Who is the pretender to the throne?

Douki and El Desperado battle to have the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match they were meant to have at WrestleKingdom 19!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Kickoff – Tatsuya Matsumoto & Shoma Kato VS Masatora Yasuda & Zane Jay; Yasuda & Zane win.
• Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima VS El Phantasmo & Jado; Tanahashi & Murashima win.
• Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney VS SANADA & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Connors & Drilla win, by count out.
• 8 Man Tag: Boltin Oleg, Toru Yano, Tiger Mask & KUUKAI VS The House of Torture; House of Torture wins.
• 8 Man Tag: Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi & Titan VS Gabe Kidd, David Finlay, Taiji Ishimori & Gedo; Yota, Takagi, Hiromu & Titan win.
• Shota Umino VS OSKAR; Shota wins.
• Yuya Uemura VS Yuto-Ice; Yuya wins.
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado VS DOUKI; Douki wins and becomes the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.

PLAY BY PLAY

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

Just the other day, these two teams fought, and only fought, it was barely a match! The double count-out draw left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth, so they’re running it back! Will there be sweet victory for someone on the Road to King of Pro-Wrestling?

But then just like before, the War Dogs strike first with DROPKICKS! Drilla goes out after Sanada, Connors is after Kanemaru, and the fans fire up, even as the action is right in front of them! Drilla SMACKS Sanada off the commentary desk, HEADBUTTS him, then follows him into the crowd! Connors stomps away on Kanemaru, then SMACKS him with a chair! Drilla brings Sanada around the way while Connors CHOKES Kanemaru. Drilla SMACKS Sanada off the West sign! And SMACKS him off it again and again! Drilla roars, Sanada slumps down, and the fans fire up. Drilla drags Sanada back up, brings him to ringside, and RAMS him into the apron!

Connors JEEP FLIPPERS Kanemaru into the apron! The fans bark for the War Dogs, and Connors brings out WHEEL-SAN! The fans fire up as Connors runs up, but Kanemaru dodges! Kanemaru kicks Connors low, then POSTS him! Connors falls in a heap, but Kanemaru SMASHES his knee on the floor! Sanada CHOKES Drilla, CLAWS his face, but stops as the ref reprimands. Connors and Kanemaru get in the ring and finally it is a match! Kanemaru whips Connors to dropkick the legs out! Kanemaru YANKS Connors’ leg, tags Sanada, and Sanada BLASTS Drilla! Drilla gets back up, but the ref keeps him back.

Sanada tags Kanemaru, and they split the wishbone on Connors! Kanemaru stomps Connors, CLUBS him in the head, then tags Sanada. Sanada tells the ref to watch Drilla, then he ROCKS Connors. Sanada whips, Connors reverses, Sanada dodges and he sucker punches Drilla! Kanemaru sucker punches Connors! Drilla steps through the ropes, Sanada KICKS the ropes to jam him up! Drilla tumbles to the floor and Connors writhes on the mat. Sanada tags in Kanemaru and Kanemaru kicks Connors around. The Heel Master eggs Connors on, so Connors fires haymakers! Kanemaru kicks low, runs, but Connors goes the other way!

But Kanemaru dropkicks the legs out before the Jeep Flipper! Then he grabs the leg for a SHIN BREAKER! Connors staggers, Kanemaru kicks and runs, but into a SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up while both men are down! They crawl, hot tags to Drilla and Sanada! And Drilla KICKS the ropes to jam Sanada up! The fans fire up, and then Drilla SHAKES the rope to jam up Sanada even more! The fans fire up, then Drilla hooks Sanada up in the ropes for BEATS OF THE DRUM! Drilla stops at TEN, then he goes out to SMACK Sanada back into the ring! Drilla throws off the RIP Sanada shirt, then runs in at the corner. Sanada BOOTS him!

