Csonka’s NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku Review 4.24.18

Csonka’s NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku Review 4.24.18

OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Yuji Nagata, Tomoyuki Oka, & Jushin Liger defeated Ren Narita, Shota Umino, & Hiroyoshi Tenzan @ 9:30 via submission [***]
– Iizuka, Taka Michinoku, & Taichi defeated Rocky Romero, Sho, & Yoh @ 9:05 via DQ [DUD]
– Togi Makabe, Michael Elgin, & KUSHIDA defeated Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI, & Will Ospreay @ 8:12 via pin [**½]
– Tomohiro Ishii defeated Toa Henare @ 15:20 via pin [***¾]
– Suzuki-gun defeated LIJ @ 13:35 via pin [***]
– Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, & Gedo defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, & Ryusuke Taguchi @ 13:40 via submission [***]
– IWGP US Title Match: Champion Jay White defeated David Finlay @ 26:37 via pin [****]

---

– Follow all of my reviews at this link.

– NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku Review 4.13.18.
– NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku Review 4.14.18.
– NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku Review 4.23.18.

– We’re in Korakuen Hall.

Yuji Nagata, Tomoyuki Oka, & Jushin Liger vs. Ren Narita, Shota Umino, & Hiroyoshi Tenzan: Oka and Umino to begin. Oka overpowers him, takes control and tags in Nagata. He and Umino have developed quite the father/son feud over the past weeks. Umino takes him down and works some ground and pound, and tags in Narita. Nagata punishes him for Umino being a little punk; Liger tags in and beats on the lion and the gets the Romero special. Liger maintains the heat, and tags in Nagata. Umino rushes in to attack, but Oka cuts him off, allowing Nagata to attack the arm of Narita. After some kicks, Oka gets the tag and works over Narita, using his power game and covering for 2. Narita hits the desperation dropkick, and tags in Tenzan. He strolls mildly, beating down Oka. The suplex follows for 2. Oka fires up but runs into the spin kick, and Tenzan covers for 2. The anaconda vice follows, but Liger makes the save. Tenzan takes him out with chops. Umino gets the tag and runs into a belly to belly from Oka. Nagata in and Umino lays in strikes, and missile dropkick for 2. He locks on an arm bar, but Nagata counters into one of his own. It breaks down, Umino slaps the shit out of Nagata, pissing off dojo dad, who lights him up with kicks and an XPLODER. The Nagata lock finishes it. Yuji Nagata, Tomoyuki Oka, & Jushin Liger defeated Ren Narita, Shota Umino, & Hiroyoshi Tenzan @ 9:30 via submission [***] This was a good and fun opener, with the Nagata vs. Umino dynamic continuing to play out. Umino has been really great, stepping up his game.

Rocky Romero, Sho, & Yoh vs. Iizuka, Taka Michinoku, & Taichi: CHAOS actually attacks before the bell, and we get some floor brawling. Iizuka cuts them off and to the floor we go. It’s like I am stuck in the shittiest Groundhog Day scenario ever. Iizuka uses chairs and starts biting people. Fucking hell, three minutes in and the bulk of the offense has been Iizuka biting people. Taichi tags in, largely doing nothing bit talking shit and no selling strikes. The pants are off. Yoh finally fires up with kicks and tags in Romero. He hits forever clotheslines, and hits a RANA on Taichi. Sho in and Taichi uses the ref to block a German, allowing Iizuka to bite Sho. Sho Germans Taka for 2. It breaks down, 3K runs wild but Taichi and Taka cut them off. Iizuka gets the iron fingers, Sho fights, and 3k makes a comeback. Taichi uses the mic stand, and the ref ends up getting hit for the DQ. Iizuka, Taka Michinoku, & Taichi defeated Rocky Romero, Sho, & Yoh @ 9:05 via DQ [DUD] It amazingly keeps getting worse.

Togi Makabe, Michael Elgin, & KUSHIDA vs. Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI, & Will Ospreay: This is part of the build to KUSHIDA vs. Ospreay. The start off, working some tentative back and forth. KUSHIDA looks to work the arm right away, grounding Ospreay. Ospreay escapes, they work into some fun counters and into a stand off. HASHI & Elgin in and they trade strikes, Elgin counters a RANA and follows with knee strikes. HASHI hits a blockbuster, but Elgin cuts him off with a slam and senton. It breaks down, with Elgin slamming Yano & Ospreay at the same time. HASHI cuts him off with a superkick and they work into a double down. Yano in and removes the buckle pad, but gets slammed into it. Makabe tags in and runs wild, working over Yano. He, Elgin, and KUSHIDA work over Yano until Ospreay flies in and makes the save. KUSHIDA cuts him off with a PELE, but Makabe and Elgin block Yano’s low blows. They get run into each other, KUSHIDA blocks the low blows and Makabe hits a lariat for 2. Makabe hits a slam, heads up top, and the king kong knee drop ends it. Togi Makabe, Michael Elgin, & KUSHIDA defeated Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI, & Will Ospreay @ 8:12 via pin [**½] This was perfectly solid, but really lacked something to make you care, even the Ospreay vs. KUSHIDA stuff was just there.

