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02/11/25 Results from New Japan's The New Beginning in Osaka from Edion Arena:
Kick off match: El Desperado and Katsuya Murashima vs. Francesco Akira and Jeff Cobb
Desperado tries for a Pinche Loco on Cobb, but Akira hits a sunset flip and pins Desperado.
Akira shows he can beat Desperado, which will provide momentum heading into their IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title match next month.
1 - Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Togi Makabe
Tanahashi pins Makabe with an O'Conner Roll.
Both men were showing their age, but it was a their final singles match against each other, which was the selling point. Tanahashi's retirement tour continues at Windy City Riot against Konosuke Takeshita.
2 - Shingo Takagi vs. Drilla Moloney
Moloney tries for a Drilla Killa but Takagi reverses into a Noshigami. Moloney hits a super kick then Made in Japan. Two count. Takagi hits Made in Japan. Two count. Takagi hits a Sliding Lariat and a Pumping Bomber.
Moloney hits a Drilla Killa on Takagi and gets the pin.
Solid match. This establishes Moloney as a heavyweight and as a possible entry into the New Japan Cup.
3 - Shota Umino vs. Great O-Khan
Another solid match. O-Khan hits a Flatliner then the Eliminator.
O-Khan pins Umino.
After the match, O-Khan goes to shave Umino's head. Umino stops him and grabs the shaver. Umino shaves his own head while the crowd gasps aloud. Umino's hair is all over the ring mat.
Looks like Umino will be having an image change soon.
4 - Taichi vs. SANADA
SANADA comes to the ring with a leather jacket covered with music speakers and a guitar, along with Taiji Ishimori. TAKA Michinoku comes to the ring with Taichi.
SANADA and Taichi immediately brawl to the floor. Back in the ring, they have a great wrestling match. Taichi goes for a Dangerous Driver, but SANADA grabs the referee and low blows Taichi. SANADA hits a Shining Wizard and a Moonsault. Two count. Taichi escapes a Deadfall and hits an enzugiri. Taichi goes for a kick but SANADA grabs his leg and tries to pretend that Taichi kicked him in the balls. The referee sees this but TAKA and Ishimori jumped on the apron and tried to argue for their partner. While the referee was dealing with them, Taichi hits a stiff low blow on SANADA and rolls him into a Gedo Clutch. Two count.
Taichi hits an Axe Bomber and a Dangerous Driver. SANADA kicks out at two. Taichi picks up SANADA for Black Mephisto, but SANADA grabs the referee. SANADA hits a low blow then follows with a Deadfalls.
SANADA pins Taichi.
SANADA was about to smash Taichi over the head with the guitar, but Yuya Uemura comes to the ring to make the save. He looks good and healthy. Just 4 Guys now have 3 guys. Uemura says he is back and ready to take over.
5 - IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Kosei Fujita and Robbie Eagles (c) vs. Rocky Romero and YOH
Fujita hits Abadon Hope on Romero and gets the pin.
TMDK retains the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.
Taiji Ishimori declares himself and Robbie X as the next challengers for the Jr. Tag Titles.
6 - NEVER Openweight Championship: Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Boltin Oleg
Good stiff match. Takeshita hit a Blue Thunder Bomb. Oleg kicks out. They trade stiff shots while the crowd cheered them both. Oleg hits a Kamikaze. Two count. Takeshita hits a lariat. One count. Takeshita with a Power Drive. Two count. Takeshita applies a Dragon Sleeper. Oleg tries to power out, but Takeshita transitions into Raging Fire.
Takeshita pins Oleg.
Konosuke Takeshita retains the NEVER Openweight Championship.
Boltin Oleg showed that he can have a solid match with a top champion. Oleg is also ready for the New Japan Cup.
Ryohei Oiwa comes to the ring to challenge Takeshita for the NEVER Championship.
7 - IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: The Young Bucks (c) vs. Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi
Fast paced match. Too much to call. Naito hits a Destino and pins one of the Bucks.
Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi win the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.
8 - IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Yota Tsuji (c) vs. Gabe Kidd
Kidd comes to the ring to a big pop from the crowd.
Good stiff match. They laid strikes and chops into each other. Tsuji locked in a Boston Crab. Kidd gets the rope break. Tsuji missed a Malo Crash. Tsuji with a high knee and a lariat. Tsuji goes for a Gene Blaster but Kidd applies an Inoki Special. Tsuji escapes and they battle to the top rope. Kidd throws Tsuji off the top ropes and hits a lariat. Tsuji avoids a brainbuster and hits a knee strike. They trade strikes and slaps. Tsuji with a lariat, a powerbomb and curbstomp. Kidd blocks a Gene Blaster and hits a Piledriver. Two count. Tsuji with a headbutt and a knee strike. Kidd with a Rebound Lariat. Tsuji hits a Gene Blaster.
Both men were knocked silly. The referee starts the count. Both tried to get to their feet but they collapsed. The referee counted to ten. Both men were counted out. The match was declared a draw.
Yota Tsuji retains the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.
The crowd went silent with disappointment.
This was a fun match with a lackluster ending, however, both Tsuji and Kidd look strong in a draw.
They struggle to their knees and Kidd slaps the face off of Tsuji.
House of Torture hit the ring and attack Tsuji. Ren Narita stomp on Kidd for good measure. EVIL, in a black shirt and pants, comes to the ring with Dick Togo. EVIL hits Everything is Evil on Tsuji. Narita hits Kidd in the face with the push up bar and plants him with a Double Cross.
EVIL takes the mic and laughs at Tsuji. EVIL tells Kidd that the War Dogs are no longer a part of the Bullet Club. They continue to beat down Kidd. Clark Conners, who was on English commentary, tries for the save but he gets taken out. '
Interesting turn. War Dogs and House of Torture have become more separate entities over the years, so it makes sense to split them apart. We shall see what the reactions of Gedo, Dave Finlay, SANADA and Taiji Ishimori will be.
9 - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Hirooki Goto
Osaka is loudly chanting for Hirooki Goto.
ZSJ goes quickly to the submission attack focusing on Goto's neck and arm. Goto hits an ushigaroshi which hurts ZSJ's neck, which Goto then targets. Goto hits a one man Shoto on ZSJ. ZSJ hits a Zack Driver out of nowhere, but unable to make the pin. Goto hits a reverse GTR. ZSJ with a kick to the head and another Zack Driver. Goto kicks out at two but ZSJ quickly applies arm submission. Goto gets to the ropes. They trade strikes. ZSJ applies a sleeper. Goto escapes and hits a hard lariat. Goto hits a GTW. Two count. Goto hits a Shotenkai. ZSJ with Clarky Cat. Two count. Goto hits a hard GTR. Goto hits another GTR.
Goto pins ZSJ.
Hirooki Goto wins the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship!
WOW! I did not expect this result. The crowd was totally behind Goto and his story about winning the World Title for his children and family.
Goto was very emotional as he was presented the belt. YOSHI-HASHI was in the ring with him and helped him put on the belt. His children came into the ring to celebrate with him.
I have always described Goto as a great tournament wrestler. He was always an excellent wrestler used to help elevate other talent or maintain the tag division as a partner. After 22 years in wrestling, Goto is finally given a chance to hold the top championship in New Japan. I am glad no one came out to claim a challengers spot. Let the crowd enjoy the win and celebrate.
Thank you for reading.
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