WWE Main Event 1/3/2024

WWE Main Event 1/3/2024

Akira Tozawa vs Bronson Reed 

Tozawa charges at him and is thrown off. Tozawa hits a flurry of shots then pump kicks him. Reed body blocks him and headbutts him. Reed slams and elbow drops him.

Reed back elbows him then gorilla press drops him. Reed misses a senton thne takes a corkscrew kick. Tozawa boots him out of the corner and hurricanrana's him into the buckles. Tozawa is then popped up and ddt's him.

Tozawa rips his shirt off then flips onto Reed off the top. Red catches him and death valley drivers him. Reed top rope splashes him and wins it.

It was short but made sense and was what it needed to be with the big man vs little man story. There was nothing wrong with this one.

Johnny Gargano vs Ivar

JG = Johnny Gargano

Ivar blocks a headlock takeover and an armdrag. JG jumps off the 2nd rope and hurricanrana's him. JG topes him then he pats himself on the back along with Ciampa. Ivar is knocked down from the apron. JG tries to plancha him but is send into the apron. Ivar then crossbodies him against the apron.

We go to break and return. Ivar chinlocks him and JG fights out. Ivar face kicks him. JG hits punches then step up enzugiri's him. JG hits a slingshot spear for 2. Ivar butt drops him in the corner. Ivar misses a top rope moonsault and is superkicked for 2.

JG hits punches then Ivar spinning slams him. Ivar misses a bronco buster in the corner. Ivar spinning high kicks him for 2. Ivar does a double underhook sitout powerbomb for 2. Ivar hits a back elbow flurry in the corner then JG superkicks him.

They trade shots on their knees and Ivar corner spears him. JG goes up and over in the corner and wins it.

I thought they did too much here with Johnny surviving the double underhook powerbomb and getting crossbodied against the apron. I also thought it went longer than it needed to.

Overall thoughts: There were only 2 matches here and neither one was must see. The opener was okay but short and they did too much in the other match and went longer then necessary.

WWE NXT 1/30/2024

WWE NXT 1/30/2024

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/01/wwe-nxt-1232024.html 

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinals - Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams vs The LWO (Joaquin Wilde and Cruz del Toro)

Melo side headlocks him then Qilde does a flying headlock takeover. Melo armdrags him then hits a nice dropkick. Melo bulldogs Wilde. Melo drops down and Trick dropkicks Wilde. Trick takes a double back elbow then Wilde is dropped onto Trick. Cruz asai moonsaults Trick.

Trick spinning slams Cruz and Cruz dropkicks him in the back of the leg. Trick pop-up uppercuts Cruz then Melo chop and stomp flurries Cruz. Cruz cartwheels into an enzugiri on Melo then Wilde top rope flip dives onto Melo outside. Cruz tornillo's Trick outside.

We go to PiP break and return. Melo and Cruz lariat each other at the same time. Trick gets in and hits isde kicks on Wilde. Trick flying lariats Cruz and slams Wilde. Trick hits a double rock bottom for 2. Trick spinning face kicks Wilde and lifts Melo up to springboard splash Wilde.

Melo is in tree of woe. He gets superkicked then Cruz and Wilde hit stereo coast to coast dropkicks on him. Wilde does a flying ddt on Trick off of a catapult. Cruz hits forearms on Melo and takes a high kick. Cruz top rope dropkicks Melo then misses a phoenix splash. Melo codebreakers him then codebreakers Wilde as he springboards. Trick flying pumping knees Wilde and wins it.

It was maybe Trick's best performance yet. The two teams matched well and they had a fast paced match with a lot of flying. The double coast to coast dropkick spot was very impressed and Wilde/Cruz were really motivated here.

Oba Femi jumps The LWO after. Dragon Lee then comes out and makes the save. Oba throws Wilde onto Cruz then lariats Lee as he comes off the top rope.

Ava Raine talks to Ridge Holland in the back. She won't give him all 3 Gallus members at once in a match. Lexis King walks in and gives her a gift basket filled with his photos and shirt. King sets up his own meeting with Ava and she said he should fight Ridge tonight. Ava gives Ridge the gift basket, then Ridge gives it back to King and calls it a re-gift.

