The Golden Series finally has gold on the line!

NJPW continues the New Years Golden Series, and Master Wato challenges El Desperado for his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship! Will Wato truly be the Grandmaster?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Preshow – Tomoaki Honma VS Ryohei Oiwa; Honma wins.
• BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi VS DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Douki & Kanemaru win.
• Six Man Tag: Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii VS The House of Torture; Tenzan, Goto & Ishii win.
• Six Man Tag: Ryusuke Taguchi, Togi Makabe & Toru Yano VS Suzuki-Gun; Taguchi, Makabe & Yano win.
• Satoshi Kojima VS Great-O-Khan; Khan wins.
• Six Man Tag: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Yuji Nagata VS Los Ingobernables de Japon; win(s).
• Tiger Mask VS Gedo; Tiger Mask wins.
• YOH VS SHO; Sho wins.
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado VS Master Wato; Desperado wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Tiger Mask VS Gedo!

Bullet Club had to make adjustments, but they still got the better of the living legend in the tag match on February 7th. Will Tiger Mask get his revenge? Or will The Blacksmith forge a path back to the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships?

Tiger Mask gets impatient with Gedo as Gedo paces around outside. Gedo mockingly tells Tiger Mask to calm down. Tiger Mask backs off, Gedo gets in and the bell rings. But then Gedo bails right back out. “Calm down, kitty cat.” Tiger Mask demands Gedo gets back in but Gedo goes out further. Fans rally up, Gedo still trolls Tiger Mask but he eventually returns. Gedo and Tiger Mask tie up, Gedo puts Tiger on the ropes, but lets off slowly. Tiger Mask deflects the thumb to the eye! Tiger KICKS and KICKS Gedo’s leg, and Gedo falls out of the ring. Tiger pursues, puts Gedo back in, and Gedo wants him to wait. He thumbs Tiger in the eye!

Gedo whips, but Tiger comes back with a CROSSBODY! Tiger fires off kicks on Gedo and Gedo bails out again. Gedo wants a timeout, but there are no timeouts in wrestling! Gedo goes up the ramp, Tiger pursues! Tiger brings Gedo back into the ring, but Gedo bails out the other side. Tiger Mask pursues again, but Gedo swipes the bell hammer. Gedo wants Tiger to wait, then he hits Tiger in the stomach with the hammer! And then in the head! And again! The ref stops Gedo from using the hammer and the hammer is given back to the timekeeper. Gedo gets in the ring and lets the ring count start.

Fans rally for “Tiger Mask! Tiger Mask!” as he gets up and in at 10 of 20. But Gedo throws Tiger Mask back out! Gedo goes out, takes off his belt, and LASHES Tiger! And again! And again! The ref reprimands but Gedo LASHES Tiger Mask again! And again! The ref gets Gedo to back off and put the belt down. Gedo hugs it out with the ref, then goes into the ring. The ref checks on Tiger Mask while Gedo undoes a buckle pad! The ring count returns, and climbs to 10 of 20 again. Fans rally up, Tiger Mask drags himself up at 15, and in at 18! Gedo drags Tiger Mask up, and whips him into the bare buckles!

Tiger Mask goes down while Gedo taunts him. Gedo kicks Tiger around, toying with him. Fans rally again, Gedo drags Tiger up for a headlock and punches! Gedo drags Tiger Mask into a camel clutch, but he pulls the mask! The ref counts, Gedo lets off and “apologizes.” Gedo CHOKES Tiger Mask! The ref counts, Gedo stops at 4 and asks what’s wrong. Gedo taunts Tiger Mask more, drags him back up, and whips him back into the bare buckles! Tiger Mask falls and Gedo grins, but the fans rally up. Gedo takes his time going for the cover, TWO! Gedo still smiles as he stomps Tiger Mask down.

