By Jason Powell, Prowrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
New Japan Pro Wrestling “The New Beginning”
Sapporo, Japan at Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center
Broadcast live on New Japan World
The English option broadcast team was Kevin Kelly and Don Callis.
1. Michael Elgin vs. Katsuya Kitamura. The opening minutes were focussed on tests of strengths between the powerhouse Elgin and the jacked Kitamura. Callis said he’d like to see Kitamura slow down a bit in the ring. When discussing Elgin, Callis mentioned Ted Arcidi and Bill Kazmaier as powerhouses who simply couldn’t wrestle the way Elgin can. Kelly said there’s a lot of talk about where Kitamura will end up going on his excursion. Late in the match, Elgin threw three sick clotheslines and got a two count. Elgin followed up with a buckle bomb and an Elgin Bomb for the win…
Michael Elgin defeated Katsuya Kitamura.
Powell’s POV: A solid opener between the two big men. I’m curious to see where Kitamura goes on his excursion and what type of a push he will get while he’s gone and even more so once he returns to NJPW.
2. Taka Michinoku, Yoshinobu Kanemaur, Taichi, Takashi Iizuka, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Kushida, Jushin Thunder Liger, Satoshi Kojima, and Tiger Mask. Late in the match, Kushida applied his Hoverboard Lock on Michinoku and scored the submission win for his team. After the match, Callis said he heard something about a four-man booth for the NJPW show in California. He said he also heard that Kelly had heat with Josh Barnett.
Kushida, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Jushin Thunder Liger, Satoshi Kojima, and Tiger Mask beat Taka Michinoku, Yoshinobu Kanemaur, Taichi, Takashi Iizuka, and Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Powell’s POV: The big tag matches don’t do much for me. There was some good work and I’m always amazed at what Liger can do at his age, but the matches tend to feel inconsequential.
3. Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano vs. Yujiro Takahashi and Chase Owens. Callis recalled seeing a shirtless Bob Sapp roaming the streets at 4 a.m. during a past trip to Roppongi. Ishii dominated an opening exchange with Ishii. Owens tagged in and boldly declared, “I want Yano.” Funny. Yano tagged in and the comedy antics began. Owens scored a questionable near fall on Ishiii that looked like it should have been three. Moments later, Yano wound up for a low blow and had to wait for one of his opponents to stop him from hitting the move. Ishii performed a brainbuster on Owens and pinned him.
Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano defeated Yujiro Takahashi and Chase Owens.
Powell’s POV: Love Yano or hate him, his comedy antics get a rise out of the crowd. The match fell apart late with Ishii appearing to kick out late and the referee having to hesitate on the count followed by the awkward low blow pause by Yano.
4. Bad Luck Fale and “Guerrillas of Destiny” Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa vs. Togi Makabe, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Toa Henare for the Never Openweight Six-Man Tag Titles. Loa broke the glasses of Taguchi before the match. Later, Makabe tagged in and worked over the Bullet Club members. He had Fale pinned, but Loa broke up the pin. Fale came back with a Samoan drop on Makabe. The challengers picked up another near fall after a comical series of attacks on Tonga, who came back with a near fall of his own. Moments later, Tonga applied a new submission hold on Henare for the win…
Bad Luck Fale and The Guerrillas of Destiny defeated Togi Makabe, Ryusuke Taguchi, and Toa Henare to retain the Never Openweight Six-Man Tag Titles.
Powell’s POV: The six-man tag titles still feel like a big contributor to the title belt overkill for NJPW, but I like the champions and the match was decent.
Kelly said there could be trouble in paradise when it comes to Bullet Club. Kelly recalled Kenny Omega stopping Cody from attacking Kota Ibushi. Kelly said there’s always fights in scrimmages involving pro sports teams and this was no different.
5. Cody, Hangman Page, and Marty Scurll vs. Kota Ibushi, Juice Robinson, and David Finlay. Kelly noted that Cody had a black eye courtesy of Matt Taven in Ring of Honor. Callis asked if he was sure that Brandi didn’t hit Cody with a right cross. Callis predicted a breakout year for Finlay. Cody checked in. Finlay slid between Cody’s legs and tagged in Ibushi. Cody tagged out to avoid facing his Wrestle Kingdom 12 opponent. Ibushi hit Page with two kicks and a standing shooting star press for a two count. Page performed a running shooting star press on Robinson for a two count of his own.
Cody and Ibushi ended up in the ring together and traded forearms. Ibushi ended up performing a standing corkscrew moonsault for a two count. A short time later, Scurll put Iubushi on his shoulders. Cody performed a springboard dropkick, but Ibushi landed on his feet. Cool spot. Cody accidentally hit Scurll, then Page accidentally hit Cody. Page hit the Rite of Passage on Finlay and pinned him to win the match…
Cody, Adam Page, and Marty Scurll beat Kota Ibushi, Juice Robinson, and David Finlay.
