Will “The Unaffiliated” make it feel like old times?

As NJPW sets out on the Road to King of Pro-Wrestling, the former members of Los Ingobernables De Japon team together once again! Will Hiromu, Takagi, Yota y Titan win for old times’ sake?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Tatsuya Matsumoto & Katsuya Murashima VS Zane Jay & Masatora Yasuda; Matsumoto & Murashima win.
• Shota Umino VS Daiki Nagai; Shota wins.
• Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney VS SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Double Count-Out Draw.
• Hiroshi Tanahashi & Shoma Kato VS El Phantasmo & Jado; ELP & Jado win.
• 10 Man Tag: House of Torture VS Boltin Oleg, Toru Yano, El Desperado, Tiger Mask & KUUKAI; Oleg, Yano, Desperado, Tiger Mask & Kuukai win.
• Yuya Uemura & Tomoaki Honma VS OSKAR & Yuto-Ice; Oskar & Yuto win.
• 8 Man Tag: Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & Titan VS Gabe Kidd, David Finlay, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo; Yota, Takagi, Hiromu & Titan win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney VS SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru!

The boys are back together as 100 Proof and 44 Caliber team up against the Cold-Blooded Snake & Heel Master. But will these Super Juniors be ready for Super Junior Tag League later this month? Or will The House of Torture find a way to stack the deck even now?

No sneak attacks during entrances, a little surprising. But Drilla trolls Sanada by wearing an “RIP Seiya Sanada” shirt! Clearly, the War Dogs are still upset about how Sanada betrayed them, and now they brawl! The fans fire up, the ref reprimands, but Connors & Drilla TOSS Kanemaru & Sanada out of the ring! They then go out and CHOP Sanada, and send Kanemaru into railing! Drilla CLUBS away on Sanada, then opens the gate! Drilla brings Sanada out into the crowd! The fans fire up as Drilla runs Sanada all the way to the back and into the wall! Connors keeps after Kanemaru, also in the crowd!

Connors whips Kanemaru into the POST! Drilla JAMS Sanada up with a fan’s crutch! Drilla headlocks Sanada, brings him back to ringside, and then whips him into the POST! Sanada falls in a heap, then Drilla grabs the guitar! The ref grabs the guitar, too, wanting Drilla to calm down and have the match. But while Sanada CLAWS Drilla’s eyes, Connors brings out WHEEL-SAN! Connors CLOBBERS Kanemaru with it! The fans cheer, and then Drilla CHOKES Sanada with and ELBOWS him down! Connors puts Kanemaru in the ring, the bell finally rings, and this is finally a match. Connors throws off his shirt to then rain down fists on Kanemaru.

Drilla stomps Sanada, then whips him into railing! Sanada slumps down, Drilla leaves him behind, and Connors CHOKES Kanemaru using this necklace! Connors tosses the necklace to Drilla then goes back to Kanemaru. Kanemaru fires body shots, but Connors isn’t bothered. Kanemaru fires shots but Connors CLUBS him down! Connors ROCKS Kanemaru, ROCKS him again, then whips. Kanemaru dropkicks the leg out! But Connors CLUBS Kanemaru again anyway! Connors stands Kanemaru up, but Kanemaru CLAWS the eyes! Kanemaru runs, but Connors goes the other way! Only for Kanemaru to see it coming!

Kanemaru DUMPS Connors out, and then Sanada BLASTS Drilla off the apron! The fans boo but Sanada goes out to bring Drilla up, and whip him into railing! Kanemaru whips Connors into railing, too! The fans boo but Kanemaru brings out a chair! The ref is busy with Sanada and Drilla that Kanemaru JAMS Connors up! Sanada stomps Drilla down, Kanemaru does the same to Connors. Kanemaru puts Connors in, then whips him to ropes for a kitchen sink KNEE! Sanada sends Drilla into more railing, then he tags in. Sanada drags Connors up just to TOSS him out! Drilla storms up to the apron but Sanada KICKS the ropes to jam him up!

