One last chance at momentum for The Rainmaker!

NJPW’s New Years Golden Series is in the home stretch! Kazuchika Okada has yet to defeat Tetsuya Naito in these previews, is this his last chance?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Great-O-Khan VS Ryohei Oiwa; Khan wins.
• Six Man Tag: Tiger Mask, Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita VS Ryusuke Taguchi, Master Wato & Tomoaki Honma; Taguchi, Wato & Honma win.
• Six Man Tag: Suzuki-Gun VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
• Toru Yano & Yuji Nagata VS Minoru Suzuki & Taichi; Suzuki & Taichi win.
• Tomohiro Ishii & YOH VS SHO & Yujiro Takahashi; Ishii & Yoh win, by disqualification.
• Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI VS EVIL & Dick Togo; changed to…
• 8 Man Tag: Chaos VS House of Torture; Chaos wins.
• 8 Man Elimination Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe & Satoshi Kojima; win(s).

PLAY BY PLAY

8 Man Elimination Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe & Satoshi Kojima!

With Hiroyoshi Tenzan out of action, Bushi is the corner man as Sanada, Hiromu, Takagi y Naito look to wrap these previews up. Will LIJ still be unstoppable? Or will the combination of Rainmaker, Ace, Rampaging King Kong and Bread Style finally strike them out?

The teams sort out, fans cheer Tanahashi’s muscles, and after the LIJ fist bump, we begin with Tanahashi and Sanada. Fans rally already as Ace and Cold Skull meet again. They circle, feel out the grapple, and fans clap, “Let’s Go, Ace!” “SA-NA-DA!” Tanahashi wants to see if it’s for him and he goes on the corner. The fans applaud and clap the rhythm again. Tanahashi offers Sanada a chance, so Sanada goes up. Sanada gets the dancing pecs going and fans applaud! But then Tanahashi tries to shove Sanada over! LIJ hurries to keep Sanada up but Okada and the others try to help Tanahashi!

Fans rally, LIJ gets Okada’s team outta the way, and Sanada is safe. Sanada calls Tanahashi out for that sneaky move, but everyone else stands down to keep this 1v1. Tanahashi waits while Sanada checks with Red Shoes. Red Shoes says the fan pole favors Tanahashi, but only a little. Sanada tags out to Naito and Naito calls out Okada. Tanahashi tags and fans rally up for “O-KA-DA!” “NA-I-TO!” But then Naito tags Hiromu! The trolling begins as Naito lets Ticking Timebomb circle with Okada. Okada swipes at Naito but Hiromu CLUBS and CHOPS Okada for it. Hiromu whips, but Okada holds ropes and BOOTS back!

Okada scoop SLAMS Hiromu, then slingshot sentons! Okada mocks tranquilo! Okada then drags Hiromu up and over and Makabe tags in. They mug Hiromu, then Makabe CLUBS Hiromu again. Makabe drags Hiromu up to scoop and SLAM! Makabe drags Hiromu up again to bump off buckles. Tag to Kojima, he stomps Hiromu over and over, then CLUBS Hiromu down. Hiromu gets up but Kojima CHOPS him! Kojima turns Hiromu for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, but Naito breaks it! Red Shoes reprimands but Kojima tags Tanahashi. Tanahashi drags HIromu up to fire off fast hands! Then another scoop SLAM!

Tanahashi hits a JUMPING ELBOW DROP! Tanahashi air guitars at LIJ, then throws the guitar out. Takagi lets it hit the floor. Tanahashi tags Okada, the dream team double whip Hiromu to double elbow him down. Okada watches the corner but Naito backs off. Hiromu gets up to CHOP and CHOP and CHOP Okada, but Okada knees Hiromu low. Naito gets away from Okada again, so Okada throws forearms on Hiromu. Okada whips, Hiromu reverses, and Naito trips Okada up! Hiromu basement dropkicks Okada while Takagi runs in and DECKS Kojima! And then Makabe! And then Tanahashi! Naito RAMS Okada into railing!

Takagi goes back to the LIJ corner as Naito gets Okada up and puts him in. Naito tags in, then stomps away on Okada, with Sanada and Takagi joining in! Red Shoes has to keep Okada’s team back, and Takagi tells them to shut up and go to the corner. Naito headscissors necklocks Okada and pushes up to add pressure. Okada endures, kicks around and gets the ropebreak! Naito lets off and tags Takagi. Naito then drags Okada up and Takagi CLUBS Okada down. Takagi cravats Okada into the corner, cranking on the neck. Red Shoes calls ropebreak and Takagi lets off. Takagi kicks at Okada then brings him up.

Okada throws a forearm! And another! And another! Takagi ROCKS Okada with a forearm back! Then Takagi suplexes Okada high and hard! Cover, TWO! Fans rally, “O-KA-DA!” “TA-KA-GI!” Takagi drops elbows over and over then runs to slide, but Okada dodges! FLAPJACK! Both men are down and fans fire up! Okada crawls, hot tag to Makabe! Makabe runs Takagi over, knocks LIJ down, but Takagi kicks and whips. Makabe reverses to POWERSLAM! Makabe sees Takagi go to the corner, and he runs in to clothesline! Makabe climbs up to rain down fists! Makabe laughs as he gets all 10, but Takagi blocks the suplex!

