Don’t count the champs out just yet!

As World Tag League wraps round seven, Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi either break the curse or go home! Will the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions survive to the semifinals?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Opening Match – DOUKI VS Shoma Kato; Douki wins.
• Six Man Tag: The United Empire VS The Gates of Agony & Yuto Nakashima; The United Empire wins.
• Six Man Tag: Shota Umino, Ryusuke Taguchi & Tiger Mask VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
• 8 Man Tag: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano VS Kaito Kiyomiya, Ryohei Oiwa, Tomoaki Honma & Boltin Oleg; Okada, Tanahashi, Ishii & Yano win.
• Six Man Tag: TMDK VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
• 2023 World Tag League, B Block: Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki VS Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza; Nagata & Suzuki win.
• 2023 World Tag League, B Block: Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr. VS Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr; Atlantis & Soberano win.
• 2023 World Tag League, B Block: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo VS Lance Archer & Alex Zayne; ELP & Leo win.
• 2023 World Tag League, B Block: Bishamon VS Taichi & Yuya Uemura; Bishamon wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current B Block standings!

• Lance Archer & Alex Zayne: 4-2, 8 points
• Taichi & Yuya Uemura: 4-2, 8 points
• El Phantasmo & Hikuleo: 4-2, 8 points
• Bishamon: 3-2-1, 7 points
• Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr: 3-3, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
• Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr: 2-3-1, 5 points [ELIMINATED]
• Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza: 2-4, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
• Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki: 1-5, 2 points [ELIMINATED]

2023 World Tag League, B Block: Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki VS Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza!

It’s a battle to NOT be the bottom of the block! Will the murder grandpas bring down the Rogue Army? Or will Fale & Bonza be Too Sweet in the end?

The teams sort out and Blue Justice starts against the Red Commander. Fans rally behind Nagata and the two tie up. Bonza waistlocks, Nagata wrenches but Bonza rolls and gets free. Bonza picks up hs headband and puts it back on. The two then tie up again, Bonza wrenches and wristlocks, but Nagata rolls, wrenches, and grinds the shoulder. Nagata wrenches and YANKS the arm, YANKS again, then CLUBS Bonza. Nagata wrenches again, for an ELBOW BREAKER! Nagata brings Bonza over, Suzuki tags in, and fans cheer as he stomps Bonza. Suzuki fires forearms but Bonza knees low!

Tag to Fale and he throws hands and CLUBS Suzuki. Fale whips Suzuki but Suzuki reverses. Fans rally as Suzuki aims from a corner, but Bonza anchors him! Fale runs in to SPLASH Suzuki! Then Fale DECKS Nagata for good measure! Bonza drags Suzuki out, to whip him into railing! Bonza CHOPS, then CHOKES Suzuki! Fans boo, Suzuki fights back, and Bonza lets off. Bonza brings Suzuki around, but Suzuki “borrows” Douki’s water bottle from commentary to JAM Bonza in the stomach! And again! And again! Bonza claws Suzuki’s eyes, the ref reprimands but Bonza protests about the bottle.

Suzuki throws body shots, Bonza ROCKS him with a right! Bonza CHOPS, Suzuki kicks, repeat! Bonza claws the eyes again! The ref backs Bonza off but Fale ROCKS Suzuki! Fale puts Suzuki in, tags Bonza, and Bonza springboard stomps Suzuki down. And again! Bonza stands on Suzuki to surf, just like Fale would. Bonza shrugs, tags Fale, then Bonza BLASTS Nagata! Fale throws hands and pie faces Suzuki. Fale stands on Suzuki at the ropes! The ref counts, Fale steps off, and Suzuki sputters on the apron. Fale drags Suzuki up, choke grips, but Nagata saves Suzuki! So Nagata takes the GRENADE!

Fale then stomps Suzuki, puts him in a corner, and tags Bonza. Suzuki kicks Bonza, Bonza kicks Suzuki! Bonza eggs Suzuki on so Suzuki pulls on Bonza’s beard! Suzuki ROCKS Bonza, ROCKS him again, and again! Fans fire up but Bonza pulls ears to put Suzuki in the corner! Bonza fires off hands, then digs his boot in! Bonza argues with the ref, then he tags Fale back in. Bonza throws hands, Fale talks trash and slaps Suzuki around. Suzuki and Fale glare at each other forehead to forehead, then Suzuki fires forearms! Fale wobbles, fans rally up, but Fale CLUBS Suzuki down.

