Who will be the last team standing?

As Evil pursues the top prize in NJPW, he and Bullet Club takes on Los Ingobernables de Japon in full in an 8 Man ELIMINATION TAG! Will Darkness Fall in Korakuen?

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

• 8 Man Tag: Chaos VS Suzuki-Gun; Chaos wins.
• 8 Man Elimination Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club; LIJ wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

8 Man Tag: Chaos VS Suzuki-Gun!

Robbie Eagles is the NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, while Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi are still NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions. But that doesn’t mean Chaos is satisfied with these belts! Can the Fierce Warrior & Head Hunter gain some ground towards the Dangerous Tekkers’ IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team titles? Or will someone #JustTapOut?

The teams sort out as Taichi compares his IWGP Heavyweight Tag title to Hashi’s NEVER Openweight Six Man title. Goto is ready, Taichi shows off the dancing pecs, and the bell rings. Fans rally as Goto and Taichi circle. They tie up and Goto gets Taichi on ropes, then lets off cleanly. Goto and Taichi reset, circle, and tie up again. Again, Tiachi doesn’t try that hard and Goto puts him on the ropes again. Goto eggs Taichi on, they circle, and Goto blocks a kick. Taichi blocks a kick in return, and then chokes Goto! The ref reprimands, Goto throws body shots and shoves Taichi. Taichi holds ropes, boots Goto away, runs, but Goto runs Taichi over!

Goto stomps Taichi, CLUBS him, then whips him corner to corner. Goto runs in but Taichi dodges. ZSJ runs in but Godo dodges! Hashi runs in but ZSJ dodges! Taichi comes back but Hashi dodges. Goto and ZSJ dodge each other’s strikes, as do Hashi and Taichi! The teams stand off and fans cheer. The ref reprimands ZSJ and Hashi, they’re not legal so they need to exit. ZSJ and Hashi talk trash but Ishii tags in. Ishii dares Suzuki himself to get in, so Suzuki tags. Ishii rushes Suzuki, Suzuki shoves him but Ishii eggs him on. Suzuki throws forearms, Ishii gives them back, and now Suzuki eggs Ishii on. They go back and forth and fans rally up as they pick up speed!

Suzuki eggs Ishii on, Ishii throws more forearms, then Suzuki ROCKS Ishii! Suzuki whips Ishii to a corner, BOOTS him, then fires off more forearms! The ref reprimands and counts, Suzuki keeps going, but Ishii turns it around to fire off forearms back! Now the ref counts on Ishii, but Suzuki gets up to ROCK Ishii again! Ishii staggers, Suzuki ROCKS him again, and again! And again! Ishii wobbles, Suzuki runs and BOOTS! But Ishii fires up to elbow back! Ishii runs, gets through Suzuki’s boot, but Douki gets a cheap shot in! Eagles runs in to go after Douki, whips but Douki reverses, only for Eagles to come back with a RANA!

Fans fire up as Eagles wheel kicks Douki down then kips up! Eagles fires off on Suzuki with forearms but Suzuki eggs him on! Eagles throws more forearms but Suzuki throws a hard body shot! Suzuki reels back but Eagles ducks the forearm to dropkick! Ishii runs back in to run Suzuki over! Hashi and Goto get in to knock the rest of Suzuki-Gun off the apron! Fans rally as Ishii stomps Suzuki at ropes. Suzuki gets to the apron, Ishii runs in but Suzuki catches him for a HANGING ARMBAR! The ref counts, Suzuki lets go at 4, and his team has turned things around on Chaos! Taichi chokes Hashi against railing, and Suzuki whips Ishii into railing!

Taichi clubs Hashi, Suzuki brings Ishii around to CHOP! Suzuki puts Ishii back in the ring but has an ankle lock on the apron! The ref reprimands and counts as Ishii has the ropes, and Suzuki lets off. Taichi whips Hashi hard into railing, and Suzuki-Gun regroups at the corner. Suzuki has a HALF CRAB but Ishii has ropes! The ref counts, Suzuki lets go and tags in Douki. Suzuki and Douki stand on Ishii, then ZSJ and Taichi add on! The ref reprimands and counts, and Suzuki-Gun lets off. Douki gets Ishii up against ropes, then wraps a leg around ropes to pull it! The ref counts, Douki runs to dropkick the leg! Ishii falls, Douki covers, TWO!

