The time has come!

World Tag League has barely begun but things are already heating up! Will the War Dragons, Shingo Takagi &  “Drilla” Moloney, continue rampaging in A Block?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current 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

2025 World Tag League A Block: Bishamon VS Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens!

Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi falling in the first round was certainly surprising, but the House of Torture cheating itself was not. Which team will #GetBackUp and #TurnItAllAround in the second?

The teams sort out and Chase steps right to Goto to pie face him! The fans rally up and the bell rings. Chase and Goto stare down, then slowly circle. But then Chase swings on Hashi! Hashi gets away, but that’s a distraction so Yujiro can CLOBBER Goto! The ref reprimands, Chase BLASTS Hashi this time, then the Lonestar Outlaw & Tokyo Pimp stomp away on Goto. They stand Goto up, double whip, then Chase mule kicks! Yujiro runs but Hashi trips him up! The fans cheer as Hashi drags Yujiro out to RAM him into railing! Goto and Chase fire forearms, Chase ROCKS Goto! Chase runs, but Goto RUNS him over! Hashi jumps in, ZANMAI!

The fans cheer as Bishamon then catches Yujiro with kicks! The fans join in with “SE~ NO!” BEAT THE DRUM! The fans cheer while Yujiro flounders away. Goto kicks Chase, Chase throws a body shot, but Goto CLUBS Chase. Goto bumps Chase off buckles, stomps him, then tags Hashi. They stomp Chase together, dig their boots in, but stop as the ref counts 4. Hashi stands Chase up, wrenches and wrenches and wrenches the arm, then brings Chase around to CLUB the shoulder. Tag back to Goto and Goto has Chase in a corner. Goto wrenches the arm, CLUSB it, then pushes Chase around. Goto eggs Chase on, so Chase fires back! Goto DECKS Chase!

The fans rally as Goto whips Chase corner to corner. Goto runs in, but Chase blocks to BUCKLE SHOT and STO, then KNEE DROP! Yujiro runs in and BLASTS Hashi! Chase rains down fists on Goto but the ref counts. Chase pushes the ref away so he can stand up. Chase stomps Goto, then tells fans to shut up. Tag to Yujiro and they mug Goto. Yujiro snapmares Goto, then LEG DROP! Chase talks trash to Gedo on commentary, Gedo tells him to shut up. Yujiro headlocks Goto, but CLAWS Goto’s eyes! The ref reprimands, Yujiro stops, and he FALLING HEADBUTTS! Cover, TWO! The fans applaud, but Yujiro drags Goto up and over to bump of Chase’s boot!

Yujiro tags Chase, and Chase headlocks. Chase sneaks the punch in! Then FIST DROPS! The ref reprimands but Chase drags Goto up again. Chase bumps Goto off Yujiro’s boot now! Tag to Yujiro, Chase whips Goto in and forearm SMASH! Then feed to Yujiro’s LARIAT! Chase adds a NECK SNAP, then Yujiro covers, TWO! Yujiro drags Goto up for a REVERSE DDT! Cover, TWO! The fans applaud as Goto stays in this, but Yujiro taunts him and brings him up. Yujiro fires a forearm, Goto CHOPS, and repeat! Goto CHOPS, and CHOPS, but Yujiro KNEES low! Yujiro whips, but Goto reverses! Goto runs in, but into a BOOT!

Yujiro runs, but Goto follows! LARIAT! A clipping blow but both men are down! The fans rally as both men stir. Goto rolls, hot tag to Hashi! Hashi RUNS Yujiro over, BLASTS Chase, and the fans fire up! Hashi runs corner to corner to ELBOW Yujiro, then ROCK, and CHOP, and NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally and Hashi drags Yujiro up. Yujiro resists the suplex, and he BITES Hashi’s hand! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Yujiro CLUBS the arm. Yujiro whips, Hashi reverses, but then Yujiro FLAPJACK HOTSHOTS Hashi down! Yujiro tags in Chase, Chase storms over to Hashi. Chase mocks the “SE~ NO!” and BEATS THE DRUM!

