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2/25/21 Results for New Japan's Road to Castle Attack, plus New Champions - Korakuen Hall, Tokyo Japan:
Hiromu Takahashi came to the ring with his IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title and his left arm in a sling. He injured his left pectoral muscle. He took the mic and addressed the fans. He repeated his desire to main event at Wrestle Kingdom. He asked that BUSHI take his place in the match against El Phantasmo at Castle Attack. He turned the title belt over to a New Japan official.
Jeff Cobb, The Great O-Khan and Will Ospreay, with Bea Priestley vs. Yota Tsuji, Satoshi Kojima and Hiroshi Tanahashi. Tsuji backdropped Ospreay into the air. Cobb caught Ospreay. Cobb threw Ospreay at Tsuji and Ospreay hit an Oscutter. Ospreay threw Tsuji into Cobb who caught him and hit Tour of the Islands. Cobb pinned Tsuji. Great final sequence there. All members of The United Empire have looked good on this tour. Ospreay looks like an Attitude Era Shawn Michaels, who bumps for the big men, but yet can still wrestle and fly like a Luchador. O-Khan attacked Tanahashi outside the ring, attempting to injure his leg.
Chase Owens, EVIL and Dick Togo vs. SHO, Toru Yano and Kazuchika Okada. Yano pinned Togo with a roll up, after SHO hit a high knee to his face. Short match. EVIL attacked Okada after the match. Okada got a chair to attack EVIL and the young lions rushed to separate the men. EVIL vs. Okada this weekend should be a vicious fight based on the way they are building this.
Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, and Jay White, with Jado and Gedo vs. Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI and Tomohiro Ishii. Goto pinned Tama Tonga after hitting a GYW. Good match. White kept fighting with Ishii after the match. White kept baiting Ishii towards the locker but Ishii was held back by officials. The heat between White and Ishii is white hot. I expect this upcoming singles match to be brutal as well.
Tomoaki Honma, Yuji Nagata and Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and Shingo Takagi. Takagi pins Honma with Last of the Dragon.
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado. Suzuki-Gun attacks before the bell. They immediately attack the leg of ELP. Bullet Club turns the tide by taking it to the floor. They focus on the arm of Desperado. Bullet Club focus too much on shenanigans which allows Suzuki-Gun to regain the advantage. Desperado caught Ishimori in Numero Dos. Ishimori spun his body around which caused Desperado to fall face first and Ishimori locked in the Bone Lock. Awesome move! Desperado trapped Ishimori in Numero Dos again. Kanemaru locked ELP in an abdominal stretch. Bullet Club is in trouble. ELP reverses and hip tosses Kanemaru on to Desperado, which breaks the submission. Bullet Club double teamed Desperado but could not get the pinfall. ELP calls for Sudden Death. Ishimori holds Desperado while ELP measures him. Kanemaru jumps in the way. ELP goes for Sudden Death. Kanemaru catches his foot and throws it into the face of Ishimori. Kanemaru plants ELP with a DDT. Ishimori is out cold. Desperado pulls up Ishimori and hits Pinche Loco. Desperado pins Ishimori. El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru are the NEW IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions! Really good match.
El Desperado takes the mic and addresses the issue with IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship. BUSHI comes to the ring. El Phantasmo gets in the ring. El Desperado says that BUSHI does not deserve to fight for the title. Desperado wants to face both of them in a three way match in Osaka, or face the winner at the Anniversary Show on March 4 at Budokan. ELP hits Sudden Death on Desperado. ELP grabs the Title Belt. BUSHI hits ELP with a Code Breaker. BUSHI takes the mic and says he will win the Title for Hiromu.
In the interview area, El Desperado was still selling the power of Sudden Death, falling on the floor and answering questions on his knees.
Interesting twist here for New Japan, in dealing with Hiromu's injury. The Jr. Tag Team Belts are safe with Suzuki-Gun, who can defend them regularly. BUSHI, El Desperado and El Phantasmo will fight to earn the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion. I don't know how long ELP can remain in Japan, but if has to return to Canada, that may determine whether he is winning the title or not. The loser in this situation is Taiji Ishimori, as he lost the Tag Title and will not get a chance at the top title.
New Japan is making the best of Hiromu's injury and we should get a great series of matches with these wrestlers.
As of this report, New Japan has not made any official announcement of a three way match or pair of singles matches. So stay tuned.
The final nights of the Castle Attack are this weekend on 2/27 and 2/28.
Thank you for reading.
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