United Empire move to V1 in Kobe
September 25’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match in Kobe World Hall saw the United Empire team of Francesco Akira seek their first defence against Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato’s Six or Nine side.
Watch the Burning Spirit replay now!
TJP entered the match with a minor leg muscle injury but showed no signs of such in the opening moments, going hold for hold with Master Wato. A cheap shot from behind by Akira would be what put United Empire in charge for a moment, but a double dropkick would have Wato calling double team plays with Taguchi and doing so with newfound confidence.
Spotting Akira out the corner of his eye, TJP sent his partner flying into Taguchi to create the opportunity for stereo dives. The Public Enemy pulled back from an ambitious five however, favouring his leg as Akira took over on Taguchi. Using his partner for support, the Italian unleashed a stunning rope walk dropkick to Taguchi, but when TJP tried to follow up, he made a rare error in ring positioning.
Setting Taguchi for a Facewash in the neutral corner, TJP was confronted by Wato on the runup, and couldn’t get in the young man’s head enough to pull off the move. Instead Wato showed impressive presence in waiting for his shot and calling it. Capitalizing on TJP still being a step slow, Wato countered a double team attempt and sent the Public Enemy flying with a tijeras before a mammoth Everest German suplex for two on Akira.
The United Empire fought back with a spectacular springboard Frankensteiner for Akira on Wato, but TJP couldn’t prevent the save. Wato used the prone TJP as a stepping stone to a superplex on Akira, who was put in Oh My and Garankle; still neither it nor Dodon To The Throne were enough to create new champions.
Six or Nine set for the Number Nine on Akira but we’re broken up with a crunching flatliner from TJP. As he struggled to escape Taguchi’s clutches, it would be Akira calling the play, hoisting Taguchi into a double stomp Skull and Bones variant. The Leaning Tower followed, and United Empire secured a hard and admirably fought first defence.
