New Japan Road To Dontaku Night 6 4/22

Before the show began, a press conference aired announcing a change to the card. Now that IWGP Intercontinental Champion Kota Ibushi has accepted the challenge of Tetsuya Naito, all tag matches on the tour will have them on opposite sides

Yuji Nagata, Satoshi Kojima, & Tomoaki Honma b. Ren Narita, Yuya Uemera, & Yota Tsuji when Kojima pinned Tsuji with a Western Lariat – Standard opening match pitting the Young Lions against the established veterans. The story is not whether a team can win, it’s how much fire the younger guys show.

Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, & El Desperado) b. Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, & Shota Umino when Suzuki pinned Umino with a Gotch Piledriver – When Liger got in the ring after his entrance, he removed his cape and tossed it at Suzuki like a ball or a rock. They are building to a Liger/Suzuki match and I love it. Anyway, the heels attacked before the bell, and took the match to the floor. By the time the match got back in the ring, Liger was in peril. The referee looks like he got hurt during this match, as he was limping during it. Tiger got the hot tag and ran wild. A crucufix pin by Tiger got broken up by Desperado. Tiger hit a Tiger Driver for a double down. A double tag in by Umino and Suzuki. The babyfaces rallied against Suzuki, and Umino hit a missile dropkick. Desperado again broke the pin. Suzuki put Tiger in the rear naked choke, which Liger broke up. Umino dodged a Penalty Kick and got several; rapid-fire near falls. However, Suzuki withstood them, and hit the Gotch Piledriver for the pin.

Suzuki-Gun (RevPro British Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi, & Taka Michinoku) b. YOSHI-HASHI, Rocky Romero, & Toa Henare when Taichi submitted Henare with a Stretch Plum – Ibushi was originally going to be on the babyface side, but Romero was moved to that spot as part of the card change. Again, the match spilled to the floor where the heels gained control of the match. The babyfaces made their comeback when Hashi got tagged in. They were able to team up on Taichi. In the ensuing brawl, Taichi manged to isolate Henare and apply the Stretch Plum for a submission.

Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, SANADA, BUSHI, & Shingo Takagi) b. IWGP Intercontinental Champion Kota Ibushi & CHAOS (IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, SHO, & Yoh) when SANADA submitted Yoh with Skull End – Rocky Romero was originally slated to be with his CHAOS teammates, but Ibushi and he switched places in the card change. Ishii and Evil did a test of strength to start things out. Then Takagi and Sho exchanged blows. The match degraded into a multi-man brawl that went to the floor. Once the match got back in the ring, the heels got the heat on Sho. Ibushi got the hot tag and ran wild. Okada and Sanada also went at it with the babyfaces rallying to back up Okada. The heels regrouped and brawled with the babyfaces, with Bushi hitting a codebreaker on Yoh. Sanada then finished off Yoh with a Skull End.

Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens of Bullet Club b. IWGP United States Champion Juice Robinson & Mikey Nicholls when Owens pinned Nicholls with a Package Piledriver. – The babyfaces started out the match in control, but before long the heels cut off Juice and worked him over. Nicholls made a comeback after tagging in and got a two count with Blue Thunder Bomb. Fale broke up a pin on Owens after Nicholls hit a Mikey Bomb. Fale then kept Juice at bay while Owens hit a Package Piledriver and pinned Nicholls.

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Champions Ryusuke Taguchi, Togi Makabe, & Toru Yano b. Bullet Club (Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, & Hikuleo) when Makabe pinned Hikoleo with a King Long Knee Drop – Yano removed a turnbuckle pad early, but it quickly was used against him. The heels knocked around Yano until he was able to tag in Makabe. The babyfaces rallied and teamed up on Loa. Makabe got the tag and ran wild on Tonga. The heels triple teamed Makabe, but couldn’t get the pin. While Red Shoes was distracted, Makabe made a comeback and hit a King Kong Knee Drop on Tonga. Somehow, Tonga kicked out, and Loa hit Makabe with a chain. Taguchi managed to break the pin, but Hikuleo hit an inverted chokeslam. Makabe kicked out, though i don’t think Hikuleo was the legal man. Taguchi managed to hit Hikuleo with a springboard dropkick, and Makabe followed up with a lariat. Hikuleo kicked out, but before he could rally, Makabe hit another king Kong Knee Drop to get the pin.

After the match, the heels jumped the babyfaces from behind. While the beating was going on, Yano grabbed the IWGP Tag Belts and ran off with them.

Jay White & Taiji Ishimori of Bullet Club b. Hirooki Goto & IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Dragon Lee when Thie pinned Goto with a Blade Runner – Not sure why this is the main event and not the title match, but I’m not complaining. Ishimori kept trying to unmask Lee. White continually smashed Goto against the ring apron and the guardrail. Lee got the hot tag and ran wild. Ishimori managed to reverse a powerbomb into a hurricanrana, and also hit a La Mistica. Lee hit a Spanish Fly for a double down. Both Goto and White got tags. White hit a Death Valley Driver for a two count. A four way brawl broke out, which ended with all four men down. Goto went for the kill, only for White to hit a Flatliner. Goto hit a Reverse GTR, but White kicked out. Gedo got on the apron when Goto went for a GTR. Goto got distracted, but still managed to hit both White and Ishimori with Ushigoroshis. Lee hit a dive on Ishimori to the outside, and tossed Gedo into the ring. Goto went for an Ushigoroshi om Gedo when Whgite struck from behind. A Blade Runner later and it was over.

After the match, White cut a promo saying he doesn’t need the IWGP Title, the IWGP Title needs him. He also said he will make Goto famous.