Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI and EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi will compete in the finals of NJPW’s World Tag League on December 15. NJPW issued the following:
League matches for World Tag League ended on December 12 in Hiroshima, with EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi now set to face Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI in Ryogoku on December 15.
With both the CHAOS side of Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI and the IWGP Tag team Champions Dangerous Tekkers in control of their own destinies heading into the World Tag League final, the match was always set to determine one or both finalists, and YOSHI-HASHI and Taichi tied up with an appropriate tense hush from the crowd. After the Headhunter wrestled Taichi clean, it was the Holy Emperor who landed the first strike of the bout, and though he and Zack Sabre Jr.’s advantage would be shortened by Hirooki Goto’s support work, the two were able to land some vicious Dragon Screws to take the Fierce Warrior out of the equation.
Goto would be tortured with stretches until a wild lariat led to a tag for YOSHI-HASHI. The Headhunter scored with a perfect thrust kick and shaped up for Kumagoroshi on Taichi before Sabre broke things up; as Goto got in with a backdrop suplex to ZSJ, all four men would be on the mat. As Taichi and YOSHI-HASHI found their feet, the Holy Emperor dared the Headhunter to throw his best shots, YOSHI-HASHI unloading, but getting rocked with a massive jumping high as the match hit the 15 minute mark.
As Goto hit the ring again, a bulldog scored on Taichi for two, but with a clearly troubling knee there was not enough of a base to hoist for Ushigoroshi, and his usual rope follow technique saw his knee give out from underneath him. Sabre would quickly take full and painful advantage, but YOSHI-HASHI was there for his partner, following up on Goto’s reverse GTR to land the Goto-Goto-Hunter and then the Violent Flash. As YOSHI-HASHI called the plays, he and Goto went for Shoto, but Taichi broke the move up, and both CHAOS members were again tortured in submissions.
When Goto refused to quit, more double team Dragon Screws were the result before the IWGP Tag Champions looked for Zack Mephisto. YOSHI-HASHI broke the hold up but was taken down with Ore to Zack; as a Holy Zack Driver seemed to end the match though, YOSHI-HASHI would stop Taichi once more, and the Goto Shiki rollup secured the win.
The last two matches of the evening would become de facto semi finals for the World Tag League, with their winners guaranteed a final spot. Tetsuya Naito and SANADA would take on HOUSE OF TORTURE’s EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi. Fans in Hiroshima would see former No Limit partners Naito and Yujiro start, and though a high speed opening was denied as EVIL yanked Naito’s boot, SANADA would do the same to Takahashi on the opposite side, bringing the Tokyo Pimp to a Hiroshima halt.
H.o.T would step up the dirty play, removing the turnbuckle pad and putting SANADA to the steel and then to the floor. Yet Cold Skull would bite his way out of Yujiro’s clutches to bring Naito back inside and El Ingobernable would take to his former teammate Yujiro until a basement dropkick and boot to the face would score. An Intercollegiate Slam scored for Yujiro, but as EVIL tried to send Naito to the exposed corner, a single legged dropkick rocketed off the King of Darkness’ chest, SANADA coming back inside to take out his own former back to back tag league winning partner.
With Naito’s assist, a SANADA TKO scored, and Dick Togo’s interference was quickly dealt with. As Naito held back Yujiro, SANADA squeezed EVIL with Skull End and went for the finishing Moonsault, but EVIL would connect with two knees to the chest. As the former partners were left in ring, SANADA caught EVIL with the O’Connor Roll, but Dick Togo would draw the referee for a Yujiro cane shot; SANADA was left to take EVIL and put HOUSE OF TORTURE into the finals.
The United Empire team of Aaron Henare and Great-O-Khan were in need of a win over the Guerrillas of Destiny to keep final hopes alive. A tense opening to the bout would see the Empire duo prevent G.o.D from getting into the ring so as to dictate the pace once inside, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa bowled over wigth big boots before the seven time tag champions scored a pair of dropkicks of their own. Still, the United Empire kept their composure, and took control outside before splitting Loa off and landing some vicious blows.
A momnetary break for Loa would see Tama Tonga fire off chops to O-Khan and some crisp arm drags before another sharp chop to Henare. Energy building, a trio of corner splashes crashed into O-Khan for two, but a judo takedown from the Dominator would see the tag made on the United Empire side. An errant mid kick would see Henare take down his own partner and Loa would send Henare flying with a T-Bone Suplex, but when Henare got two, he promised to deliver Apesh*t.
Henare escaped the move, and O-Khan was present to support with a throat thrust. As Loa was now the recipient of the United Empire’s might, the Sheep Killer Marine connected, and Tonga was sent flying from the ring with a spin kick. Loa escaped the Imperial Drop and landed a spear, but as O-Khan looked for the Eliminator he was dropped with a Gunstun from Tonga. Henare took the Tongan Twist, and then the Magic Killer as United Empire crashed out.
Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens were out of the mathematical running in Hiroshima, but sought a final big win against two nemeses in Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toru Yano. Owens would pick up from his G1 win over the Ace as he battled Tanahashi, and though Tanahashi cought Chase with a body blow as Owens went for a high cross, Fale would get involved to put Tanahashi in the wrong corner. The BULLET CLUB duo were just as effective in stopping Yano’s antics until a firm handful of air brought the Ace back in. Chase connected with a pair of C-Triggers and went for the Package Driver, but Tanahashi would get free with a Dragon Screw to prevent a G1 replay; a Slingblade and High Fly Flow got the Be-Bop Tag Team their last two points.
Both Great Bash Heel and Yuji Nagata and Tiger Mask had disappointing two point campaigns, but battled for at least one more win in the second league match of the night. A missed Kokeshi from Tomoaki Honma would put him in the blue corner until a big suplex saw a tag to Makabe, and though Nagata and Tiger would connect for some effective double teams, but it was Makabe with the final blow, following up on Honma’s Rocket Kokeshi with the King Kong Knee.
The first league match of the evening saw Minoru Suzuki and TAKA Michinoku seek to end their league with at least some points opposite TenCozy. The Suzuki-Gun side started fast but with little success, Michinoku the victim of TenCozy double team work and Satoshi Kojima machinegun chops. Suzuki would see to it Kojima couldn’t follow up with his customary elbow though, and the fight spilled outside. Kojima would find a Cozy Cutter in response, and Tenzan brought the fire to Suzuki, landing a Mountain Bomb to the charging King. Michinoku would land the Michinoku Driver for a nearfall cut off by Tenzan, and drove the legs on a backslide for another two, but met the Strong Arm Lariat to end Suzuki-Gun’s run with zero points.
