wrestling / TV Reports
Csonka’s NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku Review 4.27.18
Loading...
Csonka’s NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku Review 4.27.18
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Ren Narita defeated Yuya Uemaru @ 4:45 via submission [**]
– Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask, & Jushin Liger defeated Shota Umino, Tomoyuki Oka, & Yuji Nagata @ 8:10 via pin [**¾]
– Sho, Yoh, & Rocky Romero defeated Taka Michinoku, Iizuka, & Taichi @ 9:16 via pin [*½]
– Toa Henare, Michael Elgin, Togi Makabe, & David Finlay defeated CHAOS @ 7:50 via pin [**¾]
– LIJ defeated Suzuki-gun @ 15:50 via pin [***]
– IWGP NEVER Openweight Title Match: Champion Hirooki Goto defeated Juice Robinson @ 26:45 via pin [****¼]
– KUSHIDA & Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Will Ospreay & Kazuchika Okada @ 18:15 via pin [***½]
– 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.
– NJPW Road to Wrestling Dontaku Review 4.24.18.
– We’re in Hiroshima (Hiroshima Green Arena Sub Arena)…
Ren Narita vs. Yuya Uemaru: They lock up and trade strikes and chops right away. Narita takes early control, hitting a slam and hip toss, and covering for 2. Narita follows with more chops, but Uemaru cuts him off with a dropkick. He then lights him up with chops, they trade and Narita drops him with strikes and chops before locking on a crab. Uemaru makes the ropes; Narita lays the boots to him and goes back to the crab. Uemaru taps. Ren Narita defeated Yuya Uemaru @ 4:45 via submission [**] This was shorter than the usual opener, but it was still an all right and technically sound match.
Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask, & Jushin Liger vs. Shota Umino, Tomoyuki Oka, & Yuji Nagata: Tiger and Oka start us off. Tiger talks some shit to young Oka, and then lays in some leg kicks. They trade chops, but Oka runs him over with a shoulder tackle and follows with a suplex for 2. Tiger quickly cuts him off with kicks and tags in Liger, who dumps him to the floor. Taguchi rolls him back in and Liger locks on a Romero special until Umino makes the save. Liger quickly tosses him, and hits a shotei on Oka. Taguchi tags in and starts using his ass as a weapon. He follows with jabs and an ass attack. Oka manages to cut him off with an overhead toss and tags in Nagata. Nagata runs wild, lays in kicks on Taguchi until Tiger makes the save. Nagata dumps him and hits the XPLODER on Taguchi for 2. Umino wants the tag, and dojo dad allows it. He works over Taguchi, and then team Nagata triple teams Taguchi. Umino hits the missile dropkick, covering for 2. It breaks down, the veterans take control as Umino gets a cradle for 2. Taguchi hits an ass attack, enziguri, and dodon for the win. Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask, & Jushin Liger defeated Shota Umino, Tomoyuki Oka, & Yuji Nagata @ 8:10 via pin [**¾] This was pretty good, kept a nice pace and allowed the lions to largely shine while the veterans continue to develop them. Umino once again showed great fire, but ended up disappointing dojo dad Nagata.
Sho, Yoh, & Rocky Romero vs. Taka Michinoku, Iizuka, & Taichi: We’re getting this match again. You know the drill, Suzuki-gun attacks, Iizuka bites his opponents way too much, Romero hits forever clotheslines, floor brawling, and Suzuki-gun works an overly long, bland and lifeless heat segment with Sho and Yoh looking like complete geeks. This is the fucking fifth time I have seen this match on the tour, and it’s ranked from between DUD and * star.
Sho tries to save this bullshit by Germaning Taka around the ring. Iizuka tried to use the iron fingers, but got cut off. Romero takes out Taichi, Sho gets the iron fingers and uses them on Iizuka before hitting 3k on Taka for the win. Sho, Yoh, & Rocky Romero defeated Taka Michinoku, Iizuka, & Taichi @ 9:16 via pin [*½] It’s amazing how quickly NJPW made Sho & Yoh look like complete shit, these matches have just been poor. There is a big difference between “being heels” and just putting on shitty matches. Move the 3K unit onto the never trios titles or something, just get them away from Suzuki-gun ASAP.
