By Chris Vetter, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@chrisvetter73)
New Japan Pro Wrestling “Super Jr. Tag League”
October 25, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan, at Korakuen Hall
Streamed live on New Japan World
Walker Stewart and Chris Charlton provided 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 I will reiterate that El Desperado suffered an injury and has been replaced by Masatora Yasuda, leaving this tournament feeling wide-open as far as who could win it.
1. Tatsuya Matsumoto vs. Yushin Hatazawa. I think this is just the second, possibly the third time, I’ve seen Yushin. Hatazawa dropped him awkwardly on a bodyslam, and he hit a senton for a nearfall at 5:00. He applied a Boston Crab. Matsumoto applied his own Boston Crab, and Yushin tapped out.
Tatsuya Matsumoto defeated Yushin Hatazawa at 6:48.
2. Ryusuke Taguchi and Kazuma Sumi (0) vs. Master Wato and Kuukai (2) in an A Block tournament match. Sumi and Kuukai opened. Former teammates Taguchi and Wato then tied up. Taguchi and Sumi worked over Wato. Sumi accidentally hit Taguchi with a top-rope axe handle at 3:00. Wato and Kuukai stomped on Taguchi. Wato twisted and targeted Taguchi’s ankle. Sumi got a hot tag and hit a springboard dropkick on Wato for a nearfall at 6:30. Sumi (again, he’s 23 with wavy blond hair) hit some more kicks, but Wato dropped him with a roundhouse kick.
Sumi hit an enzuigiri. Wato hit a dropkick at 8:00. Sumi hit a DDT, and they were both down. Taguchi got back in and put Kuukai in an ankle lock. Kuukai hit a clothesline in the corner, then a huracanrana. He nailed a superkick to Taguchi’s jaw for a nearfall at 9:30. He tied Taguchi in a bow-and-arrow, but Sumi made the save. Taguchi dropped Kuukai over his knees for a nearfall. Wato dropkicked Sumi to the floor. Taguchi applied an ankle lock on Kuukai, and he kept it locked in! Sumi also hit a dropkick. Kuukai tapped out! Fun match.
Ryusuke Taguchi and Kazuma Sumi (2) defeated Master Wato and Kuukai (2) at 11:50.
3. “The Unbound Co.” Titan and Daiki Nagai (0) vs. “United Empire” Francesca Akira and Jakob Austin Young (2) in a B Block tournament match. Akira and Young didn’t get along on Saturday, even though they won. Young attacked before the bell; Akira looked perplexed as to why he did that. The ref finally called for the bell at 00:10. Titan and Akira fought in the ring while Young and Nagai fought on the floor. The UE worked over Nagai in their corner. Young spat on him at 2:30 and was loudly booed for that. Young hit a Shining Wizard for a nearfall.
Akira applied a modified Tarantula in the ropes. Titan got a hot tag at 4:30, and he hit a DVD-style neckbreaker on Young for a nearfall. Titan unloaded a series of kicks. He ordered Nagai to put a mask on. All four fought, with Titan and Nagai hitting stereo springboard dropkicks, then stereo dives through the ropes at 6:00. They again hit stereo dives! “Why the hell not?” Charlton said. In the ring, Titan hit a springboard frog splash on Young for a nearfall at 7:30. Akira tagged back in to battle Titan.
Nagai hit a dropkick. He hit a hesitation dropkick into the corner on Akira for a nearfall at 9:00. Akira hit an enzuigiri on Nagai, then a leg lariat to the back of the head for a nearfall, but Titan made the save. Akira hit a huracanrana on Titan, then a superkick on Nagai. Nagai ducked a Fireball. Akira accidentally kicked Young! Nagai hit a spinebuster on Akira and put him in a Boston Crab. Titan hit a springboard guillotine leg drop, and Nagai got a nearfall! Akira missed a top-rope frog splash. Akira immediately hit a Fireball (running double knees to the back of the head) and pinned Nagai. Good action, and it teased more trouble between the UE.
“United Empire” Francesca Akira and Jakob Austin Young (4) defeated “The Unbound Co.” Titan and Daiki Nagai (0) at 12:05/official time of 11:55.
