NJPW Tiger Hattori retirement event results: Hattori refs final matches
A video package celebrating Tiger Hattori’s career aired to start the show. They showed his start in the business and highlighted big matches he refereed, including Ric Flair vs. Antonio Inoki in North Korea and Stan Hansen vs. Vader in the infamous match where Vader’s eye bulged out of its socket. They also showed highlights from his retirement tour in the United States last fall.
Here are quick results from today’s card, which took place at Korakuen Hall:
Toa Henare, Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe defeated Yuya Uemura, Yota Tsuji & Gabriel Kidd
– Henare pinned Kidd with a uranage.
Will Ospreay, SHO & YOH defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Rocky Romero & Tiger Mask
– Ospreay scored the win following a Stormbreaker on Tiger Mask.
Juice Robinson, David Finlay and YOSHI-HASHI defeated Hiromu Takahashi, EVIL and BUSHI
– Robinson pinned BUSHI following the Pulp Friction.
Satoshi Kojima, Manabu Nakanishi, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Yuji Nagata defeated Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru
– Kojima pinned Kanemaru with a lariat.
Tiger Hattori retirement match 1: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Toru Yano and Colt Cabana defeated Jay White, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa and Bad Luck Fale
– Yano scored the backslide pin win after an assist from referee Tiger Hattori. Hattori low blowed Jado and Gedo after the match. Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa cornered Hattori, but Ibushi and Tanahashi made the save.
Tiger Hattori retirement match 2: Tetsuya Naito, SANADA and Shino Takagi defeated Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii and Hirooki Goto
– SANADA pinned Goto with the O’Connor roll.
It was then time for Tiger Hattori’s retirement ceremony. The CHAOS stable came out and gave him flowers. Hattori covered Okada for a three count. Jushin Thunder Liger, Katsyuori Shibata and other unaffiliated members of the NJPW roster (which included Rocky Romero for some reason) followed, with Hiroshi Tanahashi giving Hattori flowers.
The NJPW referees were next and gave Hattori a signed referee’s shirt. Harold Meij and Naoki Sugabayashi followed, also giving him flowers.
Surprise guests were next. The Great Kabuki, in a suit and tie no less, then appeared and gave a speech. Hiroshi Hase also appeared and asked people to remember Hattori. Keiji Mutoh and Riki Choshu followed.
Next were video messages from Genichiro Tenryu and Antonio Inoki.
Tiger Hattori then started to give a speech. He thanked everyone for coming despite recent news events. He has spent his whole life enjoying this unique sport. So much teamwork, happiness, sadness, backstabbing in this business but it was a hell of a journey. He thanked everyone who supports NJPW. He thanked the people backstage. He will treasure this moment and all of the other moments he has had in this business.
After the bell rang ten times, Okada motioned for the roster to throw him in the air in celebration, and they did! Okada got covered for another three count. Hattori took one final bow before leaving, ending the show on a celebratory note.