Will the Holy Emperor meet a Skull End?

NJPW Battle Autumn arrives in Niigata, and that means fans finally get to cheer! Will they be celebrating with Sanada or Taichi in the main event?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe VS Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita; Honma & Makabe win.
• Six Man Tag: Chaos VS The United Empire; Chaos wins.
• 8 Man Tag: Ryusuke Taguchi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Hikuleo & Jado VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
• 10 Man Tag: David Finlay, Tiger Mask, Master Wato, Alex Zayne & Ren Narita VS Suzuki-Gun; Finlay, Tiger Mask, Wato, Zayne & Narita win.
• Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi VS Taiji Ishimori & Gedo; Takagi & Hiromu win.
• Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The United Empire; LIJ wins.
• NJPW World Television Championship Tournament, Opening Round: Hirooki Goto VS KENTA; Kenta wins and advances.
• NJPW World Television Championship Tournament, Opening Round: SANADA VS Taichi; Sanada wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

NJPW World Television Championship Tournament, Opening Round: Hirooki Goto VS KENTA!

The Fierce Warrior has held singles gold before, as has the Fang Revived, but both men would love another accolade on the resumé. Will Goto go to sleep? Or will he make it through to another round?

The bell rings and Kenta BOOTS Goto! Fans cheer, and actually cheer as they’re allowed to this time, as Kenta goes corner to corner. Kenta BOOTS Goto, runs, but Goto follows to clothesline! Goto runs and LARIATS Kenta! Fans fire up, Goto fireman’s carries, USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer as Kenta bails out and Goto goes out after him. Goto stomps Kenta, drags him back up, and Goto CLUBS Kenta on the neck. And CLUBS him again! Fans rally and Goto whips, but Kenta reverses! Goto hits railing but runs at Kenta, only for Kenta to POWERSLAM Goto to the floor! Fans fire up and rally while both men stir.

Kenta sits up first and he crawls away. Kenta gets in the ring as the ring count starts. Goto is still down at 5 of 20, but he sits up at 8. Fans rally, Kenta wants the count to go faster, and we’re at 10! Goto drags himself over at 15, but he’s struggling! Goto springs in at 19.9! Kenta is furious but the fans applaud. Kenta stomps away on Goto, then he unties a white buckle pad! Kenta throws the pad away and drags Goto up. Kenta whips Goto into the bare buckles! Goto drops to the mat and Kenta claims someone else took the pad. Kenta drags Goto up, to whip him back into the bare buckles! Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! A third cover, TWO!

Kenta tries a fourth, TWO! And a fifth, TWO!! That was close and Kenta is mad, but fans cheer as the ref says two is two. Fans rally and duel as Kenta drags Goto up. Kenta wrenches and hooks Goto up for a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Kenta is annoyed again and he argues with the ref. The ref says two is two, so Kenta kicks Goto around. Kenta kicks Goto around more but Goto snarls. Goto swings, but into a spin and DDT! Cover, TWO! Kenta argues with the ref again but two is still two! Kenta shrugs while fans rally and duel. We pass five minutes as Kenta drops a knee, and another knee! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally as Goto sits up. Kenta drags Goto up but Goto CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Kenta knees low, runs, but Goto follows to LARIAT! Fans fire up again as both men are down! Kenta crawls away to a corner and Goto slowly stands. Goto storms over and he ROCKS Kenta with a forearm. Goto whips corner to corner, to MURAMASA! And then BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Kenta is still in this but Goto drags him back up. Goto fireman’s carries but Kenta fights with elbows. Goto still picks Kenta up, but Kenta claws Goto’s face to slip free! Kenta shoves Goto at the ref but the ref moves. Goto stops from hitting buckles, but he runs into Kenta’s waistlock.

Kenta shoves Goto at the ref again, but again the ref dodges! Goto catches Kenta now, but Kenta runs to throw Goto into the ref! Goto gets up but Kenta hits a DDT! Kenta gets mad at the ref even though this is Kenta’s fault, and Kenta goes outside. Kenta brings out a chair from under the ring! Fans rally up as Kenta aims. Goto slowly stands, Kenta rushes in, but Goto dodges! Goto LARIATS the chair into Kenta! Fans fire up and Goto has the chair now. Goto wants to hit Kenta, but the ref is back up. Goto drops the chair, the ref confiscates it, but Kenta LOW BLOWS Goto! Kenta rolls Goto up, but with feet on the ropes! The ref sees that and says NO!

