August has turned to September; summer, and Summer Struggle is officially behind us. A sad end, but as Kota Ibushi reminds us as we get our roundup underway, ‘Summer’s over. Something new will start’.
夏の終わり。。
そして、始まり。 pic.twitter.com/DvrmORtLbT
— 飯伏 幸太 (@ibushi_kota) September 2, 2020
The same goes for Ibushi’s tag partnership with Hiroshi Tanahashi. While Golden☆Ace remain on the best of terms, the impending arrival of G1 Climax 30, and failure to capture tag gold in Jingu stadium has meant that the two are taking their separate paths for now. Except when it comes to dietary advice. New champion Taichi was quick to try and force Tanahashi off the diet wagon, but Ibushi ensured wheels were securely affixed.
あー
今日もラーメンがうまいなぁ食うか？
チャンピオンの立場だから奢ってやるから来いよ遠慮すんなよ
俺は優しいからな！そんな痩せてたら力でねぇぞ pic.twitter.com/79HaogAh2y
— タイチ (@taichi0319) August 31, 2020
‘Man, this ramen is good. Fancy some? I’m the champ, my treat. Don’t hold back, I’m a generous guy! You won’t be strong enough to win if you’re so skinny’.
俺は食わない。棚橋さんは食う可能性あるからやめろ！！
— 飯伏 幸太 (@ibushi_kota) September 1, 2020
‘I won’t, but Tanahashi might, so stop it!’
Tanahashi has retained his self discipline, thankfully. His dinner of half a dozen eggs, bean sprouts and two packs of natto might not appeal to everyone, but 40grams of protein got Ibushi’s approval.
晩ごはん。卵6個(全卵3個)、もやし、納豆2パック。 #タンパク質 約40g pic.twitter.com/mxgKHZsWof
— 棚橋 弘至 (@tanahashi1_100) September 2, 2020
The enduring image after Summer Struggle in Jingu this weekend was that of Tetsuya Naito with arm raised under spectacular fireworks:
[LOS INGOBERNABLES de JAPON]
Para mi hace 21 años.https://t.co/yni7JYJeUp pic.twitter.com/5Lokl2WKd8
— 内藤哲也 naito tetsuya (@s_d_naito) August 30, 2020
But that isn’t to say the night went perfectly for Los Ingobernables De Japon, with Shingo Takagi reacting to his NEVER title loss to Minoru Suzuki with ‘I didn’t have enough will to hold onto this. I’ve nothing but regreat. But there’s no way I’m letting it end like this.’
まさか志半ばで手放す事になるとは
無念…
勿論、このまま黙って終わってたまるか#NEVER無差別級選手権#njpw pic.twitter.com/s6EppjOkW0
— 鷹木 信悟(SHINGO TAKAGI) (@Takagi__Shingo) August 29, 2020
And Taiji Ishimori getting a flood BULLET CLUB support in taking Hiromu Takahashi’s IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship:
— 石森太二 (@taiji_ishimori) August 29, 2020
But in light of Roppongi 3K vacating the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, focus must now shift to those titles, and a four team league in the coming week to determine new champions. Former singles junior champion Hiromu immediately leapt to the task along with BUSHI, stating ‘we’re coming for those tag belts’:
俺達がIWGPジュニアタッグ王座獲っちゃうよ？@taiji_ishimori @ElDesperado5 @kmaru0923 @taguchiryusuke @Master_Wato pic.twitter.com/C77hmtcVIZ
— 高橋ヒロム / Hiromu Takahashi (@TIMEBOMB1105) August 31, 2020
and El Desperado gleefully picked up the bait.
そりゃそうだろ！
正直俺はお前と試合出来れば道場でも道端でも15分一本勝負でも無制限でも
どこでもなんでも良いんだけどな
でもノブさんとのタッグのプライドにかけても今回のシリーズ勝つのは俺たちだ
— El Desperado (@ElDesperado5) August 31, 2020
When it comes to wrestling you, I’d be happy with 15 minutes in the Dojo or fighting forever. Whenever, wherever is fine with me. But me and ‘Nobu, we take pride in this tag team stuff, so there is no way anybody other than us is winning on the next tour.’
We’ll find out starting this Saturday on NJPW World!
