Who will rise in the Fall?

NJPW World Tag League begins again, and these heavy hitters are fighting for their shot at THE IWGP Tag Team Championships at WrestleKingdom!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Lance Archer, Alex Zayne & Zane Jay VS SANADA, Ren Narita & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Sanada, Ren & Kanemaru win.
• Six Man Tag: TMDK VS The United Empire; TMDK wins.
• Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, El Phantasmo & Katsuya Murashima VS Shota Umino, Yuya Uemura & Shoma Kato; Shota, Yuya & Shoma win.
• Six Man Tag: David Finlay, Hiromu Takahashi & Gedo VS OSKAR, Yuto-Ice & Daiki Nagai; Finlay, Hiromu & Gedo win.
• 2025 World Tag League A Block: Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS El Desperado & Shuji Ishikawa; Yano & Oleg win.
• 2025 World Tag League A Block: EVIL & Don Fale VS Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens; Evil & Fale win.
• 2025 World Tag League A Block: Bishamon VS Taichi & Satoshi Kojima; Taichi & Kojima win.
• 2025 World Tag League A Block: Yota Tsuji & Gabe Kidd VS Shingo Takagi & “Drilla” Dan Moloney; Takagi & Moloney win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Wait, what’s Yoh doing here?

Direct Drive sneaks into the ring with a mic, and announces that (one of) the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions is here! The fans applaud, and says he wants to go to the Tokyo Dome. He loves the NEVER Six Man titles so much. He asks if the fans love the NEVER Six Man titles, and the fans reply, “Daisuki!” Yoh even gets the Young Lions to chant, “AISHITERU! AISHITERU!” The fans clap along as Yoh goes down the line, and they each chant, “AISHITERU! AISHITERU!” Yoh keeps it going so that the fans join in, and Yoh shouts thanks to everyone! And in his best Tanahashi, he shouts, “NEVER Six Man titles, AISHITEMAAAASU~!”

The fans applaud, and Yoh is given his outro, but he says no thanks. Yoh wants to make it clear to everyone NJPW that he wants to put the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships on the line in the Tokyo Dome for WrestleKingdom 20! And he won’t leave until someone answers the open challenge! He even wants Tanahashi to come out and address this. The ring announcer tries to give Yoh is outro but Yoh refuses! He wants President Tanahashi to come out and talk to him! Yoh even pleads with Tanahashi, but then the Young Lions carry Yoh away. Yoh is lovesick over these titles, who will be his cure in the New Year?

After Six Man Tag: David Finlay, Hiromu Takahashi & Gedo VS OSKAR, Yuto-Ice & Daiki Nagai…

The Rebel’s return is victorious as he brings down the Young Lion with a POWERBOMB! The Knockout Brothers aren’t the happiest about that, but while Finlay is able to big dog the big bad Oskar, things heat up between Timebomb and Ice! Yuto DECKS Hiromu, then stands on him! Gedo and Finlay want Yuto to stand down but he just digs his heel in! The Young Lions step in and bring Yuto away, and Hiromu is upset by that. Hiromu talks trash, but Yuto breaks loose and goes after Hiromu! Finlay drags Yuto back, but then Oskar backs Finlay off Yuto. Finlay wants everyone to calm down, but then Hiromu WRECKS Yuto with a dropkick!

Hiromu fires off CHOPS on Yuto, but Yuto HEADBUTTS! Yuto and Hiromu scrap, Young Lions back them off again, and Gedo steps in. Yuto eggs Hiromu on, even as he’s escorted to the back. The fans cheer Hiromu as he stands back up, and he finally calms down to have his hand raised alongside Finlay. World Tag League has barely begun and tensions are already this high, will the War Dogs & Unaffiliated alliance survive?

2025 World Tag League A Block: Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS El Desperado & Shuji Ishikawa!

Well, Yoh may want a big NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship match, but his teammates want something more. Will Yano & Oleg put their opponents behind BARS? Or will the Rogue Luchador & 21st Century Giant be leading the way in World Tag League?

The teams sort out and Despy eggs Yano on from behind Shuji. But in the end, Shuji and Oleg start and the fans cheer. These giants RAM shoulders, and RAM, and RAM again! Shuji runs, he RAMS Oleg, then eggs him on. Oleg runs to RAM Shuji! They both go and they RAM shoulders again! Shuji rebounds to RAM and then KNEE Oleg! Shuji whips, Oleg reverses, but Shuji RUNS Oleg over! The fans fire up and Shuji looms over Oleg. Shuji drags Oleg up, CLUBS him on the back, then tags Despy. Despy is a bit surprised by that, but he and Shuji mug Oleg. They double whip Oleg and DOUBLE SHOULDER RAM, but Despy falls, too!

