TNA iMPACT! 1/20/11

Kurt Angle/Jeff Jarrett/Karen Jarrett video package.

“Dirty Laundry”

Mike Tenay and Taz are the announcers.  Jeremy Borash is the ring announcer.

Kurt Angle arrives, walks into the building, and orders a production guy to play his music.  Angle walks out to the ring and cuts a promo.  He wants to bury the hatchet with Karen for the sake of his kids.  Jeff Jarrett’s music plays and his geeks come out.  Angle kicks their asses before they can get into the ring and screams for Jarrett to come out.  Eric Bischoff and Ric Flair come out instead.  They send out some rent-a-cops, who escort Angle out of the building.  Okay then…  Commercials.

Moments ago, ^ happened.

Jeff and Karen Jarrett arrive and feign disappointment that Angle has been kicked out.

Non-Title Four-Way Match: Sarita vs. Velvet Sky vs. Mickie James vs. TNA Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne.  Mickie and Velvet argue over who is going to start, because this is TNA so the four-way has stupid tag rules.  They say “fuck it” and attack their respective enemies on the outside.  Mickie beats up Madison in the ring.  Sarita tags in and gets flapjacked by Mickie.  Velvet tags herself in and attacks Sarita bitch-style.  Rayne cheap shots Sky from the apron.  Sky decks her.  Sarita throws Velvet around.  Velvet hits a flying head scissors on Sarita.  Madison knocks Mickie off the apron.  Madison and Sarita try to double team Velvet, but Mickie saves.  Clusterfuck.  Velvet takes out Sarita.  Mickie gives Madison a neckbreaker and goes up top.  The referee it outside with Velvet and Sarita.  Tara appears and clocks Mickie with the elbow brace.  Sarita and Velvet come back in and conk heads.  Madison clocks Velvet with the loaded glove.  Mickie gets Madison with a reverse cradle for the pin in 4:28.  This wasn’t any good.  Madison throws a fit.

Beer Money chat backstage.  Storm does curls with beer bottles.

Tonight, Beer Money vs. Anderson & RVD!

Kurt Angle is walking around backstage.  I thought the rent-a-cops escorted him out?  Commercials.

Samoa Joe talks to Kazuchika Okada, who’s been video taping Pope for him.  Poor Okada…

Ric Flair and Rob Terry come out.  Flair cuts a promo about Terry’s sexual prowess, then calls out Matt Morgan.

“The Freak” Rob Terry (w/ Ric Flair) vs. “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan.  They show Morgan beating Abyss last week, then being jumped by Flair and Terry.  Terry gets instructions from Flair.  Morgan hits the Carbon Footprint for the pin in 11 seconds.  Morgan goes after Flair.  Flair throws ineffective punches and chops, then begs off.  Abyss runs in and jumps Morgan.  Morgan rallies and drops him with the discus lariat.  Terry wakes up and immediately gets side slammed.  Morgan goes for Flair, but Abyss jumps him again.  Morgan rallies and takes out Abyss and Terry again.  Terry takes out Morgan’s knee.  The heels finally get the better of Morgan and beat him down.  Abyss and Terry hit a double chokeslam.

Video package of TNA stars at New Japan “Wrestle Kingdom V In Tokyo Dome.”

Tonight, Jeff Hardy vs. Tommy Dreamer!  Beer Money vs. Anderson & RVD!

AJ Styles gives TNA X Division Champion Kazarian a pep talk backstage.  Kazarian leaves.  Crimson appears and chokes AJ with a wire, then tells him “they’re coming” in 2 weeks.  Commercials.

Kurt Angle is still stalking around backstage.

TNA X Division Championship Match: Kazarian (c) vs. Jay Lethal.  Lethal slingshots Kazarian into the ring and runs wild on him.  Kazarian bails.  Lethal follows and beats him up at ringside.  Back inside, Lethal hits a springboard missile dropkick for 2.  Lethal goes for the Lethal Injection, but Kazarian counters and finally mounts some offense.  Lethal hits the handspring elbow smash for 2.  Lethal hits the Lethal Combination, then goes up top and hits the diving elbow drop for 2.  Kazarian rolls to the floor.  Lethal throws Kazarian back into the ring.  Kazarian gouges his eyes.  Lethal goes for a sunset flip.  Kazarian squashes it, grabs the ropes, and gets the pin in 4:33.  Not much of a match, which is sad when you consider how good their PPV match was.

Ken Anderson, Rob Van Dam, and Tommy Dreamer chat backstage.

The Jarretts are headed our way.

Kurt Angle finds a door into the arena.  Commercials.

Jeff and Karen Jarrett come to the ring.  Jeff puts over his wife.  Karen bashes Kurt Angle.  Angle sneaks into the ring and gives Jarrett a German suplex.  Kurt and Karen stare at each other.  Karen slaps him.  Jarrett hits Angle in the balls, then beats him up and leaves him laying.  Commercials.

Moments ago, ^ happened.

Kurt Angle beats up trash cans backstage.

Tommy Dreamer vs. Jeff Hardy.  Hardy beats up Dreamer.  Dreamer avoids a drop kick and leg drops Hardy’s balls.  Dreamer clotheslines Hardy out of the ring, then hits a clothesline off the apron.  Dreamer beats up Hardy on the outside until Hardy gives him a sort of arm drag off the apron.  Hardy beats up Dreamer back inside.  Hardy hits an innovated dropkick to the balls, then clamps on a rear chin lock.  Dreamer makes his comeback.  Hardy tries to rally, but Dreamer avoids the Whisper In The Wind.  Dreamer goes for a dive, but Hardy catches him with a kick.  Dreamer counters the Twist of Hate and hits the Spiccoli Driver.  Hardy gets a foot on the rope.  Hardy gets another low blow and hits the Twist of Hate for the pin in 4:21.  This wasn’t very good either.

Kurt Angle is stalking around backstage with a baseball bat.

Beer Money vs. Anderson & RVD is NEXT!  Commercials.

“The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero talks on the phone backstage.  He wants to use some guy’s computer for his illicit business dealings.  He uses his phone to call the guy, then steals his laptop when the guy walks outside to get service.

AJ Styles tries to tell Ric Flair what happened to him earlier.  Flair “ices” Styles.  Kurt Angle appears and hits Style with his bat.  Flair begs off.  Angle chokes him and tells him to make sure Jarrett comes to the ring to fight him.

Non-Title: TNA World Tag Team Champions Beer Money vs. TNA World Heavyweight Champion Ken Anderson & Rob Van Dam.  Entrances, commercials, bell.  Roode and RVD brawl.  RVD does his weird leg cradle for 2.  RVD hits a standing moonsault for 2.  Roode counters a monkey flip and sets RVD on the top turnbuckle.  They horrible botch a diving schoolboy.  Anderson tags in and hits a lariat for 2.  Storm tags in and gets schooled by Anderson.  Anderson hits a spinning neckbreaker for 2.  Anderson runs into the turnbuckles, then gets clotheslined by Roode in the apron.  Roode tags in and works over Anderson.  Roode hits a knee drop for 2.  Beer Money get the heat on Anderson and work over his previously concussed head.  Anderson rallies and spikes Roode with a DDT.  Storm and RVD tag in.  RVD runs wild, back body drops an interfering Roode, and hits Storm with the flying kick.  RVD goes for Rolling Thunder, but Roode trips him.  Storm hits a Lung Blower for 2.  Beer Money go for the double suplex, but Anderson intervenes and takes Roode to the floor.  Roode sends Anderson into the steps.  RVD drops Storm with a kick and goes up top.  Roode tries to intervene, but fails.  RVD hits the Five Star Frog Splash on Storm.  Jeff Hardy comes out to distract the referee.  Matt Hardy sneaks in and hits RVD the Twist of Hate.  Storm pins RVD in 8:08.  Okayish match, but still not that good.

Brian Kendrick tries to help Bully Ray with his anger management.  Ray shoves him into some lockers instead.  That dick.  Commercials.

Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett yell at each other in the office.  Eric Bischoff tells Jarrett to “trust him” and go to the ring.

Brother Devon comes out and calls out Bully Ray.  Ray comes out and challenges Devon to fight him at ringside.  Brian Kendrick comes out and throws Ray in the ring.  Devon beats up Ray.  Ray tries to use a chain, but Devon kicks his ass and takes it.  Security comes out to break it up, so of course Bubba jumps him from behind.  Bubba beats up security, scares So Cal Val, and brings in a chair.  Where the hell did Kendrick go?  Bubba sandwiches Devon’s head in the chair and whips it with his chain.  That dick!

Kurt Angle is headed our way!  Commercials!

Kurt Angle is in the ring.  Jeff Jarrett, Gunner, and Murphy come out.  Jarrett is in his ring gear for some reason, but is reluctant to fight.  He sends Gunner and Murphy instead.  Angle kicks their asses.  They finally get the advantage, so Jarrett joins in on the beatdown.  Angle rallies, throws out Gunner and Murphy, and puts Jarrett in a rear naked choke.  Karen Jarrett comes out to scream at Angle.  Immortal come out and beat down Angle.  Abyss comes out to the stage and falls down.  He has the nail board stuck in his back.  WTF?  Crimson appears and yells that “THEY’RE COMING” on February 3.  Angle takes advantage of the distraction to start kicking ass.  Angle gets Flair in the ankle lock until Immortal pull him to safety.

This show wasn’t good, but I’ve seen far worse.

NJPW Super J Cup 1994

The show starts with comments from some of the participating wrestlers.  I don’t speak Japanese, but I’m sure it’s something along the lines of “I will win!”  Then we get a cool opening video package.

The new Japan ring announcer whose name I forget (H-something Tanaka, maybe?) welcomes us to the show (LIVE from the Sumo Hall in Tokyo) and all the participants come out:

Masayoshi Motegi (SPWF)
Hayabusa (FMW)
Ricky Fuji (FMW)
Gedo (WAR)
Super Delfin (Michinoku Pro)
TAKA Michinoku (Michinoku Pro)
Great Sasuke (Michinoku Pro)
Negro Casas (New Japan)
Dean Malenko (New Japan)
Black Tiger II (New Japan)
Wild Pegasus (New Japan)
Shinjiro Otani (New Japan)
El Samurai (New Japan)
Jushin Thunder Liger (New Japan)

So everybody is in the ring, then I think Tatsumi Fujinami comes out to show off his shiny WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship belt from the early 80s… or something.

Round 1: Gedo vs. Dean Malenko.  Gedo was chunky and had hair at this point.  They shake hands, then go at it fast and furious.  They slow it down and do that elborate arm counter sequence the Japanese fans always like.  They do another awesome little wrestling sequence stemming from a cross armbreaker attempt by Gedo.  Malenko locks in a cross armbreaker of his own.  Gedo turns it into a cradle, but Malenko puts him back down.  Gedo gets out of that particular hold, but Malenko stays on his arm.  Fuck Malenko is great.  Malenko goes for a chickenwing facelock but Gedo fights it, so Malenko just puts him in a Dragon sleeper.  Gedo gets out of that one too.  Malenko hits a brainbuster for a near fall.  Then I got a phone call and couldn’t type for a few minutes.  Gedo catches Malenko coming off the ropes with a powerslam for the pin at 8:04.  Really good match.  Malenko being eliminated in the first round sucks, though.

Round 1, Non-Title: UWF Super Welterweight Champion Super Delfin vs. Shinjiro Otani.  Otani jumps Delfin before the bell and goes after his leg.  He stays on the leg, punishing it in various ways.  Delfin gets rope breaks to escape the holds and finally makes a comeback, leapfrogging Otani, then dropkicking him, and doing a backbreaker.  All of these moves require use of the legs.  Delfin shows no ill effects from Otani’s earlier leg work.  Otani responds by punishing Delfin’s legs some more.  Delfin stomps Otani with his apparently uninjured leg, then hits a backdrop and a stalling brainbuster.  Otani kicks out of a very near fall.  Otani blocks another brainbuster attempt, then throws Delfin out of the ring and hits a springboard dive.  Otani hits a missle dropkick for a near fall, then goes after Delfin’s leg again.  Delfin gets a rope break.  Otani pulls him to the middle of the ring and puts him back in the leg hold.  Delfin hits a tornado DDT and gets the pin with what I assume is the Delfin Clutch at about 8:07.  Good match, despite the fact that 90% of Otani’s offense was targeting Delfin’s legs and Delfin didn’t sell his legs at all.  They shake hands after the match.

Super Delfin comments on something.

Round 1: TAKA Michinoku vs. Black Tiger II.  For the benefit of those ignorant of puroresu, Black Tiger is Eddie Guerrero.  Tiger hits that somersault he always did and then powerbombs young TAKA.  He continues to punish TAKA in various ways and even puts him in what appears to be a Sharpshooter.  TAKA starts making a comeback and Tiger bails.  Once TAKA’s momentum evaporates, Tiger comes back in to beat him some more.  He is surprised to learn that TAKA still has some steam.  TAKA hits a springboard dive to the outside, then gets near falls with a German suplex and a Frankensteiner.  Tiger blocks another Frankensteiner attempt and powerbombs TAKA for a two count.  Tiger hits a frog splash for a near fall.  TAKA gets more near falls from a powerbomb and a moonsault.  He goes for another moonsault, but Tiger gets his knees up and and hits a brainbuster for a near fall.  Tiger wins with a tornado DDT at 6:47.  Okay match.  Ring boy Tatsuhito Takaiwa helps TAKA to the back.