Tatum Paxley is fawning over a photo of Lyra. She says she will lways be there for her and knows she will be there for her too. Lyra comes in and said she can stop. Lyra asked why she attacked Roxanne last week. Tatum said that's what she wanted. Lyra said she didn't and can fight her own battles. Tatum said she wants to fight her battles for her. Tatum said she will take care of Roxanne tonight and Lyra won't even have an opponent at Vengeance Day.

Tatum Paxley vs Roxanne Perez

This started during the PiP break. They trade forearms and Perez hits her own. Tatum dropkicks her then upkicks her from the mat. Tatum step up enzugiri's her then crossbodies her in the corner. Tatum briding double underhook suplexes her for 2. Tatum dropkicks Perez through the ropes then Perez topes Tatum when she is distracted. Perez is crotched up top and then armdrags her off of her shoulders. Perez hits a code red for the win.

It was a quick and average. Tatum did some different moves than usual like the upkick and the step up enzugiri.

Perez and Lyra go face to face after. Tatum grabs Perez and they fight. Lyra pulls Tatum off and Perez stops herself form nailing Lyra.

Arianna Grace talks to Wren Sinclair in the back. She said she knows Wren wants to fit in here and said she is a leader around here. Grace then gives her tips. Fallon Henley walks in and Grace said she smells "farm". Fallon and Grace argue. Grace says she will show self restraint and Fallon challenges Grave to fight her tonight.

Elektra Lopez vs Lola Vice

Lopez spears her and hits mounted punches. Vice reverses her then spears her through the ropes. Vice high kicks her outside then is thrown into the post. Lopez knees her then Vice hits a kick combo. Vice corner hip attacks her then axe kicks her.

Lopez rolls her up and chops her then powerbombs her. They trade forearms and Vice spin kicks her. Lopez double chops her and double throat chops her. Lopez short arm lariats her then swinging side slams her. Vice guillotines her then back rolls and hits forearms. Vice then hits a spinning high kick and wins it.

It was short but good. They were aggressive with each other and the action was non-stop.

Dijak is watching video of his match vs Joe Gacy somewhere. Joe then comes in. Joe asks if he can sit and Dijak says he may not. Joe then sits. Dijak calls him an unhinged piece of trash and asks what he wants. Joe said she doesn't want anything in life. He said Dijak can't get rid of him no matter what he does as he will keep crawling back. He then give him a tape recording of him saying that. Dijak punches him then Joe dives at him. They pound on each other and we cut away.

Ridge Holland vs Lexis King

Ridge pulls on King's nose then pulls him back. Ridge short arm lariats him and we go to PiP break. We return. King chop blocks him then Ridge hits a nice lariat. King lariats him on the floor. King stomps him then foot chokes him in the corner. King corner lariats him then kicks him in the back. King neckbreakers him for 2. King running kitchen sinks him in the back of the head.

King hits kicks on Ridge then Ridge capture suplexes him. Ridge overhead suplexes him then swinging side slams him. King superkicks Ridge in the leg then Ridge headbutts him. Ride drops him over the top rope then hits knees to the body. Ridge lariats him in the back of the head then nails Gallus as they come down.

Joe Coffey is thrown in the ring then has his head banged off the post. King superkicks Ridge then hits a coronation neckbreaker to win it.

I thought the match should have ended up when contact was made with Ridge and Gallus. The match wasn't really anything special. I don't think this face run of Ridge's will work.

Ridge is jumped by Gallus after. Ridge's leg is pillmanized as they chair it with a chair.  

Andre Chase says he will say goodbye to Chase U forever tonight. Duke and Riley come in and say let's do it one more time.

Trick and Melo talk in the back. They say there's one win left. Trick said he was surprised to see him at The Rumble and Melo said he was surprised to see him at Smackdown. Melo said he can't be the only one who sees Ilja Dragunov playing mind games. Melo said he is just looking out for him and tells Trick not to let Ilja get in his head with mindgames. Trick says he and Ilja will handle this face to face. Melo said Trick will realize everything he is saying is true soon and said he will see he had his back since the beginning.

