Will luck have a part to play in round seven?

It all comes down to this for A Block as they enter the FINAL ROUND! Who wins out and heads to the World Tag League playoffs?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

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

PLAY BY PLAY

Here are the current A Block standings!

Bishamon: 4-2, 8 points
Gabe Kidd & Yota Tsuji: 4-2, 8 points
Evil & Don Fale: 4-2, 8 points
Shingo Takagi & “Drilla” Dan Moloney: 4-2, 8 points
Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg: 3-3, 6 points
El Desperado & Shuji Ishikawa: 3-3, 6 points
Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens: 1-5, 2 points [ELIMINATED]
Taichi & Satoshi Kojima: 1-5, 2 points [ELIMINATED]

2025 World Tag League A Block: El Desperado & Shuji Ishikawa VS Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens!

It’s the final round, and it’s The Rogue Luchador & 21st Century Giant that are on the bubble! But can they handle their own business and win this match? Or will the Tokyo Pimp & Lonestar Outlaw spoil it all for them right now?

Yujiro & Chase attack after introductions, but Despy & Shuji are ready! They block the kicks, then fire forearms in return. The fans cheer as Despy puts Chase in one corner and Shuji puts Yujiro in the other. Shuji & Despy then whip Yujiro & Chase into each other! The bell rings as the two collide, and Yujiro tumbles out of the ring. Despy & Shuji double whip Chase, Chase grabs ropes, and Chase BOOTS Despy! Then he DUMPS Shuji out! Despy kicks Chase, whips him to ropes, but Chase reverses. And Yujiro trips Despy up! Yujiro drags Despy out to RAM him into the timekeeper’s desk, but the timekeeper got clear beforehand!

Chase CLUBS Shuji, brings him out into the crowd, and Yujiro SMACKS Despy off the table while Chase BOWLS Shuji into chairs! STRIKE! Yujiro brings Despy out, but then whips him at the POST! Despy falls in a heap while the fans boo. Chase leaves Shuji behind while Yujiro puts Despy in the ring. Cover, TWO! Chase GRINDS his forearm into Despy’s eyes through the mask! The ref reprimands, Chase stops, and Chase wrenches Despy’s arm to SNAP the fingers! The fans boo while Despy writhes, but Chase tags Yujiro. The House mugs Despy, brings him around, and Yujiro snapmares to CLAW Despy’s eyes!

The ref reprimands, Yujiro stops, and the fans boo again. Shuji is back but the ref stops him from storming in. Chase steps on Despy and CHOKES him, and even takes a mocking bow as the fans boo. Yujiro drags Despy up, brings him around, and FALLING HEADBUTTS! Cover, TWO! Yujiro sits Despy up, runs, and he basement BOOTS Despy down! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Despy toughs it out, but Yujiro tags Chase. They both drag Despy back, then Chase TWEAKS Despy’s leg! Despy scrambles to a corner, Chase blows SNOT at Shuji! Chase storms up on Despy, Despy fires body shots! But Chase CHOKES Despy!

The ref reprimands and counts, Chase stops at 4, but the fans boo as Chase stands Despy up. Chase bumps Despy off Yujiro’s boot, then tags him in. Chase runs up to forearm SMASH, then feeds Despy to Yujiro’s LARIAT! Chase adds a NECK SNAP! Yujiro covers, TWO! The fans cheer as Despy stays in this, but Yujiro stays on him. Yujiro bumps Despy off buckles, stomps him down, then fires forearms. Tag to Chase while Despy snarls, but Yujiro CLAWS the eyes! Chase eggs Despy on, slaps him around, but Despy fires a body shot! And another! And another! The fans rally, but Chase knees low! Chase swings, Despy ducks it, but Chase fights the lift with a headlock punch!

