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5/3/23 Results from New Japan's Wrestling Dontaku 2023 From Fukuoka, Japan:
1 - SHO, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo and EVIL vs. Toru Yano, YOH, YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto
EVIL and Yujiro still holding the Tag Belts that they stole from Aussie Open. House of Torture threatens the ring announcer to introduce EVIL and Yujiro as the IWGP Tag Team Champions.
House of Torture attacks before CHAOS can be introduced. Big brawl.
Bishamon hit Shoto on Dick Togo.
YOSHI-HASHI pins Togo
EVIL and Yujiro beat down Bishamon and were about to hit them with the tag belts. Aussie Open hits the ring and low blows EVIL and Yujiro and takes back their belts. House of Torture escapes.
Fletcher gets the mic and tells Bishamon that Aussie Open respects them. They do not respect House of Torture. But Fletcher offers both teams a shot at the IWGP Tag Team Titles in a 3-way match.
2 - Kosei Fujita, Mikey Nichols and Shane Haste vs. Great O-Khan, Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis
Fujita tries for an O'Conner Roll on O-Khan. O-Khan reverses into an Iron Claw Sleeper. O-Khan stands up and hits an Iron Claw Sleeper Suplex. Brutal. Fujita kicks out at two. O-Khan quickly applies the Sheep Killer.
Fujita taps out.
3 - Aaron Henare, TJP and Francesco Akira vs. Shota Umino, Kevin Knight and KUSHIDA
KUSHIDA pins TJP with a Hammerlock Cradle.
4 - BUSHI, Shingo Takagi and Tetsuya Naito vs. DOUKI, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Taichi, with TAKA Michinoku
Taichi traps BUSHI in a Stretch Plumb.
BUSHI taps out.
They played a video for the Best of the Super Jr. 30 card line up starting with May 12.
A Block matches scheduled:
Hiromu Takahashi vs. Mike Bailey
Titan vs. TJP
Lio Rush vs. SHO
KUSHIDA vs. DOUKI
Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Taiji Ishimori
B Block matches scheduled:
El Desperado vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
YOH vs. Robbie Eagles
Master Wato vs. Francesco Akira
BUSHI vs. Dan Maloney
Kevin Knight vs. Clark Conners
The complete line up should be on www.njpw1972.com.
They also announced a Final Four format where the top two point scores in each Block will face each other to determine the winner of the Blocks. The top Block Winners will face each other in the Finals.
5 - NJPW Strong Championship: KENTA vs. Hikuleo, with Jado
Hikuleo hit a big boot at the start which knocked KENTA out. The referee checked on him. KENTA played possum and got an inside cradle for a two count. KENTA attacked the left knee and kept him on his knees. Which allowed KENTA to hit stiff kicks to Hikuleo's chest. Hikuleo uses his power to get back the advantage. Hikuleo throws a big boot but KENTA throws the referee into the way. The referee bumps hard. KENTA hits a low blow on Hikuleo. KENTA gets a kendo stick and starts to beat on Hikuleo. Hikuleo takes the kendo stick away and snaps it in half. Hikuleo hits a sit down choke slam, but the referee is still down. Another referee comes to the ring. Hikuleo goes for a choke slam, but KENTA reverses into a triangle choke. Then KENTA reverses to Game Over. Hikuleo gets to the ropes. KENTA hits two running knee strikes. Hikuleo goes for another choke slam, but KENTA hits another low blow. KENTA with a Psycho Knee. Hikuleo kicks out at two. Hikuleo hits a snap Powerslam. Hikuleo hits a big chokeslam.
HIkuleo pins KENTA.
Hikuleo wins the NJPW Strong Championship.
With this win, Bullet Club has no titles. Possible foreshadowing for the NEVER Openweight Title match later.
6 - New Japan World Television Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Jeff Cobb
United Empire accompany Jeff Cobb to the ring. TMDK is with ZSJ.
