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4/23/23 Results from New Japan’s Road to Wrestling Dontaku 2023 from Osaka, Japan:
1 - Bolton Oleg vs. Ryohei Oiwa
Oleg forces Oiwa to tap out to a Boston Crab.
Oleg gets a nice ovation from the crowd.
Still early, but New Japan may have big plans for Oleg.
2 - SHO, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo and EVIL vs. Yuto Nakashima, YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto and YOH
Yujiro hits a low blow on Nakashima and hits Pimp Juice.
Yujiro pins Nakashima.
CHAOS members show frustration after match against House of Torture.
3 - Kevin Knight, KUSHIDA and Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Aaron Henare, Francesco Akira and TJP
Knight jumped from standing position and hit a Frankensteiner on Akira who was sitting on the top rope. Amazing.
Henare forces Tenzan to tap out to Ultima.
KUSHIDA and Knight laid out TJP and Akira after the match. The crowd seemed confused and quiet because KUSHIDA and Knight were talking trash and then they laid out the heels.
This match for the IWGP Jr. Tag Titles on April 27 should be good.
4 - Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste, Mikey Nichols and Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Great O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis
Cobb pins Fujita after a Tour of the Islands.
Fun match. United Empire matches up well with TMDK.
Zack Sabre Jr. will battle Jeff Cobb for the New Japan World Television Title at Wrestling Dontaku 2023 on May 3.
Aussie Open will defend the IWGP Tag Team Titles against Team TMDK on April 29.
5 - Taiji Ishimori, KENTA, David Finlay, and Gedo vs. Master Wato, Hikuleo, Jado and Tama Tonga
Wato forces Gedo to submit to Vendaval.
Hikuleo will challenge KENTA for the New Japan Strong Openweight Title and Tama Tonga will defend the NEVER Openweight Title against David Finlay at Wrestling Dontaku 2023.
Since Jay White left, there have been a lot of changes within Bullet Club. David Finlay may be the face of the group now, but he is not The Switchblade. With strong factions like United Empire and Just Five Guys, this seems like a transitional period for New Japan.
6 - Toru Yano, Togi Makabe, Tomohiro Ishii, Tomoaki Honma and Kazuchika Okada vs. Shota Umino, Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Ren Narita and Tiger Mask
Narita forces Honma to submit to a Cobra Twist.
Desperado and Ishii continue to fight and talk trash after the match. Desperado knocks out Ishii with a right punch to the jaw.
Strong Style will defend the NEVER Openweight 6-man Titles against Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii and another partner at Wrestling Dontaku 2023.
7 - BUSHI, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi and Tetsuya Naito vs. DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi and SANADA, with Taka Michinoku
New music for Just 5 Guys.
DOUKI hit a Daybreak on Naito. DOUKI went for Suplex de La Luna but Naito reversed out and rolled up DOUKI in a cradle.
Naito pins DOUKI.
Kanemaru tried to attack Hiromu after the match but Hiromu dropkicks him in the knee.
Takagi takes the mic and speaks to Taichi for their match on April 29 for Takagi’s KOPW Provisional Title.
Hiromu Takahashi will defend his IWGP Jr. Heavyweight against Yoshinobu Kanemaru this weekend. Then Hiromu will face SANADA for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestling Dontaku.
Is New Japan putting Hiromu in a dangerous situation? Hiromu could beat Kanemaru on April 27. SANADA will not lose his first title defense at Wrestling Dontaku. But those are two big matches for Hiromu in a main event position. Then the Best of the Super Juniors start on May 12, which he should be a part of. Hiromu has shown to be injury prone has has suffered major injuries that kept him out of the ring for months. This is usually Hiromu’s time of the year to shine with BOSJ 2023. Hopefully, he will not get injured in coming weeks.
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