Who will be headed to Sendai for the finals?

NJPW’s World Tag League reaches the ninth and final round! Only two teams can compete for the trophies, who survive the block?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current World Tag League standings!

Aussie Open: 7-2, 14 points
The Mighty: 6-2, 12 points
Naito & Sanada: 6-2, 12 points
Goto & Hashi: 6-2, 12 points
Yano & Tanahashi: 4-4, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Khan & Henare: 4-4, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Suzuki & Archer: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Evil & Yujiro: 2-6, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
Coughlin & Kidd: 1-7, 2 points [ELIMINATED]

Chase & Fale: [FORFEIT]

World Tag League 2022: Tetsuya Naito & SANADA VS EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi!

The Uncontrollable Charisma vows this WrestleKingdom will be his last. That is, if he makes it! Will he and the Cold Skull win their way into the finals? Or will their old enemy, the King of Darkness, ruin this for them, too?

Dick Togo accompanies the House of Torture, so Sho must be lurking in the shadows again. Then LIJ makes their entrance, with fans loudly cheering for “NA-I-TO! NA-I-TO!” Naito might even be a bit emotional as he gets near the ring. Naito still takes his time with his entrance attire, but the House of Torture is patient. Until they decide to attack! Yujiro kicks Naito while he’s working on the tearaway pants, and Evil kicks and CLUBS Sanada! The bell rings, fans boo, but Yujiro throws Naito out while Evil puts Sanada in a corner. Evil CLUBS Sanada again while Yujiro stomps Naito. Evil wrenches, wrenches, and wrenches Sanada’s arm.

Evil whips Sanada to the corner, runs in but Sanada dodges. Sanada comes back, blocks a boot, and trips Evil! Sanada puts Evil in Paradise! Fans fire up but Yujiro runs in. Sanada kicks and CLUBS Yujiro, Naito joins in and LIJ double whip to double elbow, and then split the wishbone into DOUBLE BASEMENT DROPKICKS! Fans rally up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. Fans oblige, Sanada lines up the shot and he dropkicks Evil out of Paradise! Sanada then drags Evil up to wrench his arm back. Sanada CLUBS the arm, tags Naito in, and fans fire up as Naito CLUBS Evil’s arm.

Naito clamps onto the arm, grinds the shoulder and brings Evil down to the mat. Evil reaches for ropes but Naito wrenches the arm to bring him away. Naito YANKS the arm, YANKS it again, then wrenches to a wristlock. Tag to Sanada, and Sanada CLUBS the bad arm. Fans cheer as Sanada wrenches the arm again, but Evil rakes the eyes! The ref reprimands, Evil stops at 4, to whip Sanada into bare buckles! The Bullet Club Special comes into play outta nowhere! Fans boo, Naito runs in, but Evil sends him into the bare buckles! Evil mockingly applauds while Yujiro drags Sanada out. Evil goes out after Sanada, to RAM him into the timekeeper!

Abe-san goes down in a heap and Sanada writhes. The ref and the Young Lions hurry to help, but miss Yujiro clawing Naito’s eyes! Evil slides into the ring while Sanada sits up. The timekeeper’s table is back up and Evil waits. Sanada stands and fans rally as he makes his way to the apron. But Evil BLASTS him off and Sanada falls onto railing, right into the timekeeper! Abe-san suffers twice! Fans boo and Aussie Open, who are ringside, are a bit annoyed this is happening so close to where they are. Kyle Fletcher helps Abe-san up while a ring count starts. Yujiro drags Sanada up and puts him in at 8 of 20, Evil covers, TWO!

Evil tags Yujiro and Yujiro stomps Sanada. Yujiro drags Sanada up, knees low, then CLUBS him on the back. Sanada drops to his knees but Yujiro brings him up to snapmare. BASEMENT BOOT! Cover, TWO! Yujiro drags Sanada up, brings him over and bumps him off the bare buckle! Evil tags in, he gives toying kicks to Sanada, and fans rally up. Sanada ROCKS Evil with a forearm! And another! And another! Evil scoops to SLAM Sanada, and covers, TWO! Evil covers again, TWO! Evil’s upset with the ref’s count, it should be faster, but Sanada rolls Evil! TWO!! Evil now says that was too fast a count!