Round 1, Non-Title: WWC Junior Heavyweight Champion Masayoshi Motegi vs. El Samurai.  Motegi dropkicks Samurai, then the bell rings.  Another dropkick sends Samurai out of the ring, and Motegi dives through the ropes onto him.  Motegi goes to the top rope, but slips and falls off.  Goof.  Samurai makes a comeback and gets a near fall off a piledriver, then another one off something else.  Samurai goes for a crab hold and they do a couple of cradle reversals.  Samurai gets a near fall off of a Tombstone Piledriver, then another off a neat reverse brainbuster.  Samurai misses a dropkick when Motegi hangs onto the ropes.  Motegi dropkicks Samurai and runs at him, but gets backdropped out of the ring.  Samurai hits his own dive to the outside.  Samurai hits a missile dropkick back in the ring for a two count.  Samurai goes for a Frankensteiner, but Motegi powerbombs him, then does a surfboard hold.  Motegi hits some rolling Germans, but Samurai reverses one into a front cradle for another close one.  German suplex gets a near fall for Samurai, then the Samurai Bomb gets the victory at 7:09.  Worst match so far, but still not bad.

Motegi comments.

Round 1: Ricky Fuji vs. Negro Casas.  Casas throws a dropkick, then they do some stuff on the mat.  They stay on the mat for a few minutes, then Casas sends Fuji to the outside and dives out onto him.  Has there been a dive in every match so far?  I think so.  Back in the ring, Fuji hits a diving double axe handle for a two count.  Casas gets a one count with a la magistral, then a two count off of a diving senton.  He tries the senton again, but Fuji moves.  Fuji hits a Tiger Driver for the win at 5:53.  The match was so-so.

Round 1: Hayabusa vs. Jushin Thunder Liger.  This should rock.  I think I’ve seen it before, but it’s been forever.  Masato Tanaka is one of the FMW guys out to second Hayabusa.  Hayabusa attacks Liger before the bell, then does the obligatory suicide dive.  Hayabusa puts him back in the ring and dropkicks him.  Hayabusa keeps up the attack until Liger manages to get the upper hand and lock in a figure-four leglock.  Hayabusa gets a rope break, then Liger nails him with a flurry of shoteis and hits a powerbomb for a near fall.  Liger goes back to the legs with a Prison lock.  Hayabusa tries to punch his way out, but Liger puts more pressure on.  Liger lets him go to beat on him some more, then goes back to working the leg.  Hayabusa gets a headlock on Liger, who backdrops him to escape.  Liger hits the koppou kick in the corner, followed by his avalanche-style brainbuster.  That normally means death, but Hayabusa manages to get a shoulder up.  Hayabusa fights back and goes up top to hit a spinning kick for a two count.  Hayabusa hits a moonsault for a near fall.  He comes off the top rope again and botches a headscissors.  Hayabusa overshoots on a Shooting Star press and lands on his face.  Liger hits the Liger Bomb for a near fall.  Liger sets up for his avalanche brainbuster again, but Hayabusa pushes him away.  He dives, but Liger catches him with a powerbomb.  Liger hits a Fisherman buster for the win at 10:18.  Liger was great, but Hayabusa botched a bunch of shit.  They shake hands after the match.

Haybusa comments.

We get a recap of Round 1.

Round 2: Gedo vs. Super Delfin.  Gedo beat Dean Malenko in the first round, while Delfin beat Shinjiro Otani.  Delfin goes after Gedo’s arm, but Gedo kicks him away.  Delfin locks in a half crab while grinding his boot in Gedo’s ear.  Ouch.  Gedo tries the same crab hold, but Delfin hits an enzuigiri.  Delfin throws some strikes that don’t affect Gedo, then nails him the balls and takes control.  Delfin hits a nice spinning headscissors, then they trade dropkicks.  Gedo gets back on track and goes on the offensive with repeated kicks to Delfin’s spine, then puts him a backbreaker-type hold.  Delfin manages to send Gedo face-first into the turnbuckle and hits a brainbuster for a two count.  Neckbreaker gets another two count.  Gedo gets sent to the outside, then Delfin jumps to the top rope and dives outside onto him.  I wonder if every match in this round will have dives out of the ring too.  Gedo fights back, but Delfin gets a near fall with a victory roll.  Gedo hits his powerslam that put away Malenko in round 1, but Delfin kicks out.  Gedo gets a near fall with a moonsault, then Delfin gets another one of his own with a crucifix hold.  Delfin hits a backdrop hold, which Gedo also manages to kick out of.  Delfin hits a diving elbow drop for a two count.  Delfin hits a tornado DDT and goes for the Delfin Clutch, but Gedo surprises him with an inside cradle for the win at 8:21.

Round 2: Black Tiger II vs. Wild Pegasus.  Eddie Guerrero vs. Chris Benoit, so you know this has to be good.  Tiger beat TAKA Michinoku in the first round, while Pegasus had a bye. They start out with some fine old fashioned wrestling.  Tiger breaks from that and hits that hilo he always liked to do.  Tiger punishes Pegasus in various ways until Pegasus counters a brainbuster attempt and hits a reverse brainbuster of his own.  Pegasus goes on the offensive.  He gets his first near fall off of a German suplex hold, then another off of a powerbomb.  Tiger comes back in a big way when he hits a nice Frankensteiner and gets a near fall off of his own German.  Tiger hits a fall away slam, but then misses a missile dropkick.  Tiger does an awesome sequence where he almost slips on the top rope, but keeps his balance and hits a swank Frankensteiner for a near fall.  He follows that with a top rope Frankensteiner, but Pegasus manages to kick out of that too.  Tiger hits a brainbuster and goes for the tornado DDT, but Pegasus blocks it.  Pegasus goes for some avalanche move, but Tiger pushes him away and dives.  Pegasus catches him with an armdrag and covers for the win at 10:23.  Not their best match, but still a very good give and take match.

Round 2: Great Sasuke vs. El Samurai.  Sasuke had a bye in the first round, while Samurai had to go through Masayoshi Motegi.  They lock up and Sasuke goes a little leg work.  They break and lock up again, but Samurai struggles to get Sasuke up for a back suplex.  Sasuke maintains the advantage.  Samurai fights back and goes to work on Sasuke’s leg.  Samurai hits that backdrop suplex he was looking for earlier, then stretches Sasuke with a nasty hold.  Sasuke fights back and sends Samurai out of the ring, then hits a wacky dive to the outside.  Back in the ring, they go at it fast and furious, then Samurai hits his own suicide dive.  Samurai hits a nice German for a near fall in the ring, then follows with his diving headbutt for another near fall.  Samurai goes for a powerbomb,  but Sasuke counters into a Frankensteiner for a near fall.  Sasuke gets another near fall with a sunset flip off the turnbuckle.  Samurai nails his powerbomb,  but Sasuke kicks out again.  Sasuke counters something from Samurai into a sunset flip for the win at 11:41.  Really really good match here, best of the show so far.  They shake hands after the match.

Round 2: Ricky Fuji vs. Jushin Thunder Liger.  Fuji beat Negro Casas to get here.  Liger beat Hayabusa.  Neat hammerlock/flip exchange to start, then a test of strength.  Fuji hits the obligatory suicide dive, then powerbombs Liger on the floor.  They do more stuff, then Liger hits a nasty ghetto stomp off the ring apron.  Soon after, Liger goes for his avalanche-style brainbuster, but Fuji turns around on him and lands on top for a near fall.  Fuji sends Liger out and hits a baseball slide dropkick.  Fuji sets up Liger on the top rope, but Liger nails him with a shotei and hits a diving Frankensteiner for the win at 7:50.  Cool finish.  I’ve forgotten that Liger used to be a really good flier before his brain surgery and various injuries piling up.  Liger’s still great anyway though.

Fuji comments.

Semifinal: Gedo vs. Wild Pegasus.  Usual pretty stuff to start, then Benoit slaps Gedo.  Gedo slaps him back, and it’s ON!  They go at it, then Goed locks on a painful looking arm submission that looks like it’d be hell on your shoulders.  He gets a rope break and soon after they chop the shit out of each other for a bit.  Benoit gets sent outside and Gedo hits a moonsault from the turnbuckle onto him.  They get back in the ring and Gedo misses a diving headbutt.  Benoit hits a powerbomb for a near fall, then slams Gedo and hits his own diving heatbutt for the win at 6:18.  Good match for the time they were given.

Gedo comments.

Semifinal: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Great Sasuke.  They start with the classic “do some technical stuff and flips to pop the crowd” thing.  They do some more stuff, but I was momentarily destracted.  A common problem for me.  Liger lands his koppou kick and Sasuke is out of it for a minute.  Liger hits a Tombstone Piledriver and locks Sasuke in a chickenwing facelock.  Liger punishes Sasuke’s arm.  Liger comes off the top rope and they dropkick each other at the same time.  Liger goes outside and Sasuke hits a gorgeous Asai moonsault.  Sasuke hits another insane dive off the top rope out of the ring.  They finally make it back in the ring and Sasuke goes to town on Liger.  Sasuke hits a Tombstone of his own and follows with a Swanton bomb (dunno what he calls it), but Liger moves out of the way.  Liger hits the Liger bomb for a two count.  Liger hits an avalanche-style Frankensteiner for two, then Sasuke counters his cover for two of his own.  Liger hits something (brainbuster?) for a near fall.  Liger hits a Fisherman buster, but Sasauke manages to kick out.  Liger suplexes Sasuke out of the ring and dives off the turnbuckle onto him.  Sasuke tries to springboard back into the ring, but messes up and lands on his head.  OUCH.  He recovers and hits a Frankensteiner for the win at 18:09.  Awesome match.  They hug afterwards.

Liger comments.

Final: Great Sasuke vs. Wild Pegasus.  They go at it, and it’s good stuff.  All the other participants in the tournament are at ringside watching the final match.  5 minutes in, Benoit hits a German suplex for a near fall.  Sasuke slams Benoit and hits a leg drop, then works on his arm.  Benoit goes for a powerbomb, but Sasuke counters with an arm drag.  Benoit gets a near fall with a Dragon suplex hold.  Benoit follows with the diving headbutt for a two count.  Benoit locks in the Sharpshooter, then hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a two count.  Benoit whips Sasuke into the ropes again and throws a dropkick, but Sasuke holds on so it’ misses.  German suplex gets another two count.  At 13 minutes, Sasuke finally hits the obligatory suicide dive.  Sasuke hits his own German for a near fall, then gets another with a Fisherman suplex.  Sasuke misses a diving dropkick.  Sasuke suplexes Benoit out of the ring.  More stuff, then Sasaki hits a strange moonsault for a near fall.  Benoit hits a gutwrench suplex off the top rope for the win at 18:46.  Good match.

Now for the celebration.  Tatsumi Fujinami gives Benoit his old WWF Junior Heavyweight title belt and a gold jacket with “WINNER” on the back.  Of course, he also gets some big trophies too.  Sasuke, Tiger, Gedo, and Liger get trophies for various awards too.

I finally get to hear someone in English, as Benoit comments.  So does Sasuke, but he doesn’t speak English.  Then we get a nice closing video package.

All in all a really good show, but I wouldn’t call it the best show ever as some people have.

NJPW “J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament” Night 3 6/30/10

The announcers hype the show.  Highlights of yesterday’s matches.  Graphics showing all of the teams in the tournament.  The ring announcer reads tonight’s card.

Super Strong Machine, Pink Strong Machine (Yutaka Yoshie), & Tonga Strong Machine (Tama Tonga) vs. Manabu Nakanishi & IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Koji Kanemoto & El Samurai.  Nakanishi & co. get the jump on the Machines.  Yoshie runs through Kanemoto and Samurai.  They try to double team him, but he knocks their heads together.  Nakanishi knocks him down and sends him outside.  Kanemoto dives at him, fails to knock him down, and gets thrown into the barricade.  Ditto for Samurai.  Nakanishi half ass hits a dive and knocks down Yoshie.  Back inside, Nakanishi and Yoshie trade chops and shoulder blocks.  Yoshie finally wins the exchange.  Kanemoto tags in, chops Yoshie a bunch, and gets knocked down.  Kanemoto narrowly avoids getting sat on.  Samurai comes in to help and they get Yoshie down briefly.  Yoshie slams Kanemoto and tags in Tonga.  Kanemoto has a better chance at handling this.  Tonga hits a powerslam for 2.  Kanemoto avoids a charge in the corner and does the face wash.  Samurai tags in and beats up Tonga.  He breaks wrestling rule #1 by trying to headbutt and Islander.  Tonga headbutts him back and tags in Super.  Super and Tonga double team briefly.  Super hits a DDT for 2.  Yoshie tags in and stink faces Samurai.  Tonga tags in and hits a sidewalk slam for 2, as Kanemoto saves.  Super tags in and hits a suplex on Samurai, following with an elbow drop for a series of 2 counts.  Yoshie tags in and punishes Samurai with the power of fat some more.  Samurai avoids getting pancaked by a splash and hits a basement dropkick.  Nakanishi gets the tag, knocks Super and Tonga off the apron, and gets cut off by Yoshie.  Nakanishi avoids a corner splash.  Nakanishi & co. triple team Yoshie in the corner.  Nakanishi tries to whip Yoshie and fails.  Yoshie drops him with a body block.  Nakanishi tries a sunset flip, but Yoshie sits on him for 2.  Tonga tags in.  Yoshie knocks Kanemoto and Samurai off the apron.  Super and Tonga hold Nakanishi as Yoshie comes off the top with a cross body.  Samurai hits a senton splash.  Tonga hits a diving splash, but Kanemoto and Samurai save.  Super takes them both outside.  Nakanishi hits Yoshie with a waterwheel drop, then catches Tonga coming off the top and drops him.  Cover, but Machines save.  Clusterfuck ensues.  Nakanishi locks Tonga in the Argentine backbreaker for the win in 10:57 as Kanemoto gets Super in the ankle lock and Samurai gets Yoshie in the chickenwing armlock.  Okay little match.  It was kind of fun.  Nakanishi says something after the match.  Pink Strong Machine retorts and unmasks to reveal Yutaka Yoshie!  Shocker!

