It’s another big faction showdown!

Before Tetsuya Naito and Sanada have their IWGP World Heavyweight Championship rematch, they settle whose faction is superior in a unique 5v5 gauntlet!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Shoma Kato VS Katsuya Murashima; Time Limit Draw.
• Six Man Tag: El Phantasmo, Hikuleo & Jado VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
• 10 Man Tag: Shota Umino, El Desperado, Tomoaki Honma, YOH & Boltin Oleg VS The House of Torture;  Shota, Desperado, Honma, Yoh & Oleg wins.
• 8 Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano & Togi Makabe VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
• 10 Man Tag: The United Empire VS Bullet Club War Dogs; The United Empire wins, by disqualification.
• Faction Warfare Gauntlet: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Just5Guys; LIJ wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Faction Warfare Gauntlet: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Just5Guys!

In a match heavily inspired by judo team matches, members will be sent out in order of ranking, saving the “generals” for last! Each round is 10 minutes or first to a fall, the “winner” staying on to stack the odds! If there’s no fall before the time limit is up, both men are eliminated! Will this end up a lopsided victory for one side? Or will it be neck and neck until the end?

Wait a minute, it seems both teams tried to catch the other off guard! SANADA is sent out first, as is Tetsuya Naito! Well then, a preview of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship rematch starts things off, will either man make it to the end?

Tetsuya Naito VS SANADA!

Naito takes his time with his elaborate entrance attire, but Sanada is patient since he knows all the tricks. Naito is finally finished, the bell rings, and the fans cheer. They rally behind “NA-I-TO!” as he and Sanada stare down. The clock is ticking, but these two circle around slowly. They approach, Naito goes for the roll up! TWO, and Naito cradles! TWO, and Sanada sidesteps to O’Conner DEEP Roll! TWO!! Naito escapes and then bails to the outside while Sanada argues with Red Shoes. The count was fair so Sanada watches Naito go around the outside. Sanada holds the ropes open for Naito, but Naito slides under instead.

Naito and Sanada reset, Naito kicks low and SPITS! Sanada runs in, Naito dodges to arm-drag! And atomic drop to a trip, rolling jackknife bridge! TWO!! Sanada escapes but Naito stomps him. Naito brings Sanada up for the BACKBREAKER, into the leglock nelson! Sanada endures, moves around, but Naito puts on the pressure. Sanada still fights, but Naito hooks a leg, too! Sanada kicks with his only free limb and manages to move around. Sanada rolls to relieve some of the pressure, then reaches out for the ROPEBREAK! Surprisingly, Naito lets go right away, and he brings Sanada back up.

Naito cravats for a neck wrench, and he thrashes Sanada around. Sanada throws body shots, but Naito CLUBS him on the neck! Naito whips, Sanada reverses to hurdle, hurdle and DROPKICK! The fans fire up while Naito bails out again. Sanada hurries to PLANCHA! Direct hit and down goes Naito! The fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. The fans oblige, and Sanada nods. Sanada goes back for Naito, drags him up, and puts him in the ring. The fans applaud, Sanada rolls in to cover, TWO! Sanada keeps cool but the clock is still ticking. Sanada fireman’s carries but Naito fights free!

Naito DUMPS Sanada out, and he runs to WRECK Sanada with the dropkick! Naito catches his breath before going out to fetch Sanada. Naito drags Sanada up, and whips him into railing! Sanada slumps down but Naito opens the gate. Naito brings Sanada around, then closes the gate so he can bend Sanada against it! HOTSHOT NECKBREAKER! Sanada flounders away and Naito leaves him out there! Naito waits in the ring while Red Shoes hurries to check Sanada. Sanada is still in this so the ring count begins. The fans rally as Sanada slowly sits up. We’re already at 10 of 20 but Sanada is still down!