Chase whips, Despy reverses, SNAP SAIDO! Both men are down, Despy crawls, and hot tag to Shuji! Shuji storms up on Chase, but Yujiro gets in there! Yujiro CLUBS Shuji, he and Chase double whip, but Shuji breaks the double lariat to then DOUBLE CROSSBODY! The fans fire up and Shuji runs in, but Chase BOOTS him! Chase runs up, but Shuji scoops! Shuji wedges Chase into the corner, the fans rally as Shuji goes corner to corner, and GIANT KNEES Chase down! Cover, TWO! Chase survives but the fans fire up behind Shuji. Shuji drags Chase up, and he vows to hit the big one! Shuji scoops, but Chase slips free!

Chase fires fast hands, then ducks a shot to mule kick and NECKBREAKER! Chase rolls, tag to Yujiro! Yujiro runs up on Shuji and he BOOTS Shuji in the corner! Chase adds a forearm SMASH! Feed to Yujiro, and FISHERMAN- NO! Shuji’s too big! Yujiro says he can’t do it! Chase kicks Shuji, calls his shot, but it’s Shuji who hits the suplex! Yujiro hurries to reel Shuji in, but Shuji suplexes him, too! The fans fire up, Shuji crawls on his knees, and he hot tags Despy! Shuji sends Despy in and he LARIATS! Shuji adds a LARIAT, then he scoop SLAMS! Despy goes up, DOUBLE STOMPS! Shuji goes up, GIANT STOMPS! Cover, TWO!!

The fans rally as Shuji drags Yujiro back up. Despy sets up, they lift, but Yujiro BOOTS Despy away! Shuji CLUBS Yujiro, runs, but Chase KICKS Shuji! Chase holds Shuji in place, Yujiro BOOTS him! Then Yujiro catches Despy for a REVERSE DDT! Chase brings Shuji around, Yujiro joins in, and they DOUBLE SUPLEX Shuji! The fans cheer, that was legitimately impressive. Yujiro BOOTS Despy in the corner! Chase adds a forearm SMASH! Snapmare and BOOT KNEE COMBO! Cover, TWO! Chase shoves Despy to the ropes, and C-TRIGGER! Feed to Yujiro’s LARIAT! Cover, Shuji breaks it! The fans cheer, but then a C-TRIGGER hits Shuji!

Chase keeps running, he C-TRIGGERS Shuji again! Shuji flops back out, and Chase distracts the ref so Yujiro can get his pimp cane! But Despy dodges the cane shot to LOCO MONO! Now Despy has the pimp cane! But the ref sees that, and they argue over it! Despy shoves the ref aside, Chase steps in, but Shuji anchors a leg! Chase kicks Shuji away, but Despy KICKS Chase’s hand, POCKET SAND hits Chase! Then Despy sends Yujiro into Chase! Rollup, Shuji & Despy win!

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

The cheating backfires again, and now Yujiro & Chase fall to 1-6! The Rogue & The Giant are alive in the block, if just for a little bit longer. Will that bubble burst before the end?

2025 World Tag League A Block: Taichi & Satoshi Kojima VS Gabe Kidd & Yota Tsuji!

The Holy Emperor & The King of Bread Style are on the outside looking in while The Mad Man & Gene Blaster are still just a step away from the playoffs. Will Gabe & Yota hold it together and make it through? Or will #HolyCozy prove they are more than #WarReady?

Gabe already gets in Taichi’s face, but the ref has them both back down. The teams sort out and Taichi starts against Gabe. The fans cheer and rally up, “GABU! GABU!” “TAICHI! TAICHI!” But then Yota tags himself in! Gabe tells Yota not to start that crap, but then Taichi SHOVES Yota into Gabe! DANGEROUS SAIDO! Cover, Gabe breaks it! Gabe fire forearms, Kojima storms in, but Gabe CHOPS! Forearm and CHPO on repeat, then Gabe flips them both off. But Kojima fires a flurry of forearms! ROLLING ELBOW! GAMANGIRI from Taichi! The fans cheer while Gabe tumbles out. Taichi paces, Kojima stomps Yota on the outside, but the ref reprimands.

