We’re in the endgame now.

World Tag League’s A Block has reached the finish line! And for one team, golden tickets to Kumamoto await! Who survives to fight again on Sunday?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Kickoff – Shoma Kato & Daiki Nagai; Kato wins.
• Six Man Tag: Taichi, Taka Michinoku & DOUKI VS Bullet Club; Taichi, Taka & Douki win.
• Six Man Tag: Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg & Tiger Mask VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
• Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jado & Katsuya Murashima VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
• Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The United Empire; LIJ wins, by referee stoppage.
• World Tag League 2024 A Block: Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi VS KENTA & Chase Owens; Zayne & Taguchi win.
• World Tag League 2024 A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman; ZSJ & Oiwa win, by referee stoppage.
• World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma VS Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji; Shota & Honma win.
• World Tag League 2024 A Block: Bishamon VS Gabe Kidd & SANADA; Gabe & Sanada win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current A Block standings!

Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji: 4-2, 8 points
Bishamon: 4-2, 8 points
Gabe Kidd & Sanada: 4-2, 8 points
Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman: 3-3, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Kenta & Chase Owens: 3-3, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma: 2-4, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa: 2-4, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi: 2-4, 4 points [ELIMINATED]

In the closing moments of Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The United Empire…

Bushi and Jakob Austin Young crawl for their corners, hot tags to Naito and Henare! Naito dodges Henare, then runs up to whip and arm-drag! Henare lands out, and he clutches his leg! The ref checks in and Naito eggs Henare on. Henare sits up to throw body shots, but the bad leg won’t let him stand! The ref double checks, and we’re only five minutes into this match! Naito goes after the knee, the ref says hold on, and Khan grabs Naito from the ropes! Khan has a SLEEPER, the ref reprimands, but Hiromu YANKS Khan down! Hiromu keeps Khan down, but the ref tells Naito to stop. The ref calls for the bell, this is a REFEREE STOPPAGE!

Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, by stoppage

Khan is furious with Naito but Hiromu pushes Khan back. The ref stops Khan, too, the arm-drag wasn’t anything out of the norm. But even so, Henare’s knee is now in question, as is the final round for B Block. Khan still goes after Naito! Hiromu and Young Lions try to stop Khan, but then Naito CLUBS Khan in return! LIJ wins now, but what about their round seven match tomorrow? Will the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions be taken out not by a loss but by misfortune?

World Tag League 2024 A Block: Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi VS KENTA & Chase Owens!

Those golden tickets are out of reach for both The Funky Sauce and Bullet Club’s Fang & Jewel, but these teams can still compete for their own satisfaction! Will this final round be spicy or Just Too Sweet?

The ref checks everyone and Zayne checks the ref, Zayne confirms the ref is safe. Kenta insists they double check Taguchi and his buns of steel, those might be loaded. The ref pats Taguchi down but no, that’s all Taguchi in there. The teams sort out and Taguchi starts against Chase. The fans rally up as both men show the power in their hips. Taguchi has the fans behind him and that annoys Chase. Taguchi revels in it, gives a shimmy and shake on the corner, then circles with Chase. They tie up, but Chase kicks low! Chase mocks the cheering for “Taguchi~,” then headlocks. Taguchi powers up and out, drops down then bypasses.

Taguchi gets Chase running those ropes like a drill, and even dodges the lariats! Chase keeps going, but he’s running out of gas! Chase takes one more swing and falls over! The fans cheer and Chase calls for a timeout. Chase reaches for Kenta but Taguchi gives him POINT-BLANK HIPS! And POINT-BLANK HIPS again! And again! Kenta storms in but so does Zayne. Kenta kicks Zayne first, then snapmares Zayne down beside Chase. Kenta stares Taguchi down, and he POINT-BLANK HIPS Zayne! So Taguchi POINT-BLANK HIPS Chase! Kenta POINT-BLANK HIPS Zayne, and they POINT-BLANK HIP back and forth!

The fans cheer as now Taguchi and Kenta just rapid-five POINT-BLANK HIPS! Chase and Zayne flounder away and now Taguchi dares Kenta to bring it! Taguchi sits down, the fans cheer, and Kenta takes Taguchi up on that. Kenta POINT-BLANK HIPS, but Taguchi says not good enough! Kenta POINT-BLANK HIPS again, and Taguchi wobbles! Taguchi wags his finger, but then Kenta POINT-BLANK HIPS again! Taguchi stays up and says it’s Kenta’s turn. Kenta sits down and the fans fire up! Taguchi gives Kenta POINT-BLANK HIPS and Kenta is already a bit wobbly! Taguchi POINT-BLANK HIPS again but Kenta eggs him on!

Taguchi winds up and he POINT-BLANK HIPS! Kenta is just barely up but he says bring it! Taguchi runs, but Chase JUMP KNEES! Chase BLASTS Zayne, and Bullet Club regroups. Chase steps on Taguchi on his way to tagging Kenta in. Kenta sits Taguchi up and POINT-BLANK HIPS! And POINT-BLANK HIPS! Taguchi flounders, but Kenta stands him up to whip. Kenta ELBOWS Taguchi down, covers, TWO! The fans rally up as Taguchi stays in this, but Kenta tags Chase. Chase winds up and POINT-BLANK HIPS! Taguchi leans back, then flops over! Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! A third cover, TWO!!

