The Cutest Tag Team is on a roll!

It’s round three of the Super Junior Tag League, and well, it was bound to happen. Bullet Club VS Bullet Club! But Bullet Club will be fine, right? Right?

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

• El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori VS Gedo & Dick Togo; ELP & Ishimori win.
• Tiger Mask & Robbie Eagles VS El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Tiger Mask & Robbie Eagles win.
• Roppongi 3K VS Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato; Taguchi & Wato win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current Super Junior Tag League standings:

El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori: 2-0, 4 points
El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 2-0, 4 points
Tiger Mask & Robbie Eagles: 2-0, 4 points
Gedo & Dick Togo: 0-2, 0 points
Roppongi 3K: 0-2, 0 points
Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato: 0-2, 0 points

El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori VS Gedo & Dick Togo!

Well there aren’t any shenanigans about this match happening, the round robin brings about all match-ups. But will the Headbanger and Bone Soldier Reborn be able to stay friendly with their Bullet Club buds?

Actually, as the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions enter the ring, they try to say hey to Gedo and Dick but Gedo and Dick tell them to take this seriously and go to their corner. ELP and Taiji shrug and back away to the red while Gedo and Dick have blue. The ref checks everyone, Bullet Club all looks at each other, and they decide to talk this out. Gedo points out, as everyone knows, ELP & Taiji are undefeated 2-0 already. That’s great for ELP & Taiji, everyone applauds. Bullet Club wants an easy match, and they Low Sweet it out. ELP starts, shakes hands with Dick, and Dick lies down! ELP is surprised, he didn’t think it’d be that easy. He covers, TWO!

Dick sits up and seems surprised with himself! ELP is upset, didn’t they just agree? Dick isn’t sure how to explain it! Just natural instinct, perhaps? He tags to Gedo and Gedo promises this’ll go how they said. Gedo lies down, ELP covers, but Dick breaks it?! They’re all upset with him and Gedo defends his tag partner! It was another instinctual move! Gedo talks it over with Dick and Dick says it’s all fine. Okay, then. And they both attack Taiji and ELP! They double whip, the champs duck, and double CLAW! But wait, Dick and Gedo aren’t affected? Oh because they’re still wearing shirts! Gedo and Dick take swings, ELP & Taiji get around, but Gedo and Dick aren’t worried about claws.

Wait, ELP & Taiji reach under the shirts to CLAW bare skin! Dick and Gedo writhe, ELP bumps Dick off buckles, but both he and Taiji put Dick and Gedo into Trees of Woe! ELP & Taiji coordinate, BANG, corner to corner… CROTCH STAND! Fans cheer the moxie as the ref counts. ELP and Taiji let off at the same time, Gedo and Dick fall out of the trees, and the champs Low Sweet. ELP whips Taiji at Gedo to back elbow, then Taiji sets up, HEADBANGER IN MOTION! Cover, TWO! ELP keeps cool and drags Gedo up to wrench and wristlock. Tag to Taiji and he hops up, to leap and CLAW! Gedo falls over and Taiji CLAWS Gedo again!

Gedo crawls, Taiji stalks after him, and Gedo wants mercy! But then he suckers Taiji in and throws him out! ELP gets in but the ref keeps him back, and Dick goes after Taiji! Dick chokes Taiji against the railing then CLAWS him in return! Taiji writhes from the receipt, and Dick CLAWS him again! Seems Gedo CLAWED ELP, too! Dick tags in and distracts the ref because Gedo sets up something with his belt! Gedo LASHES Taiji! And again! Gedo dares Taiji to get up, then stalks him along the way. The ref has Gedo stay back a moment, but Gedo gets Taiji in the ring for Dick to cover, TWO! Fans rally up though reluctantly for ELP & Taiji. Taiji throws body shots but Dick CLUBS him down!

Dick clamps on with a chinlock and bends Taiji back. Dick jumps for a fist drop then covers, TWO! Dick tags in Gedo, they get Taiji up and mock ELP before they CLAW Taiji! ELP rushes in but Gedo gets around to CLAW him, too! Taiji and ELP are both writhing on the mat and Gedo grins. The fans rally but Gedo CLAWS ELP again! ELP writhes his way out of the ring, Gedo tags Dick and they have Taiji isolated. Dick climbs and slashes the throat, to leap and CLAW! Fans do cheer they audacity of Dick and Gedo to copy the Cutest Tag Team. Dick puts Taiji in a corner and throws hands! Dick taunts ELP as he whips Taiji corner to corner. Dick runs in but into a boot!

