NJPW World Tag League and Super Junior Tag League 2022 - November 21 - December 14, 2022

[Chris]

World Tag League Lineups Revealed!​

Ten heavyweight teams to battle over November and December

The World Tag League will get underway on November 21, with ten teams vying to be the best heavyweight duo, and likely book their ticket to Wrestle Kingdom 17 in the process. Before the dual Super Jr. and World Tag League tours get underway, the lineups can now be revealed!
Watch Super Jr. Tag League and World Tag League LIVE and in English on demand on NJPW World! November 21 & 22, December 14 LIVE ENGLISH!

Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (1x IWGP Tag Team Champions, 2021 World Tag League winners)

First are the 2021 World tag League winners in Bishamon. Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI continued a strong historical performance for the World Tag League winners at Wrestle Kingdom this year, deposing Dangerous Tekkkers as IWGP Tag Team Champions, but their reign was shorter than hoped, ending at V1 at the hands of Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan. Now they’ll seek to go back to back in WTL, and get their tag titles back in the process.

HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi) (2021 World Tag League finalists. EVIL 2x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 2x World Tag League winner. Yujiro 1x IWGP Tag Team Champion)

The World Tag League finals in 2021 saw EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi come within a hair of what would have been EVIL’s third set of trophies. Their 16 points were hardly fairly earned, but that has never bothered HOUSE OF TORTURE, who will do what it takes to become number one contenders that couldn’t be any more divorced from IWGP Tag Team Champions FTR’s straight fighting style.

Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito & SANADA) (1x IWGP Tag Team Champions. Naito 2x IWGP Tag Team Champion, SANADA 3x IWGP Tag Team Champion, 2x World Tag League winner)

Denied in the G1 Climax, and in his IWGP United States Championship challenge to Will Ospreay at Battle Autumn in Osaka, Tetsuya Naito is on the outside, looking in to the Wrestle Kingdom title picture. SANADA is in the same position, having been eliminated from the NJPW World TV Championship tournament, but both could find success in the tag ranks instead. Last summer, Naito was ‘reminded how fun tag team wrestling can be’ when he teamed with SANADA, and now that joy could take former champions to the WTL trophies.

United Empire (Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan) (O-Khan: 2x former IWGP Tag Team Champion)

After a hard fought battle with Great-O-Khan against FTR in Osaka November 5, Jeff Cobb has stepped back from World Tag League competition, but Aaron Henare will be more than a capable substitute. The Ultimate Weapon and the Dominator went to an impressive 14 points in last year’s league, and now seek to go a step further to the trophies.

Be-Bop Tag Team (Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi) (Yano: 3x IWGP Tag Team Champion, Tanahashi: 3x IWGP Tag Team Champion)

The combination of an Ace’s sense of justice, and a master thief’s devious wiles, the Be-Bop Tag Team of Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toru Yano was as popular as they were successful in last year’s World Tag League, racking up an impressive 14 points. Could Hiroshi and Toru go a step further and make the top two to compete in the December 14 final?

Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher) (1x NJPW STRONG Tag Team Champions)

If there’s one team that will be circled by most pundits as the favourites of World Tag League 2022, it’s Aussie Open. In the midst of a breakout year, Kyle Fletcher and Mark Davis have stunned audiences in RPW, AEW, IMPACT and NJPW STRONG this year alone, the latter seeing the two become the first ever STRONG Openweight Tag Team Champions. Having come so close to seizing gold in a tag team classic with FTR in London back in October, the Aussie duo are intent on earning their rematch, and will be using World Tag League to do just that.

Suzuki-Gun (Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki) (2011 G1 Tag League winners. Archer: 3x IWGP Tag Team Champion, Suzuki: 1x IWGP Tag Team Champion)

Winners of the last G1 Tag League before the series was renamed the World Tag League in 2012, Lance Archer and Minoru Suzuki have been an imrpessive and intimidating tandem for a decade, always connected with a close bond even as Archer competes in AEW on the regular and Suzuki goes wherever his freelance bloodlust takes him. Part of Suzuki-Gun from near the every start, Archer will be looking to assist the King in smashing through the competition as the sole Suzuki-Gun side in the heavyweight tag league this year.

BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens 1x IWGP Tag Team Champions)

Now in their fifth World Tag League, and fourth consecutive, Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens are the most experienced pairing when it comes to WTL competition in this year’s lineup, and have made significant improvements year on year. 2022 saw their best year as a tandem yet, as they claimed the IWGP Tag Team Championships albeit for a brief spell back at Dontaku. Now with a taste for gold, they’ll be gunning for the belts again.

TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls)

The cornerstone combination of TMDK, Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls are finally back together for World Tag League, Histerical Haste and Mad Mikey reunited after Nicholls took time away following their NJPW STRONG Tag title tournament exit. Nicholls and Haste are former GHC Tag Team Champions in NOAH, and now look to pick up where they left off as TMDK continues to grow as a force in NJPW.

Gabriel Kidd & Alex Coughlin

Finally, “The Android” Alex Coughlin and Gabriel Kidd represent the LA Dojo fight team in World Tag League 2022. Both Coughlin and Kidd are in the tournament after lengthy absences; Coughlin returning at Rumble on 44th Street from injury that sidelined him since the summer, and Kidd re-emerging at Royal Quest with a clear focus and reset disposition. With a lot to prove, this is a duo with a lot of strength and ability, and one that could well make a run for the top two spots.
​

Super Junior Tag League Lineups Revealed!​

Ten junior heavyweight teams to battle over November and December

The Super Junior Tag League will get underway on November 21, with ten teams vying to be the best junior heavyweight duo, and likely book their ticket to Wrestle Kingdom 17 in the process. Before the dual Super Jr. and World Tag League tours get underway, the lineups can now be revealed!
Watch Super Jr. Tag League and World Tag League LIVE and in English on demand on NJPW World! November 21 & 22, December 14 LIVE ENGLISH!

Catch 2/2 (Francesco Akira & TJP) IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag team Champions lead the way in Super Jr. Tag League. The ceaselessly creative champions won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships on their first attempt, and then put together defences both against former champions Six or Nine and the LIJ side of BUSHI and Titan over the last two months. There is no doubt that Akira and TJP have the biggest targets on them and will be the team to beat over the month long campaign.

CHAOS (Lio Rush & YOH) (YOH: 5x IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Champion, 3x Super Jr. Tag League winner)

Back at Rumble on 44th Street, YOH was the victim of a post match HOUSE OF TORTURE assault when Lio Rush made a surprise appearance to clean house and form the first team to officially throw their hats in the tag league ring. Having paired with the Man of the Hour on STRONG, Rocky Romero proved to be the social grease to this tag team wheel, and this duo, with a former three time tag league winner combining with a man who has had Japan as his goal since his STRONG debut, will be a hard one to beat.

Los Ingobernables De Japon (BUSHI & Titan)

Though they ultimately came just shy of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag team Championships at Battle Autumn, BUSHI and Titan showed just what an effective new team they are all the way through the previous tour. The Angel Del Inmortal tag team finisher, coupled with a dynamic high flying style will make them ones to watch as this NJPW and CMLL combination are sure to wow the crowds and be in the top flight come the end of the tour in Sendai.

BULLET CLUB (Ace Austin & Chris Bey)

One of the most popular figures in this year’s Best of the Super Jr. series, Ace Austin was a phenom through the tour, and one that gained many an admirer for his dynamic in ring style, easy charisma with the fans, and close friendship with Alex Zayne. The latter two were thrown to the wind at the tour final however, when Austin turned his back on Zayne by aligning himself with BULLET CLUB. The Inevitable then brought his new factional allegiance with him to his home base in IMAPCT Wrestling by forming an effective combination with Chris Bey, who makes his own Japanese debut this tour. A powerful force in IMPACT, there’s every chance Bey and Austin could walk away with an early Christmas present of the Super Jr. Tag League trophies come December 14.

Flying Tiger (Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask) (1x IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)

Former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag team Champions Flying Tiger came together in last year’s Super Jr. Tag League, and despite heading into the tournament as underdogs, their combination of youth, experience, strikes and submissions quickly turned heads, eventually earning them the tag titles later that year. With both Tiger Mask and the Sniper of the Skies looking to make their mark at Wrestle Kingdom 17, Super Jr. Tag League certainly seems to be the place to mount another successful run.

HOUSE OF TORTURE (Dick Togo & SHO) (SHO: 5x IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Champion, 3x Super Jr. Tag League winner)

There is no doubt that every rule will be pushed to breaking point by SHO and Dick Togo in this league, but this HOUSE OF TORTURE tandem is not one to be overlooked. SHO is a multiple time former champion and tag league winner alongside former partner SHO, while Dick Togo proved in his combination with Gedo in last year’s league that he can still be one of the smoothest junior heavyweight operators in the game; albeit not the most successful in a fair fight.

