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Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of New Japan Pro Wrestling's King of Pro Wrestling 2015, which is streaming live at NJPWWorld.com.
The show opened with the introduction of Kevin Kelly and Matt Striker. Kelly welcomed fans from all over the world. Matt Striker said he's been a fan of puroresu his entire life and the best fighting in the world takes place in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
They then went to the official opening of the show.
Our own Matthew Macklin got a shout-out almost immediately from Matt Striker as the ten man tag's teams made their way to the ring.
Jushin Thunder Liger, NWA Junior Heavyweight champion Tiger Mask IV, KUSHIDA, Ryusuke Taguchi & Mascara Dorada vs. Juice Robinson, Yohei Komatsu, Sho Tanaka, David Finlay & Jay White
They noted Juice Robinson is the newest member of the company's roster. Everyone brawled immediately with the idea that the Young Lions were trying to get the advantage of the veterans. They cut Luger off in the ring early and began tagging in and out. Liger was able to avoid a charge in the corner and tag in KUSHIDA, who faced off with Robinson.
KUSHIDA went for a springboard move but Robinson avoided and hit a leg lariat. They noted Jay White has a leg injury. Robinson nailed a delayed vertical suplex and a flying headbutt for a two count. The Lions tagged in and out until KUSHIDA nailed a double handspring elbow on White and Finlay.
Taguchi and Robinson went back and forth. Tiger Mask tagged in and nailed a missile dropkick on Robinson and scored a two count with a crucifix. Robinson cut him off with a clothesline and a pair of back senton splashes. Liger nailed a sitdown Tiger Bomb and tagged into Dorado.
Dorado whipped out some cool Lucha spots but was drilled by Finlay, who nailed a rolling Samoan Drop for a two count. He missed a charge in the corner and was drilled with a kick. The veterans knocked the Lions off the apron and worked over Finlay for a two count.
Dorado snapped Finlay off the top with a rana, but the pinfall was broken up. The veterans all locked submissions on at the same time. Dorado finally pinned Finlay with a sitdown Michinoku Driver.
Your winners, Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, KUSHIDA, Ryusuke Taguchi & Mascara Dorada!
Good opener with some nice athletic action and a good young vs. veteran story.
Tomoaki Honma vs. YOSHI-HASHI.
They locked up with YOSHI-HASHI nailing Honma across the back and drilling him down with a shoulder tackle before stomping him. Honma came back with a Blockbuster and a driving headbutt. They battled to the floor, where Honma was whipped into the guard rail. They noted Honma's back was wrapped up. YOSHI-HASHI drilled him on the floor, then suplexed him from the apron into the ring. He hung up Honma in the ropes and drilled him with a dropkick.
The story is YOSHI-HASHI is angry Honma had a G1 Climax tournament opportunity where he did not and is trying to prove he is the better man. He continued working on Honma's back until Honma fired up with stiff chops. Honma missed a headbutt. He went for a suplex but was nailed in the back and hit with a suplex. The crowd chanted for Honma who put together some offense and finally drilled his headbutt. Honma nailed a DDT and hit the Buff Blockbuster off the ropes or a two count.
Honma continued working over YOSHI-HASHI until he ducked a clothesline and HASHI nailed one of his own. YOSHI-HASHI nailed a big neckbreaker for a two count. He went for a powerbomb but Honma backdropped him over. Honma drilled YOSHI-HASHI as he charged in the corner, then nailed a headbutt off the ropes. He nailed another for a two count and ascended to the top.
Honma dove off but HASHI rolled out of the way. Good match. YOSHI-HASHI and Honma drilled each other with lariats until YOSHI-HASHI clobbered Honma with one for a close two count. HASHI went for a powerbomb and drilled it but Honma kicked up at the last second. YOSHI-HASHI missed a swanton off the top rope. Honma nailed a diving dropkick to the small of the back and nailed a diving shoulderblock. He went for a tombstone but HASHI rolled through for a forward roll with a two count.
They battled back and forth. Honma nailed another diving headbutt and then drilled him off then top with one for the pin.
Your winner, Tomoaki Honma!
A good match with some really aggressive back and forth physical action. Honma has always been a hell of a brawler but YOSHI-HASHI took it to him and showed some real potential. Nice near falls here. Another well put together match. Honma was obviously hurt but I still thought this was a damn solid performance.
Kevin Kelly and Matt Striker teased Honma may be coming for the NEVER Openweight championship. Honma walked out showing that his back was hurt and that he had fought through the injuries.
Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Hirooki Goto, Katsuyori Shibata, Kota Ibushi & Captain New Japan
Ibushi and Nakanishi started out, drilling each other with kicks and chops. Ibushi actually took the veteran down with a spinkick and went for a standing moonsault but was caught with a claw then a STO. Nakanishi nailed a kneedrop and tagged in Kojima. Goto tagged in and they teased each other out. Goto ran him down with a running shoulderblock. Tenzan got involved and they double teamed Goto.
Tenzan worked over Goto, his former protege in the corner with chops and a running charge, He nailed a suplex and covered Goto for a two count. He peppered Goto with headbutts and nailed a Fireman's Carry into a neckbreaker. Captain New Japan tagged in and worked over Tenzan with chops to the shoulder, then tagged in Shibata. He snapmared Tenzan and nailed a kick.
Ibushi tagged back in and continued working over Tenzan. He nailed a twisting splash for a two count. Team Goto continued tagging in and out, working over Tenzan until Goto was caught with a modified Samoan Drop. Tenzan tagged in Nagata, who nailed a big boot to the face on Goto. Goto nailed another big boot to the face but was caught with a spinkick by Goto in the corner. They smashed each other back and forth with forearms. Nagata began nailing kicks He faked out Goto and kicked him in the face.
Goto came back with a lariat and tagged in Shibata. Shibata worked over Nagata but was taken down into a Nagata Lock. Captain New Japan made the save but was then taken out and tossed out. Shibata nad Nagata drilled each other with forearms. Shibata nailed a back suplex for a two count.
Nagata drilled him with a strike and hit an exploder for a two count. Kojima tagged in and massacred Shibata with chops in the corner He nailed a charging forearm in the corner but was nailed by Shibata. Captain New Japan hit the ring and nailed a series of throat thrusts. He was caught by Kojima with an RKO but the pinfall was broken up. Everyone brawled in the ring and on the floor.
Shibata kicked Kojima in the throat and he went down in the corner. Captain New Japan nailed a Rocket Launcher. Captain nailed a forward roll for a two count teasing a big upset. He was trapped in the ring with the veterans and worked over and nearly pinned but it was broken up. Kojima nailed his signature lariat and scored the pin.
Your winners, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi!
Another solid bout with the veterans vs. younger stars theme.
Coverage continues on Page 2!
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