Post by Josh Spicer on Jun 20, 2020 8:29:13 GMT -5
Aired on New Japan World on 3AM Eastern, 11PM Pacific
New Japan Road
SUN. JUNE 21. 2020
Live from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
The show starts off with a VTR detailing the New Japan Cup brackets for both Heavyweight and Junior Heavyweight and detailing all of the rewards contained within, all leading up to Dominion.
Once that's ended, we go ringside where Kimihiko Ozai gets the night going.
He details the card from top to bottom to remind all the fans in the arena and watching on New Japan World.
Once he is done, the bell rings and we get our first match. He introduces Chaos' Japan first followed by Bullet Club, who come accompanied by Taiji Ishimori.
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vs.
Special 6-Man Tag Team Match
Chaos' Japan (Will Ospreay and Roppongi 3K with Rocky Romero) vs. Bullet Club (Jay White and Guerrillas of Destiny with Taiji Ishimori)
With Rocky managing his team, Kevin and Chris do a good job selling Will's injured leg, having been injured by Taiji Ishimori last night. Taiji and Will have a staredown but otherwise don't get involved in the action barring the usual at-the-bell attack by Bullet Club.
Another key element of this match is Roppongi 3K trying to keep Will on the apron in order to keep him safe. Will and Rocky even get into it a bit regarding the situation, especially when Bullet Club start cheating and Taiji starts to get involved.
In a match that is really designed to showcase Roppongi 3K as much as it is to give Jay White a win back, it does a lot more of the former than the latter. Yoh and Sho end up looking fantastic against GoD, who give the two of them a good fight. The match even goes more than ten minutes until Taiji interrupts a pin for a last time. Will storms the ring and takes him out with a senton over the top.
This actually leads to the finish. While Will is trying to focus on Taiji, Jay White low blows Sho, hitting a Blade Runner to him. Will isn't paying attention while GoD take out Yoh and Rocky, allowing Jay to secure the pinfall.
Winners: Bullet Club (Jay White and Guerillas of Destiny) at 11:13
After the match, Will rushes back into the ring but Bullet Club quickly make haste. They throw up the "Too Sweet" before heading to the back. Taiji fake limps, mocking and pointing towards Will before "shooting" him. Yoh, Sho, and Rocky have a few words with Will, the former three obviously unhappy. Will expresses his apologies and the four men head to the back.
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We get a brief recap of the Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Brackets with Kevin and Chris reminding viewers that the winners of this match will take on Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask on June 27.
Kimihiko introduces Angelico and Jack Evans first whom get a respectable applause. The Major Stars are introduced last and get a bigger pop, mostly because they look like a chippendale doctor and nurse (Matthew is obviously the nurse).
vs. 
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Semi-Finals
The Major Stars (John Hussy and Matthew Breeze) vs. Angelico and Jack Evans
Kevin and Chris talk about the New Japan debuts of all four men and give out a list of accolades of both. Kevin focuses on the athletic prowess of the latter team while making note that the Major Stars weren't able to showcase all they can do in the place of former employ.
The match starts with some high flying by Angelico and Evans and some screwball comedy selling by Hussy and Breeze. After Angelico misses a moonsault to Hussy, the Major Stars focus on the ground game. To be honest, Breeze and Hussy really focus a lot on Angelico, including busting out some nice tag team moves. Breeze has him in a leg lock while Hussy hits a flying leg drop to the back of Angelico's neck. They follow that up with Hussy locking in another leg lock, allowing Breeze to hit a flying elbow drop to Angelico's back.
When the hot tag is finally made to Evans, The Major Stars go back once again to their comedy selling, albeit much more subdued. Hussy is taken out quickly, sending him to the floor by Evans. Evans and Breeze duke it out with a few flips before Evans stop, allowing Breeze to do the flips on his own. When he realizes what's happened, Breeze points and charges into a flying dropkick by Angelico.