The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Kanemaru sends Connors into railing! Connors slumps down but Kanemaru stomps him anyway. Kanemaru drags Connors up to put him in, and Sanada covers, TWO! Sanada is annoyed but he tags Kanemaru in. Kanemaru stomps Connors around, taunts him, but Connors just sits up. Connors smirks, then he BODY BLOWS! Kanemaru kicks low in return! Kanemaru whips, then BOOTS Connors! Kanemaru scoops for BRITISH FALL! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Connors survives, but Kanemaru sucker punches Drilla! Drilla doesn’t budge, but the ref has to keep him back.

Kanemaru drags Connors up, suplexes, but Connors fights it! Connors UPPERCUTS, but Kanemaru CLAWS eyes! Kanemaru runs, but into the SNAP POWERSLAM! Both men are down, they crawl for corners, hot tags to Sanada and Drilla! Drilla KICKS the ropes to jam Sanada up! Then he SMACKS Sanada off the crossbars! Sanada tumbles to the floor, Drilla WRECKS him with a dropkick! Drilla CLUBS away on Sanada, CHOPS him, and then brings him back into the crowd! The ring count is climbing as Drilla SMACKS Sanada off a chair! But Sanada JAMS Drilla up with a fan’s souvenir! Sanada ROCKS Drilla as we hit 8 of 20!

The fans rally and the brawl continues as we hit 10 of 20! Sanada SMACKS Drilla with a water bottle! We hit 15, Drilla fights a saido! They switch, switch, Drilla lifts, but Sanada fights free! BUT WE HIT 20!!

Double Count-Out Draw

The match is over, but the brawl is not! Sanada sends Drilla into chairs! The fans boo but Sanada SMACKS Drilla with another water bottle! Drilla hits back, Connors goes after Kanemaru, it is as wild as it began! Kanemaru even JAMS Connors with Wheel-san! But then Connors dodges as Kanemaru THRWOS Wheel-san! Young Lions do their best to separate everyone, but easier said than done! Drilla breaks free to CLOBBER Sanada and the Young Lions around him! The others get in there, the two are separated again, but then Drilal THROWS a chair in that direction! Things are only going to get more intense from here, will Drilla make sure October 13th is the end of Sanada?

8 Man Tag: Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & Titan VS Gabe Kidd, David Finlay, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo!

They may not be ungovernable, but these four “Unaffiliated” stars are still amigos through and through. But with Gene Blast aimed at the Mad Man’s IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, which side will stand tall on the Road to King of Pro-Wrestling?

The teams sort out, and then take notice of a fan who actually cheers Finlay. Hiromu’s feelings are hurt but the Rebel is happy. The fans bark as Bullet Club throws the Too Sweet, and in the end, we start with Titan and Gedo. El Inmortal circles with the Blacksmith, they tie up, but Gedo kicks low! Gedo laughs, then throws a haymaker. Red Shoes reprimands over closed fists, so Gedo ELBOWS Titan in the head. Gedo whips Titan to a corner, but Titan goes up and over and handsprings away! The fans cheer, then Titan runs back in. Gedo puts him on the apron, but Titan GAMANGIRIS! And springboards to MISSILE DROPKICK!

Gedo tumbles out, the fans fire up, and Titan builds speed! Finlay saves Gedo but Titan handsprings and poses a la Sabu. But Gedo gets in and grabs the mask! Red Shoes reprimands, but Titan wrenches free to pull Gedo’s bead! Finlay protests but the fans cheer. Titan brings Gedo over, tag to Yota, and Yota winds up to CLUB the beard! The fans cheer, Yota brings Gedo up and he pulls the beard, too! Tag to Takagi and he goes up. The fans cheer for the AX HANDLE to the beard! Gedo clutches his chin, and now Takagi tags Hiromu. Takagi wrenches the beard! Hiromu goes up top, then “apologizes” as he hits the AX HANDLE on the beard!

