NJPW Korakuen Hall 6-28-15 report: Ten man elimination tag action

By Bryan Rose, WrestlingObserver.com
Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Jay White

White played the subtle heel here, at one point using Taguchi’s famed hip attacks. They actually had a pretty solid match with a hot ending. A lot of the match was Taguchi doing the hip attacks, White would come in once in a while and almost had a win with a Boston crab. They exchanged some good near falls toward the end until Taguchi locked in the ankle lock and White tapped.

Tiger Mask vs. Sho Tanaka

Tanaka came at Tiger Mask immediately once the bell rang, but Tiger Mask slowed him down with some leg work. Tiger Mask worked on them some more, crotched Tanaka while making a comeback, laid him out with a butterfly suplex from the top rope and submitted him with a chickenwing. Another solid match, but rather short and Tiger Mask’s submission is kind of anti-climatic.

After the match, Tiger Mask cut a brief promo wishing Tanaka well as he’s due to wrestle in NOAH’s upcoming junior heavyweight league.

Jushin Liger vs. David Finlay

Liger dominated at the start but Finlay made a comeback and hit his father’s famous rolling senton. He even locked in the stretch muffler at one point. Liger came back with the palm strike and a Liger bomb for a near fall, but Finlay reversed into a small package for his own near fall. Finlay went for what looked like a brainbuster, but then Liger transitions quickly into an armbar and Finlay taps. So I guess the theme tonight is all the young lions are losing by submission.

Mascara Dorada vs. Yohei Komatsu

Dorada, of course, pulled out all the crazy moves early, including a big crossbody from the top rope that wiped out Komatsu on the outside. Komatsu had a brief comeback, but Dorada cut him off and hit a senton followed by the Dorada driver for the win. I know the role of a young lion is to lose, but it was weird seeing them all lose, four in a row like this. At this point, something needs to be done with both Komatsu and Tanaka.

Wrestle-1 announcer Abe has jumped ship to New Japan apparently, as he was reported as being in the building tonight and will be starting with them soon.

Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Yuji Nagata & Captain New Japan

As one would expect, Captain New Japan got worked on for the bulk of the match. Nagata got the hot tag and got Kojima in the armbar submission but Tenzan saved him. Nagata blocked a 3D attempt but got wiped out by a lariat from Kojima. CNJ walks into the 3D then Tenzan follows with the anaconda vise for the submission. Good, solid tag action.

Tetsuya Naito & Manabu Nakanishi & Kushida vs. Bad Luck Fale & Tama Tonga & Kenny Omega.

The story here is that Naito sauntered down to the ring with a new attitude, arriving long after his partners had arrived and wore black shirt and cap, as well as a beard. He paired off with Tama Tonga, Nakanishi with Fale (who did big guy spots against one another) and Omega faced off with Kushida. Tonga was going for his finish when Naito mounted a comeback and got a quick win out of nowhere with a flash bridge. He entered the ring, got his hand raised then bolted as Kushida had a confrontation with Omega, with Omega stealing his BOTSJ trophy. Match was fine but the real story was Naito’s new attitude.

Kazuchika Okada & Rocky Romero & Barreta vs. Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows & Yujiro Takahashi.

A lot of the match was Baretta being worked on by Anderson and gallows. Romero made a great comeback, teasing getting laid out with the outsider’s edge by Anderson but managed to counter into a hurricanrana onto the turnbuckle. Okada made a tag to a big pop as Yujiro tagged in and they went at it. Anderson and Gallows interfered and went for the Magic Killer on Okada but Roppongi Vice came back and took them out. With them gone, Okada did his trademark spots, pinning Yujiro with the rainmaker. Good match with some good heat.  

Hiroshi Tanahashi & Hirooki Goto & Togi Makabe & Katsuyori Shibata & Tomoaki Honma vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba & Yoshi-Hashi

Everyone paired off like usual, except Yano, who wanted no part of Tanahashi and instead tagged in Yoshi-Hashi. Apparently over the top rope eliminations are in play as they teased Tanahashi going over early to a big reaction. Ishii and Makabe went at it and it was pretty great, including Makabe hitting a big deadlift suplex on him. Makabe and Ishii were the first ones eliminated after they both got on the apron and gave each other a lariat. Tanahashi and Toru Yano were in, and after Tanahashi skinned the cat, Yano got thrown over the top rope. He tried to skin the cat as well, but Tanahashi dropkicked out to the floor, eliminating him. Yano distracts him, however, by threatening to cut owner Kidani’s hair, allowing Sakuraba to foll him up for a flash pinfall. This brings in Shibata, and they go at it as Sakuraba is shoved to the paron. He locks in a sleeper, however, and manages to eliminate him and Shibata from the match as they both fall down. Goto and Nakamura come back in and they have a good back and forth until Goto gets caugh on the ropes and in shoved down for the top rope elimination. Honma is in and he and Yoshi-Hashi have a great back and forth contest until Honma hits the top rope kokeshi, eliminating Yoshi-Hashi. It’s down to Honma and Nakamura. The latter misses the boma ye and walks into a sitout piledriver by Honma for a near fall. He tries for the top rope kokeshi again, but it misses this time. Nakamura wipes him out with a boma ye to the back of the head then hits another for the win. Terrific match with great heat.

Overall, a pretty fun show with a great main event that’s worth watching if you have time this week. Lots of great build towards Dominion, taking place on the morning of July 5.