Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Power Struggle Results & Report! (11/4/24)
Is NJPW going to be Mighty?

If The Mighty Don’t Kneel, then will they stand atop the mountain?
TMDK is all over this card, from Zack Sabre Jr. defending his world title to the Super Junior Tag League finals! Will TMDK win the Power Struggle?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Tiger Mask, Capitan Suicida & Shoma Kato VS YOH, Ninja Mack & The DKC; Yoh, Mack & DKC win.
- 10 Man Tag: Intergalactic Jet Setters, VeloCities & Katsuya Murashima VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Ryusuke Taguchi, Dragon Dia, Tori Yano & Tomoaki Honma; LIJ wins.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Boltin Oleg VS EVIL & Ren Narita; Evil & Ren win.
- Shota Umino VS SANADA; Shota wins.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholas VS Great-O-Khan & HENARE; Khan & Henare win and become the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
- 2024 Super Junior Tag League Finals: Ichiban Sweet Boys VS Catch 2/2; Ichiban Sweet Boys win and will challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships at WrestleKingdom 19.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: DOUKI VS Master Wato; Douki wins and retains the title.
- IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: David Finlay VS Taichi; Finlay wins and retains the title.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Shingo Takagi; ZSJ wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
After Hiroshi Tanahashi & Boltin VS EVIL & Ren Narita…
As you might guess, The House of Torture had to cheat to win this one, with Yoshinobu Kanemaru tipping Oleg over so Ren could roll him up. But another obvious move, The House of Torture starts beating up on The Ace & BARS afterward! The fans boo but nothing can stop them from stomping away! Then Yujiro & Kanemaru sit Tanahashi up while Evil grabs a mic. Evil tells Tanahashi that if he really thinks he has another year left as a wrestler, he’s wrong! Tanahashi’s career will end THIS January! Be grateful that Evil will be the one to end him at WrestleKingdom! The fans boo more but then Dick hands Evil a pair of scissors!
Evil says he’s gonna cut away what makes Tanahashi Tanahashi, but then Jado runs in for the save! Jado gets mugged now and fans boo more. Kanemaru CHOKES Jado, and Evil still drags Tanahashi up. Evil TOSSES Tanahashi out, then drags him up the ramp! The fans boo but the mugging continues! The scissors have disappeared, but Boltin runs at Ren! Ren LOW BLOWS Boltin, and hits him with DOUBLE CROSSER!! The Ace is being kidnapped while The Souled Out Son of Strong Style holds his NJPW World Television Championship over Oleg. But wait! TMDK’s Mullet Man, Ryohei Oiwa, is here!
Ryohei gets the mic to tell Ren that their match is already finished. Ryohei hates the way the House does business, so HE will be the one to take this title off this punk! Ren laughs at Ryohei, and basically says he’d like to see him try. But then here comes Jeff Cobb! The Imperial Unit quit literally shoves Ryohei aside to get in Ren’s face! Triple Threat or not, we all know Ren took the low road to win that belt! The fans fire up as Cobb eggs Ren on, but Ryohei fires a forearm on Cobb! Cobb hits back! Then he kicks Ren, whips him, but Ren runs away! Ryohei and Cobb argue, they each want after Ren first!
Ren just laughs and leaves while the other two start shoving. Will Ren have the last laugh as these two fight it out for the title shot?
Shota Umino VS SANADA!
While Shingo Takagi is getting his shot tonight, and while Cold Skull already had his shot at Royal Quest 4 last week, The Roughneck still wants his turn. Will he earn it by taking down a former world champion? Or will Sanada prove it’s still too early for Shota’s Paradigm Shift?
The bell rings and Shota CLOBBERS Sanada! And CLOBBERS him again! Shota whips, Sanada reverses, but Shota ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER him again! Fans fire up with Shota and he storms up on Sanada. Shota whips Sanada corner to corner, then runs in, and UPPERCUTS! Shota then FISHERMAN SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota shows respect to Kobayashi-san. Shota then drags Sanada up, clinches, but Sanada fights it. Sanada fires elbows and Shota backs away to ropes. Sanada storms up, whips Shota, but Shota reverses, only for Sanada to grab ropes! Shota’s dropkick misses!
Sanada runs to a corner! ROUNDING BODY- NO, Sanada lands out as Shota moves. Shota runs up but into a fireman’s carry. Shota slips free to waistlock but Sanada switches. Shota elbows free, runs, but Sanada dropkicks the legs! Then he DROPKICKS Shota down! The fans fire up for Sanada while Shota bails out. Sanada takes his time walking over, to then PLANCHA, but Shota moves! Shota comes back to SHOTGUN! The fans rally and Shota drags Sanada back up. Shota reels Sanada in, but Sanada blocks the suplex! They fight for control as the fans rally, and Shota still lifts Sanada! But Sanada fights it back down!
Sanada suplexes Shota to the apron, MAGIC SCREW to the floor! The fans fire up while the ref checks Shota. Shota is still in this, though he clutches an arm, and Sanada walks over to him. Sanada drags Shota up, then brings him through the gate! And into the crowd! Fans barely have time before Sanada THROWS Shota into chairs! Sanada then drags Shota up, and whips him back in! Sanada picks up the spare and the ref reprimands. Sanada moves chairs aside then drags Shota up to his feet. Dragon sleeper! Sanada squeezes the air out of Shota but the ref reprimands again. Sanada lets Shota go, then leaves him behind.
The fans rally again as the ring count starts. Sanada waits in the ring as we reach 7 of 20. Shota crawls at 10 of 20, but is still only at the railing by 15. Shota hobbles the rest of the way and rolls in at 18! The fans applaud, but then Sanada is on Shota with a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Shota stays in this and the fans cheer, but Sanada clamps on a chinlock. Sanada grinds Shota down but Shota endures the squeeze. Sanada shifts to have a knee dig into Shota’s back! Shota still endures, but Sanada thrashes him around a bit. The fans rally as Shota continues to fight, and Shota scoots forward. Shota kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK!
The fans cheer and Sanada lets go slowly. Sanada paces while Shota sputters. Sanada comes back to stomp Shota! Shota growls and shakes his head. Sanada throws a punch, but Shota just grits his teeth. Sanada fires another punch, and another, but Shota feeds off that! Sanada eggs Shota on, so Shota fires a forearm! And another forearm! Sanada sways but then Shota ROCKS him again! Sanada dropkicks the legs! Shota hobbles away and the fans continue to rally. Sanada runs up, whips, but Shota reverses to TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down. Shota rises and gets the fans rallying even more!
Sanada rises and Shota runs up, slingshot APRON DDT! The fans fire up while the ref checks Sanada. Sanada is still in this so Shota brings him back up. Shota puts Sanada in and the fans rally up. Shota climbs a corner, takes aim, and he goes COAST2COAST to hit Sanada! Shota then hurries to EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as Sanada stays in this, and Shota keeps his cool. Shota waits on Sanada, then he runs to IGNITION! Cover, TWO! Sanada survives but the fans fire up with Shota. Shota goes to a corner, fires the fans up more, and he takes aim. BLAZE- NO, Sanada ducks! But then Shota avoids the Shining Wizard!
Shota ROCKS Sanada, then ROLLING- NO, Sanada spins Shota through to put on ropes! MAGIC SCREW! Shota is down and the fans fire up while Sanada catches his breath. Sanada drags Shota into the dragon sleeper! But Shota fights free, arm-drags, and then runs corner to corner. Sanada BOOTS him away! Sanada QUEBRADA, then dragon sleeper! Shota flails but Sanada drops back into the SKULL END! The fans rally as Shota endures, but the body scissors are in tight! Shota reaches out but he’s fading! Sanada lets Shota go to then climb up! ROUNDING BODY PRESS! And then a clinch! DEAD- NO, Shota slips around! Backslide!
Sanada rolls through so Shota reels him in! ELEVATED DEATH RIDER! Shota can’t make the cover, he’s still catching his breath! The fans rally up while both men are down! Sanada and Shota slowly sit up, and they head for each other. They go forehead to forehead as they stand up, and then Shota UPPERCUTS! Sanada UPPERCUTS in return! The fans rally as Shota shakes that off, and he comes back to UPPERCUT! Sanada shakes that off, and he UPPERCUTS! The fans continue to duel while Sanada eggs Shota on. Shota winds up, to UPPERCUT! Sanada UPPERCUTS! They UPPERCUT again and again, back and forth!
The fans rally more, and Sanada gets the edge! He UPPERCUTS again, and again, and again! Shota wobbles, Sanada eggs him on, and the fans fire up! Shota winds up to ROCKS Sanada with a forearm! ROLLING ELBOW! ENZIGIRI! Sanada rebounds to SHINING WIZARD! Shota pops up to BLAZE BLADE! Both men are down again and the fans fire up! Shota rises and roars, and he brings Sanada up. Shota pump handles, half nelsons, and scoops, to POWERSLAM! Then he hurries to bring Sanada up into underhooks. But Sanada slips out, O’Conner Roll BRIDGE! TWO!! Fans fire up as Shota escapes in time!
Sanada SHINING WIZARDS! The fans fire up even more as Sanada rises. Sanada brings Shota up, clinches, but Shota slips free again! Shota underhooks, but Sanada wrenches! DEAD- NO, Shota rolls Sanada, but Sanada rolls through, into the DEATH RIDER!! Cover, SHOTA WINS!
Winner: Shota Umino, by pinfall
Some might call it an upset, others might just be upset about it, but the Roughneck found a way to win! At the same time, Shota does show respect to Sanada by offering a hand. Sanada declines and simply makes his exit. But is this win proof enough that Shota is ready for the next level? Or is it simply one step on a long journey ahead?
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholas VS Great-O-Khan & HENARE!
It isn’t just Ryohei and Cobb fighting it out, TMDK and the United Empire is fighting for these titles! Will Hysterical Haste & Mad Mikey still be dual tag team champions? Or will The Dominator & Face of Fury conquer The Mighty?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who is THE tag team in NJPW!
Tensions rise as the teams sort out as Henare and Mikey want after each other. But for now, it is Shane and Khan that start. The fans rally with the bell as Shane and Khan circle. They feel things out, even test the water with kicks, then Khan goes for a leg. Khan trips Shane, sits him up, then runs to run Shane over! Khan poses, then sucker punches Mikey! Khan drags Shane up to a SLEEPER, and while the ref is busy keeping Mikey back, Henare steps in! Henare uses Shane as a punching bag, then Khan MONGOLIAN CHOPS! Henare KICKS Shane, Khan SPLASHES down! Cover, ONE!! Shane toughs it out but Khan clamps onto an arm.
Khan has the double wristlock, and he brings Shane over. Henare tags in and Henare KICKS Shane’s legs. Shane hobbles, Henare BLASTS Mikey, then Henare CLOBBERS Shane! The fans cheer while Henare kicks Shane around. Henare eggs Shane on and Shane stands to KICK! And KICK! And BOOT! Henare growls, Shane fires forearms. Henare winds up to BODY BLOW! Shane falls to his knees, but Henare fireman’s carries to WASTELAND SLAM, and SENTON! Cover, TWO! Henare keeps his eyes on Mikey, but then goes back to Shane. Shane UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! Henare eggs him on so Shane BOOTS! And BOOTS!
Shane kicks but Henare HEADBUTTS the foot! Henare runs, but Shane DROPKICKS him down! The fans fire up, hot tag to Mikey! Mikey fires forearms on Henare, then BLASTS Khan! Henare storms up but the forearms start flying! Mikey gets the edge, SLAPS Henare, then runs. They RAM shoulders, but neither man falls! Henare returns the forearms and SLAP! Henare runs, they RAM shoulders again, and then Mikey CHOPS! Henare snarls and the fans fire up. Henare winds up to KICK! Mikey stays up, and he comes back to CHOP! Henare comes back to KICK! Mikey still CHOPS! Henare headbutts buckles to fire up!
The fans rally as the KICK and the CHOP go back and forth again and again! Mikey ROCKS Henare, reels him in, and has a COBRA TWIST! Henare powers out but Mikey HEADBUTTS! Mikey learns that was a mistake, Henare’s head is too hard! In fact, Mikey busted himself open from that shot! Mikey wobbles and falls to his knees in a daze while Henare growls. The fans fire up as Mikey rises, but Henare runs up! Mikey SPINEBUSTERS first! And then he sits Henare up, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, Khan breaks it! Khan stomps Mikey but Mikey fires forearms! Mikey fireman’s carries but Khan slips free. Khan ducks an elbow, but Mikey hits a DDT!
Henare returns, but Mikey gets around him. Henare switches, and he catches Mikey’s elbow! Henare goes for the full nelson but Mikey fights back! Mikey ELBOWS free, then he gets Henare with the DDT! But Henare is right up! Mikey isn’t sure what to make of it, but he still runs in! But Henare scoops for a BESERKER BOMB! But Mikey’s right up!? SLIDING LARIAT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Mikey and Henare stir, and then crawl for their corners, hot tags to Shane and Khan! Shane LARITS, but Khan stays up! Khan BOOTS but Shane stays up! Shane swings, into a SAYANAGI!
Khan drags Shane back up, and hits a fireman’s carry takeover! The fans rally as Khan keeps wrist control, then reels Shane in for a MONKEY FLIP! And then ARMBAR! Shane scrambles to clasp hands but Khan brings him back down! ARMBAR! Shane flails, reaches out, fights around, but Khan pulls on the arm! Shane still finds the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Khan lets go at 4. Khan scuffs Shane around, drags him up, but Shane UPPERCUTS! But that’s the bad arm…! Khan eggs Shane on, and Shane UPPERCUTS! And RAMS Khan! The fans rally as Shane shakes out the bad arm.
Shane UPPERCUTS again and again and again! Shane runs, but into a clinch! ELBOW BREAKER! Khan hauls Shane up to RAM him into a corner! Khan then bumps Shane off buckles, and he hops up, onto his- NO, Shane slips free to SHORYUKEN! Shane climbs up after Khan, but Khan resists the suplex! The fans rally, Khan BODY BLOWS, and Shane hops down! Mikey UPPERCUTS Khan, then gives Shane a boost! SUPERPLEX POWERBOMB! Mikey drags Shane onto the cover, TWO! Khan stays in this and the fans rally up. Shane crawls over, tag to Mikey, and Mikey sends Shane at the corner to LARIAT!
Mikey runs up to LARIAT Khan, then feeds Khan to Shane’s LARIAT! Shane also BLASTS Henare off the apron while Mikey SLIDING LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Khan survives all the lariats but TMDK drags him up. Mikey scoops, Shane runs up, TANKBUSTER! Cover, HENARE BREAKS IT! The fans fire up but TMDK goes after Henare now. Henare CHOPS Shane, ROCKS Mikey, repeat! But TMDK SLAP, SLAP, and SLAP! Henare roars, runs up, but into the URENAGE POWERBOMB COMBO! Khan PANCAKE PLEXES Mikey! Shane breaks the cover! Khan Mongolian Chops Shane! IRON CLAW for Mikey!
Shane Mongolian Chops Khan! So Khan IRON CLAWS Shane! Khan squeezes TMDK, but TMDK fights free! URENAGE BOMB COMBO! Cover, TWO!! Khan survives and the fans fire up! The fans rally, Shane climbs up, and Mikey brings Khan up. Scoop and- NO, Khan slips free! Khan shoves Mikey into Shane and Shane falls to the floor! Mikey comes back, into Henare’s fireman’s carry! Khan runs up, IMPERIAL DROP!! Cover, UNITED EMPIRE WINS!!
Winners: Great-O-Khan & Henare, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
The Mighty Don’t Kneel, but they do drop! And in this case, they just dropped the belts! The Monster Rage is now in victory as The Face of Fury & Dominator are on top! Khan is a DOUBLE CHAMPION at that! Will NJPW soon belong to The United Empire?
Kenny Omega is here!
The fans cheer as The Best Bout Machine has returned to Osaka and to NJPW! Omega waves to fans, high-fives a few, then goes to the ring. Omega is then handed the mic so that he may speak. The fans chant “KE-NI-Y! KE-NI-Y!” Omega says in Japanese, “I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to be here or not, but well, NJPW made an announcement, so if that’s the case, I had to show up.” The fans cheer that! Omega says recently, he met with Hiroshi Tanahashi, it was a very good talk. Tanahashi had an interesting comment that if Kenny Omega is “back,” then he should take on one of NJPW’s young stars. And Omega replied, “Not a bad idea.”
But that said, there was also another idea. To be honest, Omega is still a little far off, still a bit ill, but he is getting better. So in just a little bit, Omega WILL be able to wrestle again. The fans like the sound of that! Omega says he is still a full-time member of AEW, but… If he may return, and when he does, he’d love to first return to a NJPW ring! The fans love that idea! So while Omega can’t say when and where that will be, but maybe… January 5th? The fans cheer, and Omega asks they please understand, he hoped he could say that.
If he may, he quickly translates for the English speaking fans that the goal is to return in NJPW for a brand new star and really test himself at WrestleDynasty on January 5th! Because NJPW still IS the King of Sports, it still IS the best pro-wrestling on the planet, and it still IS one of his favorite places because it is his home! So… Until we meet again. He must bid us adieu. So goodbye, MWAH, and goodnight, BANG! The fans cheer hearing that again, and surely we will all see Omega wrestling again. Who will it be that tests Omega at the very first WrestleDynasty?
2024 Super Junior Tag League Finals: Ichiban Sweet Boys VS Catch 2/2!
We just saw a heavyweight battle of TMDK VS United Empire, but now it’s time for a speed blitz! Will Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita conquer the Super Junior Tag League? Or will TJP & Francesco Akira go back to back in the league?
The teams sort out and the fans already clap for “CATCH! 2/2! CATCH! 2/2!” But then Robbie starts up the “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” The fans cheer and then Akira steps up to Fujita. The bell rings, the two run up and dropkicks cancel out! Akira headlocks, Fujita powers out, but Akira runs Fujita over! Things keep moving, Akira rolls over the dropdown then bypasses Fujita, but Fujita RANAS! Robbie hurries to BLAST TJP! The Sweet Boys double whip Akira to trip, KICK and SOMERSAULT SENTON!
Akira sits up into a basement dropkick from Robbie! Akira bails out, TJP is there, but Robbie gets them both! Fujita climbs, and SUPER CANNONBALLS! The fans fire up as the Japanese Young Punk wipes out Catch 2/2 and even Jakob Austin Young! Fujita puts Akira back in, then wrenches to whip him into a corner. Fujita runs up to CHOP! The fans cheer, and Fujita snapmares to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! TJP runs in but Fujita knees him low. Robbie hops in, TMDK double whips, but TJP KNEES the lariats! TJP blocks a kick from Robbie, gives it to Fujita, then fires off fast hands on Fujita! TJP SOBATS Fujita, but Robbie kicks TJP after all.
Robbie whips, TJP goes up and over, then TJP gives Akira the boost for the SHOTGUN! Robbie tumbles out, and Catch 2/2 double whip Fujita. They DOUBLE HIP TOSS, ELBOW DROP, and BASEMENT BLOCKBUSTER! The fans fire up and TJP rallies the fans, “CATCH! 2/2!” TJP WRECKS TMDK with the dropkick, then holds the ropes down for Akira to FLY! TMDK falls again and the fans fire up more! Akira brings Fujita up and into the ring, then snapmares him down. Akira tags TJP, and then he runs. Akira hops up, “Take a picture! Take a picture!” And then BACK SUPLEX SPLASH! Cover, TWO!
TJP keeps the fans fired up, and he steps through on Fujita’s legs! TJP has the deathlock, but then Robbie runs up! TJP catches him for a COBRA TWIST! The fans rally, and then TJP sets Robbie up so Akira can RANA! Then TJP drops into the MUTA LOCK! Fujita endures, so TJP focuses on the legs. Fujita pulls TJP’s hair but the ref reprimands. Fujita legs go, and TJP stands up to shift around, and BOW ‘N’ ARROW! Fujita flails and manages the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while TJP lets go. TJP keeps the “CATCH! 2/2!” going, and then he whips Fujita corner to corner. TJP runs in, to BACK ELBOW!