Chase, Duke and Riley Osborne are in the ring. Chase said he threw a desk or two during his run, but it was passion. He said Chase U became one of NXT's success stories. He said the memories they made together will stand the test of time. He said he has nobody to blame but himself and said he's so happy he got to live his dream with all of the fns. Duke said Chase has been a positive influence on his life. Duke said he saw what Chase U could do for him.

Duke said being called MVP was the greatest day of his life. Duke said he and students made a tribute video for Chase U. We see the video. We see some goof moments then we see clips of Chase flipping out on people. We see clips of Thea joining with them and we see Chase U in London with Bodhi Hayward in some of the shots.

Chase said the whole situation has been a teachable moment. Chase says for now, this is goodbye. Jacy Jayne's music then hits. Jacy is out with Thea and said if you want something said ask a man, if you want something done, ask a woman. Jacy said she didn't think she would fit into Chase U and said maybe she came into this toxic. She said she came looking for friends. She said Chase brought life into Duke's life and she is inspired by his protective Chase is for Thea. Jacy said maybe she could change and said she knew she had to do something about the university being in trouble.

Jacy said she came up with a solution. She said they will not be saying goodbye to Chase U tonight. She then introduces the 2024 Ladies of Chase U calendar. Various Chase U girls come out. Jacy said the projected sales will get Chase U out of debt and get them to the promised land. She said they will start to make money and Chase U will be launched into the next decade. Chase hugs Jacy. He said he had his doubts and said Jacy is officially in Chase U. 

It was a nice little angle. I thought they were going somewhere with the promised land thing, but they weren't. 

We see The D'Angelo Family basically re-creating some of The Soprano's intro. Tony said it's time for them to take over. Rizzo said she's been known as the girl with the big mouth. Tony said she threw hands first then talked after. Stacks said she is battle tested. They keep saying "call Rizzo". Tony said OTM is way over their heads and Stacks said they have what OTM has. Tony said the streets of NXT belong to the don of NXT.

Fallon Henley is in the back. Brooks Jensen goes up to her. Brooks talk about them winning the NXT UK tag titles. Wren Sinclair then comes in, asks to accompany her and Fallon asks if they can talk later. She says she will see him later. Brooks looks dejected.

Chase U is thrilled in the back. A new girl is with them and Jacy said to make sure they have 10 cases of the calendar ready at Vengeance Day. Chase said she saved Chase U and his life. Lexis King walks in. He asks for a signed copy of the calendar. Riley tells him to back off. King asks why he is always in his way. Riley said he's where he should be - between Jacy and Thea. King said that's why nobody likes him.

The said everyone likes Riley and she likes him - kind of likes him. We then see Dijak and Gacy come in and fight. People are trying to break it up and the camera is knocked over.

Fallon Henley vs Arianna Grace

Grace tells her to kiss her hand. Fallon wristlocks her and Grace rolls out of it then celebrates. Fallon yanks on her arm. Grace his punches then Fallon back elbows her. Grace points outside and screams. Grace goes for move and is armdragged. Fallon shoulders her over.

Fallon trips her and kicks her in the side of the head. Fallon slides out, Grace tries to block her punch then is nailed. We go to PiP break and return.

Grace pulls on Fallon's chin. They trade shots to the chest then Fallon rolls her up. Fallon back elbows her then Grace throws her backwards. Grace bangs Fallon's head off the mat. Gallon spin kicks her and punches. Fallon its a lariat, shoulder tackle and a back elbow. Fallon swinging facebusters her.

Graces goes out then Fallon punches her. Jakara Jackson gets on the apron then Lash pump kicks Fallon. Fallon is thrown back in and Grace pins Fallon to win it. Grace is shocked she won it.

It wasn't that good as it was a very basic match and the dirty finish didn't help it. It really doesn't matter though. Grace has a great look and is a great character that will be around for a long time and Fallon's a likeable face.

We get a video on Out the Mud with up close shots of them. They talk in front of some spray painted building. Jadia said people have been trying to put her in a box she won't fit in all of her life. Price said she does everything different and people don't like different. Nima said she's doing nothing but causing destruction. Nima says OTM is a lifestyle. Jaida said she will wipe the floor with the women's locker room. She said she came from nothing like them. Scrypts said everyone is finding out not to play games with OTM. He said they played their game now everyone plays theirs. Price said the streets belong to OTM and Tony should stay on the sidewalk.

