Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW New Japan Soul Results & Report! (7/5/24)

A fiery finale!

Published

7 months ago

July 5, 2024

Steven Mitchell

We’re so close to the G1, we can almost taste it!

While El Desperado and Douki battle over the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, the G1 Climax Qualifiers have reached the finals! Who moves on? And who will watch from the sidelines?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita VS KENTA & Gedo; ZSJ & Fujita win.
Six Man Tag: Just5Guys VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
10 Man Tag: Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask, Tomoaki Honma, Yuji Nagata & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
G1 Climax 34 A Block Qualifier Final: Callum Newman VS YOSHI-HASHI; Callum wins and advances to the G1.
G1 Climax 34 B Block Qualifier Final: Boltin Oleg VS Taichi; Oleg wins and advances to the G1.
Six Man Tag: Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI & Shingo Takagi VS Hiromu Takahashi, Titan & Yota Tsuji; Time Limit Draw.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado VS DOUKI; Douki wins and becomes the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.

PLAY BY PLAY

G1 Climax 34 A Block Qualifier Final: Callum Newman VS YOSHI-HASHI!

The Prince of Pace has been pulling off upset after upset, taking down Yujiro Takahashi and Kenta. Meanwhile, The Head Hunter has been breaking through each round, beating the Crown Jewel and the Stone Pitbull. But who is the one that keeps it up and makes it to the Climax?

The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. Callum offers a handshake, and Hashi takes it. The fans cheer the sportsmanship, and the two circle more. They feel things out, knuckle lock, and go shoulder to shoulder in a test of strength. Callum wrenches and wrangles Hashi, then digs his knee into the arm. Callum then drags Hashi back up, wrenches, but Hashi spins and wrenches back. Hashi headlocks, but Callum powers up and out. Hashi runs Callum over! The fans fire up while Callum shakes out his arms. Hashi storms back over, brings Callum up, and CLUBS him on the neck. Callum goes to ropes but Hashi brings him around.

Hashi whips, Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges and really speeds up, to BOOT Hashi down! The fans cheer while Hashi gets back up. Callum ROCKS Hashi, brings him around, and UPPERCUTS! Callum then wrenches Hashi, whips him, but Hashi holds ropes! Callum runs up but into a BOOT! Hashi runs up, but into a BOOT! Callum runs, Hashi follows and trips Callum up! Hashi brings Callum outside, whips, but Callum reverses. Hashi hits railing, but then he comes right back to CLOBBER Callum! The fans fire up again while Hashi leans against railing to rest. The ref checks Callum, he’s okay to continue, and Hashi makes his way over.

Hashi brings Callum up, puts him in, and fans applaud. Hashi stalks Callum, brings him up, and ROCKS him with a forearm. Callum goes to a corner, Hashi storms over to CHOP! Hashi grabs at Callum but Callum pushes him back. Callum eggs Hashi on and SPITS at him! Hashi wipes that off, and he CHOPS again! Callum falls to his knees but Hashi brings him right up. Hashi reels Callum in to hang him out to dry. The fans rally as Hashi runs, and Hashi DRPOKICKS Callum off the ropes! Hashi pushes Callum to a cover, TWO! The fans applaud while Callum clutches his back, but Hashi kicks him around.

Hashi brings Callum up but Callum pushes him. Callum eggs Hashi on again so Hashi CHOPS! Callum grits his teeth, rises up, and dusts himself off. Callum eggs Hashi on again, so Hashi CHOPS! The fans applaud and Callum grits his teeth. Hashi eggs Callum on, Callum talks trash, so Hashi CHOPS! Callum fires off a flurry of forearms! The fans fire up, and then Hashi spins to CHOP! Callum staggers back, Hashi ROCKS and CHOPS him against ropes on repeat! The fans fire up, the ref counts, but Hashi lets off. Hashi whips Callum to ropes, Callum trips Hashi up! And then DOUBLE STOMPS! The fans cheer while both men are down!

Callum grits his teeth, his body already marked up. But he aims from a corner as Hashi goes to the other. Callum runs in to DROPKICK! Callum then runs to PENALTY KICK, and STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally and Great-O-Khan is ringside to coach Callum. Callum rallies the fans and they clap along. Callum brings Hashi up, calls his shot and springboards, but Hashi gets under! Callum lands out, Hashi runs to duck ‘n’ dodge and HEADHUNTER! Callum writhes from that running blockbuster and the fans continue to rally. Hashi and Callum go to opposite corners, and Callum stands up.

Hashi runs in to LARIAT in the corner! Hashi pushes Callum away to then go up! FLYING BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Callum survives and the fans rally up but Hashi keeps cool. Hashi brings Callum up, reels him in, and suplexes, but Callum knees free! Callum blocks a kick, spins, but Hashi ROCKS him first! Hashi runs, but into a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO! Hashi survives as Callum brings out another Ospreay special! The fans fire up as Callum rises. Callum hobbles but he shakes out the cobwebs. Callum chicken wings Hashi but Hashi resists the lift. Hashi elbows free, then runs up, but into a BOOT!

Hashi fires up, Callum ducks and springboards, OSC- NO, Hashi catches Callum! Hashi then full nelsons for a DRAGON SUPLEX! Callum is right up!? Callum fires a forearm, Hashi fires back! Callum CHOPS, Hashi CHOPS Callum down! Callum kips up to ENZIGIRI! Callum runs, into a SUPERKICK! Callum stays up, but Hashi SUPERKICKS again! The fans are thunderous as Hashi reels Callum in! Fisherman and KUMAGOROSHI! Cover, TWO?!? Callum survives and the fans are thunderous! Hashi drags Callum back up and back in, full nelson to pump handle, but Callum fights the lift!

Callum CLUBS at Hashi’s arm, rolls free but Hashi ducks the roundhouse! BODY SHOT, pump handle, BACKBREAKER! SUPERKICK! METEORA!! Cover, TWO!!! Callum survives again and the fans are thunderous! The fans rally as Hashi waits on Callum to rise. Callum flounders around, the fans duel, and Hashi runs. LARIAT!! Hashi drags Callum to a cover, TWO?!? Callum survives again and the fans are thunderous! Hashi drags Callum back up, full nelson and pump handle, KAR- STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE!! Inside cradle, CALLUM WINS?!?

Winner: Callum Newman, by pinfall (advances to the G1 Climax)

The United Empire is there to celebrate with their guy! Hashi himself is stunned, how did he get caught like that? But even Callum shows the proper respect to his senpai. Hashi cools off, and he shakes Callum’s hand. Will The Prince of Pace keep up the pace and conquer the Climax for the United Empire?

G1 Climax 34 B Block Qualifier Final: Boltin Oleg VS Taichi!

The Rook’s incredible strength helped him overcome his NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship partners, Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi. But now, he runs into the Holy Emperor! Taichi stopped TJP’s Cinderella Story, will he do it all again? Or is there no stopping this Kazakhstan Juggernaut now?

The bell rings and the fans rally up. The chants sound about even between “TA-I-CHI!” and “BO-RU-TIN!” The two circle, then stare down before they tie up. Oleg powers Taichi back but Taichi digs in his heels. Oleg still puts Taichi on ropes, and he lets off slowly. But then Oleg pushes Taichi and eggs him on. The fans cheer Oleg’s guts and Taichi gets in Oleg’s face. Oleg fires a forearm, so Taichi KICKS a leg! Oleg fires a forearm, Taichi KICKS a leg, and repeat! They go back and forth, and the fans rally as they pick up speed! Oleg ROCKS Taichi, ROCKS him again, and again! The fans fire up for Oleg, but then Taichi KICKS the leg!

Taichi runs to BOOT Oleg but he rebounds to ROCK Taichi! Oleg runs again but into a BOOT! But Oleg’s right up! And he CLOBBERS Taichi! The fans fire up for Oleg again, and he gut wrenches Taichi! Taichi fights the shake, but Oleg CLUBS him, and CLUBS him, and CLUBS him again! Taichi just gets mad! Taichi pushes Oleg, Oleg CHOPS! Taichi doesn’t flinch, and GAMANGIRIS instead! The fans fire up while both men are down! Taichi snarls as he rises up and shakes out the leg. Taichi drags Oleg up, TOSSES him out, and Oleg flounders to railing. Taichi storms out after Oleg, and whips him hard into railing!

Oleg falls and writhes, but Taichi opens the gate to No Man’s Land. Then he kicks down railing so he can bring Oleg into the crowd! The fans hurry to move, and Taichi BOWLS Oleg into chairs! STRIKE! Taichi then grabs a chair and folds it up but the ref stops him. Taichi gives up the chair so he can drag Oleg up. Taichi KICKS Oleg down! The fans cheer while Taichi then drags Oleg back up. Taichi brings Oleg into the ring and the fans applaud. Oleg crawls, Taichi kicks him around. Taichi eggs Oleg on as he scuffs him again. Oleg rises, so Taichi KICKS him in the chest! Oleg writhes again and the fans rally up.