TJP sits Fujita down and he scrubs Fujita’s face! Fans rally up, and TJP goes side to side to BOOT WASH! The fans cheer and chant, “MOIKAI! MOIKAI!” So TJP obliges with more scrubbing! TJP runs, but Fujita gets up! TJP avoids the lariat to SOBAT! TJP runs again, but into a GAMANGIRI! Both men down and the fans fire up again! Fujita and TJP crawl, hot tags to Akira and Robbie! Robbie ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! Then he WHEEL KICKS and kips up! Fans fire up as Robbie keeps moving, GAMANGIRI! Akira flops to a corner and Robbie runs in, to DOUBLE KNEE! Robbie rolls back, comes back, but into a BOOT!
Robbie tries again but gets an ELBOW! So Robbie basement 619s! Akira sits down, and Robbie METEORAS! The fans fire up and Robbie drags Akira to a cover. TWO, and the fans cheer again. Robbie has Akira in a drop zone so he goes up top. WARP- NO, Akira moves so Robbie rolls through. Akira dodges Robbie’s kick to ENZIGIRI! Robbie drops to his knees but Akira storms over. Akira chicken wings, but Robbie fights towards ropes! Akira has the arms, TIGER- NO, Robbie fights the suplex with elbows! Akira CHOPS, whips, but Fujita tags in! Robbie wheelbarrows Akira so Fujita can CHOP! Then they double wrench to MAXXY BOMB! Cover, TJP breaks it!
Robbie TOSSES TJP, and he drags Akira up. Robbie scoops Akira but Akira slips free! Akira shoves Robbie into Fujita, then he POISON-RANAS! Akira blocks Fujita’s kick, slips under, and SIT-OUT POWERBOMBS! Everyone is down and the fans fire up! Akira fires himself up and he reels Fujita in! Fujita wrenches free, pops Akira up, but Akira fights with elbows! So Fujita CHOPS! Fujita runs up, but Akira puts him up top! TJP tags in, Fujita is in the Tree of Woe! Akira runs to BASEMENT DROPKICK! Then TJP adds WOE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Fujita survives and the fans fire up again!
Catch 2/2 reset and they drag Fujita up. TJP has the dragon sleeper while Akira climbs, but Fujita wrenches free! Fujita shoves TJP into Akira and Akira falls! Fujita runs back in, TJP goes up and over! TORNADO- NO, Fujita fights the DDT off! Robbie is back, TMDK whips, but TJP reverses, only for TMDK to break both grips! ENZIGIRI HEEL KICK COMBO! TJP sputters and Robbie runs, to DIVE onto Akira! Direct hit at the ramp and the fans fire up! Fujita whips TJP to pop him up into the HIGH ANGLE GERMAN! Bridging cover, TWO!! TJP survives, but Fujita holds on! The fans rally as Fujita spins TJP around!
Fujita slashes his throat, but TJP suplexes instead! FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Fujita survives and the fans fire up again. The rallying is now for “FU-JI-TA! FU-JI-TA!” as he and TJP stir. TJP grabs at Fujita first, brings him up, and fires a forearm! Fujita fires one in return! TJP fires another, Fujita fires another, then TJP fires a flurry! Fujita fires up to CHOP! Fujita runs, but TJP LARIATS! Down goes Fujita, but Robbie TOSSES TJP! TJP goes Spider-Man, then lures Robbie in. Robbie gets stuck in the ropes and gets a DROPKICK SANDWICH! The fans fire up again and Akira ASAI MOONSAULTS! Down goes Robbie!
The fans fire up as Akira hurries back in, and Catch 2/2 sets up! Fujita sits up, into TWO BY- NO, Fujita sends TJP into Akira, then O’Conner BRIDGE! TWO!! Akira whips Fujita, into the ALLEY OOP! The fans are thunderous as Akira climbs and TJP Electric Chair Lifts Fujita! But Robbie jumps in! He SUPER STEINERS Akira away! Fujita slips down to waistlock TJP! TJP RAMS Fujita into a corner, but Fujita holds on! TJP fights the lift but Fujita CLUBS away! TJP still RAMS Fujita into a corner! Robbie tags in, springboard MISSILE DROPKICK to the leg! Fujita then QUEBRADAS Akira down! The fans fire up, but then TJP cradles Robbie! TWO!!
Robbie ROUNDHOUSES TJP, and Fujita joins in! POP-UP DDT!! Cover, TWO!!! TJP survives and the fans are thunderous again! TMDK calls for the end! Scoop and SWEET BUSTER!! Cover, AKIRA BREAKS IT!! The fans are thunderous while Fujita kicks Akira out! TMDK reset and the fans rally up. Robbie sends Fujita in, but TJP puts Fujita out! Robbie runs up, TJP dodges and Fujita takes the knees! TJP Electric Chair Lifts Robbie! Akira is right up top, LEANING TOWER CUTTER!! Cover, FUJITA BREAKS IT!! The fans are electric as this one continues! TJP TOSSES Fujita, then he and Akira set up in corners!
The fans rally, “CATCH! 2/2!” Robbie sits up, but then ducks! TJP dosidos with Akira, and they set up side-by-side! But then Fujita trips Akira up! TJP tilt-o-whirls but Robbie has him in position! SWEET- NO, Akira HALF ‘N’ HALF SUPLEXES Fujita! TJP slips out, waistlocks, but Robbie ducks, Akira’s SUPERKICK hits TJP! Robbie SUPERKICKS Akira! Robbie roars, but TJP trips him! But Robbie cradles TJP! TWO!!! The fans are going wild as Robbie scrambles to ropes. Akira returns, but Robbie TOSSES him back out! TJP SUPERKICKS Robbie! TJP runs, but Robbie wrenches him into the backpack! TJP wrenches out to dragon sleeper!
Robbie drops, but TJP sits on him for a cover!! TWO!??! Robbie escapes, SCHOOLBOY BRIDGE! Fujita anchors Akira, TMDK WINS!!
Winners: Ichiban Sweet Boys, by pinfall (2024 Super Junior Tag League Champions)
Robbie is stunned and even emotional as he and Fujita pull it off! No two in a row for Catch 2/2, and they’re just as emotional over that. The trophies are presented to Robbie & Fujita, and they stand together to hold them up high! Then as is tradition for TMDK, they sit on the apron together to show off their prize. Robbie says they didn’t stop working all year, this is that work paying off! But then TMDK steps back inside the ring, and Robbie offers a handshake to his old friend. TJP accepts it and the fans cheer. Akira and Fujita are also able to shake hands, and the fans cheer. But Catch 2/2 lets TMDK know, they’ll be back for another round.
Oh, Robbie gets the mic to say something. “Osaka… everyone here… WE WON~!” Robbie then encourages Fujita to say something, as do the fans. Fujita says that it is absolutely 100% established that the TMDK Era has arrived. And it is because his teammate is the man known as Robbie Eagles that they pulled this off. Because they won Super Junior Tag League, that means they will challenge Kushida & Kevin Knight for the titles. That’ll be later, but they wanna talk to the Intergalactic Jet Setters now! TMDK waits, and here they come! The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champions make their way out, and they applaud the league winners.
The fans also applaud, and now champions join challengers in the ring. Kushida has the mic to say in English, “Congratulations.” Knight says it in Japanese, “Omedeto.” Kushida says they accept the challenge! BUT… Where is Catch 2/2? Why? Well, Catch 2/2 did beat the Jet Setters. Knight asks why he’s bringing that up now. Well, Catch 2/2 return, having heard their names. Kushida now says okay, good. Kushida asks when will it be? Knight says WrestleKingdom! TMDK says okay, they’ll wait their turn. Catch 2/2 and Jet Setters can settle their Tag League beef, and then- THE WAR DOGS ATTACK!? WITH CHAIRS!!
The fans freak out as Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney beat up TMDK, Catch 2/2 and the Jet Setters! Connors says it’s a War Dog party, baby! The fans boo but Connors & Drilla laugh it up. Drilla takes a seat, grabs the mic, and he says, “Hold on a sec, okay, okay. Lemme get this right, Clark.” TMDK beat Catch 2/2, but Catch 2/2 beat Jet Setters, but then TMDK also beat Jet Setters, but THE WAR DOGS have chewed up and spat out every tag team in the Junior Heavyweight Division! The fans are torn on that point. Drilla says congrats on the great fight, it was cute. But it ain’t no party like a War Dog party!
And it ain’t no WrestleKingdom without The War Dogs! The fans boo as the former champs stake their claim to a rematch. Then who is it that will start 2025 with the gold?
BREAKING NEWS!
It would seem the War Dogs are warring on multiple fronts! While the Super Junior Tag League final was happening, Gabe Kidd went after Kenny Omega backstage! We knew he was a Mad Man, but does this mean he’s #WarReady for WrestleDynasty?
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: DOUKI VS Master Wato!
After years of struggling and ridicule, Japones Del Mal is finally getting some respect on his name as he’s made it through some top tier contenders! But after facing ridicule of his own, and even coming back from injury, The Way of the Grandmaster wants some of that! Will Wato take this title and the respect that comes with it? Or will there be no stopping the era of Douki?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see whose hardships were worth it all!
The bell rings and the fans rally up. The two stare down as the energy builds. Wato and Douki step forward, then tie up. They’re in a deadlock at center, but Wato’s height becomes leverage. Wato has Douki on ropes, Douki turns it around, repeat. Douki still puts Wato on ropes, but he lets off slowly. But Wato shoves Douki! The forearms start flying back and forth! Neither man backs down, and they even speed up! Douki ROCKS Wato, fires more shots, but Wato fires them in return! Douki CHOPS and the fans fire up! Douki CHOPS again, then CHOPS again! Wato SOBATS! Wato whips, but Douki reverses!
Douki drops then hurdles. Douki drops again but Wato leaps over. Wato bypasses Douki, dodges him, then RANAS! Douki bails out, fans fire up, and Wato builds speed. Douki moves so Wato slows down. The fans cheer and Douki runs back in, but Wato scoops! Wato SLAMS and JUMP ELBOW DROPS! Cover, ONE! Wato clamps onto Douki with a chinlock, and also digs his knee in. Douki fights around, fights forward, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Wato slowly lets go, but then Wato stomps Douki. Douki fires a body shot, but Wato CHOPS! Wato whips corner to corner, then runs in, but into a BOOT!
Wato comes back but Douki puts him on the apron. Douki swings but Wato blocks the shot to ROCK Douki! Wato slingshots, but Douki DROPKICKS him down! The fans fire up as Douki builds speed, to DIVE! Direct hit into railing, right in front of English commentary! The fans fire up and Wato writhes, but Douki brings Wato back up. Douki puts Wato on the railing, then goes to the apron! The fans rally up as Douki DIVING STOMPS Wato off the railing! Wato writhes and Douki leaves him behind. The count begins, and Wato is still down at 5 of 20. Douki paces while the count reaches 10 of 20, and Wato rolls in.
Fans cheer while Douki drags Wato up, and Douki CLUBS Wato on the neck. Douki brings Wato around again, to CLUB him on the neck! Douki then turns Wato for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Douki clamps on with a chinlock and he digs a knee into Wato now. Wato fights around, but Douki drags him back! Douki puts on a headscissor squeeze! The fans rally, Wato fights, but Douki pushes up to put on more pressure! Wato moves around, but Douki traps an arm! Wato kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Douki lets go of Wato. Douki taunts Wato a bit, scuffs him around, but Wato rises.
Wato CHOPS, SLAPS, then SLAPS again! Wato fires more CHOPS but Douki CHOPS Wato off his feet! Douki whips corner to corner, then runs in, but Wato BOOTS him! Wato dodges Douki, then reels him in for a BIG back suplex! Both men are down and the fans rally up. Wato grits his teeth, and he has fans behind him. Douki also rises, and Wato runs up to CLOBBER Douki! And CLOBBER him again! Wato whips, Douki reverses, but Wato ELBOWS Douki down! Then he DROPKICKS Douki out of the ring! The fans fire up and Wato builds speed. Wato FLIES! Down goes Douki at the ramp!
The fans fire up again, but Wato has to catch his breath. The ring count starts, and Wato sits up at 4 of 20. Wato stands at 8 and he fires Osaka up. Wato goes to Douki at 11 of 20, drags him up, and throws him in at 15. The fans applaud and Wato aims from the corner. Wato watches Douki rise, then he springboards in to FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Douki stays in this and the fans rally more, but Wato hooks Douki up! Douki fights the Mouse Trap so Wato sunset flips! TWO, into VENDIVAL! Douki flails, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Wato lets Douki go, and Douki goes to the apron.
Wato storms over and he brings Douki up. But Douki RAMS into him! DAY- NO, Wato stops Daybreak to DECK Douki! Douki flops back to the apron and Wato brings him back up. Wato suplexes but Douki fights! Douki HOTSHOTS Wato, then slingshots to arm-drag! Wato bails out and Douki WRECKS him with a dropkick! The fans fire up and Douki hurries to the apron. Douki climbs up a corner, but Wato springs up after him! Wato drags Douki down in a waistlock, but Douki holds ropes! Douki fires elbows to fight free, but then Wato KICKS him! And APRON- NO! Douki grabs ropes again!
Douki spins things around on Wato, APRON DDT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Wato is dazed from the impact, but Douki resets up top! Douki still wants to DOUKI BOMB SENTON!! Direct hit and the fans fire up again! Both men are down, so the ring count starts on them both now. Douki drags himself up at 8 of 20 and he fires up! The fans are with Douki as he drags Wato up and in at 13! Douki then goes up a corner, and he takes aim, to DIVING DOUBLE STOMP! Cover, TWO! But Douki drags Wato into ITALIAN STRETCH #32! Wato flails around, reaches out, and manages the ROPEBREAK!
The fans cheer as Wato survives by a literal foot. Douki only lets go at the ref’s count, and then he fires himself back up. The fans rally as Douki wheelbarrows Wato into SUPLEX- NO, Wato fights the full nelson! Douki ENZIGIRIS! Douki runs up but is put on the apron. Douki RAMS Wato, slingshots, DAY- NO! Wato again stops Daybreak, to pop Douki around and T T D!! Cover, but Wato himself can’t keep it! Wato hurries back to the cover, TWO!! Douki survives the Tenzan Tombstone Driver and the fans rally again. Wato flounders to a corner and drags himself up. The fans duel and Wato takes aim, to KICK! And KICK! And KICK!
Douki stands up, blocks a kick, but Wato dodges a haymaker! Wato tilt-o-whirls, then hooks Douki up! MOUSE TRAP DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Douki escapes the trap and the fans fire up again! Wato roars, and he drags Douki back up. Wato waistlocks but Douki fights the suplex with elbows. Douki goes to run, Wato reels him in, but Douki uses the British Escape. Douki kicks low but then Wato ducks the enzigiri! Wato waistlocks to HIGH- NO, Douki victory rolls! TWO, but into a wheelbarrow! SUPLEX- NO, Wato swings around to sunset flip! TWO, into VENDIVAL!! Douki flails but he endures the hold!
The fans rally and duel as Douki shifts around. Douki kicks and moves towards ropes, but then Wato rolls him away into a cradle, then VENDIVAL!! Wato thrashes Douki but Douki endures! Douki kicks, fights, rocks the boat, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Wato lets go more in disbelief than frustration. Wato then drags Douki up, wrenches, and reels him into the fireman’s carry. WASTELAND SLAM, and Wato goes to the corner! The fans rally as Wato climbs, for the DIVING- NO, Douki avoids the stomps, then catches Wato, SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! The fans fire up while both men are down again.
Douki and Wato stir, then crawl. They find each other and grab at the other’s hair. The ref reprimands but Wato fires a forearm. Douki shakes his head, then fires a forearm back! Wato fires another forearm, but Douki fires back! They rise, the forearms keep going, and the fans rally up more. Wato and Douki start picking up speed with their forearms, but then Douki wobbles! Wato ROCKS Douki, ROCKS him again, and Douki drops to a knee! Wato fires more shots to put Douki on the mat! The ref checks, could this be a knockout? Douki is still conscious so Wato stands Douki up. Douki ducks the roundhouse to HELL STAB!
Douki ROCKS Wato, spins, but Wato ROUNDHOUSES! Wato BOOTS Douki at ropes, then runs, but into a LARIAT! Both men are down, but then Douki fires back up! The fans are with Douki and he runs, into a scoop and torture rack! Wato hits a RACK CUTTER! The fans fire up with Wato now and he KICKS! KICKS! KICKS! Wato KICKS from all sides, then BUZZSAWS! Douki flops over, Wato covers, ONE?!? Douki is hitting that new gear he unlocked against Taiji and Sho, but then the DREAMCAST KICK hits! The fans fire up and Wato TSUTENKAKU GERMANS! Bridging cover, TWO!?!? Wato cannot believe it!
The fans fire up but Wato drags Douki up. Wato roars, the fans are with him, and he half nelsons, into MOUSE- NO, Douki slips free! And he drags Wato down into ITALIAN STRETCH #32!! Wato stays up but Douki pulls on the arms! Wato endures, fights around, and he drags Douki with him, but Douki rolls Wato away from ropes! But then Wato jackknifes! But Douki rolls through, to get ITALIAN STRETCH 32 back! The fans rally harder as Wato continues to fight! But then Douki rolls him away from ropes again! Only for Wato to stand up with Douki in a cradle! Wato powers Douki into T T- NO, Douki flips it around, IMPALER!
ITALIAN STRETCH 32!!! The fans are thunderous, but Wato is fading! Wato flops over and the ref checks! Wato IS OUT, Douki wins!!
Winner: Douki, by submission (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)
Wato fought as hard as he could, but he could not endure. How much harder must he fight to become the Grandmaster?
As for Douki, he stands tall, only for EL DESPERADO to appear! The fans all cheer to see The Rogue Luchador and this year’s Best of the Super Juniors winner to make his way out. Desperado wears a Headbanga shirt to show his love to El Phantasmo, who is now fighting cancer. But right now, Desperado and Douki are once again face to face. Desperado has the mic to say that Junior Heavyweight wrestling is pretty damn great! So that is why he is proud of this division, he LOVES Junior Heavyweight wrestling! And that is why Desperado wants to challenge Douki for Tokyo Dome. The fans love the sound of that!
Desperado then says that there are a lot of people who will have something to say about that, a few complaints, and while the fans should be happy, Desperado knows that this is really about him and Douki. Desperado wants Douki to show him personally what these last six months have given Douki. Desperado has been watching, but everyone should know that watching it and feeling it are two very different things. The fans fire up for that! So Desperado wants Douki to show him every bit of it! After all their ups and downs, Desperado wants Douki to give every single thing that he loves about wrestling.
Desperado hands the mic to Douki, and Douki tells Desperado that they were brothers in Suzuki-Gun, but right now, Douki is champion. And as such, Douki has beaten some of the best here. But if it’s Desperado, Douki will gladly stand across the ring from him one more time to have the best possible match! Douki will show the world the very best in Junior Heavyweight wrestling! The mic goes back to Desperado, and he smiles as he says Hiromu must hate this. Hiromu is on commentary, but he says go ahead, Desperado. Then maybe after Desperado beats Douki, Desperado and Hiromu can go another round.
Desperado smiles at his old amigo, and tells him see ya later. Another big battle has been put together for WrestleKingdom, but Douki has one more thing to say. He is the winner here, so HE should have his song playing! The fans cheer that, and Douki’s theme does play. Will Japones Del Mal have a very good start to the New Year? Or will Desperado remind us that he is the Best of the Super Juniors?
IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: David Finlay w/ Gedo VS Taichi w/ Taka Michinoku!
The King of Savages crossed the line when he called out the injured Yuya Uemura, then acted like Yuya was the coward. Can The Holy Emperor bring the Rebel to justice? Or will the War Dogs continue to do what they want to who they want?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who truly reigns!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two stare down. “Let’s Go, Taichi!” greatly drowns out the “Let’s Go, Finlay!” but that doesn’t bother Finlay at all. Finlay circles around Taichi, then the two tie up. They go around, and Finlay puts Taichi on ropes. The ref counts the break, and Finlay slowly lets off. Finlay pats Taichi on the head, the ref has him back off, but Taichi fixes his hair. Finlay fires forearms but Taichi just eggs him on! Taichi leans into the shots, so Finlay SPITS at him! Taichi DECKS Finlay! The fans fire up as Finlay flounders away, clutching his jaw! Taichi waits on Finlay to get up, then he runs up to BOOT him!
