With only three nights to go, things have reached their peak in the 2020 World Tag League. We have three teams leading the pack with 8 points, those being Ishii & Yano, Takagi & SANADA, and Dangerous Tekkers. Close behind is The Empire, FinJuice, Guerrillas of Destiny, and EVIL & Yujiro. Any of these teams could still win, but even a single loss at this point can spell disaster, with very little time left for any rebounds.
World Tag League 2020 Match: BULLET CLUB (EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi) vs. The Empire (Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb)
Kicking off the tournament matches is an interesting one. Great O-Khan has shown little respect to anyone but Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb since returning to NJPW, but EVIL is a man he admires. So much so, that he wants EVIL in The Empire, not in Bullet Club. After suffering back to back losses, they don’t make a strong argument for EVIL to join them, but perhaps O-Khan & Cobb can beat some respect into EVIL, and sway his mind with violence.
This was a hard fought match from both sides, and while it started off as a typical heel vs. heel affair, all the cheating from EVIL & Dick Togo would get the crowd quickly behind The Empire. They’d get a pep in their step, and overcome every trick in the book. In the end, O-Khan would first throw Takahashi into EVIL to take him out, then throw Takahashi to Cobb for a huge Tour of The Islands. This win moves them up to 8 points.
Match Rating: 3.25/5 (*** ¼)
World Tag League 2020 Match: CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens)
After a rough start, losing four in a row, Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens have found their rhythm. If everything goes their way for the rest of the tournament, they could even walk away with a win, but it’s unlikely. They’re opponents tonight are in the same boat, as Goto & YOSHI-HASHI need to simply keep on winning, and then maybe they’ll make the finals. However, that boat only has room for one team, and after this match, we’ll know which one.
As expected, Goto & YOSHI-HASHI came into this one with as much fire as they could. Fale & Owens would do their best to keep up, and their two win streak had them confident enough to not cheat as much as usual. It was a straight up and fair fight, and in the end Goto & YOSHI-HASHI would hit GYR for the win. This win moves them up to 6 points, staying barely afloat, while Fale & Owens are effectively eliminated.
Match Rating: 2.75/5 (** ¾)
World Tag League 2020 Match: CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) vs. HenarACE (Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare)
At a record of 1-5 in this tournament, HenarACE are effectively eliminated. Adding to their troubles, they have to face a front running team who has been on a hot streak. Yano & Ishii are looking like winners after toppling The Empire and outgunning the Guerrillas of Destiny, but they could run into a spoiler tonight. Add in the fact that Henare was set to face Ishii in the original New Japan Cup, and gets his chance to test himself against The Stone Pitbull tonight, and you have an interesting matchup.
While Tanahashi & Yano were in this match, the focus was clear. Henare & Ishii spent this match throwing heavy blows. Ishii is the best brawler in the world, and damn if Henare didn’t stand his own against him in this match. Henare just couldn’t get that finishing blow in, and Ishii got the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the win. It was a fantastic match, and gives great hope for a singles match between them down the line. This win pushes Ishii & Yano to 10 points, the first team to reach this milestone in the tournament.
Match Rating: 4/5 (****)
World Tag League 2020 Match: Guerrillas Of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japón (SANADA & Shingo Takagi)
Before the World Tag League began, there were some doubts about SANADA & Takagi as a tag team, but their 4-2 record shows that was unwarranted. They’ve gelled quickly, and are one of the leading teams, but still lack experience. That is something Guerrillas of Destiny has to spare, and their campaign in World Tag League is just getting started. They can’t afford to stop moving now, and they need to use their superior teamwork to overcome the tournament’s most daunting team.
Once the match started, it became clear how good a matchup these two teams are. Tanga Loa was able to match the brute power of Shingo, while Tama Tonga was every bit as smooth as SANADA in the ring. It came down to Guerrillas of Destiny having more mileage as a tag team, and being able to take out Shingo. This left the match down to SANADA & Tama Tonga, and an incredibly satisfying finishing stretch worthy of the G1 Climax, ending in a Gun Stun from Tonga for the win. This moves Guerrillas of Destiny up to 8 points, keeping them steady in the mix.
Match Rating: 3.75/5 (*** ¾)
World Tag League 2020 Match: FinJuice (David Finlay & Juice Robinson) vs. Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.)
One of the biggest matches that could happen in this year’s tournament is finally here. The previous years World Tag League winners against the reigning IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. Last time FinJuice met Dangerous Tekkers, they would lose, but if they want to repeat last year’s success, they need to get that record to 1-1 tonight. That last match really made fans realize how good Dangerous Tekkers can be, but tonight, FinJuice needs to remind everyone why they’re winners.
As expected with arguably the two best tag teams in NJPW, this one was an absolute treat. Both teams came in with full intent to win, but FinJuice was as good as ever here. They needed this win for multiple reasons, and it showed. From Juice punching both men in the face while yelling ‘Eat shit!’ to multiple Pulp Frictions, it was a dominant win from FinJuice, and one that pushes them every close to their second consecutive win.
Match Rating: 3.5/5 (*** ½)
What was your favorite match of Night Seven of World Tag League? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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