomps Honma, then whips him to a corner. Naito runs in, rocket kick! But Honma stays up to CLOBBER Naito! Ibushi runs in to DECK Sanada!

Ibushi helps Honma whip Naito corner to corner, Honma runs in and elbows! Honma feeds Naito to Ibushi’s POWERSLAM! Ibushi and Honma both pat their heads, and run for DOUBLE FALLING HEADBUTTS! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up as Honma resets and drags Naito up. Honma scoops but Naito fights it. Sanada rams Ibushi into railing, Naito escapes the scoop to throw forearms. Honma roars, dodges an elbow and HEADBUTTS! Honma runs, but Sanada dropkicks the legs out! Sanada catches Ibushi as he comes in, fireman’s carry to a dragon sleeper! But Ibushi Shiranuis out! Ibushi runs but Sanada dumps him to the apron!

Sanada dropkicks Ibushi down, boots Honma and feeds him to Naito’s atomic drop! Sanada kicks, Naito enziguris, and Naito whips Honma. Honma reverses but Naito hits the flying forearms! Naito wrenches and tilt-o-whirls, DESTINO! Cover, LIJ wins!

Winners: SANADA & Tetsuya Naito, by pinfall

The champion and challenger were left out of the decision, but surely LIJ winning will mean something! Ibushi and Sanada stare down as Ibushi has the titles. Ibushi asks fans how they think it’ll turn out. Fans clap but the beat is as much “I-BU-SHI” as it is “SA-NA-DA!” Sanada gets back in the ring, and he fist bumps with Ibushi. Will it be a very different story from the G1 Climax when Ibushi and Sanada face off tomorrow?

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Guerrillas of Destiny VS Dangerous Tekkers!

Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa took these titles from Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. to start 2021, but things can change! Will the Sliest Wrestler and the Submission Master make even GOD #JustTapOut?

Naturally, Douki is ringside to counteract Jado, though that didn’t really help things last time these teams battled. “Santa Tama” has a bag and it seems to be Taichi’s bag of tricks. Tama tosses the bag to Taichi, but Taichi doesn’t take kindly to that. Taichi still checks the bag, maybe his things are in there. But then it’s a brawl! GOD clobbers Suzuki-Gun, and wait, Jado and Douki are left in the ring! Douki blocks Jado’s kendo stick attack to hit back with his pipe! GOD and Tekkers brawl outside, Douki jams Jado again and then he drags Jado out. Loa stomps ZSJ, Taichi whips Tama into railing! The bell rings so this is at least on record as ZSJ ankle locks Loa.

Douki chokes Jado to the ramp and they go away from ringside. Now things will be even as ZSJ stomps Loa. Taichi opens the “gifts” from Tama, and he brings out… a loaf of bread! And… a boxing glove! Tama CLOBBERS Taichi and stomps him down! Tama scoop slams Taichi, and grins as he picks up the other bags. Tama asks “Taichi-chan” what’s wrong. And then he tells fans to shut up. Taichi kicks back, rakes eyes, but lets off as the ref counts. Taichi snapmares Tama to KICK him in the back! Taichi sees the remaining gift bags and opens one up. Taichi brings out… a plush doll. Tama laughs but Taichi stomps him before opening another bag. This one is… A ping-pong paddle!

Taichi rakes Tama’s eyes, then opens yet another bag. Not the iron finger, and Tama attacks Taichi again! Is the last bag the one? Tama keeps Taichi from getting the bag and gets away! Taichi pursues, CLUBS Tama on the back and kicks him low. Loa goes after Taichi but ZSJ goes after Loa! ZSJ drags Loa down and CRANKS the neck! Taichi hits Tama and has the last bag, but Tama RAMS Taichi into the railing! THe bag goes to Yoshinobu Kanemaru at commentary as the ring count climbs. The count is 15 of 20, Tama can use Champion’s Advantage! They both get in at 19.5!! Kanemaru says he has the bag! Kanemaru opens it up while Taichi holds Tama back!

