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5/24 NJPW ROAD TO WRESTLE GRAND SLAM RESULTS FROM TOKYO

5/24/21 Results for New Japan's Road to Wrestle Grand Slam from Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan:

The opening video of the show declared that New Japan is back and highlighted the shows of May 24 to May 26.   The Wrestle Grand Slam show scheduled for May 29 is still listed as an event on www.njpw1972.com.   No Will Ospreay in the opening video of this show.

In Korakuen Hall, there are less audience members, but they are spread out so "on camera" the building seems full.  Normally, there would be chairs for audience around ringside behind the guardrails, but they were removed.   The audience seats were in the bleachers.

Taichi is on Japanese commentary.   All commentators are wearing masks behind plastic barriers.   The commentary desks were pushed back even farther from the ring.

Yota Tsuji vs. Yujiro Takahashi

The referee is now wearing a mask in the ring.  Wrestlers are not wearing masks.   

Takahashi hits a lariat and follows with Pimp Juice.  Takahashi pins Tsuji.

Chase Owens and Gedo vs. Zack Sabre Jr. and DOUKI

Owens and ZSJ started the match and they put on a wrestling exhibition.  Good stuff.  DOUKI and Gedo tagged in and the shenanigans began as Gedo poked DOUKI in the eye immediately.  Match spills to the floor.  

Gedo went for a Gedo Clutch on ZSJ, but ZSJ reverses out and traps Gedo in a Straightjacket Sleeper.  Gedo taps out.  

After the match, ZSJ tells Milano Collection A.T., who is on commentary, to move away from his partner Taichi.  ZSJ blows a kiss to his partner.   Too funny.

Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Tomoaki Honma vs. Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga, with Jado

Tanga Loa forces Honma to tap out to Operation Jado Killer.

After the match, Tama Tonga saw Taichi at ringside and baited him to come to the ring.  Taichi took off his headphones and approached the guardrail.   Tanga Loa put himself between Tama and Taichi.  Tanga Loa kicked the guardrail.   New Japan officials came running to break it up.

Kota Ibushi and Master Wato vs. Jeff Cobb and Great O-Khan

The referee, Red Shoes has a red mask on.   Hilarious.

O-Khan and Cobb continued where they left off on the last tour, by attacking with speed, power and teamwork.  They attacked the weaker Wato and Cobb spent a lot of time taunting Ibushi.    At one point, Cobb lifted Wato up in suplex and held him there for a while and walked around the ring.   Ibushi tried to enter the ring, and Cobb just dropped Wato on his back and got into the face of Ibushi.    

As Ibushi and O-Khan were fighting on the floor, Wato goes for a thrust kick to the head of Cobb, who blocks it.   Cobb whips Wato into the ropes and tosses him up in the air.  Wato comes crashing down face first.  Cobb hits Wato with a Kamagoye.   Ibushi tries to rush to the ring, but O-khan holds him back.   Cobb tells Ibushi, "you watch this."   He pulls a dazed Wato on the mat by the arm up into Tour of the Islands.   Damn!

Cobb pins Wato.

Cobb and Ibushi has words with each other.   As Ibushi leaves the ringside area, he motions to Cobb that he will break him.

The match between Jeff Cobb and Kota Ibushi will be awesome, even if there is no title involved.   Their desire to see who is the better wrestler is a good story.  

One concern I have for United Empire is the missing Will Ospreay.   Can the members of United Empire maintain their momentum without their leader?  They had a great few months of 2021.  Ospreay's injury could hurt their momentum.

BUSHI, Shingo Takagi, SANADA and Tetsuya Naito vs. YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and Hiroshi Tanahashi

Takagi pins YOSHI-HASHI after hitting Last of the Dragon.  

Naito and Ishi continue to brawl after the match.  Ishii is left laying on the mat surrounded by Los Ingobernales de Japon.   Young lions roll Ishii to the floor, while Naito continues to talk trash to Ishii.

This is a potential set up for LIJ to face CHAOS for the NEVER Openweight 6-man Titles.

Takagi takes the mic and addresses the crowd.   He does not mention Ospreay's name but he says that he should be in the picture for the vacant IWGP World Heavyweight Title.

New Japan is in a tough spot here.   On Sunday, 5/23/21, Reuters reported that Osaka, the second largest city in Japan, is getting hit hard with a fourth wave of variants of COVID-19.   Next week, the Road to Dominion starts June 1.   Dominion is supposed to be in Osaka at the Osaka-Jo Hall June 6, 2021.    I do not know if this event will happen due to COVID.

None of the wrestlers affected on the second night of Wrestling Dontaku appeared on this card, nor the events over next two nights.  Looking at the cards between May 24 - 26, it looks like a skeleton crew.  New Japan needs to be careful that no more of their wrestlers, staff or fans are affected by the pandemic.

The title situation in New Japan is an issue as well.   Of the eight championships, three are currently in limbo.   The IWGP Jr. Heavyweight and Jr. Tag Team Titles are out of the picture due to COVID-19.   The IWGP World Heavyweight Title is vacant due to Ospreay's injury.   The Strong Openweight Title and IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Title will be taken care of on U.S. soil.   Only three titles remain to headline events in Japan, the NEVER Openweight Title (Jay White), IWGP Tag Team Titles (Guerillas of Destiny) and NEVER Openweight 6-man titles (YOSHI-HASHI, Goto, Ishii).  New Japan should set up future storylines over the next few nights.

On a positive note, Cobb vs. Ibushi looks to be awesome.  The feud between Guerillas of Destiny and Dangerous Tekkers continues and should be great as well.   The United Empire and Los Ingobernales de Japon can provide consistently good matches in the upcoming events.

Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

 

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