News, results & more from Japanese Pro Wrestling & Sumo
During tonight’s Resurgence Event, New Japan announced that the US-based STRONG brand is next headed to Japan for “Independence Day”, to be held on July 4 & 5 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Both lineups are TBA and both will be PPVs on New Japan World. Confirmed names for the events are Fred Rosser, Eddie Kingston, Tom Lawlor, JR Kratos, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Rocky Romero.
More as it becomes available. Resurgence results will be posted when available.
Here are the quick results from today’s Day 8-the halfway point-of the May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
MakuuchI (top tier):
Myogiryu (M14) beat Mitoryu (M16)
Tsurugisho (M15) beat Chiyoshoma (M13)
Ichiyamamoto (M15) beat Aoiyama (M12)
Kotoeko (M12) beat Oho (M16)
Hokuseiho (M11) beat Asanoyama (M14)
Kagayaki (M17) beat Daishoho (M11)
Sadanoumi (M8) beat Takarafuji (M10)
Hokutofuji (M7) beat Takanosho (M8)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Ryuden (M10)
Hiradoumi (M9) beat Meisei (M6)
Onosho (M9) beat Mitakeumi (M6)
Nishikifuji (M3) beat Kinbozan (M6)
Abi (M1) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Midorifuji (M1) beat Daieisho (S)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Kotonowaka (K)
Kiribayama (S) beat Ura (M4)
Nishikigi (M4) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Takakeisho (O) beat Shodai (K)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Kotoshoho (M5)
Leader: Terunofuji (8-0)
Of note: UPSET ALERT DAY! 2 of the 3 remaining unbeatens went down as both Asanoyama and Meisei took their first losses so no promotions earned although Terunofuji remained perfect. And Takakeisho’s knees are somehow holding up as his win over Shodai puts him just 2 wins from getting out of kadoban status. I would not be surprised if, should he get to 8 wins soon enough, he withdraws at that point.
Ozeki Watch: At 6-2 at the halfway point, Kiribayama needs to go 4-3 or better to be eligible for promotion to Ozeki or win the tournament. Wakamotoharu, now at the same record but with consecutive losses, must either win out (go 7-0) or win the tournament for a promotion chance. Daieisho & Hoshoryu probably need 6-1 finishes or the title.
Key match tomorrow: Terunofuji-Meisei. EIther a kinboshi and perhaps 3-way tie at the top again or the Yokozuna could pull 2 clear of the field. Asanoyama gets Ryuden (3-5).
Juryo:
Chiyonoumi (Ms3) beat Tomokaze (J12)
Chiyosakae (J12) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Shimanoumi (J13) beat Chiyomaru (J10)
Fujiseiun (J13) beat Kitanowaka (J10)
Tsushimanada (J12) beat Chiyonokuni (J9)
Atamifuji (J8) beat Tamashoho (J11)
Daiamami (J8) beat Takakento (J7)
Churanoumi (J7) beat Tokihayate (J11)
Ochihi (J8) beat Shimazuumi (J6)
Bushozan (J3) beat Hakuyozan (J6)
Azumaryu (J2) beat Enho (J3)
Tohakuryu (J2) beat Akua (J5)
Gonoyama (J1) beat Roga (J3)
Oshoma (J4) beat Shonannoumi (J1)
Leader: Gonoyama, Ochiai (8-0)
Of note: Welcome to the show, Gonoyama-8 wins and a promotion means he is headed to the top tier in July. It seems to be between him and Ochiai for the title but surely Bushozan and Atamifuji will have a say at 7-1 (the latter having a great bounceback tournament after a slump once he reached the top tier for the first time). Now the question with Ochiai is can he possibly rack up enough wins to make the top tier in July from J8 should he win the championship? It’s probably the only way along with at least 13 wins (as reference, remember that about that same number of wins and a championship got Asanoyama from J12 to J1 after January), if not he’ll all but be there in September. On the flip side we have our first demotions as well, as both Enho and Chiyonokuni are now 0-8.
Key matches tomorrow: Gonoyama-Akua, Ochiai-Hidenoumi. Having seemingly switched from epic salt fist poses to Terutsuyoshi-like epic salt throws, Akua is fighting like Terutsuyoshi and has slumped to a 1-7 record so far. Hidenoumi is 3-5. As for the 7-1s, Atamifuji gets Tomokaze while Bushozan has Oshoma.
