A new chapter begins in NJPW!

Hiroshi Tanahashi has officially retired to be full-time President Ace! But then, who will step up to be the NEW ACE of New Japan?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Shota Umino, Yuya Uemura & Katsuya Murashima VS Taichi, Satoshi Kojima & Tomohiro Ishii; Taichi, Kojima & Ishii win.
• El Phantasmo & Shoma Kato VS Konosuke Takeshita & Rocky Romero; Konosuke & Rocky win.
• Six Man Tag: Bishamon & Boltin Oleg VS SANADA, Yujiro Takahashi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Bishamon & Boltin win.
• Six Man Tag: Gabe Kidd, Hiromu Takahashi & Clark Connors VS Andrade El Idolo, Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young; Andrade, Akira & Jakob win.
• 8 Man Tag: Aaron Wolf, Toru Yano, YOH & Master Wato VS EVIL, Ren Narita, Don Fale & Dick Togo; Wolf, Yano, Yoh & Wato win.
• 8 Man Tag: Yota Tsuji, David Finlay, Shingo Takagi & “Drilla” Dan Moloney VS Jake Lee, Great-O-Khan, Callum Newman & HENARE; Jake, Khan, Callum & Henare win.
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships Fatal 4 Way: Los Oscuridad VS El Desperado & KUUKAI VS Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X VS Ichiban Sweet Boys; Ichiban Sweet Boys win and become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
• IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: OSKAR & Yuto-Ice VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa; Oskar & Yuto win and retain the titles.

PLAY BY PLAY

After Six Man Tag: Shota Umino, Yuya Uemura & Katsuya Murashima VS Taichi, Satoshi Kojima & Tomohiro Ishii…

The Stone Pitbull scores the win off the Young Lion, though not without getting a bloody nose for it first. There’s still tension between these teams, despite all being Hontai. Ishii stands Yuya up, Shota gets in Ishii’s face, Taichi gets in Shota’s way, but Shota pushes past Taichi to still stare Ishii down. Yuya and Taichi stare down, and while these two old friends smile, Ishii SPITS at Shota! Shota starts firing shots off on Ishii! Shota CHOPS and CHOPS, but Ishii HEADBUTTS Shota down! Young Lions hurry in there but Ishii shrugs them off. Ishii storms off, will Hontai become stronger even by fighting themselves?

Six Man Tag: Gabe Kidd, Hiromu Takahashi & Clark Connors VS Andrade El Idolo, Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young!

While the War Dogs/Unaffiliated combination fell at WrestleKingdom, the war with the United Empire is far from over! Will the Mad Man, Timebomb and 100 Proof get the team back on track? Or will La Sombra, The Crown  of Fire and #DangerousJAY just conquer them again?

But the Empire doesn’t even wait for introductions to be over! They attack while Gabe’s still on the corner! The fans boo as Jakob TOSSES Connors, and Andrade fires off on Gabe in one corner while Akira stomps Hiromu down in the other! The bell rings to get this on record, and Andrade TOSSES Gabe out now. Connors UPPERCUTS Jakob in return, then whips him into railing! And then LARIATS him! Andrade keeps after Gabe while Akira talks trash on Hiromu. Andrade hits SNAKE EYES on the apron! Akira CHOPS Hiromu, whips him corner to corner, but Hiromu reverses. Hiromu LARIATS Akira, snapmares, but Akira avoids the basement dropkick!

Hiromu dodges a lariat to kick and whip but Akira reverses, only for Hiromu to RANA! The fans fire up with Hiromu, he brings Akira up and around to whip to the corner. Hiromu runs in and LARIATS, but Akira stops the snapmare this time. Hiromu CHOPS, snapmares again, and runs, but Jakob KICKS him! The ref reprimands, but Jakob & Andrade already BLAST Connors & Gabe! Akira TOSSES Hiromu out, and he whips Hiromu into railing! Hiromu falls to the rampway but Akira rains down fists! The fans rally for Hiromu while Akira drags him up. Akira SMACKS Hiromu off the apron, and Andrade has a chair, but wags his finger. He doesn’t need it.

Akira puts Hiromu back in the ring, and he has a cocky kneeling cover. ONE, but Akira CHOPS Hiromu! Hiromu CHOPS back! Akira CHOPS again, then tags Jakob. Jakob fires body shots, then he fires knees. Jakob snapmares to stomp Hiromu, then basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Jakob bends Hiromu’s fingers! The ref reprimands, Jakob SNAPS the fingers at 4! The fans boo but Jakob tells them to shove it. Tag to Andrade and he climbs up. Jakob wrenches the arm, and Andrade AX HANDLES it! The fans boo but Andrade soaks up the heat. Andrade fires hands, bumps Hiromu off buckles, then stomps a mudhole in.

The ref counts, Andrade stops to drag Hiromu around. Andrade stomps Hiromu in the stomach, then ELBOW DROPS! Gabe & Connors coach Hiromu to fight, but Andrade climbs the corner. FALLING SPLIT LEG MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Hiromu survives but Andrade smirks as he drags Hiromu up. Andrade brings Hiromu over, tags Akira, and they mug Hiromu. Akira scoops Hiromu to SLAM him, then wrenches and whips him to a corner hard! Hiromu falls, Akira stays between him and the corner as he covers, TWO! STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally, and Hiromu CHOPS Akira!

Akira eggs Hiromu on, so Hiromu CHOPS again! Akira TACKLES Hiromu and rains down fists! The ref reprimands, Akira stands Hiromu up, and he wrenches again. Akira whips corner to corner, but Hiromu reverses! LARIAT, snapmare, and basement DROPKICK! The fans fire up while both men crawl. Akira anchors a foot and he pulls Hiromu’s hair! Hiromu breaks free, blocks a kick and a punch, then DRAGON SCREWS! Both men are down, they crawl for their corners, hot tags to Gabe and Andrade! Gabe dodges to BOOT Andrade , then LARIATS in the corner! The fans bark with Gabe and he whips corner to corner!

Gabe keeps moving and he runs Andrade into the other corner! Then he LARIATS Andrade down! The fans fire up with Gabe and he drags Andrade back up. Andrade ELBOWS Gabe, then winds up, but he swings into a clinch! URENAGE! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up for Gabe while he rises up. They bark with Gabe and he brings Andrade around. Andrade fights the saido, then runs, but Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe runs, COMEBACK- DROPKICK! The fans fire up while both men are down! Andrade and Gabe slowly rise up and the fans rally. Andrade pounds the mat, the fans clap along, and Andrade runs corner to corner, CIEN KNEES! Cover, TWO!!

