By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)
New Japan Pro Wrestling “Super Jr. Tag League”
October 26, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan, at Korakuen Hall
Streamed live on New Japan World
Walker Stewart and Chris Charlton provided commentary. Taichi could be seen on Japanese commentary.
* This year’s field is comprised of 12 teams, divided into TWO six-team Blocks. This is a round-robin tournament, so every team has at least five matches. I will reiterate that El Desperado suffered an injury and has been replaced by Masatora Yasuda, leaving this tournament feeling wide-open as to who can win.
1. Taisei Nakahara vs. Yushin Hanazawa. Basic standing switches. Nakahara kept Yushin tied up on the mat. They got up and traded chops. Nakahara applied a Boston Crab, and Yushin tapped out. Basic.
Taisei Nakahara defeated Yushin Hanazawa at 6:36.
2. “The Swirl” Blake Christian and Lee Johnson (2) vs. “The Unbound Co.” Titan and Daiki Nagai (0) in a B Block tournament match. Because this tournament is so short, Titan and Nagai will be eliminated with a loss here. Lee and Daiki opened and traded some fast reversals. Blake and Titan locked up at 1:30 and traded armdrags and one-counts. They missed stereo dropkicks and had a standoff. Daiki got back in and hit running back elbows in opposite corners. Blake hit a flip-into-a-clothesline on Daiki at 3:30, and the Swirl worked Nagai over in their corner.
Titan tagged in and hit a springboard crossbody block on Johnson. He hit a leaping sidekick to Lee’s mouth and a twisting neckbreaker for a nearfall at 5:30. Titan applied a Muta Lock, but Blake made the save. Like on Sunday, Titan told Nagai to put on a lucha mask. All four guys fought. The Unbound Co. hit stereo dropkicks and stereo dives to the floor at 7:30. Nagai started a “Lucha libre!” chant. Funny. In the ring, they hit front-and-back forearm strikes on Lee. Titan hit a springboard frog splash on Lee for a nearfall.
Blake nailed a Fosbury Flop to the floor on Nagai. He got back into the ring, but Titan struck him with a leaping sidekick to the jaw, and everyone was down at 9:00. This crowd was HOT. Nagai got up, and he was bleeding near his right eye. He hit chops on both Swirl members. Blake hit a jumping knee on Nagai. They tied him in the Tree of Woe, but Titan made the save. Lee kicked Titan to the floor. Blake hit a moonsault to the floor on Titan. Lee hit a splash to the floor on Titan. In the ring, Blake and Lee hit “Brainrot” (top-rope double stomp-and-DVD combo) to pin Nagai. Exhilarating action.
“The Swirl” Blake Christian and Lee Johnson (4) defeated “The Unbound Co.” Titan and Daiki Nagai (0) at 11:03.
3. Kuukai and Master Wato (2) vs. Kushida and Nick Wayne (2) in an A Block tournament match. Wayne and Kuukai opened with some standing switches. Kushida got in and tied up Kuukai on the mat. Wato entered and hit a backbreaker on Wayne and a back suplex for a nearfall at 4:30. Nick hit a Lethal Injection, but Wato hit a leg lariat, and they were both down. Kuukai got back in and hit a running kick on Wayne. Kushida got a blind tag, and he applied a cross-armbreaker on Kuukai, but Wato made the save.
Wato hit a double huracanranra, then a flip dive to the floor on Wayne at 6:30. In the ring, Kuukai slammed Kushida face-first. Wato hit a top-rope double stomp to Kushida’s ribs for a nearfall. Wato and Kuukai hit a spin kick-and-slam combo for a nearfall. Wayne hit forearm strikes on both. Kuukai flew off the ropes, but Wayne hit a stunner. Wayne then hit the Wayne’s World fadeaway stunner. Kushida and Kuukai traded rollups, with Kushida landing the “Back to the Future” Small Package Driver for the pin! That was really good.
Kushida and Nick Wayne (4) defeated Kuukai and Master Wato (2) at 8:29.
