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Csonka’s NJPW Tiger Hattori Retirement Show Review
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Csonka’s NJPW Tiger Hattori Retirement Show Review
OFFICIAL RESULTS
– Toa Henare, Tomoaki Honma, and Togi Makabe defeated Yota Tsuji, Yuya Uemura, and Gabriel Kidd @ 9:25 via pin [***]
– Sho, Yoh, and Will Ospreay defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Rocky Romero, and Tiger Mask @ 9:20 via pin [***¼]
– Juice Robinson, David Finlay, and YOSHI-HASHI defeated EVIL, Hiromu Takahashi, and BUSHI @ 9:00 via pin [***]
– Manabu Nakanishi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, and Yuji Nagata defeated Suzuki-gun @ 10:00 via pin [**½]
– Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Toru Yano, and Colt Cabana defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Jay White, and Bad Luck Fale @ 12:55 via pin [**¾]
– Tetsuya Naito, Shingo, and SANADA defeated Kazuchika Okada, Big Tom Ishii, and Hirooki Goto @ 16:15 via pin [***]
– Follow all of my reviews at this link.
– We open with a good Tiger Hattori video package.
Toa Henare, Tomoaki Honma, and Togi Makabe vs. Yota Tsuji, Yuya Uemura, and Gabriel Kidd: Kidd and Henare begin, with Henare taking early control. He follows with a slam, Makabe tags in and Yota joins him, they trade and Yota hits a shoulder tackle. The dropkick follows for 1. Makabe counters with a slam, ground and pound and Honma tags in. He lays the boots to Yota, and follows with the slam and elbow drop for 2. Henare tags back in, delivers chops and drops Yota, covering for 2. Honma tags in, and the back elbow gets 2. Yota fires back, but is cut off with chops. Yota fires back but is quickly cut off until he hits the big spear. Yuya tags in and delivers strikes, a shoulder tackle and Makabe cuts him off until Yuya follows with a slam. The suplex to Honma follows for 2. Head butt by Honma, dropkick by Yuya and Honma cuts him off with the diving kokeshi. Henare tags in and follows wit strikes, Kidd hits a shoulder tackle and slam for 2. The lions rush the ring and triple team Henare, triple dropkicks follow and Kidd locks on a half crab. Makabe makes the save, gets dumped and Henare lariats Kidd and covers for 2. It breaks down, and the Toa bottom finishes it. Toa Henare, Tomoaki Honma, and Togi Makabe defeated Yota Tsuji, Yuya Uemura, and Gabriel Kidd @ 9:25 via pin [***] This was a good opener, with a great intensity and Henare picking up a nice win.
– They all scrap post match.
Sho, Yoh, and Will Ospreay vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, Rocky Romero, and Tiger Mask: Rocky get an early cradle for 2 an tags out to Taguchi. Yoh then cradles him for 2. They trade near falls for a while and Taguchi makes Yoh run, Yoh makes him run and CHOAS clears the ring, covering for 2. Ospreay tags in and follows with uppercuts a backbreaker and covers for 2. He grounds Taguchi, follows with strikes and Sho tags in. He chokes out Taguchi, follows with kicks and Yoh tags back in. Taguchi fires back, but Yoh hits a suplex for 2. Sho back in and he works over Taguchi in the corner. delivering kicks to the ass and counters as attacks until Taguchi hits an enziguri. Rocky in, hits RANAs and runs wild on all three. The forever clotheslines follow, an the knee strike to Sho follows that and sliced bread is countered as Sho hits a big lariat. Tiger tags in with the high cross, backbreaker and covers Ospreay for 2. Ospreay fires back, hits the back handspring kick and they work up top as Tiger follows with the superplex for 2. It breaks down, Ospreay fires back and hits an enziguri. Tiger counters into the crucifix for 2. Ospreay cuts him off with Cheeky nandos, the hook kick and storm breaker for the win. Sho, Yoh, and Will Ospreay defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Rocky Romero, and Tiger Mask @ 9:20 via pin [***¼] This was a ton of fun with everyone looking good as Ospreay picks up that heavyweight win.
– Post match, Taguchi & Rocky attack 3K.