The fans fire up but Andrade just tranquilos, then he reels Gabe in. Andrade snap suplexes, but that’s just Uno Amigo! But then Gabe suplexes for a BRAINBUSTER! No mas amigos! Gabe rolls, hot tag to Connors! Connors runs and he CLOBBERS Andrade, BLASTS Akira, then dodges Jakob to cravat SMASH! Andrade kicks and whips but Connors reverses to SNAP POWERSLAM! Connors aims from a corner, the fans bark it up, and Andrade stands up, into the SPEAR!! Cover, the Empire breaks it! Gabe and Hiromu go after them, but Jakob and Akira toss them out first! The brawling continues outside while Connors focuses on Andrade.

Connors drags Andrade up, vows to finish this, but Jakob & Akira CLOBBER Connors! Gabe & Hiromu return, and Gabe UPPERCUTS Jakob while Hiromu TOSSES Akira! Connors and Andrade rise again, and Connors snarls. Connors reels Andrade in, but Andrade wrenches! Connors UPPERCUTS, runs, but Andrade BOOTS him down! Andrade then BLASTS Gabe off the apron! Andrade grins as he goes to Connors, but Connors cradles! TWO! Boot feint to SHADOW ELBOW! Andrade raises the ungovernable fist, and he reels Connors in! Underhooks and THE MESSAGE!! Cover, Empire wins!

Winners: Andrade El Idolo, Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young, by pinfall

Another victory for The Empire, and they even TOSS Daiki Nagai aside! Andrade already sent his Message, but he asks for a mic so he can speak. Gabe says F that and he snatches the mic! “There’s nothing else to say. If you’ve got something to say, then let’s effin’ fight about it.” Gabe dares Andrade to use actions rather than words, and they brawl is on! The Young Lions rush in there, but then Andrade breaks free to CLOBBER Gabe! Gabe throws hands in return, and Andrade backs off. Andrade smirks while he hops the railing to then sit at the timekeeper’s desk.

Gabe gets the mic back to say, “Tranquilo janai, p*ssy! I’m gonna talk, watch and learn how it’s done. I’m gonna speak to these people.” Then in Japanese, Gabe brings up how back in 2013, La Sombra was IWGP Intercontinental Champion. Andrade says yes he was! Gabe says HE was IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion! Yota Tsuji, that’s his dog, but Gabe does want that title back! February 11th, New Beginning in Osaka, Andrade El Whatever The F VS Gabe Kidd, winner gets a shot at Yota Tsuji’s IWGP Global Heavyweight title! KOI YA, CABRON! Then Gabe does the tranquilo, but with middle fingers!

The Mad Man and La Sombra are set on a collision course for Osaka, who comes away from that as the #1 contender?

8 Man Tag: Aaron Wolf, Toru Yano, YOH & Master Wato VS EVIL, Ren Narita, Don Fale & Dick Togo!

It was truly a historic night as the Olympic gold medalist went straight from Young Lion to NEW NEVER Openweight Champion! He now teams with the former NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions in an effort to shake The House of Torture. Will Wolf take another bite out of the King of Darkness? Or will Darkness Fall on 2026 after all?

But then The House attacks during introductions! The fans boo but what else is new for them? They TOSS Yoh, Yano & Wato, then stomp away on Wolf! The bell rings to get this on record, and The House whips Wolf to a corner. Dick runs in and ELBOWS, Ren adds an ELBOW, then Evil LARIATS! Fale adds a SPLASH, then they snapmare Wolf into position. Evil & Ren hold Wolf up while Dick climbs and Fale distracts the ref! The fans boo more, but Yoh & Wato hit Evil & Ren first! Yano even trips up Fale! Yoh ROCKS Dick, then he and Wato clear the ring. The fans rally as Wolf stands, but Dick kicks low.

Dick hops up, leaps, but Wolf blocks the chop! IPPON! Ren is back, but he gets an IPPON! The fans fire up with Wolf, but Wato reaches out. Wolf tags Wato, Wato runs in and ELBOWS Dick! Wato then BULLDOGS Dick down! The fans cheer, Wato covers, TWO! The fans rally behind Wato and he reels Dick in. Wato suplexes but Dick fights it. Dick wrenches and headlock punches Wato down! Evil BLASTS the Hontai corner while Dick stomps Wato. The fans boo as the House beats up Hontai on the outside. Dick throws hands on Wato, then brings him over to bump off buckles. Tag to Fale and he brings Wato around for a scoop and SLAM!

Fale then turns Wato over, and stands on him! Fale steps off, then flips Wato back over for a cocky cover, TWO! The fans applaud but Fale tags Evil. Evil drags Wato up, FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, who rings the bell?! It’s Dick! He gives a BS victory announcement and even says, “Happy New Year!” The fans boo and the ref says no, that’s not how this works! Evil tags Ren, and Ren has the bell hammer in his back pocket! Evil distracts the ref so Ren can HAMMER Wato! Ren then tosses the hammer, and it somehow makes it back to Abe-san. Ren then whips Wato, but Wato reverses to DROPKICK Ren! The fans fire up while both men are down!

Ren and Wato crawl, hot tag to Yoh! Yoh goes up and CANNONBALLS onto Ren! Then he BLASTS Evil, BLASTS Dick, and pokes Fale in the eye! Yoh kicks, Ren blocks, and Ren CHOKES Yoh! The ref counts, Ren tells him to shut up, then he whips Yoh. Yoh reverses to THROW Ren by his hair! The fans cheer for Yoh, but Yano says hold on! If they’re gonna do this, they do it together! They set up, but Fale & Evil storm in! “YANO! TO-” Fale & Evil CLOBBER them from behind! The fans boo but Evil drags Yoh up. Ren BOOTS Yoh down, tags Dick, and they try this again! Fale again distracts the ref while Dick climbs, New Year’s Prayer DICK CHOP!

The fans boo despite Dick’s manners as he covers, only for Yoh & Wato to break it! The fans cheer, but they and Wolf get TOSSED back out! Dick then holds Yoh open, but the ref doesn’t trust that! Dick argues with the ref, the ref SHOVES Dick, and Yoh reels Dick into a cradle! TWO!! Dick escapes, kicks Yoh, then runs, but into a SLINGBLADE! The fans fire up for that, and Yoh has Dick in the TEXAS CLOVERHOLD!! The fans cheer as Dick TAPS, Hontai wins!

