NJPW Battle in the Valley live results: Kidd vs. Ishii, Takeshita vs. KUSHIDA
NJPW returns to San Jose for Battle in the Valley tonight, a show with five title bouts, plus a retirement match.
NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd is coming off a classic performance in the Tokyo Dome against Kenny Omega, but must defend his title tonight against Tomohiro Ishii.
Konosuke Takeshita defends the NEVER Openweight Championship against KUSHIDA in a rare heavyweight versus junior heavyweight battle. New IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado puts his title on the line against Taiji Ishimori. World Class/West Coast Wrecking Crew Jorel Nelson and Royce Isaacs defend their NJPW Strong Tag Team titles against Rocky Romero and YOH.
Sumie Sakai’s retirement match is also set for the show, as Sakai teams with EVIL and SHO against Hiromu Takahashi, Mayu Iwatani, and Yuka Sakazaki in a mixed trios bout.
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. faces CMLL’s Hechicero in a non-title match.
An eight-woman elimination tag kicks off the main card at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
On the kickoff show, Shane Haste and Bad Dude Tito face Fred Rosser and Matt Vandagriff, plus Zane Jay faces Viento in a Strong Survivor match.
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Pre-show
Zane Jay defeated Viento
Jay’s rounded approach struggled against Viento’s speed and prowess in the earlier moments, but gained control with kicks to the corner. Viento struck a comeback through a Facebuster and continued with his signature velocity. The pair vied for momentum, trading barbs, but a Flying Elbow Drop and a Boston Crab combo gave Jay the victory.
Zane Jay and Matt Vandagriff have consistently told a compelling story through their rivalry on the U.S. pre-shows, but Viento’s skill is not to be denied. A fun bout to start the night. Speaking of Vandagriff…
TMDK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito) defeated Fred Rosser & Matt Vandagriff
TMDK ran roughshod over Rosser & Vandagriff, with the former stuck to suffer the abuse in the ring. Vandagriff tried to steal any sneaky offense he could for his partner, but was unsuccessful. Haste would even go so far as to attack Vandagriff on the apron during his ongoing assault to Rosser in the opposite turnbuckle.
Haste flew too close to the Sun, running the ropes to capitalized on his softened foe, to which Rosser countered with a surprise lariat. Vandagriff earned the hot tag, wiping out Haste and even Tito. Vandagriff downed Haste with a Pele Kick, to which Rosser followed by dropping the Aussie on his back to the apron. A miscommunication between Rosser & Vandagriff proved folly after the former accidentally hit the latter, however, as Haste planted him with a Tornado DDT.
Tito’s luck would’ve fared just as ill, had it not been for Vandagriff exiting the ring due to the earlier misunderstanding. TMDK took advantage of Rosser’s last stand by a combined offense. Escape as he might, Rosser was pinned courtesy of Tito’s Toss-Down Tornado. A bitter Vandagriff only watched.
TMDK’s tag team versatility no matter the combination is a marvel. Vandagriff is growing on me for sure. But seeing Rosser in tag team action without Filthy Tom Lawlor just doesn’t fit for me. That’s not to take away from Rosser’s in-ring ability, but their chemistry is immensely enjoyable.
Main Card
Gabe Kidd (c) versus Tomohiro Ishii for the Strong Openweight Championship ended in a time-limit draw (Kidd retains)
A test of might introduced this match, which Kidd passed with a Lariat. Kidd’s overall offense collapsed Ishii soundly, gloating each time to a booing San Jose audience. Ishii eventually powered out with a crushing elbow thudding on Kidd’s jaw. A prolonged chop spot was temporarily broken up when Kidd challenged Ishii outside of the ring, to which the Stone Pitbull demanded the war be settled on the mat. The crowd demanded both competitors with chants of “Chop Forever” to which they violently obliged.