Gedo drags Tiger Mask up by his mask, brings him around, and digs his fingers into Tiger Mask’s eyes! The ref counts, Gedo lets off at 4 and “apologizes” again. Gedo whips Tiger again, but Tiger reverses! Gedo blocks, thumbs Tiger in the eye, then whips Tiger to the other corner. Tiger goes up and CROSSBODIES again! Fans fire up while both men are down! Tiger stands, runs in but Gedo BOOTS him! Gedo whips, Tiger reverses, now Gedo gets bare buckles to the back! Tiger Mask dropkicks Gedo out of the ring! Fans rally, Tiger Mask builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit and Gedo hits railing in front of commentary!

The ref checks on both men, they’re both okay to continue, so a ring count starts. Tiger Mask gets up at 6 of 20 and in at 7. Gedo is still down at 10 of 20, but Tiger Mask has the ref wait. Tiger Mask goes out to fetch Gedo, which fans applaud, and Tiger Mask decides to get Gedo’s belt! Tiger Mask storms up on Gedo and Gedo wants the ref to do something. The ref pretends he has something in his eyes! Tiger Mask LASHES Gedo! And again! And again! Tiger Mask throws the belt down, then puts Gedo in. The ref’s “eyes” are fine, and Tiger Mask goes up top. CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Gedo’s still in this but Tiger Mask keeps cool.

Tiger Mask KICKS Gedo to the corner, and KICKS him again and again! Tiger Mask whips corner to corner, then runs in to ROUNDHOUSE! Gedo goes down and fans fire up, but Tiger Mask isn’t done with Gedo! Tiger Mask drags Gedo up, double underhooks, but Gedo breaks free. Tiger Mask knees Gedo low, underhooks again, but Gedo drops to resist. Tiger Mask BUZZSAWS Gedo in the arm! Then KICKS him again! Then SOBATS! Tiger Mask wrenches, Gedo rolls, and Gedo catches Tiger Mask for a COMPLETE SHOT! Fans applaud, that was admittedly good. Gedo covers, TWO! Gedo gets mad but fans rally again.

Gedo stands Tiger Mask up for a JAWBREAKER! Basement SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO!! Tiger Mask survives and Gedo is frustrated again. Gedo crawls to his corner, and in his bag, he brings out brass knuckles! The ref sees them, though! They’re too shiny not to be seen! Gedo shoves the ref away, but the ref blocks the punch! Tiger Mask SOBATS Gedo low, then BUZZSAWS him down! The ref kicks the brass knuckles outta the ring, Tiger Mask drags Gedo into double underhooks! TIGER DRIVER! Cover, TWO!?! Gedo survives but Tiger Mask fires up! Fans rally behind Tiger Mask as he gets back up.

Tiger Mask drags Gedo up, chicken wings, but Gedo blocks! Tiger Mask spins Gedo, Gedo ducks the roundhouse to uppercut! Gedo then shoves Tiger Mask into the ref! Gedo whips Tiger Mask to ropes, pop-up LOW BLOW!! Gedo then hooks Tiger Mask up, GEDO CLUTCH! TWO!! Tiger Mask escapes and Gedo is beside himself! Fans rally for Tiger Mask while Gedo gets up. Gedo aims from the corner, BANG! Gedo reels Tiger Mask in, but Tiger fights out of the Half Hatch to crucifix takedown! TWO!! But Tiger has a REVERSE DOUBLE ARMBAR! Gedo endures, Tiger pulls way back on that arm! Gedo verbally quits, Tiger Mask wins!

Winner: Tiger Mask, by submission

Tiger Mask’s iconic moves didn’t work out, but he still had something up his proverbial sleeve! Will a move like that help Tiger Mask & Robbie Eagles hold onto the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships?

YOH VS SHO!

Just when you thought the RPG3K fallout was over, these two go another round! Will Direct Drive or Murder Machine take this round?