Taichi fetches Yota while the ring count climbs, and he whips Yota into railing! Yota slumps down at 7 of 20, but Taichi refreshes the count. Taichi drags Yota back up, but Yota fires a forearm! There isn’t much there, and Taichi eggs him on. Yota fires back elbows, but there still isn’t much there, so Taichi SOBATS! Taichi brings Yota up, and DDTS Yota on the floor! The ref reprimands Taichi, then checks Yota. Yota is somehow okay to continue, so Kojima gives him a stomp. The ring count begins again, and Yota is still down at 8 of 20. Kojima stomps Yota again, then drags him up at 11 of 20. Kojima puts Yota in at 15, then Taichi runs up! AX BOMBER! Cover, TWO!!

Yota survives and the fans fire up, and THE PANTS COME OFF! Gabe runs up but Taichi BOOTS him down! The fans fire up again and Taichi aims from the corner. TENSHO JU- NO, Yota dodges, clinches, BACKBREAKER, FLATLINER and STOMP! The fans cheer the Gene Combination while both men are down! Yota BLASTS Kojima for good measure, then he aims at Taichi! Taichi rises, into the GENE- NO! Taichi dodges, and CURB STOMPS Yota! The fans fire up with Taichi now and he winds up, POINT-BLANK LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives again but Taichi brings him up! SEITEI JUJIHO!

Kojima CLOBBERS Gabe on the outside while Yota endures! Taichi cranks harder on the Holy Emperor’s Tomb, but Gabe gets in! Gabe SMACKS Taichi, then drags Yota to safety! Gabe tags himself in, then runs up to BOOT Kojima! Gabe reels Taichi in, lifts, and- NO, Taichi fights the driver to Alabama Lift! Gabe fights that, they both fight for control, and Gabe CHOPS Taichi on the back! Taichi stands up to stare Gabe down. The fans rally, Taichi RIDGE HANDS, but Gabe SMACKS Taichi! Taicih SPIN RIDGE HANDS! Gabe ROCKS Taichi! Taichi ROCKS Gabe! Gabe HEADBUTTS Taichi! Then Gabe runs in, but Taichi dodges, GAMANGIRI!

The fans fire up again while both men are down! The fans rally as Taichi rises, hot tag to Kojima! The fans fire up again, and now Kojima MACHINEGUN CHOPS Gabe! Gabe shouts to egg Kojima on, but Kojima just fires MORE CHOPS! Kojima empties the clip, whips corner to corner, forearm SMASH! “ICCHAUZO, BAKAYAROU!” But Gabe SMACKS Kojima! Gabe snarls as he brings Kojima out, but Kojima fires a forearm! Gabe slaps himself to then fire a forearm! The forearms go back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans rally up! Kojima fires a flurry to then ROLLING ELBOW, kick, and DDT! The fans are thunderous as Kojima rises!

Kojima brings Gabe up, but Gabe fights the cutter with body shots! Gabe SMACKS Kojima, then suplexes to BRAINBUSTER! The fans fire up, Gabe covers, TWO! Gabe barks, the fans join in, and Gabe runs the ropes! COMEBACK- NO, Kojima blocks! Gabe tries again, and DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Kojima stays up and the fans cheer! Kojima hauls Gabe up, to COZY CUTTER! Taichi adds the BUZZSAW! Kojima covers, Yota breaks it! The fans cheer, but Taichi TOSSES Yota! Taichi stands Gabe up, and the LARIAT SANDWICH brings Gabe down! The fans fire up as the elbow pad comes off!

Kojima runs, but Gabe SWATS the lariat! Gabe runs, but into a SOUTHPAW LARIAT! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up again while Kojima powers up. Kojima runs, COZY LARIAT!! Kojima covers, GENE BLASTER knocks Taichi onto it! Yota fires forearms on Kojima, but Kojima ROCKS him back! Yota ROCKS Kojima! And then a scoop, but Kojima slips free! But Yota wrenches to GENE TRIGGER! SUPERKICK! GENE BLASTER!! Yota runs to DIVE onto Taichi! Yota hurries back in, he calls to Gabe! Gabe hits Kojima with the O-KNEE, then the PILEDRIVER! Gabe covers, Gabe & Yota win!

