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HIROMU RETURNS: 8/27 NJPW SUMMER STRUGGLE RESULTS FROM TOKYO

8/27/21 Results for New Japan's Summer Struggle 2021, Hiromu Takahashi Returns - Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan:

Ryohei Oiwa vs. Kosei Fujita

Another good match with lots of grappling.  Both men really sold the moves well with the emotion on their faces.   Oiwa went after the left arm of Fujita.   Fujita countered by going after Fujita's left leg.  Yuto Nakashima, another young lion who broke his arm several months ago against Yuya Uemura, was at ringside cheering them on.  Oiwa applied a Boston Crab on Fujita.  The bell rang to signal another 10-minute Draw.    Both young lions shoved each other after the match, but nothing came of it, as they both exited to the locker room.

Ryusuke Taguchi, YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto vs. Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre, Jr. and Taichi

Taichi came to the ring "singing" his entrance music, but Goto attacked him.  YOSHI-HASHI and Taguchi attacked ZSJ and Suzuki.   YOSHI-HASHI and Goto were angry, and they took their frustrations out on Taichi.  Taichi was able to fend off their double teams when The King made the save.  Taguchi hit everyone with hip attacks.  Taguchi was about to hit hip attack from the top rope, but Taichi avoided it.  ZSJ picked up Taguchi in a body slam position and he and Taichi hit a Tensho Zack Driver.  ZSJ pins Taguchi.

After the match, Goto and YOSHI-HASHI went face to face with Dangerous Tekkers.   Between them was the prone body of Taguchi who was still selling the Zack Driver.  Funny visual.  On the way back to the locker room, Taichi looked into the camera and called out Tetsuya Naito and SANADA for their 3-way Tag Team Championship match next week.

Togi Makabe and Kazuchika Okada vs. Great O-Khan and Jeff Cobb

Cobb pins Makabe with Tour of the Islands.

Special Single Match:  Robbie Eagles vs. Master Wato, with Hiroyoshi Tenzan

This match is not for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight title.  However, it is a big match for Wato, to show that he can compete at the level of Eagles, El Desperado or Hiromu Takahashi.

Both men dazzled with high flying moves early on.   Wato made the mistake of throwing a high kick, Eagles ducked and Wato kicks the ringpost.   Eagles went work on the leg of Wato.   Eagles hit dropkick to the leg and applied the Ron Miller Special.   Wato gets to the ropes.  Wato fights back with an Exploder suplex.  Wato dropped Eagles with a spinning high kick.  Wato goes for and misses an RPP.  Eagles goes for a crucifix pin, but Wato kicks out.  Eagles blocks a thrust kicks and reverses into a Turbo Backpack.   Two count.  Eagles hits 450 splash from the top rope on to the leg of Wato.    Eagles locks on the Ron Miller Special again.

Wato taps out.   

Wato is frustrated by the loss.   Eagles tells him words of encouragement and raises Wato's arm before the Korakuen crowd.

Hiromu Takahashi vs. DOUKI

Takahashi entered the ring and there was huge banner saying "Welcome Back".   DOUKI attacked him and they immediately went to fight on the floor.  DOUKI got his metal pipe that he brings with him and beat Hiromu with pipe.  DOUKI tried tying up Hiromu with submissions.  Hiromu fought back with drop kick from the ring apron to the floor.  Pace of the match was very fast and hard to recap.  Hiromu hit a flipping pin off the top rope.  DOUKI kicks out.  DOUKI traps Hiromu in the Italian Stretch #32.  Hiromu almost passes out but he gets to the ropes.  DOUKI goes to the floor and slams Hiromu on the concrete.   DOUKI comes off the ring apron with a double stomp on Hiromu's chest.   DOUKI goes to the top rope and hits a dropkick to the chest of Hiromu on the floor.  It looked like DOUKI's arm hit the guardrail as he came down.  Damn!   DOUKI dragged Hiromu back into the ring and hit a Daybreaker DDT.  Hiromu kicks out at two.  Both men hit each other with strikes and pinfall attempts.  

Hiromu hits Time Bomb II and gets the pin.  

Good match!   Hiromu looked sharp in the ring.   I worry about some of the bumps he takes which could lead to more injuries, but that is his style of wrestling.  DOUKI had a deep bruise on his armpit where he hit the guardrail coming off the top rope.  DOUKI also looked good and I wish he gets more opportunities to be in the Jr. Title picture.

Hiromu took the mic and thanked DOUKI for the match.   Robbie Eagles came to the ring.   Hiromu told him to wait one minute.  Hiromu began talking to the IWGP Jr. Title belt.   Eagles looked at the crowd in disbelief.    Hiromu rambled on as he talked to the belt.   Eagles had enough and grabbed the belt.  Hiromu begged him to wait.  Eagle held the title in the air and said if he wanted more time, then he will have to beat him at Metlife Dome.   Hiromu thanked Eagles for coming to the ring.    Eagles looked at him and said "you are crazy."

During the Japanese Commentary, they were talking about the matches for Wrestle Grand Slam next week:

Sept. 4:

1 - Provisional KOPW 2021 / No-DQ I Quit Match:  Toru Yano vs. Chase Owens

Prediction:   Yano will win this comedy match.

2 - IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship Match:  Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kota Ibushi

Prediction:  I expect Tanahashi to retain.  Ibushi should remain in contention for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title

3 - Special Single Match:  Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb

Prediction:  Okada get the win using his wrestling skills and absorbing/avoiding the power of Cobb.  I will not be surprised to see an angle after the match to bring in another member of the United Empire.

Sept. 5:

1 - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match:  Shingo Takagi vs. EVIL

Prediction:   There has been talk of this Title being "cursed" since they merged two titles into one.   Kota Ibushi lost it on his first defense.  Will Ospreay got injured and had to vacate the title.  Shingo Takagi is diagnosed with COVID and has to miss dates.   Hopefully, Takagi will be healthy and ready to go on Sept. 5.   The IWGP World Title needs stability, so I think Takagi should retain.   

2 - IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship 3-Way Match:   Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi vs. SANADA and Tetsuya Naito vs. YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto

Prediction:  YOSHI-HASHI and Goto already hold the NEVER Openweight 6-man titles.  SANADA and Naito do not need the titles.  With the G1 Climax 31 on the horizon, all six of these men will be important in that tournament.  The Tag Titles will not be the focus during the G1.  Dangerous Tekkers should retain here.  

3 - IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Match:   Robbie Eagles vs. Hiromu Takahashi

Prediction:  Hiromu has spoke of being in the main event position at Wrestle Kingdom.  He feels the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title could be in the top spot.   This will be his first step.  Hiromu should win the Title here.  While heavyweights begin the G1 Climax, the Junior Division can stay healthy and safe and get ready for the Best of Super Juniors later in the year.

These are the six matches advertised for next week on Sept 4 and 5.  I would expect that additional matches will be announced in the next week or so.

Thank you for reading.

 

 

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