Csonka’s NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo Review 1.27.18

Csonka’s NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo Review 1.27.18

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Michael Elgin defeated Katsuya Kitamura @ 8:12 via pin [**¾]
– Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi, Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, & KUSHIDA defeated Takashi Iizuka, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi, El Desperado, & Taka Michinoku @ 8:21 via submission [**]
– Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens @ 7:13 via pin [**½]
– NEVER Openweight Six-Man Title Match: Champions Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga, & Tanga Loa defeated Togi Makabe, Henare, & Ryusuke Taguchi @ 9:20 via submission [***]
– Cody, Marty Scurll & Hangman Page defeated Kota Ibushi, Juice Robinson, & David Finlay @ 10:55 via pin [***]
– Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi defeated YOSHI-HASHI & Will Ospreay @ 11:42 via pin [***½]
– Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, & Gedo defeated SANADA, EVIL, & BUSHI @ 11:47 via submission [***½]
– The Elite defeated Jay White & Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh) @ 10:55 via pin [***]
– IWGP IC Title Match: Minoru Suzuki defeated Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi @ 32:32 via referee stoppage [****¾]

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– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

– My Top 23 EVOLVE Matches of 2017.
– My Top 24 ROH Matches of 2017.
– My Top 8 Matches of December 2017.
– My NJPW WrestleKingdom 12 Takeaways.
– My Top 38 WWE Matches of 2017.
– My Top 25 Matches of 2017.

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– You can read my preview for tonight’s show at this link.

Michael Elgin vs. Katsuya Kitamura: They lock up to begin, going power for power. Both eventually try some chops, but fail, so they look for shoulder blocks and Elgin hits some chops, but Kitamura follows with a belly to back suplex and slam for 2. Elgin cuts him off with a clothesline and bridging German, covering for 2. Elgin then opens up with big forearm strikes, taking Kitamura down. They battle for a suplex and Kitamura finally hits it to cut off Elgin. Kitamura then follows with chops and a powerslam; the gut wrench suplex gets 2. Elgin fights back, hitting the second rope dropkick and then does the deal with the falcon arrow, covering for 2. Kitamura then ducks a clothesline and rebounds with the spear for 2. Elgin fights off the jackhammer, and connects with back fists and a bug lariat for 2. The buckle bomb/Elgin bomb combo finishes Elgin after a good effort. Michael Elgin defeated Katsuya Kitamura @ 8:12 via pin [**¾] This was a pretty good little opener, with Kitamura looking good in defeat and Elgin picking up a much needed win.

Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi, Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, & KUSHIDA vs. Takashi Iizuka, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi, El Desperado, & Taka Michinoku: Suzuki-gun attacks before the bell, they brawl and the action spills to the floor. Liger & Taichi spill into the ring and Liger works the Romero special, until Iizuka makes the save. Taichi & his chick work over Liger as Iizuka drags Tenzan into the crowd to beat on him. Taichi uses the bell hammer to work over Liger as Iizuka now has a chair to do more damage on the floor. Taichi attack’s Liger’s mask, and tags Iizuka back in. He bites at Liger’s mask and then his foot. Liger manages a desperation shotei and tags in Tenzan. Tenzan and his scary looking ankle limp wild as he beats on Taichi & Iizuka with chops. The suplex follows and Tenzan covers for 2. Iizuka cuts him of by biting him, Nakanishi makes the save and that allows Tenzan to hit a mountain bomb. KUSHIDA finally gets the tag, but get quickly gets isolated and Suzuki-gun works him over in a 5 on 1. It breaks down, Nakanishi powers up and makes the big comeback. KUSHIDA returns, takes out TAKA, and Liger joins him, taking out Desperado with a cannonball. Tiger mask in with a suicide dive, and KUSHIDA gets the hover board lock on TAKA for the win. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi, Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, & KUSHIDA defeated Takashi Iizuka, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi, El Desperado, & Taka Michinoku @ 8:21 via submission [**] This was ok, and just about what I think we all expected.

Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens: Yujiro & Ishii to begin. They trade back and forth right away, Yujiro is a bit fired up here and looking to take the fight to Ishii, which ends up being a bad idea. Owens & Yano tag in. Owens looks to undo the buckle pad, but Yano stop him but Yujiro cuts him off and pulls him to the floor and beats on him. Bullet Club takes the heat, working over Yano and scoring several near falls. Yano manages to fight back, using a desperation hair pull and tagging Ishii back in. Ishii runs wild off the hot tag, but Owens manages to cut him off. He and Yujiro work double teams until Yano makes the save. He and Yujiro brawl to the floor as Owens holds his own and looks for the package piledriver, it breaks down, Ishii hits the brainbuster and puts Owens away. Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens @ 7:13 via pin [**½] This was a rock solid little match, getting Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano momentum, and likely getting them ready for a tag title shot.

