Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome Results & Report! (12/23/22)

Sayonara, Suzuki-Gun.

Published

11 months ago

December 23, 2022

Steven Mitchell

One last hurrah for the meanest faction in NJPW!

It’s the end of an era in NJPW as Minoru Suzuki’s Army, Suzuki-Gun, has one last match together! Will there be blood, sweat and tears shed for the faction?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

SHO & Yujiro Takahashi VS Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima; Sho & Yujiro win.
Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii VS Kosei Fujita & Ryohei Oiwa; Yano & Ishii win.
8 Man Tag: Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Tiger Mask & Ren Narita VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi VS EVIL & Dick Togo; Tagaki & Hiromu win.
Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI VS Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan; Goto & Hashi win.
Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Shota Umino VS Los Ingobernables de Japon; LIJ wins.
Six Man Tag: Kazuchika Okada, Master Wato & YOH VS Bullet Club; Okada, Wato & Yoh win.
Suzuki-Gun Finale: Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer, El Desperado & TAKA Michinoku VS DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Dangerous Tekkers; Douki, Kanemaru, Taichi & ZSJ win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Six Man Tag: Kazuchika Okada, Master Wato & YOH VS Bullet Club!

At WrestleKingdom, The Rainmaker is going after the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, the Way of the Grandmaster is after the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, and Direct Drive is after the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships! Will the contenders all be red hot for the Winter? Or will Gedo and the Cutest Tag Team in NJPW leave them out in the cold?

Bullet Club Too Sweets and fans applaud. The teams sort out and we start with Wato and Taiji Ishimori for one last preview of the Junior Heavyweight title match. Fans rally up as Wato and Taiji circle. They approach but Taiji avoids Wato’s grapple. Taiji wags a finger, then he avoids Wato’s boot to rake Wato’s eyes! The ref reprimands, Taiji whips but Wato reverses to hurdle and back elbow, uppercut and run to BULLDOG! Fans fire up with Wato but El Phantasmo boos. Wato tags Yoh and they drag Taiji up. They double whip Taiji to ropes, double elbow him down, and then Yoh stands Taiji up for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally while Yoh stomps Taiji. Yoh drags Taiji up, reels him in and suplexes, but Taiji slips out! Taiji waistlocks, Yoh switches, Taiji switches back but Yoh switches again. Taiji runs to ropes and throws Yoh out! Taiji BLASTS Okada and Wato off the apron while Gedo whips Yoh hard into railing! ELP hurries over to stomp Okada down! The ref reprimands but Taiji ROCKS Wato with a haymaker. Taiji rakes Wato’s eyes, but lets off as the ref reprimands. ELP ROCKS Wato, gives him a PURPLE NURPLE, ROCKS him again, then goes back to the PURPLE NURPLE! The ref reprimands, but Taiji gets in the ring.

The ring count starts as Yo and Wato are both down on the outside. The fans rally up as the count climbs, and we reach 10 of 20. Yoh gets in at 12 and fans applaud. Taiji CLUBS Yoh on the back, then brings him around to bump off ELP’s boot. Tag to ELP and he climbs up. Taiji holds Yoh as fans rally up, and ELP climbs down to the second rope. Then down to the bottom rope. ELP then hops down to CLAW Yoh’s back! Cover, TWO! ELP drags Yoh up to tag Gedo in. Gedo taunts Okada, then he CLAWS Yoh’s back! Yoh writhes and staggers away but Gedo eggs Yoh on. Gedo stands Yoh up to bump off both Taiji’s & ELP’s boots!

Gedo drags Yoh up and fans rally as Taiji climbs! Taiji jumps, then CLAWS Yoh’s back! Taiji CLUBS Yoh but Yoh throws forearms! Taiji kicks low, then he CLAWS Yoh again! Tag to ELP and ELP drags Yoh up. ELP suplexes and holds Yoh up! Fans rally as ELP holds until five before the SLAM! Cover, TWO! ELP clamps onto Yoh to CLAW his back slowly and painfully! Then ELP clamps on a SLEEPER! Yoh is fading! ELP puts on all the pressure he can, but Yoh fights his way up! Yoh throws elbows but ELP facelocks. Yoh wrenches out to ROCK ELP! ELP ROCKS Yoh, Yoh ROCKS ELP, repeat! Fans rally up as the forearms keep going!

ELP ROCKS Yoh, then eggs him on. Yoh ROCKS ELP and both men wobble. ELP fires off a flurry, but Yoh gives those all back! PURPLE NURPLE! ELP shows no mercy, but Yoh ROCKS ELP! ELP TWISTS then CHOPS! ELP runs, but Yoh handsprings to dodge! Mule kick and NECKBREAKER! Fans fire up while both men are down! ELP and Yoh crawl, hot tag to Okada! Fans fire up as Okada rallies on ELP with forearms! Okada whips, ELP reverses but Okada ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER ELP! Then Okada BLASTS Taiji and Gedo off the corner! Okada goes after ELP in the corner, drags him up, and fans rally as Okada whips corner to corner.

Okada runs in to back elbow, and then kick to DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally for “O-KA-DA!” as he waits on ELP. ELP rises slowly, Okada Alabama Lifts, but ELP kicks and flails! ELP CLUBS Okada on the back, tucks his arms in, but Okada back drops free of the CR2! Okada scoops but ELP slips off to CLAW Okada’s back! ELP wraps Okada up, torture racks, but Okada slips off! ELP ducks the discus to SUPERKICK! Fans fire up while both men are down! ELP crawls, hot tag to Taiji! The Bone Soldier snapmares Okada, into a NECK TWIST! Taiji then rolls Okada into the YES LOCK! Okada endures but Wato stomps away on Taiji!

Wato CLUBS away on Taiji until Taiji lets Wato go! Taiji throws body shots, then he whips Wato out of the ring! Taiji goes back to Okada and CLUBS away! Taiji runs, into a FLAPJACK! Fans fire up while Okada and Taiji are down! Okada crawls, hot tag to Wato! Wato springboards in but Taiji gets under! Wato swings on Gedo but Gedo catches him! Gedo holds Wato in place, Taiji runs in, but Wato BOOTS Taiji! Wato elbows Gedo, then he sends Taiji into Gedo! Wato whips Taiji to a corner, runs in, but Taiji puts Wato on the apron. Wato GAMANGIRIS Taiji away, then springboards to FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO!

Wato fires up and fans rally behind him. Wato brings Taiji up, waistlocks, but Taiji fights the slam! Taiji throws elbows, runs, but Wato gets under and around, NECKBREAKER DROP! Cover, TWO! Taiji is still in this but fans rally up behind Wato. Wato drags Taiji up, wrenches and then reels him in, MOUSE- NO, Taiji slips free! Wato whips Taiji to ropes, tilt-o-whirl scoops, but Taiji slips free! Taiji BOOTS Wato, but Wato SOBATS! Wato runs, but Taiji dodges to handspring, NEURALIZER! Fans rally up as both men are down! Taiji and Wato crawl, hot tags to Gedo and Yoh! Yoh rallies on Gedo with big forearms!

