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Csonka’s NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo Review 1.28.18
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Csonka’s NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo Review 1.28.18
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Juice Robinson defeated Katsuya Kitamura @ 9:16 via pin [**¾]
– Suzuki-gun defeated Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, Ryusuke Taguchi & Shota Unno @ 8:40 via pin [**¾]
– Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated Yujiro Takahashi & HIKULEO @ 6:15 via pin [**]
– Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Chase Owens defeated Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi & Tomoyuki Oka @ 9:09 via pin [**¼]
– Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka defeated Henare & Michael Elgin @ 8:22 via pin [**]
– Cody, Marty Scurll, & Hangman Page defeated Kota Ibushi, David Finlay, & KUSHIDA @ 11:50 via pin [***¼]
– LIJ defeated CHAOS @ 12:25 via pin [***¾]
– IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match: Roppongi 3k defeated Champions The Young Bucks @ 22:45 via pin [****½]
– IWGP US Title Match: Jay White defeated Champion Kenny Omega @ 30:05 via pin [***½]
– 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.
– You can read my preview for today’s show at this link.
– You can read my review of night one at this link.
– Tanahashi is off tonight’s show, as is Kojima.
Juice Robinson vs. Katsuya Kitamura: Kitamura overpowers Juice to begin. Juice looks to slow it down, working a side headlock. Juice follows with shoulder blocks, and follows with clubbing strikes. Kitamura fires up and hits a big shoulder block. Juice fires back with chops, Kitamura just absorbs the strikes and Juice then lays the boots to him. Kitamura battles back with a backdrop, and then a powerslam for 2. Juice sidesteps the spear, and follows with head butts. The cannonball follows. Juice then hits the suplex, covering for 2. Juice grounds the action, working a full nelson. Kitamura powers up, escapes and lays in elbows. The spinebuster follows. Kitamura now lays in rights, and lays in big chops. Kitamura lights up Juice here, dropping him to the mat. Kitamura follows with a shoulder block, and then the gut wrench suplex, and covers for 2. Kitamura sets, and the spear misses, and Juice hits a spinebuster for 2. Juice now picks up Kitamura, and lays in jabs and chops. Kitamura no sells the clotheslines, powers up and hits the spear for a good near fall. Kitamura looks for the jackhammer, but Juice escapes and lays in strikes and a lariat for a good near fall. Juice hits pulp friction and picks up the win. Juice Robinson defeated Katsuya Kitamura @ 9:16 via pin [**¾] This was another pretty good outing here for Kitamura, they worked in some good near falls and he continues to improve. His series has been fun so far.
Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, Ryusuke Taguchi & Shota Unno vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi, El Desperado & Taka Michinoku: Taguchi hugs on Taichi’s chick and we get the big brawl to begin. Taichi works him over and Suzuki-gun takes control. Taguchi hits the ass attack, Liger tags in hitting shoteis. The Romero special on Kanemaru follows until Taichi makes the save. Liger is tossed to the floor and gets posted. Taichi chokes him out with the mic stand, as we get mass brawling on the floor. They attack Tiger Mask’s mask, and then they attack Liger’s mask. Desperado in as Suzuki-gun maintains the heat on Liger, choking him out in the ropes. Liger fights back with a back breaker, and tags in Tiger. He hits the high cross, fights off Kanemaru and Desperado rakes his eyes. Tiger hits the spin kick and tiger bomb but Taka makes the save and tries to unmask Tiger. Tiger runs he and Desperado together and takes Desperado up top and hits the butterfly superplex. It breaks down, Desperado hits the spinebuster as Taichi tags in. He looks to unmask Tiger, but Tiger fights free and hits a dropkicks. Umino tags in, runs wild on Taichi, covering for 2. It breaks down again, the faces run wild on Taichi, Umino hits the missile dropkick, covering for 2.Taichi then cuts off Umino, rips off the pants but Umino gets the cradle for a good near fall. Taichi follows with an enziguri and superkick, but the pin is broken up. Taichi hits the superkick and Umino is done. Suzuki-gun defeated Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, Ryusuke Taguchi & Shota Unno @ 8:40 via pin [**¾] This was another pretty good match, with Umino getting some chance to shine. Suzuki-gun gets revenge after losing the night before.
– Post match, Tiger is unmasked and Taguchi gets his nuts stomped in and the mic stand shoved up his ass. Taguchi told commentary he broke his ass.
Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi & HIKULEO: HIKULEO is Leo Tonga’s new name. Bullet Club attacks and sends Ishii to the floor. Yano begs off, sends HIKULEO to the floor and Ishii attacks Yujiro as HIKULEO works over Yano. Yujiro cuts off Ishii, using his stick as HIKULEO works over Yano in the ring. HIKULEO follows with chops, tags in Yujiro, and they maintain control on Yano. Yujiro hits the big boot, but Yano cuts him of and tags in Ishii. Ishii is pissed and dumps Yujiro on his head with a German. HIKULEO in for the save, and Ishii suplexes him. Ishii now works over Yujiro, Yujiro slaps him so Ishii stars to cave in his chest with chops. Yujiro grounds him and hits a basement dropkick. Ishii lays in forearms, but gets stunned off the ropes, only to hit a rebound lariat. Wholesale changes to Yano & HIKULEO, Yano undoes the buckle pad, but eats a big boot and powerslam for 2. Ishii makes the save, but HIKULEO cuts him off. HIKULEO accidentally hits Yujiro, low blow by Yano, Ishii hits the lariat and Yano gets the roll up for the win. Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano defeated Yujiro Takahashi & HIKULEO @ 6:15 via pin [**] Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano pick up another win as they look to head for a tag title shot. The match was ok, but very lethargic.
Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Chase Owens vs. Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi & Tomoyuki Oka: Nakanishi is replacing the injured Kojima, & Oka is replacing Henare, who was moved to the next match, replacing Tanahashi. Tenzan and Tonga begin. Tenzan absorbs shoulder blocks, but Tonga hits the dropkick and follows with Mongolian chops, Tenzan fires back, showing him how its done and tags in Nakanishi They double team Tonga, Tenzan hits a falling kokeshi as Nakanishi hits a splash. Loa pulls Nakanishi to the floor, Tenzan gets posted as we get brawling on the floor. Owens takes out Oka as Fale works over Makabe. Back in the ring and Bullet Club works over Nakanishi, isolating him and then working quick tags. They slowly keep working over Nakanishi, Nakanishi and Fale battle back and forth, with Nakanishi hitting a mountain bomb. Makabe gets the hit tag, he works over Fale with clotheslines and mounted strikes. Bullet Club clears out the faces, attacking Makabe. Makabe and Nakanishi hit some double teams, and Nakanishi lands on his head and stumbles to the floor, he looks hurt. Makabe takes down Fale, Oka gets the tag and runs wild, hitting suplexes. They all work over Owens, Oka with more suplexes and Bullet Club makes the save. It’s completely broken down here, Makabe takes out the Guerrillas as Oka gets cut off by Owens. Owens hits the package piledriver, and that’s that. Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Chase Owens defeated Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi & Tomoyuki Oka @ 9:09 via pin [**¼] This was another ok match, but it had some rough patches, and was far from smooth. Oka looked good in his limited action.
Henare & Michael Elgin vs. Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka: Henare is replacing Tanahashi here, since Suzuki ripped his leg off and nearly beat him to death with it. The Suzuki-gun juniors goons are at ringside. Suzuki & Iizuka attack before the bell, we get some floor brawling. Back in the ring, Henare fires up and makes a comeback on Suzuki, but Suzuki locks in the arm bar in the ropes. Iizuka & Elgin brawl into the crowd, as Suzuki starts to torture Henare on the floor. Suzuki & Iizuka use chairs in their attacks, and Suzuki-gun beats down Henare on the floor. Elgin may be napping for all I know, because Henare is still in and getting his ass kicked. Iizuka & the juniors all bite Henare, oh hey, Elgin is alive and on the apron. Iizuka continues to bite on Henare. Henare fights back and Elgin finally gets the tag. He runs wild on Iizuka, hitting a German for 2. Elgin lays in clotheslines, but Iizuka cuts him off and Suzuki is in. Elgin hits the powerslam and now tags in Henare. Henare in, they double-team Suzuki and Henare hits a spear for 2. Elgin & Iizuka to the floor, Henare hits Suzuki with a Samoan drop for 2. Suzuki fire sup, locks on the sleeper, and follows with strikes and locks on a knee bar and Henare taps. Minoru Suzuki & Takashi Iizuka defeated Henare & Michael Elgin @ 8:22 via pin [**] This was ok at best, too much Suzuki-gun bullshit, but at least they set up a placeholder title program for Suzuki.
