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Csonka’s NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2018 Review
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Csonka’s NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2018 Review
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura went to a draw @ 10:00 [***]
– Roppongi 3K defeated Shota Umino and Ren Narita @ 8:50 via pin [***]
– Non-Title Match: Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask defeated Champions El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru @ 6:50 via pin [***]
– Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata, and Manabu Nakanishi defeated Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Ayato Yoshida @ 10:05 via pin [***]
– Best Friends defeated Killer Elite Squad @ 12:45 via pin [***½]
– Jay White, YOSHI-HASHI, and Will Ospreay defeated Juice Robinson, David Finlay, and Toa Henare @ 9:05 via pin [***¼]
– LIJ defeated Suzuki-gun @ 11:15 via pin [***]
– IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Tournament Match: KUSHIDA defeated BUSHI @ 16:55 via pin [****]
– Tanahashi’s WrestleKingdom Title Shot on The Line: G1 Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Kazuchika Okada @ 35:48 via pin [*****]
– Follow all of my reviews at this link.
– I did a column, “Where Are They Now, The Cruiserweight Classic Finals Performers” which you can check out at this link.
– You can check out my top 51 matches of AUGUST list at this link.
* My NJPW Destruction in Hiroshima 2018 review is here.
* My NJPW Destruction in Beppu 2018 review is here.
– On top of the main matches, hopefully NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2018 (September 30) and NJPW King of Pro Wrestling (October 8) start to take shape today.
Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura: These two have had 14 singles matches and each one has ended in a 10-minute draw. They lock up and immediately work into grappling. Uemura takes control, working the legs and transitioning to a hammerlock; the cradle follows for 2. Tsuji finally counters to his feet, and works a side headlock. Tsuji hits a shoulder tackle, but Uemura works some arm drags. Tsuji escapes with strikes, they trade, and light each other up. Uemura lays in chops, but Tsuji grounds the action and starts working the leg. Tsuji takes the heat, continuing the assault on the leg of Uemura. The half crab follows, but Uemura makes the ropes. Uemura fires back, hits a back elbow, and lays the boots to Tsuji. Uemura follows with elbow strikes, the slam follows and Tsuji fights off the crab and makes the ropes. Tsuji cuts Uemura off with a backdrop, and lays in thunderous chops. The big hip toss follows and the cover gets 2. Uemura fights off the crab; they trade strikes again and then chops. Tsuji fires up but runs into a dropkick and Uemura gets the cover for 2. Uemura then gets a jack knife cover for 2. Tsuji hits a big clothesline for 2. Tsuji lays in the boots and locks on the crab but the time expires. Yota Tsuji vs. Yuya Uemura went to a draw @ 10:00 [***] This was a good back and forth opener, that played well off of their previous matches. Tsuji showed tremendous aggression and fire here.
Roppongi 3K vs. Shota Umino and Ren Narita: Umino and Narita are the top of the young lions class, while 3k are former junior tag champions. Umino continues to put on size. Sho and Narita start things off. Narita takes early control, and take Yoh to the floor and work double teams on Sho. Yoh is back and 3k cut off the lions, dumping Umino and working over Narita with kicks. Yoh tags in and starts working the leg. Sho tags back in and more double teams follow. Sho works the arm, continuing to ground Narita. Sho follows with strikes, but Narita hits a suplex and tags in Umino. He runs wild, and hits a missile dropkick for 2. Umino and Sho trade strikes, but Sho cuts him off with a knee strike and tags in Yoh. Umino hits him off with a dropkick and tags in Narita. Narita hits back elbows and a belly to belly for 2. The lions lock on crabs, but 3k escapes. Yoh and Narita are left in the ring and Yoh hits a neck breaker and he gets the crab as Sho holds off Umino. Umino battles away and makes the save. 3k cuts him off with knee strikes, but Narita cradles Yoh for a good near fall. The backslide follows for another 2. Yoh cuts him off with a superkick and then does the deal with a falcon arrow for the win. Roppongi 3K defeated Shota Umino and Ren Narita @ 8:50 via pin [***] This was another good back and forth match with the lions showing a lot before eventually losing. Umino & Narita are only 20 and 21, and so very good already.
Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask vs. Champions El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru: Despy & Kanemaru are the current junior tag champions, this is a non-title match. The champions attack the legends during their entrance in true Suzuki-gun fashion. They work over the legends on the floor and start attacking masks. They isolate Tiger, and lay the boots to him. Tiger fires back with a series of kicks, takes Kanemaru up top and Despy cuts him off. He knocks Liger to the floor and Kanemaru slams Tiger. Despy tags in and he attacks the mask of Tiger again. Kanemaru joins in and Tiger fights them off, and tags in Liger. Liger is fired up and starts throwing Shoteis, and the RANA off the ropes follows. Kanemaru cuts him off, but Liger moves and Despy knocks Kanemaru to the floor. Tiger tags in and runs into a spinebuster. Kanemaru tags in and gets caught in an arm bar as Liger & Despy brawl to he floor. Despy back in and makes the save. The champions follow with double teams and Kanemaru hits the moonsault for 2 as Liger makes the save before getting dumped. The reverse DDT follows and Kanemaru covers for 2. Kanemaru to he ropes for deep impact, but gets caught by a Tiger kick and cradle for the win! Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask defeated Champions El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru @ 6:50 via pin [***] This was good, with the heel champions pulling out all the tricks, but the legends pulling out the win to get some revenge ahead of the junior tag tournament.
– Post match, Liger mocks the champions for losing to “two over the hill champions.” Liger also says he hasn’t had a belt in some time and wouldn’t mind wining one.
Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Ayato Yoshida vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata, and Manabu Nakanishi: Honma and Kojima to begin. They trade shoulder tackles, with Kojima taking control and following with machinegun chops. The corner attack follows, Honma fires up and he lays in chops. The slam follows and then misses the falling kokeshi. Taguchi and Nakanishi tag in and Nakanishi refuses the fist bump and immediately overpowers Taguchi, but team Taguchi rushes the ring and clears things out as Taguchi calls the plays and they work over Nakanishi. Nakanishi cuts them off and tags in Nagata. They work double teams, and Nagata cuts off the ass attack with kicks to the ass. Tenzan tags in and follows with head butts. He then hits ass attacks in the corner on Taguchi. Taguchi finally hits a flying ass attack and Makabe tags in, Kojima cuts him off, but Makabe now hits forever clotheslines, gets cut off but hits lariats. Honma in and hits a falling kokeshi. Makabe works over Tenzan, but Tenzan stops that and Honma makes the save. Jumping kokeshi to Tenzan but Makabe then runs into a mountain bomb. Nagata in and lays in kicks, but then runs into a powerslam. Yoshida tags in and lays in strikes on Nagata, and the PK follows and the second follows for 2. Nagata cuts him off and locks on the arm bar as it breaks down around them and Taguchi and his ass make the save before being tossed. Yoshida fires up with strikes, but gets cut off and Nagata wipes him out with a kick for 2. The jumping knee and backdrop driver finishes Yoshida. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Yuji Nagata, and Manabu Nakanishi defeated Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Ayato Yoshida @ 10:05 via pin [***] This was another good match, with the dads having fun and Yoshida continuing to look great in his opportunities on this tour.
– Rocky Romero joins commentary.
Best Friends (Chuckie T & Beretta) vs. Killer Elite Squad (Smith & Archer): KES won the match between these two teams the other day. If KES wins again, you’d have to think they get a tag title shot soon. KES attacks at the bell and the brawl heads to the floor. The Best Friends battle back and Beretta hits an apron double stomp on Smith. Back in and the Best Friends isolate Archer, but Smith returns and KES takes control back. Archer lays in rights on Beretta and tags in Smith. He lays the boots to Beretta, and then hits a northern lights suplex for 2. Archer back in and KES follow with double teams and cover for 2. Archer grounds things, but Beretta makes the ropes. Smith back in and lays in clubbing strikes on Beretta. Smith hits rolling Germans but Beretta counters and avoids the knee strike. Archer in and eats an enziguri, and Chuckie gets the tag and runs wild, hits a missile dropkick but Smith cuts him off with strikes. Chuckie hits the flatliner and that gets 2. Archer blind tags in but Chuckie cuts then both off but KES cuts off the planchas. The Best Friend s battle back and Chuckie hits a tope. Back in and Chuckie misses the moonsault and then Archer misses one. Chuckie hits the top rope double stomp and that gets 2. Chuckie and Beretta isolate Archer, but Archer fights back until Beretta dropkicks out the knee. Chuckie in and they look for a suplex, and hit it. Archer hits a desperation pounce, but Chuckie cuts him off and Beretta hits the springboard DDT but Smith makes the save. KES cuts him off with a Hart attack but Chuckie makes the save, He and Smith brawl to he floor, Smith hits a suplex, and back in, KES attacks Beretta but Beretta gets a roll up for 2. Saito suplex by Smith and a chokeslam by Archer gets 2. KES is pissed and looks for the killer bomb, and finally hit it for 2 as Beretta cradles Archer and picks up the surprise win. Best Friends defeated Killer Elite Squad @ 12:45 via pin [***½] This was very good, with the teams splitting the series as expected, and the Best Friends putting in a great babyface performance.
