Tag: New Japan

New Japan News: Next KOPW Stips Presented

At a press conference today broadcast on YouTube, KOPW 2022 Trophy holder Shingo Takagi and Taichi presented their proposed tules for their upcoming match at the next TakaTaichi Produced event on 12/19 at Yoyogi National Stadium Gym 2 in Tokyo, which will be available as a PPV on New Japan World. Takagi was late which forced Taichi to read YouTube comments at the start.

The proposed rules are as follows:
Taichi-30 Minute High Score Match. Every referee count would go towards a point total. After 30 minutes, most points wins.
Takagi-Last Man Standing Lumberjack Match. Only way to win is a 10 count down after a pinfall.

Fan voting for the stip on Twitter is now open and will remain open until 4 AM PT/7 AM ET Friday. The announcement of the winning stip should come Saturday. Also revealed for the event is TAKA Michinoku vs. Hiromu Takahashi, which will be a gimmick match centered around TAKA attempting to escape the Nameless Hiromu Roll, which has failed every time as Takahashi made a jackpot bigger and bigger-last time we heard of it said jackpot was approaching around $7500 US (1 million Japanese yen).

The video of the presser can be watched below (in Japanese via the New Japan World YouTube channel):

New Japan 11/28/22 Results

New Japan continued the Super Jr. Tag League today with Day 5, the halfway point of the tournament.

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

The announced paid attendance was 498.

Match 1: Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls beat Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima. Nicholls pinned Leube after Mikey Bomb.

Match 2: Aaron Henare, Great-O-Khan & Aussie Open beat Kosei Fujita, Ryohei Oiwa, Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi. Henare pinned Oiwa after Rampage.

Match 3: El Desperado, Taichi, Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki beat Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito. Taichi beat Takagi with a Taichi-type Gedo Clutch.

Super Jr. Tag League:
Match 4: Clark Connors & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA. Connors pinned Knight after Trophy Kill.
Match 5: Francesco Akira & TJP beat Dick Togo & Sho. TJP pinned Togo after 2/2.
Match 6: El Lindaman & Alex Zayne beat Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask. Zayne pinned TM 4 after Cinnamon Twist.
Match 7: Titan & BUSHI beat DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Titan pinned DOUKI after Angel Immortar.
Main Event: Lio Rush & Yoh beat Chris Bey & Ace Austin. Rush pinned Bey after Final Hour.

Standings will be posted after Day 6 but 5 teams are now tied for the lead at 4-1. On the flip side. Togo/Sho and DOUKI/Kanemaru are all but eliminated at 0-5.

Day 6 is Thursday. The next event is Wednesday at Twin Messe Shizuoka North Hall in Shizuoka with Day 4 of the World Tag League. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.

New Japan 11/27/22 Results

New Japan continued the World Tag League and Super Jr. Tag League today with both tournaments running at today’s event. The matches alternated between tournaments so everybody was in action.

Today’s event was held at Aichi Prefectural Gym in Nagoya and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 1911. Vocal cheering was allowed so capacity was reduced to probably in the 2500-3000 range.

Super Jr. Tag League:
Titan & BUSHI beat Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA. Titan pinned Knight after Angel Immortar.
El Lindaman & Alex Zayne beat Dick Togo & Sho. Lindaman pinned Togo with a German suplex hold.
Chris Bey & Ace Austin beat Clark Connors & Ryusuke Taguchi. Bey pinned Taguchi.
Lio Rush & Yoh beat DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Rush pinned DOUKI after Final Hour.
Francesco Akira & TJP beat Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask. Akira pinned TM 4 after 2/2.

World Tag League:
Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan beat Gabriel Kidd & Alex Coughlin. Henare pinned Kidd after Streets Of Rage.
Aussie Open beat Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki. Kyle Fletcher pinned Suzuki after Corealis.
Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale. Tanahashi pinned Fale.
Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls beat Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL. Nicholls pinned EVIL after Thunder Valley.
YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat SANADA & Tetsuya Naito. Goto pinned SANADA after Shoto.

Standings:
Super Jr. Tag League:
1-Bey/Austin, 4-0, 8 pts
2-Rush/Yoh, 3-1, 6 pts
3-Lindaman/Zayne, 3-1, 6 pts
4-BUSHI/Titan, 3-1, 6 pts
5-Akira/TJP, 3-1, 6 pts
6-Eagles/TM 4, 2-2, 4 pts
7-KUSHIDA/Knight, 1-3, 2 pts
8-Taguchi/Connors, 1-3, 2 pts
9-DOUKI/Kanemaru, 0-4, 0 pts
10-Togo/Sho, 0-4, 0 pts

World Tag League:
1-Aussie Open, 3-0, 6 pts
2-Goto/YOSHI-HASHI, 2-1, 4 pts
3-Naito/SANADA, 2-1, 4 pts
4-Khan/Henare, 2-1, 4 pts
5-Haste/Nicholls, 2-1, 4 pts
6-Archer/Suzuki, 2-1, 4 pts
7-Tanahashi/Yano, 1-2, 2 pts
8-Owens/Fale, 1-2, 2 pts
9-Kidd/Connors, 0-3, 0 pts
10-Takahashi/EVIL, 0-3, 0 pts

The next event is tomorrow at Nagano Athletic Park Gym in Nagano with Day 5 of the Super Jr. Tag League. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.