Yoh enters first, but he doesn’t wait for Sho to get in the ring, he goes after Sho at the ramp! Yoh fires off forearms and knees, then stomps Sho down! Yoh drags Sho up, fires off on him more, but the ref tries to get this in the ring. Sho crawls, Yoh follows, and Sho hits Yoh low! Sho stomps Yoh down, takes off his jacket, and stomps Yoh down more. Sho reveals that he had the wrench in the shirt all along! Sho aims at Yoh, Yoh dodges, wrench hits post! Sho’s hands jam and he clutches them. The bell rings to get this on record as Yoh BOOTS Sho down! Yoh whips Sho into railing! Fans applaud as Sho goes down in a heap!

Yoh stomps Sho down, the ref insists they get in the ring. Yoh throws Sho in, then stomps Sho in the ring. Yoh drags Sho up but Sho BENDS Yoh’s fingers! The ref reprimands, Sho CLUBS the arm, then grabs Yoh’s hair. Yoh BENDS Sho’s fingers in return! The ref reprimands, Yoh headlocks but Sho powers out. Yoh runs Sho over and fans cheer. Sho bails out but Yoh is right after him! Yoh kicks and whips, but Sho reverses! Yoh stops himself, but Sho already sends a Young Lion into Yoh! Sho drags Yoh up, and whips him into railing hard! Yoh falls in a heap now, but Sho drags him up. Sho whips him into more railing!

Sho drags Yoh up again, even as the ref wants him to get in the ring. Sho whips Yoh hard into railing, and Yoh is stuck across it! Yoh flops back, Sho stomps Yoh down then puts him in the ring. Sho covers, TWO! Fans rally up but Sho stomps Yoh down. Sho drags Yoh up, fans rally, and Sho whips to kitchen sink knee Yoh down. Sho grins as he looms over Yoh, and then he drags Yoh up. Sho scoops but Yoh slips off to roll up! TWO, and Yoh kicks Sho to whip him to a corner. Yoh run sin, but Sho puts Yoh on the apron. Sho sweeps the legs, runs side to side and dropkicks Yoh off the apron! Fans applaud, that was an admittedly good combo.

Sho goes to the apron, Yoh stands up, PENALTY KICK! Down goes Yoh and Sho takes a moment to catch his breath. Sho strips a crossbar of its cover, and uses that cover to SMOTHER Yoh! The ref counts, Sho stops at 4 and Yoh flops down. Sho then brings out a chair! Sho SMACKS Yoh on the arm while the ref is busy with the crossbar! The ref comes back, confiscates the chair now, and Sho just smirks. Yoh clutches the arm as he writhes but fans rally up. Sho paces around in the ring while the ring count starts. Yoh sits up and 11 of 20, pushes himself up at 14, and he hobbles into the ring at 17!

Sho walks over, and he claws Yoh’s face! The ref reprimands and counts, Sho stops at 4, but then Sho stands on Yoh’s neck. The ref counts, Sho lets off at 4. Yoh sputters, Sho talks trash and slaps him around. Sho gives toying kicks, then he chokes Yoh on the ropes! The ref counts, Sho lets off at 4 and Yoh flops to the apron. Yoh sputters as he gets back in and the ref checks on him. Sho wants to be named the winner but the ref says no, Yoh is still in this. The fans rally, Yoh slowly rises, but Sho kicks him around again. Yoh gets up, Sho kicks him more. Yoh glares defiantly at Sho so Sho throws a forearm! Yoh grits his teeth and eggs Sho on!

Sho throws more forearms but Yoh keeps coming back for more! Sho claws Yoh’s face! The ref reprimands, Sho runs, but Yoh dodges and hits FLYING FOREARMS! Both men are down and fans fire up! Yoh clutches his arm, that flying forearm was a bit double-edged. Sho gets to a corner as fans rally. Yoh runs in to back elbow! Yoh wrenches, DECKS Sho, and fires up! Yoh drags Sho up, Sho BENDS the fingers! The ref reprimands, Sho CLUBS the arm then runs. But Yoh back elbows! Yoh runs, Sho back elbows! Sho runs, Yoh DROPKICKS him down! Sho bails out but Yoh builds speed, Yoh FLIES! Direct hit at the ramp!

