Who will be left standing in Kobe?

Ren Narita beat Zack Sabre Jr. in the G1 Climax, and now he’s getting the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match he’s been owed! But will he win it? Or will he #JustTapOut?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• 10 Man Tag: Hontai VS House of Torture; Hontai wins.
• Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Great-O-Khan; Tanahashi wins.
• NEVER Openweight Championship: Boltin Oleg VS Don Fale; Oleg wins and retains the title.
• IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Tomohiro Ishii & Taichi VS OSKAR & Yuto-Ice; Oskar & Yuto win and become the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
• GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi VS Taiji Ishimori; Hiromu wins and retains the title.
• Yota Tsuji VS David Finlay; Yota wins.
• IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Gabe Kidd VS Shingo Takagi; Gabe wins and retains the title.
• IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Ren Narita; ZSJ wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Great-O-Khan!

The Ace Final Road arrives in Kobe, and he will have one last connection with The Dominator! Will President Tanahashi be the one to conquer Khan? Or will he not survive his final Destruction?

As usual, the fans cheer as Tanahashi shows off the abs. The bell rings and the fans cheer on Tanahashi. There are “O-KHAN!” fans, as well, but they’re vastly outnumbered. The two tie up, are in a deadlock, but Khan digs in his heels to push Tanahashi back. They end up on the ropes, Tanahashi turns things around, but Tanahashi honors the clean break. The fans applaud and the two reset. Khan and Tanahashi circle, feel things out, and Khan goes for a leg. Khan trips Tanahashi, waistlocks but Tanahashi switches, only for Khan to switch back. Khan has the rear facelock but Tanahashi rolls. Khan keeps close but Tanahashi has the ROPEBREAK!

The fans applaud this technical exchange, but Khan still sticks close as Tanahashi goes to a corner. The ref calls for a proper break, Khan pats Tanahashi on the shoulder, but then he kicks low! No clean break as Khan then whips Tanahashi corner to corner. Khan runs up, but Tanahashi ELBOWS him away! Tanahashi goes up to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as Tanahashi air guitars a quick chord, then waistlocks. But Khan fights the lift to drop toehold and KNEEBAR! Khan grapevines the legs, then sits up to have a DEATHLOCK, but Tanahashi has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Khan lets go.

Khan drags Tanahashi back to center, stomps the leg again and again, then mule kicks it! Tanahashi clutches the knee but Khan drops down to have an inverted toehold. Khan then turns Tanahashi over to SMASH the knee! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi is still in this and the fans applaud. Khan stands on the bad leg, and he hears the fans duel. Khan then stomps the leg as he steps over. Tanahashi grits his teeth, but Khan kicks him around. Khan eggs Tanahashi on, so Tanahashi stands to fire a forearm! And another! And another! Khan Mongolian Chops! Khan laughs, but Tanahashi blocks the chops to give Mongolian Chops!

The fans cheer and Tanahashi whips, but Khan reverses, only for Tanahashi to FLYING FOREARM! Khan is down and the fans fire up! Tanahashi rises, he storms up to Khan, and he stands Khan up for fast hands! Tanahashi then scoops to SLAM! Tanahashi goes up the corner, and SUNSET SENTONS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Khan stays in this, and they chant, “Go Ace!” Tanahashi rises, he waits on Khan, and the fans rally again. Tanahashi runs, but Khan dodges the slingblade! But Tanahashi blocks the boot to DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi kicks, but Khan blocks, JUDO DRAGON SCREW! Khan takes a swing but Tanahashi slips around!

Tanahashi reels Khan in, but Khan fights the Twist ‘N’ Shout! Khan then scoops, but Tanahashi slips free! But Khan ROCKS Tanahashi! The fans fire up and Tanahashi fires back! Khan fires another forearm, Tanahashi fires back, and repeat! The fans rally as the shots keep going faster and faster! Khan ROCKS Tanahashi, Tanahashi leans on Khan, but then Tanahashi stands to fire fast hands! Khan drops to his knees, the fans fire up with Tanahashi, and Tanahashi watches Khan sputter. Tanahashi dares Khan to get up, and Khan slowly rises. Tanahashi brings Khan up, but he gets the IRON RIGHT! Tanahashi DRAGON PALMS in return!

Both men wobble, then roar! Khan swings, misses, and Tanahashi SLINGBLADES! Cover, TWO! Khan survives, but Tanahashi goes right up! The fans fire up for the HIGH FLY FLOW, but onto knees! A bit double-edged for Khan but better than losing! Khan clinches for the HITSUJIGOROSHI! But Tanahashi powers up and out to shove Khan! Khan returns to steal SLINGBLADE! Khan roars, runs, and SLINGBLADES again! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives and the fans fire up with Khan as his Monster Rage boils over! IRON CLAW! Khan drags Tanahashi up, ELIMIN- NO, Tanahashi victory rolls it, AND WINS!

Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi, by pinfall

As Tanahashi himself might say, he took that win in an instant! Khan is shocked, his gameplan was practically flawless! Tanahashi still shows Khan respect and tells him to keep fighting. Will Khan find his own way to the top of NJPW one day? Will Tanahashi continue his- Wait, whose music interrupts Tanahashi’s? KAITO KIYOMIYA!? Yes, NOAH’s Supernova is here in Kobe, and he heads right to the ring! He grabs a mic, and he tells Tanahashi, “Recently, you called me over to wrestle at Tanahashi Jam, and I was very honored. Thank you for that. I really felt the weight of your 25 years of history. So I have one favor to ask of you!

“Before you retire, I want you to be in a Pro-Wrestling NOAH ring! Let me wrestle Hiroshi Tanahashi in NOAH! On October 11th, in Ryogoku, please, after all our battles together, I want to battle you head on at Wrestle Odyssey!” Kaito offers the handshake, and Tanahashi accepts! The fans cheer as now we’ll see The Ace of the Universe VS The Next Generation Ace, 1v1 for the first time and the last time! Who will prove they are The Ace of Japan this close to the Final Road’s finish line?

NEVER Openweight Championship: Boltin Oleg VS Don Fale w/ EVIL & Dick Togo!

It was quite the shock when The Alpha, Konosuke Takeshita, was put behind BARS and lost this title. But now, big Boltin runs into an even bigger opponent! And while he may no longer be Bad Luck, you can bet The Rogue General is as dangerous as ever. Will Fale bring this title home to the House of Torture? Or will Oleg prove that size doesn’t matter?

The introductions are made, but that’s when Fale attacks! The fans boo but Fale CLUBS away on Oleg in the corner! The bell rings to get this on record, and Oleg fires forearms in return! Oleg CHOPS, runs, but Fale CLOBBERS Oleg! the fans do applaud the impressive nature of that, but then Fale DUMPS Oleg out! Fale distracts the ref so that Evil & Dick can mug Oleg! They even use Fale’s pimp cane to JAM Oleg up! Evil laughs, he puts Oleg in, and Fale leaves the ref alone. Fale stomps Oleg, then stands on him! Fale uses Oleg to hang ten! Fale then steps off so he can kick him to the ropes. Fale stands on Oleg’s chest! The fans boo, the ref counts, but Fale steps off at 4.

Fale puts Oleg in a corner, fires a BODY BLOW, then he eggs Oleg on. Fale whips Oelg to a bare corner! Evil & Dick took the blue buckle pad away, and Fale plays dumb. The fans tell Evil & Dick to go away but Evil tells them to shut up! Fale covers, TWO! Oleg is tougher than that and the fans rally behind him. Oleg rises to fire more forearms, but Fale ROCKS him in return. Fale BODY BLOWS, then BODY BLOWS again! Fale whips, Oleg grabs ropes, and Oleg BOOTS Fale in return! Oleg runs to RAM Fale! Fale stays up but Oleg keeps moving! Oleg RAMS Fale, Fale staggers, and Oleg goes again, only for Fale to CLOBBER him!

