NJPW Super Junior Tag League Results: Catch 2/2 [12] Defeat Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA [2], Lio Rush & YOH [12] Defeat Wild Hips [6] (12/07)

Kevin Knight graduated from his Young Lion status during Super Junior Tag League, but alongside KUSHIDA has had a hard time picking up wins. They’re mathematically eliminated from the tournament – but tonight is a high value match all the same. Faced with the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Catch 2/2, a win tonight could grant them a future title shot without winning the tournament.

Catch 2/2 are a front-running team at 10 points, and can’t slow down until the tournament is over because of that. KUSHIDA is a two time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion in his own right, having held the belts alongside Alex Shelley in 2013 & 2014 for a combined 313 days as champion – and he’d love to add a third reign to his record.

TJP Is An LA Dojo OG

Knight would choose to start alongside TJP, two very distant graduates of the LA Dojo system. TJP would be taken into a rear waist lock and slammed to the mat, where he was able to quickly manoeuvre back to his feet. A wrist lock would briefly give control over Knight, before TJP took a set of high impact chops. TJP tried to run Knight down with a shoulder tackle, but had little success.

Akira hit the ring to help TJP, only for both to be run down by The Jet. KUSHIDA would assist in breaking down the arms of Catch 2/2, before Akira would catch Knight in the corner with a speedy dropkick. Knight would find himself being choked in the corner by Akira, and taken down with a series of fast strikes in the middle of the ring.

TJP would start to work on the left leg of Knight, only to be kicked by the right. Akira would help in preventing the tag, before Catch 2/2 would apply the Tarantula in the ropes. TJP would follow up with the Tope Atomico, before taking Akira onto his shoulders with a senton launch in mind – only for Knight to instead dropkick Akira down.

KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight Fall Short Against Catch 2/2

KUSHIDA hit the ring with a diving chop before the Timesplitter Combo in the middle of the ring. Akira blocked the Buzzsaw Kick, before having to fight to the ropes as KUSHIDA applied an armbar. A shotei palm strike would strike Akira down, allowing KUSHIDA to make the tag to Knight.

Knight looked for a superplex on Akira, but was stopped by TJP. KUSHIDA got the Hoverboard Lock applied, allowing Knight to take Akira off the top rope with a hurricanrana before a DDT for a two count. Akira was able to hit a double dropkick, setting up a double facebuster from TJP. Knight & TJP would trade strikes in the middle of the ring, Knight hitting a picture perfect dropkick to the face of TJP.

Avoiding a splash in the corner, TJP would be able to nail a Tornado DDT for a near fall. TJP went to the top rope for Mamba Splash, but Knight jumped up to try for a superplex. He’d be hung in the Tree of Woe instead, before a dropkick from Akira and the Mamba Splash. KUSHIDA broke the pinfall up, only to be dropped by the Alley Oop before Knight fell to a double kick for the finish.

YOH & Lio Rush Are The Team CHAOS Was Missing

YOH & Lio Rush are the Junior Heavyweight tag team that CHAOS was missing after SHO showed his true colours a year ago. They’ve been able to gain five victories so far, and the finals are within sight due to this. Tonight, they face a team who have not found the same success with Wild Hips, who seem more keen on just having a fun time in their matches than actually claiming the win.

Rush & Connors would kick things off, with Rush quickly taking things down to the mat. They’d end up at a stalemate, before Rush decided to pick up the pace – running circles around Connors before nailing an Enziguri. YOH hit the ring to try and double team Connors, before he’d just run the CHAOS unit down. Taguchi would be thrown into hip attacks on the opponents, before being stuck in the corner.

YOH would launch Rush into a headbutt to the rear end of Taguchi, potentially doing more damage to Rush. Taguchi would be tied up in the ropes as CHAOS double teamed Connors, Rush getting a two count after a body press. Connors would be unable to free Taguchi for the tag, being overwhelmed by CHAOS. He’d knock down YOH, only for Rush to attack from behind. Finally, he’d be able to hit the Jeep Flip, sending Rush into YOH who was knocked into Taguchi, finally setting him free.

Stone Cold Lio Rush

Taguchi hit the ropes for some B-Triggers, before the People’s Ass Drop on YOH for a two count. Rush offered a beer to Taguchi, before hitting him with a Stone Cold Stunner. He’d go back to finish his beer before going for a dive on Rush… and being stopped by nausea before a spear from Connors. Steve Austin made drinking and wrestling look easy.

YOH would be stuck in the middle of the ring, as Taguchi & Connors pulled their tights down and hit a double hip attack – with Rush making the save. Taguchi would block a roll up attempt into a pinfall of his own for two, before going into the ankle lock. YOH would break free by forcing Taguchi to drink some beer and shaking his head.

Taguchi would spray the beer in the sky like Triple H with a bottle of water, before running into the 3K ending this match. After the match, Connors would share a beer with Rush and take a stunner. Will Wild Hips remain together in 2023? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.

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