AJPW 1/9 Okazaki Show Cancelled; Dragon Gate, STARDOM Begin Their 2022; NOAH U-CUP Night 2 - 1/7/2022; NJPW Strong Episode 73 - 1/8/2022; TAKA Taichi Mania 3 1/10/2022 on NJPWWorld
All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan were supposed to run in Aichi Okazaki today, however due to multiple staff having fever symptoms, the event was called off. No word right now as to when the show will be rescheduled or if some of the matches, which included a Corona Premier Intercontinental title match as well as an excursion send-off match for Jun & Rei Saito, will be moved.
The next show will be on 1/23/2022 at Tokyo Korakuen Hall. That event will have a one-night tournament to determine the 65th holder of the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, after Jake Lee was forced to vacate after suffering facial injuries. The participants will be Kento Miyahara v. Suwama, and Shotaro Ashino v. Ryuki Honda, with the Final between the winners of those matches. The All Asia Tag Team and World Juniorheavyweight titles will also be defended on this show. The full card has not yet been announced.
Pro Wrestling NOAH
The second show of the N Innovation U-Cup ran on Friday, and it was on Wrestle Universe.
N Innovation U-CUP
- 1/7/2021, Yokohama Radiant Hall (Wrestle Universe)
Yasutaka Yano TLD Kai Fujimura (15:00)
U-CUP 6-Man Tag Match: Daisuke Harada, Atsuhi Kotoge & Junta Miyawaki d. HAYATA, Yoshinari Ogawa & Yuya Susumu [STINGER] (Harada > Susumu, Katayama German Suplex Hold, 15:48)
U-CUP 6-Man Tag Match: Tadasuke, ALEJA & Nio [Kongo] DCO NOSAWA Rongai, YO-HEY & Kotaro Suzuki [Perros del Mal de Japon] (Tadasuke & Suzuki, 6:17)
U-CUP 4-Way Elimination Match: Nao [Kongo] d. Hajime Ohara, Seiki Yoshioka [STINGER] &. Eita [Perros del Mal de Japon] (14:06)
Order of Eliminations:
- Eita > Ohara, Imperial Uno, 8:13
- Yoshioka > Eita, OTTR, 10:45
- Nao > Yoshioka, 14:06
Kaito Kiyomiya & Daiki Inaba d. Super Crazy & Ikuto Hidaka [Perros del Mal de Japon] (Kiyomiya > Hidaka, Jumping Knee, 10:28)
U-CUP Final Elimination Tag Match: Daisuke Harada, Atsushi Kotoge, Hajima Ohara & Junta Miyawaki d. Tadasuke, ALEJA, Nao & Nio [Kongo] (18:29)
Order of Eliminations:
- ALEJA > Miyawaki, Sky Bullet, 5:20
- Harada > Aleja, Katayama German Suplex Hold, 8:25
- Nio > Harada, Stuka Splash, 14:24
- Ohara > Tadasuke, Finnish Forearm, 16:08
- Kotoge > Nao, Killswitch, 18:29
NOAH’s juniors win the N Innovation U-CUP, but there is one more day of this series on Monday, which features a GHC Juniorheavyweight title match as its main event.
- 1/10/2021, Yokohama Radiant Hall (Wrestle Universe)
Daiki Inaba & Yasutaka Yano v. Ikuto Hidaka [Perros del Mal de Japon] & Kai Fujimura
Seiki Yoshioka & Yuya Susumu [STINGER] v. Hajime Ohara & Atsushi Kotoge
NOSAWA Rongai, YO-HEY & Kotaro Suzuki [Perros del Mal de Japon] v. ALEJA, Nao & Nio [Kongo]
Kaito Kiyomiya v. Super Crazy
U-CUP Unit Shuffle Tag Match: Eita [Perros del Mal de Japon] & Yoshinari Ogawa [STINGER] v. Tadasuke [Kongo] & Junta Miyawaki
GHC Juniorheavyweight Championship: HAYATA [STINGER] © v. Daisuke Harada
New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan of America’s first premiere episode for 2022 of NJPW Strong showed last night on NJPWWorld. This is the first batch of matches taped at Nemesis back in December.
TJP [United Empire] d. The DKC (Mamba Splash, 8:31)
Hikuleo & Chris Bey [Bullet Club] d. Jordan Clearwater & Keita Murray (Bey > Murray, CB Knee, 9:12)
Eddie Kingston [AEW] d. Gabriel Kidd (Uraken, 12:37)
I’ve heard very good things about Eddie v. Kidd. I did not watch this show, and don’t know what if any angles were shown on this episode.
This coming Saturday in Seattle is The New Beginning USA, which will be another round of Strong tapings. Jay White has an open “U-S-of-Jay” challenge against a mystery opponent. Josh Barnett also returns to the lineup, taking on Ren Narita. Yuya Uemura gets fed to Brody King, who still has not debuted in AEW as yet despite all speculation. As is usual, I won’t be showing the results for this, instead reporting when the episodes air on NJPWWorld.
