We’re finally here! The next major show for New Japan is Pro Wrestling Dontaku, which caps off the Road To Dontaku tour. It takes place over two days, May 3rd and 4th. Night one also happens to be on the sixth anniversary of the Bullet Club’s formation.
Tomoaki Honma, Shota Umino, & Ren Narita b. Toa Henare, Yuya Uemera, & Yota Tsuji when Narita pinned Uemera with a High Angle Suplex – Team Honma cut off Tsuji, who battled back and tagged Henare. After clearing the ring, Henare focused on Umino. A dropkick by Umino caused a double down. Narita and Uemera tagged in respectively, and Team Henare triple teamed Umino. A brief multi-man brawl broke out, and Narita hit his high angle suplex for the in.
Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado, & Taka Michinoku) b. Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, Ryusuke Taguchi, & YOSHI-HASHI when Michinoku pinned Tiger with a Michinoku Driver – The heels attacked before the bell. The babyfaces fought back, and Taguchi coached the team in corner splashes on Kanemaru. Of course, that once again backfired. The heels ganged up on Taguchi, and got the heat on him. Liger got the hot tag and ran wild until Suzuki used a cross-armbreaker to stop the momentum. Double tag out to Tiger and Taka. In the ensuing brawl, Tiger hit a Tiger Bomb for a two count. Suzuki wrapped Liger’s arm around a guardrail on the floor. Meanwhile, Taka hist a Michinoku Driver to get the pin.
After the match, both Suzuki and Liger grabbed chairs and had a face off. Neither man came to blows with each other, though Suzuki did throw his chair at Tsuji.
Togi Makabe, Toru Yano, & Will Ospreay Bullet Club (Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, & Hikuleo w/Jado) when Ospreay pinned Hikuleo with an Oscutter – Yano quickly removed a turnbuckle pad, only to have it used against him. He got triple teamed until he got the tag to Makabe. Loa and Makabe traded shots, leading to double tag out to Ospreay and Hikuleo. While everybody else brawled on the floor, Ospreay went for an Oscutter. Hikuleo blocked it and reversed with a clothesline for a near fall. Ospreay kicked out, then successfully hit the Oscutter to get the pin.
IWGP Intercontinental Champion Kota Ibushi & Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh of CHAOS) b. Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI, & Shingo Takagi) when Ibushi pinned BUSHI with a Kamigoye – The heels got the heat on Ibushi, leading to Sho getting the hot tag. Takagi avoided a 3K and tagged Bushi, who fought to a double down with Yoh. Ibushi tagged back in and ran wild before nailing the Kamigoye on Bushi for the pin.
After the match, Ibushi took the mic and asked Naito when he would like the title shot. Naito took the mic and teased making the challenge for tonight. however, he put the mic down and walked away without declaring a date.
IWGP US Champion Juice Robinson, Hirooki Goto, & Mkey Nicholls Bullet Club (Jay White, Bad Luck Fale, & Gedo) when Robinson pinned Owens with Oukp Friction – The babyfaces stood tall in the opening minutes until the heels took the match to the floor and gained control for the next several minutes until. Juice got the hot tag. Everybody else brawled on the floor, leaving Juice in the ring to hit Pulp Friction on Owens
After the match, Juice celebrated in the ring. The lights went out and a video played stating “Time’s Up 6/05/19” which will be the Finals for Best of Super Juniors. Presumably this is hinting at the next challenger for Jucie’s US Title. Normally I would think Phantasmo, but he is already in the tournament itself. Jericho? Dean Ambrose?
EVIL & SANADA of Los Ingobernables De Japon b. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii of CHAOS when Evil defeated Ishii via stoppage with a Sharophooter – Both sets of opponents battled to an evenly matched standoff at the beginning. The match was back and forth, with neither team getting a decided advantage. Evil and Sanada hit Ishii with a Magic Killer, and Evil used the Sasori-Gatame/Sharpshooter. Okada tried to break it up, but Sanada caught him in a Skull End. The referee called for the bell due to Ishii becoming unresponsive. A bit of a surprise finish, but it is worth noting that Ishii did not submit.
Taichi (w/Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taka Michinoku, & Miho Abe) p. NEVER Openweight Champion Jeff Cobb with Black Mephisto to win the title – The story of the match was that Taichi had all those people in his corner. They wasted no time in doing his dirty work by attacking Cobb while Red Shoes was distracted. Cobb would make brief comebacks, only to be cut off. Taichi went for the kill with the Stretch Plum. Cob powered out and hit several gut-wrench suplexes, followed by a piledriver. Taichi retaliated with a flurry of strikes. Cobb blocked a superkick and decked Taichi with a lariat. Taitchi countered a Tour Of The Islands with with a roll-up. He followed up with a Gedo Clutch for a pair of near falls. A superkick, follwed by Black Mephisto got Taichi the pin and the title.
Lucha Underground recently sent cease and desist letters over Cobb, since he is Matanza on their program. Not sure if this is a result of that. Time will tell.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Dragon Lee Taiji Ishimori with Desnucadora to retain the title – This match definitely lived up to expectations. Some great mat-based work at the beginning, which kicked into gear by Lee hitting a headscissors that took Ishimori to the floor. Lee followed up with a dive to the outside. Ishimori escaped a powerbomb and used a hurricanrana to the outside. The two fought to a near double countout. Ishimori used a crossface, which Lee got the rope break to escape. Ishimori hit a Codebreaker, and a Boma-Ye/Kinshasa knee strike for a two count. Lee made his comeback, and hit a hurricanrana and knee strike for a two count. After that, Lee followed up with a Desnucadora (powerbomb) to finally get the pin.
After the match Lee cut a promo in Spanish and said that he is waiting for Hiromu Takahashi to return, and he will give him a title shot when he does return.