The fans cheer and Taichi snapmares Finlay, to KICK him in the back! Finlay writhes more, but then Taichi KICKS him again. And again! Finlay writhes, Taichi kicks him again, and Gedo starts to worry. Finlay sits up, and Taichi KICKS him again! The fans cheer while Finlay flounders. Taichi brings Finlay up but Finlay fights the saido! Finlay grabs ropes, Gedo wants the break, but Taichi pulls hair! The ref reprimands, Gedo protests, but Taichi LCUBS Finlay! And CLUBS him again! Finlay ROCKS Taichi, runs, but into a BACKDROP! Finlay writhes from the crash landing and the fans fire up.
Taichi storms over but Finlay fireman’s carries! HOTSHOT SNAKE EYES! Finlay then rains down fists! The ref reprimands, Finlay shows he has open palms now. Finlay rains down those strikes and now Taka has reason to protest. The fans rally but Finlay SPITS at them! The fans boo Finlay, so he flips them off now. Finlay pushes Taichi out, they go to commentary, and Finlay RAMS Taichi in! Finlay taunts Hiromu, then RAMS Taichi in again! Finlay says one more, then he slaps stuff off the desk! Finlay drags Taichi up again, for an APRON BACK SUPLEX! Taichi flops to the floor and Finlay says this is too easy.
Finlay paces, Gedo likes what he sees, and Finlay asks if Taichi wants to quit. Gedo talks trash with Taka while Finlay puts Taichi back in. Finlay digs his elbow into Taichi’s face! The ref reprimands, Finlay stops, and he claims it was a cover. Finlay drags Taichi up and whips him hard into a corner! Taichi falls, and Finlay does pushups just to show off. Finlay says this is just too easy, and he drags Taichi back up. But Taichi KICKS Finlay in the leg! And then ROCKS him! Finlay comes back but Taichi just fires more shots! Taichi runs, but Finlay ELBOWS him! Only for Taichi to DANGEROUS SAIDO Finlay up and out!!
The fans are just as shocked as Finlay falls against railing! The ref checks on Finlay, and he’s somehow okay to continue. The fans rally that much harder for Taichi as he goes out to fetch Finlay. Gedo is upset, the ref says Taichi shouldn’t, btu Taichi still whips Finlay hard into railing! And then hard into more railing! Finlay staggers and hobbles away in a hurry, but Taichi is on him again. Taichi whips Finlay hard into more railing! Finlay falls in a heap, but Taichi grabs a chair! The ref stops Taichi here, so Taichi lets him have the chair. Taichi drags Finlay up, the ref wants this in the ring, but Taichi POSTS Finlay instead!
Taichi stalks Finlay while Gedo protests, but Taichi still puts Finlay in the ring. The fans applaud, and Taichi stalks Finlay. Taichi scuffs Finlay, kicks him around, but Finlay grits his teeth. Finlay fires a forearm, but Taichi scowls. Taichi eggs Finlay on so Finlay fires more shots. Taichi wrenches to DANGEROUS HOOK KICK! Cover, TWO! Finlay stays in this but Taka says keep on him. Gedo tells Finlay to get up but Taichi looms over him. Finlay ducks the buzzsaw, and he IRISH- NO, Taichi arm-drags Finlay away! Finlay runs back in, but Taichi BOOTS him! Finlay ROCKS Taichi with a forearm, but Taichi ENZIGIRIS!
Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Taichi rises and the fans rally behind him. And OFF COME THE PANTS! The fans fire up as Taichi takes aim and powers up. TENSHO- NO, Finlay dodges the superkick to clinch and IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Taichi writhes but Finlay’s own back keeps him from making the cover. Finlay grits his teeth and Gedo says to finish this! Finlay grins as he crawls over to Taichi. Finlay pushes Taichi to the apron, then goes out after him. But Taichi ridge hand chops! Finlay fires a forearm! Taichi BOOTS Finlay, Finlay ROCKS Taichi! The fans rally as the brawl continues!
Finlay fires HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT! Finlay reels Taichi in, but Taichi fights the lift! Taichi lifts Finlay, but Finlay scrambles in and around, to then POST Taichi! Taichi falls to the floor and Gedo applauds. Finlay grins and taunts Taichi. Finlay flips off Osaka and insults it but the fans boo. Finlay drags Taichi up, fireman’s carries, and he runs to LAWN DART Taichi into the post! The ref checks Taichi as Taichi clutches his arm. Finlay Too Sweets with Gedo, but the ring count begins. Finlay backs Taka off before he drags Taichi up. The count is 10 of 20 but Finlay shoves Taichi back into the ring. Cover, TWO!!
The fans cheer as Taichi manages to stays in this, but Finlay jokes he just wants more punishment. Finlay suplexes and THROWS Taichi! Finlay flexes then flips everyone off, then he goes back to Taichi. Finlay CLUBS Taichi with a crossface forearm! And another! Finlay says the fans are calling Taichi’s name but Finlay doesn’t need that. Cocky cover, TWO! Finlay says okay, and he drags Taichi up. Canadian Rack, CANADIAN HAMMER! Cover, TWO! Taichi survives and Finlay says his bad, he did a bad cover. The fans rally but Finlay asks how many bombs Gedo wants to see. Gedo says six or seven is good.
Finlay gets Taichi up, but Taichi RANAS! Taichi then dodges Finlay to DANGEROUS SAIDO!! Finlay is down and sputtering and the fans fire up again! Taichi and Finlay stir and the fans rally behind Taichi. Taichi goes to a corner, he runs in at Finlay, and he BOOTS! But Finlay blocks! Finlay backs Taichi down, fires a forearm, but Taichi KICKS! Forearm, KICK, repeat, then Taichi SOBATS! Finlay ROLLING ELBOWS! Taichi RIDGE HANDS, BLINDSIDE AX BOMBERS, and GAMANGIRIS! Then AX BOMBER!! Taichi brings Finlay up, DANGEROUS SAIDO BRIDGE! TWO!! Finlay survives but the fans are thunderous for Taichi!
Finlay clutches his head while Gedo shouts for him to get up! Taichi rises, the fans are with him, and he reels Finlay in. Finlay grabs a leg to stop the lift, but Taichi gives him Kawada Kicks! Then a PUNT!! Taichi reels Finlay in, hauls him up, but Finlay slips free! INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO!!! Taichi survives and Gedo is furious! Finlay doesn’t bother being shocked, he just hauls Taichi up to POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Taichi survives again and Finlay is frustrated now. So much for being easy work! Finlay slashes his throat and vows to end this, but the fans boo. Finlay hauls Taichi up, but Taichi RIDGE HANDS
Taichi reels Finlay in, but Finlay powers up to Alabama Lift, and steals BLACK MEPHISTO!!! Cover, TWO!!! Taichi survives his own move, but Finlay won’t let him rest. The fans are thunderous for Taichi but Finlay shakes his head. Finlay suplexes, for OVER- NO, Taichi blocks the leg! Body scissors, GEDO CLUTCH!! TWO!!! Finlay escapes, but Taichi scoops him! EMERALD FLOWSION!!! Cover, TWO!!! The fans are thunderous again as Finlay survives! Gedo panics as he tells Finlay to get up! Taichi and Finlay stir, and Sanada has appeared ringside for more support from Just5Guys! The fans rally and Taichi goes to a corner.
Taichi roars and takes aim! Finlay rises, into TENSHO- NO, Finlay rolls Taichi up, holding tights! TWO!! Taichi escapes, but Finlay ROLLING ELBOWS! And ROLLING- ROUNDHOUSE from Taichi! TENSHO- NO, Finlay blocks the kick again! And he reels Taichi in, for a BUCKLE BOMB!! But Taichi’s up to TENSHO JUJIHO!!! The fans are thunderous as Taichi roars! Taichi reels Finlay in, but now Gedo is on the apron! Taka grabs Gedo and drags him down! Taichi brings Finlay up, BLACK MEPHISTO!!!! Cover, WHO yanks the ref out?!? SANADA did?!? WHY?!?! Why did The Cold Skull just betray The Holy Emperor?!?
Taichi is most confused of all, but is this Sanada being petty over how he couldn’t beat Finlay? Even Gedo isn’t sure what this is about! But he doesn’t really care, he kinda likes that his guy’s not dead yet. But then Sanada unzips his jacket, to reveal a WAR DOGS SHIRT?!? Who convinced Sanada to turn?!? And now Finlay has the shillelagh! Finlay CLOBBERS Taichi!!! Sanada puts the ref back in and Finlay grins. Finlay says this is for Sanada. OVERKILL!!! Cover, Finlay wins!!
Winner: David Finlay, by pinfall (still IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion)
No one can understand why Sanada would join Finlay of all people, but it’s too late to do anything about it now. Taka gets in to confront Sanada, but Gedo CLUBS Taka! And Sanada LOW BLOWS Taka to boot! Sanada says no hard feelings, Taichi. He helps Taichi up, but Taichi still can’t understand why. And then DEADFALL!!! Sanada continues to add insult to injury! Sanada revels in the fans telling him to go away, but wait, Douki is here now! Douki is just as upset over this, but he can’t stand against Sanada and Finlay alone. The fans boo more as Sanada hands Finlay this win on a silver platter.
Finlay grabs a mic to say, “And STILL~ IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion, yours truly, The Rebel, Boss Dog, Savage King, David Finlay! I want you to get a good look at this face. This is the face of a man that didn’t cry, that didn’t complain, that didn’t bitch online, moan, whine, what have you. I observed, I waited, I watched, I schemed, and I put together the most savage, ruthless, violent brotherhood this company has ever seen.” Fans boo but he tells them to shut up. Now, Finlay did warn Taichi that there was a wolf in the pack, but Taichi’s thick skull didn’t pick up the wisdom Finlay was putting down.
The thing about the War Dogs, the entrance fee is bodies or gold, and main man Sanada will bring plenty of both now. But let’s be honest. Tonight’s title match only happened because Yuya was too scared to face Finlay. That’s fine, there is still a man who thinks he is better than Finlay. Yota Tsuji! It’s one thing to have one win over Finlay, but nobody gets two and gets away with it. See, Finlay’s been watching Yota a long, long, long time, and he’s tired of waiting. Get your fat ass out here so he can handle some business! Oh, there he is! Yota makes his way out here, and Finlay says to hurry up, we don’t have all night.
Yota goes to the ring at the same pace anyway, and Finlay says any day now. Yota grins as he steps into the ring with Finlay, and Finlay promises he won’t hurt Yota. We all know it is Tokyo Dome Season, and with Finlay as the most valuable champion, he gets to call the shots. So how about this? Finlay VS Tsuji for Finlay’s Global Heavyweight Championship at WrestleKingdom? The fans do like the sound of that. Yota picks up the mic to say, “Oi, Finlay! Good to see you didn’t run away. And in the G1 Climax, you lost to me, twice. So now you want revenge, huh? I accept your challenge! January 4th, Tokyo Dome, for this title. The question is, are you ready?”
Finlay holds up his belt as he gets in Tsuji’s face. Tsuji still grins, and will he have an even bigger smile after hitting the Rebel with a Gene Blast?
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. w/ TMDK VS Shingo Takagi!
From using his G1 Climax Right to Challenge at the Ryogoku Kokugikan to defending this title the week after, The Front Man is certainly leading the way for TMDK! But now he runs into the Rampaging Dragon who NEVER backs down from a fight! It is Champion VS Champion but with only one title on the line. Will Takagi soon become a Two Belt Dragon? Or will ZSJ make him #JustTapOut?
The introductions are made, the top belt is raised, and we see who survives the Power Struggle!
The bell rings and the fans rally up already as the two stare down. The chants of “ZAKKU! ZAKKU!” and “TA-KA-GI! TA-KA-GI!” echo out, perhaps leaning in Takagi’s favor. The two feel things out, circle, then clinch. They fight for control, and Takagi has the facelock. Takagi brings ZSJ down, floats to a waistlock, but ZSJ wrenches out to then flip Takagi over. Takagi keeps an arm up but ZSJ keeps moving around. ZSJ wants an arm but Takagi goes for a leg. ZSJ turns that around on Takagi but Takagi slips away, and the fans cheer as the two reset. They feel things out again, then clinch. They knuckle lock, and Takagi powers ZSJ right down!
ZSJ fights up to go shoulder to shoulder with Takagi, but Takagi powers ZSJ down again! It’s a cover, ONE as an arm comes up! Takagi pushes that arm down, ONE as the other arm comes up! Takagi puts that back down, ONE as ZSJ bridges up! ZSJ then kips up, rolls, and he reverses the pressure of the knuckle locks. Takagi fights up, puts ZSJ in a corner, and Red Shoes calls the break. Takagi and ZSJ slowly let go, but ZSJ avoids a chop! ZSJ cravats Takagi, but Takagi arm-drags free! ZSJ runs up, Takagi dodges to waistlock. ZSJ switches, half nelsons, then snapmares, but Takagi kicks him away! ZSJ avoids a sliding lariat, but Takagi avoids the Penalty Kick!
The two back up and the fans cheer the standoff. Takagi and ZSJ take a moment to reset, then feel things out again. They tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, but ZSJ chinbars. ZSJ then wrenches an arm, steps over, and adds the cravat. ZSJ then shifts to a headlock, but Takagi fights up. Takagi powers up and out, but ZSJ RAMS him! Neither man falls, and the fans cheer. ZSJ runs, and he RAMS Takagi, but still Takagi stands! Takagi eggs ZSJ on, and ZSJ runs to RAM Takagi! Takagi rebounds, but ZSJ slips around to COBRA TWIST! But Takagi powers up and out with a hip toss! Then Takagi runs to RUN ZSJ over!
The fans fire up and Takagi stalks ZSJ. Takagi brings ZSJ up, bumps him off buckles, then RAMS into him! And RAMS in again! And again! ZSJ sits down, but Takagi stands ZSJ up to CHOP! Takagi then brings ZSJ around to whip and KNEE at the ropes! ZSJ falls, clutching his stomach and ribs, but Takagi follows him tot he apron. Takagi goes to fireman’s carry but ZSJ holds ropes. ZSJ then BOOTS, BOOTS, and runs up, but into a fireman’s carry! ZSJ slips out to SLEEPER over the ropes! Takagi ELBOW BREAKERS! But then ZSJ catches Takagi’s shoulder ram into a NECK TWIST! The fans rally up while Takagi falls back.
Takagi bails out the side and Red Shoes checks with him. Takagi is okay to continue, so ZSJ walks over. ZSJ UPPERCUTS Takagi, and UPPERCUTS him again! And again! Takagi leans on the railing in front of English commentary but ZSJ snapmares, NECK TWIST! The fans rally again while ZSJ leaves Takagi behind. Red Shoes checks Takagi again, but Takagi is still okay to continue. The ring count starts, and Takagi is still down at 8 of 20. Takagi drags himself up with railing to stand at 11, and he sees both NEVER Openweight and IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on the timekeeper’s table.
Takagi hurries into the ring with that motivation and the fans applaud. ZSJ has Takagi in a cravat and leg hook to really wrench the neck. Takagi endures, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK. ZSJ lets go, but then brings Takagi up to UPPERCUT! The fans rally and duel as ZSJ UPPERCUTS again! And again! Takagi headbutts buckles to fire up! Takagi gets in ZSJ’s face, so ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Takagi scoops to SLAM and SENTON FLOP as ZSJ moves! ZSJ gets Takagi for another NECK TWIST! ZSJ fires up and the fans fire up, too! ZSJ paces, then he wraps Takagi up in a neck lock. ZSJ also wants an arm but Takagi resists, so ZSJ CRANKS the neck lock!
Takagi scrambles around to the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go and the fans rally up again. Takagi rises, but ZSJ scuffs him. Takagi JABS! JABS! And JABS! Then CHOP! Then CHOP again! ZSJ blocks a chop, but Takagi powers out. ZSJ RAMS and cravats but Takagi shoves ZSJ down! ZSJ sits up, into a BLINDSLIDE SLIDING LARIAT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! The fans still rally stronger for “TA-KA-GI!” then “ZAKKU! ZAKKU!” Both men rise, and ZSJ RAMS Takagi! Takagi ELBOWS, JABS, but ZSJ jumps on for a GUILLOTINE! But Takagi powers up to THROW ZSJ away! Then he SENTONS! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally up while both men are down. Takagi calls to Osaka, and says it- NO, ZSJ grabs his hand to isolate and STOMP the arm! It is not Takagi’s time just yet! ZSJ looms over Takagi, steps on the bad hand, then wrenches the arm. ELBOW BREAKER! Wrench, and ELBOW BREAKER! Then wrench and- NO, Takagi grabs ZSJ in a SLEEPER! ZSJ slips that around to a SLEEPER, but Takagi hits a BACKPACK SENTON! Takagi drags ZSJ up, turns his uppercut into a backslide, but ZSJ rolls through! Takagi catches ZSJ, STOMP the hands and NECK TWIST! The fans fire up as Takagi gives ZSJ a taste of his own medicine!
Takagi realizes it’s here! “TOKI GA KITA! <The time has come!>” The fans fire up for Takagi as he runs up on ZSJ! Takagi blocks a boot to LARIAT! And then he hits a BIG suplex! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Takagi rises again, and he drags ZSJ up. ZSJ fights the back suplex and throws down elbows. Takagi shoves ZSJ to a corner, then Gory Especial! But ZSJ reaches back to a SLEEPER! Then he shifts to IRON OCTO- NO, Takagi powers up! But ZSJ just shifts for an IRON OCTOPUS all the same! Takagi endures, fights up, and fireman’s carries, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! ZSJ sits up, into SLIDING- NO, ZSJ catches Takagi’s arm!
ZSJ shifts around, he wants both arms! Takagi kicks around but he’s still in CLARKY CAT! Takagi endures, fights over, ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go in frustration but he clamps back onto an arm. ZSJ grinds the shoulder, then STOMPS it! Takagi clutches the arm but ZSJ needs to catch his breath. ZSJ then stomps away on Takagi. Takagi rises up, ZSJ runs in, but Takagi blocks a boot! Takagi puts the leg in the ropes, to then DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Both men are down again and the fans rally back up. Takagi shakes out the bad arm, brings ZSJ up, and fires HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT!
Takagi runs, but ZSJ boots him! Takagi LARIATS anyway! But that’s the bad arm! ZSJ BOOTS Takagi! Takagi LARIATS! Even still, Takagi has power behind it! ZSJ comes back, Takagi blocks the boot to CLUB the leg! But ZSJ blocks the lariat to UPPERCUTR the arm again and again! ZSJ runs but Takagi follows, LEFT ARM LARIAT and SAIDO! ZSJ is up and gets around, SNAP GERMAN! Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON- ZSJ blocks to PELE the arm! Takagi spins, but ZSJ BOOTS the lariat! Takagi spins back around, YUKON feint and DD- NO, ZSJ slips free! PENALTY KICK! But Takagi’s right up, to PUMPING BOMBER!!
Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! Takagi rises up and the fans join in on “OI! OI! OI!” Takagi runs at ZSJ to LARIAT in the corner! ZSJ SLAPS Takagi! And UPPERCUTS! UPPERCUTS! UPPERCUTS! ZSJ runs, into a SLEEPER! ZSJ sits down, but Takagi chicken wings him! ZSJ fights around but Takagi hits a TIGER SUPLEX! And PUMPING BOMBER!! The fans are fired up again and Takagi roars! Takagi drags ZSJ up, pump handles, but ZSJ pries free to have both arms! CLARKY CAT! Takagi turns over but ends up in a modified TRIANGLE HOLD! Takagi endures, fights around, but into a proper TRIANGLE HOLD!
ZSJ squeezes tight, the fans rally and duel, and Takagi powers up! Deadlift, fireman’s carry, and now Takagi goes up the corner?! ZSJ fires elbows, but Takagi still hits STAY DREAM!! Both men are down from that rough landing but the fans fire up again! Takagi rises and he brings ZSJ around again. Takagi wrenches, ducks a kick, and pump handles! MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives and the fans rally again! Ryohei coaches ZSJ, the fans rally more, and Takagi rises. Takagi brings ZSJ up to the pump handle and torture rack. ZSJ slips free, trips Takagi, but Takagi fights off the Japanese Bridge!
