NJPW World Tag League 2021 Discussion Thread

[Comrade Khan]

two worthy teams on top, I like it

 

[Kairi HoHo]

Good to know after Wednesday I'll have the rest of the Week to get caught up on the past few Shows.

Love the Standings right now

 

[Chris]

"My friend [I forget dude's name] is a big Dick Togo fan, he loves Dick" - Kevin Kelly followed by a long pause when he realizes what he just said

 

[Chris]

Here's the standings after today's show which I think is another VOD only one without commentary. Getting crowded for second place

• Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi 12 points (6-1)
• Tetsuya Naito & SANADA 10 points (5-2)
• Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI 10 points (5-2)
• Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare 10 points (5-2)
• Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens 10 points (5-2)
• Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano 8 points (4-3)
• EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi 8 points (4-3)
• Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa 8 points (4-3)
• Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan 4 points (2-5)
• Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask 2 points (1-6)
• Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe 2 points (1-6)
• Minoru Suzuki & Taka Michinoku 0 points (0-7)

 

[Chris]

World Tag League night 8 (December 4) Preview
World Tag League hits Yamanashi

World Tag League turns the corner into its final third this Sunday live in Yamanashi. Will a team separate themselves at the head of the pack tonight?

Watch LIVE or in English on demand on NJPW World!

Main event: ‘Be-Bop Tag League’ (Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano) (4-3) vs Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) (4-3)

Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toru Yano have been somewhat of a dark horse favourite through this World tag League, ascending to an impressive eight points, despite recent losses to Goto and YOSHI-HASHI, and Dangerous Tekkers in consecutive matches. The Guerrillas of Destiny also fell foul of Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr., before falling to HOUSE OF TORTURE in Saitama this week to see themselves at eight points. This means both teams are still strongly in the hunt, but also in need of a win as every point in the hunt grows ever more valuable.

6th Match: Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.) (6-1) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi) (4-3)
Tag record: 1-0 Dangerous Tekkers

While there was no small amount of schadenfreude in EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi’s opening stretch of losses, there is increasing concern for many that HOUSE OF TORTURE’s winning streak could see them send the World Tag League into darkness on December 15. In Saitama, that streak extended to four wins, with a victory over last year’s winners and pre-tournament favourites G.o.D. There is no question that H.o.T poses a threat, but just as they did in last year’s tournament, can Dangerous Tekkers put EVIL and Yujiro in their place?

5th Match: TenCozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) (2-5) vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito & SANADA) (5-2)

If not all the way out of the picture, veterans TenCozy are very much on the bubble in Yamanashi at points. They have their work cut out for them as well tonight against Tetsuya Naito and SANADA. After nearly going the distance in defeat to Dangerous Tekkers Thursday saw them, take their second loss the LIJ side are now in a crowded pack at ten points. Can the veteran team of Tenzan and Kojima upset the near front runners tonight?

4th Match: Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) (1-6) vs United Empire (Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan) (5-2)

GBH are mathematically eliminated

Even before their sole win Thursday over Suzuki-Gun, GBH’s opening losing streak had cost them any mathematical hopes of the top two spots. Now they continue to fight for pride, in a match Aaron henare has looked forward to for some time. There was once a time that Henare looked up to and admired Makabe; he was inspired by Makabe’s NEVER Openweight Championship match with Tomohiro Ishii back at Wrestle Kingdom 9 to pursue NJPW, had teamed with the Unchained Gorilla, and sought a place within Great Bash Heel. When Henare suffered an Achille’s Tendon injury eerily similar to Makabe’s from years prior, on the GBH leader’s own 20th Anniversary event no less, it seemed as if fate bound Henare and Makabe together. Yet when the Ultimate Weapon felt that Makabe wasn’t doing enough to create opportunities for Henare, he left the hontai nest for United Empire earlier this spring. Now he will be seeking to show Makabe the potential he always had, and Makabe will look to teach the younger man a lesson in respect.

3rd Match: CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (5-2) vs Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku) (0-7)

Suzuki-Gun are mathematically eliminated

Standing in stark contrast to their brethren in Dangerous Tekkers at the top of the table, Suzuki-Gun’s veterans Suzuki and TAKA have had a torrid time and a speedy mathematical elimination. With Ryogoku now out of the picture, destruction will be, and Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI are in their path. While this is very much a winnable match for the CHAOS side, both TAKA and the King are dangerous opponents, and the potential for their own top two placing to be spoiled is certainly present in Yamanashi. On the other hand, having just beaten CHAOS teammate Toru Yano and his partner Hiroshi Tanahashi to join the tie for second at ten points, CHAOS will not give their spot up easily.