Winners: Aaron Wolf, Toru Yano, Yoh & Master Wato, by submission

Direct Drive pays tribute to The Ace with that win, and The House continues to lose out! But then those sore losers attack anyway! The fans boo as Ren stomps away on Wolf! Ren grabs his pushup bar, and he soaks up the heat while he aims at Wolf. Wolf slowly rises up, and Ren CLOBBERS him with the pushup bar! The fans boo more, but Ren holds up the NEVER Openweight title, making it clear what he wants. Ren then tosses the belt back down as he and The House take their leave. Will the Souled Out Son of Strong Style steal that title from Wolf soon enough?

8 Man Tag: Yota Tsuji, David Finlay, Shingo Takagi & “Drilla” Dan Moloney VS Jake Lee, Great-O-Khan, Callum Newman & HENARE!

We already saw the other half of the War Dogs/Unaffiliated fall to the United Empire, so this is a last chance for payback. Can the NEW IWGP Double Champion lead the Rebel & The War Dragons to victory? Or will the Gentlemanly Killer, the Dominator, The Prince & The Mauler continue the win streak from WrestleKingdom?

As the introductions are made, Yota wants to make sure the announcer is up to date. For BEHOLD, he wears a shiny new version of the “V4” Heavyweight Championship! No need for “world,” he just IS the IWGP Heavyweight & Global Champion! Yota then takes the mic himself, and he calls out Jake! Was yesterday’s attack supposed to be Jake’s challenge to him? Well, sorry, you can’t take more than a year off and just think you can challenge for THE Heavyweight Championship! The fans cheer Yota laying down the law! Jake brushes that off, but Yota adds that as wrestlers, if Jake wants to challenge, he has to make his case.

Yota knows Jake loves to talk, so maybe Jake can convince him. Yota holds out the mic to Jake, the fans do cheer Jake on, and Jake takes the mic. Jake just kicks Yota low! The fans boo as the Empire attacks, and things spill out of the ring as Khan, Callum & Henare drag Takagi, Finlay, and Drilla out! Jake stomps Yota in the ring, and Jake dances around to mock Yota. Jake then KICKS Yota to a corner, but we see Finlay sends Callum into railing! Jake runs in at the corner, but Yota avoids the Facebreaker! Yota kicks then whips, but Jake blocks! Jake CLUBS the arm, then wrenches it so he can whip Yota back in. Yota rebounds to RAM Jake!

Jake brushes himself off, then fires a forearm! Yota BODY BLOWS! They go back and forth, shot for shot, but then Jake fires a flurry! Yota CHOPS in return! The fans fire up for that one! Jake runs, and he kitchen sink knees Yota down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up while Yota goes to a corner. Jake lines up his shot, FACEBREAK- NO! Yota gets under the boot and lifts Jake up! Jake fights, and he RANAS Yota away! ROUNDHOUSE! But Yota GENE TRIGGERS, SUPERKICKS, and- KITCHEN SINK KNEE! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Jake and Yota crawl for their corners, hot tags to Callum and Finlay!

The fans fire up as Savage King and Prince of Pace fire off forearms! Callum gets the edge, but Finlay gets it back! Finlay throat chops, then whips, but Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges and builds speed, only for Finlay to dodge! Finlay CLOBBERS Callum with a shoulder tackle! The fans fire up again, and Finlay UPPERCUTS Callum! Finlay pushes Callum to a corner, and the fans bark along with him. The ref reprimands but Finlay fires LARIAT after LARIAT in the corner! Finlay goes to TEN, then he brings Callum around to BROKEN ARROW! Callum flounders while the fans fire up. Finlay flexes, then waits on Callum to get up.

Finlay reels Callum in, lifts, but Callum fights free! Finlay kicks low, reels him in again, but Callum BACKDROPS! Finlay sunset flips, TWO! Both men stand, Callum dodges and DROPKICKS! The fans rally, Callum rolls, hot tag to Henare! Henare BLASTS Takagi off the apron, then SENTONS Finlay! Callum PENALTY KICKS for good measure, then Henare drags Finlay up. Henare CHOPS Finlay, brings him around, and CHOPS again! Finlay goes to a corner, Henare roars, and the fans rally up. Finlay comes back to CHOP! Henare CHOPS again! And then fireman’s carries! Finlay fights free with elbows, but Henare fires fast hands!

Henare swings, but into the IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Both men are down but the fans fire up! Finlay stagger sup, hot tag to Takagi! Takagi CLOBBERS Henare but Callum throat chops! Callum whips, Takagi reverses and HIP TOSSES! Jake & Khan get in while Takagi LARIATS Callum up and out! The fans fire up, but Takagi bumps into Khan & Jake. Takagi is spooked, they kick him low and double whip. Takagi stops himself, then runs up to DOUBLE LARIAT! But neither Khan nor Jake fall! Takagi DOUBLE LARIATS again, but still no one falls! Khan storms up but into a clinch! Takagi kicks Jake, and he DDT FLATLINER COMBOS!

The fans fire up, Henare runs in, but Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON feints and stands Henare back up for a JAB and YUKON LARIAT! The fans fire up with Takagi, and they join in on “OI! OI! OI!” Tag to Drilla and the War Dragons drag Henare up. They double whip Henare to a corner, then RAM LARIAT COMBO! They start up the “OI! WOOF! OI! WOOF!” before they double whip Henare again, for ELBOW! DOUBLE JAB! Double feint then JAB! But Khan trips Takagi! Henare HEEL KICKS Drilla! Callum goes after Finlay while Henare has Drilla and Khan goes after Takagi! They coordinate and whip, but the War Dragons reverse!

Khan & Henare collide, then Takagi snapmares Khan while Drilla scoop SLAMS Henare! Then the War Dragons go to the corners, climb up, WRESTLING SUMMIT ELBOWS! Cover on Henare, TWO! Henare survives, but Takagi gets the fans fired up for it! “TOKI GA KITA!” They all bark and the two fist bump. They haul Henare up, pump handle, but Henare fights free! Henare sends Drilla into Takagi, fireman’s carries Drilla, SAMOAN DROP! But Takagi SLIDING LARIATS! Khan returns, but Takagi blocks a kick and CLUBS the leg! Takagi fires boxing elbows, but Khan Mongolian Chops! IRON CLAW, then a flurry of knee strikes!

Khan BITES Takagi’s ear! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Khan runs. Takagi follows to LARIAT at the ropes! Takagi runs, Khan dodges, and Khan LARIATS! But Drilla SPINEBUSTERS Khan! The fans fire up while all four men are down! Henare and Drilla stir and the fans rally up. They head for each other, then fire forearms back and forth! The fans rally as the shots are fast ‘n’ furious! Henare fires a flurry, but Drilla ducks the wind up! Ripcord and CHOP! Henare CHOPS back! Drilla SUPERKICKS! Henare roars, avoids the enzigiri, then runs to RUGBY KICK! Drilla gets up, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but not the KNEE! HEADBUTT!