Takagi has a SLEEPER, but ZSJ rolls and has the legs! ZSJ STOMPS the legs! A very American Dragon move that keeps this Rampaging Dragon down! The fans rally again as Takagi goes to ropes and ZSJ clutches his side. ZSJ goes to ropes on the other end, and then heads for Takagi. Takagi rises, ZSJ rolls to get a leg. ZSJ ducks an enzigiri, and has the ANKLE LOCK! Takagi rolls free, ROKCS ZSJ, then SWATS ZSJ’s kick! But ZSJ catches Takagi to a scoop, ZACK DRIVER!! Both men are down as ZSJ cannot make the cover! The fans rally up even harder, and now the “ZAKKU! ZAKKU!” is ahead of “TA-KA-GI! TA-KA-GI!”
ZSJ sits up, then heads over to Takagi. ZSJ tries another scoop but Takagi fights it. ZSJ powers through, but Takagi slips around! Dragon sleeper becomes facelock, for the TAKAGI TWIST! Both men are down again and the fans continue to rally! Takagi rises, he stands ZSJ up, and he fires boxing elbows! Takagi stops but ZSJ falls forward! ZSJ slowly sits up, but Takagi stands him up. ZSJ SLAPS! And SLAPS! And RAPID FIRE PALM STRIKES! Takagi JABS! And HEADBUTTS! And SLIDING FOREARMS! Then another American Dragon move, the HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Takagi drags ZSJ into a REAR NAKED CHOKE!!
ZSJ endures, reaches out, but Takagi has those body scissors in deep! ZSJ works to pry those open, then works on the sleeper, but Takagi has a tight grip on both! TMDK coaches ZSJ but he’s turning red! Fans rally and duel as hard as they ever have, but ZSJ manages to roll and roll and roll into the ROPEBREAK! Takagi lets ZSJ go and Red Shoes checks on ZSJ. ZSJ sits up in a bit of a daze, but he tells Red Shoes that he’s not done. The fans fire up and Takagi brings ZSJ up for RIDGE HANDS! Takagi goes to fireman’s carry, but ZSJ wants an arm! ZSJ slips free, shoves Takagi, then goes up and around to TORNADO DDT!
ZSJ scoops Takagi for a SABRE DRIVER!!! Cover, TWO!! But ZSJ has the KNEEBAR!! Takagi flails as ZSJ shifts the grip around for a HEEL HOOK on top of it!! The fans rally and duel again as Takagi reaches around. Red Shoes checks with Takagi but Takagi bites a finger to ignore the leg pain! But then ZSJ makes it an INVERTED FIGURE FOUR!! Takagi flails, rolls around, and finds the ROPEBREAK!! ZSJ lets go in frustration while the fans fire up again! Takagi crawls but ZSJ stands. The fans rally up more as Takagi still tries to chase ZSJ. ZSJ PENALTY KICKS Takagi! Takagi stays up and shakes his head.
ZSJ KICKS, and KICKS, and KICKS, but Takagi block! DRAGON- NO, ZSJ slips free, to NECK TWIST! Takagi still rises, and he scoops, MICHINOKU DRIVER!! Then the pump handle! ZSJ kicks and kicks, only for Takagi to SNAP LAST OF THE DRAGON!!! But Takagi’s leg slows him down, and ZSJ rolls away from the cover!! The fans are rallying as hard as they can as both men stir. Takagi brings ZSJ up, to LARIAT! But there was almost nothing to it! Takagi LARIATS again, but still not enough! Takagi LARIATS, ZSJ BOOTS, Takagi rebounds to PUMPING BOMBER!!! The fans are thunderous as Takagi rises!
Takagi hobbles over, pump handles again, but the bad leg gives up! ZSJ has the SLEEPER, then a GERMAN SUPLEX! Then a PENALTY KICK! Cover, ONE?!?! How does Takagi have that much left?! The fans are thunderously dueling, and both men run up to LARIAT! Takagi ducks the roundhouse but ZSJ KICKS the leg! And dropkicks the bad leg! And then fisherman for the SABRE DRIVER REMIX!!! Cover, ZSJ WINS!!!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall (still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)
Another instant classic from The Front Man! And that’s taking nothing away from the NEVER Openweight Champion and a former world champion in his own right. But if Takagi can put up this level of a match challenging for a belt, will no one ever take the gold Takagi has already?
As for ZSJ, he grabs a mic quickly to tell Takagi, “Damn that hurt. But also, thank you.” The fans cheer that, and Takagi says he’ll get him next time. ZSJ continues with saying that he is tired, that match was long. But hey, it’s nothing, he’s not even warm. Well, okay, he is a bit warm. But uh, why waste time? Who’s his next challenger? Who’s next? Oh, that takes him back. “Da re desu ka?” But please, come on out. They’re short on time. Fans are torn as Shota Umino appears! They were okay with him winning over Sanada, especially in retrospect, but Shota for the world title…? ZSJ says hey, it’s okay, it’s okay.
ZSJ tells Shota it’s alright, come to the ring. But, make it quick. The fans continue to boo as Shota grabs a mic. Shota tells ZSJ, “Amazing. What a fantastic, hot blooded match. Nice work.” ZSJ thanks Shota as Shota bows in respect. Shota then tells Zack in English that he wants to face him again. Shota wants to be IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Shota wants to challenge ZSJ! The fans boo, but ZSJ teases that he doesn’t understand English, please say that in Japanese. The fans have a good laugh, and Shota says okay. Since he is the challenger, he won’t call the shots. Anywhere, anytime, that’s fine by Shota. He leaves it up to the champion, please and thank you.
The fans do cheer that, and ZSJ tells “Shota-kun” that anytime and anywhere is fine by him, too. “Ganbate ne. <Do your best.>” Shota replies in English, “Thank you, d*ckhead.” ZSJ gives back, “Yarimasho <Let’s do it>, d*ckhead.” The two then shake hands after their strange show of respect, and the fans are still iffy on this. When and where will Shota look to bring about his Paradigm Shift?
Shota then takes his leave, and ZSJ admits he can’t do much more in Japanese, everything hurts so much already. ZSJ does say he had “three dreams” for this year. First: win the G1. Check. Second: win the IWGP World title. Check. Third: main event in the Tokyo Dome! The fans love the sound of that! ZSJ then thanks the fans here in Osaka, drops the mic, and the fans cheer as the streamers fly! Wait, the music cuts off? Why? BECAUSE RICOCHET’S MUSIC STARTS! The One & Only is here?! AND COMING IN FROM THE CROWD! ZSJ turns around in time for the springboard FLYING LARIAT!!
The fans are going nuts for Ricochet as he takes out the champ! Ricochet grabs the mic to tell, “Osaka! Hisashiburi yo! Choto matte, choto matte.” Ricochet then goes to ZSJ, and says that he never really got to formally congratulate ZSJ on winning the G1 Climax, then going on to winning the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. So before anything else, Ricochet will say, congrats. The fans applaud, and Ricochet says in the world of wrestling, it is widely known that he who holds the IWGP World title is regarded as one of the best wrestlers on this planet. And it is also known that he who holds that title holds all the power here in NJPW.
And Ricochet wants that. He wants that power. So what better way to prove to everybody, to himself, that this fire inside burns brighter than ever before, by taking that title from ZSJ and proving he is still the EFFIN MAN around here!? So Ricochet challenges ZSJ for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship for WRESTLEDYNASTY!! But before that, here’s a little parting gift. Ricochet takes off his jacket, loads up the finger gun, and he says bang! But then Shota runs out here! The fans are torn about Shota being the hero here, but Ricochet says they’ll sort this out soon enough. Shota picks ZSJ up, but ZSJ attacks Shota!
ZSJ TOSSES Shota, dares Ricochet to get back in here, but then Shota gets ZSJ! DEATH RIDER!! The fans boo Shota and Ricochet equally, but Ricochet smirks. Shota picks up the world title, and he tells ZSJ to NOT look past him! ZSJ is NOT the best wrestler yet! The fans boo, but the walls are already closing in on ZSJ. Will ZSJ’s dream of having the main event in the Tokyo Dome soon become a nightmare?
My Thoughts:
An awesome event for NJPW, especially to finish up the Super Junior Tag League. Though, there were a lot of interesting moves, maybe even confusing, when it comes to what’s next. I was genuinely surprised to see Khan & Henare win the Heavyweight Tag titles, but how great for Khan to be a double champion. And it seems TMDK and United Empire will be feuding as factions since both Ryohei and Cobb want the NJPW World TV Championship. A match between them would be great, but I feel like another Triple Threat is the better option. It’s how Narita won the title, and it’d be great if that’s how he loses it. It’s mostly because I don’t see Ryohei overcoming Cobb 1v1.
The SJTL final itself was awesome, and what a great finish. But then I wasn’t really sure what to make of the move after. I get the logic of Catch 2/2 beating Jet Setters and being owed a title match, and I get the logic of War Dogs wanting the rematch they never got. I also get they’re trying to add some intrigue as to who gets the WrestleKingdom match, but it should really be TMDK and only TMDK. Doing a Fatal 4 Way undercuts TMDK winning tonight because then the other teams just get in on the title match. At the same time, there’s little time before World Tag League takes over, so unless Fighting Spirit Unleashed and New Japan Road have tag titles matches, WK will end up having a Fatal 4.
While I didn’t cover the match, Evil & Narita of course cheated to win, but of course Evil wants to face Tanahashi for WrestleKingdom this year. That means we have a full two months to build. And if we go by the scissors, does Evil want a Hair VS Hair match? Something about that makes sense given Tanahashi’s hair is almost as iconic as anything else. But since Tanahashi is going to continue until WrestleKingdom 20, he has to be winning one way or another. And if it IS Hair VS Hair, seeing Evil shaved as his punishment for all the cheating he’s done would be amazing. Great match from Shota VS Sanada. Shota beating Sanada was expected as he’s moving up the ladder, whether fans like it or not.
Seeing Kenny Omega return was great, and great to hear that he’s just two months away from returning. The first ever WrestleDynasty got big just off that. And since Gabe Kidd attacked him backstage, tada, there’s the match. Gabe is a great choice for Omega’s first match back, and Gabe will look great regardless of the outcome. And since WrestleDynasty is the huge crossover event, Omega can easily segue into something AEW related. After all, The Young Bucks will be there, too.
Great match from Douki VS Wato, and Wato looked about the best he’s ever looked. But in the end, Douki retains and that’s just fine. And then Desperado returning to challenge Douki, that is going to be a great rematch that could go either way. But after this point, things get weird. Taichi VS Finlay was awesome, and they really made Taichi look great, but something about that was foreshadowing enough for Finlay surviving this match. What I don’t understand is Sanada being the guy. Was Sanada losing to Shota “the last straw” or something? Was there tension in Just5Guys? Maybe there was backstage promo stuff I missed, but Sanada joining the War Dogs seems too out there.
ZSJ VS Takagi was an awesome match so it was a good palate cleanser, because then things got weird again. I figured ZSJ was winning, no problems there. But then as the fans are souring on Shota, he steps up to be the challenger. Shota tries to get back some of that attitude he had when he was with Moxley, but it didn’t really land with the crowd tonight. And then Ricochet shows up and basically lets out his Heel side on ZSJ. Yes, it makes sense that NJPW and AEW both realized this was the time to make a dream match like ZSJ VS Ricochet for WrestleDynasty, but looking at the big picture, it gets confusing.
Face Ricochet is feuding with Konosuke Takeshita over the AEW International Championship, but now Heel Ricochet wants the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. I would think that Ricochet VS Takeshita happens at Full Gear, and maybe, just maybe, Ricochet wins the International Championship. Then Ricochet can bring that belt to WrestleDynasty. Not even to do a Winner Takes All but to raise the star power like how ZSJ VS Takagi was Champion VS Champion here tonight. Because trust me, just like Takagi here tonight, Ricochet will put on a classic with ZSJ only to lose.
My Score: 9/10
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Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (5/25/25)
Round 8, all together!

The penultimate round of this round robin!
Best of the Super Juniors 32 enters round 8, and there are still a lot of moving pieces! Who will be that much closer to the finals?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Robbie Eagles; Eagles wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: KUSHIDA VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Kushida wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Titan; Yoh wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Dragon Dia VS Robbie X; Dia wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: MAO VS Nick Wayne; Mao wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Kosei Fujita VS Ninja Mack; Mack wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Taiji Ishimori VS SHO; Sho wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Francesco Akira VS Clark Connors; Connors wins, by disqualification.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: El Desperado VS Kevin Knight; Desperado wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Master Wato VS Hiromu Takahashi; Hiromu wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Here are the current A Block standings!
Master Wato: 5-2, 10 points
Clark Connors: 4-3, 8 points
Francesco Akira: 4-3, 8 points
Kosei Fujita: 4-3, 8 points
Hiromu Takahashi: 4-3, 8 points
Robbie X: 3-4, 6 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 3-4, 6 points
KUSHIDA: 3-4, 6 points
Dragon Dia: 3-4, 6 points
Ninja Mack: 2-5, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
Here are the current B Block standings!
YOH: 4-3, 8 points
Nick Wayne: 4-3, 8 points
MAO: 4-3, 8 points
Taiji Ishimori: 4-3, 8 points
El Desperado: 4-3, 8 points
Ryusuke Taguchi: 3-4, 6 points
Kevin Knight: 3-4, 6 points
SHO: 3-4, 6 points
Titan: 3-4, 6 points
Robbie Eagles: 3-4, 6 points
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Robbie Eagles!
The Funky Weapon fell short in last round’s main event, but he proved he’s still got it. But can he get it going again this late into the tournament? Or does the Sniper of the Skies have the kill shot waiting?
The bell rings, Eagles runs up, wheelbarrows, victory rolls and has the legs, RON MILLER SPECIAL!! Taguchi claws at the mat, drags Eagles along, and makes it to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Eagles drags Taguchi back, but Taguchi kicks Eagles down to have OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Eagles scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Taguchi lets go, Eagles bails out, and Taguchi goes to the corner, TRIANGLE- NO, Eagles moves, Taguchi lands safe on the apron, but then the leg jams! Eagles 619s the legs out! Taguchi falls to the floor, Eagles brings him around, and he KICKS the bad leg! The fans rally, Eagles taunts Taguchi, then drags Taguchi around.
Eagles SMASHES Taguchi’s knee off the floor! The fans cheer, Eagles stands Taguchi up, and he puts him in the corner. Eagles pulls Taguchi’s legs against the crossbar! The ref reprimands and counts, Eagles lets go at 4, but he sits on Taguchi! Eagles eggs Taguchi on as he hops down, then rallies the fans. Eagles aims from the apron, springboards in, but into ANTIAIR HIP ATTACK! The fans fire up while both men are down! Taguchi clutches his leg but he rolls his way to Eagles. Taguchi has Eagles on ropes and rubs it in his face! POINT BLANK HIP again and again! Taguchi then runs, to HIP ATTACK! Eagles sputters and the fans cheer!
Taguchi calls upon the powers of Strange Style, “ORYA~!” KETSU- NO, Eagles rolls up with bridge, TWO! Taguchi rolls Eagles, TWO! OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Eagles scrambles, rolls, and KICKS Taguchi down! The fans rally while Eagles shakes out the bad leg. Eagles stands, hobbles, and he shows some cheek! HIP ATTACK! And HIP ATTACK! Taguchi sputters, Eagles fires the fans up with some swivel, but Taguchi blocks the hip attack to HEADBUTT the butt! The fans cheer and Taguchi HEADBUTTS Eagles’ stomach! The forearms fly, Taguchi gets the edge, but Eagles ROUNDHOUSES! SUPERKICKS! ENZI- NO, Taguchi ducks! OH MY GAH ANKLE!
Eagles rolls and kicks free, then catches Taguchi. Taguchi shoves free to HIP ATTACK! Eagles says I’LL BE BACK, but Taguchi catches him! OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Eagles reaches out, crawls forward, and the fans rally up! Taguchi stands Eagles up, Eagles cravats, ASAI- NO, Taguchi slips free of the DDT! Drop toehold, and OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Eagles endures, the fans fire up, but Taguchi yanks Eagles back! Chicken wings, DODON- NO, Eagles victory rolls! TWO and Taguchi has it! TWO and they roll, roll, roll, roll, roll! In the end, Taguchi has it, TWO!!! Eagles escapes but both men are dizzy! Taguchi fires up, the fans are with him, but both men fall over!
The fans rally hard, and this is just the first five minutes! Taguchi ENZIGIRIS! Eagles is against ropes, but he comes back to HYPERION!!! Cover, EAGLES WINS!!
Winner: Robbie Eagles, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Taguchi earns 0)
It was a wild shootout from the start, but it is Eagles who hits the mark! Will the Sniper still take aim at the top? Or will someone else in the block block his path?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: KUSHIDA VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru!
The Time Splitter and the Heel Master are on that bubble, one loss means the end for them! Will Kushida pick up speed and make it Back to the Future? Or does Kanemaru have one last cheap trick up his sleeve?
Kushida is on the corner for his entrance, and Kanemaru attacks! And ROCKET LAUNCHES him! The bell rings and Kanemaru whips to then DROPKICK the legs! Kanemaru steps through for a FIGURE FOUR! Kushida scrambles and rolls all the way to the ROPEBREAK! The ref reprimands, Kanemaru lets go, and Kushida scrambles away to the other side. Kanemaru drags Kushida back from ropes, holds him open, then gives a foot to the ref to split the wishbone! The fans cheer, Kanemaru turns Kushida over and SMASHES the knee! Kushida writhes more but Kanemaru is on him again, to YANK the leg!
Kanemaru taunts Kushida, mockingly asking what’s wrong. Kanemaru kicks Kushida to ropes, but Kushida CHOPS! Kanemaru kicks the leg, Kushida CHOPS, then Kushida CHOPS again! Kushida KICKS Kanemaru’s arm! The fans rally, Kushida whips, but Kanemaru reverses. Kanemaru handsprings, but Kanemaru DROPKICKS the legs! FIGURE FOUR!! The fans rally for Kushida while he endures, and he fights to push the main leg! Kanemaru powers the hold back down! Kushida endures, fights over, ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud but Kanemaru holds on until the ref reprimands. Kushida hobbles to the apron, and Kanemaru runs up.
Kushida RAMS Kanemaru, HOTSHOTS him away, then hurries up the corner. Kushida leaps but Kanemaru moves! Kushida’s leg jams, and Kanemaru trips him! Step through, but Kushida cradles, TWO!! Kanemaru escapes, Kushida waistlocks, but Kanemaru switches. Kushida slips under, FLIPS Kanemaru, and has the HOVERBOARD! Kanemaru fights up, spins through, and kicks the bad leg! Kushida PELES! Kanemaru goes to a corner, Kushida runs in, but Kanemaru BOOTS Kushida! Kanemaru runs, Kushida drops then HIP TOSSES into the ARM- NO, Kanemaru stacks Kushida, TWO! Kanemaru kicks and scoops, BRITISH-
NO, Kushida wrenches through to hop on, HOVERBOARD!! Kanemaru endures as Kushida thrashes the arm, and he grabs the ref! Kanemaru sends the ref into Kushida then ENZIGIRIS! Kushida and the ref are both down, so Kanemaru takes a swig of his whiskey! Kushida stands, but he smothers Kanemaru! Then TANAKA FASTBALL sends the mist flying! Backslide, KUSHIDA WINS!
Winner: Kushida, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Kanemaru earns 0)
Another fast and furious match as this night gets going, and Kushida turns things around! Kanemaru is more than likely out of the running now, but can Kushida still make it to the finals? Or is time running out?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Titan!
One man is near the front but the other is near the back! Will Direct Drive kick it into gear and keep it fresh? Or will El Inmortal stay alive for a little longer?
The bell rings and the two rush in! Titan DROPKICKS Yoh and Yoh tumbles out! Titan builds speed, Yoh is back and he trips Titan! Yoh ties Titan up in the Paradise Lock! Milano Collection AT can’t believe what he’s seeing! Yoh fires the fans up, then runs to DROPKICK Titan out of Paradise! Yoh hurries to suplex, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Titan stays in this but Yoh stays focused as the fans rally up. Titan stirs while Yoh tunes up! SUPER- NO, Titan ducks the kick, shoves, and then goes Matrix to dodge! CALF KICK! Yoh tumbles, Titan runs, but Yoh puts Titan on the apron. Titan GAMANGINRIS in return!