The fans fire up and even laugh a bit. Shuji checks on Despy, then he stomps Oleg around. Despy storms over and brings Oelg up to CLUB him on the neck. Despy steps on Oleg’s hand! Oleg has the ROPEBREAK, but Despy still wrenches an arm and stomps it! The fans rally, Despy brings Oleg up, but Oleg takes a swing! Despy ducks the chop to kick low, then whips Oleg to a corner. Oleg reverses hard and Despy falls from hitting buckles! Oleg tags Yano, and Yano unties the buckle pad! Yano brings Despy up, whips, and Despy hits bare buckles hard! Despy writhes, but Yano takes Despy’s shirt off to reveal the back brace!

Yano throws the shirt away, that’s a free souvenir! Then Yano takes that back brace off and throws it away, not free souvenir. Yano talks trash on Shuji but Despy CHOPS and CHOPS! Yano CLAWS Despy’s eyes! Then Yano whips Despy back into the bare buckles! Despy writhes again, Yano paces around, and Yano tags Oleg back in. The fans rally as Oleg stalks Despy to the ropes, and then gut wrenches! Despy grabs at the ropes but Oleg drags him away! Oleg Shake, Shake, Shake, and THROW! Despy tumbles out of the ring, but Yano brings him up and puts him back in. Yano tells Oleg to send Despy at the bare buckles!

Oleg drags Despy up, the fans rally, but the ref says don’t do it. Yano says yes, do it! Oleg whips Despy into the safe corner! The fans cheer but Despy still hits pretty hard. Despy snarls and rises up to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP! Oleg CHOPS Despy back down! Despy sputters but Oleg looms over him. Oleg paces while Despy crawls to the bare corner. The fans rally, Oleg runs up, but Despy ELBOWS Oleg! Oleg kicks low, whips, but Despy reverses, and he sends Oleg into the bare buckles! The fans cheer while both men are down! Hot tag to Shuji! Shuji CLUBS away on Oleg, but Yano storms in and CLUBS SHuji!

Yano & Oleg double whip, but Shuji breaks the double lariat to DOUBLE CROSSBODY! The fans fire up and Shuji has Oleg. Shuji whips Oleg to KNEE low! Then he whips and KNEES Oleg again! Shuji snapmares Oleg, runs the ropes, and DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO! Oleg stays in this and the fans applaud, but Shuji says he’s gonna throw Oleg! The fans fire up for that! Oleg fights the suplex, Shuji fires body shots, and then he ROCKS Oleg! Oleg ROCKS Shuji! The giants go back and forth with big forearm shots! Shuji KNEES low, then runs, but DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men stay up, so DOUBLE LARIATS collide again!

Oleg and Shuji roar, run up, and DOUBLE LARIAT! Neither man falls, but Shuji reels Oleg in! Oleg still fights the suplex, and now Shuji has to fight the lift! But Oleg suplexes Shuji up and over! The fans fire up while both giants are down! Hot tag to Yano! Yano says he’ll beat Shuji up for sure! Yano whips, Shuji reverses, but Yano avoids the bare buckles. Shuji runs in, he’s sent right into the bare buckles! Roll up, TWO! Yano is upset with the count, but then Shuji ROCKS him with a forearm! Shuji runs, but into an atomic drop! Wait, Shuji’s so tall, Yano’s knee didn’t reach him! Shuji CHOPS Yano and whips him!

Yano grabs ropes, dodges Shuji, and SLAPS him! Yano runs, but Shuji LARIATS him down! Cover, TWO! Yano survives and the fans rally up while Shuji calls to Despy. Despy joins in, they double whip Yano to the corner, then Shuji sends Despy in for a LARIAT! Despy feeds Yano to a KNEE LIFT! Scoop and SLAM! Despy goes up to DOUBLE STOMP! Shuji goes up!? And he DOUBLE STOMPS Yano, too!! Cover, Oleg breaks it! The fans cheer, but Despy CLAWS Oleg’s eyes! Despy & Shuji TOSS Oleg, then Shuji aims at Yano. GIANT KNEE!! Cover, TWO!! Yano survives and the fans fire up again!