New Japan 11/26/22 Results

New Japan resumed the 2022 World Tag League today after focusing on the Super Jr. Tag League during the week’s prior events.

Today’s event was held at Fujisawa City Akibadai Cultural Gym in Kanagawa and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 1083.

Match 1: Oskar Leube, Kosei Fujita & Togi Makabe beat Ryohei Oiwa, Yuto Nakashima & Tomoaki Honma. Makabe pinned Nakashima with a German suplex hold.

Match 2: Jado, Clark Connors, Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi beat Gedo, Taiji Ishimori, Chris Bey & Ace Austin. Wato beat Gedo with Vendeval.

Match 3: Titan, BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi vs. DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado & Taichi went to a double countout in 84 seconds. Which led to…
Titan, BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi beat DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado & Taichi. Takagi beat Taichi with a ground cobra twist. (This is all building to a final KOPW 2022 Trophy match between Takagi & Taichi to happen at a TakaTaichi special PPV in mid-December)

World Tag League:
Match 4: SANADA & Tetsuya Naito beat Gabriel Kidd & Alex Coughlin. Naito pinned Coughlin after Destino.
Match 5; Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan beat Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls. Khan pinned Nicholls after Imperial Drop.
Match 6: Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale beat Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL. Fale pinned Takahashi after Grenade.
Match 7: Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki beat Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi. Archer pinned Yano after Blackout.
Main Event: Aussie Open beat YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto. Kyle Fletcher pinned YOSHI-HASHI after Corealis.

The next event is tomorrow at Aichi Prefectural Gym in Nagoya with Day 3 of the tournament and Day 4 of the Super Jr. Tag League. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at midnight PT/3 AM ET.

New Japan 11/25/22 Results

New Japan continued the Super Jr. Tag League today with Day 3 of the tournament, taking a break from alternating with the World Tag League to run a second straight day of the Jr. tag league.

Today’s event was held at Kiryu Municipal Gym in Gunma and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 581.

Match 1: Kosei Fujita, Ryohei Oiwa & Togi Makabe beat Oskar Leube, Yuto Nakashima & Tomoaki Honma. Makabe pinned Leube after a King Kong kneedrop.

Match 2: Gedo, Taiji Ishimori & Chase Owens beat Jado, Master Wato & Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Owens pinned Tenzan after C Trigger.

Match 3: Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA & Shingo Takagi beat El Desperado, Taichi & Minoru Suzuki by countout. Taichi counted out.

Super Jr. Tag League:
Match 4: Lio Rush & Yoh beat Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA. Rush pinned Knight after Final Hour.
Match 5: El Lindaman & Alex Zayne beat Clark Connors & Ryusuke Taguchi. Zayne pinned Connors after Taco Driver.
Match 6: Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask beat DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Eagles pinned DOUKI.
Match 7: Chris Bey & Ace Austin beat Dick Togo & Sho. Austin pinned Togo after The Fold.
Main Event: Titan & BUSHI beat Francesco Akira & TJP. Titan pinned Akira after Angel Immortar.
Austin & Bey are now the leaders at 3-0, 6 pts.

Day 4 is Sunday. The next event is tomorrow at Fujisawa City Akabadai Cultural Gym in Kanagawa with Day 3 of the World Tag League. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET. Note that both tournaments will run Sunday.

DEVELOPING: WRESTLE KINGDOM in Yokohama Returns

Following the success of expanding the signature year-opening event to Yokohama last year, New Japan has announced WRESTLE KINGDOM 17 in YOKOHAMA for January 21, 2023 at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. Whereas last year saw a New Japan-Pro Wrestling NOAH crossover event, it’s not yet clear how this second installment will go. Tickets for New Japan fan club members will go on sale December 2. Everyone else can get what’s left starting December 18.

More as it becomes available.

New Japan 11/23/22 Results

New Japan ran Day 2 of the Super Jr. Tag League today, the 3rd straight event day following yesterday’s World Tag League start as the tournaments alternate events.

Today’s event was held at Arena Tachikawa Tachihi in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 849.

Match 1: Oskar Leube & Kosei Fujita beat Ryohei Oiwa & Yuto Nakashima. Fujita pinned Oiwa. First win for Leube!

Match 2: Gedo, Taiji Ishimori, Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale beat Jado, Master Wato, Tomoaki Honma & Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Owens pinned Jado after C Trigger.

Match 3: El Desperado, Taichi & Lance Archer beat Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito by countout. Takagi counted out.

Super Jr. Tag League:
Match 4: Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA beat Dick Togo & Sho. KUSHIDA pinned Togo with a hanmerlock suplex hold.
Match 5: Titan & BUSHI beat Clark Connors & Ryusuke Taguchi. Titan pinned Taguchi after Angel Immortar.
Match 6: Lio Rush & Yoh beat Tiger Mask & Robbie Eagles. Yoh pinned TM 4 after 3K.
Match 7: Chris Bey & Ace Austin beat DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Austin pinned DOUKI after The Fold.
Main Event: Francesco Akira & TJP beat El Lindaman & Alex Zayne. TJP pinned Zayne.
After 2 days United Empire & Bullet Club are 2-0, 4 points and tied for the lead.

