Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW G1 Climax 33 Results & Report! (7/16/23)
The opening G1 weekend concludes!
Now C and D Blocks get their start!
After a great start to another G1 Climax, we move on to Blocks C and D, with Tetsuya Naito taking on Jeff Cobb in the main event!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- G1 Climax 33, C Block: Tomohiro Ishii VS David Finlay; Finlay wins.
- G1 Climax 33, D Block: Hirooki Goto VS Toru Yano; Goto wins.
- G1 Climax 33, C Block: Mikey Nicholls VS Aaron Henare; Mikey wins.
- G1 Climax 33, D Block: Shane Haste VS Alex Coughlin; Shane wins.
- G1 Climax 33, C Block: Shingo Takagi VS Eddie Kingston; Eddie wins.
- G1 Climax 33, D Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr; ZSJ wins.
- G1 Climax 33, C Block: Tama Tonga VS EVIL; Evil wins.
- G1 Climax 33, D Block: Tetsuya Naito VS Jeff Cobb; Cobb wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
G1 Climax 33, C Block: Tomohiro Ishii VS David Finlay w/ Gedo!
The Stone Pitbull is a NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champion with the Dream Team of Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi, but here comes THE NEVER Openweight Champion! Will The Rebel start night two of opening weekend with a win? Or will Ishii be too much for even this savage to stop?
The bell rings and fans rally up. Ishii and Finlay tie up, are in a deadlock, and Ishii powers Finlay back. Finlay turns it around to put Ishii on ropes, and he slaps Ishii around. The ref reprimands but Ishii grabs Finlay back the neck! Finlay breaks free to throw a forearm, but Ishii just eggs him on! Finlay throws more forearms, but Ishii hits him back, and the brawl is on! Fans rally as the forearms go back and forth, faster and faster! Ishii gets the edge, runs, but Finlay ROCKS him! Finlay runs, RAMS Ishii, but Ishii rebounds to run Finlay over! Fans fire up and Ishii kicks Finlay around. Finlay stands up to throw another forearm! Ishii still doesn’t budge!
Finlay laughs it off and throws more forearms. Ishii just leans into them and backs Finlay down! Gedo coaches Finlay and Finlay throws more shots, but Ishii just takes them all! And then Ishii ROCKS Finlay! And again and again and again! Finlay sits down, the reprimands, but Ishii keeps throwing shots! The ref finally gets Ishii to back off, and fans rally up again. Finlay drags himself up, Ishii runs in but Finlay dodges. Finlay runs in, but into a BOOT! Ishii swings, but Finlay dodges to CHOP BLOCK! Gedo likes that! Finlay gets the leg and turns Ishii, to then DDT the foot! Finlay drags Ishii around, puts the leg on the ropes, and HIP DROPS it!
Ishii writhes but Finlay drags him to the apron. Finlay SLAMS the leg on the edge! Ishii writhes and crawls away but Finlay slides in to get the leg again. Finlay stomps the leg again and again and again, then drags him up to UPPERCUT! Ishii goes to a corner, Finlay stomps him, then wraps the leg around ropes! The ref reprimands and counts, Finlay lets off at 4. Finlay gets in the ref’s face but then goes back to Ishii. Finlay mocks the fans and Ishii with a chant of “I-SHI-I! I-SHI-I!” Ishii throws a forearm! Finlay throws one back, Ishii throws another, but Finlay ROCKS Ishii! And then CHOPS him!
Finlay fires forearms and CHOPS on repeat, very much like Ishii would! The ref counts, Finlay lets off, and Finlay throws up the Too Sweets. Ishii snarls and fans rally up again. Finlay drags Ishii up by an arm, whips him corner to corner, but Ishii reverses. Ishii runs in, but into BOOTS! Finlay runs, into a POWERSLAM! Fans fire up and Finlay goes to a corner. Ishii storms up on Finlay and CHOPS! And forearms! And CHOPS! Now Ishii is on the repeat cycle and fans rally up! Ishii rains down shots as Gedo protests and the ref counts. Ishii lets off but tells the ref to leave him alone. Ishii then drags Finlay up out of the corner.
Ishii suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Finlay hangs tough, but Ishii stalks him. Ishii drags Finlay up but Finlay fights the suplex with elbows. Finlay whips, Ishii reverses to SAIDO! Fans fire up as Ishii rises. Finlay stands, Ishii runs, but Finlay avoids the lariat, only for Ishii to slip out of Blue Thunder! Finlay fireman’s carries Ishii for a HOTSHOT off ropes, then a BIG back suplex! Both men are down, but Ishii crawls to a corner. Finlay talks trash, runs in and UPPERCUTS! And clotheslines! And whips Ishii around into the corner, only for Ishii to rebound off buckles! But Finlay catches Ishii for an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!
Fans rally up while Gedo argues the count. The ref says his count was fair, but Finlay ties up the legs into a DEATHLOCK! Finlay pushes on the knees but Ishii endures. Ishii eggs Finlay on but Finlay puts on more pressure! Fans rally as Ishii sits up and grabs at an ear. Finlay fights him but Ishii slaps and slaps and slaps! Finlay throws backhands and then lets off the hold to rain down fists! The ref reprimands over closed fists but Finlay lets off, claiming it was the butt of his palm. Finlay drags Ishii up, gut wrenches, but Ishii slips out! Finlay kicks the leg, but Ishii doesn’t budge! Ishii even eggs him on!
Finlay kicks again, Ishii swings, but Finlay dodges to dropkick the leg from behind! Ishii staggers but he runs back in to POUNCE Finlay! Fans fire up as Finlay crashes down in the corner! Ishii and Finlay stir and the fans rally back up. Ishii crawls his way over, stands up, and he brings Finlay up in a facelock. Ishii hoists Finlay up to the top rope, then climbs up after him. Gedo freaks out as Ishii hits the stalling SUPERPLEX! Fans fire up while Ishii crawls to the cover, TWO! Finlay is still in this, but Ishii keeps on him. Ishii reels Finlay in, but Finlay resists the lift. Gedo coaches Finlay and he wrenches out to kick. Ishii blocks!
Ishii spins Finlay around to GERMAN SUPLEX! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up. Ishii storms over to Finlay, sits him up, and runs, but Finlay avoids the sliding lariat! Finlay UPPERCUTS Ishii down but Ishii’s right back up! Finlay ROLLING ELBOWS, but Ishii rebounds, only for Finlay to swat his lariat, and GERMAN SUPLEX! But Finlay isn’t done there! Gut wrench to Canadian Rack, DOMINATOR! Cover, TWO!! Ishii survives and fans fire up again! Finlay is frustrated but the fans rally for “I-SHI-I! I-SHI-I!” Finlay goes to a corner and takes aim. Ishii rises, Finlay runs in, but Ishii blocks the spear!
Ishii gets Finlay up but Finlay slips out! Finlay ROCKS Ishii, but Ishii roars and DECKS Finlay! Finlay flounders around, Ishii ROCKS him again! Finlay rebounds and SPEARS! Cover, TWO!! Ishii survives and Finlay is again frustrated. Finlay drags Ishii up, reels him in, but Ishii fights the lift. Finlay CLUBS away, then fires off HEADBUTTS! Ishii HEADBUTTS back, Finlay roars, so Ishii HEADBUTTS!! Finlay goes right down and fans fire right up! Ishii drags Finlay back up for a POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!! Finlay survives and the fans continue to rally. Ishii rises again as Gedo panics!
Finlay sits up, Ishii runs, but Finlay swats the lariat! And HEADBUTTS! And BLUE THUNDER BOMBS! Cover, TWO! Finlay is furious and he gets Ishii up to POWERBOMB him! Gedo says keep it up, and Finlay brings down the kneepad. The fans rally up but Finlay slashes his throat. Finlay drags Ishii up, suplexes, but Ishii slips free! RUNNING HEADBUTT!! Ishii practically went through Finlay! Ishii goes to a corner, runs in, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Finlay survives but Ishii roars! Fans fire up with Ishii as he suplexes, but Finlay slips free! Finlay shoves, wrenches, backslides, and then reels Ishii in!
Finlay suplexes but Ishii knees free! Finlay ROCKS Ishii, spins, but into an ENZIGURI! Fans fire up while Ishii headbutts the mat and slaps himself! Ishii roars again, runs, and LARIATS Finlay inside-out! Cover, TWO!!! Finlay survives and shocks the fans, but Ishii is roaring! We hit 15 minutes, and the limit is 20! Ishii suplexes Finlay, but Finlay fights it! Finlay wrenches out, but Ishii spins him. Finlay suplexes, but Ishii wrenches out to scoop! Finlay slips free, dragon sleepers, but Ishii turns around! Finlay fights the suplex again, spins Ishii around, and inverted suplexes! OSAKA STREET CUTTER!!
Finlay keeps going, he suplexes again, INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, Finlay wins!!
Winner: David Finlay, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Ishii earns 0)
Finlay made it through this battle and came out on top! Will he prove that NJPW and the G1 needs The Rebel?
G1 Climax 33, D Block: Hirooki Goto VS Toru Yano w/ Tomukun!
Chaos clashes with Chaos as the Fierce Warrior faces Clown Prince. Will things still be friendly between them even after this opening round?
Goto knows Yano’s tricks so he tells Yano to wrestle this fairly. Yano says okay, no worries. The bell rings and they both rush in, and Yano gets around to backslide! TWO!! Goto escapes, rushes in, avoids the mule kick and hooks up the legs! Deathlock, roll, but Yano turns it around on Goto! Cover, TWO!! Goto rushes in but Yano dumps him out! Yano then goes to a buckle pad and unties it! Yano goes out and he fires up. The fans fire up, but Goto avoids the pad smack to RAM Yano into railing! Goto then brings Yano around, but Yano reverses, only for Goto to reverse! They go around and around, and then around some more!
Goto and Yano keep countering each other! They end up getting dizzy and stagger around! Goto kicks Yano, whips, but Yano reverses and finally Goto hits railing! Fans rally up and Yano brings Goto up. Yano apologizes to the ref, before he whips Goto into more railing! Yano then drags Goto up and brings him around, to put under the ring! Yano then brings Tomukun around, and puts him under the ring?! And then Yano crawls under their with them!? What in the world? The ref pursues them all, but it’s too dark to see. Something is going on under there, so the ref just starts a ring count.
Fans rally, Yano scrambles out from under the ring and inside, and we pass 7 of 20. Now it’s more like Marco Polo or something! Wait, someone else scrambles out from under! GOTOMU!? Goto’s wearing Tomukun’s head! Goto staggers around blindly, bumps into a post, and we pass 15 of 20! Goto carefully feels his way around, gets out of the head, and jumps in at 19! But Yano drags Goto up and around to whip, but Goto reverses! Only for Yano to avoid the bare buckles and taunt Goto. Goto runs in but is sent into bare buckles! Yano rolls Goto up, TWO!! Goto survives the shenanigans but Yano rallies the fans.
Yano runs, but Goto follows to LARIAT Yano down! Fans continue to rally, and Yano goes to another corner. Goto runs in to MURAMASA! And BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Fans rally, Goto drags Yano up and around, and fireman’s carries. But Yano fights with elbows! Yano runs, but Goto follows, only for Yano to fake him out! Atomic drop! And whip into the bare buckles! Goto staggers, and Yano brings him up to ONIGO- NO, Goto fights free! Goto swings, misses, and Yano hits M U! Cover, TWO, but into a fireman’s carry takeover! Cover, TWO!! Goto staggers up, and he blocks the low blow! Yano apologizes! But then tries the other hand!
Goto blocks the second low blow, and he drags Yano up to HEADBUTT! And then another HEADBUTT! Goto drags Yano up again, to HEADBUTT again! Goto won’t let Yano fall, he stands Yano back up to turn him, G T R!! Cover, Goto wins!
Winner: Hirooki Goto, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Yano earns 0)
Yano did use all the tricks he had, and even used Tomukun as a pawn, but he still couldn’t snatch this win from Goto. Will Goto look to make this year his return to prominence?
G1 Climax 33, C Block: Mikey Nicholls w/ Kosei Fujita VS Aaron Henare!
The G1 keeps getting stronger as The Mighty’s Mad Mikey clashes with the United Empire’s Ultimate Weapon! But will Henare see for himself that The Mighty Don’t Kneel? Or will Mikey be just the first one conquered by the United Empire?
Henare has a new look, with his shaved head and warpaint! He is now the Face of Fury, but will he be the face of C Block after this? The bell rings and fans rally up. Henare and Mikey circle, feel things out, and tie up. They’re in a deadlock but Henare finds a point of leverage. Henare puts Mikey on the ropes but Mikey turns it around. The ref counts while the two push each other, and Mikey lets off. Fans applaud as the two reset. Henare and Mikey tie up again, and Mikey headlocks. Mikey grinds the hold but Henare powers up and out. They RAM shoulders, but neither falls! Henare runs again and RAMS Mikey, but Mikey eggs him on.
Henare runs, Mikey follows and ELBOWS, then he runs Henare over! But Henare’s right up to run Mikey over! They RAM shoulders again, then fire off forearms! Fans fire up as it turns into a scrap! They tumble out of the ring and to the floor! Mikey rains down fists then storms off. Henare stands but Mikey comes back to SMACK him off the apron! And again! Mikey whips but Henare reverses to send Mikey into railing! Mikey hits so hard, he tumbles over railing! Kosei checks on Mikey, as does the ref. Mikey stands and Henare is on him with a JUMPING HEADBUTT! Henare then ROCKS Mikey with forearms, and KICKS him against the railing!
Mikey eggs Henare on so Henare KICKS and throws more forearms! Mikey forearms and CHOPS, then CHOPS Henare again! Fans rally up as Mikey follows Henare around and puts him in the ring. Henare stands, Mikey storms up but into an ELBOW! Henare goes up but Mikey ducks the kick! Mikey runs in but Henare ROCKS him, whips him, and pops him up for a SAMOAN DROP! Fans fire up while Henare snarls. Henare drags Mikey up, throws body shots and backs Mikey to a corner. Henare lets off, only to bring Mikey up and snapmare him down. Henare KICKS Mikey in the back, then KICKS him in the front! And SENTONS!
Henare storms around, tells Kosei to watch himself, and then drags Mikey into a leglock. Henare punches Mikey in the sides to get his arms, and Henare nods as he has the modified surfboard, into a STOMP! Cover, TWO!! Mikey survives and pushes Henare from below. Henare just growls and storms around. Henare brings Mikey up, eggs him on, and Mikey fires forearms and CHOPS! Henare SPIN HEEL KICKS! Fans fire up while Henare snarls again. Henare brings Mikey up to HEADBUTT him to the corner! Henare then digs hits boots in! The ref counts, Henare lets off at 4 and glares at the ref.