Takagi throws knees, a HEADBUTT, then runs. Takagi ducks one but not the LEFT LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up more as Takagi rises. Makabe whips, Takagi holds ropes, and Makabe runs in, only for Takagi to dump him out! Makabe lands on the apron, Takagi hurries to fire forearms. Makabe gives them back, Takagi gets the edge. Takagi runs, but into Kojima’s kick! Kojima cravats but Takagi fights the cutter off! Kojima stops from running into Makabe, and then he dodges Takagi! Makabe ROCKS Takagi, CHOPS him, then Kojima runs in, only to be sent into Makabe after all! Makabe falls, Takagi ELIMINATES him!

Takagi keeps after Kojima, but Kojima holds onto the ropes! Fans rally, Naito is sneaking up as Kojima fights back. Kojima puts Takagi in the corner but Naito tags in. Naito stomps and CLUBS Kojima. Naito snapmares and wraps Kojima in a chinlock. Fans rally, Kojima gets the ROPEBREAK, but Naito holds until Red Shoes counts 4. Tag to Sanada while Naito holds Kojima down. Sanada stomps Kojima, CLUBS him to ropes, then CLAWS his back! Sanada wrenches Kojima’s arm, drop toeholds and CLAWS his back more! Tag to Hiromu, he DECKS Okada and Tanahashi! Hiromu then Machine Gun CHOPS Kojima!

Hiromu tries to mock Kojima, but Kojima turns things around to Machine Gun CHOP Hiromu! Kojima whips Hiromu corner to corner but Hiromu dodges! Hiromu clotheslines, snapmares, and still copies Kojima’s catchphrase! Hiromu then runs to basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up, Hiromu drags Kojima up to fireman’s carry, but Kojima fights it off! Hiromu still tries, Kojima slips off so Hiromu fires off kicks! Hiromu tries again, Kojima slips off and waistlocks but Hiromu switches. Kojima elbows free to DDT! Both men are down and fans fire up! Hiromu crawls, hot tag to Sanada!

Sanada fires forearms on Kojima, but spins into a forearm! Kojima ROLLING ELBOWS Sanada down! Hot tag to Tanahashi! The Ace runs, FLYING FOREARMS Sanad adown, then BLASTS the LIJ corner! Tanahashi elbows Sanada way before the CROSSBODY! Fans fire up with Tanahashi and he drags Sanada up. Tanahashi scoop SLAMS Sanada into a drop zone, goes up to the second rope, SUNSET SENTON! Fans rally up and Tanahashi waits on Sanada. Sanada stands, Tanahashi fakes him out to dropkick the leg! Then DRAGON SCREW! Then TEXAS CLOVERLEAF! Sanada gest the ROPEBREAK!

Tanahashi lets off quickly and he looms over Sanada. Sanada rises, Tanahashi runs for real, but Sanada throws him up and over! Tanahashi holds onto the ropes and skins the cat! He throws Sanada over, but Sanada also skins the cat! Sanada blocks a kick, trips Tanahashi, and ties him up! Okada saves Tanahashi from Paradise! Okada and Kojima go after LIJ, Tanahashi gets Sanada’s legs! Tanahashi tries to figure out Paradise, but he can’t! Sanada kicks Tanahashi away! Tanahashi kick sSanada back, then whips him. Sanada goes up and over, Tanahshi ROCKS him! Sanada holds on, and ROCKS Tanahashi back!

Sanada reels Tanahashi in, and suplexes Tanahashi to the apron! Tanahashi fires a forearm, Sanada forearms back, and fans rally as they brawl on the edge! Tanahashi ROCKS Sanada, kicks the leg, but Sanada jumps the dropkick! Sanada ties Tanahashi up in the ropes, in Paradise! Sanada then runs side to side, and dropkicks Tanahashi out of Paradise, and off the apron! Sanada ELIMINATES Tanahashi! LIJ has a 4-2 advantage! Sanada kicks Okada as he gets in, then whips. Okada ducks, dodges and ELBOWS Sanada down! Naito kicks Okada, but runs into a BOOT! Fans fire up as Okada catches his breath.

Okada stalks Sanada, drags him up and whips him to the corner. Okada runs in but into a dropkick to his legs! Sanada crawls over, tag to Naito! Naito drags Okada out to whip him into railing! And then whip him back into the railing again! Red Shoes reprimands but Naito takes his time bringing Okada back up. Naito whips Okada into railing again! LIJ keeps their eye on Kojima as Naito puts Okada in. Okada hobbles up, Naito elbows him down and adds a basement dropkick! Fans rally up, “O-KA-DA!” “NA-I-TO!” as Naito throws back elbow after back elbow into Okada. And then another round of back elbows!

