Bishamon pull off unprecedented feat
The main event December 10 in Kumamoto was the finals of World tag League 2023, Bishamon seeking an unprecedented threepeat as WTL winners against El Phantasmo and Hikuleo of Guerrillas of Destiny.
Handshakes between both teams before the bell promised a fair confrontation in the final, YOSHI-HASHI and El Phantasmo kicking things off for their respective teams with a tense exchange of hold, ELP getting the better of YOSHI-HASHI with a lofty dropkick. Tags on both sides saw Hirooki Goto and Hikuleo crash into each other, Hikuleo’s monstrous size giving him the advantage on this occasion as G.o.D began to wisely isolate the battle-worn Goto.
Hikuleo’s crunching DDT and towering elbow drop continued the punishment, G.o.D making good use of quick tags to keep Goto on their side of the ring. Inevitably though, a moment of space opened the door for Goto to land a lariat and YOSHI-HASHI to re-enter the match, Bishamon combining to suplex Hikuleo onto the prone El Phantasmo for extra damage before banging the war drums. It was now time for the IWGP Tag Team Champions to showcase their veteran experience as they sought their third consecutive Word Tag League win, ELP now the one trapped and taking a beating.
An enzuigiri finally allowed El Phantasmo to tag in Hikuleo and the giant charged; a double lariat sent both opponents to the outside which set ELP up to dazzle with a stunning ropewalk moonsault to the outside. The STRONG Openweight Tag Team Champions then shocked the Kumamoto crowd by setting a table on the outside of the ring, YOSHI-HASHI primed to be crushed but Goto was able to make the important save. Returning to the ring Goto and Hikuleo collided in a war of lariats, both men equal to the challenge and knocking the other down.
Now the legal men, YOSHI-HASHI and El Phantasmo met in the middle of the ring in a heated exchange of forearms and blistering chops. A crossbody from ELP was followed up by a moment of magic as he landed a wild topé suicida, Swanton bomb and Lionsault to almost earn the victory. The big boot-UFO combo from G.o.D had YOSHI-HASHI vulnerable; Sudden Death hit true, Hikuleo delivered the mighty God Send chokeslam and Super Thunder Kiss was set; but YOSHI-HASHI just managed to get his knees up to avoid what would have been certain defeat.
In homage to Jado at ringside, Hikuleo and ELP united to hit an otherworldly super powerbomb, Goto this time forced to break up the pin to keep Bishamon’s World Tag League hopes alive. To the disbelief of the audience Hikuelo headed to the top rope to hit his own Thunder Kiss in an ill-fated move, YOSHI-HASHI barely avoiding the soaring giant. A much needed tag was finally made, Goto storming in with a spinning heel kick, backdrop and Ushigoroshi. El Phantasmo’s fightback was spirited but frail, Bishamon able to take Hikuleo out with a brutal neckbreaker onto Goto’s knee before returning their attention to ELP with a Goto God Hunter.
A YOSHI-HASHI superkick paved the way for Shoto to be delivered and the match seemingly reach its conclusion, only for Hikuleo to break up the pin at the last possible moment. The table looming, Hikuleo and Goto found themselves battling on the ring apron, YOSHI-HASHI coming over to assist his tag team partner with Bishamon ultimately hitting an extraordinary Shoto from the apron and through the table. At the 35 minute mark El Phantasmo was on his own but refused to give up without a fight, ingeniously hitting his own Shoto onto Goto with the unsolicited help from YOSHI-HASHI, following up with Ushigoroshi and Sudden Death. Against all odds ELP delivered CR2, but Goto showed his own fighting spirit by getting his shoulder off the mat before the three count.
As ELP sought to pick up the scraps YOSHI-HASHI flew in with a superkick and Goto struck quick with GTW, Bishamon looking to finally finish the match with the Dangerous Nebra but again El Phantasmo somehow kicked out. Neraku would be the final nail in the coffin though, after more than forty minutes Bishamon finally picking up the victory to do the unthinkable and win their third successive World Tag League. Post match, the winners recognised the ability and will to win of their opponents, recognising the need for a rubber match, this time with both the NJPW STRONG and IWGP Tag team Championships at stake.
