Let the Golden Fight Series begin!

Before fighting for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito meet in a tag team main event! Who gets the first win in this newest warm-up series?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Ryohei Oiwa VS Kosei Fujita; Oiwa wins.
• Master Wato & Yuto Nakashima VS El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Desperado & Kanemaru win.
• Togi Makabe & Ryusuke Taguchi VS DOUKI & Zack Sabre Jr; Douki & ZSJ win.
• 8 Man Tag: Tiger Mask, Toru Yano, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI VS Bullet Club; Tiger Mask, Yano, Goto & Hashi win.
• 8 Man Tag: JadoAce & Guerrillas of Destiny VS The House of Torture; JadoAce & GoD win.
• Taichi & TAKA Michinoku VS Shingo Takagi & BUSHI; Takagi & Bushi win.
• Kazuchika Okada & YOH VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi; Naito & Takahashi win.

PLAY BY PLAY

8 Man Tag: JadoAce & Guerrillas of Destiny VS The House of Torture!

Revenge on the Bullet Club is not yet complete, as the Good Bad Guy wants to take the NEVER Openweight Championship from Evil! Will Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Hiroshi Tanahashi & The Master Heater finally take the fight to the King of Darkness and his cohorts?

Tanahashi shoves off the muscles and fans applaud. Jado rallies up the fans while the House of Torture Too Sweets. And then the House of Torture attacks! Sho goes after Tanahashi, Evil is after Tama, Dick is after Jado, and Yujiro is after Loa! Yujiro keeps Loa in the ring while the others take things out of the ring! Yujiro CLUBS and stomps Loa down, then the ref rings the bell to get this on record. Evil CLAWS Tama’s back while Yujiro digs his knee into Loa’s head. The ref reprimands, but Evil rakes Tama’s face! Yujiro knees Loa low then CLUBS him down again. Yujiro brings Loa around to headlock and grind him down.

Loa endures, fights up, and he powers out. Yujiro rams shoulders with Loa but Loa doesn’t budge! Yujiro throws a forearm but Loa eggs him on. Yujiro throws more forearms and Loa fires up! “Is that it?! C’mon, Yujiro!” So Yujiro rakes Loa’s eyes! The ref reprimands but Yujiro whips Loa to a corner. Loa reverses, runs in, but Yujiro boots him away! Yujiro runs, but into a scoop! Yujiro escapes, backslides, but Loa rolls through! Loa avoids Pimp Juice and headbutts low! Loa then back hands, uppercuts, and repeat! Fans fire up as Loa keeps hitting Yujiro in the corner, then fires off body shots and palm strikes, topping it off with a CHOP!

Tag to Tanahashi and fans rally as Tanahashi whips and CLOBBERS Yujiro! Tanahashi drops a SENTON! Fans cheer, Tanahashi gives us some air guitar before throwing the guitar to the crowd. Tanahashi drags Yujiro over and tags in Tama. Tama wrenches Yujiro, wrenches again, and tags in Jado! Fans rally up as Jado CLUBS Yujiro’s arm! Jado bumps Yujiro off buckles and then CHOPS him! And CHOPS again! Fans fire up as Jado calls for another, and he puts some stank on the CHOP! Jado snapmares Yujiro then dares House of Torture to try something. Fans rally, Jado throws Yujiro through ropes, and brings him out, only for Sho to attack!

The House of Torture knocks Tanahashi and GoD down! Sho stands on Jado’s neck, the ref counts and Sho lets off at 4. Evil RAMS Tama into the timekeeper’s area! Abe-san stays up but that hurt his hands! Evil then chokes Tama with the mic cord! Loa saves Tama but Evil rakes Loa’s eyes! Dick and Sho choke Jado behind the ref’s back but get away with it! Yujiro covers, TWO! Jado survives the onslaught and fans rally up. Yujiro tags Dick and Dick ROCKS Jado with a haymaker! Dick stomps Jado down, rakes his eyes, but the ref reprimands. Dick lets off to talk trash and stomp Jado some more.

Dick drags Jado up, wrenches, then tags Evil. Sho and Dick hold Jado so Evil can CLUB him down. Evil then taunts Tama, and the ref is busy keeping Tama and the others back. Evil uses this distraction to choke Jado with a House of Torture T-shirt! Evil gets away with that, and taunts Tama more. Tag to Sho, and the Murder Machine stomps a mudhole into Jado. The ref counts as Sho digs his boots in, but Sho lets off at 4. Sho taunts Jado but fans rally up behind him. Jado crawls as Sho kicks at him. Sho scuffs Jado but Jado just gets mad! Jado eggs Sho on, Sho throws forearms, and Jado is hulking up!

