NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome live results: Wrestle Kingdom go-home show

NJPW hits the last stop on the Road to Tokyo Dome today in its final event of 2024 at Korakuen Hall.

In the main event, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. teams with Ryohei Oiwa against Shota Umino and Tomohiro Ishii in a final tag preview of the Wrestle Kingdom 19 main event set for January 4 where Sabre will defend his title against Umino.

In the semi-main, IWGP Global Champion David Finlay teams with SANADA and Gedo against Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi, and BUSHI of Los Ingobernables de Japon in a carbon copy of a match from yesterday’s card. Finlay will defend his Global title against Tsuji at Wrestle Kingdom 19 in the Tokyo Dome.

A unique singles match kicks off the main card with United Empire’s Jeff Cobb against TMDK’s Hartley Jackson for the first time. A series of tag bouts fills out today’s undercard at Korakuen.

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Pre-show

Hiromu Takahashi defeated Katsuya Murashima

Takahashi commanded this match with unrelenting force; sinking in nicely for a half Boston Crab. Repeatedly going for pins, Takahashi’s attempts to end the match early resulted in Murashima’s recovery. Though Murashima fought back with a spirited comeback, Takahashi brought him back to reality with a Boston Crab that forced the Young Lion to submit. Murashima lost, and in less time than Shuma Kato the night before (12/22).

— Post-match: Takahashi had no time to celebrate, as Tetsuya Naito ambushed him after the match, providing a glimpse into their match at the Tokyo Dome on January 4.

Poetically starting and ending with Boston Crab holds, this sold the urgency Takahashi had as a serious competitor against Tetsuya Naito at Wrestle Kingdom while settling who is better among two separate Young Lions.

Main card

Jeff Cobb defeated Hartley Jackson

These two titans clashed, charging at each other like bulls. Their exchange broke out into the outside, where Cobb sent Jackson into the guardrail, to which the latter landed on his back courtesy Jackson’s lariat. The TMDK member maintained his dominance, even surviving Cobb’s Release Verticle Suplex.

Cobb fired back, fighting from underneath with some well-executed maneuvers. Quickly diminishing Jackson’s breadth of action, Cobb capitalized with a Tour of the Islands. One slam later, and Cobb gained the pinfall victory.

Jackson was so overwhelming for Cobb that it made for such an intriguing underdog situation for the normally intimidating Cobb. Forced to think through strategy than through raw power, Cobb proved to be more than just the muscle in this exhilarating hoss fight.

Intergalactic Jet Setters (Kevin Knight & KUSHIDA) versus Ichiban Sweet Boys (Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles) ended in a NO-CONTEST

Knight and Fujita began the competition feeling each other out until they reached a standoff. Eagles, though prepared, had his limbs worked by the combination of Kushida and Knight through various holds. Karma bit Knight, as TMDK worked in tandem with fast, high-precision strikes.

The match ended in a No-Contest when Drilla Moloney & Clark Connors entered the fray, disrupting the proceedings. Francesco Akira & TJP also emerged, offsetting the interrupting War Dogs. Connors & Moloney stood tall after savagely attacking all other six men (plus some nearby Young Lions). That is, until those six men joined forces to set up for a devastating dive from a ladder to the War Dogs onto tables. Luckily for them, they escaped and fled.

— Post-match: The Intergalactic Jet Setters, joined by their temporary comrades, declared the for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.

Deflating yet somehow at the same time exciting, this setup gives me what I love from NJPW and the rose-tinted vision I see the Attitude Era from. The action from TMDK and the Jet Setters complimented their distinct styles perfectly. With everyone’s unique flourishes, I’m looking forward to being seated on January 4 to see what these men have in store for one of NJPW’s biggest shows of the year.

El Desperado, Master Wato & Satoshi Kojima defeated Just 4 Guys (DOUKI, Taichi & TAKA Michinoku)

Desperado and DOUKI’s history drove much of this match, but Wato maintained a solid performance in the early goings. Kojima followed suit with his might until Taichi equalized the situation. Michinoku held Kojima on the ropes while Taichi grabbed a random person’s phone attached to a selfie stick to document his offense on the vulnerable Kojima.