Hashi writhes, Chase flexes, but he tells the fans to shove it with their cheers. Chase whips Hashi, but Hashi dropkicks the leg out! The fans rally up while both men are down! Hashi crawls, hot tag to Goto! Goto runs at Chase in the corner, MURAMASA! Chase staggers into the SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Chase survives but the fans rally behind Goto. Goto brings Chase up, fireman’s carries, but Chase grabs the ref! The fans boo, but Hashi stops Yujiro and his pimp cane! Then FIERCE FLASH into the dragon sleeper! But Chase kicks free! Yujiro trips Hashi, sends him into railing, and Chase BOOTS Goto! Chase runs, Goto follows, but Chase ENZIGIRIS!

The fans rally as Chase then turns Goto, SWING SMASH and FISHERMAN BUSTER! I HATE YOUR FACE KNEE STRIKE! Cover, Hashi breaks it! Yujiro TOSSES Hashi back out, Chase drags Goto back up. Chase brings Goto around, reels him in, tucks the arms, and- NO, Goto fights the lift! Goto wrenches out, but Chase ROCKS him! And C-TRIGGER! Then a running C-TRIGGER! Cover, TWO!! Goto survives and the fans fire up! Chase is annoyed by the cheers of “GO-TO-O!” Chase C-TRIGGERS again, then tucks Goto in! LAST- BLOCKBUSTER from Hashi! Hashi blocks Yujiro’s kick, they fire forearm after forearm!

Yujiro fires a flurry, then runs, but into the HIDDEN GAP LARIAT! The fans fire up as Yujiro tumbles out. Chase staggers, Hashi runs up, LARIAT in the corner! Feed to the fireman’s carry! FIERCE FLASH! And then they drag Chase into the dragon sleeper, Hashi gets the legs, SHOTO!! Cover, Bishamon wins!

Winner: Bishamon, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Yujiro & Chase earn 0)

The Fierce Warrior & Head Hunter did indeed #GetBackUp, and they now have points on the board! But will they still #TurnItAllAround and return to the finals? Or is it still too early to tell?

2025 World Tag League A Block: Taichi & Satoshi Kojima VS Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg!

The new duo of #HolyCozy scored big in the first round against Bishamon, but the Joker & Rook perhaps got the literally biggest win of all over El Desperado & Shuji Ishikawa. But will Yano & Oleg put the Holy Emperor & King of Bread Style behind BARS? Or will another lariat sandwich be served with a capital L?

Taichi calls out Yano to start, and the fans cheer Yano on. Yano fires up and says okay! The fans cheer and the bell rings as Yano and Taichi circle, but then Taichi tags Kojima! Yano is already upset, getting tricked like that. Kojima and Yano circle, and circle, and then Yano tags Oleg! The fans cheer and now Oleg circles with Kojima. They tie up, are in a deadlock, and Oleg puts Kojima on the ropes. The ref counts, Oleg backs off, and the fans applaud. The two tie up again, Oleg headlocks, but Kojima powers up and out. Oleg RUNS Kojima over, things speed up, but Kojima HIP TOSSES! Kojima runs to RUN Oleg over! Yano runs in, but Kojima RUNS him over, too!

The fans cheer as Kojima makes the pecs dance! Taichi joins in as Kojima stands Oleg up. They double whip, but Oleg DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLES! The fans cheer, and Oleg paces. Tag to Yano, and Yano storms up to push Kojima around. Yano whips to HIP TOSS! Then he unties a buckle pad! The fans cheer and Yano stands Kojima up. Yano whips Kojima into the bare buckles! The fans applaud and Yano tags Oleg back in. Oleg storms up and stomps Kojima, then whips him into the safe corner! Oleg then stomps a mudhole into Kojima, and brings him around to scoop and SLAM! Cover, TWO!

The fans applaud as Kojima toughs it out, but Oleg tags Yano. Yano tells Taichi to stay away, then he TOSSES Kojima out. Yano whips Kojima into railing! Yano returns to the ring and taunts Taichi before he goes back outside. The ref reprimands, Yano says yeah, hold on! Yano puts Kojima in and stomps him down. Yano whips Kojima back into bare buckles! Yano talks more trash, then he tells Oleg to join in. Oleg obliges, they double whip, but Kojima slips around to send Oleg into Yano! Then he kicks and DDTS Oleg down! Then a kick and DDT for Yano! The fans cheer and Kojima rises back up. Hot tag to Taichi!