The fans applaud the continued impressive feat of strength. Fale then runs corner to corner, but Oleg dodges! Oleg runs and he CLOBBERS Fale! The fans fire up again while Evil & Dick panic. Oleg runs to SPLASH DOWN! Cover, TWO! Fale is tougher than that, but Oleg stays focused. Oleg drags Fale up, scoops, but that’s too much to scoop! The fans rally as Oleg still tries, and he lifts, only for Fale to topple him over! Cover, TWO! Oleg survives the mishap and both behemoths rise. Fale winds up to choke grip! But Oleg breaks free! Oleg dodges the Grenade to RAM Fale! The fans fire up as Oleg SCOOP SLAMS Fale!

Evil & Dick get on the apron, Oleg BLASTS them down, and then Oleg goes back to Fale. Oleg drags Fale up, reels him in, and he manages to SUPLEX Fale?! Cover, TWO!! Fale survives but the fans fire up for Oleg! Oleg roars, he drags Fale up, but Fale blocks the fireman’s carry! Fale grabs the ref, shoves Oleg, then shoves the ref into Oleg! The ref is down, and now Evil & Dick attack! The fans boo as the House does what the House does! Dick & Evil double whip Oleg to a corner, then Oleg runs up to ELBOW! Evil LARIATS! Then Fale SPLASHES! Fale snapmares Oleg, he and Evil open Oleg up, and Dick is up top for the DICK CHOP!

The fans boo more but there’s nothing stopping The House as Dick SENTONS! WAIT! Fale is going up now?! But Oleg BOOTS Evil away, and THRWOS Dick into Fale! Evil CLAWS Oleg’s eyes, whips, but Oleg blocks to CHOP! Oleg then THROWS Evil into Fale! Oleg roars, the fans fire up, and Oleg uses the corner to help fireman’s carry! AND KAMIKAZE!! Cover, OLEG WINS!!

Winner: Boltin Oleg, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Champion)

A truly massive victory, but Oleg doesn’t get to enjoy it as Evil just attacks again! The fans boo as Dick joins back in and uses the SPOILER CHOKER! The Young Lions try to get close but Evil is there. Oleg fights up, but he’s fed to EVERYTHING IS EVIL!! The King of Darkness grabs the NEVER Openweight Championship and a mic, but what he wants is already clear. “Oi, Boltin! So, next it’s gonna be me! And I am gonna tear you apart! Now play my music!” Evil’s music does indeed play, but is he really trying to take back this NEVER title against another big bad giant? Or will he have yet another trick up his proverbial sleeve?

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Tomohiro Ishii & Taichi VS OSKAR & Yuto-Ice!

The Stone Pitbull and The Holy Emperor stand strong as stalwart stars of NJPW, but this year has been defined by “changing of the guard,” and Bullet Club certainly injected some young blood into the tag division! Will the War Dogs be bringing home gold? Or can Ishii & Taichi knock out the Knock Out Brothers?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who’re the real top dogs of tag team wrestling!

The teams sort out and Ishii starts against Yuto. The fans rally up already as the two storm up. Ishii SLAPS Yuto, Yuto SLAPS Ishii, but Ishii CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Yuto KICKS, KICKS, and KICKS! Both men egg the other on, and Yuto fires forearms. Ishii leans into those shots! Then Ishii CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Ishii CHOPS Oskar for good measure! Ishii kicks Yuto, so Yuto fires a forearm! Ishii just fires back! Ishii whips, Yuto reverses to KNEE low! Yuto BOOTS Ishii, then he sucker punches Taichi! Taichi storms in and fires RIDGE HANDS! The fans fire up, but Yuto BODY BLOWS, then KICKS!

Taichi snarls and KICKS Yuto down! Taichi KICKS Yuto more, but Oskar storms in! Oskar fires hands, Taichi fires Ridge Hands, repeat! Yuto gets up, the Knock Out Brothers mug Taichi, then double whip to DOUBLE BOOT! Taichi tumbles out and Oskar wows the fans by stepping up and over the top rope with ease. Yuto goes back to Ishii and fires KICK after KICK! Ishii is in the corner as Yuto KICKS him more, and the ref reprimands. Yuto stops to then SOBAT! Ishii sits down, Yuto says yo yo yo yo, check it! “Bomboclat!” Yuto runs in and KNEES Ishii in the corner! Tag to Oskar, and Oskar again wows fans by stepping over the top.

Oskar CLUBS Ishii, then he CHOPS! The fans fire up just for that! Oskar CHOPS Ishii but Ishii eggs him on! Ishii RAMS Oskar, ROCKS Oskar, then goes to suplex, but Oskar’s too tall! Oskar CLUBS Ishii, but Ishii avoids the boot! Ishii waistlocks, Oskar elbows free, and BOOTS, but Ishii blocks! KNEE JAMMER! Ishii tries again, but Oskar is still a lot to suplex! Oskar scoops, but Ishii slips free! Ishii shoves Oskar, and he doesn’t really have to duck to avoid the backhand. Ishii then waistlocks to GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up while both men are down! Oskar crawls, Ishii stirs, and the fans rally up, hot tag to Taichi!

Taichi storms up to BOOT Oskar! Then he BOOTS Yuto for good measure! The fans fire up as Taichi runs at Oskar in the corner, and he CHOPS! Then he wrenches to SAI- NO, Oskar stops that and CLUBS Taichi! But Taichi ducks the backhand, only for Oskar to block the boot! Oskar waistlocks, but Taichi fights the lift to PELE! Then he SOBATS, and he reels Oskar in for the SEITEI JUJIRO! Oskar endures being in the Holy Emperor’s Tomb, and he pries at the hold, but Taichi fires RIDGE HAND after RIDGE HAND! SEITEI JUJIRO! But Yuto storms up to fire forearms! Taichi just eggs Yuto on! Yuto ROCKS Taichi, then whips!

Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! Yuto falls, Taichi snarls, but Oskar kicks low and CHOPS again! Oskar whips Taichi to a corner, then runs corner to corner! Taichi dodges, then GAMANGIRIS! Oskar falls and the fans fire up! The fans fire up with Taichi, and OFF COME THE PANTS! Taichi aims and powers up, TENSHO- NO, Oskar dodges the kick to scoop and spin! But Taichi slips free! Roll up, TWO! Taichi aims, BUZZ- NO, Oskar blocks, then grabs Taichi with both hands! Taichi fights free, Oskar ROCKS Taichi, but Taichi URAKENS! Oskar BOOTS in return, then TOWERING BACK SUPLEXES!

The fans fire up while both men are down, and then rally as they crawl! Hot tags to Yuto and Ishii! The fans fire up as Yuto dodges, Ishii blocks, and the forearms fire! Ishii HEADBUTTS, Yuto SLAPS, Ishii SLAPS, and then it is a SLAP fight! Yuto bobs ‘n’ weaves to SLAP, SLAP, then SLAP! Yuto roars, winds up, but Ishii comes back to SWAT the roundhouse! But Yuto leans back to avoid the forearm! Yuto ROCKS Ishii, then reels him in for a suplex! BRAINBUSTER! But Ishii’s right up!? The fans fire up as Ishii CLOBBERS Yuto! But Yuto’s right up! Yuto BOOTS Ishii, SPITS at him, then KICKS! Ishii just SPITS back!

