History is at stake!

Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi are aiming for their fourth-ever World Tag League championship, but will they be denied by The Mighty?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens VS Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima; Yujiro & Chase win.
• Six Man Tag: Taichi, Satoshi Kojima & Masatora Yasuda VS El Desperado, Shuji Ishikawa & Tatsuya Matsumoto; Taichi, Kojima & Yasuda win.
• Six Man Tag: Lance Archer, Alex Zayne & Zane Jay VS The United Empire; The Empire wins.
• Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS EVIL, Don Fale & SHO; Tanahashi, Yano & Oleg win.
• Six Man Tag: Shota Umino, Yuya Uemura & El Phantasmo VS SANADA, Ren Narita & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Shota, Yuya & ELP win.
• 10 Man Tag: Gabe Kidd, Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, “Drilla” Dan Moloney & Daiki Nagai VS David Finlay, Hiromu Takahashi, OSKAR, Yuto-Ice & Gedo; Finlay, Hiromu, Oskar, Yuto & Gedo win.
• 2025 World Tag League Semifinal: Bishamon VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa; ZSJ & Oiwa win and advance to the finals.

PLAY BY PLAY

10 Man Tag: Gabe Kidd, Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, “Drilla” Dan Moloney & Daiki Nagai VS David Finlay, Hiromu Takahashi, OSKAR, Yuto-Ice & Gedo!

While the Mad Man & Gene Blaster will be facing the Knock Out Brothers on December 12th in the other semifinal match of this tournament, the alliance of War Dogs & Unaffiliated are taking this opportunity to hash things out. Some teams are getting along, some teams aren’t, and something’s gotta give. Will this 5v5 help solidify the entire unite? Or will it only put pressure on the already cracked foundation?

The teams sort out, and the fans bark along with Finlay. Hiromu joins in but he’s off beat. Finlay and Gabe bark at each other, the fans cheer, and then Gabe gets in Oskar’s face. The ref has them all calm down, and in the end, we start with Ice and Tsuji. The bell rings, the fans rally up, and Yuto stares down with Yota. The fans rally up as the two slowly circle, and they both have a wry smile. Yuto and Yota step up, then Yuto takes a swing! Yota dodges the haymaker, and dodges the boot, but Yuto avoids the superkick! Yota ducks the roundhouse, and the fans cheer this standoff. Yuto gets gangsta and Yota smiles.

The fans rally up again as Yuto and Yota back away, and they tag in Oskar and Gabe. Gabe eggs on the German giant, then dodges him to CHOP, CHOP, and CHOP! Gabe runs, but Oskar CHOPS back! The fans fire up, and Gabe CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Gabe runs, RAMS Oskar, but Oskar CHOPS again! Gabe CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS, then ducks a chop to SMACK Oskar! Gabe runs, but Oskar scoops and SLAMS! The fans fire up while Gabe writhes. Oskar tags Gedo, then they whip Gabe to ropes. Gabe ducks the double elbows to SHOVE Oskar into Gedo, then he CHOP BLOCKS Oskar’s leg! Oskar falls, Gabe stomps him down, and he BOOTS Yuto for good measure!

Yuto stays up! Yuto gets that wry smile again, and he steps in so he can throw hands with Gabe! The fans fire up, they each throw knees, but Yuto TOSSES Gabe! Then everyone else brawls on the outside! Drilla RAMS Hiromu, Takagi storms over somewhere, and Gabe SMACKS Yuto off railing! Yuto storms off into the crowd and fans move aside. Yuto CLAWS Oskar’s eyes while Yuto and Gabe fire forearms! The fans rally as this gets wild, and we focus on Gabe and Yuto firing fast ‘n’ furious forearms! Yuto gets the edge, but Gabe turns it around to BOWL Yuto into chairs! STRIKE! Hiromu and Takagi CHOP as former LIJ!