Henare paces around, runs in, but Mikey ELBOWS him back! Mikey swings, but Henare ducks, only for Mikey to get a DDT! Fans rally behind Mikey as he and Henare go to corners. Mikey runs corner to corner to clothesline! Mikey whips corner to corner, runs in but into a BOOT! Mikey still clotheslines Henare in the corner! Mikey reels Henare in, goes up, TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Henare is still in this but Mikey drags him back up. Mikey puts Henare up top, climbs up after him, and fans rally as he brings Henare up. But Henare fights back with body shots! Henare HEADBUTTS Mikey down, but Mikey UPPERCUTS Henare!
Mikey climbs back up, and goes to the very top! Fans fire up for the SUPER DUPER PLEX! Both men are down and fans rally up. Mikey and Henare crawl for each other, give junkyard dog headbutts back and forth, then stand to give stronger headbutts! Mikey is busted open, but he and Henare just start throwing forearms! The fans rally, Henare ROCKS Mikey but Mikey fires a flurry! Mikey wobbles, runs, but into an ELBOW! Henare runs but into a KNEE! But Henare still gets the waistlock!? Henare ignores the pain, but Mikey switches the waistlock. Henare ELBOWS Mikey, but Mikey elbows back! Henare still RAMS Mikey into a corner!
Henare runs corner to corner but Mikey dodges! Mikey runs back in, into a back drop! Mikey sunset flips it, Henare rolls through, but runs into a MIKEY BOMB!! Cover, TWO?!? Mikey’s shock shows through the crimson mask growing on his face! Mikey sits Henare up, runs, but Henare avoids the sliding lariat! Henare winds up for the BODY BLOW! Mikey sputters but stays standing, so Henare clamps on the half nelson. Mikey fights but Henare manages the ULTIMA FULL NELSON! Mikey endures, reaches out for ropes, and he stomps his way forward! ROPEBREAK! The ref counts and Henare lets off in frustration.
Mikey flops back and Henare says he’ll end this. Mikey staggers back up, Henare reels him in, and has the fisherman! Mikey fights free, wrenches and CLUBS the arm, then fireman’s carry! DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! And SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Henare survives and Mikey is frustrated. Fans rally up but Mikey’s still in rough shape. He roars to his feet and fans fire up as he points to the corner! Mikey climbs to the top, to MOONSAULT FLOP! Henare avoids disaster and he goes to the corner. Mikey flounders and Henare waits on him to rise. Mikey stands and Henare fires another BODY BLOW! And a strike fest!
Mikey blocks a kick to SLAP and SLAP but Henare JUMP KNEES! Fans fire up as Henare brings down the kneepad! Henare runs corner to corner, SHINING WIZARD!! And then fisherman, but Mikey fights free! Henare HEADBUTTS!! Henare whips, Mikey reverses and scoops, but Henare slips free! Mikey switches, Henare ELBOWS him! But Mikey fights through to lift, MASTER BLASTER!!! Cover, MIKEY WINS!!!
Winner: Mikey Nicholls, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Henare earns 0)
Everyone’s shocked by that comeback! But Mikey just proved that the Mighty may bleed, but they do not kneel! But after what this opening round took out of them, will either Mikey or Henare be able to last until the end?
G1 Climax 33, D Block: Shane Haste w/ Kosei Fujita VS Alex Coughlin!
It’s a Mighty double header as now Hysterical Haste steps up to the plate against one of the Bullet Club War Dogs! Coughlin is an NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champion, will he be able to defend himself? Or can Shane snatch some golden tickets for TMDK’s #YoungPunks?
The bell rings and Coughlin CLOBBERS Shane! And then scoops him for a FALL AWAY SLAM! Shane flounders away and Coughlin swaggers his way over. Shane throws a forearm but Coughlin just DECKS him for it! Coughlin CLUBS Shane, brings him up, but Shane CHOPS! Coughlin just CHOPS back! Shane falls over but Coughlin CHOKES him at the ropes! The ref counts, Coughlin lets off and gets in the ref’s face. The ref warns Coughlin, and Coughlin brings Shane to CHOP! Shane CLAWS Coughlin’s eyes! Coughlin staggers, but then he glares at Shane. Coughlin kicks Shane low then UPPERCUTS him to the corner!
Coughlin brings Shane around to CHOP against ropes, then stalks him around the way. Coughlin stands Shane up, whips, but Shane reverses to DROPKICK! Fans fire up as Coughlin bails out. Shane builds speed and he DIVES! He almost doesn’t make it, but Coughlin still catches him! To OVERHEAD SUPLEX him to the floor! Coughlin throws up the Too Sweet, then stomps Shane around. Coughlin drags Shane up to BOWL him into railing! Coughlin tells the ref to leave him alone, he’ll get Shane in on his own. Coughlin stands on Shane’s hand, then CHOPS him on the back! Coughlin then RAMS Shane into more railing!
Coughlin paces around, Shane throws elbows, but Coughlin CLUBS Shane on the back. The ring count starts but Coughlin stands Shane up in front of commentary, before he wraps on a SLEEPER! Shane sputters and then Coughlin ELBOWS him in the head! The ring count reaches 10 of 20 but Coughlin stalks Shane. Coughlin refreshes the ring count but Shane ROCKS him! And then APRON BACK SUPLEXES! Coughlin writhes and crawls into the ring, and Shane goes up a corner. Fans fire up but Coughlin DECKS Shane first! Shane is on the apron, and Coughlin drags him up! DEADLIFT GUT WRENCH SUPERPLEX!!
Fans applaud the showing of sheer strength and Coughlin covers, TWO! Coughlin is frustrated and he kicks Shane around. Coughlin stands Shane up and CHOPS him to a corner. Coughlin digs his knees in and CHOKES Shane on the ropes! The ref counts, Coughlin taunts Kosei, and then he whips Shane corner to corner hard! Shane hits buckles and falls, and Coughlin takes his time. Coughlin UPPERCUTS Shane again, whips him corner to corner hard again, and Shane slumps against the ropes. Coughlin brings Shane up but Shane pushes him. Coughlin CLUBS him! And CLUBS him! And then whips, only for Shane to blocks!
Shane ROCKS and CHOPS, but Coughlin PALM STRIKES! Coughlin whips, Shane reverses and SAIDOS! Fans fire up as Shane rises! Shane KICKS and BOOTS and reels Coughlin in, FLIP OUT BACK SUPLEX! Coughlin flounders, and Shane runs in, SHANE-NING WIZARD!! Cover, TWO!! Coughlin survives and fans rally up! Shane has a wild look in his eyes as he gets Coughlin back up. Shane suplexes but Coughlin blocks. Coughlin throws body shots, suplexes, but Shane slips free to waistlock. Coughlin elbows free, swings, but into a spin and BROKEN ARROW! Cover, TWO! Coughlin survives but Shane says okay then.
Fans rally up and Shane sits Coughlin up to KICK! And KICK! And KICK again! Shane gives more kicks, then an UPPERCUT! And another UPPERCUT! Coughlin avoids the third but Shane fights the waistlock. Coughlin still GERMAN SUPLEXES! And then fireman’s carries, for a DEATH VALLEY BOMB! Cover, TWO! Coughlin rains down fists and elbows in frustration, then CHOKES Shane! The ref counts, Coughlin lets off, and he drags Shane up. But Shane BOOTS him! Shane swings, but Coughlin blocks to POINT-BLANK LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Shane survives and Coughlin grows frustrated.
The fans rally up, but Coughlin looms over Shane. Coughlin hauls Shane up, suplexes, but Shane fights! Coughlin still keeps Shane up! Shane keeps fighting, and manages body scissors and the KIMURA! But Coughlin CLUBS Shane, ROCKS him, and pops him up for a POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Shane survives and Coughlin is pissed at the ref! Coughlin then throws Shane out of the ring, brings him up and RAMS him into railing! Coughlin goes looking under the ring, and he brings out a chair! Coughlin tosses that into the ring, then gets another chair, to also toss into the ring. Coughlin SMACKS Shane off the timekeeper’s table!
Coughlin puts Shane in the ring, grabs his NJPW Strong Openweight Tag belt, but the ref keeps him from using it! Coughlin shoves the ref down, but Shane SAIDOS Coughlin onto the chairs!! Shane hurries to get Coughlin up, fireman’s carry and BOMB VALLEY DEATH!! Cover, SHANE WINS!!
Winner: Shane Haste, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Coughlin earns 0)
It’s a sweep for the TMDK OG as both Shane and Mikey win their matches! And with Shane scoring the win on a tag champion, will he and Mikey look to be golden after the G1?
G1 Climax 33, C Block: Shingo Takagi VS Eddie Kingston!
The Rampaging Dragon has been IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champion, the NEVER Openweight Championship, and the KOPW Championship, but he’s never had the NJPW Strong Openweight title. Given how long and hard Eddie fought to become a champion in NJPW, is there no stopping him now? Or will Takagi make the Mad King tranquilo here in Hokkaido?
The bell rings and the two storm right up to go chest to chest! Fans rally up as they push each other with shoulders. Eddie shoves Takagi, Takagi RAMS Eddie, but Eddie stays put. Takagi runs to RAM Eddie, and then Eddie runs to RAM Takagi! Takagi rebounds, they RAM shoulders, then Takagi shoves Eddie to a corner. Takagi runs in, blocks a boot, and clotheslines through! Fans fire up and Takagi CHOPS! Eddie brings the straps down already!? Eddie eggs Takagi on and Takagi CHOPS! Eddie CHOPS! Fans fire up and Takagi sputters for a second, but Takagi comes back to CHOP! Eddie is stinging, but he fires up to CHOP again!
Fans rally as Takagi pumps up to CHOP! Eddie takes a second, Takagi eggs him on, and Eddie fires back up to CHOP again! Takagi JABS, JABS and JABS! Takagi whips, Eddie reverses and CHOPS! Takagi DOUBLE CHOPS and Eddie falls! Takagi finally feels that stinging, and he gives Eddie some toying kicks. Eddie stands up to slap, so Takagi slaps! It’s a SLAP fight! Takagi eggs Eddie on, so Eddie SLAPS, and SLAPS! Takagi JABS! Eddie URAKENS!! Takagi falls outta the ring! Fans fire up and Eddie takes a second to steady himself. Eddie waits on Takagi but the ref goes out to check him. Takagi is somehow still in this so Eddie goes out to fetch him!
Eddie drags Takagi up to CHOP him against railing! And CHOPS him again! Eddie brings Takagi around with a fishhook, to CHOP again! Takagi staggers away, but he ELBOWS Eddie back! Eddie knees low, and whips Takagi into railing! Eddie seethes and storms up, but Takagi clinches and whips! Eddie hits railing, but he comes right back to run Takagi over! Fans rally up and Eddie grits his teeth. Eddie looms over Takagi, brings him up, and puts him in at 6 of 20. Fans cheer and Eddie storms up on Takagi in a corner. Eddie fires off MACHINE GUN CHOPS! Takagi turns it around to JAB and CHOP on repeat!
Fans fire up as Takagi JABS, JABS and CHOPS! But Eddie turns it around for more MACHINE GUN CHOPS! And an EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! Eddie keeps his cool and stalks behind Takagi. Eddie brings Takagi up but Takagi fights the half nelson. Takagi RAMS Eddie into buckles, but Eddie storms up! Into ELBOW! JAB! YUKON LARIAT! Fans rally up as Takagi shouts. Takagi goes back to Eddie and drags him up. Takagi whips, then KNEES Eddie against ropes! Takagi runs to run Eddie over! Fans fire up and Takagi brings Eddie up to suplex! Then he looks to the camera, but he holds off on saying the line.
Takagi storms up on Eddie in the corner, hoists him up to the top rope, and he climbs up after him. And then he hits a SUPERPLEX! Fans fire up for how fast that went! Takagi crawls to the cover, TWO! Eddie is still in this, and Takagi now says IT’S TIME! Fans rally with “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi rises. Takagi sits Eddie up, gives him toying kicks, and Eddie scowls. Takagi JABS, but Eddie eggs him on. Takagi JABS again, but Eddie just shakes his head. Takagi CHOPS, so Eddie stands up! And he fires off ridge hand chops! Takagi fires off ridge hands in return! Eddie gives them back, then powers up, but Takagi ducks the backhand to SAIDO!
Takagi hurries to run, but Eddie BOOTS! Takagi ELBOWS, Eddie ENZIGURIS! And then SAIDOS! Cover, TWO!! Fans fire up while both men are down and stirring. Fans rally, Eddie sits up first, and then stands. Eddie storms up on Takagi, brings him up, NORTHERN- NO, Takagi fights free! They go to opposite corners, and fans rally up. Eddie shouts at Takagi and Takagi stands. Takagi headbutts the buckles and Eddie powers up his hand! They both run in, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither falls, so DOUBLE LARIATS collide again! And still, Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! But Eddie PALM STRIKES!
Eddie ROCKS Takagi, runs, but into a lariat! Takagi keeps moving, but Eddie LARIATS him down! But Takagi’s right up to PUMPING BOMBER! Eddie’s right up!? HALF ‘N’ HALF SUPLEX! Takagi stands, to PUMPING BOMBER again!! Fans are thunderous while both men are down! We pass 10 minutes and fans rally up. Takagi stirs and sits up, then fires fans up with “OI! OI! OI!” Takagi brings Eddie up, but Eddie spins, only for Takagi to block the uraken! Takagi JABS, HEADBUTTS, and then BACK ELBOWS! Takagi steals NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB!! Cover, ONE?!?! Takagi is shocked but he watches Eddie rise. Takagi runs, PUMPING BOMBER!! Cover, TWO!!
Fans rally up as Eddie survives again! But Takagi fires up and drags Eddie up. Takagi pump handles and torture racks, but Eddie slips free! Takagi fights the dragon sleeper to suplex, but Eddie fights free to LARIAT! Cover, ONE?!?! Takagi shocks Eddie now! Fans rally up, Eddie and Takagi glare at each other as they rise. Takagi fires a forearm, but Eddie eggs him on! Takagi throws more shots, but Eddie stays on his feet. Takagi fires boxing elbows! Fans rally and Takagi ROCKS Eddie, but Eddie URAKENS! Eddie roars and URAKENS, but Takagi LARIATS! Neither falls, Eddie rebounds to block the lariat and URAKEN!!
Fans fire up with Eddie and he reels Takagi in! NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB!! Cover, EDDIE WINS!
Winner: Eddie Kingston, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Takagi earns 0)
Calling this an upset is underselling Eddie Kingston! The Mad King slays the Rampaging Dragon, will he fight his way to the top of NJPW?
G1 Climax 33, D Block: Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr w/ Kosei Fujita!