Fale BODY BLOWS and Suzuki falls! But he avoids the elbow drop! Fans fire up as Suzuki hurries, hot tag to Nagata! Nagata runs in to KICK away on Fale! But Fale blocks the whip! Nagata dropkicks a leg out, runs in at the corner, and BOOTS! Nagata clinches, but Fale’s too big for an exploder! Fale elbows free, but Nagata ENZIGURIS! Fale drops to a knee, Nagata KICKS him down! Cover, TWO! Nagata snarls and he drags Fale up. Nagata fires boxing elbows, then BOOTS! Nagata runs, but Fale runs him over! Both men are down and the fans rally back up. Fale crawls his way over, tag to Bonza!

Bonza reels Nagata in, but Nagata fights the suplex! Bonza ROCKS Nagata, ROCKS him again, then whips. But Nagata ducks the discus and fakes the enziguri to dropkick legs out! Hot tag to Suzuki! Suzuki fires forearms on Nagata, then whips him corner to corner. Suzuki runs in to BOOT! Snapmare and PENALTY KICK! But Bonza blocks!! Bonza CLUBS the leg, ROCKS Suzuki with a forearm, and calls to Fale. Fale runs to BLAST Nagata! Then the Rogue Army whips Suzuki to a corner! Fale SPLASHES, Bonza ELBOWS, then a FOREARM and BOOT! Cover, TWO! Suzuki hangs tough and the fans fire up!

Bonza calls his shot and drags Suzuki back up. Scoop and BACKBREAKER, to the ELBOW DROP! Cover, Nagata breaks it! Fale fires off on Nagata and throws him out! Bonza reels Suzuki in, but Suzuki fights the suplex to wrench and knee! Suzuki runs, but into the DISCUS LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Suzuki survives and fans fire up! Bonza grits his teeth, roars, and reels Suzuki in. Suplex and… NO, Suzuki slips free to a SLEEPER! Nagata runs in, Fale grabs him first, but Nagata wrangles Fale down to a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Bonza gets free, runs, but Suzuki catches him to another SLEEPER!!

The Rogue Army endures submissions, and then Suzuki feeds Bonza to the EXPLODER! And then, GOTCH LIFT PILEDRIVER!!! Cover, murder grandpas win!!

Winners: Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Fale & Bonza earn 0)

Of all the teams to pull together in the end and use teamwork, no one thought it’d be these two! And perhaps most shocking of all, they shake hands! Is there still potential for these two grizzled rivals as a powerful team?

2023 World Tag League, B Block: Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr. VS Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr!

Despite all the optimism at the end of last round, the math says Gene Blast & The King of the World are out of the running. Can Zando still win his way into LIJ? Or will the sons of lucha remind him CMLL is where he belongs?

But just as Tsuji & Zando make it to ringside, Atlantis & Soberano both FLY out onto them! Direct hit at the ramp and the fans fire up! And just as Shingo Takagi & Bushi make their way out here to watch! The luchadores put Tsuji in, the bell rings, and Atlantis pulls Tsuji’s LIJ jersey off him to throw it aside. Atlantis whips Tsuji to ropes but Tsuji reverses, and Zando gets a shot in! Atlantis KICKS him for it, but then Tsuji catches Atlantis to chicken wings. Zando runs in but Atlantis gets away, the CHOP hits Tsuji! Zando apologizes, but then Atlantis runs in! He ducks ‘n’ dodges and rebounds off the ropes to escape the double hip toss!

Then Atlantis runs back in, and uses Tsuji to get up and RANA Zando! Zando tumbles out, Atlantis whips Tsuji to the corner, then runs in to go up, and MONKEY FLIP! Fans fire up again and Atlantis runs in at the other corner. Another MONKEY FLIP! Fans fire up more and Atlantis eggs Tsuji on. Tsuji flounders to tag Zando, so Soberano tags in. Fans rally, and Zando says c’mon “hermano!” Zando hugs the ref, then offers a handshake to Soberano. He even puts stank on it! Soberano says no thanks, but Zando puts more stank on the handshake!

Soberano kicks the hand away, shoves Zando to ropes, then hurdles over as Zano returns. Soberano rolls of Zando’s back, shoves him again, but Zando holds ropes. Soberano runs in, is put on the apron, but he GAMANGIRIS Zando and SUPERKICKS Tsuji! Soberano then jumps off Tsuji to RANA Zando! Fans fire up and Soberano builds speed, but Zando sidesteps and flapjacks Soberano, only for Soberano to RANA again! Fans fire up but Tsuji is back, and he runs in. Soberano dodges him to RANA again, and Tsuji goes out to regroup with Zando. Soberano builds speed and he fakes them out to handspring and Thinker pose.