Henare runs to BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up again as Henare drags Drilla up. Khan joins in, IRON CLAW BOMB!! Cover, Empire wins again!

Winners: Jake Lee, Great-O-Khan, Callum Newman & Henare, by pinfall

Jake Lee sits with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and shines it up while Khan & Henare stomp away on Drilla! Then they mug Takagi! Scoop and T T D!! The fans boo as Khan & Henare loom over the War Dragons. Jake steps into the ring and shows off the belt. Yota storms back in and tells Jake to quit screwing around. Jake plays with the belt a bit more before handing it back to Yota. Then he SLAPS Yota! Yota SLAPS Jake! Jake falls over, though maybe more from goofing around than anything. And Finlay starts CHUCKING chairs! The Empire taunts Finlay as he starts ripping at the apron!

Gedo and Young Lions get Finlay to back down, if only so much. Yota takes his leave for now but Callum gets a mic. Callum tells Finlay to shut up and go home already. “I didn’t work for a whole year, carrying this unit on my back, to be intimidated by you, some little puppies, and to be belittled every time I step in this ring. If you’re really the Savage King you think you are, name a time, name a place, and I swear to God, I will show you exactly who you’re dealing with. Just remember one thing: This isn’t the Empire that you left to crumble and shatter in Osaka. This is a brand new Empire!” Wait, is that Ospreay’s music?!

We saw the Aerial Assassin return to Japan last night, and now he’s here at New Year Dash! Ospreay goes to the ring, Finlay tells him to handle his guy. Ospreay joins The Empire in the ring, hugs it out with Henare, and even shakes hands with Khan. Callum gives over the mic while the fans cheer Ospreay on. Ospreay says, “Tadaima. <I’m home.>” Ospreay says it has been awhile, so maybe help remind him. Who is the best wrestler in the world? “OSPREAY!” Ospreay says he hasn’t come to cause problems, but to apologize. He is sorry. He didn’t realize him leaving was going to mess up everything. He didn’t realize how much he held the team together. But he wants to put it right.

Ospreay says he can’t come back right now, he still needs to recover. It will take a long time, but he’s getting closer and closer, better and better, and he sees the light at the end of the tunnel. And when he’s good to go, he’s got business to handle in AEW, then he’ll come back to NJPW. The fans cheer that! Ospreay says he’ll come back to support Callum. Callum’s his little brother, Ospreay has known him since he’s 15, he’s proud to see what he’s become. Callum is a grown man now, so let Ospreay help. Once Ospreay is back, the Empire will get back together and take NJPW over just like they did before. And they’ll even do it Callum’s way.

Ospreay sets the mic down, Callum stands up, and the two hug it out! The fans cheer, and Ospreay says for old time’s sake, crowns up! The fans cheer, though Callum doesn’t do it. He has the chair?! Henare stops Callum, he knows what The Prince was planning on doing! Callum storms off, though Ospreay doesn’t notice right away. Is there not going to be much to the “united” in the United Empire after all?

Meanwhile, backstage…

Yota Tsuji waits until the Unaffiliated and War Dogs are all present. “Until now, Bullet Club War Dogs and the Unaffiliated wrestlers have maintained a cooperative relationship. But that ends today. Our ‘alliance’ is finished. From here on, we will fight as a single unit. Our name is ‘Unbound Company,’ a group that cannot be bound by anyone.” Takagi adds that now both factions are one, things are going to get a lot more interesting in NJPW. Hiromu agrees, it’ll be more, more, more fun for everyone. Yota tells NJPW to get ready!

Yota heads out, but Drilla says he’s not fine. What did Henare tell him in that ring? Don’t act like they didn’t almost kill him?! Drilla has the same cut in his head as Henare, and he came back the very next night! Hell, that cage match had Henare crying! Drilla was in that cage with a freshly torn bicep! He taped it up, he followed Finlay’s orders, and he went to work! He didn’t cry for almost two years that he almost got killed, you absolute effin’ p*ssy! You think that blood was bad? Wait ’til the War Dragons drain Henare of everything! All his mana, his spirit, his passion, and send him back to New Zealand to cry more!

Drilla says who even cares about that fat Khan! What’re they gonna do, Takagi? What does Drilla want? Drilla wants a match! Let’s see how good you feel after two years! Takagi warns Khan & Henare that they’re in for it now! The War Dragons are ready for war, will they get their fill from Khan & Henare? As for Finlay, he tells Callum that he’s just been getting on Finlay’s nerves. Seeing Ospreay after all these years, it reminds Finlay of the violence he is capable of. Callum wants the Savage King, he wants to talk the dog cage match, fine! Just remember that last time Finlay saw Ospreay, Finlay left Ospreay in a pool of his own blood!

If Callum wants violence, he has to realize that means two very different things to him and Finlay. To Finlay, violence IS blood, violence is broken bones, damage and time off of your career! Finlay can leave Callum in blood without a cage or weapons. Finlay will do it with his own bare hands! The Savage King is also ready for war, will nothing hold the Unbound Company back from tearing the United Empire down?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships Fatal 4 Way: La Oscuridad VS El Desperado & KUUKAI VS Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X VS Ichiban Sweet Boys!

Sho & Douki cheated their way to winning Super Junior Tag League, but instead of having NO challengers, they ended up getting THREE! We saw The Rogue Luchador earn his golden ticket to THE Junior Heavyweight Championship last night at WrestleKingdom, will he and Double K grab these titles as well? Will the Bone Soldier & Mr. X bring gold home to the War Dogs? Or will Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita prove that The Mighty Don’t Kneel?

The introductions are made, though Sho is still worried he’s gonna get bullied. The belts are raised, and we see if the champs can win their own game!

Sho of course has to get a mic and talk, saying that while Ota is supposedly part of the Tokyo area, it is really just more Kawasaki, so that makes everyone here a bunch of country bumpkins. And after all these jerks ruined the Douki Games last night, ain’t no way they’ll win tonight! Oi, stay back! The ref keeps the other teams from crowding Sho & Douki, and Sho says this is all just cuz the other teams are afraid of them! Sho & Douki then bail out of the ring before they get bullied again! The fans boo, but then Kuukai TORNILLO TOPES! He wipes them out into the railing! But then Robbie X SUPERKICKS Despy out and the bell rings!