ZSJ tried to wrestle his submission style but Cobb used his power to block his moves. Lots of counters and reversals by both men. ZSJ finally had success but attacking Cobb' left leg. ZSJ tried a knee bar but Cobb gets the ropes. Cobb hits a body press for a two count. They exchange strikes. Cobb with a dropkick. They battle to the top rope and ZSJ weakens Cobb with a Cobra Twist. The referee makes ZSJ break the hold at the count of 4. Cobb gutwrench suplexes ZSJ off the top rope. They get to their feet and exchange strikes. Cobb smashes ZSJ with a headbutt. Cobb goes for a Spincycle but ZSJ jumps on his back and gets a sleeper. Cobb lifts ZSJ on his shoulders, drops him into a wheelbarrow position and throws him with a wheelbarrow suplex. Crazy power by Cobb. Cobb goes for a Tour of the Islands but ZSJ counters into an inside cradle. Two count. ZSJ tried a Euro Clutch. Cobb kicks out. They trade strikes. Cobb hits a Spincycle. ZSJ goes to the floor. Cobb pushes him in the ring. They trade counters. Bell rings.
Time limit draw.
Zack Sabre Jr. retains via a draw.
Both men have words after the match. They both want a rematch for the World Television Title.
7 - NEVER Openweight 6-man Championship: Ren Narita, El Desperado and Minoru Suzuki vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada
Wild match. Okada and Narita were focused on each other during the match. Desperado went after Ishii. Suzuki and Tanahashi brawled with each other. Suzuki attacked the injured rib of Tanahashi. No tags as it was like a tornado match. Fast paced and too much to recap here. Desperado hit a spear on Ishii. Desperado hits Guitara de Angel on Ishii. Two count as Okada breaks it up. Desperado goes for Pinche Loco, but Ishii reverses out. Desperado hits a right punch to Ishii's jaw. Desperado picks him up and Ishii lays in a wicked headbutt. Narita and Okada tag in. They battle to the floor and throw each other on the guardrails. Back in the ring, Narita with suplex on Okada. Strong Style triple team Okada. Narita traps Okada in a Cobra Twist. Ishii breaks it up. Too much happening without tags. Okada hits a dropkick on Narita. Okada hits a Rainmaker on Narita.
Okada pins Narita
Tomohiro Ishii, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada win the NEVER Openweight 6-man Championship.
I do not understand this booking. Okada beat Narita clean. Then Okada kicked Narita as if to dismiss him. Suzuki and Desperado had to save him, as if Narita was the weak link. Okada and Tanahashi beat Narita and Shota Umino in a tag match a month ago. That was an embarrassing loss for both young wrestlers. This was on that level. Perhaps this is long term story telling, kicking Narita down to build him back up. However, then why have Narita immediately face the top guy in Okada just to get punked out? Why not have Narita feud with someone lower on the roster? I think that Okada, Ishii and Tanahashi do not need the title. New Japan will be in the United States soon. Tanahashi will be in the U.S. Title contenders match. Forbidden Door is coming up. These titles will not be defended anytime soon.
As the new champions got their belts, Shota Umino came to the ring. He spoke about a paradigm shift. They played a video of Jon Moxley who will be returning at Dominion in June. Umino and Moxley issued a challenge for the new NEVER Openweight 6-man Champions. Okada responded to Umino saying "F**k you".
8 - NEVER Openweight Championship: Tama Tonga, with Jado vs. David Finlay, with Gedo
The match started fast with Finlay attacking but Tama was ready for him. Match goes to the floor and they battle around the ring. Finlay drops Tama on the guardrail and spears him into the crowd. They battle into the crowd. Both men are almost counted out but they get back to the ring. Finlay began attacking Tama's back. They spilled to the floor again and Tama battered Finlay against the guardrails. Back in the ring, Tama with a Stinger Splash and an SRC. Tama goes for a Supreme Flow but Finlay gets up the knees into Tama’s gut. Finlay with two Irish Curse backbreakers, attacking his midsection. Finlay hits multiple cross face forearms. Finlay goes for another backbreaker but Tama reverses into a Tonga Twist. Tama hits a Bloody Sunday. Two count. They exchange reversals. Tama locks in a Scorpion Death Lock. Finlay gets the rope break. Tama goes back to the top rope. Finlay pushes him off to the floor into the guardrails. Finlay powerbombs him on the apron. Finlay picks up Tama and throws him headfirst into the steel turnbuckle post. Tama is almost counted out. Finlay hits a Dominator. Two count. Finlay hits two powerbombs. Tama kicks out at two. Finlay starts punching Tama and pushes the referee. Finlay hits another powerbomb. Jado was about throw in the towel but decides not to.