Dick runs back in, Taiji stops him with a headscissor to ax kick! Dick staggers, comes back again, but Taiji drop toeholds Dick into buckles! Both men are down and fans rally up. Taiji crawls and tags in ELP! ELP shows fist but Dick wants him to wait. Dick tries a sucker punch but ELP counter punches, and counter punches, and counter punches! ELP whips, Dick reverses but ELP hits flying forearms! ELP kips up, Gedo runs in but into an atomic drop! ELP mocks Gedo and reels him in for another atomic drop! Dick gets back in, ELP dodges and springboards to crossbody! Cover, TWO! ELP handsprings and LIONSAULTS! Cover, TWO!

ELP keeps going and DIVES to take out Gedo! ELP gets back to the ring and springboards to SWANTON BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Dick survives again and fans fire up! ELP gets his foot going. Wait, is he “locked and loaded?” ELP aims, Dick gets up, but Dick blocks the superkick to poke ELP in the eye and roll him up! TWO, but into the CROSSFACE! ELP endures, crawls, reaches, but Dick rolls him from ropes! But ELP slips out to get the ANKLE LOCK! Dick scrambles, rolls but ELP rolls through the throw. Things speed up, both men duck and dodge but DOUBLE CLOTHESLINES take them both down! Fans rally up as ELP and Dick crawl!

Hot tags to Taiji and Gedo! Gedo knocks Taiji over, whips him to a corner, but Taiji slips out to the apron. Taiji slides in, out, shoulders Gedo then springboards to SEATED SENTON! Fans fire up as Taiji whips but Gedo reverses. NEURALIZER from Bone Soldier! Taiji gets the arm, roll into omoplata and then the YES LCOK! Dick stomps Taiji but ELP CLUBS Dick! ELP throws Dick out, Dick hits back, and Gedo JAWBREAKERS Taiji! Gedo SUPERKICKS Taiji down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Gedo scurries to get the brass knuckles! The ref sees those, stops Gedo, but Dick has the SPOILER CHOKER! Taiji endures, ELP gets in and RAKES Dick’s eyes!

ELP mule kicks Gedo and shoves him into the ref! ELP slides Taiji one of the title belts! ELP PLANCHAS Dick down as Taiji takes aim! Gedo begs for mercy again but Taiji just pulls a Latino Heat! He gives Gedo the belt and acts like GEDO hit HIM with it! The ref sees Gedo, Gedo defends his innocence, but Taiji rolls Gedo up! TWO, and Taiji baits Gedo into a sunset flip! High stack, with the ropes! But the ref sees that! The ref reprimands, Taiji keeps his feet on the ropes, so the ref KICKS the rope! Taiji falls down but gets up in a huff about the count! Gedo slithers up to roll Taiji! TWO, INTO YES LOCK! Gedo flails, reaches, but Taiji rolls him from ropes.

Taiji gets Gedo up for BLOOD- NO! Gedo slips out pokes Taiji in the eye! Gedo whips Taiji into the ref! Atomic LOW BLOW! And then, GEDO CLUTCH!! But ELP breaks it with SUDDEN DEATH!! Taiji covers, the tag champs win!!

Winners: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo, by pinfall

Okay okay wait! Yes, Gedo and Dick tried to cheat just as always, but is the mysterious item supposedly not in ELP’s boot… back inside the boot? Well, Dick doesn’t like any of this, but Bullet Club’s Cutest Tag Team are a strong 3-0 in the round robin! Is there any stopping their Super Junior Tag run?

Tiger Mask & Robbie Eagles VS El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru!

Two teams, undefeated at 2-0, but only ONE can stay at the top with El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori! Will the Sniper of the Skies shoot the Rogue Luchador down, just as he did to take the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship? Or will not even two natural predators stop Desperado and the Heel Master?