4. Hyo and Yoh (2) vs. “United Empire” Francesco Akira and Jakob Austin Young (w/Zane Jay) (4) in a B Block tournament match. I hated the comedy match Hyo and Yoh put together Sunday. Yoh came out on all fours, on a leash, as if he were Hyo’s dog. Ugh, it’s gonna be another one of those matches. Akira and Yoh opened. Jakob jumped in and hit a double-noggin-knocker. More comedy as Hyo and Yoh ran around on all fours. Hyo hit a flip dive to the floor at 2:00. Back in the ring, Yoh and Hyo worked over Akira.
Zane tripped Yoh. Jakob and Akira clearly aren’t getting along again. Akira applied a rear-naked choke and kept him grounded. Akira tagged in Jakob with a hard slap. Young hit some chops on Yoh in the corner. Akira missed a standing moonsault, and Yoh immediately hit a Dragonscrew Legwhip. Hyo got a hot tag at 6:00, and he hit a dropkick on Akira and a leg lariat on Young. Akira hit a double stomp to Hyo’s chest. Young hit a Shining Wizard for a nearfall.
Yoh hit a Falcon Arrow for a nearfall at 8:30, but Akira made the save. Akira hit a flying kick to the back of Yoh’s head. Young nailed the Jakob’s Ladder (Sliced Bread out of the corner) for a nearfall on Yoh! Young blocked a Direct Drive brainbuster. Akira accidentally nearly kicked Young. Yoh got a rollup on Young for a nearfall. Solid action; the comedy wasn’t as awful as Sunday. Akira and Young argued some more after they lost, and Zane tried being the peacemaker.
Hyo and Yoh (4) defeated “United Empire” Francesco Akira and Jakob Austin Young (4) at 10:36.
5. Kazuma Sumi and Ryusuke Taguchi (2) vs. “House of Torture” Douki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru (2) in an A Block tournament match. They all charged at each other, and we got the bell a second later. Sumi hit a huracanrana on Douki. Douki dropped Sumi face-first on the apron at 2:00. He ran Sumi spine-first against the ring post, bodyslammed Sumi onto the thin mat at ringside, then suplexed him! In the ring, Kanemaru hit a bodyslam for a nearfall at 3:30, and he kept Sumi grounded.
Sumi finally hit a springboard dropkick on Kanemaru. Taguchi got the hot tag at 6:00 and hit some flying buttbumps. Kanemaru hit a basement dropkick on the knee, and he slammed Taguchi’s knee into the canvas. Sumi hit a 619 on Douki for a nearfall at 8:30. Douki applied the Darkness Stretch (modified Triangle Choke) on Sumi. Taguchi pushed Kanemaru into Douki to break the hold. Sumi hit a super Lungblower to the chest, then a moonsault off of Taguchi’s back onto Douki for a nearfall.
Taguchi hit a crossbody block to the floor. In the ring, Douki hit an enzuigiri on Sumi. Sumi got a flash rollup for a nearfall! Sumi hit a Canadian Destroyer on Douki for a nearfall at 12:00. The ref got bumped. Kanemaru sprayed whiskey in Sumi’s eyes! Douki immediately hit a Dragon Suplex with an impressive bridge to pin Sumi. That topped my admittedly low expectations.
“House of Torture” Douki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru (4) defeated Kazuma Sumi and Ryusuke Taguchi (2) at 12:30.
6. “Ichiban Sweet Boys” Kosei Fujita and Robbie Eagles (4) vs. “House of Torture” Dick Togo and Sho (0) in a B Block tournament match. The HoT came out first, and they had Hyo’s stuffed leopard in a steel kennel; Walker Stewart was irate that they would do this. (And this, right here, is why I could never be a pro wrestler commentator. I can’t pretend that a stuffed animal is real or matters.) Sho spoke on the mic. We got the bell, with Sho and Fujita starting, but Sho rolled to the floor. Togo got in instead. The Sweet Boys worked over Togo. Walker said Togo is 57! I didn’t know he was that old!
Eagles hit some Yes Kicks on Togo. Sho and Fujita brawled up the stairs and fought on the landing halfway up the seating area. Fujita threw Sho out an exit door at 4:00. “Lock it behind you!” Charlton said. Sho got back in the arena, and they brawled back to ringside. Togo hit a somersault off the apron to the floor on Fujita! In the ring, Togo hit a dropkick at 7:00 and an elbow drop for a nearfall, as the HoT kept Fujita grounded. Fujita finally hit a flying kick across Togo’s jaw at 9:00, and they were both down.
