New Japan ran a special Taichi hometown event today which also was held at the school he graduated from.
Today’s event was held at Ishikari City Hanakawa Minami Junior High School Gym in Hokkaido and can be watched on demand as a PPV on New Japan World for $22.99 US until 11/30 Japan time.
The announced paid attendance was 842, a legit sellout.
Pre-show match: Masatora Yasuda beat Ryoma Tsukamoto (Independent/Freelancer).
Match 1: DDT Universal Champion Ryusuke Taguchi beat Dick Togo to retain the title. V3 for Taguchi. He will now defend the title against Akito at tomorrow’s DDT event.
Match 2: In a match where Satoshi Kojima would earn an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship shot with a win AND make weight, Yoh beat Satoshi Kojima. It wouldn’t have happened anyway because Kojima did not make weight. Not even close. Still at 108 kg/237 pounds. The limit is 100 kg/220 pounds.
Match 3: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat Kumagoro Hokkai & Lonely Wolf. YOSHI-HASHI pinned Hokkai.
Match 4: Yuya Uemura beat TAKA Michinoku.
Match 5: In a Falls Count Anywhere Inside The School (but not a No DQ) match, El Desperado & Toru Yano beat Gedo & Yuto Ice (Ice Baby). Yano pinned Gedo.
Main Event: Taichi & TBA, revealed to be Zack Sabre Jr., beat Naomichi Marufuji (Pro Wrestling NOAH) & TBA, revealed to be Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Taichi pinned Kanemaru after Zack Mephisto (combined Black Mephisto). The TBAs were the choices of Taichi & Marufuji, respectively. Afterwards, Taichi requested a match against Marufuji and announced his intent to return for another hometown event next year.
The next event is the Super Junior Tag League starting on 10/24 at Kumagaya City Civic Gym in Saitama. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET. All tournament events will be available live & on demand.