SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
The following is the latest in a new series of weekly in-depth articles exclusive to PWTorch which will help put in perspective major wrestling promotions with a weekly overview, looking at news and roster developments, results, future line-ups, social media activity, key interviews, plus a timely commentary at the end. We will be featuring similar features on other promotions each week and each will be updated weekly.
•Top Stories of the Week
-Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 is officially underway! Twelve days of action taking place in the span of seventeen days with the conclusion taking place on Saturday, November 3rd at NJPW Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 in Osaka, Japan.
-There’s strife in the New Japan locker room that could change the course of several careers including the All In crew. Dave Meltzer on the Thursday, Oct. 11 edition of Wrestling Observer Radio reports that morale within the NJPW locker room is very low right now. Loyal talent you would never think about leaving the promotion are considering doing so thanks in part to NJPW President Harold Meij and his management team. With the weekly speculation of where the future lies for Kenny Omega, Cody Rodes, “Hangman” Page, and The Young Bucks, the potential loss of any other major star would be a huge blow going into 2019 and their debut at Madison Square Garden.
-NJPW Young Lion Tetsuhiro Yagi has decided to retire at the age of 26 due to personal reasons. The announcement was made by NJPW on Friday, Oct. 12 on their official website. Yagi made his debut at Lion’s Gate Project 5 against Hirai Kawato in May 2017.
-As part of Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Rager at Sea, “Streaming for Vengeance” will air live at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 3 on FITE and HonorClub. The iPPV will feature matches from the “Sea of Honor” tournament as well as IWGP Heavyweight Champion “The Cleaner” Kenny Omega, “The American Nightmare” Cody & “The Villain” Marty Scurll battling Chris Jericho, and The Young Bucks in a huge six-man tag team match.
-Los Ingobernables de Japon leader and everyone’s favorite “Seigyo Funona Karisuma” Tetsuya Naito is the first to be announced for the 2018 NJPW/ROH Global Wars Tour taking place next month. Naito will represent NJPW in all four shows of the tour.
-Will Ospreay is currently dealing with a rib injury and will miss the entire Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018. Ospreay, however, will challenge Taichi for the NEVER Openweight Championship on Saturday, Nov. 3 at Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 in Osaka, Japan.
-Happy Birthday to IWGP Heavyweight Champion and Canada’s own “The Cleaner” Kenny Omega who turned 35 this week.
-This Week in NJPW History saw Hiroshi Tanahashi defeat ‘The Phenomenal’ AJ Styles for his seventh IWGP Heavyweight Championship at NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling on Monday, October 13th, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan.
•Live Event Results
NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 1
Tuesday, October 16th, 2018
Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
Aired on NJPW World
(1) Ren Narita, Shota Umino & Toa Henare defeated Yuya Uemura & Yota Tsuji & Ayato Yoshida by submission after Narita made Uemura tapout to the Boston Crab
(2) Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe & Hiroshi Tanahashi defeat Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi & Kota Ibushi by pinfall after Tanahashi hit Owens with the High Fly Flow
(3) Bullet Club OGs (Bad Luck Fale, “Switchblade” Jay White & The Guerrillas of Destiny) defeated CHAOS (Chuckie T, Beretta, Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada) by pinfall after White hit Chuckie T with the Blade Runner
(4) Bullet Club OGs (Robbie Eagles & Taiji Ishimori) defeated Tiger Mask & Jyushin Thunder Liger by submission after Eagles made Liger tapout to the Ron Miller Special in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(5) Soberano Jr. & Volador Jr. defeated ACH & Ryusuke Taguchi by pinfall after Volador Jr. hit ACH with the Avalanche Frankensteiner in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(6) Suzuki-gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated Chris Sabin & KUSHIDA by pinfall after Desperado hit Sabin with the Pinche Loco in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
(7) Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & BUSHI) defeated Roppongi 3K (SHO & YOH) by pinfall after Takagi hit YOH with the Last of the Dragon in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
•Upcoming Major Show Line-up: Bound For Glory
NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 2
Wednesday, October 17th, 2018
Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
Airs 5:30 a.m. ET on NJPW World
- Ren Narita, Shota Umino & Tomoaki vs. Yuya Uemura, Yota Tsuji & Ayato Yoshida
- Toa Henare & Togi Makabe & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi & Kota Ibushi
- CHAOS (Chuckie T, Beretta, Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada) vs. Bullet Club OGs (Bad Luck Fale, “Switchblade” Jay White & The Guerrillas of Destiny)
- Tiger Mask & Jyushin Thunder Liger vs. Soberano Jr. & Volador Jr. in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
- ACH & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Robbie Eagles & Taiji Ishimori in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
- Chris Sabin & KUSHIDA vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & BUSHI) in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
- Roppongi 3K (SHO & YOH) vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 3
Friday, October 19th, 2018
Hiroshima Green Arena Sub Arena in Hiroshima, Japan
Airs 5:30 a.m. ET on NJPW World
- Yota Tsuji & Shota Umino vs. Yuya Uemura & Ren Narita
- Toa Henare, Chris Sabin & KUSHIDA vs. Ayato Yoshida, Soberano Jr. & Volador Jr.
