After failing his main event test against Tetsuya Naito last week in Sapporo – Shota Umino has a chance to reset in 8 man tag team action here tonight. Teaming with Tomoaki Honma, Tiger Mask IV, and Ryusuke Taguchi against Los Ingobernables De Japon. Naito, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI are all in action here tonight – looking to set the pace for factionmate Shingo Takagi, who is in tonight’s main event for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Lio Rush Calls Out Hiromu Takahashi For IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match
BUSHI & Tiger would kick this match off, quickly hitting a stalemate. Honma got the tag and called for SANADA, and they were able to lock up despite Honma being oiled up. SANADA tried to put him in the Paradise Lock, but he slipped free because he was greased up. Naito would be disgusted to get the tag and have to touch Honma, wiping his hands on his shirt every time – but walking away from a running Kokeshi.
Umino got the tag and took the fight to Naito – before he’d have to fight off all of L.I.J. Naito would take the Fisherman Suplex, but kicked out at two. Hiromu would get the tag and took a Vertical Suplex. Tiger, Honma & Taguchi would assist with some strikes in the corner before a double Kokeshi. Hiromu would be taken into the ankle lock – but fought free and set up the four way dropkick from L.I.J.
Taguchi would be run down with the lariat, before Time Bomb II for the victory. Following this match, Lio Rush would call out Hiromu Takahashi for the next shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. His tag team partner YOH might have failed, but Rush has had his eye on Hiromu for quite some time – and he’s ready to see him up close.
Master Wato & Taiji Ishimori Meet In Special Singles Match
Taiji Ishimori has been having a hard time since Wrestle Kingdom 17. That night, he lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in a Fatal Four Way match – with Master Wato being key in his loss. Ishimori would also fall to Wato in some multi-man tag team matches. Wato now has a chance to get another big singles win over Ishimori, as they meet in a special singles match ahead of the All Star Jr. Festival.
Ishimori would use his uncanny agility around the ropes to try and catch Wato off guard, only to be dropped with the running bulldog. Wato would look for a Tilt-A-Whirl Slam on the floor – only to instead be thrown into the ring post shoulder first. Ishimori exposed a corner of the ring, and drove him shoulder first again before an arm breaker.
Wato would have to find the bottom rope as a submission was applied, with Ishimori keeping the pressure on with strikes before trying to again send Wato into the steel. Slipping out to the floor instead, Wato would gain the high ground for a running hurricanrana to set up a dive to the floor. Back in the ring, Wato would hit the diving lariat before trying to the Elevated German Suplex – with Ishimori blocking.
Ishimori Gets The Big Win Over Wato
Vendaval would be applied – with Ishimori using the ropes to get the win. Wato would miss a kick and had his eyes raked, before the Handspring Blast Kick to the side of the head. Sliding German Suplex was set, with Ishimori dumping Wato on his head. 450 Splash would be avoided, before Wato was driven again into the corner.
Ishimori would pull Wato up from the corner and slam him down with a Shoulder Breaker. Bone Lock would be applied in the middle of the ring – with Wato almost rolling to the ropes. Wato would avoid Bloody Cross, before again ending up in the Bone Lock.
Ishimori was tilted into a pinfall, before taking the Roundhouse Kick and the Elevated German Suplex for a two count. Wato was getting closer by the second, and a flash pinfall would get a near fall. Ishimori hit a Ripcord Knee strike and big lariat, and Bloody Cross spelled defeat for Wato.
KENTA & Hiroshi Tanahashi Have Bad Blood
When it comes to the history between Hiroshi Tanahashi & KENTA – they’ve had seven singles matches since 2019. We’ve seen them battle in the G1 Climax, over the IWGP United States Championship in Tokyo Dome – and despite a record of 4-3 in favour of KENTA. The loss at Wrestle Kingdom 16 in a street fight still haunts the mind of KENTA, and ahead of his match against Fred Rosser at Battle In The Valley – he has a chance to silence his mind. It’s time for a special singles match, as both men look to get their 2023 moving in the right direction.
The crowd was split as this match began, half for KENTA, and half for Tanahashi. KENTA would strike first, sending Tanahashi into the corner and taking the Springboard Crossbody. Tanahashi would look for a basement dropkick, but KENTA dodged and hit the double foot stomp. Some quick elbow drops would follow, before Tanahashi would be put into a waistlock.
Tanahashi would be whipped down into the mat as he regained his footing – with KENTA hitting a Neckbreaker for the two count. They’d trade strikes in the middle of the ring, with Tanahashi taking another neckbreaker for another two count. KENTA would kick Tanahashi in the head, before some hard kicks to the chest – and kept Tanahashi on the defensive with an eye rake – before taking the Flying Forearm Smash.
Tanahashi Refuses To Go To Sleep
Tanahashi would set up the Somersault Senton, getting a two count. KENTA would use the referee as a shield to set up a roll up, only to be thrown into the referee. A DDT would land, and KENTA grabbed a steel chair. Tanahashi would be hit with the chair before it was placed on his chest.
Double stomp was avoided, before KENTA took a drop toe hold onto the chair… before Tanahashi was trapped moments later. They’d trade strikes in the middle of the ring, with Tanahashi able to win out. KENTA would set up Green Killer on the ropes, spiking Tanahashi with the DDT.
Hesitation Dropkick would land flush, setting up the Diving Double Foot Stomp. Go To Sleep was set, but Tanahashi blocked and hit Twist & Shout. He’d hit the ropes for Sling Blade, but took the running knee smash. Second knee would get a two count, before some stiff strikes to the face from KENTA. Go To Sleep would be set again – and Sling Blade would counter.
Another Sling Blade would set up Aces High, before High Fly Flow saw Tanahashi soar into the pinfall for the victory! Should Tanahashi be added to the title match at Battle In The Valley? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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