But then double fake, he still FLIES out anyway! But Zando & Tsuji catch him! DOUBLE APRON POWERBOMB! Zando then attacks Atlantis and sends him into railing! Tsuji whips Soberano into railing, too! Fans fire up with Tsuji, and Zando sends Atlantis into more railing! Tsuji drags Soberano up, Zando has a chair! Zando SMACKS Atlantis, then HEADSHOTS Soberano! Zando drags Atlantis back into the ring, Tsuji puts Soberano in, and Zando tears at Atlantis’ mask! Tsuji does the same to Soberano! The ref reprimands and fans freak out! The ref counts, Tsuji & Zando let off, but Atlantis’ forehead is showing!

Zando TOSSES Atlantis out, then Tsuji drags Soberano up. Zando SLAPS Soberano, he and Tsuji stomp and slap him some more. They double whip, then double elbow! Then they double pump handle for a deadlift WHEELBARROW GERMAN! Fans rally up as Zando scuffs Soberano on his way out. Tsuji covers, TWO! Fans cheer but Tsuji grins as he taunts Atlantis. Atlantis storms in, he and Tsuji circle, but then Zando blindsides Atlantis! Tsuji & Zando stomp away on Atlantis, fans fire up, but the ref reprimands. Zando stands Atlantis up, he and Tsuji whip to POP-UP KICK! Then basement dropkick sandwich!

Tsuji tags Zando, Zando brings Soberano up, and Zando puts Soberano on ropes. Zando winds up to CHOP! Soberano falls over and Zando eggs him on. Zando drags Soberano up, whips him to ropes, and FLAPJACKS, to then basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up while Zando grows frustrated. Zando tags Tsuji and the two double whip Soberano. Soberano ducks the double elbows, Zando pops him up but Soberano stands on Tsuji’s shoulders! Soberano backflips, takes a swing, but Tsuji catches him to a waistlock. Zando runs in, but Soberano gets loose again, the SUPERKICK hits Tsuji! Hot tag to Atlantis!

Atlantis goes up to CROSSBODY Tsuji! Zando runs in, into a scoop and BACKBREAKER! Scoop and BACKBREAKER for Tsuji! Fans fire up as Atlantis snapmares Zando, and now Atlantis pulls at Zando’s mask! But Tsuji pulls Atlantis’ mask to throw him down! Tsuji helps Zando up, but Soberano DOUBLE SHOTGUNS them out! Fans rally up as Atlantis builds speed, and he FLIES right out! Direct hit at the ramp and fans fire up again! Atlantis sets Zando & Tsuji up and fans rally as Soberano climbs! Soberano SUPER TORNILLOS!! Direct hit and the fans fire up as everyone goes down!

The ring count climbs, passes 5 of 20, then 10! The luchadores stand first, and Atlantis gets Tsuji in at 15. Fans cheer as this match continues, and Atlantis covers. TWO, but Atlantis drags Tsuji back up. Atlantis goes to suplex but Tsuji fights it! Tsuji shoves Atlantis, then BODY BLOWS! Tsuji reels Atlantis in to fireman’s carry but Atlantis fights free. Atlantis full nelsons but Tsuji elbows free! Tsuji swings, Atlantis ducks and wrenches to fire off forearms! Tsuji V-TRIGGERS! But Atlantis blocks a kick to SUPERKICK! Atlantis runs, but into a BLUE THUNDER BOMB! And another KNEE! Then a BIG suplex! Cover, TWO!!

Atlantis survives but Tsuji roars and the fans fire up! Tsuji BOOTS Soberano from the apron, tags in Zando, and they get Atlantis up. They reel him in, for the ANCHOR! Zando covers, TWO!! Atlantis survives but Tsuji goes to the corner. Zando calls his shot and Tsuij stands on Zando’s shoulders! VAMOS AMIGOS onto knees!! Atlantis gets around to SUPERKICK Zando! Fans fire up, hot tag to Soberano! Soberano goes up to FLYING RANA Zando out! Fans fire up again and Soberano drags Tsuji in. The sons of lucha look to end this! They double whip and double hip toss into TU LO SABE!

