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Csonka’s NJPW Road To The Tokyo Dome 12.16.16 Review
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Csonka’s NJPW World Tag League Finals 12.10.16 Review
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Yuji Nagata, Yoshitatsu & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Manabu Nakanishi, Tiger Mask IV & Henare @ 7:56 via submission [**]
– Tomohiro Ishii defeated Chase Owens @ 8:25 via pin [***¼]
– SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & David Finlay @ 8:31 via pin [***]
– Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Juice Robinson defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & BONE SOLDIER @ 11:26 via pin [***]
– Hirooki Goto & Jado defeated Katsuyori Shibata & Jushin Thunder Liger @ 11:26 via pin [**]
– Kenny Omega, Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Kazuchika Okada, YOSHI-HASHI & Jado @ 11:54 via pin [***]
– Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & KUSHIDA @ 17:33 via pin [***½]
Yuji Nagata, Yoshitatsu & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Manabu Nakanishi, Tiger Mask IV & Henare: This was here as a display of the RAMBO competitors, and to also set the stage for Nagata vs. Nakanishi the next night. I hate when the dads fight, but they did so before the tag league, ending their on again off again team, and agreeing to see other people and team with younger guys. Nagata teamed with former rival Shibata, while Nakanishi cloned himself a mini-me in Henare. Taguchi attacked people with his ass, Yoshitatsu was horrible and Nakanishi was in a slow orbit. Henare tapped to Taguchi, leading to Nakanishi and Nagata brawling post match. Yuji Nagata, Yoshitatsu & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Manabu Nakanishi, Tiger Mask IV & Henare @ 7:56 via submission [**] This was solid, but completely forgettable. Most openers come off better and have more energy; this simply existed.
Tomohiro Ishii defeated Chase Owens: Ishii has been one of the best big match performers in all of wrestling in 2016, while Owens has continued to show improvement. Ishii largely dominated the match, which was worked at a sprint like pace, filled with Ishii brutalizing Bullet Club’s star scream with strikes and head butts. Owens would fire up, but Ishii had an answer for everything and stayed a step ahead of Owens, simply brutalizing him when there was an opening. Ishii hit the sliding clothesline and brainbuster to put young Mr. Owens out of his misery. Tomohiro Ishii defeated Chase Owens @ 825 via pin [***¼] Often times I will say, “a match is exactly what it should have been or needed to be, and that was this match. That’s because, at its core, pro wrestling is a simple thing. One thing I thoroughly enjoy about watching pro wrestling I seeing the evolution of the performers. Owens looked comfortable and confident in the ring with Ishii, the match was good and judging by how well he’s done as of late, I am actually excited Owens’ Best of The Super Juniors run later this year. Owens has been able to grow so much as a performer, working with Omega and others in so many high profile tags; when you get a chance to work several times a month against the best in the company, you will improve, similar to the improvement of Juice Robinson.
SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & David Finlay @ 8:31 via pin: With no Ricochet in town, Tenzan stepped in to team with Satoshi Kojima & David Finlay, battling Los Ingobernables and doing some set up for the Never six-man title match at the dome. They worked a frantic pace to begin; with Ingobernables working over Tenkoji until young Finlay made the save. The thing is with these NEW JAPAN DADS tags is to get the really great stuff in early and then to save some for the home stretch. Los Ingobernables cut off Finlay, hitting the STO for the victory. SANADA, EVIL & BUSHI defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & David Finlay @ 8:31 via pin [***] With the champions down a man, Los Ingobernables winning here made the most sense, but Finlay shouldn’t have taken the fall. They keep pushing that he’s not a young lion anymore, and no offense to Tenzan, but he’s Rambo bound and should have taken the pin here.
Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Juice Robinson defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & BONE SOLDIER: The main story of the match was to give Juice Robinson credibility prior to his match with Cody sometimes Rhodes. They did a spot where the bell rang and the guys sold it as if it were a time limit draw, but Yano was there and rang the bell. Robinson got a ton of counter and survival of big moves spots down the home stretch, before hitting pulp friction on Tonga for the very surprising win. Post match, Yano was still there and gave low blows to all. He wants in the WK 11 tag title match, but noted he didn’t have a partner set. Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Juice Robinson defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & BONE SOLDIER @ 11:26 via pin [***] The match was good, as they limited the amount of BONE SOLDIER involvement, and played very well off of the Guerrillas of Destiny vs. Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma dynamic, with Robinson showing great fire. Considering BONE SOLDIER was there, Tong attacking the fall here was stupid. They were likely afraid that BONE SOLDIER would mess up the finish. Sure it’d be great if Naomichi Marufuji was coming in, but I have no desire to see this become a last minute triple threat, we’ve not just got the Guerrillas of Destiny working well as a team, and actually developing a good chemistry with Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma
Hirooki Goto & Jado defeated Katsuyori Shibata & Jushin Thunder Liger @ 11:26 via pin : While I love Gedo, he’s fun and can still be great in these style of tags, but with that being said; Jado is no Gedo. Jado honestly hurt the match, feeling out of place in every way possible. Maybe he can win the Rambo again for no reason other than he got a sexy mainstream chick to come to the ring with him. Where Jado failed, I felt Shibata and Goto thrived in building to their NEVER title match, with Goto being aggressive and acting as if he really wants the NEVER title. Shibata was being a dismissive and disrespectful prick to his former friend and tag team partner. I love give no fucks Shibata. Hirooki Goto & Jado defeated Katsuyori Shibata & Jushin Thunder Liger @ 11:26 via pin [**] The match was one of the weakest on the show, but the character work of Goto & Shibata was great; post match, Goto beat down Shibata to stand tall.
Kenny Omega, Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Kazuchika Okada, YOSHI-HASHI & Gedo: Since we got the big Omega/Okada angle at the world tag league finals, they were really restrained in their booking here. Bullet Club worked the heat on HASHI, which was for the best and allowed Gedo to show some fire down the stretch. The Omega knee strike caught Okada again, and that allowed Bullet Club to continue to run wild, and then Yujiro hit Gedo with pimp juice for the win. Kenny Omega, Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi defeated Kazuchika Okada, YOSHI-HASHI & Gedo @ 11:54 via pin [***] With the booking pulling their foot off the gas in terms of the Omega vs., Okada interplay, it lacked the heat and overall fun of the other tags they have worked lately.
Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & KUSHIDA : This was designed to get a lot of heat on the Los Ingobernables duo, specifically Hiromu Takahashi (the former Kamaitachi). Unfortunately for not Kamaitachi, he either lost his bag or his new gear wasn’t finished because he hit the ring as captain indie (he actually admitted that his new gear was not made yet) but I felt it worked for that Los Ingobernables, we don’t give a shit” thing they go for. Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & KUSHIDA @ 17:33 via pin [***½] Hiromu Takahashi looked great in the match, everyone worked hard and I think both of these singles matches will kick ass. This was clearly designed as a showcase for Hiromu Takahashi, as it should have been. He’s been gone on excursion and is coming back in a big match at the dome. He needed to look impressive and also look like a legit threat to KUSHIDA. Hiromu Takahashi picked up the win after hitting the TIME BOMB (Modified Schwein) on KUSHIDA. It was the right result to help build the match, but I felt didn’t nearly get enough in the match, especially considering he lost. KUSHIDA got taken out early so big brother Tanahashi could play hero and get all the shine, which he doesn’t need, especially if KUSHIDA is losing.
Holy shit!! #NJPW #njwk11 @TIMEBOMB1105 pic.twitter.com/QyNMP4m2Jm
— LARIATOOOO!!! (@MrLARIATO) December 16, 2016
– End scene.
– Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