Takagi CHOPS Hiromu down, Gabe BOWLS Yuto into more chairs, then Gabe fires forearms! Yuto comes back with forearms of his own! Finlay goes after Takagi, but Drilla BOOTS Finlay! Yuto SLAPS Gabe again and again, then dares Gabe to give it back! Oskar ROCKS Yota! Yota fires a flurry on Oskar! Takagi gets Gedo back in the ring, Oskar CLUBS Yota along, then Oskar clamps on the NIGHTMARE SLEEPER! It is still wild all around the arena but the fans cheer it on! Gabe returns to ringside while Takagi chokes Gedo in the corner! Drilla whips Hiromu into railing! Gabe finally steps back inside, and he flips off the other team.

Gabe finally goes to Gedo, drags him up, and he bumps Gedo off buckles. The brawling is still going on all over ringside while Gabe tags Takagi. Takagi JABS Gedo, then gets the fans to focus on the ring. JAB, CHOP, and repeat! JAB, JAB, JAB, then DOUBLE CHOPS! Gedo staggers, then Flair flops! The ref checks Gedo, he is still in this, and Takagi drags Gedo up. Drilla joins in, The War Dragons double whip to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans fire up with them, and even Daiki joins in! “OI! WOOF OI! WOOF! OI! WOOF!” It goes faster and faster and the fans fire up again! Drilla runs to KNEE DROP! Daiki SPLASHES DOWN, then Takagi ELBOW DROPS! Cover, TWO!

Gedo survives and the fans cheer, but Takagi looks to the cameras. Drilla joins in, but then Finlay & Hiromu CLOBBER the War Dragons! Their time has not come yet, and Gedo hurries to tag Finlay in. Hiromu & Finlay run up, CROSSBODY on Drilla! CROSSBODY on Takagi! Finlay follows Hiromu outside, but Hiromu kicks him first! Hiromu brings Finlay around to whip and CROSSBODY Yota! Then Hiromu CROSSBODIES Takagi again! Then Finlay whips Hiromu to CROSSBODY Gabe! And he whips Hiromu to CROSSBODY Daiki! And then to CROSSBODY Yuto! Hiromu whips Finlay at Oskar, but Oskar catches Finlay!

But then Hiromu TACKES them and Oskar falls! Finlay asks WTF, but then he puts Hiromu in the ring. They high-ten feint, and Finlay kicks Hiromu! Finlay reels Hiromu in, lifts him up, but Hiromu RANAS Finlay into the DIVE! The Rebel wipes out the War Dragons! The fans fire up again, and Hiromu goes out to fetch them. Hiromu & Finlay put the War Dragons back in, and Finlay again shoves Hiromu. Hiromu says they should stop arguing and actually work together. Finlay agrees, and they have the War Dragons in the corners. Finlay & Hiromu whip, but Takagi & Drilla reverse it! Hiromu & Finlay collide!

Takagi kicks Finlay, then he and Drilla each scoop and SLAM! Then they fist bump and go up the corners! WRESTLING SUMMIT ELBOWS! Cover on Finlay, TWO! But NOW Takagi & Drilla tell the fans, “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans join in with the “OI! OI! OI!” and the War Dragons focus on Finlay. They double whip corner to corner, then run in, RAM LARIAT COMBO! They then get Finlay up with double pump handles, but Finlay fights free! Finlay runs, but into the POP-UP- NO, Finlay ROCKS Drilla first! Then he dodges Takagi, but runs into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKON- NO, Finlay blocks that, and clinches for the IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER!

The fans fire up while both men are down! Hot tags to Yuto and Gabe! They get in each other’s face, and then they start firing forearms! The fans fire up, even bark along as the shots keep going! Yuto fires shot after shot, but Gabe HEADBUTTS again and again! Gabe puts Yuto in a corner, but then Yuto SLAPS Gabe again and again. So Gabe CHOPS again and again! Yuto turns things around to KICK, KICK, KICK again and again! Gabe turns things around to CHOP, CHOP, CHOP! They keep talking trash while throwing shots! Yuto KICKS, KICKS, KICKS! Then SOBAT! Gabe sits down and Yuto gets extra gangsta!