The Ace of the Universe and the Submission Master are no strangers, this is but another chapter in their rivalry. But will Tanahashi refuse to #JustTapOut? Or will the Frontman complete the Mighty sweep?
Tanahashi takes off the jacket and fans cheer for the muscles. ZSJ then flexes and poses and fans cheer his muscles. The bell rings and fans rally, “Let’s Go, Ace! Let’s Go, Ace!” Tanahashi and ZSJ circle, feel things out, and then back away. Tanahashi fires up with an “OSU!” and the fans cheer. The two tie up, Tanahashi headlocks and hits a takeover. ZSJ headscissors, squeezes tight, and keeps Tanahashi down. Tanahashi bridges back, turns ZSJ over and ties up the legs, but ZSJ slips free and gets away. Fans cheer this opening exchange, and the two go again. They tie up, ZSJ headlocks, and he hits a takeover.
Tanahashi headscissors and now he holds tight. Tanahashi puts on the pressure but ZSJ moves around. ZSJ goes side to side, gets up and hops around to then kip free. Fans cheer and ZSJ eggs Tanahashi on. Tanahashi resets and circles with ZSJ, and Tanahashi flexes. ZSJ and Tanahashi tie up, they’re in a deadlock, but ZSJ powers Tanahashi back, using his height as leverage! But Tanahashi powers back and puts ZSJ in the corner! The ref counts, ZSJ and Tanahashi let off, but then ZSJ UPPERCUTS! So Tanahashi UPPERCUTS! ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Tanahashi UPPERCUTS again! Fans fire up as the two UPPERCUT back and forth!
Tanahashi uppercuts again and again but ZSJ catches his arms! Tanahashi fights the backslide, then switches the hooks! ZSJ switches them back, but then Tanahashi switches back, and the two go back and forth with that! ZSJ eggs Tanahashi on, they both turn around and Tanahashi wrenches the arm! ELBOW BREAKER! Fans rally and Tanahashi drags ZSJ up with a double wristlock and takedown! Into short arm scissors! ZSJ endures, moves around, turns Tanahashi over, but Tanahashi powers him back down. ZSJ rolls back and stacks Tanahashi, ONE! Tanahashi still has the arm scissor!
ZSJ moves around again, turns Tanahashi over, and powers his way through, only for Tanahashi to bring him back down! ZSJ reaches out to the ROPEBREAK! Tanahashi lets go quickly, and fans cheer. Tanahashi drags ZSJ up and to the ropes. Tanahashi wrenches the arm again, but ZSJ turns it into a SLEEPER! The ref counts, Tanahashi’s already red as ZSJ lets go at 4. Tanahashi steps in, but ZSJ gets the leg! DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! ZSJ grabs that leg for a standing toehold, then he drops knees on the knee! Tanahashi writhes, and ZSJ drags him around to hook the leg, and then bridges! INVERTED DEATHLOCK!
Fans rally as Tanahashi endures. ZSJ then adds more pressure, HEEL HOOK! They roll, and into the ropes! Fans cheer as Tanahashi is saved. ZSJ lets Tanahashi go, stalks him, and then hits a SPIN TOEHOLD! And then drops knees on the knee again! Tanahashi writhes but ZSJ paces. Tanahashi eggs ZSJ on so ZSJ KICKS him down! And kicks at the bad leg! ZSJ toys with Tanahashi, but Tanahashi stands, so ZSJ KICKS him! Tanahashi eggs him on so ZSJ KICKS him again, and again! Tanahashi fires forearms in return! And an UPPERCUT! Tanahashi wrenches an arm, but ZSJ kicks the bad leg!
ZSJ whips but Tanahashi blocks by holding ropes! ZSJ keeps trying, but Tanahashi uses that to TWEAK ZSJ’s arm! ZSJ kicks the bad leg, whips, but Tanahashi FLYING FOREARMS! Fans rally up and Tanahashi waits on ZSJ. ZSJ stands and Tanahashi fires fast hands! Tanahashi backs ZSJ down, then scoops him to SLAM him into the drop zone! Fans fire up as Tanahashi hops up, but ZSJ stands! Tanahashi BOOTS ZSJ, reels him in, HANGING KIMURA! ZSJ clasps hands behind his back to relieve pressure, but Tanahashi hops down. They go around, Tanahashi scoops and SLAMS again! Tanahashi goes up, to SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO!
Fans rally, Tanahashi runs, but ZSJ gets around to a COBRA TWIST! But Tanahashi fights it to switch it onto ZSJ! ZSJ bends fingers to get around, COBRA TWIST! But Tanahashi hip tosses free! Tanahashi runs, but ZSJ dropkicks the legs out! We’ve passed the 10 minute mark and both men are down. Fans rally, Tanahashi goes to a corner and hobbles up. ZSJ storms up, and blocks a boot! Then blocks the other boot, to DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi falls over and rolls away, clutching the knee. ZSJ storms up, gets the leg, and has a STANDING HEEL HOOK! Tanahashi kicks with the free leg, but ZSJ catches it!
ZSJ works to turn Tanahashi over, but Tanahashi resists! Tanahashi knows ZSJ is going for the Texas Cloverleaf, and so he drags ZSJ down into the TRIANGLE HOLD! Tanahashi has ZSJ in one of ZSJ’s favorites! ZSJ endures, fights around, powers through, and GROUND DRAGON SCREWS! ZSJ eggs Tanahashi on and Tanahashi sits up. ZSJ KICKS Tanahashi, but Tanahashi eggs him on! PENALTY- NO, Tanahashi catches ZSJ! But ZSJ still slips to SPINNING TOEHOLD, into a HEEL HOOK! ZSJ bends the leg in a modified Calf Killer! Fans rally as Tanahashi endures, and they roll into the ROPEBREAK!
Fans cheer as Tanahashi is saved again, but the damage to that leg keeps piling on. ZSJ goes to a corner, then runs in to PENALTY- NO, Tanahashi blocks again! And spins ZSJ, but ZSJ UPPERCUTS! ZSJ bobs ‘n’ weaves, KICKS the bad leg, but Tanahashi fights the Shinbreaker to TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Fans fire up and Tanahashi brings ZSJ around. GROUND ARM SCREW! And then another! Tanahashi drags ZSJ up to GROUND ARM SCREW again! Tanahashi fires up, but ZSJ snatches him for a SLEEPER! Tanahashi fights and grabs the bad arm, ELBOW BREAKER! ZSJ KICKS the bad leg! Tanahashi DRAGON PALMS!
ZSJ rebounds to dropkick the legs out! But Tanahashi gets up to basement dropkick ZSJ! Tanahashi whips, ZSJ reverses but Tanahashi SLINGBLADES! Cover, TWO! ZSJ is still in this but Tanahashi fires up! Tanahashi goes up top at the 15 minute mark! Tanahashi aims, to HIGH FLY ATTACK! But ZSJ rolls it through, and PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! ZSJ keeps cool and brings Tanahashi up. ZSJ scoops, but Tanahashi slips free to ARMBAR TAKEDOWN!! ZSJ clasps hands to fight but Tanahashi pries the grip apart! But ZSJ stands to put the ARMBAR on Tanahashi! But Tanahashi stands to put the ARMBAR back on ZSJ!
ZSJ clasps hands again so Tanahashi CLUBS the grip! But ZSJ rolls to a deep stack, and WINS!!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Tanahashi earns 0)
The Frontman pulls victory from outta nowhere, and TMDK has swept the night! Tanahashi faces another #YoungPunk next round, will he be able to redeem himself? Will ZSJ lead the way to making NJPW mighty?
G1 Climax 33, C Block: Tama Tonga w/ Jado VS EVIL!
Tama Tonga may be the Good Bad Guy, but he’s up against the King of Darkness. Will Tama be ready for all the tricks the House of Torture has up their proverbial sleeves? Or will he see that Everything is Evil?
But of course, Evil attacks Tama while he’s posing on the corner! Evil CLUBS Tama, then CHOKES him with his House of Torture shirt! Red Shoes reprimands and fans boo but Evil lets Tama go. The bell rings and Evil fireman’s carries! Tama fights free, catches Evil to a clinch, and EXPLODER! Fans fire up as Tama pursues Evil out of the ring. Tama throws hands, then SMACKS him off the apron! And again! Tama headlocks to punch Evil, and Evil staggers around while fans rally up. Tama puts Evil in the ring, Evil wants mercy as he goes to the corner, but Tama fires off haymakers, stomps and fast hands!
Tama climbs up and fans fire up as he rains down punches! Tama goes all the way to 9, gives some flip, flop ‘n’ fly to then BIONIC ELBOW for the tenth! Tama whips corner to corner hard, and fans rally up with him. Tama goes corner to corner to STINGER- NO, Evil dodges and pulls the buckle pad away! Tama hits bare buckles, tasting the Bullet Club Special already! Tama writhes, fans boo, and Red Shoes reprimands, but how’d that even happen? Wait! There’s Dick Togo! He snuck out here like the snake he is! Evil drags Tama up, throws him out, and then goes out to CLUB him down! Fans boo, and Jado keeps Dick from getting closer.
Evil brings Tama up the ramp, to suplex him to the floor! Evil then pulls railing apart and drags Tama into the crowd! Fans get out of the way and Young Lions stay between them and the action, but Evil still SMACKS Tama off a chair! And stomps him! Evil drags Tama up, has more fans move as he brings Tama that way, but Tama fights back! But Evil CLAWS the eyes! Evil stomps Tama down, drags him up, and brings him along to BOWL him into chairs! Evil leaves Tama behind to go to the ring. Red Shoes reprimands but there’s not much more he can do. Fans rally for Tama while Evil gives a thumbs down to English commentary.
The ring count starts, Tama stirs at 5 of 20 and rises at 7. But then Evil just snatches the hammer to ring the bell! Fans boo, he doesn’t decide that the match is over! The count starts over because of that! Evil is annoyed while Tama flounders his way to the aisle. Tama stands at 13 and walks the rest of the way, but he still stumbles at 17! Tama hurries back up, and SLIDES in at 19.9!! Evil is upset with Red Shoes for starting over, but then he covers. Red Shoes says no, it’s not fair. Evil & Dick protest but Jado has a good laugh. Evil hauls Tama up to a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Tama is still in this and Evil again blames Red Shoes.
Evil stands on Tama’s face, taunts him and the fans, then gives Tama toying kicks. Jado coaches Tama up, fans rally up, but Evil kicks Tama again. Tama gets mad and he throws body shots! Evil CLAWS the eyes again! Red Shoes reprimands, Evil whips, but Tama comes back! But into a mule kick! But Tama DROPKICKS Evil down! Fans rally up as Tama and Evil stir. Jado coaches Tama and he stands up. Tama rallies on Evil with forearms and clotheslines, and then a scoop SLAM! Fans fire up and Tama aims as Evil goes to the corner. Tama runs in, STINGER SPLASH! Evil falls and Tama covers, TWO!
Tama stays focused, and he CLUBS Evil! And CLUBS him again! Tama CLOBBERS Evil point blank, then covers, TWO! Evil is hanging tough but Tama drags him up into a dragon sleeper. Evil fights from below, and fishhooks Tama’s nose! Red Shoes reprimands but Tama lets go. Evil blocks Tama’s kick, hands the foot to Red Shoes, but Tama blocks Evil’s kick! Red Shoes lets go, Tama CLUBS Evil’s leg! Tama whips, Evil reverses and then grabs at Red Shoes, but Tama body blows Evil first! Tama suplexes, but Evil fights it! Evil powers through to hit the FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO, and Evil falls on Red Shoes!
Evil drags Tama up and Young Lions check on Red Shoes. Evil hits another FISHERMAN BUSTER! And then Dick storms in! Jado gets up on the apron, blocks Dick’s punch, but then Dick blocks Jado’s punch to DECK Jado! Fans boo but Dick puts one out. Evil grins as he and Dick stomp away on Tama! Fans boo more as Evil puts one out now. The fans tell Dick to go away, but he says no. Dick and Evil get Tama up, MAGIC KILLER!! Evil calls to Red Shoes and Red Shoes returns. Evil covers, ONE?!?! Evil can’t believe it! Evil hurries to step through, but Tama resists the turn! Evil powers through, to get the SHARPSHOOTER!
Tama endures and we pass 10 minutes. Tama moves around, fans rally up, and Tama powers his way forward! Jado coaches Tama, and Tama gets the ROPEBREAK! Evil holds until Red Shoes counts 4! Evil stalks Tama, talks trash, and then drags him up. Evil drags Tama up, fireman’s carries, but Tama fights free! TONGAN TWIST!! Fans fire up while both men are down! Tama goes to a corner, drags himself up, and Evil stands. Evil storms up but Tama BOOTS him! Tama runs to SUPERMAN FOREARM! Evil rushes in but into a fireman’s carry! Evil slips free but Tama PELES! And then SPINEBUSTERS!
Fans fire up with Tama again and he goes right up the corner! SUPREME FLOW!! Cover, TWO!! Evil survives and Tama grows frustrated. Jado coaches Tama and Tama rallies the fans by pounding the mat. The clapping speeds up, but Dick drags Evil out of the ring! Fans boo but Dick scurries away. Dick then gets on the apron, but Jado points it out! Problem is, Red Shoes tells Jado to get down! Tama rushes Dick but Dick HOTSHOTS him away! Evil returns and turns Tama around! EVERYTHING- NO, Tama gets around to roll Evil up! TWO!! Evil swings, but Tama waistlocks, shoves, follows, then redirects to GUN-
NO! Evil blocks it! Evil shoves Tama away, goes to the corner, LARIAT! Both men are down again and fans rally for Tama! Evil brings Tama around as we hit 15 minutes. Evil stands Tama up, fireman’s carries, DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Tama survives and fans fire up! Evil is too tired to be upset, and the fans rally back up. Evil snarls and slashes his throat. He drags Tama up, spins him around, EVERYTHING- NO, Tama fights with elbows! Tama is free but Evil LARIATS! Tama stays up! Evil runs in again to LARIAT! Tama stays up! Evil whips Tama into the bare buckles! But Tama rises! And LARIATS Evil!!
Fans fire up as OFF COMES THE VEST! Dick gets in!? GUNSTUN for Dick!! Tama hurries to get Evil up, Half Hatch to BLOODY SUNDAY!! Cover, TWO!?! Evil survives but Tama vows to end this! Three minute warning and Tama underhooks! But Evil fights the lift, wrenches out, and catches Tama! Evil pulls hair, whips Tama to the bare buckles, but Tama goes up! Evil sends Red Shoes in! Tama goes up and over Red Shoes, to GUN- NO, Evil blocks and LOW BLOWS!! EVERYTHING IS EVIL!!! Cover, EVIL WINS!!
Winner: Evil, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Tama earns 0)
Just when you think Evil hasn’t found new lows, he does! The King of Darkness continues to steal victories, will he end up stealing the entire G1?