Wild Hips (Ryusuke Taguchi & Clark Connors) (Taguchi: 7x IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champion)

For Ryusuke Taguchi, Super Jr. Tag League snuck up at the end of the year as the calendar turned over to November. When asked who would be teaming with him during his regular YouTube show, Taguchi made a quick phonecall to Rocky Romero about reforming the Mega Coaches, but was denied by Romero, who made the claim that ‘well, when it’s you and me, we always lose’. Rocky had a backup though, in the form of Clark Connors. The Wild Rhino had an impressive match with Taguchi during Best of the Super Jr., and stated he had a lot to learn from the Coach, leading to the birth of the ‘Wild Hips’ tag team. How will this combination of tactical wiles and brute force power fare?

Suzuki-Gun (DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) (Kanemaru: 6x IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, 2021 Super Jr. Tag League winner)

With regular partner El Desperado part of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight four way match at Wrestle Kingdom 17, Yoshinobu Kanemaru will team with DOUKI during Super Jr. Tag League. DOUKI has made incredible strides in the ring this year, and Desperado has suggested that Kanemaru can provide the same mentoring force for Japones Del Mal that the Heel Master was to Desperado. The further progression of DOUKI will be something to watch over the next month.

Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA (KUSHIDA: 2x IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, 2012 Super Jr. Tag Tournament winner)

Kevin Knight hits Japanese NJPW rings for the first time during Super Jr. tag League, and couldn’t ask for a better partner than the returning KUSHIDA. After leaving WWE, KUSHIDA’s first move was to the west coast, in order to best support the LA Dojo talent. The Timesplitter has seen the potential in Knight, potential that the NJPW STRONG audience has been witness to over the last two years. Knight may be the best pure athlete in both tag leagues, and with KUSHIDA’s mentorship, could rack up the points.

El Lindaman & Alex Zayne

El Lindaman returns to NJPW alongside Alex Zayne to complete the tag league lineup. OWE and #STRONGHEARTS’ Lindaman has been a revelation this year, and was one of the brightest spots of Best of the Super Jr. 29. Lindaman did so with Alex Zayne in the opposite block during his own breakout tournament, but more links the two than a common booking. Zayne’s first trip to Japan came with Lindaman, #STRONGHEARTS and the OWE organization, and Zayne would reunite with the #STRONGHEARTS crew in GLEAT earlier this year, and now this pairing should be one of the most dynamic teams of the ten.​

 

[Chris]

Super Jr. Tag League night 1 (November 21) Full card, preview​

Cheering crowds in Korakuen start Super Jr. Tag League

Super Junior Tag League kicks off on November 21, with ten teams vying for the top spot over 23 days. Many of these events will see cheering crowds welcoming the spectacular action, and such will be the case for opening night on November 21 with five big league matchups!
Watch Super Jr. Tag League LIVE IN ENGLISH on NJPW World!

Main event: CHAOS (Lio Rush & YOH) vs Catch 2/2 (TJP & Francesco Akira)

The main event will see the new combination of YOH and Lio Rush take on the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag team Champions, TJP and Francesco Akira. YOH knows what it’s like to be a tag team champion, and he knows what it’s like to win the Super Junior Tag League. Yet teaming with Lio Rush, recruited for the former Roppongi 3K member by Rocky Romero, is new ground for him. In 2017, R3K instantly won the tag titles and the Super Jr. Tag Tournament on their first attempts; should the duo defeat the champs tonight they would be well on their way to doing the same.
Yet Catch 2/2 have similarly shot to instant success. With a title win on their own first attempt against Team Six or Nine, they’ve put together a pair of successful defences already, and will be wrestling every match in this league as if the gold is on the line. Will they be able to assert their superiority in Korakuen?

7th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Titan & BUSHI) vs BULLET CLUB (Chris Bey & Ace Austin)

IMPACT Wrestling’s BULLET CLUB contingent of Ace Austin and Chris Bey take on Titan and BUSHI in the semi main event of the evening. A hugely popular debutant in Best of the Super Jr. 29, Ace Austin stunned his new fan following at the tournament finals, turning his back on the public to align with BULLET CLUB. Carrying his new allegiance back with him across the pacific, he formed an effective combination with Chris Bey, and the two will be looking to make a mark on another impressive team in Titan and BUSHI. Having just fallen short of the junior tag titles in Osaka on November 5, the pressure will be on Titan and BUSHI to deliver the goods, but against stiff competition on opening night.