Ishii fires a forearm, then a HEADBUTT! Yuto falls, Ishii roars, and the fans fire up! Ishii takes a second to steady himself, and he vows to finish this! Ishii reels Yuto in, but Oskar CHOPS Ishii on the back! Oskar CHOPS Ishii again, then CLUBS him! Oskar CHOPS Ishii against the ropes, then runs, but Taichi is back! HE TAKES THE BOOT FOR ISHII! Oskar is a bit surprised by that, but what’s good for the goose is good for the gander! Oskar runs, but Ishii ROCKS Oskar! Taichi RICH HANDS! They DOUBLE RIDGE HAND! Then choke grip and clinch! But Oskar choke grips in return! Oskar CLUBS Ishii off of him, but Taichi breaks free!

Taichi wrenches, but Oskar blocks the hook kick! ATOMIC DROP and LARIAT! Yuto BOOTS Ishii, Oskar ROCKS Ishii, and Yuto ROUNDHOUSES! The fans fire up as the Knock Out Brothers get Ishii up, ASSISTED POWERBOMB!! High stack, TWO?!!? Ishii survives being Iced, and the fans are thunderous! Yuto drags Ishii up, he feeds Ishii to Oskar, but Ishii ROCKS Oskar! Then he sends Yuto into Oskar! Taichi drags Oskar out, Ishii waistlocks Yuto, then he feeds Yuto to Taichi’s RIDGE HAND! Ishii then runs up, but Yuto sends him into Taichi! Taichi falls, Yuto DECKS Ishii with the right hand!

The fans are torn as Yuto sits Ishii back up. Yuto runs and PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! Ishii survives and the fans fire up again! And this is all just ten minutes of action! Yuto drags Ishii up, sends him to Oskar, and Oskar scoops! But AX BOMBER for Yuto! Oskar runs up, but Taichi dodges to GAMANGIRI! And then DANGEROUS SAIDO!! The fans are thunderous again as Taichi is seething! Taichi drags Yuto up, but Yuto SPITS at him! Taichi DECKS Yuto! The fans cheer, “Let’s Go, Taichi!” and he vows to end this now! Alabama Lift, BLACK ME- NO, Yuto slips free! But Ishii LARIATS Yuto! Taichi stands Yuto up for Ishii!

Ishii reels Yuto in, Taichi aims, PENALTY KICK PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Yuto survives the “remix” of the KOB Driver and the fans are electric! Ishii roars and rises up, and the fans rally behind him! Taichi keeps Oskar down while Ishii runs to LARIAT! Cover, but OSKAR BARRELS IN! Oskar saves things but Taichi & Ishii are on him! But he choke grips them both! They break free to DOUBLE GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up again as Ishii & Taichi focus on Yuto. Feed, but Yuto BOOTS Taichi! And KNEES Ishii! Yuto DECKS Ishii, staggers to a corner, but he shakes out the stanky leg. But he runs into an Alabama Lift!

Ishii ROCKS Yuto while he’s upside-down! And then Ishii & Taichi combine for a MEPHISTO BRAIN- NO! Oskar saves Yuto again! Oskar ROCKS Ishii, BOOTS Taichi, then blocks the superkick! Oskar spins Taichi for the SKY HIGH!! But Ishii LARIATS! Oskar stays up!? And he gives Ishii a- NO, Ishii pops free to ROCK him! But Oskar has the SLEEPER!! And then a SLEEPER SLAM!! Yuto shakes out the stanky leg, for the BUSAIKU KNEE! And now they vow to end this! Ishii is fed to the scoop, and the K O B DRIVER!!! Cover, KOB WINS!!!

Winners: OSKAR & Yuto-Ice, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)

Oskar & Yuto took over Europe’s tag division during their excursion, and now NJPW is no different! From Young Lions to returning stars to champions, will everyone be down with KOB? As for “old dogs” Taichi and Ishii, what new tricks must they learn to keep up with the new generation?

Oh, but wait! Hontai is not without more tag teams, as Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura appear! The Roughneck & Heat Storm led their team to victory in tonight’s 10 Man Tag, and now they look to go right to the top! They first go to the ring and grab the mics. Shota says, “Ice, Oskar… You are here to fight? Then Yuya and I are here to pick a fight with you. So just see how good we are!” Yuto takes the mic to tell Shota, “You fake little goody two shoes punks! You’re not on our level, but if you want it, then bring it!” The two teams get face to face and Young Lions hurry in there to keep this from breaking down! But when and where will Oskar & Ice fight Shota & Heat?

GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi VS Taiji Ishimori!

The Ticking Timebomb may very well be the best Junior Heavyweight wrestler of his or any generation, but he wants to keep proving it match after match! And he knew that he could only do that by battling the Bone Soldier one more time! Will Hiromu find a way to make Destruction in Kobe fun? Or will Taiji’s ticket to Pro-Wrestling NOAH: Wrestle Odyssey come to him #ByGrace?

The introductions are made, NOAH’s belt is raised, and we see how this remake of an old classic turns out!

The bell rings and the two run up! Hiromu RAN- NO, Taiji blocks it and brings Hiromu up! Hiromu slips free, whips Taiji to a corner, then LARIATS! Hiromu snapmares, but Taiji avoids the sliding lariat! Taiji gut wrenches, Hiromu turns that around, but Taiji turns it back around! And repeat! The fans rally as they keep turning things around on each other! Taiji can’t stay up, he gives a short driver to Hiromu, but he holds on to drag Hiromu back up! CIPHER U- RANA! But Taiji handsprings through! The fans fire up, Hiromu ELBOWS Taiji and whips, but Taiji reverses. Hiromu slides out, but so does Taiji!

The fans applaud as the cat ‘n’ mouse game leads back into the ring. Hiromu runs up but Taiji DUMPS him out! But Hiromu uses that to sunset flip! But Taiji FLIPS through! And he uses the apron to RANA! Hiromu tumbles, the fans fire up, and Taiji hurries back into the ring. Taiji then builds speed to FLY with a VUELO NAGILA! Down goes Hiromu and the fans fire up! Taiji leaves Hiromu behind so he can untie the blue buckle pad. It’s still the Bullet Club Special, and then Taiji goes back out to fetch Hiromu. Taiji drags Hiromu into the ring, then stands him up. Taiji fireman’s carries, and he ROLLING DEATH VALLEY DRIVERS!

Taiji steadies himself, and he basement SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO! Hiromu is still in this but Taiji is not deterred. Taiji stands Hiromu up, but Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS !Taiji ROCKS Hiromu, runs, but Hiromu dodges! Hiromu RANAS and Taiji goes to the corner! Hiromu runs up to LARIAT against the bare buckles! Then he snapmares Taiji for the basement DROPKICK! Taiji tumbles out and the fans fire up again. Hiromu goes to the apron, takes aim, but Taiji dodges the flying dropkick! Taiji then scoops to LAWN DART into the post! The fans rally while Hiromu writhes, but Taiji brings him right back into the ring.

Taiji drags Hiromu up, wrenches, hammerlocks, and POSTS Hiromu! The ref reprimands but Taiji drags Hiromu back out to hammerlock, scoop, and SHOULDER BUSTER! Hiromu writhes more while Taiji leaves him behind. Taiji catches his breath and shakes out his leg while he watches Hiromu rise. Taiji then runs in, tilt-o-whirls, but Hiromu throws him away! Then Hiromu scoops to BACKBREAKER! Hiromu suplexes, Taiji fights it, and Taiji wrenches. Hiromu swings, Taiji dodges, but he runs into a tilt-o-whirl SLAM! Both men are down and the fans applaud. The two stir and the fans rally up.

