One way or another, things will be tranquilo!

Tetsuya Naito battles his Los Ingobernables de Japon teammate, Yota Tsuji, for THE IWGP World Heavyweight Championship! Tsuji already won the New Japan Cup, but will the Reiwa Musketeer have the best rookie year ever?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Frontier Zone Six Man Tag: Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Boltin Oleg VS Chicharito Shoki, Takuro Niki & Ayato Yashida; Yano, Ishii & Oleg win.
• Ryusuke Taguchi & El Desperado VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita; ZSJ & Fujita win.
• BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi VS David Finlay & Gedo; Bushi & Hiromu win.
• Six Man Tag: Just5Guys VS The United Empire; Just5Guys win.
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships Triple Threat: Bullet Club War Dogs VS Intergalactic Jetsetters VS Catch 2/2; War Dogs win and retain the titles.
• IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: KENTA & Chase Owens VS Bishamon; Bishamon wins and become the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: SHO VS YOH; Sho wins by referee stoppage, and retains the title.
• Shota Umino & Jon Moxley VS Jack Perry & Ren Narita; Shota & Moxley win.
• NEVER Openweight Championship, Special Guest Referee Yoshinobu Kanemaru: EVIL VS Shingo Takagi; Takagi wins and becomes the new NEVER Openweight Champion.
• IWGP World Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Tetsuya Naito VS Yota Tsuji; Naito wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships Triple Threat: Bullet Club War Dogs VS Intergalactic Jetsetters VS Catch 2/2!

Clark Connors & Dan Moloney snatched these titles away during the New Beginning, but they’ve found themselves right back where they started! Kushida & Kevin Knight are former champions, but so are TJP & Francesco Akira, and they all want payback on Bullet Club! Will these titles stay 100 Proof? Or will there be “new” champions crowned tonight?

Everyone dressed up for this occasion! Kushida is wearing Back to the Future DeLorean armor and Knight is Doc, TJP is a human-Aswang hybrid, and The War Dogs have dog masks. The introductions are made, but then the brawl is on! The fans fire up as the bell rings and they’re just letting this one be tornado style! Drilla stomps Kushida out of the ring, TJP RAMS Connors into a corner and Knight RAMS Akira into another corner. TJP TOSSES Connors out, Knight RAMS into Akira more but fires forearms! Akira and Knight brawl while TJP stomps Connors. Akira CHOPS, then ducks Knight’s leg lariat, only to run into a BACKBREAKER!

The fans fire up as Knight whips Akira, hurdles, hurdles, and then Kushida is in! They bypass Akira to drop toehold and RUNNING SPLASH! Knight gets air even there, and then Jetsetters whip Akira to a corner. Akira BOOTS Knight, kicks Kushida low, then goes up the corner to use Kushida as a step, FLYING RANA for Knight! Akira dodges Kushida, rolls back, and gets Kushida for a swinging RANA! Kushida is sent into Knight, and then Akira runs up, NECKBREAKER DROP DDT COMBO! The fans fire up with the Nova Fireball and he gets the Jetsetters on ropes. TJP returns, he runs to the corner to triangle jump DOUBLE DROPKICK!

The fans fire up but Drilla returns! He kicks Akira, CHOPS TJP, then whips TJP to a corner. TJP goes up and over, Akira clotheslines! Then TJP gives Akira the boost to DROPKICK Connors down! All four corners have someone in them, and TJP scrubs Knight! The fans rally up, and TJP runs side to side to BOOT WASH Drilla! BOOT WASH Kushida! BOOT WASH Connors! And BOOT WASH Knight! TJP completes the lap and the fans are thunderous.  Kushida sneaks up on TJP but TJP switches, trips him, and steps through! TJP ties Kushida up in the Deathlock, but Connors runs up! TJP catches him to a COBRA TWIST!

Knight runs up but TJP HEADBUTTS him, then reels him into a GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! The fans fire up for this chimera of submissions, and Akira intercepts Drilla with a GUILLOTINE of his own! But Drilla carries Akira as he CLOBBERS everyone else! All six men are down and the fans fire up! TJP finds Connors, brings him around to whip to a corner, then runs in. Connors puts TJP on the apron but Akira UPPRECUTS! Akira says iku zo, and he goes to the apron. Catch 2/2 coordinate, but Drilla YANKS Akira down! TJP still runs in, but into an APRON SNAP POWERSLAM!? How’d Connors even do that!?

Knight runs up to fire forearms on Connors, then ROLLING ELBOWS! Drilla gets in to CLUB Knight! Drilla then back suplexes, but Knight lands out! Only for Connors to POUNCE him up and out onto everyone else! The fans can’t believe it but it just happened! The War Dogs brag then soak up the heat before going out to fetch Knight. Connors pushes Knight to a cover, TWO! The fans rally but Connors stomps Knight around. The other teams get up but The War Dogs BOOT and KICK them back down. Knight CHOPS Drilla, Connors UPPERCUTS Knight! Drilla CHOPS Knight, then Connors CHOPS Knight!

Drilla CHOPS Knight, Knight kicks Connors! Knight kicks Drilla, CLUBS Connors, ROCKS Drilla, repeat! But Drilla BODY BLOWS then ROCKS Knight! Connors snap suplexes Knight down! Then Connors runs to JUMP ELBOW DROP! Kushida gets in but Connors is on him first, and TOSSES him back out. The War Dogs see Akira gets up so they mug him. Drilla scoops and SLAMS Akira, then they soak up more heat. But Kushida is back, helps Knight up, but Drilla CLAWS Kushida on the back! Drilla tosses Kushida out, Connors UPPERCUTS Knight. Connors whips Knight corner to corner hard, then Drilla covers, TWO!

The fans rally as Knight keeps everyone else in this match, but the War Dogs loom over him. They mock the fans cheering on Knight then flex. Knight fires forearms and CHOPS on the Dogs! The fans fire up but Drilla mule kicks! The Dogs double whip, but Knight LEAPS the double lariat to DOUBLE PELE! The fans fire up as the Dogs bail out! Kushida returns, as does Akira! Akira kicks Knight, CHOPS Kushida, then runs, into into a bypass and DROPKICK! Kushida KICKS TJP, KICKS Connors, then HANDSPRING KICKS Drilla! And he WRECKS Akira with a dropkick! Akira and Drilla both end up in the front row!

TJP and Connors each get up, but Knight springboards to DOUBLE FLYING LARIAT! The fans are thunderous, Kushida TOSSES TJP and Connors over railing! Kushida’s gathered all targets in the front row, and Knight takes aim! Springboard SUPER CROSSBODY into the crowd!! Direct hit on everyone and the fans are thunderous! The Jetsetters regroup, a ring count starts on all six wrestlers! Kushida hurries up and over railing, he and Knight drag everyone back over. We pass 10 of 20, the brawling returns, and everyone falls over again! We’re at 16! 17! 18! EVERYONE slides in at 19! The fans fire up again as all six men are exhausted!

All six men rise up, and the brawling continues! Akira with Connors, TJP with Knight, and Kushida with Drilla. But then they trade, and Knight fires off on Connors! Drilla stomps Akira and Kushida out then goes after TJP. Drilla puts TJP up, ROCKS him, then climbs up after him. Drilla goes to the very tip, but TJP trips him into the Tree of Woe! The fans fire up, but then Jetsetters SUPERKICK ENZIGIRI COMBO! Knight says it’s time, but TJP throws him down by his hair! TJP then stands up but, Drilla kicks from below! Drilla gets out of the Tree, Knight comes back, UPPER ROOM! But Akira leaps in, only for Knight to catch him! SKY2HIGH!! Cover, TWO!!