But Sho rakes his eyes! Sho runs, but Jado runs Sho over! Fans fire up as Jado and Sho crawl, hot tags to Tama and Evil! Tama dodges Evil to DECK Yujiro and swing on Dick! Evil comes back, but Tama blocks to fire off haymaker after haymaker! Tama DECKS Evil, elbows him down then dropkicks him! Fans fire up with Tama and he runs at Evil in the corner, STINGER SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Tama stays fired up and he brings Evil up. Tama fireman’s carries but Evil fights off to waistlock. Tama elbows free, runs, but Yujiro and his pimp cane are there! Evil reels Tama in, but Tama elbows free again!

Tama runs, but Dick trips him up! Evil runs, but Tanahashi trips him! Tama says he owes Tana on that one! Tama drags Evil up, dragon sleeper, but Evil spins around. Tama blocks the suplex but Evil blocks the superkick to give the foot to the ref! Evil then mule kicks Tama down, and tags out to Dick! Evil and Dick beat down Tama, the ref reprimands, but they double whip Tama to ropes. Tama ducks the double clothesline to DOUBLE CROSSBODY! Fans fire up as all three men fall down! Tama crawls, hot tag to Tanahashi! The Ace runs at Dick to CLOBBER him! Tanahashi DECKS Sho and Yujiro, too!

Tanahashi fires off on Dick, then scoops to SLAM him! Tanahashi goes up the corner, for the SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! Fans rally behind Tanahashi and he waits on Dick. Tanahashi runs but Dick gets around to headlock and punch! The House goes after GoD again, then they double whip Tanahashi to a corner. Dick runs in to back elbow! Sho runs in to forearm smash! Yujiro BOOTS, and Evil clotheslines! Then FISHERMAN BUSTER! Dick covers, TWO! Tanahashi is still in this for his team! The House goes after GoD again, and Dick gets the SPOILER CHOKER on Tanahashi!

Tanahashi endures and Tama saves him! Tama then gets Evil for a TONGAN TWIST! Yujiro BOOTS Tama, Loa SPEARS Yujiro! Dick staggers around, fans rally up, and Tanahashi SHOTEIS! Dick wobbles, Tanahashi runs, but Sho KICKS him! Sho holds Tanahashi but Jado trips Sho off the apron! Jado DECKS Sho, but Dick mule kicks Tanahashi! Dick runs, into Tanahashi’s SLINGBLADE! Fans fire up and Tanahashi goes up top, HIGH FLY FLOW!! Cover, Tana’s team wins!

Winners: JadoAce & Guerrillas of Destiny, by pinfall

The House just fell apart! Evil is still adamant that HE will remain King of NEVER, but with GODACE coming for the Six Man titles and Tama going after the singles title, will he soon be the king of nothing?

Taichi & TAKA Michinoku VS Shingo Takagi & BUSHI!

At the end of Hyper Battle 2022, the Holy Emperor won the KOPW 2022 trophy from Toru Yano, and then called out the Rampaging Dragon! Takagi isn’t about playing games, and promises to give KOPW a hard hitting stipulation. Will this just be a sampler of how hard Takagi is going to hit Taichi?

The teams sort out and Taichi shows off his dancing pecks. Takagi shows he has some pep in the pecks, and fans applaud. Taichi dares Takagi to step up, so these two start in a KOPW 2022 sampler! Fans rally as Taichi produces a Sapporo brand beer? It’s just the can, because as Taichi’s been saying online, he’ll even play Kick the Can to defend his trophy. Taichi dares Takagi to make a move on the can, and fans applaud. Takagi isn’t sure what to make of this, so he kicks the can. Taichi CHOKES Takagi! The ref counts, Taichi lets off and he gets mad about the can. Takagi headbutts and CLUBS Taichi back!