Sanada runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! The fans fire up and bark for Drilla, and he drags Sanada up. Canadian Rack, DRILLA- NO, Sanada grabs the ref! Sanada is free, runs up on Drilla, but Drilla gets around. him Sanada standing switches, Drilla CHOPS, but Sanada falls to LOW BLOW! The fans boo but then Sanada grabs his guitar! The fans boo more but the Cold-Blooded Snake just soaks it up. Sanada takes a swing, but Drilla dodges! Then LOW BLOW in return! The fans cheer, Drilla has the guitar, but Sanada runs away! The ref sees Drilla with the guitar while Sanada runs away into the orange seats.

The ring count starts, Sanada takes a seat, and he refuses to go back! We pass 11 of 20, Drilla taunts Sanada with his own guitar, but Sanada just moves further back in the stands! Sanada is letting Drilla win with the ring count!

Winners: Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney, by count-out

The fans boo Sanada as he slithers away, but Drilla wants a mic! In Japanese, Drilla asks Sanada where he’s going! Where? What’s he up to? Drilla says Sanada is so scared of him! Sanada is always running away again and again! But in Ryogoku Sumo Hall, there will be no escape! Then in English, “You can’t run from me, because in one week’s time, it’s your funeral. And I wanna make your funeral more interesting than it deserves to be, b*tch boy. So, we’re gonna make this No Disqualification! We’re gonna make it so you can’t get counted out and run away! We’re gonna make it so you can’t break any rules, because the only thing you’re gonna break in one week’s time is your effin’ neck!”

Drilla wants to go No Holds Barred, Anything Goes with Sanada! Will there be nothing and no one that can stop 44 Caliber from shooting the head off the Cold-Blooded Snake?

After 8 Man Tag: Boltin Oleg, Toru Yano, Tiger Mask & KUUKAI VS The House of Torture…

The House of Torture of course cheats with Don Fale storming in illegally to GRENADE Tiger Mask! That set him up for Sho’s SHOCK ARROW, and the win! The House wasn’t done, though, as they mugged the living legend just because. Boltin Oleg storms in, he fires off forearms, but Evil LOW BLOWS him from behind! The fans boo more, but then Evil puts Tiger Mask in the SCORPION DEATHLOCK! Sho CHOKES Oleg while making him watch! Dick Togo even uses a chair to CHOKE Tiger Mask! The fans boo more, Evil lets go of Tiger, and Fale hands him the NEVER Openweight Championship, as well as a mic to talk.

“Oi, Boltin! Next week, you will end up just like your friend, Tiger! HAHAHA!” They mug Oleg more as Evil taunts him and says no matter what, the NEVER title will belong to Evil! Evil tells the fans to shut up as they boo, and he tells Oleg to shine up the belt real nice! Dick even makes Oleg do it with a Young Lion shirt! Evil wants Oleg to make sure EVIL’s belt is shiny enough that he can see his face in it! Evil then stands tall over Boltin before leaving with the belt! Will the King of Darkness make sure that he becomes the King of Pro-Wrestling? Or will this criminal be put behind BARS?

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

The Ticking Timebomb gets The Blacksmith with a pump handle to KNEE STRIKE, aka The Trauma! That’s Eita’s move, as a shot at the NOAH star for using Hiromu’s Timebomb 1.0. Hiromu wins for “The Unaffiliated,” ready for Eita at NOAH Wrestle Odyssey, but clearly Yota and Gabe aren’t done! They brawl their way from ringside to the crowd! Young Lions separate them, but Gabe gets loose and goes to the orange seats! Gabe eggs Yota on, so Yota goes into the orange seats from the other side. They set up and run in, to RAM shoulders! Then they fire off forearms! The fans fire up as Yota ROCKS Gabe! Gabe ROCKS Yota! And repeat!

Gabe fights off Young Lions so he can SMACK Yota down! The fans bark with Gabe as he then stands Yota up, and RAMS him through the doors! They get in the hallway, go around, and who knows where! The rest of the team isn’t sure what to make of it, but Takagi, Titan & Hiromu have their hands raised in victory. Gabe then returns, he flips the Unaffiliated off, and he grabs his belt. Yota hobbles back, apparently having taken the worst of it. How much wilder will things get on this Road to King of Pro-Wrestling?

Shota Umino VS OSKAR!

The Roughneck and the Heat Storm want their shot at the NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, so both sides have agreed to 1v1 showdowns! Will Shota strike first on this Road to King of Pro-Wrestling? Or will this giant German ruin Shota’s Second Chapter?