The fans cheer and Hiromu drags Gedo up by the beard. Hiromu “apologizes,” and takes Gedo on a BEARD SWING! Hiromu THROWS Gedo away! The fans cheer, and hiromu gets grossed out by the hair on his hands. Hiromu runs in and LARIATS, snapmares, but runs into a cheap shot by Taiji! Taiji then HOTSHOTS Hiromu down! And drags him out, to whip hard into railing! Finlay and Gabe do the same to Takagi and Yota! Gabe storms after Yota into the crowd! Gabe CHOPS, Yota fires a forearm, and they brawl right in the middle of a row! The fans rally as Gabe drags Yota up, barrels through to the ramp, and sends him into railing!

Takagi whips, but Finlay reverses, and Takagi hits POST! Gedo knocks Titan down for good measure while Gabe SMACKS Yota off chairs. Finlay CHOKES Takagi, fishhooks him, then Taiji drags Hiromu over to the red corner. But Finlay is there to mockingly tag in! Taiji drags Hiromu all the way to the blue corner, and now Finlay actually tags in. Finlay pulls Hiromu’s hair, fishhooks his face, then ELBOWS him in the head. Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Finlay is upset with Red Shoes but Red Shoes defends his count. Finlay steps on Hiromu’s foot to keep him down, then he drags Hiromu all the way back.

Gabe tags in, he stomps Hiromu, but Hiromu CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Gabe SMACKS Hiromu down! Gabe then mocks the tranquilo, and he flips off the team! Gabe mocks Naito, too, and he bumps Hiromu off buckles. Tag to Gedo and he pulls Hiromu’s hair as payback! The fans rally but Gabe swings Hiromu by his hair! And THROWS him even! Gedo flexes and the fans cheer. Hiromu writhes in a corner, but Gedo storms over to drag him up again. Gedo bumps Hiromu off Finlay’s boot, then he tags Taiji. Finlay stands Hiromu up so Taiji can CLAW Hiromu’s face! Red Shoes protests and Taiji stops.

Hiromu tries to circumvent Taiji, but Taiji anchors him by a foot. Taiji stomps Hiromu, but Hiromu CHOPS! And CHOPS! Taiji ROCKS Hiromu, runs, but Hiromu dodges to RANA! The fans fire up while both men are down! They crawl for corners, but Taiji CLOBBERS Hiromu first! Taiji CLAWS Hiromu’s face, whips him, but Hiromu reverses. Taiji handsprings through to NEURALIZER! Taiji fires up with the fans, and he gut wrenches. But Hiromu slips free! Taiji runs, but Hiromu scoops to BACKBREAKER! Both men are down again and they crawl. The fans rally up, and we get hot tag to Finlay, who drags Hiromu back in time!

Hiromu breaks free, blocks a kick and a punch, to DRAGON SCREW! The fans rally as Hiromu crawls, hot tag to Takagi! The fans fire up as the Rampaging Dragon rallies on the War Dogs! Then he LARIATS Finlay in a corner! The fans fire up as Takagi then JABS, JABS, JABS in the corner! Then a CHOP! Gedo CLUBS Takagi, he and Finlay double whip, but Takagi slips around to send Gedo into Finlay! Takagi TOSSES Gedo, but Finlay kicks and whips. Takagi reverses to BACKDROP! And then he LARIATS Finlay up and out! Finlay tumbles, Titan is in, and Takagi whips him to help him DIVE! Direct hit into railing!

The fans fire up, and they join Takagi in shouting, “OI! OI! OI!” Titan puts Finlay in, Takagi suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi then tells the fans, “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up as the time has come! Takagi stands Finlay up, pump handles, but Finlay fights free! Finlay arm-drags, then clinches, IRISH- ARM-DRAG! ELBOW! JAB! YUKON- NO, Finlay blocks and clinches, IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Both men are down and they crawl for their corners. Hot tags to Gabe and Yota! The fans fire up as these two run up! Yota dodges to kick and whip, but Gabe reverses to CHOP! Gabe whips, Yota reverses, and kitchen sink KNEE!

