NJPW created a hard act to follow with New Beginning in Nagoya, especially with the main event of Shingo Takagi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi being an instant classic. However, tonight they will look to keep their 2021 momentum going with night one of New Beginning in Hiroshima, where SHO looks to capture the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in the main event. However, that post is here. This is where we cover the undercard action of the show, including Young Lions vs. Suzuki-Gun, Master Wato vs. BUSHI, and an all-star ten man tag team match between the Kazuchika Okada led CHAOS & Jay White led Bullet Club (if you consider Yujiro Takahashi a star). Let’s waste no time and get right into the action.
Six Man Tag Team Match: Gabriel Kidd, Yuya Uemura & Yota Tsuji vs. Suzuki Gun (Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
A tale as old as Minoru Suzuki in NJPW, and one that never gets old. Suzuki loves to rough up the Young Lions, it’s his favorite way to let off some stress after all. He teams up with Suzuki-Gun members El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru, who are mad after losing the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, in what might just be a slaughter for Kidd, Uemura & Tsuji.
In a twist, the Young Lions tried to maul Suzuki-Gun before the bell and started with the advantage. Uemura led the charge and took Suzuki, while Kidd & Tsuji took the fight to Desperado in the ring, with Tsuji getting a near fall. However, Suzuki & Kanemaru came back to life and were able to get this one back on track. Suzuki tagged in and took the best Tsuji had to offer, laughed in his face and dropped him with a single forearm.
Kanemaru & Desperado were unable to put Tsuji down with a tag team neckbreaker, and Tsuji fought to a tag to Uemura. The boldest of the Young Lions went to work on Suzuki, without an ounce of fear in his eyes, hitting forearms, dropkicks, elbows, but only got a one count. He’d counter the Gotch Style Piledriver and get Suzuki in the Boston Crab! Suzuki wouldn’t be embarrassed like this, broke the hold.
A three on one attack from the Young Lions beat down Suzuki, their teamwork keeping things steady for Uemura. However, he’d be beaten into unconsciousness by Suzuki after standing to throw strikes with the MMA legend, put in the single leg crab and this one ended with a referee stoppage.
This was a great twist on the Young Lions vs. Minoru Suzuki feud, with them finally getting some revenge against their biggest threat. Uemura is a future star for the company, and could be a current star given how much he got in on Suzuki. Suzuki wanted a fight, and he got one tonight. Match Rating: 3.25/5 (*** ¼)
Special Singles Match: Master Wato vs. BUSHI
Since making his way back to NJPW, Master Wato hasn’t had the best big match resume, and tonight he has a chance to improve upon this. BUSHI is someone who has constantly dismissed Wato as a complete joke, and who has a 1-0 singles record against the future Grandmaster. That indifference could cost him in tonight’s match, as Wato has proved to be a solid wrestler who can finish someone on BUSHI’s level.
Wato struck before the bell, sending BUSHI over the top rope so he could hit the dive to get things properly started. BUSHI was more than willing to brawl it out on the outside, using the ring and the barricades as a weapon before taking this one inside with some strikes. The focus was on the knee of Wato, trying to shut down the high flying and kicks, dropkicks & kneebreakers would do a fine job of this, but Wato isn’t that easy to break.
Wato made the comeback with a jumping back kick, before missing a springboard but getting a big backbreaker for a two count. BUSHI had to fight off the crucifix bomb attempt, and hit the running hurricanrana to send Wato to the outside, before hitting a suicide dive. Wato blocked the Lungblower, took a kick to the knee again, but was able to nail the Crucifix Bomb for a near fall. A spinning roundhouse kick hit BUSHI hard, setting up the Tenzan Style Tombstone, but Wato missed the Spiral Tap.
BUSHI was able to hang up Wato in the middle rope and hit the Lungblower, before going for MX. He missed, but got the rewind kick and the Terriblé Driver for a near fall. One MX would end this out, putting BUSHI to 2-0 over Wato.
BUSHI & Wato had better chemistry tonight than during Best of The Super Juniors. Wato keeps getting better, his in ring skills improving every match. However, BUSHI is simply more experienced at using the ring to his advantage, which was the deciding factor. Match Rating: 3.5/5 (*** ½)
Ten Man Tag Team Match: CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, & Toru Yano) vs. BULLET CLUB (Jay White, EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo)
Tonight, Okada looks to finally secure his match with EVIL, as he leads his troops into battle. Also Jay White & Guerillas Of Destiny want to take the NEVER Openweight Six Man Titles from CHAOS tomorrow, but G.O.D have other business tonight.
Much like every other match on this night, it started with a pre-match brawl, CHAOS sick to Bullet Club and especially Jay White, him being picked out and beat down before Ishimori tagged in. There would be no peace for White on the outside, but in the ring YOSHI-HASHI & Goto beat down all comers. Ishii threw Gedo in, and he was beat down next. Finally, Bullet Club was able to shut down YOSHI-HASHI, while EVIL beat down Okada on the outside.
EVIL would torture YOSHI-HASHI with a abdominal stretch, with all his partners adding extra leverage. YOSHI-HASHI broke free, hit the Bunker Buster, and tagged in Okada to take on EVIL. Takahashi took a flapjack along the way, before EVIL took a DDT for a near fall. EVIL came back with an eye rake and fisherman buster.
Yano & Goto took out Ishimori & Phanasmo, before we got to White & Ishii, Ishii countering the Blade Buster, taking a German Suplex but fighting back up only to be dropped. White tagged out to Takahashi, who wanted the Fisherman Buster but took a big suplex instead. Yano tagged in, grabbed a corner pad and argued with Dick Togo. Takahashi narrowly ran into exposed steel, before sending Yano into it and hitting the big boot.
A low blow from Takahashi was followed by a lariat, getting a near fall on Yano. Things broke down in a hurry, before Yano hit a lowblow into a rollup on Takahashi to end this one in classic fashion.
A fun ten man tag team match with some comedy spots, as expected. It more sets up White & G.O.D vs. YOSHI-HASHI, Ishii & Goto, as well as Okada vs. EVIL. Match Rating: 3/5 (***)
After the bell, Okada tried to attack EVIL but was pulled back by Young Lions. EVIL grabbed a steel chair, and called Okada back, but the ace knew better. These two will meet in time, and it’ll be a war.
What was your favorite match on the undercard of this first night of action from Hiroshima? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below. For main event coverage of this show, check here!
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get TheOvertimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
Remember to stay up to date with the latest news on TheOvertimer. Don’t forget to visit Gamestingr for great videos, news, and gameplay!