The Great-O-Khan really, really doesn’t like Shota Umino. Khan continued his attacks on Umino at tonight’s Road to New Beginning event.

Even before the match between El Phantasmo, Shota Umino, Master Wato and Jado versus The United Empire (Jeff Cobb, The Great-O-Khan, Francesco Akira and Jakob Austin Young) began Great-O-Khan pulled Umino out of the ring to the floor. He threw him into the ringside barricade, stomped him over and over then pulled out a pair of scissors.

El Phantasmo and Gedo stopped Khan before he could give Umino a trim.

“F–k off, bitch. What the hell do you think you are doing?” asked Phantasmo taking the scissors away.

Phantasmo and Cobb had a conversation while Khan beat up Gedo. Meanwhile the match began with Wato and Young in the ring. Khan continued his attack on Umino slamming into a ringside barricade and then the bleachers in K hall. Francesco Akira pinned Jado with running knees to the back of the head.

After the match, Khan attacked Umino as he was walking back to the dressing room throwing him back into the ring. Khan cut Umino’s hair and…um…began eating it.

Khan wasn’t the only one to blow a gasket at the show. There was far more to come.

As The Bullet Club War Dogs came to the ring Taichi and Taka Michinoku ran down from the opposite side of the arena blindsiding them. Taichi wailed on Sanada whipping him into a steel post. He then choked him over a barricade. Sanada threw Taichi into five rows of chairs. He rammed Taichi’s head into a metal sign mounted on a wall. Ishimori took a long swig from a bottle of water spitting it into Taka’s face. When the brawl finally became a sanctioned match with everyone returning to the ring Sanada grabbed Taichi’s leg, foot faking a kick to the groin. The official didn’t buy it. Taichi made sure the official was watching and kicked Sanada in the “lower abdomen”. Taka and Taichi were disqualified.

Taichi wants a piece of Sanada. Courtesy: NJPW.

When Sanada finally got back on his feet Taichi super kicked him in the face. As an enraged Taichi went for a steel chair on the floor, officials, Young Lions and even Taka tried to hold him back. As Taichi was ready to take a swing Taka pulled him away allowing Sanada to roll out of the ring and scamper to the back.

In the main event, El Desperado pinned Kosei Fujita with Pinche Loco to hold onto his IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship. Francesco Akira came out to challenge Desperado for the title.

Akira snaps. Courtesy: NJPW.

“Desperado, I want this belt and I want to take it from you in a special place for me,” said Akira making the challenge for next month’s anniversary show.

Desperado accepted but asked Akira if he needs approval from TJP first?

The two got into a shoving match. Akira labeled Desperado with punches as Young Lions tried to separate the two.

NJPW Road to New Beginning

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Katsuya Murashima versus Togi Makabe and Daiki Naga

Makabe hits the King Kong knee on Murashima for the win.

Winners: Togi Makabe and Daiki Naga


El Phantasmo, Shota Umino, Master Wato and Jado versus The United Empire (Jeff Cobb, The Great-O-Khan, Francesco Akira and Jakob Austin Young)

Winners: The United Empire (Jeff Cobb, The Great-O-Khan, Francesco Akira and Jakob Austin Young)


Boltin Oleg, Tomoaki Honma versus Tetsuya Naito and Hiroshi Tanahashi

Naito forced Honma to submit.

Winners: Tetsuya Naito and Hiroshi Tanahashi


Just Four Guys (Taichi and Taka Michinoku) versus The Bullet Club War Dogs (Sanada and Taiji Ishimori)

Winners: Via DQ, The Bullet Club War Dogs (Sanada and Taiji Ishimori).


The Bullet Club War Dogs (Drilla Maloney, Clark Connors and Gabe Kidd) versus LIJ (Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi and Bushi)

It didn’t take long for things to break down and head to the floor. Drilla and Takagi relentlessly chopped each other. Kidd and Tsuji fought in the stands. Drilla gave Takagi a Driller Killer on the arena floor. The referee rang the bell to disqualify both teams. Kidd and Tsuji got traded chops in the ring. Tsuji went to spear Kidd. Kidd clotheslined him. Tsuji flipped in the air. Kidd then stood over a fallen Tsuji as he gloated.

Winners: Double Disqualification.


Chaos (Hirooki Goto, Yoshi-Hashi, Tomohiro Ishii) versus TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa, Robbie Eagles and Hartley Jackson)

Hashi and Goto pin Jackson with Shoto.

Winners: Chaos (Hirooki Goto, Yoshi-Hashi, Tomohiro Ishii)


El Desperado (c) versus Kosei Fujita – IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Match

Winner: …and still IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, El Desperado.