NEVER Openweight 6 Man titles on the line
The Road to Destruction continues on September 9 with the second night of a Korakuen hall double header. The NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Championships are on the line, and as we count down to a series of singles confrontations between the two groups in Kobe, United Empire and Los Ingobernables De Japon will clash in a big elimination main event!
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Main event: Elimination tag team match- Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) vs United Empire (Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Callum Newman)
On September 24, Kobe World Hall will see a brace of hotly contested singles matches between members of Los Ingobernables De Japon and United Empire. With a difficult year in singles competition for Great-O-Khan starting with a loss to Shingo Takagi back in January, the Dominator is looking to get back in winning ways as soon as possible when he faces the Dragon in Kobe. After winning G1 Climax 33, Tetsuya Naito was soon confronted by Jeff Cobb, who wants more than to prove a point against El Ingobernable following his win in G1 league competition. Naito suggested that his motivation to tackle Cobb might be harmed by not putting anything at stake in this singles match while at the same time assuming his spot int he Wrestle Kingdom 18 on January 4 was assured. Might Cobb force Naito to put something more than pride on the line by September 24?
In the main event of Destruction on Kobe, Yota Tsuji will challenge the IWGP UK Champion Will Ospreay. Tonihgt, Ospreay returns, on the high of his career after a legendary summer. Tonight also sees Ospreay teaming with protege Callum Newman for the first time, as all five members of the United Empire seek to outlast opponents in LIJ who are very familiar and experienced in the ruleset. Who will make the biggest statement on the road to Kobe?
6th Match: NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & Kazuchika Okada vs Tiger Mask, Togi Makabe & Hiroyoshi Tenzan
After winning the NEVER Openweight 6 man Tag team Championships from Strong Style back in May and defending against Blackpool Combat Club at Dominion this year, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii and Kazuchika Okada put their titles on the line against a surprise trio of opponents in Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe and Tiger Mask. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and when a trio of NJPW fans’ favourite legends were away from he crulean blue during the bulk of the G1 tour, that was certainly the case. As each made their returns toward the end of the tour, crowd reactions were huge, and Tenzan, Makabe and Tiger Mask are riding a wave of support into this title match. Underdogs though they may be, there is certainly a lot in the vetwerans’ collective tank, all set to be unleashed in our semi main event.
5th Match: Just Five Guys (SANADA, Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, SHO & Yujiro Takahashi)
After two on two (or at least that’s what’s on the format) tag team action on night one of the Road to Destruction for EVIL and SHO in advance of their IWGP World Heavyweight and KOPW 2023 challenges this tour, it’s trios action on deck tonight in Korakuen. Dick Togo is likely to be lurking in the background for H.O.T- will three of Just Five Guys have a counter?
4th Match: Boltin Oleg, Toru Yao, YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto vs TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr., Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito)
Eight man action will see fallout from night one of the tour and a prelude to Destruction in Kobe in one go. After the NJPW World TV Championship is on the line between Zack Sabre Jr. and Boltin Oleg on September 8, the next night will either see Boltin back to the drawing board, or celebrating a huge upset. Meanwhile TMDK’s Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls are looking to leave their mark on IWGP Tag Team Champions Bishamon ahead of September 24.
3rd Match: Tomoaki Honma, Shota Umino, Master Wato & Yuji Nagata vs Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Ren Narita & Yuto Nakashima
Before Strong Style embark on their Best of Seven series with the trio of Shota Umino, Master Wato and Yuji Nagata, one more eight man preview tonight. Sparks are sure to fly between the two Hontai teams, but will one gain an advantage over the other before the first main event in Nagata’s backyard of Togane Sunday?
2nd Match: YOH & Ryusuke Taguchi vs Just Five Guys (DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku)
After DOUKI teams with Yoshinobu Kanemaru on night one of the tour, tonight sees him paired with the (‘don’t call me a’) legend TAKA Michinoku. As they face Taguchi and YOH, might this be a sign of things to come in Super Junior Tag League?
1st Match: Oskar Leube vs Satoshi Kojima
Singles record: 1-0 Kojima
The opening bout of the evening sees Satoshi Kojima take on Oskar Leube. Back at Independence Day on July 5, Leube fought valiantly to a five and a half minute loss against Kojima; can he last longer with the benefit of two more months’ experience?