A brawl among the teams unfurled, with many fast-moving parts. Kojima’s efforts to aid his team were stunted by Taichi holding him back, while Wato kept DOUKI sidelined. This resulted in Desperado dropping Michinoku with a Pinche Loco for a pinfall.

DOUKI and Desperado’s chemistry is evergreen, but I enjoyed the interactions between Kojima and Taichi. Especially the selfie stick spot. I did want to see more from Wato, however. Disappointed in that. However, I’m a sucker for the chaos sequences in tags and multi-men matches and this delivered.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, El Phantasmo, Oleg Boltin, Tomoaki Honma & Toru Yano defeated House Of Torture (EVIL, Ren Narita, SHO, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi)

House of Torture started this match in typical House of Torture fare, yet Tanahashi made a heroic comeback. However, EVIL dragged The Ace around Korakuen Hall, leaving SHO to pick at his remains in the ring. Kanemaru continued to work on Tanahashi’s knee alongside EVIL, while SHO exposed the turnbuckle for more damage.

Boltin took on the House of Torture next, clobbering SHO in particular with his force and girth. While not outright destroyed, Boltin sustained heavy damage by SHO and Kanemaru’s teamwork. Phantasmo endured House of Torture’s…well, torture, and after an assist from Tanahashi, won with a low blow to Takahashi, followed by a superkick and a final Thunderkiss ’86.

— Post-match: EVIL and Tanahashi brawled, with the former aided by Dick Togo. With The Ace incapacitated, EVIL cut a lock out of his hair.

Standard House of Torture affair, but with Tanahashi’s impending in-ring retirement and El Phantasmo’s return, their comebacks feel all the sweeter because of these circumstances. That said, I’m left unexcited for this setup to Tanahashi ringing in his final year with EVIL.

BULLET CLUB War Dogs (David Finlay, Gedo & SANADA) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji)

Finlay immediately thrust Tsuji across the arena while BUSHI attempted an epic dive onto Gedo but missed. With Takagi also dispatched thanks to SANADA, all three members of the involved War Dogs picked at Tsuji like vultures. The ever-formidable Takagi withstood the ranks of the opposing team, leaving a weakened Finlay for BUSHI to take advantage of.

Thanks to Gedo, BUSHI’s momentum stalled heavily. With heavy interference on the outside, Finlay’s underhanded tactics proved fruitful with every torment inflicted upon BUSHI. Seemingly finished toying with his food, Finlay ended the match with an Overkill for the pinfall.

Finlay’s changed my mind about him over the past few months, as I’m progressively more invested in him. SANADA’s involvement in the Bullet Club leaves me curious how he will fare. However, this somehow ranks on the matches I’m not as looking forward to come January. That said, I’m sure Tsuji will pull out something that will leave me pumped for the show’s IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship Match.

Main event

Shota Umino & Tomohiro Ishii defeated TMDK (Ryohei Oiwa & Zack Sabre Jr.)

Fresh off his ankle injury the night preceding, Umino bravely locked up with Sabre, going so far as to frustrate the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion into striking. Oiwa, now the fresh man, toppled Umino before unwisely provoking Ishii. As if his ankle wasn’t bad enough, Oiwa targeted the arm of Umino with no mercy. Ishii, the legal man, went on a rampage. His chops to Oiwa’s chest echoed loudly through Korakuen Hall.

Umino and Sabre returned to war against one another, with the former seemingly getting better of the latter. Just when it appeared that Umino had the upper hand, Sabre’s possum-playing paid dividends as his limb-work wore on his upcoming Wrestle Kingdom opponent. Ishii came in for the assist for Umino, softening up Oiwa until Sabre wore him down. Bedlam ensued, with Oiwa landing an impressive Doctor Bomb as Sabre wrenched Ishii’s leg on the outside. Umino landed a snap comeback on an unsuspecting Oiwa; he executed a Death Rider for the pinfall victory.

I love how Ishii had no skin in this game. He just joined for the love of the game. Regarding my previous thoughts with Umino feeling like a formality, I feel there’s just enough in him and a lot in Sabre to pull off a compelling story in the Tokyo Dome main event. Lastly, I’m so, so satisfied with Oiwa getting main event moments like tonight. Aside from Gabe Kidd and the Reiwa Three Musketeers, I believe he’s one of many young talents that can be built to bring NJPW to glory once more.