Eagles got the hot tag and hit a spin kick to Sho’s jaw, then a running Penalty Kick for a nearfall. Robbie hit a running double knees in the corner on Sho. Robbie tied up Sho, and the bell rang at 11:00, but it was just Togo ringing the bell! Sho applied a cross-armbreaker, and the bell rang again, but this time it was Fujita who rang it! The Sweet Boys hit a team powerbomb on Sho for a nearfall. The HoT applied stereo submission holds. Eagles got a foot on the ropes to break the hold at 12:30.
The HoT continued to take turns punching Robbie, who was on his knees and groggy. Robbie hit a double mid-ring Sliced Bread! All four fought in the ring. The ref got bumped at 14:00! Togo immediately choked Fujita with a chain. Fujita got the chain and choked Togo, but Sho hit a low-blow uppercut on Fujita! Eagles hit the Turbo Backpack on Sho for a visual pin, but we had no ref! Sho struck Eagles with the stuffed black cat, and it knocked Robbie out! The commentators said it’s clearly a “loaded weapon!” Sho covered the prone Eagles for the tainted pin!
“House of Torture” Dick Togo and Sho (2) defeated “Ichiban Sweet Boys” Kosei Fujita and Robbie Eagles (4) at 15:44.
7. “The Unbound Co.” Robbie X and Taiji Ishimori (4) vs. Masatora Yasuda and Mistico (0) in an A Block match. Yasuda and Robbie X opened and traded standing switches. Yasuda appears taller and a bit thicker. (I presume he’s still well under 220 pounds/100 kilograms, but Yasuda has to be among the bigger men in the tournament.) They avoided each other’s big moves and had a standoff. Titan and Ishimori tagged in at 1:30. Mistico hit a huracanrana and an armdrag off the top rope. Ishimori rolled to the floor to regroup.
Yasuda got back in, but the Unbound Co. immediately began working him over. Ishimori applied a hammerlock and hit some loud chops in the corner and got a nearfall at 4:30. Yasuda hit a double shotgun dropkick. Mistico tagged back in and hit a double armdrag. Mistico hit a springboard huracanrana on Robbie at 6:00, then a flipping plancha to the floor on Ishimori. Yasuda hit a flip dive onto two guys, landing on his feet! “Who knew Yasuda had that in the chamber?” Walker asked.
In the ring, Mistico got a nearfall on Robbie, then hit a stiff kick to the spine, and they were both down. Ishimori tagged back in at 8:00, so Yasuda also tagged back in, and those two traded forearm strikes. Yasuda hit a shotgun dropkick and a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall. Yasuda applied a Boston Crab. Robbie jumped in and hit some kicks on Yasuda, who kept the hold locked in. Robbie hit a running Shooting Star Press on Yasuda for a nearfall at 11:00. Robbie knocked Mistico off the apron to the floor.
Robbie hit a top-rope Swanton onto Yasuda as Yasuda was draped over the top rope, and Robbie got a nearfall. Robbie and Ishimori hit stereo superkicks on Mistico. Yasuda pushed Robbie into Ishimori, and everyone was down at 12:30. Mistico hit a springboard double crossbody block and a pop-up dropkick. Robbie hit a Lethal Injection on Mistico for a nearfall. Mistico and Robbie fought on the top rope, but went back to the mat. Mistico hit a Canadian Destroyer, and he locked in the Fujiwara Armbar. Robbie X immediately tapped out. Good match.
Masatora Yasuda and Mistico (2) defeated “The Unbound Co.” Robbie X and Taiji Ishimori (4) at 14:40.
Final Thoughts: Blake and Lee had another phenomenal match here, and even though it was the first tournament match of the night, it earns best match of the show. I’ll narrowly take the main event for second ahead of Nick Wayne’s match. However, airing the House of Torture matches back-to-back is just cruel.
Titan and Daiki Nagai are eliminated, but the other 11 teams all remain in the hunt. The good news is no team is undefeated, so no one has pulled away as a clear frontrunner. This tournament is a grind, as they are back in action on Tuesday with Nick Wayne and Kushida vs. Sumi and Taguchi.
