Kota Ibushi returns to action in front of hometown crowd
April 29 sees the second night of NJPW action in Kagoshima, as Satsuma no Kuni wraps up with the return of Kota Ibushi to the ring for the first time since his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship defeat at Sakura Genesis.
Watch Satsuma no Kuni LIVE or in English on demand with NJPW World!
Main event: Golden☆Lovers (Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi) vs United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare)
The main event sees the first straight tag team match for Golden☆Ace in eight months, as Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi team up in Ibushi’s home town to take on Jeff Cobb and Aaron Henare of the United Empire.
The last time Tanahashi and Ibushi were in straight two on two tag team action, it was Summer Struggle in Jingu, and a failed challenge for the IWGP Tag Team Championships that saw the Ace and the Golden Star break apart until the time was right. In the intervening eight months, much has changed, not least of which being the formation of the United Empire.
World tag League 2020 saw Hiroshi Tanahashi team with the man then known as Toa Henare; the team’s first match quickly ending at the hands of Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb. As Henare walked a frustrating path into 2021, a part of him admired Cobb’s decision to become his own man and join the new, fast rising group; fast forward to April 4 and at Sakura Genesis, he became the United Empire’s Ultimate Weapon.
That night’s main event saw Kota Ibushi fall in defeat in his first defence of the new IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. As the reality of the situation sunk in on Ibushi, Jeff Cobb added insult to injury with a crunching Tour of the Islands to the former champion. Ibushi hasn’t been seen since as he recovered and trained for his return; will his comeback be a successful one? Or will the United Empire further humiliate the Golden Star in his home town?
5th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito) vs United Empire (Great-O-Khan & Will Ospreay)
The semi main event will see Shingo Takagi and Tetsuya Naito team up against Great-O-Khan and Will Ospreay. For Ospreay and Takagi, this is the final time May 4’s main event participants will share a ring on NJPW World before Dontaku, and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship main event. Can the Dragon deliver a firey blow to the world champion in advance of the hugely anticipated title bout?
Meanwhile, after Monday’s singles clash in Hiroshima, Naito and O-Khan’s issues will spill over into this tag team match. After stating that his win in Hiroshima would kick start his 2021 resurgence, naito will seek to prove that point tonight, while O-Khan hunts for vengeance.
4th Match: Master Wato, Ryusuke Taguchi, Hiroyoshi tenzan & Toru yano vs BULLET CLUB (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi, Taiji Ishimori & Dick Togo)
By the time night two of Satsuma no Kuni rolls around, either Toru Yano and EVIL will emerge victorious from their night one KOPW 2021 trophy battle, but there will be some ill feelings still lingering; and depending on the victor, some degree of trauma. Toru Yano has a deep seated fear of the dark, but will he face his fears to retain his trophy? Or will he be walking to the ring after having suffered his first loss in KOPW competition?
3rd Match: Suzuki-Gun (DOUKI, Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi) vs BULLET CLUB (Jado, Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa)
A long, long series of trios matches between Suzuki-Gun and BULLET CLUB sees its last match broadcast on NJPW World tonight before the entire dynamic between Dangerous Tekkers and Guerrillas of Destiny is changed May 3 in Fukuoka.
On night one of Wrestling Dontaku, Taichi and Tama Tonga meet in a ladder match to determine who will be the last to ever seize possession of the Iron Fingers From Hell, while Zack Sabre Jr. and Tanga Loa face one another in singles action, with Dangerous Tekkers’ tag team championship careers on the line. Who makes a key last statement tonight?
2nd Match: Tiger Mask, SHO & YOH vs Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
After night one of Satsuma no Kuni sees Roppongi 3K defend the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships against El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru, YOH will have to reset quickly, and change his mindset from being a champion to being a challenger. On May 4, YOH and EL Desperado square off with the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on the line. After months of criticism from champion Despe about YOH’s perceived lack of fire, will he show the masked champion the will of a number one contender tonight?
1st Match: Yota Tsuji & Yuya Uemura vs Los Ingobernables De Japon (SANADA & BUSHI)
Kicking off tonight, Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura get a big opportunity in tag action against SANADA and BUSHI. It’s rare for Los Ingobernables De Japon memers to be in straight tag action against Young Lions, and that should present a good chance for Tsuji and Uemura to impress and learn a new playbook. After SANADA emerged victorious in a war with Aaron Henare in Hiroshima, will he be a gracious teacher, or a harsh master tonight?