Taichi tags in, he stands on Ishii at the ropes, then ZSJ gets in to wrench Ishii’s leg! Suzuki and Douki add on from the apron and the ref reprimands them all again! Suzuki-Gun lets go at 4, Taichi drags Ishii around to CHOKE! The ref reprimands, Taichi lets off, but then chokes Ishii again! The ref reprimands, Taichi lets off again, and then chokes Ishii with both hands! The ref counts, Taichi lets off at 4, then shoves the ref away to drag Ishii over. ZSJ tags in, ZSJ stands on the leg. Ishii hits back but ZSJ gets a standing toehold! Ishii grabs ropes, ZSJ stomps the leg! ZSJ runs to BOOT Goto off the apron, then he gets Ishii up for EuroUppers!

Suzuki tags in, he and ZSJ stomp and dig their boots in, as does Douki. The ref reprimands again, Suzuki lets off to slap Ishii around. Fans rally up and Ishii gets up to hit back. Suzuki eggs him on, Ishii keeps trying, and Ishii throws low headbutts. Ishii throws forearms but Suzuki ROCKS him! Ishii throws another forearm, Suzuki ROCKS him again! Ishii falls over! Suzuki gets Ishii back up but Ishii suplexes! Suzuki fights that, goes for a sleeper, but Ishii counters with a back suplex! Both men are down and fans fire up! Chaos rallies the fans, Ishii kicks Suzuki while crawling away, hot tags to Hashi and ZSJ!

ZSJ runs in but into a CHOP! Hashi whips ZSJ to a corner, ZSJ comes back but into another CHOP! Hashi mule kicks, turns ZSJ but ZSJ wrenches free. Hashi CHOPS ZSJ again! Hashi gets ZSJ up, suplex to HEADBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Hashi DECKS Taichi off the apron as fans rally up. Hashi whips ZSJ to a corner, runs in but ZSJ blocks the CHOP! ZSJ wrenches and wrangles Hashi to hammerlock STOMP the arm! Fans rally while both men are down. ZSJ digs his heels into Hashi’s arm but Hashi pushes him away. Hashi sits up, ZSJ kicks at the arm. Hashi fires up to CHOP ZSJ again! ZSJ eggs Hashi on so Hashi CHOPS him again! And again!

ZSJ headbutts low, wrenches the bad arm for a double wristlock, but Hashi waistlocks! ZSJ fights the lift, wrenches and BOOTS the arm, then runs. Goto gets in to fireman’s carry! ZSJ slips off but Hashi SUPERKICKS him! Goto fireman’s carries ZSJ again but Taichi gets in to AX BOMBER Hashi down! ZSJ slips off, Taichi mule kicks Goto then runs, but Goto fireman’s carries for USHIGOROSHI! Fans fire up with Goto as he gets ZSJ back up. Dragon sleeper, but ZSJ snapmares and NECK TWISTS! Hashi runs but ZSJ roundhouses and EuroUppers! ZSJ runs but Hashi LARIATS him down! Fans fire up as those four are all down.

Eagles is on the corner, he reaches out! Hashi crawls over and tags Eagles in! Eagles KICKS ZSJ again and again, then runs to GAMANGIRI him down! Fans fire up as Eagles aims from a corner. Eagles runs corner to corner to DOUBLE KNEE! And then another DOUBLE KNEE! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up as Eagles climbs! 450 but Eagles has to bail out as ZSJ moves! ZSJ EuroUppers, runs, but leaps into a Gory Especial! Eagles makes it a backslide, TWO! Eagles gets up, blocks a kick, but ZSJ denies the backpack with a sleeper! Eagles elbows free, runs and RANAS, only for ZSJ to block to an ANKLE LOCK! Douki tags in and he stomps Eagles down!