The fans cheer as Taguchi stays in this, but Chase stays on Taguchi. Chase whips Taguchi to a corner, runs up, and forearm SMASHSE! Then short arm LARIATS! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer again but Chase tags Kenta. Bullet Club has the legs, and they split the wishbone! Chase sucker punches Zayne, then Kenta FIST DROPS on Taguchi! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer but Kenta stands Taguchi up. Kenta bumps Taguchi off buckles, KICKS him in the leg, then tags Chase. Chase brings Taguchi up to headlock and he sneaks a punch! Taguchi falls, Chase claims he used an open palm, then he stands on Taguchi’s face!

The ref reprimands but Chase steps away. Chase stand Taguchi up but Taguchi fires body shots and CHOPS! Chase throat chops in return! Chase runs, but Taguchi follows, only for Chase to catch the hip attack! Taguchi fights free, fakes the run, then HIP ATTACKS! The fans fire up and Taguchi crawls for his corner. Hot tag to Zayne! Zayne fires forearms on Chase, then whips, HIP TOSS and STANDING MARIPOSA! The fans fire up, and Zayne ROCKS Kenta for good measure. Zayne drags Chase up, but Chase wrenches out, only for Zayne to waistlock. Chase switches, Zayne ELBOWS free, then mule kicks!

Zayne runs, but Chase avoids the Rolling Ax Kick! But Zayne ducks the Penalty Kick to roll Chase up! Chase rolls through, but Zayne EDDY GORDO KICKS! The fans fire up and Zayne has Chase in a corner. Zayne swings, but into a BUCKLE SHOT! STO! SENTON FLOP! Chase clutches his butt, but runs back up on Zayne. Zayne dodges, runs back in, but Chase BOOTS him! BUCKLE BACK SUPLEX followed by a SAIDO! Zayne tumbles away while the fans rally up. Chase runs up, but Zayne blocks the knee to give a KNEE! Zayne runs, into the C-TRIGGER! Chase reels Zayne in, tucks, but Zayne powers up and out with a BACKDROP!

The fans fire up and Zayne runs corner to corner. Chase BOOTS him again, then goes up the corner. But Zayne LEAPS, but Chase stops the rana! Chase brings Zayne up, but Zayne still SUPER RANAS! The fans fire up and both men are down! Zayne and Chase crawl, hot tags to Kenta and Taguchi! Taguchi dodges Kenta to kick, whip, but Kenta reverses. Taguchi BOOTS back, goes up, DEADLY KETSU! Kenta staggers back, Taguchi runs up, but Taguchi feints the hip attack! Kenta’s kneeling from his attempted atomic drop, and Taguchi now HIP ATTACKS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally and Taguchi brings Kenta up.

Taguchi suplexes, Kenta slips free, but Taguchi elbows him. Taguchi runs, HIP- ATOMIC DROP! Now Kenta gets Taguchi, and he Manhattan Drops! And Manhattan Drops again! Kenta runs to LARIAT Taguchi down! Kenta calls to Chase and Chase slides in. Bullet Club brings Taguchi up and whips him to a corner. Chase runs in, but Taguchi puts him on the apron! Zayne is there to YANK Chase down! Zayne gets in to GAMANGIRI Kenta! Zayne sends Taguchi in for a HIP ATTACK! Taguchi climbs, Zayne tilt-o-whirl RANAS Kenta into the hips! Zayne then backslides Kenta, rolls through, KETSUYE! Cover, Chase breaks it!

Zayne stomps Chase, he and Taguchi double whip, but Chase grabs ropes. Chase DUMPS Zayne out, then BOOTS Taguchi! Kenta BOOTS Taguchi, then runs. Chase sets up, BULLDOG CODE BREAKER COMBO! Cover, Zayne breaks it! The fans cheer but Chase TOSSES Zayne! Kenta clamps onto Taguchi, GAME OVER!! Chase intercepts Zayne’s return with a CROSSFACE! Funky Sauce reaches out for each other while the fans rally! Taguchi and Zayne then roll back, and they each pop out of the crossfaces! STEREO OH MY GAH ANKLES!! Kenta & Chase endure now, and now they reach for each other!

The fans rally as Kenta & Chase fight around, and they roll! Funky Sauce is sent into each other! Kenta rolls Taguchi, TWO!! The fans fire up as Taguchi escapes! Kenta SOBATS Taguchi, Chase KICKS, and Kenta KICKS Taguchi down! Chase runs in, “I HATE YOUR FACE!” SHINING WIZARD! Kenta covers, TWO!! Taguchi survives again and the fans rally up. Kenta vows to end this, and he drags Taguchi up. Chase whips Zayne hard into railing! Kenta fireman’s carries Taguchi for GO TO- NO! OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Kenta flails around, reaches out, but Chase has a CHAIR?! The ref stops Chase, Taguchi brings Kenta up, but Kenta LOW BLOWS!

Kenta laughs, but Taguchi FALLING LOW BLOWS!! Taguchi UP KICKS Kenta into Chase, then cradles Kenta! FUNKY SAUCE WINS!!

Winners: Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Kenta & Chase earn 0)

Spicy beats sweet, and now it’s Kenta & Chase on the bottom of the block! Is this win here in the last round a sign that the Funky Sauce could stay on the menu?

