SHO & YOH rack up first IWGP Junior tag defense
The main event on night one of Satsuma no Kuni in Kagoshima saw Roppongi 3K attempt to make their first defence of their fifth IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Championship reign against the Suzuki-Gun tandem of Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado.
YOH would start the match with Kanemaru, and though a technical opening was quickly interrupted by an assault from behind by Desperado, he was able to take down both his challengers with dropkicks before bringing in SHO. Before the champions could connect with a double team however, Kanemaru was able to pick YOH’s leg and low bridge SHO before targeting the champion’s knee with basement dropkicks.
A target clearly identified, the challengers set to work on YOH’s left knee, wrapping it around the ring post and almost picking up the win and the titles via countout. An overhead kick with his good leg however, and YOH was able to bring in SHO, who exploded on both challengers. Thudding kicks resounded off Desperado’s chest as SHO built momentum, but Kanemaru was once again perfect back up for Desperado, hooking SHO’s heel from the apron and then dropping a signature guardrail legdrop before a drive by kick on the apron that got two for his partner.
As the match passed the ten minute mark, it was now SHO reeling as the challengers had full control of the bout. A kitchen sink would get a moment’s space, however and a double spear was enough to finally bring in YOH. Working off his healthy upper body, flying forearms paid off for YOH, who followed with a neckbreaker and missile dropkick that took out Despe. Trading forearms, YOH looked to build more steam against his masked opponent, but a spinebuster saw him bounce off the mat at the 15 minute mark before barely backdropping out of a Pinche Loco attempt.
The counter was enough to set up a Falcon Arrow however, and a shocking modified facebuster. YOH seemed set to attempt his new Direct Drive finish but again Kanemaru was there to support, allowing Desperado to lock in Numero Dos that would have surely ended the match without SHO’s intervention. The match approaching a direct preview of next week’s singles championship affair, Desperado got two from Guitarra Del Angel, but YOH was able to respond with his version of the Final Cut, leading to a tag on both sides.
Kanemaru got two from a British Fall on SHO, and looked for a satellite DDT, but got caught with a spear and a double wrist lock at the 20 minute point. This time it was Desperado supporting the heel master with the break up, and as Kanemaru went on the run, this time his satellite DDT rang true as SHO’s head rang off the canvas. A picture perfect Moonsault followed, but only garnered two from the referee; with both men looking to end the match, things broke down with Desperado and YOH both hitting the ring only to be taken out.
SHO would connect with rolling German suplexes on Kanemaru before tearing at the challenger’s arm, but a rope break was secured. Kanemaru resisted the Power Breaker, but this time the champions had the teamwork edge, connecting with the Nomisugi knees before 3K connected, Desperado making the save.
The match now passing 25 minutes, Desperado looked to uncork a closed fist to YOH, but got caught with a pair of superkicks and a tope con giro instead. SHO was left in with Kanemaru, and went for Shock Arrow; Kanemaru was countered with a pair of flash pins, but SHO escaped and rocked the Heel Master with a lariat. A cross arm piledriver got two for SHO before combining with YOH for Strong X and a successful defence. Post match, YOH promised to take the IWGP Junior Heavyweight singles title and wrestle SHO with that title on the line; first Desperado awaits on May 4.
