The Junior Heavyweight Division takes center stage!

NJPW wraps the Battleline Hokkaido detour on this Road to Destruction with the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in the main event!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Kickoff – Katsuya Murashima & Tatsuya Matsumoto VS Masatora Yasuda & Zane Jay; Yasuda & Zane win.
• Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Master Wato; Tanahashi wins.
• Six Man Tag: Toru Yano, Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma VS Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask & Shoma Kato; Yano, Makabe & Honma win.
• Six Man Tag: Boltin Oleg, Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura VS Don Fale, EVIL & Dick Togo; Oleg, Shota & Yuya win.
• Six Man Tag: Tomohiro Ishii, Taichi & Taka Michinoku VS OSKAR, Yuto-Ice & Gedo; Ishii, Taichi & Taka win.
• Six Man Tag: Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuij & Hiromu Takahashi VS Gabe Kidd, David Finlay & Taiji Ishimori; Gabe, Finlay & Taiji win.
• Six Man Tag: Zack Sabre Jr, Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson VS Ren Narita, SANADA & Yujiro Takahashi; Narita, Sanada & Yujiro win, by disqualification.
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: SHO & DOUKI VS Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita; Sho & Douki win and retain the titles.
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado VS YOH; Desperado wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Master Wato!

The Ace Final Road makes one last connection with The Way to the Grandmaster. Will Master Wato prove he is ready for more? Or will President Ace have one last victory in Hokkaido?

The coats are put aside, and the fans cheer Tanahashi’s abs. The bell rings, the fans rally up behind Tanahashi, and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Tanahashi powers Wato back step by step. Tanahashi puts Wato on the ropes, Wato turns things around, and the ref counts the break. Wato lets off cleanly and the fans applaud. They reset, circle again, and tie up again. Wato headlocks, grinds the hold, but Tanahashi powers up to wrench the hold open. Tanahashi then powers his way to a headlock of his own. Tanahashi hits the takeover, denies the headscissors a couple times, but Wato rolls to a cover, TWO!

Tanahashi keeps the headlock to hit another takeover, but Wato headscissors. Tanahashi kips free, and the fans cheer the standoff. Wato and Tanahashi reset again, the fans rally back up, and the two feel things out. They knuckle lock, but then Wato KICKS a leg! And KICKS, and KICKS! Wato whips, Tanahashi reverses, and he runs in, but into BOOTS! Wato BULLDOGS Tanahashi down! The fans applaud and Wato fires himself up. Wato stomps Tanahashi, then aims to KICK Tanahashi down. Wato waits on Tanahashi to sit up, then he KICKS! And KICKS! Tanahashi stands, but Wato KICKS him down! Cover, TWO!

The fans applaud as Tanahashi gets back up, and he eggs Wato on. Tanahsaih blocks a kick, but Wato ROCKS him with a forearm. Wato runs, but he avoids the low dropkick to give a low dropkick! Tanahashi falls, clutching his knee, but Wato stands him up. Wato snapmares and runs, basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi is tougher than that but Wato clamps on with a chinlock. Wato also digs his knee into Tanahashi’s back to bend him back. Tanahashi endures, fights his way forward, but Wato drags him back! Wato then wraps on the headscissors! Tanahashi endures the squeeze while the fans rally up.

Tanahashi rolls and he turns Wato over, but Wato rolls to turn things back over. Wato puts on the pressure, but Tanahashi reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts while the fans cheer, and Wato lets go quickly. Wato stomps Tanahashi, then fires a forearm. Tanahashi rises, Wato fires more forearms, but Tanahashi fires those in return! Wato KNEES low! Tanahashi goes to ropes, Wato fires a flurry, then Wato whips. Tanahashi FLYING FOREARMS in return! The fans fire up with Tanahashi and he brings Wato around. Tanahashi scoops to SLAM Wato, then he goes up! SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO!

Wato survives and the fans rally up again. Tanahashi waits on Wato as he rises, then Tanahashi runs, but Wato dodges Slingblade to ZIGZAG! Tanahashi flounders away to the outside. The fans rally and Wato builds speed, but Tanahashi ducks! Wato stops at the ropes, then PLANCHAS onto Tanahashi! The fans fire up again and Wato brings Tanahashi into the ring. Wato aims, springboards, and FLYING UPPERCUTS! Cover, TWO! Wato hurries to waistlock, but Tanahashi fights the lift! Tanahashi fires elbows, Wato ducks one, but right into TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans fire up and Tanahashi rises again.

