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
1. Juice Robinson defeated Katusya Kitamura.
2. Taka Michinoku, Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and El Desperado beat Jushin Thunder Liger, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tiger Mask, and Shota Umino.
3. Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano beat Yujiro Takahashi and Hikuleo.
4. The Guerrillas of Destiny, Bad Luck Fale, and Chase Owens beat Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, Manabu Nakanishi, and Tomoyuki Oka.
5. Minoru Suzuki and Takashi Iizuka beat Michael Elgin and Henare.
6. Cody Rhodes, Marty Scurll, and Hangman Page defeated Kota Ibushi, Kushida, and David Finlay.
7. Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi, Sanada, Evil, and Bushi beat Kazuchika Okada, Gedo, Hirooki Goto, Will Ospreay, and Yoshi-Hashi.
8. Roppongi 3k beat The Young Bucks to win the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Titles.
9. “Switchblade” Jay White beat Kenny Omega (w/The Young Bucks) to win the IGWP U.S. Championship. White won the match with his Bladerunner. They showed Kazuchika Okada on Japanese commentary and he looked surprised by the outcome.
After the match, Hangman Page walked to ringside as White received the belt and celebrated his win. Page entered the ring and took the belt from White and then looked at it. White sold exhaustion from the match. Omega took the belt from Page, then shoved it at White. Omega and Page bickered.
Cody walked to ringside and jawed at Omega and accused him of stealing Page’s moment. Marty Scurll came out to calm the situation down. Cody told Omega that he wasn’t acting like a leader. He asked Omega what his deal was and put his hands on him. Omega shoved Cody. The Bucks tried to pull Omega off, but Omega shoved Matt Jackson to the mat. Omega immediately regretted it and was apologetic. The Bucks left the ring and didn’t accept Omega’s apology.
Omega spoke into the ear of Scurll, who told him to work it out with Cody. Scurll left the ring. Omega and Page slapped hands. Cody asked Omega if they were okay. They slapped hands and bumped fists. Cody held the ropes open for Omega, then grabbed him and performed CrossRhodes on him. Scurll and Page entered the ring. Scurll tried to call Cody off. Cody told Page that this was his moment and to hold up Omega. Kevin Kelly asked on commentary where the rest of Bullet Club was at.
Cody took a chair from Kelly and entered the ring where Page was holding Omega. Kota Ibushi ran out and chased Cody, Page, and Scurll from the ring. Cody acted flustered at ringside and the crowd cheered. Once Cody and company walked off, Ibushi offered his hand to Omega, who pulled himself up by the ropes and shook his head no. Omega became emotional. They eventually hugged as streamers shot off above the ring.
Powell’s POV: I skipped ahead to the main event and the big angle at the end of the show because I simply ran out of time to watch the entire event prior to the Royal Rumble. That was a very good angle. The slow build to the Omega and Cody split was well done and the actual breakup came off well, though poor Jay White’s big win was completely overshadowed. I wonder if White will be a short term champion with Cody taking the belt from him soon and then defending it against Omega.
I love that the show ended without showing where each of the Bullet Club members stand. Page and Cody were united, but Scurll and the Young Bucks walked off before Cody attacked Omega. Plus, there are other Bullet Club members who never got involved. The angle with Omega and Ibushi featured both men showing great emotion and was also very well done. Check out my full review of the previous night’s NJPW show on the main page.
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