Will the threepeat be a reality?

World Tag League 2023 reaches the end, and it comes down to NJPW Strong Openweight VS IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions! Who hoists trophies along with their titles?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Frontier Zone: Ryusuke Taguchi & Boltin Oleg VS Asosan & Kodai Nozaki; Taguchi & Oleg win.
• Six Man Tag: TMDK VS Atlantis Jr, Soberano Jr. & Master Wato; Atlantis, Soberano & Wato win.
• 8 Man Tag: Bullet Club VS Yuji Nagata, Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer & Alex Zayne; Nagata, Suzuki, Archer & Zayne win.
• 8 Man Tag: The United Empire VS Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano, Yuto Nakashima & Oskar Leube; The United Empire wins.
• Shota Umino & Tiger Mask VS Ren Narita & SHO; Narita & Sho win.
• Six Man Tag: The House of Torture VS Kaito Kiyomiya, Ryohei Oiwa & Tomoaki Honma; The House of Torture wins.
• Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS The Gates of Agony; Okada & Tanahashi win.
• 10 Man Tag: Just5Guys VS Los Ingobernables de Japon & Zandokan Jr; LIJ & Zandokan win.
• 2023 World Tag League, Finals: Bishamon VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo; Bishamon wins WTL 2023 and challenge ELP & Hikuleo for WrestleKingdom.

PLAY BY PLAY

Shota Umino & Tiger Mask VS Ren Narita & SHO!

The Roughneck was quite quickly denied immediate payback when The House of Torture jumped him and Tomoaki Honma for a fast finish. But now with the legendary Junior Heavyweight by his side, will Shota get even with the Son of Strong Style? Or will Narita find a way to stick it to his rival for the third time in a row?

Wait, Sho comes out but he has Dick Togo & Evil with him, and no sign of Narita. Evil returns to the back so it’s Murder Machine & Spoiler instead of anyone Shota wanted. Sho gets the mic to explain that Narita didn’t want to be here, and neither does he, to be honest. Fans boo and tell him to go home then. But then Sho talks bad on Kumamoto and its mascot, and then stomps the commemorative shirt! Sho eggs Tiger Mask & Shota on, then he and Dick attack! Fans boo but Shota fights back and TOSSES Dick! Shota stomps Dick, then POSTS him! Sho stomps Tiger Mask, CLUBS him down, then brings him back up. But Tiger blocks a kick and sweeps the legs!

Fans fire up, Sho blocks a kick in return, but Tiger SPIN BACK KICKS! Sho goes to the corner, Tiger ROUNDHOUSES and fires off on Sho. Tiger then underhooks to BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! And knee drop! Tiger calls to Shota, they get Sho up and whip him into a forearm, SOBAT, ROLLING ELBOW and ROUNDHOUSE! Shota tops it off with an ENZIGURI! Dick runs in, but into a scoop and BACKBREAKER! Tiger & Shota fire up and Shota stomps Sho, asking where the hell Narita is! Shota CLUBS away on Sho, drags him up, but Sho just laughs at him. Shota ROCKS Sho again and again while Tiger fires haymakers on Dick.

Shota DECKS Sho and demands to know where Narita went. Shota slashes his throat and gives a thumbs down, but NOW Narita shows up! Narita grins as he has the SLEEPER! Narita smothers Shota, gets him outside, and whips, but Shota reverses! Only for Narita to reverse back! Shota hits railing, and Narita BOOTS him over! Narita taunts Shota, dares him to get in the ring, and asks for the bell. The bell rings so this is finally a match, and Sho threatens to use his Torture Tool! The ref stops Sho, but he misses Dick using the SPOILER CHOKER on Tiger! Fans boo but Narita gets in to kick Tiger and hit the FACEBUSTER!

Sho stops with the wrench and just covers Tiger! The House wins!

Winners: Ren Narita & Sho, by pinfall

Narita taunts Shota about what happened, and Shota is furious! The House got the better of him again and they run away before he can get his hands on Narita! What will it take for Shota to have his revenge?

