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From Kobe World Hall, Hyogo, Japan:
1 - BUSHI, Shingo Takagi and Hiromu Takahashi vs. Hikuleo, El Phantasmo and KENTA
Takagi and ELP gets tied up with the referee. Takagi pushes the referee in the face and kicked ELP in the crotch. Takagi pins ELP with a Cobra Twist Roll up.
After the match, Takagi put ELP over his knee and spanked his rear.
The announcers were selling that Takagi was frustrated and had to cheat to beat Phantasmo.
2 - Toru Yano vs. Doc Gallows
Both men battled to a count out.
Gallows beat on the young lions as he fought Yano to the back.
Not great at all. This was angle to set up more conflict and more matches. Just keep it on the undercard.
3 - Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale vs. Great O-Khan and Jeff Cobb, with Gideon Grey
O-Khan pins Owens after hitting the Imperial Drop.
Good match. Owens matches up well with O-Khan and Cobb.
At Royal Quest next month, FTR will defend the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against Aussie Open. O-Khan had words for both teams as he and Cobb went back to the locker room.
4 - SANADA and Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi
Taichi pins SANADA with a Gedo Clutch.
Great wrestling between SANADA and Taichi.
After the match, SANADA challenged Taichi for a one on one match. They exchanged masks as a promise to meet again in a singles match.
Naito and ZSJ kept fighting after the match.
5 - Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma and Kazuchika Okada vs. Shane Haste, Bad Dude Tito and JONAH
JONAH pins Honma after a Torpedo.
TMDK is on a roll.
At the Ryogoku Sumo Hall, on October 10, JONAH will face Kazuchika Okada in a singles match.
6 - Jado and Tama Tonga vs. Taiji Ishimori and Jay White, with Gedo
Ishimori forces Jado to tap out to the Bone Lock.
Tama Tonga will face Jay White for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at the Ryogoku Sumo Hall on October 10.
7 - IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Master Wato and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Francesco Akira and TJP
Akira pins Taguchi after hitting the Leaning Tower.
United Empire retains the Tag Team Titles.
Good match. TJP seemed to bit off due to a leg injury, but he fought through it. Great new double team moves showing how United Empire is getting comfortable as a team. Akira’s speed is unreal.
They mentioned on commentary that Super Junior Tag League is coming soon so the next contenders will be determined then.
8 - NEVER Openweight Championship Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Karl Anderson, with Doc Gallows
Yano comes to ringside to deal with Gallows. Tanahashi traps Anderson in Texas Cloverhold and taps but the referee does not see it because he is dealing with Yano and Gallows.
Anderson hits a Gun Stun.
Anderson pins Tanahashi.
Karl Anderson retains the NEVER Openweight Championship.
Another good match. Big win for Anderson over a long time rival in Tanahashi.
Jay White and Gedo come to the ring. Gallows and Anderson are beating on Yano and Tanahashi with the young lions trying to stop them. White and Gedo join in the beat down. Tama Tonga comes for the save. Tama takes out Anderson and Gallows. He goes after White. Hikuleo comes to the ring and faces his brother Tama. White brags to Tama that Hikuleo was his family now and he is the Bullet Club.
Hikuleo grabs White by the throat. White’s eyes are wide with fear. Hikuleo throws White to Tama who hits a Gun Stun. Tama and Hikuleo hug in the ring. Big pop from the crowd. Tama grabs the IWGP World Title. He takes the NEVER Openweight Title and gives it to his brother. They pose in the ring with the belts over a fallen Jay White. The Good Brothers and Gedo are hesitant to save Jay White with Hikuleo in the ring.
Interesting angle. Tama now has an ally heading into his Title Match with Jay White. Hikuleo has been booked as a monster on the Burning Spirit Tour. Bullet Club refusing to enter the ring, sold the idea that he was a dangerous threat. From this angle, Tama looks like he could win the World Title and Hikuleo could take the NEVER Title from Anderson. Great booking.
9 - IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship: David Finlay vs. Will Ospreay
Ospreay comes to the ring with the entire United Empire.
The match was fairly even until they went to the floor.
As they were fighting on the floor, Finlay smashes Ospreay’s left hand with his shillelagh. Ospreay screams in pain and Finlay works over his left hand with stomps and pulling on his fingers. Ospreay stuns Finlay with a high kick in the head. Ospreay calls for Gideon Grey for help. Grey comes to the check on Ospreay’s hand. Grey calls Jeff Cobb over. Cobb snaps Ospreay’s finger into place. Ospreay screams and shakes in pain. Grey tapes up his fingers in place for him to continue the match.
Finlay suplexes Ospreay on the ring apron. Finlay hits an Acid Drop from the ring apron through two tables on the floor. But the tables did not break. Sick and brutal spot. Both men took hard bumps. Finlay got up first and powerbombed Ospreay through the two tables. Insane.
Ospreay beats the count back and Finlay hits another Acid Drop. Two count. Finlay is frustrated. They exchange a ton of near falls. Finlay hits a Trash Panda. Ospreay’s foot is on the ropes. Ospreay hits a Hidden Blade. Both men are out and exhausted. They get to their feet and throw wicked punches. Ospreay goes for a Oscutter but Finlay counters into a Prima Nocta. Two count.
Ospreay avoids another Acid Drop and hits a Super Oscutter. Finlay blocks a Storm Breaker but Ospreay turns it into a Pedigree. Ospreay hits a Hidden Blade. Two count. Ospreay hits a Storm Breaker.
Ospreay pins Finlay.
Will Ospreay retains the IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship.
Great match. The spot with Ospreay’s fingers was cool. Gideon Grey was made to be a comedy character on the undercard, but he was essential in the storytelling of this match. The table spot was too much. Japanese tables hurt the wrestlers and they should stop those spots.
As United Empire stand in the ring, Tetsuya Naito comes to the ring. Naito congratulates Ospreay. He challenges Ospreay to a title match.
Zack Sabre Jr screams from the entrance ramp and makes his way to the ring. Zack tells Naito that he lost tonight so how does he get to make a challenge? Zack say that Naito beat him in the G1, but Ospreay beat Naito, so they are even. Zack say he beat Ospreay in the New Japan Cup so he should have a title shot. Zack challenges Naito at Royal Quest and whoever wins gets a title shot.
Naito does not give an answer but he smiles and he heads back to the locker. Zack chases him and expects an answer.
Ospreay said he does not care who the next challenger his. He is still the best.
O-Khan says how dominant they are. He and Cobb will take back IWGP Tag Titles. United Empire will continue to dominate New Japan.
Thank you for reading.
James Kurokawa
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