We go outside. Dijak and Gacy are fighting on top of a trailer high up. Dijak calls him trash. Gacy grabs him by the face then Gace is kicked off of it into a giant dumpster.

Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker talk in the back. Baron calls him Mr. Royal Rumble and asks if he should bow down. He said he was impressed by his performance. He said how about a phone call? He said he thought The Wolf Dogs were better than this. Bron asks him what he said and asked what he called them. Bron said last week Baron hated The Wolf Dogs. Baron said it was stuck in his head like a bad song. Baron says it again and Bron says it's a thing. Baron said they bought owe Melo one and Bron said they will spear Melo, win the cup and become champs. They then pound fists and Baron seems to accept The Wolf Dogs' name in a fun segment.

Heritage Cup - Noam Dar (c) vs Von Wagner

Mr. Stone's kids are watching in the crowd.

Round 1 - Von shoulders him over then Dar hits kicks. Von shoulders him over again. Von rolls and kips up out of a wristlock then armdrags Dar. Dar slaps him and is spinebustered. Von throws him then gutwrench suplexes him. Von spinning F-5's him. Von hits some punches and pounds on him as the round ends.

Round 2 - Von grabs Dar between rounds and Stone and the ref have to get him off. Von nails Oro Mensah from behind as he is still in the ring as the round starts. Oro is lariated over the top. Dar then flying kicks Von and grabs the pin. Dar is up 1-0.

Round 3 - This starts during the PiP break. Dar hits leg kicks and clips him. Dar low shining wizards him. Dar hits shots from the outside while Von is on the mat and Von's leg is dropkicked into the post. Von ends up chokeslamming him for 2. Von delayed vertical suplexes him. Lash and Jakara grab Von and Oro gets on the apron. Fallon and Wren then come out and hit Jakara and Lash. Dar leglocks Von and Von is saved by the bell. Dar keeps the hold on after the bell rings. 

Round 4 - Stone tells Von to dig deep. Dar pump kicks Von then takes a punch to the face for 2. Dar spinning back elbows and punches him. Dar elbows him in the side of the head then Von slams him. Von is pulled over the top to the floor. Dar pump kicks him outside then dropkicks his leg into the steps. Dar runs at him and takes a boot. Von jumping knees him then spears the most when Dar moves. Dar rolls him up and wins the match 2-0.

I was really surprised they didn't give Von a fall here. I hope there's more to it because that's lame if that's the end of it here. It was fine but hard to follow with action taking place during the break. Dar and Oro get up in the faces of Mr. Stone's kids after. Von nails Dar and Oro then powerbombs Oro through the commentator's table. Von and Stone then go with the kids in the crowd.

Ava Raine yells at Dijak outside. She asks him if he wants to get suspended. Dijak said he wants Gacy on Sunday in a no disqualification match. Ava asks why he thinks Gacy is in any position to compete. Gacy then gets up from the dumpster and says it sounds like fun. He then falls back in. Ava tells Dijak to get out.

Trick and Ilja are supposed to have a one on one. Trick is in the ring. He said Vengeance Day is 5 days away and calls out Ilja. Ilja says Trick is ready to fight on Sunday, right? Ilja said he is ready to fight for his life. He said they will whoop that trick. Ilja offers a hand shake. Trick pushes his hand down. Trick said Ilja may be smarter than he looks. He sais Ilja calls himself a czar and said a czar will do anything to stay on top. Ilja said Trick has a voice in his head giving him ideas.

Ilja said their relationship is built on respect. Trick said Ilja respects him to have Trick put the match on Vengeance Day when Ilja will have the advantage. Ilja said he destroyed his body in 2024 for this brand. He said he knows Trick would never face him at less than 100%. Trick said Ilja pushed the match back so Trick would have two matches. Ilja said he didn't force him to accept, but Trick was offered the match and took it. Ilja said he played mind games only with Baron Corbin.

He said Trick is a victim of his own success and Ilja asks if it's his mistake. Ilja said Trick should be more concered about Melo. Ilja said Melo needs Trick for further glory. Trick said he will win The Dusty Classic then take Ilja's title away.

