NJPW Summer Struggle 2021

[CakeWalker]

The confusion of the wrong pin - the lowblow and Cute Boy, going undefeated comes to an end? NOOOOO

 

[CakeWalker]

Shit ending to the tag league to be honest.

 

[Necro]

NJPW SUMMER STRUGGLE RESULTS: SUPER JUNIOR TAG LEAGUE FINALS

Spoiler

Great-O-Khan defeated Tomoaki Honma (10:50

O-Khan pinned Honma with an Eliminator.

Toru Yano & Togi Makabe defeated Chase Owens & Jado (11:21)

Yano beat Jado with a neck lock.

Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., Minoru Suzuki & DOUKI defeated Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima (15:21)


Sabre used an octopus hold on Tenzan for the submission.

Super Jr. Tag League: Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato defeated Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask (15:40)

Taguchi used a Japanese clutch to pin Tiger and eliminate Eagles and Tiger from contention.

Super Jr. Tag League: El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo (21:04)

Kanemaru pinned Ishimori with a schoolboy to win the tournament.

**********

Final Super Jr. Tag League 2021 standings --

• El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru 8 points (4-1) *winners*
• Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo 8 points (4-1)
• Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato 6 points (3-2)
• Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask 6 points (3-2)
• SHO & YOH 0 points (0-5)
• Gedo & Dick Togo 0 points (0-5)

 

[Chris]

I think I'm the only one that likes Kevin Kelly enough to wait for English commentary lol but here's an update on that front

 

[Chris]

Finally saw the SHO heel turn, thought it was done really well. Kevin Kelly sold it so good too, was the main reason I waited for his commentary, wasn't really needed for the rest of the show lol

 

[CakeWalker]

You only just saw it - it was great tbh. The original commentary - told the picture.

 

[Chris]

You only just saw it - it was great tbh. The original commentary - told the picture.

I don't doubt it, just became a big Kevin Kelly mark over the last year or so

 

[CakeWalker]

he was great in ROH
welcome to the KKC

 

[Chris]

he was great in ROH
welcome to the KKC

That was when I started liking him, his team with Nigel is one of my favorites of all time. Kinda gave Nigel more credit at the time but now I love listening to Kelly solo do its gotta just be him

 

[Chris]

Oh shit Taiji and ELP challenging people in America to come take their belts on Strong they'll probably just drop them before leaving though

 

[Chris]

Here's the lineups for the last leg of the Summer Struggle tour

NJPW Summer Struggle, Tuesday, August 24, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World --

• Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Robbie Eagles vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI
• Kazuchika Okada & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
• Toru Yano & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Chase Owens & Jado
• Satoshi Kojima & Master Wato vs. Tomoaki Honma & Tiger Mask
• Ryohei Oiwa vs. Kosei Fujita

NJPW Summer Struggle, Wednesday, August 25, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World --

• Elimination match: Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru
• Kazuchika Okada & Tomoaki Honma vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
• Toru Yano & Togi Makabe vs. Chase Owens & Jado
• Minoru Suzuki & DOUKI vs. Taiji Ishimori & El Phantasmo
• Ryohei Oiwa vs. Kosei Fujita

NJPW Summer Struggle, Thursday, August 26, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World --

• Kazuchika Okada & Satoshi Kojima vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
• El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Minoru Suzuki vs. Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Jado
• Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Tiger Mask vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI
• Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato vs. Tomoaki Honma & Robbie Eagles
• Ryohei Oiwa vs. Kosei Fujita

NJPW Summer Struggle, Friday, August 27, 5:30 a.m. Eastern time on NJPW World --

• Hiromu Takahashi vs. DOUKI
• Robbie Eagles vs. Master Wato
• Kazuchika Okada & Togi Makabe vs. Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan
• Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & Minoru Suzuki
• Ryohei Oiwa vs. Kosei Fujita

Two new young lions are making their debut against each other, got big shoes to fill with Yuya and Tsuji leaving

 

[Chris]

Summer Struggle night 22 (August 24) Preview
MetLife Dome looms as new stars rise

The long and winding Summer Struggle road nears its conclusion as the last four events of the tour come to Korakuen Hall. Time is fast running out before Wrestle Grand Slam at MetLife Dome, and key figures will look to make their mark tonight while new names take their first steps in the cerulean blue.

