Douki, a living legend, and LUMBERJACKS!

Tiger Mask has one last chance to be IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion again, in a LUMBERJACK MATCH! Will he bring the House of Torture down?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• 8 Man Tag: Shota Umino, Master Wato, YOH & Taisei Nakahara VS Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi, SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; win.
• Toru Yano & Tomoaki Honma VS OSKAR & Yuto-Ice; Oskar & Yuto win.
• 8 Man Tag: Yuya Uemura, Taichi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Masatora Yasuda VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
• Six Man Tag: Bishamon & Tatsuya Matsumoto VS Great-O-Khan, Henare & Jakob Austin Young; Khan, Henare & Jakob win.
• Six Man Tag: Boltin Oleg, Aaron Wolf & Mistico VS Ren Narita, Don Fale & Dick Togo; Boltin, Wolf & Mistico win.
• 8 Man Tag: Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X VS Callum Newman, Jake Lee, Francesco Akira & Zane Jay; Callum Newman, Jake Lee, Francesco Akira & Zane Jay win.
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Lumberjack Match: DOUKI VS Tiger Mask; Douki wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

8 Man Tag: Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X VS Callum Newman, Jake Lee, Francesco Akira & Zane Jay!

With the Rampaging Dragon going after THE IWGP Heavyweight Championship and Gene Blast defending his IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship for Wrestling Dontaku’s two day event, this is the last chance for momentum! Will the Unbound Company be golden going into Fukuoka? Or will The Prince and his United Empire conquer the day?

Callum taunts Takagi with the title, daring him to take it. Takagi doesn’t fall for the bait so the belt is put aside. The teams sort out, and after Unbound Company does their fist bump, Takagi calls Callum out. Callum steps up, but he does whisper something to Zane. Perhaps the Prince is planning ahead? The bell rings and the fans rally as Takagi and Callum circle. The crowd is split between the two as they feel things out. They knuckle lock, but then Zane CLOBBERS Takagi! Callum BLASTS Unbound Company’s corner, the plan already succeeding. Callum stomps Takagi, ROCKS him, then tags in Zane.

The fans rally as Callum & Zane double whip, but Takgai ducks the double lariat! Takagi waistlocks Zane, Zane switches, but Takagi BOOTS Callum. Takagi ELBOWS Zane, then sends Callum into Zane! Callum kicks Takagi for that, then whips, but Takagi reverses to HIP TOSS! Takagi LARIATS Callum up and out while the fans cheer. Zane grabs Takagi’s hair but Takagi KNEES low. Takagi runs, Zane hurdles and drops, to then DROPKICK! But Takagi rebounds to RUN Zane over! The fans cheer as Takagi is fired up already! “OI! OI! OI!” Takagi stands Zane up, but Zane scrambles away. Zane tags Francesco Akira, so Takagi tags Robbie X.

The fans rally as the two tie up, go around, and Akira cravats. Robbie flips through the snapmare, but Akira RUNS him over! Things speed up, Akira rolls over the dropdown, then RANAS, but Robbie handsprings through! The fans cheer, and Robbie eggs Akira on. Robbie dodges Akira to then ROCK, THROW, and slingshot SENTON! The fans cheer while Robbie covers, TWO! Robbie CHOPS Akira, then tags Taiji. Team Super Extreme double whip Akira to ropes, but Zane helps Akira stop at the ropes. Robbie runs up but Akira DUMPS him out! Akira then dodges Taiji to shove him and CALF KICK! Then The Empire attacks on the outside!

Callum brawls with Takagi as they go to the crowd! Takagi SMACKS Callum off a chair, and makes him take a seat! But then Callum KNEES in return, and SMACKS Takagi off a chair! Akira CHOKES Taiji using a fan’s umbrella, Jake CHOKES Yota using a fan’s rally towel! Akira even opens the umbrella as he digs it into Taiji! The ring count starts but Akira puts Taiji in the ring quickly. Callum POSTS Takagi! Akira clamps onto Taiji with a chinlock and grinds him down. The fans rally as Taiji endures and fights around. Jake swings the rally towel before he brings Yota back to ringside. Jake feeds Yota to Callum’s BOOT!

Taiji fights his way around, but Akira shifts to a dragon sleeper! Taiji still fights and makes the ROPEBREAK! Akira lets go while the fans applaud. Akira bumps Taiji off buckles, tags in Jake, and the Silent Jester digs his boot into Taiji’s neck! Callum argues with the ref but the ref still counts. Jake stops at 4, then he stomps Taiji. The Empire get their boots in there, but Takagi tries to counterattack. That only gets him mugged! Robbie tries to help but he also gets beat down. Callum grabs Milano Collection AT’s phone and threatens to smash Takagi with it! Milano begs he not, and Callum gives the phone back.