Yoh whips Gedo, Gedo reverses but Yoh ducks ‘n’ dodges to FLYING FOREARMS! Fans fire up as Gedo goes to the corner. Yoh runs in corner to corner to back elbow! Yoh scoops, SLAMS and then goes up to VADER- NO, Gedo avoids the drop! GEDO CLUTCH! Cover, Okada breaks it! ELP BOOTS Okada! ELP whips, Okada reverses and DROPKICKS! ELP bails out, Gedo kicks but Okada blocks! Gedo throws up the Too Sweet to his old friend, but Okada ROCKS him with a forearm! Yoh SUPERKICKS Gedo down! Yoh roars and fans fire up! Yoh drags Gedo up, underhooks, DIRECT DRIVE!! Cover, Yoh and team wins!

Winners: Kazuchika Okada, Master Wato & Yoh, by pinfall

The challengers have won! This is big momentum for them, but will this lead to new champions at WrestleKingdom?

Suzuki-Gun Finale: Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer, El Desperado & TAKA Michinoku VS DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Dangerous Tekkers!

This is it. After 11 years, this is the last match for the meanest faction in NJPW. Win, lose or draw, what will be next for the King of Pancrase, the Murderhawk Monster, the Rogue Luchador, Blue Playmaker, Japones Del Mal, Heel Master, the Submission Master and the Holy Emperor?

Even now, Lance Archer clobbers Young Lions at ringside! He again scares Milano Collection AT on commentary, then Suzuki himself makes his entrance. The introductions are made and the fans applaud. They clap for “SU-ZU-KI!” and the teams sort out. Suzuki himself starts against Taichi! The fans are thunderous already as these two circle. They feel things out, and then Suzuki dares Taichi to hit him. Taichi obliges with a CHOP! Suzuki nods, and he CHOPS back! Taichi smirks, he CHOPS again, but Suzuki CHOPS back! They go CHOP for CHOP, again and again, and fans rally up as the CHOPS go faster and faster!

Suzuki gets the edge and he eggs Taichi on! Taichi CHOPS, Suzuki CHOPS, and they keep going! Their chests are red already as both men snarl and grit their teeth! Suzuki grins and nods as he moves things to forearms! Taichi KICKS! Suzuki forearms, Taichi kicks, repeat! Fans rally again as they keep going, forearm for kick over an dover! Then they stagger and grit their teeth. Suzuki ROCKS Taichi but Taichi SOBATS! Taichi grins as he KICKS Suzuki in the chest! Fans fire up and Suzuki comes right back. Suzuki ROCKS Taichi, but Taichi BOOTS Suzuki! Suzuki’s up to BOOT Taichi! Both men are down and fans are thunderous again!

Taichi and Suzuki crawl for their corners, and they hot tag to Desperado and Kanemaru! Fans fire up as former tag partners tie up. Desperado headlocks, Kanemaru powers out, but Desperado runs Kanemaru over! Desperado keeps moving, but Kanemaru stays low. Desperado drops to a headlock, Kanemaru slips out to headlock back! But Desperado stands for a back suplex! Kanemaru lands on his feet to headlock and hit the takeover! Desperado headscissors, Kanemaru kips free, and Kanemaru avoids the arm-drag! Kanemaru drops down for a headlock and fans applaud their technical exchange!

Desperado fights up but Kanemaru grinds the hold. Fans rally, Desperado stands and powers Kanemaru around to headlock. Kanemaru slips out to headlock, but Desperado returns the favor. Kanemaru slips out again, but Desperado powers out to reel Kanemaru in. Kanemaru powers out and catches Desperado for a modified arm-drag! Kanemaru brings Desperado down for a headlock! Fans applaud this second exchange as Kanemaru grinds the hold. Desperado fights up, but Kanemaru tags Douki. They put Desperado in a corner, mug him, then double whip corner to corner. Douki runs in, Desperado dodges and he elbows Kanemaru.

Douki runs at Desperado again but Desperado sends him into Kanemaru! Desperado then hip tosses Douki away, and then sends Kanemaru into Douki! Desperado TOSSES Kanemaru out and he drags Douki up. Desperado bumps Douki off buckles and tags in Taka. Taka stomps away on Douki but Douki throws forearms! Taka eggs Douki on, Douki throws more forearms, but Taka pokes him in the eye! Taka whips Douki to ropes, Douki ducks ‘n’ dodges to RA- NO, Taka blocks the rana to drop down for a headlock! But Douki slips out to throw Taka down and tie up the arms, ITALIAN STRETCH #32! But Taka fights out to JUST FACELOCK!

Fans rally, Douki crawls for ropes, but Taka rolls him away! Taka goes for the facelock but Douki pops out the back to ghost pin! TWO! ITALIAN STRETCH #32! But Taka powers it to a cover! TWO, and fans fire up as Taka drags Douki back up. Douki HELL STABS Taka, but Taka CALF KICKS! Douki rebounds to LARIAT! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Taka and Douki crawl, hot tags to Archer and Zack Sabre Jr! These two step up and ZSJ gives shoulder bumps. Archer just leans into them. ZSJ puts his hands up to call for a test of strength, but Archer puts his hands up. Archer’s hands reach up much higher than ZSJ’s!

Fans rally but ZSJ asks Archer to bring his hands down to meet him halfway. They tie up, but then ZSJ breaks the holds to show off. Archer corners ZSJ, rushes in, but ZSJ gets around to EuroUpper! Archer shrugs that off with a middle finger. ZSJ EuroUppers again but Archer eggs him on! ZSJ throws more EuroUppers, and more, and more, and more! ZSJ runs, but Archer runs him over! Fans fire up and Archer looms over ZSJ. Archer grabs ZSJ’s arms and pulls them back! Archer digs his knee into ZSJ but ZSJ fights up. ZSJ fights but can’t turn it around onto Archer. ZSJ keeps trying, and fans rally up as ZSJ stands.

Archer still holds the motorcycle stretch on ZSJ, but ZSJ throws mule kicks at Archer’s leg. Archer pulls the arms, but ZSJ fights up! Fans fire up as ZSJ turns things around on Archer, but then Archer spins it right back onto ZSJ! ZSJ flips, kips, and wrenches out to a COBRA TWIST! Archer says nope, and he powers out to HIP TOSS! ZSJ staggers up and Archer has his hand at the ready! But ZSJ BOOTS the claw away! Archer catches ZSJ with his other hand! CHOKE- NO, ZSJ counters the slam into an ARMBAR! But Archer stays standing! Archer endures as ZSJ pulls on the arm and fans rally up!