G1 Climax 33, D Block: Tetsuya Naito VS Jeff Cobb!
The Uncontrollable Charisma has once again vowed to make it to WrestleKingdom and fight for the world title, but that’s a long road to travel. Will Naito make that journey back to the top of NJPW? Or will the United Empire’s Imperial Unit be a massive roadblock?
Naturally, Naito takes his time with his elaborate entrance attire. Cobb is annoyed but he stays patient. Naito finishes with the pants, the bell rings and fans rally for “NA-I-TO! NA-I-TO!” Cobb shrugs that off, steps to Naito, and Naito raises the LIJ fist. Cobb says okay, but then raises the hang loose. So Naito kicks low! And CLUBS Cobb, then throws him out! Naito builds speed, but Cobb trips Naito up! Cobb knows that trick and he drags Naito out to RAM into railing! Cobb brings Naito around to whip, but Naito reverses and now Cobb hits railing! But Cobb comes back, only for Naito to kick him and whip him into more railing!
Naito puts Cobb in the ring and fans cheer. Naito cravats for a neck wrench, but Cobb goes to a corner. Red Shoes counts, Naito thrashes but then Cobb grabs Naito. Naito keeps on the cravat, Red Shoes reprimands them both, and both men slowly let off. Naito then kicks Cobb low again! Naito whips corner to corner, runs in and JUMP KICKS! Naito struggles to get up and over, but he still sweeps the legs and swings in, but Cobb catches Naito! Cobb runs but Naito sunset flips! Cobb rolls through to DROPKICK Naito down! Fans fire up for the display of agility! Naito flounders to ropes, so Cobb kicks him all the way out.
Naito leans against railing, and fans rally up as Cobb considers it. Cobb builds speed! But then he copies Naito with the roll and tranquilo! Cobb goes out to fetch Naito but “Oops!” he steps on him! Cobb pretends he didn’t see Naito there, and he drags Naito up. Cobb SMACKS Naito off the apron, then brings him around to commentary. Cobb makes Naito open his eye, and do the fist bump, then he CLUBS away on Naito’s chest! Red Shoes reprimands, Cobb leaves Naito behind and goes into the ring. Cobb lounges while the ring count starts. Naito sits up at 6 of 20, crawls to the corner, then stands at 12.
Naito goes around the way, slides in at 16, and Cobb stomps him! Cobb drags Naito up, and throat chops! Naito goes to the corner but Cobb brings him out, to suplex, and he holds Naito up with one arm! Fans cheer the feat of strength as Cobb waves, then he SLAMS Naito down! Cocky cover, TWO! Cobb pretends to be surprised, but he drags Naito up. Naito throws body shots and kicks! Naito runs, but into a lift, and Cobb RAMS Naito into the corner! Cobb runs in to JUMP KICK!? Leg sweep?! COMBINACION COBB-RON!! Fans fire up as Cobb continues to copy Naito rather accurately! Cobb then drags Naito to another cocky cover, ONE!
Cobb keeps cool and he brings Naito up. But Naito fires forearms! Cobb knees low, whips Naito, but Naito reverses and TORNADO- NO, Cobb blocks it! Cobb then powers Naito to another suplex! Naito fights free, and pulls Cobb’s hair! Naito brings Cobb around for a NECKBREAKER! Fans rally while both men are down! Cobb and Naito slowly rise, and Naito fires haymakers and kicks! Naito CLUBS and whips Cobb, but Cobb blocks the hip toss to whip Naito away. Naito RAMS into Cobb, keeps moving, and then ELBOWS him! Cobb comes back, Naito gets around to shove and arm-drag! And then an ELBOW, into the basement dropkick!
Fans fire up while Cobb is down. Naito brings Cobb up and whips him to a corner, then runs in to JUMP KICK! Leg sweep! COMBINACION feint, and then CABRON! Cobb falls for it and Naito drags him up. Naito snapmares and then wraps on PLUMA BLANCA! Cobb endures as Naito thrashes, and Cobb throws short hammer fists! Naito grabs that arm to add to the hold, but Cobb powers his way around. Cobb deadlifts Naito!? Naito lets go to throw heavy elbows! Cobb flops into a corner and Naito catches his breath. Cobb stands but Naito hoists him up top. Naito climbs up, throws forearm after forearm, then goes to the very top!
Fans fire up but Cobb turns things around! SUPER POWERBOMB!!! Both men are down as Cobb goes all out! Red Shoes checks Naito, he looks dazed! Cobb crawls to the cover, TWO!! Naito is still in this, but Cobb GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Naito survives again and we hit the 10 minute mark. Naito goes to the apron, Cobb storms over and brings Naito up. Cobb drags Naito up, to deadlift SUPER- NO, Naito fights with body shots! Naito throws forearm after forearms, then he DECKS Cobb! Cobb stands and Naito FLYING RANAS! Not the smoothest but Cobb tumbles away!
Naito hurries to whip, Cobb reverses, but then Naito reverses to TORNADO DDT! Fans fire up as Naito brings Cobb back up. Naito hammerlocks, half nelsons, but Cobb CLUBS Naito with that arm! Naito ripcords but Cobb uses that to ATHLETIC PLEX! Fans fire up and Cobb roars! Cobb drags Naito up, brings him around, and ripcords, but Naito throws heavy elbows! Naito then ducks the haymaker, stops himself with ropes, and BOOTS Cobb! Tilt-o-whirl, but Cobb sets Naito down! Naito ENZIGURIS, tilt-o-whirls again, CORRIENDOSHIKI DESTINO! Naito then wrenches, tilt-o-whirls, but Cobb blocks it and pops Naito around!! TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!!
Fans are thunderous as both men are down! A standing count starts and fans rally up! Naito and Cobb stir at 5, but Cobb stands at 7! Naito is still down at 8, but he springs to his feet at 9.5!! Cobb runs in, into a heavy elbow! And ROLLING KICK! Naito atomic drops and Cobb falls, ROLLING JACKKNIFE BRIDGE! TWO!! Naito keeps moving, but Cobb scoops! Naito turns it to a cradle! TWO!! Cobb JABS, then GERMAN SUPLEXES!! But Naito’s right up!?! Naito runs in, into a HEADBUTT!! Cobb fires up, he deadlifts Naito for the TOUR OF THE ISLAND!!! Cover, COBB WINS!!
Winner: Jeff Cobb, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Naito earns 0)
The unthinkable just happened! Not that Naito lost, but that he lost after getting all fired up! If this is how his (potentially) last G1 starts, how will it end?!
As for Cobb, he snatches Naito’s baseball cap! Cobb wears it like he’s Naito, and then calls for the mic. The mic is given, and Cobb says, “Who thought that I was beating Naito tonight, huh!?” Fans do cheer, there were some. Cobb says for all the doubters, the only thing that matters is the United Empire’s wining the G1! Mainly me! Fans do like the sound of that. Cobb says he will end this on a high note since he has Naito’s sweet hat. And he again copies Naito by saying this is naturally the only way they can close this out! United Empire roll call?! “Ospreay! O-Khan! Henare! TJP! Akira! Aussie Open! Gideon Grey! Callum!” Cobb catches his breath, that’s a lot of names.
Fans cheer and Cobb finishes, “Y Cobb! I wanna hear you guys. NOSOTROS! UNITED! EM-PI-RE!!” Fans cheer Cobb’s LIJ parody, and then he stomps out Naito’s hat! Will the United Empire find a way to completely dominate the G1 Climax?
Here are the current C Block standings!
David Finlay: 1-0, 2 points
EVIL: 1-0, 2 points
Mikey Nicholls: 1-0, 2 points
Eddie Kingston: 1-0, 2 points
Shingo Takagi: 0-1, 0 points
Tama Tonga: 0-1, 0 points
Tomohiro Ishii: 0-1, 0 points
Aaron Henare: 0-1, 0 points
Here are the current D Block standings!
Jeff Cobb: 1-0, 2 points
Zack Sabre Jr: 1-0. 2 points
Hirooki Goto: 1-0, 2 points
Shane Haste: 1-0, 2 points
Hiroshi Tanahashi: 0-1, 0 points
Tetsuya Naito: 0-1, 0 points
Toru Yano: 0-1, 0 points
Alex Coughlin: 0-1, 0 points
My Thoughts:
A great second night for the G1 to give us a strong opening weekend. And a lot of great and surprising wins here. I did not think TMDK was going to sweep the night, with Mikey being the most surprising of the three. Henare returned with a new look and nickname, but I guess only WWE/American wrestling logic says the person with the new gimmick wins automatically. Shane getting a win over Coughlin is great to branch things into TMDK VS War Dogs for the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag titles. ZSJ getting a win made a lot of sense, he and Tanahashi have gone back and forth in the past, and Tanahashi isn’t the kind of wrestler the NJPW World TV Championship is supposed to be about, cuz he’s been around for years.
And now that I think on it, I would love TMDK VS Dream Trio for the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles. It’d be awesome to see ZSJ interact with Ishii, Tanahashi and Okada all in the same match, and of course seeing the same from Shane and Mikey tying up with Okada. But at the same time, TMDK probably wouldn’t win that because it’s still Ishii, Tanahashi & Okada. Finlay beating Ishii also feels fitting, the Bullet Club is rebuilding so Finlay having a good showing in the G1 would go with that. Goto VS Yano was a ton of fun, as pretty much all Yano matches are, and I really like how they got Tomukun in on it.
Takagi VS Eddie was a great match, and that was a great win for Eddie here in what I believe is his first G1. As I said before at NJPW Independence Day, I don’t see Eddie taking his block, but he is going to have a great run, especially with so many first-time-ever matches. Tama VS Evil was really good but of course Evil cheats to win. They still come up with clever ways for him to do it, but they’re bound to run out of those. And then Naito VS Cobb was a great main event, especially with Cobb copying Naito again and again. Great win for Cobb, and it adds pressure to Naito’s story of making it through so he can go to WrestleKingdom. Though, that’s the same story he had last year. Maybe he makes it through to the end after all?
My Score: 8.9/10
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Coverage
Mitchell’s Road to Wrestling Dontaku Results & Report! (4/27/24)
Rural Revitalization continues!
Will Great-O-Khan be setting the table?
It’s Rural Revitalization in Hiroshima for the KOPW Championship! Can Yuya Uemura survive tires, lemons and a table? Or will Great-O-Khan conquer him for the United Empire?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Frontier Zone – Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano VS Rey Paloma & HANZO; Oleg & Yano win.
- Six Man Tag: Tiger Mask & Bishamon VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita VS Jeff Cobb & Francesco Akira; Cobb & Akira win.
- Six Man Tag: El Desperado, Shota Umino & Tomohiro Ishii VS The House of Torture; Desperado, Shota & Ishii win.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima VS Tomoaki Honma & Shoma Kato; Tanahashi & Murashima win.
- DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Sho & Yoshinobu win.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo; TMDK wins and retains the titles.
- KOPW Championship Rural Revitalization: Great-O-Khan VS Yuya Uemura; Yuya wins and becomes the new KOPW Champion.
- 10 Man Tag Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK w/ Zack Sabre Jr. VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo w/ Jado!
Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls snatched the titles away during the Windy City Riot, but the Guerrillas of Destiny are getting their rematch! Will the Headbanga & Young Guerilla redeem themselves on the Road to Wrestling Dontaku? Or will they see The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if The Mighty stay NJPW Strong!
The teams sort out and Hysterical Haste starts against ELP. The fans rally up with the bell and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but then Shane cording holds into a wrench and wristlock. ELP rolls, handsprings and wrenches back. ELP keeps Shane from ropes so Shane rolls, kips up, snapmares and KICKS ELP! The fans cheer while Shane shakes out his leg. ELP grimaces as he stands and shakes out the arm. The two reset, tie up, and ELP waistlocks. ELP goes for a chinlock but Shane standing switches. ELP switches, Shane switches again, and repeat. ELP headlocks, Shane powers out, then reels ELP in for a headlock.
ELP powers out, Shane runs him over, and then he sits ELP up to run. ELP drops under, hurdles over, but Shane shoves him. ELP rolls off Shane’s back to RANA! The fans fire up as ELP kips up and fixes his hair. The fans rally for “E L P! E L P!” while Shane is in a corner. Shane comes back to fire a forearm! ELP fires a forearm back! Shane fires another forearm so ELP gives it back. They go back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans rally up! ELP gets the edge, but Shane UPPERCUTS! Shane CHOPS ELP, whips him corner to corner, but ELP goes up and over and keeps moving. ELP fakes Shane out to avoid the dropkick!
ELP goes to ropes to LIONSAULT but Shane moves! ELP sits up but avoids the Penalty Kick! The two stand off and the fans cheer! Shane and ELP reset, and Leo reaches out. ELP tags him in and the fans rally up. Shane tags Mikey, and he circles with Leo. They get face to face, and Mikey pie faces Leo! They tie up, Leo shoves Mikey away, but Mikey comes back. They tie up, Mikey headlocks but Leo lifts. Mikey thrashes the hold, Leo powers out and they RAM shoulders! Leo eggs Mikey on so Mikey runs and they RAM shoulders! Leo runs, Mikey ELBOWS him! Mikey runs, Leo runs him over! The fans fire up as Leo flexes.
Leo drags Mikey up, suplexes, but Mikey fights it! Mikey tries to suplex but Leo’s so tall! Leo suplexes, Mikehy slips free to waistlock, but Leo RAMS him into a corner! Leo runs in, Mikey dodges, only for Leo to LARIAT outta the corner! Tag to ELP and the Guerrillas get Mikey up. ELP BLASTS Shane while Leo whips Mikey to a corner. Leo SPLASHES, ELP clotheslines, then feed to the SIDEWALK SLAM and FALLING AX HANDLE! The Guerrillas high-five, ELP covers, TWO! ELP brings Mikey up but Mikey fights the suplex! Mikey powers out, whips, but ELP BLASTS Shane! ELP dodges Mikey, waistlocks, but Mikey swings. ELP ducks, into a DDT!
The fans fire up while Mikey shoves ELP over and tags in Shane. Mikey brings ELP up to TOSS him out, and then Mikey BLASTS Leo! Shane whips ELP into railing! Shane flexes, fans applaud, and Shane drags ELP up. APRON BACK SUPLEX! Shane shoves ELP in, covers, ROPEBREAK! The fans rally as ELP stays in this but Shane grabs one of ELP’s hands. Shane stretches out the arm to then KICK ELP in the shoulder! Shane brings ELP up but ELP fires forearms! Shane shoves ELP but ELP ELBOWS Mikey! ELP fires off on Shane, whips, but Shane reverses and Mikey trips ELP up! Shane basement dropkicks ELP and he spins around into a HAYMAKER from Mikey!
