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OCT.25.2021

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Tanahashi Stands Tall After Ten Man Elimination War

Ace sole survivor in ten man elimination

Hiroshi Tanahashi emerged victorious from the main event on night two of the Road to Power Struggle, last eliminating KENTA to send a clear message ahead of their IWGP United States heavyweight Championship match in Osaka on November 6.

The match would start in chaotic form, BULLET CLUB attacked after a hesitant ‘Too Sweet’, and the match spilling to the floor. It would be Yujiro Takahashi and Tanahashi legal when the dust settled from the opening melee, the Ace in charge until he was caught in the ropes by KENTA, opening the door for a Yujiro lariat. KENTA would make use of a somewhat predictably exposed turnbuckle to keep up the pressure, as Tanahashi was firmly rooted in the BULLET CLUB corner. 

When the Ace created enough space, it was Kazuchika Okada awaiting the tag, and charging in with high paced offense on Tama Tonga, given a high flapjack exclamation point. A splash into the corner and a Tongan Twist though, and Tonga got control, landing vicious boots to the head of Okada before trying to low bridge the Rainmaker out. As Tonga came onto the apron, Okada evaded a Gunstun to send his opponent flying out, but wanted more of the Good Bad Guy before Osaka, eliminating himself in the process. 

Tanga Loa would tear into Tomohiro Ishii as the match settled to four vs four at the ten minute mark. Ishii would fire up in the face of Loa’s elbows, but EVIL would hook Loa’s heels to ensure he wasn’t suplexed over the top rope; Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI would intervene though, and pulled Loa from the ring to bring the BULLET CLUB numbers down to three. Ishii quickly joined Loa on the floor thanks to a Yujiro boot, bringing the match to three on three. A neckbreaker from YOSHI-HASHI would slow Yujiro, who bit his way out of trouble, but a hotshot and dropkick would eliminate the Tokyo Pimp. 

CHAOS momentum would be cut off by the interfering SHO, who speared the Headhunter out of sight of the referee, leading to another elimination. With the match down to two vs two, an Ushigoroshi from hirooki Goto struck EVIL and should have led to an elimination, but the distracted referee couldn’t make the call. Official Unno did however see Goto on the mats after Togo pulled him to the floor however, giving BULLET CLUB a momentary two on one edge. 

Tanahashi would take EVIL from the equation afterr a Dragon Screw, leaving Tanahashi in a de facto singles match with KENTA. The IWGP United States number one contender twice nearly put Tanahashi to the floor; the first time, the Ace got back in and delivered a Slingblade, but on the second attempt it appeared as if the job was done. Tanahashi held on though, and skinned the cat, catching KENTA in a head scissors in the process to pick up the victory. Promising to ‘fire up the US title’ now sitting on his shoulder after KENTA made off with it at the G1 final, Tanahashi has set his sights on the EDION Arena in Osaka next Saturday. 

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