Taichi whips, Takagi rams shoulders! Taichi rams back but Takagi runs him over! Taichi BOOTS Takagi down! Fans fire up as Takagi gets back to his feet and stares Taichi down. They circle, but then they back away to tag in Bushi and Taka. Black Mask (even though he’s wearing yellow) and the Blue Playmaker (even though he’s wearing black) circle. They tie up and Bushi CLUBS Taka, ROCKS him, ROCKS him again, then ROCKS him again! Taka gets mad, and pokes Bushi in the eye. Taka whips, Bushi slips off his back and runs to RANA! Fans fire up and Taka staggers to a corner. Bushi is after him to throw more forearms.

Bushi stomps Taka, whips corner to corner, then runs in but Taka dodges. Taka runs in but Bushi swing kicks him away! But Taichi CHOKES Bushi and drives him to the apron! Taka DECKS Takagi, the ref reprimands Taichi and Taichi stops choking so he can whip Bushi into railing! Taichi then goes after Takagi to whip him into railing! Taichi POSTS Takagi and lets him slump to the floor. Taka puts Bushi back in the ring while Taichi stands on Takagi’s neck. Taka digs at Bushi’s mask! The ref reprimands and counts, Taka lets off to set Bushi down and scrape his soles off Bushi’s head! Taka then drags Bushi up and uppercuts him to the corner!

Tag to Taichi, he digs his boot into Bushi, and Taka joins in. The ref reprimands and counts, Taichi puts his hands up. Not the problem! The ref counts again, Taka puts his hands up. Still not the problem! The ref keeps counting, so Taichi lets off with a laugh. Taichi taunts Takagi and the ref is busy with them, so Taka stands on Bushi’s head! Bushi shouts out to the ref and the ref finally notices! The ref counts, Taka lets off, and Taichi stands Bushi up. Taichi chokes Bushi, tags Taka, and Taka digs his fingers into Bushi’s mask again! The ref reprimands, Taka lets off, and fans rally up as Taka brings Bushi up.

Taka uppercuts again, then tags Taichi. Taichi stomps Bushi down, drags him up, and fans rally. Taichi snapmares Bushi to KICK him in the back. Cover, but the ref sees that’s a choke! Taichi lets off and tries again, but the ref sees that’s still a choke! Taichi says that’s not a choke, THIS is a choke! The ref counts, Taichi lets off at 4, and Taichi argues with him about the choke. Taichi smirks and he gives toying kicks. Bushi gets up and fires forearms! Taichi chokes him again! Taichi throws Bushi down, runs, but Bushi dropkicks the legs out! Fans rally up and both men crawl, hot tag to Takagi!

Fans fire up as Takagi runs in at Taichi, but he blocks a boot to clothesline! Takagi fires off forearms, but Taka kicks Takagi. Taka rakes eyes, kicks more, and then he and Taichi double whip. Takagi holds ropes, runs Taichi over and scoop SLAMS Taka, before he SENTONS Taichi! Cover, TWO! Takagi encourages the fans to get louder and they oblige. Takagi winds up and runs, but Taichi boots the Pumping Bomber! Taichi chokes Takagi but Takagi chokes him back! Takagi puts Taichi in a corner, the ref counts, and Takagi lets off at 4. Takagi whips Taichi corner to corner, but Taichi reverses to wrench and DANGEROUS HOOK KICK!

Both men fall and fans fire up again! Taichi crawls, gets up and kicks at Takagi, but Takagi blocks the buzzsaw! Takagi ROCKS Taichi, but Taichi comes back to KICK. Takagi and Taichi go back and forth, forearm for kick! Fans rally up as Takagi gets the edge, but Taichi SOBATS! Taichi runs, into an ELBOW! JAB! YUKON- Taichi gets under to waistlock but Takagi standing switches! Taichi blocks the lift to PELE Takagi down! Fans fire up again and Taichi crawls to hot tag Taka! Taka stomps Takagi over and over, then drags him up. Takagi ROCKS Taka, runs, but Taka runs the other way to BOOT him down!

Taka DECKS Bushi, stomps Takagi and digs his boots in. Taka whips corner to corner, runs in and clotheslines! Taichi adds a clothesline of his own, then snapmares for Taka’s SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO! Taichi goes out after Bushi but Bushi RAMS Taichi into railing! Taka brings Takagi up but Takagi is too big to scoop! Takagi shoves Taka away, blocks the eye poke and pulls Taka’s fingers! But Taka just pokes Takagi with the other hand! Taka runs in to stomp Takagi, whip him corner to corner, but misses in the corner. Bushi back elbows, Takagi clotheslines, then feed to an ENZIGURI! JAB! CODE BREAKER!