The bell rings and the fans rally strongly behind “SHO~TA! SHO~TA!” Oskar just stares Shota down. The two storm up to tie up collar ‘n’ elbow. Oskar pushes Shota back, Shota shrugs that off, and the two circle. They tie up again, Oskar puts Shota on the ropes, and then Oskar lets off. Oskar flicks sweat at Shota and the fans are torn. Shota storms up again and the two tie up. They go around, Oskar powers Shota to a corner, but Shota turns things around. The ref calls the break, Shota lets off slowly, and he pats Oskar on the shoulder. Then he CHOPS! The fans cheer, Oskar shoves Shota, but then Shota dodges the haymaker.

Shota headlocks but Oskar powers up, only for Shota to hold on tight. The fans cheer Shota on but Oskar lifts! Shota holds on, Oskar powers up and out, and they RAM shoulders! Oskar doesn’t budge, so Shota runs again. Shota RAMS Oskar, then fires a forearm! Shota runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then RAMS Oskar! Oskar rebounds, Shota tries to scoop but that’s too much to scoop! Oskar CLUBS Shota, then he scoops and SLAMS Shota! The fans fire up for that, and Oskar paces. Oskar drags Shota up, TOSSES him out, then pursues. Oskar CHOPS Shota down! The fans rally but Oskar stomps Shota around. Oskar drags Shota up to CHOP against the apron!

Shota staggers and sputters, then leans on commentary. Oskar brings Shota around to put in the ring. Oskar fires up, the fans do cheer, and Oskar steps up and over the top rope. The fans applaud, they’re always impressed by that. Oskar stands Shota up to ROCK him with a forearm! Shota stumbles to the corner, Oskar is right on him to CHOP! Shota sputters and sits down, and Oskar jump stomps him! Oskar slaps Shota around, talks trash, but Shota kicks from below. Oskar taunts Shota, then stomps him again! Shota sputters, but Oskar drags Shota up to CLUB him. Shota hobbles, but Oskar CLUBS him again.

Oskar scoops Shota to SLAM him back down! Oskar stomps and hooks Shota up in the CAMEL CLUTCH! Shota endures as Oskar pulls him back! The fans rally, Shota gets one arm free, and he fights around. Shota powers his way forward, but Oskar stomps him back down! The fans rally for Shota but Oskar stands him up first. Shota fires forearms, but Oskar grins. Shota tries to scoop, Oskar blocks it, and the fans rally again. Oskar CLUBS Shota, then scoops him, but Shota slips free! Shota fires forearms and an UPPERCUT! Shota runs, but into an ELBOW! Oskar runs, LEG DROP FLOPS as Shota moves!

Shota then scoops and SLAMS Oskar! The fans fire up while Oskar writhes. Oskar goes to ropes, and Shota storms over. Shota fires forearms and CHOPS in the corner! The fans rally, Oskar shoves Shota, and Oskar BOOTS Shota! Oskar runs in, Shota dodges! Shota runs in and UPPERCUTS! The fans fire up and Shota goes back to the forearms and CHOPS on repeat! Shota makes sure Oskar stays standing as he fires more forearms and CHOPS! CHOP, CHOP, CHOP, then forearm, forearm, forearm! The fans fire up and Shota brings Oskar around, TORNADO DDT! Cover, ONE?!? Oskar is tough but Shota stays focused.

Shota stalks Oskar, brings him up, and waistlocks! But Oskar throws an elbow! Shota staggers away, but he comes back, into a HUGE BACKDROP! The fans fire up for how high Shota flew! Oskar stomps Shota, then slaps some fire back into himself. Oskar dares Shota to get up, and the fans rally. Shota slowly rises, but he avoids the sleeper! Shota shoves Oskar to a corner to STEP-UP KNEE! Then Shota goes corner to corner, STRIKE KNEE! The fans fire up for Shota as he waistlocks again! Oskar still fights it, then switches, to SLAM! And LEG DROP, brother! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives and Oskar is frustrated, but the fans fire up again.