Fans fire up as both men are down at ringside. A ring count starts, Yoh stands at 5 of 20. Yoh shakes out the cobwebs, drags Sho up, and he puts Sho in at 12. Yoh drags Sho up to suplex, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Yoh keeps cool and he drags Sho up by his waistband. Sho reaches for ropes, Yoh reels him into a full nelson. Sho breaks free, turns around, and suplexes, only for Yoh to slip out! Sho breaks the full nelson, Yoh waistlocks but Sho resists the lift. Sho wrenches out and BENDS the fingers! The ref reprimands again but Sho CLUBS the arm and ROCKS Yoh! Sho runs, Yoh handsprings to dodge!

Sho blocks Yoh’s kick and waistlocks but Yoh resists the lift! Yoh elbows free, runs, but Sho uses the ref as a shield! Sho then SPEARS Yoh down! Fans fire up while both men are down. Sho gets up, drags Yoh up and wrenches the arm to an ELBOW BREAKER! Sho twists the wrist, ELBOW BREAKER! Sho whips Yoh to a corner, runs in, corner clotheslines! Sho shoves Yoh down, aims from the corner, PENALTY KICK to the bad arm! Sho then has the double wristlock takedown! Yoh endures but Sho CRANKS the arm! Fans rally, Yoh kicks and moves around, but Sho has him caught! Yoh gets his head free and scoots back!

Sho CRANKS the arm more, but Yoh still endures! Yoh reaches out with his legs, and he finds the ROPEBREAK! Sho holds until 4, but he’s still frustrated. Fans rally for Yoh, Sho tries to tune them out. Sho drags Yoh up to knuckle lock the bad arm. Sho wraps the bad arm around ropes, then he fires off forearms on Yoh! The ref reprimands but Sho shoves him away to then hook Yoh’s good arm in the ropes. Sho fires off forearm after forearm, then he runs to LARIAT Yoh against ropes! POWER BREAKER!! Cover, TWO!! Yoh survives and Sho can’t believe it! Sho shakes his head, but fans rally up for Yoh.

Sho drags Yoh up, reels him in, but Yoh jackknifes through the Snake Bite! TWO, and Sho runs to KICK the bad arm! Yoh blocks the next kick to DRAGON SCREW! Fans fire up while both men are down! Yoh clutches his arm, Sho clutches his leg, and fans rally up as they slowly rise. Sho drags Yoh up to fire off forearm after forearm! Yoh wobbles and flops back down, but Sho drags him back up. Yoh breaks free to fire off boxing elbows! Yoh ROCKS Sho, then DECKS him! Yoh has the fans behind him as he stands Sho up. Yoh runs, into a JUMP KNEE! Sho runs, into a JUMP KNEE! Yoh runs, Sho side-steps to SNAP GERMAN!

Yoh is right back up! But Sho LARIATS him right back down! Fans rally up for Yoh but Sho drags Yoh up. Sho runs, but Yoh LARIATS back!! Yoh drags himself to a corner, gets to his feet and he brings Sho back up. Yoh suplexes, FALCON USHIGOROSHI! Fans fire up as Yoh roars, and he brings Sho back around. Underhooks, but Sho RAMS Yoh into the ref! Sho crawls for his corner, and he finds the wrench! Sho gets back in the ring, he aims for Yoh! Yoh SUPERKICKS Sho first! Yoh staggers around as Sho is down! Yoh sees the wrench. Last time, Yoh used that to disqualify himself. Will he do it again?!