Tanahashi watches Wato, then he runs, SLING- NO, Wato slips around to full nelson! But Tanahashi breaks free to switch! Tanahashi has the full nelson, but Wato RAMS him into buckles! Wato hobbles away, runs back in, but Tanahashi ELBOS him! Tanahashi goes up, but Wato catches him! TSUTEN- NO, Tanahashi fights the suplex! Tanahashi pries at the grip, but Wato still GERMAN SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO! Tanahashi survives and Wato fires up! The fans rally as Wato fireman’s carries, and WASTELAND SLAMS! Wato hurries up the corner! Tanahashi rises up, Wato jumps over, and both run back in! SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO!

Wato survives but Tanahashi stays focused. The fans rally as Tanahashi drags Wato up, full nelsons, but Wato breaks free to drop and somersault clutch! TWO! Wato rises, but Tanahashi ducks the roundhouse! DRAGON PALM! Wato just roars! But he runs into a SLINGBLADE! Tanahashi roars, he climbs, and the fans fire up! Wato rises, but into the HIGH FLY ATTACK! Wato is down and the fans fire up! Tanahashi goes back to the corner and climbs again! HIGH FLY FLOW! Cover, Tanahashi wins!

Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi, by pinfall

A fiery open to the show gives Tanahashi a fiery victory for his last night in Hokkaido! Will The Ace Final Road continue to build speed towards that WrestleKingdom 20 finish line?

After the Six Man Tag: Tomohiro Ishii, Taichi & Taka Michinoku VS OSKAR, Yuto-Ice & Gedo…

The Holy Emperor takes out The Blacksmith with Tensho Jujiho and scores the win, but the Knock Out Brothers went after him, Ishii, and Taka! Yuto whips Taka to Oskar for the scoop, and the K O B DRIVER!! Ishii fires forearms on Oskar, but ends up in a SLEEPER! And Yuto with the ICE COLD HAYMAKER! Ishii is down and the fans boo, but they’re not done! Yuto hits a SICK KICK to knock Ishii back down! But Taichi is back up! He shoves Oskar into Yuto, then GAMANGIRIS Oskar! Oskar tumbles out, AX BOMBER for Yuto! The Knock Out Brothers are on the retreat as Taichi makes sure Ishii is alright.

Taichi then grabs a mic so that he can tell Oskar & Yuto, “Hey, you punk kids! Is that all you’ve got at the end of the day? I’ll make sure we settle this properly in Kobe. Oh, that’s right, there’s a special event in my hometown next month, so if we don’t go home champions, then there’s no point in talking about it. So unfortunately for you, we’re never handing the belts over. You got that?” The fans cheer and Taichi adds Oskar & Yuto will just add to the Sapporo crime rate at this point, so they should go home already. The fans add by chanting “KAERE! KAERE!” at Oskar & Yuto. They huff and puff and even knock some railing over.

Taichi scolds them for going up the ramp, the “winner’s path!” That’s not allowed for losers! Oskar & Yuto don’t care as they storm off to the back. Taichi then thanks Sapporo and all of Hokkaido for supporting NJPW during this tour. Taichi then mentions more about that special event, it’ll be on October 19th, where it’ll be a wrestling homecoming of sorts for him and others from Ishikari. It’ll be the first time NJPW uses a middle school gymnasium for a show. You’ll all be there, right? The fans cheer that they will! Taichi thanks them, and says see you next month! But will the Holy Emperor & Stone Pitbull still be golden by then?

After Six Man Tag: Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuij & Hiromu Takahashi VS Gabe Kidd, David Finlay & Taiji Ishimori…

Taichi sends Hiromu into the ref, hits a POP-UP LOW BLOW, then GEDO CLUTCH for the win! But while Gabe taunts Takagi with the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, Taiji grabs the mic to taunt Hiromu. But Hiromu snatches the mic away first! The Ticking Timebomb says, “What were you even going to say? It’s been awhile. And what a humiliating loss. At this rate, even if I win a singles match against you in Kobe, it won’t be satisfying, even as the GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion. But then Hiromu-chan had an idea on how to make this much more interesting.

“So on September 28th, in Kobe, Hiromu Takahashi VS Taiji Ishimori, in a special singles match… FOR THE GHC JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP!” The fans fire up hearing that! Hiromu adds that the winner then moves on to defend the title at Pro-Wrestling NOAH’s Wrestling Odyssey on October 11th, in Ryogoku Kokugikan! Even Taiji is shocked by that! Hiromu says it doesn’t matter what NJPW or NOAH have to say about it, IT’S ON!! Hiromu says he’s angry, but he wants to see the NOAH that is within Taiji! There will be Destruction in Kobe, but who will survive to begin their Wrestling Odyssey?