World Tag League 2024 A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman!

Another two teams that won’t quite make it are now battling for their own pride and points. Will The Front Man & Mullet stay mighty even in the end? Or will the United Empire manage to conquer the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion?

The teams sort out and Oiwa starts against Cobb. The fans rally as the two circle, and they tie up. Oiwa headlocks, Cobb powers up and out, but Oiwa RAMS him! Cobb comes back to CLOBBER Oiwa! The fans cheer and Cobb stares down ZSJ. Cobb runs, Oiwa drops down then arm-drags! Oiwa has the armlock, then shifts his grip to a cording hold. Cobb moves around, but Oiwa wrenches and YANKS the arm! Oiwa wrenches again, YANKS again, then has the cording hold. Cobb scoops to SLAM, but Oiwa drags Cobb down! Oiwa now has a top wristlock, but Cobb moves around. Oiwa wrenches and grinds the arm, but Cobb fires body shots.

Cobb whips Oiwa away, drops down, then DROPKICKS! The fans cheer and Cobb poses. Cobb brings Oiwa up and tags Callum. Callum takes the handoff to CLUB Oiwa on the neck. Callum whips Oiwa to ropes, Oiwa reverses, but Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges and builds speed to BOOT Oiwa down! The fans cheer and now Callum stares ZSJ down. Callum pushes Oiwa to a cover, TWO! Oiwa is still in this but Callum drags Oiwa up. Callum reels Oiwa in but Oiwa fights the suplex. Callum CLUBS Oiwa, but it’s Oiwa who suplexes first! The fans rally up and Oiwa tags in ZSJ. ZSJ brings Callum around to snapmare and NECK TWIST!

The fans rally, ZSJ drags Callum around, and he has a leg! ZSJ twists Callum’s leg and turns him over, to then headscissors! Callum fights around but ZSJ holds on tight! ZSJ drags Callum over like that, tags in Oiwa, and Oiwa grabs an arm. Oiwa drags Callum up to snapmare, and he NECK TWEAKS! More like Chase Owens than ZSJ but it is effective. Callum clutches his neck but Oiwa brings him around, NECK TWEAK! Callum goes to the apron while Oiwa tags ZSJ. ZSJ drags Callum in and has a cravat on the mat! Callum endures the neck wrench, manages a headscissors, but ZSJ slips right out to turn Callum over!

ZSJ floats to again have the headscissors squeeze! Callum endures, the fans rally, and Callum rolls to the ROPEBREAK! Oiwa tags in as ZSJ lets go, and Oiwa brings Callum around to double wristlock! Oiwa drags Callum down into a headscissors squeeze of his own! Oiwa does pushups to put on the pressure! Callum endures, Cobb coaches him, and Callum kicks his way forward to the ROPEBREAK! Oiwa tags ZSJ and ZSJ brings Callum up to cravat. Callum fires body shots but ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Callum goes to a corner, ZSJ whips him corner to conrer, then ZSJ runs in. Callum goes up and over, trips ZSJ up, and DOUBLE STOMPS him!

The fans fire up while both men are down! Callum and ZSJ crawl, hot tag to Cobb! Cobb runs up to CLOBBER ZSJ, then he BLASTS Callum! Cobb RAMS ZSJ into the corner, then RAMS him again and again! The fans rally, the ref counts, but Cobb stops at 4. Cobb hoists ZSJ up to then RUNNING BACK SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! ZSJ survives, but the GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT hits! Cover, TWO! Cobb frowns as ZSJ survives. Cobb waistlocks and deadlifts ZSJ, but ZSJ fights the suplex with elbows! Cobb still lifts! ZSJ wrenches an arm! Cobb CLUBS ZSJ, then whips him to a corner. ZSJ goes up and around, TORNADO DDT!

The fans fire up again as both men crawl, and ZSJ hot tags Oiwa! Oiwa runs at Cobb in the corner, DROPKICK! Oiwa keeps moving, and he RAMS Cobb! Cobb wobbles, Oiwa reels him in, but Cobb fights the suplex! The fans rally, Oiwa keeps trying, but it’s Cobb that suplexes! Oiwa slips free, shoves Cobb and DROPKICKS! Oiwa tries a third time, and he manages to suplex Cobb!! Cover, TWO! Oiwa drags Cobb up, but Cobb fights the Gotch lift! Cobb CLUBS away on Oiwa, then ROCKS him with a forearm! And ROCKS him again! And JABS! Oiwa ROLLING ELBOWS! Oiwa whips, Cobb reverses to wrench and scoop! ATHLETIC PLEX!

The fans fire up as both men are down once again! Cobb crawls, hot tag to Callum! Callum fires forearms on Oiwa, then KICKS him down! ZSJ runs in and BOOTS Callum! ZSJ runs, but Callum DROPKICKS him! Callum runs at Oiwa in a corner, forearm SMASH! Feed to a SUPERKICK! Then ROUNDHOSUE! “SE NO! JOHN CENA!!” Cover off the high-low, TWO!! Oiwa survives and the fans fire up! Callum brings Oiwa around, clamps onto one arm, then the other. Oiwa fights the chicken wings, but Callum powers them back on! The two fight for control, but then Callum CLUBS Oiwa on the back!