Sanada rises up at 13, hobbles through the gateway at 15, and slides in at 18! Naito is on Sanada, brings him up and throws those HEAVY elbows! Naito then puts Sanada up top and we’re at the three minute warning! SUPER STEINER! The fans fire up and Naito grins as he aims from the corner. Sanada slowly rises, Naito runs in, but Sanada dropkicks a leg! Then he DROPKICKS Naito down! Naito bails out, Sanada catches his breath then pursues. But Naito RAMS Sanada into railing! And then into more railing! We’re under two minutes here but Naito sends Sanada into the wall! And then he puts Sanada on the upper deck!

Fans fire up as Naito climbs up to join Sanada, and the chairs all get moved aside! Naito drags Sanada up to turn him, but Sanada fights free! Sanada trips Naito, then ties him up!! The ring count starts, but Naito kicks Sanada away! So Sanada dropkicks the legs out! Sanada hurries back to ringside, and he slides in at 10 of 20. Naito is still out there at 15! Naito flounders off the upper deck at 17, and hurries to slide in at 19! But then Sanada dropkicks the legs out! And we’re under ONE MINUTE! Sanada hurries to step through, but Naito cradles! TWO!! Sanada spins Naito around, for MAGIC- NO! Naito turns that around to TORNADO DDT!!

THIRTY SECONDS! Naito hurries to wrench, tilt-o-whirl, but no Destino! DEAD- NO, Naito slips free again! Sanada O’Conner Rolls, but TIME’S UP!!

Time Limit Draw, BOTH men are eliminated!

Naturally, ten minutes wouldn’t be enough for the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and the previous IWGP World Heavyweight Champion to settle things. So now, out comes the next two participants! The Blue Playmaker and… THE RAMPAGING DRAGON!?

Shingo Takagi VS Taka Michinoku!

It seems LIJ wants to keep going strong by sending out a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion of their own! Will Takagi be able to bring down Taka in under 10 minutes?

Wait, Taka BOOTS first! And then SHINING WIZARD in the corner! The bell rings to get this on record as Takagi bails out. Taka builds speed, and he fakes the dive to slingshot out! But Takagi avoids that to then YANK Taka down! Takagi JABS Taka, and whips him hard into railing! Takagi storms up, brings Taka around, and whips him hard into more railing! The fans fire up with Takagi as we get another fast ‘n’ furious start. Takagi stomps Taka around, then drags him up to put in the ring. The fans cheer as Takagi storms in but Taka kicks the ropes! Takagi gets jammed up, and then Taka DRAGON SCREWS the leg!

Takagi falls, Taka slides out and brings Takagi to the corner. Taka SLAMS a leg into the post! And then he SLAMS the other leg into the post! Then Taka ties the legs up, for a HANGING FIGURE FOUR! Fans rally while Takagi endures! Red Shoes reprimands, Takagi claws at the leg lock, and Taka lets go. Takagi hobbles away but Taka headlocks him. They go past where Naito is still resting, and then end up backstage! Red Shoes starts the ring count, but what’s even going on back there? The count passes 10 of 20, and Taka rushes back out! He slides in at 15, Takagi storms back in at 17, but does he know the count is climbing?

Takagi is upset, he slides in at 19! Taka grabs a leg for an ANKLE LOCK! Takagi has the ROPEBREAK! Taka lets go to bring Takagi up but Takagi JABS, JABS and JABS! Then ROLLING- NO, Taka boots the lariat away and drop toeholds to the AKNLE LOCK! Takagi endures but Taka GRAPEVINES him! Takagi reaches out but Taka adds the other leg, INVERTED FIGURE FOUR! Takagi endures, crawls forward, and has the ROPEBREAK! Fans cheer and Taka lets go to then bring Takagi up. Takagi fights the scoop, throws body shots, then scoops Taka. Taka slips free but Takagi ELBOWS, JABS and YUKON LARIATS!