The last bag has… A BRA?! Tama laughs again but Taichi CHOKES him! Loa attacks Tama, and gives him a BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Loa DECKS ZSJ, Tama laughs his head off as he fetches Taichi. Tama drags Taichi up and RAMS him into railing! Loa hits ZSJ around, he bumps ZJS off apron, and Tama stomps Taichi down. Tama chokes Taichi, the ref counts, and Tama lets off. Loa chokes ZSJ now, and Tama grabs some of the bags to throw them at Taichi. Tama clubs away with crossface forearms but the ref is counting. The ring count is 10 of 20 and climbing but Tama and Loa take their time on the outside. Tama gets in at 16, Taichi gets in at 18!

Tama is after Taichi with haymakers, then drags him up for a snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Taichi survives but Tama digs a knee into his throat. Tag to Loa and Loa slingshot sentons! Tama adds his own slingshot senton, Loa covers, TWO! Taichi is still in this and fans rally up. Loa covers again, TWO! Loa wraps Taichi up in a chinlock, Taichi endures and tries to grab hair but Loa cranks harder on the hold. Taichi gets a ropebreak, the ref counts and Loa lets off fast. Loa drags Taichi around to drop elbows on him over and over! Cover, TWO! Loa stalks Taichi, drags him up, and throws a big forearm! Taichi staggers into the GOD corner, Tama keeps him down and Loa digs his boots in.

The ref counts, Loa and Tama let off, but Tama CLUBS Taichi down! The ref is busy with ZSJ and Tama hotshots Taichi! Loa fires off on ZSJ and DECKS him! ZSJ flops out of the ring hard, and Loa goes back to Taichi. Taichi kicks at Tama but Loa rakes Taichi’s eyes. Fans rally, Loa tags Tama and they drag Taichi up. Loa holds Taichi up for Tama to dropkick down! Cover, TWO! Tama grows annoyed as he looms over Taichi. Tama rains down fists but Taichi glares defiantly. Taichi gets up as Tama hits him more, and Taichi eggs Tama on! Tama throws more haymakers, but Taichi roars and KICKS away on Tama’s legs! Tama ENZIGURIS Taichi down!

Tama drags Taichi over, tags in Loa, and Loa drags Taichi around. The ref asks Taichi is he wants to continue and Taichi refuses to quit. Loa drags Taichi up to headbutt him to a corner! Loa talks trash on Taichi and whips him corner to corner. Loa runs in but Taichi elbows back! Taichi boots Loa, Loa growls and runs in again but is sent into buckles! GAMANGIRI! Both men are down and fans fire up! Loa and Taichi crawl, hot tag to ZSJ! Tama runs in but ZSJ CLOBBERS him! ZSJ runs at Loa to EuroUpper! Loa fires up but ZSJ throws more EuroUppers on him! Loa DECKS ZSJ with another forearm! ZSJ is right up to EuroUpper over and over!

Loa ROCKS ZSJ, ZSJ staggers about, but Loa runs into a BOOT! PELE to arm! Wrench, spin, keylock and STOMP! ZSJ is after that arm, hammerlock CRANK! Loa clutches the arm, ZSJ is after it again, then he pushes Loa down with forearms. ZSJ is after fingers, but Loa resists so ZSJ digs more forearms in. ZSJ uses his knee for leverage and pulls way back, but Tama drags ZSJ off the arm! Tama fireman’s carries but ZSJ slips off to snapmare and NECK CRANK! Fans fire up for ZSJ and ZSJ goes after Loa at the ropes. ZSJ kicks Loa over and over, toying with him and the bad arm. Loa is furious, he shoves ZSJ away but ZSJ comes back to go after a leg!

