The massive New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) Summer Struggle tour got underway a day after Sengoku Lord, and saw the continuation of several narratives as the promotion builds towards Summer Struggle in Jingu that will take place at the Meiji Jingu Baseball Stadium.
The July 26th event got underway with Satoshi Kojima, Togi Makabe, and Ryusuke Taguchi facing Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano, and NJPW Los Angeles (LA) Dojo Young Lion Gabriel Kidd. Makabe and Kidd squared off against one another at the beginning of the match to continue their program.
Kojima would eventually pin a spirited Kidd after a Lariat at the 9 minute and 14-second mark.
The second match saw CHAOS members Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi against Los Ingobernables de Japon (LIJ) NEVER Openweight Champion Shingo Takagi and Sanada. After an intense match, Takagi was able to defeat Yoshi-Hashi at the 9-minute mark with the Made In Japan.
The third match saw Suzuki-Gun members Minoru Suzuki and Douki defeated Yuji Nagata and NJPW Noge Dojo Young Lion Yuya Uemura. Suzuki pinned Uemura at the 11 minute and 16-second mark with Gotch Style Piledriver. After the match, he and Nagata traded blows while their tension continued to carry over from their 2020 NJPW Cup contest.
The fourth match saw Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, and Master Wato fall in defeat to IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi/Zack Sabre Jr), El Desperado, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru when Zack Sabre Jr submitted Tenzan with a modified Triangle Choke.
After the match, Dangerous Tekkers continued to trade barbs with Tanahashi and Ibushi over the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.
The headline match saw CHAOS members Kazuchika Okada and Sho defeat Yujiro Takahashi and Gedo when Okada submitted Gedo with the Money Clip (Cobra Clutch) at the 10 minute and 27-second mark. After the match, Yujiro and Okada exchanged words afterward, not putting to rest their feud after their Sengoku Lord match.
The marquee match saw Bullet Club members IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental ‘Double Champion’ Evil, Taiji Ishimori, and Dick Togo defeated LIJ members Tetsuya Naito, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi, and Bushi when Ishimori pinned Bushi after the Bloody Sunday, making good on his Sengoku Lord challenge for Hiromu’s title.
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