Yoh picks up the wrench and fans are rallying. Sho begs for mercy, so Yoh throws the wrench away to SUPERKICK Sho down! Yoh drags Sho back up, reels him back in, underhooks for DIRECT- NO! Sho BACK DROPS free! Sho blocks the superkick and sends it into the ref! LOW BLOW!! And then the House of Torture appears! Evil, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo all stomp away on Yoh! Fans rally for Chaos but Evil & Dick stand Yoh up. But here come Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto! Goto DECKS Dick and Ishii SAIDOS Evil! Yujiro still tries to use his pimp cane but Goto gets around, and feeds him to Ishii’s forearm!

Goto fireman’s carries Yujiro, USHIGOROSHI! Goto coaches up Yoh, then he and Ishii keep Evil and the others down on the outside. Fans are thunderous as Yoh stomps the mat! Sho flounders up, Yoh takes aim, but Sho ducks the superkick! WRENCH SHOT!! Somehow, he had the wrench! Sho drags the ref over and gets him to count the cover! The ref crawls into position to see, starts to count, but then he sees the wrench!! The ref questions the validity of the cover! Sho defends the wrench had nothing to do with it but wait, Evil gets in with his NEVER Openweight title! BELT SHOT!!

Sho stops arguing with the ref so that he can drag Yoh up. Sho tucks the arms, SHOCK ARROW!! Cover, Sho wins!

Winner: Sho, by pinfall

Of course the Murder Machine gets help from his team! The NEVER Openweight Six Man titles will be on the line soon enough, will the House of Torture pay for what they’ve done?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado VS Master Wato!

The Rogue Luchador has perhaps underestimated the Way of the Grandmaster one too many times. He and Yoshinobu Kanemaru lost to Team Six or Nine on the 7th, but will redeem himself on the 11th? Or will Wato finally become the grandmaster of the Junior Heavyweight Division?

Wato has his mentors, Tenzan and Taguchi, at ringside while Desperado has his tag partner, Kanemaru. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if the Rogue Luchador stays golden.

Fans rally up already as the two circle. They tie up, Wato shoots in and gets the waistlock. Desperado switches, Wato switches back. Desperado pries free, wrenches to a wristlock, but Wato spins through to wrench and wristlock back. Desperado rolls, steps over, wrenches through, and has the wristlock now. Wato slips through, wrenches, hammerlocks, but Desperado drop toeholds free. Desperado floats to a headlock and grinds the hold. Wato fights up, Desperado hits a takeover but Wato headscissors. Wato holds tight as Desperado tries to kip free, so Desperado bridges back and moves around.

Desperado pops free of the headscissors, and he gets the headlock back. Wato rolls to a cover, ONE. Desperado holds on tight but Wato fights up to his feet. Wato powers Desperado to ropes and Red Shoes calls ropebreak. Desperado lets go and Wato gets away, fans applauding the exchange. They reset, fans rally up, and Wato ties up with Desperado collar ‘n’ elbow. Desperado headlocks, Wato rolls to a cover, ONE, but now Wato has the headlock. Desperado endures as Wato grinds the hold. Desperado pulls Wato’s hair! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, Desperado lets go but Wato thrashes the hold.

Desperado rolls things and has the headlock back. Desperado also traps one arm and keylocks the other. Wato fights around but Desperado shifts his grip. Wato slips out the back to a hammerlock! Desperado scrambles to the ropebreak! The fans cheer the exchange as Wato holds on until 4. Desperado complains to Red Shoes but Tenzan tells him to stop being a baby. Desperado gets up, he circles with Wato, and they tie up. Desperado headlocks again but Wato powers out. Desperado runs Wato over! Things speed up but Desperado just steps on Wato. Desperado headlocks again and thrashes Wato around.

Wato throws body shots and is free, and things speed up again. Wato ducks the leg lariat, Desperado does the splits, Wato leaps over. Wato back elbows, uppercuts and SOBATS! Fans cheer while Desperado clutches his stomach. Wato KICKS Desperado in the back as fans rally, then Wato KICKS Desperado down. Cover, ONE! Wato keeps on Desperado with a chinlock and knee in the back. Wato stretches Desperado back but Desperado crawls. Wato drags Desperado up, snapmares, then headscissor necklocks! Desperado endures, even as Wato pushes up. Desperado reaches out, crawls over, and gets a ROPEBREAK with a leg!

