Connors and Moloney start second reign
The main event on the Road to New Beginning saw the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag titles on the line, Catch 2/2, Francesco Akira and TJP defending against Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney.
Connors and Moloney poured salt on the ring in mockery of TJP’s Aswang side, but paid for their disrespect, the champions firing into their foes. A stunning no touch tope con giro scored for Akira on the challengers, and the champions made a huge mark with an Alley-Oop onto a steel chair on Connors, but when TJP wanted he and Akira to make use of a table brought into the match by Moloney, hesitation from the Italian instead saw Akira driven into the wood.
With Akira on the back foot, Moloney showed his grit and strength even after a recent bicep injury, hoisting the champion for a Drilla Killa with one arm. As the match progressed though, with both teams looking to show ultimate superiority by stealing the other’s finishing moves, TJP shoved his partner out of the way of 2×2, taking the brunt of the move which still didn’t end the match. Instead, as he was hoisted for Full Clip, a blood mist shot Connors out of mid air as the flow of the match changed again.
Catch 2/2‘s bonds on full display, they had designs on winning the match with the War Dogs’ Full Clip to no avail, but when Moloney was alone in ring, his escapes of the 2×2 instead saw him fall prey to the Hit and Run. Looking to regain the tag titles the same way they first won them, TJP set up Connors for the Leaning Tower, but Akira caught sight of Moloney brandishing a fork; with memories rushing back of a vicious stabbing at New Year Dash, he hesitated and the challengers turned the tables. A Full Clip on Akira later and Moloney and Connors became two time champions.
Despite the best efforts of TJP and the rest of the United Empire, further injury ended their night, and a powerbomb on a steel chair meant he couldn’t leave the building on his own power. United Empire are scheduled to face the War Dogs in a steel cage in Osaka on February 11.
