NJPW is days away from The New Beginning in Osaka and today we had another show on the road to the big event.
Today’s main event saw BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi and Tetsuya Naito of Los Ingobernables de Japon defeat TAKA Michinoku, DOUKI, Yuya Uemura, Taichi and SANADA of Just 5 Guys in a Faction Warfare Gauntlet.
SANADA started the match for Just 5 Guys and Naito was starting for LIJ, a Wrestle Kingdom rematch. These two men battled back and forth, but neither man could find a finish, the 10-minute timer sounded and both men were eliminated.
The next two men out were Michinoku and Takagi. It seemed like Michinoku might steal a win, but Takagi hit a Pumping Bomber, a powerbomb and forced Michinoku to submit an STF. Michinoku was eliminated, and Just 5 Guys only has three men remaining.
Taichi was now out to face Takagi and it looked like Takagi was fatigued, but he still battled hard. With about a minute left, Takagi hit a Pumping Bomber, but he could not get the pin and Taichi caught him with a running kick. The 10-minute timer expired in this match too, eliminating both men. LIJ now has a 3-2 advantage in the match, BUSHI and DOUKI were the next two men out.
BUSHI barely lasted two minutes, DOUKI rolled him up to eliminate him quickly. Both teams were now left with two men remaining and Takahashi was out next for LIJ. Takahashi and DOUKI was a war, but for the third time in this gauntlet, ten minutes was not enough time. Takahashi hit DOUKI with Victory Royal with 20 seconds remaining and DOUKI kicked out. The 10-minute timer expired and both men were eliminated, this gauntlet was down to a one-on-one match. A Wrestle Kingdom rematch between Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura with no time limit.
Gene Blast. Credit: NJPW
The finale began with both men trading strikes until Uemura took Tsuji to the floor to throw him into the barricade. Uemura then attacked Tsuji’s previously injured arm that was taped up and he threw him arm-first into the ring post. The focus on the injured arm continued in the ring, and Uemura body-slammed Tsuji onto his arm. Tsuji finally turned things around with a facebuster and tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Usmura was then knocked to the floor, so Tsuji could dive into him with a suicide dive.
Tsuji went for a submission, but Uemura blocked and landed a violent kick to Tsuji’s injured arm. That was followed by a dropkick, a back-drop suplex and locking in a double wrist lock. Tsuji broke the hold by reaching the ropes and hit a bicycle knee followed by a flat liner. He then hit his combination ending with a stomp into the mat before locking in the Boston crab. Uemura got to the ropes and the hold was released, Urmura was now laying into Tsuji with chops, but he showed no reaction.
The action now went to the top rope and Tsuji was pushed off to the mat, Uemura dove off and Tsuji ducked under him. Uemura now ran back at him looking for a hurricanrana, but he was met in mid-air with a powerbomb and then Tsuji locked back in the Boston crab. Tsuji turned the hold into a giant swing before locking it in again, he held it for so long and Uemura would not submit so he released the hold.
Tsuji stomped him into the mat again and went for a Gene Blast, but Uemura caught him with a hurricanrana. Uemura attempted an armbar, but Tsuji rolled out only to be hit with an enzigiri from Uemura. With Tsuji reeling, Uemura bounced off the ropes only to be hit with a brutal Gene Blast from Tsuji. LIJ wins the gauntlet.
Tsuji wants Naito’s title. Credit: NJPW
Following the match, Tsuji challenged Uemura to a hair versus hair match before turning to his teammate, Naito. He said to move forward he needs Naito’s title and he will build his results until he can take Naito’s title.
NJPW Road to THE NEW BEGINNING 02.05.24 Results
Guerrillas of Destiny (Jado, El Phantasmo & Hikuleo) vs. Bullet Club (Taiji Ishimori, Chase Owens & KENTA)
With the referee distracted, Owens hit Jado with a tag title and KENTA rolled him up for the victory. Following the match, Bullet Club tried to attack GOD, but they ended up getting dropped and Ishimori was left helpless.
Winners: Bullet Club (Taiji Ishimori, Chase Owens & KENTA)
Boltin Oleg, YOH, Tomoaki Honma, El Desperado & Shota Umino vs. House of Torture (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Yujiro Takahashi, Ren Narita, SHO & EVIL)
Umino hit Takahashi with a Death Rider to win for his team.
Winners: Boltin Oleg, YOH, Tomoaki Honma, El Desperado & Shota Umino
Toru Yano, Togi Makabe, Tomohiro Ishii & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. TMDK (Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Zack Sabre Jr.)
Fujita took out Tanahashi with his own move and dove into Ishii and Yano. ZSJ was left with Makabe and locked him in an armbar for the win.
Winners: TMDK (Kosei Fujita, Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Zack Sabre Jr.)
United Empire (Callum Newman, Francesco Akira, TJP & Great-O-Khan) vs. Bullet Club War Dogs (Drilla Moloney, Clark Connors, Alex Coughlin & David Finlay)
These two teams are six days away from war in a steel cage and tonight their match started with a brawl. All eight men were on the floor throwing shots, but once the match was in the ring it ended in seconds. Finlay hit Akira in the face with a steel chair causing a disqualification, Connors speared the referee and Finlay powerbombed Akira.
Akira continues to be brutalized by the War Dogs. Credit: NJPW
The War Dogs laid out United Empire, Finlay hit O-Khan and TJP with the Shileleigh and Akira was choked with a chain while hanging over the ropes. Finlay grabbed a microphone to remind Will Ospreay he can’t save his friends and they can’t save him.