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New Japan Anniversary Results Ota City, Tokyo, Japan:
1 - NJPW World TV Championship: El Phantasmo vs. a mystery opponent
El Phantasmo comes to the ring first, with Jado. ELP takes the mic and says this is the first NJPW World TV Open Challenge. Master Wato comes to the ring.
Solid competitive match. Wato attacked the arm and neck, which sets up his finisher, Vendeval. With 3 minutes left, they trade strikes. ELP hits a Burning Hammer. Two count. Wato hits the Tsutenkaku German. ELP kicks out. Wato goes for an RPP, but ELP counters into a Super Frankensteiner. ELP hits Thunderkiss '87.
ELP pins Wato.
El Phantasmo retains the NJPW World TV Championship.
Both men shake hands after the match.
The open challenge on the undercard could be a good way to build up both the TV Title and El Phantasmo. He can defend the belt against solid wrestlers and give them a rub.
2 - Hartley Jackson and Ryohei Oiwa vs. Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens
Fale pins Jackson after a lariat and a running elbow drop.
3 - TAKA Michinoku, Taichi and Yuya Uemura vs. Gedo, Taiji Ishimori and SANADA
SANADA comes to the ring with a guitar. Just 4 Guys come out to Yuya Uemura's music. SANADA and War Dogs attack before the bell. A cluster of a match. SANADA and Uemura had a good exchange when they faced off in the ring. Gedo tripped up Uemura has he came off the ropes. Ishimori distracted the referee. SANADA grabbed his guitar. SANADA hit the guitar with his hand, tossed the guitar to Uemura, and SANADA drops to the mat. The referee turns and sees Uemura with the guitar.
The referee disqualifies Uemura and awards the match to Bullet Club War Dogs.
Just 4 Guys are frustrated as they protest the decision.
4 - Drilla Moloney and Gabe Kidd vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Ren Narita
Moloney and Kidd rushed to the ring dressed in all black masks and sweats and attacked Narita and Kanemaru. They brawl into the crowd and into the upper areas of the arena.
Both teams get to the ring, but then fight again into the crowd. Both teams get counted out.
Gabe Kidd is still getting a decent pop from the crowd, despite being a despicable heel.
5 - Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito and Yota Tsuji vs. Dick Togo, SHO, Yujiro Takahashi and EVIL
Shingo Takagi came to the ring with his new biography and gave a copy to Milano Collection A.T. on Japanese commentary.
Hiromu forces Togo to submit to Maximum Beholding (modified figure four leglock)
6 - IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship: El Desperado vs. Francesco Akira
They were evenly matched until Desperado began working on Akira's left leg. They almost got counted out after Akira hit a tope con hilo. Akira hit a moonsault. Two count. Desperado goes for a Numero Dos. Akira reverses into an Italian Destroyer. Desperado kicks Akira in the left leg and attacks it. Akira with a double stomp to the chest, then hits a Speedfire. Two count. Desperado with a spinebuster, a back suplex and Guitara de Angel. Akira kicks out.
Desperado goes for Pinche Loco. Akira tries to reverse out, but Desperado turns his reversal into a double knee breaker. Desperado goes for Numero Dos again. Akira gets to the ropes. Desperado pounds the mat in frustration. Desperado goes for Pinche Loco. Akira slips out of his grasp and hits a Fireball to the face. Two count.
Desperado kicks the left leg. Akira fights back with strikes. Akira hits a lariat. Akira hits a Fireball to the head. Rope break. Akira with a Fireplex. Desperado ducks a Fireball and goes for Numero Dos. They exchange reversals. Akira goes for another Fireball but he falls to the mat as his knee gives out. Desperado hits Pinche Loco. Akira kicks out at two. Desperado with a Dragon Screw to the leg. Desperado locks in Numero Dos. Desperado traps Akira's left arm with his leg and uses both arms to hyperextend Akira's left knee. Ouch!
Akira taps out.
El Desperado retains the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship.
Good match. Both men were at the top of their game.
7 - IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Hirooki Goto vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
There are several parallels between Hiroshi Tanahashi and John Cena right now. Before this match begins, I have to say Tanahashi should not be winning the IWGP World Title. He does not need it and it would hurt Goto's momentum.
The members of CHAOS, Tomohiro Ishii, YOH and YOSHI-HASHI, come to the ring with Goto. Massive chant for Tanahashi. Maybe the crowd wants to see Tanahashi as champion.