Shuji coordinates with Despy again and the fans fire up. They drag Yano up, Shuji lifts, but Oleg stops the double bomb! Oleg ROCKS Shuji, Shuji CLUBS Oleg, and Despy joins in. Despy SMACKS Oleg, then Despy whips Shuji in for a LARIAT! Oleg staggers, Despy runs, but into a POP-UP fireman’s carry! Yano pushes the ref aside while Oleg TOSSES Despy to Shuji! Shuji catches Despy, but Yano LOW BLOWS Shuji! Roll-up and high stack, YANO & OLEG WIN!!

Winners: Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Despy & Shuji earn 0)

Despy protests, but what the ref didn’t see can’t change the outcome. Yano & Oleg are a dangerous combination of brains and brawn, will they take over A Block? Can Despy & Shuji make a comeback from here on out?

2025 World Tag League A Block: EVIL & Don Fale w/ Dick Togo VS Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens!

Wait a minute, is this allowed? The House of Torture faces the House of Torture to start things off, so one way or another, the House of Torture will win. But will the King of Darkness & Rogue General force the Tokyo Pimp & Lonestar Outlaw to bend the knee? Or will Yujiro & Chase show NOT Everything is Evil?

The teams sort out and Yujiro calls out Evil? The fans cheer as these House of Torture OG face off, and the fans cheer on Yujiro! The two circle, tie up, and Yujiro CLAWS Evil’s eyes! The ref reprimands but Yujiro bumps Evil off buckles to then CHOKE him! The ref reprimands, Yujiro tags Chase, and Yujiro argues with the ref just so the ref won’t see Chase CHOKE Evil! The fans cheer, but Chase stops at the ref’s count. Chase & Yujiro double whip to mule kick, BOOT, and KNEE SMASH! Cover, TWO! Evil is still in this, Fale protests the shenanigans, but Chase CHOKES Evil behind the ref’s back again! The fans cheer, and Chase stops before the ref catches him.

Chase has Evil on the ropes and he BLINDSIDE LARIATS! Chase runs, but Dick trips him up! The fans boo as the ref misses that one while Evil tags Fale. But then Chase CLAWS Fale’s eyes! The ref reprimands, Chase stops and runs, but Fale RUNS Chase over! The fans do applaud that, but then Chase bails out. Evil is there to CLAW Chase’s eyes! Fale argues with the ref and that lets Evil mule kick Yujiro! Evil brings Yujiro around, and then into the crowd! Evil drags Yujiro up into the bleacher, and SMACKS him off the West sign! And then SMACKS him off it again! And again! The fans boo, but Evil LASHES Yujiro with a fan’s fanny pack, and CHOKES him with another fan’s bag!

The fans are torn but Evil stops choking Yujiro to drag him back to ringside. A ring count is on Chase while Evil SMACKS Yujiro off a chair! Evil CLUBS Yujiro, Chase fires shots on Fale, but Fale throat chops! We’re at 10 of 20, then 13! Fale CLAWS Chase’s back, RAMS him into the railing, and then puts Chase in at 17! The fans applaud and Fale storms into the ring. Fale runs in at the corner, but Chase dodges! Chase runs and ROCKS Fale! Fale shakes that off, Chase runs again and ROCKS Fale! Fale wobbles, Chase runs and- into the guzel! Chase breaks free, but Fale blocks the low blow! BODY BLOW!

Chase sputters and falls to the mat while the fans rally up. Fale brings Chase around, whips him to the corner, but he blocks a boot. Chase reels Fale in for an UPPERCUT! Chase goes up to MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up while both men are down! Chase and Fale crawl, hot tags to Yujiro and Evil! Evil dodges to kick low and whip Yujiro to a corner! LARIAT and FISHER- NO, Yujiro BITES Evil’s hand! The ref reprimands, Yujiro lets go to then REVERSE DDT! Cover, TWO! Evil stays in this and the fans rally up. Yujiro drags Evil up, reels him in, and FISHERMAN- NO, now Evil bites Yujiro’s hand! The ref reprimands, Evil stops, and Yujiro goes to a corner.