After Six Man Tag: Zack Sabre Jr, Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson VS Ren Narita, SANADA & Yujiro Takahashi…

The Cold-Blooded Snake did another Eddie Guerrero fake-out to frame Hartley Jackson, and that gave the House of Torture the win. But that didn’t matter to ZSJ as he drags Ren away with a headlock! The fans fire up and Young Lions rush in to stop ZSJ from hitting a piledriver to the floor! Ren and ZSJ claw at each other’s faces, then they fight off the Young Lions. ZSJ clamps onto Ren with a SLEEPER, but Ren JAMS him up with a chair! Ren fights free of more Young Lions to then CHOKE ZSJ! The ref reprimands but Ren just pushes everyone aside, and he CON-CHAIR-TOS ZSJ’s leg! The fans boo while ZSJ writhes.

Ren drags ZSJ up and over to the ring and puts him back in. Sanada & Yujiro are right on The Front Man and they stand him up. Ren climbs the corner for the HELL’S GUILLOTINE KNEE DROP!! ZSJ is down and Ren puts one out while the fans boo more. Ren holds up the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship while standing over ZSJ. Will the Souled Out Son of Strong Style soon become the worst world champion in history? Or will ZSJ do a lot worse than make him #JustTapOut?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: SHO & DOUKI VS Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita!

The Murder Machine & Japones Del Mal shocked everyone when they took these titles, and they’ve been intolerable ever since! But will they make it out of Hokkaido with the gold? Or will the Ichiban Sweet Boys serve them the bitter taste of defeat?

Surprisingly, Sho & Douki do not attack Eagles & Fujita during their entrance. But that’s because they attack during introductions! But the Sweet Boys dodge and then kick low. They double whip, but Sho & Douki reverse, only for the Sweet Boys to DOUBLE RANA! Sho & Douki bail out, the Sweet Boys set up on the apron, and they DOUBLE ASAI MOONSAULT! The fans fire up as #Shouki goes down! Fujita puts Sho in the ring for Eagles and the bell finally rings. Then the Sweet Boys double whip Sho, DOUBLE ELBOW, and they split the wishbone before a DOUBLE KICK! Eagles covers, TWO! The fans rally behind Eagles as he brings Sho up.

Eagles bumps Sho off buckles, tags Fujita, and he brings Sho out to CHOP! Sho sputters, Fujita tags Eagles back in, and Eagles CHOPS! Sho falls against ropes, Eagles tags Fujita back in, and Fujita CHOPS! Sho falls, Eagles tags back in, and he CHOPS! Sho is suffering while Fujita tags back in. The Sweet Boys then CHOP and CHOP and DOUBLE feint to rip Sho’s shirt off! Wait, he was wearing two shirts! Sho laughs at them, but the Sweet Boys just kick down low! Then they rip the second shirt off and DOUBLE CHOP! Sho falls, Fujita covers, TWO! The fans rally behind the Sweet Boys while Fujita stands Sho up.

Fujita bumps Sho off buckles, tags Eagles, and they stomp Sho. Eagles wrenches, drop toeholds, but Douki runs in! Eagles kicks Douki first, then Fujita drop toeholds Douki onto Sho! Then Fujita helps Eagles drag Douki into a BOSTON CRAB while Fujita puts Sho in a CAMEL CLUTCH! The fans cheer this chimera of holds but the ref reprimands. Eagles lets Douki go, but Fujita holds Sho so that Eagles can DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Eagles tags Fujita and the fans rally up. Fujita brings Sho up to wrench and whip him to a corner. Fujita then storms up to CHOP! Fujita runs, but Sho slips around to waistlock.

Fujita switches with Sho, but Sho backs Fujita into the corner! Douki grabs Fujita and Sho runs, but Fujita BOOTS Sho! Fujita ELBOWS Douki away, but Sho runs back in and slides! Sho trips Fujita, then YANKS him into the post! Fujita falls to the outside, Eagles hurries over, but Douki kicks Eagles first! Now Shouki mugs Eagles, and they lift him up to POST him! Eagles flops back, the ring count starts, and Sho puts his shirt back on before putting Fujita in the ring. Douki drags Fujita up, he and Sho DOUBLE GORILLA PRESS, for a DOUBLE GUT BUSTER! And then a DOUBLE SPLADE! The ref reprimands, Shouki lets go and Fujita writhes.