Archer fights his way through the leg guard to choke grip! Archer drags ZSJ up, but ZSJ wrenches out to PELE the arm! ZSJ runs, but Archer follows to CROSSBODY! Tag to Suzuki! Suzuki stomps ZSJ around and brings him up. Suzuki throws knees, then forearms! He whips ZSJ corner to corner, runs in and BOOTS ZSJ! Suzuki snapmares, but ZSJ blocks the Penalty Kick! ZSU rolls but Suzuki rolls to avoid the heel hook! Fans applaud the standoff! Suzuki eggs ZSJ on so ZSJ steps up. ZSJ throws a forearm but Suzuki throws one back! ZSJ stands up, and Suzuki calls him a “Young Boy!” ZSJ ROCKS Suzuki in return!

Suzuki storms up to ROCK ZSJ! ZSJ growls and fans rally up! ZSJ ROCKS Suzuki, Suzuki ROCKS ZSJ, repeat! They go back and forth with fast and furious forearms! ZSJ EuroUppers, but Suzuki ROCKS ZSJ! ZSJ headbutts, headlocks, but Suzuki powers out. ZSJ comes back to catch Suzuki into a COBRA TWIST! But Suzuki fights it! He pulls hair, then pulls ZSJ’s arm, to switch the Cobra Twist onto ZSJ! Fans rally as Suzuki wraps ZSJ up, but then ZSJ slips free to get an IRON OCTOPUS! But Suzuki powers his way out of that, to get an ANKLE LOCK! ZSJ endures, reaches out, moves around, but Suzuki twists the foot more!

ZSJ rolls and escapes the ankle lock, but Suzuki blocks the O’Conner Roll! Suzuki then slips around to get a SLEEPER! But ZSJ slips out, goes under, trips Suzuki and body scissors to roll him over, EURO CLUTCH! TWO, and Suzuki has the SLEEPER! Suzuki’s team blasts ZSJ’s team off the apron! They all brawl outside while ZSJ endures the sleeper! Fans rally, ZSJ fights up but he’s so red! Suzuki spins ZSJ around, Gotch hold, but ZSJ fights the lift! Taichi gets in to AX BOMBER Suzuki down! Archer BOOTS Taichi down! Kanemaru runs in, but into a choke grip! But he WHISKEY MISTS Archer, then dropkicks the legs out!

Kanemaru dropkicks Archer down, but Desperado gets in to hit a BIG back suplex! Douki BOOTS Desperado, then slingshots, DAYBREAK! But Taka BOOTS Douki! ZSJ headbutts Taka! ZSJ scoops Taka but Taka slips out to poke him in the eye! Taka scoops, ZSJ fights that to snapmare and NECK TWIST! All eight men are down and the fans are thunderous again! Suzuki storms his way over to ZSJ and stomps him around. Suzuki also stomps Taichi! Suzuki stomps Archer!? They’re on the same team! But Suzuki stomps Desperado and Douki and Kanemaru, Suzuki is just after everyone! Taka tells “Boss” to stop, but Suzuki shoves him aside!

Suzuki stomps ZSJ, then stomps Archer! Taka tries to stop Suzuki but Suzuki SLAPS him! Suzuki swings but Taka dodges to SUPERKICK! Suzuki just grins as he stays standing! Douki stands up, and Suzuki SLAPS him! Douki fires off forearms! Fans rally but Suzuki eggs Douki on! Douki runs to LARIAT! Suzuki stays up, fueled by anger! Fans are thunderous again as Suzuki eggs Desperado on! Desperado throws a LOCO MONO!! But Suzuki stays up! Fans rally as Kanemaru BOOTS Suzuki! And BOOTS him again! And then DROPKICKS! Suzuki staggers but he stays on his feet! But Archer POUNCES Suzuki to a corner!

Red Shoes tries to restore order but Suzuki has a wild look on his face as he flounders back up. Suzuki grins as he eggs all of his followers on. Suzuki gets face to face with Taichi. Suzuki dares Taichi to do something, but Taichi is conflicted. Fans applaud as Taichi grits his teeth, and grabs the IRON FINGERS from his pouch! Taichi puts on Iizuka’s iron fingers!! Red Shoes says they can’t use those, but Suzuki shoves Red Shoes down! Suzuki tells Taichi to do it, so Taichi uses the IRON FINGERS FROM HELL on Suzuki!! Suzuki falls and Taichi is conflicted again. Fans rally as ZSJ brings Suzuki back up.

ZSJ brings Suzuki up, “THANK YOU, SUZUKI!” ZACK DRIVER!!! Cover, Zack’s team wins!

Winners: Douki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & The Dangerous Tekkers, by pinfall

And now that the battle is over, the faction gathers together around Boss Suzuki. They all had a part in defeating the Meanest Man in the World, and fans applaud for “SU-ZU-KI!” Taichi makes sure Suzuki is okay, and they hug it out. Fans applaud as the group helps Suzuki up to his feet. Suzuki then gets the mic, and he insists Douki says something? “You better say something, ya bastard.” Douki isn’t sure but he takes the mic. “I have the shortest history with this group. Only three and a half years, but because of joining Suzuki-Gun, I have grown.” Fans applaud, and Douki passes the mic to Kanemaru. “A good army, with good drinks!” Fans applaud Kanemaru’s very Kanemaru response.

Now Taka takes the mic. “Boss, this may be the last chance we have, so let me say this. Boss, thank you.” Taka bows and fans applaud more. Next up is Desperado, and he says, “I came to Japan becuse I wanted to be in Suzuki-Gun. I was able to be a part of it for a long while. I grew so much, and now it’s gone. I don’t know what I”ll do next, but I want to enjoy this moment while I can. I’m proud I was able to be part of such a fun army. Thank you so much.” Next is Archer, and he tells Suzuki, “22 years in professional wrestling. Over half of my career has been in Suzuki-Gun, 11 years. It has been an honor for me to wrestle in Japan. But it’s been a bigger honor to share the ring with you, my brother forever. Arigato gozaimasu.”

The fans applaud, and Archer hands the mic to ZSJ. “Seven years ago, Suzuki-Gun came to Pro-Wrestling NOAH. Everyday, I thought, ‘Suzuki-Gun, what a pain in the ass.’ But then, 18 months after, Suzuki-san, you invited me to come to Suzuki-Gun in NJPW. And it’s the best choice I ever made. Suzuki-Gun isn’t a team, Suzuki-Gun is a family.” Fans applaud that! ZSJ thanks Suzuki, and hands the mic to Taichi to finish up. Fans clap for “SU-ZU-KI!” “TA-I-CHI!” Taichi says, “Maybe we didn’t get the results other factions did, but we had something nobody else could hope to emulate. That’s why, make no mistake about it, we’re the best. Better than those before and those to come.

“These 11 years, it was only me and you that stayed together from day one. That’s half of my career, 11 years in Suzuki-Gun. From this moment on, looking back 11 years, I was rubbish then, and I will walk my own path now to make sure I don’t go back to the way I was.” Fans applaud, and Taichi says, “This was a damn fun 11 years.” Fans applaud again, and Taichi thanks Suzuki. The mic goes back to Suzuki, fans applaud, and he says, “I said what I wanted to say to each of you last week. Nothing more to add. But I will say my piece. 11 years ago, I made this group to help me invade NJPW and take the IWGP title.

