Tag: njnbg

New Japan ran THE NEW BEGINNING in OSAKA today, the end of their traditional year-opening tour and a blowout event that would settle many things including potentially the main event of next week’s US event. Whoever emerged from the main event as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion will defend the title on 2/18.

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

The announced paid attendance was 4055. Back to close to full capacity, with the setup that probably was around 70-75% full.

Match 1: Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan beat Oskar Leube & Toru Yano. Henare pinned Leube after Rampage.

Match 2: BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA & Tetsuya Naito beat Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask, Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma. Takahashi pinned Taguchi after TIME BOMB 2. Afterwards, a video played which was Lio Rush issuing an IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship challenge to Takahashi.

Match 3: Taiji Ishimori beat Master Wato.

Match 4: Hiroshi Tanahashi beat KENTA.

The time came where House Of Torture had to defend the NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Championship or be stripped of the titles in light of EVIL continuously refusing to do so. They did finally agree to. Which led to…
Match 5: Ren Narita, El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki beat NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Champions Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL to win the titles. Narita, Desperado & Suzuki become the 25th NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Champions. Narita beat Takahashi with a cobra twist. Afterwards, Suzuki announced their new faction/team will be known as Strong Style.

Match 6: In a Loser Leaves Japan Match, Hikuleo beat Jay White. As a result, White must leave Japan. I have read rumors that White’s contract with New Japan has expired, so we’ll see what happens.

Match 7: NEVER Openweight Champion Tama Tonga beat El Phantasmo to retain the title. V1 for Tonga. And to make it even more memorable, he won with Jay Driller, the late Jay Briscoe’s finisher. REACH FOR THE SKY, BOY!

Main Event: IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada beat Shingo Takagi to retain the title. V1 for Okada. As a result, Okada will defend the title on 2/18 in San Jose, CA. The opponent…Okada called his shot…Tanahashi!!! Ace vs. Rainmaker…reminiscent of 11 years ago here when Okada beat Tanahashi to become champion…they last had a title match 5 years ago, and now…One Last Time?

The next event is Battle In The Valley on 2/18 at San Jose Civic Center in San Jose, CA. The event is a legit advance sellout. Live streaming as a PPV on FITE will begin with a FREE pre-show at 6:20 PM PT/9:20 PM ET. The PPV will be in English for $19.99. It’s also available on New Japan World in Japanese but be aware that will cost, dependent on if a subscription is required, at least $8-15 more. The matches will also be broadcast on the newly-rebranded STRONG On Demand on New Japan World and FITE in the near future, possibly in March.

In response to the repeated refusals by the champions, and in particular EVIL, New Japan has just announced an order for Saturday’s event in Osaka: Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL MUST defend the NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Championship against El Desperado, Ren Narita & Minoru Suzuki. If they do not, they will be STRIPPED OF THE TITLES. However, whether or not the challengers would be awarded the titles if this happens was not made clear. Stay tuned.

New Japan wrapped up the Road to THE NEW BEGINNING Tour with what likely will be the last non-televised house show for some time with major events and tournaments on tap for the next 2 months.

Today’s event was held at Saku City General Gym in Nagano. There was no live broadcast and no on demand video will be available.

The announced paid attendance was 653.

Match 1: Aaron Henare beat Ryohei Oiwa.

Match 2: Great-O-Khan beat Kosei Fujita by submission.

Match 3: Toru Yano beat Oskar Leube.

Match 4: BUSHI & SANADA beat Tiger Mask & Tomoaki Honma. BUSHI pinned TM 4.

Match 5: Dick Togo, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL beat Yuto Nakashima, El Desperado, Ren Narita & Minoru Suzuki. Takahashi pinned Nakashima after Pimp Juice. There is a potential Saturday development ongoing here as EVIL is continuously refusing the NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Title match against Narita/Desperado/Suzuki.

Match 6: Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito beat Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino & Kazuchika Okada. Takagi pinned Taguchi after MADE IN JAPAN.

Main Event: In an Elimination Match, Jado, Master Wato, Tama Tonga, Hikuleo & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Gedo, Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo, KENTA & Jay White. Tanahashi was the only winner remaining. Afterwards, Tonga & Wato joined Tanahashi in a triple air guitar show to send the crowd home happy.

The next event is THE NEW BEGINNING in OSAKA Saturday at Osaka Prefectural Gym in Osaka. Live streaming on New Japan World in Japanese & English will begin at midnight PT/3 AM ET.

UPDATE: It has been announced that in response to EVIL’s repeated refusals, if H.O.T does not defend Saturday, they will be STRIPPED OF THE NEVER 6-MAN TAG TEAM TITLES.

New Japan ran the penultimate event of the Road to THE NEW BEGINNING Tour today, the quick final build to Saturday’s major event in Osaka.