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

Well, Yota wanted to use teamwork at the end there, but Gabe did this his way. And with this, Gabe & Yota are poised for the playoffs! But can they keep going with cracks in the foundation? Or will it still all fall apart?

2025 World Tag League A Block: Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS EVIL & Don Fale!

The Joker & The Rook are on the edge, but they might be able to get into the playoffs if they make it through this. Will they leave the King of Darkness & Rogue General behind BARS? Or will the House of Torture not stop until Everything is Evil?

Well speaking of that, Evil & Fale attack from behind during Yano’s & Oleg’s entrance! The fans boo, but even Sho joins in! Evil CLAWS Oleg’s eyes while Fale and “Dick Togo Junior” mug Yano! The ref reprimands but this isn’t even a match yet! Yano fights off handcuffs to POST Fale! Oleg and Evil get in the ring, and Oleg CHOPS! Oleg CHOPS again, then gut wrenches! Evil fights the lift, Sho attacks Oleg! They reel Oleg in, btu Oleg fights the double suplex to DOUBLE SUPLEX them! The ref tells Sho to get outta here, and then the bell rings! Oleg stomps Evil in the corner! Oleg ROCKS Evil, puts him in the corner, and CHOPS!

The fans cheer, Oleg tags Yano, and Yano unties a buckle pad! Evil runs up, Yano dodges, and Yano passes the buckle pad to Evil. The ref reprimands Evil and Yano runs, but Sho trips him up! Evil BLASTS Oleg, then he kicks Yano out. Evil then CLAWS Yano’s eyes, and Fale CLUBS Oleg! Evil brings Yano around, CLAWS his back, and Fale sends Oleg into railing! Evil cuffs Yano to the railing, just as planned! The fans boo but Fale cuffs Oleg, too! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but nothing can be done without a key! The count begins, and Evil takes it easy knowing his opponents are stuck. We hit 10 of 20, but wait! Does Yano have a lockpick!?

Yano is working on his cuff but we hit 15! Yano is free and in at 17! Evil is shocked, then Yano hurries back out to free Oleg! Evil & Fale mug Yano! Sho snatches up Yano’s lockpick so he can’t try it again! Evil CHOKES Yano using a merch shirt! The ref is too busy with Fale and Sho, Evil gets away with it! Evil tags Fale, Fale looms over Yano, and Fale drags Yano up to SHOULDER CLAW! Yano endures being crushed but the fans rally up. Yano crawls, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Fale lets go, just to STAND on Yano! The fans boo, Fale flips them off, but the ref counts. Fale steps off at 4, tags Evil, and Evil talks trash on Oleg.

Oleg is furious but still stuck to the railing. Evil kicks Yano out, argues with the ref, but Sho has a chair! Sho JAMS Yano up! Sho plays innocent, then puts Yano in the ring. Evil covers, TWO! Another cover, TWO! A third cover, TWO!! Yano survives and the fans fire up! Evil argues with the ref, but then YOH jumps off commentary to CLOBBER Sho! And he dodges Fale to send him into railing! Yoh takes back the lockpick! He frees Oleg! The fans cheer while Evil protests! Oleg CHOPS Sho, and Yano CLOBBERS Evil! Yano hurries to hot tag Oleg! The fans fire up and now Oleg CLOBBERS Evil! And RUNS Evil over!

Oleg whips Evil, but Evil reverses. Oleg comes back to CLOBBER Evil! The fans fire up and Oleg brings Evil around to scoop and SLAM! Oleg then runs, steps on Evil, and again, and again! BOLTIN BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO! Evil survives, but Oleg gut wrenches for the Shake, Shake, Shake, and THROW! The fans fire up as Oleg kips up! Oleg hauls Evil back up, fireman’s carries, but Evil fights free! Oleg ELBOWS Evil, runs, but Evil goes to the corner! LARIAT! Hot tag to Fale! Fale drags Oleg up to BODY BLOW! And BODY BLOW! Fale whips corner to corner, runs in, but Oleg dodges! Oleg runs in and SPLASHES!