Evil runs in at Yujiro, but Yujiro sends him into the ref! The fans boo but now YOSHINOBU KANEMARU rushes out here! The Heel Master is upset that it’s come to this. Dick also joins in, and the six House of Torture members step into the ring together. Kanemaru says they’ll drink to keeping things friendly. Kanemaru takes a swig, hands the bottle to Dick, and he takes a swig. Wait, is this allowed? It’s certainly not hygienic. Yujiro takes a swig, then Fale. Chase is unsure but the fans cheer him on. Chase takes his swig, and boy is that strong. Evil is last, and Dick has Kanemaru step over here, and Evil WHISKEY MISTS Chase!

The fans can’t believe it but they also totally can believe it, and then Fale feeds Yujiro to the blinded Chase! Chase DDTS Yujiro!! Fale then runs to ELBOW DROP Yujiro’s back! Evil has Yujiro’s legs for the SCORPION DEATHLOCK! Fale keeps Chase down, Yujiro TAPS, Evil & Fale win!

Winners: Evil & Don Fale, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Chase & Yujiro earn 0)

Evil has the audacity to apologize when he’s the one who doubled down! But can a house divided, even a House of Torture, still stand? Or will this just be water under the bridge for this band of misfits?

2025 World Tag League A Block: Bishamon VS Taichi & Satoshi Kojima!

Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi want to rise back up and once again be IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, but in a roundabout way, so do the Holy Emperor & King of Bread Style. Will the Fierce Warrior & Headhunter make it Lights Out? Or will this be the rise of #HolyCozy?

The teams sort out and Goto starts against Taichi. The fans rally and duel already as the two circle, “TA-I-CHI!” “GO-TO-O!” The two tie up, are in a deadlock, and Goto puts Taichi on the ropes. The ref counts, the two slowly let go, and then Goto pats Taichi on the shoulders before he backs away. The fans applaud as the two circle again. They tie up again, Goto headlocks, but he also fights off the saido! Goto thrashes the hold, Taichi fires body shots and powers out,. The two RAM shoulders, neither falls, so Taichi eggs Goto on. Goto runs again, but Taichi BOOTS him! Goto RUNS Taichi over on the rebound!

The fans cheer but here comes Kojima! He fires off on Goto, runs the ropes, but Hashi joins in! They DOUBLE SHOULDER Kojima down, then Hashi runs for the ZANMAI! Kojima bails out, Goto sends Hashi at Taichi in the corner. Taichi dodges but Goto ROCKS Taichi! Hashi DROPKICKS the legs out! Taichi writhes, clutches that knee, and the ref checks on him. Taichi’s okay to continue and he goes to a corner. Goto stomps the bad leg, the ref has him back off, and the ref double checks on Taichi. Taichi stands, so Goto fires hands! Goto puts the bad leg in the ropes to KICK it! Taichi falls over, but Goto brings him right up.

Goto bumps Taichi off buckles, tags Hashi, and again isolates the bad leg. Goto CLUBS the leg, Taichi falls, and Bishamon splits the wishbone! Hashi BLASTS Kojima off the apron for good measure before he brings Taichi around by the leg. Hashi steps over and has a modified toehold. Taichi endures, kicks with the free leg, but Hashi drops an ELBOW on the bad leg! Hashi has the toehold again but Taichi has the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud and the ref counts, so Hashi lets go. Hashi BLASTS Kojima again, then brings Taichi up. Hashi CHOPS and Taichi goes to a corner. Hashi tags Goto and Goto BLASTS Kojima!

Bishamon brings Taichi around, and they BEAT THE DRUM! The fans cheer, Goto covers, TWO! Taichi toughs it out, but Goto stomps him around. The fans rally as Goto stomps Taichi more. Taichi frowns, Goto eggs him on, and then Goto CLUBS Taichi. Taichi scowls but Goto fires more forearms. Taichi fires RIDGE HAND CHOPS! But Goto kicks the bad leg! Goto runs up, Taichi BOOTS him away, and then RIDGE HAND CHOPS again! Goto runs up, Taichi dodges, GAMANGIRI! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Taichi still clutches the bad leg, but he manages to crawl for his corner, hot tag to Kojima!

The fans fire up as Kojima BLASTS Hashi as revenge! Then he kicks and MACHINE GUN CHOPS Goto! The fans fire up as this is an extra long clip! Kojima then whips corner to corner, runs up again, and forearm SMASH! The fans all join in with “ICCHAUZO, BAKAYAROU!” Kojima then goes up to COZY ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Goto survives and the fans rally up, “KO-JI-MA! KO-JI-MA!” Kojima stands Goto up to fire off a flurry of forearms, then a ROLLING ELBOW! Kick and DDT! The fans cheer again and Kojima powers up the arm. Kojima drags Goto up, Goto fires body shots, but Kojima ROCKS him! Kojima runs, but Goto follows and LARIATS!