Hiromu goes to the ropes and clutches the shoulder. The ref checks him and Hiromu insists he can continue. Hiromu drags Taiji up, brings him around, fireman’s carries, but Taiji slips free! Taiji shoves Hiromu away, runs up, but into a BOOT! Hiromu runs, Taiji dodges the lariat, but then Hiromu wrenches Taiji! FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Taiji stays in this and the fans applaud while Hiromu shakes out the arm. Hiromu drags Taiji up, wrenches, fireman’s carries, but Taiji CLAWS the eyes! Taiji whips, but that knocks Hiromu into the ref! The ref falls, Taiji POP-UP LOW- NO! Hiromu blocks the sneaky kick!

The fans applaud as Hiromu wags his finger and fakes the low blow! The ref sees that, Taiji defends his actual innocence, but then Hiromu rolls Taiji! TWO! Another roll-up, TWO! Both men stand, Taiji blocks the kick, and he sends it into the ref! Taiji waistlocks, Hiromu switches, and Taiji actually LOW BLOW MULE KICKS! Then GEDO CLUTCH! TWO!!! Hiromu survives and Taiji is beside himself! Hiromu and Taiji crawl, and Hiromu goes to a corner. The fans rally as Taiji runs up, and Taiji LARIATS! Taiji then hoists Hiromu up for an URENAGE! Taiji roars, and the fans cheer as he goes up the corner!

Taiji aims, and he 450 SPLASHES!! But it hurts his ribs! Taiji crawls to the cover, TWO!!! Hiromu survives from the delay, and now the ref checks Taiji. Taiji insists he can continue, but he still clutches his side. Taiji forces himself to stand, and then he brings Hiromu up. Taiji hits a POWERSLAM, then insists he’ll finish with some razzle dazzle! Taiji runs, handsprings, SUPER STUN- NO! Hiromu blocks the stunner, Taiji breaks the nelson, but Hiromu has the pump handle! Z 360!! HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! Then the TIMEBOMB 1.5!! Cover, TWO!??! Taiji survives and Hiromu is shocked! Hiromu rises up and he brings Taiji around.

Hiromu fireman’s carries again, swings, but Taiji pops free! And then tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTICA! But Hiromu fights the crossface portion! Hiromu reaches out, but Taiji rolls him away to center! BONE LOCK!! Hiromu still fights around, and he finds the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Taiji grows frustrated. Taiji huffs ‘n’ puffs and storms back over to Hiromu to stand him up. Taiji reels Hiromu in, BLOODY- NO, Hiromu arm-drags free! Taiji BOOTS the lariat, ducks the superkick, and JUMP KNEES! Then BLOODY- NO, Hiromu flips free! Then he wrenches, pump handle, HIROMU-CHAN CRADLE! TWO!!!

Taiji stands, tilt-o-whirl, but Hiromu rolls through! Taiji dodges a lariat, tries again, but Hiromu again blocks Mystica for the TIMEBOMB MK2!!! And then he drags Taiji back up, fireman’s carries, and O G TIMEBOMB!!! Cover, Hiromu wins!!

Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (still GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion)

It took just about everything in Hiromu’s arsenal, but he manages to bring down one of his greatest rivals! Taiji snatches the belt from the ref, because he wants to personally hand it over to Hiromu. The fans applaud this showing of respect, and Taiji even pats Hiromu on the shoulder. Is that Taiji’s way of wishing Hiromu luck at Wrestle Odyssey? Will Hiromu hold onto the belt through- WAIT! Isn’t that Eita?! And he SUPERKICKS Hiromu down!! The fans boo but Eita just shrugs. He asks like he did nothing wrong, but now he grabs a mic. The fans boo but Eita just smiles as he says, “Hiromu… You think you can get away with anything with NOAH’s belt?

“So from now on, I’m gonna do whatever I want!” And he stomps away on Hiromu! Eita mocks the fans for booing him, and says he’s lived in Kobe for 15 YEARS! He is their hometown hero! The fans still boo, but Eita tells Hiromu that it is now official, Hiromu VS Eita at Wrestle Odyssey! Eita will show the world the power of the NOAH Junior Heavyweight Division. Things won’t go Hiromu’s way, because in Ryogoku, in a NOAH ring, Eita will destroy Hiromu! Eita spikes the mic down, steps on Hiromu, then waves goodbye. Will the King of Chops chop Hiromu down to size? Or will the Ticking Timebomb blow Eita away at Wrestle Odyssey?

Yota Tsuji VS David Finlay w/ Gedo!

Between the New Japan Cup and G1 Climax, The Gene Blaster and The Rebel have been meaning to settle a score, and there’s no better time than now! But who will face their Destruction in Kobe?

The bell rings and both men run up! Yota BOOTS but Finlay fires a forearm! They go back and forth with forearms, Finlay gets the edge then whips. Yota grabs ropes, BOOTS again, then dodges to LARIAT Finlay up and out! The fans fire up with Yota and he takes aim. Yota builds speed to slide, but Finlay gets away. Yota just pursues to kick Finlay in the back. Finlay fires a forearm, Yota ROCKS him in return! Yota whips Finlay hard into railing, and Finlay drops to his knees. The fans cheer Yota on while he storms up on Finlay. Yota DECKS Finlay at the ramp! Finlay staggers up, Yota pursues and he DECKS Finlay again.

Yota watches Finlay stagger away up the ramp, and then grins. The fans rally as Yota runs up, but into a clinch! IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER on the ramp! A little double-edged as Finlay clutches his leg, but he drags Yota up. Finlay ROCKS Yota, follows him back to ringside, and he RAMS Yota into the apron. And then APRON BACK SUPLEXES! Yota flops down, Gedo applauds, but the fans are torn. Finlay throws up the Too Sweet while the ring count starts. Finlay drags Yota up and puts him in the ring to then cover, TWO! Yota is tougher than that but Finlay drags Yota up. Finlay reels Yota in, but Yota sunset flips through, TWO!

Both men hurry up and Finlay kicks low. But then Yota BACKDROPS Finlay into the corner! The fans fire up while Finlay writhes and Yota catches his breath. Yota fires up, the fans cheer him on, and Yota storms over to Finlay. Yota hoists Finlay up top, then climbs up after him. Yota goes to the very top, but Finlay shoves him away! Yota rolls through, comes back, and GAMANGIRIS! Finlay sputters, the fans cheer, and Yota goes back up! Finlay tries to fight it, but Yota still hits the SUPER STEINER! It took a bit to do it, but then Yota covers, TWO! Yota drags Finlay up, but Finlay fights the suplex. Finlay wrenches, but Yota ROCKS him first!

Finlay talks trash and he ROCKS Yota! Yota brushes that off to ROCK Finlay! The forearms go back and forth, Gedo coaches Finlay and he comes back to ROCK Yota! Yota comes back to ROCK Finlay, then ROCK him again and again! Finlay throat chops! But he runs into the BACKBREAKER, FLATLINER, and- NO, Finlay dodges the stomp! Finlay ROCKS Yota, then ROLLING- NO, Yota GENE TRIGGERS! Then SUPERKICKS! Finlay yoyos, MCGUINNESS LARIAT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Gedo coaches Finlay to keep going and Finlay barks. The fans rally, Yota goes to a corner, and Finlay runs in, UPPERCUT!

Finlay then suplexes to THROW Yota away! Finlay flexes and the fans fire up for that Broken Arrow. Finlay then unties the blue buckle pad, bringing the Bullet Club Special back into this! Finlay reels Yota in, but Yota fights the lift! Finlay CLUBS away on Yota’s back, lifts, but Yota RANAS! Finlay hits POST, then he falls to the floor! The fans fire up while Finlay writhes and Yota rises. Yota builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Finlay is sent over railing! Finlay almost wipes out Japanese commentary! Daiki Nagai hurries to fan off Yota and Yota rises again. The ring count starts as Yota fetches Finlay.