Oleg tags Yano and the fans fire up as Yano vows to scoop Fale! Fale CLUBS Yano, w hips him to the corner, but Yano stops short of the bare buckles! Yano then dodges to send Fale into bare buckles! But Yano still tries to scoop! Fale CLUBS Yano, and then scoop SLAMS Yano in return! Evil BLASTS Oleg off the apron, then he and Fale whip Yano to a corner. Evil LARIATS, Fale SPLASHES, and they snapmare Yano! They keep the ref from seeing Sho go up! DICK JUNIOR CHOP! Cover, TWO!! Yano survives and the fans cheer! Fale runs to BIG ELBOW DROP! Cover, Oleg breaks it! Evil CLUBS Oleg, Oleg shoves Evil, but Evil- NO, Oleg stops the STO!

Oleg waistlocks, but he avoids the low blow mule kick! And he blocks the low blow uppercut! Oleg reels Evil in for a BELLY2BELLY! The fans fire up but Fale BODY BLOWS Oleg! And BODY BLOWS! But Oleg DROPKICKS! Yano LOW BLOWS while the ref is busy with Sho! But Sho still distracts, the ref misses the rollup! The fans boo, but then KANEMARU is here! WHISKEY MIST on Yano!! Fale rolls Yano up, YOH YANKS THE REF OUT!? Yoh uses the House’s tricks against them! He LOW BLOWS Kanemaru, takes the whiskey, and Yoh WHISKEY MISS Fale!! Oleg jumps at Fale, but Fale catches him! Yano SHOVES them over, DOUBLE COVER! YANO & OLEG WIN!!

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

Direct Drive counteracted the Murder Machine AND the Heel Master, and now Yano & Oleg have life in the block! Yano then sends Evil into bare buckles! Yano dumps Evil out, and now Yoh handcuffs Evil to railing! Yano & Oleg won’t make it to the playoffs, but they can have satisfaction knowing they kept the House of Torture out! But when and where will Evil exact his revenge?

2025 World Tag League A Block: Bishamon VS Shingo Takagi & “Drilla” Dan Moloney!

The block is all but sorted out, and in the end, it is always, “Win and you’re in!” Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi want to #GetBackUp to their FOURTH World Tag League finals, but can they do it? Or will the Fierce Warrior & Head Hunter fail to slay the War Dragons?

The teams sort out and Goto starts against Takagi. The fans rally up with the bell, and they duel between “GO-TO-O!” “TA-KA-GI!” The two circle, feel things out, then circle some more. They tie up collar ‘n’ elbow, Takagi headlocks, but Goto endures the grind. Goto powers up and out, but Takagi RAMS him! Neither man falls and the fans applaud. Goto runs, he RAMS Takagi, then fires a forearm! Takagi fires back, they go back and forth, and the fans rally up again! Goto gets the edge, but Takagi JABS! JABS! JABS! Takagi CHOPS, whips Goto to ropes, but Goto kicks the backdrop apart! Goto RAMS Takagi, but Takagi rebounds to RUN Goto over!

Takagi brings Goto up, tags Drilla, but Goto slips away. Goto tags Hashi and the fans applaud. Hashi and Drilla circle, feel things out, then tie up. The fans rally as the two are in a deadlock. Drilla powers Hashi to the ropes, but he lets off cleanly, only to take a swing! Hashi dodges and CHOPS Drilla! Drilla frowns and steps up to CHOP in return! The fans cheer and Hashi brushes that off to CHOP again! Drilla snarls, and he CHOPS again! The fans cheer as Hashi fires up, and Hashi CHOPS! Drilla barks, the fans bark with him, and he CHOPS! Hashi CHOPS! Drilla CHOPS! Repeat! The CHOPS go back and forth, and Drilla eggs Hashi on!

Hashi CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Hashi runs, but Drilla CLOBBERS him! The fans cheer while Hashi goes to ropes. Drilla drags Hashi up, whips him to ropes, but Hashi grabs ropes! Goto joins in, and they DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! Then ZANMAI! Goto BLASTS Takagi for good measure and the fans cheer. Bishamon sits Drilla up, “SE~ NO!” BEAT THE DRUM! The fans cheer again as Hashi flexes. Hashi drags Drilla up, wrenches an arm, and wristlocks. Drilla endures as Hashi wrenches and wristlcoks again. Goto tags in, takes the handoff, and he wrenches to CLUB away on the arm!