The Sweet Boys kick Taiji & X low, then fire hands. They double whip, but the “Unbound” reverse, only for the Sweet Boys to DOUBLE RANA! They then fake the planchas to DOUBLE ASAI MOONSAULT! Down go X & Taiji, but then Despy & Kuukai BLAST The Sweet Boys! Then they build speed, but Sho & Douki trip them both up! The fans boo, but Sho stomps Kuukai and Douki stomps Despy! The fans boo as Sho CHOKES Kuukai on the ropes! Douki drags Despy up, he and Sho coordinate, and they whip, only for Despy & Kuukai to dosido! They LARIAT Sho & Douki, then whip them into each other!

Kuukai runs, Despy gives him the boost, DOUBLE DROPKICK! Douki & Sho tumble outta the ring while Kuukai & Despy kip up. The fans cheer as now Taiji & X step up to Kuukai & Despy. The forearms and CHOPS go back and forth, faster ‘n’ furious, but then X SOBATS Despy and Taiji CLAWS Kuukai’s eyes! They double whip Kuukai, DOUBLE ELBOW, then ASSISTED MOONSAULT! Taiji BOOTS Despy down, then X wheelbarrows, VICTORY SPLASH! Cover, but Eagles breaks it! X ROCKS Eagles, Eagles BOOTS X, X CHOPS Eagles! Douki UPPERCUTS X to stop the Robbie VS Robbie fight!

Douki whips X to a corner but X goes up and over to handspring away! Then the Robbies DOUBLE CHOP, and split the wishbone! Then they DOUBLE KICK Douki down! The fans fire up for “ROBBIE! ROBBIE!” but it’s X that starts up the “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” Eagles says “OI OI OI!” and he shoves X. “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” Sho SHOVES one into the other! Roll up on Eagles, TWO! Eagles ROCKS and cravats Sho, but Sho shoves Eagles at the ref! Eagles stops short, but Sho SPEARS Eagles down! Fujita is back but Sho dodges to kick low! Sho fires forearms, sends him at Kuukai, but Kuukai puts Fujita on the apron.

Kuukai dodges Sho, SOBATS, then KNEES! Kuukai sends Sho to Fujita, Fujita GAMANGIRIS, and Kuukai SUPERKICKS! Then he sets Sho up for Fujita’s MISSILE DROPKICK! Kuukai covers but Fujita SLAPS him! Fujita stands Kuukai up, Kuukai CHOPS! Fujita fires a forearm, Kuukai fires a forearm back, and they go back and forth! Kuukai CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Fujita CHOPS in return! The fans fire up as Fujita runs, but Taiji scoops to BACKBREAKER! Eagles SOBATS Taiji, SLICED BREAD! Eagles then drags Taiji to a drop zone, goes up the corner, but Kuukai CHOPS first! Kuukai climbs up, ROCKS Eagles, but Taiji joins in.

Taiji CLUBS Kuukai, slips underneath, TOWER OF DOOM! Eagles flounders, X EXPRESS!! Cover, KANEMARU YANKS THE REF OUT! The fans boo as the Heel Master helps out! Douki uses the DEATH PIPE on everyone! The fans boo but Douki winds up on Taiji. Taiji BOOTS the pipe, mule kicks the leg, then he hooks Douki. Douki powers out, Sho winds up, but Fujita snatches the “Black Mirror” from Sho! Fujita SMACKS Sho with it first! The fans cheer as Taiji drop toeholds Douki into a BLACK MIRROR SHOT! Kanemaru kicks Fujita, takes a swig, but Fujita uses the mirror as a shield! Then he SMACKS Kanemaru down!

The fans fire up as Taiji drags Douki up to a fireman’s carry. T K O! Despy TOSSES Taiji and Kuukai covers Douki! But Fujita breaks it! Fujita drags Kuukai up, Kuukai fights free, and Kuukai runs, but has to duck a chop! Kuukai wheelbarrows, but Fujita stops the roll! WHEELBARROW GERMAN! The fans fire up, Eagles BOOTS Despy, and then Eagles builds speed! CANNONBALL TOPE! Direct hit on Despy & Kuukai, and Eagles goes over the railing! Eagles lands safe in the aisle and the fans fire up! But then X has Fujita! Fujita switches, O’Conner and CHAOS- NO, X victory rolls it, TWO! Fujita runs up, but into a fireman’s carry!

X hits a ROLLING SENTON, then he goes up top! The fans fire up as X reloads, X EXP- NO, Fujita moves and X rolls through! Eagles runs in, but X blocks the boot! DREAMCAST KICK! But Fujita ROCKS X! X ROCKS Fujita, and they go back and forth! X SMACKS Fujita, Fujita CHOPS X! Fujtia whips, X handsprings through and goes Matrix! PELE! The fans fire up, X handsprings, but the Sweet Boys catch him into torture racks! DOUBLE BURNING HAMMER!! Cover, TMDK WINS!!

Winners: Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)

The Douki Games are over, and the gold is back around the waists of these Ichiban Sweet Boys! The Sniper & The Young Punk have brought these belts back to TMDK, but will Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa do the same?

Wait, Akira is back out here?! He CLOBBERS Robbie X and POSTS Taiji! The fans boo but what is the Crown of Fire after the Bone Soldier for? He stomps away while the fans boo, but Akira says this is their hero, huh? Akira drags Taiji up, fisherman and AOI SHODOU! Akira grins as he stands on Taiji, but then here comes Hiromu! The Timebomb dares Akira to come get some, but they each get mics first. “Oi, Akira! What do you want? You want a fight with me? Or with Ishimori? Who do you want?” Akira says BOTH! Well, how greedy. Then they’ll make Akira regret picking a fight with them.

The Unbound are still bound together, will Akira have to get himself a friend if he wants this to be a fair fight?

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: OSKAR & Yuto-Ice VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa!

While both sides were disappointed that this match couldn’t fit on the WrestleKingdom card, the Knock Out Brothers ended up extra disappointed in that they couldn’t take the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles! The Chin & The Mullet are already coming in with gold, will they be leaving here with even more gold? Or will Oskar & Yuto put them on ice?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see which team is truly mighty!

The teams sort out and Yuto gets right in Oiwa’s face. ZSJ and Oskar stare down, but Red Shoes has everyone settle down. In the end, it is Oiwa and Yuto to start. The fans rally as Yuto eggs Oiwa on, so Oiwa fires a forearm! Yuto fires back, Oiwa fires again, and the two go back and forth. The fans rally as the forearms go faster and faster! Yuto ROCKS Oiwa, eggs Oiwa on, but Oiwa wrangles him with a top wristlock! Yuto avoids the stomp, but Oiwa avoids the lariat. Oiwa arm-drags, then has the armlock! Yuto scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes counts, Oiwa lets go at 3, and the fans applaud. Oiwa then clamps right back on!

