Will the Dream Trio keep the dream alive?

Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii put their NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships on the line on the Road to Destruction! Will they still make it rain together?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• YOH & Ryusuke Taguchi VS DOUKI & Taka Michinoku; Yoh & Taguchi win.
• 8 Man Tag: Yuji Nagata, Master Wato, Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma VS Team Strong Style & Yuto Nakashima; Nagata, Wato, Shota & Honma win.
• 8 Man Tag: Chaos & Boltin Oleg VS TMDK; Chaos wins.
• Six Man Tag: Just5Guys VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
• NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii VS Tiger Mask, Togi Makabe & Hiroyoshi Tenzan; Okada, Tanahashi & Ishii win.
• 10 Man Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii VS Tiger Mask, Togi Makabe & Hiroyoshi Tenzan!

The Rainmaker, The Ace of the Universe and the Stone Pitbull, the Dream Trio, may have run into a trio that has equal star power! Will Okada, Tanahashi & Ishii hold onto the gold? Or will the legendary Super Junior, the Unchained Gorilla and the Fierce Bull prove the old guard still has some fight left in ’em?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who is really THE dream team of NJPW!

The trios sort out and fans rally up already as Tenzan starts. He calls out Ishii, Ishii obliges, and the bell rings. The tow tie up, are in a deadlock, and they go around. Ishii puts Tenzan on ropes, the ref counts, and Ishii lets off slowly, to then CHOP! And CHOP! Tenzan growls, then Mongolian Chops! And Mongolian Chops! Ishii CHOPS, but Tenzan Mongolian CHOPS! They go back and forth, Tenzan gets the edge, then he HEADBUTTS! Tenzan whips Ishii to a corner but Ishii comes back to run Tenzan over! Ishii drags Tenzan up while fans rally, and Ishii bumps Tenzan off buckles. Tag to Okada but the whole team gets in to stomp Tenzan!

Fans boo and Ishii talks some trash to Makabe while Okada kicks Tenzan around. Okada toys with Tenzan, but Tenzan HEADBUTTS! And Mongolian CHOPS! And again! And again! Okada falls over, Tenzan tags in Tiger Mask. Tiger SOBATS, then whips, but Okada reverses. Tiger goes up and CROSSBODIES, then sweeps the legs! Tiger kicks, Okada blocks but Tiger SPIN BACK KICKS! Okada ducks the buzzsaw, waistlocks, but Tiger elbows free. Okada grabs Tiger’s arms but Tiger SOMERSAULT KICKS Okada away! Fans rally and Tiger runs, but into a FLAPJACK! Ishii & Tanahashi BLAST Tenzan & Makabe!

The Dream Trio watches Tiger get up, they double dropkick the legs out, then Okada BOOTS him down! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Tiger hangs in there, but Okada brings him around. Tag to Tanahashi and they mug Tiger. Tanahashi bumps Tiger off buckles, then scoops and SLAMS him into the drop zone! Tanahashi goes up and fans rally for the SOMERSAULT SENTON! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi drags Tiger over by a leg, he tags Ishii, and they SPLIT THE WISHBONE! Tiger clutches his legs and fans rally up. Ishii stands Tiger up to CHOP! And CHOP! And then he talks some trash, so Tiger hits back!

Tiger fires forearms but Ishii just eggs him on. Tiger throws another but Ishii ROCKS Tiger in return! Tiger comes back with more forearms, but Ishii DECKS Tiger this time! Ishii talks some trash to Tenzan, he drags Tiger up and bumps him off buckles, then tags in Okada. Okada stomps Tiger, drags him up and scoops, to SLAM him down! Okada then BLASTS Makabe! Okada goes out after him, and whips Makabe into railing! Ishii stomps Tiger, as does Tanahashi, while Okada takes his time returning. Okada then tags Tanahashi in and Tanahashi drags Tiger up. Tiger throws body shots! Tanahashi fires fast hands!