The next event is Friday at Kiryu Municipal Gym in Gunma for Day 3. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1:30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET. The World Tag League continues Saturday.

Also, following up on rumors for yesterday, NEVER Openweight Champion Karl Anderson vs. Hikuleo for the title has been announced for 12/14. It was scheduled for 11/5 but Anderson no-showed due to re-signing with WWE and instead being at a WWE event in Saudi Arabia that day.

BREAKING: NEVER Title Defense Possibly Set (Updated)

Following up on the drama the last couple months between New Japan and NEVER Openweight Champion Karl Anderson refusing to defend the title earlier this month, the next defense may be set. Anderson posted a video on Instagram today announcing he will return to New Japan on 12/14 in Sendai to defend the title. That’s the current tour-ender date with the World Tag League & Super Jr. Tag League Finals. We should hear something definite from New Japan soon, maybe late tonight US time, and then maybe find out if Hikuleo will still get his chance at the title per the original plan.

This all started in October when Anderson and Doc Gallows returned to, and subsequently re-signed with, WWE after Anderson was announced foe the 11/5 New Japan event. Anderson announced he would instead be at the WWE event in Saudi Arabia that day despite the prior commitment to New Japan. The promotion threatened to strip Anderson of the title but didn’t and Hikuleo instead faced (and beat) Yujiro Takahashi.

More as it becomes available.

UPDATE: It’s now official. Anderson-Hikuleo for the title will happen on 12/14.

New Japan 11/22/22 Results

New Japan kicked off the 2022 World Tag League today, the promotion’s traditional year-end tag team tournament. This event is for Heavyweight Tag Teams and likely will award a title shot at Tokyo Dome to the winners, assuming they can get All Elite Wrestling to allow FTR to go to Japan that day.

Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World.

The announced paid attendance was 700, a legit advance sellout. Vocal cheering was allowed again.

Match 1: Ryohei Oiwa beat Yuto Nakashima.

Match 2: Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe beat Oskar Leube & Kosei Fujita. Makabe pinned Leube after a King Kong kneedrop.

Match 3: BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi vs. DOUKI, El Desperado & Taichi went to a double countout.

World Tag League:
Match 4: Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls beat Gabriel Kidd & Alex Coughlin. Nicholls pinned Kidd after Thunder Valley.
Match 5: Lance Archer (All Elite Wrestling) & Minoru Suzuki beat Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale. Archer pinned Owens after Blackout.
Match 6: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL. Goto pinned Takahashi.
Match 7: Aussie Open beat Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi. Kyle Fletcher pinned Yano after Corealis.
Main Event: SANADA & Tetsuya Naito beat Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan. Naito pinned Henare after Destino.

Day 2 is Friday. The next event is Super Jr. Tag League Day 2 tomorrow at Arena Tachikawa Tachihi in Tokyo. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1 AM PT/4 AM ET.

New Japan 11/21/22 Results

New Japan kicked off the 2022 Super Jr. Tag League today, the first half of a year-ending tournament doubleheader including the annual World Tag League, which begins tomorrow. The spotlight today was on the Jr. Heavyweights ahead of their final tournament of the year.

Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English. And best of all, you can watch the entire event FOR FREE! The event also was streamed on ABEMA in Japan.

Click below to watch in Japanese: https://njpwworld.com/p/s_00629_1_1

Click below to watch in English: https://njpwworld.com/p/s_00629_2_1

The announced paid attendance was 700, a legit advance sellout. Vocal cheering was allowed today and will be allowed tomorrow.

Match 1: Kosei Fujita beat Yuto Nakshima by submission.

Match 2: Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare & Aussie Open beat Oskar Leube, Ryohei Oiwa, Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe. Kyle Fletcher pinned Leube after Corealis.

Match 3: Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito vs. El Desperado, Taichi & Minoru Suzuki went to a Double Countout. Afterwards, a KOPW 2022 Trophy match may have been made for 12/19.

Super Jr. Tag League:
Match 4: El Lindaman (GLEAT) & Alex Zayne beat Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA. Zayne pinned Knight after Cinnamon Twist.
Match 5: Clark Connors & Ryusuke Taguchi beat DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Connors pinned DOUKI after Trophy Kill.
Match 6: Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask beat Dick Togo & Sho. Eagles beat Togo with Ron Miller Special.
Match 7: Chris Bey & Ace Austin beat Titan & BUSHI. Bey pinned BUSHI after 1. 2. Sweet.
Main Event: Francesco Akira & TJP beat Lio Rush & Yoh. TJP pinned Yoh.

The tournament continues Wednesday. The next event is tomorrow with the start of the World Tag League. It is a legit advance sellout. Live streaming on New Japan World will begin at 1;30 AM PT/4:30 AM ET.