ZSJ trips Loa, gets the arm and he is after the wrist! ZSJ bends the arm again and STOMPS it! The ref reprimands but ZSJ doesn’t care. Loa gets pissed, ZSJ eggs him on. ZSJ is after the arm, wrenches through, twists the shoulder and the wrist and the elbow. Another wrench, another wrench, another wrench, but Loa ROCKS ZSJ with a forearm! ZSJ still holds on, and he keeps Loa from tagging Tama in. ZSJ wrenches again, and again, and uses his forehead as a point of pressure! Loa breaks free and ROCKS ZSJ again! ZSJ BOOTS Loa, but Loa stays up to run into another BOOT! ZSJ runs, into Loa’s SPEAR! Fans fire up as both men are down! Tama gets in to throw hands on ZSJ!

The ref reprimands, Loa staggers up, and GOD drags ZSJ up. Tama whips ZSJ to ropes, body shots, Loa uppercuts and Tama leaping NECKBREAKER! Taichi runs in to get the same, body shot to a leaping neckbreaker! GOD focuses back on ZSJ, drags him up, and Loa sends ZSJ into Tama’s lift. ZSJ fights off the Magic Killer, PELES Tama’s arm, but Loa RAMS ZSJ to a corner! Tama runs in for a HUGE splash! ZSJ flops down and GOD regroups. Fans rally up, GOD drags ZSJ up, and they double whip. Back drop to a catch, but ZSJ GUILLOTINES! Taichi gets Tama into Seiteijyujiryou! GOD endures dual submissions!

Loa gets the ropebreak, so Taichi lets Tama free, and ZSJ reluctantly lets Loa go. The Tekkers regroup now and they go after Loa. The Tekkers double whip Loa corner to corner, Taichi runs in to clothesline! ZSJ runs in to EuroUpper! Taichi KICKS Loa down, sits him up, ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO!! The Tekkers keep their focus, fans rally up, and ZSJ drags Loa back up. ZSJ scoops but Loa fights it off. Loa clubs ZSJ, scoops ZSJ but ZSJ slips off. ZSJ runs, tilt-o-whirls and gets the Guillotine! But Loa powers out to a JACKHAMMER! But Loa can’t cover, both men are down and fans rally up! Loa and ZSJ stir, crawl, and hot tag Taichi and Tama!

Taichi catches Tama to a choke grip! Tama breaks free, kicks low and whips, but Taichi reverses to choke with both hands! The ref counts, Taichi lets go very close to 5, and Taichi whips. Tama reverses, Taichi comes back with AX BOMBER! Fans fire up with Taichi! Taichi kicks at Tama, gives Kowata Kicks even, but Tama staggers up, into another kick. Taichi gives more Kowata Kicks, then drags Tama up. Taichi reels Tama in but Tama fights off the saido! Tama spins Taichi around to TONGA TWIST! Tama can’t cover, though, he and Taichi are also down. Tama slithers around and watches Taichi. Taichi slowly rises, Tama leaps but NO Gun Stun!

Tama blocks the buzzsaw but Taichi still denies the Gun Stun to hit DANGEROUS SAIDO! Cover, TWO!?! Tama survives but Taichi keeps his cool. Fans rally up, Taichi stands and takes off the pants! Tama sits up but Loa CLOBBERS Taichi! Loa scoops Taichi for a POWERSLAM! ZSJ leaps on Loa for a sleeper hold! Tama clubs ZSJ off Loa, they hit GUERRILA WARFARE! Fans are thunderous as GOD regroups and have Taichi all alone. Loa drags Taichi up, back suplex to Tama’s neckbreaker! Cover, TWO!! Taichi barely survives and Tama can’t believe it! Tama and Loa decide on Super Bomb, and Tama drags Taichi up.

Loa goes up top, Tama drags Taichi up, but Taichi suplexes first! Loa gets Taichi, but ZSJ bails Taichi out of the scoop! Taichi KICKS, ZSJ sweeps the legs! BUZZSAW! Fans fire up again as Tekkers regroup. Tama staggers up, ZSJ brings him around to EuroUpper! Taichi BOOTS Tama, ZSJ EuroUppers, Taichi DECKS Tama with a fight! The Tekkers drag Tama back up and Alabama lift, ZACK MEPHISTO!! Cover, Loa drags the ref out HARD! The ref hits railings and he is down! ZSJ runs at Loa but Loa trips him up on the apron! ZSJ flops down, Loa gets in but Taichi BOOTS him! Loa throws a forearm, Taichi just scowls.

