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Post by DTP. on Mar 23, 2016 12:45:01 GMT -5
| WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER April 20, 2015 by Dave Meltzer |
Wrestling Hinokuni will be the next big show on New Japan World, emanating from Kumamoto on 4/29. The show has Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto vs A.J. Styles & Yujiro Takahashi for the IWGP Tag Team Championship, Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo & Kazushi Sakuraba vs Tetsuya Naito & Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma & Daisuke Sekimoto in Sekimoto's first match, Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano & Yoshi-Hashi vs Karl Anderson & Tama Tonga & Bad Luck Fale, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi vs Kenny Omega & Doc Gallows, Nick & Matt Jackson vs Jushin Liger & Mascara Dorada, Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs Satoshi Kojima for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, Tiger Mask vs Steve Anthony for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship, Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish & Yuji Nagata vs Michael Bennett & Matt Taven & Manabu Nakanishi
Wrestling Dontaku is on 5/3 from Fukuoka, available on the New Japan World network. The show has Shinsuke Nakamura vs Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, Tomohiro Ishii vs Daisuke Sekimoto for the NEVER Openweight Championship, Karl Anderson vs Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi & Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma vs A.J. Styles & Doc Gallows & Yujiro Takahashi & Cody Hall, Kenny Omega vs Ryusuke Taguchi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, the winners of the Wrestling Hinokuni main event vs Matt Taven & Michael Bennett for the IWGP Tag Team Championship, Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga vs Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba, Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish vs Barreta & Rocky Romero vs Nick & Matt Jackson for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, Yoshi-Hashi vs Yohei Komatsu, and Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi & Tiger Mask & Sho Tanaka vs Jushin Liger & Mascara Dorada & Jay White & Kushida (his first match since March)
The cards for Ring of Honor and New Japan's joint tour in Canada and the United States from 5/13 to 5/19 should be released sometime next week. The cards have been finalized and both promotions are content with the decisions made. Gedo has only booked two matches, which one would assume will link to further matches later on, probably over in Japan.
Kota Ibushi, ReDRagon and the Kingdom join the road to Wrestling Dontaku tour on 4/25. They aren't here already because of DDT (Ibushi) and ROH (the tags) commitments. RPG Vice started on the tour on 4/19 due to similar independent commitments over in the States.
The reason why there hasn't been much turnaround in Pro Wrestling NOAH since the Suzuki-gun invasion angle is due to loyal NOAH fans not liking the current angle. Fans are figuring out that the old NOAH is dead, and that the new NOAH is New Japan's 'SmackDown' brand. So there are new fans, but a lot of fans have tuned out.
3/26 in Nagano drew 1,400. 3/28 in Fujisan sold out drawing 1,500, 4/17 in Korakuen Hall sold out at 1,910. Kofu also drew out at 1,100 on 4/19.
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Post by DTP. on Mar 23, 2016 14:19:07 GMT -5
| NJPW ROAD TO WRESTLING DONTAKU '15
Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - Osaka Central Gymnasium #2 - Osaka, Osaka Wednesday, April 22, 2015 - Kunibiki Messe Shimane - Biki, Shimane Friday, April 24, 2015 - Kirin Beverage Sports Center - Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi |
Day 3 - Osaka Central Gymnasium - Osaka, Japan (April 21)
1. Tama Tonga def. Sho Tanaka in 7:32 after the Veleno.
2. Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero & Barreta) def. Jay White & Yohei Komatsu in 7:09 after the Strong Zero springboard spike cradle back-to-belly piledriver.
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Tiger Mask def. Satoshi Kojima & Steve Anthony in 8:15 after the Anaconda Vise MAX by Tenzan to Kojima.
4. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi def. BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale, Kenny Omega & Cody Hall) in 8:31 after the Dodon by Taguchi on Hall. Taguchi tried to get Omega in the ankle lock after the match, but Omega ran away.
5. Meiyu Tag (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto) & Héroes Voladores (Jushin Thunder Liger & Máscara Dorada) def. BULLET CLUB (A.J. Styles, Yujiro Takahashi, Nick & Matt Jackson) in 13:20 after the Penalty Kick by Shibata to Matt Jackson.
6. Gallows and Gun (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) def. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI) in 11:29 after the Gun Stun by Anderson on YOSHI-HASHI. Gallows and Gun laid Okada out with the Magic Killer after the match.
7. Tetsuya Naito, Yuji Nagata & G.B.H. (Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe) def. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Tomohiro Ishii, Kazushi Sakuraba & Toru Yano) in 11:01 after the Stardust Press by Naito on Nakamura. During the match, Nagata and Sakuraba got into an exchange with shooting style moves. Daisuke Sekimoto got in Tomohiro Ishii's face after the match before the two were pulled away by G.B.H. and CHAOS members.
Day 4 - Kunibiki Messe Shimane - Shimane, Japan (April 22)
1. Yohei Komatsu vs Jay White in 10:00 went to a time limit draw.
2. Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima def. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Sho Tanaka in 7:18 after the Nagata Lock on Tanaka. TenCozy brawled with one another after the match.
3. Héroes Voladores (Jushin Thunder Liger & Máscara Dorada) & Steve Anthony def. Tiger Mask, Captain New Japan & Manabu Nakanishi in 7:12 after the Dorada Screwdriver on Tiger Mask. The win by Máscara Dorada puts him in contention for a future NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship match.
4. BULLET CLUB (Tama Tonga & Bad Luck Fale) def. CHAOS (Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba) in 8:23 after the Veleno by Tonga on Yano.
5. BULLET CLUB (A.J. Styles, Yujiro Takahashi, Kenny Omega & Cody Hall) def. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Meiyu Tag (Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata) & Ryusuke Taguchi in 13:28 after the Calf Killer by Styles on Goto. The Bullet Club assaulted the losers after the match, Styles holding the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Tag Team Championships high.
6. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Gedo, Barreta & Rocky Romero) def. BULLET CLUB (Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, Nick & Matt Jackson) in 14:42 after the D.I.D. by Okada on Matt Jackson.
7. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI) def. G.B.H. (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) & Tetsuya Naito in 14:20 after the Ishii Driller to Makabe. Nakamura wanted to shake hands with Naito after the match, but Naito blew him off.
Day 5 - Shunan Kirin Beverage Sports Center - Yamaguchi, Japan (April 24)
1. KUSHIDA def. Jay White in 8:14 after the Hoverboard Lock.
2. BULLET CLUB (Kenny Omega & Cody Hall) def. Ryusuke Taguchi & Sho Tanaka in 9:10 after the One Winged Angel by Omega on Tanaka.
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi & Steve Anthony def. Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask in 10:10 after the 450 splash by Anthony on Tiger Mask.
4. Tetsuya Naito & Héroes Voladores (Jushin Thunder Liger & Máscara Dorada) def. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Rocky Romero & Barreta) in 13:20 after the Stardust Press by Naito on Nakamura.
5. CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo) def. G.B.H. (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) in 11:26 after the sliding lariat by Ishii to Honma.
6. BULLET CLUB (A.J. Styles, Yujiro Takahashi, Nick & Matt Jackson) def. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Meiyu Tag (Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata) & Captain New Japan in 15:31 after More Bang For Your Buck on Captain New Japan.
7. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba) def. BULLET CLUB (Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, Tama Tonga & Bad Luck Fale) in 18:22 after the Heavy Rain by Okada to Tonga.
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Post by DTP. on Mar 24, 2016 12:46:30 GMT -5
| NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING - PRESS CONFERENCE NOTES
Monday, April 25, 2015 - Official Wrestling Dontaku 2015 Press Conference |
The official press conference for Wrestling Dontaku took place today, attended by all of the top sports press in Japan as the stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling gathered for the conference in Ehime, Japan prior to the Road to Wrestling Dontaku show tonight. Shinsuke Nakamura was the highlight of the show, as the IWGP Intercontinental Champion was once again as charismatic as usual in talking to top contender Tetsuya Naito discussing how Naito has won some battles, but lost the big ones, where it relates to the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the New Japan Cup. Shinsuke told Tetsuya that he doesn't want his respect, because he knows deep inside that Naito is merely insecure about his position in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Naito responded with hostility, spitting in the face of Nakamura, which stunned the spectators of the general public.
Also at the press conference was an interesting speech delivered by Hiroshi Tanahashi, who discussed the challenge made by A.J. Styles back at Invasion Attack. Tanahashi once again commented saying that he is not associated with Kazuchika Okada, as insinuated by the Bullet Club repeatedly since April 5. Tanahashi told A.J. that he has been a worthy rival for the past ten years, but that it would soon stop because he is the Ace of New Japan, and that wouldn't change - not even if Styles brought his whole coalition of Bullet Club members with him to the eventual title matches. In his own words, A.J. Styles told Hiroshi to be ready, because when he lost the title to Tanahashi at King of Pro Wrestling back in October 2014, he was not as good as he is right now. Styles called himself a man of renaissance, and that as the man of renaissance, he also wants to bring change to the organization - that change being the Bullet Club.
Kazuchika Okada stated similarly that he is a part of CHAOS, and his main rival has been Hiroshi Tanahashi - so any idea of them being associated is obsolete and untrue. Okada blamed this rumor on his intent to get revenge on Karl Anderson, his opponent for Wrestling Dontaku, where he plans to bring down the Biz Cliz group. Okada told Anderson that he has not forgotten the lengths he went to in order to eliminate Okada, and joked with the press about how it took three Bullet Club members to eliminate him from the New Japan Cup semi-finals in March. Gedo stressed enough that Okada's goal of being the Ace of the New Era has been put on hold while he deals with this - stating his long-term goal is to beat Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in the Tokyo Dome. But for now? His intentions were to bring down the Bullet Club invaders. When asked for comments, Karl Anderson declined to comment, saying that the media didn't deserve to hear his comments, and that he would save his actions for May 3.
For the first time since he was attacked by his challenger, NEVER Openweight Champion Tomohiro Ishii took to the conference in stating that Daisuke Sekimoto is an animal he has seen before and he has battled before. He told Sekimoto to set his sights on his title all he wants, but he would have to destroy the "Stone Pitbull" before he took his championship. Interestingly, Kota Ibushi stepped in, proposing to Ishii that perhaps after his battle with Sekimoto has taken place, that he step in and take a shot against Ishii for himself. Ishii laughed it off, calling Ibushi a junior heavyweight for life, and despite the fact that the title is called 'Openweight' - this is the championship for big boys and big boys only.
The top contender and former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Ryusuke Taguchi confidently claimed that he has been denied a shot at the gold he lost on January 4 since Kenny Omega won the title, and claimed that despite Omega's efforts to call him 'not good enough' - ironically here he is and he wants to stand up for New Japan in battling the Bullet Club. Taguchi said on a serious note that although he is the "Funky Weapon" and he has the biggest butt that won't quit in New Japan, he is also the "Master of Dropkicks" and that when Omega gets in the ring with him this time around, he won't be so lucky. "The Cleaner" responded, when talking with Nick and Matt Jackson of the Young Bucks; Kenny Omega declaring decisive victory over the laughable contention of Taguchi, calling him "Japanese garbage". The Young Bucks repeatedly called Taguchi "Eddie Guerrero" and claimed he was going down - as is the members of Roppongi Vice and ReDRagon when they win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships for a second time. This caused a stir with the Bucks and Omega surrounded by Rocky Romero and Barreta, Ryusuke Taguchi, Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish, and Héroes Voladores (whom Young Bucks meet at Wrestling HINOKUNI in an Invasion Attack rematch), Máscara Dorada and Jushin Thunder Liger.
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Post by DTP. on Mar 24, 2016 13:08:59 GMT -5
| NJPW ROAD TO WRESTLING DONTAKU '15
Saturday, April 25, 2015 - Matsuyama City Community Center - Matsuyama, Ehime
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Day 5 - Matsuyama City Community Center - Ehime, Japan (April 25)
1. BULLET CLUB (Doc Gallows & Cody Hall) def. Jay White & Sho Tanaka in 7:11 after the Hangman's Noose by Gallows on Tanaka.
2. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Manabu Nakanishi def. Satoshi Kojima & Yohei Komatsu in 7:29 after the Argentine Backbreaker by Nakanishi on Komatsu.
3. The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Michael Bennett) w/Maria Kanellis & Steve Anthony def. Meiyu Tag (Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata) & Tiger Mask in 8:35 after the 450 splash by Anthony on Tiger Mask.
4. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano) def. BULLET CLUB (Karl Anderson & Bad Luck Fale) in 9:39 after the Deep in Debt by Okada on Anderson.
5. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan, Héroes Voladores (Jushin Thunder Liger & Máscara Dorada) & Ryusuke Taguchi def. BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale, Kenny Omega & Cody Hall) in 8:31 after the Dodon by Taguchi on Hall. Taguchi tried to get Omega in the ankle lock after the match, but Omega ran away.
6. BULLET CLUB (A.J. Styles, Yujiro Takahashi, Nick Jackson, Matt Jackson & Kenny Omega) def. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan, Héroes Voladores (Máscara Dorada & Jushin Thunder Liger) & Ryusuke Taguchi in 10:14 after the Incolle Slam by Takahashi on Captain New Japan.
7. G.B.H. (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) & Kota Ibushi def. CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii, Gedo & YOSHI-HASHI) in 12:39 after the Stardust Press by Ibushi on Gedo. Daisuke Sekimoto challenged Tomohiro Ishii but Ishii was restrained by CHAOS members.
8. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazushi Sakuraba, Rocky Romero & Barreta) def. Tetsuya Naito, ReDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) & Yuji Nagata in 17:23 after the Strong Zero by Roppongi Vice on Bobby Fish.
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Post by DTP. on Mar 26, 2016 10:21:09 GMT -5
| WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER April 27, 2015 by Dave Meltzer |
One can expect for the Hiroshi Tanahashi vs A.J. Styles IWGP Heavyweight Championship match to be signed officially for Dominion on 7/5. It's unique in the sense that they have hinted the match as soon as early April for a feud that has already been going on for over a year, with under three months to wait for the match itself. But it's a necessity, given that after Wrestling Dontaku comes the U.S./Canadian tour with ROH, the Best of the Super Juniors tournament in late May, and Dominion being the next big show succeeding that.
Every show on the current tour is said to be sold out, although they are running smaller buildings. That said, the big show on 5/3 Wrestling Dontaku, held in Fukuoka International Center (which holds 7,000) is said to be below expectations. Another thing to note is that they are running Fukuoka as this newsletter goes into press time (4/27), a week before the Dontaku show. So they are running a smaller building now which is expected to sell out, whilst the big show next week is yet to, and maybe won't.
Owner Takaaki Kidani announced this week that his goal is for New Japan World to have 200,000 subscribers by 2018. He also announced that the streaming service will begin supporting English language, given that 15% of current subscribers come from outside of Japan in England, the United States and Canada. He also noted that he wanted to start paying New Japan's top stars 100 million yen per year ($830,000), although most don't take a figure like that seriously. Interestingly, he also noted that several talent under contract are interesting in leaving for the WWE when their contracts expired, but refused to announce who and when.
With the Best of the Super Juniors tournament beginning on 5/22, one would suspect that the participants will be announced shortly after Wrestling Dontaku.
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Post by DTP. on Mar 26, 2016 10:59:14 GMT -5
| NJPW ROAD TO WRESTLING DONTAKU '15
Monday, April 27, 2015 - Hataka Starline - Hataka-ku, Fukuoka Tuesday, April 28, 2015 - Aira Municipal Athletic Park Gymnasium - Aira, Kagoshima |
Day 6 - Hataka Starline - Fukuoka, Japan (April 27)
1. Cody Hall def. Jay White in 6:29 after the Outsider's Edge
2. ReDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) & Sho Tanaka def. Héroes Voladores (Jushin Thunder Liger & Máscara Dorada) & Yohei Komatsu in 10:10 after the Fish Hook Deluxe Edition by Fish on Komatsu.
3. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask def. Satoshi Kojima, Captain New Japan & Steve Anthony in 8:20 after the Millenium Suplex by Tiger Mask on Anthony.
4. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kota Ibushi def. BULLET CLUB (Doc Gallows & Tama Tonga) in 8:58 after the Golden Star Press by Ibushi on Tonga.
5. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Rocky Romero, Barreta & Toru Yano) def. BULLET CLUB (Karl Anderson, Bad Luck Fale, Nick & Matt Jackson) in 15:11 after the Strong Zero by Roppongi Vice on Nick Jackson.
6. BULLET CLUB (A.J. Styles, Yujiro Takahashi & Kenny Omega) def. Meiyu Tag (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto) & Ryusuke Taguchi in 13:23 after the Styles Clash by Styles on Goto. The Bullet Club attacked Meiyu Tag after the match.
7. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Tomohiro Ishii, YOSHI-HASHI, Kazushi Sakuraba & Gedo) def. Tetsuya Naito, The Kingdom (Michael Bennett & Matt Taven) & G.B.H. (Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe) in 19:28 after the brainbuster by Ishii on Honma. A brawl broke out afterwards with Nakamura and Naito going at it, and Ishii getting into it with Makabe.
Day 7 - Aira Municipal Athletic Park Gymnasium - Kagoshima, Japan (April 28)
1. Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero & Barreta) def. Yohei Komatsu & Sho Tanaka in 8:10 after the Gargoyle Knee Drop by Romero on Tanaka.
2. Satoshi Kojima, KUSHIDA & Manabu Nakanishi def. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Héroes Voladores (Máscara Dorada & Jushin Thunder Liger) in 9:29 after the Hoverboard Lock by KUSHIDA on Dorada.
3. Ryusuke Taguchi & Jay White def. BULLET CLUB (Kenny Omega & Cody Hall) in 9:22 after the sliding hip attack by Taguchi on Hall.
4. The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Michael Bennett) & Steve Anthony def. Yuji Nagata, Tiger Mask & Captain New Japan in 9:10 after the Hail Mary by the Kingdom on Captain New Japan.
5. BULLET CLUB (Karl Anderson, Bad Luck Fale & Doc Gallows) def. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI) in 11:44 after the Gun Stun by Anderson on YOSHI-HASHI.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Meiyu Tag (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto) & ReDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) def. BULLET CLUB (A.J. Styles, Yujiro Takahashi, Tama Tonga, Nick & Matt Jackson)in 16:22 after the Penalty Kick by Shibata to Takahashi.
7. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Tomohiro Ishii, Kazushi Sakuraba & Gedo) def. Tetsuya Naito, Kota Ibushi & G.B.H. (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) in 12:29 after the Boma-Ye by Nakamura to Honma.
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Post by DTP. on Mar 31, 2016 21:25:32 GMT -5
| NJPW Wrestling HINOKUNI 2015Wednesday, April 29, 2015 - Grandmesse Kumamoto - Kumamoto, Kumamoto |
The opening video package aired, presenting us with New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2015. A video package followed, looking over several key rivalries ongoing in New Japan today. With A.J. Styles having challenged Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship back at Invasion Attack, the match is on but its date is unofficial as of yet. On the contrary, Styles has made a challenge to keep busy with in the mean time - teaming with Yujiro Takahashi to take on Meiyu Tag for the IWGP Tag Team Championships. Katsuyori Shibata and Hirooki Goto have had two successful title defenses since winning the titles on January 4 in the Tokyo Dome, all of which defeating members of the Bullet Club: Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows at the New Beginning in Osaka; and Tama Tonga and Bad Luck Fale at Invasion Attack. Now they aim to beat two more members of the infamous Biz Cliz faction.
Tonight is also about the official in-ring debut of Daisuke Sekimoto - the newest member of a revitalizing Great Bash Heel - tonight he aims to take down Tomohiro Ishii before their Wrestling Dontaku match in eight-man tag action teaming with Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma and Tetsuya Naito - who faces Shinsuke Nakamura on May 3 at Wrestling Dontaku for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship - taking on Ishii, Nakamura, Gedo and Kazushi Sakuraba. Not to mention, an Invasion Attack rematch between the Young Bucks and Héroes Voladores, and two NWA championships on the line. Hi no Kuni Festival will never be the same!
Kimihiko Ozaki stood in the centre of the ring, setting up the card for tonight's events:
- Roppongi Vice (Barreta & Rocky Romero) vs Sho Tanaka & Jay White
- Yohei Komatsu vs Cody Hall
- The Kingdom (Michael Bennett & Matt Taven) & Yuji Nagata vs ReDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) & Captain New Japan
- Tiger Mask (c) vs Steve Anthony for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship
- Hiroyoshi Tenzan (c) vs Satoshi Kojima for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
- Héroes Voladores (Jushin Thunder Liger & Máscara Dorada) vs The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson)
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi vs BULLET CLUB (Doc Gallows & Kenny Omega)
- BULLET CLUB (Karl Anderson, Tama Tonga & Bad Luck Fale) vs CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano)
- CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Tomohiro Ishii, Kazushi Sakuraba & Gedo) vs Tetsuya Naito & G.B.H. (Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Daisuke Sekimoto)
- Meiyu Tag (Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata) (c) vs BULLET CLUB (A.J. Styles & Yujiro Takahashi) for the IWGP Tag Team Championship
1. ROPPONGI VICE (Barreta & Rocky Romero) vs SHO TANAKA & JAY WHITEA way to kick off Wrestling HINOKUNI, with two of the Young Lions in the talented, youthful rookie Jay White, teaming up with Sho Tanaka to take on two of the participants in Wrestling Dontaku's three-way tag team match for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, Roppongi Vice. Rocky Romero and Barreta, two men that impressed earlier this month at Invasion Attack when they teamed with Shinsuke Nakamura to overcome Tetsuya Naito and ReDRagon, were gunning for the titles, and it showed here tonight. Barreta started off with Sho Tanaka, the American managing to take Tanaka down quick with some agile flashes of chain-wrestling expertise, locking him in a side headlock before Tanaka was able to slip out and target the leg immediately, just for Barreta to kick him away. The two got back to their feet, where Barreta ran Tanaka off the ropes; Tanaka ducking and diving under and over his opponent, then executing a dropkick! The Kumamoto crowd were warm to the Young Lions, as Tanaka attempted to send Barreta off the ropes, just to walk into a shoulder block; Barreta then leapfrogging this time, and dropkicking Sho down to the mat with one of his own! Barreta tagged in Rocky Romero, as RPG Vice, representing CHAOS, took control of Tanaka as Barreta snapmared Tanaka, allowing for Rocky to run off the ropes with a big soccer kick to the chest; Barreta following up with a standing moonsault - Romero covering, just for Tanaka to power out at two. Rocky picked Sho up and forced him into the corner, where he connected with several hard chops.
But Sho Tanaka was defiant - the two year pro responding with some forearms of his own, before dodging a kick to the abdomen from Rocky, followed by several clubs to the back, followed by a charging forearm right to the jaw of Rocky in the corner! Tanaka got the tag to Jay White, who came in and tried to continue the streak of offense with a dropkick to the newly legal Barreta, followed by one for Romero; Jay White a head of steam, executing a big dropkick to Romero in the corner before grabbing Barreta and attempted the Boston crab; Barreta however able to reverse it, nailing White with a super kick to the jaw; Barreta covering for a near fall. Sho Tanaka came in and delivered a dropkick to Barreta, then got into a brawl with Romero at ringside, whilst Jay White recovered and went up to the top rope, connecting with a big mssile dropkick! White covered, but Barreta kicked out. White got back up to his feet and was met in a stalemate with Barreta, as Barreta tried to hip toss White off the ropes, just for Jay White to reverse it into an arm drag; White with an inside cradle, but Barreta managed to kick out at two; and he followed with a high knee to the nose of White! Barreta got White on his back for the Dudebuster - and Romero came off of the top rope with a springboard dropkick - the Strong Zero connecting, and Barreta covered for the RPG Vice victory!
Winners: Roppongi Vice in 7:46 [**¾] Roppongi Vice were victorious tonight in tag team action against the two Young Lions, as Rocky Romero strutted around the ring, "Azucar" shouting into the camera that the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships were RPG Vice's titles come Wrestling Dontaku. Barreta and Romero celebrated their win to a warm reception, whilst Sho Tanaka and Jay White left with assistance from the ringside assistants.
2. YOHEI KOMATSU vs CODY HALL w/Nick & Matt Jackson This was sure to be an interesting match, with the two year pro in Yohei Komatsu going up against the Bullet Club's own Young Lion, Cody Hall. The second-generation talent, son of legendary wrestler Scott Hall, has mainly wrestled tag team matches since he joined the New Japan Dojo back in January, and only debuted in February for New Japan - which gives an experience factor to Komatsu. On the contrary, Komatsu at five-foot-six, one-hundred-and-eighty-pound, was very much the victim of a size disadvantage in contrast to the six-eight heavyweight, "Big" Cody Hall. The Young Bucks were out here to hand moral support (and presumably more), ahead of their own match later on tonight against Héroes Voladores, Jushin Liger and Máscara Dorada. Komatsu started off trying to keep Cody in a side headlock, which he managed to maintain - until, that is, Cody Hall managed to lift Komatsu off of the mat, simply shrugging his so-called colleague off. Cody then cornered Yohei, delivering a series of body punches to the abdomen of Komatsu; Komatsu trying to show some fight against the taller, heavier opponent with some forearms to the chest; but Cody simply kneed Komatsu in the gut and tossed him to the floor at ringside. Whilst the referee was distracted, reprimanding Hall's controversial tactics, some more controversial tactics, as only the Bullet Club can attribute to, were going down at ringside, as Komatsu got to his feet just for Matt to superkick Komatsu in the back of the head; Yohei falling forward into a second superkick from Nick to the jaw, taking the Young Lion down hard!