Tamon Honda, Kentaro Shiga, & Makoto Hashi vs. Riki Choshu, AKIRA, & Kyosuke Mikami.  Choshu and Honda lock up and go at it.  Choshu goes for the Scorpion Death Lock, but Hashi and Shiga save.  Shiga tags in.  Choshu grabs a side headlock, then lands a shoulder block.  Choshu clamps on a rear chin lock.  Mikami tags in and beats up Shiga.  He clamps on a rear chin lock of his own.  Shiga fights out and hits him with an elbow smash.  Hashi tags in and trades chops with Mikami.  Hashi lands a headbutt and a Mongolian chop.  Mikami fights back and takes him down with a spear.  Hashi rakes his face.  Mikami hits a spinebuster.  Cover, but Honda saves.  Honda locks Mikami in a scissored rear chin lock, then kicks him outside.  Hashi slams Mikami on the floor, then hits the diving headbutt off the apron.  Back inside, Shiga tags in and continues beating up young Mikami.  Honda takes a turn and locks Mikami in that standing arm triangle.  Mikami gets the ropes.  The ex-NOAH guys triple team him.  Hashi hits another diving headbutt.  Honda covers for 2.  AKIRA comes in and drops Honda with an enzuigiri.  Mikami dropkicks Hashi and tags in Choshu.  Choshu hits Honda with a Riki lariat and goes for the Scorpion Death Lock.  Hashi saves and gets thrown outside.  Shiga tags in.  Shiga and Honda double team Choshu.  Choshu rallies and tags in AKIRA.  AKIRA runs wild on Shiga and drops him with a kick for 2.  AKIRA slams Shiga and hits the Musasabi press.  Honda saves.  Mikami tags in and shoulder blocks Shiga.  Honda tags in and trades elbows with Mikami.  Honda hits a sandbag German suplex for 2, as Choshu saves.  Honda slams Mikami.  Hashi hits a diving headbutt.  Cover, but partners save.  Clusterfuck breaks out.  Hashi hits Mikami with his Michinoku Driver II (I can never remember what he calls it) for the pin in 9:32.  Okay little match again.

J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament – Semifinal: NO LIMIT & Dick Togo vs. Hirooki Goto & Apollo 55 (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi).  NO LIMIT jump their opponents before the bell, as usual.  Everybody brawls all over the place.  NO LIMIT double team Devitt in the ring.  Devitt hits them both with a dropkick.  Apollo 55 double team Togo.  They try to double team Yujiro, but he cuts Devitt off and Naito hits Taguchi wiht a issile dropkick.  Yujiro and Togo beat up Devitt on the outside.  Back inside, Yujiro works over Devitt.  Togo tags in and takes a turn.  Naito chokes Devitt with a towel.  Togo sentons Devitt against Naito’s knees.  Naito covers for 2.  Yujiro tags in.  Devitt tries to fight back, but gets cut off quickly.  Togo tags in an dlocks Devitt in a rear chin lock.  Goto comes in and kicks Togo until he breaks it.  Devitt and Togo trade shots.  Naito knees Devitt in the back from the apron.  Naito and Togo try to double team, but Devitt nails Yujiro with a dropkick and makes the tag to Taguchi.  Taguchi runs wild.  He goes for the Three Amigos, but Togo counters the third into a small package for 2.  Togo lands on his feet from a German suplex.  They do a double clothesline spot.  Goto tags in and gets double teamed by NO LIMIT.  Naito gets 2 off of a senton splash.  NO LIMIT and Togo go for a triple team, but Apollo 55 cut them off.  Goto hits Naito with a superplex.  Goto and Apollo 55 triple team Naito.  Apollo 55 go outside to brawl with Togo and Yujiro.  The heels make it back in the ring.  NO LIMIT hit their clothesline –> jackknife hold finish, but Apollo 55 save.  Naito and Goto counter each other.  Goto hits a lariat and the Shouten for the pin in 10:24.  Fine little match.

J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament – Semifinal: Shinsuke Nakamura, Masato Tanaka, & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, TAJIRI, & KUSHIDA.  Eternal ricals Nakamura and Tanahashi start.  They fuck around a bit, then lock up and wrestle.  Stalemate, applause.  They trade arm locks.  Tanahashi locks in a cross armbreaker.  Nakamura easily reverses it.  Tanahashi gets the ropes.  Nakamura hits him with some knee lifts.  Tanahashi lands a dropkick.  Nakamura bails.  Tanaka and TAJIRI tag in.  ECW!  ECW!  ECW!  They lock up.  TAJIRI hits an arm drag.  Tanaka replies in kind.  Tanaka hits a shoulder block for 1.  Stalemate, applause.  TAJIRI lands a kick.  Tanaka hits an elbow smash.  TAJIRI replies with his handspring elbow smash.  They trade arm drags.  Stalemate, applause.  Really fun exchange.  KUSHIDA and Ishii tag in.  KUSHIDA throws some ineffective forearms and gets dropped with a shoulder block.  KUSHIDA lands some more forearms and a slap.  Ishii challenges KUSHIDA to shoulder block up.  KUSHIDA drops him with one.  Ishii bails, then avoids a dive and whips KUSHIDA into the barricade.  Ishii beats him up in the crowd and hits  and chokes him with a chair.  Ishii continues to abuse KUSHIDA back inside.  Nakamura tags in and disdainfully kicks the crap out of KUSHIDA.  Nakamura is an awesome “Don’t give a fuck” bastard heel.  Nakamura hits a knee drop for 2, as Tanahashi saves.  Tanaka tags in and hits some elbows on KUSHIDA.  Cover, but TAJIRI saves.  Tanaka hits a brainbuster for 2.  Ishii tags in and kicks KUSHIDA in the face.  KUSHIDA punches Ishii in the belly.  Ishii headbutts him down.  Ishii hits a corner lariat.  Cover, but Tanahashi saves.  Tanaka tags in, lands an elbow smash, and gets dropped with a dropkick.  TAJIRI gets the tag and brawls with Tanaka.  TAJIRI hits a spinning headscissors and a spin kick for 2.  TAJIRI lands some chops.  Tanaka counters a tornado DDT, but TAJIRI hits him with a Lung Blower for 2.  Ishii tags in.  TAJIRI kicks him in the face and tags in Tanahashi.  Tanahashi runs wild until he gets cut off but Tanaka and Nakamura in the corner.  Nakamura & co. triple team Tanahashi.  Ishii hits a powerslam, but KUSHIDA saves.  Tanahashi hits the Sling Blade and goes up top, but Nakamura and Tanaka cut him off.  Ishii hits a superplex and a powerbomb, but KUSHIDA saves.  Tanahashi ducks Nakamura’s Boma Ye.  Clusterfuck ensues.  Tanahashi hits Ishii with the Sling Blade, then pins him with a crucifix hold in 12:09.  Really fun match.  Best of the night so far.  The final is looking awesome.

Intermission.  Highlights of earlier matches.  Hype for matches to come.

IWGP Tag Team Champions Bad Intentions & King Fale vs. Yuji Nagata, Wataru Inoue, & Mitsuhide Hirasawa of Aogi-gun.  Anderson wants to start with Nagata, but Bernard orders him out of the ring.  Bernard and Nagata start, but Anderson tags himself in immediately.  Nagata lands some kicks and clamps on a rear chin lock.  Anderson fires back… and crotches himself in the corner.  Nagata kicks him in the ass, then wrings his arm and tags in Inoue.  Nagata and Inoue alternate chops and kicks, then hit a double shoulder block.  Fale takes in and locks up with Inoue.  The young lion overpowers Inoue.  Inoue wrings his arm, then lands some chops.  Fale absorbs them and chops Inoue down.  Fale slams Inoue for 2.  Inoue gets a Fujiwara armbar, but Fale reaches the ropes.  Hirasawa tags in.  Fale powers him into the corner and tags in Bernard.  Hirasawa lands some forearms, but gets dropped with a lariat.  Bad Intentions and Fale triple team young Hirasawa into oblivion.  Anderson covers, but Nagata saves.  Hirasawa remains in peril for a while.  Bernard accidentally drops Anderson with an elbow smash, allowing Hirasawa to make the hot tag to Nagata.  Nagata runs wild and hits Bernard with a Shining Wizard for 2.  Nagata locks in the Nagata Lock II.  Fale saves.  Nagata throws him outside.  Bad Intentions double team Nagata.  Nagata rallies and hits Bernard with an Exploder.  Inoue tags in against Anderson.  Anderson calls for a brainbuster.  Inoue counters him, but gets caught with a spinebuster.  Fale tags in and beats up Inoue.  Fale hits a Samoan drop, but Nagata and Hirasawa save.  Aogi-gun triple team Fale.  Bad Intentions and Fale triple team Inoue.  Everybody brawls outside, leaving Fale and Inoue in the ring.  Fale lands some chops.  Inoue counters a Samoan drop attempt.  They trade chops.  Inoue hits a spear for the pin in 11:11.  Another terrifically fun match.

Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, & Gedo of CHAOS vs. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, & Austin Creed.  CHAOS jumps the opposing team before the bell like always.  They isolate and kick the crap out of Makabe.  When it breaks down into a tag match, Makabe fights back against Gedo.  Yano and Iizuka go after him, but hit hits them with a double clothesline.  Creed tags in and shines against Gedo.  Creed hits a lariat, but Yano saves.  After some cheating on the outside by CHAOS, Yano tags in and beats up Creed.  Iizuka takes a turn and chokes Creed while Gedo distracts the referee.  Creed hits a cross body and tags in Honma.  Honma fires some chops at Iizuka, then hits him with a bulldog headlock.  Honma knocks Yano and Gedo off the apron, then slams Iizuka and goes for a diving headbutt.  Iizuka avoids it.  Yano knocks Makabe and Creed off of the apron.  Iizuka throws Honma outside, where Yano hits him with a chair.  Iizuka beats up Makabe in the crowd.  Honma beats the count back into the ring and gets abused some more.  Iizuka chokes Honma with a rope.  Iizuka locks Honma in a front chancery.  Honma pushes him to the corner and tags in Makabe, but the referee didn’t see it.  Yano hits Honma in the back with a chair.  Iizuka covers, but the referee refuses to count because Honma’s foot is on the bottom rope.  Honma fights back against Yano and makes the hot tag to Makabe.  Makabe runs wild.  He hits a Northern Lights suplex hold on Yano for 2.  Makabe goes for a German, but Yano fights out.  Makabe hits the ropes and gets tripped by Iizuka,  Yano hits Makabe with the least explosive Exploder I’ve ever seen and tags in Gedo.  Gedo kicks Makabe in the face for 2.  Iizuka tries to use the metal hand, but Creed dropkicks him.  Makabe hits Gedo with a powerslam.  Clusterfuck going on.  Makabe hits Gedo with a lariat and the diving King Kong knee drop for the pin in 12:33.  Fun match.  I love heel Iizuka.

J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament – Final: Hirooki Goto & Apollo 55 vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, TAJIRI, & KUSHIDA.  Everybody shakes hands.  Tanahashi and Gedo wrestle.  Stalemate, applause.  Awesome.  Tanahashi lands an elbow smash.  Goto kicks him in the face.  Devitt and KUSHIDA tag in and trade arm locks.  More awesomeness.  Apollo 55 and Goto take turns wringing KUSHIDA’s arm.  KUSHIDA takes Taguchi down with a side headlock and tags in TAJIRI.  TAJIRI swivels his hips.  Taguchi responds in kind.  They lock up and wrestle.  Still more awesomeness.  TAJIRI gets Taguchi in a wonky surfboard hold.  KUSHIDA hits him with a move from that position.  Tanahashi & co. work over Taguchi.  Tanahashi locks Taguch in the Dragon sleeper, but Goto saves.  KUSHIDA tags in and hits a basement dropkick and a standing moonsault press.  Goto saves in.  Tanahashi tags back in.  Taguchi fights back and makes the tag to Goto.  Goto cleans house.  He hits Tanahashi with a diving elbow drop for 2.  Tanahashi and Goto trade forearms.  Tanahashi hits the Sling Blade.  TAJIRI tags in and lands some kicks.  Goto wipes him out with a spin kick and tags in Devitt.  Devitt hits TAJIRI with a missile dropkick and goes for a brainbuster.  TAJIRI counters and hits a Lung Blower for 2.  KUSHIDA tags in.  TAJIRI and KUSHIDA double team Devitt.  Tanahashi knows Goto and Taguchi off the apron.  KUSHIDA hits Devitt with a moonsault press, but Goto saves again.  Goto clotheslines Tanahashi to the floor and tumbles out with him.  Apollo 55 use their superieor teamwork to overcome TAJIRI and KUSHIDA.  Devitt cradles KUSHIDA for 2.  KUSHIDA gets a backslide for 2.  Devitt hits the Pele kick and a brainbuster for 2.  Devitt hits the diving stomp, but Tanahashi and TAJIRI save.  Taguchi and Goto hit dives on TAJIRI and Tanahashi.  Devitt hits KUSHIDA with the Bloody Sunday for the pin in 13:59.  Really good match.  “You’re The Best” plays since Devitt got the fall, so that’s a double win!  Big celebration and prize presentation ceremony for the tournament winners.  Takashi Iizuka randomly appears in the crowd and puts ring boy Kyosuke Mikami to sleep.  Tanahashi wants to fight Iizuka, but TAJIRI holds him back.

Highlights of the final.  The announcers talk to close out the show.

