After 30 years, Hiroyoshi Tenzan can no longer use the Mongolian Chop in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
In their grudge match at The New Beginning in Nagoya, Tenzan and The Great-O-Khan agreed to put their shared move on the line. The loser would kiss the move goodbye from their arsenal.
While The Great-O-Khan made his way to the ring Kevin Kelly commented that Khan was 46-0 in Revolution Pro Wrestling.
“I mean, it is not THAT hard. I have been in Rev-Pro. I know who he is facing,” El Phantasmo replied.
“I would agree that the talent level in Rev-Pro is not up to the standards of New Japan Pro Wrestling,” said Kelly.
“On the other hand, they have some of the best independent talent in all of Britain,” said Phantasmo reconsidering his first comment.
Khan meets Tenzan on the rampway and the two start brawling.
“What is that mask anyway? It looks stupid,” said Phantasmo laughing at Tenzan.
“Well, it is a bull,” answered Kelly matter-of-factly.
Tenzan is all over Khan slamming his head into the ring apron, the ringside barrier and stomping him into the floor. The official still hasn’t rung the bell.
Phantasmo claims neither Tenzan nor Khan should be allowed to use the Mongolian Chops to begin with because…they aren’t Mongolian?
Someone take away ELP’s headset and send him back to the locker room, please.
Both men roll into the ring and the official rings the bell. Khan cannot get to his feet as Tenzan keeps stomping him in the face. Tenzan slings Khan off the ropes and clubs him down with a Mongolian Chop. The crowd claps for Tenzan. Tenzan chokes the life out of Khan and then stands him up for a Mongolian Chop flurry. Khan turns the tables responding in kind driving Tenzan down to his knees.
That’s one way to shut up the Great-O-Khan. Courtesy: NJPW.
Khan focuses his attention on Tenzan’s neck with nerve and submission holds.
Phantasmo says he spoke to Tenzan about his unique haircut. Tenzan said he has had the same style for 25 years.
“I said I thought it was incredible he found a barber shop without any mirrors in it,” Phantasmo laughs.
“Did you know he (Tenzan) was in the nWo?” Phantasmo asks Kelly a few seconds later. “That is cool as hell.”
A spin kick and more Mongolian Chops turn the tide for Tenzan. Tenzan climbs to the top rope, grabs Khan by his pony-tail and drives his head to the mat. He follows that up with a diving Mongolian Chop from the second rope which sends Khan flying across the ring. Khan reverses Tenzan’s attempt at a Tenzan Tombstone Driver and slams his face to the mat. It is then Tenzan’s turn to block The Dominator with more Mongolian Chops. In another Mongolian Chop showdown, each man dares the other to hit him as hard and as best as he can. Tenzan goes from his Anaconda Vice to a uranage. Khan barely kicks out.
Khan rolls out of the way and Tenzan misses a moonsault from the top rope.
“That isn’t going to pin a legend like Tenzan. You have to break his neck!” says ELP ripping into Khan for trying to pin Tenzan with a bicycle kick and a sloppy cover.
Tenzan kicks out of a weak Tenzan Tombstone Driver from Khan but is pinned with The Dominator. A dejected Tenzan stumbles back the locker room as the crowd cheers his efforts.
In his no disqualification match against Tenzan’s partner Satoshi Kojima, Will Ospreay pulled off another win for The United Empire. Ospreay whacks Kojima over the head with a cook sheet claiming he is the top superstar in NJPW. Kojima backdrops Ospreay onto a trash can. Ospreay finds a ladder under the ring and runs at Kojima smashing him with it. Ospreay positions the ladder between the ringside barrier and the ring apron.
Kojima plays an Alex Lifeson solo on Will’s head. Courtesy: NJPW.
Ospreay walks around the ring tearing away the ring apron until he finds a table. Kojima blocks Ospreay’s evil intensions smashing a guitar over Ospreay’s head. Minutes later, Ospreay powerbombs Kojima through a table set up in a corner shattering it. An irritated Ospreay beats Kojima with a steel chair so he can set up a row of chairs in the ring with Kojima on them. Before Ospreay can double stomp him through those tables Kojima knocks him off the top rope and he falls through the ladder he set up earlier. Ospreay is given a brain buster through the chairs but kicks out. A Hidden Blade with a steel chair, a Hidden Blade on its own and a Storm Breaker puts Kojima away.
NJPW’s Ace, Hiroshi Tanahashi, showed his has a lot of gas still left in his tank as he beat Shingo Takagi for the Never Openweight Championship at New Beginning. He took the belt from Takagi with an Aces High, a Dragon Suplex and a High Fly Flow. Showing respect to the veteran after the grueling contest, Takagi put the belt on Tanahashi’s shoulders and bowed to him.
The Great-O-Khan talks down to NJPW’s Ace. Courtesy: NJPW.
Tanahashi’s celebration was short-lived though as The Great-O-Khan attacked him from behind.
THE NEW BEGINNING in NAGOYA Results
Chaos (Toru Yano and Kazuchika Okada) versus Bullet Club (Evil and Yujiro Takahashi)
Yano rips off two turnbuckles in like 30 seconds. Kevin Kelly: “He should get a job with NASCAR changing tires.” Dick Togo drops Yano on the top rope on his neck. Yujiro then spears him in the throat with his pimp stick. Okada saves Yano from being pinned. Yano picks up the stick. Togo grabs onto it. Yano pulls him into the ring over the top rope. Togo is left holding the pimp cane so the official chews him out. A low blow on Yujiro plus a roll up equals a pinfall by Yano.
Winners: Chaos (Toru Yano and Kazuchika Okada)
Master Wato, Sho, Tomoaki Honma and Kota Ibushi versus Los Ingobernables de Japón (Hiromu Takahashi, Bushi, Sanada and Tetsuya Naito)
Bushi is pinned by Sho’s Shock Arrow.
Winners: Master Wato, Sho, Tomoaki Honma and Kota Ibushi.
Hiroyoshi Tenzan versus Great-O-Khan – Loser must stop using the Mongolian Chop
Winner: Great-O-Khan
Will Ospreay versus Satoshi Kojima – No Disqualification Match
Winner: Will Ospreay
Shingo Takagi versus Hiroshi Tanahashi – Never Openweight Championship Match
Winner: …and new Never Openweight Champion…Hiroshi Tanahashi.