Taichi storms up on Yano and whips him, but Yano reverses! Taichi BOOTS Yano down! Oleg kicks Taichi! Oleg whips but Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! The fans cheer and Taichi has Yano alone for Kawada Kicks! Yano kicks the bad leg in return! Taichi SOBATS Yano in return! And then KICK, but Yano blocks! Yano CLUBS the leg, and whips Taichi, but Taichi reverses! Yano stops from hitting bare buckles! Taichi runs in, but is sent into the bare buckles! Yano runs but Taichi AX BOMBERS! The fans fire up while both men are down! Taichi rises up and the fans rally behind him. OFF COME THE PANTS!

The fans cheer as Taichi takes aim, powers up, and- NO, Oleg runs in and SPLASHES Taichi! Oleg pushes Taichi down, then goes back to the corner, hot tag from Yano! Oleg runs and runs and runs, and runs, and runs, to SPLASH DOWN! Cover, TWO! Oleg drags Taichi up, gut wrenches, and he Shake, Shake, Shake, and a few mores Shake, but Taichi grabs a leg! Taichi CLUBS the leg, tries to Alabama Lift, but Oleg is too big! Oleg lifts, Taichi fights that! They struggle for control, and Taichi BACKDROPS Oleg! The fans cheer and Taichi BOOTS Oleg! Oleg comes back to ROCK Taichi! Taichi RIDGE HAND CHOPS! Oleg CHOPS!

Taichi goes to the corner, Oleg runs in, but he’s sent into bare buckles! GAMANGIRI! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Taichi and Oleg stir, they crawl for corners, hot tag to Kojima! The fans cheer as Kojima MACHINE GUN CHOPS Oleg! Extra big clip! The fans fire up, Kojima whips corner to corner, forearm SMASH! “ICCHAUZO, BAKAYAROU!” Kojima goes up, COZY ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Oleg survives but Kojima brings him up for a flurry of forearms, then a ROLLING ELBOW! Kick and- NO, Oleg stops the cutter! Oleg BODY BLOWS, then clinches, BELLY2BELLY! The fans fire up while Oleg rises!

Oleg storms up on Kojima, fireman’s carries, but Kojima fights free! RIDGE HAND from Taichi! Kick and COZY CUTTER! The fans fire up, Kojima brings Oleg up, but Oleg shoves him away! Taichi BUZZSAWS Oleg back down! Kojima covers, Yano breaks it! Taichi CLUBS and TOSSES Yano, and Taichi tells Kojima to finish it! Kojima throws off the elbow pad! The fans fire up as Kojima runs, but into a fireman’s carry! KAMI- NO, Kojima grabs ropes! And he COZY- NO, Oleg SWATS the lariat! Oleg runs to LARIAT! Kojima stays up! Oleg tries again, Kojima dodges, DOUBLE LARIATS! Kojima stays standing while Oleg falls!

The fans fire up and Kojima roars! Taichi joins in, they get Oleg up, LARIAT SAND- NO, Oleg ducks, the COZY LARIAT takes out Taichi! Yano returns to whip Kojima into bare buckles! And then a trip, and a CATAPULT into the fireman’s carry! KAMIKAZE!! Cover, Yano & Oleg win!

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

#HolyCozy wasn’t quite snug enough, and that lets Yano & Oleg slip through and turn the tables! Will the brain and the brawn put all of A Block behind BARS?

2025 World Tag League A Block: Shingo Takagi & “Drilla” Dan Moloney VS El Desperado & Shuji Ishikawa!

After the phenomenal main event win to start the tournament, the newly named #WarDragons is all fired up! But will they rampage all the way to the top? Or can the Rogue Luchador & 21st Century Giant bring them back down to earth?

The teams sort out and while Drilla calls out Despy, Takagi calls out Shuji. The fans cheer as Shuji and Takagi step up and the bell rings. The fans then rally as the two circle. The two tie up, are in a deadlock, but then Shuji’s size helps him push Takagi to the ropes. Takagi turns thins around, the ref reprimands, and Takagi says, “Clean break.” But then Takagi CHOPS! No clean break, and Shuji is not amused! The fans cheer, Takagi runs, and they RAM shoulders! Suuji doesn’t budge, Takagi tries again, and they RAM shoulders! And RAM shoulders! Takagi fires forearms and CHOPS, but Shuji ROCKS Takagi and RUNS him over!