Really fun show with several quality matches.  I especially loved the final and second semifinal. Shin Nihon Puroresu-ga dai suki desu yo!

NJPW “J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament” Night 2 6/29/10

The announcers hype the show.  At least, that’s what I always assume they’re doing.  I wish I understood Japanese.

They air highlights of yesterday’s tournament matches, then air graphics of all of the trios in the tournament.  The announcer reads tonight’s card.

Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, & Gedo of CHAOS vs. Manabu Nakanishi, Koji Kanemoto, & El Samurai.  Both of these teams lost their first round matches yesterday.  Nakanishi and Yano lock up.  Nakanishi powers him into the ropes and gives a clean break.  Yano cheap shots Nakanishi, then fails to shoulder block him.  Nakanishi shows that he is much better at shoulder blocking.  And forearm throwing.  And chopping.  And suplexing.  Samurai tags in and stomps Yano.  Yano rakes his eyes and tags in Iizuka.  Iizuka is my favorite crazy heel in wrestling right now.  Iizuka works over Samurai, then tags in Gedo.  Samurai fights back against Gedo and tags in Kanemoto.  Kanemoto schools Gedo and gives him the face wash.  Kanemoto locks in the ankle lock.  Yano saves and throws him outside.  Everybody brawls at ringside.  Kanemoto gets back in the ring and locks Gedo in the ankle lock again.  Yano saves again.  Iizuka throws Kanemoto into the guardrail, then hits him with a chair.  Yano beats up Kanemoto back inside.  Iizuka tags in and takes a turn.  Iizuka chokes Kanemoto with a rope behind the referee’s back.  Cover gets 2.  Kanemoto tries to fight back, but Iizuka no sells and rakes his eyes.  Yano tags in.  Kanemoto drops him with some kicks and makes the tag to Nakanishi.  Nakanishi runs wild and chops Yano a bunch.  Nakanishi hits a suplex drop and a knee drop for 2.  He locks Yano in the Argetine backbreaker.  Gedo tries to break it, but gets booted in the face.  Nakanishi releases Yano to deck Iizuka.  Yano rakes Nakanishi’s eyes, then tags in Iizuka.  Nakanishi suplexes both of them.  Samurai tags in and hits a double missile dropkick.  Samurai gets Iizuka with a sunset flip for 2.  Samurai hits the reverse DDT and the diving headbutt, then locks in the chickenwing armlock.  Yano and Gedo save.  Nakanishi and Kanemoto throw them to the floor.  Iizuka locks Samurai in the sleeper hold for the win in 10:45.  Fun match.  No surprise there.

Tamon Honda, Kentaro Shiga, & Makoto Hashi vs. Yuji Nagata, Wataru Inoue, & Mitsuhide Hirasawa of Aogi-gun.  Nagata and Honda face off, but a clusterfuck brawl breaks out first.  Nagata kicks Honda in the face.  Hashi tags in and trade strikes with Nagata.  Nagata wins the exchange and tags in Inoue.  Nagata and Inoue alternate chops and kicks, then hit a double shoulder block.  Shiga and Hirasawa tag in and trade shots.  Hirasawa scores a knockdown with a shoulder block.  Nagata tags in and works Shiga’s arm over.  Hirasawa comes back in and Shiga takes over on him.  Hirasawa is sent to the floor to get beaten up by Hashi and Shiga.  Hashi hits a diving headbutt off the apron.  Back inside, Shiga covers for 2.  Honda tags in and locks in a guillotine with Shiga holding Hirasawa’s legs against the ropes.  I don’t get it.  Hashi tags in and headbutts Hirasawa a bunch.  Hashi hits a slam and a diving headbutt for 2, as Nagata and Inoue save.  Shiga and Hashi double team Hirasawa, then knock Nagata and Inoue off the apron.  Shiga locks Hirasawa in a half crab while Hashi headbutts him.  Nagata saves.  Hirasawa and Hashi trade headbutts.  Hashi wins that exchange since headbutts are his thing.  Honda tags in and locks Hirasawa in a standing arm triangle choke.  Hirasawa gets to the ropes.  Hirasawa lands a shoulder block and tags in Nagata.  Nagata works over Honda.  Hashi tries top intervene, but gets thrown out of the ring.  Nagata locks Honda in the Nagata Lock II.  Hashi saves.  Nagata slaps him silly and throws him out of the ring again.  Honda takes Nagata down by the leg, mocks him by doing the Nagata salute, and clamps on an STF.  Inoue saves.  Hashi comes in and hits Nagata with headbutts and chops.  Honda and Hashi alternate headbutts.  Hashi goes op top, but Inoue grabs his leg.  Nagata hits Honda with an Exploder off the top rope for 2.  Inoue tags in and throws a bunch of forearms.  Hashi replies in kind.  Inoue wins the exchange and covers for 2.  Inoue hits the Staggerin’ Blow for 2.  Inoue locks in the Triangle Lancer.  Everybody else brawls outside.  Honda makes it in to save and gives Inoue a sandbag German suplex.  Nagata comes in and boots Honda in the face.  Hirasawa and Shiga tag in and go at it.  Shiga locks in an Octopus hold.  Nagata and Inoue save.  Aogi-gun triple team Shiga.  Hirasawa hits a diving elbow drop, but Honda and Hashi save.  Aogi-gun lock in triple stereo submission holds.  Shiga, the legal man, gets a rope break, so everyone releases their holds.  Hirasawa hits a Rock Bottom, but Hashi saves.  Inoue throws him outside.  They brawl on the floor.  Shiga gets Hirasawa with a ground Cobra Twist for the pin in 14:00.  Another really fun match.  That’s the theme of this tournament, it seems.

J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament – Round 2: Super Strong Machine, Pink Strong Machine (Yutaka Yoshie), & Tonga Strong Machine (Tama Tonga) vs. Hirooki Goto & Apollo 55 (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi).  Goto and Apollo 55 go on the attack.  Yoshie knocks them all down, then splashes them all.  Yoshie whips them all into the corner and goes for a splash, but the avoid it and drop him with a dropkick.  Super Strong Machine and Taguchi go at it, trading arm locks.  Tonga tags in and headbutts Taguchi because headbutting is the game of Islanders and Makoto Hashi.  Goto, Devitt, and Taguchi take turns cranking on Tonga’s arm for a bit.  Apollo 55 hit a double team sequence.  Devitt covers for 2.  Tonga headbutts him, then tags in Yoshie.  Yoshie uses ASS POWER on Devitt and gives him a stink face.  Super tags in and hits an elbow smash for 2.  The Strong Machines take turns beating up Devitt.  Goto tags in and runs wild.  He and Yoshie clothesline each other.  Yoshie wins that battle with his hugeness.  Yoshie goes for a splash, but Goto avoids getting pancaked.  Super Strong Machine gets triple teamed.  Goto hits him with a diving elbow drop, but Yoshie saves.  Taguchi tags in and kicks Machine for 2.  The Machines triple team Taguchi.  Super hits him with a DDT and a senton splash.  Yoshie goes for a senton and misses, but Tonga hits one.  Taguchi still got the better of that deal.  Clusterfuck.  Tonga hits Goto and Devitt with a rebound cross body.  Taguchi and Tonga do a couple of standing switches.  Taguchi htis a front suplex.  Yoshie comes in to save, but ends up splashing his own partner.  Goto throws Yoshie out of the ring.  Taguchi hits Tonga with a bicycle kick and a fisherman buster for 2.  Taguchi hits Tonga with the Dodon for the pin in 9:59.  This match was, you guessed it, fun!

J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament – Round 2: NO LIMIT & Dick Togo vs. IWGP Tag Team Champions Bad Intentions & King Fale.  Naito sees that he’s up against Giant Bernard and tries to tag out, but neither of his partners want any of that.  They lock up.  Bernard pushes Naito into the ropes, teases chopping the shit out of him, and gives a clean break.  They trade arm locks.  Bernard hits a clothesline.  Naito avoids an elbow drop and bails to recover from getting clotheslined in the face.  Yujiro and Anderson tag in and go at it.  Yujiro grabs a side headlock, then lands a shoulder block.  Anderson dropkicks Yujiro’s leg.  Togo tags in.  Anderson hits an arm drag and cranks on his arm.  King Fale tags in and continues the arm work.  Bernard tags in and kicks Togo in the arm, then headbutts it.  Ouch.  Bad Intentions take turns dropping elbows, knees, and torsos on Togo.  Anderson covers after a knee drop, but Naito slaps him in the head to break it.  Bernard chases Naito back to his corner.  Anderson covers again for 2.  Togo rakes Anderson’s eyes and takes him down.  Yujiro taks in and throws Anderson outside.  He decks Bernard and Fale on the apron, but doesn’t knock them off.  NO LIMIT beat  up Anderson on the floor.  Back inside, Yujiro covers for 2.  Yujiro grounds & pounds Anderson.  NO LIMIT and Togo triple team Anderson.  Naito holds Anderson against his knees while Togo hits a Swanton bomb.  Naito covers for 2.  Togo tags in and hits the Eddie hilo for 2.  Anderson continues to play face in peril.  He drops Naito with a dropkick and makes the hot tag to Bernard.  Bernard runs wild and hits a big splash on Naito, but Togo saves.  Bad Intentions hit Togo with a double team side slam/neckbreaker.  Naito tries a sunset flip and narrowly avoids Bernard sitting on him.  Naito rocks Bernard with an enzuigiri.  Fale and Yujiro tag in.  Fale runs wild and hits a fall away slam for 2.  Ban Intentions knock Naito and Togo off the apron.  Yujiro gets triple teamed.  Bernard squashes him with a big splash.  Fale covers, but Naito and and Togo save.  Bad Intentions take them outside.  Fale and Yujiro trade shots.  Naito and Togo come back in for some triple teaming.  Yujiro hits a lariat, but Anderson saves.  Clusterfuck.  Bernard squashes Togo and Naito in the corner.  Bad Intentions play ping pong with Yujiro’s head.  Bernard gets tripped from the outside.  Yujiro powerslams Anderson.  Yujiro hits a German suplex hold on Fale for 2.  Yujiro slams Fale and hits a diving leg drop for the pin in 14:41.  Yet another fun wrestling match.  This is why I love New Japan.

Intermission!  Clips from earlier matches!

King of Sports!  New Japan Pro Wrestling!

J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament – Round 2: Riki Choshu, AKIRA, & Taichi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, TAJIRI, & KUSHIDA.  Tanahashi and Choshu lock up, the modern day superstar against the legend.  Tanahashi lands a dropkick, then gets a side headlock takeover.  Choshu hits a shin breaker.  AKIRA and TAJIRI tag in and trade hammerlocks.  AKIRA lands a dropkick and spins up.  TAJIRI hits the handspring elbow.  They trade arm drags.  Stalemate, applause!  I love Japanese fans.  Taichi and KUSHIDA tag in and trade shots.  They kind of fuck up a rana, then go outside.  Taichi hits a tilt a whirl backbreaker on the floor.  Back inside, Choshu tags in and hits a suplex, then snapmares KUSHIDA and clamps on a rear chin lock.  AKIRA tags in and hits a body slam for 2.  Taichi tags in and works over KUSHIDA a bit.  Tanahashi tags in and works over Taichi a bit.  TAJIRI stomps Taichi in the corner, then kicks him hard in the back for 2.  TAJIRI hits a suplex for 2.  TAJIRI thrust kicks AKIRA off the apron.  Tanahashi decks CHoshu.  Taichi rams KUSHIDA’s face into Tanahashi’s ass, then rams TAJIRI’s face into KUSHIDA’s balls.  Taichi hits a backbreaker on TAJIRI.  Choshu tags in and hits an enzui lariat, then locks in the Scorpion Death Lock.  Tanahashi saves.  KUSHIDA tags in, misses a dropkick, and eats a Riki lariat.  AKIRA tags in.  They do a couple of standing switches.  TAJIRI kicks AKIRA in the back of the head.  KUSHIDA gets a backslide for 2.  AKIRA hits an enzuigiri for 2, as TAJIRI saves.  TAJIRI and Taichi brawl outside.  Taichi comes back in and hits KUSHIDA with a flapjack.  AKIRA follows with the Musasabi press.  Tanahashi saves at 2.  KUSHIDA hits AKIRA with a diving cross body.  Tanahashi tags in and gets dropped with an enzuigiri.  AKIRA hits a jumping lariat.  Tanahashi hits the Sling Blade.  Clusterfuck ensues.  Tanahashi hits an over the shoulder powerslam and the High Fly Flow on AKIRA for the pin in 13:31.  The match was very enjoyable, of course.  As Tanahashi is leaving, Takashi Iizuka appears and puts him down with the sleeper hold!  What a bastard!