Fans rally up, double clotheslines collide but no one falls! Another collision, no one falls! Loa says he’s loving this! Taichi powers up, but Loa ROCKS Taichi with the clothesline! Loa drags Taichi up, POINT-BLANK LARIAT! Fans rally as Loa drags Taichi up and scoops him. Taichi slips out ot ROUNDHOUSE! Loa fires up but Taichi’s GAMANGIRI shuts him down! Everyone is down, even the ref, but wait, is that Jado!? Jado has the IRON FINGERS! Jado shouts to Tama and Loa to get up. Jado gives Tama the iron fingers! Tama puts the fingers on, but Douki returns! Douki enziguris Tama down! Fans fire up as Douki coaches Taichi up.

Tama rises, IRON FINGER SHOT to Douki!! Tama is feeling the power and he aims at Taichi now. Tama runs but Taichi BOOTS the fingers away! Taichi mule kicks, and he sees the fingers! Taichi picks them up and puts them on! But Loa CLOBBERS Taichi from behind! Loa runs but Taichi dumps him out! Tama snatches the iron fingers back, but ZSJ puts on a sleeper hold! Tama flails, Taichi hurries over, and he puts the iron fingers back on! Taichi powers up, but the ref is awake now! The ref won’t let Taichi use the fingers! Taichi shoves the ref down, Loa runs in, IRON FINGER SHOT!! Jado SMACKS ZSJ with the kendo stick!

Taichi is roaring, Jado SMACKS him! Taichi doesn’t flinch! Taichi IRON FINGER SHOTS Jado!! Taichi aims at Tama and fans are thunderous! The ref revives, Tama begs for mercy, Taichi… IRON FINGER SHOT!! But the ref calls for the bell!!

Winners: Guerrillas of Destiny, by disqualification (still IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)

Taichi is in such a rage, he doesn’t even care! He wants to hit Tama again but the ref pulls him away, so Taichi IRON FINGER SHOTS the ref!! Young Lions get in, they get IRON FINGER SHOTS! Taichi still goes after Tama! Kanemaru gets in, but Taichi wants to hit even him!! Kanemaru dodges, ZSJ gets in and holds Taichi down! The rage of Izuka is possessing Taichi!! They get the fingers off of Taichi’s hand but Taichi just faints! ZSJ tells Kanemaru to keep them away! Will Suzuki-Gun consider the Iron Fingers far too dangerous to keep around? But the bottomline is that GOD retain the titles! Will the Tekkers ever get another shot?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi VS SHO!

The Ticking Timebomb is the Best of the Super Junior 27 winner, he bested the Super J-Cup winner and then took the title from Taiji Ishimori at WrestleKingdom! But High Voltage has been able to pull off shockers before, can he do it again here?

Sho and Hiromu rush each other, collide with shoulders then fire off forearms! Fans rally up as they go faster and faster and faster! Neither backs down, but Hiromu is slowly pushing Sho towards ropes. Sho ROCKS Hiromu, Hiromu fires off another, but Sho forearms again! Hiromu steadies himself, throws another forearm, but Sho hits again. They go back and forth over and over, Hiromu ROCKS Sho now, but Sho throws another forearm! Hiromu ROCKS Sho again, Sho hits back but Hiromu backs him down to a corner. Sho grinds foreheads with Hiromu then throws more forearms! Hiromu eggs Sho on, ROCKS him with another forearm, then throws more forearms!