Callum whips, Oiwa reverses, but Callum trips him up! Oiwa avoids the double stomps to arm-drag! Oiwa then whips Callum to ZSJ’s arm-drag! ZSJ wrenches and PELES the arm, then he BOOTS Cobb! Oiwa hits the DAIGOSHIKI SAIDO! Cover, TWO!! Callum survives and the fans fire up! Oiwa tags ZSJ and ZSJ storms up on Callum. ZSJ stands Callum up to UPPERCUT, then UPPERCUT! Callum staggers about, ZSJ UPPERCUTS him down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally and ZSJ brings Callum up. ZSJ wrenches but Callum fires forearms. ZSJ YANKS, ELBOW BREAKERS, and YANKS again! Callum ROCKS ZSJ!

ZSJ KICKS Callum in the arm! Then KICKS him again! Callum eggs ZSJ on, then blocks a kick! But ZSJ uses that to wrangle Callum to the mat! CLARKY CAT! Callum endures, but ZSJ rolls him around and around! Oiwa intercepts Cobb with a SLEEPER! CLARKY CAT BAD BALLON REMIX!! Callum endures, but ZSJ looks to leg scissor the arms! Callum kicks and avoids the G1 Victory version, ROPEBREAK!! The fans cheer as TMDK lets The Empire go. Oiwa drags Cobb out of the ring and sends him into railing! ZSJ twists Callum’s arm, WRINGS him out, but Callum handsprings through! ENZIGIRI! But ZSJ DROPKICKS Callum back!

Cobb is in to GERMAN SUPLEX ZSJ!! Oiwa is in, Cobb dodges to GERMAN SUPLEX! But Oiwa roars and rises up! Oiwa dodges Cobb to GERMAN SUPLEX!! ZSJ and Callum are in corners, and they both run up! METEORA from Callum!! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives but Callum fires up! BUZZSAW! And then he reels ZSJ in, SIT-OUT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives and the fans fire up again! Callum is stunned but ZSJ is dazed. Callum pounds the mat, the fans rally up, and Callum calls his shot! OSCUT- NO, ZSJ dodges and Oiwa has Callum! ZSJ runs up but Callum ducks, the BOOT hits Oiwa!

Callum runs and springboards, OSCUTTER 2.0!! Cover, TWO?!? ZSJ survives and Callum cannot believe it! The fans are thunderous as Callum thinks on what else he must do. Callum fires up and the fans are with him. Cobb joins in, and Callum roars! Callum hauls ZSJ up, he and Cobb whip ZSJ to a corner, then Callum runs up. Forearm SMASH! Cobb LEAPING UPPERCUTS! Then Callum gets the boost to to the apron! ENZIGIRI! Cobb fireman’s carries ZSJ but Oiwa stops Callum! ZSJ has Cobb in a SLEEPER! Oiwa RISING HEADBUTTS Callum! Oiwa goes up, but Callum fights the suplex! But then Callum clutches his leg and falls to the floor!

Cobb RAMS free of ZSJ, but did the Empire just suffer another casualty!? The ref has to call it!!

Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa, by stoppage (gain 2 points; Cobb & Callum earn 0)

This is terrible! Henare’s leg and now Callum’s?! Is there some kind of curse put on The United Empire here? TMDK wanted to win, but not like this. Oiwa checks but Cobb has him back up. Medics bring a backboard and stretcher, Callum’s leg is in that much pain. Will any of the Empire make it to WrestleKingdom at this rate?

World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma VS Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji!

The Kokeshi Brothers may not get to the finals, but they could ruin things for Los Ingobernables de Japon! Will Shota still bring about his Paradigm Shift? Or will nothing stop The Rampaging Dragon & Gene Blast from reaching those trophies?

The teams sort out, and after LIJ fist bump, Takagi starts against Shota. The fans rally with the bell as Takagi and Shota slowly circle. They feel things out, but Yota hooks Shota! The ref reprimands but Takagi CLUBS away on Shota! Takagi CHOPS Shota against ropes, then whips. Shota reverses and he dropkicks a leg! Then he DROPKCIKS Takagi down! Shota DROPKICKS Yota for earlier, and Honma steps in. The fans rally as Shota & Honma kick and whip Takagi corner to corner. Honma runs up but Takagi runs him over! Takagi then blocks Shota’s boot, puts that leg in ropes, and DRAPING DRAGON SCREWS!

Shota falls over, and Yota drags Honma out! Yota whips Honma into railing! Takagi CLUBS away on Shota’s bad leg while Takagi whips Honma into more railing! Takagi winds up and CLUBS Shota’s leg one more time! Takagi then brings Shota around to put the leg on railing, and he BOOTS the railing! The fans fire up, and then Yota BOOTS the railing! The ref reprimands and he helps set Shota free of the railing. Shota falls back and LIJ waits in the ring. Shota is okay to continue so the ring count starts. The fans rally up as Shota drags himself up with railing. Shota stands at 9 of 20, hobbles over to the ring, and rolls in at 12.