Lower tier notes: At the halfway point, 8 are tied for the Makushita lead at 4-0, including notably Wakatakamoto, the oldest of the Wakas who has never reached higher than Makushita in his career. All unbeatens face each other tomorrow so the 8 will go down to 4. Also, if Kawazoe, the popular human slinky, can get one more win this tournament, he will be promoted to Juryo in July (he is 3-1 at Ms1). Also with a promotion chance is Onosato, a former 2-time amateur yokozuna champion who earned a provisional Makushita 10 ranking for his debut this tournament-he is also 3-1 with 3 straight wins after a debut loss. 10 are tied for the Sandanme lead at 4-0. 12 are tied for the Jonidan lead at 4-0 while 3 are tied for the Jonokuchi lead at 4-0 with one at 3-0. Also, the Makushita has one withdrawal for tomorrow (Ienoshima, Ms39, was 1-3 so that’s a demotion), the Sandanme has 3 withdrawals and Jonidan has one.
DDT wrapped up the KING OF DDT 2023 Tournament today with the Semifinals and Finals.
Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in Japanese. You can also watch the first 4 matches FOR FREE on YouTube.
The announced paid attendance was 677.
Pre-show:
Match 1: Yuki Iino, Danshoku Dieno & Yumehito Imanari beat Akito, Yusuke Okada & Rukiya by ref stoppage (TKO). Iino beat Rukiya.
Match 2: Yukio Sakaguchi, Saki Akai, Takao Soma, Yuni & Yuki Ishida beat Toru Owashi, Makoto Oishi, Antonio Honda, Kazuki Hirata & Kazuma Sumi. Akai pinned Hirata after Quetzalcoatl.
Main show:
The promised announcement of a former WWE wrestler/champion appearing at WRESTLE PETER PAN was made to reveal the wrestler’s identity…Matt Cardona (Zack Ryder). He will face DDT Universal Champion Tetsuya Endo for the title on 7/23 with Steph De Lander in Cardon’a corner (not Chelsea Green, Cardona’s real-life wife. She’s back in WWE).
Match 1: KING OF DDT Semifinals: Kazusada Higuchi beat Yuki Ueno.
Match 2: KING OF DDT Semifinals: Chris Brookes beat Jun Akiyama.
Match 3: Tetsuya Endo & Kotaro Suzuki beat Daisuke Sasaki & MJ Paul. Endo pinned Paul after Burning Star Press. This was to have been a 6-man tag match but was changed to a tag match due to a KANON injury.
Match 4: Yuji Hino, Sanshiro Takagi, HARASHIMA & Naruki Doi beat MAO, Touki Kojima, Yuya Koroku & Takeshi Masada. Hino beat Koroku with King Kong sleeper.
Match 5: In a Piercing Deathmatch where win was by pinfall, submission or piercing your opponent’s ear 3 times, DDT Extreme Champion Shunma Katsumata beat Hideki Okatani to retain the title. V1 for Katsumata. Next up: TBA, but Katsumata hinted at wanting Atsushi Onita.
Main Event: KING OF DDT Finals: Chris Brookes beat Kazusada Higuchi by submission to win the tournament. As a result, Brookes will next face KO-D Openweight Champion Yuji Hino for the title at a date TBA.
Daisuke Sasaki summoned media backstage and tried to wait for El Desperado, who was part of the New Japan event later in the day at the venue. However, Korakuen Hall staff forced him to leave. Sasaki will face Desperado at WRESTLE PETER PAN.
The next event is Saturday at JMS Alter Plaza Multipurpose Studio in Hiroshima. There will be no live broadcast.
New Japan Ran Day 8 of Best Of The Super Junior 30 today, the penultimate day of preliminary round action.
Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English. This was a Samurai! TV broadcast.
The announced paid attendance was 1416, a legit sellout.
All matches were Best Of The Super Junior matches, 30 minute time limit.
Match 1: Block A: Titan beat DOUKI.
Match 2: Block B: Clark Connors beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Match 3: Block A: KUSHIDA beat Sho.
Match 4: Block B: Master Wato beat BUSHI.
Match 5: Block A: Mike Bailey beat Ryusuke Taguchi.
Match 6: Block B: Dan Moloney beat Robbie Eagles.
Match 7: Block A: Lio Rush beat TJP.
Match 8: Block B: Yoh beat Kevin Knight.