A frenzy of suplexes soon brought both men tumbling to the mat in exhaustion. On the top turnbuckle, Kidd bit and choked Ishii back to the cerulean blue, but the stocky challenger fought his way back with a headbutt and a Vertical Drop from that same turnbuckle. A pair of knee strikes concluded a lariat spot, but only earned a 1-count for Kidd. Ishii received the same treatment after his own lariat. Kidd nearly won via a count-out over a prone Ishii, but he requested the count be stopped. The two nastily engaged in a war of headbutts, each one echoing loudly after the other.
Ishii threw much of his might behind a lariat, resulting in a close nearfall, and suffered a Powerdriver as a result. Bouncing off the ropes, Kidd splashed Ishii with a resounding lariat, to his own nearfall. Ishii’s might drained Kidd, and was ready to capitalize on his momentum and experience with a Vertical Drop, only for the time to run out, leaving no victor. Kidd remains the Strong Openweight Champion.
Unreal match. NJPW throwing this much time at Kidd cements the trust they have in him, and he delivered in spades. The post-Wrestle Kingdom momentum is burning bright, with Kidd’s impassioned character’s love for NJPW translates well, as he is transforming before our eyes. Pink with the pain on his flesh, Kidd’s tenacity keeps him a topic that fans will be having for some time.
West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs) (c) defeated Roppongi ReVice (Rocky Romero & YOH) for the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship
Nelson immediately went to work on YOH, controlling his limbs and sending flurries his way. Romero and YOH then combined their efforts, twisting the arm of Nelson repeatedly. WCWC gained the upper-hand on their opponents toward the outside, stomping on Romero back on the mat. Isaacs had much control over Romero with his strength, but Romero’s use of lucha style saved him enough until YOH launched himself as a Double Cannonball to the WCWC. YOH followed with a shoulder to Nelson’s gut before dropping an elbow on him.
WCWC broke this momentum with holds, but Romero broke out of it by launching Isaacs to Nelson. Romero grasped for a victory with a pin, but Isaacs thwarted it by throwing himself at him. Hoping for an assisted Cutter on Romero, the sly veteran wriggled out of the way, leading Nelson to plant Isaacs on accident. Taking advantage of a distracted referee, Isaacs clanked his title across Romero’s face leading to a Popout Powerbomb, transitioned into Isaacs’s Fireman Carry onto Nelson’s knee. With this crushing maneuver, WCWC won via pinfall.
The perfect match to follow Kidd vs Ishii. WCWC has quietly been putting in some hard-hitting matches on the stateside shows, especially against Dirty Work. This thriller against ReVice had the drama to justify its existence on the card without trying to overshadow anything.
Viva Van & Empress Nexus Venus (Hanako, Maika, & Mina Shirakawa) defeated Anna Jay, Trish Adora, AZM, & Johnnie Robbie
Adora and Hanako began the proceedings of this 8-woman tag match, but Van and ENV launched a united assault on her. Jay’s entry to the match fared equally as poorly, with Van’s sprinting and psychology rent her overwhelmed. Robbie, however, quickly gained control over Hanako. This lasted only briefly, with Hanako using her strength to eliminate her with a Brainbuster.
AZM avenged her partner with a La Mistica and an Azumi Sushi to trounce Hanako. Jay followed this by tapping Van. Alone, Shirakawa dropped Adora, Jay, and AZM with her flashy offset. Maika joined Shirakawa to dropkick Adora out of the ring, thus eliminating her. After an all out war, Shirakawa and AZM eliminated each other as they grappled over the apron to the outside. Back inside, Jay escaped doom after a top rope suplex by Maika, but wound up on the apron. Throwing clotheslines as Jay clung dearly to the ropes, Maika’s final strike sent the AEW star plummeting to the abyss, winning the match for her team.
Order of elimination: Johnnie Robbie, Hanako, Viva Van, Trish Adora, Shirakawa & AZM, Anna Jay
Massively entertaining, this unique stipulation added the right amount of intensity while highlighting the talents of each woman. Pulse-pounding action with the crowd fully behind it. Matches like these showcase the brilliance that is women’s pro wrestling.