Speaking of that title, Eagles shows it off but Desperado shrugs it off. The teams sort out, Eagles and Desperado start to give us a partial rematch from Wrestle Grand Slam Tokyo. The bell rings and the two circle. Desperado seems to talk trash as he goes, but then Kanemaru gets in to kick Eagles down! Desperado DECKS Tiger, then he and Kanemaru stomp Eagles more. They double whip Eagles to a corner, Kanemaru runs in but misses, and Eagles RANAS Desperado! Kanemaru comes back to kick Eagles, run, but into a dropkick! Eagles fire sup and hip tosses Desperado down! Fans fire up as Eagles roars more.

Eagles stomps Desperado, tags Tiger Mask, and Tiger stomps Desperado around. Desperado keeps getting up but Tiger keeps stomping him down. Desperado gets to ropes, Tiger steps back, and Desperado gets to his feet. They circle, Tiger kicks a leg, then kicks it again and again. Desperado falls, Tiger gets him up and KICKS his leg again! Desperado hobbles, Tiger KICKS his leg out from under him! Tiger drags Desperado by the leg, turns him and gets the HALF CRAB! Desperado endures, reaches, crawls, and gets the ropebreak! Tiger lets go fast, then stomps the bad leg. Tag to Eagles, and Eagles clubs Desperado down. Eagles runs to DECK Kanemaru, then goes back to Desperado.

Eagles fires forearms and CHOPS in a corner, then wrenches Desperado to whip corner to corner. Eagles runs in, Desperado puts him on the apron Eagles blocks, ROCKS and jumps but Kanemaru trips him up! Desperado sucker punches Tiger as Kanemaru gets Eagles up. Kanemaru whips Eagles hard into railing! Kanemaru clubs Eagles down, Desperado POSTS Tiger, and the ref reprimands Suzuki-Gun but can’t get them to stop. Kanemaru puts Eagles back in, Desperado hobbles over and tags Kanemaru. SHINBREAKER to SHOTGUN DROPKICK to the leg! Eagles writhes, Kanemaru gets the leg and turns him, for a HALF CRAB!

Now Eagles endures, crawls and reaches for the ropebreak! Kanemaru lets go to stomp Eagle sin the corner. Kanemaru drags Eagles by the leg, turns him over and SMASHES the knee into the mat! Tag to Desperado, he drags Eagles around to YANK the leg! Eagles crawls but Desperado keeps him from Tiger Mask. Fans rally up but Desperado DECKS Tiger for good measure! Desperado stomps Eagles, drags him around and bumps him off Kanemaru’s boot. Eagles falls, tag to Kanemaru, and Kanemaru covers with a hand in Eagles’ face! TWO, Kanemaru tries again, TWO, and Kanemaru tries again, TWO!

Kanemaru stomps Eagles at the ropes, Eagles hits back but Kanemaru stomps him down. Fans rally as Eagles hits back again, but Desperado drags Eagles to the apron! Desperado SLAMS the bad leg on the edge! The ref reprimands but Kanemaru whips Eagles and dropkicks his leg out! Cover, TWO! Kanemaru keeps on Eagles with a motorcycle stretch. Fans rally as Eagles endures the knee in his back. Tiger gets in but Desperado kicks him and hooks the arms! DOUBLE MOTORCYCLES! Tiger and Eagles fight up, and DOUBLE SOMERSAULT DROPKICK! Suzuki-Gun is down, Tiger hurries back to the corner! Eagles crawls over, but Desperado trips Tiger to stop the tag!

Kanemaru stalks Eagles, kicks out the bad leg, then drags Eagles up to whip into Desperado’s boot! Tag to Desperado, he mocks Tiger Mask, but the ref keeps Tiger back. That allows Kanemaru to drag Eagles to the apron and elbow away on the bad leg! Tiger stands down, Desperado drags Eagles to a cover, TWO! Fans still rally for Eagles as he grits his teeth. Desperado gets Eagles up but Eagles blocks the whip by holding ropes. Desperado rakes Eagles’ eye but Eagles uses the whip to go up and around! But Desperado blocks the arm-drag! Desperado yanks Eagles up and DECKS him with a right! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally as Desperado paces. Desperado taunts Tiger again, whips Eagles but Eagles reverse to wrench and WHEEL KICK! Both men are down and fans fire up, hot tag to Tiger Mask! Tiger goes up top to CROSSBODY! Direct hit but Tiger keeps moving! Kick, sobat and ROUNDHOUSE! Desperado is down in the corner and fans cheer on the living legend! Tiger Mask gets Desperado up, underhooks, but Desperado blocks the Tiger Driver. Tiger gets around to crucifix to DISARMER! Kanemaru gets in and kicks Tiger off the hold! Kanemaru stomps Tiger more, then drags Tiger up. Suzuki-Gun double whips but Tiger ducks the line, shoving Desperado into Kanemaru!