Oleg rises again, so Taichi KICKS him again! And again Oleg writhes around on the mat! Taichi looms over Oleg, then sits him back up. And he KICKS Oleg back down! The fans rally as Oleg writhes but doesn’t give in. Taichi stomps Oleg around, taunts him, then gives him toying kicks. Oleg rises up, Taichi slaps him around, but that only upsets Oleg. Oleg fires forearms on Taichi but Taichi just eggs him on! So Oleg ROCKS Taichi and clinches! Taichi fights back and wrenches free to HOOK KICK! Oleg falls, Taichi covers, TWO! Taichi is annoyed but he drags Oleg back up, for a KNEE! Taichi then brings Oleg up and whips.

Oleg reverses to lift and FLAPJACK! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Oleg rises and fans rally behind him as he heads for Taichi. Oleg fires forearms on Taichi, puts him in a corner, then whips corner to corner. Oleg runs in, and SPLASHES! Taichi staggers, Oleg runs, and he runs Taichi over! The fans fire up and Oleg keeps moving, to SPLASH DOWN! Cover, TWO! Taichi survives and the fans rally up. The fans rally up for Taichi now but Oleg gut wrenches! But again Taichi fights the shake! Oleg pries Taichi off his leg to Shake, Rattle and THROW! And then the kip up! The fans fire up as Oleg roars!

Oleg runs in at the corner but Taichi ROUNDHOUSES him down! The fans fire up more as Taichi seethes. “Let’s Go, Taichi!” echoes out as Taichi waits on Oleg. Oleg is dazed from that shot but Taichi tries to lift him. Oleg doesn’t budge so Taichi wants the ref to call this. The ref checks, Oleg is still awake, so Taichi clamps on with SEITEI JUJIHOU! Oleg endures being in the Holy Emperor’s Tomb, but Taichi really cranks the hold! Oleg is fading! The ref checks, the arm drops once! The arm drops twice! Taichi lets go before the ref can confirm one way or another! That mercy lets Oleg stay in this somehow!

Oleg blinks and catches his breath. But then Taichi BUZZSAWS him down! The fans fire up, because OFF COME THE PAINTS! Taichi tells Oleg to get up, and then he takes aim. Taichi gathers his power, but Oleg SHOTGUNS! Taichi rises, tries again, but Oleg blocks! Fireman’s carry, KAMIKAZE SENTON!! Cover, TWO?!? Taichi survives but Oleg has new life! Both men writhe on the mat, both men trying to catch their breath! Taichi grabs at the ref to tell him not to call this. Taichi and Oleg go to opposite corners, and then Oleg runs in! SPLASH! And then another fireman’s carry! KAMI- NO, Taichi slips free, and it’s back to SEITEI JUJIHOU!!

Oleg endures, reaches out, and he powers up! Oleg fireman’s carries free, for a SAMOAN DROP! Both men are down as Oleg goes the other direction! Oleg then hurries to haul Taichi up, and he fireman’s carries again! KAMI- NO, Taichi slips free, trips Oleg, into the GEDO CLUTCH!! TWO?!?! Oleg escapes by the skin of his teeth! Taichi BOOTS! Oleg stays up! But Taichi gets around to DANGEROUS SAIDO!! Cover, TWO!?!? Oleg survives again and the fans are thunderous! Taichi sputters, his sides still bothering him, but he grits his teeth. The fans are dueling as hard as they can and Taichi rises first!

Taichi runs, AX BOMBER!! Taichi roars and the fans are thunderous again! Taichi drags Oleg up, Alabama Lifts, but Oleg flails, to gut wrench! And GUT BUSTER! Oleg again damages Taichi’s core, and now Oleg runs up, to KNEE! Cover, TWO?!?! Taichi survives that hardcore kitchen sink knee, but Oleg hauls him right up! Fireman’s carry, KAMI- NO, Taichi again fights the roll! Taichi RIDGE HANDS Oleg again and again, but Oleg stays up! TO F5!! Oleg roars like a Beast and the fans are thunderous! Oleg hauls Taichi up, fireman’s carries, and KAMIKAZE!! Cover, OLEG WINS!!

Winner: Boltin Oleg, by pinfall (advances to the G1 Climax)

Three matches, three upset victories! The Rook is now going on to his first G1! But he is also a humble winner, and shows respect to Taichi by helping him to his feet and raising his hand. Taichi returns the favor by raising Oleg’s arm, and the two hug it out. Then will Oleg do Taichi, Tanahashi and Yano all proud by being a massive standout in this year’s round robin?

Six Man Tag: Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI & Shingo Takagi VS Hiromu Takahashi, Titan & Yota Tsuji!

It’s the homecoming for both the Uncontrollable Charisma & Black Mask of Los Ingobernables de Japon, so they’re doing something really special for this. LIA, Los Ingobernables de Adachi, are teaming with the Rampaging Dragon to take on the Ticking Timebomb, El Inmortal & Gene Blast! But will it be a tranquilo homecoming? Or will Hiromu be unable to help himself and make a mess of it?

Adachi is already fired up for their hometown heroes, but the trios still sort out, and Naito still takes his time with putting his elaborate entrance attire aside. Eventually, both halves of LIJ fist bump, and as the fans chant for “NA-I-TO! NA-I-TO!” we get the other hometown hero in Bushi. Titan steps up to face his sometimes tag partner, and the fans rally for “BUSHI! BUSHI!” The masked men circle, feel things out, and tie up. They go around, Bushi puts Titan on ropes but Titan turns that around. Bushi turns it around, Titan turns it back. Titan lets off with pats on the shoulder, and he rolls back to copy Bushi’s little taunt.

Bushi is annoyed, and he runs up, but Titan dodges! Titan mule kicks, wrenches and whips, but Bushi reverses. Titan goes up and over, handsprings away, and the fans fire up. Titan comes back, Bushi BOOTS him down, then Bushi goes up to FLYING RANA! Titan bails out but Bushi builds speed, only to fake Titan out and return the taunt! Titan rushes in but Bushi avoids his basement dropkick! Bushi comes back, Titan trips him to cover, ONE! Titan avoids Bushi’s sweep, but Bushi avoids the heel kick! The fans cheer as the two stand off. They nod respect, then back up to their corners. Titan tags Yota, and Bushi offers to Naito, but it’s Takagi instead!

The fans rally as the bigger men of the group now meet up. The fans rally for “TA-KA-GI!” since he’s on Team Adachi right now. Takagi and Yota circle, feel things out, and then tie up collar ‘n’ elbow. They’re in a deadlock at center, but Takagi finds a point of leverage to put Yota on ropes. The ref counts, and Takagi keeps it clean. The fans applaud, Yota and Takagi reset to tie up again. It’s another deadlock, but now Yota finds the leverage to put Takagi on ropes. Yota lets off slowly, but then takes a swing! Takagi dodges and says hey, clean break! Yota grins and apologizes, then offers a handshake. Takagi thinks about it, and the fans rally up.

Takagi goes for the handshake but Yota leaves him hanging! Yota then kicks low and headlocks, but Takagi powers up and out. They RAM shoulders but neither man falls. Takagi runs, they RAM shoulders again, then the forearms start flying! The fans fire up as they go back and forth, then Yota gets the edge! Yota ROCKS Takagi, runs, and he RAMS Takagi! Takagi rebounds and RAMS Yota! Yota rebounds to run Takagi over! Takagi’s right up to run Yota over! The fans fire up as the two reset. They circle again, feel things out, but then Yota tags Hiromu. Hiromu dares Naito to join him, and the fans do cheer for “NA-I-TO!”

Naito reaches out, Takagi tags him in, and the fans fire up! “NA-I-TO!” and “HI-RO-MU!” circle as the fans rally up, and then Naito fakes Hiromu out. Naito plays his usual games, as he then dodges Hiromu! But Hiromu runs to SHOTGUN Naito! Naito bails out, Hiromu is after him! Hiromu whips Naito into railing, then whips again, only for Naito to reverse! Hiromu hits railing, Naito whips him again! Hiromu hits more railing, but Naito keeps after him! Hiromu gets in the ring but Naito follows. Naito smirks and whips Hiromu, but Hiromu avoids the arm-drag! Naito dodges a lariat, but Hiromu avoids an elbow!

Naito ducks a superkick, and then he tranquilo poses! The fans cheer but Hiromu is annoyed, and Hiromu basement dropkicks Naito! The fans are torn as Naito bails out, and Hiromu builds speed! Naito ducks, but Hiromu rolls back, then drops into sitting cross-legged! Hiromu then even tranquilos! He dares Naito to return, so Naito does. Naito storms up but Hiromu drop toeholds him onto ropes! Hiromu KICKS the ropes to jam Naito up, then he runs, only for Takagi to get a cheap shot in! The ref reprimands but Naito kicks Hiromu low. Naito then brings Hiromu around for Bushi to sunset flip and rewind into Naito’s basement dropkick!