Toa Henare, Michael Elgin, Togi Makabe, & David Finlay vs. YOSI-HASHI, Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii, & Jay White: Yano tries to undo the buckle pad, but Makabe cuts him off and hits a shoulder block. Makabe hits a suplex and tags in Henare. Ishii cuts him off and they brawl a bit. Henare then works over Yano until White cuts him off. HASHI tags in and lays in chops and clubbing strikes. The draping dropkick follows, and HASHI covers for 2. Ishii now tags in to brawl with Henare, and lights him up with chops. They trade strikes until Ishii hits a Saito suplex. Henare manages a desperation lariat, but White tags in and cuts off the tag attempt. Henare battles through him and tags in Finlay. He and White continue their rivalry, with White hitting a snap Saito suplex. Finlay battles back and hits a uranage. Tags to Elgin & HASHI, large Michael overpowers hi at first, but HASHI battles back as CHAOS clears the ring. They work over Elgin until Henare makes the save. It breaks down into a big floor brawl, and Elgin follows with a tope into the pile on the floor. He then apron bombs HASHI. Back in and the lariat follows for 2. The buckle and Elgin bomb finishes HASHI. Toa Henare, Michael Elgin, Togi Makabe, & David Finlay defeated CHAOS @ 7:50 via pin [**¾] This was a pretty good match, with the booking seemingly heating up Elgin for a possible title shot against White or Goto. I expect Elgin to pin White or Goto in their tag match on Sunday to set that up for Dominion.
https://twitter.com/MrLARIATO/status/989815984339943424
Hiromu Takahashi, BUSHI, EVIL, SANADA, & Tetsuya Naito vs. Desperado, Kanemaru, Taichi, Lance Archer, Davey Boy Smith, Jr, & Minoru Suzuki: This is hyping Sunday’s IC & Tag title matches, as well as singles matches between the juniors. Naito has brought out a mystery ingobernable (I wonder if it’s the same one from two-years ago that they teased and never paid off?). Never mind, it was just Jay Jackson, a pitcher for the Hiroshima Carp as an honorable LIJ member for the night. Also, this new Suzuki-gun theme is shit; just give me KAZE NI NARE. Guys, you’re going to be fucking shocked here, but Suzuki-gun attacked LIJ before the bell rang in an instance of shitty sportsmanship, and it led to unsanctioned fighting on the floor. Again, it would mean more if just the main guys here did it, not the undercard goofs. Suzuki kicks the shit out of Naito as the juniors work in the ring, and then spill to the floor. So this all leads to a long stretch of fighting on the floor, Suzuki tortures Naito, and backing the ring Archer is working over Takahashi with ease. Smith in and he continues the heat on Takahashi. Suzuki tags in and dances around a bit before laying the boots to Takahashi. He then works a half crab until Naito makes the save. Suzuki takes him back to the floor for more brawling as Desperado tags in. Takahashi cuts him off but KES cuts off the tag. Takahashi hits a desperation DDT and tags in EVIL. He runs wild, and then tags in SANADA. Smith fights them off by suplexing them at the same time, tags in Archer and they take control. The hart attack follows for 2 on SANADA. SANADA fights off the killer bomb, and hits a springboard missile dropkick. Wholesale changes to Naito and Suzuki, Naito hits the corner dropkick, but Suzuki cuts him off and locks on the knee bar. Naito makes the ropes after a long fight. Naito lays in strikes, but this amuses Suzuki, who laughs at Naito. Naito keeps fighting and hits a tornado DDT. Naito has no one to tag as they have all been taken out, so Suzuki-gun takes turns beating on him. It finally breaks down into floor brawling; Naito makes the comeback and LIJ isolate Kanemaru. Destino finishes him. LIJ defeated Suzuki-gun @ 15:50 via pin [***] This was an overall good match with an invested crowd that did a nice job of setting the stage for the four matches between the groups on Sunday. Naito was insanely over here.