After the match, Cody jawed at the broadcast team. Kelly asked if there’s trouble between him and Omega. Cody said Omega is the leader of Bullet Club. “God bless America and God bless Kenny Omega,” Cody said. “I love him. I love him. Do you understand?”…
Powell’s POV: A good six-man tag match. I enjoyed his more than the previous six-man. Ibushi is always a treat to watch. All was fine with the Bullet Club members after the match despite those spots where they accidentally hit one another. This was good followup to the Cody and Omega meltdown even if they didn’t actually appear on camera together.
6. Will Ospreay and Yoshi-Hashi vs. Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi. Before the match, Naito walked by the broadcast table, causing Callis to run away. Naito invited him to enter the ring, but Callis refused. Naito spat at Callis from the ring. Callis said his aim was off and he hit the woman behind him. The teams brawled around the ring to start the match. Kelly spoke about Takahashi showing more of an edge so far in 2018.
Ospreay and Takahashi had a good stretch together while Kelly hyped their upcoming IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship match in Osaka. Takahashi hit a popup powerbomb on Ospreay and then tagged in Naito, who prevented Ospreay from tagging out. Naito went for a top rope huracanrana, but Ospreay landed on his feet and then went on the offensive. Ospreay set up for his finisher, but Takahashi cut him off. Naito low-blowed Ospreay and then Takahashi hit him with a superkick before Naito rolled him up for the win…
Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi defeated Will Ospreay and Yoshi-Hashi.
After the match, Yoshi-Hashi gave Naito a stiff shoulder. Naito ignored him. Yoshi-Hashi persisted and eventually roughed up Naito at ringside until others intervened. Once Yoshi-Hashi was pulled away, Naito gave him a sign that brushed him off. Naito followed Yoshi-Hashi up the aisle and blew past him. Yoshi-Hashi turned him around and chopped him a few times and spat in his face. Naito and Takahashi returned to the ring and posed…
Powell’s POV: The most entertaining match of the night thus far. The actual match that definitely left me looking forward to that Ospreay vs. Takahashi. The post match angle did a good job of setting up Naito vs. Yoshi-Hashi for Osaka. Their storyline reminds me of Velveteen Dream’s quest to make Aleister Black say his name in that Dream and now Yoshi-Hashi are seeking respect from their opponents.
Callis excused himself during the ring introductions for the next match while claiming that Kenny Omega needed him. Once he returned, he said everything is always okay with Omega because he’s the god of wrestling. Kelly told him that Karl Gotch could summon lighting from the heavens above and strike him down. Callis said Gotch was great, but Omega is better. Kelly pointed out that Gotch was the mentor of Minoru Suzuki. Callis hoped that Suzuki didn’t listen to the English feed.
7. Kazuchika Okada, Gedo, and Hirooki Goto vs. Sanada, Evil, and Bushi. The broadcast team tried to sell Sanada as a threat to Okada in their upcoming title match. Callis said everything comes so easy to Sanada that he works at 70 percent. The LIJ members worked over Okada and got a near fall, but Okada and Goto came back and worked them over. Okada applied a version of the Cobra Clutch on Bushi and got the submission win…
Kazuchika Okada, Gedo, and Hirooki Goto beat Sanada, Evil, and Bushi.
After the match, Okada spoke in Japanese to Sanada and apparently wanted him to address him in the ring. Sanada teased doing so, but walked away without saying anything. Okada ran after him and worked him over at ringside before bringing him back to the ring and performing a tombstone piledriver. Sanada emptied a bag of Okada bucks and shoved some in Sanada’s mouth before applying the Cobra Clutch briefly and leaving him lying. Callis said that’s a side of Okada that he doesn’t show often and it’s scary…
Powell’s POV: A fine match, but I enjoyed the Bullet Club vs. Ibushi, Robinson, and Finlay six-man tag match more. The post match angle was odd in that it made the champion look so dominant heading into the title match. The idea seems to be that Okada is trying to bring out the best in his opponent going into their match. I guess we’ll wait to see how this fits into the overall story they are telling.
8. Kenny Omega and “The Young Bucks” Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson vs. Jay White and “Roppongi 3k” Sho and Yoh (w/Rocky Romero). White disrespected White by turning his back on him prior to the match. Omega started the match for his team but was jumped from behind by White. The Bucks dazzled the crowd with some early acrobatics. The Elite members tried to start an Elite chant that didn’t really go anywhere with the crowd. Sho and Yoh hit stereo flip dives onto the Bucks.
Sho performed a couple of suplexes on Matt Jckson. Omega tagged in and took one, then hit dragon suplexes on all three opponents. Omega and the Bucks hit a triple superkick and had the pin, but White broke it up. Roppongi 3k had a flurry of offense on the Bucks, but Omega stopped that with a running knee. Later, Omega set up for his finisher, but White ran in and was about to his his own finisher when the Bucks broke it up with a double superkick. In the end, Omega launched Nick up and hit hit the Indy Taker on the way down on Yoh. Omega covered Yoh for the win.
Kenny Omega and “The Young Bucks” Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson beat Jay White and “Roppongi 3k” Sho and Yoh.
After the match, White hit his Bladerunner finisher on Omega. Once White left, Omega asked the Bucks where they were. Matt told him they won the match and were playing to the hard camera. “Sorry about that, bud,” Matt told Omega…
Powell’s POV: A showcase win for The Elite. The post match angle was done to set up White’s title match with Omega for the next night. The post match conversation between Omega and the Bucks was interesting in that it could be another sign of Omega splitting from the group or it could be just another swerve.