Match 9: Block A: Hiromu Takahashi beat Taiji Ishimori by ref stoppage. Shoulder injury.
Main Event: Block B: El Desperado beat Francesco Akira by submission.
Standings:
Block A:
1-Bailey, 6-2, 12 pts
2-Takahashi, 6-2, 12 pts
3-Rush, 6-2, 12 pts
4-Titan, 5-3, 10 pts
5-Ishimori, 5-3, 10 pts
6-TJP, 4-4, 8 pts (OUT)
7-Sho, 3-5, 6 pts (OUT)
8-DOUKI, 3-5, 6 pts (OUT)
9-KUSHIDA, 2-5, 7 pts (OUT)
10-Taguchi, 0-8, 0 pts (OUT)
Block B:
1-Desperado, 6-3, 12 pts
2-Yoh, 6-3, 12 pts
3-Wato, 6-3, 12 pts
4-Eagles, 5-3, 10 pts
5-Akira, 4-4, 8 pts (OUT)
6-Connors, 4-4, 8 pts (OUT)
7-Knight, 3-5, 6 pts (OUT)
8-Moloney, 3-5, 6 pts (OUT)
9-Kanemaru, 2-6, 4 pts (OUT)
10-BUSHI, 1-8, 2 pts (OUT)
The top 2 in each block advance to the Semifinals. In Block A, one thing is certain for Day 9-the Rush-Bailey winner advances. If it goes the distance, who moves on depends on Takahashi-Titan. Takahashi is through with a win. Titan beat Rush so he’d need to beat Takahashi and have Bailey win. If the top 3 somehow finish in a 3-way tie, Takahashi is probably out as he lost to both Bailey & Rush. Ishimori is the big question mark because of health-if he can’t go on Day 9 he’s out and TJP would get a free win. KUSHIDA & Taguchi face off for pride and points. In Block B, there could also be a 3-way tie at the top, if that happens the one out is Wato because his losses are to Desperado & Yoh. Desperado has Eagles, Yoh has Kanemaru, Wato has Knight.If Eagles beats Desperado, he needs Wato to lose to have a chance because Eagles beat Yoh but lost to Wato.
Day 9 is Tuesday at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka with only Block A along with non-tournament matches (Block B finishes Wednesday). Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2 AM PT/5 AM ET.
UPDATE: Ishimori was legit injured. Cervical vertebra. Out the rest of the tournament. TJP gets a free win in his final tournament match, which was to have been against Ishimori. Ishimori is out indefinitely.
Pro Wrestling NOAH continued the SUNNY VOYAGE 2023 Tour today with an event headlined by an All-Japan World Tag Team Championship match. Kenoh & Manabu Soya are the champions but Suwama & KONO were looking to take the title back to All-Japan.
Today’s event was held at Kobe Sambo Hall in Kobe and will be available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE at a later date (probably Wednesday). There was no live broadcast.
The announced paid attendance was 891, a full house/near sellout. That’s the biggest crowd by a considerable amount for anyone in the venue since at least pre-pandemic.
Match 1: Hajime Ohara & Hi69 beat Alejandro & Super Crazy. Ohara beat Alejandro with Muy Bien.
Match 2: HAYATA, Dragon Bane & Lancelot beat Dante Leon, Extreme Tiger & Alpha Wolf. Bane pinned Wolf after Koura Del Dragon.
Match 3: Kazuyuki Fujita, Kendo Ka Shin, Masato Tanaka & Dave The Clown beat Masa Kitamiya, Yoshiki Inamura, Daiki Inaba & Shuhei Taniguchi. Clown pinned Inaba after a package piledriver.
Match 4: Yoshinari Ogawa, Chris Ridgeway & Sean Legacy beat Kaito Kiyomiya, AMAKUSA & Junta Miyawaki. Legacy pinned Miyawaki after Shambles.
Match 5: Daga beat Eita.
Match 6: Go Shiozaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima beat Masakatsu Funaki & Shuji Kondo. Shiozaki pinned Kondo after Go Lariat.
Match 7: Jake Lee, Anthony Greene, YO-HEY & Tadasuke beat Naomichi Matufuji, Takashi Sugiura, Atsushi Kotoge & Seiki Yoshioka. YO-HEY pinned Yoshioka after a dropkick.
Main Event: All-Japan World Tag Team Champions Kenoh & Manabu Soya beat Suwama & KONO (All-Japan) to retain the titles. Soya pinned KONO after a jumping DDT. V1 for the champs.
The next event is 5/28 at Bandaijima Multipurpose Plaza Large Hall in Niigata. There will be no live broadcast.
UPDATE: Next up for Kenoh/Soya: Suwama (again) & Rei Saito. That will happen on 5/29 in All-Japan.
Here is the current events schedule for 5/21/23-5/27/23, which is subject to change (all times PT):
Additionally, the May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament continues each day with live coverage on NHK World Premium and ABEMA.
5/21:
Midnight-Pro Wrestling NOAH SUNNY VOYAGE 2023 Tour, Kobe Sambo Hall, Kobe, Japan. No live broadcast
2:30 AM-New Japan Pro Wrestling Best Of The Super Junior 30, Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan. Live on New Japan World
5 PM-New Japan Pro Wrestling “Resurgence”, Long Beach, CA. Live via PPV on New Japan World (around $22. Subscription not required)
5/22:
2:30 AM-Dragon Gate Pro Wrestling Hopeful Gate 2023 Tour, Hakodate Arena, Hokkaido, Japan. No live broadcast
5/23:
2 AM-New Japan Pro Wrestling Best Of The Super Junior 30, Osaka Prefectural Gym 2, Osaka, Japan. Live on New Japan World
2:30 AM-Dragon Gate Pro Wrestling Hopeful Gate 2023, Morioka Gym, Iwate, Japan. No live broadcast
2:30 AM-2023 Hana Kimura Memorial Event “pinx!”, Korakuen Hall. Live on FITE ($24.99)
5/24:
2 AM-New Japan Pro Wrestling Best Of The Super Junior 30, Osaka Prefectural Gym 2. Live on New Japan World
2:30 AM-Dragon Gate Pro Wrestling Hopeful Gate 2023 Tour, Aore Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan. No live broadcast
5 PM-All Elite Wrestling “AEW Dynamite”, Las Vegas, NV. Live on TBS in US and FITE elsewhere
5/25:
2:30 AM-Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling Hyper Misao Produced Event, Kitazawa Town Hall, Tokyo, Japan. No live broadcast
5 PM-Impact Wrestling “Impact Wrestling”, Chicago, IL. TAPED on AXS TV. TAPED on YouTube at 5:30 PM
5/26:
2:30 AM-New Japan Pro Wrestling Best Of The Super Junior 30 Semifinals, Yoyogi Gym 2, Tokyo, Japan. Live on New Japan World and ABEMA. FREE BROADCAST
4:30 PM-Impact Wrestling “Under Siege”, London, Ontario, Canada. Live on Impact+, YouTube (Ultimate Insider subscription required) and FITE ($9.99). NEAR LIVE RESULTS SCHEDULED
9 PM-Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, Fujisawa City Shonandai Cultural Center, Kanagawa, Japan. No live broadcast
7 PM-All Elite Wrestling “AEW Rampage”. TAPED on TNT in US and FITE elsewhere
5/27:
2 AM-Dragon Gate Pro Wrestling Hopeful Gate 2023 Tour, Wake Town Gym, Okayama, Japan. No live broadcast
2:30 AM-DDT Pro Wrestling WHAT ARE YOU DOING 2023 Tour in Hiroshima, JMS Alter Plaza Multipurpose Studio, Hiroshima, Japan. No live broadcast
7:30 PM-Ganbare Pro Wrestling, Oji Basement MON*STAR, Tokyo, Japan (3 events). No live broadcasts
TBA (Late afternoon)-Sumo-May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament Final Day, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan. Live on ABEMA and NHK World Premium
5/25 UPDATE: Updated to reflect that this week’s AEW Rampage will air at regular time (Friday at 10 PM ET) and that the 5/26 New Japan event is a FREE BROADCAST on New Japan World, no login/signup required. Also updated start time for 5/26 Impact Wrestling event from 5 PM to 4:30 PM and noting results will be NEAR LIVE for the start of the event due to schedule conflicts.
Tokyo Joshi Pro continued their spring house show tour today with an event in Tokyo, which again underwent late changes due to wrestler absences (between injuries and overseas excursions they are down roughly 1/3 of their roster).
Today’s event was held at Otemachi Mitsui Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
The announced paid attendance was 272.
