NJPW Destruction in Kobe notes: ZSJ vs. Will Ospreay official for Royal Quest III

  • Ian Carey
  • By 

NJPW presented Destruction in Kobe from Kobe World Hall on Sunday.

The show was headlined by Will Ospreay defeating Yota Tsuji to retain the IWGP United States/United Kingdom Championship. Following the main event, Zack Sabre Jr. confronted Ospreay, and the two agreed to a title match at Royal Quest III on October 14.

ZSJ had let it be known at last month’s RevPro 11th Anniversary Show in London that he was looking to challenge for the belt at Royal Quest, whether that be against Ospreay or Tsuji. With Ospreay having defeated Tsuji on Sunday, ZSJ vs. Ospreay is now official for next month’s show. 

In Sunday’s semi-main event, Tetsuya Naito defeated Jeff Cobb. The win means Naito retains his title shot at WrestleKingdom. He also avenges the loss he suffered to Cobb on the second night of the G1 this summer. 

House of Torture’s SHO left Kobe World Hall as the new KOPW Champion after defeating Taichi. In the closing moments of the match, Taichi had to fend off interference from several HOT members when his Just 5 Guys stablemate, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, appeared to come out for the save. However, Kanemaru spit whiskey in Taichi’s face and revealed a HOT t-shirt, signifying he has joined the faction. SHO then hit Taichi with the Shock Arrow and picked up the win. 

NJPW Destruction in Kobe 2023 results:

  • Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney defeated Tiger Mask & Kevin Knight
  • SANADA, DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku defeated EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo
  • Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Hikuleo, El Phantasmo & Jado defeated David Finlay, Chase Owens, Alex Coughlin, Gabe Kidd & Gedo
  • Lio Rush & YOH defeated Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI
  • Zack Sabre Jr. & Bad Dude Tito defeated Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii
  • KOPW Championship: SHO defeated Taichi (c)
  • IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI (c) defeated Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste
  • Shingo Takagi defeated Great-O-Khan
  • Tetsuya Naito defeated Jeff Cobb
  • IWGP United States Championship: Will Ospreay (c) defeated Yota Tsuji

A detailed recap of the show is available here.