World Tag League hits midway in Korakuen
As World Tag League hits its second half, the tour returns to Korakuen Hall where its 12 teams continue the race to the top of the table with two weeks to go.
Watch live or in English on demand on NJPW World!
Main event: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito & SANADA) (5-0) vs United Empire (Great-O-Khan & Aaron Henare (3-2)
Two of this year’s league’s top teams face off in a main event that could provide its winner with a crucial tie beraker down the line in a fortnight’s time. After , Tetsuya Naito and SANADA picked up a W against BULLET CLUB, they remain perfect, while Aaron Henare and Great-O-Khan have their win over IWGP Tag Team Champions Dangerous Tekkers as a motivator even though a loss to Yano and Tanahashi puts them two wins off the pace. Here is a chance to even the odds at the top of the table, and settle a score from earlier this year. After Henare made his first appearance in United Empire earlier this spring, he headed straight into a singles match with SANADA, while O-Khan faced Naito. Seven months ago, it was Naito and SANADA out on top; will United Empire conquer tonight?
6th Match: Be-Bop Tag League (Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi) (4-1) vs Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.) (4-1)
Another high stakes tag battle with a lot of personal history under the surface, both Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. have more than a little previous with both Toru Yano and Hiroshi Tanahashi. Be-Bop High School’s early explosive start saw a winning streak stopped by Naito and SANADA, but they were able to rally with two points earned at the expense of Aaron Henare and Great-O-Khan. Will the IWGP Tag Team Champions add another blacked out circle to the loss column, or will Tanahashi and Yano’s wit and wiles overcome Taichi and Sabre’s natural abilities?
5th Match: TenCozy (Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan) (2-3) vs Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) (3-2)
Tag record: 2-1 TenCozy
Two undeniable tag team hall of famers collide in the fifth match of the night. Between TenCozy and Guerrillas of Destiny as duos there are 13 IWGP Tag Team Championship reigns. 2021 finally saw Guerrillas of Destiny, in their eyes, complete an unbeatable legacy, winning their first match in the Tokyo D0me to become seven time IWGP Tag Champions, to TenCozy’s prior record of six. Yet when it comes to direct competition, the Third Generation team has G.o.D beat 2-1; at least up to now. Will tonight see Tama and Loa draw level?
4th Match: Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) (0-5) vs CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (3-2)
Great Bash Heel joined their first World Tag League in two years aiming to recapture past glories of 2015 and 2016, but with a zero point record after five matches, their path to the final is all but impossible. Yet the potential remains to score some impressive victories down the stretch, and it could all start with Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI. While the CHAOS duo certainly have GBH beaten when it comes to double team maneuvers, the bonds Honma and Makabe possess are all but unbreakable.
3rd Match: Tiger Mask & Yuji Nagata vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi) (2-3)
After a slow start to World tag League, HOUSE OF TORTURE are riding somewhat of a HOT hand with two straight wins. Yuji Nagata and Tiger Mask had the same difficult start to their campaigns, but in front of Nagata’s hometown Togane crowd, they finally got on the scoreboard with a win over Suzuki-Gun. There’s no doubt that HOUSE OF TORTURE will be delving deep into their usual bag of tricks, but with two of the most experienced veterans in the game in the opposite corner, there isn’t a trick that Tiger and Nagata haven’t seen. Could they have the edge in Korakuen?
2nd Match: Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku) (0-5) vs BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens (3-2)
After another loss in Chiba this weekend, Minoru Suzuki and TAKA Michinoku are stuck alongside Great Bash Heel at zero points. After the start to the tournament seemed as much about reinitiating TAKA Michoinoku as he rejoined the Suzuki-Gun fold as it was about gaining victory, now the 0-5 record is a source of increasing anger for both men, and Minoru Suzuki specifically. Facing Suzuki-Gun wrath are Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens, but the resourceful BULLET CLUB duo have put together an impressive start to their own campaign despite a defeat to LIJ at the weekend, and will not be shrinking away from what could well be a wild brawl in Korakuen Hall.
1st Match: Yuto Nakashima (0-0-8 this tour) vs Ryohei Oiwa (0-0-7 this tour)
Singles record: 0-0-5
With the night kicking off with Nakashima and Oiwa still fighting for that all important first win, it’ll be a hot night in Korakuen Hall Tuesday!