The Dogs are up and they take aim! SPEAR GORE COMBO!! Cover on Knight, TWO?!?! Knight survives and the fans are thunderous! The Dogs get Knight up, take aim again, but Knight leaps over! The Dogs almost collide, and Knight dodges Drilla to LARIAT Connors! Drilla SUPERKICKS Knight! Kushida runs up on Drilla but is put on the apron! Connors goes out to APRON SPEAR!! A rough landing for both guys, but Drilla HEADBUTTS Knight! Knight forearms Drilla! Drilla fires back, but Knight fires another! Knight eggs Drilla on, Drilla forearms! Knight UPPERCUTS! Drilla ENZIGIRIS!

Drilla whips Knight, Knight goes up and- LOW BLOW!! Drilla inverted suplexes, OSAKA STREET CUTTER!! Kushida returns but Drilla mule kicks! Drilla whips, Kushida handsprings, but into the DRILLA- NO, Kushida lands out! Drilla ducks the Buzzsaw, Kushida rolls through the schoolboy, but gets hit by the FIREBALL! TJP CALF KICKS Drilla! Catch 2/2 coordinate and Akira builds speed to FLY! Direct hit on Connors, but a rough landing for Akira! FINAL CUT for Drilla! TJP goes up top, to MAMBA SPLASH!! Cover, TWO?!? Drilla survives and the fans are thunderous! Connors returns and he ROCKS TJP!

TJP SOBATS Connors! TJP runs, but Connors scoops for a SIDEWALK SLAM! Akira returns to wrench, knee, and STO! Akira fires up, gets Drilla up, knee and- SPIENBUSTER DOUBLE STOMP COMBO!! FASTBALL from Kushida! ROLLING SOBAT from TJP! SUPERKICK from Knight! Knight whips, TJP reverses, and he ducks Kushida’s crossbody! Drilla GORES Knight!! Akira returns to wheelbarrow and victory roll so TJP can BLOOD MIST Drilla!! STOMP 182, and then TJHP backslides Kushida! TWO!!! 2 BY 2!!! Cover, CONNORS BREAKS IT!!! The fans are thunderous as this still isn’t over!

The fans fire up for “CATCH! NI NI! CATCH! NI NI!” TJP & Akira get Kushida up, Electric Chair Lift and Akira climbs! But Knight is back and he anchors Akira! Kushida fights to a victory roll, TWO!! TJP drop toeholds Kushida to the PINOY STRETCH!! Akira SHOTGUNS Knight down! Kushida endures, Akira plays defense with DIVE after DIVE! But Kushida powers up and out to drag TJP into the HOVERBOARD!!! TJP flails, kicks, but he can’t find ropes! Akira returns but Knight runs in! SATELLITE DDT!!! Knight HOVERBOARDS Akira!!! TJP AND Akira endure, but the Dogs CLOBBER everyone else!!

Catch 2/2 tumble out of the ring, the Dogs get the Jetsetters, but then the Jetsetters switch! DOUBLE HOVERBOARDS, but then SPINEBUSTER SANDWICH! And another! Kushida still SHOTEIS! Connors mule kicks Knight, BODY BLOWS Kushida, then runs, into an atomic drop! Dropkick to the legs, Chancery and BASEMENT DROPKICK! Shoutout to Shelley & Sabin! Jetsetters then combine, Electric Chair, victory roll, SPEAR!!! Connors ruins the Culture Shock, and Drilla GORES Kushida!!! The Dogs roar and the fans are thunderous! The Dogs get the Jetsetters up, for DRILLA KILLA and NO CHASER!!

But the Dogs aren’t done there! They haul Kushida up, lock ‘n’ load as Connors climbs, and FULL CLIP!!! Cover, War Dogs win!

Winners: Bullet Club War Dogs, by pinfall (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)

Drilla won’t stop there, either! He rains down forearms on Kushida for the hell of it! The Ichiban Gaijin came through for Bullet Club, but is this just the beginning of a Too Sweet Sakura Genesis?

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: KENTA & Chase Owens VS Bishamon!

We just saw the Bullet Club’s Junior Heavyweights find a way, now we see if the big boys can pull it off. Will Fang Revived & Crown Jewel still shine with gold? Or will Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi #GetBackUp to the top of the tag division?

The introductions are made, and then Bullet Club attacks! Kenta goes after Hashi while Chase is after Goto, and they both CLUB away! Kenta TOSSES Hashi out, the bell rings to get this on record, and Bullet Club stomps away on Goto. They double whip, but he ducks the double clothesline! Goto sends Chase into Kenta, but Chase knees Goto low. Chase UPPERCUTS, CHOPS, then runs, but Hashi returns! Bishamon runs Chase over! Then Hashi runs for ZANMAI! Kenta returns but Goto kicks low to snap suplex Kenta onto Chase! The fans fire up with Bishamon and they get Chase up. Goto CLUBS Chase, then stomps him and fires forearms in a corner.

Goto whips corner to corner, runs in, but Chase BOOTS back! Goto still runs in, but into a BUCKLE SHOT, STO and SENTON! Kenta YANKS Hashi off the apron, then whips him into railing! Chase brings Goto out, and he sends Goto into railing, too! Kenta whips Hashi hard into more railing! Chase CHOKES Goto against railing, the ref reprimands, and Chase punches Goto down. Kenta stomps Hashi against railing, then ROCKS him! Kenta brings Hashi around to POST him, Chase puts Goto in the ring, and Chase FIST DROPS! The fans rally but Chase drags Goto up. Chase bumps Goto off buckles, but Goto kicks back!

Chase CHOKES Goto, the ref counts, and Chase lets off at 4. Chase brushes the ref aside to tag in Kenta. Kenta and Chase split the wishbone! Kenta then drops an ELBOW, covers, TWO! The fans rally as Goto stays in this, but Kenta stays on Goto. Kenta puts on a headscissor squeeze but the fans rally more. Goto fights around, ROPEBREAK! Kenta holds until the ref counts 4, and then argues Goto was holding onto him. The ref says no, he saw clearly what was going on. Kenta brings Goto up, bumps him off Chase’s boot, then tags Chase in. They stomp mudholes into Goto, then Chase bumps Goto off buckles.

Chase whips Goto to the neutral corner, forearm smash and short arm LARIAT! Chase says that’s a homerun! Tag back to Kenta and he drags Goto up. Kenta turns Goto for the NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Kenta drags Goto back up, KICKS, but Goto blocks to CHOP and CHOP! Kenta KICKS again, Goto goes to a corner, and Kenta BOOTS him! Kenta RAMS into Goto again and again, then lets off to insult Hashi. Kenta then whips corner to corner but Goto reverses. Goto runs in, Kenta BOOTS and runs, but Goto follows! LARIAT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Hot tag to Hashi, and he runs up to ELBOW Kenta!

Hashi BLASTS Chase, DOUBLE CHOPS Kenta, and the fans fire up! Hashi runs corner to corner to CHOP Kenta, then whips to CHOP Kenta again! Mule kick! NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up, Hashi brings Kenta up, but Kenta fights the suplex. Kenta wrenches out but Hashi ROCKS Kenta. Hashi whips, Kenta reverses, and Chase trips Hashi! The ref reprimands but Chase and Kenta stomp Hashi to a corner. They drag him up, double whip corner to corner, then Kenta runs in. Hashi dodges to dropkick Chase’s legs! Kenta runs in again but Hashi sends him into Chase! Hashi kicks Kenta, CLUBS him, and calls Goto.