NEVER Openweight Six-Man Title Match: NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga, & Tanga Loa vs. Togi Makabe, Henare, & Ryusuke Taguchi: Loa is a dick and breaks Taguchi’s sun glasses during the stand off. Taguchi attacks at the bell, hitting rights and ass attacks, Loa no sells and then counters with an atomic drop. Taguchi keeps fighting, hitting basement dropkicks and repeated ass attacks. Tonga tags in, confusing Taguchi so he tags out to Henare. Bullet Club rushes the ring, allowing Tonga to take control, hitting elbow drops and leg drops on Henare as the rest brawl on the floor. Loa then tags in, taking out Taguchi and keeping the heat on Henare. Fale tags in and he appears to be in a particularly surly today as he clubs away at poor Henare. Quick tags follow as the champions are infirm control here. Fale finally misses a charge and Makabe gets the hot tag. He runs wild on Fale with strikes in the corner, Taguchi in and hits an ass attack, allowing Makabe to hit the lariat for 2. Fale then cuts him off with a Samoan drop. Tonga and Henare tag in and Henare is fired up and running wild on Tonga. The top rope shoulder block connects for a good near fall. The faces now work over Tonga as Taguchi calls the plays and hits the ass attack for 2 as Fale makes the save. Tonga hits the flapjack on Henare, scoring a good near fall. He then locks on a twister and Henare taps. Champions Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga, & Tanga Loa defeated Togi Makabe, Henare, & Ryusuke Taguchi @ 9:20 via submission [***] This was good, the challengers were game, they kept a good pace, and worked in some good near falls down the stretch. It also didn’t overstay its welcome and went home at the right time.

Cody, Marty Scurll & Hangman Page vs. Kota Ibushi, Juice Robinson, & David Finlay: Marty and Finlay to begin. They work some back and forth; neither man can get a solid advantage as they work some nice counters. Finlay connects with a dropkick, but Cody tags in and so does Ibushi. Cody bails, tagging in Page. He and Ibushi work back and forth, and Ibushi then connects with kicks and a standing moonsault for 2. Juice tags in, working over Page with jabs and a spinebuster. Marty in and heats jabs but Cody tags in, Juice fights off Marty and Cody, heads up top but Marty crotches him. He follows him up top and the superplex follows for 2. Cody is in and lays the boots to Juice. Page tags back in, maintaining the heat on Juice. Bullet Club works quick tags, and then triple teams Juice as Finlay makes the save. Juice fights back, hitting a pop up gut buster on Marty. Cody tags back in but Juice tags in Ibushi. He and Cody trade strikes, they then work through a fun series of counters, leading to Page and Finlay tagging in. Finlay lays in uppercuts, but page sends him to the floor. Marty in and attacks Juice’s arm as Cody hits the snap slam on Ibushi. Page hits the shooting star to the floor, as Cody hits a doomsday missile dropkick on Ibushi. Juice and Ibushi fights back, but Juice accidentally hits Ibushi. Finlay then spears Juice by accident. Page hits the rite of passage on Finlay and that’s that. Cody, Marty Scurll & Hangman Page defeated Kota Ibushi, Juice Robinson, & David Finlay @ 10:55 via pin [***] This was another good and fun tag, they kept the Cody vs. Ibushi story going with out giving too much away, and kept a great pace throughout, and it was fun overall.
https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/957198491222249472

Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi vs. YOSHI-HASHI & Will Ospreay: This match is setting up singles matches on the February 10th show. LIJ attacks at the bell and takes things to the floor. Naito is kicking the shit out of HASHI, and beats on him with his stick as Ospreay works over Takahashi. They finally spill back into the ring after almost three-minutes. Ospreay takes control, sending Naito to the floor, but Takahashi attacks and cuts him off. Takahashi attacks the knee of Ospreay. LIJ start working quick tags, isolating Ospreay and staying focused on the knee. Ospreay fights them off, hitting a back handspring kick and tags in HASHI. HASHI hits the blockbuster, sends Takahashi to the floor and follows with chops and a neck breaker on Naito, covering for 2. Naito cuts him off, hitting a basement dropkick and tagging in Takahashi. HASHI cuts him off with a superkick and tags in Ospreay. He and Takahashi trade chops, and Ospreay hits an enziguri and 619. Takahashi takes out the knee again. Ospreay hits a desperation heel kick and corner dropkick. The standing Phoenix press gets 2. Takahashi cuts him off with the pop up powerbomb, and that gets 2. Naito tags in and sends HASHI to the floor. HASHI in to make the save; he and Ospreay work together to make the comeback. Ospreay up top and counters the RANA from Naito and follows with a German, The cyclone kick follows. LIJ cuts off the oscutter, and Naito gets a low blow and cradle for the win. Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi defeated YOSHI-HASHI & Will Ospreay @ 11:42 via pin [***½] This was a very good tag match, as the LIJ vs. CHAOS magic continues. They did a good job here not only delivering a very good and fun match, but it worked as good set up for the upcoming single matches. The only gripe I have is that Ospreay’s selling of the knee was way too selective, but it didn’t take away from the match.

– Post match, HASHI attacks Naito and they brawl to the back.

Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, & Gedo vs. SANADA, EVIL, & BUSHI: This match is setting up singles matches on the February 10th show. Okada & SANADA to begin. They work good back and forth opening stretch, and BUSHI & Gedo now tag in. Gedo cuts him off right away and talks shit. EVIL & Goto get involved and CHAOS then triple teams BUSHI. Gedo now lays in jabs, pokes the eyes and then tries to unmask BUSHI. SANADA cuts him off as LIJ clear the ring and take things to the floor. The appropriate parties pair off, while BUSHI works over Gedo in the ring, choking him out with the shirt. SANADA in and maintains the heat on Gedo, locking him in the paradise lock. EVIL in now, the running senton follows for 2. Gedo fights back, takes out the knee and tags in Goto. He runs wild, and the Saito suplex on EVIL gets 2. EVIL cuts him off with the superkick, a lariat and bulldog gets 2. Goto and SANADA trade strikes, and Goto scores with the lariat. Okada tags in, he runs wild, hits the DDT and covers for 2. SANADA counter and hits the dropkick as LIJ clears out the ring. Okada misses the dropkick, skull end by SANADA but Okada escapes. SANADA hits the Saito suplex and both men are down. BUSHI in with the missile dropkick, and the neck breaker gets 2. Triple teams follow on Okada and BUSHI covers for 2. BUSHI goes for MX, misses and Gedo cuts him off until EVIL takes him out. Goto escapes the magic killer, and hits the ushigoroshi. CHAOS works over BUSHI and Okada locks on the cobra clutch and BUSHI taps. Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, & Gedo defeated SANADA, EVIL, & BUSHI @ 11:47 via submission [***½] This was another very good match, with a good pace and strong work put in to hype the upcoming singles matches on the 10th. It was fun, entertaining, and more than served its purpose.

– Post match, Okada calls out SANADA, who refuses to speak. Okada then attacks him and rolls him in the ring. Okada hits a tombstone and gets some Okada dollars and stuffs them in SANADA’s mouth and locks on the cobra clutch. What a dick.

Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks vs. Jay White & Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh): This is here to set up the two title matches on tomorrow’s event. White attacks Omega at the bell and works him over in the corner. The Bucks & 3k are in with the Bucks working double teams and clearing the ring. The Elite now work triple teams, clearing the ring but White cuts off the Omega dive and 3k hit stereo topes. Back in and White works over Omega, hitting a Saito suplex. White doesn’t want to tag in 3k, as he continues to work over Omega. 3k helps out, and White finally tags out. 3k work double teams on Omega, and send the Bucks to the floor. Omega makes the comeback on 3k, the Bucks then run wild on 3k as the Elite take control. Dropkicks by the Bucks follow, and then follow with a series of double teams, picking up a near fall on Sho. Sho runs them together and follows with rolling Germans on Matt. Omega in and he eats Germans, but then counters with snapdragon suplexes on all three CHAOS members. Triple superkicks to Sho follow, and it breaks down. Nick hits a big dive to the floor, and Sho eats a buckle bomb and then the assisted senton for 2. Nick locks in the sharpshooter on Sho as Matt & White hold the others off. White now makes the save, until Matt hits a spear. 3k take him out with knee strikes. Omega hits a v trigger, cutting off Yoh. V trigger to Sho follows, and he looks for one winged angel, but White makes the save. White is taken out, Yoh in and eats superkicks and then an indie taker. He’s done. The Elite defeated Jay White & Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh) @ 10:55 via pin [***] This was a good and fun match, setting the stage well for tomorrow’s matches, and just a notch below the previous two in terms of match quality. The one issue is that Jay White & Roppongi 3K didn’t look all that competitive, and unless both win tomorrow, they are pigeon-holing them as the former young boys that aren’t quite ready yet. They can tell a good story with that, but it’s a fine line to walk.