The Young Bucks rolled Komatsu's carcass back into the ring, Hall covering his opponent for a near fall, as Yohei managed to get a shoulder up somehow. Cody picked Yohei up and wrenched the arm before roping him in for several big shoulder blocks, followed up by sending him into the corner; connecting with a corner lariat stunning Komatsu! Hall proceeded to choke Komatsu, who was down in the corner, using his boot; retreating from the hold under the referee's orders, allowing enough time for the Young Bucks to connect with a stereo superkick to Komatsu from the outside! Hall tried to go for a Razor's Edge, but Komatsu managed to break free, darting off of the ropes with a bad elbow, followed by a shoulder block, before surprising Hall and the Young Bucks with a northern lights suplex to a man much heavier than him! Hall kicked out at two, which is when Komatsu tried for a single legged Boston crab; Hall managing to kick Komatsu off, before springing to his feet and connecting with a discus lariat! Hall covered, and Yohei was done, thanks to the size and number advantage!
Winner: Cody Hall in 7:12 [*¾] The Bullet Club members gathered like wolves in the ring, as the Young Bucks celebrated victory with Cody Hall; Nick and Matt Jackson then stomping away at Yohei Komatsu to many boos from the disapproving Kumamoto crowd - but Máscara Dorada and Jushin Thunder Liger then hit the ring, Héroes Voladores running off the Young Bucks and Cody Hall of the Biz Cliz, ahead of their tag match going on later tonight! The Young Bucks stood at ringside with Cody Hall, telling Héroes Voladores that things would happen much differently later tonight.
3. THE KINGDOM (Michael Bennett & Matt Taven) & YUJI NAGATA w/Maria Kanellis vs REDRAGON (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) & CAPTAIN NEW JAPANAn interesting exchange of talents in this one, as the Kingdom, Michael Bennett and Matt Taven - as always accompanied by the beautiful and luscious Maria Kanellis - from Ring of Honor, were four days away from challenging for the IWGP Tag Team Championships against either A.J. Styles and Yujiro Takahashi of the Bullet Club, or Katsuyori Shibata and Hirooki Goto, Meiyu Tag. However tonight came six-man tag team action with the Kingdom joined by former two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Yuji Nagata to take on Captain New Japan, and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions and ROH World Tag Team Champions, Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish of ReDRagon. With ReDRagon four days away from defending the IWGP Junior Tag titles against the Young Bucks and Roppongi Vice in three-way tag team action, this one was sure to be a "must win" situation for both ROH teams. Michael Bennett started off with Bobby Fish, Bennett immediately working Fish down to the mat with a hammerlock, before Fish came back with a flurry of chain-wrestling transitions; Fish enthusiastically nipping up and kicking Bennett in the thigh before taking him down with a dragon screw! Fish tagged in O'Reilly, who came in as Fish extended the leg; O'Reilly stomping on the leg further, before picking Bennett up and executing a shinbreaker; Kyle following up with a knee drop right across the limb before swiftly tagging Fish back in; as this time, ReDRagon sent Bennett into the corner; O'Reilly with a step-up knee to the jaw of Michael - Fish with running knees to the abdomen; and Fish sent Bennett wielding into a chest kick from O'Reilly! ReDRagon weren't stopping there however, as Fish delivered a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, holding Bennett across his knee - and O'Reilly nipped to the second rope, executing a big knee drop to Bennett, as his wife Maria looked on panicked by the situation! Kanellis, with the camera capturing plenty of close-ups of her rear-end, was stressed by this, which is why she ordered Matt Taven to run in and even things up, just for Fish to nail him with a simple chest kick - Yuji Nagata and Captain New Japan then coming to join in on the fight until it all came back down to Bennett and O'Reilly. Kyle attempted to go for the leg again, but Bennett was one step ahead and cut him off with a suplex! Bennett tagged in Matt Taven at last, who came in via mounting the top rope and connecting with a diving crossbody taking Kyle O'Reilly down, as the Kingdom now were on offense for the first time in this match. Taven, trying to keep a concentrated work of attack on the ultra talented Canadian, who has knowledge and experience in Jiu-jitsu, kickboxing and amateur wrestling. Taven tagged in Bennett, who joined Taven in the ring, the two sending O'Reilly off the ropes before stopping him with stereo kicks to the abdomen; kicks to the chest; an enzuigiri from Taven, and a superkick from Bennett; Michael covering for a near fall, as this time Bennett grabbed a hold of O'Reilly and tagged in "Blue Justice" himself - Yuji Nagata coming in and delivering several forearms to the head of Kyle, but Kyle responded with some of his own, the two engaging in a grappling match on the mat due to their past experience in martial-arts and combat - but Nagata ultimately got the better of Kyle: Yuji getting Kyle on his knees and stumbling the Canadian with several kicks to the chest harshly delivering - Nagata looking for a belly-to-belly suplex, just for O'Reilly to block it with a big head kick; Kyle following with a crane kick and a forearm; then looking for a combination in the form of a thigh kick, a jumping knee to the gut, a chest kick and a legsweep - but Nagata jumped the leg sweep and responded with a combination of his own - a chest kick, thigh kick, head kick and big boot, before executing the belly-to-belly suplex as O'Reilly rebounded off the ropes! Nagata tagged in Bennett, who came in and got Taven to join - the two grabbing a hold of his foot just for Kyle to get the tag to Captain New Japan! The Captain ran in, just to run right into a double clothesline from the Kingdom, as Bennett delivered a spinebuster to Captain; Taven off the second rope with a springboard moonsault for two, as ReDRagon came in to stop it. Nagata came in to join the fight, as the match dwindled down to Bennett and Captain New Japan, the action elsewhere happening at ringside. Captain New Japan found some fight in him as he back elbowed Bennett off the ropes, then executed a T-bone suplex; Captain New Japan looking for a Tongan Death Grip on Michael, but Maria got on the apron and began to dance for him, distracting and mesmerising the Captain! The Kingdom proceeded to take Captain New Japan, and nail him with the Hail Mary spike piledriver; Bennett covering for the three!
Winners: The Kingdom and Yuji Nagata in 9:24 [***]The Kingdom were victorious in six-man tag action at Wrestling HINOKUNI, as Matt Taven and Michael Bennett celebrated with Maria Kanellis; the Kingdom now en route to challenging for the IWGP Tag Team Championships - the question now being, who would walk out of Kumamoto the champions to face the Kingdom in four days time at Wrestling Dontaku? Yuji Nagata joined the celebration but remained distant and individual from the ROH talent; "Blue Justice" happy to win, but desiring more after a limiting display. Captain New Japan sat up in the ring behind Maria, gazing into her rear end almost hypnotized by it after the loss; Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish attending to him.
4. NWA WORLD JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TIGER MASK (c) vs STEVE ANTHONY w/Bruce TharpeAfter winning the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship on March 22 in Amagasaki City, Tiger Mask has been on a winning streak of sorts since defeating longtime friend and ally, Jushin Thunder Liger. However in a similar vein, the target is now on the head of Tiger Mask as NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion - as displayed when Bruce Tharpe marched down to the ring to introduce the number one contender to the title, Steve Anthony from New Orleans, Louisiana - a twelve year veteran in the sport, chiselled at a trim one-hundred-ninety pound physique, the agile newcomer to New Japan Pro Wrestling was wrestling in his singles debut tonight, a match for the title no less - with the illustrious promoter Tharpe in his corner. Anthony came to the ring dressed up as a gladiator, the headgear-wearing and trash talking challenger emerging before Tiger Mask's eyes. The two met off initially with an exchange of mat-wrestling, with Anthony taking Mask down and stretching the arms of the champion, which Tiger Mask responded with some of his own offense; headspringing to his feet and sweeping Anthony off of his feet, much to the audience's applause. Prior to the match, Tharpe antagonized the Japanese crowd by declaring the United States the "greatest country in the history of the world" - and easily said, the audience weren't exactly hospitable towards the imports. With Anthony irked, Tiger was almost tripped up by Bruce Tharpe at ringside, but Tiger kicked him away, and Anthony charged Tiger looking for a lariat; Tiger rolling out of harm's way and connecting with a sinkick to the gut before sending Anthony off the ropes, connecting with a rindhouse kick for two; Anthony still in the match. Tiger began to go up to the second rope, looking for a crossbody, however Bruce Tharpe got on the apron and distracted Tiger, trying to delay his attempt - and Steve Anthony knocked Tiger off the top rope and sent him to the floor on the outside! Down at ringside, Bruce Tharpe, taking full advantage of the referee being distracted by the challenger in the ring, then delivered multiple stomps to Tiger Mask, the shades and suit wearing Tharpe dedicated to bringing the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship home to the United States! Anthony joined Tiger on the floor, where he sent him crashing into the ringside barriers, before handing out a beating in the form of multiple mudhole stops with Tiger's head resting on the guardrails! But not wanting to get counted out, Anthony dragged Tiger back inside and covered, just for Tiger to kick out at one; Anthony knowing that he had to do more to put away the legendary champion. Steve gloated to the disapproving fans, talking trash to Tiger Mask, who he picked up and delivered a neckbreaker for the cover attempt again, this time only getting two. Anthony remained on top of Tiger, not letting the champion get up; dropping an elbow across the back of Mask's neck, and then covering again for a near fall. A fist drop connected, but that was unable to put Tiger away either, as Anthony was trying hard with these frequent pin attempts to become the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion in his first match on the New Japan roster. He picked Tiger Mask up and tried for a double hunderhook suplex, but Tiger managed to break free, looking for the Tiger Suplex just for Anthony to low blow Mask out of the referee's view; then getting the champion with a crucifix pin attempt; Tiger Mask kicking out at two, but Anthony was right there with a running neckbreaker sending Tiger crashing against the mat; Anthony's knee clashing with the back of Tiger's neck! Steve applied a leg-wrapped octopus stretch; his leg over the back of the champion's neck putting extra tort on the submission attempt, but Tiger was not willing to submit, as Anthony realized; going for another crucifix pin attempt, just for Tiger to roll onto his feet, and then nail with a soccer kick to the jaw of the kneeling challenger! The champion was back in control, as he went back to the apron, climbing the ropes just for Tharpe to pull on his foot again, but this time Tiger Mask kicked him off - Tiger Mask then running across the apron and diving off with a crossbody to Bruce Tharpe! Tharpe was down and out of the match as a distraction device to be used by Anthony, and Tiger then returned to the top rope;; this time Anthony looking to go up top with Tiger Mask - but Mask knocked him down to the mat, and came off with a diving crossbody! Tiger had the legs hooked and the shoulders down, but Steve Anthony remained resilient. Anthony nipped up and blocked a Tiger suplex attempt again; this time conecting with a torture rack slam - Anthony soon going for the top rope, looking for the 450 splash - just for Tiger Mask to move at the last second! Anthony missed the 450 splash, and Tiger Mask followed suit with the Tiger Suplex, the bridge securing victory for the champion!
Winner: Tiger Mask in 12:16 [***¼] ***STILL CHAMPION*** Tiger Mask celebrated his victory to applause from the Kumamoto crowd, the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion having successfully defended the title in his first title defense against Steve Anthony of the National Wrestling Alliance; as Bruce Tharpe, promoter of the NWA, was visibly fuming over the loss here, having failed in his mission to dethrone Tiger Mask, and bring the NWA World Junior title back to the United States.
5. NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP HIROYOSHI TENZAN (c) vs SATOSHI KOJIMAAnd now for the second of three championship matches to be held tonight at Wrestling HINOKUNI - the NWA World Heavyweight Championship throne up for grabs between the two eleven-time IWGP Tag Team Champions, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima of TenCozy. The team took a pause on teaming up after Kojima challenged for the title earlier this month, and have been on the opposing teams ever since, with Tenzan scoring a victory over Kojima, and Kojima scoring a victory over Tenzan as well. This rivalry has been reoccurring for a long time, reviving whenever the two have wanted to show and prove that they could still go. But here, it was about who wanted to be the NWA Champion more: "Mōgyū" Hiroyoshi Tenzan, or "Gōwan" Satoshi Kojima. Kojima, a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion in his own right, wanted to become a two-time champion, as he showed a lot of pride walking down to the ring for this bout. Hiroyoshi Tenzan was heavily focused on this match also - the master of the Mongolian chops coming to the ring and immediately facing off with his part-time friend, part-time rival Satoshi Kojima. The match began with both men trading blows, forearms flying everywhere as Hiroyoshi Tenzan sent Kojima off the ropes for a shoulder block, but both men wouldn't budge. Kojima then got an opportunity to execute a shoulder block, and once again no damage appeared to be done. Tenzan did one of his own again, and this time the shoulder block connected and knocked Kojima back into the ropes; Satoshi coming back with one of his hard-hitting lariats, just for Tenzan to simultaneously lariat Kojima, and both men would not move! And thus, another forearm war broke out, the crowd heated and split down the middle for this one. Kojima delivered a series of drilling forearms targeting the forehead, and in return, Tenzan went right into it with his infamous Mongolian chops, raining down on the shoulderblades and collarbones of the challenger. "Mōgyū" kicked Kojima in the gut, before clubbing away on the back of the head of his opponent, then bouncing off the ropes just to encounter Kojima, darting at him with an open-handed chop; and with that, out came the chops with Tenzan connecting with several chops, and then Kojima did with some of his own. Satoshi scoop slammed Tenzan before lining him up near the corner - Kojima darting and connecting with a corner lariat! Kojima called to the crowd before going up to the second rope, looking for an elbow drop - just for Tenzan to move out of the way! These two knew each other very well, as Hiroyoshi Tenzan returned to his feet, the NWA World Heavyweight Champion and locked in a cobra clutch; Tenzan relenting with several headbutts into the back of Satoshi's cranium; but Kojima broke free through use of one headbutt of his own. Kojima delivered a DDT and covered Tenzan for a near fall, as Hiroyoshi was just not going to let his friend get victory and his title like that. Kojima followed Tenzan to the corner, where he began to rain down with some machine gunfire chops to the heart, stunning Tenzan, before going up to the second rope and connecting with an elbow drop this time executing - and Kojima rained down with more forearms into the face of his opponent! Kojima got back up and was waiting for the Cozy Cutter, but when Tenzan got up, he responded with a surprise Mongolian chop! Kojima bounced off the rope, but Tenzan was there with a spinning wheel kick whiplashing the challenger! Tenzan sent Kojima into the corner and began to chop him repeatedly, before connecting with a corner lariat of his own; Tenzan then looking to lock in the Anaconda Vise MAX - the rare variant of the Anaconda Vise hold saved for big matches such as these. Tenzan had it locked in, but Kojima managed to somehow transition the hold into a go-behind, and the backdrop driver connected! Kojima covered, but Tenzan kicked out again! At this point "Gōwan" was wondering what it would take, which is when Tenzan pulled on his tights and clocked Kojima with a big lariat, both men going down exhausted in the heat of a hard-hitting battle in Kumamoto! Kojima and Tenzan came back up with more forearms - back to square one. Tenzan with drilling forearms, then Kojima with a series of forearms - but Kojima caught Tenzan off-guard by ducking a forearm, and the discus lariat connected, knocking Tenzan down hard! He covered, but on the brink of three, Tenzan managed to kick out! Kojima was in disbelief as the crowd remained heated - Kojima then picking Tenzan up and going for the Cozy Cutter again, but Tenzan kicked his way out, then headbutted Satoshi in the abdomen! Tenzan applied the Anaconda Vise this time, the standard variation, as Kojima began to grow tired and weary - but when Tenzan looked for the buster to bring Kojima to the mat, the challenger pulled out a flapjack sending the champion face-first! Tenzan recovered, but when he got back to his feet, Kojima caught him successfully with the Cozy Cutter! Kojima hooked the leg, and we had a new champion!
Winner: Satoshi Kojima in 14:30 [***¼] ***NEW CHAMPION*** On the night of Wrestling HINOKUNI, on April 29, 2015, the second reign as NWA World Heavyweight Champion had begun for Satoshi Kojima! "Gōwan" pulled out all of the stops against his friend, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, as Satoshi pulled himself to his feet and began to celebrate with the NWA title on his shoulder - Kojima however not going anywhere as he waited for Hiroyoshi to reach his feet - the two greeting one another after the climax of a real battle with a civil handshake - a deliverance of respect between two veterans, as TenCozy were united once more.
- FIFTEEN MINUTE INTERMISSION - With the conclusion of the previous match, Kimihiko Ozaki declared time for intermission, advocating for a fifteen minute break from the action. The announce team, Shinpei Nogami and Milano Collection A.T. ran down the action already taken place, with highlights from each match up to this point, before discussing what was still to come later in the show. They also discussed the Hi no Kuni Festival, and its heritage, and how Wrestling HINOKUNI has come about.
6. HÉROES VOLADORES (Jushin Thunder Liger & Máscara Dorada) vs THE YOUNG BUCKS (Nick & Matt Jackson) A rematch from Invasion Attack on April 5, where the Young Bucks and the newly named team of Jushin Thunder Liger and Máscara Dorada, known as Héroes Voladores met for a first time encounter, ending with the Young Bucks stealing victory and surpassing the Mexican and Japanese combination, to a position where in four nights, the Young Bucks challenge ReDRagon for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships alongside Roppongi Vice. Nick and Matt Jackson were lucky on that night, but Jushin Liger and Máscara Dorada wanted some retribution, which they wanted to get here, avenging the previous loss. Liger and Dorada formed after Dorada arrived in New Japan Pro Wrestling following Fantastica Mania in January, and want to unify the world of junior tag team wrestling - and in taking down the Young Bucks - representing the Bullet Club - this could be their first step towards sending a message to the rest of the division. The Young Bucks came out looking as flashy as ever in yellow and black, as they immediately took to getting into a brawl with Liger and Dorada, but Liger and Dorada ended up sending them out to the floor, which is when the topé dives came out to play: Dorada nailing an excellent corkscrew plancha over the top rope, whilst Liger climbed up to the top and delivered a splash onto all three men! The fans were appreciative of Liger and Dorada's showmanship, as Liger started off with Matt Jackson in the ring. Liger began to work over the arm of Matt, wrenching away at it before tagging in Máscara Dorada whilst Liger grappled Matt to the mat, applying a variation of the Mexican surfboard; the legs locked and Liger's hands gripping the jaw of Jackson - wrenching back on the spine and neck - setting up for a front dropkick to the chest from Dorada! Dorada now in, he wrenched away at the arm of Matt before nipping up to the top rope and performing a moonsault into an armdrag, sending Matt packing right back into the corner of Nick Jackson! Nick now the legal man, he sprung in off the top rope, connecting with a dropkick right in the solar plexus of Dorada; the Young Bucks having suddenly found themselves in control of this match, as Nick followed by immediately knocking Liger off the apron, then grabbing Dorada by the mask back into the corner of the Young Bucks.
The Bullet Club contingent in control, Nick tagged in Matt again, as Nick connected with a gutbuster to Dorada; Matt meanwhile coming off of the ropes and executing a flipover neckbreaker, the back of Dorada's head crashing against the knee of Nick. The tag team specialists were on offense as Matt stomped and slapped away at the head of Máscara, even grabbing his mask at one point (equalling in boos from the Kumamoto crowd) - whilst Nick Jackson slyly got down from the apron, ran a lap around the ringside area and took out Liger with a big superkick, taking the veteran down again! The match went on as the Young Bucks traded tags, taking turns in isolating Dorada with a series of tag team manoeuvres, including an attempt for More Bang For Your Buck thwarted when Liger came in to dropkick Nick off of the top rope! Dorada soon made a comeback, dodging a headscissors from Matt Jackson and connecting with a hurricanrana - in which he latched onto the head of Nick, simultaneously sending Nick face-first into the canvas, and Matt Jackson flying across the ring - the tag made, and in came Jushin Liger! Liger and Dorada teamed up with Liger nailing Matt with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, followed up by a second rope moonsault from Dorada into the upperbody of Matt! Liger followed with a baseball slide to Nick at ringside; Máscara going over the top rope afterwards with a somersault senton onto him - and we were left with Liger and Matt Jackson inside; as Liger tried for the brainbuster, just for Matt to block it; a superkick connecting as Nick slowly climbed back onto the apron - the Young Bucks united again, as evidenced by Matt delivering a powerbomb into the corner; the back of Liger's head not getting turnbuckle, but the boot of Nick from the apron! Matt attempted to go for the tombstone piledriver, with Nick in position for the Indytaker spike tombstone piledriver: but Dorada dragged Nick off the apron with Nick's chin hitting the apron on the way down - and Liger flipped the tombstone upside down on Matt, executing the tombstone piledriver! Dorada went up to the top rope, connecting with the top rope corkscrew moonsault, as Liger covered - and Héroes Voladores had avenged their previous loss against the Young Bucks!
Winners: Héroes Voladores in 11:43 [***¾] Héroes Voladores were victorious tonight against the Young Bucks - sure to open up another slot in the growing junior tag team division! Jushin Thunder Liger and Máscara Dorada celebrated their win as a team, whilst the Young Bucks left with assistance from Cody Hall - the Bullet Club not successful tonight, but they would get to challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships regardless - the main story here being that Liger and Dorada may now be in line for an opportunity of their own.
7. HIROSHI TANAHASHI & RYUSUKE TAGUCHI vs BULLET CLUB (Doc Gallows & Kenny Omega)With the next IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenge apparent, Hiroshi Tanahashi came into this match alongside the somewhat unorthodox, comical "Funky Weapon" Ryusuke Taguchi - joining him in his quest to overthrow the Bullet Club: in particular, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Kenny Omega - whom he will meet in four nights time at Wrestling Dontaku with the title at stake. The gaijin tonight was joined by Doc Gallows, a well-recognized big man with experience in tag team combat, particularly thanks to his 365-day reign as IWGP Tag Team Champion with Karl Anderson - the pair that dominated the heavyweight tag team ranks for much of 2015. But on the same hand, Ryusuke Taguchi, a former five-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, who dominated the junior tag ranks with NJPW alumnus Prince Devitt throughout much of 2009 and 2013. Because of this, Ryusuke Taguchi started off with Kenny Omega, as "the Cleaner" pointed the finger at Taguchi and called him a joke openly, which naturally only set Taguchi off - as evidenced when Taguchi wrestled him to the back in a front facelock, before nailing him in the face with a sudden hip attack: which caused Omega to back off somewhat, at least momentarily. The two locked up again, with Omega overpowering and backing Ryusuke into the corner, where he held his challenger until the referee forced a clean break - when Omega then began pummelling Taguchi with a series of right hands and mudhole stomps. Omega sent Taguchi across the ring back into the other corner, before grabbing a handful of hair and bringing him backwards for a backbreaker over the knee. Omega tagged in "the Outlaw", face painted to resemble a demon of his own, as Omega picked Taguchi's arms apart, enabling Gallows a clear body punch to the abdomen. Gallows levelled Taguchi with a series of body blows in the corner, before simply dropping him with a big throat thrust, reeling the junior heavyweight with ease. Gallows choked Taguchi using his big boot in the corner, as Gallows talked trash and immediately focused his attention on the IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Hiroshi Tanahashi. Gallows returned to Taguchi and tried to continue his onslaught, delivering a corner elbow to the "Funky Weapon", until Taguchi immediately began to fight back with some quick jabs to the abdomen - but Gallows grabbed a hold of his opponent by the throat, tossing him across the ring rapily, allowing for Tanahashi to make the tag.In came the "Once in a Century Talent", Hiroshi Tanahashi careful in his steps, as he wisely tried to go behind Gallows, but the big man hip thrusted him back into the corner. Gallows squared up Tanahashi with a palm over his face, but upon trying to strike, Hiroshi ducked it and the IWGP Heavyweight Champion came back swinging with forearms to the jawline of "the Outlaw"! Gallows tried to kick Tanahashi in the abdomen, but Tanahashi caught it and executed a dragon screw, before quickly nipping to the top rope and attempting a High Fly Flow - just for Kenny Omega to knock him down with a kick to the spine! Gallows got back to a vertical basis and dragged Tanahashi down for a snap suplex, then proceeded to tag in "the Cleaner" for a rare meeting between the IWGP Heavyweight Champion and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. Omega seemed egotistical in his approach, kicking Hiroshi in the gut before getting him with a delayed, squatting vertical suplex! Omega presented himself to the recovering Taguchi on the apron, but left it perhaps too long, as Tanahashi came back up with a reverse DDT for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion! Tanahashi picked Kenny up and connected with a sideslam, before nipping up to the second rope for a potential High Fly Flow - just for Gallows this time to derail Tanahashi; the "Once in a Century Talent" luckily kicking him away, but Omega proceeded to crotch him anyway! Omega went up to the second rope to fight Tanahashi with some forearms for good measure, and even attempted a superplex, but Tanahashi deadweighted him, firing him off with some forearms, before delivering a sunset flip powerbomb from the second rope! Tanahashi covered, but Gallows was right there to break up the count. Gallows pounded on Hiroshi further, sending him off the ropes, but Tanahashi came right back with the Sling Blade - Tanahashi then executing a dropkick sending Omega reeling, as the heavyweight followed by picking up the legs of both Gallows and Omega, connecting with a simultaneous dragon screw! Tanahashi tagged in Ryusuke Taguchi, who came in delivering repeated hip attacks to both Gallows and Omega, before bouncing off the ropes and catching both with a dropkick! Gallows rolled to the apron, as Taguchi picked up Omega and struck him, then nailed the reverse powerbomb for a near fall on "the Cleaner"! Taguchi continued, as he saw Gallows getting to his feet on the apron, bouncing butt-first on the second rope - and knocking Gallows to the floor! Taguchi came back with a suplex on Omega, followed by a second, but when he went for a third, Omega landed on his feet, then nailed Taguchi with a Kotaro Krusher bulldog, covering for a near fall!The match waged on, with Kenny Omega soon going for the One Winged Angel, just for Taguchi to somehow manage the reversal, executing a reverse hurricanrana on Omega, planting him head-first on the canvas! Taguchi followed up immediately, looking for the Dodon chickenwing facebuster, but Omega rolled through into a victory roll for two - and when Taguchi got to his feet, Omega struck him with the Tony Jaa double knees to the face! Omega tagged in Gallows, "the Outlaw" coming in just as Omega shoved Taguchi into him for the Hangman's Noose - but Hiroshi Tanahashi was there in the knick of time to hit a low dropkick, taking the knees of Gallows out and releasing Taguchi! Tanahashi sent Kenny Omega out to the floor, as Taguchi came off the ropes with the sliding hip attack; and then tagged in Tanahashi! Taguchi left the ring to brawl with Omega, as Hiroshi Tanahashi waited for Gallows to return to his feet; Hiroshi looking for the Sling Blade for a second time in this match - blocked as Gallows slammed Tanahashi down to the mat; then bounced off the ropes - not once, but twice - looking for the big splash, which missed as Tanahashi got out of the way at the last second! Gallows got back up, and Hiroshi was quick to capitalize, looking for a Dragon suplex - blocked, but Tanahashi took the arms of Gallows and turned it into the straightjacket suplex, using a lot of strength to bring down the three-hundred-pounder! Tanahashi proceeded to dash up to the top rope, nailing the High Fly Flow - before deciding to nip up to the top rope again, coming off with a second High Fly Flow, giving the IWGP Heavyweight Champion victory in this tag team bout!
Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi in 13:35 [***½]The IWGP Heavyweight Champion celebrated victory, as Hiroshi Tanahashi got to his feet, before being joined by the "Funky Weapon" himself, Ryusuke Taguchi raising the hand of the "Once in a Century Talent" at the climax of an action-filled tag team encounter. Doc Gallows rolled out of the ring in frustration, whilst Kenny Omega, the dismissive IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, appeared unimpressed by Tanahashi and Taguchi's victory tonight. "The Cleaner" pointed and animatedly yelled to Taguchi that things would end differently at Wrestling Dontaku - but that remained to be seen, as Taguchi smacked his rear end in the face of Omega!
8. BULLET CLUB (Karl Anderson, Tama Tonga & Bad Luck Fale) w/Cody Hall vs CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, YOSHI-HASHI & Toru Yano) w/GedoWith the match between Kazuchika Okada and Karl Anderson drawing nearer, both "Rainmaker" and "the Machine Gun" were aiming for a victory to put the momentum on their side, four days prior to their bout at Wrestling Dontaku - in itself, the heat of a moment following Karl Anderson gaining a victory against Kazuchika Okada in the semi-final round of the New Japan Cup back on March 15. Anderson would eventually go on to win the New Japan Cup, challenging Hiroshi Tanahashi unsuccessfully for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on April 5 at Invasion Attack: something Okada contributed to. Because of Okada's help in Tanahashi's victory, Anderson claimed a union between the two Wrestle Kingdom rivals; believing Okada helped Tanahashi knowing full well that the two were in cohoots against the Bullet Club. Though dismissed, the Biz Cliz continue to believe this as true, but is yet to be demonstrated - and a non-factor in this six-man tag team bout. In addition, Bad Luck Fale developed a rivalry with Toru Yano following the Wrestling HINOKUNI press conference, where Yano tossed water on "the Underboss", igniting a flame somehow, and Fale was here gunning for "YTR" on a silver platter. The match began with YOSHI-HASHI and Tama Tonga, the "Bad Boy" on the receiving end of an armbar courtesy of YOSHI-HASHI, but Tonga managed to break free - and the son of the legendary King Haku started to get on top of "Loose Explosion", a front facelock applied. YOSHI-HASHI made a comeback rolling free of the front facelock, then caught Tonga with a front dropkick: tagging in Toru Yano. Yano pointed and mocked the cat-like Tonga, as he waited for Tama to approach before restraining into the comfort of the ropes, begging aloud for a break. Tonga eventually grabbed a hold and delivered several knees to the solar plexus; Tonga in no mood for games tonight. Tonga tagged in Fale, who came in and delivered a big body blow to the gut of the flabby Yano; body slamming him and following up with a legdrop. The mean former rugby player for the Fukuoka Sanix Blues beat up on Toru with clubs across the back, before choking him on the bottom rope with his boot until the referee broke the hold.Fale continued the attack on Yano, as he sent him into the corner and looked for the avalanche corner splash; but little to Fale's knowledge, Yano was untying the turnbuckle padding behind his back; and when Fale charged, Yano moved - and he removed the turnbuckle in the process, resulting in Fale landing chest first into the exposed steel rods! Yano nailed Fale with the turnbuckle padding before tagging in Kazuchika Okada; "Rainmaker" coming in and ducking a lariat attempt, catching "the Underboss" with multiple knees to the gut before following with a straightjacket neckbreaker; Okada following as Tama Tonga ran into the ring for a hip toss from Okada, and after a big boot rocking Fale, Okada pointed to Karl Anderson and demanded he come in to play! Fale tagged him in, and the "Machine Gun" was here to combat Okada four days ahead of Wrestling Dontaku. The two locked up, with Anderson cornering Okada, which is when the referee demanded a clean break - and in that clean break, Fale came from behind with a big corner splash on Okada! Anderson followed suit delivering a bicycle kick to Okada in the corner, before beating up on him with a series of right hand punches, followed by a foot choke from the mouthpiece of the Bullet Club faction. Anderson bragged to the live crowd and the other two members of CHAOS that he was going to dethrone the "Ace of the New Era" - which is when he walked right into a retaliation over-shoulder back-to-belly piledriver across the knee! Okada tagged in YOSHI-HASHI, who came in with a hurricanrana off the ropes; YOSHI-HASHI not forgetting that Anderson beat him in the first round of the New Japan Cup and embarrassed him afterwards with a Biz Cliz beatdown! YOSHI-HASHI picked Anderson up for a German suplex, but Tama Tonga managed to break this attempt up with a big dropkick to the jaw of "Loose Explosion", the "Bad Boy" having derailed him in this endeavor. Anderson tagged in Fale, who came in and picked YOSHI-HASHI up for a Samoan drop, executing with it as "the Underboss" was setting up for a Grenade. But just like that, Toru Yano came from behind, delivering a fast low blow to the big man! Yano shrugged it off, then pointed his thumbs up whilst the fans delivered his surname; Fale trying to jump Yano just for him to duck and Fale to fly forward into a lariat from YOSHI-HASHI! Yano tossed Tonga to the floor, whilst YOSHI-HASHI bounced off the ropes, connecting with the Head Hunter flipover neckbreaker; but Fale was not down for three, powering out at the count of two. YOSHI-HASHI tagged in Kazuchika Okada, "Rainmaker" coming in and trying to body slam Fale, just for AAnderson to dash in and big boot Okada back; Anderson quickly tackling Yano off the apron! Fale grabbed Okada by the throat and picked him up by the throat; the Grenade mid-air thumb thrust to the throat connecting - and "the Underboss" covered anticipating a big upset win, but Okada kicked out! Fale tagged in "the Machine Gun" again, Karl Anderson darting in and looking for a death valley driver, but Okada got him up for one of his own, executing the Heavy Rain on Anderson! He covered, but Anderson managed to kick out at the count of two. Okada tried something else; looking to apply the Deep in Debt - just for Anderson to reverse it into a roll-up attempt only getting two. Karl Anderson was looking for the Bernard Driver now, as he got Okada up for the belly-to-belly piledriver; Okada slipping onto his feet, sending Anderson into the ropes and catching him with a picture-perfect dropkick! Gedo cheered loudly at ringside, as Okada wanted to end Anderson with the Rainmaker: Tama Tonga intercepting with a big lariat; as Bad Luck Fale got inside as well; Fale and Tonga united; the Tongan contingent of the Bullet Club nailing Okada with the Dawn Raid lariat and spear combination - and then Anderson crept in with a big Gun Stun giving him the three count - a second win over Okada!
Winners: Bullet Club in 12:41 [***]"The Machine Gun" watched over Kazuchika Okada with a gun symbol in hand; Karl Anderson now with two pinfall wins over "Rainmaker" - albeit with help from his Bullet Club allies. YOSHI-HASHI, Gedo and Toru Yano tried to come in and attend to Okada, but Anderson, Cody Hall, Tama Tonga and Bad Luck Fale were there too - a beatdown breaking out with the Biz Cliz beating up on the members of CHAOS - the war waging on as Fale nailed Yano with a Grenade; Hall and Tonga stomping away on YOSHI-HASHI - and to climax it all, Karl Anderson picked up a defenseless and outnumbered Okada - dropping "Rainmaker" with a Swivel Gun Stun! Anderson grinned, as the Bullet Club left with their heads held high to boos from the disapproving Kumamoto crowd.
9. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Tomohiro Ishii, Kazushi Sakuraba & Gedo) vs Tetsuya Naito & Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe, Daisuke Sekimoto & Tomoaki Honma)Quite an interesting semi-main event to Wrestling HINOKUNI, with a match contesting the teams of CHAOS and Great Bash Heel - but unlike years back when it was Shinsuke Nakamura who took members of G.B.H. away from Togi Makabe, betraying him and forming CHAOS, this was to settle several key matters amongst the two factions. For one, it was the IWGP Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura about to go into battle with Tetsuya Naito - who has claimed no affiliation with G.B.H. outside of this one match, preferring to rather hold no affiliation to any faction in New Japan Pro Wrestling. In four days, Nakamura and Naito meet in singles action for the title, whilst elsewhere, Tomohiro Ishii has a challenge of his own, when he defends the NEVER Openweight Championship against an unproven contender in the form of "Muslce Monster" Daisuke Sekimoto. Sekimoto, who debuted for New Japan on January 5 in Korakuen Hall, asaulting Ishii, would not return for another three months - attacking Ishii at the climax of his battle with long-term rival Togi Makabe: shortly after, aligning himself with the G.B.H. faction - as part of a revamped faction on behalf of leader, the "Unchained Gorilla". Sekimoto, a former mainstay in Pro Wrestling NOAH, as well as Dramatic Dream Team - came in wearing a weight robe, as he approached the ring with his new allies - the trio ready for this eight-man tag team bout. His debut came fast, as he started off against Wrestling Dontaku opponent - the NEVER Openweight Champion himself. Tomohiro Ishii started by trying to chop away at Daisuke, but Sekimoto was fast to respond with some lethal chops for the "Stone Pitbull", proving that he was full of potential. Sekimoto continued to trade chops with Ishii, before Ishii began busting out some forearms, but Sekimoto responded with a series of his own - including a three slap combination, followed up by a surprisingly agile step-up enzuigiri for Ishii! Sekimoto almost reflected Ishii's no-nonsense style, as he wrenched on the arm of Tomohiro and tagged in Tomoaki Honma. Honma came in, not forgetting that Ishii defeated him back at the New Beginning in Sendai back in February, continued the arm wrench before transitioning into an armbar; Ishii soon rolling out and colliding with a big forearm! Honma responded with one of his own, but the drilling forearms got the better of him: and when Ishii tried for a suplex, Honma blocked and suplexed him himself, before slapping his head - looking for the Kokeshi - but he got nothing, as Ishii moved, tagging in Kazushi Sakuraba.The proclaimed "Gracie Hunter" got in and approached Honma with caution, as "Minna no Kokeshi" appeared ready for this grappling battle with the recognized mixed martial-artist. Honma tried to ease into it with him, but Kazushi kept him on watch with several kicks that went dodged by Tomoaki. Sakuraba tried a go-behind on him, but Honma was one step ahead, grabbing him with a snapmare and swiftly grabbing a sleeper - which as one can expect, went reversed by Sakuraba in no time. The "Gracie Hunter" tried to lock in a sleeper of his own, if not for Honma backing him into the corner of G.B.H. Togi Makabe got the blind tag, and the "Bousou Kingkong" came in dealing some right hands to the head of Sakuraba. Makabe was not going to allow Sakuraba's style to impact his way of competing - evidenced as Makabe body slammed Kazushi and then brought in Tetsuya Naito, who came in with a front dropkick for the jaw of Kazushi. But Tetsuya Naito was not wanting any of the "Gracie Hunter" - this time with no expression on his face. He wanted Shinsuke. In came the "King of Strong Style", and Shinsuke Nakamura began warming up by sweeping Naito off of his feet, looking for the front face lock with knee strikes - but Naito flipped it around on the IWGP Intercontinental Champion; Naito sending Nakamura into the corner and striking him with the dropkick; followed by the slingshot dropkick in the bottom corner, catching Nakamura in the side of the face! Nakamura was fast to kick out, but Naito remained on top of him, the "Stardust☆Genius" connecting with a snapmare into a front dropkick for another near fall, and then an inverted backbreaker later. Naito tried to get into the bigger things as he went up to the top rope for a missile dropkick - but Nakamura knocked him, and then delivered the top shelf knee strike, nailing Naito in the ribs as Shinsuke remained in the game! Nakamura got the tag to Gedo, who came in and began to strike Naito with a series of forearms, but a sudden enzuigiri cut him off! Naito tagged in Togi Makabe again, who picked Gedo up with almost great ease, dropping him with a powerbomb for two, as the members of CHAOS managed to get in there and break up the count. The action began to break down as Makabe called the members of CHAOS out - and just like that, a big brawl broke out with Naito and Nakamura going at it, as well as Ishii and Sekimoto! Makabe tagged in Sekimoto after the brawl ended, with "Muscle Monster" coming in and delivering some lethal chops to Gedo in the corner, and then when Gedo tried to lariat him, Sekimoto clocked him with a big standing lariat in the corner! Sekimoto tagged in Tomoaki Honma, who in typical fashion body slammed Gedo and attempted the Kokeshi headbutt again - just for Gedo to dodge. He tagged in Ishii, who came in and began brutalizing Honma with a suplex and a big lariat of his own: but the NEVER Openweight Champion was eyeing up Daisuke out of the corner of his eye and it was obvious - Honma able to get in a big back suplex for two, as Honma tagged out to Naito once more. The "Stardust☆Genius" came in and tried to keep Ishii legal, nailing Ishii with a rope assisted tornado DDT, but Ishii was still in the fight, tossing Naito off. He delivered a brutal headbutt to Naito before catching him with a powerslam off of the ropes for two: Ishii tagging in Nakamura once more. The "King of Strong Style" came in and got Naito with a lungblower, before setting up for the Boma Ye in the bottom corner - just for Naito to roll out of the way, then catching Shinsuke with a bridging Dragon suplex, only managing to get a two count out of it. Naito and Nakamura raged on in a preview of their upcoming bout, when Daisuke Sekimoto tagged himself in: the newcomer in his New Japan debut ready to prove himself to one of New Japan's mainstays! The crowd were interested in this, as Nakamura stared up and down Sekimoto, and with that Nakamura tried for a kick just to go blocked, as Daisuke took him down and tried applying a Sharpshooter, but Tomohiro Ishii came in to break it up! As Ishii and Sekimoto brawled in the corner, Nakamura tagged in Gedo; but when Shinsuke tried to rest at ringside, Naito tripped him up with a chop block! Nakamura was hurting, holding his leg at ringside, showing no compassion let alone respect for his Wrestling Dontaku opponent; as back inside, Honma and Makabe took care of Sakuraba and Ishii; Gedo dropkicking Sekimoto twice, before chopping him just to walk into a big headbutt from Daisuke; and then a suplex! Sekimoto went up to the top rope and came off with an amazingly agile frog splash, before picking Gedo up and dropping him with a deadlifted bridging German suplex - the match won, on behalf of New Japan's newest addition!Winners: Tetsuya Naito & Great Bash Heel in 14:20 [***]An impressive debut by the newest member of the New Japan Pro Wrestling roster, and the newest member of Great Bash Heel - Daisuke Sekimoto having decimated Gedo, and going the distance with Shinsuke Nakamura, after previously leaving Tomohiro Ishii lying in his past appearances. Tomohiro Ishii came into the ring to have a showdown with the "Muscle Monster" - four days from their NEVER Openweight Championship encounter. The two had to be separated by ringside assistants - all the while, so did Shinsuke Nakamura and Tetsuya Naito at ringside! The ringside area in general was carnage with officials and Young Lions all over, trying to restrain the rivals before their title matches coming up on May 3 at Wrestling Dontaku. Notable is that when Naito was being restrained, he spat in the face of Shinsuke - as if his change of character in recent weeks, and signs of disrespect towards Nakamura wasn't enough!
10. IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MEIYU TAG (Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata) w/Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs BULLET CLUB (A.J. Styles & Yujiro Takahashi) w/Doc GallowsThe main event of Wrestling HINOKUNI was upon us, with Meiyu Tag putting their IWGP Tag Team Championships on the line for the third time, and for the third time against members of the Bullet Club faction. Since winning the titles at Wrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome back in January, Meiyu Tag have beaten former champions Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows at the New Beginning in Osaka in February, and then Tama Tonga and Bad Luck Fale at Invasion Attack earlier this onth - but this was different. For one, this had the leader, the "Phenomenal One" A.J. Styles involved, alongside tag team specialist known for his days as part of No Limit with Tetsuya Naito, "Mr R Rated" Yujiro Takahashi. On April 5, A.J. challenged IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi for the title, in what will be a rematch from King of Pro Wrestling from last October: and in training, here was A.J. trying to bring the tag titles back to the Bullet Club faction. To reinforce matters, Styles and Takahashi were accompanied by "the Outlaw" Doc Gallows - and so in response, Hirooki Goto and Katsuyori Shibata marched to the ring accompanied by Tanahashi himself, wanting to even things up for his allies in this title match. The match began with Katsuyori Shibata and A.J. Styles, with Styles trying to keep on Shibata in a grappling exchange; Shibata using his amateur wrestling skills to respond with some holds of his own, including a full nelson which was reversed into a German suplex attempt, blocked, as Shibata used a back elbow. Shibata went right into it with some heavy low kicks, sending Styles off the ropes just for Styles to shoulder block him down; and a leapfrog followed, followed up with a flying forearm from the leader of the Bullet Club. Styles started talking trash, as he tagged in Yujiro Takahashi, the cocky bleach blonde-haired playboy striking Shibata with a forearm, which may have been a bad decision, as Shibata struck back with a stiff forearm, before he charged off the ropes, just for Doc Gallows to trip him igniting a hostile response from the other side of the ring by Hiroshi Tanahashi! Takahashi took Shibata and brought him into Biz Cliz territory, getting him in the corner and catching Katsuyori with a big boot, before tagging in "the Phenomenal One" again, who followed up with a corner splash of his own.A.J. Styles dished out some further forearms for "the Wrestler", before Shibata yet again tried to reply with a big boot; Shibata sending him into the corner, but as Doc Gallows got on the apron and distracted the referee, Yujiro hopped into the ring and dropped Shibata with a dropkick; all the while, Hirooki Goto and Tanahashi in Meiyu Tag's corner were complaining about the underhanded tactics! A.J. nailed Shibata with a chinbreaker, then stomped on the leg of Shibata, the known kickboxer being worked over as Styles body slammed Shibata leg-first over the bottom rope, then tagged Takahashi back in for more punishment over the reigning IWGP Tag Team Champion. Yujiro slammed the leg down repeatedly, dropping an elbow at one point, as Goto tried to drive the Kumamoto crowd into a chorus of claps; trying to bring Shibata back into the game. Shibata at one point managed to send Takahashi into the corner, where he then delivered a dropkick, but just when "the Wrestler" tried to crawl to Goto, A.J. Styles came from the corner and attacked Goto, knocking him from the apron! Tanahashi tried to get into it with Styles, who simply crotch chopped him in response! Takahashi nailed a shinbreaker on Shibata and tagged in A.J. Styles, but as Styles grabbed the leg of Shibata, he responded with a big step-up kick jaw-jacking Styles, as Shibata spinkicked A.J., then finally tagged in "Aramusha"! Goto charged in, a lariat for Styles and a big forearm knocking Gallows off the apron; Hirooki a house on fire, as he lined A.J. up in the corner, nailing him with a spinning wheel kick! Goto roared, bringing Kumamoto to life, when suddenly Doc Gallows tried stepping into the ring, the referee distracting him and subsequently Goto, and Styles came from behind with the backdrop into a facebuster, only getting two! Styles tagged in Takahashi, who came in and tried for the deadlift gutwrench suplex, but Goto landed on his feet in all of this, then headbutted his way out - a spinebuster following. Goto tagged in Shibata, who darted in with a corner dropkick to Takahashi again; Shibata relentlessly attacking Yujiro in the corner, forearm upon forearm to the face, preceding a second dropkick! Shibata was rolling as he picked Takahashi up and planted him with a death valley driver, only getting two out of it. "The Wrestler" punished a kneeling Yujiro with rapidfire kicks to the chest, when suddenly A.J. Styles came in with the springboard flying forearm; Goto getting involved with a big lariat taking him down!The battle continued, with Yujiro Takahashi picking Katsuyori Shibata up and delivering a German suplex sending him into the corner skull-first, Takahashi following suit with the gutwrench suplex; covering but for two yet again. Takahashi tagged in A.J., who this time delivered a springboard 450 splash, A.J. covering for another two count, as Shibata refused to quit! Styles had had enough, as he tried to get Shibata up and ready for a Styles Clash to end things, but Hirooki Goto got involved, levelling Styles with a Tokko Lariat! Shibata covered, but Doc Gallows once again distracted the referee; resulting in Hiroshi Tanahashi dragging Gallows from the apron, those two brawling at ringside in a reprisal from earlier tonight. Shibata tagged in Hirooki Goto, "Aramusha" being the fresh man in this match, and began to set the stage for the conclusion, lighting Styles up with some hard chest kicks, before attempting the Urigoroshi; Styles breaking free, and connecting with a Pelé kick hitting Goto on the back of the head! A.J. went to the corner, a springboard moonsault into a reverse DDT connecting brilliantly - the Stylin' DDT however still only getting two! A.J. was getting desparate as he attempted the Styles Clash on Goto, but miraculously, Goto pulled out a rare Kaiten leg-trapped sunset flip - something from his junior heavyweight days - as Goto only got two thanks to Takahashi breaking it up! Yujiro attempted the Tokyo Pimps inverted powerslam variation, but Shibata got in and intercepted with the deadlift German suplex! Shibata delivered a sudden Penalty Kick to the chest of a kneeling Styles before rolling out; Goto then getting up and covering - but A.J. kicked out at two one more time! Nobody wanted to eat the loss here tonight with the IWGP Tag Team Championships at stake. Goto picked Styles up and attempted the Shouten Kai, but Styles kneed him in the head, then tried the Calf Killer - Goto blocking using his upperbody strength, and A.J. broke free of another Shouten Kai attempt, making a wise tag to Takahashi. In came "Mr R Rated", looking for Tokyo Pimps on an unsuspecting Goto, but Shibata was expecting this, which is when he came in and dropkicked Takahashi away! The Urigoroshi by Hirooki Goto connected - and "Aramusha" followed this with a decisive Shouten Kai pendulum suplex, scoring the victory!
Winners: Meiyu Tag in 19:22 [****] ***STILL CHAMPIONS***
In a war of attrition in the main event of Wrestling HINOKUNI, Meiyu Tag had prevailed victorious in their third successful title defense! Katsuyori Shibata and Hirooki Goto triumphantly celebrated their win over the body of Yujiro Takahashi, whilst A.J. Styles looked on angrily from ringside, seething at the duo. Goto and Shibata celebrated with the IWGP Tag Team Championships in hand. But they weren't done yet, as Goto grabbed a microphone.
Hirooki talked about how much pride he has in being a champion in New Japan Pro Wrestling - nonetheless, opposing the Bullet Club. He said that he and Katsuyori Shibata are winners, achieving their dream of someday being champions, and now with three defenses under their belt, they were hungry for more. Goto poked some fun at Yujiro Takahashi's failed attributes seen in this match, whilst also poking A.J. Styles, claiming him to be the challenger to the IWGP Heavyweight Championship that did not deserve it. Goto said that the help from Doc Gallows even didn't help, thanking Hiroshi Tanahashi for his assistance. This is when he turned to Shibata, asking the typically no-nonsense "Wrestler" for his thoughts. He simply said that Matt Taven and Michael Bennett of the Kingdom were next - and that on May 3in Wrestling Dontaku, they would be their next victims. Meiyu Tag left, allowing the announce team of Shinpei Nogami, Jushin Thunder Liger and Milano Collection A.T. to wrap things up, presenting a conclusion and set-up for Wrestling Dontaku on May 3.
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Post by DTP. on Mar 31, 2016 22:26:41 GMT -5
| RING OF HONOR WRESTLING ANNOUNCEMENT
Thursday, April 30, 2015: ROH.NJPW Global Wars Announcement |
The official match cards for New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor's co-produced tour of the United States and Canada have officially been announced on ROH's website, although only three nights worth of shows are listed. The first two shows of which, on May 12 and May 13 - both held in the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA - will be subtitled "War of the Worlds '15". These shows will be available on tape delay starting the week following the shows' conclusions.
The latter two - entitled "Global Wars '15", emanate from the Ted Reeve Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on May 15 and May 16. The first night of these two shows will be broadcast live via Internet-streamed pay-per-view, whereas the second night will serve as a television taping, with matches aired on episodes of ROH's weekly televised programme, Ring of Honor Wrestling. The card for this has yet to be announced, if at all, prior to the show.