Goto gets in, Hashi feeds Kenta to the fireman’s carry, but Kenta slips free to shove Goto into Hashi! Kenta then TOSSES Goto, runs up, but Hashi dodges! Kenta blocks Hashi’s lariat to URAKEN! Kenta runs, into Hashi’s LARIAT after all! The fans fire up again while both men are down! Kenta and Hashi crawl, hot tags to Chase and Goto! Goto swings, Chase dodges to mule kick. Chase runs, but Goto runs him over! Goto fires off on Chase in a corner, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs up to MURAMASA! Then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Chase stays in this and the fans rally up. Goto drags Chase up, fireman’s carries, but Chase fights free!

Chase ROCKS Goto, eggs him on, so Goto ROCKS Chase back! Chase ROCKS Goto again, but Goto ROCKS Chase! The forearms go back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans rally up! DOUBLE FOREARMS rock both men! They then both DOUBLE LARIAT! Neither falls, so they both roar, and DOUBLE LARIAT! GOto drops to a knee but Chase grits his teeth! Chase runs, but into a fireman’s carry! Chase slips free, but Goto puts him in a corner! Hashi runs in to clothesline! Feed to the fireman’s carry! FIERCE FLASH into dragon sleeper! Chase BOOTS Hashi away, grabs the ref while he powers Goto to ropes, Kenta CHAIR SHOTS Goto in the back!!

Chase drags Goto into a cradle, TWO!! Goto escapes the screw job and Bullet Club is furious! Chase runs in at the corner but Goto BOOTS him! Goto runs up but into a SOBAT! Chase hops on, SUNSET BUCKLE BOMB! Kenta HYDRAULIC DROPKICKS! Hashi runs in, but Chase fireman’s carries to DEATH VALLEY BOMB! Kenta PENALTY KICKS Hashi down! Chase gets Goto up, hammerlock for JEWEL HEIST!! Cover, TWO!! Goto survives and the fans fire up! Chase drags Goto up, reels him in and tucks the arms, but Goto fights the lift! Chase CLUBS Goto, ROCKS him with a forearm, then tries again. But Goto back drops free!

Chase blocks the ref’s eyes while Kenta gets in with a title belt! The fans boo as Kenta takes aim, but Goto fireman’s carries Kenta! USHIGOROSHI! Chase fires off a strike fest, ROCKS Goto, then runs, but Goto follows! Chase ENZIGIRIS first! But Goto stays up! Goto swats the first knee, but the C-TRIGGER returns! Chase takes aim, runs up, but Goto blocks this one! Chase fights but Hashi SUPERKICKS! Fireman’s carry, FIERCE FLASH! Hashi calls their shot and the fans are thunderous! Goto dragon sleepers and Hashi has the legs, but Chase boots free again! Kenta trips Hashi, Chase victory rolls, TWO!!

Goto rises up, into a C-TRIGGER! Hashi and Kenta brawl while Chase covers, TWO!! Goto survives and the fans fire up again! Chase locks ‘n’ loads and says BANG as he drags Goto up. C-TRIGGER POINT-BLANK!! Then Chase gets Goto up, hooks him up, but Hashi BLOCKBUSTERS! Kenta runs up to hit Hashi, but Hashi hits back! The brawling continues, Kenta CROSS COUNTERS! Kenta runs, into the HIDDEN GAP, GOTO STYLE! Hashi finds Chase, feeds him to Goto but Chase BOOTS! Hashi gets around Chase, has him on the ropes, and Goto LARIATS! Then the roll into dragon sleeper! Chase still fights free, but gets HIDDEN GAP! Then SHOUTO!!! Cover, BISHAMON WINS!!

Winner: Bishamon, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)

Bishamon lost these belts to El Phantasmo & Hikuleo at WrestleKingdom, but now, three months later, they’ve returned to prominence! Will Goto & Hashi make sure to hold on to these titles much tighter this time?

The Best of the Super Juniors 31 field is announced!

Ryusuke Taguchi, El Desperado, Kevin Knight, Yoh, Hiromu Takahashi, Bushi, Titan, TJP, Francesco Akira, Douki, Robbie Eagles, Taiji Ishimori, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Sho, Clark Connors, Drilla Moloney, Kosei Fujita, ROH’s Blake Christian, and even Pro-Wrestling Noah’s Ninja Mack and Hayata! TWENTY of the brightest stars are ready to shine, but who be the Best of the Super Juniors?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: SHO VS YOH!

This championship has a long and storied legacy, which the Murder Machine disgraces with how he cheated this title away from El Desperado and has continued to cheat to keep it. But his former friend has come to not only humble him but to set things right! Will Mr. Direct Drive win the Roppongi 3K Civil War? Or will Sho and the House of Torture play with a stacked deck like always?

Wait, wait, Sho is chasing Yoh! Yoh still has physical possession of the title belt! They go around the outside, then the very back of the crowd! Yoh make sit back to ringside, eggs Sho on, then keeps going. They go into the ring, then back out! Then back in! Sho is getting frustrated, but Yoh DROPKICKS him back out, then PLANCHAS him down! The fans fire up as Yoh puts Sho in the ring, the bell sounds, and DIRECT- NO, Sho fights the lift, and he bends fingers! Yoh breaks free but Sho CLAWS Yoh’s face! Sho waistlocks, Yoh drop toeholds and runs, to basement dropkick! The fans cheer as Sho scrambles away.

The fans rally while Sho goes to a corner and Yoh shakes out the bad hand. Yoh stands, still works on the stinger in his arm, and Sho taunts him that this is what he gets for messing around. Yoh storms up to stomp Sho, but that shoulder does look in bad shape. The ref calls for help from the medics, and has to call this off!

Winner: Sho, by referee stoppage (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)

Sho again says that’s what Yoh gets! Yoh’s arm popped out of the socket and Sho gets the belt back! Well, the actual physical possession of it, anyway. Sho got lucky here, but wait! Kosei Fujita shows up! We just learned that TMDK’s Ichiban Young Punk is going to be in the BOSJ, but Sho doesn’t take him seriously. Sho is too busy mocking Yoh getting his shoulder worked on. The fans rally for Yoh as he gets to his feet and makes his way to the back, tears of frustration pouring down. However, Fujita gets the mic and has the fans cheering him on. Fujita tells Sho, “Oi, worst champion ever. How about I take your head and become the youngest champion ever?”

Sho laughs at that, acting like it isn’t possible. But then DOUKI shows up! The fans fire up as Japones Del Mal takes the mic. He tells Fujita that he gets how he feels. However, Douki has the hot hand! He beat Hiromu Takahashi, and so before Fujita does, Douki’s gonna take that shot. Sho grabs a mic to says hey, hold on! What the hell are these two going on about? Look what happened to Yoh! That’s how tough Sho is! The fans boo the exaggeration but Sho says that some dork who wrestled in the mud huts of Mexico is no match for him! He doesn’t want either of them, so they can get outta here! Sho holds up the belt while fans boo.

Fujita springboards to DROPKICK Sho down! The fans fire up while Sho sputters! Fujita holds up the belt now, stares down with Douki, and fans like the look of this showdown. Fujita puts the belt down in front of Sho, but then Douki picks it up. Douki says Sho will have to wait to challenge the winner of Douki VS Fujita! And Douki just takes the belt with him, just like Yoh did! Sho is furious that he gets showed up! But with BOSJ on the horizon, is the Murder Machine’s luck about to run out?

Shota Umino & Jon Moxley VS Jack Perry & Ren Narita!