Goto wrangles Drilla to the mat, but lets go to stomp Drilla. Goto CLUBS Drilla, fires a forearm, but Drilla CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Goto KNEES low, then runs, but Drilla hurdles! And drops down! Drilla DROPKICKS Goto and Goto tumbles out of the ring! Takagi runs in and BLASTS Hashi! Drilla barks and the fans join in again. Drilla drags Goto up, Takagi whips Hashi into railing while Drilla does the same to Goto! But then Takagi brings Hashi out into the crowd, SMACKS him off a chair, and dumps him down. Drilla brings Goto into another section of the crowd, and he SMACKS Goto off some chairs!

The fans rally, bark, and join in with “OI! OI! OI!” Drilla drags Goto up off the floor, HEADBUTTS him, then headlocks. The ring count begins but Drilla drags Goto to ringside at 6 of 20 to put in at 7. The fans cheer and Drilla encourages them to get louder. Drilla stands Goto up, whips him into the corner, then he tags Takagi. The War Dragons double whip, DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE, and the fans cheer again. Takagi and Drilla get the fans to join in again, “OI! WOOF! OI! WOOF!” Then Takagi ELBOW DROPS! Drilla KNEE DROPS! Takagi covers, TWO! Goto stays in this, but Takagi SENTONS onto him!

Takagi sits Goto up, puts him in the corner, then RAMS him again and again! Red Shoes reprimands, Takagi stops at 4, then he tags Drilla. Goto kicks at Drilla but Drilla CHOPS him! Takagi JABS Goto, Drilla stomps Goto’s leg, then he stomps Goto down. Drilla stands on Goto, Takagi adds on, but Red Shoes reprimands. The War Dragons step off, and Drilla tags Takagi back in. The fans rally as Takagi suplexes Goto high and hard! Cover, Hashi breaks it! Hashi coaches Goto up but Takagi brings Goto around. Takagi runs, and he BLASTS Hashi! Then he ELBOW DROPS Goto! Drilla joins in and he sits Goto back up.

The War Dragons double whip, then lift for a NECKBREAKER SPINEBUSTER COMBO! Cover, TWO! Takagi argues the count, but then accepts it was two. Takagi steps on Goto, stomps him, and the fans rally up again. Takagi brings Goto up, but Goto CHOPs! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Takagi JABS, DOUBLE CHOPS, then runs, but Goto follows! DOUBLE LARIATS collide! ELBOW! JAB! YUKON- NO, Goto fireman’s carries for USHIGOROSHI! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Goto crawls, reaches out, hot tag to Hashi! The fans fire up with Hashi as he runs in at Takagi, and ELBOWS in the corner! Then he ROCKS and CHOPS Takagi!

Hashi turns Takagi, NECKBREAKER! Hashi BLASTS Drilla for good measure and the fans fire up! Takagi goes to ropes, Hashi runs up, and Hashi CHOPS! The fans cheer and Hashi hangs Takagi out to dry. Hashi rallies the fans while spanking Takagi, then he runs to DROPKICK Takagi down! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Takagi survives, but Hashi brings Takagi up. Hashi reels Takagi in, but Takagi fights the suplex! The fans rally more, Hashi still tries, but Takagi wrenches out. Takagi ELBOWS, JABS, and- NO, Hashi ducks the lariat! Feed to a forearm! Mule kick! Then suplex and G Y R! The fans fire up as Goto then dragon sleepers!

Drilal hurries in and JABS Hashi! He KNEES Goto, runs, but Goto follows to LARIAT Drilla down! The fans fire up and Gto fireman’s carries Takagi again. Takagi fights free, shoves Goto into Hashi, and then DOUBLE LARIATS Bishamon down! The fans fire up while everyone is down! Goto and Drilla slump out of the ring, and Takagi rises up. The fans join in the “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi rises. Takagi ROCKS Hashi, eggs him on, so Hashi ROCKS Takagi! Takagi ROCKS Hashi again! Hashi ROCKS Takagi again! The forearms go back and forth, the fans rally more, and now hashi eggs Takagi on. Takagi fires boxing elbows!