Douki drags Fujita up, brings him around, and TOSSES him back out! Douki distracts the ref, and Sho has a chair! Sho JAMS Fujita up! Sho puts Fujita back in for Douki, Douki covers, TWO! The fans rally for Fujita while Douki drags him up. Douki RAMS Fujita into the corner, RAMS him again and again, then tags Sho. Sho taunts Fujita and digs his boots into Fujita’s stomach! Douki joins in, the ref counts, and Shouki lets off at 4. Sho scuffs Fujita and taunts him. Sho talks trash on Sapporo, too! But Fujita fires forearms! Fujita runs, but into a kitchen sink knee! Cover, TWO! Sho clamps on with body scissors!

Eagles storms in, but Douki intercepts! Douki TOSSES Eagles and Sho has a GEDO CLUTCH, TWO! Sho holds onto scissors and squeezes tight! Fujita fights around, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Sho lets Fujita go at 4. Sho drags Fujita up to KNEE low, then brings him over. Tag to Douki, they snapmare and push Fujita down for Douki to run and DOUBLE STOMP! Cover, TWO! Fujita survives and the fans rally up again. Douki drags Fujita up, brings him around, and he reels Fujita in. Douki suplexes, but Fujita blocks! Fujita suplexes but Douki fights it! Douki wrenches to KNEE low!

Douki runs, but Fujita LEG LARIATS! Both men are down and the fans rally up! Fujita crawls, rolls, hot tag to Eagles! Eagles springboards, Douki dodges, but Eagles just BOOTS Sho! Then he returns to RANA Douki! And WHEEL KICK! Eagles kips up, but Sho kicks low! Sho runs, but into a CALF KICK! The fans fire up and Eagles runs, LEG LARIAT on Douki again! The fans fire up, Eagles goes corner to corner, DOUBLE KNEES! Eagles runs back in, but Douki BOOTS him! Eagles returns to BASEMENT 619! Douki sits down, Eagles hits a METEORA! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Eagles gets them to cheer louder.

Eagles goes up, WARP- NO, Douki dodges! Eagles rolls through, Douki dodges his boot, but Eagles trips Douki. Eagles goes for a leg, Douki kicks him away, and both men stand! Eagles blocks a boot to ROCK, KNEE, ELBOW, and hook Douki up, but Douki spins that around to a Gory Especial! DODON NO GORY BOMB! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Sho tags in and he storms up on Eagles. Sho whips Eagles to a corner, then runs in and LARIATS! Sho suplexes high and hard, then covers, TWO! Eagles survives and Sho is upset, but the fans rally up. Sho drags Eagles up, reels him in, and wraps him up!

Eagles fights the lift, but Sho CLUBS and HAMMERS him down! Sho then tries again, but Eagles fights the bomb with fists! Eagles then rolls Sho to bridge, TWO! Sho JUMP KNEES! Sho reels Eagles in, wraps the arms, STRAITJACKET PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Eagles survives and the fans fire up! Sho aims his bow ‘n’ arrow, he reels Eagles in and tucks the arms! SHOCK- NO, Eagles slips free to GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! Sho drops but Eagles shifts, ARMBAR! Sho clasps hands, so Eagles gets the legs! RON MILLER SPECIAL!! Sho endures, reaches out, but Eagles drags him back to center!

The fans fire up as Sho endures, but Douki is up top! DIVING DOUBLE- NO, Eagles turns to the side! Douki stumbles, Fujita drop toeholds! Fujita gets Douki in the NEMOS SPECIAL!! Sho endures, reaches out, but Eagles puts on the pressure! Sho flails, fights his way over, but he’s still so far away! Sho pushes up, and lunges to the ROPEBREAK!! Sho & Douki are set free, but Fujita hurries after Sho. Feed to Eagles, but Sho slips free! Sho shoves Eagles into Fujita, then whips Eagles to a corner. Eagles reverses, runs up, but is put on the apron! Eagles KICKS Sho’s leg! Springboard, but the ref is used as a sheild! Sho runs to SPEAR Eagles down!