Both men are down again and the fans rally back up. Goto rolls to hot tag Hashi! Hashi runs in at Kojima in the corner to CHOP!  Then he turns Kojima, but Kojima fights the Headbuster! Kojima kicks and COZY CUTTER! The fans cheer again while both men are down! Kojima rolls to the corner, hot tag to Taichi! Taichi drags Hashi up for Kawada Kicks! Hashi eggs Taichi on, so Taichi kicks low, and fires more Kawada Kicks! Hashi just snarls and fires a flurry of forearms! Taichi eggs Hashi on then RIDGE CHOPS! Hashi CHOPS, Taichi RIDGE HANDS, repeat! Hashi mule kicks the bad leg! Taichi DECKS Hashi with a forearm!

The fans fire up while Hashi crawls, and Taichi TAKES OFF THE PANTS! The fans fire up as Taichi powers up in his tights, but the bad leg slows him down! Hashi DROPKICKS the leg! Goto LARIATS in the corner! Hashi LARIATS in the corner! Feed to a kick and clinch! GOTO GO TO HUNTER! Hashi BLASTS Kojima and Bishamon coordinates again. They stand Taichi up, call their shot, but Taichi fights the leg hold! Hashi DRAGON SCREWS the leg he has! Goto intercepts Kojima while Hashi ties up the legs, REVERSE FIGURE FOUR! Taichi endures, the fans rally up, but Hashi puts on the pressure! Taichi reaches out while Goto keeps Kojima down!

Kojima fights free of Goto and he stomps Hashi down! Goto returns to kick Kojima. Feed to Hashi’s CODE BREAKER! Bishamon has Taichi again, feed to the fireman’s carry, for the FIERCE FLASH! Then they try this again, dragon sleeper and leg hold, for SHO- NO! Taichi boots free! But Hashi LARIATS Taichi down! Cover, TWO!! Taichi survives and the fans fire up! Goto drags Taichi up again, dragon sleepers, and third time is the charm! But Kojima CLOBBERS Hashi! And then he runs up on Goto! Goto dodges, catches Kojima, but Kojima dodges Goto’s discus lariat! Kojima runs, Taichi is up, COZY LARIAT AX BOMBER SANDWICH!!

The fans fire up and Kojima roars! Kojima calls to Taichi so that they can finish this together! Kojima helps Taichi stand, and they get Hashi back up! Kojima takes the elbow pad off, but Hashi shoves Taichi at Kojima! Hashi SUPERKICKS Kojima! Taichi runs up, Hashi gets around, full nelson, pump handle, but Taichi fights free! Taichi suplexes to BRAINBUSTER! Shoutout to Ishii! The fans fire up as Taichi now hauls Hashi up, Alabama Lifts, but Hashi fights that! Kojima is in, COZY LARIAT! Taichi jackknife into the Alabama Lift! BLACK MEPHISTO!! Cover, HOLY COZY WINS!!

Winner: Taichi & Satoshi Kojima, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Bishamon earns 0)

This might not be an upset victory, but it was certainly a surprise! Two halves of two great former championship teams have come together to be a winning combination! But can the Holy Emperor & King of Bread Style rise all the way to the top? Will Goto & Hashi just have to fight that much harder to have their redemption story?

2025 World Tag League A Block: Yota Tsuji & Gabe Kidd VS Shingo Takagi & “Drilla” Dan Moloney!

Well now, isn’t this an interesting match-up for the main event? The alliance of War Dogs and Unaffiliated battles itself with their crossover combinations, but will it be the Gene Blaster & Mad Man or Rampaging Dragon & 44 Caliber that keeps things tranquilo?

Yota stares down with Takagi, Gabe stares down with Drilla. The former ungovernable nod, but the War Dogs linger a bit. Red Shoes asks the teams sort out, so Gabe and Drilla stand down. The fans are already excited seeing Yota start against Takagi. The fans rally and duel, “TA-KA-GI! TA-KA-GI!” “YO~TA! YO~TA!” It sounds like Takagi has the edge here, and the two circle. They feel things out, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Yota slips around, Takagi switches, but Yota wrenches to wristlock. Takagi wrenches back and wristlocks to then hammerlock. Yota reaches back to headlock, but Takagi powers up and out.