Cut to after Six Man Tag: The House of Torture VS Kaito Kiyomiya, Ryohei Oiwa & Tomoaki Honma…

The House is victorious, and “celebrate” by beating down on Oiwa and Kaito! BUT HERE COMES SHOTA! He fires off on everyone and then gets after Narita! The fans fire up as Shota finally gets to stomp a mudhole into the Son of a B! Kaito & Oiwa TOSS the rest of the house out, and that lets Shota underhook the arms! But Narita scrambles away and regroups with The House, so the Roughneck’s revenge is still not complete. But then Narita eggs Shota on, so Shota, Kaito & Oiwa rush out to the ramp! The House turns tail and runs, but that doesn’t stop Shota from pursuing! Kaito & Oiwa also follow, will they not be denied?

2023 World Tag League, Finals: Bishamon VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo w/ Jado!

How things come full circle. The first main event in B Block was these two teams, and now the final match of it all is these two teams! But back then, Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi fell to the Headbanga & Young Guerilla, will it happen again? Or will the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions not just get even but complete the threepeat?

Everyone shakes hands and the fans cheer the sportsmanship. ELP high-fives Leo, then the teams sort out. The fans rally up as ELP and Hashi start and circle. ELP checks and they’re cheering him on pretty well. Then he checks for Hashi. The chants do come through, and ELP ties up with Hashi. ELP waistlocks, SLAMS, facelocks, but Hashi wrenches out. The two separate and fans cheer. ELP and Hashi circle again, tie up, and are in a deadlock. ELP wrenches, wristlocks, but Hashi spins and wrenches back. ELP rolls, handsprings, and wrenches to hammerlock, half nelson, spin and headlock takeover! But Hashi headscissors! ELP kips free and the fans cheer again.

ELP and Hashi reset, circle again, hear the fans rallying, and then tie up. Hashi headlocks, ELP powers out, then ELP drops but Hashi avoids the hurdle. Hashi dropkicks the legs out! Hashi runs, ELP hurdles and drops down to dropkick Hashi down! ELP then handsprings up and fans cheer. Hashi staggers up, ELP does the Liger pose, and he eggs on Hashi. Hashi tags Goto, and fans rally as Goto circles with ELP now. They approach, ELP kicks low and headlocks. Goto endures, powers out, and RAMS shoulders with ELP! Goto eggs ELP on, fans rally, and ELP runs. They RAM shoulders again, and ELP shouts in frustration. ELP runs, but Goto runs him over!

Fans cheer and ELP tags in Leo! Goto kicks Leo first, headlocks and grinds, but Leo powers up and out. Goto RAMS shoulders but staggers back! Leo eggs him on, Goto runs and RAMS Leo again, but Goto staggers back again. So Goto kicks low, runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Leo still runs Goto over! Leo taunts Hashi, then sucker punches him! Tag to ELP and the NJPW Strong champs double whip Goto. Leo SPLASHES, ELP BACK ELBOWS! Feed to scoop and SIDEWALK SLAM! ELP goes up the corner and adds a FALLING AX HANDLE! Cover, TWO! Goto hangs tough but ELP knees him in the back! And again! And again! ELP drops knees on Goto’s head, then covers, TWO!

Fans cheer but ELP drags Goto up to put him in the corner. ELP CHOPS, then “WOO~!” The fans echo the “WOO~!” and ELP CHOPS again! Another “WOO~!” and then ELP tags Leo. ELP sets Goto up for Leo, but Goto BOOTS Leo and elbows ELP! Goto fires off forearms, then runs, but ELP hurdles and Leo DDTS! ELP BLASTS Hashi while Leo covers, TWO! Fans cheer but Leo is annoyed. Leo drags Goto up, CHOPS him, then whips him to ropes. Leo ELBOWS Goto down, then runs to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Goto survives and Leo is frustrated. Leo tags ELP and ELP stomps Goto around. ELP CLUBS Goto on the neck again and again.