Titan then springboards and FLYING RANAS! Yoh tumbles out again and Titan FLIES! Down goes Yoh and the fans fire up again! The fans fire up, Titan puts Yoh in the ring, and then Titan springboards again! DIVING BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO! Yoh stays in this and the fans rally more. Titan waits on Yoh, pounds the mat, and the fans rally back up. Yoh stands, Titan throws off his elbow pads, and he FRAME- NO, Yoh BOOTS Titan first! Titan comes back but Yoh ducks a lariat to full nelson! Titan breaks free, switches, but Yoh elbows and runs! Titan follows to TORNADO DDT, and he brings Yoh up! But Yoh suplexes, FALCON GOROSHI!
The fans fire up while both men are down! Titan sputters, and Yoh roars as he rises up. The fans cheer and Yoh brings Titan around. Yoh underhooks but Titan fights it! The fans rally, Titan wrenches and tilt-o-whirls to DDT! Then he drags Yoh up to suplex, GOURD BUSTER! SUPERKICK! The fans fire up with Titan and he hurries to the corner! Titan skins the cat up top, aims and LA LANCER!! Yoh spasms, Titan covers, TWO!!! Yoh survives and the fans fire up again! Titan loosens his mask a bit, roars and the fans are with him! Titan drags Yoh up, reverse rack, but Yoh slips out of the yoyo! SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!!
Titan still lives, but Yoh roars again! Yoh drags Titan up, underhooks, DIRECT DRIVE!! Cover, YOH WINS!!
Winner: Yoh, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Titan earns 0)
It’s like everyone is going for a speed record in this round! Yoh seals the deal like Ziploc, and now leads with 10 points! Is it freshness guaranteed for the finals?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Dragon Dia VS Robbie X!
The block is sorting out with every match, but both men are on the bubble! Will the Infinite Carat Diamond be greater than X? Or will the X Express stay on track?
The bell rings and the fans rally. Robbie gets fans to bark for the War Dogs, and he ties up with Dia. Robbie puts Dia on ropes, the ref counts, and Robbie lets off, to CHOP! Robbie CLUBS Dia, stomps him down, then drags him back up. Robbie ROCKS Dia, whips, but Dia ducks ‘n’ dodges then slides to tilt-o-whirl and arm-drag! Then DROPKICK! Robbie tumbles out, Dia FLIES! Down goes Robbie and the fans fire up! Dia brings Robbie back up, puts him in the ring and covers, TWO! Robbie bails back out but Dia waits. Robbie shakes out an arm, rolls back in, but bails out again. Dia rushes after Robbie, but Robbie picks him up and POSTS him!
Dia writhes but Robbie KICKS him in the back! Robbie then stands Dia up just to DECK him! Robbie tells fans to move aside, and he grabs one of the chairs. Robbie brings that over, sits Dia down and CHOPSS! Robbie wants more chairs so he takes another one from the crowd. Robbie sets that chair up, runs up, and leaps to CANNONBALL Dia down! The fans fire up with Robbie, and he goes back to Dia. Robbie drags Dia up, puts him in the ring, then pushes to a cover, TWO! Dia stays in this and the fans applaud. Robbie stomps Dia on the back, then stands him up to whip corner to corner. Dia hits buckles hard and falls to the mat!
Robbie stands on Dia’s back, shouts for the War Dogs, and the fans cheer. Robbie sits Dia up, steps over, and he BITES Dia’s fingers! The ref reprimands and counts, Robbie stops and tells the ref to shut up. Robbie drags Dia back up, but Dia CHOPS! Robbie eggs Dia on, but Dia CHOPS again! Robbie CHOPS in return! Dia goes to a corner, Robbie runs up, but Dia BOOTS then RANAS! The fans fire up as Robbie staggers away. Dia growls and rises up. The fans rally and Dia runs in, but Robbie dodges. Dia dodges in return, then goes to the apron to trip Robbie! TORNILLO SPLASH! The fans fire up again as Robbie is on the ropes!
Dia dials it up, 619! Robbie flops back, Dia STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Robbie stays in this but Dia fires up more! The fans are with Dia and he goes to the corner. Dia climbs, watches Robbie rise, D D D- NO, Robbie stops the 4DT and suplexes! Robbie hangs Dia out to dry, then goes to the corner! GUILLOTINE DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO! Dia survives and the fans fire up again! Robbie is frustrated but he drags Dia back up. Robbie CLUBS Dia, suplexes, but Dia cradles! TWO!! Robbie escapes, hobbles away, but Dia runs up. Robbie BOOTS Dia, goes up, but Dia GAMANGIRIS! Dia goes up to get Robbie, ASTRO SCISSCORS!
Dia goes back up, D D D D T!! Cover, TWO!! Robbie survives going 4D but Dia just fires up more! Dia runs, rolls, REPTILI- NO, Robbie stops the rana! And makes it a SITOUT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! Dia survives and the fans are thunderous! Robbie thinks on what he must do next, but he rises up while the fans rally again. Dia is in the corner, Robbie LARIATS! Robbie puts the leg in ropes to KICK, then he SPIN KICKS! RUNNING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO! Dia stays in this but Robbie stays on him! “You’re dead, b*tch!” Robbie handsprings, Dia dodges, DOUBLE CORK!!! Cover, TWO!?!?
Robbie survives, but Dia SOBATS! ENZIGIRIS! But Robbie PELES! And DREAMCAST KICKS! Then Robbie reels Dia in, lifts, but Dia REPTILIAN RANAS!!! Cover, DIA WINS!!
Winner: Dragon Dia, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Robbie earns 0)
Both men love to go “X-treme,” but this skater boi is the one still standing! Will the Infinite Carat Diamond continue to shine until he’s holding up the trophy?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: MAO VS Nick Wayne!
DDT Pro collides with AEW/ROH, with both men just a step behind first place! But will the Strange Love Connection throw the Prodigy off his game? Or will the Idol Warrior see he just lives in Wayne’s World?
The bell rings and the two rush in! Mao BOOTS but Nick brushes that off! Nick and Mao fire forearms, Mao gets the fans to cheer him, then he kicks low! Mao whips, Nick reverses, then hurdles, then bypasses to UPPERCUT! Nick kips up and the fans fire up. Nick then covers Mao, TWO! The fans cheer while Nick flexes. Nick drags Mao up to CHOP! Mao comes back to SMACK Nick down! And then Tsukakui! The fans cheer as Mao waits on Nick. Nick rises, Mao winds up, and Mao kicks, kicks, and KICKS! Mao whips, Nick reverses, but Mao DROPKICKS! Mao kips up, and Tsukakui! The fans rally and Mao claps along.
Mao runs to BOOT Nick against ropes, then he runs again to CANNONBALL! Cover, TWO! Nick stays in this but Mao has JUST FACELOCK! Nick endures, and the fans rally as he reaches out, fights around, then finds the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud and Mao lets go. Mao gets a Shikaku chant going, then he brings Nick up. Mao whips, Nick grabs ropes and KICKS back! Nick kicks again but Mao blocks to step over and WHEEL KICK! Mao then reels Nick in and calls his shot, but Nick suplexes first! The fans cheer all the same while both men are down. Mao goes to ropes, Nick rises up, and the fans rally again.
Mao is in a corner, Nick runs in, and Nick UPPERCUTS! Nick snapmares then runs up, spins Mao, and ASAI DDTS! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer and Nick keeps his cool. Mao sits up and checks his head. Nick stalks Mao, waistlocks, but Mao fights the nelson! Nick still powers through to have half, but Mao REAR HEADBUTTS! Mao whips, Nick reverses, then Nick avoids the knee to SHOOTING STASR! Cover, Mao goes Matrix! GEDO CLUTCH BRIDGE! TWO, and Nick has the body scissors the JAPANESE LEG ROLL! TWO, and Mao has a waistlock! This is a DOUBLE COVER, TWO!!! Both men get up and the fans fire up!
Mao says look but Nick says shut up! Nick says look, Mao says he can shut up! Mao ROCKS Nick! Nick SUPERKICKS back! Nick goes up the corner, WAYNE’S- NO, Mao ducks the cutter, keeps moving, SPIDER-MAN into the GERMAN SUPLEX! Nick handsprings to STUNNER! Bit Mao kips up to STUNNER!! The fans are thunderous while both men are down again! Mao sits up first and the fans rally. Mao and Nick crawl to each other, go forehead to forehead, then they stand to go forearm for forearm! Mao gets the Shikaku chant going again, then he ROCKS Nick! Nick comes back to ROCK Mao!
The forearms keep going and the fans rally up. Nick fires a flurry, but Mao winds up to SMACK Nick! Mao powers up, runs, OSAKA- NO, Nick BOOTS the uppercut! Mao avoids the roundhouse! Mao SLAPS, SLAPS, but Nick CROSS COUNTERS! Nick fires up and runs, but Mao uses the ref as a shield! Then LEAP FROG into the GERMAN SUPLEX!! Bridging cover, TWO!! Mao survives the turnaround but Nick fires back up! The fans rally, Nick says “IKU ZO~!” and he hooks Mao up! But Mao fights the Prodigy Plex! Mao spins Nick around and around and around, then reels him in for a POWERBOMB! Nick stands, Mao hits a DESTROYER!
Nick ends up in a corner, Mao runs up, but into a SUPERKICK! Nick goes up to FLYING CRUCIFIX DRIVER! The fans fire up with Nick as he goes up, up, and WAYNE’S WORLD, but Mao handsprings through!? To STEAL WAYNE’S WORLD!!! Cover, TWO!??! But into the JUST FACELOCK!!! Nick scrambles, Mao rolls him away, DICK KILLER!!!! NICK TAPS, MAO WINS!!
Winner: Mao, by submission (gains 2 points; Nick earns 0)
More like the Nick Killer, but the point is, Mao overtakes The Prodigy to be right behind Yoh! But Mao still shows Nick respect with a handshake. Will these two run it back one day? Will one of them be the Best of the Super Juniors when they do?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Kosei Fujita VS Ninja Mack!
The Japanese Young Punk is mighty, and he is just outside the front of this block. However, the American Ninja Warrior, for all his speed and agility, has fallen completely out of the race. Will Mack manage to spoil something for Fujita? Or will even he see that The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The bell rings and Mack offers the handshake. The fans applaud but Fujita dismisses it. Mack and Fujita circle, feel things out, then tie up. Fujita powers Mack back but Mack breaks free. They go again. fight for control, and Fujita pushes Mack to ropes. Mack powers his way back, then shoves Fujita way. The fans cheer and both men fire up as they go again. They clinch, fight for control, and Fujita puts Mack on the ropes. The ref counts the break, Fujita lets off with pats on the shoulder, but then CHOPS! Mack CHOPS, but Fujita CHOPS again! Mack CHOPS again, but so does Fujita! The fans rally as the CHOPS keep going!
Fujita CHOPS and Mack wobbles! Fujita CHPOS, CHOPS, CHPOS, then runs, but Mack UPPERCUTS! Mack runs, leaps over the dropdown, then TOSSES Fujita out! Mack builds speed, Fujita slips in, and he catches Mack in the handspring to GERMAN SUPLEX! Mack tumbles out and the fans fire up! Fujita goes up the corner and the fans rally, SUPER CANNONBALL! Down goes Mack and the fans fire up again! Fujita puts Mack in, then aims to ROUNDHOUSE! Cover, ONE!! Mack is tougher than that and the fans rally. Fujita stomps Mack, pushes him down, then yanks his leg for a HEEL HOOK!
Mack endures as Fujita grinds the hold, but Mack SLAPS and CHOPS! Fujita CRANKS the foot, but Mack scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Fujita DDTS the leg! The ref reprimands but Mack writhes. Fujita drags Mack around, and he SMASHES the knee! Mack writhes more but Fujita has him again. Fujita brings Mack around, turns him over, and has a HALF CRAB! Fujita pulls way back on that leg but Mack refuses to quit! Mack powers up, but Fujita brings him away from the ropes! Fujita has a deep angle on that leg, but Mack still makes the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Fujita lets go at 4, and the fans rally again.
Fujita stomps Mack, brings him up and CHOPS! Mack calls to his “little ninja” fans but Fujita CHOPS! Mack goes along ropes, the fans rally, but Fujita whips him corner to corner. Mack goes up and over, rolls, then comes back to UPPERCUT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Mack rises, hobbles his way over, and he brings Fujita up with a waistlock. GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, ONE, but Mack holds on! Fujita reaches for ropes, Mack GERMAN SUPLEXES again! Another bridging cover, TWO! Mack still holds on, and he GERMAN ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! The fans fire up but Fujita scrambles to the ROPEBREAK!
Mack lets go and the fans rally again. Mack brings Fujita up, bumps him off buckles, and then RAMS him in the back! And RAMS him again! Mack goes up, climbs up, and he CLUBS away on Fujita’s back. Mack drags Fujita up the corner, adjusts position, and the fans anticipate something wild already. Fujita fires body shots, he stands up, but Mack swings! Fujita ducks the punch to SUPER DUPER GERMAN!! The fans are thunderous while Mack flounders around! Fujita hurries to cover, TWO!! Mack survives but Fujita roars and the fans cheer again. Fujita brings Mack up, reels him in, and ABANDON- NO, Mack fights the suplex!
Mack wrenches through, but Fujita wrenches and drop toeholds! Fujita ties up the legs, grabs Mack’s head and has the chinlock! Mack endures, crawls, but Fujita pulls him back! Mack keeps fighting, keeps crawling, but Fujita has the arms! Mack resists against the Nemos Lock to have the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Fujita lets Mack go. Mack writhes but Fujita brings him up. Fujita hooks a leg, suplexes to the torture rack, but Mack fires body shots! Mack slips down, shoves Fujita, then goes Matrix to then HANDSPRING CUTTER!! Cover, TWO!! Another cover, TWO! Mack is frustrated but the fans rally back up.
Mack rises, he dares Fujita to get up, and the fans rally more. Fujita rises, but he blocks the buzzsaw! Fujita CHOPS, but Mack ducks the heel kick to leg sweep! SHURIKEN KICK!! Mack goes up, up, and NINJA BOMBS!! Cover, MACK WINS!!
Winner: Ninja Mack, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Fujita earns 0)
The underdog comes out on top as Mack still gets another win! Will Mack spoil Fujita’s chances at the finals? Or is there still hope for this Ichiban Sweet Boy?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Taiji Ishimori VS SHO!
The Bone Soldier is building momentum in the latter half of this tournament, but now he runs into the Murder Machine, who has done his best to cheat every opponent so far. Will Sho manage to stack the deck again? Or will be #ByGrace that Taiji avoids disaster?
Taiji turns the tables on Sho by attacking first! The fans fire up as Taiji runs Sho over from behind, then drags him to ringside, so he can POST him! Taiji has fans clear out, and then he BOWLS Sho into the chairs! STRIKE! Then he SMACKS Sho with a chair! Taiji CHOKES Sho with a chair, the ref reprimands, but this isn’t even a match yet! Taiji still leaves Sho behind so that he can go for the red buckle pad! The Bullet Club Special is now in play but Sho is still down. Taiji JAMS Sho up but almost knocks the ref over! Taiji CLAWS Sho’s eyes, drags him to ringside, and then puts Sho in the ring. Now the bell rings and the fans cheer Taiji on.
Taiji CHOKES Sho but Sho scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Taiji stops at 4, but then he CHOKES Sho some more! The ref counts, Taiji stops, and Sho sputters. Sho then CLAWS Taiji’s eyes! Sho bails out, Taiji pursues, and Taiji has Sho at the ramp. Sho wants to retreat into the crowd but the railing won’t give. Sho goes to the entryway, Taiji pursues, but then something goes on backstage! Sho leaves Taiji behind and acts like it is all okay. But YUJIRO TAKAHASHI is choking Taiji with the pimp cane! The fans boo as this is literally happening behind the ref’s back! Yujiro throws Taiji down and Sho laughs.
Sho stomps Taiji, drags him up, and he has fans move! Sho BOWLS Taiji into chairs, STRIKE! Sho says that’s what Taiji gets! Sho then storms up on Taiji, twists his wrist, and brings him back to ringside. They go in the ring, Sho drags Taiji up, and he whips Taiji into the bare buckles! Taiji suffers his own trickery and Sho says this isn’t on him for once. Sho digs a knee into Taiji’s back while he has the chinlock, but Taiji BITES Sho’s hand! The ref reprimands, but then Sho CLAWS Taiji’s face! The ref reprimands Sho now, and Sho stops at 4. Sho drags Taiji up, TOSSES him out, then goes out to grab a chair!
The ref stops Sho, but this lets Yujiro use the chair to JAM Taiji up! The fans boo but Tokyo Pimp gets away with another one. Sho drags Taiji up, puts him back in, then covers, TWO! Taiji stays in this but Sho drags him back up. Sho TOSSES Taiji back out, distracts the ref, but the ref won’t fall for it this time! The ref stops Yujiro, but then that lest Sho JAM Taiji up! The fans boo more as the ref can’t keep up with both guys. The ref does say Yujiro needs to go, but Sho puts Taiji in the ring. Sho kicks Taiji around but Taiji CHOPS! And CHOSP! And then he CLAWS Sho’s eyes! Taiji runs, but Yujiro is still here to trip Taiji!
The fans boo as Yujiro gets in the ring while Sho is in the ref’s face! Yujiro whips Taiji, but Taiji stops from hitting buckles! Yujiro runs in, and Taiji dodges! Yujiro hits steel, Sho whips Taiji, but Taiji handsprings to NEURALIZER KICK! The fans cheer, and Taiji grins as he brings Sho up. Taiji whips Sho into the bare buckles! Sho falls and writhes but Taiji keeps on him. Taiji wrenches and POSTS Sho! The fans cheer while Sho clutches his arm. Taiji brings Sho out, hammerlocks then scoops, but Sho slips free to bend Taiji’s fingers! Taiji CLAWS Sho’s eyes! Taiji runs, the ref is used as a shield! Sho SPEARS Taiji!
The fans boo Sho while both men are down. Sho rises up, he bends Taiji’s fingers, then wrenches to kick, KICK and SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO! Taiji stays in this and Sho grows frustrated. Sho aims his bow and he drags Taiji up. Sho reels Taiji in, tucks the arms, SHOCK- NO, Taiji slips free to BLOODY- NO, Sho fights free, but Taiji JUMP KNEES first! Sho drops down, Taiji aims and runs in, LA MYSTICA! BONE LOCK!! Sho endures as Taiji pulls on the hold! Sho fights around, Taiji rolls him away to then RAM into Yujiro! Down goes Tokyo Pimp, but then Sho whips Taiji into the ref! LOW BLOW!! The fans boo but Yujiro is back to stomp Taiji!
Yujiro drags Taiji up while Sho crawls to his corner. Sho grabs for his “Torture Tool!” The fans boo as Sho takes aim, but Taiji BOOTS Sho! And LOW BLOWS Yujiro! ZIGZAG for Sho!! And then BONE LOCK!! Sho endures, but where’s the ref? Gedo gets off commentary, but here comes SANADA! Gedo helps the ref, but The Cold Blooded Sanada uses the wrench to CLOBBER Taiji!! The fans boo but Sanada stands Taiji up for the DEADFALL!! Sanada leaves Taiji for Sho, the ref is up, and Gedo is stunned! Sho covers, and SHO WINS!
Winner: Sho, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Taiji earns 0)
The House of Torture pulls out all the stops, but Sho is still only 4-4. Will Sho need to cheat one more time to finish above .500? Or was spoiling things for Taiji more than enough?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Francesco Akira VS Clark Connors!
This could be a very explosive combination as The Crown of Fire and 100 Proof are both a step behind the leader. Will Akira conquer this War Dog for the United Empire? Or will War Dogs Racing still have a chance at that final lap?