ELP flops to the floor, Mikey claims the apron is slippery, but the referee reprimands him all the same. The ring count starts but Mikey puts ELP in at 4 of 20. Shane covers, TWO! Shane keeps ELP down with body scissors. ELP endures, reaches out, drags Shane along as he crawls over, and the fans rally up. Shane grabs ELP’s arm and brings him into a cover, TWO! Shane whips ELP away into The Mighty corner! Tag to Mikey, he sends Shane in, but ELP puts Shane on the apron! ELP BOOTS Mikey, ROUNDHOUSES Shane, then runs, but Mikey catches him! Mikey RAMS ELP back into the corner!
Mikey taunts Leo then digs boots into ELP. The fans rally up and ELP throws body shots. Mikey eggs ELP on so ELP CHOPS! ELP tries to get under but Mikey grabs a leg and drags him back! Tag to Shane, and Shane stomps ELP down. Shane kicks ELP around, kicks him more, but ELP fires off hands! Shane back drops ELP up and away! The fans rally while Shane drags ELP back to a cover, but Leo breaks it! Shane drags ELP back, tags Mikey in, and TMDK mug ELP. ELP sputters, Mikey tags Shane back in, and Shane sucker punches Leo! Mikey hoists ELP up but ELP BOOTS Shane! ELP backs Mikey into the corner, then goes up and over Shane!
Shane runs into Mikey but Mikey still pursues ELP. Mikey drags ELP back but ELP ENZIGIRIS free! The fans fire up, but Shane gets ELP’s legs! ELP BOOTS Shane away, hurries up again, but Mikey BLASTS Leo first! Mikey then brings ELP around to back suplex! ELP lands on his feet, but Shane back suplexes! ELP still lands on his feet, then he ducks under TMDK to hot tag Leo! The fans fire up as Leo UPPERCUTS Shane, swings on Mikey, but Mikey dodges, only for Leo to BOOT him! Leo scoops Shane for SNAKE EYES and a BOOT! The fans fire up with Leo while Shane and Mikey go to opposite corners.
Leo runs in to SPLASH Mikey! Leo keeps going but Shane BOOTS him! Shane runs up but Leo ELBOWS him down! Leo runs to drop the JUMPING ELBOW on Shane! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Leo watches Shane stir. Shane rises, Leo choke grips! GODS- NO, Shane slips free and Mikey fires a forearm! Shane UPPERCUTS, Mikey LARIATS, but Leo stays up! Shane runs to LARIAT! Leo roars, but TMDK double kick! TMDK reels Leo in, but Leo DOUBLE SUPLEXES them instead! The fans fire up and Leo watches TMDK bail out. Leo tags ELP and ELP goes up. Leo helps him walk the tightrope, to ARIHARA MOONSAULT TMDK down at the ramp!
The fans fire up again, and Leo goes out to get Shane in. ELP & Leo get Shane up to CHOP, straitjacket torture rack, and then Leo runs. BOOT into the spin, BRAIN SALAD! Cover, Mikey breaks it! Mikey fires forearms on Leo & ELP, runs, but ELP hurdles so Leo can DDT! Mikey bails out, the fans fire up, and ELP tunes up the band. Shane rises, into SUDDEN- NO, Shane dodges! Shane runs up, but into Leo’s hands! ELP aims, but Shane pulls Leo into SUDDEN DEATH! Shane UPPERCUTS ELP and DROPKICKS Leo! Shane KICKS ELP, BOOTS him, then reels him in for an INVERTED EXPLODER! Cover, TWO!!
ELP survives and Shane is surprised! The fans fires up, Shane and ELP rise, and ELP staggers to a corner. Shane puts ELP up top, ROCKS him with a right, then climbs up. Shane brings ELP up but ELP fires body shots! ELP HEADBUTTS Shane down but Mikey tags in! Shane goes up, ELP sends him back down, so Mikey UPPERCUTS! Mikey gives Shane the boost, and they get ELP for the SUPERPLEX BOMB COMBO! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives but Mikey powers up and runs, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives again and the fans fire up! Mikey grows frustrated, he drags ELP up and reels him in.
ELP slips free of the Blue Thunder to kick and tuck the arms! But Mikey trips ELP to jackknife bridge, TWO! ELP rolling clutches! TWO and Mikey has the cover! TWO and ELP ghost pins, TWO!! Mikey escapes but ELP dodges! ELP DROPKICKS Mikey down and the fans fire up! Both men crawl, hot tag to Leo! Leo runs to BLAST Shane, then he turns to look at Mikey. Mikey eggs Leo on, then fires forearms! Leo ROCKS Mikey with just one! Mikey fires another flurry, but Leo ROCKS Mikey again! Leo eggs Mikey on and the fans rally. Mikey kicks low, ROCKS Leo, then runs, but into a scoop! Tag to ELP before the POWERSLAM!
ELP goes up to SWANTON BOMB! And then LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up, ELP tags Leo back in, and they tune up the band again! Mikey rises, but Shane trips Leo! Mikey ROCKS ELP, Shane UPPERCUTS ELP! Feed to the scoop but ELP slips free! ELP shoves Mikey into Shane, and Leo grabs them both! But both Shane & Mikey fight free of the choke slams! Shane KNEES, Mikey FOREARMS, but then ELP fires off on TMDK! ELP runs, but into a double trophy lift! THUNDER- DOUBLE DDTS!! ELP turns things around on TMDK, and the fans are thunderous! Mikey stands up into SUDDEN DEATH! ELP PLANCHAS onto Shane!
GODSEND for Mikey! ELP then climbs up the ropes, then climbs onto Leo! SUPER THUNDERKISS 86!! Cover, but Shane barrels through ELP to break it!! The fans are thunderous again but ELP is frustrated. ELP fires off on Shane, runs, but Shane LARIATS! Shane dodges Leo but runs into the POWER TRIP! GOD- NO, Mikey rolls Leo up!! TMDK WINS!!
Winners: TMDK, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)
Leo is furious! He is sure Mikey pulled tights there! He stomps at Mikey, pushes past ELP and goes after Mikey on the outside! Mikey and Leo push each other around, but there’s nothing Leo can do about this one. Will he and ELP just have to fight their way back up to the top? As for TMDK, will they continue to rock ‘n’ roll through the ranks with all this gold?
KOPW Championship Rural Revitalization: Great-O-Khan w/ Callum Newman & Francesco Akira VS Yuya Uemura w/ Taka Michinoku & Taichi!
It’s Rural Revitalization 2: Hiroshima Style! The Dominator just managed to make it past Tanga Loa, will he make it through the Heat Storm? Or will KOPW soon belong to Just5Guys?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who can put in the work!
This first round is Mazda tire carrying. Each man has a big orange cone placed in their corner, so they simply have to go fetch the tires from the stacks outside. Whoever gets four tires first wins the round! The bell rings, Yuya kicks Khan then heads for ropes, but Khan reels him in for a BIG back suplex! Khan goes out now, hurries up the ramp, and grabs two tires at once! The fans cheer and Khan gets those tires in the ring. Then he goes back for more! A risky move but that means four tires are on play. Yuya DROPKICKS Khan and here’s where the risk is involved! Yuya aims to PLANCHA but Khan chucks a tire!
Yuya falls back, Khan gets the tires in then drags Yuya out. Khan CLUBS away on Yuya against the apron, then uses a tire to bind Yuya’s legs! Khan CLUBS Yuya more, and Khan even ties Yuya up in the ropes! Khan sacrifices two tires to trap Yuya! The fans cheer the creativity, and Khan STOMPS Yuya on the apron before heading for more tires. Yuya works to get free as Khan brings two more tires to the ring. Khan sets those tires in, Yuya gets free, but Khan has stacked two tires. Then three, but Yuya DROPKICKS him down! Yuya takes the tires off Khan’s cones, leaving him with just one. Yuya goes out to get the last tires remaining!
Yuya brings tires to his cone, then clears out some space. Yuya has two tires, steals Khan’s one, but then Khan grabs Yuya for an IRON CLAW SLEEPER! Yuya fights free, but Khan Mongolian Chops him down! Khan throws the tires off Yuya’s cone, then throws the cone! We’re back to zero and zero, and Khan whips Yuya into a corner, to then clothesline him! The fans fire up as Khan climbs up and sits on his throne! Khan then hops down to Mongolian Chop! And Mongolian Chops! And Mongolian CHOP! Yuya sits down, Khan takes a tire, but then THROWS it at Yuya! Yuya goes up and over and AX HANDLES Khan down!
The fans rally as Khan grabs tires and cone, and he starts stacking! Yuya has two, then three! He just needs to find one more! Yuya grabs one from outside, but Khan reels him in! Khan DECKS Yuya, then undoes some of the stack. Khan confiscates a tire, makes sure it’s nice and bouncy, but also works up quite the sweat. The fans rally as Khan aims and takes a swing, only for Yuya to counter tire with tire! They clash again, and again! Then they set up for TIRE SUMO! And again, TIRE SUMO! They run in again, and Khan RAMS Yuya! Yuya is disarmed, and Khan CLOBBERS him with the TIRE SUMO!
The fans fire up while Yuya is down and Khan grabs tires. Khan says he’s not done with Yuya yet. Khan starts stacking tires at the center of the ring, then drags Yuya up. Khan clinches Yuya into HITSUJIGOROSHI! Yuya endures, even as Khan throws knees! Khan then scoops to SLAM Yuya on the tires! That’ll leave some skid marks! Khan then drags Yuya off the stack, brings him up and around, to then put a tire around his head. And then another! Yuya’s two tired to stand but Khan makes him! Khan throws a BODY BLOW, then he TRIPS Yuya into a TIRE DDT! The fans fire up while Khan grabs the other tires.
Khan stacks tires on his cone, that’s two. Khan hurries to find other tires on the outside, and he has a third. Khan considers his options, and takes one of the tires from Yuya. But Yuya clings to the tires, so Khan stomps him! Yuya refuses to let go of the tires! Khan stomps Yuya more but Yuya defends the tire with his body! Khan claws at Yuya, they tug-o-war over the tire, but Khan pulls on Yuya’s ear! Yuya kicks low, kicks again, then SMACKS Khan with the tire, and DROPKICKS Khan down! The tire goes tumbling out of the ring while Yuya fires up! Yuya takes Khan’s tires, hurries them over to his cone, that’s three right there!
Now Yuya has to hurry and find another! Yuya goes outside, grabs the tire, but Khan intercepts! They tug-o-war again, but then Khan RAMS Yuya into a corner! Khan takes this tire, that’s one. Khan finds tires on the outside and brings them in! Yuya hurries to cover tires again! Khan stomps Yuya, still stacks three, so it’s all down to this seventh tire! Yuya and Khan tug-o-war yet again, the fans rallying behind them! Khan grabs Yuya’s arm, but Yuya slips around to a SLEEPER! Khan fights up but Yuya squeezes tight! Yuya then CLUBS away on Khan, runs, but into a TIRE SWEEP! And a BASEMENT DROPKICK!
Khan grabs the final tire, but Yuya schoolboys him away! Yuya rolls through, snatches the tire, and complete his stack! Yuya wins the first round!
Khan: 0; Yuya: 1
Just like with Tanga Loa, Khan drops the ball in the first round! But then, will history repeat itself here as we prepare for the second round?
The tarps are set down, the table is set, and it’s time to eat up some Hiroshima lemons! Khan makes sure the people watching at home and around the world understand that Hiroshima lemons are the best, which probably means they’re the most sour. Khan puts on his bandana and takes his seat at the table. He and Yuya get some wet wipes to clean their hands, and it all comes down to who finishes their one lemon first. Ready, set, EAT! Yuya starts fast and that face shows how sour these are. Khan says hold on, and he just takes a HUGE bite! Yuya is suffering but Khan is reveling in the sourness! Khan’s already halfway through!
Yuya can barely keep the lemon in, but Khan’s eaten it all up! Can he get it all down before Yuya? Khan is chewing and chewing, Yuya is practically shaking from how sour it all is! Khan keeps going and… Yes, Khan has it all down! Khan wins!
Khan: 1; Yuya: 1
Khan now lets his body feel the stinging sweetness, and he says it was delicious! But then, that leaves us with this third and final round. And this time it’s a TABLES match! Who will be feeling sour and sore after this one?
The bell rings, both men rush in, Yuya dodges to fire haymakers! Yuya whips, Khan reverses but Yuya CLOBBERS him! Khan gets up, but Yuya DROPKICKS him down! Khan bails out, Yuya aims and PLANCHAS! Direct hit at the ramp, and the Heat Storm fires back up! The table is there, so Yuya drags Khan right up! Yuya goes to suplex but Khan blocks! Khan fights with body shots, turns things around, but Yuya fights the suplex! They fight for control, but Khan RAMS Yuya into the apron! The fans rally, Khan drags Yuya back up, and whips him into railing! Yuya tumbles up and over into No Man’s Land!
Khan storms out after Yuya and he asks fans move aside. Young Lions help the fans clear out while Khan drags Yuya up. Khan brings Yuya around and reminds everyone, No Disqualifications! Khan BOWLS Yuya through chairs, and that’s definitely a strike! The fans cheer Khan as he stands on chairs, but then asks more fans to move aside! Khan stomps Yuya, stomps a chair onto Yuya, then tosses that chair aside. Sorry to whoever had that seat… Khan then drags Yuya up and brings him around, but Yuya throws body shots! Khan Mongolian Chops Yuya down! Khan drags Yuya back up, and BOWLS him into more chairs!
Yuya is stuck on the seats, that wasn’t quite a strike. But Khan stacks chairs on Yuya to pick up the spare. Khan SMACKS chair with chair! Yuya sputters while fans applaud, and Khan goes back to fetch Yuya. Taichi and Taka are there but so are Newman and Akira. The Empire keeps the two out of five guys at bay while Khan drags Yuya to the back of the crowd. Khan whips Yuya into the emergency exit! Khan then SLAMS railing down on Yuya, and then SMACKS railing with railing! Khan talks trash while Taka and Taichi coach Yuya up. The ref checks Yuya, but he’s somehow able to continue, so Khan drags him up.
Khan brings Yuya around to drag him through the chairs! Khan brings Yuya back to ringside, then into the ring. The fans applaud, and then Khan goes looking under the ring. Khan eventually finds another lemon! Khan takes a big bite and uses the citrus to power up! Then he DIGS the lemon into Yuya’s face! The citric acid burns but the fans fire up! Khan goes to fetch the table from outside, puts it inside, and then sets it up in a corner. The fans rally up as Khan stalks Yuya. Khan drags Yuya up, reels him in to scoop, but Yuya slips free! Khan avoids hitting table, but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! Yuya whips Khan into the blue corner, then DOUBLE CHOPS again!