Jake drags Taiji up but Taiji fires body shots. Taiji fires haymakers but Jake kicks low! Jake lifts Taiji with both hands! But then Jake drops Taiji to let him sputter on the mat. Cocky cover, TWO! Jake drags Taiji up, KNEES him low, then whips him to ropes. Taiji handsprings and NEURALIZER KICKS! The fans fire up while both men are down! Taiji crawls, reaches out, and hot tags Yota! The fans fire up as Yota dodges Jake, kicks low, and reels him in. But Jake suplexes first! Yota slips free to shove Jake, then GENE TRIGGER! Akira runs up, but into a scoop and BACKBREAKER! Then Yota sends Akira into Callum, LARIAT DDT COMBO!

Zane kicks low, whips, but Yota pops Zane up to THROW him away! The fans cheer as Zane then ROCKS Jake and knocks him off the apron! Yota then builds speed to DIVE! Down goes Jake and the fans fire up again! Yota drags Jake up, puts him in the ring, and slingshots in, mostly showing off. The fans rally as Yota goes corner to corner for the STINGER SPLASH! Yota reels Jake in, but Jake suplexes again! Both men are down as the fans rally up, and Jake wrenches Yota to whip him into a corner. Yota staggers forward, into a BEARHUG! BELLY2BELLY! Cover, TWO! Yota survives but Jake powers up the hand!

Jake waits on Yota, Yota slowly rises, and Jake guzels! But Yota fights the choke slam! Yota runs, but Jake goes to the corner and CLBOBERS Yota! A very evil move from Jake, then he goes for the legs! Yota fights off the Boston Crab, then catches the lariat to the BACKBREAKER! FLATLINER! But Jake dodges the stomp! Jake back suplexes, but Yota lands out! Yota waistlocks, Jake switches, GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans rally as Jake aims, FACE BREAK- SUPERKICK! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Yota and Jake crawl, Takagi and Callum call each other out from the corners! Hot tags to Callum and Takagi!

The fans fire up as Takagi dodges, Callum blocks, then Callum whips. Takagi reverses, Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges, Takagi bypasses Callum by one, but Callum still BOOTS Takagi! Takagi rebounds to RUN Callum over, then scoop SLAM and SENTON! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Takagi fires up, but Callum BOOTS Takagi before he can even start the catchphrase! Callum scuffs Takagi, eggs him on, then SPITS on him! Takagi eggs Callum on now so Callum fires more kicks. Callum KNEES Takagi again and again, but Takagi headbutts buckles! The fans fire up with the Dragon, but Callum SOBATS him down!

Callum smirks as Takagi sputters, then Callum pump handles?! MADE IN- NO, Takagi arm-drags free! Takagi then ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON- NO, Callum trips Takagi! Takagi dodge Excalibur to waistlock, but Callum ELBOWS free! Callum runs up, but into another ELBOW! Takagi reels Callum in, TORNADO DDT! Callum almost flips through, but he flops back down! The fans rally now as Takagi and Callum stir, and hot tag to Robbie! Robbie NO HAND HANDSPRINGS Zane & Akira down! Robbie fires off on Callum, then winds up, but Callum KNEES low! Callum whips, Robbie handsprings, dodges, and DROPKICKS!

Robbie handsprings again and the fans fire up! Robbie runs up in the corner but Callum dodges. Callum comes back, blocks a kick, but Robbie reels Callum in for an UPPERCUT! Robbie then goes up and out to springboard back in, MISSILE DROPKICK! High stack cover, TWO! Callum survives but the fans rally behind Robbie. Robbie drags Callum up, Taiji joins in, and they double whip. Callum grabs ropes, then ELBOWS Robbie! Taiji dodges, tilt-o-whirls, but Callum stops the DDT! Callum suplexes, but into STUN-DOG MILLIONAIRE! DREAMCAST KICK from Robbie! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up again as Robbie builds energy.

Robbie runs, handsprings, but Callum stops the cutter! Feed to Zane’s DROPKICK! Taiji kicks Zane, whips him to a corner, then runs up, but is put on the apron. Taiji RAMS Zane, springboards in, SEATED SENTON! Akira victory rolls for STOMP 182! Yota RUNS Akira over, Jake KNEES Yota down! Takagi gets Jake’s leg for a DRAGON SCREW! Takagi winds up and runs up on Callum. Callum BOOTS, ENZIGIRIS, then SUPER- NO, Takagi ducks it! Callum ROCKS Takagi with an elbow! Callum runs, but Takagi follows to LARIAT at the ropes! Takagi keeps going, PUMPING BOMBER collides with KISS THE CROWN! The fans fire up as Takagi stays on his feet!