In order to have a fair fight against the House of Torture’s Scapegoat and Souled Out, The Roughneck calls in his Maniac mentor! Will Moxley help Shota finally humble Hollywood Jack Perry and the traitorous Son of Strong Style? Or will there be no Paradigm Shift here tonight?

The teams sort out and it’s Moxley & Shota that attack first! Moxley TOSSES Narita out, the bell rings, and Shota keeps after Jack! Jack kicks back, CLUBS Shota, then CHOPS! Moxley sends Narita into railing, then drags him up to headlock and bring him around the way. Moxley punches Narita out of the headlock but Jack whips Shota. Shota reverses and scoops to DROP Jack, run and SHOTGUN! Jack tumbles to a corner while the fans fire up with Shota! Shota storms up to stomp Jack, then brings him up. Jack CLAWS Shota’s eyes but Shota UPPERCUTS! Shota whips, Jack reverses and Narita gets a cheap shot in!

Jack CLOBBERS Shota, Narita BLASTS Moxley, then Narita goes out to CLAW Moxley’s eyes! Jack rains down fists on Shota, covers, TWO! The fans boo but Narita whips Moxley into railing hard! Jack stomps Shota, sits him up and KICKS him in the back! Jack snap suplexes, covers, TWO! The fans rally for Shota but Jack keeps on him. Jack tags Narita, they mug Shota, and Shota hobbles to a corner. Narita fires forearms, then brings Shota over to bump off buckles. Narita TOSSES Shota out, BLASTS Moxley, and Jack stomps Shota against railing! Moxley runs in to TACKLE Narita! The fans fire up but Narita CLUBS Moxley!

Jack drags Shota up while Narita KNEES Moxley down. Jack whips Shota into railing, then leaves him behind. Narita gets Shota in the ring, drags him up, and Narita suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Shota pounds the mat in frustration but the fans rally behind him. Narita kicks Shota around, taunts him, but Shota eggs Narita on. Narita gives more scuffing kicks but Shota grits his teeth. Shota fires forearms on Narita, then UPPERCUTS! Shota turns Narita, but Narita elbows free. Narita swings, but Shota spins him again, NECKBREAKER! The fans fire up while both men are down! Shota crawls, hot tag to Moxley!

Moxley dodges Narita, BLASTS Jack, then ROCKS and CHOPS Narita over and over! Moxley whips, Narita reverses, but Moxley bounces off buckles to LARIAT Narita down! The fans fire up and Moxley flips Narita off as he runs in to corner clothesline! The fans chant “Let’s Go, Moxley!” and Moxley climbs up to rain down fists! The fans fire up as Moxley goes all the way to TEN, then goes way past it! Moxley then hoists Narita up, CHOPS him, and climbs up after him. Moxley pulls Narita’s shirt away, and CLAWS Narita’s back! The ref reprimands and counts, Moxley stops, but then Narita CLAWS Moxley’s back!

Narita CLAWS Moxley’s face, shoves him away, and runs up, but Moxley gets around to a SLEEPER! Takedown into the BULLY CHOKE! Narita endures, flails, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Moxley BITES Narita, then lets off. Moxley goes out after Narita, shoves him into railing, but Jack attacks from behind! Moxley just gets pissed! Moxley ROCKS Jack, then whips him over railing and onto commentary! The fans fire up as Jack gets stuck in No Man’s Land, but Narita gets Moxley for an EXPLODER to the floor! The ref checks but Moxley’s okay to continue, so Narita drags him up. Narita puts Moxley in and runs, to BOOT!

Narita drags Moxley back up to BLIZZARD PLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Moxley is still in this and the fans rally, but Narita laughs as he goes to the corner. Narita climbs, watches Moxley rise, and Narita MISSLE- NO, Moxley moves! Narita tumbles, gets up, and Moxley CUTTERS! The fans fire up again and both men crawl! Hot tags to Jack and Shota! Jack dodges, Shota dodges, and Shota kicks to whip. Jack reverses but Shota ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Jack! The fans fire up with #SHOOTER as he whips Jack to a corner. Shota runs in, UPPERCUTS, and then FISHERMAN SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO!

Shota may not be perfect but the fans fire up with him all the same! Shota drags Jack up, clinches, but Jack fires elbows! Shota RAMS Jack into a corner, runs in, but Jack dodges! Jack clotheslines, then clinches to NORTHERN LIGHTS! Roll through, POLAR EXPRESS! Jack is referencing Matthew Jackson here, then he goes out to the apron to PENALTY KICK Moxley! That’s just like Nicholas Jackson! Jack then goes up top and aims at Shota, flips everyone off, MACHO ELBOW! A shot at Phil Brooks?! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives and Jack is shocked! Narita joins in to stomp away on Shota but the ref reprimands.

The House of Torture double whip Shota to a corner, then Narita sends Jack in. Shota dodges Jack to SHOTGUN Narita! Jack dodges Shota to kick and whip, but Shota holds ropes! Jack runs up but Shota drop toeholds him onto ropes! Moxley runs in and he DIVES to take out Narita! Shota slingshots to APRON DDT Jack!! The fans are all fired up again as Shota goes around the way. The ring count starts, Shota comes back for Jack by 7 of 20. Shota drags Jack up and puts him in at 13. The fans applaud as Shota goes up top, and he COAST2COAST DROPKICKS Jack! Then EXPLODERS! Cover, TWO!! Jack survives but Shota keeps calm.

Shota drags Jack up, dragon sleepers and TRI- NO, Jack slips free, underhooks, but Shota wrenches out to ROCK Jack! ROLLING- SUPERKICK from Jack! Jack runs to LARIAT, but Shota stays up! Shota LARIATS, but Jack stays up! Shota roars, Jack dodges to mule kick and SUPERKICK! Jack runs, but into a DROPKICK! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Jack and Shota crawl, hot tags to Narita and Moxley! Moxley fires forearms and KICKS on Narita, but Narita CLAWS Moxley’s face! Narita runs, BOOTS, but Moxley just roars! Narita runs to BOOT again, but Moxley flips him off, and SLAPS him!

Narita runs, Moxley blocks the boot and LARIATS! The fans fire up again while Narita flounders to a corner. Moxley runs in, clotheslines, then he hoists Narita up top! Moxley climbs, brings him up, and SUPERPLEXES! Cover, TWO! Narita survives but the fans rally behind Moxley. Moxley storms around, drags Narita up, and he reels Narita in. Narita slips around to a SLEEPER! Moxley fights, but Narita puts on the COBRA TWIST! Jack BLASTS Shota while Moxley endures! Shota sends Jack into railing then gets in to CLOBBER Narita! Moxley is free but Jack CLOBBERS Shota! Jack TOSSES Shota, goes out, and whips him into railing!

Narita has the push-up bar! He CHOKES Moxley with it!! The ref is too busy with Jack! Narita lets Moxley go, but Shota takes the shot for him!! Moxley DECKS Narita, BLASTS Jack, but Narita gets the SLEEPER! Moxley SAIDOS free! The fans are thunderous and Moxley runs, but Narita gets around again! SLEEPER, then he spins Moxley around to DOUBLE- NO, Moxley slips free of Doublecross to DEATH RIDER!! Cover, Moxley & Shota win!

Winners: Shota Umino & Jon Moxley, by pinfall

The House tried but they couldn’t beat these two aces! Will this momentum help Moxley and Shota find their way to some golden opportunities in the Spring? Or can Jack get payback next Friday at Windy City Riot?

NEVER Openweight Championship, Special Guest Referee Yoshinobu Kanemaru: EVIL w/ Dick Togo VS Shingo Takagi!

