Will the United Empire conquer their foes?

After a few days off, World Tag League is back in action as NJPW arrives in Kanagawa! But will an All United Empire finals still be possible? Or will Bishamon and The Mighty each spoil those chances?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Togi Makabe, Kosei Fujita & Oskar Leube VS Tomoaki Honma, Yuto Nakashima & Ryohei Oiwa; Makabe, Fujita & Leube win.
• 8 Man Tag: Ryusuke Taguchi, Clark Connors, Master Wato & Jado VS Bullet Club; Taguchi, Connors, Wato & Jado win.
• 8 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Suzuki-Gun; LIJ wins.
• World Tag League 2022: Alex Coughlin & Gabriel Kidd VS Tetsuya Naito & SANADA; Naito & Sanada win.
• World Tag League 2022: Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls VS Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare; Khan & Henare win.
• World Tag League 2022: Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens VS EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi; Fale & Chase win.
• World Tag League 2022: Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer; Suzuki & Archer win.
• World Tag League 2022: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI VS Aussie Open; Aussie Open wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current World Tag League standings!

The Mighty: 1-0, 2 points
Suzuki & Archer: 1-0, 2 points
Goto & Hashi: 1-0, 2 points
Aussie Open: 1-0, 2 points
Naito & Sanada: 1-0, 2 points
Khan & Henare: 0-1, 0 points
Yano & Tanahashi: 0-1, 0 points
Evil & Yujiro: 0-1, 0 points
Coughlin & Kidd: 0-1, 0 points
Chase & Fale: 0-1, 0 points

World Tag League 2022: Alex Coughlin & Gabriel Kidd VS Tetsuya Naito & SANADA!

The Android & The Young Bull could not make the Mighty kneel, let alone fall, and now they’re going up against the team that conquered the United Empire! Will Naito & Sanada stay tranquilo as they ride the #MechanicalBulls?

The fans already rally for “L I J! L I J!” and Kidd encourages them to keep going. The teams sort out and Naito takes his time with his entrance attire as always. Kidd sarcastically applauds as Naito finishes. Kidd bows as he asks Naito start with him. LIJ fist bump, Kidd applauds again, and continues to implore Naito. Naito does start and fans rally as the bell rings. Naito circles with Kidd, though he doesn’t seem worried. The two tie up, are in a deadlock, but Kidd finds a point of leverage to put Naito on ropes. Naito turns it around but Kidd turns it back. Kidd lets off as the ref counts, and he asks for an LIJ fist bump?

Naito wonders if Kidd means it, and he steps forward to offer it back. Fans applaud and Kidd gets fired up. Kidd goes for the fist bump, but then Naito rakes his eyes! Naito whips Kidd to ropes to ELBOW him down! Naito keeps moving but Kidd drops, hurdles, and monkey flips Naito away! Kidd keeps moving as Naito bails out, but Kidd steals tranquilo! He’s a bit hyper with the LIJ fist raise but Naito rushes in. Kidd avoids the leg drop but Naito avoids the elbow drop. Naito arm-drags Kidd to an armlock but Kidd headscissors. Naito gets free and he tranquilos right next to Coughlin. Fans applaud as Naito and Kidd reset.

Naito tags Sanada so Kidd tags Coughlin. Fans rally as these two feel out the knuckle locks. They feel out the clinch, Coughlin waistlocks but Sanada switches. Coughlin switches but Sanada wrenches out to a wristlock. Coughlin rolls, slips through, spins Sanada around and wrenches him back to a wristlock. Fans applaud the exchange as Saanada endures the twist. Sanada moves around, wrenches and hammerlocks then full nelsons. Coughlin breaks that, spins Sanada and headlocks. Sanada pries at the hold but Coughlin puts it on tighter. Fans rally as Sanada endures the grind. Sanada brings Coughlin down to a knee to pop out the back.

Sanada headlocks but Coughlin carries him to ropes! The ref counts, Coughlin lets off cleanly. Fans and Sanada all applaud the sportsmanship. Sanada and Coughlin circle, tie up again, and Sanada cravats. Coughlin endures, and he blocks the snapmare! Coughlin stands up and his core strength lifts Sanada! Sanada goes up and over, Coughlin blocks a kick to give a kick. Coughlin snapmares but Sanada handsprings through! Coughlin evades the dropkick! Coughlin steps over to La Magistrol! TWO!! Sanada escapes and Coughlin flexes as fans applaud. Sanada applauds, The Android is impressive. Fans applaud as Sanada offers a handshake.

Coughlin analyzes the situation. Fans applaud for it, Coughlin reaches out, and they shake hands. But they both go to kick! They each block, and now they argue about who’s in the wrong. Coughlin tells Sanada to put his foot down right now, but Sanada says him first. They then agree to let go at the same time. They slowly go down, but Sanada holds on! Sanada trips Coughlin and ties him up, but Coughlin powers out! Coughlin runs Sanada over! Fans fire up and Coughlin flexes again. Coughlin drags Sanada up, tags Kidd, and the Mechanical Bulls whip Sanada to ropes. They run him over with double shoulders, then they split the wishbone!