The fans fire up as Takagi brings Taka up to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi looks to the camera, “TOKI GA KITA! <The time has come!>” The fans fire up, Takagi runs to SLIDING LARIAT! Takagi eggs Taka on as we reach five minutes in this round. Taka sputters so Takagi brings him up. Taka fights the lift to jackknife bridge! ONE, but Taka SHINING WIZARDS! Both men are down and the fans rally up! Takagi and Taka rise, and Takagi fires a forearm! Taka JUMP SOBATS! Then JUMP KNEES! Then SUPER K! Cover, TWO! Takagi is still in this but Taka fires up. Taka scoops but Takagi fights that again!

Takagi throws elbows, then ELBOWS! JABS! Taka SLAPS and pokes the eyes! Trip and Oklahoma Roll! TWO!! SHINING WIZARD! But Takagi’s right up! PUMPING BOMBER!! Cover, TWO?!? Taka survives and the fans are thunderous! Takagi eggs Taka on, runs, and PUMPING BOMBERS!! Then he hauls Taka up for the YUKON BOMB!! Cover, TWO?!? STF!! Taka endures but Takagi rolls him into the TAKAGI STF!! Taka TAPS, Takagi ELIMINATES him!!

Winner: Shingo Takagi, by pinfall; stays in the match

Now with Takagi giving LIJ the advantage, here comes The Holy Emperor! Taichi not being saved for last is certainly a surprise, but he also knows Takagi well from their battles over the KOPW Championship so this is good timing. Takagi stays warmed up while Taichi takes off his elaborate entrance attire. The bell rings and the two rush in! They RAM shoulders again and again, then Takagi dodges Ax Bomber to RAM Taichi! Taichi rebounds to BOOT Takagi down! The fans fire up and Taichi runs, but Takagi blocks the boot to CLUB the leg! Takagi ROCKS Taichi, Taichi KICKS Takagi! Taichi KICKS again and again!

Takagi DOUBLE CHOPS but Taichi KICKS the leg! Takagi falls over and hurries to ropes, but Taichi kicks him out of the ring. Taichi then pursues, and he sends Takagi into railing! Taichi brings Takagi through the gateway to snapmare him in front of the fans. Taichi KICKS Takagi in the back! Takagi writhes but Taichi brings him up. Takagi ROCKS Taichi, Taichi BOOTS Takagi! Takagi stops from falling on fans, and Taichi whips him into a POST! Takagi slumps down but Taichi pushes him into the ring. Taichi drags Takagi around, has a standing toehold, then he stomps a leg. Taichi turns Takagi over, stomps him a bit, then has the HALF CRAB!

Takagi endures as Taichi pulls on the leg! Takagi fights his way forward, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Taichi lets go in frustration, but he then stands on the leg. Taichi taunts Takagi then stomps the knee! Taichi scuffs Takagi, kicks at the leg, but Takagi sits up. Taichi gives Takagi more scuffing kicks, and he eggs Takagi on before a stomp! Takagi sits up but Taichi gives him Kawada Kicks. Takagi gets mad so Taichi gives him more Kawada Kicks! Takagi headbutts the buckle to fire back up! Taichi kicks the bad leg, then KICKS Takagi in the chest! Takagi falls back into the corner, and Taichi waits on him to stand.

Takagi stands, Taichi runs in, but into BOOTS! Taichi comes back, but Takagi BOOTS again! Takagi hobbles, swings, misses, but he fights Dangerous Saido to fireman’s carry! Taichi slips free but Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON feint and DDT! The fans fire up again while both men are down. Takagi sits up first, shakes out his arms and legs, then stalks Taichi to a corner. Takagi runs up but blocks a boot, to clothesline after all! The fans rally and Takagi fires off forearms in the corner! Takagi goes to TEN, then brings Taichi up. Takagi whips corner to corner, runs in and clotheslines again! Takagi reels Taichi in, Taichi fights the suplex, so Takagi SWINGING NECKBREAKERS!