Goto CHOPS in return! And CHOPS again! And again! ELP kicks low, whips, but Goto reverses. Goto runs in but into a BOOT! ELP runs but Goto follows to LARIAT! Fans fire up while both men are down! Goto crawls, hot tag to Hashi! Hashi runs up to run ELP over! And then ELBOW him down! Hashi whips, ELP reverses but Hashi comes back to CHOP! Hashi mule kicks, then turns ELP but ELP fights the neckbreaker. ELP runs but Bishamon runs him over! Then ZANMAI! Leo storms in, Goto kicks him first, and then Hashi joins in, Bishamon DOUBLE SUPLEXES him onto ELP! Fans fire up with Bishamon and they drag ELP up. “SE~ NO!” They HAMMER away on ELP!

Fans cheer as Bishamon flexes! Hashi storms up on ELP, bumps him off buckles, then CHOPS! ELP sputters and fans “WOO~!” but Jado coaches ELP up. Hashi brings ELP around but ELP CHOPS! Hashi eggs ELP on so ELP CHOPS again! ELP eggs Hashi on so Hashi CHOPS him down! Cover, ONE!! ELP hangs tough but Hashi keeps cool. Hashi BLASTS Leo to cut off the tag, and Leo is mad! Red Shoes keeps Leo back, Hashi bumps ELP off buckles. Tag to Goto and Goto stomps away on ELP. Red Shoes counts, Goto lets off, and then he stomps ELP some more. Goto drags ELP up and whips him to ropes, to ELBOW him down! Cover, TWO!

Fans cheer as ELP hangs tough but Goto clamps on a chinlock. Now Goto digs his knee into ELP’s neck. But ELP kicks and kicks and reaches the ROPEBREAK! Goto lets off to stomp ELP, and he tags Hashi back in. Hashi rushes Leo but Leo gets away. Bishamon double whip ELP to ropes, but ELP holds ropes! ELP BOOTS Hashi, TOSSES Goto, and then RANAS Hashi! Fans fire up as ELP flounders his way to his corner, but Goto runs in to DECK ELP and BLAST Leo! Goto drags ELP back up, bumps him off buckles, and then Hashi CHOPS ELP! Hashi tags Goto back in, Bishamon drags ELP up, and they double back suplex! But ELP lands on his feet!

ELP ducks Hashi, slides under Goto, and reaches out, only for Goto to hold him back! But ELP ENZIGURIS free! So Hashi grabs a leg! ELP BOOTS Hashi into Goto! Hot tag to Leo! Leo UPPERCUTS Goto, Hashi dodges but Leo runs him over! Leo scoops Goto to SNAKE EYES and run him over! Fans fire up as Leo storms up on Hashi. Choke grip! And then Leo drags Goto up with a choke grip! But Bishamon breaks free, kicks low and double whips! Leo breaks the line to DOUBLE LARIAT! The fans are fired up with Leo as Bishamon bails out. ELP returns, Leo gives him the boost to go up and up and tightrope walk, ARIHARA MOONSAULT!

Direct hit on Bishamon and the fans fire up again! Leo goes out to help ELP up and they go looking for stuff under the ring. ELP brings out a chair, Leo says no. ELP throws that chair away, it was kinda beat up anyway. ELP brings out a better chair, but Leo still says no, it’s not about the quality. Leo brings out a TABLE and ELP gives a thumbs up! The fans fire up but Red Shoes reprimands as they set the table up at ringside. ELP & Leo then stomp Hashi, stomp Goto, and Leo drags Hashi up. Leo brings Hashi over to the table, and CHOPS him into laying across it! ELP goes up and Red Shoes says don’t do it! But Goto CLUBS ELP and knocks him down!

So Leo drags Hashi off the table, only for Hashi to RAM him into railing! Commentary has to brace itself from a body of that magnitude! Jado coaches his guys but Hashi brings Leo up. Hashi puts Leo in for Goto and Goto stomps Leo. The fans rally up, Goto brings Leo up but Leo CHOPS! Goto CLUBS Leo! Goto reels Leo in, tries to suplex, but Leo’s too big! Goto still tries! Leo suplexes instead! But Goto slips free, kicks low and runs to RAM Leo! Leo stays up and shakes his head. Goto runs to RAM Leo again! Leo fires up, swings, but Goto dodges! DOUBLE LARIATS collide but neither man falls! Leo runs, but Goto follows, DOUBLE LARIATS collide again!