The fans fire up and Takagi runs up to BLAST Yota & Titan! Naito hauls Hiromu up, reels him in, and he tags Takagi. They mug Hiromu, then Takagi brings Hiromu up. Takagi KNEES Hiromu low, and again, then whips. Takagi KNEES low, snapmares Hiromu, then runs to ELBOW DROP! The fans fire up as Takagi drags Hiromu back over, and he tags Bushi. They split the wishbone, and then Bushi stomps Hiromu around. Bushi bumps Hiromu off buckles, CHOPS and CHOPS, then snapmares. Bushi clamps onto Hiromu with a chinlock, but Hiromu endures. The fans rally as Hiromu reaches out, and he has the ROPEBREAK!

Bushi lets go, stomps Hiromu, then tags Naito. The fans rally as Naito & Bushi mug Hiromu, but Hiromu CHOPS back! And CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Naito CLAWS Hiromu’s eyes! The ref reprimands, Naito stops and apologizes. Hiromu falls to the apron then goes to the floor. Bushi pursues to kick Hiromu and put him back in the ring. Naito bumps Hiromu off buckles, then he and Bushi double whip. Hiromu reverses to send Naito away, then he dropkicks Bushi’s leg! Yota SPLASHES Naito! Snapmare, Titan joins in, TRIPLE BASEMENT DROPKICK! Yota BLASTS Takagi and goes out after him!

Hiromu’s team sends Takagi and Bushi into railing, then Hiromu drags Naito up. Hiromu whips to ELBOW Naito, then he clamps on a headscissor squeeze! Naito endures, the fans rally, and Naito kicks around. Hiromu keeps on the pressure, even as Naito pries at the hold. Naito kicks and kicks and reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Hiromu lets go. Hiromu drags Naito up, bumps him off buckles, then CHOPS Naito. Tag to Yota and Yota RAMS into Naito again and again! Yota cravats Naito, has the neck wrench, then snapmares so he can tie Naito up in a pretzel! Yota sits on Naito while taunting the team!

Naito endures, even as Yota makes it a STUMP PULLER CRADLE! TWO!! Naito manages to escape that knot, but Yota whips him back to the corner. Yota BLASTS Takagi for good measure, then he tags Titan. Titan climbs, Yota brings Naito around, MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Naito stays in this and the fans rally up, but Titan stomps him around. Titan drops a leg on the leg, and then runs to drop a leg, brother! Cover, TWO! The fans rally but Titan stomps away on Naito more. Titan drags Naito over, tags Hiromu, and Hiromu stomps the leg! Hiromu stomps Naito’s leg again and again and again!

Hiromu drops an elbow on the leg and then pulls on the toehold! Naito pulls at Hiromu’s hair but the ref reprimands. The fans rally for “NA-I-TO!” harder and harder but he still suffers the toehold. Naito reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Hiromu lets go to stomp the leg one more time. Tag to Yota and he drags Naito around. Yota SMASHES the knee off the mat! Yota then drops an elbow on the leg! Naito writhes but Yota holds on to stomp away on the leg! Yota turns Naito over into a HALF CRAB! The fans rally, Naito endures, and Hiromu stares Takagi and Bushi down. Hiromu then runs over to BLAST them!

Hiromu and Titan keep Bushi and Takagi out while Yota sits deep on the Half Crab! Naito endures and the fans rally harder and harder! Naito crawls over, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Yota lets go and he brings Naito back up. Hiromu & Titan join in so they can CHOP and CHOP, then double whip. Yota BOOTS Naito, Hiromu KICKS Naito and Titan SOBATS! Naito ends up in a corner, Yota & Hiromu double whip Titan in for the LOCO LARIAT! Hiromu scoops and SLAMS Naito so that Yota can SPLASH DOWN! Cover, Takagi breaks it! Takagi also bails out fast to avoid Hiromu. Yota grins as he scuffs Naito, kicks him around, and eggs him on.

The fans rally up as Naito rises to fire body shots! Naito then throws forearms on Yota, but Yota knees low! Yota runs, but Naito ELBOWS him! Yota rebounds, but into an atomic drop! Naito ENZIGIRIS Yota down! The fans fire up while both men crawl for corners! Hot tag to Takagi! The Rampaging Dragon runs Yota over, scoop SLAMS Hiromu, but Titan kicks! Titan whips, Takagi reverses, FLAPJACK! Takagi LARIATS Hiromu out of the ring! Takagi runs at Yota, blocks a boot and LARIATS through! The fans fire up with Takagi but Yota swings. Takagi catches him, spins him, and hits a BIG suplex! Cover, TWO!

Takagi looks around as the fans rally, and he says, “TOKI GA KITA! <THE TIME HAS COME!>” The fans join in for “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi sits Yota up. Yota ducks the sliding lariat, kicks and runs, but into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKON- NO, Yota blocks and clinches! BACKBREAKER! COMPLETE SHOT! Takagi avoids the stomp! Takagi blocks a kick, but Yota slips free of the Dragon Screw to KNEE Takagi down! The fans fire up again while Yota catches his breath. Yota brings Takagi up to ROCK him with a forearm! And then another! Takagi snarls as Yota fires more and more forearms! Takagi then fires boxing elbows!

Yota ROCKS Takagi first! Yota runs, but Takagi follows to LARIAT! Takagi runs, into a BLUE THUNDER BOMB, and a KNEE!! Both men fall and the fans are thunderous! Yota and Takagi crawl for their corners, hot tag to Titan! The fans fire up as Titan springboards and SPLASHES! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up again as Titan gets Takagi up. Takagi swings, misses, and Titan fires off a strike fest! Titan runs, but into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKON feint and DDT- NO! Titan handsprings through!! Titan kicks, Takagi blocks and whips but Titan reverses. Titan goes Matrix, but Takagi catches his sobat for a POWERSLAM!

The fans fire up as we pass 20 minutes! Takagi crawls his way over, hot tag to Bushi! Bushi stomps Titan, bumps him off buckles, then whips corner to corner. Bushi runs in to ELBOW! Bushi drags Titan up and in, FISHERMAN- NO, Titan slips free! Bushi kicks and runs but Titan DROPKICKS! Bushi bails out, Titan fires up and builds speed, to FLY! Direct hit and down goes Bushi! The fans fire up again and Titan roars! Titan hurries to get Bushi up and in, and the fans rally again. Titan aims from the apron, springboards, but Bushi gets clear! Titan rolls through, but Bushi dropkicks the legs! Bushi grabs a leg, to SMASH the knee!

Bushi then ties Titan’s legs up, in FABLE! Bushi & Takagi intercept Hiromu and Yota for PLUMA BLANCA and DRAGON SLEEPER! The fans fire up as TRIPLE SUBMISSIONS are on! Titan crawls, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! Bushi, Naito & Takagi let go, and all six men are down around ringside. The fans rally as Bushi brings Titan back around. Bushi reels Titan in, but Titan fights free. Bushi kicks low, whips, but Titan BOOTS and SOBATS, fires off more kicks, then WHEEL KICKS! Down goes Bushi and the fans fire up! Titan skins the cat to the top rope, and LA LANZA!! But Titan clutches his leg, he can’t make the cover!

Titan and Bushi stir, and Titan throws off his elbow pads. The fans fire up as Titan roars, and he storms up on Bushi. Titan drags Bushi up, reels him in, Canadian Rack, and he spins for the- NO, Bushi slips free to BACKSTABBER! Both men are down again and the fans are thunderous! Bushi and Titan crawl, hot tags to Hiromu and Naito! Hiromu ELBOWS Naito, takes a swing, but Naito gets around! Hiromu still spins Naito, but Naito fights the suplex! Naito wrenches, Hiromu ROCKS Naito, then throws him onto ropes to KICK ropes and jam Naito up! Hiromu runs, and SHOTGUNS Naito down!

The fans fire up as Hiromu brings Naito up to suplex, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up but Hiromu drags Naito to his feet. Hiromu fireman’s carries, but Naito slips free and shoves Hiromu. Naito blocks boots, puts Hiromu in ropes, DRAPING NECKBREAKER! Naito then puts Hiromu up top, bring shim out, SUPER DRAPING NECKBREAKER! Takagi BLASTS Titan & Yota, Naito goes up the corner and he drags Hiromu up with him. ESPERANZA! Hiromu flounders, the fans fire up, and Naito aims. Naito runs up, CORRIENDO- NO, Hiromu fights off Destino to VICTORY ROYALE! Cover, TWO!!

Naito survives and the fans fire up again, but Hiromu grits his teeth. Hiromu runs, but Naito blocks the lariat! Naito kicks and uses ropes, but Hiromu denies the tornado! Hiromu SUPERKICKS, then BLINDSIDE LARIATS! And now HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! Cover, TWO!! Naito survives but Hiromu keeps on him! Fireman’s carry as we hit 30 MINUTES! Naito slips free to throw those heavy elbows! Naito throws elbow after elbow, Hiromu roars and runs in, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Naito gets Hiromu up, wrench- KNEE from Yota! PUMPING BOMBER from Takagi! MISSILE DROPKICK from Titan! CODE BREAKER from Bushi!

