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2/24 NJPW NEW BEGINNING IN SAPPORO NIGHT TWO REPORT

2/24/24 Results from New Japan's The New Beginning in Sapporo (Night 2) - Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan:

1 - Boltin Oleg, YOH, Togi Makabe, El Desperado and Shota Umino vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Yujiro Takahashi, Ren Narita, SHO and EVIL

Umino hits a Blaze Blade and a Death Rider on Kanemaru.

Umino pins Kanemaru

After the match, YOH steals the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Belt from SHO and SHO chases him to the back.    

A video of Jack Perry plays who targets Shota Umino.   Umino goes to Chris Charlton and says “Jungle Boy?”    Charlton say that he goes by a different name.   Umino say “I don’t care.  I will beat his ass.”

Looks like Umino will have his hands full with EVIL and Jack Perry.  

2 - YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano and Kazuchika Okada vs. Francesco Akira, HENARE, Great O-Khan, Jeff Cobb and Matt Riddle

Tanahashi injured his ankle from his match with Riddle last night and could not compete tonight.

Okada starts the match with Riddle.  Okada is taller than Riddle.  

Okada hits a dropkick on Newman.  He hits a Landslide and a top rope elbow.  The camera zooms out for one more Rainmaker pose.

Okada hits a Rainmaker.

Okada pins Newman.

CHAOS poses together in the ring.  Okada hugs each one individually.   The crowd chants for Okada.

Okada addresses the Sapporo crowd one last time.   He bows to everyone.   The announcers thank Okada as well.

3 - Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa vs. El Phantasmo and Hikuleo

Jado comes out first dressed as a referee.  

Tama and Tanga come out dressed in their classic face paint.   

More of an exhibition match.   Both teams exchanged their best moves.

Hikuleo hits a Godsend on Tama and gets the pin.  

Hikuleo thanks his brother as Jado makes the count.   

Tama is in tears as they all embrace in the ring. 

4 - Ryusuke Taguchi and Nic Nemeth vs. Gedo and David Finlay

Nemeth came out with a black eye from the match last night against Finlay.

Nemeth hits Danger Zone on Gedo and gets the pin. 

Nemeth asked for a tag match with Tanahashi last night.  He changed his request and wanted to challenge Tanahashi for the IWGP Global Championship.  Tanahashi who is at ringside accepts.

5 - BUSHI vs. TAKA Michinoku

BUSHI forces TAKA to tap out to a modified figure four leg lock.

6 - Hiromu Takahashi vs. DOUKI

DOUKI pins Hiromu with Suplex de La Luna.

Good match.  Big win for DOUKI.  I hope DOUKI gets a push this year.  

7 - Shingo Takagi vs. Taichi  

Taichi pins Takagi with a Dangerous Backdrop with a bridge.

Another good match.   Both Taichi and Takagi were so stiff.

8 - Hair vs. Hair Match:  Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura

Uemura tried to attack Tsuji’s arm.   Tsuji worked on Uemura’s back.   They trade arm drags and strikes.   Uemura hit a dropkick on the left arm.  Uemura locked in a hammerlock and then a cross arm breaker.  Tsuji with a rope break.   Uemura goes for a Dead Bolt suplex but Tsuji reverses into a Boston Crab.  Tsuji transitions to a Lion Tamer.  Uemura does not submit and Tsuji lets go, selling his arm.

Tsuji tries a big swing.   Uemura drops Tsuji with a single arm DDT.  Uemura throws strikes and chops.   They exchange near falls at the 20 minute mark.   Uemura hits a double underhook suplex.  Two count.   Tsuji hits a top rope Spanish Fly.  Two count.  Uemura with a Dead Bolt.  Both men are dazed.  Referee starts a double count.  Both men get to their feet.  Uemura avoids a Gene Blaster.   Tsuji avoids a body press and hits a curb stomp.   Tsuji with a Falcon Arrow.  Uemura reverses a Gene Blast into a cross arm breaker.  Tsuji reverses into pin.  Two count.

Tsuji with a high knee.  Uemura with an arm drag into a crucifix.  Two count.  Uemura hits a cutter.  They trade headbutts.  Tsuji drills Uemura with a Gene Blaster.

Tsuji pins Uemura.

They bring in a white cloth and a chair.  Tsuji cuts Uemura’s hair with scissors and holds it up to the crowd.  Tsuji takes a buzzer and cuts a bald path on the top of his head.   Uemura grabs the razor and cuts his own hair.   Uemura leaves the ring in shame.

This was an angle.   Uemura will be fine after this.  The New Japan Cup will reset feuds and goals as the year progresses.

Tsuji approaches Okada who is on Japanese commentary.   He asks if he is satisfied with leaving New Japan now.   

9 - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship:  Tetsuya Naito vs. SANADA

Both men were evenly matched until Naito hit a draping DDT to the floor.  Back in the ring, Naito works on SANADA’s neck with a cravat.   SANADA rolls to the floor and Naito applies a Full Nelson with his legs.  SANADA is almost counted out.

SANADA hits a dropkick to Naito’s knees.  Naito eye rakes SANADA.  They fight to the floor.  Naito hits a neck breaker on his knee.   SANADA is selling the neck.   

Naito goes to the top rope. SANADA takes out his feet.  Naito’s head hits the ring post.  SANADA hits a neck breaker off the top rope.  Then hits a Magic Killer off the top rope.   Naito kicks out at two.   SANADA applies a Dragon Sleeper then Skull End.

SANADA lets go and goes for the moonsault.  Naito gets the knees up.   Naito hits a Frankensteiner from the top rope.  SANADA goes for a TKO but Naito reverses into a modified Destino.   Naito hammers SANADA with elbows.   They exchange reversals.   SANADA connects with a TKO.  

SANADA hits two moonsaults.    SANADA goes for his finisher but Naito reverses into a Destino.   Naito goes for another Destino but does not hit it clean.   More reversals.  Naito goes for a tornado DDT but he slips off the ropes and they crumple to the mat.  Naito turns it into a submission choke.    

They get to their feet and Naito goes for a Dead Fall.   SANADA rolls out and hits a Shining Wizard.   SANADA hits another Shining Wizard.  Naito reverses out of Dead Fall and goes for another tornado DDT, but Naito turns it into an inside cradle.

Naito pins SANADA.

Tetsuya Naito retains the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

Good match.   The first tornado DDT spot that looked botched actually led to the finish.  Cool storytelling in the match.

Naito addresses Okada as he departs the company.  He finishes with the Los Ingobernales Roll Call.   

Naito invites Okada in the ring.  Naito offers him the fist bump.  Okada goes for it but Naito kicks him in the gut and tries to attack.  Okada goes for a dropkick but Naito rolls into his Tranquilo pose.   Crowd pops for both men.   

Okada leaves and Naito salutes him.

They announce on March 6 on the Anniversary Show the Heavyweight Champion will face the Jr. Heavyweight Champion, which will be Tetsuya Naito vs. SHO.

Thank you for reading.

 

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