Togane sees home town hero Nagata victorious
Togane, Chiba saw the fifth night of World Tag League action on November 28, with Yuji Nagata and Tiger Mask looking for their first win in the main event against the similarly scoreless Minoru Suzuki and TAKA Michinoku. Old rivals Nagata and Suzuki would start off, a cheap shot from Suzuki followed by a quick tag out to TAKA, who paid for the sins of his partner with heavy kicks from Tiger Mask.
Michinoku would be controlled until Suzuki brought Nagata to the floor. Wanting a win over the hometown hero in particular, Suzuki-Gun set to work on Blue Justice, but a tag to Tiger Mask saw the odds evened. As Nagata came back in recovered, the momentum was in his favour as a double arm suplex connected, but Suzuki would fire back with his own heavy forearm shivers; as the former ‘Mr. IWGP’ wound up for a big shot, Suzuki ducked under into a sleeper that brought TAKA inside for more double team offense.
Michinoku would hold Tiger mask at bay with Just Facelock as Suzuki further tortured Nagata, but when the King went for the Gotch Style Piledriver, the veteran resisted. The match breaking down, Nagata almost picked up the win with Nagata Lock II, before getting two from the Thunder Death Driver; Suzuki’s interference was quickly dealt with and a Backdrop Suplex gave Nagata the victory.
A sure fire main event in its own right underneath Yuji Nagata’s homecoming, IWGP Tag Team Champions Dangerous Tekkers faced 2020 WTL winners Guerrilla of Destiny. Tanga Loa and Taichi would trade shots early before Loa picked up the first knockdown, a boot bringing Tama Tonga in against a man he had plagued through the early part of 2021. Taichi quickly brought the Good Bad Guy to the champion’s corner though, and a Zack Sabre Jr. neck twist gave control to Dangerous Tekkers.
Tonga was able to change gears, tossing ZSJ to the floor where he landed awkwardly, damage done enough to give Tama and Tanga a sustained opening. Sabre would be dropped hard with a Jackhammer by Loa. Sabre would go back to the neck on Tama to get Taichi back in, who locked his foe in Seitei Jujiro and landed a crunching Ax Bomber before tossing his pantaloons to the wind, but an overhead kick brought the Holy Emperor down hard.
Sabre would come back in with an explosive PK to Loa and a combination Nodo Otoshi got two, but Loa simply launched ZSJ out of the Holy Zack Driver, as G.o.D regained control. The match breaking down, Taichi made the save twice for Sabre as their opponents looked for the Super Powerbomb and Magic Killer, the second save leading to an inside cradle that gave Sabre the win over Loa.
After HOUSE OF TORTURE broke their tournament duck in Kawasaki, they sought to gain another two points from the team they stole the NEVER 6-Man Tag team Championships from, in CHAOS’ Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI. EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi would try to get the jump on CHAOS to very little success, but on the outside Goto would be sent flying into ring announcer Makoto Abe; still, YOSHI-HASHI had the energy of two men as he tore into EVIL with blistering chops.
Yujiro would regain the advantage for HOUSE OF TORTURE, landing an Intercollegiate slam, but Goto would be recovered enough to make the save, as Takahashi tasted the Violent Flash. Just as Shoto looked inbound though, a Dick Togo interference and a downed referee killed all of CHAOS’ momentum. Togo choked at YOSHI-HASHI, and EVIL made use of a chair before Yujiro broke his cane over the Headhunter; a Big Juice later and it was all over.
United Empire’s Great-O-Khan and Aaron Henare look to follow their win over tag champions Dangerous Tekkers as they took on Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toru Yano. Partners in last year’s league, Henare and Tanahashi would start the match, the Ultimate Weapon rejecting Tanahashi’s appeal to the old days of hontai, before Yano and O-Khan joined the action. Yano would refuse to join O-Khan on the mat, but with an Iron Claw, and body blows from Henare, had little choice but to go the canvas anyway.
Yano remained in the United Empire’s corner before a sharp tug of O-Khan’s ceremonial braids brought Tanahashi back inside. The Ace came in with trademark flair until a Oozora Subaru style Sheep Killer saw Henare get tagged in, and Tanahashi blasted with stiff kicks. Yano would make a mark with an exposed turnbuckle and a slingshot, but Henare would duck Slingblade, and Yano would be tortured with the Fubuki Sheep Killer. Tanahashi would make the save though, and a low blow and schoolboy gave Team be-Bop the win.
Tetsuya Naito and SANADA looked to remain unbeaten at the top of the World Tag League table as they faced Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens. Frustrated at Tetsuya Naito’s leisurely pace in getting started, Chase and Fale jumped their LIJ opposition, but it didn’t go the way Owens had hoped, the Crown Jewel finding himself in the wrong corner. It was with an assist from Fale on the floor that BULLET CLUB created and exploited an opening in Naito’s knee, but with a tag to SANADA, LIJ found their way back in the match with spectacular form. Fale’s power and Chase’s tactical mastery brought them close, and Owens even locked SANADA in his first ever Paradise Lock, but an O’Connor Bridge brought LIJ victory.
Starting the night’s league action were Great Bash Heel and TenCozy, Tomoaki Honma and Togi Makabe looking for their first points against Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Hungry for that first win, GBH worked over Kojima, and utilized impressive fast tags until a DDT led to Tenzan joining the fray. Tenzan and Makabe traded heavy blows, while Kojima traded Kokeshi Rocket for Cozy Cutter, before the TenCozy Cutter scored on Makabe, and a lariat put Honma down for the three.