Sho turns things around to fire off forearms again! Hiromu turns things back around to give even more forearms, but then Sho does the same! Hiromu shoves Sho, they grind foreheads, then the forearms start flying again! Sho ROCKS Hiromu, but Hiromu hits back! Sho hits again, Hiromu hits back. Hiromu eggs Sho on, Sho ROCKS Hiromu again! Sho eggs Hiromu on, Hiromu hits Sho again. They go back and forth again, then Sho gets the edge to hit Hiromu over and over! Hiromu ROCKS Sho back! But then Hiromu staggers away and the two rest on ropes. Fans rally up as both men rise.

Sho and Hiromu egg each other on, the forearms fly yet again, faster and faster once more, and fans continue to rally with them. Hiromu throws Sho out hard, and whips him into railing! But Sho comes back with a forearm! Sho whips Hiromu into railing, but then Hiromu comes back to hit Sho! The forearms keep flying back and forth, right in front of commentary! Sho staggers, flounders, a ring count begins but Sho comes back to hit Hiromu again. Hiromu hits Sho, but he also staggers. The count is 13 of 20, the brawl keeps going, but now it’s 16! And 18! They both go in at 19.5! Hiromu drags Sho right out to RAM him into railing!

Hiromu throws forearms on Sho, right in front of Hiroshi Tanahashi, Milano and Jushin Thunder Liger! The ring count climbs again, Hiromu DECKS Sho as it passes 10! Hiromu drags Sho up, ROCKS him, then puts him in at 16. Fans cheer as this continues in the ring. Hiromu rains down forearms on Sho, and then mockingly asks what’s wrong. Fans cheer as Hiromu lets off to stand over Sho. Sho glares up at Hiromu as he tries to sit up. Sho stands but Hiromu DECKS him! Hiromu ROCKS Sho to ropes, puts him in a corner and throws more forearms. Hiromu again mockingly asks what’s wrong but Sho gets up, only for Hiromu to ROCK him again!

Hiromu keeps throwing forearms but Sho hits back! Hiromu ROCKS Sho, whips him corner to corner, then runs in to clothesline! Hiromu rolls Sho, Sho dodges but the spear is blocked! Hiromu suplexes, Sho slips out but Hiromu elbows him away. Things speed up, Sho goes the other way and SPEARS Hiromu down! Fans fire up, Sho fires himself up, and Sho drags Hiromu up. Sho wrenches, kicks away on Hiromu and then KICKS him down! Sho takes aim as Hiromu slowly sits back up. Sho KICKS Hiromu down, Hiromu sits up so Sho KICKS him again! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer but Sho keeps his focus. Sho drags Hiromu up in a dead lift waistlock, but Hiromu fights!

Hiromu tries to swing around but Sho blocks the shot. Hiromu elbows free, but Sho blocks the superkick to ROCK Hiromu! Sho runs, but into a wheelbarrow COMPLETE SHOT! Both men are down and fans fire up! Sho rolls towards a corner while Hiromu sits up. Hiromu runs in, hits a clothesline, but Sho tries to follow. Hiromu anticipates that, whips Sho but Sho reverses, only for Hiromu to reverse and clothesline again! Hiromu runs corner to corner, Sho still follows, but Hiromu OVERHEAD SUPLEXES Sho into buckles! Fans fire up as both men are down! Hiromu brings Sho up, fireman’s carries, but Sho fights it off.

Sho waistlocks, Hiromu switches and shoves Sho to the ropes to clothesline him! Hiromu whips, Sho reverses but Hiromu holds ropes. Sho runs over, Hiromu dumps him out and runs, but SHo ROCKS Hiromu to avoid the sunset! But Sho gets an idea and drags Hiromu up! Sho suplexes but Hiromu blocks! Sho still drags Hiromu up an dover to join him on the apron, but Hiromu holds ropes for dear life. Sho tries but Hiromu fights out to SUPERKICK! Fans rally, Hiromu brings Sho up and reels him in, but Sho resists! Sho powers up to back drop but Hiromu uses that to SUNSET BOMB! Both men are down, Red Shoes goes out to check on them, but they’re both okay to continue.