Douki gets Eagles up, Eagles back kicks. Eagles cravats for standing Sliced Bread but Douki slips out of that. Eagles waistlocks, Douki switches, Eagles switches. Douki resists the lift, throws elbows, goes to run but Eagles reels him in. Douki breaks free, mule kicks and ENZIGURIS! Douki then scoops Eagles and swings him for the NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Suzuki runs in to BOOT Ishii off the apron! Suzuki and Douki whip Eagles corner to corner, Douki back elbows and Suzuki BOOTS! Eagles swings back but Suzuki puts him in a sleeper! Suzuki lets go for Douki to slingshot and DAYBREAKER! Cover, TWO, but into ITALIAN STRETCH 32!

Eagles endures while Suzuki goes after Ishii again. Suzuki puts Ishii in a SLEEPER! Taichi and ZSJ get in to intercept Goto and Hashi! KIMURA and SEITEIJYUJIRYOU!! Suzuki-Gun has QUADRUPLE SUBMISSIONS! Fans rally as Chaos endures! Eagles gets the ropebreak and the ref counts. Douki lets go at 4 and the rest of Suzuki-Gun drags the others out of the ring. Douki calls for the end, he reels Eagles into a wheelbarrow, but Eagles victory rolls to go for the legs! Douki kicks Eagles away then gets him in a cradle on the return! Cover, TWO! Douki uppercuts and runs, but Eagles spins to a fireman’s carry, TURBO BACKPACK! Eagles mule kicks Douki then goes to a corner.

Eagles climbs, leaps, 450 SPLASHES! Now Chaos keeps Suzuki-Gun out as Eagles gets the RON MILLER SPECIAL!! Douki taps, Chaos wins!!

Winners: Chaos, by submission

But Ishii doesn’t let off on Suzuki! The Young Lions try to get the Stone Pitbull to let off, but now Suzuki goes after Ishii! Ishii and Suzuki start a slap fight! Meanwhile, Hashi and ZSJ talk trash on each other while Goto and Taichi start choking each other! Taichi shoves Goto down, Ishii and Suzuki keep brawling! Chaos won in more ways than one because this is chaos! But with this win, has Chaos earned an IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team title match from the Dangerous Tekkers?

Uh oh, Suzuki has a chair! A Young Lion restrains him so he can’t go after Ishii but Suzuki just knocks the Young Lion down then SMACKS him with the chair! The Tekkers again compare titles with Goto and Hashi. Will the Tekkers look to snatch the NEVER Openweight belts away before giving Chaos their opportunity?

8 Man Elimination Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club!

The Dragon trumped The Ace, but the rest of LIJ fell short at Wrestle Grand Slam Tokyo. However, Shingo Takagi is now the target of Evil! Will the King of Darkness, Tokyo Pimp and “the cutest tag team” bring down every single one of the ungovernable? Or will everything be tranquilo in Tokyo?

Bullet Club Low Sweets, LIJ fist bump, and Evil steps up to face Takagi. Fans rally up as the two stare down. Takagi runs the ropes a bit as he and Evil circle, and their teammates all stay back. Takagi runs, and Dick swipes at him! Evil attacks Takagi from behind as Red Shoes reprimands Dick. Evil rakes Takagi’s eyes, Red Shoes counts, and Evil lets off. Evil whips Takagi to ropes, Takagi dodges Evil to then run him over! Fans fire up with Takagi as he sits Evil up. Takagi throws elbows over and over in to the shoulder. Takagi runs but Evil bails out to avoid the sliding lariat. Takagi eggs Evil on but El Phantasmo fans Evil off. Takagi gets impatient but Bullet Club tells him to stay back.

Evil returns, but then he tags out to Tokyo Pimp. Yujiro grins as he calls out Naito. Fans rally up for “NA-I-TO!” so Takagi obliges with a tag. Naito and Yujiro circle, approach and Yujiro kicks low. Yujiro throws forearms, whips Naito to ropes, but Naito holds ropes and boots back. Naito runs in, whips Yujiro then arm-drags him! And then atomic drop, Sanada gets in to stomp Yujiro down! Naito and Sanada double whip, hip toss and Naito messes with Yujiro’s hair. Naito throws elbows, Evil protests but Sanada bails out. Bushi tags in, he CLUBS Yujiro on the back, then takes off his shirt to CHOKE Yujiro with it! Bullet Club protests but Bushi throws the shirt away.