Kidd stomps Sanada down, mocks Naito with the LIJ fist, then Kidd STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Kidd goes back to taunting Naito, then he brings Sanada over. Tag to Coughlin, Kidd full nelsons Sanada to hold him still. Coughlin aims, but Sanada breaks free and the CHOP hits Kidd! Sanada knees Coughlin low, whips him to ropes, but Coughlin reverses. Sanada dropkicks the legs out! Kidd run sin, into a drop toehold! Naito slides in to basement dropkick Kidd! Naito follows Kidd out of the ring but Coughlin storms up to Sanada. Sanada grabs a leg to CLUB it! Naito sends Kidd into railing, Sanada CHOP BLOCKS Coughlin!

Sanada drags Coughlin around, stomps the leg, then he tags Naito. Naito stomps the leg now, then ties Coughlin’s legs up into a modified FIGURE FOUR! Coughlin endures, drags himself and Naito over, and has the ROPEBREAK! Naito thrashes the hold but the ref unties the legs. Naito drags Coughlin over and tags in Sanada. Sanada kicks the leg, then he drags Coughlin up for more kicks. Sanada whips Coughlin corner to corner but runs into a BOOT! Coughlin runs in, sunset flips, but Sanada rolls through! Sanada ties Coughlin up in Paradise! Fans fire up as Sanada dropkicks Coughlin out of Paradise!

Sanada drags Coughlin up but Coughlin CHOPS back! Coughlin whips, Sanada reverses and leaps, but into a BEARHUG! And then an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Fans fire up as both men crawl, hot tag to Kidd! The Young Bull rallies on LIJ, DROPKICK for Sanada and DROPKICK for Naito! Kidd dodges Sanada’s clothesline to hit a BIG back suplex! Kidd mocks the LIJ fist and then brings Sanada up. Kidd CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS Sanada in the corner, then uses Tenzan Power! Mongolian Chop! Fans fire up with Kidd and he storms up to bring Sanada around. Suplex, but Sanada slips out to waistlock.

Kidd switches but Sanada throws elbows. Sanada whips, Kidd reverses but Sanada stops himself and whips Kidd out of the ring! Then Sanada PLANCHAS! Direct hit and fans fire up! Sanada drags Kidd up and in and fans rally up again. Sanada aims from the apron, springboards, but Kidd gets under. Kidd runs in but into a fireman’s carry. Kidd slips off and shoves Sanada to ropes, then dodges Sanada to run the ropes. Sanada ducks, and ducks again, to DROPKICK! But Kidd stays up to COMEBACKER LARIAT! Fans rally up while both men are down! They crawl for their corners, hot tags to Naito and Coughlin!

Coughlin lifts Naito up to RAM him into a corner! Coughlin RAMS in again and again, then UPPERCUTS and CHOPS! Fans fire up and Coughlin whips corner to corner. Coughlin runs in to FLYING SHOULDER! Coughlin then scoops to FALL AWAY SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Fans fire up and Coughlin stalks up behind Naito. Coughlin deadlifts Naito with the waistlock, but Naito throws elbows to fight free. But Coughlin ROCKS Naito back! Coughlin runs but into BOOTS! Coughlin tries again, but gets an ELBOW! Coughlin roars and tries a third time, but Naito dodges and Sanada elbows!

Sanada feeds Coughlin to an atomic drop! ENZIGURI! BIG back suplex! Rolling jackknife bridge! TWO!!! The Android survives the LIJ blitz and fans fire up! Naito drags Coughlin up, coordinates with Sanada, but Kidd CLOBBERS Sanada! Naito goes after Kidd, whips him to ropes, but Kidd reverses. Kidd catches Naito’s leaping elbow to EXPLODER! Kidd runs in at the corner to CHOP! Kidd runs and Coughlin whips him back in for a clothesline! Kidd SAIDOS Naito, and Coughlin deadlift gut wrenches! Fans fire up for the DROID PLEX! Cover, TWO! Naito survives and fans fire up again.

Kidd & Coughlin both flex, and they both bring Naito up. Sanada saves Naito from the double suplex, throws Kidd out, and gives Naito the boost for the TORNADO DDT! Sanada DROPKICKS Kidd out again, and then Naito wrenches for DESTINO!! Cover, LIJ wins!

Winners: Tetsuya Naito & Sanada, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Coughlin & Kidd earn 0)

And Naito dropkicks Kidd back out just because! The Mechanical Bulls broke down again, but will the third round be the charm? As for LIJ, they’ve got momentum building, can they take the World Tag League?

World Tag League 2022: Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls VS Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare!

Speaking of the Mighty and the Empire, one side stood tall while they other fell to open the tournament. The Mighty Don’t Kneel, but will they be conquered? Or will the Dominator & Ultimate Weapon not look so dominate or ultimate at all?

The Orchestrator, Gideon Grey, is of course here to give the United Empire their introductions. The teams sort out and Mikey gets impatient. Henare steps up, and the two circle. Fans rally as Henare tests the waters with kicks. Mikey and Henare tie up, Mikey gets an arm and wrenches to a wristlock, but Henare kicks low. Henare throws hands, headlocks, and he grinds Mikey down. Mikey fights up and powers out, and they RAM shoulders! Neither falls and Mikey dares Henare to try again. Henare runs and they RAM shoulders again! Mikey talks some trash but Henare ROCKS him with a right!