Tiger tilt-o-whirls around Desperado to crucifix takedown into ghost pin, TWO!! Tiger kicks and stomps Desperado, then runs, but Tiger dodges the dropkick to stomp away on Tiger! Desperado grabs at a leg but gets dragged down to an ARMBAR! Desperado flails, reaches around, scrambles about, and gets a ropebreak with a foot! Tiger lets go quickly and drags Desperado up for forearms. Fans rally and Tiger runs, Desperado gets him up! Tiger fights off the spinebuster, but rushes into a BIG back suplex! Both men are down and the fans rally up! Desperado tags Kanemaru and Kanemaru runs in to BOOT Tiger in a corner!

Kanemaru snapmares, runs and basement dropkicks! Cover, TWO! Kanemaru keeps his focus as he stomps Tiger more and more. Kanemaru runs again but into a sobat! Tiger runs in but Kanemaru blocks the kick, only to get the spinning mule kick! Again, both men are down but the fans fire up! Hot tag to Eagles! Eagles manages to run corner to corner for DOUBLE KNEES! And then he rolls back, only to run into Kanemaru’s boot! But Eagles comes back again, basement Tiger Feint to sweep the legs! Kanemaru sits down, Eagles hits the METEORA! Cover, TWO! Kanemaru survives but fans rally for Eagles as he steps through.

Kanemaru kicks Eagles off the leg hold but Eagles KICKS and KICKS and KICKS! Eagles runs, but Kanemaru dropkicks the legs out again! SHINBREAKER! And another dropkick to the legs! Both men are down but Kanemaru keeps Eagles anchored. Kanemaru steps through to FIGURE FOUR! Desperado keeps Tiger on the outside as Eagles endures! Eagles shouts, reaches, comes really close, but he scrambles and thrashes to move around! Eagles reaches, crawls, ROPEBREAK! Kanemaru lets Eagles go but Desperado mugs Tiger more. Kanemaru gets Eagles up for a scoop and BRITISH FALL! Cover, TWO!

Fans are thunderous as Kanemaru goes to a corner and climbs. Kanemaru aims, leaps, Eagles avoids Deep Impact! Kanemaru hobbles, ROLLING CHOP BLOCK and BLINDSIDE LARIAT from Eagles! Tiger RAMS Desperado into railing! Fans rally up while both men are down. Eagles crawls to ropes then goes to the apron. Eagles aims as Kanemaru rises, springboard missile dropkick to the legs! Eagles vows to end it, he rolls Kanemaru to his feet and brings him in, TURBO BACKPACK- VICTORY ROLL!? TWO!! Eagles sobats high and hard, then cravats again, but Desperado gets in! Kanemaru shoves Eagles to Desperado, SHOTGUN DROPKICK BACK SUPLEX COMBO!

Desperado goes bac out after Tiger Mask but Tiger hits first! Fans rally up as Kanemaru and Eagles stir. Kanemaru crawls to a cover, TWO! Eagles is still in this but Kanemaru drags him up. Kanemaru suplexes but Eagles slips out to spin, ROUNDHOUSE, SUPERKICK and PELE!! Tiger Mask gets in to underhook Kanemaru, TIGER DRIVER! Eagles takes the cover with a jackknife bridge, but Desperado breaks it! Tiger kicks Desperado but Desperado rakes eyes. Desperado runs, into a tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Eagles GAMANGIRIS Desperado out! Eagles goes to a corner, Tiger builds speed to DIVE!

Desperado’s down, Eagles 450 SPLASH to the legs! RON MILLER SPECIAL!!! Kanemaru reaches, but TAPS! #FlyingTigers win!!

Winners: Tiger Mask & Robbie Eagles, by pinfall

The legend and the champion are the other undefeated duo! Will Suzuki-Gun’s confidence take a hit with so much SJTL still left to go?

Roppongi 3K VS Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato!

