NJPW Road to Destruction Night 4

Kazushi Sakuraba & Toru Yano defeated Masatora Yasuda & Daiki Nagai

**

Thumbs Down

Sakuraba tapped Yasuda out with a Sakuraba Lock for the win.

Yasuda and Nagai are still growing talents; seeing them working with a comedic approach already flexes their experience as they progress.

Shota Umino won the 20-man Ranbo after last eliminating Zack Sabre Jr.

**3/4

Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Up

Participants: Katsuya Murashima, Shoma Kato, Yuma24, Tomoaki Honma, Tiger Mask, Kosei Fujita, Jado, Ryusuke Taguchi, Francesco Akira, TAKA Michinoku, Tomoya, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Takashi Iizuka, Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, DOUKI, SANADA, Shota Umino, and Zack Sabre Jr.

Umino sent Sabre Jr. out of the ring with a dropkick.

Ranbo matches are entertaining, as evidenced by Iizuka’s wild presence, like when he attacked one of the Japanese commentators.

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

***

Thumbs Up

The War Dogs won after Kidd finished off Goto with a Piledriver.

In the match, Kidd used his rage at Ishii and his team for causing Jake Lee’s injury on September 11.

Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, Callum Newman, HENARE, & Jakob Austin Young defeated Tetsuya Naito, Yota Tsuji, BUSHI, Shingo Takagi, & Hiromu Takahashi

***

Thumbs Up

HENARE won with a Full-Nelson lock to BUSHI.

I’m more sold than before on the Destruction main event between Khan and Naito, and I was already sold on it. As I await Zack Sabre Jr.’s upcoming match against the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, the story in this Road To tour leaves a question of who will survive Destruction. Bonus: I got more fallout from the Cobb/Tsuji and HENARE/Takahashi matches – a welcome retread.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, and Oleg Boltin (c) defeated EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, and Dick Togo for the NEVER Six-Man Championship

***

Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Down

Enduring the typical House of Torture fare, Tanahashi stood against EVIL until he was overcome. Boltin came to his rescue, leveling the playing field for Yano to get some handy offense – he didn’t, as he protected the Yoshinoya turnbuckle from their onslaught. EVIL spent most of the time picking him apart before handing him to Takahashi.

Boltin, back in the ring, battered Takahashi and rattled him around like a ragdoll, taking advantage of his strength and weight. He attempted a Brainbuster, only for Takahashi to transition it into a DDT. Tanahashi returned with a Sling Blade to EVIL before Togo swung a turnbuckle to The Ace’s back.

Yano, back in the ring, suffered Whiskey in the Eye by an interfering Yoshinobu Kanemaru, followed by a Magic Killer, and a Pedigree via Togo. But through the combined efforts of the champs, Boltin weakened Togo for Tanahashi’s High Fly Flow and Yano’s Oni Koroshi. It was Yano’s devastating thud that guaranteed the 3-count to retain the belts.

Not mind-blowing by any means, but this has been the most I’ve enjoyed House of Torture since maybe its inception. Despite his veteran status, I’m still astounded at how Yano can summon the ability to make his comedy add to the drama of the matches. Tanahashi thrives in this environment at this point in his career and I’m thankful I can see The Ace in a good light in his matches once more. I’ve said enough at how much potential there is in Boltin’s physique and how he uses it. Keep these belts on these men.

Overall: Thumbs In The Middle Pointing Down