Watch Summer Struggle live or in English on demand on NJPW World!

Main event: CHAOS (Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Robbie Eagles) vs Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI)

Our main event six man tag will see implications for both the IWGP Tag Team, and potentially, Junior Heavyweight Championships. Dangerous Tekkers will be defending IWGP Tag Team gold on September 5 in a scheduled three way against Goto and YOSHI-HASHI and Tetsuya Naito and SANADA, and this bout will be one of the last preview chances before the championship showdown.

Meanwhile, Robbie Eagles is getting set to defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on night two in MetLife against Hiromu Takahashi. Yet when Hiromu challenged DOUKI to a singles match Friday at Korakuen, DOUKI stated that should he be able to beat the Time Bomb in Korakuen, he should be the one to face the Sniper of the Skies in Saitama. Could this turn out to be a singles championship preview as well as a tag team one?

4th Match: Kazuchika Okada & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan)

A preview of September 4’s clash between Kazuchika Okada and Jeff Cobb hits the semi main event of the evening, as the United Empire want to set a dominant trend before MetLife Dome. In Okada’s corner will be Hiroyoshi Tenzan, a man with his own issues with the group; it was on January 6 this year that Tenzan was stretchered from ringside after a post match assault and Tenzan Tombstone Driver from O-Khan. The incident sparked a grudge match between Tenzan and O-Khan that the Third Generation member lost, but Tenzan’s ill will to the United Empire certainly remains.

3rd Match: Toru Yano & Ryusuke Taguchi vs BULLET CLUB (Chase Owens & Jado)

The third match of the night sees another preview of September 4 action. Night one in MetLife Dome will see Toru Yano face Chase Owens in an I Quit match with the KOPW2021 trophy at stake, and the two meet in tag team action tonight. The I Quit encounter in MetLife could well be the most violent KOPW encounter yet, and Tuesday night will see Yano showing just how badly he wants ‘his baby’ trophy back.

2nd Match: Satoshi Kojima & Master Wato vs Tomoaki Honma & Tiger Mask

Second on the billing Tuesday, Master Wato teams up with Satoshi Kojima against Tomoaki Honma and Tiger Mask. Last week, Wato and Ryusuke Taguchi ended the Super Jr. Tag League hopes of Robbie Eagles and Tiger Mask, who had otherwise impressed through the round robin series. Now Wato is counting down to facing Eagles Friday night in Korakuen Hall, but before that he’ll take on his tag team partner in two on two action.

1st Match: Kosei Fujita vs Ryohei Oiwa

Kicking off the night will be a double debut bout for new Young Lions Kosei Fujita and Ryohei Oiwa. The two new stars will be facing off in a ten minute opening bout. The freestyle wrestling abckgrounds of both men at high school and college level respectively, will likely be on display, and Oiwa and Fujits will be fighting hard to set the pace for their early careers as they struggle for that all important first victory.​

 

[Chris]

Summer Struggle night 23 (August 25) preview

Main event- Elimination Match: CHAOS (Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask) vs Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
Our main event will see eight man elimination action, as Dangerous Tekkers continue to prepare for their IWGP Tag team Championship defence against CHAOS’ Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI, together with Tetsuya Naito and SANADA in a scheduled three way. After Goto was victorious in last night’s six man main event, he and YOSHI-HASHI sent both champions packing with GYR and GYW, but will history repeat tonight?

Yet another issue will surround El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru looking for revenge against Flying Tiger. Weeks after Robbie Eagles took IWGP Junior Heavyweight gold from El Desperado in the Tokyo Dome, the former champion and Kanemaru would still hang tight to their tag team reputation heading into Super Jr. Tag League, only to be defeated by the new combination of Eagles and Tiger Mask. Flying Tiger’s win would be the sole blemish on the eventual winning team’s league record, and Suzuki-Gun’s juniors want to right that wrong tonight.

4th Match: Kazuchika Okada & Tomoaki Honma vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan)
Kazuchika Okada continues to count down toward his MetLife Dome showdown with Jeff Cobb in our semi main event as the Imperial Unit teams with Great-O-Khan to face Okada and Tomoaki Honma. Tuesday night saw Cobb and O-Khan run through their competition before Hiroyoshi Tenzan was planted with Tour of the Islands. Honma has suffered under the heel of the United Empire in several tag clashes over the last few months, but can he upset Cobb and O-Khan with Okada at his side?