“Now, this was Suzuki-Gun’s last match. Maybe it’ll be in a different form, but the goal hasn’t changed! I want the IWGP! Every single IWGP champion had better watch their heads, because I’m taking ’em! Heads will roll! Let’s end this our way. Stop trying to applaud us now, you morons! Stop laughing, you jackasses! All your hopes will be crushed. We’ll destroy everything and take what we want! For the last time, we are Suzuki-Gun! ICHIBAN!!” The army poses together with their banner, and snow falls. Wait, whose music is that? Suzuki-Gun wonders what is going on, and there’s snow falling. WAIT! TAKASHI IIZUKA IS HERE!

Fans can’t believe it, either, but the madman, the Deathmatch Demon, the Great Betrayer, heads to the ring! Kanemaru hurries to grab the leash, but Iizuka still gets in the ring! The others take hold of him so they can have one last group photo with him! Iizuka then breaks free, and he grabs the iron fingers! Iizuka runs away with the fingers! Guess those are truly retired now, too! Suzuki-Gun has one last fist bump, and Suzuki’s theme plays to truly bring this to a close. Will everyone in the ring be a lonely warrior from now on?

My Thoughts:

A really good event to finish the go-home to WrestleKingdom 17. Granted, I skipped a lot, but I’ve been very crunched for time lately. The Six Man Tag I did cover went about how I expected, with Gedo taking the loss so the various Faces can have momentum. Okada can probably overcome go-home math to take the world title from Jay White, but I can’t be sure about Yoh and Wato. Wato’s in the worst shape as he is in a Fatal 4, so someone else could win the title off Ishimori and Wato’s on the outside looking in.

And then we got a great 8 Man Tag main event, Suzuki-Gun got to have their kind of fun in that match, especially with how it closed having Suzuki fight all seven other men. We got great closing words from everyone, and a great surprise in Iizuka showing up. No more Suzuki-Gun, no more Iron Fingers, but endless possibilities for what all these guys do, other than THE goal of getting titles. Suzuki has his pick of the singles titles, he should call out no less than the IWGP United States Champion, whether that’s Ospreay or Omega after WK17.

My Score: 8.5/10

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (12/1/23)

SmackDown hears voices!

Published

22 mins ago

December 1, 2023

Steven Mitchell

The Viper is here for The Bloodline!

He returned at WarGames, he returned to Monday Night Raw, and now, The Apex Predator, Randy Orton, returns to Friday Night SmackDown! Will he be able to strike at The Bloodline tonight?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Kevin Owens VS Grayson Waller; wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

[Due to the scheduling choices of KFOX14 (El Paso & Las Cruces), coverage of SmackDown will not begin until 9PM Eastern]

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW World Tag League Results & Report! (12/1/23)

A Block, round 5!

Published

41 mins ago

December 1, 2023

Steven Mitchell

Will it be Chaos for the Reiwa Musketeers?

Shota Umino & Ren Narita are just outside the top spot in A Block, can they take over and truly lead NJPW’s future in World Tag League?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Six Man Tag: El Phantasmo, Hikuleo & Jado VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
Six Man Tag: Just5Guys VS Tiger Mask, Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr; Just5Guys win.
Six Man Tag: Master Wato, Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki VS Ryusuke Taguchi, Lance Archer & Alex Zayne; Wato, Nagata & Suzuki win.
8 Man Tag: Yoh, Bishamon & Boltin Oleg VS Los Ingobernables de Japon; Yoh, Bishamon & Oleg win.
2023 World Tag League, Block A: The Gates of Agony VS EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi; Evil & Yujiro win.
2023 World Tag League, Block A: TMDK VS Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa; TMDK wins.
2023 World Tag League, Block A: Great-O-Khan & Henare VS Gabe Kidd & Alex Coughlin; Kidd & Coughlin win.
2023 World Tag League, Block A: Shota Umino & Ren Narita VS Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii; Yano & Ishii win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current A Block standings.

TMDK: 3-1, 6 points
Shota Umino & Ren Narita: 3-1, 6 points
Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa: 2-2, 4 points
War Dogs: 2-2, 4 points
The United Empire: 2-2, 4 points
Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii: 2-2, 4 points
The House of Torture: 1-3, 2 points
The Gates of Agony: 1-3, 2 points

2023 World Tag League, Block A: The Gates of Agony VS EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi w/ The House of Torture!

Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona finally got on the board, beating the War Dogs. Meanwhile, the House of Torture is falling apart as they just keep losing! Will the Gates slam shut on them, too? Or will the King of Darkness & Tokyo Pimp find a way to lie, cheat and steal a win once again?

Wait, the Gates are coming out wearing House of Torture shirts? And then they wait for the House to make their entrance? Is this a sign that they’ve become allies? Dick Togo, Sho, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and of course Evil & Yujiro all come out together and they seem pretty chummy with the Gates. All seven go to the ring now, and this is a rather interesting development. Did Prince Nana approve this deal? Everyone shakes hands and “put one out” so clearly there’s something to this. They even pose for photos! But then Kaun & Liona quickly and quietly TOSS Sho & Kanemaru, then they TOSS Dick! Yujiro & Evil don’t understand!

Kaun & Liona throw forearms, the bell rings and the Gates whip Evil & Yujiro. Yujiro & Evil hold ropes to then BOOT in return! But they run into double scoop SLAMS! The Gates tear off the House of Torture shirts, and Liona even wipes his butt with it! Evil & Yujiro are in opposite corners, Kaun runs in to ELBOW Yujiro and Liona SPLASHES Evil! Then the Gates trade, ELBOW for Evil and SPLASH for Yujiro! And back the other way! Fans fire up as the Gates tricked the tricksters! They fire each other up, and Kaun sends Liona into SPLASH Evil! The fans rally up, the Gates run in to SPLASH SANDWICH Evil!

Liona stands Evil back up, he and Kaun OPEN- NO, Yujiro saves Evil and they bail out. The House falls back, daring the Gates to come out after them. The Gates storm out after them, but going all the way to the entrance is suspicious. Sho & Kanemaru attack from behind with chairs! Fans boo as Dick distracts the ref so that the House can mug the Gates! Sho CHOKES Liona with his chair, but Liona bench presses it away! Yujiro helps Sho while Evil drags Kaun around, to RAM into the timekeeper’s area! Poor Abe-san! The fans boo but Evil gets on the mic to basically say this is what they get for messing with the House!