Henare whips, Mikey reverses, and Mikey runs in at the corner, but Henare elbows him back! Mikey ducks the flying kick to run Henare over! Mikey runs Henare over again! Mikey wrenches an arm, tags Shane, and Shane wrenches the arm to YANK it! Shane snapmares and dropkicks Henare, but has a cocky cover, ONE! Shane drags Henare up, tags Mikey back in, and the Mighty double whip to double ELBOW! STANDING MOONSAULT FIST DROP COMBO! Mikey covers, TWO! Khan was also there but Henare got out of that himself. Mikey claws Henare’s face, but lets off as the ref reprimands. Mikey drags Henare up and tags in Shane.

Mikey CHOPS Henare, Shane CHOPS Henare, but Henare throws body shots. Shane UPPERCUTS, Henare BOOTS back, and Shane staggers into Khan’s cheap shot! Henare CLOBBERS Shane, and Khan runs in to BLAST Mikey! Khan hurries back to the Empire corner while fans rally up. Henare HEADBUTTS Shane and then tags in Khan. The Empire smothers Shane, and then Khan CHOKES Shane on the ropes! The ref is busy reprimanding Henare so he misses Khan use his own ponytail in the choke! The ref finally notice something is up and counts. Khan lets off, but then digs his knee into Shane at the ropes.

The ref counts again, Khan lets off with a stomp. Shane sits up to throw body shots, but Khan uses a Mongolian Chop! Shane falls down, Khan drags him back up. Khan makes Mikey watch as he sits on his throne! Fans applaud as the Empire stands together with their arms crossed. Shane says it smells down there! Khan pulls his arms back for that one. The ref counts, Khan hops off at 4 and he taunts Mikey. The ref has to keep Mikey back, and Khan wrenches Shane’s arm to tag in Henare. The Empire mugs Shane, and then Henare puts Shane through ropes to pull him back! Henare CLUBS and CLUBS and CLUBS away on Shane!

Fans fire up as Henare lets off and Shane flops to the floor. Henare taunts Mikey, the ref is busy with them, and Khan CHOKES Shane with the microphone! Shane coughs and sputters and we can all hear it, so the ref tells Khan to stop. Khan lets off, he CLUBS Shane down again. Khan bumps Shane off the apron, but Shane hits back with forearms! Khan RAMS Shane into the apron! Henare BLASTS Mikey! Khan laughs in Shane’s face, then BITES his ear! Khan puts Shane in, Henare covers, TWO! Shane is hanging tough but Henare knuckle locks a hand. Henare gives toying kicks, twists the wrist, then gives more kicks.

Shane eggs Henare on and fans rally up. Shane stands, Henare KICKS him again! Shane stays standing, Henare kicks again, but Shane blocks it! Shane kicks Henare’s plant leg, BOOTS him, and Henare comes back with a clothesline, but Shane catches that and spins Henare into a half nelson. Shane spins Henare more, suplex and BROKEN ARROW! Fans fire up while both men are down! Shane and Henare crawl, hot tag to Mikey! Khan runs in but Mikey DOUBLE LARIATS The Empire! Mikey clotheslines Khan in a corner, then clotheslines Henare in the other! Mikey whips, Henare reverses, but Mikey gets around Khan to send him into Henare! Mikey DOUBLE LARIATS again!

Mikey fireman’s carries Henare but Henare slips off. Henare waistlocks, he ducks Mikey’s elbow, but Mikey DDTs! Mikey runs to SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up again as Mikey drags Henare up. Henare throws body shots and an ELBOW! Mikey drops to a knee, Henare runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Mikey runs to SLIDING LARIAT again! Cover, Khan breaks it! Shane gets in to CLUB Khan and throw him out. Mikey shouts, “WITNESS ME, MO FO!” Mikey whips, scoops, but Henare gets up and around to shove Mikey! Scoop to the BERSERKER BOMB! Both men are down and fans fire back up!

Henare and Mikey stir, Henare tags Khan! Khan storms up to Mikey for Mongolian Chops! And Mongolian Chops! And then, Mongo- NO, Mikey blocks! Mikey kicks low, whips Khan to a corner, but Khan reverses. Mikey bounces off buckles, and Khan brings him around to dribble him off the buckles! Khan goes to ten, then SLAM DUNKS! Mikey staggers, into an EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up as Khan roars and flexes! Khan drags Mikey up for HITSUJIGOROSHI! Mikey endures the Sheep Killer, Khan lifts him up but Mikey slips free to short arm LARIAT! Both men are down and fans fire up again!

Shane slides in and the Mighty drag Khan up. They coordinate, atomic UPPERCUT, to a BACK SUPLEX NECKBREAKER COMBO! Cover, Henare breaks it! Shane KICKS Henare and throws him out, then coordinates with Mikey. The Mighty drag Khan up, but Henare saves Khan from Thunder Valley! Henare shoves Shane into Mikey, then RAMPAGE SPEARS Shane down! Shane flops out of the ring and Henare roars! Fans fire up as Henare fireman’s carries Mikey. Khan tells Mikey this is what he gets! Khan runs, but Mikey slips out to waistlock! Henare quickly switches but Mikey ELBOWS Khan and ROCKS Henare!

