PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

 
 

1/22 NJPW NEW YEARS GOLDEN SERIES RESULTS FROM TOKYO, JAPAN

By James Kurokawa on 2022-01-23 18:03:00

1/22 New Japan’s New Years Golden Series Results From Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan:

This event was taped and a Video on Demand event on New Japan World.

The ring announcer addressed the changes to the card due to the COVID scare which hit the locker room.  This was reported by PWInsider earlier this week.

Hiromu Takahashi is at ringside on commentary.

Ryohei Oiwa vs. Great O-Khan

O-Khan comes to the ring and offers Oiwa money if he can beat him.  Hiromu had made the same offer to Oiwa at the last event. 

O-Khan offered Oiwa a bigger sum of money.   Hiromu yelled at O-Khan from the announcers area.   Oiwa accepted the offer.

O-Khan trapped Oiwa in a head and arm choke.  Oiwa taps out. 

As he leaves to the locker room, O-Khan gives the money to the ring announcer who jumps for joy.

I am not sure if they are setting up an angle between Los Ingobernales and United Empire with trying to offer money to young lions.    We shall see.

Yuto Nakashima vs. BUSHI

BUSHI came to the ring wearing a Spiderman mask.   He pulled down the mask to reveal a Venom mask.  

BUSHI submits Nakashima with a Boston Crab.

Nakashima showed a lot of fire in this match. He displayed his charisma in this match.

Taiji Ishimori and Gedo vs. Tiger Mask and Yuji Nagata

Tiger Mask forces Gedo to tap out an arm submission.

After the match, Ishimori ripped off the mask of Tiger Mask and ran back to the locker room.  Tiger Mask covered his face and a young lion quickly took off his shirt to cover his head.

Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Master Wato and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and DOUKI 

Wato pins DOUKI with a La Caratera.

Wato and Desperado look intense and sharp with their moves in the ring when they were paired off in the match.  Desperado talks a lot of trash, but Wato is not falling for his mind games.  I expect their upcoming Title Match to be a good one.

During the intermission, they played highlights of a 2017 tag match between Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay.   Naito pinned Ospreay after two Destinos.   They are hyping the IWGP World Title match between Naito and Okada in February.

YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto and YOH vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo, EVIL and SHO

Goto pins Togo after hitting a Shoto.   

Fun match.  Both teams were bumping like crazy, all as a preview for their NEVER Championship defenses to come.   CHAOS stood tall at this event, but the camera shot of EVIL’s face, looking pissed off, tells me he has some bad intentions coming.

Shingo Takagi, SANADA and Tetsuya Naito vs. Togi Makabe, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada

SANADA hit a TKO on Makabe, then trapped him in Skull End.   Makabe submits. 

After the match, LIJ called Hiromu to the ring but refused to open the ropes for him.  Hiromu held the mic for SANADA as he addressed the crowd and gave his thanks to them.

Naito and Okada are ready to have a great match in February.  I was unsure as to why SANADA is getting a IWGP U.S. Title match against Hiroshi Tanahashi, but it is what it is.   

With the COVID spread again in the locker room, travel issues for foreigners and last minute changes to cards, it will be interesting to watch how New Japan responds to these challenges.

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!