Fans rally up, Sho and Hiromu stir but the ring count begins. The count is 10 of 20 as Hiromu slowly gets up. Hiromu stands at 13, shakes out the cobwebs and goes in at 15. Sho slowly gets up and Hiromu goes out to stop the count. Hiromu climbs but Sho is after him with forearms! Sho goes around, and brings Hiromu off the corner for an APRON BOMB! Both men flop back down to the floor as fans fire up! Red Shoes checks again, Hiromu and Sho are still okay to continue, and the ring count begins again. The count returns to 10 of 20 before Sho gets up. Sho crawls around the way, Hiromu slowly sits up, and Sho gets in at 15. Hiromu fights his way up to get in at 19!

Fans cheer as Sho drags Hiromu up into a waistlock. Sho dead lifts and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Sho holds on, drags Hiromu back up, for another GERMAN! Sho won’t stop there, he drags Hiromu up a third time, to pop Hiromu into the ARMBAR! Hiromu blocks, rolls over, but Sho pulls the hands apart! Hiromu scrambles to get the ropebreak! Sho lets go, he stalks Hiromu and drags him back up. Hiromu throws elbows to fight the waistlock but Sho still holds on! Hiromu reaches for ropes, throws more elbows, but Sho hits another GERMAN! Fans fire up as Sho powers up and runs, but Hiromu side-steps to REBOUND GERMAN! Sho stands back up!?

Hiromu runs at Sho, LARIATS collide but no one falls! They collide again, and still no one falls! Hiromu leans on ropes, Sho stands him up to throw forearms from all sides! Red Shoes wants Sho to stop but Sho shoves him away! Sho fires off more shots, then CLUBS Hiromu against the ropes with point-blank clotheslines! Sho runs, but Hiromu BOOTS back! Hiromu gets Sho in hanging headscissors! Red Shoes counts, but Sho shifts around to try and bring Hiromu up! Hiromu resists, Sho gets Hiromu up and over the rope to POWERBOMB him down! Both men are down, fans fire up and Sho rises first. Sho crawls over, drags Hiromu back up, reels Hiromu in and tucks the arms.

Hiromu resists the lift, lifts Sho and back drops him away! Fans rally up as both men are down again. Sho crawls over to Hiromu and drags him up. Hiromu throws a forearm, Sho staggers about, and Hiromu hits him again. Sho comes back but Hiromu hits him again! Sho smirks?! Hiromu and Sho go back to trading forearms back and forth! Sho staggers but he comes back for more, so Hiromu gives him more! The fans rally with every hit, and both men take a moment to catch their breath. Sho comes back with forearms from all sides, then ROCKS Hiromu! Sho brings Hiromu up but Hiromu gives forearms from all sides now! Sho roars, Hiromu dodges and ROCKS Sho! And again!

Hiromu whips corner to corner, runs in and forearms Sho, into another whip! Sho reverses and hits a forearm smash! Things speed up, Hiromu CLOBBERS Sho, cover, ONE! Sho runs and CLOBBERS Hiromu! Cover, ONE! Hiromu DECKS Sho, covers, ONE!! Sho DECKS Hiromu, covers, ONE!! Fans are thunderous as both men run and Sho DECKS Hiromu! Sho can’t cover as he falls back the other way! Fans rally up as both men are down again! Sho and Hiromu slowly stir and Sho is up first. Fans keep rallying as Sho dares Hiromu to stand. Hiromu rises, Sho runs, but Hiromu swats the arm away! Hiromu spins Sho around to RANA, into Triangle Hold D!

But Sho dead lifts and BOMBS Hiromu! Hirom still holds on and squeezes tighter! Sho endures, moves around, reaches around, but Hiromu squeezes even tighter! Hiromu pulls on the hold, Sho is fading! Sho fights up, dead lifts again, but Hiromu slips out to underhook! Sho wrenches out to ROCK Hiromu, then he dodges to tilt-o-whirl! Hiromu tries to fight it but Sho has the double wristlock! Sho cranks on the hold, Hiromu moves around, and Hiromu fights out! Sho tilt-o-whirls again, drags Hiromu down, KIMURA! Hiromu endures as Sho cranks even harder! Hiromu grabs behind his back to clasp hands and resist the wrenching!