Hiromu SUPERKICKS Bushi, Naito runs in! CORRIENDO DESTINO!! All six men are down and the fans are electric! The fans rally as hard as they can for “NA-I-TO! NA-I-TO!” as we hit 35 minutes! Naito rises, drags Hiromu up, and wrenches. Hiromu fights Destino off, but Naito ELBOWS him again and again! Hiromu eggs Naito on! So Naito ELBOWS him more and more! They end up on ropes and Hiromu is up in Naito’s face! Naito ELBOWS again and again! We’re running out of time, but Naito hits VALENTIA!! And then wrench and tilt-o-whirl, DESTIN- NO!! TIMEBOMB!!! Both men are down as we’re at the THIRTY SECOND WARNING!

The fans are thunderous as Naito and Hiromu rise up! TEN SECONDS! Hiromu grabs at Naito but Naito flips him to a cradle! Cover, TIME’S UP!!!

Time Limit Draw

LIJ VS LIJ was so epic, that even after FORTY MINUTES, it could not have a conclusion! But perhaps that is proof that LIJ is also the strongest faction in NJPW today! And even after fighting so hard, all six men stand together, and they fist bump! Iron sharpens iron, so will LIJ only get stronger from here?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado VS DOUKI!

The Rogue Luchador finally won the Best of the Super Juniors, and then won this title off of Sho in Osaka-Jo Hall. Japones Del Mal was part of that journey back to the top, but even Desperado knows Douki is not just some stepping stone. And now, for everything the two have been through over the years, Desperado is giving Douki this golden opportunity. Will Desperado still be the Best of the Super Juniors? Or will Douki finally have his moment to shine?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see whose New Japan Soul burns brightest!

The bell rings and the fans rally up for “DOUKI! DOUKI!” Desperado smiles and nods, he doesn’t mind that Douki’s finally gotten a following. The two tie up, Desperado waistlocks but Douki switches. Despe spins to get a facelock but Douki wrenches free. Despe moves around, cording holds then headlocks for a takeover. Douki headscissors, Despe bridges back and rolls around to then tie up Douki’s legs. The fans cheer this exchange, and Despe traps the legs while he reclines on Douki. Despe then floats to facelock but Douki wrenches and hammerlocks. Despe throws elbows, switches the hammerlock onto Douki.

Douki reaches back and jumps up, to flying-mare! Despe bails out and the fans cheer. Douki waits and Despe makes his way back to the ring. Despe slides, in, circles with Douki and they knuckle lock. Douki wrenches to hammerlock then full nelson. Despe claws at the hold but Douki shifts to a cravat. Despe throws body shots, rolls, but Douki holds on tight! Despe fights up, throws more shots then rolls again, but still Douki holds on! They stand, Despe swim moves but Douki gets the cravat back. Despe swim moves again but Douki gets the cravat again. Despe throws body shots, then swim moves and wrenches. But Douki breaks free to cravat again!

The fans cheer the technical exchange but Despe throws harder body shots. Douki lets go, runs in, but Despe picks him up! Douki rolls through, sunset flips, then reels Despe in, but Despe fights the Italian Stretch! Despe shoves Douki, Douki comes back, but Despe dropkicks the legs out! The fans cheer while both men are down. Despe storms over to Douki, CLUBS him on the neck, then whips. Douki ducks ‘n’ dodges then RANAS! Despe gets up, Douki runs in and springboards to FLYING ARM-DRAG! Despe bails out, Douki builds speed, but Despe slips back in! Douki lands on the apron, ROCKS Despe, but then Despe KICKS the leg!

Douki falls to the apron then the floor. Red Shoes checks him but he’s okay to continue. Despe goes out, grabs the bad leg and YANKS it! Despe then brings Douki around and CHOPS him! Despe RAMS Douki into railing while the fans rally up. Douki sputters as he slumps down, but Despe drags him back up. Despe whips, Douki reverses and Despe hits apron! Douki runs up, Despe pops him up, but Douki uses that to TORNADO DDT to the floor! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Douki storms over, drags Despe up and in, and the fans applaud as Douki aims from the apron. Despe rises, Douki slingshots, but Despe catches Douki!

Despe ties up the legs, for a DOUBLE KNEE BUSTER! Douki writhes and the fans rally again. Despe puts Douki’s leg on ropes to HIP DROP it! Douki writhes more but Despe drags him back up. Despe whips but Douki can’t even make it to the other side! So Despe SMASHES the knee on the mat! Despe paces while Douki writhes, and then Despe grabs the bad leg, to DDT the foot! Again Despe paces while Douki writhes, then Despe grabs the leg for a STANDING KNEEBAR! Douki kicks with his free leg, but Despe SPLASHES down on the bad leg. Cover, TWO! Douki toughs it out and the fans rally up.

Despe drags Douki up, but Douki CHOPS! And CHOPS! Fans “WOO~” but then Despe ROCKS Douki! Despe stands on Douki’s knee and eggs him on. Douki fires body shots but Despe just digs both feet into the knee! Red Shoes calls the ropebreak, Despe steps off and he drags Douki to a corner. Despe SLAMS the bad leg into the post! Despe then ties the legs up and pulls! Douki endures, Red Shoes counts, and Despe lets go, to SLAM the leg on the apron! Despe then takes his time stepping back inside while Red Shoes checks Douki. Douki’s okay to continue so Despe grabs the bad leg. Despe drops an elbow on the knee!

Despe pulls on the leg for a toehold, then digs his knee in! Despe pushes on the bad leg, twists it, and sits down on the knee! The fans rally for Douki but Despe has the INDIAN DEATHLOCK! Douki sits up to CHOP, and CHOP, but Despe DECKS Douki! Despe puts the pressure on, then he stands to use leverage. Despe drops back down to keep on the pressure, but Douki gets the ROPEBREAK! Despe lets go and the fans rally up again. Despe drags Douki up, grabs the leg, but Douki fights with elbows! Despe KICKS the bad leg and Douki drops to his knees. Despe brings Douki up but Douki KNEES Despe away!

Douki turns Despe, but Despe mule kicks the bad leg! Despe whips, Douki reverses and JUMPING FOREARMS! Both men are down and the fans rally up again! Despe aims from a corner, runs in, but Douki spins around him to arm-drag! Douki runs up, ELBOWS Despe, and runs to springboard BACK ELBOW! Down goes Despe and Douki covers, TWO! The fans rally, Douki drags Despe up and scoops, but Despe slips free! SLEEPER! Douki RAMS Despe into corners, and then he bumps Despe off buckles. Douki goes up but Despe YANKS him right down! Despe drags Douki up for a BIG back suplex!

Despe hurries to bring Douki back up, suplex and BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Douki stays in this and the fans rally up again. Despe is annoyed and he lets his hair down. Despe gut wrenches Douki but Douki slips fere! But the bad leg jams! Despe runs, and he fakes out the dropkick! Douki crashes down, and Despe SMASHES the knee! STRETCH MUFFLER!! Douki endures, reaches out, fights around, but Despe thrashes the leg! Douki scrambles forward to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Despe lets go. Despe stands on Douki’s bad leg, then drags Douki back up. Despe reels Douki in, underhooks, PINCHE-

NO, Douki fights that off and he RAMS Despe into buckles! Douki hobbles away, runs back in, but Despe dodges! Despe comes back, Douki BOOTS him and reels him in for a TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up again and Despe bails out. Douki shakes out the bad leg, builds speed, and he DIVES! To TORNADO DDT to the floor!! The fans fire up again and Douki hurries to bring Despe up and into the ring. The fans fire up more, Douki aims and DAYBREAK! Cover, TWO!! Into ITALIAN STRETCH #32!! Despe endures, flails around, but Douki pulls on the hold! Despe fights his way over, but he’s fading!

Douki pulls on the arms but Despe moves around. Douki rolls him away from ropes and ITALIAN STRETCH! Despe still fights, still reaches out, and he drags Douki along, but then he starts to fade again! The fans rally as Douki continues to pull on the arms! Despe gets a second wind and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Douki lets go, and Douki fires himself back up. Douki storms over, drags Despe from the ropes, but Despe claws at the mat! Douki still wheelbarrows, but Despe fights the lift! Douki waistlocks Despe to keep him from ropes, and he wheelbarrows again! Desep victory rolls through!

Despe brings Douki up to back suplex, but Douki lands out! Douki rolls Despe, shifts and has the ITALIAN STRETCH! But Despe pops free of that to tie up Douki’s legs, into a TEXAS CLOVERLEAF!! The fans fire up as now Douki endures! Douki claws at the mat, powers his way forward, and the fans rally as hard as they can! Despe drags Douki from ropes, flips him over, and has the STRETCH MUFFLER! And then NUMERO DOS! Douki fights with his one free arm, even as Despe thrashes him! Douki still reaches out to the ROPEBREAK! Despe lets go and the fans fire up again. Despe snarls and storms back over to Douki.

Despe grabs at Douki but Douki BOOTS Despe away! Douki goes to a corner, Despe runs in, and Despe blocks the boot! Despe KICKS Douki’s leg, then grabs the leg, but Douki ENZIGIRIS free! Douki runs up, Despe ELBOWS him, but then Douki comes back to DECK Despe! The fans fire up again and Douki fires forearms! Douki ROCKS Despe, ROCKS him again, but Despe eggs him on! Douki DECKS Despe again and roars! The fans are with Douki but Despe CLUBS the leg, ROCKS Douki, and SNAP GERMANS! Bridging cover, TWO!! Douki is still in this but Despe just fires back up. Despe drags Douki up and in, underhooks, but Douki wrenches out to LARIAT!!