Bushi gets Yujiro up to bump off buckles and stomp a mudhole in. Tag to Sanada and he wrenches Yujiro’s arm to CLUB it. And again! Sanada wrenches again, tags in Takagi, and Takagi climbs up as fans rally. Takagi drops ax handles on Yujiro’s arm! Takagi dares Bullet Club to do something, then he goes back to Yujiro. Takagi suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi clamps onto an arm, Yujiro fights up but Takagi YANKS the arm. Takagi wrenches to a hammerlock, Naito tags in and Naito clubs Yujiro on the back. Bullet Club protests as Sanada gets in again, and LIJ double whips and double elbows Yujiro down, then Naito adds a basement dropkick! Cover, TWO!

Naito wrenches Yujiro’s arm more, Bushi tags in and Bushi clubs Yujiro’s arm. Bushi brings Yujiro around for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up as Bushi gets Yujiro up, but Yujiro BITES Bushi’s hand to deny the Fisherman Screw! Yujiro blocks Bushi’s kick, throws him down, then basement dropkicks! Evil runs in to knock Takagi and Naito off the apron, and the rest of Bullet Club goes after LIJ on the outside! Yujiro goes after Bushi and kicks him out of the ring. ELP rakes Naitoi’s eyes, Taiji Ishimori chokes Sanada, and Evil RAMS Takagi into railing by the timekeeper’s area! Poor Abe-san!

Yujiro gets his pimp cane while Evil chokes Takagi with camera cables! ELP plays dumb while Dick stomps Bushi. Yujiro goes back into the ring, ELP stomps Takagi, and Evil undoes the blue corner buckle pad. Taiji puts Bushi in for Yujiro and Yujiro drags Bushi up. Evil prepares chairs for later while Yujiro whips Bushi into bare buckles! Taiji tags in, hops up and Yujiro stands Bushi up for Taiji to leap, and CLAW Bushi’s back! Taiji tags ELP, Taiji stands Bushi up and ELP leaps to CLAW Bushi! ELP also insults the fans’ clapping ability. Cover, TWO, but ELP drags Bushi over to tag in Evil. Evil CLAWS Bushi, too!

Evil sucker punches Sanada off the apron, and Sanada hit railing in front of the timekeeper’s area! Abe-san goes down again! Evil gets Bushi up and throws him out. Evil distracts Red Shoes so that Yujiro can get Bushi up, and Dick can JAM Bushi with a chair! Naito hurries over to go after Yujiro for it! But Yujiro hits low and RAMS Naito into railing! Naito slumps over railing as Yujiro feeds Bushi into the ring. Evil covers, TWO! Another try, TWO! A third cover, TWO!! Evil and Bullet Club are frustrated but fans rally up. Evil tags Yujiro and he drags Bushi up. Yujiro snapmares Bushi and runs to BOOT him down. Cover, TWO!

Fans rally up for Bushi again but Yujiro stomps him. Yujiro pushes Bushi around, gets him back up, but Bushi throws body shots and forearms! Yujiro knees low, whips Bushi to a corner, then BOOTS him! Yujiro gets Bushi up as fans rally for “LIJ! LIJ!” Yujiro fisherman’s but Bushi fights off the buster! Bushi gets around to BACKSTABBER Yujiro down! Fans fire up as Takagi is on the corner! Bushi crawls over, hot tag to Takagi! Takagi runs in, blocks a boot and clotheslines Yujiro! Takagi fires off forearm after forearm, but ELP and Taiji get in! They mug Takagi, whip him to ropes, but Takagi holds ropes!