"War of the Worlds '15 - Night One" - Philadelphia, USA - 2300 Arena CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura & Kazuchika Okada) vs The Briscoe Brothers (Mark & Jay Briscoe) A.J. Styles vs Adam Cole Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin vs The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) Jushin Thunder Liger & The Addiction (Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian) vs Tetsuya Naito & ReDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) Jay Lethal (c) vs Takaaki Watanabe for the ROH World Television Championship KUSHIDA vs ACH Gedo vs Delirious
"War of the Worlds '15 - Night Two" - Philadelphia, USA - 2300 Arena The Kingdom (Adam Cole, Matt Taven & Michael Bennett) vs BULLET CLUB (A.J. Styles, Matt & Nick Jackson) Jay Briscoe (c) vs Tetsuya Naito for the ROH World Heavyweight Championship Shinsuke Nakamura vs Mark Briscoe Kazuchika Okada vs Kyle O'Reilly Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Roderick Strong Jushin Thunder Liger vs ACH KUSHIDA vs Jay Lethal Adam Page vs Takaaki Watanabe Gedo vs Christopher Daniels
"Global Wars '15 - Night One" - Toronto, Canada - Ted Reeve Arena - LIVE ON iPPV! ROH All Stars (Jay & Mark Briscoe, Michael Elgin, Hanson & Ray Rowe) vs BULLET CLUB (A.J. Styles, Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, Nick & Matt Jackson) Shinsuke Nakamura vs Roderick Strong Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Adam Cole Jay Lethal (c) vs Tetsuya Naito Kazuchika Okada vs Bobby Fish Roppongi Vice (Barreta & Rocky Romero) vs The Decade (BJ Whitmer & Adam Page) vs The Kingdom (Michael Bennett & Matt Taven) vs The Addiction (Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian) ACH vs Jushin Thunder Liger KUSHIDA vs Kyle O'Reilly Moose & Gedo vs Silas Young & Takaaki Watanabe
"Global Wars '15 - Night Two" - Toronto, Canada - Ted Reeve Arena - Television Taping TBA.
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Post by DTP. on Apr 2, 2016 12:24:27 GMT -5
| NJPW ROAD TO WRESTLING DONTAKU '15
Thursday, April 30, 2015 - Oita Prefectural Event Hall - Saganosekimachi, Oita Friday, May 1, 2015 - Oita Prefectural Event Hall - Saganosekimachi, Oita |
Day 9 - Oita Prefectural Event Hall - Oita, Japan (April 30)
1. Jay White def. Yohei Komatsu in 9:25 after the single legged Boston crab.
2. Manabu Nakanishi def. Sho Tanaka in 8:12 after the Argentine Backbreaker Rack.
3. BULLET CLUB (Kenny Omega, Cody Hall, Nick & Matt Jackson) def. Ryusuke Taguchi, Héroes Voladores (Jushin Thunder Liger & Máscara Dorada) & KUSHIDA in 13:36 after the One Winged Angel by Omega on Dorada. After the match, Omega issued a challenge to unify the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and Dorada's CMLL World Welterweight Championship.
4. The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Michael Bennett) & Steve Anthony def. Meiyu Tag (Hirooki Goto & Katsuyori Shibata) & Tiger Mask in 11:13 after the Hail Mary by the Kingdom on a distracted Tiger Mask. The Kingdom got in Meiyu Tag's faces after the match.
5. BULLET CLUB (A.J. Styles, Doc Gallows, Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga) def. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Yuji Nagata & Captain New Japan in 10:16 after the Hangman's Noose by Gallows on Captain New Japan. Styles tried to attack Tanahashi afterwards, but Hiroshi fought him away.
6. BULLET CLUB (Karl Anderson & Bad Luck Fale) def. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano) in 12:49 after the Grenade by Fale on Yano, whilst Anderson and Okada brawled at ringside.
7. CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo) def. G.B.H. (Daisuke Sekimoto & Tomoaki Honma) in 13:31 after the sliding lariat by Ishii to Honma. Ishii and Sekimoto had a brawl after the match, with Ishii running Sekimoto away.
8. Tetsuya Naito, TenCozy (Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan) & ReDRagon (Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish) def. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, YOSHI-HASHI, Kazushi Sakuraba, Rocky Romero & Barreta) in 16:22 after the Pluma Blanca by Naito on YOSHI-HASHI. Naito and Nakamura had a tense staredown after the match.
Day 10 - Oita Prefectural Event Hall - Oita, Japan (May 1)
1. TenCozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) & Yohei Komatsu def. Manabu Nakanishi, Tiger Mask & Sho Tanaka in 9:17 after the Lariat by Kojima on Tanaka.
2. KUSHIDA & Jay White def. BULLET CLUB (Yujiro Takahashi & Cody Hall) in 8:40 after the Hoverboard Lock by KUSHIDA on Hall.
3. Meiyu Tag (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto) & ReDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) def. The Kingdom (Michael Bennett & Matt Taven) & Héroes Voladores (Máscara Dorada & Jushin Thunder Liger) in 12:05 after the Shouten Kai by Goto on Taven.
4. BULLET CLUB (A.J. Styles, Kenny Omega, Tama Tonga & Doc Gallows) def. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi, Kota Ibushi & Captain New Japan in 12:42 after the Calf Killer by Styles on Captain New Japan. The Bullet Club attacked Tanahashi's team afterwards and a brawl then broke out.
5. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, Rocky Romero & Barreta) def. BULLET CLUB (Karl Anderson, Bad Luck Fale, Nick & Matt Jackson) in 13:25 after the Strong Zero by Roppongi Vice on Nick Jackson.
6. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura & Kazushi Sakuraba) def. Tetsuya Naito & Yuji Nagata in 12:30 after the Bomaye by Nakamura on Nagata. Nagata and Sakuraba grappled one another a lot during the match.
7. G.B.H. (Togi Makabe, Daisuke Sekimoto & Tomoaki Honma) def. CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii, Gedo & YOSHI-HASHI) in 15:23 after the deadlift German suplex by Sekimoto on YOSHI-HASHI. Tomohiro Ishii laid Sekimoto out after the match with a sliding lariat, gaining revenge from Invasion Attack.
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Post by DTP. on Apr 10, 2016 16:10:20 GMT -5
| NJPW WRESTLING DONTAKU '15
Sunday, May 3, 2015 - Fukuoka International Center - Hakata-ward, Fukuoka |
The opening video package aired, presenting us with New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2015. A video package followed, setting the scene for the upcoming show ahead. In a show headlined by the IWGP Intercontinental Championship defense by Shinsuke Nakamura against the number one contender, Tetsuya Naito, Naito has shown a lot of uncharacteristic traits in previous weeks, having beaten Nakamura on two separate occasions in tag team combat; as well as a lot of disrespect towards the "King of Strong Style"; Nakamura being spat on by Naito, as well as blindsighted by the antics of Naito. The question being: is this fuelled by Naito's drive to wanting to win singles gold in the heavyweight ranks? Naito has failed time and time again in big match scenarios, including this year with A.J. Styles at Wrestle Kingdom, Hiroshi Tanahashi at the New Beginning, Kota Ibushi in the New Japan Cup - but now it seemed Naito was changing for what he thought was better - and he was after the IWGP Intercontinental Championship! Additionally, it was the singles debut of "Muscle Monster" Daisuke Sekimoto, who challenges Tomohiro Ishii for the NEVER Openweight Championship - Sekimoto, a man that has seen the Japanese wrestling industry in other promotions, and debuted for New Japan Pro Wrestling by attacking the "Stone Pitbull". He is almost a reflection of Ishii in terms of style; and now, as a member of Togi Makabe's revamped Great Bash Heel faction - tonight he faces Ishii for the first time, title on the line! But also, in a rematch from the semi-final round of the New Japan Cup between Karl Anderson and Kazuchika Okada; Anderson has beaten Okada, but was unsuccessful in challenging Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Invasion Attack, in part thanks to Okada! Anderson wants revenge, as does Okada - and tonight the world will see who wants it more!
Going to the Fukuoka International Center, the crowd were patient but excited for the night's events, as Kimihiko Ozaki stood centre-stage and began announcing the full card for Wrestling Dontaku:
- Yuji Nagata, Manabu Nakanishi, Tiger Mask & Sho Tanaka vs Héroes Voladores (Jushin Thunder Liger & Máscara Dorada), KUSHIDA & Jay White
- YOSHI-HASHI vs Yohei Komatsu
- ReDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) (c) vs Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero & Barreta) vs The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
- BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga) vs CHAOS (Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba)
- Meiyu Tag (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto) (c) vs The Kingdom (Michael Bennett & Matt Taven) for the IWGP Tag Team Championship
- Kenny Omega (c) vs Ryusuke Taguchi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
- Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi & G.B.H. (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) vs BULLET CLUB (A.J. Styles, Doc Gallows, Yujiro Takahashi & Cody Hall)
- Kazuchika Okada vs Karl Anderson
- Tomohiro Ishii (c) vs Daisuke Sekimoto for the NEVER Openweight Championship
- Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs Tetsuya Naito
1. YUJI NAGATA, MANABU NAKANISHI, TIGER MASK & SHO TANAKA vs HÉROES VOLADORES (Jushin Thunder Liger & Máscara Dorada), KUSHIDA & JAY WHITEWrestling Dontaku was underway, with eight-man tag team action as the veteran tag team Yuji Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi teamed up with Tiger Mask and super-talented Young Lion, Sho Tanaka to take on the newly formed tag team of Héroes Voladores, composed of veteran Jushin Thunder Liger, and one of CMLL's best talents, the CMLL World Welterweight Champion in Máscara Dorada. Together, they were joined by the returning KUSHIDA (who was here after suffering a fractured bone in his hand back at the end of March), and New Zealand Young Lion, Jay White. The match started with White and Tanaka going at it, with Tanaka taking White down with a hammerlock; White fast to respond with a headscissors; White then transitioning into a side headlock, which Tanaka sent off the ropes, just to get a shoulder block for his issues. Tanaka ducked down as White continued running, but when White ducked a lariat attempt, Jay caught Sho with a flying dropkick, taking Tanaka down - and a nip-up from the New Zealander was met with an applause from the Fukuoka crowd! In came Máscara Dorada after him, the luchador taking the arm of Tanaka and executing an arm drag in which Dorada using the middle rope, Dorada then following up with a hurricanrana off the ropes! Dorada tagged in Jushin Thunder Liger; as the veteran came in and took a hold of Tanaka just for Sho to forearm his way out; Tanaka taking Liger into the corner and tagging in Tiger Mask - Liger's old partner - as Tiger struck Liger with a spinkick, then bounced off the ropes but Jushin sidestepped, then took Tiger Mask down; Liger grabbing Tiger in the Surfboard Stretch, the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion in trouble, when KUSHIDA came in with a cartwheel, front dropkick catching Tiger Mask in the mouth! Liger tagged in KUSHIDA, who sprung off the top rope with a brain chop, but Tiger quickly made a comeback sending the Time Splitter out to the floor; a baseball slide following, and Yuji Nagata got the tag, coming in and waiting for KUSHIDA to come back in.
Back inside, "Blue Justice" lit KUSHIDA up with some well placed kicks to the chest and thighs, before attempting early to lock in a Nagata Lock; KUSHIDA muscling out despite the size disadvantage, as KUSHIDA responded with some kicks of his own - Nagata however breaking away from this with a forearm to the face, followed by a slap and a big boot to the mouth to follow; as Nagata quickly applied a cross-armbreaker, just for KUSHIDA to put a foot on the ropes, notable as KUSHIDA held the previously injured hand. Nagata even stomped on the hand, taking him into the corner and stomping him in the abdomen, soon tagging in Manabu Nakanishi - who came in with some kicks to the gut of KUSHIDA, picking him up and shoving him down to the mat; but KUSHIDA was acrobatic, nipping back up to his feet and catching Nakanishi with a big dropkick! KUSHIDA tried to suplex Nakanishi, as Jay White came for an assist; Nagata, Tanaka and Tiger Mask coming in as well as Liger and Dorada; and an eight-man suplex connected with Nakanishi's side getting the better end of it! Nakanishi attempted to lariat KUSHIDA in the corner, but KUSHIDA rolled away from it, then tagged in Dorada again; Nakanishi tagging in Sho Tanaka, but as Tanaka charged for Dorada, the Mexican sprung off the top rope with a springboard crossbody, Dorada knocking Tiger Mask and Yuji Nagata off the apron whilst stunning Nakanishi; as Dorada looked for a fast Dorada Screwdriver; Tiger Mask coming in and pummeling Dorada, quickly sending him to the floor. Tiger Mask executed a baseball slide to Dorada and brawled with him on the floor when Jushin Liger came off the top rope with a big splash onto both men; Liger and Tiger Mask going at it, when Jay White came in with a big suicide topé through the ropes! Nagata joined in on the fight, as KUSHIDA slowly recovered and came over the top rope with a somersault senton topé catching all the guys on the floor; the junior heavyweights taking this match away from the heavier opposition; whilst back inside, Dorada crawled in and was met with a dropkick from Tanaka, who looked to lock in a Boston crab, but Dorada amazingly reversed it into a variation of a cradle, capturing the three for his team!
Winners: Héroes Voladores, KUSHIDA & Jay White in 8:44 [**¾]An eventful way to start off the twelfth Wrestling Dontaku event, Héroes Voladores picking up their second big win of the week, as Máscara Dorada and Jushin Thunder Liger had also previously defeated the Young Bucks at Wrestling HINOKUNI, which surely put them in contention for a future IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship shot. Dorada celebrated with Liger, KUSHIDA and Jay White - the four getting ready for the Best of the Super Juniors tournament coming up at the end of the month, whilst Yuji Nagata appeared, in particular, peeved at the outcome whilst their team left.
2. YOSHI-HASHI vs YOHEI KOMATSU In the second of two preliminary matches organized to warm up the Fukuoka crowd, it was the youthful Yohei Komatsu - one of the three Young Lions, competing in singles action against "Loose Explosion" from the CHAOS faction, YOSHI-HASHI. Whilst his allies compete against the Bullet Club later on tonight, YOSHI-HASHI was here to try and teach Komatsu his way of competing in a trying bout for Komatsu without a doubt. On the other hand, Komatsu was here to try and prove himself to the Fukuoka crowd in his own way, as he jogged to the ring anticipating this trying bout for the two year pro. YOSHI-HASHI started off with a test of strength against the much smaller Yohei, and despite his best efforts, Komatsu was overpowered by the member of CHAOS. Komatsu managed to bridge backwards, his head touching the mat - and Komatsu twisting his way free, then nipped up for a standoff, showing his all tonight. Next attempt came with a lock-up, as YOSHI-HASHI again appeared to have the advantage against Yohei - but Komatsu managed to go behind and transition into an armdrag, taking YOSHI-HASHI down for the first time. The match continued with Komatsu sending YOSHI-HASHI off the ropes, the latter coming back with a shoulder block - continuing running and looking for the Head Hunter early, Yohei rolling out of the way and colliding with a dropkick catching YOSHI-HASHI in the chest. Komatsu snapmared YOSHI-HASI and locked in a chinhold, now with the control in his favor over "Loose Explosion". It wouldn't last too long however, as YOSHI-HASHI started to grapple out of it, going behind and connecting with a dropkick to the back; Komatsu falling into the ropes and coming back to receive a big chop from YOSHI-HASHI. Komatsu demanded he bring more, as YOSHI-HASHI chopped him twice more - Yohei responding with a big open hand chop across the chest of "Loose Explosion", but YOSHI-HASHI cut him off with a kick to the gut; then suplexing him across the top rope; YOSHI-HASHI soon coming off of the ropes and executing a front dropkick against the back of the draped Yohei Komatsu!
YOSHI-HASHI was back in control, immediately following up with another dropkick to the seated Komatsu, covering for a near fall. The match continued as he picked Yohei up and body slammed him; then going up to the top rope, just for Yohei to meet him up there, the resilient Young Lion going up and chopping YOSHI-HASHI again with another open hand chop, Komatsu looking for a suplex, but YOSHI-HASHI knocked him down to the mat; a front dropkick following, as YOSHI-HASHI had the next move in mind, picking Komatsu up and executing the Bunker Buster neckbreaker for a near fall, then when Komatsu got back to his feet, YOSHI-HASHI nailed the Head Hunter, covering again just for Yohei to kick out defiantly. YOSHI-HASHI was ready to cap this one off, as he scoop slammed Komatsu and went up for the top rope - the Loose Explosion impending, but Komatsu again fought YOSHI-HASHI down again, a northern lights suplex only getting two, as now Yohei was looking for Boston crab; Yohei grabbing the leg just to get kicked off; YOSHI-HASHI back up and charging off the ropes, but Komatsu dropped, grabbed the leg and locked in the single-legged Boston crab in one motion - the single legged crab locked in, transitioned into a double-leg Boston! YOSHI-HASHI struggled, as the Fukuoka crowd were buying into this at this point - but YOSHI-HASHI reached the bottom rope! Komatsu seemed disappointed but tried to go for it once again; YOSHI-HASHI breaking the attempt with a forehead to Komatsu! Off the ground, he ducked a lariat attempt by Yohei and executed the German suplex; then went up to the top rope, connecting with the Loose Explosion somersault senton bomb, and covered for the win!
Winner: YOSHI-HASHI in 8:15 [**¾]YOSHI-HASHI celebrated his win, "Loose Explosion" having come out on top in a battle against up-and-coming Young Lion, Yohei Komatsu. YOSHI-HASHI was successful tonight, in what could be a forecast for match results coming up on behalf of CHAOS. Komatsu left on his own terms, the Fukuoka crowd giving him a humble reception.
3. IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP REDRAGON (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) (c) vs THE YOUNG BUCKS (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs ROPPONGI VICE (Barreta & Rocky Romero)The first championship match of the night was here, with the team of ReDRagon coming to the ring for their third title defense since winning the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships back at Power Struggle in November, Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly - who are also the ROH World Tag Team Champions - defending the titles tonight against their rivals from both Ring of Honor and here in New Japan Pro Wrestling, the Young Bucks - two men representing the Bullet Club, who are former champions in their own right. Nick and Matt have had a bad week already, having lost to Héroes Voladores four nights ago at Wrestling HINOKUNI - but despite this, the two were looking for a second reign as championship holders here in New Japan. Alongside this came Roppongi Vice, representing CHAOS - Rocky Romero and Barreta having made up the team over one month ago prior to Invasion Attack - with a win over ReDRagon already, in the midst of a six-man tag bout at Invasion Attack. The junior heavyweight tag team division was shaping up in 2015, with these three teams being only three of several in the division - and this was sure to be a test for ReDRagon, who defended their titles sucessfully in a similar type of match at Wrestle Kingdom 9 - where they overcame the Young Bucks, Forever Hooligans and the Time Splitters. The Young Bucks of note were accompanied to the ring by no other member of the Bullet Club - thankfully, as this one was sure to be fast-paced and hard to keep up with. The match began with the Young Bucks offering a handshake to each Bobby Fish and Barreta - just to crotch-chop them instead; and in retaliation, a brawl broke out with ReDRagon and Roppongi Vice clobbering the Young Bucks with rights and lefts, sending them out to the floor, before a stalemate took place in the ring between Fish and O'Reilly - the champions - and the men who beat them in six-man tag action at Invasion Attack - Rocky Romero and Barreta. The action kicked off with Bobby Fish in there with Romero, as both traded a series of holds focused on the arm: but you could never get past the well-rounded veteran Cuban-American junior, as Rocky tried to send Fish into the ropes; Fish turned it around on Rocky, and Romero hung onto the ropes, laughing at Fish. That is until O'Reilly came in, nailing Romero in the chest with a big kick!
The tag made, Kyle O'Reilly connected with several well-placed forearms to the face, before going for a striking combination - Romero ducking out and dropkicking O'Reilly down, which is when Rocky tagged in Barreta: RPG Vice with a double suplex on Kyle before Romero came off the ropes with a knee drop at the same time as a standing moonsault connected from Barreta. RPG Vice had the cover, which was broken up when the Young Bucks re-entered the ring to get back into the fight. Nick rolled Romero backwards into Matt for a wheelbarrow, and Nick connected with an accurate spinkick right into the abdomen of the elevated "Azucar". The Young Bucks in control, Matt nailed Romero with a right hand before tagging in Nick quickly, as Matt stood over Romero and nailed a standing moonsault whilst Nick simultaneously came in from the apron with a springboard frog splash, only getting two as Kyle O'Reilly came in for the save. O'Reilly tripped Nick and Matt to their knees, then nailing both with a series of kicks lighting up the chests of the Young Bucks - Bobby Fish soon coming in to join in with a roundhouse kick nailing Nick, who fell right on top of Matt, the Japanese crowd applauding as the reigning champions gloated. Romero meanwhile got the tag to Barreta who came in, the former WWE Superstar delivering a dropkick to ReDRagon which went blocked; and ReDRagon followed with Fish delivering a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker to Barreta, leading into a second rope knee drop from O'Reilly, with Barreta bridged across the knee of Fish! The innovative style was getting hot and heavy, as O'Reilly took the arm of Barreta and began punishing him with a series of unique stretching variations - when Nick came back in, delivering a smashing back elbow, then following up with a spinkick that was blocked by Kyle - who took the leg and quickly locked in a Sharpshooter, paying tribute to fellow Canadian wrestling legend, Bret "Hitman" Hart. But it was not meant to be as Matt came in to break it up with a sharp superkick, jawjacking Kyle O'Reilly, Kyle falling through the ropes to the floor! Barreta got back in there with some strikes, then catching Matt off the ropes with a hiptoss, followed by a dropkick sending Matt to the floor. Barreta sent Nick overboard too; Romero battling Fish to the floor in addition. RPG Vice in the ring, Barreta warmed things up with a huge somersault topé over the top rope onto members of ReDRagon and the Young Bucks, before Romero followed up with one of his own, Roppongi Vice now riding a wave of momentum in this title match!
The match resumed back inside, with Roppongi Vice having Kyle O'Reilly where they wanted him, Romero nailing O'Reilly with a sharp soccer kick to the chest, followed by another standing moonsault from Barreta for two, as this went broken up by Bobby Fish; Fish then coming in and blocking a kick from Romero with the Fish Hook Deluxe Edition heel hold - but Barreta stomped him out of it. Barreta tried to trade strikes with Fish, but Bobby cut him off with a drop toe hold, then applying a cross-legged deathlock - Nick and Matt in there to break it up. The Young Bucks connected with stereo superkicks to Kyle O'Reilly, then to Romero - before Matt propped Bobby Fish up over the second rope; Matt elevating Fish over his knee, whilst Nick came off the top rope with a big senton bomb! Barreta was still in there, but Matt got him up on his shoulders looking for the rolling fireman's carry - Barreta slipping out and connecting with the Gobstopper flying knee: O'Reilly then coming in with a series of forearms followed by a knee to the face; a spinkick following, but Romero entered and tried to intercept; O'Reilly taking him down and looking for the Armageddon cross arm-breaker - Nick there to break it up! Matt took Fish up on his shoulders, executing the rolling fireman's carry - and More Bang For Your Buck followed, with the 450 splash from Nick, following by the moonsault from the top from Matt; victory surely inevitable, but O'Reilly managed to crawl over and break the fall! Nick stomped away at Kyle, whilst Matt got Barreta with another superkick; before propping him up for the tombstone piledriver, Nick going to go for the Indytaker spike piledriver - intercepted as Bobby Fish kicked Barreta back down to the ground, and then sent Matt out to the floor. ReDRagon connected with Chasing the Dragon on Barreta, but Nick was there and spinkicked O'Reilly; a spinning back elbow knocking Fish down too. Barreta came back to life and ended up with Kyle O'Reilly on his back going for the Dudebuster; Rocky Romero on the apron ready to make it the Strong Zero - but when Rocky tried to springboard dropkick the back of O'Reilly, Matt pulled him down and got him in the tombstone position; Nick inside with a neckbreaker to Barreta, before running across the ring and slingshotting over the top rope - the Indytaker on the floor for Fish! The Young Bucks sprinted back inside, where Barreta had O'Reilly up for the Dudebuster again, connecting: but a stereo superkick from the Young Bucks took Barreta down! The Young Bucks followed up with another More Bang For Your Buck - the 450 splash from Nick, and the moonsault from Matt - and that was all in a packed three-way tag team bout!Winners: The Young Bucks in 13:11 [***¾] ***NEW CHAMPIONS*** The Young Bucks had finally done what they set out to do, by regaining the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, winning them for a second time! Nick and Matt Jackson celebrated with the titles in hand whilst Cody Hall came down to celebrate with them - the look of despair on the faces of Roppongi Vice however depicted disappointment, having done so well and came so close to capturing the titles for themselves. ReDRagon meanwhile had finally been uncrowned, losing them in their third defense.
4. BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga) vs CHAOS (Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba)Another instalment in the ongoing rivalry between the Bullet Club and CHAOS was upon us, as this one dates back technically to when A.J. Styles debuted for New Japan Pro Wrestling, defeating Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in May of 2014 in his first night. But as for this match in particular, it was at a recent press conference for Wrestling HINOKUNI that Toru Yano threw his bottle of water, spilling the liquid on Bad Luck Fale, causing "the Underboss" to get agitated by the notoriously mischievous Yano. Therefore, here we were - one month following Bad Luck Fale and Tama Tonga's unsuccessful effort to become IWGP Tag Team Champions where they lost to Meiyu Tag, they were facing the comedic Yano, as well as gifted mixed martial-arts grappler, Kazushi Sakuraba - a man with the alias - "Gracie Hunter" - in which MMA analysts proclaimed him after he managed to defeat all four members of the Gracie family. The match started immediately with Toru Yano backing away from Tama Tonga; the unorthodox "Bad Boy" coming after Toru with several animal-like pounces, Yano cowardly backing up into the ropes, whilst Tonga roared at Yano to come in and fight him. Yano tagged in Sakuraba, who tried to get Tonga into a Greco-Roman knucklelock, Tonga lured in, which Kazushi quickly attempted to kick Tama, causing the cat-like reflexes of Tonga to set in, causing him to back off this time. Kazushi sweeped Tonga off his feet, then went for a front facelock which Tama Tonga was able to reverse out of fast: then pouncing on Sakuraba with a double forearm, followed up again - a stomp for good measures as Tonga grabbed Sakuraba and brought in the mean three-hundred pound Bad Luck Fale. Fale hooked Sakuraba with a body blow, followed up by a second one. Fale bodyslammed Kazushi, talking trash to the "Gracie Hunter", then locking in a nerve hold keeping the smaller mixed martial-artist at bay. But of course, a submission hold such as the nerve hold was all strength and power - and the agile, flexible Sakuraba was able to work his way out of it, before catching Fale with multiple thigh kicks delivered to the big man - Kazushi attempting to try for the Sakuraba kimura lock - grapevined on the abdomen of Bad Luck Fale; but "the Underboss" whilst in pain, managed to run Sakuraba into the corner, sandwiching him with a big corner splash! Fale delivered a suplex to Kazushi before coming off the ropes looking for the Falling Coconut headbutt: Fale getting nothing but mat, as Kazushi Sakuraba tagged in Toru Yano!