4. “House of Torture” Douki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru (2) vs. “The Unbound Co.” Robbie X and Taiji Ishimori (2) in an A Block tournament match. The HoT came out first and attacked as the Unbound Co. stepped through the ropes. They brawled on the floor. We got a bell at 00:35 as they re-entered the ring. Robbie hit a standing moonsault on Douki. Ishimori snapped Douki’s neck between his ankles. On the floor, Douki crotched Robbie X around the ring post. Walker and Charlton talked about HoT deciding to split last year’s winners — Sho and Douki — across two different teams this year.
Douki tied up Ishimori’s ankle on the mat. He wrapped Ishimori’s knee around the ring post. Robbie finally got a hot tag at 7:00, and he hit some kicks on Douki and a second-rope missile dropkick. He hit a top-rope moonsault press to the floor on both HoT. In the ring, he went for a running Shooting Star Press, but Douki caught him and applied the Darkness Stretch! Douki hit a modified Widow’s Peak, dropping Robbie onto both of his knees at 9:30. Douki went for the Daybreak DDT, but Robbie blocked it. Kanemaru began kicking Ishimori’s knee, and he applied a Figure Four leg lock.
Charlton reiterated how Kanemaru has an extraordinary win-loss record against Ishimori in singles matches. Ishimori hit a rolling DVD and a buzzsaw kick on Kanemaru for a nearfall at 11:30. Douki hit a double stomp on Ishimori’s chest while Kanemaru had Ishimori tied in a Figure Four! Robbie X was finally able to break free from Douki and make the save. Robbie hit a double Pele Kick. Kanemaru tried a low blow, but Ishimori avoided it. The ref got bumped. Ishimori hit his own low blow on Kanemaru and got the flash pin! Decent; on the high end of expectations for a House of Torture match.
“The Unbound Co.” Robbie X and Taiji Ishimori (4) defeated “House of Torture” Douki and Yoshinobu Kanemaru (2) at 13:26/official time of 12:51.
* Walker Stewart was under the weather! He headed to the back, so Charlton was solo on commentary for the rest of the show.
5. “House of Torture” Sho and Dick Togo (0) vs. Hyo and Yoh (0) in a B Block tournament match. As usual, Sho spoke on the mic, then they attacked. Some comedy early on as they chased each other on all fours, and the HoT bailed to the floor. Togo grabbed Hyo’s stupid stuffed leopard, and Hyo chased him to get it back. Togo stomped on Hyo’s left arm and wrist, and they worked him over for several minutes. Togo hit a running kick on the floor at 4:00 in front of the fans. In the ring, Hyo hit a Cleopatra stunner on Sho.
Yoh got the hot tag at 6:00, and he battled former teammate Sho, hitting a suplex for a nearfall. Yoh hit a Dragonscrew Legwhip. Hyo hit a DDT on Togo at 8:00. Togo grabbed the stupid leopard, so Hyo grabbed another stuffed animal. This has been so stupid. Sho and Togo wish-boned the babyfaces’ legs. Togo put Hyo in a crossface on the mat at 10:00, but Hyo reached the ropes. Togo hit a knife-edge chop to Hyo’s groin for a nearfall, and he choked Hyo with his chain. Sho grabbed a title belt, but Yoh stopped him. Hyo chased Togo on all fours, rolled him up, and scored the pin. Credit to Walker Stewart for heading to the back before having to call that one.
Hyo and Yoh (2) defeated “House of Torture” Sho and Dick Togo (0) at 12:08.
* Walker Stewart returned to the booth! I guess the thought of watching that prior match really was worth taking a break.
6. Mistico and Yasuda (0) vs. Nick Wayne and Kushida (0) in an A Block tournament match. The fake music that drowns out Mistico’s theme is really annoying! Mistico and Nick Wayne shook hands before locking up and trading fast reversals. Yasuda and Kushida entered at 1:00, and they twisted each other’s left arm. Kushida applied a Stretch Muffler, but Yasuda reached the ropes. Nick entered and hit some hard back elbows and kept Yasuda grounded. Mistico got the hot tag and hit some huracanranas on both Wayne and Kushida. He dove through the ropes onto Kushida at 6:30.