Tiger goes to a corner, Tanahashi runs in and blocks a boot. But Tiger UPPERCUTS free! Tanahashi kicks, but Tiger blocks to DRAGON SCREW! Fans fire up as both men are down, but Ishii runs in to hit Tenzan! Tenzan hits back, Ishii DECKS him! Ishii goes out to CLUB Tenzan, but Tenzan RAMS Ishii into railing! Okada tags in, CLUBS Tiger, but Tiger fires body shots and a CHOP! Okada knees low, turns Tiger and hits a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Tiger stays in this. Fans duel between “TIGER!” “O-KA-DA!” Okada scoops to SLAM Tiger again, then he paces around. Okada goes up the corner, but Tiger ROCKS him first!

Tiger fires off hands, climbs up after Okada, and reels Okada in! Tiger underhooks, the fans fire up, but Okada fights the lift! Okada fires forearms in return, but Tiger HEADBUTTS Okada! Tiger then stands up, for a SUPER ARM-DRAG! Fans fire up as Okada goes floundering away! Tiger and Okada crawl, hot tags to Makabe and Tanahashi! Fans fire up as the Gorilla rallies on The Ace! Makabe sends Tanahashi to a corner, clotheslines, then climbs up to rain down fists! Fans cheer along as Makabe goes to TEN, then laughs. Makabe reels Tanahashi in but Tanahashi fights free! Tanahasih runs, into a LARAIT! Cover, TWO!

Makabe brings Tanahashi up but Tanahashi fires forearms! TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Fans rally up, Tanahashi tags in Ishii. Ishii BLASTS Tenzan, then he goes back for Makabe. Ishii has Makabe in a corner, and CHOPS! And forearms! And CHOPS! And forearms! Ishii repeats, then tops it off with a CHOP! Ishii whips Makabe corner to corner but Makabe reverses and clotheslines! Ishii is right in his face! And gets around to suplex Makabe up and over! But Makabe rises! Fans fire up while Ishii runs, into a POWERSLAM! We pass 10 minutes and Makabe tags in Tenzan! Fans fire up as Tenzan hits a WHEEL KICK!

Tenzan fires up and fires off Mongolian CHOPS! Then a HEADBUTT! Tenzan whips Ishii corner to corner, runs in and clotheslines! Tenzan calls his shot, reels Ishii in, TENZAN BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Tenzan kicks Ishii around, drags him up, and HEADBUTTS! And then clinches, but Ishii fights! Ishii throws elbows to get free, but Tiger runs in to SOBAT! Ishii staggers back, Tiger ROUNDHOUSES! Tiger reels Ishii in but Okada returns, to Tiger kicks him low. Tiger whips Okada to ropes, but Okada ELBOWS back! Okada runs in to ELBOW Tenzan, then kick and DDT! Okada BLASTS Makabe for good measure!

Okada, Tanahashi & Ishii surround Tenzan now! Okada BOOTS, Tenzan SHOTEIS and Ishii LARIATS! Then they get Tenzan up, ASSISTED DDT!! Cover, Makabe breaks it! Fans fire up while Okada tosses Makabe out! Okada and Tanahashi keep Tiger and Makabe down while Ishii runs, but into a HEADBUTT! Tenzan fires HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT, then runs, into a LARIAT! Fans fire up as Tenzan rises!! But Ishii LARIATS Tenzan down again! But Tenzan rises!! Ishii just winds up and runs in again, LARIAT! But Tenzan stays up! So Ishii ENZIGURIS! Tenzan stays up!! Ishii runs yet again, to LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!!

Fans are thunderous for Tenzan but Ishii roars! Ishii drags Tenzan up, Makabe fights Okada, and Ishii suplexes! Tenzan fights it off! Makabe slips in, he LARIATS Ishii! Okada kicks Makabe, Tanahashi returns, they double whip Makabe but he breaks through the clotheslines! So they DOUBLE ELBOW instead! But Tiger attacks! Tanahashi chicken wings Tiger but Tiger BOOTS Okada! Makabe runs in to LARIAT Tanahashi! Tiger scoops Okada for a BACKBREAKER! Fans are thunderous for the old guard as they get Ishii up! Ishii fights back but Tenzan HEADBUTTS! Tiger ROUNDHOUSES!