Takagi crawls to cover at the five minute mark, TWO! Takagi keeps his focus and he hears the fans rally up. “TOKI GA KITA! <The time has come!>” The fans fire up and Takagi brings Taichi around. Takagi lifts but Taichi fights it! They fight for control, and Taichi back drops free! The fans fire up again, but Takagi runs in. Taichi swings, Takagi gets around to waistlock, but Taichi PELES Takagi’s arm! Taichi looks to the cameras now? Taichi finds the right one, but Takagi CLUBS him before he can copy Takagi’s catchphrase! Takagi then runs in at the corner, but Taichi dodges to GAMANGIRI! Both men fall and fans fire up again!

The fans rally as Taichi rises, and OFF COME THE PANTS! The fans fire up more as Taichi takes aim and builds his power. TENSHO- NO, Takagi dodges! We’re at the three minute warning as Taichi kicks a leg out! But Takagi blocks the buzzsaw! DRAGON SCREW! Both men are down, and Takagi rallies with “OI! OI! OI!” The fans join in, Takagi drags Taichi up, and he fires a forearm! Taichi KICKS in return! Takagi ridge hand chops Taichi! Taichi ridge hands back! They fire off these martial arts chops back and forth and the fans fire up! Takagi fires a flurry, so Taichi URAKENS! Takagi grits his teeth to CHOP! Taichi KICKS!

Takagi drops to a knee, Taichi KICKS him again! And again! Takagi leans into the shots and eggs Taichi on! Taichi kicks the bad leg and we’re at the two minute warning! Takagi fires boxing elbows! Taichi wrenches to HOOK KICK! Takagi rises to CLOBER Taichi! Takagi runs, but Taichi dodges! And clinches! They sumo wrestle! They go around, try for trips and throws! Taichi has the waistband to THROW Takagi!! Taichi runs, but Takagi ducks to GROUND COBRA CRADLE! TWO!!! Takagi ELBOWS! And JABS! But Taichi ROUNDHOUSES! Takagi rebounds to AX BOMBER!?! Both men are down as we’re under ONE MINUTE!!

The fans rally as hard as they can! Takagi rises up, he drags Taichi to his feet, and he runs with THIRTY seconds! DOUBLE BOMBERS collide! And then they collide again! And again! TWENTY SECONDS! Takagi runs, into a GAMANGIRI!! Cover, TWO!!! And we’re under TEN SECONDS!! Taichi flounders around, but TIME IS UP!!

Time Limit Draw, BOTH men are eliminated

Taichi and Takagi couldn’t finish this within the ten minutes, they’re both out! But that still helps LIJ as they have three men left and J5G has only two! Who is sent out next? It’s the Black Mask and Japones Del Mal!

BUSHI VS DOUKI!

The masked men of each team meet, as if it was meant to be! Will the Junior Heavyweights be able to finish this one faster than ten minutes?

Bushi rushes Douki and fires off! The bell rings, Bushi whips but Douki reverses. Bushi BOOTS back, TOSSES Douki out, then builds speed! Douki returns to ELBOW Bushi down! The fans fire up and Douki stomps Bushi around. Douki CHOPS Bushi, whips him corner to corner, but Bushi reverses. Bushi runs in to ELBOW, then he brings Douki out. Bushi spins Douki for a DDT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up, Bushi stomps Douki around, and Bushi hauls Douki up. FISHERMAN- NO, Douki slips free to HELL STAB! Douki runs, into an ENZIGIRI! But Douki ENZIGIRIS back! Douki blocks Bushi’s kick, ducks the enzi but not the REWIND HEEL!

Douki wobbles while Bushi goes to a corner. Bushi runs up, CODE- NO, Douki stops the breaker! Douki wrenches, chinbars, ripcords and arm-drags, into a roll and SEATBELT!! DOUKI ELIMINATES BUSHI!!!

Winner: Douki, by pinfall; stays in the match

That WAS fast! And Douki also ties things up! Three rounds down, who is LIJ sending out fourth? Why, the Ticking Timebomb, of course! And he’s not waiting for anything, he runs up to SHOTGUN Douki! The bell rings, Hiromu clotheslines, snapmares and basement dropkicks! Douki bails out and the fans fire up! Hiromu aims from the apron and waits. Douki rises up, and Hiromu JOHN WOOS! The fans fire up with Hiromu as he shouts, “Moto!” The fans echo that, “Moto!” “Moto!” “Moto!” Hiromu then fetches Douki, puts him in the ring, covers, TWO! The fans rally as Hiromu brings Douki up and suplexes, but Douki slips free!