Takagi ROCKS Hashi, but Hashi spins to CHOP! Hashi runs but Takagi follows! LARIAT! Takagi runs, Hashi LARIATS! Takagi stays up, Hashi LARIATS again! But Takagi’s right up, PUMPING BOMBER! Both men are down and the fans fire back up! Takagi and Hashi stir, crawl for their corners, and hot tag to Drilla and Goto! Drilla runs up, but Goto LARIATS him! Drilla shakes it off, then he and Goto fire forearms back and forth! The fans rally as the shots go faster and faster, but then Goto ROCKS Drilla! And ROCKS him again! Drilla ducks a shot, ripcord and CHOP! Drilla runs, but Goto kicks low!

Goto runs, but Drilla SPINEBUSTERS Goto down! The fans fire up as Drilla aims from the corner! Drilla runs and RAMS Goto in the corner! Then he suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Drilla brings Goto around. Drilla fireman’s carries, but Goto fights free! Goto waistlocks, Drilla switches, but Goto RAMS him into the corner! Hashi runs up to LARIAT! Feed back to Goto, clinch and GOTO GO TO HUNTER! Hashi BLASTS Takagi, Goto covers Drilla, TWO! Drilla stays in this for the team and the fans rally up. Bishamon coordinates, they get Drilla up with dragon sleeper and leg hold, but Drilla BOOTS free!

Drilla RAMS Goto into the corner, Takagi LARIATS Goto! The fans fire up as Takagi JABS and CHOPS on repeat! Then he JABS, JABS, JABS! Takagi shakes out his hand, then he fireman’s carries Goto. Drilla runs up, BOOT O’ DEATH VALLEY! Cover, Hashi breaks it! Takagi drags Hashi up, Drilla has Goto. Takagi HEADBUTTS Hashi to a corner, Drilla HEADBUTTS Goto to a corner! They whip Bishamon into each other, then scoop and SLAM! The fans cheer as the War Dragons climb, WRESTLING SUMMIT ELBOWS! Cover, TWO! Goto survives and the fans fire up again! Takagi shouts to the fans, “TOKI GA KITA!”

The fans fire up again, “OI! OI! OI!” The War Dragons stand Goto up, whip him to the corner, then RAM LARIAT COMBO! They reel Goto in, but Goto fights the pump handles! Goto staggers to ropes, runs up on Takagi, but into the POP-UP GORE! The fans fire up, Takagi and Drilla fist bump, and they lift Goto! WAR DRAGONS DRIVER!! Cover, HASHI BREAKS IT! The fans are thunderous as Hashi saves Goto! Takagi HEADBUTTS away on Hashi, then he stands Hashi up. Hashi swings but Takagi ducks, Drilla SUPERKICKS Hashi! Takagi PUMPING BOMBERS Hashi! The fans fire up again and Takagi brushes Hashi aside.

Drilla aims at Goto, runs up on him, and GORE!! Cover, TWO!?! Goto survives and the fans are thunderous again! Drilla vows to end this and the fans rally again. Drilla drags Goto up, reels him in, and Canadian Racks! But Goto slips free! Hashi is back, but Drilla again fights free! But Hashi comes back to CODE BREAKER! They’re all down again and the fans rally back up! Takagi coaches Drilla up, and we pass 20 minutes. Time is of the essence as Goto and Hashi power up! BUZZSAW SUPERKICK COMBO!! Cover, TAKAGI BREAKS IT! The fans cheer as now Takagi saves Drilla! Takagi fires off forearms and CHOPS on Bishamon!

