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2/8 NJPW ROAD TO NEW BEGINNING RESULTS FROM TOKYO

2/8/21 Results from NJPW Road to New Beginning from Korakuen Hall, Tokyo Japan

El Phantasmo joins Kevin Kelly on English commentary.  YOSHI-HASHI was on Japanese commentary.

Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado vs. Gabriel Kidd, Yuya Uemura and Ryusuke Taguchi.  Uemura and Kidd rushed the ring to attack Suzuki-Gun.  Not smart.   The young lions get beaten down and thrown into guardrails. At one point, Uemura was throwing elbows into the face of Suzuki.  Then he slapped Suzuki in the face.   Bad idea.   Suzuki layed out Uemura with two vicious elbows.   El Desperado pinned Uemura with Pinche Loco.

Yujiro Takahashi, EVIL, with Dick Togo, and Jay White, with Gedo vs. Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and Kazuchika Okada.  Kelly spoke of Goto getting fined by New Japan officials for leaving the announcing position to attack Jay White at the previous show.   CHAOS hit the ring and attacked Bullet Club immediately.   Wild match.   White was beating on Ishii outside the ring.   White started taunting YOSHI-HASHI .  He took off his headset and hopped the guardrails.  White ran into the ring.   YOSHI-HASHI jumped in the ring and attacked White with punches.   CHAOS was disqualified.   Bullet Club was laughing outside the ring and gloating over their win.    Goto, Ishii and YOSHI-HASHI chases Bullet Club to the locker room.

Okada took the mic and challenges EVIL to a single match right now.   EVIL tried to leave the ring.   Okada attacked him and locked in a Money Clip.  Togo jumped in the ring Okada tried to attack Togo.   EVIL hit Okada with a lariat.   EVIL wraps a chair around Okada’s neck and blasts him with another chair.   EVIL and Togo head back to the locker room.

DOUKI, Zack Sabre, Jr. and Taichi vs. Jado, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa.  Tama came to the ring holding three bags, teasing that the Iron Finger is in one of them.   Suzuki-Gun attacks immediately.   Tama,  grasping the three bags, is getting beaten down by Taichi.   Taichi hits a kick to Tama’s face and he drops two bags.  Taichi opens one bag and it contains a gardening glove.   Taichi opens another bag and it has a baseball glove.    Taichi kicks Tama and takes the last bag.   A rubber chicken is in the last bag.   Tama cackles with laughter.     Taichi loses it and chokes Tama.    Suzuki-Gun beats him down.   Bullet Club turns the tide and focuses on DOUKI.   DOUKI gets hit with Jado’s kendo stick and gets triple-teamed.     Tama Tonga reaches into his tights and takes out an elephant puppet.  He taunts Taichi with the elephant and punches DOUKI while laughing the whole time.  All six men in the ring as the match breaks down.   Jado brings the kendo stick in the ring.   DOUKI blocks his attack with his metal pipe.   DOUKI hits Jado with the pipe.   He hits Tama with the pipe.   Taichi hits a super kick on Jado and gets the pin and the win.

ELP screamed for the referee to check Taichi’s shoes.   He said no way Taichi has been super kicking trees for nine months.   

Tomoaki Honma and Master Wato, with Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Tetsuya Naito and BUSHI.  In the middle of the match, Naito slapped the hell out of Honma, where Honma was glassy eyed and slumped in the corner.   Scary moment.   Naito pinned Honma with a roll up.   BUSHI and Wato continue to battle after the match.   

SHO and Kota Ibushi vs. Hiromu Takahashi and SANADA.   ELP’s Line of the night:   “I just can’t get over Ibushi. He looks like an action figure I used to have when I was a kid.  He has the top half of a G.I. Joe and the bottom half of a Barbie."  Both teams battled to a time limit draw.    Great match!   All men were wiped out after the match.    Before their respective title matches, all four men looked to be at the top of their games.

Notes: 

1.  Bullet Club is on fire, meaning “heat” generators.   Jay White is a heat magnet right now.   Tama Tonga is living up to the “Good Bad Guy” moniker.    EVIL’s mind games against Okada seems to be working to his advantage.   

2.   Kota Ibushi and SANADA looks like a great match up.  Their respectful banter towards each other has been interesting in comparison to the other title matches where there is heat.

3.  El Phantasmo says this is his last time on English commentary, which is a bummer.    He was on fire on this show.   

Upcoming title matches on 2/10/21 and predictions:

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship:  Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa vs. Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. - The storyline with the Iron Fingers has been humorous and played for comedy.  G.O.D. won World Tag League and at Wrestle Kingdom, plus the accolades of being 7x Tag Champs.   I expect Dangerous Tekkers to win the Titles to keep the titles in Japan.   G.O.D. will return home to the United States, while Taichi and Zack Sabre, Jr. will be preparing for the New Japan Cup.

IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship:  Hiromu Takahashi vs.  SHO - Hiromu and SHO have been having great matches.   I expect this match to be great.   I see Hiromu retaining the title here, since Hiromu made the challenge to SHO.   I think Hiromu will lose the title at some point in 2021, which will eventually build toward his goal of the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title being in the main event at Wrestle Kingdom.   If Hiromu takes a break mid-year then he will be fresh towards the end of the year.

New Beginning in Hiroshima comes on 2/10 and 2/11/21.

Thanks for reading.
 

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