But then Zando returns to BOOT Soberano! Atlantis waistlocks but Zando elbows free. Zando then clotheslines Atlantis up and out of the ring! Zando and Soberano egg each other on as they step up. Zando throws a forearm, but Soberano throws one back! They go back and forth, harder and harder! Fans rally, Soberano gets the edge then runs, but Zando sidesteps, POP-UP SIT-DOWN POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Soberano survives but Zando hauls him up! Underhooks for the stalling TIGER DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!!! Soberano survives again and fans fire up!

Zando drags Soberano up, ripcords and- CODE RED!! Cover, Tsuji breaks it! Atlantis returns, Tsuji kicks him first. Tsuji whips, Atlantis reverses and DROPKICKS! Tsuji bails out, Atlantis builds speed, and DIVES! Direct hit into railing! Fans fire up again as both men are down on the outside! Inside, Soberano BOOTS Zando but Zando SLAPS Soberano! BOOT! SLAP, SLAP, URAKEN! Zando runs, but Soberano scoops him to a TOMBSTONE!! Cover, CMLL WINS!

Winners: Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Tsuji & Zando earn 0)

The sons of lucha finish with seven points in the seventh round! No semifinals for them, but will Atlantis & Soberano both use this to soar even higher?

Wait! Here comes Naito! This was about Zando earning his way into LIJ, so is the team captain going to give the official decision? Fans cheer Naito on as he looks to Zando. Everyone waits for Naito to say or do something, and Naito hugs Zando! Naito pats Zando on the back, says sorry, but not just yet. Zando nods and says, “Okay. Si.” The King of the World still isn’t ungovernable, but is there always next year?

2023 World Tag League, B Block: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo w/ Jado VS Lance Archer & Alex Zayne!

The math is a little less complicated here: win and you’re in! Ten points is a surefire way of making it to the semifinals, will the Headbanga & Young Guerrilla stay NJPW Strong? Or will Monster Sauce burn hottest in the end?

The Young Lions again get suckered into big forearm shots by Archer, and Archer even scares Milano Collection AT. Hikuleo and Archer both stand on corners for a second to show how tall they truly are. ELP then winds up, and he jumps up to the second rope so he can high-five Leo! Fans cheer and ELP bets Monster Sauce can’t do that. Archer sits down and Zayne mocks the wind up, to high-five Archer! Fans cheer and the teams sort out. ELP and Zayne start, ELP high-fives Red Shoes and the fans rally up. Zayne and ELP shake hands to show there’s respect here, then they tie up.

Zayne waistlocks, ELP wrenches free to wristlock, but Zayne rolls, handsprings, and wrenches back. But ELP rolls, trips Zayne, turns him over, and ties up the legs to BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Zayne pops free to a cover, ONE! ELP sweeps legs to cover, ONE! The two stand off and fans applaud. ELP and Zayne reset, fans chant “E L P! E L P!” and he circles with Zayne. They tie up, Zayne headlocks, but ELP throws body shots. ELP powers out but Zayne runs him over. Things speed up, Zayne IMPLODER KNEE DROPS on the dropdown, then STANDING MARIPOSAS!

ELP sputters and flounders, then Archer echoes the fans shouting “ZAYNE~!” They echo him, and Archer grins. ELP reaches out and Leo tags in. Leo and Zayne circle, then Leo takes a swing. Zayne dodges, rolls off Leo’s back, then CHOPS! Leo doesn’t flinch! Fans cheer and Zayne apologizes. Leo swings, Zayne ducks ‘n’ dodges, then CHOPS again! Still nothing, so Zayne runs. Leo CHOPS Zayne down! Fans fire up and “WOO~!” with ELP as Zayne scrambles away. But Zayne tags in Archer and fans like this match-up! Archer and Leo circle, then they run in!

They RAM shoulders, then run and RAM again! And RAM again! Fans fire up, Leo eggs Archer on so Archer throws a forearm! Leo throws one back! The forearms go back and forth between these real-life kaiju! Archer ROCKS Leo, Leo choke grips! Archer breaks free and BOOTS! Archer runs, but Leo LARIATS him down! The fans fire up and Leo stalks Archer to a corner. Leo whips corner to corner, but Archer goes up and over! Then he LARIATS Leo! The fans fire up more, Archer tags in Zayne. Monster Sauce double whips but Leo holds ropes. Zayne runs in but into a BOOT!