The fans cheer but Takagi is right on Shota. Takagi drags Shota over, tags Yota, and they split the wishbone! Shota grits his teeth but Yota stands on his bad foot! The ref reprimands but Yota steps off. Yota drags Shota up to whip him to ropes, and he dropkicks the legs! Shota hobbles but Yota gets him for a DRAGON SCREW! Takagi steps in as he watches Honma while Yota grabs the leg. Shota fights the turnover, so Yota drops back for a KNEEBARR! Honma runs up, but Yota avoids the Kokeshi by turning Shota over! HALF CRAB! Shota endures the hold while Takagi TOSSES Honma back out!

Shota grits his teeth, the fans rally up, and Yota shifts to SMASH the knee on the mat! The fans continue to rally as Yota brings Shota up. Yota grins as he hears the fans duel. Yota whips Shota, but swings him around to send him at the LIJ corner! Tag to Takagi, and Takagi storms up to get the bad leg. Takagi puts the leg in ropes and stomps away! The ref reprimands but Takagi stops. Shota grits his teeth but Takagi stands him up. Shota fights the scoop, throws down some elbows, but Takagi CLUBS the leg! Shota falls and the fans rally up again. Takagi talks smack on Honma, then he scuffs Shota. Takagi stands on the bad foot, then stomps it!

Takagi knees Shota down, scuffs him, then brings him up. Shota fires a forearm! Takagi shakes that off so Shota fires more shots! Takagi kicks Shota’s bad leg! Shota hobbles away, Takagi kicks him some more! Takagi eggs Shota on, Shota falls for it, and gets an ELBOW! JAB! YUKON feint, but Shota wrenches out of the DDT! Takagi swings but Shota dodges the lariat to turn Takagi, NECKBREAKER! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Shota grits his teeth while clutching his foot, and he crawls his way over! Hot tag to Honma! The fans fire up as Honma runs up to RAM Takagi! Takagi roars at Honma!

Honma and Takagi, RAM, roar, and flex! Takagi ROCKS Honma, runs, but Honma dodges to CLOBBER Takagi! The fans fire up and Honma BLASTS Yota for good measure! Honma brings Takagi up to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP again! Honma whips Takagi corner to corner, runs up, and ELBOWS him! Honma then runs to BULLDOG! The fans fire up again, and Honma goes for it! KOKESHI FLOPS as Takagi moves! Takagi SENTONS but FLOPS as Honma moves! Honma goes again, KOKESHI HITS! The fans fire up and Honma brings Takagi up. Takagi fights the suplex, throws some body shots, but Honma still tries.

Takagi powers out of the suplex to HEADBUTT, but that hurts him more than anything! Honma runs, but into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKON LARIAT! The fans fire up and Takagi shakes off the headache. Takagi looks around, and he lets everyone know, “TOKI GA KITA!” Yota joins in and he runs at Honma, ELBOW in the corner! Takagi sends Yota back in for a SPLASH! Takagi adds a LARIAT, then feeds Honma to a BOOT! Takagi BLINDSIDE LARIATS, then LIJ DOUBLE BACK SUPLEXES! Cover, TWO!! Honma survives but Takagi calls the next shot! Yota hauls Honma up to the top rope, then CHOPS him!

Yota climbs and the fans rally up! SUPERPLEX! Honma sits up into a SLIDING PUMPING BOMBER! Cover, Shota breaks it! Takagi kicks Shota out quite literally, and then he tags Yota. LIJ bring Honma up again, and they pinball him with forearm after forearm! Then they run, but Honma dodges! LIJ DOUBLE LARIAT each other, and then Honma brings them in! DDT COMPLETE SHOT COMBO! The fans fire up as Honma reaches for his corner, and Shota is back up! Honma crawls his way over, hot tag to The Roughneck! Shota climbs and even with a bad foot, he MISSILE DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO!

Shota snarls and the fans rally up again. Shota hobbles over and he brings Yota up. Shota turns Yota, dragon sleeper, but Yota fights free! Yota growls, runs up, but into a spin and dragon sleeper, CROSS RHODES! The fans fire up and Shota holds on to bring Yota back up! TRIDENT! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives, but Shota has him by a leg! Shota turns Yota over, and has the STF! Honma BLASTS Takagi off the apron while Yota endures! Shota pulls on the hold but Yota fights his way over! Yota reaches out, so Shota drags him back! S T F!! Yota endures all over again and the fans rally up more! Shota pulls on the hold but Yota still fights!

Honma POSTS Takagi to keep him down! Yota still claws forward to the ROPEBREAK! Shota lets go in frustration but Honma steps in. Honma & Shota double whip Yota to a corner, then Honma runs up. LARIAT! Honma feeds Yota to Shota’s POP-UP KNEE! Honma BLINDSIDE LARIATS! Shota EXPLODER! BASEMENT KOKESHI ROCKET! IGNITION!! Cover, Takagi breaks it! Honma TOSSES Takagi out and Shota fires back up! The fans rally up while Yota goes to a corner. Shota runs corner to corner, and UPPERCUTS! Shota brings Yota around to TORNADO DDT! And then he underhooks, but Yota fights the lift!

Shota roars and drags Yota up, but Yota kicks the bad leg! CHOP BLOCK from Takagi!! Shota is down, clutching both legs! Takagi twists Shota’s leg with a toehold, but Honma CHOPS Takagi on the back! Honma makes sure Shota is alright, and he CLUBS Takagi. Honma & Shota mug Takagi, double whip, but Takagi grabs ropes. Then Takagi comes back to DOUBLE PUMPING BOMBER! The fans fire up and join in on “OI! OI! OI!” Takagi stands Shota up to fireman’s carry, LIJ DENTAL PLAN! Then CURB STOMP! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives and the fans fire up again! Takagi calls for more and Yota stands Shota up.