Kenta and the ref argue and fans rally up. Kenta grabs the chair, he wants to use it, but the ref stops him. The ref takes the chair back, Goto blocks Kenta’s boot but Kenta CROSS COUNTERS the discus lariat! Kenta ROCKS Goto again and again with more haymakers! But Goto fireman’s carries! Goto throws Kenta to the dragon sleeper, but Kenta drops down! Only for Goto to sit on the cover! TWO!!! Kenta escapes and fans fire up! Goto gets to a corner, he runs at Kenta, but Kenta spins him around to send into bare buckles! Kenta fireman’s carries for GO TO- NO, Goto avoids the knee but he does clip Kenta’s head.

Kenta drags Goto back up, fireman’s carries again, GO TO SLEEP!!! Cover, Kenta wins!

Winner: Kenta, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

Goto tried to avoid it, but it came back around! Kenta, forehead bloodied from the chair shot earlier, is moving to the next round! Will Kenta put in another gritty performance in the next round?

NJPW World Television Championship Tournament, Opening Round: SANADA VS Taichi w/ Miho Abe!

The Cold Skull fought so hard to get the IWGP US Championship, only for it to be taken from him by injury. The Holy Emperor has been NEVER Openweight Champion, but that was already a few years ago. Who takes that first step towards getting back to a singles title?

These two budding rivals stare down at the apron, then take their masks off at the same time. Next come the jackets, and Taichi shows off the dancing pecs. Fans cheer, and Taichi waits on Sanada to respond. Sanada skips the dancing pecs for now and the bell rings. Fans rally up already, “SA-NA-DA! SA-NA-DA!” as he and Taichi stare down. They slowly circle, Taichi shows off the pecs a bit more, and Sanada responds. They tie up, Sanada powers Taichi to ropes and Red Shoes calls the break. Sanada pats the pecs then backs away. Taichi reminds everyone they’re on the clock. But Sanada wants to have a push-up contest, and the fans want to see it, too!

Taichi obliges, and both men set up side by side. They begin! The fans count, but Taichi stops at 5 to get a GEDO CLUTCH! TWO!! Sanada waistlocks, they go to ropes, O’Conner NO BRIDGE! TWO!! Taichi escapes, Sanada DROPKICKS him down! Fans fire up and Sanada hurries up! ROUNDING BODY- NO, Sanada has to land on his feet as Taichi moves! Taichi runs in to AX BOMBER! Taichi drags Sanada up fast, reels him in, but Sanada RAN- NO, Taichi blocks the rana, to POWERBOMB! A short bomb but still hard! Sanada clutches his head and Red Shoes checks. Sanada is okay to continue and fans rally up.

Taichi drags Sanada up but Sanada is dead weight. Taichi drags him by an arm and covers, TWO!! Sanada is still awake and fans cheer. Taichi drags Sanada up again while fans rally. Sanada is still dead weight, though, so Taichi chokes him! Red Shoes reprimands, Taichi lets off, but he chokes Sanada again! Red Shoes reprimands, Taichi lets off, and he kicks mockingly at Sanada. Is Sanada really okay to continue? Taichi kicks Sanada around some more and eggs him on. Fans rally for Sanada as Taichi stands him up. Taichi snapmares and KICKS Sanada! That wakes Sanada up! Sanada snarls and ROCKS Taichi with forearms!

Sanada whips, Taichi breaks and HOOK KICKS! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Taichi drags Sanada up again. Taichi reels Sanada in but Sanada blocks the bomb. Taichi gives Sanada some Kawada Kicks! Taichi runs, but into a dropkick to the leg! Taichi hobbles, Sanada dodges the lariat to steal AX BOMBER! Both men are down and fans fire up! Sanada kips up and fans fire up more! Sanada snarls, he drags Taichi up, but Taichi CHOKES him! Red Shoes reprimands, Taichi whips but Sanada reverses. Sanada hurdles, hurdles and DROPKICKS! Taichi falls out of the ring, and Sanada PLANCHAS!

Fans fire up and Sanada wants them to get louder. The fans oblige and Sanada is satisfied. Sanada goes back to Taichi, brings him up, and puts him in the ring. Sanada covers, TWO! Sanada drags Taichi up, fireman’s carries, but Taichi fights free to waistlock. Sanada switches, but Taichi breaks free to ENZIGURI Sanada’s arm! Sanada clutches the elbow, but he runs in to throw a forearm. Taichi GAMANGIRIS in return! Both men are down again and fans are thunderous! Sanada and Taichi stir, and Taichi roars! OFF COME THE PANTS! Sanada rises as Taichi builds power in the corner. JYUJI- NO, Sanada fireman’s carries!

Sanada throws Taichi to the dragon sleeper, SKULL END! But Taichi pulls the beard! And he CHOKES! Sanada breaks free, runs in, but into a CHOKE SLAM! Cover, ONE?!?! Taichi is shocked, but he runs into a fireman’s carry! T K O!! Cover, ONE!?!? Taichi is up, he dodges Sanada’s lariat to DANGEROUS SAIDO! Both men stagger around, but Sanada dodges the lariat to TIGER SUPLEX!! Fans are thunderous as both men stagger, ROLLING ELBOW from Sanada!! It was so hard, Sanada falls out of the ring! Taichi staggers up but he’s so dizzy, he falls out of the ring! Fans are thunderous as both men stir outside on the floor!