The New Beginning USA – NJPW Strong Taping
- 1/15/2022, Washington Hall, Seattle, WA
Jay White [Bullet Club] v. X
Matt Rehwoldt v. El Phantasmo [Bullet Club]
Yuya Uemura v. Brody King [VLNCE UNLTD]
Clark Connors v. TJP [United Empire]
Kevin Knight & The DKC v. Eddie Pearl & Ricky Gibson
Lio Rush [AEW] & Rocky Romero [CHAOS] v. Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs [Team Filthy]
Josh Barnett v. Ren Narita
Juice Robinson & David Finlay Jr. v. JONAH & Bad Dude Tito
Tomorrow, NJPWWorld will be showing TAKA Taichi Mania 3 live. It’s been… quite a while since one of these shows took place! I guess TAKA’s done his penance and is no longer persona non grata in wrestling between his appearances at NJPW shows and this now. TAKA, Taichi & El Desperado are on the advertising image so I assume they will all be there.
Dragon Gate
Dragon Gate finally began their 2022 with the first date of the Open The New Year Gate 2022, from Kyoto KBS Hall. You can see this for the next week on Dragon Gate Network.
Open The New Year Gate
- 1/8/2022, Kyoto KBS Hall (Dragon Gate Network)
YAMATO, Dragon Kid & Ben-K [HIGH-END] d. Kzy, Susumu Yokosuka & Jacky “Funky” Kamei [Natural Vibes] (YAMATO > Kamei, Galleria, 13:06)
Kagetora & Keisuke Okuda [HIGH-END] d. Ryu Fuda & Takuma Fujiwara (Kagetora > Fuda, Brainbuster, 10:45)
goBaaan Special Royal Sambo: La Estrella [MASQUERADE] d. Don Fujii, Masaaki Mochizuki, Super Shisa, Konomama Ichikawa, Shachihoko Boy, Mondai Ryu, Punch Tominaga, Yosuke Santa Maria, Riki Iihashi, Ishin Iihashi & Shoya Sato (Estrella > Yosuke, Planet Fly, 10:27)
Genki Horiguchi, Big Boss Shimizu & U-T [Natural Vibes] d. Ultimo Dragon, Yasushi Kanda & Takumi Hayakawa (Shimizu > Hayakawa, Big Boss Press, 10:10)
KAI, BxB Hulk & HYO [R.E.D.] d. Naruki Doi, Takashi Yoshida & Strong Machine J (HYO > J, Neko Tamashi, 10:49)
Shun Skywalker, Kota Minoura & Jason Lee [MASQUERADE] d. Eita, Kaito Ishida & SB KENTo [R.E.D.] (Skywalker > Ishida, Schoolboy, 13:52)
MASQUERADE win after HYO botches a powder throw, and Shun capitalizes as he does. Eita was NOT happy, and threw the belts that Ishida and SB KENTo respectively hold. MASQUERADE still don’t seem to like each other much, but they are doing what they can. Takashi Yoshida (the former Cyber Kong) demanded an Open The Dream Gate title shot from KAI, but KAI denied him, saying the GM of the company already nixed it.
DG also ran today as well.
Open The New Year Gate
- 1/9/2022, Osaka EDION Arena #2 (Dragon Gate Network)
Kzy, Big Boss Shimizu & Jacky “Funky” Kamei [Natural Vibes] d. Naruki Doi, Takashi Yoshida & Yosuke Santa Maria (Kzy > Yosuke, Running Elbow Smash, 12:38)
Masaaki Mochizuki & Gamma d. Riki Iihashi & Ishin Iihashi (Mochizuki > Ishin, Twister, 8:30)
Ultimo Dragon, Jason Lee [MASQUERADE] & La Estrella [MASQUERADE] d. Susuma Yokosuka, Genki Horiguchi & U-T [Natural Vibes] (Lee > Horiguchi, Maximum Driver, 11:21)
Don Fujii, Yasushi Kanda & Ben-K [HIGH-END] d. Takuma Fujiwara, Shoya Sato & Takumi Hayakawa (Ben-K > Hayakawa, Powerbomb, 10:14)
Shun Skywalker & Kota Minoura [MASQUERADE] d. Eita & HYO [R.E.D.] (Minoura > HYO, Gang after Eita hit HYO with powder, 7:52)
YAMATO, Dragon Kid, Kagetora & Keisuke Okuda [HIGH-END] d. KAI, BxB Hulk, Kaito Ishida & SB KENTo (YAMATO > KENTo, Frankensteiner Of The Almighty, 11:28)
It seems Dragon Gate are not announcing cards ahead of time now, only wrestlers featured, which, given Omicron, seems like a good idea. R.E.D. botched another powder spot. Shun Skywalker claims as long as there is 1 fan, MASQUERADE will fight for them and MASQUERADE is forever. MASQUERADE will guaranteed not be forever. HIGH-END look to be involved in title matches at Champion Gate on 3/5 & 3/6/2022 in Osaka.