Mikey ELBOWS Khan, fires off haymakers on Henare, then he runs, but into a fireman’s carry! IMPERIAL DROP!! Cover, The Empire wins!!

Winners: Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare, by pinfall (gains 2 points; The Mighty earn 0)

The Mighty Don’t Kneel, but they do fall! The Dominator & Ultimate Weapon break even, will this win be an important tiebreaker down the line?

World Tag League 2022: Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens VS EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi!

We saw Bullet Club meet Bullet Club yesterday in the Super Jr. Tag League, and now it happens in World Tag League! Will the Rogue General & Crown Jewel blow up the House of Torture? Or will the King of Darkness & Tokyo Pimp make up for their recent failures?

Chase wants to know why we don’t see Pieter. Maybe it’s too cold out for the Bullet bunny. But that aside, the boys all agree to Too Sweet. They throw it up, Too~… everyone pokes each other in the eyes! They were all thinking of the same sneaky move! Fale swings blind, but then DICK TOGO grabs at his foot! Fale drags Dick in and Dick wants mercy! Evil and Yujiro poke Fale in the eyes again! Then they poke Chase in the eyes! The bell rings as Yujiro goes out after Fale and Evil has Chase. Evil tosses Chase out, Yujiro rakes Fale’s eyes, so Evil does the same to Chase! If only fans could boo right now…

Yujiro RAMS Fale into railing while Evil brings a chair out from under the ring! The ref is busy with Yujiro, Evil throws the chair at Chase, and then pretends Chase brought it out. Chase says no way, and he throws it back to Evil. Evil throws it back to Chase, and then Dick pretends he got hit! Evil tattles to the ref and the ref sees the chair! Chase defends his innocence, throws the chair down and rushes at Evil, but Evil kicks him low! Evil puts Chase in the ring, claws his eyes in a corner, then lets off before the ref says anything. Evil whips corner to corner but Chase goes up and over. Chase keeps moving and he CLOBBERS Evil!

Dick distracts but Chase runs him over. Chase steps through the ropes to warn Dick, but Yujiro KICKS the ropes! Chase gets hit in his crown jewels! Evil goes out and Yujiro follows. Evil grabs the chair to JAM Chase with it! Evil pulls Chase’s shirt out of the way to CLAW his back! Evil puts Chase in, he drags Chase up, and mockingly holds Chase’s hand out to Fale. Evil claws Chase’s eyes with his other hand, then brings Chase around to tag Yujiro. Yujiro CLUBS Chase’s arm, DECKS him with a haymaker, then rains down fists. The ref reprimands about those being closed fists, so Yujiro lets off.

Chase goes to ropes, he kicks Yujiro back, then CHOPS! Yujiro knees low, bumps Chase off buckles, then runs in to BOOT Chase down! Fans rally up but Yujiro snapmares Chase to a cover, TWO! Fans rally more but Yujiro tags Evil. Evil stalks Chase as he crawls away. Evil drags Chase up, scoops and SLAMS him, then covers, TWO! Evil argues but the count was fair. Tag to Yujiro and he stands Chase up to ROCK him with a forearm. Yujiro ROCKS Chase again and Chase staggers to ropes. Evil talks trash, Yujiro snapmares Chase and basement BOOTS him! Cover, TWO! Evil is annoyed again but Yujiro tags him in.

Evil storms up but Chase throws body shots! Chase CHOPS but Evil wrenches an arm. Evil whips Chase into bare buckles! The Bullet Club Special still works in the red corner! Evil taunts Fale, the ref is busy with them, and Dick CHOKES Chase in the distraction! Evil drags Chase around to a cover, TWO! Evil is furious but fans rally up. Chase sits up but Evil wrenches and whips him to ropes. Chase ducks ‘n’ WRECKS Dick with a dropkick! Chase shoulders into Evil, slingshots and schoolboys to SUPERKICK! Fans fire up while both men are down! Chase and Evil crawl, hot tags to Fale and Yujiro!

Fale throws hands, whips Yujiro to a neutral corner, then runs in to SPLASH! Yujiro flops down and Fale runs for a BIG elbow drop! Cover, TWO! Fale snarls but fans fire up as he waits on Yujiro. Yujiro stands, Fale choke grips! Pull the pin, but Yujiro BITES the fingers! The ref reprimands, Yujiro stops, and Yujiro whips, only for Fale to reverse. Yujiro holds ropes, Fale runs in but Yujiro dodges! Evil anchors Fale’s foot, Yujiro BOOTS Fale against ropes! Yujiro runs, but Fale fireman’s carries! But Yuijro grabs the ref! Yujiro gets free of the carry and shoves the ref into Fale! Down goes the ref! Now Sho shows up!

Yujiro kicks Fale while Sho gets in the ring with a chair! Sho JAMS Fale with the chair, then he JAMS Chase! Evil CLUBS Fale, CLUBS him again, kicks him against ropes, and Yujiro joins in. They double whip Fale, but Fale runs them over instead! Fans fire up but SHo fires off on Fale. Sho runs, but Chase C-TRIGGERS Sho, then sets him up! Fale and Chase coordinate, GRENADE LAUNCHER! Sho falls out of the ring, Fale grabs Yujiro. But Dick uses the SPOILER CHOKER! Fale sputters and Yujiro gets the pimp cane! Fans fire up as Fale knocks Dick down, but Yujiro CANE SHOTS Fale! Fale stays standing, Yujiro aims again!