Yota facelocks, Takagi wheelbarrows, then CLUB and BOOSTED WHEELBARROW GERMAN! The fans fire up as LIJ now call for the end! Takagi stands Shota back up, Yota sets up in a corner, but Honma anchors Yota! Takagi still LARIATS Shota down, and Yota kicks away on Honma! Honma flops over, and Takagi says they’ll hit it on him now! Feed to Takagi but Honma LARIATS first! And then Honma LARIATS Yota! Takagi storms up but Honma HEADBUTTS Takagi! Honma brings Yota up and HEADBUTTS him back down! Honma waits on his target, then runs, but Takagi LARIATS first! Feed to the GENE TRIGGER!

Takagi fireman’s carries, DEATH VALLEY BOMB! The fans fire up as Takagi stands Honma up! Yota runs in, PUMPING BLASTER!! Honma is down but the fans fire up with “OI! OI! OI!” Yota grins at Shota, runs up and SPLASHES! Takagi adds a LARIAT! Takagi brings Shota up, BUCKLE BOMB! Yota goes up, MAROON CRUSH!! Cover, TWO?!? Shota survives and the fans fire up! Takagi tells Yota to end it, and Yota has a big grin on his face. The fans rally as Yota drags Shota up, but Shota fires a forearm! And another! Then one for Takagi! Shota fights with all he has left, but Yota ROCKS him! Takagi JABS! HEADBUTT SANDWICH!?!

Then Takagi runs to PUMPING BOMBER!! The fans are thunderous with “OI! OI! OI!” as Takagi drags Shota back to his feet. PUMPING- Shota YANKS Takagi into the way, BLASTER HITS TAKAGI!! Then Shota rolls Yota up!! TWO!!! Yota survives, swings, but into a spin and DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, Shota & Honma win!!

Winners: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Takagi & Tsuji earn 0)

What a comeback! The underdog was quite literally on his last leg and he made the most of it! Will The Roughneck have what it takes to take the world title from ZSJ in the Tokyo Dome? Or is he going to #JustTapOut?

As for LIJ, this loss ELIMINATES them from the running! But with that, will their singles championship goals still work out for WrestleKingdom?

World Tag League 2024 A Block: Bishamon VS Gabe Kidd & SANADA!

LIJ’s loss is now the gain of these two teams! It’s win and you’re in, but will it be Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi going for the four-peat? Or will this block belong to some cold blooded War Dogs?

And of course the War Dogs attack during introductions! Gabe CLUBS Goto and Sanada is after Hashi! Red Shoes reprimands but Gabe TOSSES Goto out and Sanada does the same with Hashi. Gabe even grabs Goto’s staff and JAMS him up with it! Now the bell rings, and Gabe stomps Goto. Gabe brings Goto up to whip him hard into railing! Gabe storms up to CHOP Goto, then he brings Goto back around. But Goto CHOPS in return! Sanada CLUBS Hashi, Gabe UPPERCUTS Goto, and Red Shoes wants someone in the ring. Gabe pushes Goto in, then storms in to flex on ’em. The fans are torn, but Gabe stands Goto up to ROCK him with a forearm!

Goto staggers, Gabe ROCKS him and CHOPS him! Gabe talks trash, then runs, but Hashi hops in! Bishamon DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLES Gabe! Sanada storms in but Goto kicks first! Goto snap suplexes Sanada onto Gabe! The fans fire up and Bishamon has Gabe up. “Se no~!” DRUM BEAT!  They CLUB Gabe down and the fans cheer as Hashi flexes. Goto stomps Gabe, bumps him off buckles, then stomps him some more. Goto ROCKS Gabe, whips corner to corner, then runs up to LARIAT! Gabe fights the saido, CLUBS Goto, and BITES Goto on the forehead! Red Shoes reprimands, Gabe stops to UPPERCUT!

Goto falls to the apron and Sanada drags Hashi out to the crowd! Sanada SMACKS Hashi off chairs! Gabe sends Goto into railing, then brings him out into the crowd on another side! Fans get out of the way before Gabe sends Goto into the chairs! Gabe flips off the fans on the upper deck, they return the favor. Gabe stalks Goto while Sanada THROWS Hashi onto more chairs! Gabe beats Goto down, and Sanada JAMS Hashi up with a chair! Gabe snatches a fan’s Hiromu jacket, then mocks the “MOTO! MOTO! MOTO!” Gabe BOOTS Goto, throws off the jacket, but Goto comes back with forearms! The fans fire up as Goto CLUBS away!

Gabe fires body shots, then he whips Goto into more chairs! Gabe picked up the spare from earlier, but he tells Red Shoes to shut up. Sanada brings Hashi to the very back, where the merchandise stands are! Sanada throws Hashi at a table and it falls over! Gabe brings Goto back to ringside but SMACKS him off the apron. The ring count is climbing but Gabe doesn’t really care. Gabe and Sanada regroup before they bring Goto up at 15 of 20. Gabe puts Goto in and tells Red Shoes to shut up already. Gabe covers, but Red Shoes says no, too much went on outside. Gabe gets right in Red Shoes’ face! Gabe says he beat up Shota, he’ll beat up Pops, too!