– Post match, Iizuka drags Elgin away as Suzuki-gun attacks Henare; Makabe makes the save and Suzuki backs off, likely setting up an IC Title match.
– Compared to last night, this show is very flat overall, and the crowd is not nearly as into things.
Cody, Marty Scurll, & Hangman Page vs. Kota Ibushi, David Finlay, & KUSHIDA: Marty & KUSHIDA to begin, they go to the ground right away, and both men work some nice escapes and grappling. Marty rakes the eyes after some very smooth work, KUSHIDA attacks the arm and tags in Finlay. Finlay keeps targeting the arm, grounding Marty until Cody makes the save. Finlay cuts offs doomsday device attempt, Finlay runs wild until Cody hits a dragon screw leg whip in the ropes. Marty hits a superkick and Page hits the shooting star off the apron to he floor. Cody tags in and lays the boots to Finlay, Page tags in and they double-team Finlay. Marty in as the double-teams on Finlay follow. Cody taunts Ibushi as he locks on the figure four, but Finlay rolls it and Cody has to break. Ibushi gets the tag, he runs wild, hitting a powerslam and moonsault for 2. He and Cody trade strikes, bringing good fire as they light each other up. Ibushi mixes in kicks, but Cody attacks with a dragon screw leg whip. Page in now, knocks KUSHIDA to the floor. Ibushi fights, Bullet Club looks to triple team him, but Ibushi fights them off, tagging in KUSHIDA. KUSHIDA runs wild paying the hits on Page and the hits the back handspring elbow. Page cuts off the KUSHIDA DDT, and follows with a lariat, Finlay cuts him off, it breaks down as Cody & Ibushi return, Ibushi takes out Cody and Marty is in and Ibushi cuts him off with kicks. KUSHIDA saves Ibushi from Cody. Page takes out Finlay & KUSHIDA, but KUSHIDA counters the right of passage, Ibushi flies in with a double stomp and hits the golden triangle to the floor. KUSHIDA has the hover board lock on, Cody saves Page, and after some good counters, Cody hits cross Rhodes, and Page hits the rite of passage and picks up another win. Cody, Marty Scurll, & Hangman Page defeated Kota Ibushi, David Finlay, & KUSHIDA @ 11:50 via pin [***¼] This was a good match, and easily the best thing on the show so far. Everyone got some time to shine, and Page picked up his second win in a row (he may be getting a NJ Cup spot or something, because these wins aren’t for nothing), which is the biggest take away and surprise from these matches against Ibushi & Friends.
Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Will Ospreay & Gedo vs. SANADA, EVIL, Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI: This is set up for five singles matches, three of them title matches, on February 10th. CHAOS attacks at the bell, turning the tables on LIJ. HASHI rips off Naito’s shirt and stomps on it and then lays in strikes on his opponent for the 10th. HASHI is actually showing fire here, dominating Naito early on. HASHI follows with chops, but Takahashi cuts him off. HASHI fights through it, but BUSHI in and LIJ clear out CHAOS. We get the big floor brawl, and Naito chokes out HASHI with the shirt. The appropriate parties pair off, Naito puts HASHI in the tree of WHOA, works him over and hits a sliding dropkick. BUSHI in now, hits the missile dropkick and Naito follows with corner dropkicks on HASHI. BUSHI works an STF on HASHI, and then his a neck breaker for 2. EVIL takes out Okada, sending him to the floor. HASHI starts to fight back, but Takahashi is in, but HASHI cuts him off and HASHI tags in Ospreay. Ospreay runs wild, hitting corner attacks and then the dropkick. The running shooting star press gets 2.takahashi then counters the back handspring into a German. Goto & EVIL in and they throw big clotheslines until EVIL hits the low superkick. They work through counters and Okada now gets the tag. He takes over until EVIL hits the side slam. SANADA in and Okada hits the flapjack as the crowd comes alive. Okada hits the DDT for 2. Okada kicks at SANADA’s head, talks shit to him, SANADA fires up and they trade strikes center ring. SANADA hits the dropkick and Saito suplex for 2. LIJ rushes in and SANADA hits the slam, heads up top and lands on his feet on the moonsault attempt. Okada then hits the dropkick. Tag to Gedo and he takes out BUSHI, and gets the Gedo clutch on SANADA for 2. HASHI & Naito brawl to the floor. Lung blower by BUSHI on Gedo, SANADA hits the TKO as Ospreay makes the save. Skull end on Gedo, SANADA drops down and Gedo taps. LIJ defeated CHAOS @ 12:25 via pin [***¾] This was a hell of a sprint, all action and doing a hell of a job setting up the five matches for the 10th. This was a tremendously fun and chaotic match that more than served it’s purpose.