Busih DECKS Taichi then DIVES! Direct hit and Taichi hits railing! Fans fire up and Takagi PUMPING BOMBERS Taka! Cover, LIJ wins!

Winners: Shingo Takagi & Bushi, by pinfall

Taichi got hit hard and Takagi gave hard hits, but these two didn’t quite have the collision Takagi promised. Takagi grabs Taichi’s mic stand, which has the KOPW trophy attached! Takagi hands it back to Taichi, but these two will meet for this prize in just one week! What brutal match type will Takagi come up with in that time?

Kazuchika Okada & YOH VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi!

The Rainmaker overcame Zack Sabre Jr. to retain THE IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. But he still had the New Japan Cup loss eating away at him, so he called out the Uncontrollable Charisma! Naito accepted the challenge and these two will go around one more time in 2022! But Wrestling Dontaku is still weeks away, so who gets the first win in this long and winding warm-up series?

Naito again takes his time with his fancy entrance attire, but Okada is very patient. The teams sort out, and after an LIJ fist bump, Naito starts against Okada for an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship preview. Fans rally and applaud already, “O-KA-DA!” “NA-I-TO!” as the two circle. They tie up, end up on ropes rather easily, and Naito lets off quickly. They go again, tie up and Okada gets around only for Naito to wrench through. Okada wrenches back, Naito rolls and leg picks to have a toehold. Okada endures, pries at Naito’s arms, but Naito holds on tight. Okada uses a leg but Naito uses that to push him to a cover, ONE!

Naito tries a lateral press now, ONE, and Okada gets up. Naito snapmares into a chinlock but Okada endures. Okada fights up, puts Naito on ropes, and Red Shoes counts. Okada and Naito let each other go and fans cheer as they reset again. They knuckle lock now, but then clinch. Naito facelocks, Okada drops to trip him up, but Naito has the leg guard ready. Okada bypasses that to latter press, but Naito rolls. Okada facelocks, Naito spins it around onto him, and Okada fights up. Naito gets around to schoolboy, TWO! Naito hurries to chinlock but Okada pushes him down to toehold! Naito scrambles and gets the ropebreak!

Fans applaud this technical exchange and Okada lets off the leg. Naito goes outside the ring, Okada waits, and Naito takes his time returning. Okada and Naito go again, knuckle locks and a clinch, and Okada puts Naito in the corner. Yoh tags in, but Naito slips away. Naito circles with Yoh, but then tags Hiromu. Fans rally for the Timebomb but Yoh trips him up! Things speed up, Hiromu goes around Yoh to run him over! Fans applaud and Hiromu runs, but Yoh drops. Hiromu sees that and whips but Yoh reverses. Things keep moving, Yoh drop toeholds Hiromu to then basement dropkick! Fans applaud as the tables have turned.

Yoh stomps Hiromu to a corner, then stands him up to ROCK him with a forearm. Yoh wrenches an arm, whips corner to corner, then runs in, but Hiromu dodges! Naito gets in to atomic drop Yoh, and set him up for Hiromu’s SHOTGUN! Yoh hits buckles, Okada runs in, but Naito drop toeholds him, and Hiromu adds a basement dropkick! Okada bails out, Naito goes out after him to CLUB him down with elbows. Fans rally while Hiromu brings Yoh up. Naito chokes Okada with the railing while Hiromu CHOPS Yoh! And CHOPS him again. Yoh ends up in the corner, Hiromu CHOPS him even more!

Tag to Naito, he CLUBS Yoh, then CLUBS him again. Naito brings Yoh up, CLUBS him even harder, then drags him up into a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Naito tags Hiromu, LIJ double whips and double elbows Yoh down! Hiromu covers, TWO! Fans rally while Hiromu circles Yoh. Hiromu brings Yoh up and mockingly asks what’s wrong. Hiromu then CHOPS Yoh again, and CHOPS him again! Yoh shoves back then CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Hiromu just CHOPS Yoh off his feet! Tag to Naito, he brings Yoh up and around, BACKBREAKER to the leg hook nelson! Yoh endures as Naito stares Okada down.