And perhaps it was anticipated that this would happen, which is when Toru Yano came in and gave Fale a dose of deja vu when he threw the water from his bottle at Bad Luck Fale; Yano backing into the ropes and yelling "break" at the Tongan. But Fale was vexed already, grabbing Yano in the ropes and pounding down on him with right hands! Fale brought Yano back into the centre, sending him into the ropes for a big boot to follow; and as Yano crawled to the bottom corner of the ring, Fale began choking away at him, tagging in Tama Tonga, who delivered a follow-up stomp for Toru. Tonga proceeded to begin stomping a mudhole in the chest and jaw of Yano, soon choking him out with his boot before being reprimanded by the referee for his antics. With Tonga pre-occupied however, Yano low blowed Fale, and then untied the turnbuckle padding - picking up the padding and swinging for Tama Tonga - Tama ducking one and jumping over the next: Yano finally striking Tama with a third one right into the chest; Yano trying to nail Tama with more, but "the Bad Boy" crawled on all fours as fast as he could, almost like a scolded dog, doing anything to avoid more shots from the turnbuckle padding! Tama tagged in Bad Luck Fale - who was absolutely seething after the low blow from Yano moments prior. Yano tossing the padding at Fale, just for Fale to punch it away like nothing! Fale cornered Yano and picked him up by the throat, looking for the Grenade, but Yano poked him in the eyes, Toru trying to roll up Fale just for Fale to power out of it; turning a cradle attempt into a second suplex! Fale picked Yano up looking for the Grenade again, this time intercepted by Sakuraba, coming in with kicks to the back of Fale; and Tonga soon came in, tackling Kazushi in the corner - but Sakuraba locked on the Sakuraba Lock on Tonga in the corner; and as Fale went for the Bad Luck Fall, he had Yano on his shoulders - but "YTR" slipped free, rolling Fale up with the tights, and Yano had stolen a win against Bad Luck Fale!Winners: CHAOS in 9:29 [**¼]Toru Yano celebrated his victory as if he had just won a championship match - the crowd delighted to see CHAOS win as Kazushi Sakuraba had released the Sakuraba Lock on Tama Tonga; Bad Luck Fale however returning to his feet and jumping "YTR" from behind! Fale stomped away at Yano, "the Underboss" peeved at Yano beating him moments prior, one-upping him again - and he wanted retribution. The bell rattled on and on, as the Bullet Club pounded on both Yano and Sakuraba in the ring. Fale nailed the Bad Luck Fall on Yano, before Tonga and Fale lined up Kazushi, nailing him with the spear-lariat combination known as Dawn Raid! Fale and Tonga had gained some revenge, but was this a forecast of what was to come later, when the Bullet Club's leader, Karl Anderson faces CHAOS leader, Kazuchika Okada?
5. IWGP TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MEIYU TAG (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto) (c) vs THE KINGDOM (Michael Bennett & Matt Taven) w/Maria KanellisAlready, this has been a tough week for the IWGP Tag Team Champions. Meiyu Tag, coming off of three successful tag team title defenses - no less, against all heavyweights representing the Bullet Club faction - including Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows at the New Beginning in Osaka, Bad Luck Fale and Tama Tonga at Invasion Attack, and just this past Thursday at Wrestling HINOKUNI, A.J. Styles and Yujiro Takahashi. But now for the second time this week, they had to defend the IWGP Tag Team Championships for the fourth time in their reign, Michael Bennett and Matt Taven of the Kingdom. Represented by Ring of Honor, these two men have already made an impact over in the United States for their tag team work, their faction also extended with leader, the former ROH World Champion Adam Cole. And with the New Japan and ROH tour coming up in two weeks time, it was sure to be driving the duo to victory tonight. Since arriving in New Japan, Bennett and Taven already have a win over tag team mainstays, the former eleven-time IWGP Tag Team Champions in Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima, and now they were here - nonetheless, with the seductress, Maria Kanellis. Known for her luscious looks and choice of - or thereby, lack of - clothing, Maria has been able to distract and flaunt her assets to many of opponents: and one had to wonder if Meiyu Tag would be distracted by her, or if they would be exempt. Meiyu Tag appeared banged up slightly from Wrestling HINOKUNI's hard-fought battle; Katsuyori Shibata wearing a bandage on his thigh, whilst Hirooki Goto wore an elbow pad, noticable as the match got underway. Michael Bennett won a game of rock-paper-scissors to start off with Hirooki Goto, "Aramusha" starting off with Bennett with a hammerlock, which Bennett wrestled into a side headlock, Goto shoving Bennett into the ropes, but stiffly responding with a shoulder block that sent Bennett backwards into a corner. Goto wasn't wasting any time however, wanting to get this match out of the way with a big corner lariat; Hirooki Goto clubbing the back of Michael Bennett before tagging in Shibata quickly. "The Wrestler" now in, he forearmed Bennett several times before looking for a spinkick that Bennett managed to sidestep, then capitalizing with an axe handle and a knee to the gut. Bennett slapped Katsuyori across the face, which was probably a mistake as Shibata headbutted Mike and laid into him with a stiff kick to the chest! That kick may have harmed the bandaged leg however, and Bennett noticed immediately, a dropkick taking Shibata to the mat!
Maria Kanellis watched at ringside as her husband picked up the leg and slammed it down before stomping away at it; Bennett tagging in Matt Taven with a boot pinning the leg down - a stomp from Taven from the bottom rope connecting. Taven gloated to boos of disapproval from Fukuoka, when Shibata tried to come back with a big slap - Taven cutting him off with a knee to the gut and a mat slam; Matt soon dropping an elbow over the leg and then hyperextending the knee joint sideways across his torso. On the attack, Bennett got another tag and came in to continue the isolation - this simple tag team method effective in this title match; as Bennett propped the leg of Shibata over the bottom rope and began standing on it for a prolonged amount of time, then tagging Taven in to continue the hold - both members of the Kingdom frequently tagging in and out to further work on the leg. Taven brought Shibata to his feet and struck with a forearm, but Katsuyori responded with a faceoff with Taven - nailing Taven with several clubbing forearms to the face, but when spinkicking Matt came more leg strain, and the hesitation on the next move showed as Taven quickly connected with a Russian legsweep; Taven quickly following up with a quebrada springboard moonsault from the second rope, only getting two as "the Wrestler" powered out. A tag, and in came Bennett again with some leg stretches causing Shibata to groan in pain. Bennett picked Shibata up and sent him into the ropes looking for a lariat - Shibata ducking it and connecting with a big boot to the face of Mike Bennett! Maria and Matt called for Bennett to react fast, but in came Hirooki Goto, charging in and nailing Taven with forearms, followed up with a shoulder block and a suplex! Taven tagged in Bennett, but Bennett had no further luck as Goto blocked a superkick attempt into a thigh kick, "Aramusha" following with a spinebuster for Bennett! The Ring of Honor stars were in trouble as Goto delivered the corner lariat on Bennett before delivering a headbutt for Taven - Shibata coming in and knocking Taven down into the corner with a basement dropkick! Shibata followed with a soccer kick to Bennett in the other corner, shrugging off the pain caused by his leg, but visibly still feeling it! The exhaustion was perhaps setting in now, as Goto meanwhile looked for the Ushigoroshi fireman's carry neckbreaker across the knee on Bennett, but Bennett landed on his feet, ducking a Tokko Lariat - and a spear took Goto down! Bennett dropkicked Shibata through the ropes to the apron, as the Kingdom suddenly united as Bennett nailed a Twist of Fate neckbreaker on Goto; Taven following with a senton bomb from the top rope - a tribute to the Hardy Boyz of TNA fame - Bennett covering, but Goto powered out at two!
The challengers were on offense at this point in the match, with the IWGP Tag Team Championships up for grabs; Bennett picking Goto up and attempting to pick him up just for Hirooki to block it, then nailing a backdrop suplex on the American; but Goto began holding his bandaged arm; the exhaustion was setting in for the fighting, tenacious champions. Goto managed to tag in Katsuyori Shibata, who was worse for wear himself, walking in with a limp as Shibata then began to execute several kicks to the chest of Bennett with his good leg, Shibata following with a dropkick to the jaw of a seated Bennett; Maria Kanellis meanwhile trying to help her boys by getting onto the apron, performing a little dance for Shibata: "the Wrestler" almost puzzled by her antics, before turning around to eat a big springboard enzuigiri from the middle rope from Taven! Taven performed a hip attack across the arm of Goto before kicking him out of the ring - the Kingdom nailing a joint lariat to Shibata before picking him up looking for the Hail Mary spike piledriver; Shibata breaking loose and backdropping Bennett off of him, a big boot derailing Taven on the top rope! Katsuyori Shibata was fighting, as he picked Taven from the top and delivered a big death valley driver; Shibata off the ropes with the Penalty Kick to Taven! But the damage was done to his leg, and Goto came in for the tag. Shibata locked in a sleeper on Bennett who began fading; Katsuyori dropping him to a seated position whilst Goto came off the ropes looking for a PK of his own; Goto distracted by Maria Kanellis at ringside pulling on his foot; and Goto began watching as Maria flaunted with him - turning around to get a crossbody from Taven! Shibata broke the sleeper and forearmed Taven in the corner, whilst Goto picked Bennett up and executed the Ushigoroshi - Goto looking for the Shouten Kai, but Maria was again on the apron dancing for "Aramusha"! Bennett seized the opportunity to connect with a superkick to the jaw of Goto; an axe handle sending Shibata out to the floor. Bennett picked Goto up for the piledriver; as Taven recovered and slowly went up to the top rope; the Hail Mary spike piledriver connecting, and just like that we crowned new champions!Winners: The Kingdom in 12:34 [***½] ***NEW CHAMPIONS*** The two Americans representing Ring of Honor were about to take home the IWGP Tag Team Championships held by Katsuyori Shibata and Hirooki Goto! Matt Taven hugged Michael Bennett in the ring, the Kingdom claiming their title belts and hugging and kissing them - as Maria Kanellis climbed in to join in on the celebration! The reign for Shibata and Goto was now over, as Shibata climbed into the ring limping and all, in absolute disbelief. Shibata's first title reign in New Japan Pro Wrestling was officially over, and he couldn't believe it. He aided to Goto, Meiyu Tag as a pair sure to fight another day - one where they are both fresh and haven't already endured one title defense already this week. But despite their weaknesses tonight, they had remained defensive and put up a fight despite the eventual loss - their reign over after three successful defenses. Taven, Kanellis and Bennett left with the titles, the second title out of two changing hands at Wrestling Dontaku in Fukuoka!
- TWENTY MINUTE INTERMISSION - With the conclusion of the previous match, Kimihiko Ozaki declared time for intermission, advocating for a twenty minute break from the action. The announce team, Shinpei Nogami, Milano Collection A.T. and Jushin Thunder Liger discussed the events already taken place, with highlights from each match up to this point, before discussing what was still to come later in the show. They highlighted the fact that so far both titles defended had changed hands, and that three more titles were on the line tonight. An advertisement for G1 Climax 25 aired during this intermission, promoting the annual big tournament tour - starting on July 20 and concluding on August 16, 2015.
6. IWGP JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP KENNY OMEGA w/Cody Hall & Young Bucks (c) vs RYUSUKE TAGUCHIIt was back in October when "the Cleaner" Kenny Omega officially signed a contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling, making the former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion exclusive to New Japan Pro Wrestling - but he immediately betrayed fans, when he debuted under a veil as the newest addition to the Bullet Club faction. In it solely for the money, so he says, "the Cleaner" immediately challenged then-champion Ryusuke Taguchi to a title match - and on January 4 at Wrestle Kingdom 9 in the Tokyo Dome, Kenny Omega won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. Since then, he has vowed to clean up the garbage of the junior heavyweights, including "Hooligan Garbage" Rocky Romero at the New Beginning, and "Motor City Garbage" Alex Shelley at Invasion Attack. Omega initially refused to give the former champion a rematch, but that stopped when the "Funky Weapon" defeated Kenny Omega in a match - and now, Omega has vowed to put down "Miyagi Garbage" too. The champion came down to the ring with Cody Hall and the Young Bucks - notable as Omega won the title in the Tokyo Dome with assistance from Nick and Matt Jackson - who are now two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions after earlier tonight. But Taguchi was ready for the challenge - two belts already having changed hands tonight thus far. But could the "Funky Weapon" continue this record going on tonight? Omega pointed his finger gun at the forehead of Ryusuke Taguchi, who responded by smacking his rear at Kenny - Omega then trying to jump Ryusuke, Taguchi ducking it and taking him down in a headlock takedown, Omega freaking out and immediately grabbing the bottom rope to break the hold. Omega evacuated out to the floor, into the waiting arms of the Young Bucks and Cody Hall - and Taguchi immediately bounced off the ropes, executing a somersault senton topé onto all four members of the Bullet Club! Taguchi picked Nick up and rammed him face first into his rear, before he did the same to Matt - Taguchi picking up Omega and rolling him back inside, "the Funky Weapon" lining a recovering Omega up for a running hip attack, Kenny however rolling Taguchi up for one, followed up with a dropkick into the shoulder! Omega quickly focused on the arm, stomping rapidly away at it before rolling out of the ring, taking Taguchi's arm with him, and slamming it down across the edge of the ring apron; the shoulder hyperextended! Kenny rolled back inside, distracting the referee allowing for Nick Jackson to step up onto the apron, running across and nailing Taguchi with a sharp kick to the side of the head! The Young Bucks were getting involved again, and Omega covered for a near fall, as Taguchi was outnumbered heavily in this situation.
Omega mounted Ryusuke Taguchi, delivering several clobbering forearms raining down into the face of the challenger, who is a former two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion; Ryusuke however blocking access to Omega going after his arm, as Taguchi picked Omega up on his back, ramming him backwards into the corner; Taguchi then coming off the ropes, nailing "the Cleaner" with a charging hip attack bookending Omega in the corner! Omega was dazed from it, and Taguchi followed up with a second jumping hip attack, covering Omega - but at the count of two, Cody Hall put the foot of Kenny's on the ropes, breaking up the fall! Taguchi was experiencing similar problems to that he had at Wrestle Kingdom 9 - with the Biz Cliz interference at ringside; Taguchi scratching his head about what to do now. Taguchi picked Omega up and tried for a suplex, but Omega landed on his feet; Omega then delivering a high knee sending Taguchi into the corner face first! At ringside, Nick and Matt pulled the arms of Ryusuke forward; "the Funky Weapon" trapped there, and Omega followed with a corner high knee, directed at the shoulder again; Omega following up with a second one before the referee forced the break, going out to warn the Young Bucks about their interference. Meanwhile, Cody Hall passed Omega the Bullet Club flag that they came out with; Omega sticking the flag pole into the rear end of "the Funky Weapon"! Taguchi felt the pain as he cowered to his feet; Omega charging but Ryusuke ducked it, a dropkick knocking Cody down and out of the ring again; Taguchi then nailing Kenny with a suplex; Taguchi picking up the flagpole and poking Omega in the rear end with it! Ryusuke tossed it out before the referee re-entered the ring; Taguchi picking Kenny up and deadlifting him into a bridging German suplex; the cover only getting two, as Omega managed to kick out! Taguchi immediately began to follow up, going for presumably the Three Amigos - but Omega reversed the third into an inside cradle for a close fall: Omega then floating through, connecting with a deadlift gutwrench powerbomb; Omega with an ode to "Dr Death" Steve Williams, covering for Taguchi to kick out at two! Omega was getting riled up now, getting extremely animated, as Taguchi got up in the corner; Taguchi catching a charging Omega with the sunset flip for two; Omega getting up and charging Taguchi, Taguchi sending Omega into the corner, and Taguchi sprung up to the second rope; Omega catching Taguchi with the Tony Jaa knees stunning Taguchi and knocking him to the outside!
"The Funky Weapon" was in a bad way on the floor, as Omega distracted the referee again; allowing for Cody Hall to pick Taguchi up over his shoulder and run away with him! Hall ran and dropped Taguchi up on the aisleway near the entrance, as the referee began to count the challenger out; Taguchi in trouble now without much movement! The interference could cost Taguchi the match by count-out, but he began to crawl on the aisle at the count of eight, Taguchi slow but determined to break the count; the Young Bucks standing ready to meet Ryusuke; Taguchi however managing to crawl between the legs of both Nick and Matt - Taguchi slipping back inside by the count of nineteen! Omega waited for Taguchi, then bouncing off the ropes looking for the Kotaro Krusher; Taguchi sidestepping it and nailing him with the hip attack sending him into the corner. Taguchi lifted Omega onto the top rope and went up; connecting with a super frankensteiner; Taguchi covering but Omega kicked out at two again! "The Cleaner" was on the verge of losing back his title in his third defense - but he was not letting Taguchi beat him with ease. Ryusuke picked Omega up and went for the sliding hip attack, looking to end this bout but Kenny schoolboyed Taguchi into the corner; Omega then picking Taguchi up and powerbombing him into the corner; Omega following with the Kotaro Krusher bulldog facebuster; covering Taguchi for only a two count! Taguchi was fighting it off, as Omega wanted to go home with the Dragon suplex - Taguchi blocking it into the victory roll; Taguchi using the momentum to send him into the ropes and the sliding hip attack connected! Taguchi pinned Omega, but Cody Hall dragged the referee out! Taguchi came so close but so far away from victory, as suddenly the Young Bucks came into the ring, Matt trying to get Taguchi up for the tombstone piledriver; Nick on the apron, going for the springboard; Taguchi however reversing into a victory roll, and Nick landed face first into his brother's rear end! The Young Bucks bailed, as Taguchi got Omega up for the Dodon chickenwing facebuster - Omega however low blowing Taguchi, nailing the Dragon suplex! Omega followed Taguchi for the One Winged Angel electric chair driver - but Taguchi broke loose, landing behind Kenny and breaking out a reverse frankensteiner! Taguchi bounced off the ropes, the hip attack again side-stepped by a dazed Omega, who caught Taguchi on the bridge of the nose with the Tony Jaa again - Omega following with the One Winged Angel - "the Cleaner" racking up another victory!Winner: Kenny Omega in 14:42 [***¾] ***STILL CHAMPION*** "The Cleaner" had broken the night's streak of titles changing hands, and if it wasn't for the Young Bucks and Cody Hall's interference at ringside, we could have had a third champion - but nonetheless, Kenny Omega had fought hard to defend the title successfully for a third time, Ryusuke Taguchi definitely gave it his all, but the numbers game was way too much. Omega celebrated with the Bullet Club boys; Omega with the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship whilst Nick and Matt Jackson held the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships; Cody Hall waving the Biz Cliz flag high.
But it didn't stop there, as Omega grabbed the microphone and declared that the Bullet Club was taking over New Japan Pro Wrestling by storm; "the Cleaner" noting how three of them were wearing gold, and that one day soon, all of the titles in New Japan would be around the waists of the Bullet Club. Kenny then noted he was in the process of cleaning up the juniors division, how he beat "Hooligan Garbage", "Motor City Garbage", and now "Miyagi Garbage" yet again. But who was next? Omega noted the Best of the Super Juniors was coming up later this month, and he was not taking part. But that he would be watching, because the winner of that tournament would be facing Omega for the title at Dominion on July 5 - and he couldn't wait. Could it be "ROH Garbage"? "Mexican Garbage"? "Elder Garbage"? "Time Splitter Garbage"? The possibilities are endless - but either way, "the Cleaner" will end up on top! The Bullet Club then left, reeking of confidence.
7. HIROSHI TANAHASHI, KOTA IBUSHI & GREAT BASH HEEL (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) vs BULLET CLUB (A.J. Styles, Doc Gallows, Yujiro Takahashi & Cody Hall)We were getting into the big matches now, with the IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi leading a team into battle with his next challenger, A.J. Styles on the opposing end. Aside Tanahashi was "the Golden Star" Kota Ibushi, a former three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, and somebody that knew "the Phenomenal One" very well, after an instant classic took place at Invasion Attack last month between the two men. In addition was the Great Bash Heel contingent, this time consisting of Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma, coming off of an eight man tag team win with Tetsuya Naito against members of CHAOS four nights ago at Wrestling HINOKUNI - with their newest addition to the faction, Daisuke Sekimoto challenging Tomohiro Ishii later on for the NEVER Openweight Championship. Meanwhile representing the Bullet Club with Styles, was "Outlaw" Doc Gallows - the six-foot-eight three-hundred pounder who was beaten by Tanahashi in a tag team bout at Wrestling HINOKUNI, sure to be out for redemption. There was Yujiro Takahashi, the Benedict Arnold of New Japan who sided with the Biz Cliz, helping A.J. Styles win his first IWGP Heavyweight Championship one year ago today; as well as Bullet Club young boy, Cody Hall, who obviously was instrumental in helping Kenny Omega retain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship moments ago. The decks were loaded, as the Biz Cliz jumped the gun on the bell, attacking Tanahashi's team with all eight men trading blows in the ring, the match breaking down to Tanahashi and Styles trading holds in the ring; Tanahashi locked tight in an armbar from A.J., before slipping out, nipping up and taking him down with a headlock takeover; Styles then headscissoring his way out and nipping up himself, slapping on a knee bar; but Tanahashi broke that effort up and caught a big boot from Styles with an attempt at the Cloverleaf early; A.J. breaking loose and attempting a Pelé kick; Tanahashi fast to respond and slapping on a single-legged Boston crab - until Yujiro Takahashi came in to break it up! Off to a hot start, Styles slowly got to his feet and delivered a backbreaker to Tanahashi, dragging him by the hair to the Biz Cliz's corner, in coming Yujiro Takahashi. "Mr R Rated", Takahashi raked the eyes of Hiroshi - then big booted Tanahashi, a body slam further impacting the back of Tanahashi as he then tagged in Cody Hall, who came in and delivered multiple knees to the abdomen; the six-foot-nine second generation star looking for a bear hug, but Tanahashi saw it coming and broke free with a dropkick; Tanahashi tagging in Togi Makabe of G.B.H. "Bousou Kingkong" was in there to teach Cody Hall the hard way of learning, with a big axe handle knocking Hall down, before following with some drilling forearms, and then following suit with a big corner lariat; Makabe tagging in Tomoaki Honma, the master of the infamous Kokeshi, who came in and suplexed the big man, Honma slapping his head and looking for Kokeshi immediately off the ropes, but Cody rolled out of the way! Hall tagged in Doc Gallows, who came in and gave Honma several body blows followed by a throat thrust; Gallows proceeding to choke Honma against the corner with his gigantic boot; before picking Honma up and looking for a sidewalk slam - Honma breaking loose and delivering a hard lariat that only stumbled Gallows. Going back to the woodshed, Tomoaki followed with a second one, before instantly going off the ropes looking for the Kokeshi again, but Gallows saw it coming and took a hold of Honma, breaking his body over the knee with a ribbreaker! Gallows let Takahashi back in, Yujiro striking Honma in the ribs with a kick before following with a shinbreaker; Takahashi covering just for Honma to kick out. Yujiro slapped on a chinhold, which Tomoaki easily managed to work his way out of - but Takahashi then dropkicked Honma in the leg taking him back down. Takahashi tried to pick Honma up for a powerbomb, but Tomoaki weight crashed down on Yujiro - Honma off the ropes, and connecting with the first Kokeshi of the match! Honma tagged in Kota Ibushi for the first time in this match, Ibushi sprung into the ring and caught Takahashi with a series of kicks, before a punch, a slap and a head kick followed; Ibushi riding the wave of momentum with a standing Meteora, covering just for Gallows to come in and break it up. Gallows pounded on Ibushi until Makabe came charging in, and before you knew it all eight men were going at it again in the midst of a highly combustible battle! Makabe and Honma delivered a double suplex to Takahashi before the brawl returned to ringside again, and Kota Ibushi covered for a near fall. The match continued as Ibushi tagged in Hiroshi Tanahashi, right when Yujiro managed to get the tag to A.J. Styles, and in came the top contender to square off with the IWGP Heavyweight Champion! "The Phenomenal One" came in with a charge, but Hiroshi managed to duck a lariat attempted, and then ducked a striking combination from A.J., catching him with a forearm and a dropkick jawjacking Styles; Tanahashi picking A.J.'s leg up looking for the Dragon Screw, but A.J. turned it into an enzuigiri before going to the corner and looking for the quebrada into the reverse DDT; Tanahashi catching A.J., but rotating his body and lifting the "Once in a Century Talent" into a northern lights suplex bridged into a cover, A.J. raising his body and getting in a backslide, but Tanahashi landed on his feet and then came off the ropes looking for the Sling Blade; A.J. blocking it and catching him with a flying forearm! Styles rushed Tanahashi again just to get propelled to the apron, where A.J. came off with a springboard forearm - Tanahashi however rolling out of the way, and then catching him with the Sling Blade this time executed! The champion looked for the High Fly Flow, but Doc Gallows came in to interrupt it, "the Outlaw" gorilla pressing Tanahashi off the top rope, and A.J. picked Hiroshi up, connecting with the Bloody Sunday! Styles covered, but Makabe rushed the ring to break it up, before nailing Gallows with a big King Kong Lariat! Honma then jumped in, climbing up to the top rope and coming right down with a successful Kokeshi headbutt on Gallows; Takahashi however jumping in and trying for Tokyo Pimps on Honma; Makabe there to break it up - Kota Ibushi climbing up to the top rope, nailing a big Stardust Press that landed on Great Bash Hell, Gallows and Takahashi! Ibushi was on a roll, when Cody Hall stepped in, clobbering Ibushi with the discus lariat before helping Styles up to his feet. Hall in the corner, A.J. saw a stunned Tanahashi and picked him up, looking for the Styles Clash - but Hiroshi reversed with a hurricanrana for two; A.J. rolling into a blind tag from Cody Hall. Tanahashi then tried another Sling Blade blocked by A.J., but Hiroshi turned it into an attempt at the Styles Clash of his own; Cody Hall, the new legal man coming in to break the attempt! Hall tried for the Outsider's Edge - a tribute to his father, Scott Hall - but Makabe broke it with a lariat bringing Tanahashi back to his feet. Hiroshi tagged in Kota Ibushi, the "Golden Star" being made legal unspotted by Hall, who was given a running High Fly Flow crossbody from Tanahashi; as Ibushi came in and roundhouse kicked Takahashi out of the ring, then front dropkicked Styles off of the apron. Ibushi charged up top, and came off with the Golden Star Press executed on Hall, hooking the leg fr the three count!
Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi & Great Bash Heel in 14:43 [***½]"The Golden Star" celebrated his win among the cheers in attendance from appreciative Fukuoka fans, a hard-fought eight-man tag team win for Kota Ibushi in this instance, whilst Hiroshi Tanahashi celebrated alongside him; the IWGP Heavyweight Champion's team prevalent in this encounter, with A.J. Styles, his next top contender, on the other side. Styles glared maliciously at the "Once in a Century Talent", seemingly waiting for his next opportunity to fight with Tanahashi - and one day the title match would come, as the Bullet Club collectively helped Cody Hall to his feet, showing a somewhat new found appreciation for Cody Hall in this bout. Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma meanwhile, stayed slightly separated from Ibushi and Tanahashi, as Great Bash Heel were successful - but the real task of their revamped faction coming later, when Daisuke Sekimoto challenges Tomohiro Ishii for the NEVER Openweight Championship.
8. KAZUCHIKA OKADA w/Gedo vs KARL ANDERSON w/Bad Luck Fale and Tama TongaOne of three main events to tonight's Wrestling Dontaku extravaganza, as coming off of the loss at the New Japan Cup, Kazuchika Okada was out for revenge against "the Machine Gun" Karl Anderson. It was during the semi-final round where Anderson was able to score a huge victory against the "Rainmaker" - the former two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion however, not particularly impressed by the win of the Bullet Club founder - as Anderson had won with help from Bullet Club allies on that night. After Anderson was able to win the finals of the New Japan Cup by defeating Kota Ibushi through similar circumstances, Anderson was unsuccessful in his pursuit of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Hiroshi Tanahashi during the main event of Invasion Attack last month. It was in that match where Okada, always a rival of Tanahashi, actually indirectly helped aid him to victory, when Okada equalized the odds by attacking interfering members of the Bullet Club prior to the match's conclusion. Since then, Anderson has spouted conspiracy theories about Okada and Tanahashi's allegience - almost like a truce to combat the Bullet Club, though this claim remains to be seen or heard. "Rainmaker" was ready for whatever it took to combat Karl Anderson, seeking a win in his own right over Karl tonight - and Anderson was packing heat, as he was accompanied by Bad Luck Fale and Tama Tonga: the Tongan contingent of the Bullet Club that was unsuccessful in tag team action earlier on against Toru Yano and Kazushi Sakuraba, but proceeded to lay the CHAOS members out anyway. With Okada's quest to regain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on hold temporarily, Okada appeared focused whilst Gedo motivated him from the ringside area. Anderson was hesitant to lock up with Okada early on, but eventually did - as Okada took Anderson into a wristlock, slowly wrenching the arm - but Anderson, no slouch himself, took over and took a hold of the arm of "Rainmaker", hammerlock applied, but Okada snapmared him through and slapped on a chinlock, as Anderson appeared to struggle out of it, at least initially - but an eye rake did the trick, as Anderson then went for the arm again - this time wrenching on it so harshly that Okada fell to the mat - the match returning to the mat as Anderson applied a variation of the chickenwing crossface on Okada; Okada rolling backwards and onto his feet - Okada sending Karl off the ropes, ducking a back elbow - Anderson mis-stepping a bicycle kick; and Okada took him down with a shoulder block! The combat continuing, Anderson ducked and leapfrogged a charging Okada, before going for a lariat; Okada taking the arm and turning it into a Japanese arm drag, taking Anderson across the ring - and the Bullet Club leader bailed from the ring in a huff, aggravated by this oneupmanship displayed by the "Ace of the New Era"!Trying to rethink his strategy, Karl slowly returned to the ring: "the Machine Gun"s confidence surely rocked after the opening exchanges of this bout. Anderson goaded Okada into a knuckle lock before kneeing him in the abdomen; Anderson striking Okada between the eyes with a haymaker, before going for the arm again this time by extending it out and dropping a knee right on top; the hammerlock applied with Anderson covering Okada's back. Okada sat up hastily, as Anderson transitioned it into another wristlock, but Okada sent Anderson off the ropes, Karl however sticking to the hammerlock before looking again at going for the chickenwing crossface; Okada with a takeover flipping Anderson in front of him; Okada catching Anderson in the jaw with a back elbow before a body slam followed; the dropkick to the back of Karl's seated head following! Anderson rolled across the ring to the ropes, where Okada looked to lariat him over the top; Anderson sending Okada out to the apron, before delivering a step-up jumping boot to the face knocking Okada down to the floor at ringside. Tiger Hattori, who also officiated the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match earlier (which included tons of interference from fellow Bullet Club members, the Young Bucks and Cody Hall), needed to keep his eyes open during this one, as Anderson distracted Hattori, whilst behind his back Tama Tonga pounced on the back of Okada; then raining down with forearms on "Rainmaker", sending him right into the ringside barriers spine-first! With Tiger distracted, he saw nothing once again; and Anderson taunted Okada with his own taunt, laughing evilly as he did the "Rainmaker Pose". "The Machine Gun" joined Okada out on the floor, tackling him spine-first into the barrier once more before scoop slamming him onto the ringside mats, a running elbow drop keeping Okada down, hurting! Okada was slow to move again, whilst Anderson returned to the ring, once again mocking Okada and talking trash to Okada's mentor, Gedo at ringside. Gedo tried to motivate Okada to get back in the fight, which he did at the count of twelve; Anderson however right there to stomp repeatedly on the arm of Kazuchika; Anderson making a point of working on the arm that is a vital instrument to be used when setting up the Rainmaker Lariat.Anderson picked Okada up and delivered a shoulderbreaker, the knee positioned right into the shoulderblade and collarbone of the CHAOS member; Anderson then stomping on that worked over arm further. "The Machine Gun" had found some confidence again by this point, mustering up a beating on Okada as at one point he slapped him repeatedly, yelling about how he expected more of a fight from the "Rainmaker". Anderson propped Okada in the corner and looked for a big boot, just for Okada to sidestep it, then splashing Anderson there! Okada back on offense, delivered two chops to Anderson using his good arm, then sent him off the ropes looking for a straightjacket neckbreaker; Anderson however breaking loose and suddenly nailing Okada with his own dropkick! Anderson was emulating Okada's offense now, drawing disapproval from the pro-Okada crowd here in Fukuoka; but the Biz Cliz leader wasn't caring at this point. "The Machine Gun" picked Okada up and went for a neckbreaker, but Okada was awake by this point; Kazuchika rotating Anderson and driving him head-first down to the mat with a DDT! Okada held onto his arm as he slowly responded and returned to his feet, Okada heading up to the top rope looking for a flying move; but Tama Tonga once again climbed the apron; Okada trying to kick him away, finally doing so but Anderson derailed Okada in his efforts with a big boot crotching "Rainmaker" up there. Now on the second rope, Anderson aimed for the superplex, but Okada remained resilient, somehow getting Anderson on his shoulders and delivering a fireman's carry flipping Anderson out of the ring onto Tama Tonga and Bad Luck Fale on the floor! Okada, ever the opportunist, then climbed up top carefully, executing a tremendous splash landing on all three members of the Bullet Club! Okada appeared to do further damage to the arm off of the high-risk dive, as he picked Anderson up and gave him a big European-style uppercut; Anderson reeling and trying to gain a second wind, Okada propping Anderson over the barrier and going for the elevated DDT we have seen from Okada before - just for Bad Luck Fale to jump Okada, gorilla pressing him shoulder-first over the barrier again! Further damage done, but this attack was blatantly in front of referee Tiger Hattori: and he was going ballistic, wanting the Bullet Club out of ringside! Fale and Tonga tried to argue with him, but he had had enough; Tonga even grabbing Hattori by the shirt and threatening him; before turning around to get a superkick to the gut from Gedo himself! Fale chased the much smaller Gedo around ringside, as Hattori tried to control matters, ejecting all managers eventually and guiding them backwards up the aisleway. Back at ringside, Okada was trying to recover from the attack from Fale; delivering a forearm to Anderson, but with the referee's back turned, Anderson grabbed a steel chair from the press area located near ringside, and clocked Okada in the shoulder with it! Anderson took Okada's arm and wrenched it over the ringside barrier, trying to hyperextend and bend the weakened arm, probably making it impossible for Okada to win via the Rainmaker by this point - before Anderson picked Okada up and rolled him back inside for a near fall. Anderson sent Okada off the ropes, looking for the spinebuster which connected; followed up as "the Machine Gun" went up top looking for the diving elbow drop; Okada however getting his knees up! Okada slowly returned to his feet, aching from the damage done to his arm - Okada catching Anderson with the flapjack! Okada followed up, looking for a shoulderbreaker of his own across the knee, but Anderson flipped onto his feet and rocked him with a high knee; Anderson looking wisely for a Gun Stun cutter - but Okada shoved him off and caught him with a beautiful dropkick catching Anderson in the back of the head! Anderson stunned in the corner, he came back and walked into the shoulderbreaker, Okada looking for the Rainmaker perhaps, but Anderson broke free with repeated forearms to the arm; Karl picking Okada up and nailing him with a fisherman suplex turned neckbreaker right over the knee, covering for two again! Karl was growing impatient by this point, setting up for Swivel Gun Stun time, but Okada landed on his feet, and then pulled off the tombstone piledriver! The precursor to the Rainmaker Lariat, Okada picked him up and got him in position, but Anderson ducked the lariat and went for the Gun Stun - Okada however catching him and picking him up for Heavy Rain, injured arm and all - but Anderson turned it into a Gun Stun connected! Anderson covered Okada, but Okada powered out miraculously at two! The former two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion was not about to be put down a second time by the Bullet Club leader; as Anderson slowly got back up and lined Okada up for another Gun Stun, but Okada sidestepped it - the Rainmaker Lariat executing! Okada covered, but Anderson kicked out at two! The move, perhaps weakened by the weak arm of Okada from Anderson's damage done throughout the match, had been kicked out of; and Okada couldn't believe it! Okada went up to the top rope slowly, and got ready for what appeared to be a High Fly Flow, but Anderson rolled out of the way! Why Okada went for his rival Hiroshi Tanahashi's move was a big question, as "the Machine Gun" took advantage and aimed for his own Rainmaker Lariat; but Okada tripped Anderson with a drop toe hold, and then locked in the Red Ink! Anderson was scrambling, looking for a way out or a way to the ropes - but finally tapped out, Okada falling down holding his arm!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada in 17:22 [****] "Rainmaker" had successfully evened the score with Karl Anderson, as Kazuchika Okada slowly returned to his feet, clutching his weakened arm whilst "the Machine Gun" remained out cold on his back; Okada's good arm however raised in victory. Okada had avenged his loss from the New Japan Cup semi-final round, whilst Anderson was helped out of the ring by Cody Hall, whilst Anderson was talking trash yelling at Okada on his way out. Gedo greeted Kazuchika on his way out, applauding him on his win during a match where both men pulled out all of the stops!
A video package aired, looking at the credentials of Daisuke Sekimoto, thirty-four years of age from Osaka, Japan. At five-foot-nine, two-hundred-and-forty pounds, the man known as "Muscle Monster" has found success in every promotion he's competed in, being a former KO-D Openweight Champion in Dramatic Dream Team, whilst also finding victories in Pro Wrestling NOAH as well. But now, in his fifteenth year as a pro, Sekimoto was stepping into the New Japan ring - his first singles match, against a man with similar credentials, Tomohiro Ishii. The NEVER Openweight Championship on the line, Sekimoto has aligned himself with Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma in the revamped Great Bash Heel faction; attacking Ishii at the conclusion of his Invasion Attack title defense with Makabe - and has made comments since about wanting to be the next big thing in the NEVER division. Ishii however remains unphased by Sekimoto, calling him "untested as a threat", and stating that even though they know the same moves and have the same style, it's about who hits first, and who hits hardest.
9. NEVER OPENWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP TOMOHIRO ISHII (c) vs DAISUKE SEKIMOTOWith the championship on the line, the "Stone Pitbull" has been well versed in these styles of matches - defeating names such as Tetsuya Naito, Yujiro Takahashi, Tomoaki Honma, Hirooki Goto and Togi Makabe in the past with the NEVER Openweight Championship at stake - but he had never faced his challenger tonight in a singles confrontation before, with the stakes this high. "Muscle Monster" Daisuke Sekimoto, the fifteen year veteran that has toured Japan extensively as a free agent in the past, making his name known in promotions such as Pro Wrestling NOAH, Wrestle-1, Big Japan Pro Wrestling and Dramatic Dream Team Pro-Wrestling. Daisuke Sekimoto was only entering his second match inside of a New Japan ring, being impressive this past Thursday at Wrestling HINOKUNI in eight-man tag team action, where he manhandled the competition and arguably took Ishii to the limit, pinning Gedo in the match's closing moments for the win. Sekimoto came out dressed in a robe, a symbol of importance, whereas Ishii came out dressed to compete, and showed no signs of showboating for this crowd or this challenger on this night in Fukuoka. The bell sounded, with the crowd strongly supporting Tomohiro Ishii; the "Stone Pitbull" and "Muscle Monster" squaring off with a tense staredown; even in terms of height, with both men under six-foot tall, Sekimoto still had two visible inches on Ishii, and suddenly the match began rapidly with both men getting in some sharp forearms; Sekimoto keeping up with Ishii initially, dominant forearms prevailing against the champion, but Ishii came back with some drilling forearms of his own - the sharp elbows being dug into the jaw of the "Muscle Monster", and after a minute of hard striking, Sekimoto switched it up with a deliverance of some chops heard around the International Center. Echoing, Ishii demanded Daisuke bring him more, before Tomohiro shoved Daisuke back and brought some chops and forearms to Sekimoto, but Sekimoto this time barked at the "Stone Pitbull", demanding that he bring more punishment; Ishii caught open, and Sekimoto took advantage with a big brain chop sending Ishii backwards; Sekimoto and Ishii meeting in the middle with a double lariat that didn't effect either man. Sekimoto came off the ropes; this time a dual shoulder block slightly rocking Ishii, but Ishii responded with a series of forearms and chops, looking to follow with an enzuigiri to the back of the head blocked by Sekimoto, and with Ishii down, Sekimoto knelt over Ishii and tried to strike further, just for Ishii to respond with some tactical blocks, rocking Daisuke with some clobbering elbows of his own, then kicking Sekimoto backwards. Both men returned to their feet, the Fukuoka crowd impressed as ever with this stalemate - both Ishii and Sekimoto, despite punishment in the early minutes, being right back to square one. The two then went at it again, with Ishii forcing Sekimoto into the corner; but Daisuke, using his weight and muscular strength as an advantage, forced Ishii back and pushed him down into a backwards roll; Ishii charging Sekimoto in the corner, but Daisuke kicked Ishii in the jaw; then charged Ishii just to get a powerslam for his troubles; Sekimoto taken down for the first time in this championship fight! This is what it was, a fight, as Ishii demonstrated as he locked in a side headlock on the challenger; Sekimoto working his way out of it, then trying to pick Ishii up for a back suplex, just for Tomohiro to rain some elbows down into the side of Daisuke's skull. Ishii tackled Sekimoto into the ropes before dishing out some chops - but Daisuke appeared non-chalent by this, at least initially. Daisuke dished out some slaps to the face of Ishii, before following up with a big, agile enzuigiri knocking Ishii down, ready for the first cover of the match, but Ishii kicked out at one! This caught the crowd by surprise, but the "Stone Pitbull" was on the defense now, with Sekimoto kicking the back of Ishii; Ishii seated and demanding Sekimoto bring him some hurt - which he did in the form of some big kicks to the back: before slapping in a grapevined sleeper hold, demobilizing the champion! The newest member of Great Bash Heel had it sealed in, and Ishii was struggling to find an exit; finally managing to roll backwards for a one count, before Ishii wrapped his elbow around the bottom rope prompting the break. Ishii was slow to recover, as Sekimoto quickly returned to his feet; Sekimoto charging Ishii just for Ishii to pull down the ropes sending the challenger to the apron; Ishii following with another enzuigiri knocking Sekimoto to the floor! Ishii however, was not about to let Sekimoto just lose by count-out, illustrated by him following him out immediately; and a big lariat to the kneeling "Muscle Monster" followed, taking him down! Ishii stomped on Sekimoto to get a rise out of him, then picked him up and went for a suplex on the floor, which Daisuke reversed into a suplex, draping Ishii across the ringside barrier; Sekimoto then climbing onto the apron. But Tomohiro, without wasting a single second responded; Ishii rolling inside and meeting Daisuke by the corner, the two trading more forearms!The fight resumed, with Tomohiro Ishii climbing up to the second rope to gain a height advantage, raining some forearms down on "Muscle Monster"; and despite Sekimoto's attempts, Ishii managed to deadlift superplex the challenger, the two both crashing down in the ring on the mat! Ishii slowly covered, but Daisuke yet again managed to kick out at two - this match still going on! Now, both men were half a step slower, as Ishii got up slowly and kicked Daisuke in the head with a big boot; Tomohiro looking for the sliding lariat, but Sekimoto cut him off, a lariat delivered of his own, almost clobbering Ishii! Daisuke kept on moving however, picking the CHAOS member's body up and drilling him down with an Argentine Backbreaker Rack, the abdomen of Ishii right across the knee of the challenger! Sekimoto then slapped on a Sharpshooter hold, with Ishii aiming desperately to find an escape; the pressure applied by the larger, heavier opponent bending the spine and knee joints of the "Stone Pitbull"; and Ishii finally found an out with his muscular legs, breaking free of Sekimoto's grip and kicking Daisuke in the face forcing the break! Ishii then got up and attempted a German suplex on Daisuke; but Sekimoto forecast it, some jolting back elbow into the side of Ishii's face being executed - before Sekimoto then amazingly picked Ishii up and dropped him with a brainbuster - the cover, but Ishii kicked out at two anyway! In his fifth defense as champion, the NEVER Openweight Champion was not going down without a fight, as Ishii sprung up from the mat to his knees, motioning to Daisuke to bring more hurt, and Sekimoto immediately picked him to his feet and delivered several standing lariats sandwiching Ishii into the corner. Sekimoto executed eight or nine before rolling Ishii forward onto the mat spine-first; Sekimoto going up to the top rope, and coming off with a huge frog splash! The thick, muscular challenger covered Ishii, but Tomohiro still managed to get a shoulder up; this match continuing! The audience were more split than they were going in, as Daisuke picked Ishii up just for Tomohiro to catch Sekimoto with a big headbutt, stiffly clashing skulls with Sekimoto and rocking the newcomer - before Ishii ducked a lariat attempt; Tomohiro pulling out a deadlift German suplex; the cover only getting two again as Sekimoto remained conscious and alive!Tomohiro Ishii was dazed from the punishment endured in this heated feud; the "Stone Pitbull" with a gash on the side of his face, as Ishii and Sekimoto knelt before one another, handing out even more damaging forearms to one another, the crowd climaxing as both striking exchanges kept coming from each man - Sekimoto managing to block one and look for a lariat; Ishii ducking it and getting Sekimoto capturing him into a bridging backdrop suplex; Sekimoto kicking out at two again! Daisuke landed on his knees, and Ishii tried for the sliding lariat immediately; Sekimoto ducking the lariat and looking for a German suplex that went blocked by Tomohiro; Ishii elbowing his way out, before looking for the Ishi Driller; this time Sekimoto breaking his own way out. Ishii delivered a discus lariat to Sekimoto, Sekimoto nailed Ishii with a big boot, but Ishii stunned Daisuke with another headbutt knocking him down; and the sliding lariat followed, rocking Daisuke! Ishii covered, but Sekimoto once again broke free at two just before three! It was a two-man war at Wrestling Dontaku 2015, with neither man showing any restraint or signs of giving up - Ishii looked at a powerbomb attempt, which Sekimoto broke out of; Ishii then getting in a La Magistral cradle attempt; Sekimoto kicking out at one, Ishii looking for another sliding lariat, Sekimoto dodging it; Sekimoto then getting Ishii in mid-air for a bridging German suplex, but Tomohiro broke his way out by kicking at the challenger's legs; Ishii off the ropes with a big lariat rocking Sekimoto on his feet - Ishii then trying the Ishii Driller once more, but Sekimoto landed behind Ishii on his feet, sending Tomohiro off the ropes and right back into a stiff lariat knocking Ishii down and out! "Muscle Monster" covered the "Stone Pitbull", but once again Sekimoto only found a near fall! Ishii slowly got back up, telling Daisuke to bring it - and the two men met with some more forearms in the centre of the ring; blood dripping from the nose of "Muscle Monster", and the gash on the side of Ishii's face bruising by the second - Daisuke then caught Ishii with a headbutt of his own, before deadlifting Tomohiro cautiously and slowly, dropping him on the back of his head with the bridging German suplex; Daisuke Sekimoto catching the three count, as Tomohiro Ishii collapsed to the canvas, too exhausted to kick out!Winner: Daisuke Sekimoto in 14:22 [****½] ***NEW CHAMPION***In his second match as part of the New Japan roster, Daisuke Sekimoto had become the new NEVER Openweight Champion, breaking the four title defense reign of Tomohiro Ishii, who won the title back in October! The "Stone Pitbull" was left on the mat not moving, whilst "Muscle Monster" slowly returned to his feet, stumbling - the referee handing Daisuke Sekimoto his NEVER Openweight Championship! Ishii had to be helped out by the Young Lions, defeated by a man of similar style - and Sekimoto seemed proud of his accomplishment, bringing the NEVER Openweight title to the Great Bash Heel faction! Ishii said that the two were of similar styles, and that it wasn't about who knew what move - it was about who hit first and who hit hardest - and apparently it was "Muscle Monster" who was the man to hit first and hardest at the end of a brutal fight.
A video package aired, reviewing the four illustrious reigns of Shinsuke Nakamura as the IWGP Intercontinental Champion. Cementing himself as the ruler of the Intercontinental ranks, the "King of Strong Style" has faced many opponents throughout his time in this division - even taking the title to the main event of the Tokyo Dome at Wrestle Kingdom 8, when he faced Hiroshi Tanahashi. But it was voted into the main event over a match involving Tetsuya Naito, who challenged Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and lost on the show's undercard. Since then, Naito has been scrambling for fame and success, even receiving boos in cities such as Osaka due to his claim that he would become the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. His year has been rocky so far, failing to win the IWGP Heavyweight title against Hiroshi Tanahashi at the New Beginning, failing in the semi-final round of the New Japan Cup - but a win against Shinsuke Nakamura in tag team action pushed Naito's confidence through the roof. With a slightly different personality, the "Stardust☆Genius" has insulted Shinsuke repeatedly, refusing to shake his hand, jumping him from behind, and even spitting on the "King of Strong Style". When asked, Nakamura commented that it didn't effect him - that Naito was simply going through puberty - and that he likes Naito as a performer, but as a wrestler, he is not on the same level as him. Naito meanwhile, with his feet on a desk and his arms relaxed behind his head, said that Shinsuke has a legacy that is undeserving of his talent. And that that legacy, should be his. So why wouldn't he pursue the IWGP Intercontinental throne?