Oiwa and Yuto pull hair, they end up in the TMDK corner, and ZSJ tags in. ZSJ DROPKICKS Oskar down, then he and Oiwa mug Yuto. Yuto stumbles, Oiwa stomps him down, then he and ZSJ double whip. They DOUBLE ELBOW Yuto down, then they double armlock! Red Shoes reprimands but they shift to an arm and leg! Then double toehold! Then leg and arm! Then DOUBLE STRAIGHT ARMBARS! But Oskar stomps ZSJ & Oiwa! ZSJ kicks Oskar, Oiwa joins in, and they DOUBLE- NO, Oskar is too tall to suplex! Oskar tries, but they double wrench, wrench, and wrench! Then they wrangle him for DOUBLE ARM STOMPS!

The fans fire up while Oskar bails out. ZSJ scuffs Yuto, eggs him on, and Yuto rises up. ZSJ kicks Yuto but Yuto fires a forearm! ZSJ UPPERCUTS, Yuto fires a forearm, repeat! ZSJ UPPERCUTS again, but Yuto ROCKS ZSJ with a haymaker! ZSJ UPPERCUTS in return, then runs, but Oskar catches him to the NIGHTMARE SLEEPER! Feed to Yuto’s BOOT! Yuto then DECKS Oiwa for good measure! Yuto tags Oskar and they haul ZSJ up. Oskar kicks ZSJ low, then Oskar drags ZSJ up to CLUB him down. Oskar paces around ZSJ, drags him up, and CHOPS him down! Oskar has a cocky cover, ONE!

ZSJ UPPERCUTS, UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS, but Oskar CHOPS him back down! Oskar kneels on ZSJ for a cocky cover, TWO! Oskar tags Yuto, they mug ZSJ more, then Yuto drags ZSJ around to KICK! And KICK! And KICK! Yuto KICKS away in the corner, but stops as Red Shoes reprimands. Yuto SOBATS, then he gets gangsta! “BOMBACLAT!” DOUBLE KNEES! Yuto drags ZSJ out, then he BLASTS Oiwa! Oiwa gets mad, he storms in, and he fires off on Yuto! The fans rally but Oskar attacks Oiwa! Oskar TOSSES Oiwa out, then drags ZSJ up. But ZSJ BOOTS Yuto away! And he PELES Oskar’s arm!

The fans fire up as ZSJ crawls, hot tag to Oiwa! Oiwa runs in, he RUNS Yuto over! Oskar guzels but Oiwa breaks free and rolls to get a leg! Oiwa puts that leg in ropes and STOMPS the leg down! The fans fire up while Oskar writhes. Yuto fires forearms, whips, but Oiwa reverses. Oiwa DROPKICKS Yuto down and the fans fire up! Oiwa drags Yuto up, reels him in, and he hits a BIG back suplex! Then a SENTON! Cover, TWO! Yuto toughs it out but the fans rally up for Oiwa. Oiwa kicks Yuto around, stands him up, and fires a forearm. Oiwa runs, but into a kitchen sink knee! Yuto calls to Oskar, then sends Oiwa into Oskar’s boot!

Oiwa falls, Yuto tags Oskar in, and Oskar hobbles his way in. Oskar drags Oiwa up, CHOPS him back down, and the fans rally up. Oskar stands Oiwa up, CHOPS him back down, then paces again. Oskar stands Oiwa back up, scoops, but Oiwa slips free! ARM- NO, Oskar stops the arm-drag and whips Oiwa, but Oiwa dropkicks the legs out! Both men are down and the fans rally back up! Oiwa tags ZSJ and ZSJ runs up to PENALTY KICK! But Oskar stands and scoops ZSJ to SLAM! The fans fire up again while Oskar seethes. Oskar kicks ZSJ around, drags him up, and CHOPS him! ZSJ staggers, Oskar storms up and CHOPS him down!

The fans rally while Oskar eggs ZSJ on. ZSJ rises up, but Oskar CHOPS! ZSJ blocks to UPPERCUT the arm! Oskar CHOPS him down again! The fans rally up and Oskar stomps away on ZSJ. Oskar stands ZSJ up to ROCK him, and ZSJ goes to a corner. Oskar CLUBS ZSJ, then spins him around to ROCK him with a forearm! ZSJ UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! ZSJ fires up, the fans are with him, but Oskar kicks low! Oskar whips, ZSJ goes up and comes back to GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! Oskar THROWS ZSJ away! And then LEG DROP FLOPS as ZSJ moves! PENALTY- NO! Oskar blocks it!

The fans fire up as Oskar stands, and ZSJ fires SLAP after SLAP! Oskar DECKS ZSJ with a forearm! Oskar stands ZSJ up to hit a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as ZSJ is still in this. Oskar waits on ZSJ to stand, then NIGHTMARE- NO, ZSJ drops to victory roll, TWO! ZSJ catches an arm but Oskar fights the takedown! Oskar scoops, BACKBREAKER! Yuto adds a KNEE! Cover, Oiwa breaks it! Yuto stomps Oiwa, then he and Oskar double whip. They DOUBLE BOOT Oiwa, then they go to ZSJ. Oskar drags ZSJ up and brings him around, DOUBLE POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO! ZSJ survives and the fans fire up!

Yuto brings ZSJ back up, feeds him to Oskar’s scoop, but Oiwa is back to SLEEPER Yuto! ZSJ has a SLEEPER on Oskar! The fans rally as both Knock Out Brothers endure, then ZSJ shifts to a COBRA TWIST! Oiwa has the ARCH CLUTCH on Yuto! Oskar fights but ZSJ shifts to have a MOUNTED ARMBAR! CLARKY CAT!! Oskar endures, kicks with his free leg, but he’s still so far away! Oskar kicks and kicks and finds the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as TMDK lets the Knock Out Brothers go. Oiwa kicks Yuto out and ZSJ waits on Oskar. The fans rally and ZSJ fires up! ZSJ brings Oskar around, reels him in, but Oskar is too much to scoop!

Oskar fires body shots and he CLUBS ZSJ down. Oskar then winds up, runs, but ZSJ SLAPS him! And SLAPS him again! Oskar stumbles to a corner and ZSJ runs in, but into a BOOT! ZSJ tumbles, Oskar runs in, ELBOW in the corner! Then the GIANT LEG DROP, brother! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives and Oskar is frustrated but the fans fire up again! Oskar aims from a corner, runs in at ZSJ again, but ZSJ SCOOPS?! ZACK DRIVER!! The fans fire up but ZSJ can’t make the cover from how much that took! Oskar and ZSJ crawl for their corners while the fans rally again, hot tags to Oiwa and Yuto! The fans fire up again as these two fire forearm after forearm!