Gedo gets up, Yota ELBOWS him down, and Yota runs at Gabe in the corner. STINGER SPLASH! Then Yota runs to RAM Gabe! Gabe rebounds, but Yota trips him! BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO! Gabe stays in this, but the fans fire up with Yota. Yota drags Gabe around by the legs, but Gabe kicks and kicks to get free. Gabe stands, into a CHOP! Gabe SLAPS Yota! Yota goes to a corner, Gabe fires hands! And he DECKS Yota with a right hand! Gabe stomps a m8uduhole, Red Shoes reprimands, and Gabe backs off. Gabe runs corner to corner to LARIAT! Then he CHOPS, HEADBUTTS, and repeat!

Gabe wobbles, rolls, runs up, but Yota meets him! Only for Gabe to clinch and EXPLODER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Gabe barks. Fans join in as Gabe rises, and he drags Yota up. Gabe suplexes, but Yota slips free! Yota feeds Gabe to Hiromu’s SUPERKICK! Taiji BOOTS Hiromu! Titan kicks, KICKS and SOBATS Taiji down! Finlay CLOBBERS Taiji! Takagi CLOBBERS Finlay! Takagi ELBOWS Gabe, runs, but Gabe goes the other way to CLOBBER Takagi! Yota clinches for the BACKBREAKER, FLATLINER, but Gabe avoids the stomp! Gabe SLAPS, Yota CHOPS, Gabe CHOPS, Yota GENE TRIGGERS! Gabe rebounds, COMEBACKER LARIAT!

Gabe storms around, the fans fire up, and Gabe brings Yota up, only for Yota to suplex! ORANGE CRUSH! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Both men crawl, hot tag to Gedo! He runs up on Hiromu, but Hiromu grabs the beard! But Gedo pokes Hiromu in the eyes! Hiromu falls, Gedo turns around, GENE BLASTER!! Cover, Unaffiliated win!

Winners: Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & Titan, by pinfall

The Blacksmith gets blasted and the War Dogs are on the losing end! Does this foreshadow The Mad Man taking a loss to the Gene Blaster in Ryogoku Kokugikan? Gabe makes sure to stare down Yota and hold up the belt to communicate that it won’t be so easy when it’s 1v1.

As for the Unaffiliated, Yota gets the mic to tell Gabe, “After we fought for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship for the first time in February, we promised that the two of us would be the center of this ring. Gabe, I don’t care when, where, or what ring you step into, but I believe that this cerulean blue is the most important thing to you.” The fans applaud that. Yota then tells Gabe, “I’m the one who will carry the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship on my shoulders. Are you ready!?” The fans applaud that! Yota challenges Gabe to make up for missing the G1 Climax by giving everything he’s got in Ryogoku!

Yota smiles and gives the mic drop, having made it clear that more than just the gold is on the line! Will the Mad Man or the Gene Blaster prove they are the King of Pro-Wrestling?

My Thoughts:

A great start to this Road to King of Pro-Wrestling series, though some pretty standard outcomes for these matches. Connors & Drilla VS Sanada & Kanemaru ending up a draw was actually appreciated, as it keeps things rather even between Drilla and Sanada going towards their match. In skimming the other matches, great stuff in Kuukai and Hontai winning. Kuukai’s got some unique moves, especially his scoop slam into a neckbreaker. And really good stuff in the main event, but of course Gedo takes the loss for the team. Unaffiliated win so that Hiromu has momentum going towards the NOAH Wrestle Odyssey match, and so that Yota has momentum going to the Global Heavyweight title match. Solid promo from Yota, too, can’t wait to see how the rematch goes.

My Score: 8.8/10