Oskar rises, and he looms over Shota. Oskar kicks Shota around, kicks him to the corner, then scuffs him. Oskar eggs Shota on, and he dares Oskar to do something. The ref counts, Oskar lets off for just a moment, and Oskar kicks Shota more. Shota just glares at Oskar defiantly. Oskar slaps and pie faces Shota, and the fans rally stronger for him. Oskar kicks at Shota, Shota grabs the foot, and Oskar can’t shake free! The fans fire up as Shota rises, and Shota has the foot. Oskar SLAPS, then he fires off forearms, so Shota ROCKS Oskar! And ROCKS him again, and again! Oskar DECKS Shota, but Shota’s right back up!

Shota fires more forearms, Oskar fires back, and the fans rally again. The shots go faster and faster, Shota eggs Oskar on, so Oskar CHOPS! Shota fires a flurry then CHOP, CHOP, CHOP! Oskar SLAPS Shota! Shota drops to his knees! The fans rally up, Shota rises, and he winds up, only to fall again! Oskar stomps Shota, then drags him up just to CLUB him on the back! Oskar vows to end it here! Scoop and SWINGING- DDT! Shota turns things around! But Oskar is right up! Oskar roars, runs in, but Shota slips around! GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up for the STRIKE KNEE!! Cover, TWO!! Oskar survives but Shota is not deterred!

Shota rises, the fans rally behind him, and Shota runs to SHOTA- NO, Oskar catches him to a SLEEPER! Shota slips around, shoves Oskar, then LARIATS! Oskar stays up, so Shota LARIATS again! Oskar is still up, so Shota waits. Shota blocks Oskar’s boot, ENZIGIRIS, but runs into a choke grip! Shota breaks free to ROCK Oskar! Shota blocks a shot, ROLLING- NO, Oskar ROCKS Shota first! SLEEPER!! Shota is turning red but the fans rally up! The ref checks on Shota as he fades, but Shota gets his second wind! Shota reaches out, but Oskar drags him back to center! Oskar leans on Shota and Shota squats down!

Shota rises, the fans fire up, but Oskar hits him with a SLEEPER SLAM!! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives, if just barely, but Oskar fires up! He throws off the wristbands and he drags Shota up with both hands! HANG- NO, VICTORY ROLL! TWO!! Oskar SWATS a lariat to SLEEPER!! The fans fire up as Shota holds on, and Shota pries at the hold! Shota frees himself and REAR HEADBUTTS! But Oskar comes back, into another HEABUTT! Shota runs, dodges the boot, for the SHOTA BOMBER!! The fans fire up and Shota roars! Shota vows to end this now! Shota hooks a leg, for the SECOND CHAPTER!! Cover, Shota wins!

Winner: Shota Umino, by pinfall

That was literally the biggest win in Shota’s Second Chapter yet! Is this a sign that the Paradigm Shift is coming?

Yuya Uemura VS Yuto-Ice!

We just saw Shota take that massive win over Oskar, but now we enter the second half of the tag team challenge! Will the Heat Storm cause Yuto-Ice to melt down? Or will Yuto avenge his Knock Out Brother?

The bell rings and the two run up! Yuto BOOTS Yuya, CLUBS away on him, then TOSSES him out! Yuto pursues, but Yuya slips back inside. The fans applaud and Yuto is already annoyed. Yuto storms back into the ring, but Yuya shoots around to trip Yuto, float and waistlock. Yuto moves around but Yuya stays on him. They each fight for facelock control, then Yuya waistlocks. Yuto spins around to clinch, but Yuya wrenches free. Yuto ROCKS Yuya, but Yuya BOOTS back! The fans rally as Yuto then LARIATS Yuya up and out! The fans cheer that great exchange, and Yuto pursues. He tells fans to move aside so they oblige!

Yuto drags Yuya up, SMACKS him off the apron, and he wants to make sure everyone is clear. Then Yuto BOWLS Yuya into the chairs! STRIKE! The fans are torn but Yuto smirks as the ref goes to check Yuya. Yuto leaves Yuya behind to then confiscate the timekeeper’s table! The ref reprimands but Yuto shoves him away! The fans boo but Yuto takes the table, and he SMACKS it off Yuya! That’s a different way of using a table but it was just as effective. Yuto then props the table up against the ring and he fetches Yuya. The fans rally up as Yuto stands Yuya up. Yuto KICKS Yuya, then KICKS away as Yuya is against the table!

