The final stop on the road to The New Beginning in Hiroshima featured a retirement, an escalation in the Bullet Club – Chaos feud and a rubber chicken.
At the start of the broadcast El Phantasmo announced he was retiring from the colour commentary position which resulted in an outpouring of disappointment, outrage and sadness from the entire internet wrestling community. To celebrate the occasion, Phantasmo brought Zimas for himself and Kevin Kelly to share and he sent out these Tweets…
Hey guys quick announcement, I've decided to retire from the position formally known as "most handsome colour commentator" after the last Road To New Beginning show tonight. Thanks for the cheese @njpwworld. Proper Pina Coladas on me @realkevinkelly!
— ELP (@elpwrestling) February 8, 2021
since it's my last day on the job and I can't get fired, PayPal me $20 and I'll say whatever you want live on @njpwworld… podcast plugs, birthday roasts, wedding proposals, etc
➡ elpwrestling@gmail.com pic.twitter.com/Opw2u4uCkT
— ELP (@elpwrestling) February 8, 2021
Phantasmo’s Bullet Club pal and one half of the IWGP Tag Team Champions, Tama Tonga, continued to infuriate one of half of the challengers Suzuki-gun’s Taichi. Weeks ago, Tonga stole Taichi’s Iron Glove, a weapon handed down to him by the retired Takashi Iizuka. Tonga brought three bags to the ring this time just to toy with Taichi some more. Taichi eventually wrestled the bags out of Tonga’s grip. One contained a ski glove. One had a small baseball glove inside. The last held a rubber chicken. This did not go over well with Taichi who mauled Tonga with his choke hold.
Being the master of the super kick finish he calls Sudden Death, El Phantasmo was upset that Taichi won the match with a super kick on Jado.
“Check his boot!” yelled Phantasmo to no avail.
In a repeat of the last NJPW show in which Goto left the announce position to insert himself into a Chaos match, Yoshi-Hashi was on commentary tonight but didn’t stay there for long.
“He looks like a film school, Tim Burton reject,” said Phantasmo of Hashi.
Chaos starts things off by attacking Bullet Club before the bell. Ishii and Goto double team White pounding him into the canvass. Evil throws Okada in the ringside barrier so hard the barrier smashes the time keeper’s table.
Jay White chokes out Ishii in front of Yoshi-Hashi. Hashi throws off his headset and storms over to the barrier. White slaps him in the face.
Hashi leaps over the barricade and chases White into the ring. The official calls for the disqualification as Hashi pounds on White.
Bullet Club are declared the winners and Jay White laughs as he raises his hands in victory. Ishii tears out of the ring chasing White into the backstage area.
Okada addresses Evil from inside the ring. Commentator Chris Charlton messages Kevin Kelly telling him that Okada is demanding a singles match with Evil right now.
Meanwhile, El Phantasmo’s translation is:
“Evil you are very handsome. I like your hair. My mother thinks you are handsome too. Please tell me your hair care routine one-on-one. Please, show me now.”
Evil fakes going into the ring and then turns to leave. Okada leaps on Evil giving him a flying axe handle to the back. Okada throws Evil into the ring and locks on the Money Clip. Dick Togo distracts Okada. Evil clotheslines Okada over the top rope to the floor. Evil gives Okada a solo conchairto. Dick Togo claps and laughs as Evil steps on Okada’s throat.
There is no special ceremony, no fanfare for El Phantasmo’s retirement at the end of the broadcast.
“All I wanted was streamers,” sighs the Headbanger.
For the final time, @elpwrestling and yours truly as an announce team for English commentary on @njpwworld. Live for final stop on Road to #njnbg. pic.twitter.com/fBmhxGurBF
— Kevin Kelly (@realkevinkelly) February 8, 2021
At night one of the New Beginning in Hiroshima on Wednesday it will be:
Gabriel Kidd, Yuya Uemura and Yota Tsuji versus Suzuki-gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado and Minoru Suzuki)
Master Wato versus Bushi
Chaos (Toru Yano, Yoshi-Hashi, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and Kazuchika Okada) versus Bullet Club (El Phantasmo, Taiji Ishimori, Yujiro Takahashi, Jay White and Evil)
Tomoaki Honma and Kota Ibushi versus Los Ingobernables de Japón (Tetsuya Naito and Sanada)
Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa (champions) versus Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi) (challengers) – IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Match
Hiromu Takahashi (champion) versus Sho (challenger) – IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship Match
At night two of the New Beginning in Hiroshima on Thursday it will be:
Gabriel Kidd, Yuya Uemura and Yota Tsuji versus Suzuki-gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. and Douki)
Suzuki-gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Minoru Suzuki and El Desperado) versus Bullet Club (El Desperado, Taiji Ishimori and Yujiro Takahashi)
Master Wato, Sho and Tomoaki Honma versus Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi, Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi)
Chaos (Toru Yano and Kazuchika Okada) versus Bullet Club (Dick Togo and Evil)
Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr., Douki and Taichi) versus Bullet Club (Jado, Tonga Loa and Tama Tonga)
Kota Ibushi (champion) versus Sanada (challenger) – IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Double Championship Match
Road to THE NEW BEGINNING Night Four Results
Gabriel Kidd, Ryusuke Taguchi and Yuya Uemura versus Suzuki-gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Minoru Suzuki and El Desperado)
Uemura goes all mental on Suzuki right out of the gate. Once again, not a good strategy. You never want to enrage Suzuki. The crowd gets behind Uemura as he really takes it to Suzuki. He even gets a one count on him. Desperado pins Uemura though with Pinche Loco.
Winners: Suzuki-gun (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Minoru Suzuki and El Desperado)
Chaos (Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and Kazuchika Okada) versus Bullet Club (Jay White, Yujiro Takahashi and Evil)
Winners: Bullet Club (Jay White, Yujiro Takahashi and Evil) via disqualification.
Suzuki-gun (Douki, Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.) versus Bullet Club (Jado, Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa)
Winners: Suzuki-gun (Douki, Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.)
Tomoaki Honma and Master Wato versus Los Ingobernables de Japón (Tetsuya Naito and Bushi)
Tenzan accompanies Wato the ring. Naito decides to mock him throwing all sorts of goofy Mongolian Chops. Honma comes close to pinning Naito but is double-teamed by LIJ and pinned.
Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japón (Tetsuya Naito and Bushi)
Sho and Kota Ibushi versus Los Ingobernables de Japón (Hiromu Takahashi and Sanada)
Both teams go to the time limit once again. Ibushi and Sanada keep wrestling after the bell.
Winners: 30 minute time limit draw
