Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
7/2/21 Results from New Japan's Kizuna Road 2021 on New Japan World from Korakuen Hall, Tokyo Japan:
This gauntlet for the Young Lions, Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura, leads to these matches against the top two wrestlers in New Japan.
Kota Ibushi vs. Yota Tsuji
They started the match on the mat, with basic good wrestling. When Ibushi got control of Tsuji's arm, Tsuji threw several hard elbows to Ibushi's jaw. Ibushi looked pissed and dropped Tsuji with a striking kick to the chest. Tsuji put down Ibushi with a shoulder tackle. Tsuji attacked the neck of Ibushi with a chinlock, headlock, and more elbows. The match became a striking match with both men hitting each other with elbows or kicks. Pace of the match picks up. Ibushi hits a high kick to the chest of Tsuji, which sends him across the ring. Tsuji hits a dropkick in Ibushi's face. Tsuji slammed Ibushi, hit a flipping senton, and a running splash. Ibushi kicks out at two. Tsuji goes for a Boston Crab. Ibushi flips him over and double stomps him on the chest. Ibushi unleashes kick strikes to the chest of Tsuji. They start throwing open hand slaps. Tsuji hits a spear for a two count. Tsuji spins Tsuji in a Giant Swing and transitions to a Boston Crab. Ibushi crawls to the ropes for a break. Ibushi hits a big lariat for a two count. Ibushi grabs Tsuji in a half crab and switches to a one-leg Liontamer. Tsuji taps out.
Good match for the young lion Tsuji. He and Ibushi told a good story in the ring.
Ibushi had words with Tsuji at the end of the match. Ibushi looked to be giving him advice or encouragement. Tsuji was nodding with respect. Ibushi stands and applauds Tsuji. The referee goes to raise Ibushi's hand in victory, but he does not want the acknowledgement. Ibushi points to Tsuji and continues to applaud.
I give Kota Ibushi a lot of credit. He is the one of top guys in the company but he is not burying Tsuji. He is helping a younger wrestler to get to better in front of a live crowd.
Yuya Uemura vs. Shingo Takagi
Uemura, with a collar elbow tie up, backs Tsuji in ropes and hits a hard chop to Takagi's chest. Uemura screamed "Come On Champion!" Takagi was patient and let Uemura come to him. Uemura tried to match power with Takagi with shoulder blocks. Uemura took Takagi down with an arm drag and hammered him in the corner with elbows and upper cuts. Match spills to the floor and Takagi throws Uemura into the ring apron, injuring his back. Takagi attacked the midsection of Uemura with stomps and big suplex. Uemura tried to fight back with elbow strikes but Takagi dropped him with several elbows. Uemura got a second wind and hit a back suplex, then went for a cross arm breaker. Takagi got a rope break. Takagi hit a lariat and elbow from the top rope. Uemura kicks out. Takagi hits another lariat and a Noshigami. Two count. Uemura countered a Sliding Lariat into a crucifix pin. Two count. Uemura with a German suplex with bridge. Two count. Both men moving so fast. Uemura goes for a double underhook suplex but Takagi blocks it. Uemura and Takagi bounce off the ropes at each other. Takagi hits a giant Pumping Bomber.
Takagi pins Uemura.
Another good match that told a good story. I really hope for Tsuji and Uemura that these single gauntlet matches will lead to more promising roles in the company.
Takagi stands in the ring. Uemura is bleeding from the mouth from that Pumping Bomber and he struggles to get to his feet. Uemura shoves Takagi. Takagi holds his IWGP World Heavyweight Belt in front of Uemura's face. He makes the hand gesture saying, "one day, come face me for this Title". Takagi leaves the ring and applauds Uemura.
Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado vs. Jado, El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori
Suzuki-Gun attacks before the introductions can be made. Bodies are flying all around ringside. Desperado and Ishimori pair off and start the match. Suzuki-Gun isolates Ishimori in their corner and beat him down. ELP trips up Kanemaru to get the advantage back for Bullet Club. Jado starts attacking with his kendo stick. Too much is happening that the camera cannot capture all the chaos. Bullet Club corners Kanemaru and they torture him in their corner. Desperado and Ishimori tag in and they trade submissions. Ishimori with the Yes Lock. Desperado reverses out into Numero Dos. Jado and ELP come in to attack Desperado. All wrestlers hit the ring. Too much to recap here. Desperado hits a left hand knock out punch on Ishimori. He tries for the same Jado who ducks and traps Desperado in a cross face submission. Desperado struggled to get to the ropes. Jado tried to roll Desperado back to the middle of the ring, but Desperado escaped and trapped Jado in Numero Dos. Jado taps out.
Really good match. The purpose of the match was to showcase Ishimori and Desperado which they did accomplish.
Desperado and Ishimori stare each other down ahead of their IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title match next week.