Jay White, YOSHI-HASHI, and Will Ospreay vs. Juice Robinson, David Finlay, and Toa Henare: Finlay and HASHI to begin. They work into some back and forth, HASHI hits the running blockbuster and hits chops and Juice in and HASHI hangs he and Finlay up and hits the draping dropkick to both. HASHI takes out Henare, and then lays in rights on Finlay. Juice back in and they cut off HASHI with the double dropkick. More double teams follow as Juice covers for 2. Henare tags in and continues to work over HASHI. Finlay back in and double teams follow. Juice in and the assault continues. Triple teams follow on HASHI, and Henare covers for 2. Henare follows with a dead left suplex and that gets 2. Finlay tags back in and HASHI cuts him off with a neck breaker and tags in Ospreay. Ospreay picks up the pace, hits the back handspring kick and 619. He then follows with a double jump high cross to the floor. The springboard forearm on Finlay follows for 2. Finlay fires back, they trade uppercuts, but Ospreay hits an enziguri but Finlay rebounds with a lariat. White tags in and Juice lays in jabs, White fires back with chops, but Juice hits the corner clothesline and HASHI is back but runs into a spinebuster. He takes out Ospreay, and hits the cannonball on White. White fights him off, but Henare tags in and hits the top rope shoulder tackle. The spear follows for 2. The Samoan drop gets 2 as it breaks down CHAOS makes the comeback, HASHI saves White, but White accidentally takes him out. White hits blade runner on Henare for the win. Jay White, YOSHI-HASHI, and Will Ospreay defeated Juice Robinson, David Finlay, and Toa Henare @ 9:05 via pin [***¼] The CHAOS angle continues, as White takes full credit for the win, while Ospreay & HASHI did all the heavy lifting. White is a spectacular asshole. What does the future hold for HASHI? Henare continues to keep getting better and better.
Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, and SANADA vs. Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr. and, Taka Michinoku: In a truly historic and groundbreaking move, Suzuki-gun attacked LIJ before the bell and delivered an unsanctioned beating to their opponents, leading to illegal combat outside of the ring. In my 36-years of watching wrestling, very little shocks me these days, but this did. Naito and Suzuki pair off, while Taka and SANADA brawl in the ring. SANADA gets the paradise lock and then dropkicks Taka in the ass to free him. EVIL tags in and continues to work over Taka with chops. Naito tags in and Taka pokes him in the eyes, but Naito cuts him off with the corner dropkick combo. Suzuki cuts off Naito with the hanging arm bar, and takes him to the floor and beats on him with chairs. Naito beats the count, and Zack tags in and starts working submissions, Suzuki tags in and he delivers knee strikes, the PK, and covers for 2. Suzuki starts working the knee, locking on a heel hook, but Naito makes the ropes. Naito fires back with chops, they trade strikes, and Naito spits at Suzuki. Suzuki then fucks his day up with vicious strikes, but Naito hits the flying forearm and tags in EVIL. Zack in as well and they pick up the pace, Taka in and immediately cut off by EVIL. EVIL hits a lariat in the corner, and hits the senton for 2. Zack cuts him off with a cobra twist, but EVIL counters and EVIL looks for darkness falls, but Zack transitions into a triangle. He pulls EVIL to the mat, but EVIL makes the ropes. Suzuki-gun now triple teams EVIL, and Taka covers for 2. The others brawl to the floor, SANADA returns and they double team Taka. Suzuki breaks up the magic killer, it completely breaks down as EVIL hits the fisherman’s buster on Zack. Taka cuts him off, but EVIL fires back with a lariat and everything is evil for the win. LIJ defeated Suzuki-gun @ 11:15 via pin [***] I haven’t been a fan of their recent tags, but this was good and played off of the recent matches well.