A video package set up the main event and recapped Suzuki shaving his own head after losing a hair vs. hair match at Wrestle Kingdom 12…
9. Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Minoru Suzuki for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. Suzuki already grew some of his hair back and shaved lines into the top of it. The broadcast team spoke about Tanahashi doing his best to keep his injuries away from Suzuki. Callis said the problem is that Tanahashi has so many injuries that it would be difficult, but he had to stay off the mat and avoid getting into a striking battle. Suzuki targeted the left leg of Tanahashi early on.
Suzuki also went after the injured arm of Tanahashi as he was hanging from the ropes. Kelly said Suzuki suckered Tanahashi in for that move by acting like he was at risk in the ropes. Kelly noted a hilarious Suzuki quote in which he said he’s not in the business of putting smiles on people’s faces. Suzuki went to ringside and grabbed a chair and worked over Tanahashi with it on the floor. Back inside the ring, Suzuki went after the injured arm of Tanahashi.
Tanahashi started to come back and hit a flying forearm that knocked Suzuki to the mat. Tanahashi performed a summersault senton from the middle rope for a two count. Suzuki came back with vicious kicks to the back of Tanahashi. Suzuki threw one kick to Tanahashi’s chest, but Tanahashi caught it. They got back to their feet and traded forearms. They both smiled at one another. Suzuki laughed at Tanahashi and called for more.
Suzuki delivered a big slap, but Tanahashi responded with a dragon screw leg whip. Tanahashi went to work on the leg and applied a Sharpshooter. Suzuki used his head to pull his way to the ropes. Kelly said Suzuki’s neck muscles were preventing Tanahashi from sitting down while he had the Sharpshooter. Later, Tanahashi hit a sling blade clothesline and then delivered a High Fly Flow cross body block. However, Tanahashi came up holding his right knee. The replay helped tell the story that Tanahashi was telling.
Tanahashi got back to his feet and went to the top rope. Tanahashi went for a High Fly Flow, but Suzuki put his knees up. Suzuki got up and applied a great looking heel hook submission hold. Tanahashi reached the ropes to break the hold. Suzuki dragged him back to the middle of the ring and applied figure four. Tanahashi rolled it over briefly, but Suzuki went right back in offensive position. Tanahashi eventually reached the ropes.
Suzuki threw a series of strikes at Tanahashi and then applied a sleeper hold. Tanahashi started to fade, then showed some signs of life before fading again. Suzuki released the hold and set up for the Gotch piledriver. Tanahashi blocked it initially, but Suzuki powered him up before Tanahashi swept his leg and applied a cloverleaf. Suzuki once again used his head to crawl toward the corner. Suzuki eventually countered into an inside cradle for a two count. Tanahashi performed a quick sling blade for a two count.
Tanahashi sold the bad knee as he ran the ropes for a move. He tried again, but only got a couple steps. Suzuki got up and performed a running dropkick on the bad right knee. Suzuki applied another heel hook. Tanahashi cried out in agony before reaching the ropes. Tanahashi struggled to get back to his feet. The ref asked if he wanted to stop the match. Suzuki shoved the referee out of the way and then delivered a series of kicks to the bad leg.
Suzuki stood up Tanahashi and delivered a series of open hand strikes. Suzuki followed up with the Gotch piledriver. Suzuki applied the leg hold again. Callis questioned why he didn’t pin Tanahashi. Kelly said he wants to torture him. Tanahashi cried out in agony as Suzuki wrenched the knee. The crowd came to life in support of Tanahashi, who reached for the ropes, only to be rolled over as Suzuki maintained the hold. The ref continued to check on Tanahashi, who declined to quit. Suzuki stood up and reapplied the hold. The referee called for the bell to end the match…
Minoru Suzuki defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi via ref stoppage to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.
The cameras showed emotional male and female fans in the front row. A stretcher was brought tot he ring for Tanahashi. Suzuki dangled the title belt in front of Tanahashi and then took the mic and spoke in Japanese to him before addressing the crowd. Streamers fell over the ring as Suzuki closed his promo…
Powell’s POV: An excellent main event. Callis did a very good job going into the match of putting over Tanahashi’s multiple injuries and how Suzuki was the worst possible opponent in terms of exploiting those injuries. That was the story that was told in the ring and the wrestlers did a terrific job. Tanahashi was spectacular as the babyface in peril and this was special. Tanahashi looks like a warrior for not tapping out while Suzuki further cemented his sadistic persona. Here’s hoping the plan is for Suzuki to hold the title until Tanahashi is able to return from what I assume will be a lengthy medical leave.
Overall, the only must see match was the main event. It wasn’t a bad show by any means, but with this being such a busy weekend for pro wrestling that’s the match that you should see if your time is limited. It would be nice if someone would quickly pass along a summary of the Japanese promos to Kelly and Callis. Anway, I hope to review the second night of The New Beginning sometime this week. My apologies for the lack of a firm target date, but that pesky Royal Rumble and a busy first part of the week makes it tough to say for sure.
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