Okada shouts to Yoh but Hiromu has Red Shoes keep his eyes on Okada. Yoh fights, reaches out with his legs, and kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! Naito lets go without a count, and he tags Hiromu back in. Hiromu drags Yoh up, CHOPS him to a corner, and then eggs Yoh on. Yoh stands, Hiromu CHOPS but Yoh fires forearms back! Yoh kicks, Hiromu CHOPS, then Hiromu CHOPS again! Hiromu whips corner to corner, runs in, and clotheslines Yoh! Hiromu snapmares and runs, but Yoh’s ready for this! Yoh dodges the basement dropkick to run and dropkick Hiromu! Fans fire up again while both men are down!

Fans rally as Yoh and Hiromu crawl, hot tags to Okada and Naito! Naito dodges, Okada dodges, then Okada fires off forearms! Okada whips,  Naito reverses but Okada CLOBBERS him with an elbow! Okada whips corner to corner, runs in and back elbows, then he kicks Naito for a DDT! Cover, TWO! Okada stands Naito up, scoops him, but Naito slips out! Naito BOOTS Okada, then gets around him to full nelson, then arm-drag! And then hip toss to a basement dropkick! Fans fire up while Okada crawls to a corner. Naito whips him corner to corner, runs in, but Okada BOOTS him! Okada then pops Naito up to the Alabama!

Naito holds onto the ropes so Okada dumps him to the apron. Naito ROCKS Okada back but Okada dropkicks the legs out! Naito tumbles and staggers away, but Okada goes out after him. Okada kicks low to then DDT to the floor! Okada drags Naito up, puts him in the ring, then scoops him. Naito fights the gut wrench, but Okada powers through! Naito victory rolls out of that, TWO! Okada BOOTS Naito, then uppercuts! Okada whips, Naito reverses and uses ropes to TORNADO DDT! Fans fire up again as both men crawl. Hot tag to Hiromu! Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS Okada, then whips to ROCK Okada with a forearm!

Hiromu puts Okada on ropes, kicks the ropes to jam Okada, and then runs, but into Okada’s FLAPJACK! Both men are down again and fans rally back up! Okada crawls, hot tag to Yoh! Yoh fires off forearms and has Hiromu in a corner. He whips corner to corner but Hiromu reverses. Yoh goes up and over, ducks and dodges and FLYING FOREARMS Hiromu down! Fans fire up with Yoh, and he aims from the corner. Yoh runs corner to corner, but Hiromu BOOTS him back! Hiromu runs, but into a sobat! Front kick, and HALF HATCH! Bridging cover, TWO! Okada gets in to BOOT Naito down!

Yoh and Okada watch Hiromu get up. JUMP KNEE into a BOOT, uppercut into an uppercut! Then FALCON ARROW! Cover, Naito breaks it! He got around Okada but now Okada throws Naito out. Okada goes out after Naito while Yoh fires up! Yoh tunes up and fans clap along. Yoh aims at Hiromu, runs in, but Hiromu blocks the superkick! Naito throws Okada into railing! Yoh catches the lariat but Hiromu fights the underhooks! Hiromu shoves Yoh into Naito’s back elbow, Hiromu SUPERKICKS then Naito ENZIGURIS! Hiromu runs to HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! Cover, TWO!! Yoh survives and fans fire up!

Hiromu fires up, Naito keeps Okada down on the outside, and Hiromu fireman’s carries. CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Hiromu roars again and he drags Yoh back up. Fireman’s carry again, but Yoh slips out! Yoh O’Conner Rolls, but no bridge! Full nelson but Yoh breaks out! Hiromu ducks the elbow to SUPERKICK! Hiromu reels Yoh into another fireman’s carry, for TIMEBOMB!! Cover, LIJ wins again!

Winners: Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall

Los Ingobernables de Japon sweeps the night! But with Hiromu taking down Yoh, that technically leaves Okada and Naito even. May 1st is on the horizon, will the Rainmaker be ready for Wrestling Dontaku?

As for Hiromu, he gets the mic to say, “Oi, Yoh! What’s the matter? I beat you that easy? OI! You’re a completely different guy to the one I faced in the BOSJ final last year. You’ve fallen so low and have no presence at all! Huh?! Oi, Yoh! Are you just satisfied with coming in and going to work? Oi, Yoh. You’re supposed to bring some fire to this ring! I’m sure none of this will get through to you, and now what? You’re going to pull a no comment and go home? I know you’ve got heart, but whatever. I’ve got nothing more to say to you. Hiromu drops the mic and Yoh starts crawling to the back.