J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament – Round 2: Shinsuke Nakamura, Masato Tanaka, & Tomohiro Ishii vs. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, & Austin Creed.  The CHAOS/Tanaka team jump the GBH/Creed team before the bell.  Makabe goes lariat crazy and cleans house.  Honma and Creed hit Ishii with a double dropkick.  Nakamura goes STRONG STYLE CRAZY (My new term.  I’m copyrighting it.) on Makabe.  Tanaka and Creed lock up and trade holds.  That’s a very random match-up.  Creed hits a cross body and a body slam while making sound effects.  Awesome.  Creed hits a jumping fist drop for 2.  Honma tags in wrestles with Tanaka.  Awesome.  Ishii tags in and trades chops with Honma.  That’s also awesome.  Honma wins the chop off, then knocks Ishii down with a shoulder block.  Honma hits a bulldog headlock and goes up top.  Tanaka throws him off.  Ishii decks Makabe and Creed on the apron.  Tanaka takes Honma outside and throws him into the barricades, then breaks a cheap Japanese folding chair across his back.  Nakamura tags in and lands a bunch of knees on Honma.  Tanaka tags in and hits Honma with an elbow smash and a lariat for 2.  Honma hits an awesome sandbag suplex on Tanaka.  He goes for a tag, but Nakamura and Ishii prevent it.  Nakamura and Makabe fight outside.  Ishii and Tanaka double team Honma.  Ishii covers for 2.  Honma and Ishii trade shots.  Creed tags in and wins wild.  Creed ducks Ishii’s lariats and hits a flying headscissors.  Creed dances around and Ishii with a punch or an elbow for 2.  Nakamura & co. triple team Creed.  Nakamura hits a pumphandle suplex.  Honma saves at 2.  Nakamura goes for the Boma Ye, but Creed prevents it.  Creed drops Nakamura with a big kick.  Makabe gets the tag and runs wild.  He’s going lariat crazy again!  Makabe hits Nakamura with corner punches.  Makabe hits a Northern Lights suplex hold for 2.  Makabe goes for a German, but Nakamura fights out.  Nakamura drops Makabe with a spin kick and makes the tag to Tanaka.  Tanaka drops Makabe with a lariat.  Tanaka knocks Honma and Creed off the apron as Ishii hits a superplex on Makabe.  Tanaka hits a branbuster, but Honma and Creed save.  Everybody brawls.  Tanaka blasts Makabe with the rolling elbow for 2.  Tanaka slams Makabe and hits a powerbomb for 2.  Makabe hits a lariat and goes up top.  Tanaka avoids the diving knee drop.  Tanaka goes for the Sliding D, but Makabe catches him with a Mandible Claw or something.  Nakamura hits Makabe with the Boma Ye to the back of the head.  Tanaka hits Makabe with the Sliding D for the pin in 15:23.  Tanaka pinned the champion!  I loved this match.

They wrap up the show with clips from earlier matches and such.  The announcers talk about the semifinals that will be held tomorrow.

Great show!  Fun matches from top to bottom.  This is what Pro Wrestling should be!

NJPW “J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament” Night 1 6/28/10

The announcers hype up the show, then we get an opening video.  The ring announcer reads tonight’s card.

Kyosuke Mikami vs. Taichi.  Taichi recently lost his hair in Mexico, so he’s wearing a mask and a blond wig.  Young lion Mikami goes on the attack immediately until Taichi hits him with a big boot and a basement dropkick.  They trade chops.  Taichi lands a spin kick to the gut, then drops Mikami with another kick for 2.  Taichi kicks the crap out of Mikami some more.  Taichi applies a rear chin lock, then releases it and just beats up Mikami some more.  Taichi hits a back body drop and a body slam for 2.  Mikami fires back with chops.  Taichi kicks his leg out from under him.  Taichi goes to work on the leg and applies a half crab.  Mikami gets a rope break.  Mikami throws some forearms and scores a knockdown with a shoulder block.  Mikami hits a sit-out Alabama Slam for 2.  Taichi hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and a big boot for 2.  Taichi gets Mikami in a wacky cross legged Tombstone submission hold, then hits another backbreaker.  Taichi lands another kick for 2.  Taichi hits a sliding kick for the pin in 7:14.  Good little opener.

Shinsuke Nakamura, Masato Tanaka, & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Riki Choshu, King Fale, & Tama Tonga.  Tanaka and Fale lock up and trade arm locks.  Tanaka takes the big rookie down for some sweet mat wrestling.  Tanaka wrings Fale’s arm and tags in Nakamura, who promptly knees Fale in the face.  Nakamura continues working the arm.  Fale tags in Choshu, who does more sweet wrestling with Nakamura.  Ishii tags in and hits Choshu with some heavy chops.  Choshu takes him down and tags in Tonga.  Choshu and Tonga split the wishbone on Ishii.  Ishii and Tonga trade chops.  Ishii rakes Tonga’s face.  Choshu tags in and clamps on a rear chin lock.  Tanaka tags in and chops Choshu, but he too is immediately taken down.  Fale tags in and hammers Tanaka, then locks in a sleeper.  Tonga tags in and whips Tanaka into his own corner, where he tags Ishii.  Ishii clamps on a side headlock.  Tonga hits a hip toss, an arm drag, and a dropkick, then a corner splash and a monkey flip.  Tonga hits the Perfect neck snap for 2.  Ishii tires of that shit and runs wild briefly, then sends Tonga to the floor.  Tanaka whips Tonga into the crowd and hits him with a chair.  Back inside, Ishii blasts Tonga with chops and tags in Nakamura, who kicks the shit out of Tonga for a bit.  Tanaka tags in the continue the beating and hits a running elbow smash to the corner for 2.  Tanaka hammers Tonga with more elbows.  Tonga catches him with a spinning sidewalk slam.  Choshu tags in and hits Tanaka with a world famous Riki lariat.  Choshu and Fale double team Tanaka.  Choshu locks in the Scorpion Death Lock.  Nakamura saves.  Fale tags in and downs Tanaka with a big boot.  Ishii comes in and eats a big boot and a shoulder block.  Fale and Tanaka counter each other.  Nakamura comes in and beats up Fale.  Fale drops Nakamura with a big shoulder block and hits a Samoan drop for 2.  Nakamura locks in a sleeper, then turns it into a sweet reverse powerslam.  Choshu and Tonga save.  Tanaka and Ishii take them outside.  Nakamura hits Fale with the Boma Ye for the pin in 12:03.  Really fun match.

J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: Hirooki Goto & Apollo 55 (IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt & Ryusuke Taguchi) vs. Manabu Nakanishi, Koji Kanemoto, & El Samurai.  Goto and Nakanishi lock up.  Nakanishi pushes Goto to the ropes and gives a clean break.  Repeat in reverse, but Goto kicks Nakanishi in the gut and clamps on a side headlock.  Nakanishi drops Goto with a shoulder block.  Goto lands some forearms.  Nakanishi drops him with a lariat.  Kanemoto tags in and trades shots with Goto.  Goto turns Kanemoto completely over with a German suplex and tags in Devitt.  Apollo 55 double team Kanemoto.  Devitt covers for 2.  Apollo 55 make quick tags and work Kanemoto’s arm.  Taguchi covers for 2.  Kanemoto and Taguchi trade kicks.  Taguchi realizes he’s not winning that battle and attacks the arm again.  Kanemoto avoids a missile dropkick and kicks Taguchi in the head.  Kanemoto does the face wash in the corner.  Taguchi drops him with an enzuigiri and tries to German suplex him out of the ring.  That fails, but Taguchi lands a dropkick.  Taguchi goes for a dive to the outside, but Kanemoto avoids it and whips him into and over the barricade.  Nakanishi tags in and hammers Taguchi with a big chop, then holds him for Kanemoto to land a chop and a middle kick.  Nakanishi hits a choke bomb and tags in Samurai.  Samurai works over Taguchi.  Kanemoto tags in and hits a backdrop suplex for 2 as Nakanishi knocks Devitt and Goto off of the apron.  Kanemoto drops Taguchi with a flurry of knees and kicks.  Nakanishi tags in and puts the boots to him.  Taguchi drops some irrelevant forearms to Nakanishi.  Nakanishi throws one and drops Taguchi.  Taguchi staggers Nakanishi with a dropkick and tags in Goto.  Goto drops Nakanishi with a lariat.  Kanemoto goes after Goto, but gets suplexed for his trouble.  Goto hits a corner lariat and a diving elbow drop for 2.  Nakanishi and Goto trade forearms.  Nakanishi slaps Goto.  Goto hits a lariat.  Apollo 55 knock Kanemoto and Samurai off the apron.  Apollo 55 do a sweet spot where Devitt springboards over Goto to hit Nakanishi in the corner, but Taguchi springboards over both of them!  Nakanishi manages to drop Goto with a throw.  Samurai and Devitt tag in.  Samurai runs wild.  Kanemoto hits the face wash.  Nakanishi and Kanemoto take out Taguchi and Goto.  Samurai hits Devitt with the reverse DDT and the diving headbutt for 2.  Samurai locks in the chickenwing armlock.  Taguchi saves.  Samurai goes for a Frankensteiner off the top rope, but Devitt holds on to the ropes to save himself.  Devitt hits the Ghetto Stomp, but Kanemoto and Nakanishi saves.  Clusterfuck ensues.  Taguchi hits the Dodon on Kanemoto.  Devitt hits Samurai with an enzuigiri and the Bloody Sunday for the pin in 12:18.  Another really fun match.  Devitt is the best around!  Nothing’s gonna ever keep him down!

J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: NO LIMIT & Dick Togo vs. Yuji Nagata, Wataru Inoue, & Mitsuhide Hirasawa of Aogi-gun.  The heels jump Nagata to start.  Togo completely whiffs a dropkick.  Nagata hits him with a shoulder block, then beats him up and throws him to his corner.  Nagata beats on Yujiro.  Hirasawa tags in and stomps on Yujiro.  Nagata stomps him harder, as if to say “This is how it’s done!”  Hirasawa learns from this and stomps him harder.  Hirasawa and Yujiro go back and forth.  Inoue and Naito tag in and lock up.  Naito locks Inoue in a rear chin lock.  They trade chops.  The heel team triple team Inoue for a bit, then keep the heat on him.  Yujiro and Togo distract the referee as Naito chokes Inoue with his towel.  Inoue continues to play face in peril.  Nagata tires of Yujiro’s shit and brings in a chair.  This distracts the referee so the heels can triple team Inoue some more.  Inoue manages to hit a drop move on Togo.  NO LIMIT knock his partners.  Yujiro accidentally spears Naito.  Nagata gets the hot tag and kicks the shit out of Togo.  Nagata hits an Exploder for 2.  Togo hits a rana and tags in Yujiro.  Nagata and Yujiro trade shots.  They seem to hate each other especially.  Yujiro lands a HARD slap and a lariat.  Nagata springs up and boots him in the face.  Nagata hits a belly to belly overhead throw.  Yujiro hits a powerslam.  Naito and Hirasawa tag in and slug it out.  Naito lands an elbow smash.  Togo knocks Nagata and Inoue off the apron.  Inoue and Togo do a cool double team sequence for 2.  Hirasawa spears Naito, then slams Togo.  Nagata boots Yujiro off the apron.  Nagata & co. triple team Naito.  Togo comes back in to save.  He throws out Inoue, then gets thrown out by Hirasawa.  Hirasawa hits a German suplex on Naito, but Yujiro saves.  Nagata takes him out.  Naito kicks Hirasawa in the balls.  Yujiro lariats Hirasawa, then Naito gets him with a jackknife hold for the pin in 12:14.  Another fun match!  And I’m not angry or depressed at the state of wrestling!  This beats the shit out watching WWE or TNA.

The announcers talk.  Must be intermission.  Yep.  They show highlights from earlier matches.

J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: Tamon Honda, Makoto Hashi, & Kentaro Shiga vs. IWGP Heavyweight Champion Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, & Austin Creed.  The ex-NOAH guys jump GBH and Creed.  Shiga works over Makabe with some kind of object.  Hashi and Creed tag in and trade arm locks.  Creed drops Hashi with a dropkick, then hits a sliding clothesline and an elbow drop for 1.  Honma tags in and cranks on Hashi’s arm.  Hashi rakes Honma’s eyes.  Honda tags in and gets beaten up by Honma.  Honda clamps on a front face lock.  Shiga and Hashi knock Honma’s teammates off of the apron, then they hold him up to help the front chancery… or something.  Hashi hits Honma with a diving headbutt from the apron to the floor that the camera didn’t focus on.  He does it again with the camera on him this time.  It was cool both times.  Hashi throws Honma back on.  Honda covers for 1.  Shiga tags in and hits a knee drop on Honma for 2.  Honma hits a suplex and reaches for a tag, but Honda cuts him off.  Honma gets headbutted a bunch.  Hashi ties Honma to the tree of woe and hits another headbutt.  That man loves him some headbutts.  Cover gets 2.  Honma continues to play face in peril.  Honda locks Honma one of his Olympic Hell holds, but Creed saves.  The ex-NOAH team’s MO is to knock Makabe and Creed off the apron, then triple team.  Makabe finally gets the hot tag and runs wild on Shiga.  Makabe hits a Northern Lights suplex hold for 2.  He flips off Shiga, then gets booted in the face, then drops him.  Hashi tags in and throws lariats at Makabe.  He’s not going to win th at game.  Shiga kicks Makabe from the apron allowing Hashi to finally drop him with a lariat.  Team ex-NOAH triple team Makabe.  Hashi hits a diving headbutt, but Creed saves.  Creed and Honma get thrown out again.  Hashi hits his Michinoku Driver II (he has a different name that I can’t recall) for 2.  Homma comes back in and hits a missile dropkick on Hashi.  Creed hits Hashi with an enzuigiri.  Makabe hits a lariat and covers, but Honda and Shiga save.  Creed and Honma take them out.  Makabe hits Hashi with a lariat and the diving King Kong knee drop for the pin in 13:51.  It was okay.  The worst match on the show so far, and still better than 90% of the WWE and TNA TV I watched this week.

