Last statements made before Jingu in Korakuen Hall
Summer Struggle in Jingu is just around the corner on Saturday August 29! Less than 48 hours before this huge outdoor spectacular, live action comes to Korakuen Hall, as the top stars of NJPW make some critical last statements before going to war on the famous baseball ground.
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Main event: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi) vs BULLET CLUB (EVIL & Taiji Ishimori)
Our main event sees previews of two LIJ vs BULLET CLUB title matches set for Jingu Stadium on August 29. In the fourth match on the card Saturday, Hiromu Takahashi will face the challenge of Taiji Ishimori, a rematch of their classic Best of the Super Jr. 25 final encounter, this time with IWGP Junior Heavyweight gold at stake.
This will be the first time since July 27 that NJPW World viewers will see Hiromu in official sanctioned action. On that night in Korakuen Hall, a Mistica in the early going from Ishimori, and a Yes Lock submission punished an already damaged shoulder for the champion, who went out of action for weeks before returning ‘ready to play’ on August 9. As ready as the Time Bomb says he is, however, Ishimori will be eager to deal as much damage to the champion’s shoulder as possible in advance of their title matchup Saturday.
Then there’s the still brewing war between tetsuya Naito and EVIL. 48 hours away from his long awaited rematch from Dominion for the double IWGP titles, Naito has stolen a win here and there, and moreover has shown uncharacteristic fury and aggression in his targeting of EVIL in recent weeks. But could making El Ingobernable lose his cool become the key for EVIL and the ever present Spoiler Dick Togo in their main event Saturday? August 27 could provide some hints.
5th Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi & Master Wato vs Suzuki-Gun (Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
The fifth match of the evening sees another pair of Jingu previews, with the Golden☆Ace team of Kota Ibushi and Hiroshi Tanahashi stepping to IWGP Tag Team Champions Dangerous Tekkers and Master Wato facing off with Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Wato’s issues with Suzuki-Gun started when he first spoke to the NJPW audience at large during the New Japan Cup. Assaulted from behind by DOUKI, Wato had his first opponent quickly introduced to him. Yet it was the Heel Master Kanemaru that made his own presence felt immediately after Wato emerged victorious. Can the Grand Master continue his winning ways in Jingu?
Then, after a nsummer long crisis of confidence for Hiroshi Tanahashi, aggravated by Dangerous Tekkers’ tormenting ways, it appears as if with Kota Ibushi’s help, Golden☆Ace are back in apparent winning form. Can they prove that tonight in Korakuen? Or will Taichi and Zack Sabre Junior try and break down this dream team once more?
4th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Shingo Takagi, SANADA, BUSHI) vs Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & DOUKI)
Another championship preview in the fourth match of the evening sees Shingo Takagi and Minoru Suzuki make some violent final statements before Jingu. This explosive bout should bring the summer fireworks in a major way on Saturday; who will gain the upper hand in what will be a chaotic Korakuen war?
SANADA and El Desperado will also be meeting 24 hours removed from their respective KOPW 2020 first round encounters. After SANADA submitted SHO and Desperado lured Satoshi Kojima into getting himself disqualified last night, this is now half of Saturday’s deciding four way bout, and there’s a distinct opportunity for both to deal enough damage to minimise one of the variables in a difficult numbers game Saturday.
3rd Match: CHAOS Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano & SHO vs BULLET CLUB (Yujiro Takahashi, Jado & Gedo)
One day after Kazuchika Okada has to take on a BULLET CLUB trio all by himself in handicap action during the first round of KOPW 2020, more even sides tonight in Korakuen. Even after last night’s handicap victory by Okada, the very personal nature of the match will mean resentment will certainly still last 24 hours later. Takahashi is unlikely to take their KOPW departure in good grace, and that anger may result in their opponent walking into Saturday’s four way with a handicap of their own.
2nd Match: Toamoaki Honma, Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima vs CHAOS (Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Tomohiro Ishii)
The second match of the evening sees new NEVER 6-Man Tag Team Champions YOSHI-HASHI, Goto and Ishii in action once again. After their emotional victory in Korakuen Hall some three weeks ago, the CHAOS trio are looking for their first challengers, and three of hontai’s experienced hard hitters may fit the bill.
1st Match: Yota Tsuji vs Yuya Uemura
Singles record: 7-5-21 Tsuji
Round 34 of the most hard fought of Young Lion rivalries kicks things off in Korakuen Hall. Tied at the hip and almost neck and neck in their careers for over two years now since their first battle in April 2018, Tsuji and Uemura haven’t met one on one in the last six months. That time it was Tsuji extending to a two win lead over his rival Uemura; since then both men have continued to hone their skills, but whose will be sharper when Summer Struggle gets underway?