But Chase snatches the cane away! CANE SHOT for Yujiro! Evil runs in, but the low blow is blocked by the cane! Fale LOW BLOW GRENADES Evil!! Fans fire up as Fale drags Yujiro up! The ref is back up in time for the GRENADE!! Cover, Fale & Chase win!

Winners: Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Evil & Yujiro earn 0)

The House of Torture just can’t help themselves! They try to cheat and then it backfires on them again! Will Bullet Club decide to clip the branches once and for all?

World Tag League 2022: Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Minoru Suzuki & Lance Archer!

The Joker & The Ace may have dressed up as bad boys, but they couldn’t stop Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher. And now they’re up against some bad, bad men in the King of Pancrase and Murderhawk Monster! Will #EverybodyDie two rounds in a row? Or can love, energy and comedy help Yano & Tanahashi survive?

As usual, Archer DECKS a Young Lion during his entrance. Ryohei Oiwa probably feels even worse after losing that Six Man Tag earlier. Minoru Suzuki makes his entrance next, and unfortunately, fans can’t shout, “KAZE NI NARE~!” this time. And then Suzuki boots Young Lion Yuto Nakashima down for holding the ropes open for their opponents! Yano’s introduction seems to have gotten longer with some new roles he’s acquired. Archer throws his shirt at Tanahashi but Tanahashi catches it to put it aside. Tanahashi and Yano squat, then Yano gets impatient with the ref’s check. Tanahashi shows off the muscles, “SUGOI~!”

The teams finally sort out and Archer steps up. Tanahashi and Yano want him to back up to give them space. Tanahashi starts for his team, the bell rings, and fans rally up with “Let’s Go, Ace!” Tanahashi and Archer circle, tie up, and Archer powers Tanahashi right to the ropes. The ref counts, Tanahashi slips away, and he eggs Archer on. Archer and Tanahashi circle, Archer gives sarcastic applause, and the two tie up. Tanahashi waistlocks but Archer is too big to lift! Archer swings a big back elbow but Tanahashi ducks it! Tanahashi headlocks but Archer powers out, Tanahashi’s shoulder tackle bounces off Archer!

Tanahashi still fires up and runs, but Archer ROCKS him with a forearm! Archer whips Tanahashi but Tanahashi avoids the boot to dropkick the legs! Tag to Yano and Yano fires up. Yano storms in, to squat! He dares Suzuki to get in?! Archer tags Suzuki and fans applaud. Suzuki storms up to Yano, and they’re face to… Well, okay, Yano is face to waist with Suzuki. Yano stands up, so Suzuki SLAPS, KNEES and HEADBUTTS Yano down! Suzuki squats and tells Yano off! Suzuki drags Yano up by his hair, whips him to ropes, but Yano holds ropes. Suzuki rushes in, Yano dodges and SLAPS Suzuki on the back of the head!

Fans fire up as Suzuki scowls and Yano unties a buckle pad. The ref reprimands but Yano tells him to shut up. But then Yano turns around to see Suzuki and he’s frightened! Yano throws the pad to Suzuki and he catches it, and now the ref reprimands Suzuki! The ref and Suzuki fight over the buckle pad and Yano kicks Suzuki low! Yano runs, but Suzuki BOOTS him down! Archer runs in to BOOT Tanahashi off the apron! Suzuki-Gun goes out after The Joker & The Ace, and Suzuki whips Yano hard into railing! Suzuki stomps Yano down, then CHOKES him with camera cable! The ref reprimands and Suzuki stops to tell the ref to shut up.

Suzuki storms about, he drags Yano back up, and he RAMS Yano into more railing! Suzuki BOOTS Yano, ROCKS him with a right, and then SLAPS Yano around. Archer looms over Tanahashi then drags him up to send him into railing. Suzuki tells commentary to shut up and leave him alone. Suzuki puts Yano in the ring, then grinds his foot into Yano’s face. The ref reprimands, but Suzuki kicks and stomps Yano. Fans rally and clap for “Y T R!” but Suzuki tells them to shut up, too. Suzuki drags Yano up but Yano fires off forearms! Suzuki doesn’t flinch, though, and he eggs Yano on. Yano throws another forearm, but Suzuki throws a body shot, then DECKS Yano!

Tag to Archer and Archer drags Yano up. Archer says it’s okay, he pats Yano on the head, and then whips him into the bare buckles! Yano’s strategy comes back to bite him! Archer glares at Tanahashi and tells him to shut up but Tanahashi gets fired up. The ref keeps Tanahashi back and Archer says Tanahashi “can’t do sh*t” about what’s happening. Archer drags Yano up and puts him in a corner to ROCK him with a right! Archer pets Yano’s head, and ROCKS him again! Archer and Tanahashi shout at each other and the ref is busy with them, so Suzuki clamps on an ARMBAR on Yano in the corner! He makes it a HANGING ARMBAR!