10. IWGP INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP SHINSUKE NAKAMURA (c) vs TETSUYA NAITOMain event time in Fukuoka at Wrestling Dontaku 2015, with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship at stake between "the King of Strong Style" and the "Stardust☆Genius". This is an interesting match going in down to historical context - as it was Shinsuke Nakamura who defeated Tetsuya Naito to win the 2011 G1 Climax. They had a match at the New Beginning 2012, where Naito got retribution with a win against the "King of Strong Style" - and in the 2013 G1 Climax, Naito scored a big win against Nakamura - and with that said, this was looking to be a championship contest that could go either way. Adding onto this, back when Naito was a member of No Limit alongside Yujiro Takahashi, they were recruited to Shinsuke's faction, CHAOS, back in 2010. Surely, despite how times have changed in the past five years, Naito has to know Shinsuke's strategy, the way he thinks - and Shinsuke was going to have to try and outwit him. But with Naito already having the challenger's advantage with a previous submission win over the IWGP Intercontinental Champion - this could be the turning point of Naito's thus-far underwhelming 2015. Tetsuya Naito walked with a slower stride than usual, looking concentrated and keeping his eyes wide focusing on all surroundings going into his second championship opportunity of the year, and not wanting to mess this one in particular up. On the contrary, the "King of Strong Style" glided to the ring with his typical onslaught of animated poses, catching the Fukuoka crowd's delight. Naito waited patiently for Nakamura to get inside, but when Shinsuke attempted to drop to the mat for his trademark rope-assisted pose, Tetsuya delivered a big running dropkick, catching Nakamura and causing him to scoot out of the ring to the floor! It was this kind of behavior that has been present in Naito's recent matches, as Tetsuya has always been more about respect and sportsmanship - but in recent weeks, he has developed this persona that has shone through and established him as more of a non-nonsense wrestler. Nakamura simply stared Naito from outside, whilst Naito looked on with a conscious stare, watching Shinsuke's every move. Nakamura returned inside, as the bell sounded officially - Nakamura stretching his legs on the ropes before looking to get into it with his challenger for the night. The "Stardust☆Genius" started strong, with a go-behind legsweep, then mounting Nakamura and keeping on top of him no matter what; but Shinsuke twisted his body and came out on top of Tetsuya; then retaining a front facelock, which Naito twisted himself out of as well, before both rose for a standing applause from the Fukuoka crowd.
The match, building slowly went into a lock-up, as Shinsuke used his leg strength to force Naito backwards into the ropes; Nakamura being forced to break the hold, and he did so by dropping his limps and leaning head-first into Naito's chest: but Naito was fast to respond, a knee trembler rocking Shinsuke, followed up by a side headlock, which Nakamura ran him off of into the ropes; Naito coming back with a drop down, followed by a leapfrog, Tetsuya delivering a hiptoss to the "King of Strong Style" before running the ropes, responding with a standing somersault senton on Nakamura, just for Shinsuke to dodge it, and Naito went spine-first off the mat! Nakamura glanced at Naito from across the ring, Tetsuya however quickly back up to his feet. The two locked up once more, with Naito tripping Shinsuke with a single-legged takedown, Naito using his knee to try and bend the shin and ankle a different way from the body, whilst Nakamura tried his best to grapple out, Nakamura managing to hook the arm with his legs, a ghost-style cradle only getting one, as Naito wisely went back and grapevined the leg of Shinsuke, continuing to stretch at it much to the champion's dismay. Naito kept on it as he stood up and placed a foot over the ankle, then stomped on the ankle of Nakamura, Tetsuya trying to keep the "King of Strong Style" down, just for Shinsuke to roll into a cradle again. Back up to their feet, Naito charged for Shinsuke just for Nakamura to duck it, then the challenger walked into a jumping knee catching the out stretched arm of the "Stardust☆Genius". Shinsuke wrenched the arm, then delivered a big forearm, which Naito quickly responded with one of his own followed by a rolling koppu kick, dazing the IWGP Intercontinental Champion. Naito then kicked the foot of Shinsuke, picking it up and looking to do some damage, just for Shinsuke to try an enzuigiri that missed, Shinsuke landing on his feet and coming back with a second kick that nailed Naito in the mouth, breaking himself free. Shinsuke caught Tetsuya on his shoulders and draped him over the top rope, Nakamura quickly rolling backwards and delivering a top shelf knee to the ribs of the challenger, Shinsuke now in control! Nakamura with Naito in the corner, lined the challenger up before emerging for a running knee, but Naito lifted himself up and Nakamura's knee hit the corner. Naito rolled over Shinsuke with a sunset flip, covering for two, before Shinsuke went for a BomaYe just for Naito to roll beneath it, taking the knee and locking in a single legged Boston crab - unfortunately too close to the ropes.
Tetsuya Naito went into rapidfire mode, stomping repeatedly on the leg with his boot, before dragging Shinsuke back into the centre, just for Nakamura to hang onto the second rope; the momentum bringing the champion to his feet, and Shinsuke caught Tetsuya with a spinning wheel kick! Nakamura mounted Naito on all fours in a front facelock, before carefully delivering blow after blow with knee strikes to the head, the shoulders and the ribs of the ""Stardust☆Genius"; Nakamura stretching the arm of Naito out and dropping a big jumping knee drop across it, the elbow bending back from the impact of the champion's knee across it. Naito scooted over to the corner to hold it, as Shinsuke shrugged to the crowd and pranced over to the challenger, Nakamura attempting the Strong Style Footchoke just for Naito to take the foot of his opponent and sweep it down, the knee landing first on the mat's surface! Naito ran the ropes, striking Shinsuke with a flying forearm, before covering for a near fall - Naito immediately back to work on the lower leg of the IWGP Intercontinental Champion. Naito dropped a knee of his own across Shinsuke's, then connected with a front dropkick to the jaw of the "King of Strong Style"; Naito on offense as he ran the ropes again, connecting this time with the jumping somersault senton into the ribs of the champion! Naito kicked the back of Shinsuke, then stood on the knee joint of Shinsuke's, using the top rope for leverage - the challenger continuing with the uncharacteristic assault on the limb of Nakamura. Naito had to be restrained by the official, but when he came back to Shinsuke, Nakamura wristlocked Naito and dropped to his back, delivering a double knee to the arm of Tetsuya Naito! Nakamura got back up, ducking a forearm from Naito and connecting with a lungblower, Shinsuke mounting a comeback now as the IWGP Intercontinental Champion covered but Naito kicked out at two. The match resuming, Nakamura picked Naito up just to get poked in the eye; the "Stardust☆Genius" ignoring the referee's warning and stomping on the knee of Shinsuke's again, before propping him onto the top rope, perhaps looking for the top rope hurricanrana. Naito went up to the second and tried to go up, but Nakamura repeatedly kicked the side of Naito, before grabbing the challenger's arm and hanging backwards over the side of the ring, the cross-armbreaker applied wrenching on the weakened limb of Naito! Shinsuke broke the hold after several seconds, but the damage had been done, as Naito was now on the apron.
Nakamura rolled back inside, pulling the hair of Naito as they brought the fight back inside, Shinsuke trying a lariat just for Tetsuya to latch the arm and get in a crucifix pin getting two, before a dropkick to the knee propelled Shinsuke back into the corner, where Naito charged with one dropkick - nipping to the apron and using the momentum to connect with a second dropkick catching Shinsuke in the jaw! Naito covered, but Shinsuke was resilient and cautious of his surroundings, kicking out at two. Naito now, picking Nakamura up, was looking for something else as he latched the head and executed a tornado DDT using the corner as leverage, covering again but yet again for two - the frequent counts trying to wear Shinsuke out to a weaker point, testing the stamina of the reigning IWGP Intercontinental Champion. Tetsuya decided to go up top, climbing the ropes and going up, and he tried for a missile dropkick that Shinsuke dodged, Naito getting nothing but mat! Recovering, Nakamura took advantage of a dazed Naito and slammed down with a sharp crane kick, the sole of his boot clashing the back of the "Stardust☆Genius"'s head! Nakamura then delivering the inverted powerslam, Naito crashing down face-first; and Shinsuke went back for the cross-armbreaker, but Naito managed to fight through it; keeping the knuckles interlocked, as Naito rolled through into a roll-up attempt - Naito deadlifting into a German suplex, almost as a tribute to friend from CMLL, La Sombra! Naito had the bridge, but Nakamura powered out at two yet again. Both men were getting tired now, as Naito was keeping Shinsuke on watch, a sliding dropkick catching Shinsuke in the back of the head! The cover was tried, but Shinsuke yet again kicked out; the "King of Strong Style" not about to get beat at his own game! Naito delivered an inverted backbreaker on Nakamura, before applying a heel hold similar to previous tag partner Bobby Fish - and Nakamura was in trouble, the damage done to his knee during this bout, and this hold was only weakening it further as time went by! Finally, after thirty seconds Nakamura grabbed the bottom rope, forcing the break! Naito brought Nakamura back into the centre, looking for it again, but Shinsuke kicked him off and limped to his feet, kitchen-sinking a running Naito with a knee; Nakamura off the ropes, and a BomaYe connected! Shinsuke however was unable to cover, holding onto his knee, a lasting result from the work done by Naito in this championship match!
Naito held his head as he got back up, Naito picking Shinsuke up and dropping him with the Gloria hammerlocked pumphandle slam; the next step being Naito going up top, attempting a Stardust Press, but Shinsuke rolled out of the way, Naito rolling through to his feet on the fall; but Shinsuke sent Naito out to the apron, where he cravated the challenger, then tried to numb the pain on the leg with some hard knees carefully directed right into the face of Tetsuya Naito! After five, Naito collapsed in a heap in the ring; the "King of Strong Style" demonstrating his expertise here, lining up another lariat that Naito ducked, and Naito executed the Dragon suplex! Nakamura landed on his knees, and Naito immediately used the middle rope as elevation, attempting a springboard DDT just for Shinsuke to land in position; interlocking the triangle choke on the "Stardust☆Genius"! Naito struggled, trying with all of his might to escape the submission hold, but Nakamura had Naito on the verge of fading, Naito however jumping his feet onto the middle rope, rolling Nakamura up and the referee unaware, was counting Nakamura's shoulder's down - a dirty win by Naito only getting two, as Nakamura broke the hold! But instantly, the wise challenger locked in the Pluma Blanca on Shinsuke, the Koji clutch applied on Shinsuke, but Nakamura was able to grab the bottom rope. Naito was near enough done and had Shinsuke where he wanted him, as he dropped Shinsuke with a scoop slam and climbed up top again; Naito looking for the Stardust Press, and he executed it - but Shinsuke rolled away; Naito rolling through onto his knees - and Nakamura almost beheaded Naito with the BomaYe! He could have covered, but he climbed to the second rope and stalled, waiting for Naito to recover, and a second BomaYe connected, garnering the three count!
Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura in 19:45 [****] ***STILL CHAMPION***"The King of Strong Style" was victorious in his fourth successful championship defense, prevailing the IWGP Intercontinental Champion still, despite the odds of Tetsuya Naito's unsportsmanlike conduct, and the damage done to his knee! Shinsuke Nakamura slowly got to his feet, arm raised and all, as Nakamura began jiving despite this hard-fought contest. Tetsuya Naito recovered, on one knee in the ring holding his arm; and Nakamura tried to offer him a fistbump to congratulate him on a hard-fought match, but Naito got up and kicked the fist away; Naito turning his back to the "King of Strong Style" and walking away. Naito had fought hard but failed again, and in this defeat he was walking out with an even more disrespectful attitude than before.
Shinsuke Nakamura however appeared unphazed by Tetsuya Naito. The IWGP Intercontinental Champion grabbed a microphone and thanked the Fukuoka crowd for being such a great crowd. Nakamura noted that CHAOS comes here to Fukuoka for Wrestling Dontaku, or other New Japan Pro Wrestling events, and they love the support they get every single time. Nakamura said that the next time they will be here however, will be for the G1 Climax on July 29. And in that tournament, he will desire all the support he can get: because in 2015, Shinsuke Nakamura aims to become a two-time G1 Climax winner in the 25th annual tournament! He thanked the crowd before addressing his next challenger to the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, whomever that may be, whoever comes forward next -hinthint- to stay on their toes and guard their face. He finished with YyeaOH!s before wrapping up and leaving. At this time, the announce team took it away to wrap up the broadcast, discussing key events, whilst the crowd filed out.
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Post by DTP. on Apr 10, 2016 17:37:00 GMT -5
| NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING - PRESS CONFERENCE NOTES
Sunday, May 3, 2015 - Post-Wrestling Dontaku Edition |
Shinsuke Nakamura made some waves upon arriving at the press conference after his hard-fought main event fight with Tetsuya Naito. When commenting on Naito in how he handled himself, Shinsuke commented on how oddball he was in that match. The "King of Strong Style" noted that he wasn't acting like his usual self. He did surprise him because coming in, he expected a lucha-libre match, similar to his ones with La Sombra. But Naito was methodical, and now he has to icepack his knee and maybe do some rehabilitative stretches. He chuckled, before getting down to business. When asked about his next challenger, whom he would choose, Nakamura noted that he wanted to make the IWGP Intercontinental Championship even more intercontinental in itself. He reminisced when he took the title and defended it, and perhaps lost it in Mexico City two years ago. But when he thinks about elevation, elevating the prestige of the belt, he has to remember that it was in North America where the IWGP Intercontinental Championship was first crowned. And so, he wants to defend it when he goes over for the Ring of Honor tour next week. He noted that he is facing Roderick Strong at ROH Global Wars on May 15, which is a show that will be broadcast worldwide on Internet pay-per-view. And that will be his next challenge, because it will be for his IWGP Intercontinental Championship.
Kazuchika Okada was overjoyed about his victory against Karl Anderson, noting that he had beaten "the Machine Gun" before, but never before did it have that much significance. Okada said with the ongoing rivalry between Bullet Club and CHAOS, tensions are high - not everybody can climb the ladder and become IWGP Heavyweight Championship. It's dog-eat-dog, and Karl Anderson learned the hard way when he lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi at Invasion Attack. So beating him tonight and avenging his loss from the New Japan Cup tournament - it was sweet. Okada was asked about why he did the High Fly Flow during his match, referring to further rumors of Tanahashi and Okada being in cohoots in some way. Okada simply laughed it off, stating that he and Tanahashi never talk. They are still bitter rivals, and will always be - until hopefully the day Tanahashi realizes that he needs to stand down, and lose at the Tokyo Dome to him. Gedo added on this, stating that Okada's next mission was to become IWGP Heavyweight Champion again - however he was interrupted, by an angry Karl Anderson himself. Anderson screamed at Okada, telling him that they are tied at one victory apiece. But that his business with Okada was not yet through. Anderson demanded one more match with Okada - and Okada simply chuckled at how sweaty and red Anderson was, almost like a golden delicious apple. Karl grabbed Gedo by the bandana, which prompted Okada to step in for a face off - but no more was said. Anderson walked out.
Hiroshi Tanahashi was interviewed about his thoughts on A.J. Styles, the IWGP Heavyweight Champion simply saying that it had been a triumphant night for him, because not only did his team win - but he also didn't have to do much to outshine his next challenger. The "Once in a Century Talent" reminded the press of his rivalry with "the Phenomenal One", the leader of the Bullet Club. He called A.J. a thorn in his side, something that has been there on-and-off since their first encounter around ten years ago. But he's the one that beat Styles for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship throne he's sat in right now. Back in October, he used every ounce of strength he could to beat A.J. for it, and now tonight things are different. He said he is ready for the day he next meets Styles, because he feels it will be very exciting, very thrilling, and above all else, it will be Hiroshi Tanahashi retaining the IWGP crown for the love of New Japan Pro Wrestling. When asked about Kazuchika Okada's tribute to him in his match with Karl Anderson, Tanahashi questioned it - only saying that he had heard about it as he doesn't watch Okada's work unless he's studying for an upcoming match. Tanahashi says that not before or after Okada got involved in his match at Invasion Attack, have they spoken. Hiroshi dismissed any conspiracy theories, wishing for Kazuchika to stay out of his business in future.
The Bullet Club, consisting of A.J. Styles, Doc Gallows, Cody Hall, Bad Luck Fale, Yujiro Takahashi and Tama Tonga approached the press, with A.J. commenting on how eventful a night has been. The boys questioned that comment, noting that they all lost, that it was a terrible night. Styles laughed, telling the Biz Cliz to lighten up a little. They've still got the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. They've gained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. They're still going to chase the IWGP Tag Team Championship - and one day sooner than people will agree with, they will have the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. "The Phenomenal One" told them that this is his moment to bring Bullet Club to a whole new level, and he couldn't wait. Win or loss, the Bullet Club are dominating New Japan, they are plaguing New Japan - and it is real. Gallows, Fale and Tonga roughed up a reporter during the interview, with Gallows spilling beer all over him.
Unsuccessful in his match against Shinsuke Nakamura tonight, Tetsuya Naito was interviewed about what his next step is - but Naito, albeit initially hesitant to even acknowledge the press's waiting questions, finally mustered up a rundown of his year so far: a big high, he beat A.J. Styles at Wrestle Kingdom 9 in the Tokyo Dome. 36,000 people watched as he did it. But it was downhill from there. He lost to Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the New Beginning. He lost to Kota Ibushi in the semi-final round of the New Japan Cup. He lost to Shinsuke Nakamura tonight for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. So what now? Naito said that he's going to go to the United States and Canada, and show them what he's capable of. He has a match with Jay Briscoe for the ROH World Heavyweight Championship, and he intends to take it. But he won't be back until near the G1 Climax time. Naito confessed that he needs to go back to the place he loves, in Mexico for CMLL, and find a new style. He said not to bother him, because everybody will know when he's back. He's certain.
"The Golden Star" Kota Ibushi had a heck of a night tonight, when he won the tag team battle against the Bullet Club for his team. Ibushi said that he needed the kick in the rear to get him going again - a rebound if you will, after losing in the finals of the New Japan Cup, and losing to A.J. Styles. Ibushi was joyous, how he beat the Bullet Club tonight, and how proud he is of that accolade - but now, he's going to be training really, really hard for the G1 Climax. Kota remembered how he was forced to miss the G1 Climax in 2014 because of a concussion, and how devastated he was: but not this year. This year is his year.
Great Bash Heel had a clean sweep of a week at Wrestling Dontaku. Daisuke Sekimoto debuted with Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma to win an eight-man tag team bout on Thursday night at Wrestling HINOKUNI, and then tonight at Wrestling Dontaku, Makabe and Honma were successful in an eight-man tag team bout against the Bullet Club; whilst tonight, Daisuke Sekimoto sealed the deal by winning the NEVER Openweight Championship. Together, they were all happy with a bottle of champagne in hand, as Makabe talked about how proud he was of the revamp, because they could all work together as a team and win - or in the case of Sekimoto, dominate the competition. Honma expressed his love of the faction, how he has found a groove and doesn't want to ever leave it. Sekimoto however mentioned that he was not going to let this groove slip away. There's still work to be done. But "Muscle Monster" will be ready. And "Bousou Kingkong" will be ready. And "Kokeshi", he's gonna be ready too. Because the new Great Bash Heel won't take sh*t from anybody.
IN OTHER NEWS... The Kingdom were up, with Maria Kanellis holding both IWGP Tag Team Championships. The trio were ecstatic about their victory, because Matt Taven and Michael Bennett have been chasing gold for a while, both in Ring of Honor, and New Japan. And they beat Katsuyori Shibata and Hirooki Goto fair and square - they don't care who believes them or not. Kanellis flaunted her body throughout this, saying how she couldn't wait to shower, whilst Bennett and Taven celebrated with beers in hands, and the gold in their other hands, stating that they would defend these titles anytime, anywhere.
KUSHIDA was asked about being back from his hand injury, and his positioning as we approach the Best of Super Juniors tournament later this month. He said that he was worried that he'd miss the tournament, to be honest. The "Supernova" commented on coming close in the past, and that this time, he wants to win the whole thing. He commented on Kenny Omega as a champion, and how he didn't like it. He said that he loves teaming with Alex Shelley, but he's got a personal goal of his own, and that's to dethrone Kenny Omega - but in order to do so, he has to take care of the Best of Super Juniors. He's happy to be back after minimal time off...
ReDRagon were asked about losing the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, in which Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly both mentioned their displeasure in losing ever, let alone tonight. They gave props to Roppongi Vice, but still talked negatively about the Young Bucks and the Bullet Club. But they said that they are ready for when New Japan comes over to the United States and Canada, to see how they do in their home country, in their home promotion of Ring of Honor. When asked about chasing the junior tags, they told the press to expect everything out of them, because they would get those titles back without a shadow of a doubt...
The new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks & still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega of the Bullet Club faction were highly optimistic tonight, as they spoke off-topic and ignored the press's questions. Omega asked Matt about how his pregnant wife was doing, and Matt expressed relief that he didn't have to come to this country for the Best of the Super Juniors this year. He mentioned he would miss the tournament due to his wife expecting their second child, and how ecstatic he was. But Nick told Kenny that he would do him proud, and that he wouldn't let anybody but him win the Best of the Super Juniors. Omega sang "Cleaning Out My Closet" by Eminem whilst playing with a broom, symbolic of what he's doing to the junior heavyweight division.
Yuji Nagata requested a slot to speak about a personal matter, "Blue Justice" saying that despite the fact that he is forty-six years old, he wants to show everyone what he can still do. Nagata says that he feels better than ever, and tonight when facing Kazushi Sakuraba, he felt something exciting inside of him. Nagata spoke about Sakuraba's accomplishments, how they call him the "Gracie Hunter" - and that idea really ran through his mind when he was in there grappling with him tonight. Nagata said that he wants a mixed martial-arts exhibition with Sakuraba, and that he's going to be training really hard. He hopes Sakuraba accepts his proposition.
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Post by DTP. on Apr 11, 2016 10:49:24 GMT -5
| WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER May 4, 2015 by Dave Meltzer |
WRESTLING DONTAKU POLL RESULTS Thumbs up 57
Thumbs down 0
Thumbs in the middle 6
The Wrestling Dontaku card featured a big shakeup, with three championships changing hands. The Young Bucks won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships in a three-way tag match against RPG Vice and ReDRagon, the Kingdom won the IWGP Tag Team Championships from Katsuyori Shibata and Hirooki Goto, and Daisuke Sekimoto won the NEVER Openweight Championship in his first big show, beating Tomohiro Ishii (which will be a candidate for match of the year without a doubt). The changes come just a week and a half away from New Japan's tour of Toronto, Canada and Philadelphia, USA, in which they will co-promote four shows with Ring of Honor.
Of note, the Young Bucks and the Kingdom are also ROH talents, so in order for the tour to get some extra publicity, I guess their plan was to give some guys that also work Ring of Honor shows the titles (which is funny actually, because ReDRagon, the former IWGP Jr Tag champs are also advertised for the ROH/New Japan tour). Additionally, Shinsuke Nakamura announced his wish to defend the IWGP Intercontinental Championship against Roderick Strong on the Global Wars iPPV show on 5/15.
War of the Worlds night one in Philadelphia on 5/12 is a house show that will be taped for on-demand a week later. The show has Gedo vs Delirious in a match of the bookers, Kushida vs ACH, Jay Lethal vs Takaaki Watanabe (one of New Japan's Young Lions on excursion) for the ROH World Television title, Jushin Liger & Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian vs Tetsuya Naito & Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin vs Nick & Matt Jackson, A.J. Styles vs Adam Cole (a match that was in somewhat doubt going in, with Cole fresh off of a shoulder injury), and Kazuchika Okada & Shinsuke Nakamura vs Mark & Jay Briscoe
War of the Worlds night two in Philadelphia on 5/13 will also be a house show taped for on-demand streaming in two weeks. The show has Gedo vs Christopher Daniels, Adam Page vs Takaaki Watanabe, Jay Lethal vs Kushida in what could end up as an ROH World Television title match, Jushin Liger vs ACH, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Roderick Strong, Kazuchika Okada vs Kyle O'Reilly, Shinsuke Nakamura vs Mark Briscoe, Jay Briscoe vs Tetsuya Naito for the ROH World Heavyweight title, and Adam Cole & Matt Taven & Michael Bennett vs A.J. Styles & Nick & Matt Jackson in a war of the factions.
Global Wars night one in Toronto on 5/15 will be live on internet pay-per-view. The show has Moose & Gedo vs Silas Young & Takaaki Watanabe, Kushida vs Kyle O'Reilly, ACH vs Jushin Liger, Rocky Romero & Barreta vs Michael Bennett & Matt Taven vs Frankie Kazarian & Christopher Daniels vs BJ Whitmer & Adam Page, Kazuchika Okada vs Bobby Fish, Jay Lethal vs Tetsuya Naito potentially for the ROH World Television title, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Adam Cole, ROH All Stars represented by Mark & Jay Brisoce & Hanson & Ray Rowe & Michael Elgin, vs the Bullet Club of A.J. Styles & Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson & Nick & Matt Jackson, and Shinsuke Nakamura vs Roderick Strong for the IWGP Intercontinental title.
The New Japan talent on tour including Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito, Kushida and Gedo, as well as talent already in town for ROH, ReDRagon, Young Bucks, A.J. Styles, The Kingdom, Takaaki Watanabe, Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows, will take part in Global Wars night two in Toronto on 5/16 as well, although this will be a TV taping for future episodes of Ring of Honor's television show. So we'll be seeing matches featuring New Japan talent somewhere around June from this show.
Wrestling Dontaku sold out Fukuoka International Center on 5/3 before 5,180 - the fifteenth sellout in a row for New Japan in what is their most successful house show tour in years.
It appears that some of the title changes mentioned before will contribute to the card for Dominion, which is scheduled for 7/5 in Osaka-jo Hall. This show is seen as one of the five biggest shows of the calendar year for New Japan (alongside Wrestle Kingdom in Tokyo Dome, Invasion Attack, the G-1 Climax finals, and King of Pro-Wrestling). This show is expected to have the Hiroshi Tanahashi vs A.J. Styles for the IWGP Heavyweight title match that has been hyped for some time. Also expected is Kazuchika Okada vs Karl Anderson in the tiebreaker match (Anderson won at New Japan Cup, Okada won at Wrestling Dontaku), Michael Bennett & Matt Taven vs Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto for the IWGP Tag Team titles, Daisuke Sekimoto vs Tomohiro Ishii for the NEVER Openweight title, and Kenny Omega vs the BOSJ winner for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title.
The Best of the Super Juniors begins on 5/22 in Korakuen Hall. This will be the 22nd annual BOSJ tournament, and is promoted as the G-1 Climax for the juniors division. It is exactly that, with the format being a round-robin tournament between two blocks of guys. The tournament will run through to 6/7, which will be the date of the final, held in Tokyo's Yoyogi Gym. All shows will be shown on New Japan World, but a lot of these are expected to be single-cam or no-commentary shows. This is seen as a test for the G-1 Climax coming up starting on 7/20.
