With Tomohiro Ishii and Yoshi-Hashi having a day off, Juice Robinson and David Finlay are at the top of the NJPW World Tag League tournament. On Day Five, the bombastic, crowd-pleasing team has overtaken former tournament leaders by two points.
The shift in fortunes had FinJuice defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare.
All fired up, Toa Henare refused to shake Juice Robinson’s hand before they locked up to begin the match, which was unusual for Henare. Robinson could not match Henare’s strength and had to tag out to Finlay so Tanahashi entered the match to even things out.
Henare used his muscle to break free from a Stunner attempt by Finlay and a Pulp Friction attempt by Robinson. As Robinson and Tanahashi brawled on the floor, Finlay clobbered Henare with a knee strike from the second rope and a neckbreaker off the ropes to pin him giving FinJuice the lead in the tournament.
The winners of World Tag League will face the IWGP Tag Team Champions – Guerrillas of Destiny (Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga) – at Wrestle Kingdom.
In other tournament matches:
Yuji Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi versus Hirooki Goto and Karl Fredericks
Nagata and Nakanishi get their first win of the tournament as Nagata pins Fredericks with the Exploder Suplex.
Winners: Yuji Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi.
Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma versus Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima.
Kojima pins Honma with The Lariat.
Winners: Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima.
Jeff Cobb and Mikey Nicholls versus Minoru Suzuki and Lance Archer
Archer brutally puts Nicholls away with the EVD Claw. Suzuki attacks the official after the match.
Winners: Minoru Suzuki and Lance Archer.
Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa versus Kenta and Yujiro Takahashi
In a battle of Bullet Club, Tonga pins Takahashi by draping his legs over the ropes for leverage. The teams hug it out.
Winners: Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa.
Evil and Sanada versus Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens
Sanada escapes a Package Piledriver to get the three count on Chase Owens with a bridging roll-up.
Winners: Evil and Sanada.
Shingo Takagi and Terrible versus Zack Sabre Jr and Taichi
Shingo scores the two points for his team by pinning Taichi.
Winners: Shingo Takagi and Terrible.
Tournament Standings:
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Team | Points |
---|---|
Juice Robinson and David Finlay | 8 |
Tomohiro Ishii and Yoshi-Hashi | 6 |
Toru Yano and Colt Cabana | 6 |
Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima | 6 |
Evil and Seiya Sanada | 6 |
Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma | 4 |
Zack Sabre Jr and Taichi | 4 |
Jeff Cobb and Mikey Nicholls | 4 |
Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toa Henare | 4 |
Kenta and Yujiro Takahashi | 4 |
Hirooki Goto and Karl Fredericks | 4 |
Minoru Suzuki and Lance Archer | 4 |
Shingo Takagi and Terrible | 4 |
Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa | 4 |
Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens | 2 |
Yuji Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi | 2 |