Dangerous Tekkers lead a crowded pack after Saitama action

December 2 saw World Tag League hit Saitama for night seven of the campaign, which saw another team fall by the mathematical wayside as Dangerous Tekkers moved a win clear, and a big group of teams sit at ten points. 

The main event would almost see a draw, a decision finally rendered with under thirty seconds remaining between the IWGP Tag Team Champions and Tetsuya Naito and SANADA. With this being the first meeting for Naito and Zack Sabre Jr. since their G1 bout that ended with a Naito knee injury, the two would go nose to nose, before SANADA’s cooler head would prevail into him starting the bout. 

Familiar foes in their own right, SANADA and ZSJ would exchange British surfboards and muffler holds before a dropkick saw a tag to Taichi. SANADA would bring a heavier approach to Taichi, and Naito would gleefully tag in to get some, before turning a wild eyed anger to Sabre. Yet the distraction would see the champions take firm charge, Taichi holding Naito back for a punishing Dragon Screw and sustained control of El Ingobernable before a desperation basement dropkick. 

SANADA would be in control after a plancha to Taichi, but when a Skull End attempt was broken up by ZSJ, all four men would hit the ring, and then the deck. SANADA would battle back, landing a Tiger Driver to Taichi, but all LIJ’s momentum would stall with one shot to the injured Naito knee. The time running past twenty minutes, Sabre would lock Naito in the same hold that led to his G1 submission and injury, while Taichi had SANADA in Seitei Jujiro, but this time Naito woul dsomehow make the ropes, and counter a knee crusher follow up with a spectacular DDT.

SANADA re-entering, the pace once again quickened, but not in the way Cold Skull wanted, almost being pinned by a Nodo Otoshi/Ore Ga Taue combination.  Naito broke up the ensuing Holy Zack Driver attempt though, and this time Dangerous Tekkers would be in the grips of stereo submissions; a Skull End on ZSJ and figure four on Taichi. As Sabre faded, he got a toe to the ropes and Taichi supported with a Dangerous Backdrop, but a running Destino again meant all four men were on the mat. 

With two minutes left, SANADA and ZSJ traded elbows and uppercuts before a series of flash pins almost led to a double fall. A Euro Clutch would get two and a half before an O’Connor Roll with thirty seconds left on the clock would be blocked, and Taichi was present for a thrust kick and then the Holy Zack Driver for three. 

The night’s semi main event saw Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI battle Hiroshi Tanahashi and Toru Yano. Old rivals Goto and Tanahashi were evenly matched in the early going, before Yano’s attempts to get one up on his CHAOS mates received short shrift. Yano would have a tough time of things worked over by both opponents, but a firm handful of YOSHI-HASHI’s hair would see Tanahashi back inside with a flurry of blows and a flipping senton. 

YOSHI-HASHI would respond with the Headhunter to bring in Goto, who brought the pace until a basement dropkick from the Ace. With Yano back inside, Goto and YOSHI-HASHI were once again wise to the Master Producer’s devious tactics, but not to Tanahashi pulling out YOSHI-HASHI’s heel as he went for the GotoGoto Hunter. With a shot to the exposed buckle, Yano almost rolled Goto up for three, but YOSHI-HASHI barely made the save. 

When the Ace broke up a Shoto attempt on Yano, CHAOS settled for the Violent Flash on Tanahashi instead, before going back to Shoto with no Ace to make the save, Goto and YOSHI-HASHI moving up to tie for second at ten points.  

Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa were lookin for their own fifth win of the league, but would be stopped by EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi as HOUSE OF TORTURE won their fourth straight. After much hesitation, the Guerillas of Destiny reluctantly joined H.o.T in a Too Sweet pre match and instantly paid the price for naivete, being jumped and taken to the floor. Tonga would be stuck in his opponents’ corner until a Complete Shot brought Loa back in. 

A spear to Yujiro, and the door was open for Tonga to tear into EVIL with a barrage of dropkicks and the Supreme Flow for two. EVIL under control, G.o.D went for the Magic Killer, but after EVIL countered, a downed referee led to chaotic scenes. Dick Togo interference would be met by a furious Jado, and Yujiro would be planted with a Gunstun, but the King of Darkness resisted the same move and hit Tama low to land EVIL for the victory. 

Following up on an impressive win over Tetsuya Naito and SANADA, Aaron Henare and Great-O-Khan’s hot streak continued as they sent Yuji Nagata and Tiger Mask into mathematical elimination. Picking up from their exchange during the G1 Climax, Nagata and O-Khan exchanged holds on the mat, Blue Justice with the upper hand before he and Tiger Mask took turns with kicks to the Dominator. Henare would make the assist though, and with an attack on the floor, Tiger Mask would be brought to the wrong corner. Nagata would provide expert assistance to Tiger Mask, fighting off O-Khan, and rocking him with a boot as United Empire went for the Imperial Drop. Henare would provide too much though, rocking Nagata with heavy blows and opening the door for the Imperial Drop on Tiger to secure the two points. 

Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens joined the pack at ten points with a win over TenCozy. Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan caught Chase in a ping pong battle of Saitama Slobberknockers to start strong, but Kojima would soon be caught in the Tongan Massage Parlor. Tenzan would battle back off the hot tag, but when kojima went for a lariat from Tenzan’s support, he was met with a C-Trigger instead, and Fale struck with the Grenade for the victory.

Kicking off the night, Great Bash Heel finally got their first victory of the league, Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma putting away the beleaguered TAKA Michinoku and Minoru Suzuki. After a customary Suzuki-Gun jump start, Honma would be separated from his partner, but Makabe would fire back in customary hard hitting style. After the Unchained Gorilla broke up a Just Facelock on Honma from TAKA, Honma was free to land a full hat trick of Kokeshi, from Rocket to running to diving from the second rope to pick up the win.