Finlay hits Into Oblivion (formerly Trash Panda). Finlay pulls up Tama off the mat. Finlay hits another Into Oblivion then pulls Tama off the mat again. Finlay hits a third Into Oblivion.
Finlay pins Tama.
David Finlay wins the NEVER Openweight Title.
This was vicious and dominating win by Finlay. This now establishes him as the leader of Bullet Club, as the only title holder.
Gedo announced to the crowd that Finlay was the new champion. A man in a medical mask comes to the ring. The man throws Gedo out of the ring and reveals himself as El Phantasmo. ELP hits Sudden Death on Finlay. ELP goes for a CR2 but Finlay escapes. ELP walks the top rope and flips onto Finlay and Gedo. He punches Gedo and the young lions break them up.
Finlay and Gedo escape to the back. As ELP leaves, he bows to Jyushin Liger on commentary, which popped the crowd. He acknowledges the fans and shows the white lion logo on his pants. Another pop from the crowd. He is teasing that he has joined Hontai with Guerrillas of Destiny and Hiroshi Tanahashi.
9. IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: SANADA vs. Hiromu Takahashi
Just 5 Guys and Los Ingobernales de Japon come to ringside.
Both men started wrestling on the mat. Hiromu quickly goes to the quick pace and dropkicked SANADA to the floor. Another dropkick sends SANADA into the guardrails. Hiromu hit a running shotgun dropkick over the guardrail into SANADA’s chest. Hiromu took a flat back bump on concrete from that move. SANADA hits a Magic Screw and then hits another off the ring apron to the floor. Hiromu was almost counted out. SANADA attacks Hiromu’s neck and head. SANADA with a high back suplex. SANADA slows the pace with a head lock. They exchange chops and strikes. Hiromu takes him down with a Frankensteiner. He follows two running dropkicks. Hiromu with a Falcon Arrow. Two count. SANADA hits a dropkick and a plancha to the floor. They exchange Dragon Sleepers. Hiromu with a DDT. Hiromu gets SANADA in his D submission. SANADA fights out and hits a TKO. SANADA traps him in Skull End. Hiromu was able to slip out. SANADA applies a Dragon Sleeper Swing. Hiromu slumps to the mat. SANADA hits a moonsault. Instead of pinning, he goes for another but Hiromu gets his knees up. Hiromu hits Time Bomb. Two count. Hiromu hits a lariat. Hiromu goes for Time Bomb II but SANADA reverses out and connects with a Shining Wizard.
SANADA goes for Dead Fall, but Hiromu counters with a German suplex. They exchange strikes. SANADA hammers Hiromu with vicious European Uppercuts. Hiromu hits a Cutter and a modified Death Valley Driver. Two count. Hiromu with another Lariat and Time Bomb II. SANADA kicks out at two. Hiromu went for Time Bomb 2.5, but SANADA kneed him in the head. SANADA with a snap back suplex. Hiromu blocks a Shining Wizard. SANADA locks him in Skull End again. Hiromu is almost out. SANADA hits a moonsault perfectly. Hiromu kicks out at two.
SANADA goes for Dead Fall, but Hiromu reverses into the Hiromu Roll. SANADA barely kicks out. SANADA hits another Shining Wizard and follows with Dead Fall.
SANADA pins Hiromu
SANADA retains the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Good match. Both men put on a good match and crowd was behind Hiromu. In a way, Hiromu was a good opponent for SANADA to help get him over as the new champion.
SANADA gets the mic and puts over Hiromu. SANADA thanks the fans and puts over Fukuoka to a big pop.
As the celebration happens in the ring, a video plays on screen. Yota Tsuji comes to the ring. The former young lion lays out all Just 5 Guys. He hits a Gore on SANADA. He poses with the belt over SANADA.
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