Not a lot of participants are clear, or evident, who will take part in the BOSJ tournament. What we do know is that the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega cut a promo saying he wouldn't participate in the tournament. According to the post-show press conference from Wrestling Dontaku is that Matt Jackson also won't be participating due to his wife expecting during the tournament, so he'll be home. Nick Jackson however indicated that he would be involved. One would expect for ReDRagon and Roppongi Vice to also be involved, as well as of course, the juniors from Japan, Kushida, Ryusuke Taguchi, Jushin Liger and Tiger Mask.
Mauro Ranallo and Josh Barnett enter the studio next week taping commentary for the first six episodes of season 2 of the New Japan on AXS TV show.
The company has added an English language sign-up page for New Japan World.
4/24 in Shunan drew 1,700 sellout, 4/25 in Matsuyama drew a 1,180 sellout, 4/27 in Fukuoka drew a 1,250 sellout, 4/28 in Aira drew 3,120 sellout, 4/29 in Kumamoto drew a 2,460 sellout (which was Wrestling Hinokuni), 4/30 in Oita drew 670 sellout, and 5/1 in Ooita also drew 790 sellout.
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Post by DTP. on Apr 11, 2016 11:08:54 GMT -5
| PRO WRESTLING NOAH SPOTLIGHT |
NOAH GLOBAL TAG LEAGUE WAR 2015 FINALS Monday, May 4, 2015 - Korakuen Hall - Bunkyo, Tokyo
3. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka) def. Naomichi Marufuji & Katsuhiko Nakajima in a GTL A Block match in 12:17 after Gotch-style piledriver by Suzuki on Nakajima.
4. Shelton X Benjamin & Brian Breaker def. Mitsuhiro Kitamiya & Super Crazy in a GTL B Block match in 7:44 after the Paydirt by Benjamin on Kitamiya.
6. Killer Elite Squad (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr) def. Mohammad Yone & Daisuke Ikeda in a GTL B Block match in 1:42 after the Killer Bomb on Ikeda. Killer Elite Squad qualified for the finals with this win.
8. Atsushi Kotoge, Yoshinari Ogawa & Zack Sabre Jr def. Suzuki-gun (Taichi, El Desperado & TAKA Michinoku) in 12:11 after a jumping cross-armbreaker by Sabre Jr on Michinoku. 9. Dangan Yankees (Takashi Sugiura & Masato Tanaka) [Block A winners] def. Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr & Lance Archer) [Block B winners] to win the GTL finals in 19:55 after the Olympic Qualifying Slam by Sugiura on Archer. After the win, Sugiura and Tanaka challenged Archer and Smith Jr to a match for the GHC Tag Team Championships on May 10.
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Post by DTP. on Apr 11, 2016 11:28:50 GMT -5
| NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING - PRESS CONFERENCE NOTES
Monday, May 4, 2015 - Dominion/Best of Super Juniors XXII Announcements |
With Wrestling Dontaku out of the way, New Japan Pro Wrestling set up another press conference today, officially revealing the next stage of the yearly calendar - that being announcements for Dominion 7.5 on July 5, as well as Best of Super Juniors. Takaaki Kidani officially announced that the IWGP Heavyweight Championship match between Hiroshi Tanahashi and A.J. Styles will take place on 7/5 at Dominion, noting that the official press conference and contract signing for the match will take place on 6/20 at the official Dominion 7.5 conference, with both participants there. Secondly, the Best of the Super Juniors was officially announced with the participants revealed. The tournament begins on 5/22 in Korakuen Hall, and concludes on 6/7 in Yoyogi Gym - the tournament set out across thirteen dates. Throughout the tournament, each participant will face every member of their respective block, with 2 points awarded to a win, whilst 1 point is awarded to a draw, whereas 0 points applies to a loss. The top scoring member of their block will qualify for the finals, which will be contested against the other block's top scorer, and the winner of that match will win the BOSJ XXII. The match schedule remains to be seen, however these are the blocks revealed for the tournament: BLOCK A | BLOCK B | Alex Shelley | Bárbaro Cavernario | Barreta | KUSHIDA | Bobby Fish | Kyle O'Reilly | Dragon Lee | Máscara Dorada | Gedo | Nick Jackson | Jushin Liger | Rocky Romero | Kamaitachi | Ryusuke Taguchi | Matt Sydal | Tiger Mask |
Tour dates include: May 22, 2015 - Tokyo, Japan - Korakuen Hall May 23, 2015 - Saitama, Japan - Kuki City Gymnasium May 25, 2015 - Niigata, Japan - Tsubame Civic Gymnasium May 26, 2015 - Yamagata, Japan - Yamagata Sports Center Gymnasium May 27, 2015 - Aomori, Japan - Aomori Martial Arts Hall May 29, 2015 - Tochigi, Japan - New Sun-pia Tochigi May 30, 2015 - Tokyo, Japan - Korakuen Hall May 31, 2015 - Shizuoka, Japan - Kiramesse Numazu June 2, 2015 - Ibaraki, Japan - Ibaraki Prefectural Sports Center June 3, 2015 - Aichi, Japan - Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall June 4, 2015 - Nagano, Japan - Chino Cultural Complex Multi-Hall June 5, 2015 - Tokyo, Japan - Korakuen Hall June 7, 2015 - Tokyo, Japan - Yoyogi National Gymnasium
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Post by DTP. on Apr 12, 2016 1:12:29 GMT -5
| NJPW NEW JAPAN ALIVE 2015
Tuesday, May 5, 2015 - Takamatsu City Gymnasium - Takamatsu, Kanagawa Wednesday, May 6, 2015 - Municipal Industrial Exchange Center - Akashi, Hyogo |
Day 1 - Takamatsu City Gymnasium - Kanagawa, Japan (May 5)
1. Cody Hall def. Sho Tanaka in 9:17 after the Outsider's Edge.
2. Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi def. Tiger Mask & Yohei Komatsu in 10:24 after the Argentine Backbreaker Rack by Nakanishi on Komatsu.
3. TenCozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) def. KUSHIDA & Jushin Thunder Liger in 11:05 after the TenCozy Driller on KUSHIDA.
4. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi def. CHAOS (Kazushi Sakuraba & Toru Yano) in 12:22 after the High Fly Flow by Tanahashi on Yano.
5. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Gedo) def. Meiyu Tag (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto) in 14:20 after the Red Ink by Okada on Goto.
6. G.B.H. (Togi Makabe, Daisuke Sekimoto & Tomoaki Honma) def. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI) in 15:36 after the King Kong Knee Drop by Makabe on YOSHI-HASHI.
Day 2 - Akashi Municipal Industrial Exchange Center - Hyogo, Japan (May 6)
1. KUSHIDA def. Sho Tanaka in 8:28 after the Hoverboard Lock.
2. Gedo def. Yohei Komatsu in 9:00 after the Super Fly frog splash.
3. TenCozy (Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan) def. Manabu Nakanishi & Tiger Mask in 9:12 after the Anaconda Vise by Tenzan on Tiger Mask.
4. Yuji Nagata & Jushin Thunder Liger def. Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi in 10:27 after the Backdrop Hold by Nagata on Captain New Japan.
5. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI) def. G.B.H. (Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Daisuke Sekimoto) in 14:16 after the sliding lariat by Ishii to Honma.
6. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Meiyu Tag (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto) def. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazushi Sakuraba & Toru Yano) in 15:44 after the Shouten Kai by Goto on Sakuraba.
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Post by DTP. on Apr 14, 2016 17:09:45 GMT -5
| PRO WRESTLING NOAH SPOTLIGHT |
NOAH GREAT VOYAGE in YOKOHAMA Monday, May 10, 2015 - Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium - Kanagawa, Yokohama
5. Suzuki-gun (TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado) def. Yoshinaru Ogawa & Zack Sabre Jr in 13:15 to retain the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship after the diving body press by Desperado on Ogawa. This was Suzuki-gun's second successful defense of the titles.
6. Taichi def. Atsushi Kotoge in 15:54 to retain the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship after a chair shot and the Black Mephisto. This was Taichi's second successful defense of the title.
Takeshi Morishima officially announced his retirement ceremony to be held on September 19 in Osaka, Japan.
7. Maybach Blue Justice & Maybach Taniguchi def. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin & Takashi Iizuka) in 10:57 after the Avalanche Maybach Bomb by Taniguchi on Iizuka. Taniguchi announced his previously unknown partner as Maybach Blue Justice before the match.
8. Killer Elite Squad (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr) def. Dangan Yankees (Takashi Sugiura & Masato Tanaka) in 11:08 after the Killer Bomb on Sugiura. This was K.E.S's second successful title defense. 9. Minoru Suzuki def. Naomichi Marufuji in 25:54 to retain the GHC Heavyweight Championship after the Gotch-style Piledriver. Kenta Kobashi was the special witness, ruling as the second referee. This was Suzuki's first defense of the title. After the match, Maybach Taniguchi, who won against Suzuki-gun earlier in the night, came out to challenge Suzuki. He was attacked by the faction, and Minoru accepted Maybach's challenge.
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Post by DTP. on Apr 14, 2016 17:46:42 GMT -5
| WRESTLING OBSERVER NEWSLETTER May 11, 2015 by Dave Meltzer |
WRESTLING DONTAKU POLL RESULTS Thumbs up 103
Thumbs down 0
Thumbs in the middle 7
Representing New Japan, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kushida, Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Tetsuya Naito, Jushin Liger and Gedo have travelled to the States this week for the annual North American tour (that will also see a border cross to Canada) with Ring of Honor. It's a four date trip, with two house shows at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, an iPPV in the Ted Reeve Arena in Toronto, and a TV taping in Toronto as well.
War of the Worlds night one in Philadelphia on 5/12 is a house show that will be taped for on-demand a week later. The show has Gedo vs Delirious in a match of the bookers, Kushida vs ACH, Jay Lethal vs Takaaki Watanabe (one of New Japan's Young Lions on excursion) for the ROH World Television title, Jushin Liger & Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian vs Tetsuya Naito & Kyle O'Reilly & Bobby Fish, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin vs Nick & Matt Jackson, A.J. Styles vs Adam Cole (a match that was in somewhat doubt going in, with Cole fresh off of a shoulder injury), and Kazuchika Okada & Shinsuke Nakamura vs Mark & Jay Briscoe
War of the Worlds night two in Philadelphia on 5/13 will also be a house show taped for on-demand streaming in two weeks. The show has Gedo vs Christopher Daniels, Adam Page vs Takaaki Watanabe, Jay Lethal vs Kushida in what could end up as an ROH World Television title match, Jushin Liger vs ACH, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Roderick Strong, Kazuchika Okada vs Kyle O'Reilly, Shinsuke Nakamura vs Mark Briscoe, Jay Briscoe vs Tetsuya Naito for the ROH World Heavyweight title, and Adam Cole & Matt Taven & Michael Bennett vs A.J. Styles & Nick & Matt Jackson in a war of the factions.
Global Wars night one in Toronto on 5/15 will be live on internet pay-per-view. The show has Moose & Gedo vs Silas Young & Takaaki Watanabe, Kushida vs Kyle O'Reilly, ACH vs Jushin Liger, Rocky Romero & Barreta vs Michael Bennett & Matt Taven vs Frankie Kazarian & Christopher Daniels vs BJ Whitmer & Adam Page, Kazuchika Okada vs Bobby Fish, Jay Lethal vs Tetsuya Naito potentially for the ROH World Television title, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Adam Cole, ROH All Stars represented by Mark & Jay Brisoce & Hanson & Ray Rowe & Michael Elgin, vs the Bullet Club of A.J. Styles & Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson & Nick & Matt Jackson, and Shinsuke Nakamura vs Roderick Strong for the IWGP Intercontinental title.
The New Japan talent on tour including Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke Nakamura, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito, Kushida and Gedo, as well as talent already in town for ROH, ReDRagon, Young Bucks, A.J. Styles, The Kingdom, Takaaki Watanabe, Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows, will take part in Global Wars night two in Toronto on 5/16 as well, although this will be a TV taping for future episodes of Ring of Honor's television show. So we'll be seeing matches featuring New Japan talent somewhere around June from this show.
There have been talks between New Japan and Ring of Honor about bringing over Kevin Kelly and Steve Corino to call Dominion on 7/5, but that's just the word as of right now. I think that English commentary on more shows would help New Japan's expansion and the subscription rate on New Japan World. David Finlay III, who is the son of legendary Irish wrestler and current WWE producer, Dave Finlay, is joining the New Japan Dojo starting with the Best of Super Juniors tour. He is only a rookie at 22 (he turns 23 on May 16 just before he starts out), with three years of experience. He should be joining Yohei Komatsu, Sho Tanaka and Jay White (and sometimes Cody Hall) in the opening matches.
After the New Japan tour with Ring of Honor in Canada and the United States, Tetsuya Naito will be on excursion to CMLL in Mexico. He will miss the Best of Super Juniors (which is not so important anyway if you are a heavyweight during that tour), but is expected back in time for Dominion in July.
The Best of Super Juniors tournament that starts on 5/22 in Korakuen will feature two blocks of eight men. Basically with round-robin tournaments, one wrestler will compete in singles matches against every other member of the block to score points (which is 2pts for a win, and 1pt for a draw). The highest scorer of each block will advance to the finals on 6/7 in Yoyogi Gym, with the winner being crowned the victor. And the winner has been announced as going on to challenge Kenny Omega for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at Dominion on 7/5.
The match schedule is yet to be confirmed, but they are running dates in Korakuen Hall (5/22), Saitama (5/23), Niigata (5/25), Yamagata (5/26), Aomori (5/27), Tochigi (5/29), Korakuen Hall (5/30), Shizuoka (5/31), Ibaraki (6/2), Aichi (6/3), Nagano (6/4), Korakuen Hall (6/5) and Yoyogi Gym (6/7).
Block A has Alex Shelley, Barreta, Bobby Fish, Dragon Lee (from CMLL, who should be real good in this tournament), Gedo, Jushin Liger, Kamaitachi (formerly Hiromu Takahashi, a New Japan Young Lion on excursion with CMLL; who should blow the house down when he faces Dragon Lee) and Matt Sydal (who is with Ring of Honor but runs the U.S. independents and is unsigned).
In Block B, it's Bárbaro Cavernario (from CMLL, not a tremendous worker but he sells a lot of merchandise based off of his caveman gimmick), KUSHIDA, Kyle O'Reilly, Máscara Dorada, Nick Jackson (Matt is not on the tour due to his wife expecting their second child during this time), Rocky Romero, Ryusuke Taguchi and Tiger Mask.
Jeff Jarrett's new promotion Global Force Wrestling has announced the date of its first show and roster, which debuts with a minor league baseball park show on 6/12 in Jackson, Tennessee, as well as a series of live events building up to their first TV taping on 7/24 in the Orleans Arena, Las Vegas, NV. They are still yet to acquire a television deal with anywhere, but looks to be a tester and something to present to TV executives later.
Names announced as part of the roster from New Japan include IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions the Young Bucks, Barreta, Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows. Other notable names include GHC Tag Team Champions the Killer Elite Squad of Pro Wrestling NOAH, Moose from Ring of Honor, Jim Duggan, Jim Cornette, P.J. Black (Justin Gabriel) and Chris Mordetzski (Chris Masters).
These names are booked for a lot of shows, and the list should continue to grow as Andrew Everett's name has also been floating around.
The Young Bucks recently turned down an offer to sign with TNA. Their priority is with New Japan, and it would have been a difficult fit.
With the recent pairings together on house shows and Wrestling Dontaku, and Yuji Nagata wanting to get more involved with storylines on New Japan shows, Yuji Nagata vs Kazushi Sakuraba is being talked about being added to Dominion on 7/5. It looks to be a loaded show with Hiroshi Tanahashi vs A.J. Styles for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, Daisuke Sekimoto vs Tomohiro Ishii for the NEVER Openweight Championship, The Kingdom vs Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto for the IWGP Tag Team Championship, Karl Anderson vs Kazuchika Okada, and Kenny Omega defending the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title against the winner of BOSJ.
New Japan's Alive shows on 5/5 and 5/6 both sold out, continuing the streak as Takamatsu drew 1,250 and Akashi drew 1,100.
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Post by DTP. on Apr 14, 2016 20:23:16 GMT -5
| NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING - PRESS CONFERENCE NOTES
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 - Best of the Super Juniors Match Schedule |
Last week it was announced that sixteen men would take part in the 2015 edition of the Best of Super Juniors tournament. Historically, the Best of Super Juniors have seen twenty-one previous victors, with winners in the past including Ricochet, Prince Devitt (now Finn Bálor in WWE), Kota Ibushi, Koji Kanemoto, Tiger Mask, Jushin Liger, El Samurai and Black Tiger II (Eddie Guerrero). These sixteen men will compete against everybody else in their respective blocks in a round-robin format. After each match, the winner will obtain 2 points, whereas the loser will score zero. Draws result in 1 point per person. By the end of June 5, the two highest scorers in their own block will qualify for the finals, to be held on June 7 - and the winner of that match will be the 22nd winner of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament. Block A: Alex Shelley, Barreta, Bobby Fish, Dragon Lee, Gedo, Jushin Liger, Kamaitachi, Matt Sydal Block B: Bárbaro Cavernario, KUSHIDA, Kyle O'Reilly, Máscara Dorada, Nick Jackson, Rocky Romero, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask The schedule is as follows: May 22, 2015 - Tokyo, Japan - Korakuen Hall A BLOCK: Gedo vs Jushin Liger A BLOCK: Matt Sydal vs Bobby Fish A BLOCK: Dragon Lee vs Kamaitachi A BLOCK: Alex Shelley vs Barreta B BLOCK: Ryusuke Taguchi vs Máscara Dorada B BLOCK: Tiger Mask vs Bárbaro Cavernario B BLOCK: Kyle O'Reilly vs Nick Jackson B BLOCK: Rocky Romero vs KUSHIDA May 23, 2015 - Saitama, Japan - Kuki City Gymnasium A BLOCK: Bobby Fish vs Alex Shelley A BLOCK: Barreta vs Dragon Lee
B BLOCK: Kyle O'Reilly vs Tiger Mask B BLOCK: KUSHIDA vs Nick Jackson
May 25, 2015 - Niigata, Japan - Tsubame Civic Gymnasium A BLOCK: Jushin Liger vs Kamaitachi A BLOCK: Matt Sydal vs Gedo
B BLOCK: Ryusuke Taguchi vs Rocky Romero B BLOCK: Máscara Dorada vs Bárbaro Cavernario
May 26, 2015 - Yamagata, Japan - Yamagata Sports Center Gymnasium A BLOCK: Barreta vs Kamaitachi A BLOCK: Jushin Liger vs Matt Sydal
B BLOCK: Nick Jackson vs Ryusuke Taguchi B BLOCK: Tiger Mask vs Máscara Dorada
May 27, 2015 - Aomori, Japan - Aomori Martial Arts Hall A BLOCK: Gedo vs Alex Shelley A BLOCK: Bobby Fish vs Dragon Lee
B BLOCK: KUSHIDA vs Bárbaro Cavernario B BLOCK: Rocky Romero vs Kyle O'Reilly
May 29, 2015 - Tochigi, Japan - New Sun-pia Tochigi A BLOCK: Bobby Fish vs Kamaitachi A BLOCK: Alex Shelley vs Jushin Liger
B BLOCK: Máscara Dorada vs Kyle O'Reilly B BLOCK: Ryusuke Taguchi vs Bárbaro Cavernario
May 30, 2015 - Tokyo, Japan - Korakuen Hall A BLOCK: Matt Sydal vs Barreta A BLOCK: Dragon Lee vs Gedo
B BLOCK: Nick Jackson vs Rocky Romero B BLOCK: KUSHIDA vs Tiger Mask
May 31, 2015 - Shizuoka, Japan - Kiramesse Numazu A BLOCK: Bobby Fish vs Jushin Liger A BLOCK: Kamaitachi vs Matt Sydal
B BLOCK: Nick Jackson vs Tiger Mask B BLOCK: Ryusuke Taguchi vs KUSHIDA
June 2, 2015 - Ibaraki, Japan - Ibaraki Prefectural Sports Center A BLOCK: Gedo vs Barreta A BLOCK: Alex Shelley vs Dragon Lee
B BLOCK: Rocky Romero vs Máscara Dorada B BLOCK: Bárbaro Cavernario vs Kyle O'Reilly
June 3, 2015 - Aichi, Japan - Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall A BLOCK: Matt Sydal vs Dragon Lee A BLOCK: Barreta vs Jushin Liger
B BLOCK: Máscara Dorada vs Nick Jackson B BLOCK: Ryusuke Taguchi vs Tiger Mask
June 4, 2015 - Nagano, Japan - Chino Cultural Complex Multi-Hall A BLOCK: Kamaitachi vs Alex Shelley A BLOCK: Gedo vs Bobby Fish
B BLOCK: KUSHIDA vs Kyle O'Reilly B BLOCK: Rocky Romero vs Bárbaro Cavernario
June 5, 2015 - Tokyo, Japan - Korakuen Hall A BLOCK: Bobby Fish vs Barreta A BLOCK: Jushin Liger vs Dragon Lee A BLOCK: Kamaitachi vs Gedo A BLOCK: Alex Shelley vs Matt Sydal
B BLOCK: Kyle O'Reilly vs Ryusuke Taguchi B BLOCK: KUSHIDA vs Máscara Dorada B BLOCK: Bárbaro Cavernario vs Nick Jackson B BLOCK: Rocky Romero vs Tiger Mask
June 7, 2015 - Tokyo, Japan - Yoyogi National Gymnasium Winner of Block A vs Winner of Block B
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Post by DTP. on Apr 14, 2016 20:52:47 GMT -5
| ROH/NJPW WAR OF THE WORLDS 2015
Tuesday, May 12, 2015 - 2300 Arena - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, May 13, 2015 - 2300 Arena - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Night 1 - 2300 Arena - Pennsylvania, USA (May 12)
1. Gedo def. Delirious in 7:23 after the Complete Shot.
2. KUSHIDA def. ACH in 14:22 after the Hoverboard Lock.
3. Jay Lethal def. Takaaki Watanabe in 10:35 to retain the ROH World Television Championship after distraction from Truth Martini led to the Lethal Injection.
4. Tetsuya Naito & ReDRagon (Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly) def. Jushin Thunder Liger & The Addiction (Frankie Kazarian & Christopher Daniels) in 14:06 after Chasing the Dragon by ReDRagon to Kazarian.
5. Hiroshi Tanahashi & Michael Elgin def. The Young Bucks (Nick & Matt Jackson) in 14:32 after the High Fly Flow by Tanahashi to Nick.
6. A.J. Styles def. Adam Cole in 18:38 after the Styles Clash. After the match, the Young Bucks got into a brawl with the Kingdom, with Styles and Cole getting involved.
7. CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Shinsuke Nakamura) def. The Briscoe Brothers (Mark & Jay Briscoe) in 20:11 after the BomaYe by Nakamura on Mark.
Night 2 - 2300 Arena - Pennsylvania, USA (May 13)
1. Christopher Daniels def. Gedo in 9:39 after the Angel's Wings.
2. Adam Page def. Takaaki Watanabe in 10:41 after the Rite of Passage.
3. Jay Lethal def. KUSHIDA in 12:45 in a non-title match after the Lethal Injection.
4. Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Roderick Strong in 16:25 in a non-title match after the Cloverleaf. Tanahashi and Strong shook hands after the match.
5. Kazuchika Okada def. Kyle O'Reilly in 14:22 after the Rainmaker Lariat.
6. Shinsuke Nakamura def. Mark Briscoe in 13:54 after the BomaYe.
7. Jay Brisoce def. Tetsuya Naito in 18:29 to retain the ROH World Championship after the Jay Driller.
8. The Kingdom (Adam Cole, Michael Bennett & Matt Taven) def. BULLET CLUB (A.J. Styles, Nick & Matt Jackson) in 18:51 after the Hail Mary by the Kingdom on Matt Jackson.
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Post by DTP. on Apr 14, 2016 22:32:27 GMT -5
| ROH/NJPW GLOBAL WARS '15 Friday, May 15, 2015 - Ted Reeve Arena - Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
champion
"King of Strong Style" Shinsuke Nakamura(NJPW) | IWGP Intercontinental Championship VS [1 fall, 60 minute time limit]
| "Mr ROH" Roderick Strong(ROH) | "ROH All-Stars"
Jay Briscoe, Mark Briscoe, Hanson, Ray Rowe and Michael Elgin(ROH) | 10-Man Tag Team Match VS
| A.J. Styles, Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows, NickJackson and Matt Jackson(BULLET CLUB) |
IWGP Heavyweight Champion"Once in a Century Talent" Hiroshi Tanahashi(NJPW)
| Non-Title Match VS
| "The Panama City Playboy" Adam Cole(ROH)
| champion
"The Greatest First Generation Wrestler" Jay Lethal(ROH) | ROH World Television Championship VS [1 fall, 15 minute time limit] | "Stardust☆Genius" Tetsuya Naito (NJPW) |
"Rainmaker" Kazuchika Okada(NJPW) | Singles Match VS
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"The Addiction" Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian(ROH) "Roppongi Vice" Barreta and Rocky Romero(ROH/NJPW) | Four-Way Tag Team Match VS
| BJ Whitmer and Adam Page(ROH) IWGP Tag Team Champions"The Kingdom" Michael Bennett and Matt Taven (ROH/NJPW) |
Jushin Thunder Liger
| Singles Match VS
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"ReDRagon"
| Singles Match VS
| "New Japan Supernova" KUSHIDA(NJPW) |
Moose and Gedo(ROH, NJPW) | Tag Team Match VS
| Silas Young and Takaaki Watanabe(ROH) |
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