Leo fires up, DOUBLE LARIATS finally bring both men down!! The fans rally up as Leo and Goto crawl. Hot tags to ELP and Hashi! Hashi and ELP storm up to each other, go forehead to forehead, then ELP throws a forearm! Hashi throws a forearm back! ELP throws another, but then so does Hashi! ELP throws another forearm, eggs Hashi on, so Hashi throws another forearm. The fans rally up as the forearms go back and forth, then ELP CHOPS! Hashi gets in ELP’s face again so ELP CHOPS! And CHOPS! And forearms! Hashi CHOPS! And CHOPS! And then fires off forearm, body shot and CHOP! ELP falls and Hashi fires up, as do the fans!

Hashi storms back up on ELP, whips him to a corner, but ELP goes up and over and rolls. ELP ducks and CROSSBODIES! Then somersault to LION- NO, Hashi moves, ELP lands on his feet! Hashi is outside, so ELP DIVES onto him! Direct hit into railing! The fans fire up again, ELP drags Hashi back in. ELP goes up the ropes to SWANTON BOMB! And then LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Hashi is still in this but Jado and the fans rally behind ELP. ELP crawls, drags Hashi up, and he calls Leo on. ELP straitjackets and torture racks Hashi, but Goto ROCKS Leo! Goto runs up but ELP swings Hashi into Goto! And then BRAIN SALAD onto Goto!

ELP & Leo get Hashi up again, Leo runs and BOOTS, and MORE BRAIN SALAD! Cover, TWO!! Hashi survives and fans fire up again! ELP & Leo coordinate and they go to corners. ELP tunes up, Hashi rises, and SUDDEN DEATH! Choke grip! ELP PLANCHAS onto Goto! GODSEND on Hashi!! But Leo isn’t done, he calls to ELP! ELP drags himself up, goes up the ropes, and with Leo’s help, SUPER THUNDERKISS 86 onto knees!!! Cover while Goto holds Leo back, TWO!!! ELP survives the counter, and Leo fights Goto off! Goto gets in, he ROCKS ELP! Leo kicks Goto, CLUBS him down, and then CLUBS him again. Leo considers the table, and he brings Goto up!

Leo reels Goto in, Red Shoes says don’t do it! Leo ignores him to lift Goto up! Goto fights for dear life and gets free! Goto fires off forearms but Leo UPPERCUTS! ELP CUTTER!! Fans fire up with ELP and he resets with Leo. Jado says to use the Super Bomb a la Tama & Loa! ELP goes up, Leo lifts Hashi up for him, and they SUPER LIGER POWERBOMB!!! Cover, GOTO BREAKS IT!! Fans fire up again as Goto saves this! Leo CLUBS Goto, TOSSES him out, and then thinks what to do now. Leo helps ELP up, they drag Hashi around, and ELP covers anyway. TWO, Hashi still has life! ELP goes up the corner, Leo helps him again but ELP loses his balance.

Leo suggests they switch it up. ELP says okay, and he drags Hashi to center. ELP fires Leo up, and Leo goes up!? Leo goes onto ELP’s shoulders?! HIKULEO KISS FLOPS!! Hashi moves in time, and then Goto CLOBBERS ELP! Goto coaches Hashi up while going back to their corner. Fans rally, Hashi stirs and crawls his way over. Goto reaches out, Hashi hot tags him in! “Gocchan” fires up and he runs in to MURAMASA ELP! Then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Goto hurries to get ELP back up, fireman’s carries, but ELP slips free and backslides! TWO!! ELP reels Goto in but Goto fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! Goto drags ELP into SHOYU KEKKAI!!

ELP endures the trapped arm armbar combo and the fans rally behind him! ELP kicks and flails but both arms are caught! ELP gets one free, reaches out, but Goto pulls that arm back!! ELP shakes his head to say no, he’s not done yet! ELP gives one more kick and gets the ROPEBREAK!! Goto lets go in frustration but he drags ELP back up. ELP throws a forearm, but there’s no fire behind it. Goto DECKS ELP! Jado coaches ELP and ELP rises up. Goto storms up on ELP, reels him back in, but ELP ROCKS Goto! Goto ROCKS ELP! ELP drops to his knees, but he leans on Goto. Fans rally up as Goto stands ELP up. ELP chops and chops but there’s not much there.