Suzuki gets away with that while the ref is scared of Archer. Suzuki stomps Yano, then Archer stands on Yano! The ref reprimands but fans rally as Archer bounces on Yano again and again. Tag to Suzuki, Archer holds Yano up and Suzuki BOOTS Yano down. Archer pets Yano again and says it’s okay. Suzuki pulls on Yano’s beard, then SLAPS him down! Suzuki slaps Yano around but Tanahashi rallies the fans for “Y T R!” Suzuki knees Yano low, whips him corner to corner but Yano reverses. Suzuki stops from hitting bare buckles, Yano runs in, but Suzuki sends him into bare buckles! Suzuki kicks low, runs, but Yano atomic drops!

Fans fire up as Yano crawls over, hot tag to Tanahashi! Tanahashi runs to FLYING FOREARM Suzuki! Tanahashi runs at Archer but Archer catches him in a choke grip! But Tanahashi wrenches and HOTSHOTS Archer down! Tanahashi goes back for Suzuki to ROCK and whip. Suzuki reverses, but Tanahashi blocks the boot to a DRAGON SCREW! Fans fire up with Tanahashi and he drags Suzuki up to scoop and SLAM into a drop zone. Tanahashi goes up the ropes, SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up, Tanahashi runs as Suzuki rises, but Suzuki ducks the slingblade to whip Tanahashi into a corner! BOOT!

Suzuki snapmares, runs, and PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! Fans rally while Suzuki argues the count. The ref says it was a fair two. Suzuki slaps Tanahashi around, talks trash, but Tanahashi throws forearms. Suzuki doesn’t budge and he eggs Tanahashi on. Tanahashi throws more forearms, but then Suzuki ROCKS Tanahashi right back. Suzuki still eggs Tanahashi on, so the forearms start flying! Fans rally up as the shots go back and forth, faster and faster! Tanahashi gets the edge, but Suzuki just laughs! Suzuki ROCKS Tanahashi again! Tanahashi drops to his knees but fans rally back up! Suzuki stands Tanahashi up, and Tanahashi PALM STRIKES!

Suzuki palm strikes back! So Tanahashi throws another! Suzuki wobbles, Tanahashi runs, but Suzuki BOOTS! Suzuki runs, into a SLINGBLADE! But both men get back up, and Suzuki BOOTS Tanahashi down! Fans fire up and Suzuki quickly rolls to his corner, hot tag to Archer! Yano shouts to Tanahashi, but then he runs away when Archer storms over! Yano apologizes to Tanahashi, but Tanahashi throws a forearm on Archer. Archer puts Tanahashi in a corner for body shots and a windmill of haymakers! Archer laughs as Tanahashi sits down. Fans fire up and Archer tells the ref to shut up. Archer stands Tanahashi up to put him up top!

Archer has the inverted crucifix, but Tanahashi fights free! Tanahashi gets around, spins Archer around, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! And now Yano’s back on the corner! Tanahashi crawls over, hot tag to Yano! Yano brings Archer up, ducks the haymaker, but he pulls on the braids! Archer swings an elbow but Yano avoids it! Yano baits Archer into a corner, and Archer hits the bare buckles! Yano rolls- Er, tries to roll Archer, but he stays up! Archer CLUBS Yano away! Suzuki storms in to stomp Yano. Suzuki-Gun double whip Yano corner to corner, Suzuki runs in but Yano dodges. Yano waistlocks Archer and feeds him to Tanahashi’s SHOTEI! Roll-up, Suzuki breaks it!

Tanahashi kicks Suzuki out of the ring, then he and Yano double whip Archer. Archer DOUBLE CROSSBODIES them instead! Fans fire up and Archer laughs as he stands back up. Archer stomps around and fans clap along. Then Archer tells them to shut up! Archer choke grips Yano, but Yano rakes the eyes! But Archer blocks the low blow! Yano apologizes, hooks the arms, but Archer’s too big for the backslide! Suzuki slides in and grabs Yano’s leg! Suzuki has a standing HEEL HOOK, but Yano hops away to a corner! Archer runs in to ELBOW Yano! Archer hoists Yano up, inverted crucifix, BLACKOUT BOMB!! Cover, Suzuki-Gun wins!

Winners: Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Yano & Tanahashi earn 0)

Another big win in the block, and Suzuki tortures Young Lions just for the fun of it! Archer grabs Oiwa as he checks on Yano, and hits a CHOKE SLAM! And then Suzuki grabs the referee! Suzuki reels him in, Gotch hold, but he lets him go! Fans applaud the brief moment of mercy from the Meanest Man in the World. #EverybodyDies, but will Suzuki-Gun hoist up the trophies in the end?

World Tag League 2022: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI VS Aussie Open!

#BISHAMON shined bright against the House of Torture while Davis & Fletcher lived up to FTR’s seal as the future of tag team wrestling. But will the Fierce Warrior & Head Hunter show the future isn’t here just yet? Or will Chaos NOT #GetBackUp after facing the United Empire?