Gabe backs off to tag Sanada, and Sanada stomps Goto around. The fans rally but Sanada bumps Goto off buckles. Sanada stomps Goto, CLAWS his face, but Red Shoes is still recovering from Gabe threatening him. Red Shoes warns Gabe, Gabe shouts at Red Shoes, and Sanada brings Goto up to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Sanada is annoyed but he tags Gabe in. Gabe storms up on Goto and kicks him around. Gabe taunts Goto, but Goto fires forearms! Gabe BITES Goto’s forehead again! Gabe puts Goto in the corner and CHOPS! Gabe taunts Hashi as he’s still down on the outside, then he goes back to Goto.

Tag to Sanada and the War Dogs stomp Goto down. Sanada paces, brings Goto up, but Goto fires CHOP after CHOP! Sanada CLAWS Goto’s eyes! Red Shoes reprimands but Sanada whips. Goto reverses, so Sanada CLAWS his eyes again! Sanada runs, Goto follows and Goto LARIATS Sanada down! The fans rally up while both men crawl, hot tag to Hashi! Hashi runs up, dodges Sanada, and fires a strike fest! Hashi CHOPS Sanada, ELBOWS Gabe, and Gabe hits railing in front of commentary! Hashi runs up to CHOP LARIAT Sanada! Hashi brings Sanada out and turns him, but Sanada elbows free of the neckbreaker!

Hashi dodges a lariat to BLOCKBUSTER! The fans fire up with the Headhunter and he stands Sanada back up. Hashi suplexes, and lets Sanada land on his feet, for the NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Sanada is tougher than that but Hashi rallies the fans. Hashi brings Sanada back up, reels him in, but Sanada fights the lift! Hashi CLUBS away on Sanada, then whips, but Sanada goes up, out, and to the floor! Sanada wants a breather, then he eggs Hashi on. Hashi slides out, Sanada slides in, and Sanada taunts Hashi again. Hashi storms up to the apron, steps in, and Sanada KICKS the ropes! Red Shoes reprimands but Hashi still takes the hit!

Sanada tags Gabe and Gabe talks trash on Hashi. Gabe then CHOPS Hashi down! Gabe angrily asks where Bishamon’s bushido, that Japanese fighting spirit, has gone! Gabe drags Hashi up and CHOPS him in the corner! Gabe kicks Hashi around, and taunts him with how the fans believe in him. Gabe CHOPS Hashi down, and now Goto and the fans rally behind Hashi! Hashi rises, Gabe gives him a free shot, and Hashi CHOPS! Gabe snarls and grits his teeth, and he nods. Gabe CHOPS in return! Hashi CHOPS again! Gabe wobbles and Hashi waits on him. Gabe CHOPS again! Hashi comes back to CHOP!

The CHOPS keep going, and they’re even picking up speed! Gabe CHOPS again and again and again! Gabe runs, and he runs through Hashi’s CHOP! But then Hashi dropkicks the legs out! The fans fire up and Hashi crawls, hot tag to The Fierce Warrior! Goto CLOBBERS Gabe and the fans fire up! Goto fires forearms on Gabe, whips him corner to corner, then runs up, MURAMASA! And SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Gabe survives but the fans rally with Goto. Goto drags Gabe up, but Gabe fights the fireman’s carry! Gabe CLUBS away, then ROCKS Goto! Goto snarls and ROCKS Gabe! Gabe shakes that off and he comes back to ROCK Goto!

Goto and Gabe go forearm for forearm, then Goto gets the edge! Gabe winds up, double forearms ROCK both men! Gabe runs up, Goto dodges, and DOUBLE LARIATS collide! The fans fire up as DOUBLE LARIATS collide again! Gabe SMACKS Goto, Goto SMACKS Gabe, repeat! This is a SLAP fight, and Gabe gets the edge again! But Goto ROCKS Gabe, and HEADBUTTS him!! The fans fire up and Goto fireman’s carries, but Gabe slips free! Goto fights with elbows but Gabe CLUBS Goto, then ATOMIC FACEBUSTERS! And then SAIDOS! Goto flounders and Gabe roars! The kneepad comes down to reveal the oni tattoo!

Gabe roars and runs up, but Goto LARIATS Gabe inside-out!! The fans are fired up while both men are down! Goto and Gabe stir as the fans rally up, and they crawl for their corners. Hot tags to Sanada and Hashi! Sanada dodges Hashi, CLAWS  the eyes, then whips. Hashi reverses but Sanada dropkicks a leg! Then he DROPKICKS Hashi down! Sanada stalks Hashi to the outside, and PLANCHAS! Down goes Hashi at the ramp! The fans still cheer because Sanada’s still that good. Sanada then puts Hashi back in the ring, covers, TWO! Hashi is still in this and the fans rally up again. Sanada brings Hashi up, and he fireman’s carries!