Evil rushes Sanada but Sanada gets around, for a BIG back suplex! Fans fire up and Sanada crawls, hot tag to Naito! Naito dodges Evil, BLASTS Yujiro, then blocks Evil’s kick to ROCK, kick and CLUB! Naito whips, ELBOWS Evil down, then basement dropkicks! Yujiro runs in, into a hip toss and basement dropkick! Evil returns but Naito kicks and whips him. Naito runs in to JUMP KICK, leg sweep and SWINGING DROPKICK! Fans fire up for Combinacion Cabron and Naito’s signature pose. Naito then covers, TWO! Fans rally while Naito brings Evil up. But Evil rakes Naito’s eyes! The ref reprimands, Evil stops to whip Naito.

Naito reverses, kicks, and throws those heavy ELBOWS! Naito dragon sleepers for the NECKBREAKER, into the LEG HOOK FULL NELSON! Evil endures, fans rally, and Naito dares someone to get in. Evil crawls around and reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Naito pretends to need help, and the ref undoes the hold. Dick protests but Naito dares him to do something about it. Naito drags Evil up, hammerlocks and half nelsons, but Evil fights free! Naito CLUBS Evil, whips him to ropes, but Evil reverses. Yujiro cheap shots Naito, then holds him in place! Fans boo, Evil runs in but Naito dodges! Evil stops from hitting Yujiro!

Naito runs back in but Evil and Yujiro both get out of the way. Evil blocks the ref from seeing Dick trip Naito! There’s him doing something about it! Fans boo but Evil steps on Naito to tag Yujiro. They both stomp away on Naito, the ref reprimands, and Evil lets off. Yujiro digs his boot into Naito’s head while fans rally up. They cheer on “NA-I-TO! NA-I-TO!” as he stands up. But Yujiro blocks Naito’s kick and rakes the eyes! Yujiro throws Naito down, runs, but Naito avoids the sliding boot to kick Yujiro back. Naito then turns Yujiro for a NECKBREAKER! Fans rally up while both men are down! Yujiro and Naito crawl, Naito hot tags Sanada!

Sanada runs in to kick and forearm Yujiro. Sanada whips but Yujiro reverses, only for Sanada to dropkick the legs out! Sanada then dropkicks Yujiro down! Fans rally as Sanada fireman’s carries Yujiro, but Yujiro BITES Sanada’s hand! Fans boo and the ref reprimands but Yujiro FISHERMAN- NO, Sanada BITES back! The ref reprimands, Yujiro BITES Sanada’s hand again! The ref reprimands them both, they both stop at 4. Sanada runs in but into a FLAPJACK HOTSHOT! Evil runs in to BLAST Naito off the apron! Evil and Yujiro drag Sanada up, double whip, but Sanada ducks the double lariats!

Sanada shoves Evil into Yujiro, then he dropkicks Evil down! Fans fire up as Sanada catches Yujiro to a full nelson, then spins him to suplex and MAGIC SCREW! Fans rally as Sanada storms up on Yujiro. Sanada drags Yujiro into a drop zone, goes to the corner and climbs. ROUNDING BODY- NO, Sanada has to bail out as Yujiro moves! Sanada comes back, he fireman’s carries Yujiro, and throws Yujiro into SKULL END! Naito BLASTS Evil and goes out after Dick! Dick begs for mercy while Yujiro endures! Fans rally, but the lights go down! Someone attacks Sanada in the ring! And fans boo, because we all know who!

The lights come up, but wait, Sho isn’t there? Fans still sense his presence and tell him to go away. Sho reveals he was one of the ringside staff! The House of Torture all stomp away on Sanada! Then Sho bails out with Dick and Evil so that Yujiro can LARIAT Sanada down! Yujiro reels Sanada in, PIMP JUICE!! Cover, TWO!!! Sanada survives the stacked deck and the House of Torture can’t believe it! Fans are thunderous for “SA-NA-DA!” as Yujiro drags him back up. Yujiro brings Sanada in, BIG- NO, Sanada denies the Juice! Naito runs in to CLOBBER Yujiro! Evil runs in, Naito gets around and hits a TORNADO DDT!

Fans fire up again as Naito BLASTS Sho and BLASTS Dick! Yujiro runs in, but is sent into the bare buckles! Sanada runs in to back elbow! Then he snapmares Yujiro for a DOUBLE BASEMENT DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Yujiro is still in this but Sanada fireman’s carries. But Yujiro slips off! Sanada switches, feed to the atomic drop! ENZIGURI and ROLLING ELBOW! Sanada runs to ROLLING ELBOW again! Fans fire up as Sanada fireman’s carries, to the T K O!! Cover, but Evil breaks it! Naito kicks Evil and throws him out! Sanada dragon sleepers Yujiro back to SKULL END!! Fans fire up as Yujiro endures! But Dick distracts!