Yota puts Finlay in the ring and the fans applaud. Yota fires them up more, and then he rolls into the ring. Finlay rises, Yota runs in, GENE TRIGGER! Then a suplex, ORANGE CRUSH! Cover, TWO! Finlay survives but Yota hauls him back up! Finlay fights the bomb, reels Yota in for a Canadian Rack, CANADIAN HAMMER! Cover, TWO! Yota survives and the fans fire up again! Gedo coaches Finlay, Finlay drags Yota up, and Finlay aims again! But Yota again RANAS, to cover! TWO! Yota comes back, but Finlay ALLEY-OOPS him into bare buckles! BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives and Gedo is mad, but Finlay just goes again!

Finlay POWERBOMBS Yota down! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives once more and Finlay is fuming! Gedo is mad at the count but the ref defends it. The fans bark for Finlay as he drags Yota up, and he suplexes to OVER- NO, Yota lands out to GENE TRIGGER! FLATLINER! And then deadlift GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up again as Yota rises! Yota roars, aims from a corner, and GENE- SNAP GATOR ROLL!? Then a suplex, INTO OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO!?!? Yota survives once more and the fans are thunderous! Finlay shakes out the bad arm while thinking on what to do next. Finlay drags Yota up and goes to a corner.

Finlay goes up, up, and MARLOWE- SUPERKICK! Yota won’t let Finlay steal his move! Yota goes up to MARLOWE- PRIMA NOCTA!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Finlay is beside himself as Yota finds another way to survive! The fans duel and Finlay slashes his throat! Finlay is ready to end this, and he drags Yota up again. Suplex for OVER- CRADLE COUNTER! TWO! Both men stand, Finlay slips around, backslide! Yota rolls through, but into OVER- NO, Yota PO-UP KNEES Finlay! GENE- KNEE!! SHORT OVERKILL!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!?! HOW?!?! Finlay is not able to understand, but the fans are thunderous either way!

Finlay seethes, suplexes again, but Yota flips right through! And GENE BLASTER!!! Cover, TWO!?!?! Now Finlay shocks everyone by surviving! Both men are down while the fans rally harder and harder! Both men crawl to corners as the fans duel even harder. Yota powers up, roars, and he takes aim again! Finlay stands, into a GENE- SNAP CRADLE! TWO, but Finlay holds on! INTO- NO, Yota pops free again! And he flips through the lariat to lift, JAMBO PLEX!! Cover, TWO!! But Yota won’t stop, he puts Finlay on the top rope, and backwards! Yota goes up, up, and dragon sleepers! INVERTED SUPERPLEX!!

The fans fire up again as Yota reloads, for the GENE BLASTER!!!! Cover, YOTA WINS!!

Winner: Yota Tsuji, by pinfall

Both men went above and beyond their human limits, and in the end, The Rebel could not survive! But will this incredible victory lead Yota back to a golden opportunity? And which title would he choose?

Before Finlay leaves, Yota offers a handshake of respect. The fans want to see it, but Finlay leaves Yota hanging. No respect from the “Top Dog” just yet, but will Yota leave Finlay and the rest with no choice but to respect him?

IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Gabe Kidd VS Shingo Takagi!

The Mad Man survived a Gene Blast to take this title back for the War Dogs, but now this former ungovernable is looking to return the favor! Will Gabe prove no one’s #WarReady like him? Or will this Rampaging Dragon soon be a global superstar?

The introductions are made, Gabe taunts Takagi with the belt quite literally in his face, but Takagi pushes it aside. Gabe keeps putting the belt in Takagi’s face, so Takagi throws forearms! Then he throws KNEES and HEADBUTTS! They brawl, the bell rings and the fans rally up! Gabe DECKS Takagi with a closed fist! The ref warns Gabe but he drags Takagi up in a corner. Gabe CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS, but Takagi turns things around to JAB and CHOP on repeat! Gabe and Takagi go forehead to forehead, then Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe CHOPS, CHOPS, LARIATS, then runs. Gabe then redirects, but Takagi TOSSES him out!

The fans fire up as Takagi pursues, but Gabe kicks low! Gabe ROCKS Takagi, whips, but Takagi reverses! Gabe hits railing, but he comes back to RAM Takagi! They RAM shoulders again and again, then go forehead to forehead. Takagi SMACKS Gabe off the apron! Gabe JABS, then he SMACKS Takagi off the apron! Gabe SMACKS Takagi off the apron again, then he goes looking under the ring. Gabe brings out chairs! The ref reprimands, the fans are torn, but Gabe gives one to Takagi. Gabe and Takagi CLASH with the chairs! Gabe disarms Takagi, JAMS him up, then gets a fresh chair to HEADSHOT! But Takagi just LARIATS!

The fans fire up as Gabe is down! Takagi roars, but then he has to steady himself from taking that chairshot. The ref checks Gabe, but now Takagi gets a fresh chair! And he CHUCKS It at Gabe’s face! Takagi and the ref argue, but the fans cheer Takagi on. Takagi drags Gabe up, brings him up to the apron, and the fans rally up again. Takagi fires up and fireman’s carries! Gabe flails free and UPPERCUTS! Then he COMEBACKER LARIATS! Takagi falls to the apron then the floor while the fans rally. Gabe barks, the fans join in, and Gabe goes up the corner, ASAI MOONSAULT! Down goes Takagi and the fans fire up!

Gabe rises, roars, and he goes looking under the ring again. Another chair! And Gabe CHUCKS it into Takagi’s face! Takagi staggers away into the crowd, but Gabe pursues! Gabe CHOPS, Takagi HEADBUTTS, and Gabe HEADBUTTS! Gabe CHOPS, Takagi SMACKS Gabe, and repeat! Gabe eggs Takagi on, then he DECKS Takagi with a straight right hand! The fans fire up and bark it up as the Mad Man and Dragon brawl in the crowd! Gabe dares anyone to get on his level! He then drags Takagi up, and we finally get a new ring count. Gabe puts Takagi in at 5 of 20 and the fans applaud.

Gabe storms into the ring, stalks Takagi, and kicks him around. Gabe eggs Takagi on, and says this is NJPW! Takagi stands, and he CHOPS! Gabe shakes his head and CHOPS! Takagi CHOPS again, Gabe CHOPS again, and they go back and forth! The fans rally as then Takagi JABS, JABS, JABS, and DOUBLE CHOPS! Gabe CHOPS again, then CLUBS Takagi. Gabe runs, but Takagi LARIATS! Takagi runs, Gabe LARIATS! Takagi falls and the fans fire up again! Gabe goes to the apron and he lines up a shot, APRON SENTON! Takagi sputters, but now Gabe suplexes, BRAINBUSTER TO THE FLOOR!

The fans fire up while Gabe seethes. The ref checks Takagi and he is somehow okay to continue. Gabe brings out a TABLE! And a second table! Gabe sets those up nearby, “I’m a MAD MAN, y’know!” The fans are torn as Gabe puts Takagi on the apron. The ref reprimands but Gabe still drags Takagi up. Takagi fights the lift, Gabe CLUBS him, but Takagi slips down. Takagi YANKS Gabe down, fireman’s carries, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER on the floor! The fans fire up again and the ref checks both men. Takagi clutches his arm but he seems able to continue. Gabe sputters, but he is also somehow able to continue, so the fans rally up.