The fans fire up with Douki as he roars again! Douki brings Despe around to wheelbarrow, full nelson, but Despe HEADBUTTS free! Douki fires a forearm, but Despe ROCKS Douki back! And ROCKS him again! And swings, but Douki gets around! DRAGON SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Despe escapes but Douki roars! Douki drags Despe around again, and wheelbarrows! Full nelson, SUPLEX DE LA LUNA!! Cover, DOUKI WINS!?!

Winner: Douki, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)

The entire stadium erupts! The impossible dream has been realized! Desperado may have won the BOSJ tournament, but maybe he isn’t really The Best of the Super Juniors! How much harder will Desperado have to fight to get back up from this?

And as for Douki, Red Shoes raises his hand in victory and the fans cheer! Douki is overcome with emotion as he can finally hold the title as his own! Even some of the fans here in Adachi share that wave of emotion, seeing Douki finally have his moment. Douki gets the mic, and he tells Desperado, “Can you hear me? I don’t know. But while I won today, I don’t think this is over between us, and I don’t think of myself as better than you. But… with this championship, the best belt in pro-wrestling, shows that just for today, I am.”

Douki tells Desperado, he wants to say thank you very much for everything, but he also wants to say… Come at me once again. The fans applaud, and Douki says that when the time is right, he wants to do this again against Desperado. The fans cheer Douki on as he finally gets to admire the belt for a moment. Douki stands and says that this is the first time he is getting to talk as a champion. And if anyone feels bad or upset or wants to complain, you know what to do. Try and take this from him! Douki is determined to protect it with his life! Douki drops the mic, holds up the belt, and the streamers fly!

Japones Del Mal is finally golden, is this going to be the start of a new era in the NJPW Junior Heavyweight Division?

My Thoughts:

An awesome night for NJPW to finish their New Japan Soul series, especially with all the great choices in their results and finishes. For one, LIJ VS LIJ going to a time limit draw was the smart move, because even with Bushi and Titan being the pin-takers in most cases, they didn’t want there to be some sort of ranking system within the group. Hiromu being one of the best Junior Heavyweights they’ve had in NJPW, it was a great move for him and THE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion to be fairly equal, though Naito might’ve had him if not for the time limit. This also bodes well for LIJ’s showing in the G1, Naito, Takagi and Yota are surely all going to be top seeds in the blocks.

Speaking of the G1, the qualifiers were so good, and I’m surprised both younger guys were put over. Hashi felt like he might’ve had the hot hand coming in from just the other day, but Callum snatching that win away was wild. Oleg beating Taichi was less shocking, if only because Oleg is a truly big guy. He used that power game to beat Taichi, and Oleg will surely be a tough opponent throughout the G1. Not someone who takes the block, but definitely someone in the middle of the block that makes it hard even for the top guys.

And then awesome main event from Desperado VS Douki, and what a shock that Douki won this. But similarly to Hashi, Douki’s been solid, he’s suck it out year after year without complaining or leaving, and this is NJPW seeing that Douki does have what it takes. Douki won’t be defending this title during G1 season, he and Despe can rest up, and just about anybody in the Junior Heavyweight Division can come around to go after the champ. For me, TJP should try his hand. It’d be a great detail in TJP’s own story of struggling to feel confident as United Empire team captain after losing out in the BOSJ and this G1 qualifier, while giving Douki one heck of a first defense.

My Score: 9.1/10

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Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW Road to New Beginning Results & Report! (1/30/25)

GO! ACE! GO! ACE!

Published

4 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Steven Mitchell

Tanahashi’s Final Road to New Beginning!

Evil couldn’t end President Ace, but will The House of Torture still take the NEVER Openweight Six Man Championships from him?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Kickoff – Masatora Yasuda VS Daiki Nagai; Time Limit Draw.
YOSHI-HASHI & Katsuya Murashima VS Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson; Oiwa & Jackson win.
8 Man Tag: El Phantasmo, Jado, Shota Umino & Togi Makabe VS The United Empire; ELP, Jado, Shota & Makabe win.
Taichi & Taka Michinoku VS SANADA & Taiji Ishimori; Sanada & Taiji win.
Tomohiro Ishii & Tomoaki Honma VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi; Naito & Hiromu win.
Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; War Dogs win.
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins and become the new NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions.
Six Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, El Desperado & YOH VS TMDK; TMDK wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The House of Torture!

Evil tried to make WrestleKingdom 19 the last time we saw President Ace in this ring but he failed! However, his minions will not stop in trying to ruin the rest of Tanahashi’s last year. Will Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi & Sho take these titles back to the House? Or will The Ace, Joker & Rook stand tall?

The House walks out here showing off the belts they literally stole back at New Year Dash, but now the tables have turned! Tanahashi and team attack The House from behind! The fans cheer as The House finally tastes their own medicine! Tanahashi snatches back the belts so that he, Yano & Oleg can stand with them in the ring. The House protests but they’re one to talk. The introductions are skipped, the bell rings, and the brawl is back on as Tanahashi’s team goes back out after The House! Yano whips Sho, but Sho reverses to send Yano into railing! Sho stomps away on Yano, then helps Ren mug Oleg!

Yujiro turns things around on Tanahashi, and then he brings Tanahashi out to No Man’s Land! Sho bends Oleg’s fingers, puts his hand through the railing and pulls! The fans rally for Tanahashi’s team while the ref reprimands The House. Yujiro puts Tanahashi in, then he, Sho & Ren all stomp away! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but The House all put one out on Tanahashi. Yujiro stands Tanahashi up, then he and Sho double whip Tanahashi corner to corner. Yujiro runs in but Tanahashi dodges! Tanahashi then dropkicks Sho’s leg, then he dropkicks Narita’s leg! The fans fire up and Tanahashi runs at Yujiro.

Yujiro dodges, but Tanahashi ELBOWS him away! Tanahashi goes up to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up again as Tanahashi air guitars. Tag to Yano and he TOSSES Yujiro out! Yano then brings Yujiro out into No Man’s Land, then to the back of the crowd to THROW into some open chairs! The fans cheer as Yano brings out that Great Bash Heel side, but the ref reprimands Yano. Yano tells the ref to leave him alone, and he has a chair! The ref stops Yano from hitting Yujiro! Yano argues with the ref, but now Sho & Ren mug Yano! The ref reprimands them but the mugging continues. Ren leads the ref away so Sho & Yujiro can CHOKE Yano with a chair!

The fans boo while The House also beats up Oleg & Tanahashi. Yujiro drags Yano up and then brings him back to ringside to POST him! Ren brings Oleg around with a headlock and sends him into railing! Then more railing! Then into the crowd! Yujiro uses Yano’s red chair to CHOKE him! The ring count finally starts, but Ren JAMS Oleg up with a chair! The count reaches 10 of 20 and The House returns to the ring. Yano is still down at 15! The fans rally, Yano rises up at 17, and he lurches in at 19! The fans cheer but Yujiro is annoyed. Yujiro drops a leg, then an elbow, then a HEADBUTT! Cover, TWO!

The fans cheer as Yano stays in this, but Ren sends Tanahashi into railing! Yujiro tags Sho, Sho CHOKES Yano with a boot to the neck! The ref counts, Sho stops, then Sho TOSSES Yano out! Sho keeps the ref distracted while Ren JAMS Yano up with a chair! Ren pushes Yano in, Sho covers, TWO! Yano survives and Sho is frustrated. Tag to Ren, he drags Yano up, and Ren whips Yano to ELBOW him down! Cover, TWO! Ren BLASTS Tanahashi off the apron! Ren grins as the ref now keeps Oleg back. Ren CHOKES Yano on the ropes, Sho joins in to CLAW Yano’s eyes, but then the ref counts. Ren lets off and Yano flops down.

Ren drags Yano up, but Yano pulls hair! Ren breaks free, knees low, then runs up. Yano dodges, clinches, and BELLY2BELLY SUPLEXES! The fans fire up, Yano hot tags Oleg! Oleg jumps in and CLOBBERS Ren! Oleg then deadlifts Ren, but Sho attacks! The fans boo, Sho runs, SPEAR bounces off of Oleg! Oleg then deadlifts Sho! Shake, Shake, Shake! But Yujiro CLUBS Oleg! Yujiro & Ren double whip, but Oleg DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLES! The fans fire up and Oleg runs at the corner to SPLASH Ren! Then he scoops and TOSSES Ren! The fans fire up as Oleg then runs to SPLASH! Cover, TWO!

Ren survives but Oleg deadlifts Ren right to the fireman’s carry! Ren fights free, CHOKES Oleg, but Oleg breaks free! Oleg winds up but Ren ducks the chop! Ren CHOKES Oleg, the ref counts, but Oleg CHOKES Ren! The fans cheer, and then Oleg TOSSES Ren to the corner! Tag to Tanahashi and the fans fire up! Oleg and Tanahashi haul Ren up, double whip him corner to corner, then Tanahashi sends Oleg in! Oleg ELBOWS Ren, then Tanahashi SPLASHES! Tanahashi scoops and SLAMS Ren into the drop zone! Oleg goes up, up and VADER BOMBS! Tanahashi goes up to SUNSET SENTON! Cover, Yujiro breaks it!