But then ELP picks up speed and he fires off shot after shot! Goto DECKS him again!! Goto drags ELP up, fireman’s carries, and Hashi is back! FIERCE FLASH! And then Hashi calls their shot! Time to turn the lights out! They drag ELP up, dragon sleeper and leg lift, but Leo storms in! Leo ROCKS Hashi, ROCKS Goto, but then Hashi traps him for Goto to BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Hashi and Goto combo, HEAD BUSTER! Leo flounders away, ELP is in a corner, and Goto runs in to clothesline! Hashi runs in to clothesline! Feed to a kick and clinch, Hashi runs in! GOTO GO TO HUNTER!! Cover, TWO?!? ELP survives and shocks everyone!

The fans rally as hard as they can, Bishamon gets ELP up again! Dragon sleeper, but ELP BOOTS Hashi away! But ends up in HIDDEN GAP! And then the reset, SHOTO!!! Cover, LEO BREAKS IT!!! Leo slips in there with his long limbs and saves ELP! The fans are thunderous as all four men are down, feeling the toll of this match! Leo drags Goto up, choke grips, and then Leo grabs Hashi! DOUBLE- NO, Bishamon fights that, dodges the double lariats, and they LARIAT! And LARIAT! And then DOUBLE LARIAT! They send Leo up and out of the ring!! Fans fire up as Bishamon go back for ELP. ELP kicks from below but they stomp him down.

They double whip ELP to the corner, then Goto runs in to clothesline! Hashi runs in to CHOP! Goto climbs and calls for their new move! Hashi lifts ELP but Leo is back to grab Goto!! Leo brings Goto around along the apron, CHOPS him, then CHOPS him again! Leo catches his breath, calls his shot, and he hauls Goto up and in! Leo aims for the corner, but Hashi CHOPS Leo! Leo CHOPS Hashi back! Leo choke grips Hashi but Hashi HOTSHOTS Leo! Goto HEADBUTTS! Hashi CODE BREAKERS Leo, and Goto dragon sleepers! Hashi gets the legs, Red Shoes panics, but they SHOTO through the table!!! The fans are thunderous again as all three men are down on the outside!

Bishamon leaves Leo behind in the wreckage, and the fans rally up as they go after ELP. ELP stares them both down as we pass 35 minutes in this match! Bishamon hobble over, they drag ELP up, but ELP ROCKS Goto, ELBOWS Hashi, and repeat! Fans rally as ELP throws off his wrist tapes and elbow pads to fire off even more shots! Forearm, CHOP, ELBOW, but then the arm gives up on ELP! ELP doesn’t stay down but Goto CLUBS him down! ELP throws what shots he can but Goto fireman’s carries! Hashi aims, FIERCE FLASH into SHO- NO, ELP BOOTS Hashi and flips up and over Goto! ELP sends Goto into Hashi, then dragon sleepers Goto!

ELP drapes Goto using Hashi, to STEAL SHOTO?!?! And then SUDDEN DEATH for Hashi!! Cover, TWO!!!! Goto survives ELP’s incredible improvisation and the fans are thunderous! ELP has a wild look in his eyes and he slashes his throat. ELP drags Goto up, fireman’s carries, and steals USHIGOROSHI!! Cover, ONE?!?! Goto won’t fall to one of his own moves! ELP kicks Goto around, Goto growls, SUDDEN DEATH!! ELP hurries to get Goto up and tuck the arms! C R 2!!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Goto refuses to fall to what beat him before, too!! Goto and ELP are both down but the fans rally up as hard as ever! ELP crawls his way to a corner, Jado coaches him up.