Takagi rises, and he goes back to Gabe. Takagi drags Gabe up, puts him in, and Takagi runs up to RUN Gabe over! Then scoop and SLAM, for the SENTON! Gabe sputters and goes to a corner while the fans rally. Takagi runs up, blocks a boot, and LARIATS through! Takagi fires the fans up more, and he JABS, JABS, JABS! Takagi then CHOPS, and he brings Gabe out. Gabe suplexes first! The fans rally, Gabe points to cameras, and he mocks Takagi with, “TOKI GA-” BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Takagi won’t let anyone copy his catchphrase! Takagi hauls Gable up, Gabe takes a swing, but Takagi spins him through for a BIG suplex! Cover, TWO!

The fans rally, and now Takagi tells the fans, “TOKI GA-” Gabe runs up! But Takagi ducks the blindside! Then Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! And YUKON feints to then JAB and YUKON LARIAT! The fans fire up and Takagi looks around. And now, “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up as it is now time! Takagi drags Gabe up, pump handles, but Gabe fights with elbows. Takagi KNEES low, runs, but into a BOOT! Takagi rebounds, but into an EXPLODER! Takagi is back, and he EXPLODERS! Gabe is back, SAIDO! Then Gabe runs, but Takagi ducks the Comebacker to SAIDO! Both men are down and the fans fire up again!

Gabe crawls to a corner while Takagi sits up. Takagi also goes to a corner as the fans duel 60-40 in his favor. Gabe seethes, and both men run in! But then Gabe DROPKICKS! Gabe keeps moving, but Takagi ducks to BLINDSDIE LARIAT, and GERMAN SUPLEX! Gabe lands out!? And SAIDOS in return! Cover, TWO! Takagi still has grit and the fans fire up! Gabe seethes, but then he barks. The fans bark with him, and he storms up on Takagi. Gabe hoists Takagi up but Takagi turns things around! Takagi has Gabe up top and he ROCKS Gabe! Takagi HEADBUTTS again and again, then climbs up the corner.

The fans fire up as Takagi drags Gabe up, and he fireman’s carries! Gabe fights with elbows, then he HEADBUTTS Takagi! Gabe adjusts position, and he SUPER STEINERS! Not the best throw, but the COMEBACKER hits!! Cover, TWO!! Takagi survives and Gabe is fuming! Gabe shakes is head, goes to a corner, and he brings down the kneepad! The fans rally as Gabe takes aim, Takagi rise sup, O- NO! Takagi stops the knee, Gabe CHOPS and SLAPS, but Takagi JABS and HEADBUTTS! SLIDING BOMBER! But Gabe is up to POINT-BLANK O-KNEE!! Both men are down and the fans duel as hard as they can!

Takagi stirs, Gabe reaches up, and Gabe goes back to the apron. Gabe looks at the tables he set up, and he drags Takagi up. Gabe reels Takagi in, but Takagi fights the rest! Gabe DOUBLE CHOPS Takagi! Takagi just gets pissed! He catches Gabe, pump handles, but Gabe fights for dear life! No good, MADE IN JAPAN down through the tables!! The fans are in disbelief as both men are in the wreckage! The ref checks on both men, and somehow, Takagi crawls away. The ring count starts as the fans rally and duel, and Takagi rises at 7 of 20. Takagi stands at 8, the fans cheer, and Takagi hobbles his way over at 12 of 20!

Takagi is safe, but what about Gabe? He’s still down at 15! He sits up at 16, but he’s barely moving! Gabe’s head is bloodied, but he LUNGES in at 19! SLIDING FOREARM! Takagi sits Gabe up, and rains down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Then he brings Gabe around, lifts him up, YUKON POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!!! Gabe survives and the fans fire up again! Takagi rises, the 60-40 split holds, and Takagi drags Gabe up. But Gabe swings! Takagi ROCKS him first! Takagi fires boxing elbows, then he DECKS Gabe! Gabe shakes his head, but Takagi is on him first! Pump handle, torture rack, but Gabe slips free!

Gabe waistlocks, ripcords, but Takagi dodges! Takagi ripcords, PUMPING RAINMAKER! And then he hauls Gabe up, pump handle and torture rack, BURNING DRAGON!!! Cover, TWO!??! Gabe survives and the fans fire back up! Takagi rises, runs, and PUMPING BOMBER!! Takagi roars, he hauls Gabe back up, pump handle and LAST- NO, Gabe slips free to PILEDRIVER!! It was outta nowhere but both men are down again! The fans rally up even harder, we might now have an even split! The ref checks Gabe, that cut on his head is still a concern. But Gabe and Takagi sit up to junkyard dog headbutt! Then they fire forearms!

Takagi HEADBUTTS, Gabe SLAPS, so Takagi SLAPS back! They stand for a SLAP fight! Gabe fires off strikes, then a LARIAT! Takagi stays up but he sputters! Gabe also sputters, but Takagi LARIATS! Gabe LARIATS! We hit 20 minutes as Gabe LARIATS again! Gabe roars, gut wrenches, but Takagi RANAS! And ELBOWS! JABS! Gabe HEADBUTTS! Takagi HEADBUTTS! Gabe SMACKS Takagi, Takagi SMACKS Gabe! Takagi dodges, Gabe dodges, but Takagi SWATS a lariat to POISON-RANA?!? But Gabe LARIATS!!! Cover, ONE?!!?!? The fans are thunderous and Gabe shakes his head, he refuses to accept this!

Gabe rises, runs, O-KNEE!!! And then the MAD MAN- NO, Takagi fights it! Gabe still hits a POWERBOMB and stacks, TWO!! Gabe just hauls Takagi back up, LEG TRAP PILEDRIVER!!! Cover, GABE WINS!!

Winner: Gabe Kidd, by pinfall (still IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion)

The series between the War Dogs and the “Unaffiliated” may favor the latter, but Gabe won out in the end! But will Gabe even survive his own war if he keeps going to such extremes? Or will the Mad Man just keep finding ways to win?

Takagi surprisingly shows Takagi respect the same way Taiji did to Hiromu. But lo and behold! The Gene Blast makes his way out here! Yota and Gabe have their own score to settle, and Yota grabs the mic to tell Gabe, “There may be something in you that’s changed since you took that title, but there is something you and I must still do together. There is something you and I both want to do. And we both share that same goal, and we need that IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship to achieve it. That’s why I’m challenging you for that title.” Yota drops the mic, but Gabe picks it up to respond!

Gabe holds up mic and belt, then says, “You challenging me? Challenge accepted! October 13th, Ryogoku Kokugikan, bring it on, my number one rival!” The Mad Man and the Gene Blaster are ready to run it back, but who proves they are the Global King of Pro-Wrestling?

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. VS Ren Narita!

G1 Climax 35 certainly brought the heat this Summer, but there’s a lot more heat between The Front Man and the Souled Out Son of Strong Style. The House of Torture stole that win from the champion, and Ren’s been bragging ever since. But will he follow through and take the title for his own? Or will he #JustTapOut?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who faces their Destruction in Kobe!

The bell rings and the two stare down. They slowly circle and feel things out, and they clinch. ZSJ waistlocks, Ren turns to go for an arm but ZSJ stays on top of Ren. ZSJ slips around, goes for an arm in return, but Ren goes to stack. ZSJ lets go and has the leg guard, but Ren turns him over. Ren wants a facelock. ZSJ goes for a leg, then a clinch. Ren’s own leg guard holds ZSJ back, even as ZSJ looks for an angle to cover. ZSJ hooks up the legs, they roll in the deathlock, and end up in the ropes. Red Shoes counts, the two separate, and the fans applaud this opening exchange. Ren and ZSJ then reset and circle again.