The fans cheer and Shuji stalks Takagi to the corner. Shuji whips Takagi corner to corner, runs in, but Takagi dodges! Takagi HIP- NO! Shuji is just too big for a hip toss! Takagi dodges a lariat, and runs to CLOBBER Shuji! The fans fire up with Takagi on that! Shuji rises, he talks with Despy, and Drilla calls to Takagi. Takagi and Shuji tag in Drilla and Despy and the fans rally up for the Super Juniors. The two tie up, Drilla powers Despy to ropes, and the ref counts. Drilla takes a swing, Despy dodges, and he RAMS Drilla! But Drilla rebounds and RUNS Despy over! The fans fire up, Despy applauds, then he gets in Drilla’s face.

Drilla shoves Despy, eggs him on, and Despy runs. Despy stops before the hurdle to poke Drilla in the eye! The ref reprimands but the fans applaud. Despy whips, Drilla reverses, then Drilla drops down to DROPKICK! Despy bails out, Drilla runs and WRECKS him with a dropkick! The fans cheer and bark with Drilla, then Drilla puts Despy in. Drilla tags Takagi, then they double whip Despy to the ropes. They DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE Despy and the fans join in with “OI!” and barking. “OI! WOOF! OI! WOOF! OI! WOOF!” Takagi stands Despy up, reels him in, and suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO!

The fans rally as Despy stays in this, and Takagi tags Drilla. Drilla brings Despy up, he and Takagi double whip again, and Drilla picks Despy up while Takagi runs, HART ATTACK! Cover, TWO! Despy survives and snarls as he rises up, but Drilla pushes him around. Despy CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Drilla CHOPS and Despy goes to a corner! Drilla storms up, Despy CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS, but Drilla CHOPS! Drilla suplexes but Despy blocks! Drilla powers through to lift Despy, but Despy fights that back down! Wrench and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Both men are down and the fans rally up! Despy crawls, hot tag to Shuji!

The fans rally as Shuji CLUBS away on Drilla, but Takagi CLUBS Shuji! Takagi & Drilla double whip, but Shuji holds ropes, then comes back to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans fire up and Shuji has Drilla in the corner. Shuji whips corner to corner, runs in and LARIATS! Then he scoops and SLAMS, goes up the ropes, and DOUBLE STOMPS! Drilla flounders and writhes but Shuji covers, TWO! Drilla survives the “Giant Stomps,” but Shuji says he’s gonna take Drilla on a ride! Shuji suplexes, shifts, but Drilla slips free! Drilla UPPERCUTS, ROCKS, and repeat! Drilla runs, but Shuji KNEES him down low!

Shuji tags Despy, Despy runs in at Drilla! LARIAT! Then he calls his shot! But Drilla suplexes! Despy fights that, CLUBS and KNEES Drilla, but Drilla still suplexes! Despy turns that around to suplex Drilla up and over! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer and Despy fires up as he calls his shot! Despy underhooks, but Drilla fights it! Drilla BACKDROPS free, and he hot tags Takagi! The fans fire up as Takagi runs in at the corner, blocks a boot, and LARIATS anyway! The fans fire up, and Takagi JABS, CHOPS, and repeat! Then JAB, JAB, JAB, and CHOP! Takagi reels Despy in for a suplex, but Despy fights it, so TAKAGI TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Cover, TWO!

The fans rally as Despy toughs it out. Takagi brings Despy up, half nelsons and pump handles, but Despy fights his way to the ROPEBREAK! Takagi lets go to CLUB Despy, and kicks him in the bad ribs! Takagi whips, Despy reverses, and Shuji KICKS Takagi! Despy victory rolls to then get the leg! STRETCH MUFFLER! The fans rally as Takagi scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Despy lets go, hobbles over, and he tags Shuji. Shuji runs to BLAST Drilla off the apron! Despy & Shuji double whip, but Takagi slips around! Despy switches, Takagi BOOTS Shuji and RAMS Despy into the corner! Shuji runs in, but Takagi moves! Shuji SPLASHES Despy!

