It is always weird when the bad guys become the good guys but that’s what happened at night two of NJPW’s World Tag League tournament as The United Empire took on Bullet Club’s House of Torture. The Great-O-Khan and Aaron Henare quickly became the fan favourites simply because those in attendance really, really, really hate Evil…and who doesn’t at this point?
Dick Togo got involved early tripping up Henare. As Evil distracted the official, both Togo and Yujiro Takahashi laid the boots to The Great-O-Khan on the floor. Togo jumped up on the apron where Henare greeted him with a punch.
Fighting fire with fire, Great-O-Khan removed the tag rope from The United Empire’s corner and used it to strangle Yujiro. Dick Togo climbed into the ring choking Khan with his garotte at the same time. Khan was forced to let go of Yujiro. Khan fought off Togo cleaning his clock with a punch.
Yujiro shoved Khan into the official taking him out of the equation momentarily. Togo snuck into the ring again using his garotte on Khan…again. Yujiro hit Henare with his cane and then Khan with it too. Evil slid a steel chair into the ring. Before he could use it on Khan, Henare super kicked the chair into Evil’s face and punched Togo in the “lower abdomen”.
Khan found a plank of wood under the ring, nailed Yujiro in the throat and back with it. Henare and Khan’s double stunner deal pinned Yujiro for the win.
The winners of World Tag League get a shot at the IWGP Tag Team Championship at Wrestle Kingdom. If the current champs, Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi, were to win, they get to choose their opponents at Wrestle Kingdom.
NJPW World Tag League Night Two Results
| Names | Score |
|---|---|
| Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi | 4 |
| Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga | 4 |
| SANADA and Tetsuya Naito | 4 |
| Toru Yano and Hiroshi Tanahashi | 4 |
| Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan | 2 |
| Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale | 2 |
| Aaron Henare and The Great-O-Khan | 2 |
| YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto | 2 |
| Tomoaki Honma and Togi Makabe | 0 |
| TAKA Michinoku and Minoru Suzuki | 0 |
| Tiger Mask and Yuji Nagata | 0 |
| Yujiro Takahashi and Evil | 0 |
Yuto Nakashima versus Ryohei Oiwa
What is it with these series of time limit draws? Is NJPW trying to send some kind of message? I don’t get it.
Winner: Time Limit Draw
Tiger Mask and Yuji Nagata versus Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga – WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2021 TOURNAMENT MATCH
Tiger Mask kicks out of a powerbomb from Loa but taps out to a crossface submission.
Winners: Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga
Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan versus YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto – WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2021 TOURNAMENT MATCH
Yoshi and Goto take out Kojima with a double-team and then pin Tenzan with their tag team finisher.
Winners: YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto
Tomoaki Honma and Togi Makabe versus Toru Yano and Hiroshi Tanahashi – WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2021 TOURNAMENT MATCH
The Ace pins Honma with a High Fly Flow.
Winners: Toru Yano and Hiroshi Tanahashi
Aaron Henare and The Great-O-Khan versus Yujiro Takahashi and Evil – WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2021 TOURNAMENT MATCH
Winners: Aaron Henare and The Great-O-Khan
SANADA and Tetsuya Naito versus TAKA Michinoku and Minoru Suzuki – WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2021 TOURNAMENT MATCH
Taka submits to Sanada’s Skull End.
Winners: SANADA and Tetsuya Naito
Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale versus Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi – WORLD TAG LEAGUE 2021 TOURNAMENT MATCH
Owens is pinned with Zack Mephisto.
Winners: Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi
