Tag: New Japan Pro Wrestling

Before I start with today’s first post, I send thoughts & prayers to those in northeastern Japan that have been affected by the recent string of major earthquakes this week that is continuing today, with a smaller but moderate (by US standards) one that hit closer to Tokyo. Japan is very resilient and prepared for quakes such as this, as noted by an image I saw of train structure being damaged in the Tohoku region disrupting services and how public reaction has NOT been negative, but still as an outsider and one living in the earthquake-prone US west coast it’s still concerning. Anyway, on to the wrestling…

New Japan ran the penultimate day of the World Tag League today with the second Semifinal.

Today’s event was held at Sun arena Sendai in Kagoshima and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 1423.

Match 1: Daiki Nagai, Drilla Moloney & Shingo Takagi beat Tatsuya Matsumoto, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto. Nagai pinned Matsumoto.

Match 2: Alex Zayne & Lance Archer beat Zane Jay & Boltin Oleg. Archer pinned Jay after Blackout.

Match 3: Yosjonobu Kanemary, SANADA & Ren Narita beat Shoma Kato, Shuji Ishikawa & El Desperado. Narita beat Kato with a kneebar.

Match 4: Dick Togo 2/Sho, Chase Owens, Yujiro Takahashi, Don Fale & EVIL beat Katsuya Murashima, Toru Yano, Yuya Uemura, Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tamahashi. EVIL beat Murashima with a scorpion deathlock Afterwards, EVIL demanded there be a NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Championshop match Sunday.

Match 5: Jacob Austin Young, Callum Neeman & Great-O-Khan beat Gedo, Hiromu Takahashi & David Finlay in 42 seconds. Newman pinned Gedo after Excalibur. Afterwards, Finlay demanded a rematch on Sunday.

Match 6: Hartley Jackson, Ryoheo Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Satoshi Kojima, Taichi & El Phantasmo. Sabre pinned Kojima after a backpack driver.

Main Event: World Tag League Semifinals: Gabriel Kidd & Yota Tsuji beat OSKAR (The Grouch) & Yuto Ice (Ice Baby). Kidd pinned OSKAR after War Blaster. As a result, Kidd & Tsuni advance to the Finals to face Oiwa & Sabre and now it’s virtually guaranteed to be for an IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship shot. Maybe not at Tokyo Dome if Kidd/Tsuji win though.

The Final is Sunday at Grand Messe Kumamoto in Kumamoto. Live streaming on New Japan World OUTSIDE JAPAN ONLY will begin Saturday at 10 PM PT/1 AM ET. This will be a live & exclusive TV Asahi broadcast in Japan.

In other news, it was announced that Tokyo Dome on 1/4 is now a legit advance sellout and no further tickets will be made available. What we won’t know until the day is that number and the setup-the Dome has a normal capacity of 65,000 which is primarily for baseball. The event will be broadcast live on New Japan World outside Japan and on TV Asahi in Japan.

New Japan continued the World Tag League today with the first half of the Semifinals.

Today’s event was held at Dejima Messe Nagasaki in Nagasaki and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 1282, a legit sellout with possible standing room tickets also sold.

Match 1: Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi beat Katsuya Murashima & Shoma Kato. Owens pinned Kato after Last Testament.

Match 2: Masatora Yasuda, Satoshi Kokima & Taichi beat Tatsuya Matsunoto, Shuji Ishikawa & El Desperado. Taichi pinned Matsunoto after a jumping high kick.

Match 3: Jacob Austin Young, Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan beat Zane Jay, Alex Zayne & Lance Archer. Newman pinned Jay after Excalibur.

Match 4: Boltin Oleg, Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Dick Togo 2 (Sho), Don Fale & EVIL. Tanahashi pinned Togo/Sho after High Fly Flow.

Match 5: El Phantasmo, Yuya Uemura & Shota Umino beat Yosjinobu Kanemaru, SANADA & Ren Narita. Unino beat Kanemaru with STF.

Match 6: Gedo, Hiromu Takahashi, David Finlay, OSKAR (The Grouch) & Yuto Ice (Ice Baby) beat Daiki Nagai, Drilla Moloney, Shingo Takagi, Gabriel Kidd & Yota Tsuji. Ice pinned Nagai after Ice High.

Main Event: World Tag League Semifinals: Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr. beat YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto. Sabre pinned Goto. As a result, Sabre & Oiwa advance to the Finals and will face Friday’s OSKAR/Ice-Kidd/Tsuji winner.

The second Semifinal is Friday at Sun Arena Sendai in Kagoshima. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.

Nee Japan finished up the World Tag League prelims today with the last day of Block B.

Today’s event was held at Iizuka City General Gym in Fukuoka and can be watched in demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 1305.

Match 1: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi beat Masatora Yasuda, Satoshi Kojima & Taichi. Takahashi pinned Yasuda after Pimp Juice.

Match 2: Daiki Nagai, Drilla Moloney & Shingo Takagi beat Shoma Kato, Shuji Ishikawa & El Desperado. Moloney pinned Nagai.

Match 3: Dick Togo 2 (Sho), Don Fale & EVIL beat Katsuya Murashima, Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano. EVIL beat Murashima with a scorpion deathlock.

Match 4: Gedo, Gabriel Kidd & Yota Tsuji beat Tatsuya Matsumoto, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto. Tsuji pinned Matsunoto after a falcon arrow.

World Tag League Block B:
Match 5: El Phantasmo & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat SANADA & Ren Narita. Phantasmo pinned SANADA.
Match 6: Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Alex Zayne & Lance Archer. Sabre pinned Archer.
Match 7: Hiromu Takahashi & David Finlay beat Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan. Takagashi pinned Newman after Timr Bomb Q.
Main Event: OSKAR (The Grouch) & Yuto Ice (Ice Baby) beat Yuya Uenura & Shota Umino. OSKAR pinned Unino after KOB. As a result, OSKAR/Ice win Block A and Sabre/Oiwa finish 2nd and advance to the Semifinals and Uemura/Umino are OUT due to tiebreakers (It was a 3-way tie at 8 points and Uemura/Umino lost all of them).

The Semifinals will be Oiwa/Sabre vs. Goto/YOSHI-HASHI and OSKAR/Ice vs. Kidd/Tsuji.

The first Semifinal is tomorrow at Dejima Messe Nagasaki in Nagasaki. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.

New Japan finished up Block A of the World Tag League today.

Today’s event was held at Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall in Hiroshima and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 1565.

Match 1: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SANADA & Ren Narita beat Katsuya Murashim, El Phantasmo & Hiroshi Tanahashi. Narita beat Murashkma with a kneebar.

Match 2: Hartley Jackson, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Zane Jay, Alex Zayne & Lance Archer. Jackson pinned Jay after Death Valley Bomb.

Match 3: Jacob Austin Young, Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan beat Gedo, Hiromu Takahashi & David Finlay. Young pinned Gedo.

Match 4: Daiki Nagai, OSKAR (The Grouch) & Yuto Ice (Ice Baby) beat Shoma Kato, Yuya Uemura & Shota Umino. Ice pinned Kato after Ice High.

World Tag League Block A:
Match 5: Shuji Ishikawa & El Desperado beat Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi. Desperado pinned Takahashi.
Match 6: Gabriel Kidd & Yota Tsuji beat Satoshi Kojima & Taichi. Kidd pinned Kojima after Drill-A-Hole Piledriver.
Match 7: Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano beat Don Fale & EVIL. Yano pinned Fale. As a result, Kidd/Tsuji advance to the Semifinals.
Main Event: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat Drilla Moloney & Shingo Takagi. Goto pinned Moloney after Shoto. As a result, Bishamon advance to the Semifinals (groans…again…). Bishamon win Block A on tiebreakers and Kidd/Tsuji finish 2nd. Goto/YOSHI-HASHI will face the Block B runners-up while Kidd/Tsuji will face the Block B winners. The Semifinals are Wednesday and Friday.

The next event is tomorrow at Iizuka City General Gym in Fukuoka with the last day of Block B. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.

New Japan continued the World Tag League today in Ehime with the penultimate day of Block B.

Today’s event was held at Kihoko General Park Gym in Ehime and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 1354, a full house/near sellout.

Match 1: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi beat Shoma Kato, Shuji Ishikawa & El Desperado. Kanemaru pinned Kato.

Match 2: Masatora Yasuda, Satoshi Kojima & Taichi beat Gedo, Gabriel Kidd & Yota Tsuji. Taichi pinned Gedo after 100 (a double-team lariat and Ax Bomber).

Match 3: Dick Togo 3 (Kanemaru), Dick Togo 2 (Sho), Don Fale & EVIL beat Zane Jay, Katsuya Murashima, Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano. EVIL beat Jay with a scorpion deathlock.

Match 4: Daiki Nagai, Drilla Moloney & Shingo Takagi beat Tatsuya Matsumoto, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto. Moloney pinned Matsumoto after Drilla Killer.

World Tag League Block B:
Match 5: Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan beat El Phantasmo & Hiroshi Tanahashi. Newman pinned Phantasmo.
Match 6: Alex Zayne & Lance Archer beat OSKAR (The Grouch) & Yuto Ice (Ice Baby). Archer pinned Ice.
Match 7: Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Hiromu Takahashi & David Finlay. Sabre pinned Takahashi.
Main Event: Yuya Uemura & Shota Umino beat SANADA & Ren Narita. Uemura pinned SANADA with a Kannuki suplex hold.

Standings (Block B):
1-Newman/Khan, 4-2, 8 pts
2-Uemura/Umino, 4-2, 8 pts
3-OSKAR/Ice, 3-3, 6 pts
4-Oiwa/Sabre, 3-3, 6 pts
5-Zayne/Archer, 3-3, 6 pts
6-SANADA/Narita, 3-3, 6 pts
7-Phantasmo/Tanahashi, 2-4, 4 pts (OUT)
8-Takahashi/Finlay, 2-4, 4 pts (OUT)
The top 2 advance to the Semifinals. While there are now 2 clear leaders, all but the bottom 2 still have at least a chance because of the remaining matches and tiebreakers. A win or draw in their final matches would put Newman/Khan and Uemura/Umino thorugh.

The next event is tomorrow at Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall in Hiroshima with the final day of Block A. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.

New Japan continued the World Tag League today in Osaka with the penultimate day of Block A.

Today’s event was held at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka and can be watched on demand on New Japan World. This was a live Samurai! TV broadcast in Japan.

The announced paid attendance was 1002, a legit advance sellout.

Match 1: Jacob Austin Young, Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan beat Katsuya Murashima, El Phantasmo & Hiroshi Tanahashi. Khan beat Murashima with Subaru Sheep Killer.

Match 2: Daiki Nagai, OSKAR (The Grouch) & Yuto Ice (Ice Baby) beat Zane Jay, Alex Zayne & Lance Archer. Ice pinned Jay after Ice High.

Match 3: Hartley Jackson, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Gedo, Hiromu Takahashi & David Finlay. Jackson pinned Gedo after Death Valley Bomb.

Match 4: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SANADA & Ren Narita beat Shoma Kato, Yuya Uemura & Shota Umino. Kanemaru beat Kato with a figure 4.

World Tag League Block A:
Match 5: Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi beat Satoshi Kojima & Taichi. Takahashi pinned Kojima after Pimp Juice.
Match 6: Don Fale & EVIL beat Shuji Ishikawa & El Desperado. EVIL pinned Desperado after EVIL.
Match 7: Dtilla Moloney & Shingo Takagi beat Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano. Moloney pinned Yano after War Dragons.
Main Event: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI beat Gabriel Kidd & Yota Tsuji. Goto pinned Kidd after Shoto.

Standings (Block A):
1-YOSHI-HASHI/Goto, 4-2, 8 pts
2-Kidd/Tsuji, 4-2, 8 pts
3-Moloney/Takagi, 4-2, 8 pts
4-Fale/EVIL, 4-2, 8 pts
5-Ishikawa/Desperado, 3-3, 6 pts
6-Yano/Oleg, 3-3, 6 pts
7-Owens/Takahashi, 1-5, 2 pts (OUT)
8-Kojima/Taichi, 1-5, 2 pts (OUT)
The top 2 advance to the Semifinals. It’s chaos but one scenario is very simple-the Bishamon-Takagi/Moloney winner Monday, if there is one, advances. At least if it’s Bishamon…Takagi/Moloney could still be out if they win should both Kidd/Tsuji and Fale/EVIL win as they beat the former but lost to the latter. All but the bottom 2 still have a chance due to tiebrrakers.

The next event is Sunday at Onikita General Park Gym in Ehime with Block B. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin Saturday at 11 PM PT/2 AM ET.

New Japan continues the World Tag League today in Shizuoka with Block B.

Today’s event was held at Twin Messe Shizuoka North Hall in Shizuoka and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 811.

Match 1: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi beat Masatora Yasuda, Satoshi Kojima & Taichi. Kanemaru pinned Yasuda.

Match 2: Dick Togo 2-who actually was Sho, Don Fale & EVIL beat Shoma Kato, Shuji Ishikawa & El Desperado. Togo/Sho pinned Kato after Magic Killer.

Match 3: Katsuya Murashima, Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano beat Daiki Nagai, Drilla Moloney & Shingo Takago. Oleg pinned Nagai after Burdict.

Match 4: Gedo, Gabriel Kidd & Yota Tsuji beat Tatsuya Matsumoto, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto. Kidd pinned Matsumoto after Drill-A-Hole Piledriver.

World Tag League Block B:
Match 5: El Phantasmo & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Alex Zayne & Lance Archer. Phantasmo pinned Zayne after Thubder Kiss ‘86.
Match 6: Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan beat SANADA & Ren Narita. Khan pinned SANADA after Eliminator.
Match 7: OSKAR (The Grouch) & Yuto Ice (Ice Baby) beat Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr. OSKAR pinned Oiwa after KIB.
Main Event: Yuya Uenura & Shota Umino beat Hiromu Takahashi & David Finlay. Umino pinned Takahashi after Second Chapter.

Standings (Block B):
1-Neeman/Khan, 3-2, 6 pts
2-OSKAR/Ice, 3-2, 6 pts
3-Uenura/Umino, 3-2, 6 pts
4-SANADA/Narita, 3-2, 6 pts
5-Phantasmo/Tanahashi, 2-3, 4 pts
6-Archer/Zayne, 2-3, 4 pts
7-Oiwa/Sabre, 2-3, 4 pts
8-Takahashi/Finlay, 2-3, 4 pts
The top 2 advance to the Semifinals. No real scenarios right now, just the old “throw at wall and see what sticks”.

The next event is Friday at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka with Block A. The event is a legit advance sellout. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET. This will also be a live Samurai! TV broadcast in Japan.

New Japan continued the World Tag League today in Yamanashi with Block A.

Today’s event was held at Ainesse Yamanashi in Yamanashi and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 980.

Match 1: Katsuya Murashima, El Phantasmo & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Zane Jay, Alex Zayne & Lance Archer. Murashima pinned Jay.

Match 2: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SANADA & Ren Narita beat Jacob Austin Young, Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan by DQ. Young DQ’d. Low blow fake-out.

Match 3: Kosei Fujita, Hartley Jackson & Ryohei Oiwa beat Daiki Nagai, OSKAR (The Grouch) & Yuto Ice (Ice Baby). Fujita pinned Nagai.

Match 4: Gedo, Hiromu Takahashi & David Finlay beat Shoma Kato, Yuya Uemura & Shota Umino. Finlay ponned Kato after a Canadian hammer.

World Tag League Block A:
Match 5: Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano beat Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi. Oleg pinned Owens after Kamikaze.
Match 6: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat Don Fale & EVIL. YOSHI-HASHI pinned Fale after Top Hunt.
Match 7: Gabriel Kidd & Yota Tsuji beat Shuji Ishikawa & El Desperado. Tsuji pinned Desperado after Gene Blaster.
Main Event: Drilla Moloney & Shingo Takagi beat Satoshi Kojima & Taichi. Takagi pinned Kojima after Burning Dragon.

Standings (Block A):
1-Kidd/Tsuji, 4-1, 8 pts
2-Oleg/Yano, 3-2, 6 pt
3-YOSHI-HASHI/Goto, 3-2, 6 pts
4-Fale/EVIL, 3-2, 6 pts
5-Moloney/Takagi, 3-1, 6 pts
6-Ishikawa/Desperado, 3-2, 6 pts
7-Kojima/Taichi, 1-4, 2 pts
8-Owens/Takahashi, 0-5, 0 pts (OUT)
The top 2 advance to the Semifinals. Owens/Takahashi are now officially out while the only reason Kojima/Taichi aren’t officially out is because they beat Bishamon-they lose all other tiebreakers. Otherwise it’s still wide open. Right now Kidd/Tsuji only lose tiebreakers to Moloney/Takagi but still have Bishamon and Kojima/Taichi left.

The next event is tomorrow at Twin Messe Shizuoka North Building in Shizuoka with Block B. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.

New Japan continued the World Tag League today in Akita with the halfway point of Block B.

Today’s event was held at Akita Terrsa in Akita and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 1312.

Match 1: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi beat Katsuya Murashima, Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano. Takahashi pinned Murashima after Pimp Juice.

Match 2: Sho, Don Fale & EVIL beat Katsuya Murashima, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto. Sho pinned Murashima.

Match 3: Gedo, Gabriel Kidd & Yota Tsuji beat Shoma Kato, Shuji Ishikawa & El Desperado. Tsuji pinned Kato after 7 Tie Cross.

Match 4: Daiki Nagai, Drilla Moloney & Shingo Takagi beat Zane Jay, Masatora Yasuda & Taichi. Moloney pinned Jay.

World Tag League Block B:
Match 5: Yuya Uemura & Shota Umino beat Alex Zayne & Lance Archer. Uemura pinned Zayne with a Kannuki suplex hold.
Match 6: OSKAR (The Grouch) & Yuto Ice (Ice Baby) beat Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan. OSKAR pinned Khan after KOB.
Match 7: SANADA & Ren Narita beat Hiromu Takahashi & David Finlay. Narita pinned Takahashi after Head Of Hell.
Main Event: El Phantasmo & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr. Tanahashi pinned Oiwa after High Fly Flow.

Standings (Block B):
1-SANADA/Narita, 3-1, 6 pts
2-Uemura/Umino, 2-2, 4 pts
3-OSKAR/Ice, 2-2, 4 pts
4-Zayne/Archer, 2-2, 4 pts
5-Newman/Khan, 2-2, 4 pts
6-Gedo/Takahashi, 2-2, 4 pts
7-Oiwa/Sabre, 2-2, 4 pts
8-Phantasmo/Tanahashi, 1-3, 2 pts
The top 2 advance to the Semifinals. Today just ended the leaders’ unbeaten hopes and kept Phantasmo/Tanahashi alive, everyone else is tied for 2nd.

The next event is Tuesday at Aimesse Yamanashi in Yamanashi with Block A. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.

New Japan continued the World Tag League today with the halfway point of Block A.

Today’s event was held at Mutsu Maeda Arena in Aomori and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 1208.

Match 1: Zane Jay, Alex Zayne & Lance Archer beat Shoma Kato, Yuya Uemura & Shota Umino. Zayne pinned Kato after Taco Driver.

Match 2: Jacob Austin Young, Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan beat Daiki Nagai, OSKAR (The Grouch) & Yuto Ice (Ice Baby). Khan beat Nagai with Subaru Sheep Killer.

Match 3: Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SANADA & Ren Narita beat Gedo, Hiromu Takahashi & David Finlay. Kanemaru beat Gedo with a figure 4.

Match 4: Hartley Jackson, Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Katsuya Murashima, El Phantasmo & Hiroshi Tanahashi. Jackson pinned Murashima after Death Valley Bomb.

World Tag League Block A:
Match 5: Drilla Moloney & Shingo Takagi beat Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi. Takagi pinned Owens after War Dragons.
Match 6: Don Fale & EVIL beat Satoshi Kojima & Taichi. EVIL pinned Kojima after EVIL.
Match 7: Shuji Ishikawa & El Desperado beat YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto. Ishikawa pinned YOSHI-HASHI after a giant slam.
Main Event: Gabriel Kidd & Yota Tsuji beat Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano. Kidd pinned Yano after War Blaster.

Standings (Block A):
1-Kidd/Tsuji, 3-1, 6 pts
2-Ishikawa/Desperado, 3-1, 6 pts
3-Fale/EVIL, 3-1, 6 pts
4-Moloney/Takagi, 2-2, 4 pts
5-YOSHI-HASHI/Goto, 2-2, 4 pts
6-Oleg/Yano, 2-2, 4 pts
7-Kojima/Taichi, 1-3, 2 pts
8-Owens/Takahashi, 0-4, 0 pts (OUT)
The top 2 advance to the Semifinals. Owens/Takahashi are eliminated already because, even if they were to win out now, they lose tiebreakers (head-to-head result) against 2 of the 3 co-leaders and won’t face Ishikawa/Desperado until their last match..Kojima & Taichi are close to out, the only co-leader they have faced so far though is Fale/EVIL and they lost. They must win their next match to have any faint hopes.

The next event is tomorrow at Akita Terrsa in Akita with Block B. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at midnight PT/3 AM ET.