6th Match: Flying Tiger (Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (SHO & Dick Togo)

IWGP Junior Tag Team Champions at this point last year, Robbie Eagles and Flying Tiger want to regain that status, and take a spot in the Tokyo Dome on January 4 in the process. Certainly fans will be most pleased if that meant Dick Togo didn’t get the biggest payday of the year, but Tiger and Robbie have to have their heads on a swivel for any sneaky tactics from the HOUSE OF TORTURE duo if they want to start their campaign with a win.

5th Match: Wild Hips (Clark Connors & Ryusuke Taguchi) vs Suzuki-Gun (DOUKI & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)

2021 tag league winner Yoshinobu Kanemaru will be without regularly partner El Desperado this year, as the masked man will be a part of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight four way at the Tokyo Dome on January 4. Desperado has long credited Kanemaru with helping him find his true place and sense of self in the ring, and has spoken about wanting the same for DOUKI. Meanwhile, after facing Ryusuke Taguchi in one of the more unique BOSJ 29 matchups, the Wild Rhino Clark Connors has requested the chance to learn the ways of the Coach as his partner making for an intriguing mentor and protege combination in the fifth match of the card.

4th Match: Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA vs El Lindaman & Alex Zayne

The Super Junior Tag League will kick off with a characteristically dynamic matchup, as the fresh team of Kevin Knight and KUSHIDA meet El Lindaman and Alex Zayne. Zayne has been loosely affiliated with #STRONGHEARTS for several years since his first outing to Japan for OWE, and now gets to team up with the explosive Lindaman. On the opposite side, KUSHIDA will be a strategic mentoring hand for the similarly explosive Knight, who will be showing the world the potential he’s offered for the past year on STRONG.

3rd Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito) vs Suzuki-Gun (El Desperado, Taichi & Minoru Suzuki)

While both Tetsuya Naito and Minoru Suzuki will be part of the World Tag League kicking off the very next day, and Hiromu Takahashi and El Desperado will be continuing to size one another up ahead of January 4’s junior heavyweight four way match, more attention may be on Shingo Takagi and Taichi tonight. Taichi has challenged Shingo to one last KOPW 2022 match before the title ‘expires’ at the end of the year. Takagi has stated that Taichi will get his shot if a sufficient stage is set; could that stage be set Monday night?

2nd Match: Oskar Leube, Ryohei Oiwa, Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe vs United Empire (Aaron Henare, Great-O-Khan, Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis)

Later in World Tag League, Aussie Open will have to go to battle against United Empire teammates Great-O-Khan and Aaron Henare, but tonight they will be partners opposite GBH and a Noge Dojo combination. Oskar Leube will be in just his second NJPW match tonight, but can he stand out against world class competition?

1st match: Kosei Fujita vs Yuto Nakashima
Singles record: 2-2-8

Starting the evening will be a singles meeting for Yuto Nakashima and Kosei Fujita. As is so often the case for Noge Dojo classmates, Nakashima and Fujita started their rivalry with one another with a string of time limit draws, before now trading victories. With the scores between the two level heading into this lucky 13th bout for the two, who pulls ahead?​

 

[Chris]

Starting today's show and it's a cheering crowd

 

[Marty McFourth]

Kevin Knight and Kushida sounds like a pretty fun team. Match looks great too.

 

[Chris]

The new crop of young lions are coming along nicely

 

[Chris]

Not really seeing a point in doing these undercard matches while both tag leagues or alternating, would rather have both leagues on each day and just do the opener young lion exhibition

 

[Chris]

But I do get an Aussie Open match this way I guess

 

[Chris]

I can't tell if Chris's is trolling or not about BUSHI having a fried chicken place

 

[Chris]

Holy fuck that main event great start to the tournament

 

[Chris]

Lmao Gideon teasing the Kenny goodbye and goodnight, him and Callis def getting into it

 

[Chris]

Here are standings after N1

Super Junior Tag League standings --

• TJP & Francesco Akira (2 points, 1-0)
• Ace Austin & Chris Bey (2 points, 1-0)
• Robbie Eagles & Tiger Mask (2 points, 1-0)
• Ryusuke Taguchi & Clark Connors (2 points, 1-0)
• Alex Zayne & El Lindaman (2 points, 1-0)
• YOH & Lio Rush (0 points, 0-1)
• BUSHI & Titan (0 points, 0-1)
• SHO & Dick Togo (0 points, 0-1)
• Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI (0 points, 0-1)
• KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight (0 points, 0-1)

 

[Chris]

World Tag League Night 1 (November 22) Full card, preview​

More loud and live crowds in Korakuen to see the start of WTL 2022

On November 22, the second straight night of cheering crowds in Korakuen will see the first night of World Tag League 2022. Ten teams will be vying for superiority over the coming month; who gets the first points Tuesday?
Watch World tag League 2022 LIVE IN ENGLISH on NJPW World!