2nd Match: Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask (1-6) vs BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens) (5-2)

Nagata and Tiger Mask are mathematically eliminated

Bad Luck Fale comes face to face with his one time mentor in Yuji Nagata as he and Chase face Nagata and Tiger Mask in the first league match of the evening. With an impressive ten point record, the BULLET CLUB duo are still very much in the hunt. Nagata and Tiger were mathematically eliminated this past Thursday with a loss to the United Empire putting them out of the running, but they have plenty of pride to fight for.

1st Match: Ryohei Oiwa vs Shingo Takagi

Until tonight, Ryohei Oiwa, Kosei Fujita and Yuto Nakashima were engaged in a three way standoff of ten minute draws, each progressing as they attempted, to no avail, to beat one another. Tonight, Oiwa gets a very different education, as a Young Lion not six months into his career faces the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. There is no doubt that Shingo Takagi has no need for the 20 minute time limit in place tonight, but in his return to action for the first time since Power Struggle, he’ll be giving a full appraisal of Oiwa’s budding skills; and be giving Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay some tape to take notice of before Wrestle Kingdom 16 in the Tokyo Dome.​

 

[Chris]

Holy shit Sanada/Naito vs Tekkers from yesterday's show was insane, I can't believe they scheduled it for a VOD show with no commentary. I guess maybe bc they fought each other so much during the summer but it was also one of my favorite feuds of the year and this had some crazy good callbacks. Fuck it may even be the best match they had this year

 

[Chris]

These fucking standings lmao

• Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi 12 points (6-2)
• Tetsuya Naito & SANADA 12 points (6-2)
• Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI 12 points (6-2)
• Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare 12 points (6-2)
• Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens 12 points (6-2)
• EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi 10 points (5-3)
• Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa 10 points (5-3)
• Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano 8 points (4-4)
• Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan 4 points (2-6)
• Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask 2 points (1-7)
• Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe 2 points (1-7)
• Minoru Suzuki & Taka Michinoku 0 points (0-8)

 

[Kairi HoHo]

I'm going to need to write Santa Claus to deal with these House of Torture guys for real. How dare they do what they did to Taichi and Sabre JR only Santa can set them straight. Oh no Tana and Yano in the Main

 

[Chris]

World Tag League night 9 (December 7) Preview
World Tag League enters final stages

Tuesday December 7 sees World tag League truly enter its final stretch, with just over a week to go until the dual Ryogoku finals. Competition for the two top spots will be heated, with just three matches left for each team to wrestle.

Main event: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito & SANADA) (6-2) vs Guerrillas of Destiny (5-3)

Tetsuya Naito and SANADA had vowed, as the World tag League got underway, to not just win the league, but elevate the status of the tag division over the competing Best of the Super Jr. tournament, with the hook of promising an undefeated record. That undefeated record didn’t come, and losses to United Empire and Dangerous Tekkers have created speedbumps for LIJ.
Speedbumps have certainly been in the path for G.o.D as well. The 2020 winners seemed easy 2021 favourites, but far from running away with the league now find themselves one win off the pace of a crowded group at 12 points. Tonight, they will need to draw on their wealth of experience as a team to combat the effective, but still relatively new, duo across the ring from them, and join the mix, or have their back to back hopes effectively snuffed.

6th Match: CHAOS (YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto) (6-2) vs BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck fale & Chase Owens) (6-2)
Tag record: 2-0 CHAOS

Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens have perhaps made the biggest year on year growth in the World Tag League, their Yamanashi performance bringing them to 12 points after an emphatic victory over veterans Yuji Nagata and Tiger Mask. That’s put them right alongside Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI after their own win over Minoru Suzuki and TAKA Michinoku at the weekend, making this a key matchup for both teams; one that could easily make the difference between falling by the wayside and making the finals next Wednesday with only two more bouts to follow. Will Fale and Owens make another big stride tonight and score their first win over the CHAOS duo on the third time of asking?

5th Match: TenCozy (Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan) (-) vs United Empire (Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan) (6-2)

TenCozy are mathematically eliminated
Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima play for pride tonight against a team who are very much in the hunt, and one that has been determined to crush their considerable legacy for the whole year to date. New Year Dash on January 6 saw Great-O-Khan put Tenzan on the shelf with a devastating post match TTD, before battling Tenzan in a match with the Mongolian Chops at stake. The ensuing loss would see Tenzan officially unable to use the maneuver, but there will be more than a few ‘Okayama Hammers’ unleashed here tonight, no doubt.

