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ROPPONGI 3K IMPLODES: NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING SUMMER STRUGGLE 2021 IN TOKYO, JAPAN RESULTS

8/16/21 Results from New Japan's Summer Struggle 2021 From Korakuen Hall, Tokyo Japan - Super Jr. Tag League continues

It was reported on NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING that Shingo Takagi and BUSHI had fevers at an event on August 15.   They did not compete at the event.  

There was a change tonight's line-up due to these COVID issues.    Master Wato and Ryusuke Taguchi was supposed to be facing Gedo and Dick Togo in the Super Jr. Tag League.   Wato and Taguchi will now face Tomoaki Honma and Togi Makabe in the opening match.  Since the teams of Wato/Taguchi and Gedo/Dick Togo were mathematically eliminated from the Super Jr. Tag League Tournament, it was easier to make these changes.

1 - Master Wato and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Tomoaki Honma and Togi Makabe.   Makabe pinned Wato after a knee drop from the top rope.  

2 - YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto, Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan  vs. DOUKI, Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi.  YOSHI-HASHI pins DOUKI after Goto hits a GYW.

3 - Kazuchika Okada and Toru Yano vs. Jado and Chase Owens.  Okada applies the Money Clip on Jado, and he taps out.

4 - Super Jr. Tag League:  Tiger Mask and Robbie Eagles vs. El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori.  ELP hit Tiger Mask with Sudden Death.  ELP went for the pin, but Eagles broke up the pin.   Eagles and ELP fought to the floor.   Ishimori applied the Bone Lock to Tiger Mask.  Tiger Mask was not responding and the Ishimori gets the submission win.  Solid match.   Eagles did not take the fall so the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion looks strong.  ELP and Ishimori get the win and the lead with 8 points in the Super Jr. Tag League.

5 -  Super Jr. Tag League:  SHO and YOH vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado.  With this being the main event, how SHO and YOH can bounce back from adversity is the primary storyline of the Super Jr. Tag League.  SHO and YOH came to the ring quietly and attacked Suzuki-Gun, stomping them down.   Suzuki-Gun took the match to the floor and got control of the match.  YOH was thrown headfirst into a ringpost and Kanemaru worked on the lower back of SHO.   Both Desperado and Kanemaru attacked the legs of SHO and YOH.  Desperado caught YOH with a dragon screw leg whip and applied Numero Dos.  YOH got the break in the ropes.   SHO and YOH stuns Desperado with a double high knee.  They are about to follow up with a double team move, but YOH collapses to the mat because of his leg.   Kanemaru takes out SHO.  Desperado applies Numero Dos on YOH and traps his arms.    SHO jumps in the ring and stands there.  He leaves the ring while YOH struggles to get help.  The Japanese announcers are shocked.   YOH makes it to the ropes.  Desperado hits Guitarra Del Angel.   YOH kicks out at two.   SHO continues to watch from the floor.  Desperado hits Pinche Loco on YOH.  Desperado pins YOH.

Suzuki-Gun earns two points in Super Jr. Tag League.

Suzuki-Gun leaves the ring.  SHO come into the ring.  He asks for an ice pack.  He puts it on his knee.    YOH is still lying on his back.  SHO picks up YOH and hits a Shock Arrow on YOH.  SHO takes the mic and talks trash to YOH.   SHO leaves YOH laying in the middle of the ring.  In the interview area, SHO states that YOH is no use to him anymore.  Roppongi 3K is no more.  This presents a lot of possibilities.   Which faction will SHO join?  What is the reaction from other CHAOS members?   This is a feud which New Japan could build on for months.  I do not know if this was the plan for SHO's heel turn for occur at this event.   Tomorrow, SHO and YOH would have faced Gedo and Dick Togo.   This angle could have been done there as well.   However, due to all the changes in the past few events due to COVID, it makes sense.

Super Jr. Tag League Standings:

El Desperado/Kanemaru - 6 points

Tiger Mask/Eagles - 6 points

El Phantasmo/Ishimori - 8 points

Wato/Taguchi - 2 points

SHO/YOH - 0 points

Gedo/Togo - 0 points

The one negative about this SHO/YOH angle is that the Super Jr. Tag League is now secondary to this drama.    ELP and Ishimori will face Desperado and Kanemaru tomorrow.  If Bullet Club wins, they take the Super Jr. Tag League Trophy.   If Suzuki-Gun wins, both teams would be tied for the lead, and would have to have a tie breaker match, possibly at Wrestle Grand Slam.

My prediction is that Suzuki-Gun will win tomorrow, which will lead to a IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship match against Bullet Club at Wrestle Grand Slam.

Right now, with Shingo Takagi with a fever, he needs to be healthy as the company prepares for Wrestle Grand Slam on Sept 4 and 5.   Hopefully, all the advertised wrestlers for the show stay out of trouble and stay healthy for this event.  Also, New Japan is hyping their G1 Climax 31 event which starts in September.  The wrestlers need to remain healthy and safe.  It would be a nightmare if G1 participants get sick in the middle of the tournament.

Thanks for reading.

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