Yujiro SMACKS Liona off the timekeeper’s table, but Liona roars! So Yujiro POSTS Liona to knock him down! Evil drags Kaun up, puts him in the ring, and fans rally up. Evil CLUBS Kaun, CLUBS him again, and calls to the ref. Marty Asami returns and Evil stomps Kaun. Evil drags Kaun up, wrenches the arm and tags in Yujiro. Yujiro CLUBS Kaun’s arm, then reels him in to snapmare and ROCK with a haymaker. Yujiro looms over Kaun to rain down more fists but the ref reprimands. No closed fists! So Yujiro fishhooks Kaun’s nose! Yujiro sits Kaun up to run and basement BOOT! Cover, ONE!!

Yujiro is annoyed but he drags Kaun back up. Yujiro wrenches, wristlocks, and he CLUBS the arm. And stomps it! Kaun clutches the arm, it is taped up from that fight with the War Dogs. Yujiro wraps the arm around ropes! The ref counts, Yujiro lets off at 4 but the House all complains. Tag to Evil and he throws his shirt at Liona. Now the ref has to keep Liona out, and Evil throws Kaun out for the boys to stomp away on! Fans boo these vultures, but then Sho puts Kaun back in for Evil. Cover, TWO! Evil argues with the ref but the fans rally up. Evil tags Yujiro then runs to BLAST Liona! Liona stays up and roars, so Evil pokes him in the eyes!

Evil and Yujiro drag Kaun up, whip him to a corner, and Yujiro runs in but into Kaun’s BOOT! Kaun catches Evil for an URENAGE! Then Kaun uses Evil as a step to SHOTGUN Yujiro! Fans fire up while they’re all done, and Kaun crawls over. Hot tag to Liona! Liona rallies on Yujiro, BOOTS him, then catches Evil for a spin and LARIAT! Fans fire up more and Liona has targets in opposite corners. Liona roars, then SPLASHES Evil! SPLASH for Yujiro! SPLASH for Evil! SPLASH for Yujiro! Liona just keeps going, then he whips Evil into Yujiro! Fans fire up with Liona, and he runs back in, but both Yujiro and Evil dodge!

Yujiro & Evil kick low, double whip to ropes, but Liona breaks the line to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! Fans fire up again and Liona roars for Kaun! Kaun rises and tags in, and the Gates get Yujiro up! But Yujiro moves, the double lariats collide! Kaun hurries to grab a leg but Yujiro BOOTS Kaun into Liona! Evil tags in and he storms up to CLUB Kaun! Evil stomps Kaun, Yujiro joins in, and the ref reprimands. Yujiro drags Kaun to a corner, he and Evil double whip Kaun corner to corner. Yujiro runs in to BOOT! Evil runs in to clothesline! Snapmare and then they set Kaun up while Sho distracts! Dick hops up, DICK CHOP!!

Fans boo as Evil covers, TWO!! Kaun survives and the fans fire up again! Evil slashes his throat, drags Kaun up, and spins him around, but Liona is back! HELL STAB! Then a HEADBUTT for Yujiro! Liona & Kaun BLAST Dick & Sho off the apron! The fans fire up as now Evil is alone! Kaun & Liona high five and LARIAT SANDWICH! They roar again and they get Evil up. HEAVEN’S GATES!! Cover, but Dick YANKS the ref out!! Fans boo, but Yujiro slips back in to CLUB the Gates! Kaun ROCKS Yujiro in return! Kaun & Liona set Evil & Yujiro up, but they block double low blows! Kanemaru and Sho get in, they DOUBLE LOW BLOW!!

Fans boo as the House stomps away on the Gates! Yujiro has his cane, Dick has the Spoiler Choker. Liona shoves Sho aside but gets the CANE SHOT! Dick CHOKES Kaun, Kanemaru gives him WHISKEY MIST! And then Sho CLOBBERS Kaun with his wrench! Dick gets the ref back in as Evil hits EVERYTHING IS EVIL on Kaun!! Cover, The House wins!

Winners: Evil & Yujiro Takahashi, by pinfall (gain 2 points; The Gates of Agony earn 0)

Kaun & Liona lured the House in, but one good trick wasn’t enough to beat the numbers game. The House even mugs the Young Lions trying to help The Gates! Will this be the beginning of the most unwanted comeback in World Tag League history?

2023 World Tag League, Block A: TMDK w/ Kosei Fujita VS Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa!

The Mighty Don’t Kneel, but Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls did fall for the trickery of Toru Yano. Will TMDK be able to rebound and stay at the top of the block? Or will the Green Supernova and his protege still #CreateTheFuture?

The teams sort out and Mad Mikey starts against Oiwa. They tie up, fans rally up, and Oiwa pushes Mikey back, only for Mikey to put him on ropes. Mikey lets off but shoves Oiwa. Oiwa shoves back! They go forehead to forehead, then forearm for forearm! Mikey claws eyes, headlocks, and brings Oiwa over. Shane tags in, Oiwa gets away, and then Oiwa arm-drags Mikey! Shane runs in, but into an arm-drag! Oiwa wrenches and whips Shane to ropes, Kaito joins in so they can DOUBLE ARM-DRAG! And then DOUBLE DROPKICK! The fans fire and Oiwa has Shane in a corner. Shane throws a chop, but Oiwa stomps and ROCKS Shane in return.

Oiwa drags Shane up to wrench and wristlock, then he scoops to POWERSLAM! Oiwa runs, but Shane gets up to DROPKICK back! Shane puts Oiwa on ropes, stomps away, and then BLASTS Kaito! Mikey smothers Oiwa on the apron, lets off before he gets caught, and then Shane slides to SHOVE Oiwa to the floor! The ref has to keep Kaito back, so that lets Mikey stomp Oiwa. Mikey puts Oiwa in, Shane covers, TWO! Shane drags Oiwa up, brings him around and bumps him off buckles. Tag to Mikey and he CHOPS! Fans rally, Mikey eggs Oiwa on then CHOPS him again! Mikey ROCKS Oiwa, Oiwa ROCKS Mikey!

Oiwa fires off on Mikey but Mikey ROCKS him right back! And CHOPS him right down! Cover, TWO! Fans rally but Mikey sits Oiwa up and runs. Oiwa avoids the sliding lariat! Mikey hobbles up, throws a forearm but Oiwa throws back a flurry! Mikey fires a flurry of his own! Mikey runs, into an UPPERCUT! Oiwa runs and ROLLING ELBOWS Mikey down! Fans fire up as both men crawl, hot tag to Kaito! Kaito rallies on TMDK, whips Mikey and DROPKICKS him down! Shane kicks and runs, into a DROPKICK! Fans fire up again and Kaito whips corner to corner. Mikey reverses but Kaito comes back to NECKBREAKER DROP! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally up again as Kaito drags Mikey up and reels him in. Mikey fights the suplex, but Kaito fires forearms! Kaito reels Mikey in but Mikey suplexes! Kaito slips free, ducks Mikey’s elbow, but Mikey DDTS! Fans fire up while both men are down, Mikey crawls to hot tag Shane! Shane UPPERCUTS again and again on Kaito, whips him to a corner then BLASTS Oiwa before he UPPERCUTS Kaito! Shane keeps moving, CANNONBALL! Fans fire up with Hysterical Haste and he drags Kaito up, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Kaito survives and fans rally up. Shane calls his shot and he drags Kaito back up to reel him in.