Ishii drops to his knees, Tiger calls to Makabe and he storms over as we reach 15 minutes. Makabe ROCKS Ishii, Tiger ROUNDHOUSES, but Ishii roars! Tiger kicks low and underhooks, TIGER DRIVER!! Makabe is up top, KING KONG KNEE DROP!! Tenzan FALLING HEADBUTTS!! Tiger DIVES out onto Okada! Tenzan gets Ishii up, IMPALER!! Cover, TANAHASHI BREAKS IT!! The Ace saves the match for his team! But Makabe drags Tanahashi out, and Tenzan stands Ishii up. Ishii HEADBUTTS! And swings, into an URENAGE! Cover, TWO!?!? Ishii escapes and Tenzan can’t believe it!

Tenzan calls for his shot! Fans are thunderous as Tenzan climbs the corner! But Okada anchors Tenzan! Fans boo as Okada drags Tenzan down to GERMAN SUPLEX him! Tiger fires hands on Okada! Tiger runs, into a SLINGBLADE from Tanahashi! Okada and Tanahashi haul Tenzan up but he fights back! Mongolian CHOPS for everyone! Okada UPPERCUTS! Tanahashi SHOTEIS! Okada scoops for a LANDSLIDE! SLIDING LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!?!? Fans are thunderous again as Tenzan survives! Ishii suplexes, and hits the BRAINBUSTER!! Cover, The Dream Trio wins!

Winners: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)

Tenzan and his team put up a great fight, but it just wasn’t enough against the current generation’s greatest! Will Okada, Tanahashi & Ishii continue to make it rain together?

10 Man Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The United Empire!

Before Shingo Takagi settles things with Great-O-Khan, Tetsuya Naito settles things with Jeff Cobb and Yota Tsuji challenges Will Ospreay for the new IWGP United Kingdom Championship, they join Hiromu Takahashi and Bushi in battling Khan, Cobb, Ospreay, Henare and Callum Newman until there is only one side standing! Who builds momentum down the Road to Destruction in Kobe?

The teams sort out, and Ospreay calls Tsuji out. Tsuji smiles and LIJ fist bumps, and then United Empire puts the crowns up. Fans rally as Tsuji and Ospreay start to give us a preview of their title match. Fans rally and duel, “YO~TA!” “OS~PREAY!” The two circle, tie up, and Ospreay wrenches to wristlock. Tsuji spins, wrenches, and he has the wristlock. Ospreay uses the ropes to flip through, then he wrenches and hammerlocks, but Tsuji switches that onto Ospreay. Ospreay switches back, they go around, and Tsuji wrenches, spins, and facelocks, only for Ospreay to put him on ropes. Red Shoes calls the break, and Ospreay lets off slowly.

Tsuji CHOPS Ospreay! Fans cheer while Ospreya is stinging. Tsuji whips, Ospreay RANAS, but Tsuji handsprings through! And RANAS back, but Ospreay h andsprings through! Ospreay kicks and whips but Tsuji ducks ‘n’ dodges to tilt-o-whirl ARM-DRAG! And then he rusn Ospreay over! Fans fire up while Tsuji stands over Ospreay with a big grin. Tsuji brings Ospreay over, tags Takagi, and they mug Ospreay. Takagi knees Ospreay low, and again. Takagi is no stranger to Ospreay as he whips and KNEES Ospreay, to then suplex high and hard! Takagi runs Khan off, then he snapmares Ospreay to wrench the arm.

