Tag action continues Korakuen run
After Best of the Super Jr. 27 hits Korakuen hall on Wednesday night, it’s the turn of World Tag League in the hall Thursday November 19.
Main event: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Shingo Takagi & SANADA ) (1-1) vs Dangerous Tekkers (Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi) (2-0)
The main event in Korakuen Sees Shingo Takagi and SANADA face the currently undefeated Dangerous Tekkers.
If there is one thing that has become all the more clear since the start of World Tag League, it’s the perfect synchronicity that the IWGP Tag team Champions Zack Sabre Jr. and Taichi. Still a relatively young team, Dangerous Tekkers have communicated to perfection since the summer, and have maintained their momentum to two victories against tough competition in YOSHI-HASHI & Hirooki Goto and HenarACE.
Tonight, SANADA and Shingo Takagi are present more than enough for any competitor to be concerned about one on one, but their ability as a team at a win and a loss apiece, could still be in question. Looking at the G1 Climax record between the four members, things appear even; Taichi defeated Shingo Takagi, while SANADA was able to put rival ZSJ away. Yet tag team action is all about having one and one equal three, and that mathematical edge would appear to work in the champions’ favour.
5th Match: CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI) (1-1) vs CHAOS (Tomohiro Ishii & Toru Yano) (1-1)
Tag record: 1-0 Ishii/Yano
Two intra-factional battles will be a part of the night’s card in Korakuen Hall. Of added interest for this all CHAOS affair is that three of the four participants are NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions, as Tomohiro Ishii stands opposite his championship teammates in Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI.
CHAOS has a record of embracing competition from within. Indeed, the current NEVER champions won and then defended their titles in heated all CHAOS affairs in Korakuen Hall, and that competitive spirit is sure to run high tonight as well. After Yano fell to YOSHI-HASHI and Goto during the G1, the latter in the fastest match in G1 Climax history, will this be a fast affair, or will the master producer carry out some revenge?
4th Match: Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) (1-1) vs BULLET CLUB (EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi) (2-0)
The other factional derby on the night’s card sees the Guerrillas of Destiny face EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi. Monday in Komatsu, G.o.D’s bout with Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale saw an ‘any means necessary’ approach from the six time tag team champions, and Tama Tonga mentioned backstage that factional allegiances will have no bearing on the Guerrillas’ approach.
Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa certainly can expect no factional support from EVIL and Yujiro Takahashi, who have choked and low blowed themselves to a pair of wins in the opening stretch of the league. As EVIL’s presence within BULLET CLUB still causes rifts and discord, we are likely to see both teams go all out with every trick at their respective disposal in Korakuen. That may include the Scorpion Deathlock that Tonga used to gain victory in Komatsu over Chase Owens. EVIL himself has often used the Scorpion Deathlock, and Tonga’s very adoption of the hold may be enough to draw the King of Darkness’ ire.
3rd Match: HenarACE (Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toa Henare) (0-2) vs FinJuice (David Finlay & Juice Robinson) (1-1)
Tag record: 1-0 FinJuice
In any tournament in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, there is no such thing as an easy match, but that notwithstanding, it’s been a tough draw for HenarACE. Without the benefit of months to prepare, the combination went from Henare’s return to New Japan action right to the shock of Jeff Cobb joining The Empire in Aichi, and then on to facing the IWGP Tag Team Champions in Komatsu and now last year’s World Tag League victors FinJuice.
That’s an uphill climb indeed for Tanahashi and Henare, but their 0-2 record belies a cohesion as a team that had been lacking in last year’s tournament, and a passion and fury from Henare that has only grown in the wake of his nine month absence. Henare’s sheer strength and guts combined with Tanahashi’s veteran tactical sense will see points racked up yet, but FinJuice will insist that they won’t be earned against them.
THE EMPIRE (Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan) (1-1) vs BULLET CLUB (Bad Luck Fale & Chase Owens) (0-2)
Three days after a flash roll-up from Hirooki Goto cost he and Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan will be hungry for revenge as THE EMPIRE faces BULLET CLUB in the second match of the night. On both sides a combination of power and tactical awareness make for a difficult match to call, and one of the most physical on the night’s card.
1st Match: Tomoaki Honma & Satoshi Kojima vs Yuji Nagata & Yota Tsuji
24 hours removed from Gabriel Kidd being the Young Lion apprentice to Yuji Nagata, Yota Tsuji takes on the role in Korakuen Hall. Will he be taught more rough lessons, or surprising his masters with the benefit of his recent experiences?