The ref stops Dick but he misses the tap-out! Fans boo but Sanada lets Yujiro go to shout about Dick. Sanada storms over, Dick backs away, but Yujiro gets his pimp cane! But Sanada blocks the attack! Sanada kicks Yujiro and takes the cane, but the ref notices that! The ref and Sanada argue, Sanada lets the ref have the cane but Yujiro creeps up! LOW- NO! Sanada blocks the underhanded uppercut! Sanada wrenches Yujiro but Yujiro grabs the ref so Sho can LOW BLOW! Fans boo but the Murder Machine scurries away as Naito returns. But Naito then turns around and Evil reels him in! EVERYTHING IS EVIL!!

Evil shoves Naito out of the ring and Yujiro drags Sanada up! BIG JUICE!!! Cover, The House of Torture wins!!!

Winners: Evil & Yujiro Takahashi, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Naito & Sanada earn 0)

The worst case scenario has happened! Naito & Sanada are OUT of the running, they are NOT going to the finals! And to make it worse, the House of Torture throw out the Young Lions so they can stomp away on Naito & Sanada! Fans boo, the Young Lions rush in but get thrown back out! The House of Torture puts one out on LIJ, have they just guaranteed Naito misses out on WrestleKingdom 17?

World Tag League 2022: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI VS Shane Thorne & Mikey Nicholls!

With Aussie Open going in by default and watching ringside, this match will determine who they face in the finals! Will Bishamon turn out the lights on an All Aussie Aussie Aussie finals? Or will they learn that The Mighty Don’t Kneel?

The teams sort out and Hysterical Haste starts against Head Hunter Hashi. The fans rally with the bell as Shane and Hashi circle. They tie up, go around, and Shane slips around to a waistlock. Hashi wrenches out, wristlocks, but Shane slips through and around to headlock for the takeover. Fans applaud, Hashi keeps his shoulders up, then rolls  Shane to a cover, TWO! Shane holds onto the headlock but Hashi slips out to hammerlock in return. Shane endures and moves around. He stands up, but Hashi keeps him from ropes. Hashi also keeps Shane from Mikey, so Shane rolls, kips up, snapmares and dropkicks Hashi!

Fans cheer as Hashi gets to a corner. Shane and Hashi reset, but Mikey wants in. Shane tags Mikey so Hashi tags Goto. Fans rally up as the Fierce Warrior circles with the Mean Machine. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Goto finds a point of leverage. Goto puts Mikey on ropes, Mikey turns it around but Goto turns it back on Mikey. Mikey calls for the clean break and Red Shoes counts. Goto lets off with a pat on the shoulder, but Mikey kicks low! Mikey headlocks and grins Goto down. Goto fights up, powers out, but Mikey RAMS shoulders with him. Neither falls, so Mikey eggs Goto on. Goto runs and they RAM shoulders again!

Goto dares Mikey to go so Mikey runs, they RAM shoulders again! Mikey dares Goto to go, so Goto runs, but Mikey follows! Mikey elbows Goto at the ropes, runs but Hashi tags in. Bishamon runs Mikey over! And then they HIP TOSS SENTON! Shane runs in but he gets double kicks, and Bishamon bangs the war drum on his back! They CLUB Shane down onto Mikey! Fans rally and cheer while Shane bails out. Hashi brings Mikey up, CLUBS him on the neck, then has him at the ropes for forearms. Hashi whips, Mikey reverses and Shane trips Hashi up! Hashi kicks at Shane, Mikey storms up but Hashi elbows him away!

Shane hops up but Hashi ROCKS him! Hashi turns around, into a SPINEBUSTER! Mikey BLASTS Goto, then drags Hashi back up! Mikey throws Hashi out, tags Shane, and Shane drags Hashi up to smack him off the apron. Shane then brings Hashi around, to whip into railing! Right in front of Aussie Open, even! The Mighty and Aussie Open talk trash at each other, then Shane drags Hashi back up. Shane puts Hashi in, drags Hashi up and snapmares, to then go after the arm. Shane twists the wrist, and he KICKS Hashi in the back! Fans applaud the sheer noise of that kick, then Shane covers, TWO!

Shane drags Hashi up, tags in Mikey, but Hashi fights off The Mighty with big forearms! Shane UPPERCUTS, Mikey lifts, BACK SUPLEX NECKBREAKER COMBO! Cover, but Goto breaks it! Mikey CLUBS Goto and throws him out! Mikey then drags Hashi around for a knee drop to the head! And then another! Mikey mocks Hashi, sits him up and clamps on a neck wrench. Hashi endures, fans rally, and Hashi reaches out. Red Shoes keeps checking and Mikey promises, he’s not clawing Hashi’s eyes. But then Mikey BITES Hashi’s forehead! And he pulls on the ear! Red Shoes reprimands, Mikey lets off, and fans rally up.