Takagi YANKS the arm, YANKS it again, wrenches and wristlocks, and Naito steps in to CLUB the arm! Red Shoes reprimands, there was no tag. Bushi goes up to AX HANDLE Ospreay’s arm! Hiromu actually tags in and he goes up to AX HANDLE Ospreay’s arm! Fans cheer as The Timebomb meets his old rival again. Hiromu CLUBS Ospreay, calls Tsuji in, and they double whip to DOUBLE BOOT! Tsuji then gives Hiromu a boost, scoop and SPLASH! Cover, ONE!! Ospreay is hanging tough but Hiromu keeps on him. Hiromu CHOPS Ospreay, CHOPS again, and then whips corner to corner. Hiromu runs in to clotheslines, snapmare and-

NO, Ospreay fireman’s carries! SNAKE EYES to a BOOT! The Empire rushes in to BLAST LIJ! The Empire goes out, and they send LIJ into railing! They stomp and brawl and Cobb TOSSES Naito over railing! Ospreay keeps on Hiromu with a big forearm. Hiromu goes to ropes, Ospreay wrenches and wraps him up in a modified octopus hold! Hiromu endures but Ospreay YANKS his arm! The Empire keeps beating up on LIJ but Ospreay tags in Henare. Ospreay sets Hiromu up for a PENALTY KICK! The Face of Fury scowls and he KICKS Hiromu down again! Cover, TWO! Henare drags Hiromu up to HEADBUTT!

Tag to Cobb, they DOUBLE HEADBUTT Hiromu down! Cocky cover, TWO! Cobb keeps close, and he deadlift suplexes Hiromu! And holds him up with one arm! Cobb then runs around to do laps, before RAMMING into a corner! Cobb then just drops Hiromu, and pretends like he had no idea. Cobb stands on Hiromu’s arm then tags in Callum. The new man stomps Hiromu, then CHOPS him! Ospreay gives Callum a hug, that was a good one! Callum then snapmares Hiromu to KICK him in the back! Callum pushes Hiromu to a cover, TWO! Callum clamps on with a chinlock, and he puts all his weight on the hold.

Hiromu endures but Callum KNEES him in the back! Tag to Khan and Khan Mongolian Chops Hiromu on the back! Khan Mongolian Chops again, then he sits up on his throne! Fans cheer while the Empire plays defense against LIJ. Henare DECKS Naito! Red Shoes reprimands everyone but Ospreay rallies the fans. Ospreay whips Callum in to SHOTGUN Hiromu’s butt! Then Ospreay & Henare double whip Cobb in so he can HEADBUTT Hiromu’s butt! Ospreay CHOPS Hiromu’s butt! Henare winds up and runs in, to UPPERCUT Hiromu’s butt!! So much butt damage! Khan then hops off to hit a BIG back suplex! Cover, but LIJ breaks it!

The Empire TOSSES LIJ back out, and they all surround Hiromu. Hiromu sits up and sees them all. Hiromu sighs, then fires off CHOP after CHOP after CHOP! None of the Empire flinches! Ospreay mockingly applauds the fire, though. Then the Empire mugs Hiromu! Red Shoes reprimands but the Empire get Hiromu up! They head for ropes but LIJ hurries to save Hiromu! Khan DECKS Takagi, they all TOSS the others out, and then Khan stomps Hiromu. Khan has a double underhook stretch, and he tags in Henare. They mug Hiromu, then Henare snapmares and KICKS! And SENTONS!

Fans rally but Henare stands Hiromu up. Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS but Henare ROCKS him with a forearm! Henare whips to POP-UP, but Hiromu SATELLITE DDTS! Fans fire up while both men are down! Hiromu crawls, Henare crawls, they hot tag Naito and Cobb! Naito blocks a kick to shove Cobb, then drops down to atomic drop! Naito runs to dropkick the legs out! Cobb scrambles to a corner but Naito runs in, JUMP KICK! LEG SWEEP! But Cobb catches Naito on the swing! Cobb brings Naito out but Naito sunset flips! Cobb breaks free, but Naito avoids the leg drop! NECKBREAKER! Naito covers, TWO!