BUSHI, SANADA and Tetsuya Naito vs. DOUKI, Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi
LIJ attacked as the bell rang. ZSJ paired off with SANADA and he attacked SANADA's left arm. Taichi and DOUKI took turns attacking SANADA's arm. SANADA was able to tag to Naito and Naito went after the right knee of ZSJ. ZSJ tagged out to Taichi and he began choking SANADA and Naito. Naito fell to the floor and SANADA and Taichi paired off. Great chain wrestling with these two. Taichi hit a jumping high kick to SANADA's face. DOUKI and BUSHI tagged in. DOUKI hit a Daybreaker on BUSHI but got only a two count. Everyone got in the ring and it was chaos. Naito hit a Destino on Taichi. But he was not the legal man. BUSHI hit a running Codebreaker on DOUKI and followed up with an MX.
BUSHI pins DOUKI.
Another good match. Dangerous Tekkers vs. Los Ingobernales de Japon for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship next week should be awesome.
Taichi and ZSJ were laying on their backs in the ring. SANADA and Naito took their belts and placed them on their chests. LIJ did their salute over their opponents.
NEVER Openweight 6-man Tag Team Championship: YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii vs. Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Nagata and Ishii start the match and they tear into each other, with elbows and chops. All six men enter the ring and it is chaos. Match spills to the floor and bodies are thrown into guardrails. Cameras cannot capture all the action. The match settles back into the ring and Goto is working over Kojima. Goto throws Kojima into their corner to isolate him from his partners. CHAOS members tag in and out working on Kojima. Kojima is able to tag to Tenzan who pairs off against YOSHI-HASHI. Tenzan hits Mongolian chops on the neck of YOSHI-HASHI. YOSHI-HASHI counters with a neckbreak and grabs Tenzan in a Butterfly Lock. Goto and Ishii attack Kojima and Nagata to stop them from helping Tenzan. Tenzan powers out and YOSHI-HASHI lights up Tenzan with multiple chops to his chest. Tenzan screams with each chop. His chest is red and bruised. Tenzan hits a spinning heel kick and tags Nagata. Nagata hits kicks to the chest of YOSHI-HASHI. YOSHI-HASHI counters with a Headhunter. Goto and Ishii jump in the ring to attack Nagata. YOSHI-HASHI with a lariat to Nagata. Two count. There are no tags so the action is difficult to follow. Nagata grabbed Ishii in a cross face submission YOSHI-HASHI broke the hold. Ishii found himself in the ring alone with all his opponents. Kojima hit a Lariat to back of Ishii's head. Tenzan planted him with an Anaconda Buster. Nagata hit him in the chest with a kick. Nagata drops Ishii on his head with a back suplex. Goto breaks the count. Nagata goes for another back suplex but Ishii hits a wicked headbutt. Both men tag out to Goto and Kojima. Goto and Kojima hammer each other with punches. Kojima throws machine gun chops into Goto. Goto catches Kojima with a lariat and hits a top rope elbow. Kojima kicks out at two. All men in the ring again. Nagata hits a Justice Knee to Ishii in the corner. Nagata throws Ishii into Tenzan who elevates him into Kojima's Koji Cutter. Tenzan and Kojima try the same move on Goto but Goto hits Tenzan with a lariat. Kojima takes a double knee from YOSHI-HASHI and a Punt Kick from Goto. Kojima kicks out at two.
Kojima tosses his elbow pad and goes for a Lariat. Goto reverses out and hits an ushigaroshi. Goto throws a thrust kick to the chest of Kojima. He picks up Kojima in a fireman's carry, and flips him over and hits a big GTR.
Goto pins Kojima.
YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii retain the NEVER Openweight 6-man Championship.
Good main event. Tough match to recap because of all the action going on. It looks as if CHAOS will hold on to these titles for the remainder of July 2021. If they do, they will become the longest reigning NEVER Openweight 6-man Champions in history.
After the match, Ishii approached the defeated challengers. YOSHI-HASHI tried to hold him backing thinking he was going to attack them, but Ishii brushed him off. Ishii extended a hand of thanks to all of Third Generation. All wrestlers shook hands in the ring.
The challengers left the ring and the champions got their chance to address the crowd. As YOSHI-HASHI was speaking, the lights went out. When the lights came back on, EVIL and Togo was in the ring. Togo was choking out Ishii. EVIL hit Ishii with Everything is Evil. Young lions came to the ring to assist Ishii out of the ring.
It seems EVIL and Bullet Club still have their sights set on the NEVER 6-man Titles.
Looking ahead, two important title matches are ahead in the next 8 days:
1. July 10, 2021 - IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado vs. Taiji Ishimori
Prediction: Desperado should retain here. The Jr. Division roster is limited. Ishimori just won the Jr. Tag Team belts with El Phastasmo. Ishimori does not need two belts.
2. July 11, 2021 - IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi vs. Tetsuya Naito and SANADA
Prediction: Dangerous Tekkers should retain here as well. They just won the titles from G.O.D. and I think it is too soon to take it off them now.
The rest of the matches for these dates have yet to be determined.
Thanks for reading.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