Archer runs in, blocks the boot, but Leo dodges the lariat to clothesline Archer up and out! Fans fire up and Leo tags ELP. Leo whips Zayne corner to corner, then he sends ELP in to ELBOW! ELP sends Leo in to SPLASH! Leo sends ELP in to ELBOW again! Then ELP feeds Zayne to Leo’s back drop! Then ELP winds up to high-five Leo again! Fans fire up and ELP brings Zayne up. The NJPW Strong champs whip Zayne to a corner, Leo runs in but Zayne dodges! Archer runs in to ELBOW Leo! ELP runs in but Archer sends him into Leo! Archer then whips ELP to the other corner, Zayne ELBOWS Leo!

Zayne runs in and Archer HIP TOSS SENTONS him into ELP! Archer ELBOWS Leo and Leo sits down. Zayne runs in to tilt-o-whirl CANNONBALL Archer into Leo! Archer laughs and the fans fire up as he shouts “YEAAAH!” Zayne drags ELP up, CLUBS him down, then puts him in the corner. Archer tags in, Monster Sauce mugs ELP, and Archer mocks the “E L P” chant. Archer whips ELP to a corner hard, and ELP bounces off the buckles! Archer then sits ELP up to rain down fists! Red Shoes reprimands about closed fists but Archer stands on ELP. Red Shoes won’t count the cocky cover, so Archer bumps ELP off buckles.

Tag to Zayne and Archer scoop SLAMS ELP! Then Archer scoops to SLAM Zayne onto ELP! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer but Zayne brings ELP up. ELP fires forearms but Zayne hits back! Fans rally as they go back and forth, then Zayne ROCKS ELP! Zayne bumps ELP off buckles, whips him corner to corner, then back elbows! Zayne slips out to the apron, to then slingshot RANA back in! Fans fire up and Zayne smirks. Zayne stalks ELP, brings him up, but ELP CHOPS! ELP ROCKS Zayne, Zayne ROCKS ELP! The forearms go back and forth again, and ELP grits his teeth. But then Zayne knees low!

Zayne fires boxing elbows but ELP mule kicks! ELP runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges and tilt-o-whirl DDTS! Fans fire up as ELP crawls, hot tag to Leo! Leo runs in to run Zayne over! Then Leo BLASTS Archer off the apron! Leo scoops Zayne, Zayne slips free, but runs into a BOOT! Fans rally up again, and Zayne rises up into Leo’s grip! But Archer breaks the grip, only to run into POWER TRIP! Fans fire up with Leo and he drags Zayne up. Scoop and SLAM, then tag to ELP. ELP slingshot SENTONS! Leo stands Zayne up, ELP torture racks, BOOT and swing, BRAIN SALAD! Cover, TWO! Zayne is still in this and the fans fire up!

ELP tunes up the band, Zayne rises, SUDDEN- NO, Zayne blocks! But Leo still choke grips! ELP returns, but Zayne moves, SUDDEN DEATH hits Leo! Zayne rolls ELP up, TWO! Zayne scoops again, BAJA BLAST! Hot tag to Archer and he drags ELP up. ROLLING AX KICK SIDEWALK SLAM COMBO! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives and the fans fire up but Archer storms around. Archer puts ELP in a corner, says Monster Sauce is taking this, and he puts ELP up top. Archer ROCKS ELP, then lifts him in the reverse crucifix! But ELP fights free and shoves Archer! Archer comes back to STEP-UP KNEE!

Zayne runs up, NO HANDS STEINER! And then Archer CHOKE SLAMS ELP! Then with Zayne, CHOKE SAULT onto knees! ELP holds Zayne in place, Leo uses that as a step to FLYING SHOULDER Archer! Fans are thunderous as all four men are down! Leo drags Archer up, calls his shot and suplexes, but Archer fights that! Archer suplexes, but Leo fights that! ELP and Zayne get involved, but Leo BOOTS Zayne while Archer BOOTS ELP! The kaiju grab each other around the neck, with both hands! Both men let go, Leo UPPERCUTS! Choke grip and GOD- NO, Archer slips free!