Oleg CLOBBERS Yujiro for that, then goes out after him. The fans fire up as Tanahashi powers up. Tanahashi runs, but Sho gets a cheap shot in! Ren BOOTS Tanahashi, tags Sho, and Sho BLASTS Yano! Yujiro turns things around on Oleg and now The House double whips President Ace! Sho runs in to forearm SMASH! Yuijro BOOTS! Ren ELBOWS Tanahashi! Ren & Sho snapmare Tanahashi, then hold the legs open! Yujiro shoves the ref aside, then FALLING HEADBUTTS Tanahashi down low! The fans boo but now Sho covers, TWO!! Tanahashi survives and Sho argues with the ref! The fans rally for Tanahashi, but Ren has his repaired pushup bar!

Ren takes aim, Tanahashi dodges, SHOTEI! Sho kicks, Tanahashi blocks to DRAGON SCREW! Yujiro runs up, but gets caught into a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans fire up as Tanahashi crawls for his corner! Hot tag to Yano! Yano unties a buckle pad! The fans cheer, Yano whips, but Sho reverses! Yano stops from hitting the buckles, then he dodges Sho to send him into bare buckles! Yano rolls Sho up, TWO!! Sho escapes but Yano hurries to get Sho’s legs! Oleg hops in, CATAPULT into Oleg’s BELLY2BELLY! The fans fire up as Yano then stands Sho up, ONIGO- NO, Sho fights free! Sho dodges, but the ref stops him from hitting a low blow!

The ref and Sho argue, but Yujiro & Ren mug Yano! They double whip Yano, but Yano grabs ropes. Yano then sends Ren into Yujiro to DOUBLE LOW BLOW them! Atomic drop for Sho! Tanahashi runs up, SLINGBLADE! Oleg deadlifts Sho right into a fireman’s carry and DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! But YOSHINOBU KANEMARU is here! The Heel Master gets on the apron, but Young Lions already apprehend him! Yano hauls Sho up, for ONIGOROSHI!! Cover, KANEMARU TOSSES THE YOUNG LION ONTO THE REF! The fans boo but Kanemaru attacks Yano! But then Yano hits him with an atomic drop!

Kanemaru WHISKEY MISTS!? Sho LOW BLOWS Yano!! Sho rolls Yano up, HOUSE OF TORTURE WINS!!

Winners: The House of Torture, by pinfall (NEW NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)

What a travesty! A miscarriage of justice! Evil isn’t even here, but his army of darkness just won the gold! Yano is upset, Tanahashi is disappointed, but Oleg is mad! Oleg storms back in, only for Yujiro to BELT SHOT him down! Yujiro then kicks Oleg out, and shows he’s pretty sore from the low blow. Will these belts help the House feel much, much better?

Six Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, El Desperado & YOH VS TMDK!

The Fierce Warrior won the New Japan Ranbo to earn his shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, so that means he and Zack Sabre Jr. will do battle for the New Beginning! Will the Rogue Luchador & Direct Drive help Goto gain the upper hand? Or will Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles help The Mighty Front Man prepare for war?

The teams sort out while all of TMDK’s title belts are put aside. The Japanese Young Punk steps to Despy, so Despy accepts. The fans cheer and the bell rings. Despy and Fujita stare down while the fans rally. Despy has the majority, and the two circle. They feel things out, Despy facelocks but Fujita slips around to waistlock. Despy slips out, moves around, but Fujita stays on him. They go around, break, and the fans cheer. They tie up, Despy wrenches to hammerlock, but Fujita elbows free to hammerlock back. Despy switches, Fujita switches, repeat! They go hammerlock for hammerlock, but then Despy top wristlocks to wrangle FUjita!

The fans cheer, Fujita fights up, but Despy shifts to a cording hold. Fujtia whips but Despy reverses and arm-drags! Fujita comes back, he avoids the arm-drag, and then he CHOPS! Despy is stinging, but Fujita CHOPS him again! And CHOPS him again! The fans cheer, Fujita CHOPS again, but now Despy CHOPS! Fujita CHOPS, Despy ends up in the Mighty corner, and Eagles tags in. Eagles CHOPS, but then Despy CHOPS! Eagles shoves Despy and says he’s bored. He wants Yoh! The fans rally for Yoh, so Despy tags him in. The fans cheer as Yoh and Eagles circle. Wait, Yoh starts up the “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!”

Eagles is rather amused, and says not bad. Eagles starts it up for himself, but Yoh sneaks up! Eagles stops the schoolboy and sits on the cover, TWO and Yoh has the sunset flip! TWO, both men stand and point at the other! The fans applaud, then Yoh kicks low. Yoh whips, Eagles reverses to go up and around to arm-drag! Eagles runs in, Yoh sidesteps but Eagles hurdles. Eagles RANAS then WHEEL KICKS! Eagles kips up and the fans cheer. Eagles puts Yoh in a corner, and he says “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” CHOP CHOP CHOP! “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” CHOP CHOP CHOP! “ROBBIE!” CHOP! “ROBBIE!” CHOP! “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” CHOP CHOP CHOP!

The fans cheer while Yoh flounders around. Eagles whips, Goto sneaks a tag, then Goto & Yoh DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE Eagles! They BLAST ZSJ and Fujita, then call to Despy! Despy says no thanks, they can go ahead. “Se~ no!” DRUM BEAT on Eagles’ back! Goto asks if Despy is sure he doesn’t want in, and Despy says it’s fine. Goto CLUBS Eagles, but Eagles fires body shots! Eagles fires a forearm, but Goto knees low! Goto fireman’s carries, but Eagles fights free. Eagles waistlocks, Goto elbows free and runs, only for ZSJ to trip him up! Eagles BLASTS Yoh & Despy off the apron while Fujita basement dropkicks Goto!

ZSJ spins Goto around to be on the apron, then gives him a NECK TWIST! The fans cheer and ZSJ brings Goto out to UPPERCUT him down! ZSJ brings Goto up to UPPERCUT again, then UPPERCUTS him again! Goto stumbles and falls, Eagles CHOPS Yoh, and Fujita CHOPS Despy! ZSJ brings Goto up and wrenches his arm, then wrenches it again. But Goto fires forearms in return! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Goto again, the CHOPS continue by the ramp side, and ZSJ puts Goto in. Eagles tags ZSJ in whiel Fujita and Despy CHOP each other back and forth. ZSJ clamps on a headscissors and he squeezes tight!

Goto endures, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go cleanly and brings Goto to the corner. Tag to Fujita and he stomps Goto. Fujita drags Goto up while fans rally, and Fujita wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! Fujtia wrenches again, ELBOW BREAKER! And again, ELBOW BREAKER! Fujita wrenches, top wristlocks, and he wrangles Goto to the mat. Fujita STOMPS that arm, then he tags Eagles. The Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions get Goto’s arms while ZSJ steps in to have a leg! Goto endures as TMDK cycles through the armlocks and leglocks! Red Shoes counts but TMDK keeps rotating before he reaches 4!

Then TMDK returns where they started, and Goto endures the DOUBLE STRAIGHT ARMBARS and INDIAN DEATHLOCK! Red Shoes counts, all three men let go at 4! ZSJ stands, he still has the deathlock, and he bridges back! Goto endures, keeps his shoulders up, but ZSJ stands to tag in Eagles. Eagles drags Goto around, then hits a KNEE JAMMER! Tag to Fujita, they drag Goto up, and they double whip him to ropes. They DOUBLE ELBOW Goto down, ZSJ hops in for a NECK TWIST! Goto sits up into a DOUBLE PENALTY KICK! Cover, Despy breaks it! The fans cheer but Red Shoes reprimands.

Despy stands down, but Fujita BLASTS him off the apron! Fujita drags Goto up, wrenches, and whips him to a corner. Fujita runs up to CHOP, then he snapmares to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer but Fujita coordinates with TMDK. Fujita drags Goto up, and he wants to do the Chaos drum thing? ZSJ isn’t so sure but Eagles is for it. Eagles steps in, but Yoh runs up! Eagles kicks Yoh, and “Se~ no!” Eagles & Fujita DRUM on Yoh! The fans cheer and ZSJ acts like he doesn’t know what’s going on. The fans cheer for ZSJ to join in, but he puts up the X, that’s not for him. Eagles & Fujita DRUM away on Goto!

Goto stands up and grabs Fujita by the face! Eagles CLUBS Goto, he and Fujita double whip, but Goto DOUBLE LARIATS first! The fans fire up while they’re all down! ZSJ storms in and grabs Goto’s leg! ANKLE LOCK! Goto endures, fights around, and rolls through to throw ZSJ! ZSJ comes back to RAM Goto, then he runs, only for Goto to RUN him over! The fans fire up while both men are down! Goto crawls, hot tag to Despy! Despy runs at the corner to ELBOW Fujita! Despy reels Fujita in for a suplex, high and hard! Cover, TWO! Despy fires up and the fans are with him! Fujita underhooks, PINCHE- NO, Fujita fights free!