Takagi brings Callum up for boxing elbows! Takagi then winds up, but Callum ROCKS, ROLLING ELBOWS, and- JAB! YUKON LARIAT! The fans fire up as Robbie then STANDING SHOOTING STARS! Cover, TWO! Robbie goes up, up, and X EX- NO, Callum dodges! But Robbie TIGER WALL KICKS! Matrix PELE! The fans fire up for Robbie as he handsprings, but the ref is used as a shield! KISS THE CROWN!! Callum then pump handles for MADE IN JAPAN!!! Cover, Empire wins!

Winners: Callum Newman, Jake Lee, Francesco Akira & Zane Jay, by pinfall

Message sent that anything Takagi can do, Callum can do, too! Callum then keeps mocking Takagi by sitting with the belt cross-legged, hands in prayer, then even gets in Takagi’s face with it. Takagi KNEES Callum then fires off forearms! Takagi hooks Callum up, but Callum wrenches out to HEEL KICK and springboard! OCSCUTTER 2.0!! Callum not only wins the match but he takes Takagi down! Will this be the same on May 4th for Wrestling Dontaku? Or will The Prince fail to slay the Rampaging Dragon when it is 1v1?

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Lumberjack Match: DOUKI VS Tiger Mask!

Japones Del Mal has been cheating and cheating and cheating and cheating ever since he got this title, and everyone’s head enough of it! But can the living legend of Junior Heavyweight wrestling serve justice one last time? Or will gambling against the House of Torture come back to bite him?

Representing Hontai as lumberjacks, we have Shota Umino, Toru Yano, Master Wato, Boltin Oleg, Aaron Wolf, and even special guest, Mistico. Considering Douki has everyone in the House of Torture ringside, it’s actually considerate that Sho joins commentary for the time being. He’s probably doing it just to annoy Yoh, who has been on commentary most of the night. President Hiroshi Tanahashi is here for the formal introductions, and to raise the belt. Win, lose or draw, we witness a historic chapter in a storied career!

The bell rings and naturally, all the fans cheer “TA-I-GA! TA-I-GA!” Douki brushes that off as he circles with Tiger, but then backs away to the ropes. The fans boo and Tiger protests, but Douki steps back inside. Douki and Tiger circle, feel things out, and Tiger SLAPS Douki! Douki runs up and goes for the mask! Red Shoes reprimands but the two go around the ropes. Douki CHOKES Tiger, stops as Red Shoes reprimands, then kicks low. Douki whips, Tiger reverses, but Douki slides out. Douki taunts Tiger, but forgets he’s on the Hontai side of the ring! Shota & Yano throw Douki back in! Douki shouts at them but Tiger waistlocks!

Douki SLAMS Tiger, flips him over, but Tiger kips up to arm-drag! Douki tumbles out and he spots Hontai creeping up already! Douki gets to the apron and tells them to back off! Tiger storms up and has a SLEEPER on the ropes! Tiger drags Douki into the ring like that, then sits him down. The fans cheer Tiger as he wraps the body scissors on, but Douki scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes counts but Tiger lets go quickly. Tiger stomps Douki around, KICKS him at the ropes, then ROCKS him with a right hand. Tiger DECKS Douki, stalks him along the ropes, then ROCKS him again. Douki CLAWS Tiger’s eyes!

The fans boo and Red Shoes reprimands, but Douki runs, into a SOBAT! Douki bails out to the House’s side, and they shield him from the Hontai lumberjacks. Sho and Yoh even argue on commentary, but Yoshinobu Kanemaru drags Tiger out of the ring, right behind Red Shoes’ back! The fans boo as Kanemaru stomps away on Tiger, but Douki keeps Red Shoes distracted until Kanemaru puts Tiger back in. Douki drags Tiger up, TOSSES him back out, and then distracts Red Shoes so that the House can beat Tiger up! The blue buckle pad is even removed! Hontai rushes The House, they all brawl, and Tiger is saved.

Tiger drags himself up, but Douki drags him back into the ring. Douki whips Tiger into the bare buckles! Tiger slumps down in the corner, but Douki snapmares him. Douki vows to take the mask! The fans boo, Red Shoes reprimands, so Douki stops. Douki argues with Red Shoes, then drags Tiger up. Douki hoists Tiger to the top rope, then climbs up, to go after the mask! The fans boo again and Red Shoes reprimands, but Douki has loosened the strings! Red Shoes counts, Douki stops at 4, and Douki brings Tiger down from the corner. Tiger fires body shots and knees, but Douki knees low! Douki TOSSES Tiger back out!