The fans rally for Eagles but Sho crawls to tag Douki. Douki storms up on Eagles, Sho joins in, and they DOUBLE BACK SUPLEX, but Eagles lands out! Eagles ROCKS and SOBATS and DOUBLE ASAI DDTS! The fans fire up while Eagles and Shouki are down! Eagles crawls, reaches out, hot tag to Fujita! Fujita runs to GAMANGIRI Sho! Then he kicks Douki and whips. Douki reverses, Fujita ducks ‘n’ dodges, then Fujita RANAS! The fans fire up, Fujita runs corner to corner, but Douki puts him on the apron. Fujita ROCKS Douki first! Fujita then springboards to MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Douki is still in this, but Fujita has his legs!

Fujita ties Douki up into the SURFBOARD, and then the NEMOS SPECIAL!! Douki endures as Fujita bends him back! But then Douki bends fingers! The ref reprimands but Douki’s already free. The fans do applaud the savvy, and Fujita hurries to get Douki again. Fujita deadlifts, but Douki fights free. Douki goes to run but Fujita reels him back in. Douki uses the British Escape and mule kicks, but Fujita ducks the enzigiri to ROCK Douki! Fujita runs, Douki distracts the ref, and Sho SMACKS Fujita with a chair! The fans boo but the ref missed it all! Sho gets Fujita up, and Douki helps out, DOUBLE BUCKLE BOMB!

Sho then puts Fujita up top to lift, and Douki climbs, ASSISTED SUNSET BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Fujita survives but Sho gets in Eagles’ way while Douki wraps on ITALIAN STRETCH #32!! Fujita is already purple as Douki pulls on the arms! Fujita reaches for ropes, but Douki rolls him away! Sho keeps Eagles down, Fujita is fading, but Eagles gets free! Eagles CLOBBERS Douki! The fans cheer, but Sho CLUBS Eagles! Sho CHOKES Eagles with his bandana! The ref backs Sho off, but Douki has the Death Pipe! But Eagles BOOTS it away! Eagles kicks Sho, but Sho blocks! Douki KICKS the leg! Shouki double whips but Eagles reverses to send Douki away!

Eagles mule kicks Sho then ROUNDHOUSES Douki! Eagles runs to BASEMENT DROPKICK BLINDSIDE LARIAT COMBO! The fans fire up, and Eagles sees Shouki bail out. Eagles builds speed to DIVE! Down goes Shouki, but they deadlift Eagles up! Eagles fights free, meeting of the minds! Then Fujita is up top!? SUPER DUPER CANNONBALL! They all go down and the fans fire up! Fujita rises, he and Eagles put Douki in, and the fans rally. The Sweet Boys double wrench, lift, but Douki fights free! Douki fires uppercut after uppercut, but runs into the SWEET BUSTER!! Cover, SHO BREAKS IT!

Eagles TOSSES Sho and leaves it to Fujita! Fujita whips Douki, pops him up, GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Douki survives but Fujita vows to end it! The fans fire up and Fujita drags Douki up. Fujita reels Douki in, FISHERMAN into the torture rack! But Douki grabs the ref! Sho slips in with a steel panel! Sho SMACKS Fujita! But then Eagles storms in, and he SUPERKICKS the panel into Sho’s face! The fans fire up, but then Douki LOW BLOWS Eagles! The ref misses that, too! The fans boo but now Douki has Fujita alone! Douki LOW- NO! Fujita blocks that, and he wrenches Douki. Douki fires a forearm, but Fujita eggs him on!

Douki fires a flurry, but Fujita SMACKS Douki! Then HEEL KICKS!! Fujita reels Douki in, ABADON HOPE!! Fujita roars and the fans are thunderous, because he’s not done! Fujita drags Douki up, reels him in, fisherman to the torture rack! THRILL- NO, Douki sunset flips and rolls Fujita up, with tights!! DOUKI & SHO WIN!

Winners: Sho & Douki, by pinfall (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)

Fujita is pissed, he knows Douki cheated that, but he just can’t prove it! But The House of Torture always stoops to the lowest of lows to steal the win, this should’ve been expected. Fujita wants after them with a chair, taking a lesson from Zack Sabre Jr! The Sweet Boys are feeling salty, but will they exact some street justice on Sho & Douki?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado VS YOH!

The Rogue Luchador already beat the 2025 Best of the Super Juniors winner, Kosei Fujita, but now he faces this year’s runner-up. Yoh has tried again and again, but he just can’t seem to beat Desperado. Will Despy prove that he is still the best? Or will Direct Drive finally break through his limits?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and time to see who stands atop the mountain!