Yuto lets off, then says BOMBACLAT! KNEE through the table!! The fans are stunned as Yuto puts a hole through the wood using Yuya’s head! The fans duel, “YU~YA! YU~YA!” “YU~TO! YU~TO!” but the ref reprimands. Yuto leaves Yuya behind while the ref checks on him. Yuya sputters, he is somehow still in this, so the ring count begins. Yuto waits as the count reaches 5 of 20, then 8. Yuya stirs and he manages to sit up at 10. Yuya flounders a bit at 13, drags himself up and in at 16, but Yuto is on him! Yuto drags Yuya around, stomps him and taunts him, then stands on Yuya’s head. Yuto talks trash, then steps off.

Yuto paces around Yuya, then he drags Yuya up. Yuya is still a ragdoll so Yuto lets go. The ref checks on Yuya, and Yuya manages to sit up. Yuto scuffs him, eggs him on, and Yuya rises. The fans rally as Yuya fires a forearm! Yuto eggs Yuya on again, and Yuya shakes out the stars. Yuya fires another forearm, and another, but Yuto ROCKS him in return! Yuya goes to ropes, Yuto talks more trash, then he BODY BLOWS! The ref reprimands as they’re in the ropes, but Yuto runs, only for Yuya to ELBOW him! And FLYING FOREARM! Both men are down again and the fans fire up! The ref double checks, both Yuya and Yuto are still in this.

Yuto rises, checks his chin, and he drags Yuya up. But Yuya CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! The ref reprimands, Yuto turns things around, but then Yuya turns them right back around! CHOP, CHOP, CHOP! The ref tries to back Yuya off, but Yuya gets one last CHOP in! The fans fire up and Yuya drags Yuto up. Yuya wrenches to hit a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Yuto stays in this, but Yuya’s righ ton the DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Yuto scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Yuya lets go, but then he drags Yuto right up to wrench and YANK the arm! And YANK the arm again! And again!

Yuya grinds the shoulder, Yuto winds up, but Yuya puts on more pressure. Yuya whips, Yuto KNEES low, then Yuto BOOTS Yuya down! The fans rally while Yuto shakes out the arm. Yuto storms up on Yuya, BOOTS him to a corner, then storms up to stomp away! The ref counts, Yuto digs his boots in, but the ref backs him off. Yuto manages to KICK Yuya right in the head! The fans boo and the ref backs Yuto off. Yuto seethes while Yuya slowly sits up. Yuto smirks as he watches Yuya stand. The fans fire up as the two go forehead to forehead, then Yuto fires a forearm! Yuya eggs Yuto on, so Yuto fires another shot! And another! And a SLAP!

Yuto SLAPS, SLAPS, SLAPS, but Yuya just eggs him on! So Yuto fires off more SLAPS! Yuya powers Yuto to a corner, then HEADBUTTS! Yuto sits down and the fans fire up! Yuya snarls, and then he rains down forearms on Yuto! The ref counts, Yuya stops, but then he fires more forearms! The ref wants Yuya to stop but Yuya shoves him aside to HAMMER away on Yuto! Yuya HEADBUTTS again and again! Did he knock out the Knock Out Brother? Yuya backs off while the ref checks. Somehow, Yuto is still in this, and Yuya waits on him to get up. Yuya then runs in and DROPKICKS! Yuto staggers, into the SAIDO!! Cover, TWO!!

But into an ARMBAR!! Yuto flails, reaches out, and clasps hands, but Yuya kicks at him! Yuya BREAKS the grip! Yuto fights around again, reaches out, and he CLAWS Yuya’s eyes!! The ref reprimands, Yuto stops, and Yuya lets him go! The fans rally as the ref reprimands for the dirty tactics. Yuto only cares if he can win, and both men crawl away to ropes. Both men rise up as the fans rally even harder. Yuto runs in first, but into a CHOP! Yuto drops to his knees, but Yuya clamps onto the arm! But Yuto pulls hair, then POINT-BLANK LARIATS! The fans fire up as Yuto slaps his bad arm into working. Yuto suplexes Yuya, for the BRAINBUSTER! Cover, ONE!?!?

