New Japan Road shows continued this morning, as we build towards NJPW STRONG. This morning’s show was headlined by IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA teaming with Yoshinobu Kanemaru against IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi and Yota Tsuji.
Tsuji and SANADA got the main event started with some basic chain wrestling and both men had all the reversals for each other. Takahashi and Kanemaru then got tagged in and Takahashi had a hurricanrana for both of his opponents. LIJ started working together, Tsuji dropped Takahashi from his shoulder splashing onto Kanemaru.
Just 5 Guys started getting themselves back into it when SANADA got involved to help Kanemaru. SANADA launched Tsuji into the steel barricade while Kanemaru did the same to Takahashi. Kanemaru followed that with a slam onto the floor before throwing him into the steel again. SANADA then took a turn throwing Takahashi into the steel and then backdropped him onto the ring apron.
Spear from Tsuji. Credit: NJPW
Takahashi got some momentum back after hitting SANADA with a dragon screw and tagging in Tsuji. He came in on a mission to beat down both of his opponents and hit SANADA with a Stinger Splash. Tsuji started utilizing his striking, he hit a bicycle knee and forearm, but SANADA then came back hitting him with a brainbuster.
Kanemaru was brought in, but he was quickly greeted with a curb stomp from Tsuji and Takahashi was tagged in. However, Kanemaru and SANADA both started working on Takahashi’s knee and Kanemaru locked him into a figure-four. At the same time, SANADA had Tsuji locked into Skull End, but both holds were broken when Takahashi got to the ropes.
Time Bomb. Credit: NJPW
Tsuji then hit Kanemaru with a knee that Takahashi followed with a lariat turning him inside-out. LIJ continued to work together, they hit a superkick power slam combo and then Takahashi held Kanemaru up for Tsuji to spear him. Takahashi was then able to finish the match off hitting Kanemaru with a Time Bomb for a LIJ win.
NJPW ROAD TO STRONG RESULTS
Master Wato vs. Kosei Fujita
Fujita put up a good fight, but Wato still made quick work of him defeating him with a Recientemente.
Winner: Master Wato
Boltin Oleg & Tomoaki Honma vs. Yuto Nakashima & Ryusuke Taguchi
Honma forced Nakashima to submit with the Boston crab.
Winners: Boltin Oleg & Tomoaki Honma
Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Toru Yano, Togi Makabe & Hirooki Goto vs. House of Torture (Dick Togo, SHO, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL)
Of course, HoT attacked their opponents before the bell and they ended up winning the match when EVIL hit Tenzan with Everything is Evil.
Winners: House of Torture
United Empire (Francesco Akira, TJP & Great-O-Khan) vs. Bullet Club (Gedo, Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney)
Catch 2/2 has been feuding with Connors and Moloney since Dominion and that continued today. Akira was able to get the win for the United Empire by hitting Gedo with a Speedfire, but after the match Connors and Moloney attacked United Empire. They hit Catch 2/2 with their own titles and then Moloney said those titles will soon be there’s as they will challenge for them on July 4th.
Winners: United Empire
Oskar Leube & YOSHI-HASHI vs. Bullet Club (Gabe Kidd & Alex Coughlin)
It was just last week that Kidd and Coughlin said they want Bishamon’s titles, and that they want to beat them twice to take both sets of titles one at a time. Today they continued their momentum when Coughlin pinned Leube following a Hijack Piledriver.
Winners: Bullet Club
Following the match, Kidd and Coughlin began to beat down HASHI, but out came Goto to save his partner. Bishamon was able to get the upper hand over Bullet Club today and they then officially accepted the challenges for their titles.
YOH, Tomohiro Ishii, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada vs. Tiger Mask, El Desperado, Ren Narita & Shota Umino
After a very entertaining bout, YOH got the victory over Tiger Mask with a perfectly placed super kick.
Winners: YOH, Tomohiro Ishii, Hiroshu Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada
Jon Moxley heard about Jun Kasai and El Desperado's conversations and raises the stakes for July 5!
7/5 Independence Day night 2-
El Desperado vs Jon Moxley: "Final Death"?!LIVE: https://t.co/6BmeDzyoLM#njpw #njroad pic.twitter.com/QOH9YDrnUO
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) June 17, 2023
After the match, we got words from Jon Moxley through a video and he said on July 4th he returns to NJPW to team with Homicide against El Desperado and Jun Kasai. He then said if he and Desperado survive that match he challenges Desperado to a final death match on July 5th! Desperado happily accepted the offer and Kasai then made his way to the NJPW ring for the first time and showed respect to Desperado.
Jun Kasai arrives. Credit: NJPW
Just 5 Guys (Taichi & TAKA Michinoku) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japón (Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito)
It has felt like Just 5 Guys and LIJ have been locked into a war since SANADA left LIJ to join Just 5 Guys. Today this war continued with two matches, and in the first of the two it was Takagi hitting Michinoku with a Pumping Bomber to get a win for LIJ.