Douki swings but Hiromu fireman’s carries! But Douki slips free, shoves Hiromu to a corner, but Hiromu BOOTS back! Hiromu runs, Douki dodges and holds ropes, then BOOTS back! Douki is on the apron, Hiromu keeps going! FLYING SUNSET FLIP, but Douki holds ropes to block the bomb! Douki kicks Hiromu away, then ASAI MOONSAULTS! Direct hit and down goes Hiromu! The fans fire up while the teams coach their guys on. Hiromu and Douki stir while Red Shoes checks them. The ring count starts, Hiromu and Douki sit up at 5 of 20. Hiromu stands at 10, hobbles over to Douki and puts him in at 14.

The fans cheer and Hiromu brings Douki back up. Hiromu suplexes but Douki blocks! Hiromu still tries but Douki fights it! Douki suplexes but now Hiromu fights it! Hiromu tries again, but Douki wrenches out to waistlock. Hiromu switches, Douki throws elbows then runs, but Hiromu reels him in. Douki hooks free with a leg and then ENZIGIRIS! Hiromu goes to ropes, Douki whips, but Hiromu reverses. Douki springboards to FLYING BACK ELBOW! The fans fire up while both men are down. Douki fires up and stands, to run and DOUBLE STOMP! Cover, TWO! Douki keeps his cool as he brings Hiromu up.

Douki hooks the arms but Hiromu fights the Gory Especial. Douki still lifts! But Hiromu fights free! So Douki knees low, runs, but into a fireman’s carry! Douki slips free, shoves Hiromu away but Hiromu BOOTS him! Hiromu tries again but Douki pops him up into the Gory Especial! DODON NO- NO!! Hiromu arm-drags free! And then POP-UP, but Douki turns that into an ITALIAN STRETCH #32!! Hiromu endures and stays on his feet, even as Douki pulls on the arms! Hiromu fights around, but he’s fading! Red Shoes checks as we pass five minutes, and Hiromu kicks his way around! Hiromu reaches out for the ROPEBREAK!!

The fans cheer but Douki doesn’t let go until Red Shoes counts! Hiromu sputters while Douki goes to the apron. Douki slingshots, but Hiromu stops Daybreak! Hiromu pops Douki around to a fireman’s carry! CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Hiromu fires up and the fans are with him! Hiromu drags Douki up, fireman’s carries again, and swings, but Douki sunset flips! Hiromu sits on it! TWO!! Douki runs up, but into an ELBOW! Both men wobble, and then Douki fires a forearm! Hiromu fires back! They go back and forth with forearms, Hiromu gets the edge, but Douki HELL STABS! And he ducks the superkick to DOUBLE HELL STAB!

Douki runs but into a HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! Douki stays up and we’re under three minutes! Both men run in, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! They both stagger around, then run in! Douki rolls Hiromu up, TWO!! Douki cradles, TWO and Hiromu has it! TWO and Douki has it! TWO! Hiromu has it again, TWO! Douki has it again, TWO! Hiromu has it, TWO!! Douki has it again!! TWO!!! Hiromu escapes and the fans are thunderous! Both men rise up, run in, and HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER hits! But Douki rises?! DOUKI-SAN BOMBER?!?! The fans are thunderous as we’re under two minutes!!

Douki roars and the fans are with him! Douki drags Hiromu up, runs, but into a SUPERKICK! Hiromu says he’s not done yet! Fireman’s carry and swing, but Douki sunset flips!! TWO!!! ITALIAN STRETCH!!! But Hiromu scrambles around! We’re under ONE MINUTE, but Douki drags Hiromu down! Hiromu is fading again, but he still fights back up! Hiromu powers his way over, but then Douki rolls him away! We’re under THIRTY SECONDS, as Hiromu pops Douki into VICTORY ROYALE!! Both men are down at TWENTY SECONDS!! The fans are going nuts as Hiromu crawls his way to a cover, TWO!!!