Takagi kicks Shuji and vows to suplex him! The fans fire up but Shuji is still too big! Shuji CLUBS Takagi, runs the ropes, but Drilla KICKS him! Shuji isn’t fazed, he’s just mad! Drilla ducks Shuji’s haymaker and HOTSHOTS him! Takagi then reels Shuji in for a GIANT SUPLEX!! The fans fire up while both men are down! Takagi crawls to the cover, ONE?!? And with some power behind it! Takagi runs up, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! And DOUBLE LARIATS collide again! The fans fire up with Takagi, and he runs in again! Shuji blocks, then he traps both arms to HEADBUTT, HEADBUTT, HEADBUTT! But Takagi HEADBUTTS right back!

The fans fire up as Takagi ducks ‘n’ dodges, PUMPING BOMBER!! Both men are down again and the fans fire up! Takagi and Shuji crawl, hot tag to Drilla! Drilla runs in at Shuji to GAMANGIRI! Drilla then trips Shuji, stomps him, and Takagi intercepts Despy! Takagi scoops and SLAMS Despy, and the fans fire up as Takagi coordinates with Drilla. “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans bark again as Drilla and Takagi climb the corners! STEREO MACHO ELBOWS! The fans fire up and Drilla aims at Shuji. Shuji rises, into the GORE! But Shuji STUFFS it!! The fans fire up, but Takagi runs in and BLINDSIDE BOMBERS!

The War Dragons DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE, but Shuji stays up! The War Dragons block the double lariats, and then DOUBLE JAB Shuji! The fans fire up as Drilla tries again, GORE!! Cover, TWO!! Shuji survives and the fans fire up! Takagi fires the fans up with “OI! OI! OI!” Drilla drags Shuji up, he and Takagi work together and they double pump handle Shuji! But Despy makes the save! Despy ROCKS Drilla, KNEES Takagi, then runs, but Takagi LARIATS! Takagi runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Drilla SPINEBUSTERS Despy! Drilla ELBOWS Shuji, runs, but into a GIANT LARIAT!! All four men are down and the fans fire up again!

The fans rally up as Shuji and Drilla rise up. Drilla fires forearms, Shuji fires back! Shuji ROCKS Drilla, but Drilla comes back to fire more shots! Shuji ROCKS Drilla again! The fans rally, Drilla shakes it off, and he fires another flurry! But Shuji ROCKS Drilla again and again! Drilla huffs ‘n’ puffs as he comes back, and SUPERKICKS! Drilla roars as he reels Shuji in! Canadian Rack?! But Despy tips things over! Then he slips around, and sets Drilla up for Shuji’s scoop! FIRE THUNDER DRIVER!! Cover, TAKAGI BREAKS IT! Despy goes after Takagi, they brawl, and Takagi fires boxing elbows! Despy ROCKS Takagi back!

Takagi ELBOWS, JABS, YUKON- NO, Despy ducks and feeds Takagi to Shuji’s KNEE! Then Shuji picks Takagi up, DOUBLE POEWRBOMB! Drilla is up, Shuji KNEES him down! Cover, TWO!! Drilla survives and the fans fire up! But Shuji vows to end this now! Shuji stands Drilla up, pump handles, GIANT- NO, Drilla KNEES free! Drilla runs, but into the GIANT KITCHEN SINK! And a KAMI-GOYE!! Shuji then runs from the corner, GIANT KNEE STRIKE!! Cover, TWO?!?! Drilla survives and shocks everyone! But Shuji hooks him up again! GIANT SLAM!! Cover, Despy & Shuji win!

Winners: El Desperado & Shuji Ishikawa, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Takagi & Drilla earn 0)

The War Dragons have been slain! Despy & Shuji get on the board in a big way, will the Rogue & Giant soon stand tall over the whole block? Can Takagi & Drilla reload and try again next round?

2025 World Tag League A Block: Yota Tsuji & Gabe Kidd VS EVIL & Don Fale w/ Dick Togo!

The Gene Blast & Mad Man were so close to a win to open the tournament, but they’re back in the main event to see if they can’t make up for it. Will these rivals turned teammates prove they’re the top dogs? Or will they see that Everything is Evil?