Gideon Grey returns to give Aussie Open their introductions. The teams sort out and they talk some trash to each other. Fans rally up and Hashi starts against Davis. The bell rings, fans applaud and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Davis’ height gives him the advantage. Davis puts Hashi on ropes, but Hashi dodges the chop! Hashi kicks low, CLUBS Davis, then CLUBS him again. Hashi headlocks, grinds the hold, but Davis fights up and powers out. Davis RAMS shoulders with Hashi, but neither falls! They get forehead to forehead and fans fire up. Davis eggs Hashi on so Hashi runs, and he RAMS Davis!

Davis stays up, Hashi brushes himself off, and Davis gets in Hashi’s face. Davis runs now, Hashi ELBOWS him, runs, but Davis runs him over! Fans fire up and Davis looms over Hashi. Davis drags Hashi up, CHOPS him to the corner, then tags in Fletcher. Fletcher CHOPS Hashi and fans applaud. Fletcher ROCKS Hashi, throws more forearms, then whips Hashi. Goto tags in as Hashi reverses, and Bishamon runs Fletcher over! Hashi runs for the hip toss senton! Fans fire up and Davis runs in, but Goto kicks low. Bishamon drums away on Davis! Goto drags Fletcher up, he and Hashi drum him, too! Fans fire up with Bishamon!

Goto goes out after Davis and Hashi goes out after Fletcher. Goto bumps Davis off the apron and Hashi sends Fletcher into railing! Goto CLUBS Davis, CLAWS his back, and Hashi brings Fletcher to the ramp. Hashi CLUBS Fletcher, Goto CLUBS Davis. Bishamon coordinates, they both whip, but Aussie Open both reverse! Goto runs into Hashi, and then Aussie Open picks them both up to run around the way, and SANDWICH them in front of commentary! The Empire throws up the crowns while fans fire up. Fletcher puts Goto in, he and Davis drag him up, and Aussie Open double whip to double CHOP!

Fletcher runs to PENALTY KICK, Davis SENTONS! Fletcher covers, TWO! Fletcher mocks the applause while Davis whips Hashi hard into railing! Red Shoes reprimands but Fletcher focuses on Goto with stomps. Fletcher drags Goto up, ROCKS him, then stomps Goto in the corner. Fletcher CHOPS Goto, stomps him, then fires off forearm after forearm! Fans fire up and Fletcher lets off to tag Davis. Davis drags Goto up, scoops him and SLAMS him, then kneels for the cover. TWO, but Davis just sits Goto up. Davis clamps onto the arm and digs his forearm into Goto’s neck but Goto endures. Goto fights forward to the ROPEBREAK!

Red Shoes counts as Davis grinds the hold, but Davis lets off at 4. Davis kicks Goto around, fans rally up, but Davis brings Goto to the Aussie Open corner. Davis CHOPS Goto, tags Fletcher, and Fletcher stomps Goto. Fletcher CHOPS but Goto kicks back! Fletcher CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS, then he grinds his forearm into Goto’s face! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, Fletcher lets off and apologizes. Fletcher drags Goto up, but Goto fires off body shots and palm strikes! Fletcher kicks low, CHOPS then runs, but Goto follows to LARIAT! Fans fire up while both men are down, and then rally as Goto and Fletcher crawl.

Hot tag to Hashi! Hashi CLOBBERS Fletcher, BLASTS Davis, then storms up to Fletcher. Hashi whips, Fletcher reverses but Hashi comes back to CHOP! Mule kick and turn, for the NECKBREAKER! Fans fire up with Hashi as Fletcher flounders to ropes. Hashi runs in to CHOP again! Hashi hangs Fletcher out to dry, runs side to side and dropkicks Fletcher down! Hashi keeps moving, basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Hashi keeps cool as he stalks Fletcher. Hashi drags Fletcher up and reels him in, but Fletcher fights the fisherman’s hook. Hashi wrenches to ROCK Fletcher, but Fletcher blocks the superkick!

Fletcher spins Hashi but then Hashi blocks Fletcher’s superkick! Hashi spins Fletcher, Fletcher ducks the lariat to SNAP DRAGON! Fans fire up as both men are down! Hashi and Fletcher crawl for their corners, hot tags to Davis and Goto! Goto and Davis DOUBLE LARIAT! And again! Davis kicks low, runs, but Goto follows! Davis ducks the lariat but Goto deflects the boot to DISCUS LARIAT! Goto drags Davis up, fires off forearms, then he whips Davis corner to corner. MURAMASA! And BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up and Goto drags Davis back up. Goto fireman’s carries, but Davis fights free!

Davis waistlocks but Goto elbows free. Goto runs, into a scoop and POWERSLAM, to SENTON! Davis staggers over, Fletcher tags in. Aussie Open drags Goto up, Davis fireman’s carries, but Hashi dropkicks Fletcher! Goto slips off but Davis switches with him! Goto ducks, HIDDEN GAP SUPERKICK for Davis! Fans fire up and Goto runs in to clothesline Fletcher at the corner! Hashi adds his own clothesline! Feed to Goto and then Hashi goes up top! Goto hooks Fletcher up, FLYING GOTO GOTO HUNTER!! Cover, TWO!! Fletcher survives but Hashi calls for lights out! Goto hauls Fletcher up, Hashi gets the legs, but Fletcher kicks him away!