Yuya hurries to waistlock! SNAP GERMAN! Yuto staggers up, Yuya runs up, FOREARM!! Yuto wobbles, but he throws a RIGHT CROSS!! The fans fire up, Yuto roars, and he drags Yuya back up. Yuto runs, to PENALTY KICK!! Cover, TWO!! Yuya survives again and the fans fire up! Yuto huffs ‘n’ puffs and storms around, then he takes aim from the corner. Yuya rises, Yuto runs, but into a LARIAT! And ARMBAR!! Yuya pulls on the arm but Yuto fights around! Yuya shifts to have the DISARMER!! Yuto reaches out, even as Yuya sits back on the arm! The fans fire up as Yuto keeps fighting! Yuya pulls but Yuto shouts he ain’t giving up!

Yuya stops, and he looms over Yuto. Yuto says F U, and he SPITS at Yuya! Yuya clamps onto the arms! DEADBOLT SUPLEX!! And then the KIMURA!!! Yuto endures, he reaches out, but he TAPS!! Yuya wins!!

Winner: Yuya Uemura, by submission

Yuto thought he was hard, but he didn’t know Yuya had THAT in him! It is a clean sweep for Roughneck and Heat Storm, but will this lead them to IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team gold? Or will it be a different story when the Knock Out Brothers are together?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado w/ KUUKAI VS DOUKI w/ SHO!

January 4th, 2025: WrestleKingdom 19. The Rogue Luchador won this title be default as Japones Del Mal went all in on a top rope dive and crash landed hard. But now that Douki is back and already an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, he wants it all! Will Douki tear down Despy and become the King of the Super Juniors? Or will Despy still be the One True Champion?

The introductions are made, the belt Douki literally stole is raised, and we see if Douki actually earns the right to hold it!

Wait, Sho grabs the mic now to talk… “Desperado’s too scared to come out here by himself!” Um, he’s here accompanying Douki… But Sho says, “However you cut it, the real champion is Douki!” The fans boo, but Sho continues by asking the fans if they really think Despy is the real champ. The fans cheer, and he says that they’re fools who got scammed! They will make it clear for these idiots here in Korakuen Hall who the real champion is! Red Shoes takes the belt back from Douki, hands it to Despy, and then Despy hands it back to be properly put away. And then Douki runs up! But Despy blocks the kick!

Despy holds Douki at bay while Red Shoes then has Young Lions escort Sho away! The fans cheer, Sho is upset, and Douki feebly flails at Despy. The bell rings and Despy KNEES low! Despy headlocks, Douki powers up and out, but Despy RUNS him over! The fans cheer, then things speed up. Despy steps on Douki’s dropdown, the fans applaud, and Douki gets mad. Douki runs up, Despy dodges and scoops, but Douki hits the headlock takeover. Despy rolls it to a cover, ONE, and Douki holds on. Despy powers up and out, headlocks in return, but Douki powers out to then pull on the mask! The fans boo but Douki headlocks in return.

Despy powers up and out, but Douki pulls on the mask again! The fans boo but Douki turns Despy, NECKBREAKER! The fans rally, Douki drags Despy up, and Douki whips Despy to ropes. Despy reverses, but Douki turns things around to TOSS Despy out! Douki then pursues, and he SMACKS Despy off the apron! Despy sputters, Douki swaggers around, but then Despy fires body shots. Douki KNEES low, then he whips, but Despy reverses to POST Douki! The fans cheer, Despy fixes his mask, then he storms back over to Douki. Despy stands Douki up, but Douki fires a body blow! Despy SLAPS Douki back!

