HOUSE OF TORTURE have had a stranglehold on the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships for the better part of the last year, even in the spotlight as challengers when not champions. After claiming the belts from CHAOS once again recently, they would run into a problem in the form of former BULLET CLUB member Hikule’o. He’d be the force that took them down earlier this month, with a chokeslam allowing Ryusuke Taguchi to be placed into a pinfall for the victory.
If that happens again tonight, then he’ll be champions alongside Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi – as the gold is on the line here tonight. Joining the challenges to the ring was Jado, who will attempt to offset the interference of House of Torture member Dick Togo – but better men have tried and failed that goal over the past two years. Add in that Ryusuke Taguchi stole the wrench of SHO and sent it to the back with the aid of a Young Lion – and the field was even for once.
House Of Torture Are Rock Solid As A Trio, Even Ignoring Their Cheating Ways
House of Torture would attack before the bell, with SHO focused on Taguchi in the ring – and EVIL getting some stomps in as well. Taguchi would leap for a hip attack, but got nothing but air and canvas before being stomped once again. Another hip attack attempt would be more successful, dropping SHO but landing in an Atomic Drop from EVIL.
Taguchi would avoid a low blow from EVIL, and hit one of his own while the referee’s attention was elsewhere. Tanahashi would receive the tag – and get some blows in before Hikule’o would hit the biggest hip attack in NJPW history. A three way hip attack would follow from Taguchi Japan, but EVIL would duck the second causing the challengers to fall.
On the floor, a brawl would favour House of Torture, with EVIL slamming Taguchi into the timekeepers table, before choking him with a microphone. Back in the ring, Taguchi would be crotched on the top rope, before being sent back to the floor and hit with a steel chair. In the ring again, the referee refused to count the pinfall – being well aware of what House of Torture pulled on the floor.
Taguchi would battle for control in the ring, but took a leg drop and headbutt from Takahashi for a two count. A four man Cobra Twist from House of Torture would follow, and with the chain leading out of the ring – had to be released before the count of five or risk a DQ. SHO would hit some swift kicks to the face and chest of Taguchi, before taking him back into the House of Torture corner.
Four Texas Cloverleafs Nearly Take Out House Of Torture
Taguchi would fight his way to a tag, and Hikule’o would drop EVIL & Takahashi with a double clothesline. Takahashi tried to break him down into Pimp Juice – but was unable to hit the DDT before taking a big running elbow drop for a two count. A snap powerslam would follow, getting Hikule’o another near fall.
Tanahashi would get the tag, but would be dropped with a Fisherman Buster from Takahashi. EVIL got the tag. A set of Dragon Screws would set EVIL up for the Texas Cloverleaf, with Hikule’o and Taguchi stopping SHO & Takahashi. Jado would be able to stop Togo, and we had four Texas Cloverleafs applied, but EVIL found the bottom rope to break the important one. Tanahashi would signal for the Slingblade, but was sent from the ring.
He’d make his way back in, but was dropped with a lariat. Darkness Falls would land, but Tanahashi was able to kick out at two. The STO would be blocked with Tanahashi instead having his eyes raked, and being sent back first into the now exposed House of Torture corner – thanks to SHO removing the padding.
House of Torture would be run down by their challengers, who SHO taking a Slingblade. Aces High would follow – before Tanahashi went up to the top rope a second time for the High Fly Flow. SHO shoved the referee into the ropes to drop Tanahashi, before Takahashi used his cane as a weapon. Togo would help hit the Magic Killer – but Tanahashi was able to kick out.
SHO Drops Ryusuke Taguchi With Shock Arrow
SHO would look for a German Suplex on Tanahashi, but was easily countered by The Ace. Taguchi got the tag, and hit the Swan Dive Hip Attack. He’d call for his version of the Boma Ye – and it landed for a two count. Taguchi moved right into the Ankle Lock, with EVIL & Takahashi unable to make the save.
SHO would fight to his feet, and avoided the Dodon by driving Taguchi back into the House of Torture corner. Taguchi would be caught into a German Suplex going for a Hip Attack, before the Cross Armed Piledriver. Tanahashi was able to make the save, but Taguchi would almost take Shock Arrow.
Hikule’o looked to make the save with a chokeslam, but Takahashi hit a low blow and Pimp Juice. SHO found another wrench, but Taguchi avoided the shot and kicked SHO in the face. An Omori Suplex would be followed up with Dodon, but SHO would manage to kick out.
Taguchi would pull his tights down and sit on the face of SHO to try and get a pinfall, before being shoved into a chair shot. Shock Arrow would follow, and this one was over. House of Torture remain the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions.
Full Results From 10/23 Stop On Battle Autumn Tour
Other results from this show are as follows. Complete NJPW coverage will resume on October 28th for The Rumble On 44th Street, and again on November 5th for the conclusion of the Battle Autumn tour.
DOUKI defeats Kosei Fujita (7:23)
Suzuki-gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Zack Sabre Jr.) defeat Alex Zayne & Yuto Nakashima (8:27)
United Empire (Aaron Henare, Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb) defeat Ryohei Oiwa, Togi Makabe & Toru Yano (10:30)
CHAOS (Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI) defeat David Finlay, Ren Narita & Tiger Mask (9:28)
Suzuki-gun (El Desperado, Taichi & TAKA Michinoku) defeat BULLET CLUB (Gedo, KENTA & Taiji Ishimori) (10:30)
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & SANADA) defeat Master Wato & Tomoaki Honma (11:26)
Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Tetsuya Naito & Titan) defeat United Empire (Francesco Akira, Gideon Grey & TJP) (9:26)
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Title Match – House Of Torture (EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi) (w/Dick Togo) (c) defeat Hikuleo, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi (w/Jado) (21:40)
Who will be next to challenge House of Torture? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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