World Tag League hits Yamanashi
World Tag League turns the corner into its final third this Sunday live in Yamanashi. Will a team separate themselves at the head of the pack tonight?
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Main event: ‘Be-Bop Tag League’ (Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano) (4-3) vs Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) (4-3)
Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toru Yano have been somewhat of a dark horse favourite through this World tag League, ascending to an impressive eight points, despite recent losses to Goto and YOSHI-HASHI, and Dangerous Tekkers in consecutive matches. The Guerrillas of Destiny also fell foul of Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr., before falling to HOUSE OF TORTURE in Saitama this week to see themselves at eight points. This means both teams are still strongly in the hunt, but also in need of a win as every point in the hunt grows ever more valuable.
6th Match: Dangerous Tekkers (Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.) (6-1) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi) (4-3)
Tag record: 1-0 Dangerous Tekkers
While there was no small amount of schadenfreude in EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi’s opening stretch of losses, there is increasing concern for many that HOUSE OF TORTURE’s winning streak could see them send the World Tag League into darkness on December 15. In Saitama, that streak extended to four wins, with a victory over last year’s winners and pre-tournament favourites G.o.D. There is no question that H.o.T poses a threat, but just as they did in last year’s tournament, can Dangerous Tekkers put EVIL and Yujiro in their place?
5th Match: TenCozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima) (2-5) vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito & SANADA) (5-2)
If not all the way out of the picture, veterans TenCozy are very much on the bubble in Yamanashi at points. They have their work cut out for them as well tonight against Tetsuya Naito and SANADA. After nearly going the distance in defeat to Dangerous Tekkers Thursday saw them, take their second loss the LIJ side are now in a crowded pack at ten points. Can the veteran team of Tenzan and Kojima upset the near front runners tonight?
4th Match: Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) (1-6) vs United Empire (Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan) (5-2)
GBH are mathematically eliminated
Even before their sole win Thursday over Suzuki-Gun, GBH’s opening losing streak had cost them any mathematical hopes of the top two spots. Now they continue to fight for pride, in a match Aaron henare has looked forward to for some time. There was once a time that Henare looked up to and admired Makabe; he was inspired by Makabe’s NEVER Openweight Championship match with Tomohiro Ishii back at Wrestle Kingdom 9 to pursue NJPW, had teamed with the Unchained Gorilla, and sought a place within Great Bash Heel. When Henare suffered an Achille’s Tendon injury eerily similar to Makabe’s from years prior, on the GBH leader’s own 20th Anniversary event no less, it seemed as if fate bound Henare and Makabe together. Yet when the Ultimate Weapon felt that Makabe wasn’t doing enough to create opportunities for Henare, he left the hontai nest for United Empire earlier this spring. Now he will be seeking to show Makabe the potential he always had, and Makabe will look to teach the younger man a lesson in respect.
3rd Match: CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (5-2) vs Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku) (0-7)
Suzuki-Gun are mathematically eliminated
Standing in stark contrast to their brethren in Dangerous Tekkers at the top of the table, Suzuki-Gun’s veterans Suzuki and TAKA have had a torrid time and a speedy mathematical elimination. With Ryogoku now out of the picture, destruction will be, and Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI are in their path. While this is very much a winnable match for the CHAOS side, both TAKA and the King are dangerous opponents, and the potential for their own top two placing to be spoiled is certainly present in Yamanashi. On the other hand, having just beaten CHAOS teammate Toru Yano and his partner Hiroshi Tanahashi to join the tie for second at ten points, CHAOS will not give their spot up easily.
2nd Match: Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask (1-6) vs BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens) (5-2)
Nagata and Tiger Mask are mathematically eliminated
Bad Luck Fale comes face to face with his one time mentor in Yuji Nagata as he and Chase face Nagata and Tiger Mask in the first league match of the evening. With an impressive ten point record, the BULLET CLUB duo are still very much in the hunt. Nagata and Tiger were mathematically eliminated this past Thursday with a loss to the United Empire putting them out of the running, but they have plenty of pride to fight for.
1st Match: Ryohei Oiwa vs Shingo Takagi
Until tonight, Ryohei Oiwa, Kosei Fujita and Yuto Nakashima were engaged in a three way standoff of ten minute draws, each progressing as they attempted, to no avail, to beat one another. Tonight, Oiwa gets a very different education, as a Young Lion not six months into his career faces the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. There is no doubt that Shingo Takagi has no need for the 20 minute time limit in place tonight, but in his return to action for the first time since Power Struggle, he’ll be giving a full appraisal of Oiwa’s budding skills; and be giving Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay some tape to take notice of before Wrestle Kingdom 16 in the Tokyo Dome.