Mikey drags Hashi over, Shane tags in and The Mighty mug Hashi. Shane KICKS Hashi around, then ROUNDHOUSES Hashi down! Fans rally, Goto coaches Hashi up, but Shane drags Hashi away. Hashi throws body shots, CHOPS, but Shane CHOPS Hashi down! Shane hauls Hashi up to the top rope, ROCKS him with forearms, then he climbs up again. Fans rally as Hashi fights off the underhooks! Hashi throws body shots, then he ROCKS Shane! Shane staggers away, Mikey tags in! Mikey ROCKS Hashi, then gives Shane a boost! But Hashi resists the superplex even then! Hashi shoves Shane into the POWERBOMB!

Mikey is stunned, he turns around into a BLOCKBUSTER! Fans fire up as Hashi and The Mighty are down! Goto calls to Hashi and Hashi crawls over, hot tag to Goto! Goto sees The Mighty are in opposite corners, so he runs in to clothesline Mikey! Then Goto goes corner to corner to clothesline Shane! Mikey rushes in, Goto watches him to a waistlock, but Mikey fights the lift. Mikey runs, but Goto follows! Goto LARIATS Mikey down! Fans fire up with the Fierce Warrior as he drags Mikey up. Goto fires off forearms and whips Mikey to a corner. Goto runs in to MURAMASA! And BULLDOG! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally as Goto drags Mikey up and fireman’s carries. Mikey fights free and waistlocks but Goto standing switches. Mikey throws elbows but Goto ducks, only for Mikey to DDT! Fans fire up while both men are down! Mikey and Goto stir and the fans rally up. Goto and Mikey crawl for their corners, hot tags to Shane and Hashi! They RAM shoulders, then RAM again! Shane kicks low, whips, but Hashi dropkicks the legs out! Fans fire up with Hashi and he runs in to CHOP at the corner! Hashi whips to CHOP, mule kick, and NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Shane grits his teeth while fans rally behind Hashi.

Hashi drags Shane back up, fisherman’s a leg, but Shane fights that off. Hashi wrenches to ROCK Shane, and CHOP him! Shane UPPERCUTS and BOOTS back! Shane reels Hashi in, to FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO!! Hashi survives and fans rally up again. Shane tags Mikey, Mikey whips Shane in at Hashi, and Shane clotheslines Hashi in the corner! Mikey runs in to clothesline! Feed to Shane’s clothesline, then Shane BLASTS Goto! Mikey SLIDING LARIATS Hashi! Cover, TWO!! Hashi survives again but The Mighty fire up! Fans rally, the Mighty drags Hashi up, and they trophy lift Hashi!

Hashi fights free of Thunder Valley, and he shoves Mikey at Shane! The Mighty keep from colliding, but Shane runs into the HIDDEN GAP! Mikey storms up, into a SPIN BACK KICK! Fans rally, Hashi crawls, hot tag to Goto! The Fierce Warrior rallies on Mikey with forearms and elbows! And a HIP TOSS! Goto drags Mikey up but Mikey throws a forearm! Goto gives it back, Mikey gives another! Fans rally as the forearms go back and forth, faster and faster! Mikey gets the edge, he ROCKS Goto then runs, but Goto follows! Mikey avoids the lariat, Goto deflects the boot but Mikey blocks the discus! Mikey eggs Goto on, Goto runs, into a DEATH VALLEY!

Mikey drags Goto up, Shane is in, TANK BUSTER!! Shane blocks Hashi while Mikey makes the cover, TWO?!? Goto survives but Shane throws Hashi out! Fans fire up as The Mighty drag Hashi back up. Shane hops up and Mikey drags Goto up for another scoop. But Goto slips off as Shane leaps, Mikey takes the FLYING DDT!! Shane panics, he hurries after Goto but Goto HEADBUTTS Shane! Hashi returns to LARIAT! Fans are thunderous as Shane flops out of the ring! Hashi calls the shot, he and Goto drag Mikey up! Feed to Goto’s fireman’s carry, but Mikey slips off! Only to run into the HIDDEN GAP!

Goto fireman’s carries Mikey again, for FIERCE FLASH into the dragon sleeper! But Mikey BOOTS Hashi away! Mikey breaks free of Goto’s grip, but into a SUPERKICK! Bishamon sets Mikey back up, for SHOUTO!! Cover, BISHAMON WINS!!