Yota RAMS Takagi, Takagi rebounds and RUNS Yota over! The fans cheer, Takagi runs, but Yota drops down. Takagi fakes out the hurdle, but Yota dropkicks a leg! Takagi hobbles, Yota RUNS him over, and the fans cheer again! Takagi stands, the fans rally again, but Gabe calls to “Tsooj,” and Yota goes to the corner. Gabe tags in, Drilla wants in, so Takagi tags Drilla! The fans cheer as now the War Dogs face off, and the fans seem evenly split here. The two tie up, Gabe wrenches and wristlocks, but Drilla rolls, rolls, and then handsprings! Drilla breaks free and fans applaud the exchange. Everyone barks, the two tie up, and Drilla has the arm now.

Drilla has the wristlock but Gabe rolls. Gabe slips through to NORTHERN LIGHTS, but he keeps the wristlock, only for Drilla to UP KICK free! The fans applaud, then everyone barks again. The two tie up, Gabe headlocks, but Drilla powers up and out. Gabe RAMS Drilla, then runs again. They RAM shoulders, and RAM shoulders! Gabe and Drilla egg each other on, and then the CHOPS start flying! The fans rally as Gabe puts some stank on his CHOP, then runs, but Drilla hurdles! Drilla drops down, Gabe fakes out the hurdle, but Drilla CHOPS! And then DROPKICKS! Gabe bails out, the fans fire up, and Drilla builds speed!

Drilla slides, Gabe dodges, then Gabe clinches! EXPLODER to the floor! The fans fire up while Drilla writhes, and meanwhile, Yota goes after Taakgi! They go into the crowd, Yota SMACKS Takagi off the English commentary desk, but Takagi fights back! They brawl, Alex Zayne files it on his phone, and Takagi SMACKS Yota off the desk! Gabe and Drilla have gone into the crowd on the other side, and Gabe SMACKS Drilla off a chair! The fans move aside, the lights come up, and Gabe keeps after Drilla as they go to the East wall! Drilla SMACKS Gabe off the sign! And SMACKS him off it again! And again!

The fans rally, Takagi and Yota are in the same general area, but Yota fires forearms and a CHOP! Takagi stumbles and staggers, Yota brings him back to ringside, and Yota whips Takagi hard into railing! Gabe and Drilla brawl towards the orange seats, but Red Shoes reprimands and wants this back in the ring. Gabe obliges, as he POSTS Drilla! Yota SMACKS Takagi off the West sign! Gabe returns to the ring, the count begins on Drilla, and Gabe sits cross-legged a la Shibata. Drilla rolls in at 7 of 20 but Gabe stomps away at the ropes! Gabe kicks Drilla around, eggs him on, and Drilla stands to get in Gabe’s face.

Drilla CHOPS Gabe, but Gabe wags his finger. Gabe winds up and CHOPS! Drilla just frowns, and he CHOPS again! Gabe CHOPS, Drilal throws off the gloves, and Drilla CHOPS! The fans rally as the CHOPS go back and forth, harder and harder! Drilla roars and CHOPS! Gabe LARIATS! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up as Gabe stares Takagi down, then goes back to Drilla. Gabe bumps Drilla off buckles, tags Yota, and Yota RAMS into Drilla again and again. Yota snapmares Drilla, then BLASTS Takagi! Takagi throws a fit and grabs a chair! He THROWS the chair, but Yota catches it! Takagi backs off seeing those skills.

But Drilla is up to CHOP, CHOP, CHOP! Yota KNEES Drilla, then stands him up. Yota brushes Drilla off, then winds up, only to swing into a spin and suplex! The fans cheer while both men are down! Drilla crawls, reaches out, hot tag to Takagi! Takagi RUNS Yota over, then clinches Gabe! Gabe fights free, Yota helps out, and they double whip Takagi. Takagi ducks and sends Yota into Gabe! Takagi gets each of them, DDT COMPLETE SHOT COMBO! Cover, TWO! Yota survives but Takagi fires Korakuen up. But Gabe CLOBBERS Takagi before the catchphrase can even start! And now Gabe points to the cameras and- NO, Drilla CLOBBERS Gabe!