– Suzuki kills young lions with chairs post match. LIJ celebrates post match. Naito then lays the boots to a young lion on his way out.
https://twitter.com/MrLARIATO/status/1043787450060103680
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Tournament Match: KUSHIDA vs. BUSHI: This is their 15th match, they are 7-6-1 in favor of KUSHIDA. BUSHI is out in a cool suit and sweet Native American styled headdress mask cover. They brawl at the bell, renewing their rivalry, BUSHI takes early control, and they then trade strikes. KUSHIDA cuts him off with kicks and to the floor, KUSHIDA hits an apron PK. Back in and KUSHIDA starts working the arm as he grounds the action. BUSHI to his feet, but KUSHIDA ties him up and takes him back down, working a hammerlock; BUSHI makes the ropes. KUSHIDA continues to attack the arm, they work to the apron and BUSHI hits a desperation backstabber, and KUSHIDA rolls to the floor. BUSHI now slams him to the barricades, and back in, grounds the action. KUSHIDA makes the ropes and gets a break. BUSHI hits a draping dropkick and then locks on a crossface. KUSHIDA fights and makes the ropes. BUSHI follows with a missile dropkick. KUSHIDA tries to fire up with strikes, but BUSHI pulls the shirt choke. KUSHIDA escapes and hits a dropkick. KUSHIDA follows with a head kick and covers for 2. BUSHI fights off the DDT but as he heads up top, KUSHIDA hits the handspring kick and follows him up. The superplex follows and KUSHIDA rolls for back to the future, but BUSHI hits the fisherman’s neck breaker to stop that. They trade strikes, throwing bombs, BUSHI slaps KUSHIDA so KUSHIDA starts fucking his day up with kicks. KUSHIDA then runs into a code breaker and BUSHI follows with a suicide dive, but KUSHIDA catches him in an arm bar on the floor. KUSHIDA rolls him back in and hits the PK to he arm, but BUSHI hits the rebound kick. The destroyer follows for 2. BUSHI heads up top, but KUSHIDA counters MX into the hover board lock. BUSHI fights, but KUSHIDA rolls him back center ring as BUSHI grabs the ref and mists KUSHIDA and cradles him for 2. KUSHIDA blocks the code breaker into two back to the futures and picks up the win. KUSHIDA defeated BUSHI @ 16:55 via pin [****] This played well off of their past matches, but started slow. The work was clean, the pacing was really good, there were creative counter sequences, the crowd was invested, and the final few minutes really put it over the top for me as the tease of BUSHI winning after the misting was pretty awesome. This was great stuff. KUSHIDA remains the junior ace, constantly delivering.
Tanahashi’s WrestleKingdom Title Shot on The Line: G1 Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada: Okada has been in the IWGP Championship match at WrestleKingdom every year since 2013, he needs a win here if he wants to get back there. Okada is 5-3-3 since his return from excursion against Tanahashi. They lock up, Okada looks to work the arm, but Tanahashi quickly counters until Okada grounds the action. Back to the feet, and now Tanahashi grounds things. Okada counters out and they separate. They lock up, working to the ropes, and no clean break from Okada as he lays in strikes. They both throw, trading big time strikes and going crazy fists. Tanahashi now hits a hip toss and drags Okada to the apron and attacks the knee. Tanahashi breaks the count, and then dropkicks Okada back to the floor. The plancha follows, but he pulls up limp, grabbing at his knee. Tanahashi struggles but makes it back in. Okada back in and he immediately attacks with a dropkick to the knee. Okada looks pissed as he attacks the knee, he’s not fucking around now. The crowd tries to rally Tanahashi as Okada is completely focused on the knee here. Tanahashi tries to fire back, misses the high cross, and immediately grabs at the knee. Okada works a modified figure four, but Tanahashi makes the ropes. Okada hangs on and hears it from the crowd. Tanahashi fires back with strikes, but they have no effect. Okada dares him to throw more, and then attacks the knee until Tanahashi hits a dragon screw and another. They struggle to their feet, and Tanahashi hits a back elbow, elbow drop and senton. The slam follows and Tanahashi hits the front flipping senton for 2. But he’s slow to follow up, allowing Okada to run him over with a back elbow. The DDT spikes Tanahashi and the cover gets 2. Tanahashi struggles to his feet, fights off the neck breaker, they work into counters and Okada finally hits the neck breaker across the knee, but can’t follow up. Back to the feet and Okada hits John