Sho keeps pulling, uses his legs in it, and he gets Hiromu to let go! Hiromu reaches for ropes, Sho gator rolls him away! But Hiromu uses that to fireman’s carry! Sho still pulls on the arm! Sho has a mounted Kimura again! Hiromu fights around, reaches again, but Sho is keeping him down! Hiromu is fading, but he gets a second wind! ROPEBREAK! Sho lets go and gets back up. Sho drags Hiromu up, reels him in, and hits POWER BREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives but Sho keeps his cool. Sho aims his bow and he drags Hiromu back up! Sho double pump handles but Hiromu slips out to HEADBUTT Sho down!

Fans fire up again as the two men are down, Hiromu on top of Sho’s back. Hiromu gets up, drags Sho up, and he says it’s not over yet! Fireman’s carry, but Sho fights out and reels Hiromu in! Double clotheslines collide but Sho gets moving, but Hiromu spins him! Sho dodges, Hiromu SUPERKICKS! Hiromu runs into a JUMPING KNEE! Fans fire up as both men stir. Sho is up first, and he drags Hiromu up. Sho reels him in, crosses the arms but Hiromu fights out! But Sho HEADBUTTS! Sho still has the arms, he brings Hiromu around and BACKSTABBERS! Sho runs and LARIATS, but Hiromu stays up! So Sho BLINDSIDE LARIATS, but Hiromu still stays up!

Sho runs, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men stay up and fire up, to COLLIDE again! And again! They both wobble, Sho stays steadier, and he runs, dodges, and CLOBBERS Hiromu! Cover, TWO!! Sho keeps going, he brings Hiromu up and hooks the arms, CROSS ARM PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO!?!? Hiromu survives despite the neck being a weak spot! Fans are thunderous again as both men slowly rise. Sho fires up, aims his bow again and he drags Hiromu up again. Sho reels Hiromu in, pump handles, and lifts, but Hiromu fights it off! Sho adjusts, suplexes Hiromu up, but Hiromu turns it into a DDT! Both men are down but Hiromu is holding onto Sho’s head.

Fans fire up, Hiromu drags Sho up, VICTORIA!! Cover, TWO!!! Sho survives but Hiromu roars! Hiromu drags Sho up with a dragon sleeper, suplexes but Sho slips out! Hiromu SUPERKICKS but Sho stays up so Hiromu SUPERKICKS again! Sho is egging Hiromu on so Hiromu SUPERKICKS him again!! Sho still doesn’t fall, a FOURTH SUPERKICK!! Hiromu SUPERKICKS a fifth time!! How is Sho even up on one foot?! Hiromu runs, Sho KNEE- but Hiromu counters to a drop! Sho gets the arm to have a modified armbar! Hiromu holds that off as best he can, fans fire up as the two struggle, and Hiromu adjusts to dead lift!

Hiromu pops Sho up to a fireman’s carry, CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Fans are thunderous as Hiromu drags Sho back up! Fireman’s carry, swing and TIME BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?!? Sho still lives and the fans are electric! Sho shakes as he stirs and Hiromu is reaching a boiling point! Hiromu powers up as this match reaches a record length! Hiromu runs and CLOBBERS Sho! But that’s not the end, Hiromu drags Sho into the dragon sleeper, for TIME BOMB MK. II!! Cover, Hiromu wins!!

Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)

Incredible! Sho put up a hell of a fight, but Hiromu could not be stopped! But then ELP jumps into the ring!! He shoves Red Shoes out and takes aim at Hiromu, but Bushi rushes in! Bushi tackles ELP to save Hiromu! But then Ishimori returns and he attacks Bushi! Ishimori keeps Bushi down and ELP drags Hiromu up! But Hiromu dodges the killer superkick to fire off on Bullet Club! Hiromu’s last gasp was enough to fight off his enemies! ELP demands a mic and he gets one. “I am sick and tired of you making me look like a fool! I am sick and tired of making him look like a fool!” ELP means Ishimori, of course.