Davis drags Hashi out, Fletcher turns things around on Goto, BRAINBUSTER! Tag to Davis, Aussie Open drags Goto up to fireman’s carry, POP-UP KICK!! Then the scoop and Fletcher goes up top, LAWN DART CUTTER! Davis covers, TWO!! Goto survives and shows the toughness of a former IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion! Fans fire up and Goto crawls to the corner. Davis grinds his forearm in, then runs side to side, SLIDING FOREARM! Davis fires up and fans fire up, too! Davis wrenches and torture racks Goto but Goto fights free! Goto shoves, fireman’s carries, USHIGOROSHI!

Fans fire up and both men are down! Hashi is back on the corner! Hot tag to the Head Hunter! Hashi runs and LARIATS, but Davis stays up! Davis roars, goes forehead to forehead with Hashi, and ROCKS him with a forearm! Hashi ROCKS Davis back! Davis throws another forearm, Hashi throws it back! Daivs throws another forearm, and Hashi throws it back! Hashi fires off a strike fest and CHOP! But Davis CHOPS back! Davis runs, into a SUPERKICK! Hashi runs, and LARIATS Davis down! Cover, TWO!! Davis is still in this but Hashi and the fans are fired up! Hashi drags Davis up, full nelsons, but Davis breaks free to PELE!

Hot tag to Fletcher! Aussie Open drags Hashi up, they double pump handle, but Goto saves Hashi from Corealis! Goto CLUBS away on Davis but Fletcher kicks him! Fletcher runs, into a fireman’s carry! Fletcher slips off, but Goto ducks, HIDDEN GAP! Davis returns but Goto catches him and spins him around! Hashi helps get Davis up but Davis kicks free! Davis whips Goto out to the apron, Fletcher SHOTGUNS Goto down! Aussie Open fire up, off come the elbow pads! They aim at Hashi from opposite corners, LARIAT SANDWICH! They vow to end this now! COREALIS!! Cover, Aussie Open wins!!

Winners: Aussie Open, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Goto & Hashi earn 0)

Hashi could NOT #GetBackUp, and now Bishamon has fallen to 1-1! But will they be able to #TurnItAllAround next round?

As for Aussie Open, they usher Hashi & Goto out of “their” ring, and Gideon Grey brings the mic to them. Fletcher takes the mic to say, “Fujisawaaa~!” Fans applaud and Fletcher continues by saying, in Japanese, “I speak very little Japanese, I’m sorry. Any of you guys speak English?” Then Fletcher will speak in English. Fletcher & Davis have waited a long time to be part of World Tag League, and closing the show by winning the main event. “Bishamon, Yoshi-Hashi, Hirooki Goto, they were last year’s winners, and we just SWEPT THE FLOOR with them! We came here, guaranteeing Aussie Open winning World Tag League 2022, and I think that just proved that nobody can stop us!”

Fletcher introduces himself and Davis, “We are the United Empire! And we today and all World Tag League long, run the world! Gideon, send them home.” Gideon takes the mic to say that this message is to everybody. “If you’re going to step in this ring against the UnitedEmpire, bring your best game, because there is nobody better in the world. So on behalf of “Dunk-Zilla” Mark Davis and the “Aussie Arrow,” Kyle Fletcher, as well as himself and the rest of the United Empire, “Thank you very much for coming out, drive safely home. <This is the power of the United Empire!!>” Will Aussie Open lead the way into the future of tag team wrestling with this tournament?

Here are the NEW World Tag League standings!

Naito & Sanada: 2-0, 4 points
Suzuki & Archer: 2-0, 4 points
Aussie Open: 2-0, 4 points
Goto & Hashi: 1-1, 2 points
Khan & Henare: 1-1, 2 points
The Mighty: 1-1, 2 points
Chase & Fale: 1-1, 2 points
Yano & Tanahashi: 0-2, 0 points
Evil & Yujiro: 0-2, 0 points
Coughlin & Kidd: 0-2, 0 points

My Thoughts:

Another great event for this series, and just the second round of World Tag League. That win on LIJ VS Suzuki-Gun came about after a restart from yet another double count-out, and it was only four minutes before Takagi got Taichi with a Ground Cobra Twist. I love this whole thing, it’s hilarious. Anyway, great matches in the tag league, and I’m actually a little surprised the House of Torture didn’t cheat a win this time. Sho & Dick are 0-3, now Evil & Yujiro are 0-2 and might even go 0-3 with the next round tomorrow in a big event where both tournaments are active on the same card. There’s a chance Evil & Yujiro get a win off LIJ just to stick it to them as Naito may or may not be retiring.

The United Empire both winning this time keeps their story of wanting an all Empire finals alive, though I still don’t see it happening. LIJ VS Aussie Open will be a big one, though, with how strong Aussie Open is going. That could be the match-up we’ll see in the finals, and it’d be fitting. Aussie Open gave FTR that match of the year candidate back at Royal Quest, we could get an early 2023 match of the year candidate should Aussie Open win the league. But as I’ve been saying, it feels like LIJ should all be going to WrestleKingdom for Naito’s sake. Aussie Open is the future, reaching the finals would be great enough, and then they can come for the titles in the New Year.

My Score: 8.7/10