Finals set in Kagoshima
On Friday December 8, Kirishima City in Kagoshima will see the semifinals of World Tag League. The final four will become the final two on Friday, while fallout from prior nights will spill into action on tonight’s undercard, now made official.
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Main event: WTL Semifinal- Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (B Block 2nd place) vs BULLET CLUB War Dogs (Gabe Kidd & Alex Coughlin) (A Block 1st Place)
Tag record: 2-1 Bishamon
What a difference a year makes, or the more things change the more they stay the same? That’s the story of our main event tonight. In one corner, third verse is the same as the second and first for Bishamon, who are looking to make an unprecedented threepeat of World Tag League, and in the process be the first champions to win the league, despite the champions making the finals on several occasions in the past. Opposite them, a team who had a risible two point record in 2022, but with new attitudes and allegiances, whether one likes them or not, War Dogs have propelled themselves to the top seed in A Block.
The first test for Alex Coughlin and Gabe Kidd as members of David Finlay’s BULLET CLUB was to wrestle Bishamon in back to back nights over Independence Day, first for the STRONG Openweight Championships and then for the IWGP. Kidd and Coughlin brute forced their way to the gold on July 4, an effort that was marked with sloppy tag co-ordination but a boundless capacity for violence. The next night, Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI had gotten wise to their foes, and would not taker them lightly again, retaining the IWGP titles in decisive form.
Yet while Bishamon have racked up the miles and damage since, Goto first sustaining an MCL injury that took him out of the autumn, and during WTL dealing with neck issues, Kidd and Couhlin have gone from strength to fearsome strength. Tonight, with chips on shoulders proudly borne, will the War Dogs seize their chance for gold and bodies, or will the bonds of Bishamon prove too strong?
7th Match: WTL Semifinal- Guerrillas of Destiny (El Phantasmo & Hikuleo) (B Block 1st Place) vs TMDK (Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls) (A Block 2nd place)
While Hikuleo and El Phantasmo’s past extends farther back than to the formation of this team at the end of the G1 in August, there were still voices that spoke critically of the two Guerrillas of Destiny as a ‘thrown together team’. Through a win and two defences of the STRONG Openweight Tag team Championship, and most of all, an impressive ten point record in their first World Tag League, they have proven this is anything but the case. yet opposite them are a team in Shane Haste and Mikey Nicholls that have unbreakable bonds forged over decades, and arguably the greatest duo never to be the IWGP Tag Champions. Which side gets a step closer to their first WTL trophies?
6th Match: Just Five Guys (DOUKI, Yuya Uemura, Taichi & SANADA) vs Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, BUSHI & Zandokan Jr)
Zandokan Jr.’s application to join LIJ was rejected by Tetsuya Naito last night in Miyazaki, after he and Yota Tsuji were unable to end their WTL campaign with a win over Atlantis Jr. abnd Soberano Jr. Zandokan is committed to being on LIJ’s radar though, and in Naito’s continued absence from in ring competition, will be looking to make the most of his role tonight. Meanwhile, Naito has made petitions of his own to return to action by December 10’s final. While he is not cleared to compete tonight, he will likely be face to face with his January 4 opponent all the same.
5th Match: Toru Yano, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tomohiro Ishii & Kazuchika Okada vs Soberano Jr., Atlantis Jr., Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona
An eight man battle will see the NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Champions colliding with two thirds of the ROH Six Man Champions tonight. With the Atlantis and Soberano team joining Gates of Agony, it’s an imposing side to face the team of hall of famers (and Toru Yano).
4th Match: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi)
The last 48 hours has felt like a lifetime for Shota Umino. Two days ago, Ren Narita stabbed Umino in the back to join HOUSE OF TORTURE, declaring a rekindled friendship a sham and casting his lot with the worst elements of NJPW. Yesterday in Miyazaki it seemed as if Narita wouldn’t dare to show his face to Umino, but he did- only after another attack to the back with a chair. Tonight, Umino finally gets a chance for revenge as an official tag match is made. What will happen when Umino gets his hands on Narita tonight?
3rd Match: Ryusuke Taguchi, Ryohei Oiwa & Kaito Kiyomiya vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
While Ren Narita targets Shota Umino, joining HOUSE OF TORTRUE in the process, H.O.T is on the upswing, and at the forefront, EVIL has decided he has personal beef to settle. The King of Darkness has blamed he and Yujiro Takahashi’s failure to reach the WTL squarely on Kaito Kiyomiya. After Kiyomiya and Oiwa came away with a win on night five of the league in Fujisawa, the two added to a humiliation of H.O.T by meeting a post match attack head on and sending the group packing with suplexes and a Shining Wizard. What dark vengeance lies in the heart of EVIL?
2nd Match: Lance Archer, Alex Zayne & Minoru Suzuki vs United Empire (Great-O-Khan, HENARE & Callum Newman)
Though HENARE and Great-O-Khan aren’t in the final four of World Tag League tonight, they are experiencing a surge in momentum. The two brought an end to Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano’s campaign, with HENARE scoring a decisive pinfall on Ishii. The Face of Fury has since reflected that not only did he and O-Khan beat two thirds of the ROH Six Man Champions in gates of Agony, he also holds singles wins over two thirds of the NEVER trios champions in Ishii and Hiroshi Tanahashi.
It’s clear that HENARE and United Empire thirst over six man gold, but they have their owrk cut ourt for them tonight against a highly imposing trio. Former Suzuki-Gun brothers Lance Archer and Minoru Suzuki are joined by Alex Zayne as Suzuki and Monstersauce face O-Khan, HENARE and Callum Newman.
1st match: Oskar Leube, Yuto Nakashima & Master Wato vs BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale, Jack Bonza & Taiji Ishimori)
The night will kick off with six man action pitting a Hontai trio against BULLET CLUB. With Yuto Nakashima and Oskar Leube both having spent extensive time training in the New Zealand Dojo, this antipodean themed clash will be an intriguing way to kick off the night’s proceedings.