Oh, what’s this? Akira waits at the ramp for Connors? A bold strategy, Cotton, let’s see if it pays off for him. Connors steps out, sees Akira, and smirks. Connors likes Akira’s guts, and after he puts his things aside, Connors runs up! The two brawl on the ramp and the fans fire up! They RAM into railing, then more railing, then more railing! The railing almost falls over! Akira POSTS Connors hard and then keeps after him around the way! Akira CHOPS Connors, CHOPS again, and then again! And again! Akira is really fired up and the fans join in. But Connors UPPERCUTS Akira, SMACKS him off the apron, but Akira hits back!
Akira CHOPS, and he wants to go bowling! But Connors reverses the whip! Akira puts on the brakes, but the JEEP FLIPPER sends him into the chairs! The fans fire up and bark with Connors while he clears out space. Connors drags Akira up, brings Akira over, and puts him in the ring. But Akira is up to PLANCHA! Down goes Connors and the fans fire up with Akira! Akira drags Connors up, puts him in the ring, and this is finally a match! Akira reels Connors in, SPEEDFIRE! Akira aims, the fans rally, NOVA FIRE- NO, Connors ducks! And SPEARS!! The fans fire up and Connors has a wild look in his eyes as he wants more.
Connors puts one out, drags Akira up, and NO CHA- NO, Akira wrenches out to ROCK Connors! Connors runs up, but into a SUPERKICK! Connors comes back, Akira dodges, THE SPEAR HITS THE REF!!! The fans go nuts but Connors isn’t all that bothered. Connors hurries to aim at Akira, runs up again, but Akira dodges the lariat to CHPO, CHOP, and CHOP! The fans fire up but Connors shoves Akira, then SNAP POWERSLAMS! Connors goes out and he finds WHEEL-SAN! The fans cheer, but wait, that’s not what he wants? Connors brings out a TABLE! Table-san is put in the ring and Connors props it up in the corner.
Connors fetches Akira but Akira fires body shots. Akira CHOPS, Connors KNEES low, and then Connors SMACKS Akira off the table! Connors lines up the shot, runs in, but Akira dodge! Connors slams on the brakes, Akira comes back, and Connors LARIATS! Connors says Akira can’t get the better of him, and now he grabs Wheel-san! The fans cheer as Connors slides Wheel-san into the ring. Gedo wants Connors to kill Akira with this one, but the fans rally up. Connors drags Akira over, but Akira blocks the hubcap bump! Connors CLAWS Akira’s eyes, and he DRIBBLES Akira off the hubcap! The fans rally, and the ref is being carried away!
Connors smirks as he now can do whatever he wants. Connors puts Wheel-san over Akira’s face, and he CURB STOMPS!! Gedo loves it, but this isn’t the end! Connors brings Akira up, grins as he SLAPS the bloody forehead! But Akira CHOKES Connors! Akira is furious as he SLAPS and fires hands! Akira trips Connors and he rains down forearms!! The fans fire up as Akira brings it back to when Empire and War Dogs feuded so violently in the past! Akira takes off his belt, and he brings it over to LASH Connors! The fans fire up while Akira LASHES Connors again! Gedo does NOT like this as Akira LASHES Connors again and again and again!
Akira TOSSES his belt aside, that’s a free souvenir now. Akira won’t stop here, though, as he goes looking under the ring. Akira brings out chairs! Akira puts those in, then drag Connors over. Red Shoes is here and he says don’t do it, Akira! Akira stops himself, letting his rage subside. Akira tries to reason with Red Shoes, Red Shoes won’t let it go, so Akira SHOVES Red Shoes down! Connors has a chair, but Akira blocks the shot! Akira JAMS Connors up! Red Shoes says no, he can still stop now! Gedo says just end the match anyway! Akira SMACKS Connors with the chair again and again!! DISQUALIFICATION!
Winner: Clark Connors, by disqualification (gains 2 points; Akira earns 0)
But Akira doesn’t care, his rage has boiled up, and he SMACKS Connors again!! He gave Connors the points he wanted, was settling the grudge worth giving up a spot in the finals? Wait, Akira isn’t done, he wedges a chair in a corner, and then drags Connors up! Red Shoes reprimands, commentary all shout for Akira to stop, but Akira puts Connors against the chair. Young Lions rush in but Akira shoves them all away! The Young Lions come back, they keep Akira from running at Connors! Akira powers up and gets free, but Connors SPEARS Akira through the table!!! Both men are down in the wreckage, is nothing settled between Empire and War Dogs?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: El Desperado VS Kevin Knight!
The Rogue Luchador said at the start of this that anyone could win at any given time, no matter who they are and where they’re from. At the same time, he vowed just the other day that he would finish this off and win the whole thing! Will the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion stop The Jet from taking off? Or will Knight win that golden ticket shortcut to the top?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Knight and Despy circle, feel things out, and Knight waistlocks. Despy wrenches free but Knight rolls, kips up, and wrenches back to waistlock. Then Knight arm-drags for a takedown, and he drops a knee on the arm! The fans cheer, Knight wristlocks, then double wristlocks, but Despy fights up to the ROPEBREAK! Knight lets go slowly, and the fans cheer as Knight flexes. Knight teases Despy’s lack of abs, and Red Shoes checks. Despy says stop, and the two reset. They tie up, Despy trips Knight, then thigs speed up. Despy avoids the hurdle, but not the BACKDROP! Despy tumbles out and the fans rally.
Knight aims to PLANCHA, but Despy blocks his kick! Despy trips Knight up and Knight hits off the apron! Despy then goes for the leg, STRETCH MUFFLER! Red Shoes reprimands, Despy lets go, but he YANKS Knight’s leg. Knight hobbles but Despy kick shim down. Despy stalks Knight around the way, brings him up, but Knight fires body shots! Despy CHOPS back and Knight staggers away. Knight returns to CHOP, so Despy UPPERCUTS! Despy puts Knight in the ring, storms up on him, and hits a BIG back suplex! The fans cheer and Despy covers, ONE!! Knight is tougher than that but Despy taunts him.
Despy stands Knight up but Knight fires body shots. Despy kicks the leg, then grabs it, SHIN BREAKER! Knight hobbles and falls, and Despy looms over him. Despy grabs a leg but Knight kicks and kicks and kicks! Despy kicks in return, then brings Knight in, only for Knight to BACKDROP again! The fans rally as Knight rallies with LARIATS! Knight whips, Despy reverses, but Knight goes up and over! Knight comes back to LARIAT again! Knight then runs corner to corner, BIG LARIAT! Knight powers up to scoop and BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Despy stays in this, and Knight says he was that close.
Knight goes to the corner and the fans rally as he takes aim. Knight springboards but Despy DECKS him! Despy goes out to the apron and stands Knight up, but Knight fires forearms first! Despy SMACKS Knight in return! Despy underhooks, but Knight holds on for dear life! The fans rally, Knight fights free, and he SUPERKICKS Despy! Then he APRON SATE- NO, Despy just shrugs Knight off! Despy laughs as Knight falls on the floor. Despy then grabs a leg and SMASHES it on the floor! Despy YANKS the leg, then has the STRETCH MUFFLER! Red Shoes reprimands as Despy thrashes Knight’s leg! Despy stops and he leaves Knight behind.
Knight writhes and Red Shoes checks him, and somehow Knight is able to continue. The ring count starts, Knight seethes as he sits up, but we already pass 10 of 20! Knight hobbles at 14, grits his teeth, and he rolls in at 17! Despy is on him with a gut wrench! GUITARRA POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Knight survives but the STRETCH MUFFLER returns! Knight endures, reaches out, but Despy rolls him from the ropes! They go around, Despy has NUMERO DOS! Knight activates the core to sit up! Knight reels Despy into an IRON OCTOPUS! Despy sits down but Knight pulls on the arm more! The fans rally as Despy fights around, and finds the ROPEBREAK!
Knight lets go in frustration but now things are even. Knight roars and rises up to bring Despy around. Despy shoves Knight, Knight comes back, but Despy ROCKS Knight! Despy fires more shots, but Knight fires back! Knight ROCKS Despy, roars, but the bad leg won’t let him jump! Despy KICKS the legs out! Despy then storms up to whip, but Knight reverses and SKY 2 HIGH! Cover, TWO!! Despy survives and the fans cheer! Knight snarls, he pushes Despy to the drop zone, and Knight climbs the corner! Bad leg or not, Knight aims, but Despy SHORYUKENS! Despy then ROCKET LAUNCHES Knight off the top!
Knight sputters, Despy goes up, but Knight rises! UPPER ROOM!! The fans fire up as Knight manages that jump, and he goes back up top! MOTHERSHIP UFO SPLASH FLOPS as Despy dodges! SPEAR!! Cover, TWO!! Knight survives, Despy is frustrated, but the fans fire up again! Despy drags Knight up, underhooks, but Knight wrenches out! Cradle, TWO!!! Despy escapes, Knight slips around, backslide! TWO!! Despy and Knight stand, Knight SUPERKICKS! Despy LOCO ELBOWS! Despy runs, into a DROPKICK!! The fans fire up as Knight still manages that jump, too! Knight then takes aim and waits on Despy.
Despy rises, Knight somersaults, and SATELLITE DDTS!! Cover, TWO?!?! Despy survives and Knight is shocked but the fans fire up again! Knight backs away to the corner and he climbs up again. The fans fire up as Knight reaches the top, but Despy rises! Despy hits the ropes to trip Knight up! A savvy move and Despy goes after Knight. Despy brings Knight up but Knight fires body shots. Despy HEADBUTTS! And HEADBUTTS! And HEADBUTTS! Knight fires more shots, but Despy ROCKS him! Despy goes to the very top, for a SUPER DUPER PLEX!! Both men writhe and the fans are thunderous! Despy crawls and covers, TWO!!!
The fans fire up again as Knight survives! Despy roars, he drags Knight up, and he underhooks for PINCHE LOCO!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Knight survives and shocks everyone! The fans love it but Despy is frustrated with Knight. Despy drags Knight up, underhooks him again, FACEBUSTER! Roll through and PINCHE- NO, Knight fights the lift! Knight reaches out, but Despy pulls that arm back! Despy underhooks again, for PINCHE LOCO!!! Cover, DESPY WINS!
Winner: El Desperado, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Knight earns 0)
Knight gave it his all but he could not bring down the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion! The Jet is now on the outside looking in, will Desperado make it to his back-to-back BOSJ wins?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Master Wato VS Hiromu Takahashi!
The winner of BOSJ 30 now runs into the FOUR-TIME BOSJ winner, and it could all come down to this win! Will the Way of the Grandmaster continue on to the top of the block? Or will the Ticking Timebomb blow up all of Wato’s plans for the future?
The bell rings and the fans strongly rally for “HI-RO-MU!” The two circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Wato digs in and powers Hiromu to the ropes, but Hiromu turns it around. Red Shoes calls the break, Hiromu slowly lets off, and the fans applaud. But then Hiromu takes a swing! Wato dodges, headlocks, but Hiromu powers out. Wato RUNS Hiromu over, things keep moving, and Hiromu hurdles. Wato leaps over, then keeps moving to RANA Hiromu! Hiromu tumbles out, Wato builds speed, but Hiromu is back to ELBOW Wato! Hiromu whips Wato to a corner, Wato BOOTS in return and BULLDOGS!
The fans fire up with Wato and he goes back to Hiromu. Wato wrenches but Hiromu fights Recientemente. Wato KNEES low, whips, but Hiromu grabs ropes. Hiromu BOOTS Wato and then reels him in for a HANGING HEADSCISSORS! Red Shoes counts, Hiromu lets go to then whip Wato to a corner. LARIAT and snapmare, basement DROPKICK! The fans cheer, Hiromu covers, TWO! Hiromu keeps on Wato with the headscissors squeeze! The fans rally as Wato endures and moves around. Wato reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Hiromu lets go, Wato goes to the outside, but Hiromu is after him.
Hiromu CHOPS Wato, stalks Wato around the way, and they go past commentary. Hiromu stands Wato up to CHOP again! Wato flounders but Hiromu stays after him. Hiromu stands Wato up, CHOPS him again, and Wato falls back down. Hiromu brings Wato up, fakes putting him in and CHOPS! Then snap suplexes to the floor! Wato writhes, Red Shoes insists this be in the ring, then starts a count. Hiromu goes back to Wato, brings him up at 5 of 20, and puts him in at 8. The fans applaud and Hiromu covers, TWO! Wato toughs it out but Hiromu is right on him with a CAMEL CLUTCH! Hiromu sits deep on the hold already but Wato endures!
The fans rally, Wato frees an arm, and he uses that to crawl forward! Hiromu sits back down to bend Wato, but Wato still manages the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Hiromu lets go. Hiromu paces while Wato writhes, and we pass five minutes. Hiromu brings Wato back up, just to CHOP him back down! Hiromu eggs Wato on, and the fans rally again. Wato rises to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP! Hiromu CHOPS Wato right down! The fans rally, Hiromu drags Wato up to whip, but Wato reverses and CALF KICKS! Hiromu goes to ropes, runs up, but Wato scoops to BACKBREAKER! Hiromu tumbles out and the fans rally up again.
Wato builds speed and he FLIES! Down goes Hiromu and the fans fire up again! Wato drags Hiromu up, puts him in, and goes to the apron. Wato springboards in, FLYING UPPERCUT! The fans cheer, Wato covers, TWO! The fans rally up as Wato rises, and Wato fires himself back up. Wato wrenches and hooks Hiromu up, but Hiromu fights Recientemente! Hiromu fireman’s carries, but Wato fights free! Wato SOBATS, then wrenches again, but Hiromu fireman’s carries! Wato sunset flips, into VENDEVAL! Hiromu endures as Wato pulls on the head and neck! Hiromu rocks the boat to then head for ropes! Wato lets Hiromu go so he can body scissors and roll!
VEND- NO, Hiromu makes it a cradle, TWO! VENDAVAL!! Hiromu endures all over again and the fans rally up! Hiromu leans, but he’s fading! Red Shoes checks Hiromu, but he gets that second wind! Hiromu seesaws around, but he is still fading! A third wind helps Hiromu make it to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Wato lets go in frustration. Wato waistlocks but Hiromu fights the lift! Hiromu reaches out again, but Wato brings him away from ropes! Hiromu fires elbows to get free, but Wato swings through the lariat, CRUCIFIX DRIVER, then RECIENTEMENTE!! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives and the fans fire up!
Wato is frustrated but he just fires up more! The fans rally, Wato brings Hiromu up and chicken wings. RECIENTE- NO, Hiromu fights off The Second with an arm-drag! Wato is up but Hiromu mule kicks! Front KICKS! Hiromu SWATS the roundhouse to SUPERKICK! Hiromu runs, but Wato dodges! Wato tilt-o-whirls, schoolboys, but Hiromu rolls through to then HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! Both men rise and the fans rally up again! Wato runs up, but Hiromu scoops to SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, TWO! Wato is still in this and the fans still rally. Hiromu roars, the fans fire up with him, and he brings Wato into the dragon sleeper!
Wato fires knees from below, Hiromu staggers, and Wato ROUNDHOUSES! Hiromu roars, but the DREAMCAST KICK hits! Wato roars, the fans fire up, and Wato drags Hiromu up. Wato waistlocks to TSUTENKAKU!! Bridging cover, TWO!!! Hiromu survives and Wato is beside himself! The fans rally even harder as Wato rises. Wato drags Hiromu back up, chicken wings again, RECIENTE- NO, Hiromu flips through! HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER meets KOZY LARIAT!! Hiromu slumps down and Wato stands tall! The fans are thunderous and Wato roars! Wato drags Hiromu up,b ut HIromu SUPERKICKS!
Wato kicks, Hiromu ducks, and CODE BREAKAER! Then HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! Cover, TWO!!! Wato survives and the fans are thunderous! Hiromu hauls Wato up, fireman’s carries, and the TIMEBOMB 1.5!! But Hiromu isn’t done, he dragon sleepers and TIMEBOMB 2.0!!! Cover, HIROMU WINS!!
Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Wato earns 0)
To battle like this, these two truly are two of the Best of the Super Juniors! But in the end, four times beats one time, and Wato falls off the top spot. Will Wato still find his way into the finals?
As for Hiromu, he does offer a handshake of respect, but Wato refuses, too frustrated with himself to accept. Hiromu goes to the mic to tell Wato, “Where’s your belt? Aren’t you a tag champion? Take it easy, it’s okay. I figured I’d challenge. And as for my partner… Me and Kanemaru will challenge! I think! Understand, yesterday wasn’t really how Kanemaru felt. Me and him are challenging, so get ready!” The fans applaud, but is The Ticking Timebomb serious about the Heel Master coming around?
Moving on from that, Hiromu admits he’s really feeling that match now. Maybe Hiromu can’t go anymore. Hiromu thanks you for all your support, please chant for him. The fans do chant for “HI-RO-MU!” and he feels better. And it has been a little while since he’s done one, so maybe let’s do a little Hiromu survey! Don’t be shy, if this is your first time watching wrestling live, please raise your hand. Oh, a lot of you! And you didn’t even leave during this pointless promo! Thank you! The fans cheer and Hiromu wonders… Anyone planning on going to the finals in Ota? Yes, some, but not enough! Hey, Ota is near Nagoya, when you think about it.
In fact, nothing is “too far” within Japan! Everywhere is local in Japan! Everywhere is local in Japan! Right? The fans echo that, and Hiromu says, “Thank you for chanting that!” Hiromu says these are real fans here! The fans cheer that! Now, going through BOSJ, there is one thing Hiromu is sure of. He guarantees that BOSJ will be the best tour in ALL of NJPW! The fans cheer that! Hiromu vows that he will definitely win! IF he has your support! The fans cheer, and Hiromu says no really, he needs you! The fans chant his name again, and he powers up again. Hiromu thanks them, and promises that for the rest of BOSJ…
Hiromu will make it “Moto!” “Moto!” “Moto!” “Moto!” “MOTO!” “MOTO!” “MOTO!” “MOTO!” “MOTO!!” Fun for everyone!! The fans cheer as Hiromu sets down the mic, but will he get into the finals? Or could he still be one stumble away from missing out?
Here are the NEW A Block standings!
Hiromu Takahashi: 5-3, 10 points
Master Wato: 5-3, 10 points
Clark Connors: 5-3, 10 points
Francesco Akira: 4-4, 8 points
Kosei Fujita: 4-4, 8 points
KUSHIDA: 4-4, 8 points
Dragon Dia: 4-4, 8 points
Robbie X: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Ninja Mack: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Here are the NEW B Block standings!
YOH: 5-3, 10 points
MAO: 5-3, 10 points
El Desperado: 5-3, 10 points
Nick Wayne: 4-4, 8 points
SHO: 4-4, 8 points
Taiji Ishimori: 4-4, 8 points
Robbie Eagles: 4-4, 8 points
Kevin Knight: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Titan: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Ryusuke Taguchi: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
My Thoughts:
A great round here, but thankfully the last time all 10 tournament matches are on one card. I also appreciated that so many of those matches in the first half of the card were so fast and short. And at this point in the tournament, it makes sense a good chunk of each block goes down into mathematically eliminated territory. Mack still getting a win despite that was great for him, and he might’ve been the final nail in Fujita’s own run, depending on how the ninth round goes. The blocks still parallel each other at this point, three guys at 5-3 for 10 points, and it will really come down to who loses rather than who wins.
Wato may have lost tonight, but he could beat Kanemaru and still make it in. Hiromu has Robbie X, Connors has Fujita, one of those could end up a huge upset, but so could Kanemaru cheating Wato to then add onto this idea that Hiromu will team with him even though he isn’t going to be House of Torture. On the other side, Desperado VS Eagles, Yoh VS Taiji, and Mao VS Sho, those are also intriguing match-ups. I would think Despy makes it in as both champion and last year’s tournament winner, so the other two are going to be really tricky. And if this is where Nick Wayne’s run ends with him and Titan in a somewhat do-nothing match, it’s still a great first run, and he can be home in the USA and AEW in time for Fyter Fest.
My Score: 9/10
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Who will be the W, W, E, World, Tag, Team, CHAMPIONS~?!
Tonight on Raw, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods defend the WWE World Tag Team Championships in a Triple Threat against War Raiders and Creed Brothers!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Triple Threat: PENTA VS Dragon Lee VS Chad Gable; Penta wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
- Rusev VS Akira Tozawa w/ Maxxine Dupri; Rusev wins.