The bell rings and the fans rally up, with a fairly even duel between “DE-SU-PE!” and “YO-OH! YO-OH!” The two circle, feel things out, and they clinch. Despy waistlocks, Yoh drop toeholds to then float to a headlock. Despy rolls, has the headlock, but Yoh keeps his shoulders up. Yoh headscissors, Despy bridges and moves around to roll Yoh. Despy ties up the legs, but Yoh reaches out to the ROPEBREAK! Despy lets go and the fans applaud. Despy waits while Yoh fixes his kneepads and stands back up. They circle, the fans rally, and they feel things out. Yoh wrenches, hammerlocks, but Despy switches the hammerlock onto Yoh.

Yoh spins to slip under and fireman’s carry takeover to an armlock. Despy endures the grind, spins and stands, but Yoh hammerlocks him again. Despy reaches back to headlock, then switches sides. Yoh endures as Despy grinds the hold, and the fans rally up. Yoh powers up to wrench the hold open, and he headlocks Despy in return. Despy fires body shots then powers out, but Yoh RUNS him over! The fans applaud, and things speed up. Yoh jumps over the dropdown, then he copies Despy’s hurdle! The fans cheer and Despy is annoyed. Yoh wants to fist bump, but Despy SMACKS him! Despy whips, but Yoh grabs ropes.

Despy runs up, but Yoh DUMPS Despy out! The fans rally, Yoh claps along to get them even more hyped. Yoh aims and fakes the plancha! Despy is again annoyed but Yoh blows Despy a kiss. Yoh then avoids a sweep and slingshots over, but Despy slides in! Despy DECKS Yoh, runs, but has to tumble out as Yoh slingshots back in! Yoh slingshots again to PLANCHA! Down goes Despy and the fans fire up! Yoh walks around, leans on a fan and pats their head as thanks. Yoh goes back to ringside, patting a few more fans as he goes, and he puts Despy in the ring. The fans rally, Yoh turns Despy, and NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!

Yoh clamps onto Despy with a chinlock. Despy endures, the fans rally, but Yoh shifts to a headscissors squeeze! Despy endures, kicks around, but Yoh puts on more pressure! Despy kicks his way over, ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud, Red Shoes counts, and Yoh lets go, to give some toying kicks. Yoh then brings Despy up, but Despy CHOPS! Yoh eggs Despy on, Despy CHOPS him again. Yoh CLUBS Despy on the neck! Yoh snapmares and then NECK TWIST! A very ZSJ move from Yoh and the fans applaud. Yoh drags Despy so he can sit on a cover, ONE as Despy slaps Yoh on the back. Yoh stomps Despy, then drags him up.

Despy fires body shots, Yoh kicks low, and then Yoh turns Despy, but Despy slips free to SHIN BREAKER and BIG back suplex! Both men are down and the fans cheer. Despy gets up to stomp Yoh’s leg, then SPLASH onto it. The fans rally while Despy lets his hair down. Despy drops a KNEE on the knee, then digs his knee in! Yoh endures, pushes Despy, but Despy shifts to a toehold! Despy pulls the leg back, but Yoh has the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud while Despy lets go. Despy then drags Yoh to the apron, and he SLAMS the bad leg on the edge! Yoh writhes to the corner while the fans continue to rally.

Despy drags Yoh right into the corner, YANKS him into the post, then SLAMS the bad leg against the apron! The fans still rally but Red Shoes reprimands. Despy backs off while Yoh flops to the floor. Despy paces in the ring and puts his hair back up while Yoh shakes out the bad leg. The ring count starts, Yoh sits up at 8 of 20, and he crawls to the ring at 12. Yoh rolls in at 13 and the fans applaud, but Despy stands on the bad leg. Despy digs his heel in, then he kicks the bad leg. Despy YANKS the leg, then drops a leg on the leg! Despy ties Yoh up in the INDIAN DEATHLOCK! Yoh flails, Despy taunts him, and Yoh CHOPS!

Despy “falls” to put on the pressure with the side angle. Yoh reaches out but Despy thrashes about to put on more pressure! The fans rally, Yoh reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Red Shoes counts the break, but Despy says he needs help. Red Shoes undoes the hold, but then “Oops!” Despy drops a knee on the knee! The fans rally but Despy drags Yoh up. Despy has the leg, but Yoh fires elbows. Despy runs up, but Yoh wrenches him to a turn, only for Despy to slips free! SPINE- NO, Yoh DDTS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Despy writhes but Yoh still clutches his bad leg. Yoh grits his teeth as he forces himself to rise.

Yoh slaps his bad leg, then he roars! The fans cheer and Yoh runs up to CLOBBER Despy! And CLOBBER him again! Despy kicks the bad leg! Despy runs, but into a DROPKICK! Despy writhes and rolls away to a corner. Yoh gets his bad leg moving again, then runs in and ELBOWS Despy! HALF HATCH and bridge, TWO! Despy survives and Yoh grits his teeth in frustration. Yoh shakes out the bad leg, rises up again, then drags Despy up. Despy fights the suplex, but Yoh CLUBS him for it! Yoh tries again, but Despy fights the suplex to suplex. Yoh fights free, but he hobbles! Yoh ELBOWS Despy, but swings into an arm-drag!

Despy has the leg, STRETCH MUFFLER! Yoh scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Despy lets go, but then GROUND DRAGON SCREWS! Yoh writhes and the fans rally up. Despy hobbles around, shakes it off, and the fans rally up. Despy stomps Yoh at the ropes, drags him to center, and pulls on a leg! HALF CRAB! Yoh endures as Despy pulls on the leg! Yoh reaches fights his way forward, reaches out, but Despy drags him back to center! Then into the STRETCH MUFFLER! Yoh flails, but Despy gets an arm, NUMERO DOS! Yoh flails with his free arm, but Despy thrashes him around! Yoh still fights, even as Despy wants his arm! ROPEBREAK!!

The fans cheer and Despy lets go in frustration. Both men are down as Despy clutches his neck and Yoh clutches his knee. The fans rally and duel while Yoh goes to a corner. Despy runs in, but Yoh BOOTS him away! Despy comes back, Yoh dodges, and then Yoh TORNADO DDTS! Not the smoothest, but Yoh hurries to get Despy up again! FALCON GOROSHI! Both men are down again from how double-edged that was for Yoh’s leg! The fans rally more, and Yoh rises up. Red Shoes checks Despy but he is somehow still in this. The “YO-OH! YO-OH!” is now stronger than the “DE-SU-PE!” as Yoh goes to ropes.

Yoh fires up, and he tunes up! The fans clap along as he aims at Despy, SUPER- NO, Despy drops down to roll Yoh, and STRETCH MUFFLER! Despy lifts Yoh, but his own neck hurts! Despy drops to the mat and Yoh is free. The fans rally up and Yoh is feeling it! Yoh vows to break Despy and finally break through! Yoh drags Despy up by wristlocks, KAMI-GO- NO! Despy blocks the knee, spins Yoh, but Yoh switches! Ripcord, and STANDING ANACONDA! Despy fights the vice, reaches out, but Yoh tries to get the arm! But Despy arm-drags free! Both men hurry up, Yoh kicks low then whips, but Despy reverses!

Despy runs, but Yoh says I’LL BE BACK! And SUPERKICK!! The fans are thunderous while Despy is in a daze! Yoh vows to end this now, and he drags Despy up. Yoh underhooks, but Despy powers out! SPINEBUSTER! And then a flip over for a BIG back suplex! Despy keeps going, GUITARRA DEL ANGEL! Cover, TWO!! Yoh survives the onslaught and the fans are thunderous! The “YO-OH! YO-OH!” is only growing stronger, but Despy rises first. The “DE-SU-PE!” crowd fires back up and Despy drags Yoh off the mat. Yoh shoves Despy, but Despy comes back. Yoh eggs Despy on, so Despy fires forearms!

Yoh just stares Despy down with a smile! Despy fires forearm after forearm, but Yoh fires a flurry in return! Despy falls, Yoh staggers back, and the fans fire up again! Yoh and Despy meet in the middle to trade forearms! Yoh then UPPERCUTS! Despy kicks low! Despy reels Yoh in, PINCHE- NO, Yoh fights out! But Desyp wrenches! Yoh wrenches! Yoh full nelsons but Despy fights it off! But he spins into the STANDING ANACONDA VICE!! Yoh squeezes tight, ANACONDA THROW! ANACONDA VICE!! Despy endures, flails, hesitates, but he refuses to give in! Yoh pulls, but Despy makes it a cradle! TWO!!