The finish comes when Evans and Breeze fight up top. Unbeknownst to the former, Hussy throws Angelico off the apron into the barricade back first. He then grabs a chair. When Evans throws Breeze to the mat, the latter trips up the ref a bit. This distracts him long enough for Hussy to nail Evans with a chair to the back. Evans fall to the mat. This is followed by Breeze and Hussy hit a Disaster Blaster (Breeze holds the opponent in the air by the waist allowing Hussy to hit a flying leg drop) to Evans. The ref wakes up and counts the pin.
Winners: The Major Stars (John Hussy and Matthew Breeze) at 9:21
After the match, Hussy and Breeze celebrate like they won the whole damn tournament. Angelico pops in and tries to do something, but his mere presence causes the Major Stars to hit the road and just run directly to the back. Kevin and Chris are admittedly confused as to why the Major Stars decided to take the route they did to victory.
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Once Angelico and Evans have made it to the back, Kevin, Chris, and a now returning Rocky remind viewers once more that the winner of the following IWGP Heavyweight Team Team Tournament match will face The Legion of Doom on July 28 in the finals.
Kimihiko then introduces The World's Best Tag Team, who get a serviceable pop, followed by LIJ who get a much bigger set of cheers.
vs. 
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Semi-Finals
Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL and Sanada) vs. The World's Best Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas)
The three at ringside really get into The World's Best Tag Team and how they haven't teamed in a while but admit that their fluidity as a tag team is impressive. Of course, all three agree that LIJ are a much more experienced team at the moment, though Kevin is quick to mention both teams' tag title reigns, including LIJ's current reign as 6-Man Tag Team Champs.
The match itself is actually pretty good. EVIL and Charlie/Shelton spend a good portion trading clothesines and suplexes. Sanada gets a few good licks in with Shelton, trading some high flying moves to one another. Things break down when Shelton and Charlie focus on the arm of Sanada. Their proficiency of working with each other for so long makes itself known as they focus on Sanada while making sure the ref is out of position.
The end comes when EVIL gets the tag and starts obliterating both his opponents with lariats and suplexes. Shelton and Charlie do cut him off a couple times but it's not enough for EVIL. Shelton is up top, going for a bulldog to EVIL. Sanada joins him and hangs him up on the top rope, sending Shelton to the floor. Charlie goes for a German Suplex to EVIL, who ducks out into an Everything is Evil. One final Magic Killer to Charlie seals the deal.
Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL and Sanada) at 12:37
After the match, the World's Best Tag Team and LIJ end up face-to-face. The two shake hands respectfully before Haas and Benjamin start making their way to the back. It is than that two suited members of the Organization come out (still in masks and gloves to hide their identity) and start to beat on EVIL and Sanada with punches and kicks. Shelton and Charlie stop each other before nodding and rushing to the ring. After a quick fight, it ends when Shelton and Charlie clothesline the two members over the top to the outside. The remaining guys in the ring shake hands once again before Haas and Benjamin give EVIL and Sanada some props by raising their arms.
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Once the teams have left the arena, Kevin goes over the Junior Heavyweight Block of the New Japan Cup. In one of the semi-finals, Ricky Steamboat will take on Will Ospreay on June 28.
Kimihiko announces the next match in that block, first calling out PAC and then Kushida. The former is jeered fairly loudly by the crowd while the latter gets a huge pop at his return to singles action in NJPW.
vs. 
New Japan Cup Junior Heavyweight Block Match 4
PAC vs. Chaos' Japan's Kushida
The match starts out fast and furious with PAC wasting no time in beating into Kushida. It doesn't last long with Kushida really taking a brunt of some blows to his head. The trio at commentary hype up Kushida's return to singles action in New Japan (with Rocky showing his bias) whilst also hyping PAC's first match in 8 years with the company. Their ends quickly as PAC ends up punting Kushida directly in the head.