TEN SECONDS!! Hiromu dragon sleepers, TIMEBOMB- NO, Douki slips free to arm-drag! Hiromu takes a swing but Douki dodges, and TIME IS UP!

Time Limit Draw, BOTH men are eliminated

The two still keep going, Douki drags Hiromu down for a SEATBELT, but Red Shoes tells him it’s too late! And that means we have the fifth and final around! And that only mean a rematch of GENE BLAST VS HEAT STORM!

Yota Tsuji VS Yuya Uemura!

The fans fire up as we revisit WrestleKingdom in the final round! Uemura won in the Tokyo Dome, will he do it again in Korakuen Hall? Or will Tsuji avenge himself and make everything tranquilo?

The bell rings and now there’s NO time limit on this one! The fans fire up for that! Tsuji smiles while the fans rally behind him. He and Yuya circle, then Tsuji rushes in! Yuya gets around but Tsuji bucks the O’Conner Roll! Tsuji rushes back in, Yuya dodges, and both men run the ropes crisscross from each other! Yuya drops, then hurdles, but Tsuji avoids the arm-drag! Yuya avoids the stomp, and the two stand off! The fans cheer, Yuya and Tsuji get forehead to forehead, then Yuya shoves Tsuji. Tsuji ROCKS Yuya with a forearm! Yuya CHOPS back! Tsuji ROCKS Yuya again, so Yuya CHOPS again!

The fans rally up while Tsuji smiles and dusts himself off. Tsuji ROCKS Yuya with another forearm, but Yuya CHOPS again! Tsuji and Yuya continue, forearm for CHOP, and then Tsuji gets the edge with a flurry of shots! Tsuji whips, Yuta reverses, but Tsuji RANAS! Yuya tumbles out of the ring and Tsuji builds speed! The fans fire up as Tsuji DIVES into a forearm! Tsuji falls back but Yuya drags him out, and whips him hard into railing! The fans rally, Yuya drags Tsuji back up, then wrenches an arm. Yuya hammerlocks Tsuji to POST him shoulder first! Tsuji staggers away while the fans rally. Yuya slides into the ring while Red Shoes checks Tsuji.

Tsuji shakes out the arm, he’s okay to continue. Tsuji then has Yuya back up so he can get in the ring. The fans cheer, but Yuya CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Yuya snapmares Tsuji, grabs the bad arm and has a standing arm scissor, for the SNAP LOCK! The fans cheer the savage creativity, and Yuya paces around Tsuji. Yuya then scoops Tsuji to SLAM him, and then runs for an ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer but Yuya pushes Tsuji around and clamps onto the bad arm. Yuya cranks the hammerlock while he leans on Tsuji but Tsuji endures. The fans rally, Tsuji fights around and reaches out, but Yuya SNAP LOCKS the arm!

Tsuji rolls and stands but Yuya still has the hammerlock. Tsuji tries to switch it but Yuya switches it right back. Yuya keeps Tsuji from the ropes and fans cheer the technical prowess. Tsuji throws elbows but Yuya gets under to scoop and HAMMERLOCK SLAM! Fans cheer while Tsuji clutches the bad arm. Yuya covers, TWO! Yuya keeps Tsuji down with a top wristlock now. Tsuji fights up, but Yuya returns to the hammerlock. Yuya RAMS Tsuji into the corner! Then he runs up to CHOP! Yuya CHOPS again, the fans rally up, and Yuya wrenches to whip corner to corner. Yuya runs up but Tsuji BOOTS him!

