New Japan continued the BATTLE AUTUMN ’22 Tour today with the first of back-to-back cheering events allowed, that also would finish setting the Quarterfinals of the NJPW WORLD TV Championship.
Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese. This was a Samurai! TV broadcast.
The announced paid attendance was 700, a legit sellout. Reduced capacity due to vocal cheering allowed.
There was a last-minute change to the card because DOUKI was removed shortly before the event began. Fever. Rapid test for coronavirus was negative but kept out as a precaution. He was to have teamed with El Desperado & Taichi to face Gedo, Taiji Ishimori & KENTA. Gedo was also removed as a result.
Match 1: Gideon Gray & Aaron Henare beat Kosei Fujita & Yuto Nakashima. Henare pinned Fujita after Rampage.
Match 2: Alex Zayne, Tiger Mask & David Finlay beat TAKA Michinoku, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Zack Sabre Jr. Zayne pinned TAKA after Cinnamon Twist.
Match 3: Hikuleo & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Dick Togo & EVIL. Hikuleo pinned Togo after a chokeslam. Afterwards, Hikuleo called out Karl Anderson.
Match 4: Taiji Ishimori & KENTA beat El Desperado & Taichi. KENTA pinned Taichi after a low blow.
Match 5: Hiromu Takahashi & SANADA beat Master Wato & Togi Makabe. SANADA pinned Makabe with O’Connor Bridge.
Match 6: Francesco Akira, TJP & Jeff Cobb beat Titan, BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito. Akira pinned BUSHI after 2/2 (a combined sandwich-type Fireball with TJP).
Match 7: NJPW WORLD TV Title Tournament: Toru Yano beat Great-O-Khan. The Great Muta (Keiji Muto) appeared to help Yano win.
Main Event: NJPW WORLD TV Title Tournament: Ren Narita beat Tomohiro Ishii. As a result, Narita will face Yano in the Quarterfinals.
The next event is tomorrow with the start of the tournament Quarterfinals. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.