Satoshi Kojima’s own 2021 started with a hardcore streetfight against Will Ospreay that ended in defeat but saw the veteran hang with the Commonwealth Kingpin. Tonight he will be looking to outdo his singles meeting in Yokohama with O-Khan during the G1 series, as well as to teach a lesson to the hard hitting Henare, but with the finals very much in reach with a 6-2 record that has them in the tie for first at 12 points, the United Empire will have other plans in mind.

4th Match: Great Bash Heel (Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe) (1-7) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi) (5-3)

Great Bash Heel are mathematically eliminated
After early struggles, EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi have worked and, well, cheated their way to ten points, putting a five win streak together that most recently saw a distinctly tainted win over the IWGP Tag team Champions in Yamanashi. That puts them just win off the pace at ten points, and very much in the hunt. While GBH can only sit by the sidelines in Ryogoku on the 15th, they can still upset the HOUSE OF TORTURE apple cart, something that would see celebration from most in Okayama, and around the world this Tuesday.

3rd Match: Be-Bop Tag League (Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano) (-) vs Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku) (0-8)

Suzuki-Gun are mathematically eliminated
Long out of the running after a losing streak extended to eight matches, Minoru Suzuki and TAKA Michinoku are now intent on wrecking the league for everyone else. That is certainly going to be the driving factor for Minoru Suzuki opposite both his opponents tonight. Toru Yano has long been a thorn in the King’s side, and Suzuki and Tanahashi have been arch enemies for close to a decade. This will be a wild affair, and one that could see Be-Bop Tag League’s chances, already slim to the extreme after a fourth loss to Guerillas of Destiny at the weekend, completely eliminated if they aren’t careful.

2nd Match: Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask (1-7) vs Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.) (6-2)

Tiger Mask and Yuji Nagata are mathematically eliminated
Dangerous Tekkers were in the strongest shape to represent the IWGP Tag Team Championships in the World Tag League finals next week when they headed into Yamanashi Sunday. They were in the driver’s seat against HOUSE OF TORTURE as well, but when Dick Togo and that steel garotte got involved though, a second loss was the result. Now, they’re just one of five teams at 12, with two teams behind still in with a chance at ten, and nothing is certain. Opposite them tonight will be the already eliminated Yuji Nagata and Tiger Mask, two men whose strikes and submission expertise should certainly pose a test to Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr.; a winnable match, but at this stage of the game, nothing is guaranteed.

1st match: Yuto Nakashima (0-0-10 this tour) vs Kosei Fujita (0-0-10 this tour)

Time is running out for one of our Young Lions to secure victory during this tour. Will it be Nakashima or Fujita with their first W tonight?​

 

[Chris]

Here's the new cluster fuck standings lol

• Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi 14 points (7-2)
• Tetsuya Naito & SANADA 14 points (7-2)
• Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI 14 points (7-2)
• Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare 14 points (7-2)
• Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens 12 points (6-3)
• EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi 12 points (6-3)
• Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa 10 points (5-4)
• Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano 10 points (5-4)
• Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan 4 points (2-7)
• Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask 2 points (1-8)
• Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe 2 points (1-8)
• Minoru Suzuki & Taka Michinoku 0 points (0-9)

 

[Chris]

Finished up Saturday's show, def just gonna be a jumbled mess for the final day with the parity here lol I don't mind tho, don't think they do this too often with the round Robin's

 

[Chris]

"Those were two of my favorite things I learned from Nigel McGuinness during our time together in ROH....RIP" why Kevin why

 

[Chris]

Updated standings after today

• Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi 16 points (8-2)
• Tetsuya Naito & SANADA 16 points (8-2)
• Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI 16 points (8-2)
• Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare 14 points (7-3)
• EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi 14 points (7-3)
• Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa 12 points (6-4)
• Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens 12 points (6-4)
• Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano 12 points (6-4)
• Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan 4 points (2-8)
• Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask 2 points (1-9)
• Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe 2 points (1-9)
• Minoru Suzuki & Taka Michinoku 0 points (0-10)

 

[Chris]

World Tag League night 11 （December 12）Preview
Final night of league action for WTL in Hiroshima

Sunday night sees World Tag League hit Hiroshima for the final night of league action before the top two teams face off in Ryogoku on December 15.

Watch live or in English on demand on NJPW World!