El Phantasmo (c) versus Jeff Cobb for the NJPW World Television Championship ended in a Double Countout
Tackling each other, Cobb withstood Phantasmo’s attempts like a brick wall, while the champion absorbed the force that was his challenger like a sponge. Phantasmo resorted to using his acrobatic style to evade and blindside Cobb, but the size and power of the United Empire member quelled this swing. The cartoonish antics of Phantasmo got the better of Cobb, rendering him only able to rely on his muscle to power out of.
Phantasmo did the unthinkable—lifting Cobb over his shoulder for a Spinning DDT, but flew across the ring courtesy of the challenger’s dropkick. The champion landed a Suicida to Cobb on the outside to send him across the guardrails and followed it by soaring from the ring to Cobb, sending him into some chairs and ring crew. As Phantasmo fled back to the ring, his entry was barred by Cobb throwing a crew member into the champion to end the match in a Double Countout.
— Post-match: Phantasmo and Cobb demanded for another match at Windy City Riot on April 11.
Well, this was a jarring conclusion. A bit anticlimactic, really. The story was paced so well that the desire to see an outright winner drove the match. That said, incredible bout. Phantasmo and Cobb were on another level, nearly matching the efforts of Kidd and Ishii earlier. What’s more is that despite my criticism is that I’m invested in a Round Two between ELP and Cobb.
Hiromu Takahashi, Mayu Iwatani, & Yuka Sakazaki defeated House of Torture (EVIL & SHO) & Sumie Sakai — Sumie Sakai Retirement Match
Sakai plead with her team as EVIL & SHO ganged up on a pummeled Takahashi, who pulled through with a Double Crossbody. Iwatai and Sakazaki combined their efforts to flatten the House of Torture members, with Sakai sadly looking on as Takahashi stood across from her. The LIJ member rallied the crowd to cheer for a tearful Sakai, before falling to a low-blow.
Seeking acrobatic grappling, Takahashi was surprised by technical trickery by Sakai. Refusing to cheat, Sakai instead stomped her opponent into oblivion while SHO dropped him on his back. As a follow-up, SHO slammed Sakai onto Takahashi. An interfering Sakazaki & Iwatani’s attempts to save their partner were thwarted by EVIL. Takahashi snared EVIL into a hold that extended to Sakazaki, Iwatani, Sakai, and the crowd itself. This was of course interrupted due to a chair shot by SHO.
Sakai crushed Sakazaki with a Sumie Twist, but slumped to the mat thanks to a dropkick by Iwatani. Sakai and SHO’s offense were countered by kicks from Iwatani & Sakazaki. Takahashi handled EVIL and nearly lost due to a Smashmouth by Sakai before SHO & EVIL betrayed her. Weakened, Sakai rose to her feat at the mercy of the opposing team. Fading, she made her last stand, striking every member of the other team. They urged her to keep throwing all she had until she had no more.
A Return to Sender from Takahashi almost sealed the deal, even with his teammates assisting him in covering Sakai, but she kicked out to a loud ovation from the crowd. A Time Bomb by Takahashi and another combined pin concluded the match, and thus Sumie Sakai’s storied career.
— Post-match: The locker room emptied to the arena as Sakazaki, Iwatani, and Takahashi said their goodbyes. With flowers in hand and Takahashi’s jacket in arm, Sakai bowed and bade farewell with a heartfelt speech.
Consider me moved greatly. Even if you’re unfamiliar with Sumie Sakai’s career and accomplishments, this match’s story will affect you if you let it. Overcoming her opponents as well as her own team, Sakai ended her run as a wrestler on a high note despite the loss. I legitimately watched in tears as she made her last stand and her opponents stood as friends urging her on. One last hurrah, and Sakai united wrestling for her twilight.
Konosuke Takeshita (c) defeated Kushida for the NEVER Openweight Championship
Takeshita’s staggering size and offense were more than a match for Kushida in the early goings, with a Takeshita Line flattening his humble challenger. Overwhelmed but not overdone, Kushida battled back by wrenching and controlling Takeshita’s arm.