“BOMBACLAT!” But Gabe LARIATS first! “I ain’t effin’ playing games!” But Oskar kicks Gabe and scoops! Gabe slips free, and shoves Oskar to Yota’s GENE TRIGGER! Gabe UPPERCUTS! Then they set up, DOUBLE LARIAT and Oskar goes up and out! The fans fire up as the rivals are on the same page now! Yota keeps Oskar out while Gabe brings down his kneepad! O- NO! Yuto stops the knee to RAM Gabe into the corner! Yuto fires a flurry of forearms and the ref counts! Yuto doesn’t stop, but Daiki tags in! Daiki tries to get Yuto off Gabe gut Yuto keeps throwing hands! So Daiki fires forearms! Yuto DECKS Daiki!

Gabe DECKS Yuto! Oskar BOOTS Gabe! Yota runs up, Oskar scoops, but Yuto arm-drags free! Hiromu DROPKICKS Yota! Takagi runs up, Hiromu dodges to SUPERKICK! Hiromu runs, Takagi goes the other way, PUMPING BOMBER! Takagi kicks Gedo first, then whips, but Gedo grabs ropes. Gedo DUMPS Takagi out, but Drilla kicks Gedo! DRILLA- NO, Finlay saves Gedo! But Drilla ducks the discus to ripcord and CHOP! Finlay rebounds, into a SUPERKICK! Drilla runs up, but Finlay puts him on the apron! ROLLING ELBOW! Finlay looks around, and he brings Hiromu up! He tries again, and he POWERBOMBS Hiromu onto the pile!

The fans are thunderous and they bark with Big Dawg Finlay! But Daiki DROPKICKS him! Daiki whips and SPINEBUSTERS Finlay! But ICE HIGH finds Daiki!! Cover, Yuto’s side wins!

Winners: David Finlay, Hiromu Takahashi, Oskar, Yuto-Ice & Gedo, by pinfall

Well, this fast ‘n’ furious fight of faction members and friends did seem to fix some problems. But hey, wait! The United Empire storms out here to mug Hiromu! They throw Young Lions aside, but the War Dogs chase them off! Gedo & Takagi check on Hiromu, but our semifinalists stare down with each other. Yota & Gabe step up to Yuto & Oskar, ready to throw down again right now, but we all have to wait until Friday for that fight. Who violently wins their way into the World Tag League finals?

2025 World Tag League Semifinal: Bishamon VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa!

Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi are just one match away from the seemingly impossible. If they win here, they make it back to the finals, where they could win a historic fourth-ever pair of WTL trophies. They fought hard to #GetBackUp, will they keep on climbing? Or will The Chin & The Mullet make them #JustTapOut?

The teams sort out and Goto starts against ZSJ. The fans applaud revisiting the IWGP World Championship rivalry from earlier this year, and the two feel things out. They circle as they each try to get a leg, but then they back off to tie up collar ‘n’ elbow. ZSJ headlocks, grinds the hold, then shifts to a cravat. ZSJ shifts back to a headlock, but Goto powers up and out. ZSJ RAMS Goto, Goto RUNS ZSJ over! The fans fire up, but then ZSJ avoids the elbow drop! But Goto avoids the stomp! The fans cheer again as the two back off. Goto and ZSJ reset, then decide to tag out to Hashi and Oiwa. The fans rally as the two circle, then tie up.

Oiwa powers Hashi to ropes, but Hashi turns things around. Red Shoes calls the break, Hashi pats Oiwa on the shoulder, but then Hashi fires a forearm! Hashi eggs Oiwa on so Oiwa fires a forearm! They go back and forth, shot for shot, and the fans rally up! Oiwa eggs Hashi on now, so Hashi ROCKS Oiwa! Oiwa ROCKS Hashi! The shots keep going, they pick up speed again, and the fans rally back up. Oiwa fires a flurry, but Hashi spins to CHOP! The fans cheer, and Hashi steps up to CHOP again! Hashi CHOPS Oiwa again, then he whips corner to corner. Oiwa comes back to RUN Hashi over! Oiwa stomps Hashi, and stalks him to the ropes.