Main event: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito & SANADA) vs United Empire (Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan)
Direct tag record: 1-0 United Empire

The main event of the evening will see Tetsuya Naito and SANADA seek WTL 2021 revenge on Great-O-Khan and Aaron Henare. O-Khan and Henare’s victory over the former IWGP Tag Team Champions was one of the bigger wins for the duo in last year’s campaign, and the United Empire side will be looking to repeat tonight, while Henare will be seeking to one up an electric performance against naito during the G1 Climax specifically with a win over El Ingobernable. Meanwhile as Naito and SANADA are both on the outside looking in to the Wrestle Kingdom picture, a successful WTL campaign is crucial, and the LIJ side, victorious in their opening bout last year, will be needing a win tonight.

7th Match: Be-Bop Tag Team (Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi) vs Aussie Open (Mark Davis & Kyle Fletcher)

Aussie Open might be facing their first direct tag team match in an NJPW ring on Japanese soil, but they are perhaps the clear favourites for World Tag League this year. The buzz surrounding the team is palpable, and the hunger from the two for a rematch from Royal Quest II with FTR is undeniable. Yet they have a tough opening bout as they face a trap game against the Be Bop Tag Team. Toru and Hiroshi put together an impressive debut WTL run last year with their combination of ability and wiles, and could upset the Aussie Open apple cart before it even sets off down the track Tuesday night.

6th Match: Bishamon (YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL)
Direct tag record: 3-1 Bishamon

The third of five World Tag League rematches in Korakuen Hall sees a rematch of the 2021 tournament final, Bishamon’s Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI taking on HOUSE OF TORTURE’s EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi. Just as with SHO and Dick Togo’s presence in the Super Jr. Tag League, all HOUSE OF TORTURE opponents have to be aware of every eventuality in the ring, but Bishamon have had H.O.T’s number in direct tag matches to date. Does that change as WTL 2022 gets underway?

5th Match: Suzuki-Gun (Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki) vs BULLET CLUB (Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale)

Lance Archer and Minoru Suzuki will be looking to recreate the same success they had way back in the final G1 Tag League of 2011 when they start their WTL campaign against Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale. Now the most experienced duo in World Tag League when it comes to pure number of tournament appearances, Fale and Owens will be looking to chart a path to their second IWGP Tag Team Championships via WTL 2022.

4th Match: LA Dojo (Alex Coughlin & Gabriel Kidd) vs TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls)

The LA Dojo fight team is represented in World Tag League by Alex Coughlin and Gabriel Kidd, who return to Japanese competition very different men to the Young Lions Japanese audiences might think of them as. With Coughlin’s immense power and Kidd’s technical ability and fighting spirit, this dup is a dark horse contender for the trophies, but they have a very difficult opening match on their hands. Expectations will be high for TMDK to be in the top of the table running by December 14 in Sendai, and this well established side will present quite the hurdle for Coughlin and Kidd.

3rd Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi) vs Suzuki-Gun (DOUKI, El Desperado & Taichi)

Six man action will see LIJ and Suzuki-Gun collide in Korakuen. As Shingo Takagi and Taichi continue to be at loggerheads over the KOPW 2022 stakes, what will happen next?

2nd Match: Great Bash Heel (Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe) vs Oskar Leube & Kosei Fujita

Two time World tag League winners GBH are not involved in the 2022 lineup, but will be teaching some strict lessons to Young lions throughout the tour when it comes to tag team competition. Newcomer Leube will have to learn fast alongside Fujita tonight as GBH will be bringing the hits to the Noge duo.

1st match: Ryohei Oiwa vs Yuto Nakashima
Singles record: 4-4-9

Tied at four wins and nine draws apiece, Young Lions Ryohei Oiwa and Yuto Nakashima will each be looking to gain an advantage over the other tonight. As 2022 nears its climax, which Young Lion will be receiving the better end of year report card?​

 

[Chris]

Alex Zayne on commentary today fuck yeah

 

[Chris]

Talking about how Honma's excessive tanning gives him protection from chops bc his skin is like leather

 

[Chris]

This LIJ/Suzuki-gun BRAWL