Night four for A Block in Nagoya
The World Tag League heads to Nagoya on November 28, with A Block hitting the midway point of the standings. With three matches to go after tonight, some teams will be on the bubble, and the top runners will be looking to stride ahead at the top.
Watch live or in English on demand on NJPW World!
Main event: WTL A Block- Ren Narita & Shota Umino (2-1) vs Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa (2-1)
While the battle for two key points is as keenly felt as ever in this midway main event, there are personal issues between Kaito Kiyomiya and his two opponents specifically tonight that stem from the G1 and have had far reaching repercussions up to this match in Nagoya tonight. Heading into his debut G1 this summer, Kiyomiya stated that he had little interest in NJPW’s young generation, the only figure inspiring him being the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion SANADA. Kiyomiya ultimately would have to eat his words, wrestling Umino to a narrow twenty minute time limit draw and then losing to Ren Narita in his last league match in Osaka. That would force Kaito out of the tournament, beginning his partnership with Oiwa in the process and bringing us to the current point in time.
For Kiyomiya and Oiwa then, the chance to show that they possess a strength together they may not have had enough of individually- the very essence of tag team wrestling. Will that be enough to move to six points?
7th Match: WTL A Block- CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) (1-2) vs TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls) (3-0)
TMDK head into their fourth match of the league still undefeated, and with form looking strong. Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls’ singles records against Toru Yano and Tomohiro Ishii leave a lot to be desired, with a pair of losses in the G1 this summer. Can their tag expertise see them to eight points and more distance to the rest of the A Block pack?
6th Match: United Empire (Great-O-Khan & HENARE) (1-2) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi (1-2)
Direct tag record: 2-0 United Empire
After Fujisawa saw HENARE and Great-O-Khan defeated by TMDK, they face HOUSE OF TORTURE tonight. United Empire have had H.O.T’s number in their last two straight World Tag League meetings, but cannot afford to let their guard down against the ever despicable EVIL and Yujiro, who themselves threw all they had against Haste and Nicholls, and Ryohei Oiwa and Kaito Kiyomiya only to come up short.
5th Match: Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) (0-3) vs BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Gabe Kidd & Alex Coughlin) (2-1)
Despite three impressive performances, Gates of Agony are still with out a single win this tournament. A fourth loss will likely seal their fate when it comes to getting out of the block stage this year; meanwhile Coughlin and Kidd are riding on two straight wins. Confidence has often come before a fall for the War Dogs. Will they get to six, or can Kaun and Liona get on the board at last?
4th Match: CHAOS (YOH, Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) vs Tiger Mask, Soberano Jr. & Atlantis Jr.
Bishamon scored their first win, while Team CMLL suffered their first defeat at the weekend in Fukushima. Contrasting fortunes will be put to the test tonight, as well as Wednesday in B Block action.
3rd Match: Just Five Guys (DOUKI, Taichi & Yuya Uemura) vs Ryusuke Taguchi, Alex Zayne & Lance Archer
Wednesday night, two winning streaks will be on the line when the undefeated Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura take on the similarly unbeaten Monstersauce. Someone will be handed their first defeat, putting importance on this preview to set the pace in Nagoya.
2nd Match: Master Wato, Minoru Suzuki & Yuji Nagata vs Guerrillas of Destiny (Jado, El Phantasmo & Hikuleo)
After a hot start, El Phantasmo and Hikuleo have lost their last two in B Block. Yuji Nagata and Minoru Suzuki meanwhile haven’t had the benefit of a hot start either. Both teams need to get on track in a bad way, and the work starts on that tonight.
1st Match: BUSHI, Zandokan Jr., Yota Tsuji & Shingo Takagi vs BULLET CLUB (Gedo, Taiji Ishimori, Jack Bonza & Bad Luck Fale)
BULLET CLUB’s Rogue Army need to get on the board this Wednesday or face likely elimination. On a strong run though, Yota Tsuji and Zandokan Jr. have no intentions on slowing down. Eight man preview action kicks off the night.
