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New Japan’s Summer Struggle in Sapporo From Hokkaido, Japan:
Hiromu Takahashi started the show by showing up backstage and ran to ringside. He greeted and thanked the fans who were in attendance. He introduced himself to the fans who are attending New Japan for the first time. He runs down the card for show and they begin opening video package.
They announced that Kota Ibushi had some complications with his COVID-19 testing and would not be able to compete tonight. Kevin Kelly said Ibushi had a small fever but it was enough to keep him off the event tonight.
Yuya Uemura vs. Master Wato. Both began mat wrestling. Uemura got some early two counts. They switched gears and began flying around the ring like Jr. Heavyweights. Wato hits an RPP from the top rope. Wato pins Uemura. Wato shook hands with Uemura after the match.
Dick Togo and EVIL vs. Tomohiro Ishii and YOH. Kevin Kelly spoke of the rivalry between EVIL and Ishii. He said EVIL has never beaten Ishii one on one. Ishii attacked EVIL before the bell. EVIL and Ishii battled all over ringside. Togo threw YOH into the pad-less turnbuckle, injuring YOH’s back. Ishii is sent crashing into a guardrail and ring table by EVIL. Bullet Club double teamed YOH, attacking his back. YOH was able to tag to Ishii but EVIL and Togo were able to keep control of the match. Ishii took a beating and made a hot tag to YOH. EVIL locked YOH in a Darkness Scorpion. YOH taps out. I was not excited about a feud between Ishii and EVIL, however this match changed my mind. Both men fought hard and they looked like they hated each other. Kevin Kelly really sold the heat between the two men. I want to see where this story goes now.
El Phantasmo, Yujiro Takahashi and KENTA vs. Rocky Romero, Ryusuke Taguchi and Hiroshi Tanahashi. Lots of comedy spots early in the match. KENTA took control of the match by beating Taguchi with kick strikes on the outside of the ring. Wild match. Tanahashi pins Takahashi with a High Fly Flow. Tanahashi and KENTA stare each other down at the end of the match. Bullet Club leaves ringside. Tanahashi poses in the ring as his teammates exit towards the back. KENTA sneaks in the ring and attacks Tanahashi. Rocky and Taguchi make the save. Looks like KENTA and Tanahashi will be facing each other soon.
Great O-Khan and Jeff Cobb vs. Kazuchika Okada and SHO. United Empire used their dominate the early moments of the match. The focused on SHO and beat him down. Okada finally gets tagged in but Cobb catches him in a Spin Cycle Slam. Cobb used his power to control Okada. Okada was able to lock Cobb in the Money Clip, but Cobb powered out. Okada tagged out to SHO. SHO did his best but Cobb hit a Tour of the Islands on SHO. Cobb pins SHO. As SHO was on the mat in pain, Okada came to his aid. Cobb called Okada a “young boy” and told him to help his partner. Okada looked pissed. Cobb kept calling Okada “young boy” to his face. The real Young Lions got between Okada and Cobb and tried to escort Okada out of the ring. An Okada vs. Cobb match could be in the future.
Yoshinobu Kanemaru, DOUKI, Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi vs. BUSHI, SANADA, Tetsuya Naito and Shingo Takagi. Both teams start fast with fights all over the ring. LIJ took early control. Suzuki-Gun fought back. Action was everywhere in this match. Takagi pinned DOUKI after a big Pumping Bomber. Really good match. But it was a preview of tomorrow’s match for the IWGP Tag Team Championship.
IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship - El Desperado vs. Taiji Ishimori. Lots of great chain wrestling to start. Both men tried their usual tricks early on, but both men were prepared. Ishimori attacked the left arm of Desperado. Ishimori crushed his arm with a chair, setting up Desperado for a Ishimori’s Yes Lock. Desperado caught Ishimori coming off the ropes. He lifted Ishimori into a back suplex but dropped him into a knee crusher. Desperado hit a dragon screw on Ishimori’s left knee. Ishimori rolled to the floor screaming in pain. Desperado took chair to Ishimori’s knee and slammed the knee into the ring post. Desperado slowed the match down with an Indian Deathlock. Ishimori hit a spinning kick off the ropes. Desperado rolled to the floor. Ishimori picked up Desperado for a Bloody Cross but dropped him ribs first onto the steel guardrails. The referee began the count. At 18, Desperado crawls into the ring. Ishimori comes off the top rope with a 450 splash. He grabs Desperado and applies the Yes Lock. Desperado makes it to the ropes. Desperado goes for Guitarra de Angel, but Ishimori pushes him into Red Shoes, the referee. Red Shoes goes down. Ishimori hits a low blow on Desperado. Desperado counters with a low blow of his own. Both men trade elbow shots to the face. Desperado hits a Spinebuster and goes for the pin. Ishimori kicks out and Desperado traps him in Numero Dos. Desperado drags him to the middle of the ring lock in the hold tighter. Ishimori uses his momentum to roll up Desperado for a two count. Ishimori goes for La Mistica. Desperado reverses out and and hits Guitarra de Angel. Two count.
Desperado goes for Pinche Loco but Ishimori sends him into the turnbuckle. Ishimori hits La Mistica and applies the Yes Lock. Ishimori goes for the Bone Lock but Desperado reverses into Numero Dos. Desperado traps both arms of Ishimori as he screams in pain. Red Shoes to goes to check in Ishimori, but he is pulled out of the ring by El Phantasmo. Desperado let’s go of Ishimori and ELP hits Desperado in the gut with Sudden Death. Yoshinobu Kanemaru runs to the ring and drop kicks ELP onto his head and they both roll out of the ring. Kanemaru drags ELP back to the locker room.
Both men are exhausted. Ishimori avoids Pinche Loco and rolls up Desperado for a two count. Ishimori tries for Cipher Utaki but misses the first try. Ishimori powers him up to hit it a second time. Two count. Ishimori goes for a Bloody Cross. Desperado reverses into El Es Culero. Ishimori kicks out at two. Desperado goes for Pinche Loco again, and Ishimori spins out of the hold and applies the Bone Lock. Desperado fights towards the ropes. Ishimori rolls him to the middle of the ring. He goes for a Bloody Cross but Desperado flips out of his grasp. Ishimori stuns him with a jumping high knee. Desperado throws Ishimori headfirst into the turnbuckle and hits a right hand knockout punch. Desperado finally hits Pinche Loco. He holds on to Ishimori’s arms and rolls him up and hits another Pinche Loco.
Desperado pins Ishimori. El Desperado retains the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship. Great match. If you have New Japan World, go watch this match. You will enjoy it. Desperado got the mic to address the crowd.
A video plays of Robbie Eagles who declares himself the next challenger for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship. Desperado calls Eagles a “cute foreign boy”. He thanks Ishimori for a great match. He tells Hiromu Takahashi to get well and get back to the ring.
Stay tuned for Night Two of New Japan’s Summer Struggle in Sapporo.
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