Kushida fights back well enough, mostly focusing on PAC's arm, locking him in holds and keeping him down to the mat with quick pins. PAC retaliates by focusing on Kushida's head with stomps, kicks, punches, and other hard hitting near head splitting suplexes.
PAC eventually calls for it, hitting a sharp Tombstone that ends with a two. Kushida rolls out of a Black Arrow, which is perfect fodder into the Hoverboard Lock. PAC fights out, eventually pele kicking Kushida. He looks to end it, but when PAC gets the pin, Kushida kicks out just before three. PAC is pissed at this result, and takes a bit of time focusing on the ref.
The end comes when PAC goes up top for a Black Arrow. Kushida joins him and the two fight for a bit. PAC eventually gets him on his shoulders for a Tombstone, but Kushida reverses it, going for a top rope Hoverboard Lock. PAC grab the top rope with his free hand, sending Kushida to the mat, albeit flipping just enough to land on his feet. Kushida rushes back up and hits a top rope Back to the Future. He rolls out of it and hits another consecutive Back to the Future to put PAC away.
Winner: Kushida at 18:19
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Kevin takes this time to go over the Heavyweight Block of the New Japan Cup. In one of the semi-finals, Curt Hennig will take on Pete Dunne on June 27.
Kimihiko then introduces the next match, starting with Kenta--who is promptly booed out of the building being accompanied by Guerrillas of Destiny--and then Kota Ibushi--who is cheered to kingdom come.
vs. 
New Japan Cup Heavyweight Block Match 4
Bullet Club's KENTA with Guerrillas of Destiny vs. Chaos' Japan's Kota Ibushi
The match gets underway with GoD distracting Kota long enough for KENTA to attack. This obviously earns no favor from the commentators (Rocky especially) who focus intently on their disdain of Bullet Club's tactics. Fortunately, GoD doesn't last long as Roppongi 3K come out to get them running to the back, pissing KENTA off something fierce.
The two men take it to the outside after that, brawling for a while around barricades, announce tables, and the crowd itself. Kota breaks the count while they're on the apron, which is enough distraction for KENTA to DDT him there while one of his legs is caught in the ropes.
From there Kota does a masterful job of selling the fact that he might have a concussion to the point that Rocky starts really getting into it, honestly thinking he might have one. KENTA spends the bulk of the match hitting kick and strike and suplex after another to put Kota down, but Kota keeps kicking out. Eventually, Kota starts "hulking" up, for lack of a better term. For every strike KENTA hits, Kota responds with a kick or palm strike. Eventually, KENTA pokes Kota's eyes, going to the ropes. He meets a hurricanrana by Kota. Kota goes for a Golden Star Powerbomb, but KENTA reverses it into a GTS which sends Kota out of the ring.
KENTA spends some time from there beating Kota around the ring a bit before sending him back in. Kota meets KENTA mid-way with a DDT from the middle rope into the ring that only nets a foot on the bottom rope. Kota calls for a Kamigoye, but KENTA moves. He then sends Kota into the ref, taking the official to the outside temporarily.
The end comes when a member of the Organization comes out with a pipe, but instead of nailing Kota with it, simply forearms him in the face, taking him to the mat. KENTA, smirking, shakes hands with the Organization member. It doesn't last long as the member turns KENTA around and nails him in the head with the pipe. He then flees. When the ref comes to, Kota gets up and hits a Kamigoye to KENTA to seal the deal.
Winner: Chaos' Japan's Kota Ibushi at 19:57
After the match, Rocky temporarily leaves to check on Kota. Bullet Club comes out from the crowd to drag KENTA away. Meanwhile Chaos' Japan (barring Ishii and Ospreay) come out to stop from them doing anything. They try to help Kota to the back, but he refuses it. Kota eventually shoves Hiroshi away, walking to the back with his group soon behind.
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Kevin quickly makes note that the winner of the following match will face Kushida on June 28 in the semi-finals.
After that bit of news, he makes note that a "Special Singles Match" will take place at Dominion, and that a video package has been put together for one of the opponents.