To everyone’s shock, Sho & Yoh are 0-2 to start Super Junior Tag League. Is it the words of Desperado and El Phantasmo echoing in their heads? Is it the other interests in life distracting them? Or is it that no team, no matter how great, can maintain such High Voltage forever? Will RPG3K get that Direct Drive back? Or will the answer to all that and more be #SixOrNine?

The teams sort out, Yoh starts with Taguchi and the fans rally up. “R P G!” “TA GU CHI!” Yoh and Taguchi circle slowly, then approach. They feel things out, Yoh being the aggressor. They tie up, Taguchi gets a leg, Yoh floats to a waistlock but Taguchi floating back. Yoh gets an arm, Taguchi keeps moving to get a leg pick. Yoh avoids a cover, rolls Taguchi but Taguchi body scissors to block. Yoh gets through to mount but Taguchi pushes him off, and the fans cheer this exchange. The two go again, Yoh getting a leg and trip to a toehold. Taguchi reaches forward, hooks Yoh with a leg, but Yoh clasps hands to resist the armbar. Taguchi shifts to a short-arm scissor!

Yoh rolls, turns Taguchi, facelocks, but Taguchi slips out to facelock back. Yoh gets away and the fans cheer this new exchange. Taguchi and Yoh back off to tag Wato and Sho. They circle, feel things out, give testing kicks, but then Wato swings big. Sho stays away and the two go again. They knuckle lock but Sho avoids another kick. Sho kicks but Wato walks it off to kick back. Wato kicks, KICKS, but Sho kicks back! Sho KICKS but Wato eggs him on. Things speed up, Wato back elbows, back hands and sobats Sho down! Wato stomps Sho, gets him up and whips him to ropes. Sho reverses, Yoh gets in, RPG3K drop toehold to basement dropkick! DOUBLE DROPKICKS for Taguchi!

Fans fire up, Sho goes after Wato in the corner. Sho wrenches an arm, digs his elbow into the shoulder, then CLUBS Wato in the bicep! Wato staggers to ropes, Sho wrenches the arm again and tags Yoh. RPG3K mug Wato, Yoh snapmares Wato then chinlocks. Wato endures the knee in his back but Yoh elbows him in the head! Cover, TWO! Yoh keeps cool while he stays between Wato and Taguchi. Yoh gets Wato up, wrenches an arm and whips. Wato reverses and GAMANGIRIS Yoh down! Wato tags Taguchi and Taguchi knocks Sho down. Wato and Taguchi coordinate, Wato whips Yoh at Taguchi in the corner, bumping him off the butt! And again!

Taguchi turns around to FLYING SEATED SENTON! Cover, TWO! Taguchi drags Yoh up to clamp on a chinlock and grind a knee into the back. Yoh endures, Sho coaches him but Taguchi turns Yoh over. Sho stomps Taguchi, Wato kicks Sho and throws him out! Taguchi gets Yoh up, bumps him off Wato’s boot, then Wato tags in. #SixOrNine double whip, double drop toehold and double basement dropkick! Fans fire up with the combo and Wato covers, TWO! Wato gets Yoh up, CLUBS him on the back, then puts him in a corner. Wato CHOPS, follows and whips Yoh to ropes to elbow him down! Cover, ONE! Yoh is tougher than that but Wato drags him away.

Taguchi tags in, #SixOrNine mugs Yoh, then Taguchi has a rather high camel clutch. Taguchi gets an arm for a half straitjacket variant but Sho gets in to kick Taguchi. Taguchi throws Sho back out and Sho gets mad. Taguchi drops down on Yoh again and again, then slingshots out then in for a senton butt-omico! Cover, TWO! Tag to Wato, Taguchi baseball slides Sho down and Wato stomps Yoh. Wato bumps Yoh off buckles, #SixOrNine double whip corner to corner, Taguchi runs in but misses! Yoh DECKS Wato, but turns around into a HIP ATTACK! Fans fire up as Wato anchors Yoh! Yoh reaches for Sho, ENZIGURIS Wato away, and scrambles, hot tag to Sho!