During opening announcements, Miyu Yamashita vs. Sawyer Wreck was added to SUMMER SUN PRINCESS ’23 on 7/8. Despite being injured, Yuki Arai also appeared to greet fans.
Match 1: Mahiro Kiryu beat Toga.
Match 2: Hyper Misao beat Shino Suzuki by submission.
Match 3: Shoko Nakajima, Suzume & Haru Kazashiro beat Ryo Mizunami, Yoshiko Hasegawa (Ganbare Pro) & Kaya Toribami. Nakajima pinned Toribami with a Northern Lights suplex hold. Mizunami was a late replacement for Rika Tatsumi, who remains out due to the vague “poor physical condition”.
Match 4: Yuki Kamifuku beat HIMAWARI.
Match 5: Yuki Aino, Raku & Pom Harajuku beat Hikari Noa, Nao Kakuta & Wakana Uehara. Raku pinned Uehara after Doctor Yellow.
Main Event: Mizuki & Moka Miyamoto beat Miu Watanabe & Arisu Endo. Mizuki pinned Endo after a diving foot stomp.
The next event is a Hyper Misao Produced event Thursday at Kitazawa Town Hall in Tokyo. There will be no live broadcast.
Here are the quick results from today’s Day 7 of the May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Myogiryu (M14) beat Enho (J3)
Asanoyama (M14) beat Ichiyamamoto (M15)
Chiyoshoma (M13) beat Mitoryu (M16)
Kagayaki (M17) beat Kotoeko (M12)
Tsurugisho (M15) beat Hokuseiho (M11)
Oho (M16) beat Takarafuji (M10)
Daishoho (M11) beat Ryuden (M10)
Hiradoumi (M9) beat Aoiyama (M12)
Onosho (M9) beat Hokutofuji (M7)
Mitakeumi (M6) beat Takanosho (M8)
Meisei (M6) beat Sadanoumi (M8)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Kotoshoho (M5)
Tobizaru (M3) beat Nishikigi (M4)
Midorifuji (M1) beat Abi (M1)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Endo (M21) by default/withdrawal
Shodai (K) beat Kiribayama (S)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Nishikifuji (M3)
Daieisho (S) beat Kotonowaka (K)
Takakeisho (O) beat Ura (M4)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Kinbozan (M5)
Leader: Terunofuji, Meisei, Asanoyama (7-0)
WITHDRAWAL: Endo (M2). Knee injury. Doubtful to return this tournament. If he doesn’t, he will be the only top tier rikishi to finish winless. That would mean a big drop in the rankings-he’ll stay in the top tier in July but I’d knock him down all the way to Maegashira 12.
Juryo:
Shimanoumi (J13) beat Chiyosakae (J12)
Tamashoho (J11) beat Tsushimanada (J14)
Tomokaze (J12) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Tokihayata (J14) beat Kitanowaka (J10)
Daiamami (J9) beat Fujiseiun (J13)
Atamifuji (J6) beat Chiyomaru (J10)
Churanoumi (J7) beat Chiyonokuni (J9)
Ochiai (J8) beat Takakento (J7)
Bushozan (J3) beat Shimazuumi (J6)
Hakuyozan (J6) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Azumaryu (J2) beat Akua (J5)
Shonannoumi (J1) beat Roga (J4)
Gonoyama (J1) beat Oshoma (J4)
Leader: Gonoyama, Ochiai (7-0)
Reminder: NHK World Japan will air 50 minutes of LIVE top tier matches tomorrow FOR FREE at 1:10 AM PT/4:10 AM ET. NHK World Japan is available online and via smart TV apps FOR FREE in addition to select cable/satellite providers.