And ELP is also sick of Hiromu having that Junior Heavyweight Championship on his shoulder! Hiromu didn’t earn the title, he was given that title by the BS NJPW pulls! ELP isn’t leaving Japan until he takes that title from Hiromu and puts it on his waist! “All it takes is one.” ELP drops the mic but now Hiromu gets it to respond. “Oi, Phantasmo. Why not? I’ll fight you with the title on the line. But on one condition!” ELP and Ishimori need to put their Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships on the line first! Come on, get out of here. Go away. Hiromu won’t get ahead of himself so go away, go away, go away, GO AWAY! Fans clap, “GO A-WAY!” ELP and Ishimori settle for this, but when and where will we see the battle for the belts go down?

Hiromu continues to say, “URAAAA~! I’m not deeeead~!” He and Sho “just clashed like absolute morons! I’m still kicking and alive!” They get what he’s talking about, right? It’s not pro-wrestling that’s in trouble, it’s the whole world which is losing energy! Then why not they, the energetic, send out a message? “Does being pessimistic help anyone? Does it make anyone come alive?” SO until the world is back on its feet, Hiromu won’t stop screaming! And even though the fans can’t yell, Hiromu will scream for them! Energy, energy, energy, energy, ENERGY! More, more, more! Keep clapping for him until your hands fall off!

Fans clap and Hiormu says it’s not enough. More. More. More, more, more, more, more, more, more, MORE, MORE! “Let’s have more fun together~!” Will Hiromu have all the fun he possibly can by becoming the one, true BEST Super Junior?

My Thoughts:

A really good event, but not quite as high caliber as usual. I apologize for skipping the Young Lions match with Suzuki-Gun, but of course the Young Lions lost. As I skipped ahead, I think I saw Minoru Suzuki himself all but kill Uemura. Wato VS Bushi was good, a lot of blue in the match with Bushi’s gear matching Wato’s. Bushi should honestly make Terriblè his finisher, it is a much cooler move than MX, aka the flying Code Breaker. When he hit it, I almost thought it was a new finisher and that he was winning with it. But Bushi still wins to not only cap things off with Wato but apparently go in strong to what is Hiromu’s story now.

The 10 Man Tag was a lot of fun, and largely chaotic, and so as I said, it is fitting that Chaos wins it. Yano stays strong going into whatever KOPW match he’ll be having, the Six Man Tag Champions go strong into the seemingly “last minute” match with Jay White and GOD, and things are still fairly even with Okada and Evil. All of those things are going to be good but I’m surprised it’s GOD going with White for those belts. I would’ve thought they’d try to use story and make Yujiro Takahashi at least one of White’s partners.

Speaking of GOD, he and the Tekkers had a really good match and there was a lot of good story going into that match. The paper bag gag was rather unexpected but it really added to story. The fingers actually showing up was a great way to top this off, especially with how it put Taichi into a berserker rage. This is very unique for Suzuki-Gun to do something somewhat goofy, though there is footage of Suzuki in DDT Pro fighting a fake Shinsuke Nakamura so maybe this is just Suzuki-Gun loosening up in NJPW. I would love if there was some kind of Iron Finger on a Pole match, though.

And then the Junior Heavyweight Championship was an amazing match, it sets a record on time from bell to bell, and it had so much action and story in it. Hiromu retains because his reign has only been the two months since WrestleKingdom, but now things take an interesting turn. ELP wants the singles title, Hiromu and Bushi want the tag titles, and with Castle Attack as another two day event to end February, it’s pretty clear they’ll use Night one for the tag titles, night two for the singles title, and those could go any which way NJPW wants.

My Score: 9/10