Hashi fights with elbows and slips free. Hashi waistlocks, ducks an elbow, and suplexes, only for Sanada to slip free! Sanada has the dragon sleeper, but he shoves Hashi down as Goto runs up! Goto DECKS Sanada, but Gabe is back to RAM Goto! Hashi ELBOWS Gabe down! Sanada dropkicks Hashi’s legs out! Goto CLOBBERS Sanada! Gabe UPPERCUTS and LARIATS! Gabe gets around Hashi and feeds him to Sanada’s DROPKICK! Gabe UPPERCUTS, and Sanada dragon sleepers! Wait, Gabe grabs the legs!? They shout, “F! YOU!!” and steal- NO, Hashi kicks Gabe away and Goto trips Gabe up! Goto then drags Gabe out to send into railing!

Hashi spins things around on Sanada, suplexes, but Sanada slips free! Sanada runs up, Hashi gets around and traps him against ropes! Goto LARIATS Sanada, and Hashi full nelsons! Sanada grabs at Red Shoes, then MULE- NO, Hashi blocks the low blow kick! Goto HEADBUTTS Sanada! Bishamon sets Sanada up, “SE NO~!” SHOTO!!! Cover, GABE BREAKS IT!! Gabe saves the match and the fans cheer as all four men are down! Goto drags Gabe up and Hashi joins him, but Gabe fires UPPERCUTS and CHOPS! Gabe roars, runs, but into a forearm! Mule kick! BUZZSAW! The fans fire up and Bishamon drags Gabe back up!

Bishamon double whips Gabe, but he DOUBLE LARIATS first!! The fans fire up again as they’re all down again! Goto and Gabe bail out the sides but they coach their teammates. Sanada and Hashi stir, and the fans rally again. Hashi aims from a corner, runs corner to corner, but Sanada BOOTS him! Hashi turns back around but Sanada BOOTS again! Sanada gets around Hashi, O’Conner DRAGON SLEEPER! But Hashi arm-drags free! Sanada is back to SHINING WIZARD! The fans fire up and Sanada brings Hashi up! Clinch and DEAD- NO, Hashi rolls him up! TWO!! Sanada escapes, but Hashi CHOPS!

Sanada roars but Hashi ROCKS him! Hashi runs, but Sanada gets around! Sanada shoves Red Shoes then shoves Hashi, Gabe is there to POP-UP LOW BLOW!! Hashi flounders, into Gabe’s PILEDRIVER! Feed to the DEAD FALL!! Cover, WAR DOGS WIN!!!

Winners: Gabe Kidd & Sanada, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Bishamon earns 0)

Goto & Hashi do NOT #GetBackUp! They fall in the final round to be only 4-3, and the four-peat is NO MORE!! What are the Fierce Warrior & Headhunter to do now that they’re not going back to the WTL finals?

As for the War Dogs, they Too Sweet, then get the mics. Gabe starts by saying, “A lot of people have been talking s*it. A lot of people have been yappin’. ‘Aw, Gabe ‘n’ Sanada aren’t getting along. Gabe ‘n’ Sanada aren’t doing this, Gabe ‘n’ Sanada aren’t doing that.’ Gabe and Sanada are going to the World Tag League finals, and are gonna win World Tag League!” The fans do cheer that. Gabe says F the internet chatter. Then he admits to Sanada, he had his doubts about this team. But they are going to the finals, and they’re gonna win this. “We are War Dogs, MOTHER EFFERS!!” The fans also applaud that point.

Gabe tells Sanada that before they go drink some highballs, he should say something to “these rats, these dogs, these lil’ b*tches!” Gabe hands over the mic and Sanada says, “Let me say this one thing. Of all of Japan, Nobeoka is my… most hated.” A reverse confession! He truly is Cold Blooded now! Gabe laughs while fans are stunned, and Sanada says, “OI, NOBEOKA! See you next effin’ time.” New team, new attitude, but will he and Gabe be the NEW World Tag League champions?

Here are the FINAL A Block standings!

Gabe Kidd & Sanada: 5-2, 10 points [FINALISTS]
Bishamon: 4-3, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji: 4-3, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma: 3-4, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa: 3-4, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman: 3-4, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi: 3-4, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Kenta & Chase Owens: 3-4, 6 points [ELIMINATED]

My Thoughts:

A great seventh and final round for A Block, with both shocking results and some tragic developments. NJPW did confirm that Henare AND Callum Newman both suffered knee injuries, and given they needed the stretcher for Callum, you know that isn’t a work. It already says in that article that there’s not even like a substitution move, Henare & Khan have forfeited points to Naito & Hiromu, and that puts much more pressure on the final match for Yano & Boltin. A Freebird level substitution is really more an American wrestling trope.

But hey, on a positive note, Zayne & Taguchi winning out was great for them, I hope that team sticks together. Shota & Honma getting a win to spoil things for Takagi & Tsuji was fine, it was so Shota could keep pace with ZSJ, who was probably still meant to win even before Callum’s unfortunate knee injury. Bishamon VS Gabe & Sanada was therefore the main event that had all the pressure on it. I honestly did NOT see Gabe & Sanada winning, but I suppose the four-peat would be a little too much for Bishamon to even tease achieving. Plus, Gabe talks smack on the IWC, whether local Japanese internet or the entirety of the internet, and that helps for his Heel heat.

With Khan & Henare out of the way, I’m thinking the finals is Gabe & Sanada VS Naito & Hiromu. But the titles themselves might be up in the air if Henare’s injury is so bad that he can’t defend the belts by January.

My Score: 8.8/10