Uemura and Taichi, Monstersauce top table after three matches
Night seven of World Tag League saw Fukushima play host to the third matches for B Block, with Yota Tsuji and Zandokan Jr. facing El Phantasmo and Hikuleo in the main event.
The opening moments saw El Phantasmo and Zandokan Jr. go hold-for-hold, ELP’s mastery of the ropes earning him the upper hand as Zandokan sought the safety of a tag, leaving Hikuleo and Yota Tsuji to reignite their rivalry from G1 Climax earlier in the year. Hikuelo was left isolated, quick tags between Tsuji and Zandokan combined with their rudos antics leaving them in control, until the size of Hikuelo allowed him enough space to make the tag. A dazzling lionsault and topé had ELP flying high and a big boot-UFO combo almost earned the win for the STRONG Openweight Tag Team Champions.
The fight tumbled to the outside of the ring as Zandokan soared with a topé only to be immediately caught by ELP launching himself with a moonsault and finally Tsuji diving from the top rope all the way to the floor. Back in the ring consecutive superkicks allowed Tsuji and Zandokan to drop the Anchor on Hikuleo, forcing ELP to make the save with a deadly Canadian Destroyer, only to then fall victim to a TKO on the outside of the ring courtesy of Zandokan. With El Phantasmo wiped out it left Tsuji alone with Hikuleo and the LIJ man instantly got to work to earn the win; a wicked running knee and curb stomp leaving Hikuelo dazed and primed for Tsuji’s Gene Blast to secure the three count and another two points.
The semi-main event of the night promised to be one of the more emotionally charged bouts of World Tag League as Yuji Nagata and Minoru Suzuki teamed to take on Taichi and Yuya Uemura of Just 5 Guys. A deep knee to the gut, kicks to the back and torturous submission holds had Suzuki and Nagata dominating Uemura, Suzuki taking joy inflicting pain on the young lion who once dared to continuously disrespect him. Inevitably Taichi entered the fray and the former Suzuki-gun comrades came to blows, each man offering the other the chance to land their best shot.
Tags on both sides briefly saw the fired up Uemura on top until the action broke down, Taichi charging in to level Suzuki with an Axe Bomber and Nagata launching Uemura with a wild backdrop suplex and enzuigiri. Quick double team offence from Just 5 Guys, a magnificent flying crossbody and Kannuki suplex from Uemura would quickly turn the tide though, enough damage done to claim their third successive victory and remain tied at the top of B Block.
One team was guaranteed to earn their first points of the tournament when Bishamon took on BULLET CLUB Rogue Army’s Bad Luck Fale and Jack Bonza, and in the early stages YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto looked the more likely to win as they banged the war drums. The action spilling to the outside allowed Rogue Army to gain control, Fale squashing YOSHI-HASHI back in the ring and Bonza taking out Hirooki Goto with a dangerous Doctor Bomb for a near fall. However it would all change in an instant, Bishamon sending Fale flying over the ropes with a double lariat which left Bonza vulnerable to tandem offence culminating in Shoto and the IWGP Tag Team Champions earning their first 2 points.
The first league match of the night would bring to the end an undefeated streak as CMLL’s Atlantis Jr. and Sobreno Jr. met the Monster Sauce duo of Alex Zayne and Lance Archer. The ring would be expertly cut off by Zayne and Archer for the majority of the match as they punished Atlantis until a quick tilt-a-whirl backbreaker saw Soberano enter the action and the speed immediately quickened, a stunning tijeras and tornillo almost securing the win for the luchadores. Ultimately Archer’s strength would be the difference maker, a mighty chokeslam and powerbomb leaving Zayne free to hit the Taco Driver and keep their winning streak intact.
