Hiroshi Tanahashi, El Phantasmo, Ishimori among challengers made or named at Dash

New Year Dash often sees NJPW’s best seek to navigate themselves into positions of power as the year gets underway, and 2021 was no different, some challenges reaffirmed in Tokyo Dome City hall, and some issued anew. 

First on the night were El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori moving to challenge IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado. During a wild and heady eight man tag match that also saw Zack Sabre Jr. seeking revenge for his lost IWGP Tag Team Championships against G.o.D. Then, Taichi was seeking vengeance not just for the gold, but the Iron Finger From Hell that Tama Tonga stole on January 4 after using them against their rightful owner. 

In the chaos though, ELP and Ishimori emerged triumphant, a superkick smacking Yoshinobu Kanemaru harder than any natural kick should. Suzuki-Gun cried foul at something being afoot, but there was no evidence of same, and the result remained that BULLET CLUB won out, and ELP and Ishimori made their championship intentions clear. 

The night’s main event saw Los Ingobernables De Japon in full force against Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Master Wato, SHO and Rocky Romero. After a spectacular battle, it was Wato in the ring in the end, eating the full force of an MX from BUSHI. Post match BUSHI stated that he, like Naito, had no post Tokyo Dome plans, and that he’d gladly beat Wato one on one again. 

This challenge came amid SHO being called out by Hiromu, who wanted to put his freshly won IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship on the line against SHO to right his BoSJ loss. SANADA and Iushi stared one another down after Cold Skull’s challenge issued after Wrestle Kingdom, and then, in what could well be a dream match, Shingo Takagi named Tanahashi as his next challenger ‘as long as you aren’t too scared to face the kind of fight this belt stands for’. 

With much up in the air, what will happen to these huge names as 2021 moves forward?