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5/3/24 Results for New Japan's Wrestling Dontaku 2024 Night 1 from Fukuoka, Japan:
1 - TAKA Michinoku and DOUKI vs. SHO and Yujiro Takahashi
Yujiro hits TAKA with his pimp stick and then hits Big Juice.
Yujiro pins TAKA.
2 - Yuya Uemura and Taichi vs. Callum Newman and Great O-Khan
Announcer Chris Charlton reported that SANADA had some health issues, which is why he was held off this tour.
Uemura pins Newman with a Deadbolt Suplex.
3 - Jado, El Phantasmo and Hikuleo vs. Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste and Mikey Nichols
El Phantasmo pinned Nichols with a school boy and pulling the tights.
Nichols and Haste got pissed about how they lost. This feud for the STRONG Tag Team Titles is not over yet.
El Phantasmo said in the camera that it was his 5th Anniversary since joining New Japan.
4 - Tiger Mask, YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto vs. Taiji Ishimori, Chase Owens and KENTA
Owens hits Tiger Mask with a C-Trigger followed by a Package Piledriver.
Owens pins Tiger Mask.
5 - BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi and Tetsuya Naito vs. Gedo, Drilla Moloney, Clark Conners and Gabe Kidd
BUSHI forces Gedo to tap out to Fable (BUSHI's new modified figure four leg lock).
Gabe Kidd tried to bait Takagi into a fight in the crowd. Takagi was not playing his games and told him "See you tomorrow".
This could be the best match of the Dontaku weekend.
6 - El Desperado, Shota Umino and Jon Moxley vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Ren Narita and EVIL
House of Torture attacked before the bell. Narita goes after Moxley. They brawl all over ringside. House of Toture pulled out all of their tricks. The crowd popped for Moxley beating down House of Torture.
Kanemaru hit Suntory Surprise on Desperado and pinned him with a Victory Roll.
After the match, House of Torture stomps on Moxley. Umino saves him with a chair and runs off the heels.
Moxley does not sell well. Kanemaru likes to work on his opponent's leg for his figure four. Kanemaru hit three dropkicks to Moxley's knee. Moxley stood there then hit a Cutter on Kanemaru. Despite the beat down angle, he looked like the John Cena of New Japan. That does not look good and that hurts his opponents.
7 - NJPW World TV Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Jeff Cobb
Cobb used his power to attack ZSJ's back. ZSJ goes for submissions but Cobb avoids them. Cobb throws ZSJ across the ring with 2 German Suplexes. They exchange strikes. ZSJ hits a Zack Driver. Two count. ZSJ throws kicks to Cobb's chest. Cobb hits a dropkick. ZSJ avoids a superplex and powerbombs Cobb. Two count. They exchange reversals. Cobb hits an F-5000. ZSJ reverses out of Tour of the Islands and goes for a crucifix. Two count. Cobb drops a clubbing lariat. Cobb goes for another but ZSJ grabs his arm goes for a submission. Cobb powers out of the arm submission and hits a Tour of the Islands.
Cobb pins ZSJ.
Jeff Cobb wins the NJPW World Television Championship.
Wow! Unexpected win for the Imperial Unit. United Empire has new gold in their stable now. Well deserved for Cobb who has not held a title since losing the IWGP Tag Titles to FTR in 2022.
8 - Yota Tsuji vs. David Finlay
This match comes from Finlay arguing with Yota Tsuji after the New Japan World Cup.
Both men matched up well. Finlay hits a Blue Thunder Bomb, then a Dominator. Two count. Tsuji with a backbreaker and a Falcon Arrow. Two count. Tsuji goes for a double jump stomp, but Finlay hits Prima Nocta and a Buckle Bomb. Finlay hits Into Oblivion. Tsuji kicks out at 2. Tsuji reverses out of a suplex and hits a neckbreaker and a stomp. He collapses to the mat and does not go for the pin. Both men are dazed. Finlay hits several European uppercuts. They exchange strikes. Tsuji hits a high knee strike. Two count. Tsuji hits a double jump stomp. Two count. Tsuji sets up for the Gene Blast, but Gedo distracts him. Finlay hits a Spear of his own. Finlay goes for Overkill but Tsuji reverses into Stunner. Tsuji hits a short spear. Tsuji goes for another Gene Blast, but Finlay hits him in the head with his shillelagh. Finlay hits a powerbomb. Tsuji kicks out.
Finlay hits another powerbomb and follows with Overkill.
Finlay pins Tsuji.
Good match. I compare this match to Tsuji's match with Will Ospreay in 2023, in that, it was a career defining match for Tsuji. This was similar, despite no stipulation. Finlay ran his mouth saying he should have won the New Japan Cup and challenged for the World Title. However, he lost the Global Title to Nic Nemeth and could not finish the New Japan Cup. This win puts Finlay in the World Title picture.
9 - IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Nic Nemeth
In the promotional material, Nic Nemeth is still referred to as a "former WWE performer", despite not being in the WWE for several months. This match was requested by Nemeth. El Phantasmo on commentary questioned why Nemeth did not put up the Title against Tomohiro Ishii at Windy City Riot in Chicago.
Good wrestling between both men. Lots of grappling and mat work. Nemeth dropkicks the left knee and goes for leg submissions. Tanahashi looked like he was in pain (good selling), and Nemeth tied up his leg an ankle lock. Tanahashi fought back and hit Aces High. Tanahashi misses on the High Fly Flow. Nemeth hits a super kick. Tanahashi kicks out. Nemeth goes for a Famouser, but Tanahashi hits a power bomb. Tanahashi with Twist and Shout. Tanahashi goes for another Twist and Shout but Nemeth gets the knees up. Nemeth hits a Danger Zone (Zig Zag) on Tanahashi. Nemeth hits a second Danger Zone.
Nemeth pins Tanahashi.
Nic Nemeth retains the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.
Nemeth and Tanahashi shake hands and hug after the match. Confetti goes flying.
David Finlay jumps in the ring and attacks Nemeth and Tanahashi. Finlay tries to hit Nemeth with the shillelagh but Nemeth takes him down and they brawl in the ring. Gedo calls for the War Dogs. Moloney and Conners come and drag Finlay from the ring and they retreat.
Nemeth gets the mic and calls Finlay a coward. Nemeth offers a match for the Global Title tomorrow night. Finlay smiles and accepts.
It looks like a triple main event tomorrow at Night 2 of Wrestling Dontaku 2024 with:
1 - NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi vs. Gabe Kidd
2 - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Jon Moxley vs. Ren Narita
and now 3 - IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship: Nic Nemeth vs. David Finlay
Nemeth and Finlay could now be the best match of Night 2.
Thank you for reading.
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