World Tag League night 13 (December 5) Preview
Last night of A Block action
The A Block sees its final group action Thursday in Miyazaki, as a grueling World Tag League approaches its weekend finale. Who will represent the block in the Kumamoto finals? We find out tonight.
Watch live in English on NJPW World!
Main event: Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (4–2) vs War Dogs (Gabe Kidd & SANADA) (4–2)
Bishamon advance with a win.
War Dogs must win, with an LIJ loss or draw
Alerady threepeat winners, Bishamon are most in charge of their own destiny as they try to compete for a fourth World Tag League crown in a row. Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI’s close personal bonds have seen them to great success yet again this year, in stark contrast to their War Dogs opposition.
Gabe Kidd has made it quite clear he doesn’t get along with new entry SANADA, but has acknowledged the ‘Cold Blooded’ one’s increased edge and willingness to break the rules to get what the team wants of late. It’s an approach that’s brought the team to eight points; while they need some help, ironically enough from Kidd’s sworn enemy Shota Umino in the semi main, the War Dogs could have a seat at the table December 8 in Kumamoto’s final.
7th Match: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma (2–4) vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji) (4–2)
Honma and Umino are mathematically eliminated
LIJ advance with a win and a Bishamon loss or draw
For Shota Umino and Tomoaki Honma, a fourth loss Monday night to Chase Owens and KENTA has put paid to World Tag League hopes. Umino’s pride as a competitor remains high however, especially as he stands as one half of the January 4 main event, and potentially January 5’s as well.
Standing is something that Shota Umino has been finding difficult of late, and an ankle sprain exacerbated by Chase Owens and KENTA earlier htis week has cast doubts on the Roughneck. Will Shota be able to bring the fight tonight, and show how ready he is for the Tokyo Dome?
6th Match: TMDK (Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr)(3–3) vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman)(3–3)
Both teams mathematically eliminated
With both TMDK and United Empire out of the running in A Block, the focus of the four men in this match turns to the Tokyo Dome. Zack Sabre Jr. must turn his attention as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion to sending a strong message to the wrestling world, and Shota Umino for January 4 and Ricochet January 5 in particular. Ryohei Oiwa and Jeff Cobb have a more direct preview here as two out of the three men facing off for the NJPW World TV Championship currently held by Ren Narita. As for Callum Newman, there’s no place just yet for the Prince of Pace in the Dome, but one result can change absolutely everything.
5th Match: Funky Sauce (Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi) (2–4) vs BULLET CLUB (Chase Owens & KENTA) (3–3)
Both teams mathematically eliminated
There is nothing but pride on the line for both Funky Sauce and BULLET CLUB in this last league match. Pride is something one could argue has eluded the BULLET CLUB tandem for a long time, and nowhere was that more evident than in Kochi, where a pre match attack and assault on the ankle of Shota Umino saw them put a stop to he and Tomoaki Honma’s tournament hopes. With Taguchi still a proud Hontai member, and Zayne Hontai adjacent, Funky Sauce will be fighting to teach their opponents a lesson in pride tonight.
4th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI) vs United Empire (Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Jakob Austin Young)
B Block could well all come down to Hiromu Takahashi and Tetsuya Naito’s collision with IWGP Tag Team Champions HENARE and Great-O-Khan Friday. Certainly tensions will be high in this preview bout as both LIJ and United Empire get set for the stakes to be raised.
3rd match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jado & Katsuya Murashima vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, Ren Narita & Dick Togo)
While Hiroshi Tanahashi had designs on winning what might be his last World Tag League, and disappointment on his exit has to come as a result, a sizable secondary goal awaits Friday. Before the Ace and the King of Darkness collide January 4 at Wrestle Kingdom, and after a month full of interference that included a post match attack on the Ace a week ago, Tanahashi finally gets his hands on EVIL tonight.
2nd Match: Boltin Oleg, Toru Yano & Tiger Mask vs TMDK (Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Kosei Fujita)
Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls are sure to be disappointed to now be on the outside looking in to the Tokyo Dome scene. After dictating the tag team conversation for so many months, losses of both IWGP and NJPW STRONG tag titles has been followed by a weak scoreline in WTL 2024. Now comes the task of building back by the end of the year, starting with not only their opponents Friday, but two thirds of the NEVER 6 Man Champions.
1st Match: Just Four Guys (DOUKI, Taichi & TAKA Michinoku) vs BULLET CLUB (Tome Filip, Stevie Filip & Gedo)
After good starts for both the Natural Classics and TAKA Taichi in World Tag League, the rest of the tournament went on to see both teams head down hill. Friday will present a chance for the sides to finish strong, but first a six man preview.
Kickoff Match: Shoma Kato vs Daiki Nagai
Singles record: 3–0 Kato
Our kickoff sees the fourth chance for Daiki Nagai to take on Shoma Kato one on one. While Nagai is determined to take down his Dojo senior, a draw may be as good as a win after taking three straight defeats. Can Nagai go the ten minute distance?