The fans cheer as now Drilla starts up the catchphrase! But Yota CLOBBERS him! Yota wants to try?! But then Takagi waistlocks! Yota switches, Gabe runs up, but Takagi BOOTS him away! Takagi then ELBOWS Yota, dodges Gabe, and Gabe runs into Yota! Then Takagi DOUBLE PUMPING BOMBERS! Takagi and Drilla say it together! “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans bark along as they get Gabe and Yota up! Drilla scoops and SLAMS Gabe, Takagi scoops and SLAMS Yota! They both go up!? MACHO ELBOW and PUMPING ELBOW in STEREO! Cover, TWO! Yota survives but Takagi clamps onto the arms!

Takagi chicken wings Yota but Yota endures! Yota fights with his legs, reaches out, and the fans rally as he stretches to the ROPEBREAK! Takagi lets go and CLUBS Yota down. Tag to Drilla and he brings Yota up. Drilla CHOPS! And CHOPS! And then CHOPS again! Drilla runs corner to corner but Yota BOOTS him! Drilla tries again, blocks a boot, but Yota reels him in for the DOUBLE STOMP! Yota rolls, hot tag to Gabe! The fans fire up as Gabe has Drilla in the corner to CHOP, HEADBUTT, and repeat! Gabe wobbles, rolls, and runs back in, to LARIAT! The fans fire up and Gabe barks. The fans bark along as Gabe whips corner to corner.

Gabe runs to BUCKLE BULLDOG! Then he SAIDOS! High stack, TWO! Drilla survives but Gabe tags Yota back in. Yota BLASTS Takagi down, then Gabe sends Yota in for an ELBOW! Gabe LARIATS, then feeds Drilla to the tilt-o-whirl BACKBREKAER! Then the COMEBACKER! Cover, Takagi breaks it! The fans fire up again, then Gabe and Takagi start throwing forearms! Red Shoes reprimands but Gabe fires a flurry! Gabe ROCKS Takagi, runs the ropes, but into the ELBOW! JAB! But Gabe HEADBUTTS again and again! YUKON LARIAT hits after all! Yota SUPERKICKS Takagi! Drilla SPINEBUSTERS Yota!

The fans are thunderous as all four men are down! Gabe and Takagi tumble out of the ring, Drilla and Yota stir, and the fans rally up again. Yota and Drilla rise, stare down, it is a standoff for who will go first! They rush in, they each want a facelock, but Drilla CLUBS away on Yota! Canadian Rack, DRILLA- NO, Yota lands out! But Drilla blocks the Gene Trigger! Drilla stands, he spins Yota, waistlocks, but Yota spins that around. Drilla CHOPS! Yota CHOPS! Drilla SUPERKICKS! Yota HEADBUTTS! Both men fall and the fans fire up again! Yota and Drilla sputter, the fans rally, and they each crawl! Hot tags to Gabe and Takagi!

Gabe and Takagi DOUBLE LARIAT! Neither falls, so they DOUBLE LARIAT again! And again! They both headbutt buckles to fire up, and then run in one more time! DOUBLE LARIATS! Takagi ROCKS Gabe, CLUBS Gabe, and then ducks the Comebacker to SAIDO Gabe! Gabe flounders away, Yota BOOTS and runs! Takagi follows to LARIAT at ropes! Takagi runs, but into the BACKBREAKER, FLATLINER, and COMPLETE SHOT! The fans fire up for the Gene Combination, but Drilla runs up! Yota dodges to GENE TRIGGER in the corner! Then the MARLOWE- NO, Drilla avoids the crush! Fireman’s carry and DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!

The fans continue to cheer, Gabe dodges Drilla but Drilla ducks the Comebacker! GERMAN SUPLEX, but Gabe lands out! Drilla dodges again, both men return, Gabe BUSAIKU KNEES Drilla!! The fans fire up as all four men are down once again! Now Drilla and Yota bail out while Takagi and Gabe rise up. They go forehead to forehead, and Gabe HEADBUTTS! Takagi HEADBUTTS! And repeat! They stand as the HEADBUTTS keep going, and then Gabe short arm LARIATS! Takagi stays up, so he short arm LARIATS! Gabe shakes his head, and he short arm LARIATS! The fans rally as Takagi stands, and short arm LARIATS!