DG run a spot how Tuesday in Mie, followed by 2 consecutive nights at Tokyo Korakuen Hall, 1/12 & 1/13/2022, both of which will be on Dragon Gate Network.
STARDOM
STARDOM began their year off proper this weekend as well, with two shows at Tokyo Korakuen Hall
New Year Stars 2022 Night 1
- 1/8/2022, Tokyo Korakuen Hall (STARDOM World)
3-Way Match: Koguma [STARS] d. Lady C [Queen’s Quest] & Himeka [Donna del Mundo] (Koguma > C, Side Rollup, 5:46)
Mayu Iwatani, Hanan & Hazuki [STARS] d. Saki Kashima, Rina & Fukigen Death [Oedo Tai] (Hazuki > Rina, Vertical Drop Brainbuster, 8:59)
Giulia & Thekla [Donna del Mundo] d. Ruaka & Starlight Kid [Oedo Tai] (Giulia > Ruaka, Bianca, 9:10)
Syuri, Maika & MIRAI [Donna del Mundo] d. Mina Shirakawa, Mai Sakurai & Waka Tsukiyama [Cosmic Angels] (MIRAI > Shirakawa, Miramare Shock, 12:11)
Utami Hayashishita & Saya Kamitani [Queen’s Quest] TLD Tam Nakano & Unagi Sayaka [Cosmic Angels] (20:00)
Momo Watanabe [Oedo Tai] d. AZM [Queen’s Quest] (KO, 15:53)
Momo Watanabe betrayed QQ and has now joined Oedo Tai at an earlier juncture. Syuri vacated the SWA title, as she wants to concentrate on defending the Red Belt now, that she won from Utami Hayashishita on 12/29/2021, as well as the Goddess of Stardom tag belts with Giulia. Seems like foreshadowing. Momo Kogo of Actwres Girl’Z appeared pre-show and expressed her intention to come to STARDOM, which was not met well by Unagi Sayaka.
New Year Stars 2022 Night 2
- 1/9/2022, Tokyo Korakuen Hall (STARDOM World)
Thekla [Donna del Mundo] d. Saki Kashima [Oedo Tai] (O’Connor Roll, 7:58)
Mayu Iwatani & Hanan [STARS] d. Unagi Sayaka & Waka Tsukiyama [Cosmic Angels] (Hanan > Tsukiyama, Hanan Special, 8:54)
Maika, Himeka & MIRAI [Donna del Mundo] d. Tam Nakano, Mina Shirakawa & Mai Sakurai [Cosmic Angels] (MIRAI > Sakurai, Miramare Shock, 12:40)
4 v. 3 Handicap Match: Rina, Ruaka, Starlight Kid & Momo Watanabe [Oedo Tai] d. Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani & Lady C [Queen’s Quest] (Momo > C, Reverse B Driver, 17:08)
Goddess of Stardom Championship: Koguma & Hazuki [STARS] d. Giulia & Syuri [Donna del Mundo] © (Hazuki > Giulia, Hazukistral, 16:55)
- Giulia/Syuri fail their 5th defense
- Koguma & Hazuki are the 22nd champions
What did I say about foreshadowing? Maika & Himeka immediately challenged to be the next contenders for the tag belts. The semi-main became a handicap match after AZM was pulled due to injuries from the night before. Utami Hayashishita challenged Momo Watanabe to a match at Nagoya Supreme Fight 2022 later this month.
STARDOM run tomorrow in Ryogoku KFC Hall.
- 1/10/2022, Tokyo Ryogoku KFC Hall
Unagi Sayaki & Mai Sakurai [Cosmic Angels] v. Saki Kashima & Fukigen Death [Oedo Tai]
Hazuki [STARS] v. Rina [Oedo Tai]
Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani & Lady C [Queen’s Quest] v. Ruaka, Starlight Kid & Momo Watanabe [Oedo Tai]
Mayu Iwatani, Hanan & Koguma [STARS] v. Syuri, Maika & Himeka [Donna del Mundo]
Giulia, MIRAI & Thekla [Donna del Mundo] v. Tam Nakano, Mina Shirakawa & Waka Tsukiyama [Cosmic Angels]
DDT / Tokyo Joshi / GANBARE Pro
DDT have run seven cards across multiple brands this weekend and I cannot keep up with them all. CAGEMATCH has them if you need them. I’m sure at least three are on Wrestle Universe too.
Other News
BJW continued their Ikkitousen Strong Climb tournament with two shows in Kanagawa today. The only clear leader right now is Daichi Hashimoto on 4pts in Block B.
In addition to Tokyo Joshi and STARDOM running the last two days, we had rallies from Sendai Girls, Ice Ribbon, OZ Academy, Diana and PURE-J this weekend. Joshi is admittedly not my strong point. If I cover any others besides STARDOM it will likely be Sendai Girls. I only have so much time in the day.
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