Tomohiro Ishii vs. Toa Henare: This is what I am here for. These two have had really great interactions, going back to the WTL, and I have been begging for a singles match. This is a huge opportunity for Henare to step up in singles action. They brawl at the bell, trading strikes center ring. Ishii slows things with a side headlock, but Henare fires up and escapes, but Ishii hits a shoulder tackle, and takes him down. Ishii now dumps him to the floor and slams him to the barricades repeatedly. Back in and Ishii lays in kicks, and then locks on the crab. Henare fights and makes the ropes. Ishii follows with chops and kicks. Henare starts to fire up, and lays in forearm strikes. He lays in kicks, but this just pisses of Ishii. Ishii now follows with strikes and chops in the corner, and Henare is down. Ishii now hits a suplex, but Henare keeps firing back. He now delivers Ishii-like chops to the throat, and hits a Samoan drop for 2. The flying shoulder block follows for 2. Ishii cuts of the spear, they trade strikes and Ishii lights him up and follows with a German. He follows with another, but Henare is not done and keeps fighting to his feet. So Ishii hits another to show this young punk a lesson. The Saito suplex follows for 2. Henare hits the desperation, pop up Samoan drop and both men are down. They get to their feet and trade big time strikes, going all Frye vs. Takiyama. Henare now hits a German and spear for a good near fall. Henare follows with lariats but Ishii won’t go down. After a few more, he finally drops Ishii! They now trade head butts, and Henare is down. Ishii drags him up and hits a lariat and a sliding D for 2. Henare counters the brainbuster into a cradle for 2. The spear follows for a great near fall. Ishii then dumps him with a snapdragon and hits the lariat for another really good near fall. The brainbuster finally finishes Henare. Tomohiro Ishii defeated Toa Henare @ 15:20 via pin [***¾] This was a very good match, with Henare stepping up and delivering big time. The story is that Henare is a younger version of badass Ishii, but that he isn’t quite at Ishii’s level at this time. Ishii knows this, Henare knows this, and the fans know this. Ishii was dismissive at times, which allowed Henare to fight back and almost overcome as he got the fans on his side. He fought hard, showed heart, and almost overcame, but he just wasn’t ready for Ishii yet. We’ll be seeing more of this in the future as it almost feels Ishii is preparing Henare to eventually take his place. This was an important match for Henare, and he more than delivered.

Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, EVIL, & SANADA vs. Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer, Desperado, Kanemaru, & Davey Boy Smith Jr: LIJ flips the script, attacking before the bell. Naito is extra aggressive today, choking out Suzuki with a shirt and then taking him to the floor and working him over. Takahashi & BUSHI work over Desperado, picking up a near fall. Kanemaru pulls BUSHI to he floor, and works him over as Suzuki starts to kick the shit out of Naito with a chair at ringside. He’s specifically attacking the knee, and laughing like a mad man. Back in and Suzuki-gun has the heat on BUSHI. Smith punishes him with slams, and covers for 2. Archer tags in, and hits a uranage for 2. EVIL makes the save and gets dumped. Suzuki tags in and the ass kicking of BUSHI continues. Suzuki-gun works quick tags, BUSHI hits a RANA, and DDT on Kanemaru. SANADA gets the tag and runs wild with dropkicks. Smith cuts him off, but then he eats a dropkick. RANA on Archer and EVIL joins in as the tag champions take control and work over Archer. Archer fires up, but EVIL cuts him off with a lariat. Wholesale changes to Naito & Suzuki, Naito runs wild, and hits the draping neck breaker. He stomps on Suzuki’s neck and poses. This was a poor plan as Suzuki attacks, and locks on a knee bar. He then transitions to a figure four. Naito makes the ropes, hits an enziguri and tornado DDT. Takahashi gets the tag, and it breaks down with LIJ isolating Suzuki. Everyone is in now, they brawl and head o the floor. Suzuki knee bars Takahashi, Naito in to make the save but Suzuki knee bars him now. BUSHI makes the save, and he and Takahashi double-team Suzuki. Suzuki gets the sleeper and Gotch to end Takahashi’s night. Suzuki-gun defeated LIJ @ 13:35 via pin [***] This was good, with the heavy focus being on Naito vs. Suzuki on Sunday. I am really looking forward to that match.