Here are the quick results from today’s Day 6 of the May 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Seliwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (top tier):
Bushozan (J3) beat Ichiyamamoto (M15)
Oho (M16) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Asanoyama (M14) beat Myogiryu (M12)
Chiyoshoma (M13) beat Kagayaki (M17)
Myogiryu (M14) beat Aoiyama (M12)
Hokuseiho (M11) beat Kotoeko (M12)
Onosho (M9) beat Takarafuji (M10)
Hiradoumi (M9) beat Daishoho (M11)
Takanosho (M8) beat Ryuden (M10)
Mitakeumi (M6) beat Sadanoumi (M8)
Kinbozan (M5) beat Tanawashi (M7)
Hokutofuji (M7) beat Kotoshoho (M5)
Meisei (M6) beat Ura (M4)
Midorifuji (M1) beat Endo (M2)
Shodai (K) beat Kotonowaka (K)
Kirobayama (S) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Abi (M1) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Daieisho (S) beat Hoshoryu (S)
Takakeisho (O) beat Nishikifuji (M3)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Nishikigi (M4)
Leader: Terunofuji, Meisei, Asanoyama (6-0)
Juryo:
Tokihayate (J14) beat Fujiseiun (J13)
Tomokaze (J12) beat Shimanoumi (J13)
Chiyosakae (J12) beat Ryuo (Ms3)
Chiyomaru (J10) beat Tsushimanada (J14)
Hidenoumi (J11) beat Daiamami (J9)
Tamashoho (J11) beat Chiyonokuni (J9)
Ochiai (J8) beat Kitanowaka (J10)
Hakuyozan (J6) beat Churanoumi (J7)
Atamifuji (J8) beat Shimazuumi (J6)
Takakento (J7) beat Tochinoshin (J5) by default/withdrawal
Oshoma (J4) beat Akua (J5)
Roga (J4) beat Azumaryu (J2)
Gonoyama (J1) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Shonannoumi (J1) beat Enho (J3)
Leader: Gonoyama, Ochiai (6-0)
WITHDRAWAL: Tochinoshin (J5). Retirement. Nikkan Sports reports he will not remain with the Nihon Sumo Kyokai in an Oyakata role or other position due to not having full Japanese citizenship (he is a dual national and a citizen of his native Georgia).
This means no more Makushita man daily in Juryo for now but we’ll still have a Juryo man in the top tier at least through tomorrow (tomorrow it’s fan favorite Enho who is a disappointing 0-6 so far).
New Japan ran Day 7 of Best Of The Super Junior today as the tournament enters the home stretch.
Today’s event was held at New Aomori Sports Park Maeda Arena Sub Arena in Aomori and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English.
The announced paid attendance was 1196.
All matches were Best Of The Super Junior Matches, 30 minute time limit.
Match 1: Block B: Master Wato beat Clark Connors.
Match 2: Block A: DOUKI beat Ryusuke Taguchi.
Match 3: Block B: Robbie Eagles beat Kevin Knight by submission.
Match 4: Block A: Sho beat Titan. Sho & EVIL ripped off Titan’s mask aftetwards.
Match 5: Block B: Francesco Akira beat Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Match 6: Block A: Lio Rush beat KUSHIDA.
Match 7: Block B: Yoh beat BUSHI.
Match 8: Block A: Taiji Ishimori beat Mike Bailey by submission.
Match 9: Block B: El Desperado beat Dan Moloney by submission.
Main Event: Block A: Hiromu Takahashi beat TJP.
Standings:
Block A:
1-Ishimori, 5-2, 10 pts
2-Bailey, 5-2, 10 pts
3-Takahashi, 5-2, 10 pts
4-Rush, 5-2, 10 pts
5-Titan, 4-3, 8 pts
6-TJP, 4-3, 8 pts
7-Sho, 3-4, 6 pts
8-DOUKI, 3-4, 6 pts
9-KUSHIDA, 1-6, 2 pts (OUT)
10-Taguchi, 0-7, 0 pts (OUT)
Block B:
1-Desperado, 5-2, 10 pts
2-Yoh, 5-2, 10 pts
3-Wato, 5-2, 10 pts
4-Eagles, 5-2, 10 pts
5-Akira, 4-3, 8 pts
6-Knight, 3-4, 6 pts
7-Connors, 3-5, 6 pts
8-Moloney, 2-5, 4 pts (OUT)
9-Kanemaru, 2-5, 4 pts (OUT)
10-BUSHI, 1-6, 2 pts (OUT)
The top 2 in each block advance to the Semifinals. Both blocks are headed to last day settlements now. Block B has cleared up some with 3 now eliminated and 2 more mathematically all but out. While 7 still have a chance in Block A it’s all but down to the 4 tied for the lead with Titan and TJP still having a chance. Sho & DOUKI can only hope for tiebreakers and no contests.
Day 8 is Sunday at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.
Also Sunday is Resurgence, the next US event. Live streaming on Nee Japan World as a PPV (about $22 in the US, no subscription required) will begin at 5 PM PT/8 PM ET. THERE IS NO FITE BROADCAST THIS TIME. Only New Japan World.