Gabe LARIATS again, and again, and then CHOPS Takagi on the back! Takagi snarls, and he fires boxing elbows! The fans fire up as Takagi ROCKS Gabe, but Gabe fires palm strikes and a RIGHT! Gabe runs, Takagi pops Gabe up! Drilla GORES Gabe! Yota LARIATS Drilla! And GENE TRIGGERS Takagi! GENE- PUMPING BOMBER!! Gabe runs up, ducks the lariat, and he BOOTS! But the PUMPING BOMBER finds him!! Cover, TWO!! Gabe survives and the fans fire up! “OI! OI! OI!” Drilla joins in with that, and they get Gabe back up! They double pump handle, for a DOUBLE MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, Takagi & Drilla win!!

Winners: Shingo Takagi & “Drilla” Dan Moloney, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Gabe & Yota earn 0)

The faction crisscross is certainly a success, but in the end, only one side could win and it was Takagi & Drilla. There is still respect between them all, but will Gabe & Yota be able to rebound in the second round?

As for Takagi & Moloney, they get the mic, and Takagi says, “Since we won, mind if I talk just a bit?” The fans cheer and even chant for “TA-KA-GI! TA-KA-GI!” Takagi then points to Moloney, and the fans chant for “MO-LO-NEY! MO-LO-NEY!” Takagi continues with, “The time for me and Moloney has come!” The fans cheer that, and Takagi adds that “this World Tag League opener in Korakuen was a complete sell-out!” The fans cheer that, too, and Takagi thanks everyone for that. He’s super pumped. “Me and Moloney have a damn good reason to win this league.” Oh? “I saw the news. The Tokyo Dome is sold out!”

The fans cheer that news, and Takagi says they’re adding MORE seats, but those will go in a hurry, too. The problem is, he and Moloney don’t have a match yet! The Knock Out Brothers may be champions, but the “Kita Kita Brothers” will win this league!” Drilla says no, that’s not a good name. Takagi says Moloney must wanna talk. But Takagi is senpai, don’t step on his toes! Takagi still gives the mic over and Drilla somewhat jokingly apologizes, “Sumimasen.” The fans applaud, and Drilla smiles as they chant “MO-LO-NEY!” Drilal then says, that name really is lame, sorry to say. But he has a better one in mind: WAR DRAGONS!

The fans do like the sound of that. Drilla says it’s obviously for War Dogs and Rampage Dragon, so it’s a combination of them both. Takagi says yeah, good idea, but he’s already decided they’re the Ktia Kita Brothers. Drilla is upset, the fans boo, but then Takagi says they’ll leave it up to poll by applause. The fans like that. Okay, so Kita Kita Brothers or War Dragons. If you like Kita Kita Brothers, cheer! The applause is good, but Drilla can’t help but laugh. Drilla says, “War Dragons!” The fans erupt with cheers! So it is decided, they are The War Dragons! That said, the War Dragons will heat up this league and win it all! The fans cheer, but will Takagi & Drilla conquer the block? Or will a team find a way to slay the War Dragons?

Here are the A Block standings!

Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg: 1-0, 2 points
Evil & Don Fale: 1-0, 2 points
Taichi & Satoshi Kojima: 1-0, 2 points
Shingo Takagi & “Drilla” Dan Moloney: 1-0, 2 points
Gabe Kidd & Yota Tsuji: 0-1, 0 points
Bishamon: 0-1, 0 points
El Desperado & Shuji Ishikawa: 0-1, 0 points
Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens: 0-1, 0 points

My Thoughts:

A great start to World Tag League here, and I’m surprised they did only one block instead of both blocks. But at the same time, that was a relief to me, this is a busy Autumn for wrestling. Great opening promo from Yoh “interrupting” and throwing out an Open Challenge for the NEVER Six Man titles. With WTL taking center stage, story builds for these other titles need to be put in where they can, so this was a very clever way to do it. And good stuff post-match for Finlay, Hiromu & Gedo VS Oskar, Yuto & Daiki. That’s the kind of dysfunction I’ve been expecting in this alliance, and it makes sense. Yuto & Oskar are the newest War Dogs so they’re annoyed that the Unaffiliated were then welcomed as friends, this tension can add to the overall story.

Great stuff in each of the A Block matches, with some really fun results, as well. Yano & Oleg winning over the new duo of Despy & Shuji was great, and the new combination of Taichi & Kojima winning over Bishamon was also great. The House of Torture fighting itself obviously ended with cheating, but it was also clever for them all to just be over it and move on. And awesome stuff in the main event with rivals Gabe and Yota working together against newer rivals, Takagi and Drilla. Great win for the now #WarDragons, can’t wait to see them and #MadGenes to do great things in this tournament.

My Score: 9.1/10