Shinnichi Champion, a variety show New Japan launched during the pandemic on New Japan World, celebrated its 5th anniversary today with a unique show-themed event. (The show also was renewed for a 6th year)
Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World as a PPV for $21.99 US.
The announced paid attendance was 1517, a legit advance sellout.
Match 1: Katsuya Murashima, YOSHI-HASHI & Yuji Nagata beat Shoma Kato, Toru Yano & Togi Makabe. YOSHI-HASHI beat Kato with Butterfly Lock. Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma were on commentary for this match.
Match 2: Hikaru Sato (All-Japan) won a Masked Battle Royal, where eliminations were by removing other wrestlers’ masks, last eliminating Great-O-Khan. As a result, Sato gets to produce a future episode of Shinnichi Champion.
Match 3: Master Wato, Boltin Oleg, El Desperado & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Dick Togo, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Ren Narita & EVIL. Tanahashi beat Togo with a Texas Cloverleaf.
Match 4: Masatora Tasuda won a 7 man Handsome Battle Royal. Among the lovely ladies who were special guests for this matxh were popular Samurai! TV personality Miki Motoi and Pieter, Yujiro Takahashi’s “personal dancer” who makes occasional special appearances (she’s also a pro Brazilian samba dancer outside the ring as well as a personal trainer).
Main Event: Ryusuke Taguchi, Taichi, Tomohiro Ishii & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Kosei Fujita, Ryohei Oiwa, Yuya Uemura & Shota Umino. Ishii pinned Oiwa.
The next event is tomorrow to resume the Road To DESTRUCTION tour. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.