Naito brings Cobb around to hammerlock, half nelson, but Cobb fights free to short arm LARIAT! Cobb then GACHIMUCHI- FLOP! Basement dropkick! Tag to Takagi and fans fire up! The Rampaging Dragon runs to BLAST the Empire, then he fires the fans up. Takagi runs, blocks a boot and clotheslines! Takagi fires off forearm after forearm, then he whips corner to corner. Cobb reverses, Takagi reverses but Cobb blocks! Cobb reels Takagi in for a BIG OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Callum tags in, lines up a shot, springboards but Takagi gets under! ELBOW and whip, but Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges and RANAS!

Fans fire up for Callum’s incredible speed, and he runs in at the corner, but Takagi puts him on the apron! Callum counter punches, springboards and FLYING LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Ospreay coaches Callum, Callum whips Khan to BLAST the LIJ corner! Khan & Callum drag Takagi up, mug him, then double whip. Takagi breaks through, shoves Khan into Callum then spins Khan to a DDT! Callum BOOTS! Takagi returns, but Callum spins him around, SCREW HIGH KICK! Cover, TWO!! Fans rally, Callum runs and tiger feints but Takagi ducks the heel kick! Takagi GERMAN SUPLEXES, but Callum lands on his feet!

Takagi blocks a kick, CLUBS Callum, but Callum rewinds to HEEL KICK! But Takagi rebounds to PUMPING BOMBER!! Cover, Takagi ELIMINATES Callum! Callum is the first to fall, but Khan CLOBBERS Takagi! Waistlock and bridging cover, TWO! Khan trips Takagi to a jackknife! TWO, but Khan clamps on with an ARM ‘N’ HEAD TRIANGLE!! Khan squeezes tight, leans all his weight on Takagi, but Takagi endures. Takagi CLUBS at Khan, but Khan kneels on Takagi. Takagi reaches out to the ROPEBREAK! Khan holds on but lets off at 4. Khan backs Naito and Tsuji off, then brings Takagi up.

Khan scoops but Takagi holds the ropes! Takagi fights Khan off and chokes him with his own ponytail! Khan CLUBS Takagi down! Khan sputters, then he pushes Takagi’s face down! Takagi refuses to kiss Khan’s boot! Takagi breaks free and shoves Khan. Takagi throws a forearm but Khan eggs him on. Takagi throws more shots, but Khan stays up! Takagi throws another forearm, but Khan retaliates with Mongolian Chops! But Takagi blocks to steal Mongolian Chops! Then ELBOW! JAB! But Khan UPPERCUTS! Khan runs, but into a clothesline! SAIDO! Khan is up to BOOT! Takagi is up, DOUBLE LARIATS collide!

Khan swings, Takagi SWATS it, JAB! STRAIGHT RIGHT from Khan!! Fans fire up and Khan roars with monster rage! Khan clamps on with the IRON CLAW! But Takagi fights the lift! Khan RAMS Takagi into a corner, puts him up top, but Takagi fights free! Khan UPPERCUTS Takagi! Takagi falls to the apron but he holds onto ropes! Khan clamps onto Takagi, but Takagi HOTSHOTS the arm! Khan runs back in but Takagi dumps him out! Henare stops Khan from falling, and Callum returns to grab at Takagi! Takagi KICKS Callum away, but now Khan clinches! Takagi throws elbow after elbow to hammer Khan down!

Takagi fires up, runs in, but Khan clamps onto his face! APRON ELIMINATOR!! Khan falls first, he ELIMINATES himself!! But wait, Takagi slumps down to the floor, Khan ELIMINATES Takagi, too! Two for the price of one, but the Empire is still at a disadvantage! Henare rushes in but Bushi dropkicks the legs out! Bushi hooks a leg but Henare powers out to TOSS Bushi up and over! Bushi holds on, Henare storms up to ROCK him! Bushi holds on, RAMS into Henare, then steps in. Bushi dodges to kick but Henare ducks, only for Bushi’s REWIND HEEL to hit! Bushi runs, but Henare fireman’s carries!