But then Hiromu picks the mic back up to shout, “Get the hell outta here! You can’t do anything!” Seems he does have more to say. “Just keep on enjoying the career you have!” Hiromu drops the mic again, seems now he has nothing more to say. Will these words reignite Mr. Direct Drive so that they can meet again in this year’s BOSJ finals?

Wait, he gets the mic again and he claps. Fans clap along, but Naito snatches the mic from Hiromu. “Reporter Naito is here with the winner of the main event, Hiromu Takahashi.” Hiromu plays along as fans applaud. “Very nice win today.” “Thank you.” “How did you feel about today, the series opener here in Nagoya?” “Well, it was the first match on the tour leading up to Fukuoka PayPay Dome, where Tetsuya Naito is in the main event for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, so I did my best not to hold him back.” Fans applaud that answer. Naito says Hiromu’s victory is “of course, a result of your partner, Tetsuya Naito’s efforts, as well. Thoughts?”

Hiromu says Naito is an “immense star,” and he can learn a lot from him. “But inside, I know that someday I want ot surpass him. But for now, I just felt I couldn’t hold him back.” Naito reminds us that on May 1st, he will face Okada at the PayPay Dome. Who does Hiromu think will win? “Hmm… I think it will be a difficult match, but I hope that Naito pulls out the win for everyone.” Reporter Naito says wrestler Naito is surely watching this backstage. Does Hiromu have any advice for him? “I think Okada is a flawless athlete, but Naito can create a weakness in him and pick up the win. Good luck, Naito!”

Naito asks if there are any final thoughts for the fans here in Nagoya. Please say them to the camera for everyone watching all over the world. “We’re heading for PayPay Dome, where I’m sure Naito will become World Heavyweight Champion. I look forward to teaming up with Fujinami, who held the junior heavyweights in high esteem. I’ll be doing my best! Thank you very much!” Naito says as a personal request, he wants Hiromu to close this out. Hiromu accepts. Naito says he’d like nothing more more more more than for Hiromu to do the LIJ roll call. Hiromu will do his best to live up to those expectations.

Then Naito shall hand over the mic for a surely thrilling roll call. Hiromu tells everyone here that while they can’t yell out, please shout in your hearts. “Bushi! Sanada! Hiromu! Takagi! Y Naito! Nosotros… LOS! Ingoberrrrrnableeeeees~! DE! JA! PON!” Then Naito snatches up the mic to say, “Today’s hero, Hiromu Takahashi!” Clearly a lot of fun ‘n’ games in celebration, but will everything go LIJ’s way in this Golden Fight Series?

My Thoughts:

A pretty good event to start this Golden Fight Series, but really the only one worth covering already. Tuesday and Wednesday will be Video On Demand Only, but their match cards are really just rehashes of tonight. And then Friday, Saturday and Sunday don’t even seem to be on NJPW World’s schedule so I wouldn’t be able to do those, anyway. And even here, I skipped most of the matches. The first being Young Lion VS Young Lion actually made it unpredictable. I will say, splitting up the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions up was a unique way to build to their title defense. Taguchi & Wato are taking on Kanemaru & Douki, and Suzuki-Gun sweeps to basically signal the champions are retaining.

Chaos & Tiger Mask win because I bet Goto & Hashi are going to build back to a tag title rematch with The United Empire. I kept House of Torture VS Jado Avengers because it works towards the coming NEVER title matches. I said last time that Evil was gong to lose one and keep the other, but since he retained both that time, I can’t be sure what happens. But Jado Avengers win for now to build some momentum, they could probably go back and forth with House of Torture before the end of the series. We got a very good tag match out of Taichi & Taka VS Takagi & Bushi, but of course Taka takes the loss. Takagi gets momentum, but I’m thinking Taichi retains in whatever match they have.

We also got a very good tag match main event, and I like that they used Yoh taking the loss to Hiromu as a way to also build towards this year’s Best of the Super Juniors, where it’s finally a separate event all it’s own again. Hiromu really tears into Yoh with that promo, so you can bet Yoh will have almost a duplicate run from BOSJ 28. The promo Naito and Hiromu had together was pretty clever stuff, and since he also gets the momentum to start, I feel like this Golden Fight Series will parallel New Years Golden Dash: Naito will get a lot of wins in this go-home series but Okada wins out in the end.

My Score: 8.5/10