A ring count starts, Miho checks on Taichi, but he and Sanada are still down at 8 of 20. We pass 10 of 20, then 15! Neither man is up yet! It’s 18! Both men spring to life and into the ring at 19!! We’re at 10 minutes, the time is running out! Fans are thunderous again as both men slowly rise. Sanada leans against ropes, Taichi crawls his way over. Taichi drags himself up using Sanada, but Sanada throws a forearm! And another! Taichi wobbles into another forearm! Taichi rebounds to BOOT! Sanada throws a flurry of forearms, but Taichi rebounds. Sanada avoids the boot to suplex, but Taichi blocks! Wrench and HOOK KICK!

But Sanada stays up! Sanada EuroUppers, then spins, into a BIG forearm! BLINDSIDE BOMBER, to a GAMANGIRI! Fans fire up and Taichi roars! Taichi drags Sanada up, reels him in, LAST RIDE! High stack, TWO!!! Sanada survives and fans are thunderous again! But we’re at 13 minutes! The fans rally as Taichi sits up and crawls to Sanada. Taichi drags Sanada up, Alabama Lifts, but Sanada fights that to TIGER DRIVER!! But he can’t make the cover! Fans are thunderous as we’re at just ONE minute left! Both men hurry to their feet, and Sanada roars! But Taichi lifts! BLACK- NO, Sanada slips free!

Sanada gut wrenches to a CLIFF- NO, Taichi lands on his feet! Taichi and Sanada sumo clinch!! Taichi THROWS Sanada, then GEDO- NO, Sanada slips out, O’Conner Rolls, tucks, and gets the SKULL END!! Taichi endures, but Sanada cranks it back!! Fans are thunderous as we hit 30 SECONDS! Taichi is caught in the body scissors!! Fans are going nuts while Taichi fades! Red Shoes checks, but Sanada lets off! Sanada goes up to ROUNDING BODY PRESS!! Cover, TWO!?!?! BUT WE HAVE ONLY 20 SECONDS!!! Sanada goes up again, ROUNDING BODY PRESS ONTO KNEES!! Taichi cradles, TWO!!!

Sanada bridges but Taichi blocks!!! TEN SECONDS!!! Taichi pushes it over, GEDO CLUTCH!! TWO!!?! Sanada turns it over, O’Conner BRIDGE!!! SANADA WINS!!!

Winner: Sanada, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

At 14 minutes and 57 seconds, this one is decided!! This is the excitement of the NJPW World Television Championship! And in the end, Taichi is on the losing side! Frustrated as he is, Taichi respects Sanada and Sanada respects Taichi. Sanada offers a fist bump and fans want to see Taichi accept it. Taichi fist bumps Sanada, ready to try again down the line. Will Taichi get another chance when there’s a champion crowned in the New Year?

Wait, on his way out, Taichi goes to commentary and talks to Toshiaki Kawada! “You’re not officially retired, right? Why not fight me? Before you call it quits. But get in shape. Before you call it a day, face me one-on-one. Understand? You’re not done yet, bastard!” Fans like the sound of that!

Fans then cheer as Sanada gets the mic to speak. “I’m back, Nagaoka!” Fans cheer that. Today, we were sold out, and you could all raise your voices. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.” Fans cheer because they were, too! Sanada says he wants to do “the thing,” since it started here in Nagaoka. Let’s go! His gift to the audience! The lights go down and the “stars” come out. Spotlight on Sanada. He admits, this isn’t exactly where he was born, so he doesn’t have any childhood memories. “But I will tell you this: the wrestler, Sanada, likes Nagaoka the best!” Fans cheer, “AI~!” to say they love him, too. “OI, Nagaoka! See you next time.” Will that next time include Sanada as NJPW World TV Champion?

My Thoughts:

A great event for Battle Autumn again, and I did skim the other matches. It seems the challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships is official now, TJP & Akira Titan & Bushi, maybe for the big Battle Autumn finale on November 5th. And great matches again out of the NJPW World TV title tournament. Goto VS Kenta was good, but Kenta winning makes some sense. With Yoshi-Hashi through to the next round, they weren’t going to have both him and his tag partner advance.

And then I love how insanely close they were able to push that match in Sanada VS Taichi. Only three seconds left? That’s playing with fire right there. But Sanada moving on is great. He lost his title out of misfortune, not because NJPW planned on it, but then the US title moved on and is with Ospreay now. Maybe NJPW can make it up to Sanada by giving him a shot at this title.

My Score: 8.8/10