Henare heads for ropes but Bushi slips free! Busih throws a forearm, but Henare hits a BODY BLOW! Henare runs in at the corner, but Bushi dodges! Bushi DUMPS Henare out and ELIMINATES him!! Henare is raging as the Empire is down to two, but Ospreay springboards in! PIP PIP CHEERIO for Bushi! BOOT for Naito! ELBOW for Tsuji! Ospreay drags Bushi up, reels him in, underhooks and- NO, Bushi slips free to backslide! Ospreay rolls through to HIDDEN BLADE!! Cover, Ospreay ELIMINATES Bushi! LIJ is down to three but Tsuji grins as he slingshots back into the ring.

Tsuji and Ospreay go forehead to forehead, then they go forearm for forearm! Fans rally up as Ospreay and Tsuji keep going, and Ospreay feeds off the energy! Ospreay fires forearms, Tsuji eggs him on, so Ospreay ROCKS Tsuji! Tsuji just grins back! Fans fire up as Tsuji steps up, and Ospreay even puts his hands behind his back. Tsuji ROCKS him right away! Ospreay comes back, so Tsuji ROCKS him again! Tsuji fires off forearm after forearm, but Ospreay CHOPS! And then fires Kawada Kicks! But Tsuji blocks Ospreay’s superkick to then BACKBREAKER, COMPLETE SHOT and STOMP!

Fans fire up with Tsuji as he paces around. Tsuji drags Ospreay up to suplex but Ospreay slips free. Tsuji runs in, the splash misses, and Ospreay CHOPS! Ospreay whips corner to corner, runs in but Tsuji puts him outside! Ospreay ROCKS Tsuji, goes up, but Tsuji hits ropes to trip him up! Tsuji SUPERKICKS Ospreay! Ospreay wobbles, Tsuji goes up after him and to the very top! But Ospreay fights with HEADBUTTS! Tsuji steps down, Ospreay slips under and tucks Tsuji in, CHEEKY NANDOS! Then SIT-OUT POWERBOMB!! Cover, Naito & Hiromu break it! Cobb TOSSES Naito and TOSSES Hiromu!

Ospreay fires up, he springboards, but Tsuji SHOVES up and over! Ospreay holds onto the ropes and keeps his feet off the ground!! Tsuji runs up to go after Ospreay, but Ospreay skins the cat to headscissor Tsuji up and over! Tsuji also holds onto the ropes, with feet just above the ground! Tsuji then CHOPS Ospreay while still holding on! Ospreay returns the favor! They both stand on the apron but Ospreay underhooks Tsuji. Tsuji resists so Ospreay fires more Kawada Kicks! Underhooks and- NO, Tsuji TOSSES Ospreay up and over! But Ospreay POSTS Tsuji, HOOK KICKS, and then uses the corner to APRON OS-

NO, Tsuji blocks the cutter! Tsuji shoves and KNEES Ospreay but Ospreay SUPERKICKS! Tsuji HEADBUTTS! Both men wobble, but Tsuji comes back to CURB STOMP Ospreay to the floor!! Tsuji ELIMINATES Ospreay and himself!! This leaves just Cobb against Naito and Hiromu! Cobb hurries in and fans fire up. Cobb storms after Naito but Hiromu rolls Cobb up! TWO, but Naito basement dropkicks! Naito & Hiromu double whip, then Hiromu clotheslines! Naito ELBOWS! Hiromu SUPERKICKS! Atomic drop and a SHOTGUN! Naito brings Cobb around, Hiromu gives him a boost, but Cobb still blocks the Tornado DDT to TOSS Naito!

Hiromu RANAS but Cobb blocks! Cobb brings Hiromu up but Hiromu sunset flips through! Cobb stays up and he YANKS Hiromu to his feet! Hiromu dodges, runs, and RANAS, but is still blocked!! Cobb brings Hiromu up again to POWERBOMB outside onto everyone else!! Cobb ELIMINATES Hiromu, and has Naito all to himself! Fans are thunderous as Cobb and Naito meet ahead of their Kobe grudge match. Cobb runs in, into BOOTS! Naito then dodges to ENZIGURI! Naito hurries up the corner, he reels Cobb in, but Cobb blocks Esperanza! Naito slips off to try again, TORNADO SMALL PACKAGE! TWO!!