3rd Match: Togi Makabe & Toru Yano vs BULLET CLUB (Chase Owens & Jado)
Just a couple more meeting seperate Toru Yano and Chase Owens from their KOPW 2021 I Quit match on September 4. Preparing, Yano is teaming with former Most Violent Players partner Makabe tonight. Yano has vowed to show Owens just how serious he can get; Tuesday night saw Yano throw some intense strikes before uncharacteristically throwing referee Marty Asami from the ring. Owens would handcuff Yano, but the Master Thief commandeered Jado’s kendo stick and threw heavy shots to draw a DQ. Will this tag bout be another sign of things to come?

2nd Match: Suzuki-Gun (DOUKI & Minoru Suzuki) vs BULLET CLUB (El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori)
After a defeat to El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru to give Suzuki-Gun the win in Super Junior Tag League, BULLET CLUB’s Cutest tag team are set to undertake a begrudging defence in the near future. Yet El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori have a long term plan for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. Signed to appear in Texas at Autumn Attack in their debut as a tandem on NJPW STRONG, ELP and Ishimori have promised to defend their titles against the best teams that the US has to offer.

First though, can they get past Despe and Nobu? Or indeed their opposition tonight? DOUKI is fired up as he approaches a singles bout Friday night against Hiromu Takahashi, while Minoru Suzuki… Is Minoru Suzuki. It could be a tough few days for the champs.

1st Match: Ryohei Oiwa vs Kosei Fujita
Singles record: 0-0-1
New Young Lions Oiwa and Fujita have their second bout in the opening match of the evening. In their debut bouts Tuesday night, Fujita has the upper hand for more of the match, securing a pair of solid dropkicks, and cinching in a Boston Crab that had Oiwa in trouble before the time limit expired. In this second go-around, will one of these young men gain the upper hand and establish themselves as superior early?​

 

[Chris]

Main event: Satoshi Kojima & Kazuchika Okada vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan)
After Kazuchika Okada teamed with Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Tomoaki Honma against the United Empire the last two nights, his third preview of MetLife Dome’s showdown with Jeff Cobb sees the Rainmaker team up with Satoshi Kojima.

Kojima’s streetfight with Will Ospreay early in the year is evidence enough of Kojima’s hatred of the United Empire, and he and Okada will present a formidable union of their own. Yet Cobb and O-Khan are near untouchable as a tag team, and Okada and Kojima will have an uphill battle if prior tag encounters have anything to go on. Now that Cobb is well prepared and ready for any flash pin tactics from Okada, does the Imperial Unit have any cracks at all in his game?

4th Match: Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) vs BULLET CLUB (Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo & Jado)
El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru meet BULLET CLUB’s Cutest Tag Team for the first time since winning the Super Jr. Tag League in the third match of the evening. It didn’t take long for ‘Nobe and Despe to issue a challenge for junior tag gold after they took the Tag league last week, but with the inevitable tag title match yet to be officially scheduled, this preview may well see champions, challengers, or the IWGP committee pushed to name a time and place for the title showdown.

3rd Match: YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto & Tiger Mask vs Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI)
With just over a week to go before they meet with IWGP Tag Team gold on the line in MetLife Dome, Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI have come into the week hot against Dangerous Tekkers. After laying both champions out with GYR and GYW in Korakuen Tuesday, the champions should certainly be aware of the threat the CHAOS challengers present. How will they respond tonight? And 24 hours before he faces Hiromu Takahashi in the Time Bomb’s comeback match, will DOUKI continue his recent impressive form with a win?

2nd Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Master Wato vs Tomoaki Honma & Robbie Eagles
The mentor and student team of Master Wato will take on Tomoaki Honma and Robbie Eagles in the second match of the evening. Friday night in Korakuen, Wato and Eagles meet in non title singles action, a key bout for Wato that could lead to a future title opportunity should he repeat his Best of the Super Jr. victory from last November. A key chance for the blue haired prodigy to set the pace tonight is in store in tag team action.