Yuya comes back, blocks the boot, but Tsuji brings him in to DOUBLE STOMP! The fans fire up while Yuya flounders away. Tsuji smiles even as he shakes out the bad arm. Tsuji looms over Yuya, brings him up, and then fires off forearms! Tsuji whips, Yuya reverses but Tsuji BOOTS him down! The fans fire up with Tsuji and he brings Yuya around. Yuya wrenches to YANK the bad arm! But he runs into a tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up again and Tsuji paces around Yuya. Yuya crawls but Tsuji stalks him. Tsuji gets Yuya’s legs, but Yuya scrambles and flails! Yuya reaches out and gets the ROPEBREAK!

The fans cheer while Tsuji lets off, and then Tsuji stomps away on Yuya! Tsuji runs side to side to BASEBALL SLIDE! Yuya falls out, Tsuji keeps going! Tsuji DIVES and sends Yuya into railing! The fans fire up again while Tsuji storms around. Tsuji has J5G back up, then he drags Yuya around. Tsuji puts Yuya in and the fans fire up as he waits on Yuya. Yuya rises, Tsuji runs, and Tsuji runs Yuya over. Tsuji then grabs the legs again, but Yuya still fights! Yuya kicks and kicks, then he traps the bad arm to SNAP KICK it! Tsuji comes back but into a kick and ARMBAR DDT! But Tsuji’s back up! Only for Yuya to DROPKICK him down!

The fans fire up and Yuya rises! Yuya paces, then he runs up to DOUBLE CHOP in the corner! Yuya reels Tsuji in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO, but into the KIMURA!! Tsuji endures the double wristlock as Yuya pulls on it! Tsuji fights around, reaches out with legs, but Yuya CRANKS the hold! Tsuji still endures, still fights, and still manages the ROPEBREAK! The fans fire up and Yuya lets go. Tsuji is frustrated as he clutches his arm, but Yuya brings him back up. Yuya spins Tsuji around, but Tsuji fights the full nelson! Then Tsuji fights the waistlock! Tsuji throws elbows, he catches Yuya for the BACKBREAKER and COMPLETE SHOT, but Yuya avoids the stomp!

Tsuji ROCKS Yuya but Yuya PELES! Tsuji swings, but Yuya spins him! Tsuji still KNEES Yuya, then COMPLETE SHOTS! The fans fire up while Tsuji smiles again. Tsuji drags Yuya up, clinches, BACKBREAKER, COMPLETE SHOT and the STOMP! Fans fire up as Tsuji finishes his combo, then roars! Tsuji powers up in the corner, takes aim as Yuya rises, but then says hold on. BOOT! Tsuji gets the legs, and he flips Yuya over into the BOSTON CRAB! Tsuji sits deep, but Yuya endures, fights up, and powers his way forward! The fans fire up but Tsuji sits back down! Yuya still fights, but Tsuji drags him away from the ropes! Tsuji sits down deep again!!

Yuya still endures, J5G coaches him, and he fights back up! Yuya claws his way forward, to the ROPEBREAK!! The fans fire up and Tsuji lets go in frustration. Tsuji stands on Yuya’s neck, Red Shoes reprimands, and Tsuji steps away. Tsuji eggs Yuya on, Yuya sits up, but Tsuji kicks him around. Yuya stands but Tsuji smiles. Tsuji CHOPS, Yuya CHOPS, and then Yuya CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Tsuji still eggs him on, Yuya CHOPS more, but Tsuji gets in Yuya’s face. Yuya CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOPS! But Tsuji just smiles through it! Yuya CHOPS, Tsuji ROCKS him! Tsuji hurries to hoist Yuya up top, then CHOPS him back!

Tsuji climbs up, the fans rally, and Tsuji goes to the very top! Tsuji brings Yuya up, throws some forearms, but Yuya gives haymakers back! Tsuji falls! Yuya adjusts up top as Tsuji rises, but Tsuji gets under the jump! Yuya comes back, into a POP-UP POWERBOMB!! Less pop, more bomb! And then the BOSTON CRAB!! Tsuji sits deep on Yuya’s spine but the fans rally up! Yuya endures, fights back up, and he crawls his way over to where J5G is cheering! But Tsuji drags him away, turns him back over, and SWINGS him!! Tsuji TOSSES Yuya away then roars! The fans fire up as Tsuji hauls Yuya back around, and back into the BOSTON CRAB!

