The first night of NJPW World Tag League 2021 opened with some familiar faces popping back up. TAKA Michinoku came back to the Suzuki-gun fold teaming with leader Minoru Suzuki. He hasn’t appeared in NJPW for over two years. Bad Luck Fale is back at the side of Chase Owens and Tetsuya Naito has returned from a knee injury that took him out of the G1 Climax tournament.
Taka had the worst night out of them all though as Taichi didn’t seem too keen on him rejoining Suzuki-gun. He and ZSJ put him through his paces wanting him to prove he still belongs in Suzuki-gun. They mercilessly target him the entire match. Taichi even smashes a chair over Taka’s back and chokes him out with a microphone cable.
Suzuki-gun argues over a dazed Taka. Courtesy: NJPW.
Taka is in Dreamland back in the ring. Minoru begs him to get up. Taichi and even ZSJ plead with Taka to get back up after a Black Mephisto. He doesn’t though.
Taichi shoves Taka around after the match. He and Suzuki get into an argument presumably about what Taka brings to Suzuki-gun. Once Taka gets back to his feet Taichi continues to scream in his face and slap him around. After a bit of banter, everyone pump fists it out but Taka hesitates before acknowledging Taichi. What could it all mean?
The winners of World Tag League receive a IWGP Tag Team Championship match at Wrestle Kingdom. The current champions are The Dangerous Tekkers: Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.
NJPW World Tag League Night One Results
| Names | Score |
|---|---|
| Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi | 2 |
| Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan | 2 |
| Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga | 2 |
| Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale | 2 |
| SANADA and Tetsuya Naito | 2 |
| Toru Yano and Hiroshi Tanahashi | 2 |
| TAKA Michinoku and Minoru Suzuki | 0 |
| Tiger Mask and Yuji Nagata | 0 |
| Tomoaki Honma and Togi Makabe | 0 |
| Aaron Henare and The Great-O-Khan | 0 |
| YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto | 0 |
| Yujiro Takahashi and Evil | 0 |
Yuto Nakashima versus Kosei Fujita
Just like the Young Lions match last night…
Winner: Time Limit Draw
Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi versus TAKA Michinoku and Minoru Suzuki – WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2021 TOURNAMENT MATCH
Winners: Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi via KO.
Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan versus Tiger Mask and Yuji Nagata – WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2021 TOURNAMENT MATCH
Kojima pins Tiger Mask with his Lariat.
Winners: Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Tomoaki Honma and Togi Makabe versus Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga – WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2021 TOURNAMENT MATCH
Tonga puts away Honma with a Gun Stun.
Winners: Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga
Aaron Henare and The Great-O-Khan versus Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale – WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2021 TOURNAMENT MATCH
Owens and Fale double team Henare into oblivion for the victory.
Winners: Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale
Toru Yano and Hiroshi Tanahashi versus Yujiro Takahashi and Evil – WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2021 TOURNAMENT MATCH
Yano and The Ace give Dick Togo, Yujiro and Evil a triple punch to the crotch. Yano rolls up Yujiro for the win.
Winners: Toru Yano and Hiroshi Tanahashi
YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto versus SANADA and Tetsuya Naito – WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2021 TOURNAMENT MATCH
Naito pins Yoshi with Destino.
Winners: SANADA and Tetsuya Naito