As if The King of Darkness doesn’t already stack the deck in his favor, he supposedly got The Heel Master approved as the special referee for this match! Will nothing stop The House of Torture from cheating their way through this one? Or can the Rampaging Dragon still pull out the win?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, but referee Marty Asami says no, Kanemaru’s not the ref for this match! Kanemaru still insists he is, as he does the check on Evil. Asami pushes Kanemaru and even Dick, and tells them to get outta here! Kanemaru reluctantly obeys and the fans cheer as he and Dick head to the back. But then Evil CLOBBERS Takagi from behind! The bell rings, the fans boo, but Evil stomps Takagi. Evil CHOPS Takagi, CHOPS again, but then Takagi knees low! Takagi CLUBS and CLUBS and headlocks, but Evil powers up, just to pull hair! The fans boo, Asami reprimands, but Evil whips. Takagi reverses but Evil holds ropes!

Takagi runs up, Evil BOOTS him then runs, but Takagi runs Evil over! The fans fire up while Evil goes to a corner. The fans rally behind “TA-KA-GI!” and he winds up. Takagi runs in but blocks a boot to clothesline through! Takagi fires the fans up more before he JABS, CHOPS and repeat! Takagi tops it off with a CHOP, then whips corner to corner. Takagi runs up to clothesline, then scoop and SLAM! Takagi goes up but Evil scrambles away. Takagi sighs, hops down, and storms over to Evil. Takagi stomps Evil, drags him up, but Evil CLAWS Takagi’s face! Evil kicks, Takagi blocks, and he JABS, then DOUBLE CHOPS!

Takagi powers up to ELBOW DROP! And ELBOW DROP! And then SENTON! The fans fire up while Evil goes to ropes. Takagi storms up again, brings Evil up to KNEE him against the ropes, then KNEE him again. Takagi whips, KNEES, then snapmares to run, but Evil bails out! The fans boo but Takagi keeps his cool. Evil tells the fans to shut up while he goes around the outside. Evil gets a chair! The ref reprimands so Evil drops it. Takagi dares Evil to get in here already, and the fans rally up. Evil takes his time, slides in, but then slides out. Takagi goes after him but Evil kicks low! Evil brings Takagi around, but Takagi stops from ramming into the timekeeper!

Takagi fires elbows then puts Evil in the ring. The fans cheer as Takagi keeps Abe-san safe. But then Evil SHOVES Takagi off the apron! Takagi wobbles, but he’s safe! Only for Evil to RAM him in anyway! Poor Abe-san still suffers, and the fans boo as Evil tells him that’s what he gets! Evil whips Takagi into more railing, then gets more chairs! The ref’s busy helping Abe-san, but Takagi takes the chair off his neck! The fans fire up as the two now have a stalemate! Takagi swings but Evil JAMS him low! Then he SMACKS the chair into Takagi’s face! Not quite the homerun but Evil still gets on base with that shot.

The fans boo but Evil then goes to the blue corner. Evil takes the tag rope away, hiding that from the ref. The ref checks Takagi but he’s somehow okay to continue. Evil wants the ring count so the count begins. No Abe-san helping, though. Takagi staggers up at 5 of 20, stumbles around at 8, checks his head, and hobbles his way back at 10. Takagi slides in at 12, but Evil brandishes the House of Torture shirt. The ref takes that form him, but the tag rope is now used to CHOKE Takagi instead! The fans boo but Evil gets away with one! Cover, TWO! Evil argues the count but the count was fair. The fans rally but Evil tells them off.

Evil stomps Takagi, gets a leg, and he stomps away on the thigh! Evil drops an elbow on the knee and Takagi writhes! The fans rally for Takagi but Evil stands on Takagi’s face. Evil steps away, drags Takagi up, and knees low! FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Takagi roars as he sits up and the fans fire up! Evil keeps calm, and he scuffs Takagi. Evil slaps Takagi around, talks trash, but Takagi ROCKS Evil, knees low, then CHOPS! Evil CHOPS in return and Takagi falls! Takagi snarls as he rises back up and the fans rally again. Evil CHOPS, Takagi grits his teeth and stays standing. Evil CHOPS again, Takagi sputters but he stays standing!

Evil CHOPS again, Takagi headbutts the buckle to fire up! Takagi eggs Evil on, Evil winds up, but just CLAWS Takagi’s eyes! The fans boo, the ref reprimands but Evil tells them all to shut up. Takagi kicks, Evil blocks and hands that to the ref! But then Takagi blocks Evil’s kick! The ref lets Takagi go to DRAGON SCREW! The fans fire up while both men are down! Takagi goes to a corner and rises up. Evil rises, Takagi runs him over! Then Takagi scoops, SLAMS and SENTON FLOPS as Evil moves! Evil whips Takagi, Takagi reverses but Evil takes a swing. Takagi blocks, spins Evil around, and suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO!

Evil is still in this but Takagi pounds the mat! The fans rally up, Takagi looks to the camera, and “TOKI GA-” EVIL CLOBBERS TAKAGI! The fans boo as Evil denies Takagi his time! Evil stomps Takagi, CLUBS him, then runs. Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON feint to DDT! The fans fire up again and Takagi looks around. Takagi sits Evil up, “Mada mada.” HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! “OI! OI! OI!” Takagi then runs, but Evil goes to a corner! Takagi still runs in to corner clothesline! The fans fire up more as Takagi puts Evil up top. Takagi goes right up after Evil, they’re on the very top, SUPER DUPER PLEX!! Cover, TWO!!

The fans are thunderous for “TA-KA-GI!” as he rises up! Takagi says “TOKI GA KITA! OI! OI! OI!” The fans join in again, “OI! OI! OI!” Takagi drags Evil up, but wait, Yujiro Takahashi is here now! The fans boo the Tokyo Pimp showing up uninvited, but Takagi stomps Evil. Takagi pump handles, but Evil fights the lift! Takagi throws knees, lifts, but Evil slips free! Evil claims bad knee but Takagi doesn’t fall for it. The ref still needs to check, and Yujiro is undoing the blue buckle pad! Evil shoves the ref at Takagi! Takagi helps Asami stay up, but then Evil blocks Takagi’s kick! Evil hands that to Asami, and mule kicks Takagi down!

The fans boo but Evil doesn’t care. Evil mocks Naito with tranquilo, then he whips Takagi into bare buckles! Takagi just fires up and runs in, but Evil LARIATS first! Evil fireman’s carries, for DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Takagi survives and the fans are thunderous again! Evil slashes his throat, vowing to end this! The fans boo as Evil spins Takagi around, but Takagi fights the STO! Takagi waistlocks, Evil elbows free, then LARIATS! Takagi stays up! The fans rally, Evil runs up to LARIAT again! Takagi shouts as he stays on his feet! Evil takes off his elbow pad, runs, but Takagi SWATS the lariat, wrenches and ELBOW BREAKERS!