Winners: Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi, by pinfall (gain 2 points; The Mighty earn 0)

And there you have it! The Mighty Don’t Kneel, but they do fall short of the finals! Will TMDK just have to try harder in the New Year to reach the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships?

As for Bishamon, they invite their fellow finalists into the ring. Aussie Open accepts the invitation, and fans applaud as the top two teams stare down. Kyle Fletcher picks up the mic as fans clap for “BI-SHA-MON! BI-SHA-MON!” Kyle tells Goto & Hashi, “Congratulations.” Fans applaud the sportsmanship, and Kyle says, “This final in Sendai on Wednesday, we are coming in with the utmost respect for both of you. You guys won World Tag League last year, you guys have been at the top of the tag team division for the past few years. But there is one reason for that. That’s because Aussie Open have not been here.

“We’ve been thinking about this day for the past THREE YEARS! In those three years, we have gone through an injury, we have gone through a pandemic, but that has all been a blessing in disguise because we stand here today without a doubt that we are THE best tag team in the world!” Fans applaud the confidence. Kyle continues with, “And there is not a doubt in my mind that on Wednesday, we are the ones walking away with those trophies. There will be no repeat for Bishamon. We will win the World Tag League 2022. We will go on to the Tokyo Dome and beat FTR for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships! Because we are Aussie Open. And we run the world!”

Fans applaud as Kyle drops the mic and Aussie Open throws up the crowns. Aussie Open also applaud as they exit, and Hashi picks up the mic. Hashi says, “I don’t know what those guys said exactly, but I think I got half of it. What I want to say is next in Sendai, we’ll be defending NJPW pride. It will be Bishamon in this ring with our hands raised.” Fans like the sound of that! Hashi continues to say, “In Sendai, we’ll close it out in typical Chaos style!” Fans also like the sound of that. “It’s getting near his bedtime, so I’ll let Goto finish.” Fans rally up Hashi hands the mic over.

Goto says, “We got this far, so we have to win!” Fans like the sound of that, too! “Who do you think it’ll be? Aussie Open or Bishamon?” Fans sound torn but there are plenty of Bishamon fans carrying the chant. Goto says, “You guys are right! We’ll win this World Tag League and be to-back-to… Sorry, I got excited. Back-to-back winners! Then until next time, in Sendai, let’s turn out the lights! SHOUTO!” The Fierce Warrior & Head Hunter managed to #GetBackUp to the WTL finals, but will they be hoisting the trophies high in Sendai?

Here are the FINAL World Tag League standings!

Aussie Open: 7-2, 14 points [FINALIST]
Goto & Hashi: 7-2, 14 points [FINALIST]
The Mighty: 6-3, 12 points [ELIMINATED]
Naito & Sanada: 6-3, 12 points [ELIMINATED]
Khan & Henare: 5-4, 10 points [ELIMINATED]
Suzuki & Archer: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Yano & Tanahashi: 4-5, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Evil & Yujiro: 3-6, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Coughlin & Kidd: 1-8, 2 points [ELIMINATED]

Chase & Fale: [FORFEIT]

My Thoughts:

A great final round for World Tag League, even though I did skip the matches that don’t affect anything. But I had a feeling Suzuki & Archer were winning against Coughlin & Kidd, and I suppose the United Empire did deserve to finish strong with a win over Yano & Tanahashi.

I did not expect LIJ to lose, but of course it was because the House of Torture brought out cheating to do it. Naito loses out on this opportunity to go to WrestleKingdom, and I am somewhat dreading that because Shingo Takagi defends the KOPW on 12/19 at the TAKATaichi event, the KOPW is the only way for Naito to get to WK17. That seems like a real shame if Naito is honest about retiring after that event. But I suppose if Naito is retiring, and since the KOPW is vacated every New Year anyway, maybe that’s the perfect way out?

But LIJ losing made the main event into a clear “win and you’re in” scenario. Bishamon VS The Mighty was a great match, and it makes sense Bishamon wins to move on. Them having back-to-back appearances is good stuff, but who knows if they win. FTR VS Aussie Open at Royal Quest II was Match of the Year worthy, them doing it all again at WK17 would be one hell of a way to start 2023. But Bishamon VS FTR could be great stuff, too, I’m just not sure Goto & Hashi would beat FTR. At the same time, someone has to get the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles off FTR at some point, it’d be big for either Bishamon or Aussie Open to be the ones.

My Score: 8.7/10