Naito, Tsuji leave with upper hand on SANADA, Uemura
The semi main event of the World Tag League Finals on December 10 in Kumamoto saw a preview of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship main event on January 4, Tetsuya Naito leading an LIJ side against SANADA’s Just Five Guys.
Returning to the ring for the first time in more than a month, Tetsuya Naito started proceedings against SANADA in a teasing preview of things to come at Wrestle Kingdom, but after just one lock up tags were made on both sides. Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura briefly collided before making way for Shingo Takagi and Taichi, quick tags seeing Just Five Guys combine well to isolate the NEVER Openweight Champion. Shingo’s power proved too much for DOUKI though, taking control of the match with a thudding lariat as LIJ attacked Just Five Guys on the outside of the ring, Naito taking aim at SANADA by strangling him with Taichi’s microphone stand.
Zandokan Jr. kept the momentum for his team with a picturesque Lionsault, with tags on both sides seeing SANADA and Naito enter the action once again. The IWGP World Heavyweight Champion moved fast, taking out every LIJ member as they charged in before returning his focus to Naito with a dropkick. Naito would retaliate with an arm drag onto his knee, SANADA left vulnerable for BUSHI to soar with a top rope dropkick. A tag to TAKA saw Just Five Guys land tandem offence culminating in a superkick and the Michinoku Driver, but just as the match looked over Tsuji was there to make the save.
The match broke down entirely as all ten men barrelled into the ring to make their mark, Naito in particular landing his wicked swing DDT on SANADA and Zandokan Jr. impressing with a topé suicida. With Just Five Guys scattered it left TAKA alone for BUSHI to strike with MX and pick up the win for the LIJ team.
Hiromu Takahashi would enter the ring from commentary as the united LIJ raised their fists, leaving Zandokan Jr. standing to the side. The CMLL man was ultimately invited to join the celebration as well, and though it was clarified backstage that he is not LIJ&s latest pareja, he certainly has allies to fight alongside him next time he comes to Japan.