Cedric Alexander has been announced for Dominion!
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We then go to Kimihiko who introduces Dragon Lee first and then BUSHI. Both men get a good set of cheers. Rocky has also returned to the commentary table.
vs. 
New Japan Cup Junior Heavyweight Block Match 3
Los Ingobernables de Japon's BUSHI vs. Dragon Lee
Both men share a lot of respect in the ring with neither doing anything too overtly illegal to the other. In fact, the commentary team build up both men a lot, speaking highly of their ability in the ring and their accomplishments everywhere they've been. Much is also said of Lee's history with current IWGP Junior Heavyweght Champion and BUSHI's stablemate Hiromu.
The tides turn in Lee's favor when BUSHI attempts a springboard crossbody which quickly turns into a pump kick mid-air, sending him to the mat. From then Lee focuses on holds to keep BUSHI from the air.
The end comes soon enough with Lee and BUSHI sharing a quick exchange of going for the masks. Lee eventually gets BUSHI to the top rope back first. Lee goes for the mask, but BUSHI sprays him with the mist. A back headbutt takes Lee to the mat and an MX takes BUSHI to the semi-finals.
Winner: Los Ingobernables de Japon's BUSHI at 10:19
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One last time, Kevin and company talk about the New Japan Cup's Heavyweight Block and how the winner of the following match will take on Kota Ibushi on June 27.
For the final time tonight, Kimihiko announces Ishii first followed by Tanahashi.
vs. 
New Japan Cup Heavyweight Block Match 3
Chaos' Japan's Tomohiro Ishii vs. Chaos' Japan's Hiroshi Tanahashi
Obviously, heavy focus is put on both men being part of the same group with Rocky making it clear he doesn't agree with his new leader's ideology of "competition breeds success" (a disagreement he's not alone with apparently) but is still willing to support Hiroshi despite this. When questioned by Chris whether or not he agreed with Hiroshi claiming leadership after their faction's merger, he declined to comment.
The match itself was fantastic considering how often these two have fought and how close both men are. Despite this, Ishii isn't afraid to take it to Hiroshi and to get down and dirty. Tanahashi responds in kind but Ishii is still known as the Stone Pitbull for a reason. Hiroshi tries numerous times to get ahead, but Ishii is right there to take him down, whether it be a suplex or a lariat. Hiroshi gets a measure up on Tomohiro following a couple dragon screws in the ropes.
The bulk of this match really comes down to Hiroshi working on Ishii's leg while Ishii just hammers Hiroshi into the mat. It goes longer than expected because of this.
The end does eventually come with Ishii going for a lariat that's reversed into a Sling Blade. A follow-up Sling Blade takes Ishii to the mat. High Fly Flow is KICKED OUT AT ONE! Ishii gets right back up and takes another Sling Blade. High Fly Flow to a standing Ishii. Hiroshi gets right to the top and hits another High Fly Flow which finally puts him away.
Winner: Chaos' Japan's Hiroshi Tanahashi at 22:46
After the match, Ishii and Hiroshi show respect for each other. Before Hiroshi can give the end of show speech, however, he is blindsided by two members of the Organization. Unfortunately for them, Ishii pops in and keeps Hiroshi safe. The two masked men do little, if any, damage before heading to the hills. Hiroshi grabs the mic and begins to speak.
Hiroshi Tanahashi (translated by Chris Charlton): [The Organization likes to blindside people? Well I say let's end it! How about two of you masked losers take on Ishii-san and I?]
This gets the crowd pumped.
Hiroshi Tanahashi: [What do you say to June 28? Is that good for you Ishii-san?]
Ishii doesn't react beyond staring a hole in the two masked men's heads.
Hiroshi Tanahashi: [That's a yes. So ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming out tonight. I know we've been gone for a while, but we're back now and ready to entertain all of you the only way we know how.]
He then does his standard guitar solo to end the show on a...high note.
