NJPW Road to Destruction Night 3

Kickoff

Masatora Yasuda vs Daiki Nagai ended in a time-limit draw.

***

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After a hotly contested battle, Yasuda held a vicious and dramatic Boston Crab until Nagai nearly passed out. The 10-minute time limit elapsed, however, ending the match in a draw.

— The NJPW locker room emptied to the arena for the late Kuniaki Kobayashi’s 10-Bell Memorial Ceremony

Main Show

Tiger Mask & Tomoaki Honma defeated Katsuya Murashima & Shoma Kato

Tiger Mask pinned Kato after a Tiger Suplex.

***

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Francesco Akira defeated TAKA Michinoku

***

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Akira matched the veteran in Michinoku with a Michinoku Driver II for the win.

Michinoku and Akira felt like two generations speaking to each other, like a passing of the baton. Akira has a lot of upside, never failing to impress me in the ring.

SANADA & Taichi defeated Kosei Fujita & Zack Sabre Jr.

***

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SANADA won via a Deadfall on Zack Sabre Jr.

It’s been a few years in New Japan Pro Wrestling without Suzuki-gun and Dangerous Tekkers, so this match felt bittersweet. As for the dejected SANADA after a fruitless G1 Climax, I’m curious to see where he goes after beating this year’s finalist.

Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, Dick Togo, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL defeated Shota Umino, Ryusuke Taguchi, Oleg Boltin, Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi

**3/4

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EVIL and Togo dropped Taguchi with a Magic Killer for the win, despite a last-minute Tanahashi reaching out to help.

Boltin continues to shine. Taguchi locking in after a series of goofy antics never ceases to make me laugh, but he makes it work.

Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Jake Lee, Gabe Kidd & David Finlay

***

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Goto hit Kidd with a seemingly normal Brainbuster, leading to an awkward-looking victory over the dazed Brit.

— Post-match – Ishii and Bishamon brawled with Finlay and Kidd. Lee was absent.

This was a pretty fine match until the pin. Goto looked confused at Kidd being too late to kick out, yet turned out to be fine. Lee wasn’t seen after hurting his knee.

Tetsuya Naito, Yota Tsuji (as Mascara Kantan Su Tomato), Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI defeated Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, HENARE, Callum Newman & Jakob Austin Young

**1/2

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Following a Tornado DDT and Pluma Blanca combination, Naito tapped out the United Empire’s Young for the win.

Despite the drama of Naito and HENARE preparing to defend their IWGP World Heavyweight and NEVER Openweight titles respectively at Destruction in Kobe, I chuckled as Tsuji found the time to don a mask as Mascara Kantan Su Tomato. This was an action-packed 8-man tag that continued to elevate Young.

Main Event

DOUKI (c) defeated Taiji Ishimori for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship

***

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Initially evenly matched, Ishimori quickly got ahead of DOUKI following a moonsault off the second rope and slamming his arm into the ring post, trapped in a chair. Avoiding a 20-count at 15, DOUKI fared no better; Ishimori’s dirty tactics refused to let DOUKI on his feet for long.

DOUKI found the strength to unleash a snap hurricanrana, a tope, a DDT, and a suplex in succession to Ishimori, finally gaining him some control. Throughout the match, he spiked Ishimori on his head to loud effect. DOUKI countered Ishimori’s Bloody Cross into a gnarly DDT that nearly had the win. DOUKI retained his championship after transitioning a Bone Lock into a Suplex De La Luna.

Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Up