Ilja said it's a sweet little dream. Ilja said Trick isn't focused and said their rivalry made him more of a man then Melo ever did. Ilja said if Trick shows any weakness, he will break him piece by piece and destroy what he built. Trick said there is no one who can destroy what he built. Trick said he's a different person this time around. Ilja said Trick will write history on Sunday, but not the history he wants. Trick said may the best man win. Tirck offers a handshake and Ilja shakes hands. Ilja pulls him in with a hug and smiles at him. Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin then knock both over.

Bron and Baron beat up Trick. Melo then makes the save. Bron and Baron are knocked out and refs hold Baron and Bron back. Ilja stares down Trick and looks super mad.

It's been a long time and we still haven't really gotten a full solution to the Melo/Trick issues and whether Ilja is trying to mess with Trick or not. Hopefully we will at the PPV. There's still too much mystery in this angle to get super into it and for this segment to work as well as it could have.

Overall thoughts: The opener was good. Vice/Lopez was short but good and the Heritage Cup match was okay. I felt they needed a little more with The Chase U revive angle. And we still haven't really gotten the full scoop on the Trick/Melo/Ilja situation after months, which is a big problem as Vengeance Day this Sunday is pretty much only built around it. It was a decent episode of NXT, but not the greatest go-home show ever.

All Japan Pro Wrestling 12/31/2023 MANIAx 2023

All Japan Pro Wrestling 12/31/2023 MANIAx 2023

There's no women's match on this show which is odd since they usually are on the bigger shows now.

Koji Iwamoto, Minoru Tanaka & Naruki Doi vs. Astronauts (Fuminori Abe & Takuya Nomura) & Black Menso-re

Doi running forearms Abe. Abe slaps him then kicks him in the back. Minoru and Menso go at it. Minoru hammerlocks him. Menso hits chops and Minoru face kicks him. Menso dropkicks him. They go out and Menso is sent into the rails as everyone else fights outside withm them. Minoru suplexes Menso on the floor.

Doi rips at Menso's mask. Menso takes running corner attacks and Koji pop-up knees him for 2. Menso step up enzugiri's Koji. Nomura gets in and hits forearms and a slam on Minoru. Nomura supelexes Koji then Koji blocks his PK. They trade forearms. Abe gets tagged in and PK's Koji.

Koji shoulder throws Nomura then suplexes Abe. Abe punches him and both go down. Minoru and Menso get in and Minoru flips over him. They trade shots then Minoru eye pokes him. Minoru 2nd rope dropkicks him. Menso takes a double back elbow, a cradle shock and a 2nd rope double stomp for 2.

Menso cradles Minoru for 2 then superkicks him. Menso misses a move off the top then backslides Minoru for 2. Minoru high kicks him then rolls him up off the abdominal stretch to win it.

They didn't have enough time here and it ended up being rushed. There was just a lot of people coming in and out and Menso was oddly in for the majority of this. I've always thought Koji and Minoru really looked alike since Minoru used to have the same tights as him and it was hard to tell them apart at times.

Koji Doi, Kuma Arashi & Mitsuya Nagai vs. Ryo Inoue, Ryuki Honda & Takao Omori

This is one of the few times Doi and Kuma have actually made tape this year. I don't know what the deal is with them as they are two good, heavyweight wrestlers yet none of the bigger feds seem to like them. This is a giant waste of Honda, who has been one AJPW's best this year.

Omori and Doi start us off. Omori side headlocks him and they trade shoulders. They trade chops for forearms. Kuma knees Omori on the ropes. Omori takes a double shoulder and legdrop + senton combo. Omori is then triple stomped by his opponents.

Nagai puts Omori in a traphezus hold then Omori back drops him. Ryo gets in and hits chest kicks on Nagai. Ryo 2nd rope dropkicks Nagai then Nagai suplexes him. Doi and Honda get in and trade forearms. Honda running back elbows him then corner lariats him. Honda spinebusters Doi for 2.

Doi hits running corner moves on him for a 2 count then crossfaces him. Doi spinning lariats Honda then is lariated over. Doi suplexes Honda. Omori and Kuma get in. Kuma samoan drops him then sentons him. Omori takes corner attacks then Nagai capture suplexes Omori. Kuma sentons Omori for 2 then misses a top rope senton.