1st Match: Ryohei Oiwa vs Kosei Fujita
Singles record: 0-0-2
New Young Lions Oiwa and Fujita continue their campaigns in the opening match of the night. After Fujita had the bulk of control in their first meeting Tuesday, Oiwa bounced back to take the lion’s share of their second encounter on 8/25. Still a draw was the end result; as both try to set the tone for their future careers, will one gain the upper hand tonight?​

 

[Necro]

8/25 NJPW SUMMER STRUGGLE 2021 RESULTS FROM TOKYO, JAPAN

Spoiler

By James Kurokawa on 2021-08-25 16:32:00
8/25/21 Results for New Japan's Summer Struggle 2021 - Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan:

Again, there was no opening video to start the show for promoting the Wrestle Grand Slam event.

Ryohei Oiwa vs. Kosei Fujita

Good grappling between these young lions. Oiwa began attacking the left arm of Fujita and went for several submissions. Fujita countered with by attacking the left leg of Oiwa with an ankle submission then turned it into a half Boston Crab. Oiwa gets to the ropes for a break. Oiwa mounts Fujita and hammers him with elbows. Fujita tries to cover up but his left arm is hurt and he takes several elbows to the chin. Oiwa goes for the pin. Fujita kicks out at two. Oiwa applies a Boston Crab. Fujita tries for the ropes but is pulled back to the middle of the ring. Fujita face turns red and is about to tap out. The bell rings.

Match is 10-minute draw.

Both men got in each other's faces and shoved each other after the match. Fujita screamed in frustration as he left the ring.

Solid work for both wrestlers. The 10 minute time limit is great because both men and apply all the knowledge that they know in a small amount of time. They also were good in telling a story in the ring.

DOUKI and Minoru Suzuki vs. El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori

Suzuki and ELP start the match. They lock up and Suzuki starts trying to snap ELP's fingers. ELP gets to the ropes for a break. They have words and Suzuki dares ELP to throw a chop. ELP chops Suzuki in the chest and he barely moves and his face never changes. ELP invites Suzuki to hit him. Suzuki hits a chop on the chest of ELP which sounded like a gunshot. ELP dropped to the mat in pain. Suzuki talks smack to his face. ELP gets up and takes off his right elbow pad. He throws an elbow to the side of Suzuki's head who just smiles. ELP looks at Ishimori in disbelief. ELP dares Suzuki to hit him. Suzuki carefully pushes ELP's hair to the side and lays a sick elbow to the side of ELP's head. ELP spins and falls back into the ropes. ELP gets up wobbly and resets himself. Suzuki readies himself for another attack. ELP grabs and pinches his nipples. Suzuki no-sells it and headbutts ELP. DOUKI tags in and Suzuki-Gun stomps down ELP. The match pace quickens. DOUKI hits an Asai moonsault on ELP and Ishimori on the floor. The four men fight around ringside. Bullet Club takes the advantage over DOUKI and keeps him in their corner. DOUKI is able to tag Suzuki who cleans house. Suzuki goes for Gotch piledriver on Ishimori. ELP rakes the back of Suzuki to break the hold. ELP and Suzuki fight to the floor. DOUKI hits a Daybreaker on Ishimori. DOUKI gets a two count. DOUKI goes for Suplex de La Luna, but Ishimori reverses out. DOUKI hits a spinning backbreaker on Ishimori. DOUKI goes for the pin, but ELP sneaks in the ring and hits DOUKI in the head with Sudden Death.

Ishimori pins DOUKI.

Suzuki is pissed and grabs a chair. Bullet Clubs grab their Jr. Tag Title belts and escape ringside. DOUKI is dazed and gets help from the ring.

Despite the loss, DOUKI got in a lot of offense, which will help build to the match against Hiromu Takahashi.

Togi Makabe and Toru Yano vs. Jado and Chase Owens

Yano comes to the ring with his red folding chair and all the merchandise that he is trying to sell.

Bullet Club attacks before the bell. This match was a brawl. Owens hit a low blow on Yano in front of the referee. The referee scolded Owens. Owens tossed the referee out of the ring.

Bullet Club is disqualified in the match.

Owens took Yano's red folding chair and hit a Package Piledriver on the chair. Ouch! Makabe tried to make the save but Bullet Club took him out. Jado trapped Makabe in a cross face with the kendo stick. Owens dragged an almost unconscious Yano to the ropes and tapes his arms to the middle rope. Owens then took his Texas leather strap and whipped Yano. Oiwa and Fujita, who were working ringside as young lions, rushed into the ring to help and they got whipped by Owens and caned by Jado. Bullet Club looked like vicious heels in this match.