Shane underhooks the arms, lifts, but Kaito fights free to chicken wing! Shane fights that to ROCK Kaito! Shane eggs Kaito on then UPPERCUTS him! Kaito comes back to UPPERCUT Shane! Shane UPPERCUTS Kaito! Kaito grits his teeth and shakes his head. Kaito UPPERCUTS, Shane UPPERCUTS, repeat! Fans rally, Shane gets the edge with UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT, but Kaito rebounds to RUNNING UPPERCUT! Both men are down again, and the fans fire up! Shane crawls to an open corner, Kaito crawls to hot tag Oiwa! Oiwa runs in to forearm smash, then he whips Shane corner to corner. Oiwa runs in to DROPKICK!

Fans rally up again as Oiwa clamps on a gut wrench, for a GUT WRENCH SUPLEX! Oiwa drags Shane up again, GUT WRENCH SUPLEX! Oiwa isn’t done, he drags Shane up for a GUT WRENCH BRIDGE! Cover, TWO! Oiwa BLASTS Mikey and Kaito slides in. They double whip Shane, then Kaito sends Oiwa in to ELBOW! Kaito runs in to forearm! Feed to the SPIN POWERSLAM! Cover, Mikey breaks it! Kaito TOSSES Mikey and Oiwa fires up! Oiwa drags Shane up in a waistlock but Mikey makes the save! Mikey CHOPS and Shane LARIATS! They coordinate, fireman’s carry, HIGHWAY TO HELL! Cover, Kaito breaks it!

The fans fire up again but Mikey tosses Kaito out. Shane kicks Oiwa around, eggs him on, but Oiwa sits up. Kaito gives more kicks, and a boot! Shane aims from a corner, runs in, but Oiwa dodges the Shane-ing Wizard to single leg, ANACONDA SUPLEX! Shane staggers back up, Oiwa gets around to GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, but Mikey sweeps Oiwa’s legs! Mikey whips, Oiwa reverses and DROPKICKS! Oiwa calls to Kaito and he returns. They get Shane up and fans fire up with them. Oiwa Electric Chair Lifts while Kaito climbs. But Shane victory rolls under the crossbody! TWO!! Mikey catches Kaito for a MIKEY BOMB!

Oiwa fires off on Mikey and DOUBLE CHOPS! But Shane SUPERKICKS! Mikey scoops, TANK BUSTER!! Cover, TMDK wins!!

Winner: TMDK, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Kaito & Oiwa earn 0)

A powerful battle from both teams, but only one team was mighty! Will Shane & Mikey still be the A Block finalists

2023 World Tag League, Block A: Great-O-Khan & Henare w/ Callum Newman VS Gabe Kidd & Alex Coughlin!

The Dominator & Face of Fury are holding on at 2-2, but so are #WarReady and the Dreadnought! Will the United Empire conquer these War Dogs and stay strong? Or will Kidd & Coughlin win won for the Rebel?

But of course the War Dogs attack at the ramp! But the Empire is ready, and Khan JAMS Kidd with his banner’s staff! Henare fires hands on Coughlin, HEADBUTTS him, and Khan CHOKES Kidd with the staff! Khan throws Kidd down, Henare CLUBS away on Coughlin, and the Empire gets the Dogs set up for Callum! Callum FLIES! Direct hit and he even lands on his feet! Fans fire up with the Empire and they throw the crowns up. Khan CLUBS Kidd, Henare LASHES Coughlin with his vest, and then Khan whips Kidd hard into railing! Red Shoes says fine then, and the bell rings to get this on record.

Fans cheer while Henare puts Coughlin in and throws forearms. Henare runs to then run Coughlin over! Fans cheer more, and Henare aims. Henare KICKS Coughlin in the back! And KICKS him again! Henare snapmares Coughlin to KICK him again! Then he SENTONS onto knees! Coughlin deadlifts and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Coughlin stomps Henare while Kidd whips Khan hard into railing, sending him up and out! Kidd then drags Khan to the back area of the stands, and whips him all the way into a wall! Coughlin digs his boots into Henare in a corner, then his knee. Red Shoes reprimands and Coughlin lets off.

Kidd and Khan keep brawling in the back as Coughlin CHOPS Henare! Coughlin whips Henare corner to corner then clotheslines! Coughlin then scoops Henare, and hits a FALL AWAY SLAM! Henare tumbles and writhes while fans applaud the show of strength. Coughlin covers, TWO! Tag to Kidd, and the War Dogs get Henare up. Coughlin holds the arms back so Kidd can CHOP Henare! And CHOP again! Kidd then stands on Henare’s head but Red Shoes reprimands. Kidd steps off to storm around. Kidd mockingly asks where Will Ospreay went. Kidd says he’s beating up Ospreay’s boys like they’re his b*tches!

Kidd DECKS Henare, then digs his knee in again. Tag to Coughlin, he drags Henare up, and says “Knock knock” as he taps Henare on the head. Henare snarls but Coughlin SLAPS him down! Coughlin says Henare’s supposed to respond, “Who’s there.” Coughlin kneels on Henare but Khan knocks him over! The War Dogs mug Khan, Kidd drags him out of the ring, then whips him hard into railing! Kidd even DECKS Callum for the hell of it! Fans boo but Kidd says he’s a madman! Coughlin stomps Henare, drags him up, and RAMS him into the corner. Tag to Kidd and Kidd RAMS into Henare. Kidd then snapmares Henare to drop an elbow! Cover, TWO!

Khan runs back in but Kidd DECKS him! Kidd drags Khan up to throw him out, and Coughlin hauls him up to whip hard into more railing! Kidd storms around, kicks Henare, but Henare grits his teeth. Kidd eggs Henare on, kicks again, but Henare blocks! Henare steps over to WHEEL KICK! Both men are down and fans fire up! Henare crawls, Khan drags himself up! But Coughlin runs in to BLAST Khan off the apron! Coughlin then goes out to stomp on Khan, and Kidd CLUBS Henare. Coughlin sends Khan into railing again! Kidd drags Henare up, ROCKS him, then bumps him off buckles. But Henare just growls!

Kidd bumps Henare off more buckles, but Henare just headbutts the buckles! Kidd eggs Henare on, CHOPS him, then whips him. But Henare reverses to SAMOAN DROP! Fans fire up as Henare crawls for his corner. Hot tag- NO, Coughlin YANKS Khan down! Red Shoes reprimands, Coughlin whips, but Khan reverses to send him into railing! And then Khan BOOTS Coughlin down! The fans fire up, hot tag to Khan! Khan runs Kidd over, whips him to a corner and clotheslines! Then torture rack and swing, NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Kidd is still in this but the fans rally behind Khan. Khan sits Kidd up, into the IRON CLAW SLEEPER!