Wooooooo. Okada lays in back elbows, sets Tanahashi up top and dropkicks him but Tanahashi hangs on and Okada attacks the knee with strikes. The lions have to help Tanahashi from the tree of WHOA, but he collapses back in the ring, and Okada hits the Flair shin breaker and figure four. Tanahashi fights to keep it off, but Okada locks it on fully. Okada smiles as he tortures Tanahashi, but the crowd rallies for Tanahashi as he keeps fighting. Tanahashi fights and rolls to the ropes. They roll to the floor and Okada slams Tanahashi’s knee off of the floor. Tanahashi somehow fires up and hits the tombstone on the floor as Okada has done to him many times. Tanahashi rolls back into the ring, and he heads up top. THE HIGH FLY HIGH CROSS connects, wiping out Okada, but Tanahashi comes up grabbing his knee. Tanahashi rolls Okada back in and hits twist and shout. Sling blade follows and Tanahashi covers for 2. Tanahashi heads up top and the high fly flow eats knees! Tanahashi is going for broke as he hasn’t defeated Okada in over 4 years. Okada looks for a tombstone, Tanahashi fights, lays in strikes and they trade. Okada drops Tanahashi and starts kicking him in the head. Okada dropkicks the knee, whips him off the ropes, but Tanahashi collapses. Okada drags him to his feet, but Tanahashi hits a desperation sunset flip for 2. The dragon screw follows, but he walks into a dropkick. Tanahashi counters the rainmaker, and they battle over a tombstone and Okada then dropkicks the knee but Tanahashi counters the rainmaker into sling blade. Tanahashi up top, HIGH FLY FLOW connects but Tanahashi is slow to cover due to the knee, and only gets 2. Tanahashi crawls slowly back up top, and the high fly flow is cut off with a dropkick. Okada pulls him up and hits the tombstone. Okada is slow to follow up, looks for the rainmaker, and hits a spinning rainmaker after several counters. Okada pulls him up again, but Tanahashi counters into a dragon suplex for an awesome near fall as the building goes insane. The crowd is behind their ace, rallying Tanahashi as he slowly climbs up top. Okada cuts him off with a dropkick and follows him up top. Okada teases a super tombstone, Tanahashi fights, knocks Okada down but Okada pops back up and Tanahashi again fights him off. Okada keeps fighting, heads back up and Tanahashi slaps him and as Okada stands knocks him off into a high fly flow! Tanahashi back up as the crowd goes insane, high fly flow connects, back up an another high fly flow connects and Tanahashi finally beats Okada! G1 Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Kazuchika Okada @ 35:48 via pin [*****] I have said it before and will say it again, the Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada feud will go down as one of the greatest in history. these two have delivered some absolutely amazing matches, and this one is up there as one of their very best. This one not only felt special, but it had a completely different sense of urgency to it with Okada battling to get back to the WrestleKingdom main event juxtaposed against Tanahashi’s desire and obsession to defeat Okada after around four years. You take that story, and add it into the work and story that they told in the ring (great layout, pacing, structure, selling, fire up spots, callbacks, just everything) in front of an absolutely molten crowd, and they once again created magic. This was another absolute classic from two guys who almost seem to do it with ease, with Tanahashi doing it once again, proving why he’s a legit legend and why he’s the ace of NJPW, even at a roughed up 41 years old; the man is amazing.
– Jay White, who defeated Tanahashi in the G1, arrives and lays him out with the blade runner, and we have our next challenger for Tanahashi. White beats down Okada and lays out some young lions as well. White then attacks Romero and takes his chair. HASHI arrives and slips and falls on his way to the ring that (poor bastard) and busted himself open as well. He then attacks White, but White lays him out. White looks to attack Okada with the chair, Gedo arrives and turns on Okada with a chair shot! He tells White to finish him and White lays out Okada with blade runner. THIS IS JAY WHITE’S CHAOS NOW FUCKERS! Gedo makes the official challenge for Tanahashi’s case for White. He also promised a “new era… coming soon.”
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/1043806057779400704
https://twitter.com/MrLARIATO/status/1043806364697538560
– End Scene.
– Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
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