Yota and Gabe stop at the end of the ramp, look to each other, and nod. They both rush in, but Evil & Fale bail out! The fans boo but The King of Darkness & Rogue General say they’re too smart. Only to turn around into baseball slide DROPKICKS! The fans fire up as Gabe goes after Fale and Yota goes after Evil! Yota ROCKS Evil, Gabe brings Fale into the crowd and CHOPS! Fale BODY BLOWS and CLUBS Gabe in return! Yota ROCKS Evil as they now spill into the crowd! The fans rally as Gabe BOWLS Fale into chairs! Not quite a strike but good enough. Evil headlock punches Yuta! Fale ROCKS Gabe in return!

Evil BOWLS Yota into Young Lions! Fale BOWLS Gabe into chairs! Fale hits his strike, then has Dick Togo keep Gabe preoccupied while he goes back to ringside. Fale tells off Gedo and says Red Shoes says they shouldn’t let him be ringside. Gedo says he’s just on commentary, relax! And then Gabe gets past Dick to CLOBBE Fale! The fans cheer and bark with Gabe, but then Evil mule kicks him! Evil whips Gabe into railing and Gabe falls in a heap! Evil brings out chairs, Gedo protests, but Gabe blocks the shot! Gabe JAMS Evil up, then SMACKS him on the back! The fans fire up, and Gabe ROCKS Evil with a right hand!

The fans bark for Gabe and Gabe sits the chair up. Gabe makes Evil take a seat, then CHOPS! Gedo says he loves what he sees as Gabe gets a lot of space. Gabe runs up, but Evil CHUCKS the chair into his face!! Gabe goes down in a heap all over again, but then Evil puts the chair around Gabe’s neck. Wait, how’d he get Yano’s red chair?! Evil hits the HOMERUN! The fans boo as Gabe falls again. Red Shoes reprimands, Fale blames Gedo, Gedo says get Dick Togo outta here instead! Evil CHOKES Gabe using the Yano chair, Yota runs up to attack, but Fale goes after Yota. Fale ROCKS Yota, Evil puts Gabe in the ring, and the bell finally sounds!

Evil covers, TWO! Another cover, TWO! A third cover, TWO!! The fans fire up as Gabe toughs it out. Gedo cheers Gabe on but Evil tags Fale. Fale stomps Gabe, stalks him, and keeps him away from Yota with more stomps. Gabe goes to a neutral corner, but Fale CHOKES him on the ropes! Red Shoes reprimands, Fale stops at 4, and Gabe sputters. Fale then stands on Gabe’s back! Red Shoes reprimands, but he also has to keep Yota back. Fale has the camera zoom in just so he can flip everyone off. Fale then steps off to tag Evil, and Evil brandishes the House of Torture shirt. Red Shoes stops Evil and Evil gives up the shirt.

But Evil reveals he has the tag rope! Evil CHOKES Gabe with the string and the fans boo! Red Shoes suspects something but Evil stops before he’s caught. Evil covers, but Red Shoes refuses to acknowledge it given the shenanigans. The fans cheer but Evil & Fale are upset. Evil kicks Gabe around, CHOKES him straight up, but Red Shoes counts. Evil stops at 4, tells Red Shoes to do his job then, and he tags Fale. Fale stalks Gabe back to ropes, but Gabe fires body shots! Then he fires forearms! Fale throat chops! Fale scoops and SLAMS Gabe, then lines up a shot. ELBOW FLOP as Gabe dodges! But then Evil gets in with a chair!

Red Shoes stops Evil, but he doesn’t see Dick TRIP Yota off the apron! Gabe is without a tag partner! The fans boo, Gedo protests, but then Fale SPLASHES Gabe in the corner! Cover, TWO! Gabe survives and the fans applaud, but Fale frowns as he brings Gabe up. Fale whips Gabe into bare buckles, as the buckle pad disappeared in all the chaos! Evil mockingly asks Gabe what’s wrong, then TOSSES him out! Yota is up, he protests, but he, Evil and Fale end up distracting the ref so that Dick can SMACK Gabe with the buckle pad! More like a lashing given the straps on that thing. Dick puts Gabe in and Evil drags him up to scoop and SLAM! Cover, TWO!

