Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr [ZSJ]/Taichi) bullied their way to an IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match against champions Golden Ace (Hiroshi Tanahashi/Kota Ibushi) after Taichi defeated both titleholders during the New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) Cup.
The day prior, Dangerous Tekkers attacked Tanahashi’s knee extensively during an 8-man tag during the New Japan Cup Finals event. Despite many not viewing ZSJ/Taichi as a legitimate tag team before NJPW returning from the COVID-19 induced break, Dangerous Tekkers spent over two years teaming together on a normal basis.
During the 2018 World Tag League, Dangerous Tekkers managed to score 16 points (8 wins) and having a respectable bracket finish among the 14 teams. In 2019, they managed 18 points (9 wins) and another respectable finish among 16 teams. This while Golden Ace competed in either tournament as a team, reducing their 2 v 2 experience as a tag team.
The twenty-eight minute and forty-three second Dominion v1 defense for Golden Ace was wrestled at the preferred pace of Dangerous Tekkers. While ZSJ wasn’t able to do a great deal of mat work, he remained effective in slowing down either opponent.
Tanahashi/Ibushi would show their undeniable spirit and fight to gain control at multiple points during the match, but it never felt as they were able to truly take momentum away from Dangerous Tekkers.
After Taichi was able to use Takashi Iizuka’s iron glove on Ibushi, Dangerous Tekkers were able to isolate Tanahashi and take apart his knee in brutal fashion. Soon after they hit the Holy Zack Driver to get the victory and win the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.
Golden Ace was unable to have a successful defense, much like Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga/Tanga Loa) and FinJuice (David Finlay/Juice Robinson) before them.
Both Tanahashi and Ibushi will be featured in the NJPW Landscape series this week, as the events of Dominion could set both down a new path.