Naito whips Okada over the ropes! Okada sits on the apron, gets up and throws forearms! Naito staggers, Okada ROCKS him again! Okada gets in, into another dropkick to the legs! Naito runs in, but Okada pops him up to the Alabama, REVERSE NECKBREAKER! Okada has the MONEY CLIP, but LIJ break it! Hiromu DECKS Kojima, and then he CLUBS Okada. LIJ have Okada alone as Hiromu CHOPS! Hiromu and Sanada double whip Okada to a corner. Okada avoids Takagi’s elbow to throw elbows on Sanada and Hiromu. But Naito elbows Okada, then holds him up for Takagi’s PUMPING BOMBER! ROLLING JACKKNIFE! TWO!!

Okada survives and LIJ is furious! Fans rally hard as ever while Naito brings Okada up. Naito wrenches, DEST- NO! Okada goes to dump Naito out! Naito stays on the apron, Okada throws forearms! Naito hits back, ROCKS Okada, and gets in safe. Okada runs in, but Naito throws him up and over! And dropkicks the leg out! And then dropkicks Okada! Naito ELIMINATES Okada!! The Rainmaker goes out already!? Kojima’s the last man for his team! Kojima hurries in but all of LIJ is there! Fans fire up as Kojima stares them all down. Kojima stomps Naito, Hiromu CLUBS Kojima! Takagi & Sanada join in!

Takagi whips Kojima to the corner, then he, Hiromu and Sanada all dig their boots in! Red Shoes reprimands, they all let off, and now Takagi copies Kojima’s catchphrase. Takagi whips Kojima corner to corner, Hiromu runs in to clotheslines! Sanada runs in to back elbow, and Takagi adds a clothesline! Snapmare, TRIPLE BASEMENT DROPKICK! Naito covers, TWO!! Kojima’s still in this and Tanahashi shouts to rally the fans, “KO-JI-MA! KO-JI-MA!” Naito swipes at Tanahashi but he stays outta reach as he keeps shouting. Naito & Sanada double whip, but Kojima gets around to shove Naito into Sanada!

Kojima kicks Naito, COZY CUTTER! Hiromu runs in, Kojima kicks him and COZY CUTTER! Fans fire up, Takagi runs in and fires boxing elbows! And a DOUBLE CHOP! Takagi runs, but DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Cozy Lariat withstands Pumping Bomber! But Takagi comes back, only for COZY LARIAT to take him down! Fans rally, Kojima throws off the elbow pad, but Naito swats the lariat! Naito runs, into a COZY LARIAT! Kojima drags Naito up, reels him in, and hits a COZY BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Naito survives and fans rally up again. Kojima powers up, runs, but Naito ducks to feed to Sanada’s dropkick!

Naito ENZIGURIS! Hiromu SUPERKICKS! Naito suplexes for VALENTIA! Fans rally, Naito drags Kojima up and wrenches, tilt-o-whirl, DESTINO!! Cover, LIJ SWEEPS!!

Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, by pinfall (perfect score)

Naito taunts Okada’s team with a tranquilo pose, because even here in this Elimination Tag, his promise of batting a thousand is kept! Is this an ill omen for the Rainmaker’s IWPG World Heavyweight Championship reign?

Naito gets the mic to say, “Buenas noches, Korakuen Hall~!” The month long Golden Series just has two Sapporo shows left. And through it all, Naito, Sanada, and LIJ as a whole have won all their preview matches. They’ll carry this momentum to win the title matches on the 19th and 20th. “Everyone, please get hyped for that.” So until then, you know what to do: TRANQUILO! Assen na yo. “Tokyo, we’ll see you again on March 1st, for the Anniversary Show in Nippon Budokan.” So let’s finish tonight’s Korakuen Hall show the only right way they can. “Bushi, Sanada, Hiromu, Takagi, y Naito! Nosotros… Los Ingoberrrrrrrnables! DE! JA! PON!” Will LIJ continue to pitch the perfect game? Or will it all far apart in the bottom of the ninth?

My Thoughts:

Finally got this done, and yes I skipped matches again. I did like that there was a lot of changes to the match spots. El Phantasmo changed up his finishing sequence, firing off a lot of kicks on Douki, and then using the straitjacket torture rack for a burning hammer, not a neckbreaker. But his crisis of confidence about not having his loaded boot is a great story bit, and it was a distraction for the ref so that Taiji Ishimori could sneak in and hit his finisher. Then Suzuki gets the better of Yano this time, cuffing him to the railing and putting everyone else, even the ref and the ring announcer, in the dog crate.

There was also a great change of pace in how Chaos VS House of Torture played out. Instead of completely copy-pasting from before, where one tag match sets up the other, Goto called for the change to another 8 Man Tag between them all. Chaos winning this time surely plays into what I said yesterday, with Chaos holding onto the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles while House of Torture holds onto the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles. And then the main event, downgraded from 10 Man to 8 Man (get well soon, Hiroyoshi Tenzan), I did not at all expect a 4-0 sweep! What a way to put Okada and Tanahashi on the defensive going into the final events, but also all the more reason I think they retain.

My Score: 8.5/10