J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament – Round 1: Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, & Gedo of CHAOS vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, TAJIRI, & KUSHIDA.  KUSHIDA and Gedo go at it, because they hate the shit out of each other.  TAJIRI and Yano tag in.  TAJIRI offers a handshake.  Yano slaps his hand, then jumps him.  They go at it.  TAJIRI slaps Yano hard in the head a few times.  I love TAJIRI.  TAJIRI hits a sweet arm drag and a spin kick, then tags in Tanahashi.  TAJIRI hits Yano with a cross body and Tanahashi follows with a senton splash.  Iizuka jumps Tanahashi and beats him down in the CHAOS corner.  Iizuka chokes Tanahashi.  Tanahashi comes back and shines with a cross body lock and some sweet arm drags.  KUSHIDA tags in and beats up Iizuka.  Iizuka throws him out of the ring where Gedo wails on him with a Singapore cane.  Back inside, Gedo works over his hated rival.  KUSHIDA fights back.  Iizuka pulls his hair from the apron, then comes in and stomps on KUSHIDA.  The CHAOS team beat the crap out of all of their opponents.  KUSHIDA gets sent outside again.  Iizuka throws himk into the barricade and hits him with a chair.  KUSHIDA continues to play face in peril.  Yano hits him with a brainbuster, but Tanahashi saves.  Gedo tags in and hits a neckbreaker, but TAJIRI saves.  Iizuka chokes KUSHIDA with a chain.  KUSHIDA fights back against Iizuka.  KUSHIDA comes off the top rope, but Iizuka catches him with a punch to the middle.  KUSHIDA lands a dropkick and makes the hot tag to Tanahashi.  Tanahashi runs wild and hits the diving senton on Iizuka for 2.  Yano kicks Tanahashi from the apron.  Iizuka accidentally clocks Yano.  Tanahashi hits the Sling Blade and goes up top, but Gedo grabs his leg.  Iizuka throws him off Flair style.  Yano tags in.  Tanahashi lands an enzuigiri and tags in TAJIRI.  TAJIRI kicks the crap out of Yano.  Gedo tags in and gets the same treatment.  Iizuka jumps TAJIRI.  CHAOS triple teams TAJIRI.  TAJIRI rallies.  Clusterfuck ensues.  Tanahashi and KUSHIDA hit dives on Iizuka and Yano.  TAJIRI hits Gedo with the Buzzsaw kick for the pin in 12:39.  Another really fun match.  Everybody keeps brawling.  Iizuka hits TAJIRI with the metal hand gimmick, then locks Tanahashi in the sleeper hold.  Iizuka and Gedo are my 2 favorite heels in the business right now.

The announcers talk again.  They show highlights of the last 2 matches.

Really fun show.  It’s just the pick me up I needed after suffering through a horrible week of WWE and TNA garbage.

NJPW “Dominion 6.19” 6/19/10

Awesome New Japan open and PPV opening video.

Koji Kanemoto, El Samurai, & AKIRA vs. Super Strong Machine, Ryusuke Taguchi, & Tama Tonga.  Sammy and Machine lock up.  Sammy can’t knock the big guy off of his feet, but Machine can knock him down with no problem.  Machine hits a DDT and goes for a senton splash, but Sammy moves and gets a jackknife hold for 2.  Everybody gets in the ring and Kanemoto’s team hit dives to the outside on Machine’s team.  Kanemoto and AKIRA hit a double suplex on Machine.  Samurai lands a missile dropkick.  Tonga tags in and locks up with Kanemoto.  Tonga shoves Kanemoto down, then they trade chops and shoulder blocks.  I love how Kanemoto just hates the shit out of everybody.  Tonga hits a powerslam for 2.  Kanemoto locks in the ankle lock, but Taguchi breaks it up.  Taguchi tags in and gets kicked in the gut by Kanemoto.  AKIRA tags in and beats up Taguchi.  AKIRA clotheslines Taguchi, then decks Machine and Tonga too.  Taguchi hits a rebound dropkick for 2.  Tonga tags in and beats up AKIRA.  Tonga hits a modified Samoan drop, then sings or some shit, then hits a headbutt for 2.  Machine tags in and he and Tonga hit AKIRA with a double shoulder block.  Machine hits a senton splash, but Kanemoto saves.  Taguchi comes in and trades shots with AKIRA.  AKIRA drops Taguchi with a kick and tags in Kanemoto.  Kanemoto does the face wash in the corner.  Taguchi fires back with kicks.  Taguchi hits a springboard missile dropkick for 2.  Tonga and Sammy tag in.  Sammy hits the reverse DDT for 2.  Tonga hits a fall away slam, but Kanemoto and AKIRA save.  Machine and Taguchi come in to clear them out.  Samurai applies a wacky hold, but Tonga’s teammates make it in to save him.  Tonga gets triple teamed, taking Kanemoto’s Falcon Arrow, AKIRA’s Musasabi press, and Samurai’s diving headbutt.  Tonga fights back against Samurai, but Sammy gets him with a la magistral for the pin in 8:48.  Fine little opening match.  Samurai seems to be sour on former protege Taguchi for some reason.

CHAOS of Takashi Iizuka, Tomohiro Ishii, & Gedo vs. Manabu Nakanishi, Mitsuhide Hirasawa, & KUSHIDA.  Everyone starts brawling immediately.  Iizuka accidentally nails Ishii, then gets nailed by Hirasawa.  KUSHIDA hits a sweet dive to the outside on his enemy Gedo.  Nakanishi hits a dive on Iizuka!  Hirasawa and Ishii brawl in the ring.  Hirasawa hits an Exploder for 2.  Ishii nails him with a lariat, then throws him out of the ring.  Iizuka beats up Hirasawa on the outside and hits him with a chair in the crowd.  Ishii beats up Hirasawa more in the ring.  Gedo tags in and beats up Hirasawa too.  Gedo chokes Hirasawa while Iizuka distracts the referee.  I think I just heard one of the Japanese announcers say “coitus.”  Hirasawa continues to take his beating.  Nakanishi tags in and cleans house.  Nakanishi hits Ishii with a lariat for 2.  Nakanishi goes for the Hercules Cutter, but Iizuka cuts him off.  Nakanishi drops Iizuka with a lariat too.  Ishii and Gedo try to suplex Nakanishi, but he suplexes both of them instead.  KUSHIDA tags in and Nakanishi launches him onto Gedo.  KUSHIDA  takes out his frustrations on his enemy.  Gedo hits a Manhattan drop and tags in Iizuka.  KUSHIDA does well against Iizuka until Iizuka rakes his eyes.  KUSHIDA rallies and tries a dive off the top, but Iizuka catches him with a punch, then hits the Pedigree.  Everybody brawls again.  Iizuka tries to use his metal glove, but the referee won’t let him.  Iizuka locks KUSHDA in the sleeper hold for the win in 9:25.  Fun match.

GBH vs. NOAH Special Singles Match: Tomoaki Honma vs. Mohammed Yone.  Honma is pissed off, presumably at Yone’s haircut.  They trade forearms.  Honma absorbs a big boot and knocks Yone down with a shoulder block.  Honma kicks Yone in the head until Yone bails.  Honma follows him outside and gets sent into the barricade.  Yone works over Honma back in the ring, placing him in a neck lock.  Yone kicks Honma in the back HARD.  Honma absorbs some more kicks.  Yone tries a suplex, but Honma reverses it and suplexes Yone.  Honma fires away with chops.  Honma hits a bulldog headlock and goes up top to hit a missile dropkick for 2.  Yone lands a big kick and some corner clotheslines.  Yone kicks Honma down and hits a diving leg drop for 2.  Yone lands some more kicks for 2.  Honma absorbs a hard lariat.  Yone knocks him down with another one.  Honma fires back with a hard lariat for 2.  Honma slams Yone and hits a diving headbutt for 2.  Honma tries a nbackdrop suplex, but Yone counters out.  Honma gets a schoolboy for 2.  Yone hits something for 2.  Yone hits the Muscle Buster for the pin in 8:59.  It was okay.  Kind of boring at first, but it picked up a little towards the end.

Shinsuke Nakamura Return Match: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Daniel Puder.  They do some MMA style strike teasing, then kind of sort of lock up.  Puder beats on Nakamura with weak looking punches.  Nakamura takes him down, but they go into the ropes.  They go to the mat and do some more worked MMA until they get into the ropes.  Puder takes Nakamura down again with a belly to belly suplex.  Nakamura gets up and takes Puder down.  Puder locks in a Kimura.  Nakamura counters and goes for a cross armbreaker.  He kinda gets it, but Puder escapes.  Nakamura knees him in the head repeatedly, then hits the Boma Ye (running knee, but he didn’t connect with the knee) for the pin in 4:42.  This sucked.

Goto/Tanaka video package.  They’ve been at war for a while now.

Special Singles Match: Masato Tanaka vs. Hirooki Goto.  They lock up and hit each other with shoulder blocks.  Mat wrestling, stalemate, applause.  They tease a test of strength, then chop the shit out of each other.  Goto clotheslines Tanaka out of the ring.  Goto follows Tanaka outside and sends him into the post.  Tanaka reverses an Irish whip to send Goto into the barricade.  Tanaka gets a table from under the ring, sets it up against the post, and rams Goto into it.  Tanaka lays Goto out on the table and puts him through it with a splash from the top rope to the outside!  They get back in the ring and trade chops again.  Tanaka hits a running elbow smash in the corner and knees Goto in the back of the head a few times.  Goto counters a suplex attempt with one of his own, then gets nailed with an elbow smash.  Tanaka applies a figure-four headscissors.  They get to their feet and trade forearms and elbows.  Goto nails Tanaka with a lariat, then a running spin kick to the corner.  Goto hits a diving elbow drop for 2.  Goto hits a German suplex hold for 2.  Tanaka nails Goto with a lariat.  Tanaka hits a brainbuster and goes up top.  Goto cuts him off and they fight on the top rope.  Tanaka hits a sunset flip powerbomb out of the corner for 2.  Tanaka slams Goto and goes up top again, but gets cut off again.  Goto hits a superplex.  Tanaka no sells it and hits the Sliding D for 2.  They hit each other with lariats until Goto manages to knock Tanaka down with a discus lariat.  Goto hits an enzui lariat in the corner pulls Tanaka up top to hit the Code Red off the top!  Tanaka kicks out!  Goto hits the Fireman’s carry into the over the knee backbreaker, then hits the Shouten, but Tanaka kicks out again!  Goto goes for the Shouten again, but Tanaka counters and hits the rolling elbow for 2!  Tanaka hits the Sliding D to the back of the head and again to the face, but GOTO KICKS OUT!  They trade forearms again.  Goto lands a headbutt.  They trade lariats.  Goto hits a German suplex.  Tanaka no sells it.  Double clothesline spot.  Goto hits a short range lariat for 2.  Goto hits the Shouten Kai for the pin in 13:40.  Pretty awesome match!  This was a hell of a war.

Intermission!  There’s an interview with Machine and Hirasawa and a video of Yuji Nagata in some kind of computer game, then the announcers talk about stuff.

Video package of the 3-Way Tag feud between Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue, NO LIMIT, and Bad Intentions.

Three-Way Elimination Match for the IWGP Tag Team Championship: Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue (c) (w/ Super Strong Machine & Mitsuhide Hirasawa) vs. Bad Intentions vs. NO LIMIT.  Everybody brawls.  The other 2 teams gang up on NO LIMIT, then brawl with each other once Yujiro and Naito are dealt with.  Anderson hits a dive to the outside onto Inoue.  Nagata and Bernard trade blows in the ring.  Nagata boots Bernard to the outside.  Yujiro comes in and hits a German suplex hold on Nagata for 2.  Inoue comes in against Yujiro and gets through out of the ring.  Yujiro hits a tope sucida on Nagata.  Anderson hits a cannonball dive on Inoue.  Naito hits a twisting press off the top rope onto Bad Intentions.  Yujiro hits Anderson with one of the nice new championship belts.  Naito hits Bernard on the ramp with the other one.  Nagata and Inoue fight NO LIMIT in the ring.  Nagata hits a neckbreaker drop on Naito.  Nagata and Inoue double team Yujiro.  Naito throws Inoue into the barricade while Nagata kicks the crap out of Yujiro in the ring.  Nagata hits an Exploder on Yujiro, but Naito saves.  Naito hits Nagata with a flying forearm.  NO LIMIT double team Nagata.  Anderson comes back in and gets tied to the tree of woe, holding Nagata in the corner.  NO LIMIT kicks both of them.  Inoue comes back in to fight NO LIMIT, but he gets double teamed too.  Naito hits a flip senton for 2.  NO LIMIT are so awesome at double teaming.  Yujiro hits a German on Inoue for 2.  Yujiro argues with the referee while Naito kicks Inoue in the balls.  Naito gets a jackknife hold, but Nagata saves.  Nagata beats up Yujiro outside.  Naito goes up top, but Anderson cuts him off and goes for a superplex.  Nagata powerbombs Anderson to turn it into a tower of doom spot.  Bernard makes it back in.  Bad Intentions hit the Magic Killer on Naito.  Yujiro saves.  Bad Intentions and Nagata kick NO LIMIT’s asses.  Nagata hits a backdrop hold on Naito to get the pin and eliminate NO LIMIT in 10:19.  Bad Intentions shake hands with Nagata and Inoue, then cheap shot them.  Anderson beats up Inoue on the outside while Nagata and Bernard trade shots in the ring.  Bad Intentions double team Nagata.  Bernard hits the bottom rope decapitator that I attribute to him every time I see anyone do it.  Bad Intentions kick the shit out of Nagata’s legs.  Anderson gets some 2 counts on Nagata while Bernard prevents Inoue from getting back in.  Nagata fights back and hits an Exploder on Bernard.  Inoue makes it in and throws forearms at both opponents, but they kick his ass too.  Inoue ducks and Anderson accidentally clocks Bernard.  Inoue fires away at Anderson and avoids Bernard, who squashes Anderson in the corner.  Inoue hits a German suplex hold on Bernard for 2.  Inoue hits a side suplex on Anderson.  Bernard tries to save and splashes Anderson again.  Nagata hits a Shining Wizard on Bernard.  Covers for 2, then stereo submission holds as Nagata locks Bernard in the Nagata Lock II and Inoue locks Anderson in a half crab.  Bad Intentions break free and double team their opponents.  Anderson hits a big splash on Inoue for 2.  Anderson hits a Yakuza kick on Inoue for 2 after Bernard splashes Inoue in the corner.  Nagata prevents the Magic Killer and hits the Thunder Death Driver on Anderson.  Bernard saves.  Bernard takes down Nagata and Inoue with a double clothesline.  Nagata counters a Vader Bomb.  Inoue hits a spear on Bernard, but Anderson saves.  Anderson and Inoue go at it.  Inoue hits an Angel’s Wings on Anderson for 2.  Nagata and Bernard brawl outside.  Anderson leap frogs the spear and hits the Gun Stun (stunner) on Inoue for the pin in 18:52 to win the titles.  Really fun match!