Yoh lets Despy go, and Despy has STRETCH MUFFLER! Yoh rolls to a cradle, TWO!! Yoh LARIATS Despy!! The fans are electric as Yoh rises again! Yoh vows to surpass his rival with this, and he has the wristlocks! KAMI-GOYE!!! Cover, TWO!?!?! Despy somehow gets that arm up in time and Sapporo is erupting! They cheer on “YO-OH! YO-OH!” as he rises up! Yoh drags Despy around, underhooks the arms, DIRECT- NO! Despy NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO!! Despy runs to SPEAR!! Yoh is down, but Despy roars! Despy fights through the neck pain to haul Yoh up and underhook! PINCHE LOCO!!! Cover, ONE?!?!?!

The fans cannot believe it, but they are loving it as Yoh survives! Despy is freaking out, but then he roars again! Despy sits Yoh up, and Yoh dares Despy to do it! Despy underhooks, but Yoh fights the grip! Despy tries using the tights, but Yoh still moves around! Yoh is pulling the underhooks apart! But Despy powers up to put them back on! TIGER DRIVER!! Despy holds onto Yoh, hauls him up, and PINCHE LOCO!!! Cover, DESPY WINS!!

Winner: El Desperado, by pinfall (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)

An instant classic that perhaps outdid even the BOSJ Finals! But in the end, Yoh still is not where he wants to be. If he fought this hard and still fell short, how much more must Yoh do to win the big one?

As for Despy, he gets the belt, and he kneels by Yoh to show him respect. Yoh pats the title, and he shakes Despy’s hand. But wait, The House of Torture storms out here? And Douki gets on the apron! Everyone already has an idea of what this is about. Douki gets the mic first, and he says, “Congratulations on your defense, El Desperado, the fake champion. Why do you still have the belt when you never truly beat me? Why are you still wearing it on your shoulder when you didn’t beat me? Well, what do you say, fake champion? Fake king?”

Despy grabs his own mic to say, “Oh my, my, my… Been awhile since I’ve looked at you face to face. And it seems you’ve made a lot of new friends. Oh, what? Were you afraid to come out here and face me alone?” The fans cheer that as Despy continues to ask, “Oi, oi, oi. Who’re you to call ME a fake? Didn’t you disappear in the middle of things? What do you mean? You wanna try me?” Despy dares the whole House to come at him if they want. The fans cheer that, too! Douki says no, this isn’t his challenge, because that belt is still his. How long is Despy planning on “devaluating” the championship? How long is he going to pose as a fake king?

Despy is pretty sure all of his defenses this year have actually raised the value. Did he not even watch the main event? The fans cheer that! Despy says he’ll be clear, one more time. Tomorrow… No, not tomorrow, he’s too tired. Despy says if Douki wants this match for Kobe, he’s all for it. It’s just a shame he has to share this closing moment with Douki. But time will “destroy” these extra factors, so for now, go home. Douki says none of that convinces him of why Despy should have the belt. The fans boo that, and they chant “KAERE!” at the House. Douki says as the one true king, he will take that title back. Just say when and where.

Despy says well, if Douki’s the real champion, he can dictate the terms to NJPW, can’t he? Douki says yes, the fake champion and the real champion will battle to prove who is THE champion! Douki shall set the terms. Then go away already. Douki leaves, the House of Torture following. Despy says hurry up, or the only thing the stream will be showing are their backs. Anyway, everyone wants to go home, right? Maybe get some beers. The real champion IS Despy, and that’s all. Mic drop from the Rogue Luchador, and he gets the streamers! But will he and Douki soon face their Destruction in Kobe? Or perhaps they’ll fight to see who is the TRUE King of Pro-Wrestling?

My Thoughts:

A great night for NJPW here as they wrap in Hokkaido, and great set-up for Kobe and more. Great match from Tanahashi VS Wato, but I figured Tanahashi would win. We got quite a lot of Six Man Tags, but at least the latter ones had some plot development after. Granted, we already knew Ishii & Taichi VS Oskar & Yuto for the tag titles was happening, but Taichi got to call them out on it. Hiromu setting up Hiromu VS Taiji for the GHC Junior Heavyweight title was great, can’t wait to see that happen. But then of course House of Torture cheated to give Ren momentum. All the more reason ZSJ is winning in Kobe to then potentially face Konosuke in Ryogoku.

Speaking of House of Torture cheating, of course they did that to screw TMDK out of the tag titles. Despy VS Yoh was awesome, and Yoh got really close, but I had a feeling Despy was retaining. Douki challenging Despy to finally have the match they were supposed to have at WrestleKingdom 19 is great, but boy that promo was weird. Douki kinda repeated himself with insisting Despy’s a fraud, but I’m pretty sure they’re going to have a great match either way.

My Score: 9/10