Today’s event was held at New Sunpia Tochigi in Tochigi. There was no live broadcast and no on demand video will be available.

The announced paid attendance was 606.

Match 1: Yuto Nakashima vs. Kosei Fujita went to a 10 minute time limit draw.

Match 2: Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan beat Oskar Leube & Toru Yano. Henare pinned Leube after Rampage.

Match 3: Hiromu Takahashi & SANADA beat Tiger Mask & Togi Malabe. Takahashi pinned TM 4 with Nameless Hiromu Roll.

Match 4: YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat Tomoaki Honma & Hiroyoshi Tenzan. YOSHI-HASHI pinned Tenzan after Shoto.

Match 5: Dick Togo, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL beat Ryohei Oiwa, Ren Narita, El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki. Takahashi pinned Oiwa after Pimp Juice.

Match 6: Gedo, El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori, KENTA & Jay White beat Jado, Master Wato, Hikuleo, Tama Tonga & Hiroshi Tanahashi. KENTA beat Jado with GAME OVER.

Main Event: Yoh, Shota Umino & Kazuchika Okada beat BUSHI, Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi. Okada pinned BUSHI after Rainmaker.

The tour-ender is tomorrow at Saku City General Gym in Nagano. There will be no live or on demand broadcast.

New Japan runs the second half of THE NEW BEGINNING in SAPPORO today, wrapping up their winter major event in Hokkaido with 3 title matches on tap today. First up, the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship is on the line as YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto defend against Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls. Then, the Australians’ new stablemate Zack Sabre Jr. makes the first defense of the NJPW WORLD TV Championship vs. Tomohiro Ishii, and with a 15 minute time limit it promises a fast pace. Finally, the main event sees bad blood come to a boiling end as Hiromu Takahashi defends the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship against Yoh. And with only non-televised house shows ahead this week, this also will represent the final real build for next weekend’s tour-ending major event in Osaka.

Today’s event will be held at Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center Hokkai Kita Yell in Hokkaido and can be watched LIVE on New Japan World in Japanese and English. You can also watch the first 2 matches FOR FREE on YouTube. With TV Title matches having a 15 minute time limit that potentially shortens the event a little bit but with the other title matches and a full card I anticipate the event’s total running time being around 3 1/4 hours.

Today’s lineup:
Francesco Akira, TJP, Great-O-Khan & Will Ospreay vs. TAKA Michinoku, DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi
Yuto Nakashima, Ren Narita, El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki vs. Dick Togo, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL
Master Wato & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori & KENTA
Jado, Hikuleo & Tama Tonga vs. Gedo, El Phantasmo & Jay White
Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino, Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada vs. BUSHI, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs. Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls for the titles
NJPW WORLD TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tomohiro Ishii for the title
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi vs. Yoh for the title

Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.

Updates below will begin at 9 PM PT/midnight ET.

9 PM PT UPDATE: Live updates begin now…
We are LIVE from Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center Hokkai Kita Yell in Hokkaido, Japan. This event is airing as part of WORLD PRO WRESTLING LIVE 2023 on TV Asahi. No guest on Japanese commentary at the start with Milano Collection A.T. and the announcer (didn’t catch name).

The paid attendance will be announced after the event. It’s full capacity with vocal cheering, yesterday’s event drew just over 3000 so that’s the early benchmark for today. The layout does reduce the venue’s actual capacity by about 20% or so.

Match 1: TAKA Michinoku, DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi vs. Francesco Akira, TJP, Great-O-Khan & Will Ospreay. 20 minute time limit
Result: Francesco Akira, TJP, Great-O-Khan & Will Ospreay beat TAKA Michinoku, DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi. Ospreay pinned TAKA after Hidden Blade.

Match 2: Yuto Nakashima, Ren Narita, El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki vs. Dick Togo, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL. 20 minute time limit
Result: Yuto Nakashima, Ren Narita, El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki beat Dick Togo, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL. Narita beat Takahashi with a cobra twist. Afterwards, Suzuki with microphone to issue a challenge to House Of Torture for the NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Championship. As this ended, Suzuki stuck around for a full-throttle KAZE NI NARE from the crowd. Chills. I have missed that so much these last 3 years.

Match 3: Master Wato & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Taiji Ishimori & KENTA. 20 minute time limit
Result: Taiji Ishimori & KENTA beat Master Wato & Hiroshi Tanahashi. Ishimori pinned Wato by using the ropes illegally for leverage but the ref didn’t see.

Match 4: Jado, Hikuleo & Tama Tonga vs. Gedo, El Phantasmo & Jay White. 30 minute time limit (Of note: White came out wearing the new AEW/ROH Jay Briscoe tribute shirt available from both online shops. 100% of proceeds go to support the Briscoe family)
Result: Jado, Hikuleo & Tama Tonga beat Gedo, El Phantasmo & Jay White. Jado beat Gedo with Crossface Of Jado.