Main event: CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (8-2) vs Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.) (8-2)
Direct tag record: 2-0 Dangerous Tekkers

A win for either team guarantees a final place
It was back in July that Dangerous Tekkers, immediately after recapturing the IWGP Tag Team Championships in the Tokyo Dome from Tetsuya Naito and SANADA, were challenged by Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI. After initial rejection, the CHAOS side got their wish partially granted when they faced both former champions in a three way at the MetLife Dome, but now they finally have the chance to address the 0-2 record against the IWGP Tag team Champions.

In the process, they can change the shape of Wednesday’s Ryogoku final. With both teams at 8-2 16 point records, they each have control over their own destinies. A win and they’re in Wednesday’s finals, and a big step toward their first WTL trophies.

6th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito & SANADA) (-) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi) (7-3)

An LIJ win guarantees a final place
HOUSE OF TORTURE must win, and have United Empire lose
Tetsuya Naito may have pledged for he and SANADA to win every single one of their World Tag League matches, but now at a record and going right down to the wire, it’s possible that El Ingobernale enjoys the drama all the more. Especially when this critical league match will have he and his partner opposite their respective former tag team partners. No Limit were the first ever tag team to win gold in both junior and heavyweight divisions, and after the Yujiro and Naito singles encounter scheduled for G1 Climax 31 was called off due to Naito’s knee injury, here is a chance for reunion.

Meanwhile EVIL and SANADA are already World Tag League winners- with one another. Their back to back tag leagues and back to back Wrestle Kingdom tag title wins are now long behind them but the former partners now seek glory with their new partners; to do that, victory is essential in this main event clash.

5th Match: United Empire (Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare) (7-3) vs Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) (6-4)

G.o.D are mathematically eliminated.
United Empire must win and have LIJ lose
Finalists, or active in the final day of the league in every WTL they’ve been a part of since 2016, the Guerrillas of Destiny’s exit from mathematical contention with a two matches still to wrestle was a major shock to everyone, including the seven time IWGP Tag Team Champions. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa will now have to take a step back to re-evaluate the tag landscape in New Japan, but the league isn’t done yet, and nor are the brothers willing to give ground up to the upstart team of Great-O-Khan and Aaron Henare.

With key tiebreakers earned against HOUSE OF TORTURE, LIJ and Dangerous Tekkers, the United Empire side has had an extremely impressive inaugural World Tag League run. But wit heir spot in the final not yet all the way guaranteed, the Dominator and the Ultimate Weapon still have their work cut out for them against the record setting G.o.D.

4th Match: Be-Bop Tag League (Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi)(6-4) vs BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens) (6-4)

Both teams are mathematically eliminated
With a 6-4 record across their ten matches, Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale remained a persistent factor through the league right up until near the very end. No doubt the most impressive of their runs in the tournament to date, and threatening if not, yet, outscoring Toru Yano and Hiroshi Tanahashi to boot.

A win over Hiroshi Tanahashi was a key moment in Chase Owens’ G1 Climax campaign, and both he and Fale have made it a long term mission to put Yano in his place. Can they do just that to end their WTL 2021, and finish above the Be-Bop Tag team in the process?

3rd Match: Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) (1-9) vs Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask (1-9)

Both teams are mathematically eliminated
The veteran teams of World Tag League 2021 haven’t exactly gotten the results they wanted. With just four points between the two teams, GBH and Nagata and Tiger both badly want to end their league on a high tonight.

2nd Match: TenCozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) (2-7) vs Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku) (0-10)

Both teams are mathematically eliminated
With a four point record, TenCozy have fared slightly better than their Hontai compatriots in WTL, and will look to get a win tonight against the dead last pairing of Minoru Suzuki and TAKA Michinoku. Suzuki-Gun have been embarrassed and irritated by their win loss record, and may well be seeking more to wreak havoc than to get an academic two points here.
1st Match: Ryohei Oiwa (0-0-12 this tour) vs Kosei Fujita (0-0-13 this tour)

With the card for Ryogoku on December 15 yet to be determined, this could be the last chance on the tour for Ryohei Oiwa or Kosei Fujita to finally score their first win. After over two hours in the ring on this tour, is this finally the day for someone to get their first W?​

 

[Kairi HoHo]

Just home from work watching Day 10 and it's Suzuki/Taka vs House of Torture Boboheads starting off the Show. Yo Suzuki sent EVIL into the Rail so hard it almost fell apart and into the New Japan fans.