– Post match, White lays out Omega with the blade runner.

IWGP IC Title Match: IWGP Intercontinental Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki: Taichi, Desperado, & Kanemaru are out with Suzuki. They work a slow, methodical start, with both men looking to gain an advantage. Suzuki shoots for the leg and starts to try and work a knee bar. Tanahashi counters out and he looks to ground Suzuki, working the knee. Suzuki is not amused, simply laughing at him. Tanahashi works a modified, standing figure four, but Suzuki escapes. Suzuki follows with head butts, and then the hanging arm bar in the ropes. Suzuki takes things to the floor, grabs a chair and attacks Tanahashi. Back into the ring they go, Tanahashi fires up but Suzuki drags him down by the arm and tries to rip it off. They trade strikes now; Tanahashi hits a running forearm, and follows with the summersault senton for 2. Suzuki has had enough of this bullshit, and lays in a series of kicks. They trade strikes back and forth, Suzuki keeps laughing at Tanahashi’s attempts at striking. Tanahashi finally hits a dragon screw leg whip, and another as he looks to ground Suzuki. Tanahashi then locks on the cloverleaf, but Suzuki makes the ropes. Tanahashi now hits a dragon screw in the ropes. Back in and Suzuki hits the desperation dropkick. Suzuki now locks on the sleeper, and then transitions to a guillotine. Tanahashi counters with a series of neck breakers, escaping. The sling blade follows, Tanahashi up top and hits the high cross, and now Tanahashi grabs at his knee and cannot cover. Tanahashi back up top, slowly, and the high fly flow eats knees. Suzuki locks on a knee bar, Tanahashi fights but Suzuki is just ripping at the leg and turning the ankle in ways it shouldn’t go. Tanahashi finally makes the ropes. Suzuki now locks in the figure four, but Tanahashi keeps fighting. Suzuki really cranks on the hold now, but Tanahashi finally rolls it to the ropes. Suzuki now lights up Tanahashi with strikes, locks on the sleeper, but Tanahashi still fights. Suzuki looks for the Gotch piledriver, but Tanahashi fights out and transitions into the cloverleaf. Suzuki counters out into a cradle for 2. Tanahashi fires back with sling blade, and that gets 2. Suzuki fights off the snapdragon, taking out the knee. Suzuki then dropkicks the knee, and locks on the heel hook. Tanahashi manages to make the ropes, but can barely stand. Suzuki now lays in kicks to the leg, just brutalizing Tanahashi. Suzuki now lays in strikes, looks for the Gotch and hits it, but Suzuki doesn’t cover, instead going for the submission again. Suzuki is trying to rip a man’s leg off, Tanahashi keeps fighting, red shoes keeps checking on him as Suzuki drags him back center ring and the torture continues. Tanahashi begs red shoes not to stop it, he fights, but red shoes calls for the bell to save Tanahashi’s leg. Minoru Suzuki defeated Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi @ 32:32 via referee stoppage [****¾] This was an absolutely beautiful, amazing, MOTY contender form these two. This was so well done, it never felt long and both men played their roles so very well; Tanahashi’s selling was amazing, especially juxtaposed against the sadistic nature of Suzuki, who would maniacally laugh at Tanahashi as he was torturing and picking apart his legs. In some ways this was very reminiscent of their 2012 match, not a lot of rope running or near falls, as they did an excellent job of working a less is more style, making everything they did count and using the submissions to create some great drama. Suzuki hitting the Gotch and not covering, and instead going for the submission, was a great diversion and one that makes you think his overconfidence will lead to his downfall, but it didn’t. It led to more torture on Tanahashi, and Tanahashi fighting through until the referee had mercy on him and called it off. Tanahashi never gave up, and remains the hero, and Suzuki comes off as a remorseless bastard; this should set the stage for a heated rematch down the line. The absolute best part about this is that it was one on one, clean and the Suzuki-gun guys were just window dressing. They took away everything people hate about Suzuki matches and focused on what everyone loves about them and this delivered big time, I loved it.

– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

8.0

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo night one was a pretty show, adding to the build to tomorrow's card as well as the February 10th event, and had some really good stuff in the second half including a MOTYC as the main event. If looking to save time, skip the first three matches, everything from there on is good, to very good to excellent.