Both were fairly even in the early moments. Tanahashi works on Goto's left leg. Tanahashi hits an ushigaroshi. Goto with a reverse GTR. Tanahashi with a Slingblade. Goto hits his own ushigaroshi, but hurts his knee in the process. Tanahashi with a Dragon Screw. Tanahashi locks in a Texas Cloverleaf. Rope break. Two more Slingblades by Tanahashi. Tanahashi hits Sky High, but misses the High Fly Flow. Crowd chants for Tanahashi. Tanahashi with a Dragon Screw and another Texas Clover. Goto reverses into a cradle. Two count.
Goto hits a GTW. Two count. Goto goes for a GTR, but Tanahashi hits two Twist and Shouts. Goto blocks a third and hits a massive Shoten Kai. Tanahashi kicks out. Massive chant for The Ace. Goto hits a stiff kick to Tanahashi's chest. Goto hits a GTR.
Goto pins Tanahashi.
Hirooki Goto retains the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Goto takes the mic and thanks Tanahashi for being here. If it wasn't for Tanahashi, Goto would not be here.
Tanahashi takes the mic and tells Goto that he is leaving it to you. Tanahashi calls all the members of CHAOS and Hontai to the ring. They all get in the ring. Tanahashi tells Goto to now lead New Japan to even greater heights. Goto says that he will lift the company on his back. Goto calls Yuji Nagata to the ring. Goto challenges Yuji Nagata. Nagata accepts.
Goto says the Goto Revolution has just begun. He says Join the Revolution and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Goto shakes hands with all the wrestlers from Hontai and CHAOS as the confetti falls from the ceiling.
Hiroshi Tanahashi was emotional in the interview area. The end in 10 months is becoming real for himself and the fans.
Very cool moment. This was the passing of the torch moment in New Japan. It is disappointing that Zack Sabre Jr. did not get this type of treatment. However, New Japan needed a new Japanese face of the company. Hirooki Goto is a good wrestler to build around.
Thank you, Hiroshi Tanahashi for what you have given to the Japanese wrestling business and not taking away from it.
This is what is best for business. The one who announced his retirement should not be beating the World Champion of the company. Goto deserves this run and Tanahashi should be grateful because he is helping to build Goto's legacy in the eyes of the fans.
I hope Triple H will ask Nick Khan and Ari Emanuel to watch this show and take notes. This is how to use a wrestler in his retirement tour. Tanahashi is still over, getting cheers from the fans, but he does not need to be the champion. Tanahashi did not bring in the biggest Japanese actor to help him get over, at the expense of his popular World Champion. Instead, he put the champion on a pedestal and asked him to lead the company. Awesome.
New Japan Cup 2025
Tomorrow, the New Japan Cup 2025 begins, at Korakuen Hall, in Tokyo. My thoughts and predictions is as follows:
The early rounds will revisit recent or ongoing feuds like SANADA vs Yuya Uemura and Yota Tsuji vs. EVIL. Hopefully, these feuds will not end during this tournament, but continue to be told in the upcoming months.
My prediction for the final four is SANADA (2023 winner) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (2018 and 2022 winner), and Shota Umino vs. Shingo Takagi. (neither has won the tournament before). The finals may come down to Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Shota Umino. Either wrestler would make a good opponent for Hirooki Goto after he faces Yuji Nagata.
A few stories need to be developed in this tournament and in undercard matches:
1. Will Shota Umino become one of the top babyfaces in the company or continue a downward spiral? Umino lost to Great O-Khan on February 11 and Umino shaved his own head. Will Umino have a new look and a new attitude?
2. What is the status of Bullet Club? We have the House of Torture, War Dogs and The Rogue Army. HOT has kicked the War Dogs to the side and beat them down. Finlay should want revenge. Gabe Kidd and Drilla Moloney want revenge and were getting cheers. Where does Gedo stand on this? Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens of the Rogue Army is coming in for the New Japan Cup and who do they side with? I am nitpicking on details, but if all these loose ends are not tied up, why should the fans care about anyone in Bullet Club (as heels) if the booking does not support them. The unification of Hontai and CHAOS will need a strong heel faction to fight. Bullet Club needs to get their House in order.
3. Can Hirooki Goto carry the company on his back and be a money draw into 2025? This will not be answered in March or April yet. Goto will be expected to defend the IWGP World Title around the world, and he may be unknown to the wrestling fans outside of Japan. Unfortunately, he is not Kazuchika Okada, Tetsuya Naito or Hiroshi Tanahashi, so the pressure is on him to represent New Japan as World Champion, especially at New Japan shows in the United States.
Thanks for reading.
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