Wato lets off quickly, then follows Desperado out of the ring. Wato puts Desperado in, dodges the haymaker and RANAS Desperado down! Fans fire up as Wato stomps Desperado down. Wato rains down body blows! Wato drags Desperado into a full nelson and fans rally as Desperado endures. Desperado pries at the fingers, but Wato powers up to put the hold back on! Desperado reaches out again, and gets another ROPEBREAK! Wato thrashes Desperado but lets off at 4. Wato keeps Desperado from crawling out, and he stomps away on Desperado! Wato drags Desperado up, but Desperado throws Wato out!

Desperado goes out, whips, but Wato reverses to POST Desperado! Desperado goes flying and Wato gets back in the ring. Wato builds speed, TORNILLO but Desperado gets in the ring! Desperado dropkicks Wato, then whips him into railing! Wato falls but fans rally up. Desperado drags Wato up, whips him into more railing, but Wato comes back to ROCK Desperado with a forearm! Desperado ROCKS Wato back with an uppercut! Red Shoes wants this back in the ring and Desperado drags Wato up, to snap suplex to the floor! Desperado gets in the ring alone and the ring count starts. Wato stirs but is still down at 10 of 20.

Tenzan and Taguchi coach Wato up, and he gets up at 15 to get in at 18! Desperado is annoyed and he stomps Wato down. Desperado then stands Wato up to CHOP him! Wato goes to a corner, Desperado stomps a mudhole into him! Desperado digs his boot into Wato’s leg, but lets off at 4. Desperado then puts the leg in the ropes to pull on it! Wato fights back with a chinlock, but Desperado runs side to side to dropkick the leg! Cover, TWO! Desperado drags Wato by the leg, YANKS and SPLASHES the leg, then covers. TWO, and Desperado is frustrated now. Wato tries to get his bad leg working but Desperado kicks at it.

Fans rally up, Desperado tells them to shush. Desperado stomps the bad leg, drags Wato up, but Wato ROCKS him with a forearm! And another! And another! Desperado kicks the bad leg! Desperado SMASHES the leg into the mat! Desperado paces around, taunts Wato, then drops an elbow on the knee. Desperado has the toehold but Wato tries to fight back. Desperado thrashes the leg, then drops a knee on the knee! Wato scrambles as Desperado pulls on the leg, and gets the ROPEBREAK! Desperado lets off by dropping a knee on the knee! Desperado then eggs Wato on while the fans rally up.

Wato gets up, Desperado gives him toying kicks. Desperado offers a free shot, so Wato throws forearms! And a KICK! Desperado kicks the bad leg, but Wato resists the suplex! They struggle, so Desperado kicks the bad leg again. Desperado suplexes Wato, Wato slips out but the bad leg jams! Desperado reels Wato in, but Wato RAMS Desperado into a corner! Wato hobbles then runs back in, but Desperado dodges. Desperado runs back in, but into BOOTS! Wato runs to SHOTGUN dropkick Desperado down! Fans rally up as both men are down! Wato and Desperado rise, but Wato KICKS first!

Desperado goes to a corner, Wato runs in to back elbow. Wato pushes Desperado down, goes out and springboards, FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Wato keeps cool, gets the bad leg moving again, and fans rally up. Wato KICKS Desperado in the chest, and KICKS, and KICKS! Wato then wrenches, reels Desperado in, but no Mouse Trap! Desperado slips out, spins Wato around, underhooks, but Wato RANAS free of Pinche! Desperado bails out, Wato builds speed! Wato TORNILLOS! Direct hit at the ramp! Both men are down, Kanemaru checks on Desperado, Tenzan and Taguchi coach up Wato.