Ren sits down and dares ZSJ to take on his leg guard. ZSJ stays back, he won’t fall for a trick he practically innovated. Ren scoots closer, so ZSJ sits down to also have the leg guard. Ren shoots in but ZSJ catches him to an ARMBAR! Ren stays up, clasps hands, and he pops free to KNEEBAR! ZSJ moves around, rolls with Ren, and they fight for control. They each have a leg as they roll, but ZSJ has the HEEL HOOK! Ren fights around to KNEEBAR! ZSJ has the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud and Ren lets ZSJ go. The tape on the left leg makes it a clear target, but that doesn’t mean ZSJ can easily defend it.

ZSJ and Ren reset, circle, and feel things out again. Ren KICKS the bad leg and ZSJ has to drop back! Ren smirks while ZSJ hobbles back up. They circle again, ZSJ keeps the bad leg back, and he blocks the kick! HEEL HOOK! Ren goes to the ROPEBREAK and the fans cheer as ZSJ gets even. The two reset again, tie up, and ZSJ headlocks. Ren powers up and out, ZSJ BOOTS Ren, but Ren just grins. Ren BOOTS, ZSJ BOOTS, repeat! The BOOTS go back and forth, then ZSJ runs to BOOT Ren to the ropes! The fans fire up as Ren sputters. ZSJ runs up to UPPERCUT! And then SNAP HALF HATCH! Cover, TWO!

Ren stays in this, but he bails out of the ring. ZSJ pursues and KICKS Ren’s leg. ZSJ UPPERCUTS, UPPERCUTS again, and again! And again! ZSJ SLAPS and UPPERCUTS Ren, then Ren slumps down to the floor. Red Shoes wants this in the ring so ZSJ brings Ren up. ZSJ twists Ren’s ear, then puts him in the ring. The fans fire up with ZSJ, and ZSJ storms up. Ren takes a swing, but into a HANGING ARMBAR! Red Shoes counts, but Ren makes it a HANGING HALF CRAB! Red Shoes reprimands Ren now, and Ren lets go at 4. ZSJ flops to the floor but Ren goes out after him. Ren drags ZSJ up to whip him hard into railing!

Ren whips ZSJ hard into railing, he puts ZSJ’s leg through the railing and pulls! ZSJ falls into the crowd, and Ren just pulls on the leg harder! Red Shoes reprimands, Ren tells him to shut up, but he still lets ZSJ’s leg go. Ren then brings out chairs! The fans boo and Red Shoes reprimands, but Ren puts the chairs in the ring. That lets him get another chair to SMASH ZSJ’s leg against railing! The fans boo again but Ren leaves ZSJ behind. Ren wants the ring count but Red Shoes checks with ZSJ first. ZSJ’s leg is free from the railing, and ZSJ is okay to continue, so now the count begins. The fans rally for ZSJ as he shakes out the bad leg.

ZSJ uses the railing to stand at 8 of 20, and he hobbles his way back to ringside, bringing the chair! Red Shoes pauses the count to reprimand ZSJ, so ZSJ leaves the chair behind. But then Ren stomps ZSJ at the ropes! Ren stomps away on the bad leg, then drags ZSJ to a corner! Red Shoes reprimands as Ren pulls the leg against the post! Red Shoes counts, Ren lets go, and Ren stalks ZSJ in the ring. Ren drags ZSJ up, and HALF HATCH BRIDGES! TWO!! ZSJ survives and the fans fire up! But Ren puts ZSJ’s bad leg on the ropes to stomp it! And HIP DROP it! The fans boo but Ren drags ZSJ around for a toehold.

ZSJ endures, flips over, and he reels Ren in for a headlock takeover! NECK- NO, Ren UP KICKS! ZSJ may have hesitated from the pain in the leg. Ren bumps ZSJ off buckles, puts the bad leg through ropes, and he pulls again! Red Shoes reprimands, Ren lets go, but then Ren DROPKICKS the leg! ZSJ falls over, but Ren snapmares to cover, ONE!! Ren AX HANDLES ZSJ down, covers, TWO! Ren is annoyed but he grabs the bad leg. Ren works to turn ZSJ over, but ZSJ hooks onto Ren’s leg to block it. Ren pulls on the leg, then has both legs for a gator roll and TEXAS CLOVERHOLD! ZSJ endures as Ren sits deep on the hold!

ZSJ fights around, rolls, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Ren lets go in annoyance. Ren drags ZSJ up, grabs the leg, and SHIN BREAKERS! Ren drags ZSJ back up, for another SHIN BREAKER! ZSJ falls against the ropes and Ren storms over. Ren drags ZSJ up, has the leg again, SHIN- DDT!! ZSJ turns things around on Ren and the fans cheer! ZSJ goes to a corner, Ren goes to the other. Ren gets his bad arm into working, and he runs up, only for ZSJ to UPPERCUT! ZSJ then runs up and UPPERCUTS Ren down! The fans cheer while ZSJ stands back up. ZSJ drags Ren up, but Ren KKICKS the bad leg!

Ren reels ZSJ in, but ZSJ fights the Cobra Twist to go for the Cobra Twist! Ren returns the favor, they go around and around, and ZSJ has the COBRA TWIST! The fans cheer, but Ren pulls ZSJ’s ear! Ren HIP TOSSES ZSJ away! Ren CHOKES ZSJ, but ZSJ hits an ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! ZSJ goes for the arm, Ren resists, so ZSJ isolates the arm to STOMP it! Ren writhes and the fans rally up. ZSJ drags Ren up, but Ren fights the scoop. Ren swings, but into an wrench, wrangle, and IRON OCTOPUS! Ren endures as ZSJ pushes his own leg down for pressure, but Ren reaches up to pull on the leg! Ren then knees low and snapmares.

Ren hooks ZSJ up, NECK TWIST! But ZSJ bridges up, snapmares, and NECK TWISTS! Then basement DROPKICKS! The fans fire up while both men are down again! The fans rally as ZSJ rises, and he hobbles back over. ZSJ rips Ren’s shirt away to KICK him in the chest! Ren manages to grin, but ZSJ KICKS him again! ZSJ hobbles back, but he then UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! Ren BOOTS, ZSJ UPPERCUTS Ren down! But Ren KICKS the bad leg, and has ZSJ in the GUILLOTINE! The fans rally for ZSJ as he endures, but Ren pulls on the hold! ZSJ fights around, rises up, and wrenches to PELE the arm!

The fans rally as ZSJ has Ren, scoops, but Ren slips free! Ren KICKS the bad leg, but ZSJ avoids the facebuster! Ren avoids the Penalty Kick, BLIZZARD PLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! ZSJ escapes and Ren seethes, but the fans rally up. Ren vows to end this, and he goes to the corner. Ren climbs, eggs ZSJ on, and HELL’S- ZSJ catches it to a FLAPJACK! STF!! ZSJ does his best to hold onto Ren’s leg with the bad leg, Ren spits out his mouthguard to then roll, but ZSJ uses that to KOJI KLUTCH, then TRIANGLE HOLD! Ren endures this string of modifications, but YUJIRO TAKAHASHI is here!

The fans boo as Red Shoes has to stop Tokyo Pimp from getting in the ring. Ren moves around, and he BITES ZSJ’s leg on the calf! The fans boo as Ren is free, and he goes for his pushup bar! Ren grins as he aims, but ZSJ ducks! But then Ren turns to CLUB the leg!! Roll and KNEEBAR!! ZSJ endures, reaches out, but Ren pulls on the leg! ZSJ reaches around to get Ren’s foot, but Ren just puts on more pressure! The two fight, ZSJ reaches for rope, but Ren drags him away! Ren gets both legs, FIGURE FOUR KNEEBAR!! The fans rally harder for ZSJ, but he’s in a tough spot. ZSJ turns things over, pulls at Ren’s arms, but Ren just turns things back over!