Match 5: Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino, Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada vs. BUSHI, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito. 30 minute time limit
result: Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino, Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada beat BUSHI, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito. Okada pinned SANADA after Rainmaker.

El Desperado joins Japanese commentary.

Match 6: IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs. Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls for the title. 1 Hour time limit
Result: IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto beat Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls to retain the titles. Goto pinned Nicholls after Shoto. V1 for the champs

Match 7: NJPW WORLD TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tomohiro Ishii for the title. 15 minute time limit
Result: NJPW WORLD TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. beat Tomohiro Ishii to retain the title. V1 for Sabre. But it came down to the wire-less than 30 seconds left when it ended.

Main Event: IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi vs. Yoh for the title. 1 Hour time limit
Result: IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi beat Yoh to retain the title. V1 for Takahashi.

The next event is Wednesday at New Sunpia Tochigi in Tochigi. There will be no live or on demand broadcast.

UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 3316. That is almost 250 more than yesterday and on TV the arena looked full, excluding tarped-off areas that weren’t visible until the end.

No indication as to who may be next for the champs after today but on the way out Takahashi did have an exchange with and seemingly taunted El Desperado at commentary.

UPDATE 2: It’s now official. Suzuki/Desperado/Narita vs. H.O.T. for the NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Titles has been added to 2/11.

New Japan ran the first half of THE NEW BEGINNING IN SAPPORO today, kicking off a big weekend doubleheader in chilly Hokkaido with title matches and major single matches.

Today’s event was held at Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center Hokkai Kita Yell in Hokkaido and can be watched on demand on New Japan World in Japanese and English.

The announced paid attendance was 3073.

Match 1: Great-O-Khan beat Oskar Leube by submission.

Match 2: Ryohei Oiwa, Ren Narita, El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki beat Dick Togo, Yujiro Takahashi, Sho & EVIL. Narita beat Togo with a cobra twist.

Match 3: Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Yuto Nakashima, YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto. Fujita beat Nakashima with a double armlock.

Match 4: Master Wato, Hikuleo, Tama Tonga & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo, KENTA & Jay White. Wato pinned Ishimori.

Match 5: BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA & Shingo Takagi beat Yoh, Ryusuke Taguchi, Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada. Takagi pinned Taguchi after Last of the Dragon.

Match 6: IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Francesco Akira & TJP beat DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru to retain the titles. Akira pinned DOUKI after Fireball. V4 for the champs.

Match 7: Will Ospreay beat Taichi.

Main Event: Tetsuya Naito beat Shota Umino. This went over 32 minutes.

The second half of the doubleheader is tomorrow with 3 title matches including the first defense of the NJPW WORLD TV Championship. Live streaming on New Japan World in Japanese and English will begin TONIGHT at 9 PM PT/midnight ET. Live results will be posted here.

New Japan wrapped up the first part of the Road to THE NEW BEGINNING Tour today amidst fallout from the departure of Kota Ibushi from the promotion (contract expired) and potential concerns about Yoh, who missed a second straight event today due to a fever. He should be fine for the weekend.

Today’s event was held at Aomori Budokan in Aomori. There was no live broadcast and no on demand video will be available.

The announced paid attendance was 1216.

Match 1: Aaron Henare beat Ryohei Oiwa.

Match 2: Toru Yano & Togi Makabe beat Oskar Leube & Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Yano pinned Leube.

Match 3: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo beat Master Wato & Tiger Mask. Phantasmo pinned TM 4 after Sudden Death.

Match 4: Jado & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Gedo & KENTA. Tanahashi beat Gedo with a Texas Cloverleaf.

Match 5: Yuto Nakashima, YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto beat Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Zack Sabre Jr. YOSHI-HASHI beat Fujita with Butterfly Lock.

Match 6: Francesco Akira, TJP, Great-O-Khan & Will Ospreay beat TAKA Michinoku, DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi. Ospreay pinned TAKA after Hidden Blade.

Main Event: Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito beat Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino, Tomoaki Honma & Kazuchika Okada. Takagi pinned Honma after Pumping Bomber. During the match, BUSHI interfered against Umino and Naito attacked Umino’s father, referee Red Shoes Unno, potentially setting up the next big rivalry for Naito…after his match against Keiji Muto in The Living Legend’a retirement match, presumably.

The next events are as follows:

TAMASHII returns for its second installment with 2 events this weekend. The first one is Friday in Sydney, Australia and the second one is Saturday in Melbourne, Australia. There will be no live broadcast for both.

On the Japan side. Next up is THE NEW BEGINNING in SAPPORO, a doubleheader Saturday US time at Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center Hokkai Kitayell in Hokkaido. Live streaming on New Japan World in Japanese and English will begin Saturday at midnight PT/3 AM ET for the first event and Saturday at 9 PM PT/midnight ET for the second event. Live results are scheduled for the second event.