High Voltage rallies on the Grandmaster! Atomic drop for the Funky Weapon, and Sho runs Taguchi over! Wato’s kick is blocked and Sho ROCKS Wato to then run him over with a shoulder! Fans fire up with Sho as he stomps about. Wato rises, Sho aims, Sho KICKS Wato down! Cover, TWO, KIMURA! Sho cranks on the double wristllock but Wato scrambles around, ropebreak! Red Shoes counts, Sho lets off fast, but he drags Wato up. Sho wrenches an arm, kicks, KICKS and KICKS- NO! Wato blocks that one, to CLUB the leg and ROCK Sho with a forearm! Sho staggers but comes bck to ROCK Wato! Wato hits back, Sho hits again, we have a forearm brawl!

Sho forearms Wato, Wato forearms back! Sho forearms, Wato forearms, repeat! Fasn rally up as they go faster and faster! Sho gets the edge, ROCKS Wato then runs, but Wato elbows him! Wato runs but into Sho’s elbow. Sho fires off boxing elbows, then powers up and runs, into a CALF KICK! Both men are down and fans fire back up! Wato crawls, hot tag to Taguchi! Taguchi hip attacks Yoh down, and RPG3K end up on opposite ends! All aboard the hip train! HIP ATTACK for Yoh! HIP ATTACK for Sho! Back to Yoh! Slide and APRON HIP ATTACK for Sho! Fans fire up with Taguchi now as he aims from the apron. MISSILE HIP ATTACK! Cover, TWO!

Taguchi gets Sho’s leg, OH MAH GAH ANKLE! Sho rolls and kick Taguchi waay, things speed up, HIP- NO! Sho catches Taguchi but Taguchi fights the waistlock. Taguchi runs in place and Sho falls for it, HIP ATTACK! Taguchi “moonwalks” into the cover, TWO! Fans rally up again, “R P G!” “TA GU CHI!” Taguchi snap suplexes, uno amigo! Dos amigos! And THREE- NO, Sho fights that and tries to suplex Taguchi! Taguchi resists but fans rally up. Sho powers through to suplex Taguchi! Sho crawls for his corner, hot tag to Yoh! Yoh runs to DECK Wato, then runs at Taguchi to back elbow! And NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!

Yoh grits his teeth, determined to end this! Yoh gets Taguchi up, reels him in, suplex, but Taguchi slips out to kick and run. Yoh ATOMIC DROPS the hip attack, then full nelsons! Taguchi fights that, and fights the waistlock lift, to drop toehold Yoh to OH MAH GAH ANKLE!! Yoh scrambles around as he endures the hold, and he reaches out for ropes in all directions! Yoh hops but Taguchi reels him in! Double chicken wings, but Yoh backs Taguchi into a corner! Sho runs in as Yoh gets free, clothesline! Sho is the step stool for RPG IN MOTION! Then suplex to Canadian rack, but Taguchi slips off! Taguchi shoves Sho into Yoh, runs, but into DOUBLE KNEES!

Sho DECKS Wato, fans fire up and RPG3K gets Taguchi up! BACKSTABBER to SHOTGUN BOOT! The energy is rising and RPG3K watches Taguchi. Taguchi stands, turns around, THREE- HIP ATTACK?! Taguchi dodges Sho to ENZIGURI him down! Everyone is down and Shof lops out of the ring! Taguchi crawls to his corner, hot tag to Wato! Springboard FLYING UPPERCUT! Wato fires up and builds speed to TOR- No, Yoh moves! So Wato changes direction to FLY over the corner post!! Direct hit on Direct Drive and Wato gets Yoh in the ring! Wato stands Yoh up, reels him in, MOUSE- No, Yoh fights the driver and feeds to Sho’s LARIAT!

Taguchi HIP ATTACKS Sho! Yoh DROPKICKS Taguchi! Wato BOOTS Yoh down!! Fans are thunderous as all four men are down in the ring! Red Shoes checks them all and they’re all okay to continue. Sho and Taguchi bail out, leaving Wato and Yoh alone as they rise up. Wato throws a forearm from the mat, but so does Yoh. They stand, Wato forearms Yoh, Yoh forearms back! Wato forearms and Yoh drops to a knee! But Yoh gets up to fire off forearms and uppercuts! Wato BOOTS, Yoh rebounds to ROLLING ELBOW! Wato stays up!? But Yoh blocks his kick, only for Wato to dodge his clothesline! ROUNDHOUSE!