– CHAOS has to hold HASHI back post match.
– Post match, SANADA says he will say al he has to say on the 10th. Okada is not pleased.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match: IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks vs. Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh): Matt and Yoh to begin. They trade strikes to begin, Matt his a shoulder block and looks for the sharpshooter, but Yoh escapes. Sho & Nick tag in, they work some back and forth, and Nick hits a dropkick. The Bucks work double teams, and take control. Matt follows with rights, Yoh tags in and 3k work some double teams. They dump Matt and double team Nick. They toss him and send Matt back to the floor. The Bucks cut off dives with superkicks, and Nick then follows with a dive, wiping out 3k.The Bucks chase Rocky to the back. But they drag him back out and look to powerbomb him on the ramp but 3k makes the save. Matt then wipes out 3k with a dive off the ramp. They now apron bomb Yoh, roll him back in and the cover gets 2. Matt looks for a buckle bomb, but his back gives out. Nick tags in and starts working over Yoh. The doctor checks on Matt as Nick maintains control on Yoh. Matt tags back in and double teams follow on Yoh and Matt covers for 2. Matt slows things down, grounding the action. Tag back to Nick, but Yoh starts to fight back, Yoh dumps him and Matt hits his back off of the apron. Matt manages to pull Sho to the floor, allowing Nick to maintain control, hitting a running knee, and covering for 2. Matt has a welt on his back. Yoh fights off the superkicks, and takes out Nick’s knee and tags Sho in. Sho runs wild, and sends Matt back to the floor. The RANA follows on Nick, and then lays in a series of kicks, covering for 2. Matt gets the tag, and Sho starts delivering Germans on Matt and then on both Bucks. Yoh back in and start working double teams, covering Matt for 2. Nick makes the save, shoving Matt away and sending Sho & Yoh to he floor. Nick misses the dive and gets slammed to the apron flapjack style. Sho back in with Matt, Matt tries to fire up with strikes, but Sho attacks the back to cut him off. 3k hits a doomsday knee strike, but matt kicks out at 2. Yoh locks on the crab, has it center ring, but Matt struggles and makes the ropes. 3k sets Matt up top, but matt fights and knocks them off, but 3k cuts him off, crotching Matt. The double team superplex follows for 2. 3k continues to attack the back of Matt, Matt fires up one last time but is instantly cut off as 3k attacks the back. Matt hits the superkick and spear, and now tags in Nick. Nick hits a missile dropkick/high cross combo and runs wild with kicks, and then Germans Sho on the apron. The slingshot x-factor and tornado DDT to the floor follows. Back in and the frog splash eats knees, and Yoh cradles him for 2. Nick & Yoh trade strikes, but Nick hits the superkick and another. He takes out Sho, Nick heads up top as Matt drapes Sho from the apron and Nick hits the assisted swanton to the floor. Back in and Matt gets the tag, sets up Yoh and Nick hits the assisted 450 on Yoh, but he kicks out! Matt can’t do the powerbomb, Nick helps and they hit the buckle bomb combo. Matt locks on the sharpshooter, Nick takes out Sho on the floor as Matt struggles to keep the sharpshooter, but Yoh makes the ropes, Nick flies in and hits the swanton, Matt keeps the hold but his back finally gave out. Matt up, but Yoh counters the sharp shooter into a rollup and we have new champions! Roppongi 3k defeated Champions The Young Bucks @ 2245 via pin [****½] I expected them to work a very different match than the WK 12 match, but they went back to that match and played heavily on it, with Matt & Yoh selling the back again, But this time, it was Matt that was too injured, and it cost them this time. This was an absolutely EXCELLENT match, and the best Bucks match in NJPW. This had great action, a great pace, great near falls, great layering, and some absolutely incredible selling from Matt Jackson. Nick Jackson still has the best hot tag in all of wrestling, and everyone involved did the right things at the right time. 3k overcame, got back their titles and showed the Bucks that they are much more than young boys. The finish is also a nice callback to WK 11, when Roppongi Vice beat the Bucks, when Romero scored a desperation roll up out of nowhere. This was absolutely excellent and kicked the shit out of everything else on the show.