Leo BOOTS him, but Archer clotheslines him out of the ring! ELP runs in, HELLICOASTER! Hot tag to Zayne and he takes aim! Archer fireman’s carries ELP, Zayne runs in, ROLLING NECKBREAKER SAMOAN DROP COMBO!! Double cover, TWO!!! ELP survives and shakes his head! But then Zayne goes up and Archer lifts him! But Leo drags ELP to safety! Or so they think, as Archer THROWS Zayne out onto them!! Fans fire up with Monster Sauce and they get ELP back in! Zayne goes back up top, “ITADAKIMASU!” But Leo CHOPS him! And he shoves Archer! Leo runs in but Archer dodges to THESZ PRESS!!

Archer roars, fans fire up, and Archer drags Leo up. Archer gets fans fired up again, but Leo SUPLEXES first!!! Zayne is stunned, he leaps at Leo, but into the choke grip! ELP ARIHARA MOONSAULTS Archer! Leo GODSENDS Zayne!! ELP climbs up, for the SUPER THUNDERKISS 86!!! Cover, ELP & Leo win!!

Winners: El Phantasmo & Hikuleo, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Archer & Zayne earn 0)

Monster Sauce gets cooled off in the final round, and they’re out of the running! The NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions are moving on, will they add those WTL trophies to their collection?

2023 World Tag League, B Block: Bishamon VS Taichi & Yuya Uemura!

With one half of the semifinals determined, this main event determines the other! Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi want to break the IWGP Heayvweight Tag Team Championship “curse” and head for the finals, but the Holy Emperor & Heat Storm want to BE IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. Will the Fierce Warrior & Headhunter fall this close to the threepeat? Or will they #GetBackUp and go for it all?

A great surprise here as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Sanada, joins his guys to support them at ringside! The teams sort out and Goto starts against Taichi. Fans applaud and rally up as the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Goto powers Taichi to ropes. Red Shoes counts the break, Goto lets off with pats on the shoudler and fans applaud. The two reset, tie up again, and are in another deadlock. Taichi breaks the grapple, so Goto fires a forearm! Taichi throws a kick, Goto throws another forearm! They go back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans rally up.

Goto gets the edge, runs, then runs Taichi over! But Taichi gets up to BOOT Goto down! Fans fire up, Taichi stomps away on Goto, then drags him up. Taichi brings Goto over to tag in Yuya, and J5G mugs Goto. Yuya stalks Goto but Goto CHOPS! Yuya CHOPS, CHOPS and fans applaud. Yuya whips, Goto holds ropes and Hashi tags in. Goto BOOTS Yuya, Hashi runs but into a hip toss! Yuya then scoops and SLAMS Hashi! Hashi gets up and runs in again, but into an arm-drag! Yuya has the armlock and fans applaud. Hashi kicks around as he endures the cording hold.

Hashi fights up to his feet but Yuya wrenches and YANKS the arm. Yuya whips but Goto tags in. Hashi reverses and Bishamon runs Yuya over! Hashi runs, ZANMAI! Taichi runs in but Goto kicks him first. Then Goto snap suplexes Taichi onto Yuya! Bishamon brings Yuya up, and they HAMMER away! Fans fire up as Bishamon flexes, and then Goto stomps Yuya. Goto CLUBS Yuya, brings him around and whips him to ropes. Goto ELBOWS Yuya down, covers, TWO! Fans applaud, and Goto drags Yuya up. Goto bumps Yuya off buckles, tags Hashi in, and Hashi ROCKS Yuya. Yuya CHOPS back but Hashi eggs him on!

Yuya chops and chops but Hashi CHOPS! Yuya falls back, Hashi stands him up to CHOP again! And CHOPS again! Yuya flounders, Hashi BLASTS Taichi off the apron, then Hashi brings Yuya around for a BIG suplex! Cover, TWO! Yuya stays in this and fans applaud again. Hashi storms up on Yuya, drags him up, but Yuya shoves him. Hashi stomps Yuya down, tags in Goto, and Goto brings Yuya up. Sanada rallies the fans as Goto CLUBS Yuya. Yuya hobbles away but Goto eggs him on. Goto fires a forearm but Yuya chops! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Goto knees low, whips, but Yuya reverses to DROPKICK!

The fans fire up while both men are down! Yuya crawls, hot tag to Taichi! Taichi storms up on Goto, gives him Kawada Kicks, then shoves him to a corner. Taichi runs in to BOOT! Taichi snapmares to KICK Goto! But Hashi CLUBS Taichi, whips, but Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! Goto kicks Taichi, whips him to a corner, but Taichi comes back to AX BOMBER! Fans fire up and Taichi TAKES OFF THE PANTS! Taichi takes aim, but Goto ducks the buzzsaw! Goto waistlocks, Taichi throws elbows, then Taichi runs, but into a fireman’s carry! Taichi slips free, but Goto fights the saido with elbows!