Evil is frustrated but the fans cheer Gabe on, as does Gedo. Gabe snarls but Evil tells Gedo to shut up! Gedo just gets louder! The fans also rally up, but Evil slaps Gabe around. Gabe just glares at Evil, then takes a swing, only for Evil to CLAW Gabe’s face! The fans boo, Red Shoes reprimands, but Evil just laughs as he stops at 4. Evil kicks, Gabe blocks, and he hands the foot to Red Shoes so he can STRAIGHT RIGHT Evil! Then a BIG suplex! The fans fire up while both men are down! Evil and Gabe crawl while the fans rally up, hot tag to Yota! He runs to BLAST Fale, then he fires forearms on Evil! Yota whips, Evil reverses, but Yota takes a swing!

Evil dodges the lariat, comes back, but Yota wrenches and ROCKS Evil after all! Yota then reels Evil in for the ORANGE CRUSH! Cover, TWO! Evil survives but the fans rally behind Yota. Yota storms up on Evil, drags him up, and puts him in a corner for forearm after forearm! Red Shoes counts, Yota hammers away on Evil, then stops as Red Shoes counts 4. Yota backs up, only to run up and fire off more shots! Red Shoes counts again, Yota stops at 4, and he goes corner to corner to run back in, GENE TRIGGER! Then Yota hoists Evil up top, but Fale CLUBS Yota! Fale lifts Yota with the crucifix! Yota slips free and kicks low!

Yota then DUMPS Fale out of the ring! Evil runs up, Yota BOOTS him, but then Evil ducks the lariat! Evil shoves Yota, goes the other way, LARIAT from the corner! Both men are down and the fans rally up again! Evil and Yota stir, Evil rises up, and he brings Yota around. FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Yota stays in this, but Evil tells them all to shut up. He even talks trash to Gedo! Evil stands Yota up, fireman’s carries, but Yota fights free! Yota clinches to BACKBREAKER, FLATLINER, and STOMP! The fans fire up for the Gene Combination, and Yota aims from the corner. But Dick throws something into the ring!

Red Shoes fetches the thing, and then Dick slides a chair into the ring!? Yota picks that up, but Red Shoes catches him! The fans boo and Yota defends his innocence, but then Evil SHOVES Yota into Red Shoes! Down goes Red Shoes and the fans boo! But now Dick gets in, he BLASTS Gabe back off the apron, and he stomps away on Yota! Evil stomps Yota, the fans boo more, and Gedo shouts for Red Shoes to get up. Evil tells them all to shut up, then he and Dick hit Yota with MAGIC KILLER! Fale shoves Red Shoes in and Evil covers, GABE BREAKS IT! The fans fire up as Gabe saves the day, but Evil kicks him out of the ring.

Evil drags Yota up, wrenches and fireman’s carries, DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives and the fans fire up again! Evil paces, slashes his throat, and he vows to end this! Evil drags Yota up, spins him, and EVERY- NO, Yota slips through to backslide! Evil rolls through, GENE TRIGGER! Both men are down again, but the fans rally back up as Gabe rises! Yota and Evil crawl, hot tags to Gabe and Fale! Gabe dodges Fale to fire off forearms! Gabe ROCKS Fale, bobs ‘n’ weaves, then CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! And ROCKS Fale again! Gabe whips, Fale blocks! Fale whips, Gabe avoids the bare buckles! Fale runs in, but is sent into the bare buckles!

Gabe runs in and LARIATS! Gabe CLUBS away, the fans bark along, but Fale SHOVES Gabe away! Gabe just comes back to LARIAT again! Gabe then HEADBUTTS again and again! He sits Fale down like that, but gives more HEADBUTTS! Gabe goes corner to corner and back again, HYDRAULIC DROPKICK! The fans fire up as Gabe hits it Shibata style! Gabe then stomps Fale, SPITS at Dick, then goes up the corner, MADMAN MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Fale survives but the fans bark with Gabe. Gabe brings the kneepad down, but Dick lurks! Evil distracts so Dick can TRIP Gabe! Evil BLASTS Yota!

Evil LARIATS Gabe in the corner, Fale SPLASHES! Snapmare, and they set Gabe up! Dick climbs, Evil keeps Red Shoes from seeing the DICK CHOP! The fans boo, Fale covers, YOTA BREAKS IT! Evil CLUBS Yota, TOSSES him out, and tells Fale to kill ’em! Fale brings Gabe up with the guzel! Gabe fires body shots, but Fale still hits the GRENADE!! Fale drags Gabe back up, he’s not done yet?! Canadian Rack into the crucifix, for the BAD LUCK- GENE TRIGGER!! Yota makes the save again, and he fires Gabe up! They double whip Fale, but Fale DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLES THEM! But Gabe & Yota are back up!