Fans rally and Wato sits up first. Red Shoes starts the ring count, Wato gets up at 5 of 20 to drag Desperado up at 8. Wato puts Desperado in at 10 of 20, then goes back to the corner. Wato climbs up this time, Desperado stands, missile dropkick! Cover, TWO! Desperado is still in this but Wato fires up again! Wato wants Desperado to stand, SCREW HIGH- NO! Desperado ducks, and gets the STRETCH MUFFLER! Wato reaches out, but Desperado drags him back! Wato rolls to turn it into a cradle! TWO, into BUTTERFLY STRETCH!! Desperado endures, gets an arm free, and he elbows away on Wato!

Wato pulls harder on the crossface he does have, but Desperado digs fingers into Wato’s face! Red Shoes reprimands but Wato still lets go of the hold! Fans rally while both men are down again. Wato goes to a corner, Desperado runs in, and Desperado blocks the boots! DRAGON SCREW! Wato falls while clutching the knee but fans rally back up. Desperado gets up, and he dropkicks the leg out! STRETCH MUFFLER!! Wato endures as Desperado thrashes the leg! Desperado keeps on the hold, then gets an arm! NUMERO DOS! Wato still reaches with his one free arm, but he just misses the rope!

Desperado bends and thrashes Wato around! Wato still endures, fans fire up, and Wato gets the ROPEBREAK! Desperado lets go in frustration as Wato survives. Both sides coach their guy while the fans rally again. Desperado gets back up, drags Wato up, and Desperado hooks Wato up! GUITARRA- NO! Wato slips out, but Desperado fights the Mouse Trap again! Desperado powers through to a fireman’s carry! Wato slips off, but Desperado RAMS him into a corner! Desperado fires off elbows, stomps the bad leg again and again, and only stops because he runs out of steam! Fans rally as both men slowly rise!

Wato hops on, ZIGZAG!! Wato gets back up, Desperado flounders, and Wato hops on, CODE RED! Cover, TWO!! BUTTERFLY STRETCH!!! Desperado endures, Wato pulls as hard as he can on the head and arms! Desperado kicks to move around, fans rally up, Desperado keeps reaching out! ROPEBREAK!! Wato lets go quickly, to then drag Desperado up and wrench! MOUSE TRAP DRIVER!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Desperado escapes but Wato won’t let off! Wato drags Desperado to a drop zone and goes up top! But Desperado gets up, and ROCKS Wato with a right! ROCKET LAUNCHER! Wato crashes down and fans fire up!

Wato gets up, runs back in, but Desperado pops him up to send him into buckles! Wato staggers backward into a SAIDO! Both men are down and fans are thunderous! Wato and Desperado stir, crawl for each other, and go forehead to forehead. Wato throws a forearm, Desperado ROCKS Wato back! Wato forearms again, but Desperado hits back! They stand now, Wato KICKS a leg! Desperado CHOPS back! Wato KICKS Desperado in the chest! And again! Desperado CHOPS back again! Wato sobats, front kicks, and- HEAVY ELBOW from Desperado! Both men sit down and fans rally up again.

Wato manages to stand, Desperado goes to ropes. Wato scowls and Desperado laughs. Desperado ROCKS Wato with another elbow! Wato comes back, Desperado CHOPS him again! Wato shakes his head, so Desperado CHOPS again! Wato is fuming, Desperado CHOPS again! Wato still won’t stay back so Desperado CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Desperado runs, ROCKS Wato, but Wato SUPERKICKS on the return! Fans fire up with Wato, Wato drags Desperado up to T T D!! Cover, TWO!! Desperado survives but Wato goes to the corner! R P P FLOPS!! Desperado runs back in, SPEAR!!