Wayne and Mistico hit stereo kicks and were both down. Yasuda entered and hit a snap suplex on Wayne for a nearfall. He hit a leaping powerbomb on Nick for a nearfall. Kushida hit a basement dropkick on Mistico’s face at 9:00. Mistico hit a top-rope Spanish Fly on Wayne, then a crossbody block on Kushida. Wayne hit a top-rope moonsault to the floor. Kushida hit a Shotei palm strike on Yasuda. Kushida hit an enzuigiri and a moonsault to pin Yasuda. Solid match.
Nick Wayne and Kushida (2) defeated Mistico and Yasuda (0) at 11:18.
7. “Ichiban Sweet Boys” Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita (2) vs. “The Swirl” Blake Christian and Lee Johnson (2) in a B Block tournament match. Blake and Eagles opened, and they immediately tied up on the mat. Eagles tried a huracanrana, but Blake rotated and landed on his feet at 2:00. Christian playfully kicked him on the side of the head. They got up and pushed their foreheads together. Lee Johnson and Kosei tagged in and twisted each other’s left arm. It got heated, and they traded forearm strikes. Lee jawed at Eagles as he worked over Fujita.
Robbie got in and tied Lee in a knot on the mat. Fujita hit a bodyslam at 7:00 and applied a half-crab. Robbie hit some Yes Kicks to Lee’s chest. Blake hit a 619, then a moonsault to the floor. In the ring, Blake choked Robbie in the ropes. The Swirl kept Robbie in their corner. Blake hit a running basement dropkick at 11:00, and Lee hit one, too. Blake hit a springboard frog splash while Lee hit an inverted DDT for a nearfall at 13:00. Nice move! Eagles hit a back suplex on Christian, and he finally tagged in Fujita.
Kosei hit a snap German Suplex on Blake and a dropkick on Lee, and he was fired up! Fujita hit a springboard dropkick on Blake for a nearfall at 14:30. Christian hit a stunner on Fujita. The Sweet Boys hit a team stunner move on Blake for a nearfall at 16:00. Fujita tied up Blake, but Christian reached the ropes. Lee jumped in and hit some forearm strikes on both opponents. Blake hit a half-nelson suplex at 17:30. Blake hit a Canadian Destroyer on the ring apron on Robbie! Lee dove to the floor.
In the ring, Lee hit a brainbuster for a nearfall. (Blake awkwardly had to pull up, thinking Lee was doing something different.) Anyhow, Fujita made the save. Eagles got up and hit chops on each opponent. Blake hit a dive to the floor on Fujita. Eagles hit a flip dive through the ropes onto Blake at 20:00! Eagles and Lee fought in the ring and traded superkicks. Lee hit a Helluva Kick. Robbie hit a DDT. They hit a team DVD move on Lee for the pin. That was awesome. That could wind up being the best match of the tournament.
“Ichiban Sweet Boys” Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita (4) defeated “The Swirl” Blake Christian and Lee Johnson (2) at 21:19.
* Eagles spoke first. He pointed out that the new technology on the screen translates his words almost instantaneously. He predicted they wouldn’t lose a single match in the whole tournament! Fujita then spoke.
Final Thoughts: Potentially the best match of the tournament paired with potentially the worst match of the tournament on the same show. Blake and Lee have such flawless team moves, and they meshed so well. Just that one awkward moment, where Blake was going for a handspring-back-elbow and had to pull up, as Lee hit a brainbuster, and Blake clearly was thinking they were doing something else. Beyond that, a pretty perfect match.
No, I did not care for the comedy of Yoh/Hyo vs. Sho/Togo. It was my least favorite tournament match through two days, and I hope nothing else is ranked even worse. Sure, the crowd laughed at some of the comedy, but silliness over stuffed animals has never been my thing.
No rest for the wicked! The tournament resumes on Monday, still here in Korakuen Hall. The show is headlined by Ishimori and Robbie X vs. Mistico and Yasuda, and Eagles/Fujita vs. Sho/Togo.