NEVER Champion Hirooki Goto vs. Juice Robinson: Juice had a chance against Goto last year and failed in a very good performance. He’s had a great 2018 so far, has improved a lot, and is over more than ever before. Is now his time? They lock up and end up in a stand off. Goto looks to slow the pace early on to utilize his power advantage. The trade strikes and Juice dumps Goto and follows with a plancha. Liger is on commentary rooting Juice on. Juice takes control on the floor until Goto hits a barricade assisted neck breaker. Back in and Goto starts working the neck to set up the GTR later on. Goto dumps Juice, who is selling the neck big time. Goto rolls him back in and works a neck crank. The clothesline follows, Goto up top and hits the elbow drop for 2. Goto follows with standing elbow drops for 2. he again grounds the action, working the neck. Juice fights to his feet and connects with a kick, and both men are down. Juice now fires up and lays in jabs and chops. They trade clotheslines, and Juice finally takes Goto down. Juice hits another clothesline, avoids the Goto spin kick and hits the cannonball for 2. Juice takes Goto to the floor and hits an apron clothesline to the floor. Back in they go, Juice up top and the high cross gets 2. Juice looks for pulp friction, Goto escapes, Juice hits a German but Goto rebounds with a lariat and Ushigoroshi! Liger is losing his shit on commentary. Goto follows with strikes, Juice fires back, and they trade strikes. Juice hits a dropkick, but Goto rebounds with a body kick to cut him off. Both men are down. They fight to their feet, Goto hits the spin kick and Saito suplex and then another. The ref checks on Juice, but Got shoves him away and looks to finish him. The ushigoroshi follows for a good near fall. Goto takes him up top and follows, he looks for a super ushigoroshi, but Juice escapes and hits an ushigoroshi! The big lariat follows for a great near fall. Juice is fired up, and hits a SICK brainbuster for another great near fall! He looks for pulp friction, but Goto counters into a sleeper. Juice fights, but starts to fade. He fights one more time but Goto cranks back on the hold. He counters out of the GTR, but Goto hits a head butt and GTR. He looks for another and Juice counters into a small package for another great near fall. Pulp friction countered, but Juice hits the KO shot! Pulp friction countered and Goto gets another great near fall. Goto lays in kicks, and hits another GTR to retain. Champion Hirooki Goto defeated Juice Robinson @ 26:45 via pin [****¼] This was an absolutely great match, with a heavily invested crowd that was behind Juice and doing their best to will him to victory. This was a great effort by Juice, who continues to make huge strides as he grows as a performer and keeps proving himself in big matches. It’s another setback for now, but when he wins a singles title, the crowd is going to go mental for it. The closing stretch was particularly great, filled with some beautiful near falls, and Juice had the crowd believing he could win as he not only survived, but picked up near falls that the repeatedly bought into. This was so very great, and it’s been a blast watching Juice’s journey and evolution. He’s left the ghost of CJ Parker far behind.
– Elgin arrives to check on Juice and has a face off with Goto. Elgin wants the NEVER title, and proclaims himself the next challenger. Taichi arrives and he says he wants a title shot. He attacks Goto and escapes before Elgin can kick his ass.
KUSHIDA & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Will Ospreay & Kazuchika Okada: This is part of the build to next week’s two title matches involving these four. Ospreay and KUSHIDA start us off. KUSHIDA quickly grounds the action, looking to work the arm. They work into some slick counters, with KUSHIDA maintaining control. Ospreay counters out and looks to work the leg of KUSHIDA. KUSHIDA counters into a head scissors, and takes control back. Ospreay makes the ropes for the break. He then hits a dropkick and poses. Tanahashi tags in and so does Okada. Tanahashi lays in forearm strikes, and Okada answers back. Okada teases the rainmaker as Ospreay takes out KUSHIDA on the floor. Okada dumps Tanahashi and teases a tombstone on the floor like the other day. Tanahashi fights him off, and they brawl into the crowd. Osprey and KUSHIDA do as well. Tanahashi beats the count back in, and Ospreay tags in and takes the heat on him. KUSHIDA breaks up a pin attempt, as Ospreay grounds things and works some submissions before tagging in Okada. Okada maintains control, as Ospreay is backing to work double teams. Ospreay keeps control, attacking the previously injured arm of Tanahashi. Okada then hits the tombstone on Tanahashi. Ospreay wipes out KUSHIDA with the Sasuke special. Okada locks on h cobra clutch on Tanahashi, who fades to the mat. KUSHIDA makes his way back in and breaks it up. He takes out Ospreay and Okada, and gets the hot tag. He runs wild on Okada, and then wipes out Ospreay with a dive from the top rope to the floor. He hits a tornado DDT on Okada, and locks on an arm bar, but Okada makes the ropes. He keeps attacking the arm of Okada, but Okada cuts him of with a flapjack. Ospreay tags back in and lays in knee strikes and kicks to KUSHIDA. The hesitation dropkick follows, and the running shooting star press gets 2. KUSHIDA counters out and hits a PELE. KUSHIDA then follows with the DDT. Wholesale changes to Tanahashi and Okada, Tanahashi hits dragon screws on both Ospreay and Okada. The sling blade follows for 2. Okada cuts off Tanahashi, and then dropkicks KUSHIDA. Okada dumps Tanahashi and looks for a tombstone, but Tanahashi escapes and hits sling blade. Back in and Ospreay hits a hewed kick and Robinson special. KUSHIDA cuts him off and locks on the hover board lock. Tanahashi heads up top and hits a high fly flow! That’s enough to beat Ospreay. KUSHIDA & Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated Will Ospreay & Kazuchika Okada @ 18:15 via pin [***½] This was a very good main event, with a great job being done to build to next week’s title matches. Tanahashi got some revenge on Okada for the tombstone on the floor earlier this week, and I think that both title matches certainly have the chance to be excellent. They also did a nice job of presenting Ospreay &KUSHIDA on Tanahashi & Okada’s level, and everyone looked really good here.
– End Scene.
– Thanks for reading.
“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”