Oiwa stands Hashi up and CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! The fans rally, Oiwa whips, but Hashi grabs ropes! Hashi BOOTS Oiwa, then Goto joins in! They DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE, then ZANMAI! Hashi BLASTS ZSJ, Goto drags Oiwa up, and “SE~ NO!” BEAT THE DRUM! The fans cheer and Hashi flexes while Goto steps outside. Hashi drags Oiwa up, but Oiwa fires a forearm! And a CHOP! And a CHOP! And another forearm! Hashi CHOPS in return! Hashi runs, but into the COBRA TWIST! ZSJ runs in and BOOTS Goto down! The fans rally as Hashi endures, and he powers up to HIP TOSS free! But Oiwa drags him down!

Oiwa has the top wristlock, then drags Hashi over to tag ZSJ. ZSJ takes the handoff for a top wristlock, then twists Hashi’s arm around to hammerlock. ZSJ adds the legs, and he stomps Hashi down! Tag back to Oiwa, and Oiwa drags Hashi from the corner. Oiwa WRINGS the arm, then clamps on the top wristlock. Hashi fights with his free hand but Oiaw YANKS him to the corner! Tag back to ZSJ, and ZSJ drags Hashi around so he can stand on the bad hand! ZSJ digs his heel into the elbow, then drags Hashi up to wrench, wrench, and slip through for a wristlock! ZSJ bends fingers, pushes Hashi down, and STOMPS the arm!

Tag to Oiwa while the fans rally up again. Oiwa drags Hashi around, drops a LEG on the arm, then pushes up with the short arm scissors. Hashi endures, but Oiwa turns him over to then have both arms! But Red Shoes calls ROPEBREAK with Hashi’s foot underneath the bottom rope. Oiwa lets go and tags ZSJ. ZSJ BOOTS Goto again while Oiwa wrenches Hashi. ZSJ also wrenches Hashi, they double wrench, double wrench, and double top wristlock to wrangle Hashi, to STEREO STOMP the arms! The fans cheer while Hashi writhes. ZSJ drags Hashi around, kneels on his head and digs an elbow into the shoulder.

ZSJ twists and bends Hashi’s left arm, sits him up to then dragon sleeper, but Hashi bridges up. Goto stomps ZSJ! Oiwa kicks Goto and TOSSES him out! ZSJ scuffs Hashi, eggs him on with kicks, then UPPERCUTS! Hashi CHOPS in return! ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Hashi CHOPS! ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Then ZSJ blocks a chop to wrench and YANKS the arm! ZSJ reels Hashi in, but Hashi suplexes first! The fans fire up while both men are down! Hashi and ZSJ crawl, hot tag to Goto! The fans fire up as Goto RUNS ZSJ over, kicks Oiwa, then snap suplexes Oiwa onto ZSJ! The fans fire up again as Goto whips ZSJ to the corner.

Goto runs up, MURAMASA! Then SAIDO! ZSJ writhes, Goto covers, TWO! The fans rally up and Goto brings ZSJ around. Goto fireman’s carries, but ZSJ pulls on an arm! ZSJ wrenches, UPPERCUTS, but Goto ROCKS ZSJ in return! ZSJ fires a forearm, Goto fires back, but ZSJ fires another! Goto comes back to fire a forearm, but ZSJ fires a flurry of UPPERCUTS! But Goto avoids the lariat to wrench and URA GTR! Goto runs, but into a ROUNDHOUSE! Both men are down, but ZSJ hurries, hot tag to Oiwa! Oiwa SENTONS onto Goto! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Goto stays in this, but Oiwa stays on him with an armlock.

Goto fights up, but Oiwa wrenches and whips. Goto reverses, then dodges, and he LARIATS Oiwa down! The fans fire up again while both men are down. Goto rolls, hot tag to Hashi! Hashi runs in at Oiwa in the neutral corner, and ELBOWS him! Hashi whips to ROCK Oiwa, then CHOP! Hashi turns Oiwa, but Oiwa fights the neckbreaker! Hashi ducks the lariat to HEADHUNTER! Cover, TWO! Oiwa survives the blockbuster and the fans rally up again. Hashi stands Oiwa up, reels him in, hooks a leg, but Oiwa fights the lift! Oiwa wrenches to FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Hashi scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, and Oiwa brings Hashi up.