The House swarms Tiger, and Ren JAMS Tiger with a chair! Kanemaru puts Tiger in, Douki covers, TWO! Tiger survives and the fans cheer, but Douki drags Tiger into a CAMEL CLUTCH! The fans rally as Tiger endures. Douki fishhooks Tiger but stops as Red Shoes reprimands. Tiger powers up as the fans cheer him on, and he pries an arm free! Tiger pushes his way around to the ROPEBREAK! Douki holds until Red Shoes counts 4, then takes his time bringing Tiger around. Douki slaps Tiger but Tiger fires body shots! Douki HELL STABS! Tiger goes to ropes. Douki runs up, but Tiger DUMPS him onto the House!

The fans cheer as Tiger gets some payback, and he builds speed to DIVE! Down goes The House again! The fans fire up as Tiger slowly rises back up. Tiger rolls inside, but where is Douki? He tries to run away, but Oleg & Wolf carry him back from the ramp! They throw him inside for Tiger to rain down fists! The fans cheer the ground ‘n’ pound, then the ARMBAR! Douki scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Tiger lets go, then SLAPS Douki! And SLAPS, SLAPS, SLAPS! Tiger whips, scoops, and BACKBREAKERS! Cover, TWO! Douki toughs it out but Tiger waits for him to sit up. Tiger then KICKS, and KICKS, but Douki blocks one!

Douki CLUBS the leg, but then Tiger catches his lariat, only for Douki to wrench through! Douki SHOVES Tiger into Red Shoes! Down goes Red Shoes, and Douki KNEES Tiger against the ropes! The House rushes the ring, and they BLAST Hontai before they can do anything! The fans boo but Dick Togo ELBOWS Tiger, followed by ELBOW, LARIAT, LARIAT, ELBOW, and Don Fale’s SPLASH! Don shoves Tiger down, Dick goes up, and they set Tiger up for the DICK CHOP! The fans boo but The House gets away with the whole bag of tricks! Cover, TWO!! Tiger survives and the fans cheer! Douki is annoyed, but he drags Tiger to the drop zone.

Douki goes to the corner and climbs up. But Tiger trips Douki up! Tiger then SMACKS Douki, climbs up, and goes to the very top! The fans cheer as Tiger underhooks, SUPER BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! The fans fire up while Douki writhes and flounders! Tiger catches his breath while the fans rally up again. Hontai coaches Tiger, the House coaches Douki, and both men go to corners. Tiger rises first, and he runs up on Douki, but Douku uses Red Shoes as a shield! The ROUNDHOUSE hits Red Shoes! Then Ren Narita gets in and beats up on Tiger! Oleg & Wolf rush in, they scrap with Ren and Fale, but Ren CLAWS Oleg’s eyes while Fale BODY BLOWS Wolf!

Fale & Ren whip the big men at each other, but Oleg & Wolf reverse! Fale RUNS Ren over, and then Wolf & Oleg DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE Fale down! The rest of the House rushes in, but so does the rest of Hontai! This time, Hontai clears The House, and the fans fire up as Msitico lines up a shot! SUPER CROSSBODY and down goes The House! But Red Shoes is in no shape, Young Lions carry him away. Tiger goes after Douki with the ROUNDHOUSE, then underhooks! TIGER DRIVER!! But no ref to count!! Marty hurries in, counts, TWO!! Douki survives because of the delay! The fans rally for Tiger as he rises up again.

Tiger drags Douki up and clamps on the chicken wing. CROSSFACE CHICKEN WING! But Dick SHOVES Wato into the ring to distract Marty! And that lets Yujiro PIMP CANE Tiger in the head!! Douki is saved again, and he drags Tiger into the ITALIAN STRETCH #32!! Tiger endures while the fans rally up, and Tiger fights his way over! ROPEBREAK!! The fans cheer as Tiger survives again! Marty counts and Douki lets go in frustration. The fans rally as hard as they can for “TA-I-GA! TA-I-GA!” Douki goes to the apron, lines up the shot, and slingshots, only for Tiger to dodge! Crucifix takedown, TWO! DISARMER!!

Douki endures as Tiger pulls on the mounted armbar! Douki kicks and flails, but Tiger shifts things around to the CHICKEN WING CROSSFACE!! Douki endures again, but The House gest on the apron! Hontai trips them all up, and Tanahashi says enough is enough! Take them away! Hontai drags The House from ringside under President’s orders! But Sho CLOBBERS Yoh on commentary! The lumberjack in the hole distracts the ref, right as Douki taps!! Tiger would’ve won! Tiger SMACKS Sho down! But Douki LOW- NO!! Tiger blocks the low blow to gut wrench and TOMBSTONE!!! Tiger isn’t done there, though!

