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6/15 NJPW ROAD TO KIZUNA ROAD REPORT FROM TOKYO, JAPAN

6/15/21 Results for New Japan's Kizuna Road 2021 from Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan

Yuya Uemura vs. Zack Sabre Jr.  Wow, another single match against Suzuki-Gun for Uemura.   This is a gauntlet of pain that he is going through, but it will be good for him in the long run.  They start the match by grappling and mat wrestling.   Good stuff here.   They start throwing strikes and uppercuts.  ZSJ took Uemura down with a hammerlock and stomped on his left arm.   ZSJ applied a submission on the left arm but they were too close to the ropes.  ZSJ hit him with kick strikes.   Uemura powered up and hit a dropkick.  Uemura fought back and trapped ZSJ in a key lock on his left arm and tried for a cross arm breaker.   ZSJ got a break in the ropes.  Uemura tried to apply another submission hold but ZSJ kicked him in the left arm.  ZSJ went after the left arm again.   Uemura stuns him with a slap in the face.   Uemura goes for a roll up and a bridge.  ZSJ kicks out.  Uemura goes for the same roll up again.   ZSJ traps him in a European Clutch.   Uemura gets to the ropes.   Both men have an exchange of great moves and reversals.    ZSJ locks Uemura in a neck and arm Butterfly submission and gets the win.  Uemura looked good here.  He was able to keep up with Zack Sabre Jr. which is impressive despite the loss.  

Yota Tsuji vs. Taichi.  Tsuji was ready to fight but Taichi wanted to slow the pace.  He teased Tsuji by getting into a Sumo stance.   Tsuji bounced off the ropes and hit him with shoulder blocks and elbows.   Taichi retreated to the floor.   Tsuji followed hitting him on back with elbows.   Taichi whips Tsuji into the guardrail and pounds his back with a chair.  He threw kicks into Tsuji's back as he screamed in pain.   Red marks were visible on Tsuji's back.  Taichi throws Tsuji into the ring to break the count.  Taichi punished Tsuji with kick.  Tsuji used his power to slam Taichi and he used his speed to hit a Frankensteiner on Taichi.   He hit a powerslam and a diving splash on Taichi for a two count.   Tsuji gets Taichi into a Boston Crab but Taichi makes it to the ropes.   Tsuji hits a Spear on Taichi.   Two count.    Tsuji slams Taichi and tries to hit a top rope splash.   Taichi gets his knees up and Tsuji is stunned.   Taichi hits an Axe Bomber.   Two count.   Taichi kicks Tsuji in the head which looked sick.   Taichi tries for a Dangerous Backdrop but Tsuji reverses and rolls him up for a pin.  Taichi kicks out at two.  There is shock on Taichi's face as he almost lost.    Tsuji throws a elbow to the chin of Taichi and bounces off the ropes for an attack.   Taichi avoid the attack, reverses around Tsuji and hits him with a Dangerous Backdrop.   Taichi goes for the pin but Tsuji kicks out.   Taichi hits Tsuji with Tensho Jijuhou (his version of a Superkick).  Taichi pins Tsuji.

Good match.  I do not know what Young Lions have to do to get to the main roster level.   Tsuji and Taichi told a good story in their match.   Uemura did the same with ZSJ.  If storytelling is a variable to measure, then I think these Young Lions deserve a promotion.   

Toru Yano, SHO and YOH vs. El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori and Jado.  The match is out of control early on.   ELP and Ishimori are trying to hurt their opponents ahead of their IWGP Jr. Tag Title match.   A bunch of shenanigans in the match.   Jado used his kendo stick to battle Yano who was using a turnbuckle pad.  All three Bullet Club members were thrown together and took a big bump.   Yano rolled up Jado for a pin.

Kazuchika Okada, YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii and Hirooki Goto vs. Yujiro Takahashi, EVIL, Dick Togo and Gedo.  Bullet Club continued their heelish ways by taking the match to the floor and attacking CHAOS with double teams.   Action was everywhere in this match.  YOSHI-HASHI and Goto hit GYW on Gedo.   Goto pins Gedo.  Ishii continued to pound on Togo after the match.  The Young Lions and Okada tried to hold him back.

Master Wato, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi vs. BUSHI, SANADA, Tetsuya Naito and Shingo Takagi.  Naito came to the ring with a New Japan Program.   Taichi was at ringside doing Japanese commentary.   Naito offered the program and a pen to Taichi and asked for his autograph.   Taichi took a photo of him on his iPhone.   Funny.  Ibushi asked his partners to the apron so he could face Takagi to start the match.   Good wrestling with Ibushi and Takagi.    Wato tagged himself in as he saw Ibushi getting upset.   Takagi tagged in Naito.    Pace of the match picked up with Wato and Naito.  Ibushi and Takagi found themselves paired off again and they hammered each other with stiff shots.  

SANADA catches Wato in Skull End.   Wato taps out.  Takagi and Ibushi have words with each other after the match.   SANADA and Naito continued to taunt Taichi at ringside who finally came to ringside from the commentary table.  Naito and SANADA invited him into the ring.   Naito offered him a pen to sign their program.   Taichi takes the pen and signs their program.   Naito and SANADA bow to him to say "thank you".   Naito and SANADA leave ringside and go back to the locker room.   Taichi is left in the ring puzzled.   Lots of mind games by Los Ingobernales de Japon.

Kizuna Road 2021 continues tomorrow at Korakuen Hall.

Thank you for reading.

 

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