Gotch-style piledriver!! #NJPW #njdontaku https://t.co/4ULitIni5Z pic.twitter.com/gZCXqEhBYx

— LARIATOOOO!! (@MrLARIATO) April 24, 2018

– Bone Soldier will return.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, & Gedo: This is here to further setup Friday’s Goto vs. Juice NEVER title match and next week’s Okada vs. Tanahashi IWGP title match. Okada and Tanahashi to begin. They work basic back and forth until Okada drops Tanahashi with strikes. Gedo tags in and Tanahashi cuts him off. Goto in and takes him down and then suplexes Juice onto Tanahashi. We get some floor brawling, which leads to CHAOS taking the heat on Tanahashi. Okada in and he continues to be a step ahead, and really dominating Tanahashi here. Tanahashi tries to fire up, but Okada will have none of his bullshit and drops him with strikes. Gedo tags in, takes out Taguchi, allowing Goto to continue to work over Tanahashi. Tanahashi hits a desperation sling blade and tags in Juice. Juice runs wild on Goto, hits a spinebuster, and heads up top. The high cross gets 2. Goto fights back and hits ushigoroshi. Taguchi finally tags in and Gedo eye pokes him and kicks him in the ass. Gedo keeps avoiding the ass attack, early on, but Taguchi finally hits one. He hits more ass attacks, and looks for bum a ye, and hits it for 2. The ankle lock follows, but Okada makes the save. Gedo fights off dodon and hits a DDT. Okada tags in and hits the neck breaker, and covers for 2. Goto tosses Juice and Okada hits Taguchi with the top rope elbow drop. Tanahashi returns and eats a dropkick. Okada then hits a tombstone on Tanahashi on the floor. Back in and a tombstone for Taguchi; the cobra clutch finishes it. Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, & Gedo defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, & Ryusuke Taguchi @ 13:40 via submission [***] This was a good match, but I loved the Okada/Tanahashi dynamic here. Okada has such contempt for Tanahashi and doesn’t like that he has to defend against him to break the record. He also dominated Tanahashi here. Asshole Okada is the best Okada.

Okada tombstones Tanahashi on the floor!! #NJPW #njdontaku https://t.co/4ULitIni5Z pic.twitter.com/PD4Ws4XmDk

— LARIATOOOO!! (@MrLARIATO) April 24, 2018

#NJPW #njdontaku https://t.co/4ULitIni5Z pic.twitter.com/PmgXEZhb8H

— LARIATOOOO!! (@MrLARIATO) April 24, 2018

– Juice & Goto brawl as Okada attacks Tanahashi again, teasing another tombstone.

US Champion Jay White vs. David Finlay: These two have along history, going back to their young lion days. Finlay won thier first match, but White has dominated him ever since. Like Henare earlier, this is a big match for Finlay. White keeps trying to hide behind the ref, but Finlay fights around that and takes control early on, grounding the action. White escapes, and tries to pickup the pace, but Finlay keeps control and dumps him to the floor. He follows as they brawl into the crowd, and it’s all Finlay here. Finlay then posts White, and rolls him back in. The suplex follows for 2. Finlay heads up top but White cuts him off. The draping neck breaker follows for 2. White follows with uppercuts and a back elbow for 2. The dragon sleeper follows, and then a Saito suplex. White hits a back breaker, covering for 2. He follows with a Muta lock, grounding Finlay. Finlay escapes and clotheslines White to the floor. Back in they go, and Finlay lays in uppercuts and hits a German for 2. They trade strikes until Finlay hits a back breaker for 2. White hits a flatliner and German for the double down. White hits uppercuts and a suplex, heads up top and hits the missile dropkick. White locks on a crab, looking to humiliate Finlay young lion style. Finlay struggles and makes the ropes. White now lays in strikes, and dumps Finlay to the floor. White follows with a snap Saito suplex on the floor. Back in and White continues to control. Finlay hits a desperation lariat, and slams White to the buckles. Finlay up top, gets cut off and White follows him up. Finlay counters out and stomps away at White. Finlay back up top and hits the elbow drop for 2. Finlay lay in forearms, and White is down. He hits a northern lariat and the spear for 2. Finlay looks for the stunner, but hits blade runner on White for a good near fall. Finlay now brings out a table, sets it up on the floor and takes White up top. He follows and teases a suplex onto the table. White fights it, they work to he apron and White cuts him off, but Finlay hit a backdrop then powerbombs him on the table (IAM THE TABLE), and then finally breaks it with an elbow drop off of the apron. Finlay beats the count, but White attacks and hits a butterfly suplex for 2. The brainbuster follows for 2. Finlay counters blade runner into a stunner for a good near fall. They trade strikes from their knees, White lights him up with chops, but Finlay fires back with uppercuts. Finlay fires up but runs into a huge lariat. He manages to counter blade runner into a backdrop driver. The last shot gets 2, White finally counters into blade runner for the win. Champion Jay White defeated David Finlay @ 26:37 via pin [****] This was a great main event that played well off of their established feud and history. They built to the finish smartly and consistently, and delivered one hell of a closing stretch. This was really great and a breakout singles performance from Finlay here. White also finally feels completely locked in with his character in the ring now. These two will certainly meet again.

– White admits that he was surprised by Finlay and that Finlay belongs in the main event. But he doesn’t belong in the ring with him “10-1 Finlay! Get that piece of shit out of the ring.” White says he’s the future of CHAOS, and will be watching Okada vs. Tanahashi closely.

– End Scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.4

The final score: review Good

The 411

Today’s NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku was a good show with a lot of good wrestling and some great individual performances by Henare & Finlay, along with quality build to the matches Friday and next week. This was a good time.