Oiwa puts Hashi in a corner, whips corner to corner, just to YANK the bad arm! Then TENZAN PLEX! Cover, TWO! Hashi toughs it out and the fans rally up. Oiwa drags Hashi up, but Hashi fires a forearm! Oiwa CHOPS in return! Oiwa eggs Hashi on, so Hashi CHOPS again! Oiwa wrenches to UPPERCUT the arm! Hashi clutches the elbow, but he still CHOPS! The fans fire up, but Oiwa shakes that off to CHOP Hashi! Hashi CHOPS Oiwa again! Oiwa CHOPS Hashi again! And again! And again! Oiwa eggs Hashi on and the fans rally up! Hashi winds up to CHOP! Oiwa is stinging but he stays standing, so Hashi CHOPS again!

ZSJ coaches Oiwa to stay up, but Hashi CHOPS again! Oiwa blocks the chop and wrenches! ZSJ BOOTS that arm, Oiwa BLASTS Goto! ZSJ scoops to SLAM Hashi, and Oiwa goes up! ZSJ has Hashi’s head trapped! NECK TWIST and SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up as Hashi survives, but Oiwa roars! Oiwa drags Hashi up, gut wrench and DOCTOR BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Hashi survives again and the fans fire up more! Oiwa snarls, but he drags Hashi up. Oiwa runs, spins, but Hashi ducks The Grip! Half nelson, and then CRADLE! TWO!! Oiwa escapes but Hashi slips around! Oiwa fights the lift, but Hashi shoves him to Goto’s LARIAT!

ZSJ BOOTS Goto, whips Goto, but Goto reverses to fireman’s carry! USHIGOROSHI! The fans fire up with Goto and we hit 15 minutes! Goto calls to Hashi and they get Oiwa up. They double whip, but Oiwa DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans fire up again now that everyone is down! Goto slumps out of the ring, Oiwa clutches his stinging chest, and Hashi barely stirs. Oiwa rolls away to the ropes, Hashi goes to a corner, and the fans rally up. Both men stand, and Oiwa shouts at Hashi! Oiwa runs in and SPLASHES! Then a LA- NO, Hashi blocks that lariat! Oiwa spins to LARIAT after all! Cover, ONE?!?! Hashi roars, Oiwa runs, but Hashi LARIATS! Cover, ONE?!?!

The fans are thunderous as both men stagger to their feet! Oiwa roars, but so does Hashi! They both run, and DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men stagger and fall, and the fans fire up again! Oiwa and Hashi sputter while the fans rally even harder. Hashi and Oiwa crawl for their corners, they reach out, hot tags to ZSJ and Goto! The fans fire up as Goto LARIATS ZSJ! Goto roars, he powers up again, and BUZZSAW! Then he drags ZSJ up to fireman’s carry! G T W!! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives but the fans fire up again as Goto dragon sleepers! G T- NO, ZSJ catches Goto to a backslide, then an omoplata! CLARKY CAT at lightspeed!!

Goto endures, even as ZSJ shifts angles, then switches to a Rings of Saturn! ZSJ digs his elbow into Goto’s ribs, uses his own head as a way to hook the arm, then changes up angles again! Goto keeps fighting and the fans rally up! ZSJ grabs a leg to make it CLARKY CAT, BAD BALLOON REMIX! But Goto shifts and fights, and he rolls things to the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go in frustration but the fans fire up again! ZSJ drags Goto up as we hit 20 minutes, and he KICKS Goto in the chest! Goto sputters but sits back up, so ZSJ KICKS him again! The fans rally, Goto sits back up while ZSJ eggs him on. And then KICKS him!