Desperado hooks Wato up, GUITARRA DEL ANGEL! Cover, TWO!! Desperado is furious but fans are thunderous! Desperado drags Wato back up, underhooks the arms, PINCHE- NO! Wato slips out, tilt-o-whirls and rolls him up, jackknife bridge! TWO!!! Desperado escapes and no one can believe it! Wato BUZZSAWS Desperado down! Desperado MONO LOCOS! Desperado drags Wato up, underhooks the arms, PINCHE- NO! Wato slips out the top, rolls back in, SUNSET BOMB! Cover, TWO! Prawn hold, ONE! GROUND DRAGON SCREW! STRETCH MUFFLER!!! Wato rolls, but into NUMERO DOS PLUS!!

Wato endures, fans are thunderous again, and Wato gets a hand free! Wato reaches out, but Desperado grabs for the hand again! Desperado gets the arm, rolls Wato from ropes, NOW Wato quits! Desperado wins!!

Winner: El Desperado, by submission (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)

An incredible effort from Wato, but today is still not the day he becomes the Grandmaster. Will Wato be able to fight his way back up and try again? As for Desperado, he gets the mic to say, “Oi, Wato.” Desperado takes a moment to catch his breath. “Sorry for all the smack talk during the warm-ups. That was all my honest opinion. The point is, you’re just not good enough. I hate you, so I don’t want to pay you any compliments. But physically, you’re at the top of what we have here in NJPW. You just don’t have the smarts, training or the way of thinking. Why don’t you follow ‘Nobu’s lead?” Following Taguchi & Tenzan’s clearly only gotten him so far.

Desperado looks to Hiromu on commentary and says Wato’s gotten farther than either of them thought. Desperado then asks Kanemaru that he wanted to talk to Desperado while he still had the belt, right? There’s a lot Desperado wants to get to, though. Like Lindaman and T-Hawk! Fans cheer for the mention of Strong Hearts. Desperado says there are many more he wants to face, even if he has to wait a bit. But he does hope he and Kanemaru can face off soon. Desperado then asks the fans, “You want me to say something cool to end this out? Well I don’t have it right now. But… I AM your IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion!”

Desperado raises the belt and the confetti streamers fly! The Rogue Luchador has quite the wish list before facing the Heel Master, will all his dream matches come true?

My Thoughts:

This was a very packed event for NJPW, I was not gonna be able to get all of this today. As I skimmed through, I couldn’t believe Douki & Kanemaru beat Bushi & Hiromu. Good wins for the Faces in those early Six Man Tags, and it seems the stipulations for Suzuki VS Yano for the KOPW 2022 is going to be between a handcuff match and a dog crate match. A very good match between Kojima and Khan, and a big win for Khan there. A great Six Man Tag of dream team and Blue Justice against LIJ, and another rare Skull End submission win for Sanada there. LIJ is building up so much momentum, but I feel like that’s all the more reason Okada and Tanahashi are going to retain their titles.

The matches I did cover were of course great stuff. Tiger Mask VS Gedo wasn’t going to be amazing but it was really good. Tiger Mask gets the win here to build momentum towards the Junior Heavyweight Tag title match he and Eagles will have against Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo, and who knows how that one goes. Yoh VS Sho was basically on par with all their other matches, and of course there was more overbooking with House of Torture and Chaos showing up. Yoh won the last time so naturally Sho wins this time, and this all feeds into the NEVER Openweight Six Man title match. That could probably go either way, too, but with Ishii and Evil fighting over the NEVER singles title, I feel like the House of Torture keeps the Six Man belts.

And what a great main event! Undeniably Wato’s best match yet. His character as a personality has been a bit odd, but I think some of that is on purpose. But in ring, he is definitely proving he’s near the top of the Junior Heavyweight card. But in the end, as I figured, Desperado retains. I like that he wants there to be crossover with OWE, and I bet he could get some great matches out of Lindaman and T-Hawk. Of course, Desperado VS Kanemaru would be a great one, too. Either way, it just feels like Desperado is gonna be running hot and having a lengthy reign with this belt, and he’s proven he deserves it.

My Score: 8.7/10