Evil clutches the arm, still takes a swing, but Takagi SWATS it! The fans fire up as Takagi fires boxing elbows! Takagi then winds up, but Evil CLAWS eyes! The ref counts, Evil lets off to run, but Takagi LARIATS Evil at ropes! Takagi runs, Evil distracts Asami, Yujiro CHAIR SHOTS Takagi!! Evil steps through, SCORPION DEATHLOCK!! Takagi endures, the fans rally as hard as they can, and Takagi fights forward! Takagi reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Evil holds on, the fans boo, but he lets go at 4. Wait, Bushi is here! At least, we think that’s Bushi… Dick’s pulled this trick before but can’t tell if that’s him…

The ref sees Yujiro sneaking in, so Yujiro bails out. Evil tells the ref to handle “Bushi,” but then he and Yujiro double whip Takagi! Takagi DOUBLE PUMPING BOMBERS!! The fans are thunderous, Takagi wants Bushi to help, but that’s NOT BUSHI! They sucker punch Takagi, HOTSHOT him, and then go up the corner. Wait, the REAL Bushi is here!! The Spiderman Meme is real! Bushi kicks Fake Bushi, then YANKS the mask away! It WAS Dick!! But then Dick uses Asami as a shield from the BLACK MIST!! Then Dick shoves Asami into Bushi! The fans freak out as now the whole House gets in the ring!

Kanemaru has Evil, Dick & Yujiro stomp away! The fans boo and Kanemaru DECKS Bushi! The House whips Takagi to a corner, Dick runs in to ELBOW! Yujiro BOOTS! Evil clotheslines! Snapmare and then Dick goes up! DICK CHOP!! Kanemaru plays dumb, then Evil covers! TWO!!! Takagi survives, but Evil covers again, Kanemaru’s count is so fast!! TWO!!!! The fans boo and the House is upset! Kanemaru ENZIGIRIS Takagi! Dick joins in, MAGIC KILLER!! Cover, fast count and Evil “wins!!” Only because Yujiro rang the bell! Evil gets the belt, Kanemaru raises his hand, but there’s no way this stands!

Wait, here comes REFEREE HIROMU! The Timebomb SHOTGUNS Kanemaru out! Then he SHOTGUNS Yujiro & Dick! Then he says let’s go! Evil takes a swing on Hiromu, but Hiromu sends him into ELBOW! JAB! YUKON LARIAT! The fans are thunderous and Takagi shouts “OI! OI! OI!” The fans join in, Takagi winds up, and Evil rises into PUMPING- DOUBLE LARIATS! Neither falls, so DOUBLE LARIATS clash again! Evil falls, Takagi roars! Takagi sits Evil up, spins him around, but Evil dodges! Evil shoves Takagi into Hiromu, then LOW BLOWS! EVERY- NO, Takagi slips free to JAB! HEADBUTT! Evil swings, Takagi STEALS EVERYTHING IS EVIL!!

The fans are thunderous as Takagi covers and Hiromu counts! But Kanemaru CLOBBERS Hiromu! Kanemaru stomps Takagi, DECKS Bushi again, and he goes for his whiskey! The fans boo as Kanemaru takes a big swig! But Takagi JABS the mist away! Then YUKON LARIATS Kanemaru! Takagi drags Evil up, Dick is in with the SPOILER CHOKER!! The fans boo but Takagi powers up! Takagi overpowers Dick and throws him away! Bushi DROPKICKS Dick away, then DIVES onto him! Down goes Dick and the fans are thunderous! Takagi swigs the whiskey!? HE dodges Evil to WHISKEY MIST! But he’s also drunk!

Yujiro shoves Takagi, winds up, but Takagi ducks the POCKET SAND!! Evil gets a face full!! Hiromu SUPERKICKS Yujiro, Takagi sobers up and runs, DRUNKEN PUMPING BOMBER!!! Red Shoes is here to be the REAL ref, and Takagi gets Evil up! LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! Red Shoes counts, TAKAGI WINS!!!!

Winner: Shingo Takagi, by pinfall (NEW NEVER Openweight Champion)

Evil’s reign of terror ends as Los Ingobernables de Japon work together! Will The House of Torture ever learn their lesson? Or is it a good thing there are those that will always stand in their way?

Oh, hold on, Takagi gets the mic. The fans cheer him on as he says, “Before the main event, let me just take a moment of your time. I have become the 40th NEVER Openweight Champion, MY TIME HAS COME!” But wait, the War Dogs are attacking!! Gabe Kidd goes right after Takagi while Connors & Drilla go after Bushi & Hiromu! The fans boo as the Mad Man and the Ichiban Gaijin ruin the moment! Gabe grabs the NEVER title, then the mic. “I got a question for you raff. Is that what this has become? A effing joke?! An embarrassment?! Why?! Nic Nemeth ‘n’ Matt Riddle turn up, and we all start wrestling like we’re trying to get on Main Event or Superstars!

“Does the squiggle on the side of this ring say ‘Level Up’ or am I a dickhead?! NO! It’s a joke. It’s a joke. And then what? They send Jungle B*tch as what? A punishment? A punishment?! This is NJPW! Tanahashi might as well walk into Tony Khan’s office, pull his trousers down and say ‘Do your worst!’ It’s a EFFING embarrassment!” Then he SPITS at Tanahashi! Kidd asks if he stayed a year-and-a-half for this. If he nearly lost his head for this! If he nearly offed himself TWICE just for this?! NO!! He used to LOVE this company! He used to LOVE that lion logo! But from the bottom of his heart, God as his witness, F NJPW!!

Kidd SPITS on the logos, then says he’ll take everything from this company. The War Dogs will take everything! Kidd will outright kill Yota Tsuji, Tetsuya Naito, and even Tanahashi just to remind him of the old days! And it’ll start with Takagi and this NEVER Openweight title! Kidd will bring some respect to this place, sayonara you Japanese bastards! Kidd is completely out of line, but is he completely wrong? Do his words bite because of the insults or because of the harsh truth? And either way, will he come through and take it all from NJPW to give it to Bullet Club?

IWGP World Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Tetsuya Naito VS Yota Tsuji!

The Uncontrollable Charisma wanted this to be Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Los Ingobernables de Japon and here it is! The Gene Blast won the New Japan Cup, will he soon have both trophy and championship? Or will Naito prove why he’s the leader of LIJ?

Tsuji is patient as of course Naito takes his time with everything, even letting Red Shoes have the belt. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly leading NJPW into the future!

Once Naito is done putting his entrance attire away, the bell rings and the fans are thunderous already! They duel between “NA-I-TO!” and “YO~TA! YO~TA!” Red Shoes feels it’s about even, maybe 55-45 in Yota’s favor. The two circle, approach, but Naito dodges. Naito tells everyone to relax, and he resets with Yota. They go again, but Naito again dodges! The fans cheer Naito’s typical tactics but Yota just grins. Yota and Naito circle again, the fans rally up, and Naito kicks low! Naito CLUBS away on Yota, headlocks and grinds him down, but Yota powers up. Yota pulls hair, Red Shoes reprimands, but Yota headlocks Naito now.

Naito endures as Yota grinds, and Naito fights up. Naito powers up and out, Yota ducks ‘n’ dodges but leaps over Naito’s dropdown! Yota whips Naito to a corner, runs in, but Naito puts Yota on the apron! Naito sweeps the legs! Naito then builds speed, but he fakes Yota out to tranquilo! Or not as Yota stomps Naito! The fans cheer as Yota grins, knowing Naito’s playbook well. Yota drags Naito up, ROCKS him, then follows him to a corner. Yota CHOPS, then CHOPS, then whips corner to corner. Naito reverses to run in, but he blocks Yota’s boot! Yota brings Naito in to STOMP him down! The fans fire up again while Naito writhes!

Yota pushes Naito to a cover, ONE!! Naito is tougher than that but Yota still grins as he has the majority of the fans. Yota stomps Naito, drags him up, and CLUBS him! Naito staggers but stays up, and he fires forearms! Yota gives those back, then snapmares. Yota wraps on a body scissor squeeze, and even adds a chinlock! Naito fights back, but Yota half nelsons Naito while keeping on the squeeze! Naito fights around, reaches out, kicks around, and drags Yota along for the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Yota lets off cleanly. Yota paces, then comes back to bring Naito up. Naito fires haymakers and CLUBS Yota!

