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ZACK SABRE JR. VS. HIROSHI TANAHASHI & MORE: NEW JAPAN DESTRUCTION IN HIROSHIMA COVERAGE

By Mike Johnson on 2017-09-16 05:06:00

IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Ricochet & Ryusuke Taguchi vs Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi

The champs had some fun at the expense of Kanemaru early, including a series of clotheslines in the corner from Ricochet.  Taichi and Kanemaru unloaded on the champions, working them over on the floor.  Taichi came off the railing with a legdrop across the exposed neck of Taguchi.  Taichi drilled Taguchi with a foreign object several times.   Taichi was worked over by the challengers, who tagged in and out.

Kanemaru nailed several kicks and a hip attack but Taguchi nailed him.  Unfortunately for him, Taichi nailed Ricochet and pulled him off the apron.  The hot tag was finally made and Ricochet began unloading with some fast and dizzying offense.  His timing is ridiculously crisp.  Ricochet was caught with a kick in the corner by Taichi.   He went for a superplex but Ricochet avoided it and drove Taichi to the mat for another two count.

Ricochet went to the top and soared for a shooting star press but Taichi pulled his knees up.  Ouch.  Taguchi hit the ring and broke up the pin at the last second.   Taichi unloaded with another kick and went for a powerbomb but Ricochet landed on his feet.  He went to tag Taguchi but was nailed.  Taguchi was finally tagged in but missed a diving hip attack.

Kanemaru charged him in the corner and drilled him, then hit a belly to back suplex for a two count.  The crowd tried to rally Taguchi.  Kanemaru nailed Deep Impact but the champion kicked out at the last second.   Taguchi avoided a back suplex attempt and rolled through with an ankle lock.  Kanemaru grabbed the referee allowing Taichi to nail Taguchi with a mic stand to the face.   They nailed a kick to the face of Taguchi.  Kanemaru sailed with a moonsault but Taguchi kicked up at the last moment.

The challengers continued the beating.  They set up Taguchi on the top but he was able to come off with a diving hip attack on Taichi.  Ricochet, who had been sent  into the ring post, finally returned and nailed a top rope rana on Kanemaru.  He hit a ridiculously awesome tope suicida to the outside on Taichi.  Kanemaru was locked in an ankle lock and fought hard to get to the ropes but Ricochet nailed a springboard 450 on his exposed back, then hit another big dive to wipe out Taichi again.  Kanemaru finally had to tap.

Your winners and still IWGP Jr Heavyweight Tag Team champions Ricochet & Ryusuke Taguchi!

Best match thus far on the show.  They told a great story in the ring and then topped everything with some really nice aerial spots.  Good stuff.

After the match, Rocky Romero took the mic and said a new team, Roppongi 3K were coming and would be coming after the belts.  He didn't say who they were and told them to stay tuned.

IWGP Tag Team Championship: War Machine vs Guerrillas of Destiny vs Killer Elite Squad

Any of the teams can tag each other in and the titles will change hands even if the champions aren't pinned.

Archer and Hanson started out going face to face, jawing with each other.  The each tried to nail the other with big clotheslines early but neither moved.  Meanwhile, the Guerrillas attacked their partners and worked them over on the floor.  Hanson was pulled to the floor, allowing the Guerrillas to double team Archer.  War Machine cut off their offense and wiped out Tama Tonga in the corner.

It quickly turned into a chaotic scene with everyone brawling on the floor.  Archer and Hanson battled in the ring.   The Killer Elite Squad beat down Hanson, with Smith kicking him in the chest as Archer clipped his knee from behind.  Smith cinched in a front facelock but Hanson fought out of it.  He shoved Smith into the corner, allowing the Guerrillas to blind tag in.

Tonga Loa nailed an inverted atomic drop and a big boot on Hanson for a two count.   The Guerrillas worked over Hanson until he nailed a big back elbow.  Rowe tagged in and nailed a big suplex on Davey Boy Smith Jr.   The Killer Elite Squad cut him off.  Archer came off the ropes with a splash as Rowe was trapped over Smith's knee in a backbreaker position. 

The Guerrillas attacked Rowe and Smith.   They nailed Rowe with Guerrilla Warfare on Rowe but the referee told them that they weren't legal competitors.  Archer nailed Tama Tonga with a chokeslam. Smith nailed an inverted DDT on Rowe.    He nailed a double clothesline over the top on the Guerrillas.  Archer hit a dive to the floor.    War Machine overwhelmed Smith and scored the pin with Fallout.

Your winners and still IWGP Tag Team champions, War Machine!

Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano, Will Ospreay & Gedo vs Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI

 

LIJ had control early on Yano, who ripped the turnbuckle off and was able to maneuver Naito into the exposed corner.  Ishii tagged in but missed a clothesline.  Naito was shoulderblocked down.   Naito was able to beat him down in the corner and spat on him.  That only pissed off Ishii, who stood there absorbing the punishment before whipping out a brainbuster for a two count.  He continued dishing out the punishment until Naito went low with a dropkick to the knee.

Naito used the ropes as leverage and swung in with a dropkick in the corner.  He and BUSHI double teamed Ishii for a two count.  The crowd was into chanting for Naito.   Ishii caught Naito going for a move but caught him and went for a powerbomb.  Naito slipped out but was caught with a backdrop driver type suplex.  Ishii made the tag to Okada, who was intercepted by EVIL.  They fired back and forth with forearms in a preview of their King of Pro Wrestling main event.

Okada missed a hip attack but caught him with a suplex.  He slammed EVIL and went to the top rope and came off with a clothesline.  He set up for the Rainmaker but EVIL blocked it and nailed a fisherman's buster suplex.  EVIL caught Okada with a big lariat and nearly scored the pin but Okada kicked out at the last second.  He went for a STO but Okada avoided it and nailed a dropkick.

Okada crawled to make a tag but BUSHI drilled him with an axehandle across the back.  Okada fought him off and tagged in Gedo, who nailed a series of right hands.   Gedo nailed a jawbreaker but was kicked off when he charged.  Ospreay and Takahashi hit the scene but quickly took each other out.  Everyone began whipping out big moves on the other and/or brawled at ringside.

BUSHI came off the top, driving Gedo's head to the mat and scored the pin.  At the same time, EVIL covered Okada to send the message that he can win the title in October.

Your winners, Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI!

LIJ continued working everyone over after the match.  EVIL set up a stack of chairs and drove Okada into them with Darkness Falls.  Naito attacked Ishii's knee and cinched in a figure four leglock.

Coverage concludes on Page 3!


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