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NJPW SOUL 06/18/25 - From Aomori Japan
1 - Tatsuya Matsumoto vs. Zane Jay
Two new young lions debut.
Both men battle to a 10 minute draw.
2 - Masatora Yasuda vs. Daiki Nagai
Nagai gets the submission win with a Boston Crab.
3 - Toru Yano, YOH, Master Wato and Shoma Kato vs. Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi, SHO and DOUKI
DOUKI forces Kato to submit to a modified Indian Death Lock.
After the match, House of Torture attacks Wato's leg which they tried to injure last week.
4 - Boltin Oleg, YOSHI-HASHI, Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma and Katsuya Murashima vs. Chase Owens, Don Fale, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SANADA and EVIL
Chase Owens is now going by the nickname "Lone Star" and Fale is now known as "Don".
SANADA forces Murashima to tap out to Skull End.
House of Torture, despite losing to the War Dogs in the Dog Pound Cage Match, seem more powerful than ever. The problem is that there are no strong babyfaces in the company that the fans can rally behind.
5 - Taichi, Yuya Uemura and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Callum Newman, Great O-Khan and Jakob Austin Young
Uemura pins Young after a flying body press from the top rope.
6 - Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii and Tiger Mask vs. Gabe Kidd, Drilla Moloney and Gedo
Ishii hits a brainbuster on Gedo and gets the pin.
7 - Hirooki Goto, Shota Umino and El Phantasmo vs. Ryohei Oiwa, Hartley Jackson and Zack Sabre Jr.
ELP hits Thunderkiss 86 on Jackson and gets the pin.
At the end of this match, ELP, Shota Umino and Hirooki Goto are in the ring, thanking the fans.
These three men are more than likely being set up as the babyfaces that the Japanese fans can rally around. Hopefully, all three can meet expectations and increase ticket sales and fill arenas.
***
NJPW SOUL 06/19/25 - Aomori Japan:
1 - Tatsuya Matsumoto vs. Zane Jay
Both wrestlers battle to a 10 minute draw.
2 - Masatora Yasuda vs. Daiki Nagai
Yasuda gets a submission win over Nagai with a Boston Crab.
3 - Toru Yano, YOH, Master Wato, Shoma Kato and Katsuya Murashima vs. Ren Narita, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Yujiro Takahashi, SHO and DOUKI
DOUKI blasts Murashima in the leg with his metal pipe. Narita applies a modified figure four. Murashima taps out.
DOUKI cracks Wato in the leg for good measure.
4 - Boltin Oleg, YOSHI-HASHI, Togi Makabe and Jado vs. Don Fale, Chase Owens, SANADA and EVIL
SANADA pushes the referee. Jado goes to kick SANADA, but SANADA traps Jado's ankle between his legs. The referee sees Jado's leg in SANADA's crotch, and SANADA pointing to the low blow.
The referee disqualifies Jado.
Jado tried to protest but the decision was final.
5 - Taichi, Shota Umino and Tiger Mask vs. Callum Newman, Great O-Khan and Jakob Austin Young
Umino hits the Second Chapter on Young and gets the pin.
6 - Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii and Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Gabe Kidd, Drilla Moloney and Gedo
Taguchi forces Gedo to tap out to an ankle lock.
After the match, Moloney hits a Gore on Ishii and slaps him in the face. Moloney tells Ishii that he will see him in the G1 Climax. Spoiler drop.
Fans lined up around the guardrails to high five Hiroshi Tanahashi. This may be the last time that the fans from Aomori see Tanahashi in their town.
7 - Hirooki Goto, Yuya Uemura and Tomoaki Honma vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa and Hartley Jackson
Uemura hits a Deadbolt Suplex on Jackson and gets the pin.
Yuya Uemura is another that they are pushing to the top as a babyface. Looking at the upcoming G1 Climax, there are no major surprises. At this point, looking ahead to Wrestle Kingdom, one wrestler will need to be built up properly in the G1 to face Hirooki Goto in January. Goto is the Champion now. However, Goto did not win the G1 last year. It was Zack Sabre Jr who won the G1 and won the title in October. Goto won the New Year Ranbo match and got to challenge Zack Sabre Jr. in and beat him for the World Title.
The company is built around Goto and the main events of these two cards is showing us who New Japan views as the top babyfaces. However, we will see if any of these babyfaces draw money for all the G1 cards, and most important, draw fans to Wrestle Kingdom in January.
Thank you for reading.
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