But Yoh kips up?! SUPERKICK to SNAP GERMAN! Bridging cover, Taguchi breaks it!! Sho gets Taguchi and throws him out, then follows! From the apron, Sho PENALTY KICKS Taguchi down! Sho shouts to Yoh and Yoh fires up! Fans are thunderous again as Yoh gets Wato up! Underhooks, lift, but Wato flips out to sobat! Front kick! DREAMCAST KICK!! Cover, TWO!?! Yoh survives and Wato can’t believe it! Red shoes that was fair and the fans are electric! Wato reels Yoh in, MOUSE TRAP DRIVER!! Cover, SHO BREAKS IT!! RPG3K refuses to lose here! Sho fires off forearms, runs, but into a tilt-o-whirl SLAM! Taguchi is here, BUM-A-YE!!

Wato and Taguchi fire up and coordinate! Wato is outside, Taguchi inside, they go at Yoh in the corner, GAMANGIRI SANDWICH! Chicken wings to DODON BUSTER!! Wato’s up top, R P P!!! Cover, SIX OR NINE WIN!!??

Winners: Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato, by pinfall

Incredible! Inconceivable! Insane, even! The three-time Super Junior Tag League winners are three losses deep in just the first three rounds! What in the world IS the reason for this? But at the same time, the eclectic duo of Funky Weapon and Grandmaster are finally on the board! With that, Wato gets on the mic. “Sho-san, Yoh-san, I can’t say with this win that I am better than you. But today, I’m happy we won.” Fans cheer both the showing of respect and the humility in victory.

Wato continues to say that they lost the first two, but from here on out, #OneOrEight- Or, no, they were that but now they’re #SixOrNine… “We will win this Super Junior Tag League.” Fans cheer and he continues. “Over the next two rounds, I want us two to link up… And win. I will be, the Grand Master.” Well, odd word choice aside (perhaps Taguchi is a bad influence?), Taguchi and Wato are no longer stagnant! Can they ride this wave of momentum and come out the ones on top?

Here are the NEW Super Junior Tag League standings:

El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori: 3-0, 6 points
Tiger Mask & Robbie Eagles: 3-0, 6 points
El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 2-1, 4 points
Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato: 1-2, 2 points
Gedo & Dick Togo: 0-3, 0 points [ELIMINATED]
Roppongi 3K: 0-3, 0 points [ELIMINATED]

My Thoughts:

Another great round for the Super Junior Tag League, hitting each combination perfectly (undefeated VS winless, two undefeated teams, and two winless teams). I knew that somehow, someway, the “Finger Poke of Doom,” “lie down for me, brother” stuff in Bullet Club was going to cause problems. There are a lot of subtle details to it, as well. When Yujiro Takahashi wouldn’t just lie down for Jay White, Jay White accused it being Evil’s influence. Dick Togo, Evil’s sidekick, was the one acting up to start this match. Granted, Gedo got on board with Dick, but he does have his pride, too. The whole thing was great and I’ve never seen so much back clawing happen in one match. Also, just as I wondered yesterday, ELP did use Sudden Death today, further feeding into overarching story of “What’s in the boot?!” Somedays he has it in the boot, somedays he doesn’t.

Desperado & Kanemaru VS #FlyingTigers was also great stuff, and Eagles making Kanemaru tap was the result they could give us to keep Junior Heavyweight singles division math even. Eagles couldn’t take the loss, they didn’t want someone having a shortcut to a title match. Tiger couldn’t pin someone, NJPW legends make sure younger talent looks strong. But at the same time, Tiger couldn’t be pinned, because that’d make someone look too strong. And with Eagles VS Desperado the likely plan for said singles title, Kanemaru takes the fall. But Kanemaru also got the last two decisions for his team, his momentum could take it.

And the RPG3K story is spot on right now. Their match with Taguchi and Wato was perfect main event material, probably best match of the 2021 SJTL so far because of both the level of action and the story behind it. RPG3K was fighting so strongly and so desperately because they were already down 0-2, and with this being the halfway point, it was already do or die. Of course, the same was true for #SixOrNine, they were also 0-2. But there was the pressure of being the three-peat winners and wanting to be a fourth that was heightening everything for RPG3K, that’s what really turned everything up. Now RPG3K are mathematically out of the running for the finals, and their attitudes tomorrow in round 4 will be very telling in both SJTL and as a team overall.

My Score: 9.1/10