- WWE World Tag Team Championships Triple Threat: The New Day VS The War Raiders VS The Creed Brothers; The New Day win and retain the titles.
- Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez VS Kairi Sane w/ Iyo Sky; Kairi wins.
- Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Triple Threat: Seth Rollins VS Sami Zayn VS Finn Balor; Rollins wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
PLAY BY PLAY
Seth Rollins is here!
The Visionary leads the way for The Wise Man, the Badass and the Colossal Aussie as they head down the runway. The fans sing along, “WHOA~ OH~ OHHH~!” as Rollins steps into the ring in his mint blue floral suit. Rollins revels in the singing a little longer, then the fans bark for Bron Breakker. Paul Heyman has a mic and he gives his introductions. “Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman. Let’s see who the players are without even the benefit of a scorecard. First…” The fans bark as Heyman steps to his left. “A man, an attack dog, a badass, THE badass, in a true bloodline of badasses.
“And not just a badass, but the key to the future. If Skynet sent a Terminator from the future to this plane today and you asked that Terminator, ‘Who’s gonna main event WrestleManias 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and so on?’ That terminator would tell you the answer to that question is BRON! BREAKKER!” Fans are a little torn on that but Heyman says he’ll put his reputation on the line tonight. That’s not a prediction, that is a damn spoiler! The fans chant for “CM PUNK!” but Rollins smirks. Heyman asks Rollins if the fans realize that CM Punk is not here tonight. The fans boo, but Heyman says that is all thanks to “Big Bronson Reed!”
“WWE would never put him in the ring with top tier talent. Why? Because they were afraid of him! Not just the WWE, but the top tier talent here in the WWE! Why? Cuz he’s too reckless! Why? Cuz of the Tsunami! Why? Cuz he’s a violent man in the PG Era, and he’s gonna put everyone down in front of him! So what’d Bronson Reed do? He took the initiative! He went after THE top star in WWE! He went after the legacy player, the future of this industry! Bronson Reed targeted Seth Freakin’ Rollins. In one night, Bronson Reed put a beating on Seth Rollins worse than Roman Reigns ever put on Seth Rollins in ten years.
“In ONE night, Bronson Reed put a beating worse on Seth Rollins than CM Punk was able to do in his entire career! In ONE NIGHT, Seth Rollins fought Roman Reigns and CM Punk in essentially a handicap match at WrestleMania, and they couldn’t do the damage to him that Bronson Reed did to him in ONE NIGHT! Get down on your hands and your knees and thank the Heavens above for the altruism of this man to my right. The sacrifice that Seth Rollins is willing to make for each and every single one of you so that the trajectory of this industry going into the future is bigger than ever before.
“I give to you the most generous man I have ever met in my entire life. I give to you the epitome of the epiphany. I give to you a Visionary! I give to you an Architect! I give to you the future of this entire industry! Ladies and gentlemen… ACKNOWLEDGE Seth Freakin’ Rollins!” The fans boo and Rollins smiles, but then the fans chant “O T C! O T C!” Rollins takes a moment, listens for the fans singing his song, but also hears the fans chant, “We Want Roman!” Rollins waits for that to die down, then he says, “Make no mistake about it. Tampa, this is the vision. This is MY vision. This is the way forward! This is how we secure the future of the industry!
“We do it through total control! Through total domination! Through complete POWER!” The fans chant, “You Sold Out!” Rollins asks to who? To himself? Are they outta their minds? Rollins has not changed a beat! He told us exactly what he would do at WrestleMania, and he did it! Rollins takes a moment, but the fans cuss him out. Rollins says the fans are questioning his integrity right now. They are questioning him. Need he remind them, less than five minutes ago, everyone in this building was singing HIS song! And now, NOW, you wanna chant profanity at him? You wanna question HIS integrity?
The singing does return, and Heyman conducts it, but Rollins has everyone hold on. “You people, you morons, don’t even know right from left! You don’t know what’s good for you! But you’re telling ME that I’M the bad guy here, that I don’t deserve the power. I’m the only one who does. I’m the only person capable of leading this company into the future. I’m the only person capable of wielding that power! And that power comes through championships! And I tell you, I would be standing here before you, right now, World Heavyweight Champion, if it wasn’t for Sami Zayn… And C… M… Punk.” The fans chant for Punk again and Rollins sighs.
Rollins stands with Bronson and says, “CM Punk found out on Saturday exactly what happens when you underestimate me! Sami Zayn will figure that out tonight, because ladies and gentlemen, I have found something more powerful than championships. I have found an object that allows me to control the fates of those championships.” Rollins looks up to the Money in the Bank briefcase. Heyman smiles and Rollins says, “I’m going to qualify for Money in the Bank. I am going to win the Money in the Bank contract. And I am going to cash-in the MITB contract.
“But here’s the beauty of it: I can do it whenever I want; I can do it however I want; I can cash-in on whomever I want; and there is NOBODY who can stop me! And THAT is complete domination! THAT is total power! And THAT is why I am a Visionary! I am a Revolutionary! I am SETH! FREAKIN’ ROLLINS!” The mission statement is crystal clear, but will all of the gold soon belong to Rollins and his team?
Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Triple Threat: PENTA VS Dragon Lee VS Chad Gable!
Speaking of MITB, this could be one of the fastest and wildest qualifiers yet! But will a luchador win their way to LA? Or will Chad Gable give himself a very busy Saturday with both a Worlds Collide AND MITB match?
Raw returns as Gable is frustrated already seeing his Worlds Collide opponent, El Hijo del Vikingo, in the crowd to watch this. The bell rings, Gable, Penta and Lee watch each other. The fans rally, Lee and Penta realize Gable is the common denominator, so they DOUBLE SUPERKICK! They take turns stomping Gable, but then they argue over who gets to do more. They shove each other, then agree to keep on Gable together. They TOSS Gable out, Gable tumbles, and now Penta rolls Lee! TWO, and Lee says okay, if that’s how it is… Lee dodges Penta, runs up, but Penta puts Lee on the apron. Lee RAMS Penta, bumps and ROUNDHOUSES him, then RANAS!
Penta ends up in a corner, Lee runs corner to corner, JUMP KCIK! Leg sweep! COMBINACION DRAGON! But Gable is back to ROCK Lee! Gable whips, Lee reverses and Lee DROPKICKS! Lee runs to DROPKICK Penta! Lee comes back for Gable, but Gable catches him for an EXPLODER! Gable dodges Lee, Penta springboards, but Gable catches him! GERMAN SUPELX! The fans boo but Lee RAMS Gable. Lee slingshots but Gable NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Gable snarls and he drags Lee up. Gable THROWS Lee out, goes back to Penta, but Penta fires body shots. Gable CHPOS, whips, but Penta KICKS Gable!
Penta dodges Gable, mule kicks a leg, then SLING-DOGS! Lee is back but Penta pops him up in the corner, SUPERKICK to Lee! Gable runs up, into a BACKBREAKER! Penta picks Lee up into the Gory Especial, then he reels Gable in! Underhook, TIGER DRIVER GORY BOMB COMBO!!! The ref checks Gable as he flops out of the ring, but Lee also goes out, only for Penta to FLY! Direct hit and the fans fire up while Raw goes to break!
Raw returns and Gable whips Penta, but then Penta grabs ropes. Gable runs up, Penta TOSSES him, but then Lee runs up. Penta SUPERKICKS Lee, goes out, but Gable anchors his foot! Gable YANKS Penta down, then SMACKS him off the desk! Gable talks trash on Vikingo, goes back for Penta, then throws hands! Gable wants Vikingo to know what’s waiting for him on June 7th! But Lee FLIES! Gable moves, Lee lands right on Penta and they both fall off the desk!! Everyone loses their minds, even Gable! Gable sucker punches Vikingo! The fans boo and Michael Cole tells Gable to focus on the match! How dare he assault a guest?
Gable puts Penta in the ring, CHOPS him, but Penta just gets mad. The fans fire up as Penta winds up and CHOPS! Gable snarls and CHOPS! Penta CHPOS, Lee SUPERKICKS Gable! Penta SUPERKICKS Lee! Lee DRAGON TRIGGERS! And POISON-RANAS! Gable lariats, Lee slips through and lifts! LIGER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Gable survives landing on his head again, and the fans are thunderous! “This is Awesome!” and Lee rises up. Lee has Penta for a fireman’s carry, but Penta fights free with elbows! Penta spins Lee, pump handles, but Gable waistlocks! GERMAN SUPLEX PUMP HANDLE SLAM COMBO!!!
The fans are thunderous and Gable has the straps down! “A THANK YEW~!!” Gable goes up, up, and MOONSAULTS onto Penta! Cover, TWO!! Penta survives and Gable is furious! Lee runs up, but Gable THROWS him overhead! Lee hits buckles, Gable goes up, but Vikingo trips Gable! GAMANGIRI! Gable is in the Tree of Woe and Vikingo cheers on Lee! Lee climbs, aims, and WOE STOMPS Gable!! But Penta hits Lee with a DESTROYER!! Penta gives Gable the PENTA DRIVER!!! Cover, PENTA WINS!!
Winner: Penta, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Vikingo gets even with Gable, but they’ll surely go above and beyond at Worlds Collide! As for Penta, will #CeroMiedo be the one holding the MITB contract?
Judgment Day hangs out in the clubhouse.
JD McDonagh wants to talk tag titles but Finn Balor says one thing at a time. Finn’s gonna focus on MITB first, then they get back to business. As for Carlito & Dominik, they’re too busy playing WWE 2K and the WarGames match. But Roxanne Perez is here? She has a whole platter of chicken nuggets and offers him some. And then she says his shoulders seem tense. Roxie starts massaging Dom’s arm, and then LIV MORGAN walks in! She is absolutely livid, and Dom says hey, she’s back! Roxie wants to introduce herself but Liv hushes her. What’s been going on? Well, see, the time zones and nuggets and-
Liv stops Dom there, because Raquel already filled her in. And something is about to get very interesting. Liv will address that, but not before asking Adam Pearce for an MITB qualifier. Liv tells “Sister” Raquel time to head out, and Raquel tells Dom in Espanol that he messed up. Liv & Raquel head out, Finn chuckles and Dom plays it off by saying it’s so great to have Liv back. Finn says yes it is. Carlito says stop eating Roxie’s nuggies. Is Liv feeling what it’s like to have the tables turned on her? Or will she assert her dominance soon enough?
WWE honors our armed forces on this Memorial Day.
Home of the free because of the brave. Cody Rhodes narrates by saying it is easy to speak of sacrifice and harder to live it. Some did. From Normandy to Vietnam, across the Gulf War deserts and mountains of Afghanistan. Not for praise, but for freedom, for each other, and for all of us. Today, remember the selfless who stood in harm’s way and gave their all. Because of them, we live free. Because of them, we carry on. To them, we say thank you.
Rusev VS Akira Tozawa w/ Maxxine Dupri!
The Redeemer all but demolished The Dozer, and that is why the Stamina Monster is already raging as he stands in the ring. Will Rusev continue to “fix” the Raw roster by breaking them down? Or can Tozawa stop the rampage?
The bell rings and Tozawa rips his shirt! Rusev runs up, Tozawa dodges to fire off hands! Rusev shoves Tozawa, Tozawa is back to throw more hands! Rusev shoves Tozawa to a corner, runs in, but Tozawa dodges! Tozawa runs up but Rusev puts him on the apron. Tozawa GAMANGIRIS, goes up, and leaps to MISSILE DROPKICK! Rusev tumbles, but he comes back to LARIAT! The fans are torn but Rusev roars and stomps around! MACHKA KICK!! Rusev roars, “RUSEV! MACHKA!!” And then the ACCOLADE!!! Tozawa TAPS, Rusev wins!
Winner: Rusev, by submission
Rusev makes Tozawa suffer, he bends Tozawa back! The fans are torn and the ref tries to pry that grip open! But wait! Here comes Sheamus! Rusev throws Tozawa aside, and Bulgarian Brute stares down The Celtic Warrior. They were once friends, but that was a long time ago. The fans rally behind Sheamus, and Rusev stands down. Does Rusev feel Sheamus does not need his “help?” Or is he not deserving?
Backstage interview with Burt Kreischer & Tom Segura.
Cathy Kelley tells Burt welcome back, and brings up Segura being a bit critical of the WWE in the past. What brings him by tonight? Segura knows he’s done stupid things in his life, saying that stuff was part of it. But Cody Rhodes was on their podcast recently, it was a great time, and a real eye-opener. Plus, Burt had such a blast at the show he attended, so Tom couldn’t turn it down. Cathy knows that’s true. They were interrupted last time, so maybe Burt can plug his stuff now? Burt says yes, his new special is called Lucky, on Netflix, watch now. Something has Bur’s attention and he excuses himself.
Cathy knows Tom has something coming up, too, and he says yes, his own special will be a wild sketch show and- Wait, Burt is calling for Tom. Tom says this happens every time… Tom heads over, and Burt’s got his shirt off as he’s excited to see the War Raiders in person! It’s like they could all be related! Ivar says time to fire up! Ivar CHOPS Burt on the chest, Burt is already red, and they chant “WAR! WAR! WAR!” The Raiders head out, Tom has Burt calm down cuz Erik & Ivar left. Burt asks how does he look. Very red. Tom suggests they check with a medic to check before he and Burt go to their seats.
Sami Zayn is backstage.
Sami says he can’t stand listening to those guys talk! Heyman, Rollins, running their mouths, Sami should’ve gone out there to interrupt. But for what? Jey Uso says it would’ve been 1v3. Gotta be smart, Uce. Gotta pick the right time. Rollins wants the power, but this is how they stop him! Sami goes out there, wins the qualifier, and snatch that briefcase. If anything gets messy out there, Jey has Sami’s back. Sami nods, and Jey has him bring it in for the secret handshake. Jey wishes Sami luck, but will the Underdog from the Underground be on top? Will the Visionary’s plan continue to succeed? Or will The Prince have his own golden ticket to LA?
WWE World Tag Team Championships Triple Threat: The New Day VS The War Raiders VS The Creed Brothers!
Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods certainly tried to use their opponents against each other in hopes of crossing one off the list, but now they’ll be facing them both! Will the New Day survive a night in Tampa? Will Erik & Ivar have redemption from WrestleMania? Or will Julius & Brutus make sure these titles are now American Made?
Raw returns as the titles are raised and Burt is seen chugging beer! Tom joins in, and then the War Raiders attack the New Day! The fans fire up, the ref reprimands, but the Raiders TOSS the Creeds! This has to come down to 1v1 but Erik & Ivar throw hands on Woods & Kofi! The Creeds return, but the Raiders stereo scoop and SLAM them! Then Erik scoops and SLAMS Woods! Ivar & Erik scoop Kofi to LAWN DART him out onto the rest! The fans fire up, the Raiders say “UP!” Erik scoops Ivar, and from the apron he THROWS Ivar onto everyone! The fans fire up, Ivar rises, and he puts Kofi in. The bell rings as Erik brings Kofi up.
Ivar climbs a corner, but Woods anchors Ivar’s leg! Kofi BOOTS Erik, Julius DROPKICKS Ivar to the floor! Woods & Brutus THROW Erik into barriers! Julius & Kofi do the same! The New Day and American Made have made an alliance, and they all RAM Erik together! They they go to the ring and stand tall together. The fans boo while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and the Raiders are back. Kofi has Erik but Erik fires body shots. Kofi KNEES low, facelocks, and he puts Erik in the ropes. Kofi KNEES away on Erik, then tags Woods. Woods goes up the corner to GUILLOTINE DOUBLE STOMP! The fans boo but Woods struts around. “NEW~ DAY~!” “SUCKS!” Woods talks trash on Erik, brings him up, but the fans rally. Erik shoves Woods and ROCKS him! Both men fall and the fans fire up! Woods sputters but Erik crawls, hot tag to Ivar! Julius runs in but Ivar BACKDROPS him! BOOT for Woods! Scoop and SIDEWALK SLAM for Brutus!
Kofi runs in, Ivar dodges then scoop shim, SIDEWALK SLAM onto Brutus! Ivar runs and he DOUBLE SPLASHES! Julius is up, the fans fire up with Ivar, and Ivar runs in, only for Julius to dodge. Julius comes back, into the SEATED SENTON! Ivar TOSSES Woods, dodges Brutus and LARIATS him up and out! Kofi runs up but Ivar TOSSES him out onto Woods & The Creeds! The fans fire up more as Ivar says “UP!” Ivar climbs the corner! But Kofi jumps up to GAMANGIRI! Ivar falls but Erik DECKS Kofi! Brutus ROCKS Erik! Brutus RAMS Erik, hoists him up, but Erik SMACKS Brutus! Brutus ROCKS Erik then climbs.
Erik DECKS Brutus, but Julius springs up! The fans fire up for the SUPER DUPER PLEX! Woods hits the LIMIT BREAKER ELBOW on Erik! But Ivar is up top! WAR BEARD SPLASH!! Cover, Kofi & The Creeds break it! The fans fire up while all six men are down! “This is Awesome!” as the teams regroup. Kofi runs up on Erik, but Erik ducks the kick! EriK DECKS Kofi! The Creeds CLOBBER Erik! Ivar breaks their line to handspring DOUBLE BACK ELBOW! And then HEEL KICK for Woods! Ivar helps Erik wake up, and he says it is time to end this! Erik feeds Woods to Ivar, but Julius tags in! Ivar DECKS Julius, Woods FACEBUSTERS Erik!
Kofi KICKS Ivar, he and Brutus TOSS Ivar out! Brutus springboards to BRUTUS BALL Erik! Kofi DIVES at Ivar, but Ivar catches him! And RAMS him into the LED apron! The fans fire up for Ivar, and he runs up, CROSSBODY against the LED board! Ivar goes up, up, but Julius JUMP KNEES him! Woods rolls Julius up with tights! NEW DAY WIN!!
Winners: The New Day, by pinfall (still WWE World Tag Team Champions)
Well, The New Day used their opponents against each other all over again and came away with the titles! Will no one ever stop Kofi & Woods as the W, W, E, World, Tag, Team, Champions~?
Liv & Raquel walk ‘n’ talk.
And then they spot something. It’s Iyo Sky & Kairi Sane! What is this? A DMG CTRL reunion? Isn’t that group as dead as Kairi’s chances of winning MITB? Iyo says keep walking. Oh, they will! Liv is gonna walk right into Adam Pearce’s office and get herself a qualifier. And when she wins the briefcase, she cashes in on Iyo. Something Kairi could never ever do! Kairi tells Liv, in Japanese, that Liv keeps on talking, talking, talking like an idiot. Kairi then dares Liv to have a match with her tonight! Liv says challenge accepted. Raquel says Kairi done messed up, but Iyo says good on the Pirate Princess. Will Kairi sink Liv’s ship before it even sets sail?
Jey Uso heads to the ring!
The fans are ready to YEET here in Tampa as the World Heavyweight Champion makes his way down to ringside. After Saturday Night’s Main Event, we know he and Cody Rhodes are preparing for a star-studded tag team match at MITB, what will Jey have to say about it? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns and Jey has the mic to say, “The World Heavyweight Champ, Main Event Jey Uso is now in your citaaay~!” The fans cheer, and Jey says it has been a busy week for the champ. “YEET!” Everybody’s after the champ! “YEET!” Logan Paul got YEET’D! Cena ’bout to get YEET’D! And at MITB, it is Jey and his dawg, Cody- WAIT! Gunther is here! Der Ring General interrupts as he goes right to the ring and grabs his own mic. The fans taunt Gunther with “You Tapped Out!” but Gunther shrugs that off. Gunther tells Jey, “Well first of all, I came out here…” The fans boo but Gunther says he wants to congratulate Jey.
“And this one comes from a very personal places. Congratulations on the 15 year jubilee of The Usos in the WWE.” The fans cheer that, and Gunther says, “Secondly, congratulations on your first successful defense against Logan Paul on Saturday. You are holding onto this title way longer than I expected.” The fans boo that but Gunther says he appreciates Jey is doing everything in his power to fulfill this position. He really wants to be the captain of Monday Night Raw. And Jey has his hands full. There’s the long term plan going around, some of Jey’s friends are in trouble, and when they need Jey, he is there, no questions asked.