The scars of war were becoming evident on Takeshita, with kicks and strikes flying from Kushida. This upward momentum spiraled down in a Blue Thunderbomb followed. Aiming for a finish, Takeshita dropped Kushida with a Bastard Driver to no avail. The challenger mounted his comeback on the outside floor, drawing a near count-out after throttling the champion’s lower limbs in a leglock. Putting so much of his heart into his efforts, Kushida inevitably fell to one last Blue Thunderbomb and a pinfall.
— Post-match: Takeshita issued a challenge to Hiroshi Takeshita at Windy City Riot on April 11.
It would have been difficult for anyone to follow up on the Sumie Sakai retirement match, but on its own, Takeshita vs Kushida was an enthralling bout. The towering and beefy Takeshita, with all of his smarts and prowess, found a problem in Kushida and his exhilarating offense. Takeshita’s 2025 is already off to a great start with his multiple contracts and it’s clear NJPW loves him.
Zack Sabre Jr defeated Hechicero
Upon the initial lockup, Hechicero came out in charge with a firm grasp on Sabre’s ankle. However, Sabre contorted his way around his opponent, wrenching his opponent’s left side with a Cross-Armbreaker. Hechicero’s legs held Sabre in woeful positions, but the champion was keen to return the favor. Blood rushed to the pinkened head of Sabre as Hechicero tied him up in an upside down position, leading the flushed champion to need a breather.
Engaged in a double leglock, both men slapped each other across the face, snarling in each other’s faces. Sabre inflicted further damage on Hechicero’s arms by trapping the challenger’s arms with his legs on the ropes. An Inoki Stretch succeeded this. With further holds applied on him, Sabre wriggled out and delivered a thudding Penalty Kick to his opponent. A knee was Hechicero’s due rebuttal. In a tense moment, Sabre desperately tried to collect Hechicero’s limbs to crank, but the luchador reached the bottom rope in time to break the hold. Attempting an Inverted hold, Sabre escaped, leading to trading Cobra Twists and a dropkick spot. The pair maintained reversal pins until Sabre finally managed to bridge one at the last second for the pinfall.
Technical wrestling will always be my jam, but this match almost felt a bit long. Regardless, two of the best with submission holds pinkened each other and challenged the other to a suspenseful climax.
Main Event
El Desperado (c) defeated Taiji Ishimori for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Desperado dominated early, evading a Cravat attempt by Ishimori, but was no match for his knees. Colliding the champion into the guardrails, Ishimori challenged the crowd with cruel taunts, and returned to it again after slinging Desperado into the turnbuckle. Throughout the match, Ishimori targeted Desperado’s arm with no remorse. The champion fought ack with a resounding Brainbuster, but found himself horizontal after a slam. Boasting his momentum, Ishimori missed a collision at the turnbuckle and ate a Dragon Screw Leg Whip for his troubles.
Torturing the champion on the rope, Ishimori punctuated his offense with a Sliding German Suplex. Missing a 450 Splash, Ishimori became ensnared with a hold. The Bullet Club’s residential Bone Soldier nearly won with a bridged pin, but Desperado kicked out. Trading signature moves, the match reached a high conclusion following a weak slap by Ishimori, to which Desperado rewarded with a Jay Driller and a Pinche Loco for the victory.
A less agile display, but a captivating one nevertheless. Ishimori threw every tactic, but Desperado’s heart won, adding to Desperado’s singles record. While not reaching the heights of the Strong Openweight Championship match or the Sumie Sakai Retirement Match, this fight still earned its main event spot.
Battle in the Valley this year held no surprises but delivered in quality as far as in-ring is concerned. The whole show is worth watching, and any match is deserving of your time. However, for those seeking the best of the best, then Gabe Kidd vs Tomohiro Ishii and the Sumie Sakai match will more than suffice. The IWGP Junior Heavyweight match is another fine addition to that.