Despy follows Douki to SMACK him off the apron! Red Shoes reprimands, he wants this in the ring. Despy says hold on, hold on. But then Douki steals the bell hammer! Douki takes a swing, but Despy blocks! Despy kicks low, then takes the hammer, only for Red Shoes to grab at it. They argue over the hammer, but Douki snatches the belt! BELT SHOT! The fans boo as Douki gets away with one! Douki laughs and Kuukai protests but Red Shoes repeats that this needs to be in the ring. Douki drags Despy up, and then hoists him up to POST him! Despy gets hit up the middle and the fans boo again. Despy falls back while Douki leaves him behind.

Red Shoes checks on Despy, he is able to continue, and the ring count begins. The fans rally for Despy, Kuukai coaches Despy up, and Despy rises at 7 of 20. Despy rolls in at 8 but Douki kicks low! DDT! Douki hurries to then hit another DDT! And then another DDT! Cover, ONE!! The fans cheer as Despy stays in this, but Douki stays on him with a headscissors squeeze. Despy endures, fights around, but Douki puts on the pressure. Douki traps an arm, as well, but Despy kicks his way over to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Red Shoes counts, and Douki holds until 4. The fans boo but Douki takes his time walking over to Despy.

Despy fires body shots, but Douki KNEES low again! Douki TOSSES Despy out, then hurries to get the “Death Pipe.” Despy ROCKS Douki, but Douki JAMS Despy with the pipe! Then DEATH PIPE NECKBREAKER! The fans boo and Red Shoes reprimands, but Douki puts the pipe back in the corner. Douki leaves Despy behind again for another ring count. Kuukai coaches Despy while the fans rally up. Despy is still down at 10 of 20, but he manages to turn over. Despy slowly rises at 15, and the fans cheer as he rolls in at 18! Douki is annoyed but he drags Despy right up to NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO, but into ITALIAN STRETCH #32!!

The fans rally as Despy endures! Despy fights around, reaches out, but Douki rolls him back to center! But Despy pops free to have the STRETCH MUFFLER! But his own bad shoulder stops him! The fans rally for Despy as he clutches the arm, but Douki brings him up. Douki drags Despy up, but Despy turns things around to BACK SUPLEX! Both men are down again and the fans rally again! Despy clutches his neck and shoulder while he and Douki both sit up. Douki is on Despy first, but Despy kicks the leg! AN dkicks! ANd kicks! But Douki KNEES low! Douki whips, Despy reverses, and Despy dropkicks the leg out!

The fans cheer while both men are down again! Douki clutches his leg while Despy clutches his shoulder. Both men go to corners as the fans rally back up. Despy and Douki drag themselves up with ropes, and Despy runs in! Despy blocks the boot, KICKS the other leg, then grabs that leg to DRAGON SCREW! Douki writhes, but he KICKS from below! Despy stumbles, Douki rises, and Douki runs up, only to be put on the apron! The leg jams! But he manages to HOTSHOT Despy! Douki aims, slingshots, but Despy dodges! Douki hobbles, Despy wrenches an arm to gut wrench lift, but Douki slips free! But the leg jams again!

Douki hobbles, Despy runs up, but Douki BOOTS him! Douki is on the apron, and he slingshots in for DAYBREAK! Cover, TWO, but into ITALIAN STRETCH 32!! Despy is already down on the mat as Douki pulls on the arms! Despy kicks around, the fans rally up, but Douki puts on the pressure! Despy drags Douki along as he heads for the ropes, but Douki rolls him away again! ITALIAN STRETCH!! The fans rally as Despy is in dire straits! Despy is fading, he falls onto his side again, but there is still fire inside! Despy gets his second wind, and he drags Douki along to the corner! But Douki thrashes around to put on more pressure! Despy FALLS into the ROPEBREAK!

The fans cheer as Despy survives! Douki is furious, but Red Shoes counts and he lets go. Despy sputters while Douki slaps his bad leg into working. Douki vows to end it now, and he drags Despy in for the wheelbarrow! SUPLEX- NO, VICTORY ROLL! TWO, and both men stand! ENZIGIRI from Douki and Despy falls! Douki hurries to drag Despy back up, then whips him to ropes. Despy reverses to SPINEBUSTER! And then he flips Douki over to hit a BIG back suplex! Despy roars because he isn’t done! BRAINBUSTER!! Despy crawls to the cover, TWO!! Douki survives thanks to the small delay, and now the fans are dueling!