Jado says ELP can do this, so ELP slaps some fire into himself. ELP tunes up, takes aim, but Hashi’s back! HIDDEN GAP!! ELP sputters, Hashi gets ELP up and feeds him to Goto! Fireman’s carry, FIERCE FLASH into G T W!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? ELP is still in this but Bishamon isn’t done with him! Goto goes to a corner and climbs while Hashi lifts ELP! DANGEROUS LIBRA!!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?!?!? HOW?!?!? How’d ELP get that shoulder up?!?! ELP manages to smile, too, maybe surprising himself. We now hit FORTY minutes, and Bishamon hauls ELP up. Full nelson and lift, NARAKU!!!! Leo rises?!?! Goto covers, BISHAMON WINS!!!

Winners: Bishamon, by pinfall (WTL 2023 winners)

The return of Leo was a few seconds too late! Bishamon not only avenges that opening round loss, they have completed the threepeat!! Will the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions just have to focus on being NJPW Strong for now?

As for Bishamon, they are awarded the trophies once again, and are given back their belts. They then have a photo op with the boss before nearly collapsing. But Hashi still makes it over to ELP to show him respect. Goto does the same with Leo, and the fans applaud the sportsmanship. ELP & Leo stick around while Bishamon gets the mics. Goto tells ELP & Leo that Bishamon lost to them in the first round. And today, Bishamon won against them in the last match. It was a great fight. Fans cheer that! Bishamon want to face ELP & Leo again, on January 4th, in the Tokyo Dome, for both the IWGP AND NJPW Strong titles!! The fans love that idea!

ELP & Leo consider it, and they shake hands with Bishamon! The match is now set, it will be WINNERS TAKE ALL at WrestleKingdom 18!! Will Bishamon reestablish the double tag crown? Or will it be the “Big Blue Sexy Boys” becoming the 100TH IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions?

Goto then goes back to the mic to say 20 years, and it’s still hard for him to take the mic when so beat up. But now, thanks to “Yocchan,” he is standing here. And not just that, but in his opinion, Hashi is the WTL MVP! Fans cheer that! Goto then says that “In the end, I’ll leave it to Yocchan the MVP to close this out.” Goto hands the mic over, and Hashi nods. “Well, apart from Gocchan saying it, I personally don’t think the MVP is me at all, but I think it’s in hearts of everyone here and those who watch NJPW World, so I dare say so. I won’t say it’s me, but like Gocchan just said, I want to win the belts at WrestleKingdom.

“Originally, I miagned that if I won this WTL, I’d be a different person. But today, with those guys, when I started fighting, this image of me as a fuzzy-headed guy changed to these guys. I don’t want to hear stupid stuff like, ‘You can’t win WTL because you’re the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions,’ or ‘Because you’re the kind of person you are, you’re bound to be here forever.'” You may think you’re not good at anything, but if you keep going, and after time, you will definitely be rewarded like how Bishamon was today. Fans applaud that.

Hashi then says that is why he wants to be the very best and the most outrageous in the end. This year’s World Tag League, Hashi was trying to get the timing right, something was always a little off, and he always regretted that. But today, he feels he’s done it right. It doesn’t really matter whether it is cool or uncool, because in the end, you just give it your all to where you’re satisfied. Fans also applaud that. Hashi hopes Milano and Hiromu will join in with that. They give the OK, so Hashi says all the glitter tape and confetti isn’t just theirs, it is EVERYONE’S! Everyone ready? Bishamon pounds the mat, then Hashi runs and rolls, clap and HAI!

The shiny streamers fly and fans cheer! Will Bishamon get to celebrate again in the New Year as the best tag team in New Japan?

My Thoughts:

Okay, I skipped a lot but this was still a great event. Shota gets screwed by Narita again, but I appreciated that he went right out there after the House of Torture’s Six Man Tag. Maybe Kaito & Oiwa stick around a little longer so they can help Shota against The House, probably with like Narita, Evil & Yujiro as the formation so that Dick and Sho can interfere all over the place

And amazing main event, it didn’t even feel like 40+ minutes but that’s amazing. I had a feeling Bishamon was winning no matter what, but I really appreciate that Bishamon logically wants one more match with ELP & Leo. Bishamon was gonna owe ELP & Leo anyway because of that opening round loss, and this win tonight makes them 1-1, so you gotta have the rubber match on the biggest stage in NJPW. That match could probably go either way now, it is going to be a historic moment at WK18 no matter who wins.

My Score: 9/10