Hey hey folks, and welcome to my first New Japan Pro Wrestling review. The New Japan road tours are house shows. They tour the country and put on non-televised matches in front of a crowd that paid to see wrestling. Most of the matches are tag matches and many pair ups and bouts are repeated throughout the tour.
This one is special because it is the retirement show for Takashi Iizuka. It was the New Beginning in Sopporo shows, listening to Hiroyoshi Tenzan try to appeal to the man who once betrayed him that I became interested in Iizuka, this bald madman with a mask who would enter each building through the crowd. Tenzan and Iizuka used to be a tag team until Iizuka betrayed his friend. Then years later Iizuka would betray his tag partner Toru Yano, joining the faction Suzuki-gun, where he is now.
Iizuka has over 30 years in New Japan, but it's only since 2008 that he's been in the form we see him in today, rampaging around, biting his opponents, and using the Iron Glove to attack exposed throats.
For a better understanding of his history, check out
this video on the New Japan YouTube channel (turn on closed captioning for English subtitles).
I will be linking to the backstage interviews after each match. They are released for free on the New Japan channel and can give you insight into the personalities of the wrestlers.
Ok, let's start the show
Match 1
Yuya Uemura & Jyushin Thunder Liger VS Taiji Ishimori & Robbie Eagles
Uemura is a Young Lion (a wrestler in training). There are always a few on tour, and they often tag with veterans like Liger. Ishimori is the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, and Robbie Eagles is an Australian high flyer who has returned to Japan. Ishimori and Eagles are part of Bullet Club.
Uemura is very loud. He yells at Liger to be tagged in, he yells at Eagles as they exchange blows, it seems to be his defining trait at the moment. He does have an absolutely beautiful corner dropkick he delivers to Eagles.
Finish: Eagles delivers a 450 Splash to Uemura.
While the match ended, Ishimori and Liger had been beating each other up on the outside. This continues after the bell.
The
backstage interview hyped up the upcoming match between Ishimori and Liger for the IWGP Jr Heavyweight Championship.
Match 2
Toa Henare, Tiger Mask, Tomoaki Honma, Togi Makabe VS Yota Tsuji, Ren Narita, Satoshi Kojima & Manabu Nakanishi
Tsuji and Narita are Young Lions. Nakanishi and Kojima are veterans. Henare is relatively new to the roster and I'm becoming a fan of his charisma and powerful strikes. Tiger Mask, Honma, and Makabe are all veterans.
The story of this match is Ren Narita taking an unbelievable amount of punishment. Tiger Mask uses his knees, his feet, and a well placed slap to drop Narita. Henare delivers a devastating gut punch to Narita followed by some nasty slaps and chops. Makabe bodyslams him twice, and Honma delivers a huge backdrop to the Young Lion.
Tsuji is another Young Lion with a beautiful dropkick. He hits Henare with it followed by a running forearm. There's a great spot where Tsuji puts Henare in the Boston Crab and Tiger Mask comes in the ring and keeps kicking Tsuji in the chest until he lets the hold go. Henare delivers a nasty headbutt to Tsuji after a forearm exchange, followed by a thunderous clothesline.
Finish: Henare delivers a Urinage to Tsuji
The
backstage interview highlights a feud brewing between Henare and Tsuji. Makabe and Tiger Mask seem impressed by the youthfulness of the Young Lions and want to make things harder for them. Henare calls out Goto.
Match 3
Shota Umino & Yuji Nagata VS Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI
Nagata is 50 and is teaming with Umino, the Young Lion. Ishii is known as the Stone Pitbull and usually has intense hard hitting matches. Yoshi-hashi recently came back from an injury and I have to say I have not discovered his appeal yet. At the New Years Dash event, Nagata and Ishii got into a brawl. This match is likely escalating that brawl until we get a singles confrontation.
The match started off with this confrontation. Nagata gets the most of these exchanges with brutal kicks to Ishii. They even brawl on the outside. Umino gets a turn but Ishii slaps the fuck out of him before dropping the Young Lion with chops and forearms. More stiff kicks to Ishii from Nagata. Nagata puts an arm lock on Ishii which Yoshi-hashi comes in and breaks, causing the crowd to boo him.
Umino has Yoshi-hashi in a Boston Crab. Ishii comes in and headbutts Umino to drop the hold. Umino delivers a standing dropkick to Ishii that looked great. This crop of Young Lions all have beautiful dropkicks. Nagata uses his feet to almost kick Yoshi-hashi's head off. Tagging in Umino, Umino slaps Yoshi-hashi, and Yoshi-hashi delivers a superkick.
Finish: Yoshi-hashi puts Umino in the Butterfly Lock and he taps.