The fans fire up and Yuya grits his teeth. Yuya roars, brings Khan up and reels him in for a BIG back suplex! The fans rally again and Yuya brings Khan up. Yuya clinches, but Khan fights the lift! Yuya still tries, but Khan fights it to a head ‘n’ arm clinch. Yuya gets around, headlocks, but Khan pops out to waistlock. Yuya fights being pushed around, then switches to get an arm. Khan clinches but so does Yuya. They fight for control, and Khan’s SAYANAGI takes Yuya down! The fans fire up and both men stir. Yuya flops out of the ring, but Khan crawls in pursuit. Khan drags Yuya up, then RAMS him into railing!
Yuya writhes, Khan goes looking under the ring, and he brings out another TABLE! Khan SMACKS Yuya with the table, then stands the table up at ringside. Khan drags Yuya up, SMACKS him off the apron, then climbs up. Khan drags Yuya up onto the apron, Mongolian Chops, then regular CHOPS! Khan UPPERCUTS, then clamps on the IRON CLAW! Khan scoops but Yuya fights free! Yuya DROPKICKS! Khan holds onto ropes to stay up, but Yuya hurries to run! Yuya LARIATS, but into the IRON CLAW!! Khan drags Yuya up and over, ELIMINATOR- NO, Yuya grabs ropes to fight that off! Khan kicks low, winds up, but Yuya traps the arm!
Yuya traps the other arm, takes aim, but Khan fights the Deadbolt with all his might!! The fans are thunderous as Yuya still tries! Khan BITES Yuya’s ear! And then POSTS him! But Yuya runs up, into a BOOT! Yuya falls back, Khan sits down, and the fans rally again! Khan undoes his hand tape, ends up pushing the table over, and then he folds it all up. Khan puts the table in the ring, pushes Yuya aside, and then he sets this table up again, in the blue corner. Yuya goes up top to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as Yuya roars! Yuya has his choice as he hauls Khan up. Yuya traps the arms, but Khan makes it a BELLY2BELLY!
But Yuya rises back up! Yuya runs in, gets around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Khan’s right up! Khan LARIATS Yuya down! The fans fire up as Yuya is right back up, and URENAGES! Both men are down again and the fans are thunderous! Khan flounders around, he and Yuya crawl to center, and Yuya fires a forearm! Khan gives it back! Both men stand, and Yuya fires a haymaker! Khan comes back to forearm! Yuya wobbles, but he comes back to HAYMAKER! Khan staggers, wobbles, but comes back to FOREARM! Both men stagger, but Yuya fires another haymaker! Khan fires a flurry of forearms, but Yuya haymakers!
Khan ROCKS Yuya, but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS! But Khan throws an IRON RIGHT! The fans fire up again as Yuya falls! Khan roars with Monster Rage and he hauls Yuya up! IRON CLAW, and then ELIMIN- NO, Yuya slips free! Yuya wrenches, traps the arms, DEADBOLT SUPLEX through the table!! YUYA WINS!!
Winner: Yuya Uemura, 2-1 (NEW KOPW Champion)
Yuya slammed the Deadbolt shut on Khan and now he takes the title from him! The Heat Storm is rising, how hot will he make the KOPW Division through the Summer?
10 Man Tag Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs!
These factions have been battling all over this Road to Wrestling Dontaku, but now they will fight ’til the last man! Will there be a roll call for Bushi, Hiromu, Takagi, Yota y Naito? Or will this alliance with the Good Looking Emperor, Jake Lee, help David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney shoot down LIJ?
Wait, it seems Naito has brought backup of his own? It’s SLYLY! The dragon-like mascot of Hiroshima Toyo Carp, and half-brother to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Phillie Phanatic! Well, Naito does love him some baseball. Tensions are running high, and Finlay throws his shirt at Yota. Yota balls that shirt up, and throws a fastball over the plate! The teams sort out, Finlay pushes Yota around and Gabe talks trash on Takagi. Red Shoes gets them all to settle down, and the War Dogs bark and put up the Too Sweet. Jake joins in at the end there. LIJ mocks the barking before they fist bump, and the fans cheer.
Things finally sort out and Finlay starts against Yota. The fans fire up behind “YO~TA! YO~TA!” at the bell, and Yota makes sure Finlay hears that. Finlay gets on the corner but the fans all boo. The two circle, tie up, and Yota uses his size to put Finlay on ropes. Finlay turns that around to grind forearms in Yota’s face and push him around. Finlay then backs up to SPIT at him! The fans boo but Yota CHOPS Finlay in return! The fans cheer, Yota headlocks, and Yota grinds Finlay down. Finlay powers up and out to headlock back, but Yota powers up and out. They RAM shoulders, Yota rebounds to run Finlay over!
The fans fire up, things speed up, but Finlay bails out. The fans boo but Finlay says he’s got time. Yota barks at Finlay but Finlay just mockingly applauds. Finlay returns, kips up just to show off, but then Hiromu wants in! Yota tags Hiromu, Finlay tags Drilla. Hiromu fires forearms on Drilla, whips, to ROCK, trip, KICK the ropes, then run and SHOTGUN Drilla down! The fans fire up while Hiromu barks. Hiromu runs corner to corner to clothesline, snapmare and basement dropkick! The fans fire up but Connors runs in to knee Hiromu low! Connors barks, runs, but Hiromu kicks low! Bushi dropkicks legs out so Hiromu can basement dropkick!
The fans fire up but Drilla fires hands and CHOPS on LIJ. Hiromu CHOPS back, he and Bushi double whip to TU LO SABE! Cover, TWO! Drilla stays in this but Hiromu fires Hiroshima up. Hiromu fireman’s carries, but Drilla slips free to RAM Hiromu into the corner! The Dogs mug Hiromu while Jake Lee runs up to BLAST Naito! Finlay and Connors help out in mugging Yota and Bushi! Things have pilled out into the crowd in multiple areas while Naito fights back! Jake kicks Naito, then whips him hard into railing! Naito tumbles up and over into No Man’s Land! Gabe and Takagi throw HEADBUTTS back and forth!
Finlay snatches a phone? He’s taking pictures of Jake stomping away on Naito! But then Yota attacks Finlay! Finlay POSTS Yota, a ring count starts, but the Dogs just keep beating LIJ down! Drilla finds his way back to ringside, Hiromu manages to make his way in! Hiromu crawls in at 17 but Drilla is there to stomp him! Drilla bumps Hiromu off Finlay’s boot! Drilla tags Jake in, they mug Hiromu, and Jake digs his boot in while Finlay pulls Hiromu’s hair! Red Shoes is busy getting everyone to stop brawling! Jake lets off but Hiromu fires off CHOPS! Jake just kicks low, whips, and then HIP TOSSES Hiromu down!
Hiromu staggers up but Jake clamps on a SLEEPER! Tag to Finlay and they mug Hiromu in the corner. Red Shoes reprimands and counts, the fans boo, and Finlay lets off at 4. Finlay soaks up heat, then he takes Hiromu’s Kamaitachi mask and THROWS it to the crowd! Finlay then BLASTS Yota off the apron! The Dogs CHOKE Hiromu more, mug him while Finlay argues with Red Shoes, then Finlay brings Hiromu up. Finlay fireman’s carries and goes to dump Hiromu! Hiromu clamps onto ropes, Bushi runs in to make the save! Connors goes after Bushi so Takagi makes the save! But Connors goes after Takagi now!
Finlay puts Hiromu on the apron but Hiromu rolls back in, SAFE! The fans cheer while Finlay is frustrated. Finlay storms up on Hiromu in a corner but Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS! Finlay knees low, whips corner to corner hard, and Hiromu flounders all the way back to where he started! Finlay drags Hiromu up and over, the fans still cheering him on, but Connors tags in. Connors BLASTS Naito off the corner, then snap suplexes Hiromu down! Connors runs to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Hiromu stays in this but Connors stays on him with a seated full nelson. The fans continue to rally for “HI-RO-MU!” as he endures!
Hiromu fights around, even as Gedo barks at him to give up. Hiromu still gets the ROPEBREAK! Finlay pushes the foot away and that distracts Red Shoes, allowing Drilla to join in and stomp Hiromu! Drilla & Connors double whip but Hiromu gets around to lift Connors and throw him at Drilla, FORCED RANA! The fans fire up but Connors keeps Hiromu away from his corner! Hiromu blocks a kick, and a punch, to DRAGON SCREW! The fans rally again while both men are down! Hot tag to Naito! Naito rallies on Connors, BLASTS Drilla, swings on Jake, but Jake gets away. Connors CLUBS Naito, whips, but Naito reverses to arm-drag!
Naito atomic drops, runs, and ELBOWS Connors down, to then basement dropkick! The fans fire up while Naito stares Jake down. Naito covers Connors, TWO! The fans rally, Naito drags Connors up and dragon sleepers, for the NECKBREAKER! And then, LEG HOOK NELSON! Connors endures but Gabe stomps Naito! Gabe BLASTS Takagi, the rest of the Dogs attack, and Gabe stomps away on Naito! Gabe tells off the fans but the fans boo. Red Shoes reprimands so Gabe steps away, and Connors drags Naito up. Connors UPPERCUTS, whips, but Naito reverses to TORNADO- NO, Connors powers out!
Connors dodges Naito, redirects and POUNCES! Naito is down but the fans rally up. Naito and Connors crawl, hot tags to Takagi and Gabe! The fans fire up for the NEVER Openweight Championship appetizer! They RAM shoulders, Takagi ROCKS Gabe then runs to RAM him! Gabe rebounds to RAM Takagi, but Takagi rebounds to RAM Gabe! Gabe fires a forearm, whips Takagi to a corner then runs in to clothesline! Takagi says that’s not enough, so Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe says he’s a madman, then whips, only for Takagi to reverses. Takagi runs in, blocks a boot, and clotheslines through! The fans fire up with Takagi, but Gabe shoves him!
Takagi kicks and CLUBS away on Gabe, but Gabe BITES Takagi’s forehead! Red shoes reprimands, but Takagi spins Gabe around to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Gabe’s still in this but the fans rally behind “TA-KA-GI!” Takagi looks around, “Oi, Hiroshima! TOKI GA-” NO, Gabe CLOBBERS Takagi! It isn’t his time yet, and Gabe stands Takagi up to HEADBUTT again and again! Then Gabe suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi’s tougher than that but Gabe shakes his head. Gabe scuffs Takagi, eggs him on and runs, but Takagi blocks the Rebounder to HEADBUTT! Gabe HEADBUTTS! Both men shake their heads, and then Takagi HEADBUTTS!
Gabe HEADBUTTS! Takagi HEADBUTTS again and again, but then Gabe HEADBUTTS again and again! Takagi fires a forearm, Gabe gives it back, repeat! The fans fire up as the shots go back and forth! Gabe gets the edge, but Takagi fires boxing elbows! Gabe CHOP! Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! Gabe UPPERCUTS and YUKON LARIATS! But Takagi’s right up to LARIAT!! Gabe rises and shouts! Both men run in, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! And again! Gabe fires palm strikes, talks trash, but gets a JAB, HEADBUTT, and a PUMPING BOMBER take takes both men up and out! DOUBLE ELIMINATION!!
Fans go wild as Takagi’s sacrifice play makes things 4v4! Bushi and Drilla jump in and Drilla fires off shots! Drilla ENZIGIRIS, ripcords, but Bushi dodges to RANA! And DROPKICK! Drilla bails out but Bushi builds speed, only for Connors to SNAP POWERSLAM! Drilla gets in, he and Connors get moving, SPEAR GORE COMBO!! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives but the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions coordinate. Connors BLASTS Naito off the apron before he climbs a corner, and Drilla gets Bushi up. Drilla suplexes, but Bushi slips free! Bushi shoves Drilla into Connors, then runs back in to CODE-
NO, Drilla blocks and aims for ropes! Bushi slips free, dodges Drilla, but Drilla ducks the enzigiri, only for the REWIND HEEL to hit! Bushi whips Drilla up and out and to the floor, Bushi ELIMINATES Drilla! We’re 4v3 in LIJ’s favor, but then Connors SPEARS Bushi! Connors says this is it, and he reels Bushi in for- NO! Bushi turns No Chaser into a backslide! BUSHI ROLL! Bushi ELIMINATES Connors!! The Black Mask singlehandedly handles the tag champs and the fans fire up! But then Finlay CLOBBERS Bushi and rains down fists! Finlay roars in rage, then he drags Bushi up. Canadian Rack, but Bushi slips free to backslide!
Finlay rolls through to UPPERCUT! Jake BLASTS Naito, BLASTS Yota, and then Finlay gets Bushi up! Finlay POWERBOMBS Bushi to the outside, onto Naito and the rest! Finlay ELIMINATES Bushi! We’re back to 3v2 as Finlay still has Jake but LIJ still has Naito, Hiromu and Yota. And speaking of Yota, he gets in to brawl with Finlay! Yota whips, Finlay reverses but Yota flipping RANAS! Then he BLASTS Jake! Yota runs corner to corner to STINGER SPLASH Finlay! Yota keeps moving, he runs Finlay over to then run and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up with Yota as he smiles and paces around.
Yota brings Finlay up and fireman’s carries, but Finlay slips free. Yota kicks, runs, but Finlay ELBOWS him down, then SENTONS on top! Finlay barks as he aims at Yota. Yota rises, Finlay runs in, and UPPERCUTS at the corner! Then clotheslines! Then FALCON ARROWS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Yota but Finlay grows frustrated. Finlay drags Yota up, reels him in, but Yota fights the lift! Finlay CLUBS away on Yota, tries again, and he has Yota up, but Yota fights free of the bomb! Yota fires forearms, but Finlay UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS again! Finlay runs, but Yota backslides to KNEE Finlay down!
The fans fire up again as we pass 20 minutes, and Yota drags Finlay up. Yota goes up and up but Finlay shoves him over! Yota’s on the apron, he and Finlay brawl! Yota ROCKS Finlay, but Finlay gets in Red Shoes’ face! Jake grabs at Yota, Yota kicks him away, but Finlay BLASTS Yota down and ELIMINATES him! The fans boo but the Dogs have made this 2v2! Finlay and Jake stand together, and they dare Naito & Hiromu to join them. Naito and Hiromu oblige as they step inside. Naito stares Jake down, Hiromu stares Finlay down, and they start swinging! The fans fire up, but then Finlay fireman’s carries Hiromu! Finlay aims for ropes!