Takagi comes back, CLOBBERS ELP, scoop SLAMS Taiji, and shoves Yujiro into ELP! DOUBLE LARIATS! Fans fire up with Takagi as he dares Evil to do something. Evil stays away so Takagi waits on Yujiro to get up. Takagi swipes at Evil, but Yujiro dragon sleepers for a REVERSE DDT! Yujiro staggers up, fisherman BUSTER on Takagi! Cover, TWO! Takagi stays in this and fans rally up. Yujiro gets Takagi back up, throws forearms, but Takagi eggs him on. Takagi blocks the lariat, spins Yujiro around, but Yujiro BITES Takagi’s hand! Yujiro whips, Takagi reverses, back elbow, JAB, YUKON LARIAT! Fans fire up as Takagi catches his breath.

Takagi drags Yujiro back up, scoops and SLAMS him, then goes to a corner. Dick distracts and Yujiro CLUBS Takagi off the corner! Yujiro wants to use the over-the-top-rope rule in NJPW elimination matches! Takagi holds on, Yujiro rakes eyes and runs in, but Takagi holds the ropes down! Yujiro tumbles out onto the apron but holds on! Takagi gets Yujiro up but Yujiro rakes eyes! Yujiro mule kicks, reels Takagi in but Takagi shoves him away! Yujiro rushes back in but into a fireman’s carry! Takagi turns around, for an APRON DEATH VALLEY!! Yujiro falls to the floor, Takagi ELIMINATES Yujiro! But now Evil gets in and has a chair! Red Shoes stops him but Dick grabs at Takagi!

Takagi kicks Dick away but Evil BLASTS Takagi off the apron! Takagi hits the floor, Evil ELIMINATES Takagi!! Sanada rushes in but Evil tags out to Taiji. Taiji runs and kicks Sanada, whips, but Sanada reverses. Taiji handsprings, Sanada catches him and GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Taiji lands on his feet! Taiji baits Sanada in, goes for a leg takedown but Sanada sits for a cover, TWO! Taiji finishes the sunset flip, TWO! Taiji runs and sunset flips again, but Sanada rolls through to get Taiji in Paradise! Fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. But ELP gets in to CLAW Sanada’s back! ELP trips Sanada, but he can’t figure out how Paradise works!

ELP asks Milano Collection how to Paradise Lock, but Sanada trips ELP up to put him in Paradise! Fans cheer as Sanada has ELP and Taiji next to each other. Sanada runs to double dropkick them both out of Paradise! Sanada covers Taiji, TWO! Fans rally for “SA-NA-DA!” as he gets Taiji up to a fireman’s carry. Taiji rakes eyes to get free! Taiji whips Sanada to a corner. Sanada goes up and out and springboards in. Taiji dodges, runs in to double knee! ELP SPLASHES, then Taiji sucker punches Naito off the apron. ELP gives Taiji a boost in the Electric Chair and tosses him at Sanada! Sanada catches Taiji and tosses him up and out!

Taiji lands on the apron, ELP runs in but Sanada intercepts with a headlock punch. Sanada turns around but Taiji shoulders in! Taiji tries to suplex but Sanada holds on! Sanada tries to suplex Taiji, but Taiji resists. Taiji drags Sanada out to the apron and they start brawling! Taiji runs, Sanada scoops! Dragon sleeper, and Sanada throws Taiji off the apron! Sanada ELIMINATES Taiji! But ELP swings on Sanada, throws big haymakers, and BOOTS! Sanada holds on with a hand, ELP hits that hand but Sanada grabs on with the other! ELP stomps Sanada’s foot! Sanada holds that foot with both hands, and ELP CLAWS Sanada’s back! Sanada falls off, ELP ELIMINATES Sanada!

ELP gloats but Naito sneaks in to CLAW ELP! Fans cheer as Naito whips ELP up and out! ELP holds onto ropes but Naito fires off forearms! HOTSHOT! Taiji keeps ELP on the apron! Red Shoes reprimands but Sanada CLAWS Taiji! Naito sweeps ELP’s legs and ELP lands on the apron! Naito uses the swinging kick to knock ELP off! Naito ELIMINATES ELP! But Evil is back and he runs at Naito! Naito blocks the haymaker to ROCK Evil! Naito gets in but Evil KICKS the rope to get Naito low! Red Shoes reprimands but Evil stomps at Naito. Naito holds on, and his feet hook the ropes to keep him in! Evil argues with Red Shoes and Dick gets cheap shots in!