After the match, no one can hold back Ishii and Nagata from laying into each other.
In the
backstage interview, Nagata disparages Ishii's height, saying that he likes such a low sandbag to kick, so he hopes he can keep fighting Ishii to get a workout in.
Match 4
Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh) VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado
The Junior Tag Division is a triangle at the moment. Shingo Takagi and BUSHI are the champs. Sho & Yoh already delivered a challenge, so this match against Kanemaru and El Desperado is to prove they deserve that title match. To be honest, I'm not a fan of either of these teams at the moment.
As per usual with any member of Suzuki-gun (Kanemaru and Desperado), the match quickly moves outside the ring. I love Kanemaru's Slicing Leg Drop where he uses the barrier to launch himself up before bringing his leg down across the back of his opponent's neck. Kanemaru delivered a really nice One Leg Dropkick to the head of Sho while Desperado held him draping off the apron of the ring.
Ok so Kanemaru did impress me in this match. He hits Sho with his finisher Deep Impact, but Yoh dives in to break the count. Kanemaru delivers a Yakuza Kick to Sho. Later on he goes for his whiskey bottle to deliver the Santori Surprise, but it fails and Sho knocks Kanemaru over with a lariat.
Finish: Sho & Yoh deliver the 3K to Kanemaru
After the match, Takagi and Bushi come out in their street clothes. Yoh cuts a promo in the ring which causes Takagi and Bushi to enter the ring and put the challengers down. Takagi cuts his own promo and leaves. The promos are always part of the same video that has the backstage interview. I recommend this one as Takagi is very entertaining on the mic.
In the
backstage interview, Desperado calls Sho & Yoh teenagers who just think they've gotten stronger. Yoh is always known for saying the wind is at their backs. This time he says if the wind isn't at their backs, they'll just have to make their own.
Match 5
Rysuke Taguchi & Hirooki Goto VS Zack Sabre Jr and Taka Michinoku
Taiguchi is a comedy wrestler these days known for his hip attacks (butt slams). Hirooki Goto is much more of a serious competitor. This is an odd pairing. Meanwhile on the Suzuki-gun side, Taka always accompanies Zack to his matches, and acts as his announcer and hype man. I love his introductions for Zack and this match is no exception.
Taguchi plays around with Taka but the story of the match is Taguchi and Goto screwing up their double teams. They do work it out later in the match, but there's some bad communication that costs them early.
Zack throws some European Uppercuts at Taguchi's buttcheeks. Trying to take out his most potent weapon before locking in the Bow & Arrow. when Taka gets back in the match I was shocked how fast he is. Ishimori is one of the quickest in the company at the moment, but Taka is definitely no slouch. Taka delivers a fast knee to Taguchi's face in the corner.
Taguchi gets off some more hip attacks including a rather brutal one to Taka's head. One of the highlights of the match was Zack holding both Taguchi and Goto in separate holds at the same time. Zach's ingenuity with submission wrestling is always a delight. Taka and Taguchi have duelling kick up Enzuigiris.
Finish: Taguchi hits Taka with the Dodon. Taka rolls through before the slam, but Taguchi rolls through again into a pin.
In the
backstage interview Zack says this has been a waste of his time. He calls Jay White (the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion) a joke and says he'll be champ by the end of the year. Goto feels the win with Taguchi is the start of something. Taguchi reminds the audience that he and Goto used to tag together and they were good out there, but now it's time to think of his next step.
Match 6
Will Ospreay & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Killer Elite Squad (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr)
Will Ospreay is one of my favourites these days. His match against Kota Ibushi at Wrestle Kingdom was my favourite on the card (and that was the opener). Despite losing the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Jay White, Tanahashi is still the Ace of New Japan. I haven't really gotten to see the skills of the Killer Elite Squad yet, but they are part of Suzuki-gun so that means they're looking to cause pain.
Throughout the match Lance is shouting at the crowd to shut up as they cheer for Tanahashi and Ospreay. He also shoves Red Shoes the referee. Archer delivers a huge shoulder tackle to Ospreay that sends him flying halfway across the ring, crumpling into the corner. Smith holds Ospreay up for a looooooooong Vertical Suplex. Lance holds up Ospreay for a Vertical Suplex but on the way down, Ospreay reverses it into an Enzuigiri.
Smith delivers a nasty looking kick to Tanahashi before falling on him with a Hogan Leg Drop. Tanahashi delivers a Twist and Shout to Smith. Smith delivers a deadlift German Suplex to Ospreay. Ospreay fires off his wrap around kick but a double team sends Ospreay down. Smith picks Ospreay up to the second rope and delivers a huge Powerslam. Tanahashi breaks the count at 2.
