Ryusuke Taguchi & Yuji Nagata defeated Fighter N & Fighter Y (characters from the Go! Go! Loser Ranger stage show)
Taguchi won the match via an ankle lock on Fighter Y, while Nagata held Fighter N in a headlock as Y tapped out.
Jakob Austin Young defeated Shoma Kato
Following their trios match against each other on the previous night (September 8), Young and Kato traded blows, with Kato eventually gaining momentum. Escaping a Boston Crab, Young followed with elbows and knees until finally landing a Jakob’s Ladder to get the pin.
I was nearly, nearly convinced that Kato might escape with the win, but Young’s comeback put that to rest. Kato really sank in that Boston Crab.
Kosei Fujita & Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Katsuya Murashima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Sabre Jr. and Tenzan started this match, but Fujita fought to impose his longer tenure against the Young Lion in Murashima. Tenzan’s power at first seemed to overwhelm Sabre Jr. later on, but the G1 Finalist’s ingenuity and maneuvering kept him above water.
Using his TMDK training, Fujita ensnared Murashima in an arm bar and added his other arm for increased effect the further the Young Lion inched toward a rope break. Murashima submitted with both arms trapped.
Murashima came off excellently here. It’s a credit to how far along Fujita’s come to sell the future importance of Murashima.
SHO & Ren Narita defeated Jado & Shota Umino
Before the match even started, SHO and Narita darted off to stop Umino and Jado ahead of the bell. Undeterred, Umino remained evenly matched with Narita. Sensing Jado to be the weaker link in the team, Narita and SHO targeted the former Bullet Club member, weakening his knee.
Narita and Umino continued their rugged affair, still unable to gain control over the other. Jado had much better luck in applying his experience in picking apart SHO until Narita distracted him with a wrench. SHO took advantage of this by swinging a board to the back of the veteran’s leg and pinning him for the win.
With the focus on Narita and Umino’s rivalry, I feel that despite my misgivings about House of Torture, this character trajectory for Narita makes for a compelling story in the greater scope of the Reiwa Three Musketeers.
Jake Lee & Gabe Kidd defeated Tomoaki Honma & Tomohiro Ishii
In a rematch from last night, Ishii and Lee started without hesitation, exchanging blows until Kidd overwhelmed the Stone Pitbull. Honma had no time for this, as he cornered and battered the verbal Kidd. Ishii made the save when Lee and Kidd held Honma in a precarious predicament on the ropes, leading to Honma nearly pinning Kidd after a falling headbutt. Overcoming Kidd and Lee, he rolled up the former for a pin, to no avail.
After another save by Ishii, the Stone Pitbull brawled with Lee on the outside. Kidd won the match with a running knee on Honma.
— Post-match – Ishii continued to brawl with Lee and Kidd but was choked unconscious.
I came for Ishii and Kidd locking up, and I got what I wanted. I admit that Lee and Honma work together well.
EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Oleg Boltin & Tiger Mask
Boltin remained strong in the early goings, but thanks to the pack mentality, he wass but mere prey to the House of Torture. Tanahashi evened the odds, laying out EVIL. Tagging in Tiger Mask and Yano, they and Boltin charged EVIL in a combined effort before House of Torture broke it up.
Tiger Mask for a time handled Kanemaru with ease before interference by Togo and Takahashi saw him on his back. Togo dropped a Senton onto Tiger Mask while Kanemaru trapped him in a Figure Four Leglock, making him tap.
These matches continue to leave Boltin being a standout while working with established veterans. The rest of this was a typical House of Torture match, heavy with interference.
DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku defeated Taiji Ishimori & Gedo
Ishimori and DOUKI were off to a hot start, with a DOUKI Chokey involved, but no headway. Gedo and Michinoku engaged in a series of pins, with repeated kickouts. Gedo submitted to a face lock by Michinoku while DOUKI maintained a DOUKI Chokey even after the bell rang when the match was over.
A blazing sprint that knew what it needed to be. Fun and concise.
Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, Callum Newman & Francesco Akira defeated Tetsuya Naito, Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, Callum Newman & Francesco Akira
Immediately, everyone splintered off. Tsuji and Cobb were left to resume the action from last night’s NJPW World TV Championship match, while Naito bullied Khan on the outside and mocked Khan with his signature pose. Newman and Akira delivered a speedy offense to wear down Takagi, leading to all-out mayhem in the ring.
Left alone, Khan and the legal BUSHI contested each other in the ring. With an Eliminator, Khan secured the victory for the United Empire, while staring at Naito, who watched from the outside.
This sets the stage perfectly for the physical threat Khan is to Naito’s reign. Newman and Akira’s speed I found to be exhilarating and I was satisfied to see Cobb and Tsuji run back their previous match, showing that it’s far from over between them.
HENARE defeated Hiromu Takahashi for the NEVER Openweight Championship
HENARE may be a pure heavyweight, but Takahashi fought as though he were more than a junior heavyweight. He used a Falcon Arrow for a near-count but was unsuccessful. HENARE struggled with Takahashi’s velocity, nearly slamming him had it not been for a swift and sly transition into a DDT.
In a heated exchange, Takahashi traded his chops with HENARE’s kicks, both to the chest; HENARE dropped to his knees after a brutal chop before standing tall again. Seemingly submitting, Takahashi dropped to his knees, accepting another kick to the chest and another to the face for a pin which he kicked out of, and another which he kicked out of again. Eventually, he finds the strength to catch HENARE and give him a powerbomb.
HENARE countered with lariats and kicks but still struggled to keep Takahashi down. Even with a TOA Bottom, Takahashi couldn’t be pinned, despite a rigorous sleeper hold moments prior. Not even a Rampage could end the match for the champion. Takahashi wasn’t without his troubles, as his Time Bombs lacked the explosive impact needed to put HENARE away. At last, with a Streets of Rage, HENARE retained his title, soundly defeating Takahashi definitively.
— Post-match – HENARE put his hand on Takahashi’s chest as a sign of respect. As Tetsuya Naito and Shingo Takagi checked on their prone comrade, the latter was challenged by the champion. HENARE then professed the importance of the championship to him and his culture.
Chris Charlton put it best, “this is what the NEVER Openweight Championship should represent.” A thrilling ride from bell to bell, Takahashi’s unpredictability made for an interesting matchup for HENARE’s overwhelming vigor. This mixup made for an intense viewing, one that makes a fan’s heartbeat echo like an angry drum. If you want a standout on this Road To Destruction tour, this is one to make time for.
Overall: Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Up
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