Despy drags Douki up, reels him in, but Douki fights! Despy powers through to GUITARRA DEL ANGEL! Cover, TWO! Douki survives and Despy rises up. Despy vows to end this now and the fans fire up! Despy brings Douki up, in, and underhooks the arms! PINCHE- NO, Douki fights the lift, wrenches through, then ducks a lariat. Douki waistlocks, Despy switches, but Douki fires elbows! Despy keeps Douki from running, but Douki’s British Escape and kick leads to the ENZI- DRAGON SCREW?! Despy timed it just right! Then he GROUND DRAGON SCREWS! Then STRETCH MUFFLER! NUMERO DOS!! Douki is already in trouble as Despy lifts him up!

The fans fire up, but Despy has to drop Douki. He has NUEMRO DOS PLUS, but SHO RETURNS!! The fans boo as Sho YANKS Red Shoes out of the ring, and then gets in with the “Torture Tool!” The fans boo but Sho CLOBBERS Despy with his wrench! But Kuukai runs in! DROPKICK on Sho! The fans fire up as then Kuukai hauls Sho up, wrenches, scoops, but Sho slips free! Sho CLAWS Kuukai’s eyes, then WRENCH SHOT down low! And then WRENCH SHOT to the head! The fans boo again but Sho grins as he aims at Despy again. The fans tell Sho to go home but Sho stands Despy up. Despy hits Sho with LOCO MONO!

Douki has the pipe! But Despy blocks it! And he BITES Douki’s forehead! The fans cheer as now Despy has the pipe! And he CLOBBERS Douki with it!! Then he CLOBBERS Douki again!! Despy drops the pipe, and he brings Douki back around. Despy underhooks to PINCHE LOCO!! Cover, but Red Shoes is still down! Is there a substitute on the way? Despy shouts for Red Shoes, Red Shoes hobbles up, but Sho YANKS him back down! The fans boo as the Murder Machine tips the scales again! Despy is pissed, and he drags Sho up! But Sho SMACKS Despy with the BAKING SHEET!! The fans boo as Sho then drags Despy into the ring.

Sho feeds Despy to the ITALIAN STRETCH!! And then SHEET SHOT after SHEET SHOT, right to the head!! Sho makes sure it is four times for “good luck.” Sho then puts Red Shoes into the ring, and Despy is OUT COLD!! Red shoes calls it, Douki wins!!

Winner: Douki, by referee stoppage (NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)

It took everything Douki had, and every awful trick Sho could come up with, but they just stole the title! The House of Torture now runs the Junior Heavyweight Division! Though in a twist, Douki is in no better shape to talk, so Sho takes care of that. But even before he starts, the fans tell him to go home. Sho says, “Oi! With that, we all know who the real champion is! Now everyone knows it! And now you can all just go home!” Sho drops the mic while he holds Douki’s hand up in victory. They get the streamers, but will justice ever be served against these villains? Or will this reign of terror continue all the way through Super Junior Tag League and beyond?

My Thoughts:

A great second night for Road to KOPW, and I should’ve figured there’d be more shenanigans with the Drilla VS Sanada build. But I really like that Drilla has now upped the ante to Anything Goes, which will be great stuff. Then Evil of course steals the NEVER Openweight Championship again, just like he did the last time. I feel like this has to lead to his defeat at King of Pro-Wrestling, the House of Torture is already going strong in the other divisions. Great stuff in each 1v1 match, Shota VS Oskar and Yuya VS Yuto. I feel like this means in the tag match, Oskar & Yuto retain, it’d be rough if they were transitional champions.

And of course, great stuff in the main event, but also duh, the House of Torture just had to cheat. Aside from the overbooking, I feel like much of this was what they wanted to do at WrestleKingdom, and even with the cheating, Douki winning the title back and Despy having a 9 month reign are all great things. Super Junior Tag League will be a lot of fun later this month, can’t wait to see who comes out of that as challengers. I wonder if Douki gets stuck doing double duty as a double champion…

My Score: 8.9/10