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BLOCK B WINNERS: 12/7 NJPW WORLD TAG LEAGUE REPORT FROM MIYAGI, JAPAN

12/7/23 Results from New Japan's World Tag League 2023, B Block Winners and More from Miyagi, Japan

1 - Yuto Nakashima, Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona vs. Callum Newman, HENARE and Great O-Khan

HENARE pinned Nakashima after a Rampage.

After the match, Gates of Agony held their ROH 6-Man belts in faces of O-Khan and HENARE.   Perhaps a teasing a title defense at Final Battle or an upcoming AEW or ROH show.

Gates of Agony looked really good over the tournament.   Liona matched up well against the New Japan wrestlers and their strong style and Kaun looked like a beast.   Their ring entrance and music is unique with their native attire.  Hopefully, they will be back in 2024.

2 - Shota Umino, Ryusuke Taguchi and Tiger Mask vs. SHO, Yujiro Takahashi and EVIL

Umino comes to the ring looking pissed off and has his back taped up after the beating he took by House of Torture.  Togo and Kanemaru come to ringside.    No Narita.

Tiger Mask was about to make a hot tag to Umino, when Narita ran to ringside and smashed a chair into Umino's back.   The camera caught Narita smiling and stepping on Umino's neck, but did not catch the action in the ring.   Yujiro put SHO on top of Tiger Mask in the ring. 

SHO pins Tiger Mask.

After the match, House of Torture beats down Umino.   Narita applies a rear naked choke and hits an X-Factor.  House of Torture salutes over the fallen body of Umino.

Ren Narita has not addressed anything with his former Strong Style Stablemates, Minoru Suzuki and El Desperado, at least on camera on New Japan World.   It will be interesting to see what happens with Strong Style in the coming months.   Since his debut on the main roster, Ren Narita has bounced around a lot, from a lone wolf, to Strong Style, and now to House of Torture.   All these changes to his character could get confusing.

3 - Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada vs. Kaito Kiyomiya, Ryohei Oiwa, Tomoaki Honma and Boltin Oleg

Yano hits a low blow on Honma and rolls him up in a school boy for a pin.

Okada bad mouthed and mocked Kiyomiya as he left the ring.   

4 - Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste and Kosei Fujita vs. Gabe Kidd, Alex Coughlin and Taiji Ishimori

Coughlin hit a Black Hole Slam on Fujita and followed with a Jackhammer.

Coughlin pins Fujita.

World Tag League Matches:

5 - Minoru Suzuki and Yuji Nagata vs. Jack Bonza and Bad Luck Fale

Suzuki hit the Gotch Piledriver on Bonza and gets the pin.

Suzuki and Nagata finish with 4 points.

Rogue Army finishes with 4 points.

After the match, Nagata and Suzuki shake hands after teasing dissension throughout the tournament.  The crowd pops for their handshake.

6 - Zandokan Jr. and Yota Tsuji vs. Soberano Jr. and Atlantis Jr.

Soberano pins Zandokan after a reverse tombstone piledriver (aka Soberano Driver).

Soberano Jr. and Atlantis Jr. finish with 7 points.

Zandokan Jr. and Tsuji finish with 6 points.

After the match, Shingo Takagi, BUSHI, and Tetsuya Naito come to the ring.  Naito talks briefly to Zandokan.  Tsuji and Zandokan leave to the locker room.   Los Ingobernales de Japon leave to the locker room.   Soberano Jr. and Atlantis Jr. mingles and poses with the fans as they leave ringside.

This was a potential tease for a new member of LIJ in the near future.

7 - El Phantasmo and Hikuleo vs. Alex Zayne and Lance Archer

Solid match.  Both teams worked very well together.   In this tournament, Zayne and Archer put together great double team moves which highlighted both of their skills.

Hikuleo hit a chokeslam on Zayne.  ELP followed with a Super Thunderkiss 86.

ELP pins Zayne.

Guerillas of Destiny finish with 10 points and the current lead in B Block.

Monster Sauce finish with 8 points.

All four men shake hands after the match.

8 - YOSHI-HASHI and HIrooki Goto vs. Yuya Uemura and Taichi

Another solid match.   Bishomon hit a top rope bulldog on Uemura, then followed with a Shoto.

YOSHI-HASHI pins Uemura.

Bishomon finish with 9 points and second place in B Block.

Just 5 Guys finish with 8 points.

Again, all four men show respect for each other after the match.   Good contrast between these teams and War Dogs and House of Torture.  Goto and YOSHI-HASHI showed respect to Uemura and his efforts.

The theme of this World Tag League (and for all of 2023), for New Japan, is giving the new generation of wrestlers a chance to succeed.   Yuya Uemura was in tonight's main event and, despite the loss, was acknowledged by Bishomon.   War Dogs look to be top heels for Bullet Club and in the tag division.   Kosei Fujita has thrived with TMDK.  Ryohei Oiwa has looked good teaming with Pro Wrestling NOAH's Kaito Kiyomiya.   Yota Tsuji has had a great match with Will Ospreay earlier this year and may now be bringing Zandokan Jr. into Los Ingobernales de Japon.   Ren Narita and Shota Umino may have failed in their tag team goals, but will enter 2024 as THE hot feud of the year.   New Japan is booking things right.

Speaking of booking things right, as this tournament wraps up, every team has looked strong at some point.  Every team won at least 2 matches, no one was buried.  Angles were built into matches which could then lead to storylines later, post Wrestle Kingdom.   No one had major injuries.   No one missed a match.   Booking tournaments that takes place over a month is not easy, but it should lead to a bigger goal, where everyone gets better and the company as a whole grows from it.   

A Block	Points
Shota Umino / Ren Narita	6
Tomohiro Ishii / Toru Yano	8
Great O-Khan / HENARE	8
Mikey Nicholls / Shane Haste	10#
Alex Coughlin / Gabe Kidd	10*
EVIL / Yujiro Takahashi	6
Kaito Kiyomiya / Ryohei Oiwa	4
Bishop Kaun / Toa Linoa	4
B Block
Hirooki Goto / YOSHI-HASHI	9#
Yuji Nagata / Minoru Suzuki	4
Hikuleo / El Phantasmo	10*
Taichi / Yuya Uemura	8
Yota Tsuji / Zandokan Jr.	6
Atlantis Jr. / Soberano Jr.	7
Lance Archer / Alex Zayne	8
Bad Luck Fale / Jack Bonza	4

*1st Place

#2nd Place

In the Semi-Finals on 12/08, it will be the following:

War Dogs vs. Bishomon

Guerrillas of Destiny vs. TMDK

The winners of these matches will meet in the Finals on 12/10.  The winner of World Tag League 2023 will earn a IWGP Tag Title shot at Wrestle Kingdom.

Prediction for the World Tag League Winner:   I predict War Dogs beating Bishomon and TMDK defeating G.O.D.  Ultimately, I see TMDK winning it all and challenging Bishomon at Wrestle Kingdom.

There will be two Road to TOKYO DOME shows on 12/21/23 and 12/22/23 on New Japan World.  I expect the rest of the Wrestle Kingdom card to fill out during that time.

Thanks for reading.

 

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