ZSJ and Ren roll, ZSJ pushes up and back, but Ren twists the foot! They keep moving around on the mat as Ren puts as much pressure as he can on the bad leg! ZSJ claws at the mat, pushes up again, and he sits back, but Ren pushes him back down! ZSJ reaches back for Ren’s feet but Ren just twists the leg again! They roll, roll, ZSJ scrapes at Ren with his heel, but has to go for the ROPEBREAK!! The fans cheer as ZSJ survives, but Ren looms over him. Ren drags ZSJ up, TOSSES him out, and then Ren gets in Red Shoes’ face. This lets Yujiro drag ZSJ up! The fans boo, but ZSJ fights the fisherman suplex! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Yujiro down!

The fans cheer, ZSJ hurries in, and he swings, but Ren gets around! SLEEPER! ZSJ reaches out, but Ren CLAWS the eyes, then GERMAN SUPLEXES! ZSJ rises to LARIAT! The fans cheer, ZSJ fires up, and ZACK DRIVER!! Cover, TWO! But into an ARMBAR! ZSJ has the omoplata, then he reaches for the other arm! RINGS OF SATURN! They roll, ZSJ keeps Ren down, and he bends the arms back! The fans rally, JIM BREAKS SPECIAL!! Ren endures as ZSJ traps both arms, then even HEADBUTTS the shoulder! Ren flails, kicks, but ZSJ adds a CROSSFACE!! Ren endures, but SANADA yanks the ref out!!

The fans boo as now the Cold-Blooded Snake CHOKES ZSJ! Sanada stomps him with those goofy Astro Boy boots! Yujiro joins in, the fans tell them to go away, but they stand ZSJ up. Yujiro runs up, but ZSJ dodges! PIMP CANE hits Sanada, then ZSJ BOOTS Yujiro! The fans fire up as this match hits 25 minutes! The Young Lions usher the House of Torture members away, and ZSJ hobbles back up. ZSJ fires up, the fans are with him, and ZSJ drags Ren up. But Ren LOW BLOWS! And DOUBLE CROSSER!! Cover, but there’s no ref! The cheating backfires and the fans laugh at Ren! Ren shouts at Red Shoes to get back in the ring!

Red Shoes hobbles his way over, and Ren goes up the corner. Ren puts one out, takes aim, HELL’S GUILLO- ENZIGIRI! ZSJ denies Ren again and both men are down! The fans fire up as ZSJ rises. ZSJ gets them to get louder, and then PENALTY- NO, Ren dodges! Ren trips ZSJ, drags him around, but ZSJ trips Ren! JAPANESE LEG ROLL CLUTCH! TWO, into a REAR NAKED- NO, ZSJ rolls back, then has the SLEEPER! Ren slips through, they both go for sleepers, but ZSJ has Ren caught! Ren sputters, fades, but then he mule kicks the bad leg! And he blocks the roundhouse! BLIZZARD PLEX!! Bridging cover, TWO!!

The fans are thunderous as ZSJ survives, and Ren is furious with Red Shoes! Red Shoes defends the count, and now the fans are even louder behind ZSJ. Ren BOOTS ZSJ, BOOTS him again, then runs to BOOT- NO, ZSJ blocks, and he SLAPS Ren! Ren drops to his knees but ZSJ falls back on the mat! The fans rally even harder and ZSJ goes to a corner. ZSJ runs up, Ren blocks the boot, and he shoves Red Shoes aside! But ZSJ blocks the low blow! ZSJ swings, but Ren SLAPS ZSJ now! ZSJ SLAPS back! They DOUBLE SLAP! And DOUBLE SLAP!! Both men wobble and stumble, but ZSJ stays on his feet!

ZSJ blocks another low blow, and he SLAPS Ren! And PENALTY KICKS! And SABRE DRIVER!! Cover, ZSJ WINS!!

Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall (still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)

Ren tried every trick he could think of, but he couldn’t pull off another robbery against the champion! Will Ren every realize that he sold out to the wrong side?

As for ZSJ, he gets the belt and the mic to tell Ren, “Oi! You don’t need the House of Torture to be great, you idiot. Just do things the right way. So, Kobe, how was it?” The fans cheer, they loved it! ZSJ says his next challenger, well, isn’t it Konosuke Takeshita? Is he here? No? Oh well, too bad. But ZSJ decides to talk to “Take-chan” through the camera! “Oi, Za Alpha, huh? Well, I’m the effin’ Front Man, and I’m the effin’ IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. We’re 1-1, huh? Ryogoku, <it’ll be fun>, d*ckhead!” ZSJ then wonders, should he get past Takeshita, who will be his challenger for WrestleKingdom in the Tokyo Dome?

ZSJ wonders if someone from this “Next Generation” is gonna step up. ZSJ is the best technical wrestler, he is THE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, and he is going to Tokyo Dome as such! As you were. Goodnight, Kobe! Mic drop and the gold streamers fly for the champion! But with 15 days to prepare, will ZSJ be ready for The Alpha? Who will prove they are THE King of Pro-Wrestling when NJPW returns to Ryogoku?

My Thoughts:

Awesome show for NJPW here, a really stacked card, and that’s even with it partially acting as the go-home/bridge to other events, such as King of Pro-Wrestling and now even NOAH’s Wrestle Odyssey. I was very surprised Tanahashi VS Khan went so quickly, but I suppose there was no doubting Tanahashi would win that. At the same time, it allowed time for Kaito to challenge Tanahashi face to face, and that’ll be a great match. Oleg VS Fale was good stuff, and great win for Oleg overcoming the overbooking. But of course, Evil & Dick have to beat Oleg up anyway, and Evil makes the obvious challenge. Sadly, the NEVER Openweight title is kinda the only title Evil can take, with or without cheating, as it feels like the other title scenes have left him behind.

Awesome tag title match, Oskar & Yuto are really ahead of the pace I expected for them. Granted, it helps that Oskar is legit 6’7″. And for being 2025, Yuto’s throwback gimmick of like 1990s American hip hop and rap is somehow working. Great win for them, and now Shota & Yuya are coming for the belts after their solid win in the 10 Man Tag. I don’t think the Knock Out Brothers are gonna be transitional champions, but who knows. There’s also World Tag League to consider in a couple months, so anything can happen.

Hiromu VS Taiji was great, though the gut wrench teeter totter might’ve gone one turn too many with Taiji almost dropping Hiromu. Great win for Hiromu, and Taiji showing him respect was also a nice touch. Eita showing up to attack Hiromu was good stuff to build their own Wrestle Odyssey match, and maybe Eita wins that to bring the GHC title home. Hiromu’s already solidified himself as one of, if not THE best Junior Heavyweight already, no need for a lengthy reign with another company’s belt.

Yota VS Finlay was awesome, Takagi VS Gabe was awesome but also scary given the cut on the back of Gabe’s head. But Gabe winning out made sense, as he and Yota can have their rematch. That will also be an awesome one, and could go either way, depending on other plans. ZSJ VS Ren was great, not quite as red hot as the other matches, and of course we got more overbooking. Luckily, it backfired, and ZSJ stays on top. ZSJ VS Konosuke for King of Pro-Wrestling will definitely bring the house down, but I’m leaning towards ZSJ retaining. Konosuke is awesome, we all know this, but he has a lot more going on in AEW right now, in that he should take the Unified Championship from Okada. It’d also be quite something if Konosuke won the Continental Classic this year, making unique history of winning both G1 and C2 in the same year.

My Score: 9.2/10