New Japan kicked off the 2023 World Tag League today, their annual year-end tag team tournament, with Block A action. A new Young Lion also debuted today, beginning what hopefully will be a path to becoming a New Japan superstar.
Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World FOR FREE! No paid subscription or account required! This was an ABEMA simulcast in Japan.
Click below to watch (available in Japanese and English):
https://watch.njpwworld.com/details/38461?playlist_id=203
The announced paid attendance was 1133.
Pre-show Match: Shoma Kato Debut Match: Oskar Leube beat Shoma Kato.
Match 1: Soberano Jr. & Atlantis Jr. beat TAKA Michinoku & DOUKI. Atlantis pinned TAKA after Atlantida.
Match 2: Alex Zayne, Lance Archer, Minoru Suzuki & Yuji Nagata beat Gedo, Taiji Ishimori, Jack Bonza & Bad Luck Fale. Nagata beat Gedo with Nagata Lock 2.
Match 3: Yuya Uemura, Taichi & SANADA beat BUSHI, Zandokan Jr. & Yota Tsuji. Uemura pinned BUSHI with a kannuki suplex hold.
Match 4: Jado, El Phantasmo & Hikuleo beat Yoh, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto. Phantasmo pinned Yoh after CR2.
World Tag League:
Match 5: Shane Haste & Mikey Bicholls beat Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun. Haste pinned Laun after Tank Buster.
Match 6: Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL beat Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii. EVIL pinned Yano after EVIL.
Match 7: Ryohei Oiwa & Kaito Kiyomiya (Pro Wrestling NOAH) beat Gabriel Kidd & Alex Coughlin by countout. Kidd counted out.
Main Event: Ren Narita & Shota Umino beat HENARE & Great-O-Khan. Umino pinned Khan after Death Rider.
The next event is tomorrow. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET. This will be a Samurai! TV broadcast in Japan.
In other news, Stardom announced today that STRONG Women’s Champion Giulia will next defend the title on 12/2 in the promotion vs. AZM. 6th defense for Giulia. I would expect the winner to defend at the next US event on 1/13/24.