The shots go back and forth, faster and faster, and Oiwa ROCKS Yuto again and again! Wrench and YANK, then Oiwa runs, but Yuto ROCKS him! Yuto runs, but Oiwa slips around to TENZAN- NO, Yuto fights free with a knee! Yuto runs up, he BOOTS Oiwa down, and covers, ONE?!?! Oiwa snarls as he rises up, and he ROCKS Yuto! Clinch and TENZAN PLEX! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up again as Yuto stays in this. Oiwa drags Yuto up again, whips him to a corner, and runs up to SPLASH! Oiwa whips, YANKS the arm, and wrenches, wrenches, and wrenches again! But Yuto DECKS Oiwa! The fans fire up while Yuto grits his teeth.

Yuto steps to Oiwa as Oiwa stands up, and Oiwa fires forearms! Yuto bobs ‘n’ weaves to fire shots, and he DECKS Oiwa again! The fans fire up as Ice eggs Oiwa on. Yuto scuffs Oiwa, then SLAPS him! Oiwa gets right up and the fans cheer! Yuto grins as they both step up again. Yuto fires palm strikes, but Oiwa LARIATS Yuto right down! The fans fire up as Oiwa rains down forearms! Red Shoes wants to check Yuto but Oiwa shoves him aside! Red Shoes shakes out his arm while Oiwa drags Yuto up. Oiwa SLAPS Yuto down, then sits him up to LARIAT again! Yuto sputters, but Oskar storms in! Oskar fires a forearm, but Oiwa fires palm strikes!

Oiwa reels Oskar in, and he suplexes Oskar?! The fans are thunderous as The Mullet shows his power! Oiwa roars, Yuto rises, and Oiwa runs in for a DROPKICK! GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Yuto survives and the fans fire up again as Oiwa rises. Oiwa shakes his head and he drags Yuto back up. Yuto fights the gut wrench, and he BITES Oiwa’s leg! The fans boo, Red Shoes reprimands, but Yuto stops at 4. Oiwa hobbles, but he still runs up, only for Yuto to ROCK him! Oiwa falls back, ZSJ tags in, and ZSJ hobbles a bit as he goes to Yuto. ZSJ kicks and scuffs Yuto, even eggs him on, and Yuto fires up!

Yuto SPITS at ZSJ, ZSJ SLAPS, Yuto SLAPS, it is a SLAP fight!! Yuto fires a dozen SLAPS and ZSJ falls! The fans are thunderous again as Yuto fires up! But ZSJ ducks the buzzsaw and Oiwa waistlocks! ENZIGIRI and CHAOS THEORY!! Then jackknife bridge! TWO!! Yuto survives and the fans fire up again! ZSJ tags Oiwa back in and Oiwa climbs. ZSJ brings Yuto over, scoop and SLAMS him into the drop zone, and NECK TWIST BODY PRESS COMBO!! Cover, TWO!! Yuto survives again and the fans continue to cheer! ZSJ sends Oskar into railing while Oiwa drags Yuto back up. Oiwa calls his shot, then runs, THE- NO, Oskar’s back and he scoops Oiwa!

But ZSJ’s back and he BOOTS Yuto! Oiwa fights free of Oskar for ZSJ to UPPERCUT! Oiwa ROCKS Oskar, then they LARIAT ENZIGIRI COMBO! Oiwa LARIATS Oskar up and out! The fans fire up again while Oskar staggers around! ZSJ aims from the apron, PENALTY KICK! Oskar falls, Oiwa goes to Yuto, and the fans are thunderous as he whips Yuto to ropes. Yuto ducks ‘n’ dodges, but DOUBLE FOREARMS hit! Yuto swings, but into a backslide! TWO!! Oiwa shoots in, but into a KNEE!! Yuto roars and he sits Oiwa up! ICE HIGH!! Cover, TWO?!? Oiwa survives, the fans are electric, but Yuto aims from a corner!

Oiwa sputters, the fans rally and duel, and Yuto runs back in! CRU- NO! Oiwa blocks the boot to jackknife bridge! TWO!!! Yuto barely gets that arm up in time, but Oiwa spins! AMBITION HITS FIRST!! The fans fire up again and Yuto takes aim again. BUZZSAW! Cover, but ZSJ has the ANKLE LOCK!! He drags Yuto away from Oiwa, then shots for Oiwa to get up! But Oskar clamps on the NIGHTMARE SLEEPER!! ZSJ is already turning purple! Yuto winds up, AMBITION for ZSJ!! Then Oskar hits the NECK HANGING BOMB!! The Knock Out Brothers fire up, and they stand Oiwa up! Feed to Oskar, but Oiwa ROCKS Oskar first!!

Oiwa then spins, ROLLING ELBOW on Yuto! Oskar runs up, Oiwa deflects the boot to GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans are thunderous as Oiwa then hauls Yuto up, THE- NO, Yuto blocks The Grip, but Oiwa hits the RIGHT HAND DISCUS LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!!! Yuto survives and the fans are erupting! And all this on the night after WrestleKingdom! Oiwa rises, powers up, and runs, but into a scoop!! Oskar almost loses his grip, but he hauls Oiwa up! K O B DRIVER!!! Cover, KOB WINS!!

Winners: Oskar & Yuto-Ice, by pinfall (still IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)

Both teams gave it their all, but Oskar & Yuto had just that much more! TMDK have the World Tag League trophies, they have the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles, and they have the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag titles, but what will it take for them to truly be the top team in NJPW?

As for the champions, they’re already confronted by Shota Umino & Yuya Uemura. The fans are a bit torn seeing them here, perhaps because they’re stepping on the champs’ moment. Shota still grabs a mic first, and he tells Yuto & Oskar, “We will never give up! Fight us one more time!” More fans boo than cheer, and the champs aren’t taking this seriously, but then Yuya takes the mic. The fans would rather cheer Oiwa! TMDK takes their leave, promising they’ll come back for another shot some day. Yuto & Oskar agree, they’d rather have TMDK again than Shota & Yuya.

Yuya says they already know how tough the Knock Out Brothers are. So don’t try to run from their challenge! Yuya and Yuto get face to face, but Oskar is still very dismissive. Wait, now we’re joined by Taichi & Ishii! The fans cheer the Holy Emperor & Stone Pitbull as they step into the ring to also stake their claim! Taichi takes the mic, and he asks, “Can you hear that?” The fans cheer more, and Taichi tells these “young punks, and NJPW, too, you’ve forgotten about us, huh?!” The fans cheer because they haven’t forgotten! Taichi promises he and Ishii will show them what a REAL NJPW fight is all about!