Devitt/Marufuji hype video.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: Naomichi Marufuji (c) vs. Prince Devitt.  “LET’S GO DEVITT!” chants.  They lock up.  Devitt backs Marufuji into the ropes and gives a clean break.  Repeat in reverse.  Mat wrestling, stalemate, applause.  They trade fancy arm holds.  Devitt gets Marufuji in a rear chin lock and turns it into a side headlock.  Marufuji reverses it into a pinning predicament.  I love that spot!  They do a fancy run around.  Devitt dropkicks Marufuji out of the ring and hits a gorgeous plancha to the outside.  Marufuji dropkicks Devitt’s bad knee, knocking Devitt off of the apron.  Marufuji hits a shin breaker on the apron.  Devitt makes it back into the ring and Marufuji goes to work on the knee.  Devitt gets a rope break to escape a half crab and fires some chops.  Marufuji dropkicks his knee again and works it over some more.  Marufuji hits an over the knee kneebreaker.  That’s a new one.  Marufuji locks in a figure-four leglock.  Devitt gets a rope break.  Marufuji tortures the knee some more.  Marufuji applies a wonky ankle hold.  Devitt reaches the ropes again.  Marufuji tries another dropkick to the apron from the outside.  Devitt avoids it, but ends up getting dropkicked off of the apron.  Marufuji tries a suplex on the outside, but Devitt front suplexes him onto the guardrail.  Devitt hits a running dropkick from the apron to the guardrail!  Back inside, Devitt hits a missile dropkick for 2.  Marufuji goes for the Shiranui.  Devitt counters and chops.  Marufuji lands a superkick.  Devitt drops Marufuji with a Pele kick.  They trade strikes.  Marufuji goes after the knee again to get the advantage.  Marufuji goes for a backdrop suplex, but Devitt grabs him in a side headlock.  Marufuji hits another kneebreaker.  Devitt does something for 2.  Marufuji lands a superkick for 2.  Marufuji applies another leg lock.  Devitt escapes and hits a backdrop suplex off the top rope for 2!  Devitt goes for the Prince’s Throne.  Marufuji counters.  Devitt does a sunset flip.  Marufuji rolls through.  Devitt rolls through and lands a basement dropkick for 2.  Devitt goes for the Bloody Sunday, but Marufuji counters.  They duck kicks until Marufuji lands one for 2.  Marufuji does a front suplex drop into a superkick for 2.  Marufuji hits the Shiranui, but Devitt kicks out!  Marufuji goes for the Tiger Frosion, but Devitt counters and drops him with a kick.  Devitt hits a diving stomp to the back of Marufuji’s head!  Devitt goes back in and hits a diving Ghetto Stomp for 2.  Marufuji counters the Bloody Sunday again and sets Devitt on the top rope.  They fight over it.  Marufuji goes for the Tiger Frosion off the top!  Devitt counters him and hits the Bloody Sunday off the top rope!  Devitt gets the pin in 20:21!  Awesome match!  Devitt is finally Junior champion!  He’s the best around!  Devitt and Marufuji shake hands.  Devitt celebrates.

Tanahashi/Yano hype video.  Somebody’s getting a haircut!

Hair vs. Hair Match: Toru Yano vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi.  Yano throws water or something on Tanahashi, then goes into the crowd and threatens to cut a fan’s hair.  Tanahashi goes after him and kicks his ass.  The match finally starts and they get in the ring.  Tanahashi hits a tip ross and a rana.  Yano bails.  Tanahashi hits a baseball slide dropkick and hits him with a cannonball senton off of the apron to the floor.  Yano whips Tanahashi into the guardrail.  Yano hits Tanahashi with his CHAOS chair.  Yano removes one of the turnbuckle pads and awaits Tanahashi’s return to the ring.  Tanahashi makes it back in at 14.  Yano beats on him and whips him into the exposed turnbuckles a couple of times.  Tanahashi catches him with a kick and goes up to the middle rope, but Yano pulls him down.  Yano tries to suplex Tanahashi, but Tanahashi manages to counter into a suplex of his own.  Tanahashi avoids Yano, who hits the exposed corner.  Tanahashi lands a flying forearm.  They trade forearms.  Yano pulls Tanahashi’s hair.  Tanahashi responds in kind and pulls Yano down.  Yano tries to throw Tanahashi out of the ring, but he skins the cat back in.  Tanahashi botches an Asai DDT, but carries through with it.  Yano throws Tanahashi off the top rope.  Tanahashi hits a German suplex hold for 2.  Tanahashi hits a reverse Sling Blade and 2 High Fly Flows, but Yano kicks out!  That man really prizes his hair.  Yano gets an inside cradle for 2.  Tanahashi reverses it for 2.  Tanahashi gets a backslide for 2.  Yano gets another cradle for 2.  Tanahashi gets a schoolboy, but the ref gets bumped in the process.  Yano hits Tanahashi with the CHAOS chair.  Yano hits the Oni Koroshi, but Tanahashi kicks out!  He prizes his flowing locks too.  Yano goes for a move.  Tana counters.  Yano slingshots him into the exposed corner.  Yano goes for the Oni Koroshi again, but Tanahashi counters into a sunset flip for 2.  Tanahashi hits the Sling Blade into a crucifix hold for the pin in 12:56.  Okay match, but it didn’t really light my world on fire.  I love Tanahashi, but I find Yano to be very mediocre.  Yano teases honoring the stipulations, but then low blows Tanahashi and tries to shave his head.  The young boys hold him back.  Takashi Iizuka jumps the young boys to help Yano.  KUSHIDA runs in to save Tanahashi, but Iizuka nails him with the metal glove.  Yano and Iizuka get ready to cut Tana’s hair, but TAJIRI appears and sprays mist in their eyes.  TAJIRI holds Yano so Tanahashi can shave his head.  TAJIRI and Tanahashi shake hands and hug, ending their long feud.  Tanahashi, TAJIRI, and KUSHIDA leave together.

Makabe/Shizoaki video package.

IWGP Heavyweight Championship Match: Togi Makabe (c) vs. Go Shiozaki.  They lock up.  Go backs Makabe into the ropes and gives a clean break.  They trade hammerlocks and wrestle some.  You’re never going to hear me complain about a match having mat wrestling.  They get to their feet and trade forearms.  They score knockdowns, then trade slaps.  Makabe punches Go in the corner.  Go lands a superkick.  He tries to pick up Makabe, who kind of dead weights him.  Go hits some short range chops.  Makabe tries a German from the apron, but Go fights him off and tries a tope sucida.  Makabe stops that by punching him in the head.  Go DDTs Makiabe on the apron.  Go beats up Makabe on the outside.  Go sets Makabe on the apron and hits him with a knee lift.  Go works over Makabe back in the ring.  Makabe starts absorbing Go’s blows and trying to summon the spirit to fight back.  Makabe catches Go with a powerslam.  Makabe lands some punches and no sells some chops.  Makabe scores a shoulder tackle and some lariats.  Makabe hits a corner lariat and corner punches.  Makabe hits a Northern Lights suplex for 2.  Makabe goes for a German, but Go fights out.  They trade shots.  Makabe hits a German, then they clothesline each other down.  Makabe tries to set up a Spider German.  Go ends up taking a bump from the top rope to the floor.  Go tries a superplex to the outside and ends up hitting something off the top.  Go hits a Fisherman buster for 2.  Makabe avoids a moonsault, then charges Go.  Go hot shots Makabe into the top turnbuckle.  Go lands a lariat (I think) for 2.  Go hits the moonsault press for 2.  Makabe ducks a lariat and hits one of his own.  Go tries possibly the Go Flasher, but Makabe counters and hits a Dragon suplex hold for 2.  Makabe no sells a superkick and hits a lariat for 2.  Makabe hits a powerbomb for 1.  Makabe hits the Spider German and the diving King Kong knee drop for the pin in 20:41.  Very good match.  Makabe gets the big celebration ceremony and a post-match interview.  He calls out NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt to congratulate him and they celebrate together.

Another post-match interview with Makabe backstage.

Closing video.

Some of the matches didn’t light my world on fire, but all in all this was a fun show with some good matches.

NJPW “Best of the Super Jr. XVII” 6/13/10

Opening video hyping the Best of the Super Jr. tournament.  We’re back in the Mecca of Japanese wrestling, Korakuen Hall!  The announcers talk.  I believe they’re recapping the tournament so far.

Tomoaki Honma & Mitsuhide Hirasawa vs. Manabu Nakanishi & Kyosuke Mikami.  Young lions Hirasawa and Mikami start.  Mat wrestling, stalemate, applause.  Nakanishi tags in.  Hirasawa wants none of him, so he tags out to Honma.  Honma lands some chops that have little effect.  Nakanishi throws some that are much more effective.  Honma gets the advantage briefly, but Nakanishi absorbs the abuse and beats him up some more.  Nakanishi rams Honma’s head into Mikami’s boot, then tags Mikami in.  Honma beats up Mikami, knocks Nakanishi off the apron, and tags in Hirasawa.  Hirasawa hits a slam for 2.  Hirasawa and Honma continue to work over young Mikami.  Mikami tags out to Nakanishi, who chops the crap out of Hirasawa.  Nakanishi does a suplex throw and hits a knee drop for 2.  Nakanishi goes for the Hercules Cutter.  Honma tries to knock him down, but Nakanishi drops Hirasawa and shoves Honma down.  Hirasawa spears Nakanishi and tags in Honma.  Honma tries to Irish whip Honma, but fails.  Mikami tags in and tries to suplex Honma.  Nakanishi helps him pull it off.  Cover gets 2.  Nakanishi and Mikami land a double dropkick.  Mikami covers, but Hirasawa saves.  Nakanishi disposes of  him.  Mikami hits a spinebuster on Honma for 2.  Honma hits Mikami with a lariat, but Nakanishi saves.  Hirasawa takes out Nakanishi.  Honma locks Mikami in a crab hold for the win in 7:38.  Okay little match.

Nakanishi & Mikami’s post-match interview.

Honma & Hirasawa’s post-match interview.  Hirasawa has a deep voice.

KUSHIDA vs. Gedo is scheduled to be next, but Gedo comes out with his arm in a sling.  He brings out Toru Yano to replace him.

Best of the Super Jr. – Special Singles Match: KUSHIDA vs. Toru Yano (w/ Gedo).  KUSHIDA dropkicks Yano off the apron and hits him with a suicide plancha.  Yano kicks his ass and throws him into chairs, the post, and hits him with the time keeper’s hammer.  Yano stomps KUSHIDA’s ass in the ring.  Yano hits a vertical suplex for 2.  KUSHIDA tries to fight back and manages to land a couple of dropkicks and forearms to little effect.  KUSHIDA lands a rolling elbow and goes for a cross body, but Yano catches him and drives him down with a slam.  Yano hits a Last Ride for the pin in 2:58.  Well this was short.  Post-match, Yano tapes KUSHIDA to the ropes and he and Gedo take turns caning the crap out of him.  Hiroshi Tanahashi runs in to make the save and the heels bail.  Tanahashi helps KUSHIDA to the back.

Yano & Gedo’s post-match interview.

Tanahashi speaks while helping KUSHIDA to the back.

Best of the Super Jr. – Semifinal: Taiji Ishimori vs. Prince Devitt.  They lock up.  Devitt backs Ishimori into the ropes and gives a clean break.  Repeat, but backwards, and without the clean break.  They trade arm locks and do flippy stuff.  Devitt does a very elaborate takedown into a side headlock.  Ishimori cuts it into a cradle for 2.  I love that spot, as I’ve mentioned a million times.  Ishimori sends Devitt outside with a headscissors and teases a dive, then lands a baseball slide dropkick  and hits a dive to the floor from the top rope.  Back inside, Ishimori hits the Bourne double knee thing for 2.  Devitt lands a Pele kick and a brainbuster for 2.  Devitt dropkicks Ishimori on the top rope and hits a HUGE superplex for 2.  Devitt goes for a suplex, but Ishimori takes him down with a complex cradle for 2.  Devitt hits the Prince’s Throne for 2.  Devitt goes up top, but Ishimori cuts him off and hits a rolling slam thing for 2.  Ishimori hits a Canadian backbreaker into a gut buster for 2.  Ishimori goes for the Superstar Elbow, but Devitt catches him with his knees.  Devitt lands an enzuigiri and a diving double stomp, the the Bloody Sunday for the pin in 6:56.  Great sprint here.  Devitt’s going to the final!

Ishimori’s post-match interview.  It’s long, so I’m sure he said something profound.  I can only assume he said that Devitt is the best around and nothing’s gonna ever keep him down.