IWGP US Title Match: IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega vs. Jay White: Nick is out alone with Omega as Matt is being attended to in the back; Okada is on commentary. They lock up, work to the corner and Omega slaps White on the break. They trade slaps now, Omega grounds White, White fights to the feet and eats a running boot from Omega. Omega follows with chops, but White fires back and works over Omega in the corner. White sends Omega to the apron and then dropkicks him to the floor. White works him over, lays in uppercuts, chops, and then hits a Saito suplex on the floor. Back in and White covers for 2. Omega back to the floor, White rips up the floor padding and lays the boots to Omega. White then slams Omega on the exposed floor. Omega beats the count, but White maintains control, and picks up another cover for 2. White now works the Muta lock. Omega rakes the eyes to escape. White follows with chops, Omega then fires back with chops, but White cuts him off with the uppercut. White now hits rolling suplexes, but Omega escapes and hits a backdrop to get some separation. Omega fires back with double ax handle shots, and then the Finlay roll and moonsault for 2. White fights off the snapdragon suplex, hits the back elbow and lays in running uppercuts and a Saito suplex for 2. Omega fights off the German, White lays in elbows but Omega now catches him with a RANA. White rolls to the floor, and Omega wipes him out with a tope. Back in and Omega hits the Kotaro krusher and neck breaker across the knee. Omega sets, but V avoids the V trigger, but Omega hits the next try. White then catches Omega with a flatliner, dead lift German, and DVD, covering for 2. White now follows with chops, follows with more uppercuts but Omega absolutely kills him with a V trigger! To the apron they go and Omega hits another V trigger, sending White to the floor. Omega takes the fight into he crowd and Omega powerbombs White onto a row of chairs. That had to suck. White beats the count, and Omega hits the snapdragon. Omega looks for another, and hits it. White fight off the third try, escapes and lays in elbows, but Omega cuts him off with a spin kick. V TRIGGER in the corner, Omega goes for the one winged angle, but White is dad weight. Omega uses the ropes for help, but White hangs on to the ropes, only to eat another snapdragon suplex. White collapses as Omega sets for another V trigger. Omega says White isn’t on his level, slaps him around, and hits a V trigger and double under hook driver, but White kicks out from what appeared to be certain death. Omega fires away with a knee strike, hits another and White starts laughing. Omega hits him with another V trigger, but White just barely kicks out. White fights out of the one winged angel and hits a Saito suplex. Omega lays in the boots, but White hits another Saito suplex and another. They trade back and forth, and White hits a sick looking sleeper suplex. The kiwi krusher follows for a good near fall. White now looks for the blade runner, Omega escapes and hits a V trigger. But White hits blade runner for 2. White now looks for it again, but Omega hits the reverse RANA. Omega with the V trigger, but the one winged angel countered into blade runner and White wins! Jay White defeated Champion Kenny Omega @ 30:05 via pin [***½] They had a very good match, and the layout and story did way more for White than the match with Tanahashi did. But the problem was the lack of crowd reaction, they were either burnt out from the previous match, or just weren’t buying White at Omega’s level; the reason the Juice &Trent matches worked was because the fans had some belief that they could win, and that helps matches like this a lot. Also, I’ve seen a lot of great White matches, where he steps up and delivers, this felt more like he survived and was along for the ride. I still think it was very good, and maybe this match will help the fans buying into him, but considering he’s going to feud with Page, and was positioned as a fourth class citizen here, I have my doubts.
– Post match Adam Page arrives and he looks to be White’s first opponent. Omega backs him off, takes the title and presents it to White before leaving. Cody arrives and tells Omega that he lost and this isn’t about him. Marty arrives and Cody & Omega argue, with Cody saying Omega isn’t acting like a leader. Matt arrives, and tries to hold Omega back, and Omega shoves him down. The Bucks now bail on Omega, heading to the back. Marty tells Omega & Cody to sort shit out. Page & Omega make nice and Omega & Cody talk. But Cody attacks and lays out Omega with a SICK looking cross Rhodes! Mary & Page return and Marty is confused by this. Cody gets a chair; Page holds Omega but IBUSHI MAKES THE SAVE! He runs off Bullet Club, and Ibushi offers his hand to Omega, but Omega shakes his head no, because brothers gotta hug man!
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/957544447977410560
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/957544729419374593
https://twitter.com/MrLARIATO/status/957545766142259201
– End Scene.
– Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
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