Taichi says he and Ishii want their tag titles back. The fans cheer that! Taichi dares KOB and even Shota & Yuya to bring it! Yuto picks up the mic to say, “Well, some real tough guys showed up!” They all want their shot, huh? If both Hontai teams want it so bad, they gotta fight it out first! Then they’ll all get that pro-wrestling high! The fans cheer on “AISU! AISU!” Yuto says who better to close out the Ace Era than ICE! So for now, get to steppin’! The fans cheer on “K O B! K O B!” while Oskar and Ice stare down their challengers. No one moves, so Yuto asks if they even understand Japanese! GET LOST!

No one leaves, and Yuya gets in Yuto’s face! Ice tells the Heat Storm, “Back off, dumbass!” Taichi and Yuya were fine earlier, but now they’re each pushing each other aside to get at Yuto! Shota tries to back Yuya off but Yuya is still angry. Taichi takes the mic to say he and Ishii will handle Shota & Yuya first, so KOB better be ready. Taichi & Ishii leave, followed by Shota & Yuya. Who will come away from that rematch the NEW #1 contenders?

As for KOB, Yuto asks the fans what’s up. “Wasn’t this IWGP Tag title match raw as hell?” The fans cheer that! Yuto continues by saying KOB is lighting NJPW up! The fans cheer again, and Yuto says just kidding, he would never say stuff like that. Yuto just wants good fights, good money, and that pro-wrestling high. Like him or hate him, your opinions don’t matter, he fights for himself and for Oskar. KOB stays true to themselves! The fans cheer that, but Yuto says he’s not stupid, though. He knows all the fans love pro-wrestling, and maybe they’re a bit sad after Tanahashi truly retired.

Yuto knows he can’t be “the sun,” doing what Tanahashi did, like spreading love to the fans. “I can’t make people happy with my smile. I’m no hero, I’m not naturally cool, and I don’t speak well. But what if you’re like me, and can only reflect the light from others? You guys wanna see it all. The joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, raw emotion. You want that pro-wrestling high? Then just follow me.” The fans cheer that! Yuto knows this ring is full of guys who love pro-wrestling! The staff loves pro-wrestling and devotes their lives to it! “Backstage is full of awesome, badass guys. The only place you can get this pro-wrestling high is NJPW.” The fans cheer that!

“The longer you feel it, the more you realize the ultimate high that awaits. Sure, you can get it by yourself while watching this screen. But sharing that high with those around you who love pro-wrestling is what it’s all about. Enough beating around the bush. I’LL get you all that pro-wrestling high! Come back and feel it!” The fans cheer that! Yuto says if you’re out there, thinking life is dull like he used to think, you can get that legal high with NJPW! Tell your friends! Save ’em! Even if your daily life sucks, just come right back here! Let out your emotions! Get mad, cry, laugh, fantasize about past, present, future, about what happened and what should’ve happened.

Because in 2026, KOB will be the spark! Don’t think, just feel NJPW! LET’S GET HIGH! Tch tch, BIG UP! Mic drop from Yuto-Ice and the fans cheer! Will the Knock Out Brothers be just as unbound in the New Year as they were before? Will this be the moment we look back and say, “This is where it all began.”

My Thoughts:

A great New Year Dash, which NJPW has really managed to make not just an aftermath show but a pivot point for the coming year. While United Empire racked up wins tonight, the big thing is that Ospreay is planning on spending some time in NJPW once he’s healthy, and Callum is oddly upset by that. Callum wants to be the guy now, so naturally, Ospreay returning undercuts that. If Ospreay was healthy, Callum would’ve definitely hit him with that chair, but it was a nice detail that the others saw Callum thinking about it and stopped him. After Empire settles things with “Unbound Company,” maybe there’s an Empire Civil War where the members have to choose if they’re Team Ospreay or Team Callum.

Speaking of, quite the surprising move for the remnants of LIJ to join the dwindling Bullet Club to make a new faction, officially ending both LIJ and Bullet Club once and for all. “Unbound Company” isn’t the best name, even if you were to say “Unbound Co,” like an actual corporation. “The Unbound” would’ve been better, but whatever. With all the contract talk, hard to say if Finlay, Gabe and Connors even stay beyond the next thing, but perhaps all these new matches (Gabe VS Andrade, Finlay VS Callum, War Dragons VS Khan & Henare) are ways of convincing those three to stay with NJPW. Though at the same time, I feel like Andrade should win to then challenge Yota.

That 8 Man Tag was great, and makes it clear Jake Lee is getting his shot at the world title. Well, not even world title officially, Yota reset the name and design to before it was unified with the Intercontinental Championship, a really cool move. Yota truly is the top Reiwa Musketeer with this, because who else would get this honor? I wonder if Yota gets himself into a double header situation, where he has to defend the Global title to open a show and then the top title to close a show, or he does a double main event. Either way, fun stuff in store for NJPW, they could definitely use something of a pick-me-up, even without factoring in Tanahashi’s retirement.

Ren VS Wolf might not be that, unless Ren actually agrees to not use The House of Torture’s interference. Actual wrestling from Ren would be some fresh stuff, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Ichiban Sweet Boys taking the junior tag titles helps, though, as it strengthens TMDK and perhaps starts a new feud for House of Torture. Akira going after Taiji and Hiromu two nights in a row is intriguing. Maybe Templario returns to be a tag partner, or maybe a new signee, who knows. Hiromu VS Akira for the GHC Junior Heavyweight title makes the most sense, but again, we’ll have to wait and see.

We got an awesome main event from KOB VS TMDK. Perhaps half the reason it was moved to tonight and not wedged into the already stacked WrestleKingdom card was so we could get this level of a match. Great win for KOB, which honestly I should’ve expected when A) it wasn’t on WK20 and B) TMDK won the NEVER Six Man titles. Either way, the closing segment was okay with the challengers showing up. The fans here made it clear Shota isn’t accepted as the Face that NJPW wants him to be. I know I said something like this months ago but NJPW has it right with Yota, they’ve got it right with Heel Narita, but Shota is getting that Super Cena kind of backlash. Shota should’ve gotten edgier during his shaved head “Second Chapter” phase.

But thankfully, Taichi & Ishii are in the mix, the fans love those guys. I hope NJPW understands the reception from the fans and makes this a rematch of Taichi & Ishii VS Yuto & Oskar so that the fans will be happy no matter what. Yuto’s promo on his own was great stuff, which is ironic for him thinking he doesn’t speak that well. Yuto really could move up to be a big star, a true pillar of NJPW rather than the “Musketeers.” Or at least more than Shota since, again, fans like what NJPW is doing with everyone else other than Shota.

My Score: 8.9/10