- CHAOS (Chuckie T & Beretta & Hirooki Goto) vs. Bullet Club OGs (Bad Luck Fale & The Guerrillas of Destiny)
- Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs. TAKA Michinoku & Minoru Suzuki
- Tomoaki Honma & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bullet Club (Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi)
- Tiger Mask & Jyushin Thunder Liger vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & BUSHI) in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
- ACH & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
- CHAOS (SHO & YOH & Rocky Romero & Kazuchika Okada) vs. Bullet Club OGs (Robbie Eagles & Taiji Ishimori & Gedo & “Switchblade” Jay White)
NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 4
Saturday, October 20th, 2018
Uwajima City Overall Gymnasium in Ehime, Japan
5:30AM ET on NJPW World
- ACH, Ryusuke Taguchi & Tomoaki Honma vs. Yuya Uemura, Yota Tsuji & Ayato Yoshida
- Shota Umino & Tiger Mask vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & BUSHI)
- Ren Narita & Jyushin Thunder Liger vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
- CHAOS (Rocky Romero & Tomohiro Ishii) vs. TAKA Michinoku & Minoru Suzuki
- Toa Henare & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bullet Club (Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi)
- Chris Sabin & KUSHIDA vs. Soberano Jr. & Volador Jr. in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
- Roppongi 3K (SHO & YOH) vs. Bullet Club OGs (Robbie Eagles & Taiji Ishimori)
- CHAOS (Chuckie T & Beretta & Toru Yano & Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada) vs. Bullet Club OGs (Gedo & The Guerrillas of Destiny & Bad Luck Fale & “Switchblade” Jay White)
NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 5
Monday, October 22nd, 2018
Kunibiki Messe in Shimane, Japan
5:30 a.m. ET on NJPW World
- Yota Tsuji, Chris Sabin & KUSHIDA vs. Yuya Uemura, ACH & Ryusuke Taguchi
- Ren Narita & Toa Henare vs. Bullet Club OGs (Robbie Eagles & Taiji Ishimori)
- Shota Umino & Ayato Yoshida vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
- CHAOS (Rocky Romero & Tomohiro Ishii) vs. TAKA Michinoku & Minoru Suzuki
- Tomoaki Honma & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bullet Club (Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi)
- Soberano Jr. & Volador Jr. vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & BUSHI) in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
- Tiger Mask & Jyushin Thunder Liger vs. Roppongi 3K (SHO & YOH) in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
- CHAOS (Chuckie T & Beretta & Toru Yano & Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada) vs. Bullet Club OGs (Gedo & The Guerrillas of Destiny & Bad Luck Fale & “Switchblade” Jay White)
NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 6
Tuesday, October 23rd, 2018
Tottori Prefectural Industrial Gym in Tottori, Japan
5:30AM ET on NJPW World
- Yuya Uemura & Ayato Yoshida vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & BUSHI)
- Yota Tsuji & Tomoaki Honma vs. Best Friends (Chuckie T & Beretta)
- Shota Umino, Tiger Mask & Jyushin Thunder Liger vs. Ren Narita, Soberano Jr. & Volador Jr.
- CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii) vs. TAKA Michinoku & Minoru Suzuki
- Toa Henare & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bullet Club (Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi)
- Bullet Club OGs (Robbie Eagles & Taiji Ishimori) vs. Suzuki-gun (El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
- Chris Sabin & KUSHIDA vs. ACH & Ryusuke Taguchi in a Super Jr. Tag League 2018 Tournament Match
- CHAOS (SHO & YOH & Rocky Romero & Toru Yano & Kazuchika Okada) vs. Bullet Club OGs (Gedo & The Guerrillas of Destiny & Bad Luck Fale & “Switchblade” Jay White)
•Other Upcoming Events:
10.17.2018: NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 2 in Tokyo, Japan
10.19.2018: NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 3 in Hiroshima, Japan
10.20.2018: NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 4 in Ehime, Japan
10.22.2018: NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 5 in Shimane, Japan
10.23.2018: NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 6 in Tottori, Japan
10.26.2018: NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 7 in Tokyo, Japan
10.27.2018: Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea – Day 1 in Miami, Florida
10.27.2018: NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 8 in Tokyo, Japan
10.28.2018: Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea – Day 2 at Sea
10.28.2018: NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 9 in Fukushima, Japan
10.29.2018: Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea – Day 3 in Nassau, Bahamas
10.29.2018: NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 10 in Miyagi, Japan
10.30.2018: Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea – Day 4 at Sea
10.31.2018: Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea – Day 5 in Miami, Florida
10.31.2018: NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 11 in Nagano, Japan
11.01.2018: NJPW Road to Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 – Night 12 in Shizuoka, Japan
11.03.2018: NJPW Power Struggle: Super Jr. Tag League 2018 in Osaka, Japan
11.07.2018: NJPW/ROH Global Wars Tour: Lewiston in Lewiston, Maine
11.08.2018: NJPW/ROH Global Wars Tour: Lowell in Lowell, Massachusetts
11.09.2018: NJPW/ROH Global Wars Tour: Buffalo in Buffalo, New York
11.11.2018: NJPW/ROH Global Wars Tour: Toronto in Toronto, Ontario
11.17.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 1 in Kanagawa, Japan
11.18.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 2 in Tokyo, Japan
11.20.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 3 in Toyama, Japan
11.21.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 4 in Niigata, Japan
11.23.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 5 in Kanagawa, Japan
11.24.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 6 in Saitama, Japan
11.25.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 7 in Aichi, Japan
11.26.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 8 in Ishikawa, Japan
11.28.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 9 in Ibaraki, Japan
11.29.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 10 in Tokyo, Japan
11.30.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 11 in Tokyo, Japan
12.02.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 12 in Osaka, Japan
12.03.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 13 in Kochi, Japan
12.04.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 14 in Hyogo, Japan
12.06.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 15 in Yamagata, Japan
12.07.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 16 in Akita, Japan
12.09.2018: NJPW World Tag League 2018 – Night 17 in Iwate, Japan
12.14.2018: NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome – Night 1 in Tokyo, Japan
12.15.2018: NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome – Night 2 in Tokyo, Japan
01.04.2019: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 in Tokyo, Japan
01.05.2019: NJPW New Year Dash in Tokyo, Japan
04.06.2019: NJPW/ROH G1 Supercard in New York, New York
•Latest TV Highlights: NJPW on AXS (Oct. 12, 2018)
NJPW Destruction in Hiroshima 2018
Saturday, September 15th, 2018
Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall in Hiroshima, Japan
Originally aired on NJPW World
(1) Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makbe & Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated “Switchblade” Jay White & YOSHI-HASHI & Kazuchika Okada by pinfall after Tanahashi pinned YOSHI-HASHI
(2) ‘The Cleaner’ Kenny Omega defeated Tomohiro Ishii by pinfall after hitting the One Winged Angel to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship
•NJPW in the Media
WRESTLE KINGDOM 13 Press Conference
The Wire: The first ever Super Junior Tag League
California Loveî – Being The Elite Ep. 121
I WILL FEAR NO EVIL – Messages from Chris Jericho
Meet Kenny Omega, wrestling superstar and gamer
https://www.cnet.com/news/meet-kenny-omega-wrestling-superstar-and-gamer
•Social Media Scene
Funny reading that a lot of foreign performers are complaining about the work atmosphere not being “fun” in New Japan. What a load of shit. Plenty of great talents out there that would be grateful to have an opportunity to work in NJPW
Who fed you those lies @davemeltzerWON ?— 'Bad Boy' Tama Tonga (@Tama_Tonga) October 12, 2018
New President and management helping the company gain sponsorship with international expansion-What a time to be a part of New Japan. Traveling, big money, company growing.yeah bitch, us foreigners that have been here and worked our asses off are very proud of how far we’ve come
— 'Bad Boy' Tama Tonga (@Tama_Tonga) October 12, 2018
Sometimes I wonder if Kota Ibushi knows that he’s way better than Kenny Omega and should be the face of the company but is being used by his best friend as leverage for his own selfish needs.