Tsuji is really wanting to embarrass Yuya with a “Young Lion” move! Fans fire up as Yuya endures all over again! Yuya fights, does hopping push-ups, but Tsuji drags him away again! And sits DEEP!! Yuya fights up again?! So Tsuji shifts to a LION TAMER!! Tsuji digs that knee into Yuya’s shoulder blades but Yuya refuses to give in! Tsuji lets him go out of frustration, then looms over Yuya. Tsuji drags Yuya back up, to CURB STOMP him down! Tsuij roars and powers up, and the fans rally. Tsuji aims from a corner as Yuya sits back up. Yuya stands, and RANAS Gene Blast, into an ARMBAR! But Tsuji stacks him! TWO!!

Yuya ENZIGIRIS! Tsuji rebounds, to GENE BLAST!!! Cover, TSUJI WINS!

Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, by pinfall

It was truly neck and neck in the end, with Tsuji avenging his loss at WrestleKingdom! LIJ stands together victorious in the end, but will Just5Guys be able to rebound in time for Osaka and Sapporo?

As for Tsuji, he gets the mic to speak. “Oi, Uemura. Oi. Hey, what did you say after you beat me last night? Should I say it? Oi. You stepped over that IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to say it. Me and you, we have to fight for that. That’s what you said, didn’t you? We can have a hell of a match every single night, BUT! Nothing will come of it. We have to settle this in Sapporo. At least for now.” So how about… they make it Hair VS Hair?! What does Uemura say to that? Uemura grabs the mic from Tsuji, and says, “I’m not interested in your hair. BUT! I won’t run from anyone or anything. So in Sapporo… I’ll do it! Hair VS Hair!!”

The fans fire up for this rather rare stipulation match! The future of NJPW wants to go for the top prize, willing to put up more than just their pride on the line! Which one of these lions loses their glorious manes while the other rises up towards the gold?

J5G leaves but Tsuji continues. “OI, Korakuen! And everyone watching around the world. We can’t keep going the way we are going in NJPW. I’ve thought this for a long time. Staying put gets you nowhere. There is a lot I wanna do right here. And to do what I wanna do, Naito… I need the belt that you have. I’m not saying it’s right now, but I will get results. I will produce wins, and I will face you for that IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.” Tsuji vows that this generation of NJPW is going to belong to him. Up, down, left and right, it will all be Tsuji’s! Tsuji vows to be the top of NJPW, just you wait and see.

Tsuji drops the mic and smiles, but Naito smirks as well. Naito brings the belt around nonchalantly like he does every belt, and sets it out in front of the group. Tsuji is first to raise the LIJ fist, and the rest join in. When and where will the Uncontrollable Charisma have to worry about Gene Blast? Will it even be Naito who holds the title when Tsuji comes around for his shot?

My Thoughts:

Okay I know I skipped a LOT on this one, but this was all just a tune-up night with one very big main event. Given the first four rounds were gonna be up to ten minutes, this was gonna end up a 40 minute main event at least. And then they went and had mostly time limit draws to get the maximum out of the whole thing. I did appreciate that Takagi of course beats Taka in the time limit given that’s a heavyweight beating a junior heavyweight, and then I also liked that Douki got to eliminate Bushi fast to show Douki’s risen up in the ranks.

And while surprising, the order everyone entered worked towards story. They didn’t have to choose between Sanada and Naito, and then they gave Tsuji the win over Uemura so that they’re personally 1-1 and will need the tiebreaker. Hair VS Hair is a wild choice, but could go either way because of it. And Tsuji calling out Naito for a potential future title match was pretty wild, too. Tsuji is one of the Reiwa Era Three Musketeers so NJPW clearly sees big things for him, and honestly, I don’t blame them. Tsuji’s big, has a great smile and good personality, he’s a shoe-in for the top spot, so might as well get going on that build.

My Score: 8.7/10