Yota KNEES low, whips, and KITCHEN SINK KNEES! Naito sputters and bails out while the fans rally. Yota takes aim, builds speed, and he DIVES! Direct hit and Naito hits railing! The fans fire up again as Yota paces around the outside. Naito sputters but Yota comes back for him. Yota drags Naito up, then he whips Naito hard into railing! Naito hobbles away, Yota tells the NJPW execs that he’s gonna be their champ soon. Yota then whips Naito into more railing! Naito staggers, Yota scoops him, SNAKE EYES off the apron! Yota drags Naito up to ROCK him, then puts him in the ring. The fans applaud as Yota slides in.

Yota looms over Naito, has a cocky cover, but Red Shoes doesn’t like that. Naito pushes Yota’s foot away so Yota stomps him down! Yota drags Naito up, scoops, and hits a BACKBREAKER! Naito writhes but Yota pushes him over to cover, TWO! Naito stays in this and the fans rally up again. Yota smiles as he stands up, and he brings Naito into the CAMEL CLUTCH! Naito endures, even as Yota bends him back! The fans rally, Yota stands to then make it a motorcycle stretch! Naito endures the knee in his back, even as Yota pulls the arms! Yota makes it a BASEMENT BACKSTABBER! Naito writhes more and Yota paces.

The fans rally, still strongly for Yota as he scuffs Naito. Yota eggs on his team leader, wanting to see the great Tetsuya Naito! Yota kicks Naito around, but Naito stands to body shot! And body shot again! Then Naito fires a haymaker! Yota SPITS in Naito’s face, a very Naito thing to do! Naito swings, but Yota BODY BLOWS! Yota runs up but Naito ELBOWS him! Yota runs back in, but into the HIP TOSS BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up while both men are down! Naito rises while the fans rally, and he stands Yota up to fire forearms and kicks. Naito CLUBS Yota, whips, but Yota reverses. Naito stops himself to BOOT, ELBOW and BASEMENT DROPKICK!

The fans fire up as Naito has Yota in a corner. Naito whips corner to corner, blocks Yota’s boot, and SPITS at him! Naito puts Yota in the ropes for the DRAPING NECKBREAKER! Naito then stands Yota up for another NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Naito stands again. Naito brings Yota up, cravats for the neck wrench, and he thrashes Yota to keep him from ropes. Yota still fights around and reaches out, but Naito brings him back. Yota throws body shots, then gets the ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes counts, Naito thrashes Yota more, but Red Shoes reprimands. Naito whips, then HIP TOSS BACKBREAKERS again!

Yota writhes and goes to the apron. Red Shoes checks but Yota seems okay to continue. So Naito goes out, brings Yota out along the apron, for a DRAPING NECKBREAKER to the floor! Yota writhes more but Naito drags him back up. Naito puts Yota in, drags him up, and dragon sleepers, for the BACKBREAKER, into the LEG HOOK NELSON! Yota endures, reaches out, and the fans rally up! Naito puts on the pressure but Yota still endures. Yota kicks his way around, and kicks, but Naito pushes up for more pressure! Yota looks to be fading! But a second wind helps him get the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer but Naito of course “struggles” to undo the hold.

Red Shoes reprimands, he knows Naito’s tricks. Naito lets go as we pass 15 minutes, and the fans continue to rally for “YO~TA!” Naito drags Yota up, hammerlocks and half nelsons, but Yota fights with elbows! Yota is free, he dodges Naito and scoops to BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up again while both men are down! Yota rises first but Naito follows slowly. Yota fires forearm after forearm, then whips. Naito reverses but Yota BOOTS Naito down! The fans fire up again and Yota drags Naito up. Yota scoops to SLAM Naito, then runs to SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Naito stays in this and the fans rally up again.

Yota drags Naito up, reels him in, and suplexes, but Naito slips free! Naito waistlocks, Yota elbows free and runs, and RANAS! Naito tumbles all the way out of the ring! The fans fire up as Yota takes aim again, builds speed, but Naito flops to the apron. Yota has to stop himself, and then he goes out to bring Naito up. Yota ROCKS Naito, ROCKS him again, and the fans rally. Yota fires up, he fireman’s carries, but Naito fights free! Yota SUPERKICKS, but Naito forearms! Yota forearms, and forearms, and SUPERKICKS again! Naito holds onto ropes to stay on the apron, but Yota CURB STOMPS Naito to the floor!!

Both men are down on the outside but Red Shoes checks Naito as he’s the bigger concern. The fans rally as hard as they can, dueling all the same, and Yota drags himself up first. The ring count starts, Yota leaves Naito behind, and we pass 5 of 20. Naito is still down at 10! The fans rally even harder, Naito sits up at 15! Naito drags himself up at 18 and slides in! But Yota BASEMENT DROPKICKS! We hit the 20 minute mark as Yota hauls Naito right up, suplexes, but Naito knees free! Naito wrenches and ELBOWS, and kicks, and TORNADO DDTS! The fans are fired up again while both men are back down!

Naito and Yota stir, and Naito crawls his way over. Naito drags Yota up, then throws the HEAVY ELBOWS! Yota drops to his knees, but the fans rally up again. Naito stands Yota for the HEAVY ELBOWS! Yota flops right over and Naito paces. The fans are thunderous, the “YO~TA! YO~TA!” so much louder! Naito stands Yota up to HEAVY ELBOW again! Yota staggers to a corner, then slumps down against the buckle pad. Naito drags Yota up, hoists him to the very top, then climbs up, to SUPER STEINER! The fans are thunderous as Naito stands back up and waits on Yota. Yota rises, Naito runs in, but into a BLUE THUNDER!

Yota sits Naito up to KNEE him back down! Then Yota flops back over! The fans are thunderous again as they rally behind both men! Yota flounders but he rises up. Yota storms over, gets Naito up, and suplexes, for ORANGE CRUSH!! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up again as Naito stays in this and Yota shouts in frustration! Yota goes to the corner, drags himself up, and he roars again! Three point stance, GENE- ROLLING KICK!! Naito atomic drops, ENZIGIRIS, and then tilt-o-whirls, DESTINO!! Naito hurries to get Yota up, wrenches and- NO, no Destino! GENE BLASTER!!! Yota can’t cover, he’s so tired!!

The fans are electric as we pass 25 minutes and Yota clutches his shoulder! Yota grits his teeth as he struggles to sit up, it’s like this place is going to explode! Naito stirs now, and Yota crawls his way over. Yota drags Naito up, and he manages to smile as he fires a forearm! Yota falls over, but he sits back up, just in time for Naito to throw a forearm! Both men sit up again, and Yota fires another forearm! Naito stays up while Yota has to steady himself. Yota throws another forearm and he gets Naito to sit back on the mat. Naito rises back up but so does Yota, and Yota fires another forearm. That didn’t have as much, but Yota throws another.

Naito shrugs as Yota seems to be running out of gas! Naito stands, Yota drags himself up, and he fires another shot. Naito HEAVY ELBOWS! And again, and again! Yota falls back and Naito suplexes, but Yota fights it! Yota clinches, BACKBREAKER, COMPLETE SHOT, and STOMP! Yota had enough for that combo! The fans are thunderous again as Yota roars and rises up! Yota drags Naito by a leg, then gets both legs, for the BOSTON CRAB! Yota sits deep on the Young Lion staple! Naito scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Yota lets off, then runs to CURB STOMP! Naito flounders around while Yota fires up!