Honda spears Kuma then Ryo 2nd rope elbow drops Kuma. Omori 2nd rope elbow drops Kuma for 2. Kuma and Omori lariat each other then Omori full-nelson slams him for 2. Omori axe bombers him and wins it.

It was short for how many people were involved and wasn't what it could have been. Omori struggled a bit at times here. It probably could have been a decent house show semi-main event on a better day.

Yoshitatsu & Yuma Aoyagi vs. Ren Ayabe & Shuji Ishikawa

Shuji and Ren give out samples of something to fans in the crowd. Yuma and Yoshi attack before the bell. They go for stereo codebreakers and are both knocked over. Shuji slams Yuma for 2 then Ren also slams Yuma. Yuma hits forearms on Ren then Ren hits a nice back body drops on him.

Yuma gets dropped by a Shuji forearm then Shuji running forearms him in the corner. Shuji 2nd rope double stomps Yuma for 2. Yuma running forearms Shuji. Yoshi gets in and hits kicks on Shuji. Yoshi face kicks him then tornado ddt's Ren. Yuma and Yoshi hit stereo facewash kicks. They go for stereo codebreakers again and get knocked over for it.

Ren flying neckbreakers Yuma then corner face kicks him. Ren gets on Shuji's shoulders and they suplex Yuma. Yuma cradles Ren and rolls him up. Ren full-nelson slams him for 2. Yuma rolls Ren up with a bridge and gets the win.

It was another quick tag that probably would have been the main or semi-main of another show. Nothing too special here but Ren actually showed a little personality for a change. 

Jun Saito vs Rei Saito

They lock up and Rei slaps him on the ropes. Jun slaps him back and they hit shots. Jun side headlocks him and they shoulder battle. Jun face kicks him then Rei drops him over the top rope.  They go out to the floor and Jun is sent into the rails. Rei is then sent into the rails. Jun hits forearms and Rei slams him. Rei stands on Jun's gut.

Rei chop flurries Jun in the corner then corner lariats him. Jun back body drops him  then running face kicks him. Jun hits corner punches then hits a face kick and lariat. Jun hits forearms then is shouldered on the ropes. Rei slams him then 2nd rope splashes him for 2.

Rei gets stuck up top and is superplexed. They trade chops. Rei double chops him and takes kicks to the chest. Jun face kicks him then Rei crossbodies him. Rei piledrivers Jun then hits bolo punches. Jun spears him. They slap each other. Rei headbutts him and Jun shoves him. Jun face kicks him and picks up the win.

It wasn't that good. You could tell they really didn't want to lay into each other and didn't feel comfortable beating each other up. It seemed like everything they did was emotionally hurting them. The crowd wasn't that into it either.

They walked out together after.

Kuroshio TOKYO Japan & Seigo Tachibana vs. Shotaro Ashino & T-Hawk

Ashino's back. He grew a beard, he's tanned and he's bigger. Ashino hammerlocks Seigo. Siego side headlock takeoers him and they stand off. Seigo boots him on the ropes and is taken down, back elbowed and shoulderblocked. Seigo takes a double chop from both opponents. T chops Seigo. Seigo hits forearms back then takes a hard forearm.

Ashino karelin's lifts Seigo then chinlocks him. Jiro tags in and jacket punches Ashino. Jiro dropkicks Ashino in the arm. Ashino hits shots on Jiro then his shoulder is rammed into the buckle. Seigo basement dropkicks Ashino then kimura takedowns him. Ashino belly to belly suplexes Seigo.

T hits shots on Seigo then Jiro clubs T. Jiro springboard dropkicks Seigo on accident then T suplexes Jiro. T and Seigo goof around. Jiro and T go at it and Jiro jacket punches T. Jiro jacket punches his opponents out. Seigo tope con hilos both opponents outside then purposely botches a flying space tiger drop.

Jiro throws Seigo off the top at T and T moves. Ashino hits high  germans on both opponents. Jiro is pushed into an Ashino german then Seigo is pop-up euro'd. T reverse slams Seigo onto Jiro. Ashino running euros Jiro for 2.

Ashino ankle locks Jiro. Jiro gets out and leg kicks him. Ashino and T take stereo beach breaks for 2. Jiro running step up enzugiri's Ashino and wins it.