Also, announced after the event were a Hirooki Goto 20th Anniversary event on 4/22 in Mie and WRESTLING DONTAKU 2023, the annual Golden Week blowout event in Fukuoka, on 5/3 back at its regular home, Fukuoka International Center. Last year’s event was held at the much larger Fukuoka PayPay Dome for the 50th Anniversary celebration.

New Japan continued the Road to THE NEW BEGINNING Tour today with the last event of the month.

There were last-second changes to the event as Yoh was a late removal from the card. Fever. Coronavirus rapid test was negative. Status beyond today is uncertain. The main event also saw BUSHI removed as a result.

Today’s event was held at Akita Furusato Village Dome Theater in Akita. There was no live broadcast and no on demand video will be available.

The announced paid attendance was 659.

Match 1: Great-O-Khan beat Yuto Nakashima by submission.

Match 2: Tiger Mask & Tomoaki Homna beat Oskar Leube & Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Honma pinned Leube after Kokeshi.

Match 3: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo beat Jado & Master Wato. Phantasmo pinned Jado after Sudden Death.

Match 4: Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Gedo & KENTA by DQ. Gedo DQ’d.

Match 5: Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Ryohei Oiwa, YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii. Nicholla pinned Oiwa after a siding lariat.

Match 6: Francesco Akira, TJP, Aaron Henare & Will Ospreay beat TAKA Michinoku, DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi. Ospreay pinned TAKA after Hidden Blade.

Main Event: Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito beat Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino, Togi Makabe & Kazuchika Okada. Takagi pinned Makabe after Last of the Dragon.

The next event is tomorrow at Aomori Budokan in Aomori. There will be no live or on demand broadcast.

UPDATE: Yoh is now off tomorrow as well. Precautionary due to fever. BUSHI is now off again as well to change their match from a 10-man tag to 8-man.

New Japan continues the Road to THE NEW BEGINNING tour today with another non-televised house show. Coming amidst reports that, following government loosening of coronavirus guidelines, Bushiroad may be returning to full capacity for all NJPW & Stardom events.

Today’s event was held at Iwate Prefectural Gym in Iwate. There was no live broadcast and no on demand video will be available.

The announced paid attendance was 1150.

Match 1: Aaron Henare beat Ryohei Oiwa.

Match 2: Tiger Mask & Togi Makabe beat Yuto Nakashima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Makbe pinned Nakashima after a King Kong kneedrop.

Match 3: Jado & Master Wato beat Gedo & Taiji Ishimori. Wato pinned Gedo after RPP.

Match 4: El Phantasmo & KENTA beat Tomoaki Honma & Hiroshi Tanahashi. Phantasmo pinned Honma after Sudden Death.

Match 5: Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Oskar Leube, YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto. Nicholls pinned Leube after a sliding lariat.

Match 6: Francesco Akira, TJP, Great-O-Khan & Will Ospreay beat TAKA Michinoku, DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi. Ospreay pinned TAKA after Hidden Blade.

Main Event: BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito beat Yoh, Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino, Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada. Takagi pinned Taguchi after MADE IN JAPAN.

The next event is tomorrow at Akita Furusato Village Dome Theater in Akita. There will be no live or on demand broadcast.

New Japan continued the Road to THE NEW BEGINNING Tour today with another non-televised house show event, the first following reports that the Japanese government has lifted all restrictions on capacity and vocal cheering at live events in place since the coronavirus pandemic began. However, vocal cheering was not allowed today.

Today’s event was held at Koga City ES Central Sports Park Hanamomo Gyn in Ibaraki. There was no live broadcast and no on demand video will be available.

The announced paid attendance was 934.

Match 1: Great-O-Khan beat Ryohei Oiwa by submission.

Match 2: Tiger Mask & Toru Yano beat Oskar Leube & Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Yano pinned Leube.

Match 3: Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo beat Master Wato & Tomoaki Honma. Phantasmo pinned Honma after Sudden Death.

Match 4: Jado & Hiroshi Tanahashi beat Gedo & KENTA. Tanahashi beat Gedo with a Texas Cloverleaf.

Match 5: Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Zack Sabre Jr. beat Yuto Nakashima, YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Foto & Tomohiro Ishii. Haste pinned Nakashima after Dynamic Bomb.

Match 6: Francesco Akira, TJP, Aaron Henare & Will Ospreay beat TAKA Michinoku, DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi. Ospreay pinned TAKA after Hidden Blade.

Main Event: Yoh, Ryusuke Taguchi, Shota Umino, Togi Makabe & Kazuchika Okada beat BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito. Yoh pinned BUSHI after Direct Drive.

The next event is Monday at Iwate Prefectural Gym in Iwate. There will be no live or on demand broadcast.