Tomoaki Honma and Kazuchika Okada vs. Great O-Khan and Jeff Cobb

The United Empire double teamed Honma early in the match. Okada made the hot tag and controlled O-Khan quite well. Okada looked sharper in the ring than he did last night. Cobb tagged in and he used his power to change the momentum. Okada hit a European uppercut and locked the Money Clip on Cobb. Cobb used his strength and momentum to arm drag Okada out of the Money Clip, which was impressive. Okada hit a dropkick to the face of Cobb. Honma tagged in and hit Cobb with chops. Honma went for a Kokeshi, but O-Khan tripped him up. Honma countered with a DDT on O-Khan and a Flatliner on Cobb. Honma hit a Kokeshi on Cobb and another on O-Khan. Honma locked an STF on Cobb. O-Khan stomped on Honma to break the hold. O-Khan and Cobb double teamed Honma with two gutwrench suplexes. Okada breaks up the two count. Honma hits a flying Kokeshi on Cobb. Okada tries to tombstone Cobb. Cobb reverses and hits Okada with his own dropkick. Okada rolls to the floor. Honma comes off the middle rope on Cobb, who catches him and turns it into a spinning back suplex.

Cobb hits a ripcord Tour of the Islands on Honma and gets the pin.

Elimination Match: Tiger Mask, Robbie Eagles, YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado, Zack Sabre, Jr. and Taichi

Suzuki-Gun attacked at the bell. Battles all around ringside. YOSHI-HASHI gets trapped in the corner of Suzuki-Gun and got beaten down. YOSHI-HASHI hits a Headhunter on Taichi and tags in Goto, who takes control of the match. Taichi hits a high kick to the face of Goto. Kanemaru and Eagles tag in. Kanemaru dropkicks the knee of Eagles, who goes down grabbing his leg. Desperado is tagged in and immediately puts Eagles in Numero Dos. Tiger Mask jumps in the ring to make the save. Eagles stuns Desperado with a back heel kick and tags in Tiger Mask. Tiger Mask stomps on Desperado, but Desperado hits a spinebuster. Tiger Mask throws Desperado over the top rope. Kanemaru distracts Red Shoes, the referee. Tiger Mask kicks Desperado to the floor. Red Shoes does not see it. Desperado low blows Tiger Mask and Red Shoes turns to see Desperado sending Tiger Mask over the top rope.

Tiger Mask is eliminated.

Eagles eliminates Desperado over the top.

Kanemaru eliminates Eagles over the top.

YOSHI-HASHI eliminates Kanemaru over the top.

Tekkers and CHAOS face off in the middle of the ring. They tear into each other.

YOSHI-HASHI and Taichi trade Ax Bombers. All remaining men are on their backs in the ring.

YOSHI-HASHI eliminates Taichi over the top.

ZSJ eliminates YOSHI-HASHI over the top.

Goto eliminates ZSJ over the top rope.

CHAOS wins the match.

Solid match. With CHAOS standing tall on back-to-back nights, they have momentum going into their IWGP Tag Team Title match on Sept. 5 at Wrestle Grand Slam.

After the match, Suzuki-Gun left the ring and retreated to the locker room. They left the IWGP Tag belts on the bleachers, which the camera focused in on. Taichi and ZSJ went behind the curtain. Goto and YOSHI-HASHI were about the address the crowd in Korakuen. Taichi and ZSJ sprinted out from behind the curtain to attack them. Taichi hit Black Mephisto on Goto. ZSJ hit YOSHI-HASHI with the Zack Driver.

Zack Sabre Jr. took the mic and spoke to Goto and YOSHI-HASHI. He told them this match was meant nothing. All that matters is their Tag Title match at Wrestle Grand Slam. He told them that Dangerous Tekkers are unstoppable. Taichi locked Goto in a Stretch Plum and ZSJ trapped YOSHI-HASHI in a sleeper with body scissors. Young lions came in to break it up and assist Goto and YOSHI-HASHI back to the locker room.

The build for the IWGP Tag Team Title Match has been really good. Unfortunately, Los Ingobernales de Japon is out of the picture right now. We shall see if the match becomes a two-team bout or if it will remain a three-team contest.