— 'Bad Boy' Tama Tonga (@Tama_Tonga) October 12, 2018
Dang,I shouldn’t have called you out for the Freddy Krueger act. Personally, I like it when you say “bitch” a lot. I guess entry level salary can’t afford multiple fines a year,huh? Let’s hope those Funko Pop sales help ease the burden during the holiday season. Oh wait…. https://t.co/MddHPuw2c6
— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) October 12, 2018
Pre-Orders available NOW! Streaming For Vengeance @jericho_cruise airs Nov 3 on https://t.co/qrNFVd4mHo PPV at https://t.co/LnIp1QOYpy #JerichoCruise @IAmJericho @ringofhonor @CodyRhodes @KennyOmegamanX @MattJackson13 @NickJacksonYB @MartyScurll @theAdamPage @TheLethalJay pic.twitter.com/k56czbl7xb
— FITE (@FiteTV) October 12, 2018
This will be my final “Bullet Club” style t-shirt. It also might be my favorite. It’s currently available at https://t.co/b9lVO00RGc & available in @HotTopic next month!#villain ☔️ pic.twitter.com/Jt7L2u1vfo
— Marty Scurll (@MartyScurll) October 12, 2018
This will be my final “Bullet Club” shirt. It also might be my favorite. Unless I milk that BC cow one last time in the next two months but I doubt I’m gonna do it honestly, not really worth it but thanks.https://t.co/br1ChyZmP1 pic.twitter.com/dUn5EfHZ99
— HANGMAN PAGE (@theAdamPage) October 13, 2018
Not using @CyrusOverHuge over huge for ANY AND ALL commentary is a big mistake and just plain stupid. @njpw1972 https://t.co/uJBzsCnVJK
— Chris Jericho (@IAmJericho) October 15, 2018
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo6wulLhm7v
The Elite doesn’t exist without #BulletClub . Good luck in WWE
— 'Bad Boy' Tama Tonga (@Tama_Tonga) October 15, 2018
Hey Kenny @KennyOmegamanX
— Karl Anderson (@KarlAndersonWWE) October 15, 2018
This will be our final “Bullet Club” style t-shirt. It might also be our favorite. It’s currently available at https://t.co/BNqyIsDaiI. pic.twitter.com/zCa4Y9oP8M
— Jimmy's Famous Seafood (@JimmysSeafood) October 15, 2018
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo8eFyKlhop
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo9OA1EhG2A
Happy Birthday to one of my favorite people on the planet, @KennyOmegamanX. Let’s continue to change the world together for more years to come.
— The Young Bucks (@MattJackson13) October 16, 2018
•Closing Commentary
Alright, let’s address it…
Omega, Cody, Page, Bucks. Maybe add a Villain as well. Those six guys have literally transformed the way wrestling fans look at the wrestling business in 2018. To the point that when I’m at a grocery store and see Cracker Barrell, I’m on the lookout for Joey Janela and possibly singing the phrase “Superkick Party” out loud.
These six guys have have honestly created an interest in the pro wrestling business that hasn’t been seen since the mid-’90s and they’ve done it all through social media. No networks, no primetime commercials, no million-dollar marketing. They sold out an arena in Chicago back in September based on zero announced matches. ZERO. When’s the last time that’s happened if ever? Back in the days of Bruno Sammartino?
Individually, they’re championship talented in any given promotion around the world. Together, they’re changing the world. Together, they have the ability to give “Sports Entertainment” a HUGE punch in the gut. Unfortunately, they also have the ability to turn the phrase “ALL IN” into the greatest nightmare NJPW has ever seen. From merchandise to their social media presence to the buzz they’ve created online and will continue to do so through the end of the year, I can’t recall anything this big in almost twenty years… Monday, Aug. 9, 1999 to be exact.
#TickTock
NOW CHECK OUT OUR PREVIOUS IN-DEPTH WEEKLY OVERVIEWS ON IMPACT, ROH, WWE, NXT, and NJPW HERE: PWTORCH WEEKLY PROMOTIONAL OVERVIEW LISTING
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