Goto deflects the boot to DISCUS LARIAT! Fans rally up while both men are down. Taichi and Goto go to opposite corners, and Goto runs in, but into a BOOT! Goto runs back in and Taichi dodges, GAMANGIRI! Taichi BOOTS Hashi, Yuya rushes over to PLANCHA! Down goes Hashi and fans fire up! Taichi winds up, runs in at Goto, but Goto BOOTS now! Goto runs up but into the SAIDO! Cover, TWO!! Goto survives and fans fire up again! Taichi goes to a corner, takes aim, and Goto rises, but he blocks the kick! Fireman’s carry, and USHIGOROSHI! Fans fire up as both men are down again!

Goto crawls to a corner again, drags himself up, and he runs in, but Taichi meets him! DOUBLE LARIATS collide! And again! Goto dodges Ax Bomber to LARIAT! Fans fire and Taichi is right back up, GAMANGIRI! Both men are down again and the fans fire up once more! Taichi and Goto stir, crawl, hot tag to Yuya! Yuya BLASTS Hashi, CLUBS Goto, and CLUBS Goto some more! Then Yuya hits a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Goto hangs in there and the fans rally up. Yuya storms up on Goto, fans rally even harder, and Yuya stands Goto up. Yuya whips Goto but Goto reverses, then runs in.

Yuya BOOTS Goto, runs, but Goto follows to LARIAT!! Both men are down yet again, and Goto crawls for his corner! Hot tag to Hashi! Fans fire up as Hashi runs Yuya over! And ELBOWS him down! And then CHOPS him to a corner! Hashi then runs in at the corner to CHOP again! Hashi whips Yuya out to CHOP him again, then mule kicks! And the turn, but Yuya fights free! Yuya CHOPS, Hashi scowls and CHOPS back! Yuya grits his teeth, and he CHOPS again! Hashi CHOPS Yuya again, and fans rally up. Yuya comes back to CHOP! Hashi is stinging, but he comes back to CHOP again!

Yuya CHOPS, Hashi CHOPS, it’s a CHOP fight! Fans rally as they go back and forth, CHOP for CHOP! Yuya hobbles, grits his teeth, but Hashi brings him around. Hashi fires a forearm, a CHOP, and then eggs Yuya on. Yuya CHOPS, runs, but into a CHOP! Yuya runs again, into another CHOP! Hashi runs now, but into an arm-drag! And DOUBLE CHOP! Fans fire up with Yuya but he has to sit down from the stinging in his chest! The fans rally again, and Yuya crawls to ropes. Hashi goes to a corner, Yuya runs in to DOUBLE CHOP! Taichi runs in to BOOT! Yuya runs back in to DROPKICK!

Yuya shoves Hashi down, climbs up the corner, and he CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO!! Hashi is still in this but Yuya keeps his focus. Yuya wrenches and clinches, but Hashi wrangles Yuya down to the BUTTERFLY LOCK! Goto keeps Taichi on the outside as Yuya endures! Yuya fights around, reaches out, and fans rally as he kicks his way around. Yuya stands but Hashi reels him in, only for Yuya to cradle! TWO, and Yuya dodges Hashi to CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Hashi scrambles to a corner, Yuya runs in, but Hashi BOOTS him! Yuya staggers, Hashi runs in, but into a RANA!

Yuya then grabs Hashi for a TRIANGLE HOLD!! Hashi flails, Taichi keeps Goto out now, and fans rally up! Hashi kicks around, reaches out, but Yuya squeezes tighter! Yuya pulls on the arm but Hashi kicks and kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! Fans cheer and Yuya lets off in frustration. The fans rally up as Yuya stands, and he waistlocks Hashi. Feed to Taichi but Hashi ROCKS him! Yuya UPPERCUTS Hashi down, but Goto LARIATS Yuya! Taichi BOOTS and ROUNDHOUSES Goto, but Hashi LARIATS Taichi! Fans are thunderous as all four men are down!