This was awful. This was Ashino's return from injury here. He should have been featured and put over strong. Instead, it was the Seigo and Jiro comedy hour. Then Ashino lost. Horrible.

Charlie Dempsey & Yuma Anzai vs. LEONA & Tatsumi Fujinami

TF = Tatsumi Fujinami, CD = Charlie Dempsey

TF and CD start us off. TF wristlocks him, CD rolls out, bridges and flips backwards. TF headlock takeovers him and CD headscissors him. CD shoulders TF over and hits euros. TF dragon screws him.

Leona and Yuma get in. Leona wristlocks him and takes a side headlock. Yuma shoulders him over then Leona headlock takeovers him. Yuma dropkicks him. Leona hits euros and slaps. Leona suplexes him then jumping elbows him.

TF clubs on Yuma. Yuma dropkicks him. TF trips CD then Leona does a top rope fist or knee drop to CD. CD hits euros on Leona then Leona dragon screws him. CD falls backwards on it and takes a nasty looking fall. Leona figure fours him.

CD gutwrench suplexes him then does a kimura takeover. It gets broken up and Yuma flying knees TF. Leona takes a high/low then CD dragon screws Leona. CD does an stf variation on him and wins it.

It only had 8 minutes and it just wasn't enough time to get anything going. Leona is very average at everything and Fujinami can't move as well due to his age. I'm not sure what was supposed to be accomplished out of this, but I don't think it helped anyone.

Atsuki Aoyagi & Rising HAYATO vs. The 37KAMIINA (Toy Kojima & Yuki Ueno)

AA = Atsuki Aoyagi

AA and Toy start us off. Toy hits an okay dropkick that surprises AA. Rising and Ueno wristlock each other. Rising chops him and hits a spinning headscissors. Rising flips off the 2nd rope and does his pose. Ueno goes over the top and skins the cat and they do a pose off.

Rising and AA are pulled over the top then Ueno tornillo planchas them. Rising is thrown into the rails outside. Toy slams AA then elbow drops him. Ueno vader bomb double knees AA then chinlocks him. Toy corner dropkicks AA then suplexes him.

Toy sleepers AA then AA handspring back kicks Toy. Rising jumps off of Toy's back and dropkicks Ueno. Rising running back elbows Toy then Toy flying kicks him. Ueno enzugiri's Rising from the apron then slingshot double knee drops him. Ueno spins Rising into a facebuster. Rising then slingshot ddt's him onto the apron over the ropes.

Ueno takes kicks from both opponents for 2. Ueno dropkicks Rising in the knee then leg lariats him over the middle rope. Rising crucifix bombs Ueno with help from his partner. Rising falcon arrows Ueno for 2 then asai moonsaults him for 2. Rising does a top rope asai moonsault and Ueno gets his knees up. Ueno flying pumping knees him then Rising takes a double team air raide crash for 2.

Toy tope con hilos AA outside. Rising Ueno trade shots and Rising single leg dropkicks him. Ueno dropkicks him then hits his ranhei variation to win it.

It was probably my least favorite of the AJPW vs DDT matches we have had. There was no anger or aggression between these guys and it was just a match. Toy had a good night but there wasn't anything too special about it.

AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Title Match - El Lindaman (c) vs. Dan Tamura

Linda dropkicks Dan to start. Linda hits another dropkick. Linda comes off the top, is caught and slammed. Dan gets his back on the mat. They get back up and Dan takes him down. Dan ties his legs up and Linda ropebreaks. Dan lariats him on the apron. Dan is pulled down to the floor and Linda tope con hilos him.

They trade forearms on the floor and Dan goes into the rails. Linda dropkicks him over the rails. Dan's out for a good minute yet doesn't get counted out. Linda steps on his chest then knees him. Linda hits face kicks then Dan samoan drops him. Dan hits running shoulders in the corners then knocks him over. Dan suplexes him.

Dan shoulders him over. Linda fujiwara armbars him then Dan deadlift powerbombs him out of it. Dan and Linda trade forearms. Linda elbows Dan's arm then Dan lariats him. Linda forearms and backdrops him. Dan then backdrops him. Linda goes for an armbar then does a high shoulder throw for 2.