The fans rally as Yota drags Naito up again. Yota puts Naito on the top rope, then CHOPS! Yota climbs, goes to the very top, and he brings Naito up to join him! The fans freak out, but Naito SHOVES Yota down! Yota perhaps wanted a Spanish Fly but it didn’t work. But then he rises right back up! Yota gets Naito again as we hit 30 minutes! SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Naito survives but it’s right back to the BOSTON CRAB! Yota stands high, this is almost Walls of Jericho! Wait, then the knee into Naito’s back, LION TAMER!! Naito knows Jericho’s moves well, how does this compare? Yota digs the knee in deep but Naito still endures!

Naito has the fans getting louder for him now as he fights his way around! But he’s still so far from ropes! Naito looks to be fading and Red Shoes checks! Yota drags Naito from ropes, but lets go of the hold so he can go up and up and FLYING CURB STOMP!! #MarrowCrusher! Cover, TWO!! Naito survives but Yota drags him up! Fireman’s carry and swing, 70 CROSS!! Cover, TWO?!? Naito survives again and the fans are thunderous again! Yota powers up and he goes to the corner! The fans are electric as they anticipate what’s coming! Three point stance, and GENE- MONKEY FLIP!! Yota is sent into the corner with that counter!

Naito runs up, to GENE BLASTER?!?! Cover, ONE?!?!? Naito steals Yota’s tackle but Yota survives it!! The fans are volcanic as Naito rises up! Naito drags Yota up, scoops, but Yota slips free! Naito ROCKS Yota, then blocks the knee! Naito suplexes to VALENTIA!! Naito drags Yota up as the fans stay at that fever pitch! DESTI- NO!! Yota blocks, but then Naito fights the clinch! Yota still spins Naito around to suplex, but DESTINO COUNTER!! Naito hurries to get Yota up, wrench and swinging DESTINOOOO~!!! Cover, NAITO WINS!!

Winner: Tetsuya Naito, by pinfall (still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)

LIJ’s newest member gave the team leader an all-time epic match, but perhaps it is still too soon for the new generation to be the #NowGeneration! But if Yota can win the New Japan Cup and push Naito this far in his “rookie” year, is his bright future still going to become reality?

As for Naito, he stands over Yota while the title belt and a special prize are brought into the ring. Red Shoes hands Naito the belt, which Naito snatches away. And then founder, president and CEO of Bushiroad, Takaaki Kidani, presents him with a certificate for the Sakura Genesis Dream Order Japanese baseball league trading card game! Naito does love baseball, so he appreciates this gift. He even offers a fist bump to Kidani! The fans like the idea, and so Kidani raises his fist, only for Naito to SPIT on him! Naito shoves Kidani out of the ring, still not over Kidani’s previous sleights against him.

But as Kidani takes his leave, Naito gets the mic. “Buenas noches, RYOGOKUUU~! First of all… I’d like to thank you all for coming here.” A commotion from the crowd gets Naito to stop, and Moxley has returned to ringside! The fans cheer as Maniac and Uncontrollable Charisma are now face to face ahead of their Windy City Riot main event match. Moxley looks at the belt, and Naito asks in English, “Do you want IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, yes?” When Moxley doesn’t respond, Naito asks again much slower, “Do you want… I W G P World Heavyweight Championship?” Moxley nods and the fans fire up!

Naito continues in English to say that their title match will be next week in Chicago, okay? The fans cheer, and Naito hands the mic over to Moxley. Moxley says, “Chicago, April 12th, Moxley, Naito, NEW IWGP Champion!” Mic drop from Mox and he heads out, so the showdown is set! Will the Windy City Riot see the winds of change blow through NJPW? As for Naito, he picks up the mic to say, “Let’s start again. Buenas noches, RYOGOKUUU~!” Naito again thanks everyone for coming, “Gracias, amigos.” The fans applaud, and Naito says this was only his second time facing Yota. The first time was August 1st, 2021, Yota’s sendoff match.

Naito tells Yota, “You got strong as hell. Let’s keep competing to lead NJPW and LIJ to even greater heights!” The fans like the sound of that!” And like he said in simple English, he is going to defend this world title against Moxley next week. Naito vows to beat Moxley and return home to Japan still champion, so please look forward to it. The fans cheer that! Naito then asks, “Shall we close this out the right way?” The fans cheer that, too! Time for their first roll call in Ryogoku since the G1 last August! Are you ready? They sure are! Then this is the only proper way to close Sakura Genesis!

“Bushi! Hiromu! Takagi! Titan! Yota! Y Naito! NOSOTROS! LOS! INGOBERRRRRRNAAABLEEES~! DE! JA! PON!!” The gold streamers fly and the fans cheer, will Naito be the one to keep NJPW and this world title tranquilo?

My Thoughts:

An awesome event for NJPW here, with a lot going on to add to an already stacked weekend in wrestling around the world. And there was so much Bullet Club! Well, that’s if House of Torture even still counts as Bullet Club, but then that just makes for a lot of House of Torture on this card, too. Awesome Triple Threat Tornado Tag for the Junior Tag titles, and the challengers all looked really close to winning, but it was fine for War Dogs to retain. Meanwhile, I oddly wasn’t sure Bishamon was going to win, but Goto & Hashi have proven to be solid in the ring and as characters, NJPW loves going to them so them winning was also fine.

A real shame about Yoh dislocating his shoulder and needing it popped back in right there at ringside, he and Sho were definitely going to have an awesome match. With the news of the BOSJ field, hopefully Yoh can still compete in that and get another chance. But at the same time, great moment for Douki and Fujita to not only confront Sho but to act like Sho might as well not even be the champion as we go into the tournament. Douki has been making that Yoshi-Hashi style rise from being the punchline to being a contender, it’d be awesome if Douki reached the later rounds in the BOSJ.

Really good tag match for Moxley & Shota to get a really good win. I actually really like Jack referencing the Young Bucks and CM Punk with that string of moves near the end there. “Scapegoat” as a gimmick is clearly an ongoing reference to #BrawlIn last year, and it’s only a matter of time before he goes back to really stick it to the EVPs. Great NEVER Openweight Championship, even with all the goofy overbooking and madness. Great win for Takagi, he brings this title back to LIJ and hopefully gets a redesigned belt or something to undo all the black paint Evil sprayed on the thing.

Then Kidd making his presence known, I can’t blame him for having that worked-shoot rant. I have also found it rather odd that, mostly through House of Torture, NJPW is doing things rather American style with the overbooking. And Kidd really makes a good point about Scapegoat Perry, not sure how Tony Khan got NJPW to agree to taking Jack with that kind of kayfabe behind the angle. Commentary mentioned Kidd taking on Eddie first, Windy City Riot I believe, no idea if Kidd takes the NJPW Strong title from Eddie after Eddie’s already lost all his other belts. But between sending Jack back to AEW and Kidd having beef with all these things as a whole, it’d be pretty cool if Kidd led Bullet Club War Dogs on some kind of Forbidden Door feud with other parts of Bullet Club as a whole.

And then just an amazing main event here tonight. Yota continues to look incredible in every singles match he has, this is definitely his best match yet. The fans were so strongly behind Yota for the majority of that match, I wouldn’t have blamed NJPW if they decided Yota should win here tonight. But instead, it’s still Naito, and that’s totally a great choice, too. Naito VS Moxley being for the title now is great stuff, that alone makes Windy City Riot worth the $20 USD extra. But that also makes for another busy weekend for me…

My Score: 9/10