Tiger chicken wings Douki, but Sho YANKS the ref out! TIGER SUPLEX!! Bridging cover, and SHO counts the pin, just to taunt Tiger with a blatant TWO! Tiger is furious but Sho kicks and CLUBS away on Tiger! The fans boo, but Sho reels Tiger in! Sho tucks the arms, but Yoh SUPERKICKS Sho! Sho tumbles out but Yoh PLANCHAS him down! And Yoh gets Marty back in the ring! The fans are thunderous as Tiger drags Douki back up, to BUZZSAW! Douki sputters but Tiger sits him up for another BUZZSAW! Tiger vows this is it, and he brings Douki back up. Chicken wings and- DOUKI BOOTS MARTY! LOW BLOW!!

Douki drags Tiger down for ITALIAN STRETCH #32!! Tiger endures but Douki puts on a lot of pressure! The fans rally even harder as Tiger rises again! Tiger fights his way over to the ROPEBREAK!! Douki is furious, but he still lets go at 4! Douki argues with the ref, but all to distract as Sho SMACKS Tiger with the “Black Mirror!” LOW BLOW on Yoh, then a SMACK with the mirror!! The fans boo as Murder Machine continues to tip the scales! ITALIAN STRETCH #32!!! Tiger endures, but he is OUT! DOUKI WINS!!

Winner: Douki, by submission (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)

Tiger Mask let Douki have all his House members ringside, and that ultimately cost him! Tiger will never again be Junior Heavyweight Champion, will this loss be a stain on his legendary legacy?

As for Douki, he found another way to survive by the skin of his teeth. And once again, Tanahashi has to reluctantly hand this title over to the winner, despite all the injustice he witnessed with his own eyes. Douki gloats as he wears the belt, then takes the mic to say, “Tiger Mask… This is the power of GOD!” Douki laughs but the fans boo. “Hey, you guys are so annoying with this booing!” The fans only boo more, but Douki says from Desperado to Wato to Yoh, and now Tiger Mask, Douki’s had one hell of a year as champion! There’s not a single Junior Heavyweight who can beat him! The fans boo, knowing those were never truly 1v1.

Douki continues by saying he’s already shown that he is THE strongest Junior Heavyweight wrestler, so why should he, of all people, need to participate in Best of the Super Juniors to prove that he IS the best? Yes, that’s right! He doesn’t know who entered him without his permission, but Douki is NOT competing in BOSJ! Seriously? Douki says they can all decide who will be his next challenger. And do you know why? Not that you idiots would understand! But it’s because Douki is the GOD OF JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT WRESTLING! Douki drops the mic as he apparently drops out of the tournament. But will he regret not having a hand in his own fate?

My Thoughts:

A great Hizen no Kuni as part of the overall Road to Dontaku series. Apparently, they won’t be broadcasting the last two dates so no Road to Dontaku at all for my coverage this year. But even so, great stuff going into that Wrestling Dontaku two day event. With United Empire winning their Six Man Tag over Bishamon, feels like Khan & Henare should get their chance at the tag titles next, but I guess we’ll see. Great 8 Man Tag of Unbound Company VS United Empire. Sadly, with Gabe Kidd out, he can’t finish his feud with Yota Tsuji. Seems Andrade El Idolo gets a second chance from his loss at New Beginnings USA. I don’t think Yota is losing, though, he was likely meant to win against Gabe anyway so that NJPW could have something over AEW.

As for Callum, he stands tall both by taking the win and knocking Takagi down, and go-home math would say the challenger wins now. But I can’t recall how often NJPW follows such a formula, so maybe Callum still wins out at Dontaku. To be fair, Takagi felt like he was being put forward as a solid first defense for Callum’s reign as it was, so this was perhaps always meant to be. Plus, the G1 Climax is a little earlier this year, being more late Spring since it starts in May, and that’ll do a lot towards determining the challenger for perhaps Dominion or beyond.

Douki VS Tiger Mask was great, especially for a lumberjack match. Those automatically call for overbooking and shenanigans, so of course the House helped Douki survive. Douki saying he’s NOT in the BOSJ is rather surprising, but I suppose it works in character that he sees himself above all of that. At the very least, there’s no “golden tickets” owed if someone gets a win off him, which they might not anyway since House of Torture would just cheat every round. In fact, it cuts down on how much the House is gonna cheat since it’ll just be Sho and Kanemaru. That said, the door is wide open to who can win BOSJ now, for quite a lot of intrigue going into the next title match.

My Score: 8.8/10