New Japan’s next tour is under way with Kizuna Road. These shows are nowhere near as big as Dominion, but they do have some title matches. Plus, they help set the stage for the G1 Climax.
Yota Tsuji s. Yuya Uemera with a Boston Crab – According to the announcers, both men were at 3-3-21 in singles matchups.
Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, & DOUKI) b. NEVER Openweight Champion Tomohiro Ishii, Tomoaki Honma, & Ren Narita) when Taichi pinned Narita with a superkick – Of course the heels attacked before the bell. They got the heat on Narita until Honma got the hot tag and ran wild. A double tag out to Ishii & Taichi, who went back and forth. Narita fired up and tagged back in. He ran wild and got several near falls. In the end, Taichi hit his superkick and got the pin.
Ryusuke Taguchi, Juice Robinson, & Mikey Nicholls b. Bullet Club (Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, & Jado) when Taguchi submitted Jado with the Oh My And Garankle Lock – Again, the heels attacked to jump-start the match. Taguchi got triple teamed, including Jado trying to use his cane on him. The babyfaces rallied and knocked Tonga and Loa to the floor, leaving Taguchi in the ring with Jado. Taguchi then managed to get the submission with the Ankle Lock.
Los Ingobernables De Japon (IWGP Intercontinental Champion Tetsuya Naito, EVIL, BUSHI, SANADA, & Shingo Takagi) b. Kota Ibushi, Yuji Nagata, Jushin Thunder Liger, Tiger Mask IV, and Shota Umino when Takagi pinned Umino with a Pumping Bomber – The heels got the heat on Liger for several minutes. Nagata got the hot tag and rallied the babyfaces. Ibushi then tagged in and battled Naito to a double down. At some point, Naito apparently got his lip busted open. A double tag out resulted in Umino vs. Takagi. LIJ did a quick team up on Umino, which led to a multi-man brawl. Takagi was left in the ring with Umino and finished him off with a Pumping Bomber.
After the match, all the LIJ members stood in the ring for a fistbump. However, this time EVIL walked out without fistbumping anybody.
Bullet Club (Jay White, Yujiro Takahashi, & Chase Owens w/Gedo) b. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Togi Makabe, & Toru Yano when Owens pinned Makabe with a roll-up – For once tonight, the heels did not attack before the bell. The match did spill to the floor very quickly though. When the match got back in the ring, the heels got the heat on Yano. Tanahashi got the hot tag and cleaned house. He and White battled to a double down, leading to the tags of Makabe and Owens. The heels double teamed Makabe to get the advantage. In the ensuing brawl, Owens managed to schoolboy Makabe from behind and hold the tights to steal the match.
Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki, Zack Sabre Jr. & Lance Archer) b. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada, YOSHI-HASHI, & Toa Henare when Archer submitted Henare with an Iron Claw – Sabre and Hashi started out. Sabre taunted Hashi, which resulted in Hashi chopping him. The match quickly went to the floor where Suzuki pummeled Okada with a chair. Yoshi narrowly avoided the countout, but continued to get triple teamed. Okada got the hot tag and ran wild until Suzuki cut him off with strikes. Red Shoes somehow managed to get bumped not once, but twice. Thus, he missed Okada making a rope break. Archer tagged himself in and tried a chokeslam. Okada countered that with a dropkick and tagged in Henare. The babyfaces briefly rallied, but the heels regrouped and kept them at bay while Archer hit a Blackout. Archer seemingly had the three count but lifted Henare’s head to stop the pin. The, just to be a jerk, Archer clasped an Iron Claw on him for the submission.
After the match. Suzuki cut a promo stating he was outraged to not be in the G1.
El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori of Bullet Club b. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champions Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh) when Phantasmo pinned Yoh with a CR2 – 3K got the upper hand early, though Yoh got busted open around his ear at some point. The heels cut off Yoh and worked him over. Sho got the hot tag and ran wild. Yoh and ELP tagged back in. Phantasmo got a near fall with a Frog Splash. Yoh dodged a moonsault at locked in a Calf Crusher. The babyfaces briefly had both heels in submission holds before Phantasmo made the rope break. Phantasmo countered a 3K with a DDT. While Ishimori distracted Red Shoes, Phantasmo clobbered Yoh with his title belt. Yoh still kicked out. Phantasmo got hit with a 3K, but Ishimori made the save. Yoh got another near fall with a German Suplex. A multi-man brawl broke out, which saw Red Shoes get bumped. Phantasmo hit a low blow on Yoh, and finished him off with the CR2.
After the match, the heels continued to beat on the babyfaces. Ryusuke Taguchi made the save. Phantasmo took the mic and gloated about their victory. Then he said they would take the six man titles in Sendai. Taguchi replied that wouldn’t happen, and let both Sho and Yoh cut promos.