Takagi DOUBLE LARIATS, but Bishamon stays standing! Takagi tries again, they dodge and put him on the ropes to BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Then SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! And LARIAT! The fans fire up with Bishamon as they focus on Drilla! Goto LARIATS Drilla, Hashi LARIATS Drilla, and then Hashi lifts while Goto climbs! Hashi calls the shot, DANGEROUS LIBRA!! Cover, TWO!?!? Drilla survives and the fans are thunderous again! But Bishamon gets Drilla back up, SHOTO!!! Cover, BISHAMON WINS!!!

Winners: Bishamon, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Takagi & Drilla earn 0)

Takagi was fingertips away but he could not save Drilla this time! The War Dragons have been slain in World Tag League, but could they still be future champions?

As for Bishamon, they have officially taken A Block as the number one seed, Gabe & Yota as the second seed! Goto takes the mic first to thank everyone for coming out tonight. The fans applaud, and Goto says he and Hashi have made it through the World Tag League round robin and are now in the playoffs. The fans applaud that, too, and Goto continues by saying they have just two more wins to go. “Bishamon will have their fourth World Tag League championship, achieving something no other team has ever done!” The fans applaud that, too, and Goto tells the fans to keep their eyes on Bishamon until the very end.

The fans cheer, and Goto says he’ll ask “Yocchan” to speak now. The fans cheer, and Hashi takes the mic. Hashi says that whenever he comes to Hiroshima Sun Plaza, there’s something he always remembers. Back in 2006, a last minute sub meant Hashi was able to wrestle in the main event. The night before, Hashi sprained his back, thought he couldn’t wrestle. He took a painkiller and still couldn’t move, but somehow, someway, he got to the building and was still on the card. As he waited for his entrance, the pain finally faded away. What he means to say is that however bleak things can look, if you have hope in your heart, you can do anything.

Hope is such an important word to NJPW. And as a symbol of hope, Hashi want us to do a Zanmai, and this time with a new face. Matsumoto, get in here! The fans applaud and Matsumoto joins in. But then Hashi tells Matsumoto that no, he’s actually not ready for a Zanmai yet, Matsumoto will just be a prop. Hashi tells Matsumoto to lie down like a fish! Matsumoto accepts his position, the fans cheer him on, and Matsumoto lies down on his side. Hashi then offers Yoh to join in and Yoh says okay! Yoh hops in, thinks he is also a fish, but Hashi says no, he actually gets to do the Zanmai. Oh! They all take their position, and Hashi says it’s time.

The fans rally up, then Hashi and Yoh run, roll, and clap, “HAIII~!” The Goto Revolution continues on into the playoffs, but will they define history by pulling off the unthinkable fourth WTL win?

Here are the FINAL A Block standings!

Bishamon: 5-2, 10 points [FIRST PLACE]
Gabe Kidd & Yota Tsuji: 5-2, 10 points [SECOND PLACE]
Shingo Takagi & “Drilla” Dan Moloney: 4-3, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg: 4-3, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Evil & Don Fale: 4-3, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
El Desperado & Shuji Ishikawa: 4-3, 8 points [ELIMINATED]
Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens: 1-6, 2 points [ELIMINATED]
Taichi & Satoshi Kojima: 1-6, 2 points [ELIMINATED]

My Thoughts:

A great final round for A Block, but still pretty much expected results. Yujiro & Chase of course lose one more time, but Despy & Shuji of course didn’t make it, other teams had better records, or at least the tiebreaker wins over them. Yano & Oleg almost being cheated out, only for Yoh to make the save was good stuff, and of course it is always fun to stick it to cheating Heels like The House of Torture. Feels like we’ll see more Hontai VS House of Torture for the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles since Yoh put that open challenge out there. There’s also still Evil possibly defending the NEVER title against Aaron Wolf, or just having a really good non-title match with him.

Gabe & Yota overcoming Taichi & Kojima was expected, but the way they did it was great. Their team held it together for so long, and only now are the cracks showing because perhaps Gabe understands, Yota is more about the Global Heavyweight VS World Heavyweight Championship match against Konosuke. And Bishamon of course won their match, they gotta tease their fourth-ever WTL win. B Block determines who each of those teams face, can’t wait to see who we get.

My Score: 9/10