Goto eggs ZSJ in, PENALTY- NO, Goto blocks! But Oiwa runs in and ROCKS Goto! ZSJ UPPERCUTS, then he and Oiwa ENZIGIRI LARIAT SANDWICH! Then YUKON LARIAT! PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO!!! Goto survives and the fans are thunderous! ZSJ drags Goto up, reels him in, scoops, but Goto slips free! Hashi is in, CODE BREAKER! Oiwea is back, but Hashi gets him for a SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! The fans fire up again as all four men are down! Oiwa rolls to the apron while Bishamon regroups. Goto runs in at ZSJ to LARIAT! Hashi runs in and LARIATS! Then feed to Goto, but ZSJ ROCKS him! ZSJ swings on Hashi, but Hasih puts him on ropes for a LARIAT!

Goto fireman’s carries, Hashi aims, FIERCE FLASH into the dragon sleeper! But Oiwa clamps on a SLEEPER! ZSJ drags Goto down into the EURO CLUTCH!! TWO!!! Goto escapes with nanoseconds to spare! PENALTY KICK!! But Goto rolls through to LARIAT!! The fans are thunderous again, but Oiwa dumps Hashi out to go after Goto! Oiwa drags Goto up, but Goto slips around to waistlock! Oiwa switches, but Goto ducks, HIDDEN GAP SUPERKICK! Goto then LARIATS Oiwa up and out! The fans are electric as Goto runs up on ZSJ! LARIAT! Hashi adds a LARIAT! And now Hashi goes up! Goto clinches, for the SUPER GOTO GO TO HUNTER!! Cover, TWO!!!

The fans fire up as ZSJ survives! Goto drags ZSJ back up, fireman’s carries, and FIERCE FLASH!! ZSJ sputters as Bishamon gets him back up! Dragon sleeper, leg hold, but ZSJ BOOTS free! And PELES Goto’s arm! Oiwa has Goto, ZSJ ENZIGIRIS Goto into the CHAOS THEORY!! Bridging cover, jackknife bridge, and Oiwa CLOBBERS Hashi! TMDK WINS!!!

Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa, by pinfall (advance to the finals)

History has been denied! Bishamon will NOT make it back to the World Tag League finals this year! What must they do to #TurnItAllAround?

As for TMDK, Oiwa gets the mic first, and he asks how ZSJ is doing. ZSJ jokes that he’s dead. Oiwa stands up as he says, “Okay, Nagasaki. Nagasaki. We, TMDK, just beat the THREE-TIME World Tag League champions, Bishamon!” The fans cheer that, and Oiwa says, “I’m sure some of you know this, but in this World Tag League, I was beaten by Yuto-Ice & Oskar, and by United Empire, and was criticized backstage, so I want to get my revenge and win World Tag League!” The fans cheer that, too! Oiwa continues by saying he doesn’t care what others have to say. The kind of wrestling he wants to do is the kind you just saw in this ring!

No matter what others say, what he wants to do won’t change! The wrestling style he uses won’t change, and he won’t lose respect for wrestling, either. Not fighting, wrestling! Tekkers! The fans applaud, and Oiwa asks if ZSJ would like to say a word. ZSJ says sure, just a bit. In Japanese, “Everyone here in Nagasaki, thank you. That was a hot one. I’m glad we beat the three-time winners. We did it, Roy, we did it. But we’re not done, the finals are nearly here. This year is still about TMDK. We are the Chin and the Mullet.” And in English, “And The Mighty Don’t Kneel!” Indeed they don’t, but will they still win the whole thing?

My Thoughts:

A very good event, but the semifinals being split into two nights is a bit odd to me. Most of these matches were just to keep everyone active, but I did appreciate there is story developing with the United Empire and the War Dogs, and then by extension, the Unaffiliated. That 10 Man Tag was a lot of fun, and if for now, all teams are working together. Gabe & Yota likely still fall apart against Oskar & Yuto since Yota is facing Konosuke. Great main event from Bishamon VS TMDK, and I am actually surprised Bishamon lost. But now, there’s a very good chance TMDK wins the tournament to face Knock Out Brothers at WrestleKingdom. Otherwise, why deny us the tease of fourth-ever VS first-try?

My Score: 8.9/10