Finish: Ospreay hits the Oz Cutter on Smith.
In the
backstage interview, the Killer Elite Squad are mad and have words. Tanahashi praises Ospreay, saying he sees something. Ospreay calls out Jay White, saying he beat him all the time in Ring of Honor so he'd like to fight him at the NJPW Anniversary show on March 6th.
Main Event
Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Toru Yano, & Kazuchika Okada VS Takashi Iizuka, Taichi, & Minoru Suzuki
If you watched the intro video I linked, you'll know who Tenzan is. Yano is an absolute goof, and Okada is one of the stars of the company. Taichi has a special connection to Iizuka, and Suzuki is the leader of the Suzuki-gun faction. He is legit scary. My friends and I call him "murder Dad".
This match had me grinning ear to ear.
Shinpei Nogami comes out to call the match. He was a commentator that Iizuka always used to torment. Iizuka makes his entrance rampaging through the crowd, and the crowd is loving it. Iizuka spies Nogami, runs over, attacks Nogami and tears his shirt off. Nogami calls the rest of the match shirtless. There's a huge Iizuka chant from the crowd. They explode as well when Tenzan's music hits. Tenzan grabs the mic and begs Iizuka to wake up. A brawl erupts.
Iizuka goes after Red Shoes, Yano plays around by tugging Iizuka's beard, and Tenzan gets some of his stupid looking Mongolian Chops off. Tenzan goes after Suzuki and Suzuki ties him up in the ropes. Iizuka attacks Tenzan across the back with a chair on the outside and Tenzan just barely makes the 20 count back in the ring.
Taichi takes Iizuka's mask off and things get real. Iizuka bites the head of Tenzan. Iizuka bites the head of Yano. Iizuka bites the head of Okada. Iizuka goes after Red Shoes but Red Shoes bolts. Iizuka bites Tenzan's fingers while he's in the ropes. Suzuki shrugs and bites the fingers on Tenzan's other hand. Taichi delivers some Mongolian Chops to Tenzan and they look a lot better.
Yano comes in and does his schtick of untying the protective mat covering the turnbuckles. Taichi hits Yano with the protector and then goes to untie the other corner but he's too slow. Yano hits him in the back with the protector. Taichi is about to tear his pants off revealing his trunks but Yano stops him before tearing them off himself. Taichi looks embarrassed.
Suzuki forearms the fuck out of Okada. Okada tries to trade blows, but the next one from Suzuki rocks him even harder. Then an even bigger one! Suzuki hits Okada with a PK. Suzuki goes for the Gotch Piledriver but Okada reverses it into a Back Body Drop.
Iizuka bites Okada's head, and then blocking a kick, starts to knaw on Okada's foot. Iizuka puts Okada in a devastating looking hold and the crowd are chanting for Okada to tap out. After failing a Rear Naked Choke on Tenzan, Iizuka grabs the Iron Glove. Tenzan confronts Iizuka and there is conflict on Iizuka's face. Yano lowblows Iizuka and Okada performs the Tombstone Piledriver.
Tenzan doesn't want to end the match by pinning his friend. He grabs the friendship tag shirt of when they were a team, and drapes it over Iizuka. Tenzan makes his way to the top rope.
Finish: Tenzan performs a Moonsault onto the shirt draped Iizuka.
Tenzan is weeping for his friend. Iizuka pushes Tenzan away. The crowd is cheering for Iizuka to reform. There's conflict on Iizuka's face. This is hurting him. Tenzan extends his hand. Iizuka resists, but something is going on inside him. Finally he reaches out and shakes Tenzan's hand. The crowd erupts. Iizuka then starts biting the top of Tenzan's head. He hasn't changed.
Suzuki-gun attack and clear the ring. The entire faction is out. Chair shot to the face of Tenzan. Suzuki holds Tenzan as Iizuka attacks with the Iron Glove. Iizuka then rampages through the crowd to the exit.
Taichi gets on the mic and tells Iizuka to come back. It's his final night. Suzuki grabs the bell and delivers the 10 gong salute as Iizuka rampages out of the building.
The Iron Glove is left in the middle of the ring. Taichi picks it up. He teases putting it on. The crowd gasp. He smirks and then walks away with it.
In the
backstage interview Okada is about to praise Iizuka but instead calls him a heel bastard. Tenzan laments not being able to reach his friend. Taichi thinks Iizuka's spirit is in the Iron Glove. He decides he's going to hold onto it.
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And that's the show. Thanks for reading. That New Japan was able to make me care about these two wrestlers I haven't really seen much of (Tenzan and Iizuka) is a testament to their storytelling. Please watch the final backstage interview because it contains Iizuka shaking Tenzan's hand. That was a great moment. Until next time.