Goto and Taichi flop out of the ring, Yuya and Hashi stir. They both sit up and head for each other. Yuya CHOPS, but Hashi CHOPS back! Yuya growls and he CHOPS again! Hashi CHOPS again! Yuya CHOPS, Hashi wobbles, but Hashi comes back to CHOP! Fans rally, Yuya grits his teeth and CHOPS again! Hashi growls and CHOPS! The CHOPS continue to go back and forth, and the fans rally as they pick up speed! Hashi CHOPS, and CHOPS, and then runs in to SUPER- NO, Yuya blocks, feed to Taichi’s RIDGE HAND! Yuya CHOPS, Taichi BUZZSAWS! Fans fire up with J5G and they drag Hashi up!

Yuya clinches to URENAGE! Cover, TWO! Hashi survives and fans fire up! Yuya drags Hashi up, reels him in, then traps the arms. Hashi fights the Kamuki, but Yuya pulls on the arms! But Hashi powers Yuya to ropes! Goto runs in to clothesline! DRAGON SUPLEX! Fans rally up as Hashi storms over to Yuya. Goto climbs a corner, Hashi brings Yuya up, but Taichi anchors Goto! Yuya fights free and he shoves Hashi into Goto! O’Conner Bridge! TWO!!! Hashi escapes and shocks everyone! Goto and Taichi brawl on the outside! Hashi DOUBLE CHOPS Yuya, feeds him to Goto but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS!

Hashi SUPERKICKS Yuya! Taichi ROCKS Hashi, and Alabama Lifts! But Hashi turns that into a DESTROYER!! Fans are thunderous again as Bishamon regroups! Hashi powers up and runs, to LARIAT Yuya inside-out!! Cover, TWO?!? Yuya survives and the fans are thunderous again! But Bishamon hurries to get Yuya up! They whip Yuya to a corner, Goto runs in to clothesline! Hashi runs in to clothesline! Goto goes up top, Hashi picks Yuya up, DANGEROUS BULLDOG!! But they’re not done! Dragon sleeper, leg lift, SHOTO!!! Cover, BISHAMON WINS!!

Winners: Bishamon, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Taichi & Yuya earn 0)

J5G put up a hell of a fight, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough to stop THE tag team champions! Will Taichi & Yuya just have to focus on other pursuits?

As for Bishamon, Hashi grabs the mic to thank everyone for coming out tonight. He and “Gocchan” get to play two more matches, and vows they’ll come out on top. “Last year, I won and showed you an unprecedented performance. This year, I’m looking forward to seeing you. Even if you’re a MORON, I will show you the best pictures you’ve ever seen!” And to everyone here, please look forward to it. When Hashi looked at the clock, it was already past 10 PM. Gocchan is staying up past his bedtime! So Hashi will let him finish this.

Fans cheer for Goto and he tells everyone here thanks for coming, too. Yes, he would like to call it a day. So see you all tomorrow in Kagoshima! And that’ll be LIGHTS OUT! The lights DO turn out! Will Bishamon show their power and make the threepeat a reality?

Here are the FINAL B Block standings!

• El Phantasmo & Hikuleo: 5-2, 10 points [SEMIFINALIST, B1]
• Bishamon: 4-2-1, 9 points [SEMIFINALIST, B2]
• Lance Archer & Alex Zayne: 4-3, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
• Taichi & Yuya Uemura: 4-3, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
• Atlantis Jr. & Soberano Jr: 3-3-1, 7 points [ELIMINATED]
• Yota Tsuji & Zandokan Jr: 3-4, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
• Yuji Nagata & Minoru Suzuki: 2-5, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
• Bad Luck Fale & Jack Bonza: 2-5, 4 points [ELIMINATED]

My Thoughts:

A great seventh round for B Block to finalize our semifinals! Great win for Suzuki & Nagata to stick together in the end, and great match for Tsuji & Zando VS Atlantis & Soberano. I guess with Tsuji & Zando losing, they don’t get to add Zando to LIJ, which is a shame. But maybe this becomes a story for the group moving forward. And a little surprised it was NOT Monster Sauce moving on, but I suppose between Archer being in AEW and the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions needing to stay strong, ELP & Leo had to win out.

Then a great main event, but in similar fashion, Taichi is KOPW Champion and Yuya only just came back from excursion, they can’t be going for the trophies or the tag titles just yet. Bishamon breaks part of the curse but it’ll still take another round to make that threepeat a thing. Bishamon as B2 will take on the War Dogs as A1, and then TMDK takes on ELP & Leo as A2 VS B1. I wasn’t sure yesterday the chances of an A Block rematch for the finals, but feels like it’s more likely than I thought. We only have to wait 24 hours and then we’ll see!

My Score: 8.9/10