Juice Robinson, David Finlay, and YOSHI-HASHI vs. EVIL, Hiromu Takahashi, and BUSHI: Juice and EVIL begin. Nope, Hiromu attacks but Juice battles back and tags in Finlay for double teams on EVIL and cover for 2. Finlay follows with uppercuts, EVIL cuts him off and LIJ takes control as we get some floor brawling. EVIL targets the shoulder of Finlay, BUSHI tags in and grounds things. Hiromu tags in and delivers strikes, chops and rakes the eyes. Clotheslines and the basement dropkick follows that for 2. EVIL tags in and he follows with chops. Finlay fires back, but EVIL cuts him off until Finlay hits a desperation suplex. Tag to HASHI, he runs wild on EVIL and follows with the blockbuster. The draping dropkick on Hiromu follows and he dumps him. The neck breaker gets 2 on EVIL. EVIL battles back, hits the fisherman’s buster and that gets 2. BUSHI in and HASHI fights he and Hiromu off and Juice tags in. He follow with clotheslines. BUSHI fires back and the missile dropkick connects. LIJ double teams Juice, and it breaks down as bodies spill to the floor, and Fin-Juice then cut off BUSHI. Juice follows with the left hand of God, and the stunner and pulp friction finishes it. Juice Robinson, David Finlay, and YOSHI-HASHI defeated EVIL, Hiromu Takahashi, and BUSHI @ 9:00 via pin [***] This was a good and energetic tag match.
Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, El Desperado, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Manabu Nakanishi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, and Yuji Nagata: Suzuki-gun attacks our lovable dads, and here we go. Taichi isolates Tenzan, while Suzuki &Nakanishi brawl on the floor. Taichi delivers Mongolian chops, Tenzan cuts him off with the proper Mongolian chops and Nakanishi joins in for double teams, and the Nakanishi splash gets 2. He dances and Suzuki cuts him off as Taichi attacks with chair shots and takes the heat on Nakanishi. Taichi dumps him, they all brawl on the floor and back in, Taichi tags in Despy. He and Kanemaru double team the big man, Suzuki joins in and Suzuki-gun just beats him down. Suzuki and Nakanishi trade, Suzuki takes him down and they then trade again. Nakanishi is down, fires up one more time and hits the spear. Nagata tags in and trades with Suzuki. Nagata counters the PK, they trade and Suzuki gets the sleeper, Kanemaru tags in and takes out the knee. Nagata counters into an XPLODER, Kojima tag in with machinegun chops, the forearm and is cut off. Suzuki-gun works him over, Nakanishi makes the save and suplexes Kanemaru and Despy at the same time. Lariat by Kojima and Kanemaru is done. Manabu Nakanishi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, and Yuji Nagata defeated Suzuki-gun @ 10:00 via pin [**½] This was solid with the dads playing the hits as they pickup the feel good win.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Toru Yano, and Colt Cabana vs. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Jay White, and Bad Luck Fale: Jado & Gedo are at ringside. Bullet Club attacks, and now the Golden Aces work over GOD, taking control and isolating Tama and following with double teams for 2. Loa in and Tanahashi follows with strikes, Jay cheap shots him Jado follows with a kendo shot. Tama takes the heat on Tanahashi, choking him out and tag in Loa as senton atomicos follow for 2.Jay tags in and Tanahashi fires back, but Jay grounds him and attacks the leg. The half crab follows, but Tanahashi makes the ropes. Fale tags in, he stomps on Tanahashi and keeps attacking the knee. Jay back in and keeps Tanahashi grounded. Loa follows with elbow drops, Tama joins in for double teams and Tanahashi fires back. dumps Tama and tags in Ibushi. He runs wild on Tama, lays in a flurry of strikes and powerslam and moonsault for 2. Tama cuts him off with the complete shot, Ibushi counters back with head kicks and Loa cuts him off with a nasty German. Ibushi battles back with the double PELE, Colt and Jay tag in, Colt runs wild and follows with the flip flop and fly. The flying asshole connects and the splash follows for 2. Jay cuts him off with a DDT, Fale tags in and Colt battles back, tags in Yano and Fale attacks with strikes. Yano slaps Fale, but gets mowed down as it breaks down. Bullet Club runs wild on Yano, shenanigans follow and Yano low blows and backslides Fale for the win. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Toru Yano, and Colt Cabana defeated Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Jay White, and Bad Luck Fale @ 12:55 via pin [**¾] This was pretty good, with some build to the upcoming tag title match, while Colt & Yano were fun. Fale being back is not a positive.