Cobb escapes, runs in, but into an ELBOW! Cobb throat chops! Naito ELBOWS! Tilt-o-whirl, but Cobb stops the momentum! Naito slips off, he SHOVES Cobb, and Cobb is stuck on the top rope! Naito fights to push Cobb over but Cobb fights to stay in! Cobb gets around Naito, Naito throws elbows, but Cobb runs in! Naito dumps him out! Cobb lands on the apron, Naito runs up to ROCK Cobb! Naito fires off shots but Cobb stays up! Naito ROLLING KICKS but Cobb stays up! LIJ and Empire keep each other honest here as Naito fires shots on Cobb! Cobb ROCKS Naito back! Cobb drags Naito back in!? Cobb suplexes!!

Naito fights and lands safe on the apron, to throw ELBOW after ELBOW! Naito and Cobb both wobble, but Cobb SUPERKICKS! Naito goes all the way to the corner! Cobb runs in to JUMP KICK and leg sweep, a la Naito! Naito sits on the apron but holds on with one hand! Naito stands, Cobb DROPKICKS him down, The Empire wins!!

Winners: The United Empire, by ring-out

The Imperial Unit is the lone survivor! The Empire has conquered LIJ this night, but this is just one battle in the war! Will Naito get even with Cobb in Kobe? Will Takagi be the one to dominate the Dominator? Will Tsuji take the IWGP US/UK Championship from the Aerial Assassin? Or will NJPW no longer be tranquilo?

As for the Empire, Cobb gets the mic to say, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey! NJPW, where’s the camera? Hey, cameraman, NJPW, pay attention! Two days in a row in Korakuen Hall! Yesterday, what happened? A lot of people showed up dressed as orange chairs. But tonight, you put the United Empire in the main event, this mofo is sold out!” Fans cheer that. Cobb says no longer can NJPW silence the Empire! Now hold on here. Cobb holds up the paper Naito has been using to represent his Right to Challenge contract, the one he earned by winning the G1 Climax! Cobb RIPS IT UP!!

Cobb says Naito’s G1 Climax briefcase, contract, whatever it is, it won’t matter! In just a few weeks, Cobb RUNS THROUGH Naito to punch his own ticket to WrestleKingdom and the Tokyo Dome! Naito, you can’t open your eyes wide enough to see what is in front of you, and that is Jeff Cobb, the United Empire and CHANGE! Cobb says he will end this the way it should. That is to say, he’s copying Naito’s roll call! Ospreay! Khan! Henare! TJP! Aussie Open! Akira! Gideon! Newman! Y Cobb! NOSOTROS! EL UNITED EM! PI! ER!!

Ospreay tosses the pieces of the “contract” like confetti, and Cobb even copies Naito’s tranquilo. But will the Empire be celebrating all the way to the New Year? Or can Naito and LIJ tear them down brick by brick?

My Thoughts:

Another fun event for NJPW, but yeah again I skipped some of the more filler build matches. No surprise that House of Torture won again, though, because as I just said yesterday, this is them building up just so it’ll be bigger when they lose the title matches. Great NEVER Openweight Six Man title match, good animosity between the teams and the fans ended up more on the old legends’ side because of the somewhat disrespectful nature Okada and Ishii were taking. But of course Okada’s team won, because they’re able to wrestle more regularly than the older guys.

And the main event was a lot of fun because NJPW makes elimination matches a lot of fun with the rule of eliminations being by pinfall, submission or battle royal style over-the-top-rope. And on top of that, these two teams did great work being creative about the eliminations happened. I loved that there were two instances of double eliminations, those helped keep the math even between match-ups like Takagi VS Khan and Tsuji VS Ospreay. Cobb looked the strongest coming out of this, of course, with him eliminating Hiromu and Naito all on his own. However, Cobb standing tall, I feel like Naito finds a way to win to keep his Right to Challenge contract. I also think Ospreay retains his title, it feels too soon for Tsuji to get what is essentially the best of the midcard titles.

My Score: 8.7/10