Best of the Super Jr. – Semifinal: Kota Ibushi vs. Ryusuke Taguchi.  They do mat wrestling to start.  They do some jumping around.  Ibushi lands a dropkick that sends Taguchi outside.  Ibushi goes for an Asai moonsault, but Taguchi kicks him in the back.  Taguchi attacks Ibushi’s knee.  Taguchi applies a leg lock.  Ibushi gets a rope break.  Taguchi hits a Dragon screw leg whip and applies a half crab hold.  Ibushi gets a rope break again.  Taguchi continues torturing the knee.  Ibushi lands an enzugiri and sends Taguchi outside.  Ibushi slides outside and Taguchi drops him with a big boot, then throws him into chairs.  Ibushi manages to hit his Asai moonsault to the floor.  Back inside, Ibushi lands some kicks.  Taguchi kicks his leg.  Ibushi goes for his flurry, but Taguchi kicks the leg again and gets a la magistral for 2.  Taguchi rolls through a schoolboy and lands a basement dropkick for 2.  Taguchi hits a Fisherman buster and transitions into… kind of putting Ibushi’s leg in the Torture Rack.  Ibushi gets a rope break.  Taguchi hits a front suplex and goes for the Dodon, but Ibushi resists.  Taguchi goes for a German, but Ibushi counters and lands a Pele kick.  Taguchi counters a move and hits a modified Dodon out of nowhere for 2.  Taguchi goes for the Dodon, but Ibushi turns it into a front cradle for 2.  Ibushi hits a Dragon suplex hold for 2.  Ibushi downs Taguchi with a kick and hits the 450 splash for the pin in 10:15.  Good match.  I enjoy Ibushi’s theme music.  The final will be a battle of awesome entrance music, Ibushi’s “27” by Breaking Point vs. Devitt’s “You’re The Best” by Joe Esposito.

Taguchi’s post-match interview.

The announcers talk for a while.  I guess it’s intermission.

Best of the Super Jr. – Special Tag Match: Davey Richards & La Sombra vs. Jushin Thunder Liger & Nobuo Yoshihashi.  Liger and Richards start with some nice wrestling.  Liger backdrops Richards to the floor and fakes a dive.  Sombra dropkicks Liger out of the ring and Richards lands a tope suicida.  Sombra knocks Yoshihashi out of the ring and hits a tope suicida of his own.  Richards brings Liger back in and covers for 2.  Sombra tags in and goes to work on Liger.  Yoshihashi tags in and beats up Sombra briefly.  Richards tags back in, hits a hooking clothesline, and tags back out.  Sombra covers Yoshihashi for 2.  Yoshihashi lands a dropkick on Sombra and tags in Liger.  Liger puts Sombra in a hold that Richards almost immediately breaks.  Liger rocks a surfboard hold, then tags in Yoshihashi.  Sombra shows Liger how to properly do a surfboard hold, then tags out to Richards.  Richards and Yoshihashi trade blows, then Richards beats the hell out of him.  Richards hits a snap suplex and a diving headbutt.  Cover, but Liger saves.  Sombra tags in and hits a Northern Lights suplex hold for 2.  Sombra hits Wade Barrett’s finish and a split legged moonsault for 2.  Richards tags in and hits a backdrop suplex on Yoshihashi for 2.  Sombra tags in and clobbers Yoshihashi some, then gets dropped with a dropkick.  Liger gets the tag.  Sombra hits his rope balance arm drag thing a tilt a whirl backbreaker.  Sombra hits his spinning body attack dive for 2, as Yoshihashi saves.  Sombra and Liger counter each other.  Liger hits a tilt a whirl backbreaker.  Yoshihashi and Richards tag in.  Yoshihashi hits a flying forearm for 2.  Yoshihashi hits his side suplex drop thingy for 2.  Yoshihashi goes for a German suplex and hits up hitting his double arm suplex into a cross armbreaker.  Sombra saves, but gets sent outside by Liger.  Liger and Yoshihashi try to double team Richards, but fail.  Sombra hits the dive thing he fucked up on the last show on Liger.  Richards beats up Yoshihashi and hits a German suplex hold for 2.  Richards kicks Liger in the head and hits a Falcon Arrow into a cross armbreaker for the win in 10:58.  Fun tag match.  Liger takes the mic and say something after the match.  Yoshihashi says something too.  I really wish I understood Japanese.  Sombra comes back to the ring and pals around with them.  I assume this all had something to do with putting over young Yoshihashi’s performance in the tournament.

Liger & Yoshihashi’s post-match interview (the backstage one as opposed to the one they just did in the ring).

Best of the Super Jr. – Special Tag Match: Kenny Omega & Tama Tonga vs. Koji Kanemoto & AKIRA.  Kanemoto and Tonga start brawling immediately.  I love how Kanemoto hates everybody, especially this fuck.  They brawl outside while AKIRS and Omega do stuff int he ring.  Omega dropkicks AKIRA to the floor and hits a nice plancha suicida.  Tonga and Kanemoto come back in with Tonga having the advantage.  Omega tags in and fights with Kanemoto.  AKIRA tags in and beats up Omega.  Omega fires back with chops.  Tonga tags in and goes his stupid taunting and yelling shit, then hits a splash on AKIRA for 2.  AKIRA drops Tonga with a lariat and tags in Kanemoto, who beats the shit out of him because he hates him.  Kanemoto does the face wash in the corner x2.  Omega distracts him, then knocks AKIRA off the apron.  Omega hits Kanemoto with a Dragon suplex.  Tonga follows with the Tongan Twist for 2.  Tonga goes for a German suplex, but Kanemoto counters into the ankle lock.  Omega breaks it up, but gets taken out by AKIRA with a dive to the floor.  AKIRA tags in and goes back and forth with Tonga.  Tonga hits a fall away slam and stupidly tries to tag in Kanemoto.  He manages to get it right and tags in Omega.  Omega and AKIRA do stuff.  Omega hits a Frankensteiner and Staggerin’ Blow (I need to stop being lazy and find his name for it) for 2.  Omega goes for the Croyt’s Wrath, but AKIRA turns it into the STA.  Kanemoto puts Tonga in the ankle lock at the same time.  Omega and Tonga both get rope breaks.  Kanemoto hits a Falcon Arrow on Omega.  AKIRA follows with the Musasabi press for 2.  Omega hits a double bulldog leg lariat thing on Kanemoto and AKIRA.  Omega goes for the Hadouken, but AKIRA blocks it.  Omega rolls through a sunset flip and hits it anyway, then hits the Croyt’s Wrath for the pin in 8:32.  Fun match here too.  Everybody shakes hands and makes friends except for Tonga and Kanemoto, presumably because Kanemoto just hates that guy.

Kanemoto & AKIRA’s post-match interview.

Omega & Tonga’s post-match interview.  Finally, someone who speaks English!  Omega says he and Ibushi are coming for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team title held by Kanemoto & El Samurai.  Tonga speaks Tongan, I guess.

Before the ten-man tag, Takashi Iizuka goes through the crowd knocking over chairs and apparently assaulting random bystanders.

New Japan Seikigun, GBH, & Aogi-gun vs. CHAOS Special Ten Man Tag Team Match: IWGP Heavyweight Champion Togi Makabe, IWGP Tag Team Champions Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue, Hiroshi Tanahashi, & Hirooki Goto vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, NO LIMIT, & Tomohiro Ishii.  As usual, everyone brawls to start.  Respective rivals pair off and brawl all over Korakuen.  Yano and Iizuka double team Makabe in the ring.  All of CHAOS make it inside and assault Makabe.  Makabe starts lariating fuckers and clears the ring.  “MAKABE!” chants fill Korakuen.  The match finally settles down into Goto vs. Ishii.  They shoulder block each other.  Ishii drops Goto, then beats on him in the corner.  Goto whips Ishii into the opposite corner and hits a lariat, then goes for a diving elbow drop that Ishii avoids.  They trade forearms for a while, then lariat each other a few times.  Goto finally drops Ishii with one, then tags in Nagata.  Nagata and Goto double team Ishii a bit.  Yujiro tags in and promptly gets kicked really hard repeatedly.  They start trading forearms too.  Nagata drops Yujiro with a slap, then kicks him some more.  Inoue tags in and the tag champs double team Yujiro.  Inoue attacks Yujiro’s leg.  Naito comes in and dropkicks Inoue, then throws him outside.  CHAOS beat up Inoue on the outside, with Yano using a chair.  Everybody brawls on the outside again.  Back inside, Naito chokes Inoue with a towel.  Cover gets 2.  Yano tags in and beats up Inoue.  Tanahashi comes in to help but gets whipped into the corner by Yano.  Iizuka hits Inoue with a chair on the outside.  Inside, Ishii and Naito get into a brief chop battle.  Yujiro tags in and slams Inoue, then knocks Nagata off the apron.  Nagata brings a chair into the ring, but the referee stops him.  So chairs are fine as long as they’re on the outside.  NO LIMIT double team Inoue, then double team Nagata when he tries to save.  Inoue hits NO LIMIT with sort of a double spear and makes the hot tag to Makabe, who cleans house.  Makabe beats up Yujiro.  Makabe hits a Northern Lights suplex for 2.  Makabe goes for a German, but Yujiro counters.  Naito kicks Makabe from the apron, then tags in.  Makabe will have none of their shit and drops them both before tagging in Nagata.  Nagata kicks the hell out of Naito and hits an Exploder for 2.  Tanahashi wants in and Korakuen wants him in.  Nagata hits Naito with a belly to belly throw and covers, but Yujiro saves.  NO LIMIT double team Nagata.  Naito gets a jackknife hold, but Inoue saves.  Iizuka tags in and tries a sleeper hold, but Nagata hits him with a belly to belly.  Tanahashi tags in and Korakuen loses their shit.  Yano holds Tanahashi for Iizuka, but Tanahashi ducks and heels collide.  Iizuka throws Tanahashi over the ropes.  He tries to skin the can back in, but Yano stops him.  Clusterfuck breaks lose.  Iizuka Pedigrees Tanahashi for 2, then tries to use the metal glove, but Tanahashi hits the Sling Blade on Iizuka, then Yano, then hits the High Fly Flow on Iizuka for the pin in 17:30.  This is the third variation I’ve seen of this match and it’s still fun.  Yano tries to do something to ring boy Mikami’s hair and everybody brawls some more, with emphasis on Yano vs. Tanahashi.  Yano cuts some of Mikami’s hair off.  Tanahashi cuts a promo on Yano.

CHAOS post-match interview.

The babyfaces’ post-match interview.

Best of the Super Jr. – Final: Kota Ibushi vs. Prince Devitt.  The other participants in the tournament are at ringside to watch.  Korakuen loves Devitt.  They shake hands.  They lock up.  Mat wrestling, stalemate, applause.  They lock up again and Devitt grabs a side headlock.  Devitt hits a shoulder block, but Ibushi nips up and hits a dropkick.  Ibushi tries to apply a half crab, but Devitt reaches the ropes.  Ibushi whips Devitt into the corner, charges, and gets caught with an elbow.  Ibushi dropkicks Devitt off the apron.  Devitt slips back in to avoid a dive and dropkicks Ibushi off the apron, then hits a suicide plancha.  Back inside, Devitt hits a missile dropkick for 2.  Devitt hits a backdrop suplex for 2.  Devitt goes for a suplex, but Ibushi drops behind him.  Devitt charges, but Ibushi catches him with a Frankensteiner that sends him outside and hits one of his beautiful moonsaults to the floor.  Ibushi follows with a missile dropkick to the floor.  Devitt barely beats the count back inside.  Ibushi hits the standing Shooting Star press and the Lionsault for 2.  “DEVITT!” chants fill Korakuen.  Ibushi slams Devitt and goes for a moonsault press.  Devitt moves, so Ibushi lands on his feet and tries a standing moonsault, but Devitt gets his knees up.  They trade strikes.  Devitt drops Ibushi with a Pele kick.  Devitt dropkicks Ibushi in the back against the corner and hits a backdrop suplex off the top rope for 2.  Devitt hits the Prince’s Throne and a DIVING DOUBLE STOMP TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD.  Devitt hits another diving double stomp, but Ibushi kicks out!  Devitt goes for a double arm suplex, but Ibushi counters and hits a Pele kick and a Dragon suplex hold for 2.  They fight on the top rope.  Ibushi hits a handspring Pele kick and an avalanche-style Frankensteiner, but DEVITT KICKS OUT!  Ibushi hits a German suplex hold for 2.  Ibushi hits the 450 splash!  1, 2, he gothimnohedidn’tcomeonref!  Ibushi looks to have injured his shoulder.  The attendants and some of the wrestlers check on him, but he decides he’s fine.  Devitt ducks a kick, rocks Ibushi with an enzuigiri, and hits the Bloody Sunday for the pin in 14:35!  DEVITT WINS!  He’s the best around!  Nothing’s gonna ever keep him down!  Very very good match.

The tournament participants fill the ring.  Devitt shakes Ibushi’s hand as Ibushi ices his shoulder.  Masahito Kakihara reads the thing that I guess offically declares Devitt tournament champion.  Devitt gets presented with a bunch of trophies and a giant check  ¥5,000,000 ($55,634.38 USD). The tournament participants pose for pictures.  Devitt does his post-match interview in the ring, thanking the fans in Japanese and promises to bring the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship back to New Japan.  He asks the fans to continue supporting New Japan.  Confetti falls.  He’s the best around!

The announcers talk as Korakuen empties out.

Ibushi’s post-match interview, but he doesn’t seem to say anything.

Devitt and other New Japan wrestlers toast with Coors Light.  Devitt gets celebratory beer poured all over him.  Devitt talks about his upcoming title shot against Naomichi Marufuji and other things.

Highlight video of the semifinals and final.

Great show to end a great tournament.  New Japan was my first love in Japanese wrestling, and this tournament has reinforced that.  It’s also completely sold me on Prince Devitt and Kota Ibushi in addition to reinforcing my love of old favorites.