TV Tournament continues in Korakuen Hall Saturday
After a hot start to the Battle Autumn series and the NJPW World Television Championship tournament, both the single elimination tourney and the series continue on Saturday October 15 in Korakuen Hall.
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Main event: NJPW World Television Championship Tournament- Jeff Cobb vs YOSHI-HASHI
Singles record: 2-0 Cobb
Familiar foes will face off in the main event as YOSHI-HASHI and Jeff Cobb fight for qa spot in the second round of the TV tournament. While Cobb has a 2-0 advantage over YOSHI-HASHI, the Headhunter has had success against the Imperial Unit in both singles and tag matches when targeting the knee of the big Olympian. During the New Japan Cup this year, YOSHI-HASHI pushed Cobb hard and nearly came away with an upset with just such a strategy; and more significantly, forced Cobb to take over 17 minutes in attaining victory.
With 15 minute time limits on all tournament matches, that means a significant chance of a coin toss determining tonight’s main event. YOSHI-HASHI may indeed come away with a 50% or greater chance of a tournament upset Saturday.
7th Match: NJPW World Television Championship Tournament- EVIL vs Aaron Henare
Singles record: 1-0 EVIL
Aaron Henare will be fighting for a spot in the TV title tournament second round and some much needed G1 revenge against EVIL tonight. In Osaka during G1 Climax 32, the presence of Dick Togo, and a steel chair to boot saw EVIL to victory at the ten minute mark, while Henare had to rue his inability to beat the numbers game. With the emphasis on high speed offense in the TV title tournament format, the Ultimate Weapon will be pushing for a quick knockout, and he just may get it.
6th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi) vs BULLET CLUB’s Cutest Tag Team (El Phantasmo & Taiji Ishimori)
El Phantasmo may have turned heavyweight, but BULLET CLUB’s Cutest tag Team is still a going openweight concern, and ELP and Taiji Ishimori team together tonight against Shingo Takagi and Hiromu Takahashi. On November 5, Hiromu and Ishimori may well find themselves on the same side of a tag team lottery, but in the meantime a more straightforward junior preview of January 4 and the Tokyo Dome awaits them. Meanwhile, will Shingo enact violent revenge for what ELP did to the KOPW 2022 trophy in Ryogoku?
5th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, BUSHI & Titan) vs United Empire (Great-O-Khan, TJP, Francesco Akira & Gideon Grey)
Eight man action sees LIJ tackle United Empire tonight in Korakuen. With Tetsuya Naito denied contact with Will Ospreay ahead of their November 5 IWGP US encounter in Osaka, attention will turn to Titan and BUSHI’s ongoing battles with TJP and Francesco Akira that may well see the IWGP Junior Heavyweight tag team championships involved before long. Meanwhile, with Great-O-Khan and SANADA fast approaching their first round matchups in the TV title tournament, might they try and set a fast pace tonight?
4th Match: Guerrillas of Destiny (Hikuleo & Jado) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (SHO & Yujiro Takahashi)
With Hikuleo looking to end the current Battle Autumn tour a double NEVER Openweight Champion, the battle plan for the big little brother of G.o.D continues apace. With 6 Man Championship opportunities looming first on October 23, what happens tonight?
3rd Match: Alex Zayne, Maser Wato, Tiger Mask & David Finlay vs Suzuki-Gun (DOUKI, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Zack Sabre Jr.)
Fallout from the first night of the NJPW World TV tournament will be the focal point of eight man tag team action on Saturday. Could future opponents later in the tournament be team mates tonight?
2nd Match: Ren Narita, Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe vs CHAOS (Toru Yano, Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii)
Ren Narita’s post excursion journey sees its third match Saturday, as he approaches Tomohiro Ishii on October 26 in Korakuen Hall. A cheering crowd will be greeting the Son of Strong Style for his first singles main event at the end of the first round, and with expectations high for this young prospect, he’ll be looking to make a big mark with hard hitters a his side tonight.
1st Match: Suzuki-Gun (TAKA Michinoku & Taichi) vs BULLET CLUB (Gedo & KENTA)
Action kicks off with potential TV title second round opponents in Taichi and KENTA opposite one another in tag action. A difficult first round awaits both men beforehand, but can they deliver a message in our opener tonight?