– Post match, Tiger fights off and low blows both Jado & Gedo.
Kazuchika Okada, Big Tom Ishii, and Hirooki Goto vs. Tetsuya Naito, Shingo, and SANADA: This is Tiger Hattori’s final match as a NJPW ref. Ishii and Shingo begin, locking up and working to the ropes. Ishii follows with chops, they trade and light each other up center ring, both men are staggered and then keep throwing. Shoulder tackle by Ishii, he follows with strikes and chops in the corner. Okada tags in and hits back elbows, a slam and senton atomico for 2. Goto tags in and the back elbow follows for 2. Shingo fires back, LIJ rushes the ring and we get brawling on the floor as Shingo takes control on Goto. Ishii in and trades with Shingo, Shingo runs Goto &Ishii together as LIJH lay the boots to Goto. Naito follows with the neck breaker for 2. SANADA tags in and he maintains control. Goto fires back, they work into counters and Goto hits a lariat. Naito tags back in and clears out CHAOS until Goto cuts him off. Okada tags in and follows with the back elbow. The corner elbow and DDT gets 2. Naito cuts him off with a RANA, a neck breaker and they workup top until Okada slips out in a rough spot. Enziguri by Naito, Okada blocks the DDT and hits the air raid neck breaker. Ishii & Shingo tag in and it’s beefy boy time as they light each other up and Ishii hits a Saito suplex. Shingo fires back, hits a suplex and follows with kicks and strikes as Ishii fires up. He’s had enough of Shingo’s shit and fires back, hits the powerslam, lariat and Shingo pops up as they trade. Ishii starts fucking him up until Shingo kills him with a lariat. SANADA tags in and Ishii cuts him off with a suplex. Goto tags in and he runs wild on SANADA, hits the spin kick Saito and covers for 2. SANADA fires back, takes out the knee as LIJ take control. Okada makes the save, hits the dropkick and Naito cuts him off as it breaks down. Ushigoroshi by Goto on SANADA but SANADA cradles him for 2. Goto then cradles him for 2. SANADA follows with the O’Connor roll into the bridge for the win. Tetsuya Naito, Shingo, and SANADA defeated Kazuchika Okada, Big Tom Ishii, and Hirooki Goto @ 16:15 via pin [***] This was a good, but disappointing match. Ishii & Shingo were great, Naito and Okada felt really of and SANADA just feels like such a YOSHI-HASHI level geek these days.
– Post match, Tiger joins in on the LIJ salute.
– We close with the Tiger Hattori retirement ceremony. CHAOS arrives and offer Tiger flowers, handshakes and hugs before the photo op. Tiger then gets to pin Okada. Jushin Liger and the babyface roster including Shibata arrive for their goodbyes. Interesting that Rocky was out here and NOT with CHAOS. More flowers, handshakes and hugs follow before the next photo op. The referees arrive and pay tribute to Tiger, giving him an autographed ref shirt. Harold and NJPW officials arrive for thier tribute spot. Tiger starts tearing up as The Great Kabuki arrives, thanks the crowd and offers flowers and handshakes. Hiroshi Hase then arrives. He thanks Tiger. MUTA then arrives to offer his thanks and to say goodbye. Riki Choshu arrives to join the party because Tiger Hattori is the coolest motherfucker on the planet. We get a video message from Inoki & Tenryu. Tiger thanks everyone, he loved his career and will miss it. He thanks the NJPW roster, team, staff and fans. He will treasure his time in the business and will never forget it. They then do the 10-bell salute for his career ending. Tiger then takes his final bows before the roster enters the ring and toss him up into the air, and he pins Okada again. STRAP UP HATTORI!
The 411 on Wrestling Podcast returns to the 411 Podcasting Network for episode 91. On the show, 411’s Larry Csonka & Kevin Pantoja review NXT Takeover: Portland, & hit a news roundup on rumored WrestleMania matches and much more! The show is approximately 81-minutes long.
* Intro
* News Roundup (Rumored Mania Matches, Nyla Rose Reactions, NJPW, More): 2:45
* NXT Takeover: Portland Review: 34:25
* iTunes
* Spotify
* Stitcher
* Google Play
– Thanks for reading.
– End scene.
