Csonka’s NJPW Road To The Tokyo Dome 12.17.16 Review

Csonka’s NJPW Road To The Tokyo Dome 12.17.16 Review

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Ryusuke Taguchi & Yoshitatsu defeated Jushin Thunder Liger & Henare @ 8:30 via pin [**¾]
– Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated Yujiro Takahashi & BONE SOLDIER @ 7:35 via pin [**]
– Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Juice Robinson defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Chase Owens @ 9:45 via pin [**½]
– Yuji Nagata defeated Manabu Nakanishi @ 13:33 via pin [***½]
– Katsuyori Shibata & Tiger Mask IV defeated Hirooki Goto & Jado @ 11:05 via pin [**½]
– Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, KUSHIDA & David Finlay defeated Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, EVIL, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI @ 11:00 via pin [***]
– Kenny Omega & Bad Luck Fale defeated Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI @ 21:50 via pin [***]

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Ryusuke Taguchi & Yoshitatsu defeated Jushin Thunder Liger & Henare: This was a very typical NJPW opener Taguchi attacked with his ass, Liger played the hits and the crowd loved it, Yoshitatsu continues to be really bad. Henare worked really hard and continues to show improvement. But since he’s a young lion, he ate the dodon and got pinned. Ryusuke Taguchi & Yoshitatsu defeated Jushin Thunder Liger & Henare @ 8:30 via pin [**¾] This was a pretty good match to kick things off, they did their job of getting the crowd to wake up as this battle on RAMBO participants worked for what it was.

– Following the angle from previous night, the big tease is that Ishii will be his mystery partner at WrestleKingdom so that they can join the tag title match (Jado or Gedo will likely replace Ishii in the six-man title match.

Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated Yujiro Takahashi & BONE SOLDIER: Yano did his usual shenanigans, Ishii tagged in and killed BONE SOLDIER for the win. Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated Yujiro Takahashi & BONE SOLDIER @ 7:35 via pin [**] If you’re adding Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano to the tag title match, they needed to win in dominant fashion. No one watching wanted to see Yujiro Takahashi & BONE SOLDIER in an extended match, so Yano doing his comedy and Ishii killing a man was all that was needed.

Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Juice Robinson defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Chase Owens : Tonga and Loa looked to sneak attack their opponents, but it failed. Yano arrived to ring the bell, just a he did previous night. The match continued, Makabe hit the king kong knee drop, allowing Great Bash Juice to win. Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma & Juice Robinson defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Chase Owens @ 9:45 via pin [**½] Just like the previous night, this was more about the angle progression. The wrestling was solid, 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. I also feel that adding a random third team devalues the world tag league.

Yuji Nagata defeated Manabu Nakanishi: NEW JAPAN DADS GO TO WAR! I was not thrilled about this match going in, Nagata can still work some magic, but Nakanishi is best hidden in multi-man tags. Nakanishi was his typical planetoid self here, but I will not say he didn’t work hard, because he did. He eventually strolled wild, hitting a superplex, a missile dropkick and even a rough looking plancha, but he looked to have things in hand, hitting the lariat, torture rack and then torture rack slam for a near fall. Nagata fired up though, hitting Xploders and Germans and even a brainbuster; Nakanishi kicked out at 1 BECAUSE HE AIN’T GOT TIME FOR THAT SHIT. Nagata then hit a series of kicks (trying to break down Nakanishi) and another Xploder (off the top), hit a regular one for another near fall, laid in more kicks and finally picked up the win. WAR BLUE JUSTICE! Yuji Nagata defeated Manabu Nakanishi @ 13:33 via pin [***½] I was very surprised by this, I guess low expectations due to lack of faith in Nakanishi, but I was glad to be wrong, this was good overall as they worked trademark spots, giving the crowd what they wanted to see and created some good drama down the stretch, including a great spear spot by Nakanishi and Nagata trying for the arm bar. Leading to a Nakanishi near fall. I am just glad that brother Nakanishi didn’t suffer a heart attack. In many ways, this was an amazing performance from Yuji Nagata. Who at age 48 worked magic with a nearly immobile Nakanishi.

Katsuyori Shibata & Tiger Mask IV defeated Hirooki Goto & Jado: It’s really hard to care about anything Jado and Tiger Mask do here; they feel like they are in day off mode and are simply here to get beat on since they are relegated to the Rambo this year. Goto and Shibata started out, nice back and forth from them. Goto and Jado then took the heat on Tiger Mask; it was fine but lacked any real aggression and or energy. Jado did his Flair tribute spots, and Tiger Mask made a comeback, hot tag to Shibata. Running kicks to Goto & then Jado; Shibata took Goto to the mat with the sleeper, Goto escaped and fired up and hit the ushogorishi for a near fall. Down the stretch, Shibata, fought off Jado, it broke down, sleeper and PK to Jado and Shibata picks up the win. Katsuyori Shibata & Tiger Mask IV defeated Hirooki Goto & Jado @11:05 via pin [**¾] This was a pretty good effort overall, once it got into the Shibata vs. Goto portions, which were well done. The interactions between Jado and Tiger Mask felt flat and lifeless, they didn’t even try to make you care.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, KUSHIDA & David Finlay defeated Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, EVIL, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI: This felt too similar to the previous night, where all the heat was on KUSHIDA and Tanahashi got to play hero. It broke down, Tanahashi ran wild, KUSHIDA finally got to get involved on offense, leading to Kojima ending BUSHI with the lariat. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, KUSHIDA & David Finlay defeated Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, EVIL, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI @ 11:00 via pin [***] This was an efficient use of time, building to three different dome matches here; Tanahashi vs. Naito, KUSHIDA vs. Hiromu Takahashi and the trios title match. While I had some issues with the layout, the match was good and had a nice energy throughout. KUSHIDA and Hiromu Takahashi did a big post match brawl as Tanahshi’s music played for the last time, he’s getting new music at the dome on January 4th.

Kenny Omega & Bad Luck Fale defeated Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI:

Kenny Omega & Bad Luck Fale defeated Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI @ 21:50 via pin [***] Okada and Omega were kept to a minimum again on this night, with the heat on HASHI dominating the match. HASHI is playing his role very well, Fale played monster and that led to double teams on HASHI, Fale took out Okada, leading to Omega hitting the one winged angel on HASHI for the win. Post match, Okada and Omega cut promos, leading to Fale attacking Okada from behind. Bullet club arrived to celebrate, Omega out Okada through a table; Bullet Club celebrated as Okada did the stretcher job to close the show. This was another good, but not great tag that was positioned to set up Okada and Omega. The post match angle was great, but the match never hit that next level. It was just missing something. I really wish they would have booked Tanahashi & Okada vs. Omega & Naito for this show.

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

6.0

The final score: review Average

The 411

While not a blow away show, I felt that the previous night was a stronger overall effort. This show was weaker in the ring, but the matches largely did their job in adding to the build for WrestleKingdom. I just lacked some of the sizzle that the previous night had.