Evil kicks Naito’s feet out from the ropes, Naito hits the floor! Evil ELIMINATES Naito! Bushi runs in as LIJ’s last man against Bullet Club’s last man. Evil kicks low, whips, but Bushi swing kicks back! Bushi goes up top and leaps to missile dropkick! Bushirooni! Fans fire up and Bushi gets Evil up. Bushi fisherman’s but no screw! Evil kicks low, fisherman’s but no buster! FISHERMAN SCREW! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Bushi gets up and aims from a corner. Evil stands, Bushi runs, but no code breaker! Bushi dodges Evil to ENZIGURI! Fans fire up, Bushi gets Evil up and runs, but Dick is there to stand in his way! Red Shoes reprimands but Evil kicks and whips!

Bushi dodges to DIVE! Direct hit into Dick, and Bushi’s safe cuz that was through the second rope! Bushi gets in, spins Evil around and DDT’s! Cover, TWO!! Evil survives but fans rally behind Bushi more. Bushi gets Evil up, wrenches but Evil pokes his eye! Evil whips Bushi into the bare buckles, then FISHERMAN BUSTERS! Cover, but Evil lets off?! Evil wants to make LIJ feel the pain. Fireman’s carry, DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives because of Evil’s ego! Fans rally up but Evil slashes the throat. Evil drags Bushi up, spins him around, but Bushi denies Everything! Bushi rolls Evil up, TWO!!

Evil staggers up, blocks a kick and ducks enziguri but not the HEEL KICK! Bushi runs to CODE BREAKER! Cover, but Dick distracts Red Shoes! Red Shoes reprimands Dick but Dick threatens Red Shoes. Bushi gets mad, but Evil LOW BLOWS! Takagi gets Dick in a fireman’s carry and Evil is pissed! Evil tells Takagi to let Dick down, but Bushi knocks Evil over the ropes! Evil hits the floor, LIJ wins!!

Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, by ring-out; Bushi is sole survivor

Not a single pin or submission fall in this match, but Bushi is clutch with that top rope elimination! Evil is furious but that’s what he gets for betraying LIJ in the first place! Takagi gets a mic to say, “Oi, Evil! SERVES YOU RIGHT!” Same goes for Dick. He and Evil are disrespecting Takagi and where he stands. Takagi already said he could easily crush Evil before the MetLife Dome, but it’s only right to repay the Tokyo Dome debt is in another dome! So Takagi will look to humiliate Evil on September 5th, Wrestle Grand Slam in the MetLife Dome! It’s official!! Evil gets his shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, but will he be struck out by The Dragon?

My Thoughts:

A pretty fun event for NJPW and it was an all tag match night. Kojima, Nagata & Tiger Mask won because the other team had two Young Lions. Tenzan, Wato and Taguchi surprisingly get a win over RPG3K and Kazuchika Okada, but it was Yoh taking the pin to Taguchi’s Five Star Clutch Gaesino. Tanahashi and Yano win because Chase Owens had Gedo as his partner, but apparently Chase has begun his remodel of the KOPW trophy. The 8 Man Tags were very good. Eagles getting the win on Douki of course keeps the math clean between the different tag team champions so those title matches could go either way.

I didn’t know that NJPW did Elimination Tags with over-the-top-rope rules but if felt like maybe this was the first time they’ve ever done one. Which is why all eliminations were over the top rope. In wrestling, if it’s pointed out as a special way to win, then that’s how it happens. But they certainly booked the first eliminations and the last eliminations perfectly, and it was a great win for LIJ. Naturally, Takagi and Evil are going to have their match for the next big event, Wrestle Grand Slam MetLife in Saitama, which is already looking like a big weekend event since Super Junior Tag League is also happening as part of Summer Struggle.

My Score: 8.9/10