“And those are great qualities for a human being. But they are terrible qualities for a great champion.” The fans boo, but Gunther says he doesn’t blame Jey. Jey doesn’t know any better. Unlike Gunther, this position as World Heavyweight Champion doesn’t come natural to Jey. Being a great champion doesn’t mean you’re there for everyone else, that you sort out all the problems. Just guess, how was Gunther able to be a champion for almost ay ear? Because the only person he cares about is HIMSELF! The fans boo, but Gunther says if he is fully honest, Jey doesn’t have the intellect to carry himself as a great champion.
And in two weeks, when they step into the ring one more time, Gunther will relieve Jey from his position. Gunther will make things right and choke Jey out! Gunther will take back HIS World Heavyweight Championship and put it back where it belongs: Around Gunther’s waist! The fans boo but Jey takes a moment. “You done? Are you done?” Jey says he’s done, He is done with everybody saying his days as champ are numbered. “YEET!” Jey is done with everybody using an excuse for this title to turn their back on the people who brought them up! Jey does have friends, he does have family. He a real one, Uce. He fights for them, they fight for him!
The fans cheer and Jey paces. Jey tells Gunther he runs his mouth on Jey’s life. Gunther wants to judge Jey? Go ahead! Jey gets worked up and says what Gunther is fighting for is less than what Jey is fighting for. Jey isn’t overlooking Gunther, he knows what Gunther is capable of. Jey knows Gunther in and out. So see you in Phoenix. But at the end of the day, at the end of the day… Jey is fighting for the fans. Because in Phoenix, Jey will make Gunther tap out, again! Four letters, one word, UH UH, YEET!! The fans fire up with Jey as he heads out. Will this be the Summer of YEET?
Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez VS Kairi Sane!
The leading lady of the Judgment Day is back from her time in Japan filming for Hollywood, but now she thinks she can just call the shots for MITB. Will Liv be rolling towards a MITB qualifier? Or will the Pirate Princess prove she’s still got it?
Raw returns as Kairi makes her entrance. The bell rings, the two circle, and they tie up. They go around, Liv puts Kairi on ropes, then they go along ropes. Kairi has Liv in the corner but she lets off as the ref counts. Kairi rushes up but Liv THROWS her down by her hair! Liv KICKS Kairi, stomps away, but the ref counts. Liv stops at 4, bumps Kairi off buckles, then throws hands! The ref counts, Liv shrieks, “OKAY!” But Kairi CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Kairi CHOPS Liv again and then fires boxing elbows! Kairi backs Liv into a corner, ROCKS her, then whips corner to corner. Kairi runs up, Liv puts her on the apron, but Kairi RAMS Liv!
Kairi goes up, up, and leaps, but Liv gets under. Kairi says kiss this! The fans fire up, Liv says okay then! Liv runs up, Kairi sidesteps and drops down, then does it again. Kairi blows past, goes up and RANAS! Liv tumbles to the ropes, the fans fire up with Kairi, and she runs in, SLIDING D! Liv sputters and Kairi goes out to the apron. Kairi brings Liv up, BACKHANDS her, then gets space. Kairi runs in, but Liv dodges! Kairi boots the post, and Liv SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMBS to the floor! Raquel cheers and the fans are torn, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Liv suplexes Kairi! That’s Una Amiga as Liv brings her back up, for Dos Amigas! Liv brings Kairi up again, for THREE- NO, Kairi slips free, but Liv ELBOWS her! Liv runs, Kairi dodges, and then Kairi SPEARS! The fans fire up while both women are down! Raquel panics and coaches Liv but Kairi goes to a corner. Liv runs up but Kairi DECKS her! And CLOBBERS her! And CROSSBODIES her! Kairi whips, Liv reverses, but Kairi stops herself to come back, BLOCKBUSTER! The fans fire up with Kairi again and she has Liv in the corner. Kairi marches and then runs up, SLIDING D again!
Liv flounders, Kairi climbs, and FLYING KABUKI FOREARM! Cover, TWO! Liv lives and Kairi is annoyed, but she hurries to bring Liv back up. The fans rally, Liv breaks free, but Kairi ducks the enzigiri! Kairi has the legs, and she pulls Liv into the ANCHOR HOLD! Liv endures as Kairi bridges back! The fans fire up but Liv pulls hair! The ref reprimands, but Kairi DECKS Liv! Kairi roars, runs, but Liv STOMPS her down! Liv scowls, rises up, and she climbs the corner. FLYING CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Kairi survives and Liv is livid! Liv SLAPS Kairi around, kicks her, then has her on the ropes. Liv runs up, but Kairi denies ObLIVion!
URAKEN!! Liv sputters, Kairi runs, SLIDING D the third!! Cover, TWO!! The fans rally, Kairi drags Liv up, and then she Alabama Lifts! But Liv sunset flips it! TWO, and both women hurry to their feet! Liv blocks the backhand to BACKSTABBER! Kairi flounders. Liv runs in, but Kairi pops Liv up! But Liv rolls, Kairi smothers it to a jackknife bridge, TWO! Both women grab at the other but Kairi Alabama Lifts again! ALABAMA SLAM! Kairi goes up the corner and the fans fire up! Raquel distracts the ref, ROXANNE shoves Kairi! The fans boo but then Raquel and Roxie argue! Roxie says she just helped Liv, what’s the big deal?
Liv runs at Kairi, Kairi rolls her up! KAIRI WINS!!!
Winner: Kairi Sane, by pinfall
Raquel is shocked, but Liv let herself get distracted by everything! Roxie says that wasn’t on her. Will Liv get over herself to accept the new girl on the team?
Rhea Ripley speaks.
“Mami’s always on top. It wasn’t just a saying to me, but it was a way of life. Lately, that just hasn’t been our reality, now has it? But at MITB, that all changes. For the first time in my career, I’m in a ladder match, which means no one is ready for the amount of brutality that I am going to unleash. I will do absolutely anything to climb that ladder, to retrieve the briefcase, and to once again cement myself at the top of the women’s division. So Iyo Sky, Tiffany Stratton, I advise you to hold your titles really tightly. Because absolutely no one is safe from Mami in the Bank.” The Eradicator is ready, will she be ready to call her shot after June 7th?
Judgment Day regroups.
Liv still wants to know what Roxie was doing out there. Finn defends Roxie just wanting to help. Dom knows that was the plan, right? Dom stammers, but Raquel says if Roxie hadn’t gone out there, Liv would’ve won! Liv says he can’t believe she’s saying this, but no, Raquel was the veteran out there and she should’ve known better. What? Finn grins again, is this going even better than he expected?
Lyra Valkyria is here!
The fans “WHEW~!” with the song as the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion makes her way to the ring. Lyra has the mic to say, “Well what is up, Tampa? Ugh, I wish I was out here to talk to you guys about some new competition and a new challenger for this championship. But news broke today that Becky went and did what Becky does best. She groveled and she begged and she twisted the arms of the right people in the back, and she once again talked herself into a rematch at MITB.” The fans boo, but Lyra says, “Why would I accept, right? I have nothing left to prove. I’ve beaten her twice.
“Every opponent that I have ever had, I didn’t care what they said about me or what they did to me. Once I beat them between these ropes, I was the ultimate winner. But I didn’t feel any satisfaction when I beat Becky. Because she came out here after Backlash, ego still through the roof, no embarrassment, no sense of shame, even though she’d been outwrestled and beaten. And she sat there, on that top buckle, and she talked like she won the match! She was that delusional! And then she just went on to try and steal the next opportunity from the next person. She’s like a rat with a piece of cheese, and I just couldn’t let her do it.”
The fans cheer, and Lyra says, “At Backlash, all I wanted to do was pin her shoulders to the mat for three seconds. But she came out here and she go tin my fiancé’s face, and she tried to take my eye out, and she tried to break my arm! So yeah, now it’s personal!” The fans like that! Lyra says at MITB, she is going to hurt Becky. She is going to break Becky’s ego! And if that means bashing Becky’s head in, then she’ll do it! But wait! Becky is here now! Lyra frowns as The Man makes her way out to the ring, and Becky has a mic to ask, “I made this personal? I made this personal? YOU cost ME! You cost me my opportunity!
“I was done with you! I was on the bigger and better things, because okay, okay, you won a match. You won a match, I won the night! Because I went home with my hot husband, and you went off to the hospital with your weird little fiancé!” Wow, Becky’s “hot husband?” AKA, the only talented thing about her? Becky says here it goes! Lyra makes it personal! Lyra made it personal first! She could’ve let it go, but she couldn’t. Because Lyra knows Becky is the best thing that ever happened to Lyra, or to that title! Lyra says that is not the flex Becky thinks it is! Becky acts like she just graciously stepped aside and shared the spotlight.
People are talking about Lyra because Lyra beat Becky! The fans cheer that! Okay, okay, Lyra says Becky “steals” opportunities. If Lyra is so confident, how about this? MITB, if Lyra wins again, Becky will never challenge Lyra for that title ever again. Fine! No problem for Lyra. As she sees it, she beat Becky twice, and the last time was with her eyes closed. Becky frowns, but she says Lyra did not let her finish. Because there’s something Becky keeps remembering. When Lyra took the NXT Women’s Championship from Becky, it was a quick roll-up, not really decisive. When Lyra won that match, the good person Becky was, what’d she do? Becky graciously raised Lyra’s hand.
So WHEN Becky wins at MITB, and does it fair ‘n’ square, Lyra must look her in the eyes and raise Becky’s hand! The fans are torn on that, but Lyra says she has never had an issue raising the hand of the woman better than her. It just hasn’t been Becky yet. Mic drop from The Morrigan, but will The Man make her humble? Or will Lyra close this title off to Becky for as long as it is on her shoulder?
Sami Zayn walks the halls.
And Karrion Kross says, “Well, well, WELL! Here we are again, Sami! You’re still trying to claw your way to the top when you could’ve just taken the deal, went to SmackDown, and challenged for the WWE Championship. NO, you gotta do it ‘your way.'” Sami says he has no time for the games, okay? Sami walks off but Kross says Sami knows he will never win the title, right? Sami looks back at Kross and tells him he’ll deal with this later. Sami continues on, but will he be winning his way to the top? Or just falling to the bottom?
Also, in the background, New Day is talking with Grayson Waller like they were last week. Are they still trying to convince the Aussie Icon of something?
Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Triple Threat: Seth Rollins VS Sami Zayn VS Finn Balor!
The Visionary wants all the power, the Underdog from the Underground wants to stop that from happening, and The Prince wants to put Judgment Day back at the top with a world title. Who gets their way in this star-studded three way in Tampa?
Raw returns and Finn makes his entrance, followed by Sami. The bell rings, Sami and Rollins fire hands, and Finn watches. Sami LARIATS Rollins up and out, but Finn attacks Sami! Finn bumps Sami off buckles, throws hands, then CHOPS! The fans “WOO~” and Finn whips. Sami ducks ‘n’ dodges then DIVES onto Rollins! The fans fire up as Rollins tumbles, and Sami is after him again! Finn hurries to join in and he CLOBBERS them both! The fans cheer, Finn brings Sami around and pushes him into the ring. Finn fires hands on Sami, CHOPS him, and Heyman scowls from ringside. Sami kicks back and puts Finn in the corner.
Sami climbs up, rains down fists, and the fans count, only for Rollins to stop Sami at 5! Rollins drags Sami down to CLOBBER him! Rollins rains down fists, huffs ‘n’ puffs as he goes to Finn, but Finn trips Rollins to DOUBLE STMOP! CHOP for Sami, CHOP for Rollins! Finn CHOPS Rollins, fires body shots, then fires haymakers! Rollins fires back, but Finn slips around to dragon sleeper! Sami runs up, Finn kicks him, DOUBLE DDT COMBO! Cover on Rollins, TWO! Cover on Sami, TWO! Finn is in control and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Finn CLUBS Sami! The fans rally, Finn throws hands, but Sami eggs him on! Finn throws more hands, then reels Sami in. The fans want tables but Sami hits a suplex on Finn! The fans rally as Sami rises, but Rollins is in! Sami counter punches Rollins and backs him down! Sami climbs to rain down fists! The fans count and Sami goes to TEN, then fires a flurry to get to TWENTY! The fans fire up, Sami runs up and BLASTS Finn off the apron! Rollins runs up, Sami TOSSES him out! The fans fire up more as Sami goes to the apron! Finn grabs a foot, Sami kicks him away, then Sami kicks Rollins!
Sami goes up, ARABIAN PRESS! Direct hit on Rollins and Finn and the fans fire up with Sami! Sami rises up, gives a shoutout to the late, great Sabu, and then hurries to put Rollins in the ring. Sami waistlocks, Rollins fights the Blue Thunder to FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Rollins is annoyed but he storms up on Sami. Rollins puts Sami in the corner, grinds his forearm into Sami’s face, then CHOPS! Rollins puts Sami up, CHOPS him again, then climbs. The fans rally, Sam fires elbows, and he knocks Rollins down! But Finn CLUBS Sami! Finn climbs up, he and Sami fight, and Sami CLUBS Finn down! Then shoves him down!
Rollins is right up top! Sami fires body shots and then he CLUBS Rollins down! Sami then adjusts, and SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMBS!! Cover, Finn breaks it! The fans fire up while all three men are down! Finn drags Sami up to TOSS him out, then goes for Rollins. Finn dragon sleepers Rollins, drags him up, but Rollins KICKS free! Rollins then kicks low, underhooks, but Sami is back !Rollins ROLLING ELBOWS Sami first! Then Rollins underhooks Sami, only for Finn to SLINGBLADE Rollins! Finn SHOTGUNS Sami into a corner! The fans fire up, Finn fumbles in the ropes a bit, but he goes up the corner!
Sami is up and he ROCKS Finn first! Sami then climbs up after Finn, goes to the very top, SUPER DUPER PLEX!! But Rollins FROG SPLASHES Sami!! Rollins bounces off that cover, all three men are down again, and “This is Awesome!” Heyman is freaking out while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns once again, and Rollins DECKS Finn! Sami sputters towards a corner, Rollins stomps him down and then stomps a mudhole in! The fans are torn but Rollins sees Finn sit up. Rollins tells Finn they can be 1v1 if they get rid of Sami first. Rollins & Finn get Sami up top, climb up after him, but Sami fights them both off! The fans rally behind Sami as he fires fast hands! Sami DECKS Rollins, DECKS Finn, and the fans fire up! Sami stands to leap, but Finn gets under. Rollins is there to catch Sami, but Sami DUMPS Rollins out! Finn runs up, but into a clinch! Only to victory roll it! TWO!! Sami escapes, Finn stands, and Finn waistlocks.
Finn dragon sleepers, EYE OF THE HURRICANE! Cover, Rollins breaks it! The fans rally, all three men slowly rise, and Rollins watches Finn. Rollins kicks Finn, underhooks, but Finn wrenches out, rolls Rollins up, but Rollins rolls through! Underhooks and PEDIGREE!! Cover, SAMI GHOST PINS ROLLINS! TWO!! Rollins escapes, kicks Sami, PEDIGREE!! Cover, TWO!??! Sami survives and the fans fire up again! Heyman is beside himself while the fans rally for Sami. Rollins gets in Sami’s face and tells him this is it! Rollins runs from the corner, but Sami avoids the stomp! BLUE THUNDER- NO, Rollins slips free to KICK the legs!
Rollins runs, but into BLUE THUNDER!! Cover, TWO!!! Rollins barely survives and no one can believe it! Where’s Finn in all this? Rollins sputters in a daze as he goes to the apron and the fans rally. Sami huffs ‘n’ puffs, looks up to the briefcase as motivation, and he throws hands on Rollins. Rollins staggers, but then he throat chops! Sami still throws hands! Rollins JABS, CHOPS, and repeat! Rollins CLAWS Sami’s eyes, puts him in a corner, and just SLAPS away! Rollins huffs ‘n’ puffs and almost foams at the mouth! Rollins runs in, btu into a clinch! CORNER EXPLODER! Sami is feeling it and the fans are with him!
Sami aims, runs at Rollins, but FINN SLINGBLADES! Then Finn SHOTGUNS Sami into Rollins! They’re both down but Sami’s in the drop zone! Finn goes up, COUP DE- NO, Sami dodge! CURB STOMP by Rollins! HELLUVA KICK by Sami!!! Cover on Rollins, BRON BREAKKER drags Sami out!! And Bronson Reed is there to rain down fists! The fans boo, because for No Disqualifications, this is still unfair! But then JEY CROSSBODIES Bronson! Jey fires fists on Bron, SUPERKICKS Bronson, then SUPERKICKS Bron! SUPERKICKS again and again, but Rollins grabs Jey! Jey UPPERCUTS Rollins! Bron SPEARS Jey!!
The fans boo, Bronson POSTS Sami, but DOM is here with a chair!! Dom slides that into the ring, halfway between Finn and Rollins. Finn grabs the chair, Rollins FULL METAL CURB STOMPS!!! Cover, ROLLINS WINS!!!
Winner: Seth Rollins, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Dirty Dom tried to help but that backfired in a big way. But even then, Rollins had his minions help out, so it’s all fair. Bron & Bronson go after Jey & Sami, but CM PUNK is here?!? Bron & Bronson Security now move to the ramp, but Punk sneaks in from the crowd!! Fireman’s carry for Rollins, and a GO TO SLEEP!!! Rollins is down, Punk bails out, and the fans fire up! The Best in the World gets the better of The Visionary! But even so, Rollins is still going to MITB. Will the Visionary take over using that contract once again? Or will Punk make sure that never happens?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw to not just follow up Saturday Night’s Main Event but even accelerate towards Money in the Bank Saturday. Great tie-in of Worlds Collide with Vikingo being here, and that was an awesome Triple Threat from Penta, Dragon Lee and Gable. Gable VS Vikingo for Worlds Collide will be great stuff, but I think a graphic gave away that Vikingo’s match with Alberto Del Rio El Patron for the AAA Mega Championship is going to go Vikingo’s way to then escalate the Worlds Collide match. Very good promo from Rhea to hype up her part in MITB but there are still more people to add so I’m not sure Rhea wins.
Rusev VS Tozawa was really quick but I suppose it would be given Rusev is Rusev. But Sheamus confronting Rusev was great stuff, and they’re going to have a great feud. Fun promo with Burt Kreischer & Tom Segura to hype up the tag title match, and the tag title match itself was great stuff. The finishing sequence was quick and brilliant stuff, but it also makes me think we’re getting more New Day VS American Made after this. Great promo segment from Lyra and Becky to set up their rematch, but I feel like the stakes aren’t even. Becky only wants Lyra to raise her hand in victory? I feel like Becky would be pettier than that, but maybe she beats Lyra up so bad that Lyra can’t even stand.
We got great integration of other segments through the big stories. Judgment Day’s new dysfunction is all because of Finn, and he was clearly enjoying it. Liv not liking Roxie hanging around Dom is made all the sweeter because it’s what Liv was doing with Dom while Dom was with Rhea. But then in a great twist, Roxie really did try to help Liv, only for Raquel to not like it and that cost Liv. And then Liv seeing Roxie’s point later was a great detail, too. Finn is either going to break up Liv and Dom or Liv and Raquel and he doesn’t seem to mind which one it is.
Very good promo from Gunther and Jey, not that it really adds much. I was oddly expecting more Logan Paul to show up and talk trash on Jey while putting Cena over, saying stuff like how he and Cena are going to be this unstoppable dream team. Maybe Logan will do that Friday or next Monday, given next Monday is the go-home Raw. Seth Rollins & Paul Heyman had a very good promo to open the night, though they maybe let the chants for Punk and Roman go on when they didn’t need to. Jey and Sami had a good promo and that helped plug Jey helping Sami in the main event.
That main event was also an awesome match, but it works that Rollins won. The MITB contract served him well before, can’t wait to see if he wins it and tries to use it on June 9th during Gunther VS Jey. At the same time, CM Punk either gets in MITB with a qualifier, or he just shows up to make sure Rollins doesn’t win the ladder match. He might even stalk Rollins to make sure Rollins can’t cash in successfully. But such a story would get boring over time, so I would think Rollins just doesn’t win and has one last match with Punk for Saturday Night’s Main Event in Atlanta or for SummerSlam’s night two main event.
My Score: 8.8/10
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MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
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