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LOOKING AT HOW COVID HAS RAVAGED NEW JAPAN, 8/24 NJPW SUMMER STRUGGLE 2021 REPORT

8/24/21 Results for New Japan's Summer Struggle 2021 - Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan:

Today begins the last events of Summer Struggle before the final push towards Wrestle Grand Slam on Sept 4 and 5 for New Japan Pro Wrestling.

There are some missing wrestlers on the cards this week, most notably:

-Shingo Takagi (COVID)

-SANADA (Contact tracing)

-Tetsuya Naito (Contact tracing)

-Hiroshi Tanahashi (possibly in quarantine from his trip to Los Angeles)

-Kota Ibushi

-EVIL 

All these men have Championship matches scheduled for Wrestle Grand Slam in 11 days.  The upcoming events this week should set up 2 - 3 more undercard matches for Sept. 4 and 5.   The roster seems to be thin, but New Japan should be able to put on a great show with the 6 scheduled matches that are advertised for that weekend.

My bigger concern is The G1 Climax 31 beginning on Sept. 18.   This is a big annual event for New Japan.   CM Punk mentioned the G1 in an interview after his debut on AEW.   At Resurgence, Will Ospreay made a statement how he will be unable to compete in this year's G1.   

My question is:  Will there be enough Heavyweight wrestlers to compete in The G1 Climax 31?

New Japan Strong will have September events in Texas which will conflict with the G1.  The wrestlers might not be able to compete in both countries, due to COVID testing and travel restrictions.  Minoru Suzuki, Jay White, Juice Robinson, David Finlay and Lance Archer are already announced for Texas, so they could all be out of the G1.   

The other factor affecting the G1 is COVID.   Throughout 2021, the direction of the company had to be changed due to wrestlers catching COVID.   Los Ingobernales de Japon has been out because BUSHI and Shingo Takagi tested positive.    SANADA and Naito are out due to contact tracing.   Hiromu Takahashi was lucky that he was out with an injury, but now is needed to return on August 27 to face DOUKI, because the roster is thin.  The G1 Climax will need at least 20 heavyweight wrestlers who can handle the rigors of a month long tournament.   

I am sure New Japan will figure out what to do to make Wrestle Grand Slam and the G1 Climax 31 a great experience.  However, this year definitely proves to be a challenging one.

On to the matches at Korakuen Hall.

There was no opening video package to open the show.  Usually, in this video, New Japan highlights the top matches at their next big event and the main event of the evening's card.  There could be more changes to the advertised card in the next week, depending upon the health status of the wrestlers.

1 - Debut Match:  Ryohei Oiwa vs. Kosei Fujita

This was the debut match for these young lions.  Both were bald and wore black trunks and boots.   It was difficult to tell them apart.  Fujita had a leaner build.   Oiwa was more muscular.

Lots of mat wrestling, which demonstrated that both have amateur backgrounds.  

Fujita trapped Oiwa in a Boston Crab.  Oiwa fought to the ropes.  Fujita reapplied the Boston Crab.   Oiwa fought towards the ropes, but the bell rang.   The was match declared a 10 minute draw.   

Despite the draw, Oiwa was frustrated as he was on the verge of submission when the bell rang.

Both men will meet again to open each event this week.  

2 - Master Wato and Satoshi Kojima vs. Tiger Mask and Tomoaki Honma

Kojima pins Honma after a big lariat.

3 - Ryusuke Taguchi and Toru Yano vs. Jado and Chase Owens

It was announced last week that Yano will face Owens for the KOPW 2021 Trophy in a No DQ-I Quit Match at Wrestle Grand Slam on Sept. 4.

Typical comedy spots from Taguchi and Yano.   Owens countered by pulling out his leather strap and whipping both men.  Yano brought handcuffs into the ring.  Owens attacked him and handcuffed Yano.   Owens held Yano while Jado was going to hit Yano with the kendo stick.   Yano hit a low blow on Owens and grabbed the kendo stick from Jado.  Yano hit both Owens and Jado with the kendo stick.   

The referee called for a disqualification on Yano.   Bullet Club wins the match.

4 - Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Kazuchika Okada vs. Great O-Khan and Jeff Cobb

Cobb and Okada started the match.   The story was similar to their past matches where Okada tried to overcome the power of Cobb.  Okada went for a tombstone, but Cobb reversed it and hit a tombstone of his own.    Cobb then hit a ripcord Tour of the Islands on Tenzan.

Cobb pins Tenzan.

After the match, O-Khan did his speech to the crowd.   He did the United Empire roll call but only mentioned "Great O-Khan" and "Jeff Cobb".  No mention of Will Ospreay or Aaron Henare.   There may be changes to come.

5 - Robbie Eagles, YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto vs. DOUKI, Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi

Fast paced match.   When YOSHI-HASHI and Goto were in the ring with ZSJ and Taichi, it was hard hitting wrestling.  Great preview of the upcoming IWGP Tag Title match.  Eagles trapped DOUKI in the Ron Miller Special.   ZSJ kicked Eagles in the chest to break the hold.  Eagles hit a superkick on ZSJ.   Eagles hit a Turbo Backpack on DOUKI and went to the top rope.  Eagles hit a 450 splash on DOUKI's leg, but DOUKI got his knees up into the stomach of Eagles.  Northern Lights suplex by DOUKI.  Two count.  DOUKI with a Dragon Suplex pin attempt on Eagles.  YOSHI-HASHI breaks the count.   DOUKI hits a Asai Moonsault on YOSHI-HASHI on the floor.  DOUKI hit a high kick on Goto and a dropkick to Goto's chest.  Suzuki-Gun triple team Goto and DOUKI locks Goto in the Italian Stretch #36.   Taichi hits a thrust kick to Goto's face.  But, Goto is able to make it to the ropes for a break.   DOUKI goes for a Daybreaker, but Goto catches him in fireman's carry.   Taichi and ZSJ attack Goto to save DOUKI.   Taichi positions Goto so DOUKI and finally hit a Daybreaker.  Goto kicks out after a long two count by Red Shoes.

Goto hits an Ushigoroshi on DOUKI.  Goto goes for a pin but only a one count.  GTO hits a GTW and then a GTR on DOUKI.  

Goto pins DOUKI.

Tachi and ZSJ attack Goto after the match.   Goto and YOSHI-HASHI hits a GYR on ZSJ.   They hit a GYW on Taichi.   Goto took the mic and said it will be "lights out" for Dangerous Tekkers at Wrestle Grand Slam.    Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. were selling the beat down by CHAOS.   

This was a good match and established two things:   1) Goto and YOSHI-HASHI look like serious contenders as they left the Tag Champions laid out after the match, and 2) DOUKI was a formidable force in the match who had a lot of offense.   He will be facing Hiromu Takahashi on August 27.  DOUKI showed that he will bring it to The Time Bomb in their match later this week.

Another interesting note, there was no follow up to the SHO/YOH storyline in the ring.   On http://www.njpw1972.com, YOH was interviewed about the break up of Roppongi 3K.  It was noted that SHO was also supposed to be interviewed for the story, but he refused to comment.  YOH promised to beat his former partner in the ring.  The storyline could continue later in the year when the Best of Super Juniors might begin.   New Japan is drawing out this feud, which is good.  This could build toward a match at Wrestle Kingdom where they never really touch each other until they meet in the Tokyo Dome.

Thanks for reading.

 

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