Gabe & Yota mug Fale, Evil attacks them and CLAWS eyes! Evil runs, into a DOUBLE DOUBLE CHOP! So a QUADRUPLE! Fale runs up, but he gets a SUPERKICK! STRAIGHT RIGHT! And DOUBLE HEADBUTTS!! Then they fire up and line up a shot! O-KNEE DOUBLE KNEE!! Gabe BLASTS Evil into the timekeeper! Yota DIVES onto Evil to keep him down! Gabe DECKS Dick, too! And then COMEBACKER GENE BLASTER COMBO!!! Cover, Mad Genes win!!

Winners: Yota Tsuji & Gabe Kidd, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Evil & Fale earn 0)

The Rogue General is a big man, but not even he could withstand power of that magnitude! Will the House of Torture regroup and work out new ways to cheat and win for next round?

As for Gabe & Yota, Gabe takes the mic to say, “Machida, we get active. Machida, we get lit! It’s Yota Tsuji & Gabe Kidd, we run this s*it!” The fans cheer, and Gabe says they started off on the wrong foot, but this right here, it’s Jordan & Kobe! It’s Pele & Maradona! If you talk s*it on them, you talk Yota Tsuji & Gabe EFFIN’ Kidd! Tsuji, go ahead. The fans cheer, and Yota takes his turn. Yota manages in a raspy voice, “I’m sorry about this. Ever since Takagi hit me with that Pumping Bomber, I’ve sounded like this. I want to ask, ‘Are you ready?’ But I’ll have to rely on Gabe today. Gabe, close this out.”

Yota hands the mic back, and Gabe asks, “Are you Yota Honma now?” Gabe then lies down and asks Yota do a Kokeshi Headbutt. Yota starts walking up but Gabe says no, no, never mind. Just kidding! Gabe continues by saying a lot of people are talking, a lot are on internet and chatting stuff like it doesn’t make sense for these two to be teaming up. And maybe it doesn’t. They’re two very different people, but they’re united by one thing: Make NJPW the best in the EFFIN’ WORLD! For the past few years, people like House of Torture have been trying to make NJPW into a joke! Nah, they’re not going back to 2019, Gabe wants to take this higher!

Gabe wants to make it higher, make it hotter, make it better in everything! This is going to go to the next level! First stop: World Tag League. Next up: WrestleKingdom! After that: WORLD DOMINATION! They’ve said it over and over again: NEW JAPAN IS NUMBER ONE, LET’S GO!! The fans fire up as Gabe throws down the mic and throws down the gauntlet! Will the Mad Man & Gene Blast be the ones to carry NJPW to the mountaintop? Will they first reach the top of A Block?

Here are the NEW A Block standings!

Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg: 2-0, 4 points
Taichi & Satoshi Kojima: 1-1, 2 points
El Desperado & Shuji Ishikawa: 1-1, 2 points
Shingo Takagi & “Drilla” Dan Moloney: 1-1, 2 points
Gabe Kidd & Yota Tsuji: 1-1, 2 points
Evil & Don Fale: 1-1, 2 points
Bishamon: 1-1, 2 points
Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens: 0-2, 0 points

My Thoughts:

A great second round for A Block, and there’s already quite the traffic jam at the 1-1 section. Bishamon naturally rebounds from the first round, while Yano & Oleg as the 2-0 team is rather surprising. Great rebounds also for Despy & Shuji as well as Gabe & Yota, and obviously it is still too early to call who is winning this block. Given that passionate speech to end, Gabe & Yota would be a great choice. Though, given Yota is also supposed to go Global Champion VS World Champion with Takeshita at WrestleKingdom, that already shows they aren’t winning the entire tournament. They could still win A Block, but then that’d just give away B Block’s team is winning. Maybe it’ll be #WarDragons, that’s also a great combo and can play up the War Dogs/Unaffiliated alliance dysfunction.

My Score: 8.9/10