Fujita swings but Despy blocks the chop! Despy knees low, whips, but Fujita reverses to GAMANGIRI! The fans cheer while both men are down! Fujita roars while he rises up, and he storms back to Despy. Fujita waistlocks, deadlifts Despy, but Despy fights the suplex with elbows! Despy is free, but Fujita runs up to slip around and backslide! Despy rolls through, Fujita KICKS him down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Fujita fires up again. Fujita drags Despy back up, reels him in, and suplexes, but Despy fights that. Despy wrenches, but Fujita ROCKS him! Despy ROCKS Fujita in return!

Fujita and Despy keep the wristlock while they fire forearm after forearm back and forth! The fans rally up as the shots go faster and faster, but then both men wobble! Fujita fires a forearm, then another! Despy ROCKS Fujita in return! Despy runs, Eagles slips in, SOBAT! Fujita UPPERCUTS! Eagles scoops Despy but Yoh makes the save! Eagles kicks Yoh, he and Fujita double whip, but Yoh reverses to crisscross them into each other! FALCON- NO, Eagles slips out, but Yoh switches! Yoh feeds Eagles to Despy’s ELBOW! Yoh reels Eagles back in, FALCON ARROW! The fans fire up but Fujita runs up!

Despy & Yoh double kick, double whip, but Fujita DOUBLE SHOTGUNS! Fujita kips up, the fans fire up, and Fujita whips Despy, but Despy reverses to SPINEBUSTER! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Fujita and Despy crawl for their corners, hot tags to Goto and ZSJ! The fans fire up as both men run in, Goto LARIATS ZSJ! Goto roars and the fans are with him! Goto fires a flurry of forearms, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs in, MURAMASA! Then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! ZSJ survives and Goto fires up again! Goto fireman’s carries but ZSJ pulls on an arm! Goto powers out and ROCKS ZSJ!

Goto runs, ZSJ wrangles him to a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Eagles & Fujita BLAST Yoh & Despy off the arm! They have Yoh & Despy stuck on the outside with armlocks while ZSJ has the DISARMER! Yoh breaks free of Eagles and DROPKICKS ZSJ! Eagles returns to SUPERKICK Yoh! Despy is in, Eagles slips around and feeds him to Fujita’s MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up and TMDK drags Goto up. But Goto fires forearms on Eagles & Fujita! They DOUBLE CHOP, then double wrench! MAX- NO, Goto fights free and kicks Fujita! Goto deflects Eagles’ kick to LARIAT! Fujita kicks Goto, runs, but Goto follows! LARIAT!

ZSJ RAMS Goto, whips, but Goto reverses! Fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI! The fans fire up while ZSJ clutches his head. Goto hauls ZSJ up, dragon sleepers, but ZSJ drops down! Goto drops onto ZSJ for a cover, TWO!! ZSJ is up, Goto sends him into a corner! RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP, into a GOTO SAN SHIKI!! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ escapes, BOOTS Goto, then runs! DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither man falls, so DOUBLE LARIATS collide again! Goto roars, runs, but ZSJ KCIKS the lariat, PELES the other arm, then SWEEPS the legs! Goto falls, but then sits up, into a PENALTY KICK! The fans fire up and ZSJ hurries to drag Goto back up.

ZSJ scoops, ZACK- NO, Goto slips free and has the SLEEPER! Goto sits ZSJ and rolls him, GOTO NI SHIKI!! TWO!! ZSJ has the legs, JAPANESE LEG ROLL CLUTCH, with bridge!! TMDK WINS!!

Winners: TMDK, by pinfall

It was a fast and furious finish of technical holds, but who else but the best technical wrestler in the world would pull it out? Goto is frustrated for getting caught like that, but will he avenge himself in just 12 days?

As for TMDK, Eagles starts off by saying, “G’day, Sendai!” Eagles then pretends to check his watch, and asks, “Rocky doki desu ka? <Where is Rocky?> Zabishii. <How lonely.>” The fans chuckle at Eagles’ fake crying, and Eagles then tells Yoh & Rocky that next month in Osaka, see you then! The fans applaud, and then Eagles offers the mic to Fujita. The fans cheer Fujita on, and Fujita accepts. “That lariat turned me inside out, so I’ll keep this short! I’m beating El Desperado!” The fans cheer that, ready to see Fujita challenge Desperado for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on Tuesday, February 4th!

And lastly, that brings things to The Front Man. ZSJ takes the mic to say, “People of Sendai, thank you very much!” The fans cheer, but then ZSJ tells “Ko-kun” and “Robbie-chan” to “cut that drumming bit. It was lame.” The fans chuckle again, and ZSJ says 2025 isn’t the Year of the Snake. No, it’s all orange! ZSJ promises that TMDK won’t just paint NJPW orange, but the entire world! “Osaka will be here soon enough. Goto, this is your last chance. Let’s make the most of it.” The fans like the sound of that! ZSJ says they’ll end with this: This year revolves around TMDK! Arigato gozaimashita! The fans are ready, will the New Beginning in Osaka be Mighty?

My Thoughts:

A very good event for NJPW, though “Road to” always indicates more tune-up filler than thriller. Gabe Kidd going after Yota Tsuji and the Global Heavyweight Championship is an interesting development, but that is going to be a great match. The NEVER Openweight Six Man Championship match was really good stuff, and I was only a little surprised that The House of Torture won. Firstly, Tanahashi has to lose those titles at some time, so might as well pull off the Band-Aid now before The New Beginning events. Then this works with the story from Oleg and Josh Barnett where Barnett wants to help Oleg reach that singles title level.

And very good Six Man Tag main event to not only build Goto VS ZSJ but also Desperado VS Fujita. Great win for TMDK, but we have a lot of other Road to New Beginning events to build Goto VS ZSJ. A lot of filler 10 Man Tags are on the schedule, but I probably won’t be bothering with those. Despy VS Fujita will be great, but Fujita and Eagles are already the tag champions, so I don’t see Fujita winning. As for Goto VS ZSJ, ZSJ said it himself that this is very likely Goto’s last chance at ever being the top champion in NJPW, but I don’t see Goto winning. It’ll be an epic battle, but I feel like ZSJ is going to stay on top.

My Score: 8.7/10

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Coverage

Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 1.30.25

Are we gonna get consecutive weeks of momentum or we gonna get the “LOL TNA” moment already?

Published

6 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Andrew Balaz

Coming off the first Live iMPACT! in 8 years, it has been pretty universally agreed upon that it was not a bad show. Good favor, a larger audience then they’ve had in years and TNA actually did fairly well establishing themselves as not a third rate duelist.

Let’s see if the good tidings continue or if things start to well…TNA.

The official liaison between @WWENXT and TNA, @AriannaGraceWWE, was rudely interrupted by Tessa Blanchard while speaking with @MeanGiaMiller!

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/9IIhMDrtkn pic.twitter.com/8ImgauBAiO

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 31, 2025

Ratings:

Cora Jade vs Hyan: Cora wins via Jaded – ** 1/2
Brian Myers w/The System vs Leon Slater: Myers wins via Roster Cut – ** 3/4
Laredo Kid vs Mustafa Ali: Ali wins via 450 – ** 3/4
Eric Young & Josh Alexander vs Sinner & Saint: No Contest? EY Turned Heel – N/A
Ace Austin vs Wes Lee w/Tyson & Tyriek: Wes wins via Cardiac Kick – ***
Kaiba Boys (Nic & Ryan Nemeth) vs Fir$t Cla$$: Kaibas win via Danger Zone – ***

Results:

Nic Nemeth comes out to talk, doesn’t complain and says he’s just gonna dust himself off and start again. Ryan comes out to complain on behalf of “hiissss brrooother” and run down Hendry. Nic is playing babyface still and Ryan is instigating is typical little brother fashion. Nic tries to appease Ryan saying this could be a big year for both of them, so Fir$t Cla$$ music hits and KC Navarro cuts them off and hands off to AJ Francis. Ryan get mad at them interrupting, Nic tries to calm the situation but Ryan decides to agree to a tag match that Nic doesn’t seem like he wanted to go there. But Santino comes out and makes it official.

EXCLUSIVE: @XiaBrookside welcomed @WWENXT's @CoraJadeWWE to #TNAiMPACT, but things got HEATED fast!

Don't miss #TNAiMPACT TONIGHT at 8/7c on @AXSTV in the US, @Sportsnet 360 in Canada, and streaming worldwide on TNA+!

Get 1 month FREE of TNA+ with code: NXTNA pic.twitter.com/LP8ghA78Pv

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 30, 2025

Cora Jade vs Hyan

Hyan tries a Pump Kick, Cora catches it, lays her out and kicks her feet up in the corner getting cocky. Snapmare with the Hair, into a Springboard Single Stomp from Cora, Hyan is getting throttled along the ropes and putting up much of a fight to start. Hyan is usually just enhancement talent in TNA, even though she does have a solid pedigree in the indies and internationally. Hyan finally moves so Cora smashes herself into the corner, Wasteland from Hyan for a 1 count, Cora counters Hyan’s attempted offense and then hits Jaded for the win!