Kidd BITES the fingers! And SNAPS them! Kidd runs, rebounds, but Khan gets under! Henare runs in, ASSISTED SITOUT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Kidd survives but Henare and Khan coordinate. Shoutout to Aussie Open, RUNNING KICK SANDWICH! Scoop, HEEL KICK T T D!! Cover, Coughlin breaks it! Coughlin and Henare trade big forearms! Fans fire up as they go back and forth! Coughlin gets the edge, but Henare BODY BLOWS! And ULTIMA- NO, Coughlin fights the full nelson! So Henare shoves him to a corner for a SHINING WIZARD! Then snapmare and RUGBY KICK! And then the Monster Rage boils over!

Henare drags Kidd up, fireman’s carries, and Khan runs. But Kidd slips free to shove Henare into Khan! Kidd BITES Henare, TOSSES him out, talks trash, but turns around into the HELL STAB! IRON CLAW, but Kidd grabs at Red Shoes! RIGHT HAND!! Kidd and Khan fall over after that closed fist shot! Fans rally up as hard as they can but Kidd snarls as he drags Khan up. Kidd runs, springboards, OSCUTTER?!? Kidd sends a message to Ospreay, and Coughlin is back in! Gut wrench, Coughlin goes up, HIJACK TOMBSTONE!! Cover, War Dogs win!!

Winners: Gabe Kidd & Alex Coughlin, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Khan & Henare earn 0)

That madman tells Ospreay that he’s dead when they finally face off 1v1! December 16th is still two weeks away, is Kidd going to overlook the rest of the WTL all because he wants after the Kingpin?

2023 World Tag League, Block A: Shota Umino & Ren Narita VS Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii!

The Reiwa Musketeers are coming off a big main event win last round, and are near the top of the block! But the Clown Prince & Stone Pitbull just took down the top of the block last round against TMDK! Will Yano & Ishii pull off another shocker to get to the front of the line? Or will the Roughneck & Son of Strong Style make it through the Chaos?

The teams sort out and Ishii starts against Narita. The fans rally, the two tie up, and they’re in a deadlock. Every step Narita pushes Ishii back, Ishii pushes Narita back. Ishii uses his stockier frame to keep pushing Narita, and they end up on ropes. Red Shoes calls the break, Ishii lets off, but Narita intercepts the forearm with a forearm! Narita fires off more shots, but Ishii eggs him on! Ishii and Narita trade forearms back and forth, fans fire up as they pick up speed! Narita ROCKS Ishii, runs, but Ishii avoids the boot. Narita avoids the lariat to BOOT Ishii down after all! Fans fire up and Narita stomps Ishii. Narita then stands Ishii up to bump off buckles.

But then Ishii hits Shota! Shota hits back, Ishii fights both Musketeers at once! That doesn’t go well and they mug him 2v1. Tag to Shota and he digs his boots in while Narita BLASTS Yano! Red Shoes counts, Shota & Narita double whip Ishii to ropes, then DOUBLE ELBOW! SENTON! SOMERSAULT SENTON! Then they shake hands to DOUBLE ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Shota kicks Ishii around, eggs him on, but Ishii stands. The two stare down, and Shota throws a forearm. Ishii eggs Shota on now, so Shota throws more forearms. Ishii leans into the shots and backs Shota down like that! Shota keeps throwing shots, but Ishii DECKS him!

Fans fire up and Ishii rains down more shots on Shota! Red Shoes counts, Ishii lets off, and then Ishii eggs Narita on. Red Shoes keeps Narita back and Yano tags in. Yano fires up, and he unties a buckle pad! Then he throws it to Shota and tattles on him to Red Shoes! Shota gives the buckle pad over, and Yano SLAPS Shota in the head! Fans cheer but Shota scowls. Yano claws the eyes! Yano runs, Shota ELBOWS him then runs to basement dropkick! Tag to Narita, and Narita whips Yano to ropes, for a NECKBREAKER DROP! Cover, TWO! Yano is still in this and fans rally up. Narita brings Yano up but Yano pulls hair!

Narita kicks and whips but Yano reverses to throw Narita down by his hair! Yano drags Narita up and whips him into the bare buckles! Narita writhes, Yano BLASTS Shota, and Ishii rushes over to go after him! Yano throws Narita out and then goes out after him. Yano whips Narita hard into railing! Ishii whips Shota hard into railing, too! Yano drags Narita back up, puts him in the ring, and he stomps Narita around. Yano drags Narita up, tells haters to shut up, then tags in Ishii. Ishii CHOPS Narita, stalks him, and CHOPS him against the ropes! Ishii eggs Narita on and CHOPS him again. Ishii continues to egg Narita on, so Narita throws a forearm!

Ishii slaps Narita around, Narita throws more shots, but Ishii CHOPS him back down! Fans applaud, and Ishii taunts Shota. Shota coaches Narita but Ishii gives Narita toying kicks. Ishii HEADBUTTS Narita, CHOPS him, then CHOPS and CHOPS again! Narita roars but Ishii CHOPS him back down! Ishii whips Narita corner to corner, runs in, but into a BOOT! Narita runs up, Ishii ROCKS him! Ishii swings, but into a HALF HATCH! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Hot tag to Shota! Shota fires off on Ishii, whips him to ropes, but Ishii reverses. Shota CLOBBERS Ishii, then BLASTS Yano! Fans fire up behind Shota and he sends Ishii to a corner.

Shota runs in to UPPERCUT, then FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Shota keeps going, and he turns Ishii over into an STF! Yano stomps Shota, so Shota kicks Yano and tosses him out. Shota goes back to Ishii, stands him up, and clinches. Ishii fights the lift with elbows! Shota ROCKS Ishii, gives him taunting kicks, but Ishii ROCKS Shota back! Shota and Ishii stare down, and Shota fires off forearm after forearm! Shota has Ishii in the corner for more shots! Red Shoes reprimands but Ishii roars and turns things around to CHOP and ROCK Shota on repeat! The fans rally up as Shota sits down, only for Ishii to stand him back up for more!

Ishii CHOPS and ROCKS Shota into sitting down again, and the fans fire up! Ishii eggs Shota on, kicks him around, slaps him even, and Shota scowls. Shota storms up on Ishii, Ishii throws a forearm. Shota eggs Ishii on, and leans into the shots a la Ishii. Shota then ROCKS Ishii and he staggers away! Ishii comes back, Shota clinches but Ishii slips around. Shota elbows Ishii, whips, but Ishii reverses to SAIDO! Fans fire up while both men are down! Shota and Ishii crawl, hot tag to Yano! Yano fires up and whips Shota, but Shota reverses. Yano avoids the bare buckles, to then bait Shota into them! Roll up, TWO!

