Two quarterfinals set in the World TV title tournament
Battle Autumn continues tonight with cheering crowds in Korakuen Hall, and as the first round in the NJPW World TV Championship tournament is now complete, the full cards for the next series of events can be revealed.
Watch Battle Autumn LIVE or in English on demand on NJPW World!
Main event: NJPW World Television Championship tournament quarterfinal- Zack Sabre Jr. vs David Finlay
Our main event sees Zack Sabre Jr. in one on one competition with David Finlay for the first time. As the World TV championship tournament continues, both will be bringing a furious pace to proceedings, as they have through all of their heated preview tags over the past week. With Finlay having a family history of tough brawling in the face of scientific competition, will this be a game of hard strikes versus punishing submissions, or might both men surprise with their tactics in a narrow 15 minute time frame?
7th Match: NJPW World Television Championship tournament quarterfinal: EVIL vs YOSHI-HASHI
‘It only takes an instant’ was the adage YOSHI-HASHI reminded us of in victory over Jeff Cobb in his first round tournament matchup last week. The Headhunter could be within an instant of another significant upset tonight in Korakuen Hall, and the vocal crowd in Suidobashi are likely to explode should just a result occur. With EVIL’s lackeys in SHO and Yujiro Takahashi currently in New York for Rumble on 44th Street, the numbers game will be as close to even as YOSHI-HASHI can make it; now, can he maximise his 15 minutes and book his place in Osaka November 5?
6th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito & SANADA) vs BULLET CLUB (Gedo & KENTA)
A preview of quarter final tournament action in Makuhari Sunday will see SANADA square off with KENTA in tag team action. Sunday will see Cold Skull look to complete a hat trick of singles victories against KENTA, who will be hungry to continue his own run to a belt that he feels is rightfully his already. Meanwhile, as Naito is still angered at Will Ospreay’s absence, some frustration will doubtless be meted out on Gedo.
5th Match: Alex Zayne, Master Wato, Hikuleo & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Suzuki-Gun (TAKA Michinoku, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, El Desperado & Taichi)
Next week’s Incredible Tag Team Match in Osaka sees another preview as Master Wato and El Desperado will be opposite one another tonight, but potentially teaming on November 5. Meanwhile, as Hikuleo has refused to fight over a vacant NEVER Openweight Championship and demanded to meet Karl Anderson one on one, speculation will continue to circle around the big man in this eight man tag.
4th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Titan, BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi) vs United Empire (Gideon Grey, Francesco Akira & TJP)
LIJ and United Empire’s ongoing previews of IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Championship action continues tonight. Gideon Grey has proved himself perhaps more capable as a ring announcer than an in ring competitor during this tour, but will that change tonight?
3rd Match: Great Bash Heel (Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma) vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan)
After both men were eliminated from TV title contention, Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan will refocus on tag competition tonight- and perhaps with FTR’s appearance in Osaka on November 5 in mind. Will O-Khan have recovered mentally and physically from Great Muta’s suuden assault last night however?
2nd Match: Yuto Nakashima & Ren Narita vs CHAOS (Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii)
After last night’s insane war between Ren Narita and Tomohiro Ishii, the two will reunite tonight in tag action. Yet Narita’s eyes will this time be likely drawn to his immediate future, and Toru Yano Sunday in Makuhari Messe. As he gets set to face a very different opponent to the Stone Pitbull, how will Narita react?
1st Match: Ryohei Oiwa vs Aaron Henare
Singles action starts the night, as Aaron Henare takes on Ryohei Oiwa. Henare was left furious at an ill gotten victory by EVIL that knocked him out of the TV title tournament, and has been rampaging through the competition since. Can Oiwa mount an offence against the Ultimate Weapon?
