NJPW Road to the New Beginning results: Bullet Club vs. United Empire

The Bullet Club War Dogs team of Clark Connors and Drilla Maloney have won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. 

NJPW’s show at Korakuen Hall on Sunday featured several matches in the ongoing rivalry between The United Empire and Bullet Club. The two factions will wrestle inside a steel cage at the New Beginning in Osaka on February 11.   

Connors and Maloney defeated Catch 2/2’s TJP and Francesco Akira for the belts in today’s main event. The finish of the match saw Connors pin Akira after a Full Clip to win the belts. 

TJP has been under the influence of his new Aswang character (an evil being from Filipino folklore) since being locked in a coffin by Bullet Club in the lead-up to Wrestle Kingdom. This new vicious side of TJP came out in Sunday’s match when he wanted Akira to help him use a table against their opponents. When Akira hesitated, it gave their opponents an advantage. Later during the match, Akira again hesitated when Maloney attempted to use a fork on his opponents. Chris Charlton noted on commentary that Akira might not have what it takes for vicious matches such as the steel cage match scheduled for Osaka next weekend.  

Bullet Club attacked after the match and left the members of United Empire lying in the ring as David Finlay cut a promo. Once Finlay was finished, Bullet Club powerbombed Akira onto a bunch of chairs. 

Jeff Cobb was originally supposed to wrestle Alex Coughlin on today’s show. However, NJPW announced Cobb sustained a thigh injury and was replaced by Great-O-Khan in the match. They also ran an angle where Cobb was attacked in the back by Bullet Club after an autograph signing. 

“Jeff Cobb, who was scheduled to compete on tonight’s card in Korakuen hall, has sustained an injury to his left thigh, and will be unable to compete tonight,” the promotion wrote. “We apologize to fans who were looking forward to seeing Cobb wrestle and appreciate your understanding.” 

NJPW Road to the New Beginning February 4, 2024 results:

  • EVIL, SHO, Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi, & Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Togi Makabe, El Desperado, Shota Umino, Boltin Oleg, & YOSHI-HASHI
  • Chase Owens, Taiji Ishimori, & KENTA defeated Tomoaki Honma, El Phantasmo, & Hikuleo
  • Zack Sabre Jr, Mikey Nicholls, Shane Haste & Kosei Fujita defeated BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito
  • Great-O-Khan defeated Alex Coughlin
  • HENARE vs. Gabe Kidd was a draw after both wrestlers were knocked out
  • David Finlay defeated Callum Newman
  • Drilla Maloney & Clark Connors defeated Francesco Akira & TJP to win the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championships