Naito gets past Jake to save Hiromu, but then Jake BOOTS Naito down! Jake scrapes Naito out of the ring and goes after him, but Hiromu fireman’s carries Finlay! Hiromu runs at ropes and dumps Finlay out! Finlay stays on the apron but Hiromu SUPERKICKS! Finlay holds onto ropes and wobbles, but Hiromu builds speed! Hiromu DIVES and SUNSET FLIPS, but Finlay still holds on! Finlay throws down hands, gets back inside, he’s SAFE! Hiromu is also safe because he went through the second rope. Hiromu runs back in, but avoids Blue Thunder to wheelbarrow! But Finlay turns that into an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER!
Hiromu writhes, the fans rally as hard as they can behind him, but Finlay drags Hiromu up. DOMINATOR! Cover, Naito breaks it! Jake stomps Naito and TOSSES him out! It was all second rope so Naito’s safe, but Finlay talks trash on Hiromu. Finlay drags Hiromu up, reels him in, suplexes, but Hiromu slips free! Finlay UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS! Flashback to the 23rd! Hiromu just takes UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT from Finlay, but he doesn’t stop! Then he SUPERKICKS! Hiromu runs, but into another UPPERCUT! Finlay gets Hiromu up, but Hiromu RANAS Finlay up and out to ELIMINATE him!!
The fans are thunderous as The Rebel is shocked! Hiromu mocks him, but then Jake runs in! Hiromu gets under the boot to get under Jake! Jake fights Hiromu off, snarls, and then runs up! Hiromu dodges to kick a leg! Hiromu runs, but Jake kitchen sink knees! Jake takes aim, runs up, and FACE BREAK SHOT! Hiromu tumbles up and out and to the floor, Jake ELIMINATES him! And now, at 25 minutes in, we’re down to just Jake and just Naito! Naito slowly rolls into the ring as the fans rally behind him. Jake watches Naito stand, and the two stare down. Jake runs in but Naito dodges to fire off forearms!
Naito whips but Jake reverses to KNEE low! Jake fires up but fans boo as he stands Naito up. Jake reels Naito in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Naito protects the plate but Jake is aiming another heater! Jake waits as Naito stands, then winds up to choke grip! But Naito throws back elbows to get free! Naito then wrenches, TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up again while both men are down! Naito rises, he drags Jake up, and he throws those heavy back elbows! Jake crawls around, Naito brings him up, and Naito throws more heavy back elbows! Jake wobbles and staggers to the corner but Naito is right on him.
Naito brings Jake around for even more heavy back elbows! Jake falls over, the fans fire up, and Naito aims from the corner. Naito drags Jake up and in, but Jake BOOTS Naito down! Naito dangles off the apron! Red Shoes keeps the War Dogs from interfering, and Naito stands up. Jake aims, runs in, but Naito avoid the FBS! Naito drags Jake ot the apron, Jake elbows him back! Jake runs up, but into an ELBOW! Naito goes up and over, sweeps the legs, then BASEBALL SLIDE DROPKICKS! Jake falls, LIJ wins!!
Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, Naito as the lone survivor
It came down to the bottom of the ninth, technically speaking, and Naito just hit the walk-off homer! Jake is stunned and Finlay is frustrated, but Yota just smiles back at him. Finlay and Yota will have it out as part of Wrestling Dontaku Night One, who will be smiling then?
As for LIJ, they regroup in the ring and have their hands raised. Slyly’s even still hanging around! But uh, he’s a little too chunky to get in the ring, so he just settles for pumping up the crowd like he does at baseball games. Naito gets the mic to say that it was three months ago, the Splash Strong series back in January, since Naito was last in Hiroshima. Naito would like to thank the fans from coming here tonight, “Gracias, amigos.” The fans cheer, and Naito continues by saying, “Hiroshima is my second home. I really long to have a match at Mazda Stadium.” The fans love the sound of that!
Naito does preface that him saying that doesn’t mean there’s anything planned. So please, tranquilo, be patient, and look forward to the day that finally happens. So, shall they do it? The fans cheer again! So then, for the first time in Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall in a year and eight months, is everyone ready? The fans cheer because they sure are! Well then, the only way to close The Road to Wrestling Dontaku here in Hiroshima… Bushi! Hiromu! Takagi! Titan! Yota! Slyly! Y Naito! NOSOTROS! LOS! INGOBERRRRNABLEEEES~! DE! JA! PON!! Slyly gets in on the roll call! Will all of LIJ have success as we reach Wrestling Dontaku next week?
My Thoughts:
A great event to conclude Road to Dontaku before getting to Wrestling Dontaku itself. An unfortunate change in the card, Sanada fell ill and could not compete, so his match alongside Taichi against Tanahashi & Tomoaki was changed into Tanahashi and a Young Lion VS Tomoaki and a Young Lion. Hopefully Cold Skull gets well soon. Great tag title match from TMDK VS GoD, and while I figured TMDK was going to retain, I didn’t think it’d be in a shady way like holding tights. While ZSJ VS Cobb for the NJPW World TV title is still to come, I doner of GoD shift gears and ELP becomes a singles guy so Leo and Loa can team up. Then ELP can challenge ZSJ in a battle of initials while the Brothers Guerrilla get to take on Shane & Mikey.
Great Rural Revitalization again, they managed to pull off great comeback spots each round. I was very surprised Yuya won out, I felt like Khan could’ve done one more Rural Revitalization before losing. But at the same time, Yuya feels like the unofficial fourth Reiwa Musketeer behind Narita, Shota & Tsuji. Yuya getting a title, any title, ahead of the others is good stuff for him, and could even bring about a feud with one of the Musketeers for the Summer. And then a great 10 Man Elimination Tag. I again really like that NJPW allows over the rope eliminations even in a tag match like this to really mix things up. Jake Lee not winning out for the War Dogs is really surprising, but I feel like that means Jake will defeat Naito 1v1.
My Score: 8.9/10
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It’s a violent end to a legendary friendship!
Former Best Friends, Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor, have been through many Parking Lot Brawls, but this is their first time as enemies! Will there be broken bones to go along with the broken hearts?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Parking Lot Brawl: Trent Beretta VS Chuck Taylor; Trent wins.
- Thunder Rosa VS Deonna Purrazzo; Rosa wins.
- “Big Bill” Morrissey VS Trevor Blackwell; Bill wins.
- Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions; Shibata & Garcia win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Parking Lot Brawl: Trent Beretta VS Chuck Taylor!
Years of friendship, thrown away, and why? Because #JustTrent had a problem with Freshly Squeezed having more success in AEW than them? Because #JustTrent had a problem with Cassidy as a person? Because #JustTrent turned out to be the selfish one in the relationship? Well, then will #JustTrent get his ass kicked? Or will he take advantage of how Chuckie T. is a Kentucky Gentleman?
Trent stares Chuck down while we hear the crowd of other wrestlers taunting him. Trent takes a swing, but Chuck dodges to fire off hands! The brawl is on, and Chuck gets the edge! Chuck ROCKS Trent, then SMACKS him off a car hood! And then off the car door! Chuck drags Trent up, but Trent RAMS Chuck into the car! And throat chops him just because! Trent gets space, runs back in, but Chuck dodges so Trent hits the passenger door! Chuck gets a trash can lid and he stands Trent up. Trent jumps through the open window but Chuck drags him back out. Trent kicks low, and he gives Chuck a CAR HOOD BACK SUPLEX!
Trent grabs the trash can lid, SMACKS Chuck right in the head and Chuck falls down! The crowd boos but Trent opens a car trunk to bring out a trash can, a dustpan and a baseball bat! Chuck storms up but Trent CHUCKS the trash can into Chuck’s face! Chuck flounders and Trent smirks. Trent SMACKS Chuck with the trash can, CLUBS him around, and Chuck is busted open! The white car has red polka dots on it now, and Trent talks trash, “This is what you wanted?!” Trent runs up, but Chuck POP UP POWERBOMBS Trent onto a car hood! Trent writhes, Chuck staggers around, and Chuck brings Trent around.
Chuck headlocks Trent before he SMACKS him off another car door. Trent goes around the back and then up onto a truck! Chuck follows, and he CLUBS Trent in the chest! But Trent slips under, and he CLAWS Chuck’s bloody face! Trent DECKS Chuck and Chuck falls through drywall sheets! Trent looms over Chuck as he crawls out of the wreckage. Trent stalks Chuck, brings him around and SMACKS him with the trash can lid! Trent hoists Chuck onto a car roof, SMACKS him again, then goes back to the truck. Trent climbs onto the roof of the truck, to FLYING ELBOW from car to car! Cover, TWO!!
Trent is furious, but Chuck is still in this as Rampage goes picture in picture.
Trent fumes, paces around, and goes back to the goodies. He brings out… Is that a screwdriver?! And he JABS Chuck in the head with it!! And then he DIGS it into Chuck’s forehead!! As if he wasn’t already bleeding badly!! Trent leaves Chuck behind, to fetch what looks to be a flat screen TV. Then he brings out a wood door!? Did someone visit Home Depot before coming here? Chuck CHOPS Trent in return then fires haymakers! Trent CLAWS Chuck’s face! Trent grabs that TV and CHUCKS it, only for Chuck to duck it! Rampage returns as TV screen hits windshield! Chuck kicks low to snap suplex Trent through the door!!
The crowd is losing its minds as Trent crawls. Chuck gets Trent’s legs, to CATAPULT him into the truck’s tailgate!! The crowd fires up while Chuck gets a sinister look on his face. Chuck takes a piece of that drywall to SMASH it on Trent! Chuck gets that trash can, he SMACKS Trent with it! Chuck sees the pile of extra goodies nearby, and he uncovers some light tubes! But first, he’ll clean up the mess, he SMACKS Trent with the dust pan! And SMACKS him again and again! And then one more shot with the trash can! Trent writhes, but Chuck drags Trent up. Chuck SMACKS Trent off the tailgate, then clears some space.
Chuck climbs up, but Trent ROCKET LAUNCHES him onto the light tubes!!! The tubes shatter under Chuck’s back! Trent sputters, he’s bloody now, too. Trent puts Chuck against the car hood and stands on him! Trent soaks up the heat, but Chuck TRIPS Trent! Trent writhes, Chuck reels Trent in, Canadian Rack, RAZOR’S EDGE onto a windshield!! Trent writhes while fans chant “HOLY CHUCK!” Chuck covers Trent on the hood, TWO!! Trent survives and hurries around the back of this sedan. Chuck snarls, goes up after Trent, and they meet on the roof. They’re both so bloody as they fire forearms back and forth!
The crowd cheers Chuck and boos Trent, and as the two swing wild, they end up HUGGING! You GOT to give the people what they want, right? They stand, Chuck ROCKS Trent and reels Trent in, but Trent LOW BLOWS!! Trent has Chuck now, PILEDRIVER ON THE CAR ROOF!!! And then, SNAKE BITE!! Trent is choking Chuck out!!! Chuck IS out, Trent wins!!
Winner: Trent Beretta, by submission
The Best Friends tore each other apart, but it is #JustTrent that stands tall in the end. He’s clearly lost the respect of his peers given how the other wrestlers are chanting “You Suck! You Suck!” But wait, Trent isn’t done? He has a monkey wrench!? Cassidy & Kris step forward to say no, this is going too far! Trent says this is all Cassidy’s fault! And SMASH, Trent hits Chuck’s leg with the wrench, and even shatters the glass behind it!! Chuck clutches the already recovering leg, and now Cassidy wants after Trent! Kris stops Cassidy, Trent’s still got the wrench! Trent escapes into the shadows of the arena, what darkness is living in Trent’s heart?
Don Callis is watching this.
And he seems to like the sadistic savagery he just witnessed. Trent may not have Best Friends anymore, but could he end up with a whole new family?
Backstage interview with Kyle O’Reilly.
Arkady Aura is with #CombatKyle and brings up his impressive showing in Dynamite’s Casino Gauntlet this past Wednesday. But we all want to know, what is next for her? Well, on Saturday, May 11th, AEW is coming to his hometown! Collision in Vancouver, British Columbia! The Rogers Arena, the same building an 11-year-old Kyle saw his first wrestling show ever. And at that show, Kyle told his dad that he was gonna do this one day. Papa O’Reilly said, “Oh yeah, sure you will, kid.” But somehow, Kyle pulled it off. 25 years later, he’s coming back home to do the one thing he’s ever been good at and that’s wrestling.
Kyle is going to take on the best wrestlers this world has to offer, right here in AEW, where the best wrestle. Kyle is ready for a fight, who will take him up on that in two weeks?
Thunder Rosa VS Deonna Purrazzo!
La Mera Mera and The Virtuosa could not coexist in the race for the AEW Women’s World Championship, and now they will Rampage against each other! Who will stand tall, ready for another shot at the title?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Deonna and Rosa step up, talk a little trash, then Deonna pie faces Rosa! Rosa swings but Deonna catches the arm! Rosa avoids the takedown to knee low! They tie up again, go around and around, and Deonna puts Rosa in a corner. The ref counts, Rosa powers her way out but Deonna headlocks. Rosa powers up and out, but Deonna RAMS her! The two stay up, Deonna eggs Rosa on then kicks her low! Deonna whips, Rosa blocks the hip toss, but then Deonna blocks a hip toss! Rosa avoids the lariat to DECK Deonna! Rosa rains down fists but the ref reprimands.
Rosa sits Deonna up, clamps on a COBRA CLUTCH, and she grinds Deonna down. The fans rally but Deonna fights up. Deonna throws hands, then wrenches, but Rosa breaks free. Deonna BOOTS Rosa, then has the arm for the ARMBAR DDT! Deonna dusts herself off as she paces, then she KICKS Rosa’s arm. And KICKS it again! Rosa goes to ropes, Deonna pushes her down and ties her up in Paradise! Rosa is stuck, Deonna soaks up the cheers and jeers, and then runs to DROPKICK Rosa out of Paradise! Deonna stands Rosa up but Rosa ROCKS her first! Deonna stands, Rosa RAMS into her then bumps her off buckles.
Rosa goes up and up to leap, but Deonna blocks the rana and has a BOSTON CRAB! They’re in the ropes, the ref counts, and Deonna lets go. Rosa crawls to the corner, Deonna paces while soaking up the heat. Rosa stands, builds speed, and she WERCKS Deonna with a dropkick! Rosa fires up despite the pain in her back, and she kicks Deonna. Deonna stands, Rosa CHOPS her against the post! And CHOPS her again! Deonna ducks, Rosa chops post! Deonna SUPERKICKS Rosa down, and Rampage goes picture in picture.
Deonna steps on Rosa’s face, steps away, and Rosa staggers up to railing. Deonna storms up but Rosa kicks her low. Rosa then runs Deonna side to side to POST her! But then Deonna RAMS Rosa into apron! And SMACKS her off it! Deonna snarls, brings Rosa around, and she puts Rosa in the ring. Cover, TWO! Deonna clamps onto Rosa to pull her arms in, for a straitjacket stretch! Rosa endures, fights up, but Deonna turns that into a BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Rosa is still in this, and she is feeding off the energy of the fans! Rosa stands, and she ELBOWS Deonna! And body shots! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS again!