Yano runs, but Shota DROPKICKS him down! Fans fire up again, and Shota crawls to hot tag Narita! Narita runs up on Yano, BACK ELBOW! Then HALF HATCH BRIDGE! Cover, TWO! Yano escapes, but Narita BLASTS Ishii to cut off the tag. Narita clinches but Yano fights the lift! So Narita trips Yano, and rolls him, CROSS ANKLE CLOVERLEAF! Yano endures, the fans rally up, but Narita drags Yano from ropes! Yano keeps fighting around, he reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Narita lets off in frustration but the fans rally up again. Narita stands Yano up, reels him in, COBRA TWIST! But Yano powers free with a hip toss!

Narita runs in but Yano trips him! CATAPULT into the bare buckles!! Ishii clotheslines Narita, too! Then he BLASTS Shota! Yano fires up and he hauls Narita up. ONI- NO, Narita fights free! Narita gets around, SLEEPER! Yano is fading fast, but Narita goes to the COBRA TWIST now! Yano endures, fans rally up, and Yano fights his way around. Shota keeps Ishii out, and Narita brings Yano away with the SLEEPER! Then back to COBRA TWIST! Yano is turning red like his favorite chair! But Ishii sends Shota into railing, to then TACKLE Narita! Fans fire up while Narita tosses Ishii back out. Narita roars and goes back for Yano.

Narita drags Yano up but Yano fights the suplex. Narita knees low, runs, but Yano avoids the boot to clinch and BELLY2BELLY! Fans fire up while both men are down! Yano and Narita crawl, hot tag to Ishii, and he BLASTS Shota! Ishii drags Narita up, throws him into Shota, then runs, but Narita BOOTS! GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Ishii escapes and the fans fire up again. Narita crawls, hot tag to Shota! Shota aims at Ishii, BANG and V-TRIGGER! Shota then slingshots to APRON DDT Ishii!! Fans are thunderous and Shota stands tall as Ishii flops over. Red Shoes checks but Ishii is somehow still in this.

Shota drags Ishii up as the ring count begins. Shota puts Ishii in, climbs up a corner, and he MISSILE DROPKICKS Ishii down! Then Shota resets, to slingshot CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Ishii survives and the fans fire up again! Shota drags Ishii up, dragon sleepers, but Ishii fights free. Ishii runs, into a snap cradle, that then shifts into a BONE LOCK!! Ishii endures the over-the-shoulder crossface, but Narita keeps Yano out! Shota pulls on the hold, but Ishii still fights around! Ishii reaches out, but Shota pulls back more! Ishii flails and kicks around, to have the ROPEBREAK! Shota lets go and the fans fire up again.

Narita slides in, he and Shota coordinate. Shota wrenches Ishii, dragon sleepers, and then gets Ishii up. Narita runs, BOOT into SAVING GRACE! Cover, TWO!! Ishii survives and the fans are thunderous again! The Musketeers stay focused, though, and they haul Ishii up. They double whip him to a corner, Shota runs in to ELBOW! Narita runs in to JUMP KICK! Feed to Shota’s forearm! Narita’s BOOT! Shota’s ROLLING ELBOW! Another BOOT! And then the lift, for the HART ATTACK! Cover, YANO BREAKS IT! Fans fire up but Narita fires off on Yano! Yano gets around, fireman’s carry takeover! Yano kicks and whips Shota, but Shota reverses!

But Yano denies the tornado DDT! Yano atomic drops Shota, then pops him up. Shota fights the Onigoroshi, underhooks Yano, but Yano RAMS Shota into bare buckles! Ishii reels Shota in, hoists him up, POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!! Shota survives and the fans fire up again! Ishii roars, the fans duel, and Shota flounders up. Ishii runs, Shota BOOTS him, blocks the lariat, and ENZIGURIS! Narita is back to WHEEL KICK! Narita hurries to get Ishii up and NORTHERN LIGHTS! Then a clinch, but Ishii HEADBUTTS free! Narita ENZIGURIS, Shota full nelsons! Narita runs, but Ishii gets free, the BOOT hits Shota!

Ishii shoves Shota into Narita, Yano drags Narita out! LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!?! Shota survives and fans are thunderous again! Ishii grits his teeth and he stands back up. Ishii roars and looks to finish this off. We’re at 20 minutes, Ishii suplexes, but Shota slips free! HALF ‘N’ HALF! But Ishii gets right up to CLOBBER Shota! But Shota’s right up to SHOTGUN Ishii! Ishii’s back, but Shota pop-up KNEES, and LARIATS! Fans fire up again and Shota drags Ishii up. HALF ‘N’ HALF BRIDGE! Cover, TWO!! The fans are thunderous and Shota just fires up again! Shota aims from a corner, vowing to end it here!

Ishii slowly rises, Shota runs in, BLAZE BLADE!! But Shota isn’t done! Underhooks and- NO, Ishii wrenches out to PELE!! Both men are down and the fans are electric! Ishii goes to the corner while the fans duel, and he SLIDING LARIATS!! Cover, NARITA BREAKS IT! Yano runs in to toss Narita out! Ishii roars and he drags Shota back up. Ishii suplexes, but Shota fights free! Shota wrenches, ROCKS and ROLLING- NO, Ishii ROCKS Shota! But Shota catches Ishii, only for Ishii to wrench out! Shota POP-UP UPPERCUTS! And then V- NO, Ishii blocks to HEADBUTT! And then Ishii spins Shota to a BRAINBUSTER!!! Cover, CHAOS WINS!

Winners: Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Shota & Narita earn 0)

There weren’t any tricks needed here, Ishii & Yano beat the Musketeers straight up! Is it still too soon for Shota & Narita to say the Paradigm Shift is coming?

And because it’s Ishii who won this, he’s a true strong silent type, so he and Yano just get outta here! No closing address tonight, but will actions speak louder than words for the Stone Pitbull in this tournament’s second half?

Here are the NEW A Block standings!

TMDK: 4-1, 8 points
Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii: 3-2, 6 points
Shota Umino & Ren Narita: 3-2, 6 points
War Dogs: 3-2, 6 points
Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa: 2-3, 4 points
The United Empire: 2-3, 4 points
The House of Torture: 2-3, 4 points
The Gates of Agony: 1-4, 2 points

My Thoughts:

Another great round for World Tag League and this block, with some rather shocking moves. I really thought The Gates were going to get going after their win last round, but I guess the House of Torture couldn’t just drop off that badly so they had to win this here. And as we saw in that main event, Yano & Ishii are making a go of it in this block. They beat Shota & Narita, who are certainly still frontrunners, but that was great stuff to make a point that Shota & Narita aren’t ready to beat the real “old guard” they’re talking about replacing here. War Dogs beating the Empire seems fine, they’re mostly just keeping pace so they could cost somebody later.

And great match from TMDK VS the Noah duo, and a great win for TMDK to again be the clear first place team. 4-1 at the halfway point, this block is on Shane & Mikey to win or lose, and as I’ve been saying, TMDK as both a group and as just these two, the OG members, have been solid a long time. It’d be great if they got to the tournament finals here, maybe even get that title shot at WrestleKingdom.