The match did what it needed to, Cora tried to lay in the boots further, Xia runs out to make a save but Cora baits her into a false sense of security and goes after Xia. So Masha comes out for the save on the person who made the save. Cora comes off looking pretty good and Masha scaring her off helps Masha’s aura.

.@MeanGiaMiller tries to get answers out of @WesLee_WWE, @TyriekIgwe_WWE and @_Tysonwwe_ for his attack on The Rascalz ahead of Lee's match with @The_Ace_Austin TONIGHT on iMPACT!

Watch #TNAiMPACT now on TNA+: https://t.co/9IIhMDrtkn

Get one month FREE with code: NXTNA pic.twitter.com/UIU5GgiylE

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 31, 2025

Brian Myers w/The System vs Leon Slater

Myers grabs the quick Headlock into the Shoulder Tackle and welcome back to 1997 wrestling starts. Myers got cocky, shot Leon into the ropes and eats a Shoulder Tackle from Leon, so a little showboating from Leon gets under Myers skin and causes him to make a few missteps. Leon hits the Feint Mule Kick into the Handspring Back Elbow for 2, but when he tries to continue, Myers pulls him down into the buckles. Myers looks for a Spear, Leon Leap Frogs and Myers eats turnbuckle. He powders, the System shields him from a dive, and we’re starting to see the numbers game come into play.

A Thrust Kick from Myers rocks Leon as he’s coming back in, Strong Irish Whip into a Gator Roll and then Sleeper Hold. Again, offense brought to you by Bill Clinton. Leon gets away from the Sleeper, tries to hit the ropes and Myers does his Baseball Slide Trip. Slow heel moves from Myers, Sleeper, Facelocks, Back Elbows…just slow classic heel offense. Leon tries to fire, eats a Knee Lift. Irish Whip but Leon counters by hoping the ropes to the apron, quick pop shot and then Springboard Crossbody into a series of Lariats and a Shotgun Kick! Leon has the momentum, Blue Thunder Bomb for two! Leon goes to the top, Myers is up, Leon rolls to the other side to avoid Myers, Myers eats a Leg Lariat from Leon and Myers pushes off, Bicycle Kick, Thrust Kick into Implant DDT for only two! Myers looks to Spear, gets rolled up in a Small Package, Kick out, dumped outside, Leon flies over the corner onto Myers!

System surrounds Leon, tries to get a few shots, but Leon has some quick offense for everyone. In the chaos, Lish puts a Ring on Myers’ hand so a Loaded Punch into Roster Cut and Myers wins!

Laredo Kid vs Mustafa Ali

Slow start with Ali being arrogant into a Lucha stalemate section where there’s Satellite counters, Headscissors and a powder to break the nonsense. Corner counters, Overhand Chops from both, they tussle on the top rope, Ali backflips off the ropes, Laredo tries a Crossbody but Mustafa hits a Dropkick. Grounded Abdominal Stretch from Ali, Laredo tries to fight up and out, but Ali slams him back down, talks smack, slaps him and then eats a Michinoku Driver out of nowhere! But only a two count! Ali manages to pull Laredo into the corner pads, tries a dirty pin with feet on the ropes but the referee sees it, Laredo tries a Roll-Up in the disarray, Ali kicks out, they run back and forth, Ali just slides out thinking he’s outsmarted Laredo but Laredo hits the Suicida for a solid pop. Ali pokes the eye and grabs at the mask, Laredo is off kilter, Ali baits Laredo through the corner, hits the Draping DDT off the apron, slides Laredo back in and 450 for the win.

Eric Young & Josh Alexander vs Sinner & Saint

Jabroni duo comes out, and they look stupid, their music is generic Hot Topic trash and the one with hair walks like he’s pretending to be a Delirious fused with a Dinosaur. They look so insanely pathetic.

Dino-nerd tries a stand switch and suplex but Josh no sells and looks like the older sibling judging the little sibling’s stupidity. Bald jabroni tags in, does nothing, blind tag just for Josh to single handedly lay both out. Of course they’re trying to establish the loser squad, so the eventually have a good defensive moment that catches Josh and isolates him in their corner. He still mostly takes care of both of them. This is honestly pathetic.

Locomotion counter switches in the corner before a Shotgun Kick wipes out Josh, Dino-nerd tries a Lio Rush style splash but misses, Josh tags out, EY looks to tee off but he turns and lays out Josh. EY turns heel…that was not on my Bingo Card, but I’m not mad about it. EY has the maniacal look in his eyes again, so Sanity or Violence by Design could be back? Can he call the group SAnitY since they’re working with WWE now?

Ace Austin vs Wes Lee w/Tyson & Tyriek

Things start slow then a few quick strike spots from Ace. A grounded Heel Kick and Enzuigiri rocks Wes, Wes slingshots back in, Sunset, Ace dodges tries to stay crouched to get cute but Up Kick from Wes kicks Ace in the face. Wes crotches Ace on the top rope, Enzuigiri, Suicida leaves Ace laying on the ramp. Wes hits the Street Fighter combo in with Ace shoved in the corner, the crowd chants “Boring” so Wes revels in the negativity and mockingly does the Rascalz taunt. A few quick shots and Ace kicks out at one and holds the ropes as Wes just lights him up with kicks. Ace asks for more, and goes full Strong Style. A few round kicks to the chest before Wes decides to do the hell thing and a Spinning Thrust Kick to the side of the face. Wes puts Ace in a Key Lock and Ace struggles to his feet before barely slipping the lock.

They trade strikes, Triangle Kick misses for Ace but he manages to connect after with a strike, a few more, Click Click Boom, Seated Miz Lariats in the corner, Wes falls out of the corner, Triangle Kick for the near fall, but the offense isn’t over and Ace hits the Gutwrench Sitout Powerbomb! Ace looks for The Fold, Tyson and Tyriek make their presence felt, Ace does the apron dance and kicks them both in the face. Wes gets dumped out of the ring, Ace with a Fosbury Flop (not the best one he’s done), Tyriek picks the ankle long enough to slow down Ace as Ace walks into the Cardiac Kick!

Wes and crew attacks Ace after the match, so The Rascalz make the save. We’re obviously going to get a 6 man soon, and this is perfectly fine.

Kaiba Boys (Nic & Ryan Nemeth) vs Fir$t Cla$$

AJ starts with Ryan and just shoves him away and demands Nic, Nic gets the best of AJ but AJ tags in KC and KC gets in a few quick shots, some cute counters and showboating before eating a Dropkick from Nic. AJ comes in to try and take out Nic, the Kaibas take out AJ and then dump KC into AJ’s arms and hold the ring going to commercial.

During the commercial a little blind tag and Spiderman in the ropes taunt from KC caught Ryan off guard so First Class is in control. AJ is beating the hell out of Ryan in the ropes, then hits Tennessee Whiskey for the “Money Money Money” taunt. KC tags himself in and starts slapping Ryan around, Dropkick into 305 as KC cuts off Ryan from Nic, throws Ryan in the corner, Rolling Uppercuts, Snapmare, Roll through, Chest Stomp into a near fall. KC tags in AJ and a little tandem offense gives them another near fall but Mokuba refuses to lose…so far. AJ steps on Ryan’s chest and then lays in a few Overhand Chops. AJ slowing things down, looks for a power move but Ryan slips it into a Sleeper Attempt but AJ counters and slams Ryan down for another two count. Two Sidewalk Slams after getting bounced out of the corner, but Ryan keeps kicking out.

AJ takes Nic off the apron, looks for another Sidewalk Slam but Ryan turns it into a Satellite DDT. Simultaneous tag time, KC eats the fire from Nic, two Lariats, Stinger Splash, Rude Awakening, 10 Count Shots to the Heart for…AJ breaks it up! AJ looks for a Down Payment but Nic slips, Superkick, Ryan tries to rock AJ to no avail so they both Lariat AJ out and Avalanche Polish Hammer from Ryan lays out AJ. KC tries the Flash Pinfall but Nic rolls out, a few quick shouts, Spinning Heel Kick from KC for a 2 count. Nic hits a FAMEasser into Danger Zone after Ryan’s blind tag so Ryan gets the cover as Nic just laughs and takes it in.

Overall Score: 6.25/10

Nothing to really be offended by. Some of the stuff was a little low stakes or obvious filler, but stories moved forward with Cora, Wes and the Kaibas. Plus you know, Eric Young turning on Josh is a little unexpected. EY has been the fill in Dreamer/Scott with the “Ra-Ra” speeches and feel good crap for significant shows, so having him go back to Maniac is a nice twist.

Tessa also steering into this “Locker Room bully” persona is smart. It’s not a stretch from what people already think, so steering into the skid is very smart. I may not have been blown away by anything in this episode, but it was definitely decent and did a solid enough job showcasing the partnership and not making the TNA talent feel like an after thought.

All in all, very nice.