Rosa has Deonna in a corner to UPPERCUT! Rosa runs corner to corner and back again, but Deonna dodges! Rosa POSTS herself and falls to the apron! Deonna storms back over, brings Rosa up and wraps the bad arm against ropes! The ref counts, Deonna KICKS the ropes as she lets off, and Rosa clutches the elbow. Deonna returns but Rosa RAMS into her! Deonna CLUBS Rosa, has her in a corner, and HEADBUTTS the lower back as Rampage goes to break.
Rampage returns and Deonna runs in, but into an ELBOW! And then a BOOT! Rosa goes up to MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up with Rosa as she rises up! Deonna runs in, Rosa dodges to fire forearm after forearm! Deonna shoves, Rosa ENZIGIRIS! Rosa runs, to SHOTGUN BOOT! Deonna flounders to ropes, Rosa pounds the mat and the fans rally again. Rosa runs side to side to DROPKICK again! Cover, TWO!! Deonna toughs it out while Rosa shakes out her arm. Rosa drags Deonna up, but Deonna SOBATS! Deonna runs to KNEE LIFT and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Deonna wants the Fujiwara but Rosa rolls free!
Deonna BOTOS Rosa down, covers, TWO! Rosa is still in this and the fans rally up. Deonna is frustrated but she fireman’s carries Rosa. Rosa fires elbows, waistlocks, but Deonna pries the hold open! Deonna waistlocks, Rosa victory rolls and STOMP 182! The fans rally up again and Rosa covers, TWO! Deonna stays in this but Rosa stays on her. Rosa drags Deonna to a drop zone, goes to a corner and climbs. But Deonna rises and catches the leap! FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! Rosa endures, reaches out, pushes Deonna over to get a REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Deonna is in the body scissors but she fights around!
Deonna rises, to BACKPACK SENTON! Deonna is free, the fans fire up, and Deonna brings Rosa back up. Deonna SLAPS Rosa, then reels her in! Gotch Hold, but Rosa jackknife bridges! TWO, Deonna sunset flips, TWO! Prawn hold, TWO! FUJIWARA!! Rosa rolls it to a cradle, ROSA WINS!!
Winner: Thunder Rosa, by pinfall
Deonna thought she had the perfect formula but Rosa says she just beat her at wrestling! But then Deonna CLOBBERS Rosa at the ramp! The fans boo but Deonna drags Rosa up to RAM her into the bleachers! Rosa slumps down, but Deonna digs her boot in! Deonna SLAPS Rosa around, tells the ref to shut up, and she SLAPS Rosa more! So Rosa SLAPS back! They brawl on stage and then out to the ledge of the upper level! The fans fire up as they keep going! Security rushes in, the fans boo, but Deonna flips Rosa off! It seems nothing was settled here, will these two look to go Double or Nothing?
Backstage interview with The Undisputed Kingdom.
Arkady Aura is with Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett as she notes Will Ospreay is the NEW #1 Contender to the AEW International Championship. Taven says hold on, before we get started here, “Not Lexy,” as three guys who care deeply about neck health, and as two guys who nursed someone from the brink of paralysis (aka Roddy), The Kingdom wishes a very speedy recovery to “the world’s greatest boss. TK, stay strong, buddy.” Roddy then shouts that “WILL… Ospreay. Congratulations, you did it! You have signed, sealed and delivered the downfall, demise and destruction of The Aerial Assassin at Double or Nothing.”
Roddy says the world can sing Ospreay’s praises, but none of that matters when you step in the ring with Roddy. Just like all the ones before, Roddy will dismantle Ospreay, he will BREAK Ospreay, and he will make Ospreay fall in front of The Savior of the Backbreaker. Roddy’s confidence is strong, but will Roddy be the one feeling the End of Heartache after taking on the #BillyGOAT?
“Big Bill” Morrissey VS Trevor Blackwell!
The human skyscraper says he wants to sit under the Learning Tree, but Chris Jericho’s gonna need a bigger tree if he’s to give guidance to Big Bill. Will Bill prove he is worthy of The Wizard’s sage advice?
The moment Bill is in the ring, he SPLASHES Trevor right in the corner! The bell rings, Bill runs to BOOT Trevor down! Trevor flounders around, Bill runs corner to corner and SPLASHES again! Trevor flops around, Bill wants Jericho to watch this. Bill said he’d show Jericho he is worthy, and we do see Jericho watching backstage, holding the FTW Championship on his shoulder and oddly still wearing a #LionHook shirt… Jericho nods as Bill CLUBS Trevor on the back! Bill then tells Jericho to watch him! Scoop and BIG BOSS SLAM!! Cover, but Bill lets off! Bill wags his finger, he wants Jericho to see more.
Bill brings Trevor up, reels him in, and short arm LARIATS! Cover, but again Bill lets off! Bill is having too much fun at poor Trevor’s expect. Bill says Jericho’s gonna wanna teach him. Bill hoists Trevor up for the SKYSCRAPER CHOKE SLAM!! One foot cover, a very Jericho move, and Bill wins!
Winner: “Big Bill” Morrissey, by pinfall
Trev might want to change his last name to Well-done, because he got roasted. Bill wants Jericho’s guidance, does he even need it when he can do all this?
BREAKING NEWS for Rampage!
Rampage won’t be following up Collision next week but it also won’t be back on Friday just yet. For AEW’s return to Canada, Rampage is going to be BACK TO BACK with Dynamite! Get ready for a truly All Elite Wednesday!
Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions!
The Wrestler said during Collision earlier tonight that he was going to take on Shane Taylor Promotions by himself if he had to, but then the Dragonslayer offered his help. Now they’re both going to take on #TAIGASTYLE and Big Bad Shaney T. himself! Garcia wears basic trunks and boots to match Shibata, will The Wrestlers win out? Or will STP rumble, bad man, rumble?
The moment all four men are in the ring, Shibata CLOBBERS Lee Moriarty and then he and Garcia both go after Shane! The fans fire up as they stomp and kick Shane right out of the ring! Then they go out to keep after him! Shibata whips and BOOTS Shane into railing! Garcia fires off on Lee, then Shibata adds an UPPERCUT! Shibata whips and BOOTS Lee against railing! Garcia stomps Shane, Shibata snap suplexes Lee to the floor! Shibata leaves them behind to go into the ring and sit cross-legged! Garcia sits with him! The fans fire up and the two go out again. The brawling continues but Shane throws heavy hands!
Lee ROCKS Garcia, Shane puts Shibata in, and Shane storms in after Shibata. Lee sends Garcia into railing, but Shibata fires hands on Shane! Shibata KICKS and KICKS, but Shane blocks the boot! Shane JABS Shibata and Shibata falls back! Shane talks trash, the fans boo, but Shane drags Shibata up. Shane HEADBUTTS Shibata, tags Lee, and they mug Shibata. Lee stomps a mudhole in, lets off as the ref counts, but he sneaks mule kicks on Shibata the whole time! Shibata trips Lee, stomps him, but Lee gets up to RAM into Shibata! Lee brings Shibata around, suplexes, but Shibata slips free to waistlock!
Lee elbows free, kicks, but Shibata blocks! Lee KNEES Shibata but Garcia tags in! Shibata BOOTS Lee, Garcia LARIATS! Garcia DROPKICKS Shane, gets around Lee, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! And then another TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Garcia brings Lee up again but Lee suplexes! Garcia slips free, spins Lee and kicks low, to then TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The trifecta is complete and the fans fire up! Garcia storms up on Lee, brings him up, and UPPERCUTS! The fans rally for Garcia, he CHOPS Lee to ropes. And CHOPS Lee against ropes! Garcia runs, but Shane trips him! Lee distracts the ref so Shane can DRAPING DDT to the floor!
Shibata protests but Lee mocks him by sitting cross-legged. The ring count climbs, Garcia drags himself up at 3 of 10, slides in at 5, but Lee stomps Garcia at the ropes! Lee drags Garcia up, bumps him off buckles, then tags Shane. Shane pushes Garcia against the buckles, to then CHOP! Garcia seethes and he fires forearm son Shane! The fans fire up, Garcia throws more shots, then leaps, but into Shane’s arms! Shane RAMS Garcia into a corner, then CHOPS! Shane runs up, but Garcia BOOTS! Garcia spins, but Shane ROCKS him first! And URENAGES! And then SPLASHES down! Cover, TWO!
Shane seethes but he keeps Garcia from Shibata, and Rampage goes picture in picture.
Shane mocks Garcia’s dance, drags him up, but Garcia CHOPS! Garcia staggers, but Shane fires body shots in the corner! Shane ROCKS Garcia, tags Lee, and STP mugs Garcia. Garcia flounders to ropes, Lee CHOKES him! The ref counts, Lee steps away, and he stomps Garcia around. Lee wraps an arm around the ropes, then fishhooks Garcia! The ref counts, Lee lets off, and Garcia feeds off the energy of the fans. Lee brings Garcia up but Garcia fires forearm sand CHOPS! Lee gets around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Cover, TWO! Garcia stays in this but Lee stays on him with a wrench. Tag to Shane, and Lee hooks Garcia up in a COBRA TWIST, just so Shane can KNEE Garcia down!
Shane has Garcia on ropes, ROCKS him with a forearm, then scoops him for SNAKE EYES! Garcia slumps down in the corner, Shane drags him back up, and TOSSES him out! Shane goes out to then put Garcia against railing. Shane ROCKS Garcia, talks trash on fans, then brings Garcia around to scoop and SLAM him to the floor! Shane talks more trash on the fans, Lee has him cool off, and Shane brings Garcia up again. Shane puts Garcia in, tags Lee, and then Lee clamps on with a top wristlock and stretches Garcia out! Garcia endures, turns to fight the pressure, but Lee CLUBS him down. Lee drags Garcia up, tags Shane, and Shane scoop SLAMS!
Shane runs to SPLASH Garcia again! Rampage returns to single picture, Shane drags Garcia to a drop zone, and he goes up a corner. The fans boo but Shane blows them a kiss. FALLING SPLASH FLOPS as Garcia moves! T he fans fire up, but Lee KICKS him down! Lee hurries back and tags in, then he drags Garcia up. Lee wrenches, wristlocks, but Garcia endures. Lee SNAPS the fingers! The fans boo Lee being so villainous, but he drags Garcia up. Lee bumps Garcia off buckles, Shane holds Garcia up, but Garcia fights free with boots and haymakers and elbows! The fans fire up, Garcia sends Lee into Shane!
Lee hurries to waistlock but Garcia switches, SAIDO! The fans are thunderous as Lee and Garcia crawl! Hot tags to Shane and Shibata! Shibata BOOTS Shane! Shane roars, Shibata runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges and BOOTS! Shibata whips to BOOT Shane in the corner! Shibata fires forearms, the ref counts, but Lee runs up. Shibata DECKS him! Garcia RAMS Lee into a corner, climbs up, and while Shibata fires forearms on Shane, Garcia rains down fists! Garcia goes all the way to nine, then DOES HIS DANCE! Shibata and Garcia coordinate, DOUBLE HYDRAULIC DROPKICKS! The fans fire up and Garcia stands Shane up. Shibata runs in to BOOT!
Shibata CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS Shane, then CHOPS, CHOPS and JABS! Garcia does his dance while Shibata JABS and CHOPS to the rhythm! The fans are loving this, as now Garcia runs in to KNEE Shane! Shibata & Garcia get Shane up, to DOUBLE SUPLEX!! Cover, ONE?!? Shane has power to spare, but Garcia BOOTS him! Shibata BOOTS him! They go again, but this time Shane DOUBLE SUPLEXES them!! The fans boo but Shane tags in Lee. Lee runs up to clothesline Shibata, and JAB! And CHOP! JAB! CHOP! JAB! CHOP! Shibata just scowls at Lee! Lee says okay, and he fires more JABS and CHOPS!
Shibata steps into the shots, so Lee eggs him on! Shibata ROCKS Lee! Shane runs up, HEADBUTTS, then Lee HALF HATCH SLAMS! Cover, TWO!! Shibata toughs it out and STP grows frustrated. Lee drags Shibata up, kicks then waistlocks, but Shibata fights the lift! Shane storms in, helps Lee put on the full nelson, and Shane promises to knock Shibata out! But Shibata BOOTS Shane first! Garcia jumps on for a SLEEPER! Shibata switches on Lee for a SLEEPER!! The fans fire up as STP start fading out! Shane fires up to RAM Garcia into buckles! But Shibata BOOTS him! And Garcia SAIDOS!! Shibata PENALTY KICKS Lee!! Cover, The Wrestlers win!
Winners: Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia, by pinfall
Shibata helps Garcia stand up, and Garcia is proud to have won alongside one of his heroes! And with the fans cheering him on, Garcia sets up… to DO HIS DANCE! Will this momentum help Shibata avenge Hook and take that FTW Championship off of Chris Jericho? Or will The Learning Tree have some things to teach Shibata?
My Thoughts:
A great Rampage here, though I was oddly more excited when I thought it was just Deonna VS Rosa and the Parking Lot Brawl. But even so, at least Bill squashing a dude was used in story. He was showing off, he’ll surely have Jericho’s blessing if he helps defeat Shibata on Dynamite, but a part of me almost wants this to be all a trap. Bill was teammates with Ricky Starks in a feud against Jericho, and if Jericho is being obliviously arrogant then maybe Bill is using that against Jericho, too. But either way, let’s just hope this story helps Bill get going rather than slow him down like the #JerichoVortex has always done.
The Parking Lot Brawl was moving maybe a bit fast for me, especially with how there were some obvious spots already set up when they arrived, such as the drywall draped across the truck bed. But they surely got bloody, and in the end, Trent won out because he was willing to sink to the lowest low. And then they’ve written Chuck off again with that monkey wrench to the shin, so Cassidy VS Trent is definitely a Double or Nothing match. And something is just telling me that if Kris is gonna turn out to be the villain in the Willow Nightingale story, she’s probably gonna screw Cassidy over to help Trent, too.
Really good match from Deonna VS Rosa, and with Rosa getting a quick pin then that brawl, we’re clearly getting more out of them. Good promo from Kyle O’Reilly to hype AEW’s newest Canada tour, and good promo from The Kingdom to tie in their old Neck Health Awareness gag to the Tony Khan piledriver angle. Roddy calling out Ospreay, I would definitely think Ospreay wins the title at Double or Nothing. And really good tag main event from Shibata & Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions. STP keeps getting great showings even in losing, but Lee took the loss here to keep Shane himself strong. Great win for Shibata but this just adds to the go-home math where Jericho retains the FTW Championship on Dynamite.
My Score: 8.7/10
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