Linda delay germans him then Dan death valley drivers him. Linda release germans him on his head then Dan lariats him. Dan hits a nasty jacknife powerbomb on Linda then hits another one to win it.

I thought it needed more time but it was a good high impact match. They really stiffed each other here and they did a good job with Dan getting the come from behind win. The opening section of this could and should have been better though with a lot of time being waisted on a grounded waistlock.

Davey Boy Smith Jr., Hokuto Omori & Minoru Suzuki vs. Hideki Suzuki, Hikaru Sato & Suwama

We have Totally Not Reborn Suzuki-gun here. I'm not sure how this one is going to work out.

Minoru and Hideki start us off. They mat wrestle and Hideki goes for an armbar. Minoru foot chokes him and they trade forearms. They trade forearms and Hideki hits euros. Smith kimura takedowns Hideki and blocks his pin attempt. Smith does a nice full-nelson pin attempt then Suwama gets in.

Smith wins a test of strength against Suwama then Suwama side headlocks him. Suwama tries to slam him but can't then Smith slams him. Smith misses a leg drop and both tag out. Sato and Omori get in. They blow kisses at each other on the ropes and Sato bites his fingers. Omori running forearms him then Sato bites his foot.

Hideki stomps Omori's arms then Suwama gets in. Omori tries forearms on him and is double chopped down. Suwama corner forearms Omori then belly to belly suplexes him for 2. Omori dropkicks him in the knee. Omori 2nd rope dropkicks him.

Minoru gets in and PK's Suwama. Minoru back body drops him then Suwama back body drops him. Suwama shoulders him over. Sato hits kicks on Minoru then Minoru back body drops Hideki. Minoru sleepers Sato and gets Smith in.

Smith suplexes Sato then legdrops him for 2. Sato enzugiri's Smith. Suwama throws Hideki into Smith then corner lariats Smith. Sato enzugiri's Smith then water wheel drops him. Suwama and Hideki argue then Smith lariats both. Sato takes corner moves then Smith spinning powerslams him. Sato rolling armbars Smith then Smith deadlift powerbombs him out of it for 2. Smith sitout powerbombs him and wins it.

There was too much going on here with too many people involved and not enough time. It just didn't work.

Triple Crown Title Match - Katsuhiko Nakajima (c) vs. Kento Miyahara

KN = Katsuhiko Nakajima

They lock up and both get backed up into the ropes. KN leg kicks him from the mat then Kento face kicks him out. Kento headbutts him outside. Kento is thrown into the rails then Kento drops him throat first on the rails. Kento is then back body dropped onto the apron. Kento is thrown into the rails then face kicked on them.

They go back in and KN foot chokes him. KN kicks him in the back. They trade chops and Kento goes down. KN step up enzugiri's him, dragon screws him and puts him in an STF. KN running face kicks him then double foot chokes him in the corner.  KN double foot chokes him again. KN hits chest kicks then is dropkicked in the knee and the side of the head.

KN sits up top and is pump kicked down to the floor. Kento piledrivers him on the apron. Kento pumping knees him in the corner. KN flips out of a german then germans him. Kento germans him back and takes a PK. Kento brainbusters him.

Kento pumping knees him then KN kicks his arm away. KN fujiwara armbars him. KN kicks Kento's arm, chest and back.  Kento dropkicks him then running lariats him for 2. KN trips him into the buckles then chest kicks him. KN hits a PK for 2 then drops him with a big slap. KN brainbusters him for 2. KN misses a high kick and takes a flying pumping knee. Kento pumping knees him then KN high kicks him.

KN northern lights bombs him then armbars him. KN then tapes him out to win it.

As always with Kenoh matches, I didn't like the piledriver on the apron spot. That should really take someone out and they still wrestled after it. I thought it was good but not a classic. It was much better than their NOAH match. They did so some armwork here so the finish wasn't out of nowhere, but they could have done a better job of it.

Overall thoughts: All Japan actually stacked the card too much here. It's a good problem to have but  multiple matches here probably could have been a suitable main or semi main on another show and instead got reduced time here. The main and junior title match delivered. The Davey Both Smith Jr. trios match didn't and the Saito Brothers seemed very uncomfortable out there with each other. It was good overall, just not great.